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.  

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.  

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

PART 1

1. Antique:  any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or thelike, created or produced in a former period, or, according toU.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.
2. Antiquing:  to shop for or collect antiques;  to make or finish (something, esp. furniture) in imitation of antiques.
3. Junk:  any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags;  anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, orcontemptible; trash.
4. Junking:  the retrieval of ordinarily discarded things and materials.  (http://www.davmagic.com/junk/PAGES2.html)
5. Flea Market:  a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stallsselling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-ratemerchandise, etc.
6. Thrift Shop:  a retail store that sells secondhand goods at reduced prices.
7. Upcycling:  is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling)
8. Resale Shop:  the selling again of something purchased.  (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/resale)

*  Unless noted, these definitions were found on Dictionary.com.  

PART 2

All of the above terms relate to environmental health in that they are bettering our environment.  Instead of throwing our "junk" away, we can breathe new life into it.  If we really see no use for it, then we can donate it to other shops so that others can reuse our unwanted "junk."  It is all about using old items in new, sustainable ways and creating less waste.  

1. Antiques/Antiquing: Father Time Antiques 395 S Lake Ave # 1, Duluth, MN 55802-2311(218) 625-2379 ‎.
2. Junk/Junking:   Old Town Antiques & Books 102 E Superior St Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5426.  
3. Flea Market:  Downtown Hinckley Fleamarket 100 Old Hwy 61, Hinckley, MN 55037(320) 384-6938.
4. Thrift Shops:  Salvation Army 2101 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806-2012(218) 722-7723.
5. Upcycling:  I was unable to find any local resources for upcycling.  
6. Resale Shops:  Goodwill  700 Garfield Avenue Duluth,MN 55802 Phone: (218) 722-6351.

I do use places such as Goodwill or Savers quite often actually.  I recently went to Goodwill to look for items for a Halloween costume.  I love looking through antique shops as well.  Sometimes, it is a total dud and I find nothing, and other times I find tons of trinkets and treasures.  It is always a unique experience.  My mom an I always used to browse through an antique shop on our way to the cabin.  I have never been to a flea market, but I have never really looked for one to go to.  I am now able to use my resources and get out there more.  

PART 3

Here is a project that I instantly fell in love with.  It is simple and anyone could do it!  This is a dust pan bird feeder.  All you have to do is mount it to a fixture and put bird feed in it.  It actually looks pretty cool too.  

Here is another easy project.  Instead of spending money on a valentines present or just a little trinket, this was made of leftover bits and pieces found around the house.  This project is great because anyone could make it, but each person would have creative reign with the items that they find.  I want to go dig through my mom's scraps and see what I can create!

This junk-turned-treasure is an old typewriter that did not work.  The new owner turned it into a decorative centerpiece and rotated pictures throughout the years.  I love the concept here.  Just because something doesn't work like it used to doesn't mean that it can't be used in a different way.  This is a great example of upcycling.  

Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group

For this week's eye opener, I decided to check out my Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant that I have been loyal to for years.  I went to the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety page and sure enough, the product showed up.

My Results

My deodorant scored a 5 on a scale of 0-10.  This means that it is a moderate hazard.  I was surprised to see how many concerns were linked to the product and its ingredients.  Click here to see the full breakdown.

I was also shocked that, according to the website, that 78% of antiperspirants/deodorants would actually score lower than Secret Clinical Strength.  

I have been loyal to this product for so long, and it is one of my favorites.  That makes it hard for me to want to change.  However, if there are so many other products that have fewer concerns, it might be time for a change.   

Although change is hard, I think it is worth looking into for my own sake.  I really love this website though, because most of the products I use can be found on it.  I have already passed it along to my sister who was shocked at the results of her favorite shampoo.  We both were able to click on different links that showed us which products scored lower that would work better for us.  

I probably won't can my deodorant just yet, especially since all of you have to sit by me in class for 3 hours on Monday.  But, I will actively search for one of the recommended brands to keep my pits dry and smelling fresh all day long!  

Eye Opener: CSPI

I participated in the "Score Your Diet" activity.  I scored a great big "Uh-oh" on this assessment with an overall score of -10.  I did well in some categories, but poor in others.  Here is a breakdown of the categories:

                  HEALTH SCORE:                               31

                  ENVIRONMENTAL SCORE:            -24

                  ANIMAL WELFARE SCORE:           -17

• I scored the highest on fruits with a 25, and vegetables with a score of 11.  For fruits, the recommended serving was 7 per week, but I am at about 9 servings per week.  For vegetables, 15 servings per week were recommended and I only eat about 4 in a week.  This was very interesting to me.  Even though I got less than half of the recommended servings of vegetables, it was still one of my top two scores.  
• I scored the lowest on cheese.  It is recommended that you eat 4oz per week, but I recorded about 6oz per week.  I ended up scoring a -33 for cheese.  I did however make up 9 points because I usually eat cheese that is low in fat.  This still did not offset the negative number by much.  
• I needed the most improvement in the "Environmental" category.  I think a lot of this has to do with my cheese and overall dairy consumption.  I think, realistically, that I could consume less dairy in my life because I do eat quite a bit of it.  I would not necessarily cut dairy out of my diet, but I could definitely cut back.  

I never really understood how much impact my diet had on the environment and animal welfare.  This activity really broke it down for me.  I did an alright job with my diet but there is always room for improvement.  A great goal for me is to get out of the "Uh-oh" zone.  I need to put in more effort into mindful eating.  

Eye Opener: Ecological Footprint

I always hear people talking about our "ecological footprint" but I have never fully understood what it meant.  I see now that our ecological footprint is basically a comparison of how much we use up the earth's resources, to how fast the earth can regenerate them.  Once I learned about ecological footprints, I took a couple quizzes that calculated my personal footprint.

One of the quizzes that I completed was the Earth Day Network Footprint Calculator.  I found out that for the way I live, I use up the earth's resources four times faster than it can regenerate them.  Four times!  It would also take 17.8 global acres of the earth's productive areas to support my lifestyle.  In my footprint breakdown, you can see that a lot of my footprint comes from different services.  This is followed by food and goods.

My Results (Scary)  

Just looking at my results, I am pretty shocked.  I cannot believe that it would take 4 planet earths to support my lifestyle!  What if everyone lived like I do?  This shows how every single one of us really do impact the earth.  If all of us lived like I do, it would be a sad, sad day.  But, this also offers some hope.  If we all choose to reduce our footprint, then we can make a difference too.  Individuals can work together for a positive change.  This goes to show for all of us, including myself, who think that our use of resources does not really matter in the bigger picture, that it DOES matter.  All of us add up.

Clearly, I need to reconsider some of the choices in my lifestyle.  Simple things such as carpooling, reducing shower time, buying less packaged/processed foods, and buying locally produced products, could significantly reduce my ecological footprint.  I would definitely reconsider adjusting all of these things, but not all at the same time.  I would probably start with one or two, perhaps carpooling and reducing shower time, and then build from there.  For my lifestyle, I think that is a more realistic goal.  After taking this quiz, I will keep the image of the four globes in my mind.  It is almost eerie to think of how much damage one can do to our planet.  This truly was an eye opener.

Welcome to Kristen's Coral Reef!

Dead fish due to oil pollution, toxic materials, runoff and more.

Hello everyone!  My name is Kristen and I am a sophomore at the University of Minnesota Duluth.  I would like to welcome you to my coral reef.  This blog was created for my Environmental Health class and will be updated weekly.  I chose to make mine a coral reef because they are beautiful to look at, but we are also on the verge of losing them because of our actions.  For this class, we will be posting different assignments and commenting on our group members' posts as well.  I hope to gain a better understanding of my immediate environment, as well as the earth as an environment, and how I impact the environment every day.  This blog will be a great tool to do so as we learn from each other.  

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog.  They include:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels.  This post has been labeled with all six kinds of posts.  You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page.  All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.  

The members of my web group are:

1. Samantha@Samantha Green with Envi
2. Adam@Adam's Outdoor Connection
3. Alyssa@Treeific Time with Alyssa
4. Emily@Eco-quest with Emily
5. Katie@Through Green Eyes with Katie
6. Carly@Go Blue Too with Carly

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column.  You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow This Blog" in the gadget column.  I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget.  You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

I am excited to see what you all come up with as we begin our journey and I hope you are too.  (I am also already looking forward to next week's eco-chic snack).  Thanks for swimming by and checking out my coral reef.