Reflection Post: Weeks 13 and 14/Overall Reflection

Week 13: December 7, 2009
For this weeks class we went to Goodwill and boy was it a great time.  I had never been to that Goodwill ever before so being in the store alone was exciting for me.  The fact that we got to go behind the scenes and check out who is working there and what exactly happens with the clothes,toys, and everything else that comes through the doors.  I think it is so great that they employ people who otherwise wouldn't be working, and I also love the fact that they are making such strides in recycling and reusing. We did our final book review this week and our last eco-chic lifestyle change.  Overall it was a great week.
Week 14: December 14, 2009
Our last class period on Monday was very fun!  It was so neat to look at everyone's junking projects!  I had such a hard time figuring out what I was going to do for my project, but once I got started it was so much fun!  I want to continue to do junking projects and searching for new projects to start.  We got to create an online learning activity for this week also, and got to do our group members activities as a part of our last eye opener.  We ended class on Monday with one last class discussion about what we have learned from this class and what we are taking away.
Overall Reflection:
THIS IS A GREAT CLASS!  I am so glad that I got to be part of this class!  I got the opportunity to learn so many new things about the environment and learn about things that I can do to help out!  Dr. V. you did a great job of keeping things interesting yet challenging us to learn new things.  I loved doing the group commenting and all of the posts!  Blogging is a great way to run this class and I hope that you keep it this way!

Share and Voice: Caring for Nature on Barrow Island

For my last share and voice I wanted to find something that again shows what people are doing to help out our environment.  I came across the youtube clip below and was really intrigued by it.  On Barrow Island, which is just off the coast of Australia, Chevron employees have been working hard at retrieving oil from the island's land while keeping the island's environment the same.  This was very interesting to me.  I hope you all can take a chance to watch this clip, it isn't very long, but I guarantee it will catch you're attention and get you thinking.

Share and Voice: Alternative Energy

Throughout this whole semester it has been really eye opening learning about all the different challenges our environment is facing.  I always love finding websites, youtube videos, and reading my classmates blogs about things that we can do to help the environment or things that others are doing to help  the environment.  I stumbled upon a website called Alternative Energy and had such a great time reading through the different topics they address on the website.  It is nice to read about positive things that are being done for the environment which is exactly what this website is all about!

So, if you are at all interested in learning about solar energy and
non-renewable and renewable energy sources click on the link above
and enjoy!

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

Below are my responses to the online learning activities of my group members!  There were all really fun to do and of course eye opening!

Jordanne's Online Learning Activity:
Our group had to go to the Water Quality Association  website and click on diagnose your drinking water.  Jordanne asked us to pick two contaminants that are either in our water or that are interesting to us.  From the two contaminants that we picked we then needed to note the source of the contaminant, the effects it has on our water, and the treatment options that are out there.

The first contaminant that I chose is one that I know is present in my water, it deposits soap scum and bathtub rings.  It is Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3.
The source of this contaminant is natural deposits causing calcium (limestone) and magnesium salts in raw water.
The effects are that it consumes soap which makes cleaning it more difficult, it creates whiteish scale deposits, and creates soap curd and lime scum residue.
The recommended treatment for calcium in one's water is to remove all calcium and magnesium ions with a cation exchange water softener.

The  second contaminant I chose is one that I haven't had to deal with, but thought was interesting.  It is Odor in the water (rotten egg smell).
The sources of this contaminant are: chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, organic matter, gasoline contamination, methane gas, and septic contamination.
The effects are that it creates a rotten egg, musty, garlic, and chemical smell.
The recommended treatment for odor in one's water is: Activated carbon, air stripping, oxidation/filtration, and disinfection/filtration.

Karly's Online Learning Activity:
Our group was given a couple different sets of questions that we needed to answer, some where personal and some where about comprehension of material and the subject.  The article that Karly had our group read was Physical Education in Schools - Both Quality and Quantity are Important .
Below are the questions that Karly asked our group and my answers:

• Did your elementary/middle/high school have a Physical Education program? Answer: YES
• If yes...
  

• How many days a week did you have PE class? Answer: Everyday
• How long were the classes? Answer: 1 hour
• Were you required to participate? Everyone had to participate, if you didn't you were given a packet of homework questions about whatever sport or game we were playing that day in gym.
• Did you enjoy this class? Why or why not? I loved gym, I was in sports in High School so I didn't mind gym at all.

      Answer the following questions based off of the article mentioned above

• What are the current recommendations for children and physical activity? Answer: 60 minutes of physical activity everyday!
  
• What are the percentages of schools that are currently providing physical education? Answer: 3.8% of elementary schools, 7.9% of middle schools, and 2.1% of high schools.
• What percentage of schools DO NOT have a PE program? Answer: 22 percent.
  
• What are some of the benefits of PE in the school? Answer: Improvement not only in fitness, but academic performance as well.  There are also positive impacts on tobacco use, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
• Now answer the following questions:

• Do you feel as though PE in the schools should be a required course? why or why not?
  
• If yes, up until which age/grade? Answer: Yes it should be required and I feel that it should be k-12.
  
• Do you think that it should be the parents job to make sure their children are physically active and not the schools? Answer: I think that it is both the schools responsibility and the parents. Both can have a great impact on whether or not a child is active or not.
  
• Do you believe that having PE in the schools incorporates other beneficial qualities besides   fitness? if yes, what?  Answer: Yes!  I would have to agree with all of the benefits that I listed earlier!  I feel like the more active you are the less likely you are to be out getting in trouble are participating in unhealthy things.

Maggie's Online Learning Activity:

Our group had to answer a variety of questions for Maggie's online learning activity too!  First we were asked to answer the following questions:

1.What was your school lunch like growing up? Answer: My school lunch was actually really great!  I come from a very small town and from a very small school.  We actually had homemade lunches for a while and everything was always very healthy

2. Would you consider it as healthy? Answer: Yes
3. Do you remember how it was paid for/ by whom? My parents paid for my lunch.  We had to bring in checks whenever the office notified my family that my account was getting low.  I don't know how much each lunch cost thought.

Maggie then asked us to read the Legislative Issue Paper, The Chicago Healthy Schools Campaign and to watch a video The Food Lobby Goes to School.  We then needed to answer the following questions:

4. What are some obsticles that got in the way of providing American school children with healthy lunches. Answer:  All the politics, marketing, lobbyists, and commodity groups. 

5. What health problems affect American children? Did this surprise you? Answer: I think the saddest health problem is type II diabetes.  I am not surprised by this, but I am definitely concerned. 

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? Answer: I honestly think that people need to stop being so greedy and thinking about their bottom line, and start thinking about the health of our nations youth.  School lunches need to be healthy and that is that in my mind.  

Advocacy Project: Water Quality and Sanitation Activity

Purpose:
This online activity will hopefully open up everyone's eyes to two huge issues affecting millions of people all over the world.  I think that it is one thing to read information on this topic and gain some knowledge as well as being able to put yourself in the shoes of those who are suffering from these two issues.  I have broken down this activity into two parts for that very reason.
Background Information/Importance:
Below are links to three different websites where I found a lot of great information on the bill that I have been advocating for as well as general information about poor water quality and sanitary resources.
Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2009 Report to Congress
Environmental Health Perspectives 
Institute of Medicine
There are a wide variety of consequences from poor water quality and lack of sanitary resources, but I think that the biggest consequence is that people are falling extremely ill and dying because of these two issues.  This is why I think it is so important that people are made aware of this issue and become supporters of bill # H.R. 2030 .
Instructions:
Below is a crossword puzzle with 9 questions for you all to answer.  The questions all came from information I have previously stated in other Advocacy Project posts.  You can't actually type into the crossword puzzle so I would like you to respond to this post with your answers to each question.
The second part of this online activity is for each of you to reply to this post answering the following question: What do you think it would be like to live without access to clean water and sanitary resources?

Across:

1. People are losing their self ___ because of their lack of sanitary resources.

6. The other main issue that is affecting individuals in developing countries

7. One of the biggest barriers in reducing the amount of people affected by poor water quality and sanitation.

9. The percentage of people who lack access to clean drinking water in the world.

Down:

2. How many countries worldwide are in need of assistance when it comes to water quality and sanitation.

3. One of the main issues affecting individuals living in developing countries?

4. An economic impact of poor water quality and sanitation would be reduced worker _____

5. People are being infected by _____ 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?

Please note: For some reason my crossword puzzle picture is not showing up completely on the screen, but if you click on the picture it blows it up.  You will need to see the big picture in order to know how long each word is supposed to be.  Sorry for the inconvenience!

Good Luck!

Share and Voice: Recycling Tips

Below is a youtube clip that I thought would be helpful for anyone who is unsure about what exactly they can and cannot recycle.  It may seem like common sense, but I thought that it was worth putting up.



Hope you enjoyed the video clip and learned something new!

Read 'n' Seed 6: Final Review of "Fast Food Nation"

Overview of Book:
Fast Food Nation was a very eye opening read, and I think that is really the purpose behind this book.  The author, Eric Schlosser, goes behind the scenes of mainly the fast food industry along with the meatpacking industry, digging up the truth behind the all American meal.  He meets and interviews real people working in these industries as well as individuals who have been negatively affected by these industries.  Schlosser does a great job of putting the familiar saying "you are what you eat" into context.  This book is a great read for anyone looking to become more informed about what they are putting into their bodies, and it's effects on the environment.
Three Significant Issues:
The three main issues that have really stuck with me after finishing this book are: employee treatment, slaughterhouse conditions, and the overall effects the fast food industry has had on the environment.  All over the world fast food employees are being paid poorly and mistreated.  They are being taken advantage of mainly because of their age and their lack of experience out in the "working world".  Also employees of slaughterhouses are being injured and barely taken care of.  Slaughterhouse employees have one of the highest injury rates in the U.S.  They are getting injured on the job and forced to return to work with a very limited amount of time to recover if they get any recovery time at all.  The slaughterhouses are also extremely disgusting in my opinion.  Because of the demand for meat from the fast food industry they are pushing their employees to the limit and carelessly handling our food in the process.  E-coli has now become a major concern for individuals who consume meat products, which in the past, before there was such a demand for meat, E-coli was not such a problem because meat was handled with more care.  Lastly, the more that these fast food chains keep popping up, the more that our environment is going to suffer.  When a building goes up, more land is taken away, more food needs to be processed, the more food that needs to be processed, the grain and resources are going to be used.  It is a viscous cycle!  All of these things add up and they are harming our planet, not helping it.  We the consumer have been consumed by the fast food industry!  The more we know about this topic gives us the ability to do more about the problem.
Meaning and Importance:
The topics discussed in this book are important to me because in the long run they affect me, my family, and everything on earth really.  Without the environment where would we be?  We wouldn't be, it is as simple as that!  This book has really opened up my eyes to what is going on in the fast food industry and has given  me some great knowledge.  Again, I feel that the more that you know the more you can do to prevent/reduce the problem.
Recommendation: 
I would most definitely recommend this book to others!  I have been saying this all semester long, that I want everyone to learn what I have learned from this book.  I don't think that this book covers everything that people should know about this topics, but I think it is a great starting place to become more engaged in what is going on in the fast food industry.  So, if you are looking for a great read that is informative and will get you thinking critically, this is the book for you!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection

My SMART goal:
To drink six to eight 8 ounce glasses of water in my reusable metal water bottle everyday, and to also use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store!
Successes and Challenges:
When I first started my SMART goal of drinking six to eight 8 ounce glasses of water everyday the biggest challenge I faced was getting used to drinking that much water and not getting sick of it.  I tried adding crystal light for flavor, but then I found out that aspertame was in crystal light which I do not want in my body, so I started adding in lemons and limes to give my water an extra zip!  Once I got used to drinking all that water the challenge then became meeting the second part of my SMART goal, using a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store.  The biggest challenge I faced for this part of the goal was remembering my bag.  I quickly learned that I not only need to put a few reusable bags in my car, but I also needed to put one in my purse.  I'm glad that I ran into a few challenges, because I was able to prove to myself that I can get past obstacles that may be in my way.
Benefits and What I Learned:
This whole project really taught me that if I put my mind to something I can really do it.  I know that sounds cleshay but it's the truth.  I'm not usually that much of a goal setter, at least not obvious goal setting that I keep checking in on and commenting on along the way.  Behavior changes aren't always easy, but I feel like you really can shine if you stick with it!  All in all I am really glad that we did the eco-chic lifestyle change for this class because it isn't something I would normally do on my own!
Benefits for Others and the Environment:
The reason that I chose this smart goal was that by drinking all of that water I would not only be bettering myself, but I would be helping out the environment.  I learned quite a bit about plastic water bottles filling up our landfills and polluting our oceans through this SMART goal, and anything I could do to decrease that amount was crucial to me!  I also learned about the importance of using reusable bags because plastic bags just like plastic water bottles are not good for the environment what so ever!  By bettering the environment I am also helping out each and every individual who is living on this planet.  If you think about it everything that happens in the environment good or bad some how effects human beings.  So, the more we are willing to do for the environment, the more it will do for us!
The Future of My SMART goal and Recommendations: 
I ABSOLUTELY WILL BE CONTINUING TO WORK AT MY SMART GOAL!  I don't want to stop just because the semester is coming to an end, that seems ridiculous to me.  My SMART goal has very much become a part of my daily life and there is no way I am getting rid of it!  The only recommendation that I have for others about making a lifestyle change would be to make sure that you challenge yourself while being realistic!  Also, don't get discouraged if you hit a bump in the road, that happens, the important thing is to be able to get back on track and learn from past mistakes!  


Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 
Hosted by: Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy 

Advocacy Project: Letter to a Public Official

   December 6, 2009

   Congressman David Obey

   United States House

   2314 Rayburn Building

   Washington, DC 20515

Congressman David Obey,

     I am writing to you to vote yes to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005, Bill # H.R. 2030 .  This bill is seeking to provide 100,000,000 people with first time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005. These two issues alone can affect not only the health of individuals, but also the crops that they grow, and the environment around them. With forty percent of the world’s population lacking access to clean and safe drinking water one can see that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

     I believe that something must be done to help out the millions of people in the world who are negatively affected by poor water quality and lack of sanitary resources.  According to the Environmental Health perspectives , people are becoming sick and even dying because of these two issues, which is not only affecting the individual, but his/her family and community as well.  The economy of the developing countries who have poor water quality and sanitary resources are also being affected.  Money is being spent on treating water related illnesses and diseases, and worker productivity is being lowered due to these illnesses.

     The main people who will greatly benefit if this bill is passed are the poor living in developing countries.  These are the people who are falling ill, these are the people who are dying, these are the people who are losing their crops and jobs because of these two issues.  By bringing clean water to these people and by giving them access to sanitary resources you will give these individuals a better chance at life. 

     From your biography I found that you have done work in the past to help out the environment.  I think it is wonderful that you have made such a commitment by being a powerful presence against anti-environmental riders, helping secure our air, water, and resources.  I can only hope that you will continue to help out by voting yes to bill # H.R. 2030.  By voting yes you will not only be helping out our environment you will be changing the quality of millions of people’s lives all over the world. 

Sincerely,

Hailey Giller

(Contact Information)

Reflection Post: Weeks 11 and 12

Week 11: November 23, 2009
Our Advocacy Issue Overview post was due at the beginning of this week.  My issue focused on water quality and sanitation rights.  I really like my topic a lot and enjoyed searching for information to use!  In class on Monday we did a really fun activity where we broke into groups and had to come up with junking ideas for various objects Dr. V. sent around the room!  This was by far my favorite activity we have done so far this year! We also worked on defining environmental terms, working together to create the best definition. We had another Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change goal due this week as usual, and ended the week with our fourth quarter read 'n' seed.
Week 12: November 30, 2009
I was gone this past Monday for class because I was sick, but I joined the MckLinkey hop that everyone else joined during class on Monday.  I also did my Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change for week 9 this week, things have been going pretty good when it comes to achieving my goal!

Read 'n' Seed: Fourth Quarter of "Fast Food Nation"

Chapters and Pages Covered:
The last chapters of Fast Food Nation that I read were chapter 9, chapter 10, and the epilogue.  I started at page 191 and ended at 283.
Main Topics:

In chapter 9 the main topics that were talked about were food-borne pathogens, specifically focusing on E-coli.  During the 1980's changes in the meatpacking industry lead to increased risk of widespread contamination, leading to many people being affected by E-coli.  Eric Schossler interviewed a man who had eat a frozen pre made hamburger and had gotten sick from it.  He ended up having E-coli, but by the time that it had gotten traced back to the hamburger he had eaten, other people had gotten E-coli from those meat products.  Many other outbreaks have occurred and the main people who have been affected by it have been children.  Something sad that I found out in this chapter is that if a company puts out a meat product that has to be re-called they are the one's who get to decide how much they recall.  The main way that E-coli is passed to meat is actually through cattle manure.  Something very disturbing to learn.  However, today many fast food companies have agreed to have microbial testing done to their meat before it is given out to the public.
In Chapter 10 the main topics were the globalization of fast food restaurants, specifically looking at McDonalds and it's effects on other companies such as the food processing industry.  Mr. Schossler traveled to Germany only to find that even in the most remote places McDonald's restaurants were popping up.  Something that really hit home with me was reading about how just three miles away from the Dachau concentration camp a McDonalds was built.  This is disturbing to me in so many ways, but especially because I have personally been to that concentration camp and it just does not seem fitting that a McDonalds be right next door.  Dachau was a terrible place were thousands were killed.  It is sad that a McDonalds is just put up there as if it is a normal everyday location where people should come to enjoy a nice fast food meal.  I feel that it is a place where people should come to remember the past, not indulge in a greasy hamburger.

The last part of this book that I read was the epilogue entitled Have it Your Way.  This chapter started on a more hopeful note, by describing a family owned business who does not believe in the McDonalds way of running things and is pretty environmentally friendly.  They raise their own cattle, feed them organically, and form their own hamburgers everyday.  This is what the fast food industry should be like! Basically the epilogue pointed out that we can have it our way, we can either take it or leave it.  The way that we advertise for fast food companies, the many costs that we pay because of eating fast food, and this is not just financially but personally as well.  Food safety should be important to all Americans especially congress who can control laws around food safety.  This was a great way to end this book, basically putting it in the readers hands.  Mr. Schossler has presented all kinds of information throughout this book, and it is now the readers turn to choose whether or not to do anything about it.

Terminology/Things I Learned:
Again there wasn't really a lot of terminology in this section of the book, but there was plenty to learn.  I think that the main thing that I took away from this part of the book is that the fast food industry has just become such a part of the entire world's view of the American way of eating.  This is sad to me, but I know that it is true.  Also when it comes to E-coli and it's relationship with the fast food industry I learned that a single plant can produce 800,000 pounds of hamburger, and just one animal infected with E-coli can contaminate 32,000 pounds of that meat simply because of how ground beef is made these days.
Implications: 
Everyone is affected by the fast food industry whether they like to believe it or not.  The fast food industry is inter-connected with so many other industries that it is hard not to feed the fire.  There are many implications for the widespread growth of the fast food industry, it is literally taking over the world!  Individuals are working in poor conditions, people are becoming sick from the food, and lines are being crossed by the building of fast food restaurants in various locations.  I have found so many implications from this book, which has been very eye opening for me.  I truly wish that everyone in class could have read this book, I want everyone to learn what I have learned!

Share and Voice: Old Man Coniston

I took this picture during my first week in England while hiking up a mountain called, "Old Man Coniston".  I chose to share this picture with everyone because this was the first time I was ever out of the United States really soaking up the beauty of an environment so different from what I was used to.  I had never hiked up a mountain before, and never had seen a waterfall in nature like this one EVER!  I remember this day really well too, I was still really freaked out by the fact that I was going to be living in England for nine months, and was still in the beginning stages of getting to know everyone who was on my trip.  We all go the opportunity to hike up this mountain together, getting acquainted with each other and our new surroundings.  Out of all the pictures that I took while over in England of the different places/environments I went to, this picture is one of my favorites.  It always brings me back and never gets old to look at!

Share & Voice: Resusable Bags Depot

 I stumbled upon the website Reusable Bags Depot  and found some really cool stuff that I thought would be great to share with all of you!

This website clearly sells reusable bags, but it also is filled with some pretty cool facts.

Not only do they have facts about the benefits of using reusable bags on this site, but they also have links for information on eco-friendly products that can be used other than reusable bags!

This site can lead you to you tube clips as well as other blogs with more information on reusable bags.

One of the best things I read on this website was about how we essentially are paying for the paper and plastic bags that we use at the grocery stores we shop at.  We are told that they are "free", but we are actually paying for them through the raised pricing of the products that we are buying.  So, if you bring in a reusable bag you will not only not be paying for the "free" bags they provide, but you will be saving money since many stores are now crediting you 10 cents each time you use a reusable bag.

So, click on the link above and take a look around this website!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9: Weekly Update

My Smart Goal:

To drink six to eight 8 ounce glasses of water in my reusable metal water bottle everyday, and to also use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store!
Successes & Challenges:
This past week I was home for the majority of the time and I am proud to say that I was drinking more water than usual. Again, I was picking up my water bottle and drinking out of it without even thinking twice. I also got strep throat over the break and was drinking water like it was going out of style! I couldn't get enough of it, water was the one thing that made my throat feel good! I did however use a plastic bag when I went to the grocery store to pick up some cold medicine. I didn't even realize it until I was out in the car. I was upset with myself, and I almost brought the plastic bag back inside the store.
Feelings:
Overall, I am still feeling great about how my goal is coming along! I do slip up every once in a while, but I am human and mistakes do happen. I really do notice a difference in how I feel now that I have been drinking all my water. It's hard to explain, but I just feel like my body is lighter.
What I Learned:
I think the biggest thing that I have learned from this past week is that people are bound to make mistakes, but coming up with ways that help reduce the amount of mistakes people make is really important. This past week has really made me think about my use of reusable bags and has got me thinking of things that I can do to make using reusable bags a big part of my life, so that I always remember to use them!
Plans For Next Week:
Things are going to stay the same for this upcoming week! Hopefully I won't be carelessly using any more plastic bags!

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9
Hosted by: Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

Ever since the first day of Environmental Health I knew I was going to take a lot away from this class!  I have slowly but surely started to change the way I treat our environment.  Below are just a few pictures showing the different ways I am trying to help out our environment!

 



I have learned a lot about reusable water bottles and how great they are for the environment through my Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change goal!  I have cut plastic water bottles out of my life and have been using this beautiful purple metal water bottle ever since

I also have learned about the importance of using a reusable bag through my SMART goal!  I now have made a pact with myself that I will always bring and use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store!  Below are just a few of my reusable bags.  I not only use them for grocery shopping but for other things as well!

From the advocacy project and discussions in class I have learned quite a bit about water rights and the importance of having clean safe water.  Just because I can access water whenever I want, doesn't mean that I should use it carelessly.

Using less electricity is also something I have started concentrating on more and more!




Why drive to school when you can run, walk, or bike?

Lastly, recycling!  I have become much more conscious of what I should be recycling and making sure that I am doing my part by recycling everything that should be recycled!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8: Weekly Update

My Smart Goal:
To drink six to eight 8 ounce glasses of water everyday in my reusable metal water bottle, and to also use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store!
Successes & Challenges: 
Again I had a really successful week!  I really surprise myself sometimes with how much water I drink, I feel like a lot of the time I just pick up my water bottle and sip away at it without even realizing it!  I didn't go grocery shopping this week, but I did use my reusable bag a few different times this past week when I was bringing things to and from school.  This past week could have been a problem for me since I was extremely busy with school, but I think the fact that drinking all of my water is becoming such a part of my life that I just do it now.
Feelings: 
I think the best way to sum up my feelings is that I feel really good!  I feel good about my goal, and in return sticking with my goal makes me feel really good!  I know that just because I have chosen to drink all of this water and use a reusable bag every time I go grocery shopping for my goal, that I am definitely going to continue to do this after this semester!
What I Learned:  I honestly think that the biggest thing I have learned from all these weeks of doing my goal, is that I truly can do anything if I put my mind to it!  I'm not usually that big of a goal setter when it comes to things like this, I mean I do set goals for myself in school, but really I don't usually just sit down and set a goal for myself, so this whole experience has just been a really great one for me!
Plans For Next Week:
I am keeping everything the same!

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8
Hosted by: Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:

The main issue I am focusing on is the lack of clean water and basic sanitary resources provided to people in poor nations.  In a statement that Hillary Clinton  wrote to congress about the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2009 , she stated, “that no two issues are more important to human health, economic development, and peace and security than basic sanitation and access to sustainable supplies of water.”  These two issues alone can affect not only the health of individuals but also the crops that they grow, and the environment around them.

The Senator Paul Simon Water of the Poor Act 2005, Bill# H.R. 2030   has proposed to provide 100,000,000 people with first time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005.

 Who is Affected by the Issue?

The individuals who are affected the most by this issue would be the poor living in developing countries.  In the updated Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act report to congress , it was found that one in eight people lack access to clean drinking water, which is equivalent to 40 percent of the world’s population.  Also they found that two out of three people without access to clean water are living on less than two dollars a day making it extremely difficult to afford much of anything.  These people are falling victim to many diseases due to lack of clean drinking water, and are also losing self-dignity because of their poor sanitary conditions. 

So, who gains from 40 percent of the world’s population going without access to clean drinking water?  Many of the officials who are running the developing countries where water access and sanitary resources are a problem.  Fixing these two issues costs money and clearly some officials don't have the money or are not willing to spend the money to fix these two problems.  It has now become a top priority for the United States to take on requiring billions of dollars from the U.S.

 What are the Consequences of the Issue?

The consequences of this issue are far and wide.   I believe that the two biggest consequences are sickness and death.  According the the Environmental Health Perspectives'  people are being infected by diseases on a regular basis due to unclean water.  Diseases such as diarrheal disease , typhoid , polio , Hepatitis A and E, as well as cholera , are all being spread through un safe drinking water.  The other huge consequence, which is directly linked to both inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, is deaths in children.  In the Department of States' report to congress they found that each day children are dying because of undernourishment.  You can imagine that these consequences are not only affecting the individuals themselves, but also their families and society as a whole.  How can a community exist if everyone is getting sick and dying off due to poor water quality and lack of sanitation?

 What is the Economic Impact of the Issue? 

A lack of access to clean water and sanitary resources can also effect the economy.  Think of how much money is being spent on people who are falling ill because of water related diseases.  The amount of people affected by these diseases also effects worker productivity, which then affects the company he/she works for.  Imagine if you are sick.  You probably aren’t going to go into work, and if you do go because you’re family is depending on your income, you probably aren’t going to have as much stamina as you usually do.  On that same note, school attendance will also decrease.  An economic problem that I believe can’t be ignored and directly correlates with water quality and sanitation standards is the growth of the agriculture.  If water is contaminated and then being used on crops, it is safe to say that the agriculture will be negatively effected.

As far as there being economic benefits to this issue I simply can’t find any, and I can’t comprehend how their could even be any.

 What is the Social Impact of the Issue? 

The social costs of this issue are a combination of the personal cost that this issue is having on the individuals directly affected as well as the United States who is spending billions of dollars on creating and implementing strategies to reduce the number of people negatively affected by poor water quality and sanitation. 

The benefits of this issue would be that something is actually being done about it.  Senator Paul Simon made it his duty to take on the international problem of poor water quality and sanitation.  Through his efforts along with many others steps are being actively taken to work toward diminishing this problem.

 What are the Barriers?

According to the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act report 95 countries worldwide are in need of assistance when it comes to water quality and sanitation.  This creates a barrier simply because of how many countries are in need of help.  So, if we want to help all of those countries another barrier is then created.  The United States would need to come up with a lot of money to help all 95 countries, luckily many U.S. agencies and departments contribute to international water and sanitation efforts along with many others making it possible to help those countries in need.

 What are the Resources? 

There are a variety of resources that need to be used in order to take on the challenge of greatly reducing the number of people negatively affected by poor water quality and sanitation.  First and foremost the United States must work with each country individually to take on that countries specific water and sanitary problems.  Many organizations and agencies need to come together to have the funds to help these countries in need.  Connections need to made between the U.S. Government and companies who have the means and access to new technology that could improve the water quality and sanitation of these countries. 

Being the United States is taking on this challenge access to these resources without a doubt is possible through networking and advocating for these changes.

 What is the History of this Issue?

According to the Environmental History of Water, water quality and sanitation issues have always been around.  As countries have developed over the years some have overcome big issues with water quality and sanitation while others have continued to struggle.  In the past efforts have been made to improve water quality and sanitation but it seems as if enough is never done.  The Senator Paul Simon Act has been around since 2005 and changes have been continually made to make it a better system.  The bottom line is that there is always going to be changes that need to be made which is why it is important that people are made aware of this issue.  The more people who know about this problem, the more chances there are that the United States’ efforts will be successful. 

 Allies and Opponents:

There are many organizations, departments, and agencies out there that are helping out with this issue.  The following are just some of those who support this cause: The U. S. Agency for International Development , the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace corps , The U.S. Combatant Commands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch , the Multilateral Development Banks , and the Environmental Protection Agency.  

People who would oppose this issue would be those who do not want to spend their money for such a cause, people who believe that the United States should be spending their money helping out the U.S. and not others, leaders of other countries who do not want the aid of the United States, and I am sure that there are representatives from the U.S. who oppose of working on this issue as well.  It was hard to find information that specifically stated people who would be against this issue.

My Recommendation:

At the very beginning of my research I read a quote that President Obama had said and I think it pretty much sums what I believe should be done about this issue.  In the U.S. Department of States' report to congress they used a quote President Obama said during his inaugural speech, and it goes as follows,  “To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.” I can think of no better way to honor the legacy of Senator Paul Simon, who did so much for so many, than to commit ourselves to achieving this vision and the ideals of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act.”


Please note that if information was not directly linked within the text the header to that paragraph contains a link to where I got my information.

Reflection Post Weeks 9 and 10

Week 9: November 9, 2009:
This weeks topic was on advocacy , we didn't get to watch a documentary in class, but we did get to take what we had learned about advocacy and use it in a presentation to the class.  I really enjoyed listening to everyone present their information about advocacy and how it relates to health education and the seven responsibilities.  I also really liked the powerpoint that Dr. V. presented, it was simple, yet full of good basic information about advocacy.  This week we also got to look into who our political representatives are , which I found to be a great project.  I'm really not that political, but I still think that it is important for everyone to know who is representing them.  We did our eco-chic goal as usual this week, and ended the week by doing another read 'n' seed .  The section of the book that I read for this read 'n' seed was extremely interesting, but kind of hard to read at times.  I am starting to really enjoy my book!

Week 10: November 16, 2009:
I was excited to start off this week by doing an advocacy project post on a healthy people 2010 objective that I had found interesting.  As a part of the post we were asked to look further into the objective we chose by finding a similar bill in THOMAS .  The main focus of both the objective and the bill is better water quality and sanitation for all!  We also got to start of this week by watching a documentary called, "Unnatural Causes".  This has been one of my favorite documentaries that we have watched so far!  I always say that the documentaries that we watch are so eye opening, but they really truly are.  This particular documentary was just extremely interesting because of the way it looked at one's health and their wealth, as well as the color of their skin.  Sometimes it is  hard to watch documentaries like this, because you just don't want to think that this is how things work because it really shouldn't work this way.  On another note though, I had a pretty successful week with my eco-chic goal, so things are going pretty well when it comes to my lifestyle change!  All in all the past two weeks have again been very informative and just as excited as all the rest!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Goal Week 7: Weekly Update

 My Smart Goal: To drink six to eight 8 ounce glasses of water everyday in my reusable metal water bottle, and to also use a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store!

Successes and Challenges: This past week went pretty well for me!  I slipped up this past weekend with drinking all my water, which is kind of disappointing.  My sister was home from California so I was spending a lot of time with her and wasn't really paying attention to how much water I was drinking.  I finally went to the grocery store and got to use my reusable bag, which I was pretty excited about!  I just keep a reusable bag in my car so that I know every time I go to the grocery store I won't have to worry about not having it with me!
Feelings: Overall I'm feeling pretty good.  
I slipped up a little with my goal, but nothing too big.  My sister and I actually had a really great conversation about using reusable bags and water bottles, and how the things that you do may not seem like a big deal, but they can add up and make a difference. 
What I Learned:  My sister currently works for a company called Wellsprings in California, it is pretty much a weight loss camp/academy.  She said that they hand out plastic bottles of water to the individuals in their program all the time and that she knows those bottles don't always get recycled.  So, we thought it would be a good idea if she recommended to one of the head coordinators the idea that as a part of coming to camp each participant was given a reusable water bottle.  This way they would be cutting back on waste while still ensuring that the campers have access to water!
Plans for Next Week: I'm keeping everything the same for this upcoming week!  I am really happy with my goal so far and how everything is going!

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7 
Hosted by: Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy 

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

My Healthy People 2010 Goal:
I wasn't really sure what type of objective I was looking for when I started working on this advocacy project, but the moment that I found 8-29 I knew that I wanted to focus on this objective.  The 8-29 objective reads:  To reduce the global burden of disease due to poor water quality, sanitation, and personal and domestic hygiene.   I was really moved by the documentary we watched on water rights, which is why this objective stuck out to me.  I believe that everyone should have access to clean water at very low cost, should have sanitary standards where they live, and resources available to them for sanitary products, and on that same note personal and domestic hygiene goes hand in hand with access to good water, and sanitary resources.  
From the information off of the objectives and sub-objectives , I found that 8-29 has had no change in objective.  Great improvements have been made as you can see from the target figure below.  The following information on objective 8-29 was found from the World Health Report 2003, World Health Organization.  

	Target: 2,135,000 deaths. Baseline: 2,668,200 deaths worldwide were attributable to these factors in 1990. Target setting method: 20 percent improvement. Data source: World Health Report 2003, World Health Organization.

What's Happening:

161% - Met target 

Out of Healthy People 2010 under the Environmental Health category , nine objectives and sub-objectives either met or exceeded their targets.  8-29 (my goal) was one of those nine!  This is great but I believe that progress needs to continually happen.  I have chosen goal 8-29 because I want to dig a little deeper into this goal, and look into what is happening in our nation when it comes to disease due to poor water quality, sanitation, and personal and domestic hygiene. 

Related THOMAS Bill:

H.R. 2030 

Title: To provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act 2005.

Sponsor: Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 4/22/2009) Cosponsors (69)

Related Bills: S.624

Latest Major Action: 4/22/2009 Referred to House Committee.  Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Recommendation: Vote_____(indicate Yes or No) for H.R. 2030.

My Political Representative: Congressman David Obey.