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)