Reflections: Week 13 & 14 and Overall Course Reflection

Week 13
This week I wrote my advocacy letter to Representative Joe Hoppe about why school lunch subsidies should be increased. Class also met at GoodWill Industries today. We went on a tour, which was really interesting. I couldn't believe how BIG it was! It's awesome that they employ people who may have trouble finding jobs because of certain disabilities they may have.  I also thought the machine that crushed mattresses was awesome; so cool that someone from Duluth invented that! Once we were in the actualy store of the GoodWill we split into groups for an activity. My group and I put together an outfit that would be appropriate attire for a job interview for only $20.

Week 14
This week I put together an 'eye-opener' for my group to complete that I had to do with my advocacy project. I also, completed the eye-openers that my group members had created. It was really funn to see what everyone came up with! During class we had a discussion about the class, and what we had learned. We also had a fun conversation about fast/slow drivers and why it is that people may do that.


Overall Course Reflection
I have learned SO much throughout this course. The documentaries that we watched during class were my favorite part!  Everyone one that we watched I found to be so interesting, and just packed with information that I has never heard before. I also really enjoyed doing my eco-chic lifestyle change. I pretty much always use my re-usable bags now, and I don't think it would have become such a habbit if I hadn't written about it each week. I also find myself telling people stuff that I have learned in this class ALL the time. Or making little comments if someone is doing something that I know isn't environmentally friendly. It was also really beneficial for me for learn how to blog. Now matter what job I end up with, I can probably somehow incorporate it.
I really enjoyed this class, and got A LOT out of it!

Here's my Junking project! I made the hat from the sleve of an oversized sweater.

I folded up the bottom part, and applied a little fabric glue. Then I bunched the top

part together, added some fabric glue and a clear rubber band, and added

a cotton ball on the top!

Share 'N' Voice: Toxic Toys

Toxic toys are all over the place in the U.S. According to the Environmental News Service 1 in every 3 toys out of the 1,500 toys tested before last year's holiday season tested positive for toxins. Such as mercury and arsenic!

HealthyStuff.org was created by the Ecology Center, which is a non-profit environmental organization. They created 4 lists of toys that range from 'No levels of Concern' to 'High Levels of Concern'. Below I have links to the high and medium levels. But you can find all of the lists HERE.

List of toys in the U.S. that contain HIGH levels of toxins.

Princess Sandles

contain high levels

of Bromine.

Medium Levels of Toxins.

<"Baby's First: Giggles"
Contain medium levels of
Chlorine.

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

Jordanne's Online Learning Activity: Water Quality Problem Solver
The purpose of this eye opener was to look at the possible contaminants that may be in our drinking water. Also, to find solutions if you realize there are contaminants in your water.

From the Water Quality Sypmtom Search Engine the fist contaminat I chose to look at was when my water has a reddish/orange color. I chose this because I have come across water that looked like this. The contaminent making it this color was iron. 
*Effects that iron has on my water: it may give it a rusty color, can cause reddish/orange stains, and may give the water a metallic taste.
*The source of this contaminent is from natural deposits.

*Different treatments include: Filtration, Oxidation/Precipitation/Filtration, Disinfection

The second contaminent I chose to look more into was under the catagory of the water causing spots on glassware, dishes, and flatware. I chose this becuase this is also a problem I have come across from time to time. This contaminent causing this can be caused by either hard water(measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)  or total dissolved solid s(TDS)


CaCo3

*Sources of the Contaminent in Drinking Water: Natural deposits that cause calcium and magnesium salts in raw water

*Effects: Consumes soap, making cleaning more difficult. The CaCo3 can cause whitish scale deposits.
*Treatment: Use a water softener that removes all calcium and magnesium ions in water


TDS
. *Effects: caused hard water and deposits on glasses

*Sources of this contaminent are from: Natural deposits or brackish water intrusion
*Recommended Treatment Methods: Reverse osmosis, distillation, deionization

Karly's On-Line Learning Activity: Physical Education in the Schools Lesson

The purpose of Karly's less is to how important physical education is in public school systems. Also, to learn how it has changed through out the years.

Reflecting on my own experiences with physical education in elementary and middle school:

-How many days a week did you have PE class? I THINK in both middle school and high school P.E. and music switched off days, and I believe P.E. was more often. So I'll go with 3 days a week.


-How long were the classes? An hour.

Were you required to participate? Yes, you would lose participation points if you didn't.

Did you enjoy this class? Why or why not? I normally did yes. It was always a good break in the day, and we typically did activites that everyone enjoyed. I never dreaded going. Except maybe in elementary school when we had to square dance with a boy :)
 
After reading the document, 'Physical Education in Schools-Both Quality and Quantity are Important'. I was asked to answer the following questions:





-What are the current recommendations for children and physical activity? 60 minutes a day. 30 during school.



-What are the percentages of schools that are currently providing physical education? What percentage of schools DO NOT have a PE program? Only 3.8% of elementary school, 7.9% of middle school, and 2.1% of high schools offer P.E. for the whole school year. 22% of schools don't offer any at all

-What are some of the benefits of PE in the school? Physical activity lowers a person's risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Having P.E. offered during schools will help to teach kids how to incorporate physical activities into their daily routine.
 
Putting it all together...
 
Do you feel as though PE in the schools should be a required course? why or why not? Yes! Like it said in the article, it's a great way to help teach kids to establish a healthy lifestlye.


◦If yes, up until which age/grade? I think it should be offered through high school. However, in high school I think they should only have to take for one half of the year. and for middle and elementary school kids should be taking it all year.



•Do you think that it should be the parents job to make sure their children are physically active and not the schools? I think it should be both. Parents should make sure their kids are doing active things, but it should also be the school's job to provide the children with physcial education.

•Do you believe that having PE in the schools incorporates other beneficial qualities besides fitness? if yes, what?  Yes. It can teach teamwork, it can be a stress relief because it breaks up the kids day a little bit, it can help improve grades because being active can give an energy boost which will help them to focus better when they are in their classroom.



Hailey's On-line Learning Activity: Water Quality and Sanition Activity
The purpose of Hailey's eye-opener was to have us look at a couple different web pages, which were Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2009 Report to Congress, Environmental Health Perspective(which I couldn't get to open), and Institute of Medicine website. We also need to complete a crossword puzzle about water sanition.


Cross Word Puzzle Questions:

Across:


1. People are losing their self _Dignity__ because of their lack of sanitary resources.
6. The other main issue that is affecting individuals in developing countries. Sanitary Resources
7. One of the biggest barriers in reducing the amount of people affected by poor water quality and sanitation. Money
9. The percentage of people who lack access to clean drinking water in the world. Forty Percent

Down:

2. How many countries worldwide are in need of assistance when it comes to water quality and sanitation. 95 Countries
3. One of the main issues affecting individuals living in developing countries? Water Access
4. An economic impact of poor water quality and sanitation would be reduced worker _Productivity____
5. People are being infected by _Diseases____ on a regular basis due to unclean water.
8. The acronym for one of the leading agencies who is helping out with water quality and sanitation problems? EPA

I was asked to answer: What do you think it would be like to live without access to clean water and sanitary resources? It would be really difficult! I couldn't imagine being thirsty, and not having access to water that wouldn't be potentially harmful to me. Day-to-day living would be completely different, is so many aspects!

Advocacy Project: School Lunch Subsidies and Nutrition

Eye-Opener: School Lunch

Purpose: To gain a better undestanding of  political aspects of school lunch.

Background: The 2009 MN legestlator was debating bills that would increase the reimbursements to schools' lunches for low income students.

ANSWER: 
1. What was your school lunch like growing up?
2. Would you consider it as healthy?
3. Do you remember how it was paid for/ by whom?

Read
The following Legistlative Issue Paper written by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association. It summarizes the 2009 issues related to school lunches in Minnesota. This group clearly shows the gap between producing a school lunch and the revenue recieved, a problem that is causing many low-in-come students to not have access to as healthy school lunches.

Nutrition guidlines are mandated by both federal and state government, school lunches are a hot political topic. In an attempt to take some of the politics out of the issue, a group called The Healthy Schools Campaign, which is a independent non-profit organization, is here to help students, parents, and school leaders work to create change at the distric, state, and national level.
The following article in the Chicago Healthy Schools Campaign news letter explains ways to get children to eat healthier lunches, and stresses the importance of increasing funding for school lunch programs. Please read the news letter.

Watch
The following video explains the politics behind school lunch.
The Food Lobby Goes to School

Answer these questions as you watch the video: 
4. What are some obsticles that got in the way of providing American school children with healthy lunches. 

5. What health problems affect American children? Did this surprise you?

6. Consider what you have read and the video you have watched: What do you think is the #1 thing that you think can be done to improve school lunch?

Share 'N' Voice: Banned Bottled Water

I have a subscription to Vegetarian Times Magazine, and I came across a really cool article. This past July, a town in Australia called Bundanoon became the first town in Australia, and most likely the World, to ban the sale of any bottled water in their town.

The ban is called 'Bundy on Tap' or 'BOT' and it came about because a Syndey- based beverage company called Norlex was planning on building a water extraction plant in their town. This wasn't allowed, so Norlex planned on continuing to build the plant, and then ship the water out of town to be bottled. The person behind BOT realized that if the town was against having that company in their town, why would it make sense to sell the finished product in their town. So the town voted, and almost everyone voted YES on discontinuing the sale of water bottles. The town then started selling re-usable water bottles, and installed 4 filtered-water drinking fountains with spouts that made refilling water bottles easy.

AWESOME!

Read 'N' Seed: Final Review of "Under a Green Sky"

Overview of "Under a Green Sky" by Peter Ward
The beginning of this book wasn’t my favorite. It had very specific information, that I wasn’t that interested in. It also involved many view points from the author and other paleontologists about the various topics I’ve talked about. Some of the viewpoints and theories would get very lengthy and boring to read. However, when Peter Ward was discussing the K-T extinction, which was when the Earth was most likely hit by a giant meteor and the debris that was blown into the atmosphere. Causing total blackness, and ultimately killing off most of the species. I think that this was one of the most significant things I learned in this book. This is because it’s always possible for another meteor to strike the Earth.


The second part of the book was more attention-grabbing. It was really interesting to read about how the Earth almost frozen at one point, and it was the rise in greenhouse gases that was responsible for completely changing the temperature all over the World, causing it to thaw. This was the second most significant thing I read about. Our greenhouse gases are rising now, causing the temperature to rise to happen everywhere. This is important because history is already starting to repeat itself, and many people don’t realize what can happen if the green house gases continue to rise. Reading this book can help open people’s eyes to the past, and what can happen.

This leads to the third most significant part of the book. When Ward discussed that the next extinction could be caused by a green house extinction. When he said that it would only take a 25 foot rise in the Earths oceans to wipe out half of the World’s population I was blown away! And that by the year 3000 it is supposed to rise by 200 feet. This is extrememly important information, and something that I think I should have known before reading this book.


Recommendation
I would recommend this book.. or to even just skim the first couple of chapters, get a general idea, and read the whole second half. I found that much more interesting. But overall I learned A LOT from this book, and have found myself telling people random facts from it.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection

My SMART goal

"I will use a re-usable  bad everytime I go to the grocery store and Target."

My original SMART goal was that "I will use a re-usable bag everytime

I go to the grocery store." Later in the semester I added

that "I will use a re-usable bad everytime I go

to Target" as well.

SUCCESSES

During the 10 weeks I think I over all didn't a pretty good job! I typically remembered to bring my re-usable bags with me, or would run back out to my car to grab them if I forgot them there. I was  much more aware when I did forgot my bags than I think I would have been with out having this goal to do in class. Being more aware of what I was doing really helped me to remember. Also, writing about it each week was a good reminder, and a great way to reflect.

CHALLENGES

A few challenges presented themselves during this project. My biggest one being that when I shop with other people and ride in their car I ALWAYS seemed to forget my re-usable bags. I also would sometime only have when bag in my car, when I needed two, because I forgot the other one at my house. I did buy a new one this week though! :)

BENEFITS

I benefited from this assignment because it got me off to a good start on remembering to use my re-usable bags in the future.  I felt guilty when I would occasionally forget to bring a re-usable bag with me. And it wasn't that I felt bad that I wasn't using a re-usable bag because it was a class assignment, it's because I truely felt bad about needing to use a plastic or paper bag because they are so bad for the environment. I used WAY less plastic bags than I would have with out this goal.

According to the website reducing4more the average American uses somewhere between 300 and 700 bags each year! I've already cut way back on how many I use, and plan to keep it up! This is an obvious benefit to the environment, but to others too. This is because there will be less, even though it may not have been that many, plastic bags going into landfills, or possibly blowing around polluting the ground and water systems.

WHAT I LEARNED

I learned that behavior change isn't an easy thing, even if the goal seems relatively easy. There are always going to be challenges and always remembering to stick with your change may not always happen. But I learned how great it feels keep up with a goal, until it becomes a complete behavior change. I don't think it will be a problem for me to continue using my re-usable bags.

I fully plan on continuing with my behavior change! If someone else was looking to make a behavior change, I would recommend that you do it with someone else, or an entire class :) That way the topic will come up more often, helping you to remember that you set a goal for yourself.

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

Maggie Flolid


18 Artavia

Duluth, MN 55811

Dec. 5, 2009



Rep. Joe Hoppe

317 State Office Building

100 Rev. Martin Luther King Blvd.

St. Paul, MN 55155





Dear Representative Hoppe,

It is crucial to the well being of Minnesota children that you support HF 0784 to increase state reimbursement for school lunch. State funding has not kept pace with dramatic increases in food costs, a situation that is detrimental to the health and education of our state’s children. School nutrition is especially vital for low-income children who may not have access to fresh, healthy food at home.

The Minnesota School Nutrition Association supports an increase in school lunch aid, citing increased food costs and research that shows healthy food is crucial to student growth and achievement. The association says that there is currently a 37 cent gap between the cost of producing school lunch and revenues received.
As a Health Education major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, I have studied the link between adequate nutrition and the ability to learn. Researchers have clearly documented that getting adequate nutrition is essential to full intellectual development. Moreover, under nutrition impacts children’s behavior, school achievement and cognitive development.

A study by the USDA concluded that school lunch programs have had to offer fewer whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables as costs for these wholesome foods increases. Clearly, the long-term effects of not adequately funding school lunch are immense.

Please give your support to this important bill. Minnesota’s school districts – and more importantly, children – would greatly benefit from its passage. I appreciate your consideration for healthier, more equitable schools.


Sincerely,


Maggie Flolid

UMD student

Reflection: Weeks 11 and 12

Week 11

I wasn't in class for this week. However, I watched the video off the calendar called The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard. This was an incredibly informative video! I can't believe that 1/3 of the planets natural resources have been consumed, and 40% of the water ways in the U.S. have become undrinkable. If every country in the the World used resources like we do, it would tale 3 to 5 planets to support us, that's disgusting. Actually almost everything from this video completely disgusting, such as that man that decided after WWII to try and change the economy to basically just be revolved around buying, buying, and more buying. And then throwing away almost everything we do buy with in 6 months of purchasing it.

I also posted for my eco-chic lifestyle change which went really well for me that week! Posted about my Advocacy project, which is about increasing the amount of money reimbursed to schools from the state for lunch programs. And I also finished up the book I was reading; Under a Green Sky. 


Week 12
This week we started off talking about our photo essays, and learned about MckLinky blog hops. I really liked seeing everyone's topics that they chose to take pictures of! We also talked about writing a letter to a politcal representative or editor.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change: Week 9

Week 9

This past week had been a little difficult, due to the fact that I was in the cities for most of it. Right after break I went to the grocery store and remembered my bags. But I went to Trader Joes with my mom while in the cities and didn't have any re-usable bags with me, especially since we were in a rental car.  It was frustrating for me because we used 3 paper bags, because we also bought grocery's for my brother.

Successes

When I was using my car and I was up in Duluth, I remembered to use my re-usable bags.

Challenges

Once again the problem arose that when I go grocery shopping with someone else, not in my car, I never have a re-usable bag.  It is frusterating for me that this has become such a challenge. Since I was in a rental car, this was a semi unavoidable, but it has become an ongoing problem.

Plans for Next Week

My goal for next week will remain the same. "I will use a re-usable bag everytime I go to the grocery store or Target."

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

Hey Everyone! For my photo eassay I decided to document how much waste a family can accumulate during just one holiday. It was sad to see how much gets thrown away, I had never really taken the time to notice. There could have been better choices made that would have been more environmentally friendly.  I obviously chose Thanksgiving and there were about 20 of us.

Here the first bag of trash that was being taken out at only about 11 am.

These are two aluminum pans being thrown away that were used to cook the dressing. This was a time that I thought reusable pans could have been just as easily used, and would have been much more environmentally friendly.

This is a stack of plates that were used for the appitizers. On multiple occasions I noticed people setting their first plate down, and without thinking grab another plate later. Accumulating even more unnecessary waste.

This is yet another stack of plates, but from dessert. We went through a lot of paper plates.

This is a picture of the garbage can at the end of the night. There had been two bags in it before, but as you can see it was overflowing by the end of the night

This was a fun project to do! Everyone was asking why I was taking pictures of the trash, so when I explained that I was documenting how much trash one family can go through for just one holiday it helped open other people's eyes to this problem. I hope that at Christmas we can make some better decisions.


MckLinky Blog Hop

Read 'N' Seed: 4th Quarter of "Under a Green Sky"

Main Topics

The first chapter discussed how the state of Washington, many centuries ago, used to be very tropical. Fossils of tropical plants, palm trees, and crocodiles can still be found there. This shows a glimpse of what the Eocene era of the World was like; tropical everywhere. An island near Australia called New Caledonia has an interesting geography in that it gets warm there but the waters are still cooler. This island is being studied now because it could offer some insight as to what the World will look like someday due to global warming.

The author discussed some effects of living in places that are unbearably hot. For example, in many climates most people use drugs to help make it through the day, such as Kava root, and Khat. Also, the brain doesn't work as well and disease, such as malaria, are easier spread.

Ward examines the environmental changes that could lead to the next  greenhouse extinction; sea level rise, ocean acidification, global warming and coral reef "bleaching." He concludes the sea levels will rise by 200 feet by the year 3000.  A 25 foot rise would most likely wipe out half of the Worlds population. Ward says, "As far as can be seen in the present, we have not yet reached the point of no return, or the tipping point." The key is to keeping carbon dioxide levels below 450 parts per million.

Terminology

ocean acidification: The lowering pH levels of the planet's oceans.

coral reef 'bleaching': Coral starts to become white and can be caused by a reduction in photosynthetic pigment. Coral bleaching as been an increasing problem for the last twenty years.

Implications

The fact that the author believes that in under 1,000 years the sea levels may rise by 200 feet and only a 25 foot rise has the potential to wipe out half of Earth's population is so scary! That would obviously have a huge impact on humanity, and in not that large amount of time. With information like this out there I would thank that this would be enough to scare people into making major changes. Especially since we can still make the changes necessary to change the current path we are on.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change: Week 8

Week 8
This week went really well. I went to the grocery store once for a couple of things and remembered my reusable bag. I also went to Target once and just carried out what I had purchased because it was only a few things. However, when I went to the grocery store with my boyfriend and he drove I did not have a reusable bag to use.

Challenges
I learned that it can be a challenge to go grocery shopping with someone else if they drive, because it's hard to remember to grab a bag before I leave. I felt guilty that I was at the grocery store buying a few things and didn't have my bags. I also have yet to go pick up a few more reusable bags, like I was planning on doing.

Successes
This week went really well, at least when I drove to the store.  I always had a bag in my car and also remembered to take it into the store with me each time.

Plans for Next Week
My plan for next week will remain the same. "I will use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store and Target."

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction
Issue/problem: To increase the amount of money reinbursed to schools from the state for lunch programs.
Proposed bill: H.F. 0784
Description: The goal of this bill is to reinburse schools 52 cents per reduced price school lunch meal, from 12 cents per meal.

Who is Affected by the Issue?
who is affected most? I think that the children and the guardians of the children that are buying the reduced price school lunches will be the most affected. This is because if the school is receiving more money for these lunches it will give them the opportunity to provide the children with healthier lunches.
who loses? The tax payers of children who are not recieving the reduced priced school lunches. They are then may be paying more money towards something they or their children won't necessarily benefit from.
who gains? The children eating these school lunches will be able to better focus in school and will have had the opportunity to eat a healthy meal. This also benefits the teachers of these students.

What are the consequences of the issue?

for individuals mostly affected? More children will recieve a nutritious lunch everyday.  This will help the children learn more which will in turn affect their teachers.
for their families: The lunch prices will be less expensive, so it will save their family money. It will take away some stress by knowing that their children are eating a healthy lunch everyday.

for society: A benefit for society is simply that there would be a moral benefit in knowing that the children in their society are better taken care of. But it will also cost tax payers more money. 

 What is the economic impact of the issue?
what are the economic costs? and who bares these costs? More of the state of Minnesota's appropriated funds would be going towards this issue. Therefore perhaps making it so another issue may not get the needed or recommended amount of funds. So the tax payers bare the costs.
What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits? There would be a benefit for the school district because there would be more kids eating school lunches.

What is the social impact of the issue?

What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs? a social cost would be if this bill does pass other programs which were recieving funding from the state may be cut due to insufficient funds.

What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits? It's a benefit to society to have school children that are well fed and ready to learn.

What are the barriers?


What are the barriers to addressing this issue? Some people will not want to pay for the possible extra funding.


How can they be overcome? By convining people that it's a benefit to the greater good of society to have children focusing better in school, and also that it's an ethically correct decision.

What are the Resources?

What resources will we need to address this issue? The main resource needed will be money.  Also, people who are opposed to this issue may need more information. The MSNA would offer some good informtion.



Where and how can they be tapped? Tax payers money is the main place the money would be coming from.


What is the history of this issue?
What is the history of the issue in the community?  I seem to have some accross a couple bills that were similar to this one for the state of MN such as HB 252. But for this specifc bill it was first read and introduced February 16, 2009. Where it was then passed on to the Finace committee. on February 26 a new author was added (Kahn).

Allies & Opponents
Who would support this issue? Supporters would be those who feel having healthy and fed kids in school is extremely important.


Who would oppose this issue? People who would oppose this issue would be perhaps people that do not have all the information, do not have children, and/or do not want there taxs to increase or have other programs funding be cut.



My Recommendation


How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?  I think that policy makers,especially the state representatives should vote Yes on this topic!

Share 'N' Voice: "The Reverse Graffiti Project"

This is a Youtube video I came across and thought it really worth sharing! The video is called the 'Reverse Graffiti Project' and it's a about a man, and team of people that are "cleaning" San Francisco's Broadway tunnel (and I think other areas as well). They are cleaning it by putting up large stencils of native plants to California and blasting them with water, and some cleaning products, to show how dirty the tunnel really is. It just shows how dirty the World we're living in can be and we've just become so accustomed to it.  Check it out it's really cool!

Reflections: Week 9 and 10

Week 9
This week we learned about advocacy. We started our new blog series of blogs which is the advocacy project. For this I found out who my political representatives were, and read about advocacy. This was a good assigment for me because I had no idea who a lot of my representatives were or how to contact them. kinda sad, but true!  During class we split into groups to help explain advocacy better.
My Eco-chic lifestyle change didn't go very well this week. I forgot my reusable bags both time I went to the grocery store!


Week 10
This week I had another blog for my advocacy project. I chose a Healthy People goal, which was "Promote Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Associated with Diet and Weight." The objective I chose:19-3 Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. The sub-objective I chose: 19-3c Children and adolescents aged 6 to 19.
In class we watched the the video "Unnatural Causes". It's really sad how money can have such a affect on life expectancy. And that the U.S. spends around 2 trillion dollars on med care and there are still so many people suffering and dieing from preventable illness. I couldn't beleive that in certain areas of the U.S. the age at which people die can be assumed and is normal under the average life expectancy. The study on monkeys was also fascinating to me. How the monkeys that were more stressed had much more plaque build up in there hearts than the dominant monkey of the group.

Share and Voice: "Plastic Bag Recyling in Duluth"

I came across this information and thought it was really cool! Unveiled Nov. 4th, 2009 Duluth is starting a new plan for recyling plastic bags. Outside of retailers, such as Super One Foods, plastic bag recyling bins are going to be placed outside of doors.

A lot of the plastic bags from these bins is going to be taken by the Trax Company, Inc. This company uses recycled wood and plastic to make material for decks, railings, and fences.

So look for these new bins outside of our stores and bring any plastic bags you have laying around your house!!

Here's a deck made from Trex material!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change: Week 7

My SMART goal for this was the same as last week, "I will use a reusable bag everytime I go to the grocery store or Target." This week went much better. I did go to Target once and didn't bring my bag, but that's because I only needed two things so I just carried my items out. I also went to the grocery store once and remembered my bags.

Challenges
This week there weren't as many challenges for me. However, if I would have ended up needing a bag at Target I wouldn't of had one. This is because I rode with a roommate. It's a definite challenge to remember to grab my bags out of my car if I am riding with someone else.

Successes
This week I was able to remember by to put my bags back in my car, and keep them there. After I went to the grocery store this week, I unpacked my grocerys and immediately brought my bag to my car. It makes me feel really good to get back on track and keep up with my goal!

What I Learned
Dr. V had mentioned that Mount Royal takes a little money off your final bill if you have a reusable bag, and that's where I went this week and they did! I don't remember how much, but I think 10 cents or so.

Plans for Next Week
I will keep my goal the same for next week. I will use a reusable bag everytime I go to the grocery store or Target." 

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2010/ Thomas

The topic that I chose was "Promote Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Associated with Diet and Weight"
The objective I chose:19-3 Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese.Sub-objective I chose: 19-3c Children and adolescents aged 6 to 19.


Progress 
for 13-c : 'moved -83% away from the target.'


Disparities for 13-c: 
  Race and ethnicity
-The group with the best rate for 19-c is White non-hispanics
- Disparities from the best group rate are Hispanic or Latino and Black non-Hispanic. Both being 50-99% away from the disparity group.
Gender, Income, and Disability
-Females with higher income are in the best group rate.
-Males are less than 10% from the best group rate.
-Lower incomes are 10-49% away from the best group rate.


Opportunities and Challenges


Data and Community involvement are crucial to aide in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Dietary Guidelines help to manage weight and the risk of chronic disease by identifying healthy eating and physical activity patterns. Other tools to help establish positive eating habits are the DASH-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-eating plan and food labels.


Instituting healthy behaviors in children may possibly increase the prevention of obesity and diet related disease later in life. School wellness policies are sponsored by HHS partnered with USDA. Children should also be taught in the classroom healthy behaviors. Curriculum should range from a variety of topics, such as, nutrition and energy balance within the body. Parents and caregivers also play an important role in the prevention of obesity and disease


Emerging Issues
Since obesity has started to increase, new drugs and bariatric surgery will most likely become popular options for treatment. More data and monitoring should to be collected for these and other possible therapies surrounding this issue. Although, preventing people from becoming obese would be the best way to help stop the current trend of obesity in the U.S.

Related Bill

H.F. 0784 State reimbursement increased for reduced price school lunch meals from 12 to 52 cents per meal, and money appropriated

Sponsor: Newton

Last major action: 2/16/2009 it was referred by Chair to K-12 Education Finance Division

Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.R. 0784 State reimbursement increased for reduced price school lunch meals from 12 to 52 cents per meal, and money appropriated.

My Political Representative: State Representative Joe Hoppe

Read 'N' Seed Third Quarter of "Under a Green Sky"

Main Topics
a main topic first discussed was that millions of years ago there is evidence that the Earth was at one time called a 'snowball Earth.' This was ended by a rapid rise in greenhouse gases that were probably volcanically produced. These gases were measure in parts per million, but even with such a small addition of these gases it was enough to completely change the temperature all around the World.  Greenhouse gases are believed to be the major culprit for causing climate shifts throughout Earth's history. When the World warms it affects the oceans circulation system.  Greenhouse extinctions were also explained.
Currently, the global temperature is around 15 degrees and 16 degrees celcius. Each time the carbon dioxide levels double the global temperature's increase by about 2 degrees celcius. According to this book, in just a century the Earth's temperature should be around 20 degrees celcius which would, "conceivably bring about the greatest mass death of humans in all of history."

Terminology

'snowball Earth': This was a possible time in Earth's history when the entire Earth became so cold that the oceans may have frozen from pole to pole.

Greenhouse extinction:Where low oxygenated bottom water is at depths were sunlight can hit it green sulfur bacteria start to grow and expand filling the low oxygenated water.  Living amoung other bacteria that produce large amouts of hydrogen sulfide, this gas rises into the atmosphere, breaking down the ozone layer and killing a lot of the plant and animal life. With an increase in ultraviolet radiation most of the phytoplankton are killed. With the heat of the planet rising and the high levels of hydrogen sulfide creates a mass extinction oin Earth.


Implications
It stated in the book that " the key to climate change seems to be both the level and the rate at which carbon dioxide rises into the atmosphere." Climate change is obviously something that is affecting us today. The scary thing about reading these chapters was that rises in carbon dioxide levels most likely played a huge role in extinctions from the past. Since our greenhouse gases have been rising today I think it is extremely important that we do something about now.
The last part of my main topics about temperature increase and carbon dioxide levels was shocking! If things keep going the way there going in just 100 years there could be a huge mass extinction. This is just goes to show that something NEEDS to be done and changes need to be made.

Carbon Dioxide Levels

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update

My SMART goal for last week was that "I will use a reusable bag everytime I go to the grocery store or Target." This week was the worst week I've had so far :( . I went grocery shopping twice and BOTH times I didn't have my bags in my car!! The ironic thing is that one of the trips to the grocery store was only to get the stuff I needed to bring the snack to class this past Monday. So annoying. I also never went to Target this week.

Challenges
Obviously this week was a challenge for me. I'm not sure why this week was any different than any other week  but I just could not remember to bring put my bags back in my car. For me, that is by far the most difficult part of this goal.

Strategy
I think so that I can get back on track of being successful with this goal I'm going to need to purchase 1 or 2 more reusable bags. This way the bags can be rotated more easily, and if I happen to forgot to put a couple of the bags back, chances are I'll still have 1 or 2 of them in my car.

Successes
Needless to say, I was very unsuccessful this week.

What I learned
 I mostly learned this week that I actually felt really guilty that I didn't use my bags. When I got home and put the plastic bags from the grocery store into my house's little pile of other bags we have accumulated I felt soo bad. I think that this will really help me to be successful in achieving next weeks goal.

Next Week
Next week I plan on keeping my goal the same; "I will use a reusable bag everytime I go to the grocery store or Target." I am confident that next week will go more smoothly!

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President

Barack Obama

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments: 202-456-1111

Switchboard: 202-456-1414

"Contact the White House"


U.S. Senator

Al Franken

320 Hart Senate office building

Washington DC 20510

DC Phone: 202-224-5641

MN Phone: 651-221-1016

Contact Page



U.S. Senator

Amy Klobuchar

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Northwest and Central
Main Fax: 202-228-2186

Contact Page and Information Page



U.S. Representative

John Kline


Minnesota Office:

101 West Burnsville Parkway  #201
Burnsville, MN

Phone: (952) 808-1213


Contact and Information Page
 
 
 
State Senator

Julianne Ortman

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

State Office Building, Room 125
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206

Phone: (651)296-4837

Contact Page

State Representative

Joe Hoppe

317 State Office Building

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
 
Phone: (651)296-5066


Contact and Information Page




Minnesota Governor

Tim Pawlenty

130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone: (651)296-3391

Contact Page


County Board

Gayle O. Degler

541 Pine View Court

Chanhassen, MN 55317

Phone: (952) 403-7047


Contact and Information Page