Get Your Feet Wet...

Welcome to my blog! Please take a couple minutes to watch this video from National Geographic on Why the Ocean Matters. You might be surprised with what you learn.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Reflection: Weeks 13-15 & Overall Course

Junk Project - Door Turned Cork/Memory Board


Weeks 13-15

I can't believe the semester is over!  As I said in the last reflection, the time really has flown by.  Over the last couple weeks, our main focus was on finishing up our advocacy projects and our junk projects.  Advocacy was a totally new concept to me when we started this class.  Sure, I knew about it, but I did not really do that much of it.  After completing our advocacy projects, I see just how important it is to actively promote the profession and any issues you are passionate about.

Don't Hate, Advocate!

My advocacy project was about cleaner alternative fuels and our nation's air quality.  After doing my research, it was clear that our air quality is the culprit of many health concerns nationally.  It was fun to read everyone's letters and to write my own.  It made me feel a lot better having the guidance on how to write a political representative.  My favorite part of the advocacy project was definitely the online learning activities.  What a great way to learn about a topic!  I enjoyed completing this activities and learned some great facts along the way.

Whatchya Gonna Do With All That JUNK?!?

Finally, I want to discuss my FAVORITE activity of the semester which was junking!  It was great to see everyone's creativity shine in the show and tell on Monday.  It was fun to create usable art with my cork board and know that I was recycling a door that literally one step away from being thrown out.  Crazy.  In sticking with the junk theme, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit the local Goodwill and see what they are all about.  It was so great to hear that there are still people trying to do good in this world that is so obsessed with making economic gains.



SO, what are you going to do with all your junk?

Overall Course Reflection

As a few of our classmates said in class on Monday, what didn't we learn in this class?  Blogging alone could have been a course for me.  I really grew in this class and was able to fine tune some skills that I already had but also learn a bunch of brand new skills.  I enjoyed the Read 'n' Seeds because they allowed us all to read about topics that interested us and then practice educating others about it.  It was great to follow everyone's books.  

We covered various other topics including junking, advocacy, SMART goals, documentaries, and more.  Another favorite of mine was seeing everyone's Share & Voices.  It was great to have creative reign on those posts and show topics that interested us most.  We definitely ended with my favorite which was junking projects.  As stated above, I LOVED doing this project.  It was great to learn from all of you over the course of the semester.  Good luck in all you do!


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

This week, we had to create online learning activities about our advocacy topics.  Here are my answers to my group members' posts:

Eco-Quest with Emily:  Uncovering the Facts about Cancer

Instructions:

1. First visit the WebMD webpage related to cancer and find 3 facts about cancer that interest you or that you never knew.
2. Next, visit the American Cancer Society Cancer causes webpage and read about the different known causes of cancer. Be able to list 3.
3. Once you feel you know what the causes/ risk factors are for cancer, go to this webpage fromPreventcancer.org and read about things you can do to reduce your risk for cancer.
4. Report 3 common causes of cancer and describe 3 of the ways you think you could best protect YOURSELF against cancer. If you already meet all the criteria, discuss changes you think are the most helpful in general.

3 Facts About Cancer
  1. Male breast cancer is just as serious as female breast cancer and breast cancer does not have symptoms in the early stages.  
  2. There is not one known specific cause of colorectal cancer and about 25% of adults in the U.S. will have at least one colorectal polyp by age 50.  
  3. People who have cancer may experience depression, anxiety, loss of sleep, or more disruptive symptoms that need to be monitored and can be treated.  
3 Causes of Cancer/How to Protect Myself
  1. Tobacco Use - don't smoke/quit smoking
  2. Sun and UV Exposure - wear sunscreen/limit sun exposure
  3. Genetics - Get regular screenings, especially if cancer runs in your family
The most important changes for me would be to get regular suggested screenings and to avoid the tanning salon (even though I love it).  Being more aware of these risk factors is a great way to get started.  

Blue Skies for Mary:  Health Insurance for All

Instructions:
The instructions were to watch a video, visit a couple web sites, and play an interactive game.  Once we completed that, we were instructed to share two things we learned.  
  1. I learned about how health insurance works and how it reduces the cost for health coverage of the individual.  The video put everything simply and was easy for me to understand.  
  2. I did not know that this would allow for children to stay on their parents policy until age 26!  I knew it was longer but I did not know it was that long.  I like the pros and cons site a lot because it presented the info in a way that was easy to follow.  
Out and About with Alicia:  Emergency Contraception 101

Instructions:
After reading 10 Common Myths, Misunderstandings, and big Ol' Lies About Emergency Contraception, please list 3 myths and why they are false.  Next, do some research and find & list 3 places you could go to obtain emergency contraception in Duluth, MN.

3 Myths about Emergency Contraception and why they are False:
  1. Emergency contraception is the same as abortion:  EC actually prevents pregnancy and will not work after a certain period of time.  If the pregnancy has already taken place, EC is ineffective.  EC prevents the egg from being released, therefore it is not considered abortion.
  2. It's hazardous to my health:  EC is less hazardous than unprotected sex, abortions, or even child birth.  It does not have estrogen in it.  While it may disrupt your cycle temporarily, it is not bad for your health.  
  3. I can just go get it for my girlfriend:  If you are under the age of 17, you cannot get it without a prescription and therefore you could not obtain it for your girlfriend.  However, if you are over the age of 17, you could buy it for her.  
3 places to obtain EC in Duluth, MN:
  1. Planned Parenthood
  2. UMD Health Services
  3. Local Pharmacies (Walgreens)
Molly's Rico Eco:  BPA is a "No-Way" in Baby Formula

Instructions:After looking into the websites listed below, I want you to decided if you think chemicals should be more or less regulated specifically relating to baby formula . Post a short reflection on it.

Wow!  After reading those articles, it is my opinion that we definitely need to monitor baby formula and what industries are putting into it.  It saddens me to think that we are harming today's newborns, tomorrow's youth, and tomorrow's leaders with all of these hazardous chemicals.  It is clear that the FDA needs to monitor this more closely in order to prevent unnecessary infant illness and death.  

Heidi's Health Environment:  Childhood Obesity

Instructions:
Click on Childhood obesity quiz below and it will transfer you to the website.
Childhood Obesity Quiz
Then click on Start Quiz.
After you are done with the quiz record your score and report back about what you learned.

I scored a 90% on this quiz.  I got the fruit juice question wrong!  I knew most of the answers and thought the quiz presented great information.  This quiz would be especially useful as an educational tool for parents.  I learned that you can't be too rigid with your kids' diet and that it is perfectly okay for them to enjoy some sweet treats once in awhile.  

Lovin' Nature with Brier:  Smoking Fact Find

Instructions:
1) Review the links below.
2) Find 5 things that you didn't know before watching the video or things that really effected you.
3) Post the 5 things you learned. Can you think of any personal reasons why you have chosen not to smoke too? For example, parents would be disappointed, dont want to smell bad, ect. Please provide one reason why you have chosen not to smoke or have quit because of (if you feel comfortable sharing)

5 Things I didn't know/that effected me:
  1. The secondhand smoke video really effected me.  Seeing those little kids talking about smoking really strikes a cord.  
  2. I learned that second hand smoke is just like smoking yourself.  If you smoke around your kids, it's as if they are smoking too.  
  3. I also learned that each cigarette causes damage.  So, even people who smoke casually are still going to see the negative effects of smoking.  
  4. The video clip of the aorta was very powerful.  I can't believe how much damage smoking really does! It is good to show the internal effects that people may not always think about because they can't see them.  
  5. Annually, Minnesota pays $3 billion in health care costs because of smoking and the tobacco industry spends $196 million to market their products annually in Minnesota.  This is very disturbing to me and I can't wait to see the day that this is severely decreased.  
I have never really had the desire to smoke and I have some very close friends who are battling the addiction in their lives.  I see the struggles that they go through and have always made a decision not to smoke.  

Great activities everyone!  These activities were all educational and enjoyable.  

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Advocacy Project: Air Quality Crossword Puzzle

Air Quality Crossword Puzzle



Purpose:  To inform others of the health risks associated with toxic emissions in the air and show some of the efforts being made to monitor or control Minnesota's air quality.

Background Info/Resources:  

The following are links to articles or websites that pertain to air quality issues both locally and nationally.  You will find the answers to the crossword within the articles.  Besides the answers, the articles also provide some data related to our air quality, as well as ways in which you personally can reduce your impact.

"Diesel Exhaust in Minnesota" MPCA
"Health Effects of Motor Vehicle Pollution"
"Air Quality Index"
U.S. Department of Energy

Read the articles and then click here to view the Air Quality Crossword Puzzle.

Have fun and good luck!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Final Weekly Review & Overall Project Reflection



My SMART goal remained the same this past week.  It was:  I will drink one bottled beverage per week.

This week, I achieved my goal!  (oooah oooah)

I had overall success this week as I reached my goal.  The only bottled beverage I had was a bottle of water after participating in my first ever 5K!  I realized after that I could've brought my own water bottle to this event, but it slipped my mind.  Still, that was my only bottled beverage for the week.  I was even hesitant to take it because I knew that I had to limit myself.  I am still faced with the challenge of wanting more flavor than just water, but I recently went out and bought some crystal light packets to mix in.  Thanks to my blog group members for all of your wonderful suggestions!  This really helped me to avoid the bottled beverages as I was able to make my own lemonade and my own fruit punch.

I felt great about reaching my goal, but I feel there is still room to improve.  Even as I write this I am proud of myself because I used to drink so many bottled beverages without even thinking about it.  I am hoping to reduce my consumption to ZERO bottled beverages in the near future.  It feels awesome to know I am making a difference.  I am also improving my own health because in avoiding bottled beverages, I am drinking less pop and juice the contains tons of sugar.  It is great to reap the benefits.

This week, I learned that if you set your mind to it, you can do it.  I made a conscious effort to reduce my consumption and spread the word to those around me.  I thought that my friends might think I was weird, but they almost looked up to me like I was a trend setter or something like that.  How great?  I suppose this counts as mini-advocacy?!?  Well, anyways, I learned the power of change and how much of an impact one person can really make.

Next week, I am going to make my goal:  I will drink ZERO bottled beverages per week.  This will make it more challenging but I think this is realistic for me and is a change I can make throughout the rest of my life.  Wish me luck!


Review

My original SMART goal was:  I will ride the bus to and from school 3 days per week.  I ended up eventually meeting this goal, and continue to meet it.  That is the main reason for me to switch my goal to:  I will drink one bottled beverage per week (zero now).  Both of these goals were challenging but realistic for my life.  

The main thing that helped me be successful overall was reading what my group members were going through.  Regardless of anyone's goal, we all had struggles and tips to help each other improve.  It was great to have my own support group to go through the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change with!  For my bus goal, it was helpful to carry the bus route schedule with me so that I wouldn't miss the bus.  As far as bottled beverages go, my biggest success came when I purchased the crystal light packets to mix in.  Water can taste boring to me, so I often fall into the trap of bottled beverages.  This is something that I will have to continue to work at.  

I benefited from this project in multiple ways.  For the bus goal, I ended up "going green" while seeing the personal benefits.  I saved TONS of gas money, did not have to start my car, did not have to scrape my car, and I did not have to worry about finding a parking spot (which we all know is a chore).  It was great to have a little extra change each week and know that I was reducing my carbon footprint at the same time. My second goal also benefited me.  I was able to drink more water and less pop which is just better for my body.  Both of these goals benefited me in that, it gave me something to be proud of and a challenge to overcome.  These goals weren't always easy, but man did it feel good to say I did it!  

Others benefited from this too in the short and long term.  Short term, I ended up teaching people about ways they can make a positive impact.  In the long term, I ended up reducing my carbon footprint and the number of planets it would take to sustain the earth if everyone lived like me.  In some way everyone benefits, whether it is now, or fifty years from now.  Making these changes part of my life beyond this class will be the true test of its full benefits.  

I will most definitely continue this behavior because it has been enjoyable to me and it is good for our planet.  I intend to continue educating generations before me who are reluctant to change.  It will be great to see where my family and friends are at this time next year.  

My best advice would be to find that support system, whether it is a group of people, a sibling, a pet, or a parent, find SOMEONE who supports you.  In order to go into behavior change, you can't just snap your fingers and make it happen, it takes dedication and work, but it is achievable.  My last tidbit of advice would be don't get down on yourself if you don't succeed at first.  Understand that you are human and that you have flaws (as do we all).  Acknowledge the minor setback but look towards the future.  Use setbacks as motivation for the next week.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Advocacy Project: Letter and Fact Sheet

December 6, 2010

Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

VOTE YES ON S. 1408: NEW ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION TO GIVE AMERICANS SOLUTIONS

Dear Senator Klobuchar,

I urge you to vote yes on Bill S. 1408 and support tax credits for alternative fuels, alternative fuel motor vehicles, and other solutions to reduce harmful auto emissions.  In supporting this bill, you will help increase the amount of citizens in the state of Minnesota who are able to breathe clean air, and you will support those companies who are working towards these efforts as well.  Using cleaner-burning alternative fuels will reduce the amount of toxins in the air and increase the overall air quality of our state and our nation. 

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), as of 1999, 52% of air toxins in Minnesota came from mobile sources such as cars, trucks and off-road vehicles.  The MPCA also asserts that while efforts have increased to reduce these toxins, the number of sources that emit them has been rapidly growing over that past eleven years.  These emissions are linked to many health risks including asthma, lung disease, heart disease, and cancer to name a few.  As a citizen of St. Louis County, I believe that by increasing the use of cleaner alternative fuels we can decrease the prevalence of these major health risks in our community.  This will reduce the amount of citizens suffering from these diseases and increase our overall health. 

 Opponents of this bill might say that the economic costs of this issue would outweigh the benefits.  However, they are only looking at the short term costs of cleaner alternative fuels.  Sure, at first it will cost money to implement change, but once the change is made, the benefits will exponentially outweigh the costs.  With increased use of cleaner alternative fuels, air quality will improve, individual and community health will improve, and the amount of people dying from these diseases will decrease.  Economically, it makes more sense to implement this bill and look at the long term benefits. 

We appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and work towards creating a healthier Minnesota.  Voting “yes” to S. 1408 will be the best decision for our county, state, and our country.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at 888-888-8888 or ilovecleanairmn@cleanmn.com.

Kristen
Kristen


Facts About Air Pollution and 
Cleaner Alternative Fuels

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:
  • Air toxics are linked to causing cancer and other health risks when exposed to high enough levels.
  • Of the air toxics in Minnesota, 52% come from mobile sources such as personal vehicles.  
  • Inhaling toxic air increases the risks for birth defects over the long term.  
Who is exposed?
  • Although high traffic areas are considered "hot spots" for toxic air, exposure in any amount is dangerous.
  • People who live in high traffic areas are at a greater risk to develop health problems.  
  • At risk populations such as children, people with asthma or lung disease, and elderly people are at an ever greater risk for developing lung problems if exposed in any amount.  
Cleaner Alternative Fuels:
  • Cleaner alternative fuels have lower emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.
  • These fuels reduce:
    • Carbon monoxide emissions by 90-97%
    • Carbon dioxide emissions by 25%
    • Nitrogen oxide emissions by 35-60%
  • Cleaner alternative fuels also greatly reduce carcinogenic toxins.  
Improvements are being made:
  • Air Quality Index Reports are done to measure the amount of air pollutants.  
  • Cleaner alternative fuels are becoming more mainstream.  
  • More studies are in progress regarding health effects due to air pollution.

For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Health: 
651-201-5000 Phone
888-345-0823 Toll-free
651-201-5797 TTY

For outdoor air quality:
651-201-4899
health.risk@state.mn.us

Sources:

Friday, December 3, 2010

Share & Voice: Pharming Parties



Today I just heard of these things called "Pharming Parties."  Apparently I am behind the ball because I have never heard of them before.  I thought I'd share a video about them.

Pharming Parties are becoming more and more popular among teens.  These parties are when a bunch of people go into their parent's medicine cabinets and grab whatever pills they can get their hands on.  Then, all of the people put the pills in a bag/bowl/dish/whatever, and ingest them to get high.

THIS SCARES ME.  I think it is important to stay on top of these issues and I wonder if many parents know about this.  We can't keep our kids in bubbles, but maybe we should rethink who can get into the medicine cabinets!

Reflection: Weeks 9-12

Where HAS the Time Gone?

I feel like it was only last week when we were all standing in a circle out at Bagley running around like a bunch of crazy people!  I can't believe the semester is almost over (I am excited though).  For only having class once a week, it is amazing all of the topics we have covered and explored on our own.  We started learning about advocacy and really focusing on our Healthy People 2010 objective and THOMAS Bill and are now becoming experts on our topics.

Advocacy and Why it Matters...a lot

When we first started talking about advocacy and our elected officials, I thought, "GREAAAT.  I don't pay attention to politics at all.  Why do I care about my governor?  And how does this pertain to health?"  Well, now I realize that paying attention to politics is an essential part of health education and that they are the people in power who can put health policy into place.  I am beginning to understand that by advocating for health, we can get a lot accomplished.  I am looking forward to seeing how everyone's letters turn out.

Photo Essay

One of my favorite assignments we've done thus far was definitely the Photo Essay.  It was great that we got to present these to the entire class because everyone had something different to share.  I was impressed with the creativity of our classmates!  My photo essay was about hidden treasures that I found in my grandpa's basement.  Man, did I have a blast doing the assignment.  It was such a great trip down memory lane.

A final activity that I want to highlight is the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change project.  I LOVED picking a SMART Goal and implementing it in my life.  I changed my goal last week and I am working towards meeting it this week.

Bittersweet I'd Say

I am learning to love our environment more and more everyday and I can see SO many people on our campus making an effort to reduce their footprint.  I am excited to continue learning and advocating even after this class is done.  Only a few more weeks people!  Bittersweet.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update



My SMART goal:  I will drink one bottled beverage per week.

I faced a lot of challenges with this goal because it is a habit of mine to go to the school store and buy a bottled beverage.  I do not drink too much water and I am all about flavor and carbonation.  This was a downfall.  I found myself thirsty and I would walk into the store pick up the drink and only THEN did I realize that I needed to put it back.   I guess I did not realize it was such a habit of mine until now.  I did drink 2 bottled beverages this week.  One was at Thanksgiving, my family had bottles of pop and I just couldn't resist.  Another one was at a sporting event I went to and I bought a bottle of Gatorade.  I realized that I don't have as much willpower as I thought.  HOWEVER, I did find that my success came when I made some yummy iced tea at my apartment and brought it in my stainless steel water bottle.  This helped tremendously because I was able to comply with my goal without compromising the flavor.  (Not that there is anything wrong with some good old H2O).  One strategy that helped me was involving my family and friends by urging them to do the goal with me.  It always helps to do it with a partner.

I felt really guilty when I did have my two bottled beverages.  I felt like the class would be disappointed that I caved to my own desire for some pop.  I felt much better when I started to use my new water bottle more and fill it with yummy juice.  I felt even better when I realized how much CA$H I was saving each day.  Those bottled beverages sure do add up.  

I learned that it takes more will power to succeed than I thought.  I also learned more about myself in that, I had a bad habit that I hadn't even acknowledged before.


I plan to keep my goal the same for next week and I WILL meet it.  Good luck everyone!








Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by Amy@Amy in the Rain.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

Hidden Treasures

Over Thanksgiving, I was fortunate enough to spend ample time with my crazy, yet adorable family.  I had been thinking about my photo essay over turkey dinner at my grandpa's house when I realized that I was standing on top of a junker's gold mine!  I guess you could say that my grandpa would qualify as a "hoarder."  My family and I dread the day when we have to clean out his house.

However, I decided to take a trip to the basement where years and years of junk has piled up collecting dust.  I found some pretty cool hidden treasures that could be used in many different ways.  I realized that I did not have to go to a thrift store to find my junk because it was right in front of me.  I wanted to take some of this stuff and junk it, but when I came up from the basement, my grandpa was not too happy.  What I saw as an opportunity to reuse old cool junk, he saw as me taking away some of his "treasures," even though he hadn't touched some of them for years!  So, with a little convincing and an extra big smile, I will try to persuade my grandpa into letting me use some of these hidden treasures...


A room made for a treasure hunt. 
Percolator 
Tea Kettle
One of my favorites, broken but still beautiful.  

Glass milk bottles from Bridgeman's
Old School 7up Bottles
"Hey, hey hey!"  It's a Fat Albert lunch box!
My grandma's old clock.  
Bunkbed ladder, great for some throwback shelving, eh?

Besides finding all of these cool things, I had a fun time taking a trip down memory lane.  Of course I stumbled onto some old photo albums, cards, and toys that I played with as a child.  Some of them have more value to me than anyone else in the world.  What ways would you use some of this JUNK?  Next time you take a trip home, take an hour or two to go through basements, closets, and attics.  You might be surprised at what hidden treasures you find and have a great time along the way.  



Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3: Weekly Update



My SMART Goal:  I will ride the bus to and from school 4 days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) each week.

I did pretty good this week and was able to meet my goal.  I never missed the bus like I thought I would.  Having the schedule with me as I suggested last week was a great help.  This helped with my patience so that I was able to ride the bus without worrying about the times it was going to be there or if it would leave without me.  A new challenge this week was being able to carry all of my stuff.  I realized that I had a backpack, my purse, and two other bags one day.  Most people don't really like it if you have to take up more than one seat so I did get some dirty looks.  Other than that, I did not run into any more challenges.

I felt great this week.  I had most of the same feelings as last week, happy that I do not have to scrape my car or pay for gas.  As I said earlier, my anxiety went down about missing the bus once I got used to the schedule.

I learned some new things this week from the people on the bus.  I actually started asking the people that I sat by why they rode the bus.  Some people said that they rode the bus for the following reasons:

       - Saves money/gas
       - I don't have a vehicle
       - Convenience
       - It is better for the environment!! 


I thought that all of these reasons were great but I really got excited when people said the last one.  It is great that we have so many college students who are committed to the environment and even more that might not realize the impact they are making for other reasons.

NEXT WEEK...I decided to continue riding the bus, but I am going to change my SMART goal for next week.  I decided to change it to:  I will drink one bottled beverage per week.  This is realistic for me because I tend to buy a lot of bottled drinks, not just water.  I have cut down on bottled water since watching Tapped, but I would like to reduce my consumption of plastic bottles overall.  I am excited to face this new challenge.  Good luck to everyone over THANKSGIVING (woop woop).


Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3 hosted by Amy@Amy in the Rain

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

When it comes to vehicle emissions, a countless number of studies show the relationship between these harmful emissions and chronic diseases such as lung cancer or heart disease.  In the article entitled "Unsafe Air" written in 2005 and published in the Journal of College Science Teaching, researchers found a direct correlation between tailpipe emissions and overall mortality rates in certain communities.  The also stated that even though there has been more restriction on tailpipe emissions, more people are driving farther and the health risks are only increasing from poor air quality.

One of the Healthy People 2010 goals was to "Improve the Nation's air quality by increasing the use of cleaner alternative fuels."  By using cleaner alternative fuels, we can significantly reduce the amount of pollutants in the air and thus increase the Nation's air quality.  The bill related to this issue is S.1408 New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions.  This bill aims to increase the amount of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicle use.


Who is affected by the issue?

Those who are affected the most by this issue are people who live in communities or neighborhoods with heavy traffic flow.  These people are greatly impacted because they are constantly exposed to toxic emissions and thus at a greater risk of obtaining health problems.  If this bill were to pass, these people would benefit because air quality would improve.  Those on the losing end would be the fuel companies and car manufacturers that do not set alternative fuel standards.  If this bill passed, they would either lose business, or have to spend money to find new ways to provide cleaner alternative fuels and cars that run on them.

What are the consequences of the issue?

The biggest consequence of this issue involves the people who are exposed to large amounts of tailpipe emissions everyday.  These individuals and communities are exposed to harmful emissions and are at a severe risk for chronic diseases.  In the article, "Unsafe Air," the research found that health effects caused by pollution are two to three times more than originally believed.  They stated that for only 10 micro-grams per cubic meter increase in air pollution, health risks increased by 25-39%.  People's families are also greatly impacted because they have to deal with not only the costs of health care for their loved ones, but also the stress and grief of caring for someone with a chronic disease.  Without the implementation of cleaner alternative fuels, early death rates will continue to rise in our society.


What is the economic impact of the issue?

The economic costs of this issue include the costs of researching, manufacturing, and using cleaner alternative fuels.  However, they also include the costs of medical care for individuals who are suffering from chronic diseases at younger and younger ages.  As earlier death rates increase, so do the medical costs that are associated.

The main cost however, involves the production of cleaner burning gases and cars.  Most manufacturers already have cars that run and cars that people will buy, so it would cost money to research how to make cars that run on these fuels and how to make fuels that run in their cars.  This might be a financial hit to most companies at first, but in the long term it might bring a financial gain.  Being hard to predict, it is easy to see why people are hesitant to pass bills on cleaner alternative fuels.  If we had more use of alternative fuels, combined with alternative modes of transportation, the economic costs would increase in the short term but it would essentially benefit society and our economy in the long term.


What is the social impact of the issue?

Socially, we all bear the costs of this issue.  Even if we are not directly impacted by large amount of air pollution in our lives, we all live in this country and have to deal with the individuals who do become ill do to air pollution.  If people are ill, it creates less productivity at work, an increased turnaround of employees, and increased health care costs.  We can all benefit socially if we learn how to cut back our own emissions and realize the roll of cleaner alternative fuels in this reduction.  Essentially, we want to increase the quality of life for everyone, so this would help to do just that.

What are the barriers?

Some of the barriers include the economic costs of the issue.  More specifically, there is not a great deal of technology out there yet to mass produce cleaner alternative fuels.  We also cannot just pump this stuff into all of our vehicles and call it a day.  We have to use vehicles that can support alternative forms of fuel and that is a huge change and expense for most people.  Nationally, we also have to think about building pipelines and transporting these fuels.  All of these are barriers to the use and production of cleaner burning fuels.  In order to overcome these barriers, we need to advocate for the health of individuals and show how making this change will have many benefits.  It is necessary to show not only how vehicle emissions effect the health of individuals, but how they contribute to global warming, and how the economy can benefit from making the transition.  In using our voices, we can overcome these barriers.

What are the resources?

Some resources include government grants for research and production of the fuels.  Vehicle manufacturers such as Ford and Chrysler are producing "flex fuel" cars which can support alternative fuels.  With the use of their technology, the market could be expanded.  The research is out there, it is just finding the resources to further the research and implement it in our communities.  We can also turn to our political representatives and urge them to take notice of the issue and vote for cleaner alternative fuels.  We need to look to ourselves as individuals and find out how we can cut back our own emissions.  For some, it might be as simple as riding the bus or riding a bike.  For others, it might include investing in a hybrid vehicle that runs on cleaner burning fuels that produce less emissions.  Companies and manufacturers can also do their part by searching and applying for grants to further their research and increase production.

What is the history of the issue?

Although it seems that cleaner alternative fuels are an emerging issue, alternative forms of fuel have been around for quite some time.  In earlier times, wood was a main source for heating and cooking.  Then, coal became the alternative fuel.  This was a great way to cut back on deforestation and was even better for the environment.  So now, here we are with another example, and yet, it is much more complicated.  Overt time, the goal has been to move toward renewable resources and reduce harmful emissions.  With increased research about the potential risks of these emissions, more and more companies decided to start looking for ways to reduce automobile emissions.  From these breakthroughs came the invention of hybrid and battery-powered cars.  We also now have emission standards in the U.S. which are monitored by the EPA.  These standards must be met by all new vehicles.  All of that being said, there is still work to do.  The biggest obstacle for the future is making these vehicles and fuels more mainstream and marketable.  We need to be able to make a profit on a much larger scale in order for this to be realistic.

In 2007, it was a National goal for us to produce 36 billion gallons of ethanol and advanced fuels per year by 2022.  From this goal, we increased our production.  As a nation, we currently produce 12 billion gallons and are struggling to triple this number.  In February of 2010, Obama urged that we increase our production of cleaner burning fuels as we are still in pursuit of this goal.  He plans to expand our energy sources.  If we were able to reach the 36 billion gallons per year, the EPA says that we would reduce the use of conventional oil by 328 million barrels per year.


Allies & Opponents:

Those in support of this would be people who have been effected by air pollution or who have loved ones who have taken ill due in part to emissions.  Others in support may include those who are concerned about global warming as emissions also contribute to climate change.  Farmers, ranchers, and foresters would also support this because it would allow them to convert waste products into fuel and would create more jobs.

Those who would oppose this issue would be oil companies and politicians who are backed by these oil companies.  Conventional oil use would drop and that would be a huge hit to the companies.  This would force politicians to vote against the use of cleaner alternative fuels because they might lose some of their support.

In order to have allies and opponents join forces to tackle this issue, it would be important to show how even the oil companies could benefit.  If we were able to produce more fuels on our own soil, we would not have to drill oil in other countries which would save a lot of money in transportation alone.  It would be wise to show that the people who work at the oil companies would also be negatively effected by emissions and show them realistic ways to produce better fuels.  This might help ease more people into the idea of cleaner burning fuels and vehicles.

My Recommendation:

Vote YES! for the use of alternative fuels and transportation.


Some links for more information...

Pros and Cons
MN Incentives and Laws for Natural Gas
Unsafe Air

Share & Voice: UMD Great American Smoke Out

Breathe Free Canvas...Show your support!
This past Thursday, the Great American Smoke Out was held in the Rafters at UMD.  This event was put on by the American Lung Association, UMD Health Services, and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC).  The theme this year was a break room and we encouraged all students to attend the event.  There were many games, a movie, fun activities, and more for all who attended.  For those students who brought in a pack of cigarettes, they received a free Subway turkey sub for "quitting cold turkey."


We had a great turnout this year and encouraged all students that attended to sign the Breathe Free Canvas to show their support for UMD's smoke free policy.  There were also a few booths set up with some fun activities.  Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) had a table where students could come and jump rope for one minute.  Once the minute was over, they had to breathe through a straw as they recovered to show the effects of smoking.  SHAC had a table set up where students could come spin the wheel.  All of the colors on the wheel corresponded to frequently asked questions about UMD's breathe free policy.   There was also information about cessation services for those who were considering quitting or are in the process.  

Overall, the event had a great turnout of students including those who smoke and those who do not.  I want to thank everyone from ESG and SHAC who came to help and all of you who signed the canvas.  A HUGE thanks goes out to Kristy Seaver for making it all happen.  

Enjoy a few photos of the event...

Eta Sigma Gamma table
Students showing their support by the canvas.

Signing the canvas

Jump rope activity

Breathing through the straw


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

My SMART goal :
       I will ride the bus to and from school 3 days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) each week.



The Wheels on the Bus go 'Round and 'Round...

I actually ended up doing pretty well in my lifestyle change.  Last week, I rode the bus on Wednesday and Thursday both to and from school.  This week, I took the bus to school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  However, the way back was interesting.  On Monday, I did ride the DTA bus back to my apartment.  On Tuesday, I ended up getting a ride home from a friend because I was too impatient to wait 40 minutes for the bus.  Today, I ended up taking the Boulder Ridge Shuttle back to my apartment which in my mind still counts.  Right?  The shuttle is basically like a bus, but it is only for residents of Boulder Ridge/Campus Park.

Challenges and Successes 

My main challenge in obtaining my goal was figuring out the schedule of the buses, and then making it to the bus stop on time.  I seemed to have no trouble in the morning, but at the end of my school day, I did not always have time to sprint to the Kirby Bus Hub.  One strategy that was helpful in my process was meeting other people who ride the bus and talking to them about what they like about it and how early you should get to the bus stop after class.  Most UMD students told me that it was a sprint most days, but it was definitely worth it.  I also found that by printing off the schedule, I felt more control over the timing of everything.

Another challenge that I mentioned earlier was my patience.  Sometimes, I need to talk to my professors after class or stop by someone's office, so I am unable to catch the hourly bus.  This means that I would have to wait almost another hour before hopping on the next bus.  I decided to bring something with me to read in case situations like that come up, or just do my homework at the Food Court for a while.  This is fine on most days, unless I have to work at night.

Let's Talk About Feelings

I generally had positive feelings about the whole process.  What better time to start riding the bus than in the winter?  I got almost a sick pleasure watching other residents of my apartment freeze in frustration as they scraped their cars in the mornings.  I LOVE that I can just walk outside and hop on the nice, warm bus.  I did get a little anxious when it came time to catch the bus at the end of the day, but it all seemed to work out.  As I become more familiar with the system, I think my anxiety about missing the bus will decrease.

What I Learned and the Homeless Man on the Bus

This week I learned that being environmentally friendly doesn't have to cost you, and it can actually benefit you in more ways than you think.  While reducing my carbon footprint, I have many luxuries because of public transportation.  I do not have to start/scrape my car, I don't have to worry about finding a parking space, and I don't have to deal with driving on the icy roads.  Can you say BONUS?!?

I also learned that there are some kind of goofy stereotypes about public transportation.  During this process, part of my change was telling others about my SMART goal.  When I did, I got some crazy responses...

     "Ew.  That's SO dirty.  Why would you ever go on there with such sketchy people?"
     "Did you get in a car accident?!?!  Buses are gross"
     "Do you see a lot of poor people?"  ( <-----wtf? )

These are the three most shocking responses.  I feel like a lot of people think public transportation and instantly picture a dirty bus with a crazy drunk homeless person on it that wants to bite your ear off.  I mean, come on people!  The bus is actually very clean and the people aren't "sketchy."  I don't know where these comments/assumptions come from but they are so far off base.

Future Plans

My plans for next week are to keep it pretty simple and keep my goal the same.  I would like to include the shuttle as part of the "bus" part of my goal since it is still achieving the same goal.  I think that I could maybe push it to 4 days, but I am still not comfortable riding the bus on days that I need to get to work right after class.  So, I will say 4 days of the week (include Thursday) unless I happen to get scheduled on a Thursday (I realize that this is not really that specific but my schedule is all over the place).  Wish me luck!

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2 hosted by  Amy@ Amy in the Rain

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/Thomas

Healthy People Goal:  Promote health for all through a healthy environment (8. Environmental Health).
     Objective:  8-3 Improve the Nation's air quality by increasing the use of cleaner alternative fuels.
          Sub-objective:  there are no sub-objectives under this objective

Progress Quotient Chart

Under the Progress Quotient Chart for Focus Area 8: Environmental Health, it is stated that there has been an 8% improvement towards Objective 8-3 to improve air quality via cleaner alternative fuels. Compared to some other objectives, an 8% improvement was not too bad.  Some objectives had already been met, such as  poor sanitation and waste water services.  However, others such as waterborne disease outbreaks and alternate modes of transportation have reverted away from their target.  This shows that while some areas of environmental health are greatly improving, there is still a long way to go.  The target for Objective 8-3 is to increase it ten-fold.

Progress

There was not much information about the progress of Objective 8-3.  However, as stated earlier, it was one of the objectives that moved toward its target, achieving an 8% improvement.  

Disparities

Data was unavailable for cleaner alternative fuels under disparities.  

Opportunities and Challenges

One of the challenges of all air quality issues is determining the sources of harmful emissions and implementing effective programs to help reduce key air pollutants.  Another challenge is figuring out how to target large groups such as power plants or motor vehicles that are responsible for some of these air pollutants.  A final challenge presented is linking improvements in outdoor air quality with improvements in the health of individuals.  However, there is some hope.  The EPA will focus on market-based programs to encourage the use of cleaner alternative fuels.  They hope to improve these objectives by continuing to track progress and develop new strategies.  As far as linking air quality to health, that still remains a huge challenge.  

Emerging Issues

The main issues surrounding this objective deal with data collection and data accuracy.  Monitoring air conditions can be very difficult especially in certain countries that do not have monitoring stations set up.  Another factor that can effect the data is the annual weather patterns.  Since weather greatly varies, some statistics are not very accurate.  The page also pointed out that even though pollutants per mile have been cut down, that this has been offset a bit by the amount of miles being driven.  This makes me wonder where the 8% improvement comes from and how much it is offset.  

THOMAS:  S.1408 New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions
                   Title:  New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions
                   Sponsor:  Sen Mendez, Robert [NJ]  (Introduced 7/8/2009)  
                   Cosponsors:  Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 1/28/2010 
                                        Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] - 10/14/2009
                                        Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 7/8/2009
                                        Sen LeMieux, George S. [FL] - 3/17/2010
                                        Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 7/21/2009
                                        Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 7/8/2009
                                        Sen Udall, Mark [CO] - 10/5/2009
                   Latest Major Action:  Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance (7/8/2009)

Recommendation:  Vote YES for S.1408 New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions.  

My political representatives:      

Al Franken - Democrat St. Paul Office
60 East Plato Blvd Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55107
(651) 221-1016

Amy Klobuchar - Democrat
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244

Friday, November 12, 2010

Share & Voice: "Climate Change: The Evidence and Our Opinions"

Lonnie G. Thompson - Ohio State University
Climate Change Lecture

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture entitled, "Climate Change:  The Evidence and Our Opinions."  This presentation was given by Lonnie G. Thompson (left) who is a professor at Ohio State University.  Thompson's talk revolved around his studies of tropical glaciers and the evidence that they are able to show us about climate change.  He has been going on expeditions for over 20 years and has accumulated over 7,000 meters of drilled ice.  In these samples taken from all over the globe, he found some pretty shocking results.



Ice Cores and Expeditions

Ice Core 
  Thompson discussed how glaciers are excellent recorders of climate change in that they preserve long, high-resolution histories of our planet.  This is because ice preserves nearly everything that is in it.  Ice tells us a history of temperature change, vegetation, the atmosphere, volcanic history, and more.  These ice cores even contain entrapped microorganisms and plants that are over 5,200 years old.  In the picture to the left, you can see that the ice core has lines in it, much like tree rings.  These lines indicate one year each.  This means, that without a microscope, you can plainly see how much ice has built up year to year and how quickly we are losing our glaciers and ice caps.  Another indicator of climate change/global warming was bubbles in the ice.  In earlier time periods, you can see nice round bubbles.  However, once you look at more recent history, the bubbles become elongated.  This shows that the ice has melted and then re-froze.  So, why are we losing glaciers?  Thompson points out that besides natural mechanisms, there are non-natural mechanisms that WE as humans are creating that are causing 95% of our glaciers to retreat.  These mechanisms include greenhouse gases, burning fossil fuels, and more.


Solar-powered ice drill
Thompson pointed out another fact that was shocking to me.  He said that of the 6.8 billion people on earth, 1.6 billion do NOT have electricity.  That being said, he also pointed out that of the world's electricity, 65% comes from fossil fuels.  This is quite scary because we are using up our resources much faster than we should be.

Thompson went a bit over my head when he started showing an endless number of charts and graphs and data to go along with them.  But, his main point was this:  Global warming is happening and the percentage of ice loss is rapidly accelerating in the tropics.  We are causing this and need to realize that it is real.


Global Warming Does Not Exist You Say?

For those who say that global warming does not exist, Thompson had a few answers.  He kindly replied that 98% of science agrees that global warming exists and that it is cause for alarm.  He also says that some studies are only looking at satellite data and points out that this is flawed because they are not able to see the melting that is taking place from the top down.  That is why the ice cores are so crucial to our understanding of climate change.

What Does This Mean for Us?

According to Thompson, society has 3 options:
  1. Prevention - we can take measures to reduce changes and educate others
  2. Adaptation - we can take measure to reduce the impacts of global warming on human well being
  3. Suffer - we can suffer from global warming and eventually destruct our planet Earth

Conclusions

This presentation was definitely eye opening and unexpectedly interesting.  I had never heard of ice cores before and did not realize how much information they could provide us with.  It is clear that we need to take preventative measures if we want to see a change.  If we don't, we may lose our planet.  

**All images are from the website:  http://bprc.osu.edu/Icecore/


A map of the Ice Core Sites