Jordanne's Jungle

Reflection: Weeks 13 & 14 and Overall Course Reflection

2009-12-17T08:09:00.000-06:00

Week 13

I was unable to make it the the Goodwill field trip this week because of some on-going car problems but I heard that it was very interesting! We wrote our advocacy letters and I thought that was a really fun assignment. I have never done something like that before and I feel like I did something that will make a difference. It was nice to be able to put into action something we have been researching and learning so much about these last few weeks. I also posted my last Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change post and have decided to stick with my goal! I can honesty say that it has become a part of my lifestyle.

Week 14

It was really fun to put together my online learning activities for my group members. I also enjoyed completing the activities that they posted because it gave me a chance to learn more about their topics. I thought they all did a wonderful job and I was definitely able to learn something new! It was great to see everyones junking projects! We have a very creative class. My favorite part of class this week was our discussion that we had talking about how environmental health has changed us. It was great to hear from everyone! I really believe that I have learned things in this class that I will take with me and incorporate into my everyday life.

**This is a photo of my Junking Project!!

OVERALL

I had a lot of fun taking this class! I can't believe the semester is already over. There were so many eye opening experiences through out this class and I have learned to change some of my habits and be more aware of my surroundings. I enjoyed all of the documentaries, they really opened up my mind to some very important issues that we face today. Because of this class I have started to do more things to decrease my impact on the earth. I believe that every little bit helps. I have also started to tell others what I have learned and encourage them to change as well. The challenge will be to keep it up! I hope everyone in this class continues to do their part. Thank you Dr. V and thank you to my wonderful group members! I really enjoyed reading your blogs. :) Have a GREAT winter break!

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

2009-12-15T18:11:00.002-06:00

Maggie: School Lunch Subsidies and Nutrition

1.What was your school lunch like growing up?
French fries and pizza were offered everyday as a choice at lunch and most kids chose those options. I think our lunch was very unhealthy. They had a few good options but very few and they were overshadowed by pizza, corn dogs, and french fries.
2. Would you consider it as healthy?
No.
3. Do you remember how it was paid for/ by whom?

My parents paid for my lunch but I brought lunch from home most days.
4. What are some obsticles that got in the way of providing American school children with healthy lunches.
Lobbyists, government, cost, politics
5. What health problems affect American children? Did this surprise you?
Heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, -- diseases that used to only be seen in adults. This did surprise me! 1/3 of children are overweight or obese!
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?
Better choices for kids and smaller portions sizes. There is not reason junk food should be served at school lunches. For some kids that is one of the only meals they get all day. It should be as healthy as possible.

Karly: Physical Education in the Schools Lesson

Did your elementary/middle/high school have a Physical Education program?

Yes.

How many days a week did you have PE class?

5 days a week

How long were the classes?

One hour

Were you required to participate?

Yes

Did you enjoy this class? Why or why not?

Yes, it was my favorite class of the day because it gave you the chance to move around and have fun with your friends.

What are the current recommendations for children and physical activity?

60 mins a day

What are the percentages of schools that are currently providing physical education?

3.8% of elementary, 7.9% of middle, and 2.1% of high schools provide daily physical

education
What percentage of schools DO NOT have a PE program?

22%

What are some of the benefits of PE in the school?

students’ aerobic and physical fitness increased
reduced body mass index
improvements in students’ academic performance
positive impact on tobacco use, insomnia, depression, and anxiety

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?

Yes, I feel like it should be required for every grade because physical activity doesn't become less important as you grow older. It is important for all kids to participate in PE classes.

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 is a job for parents and for schools. Physical activity should be required in schools because not every kids has the same home life or chance to participate in after school physical activity.

Do you believe that having PE in the schools incorporates other beneficial qualities besides fitness? if yes, what?

Yes, I believe that it gives kids a chance to socialize and to have some fun. It also helps kids focus better through out the day in their classes.

Hailey:Water Quality and Sanitation Activity

Across:

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

Dignity

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 _____ on a regular basis due to unclean water.

Diseases

8. The acronym for one of the leading agencies who is helping out with water quality and sanitation problems?

EPA

What do you think it would be like to live without access to clean water and sanitary resources?

Everyday would be a struggle. Water is a huge part of my life and If I didn't have clean water readily available to me or if the water I was drinking was causing me to get sick it would be hard to function.

Advocacy Project: Water Quality Problem Solver

2009-12-14T12:12:00.002-06:00

WATER QUALITY PROBLEM SOLVER

The purpose of this excersise is to look at the different contaminants that may be in your drinking water. Or if you think there might be something wrong with your water you can narrow down the possible contaminants and find treatments and solutions to your problem.

The quality of our water is vital to the health of Americans. It is important that water is tested by our government in order to maintain the health of our lakes and rivers. That is why I am in support of bill H.R.1262 the Water Quality Investment Act.

Water contaminants have negative effects on people's health. The EPA Ground & Drinking Water Website has a list of contaminants that may be infecting your drinking water, along with the health effects of long time exposure to such contaminants. After looking through these possible contaminants I thought it was important to evaluate my own drinking water. That is why I developed this activity.

Instructions

This link below will take you to the Water Quality Association website. Next, click on the diagnose your drinking water.

You will find a water quality symptom search engine. Now, test your water! If your drinking water has any of the symptoms listed click on them and you will find which contaminate was found in your water. Click on the contaminate and you will find treatment methods, effects on the water, and the source of the contaminate.

***Pick two contaminates that are either in your water or that are interesting to you and list the treatment methods, effects they have on your water and the source of the contaminate.

Share & Voice: Food Inc.

2009-12-12T11:04:00.002-06:00

Food Inc.

Hungry for a Change

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.review from official Food Inc. Website

I really enjoyed this movie!

Check out the trailer!

Share & Voice: Green your Holidays

2009-12-12T10:05:00.000-06:00

12 Ways to Green your Holidays

Buy green holiday gifts

Choose a real Christmas tree

Illuminate with eco-friendly Christmas lights and candles

Choose eco-friendly holiday gift wrapping and cards

Use eco-friendly Christmas decorations

Cook a vegetarian Christmas meal

Serve local and organic food for Christmas dinner

Reduce your holiday travel carbon footprint

Make eco-friendly holiday baking

Choose eco-friendly dinnerware over paper plates and plastic cups

Recycle your Christmas tree
C ompost your kitchen scraps

Read 'n' Seed 6: Final Review of Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-12-11T15:09:00.000-06:00

Overview
This book is divided into three sections corn, grass, and the forest. In each of these sections the author Michael Pollan attempts to answer the question, What should we have for dinner? He follows different foods to find out where they come from or how they were made. He covers topics such as hunting, organic farming, processed foods and fast food. His goal is to uncover the consequences of the choices we make when we choose what to eat.
Most significant

Processed foods: Corn is in everything. When you add together the natural gas in the fertilizer to the fossil fuels it takes to make the pesticides, drive the tractors, and harvest, dry, and transport the corn, you find that every bushel of industrial corn requires the equivalent of between a quarter and a third of a gallon of oil to grow it-- or around fifty gallons of oil per acre of corn. Over processed foods have lead to increased obesity in Americans where three of every five Americans are overweight and in the United Nations it is reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from overnutrition --a billion-- had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition-- 800 million.
Organic Farming: I learned a lot about the organic farming industry and what makes something organic. 100% Organic means that every ingredient in the product was raised and harvested in an organic environment as approved and certified by the USDA. I have began to start eating organic foods and it was interesting to read about the process the food goes through in order to be certified as organic.
Fast Food: It was shocking to read the section about fast food. I learned that there 38 ingredients in a Mcnuggets. I also learned that over 19% of the meals Americans consume are in the ca

Why is it important?

Reading this book has inspired me to think about the food I eat. I have found myself asking where does this come from instead of mindlessly eating. The choices we make effect of environment, our health, and our happiness. I have also made the choice to limit the amount of meat I eat. After reading about the meat industry I don't know how you couldn't think twice before eating a hamburger.

Recommendation
I recommend this book to everyone! I thought it was very entertaining and I learned a lot from reading it. It honestly has changed the way I think about the food I eat.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection

2009-12-08T19:24:00.002-06:00

SMART goal

My SMART goal: Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day. Over the course of the project I added the "consume 8 glasses of water a day" part because I wanted to challenge myself and drink more water through out the day.

Successes

Overall I believe that I was successful reaching my goal. I was able to use a reusable water bottle the majority of the time and I significantly increased the amount of water I drink during the day. I have also started drinking less soda, coffee, and sports drinks because they are no longer convenient.

Challenges

I faced many challenges during this lifestyle change. I found it the most difficult to stick with my goal when I was traveling and out of my normal environment. I also had a difficult time drinking 8 glasses of water a day at the beginning but as with any lifestyle change it takes time.

Future
In the future I plan on sticking with this lifestyle change. Using reusable containers and drinking more water has too many benefits to go back to the way I used to do things.

Benefits
My personal benefits include: saving money, saving on waste, less headaches, drinking less soda and sports drinks, and improving my overall health.

Behavior Change
I learned a lot about behavior change in general from this project. I learned that it takes time and focus in order to change a behavior. It took me awhile to steer away from bad habits and I had to constantly remind myself of my goal. I also learned that if you stick with something it will continue to get easier until it is a new habit.

Environmental Benefits

When deciding not to drink out of plastic bottles I also decided not to be a part of the following problems:

Americans will buy an estimated 25 billion single-serving, plastic water bottles this year. Eight out of 10 (22 billion) will end up in a landfill.
-- Container Recycling Institute

Worldwide 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year.
-- OneWorld

1.5 million barrels of oil is used annually to produce plastic water bottles for America alone - enough to fuel some 100,000 U.S. cars for a year.
-- Earth Policy Institute

By drinking out of reusable containers I am lowering my carbon footprint and negative impact on the earth!

I Will Continue!
I will continue to use reusable containers to drink water and coffee! I will also strive to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Recommendations
Stick with your goals and follow through!
I suggest that everyone use re-usable water bottles to cut down on the amount of plastic we use and abuse.

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 hosted by http://ecochicwithamy.blogspot.com/

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Offical

2009-12-07T10:49:00.000-06:00

December 7, 2009
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2304

Honorable Senator Amy Klobuchar,

My name is Jordanne Even and I am a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth. I am very concerned about the water pollution and the testing of lakes, rivers, and estuaries. In Minnesota our lakes and rivers are very important to its residents. Many people use these bodies of water for recreational purposes and for their drinking water. It is important that the water quality is tested in a uniform matter to ensure it is safe to use.

I am writing you to vote “yes” to the bill H.R.1262 that is working toward the guidelines set forth by the Clean Water Act, which is the cornerstone of water quality protection in the United States. This Water Quality Investment Act’s goal is to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.

This issue deserves the funds that it will take to regulate water quality testing. People deserve to know that the water they are using is safe. This issue is personally important to me because I live on a lake and I appreciate all it has to offer. I want to know that the water will continue to be clean and tested regularly.

This bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and has been passed by the House. The next vote will be in the Senate. I strongly encourage you vote “Yes” to H.R.1262 so we can move in a positive direction in the regulation of water quality testing. If you have any questions, please, feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jordanne Even
(Contact information)

Reflection: Weeks 11 & 12

2009-12-04T09:54:00.002-06:00

WEEK 11

Week 11 : This week we focused more on our advocay projects and did an overview on our issues. Mine is water quality and the regulation of water testing. I am learing a lot about this topic and am excited to write a letter to my political representative to support this bill. In class we did an activity defining words such as enviromental literacy.

Next, we did a junking activity which I thought was a lot of fun. Dr. V gave us some old items and we had to come up with uses for them. It was cool to see all the ideas the class had. It also gave me a some ideas of my own so I can start Junking myself!

Week 12

In class we learned about blog hops and shared our photo essays with the class. It was great to see everyone's photo essays. I definalty learned more about environmental topics as well as my classmates. My favorite photo essay was Keith's. I thought he took some great pictures and shed some light on an important issue. It was also fun to participate in the blog hop. It is amazing how many tools are out there for us to use with our blogs. I hope to use some of these tools in the future in my career.This class is fun becuase we are learing things that we can apply to our lives outside of school.

Share and Voice: Quiz Yourself

2009-12-03T12:33:00.000-06:00

Global Warming Quiz

Click on this LINK and take the quiz

Do you know the true cost of Food?

Click on this LINK to take the quiz

Smart Travel Quiz

Click on this LINK to take the quiz

How Safe is your ...??

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9: Weekly Update

2009-12-02T09:20:00.003-06:00

My SMART Goal
Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.
Successes
I got back on track this week with my goal and was able to drink 8 glasses of water everyday! I also was able to use re-usable containers on most occasions this week.

Challenges
I had only a few draw backs this week using plastic containers. I purchased a soda one day because I was really craving a Mountain Dew and I also purchased a coffee from Caribou on Monday.
Feelings
I was really happy with myself this week after my poor performance last week. I was still traveling because of the Thanksgiving Holiday but I stuck with my goal for the most part. It was fun to tell my family and friends from home about my goal and about what we are learning in this class. Overall, I think I had a good week.

What I Learned

I have learned that even if I do poorly one week I can turn it around. I am happy that I have started this goal and I think it is something I can try and do for the rest of my life. I have improved my health, saved money, and reduced my carbon footprint. I also am planning on doing more things to be more eco-chic in the future.

Plans for Next Week
For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal: I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

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

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

2009-11-30T08:04:00.004-06:00

WHOLE FOODS

This photo essay gave me the chance to transform my normal grocery shopping experience into something a little more GREEN. I decided to go to Whole Foods on 610 E 4th St.

Bike racks and car pool parking spots encourage GREEN transportation!

I purchased organic fruit and veggies along with locally made bread. I even found some organic macaroni and cheese for .99 cents!

Notice one of the ingredients of my bread is LOVE! {Very cute}

I decided not to purchase any meat to reduce my carbon footprint!

My final purchase was GREEN dishsoap.

I had a great experience going GREEN... I suggest everyone check out Whole Food! I can't wait for my next trip!

Share & Voice: Buy Nothing Day

2009-11-29T15:53:00.000-06:00

** Watch this Video of The Daily Show where Jon Steward makes fun of Black Friday.

Instead of participating in the shopping frenzy of Black Friday this year I took part in another tradition called Buy Nothing Day. The idea behind Buy Nothing Day is to take a break from the mass consumerism that usually takes place the day after Thanksgiving. People are asked to focus on things such as the environment and climate change.

‘Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of shopping. The developed countries – only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and an unfair distribution of wealth.’

-buynothinguk

I have never liked the idea of Black Friday... getting up in the middle of the night to stand in a line never seemed like a lot of fun. When I heard about Buy Nothing Day I thought it was a great chance to skip Black Friday and do something better with my time. SLEEP! The day was much more relaxing and for once I wasn't being a consumer.

Read 'n' Seed 5: Fourth quarter of Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-11-27T11:18:00.001-06:00

This section of the book is titled Hunting. It covers chapters 18-20 and pages 334-411. In this section the author talks about his experience with hunting and making the "perfect" meal of a hunter-gatherer.

Facts:

Hunter/Gatherer: A hunter/gatherer society is one whose primary method substinence method is directy taking food from the environment or animals without the domesitcation of either.
This section was less factual information and more of a look into the thoughts of the author and his experience with hunting. He was eventully able to shoot and kill a pig for his meal but it didn't come easy. This section also talked about his rewarding experience killing/gathering his own food and making a meal from scratch.

Implications:

I thought this section was important for the book becuase it shows the amount of work that is required to make your own authentic meal without all of the packaging, chemicals, and processing of most of the food we eat today. I enjoyed getting to see the thought process of a first time hunter. I have never shot anything and im not sure I ever will but it seems like it would be a good experience if done for the right reasons. The author also talked about the difference between his "slow" meal compared to eating a fast-food meal. He said that they are extreme examples of the way we engage with the world that sustains us.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8: Weekly Update

2009-11-25T00:00:00.003-06:00

My SMART Goal

Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.

Successes

I didn't do a very good job this week but I noticed that I was more aware of the mistakes I was making then I would have been in the past. This week I was away for three days at a basketball tournament.

Challenges

This was my worst week with my goal since I started. We had our first long road trip for basketball and I couldn't help but notice how many paper products I wasted. At half time of the games I would use paper cups to drink water and after the games our coaches gave us bottles of gatorade. I should have turn down the gatorade and just drank water but after the game I was craving something with calories. We also ate out a lot so I would get a paper cup with my subway ect.

Feelings

At the time when I was using non-reusable products I just brushed it off but after the weekend I felt really guilty for abandoning my goal. However, I want to reach my goal more than ever now. It is harder to do when you are away from your normal environment but I can do it if I try a little harder and have some self control.

What I Learned

I have learned that a goal is harder to reach if you are away from your normal environment and when you are around a group of people who are doing the same thing you are doing. All of my teammates were using paper cups so it became easier for me to use them too. On my next road trip I plan on doing a much better job.

Plans for Next Week

For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal: I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8 hosted by http://ecochicwithamy.blogspot.com/

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

2009-11-23T13:48:00.001-06:00

Objective 8-8 Water Quality: Increase the proportion of assessed rivers, lakes, and estuaries that are safe for fishing and recreational purposes

Issue/problem
The issue that I am advocating for is water quality and the regulation of testing to ensure that lakes, rivers, and estuaries are safe for fishing and recreation.
• What current legislation has been proposed to address this? (Identify bill # and name)
H.R.1262 Water Quality: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.
• Who is affected by the issue?
The issue of water quality affects the people who use lakes, rivers, and estuaries for fishing and recreation. It is important that the testing of these bodies of water are regulated so we can make sure that they are safe to use. With all of the current water pollution it is possible that these waters can be contaminated and unsafe for public use. This issue also affects the government and taxpayers because they are the ones who would be responsible for paying for the expenses of water testing. The people who decide what is important to test are also affected because they have to choose what is safe for the public and what measures to take when testing the water.
• Who is affected the most?
The people who are affected the most are the people who use the lakes, rivers, and estuaries because their health can be directly affected by the quality of the water.
• Who loses, and what do they lose?
The State government loses because they have to pay for the testing of the water. They have to hire people who will take accurate readings and they will have to follow regulations and report accurate results.
• Who gains, and what do they gain?
The citizens will win because they will know that they have safe water to use. They won’t have to question whether or not their water is safe to use because it will be tested often and the same across the board.

Consequences
One consequence of this issue will be cost for funding. According to the H.R. 1262 Water Quality Investment Act each American will need to pay $37 dollars over the next 5 years to fund the efforts to assess and regulate water quality.
• For the individuals mostly affected?
For the individuals most affected this will mean that the right funds and grants will be given for State government to control the testing of the amount of pollution in lakes, rivers, and estuaries in hopes to reduce the amount of pollution and improve overall water quality.
• For their families?
For these individual’s families it will mean that they will be provided more information regarding the safety of the water that they count on for fishing and recreation.
• For society?
For society the new bill will provide smaller communities the resources to fund water quality testing thereby, improving the health and safety of its residents. Hopefully in the long run the testing will help reduce overall water pollution and improve the health of our country. With improved health less money will be needed for health care. I also believe that increased testing will help society trust that the government is doing its part to improve the lives of its citizens.

Economic impact
$10.6 billion dollars over the next 5 years
• What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
$37 dollars per American over the next 5 years.
• What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
The money will help support non-profit organizations to support water quality and programs. In the long run everyone will benefit because water will be safer for everyone to use. There will be less money spent on health care because there will less illness associated with the water we use in our country.

Social impact
People will be safe to use lakes, rivers, and estuaries for recreational purposes and fishing knowing that they are safe to use. At the same time they might also be unwilling to fund the programs financially. The people who do not have ready access to lakes, rivers, and estuaries may not be willing to give their money for something they do not use on a regular basis.
• What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
The social costs of this issue could be the stress the costs put on the public and the decisions on where to spend the money and if in fact the money will be put to good use to reduce the amount of water pollution.
• What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
With cleaner and safer water the economy will benefit because people will be willing to spend time at the many tourist destinations that are located on lakes, rivers, and estuaries. It also gives individuals and families the opportunity to spend time outdoors and to personally benefit from their recreational experiences.

Barriers
This bill has already passed in the House but still needs to be voted on by the Senate and signed by the president. Another barrier is cost. During tough economical times some citizen may not be willing to pay for the testing of water quality.

• How can they be overcome?
Barriers can be overcome by education. If people know the health risks that are associated with contaminated fish and water they may be more willing to fund testing. It is also important that the politicians are aware that clean water is important to the people especially since we live in a place where rivers, lakes and estuaries are abundant.

Resources
Great Lakes Regional Water Program
Great Lakes Fish Consumption Advisory
Water Pollution in the Great Lakes
H.R. 1262: Water Quality Investment Act of 2009
Contact Jim Oberstar
To understand this bill the links above are helpful. First it is important to understand the issue and next to know who to contact if you want H.R. 1262: Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 passed. A great way to tap these resources is to use the interent of to contact Jim Oberstar.
** Here is Jim Oberstar's Facebook page!

History
This bill stems of of the Clean Water Act their goal is "to the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water." The bill that I am dealing was meant to be an addition to the CWA. In the past there has been a lack of funding for smaller communities and a non regulated system. This bill is trying to address the money needs for those smaller communities.

Some programs are already in place to reduce and monitor pollution such as the Pollution Prevention and Assessment Team. They promote on self assessment of water quality at homes and on farms.

• What were the results?
In tracking the current bill to improve testing I found that the bill has been passed in the House and the bill now goes on to be voted on in the Senate. The last action was on March 16, 2009 and the bill was received in the Senate and then was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Support / Oppose

Recommendation
Vote YES! I believe that this bill is a great chance to improve the testing of lakes and rivers that are apart of our lives. We need to protect the environment and our health and funding this effort can make a difference.

Reflection: Weeks 9 & 10

2009-11-19T18:02:00.000-06:00

Week 9
During class this week we discussed the topic of advocacy. The power point was very helpful in explaining what advocacy is. Our group did a skit to explain to the class what advocacy has to do with the 7 responsibilities of a health educator. We also talked about our political representative posts. It was fun to research who my representatives are and to collect their contact information. I was able to reach my lifestyle change goal this week by drinking 8 glasses of water a day!

Week 10

My favorite part of class this week was watching the documentary "Unnatural Causes." So far this has been my favorite video we have watched in class because it directly related to my major. It is crazy to me that the amount of money you make is correlated with life expectancy. It just doesn't seem fair! I also think it is sad that children can be born into a situation and their life can be cut short just because their parents don't own their own house. Their obviously needs to be a change. We also did another advocacy post and I chose to address water quality. I am excited to get more involved and try to make a positive change.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7: Weekly Update

2009-11-18T09:17:00.001-06:00

My SMART Goal

Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.

Successes

This past week went really fast! I was very busy but I was still able to drink 8 glasses of water a day. It is getting easier and easier for me to remember. I think that It will eventually become another routine for me. I was also able to use my reusable water bottle for most of my beverages.

Challenges

I purchased one coffee this week but that is the only non-resuable item I used! I have a long basketball roadtrip coming up and we will be gone for four days. I am worried that I will forget to drink 8 glasses of water when I am away from my usual routine. I also will need to be carful about taking free water and gartorade that I am offered which will be a challenge to turn down.

Feelings

I am happy with the progress that I have been making and I plan on sticking with my goal even though It will be tougher this upcoming week. Wish me luck! :)

What I Learned
I have learned that by drinking more water I feel better overall and get less headaches. I have also learned that by cutting down on my consumption I am saving money and improving my health as well as helpling the environment. Win-Win!
Plans for Next Week

For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal: I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

Fun Fact
I will be traveling on an airplane this Thursday and I found that when you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane.

Blogged for Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7 hosted by

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

2009-11-15T19:41:00.003-06:00

Healthy People 2010

Objective 8-8 Water Quality: Increase the proportion of assessed rivers, lakes, and estuaries that are safe for fishing and recreational purposes.
Sub-objective 8-8b.: Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

** There was no information provided under the Progress Quotient Chart.

**There was no information regarding progress and disparities.

Opportunities & Challenges: In October 2000 the BEACH (Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health) Act was passed to improve water quality. With this act came grants to improve water quality, monitoring, and public notification. Another goal of BEACH was to improve national information collection methods. BEACH was developed to increase the amount of information given to the public and to make beach health more consistent. This act was a step in the right direction but there are still low standards for the collection of this data.

Emerging issues: Beach monitoring is currently run by a variety of programs. They all have different requirements and different methods of collection. In light of this issue, the EPA has set standards that State governments have to meet in order to receive grant money in order to maintain their beaches.

H.R.1262 Water Quality

Title: To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (introduced 3/3/2009) Cosponsors (14)

Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; Senate Environment and Public Works

Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.R.1262 Water Quality

My Political Representative: Congressman James L. Oberstar

Read 'n' Seed 4: Third quarter of Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-11-13T13:05:00.002-06:00

This section of the book is titled The Forest. It covers chapters 15-17 and pages 277-332. This section begins by explaining how the author plans on making his own meal by hunting and foraging. Next, he discusses animal rights and the "Omnivore's Dilemma". He also talks about being a vegetarian and how that also has its draw backs.

Facts:

There are 10 million Vegetarians in America.

Animal liberation: is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans. Advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions but agree that animals should be viewed as legal persons and members of the moral community, not property, and that they should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment.

The author discusses Peter Singers book Animal Liberation at great length in this section as his inspiration to becoming a vegetarian.

Implications:
This section was much shorter than the others but I really liked how the author showed many sides of this issue. He discussed the rights of animals and the importance of the decision you make to eat meat. He also talked about our countries obsession with convenience and how it is effecting our health and our decision making. The industrialization and brutalization of animals in America is unheard of in other countries. Pollen does not argue that everyone should be a vegetarian but instead that we eat animals with the consciousness, ceremony, and respect they deserve.

Share & Voice: Dine Green

2009-11-12T12:06:00.001-06:00

Dine Green is a great website for finding a Certified Green Restaurant near you! I think it would be very helpful when you are on vacation or in a new city to find tasty food without the carbon footprint. :) What standards do these certified green restaurants have to meet? Click here to find out!

7 Ways to Green Your Dining Experience

1 Choose to dine green by patronizing Certified Green Restaurants®

2 Walk, take public transit, dine at a restaurant close to your home or office, or carpool when dining out

3 Carry pocket-size guides to sustainable seafood, like the ones from Blue Ocean Institute, to help you make smart seafood choices at the fish counter, or your local sushi joint.

4 Bring your own mug for coffee. Make sure to remind staff to make your drink in the cup you bring, not to waste by making it in a to-go cup, then pouring it into your travel mug

5 Consider menu items lower on the food chain. For example, chicken has a lower environmental impact than beef, while sustainable seafood has a lower impact than chicken, and vegetarian and vegan items have the lowest of them all.

6 Bring your own re-usable container and offer it to your server when you ask to take your leftovers home

7 Our research has found that several restaurants claim that 25% of food ordered by customers is wasted and thrown out. Be conscious about what you order and really think about how hungry you are.

For more information watch the Green Restaurant Association Educational Video!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update

2009-11-11T19:29:00.003-06:00

My SMART Goal

Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.

Successes

I was able to drink 8 glasses of water everyday this week! But believe me it was a struggle. I had to leave myself reminders on my phone in order to get it done on the weekend but I feel like it will only get easier from here on out. I was also able to use a reusable container almost every time I drank something this week.

Challenges

We had our first basketball road trip this weekend and it was really hard to turn down plastic bottles. They give us water and gatorade after every game. It was hard to turn down the free gatorade because as a college student I almost never turn down free food. I did use a plastic glass at the hotel without realizing it also.

Feelings

Overall, I am very happy about the progress I made this week. I drank 8 glasses of water each day! I feel like it will continue to get harder to turn down plastic containers the more I travel with the team. Hopefully, I can stay true to my goal.

What I Learned

I learned that making a change isn't always easy but it is worth it. I have had fewer headaches because I am staying more hydrated. I am also drinking less soda and coffee because I am always drinking water.

Plans for Next Week

For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal:

I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

Check out the hydration calculator and see if you are hydrated!
I tried it and it said that I needed to drink 16 glasses of water a day based on my weight and the amount of time I spend exercising each day.

Blogged for Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

2009-11-08T17:56:00.009-06:00

President Obama
Democrat
Website
Contact Information:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111

Congress
Senate: Amy Klobuchar
Democrat
Website

Contact Information:
Metro Office:
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

House: Colin Peterson
Democrat
Website
Contact Information:

714 Lake Avenue, Suite 107
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

(218) 847-5056

State Senator
Julianne Ortman
Website
Contact Information:

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
State Office Building, Room 125
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
Phone: (651)296-4837

State Representative
Jon Hoppe
Website
Contact Information:

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

Governor
Tim Pawlenty
Democrat
Website
Contact Information:

130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55158
(651) 296-3391

County Board President
Harry Salminen
Becker County
Website
Contact Information:

12176 County Hwy. 17
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Phone: 218-847-6295

Mayor of Detroit Lakes, MN
Matt Brenk

Website
Contact Information:
218-234-7040
mattbrenk@loretel.net

Reflection: Weeks 7 & 8

2009-11-06T09:49:00.001-06:00

WEEK 7

This week started with the Environmental Working group eye opener activity. I think this is a very good resource and I have bookmarked it and will be using it to check the products I have and to search for new ones.I don't was beauty products to effect my health or the environment.

During class we watched the video "Green". It surprised me how environmental racism is effecting people in our country. I have heard the term "cancer ally" but actually seeing footage from that area and hearing from residents has really opened my eyes to how bad it really is. It is awful that the chemical companies have basically decided the health of the people living in these area. I am much more aware of the products I buy and I hope by making better choices I can help cut back to the use of these chemicals.

Week 8

I love the eye opener this week. Junking is SO cool! I am really excited to do the project Dr. V is talking about. I can't wait to see the things our class comes up with. My mom has been junking for years but I never knew there was a name for it or cool blogs with so many ideas.

In class we watched the documentary "Thirst". Once again this video opened me up to another set of issues that I wasn't aware of. The scariest part of the video for me was how companies such as coca-cola are using a countries water and bottling it to sell it back to the people for a profit when the people are unable to get their own water from their land. I also really enjoyed our class discussion of the Smoking Ban Forum. It was great to see my classmates stand up for the ban and voice their opinions.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Weekly Update

2009-11-04T13:40:00.005-06:00

My SMART Goal

Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.

Successes

I was able to drink 8 glasses of water 5 out of seven days this week. When I am in class and at school I tend to drink more water becuase I always have my water bottle with me but I struggled on Friday and Saturday to drink enough water becuase I was busy and not on my usual schedual.

Challenges

I sliped up four times this week buying a soda, orange juice, and two coffee's at the coffe shop. I am disappointed that I did this and I know I can do a better job next week. I also had a hard time drinking 8 glasses of water on the weekend because I was out of my normal schedual.

Feelings

Overall I am happy with my progress this week. I drank a lot of water but I am disapointed with the amount of plastic containers I purchased. Not to mention I spent $7 buying those drinks when I could have been drinking free water.

What I Learned

I noticed that I am drinking a lot more water which means I am drinking less soda and coffee. I get caffine headachs and I am trying to cut back on the amount of coffee and soda I get to get rid of these cravings. So far my SMART goal has been very helpful in that sense. It is cool how changing one seemingly simple thing can change other things in your life for the better.

Plans for Next Week

For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal:

I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

Blogged for Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

2009-11-02T10:39:00.000-06:00

Terms
antiques/antiquing: An antique (antiquus; old) is an old collectible item. Antiquing is a shopping activity.

junk/junking: Waste, any undesired thing or substance or Scrap, recyclable waste used to build new things.

flea market: A market, usually held outdoors, where antiques, used household goods, and curios are sold.

thrift shop: A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization.

upcycling: The process of converting an industrial nutrient (material) into something of similar or greater value, in its second life. Aluminum and glass, for example, can usually be upcycled into the same quality of aluminum and glass as the original products.

resale shop: A shop that sells again something that has already been purchased.

What do the terms above have to do with environmental health?
They all have to do with using the resources we already have instead of buying new products. If we reuse things and stop relying on new products it will save the amount of emissions and chemicals that it takes to produce new items.

Local resources

antiques/antiquing: Canal Park Antique Center
Location: 310 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN
Contact info: (218) 720-3940‎

junk/junking: Junkologie
Location: Wisconsin
Contact info: alvn.mail@gmail.com

flea market: Shady Hallow
Location: Detroit Lakes, MN (my home town)
Contact info: adhanson@gmail.com or call 218.847.9488

thrift shop: Savers
Location: Duluth, MN near target
Contact info:(218) 722-1894

upcycling: Green Mercantie (many upcycled and green products)
Location: Duluth, MN Superior Street
Contact Info: (218) 722-1771

resale shop: Dannie Duluth
Location: 932 E 4th St, Duluth, MN‎
Contact info: (218) 724-850

When I lived at home I would go to the flea market with my mom all the time! I have also been to savers and to Dannie Duluth but I have never purchased anything from these stores. I realize that I do not take advantage of second hand stores and after doing this assignment I have realized that there are a lot of cool things out there to find!

Organ Pipe Photo Holders
I thought this was a very cool project! I love pictures and this was such a unique way to display them. I also love organs and these old wooden pipes are gorgeous.

Pick Another Daisy

This is so COOL! She took an ice cream cone holder and transformed it into a candle holder, vase, and a place to store office supplies. Have candles all over my room and this would be a nice way to organize them. Plus, it would save on my electric bill if I lit my place with candles.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Junk Part 2

I thought that this was a very thoughtful way to welcome a guest. It is an old bread loaf pan. I would never think that it could be used for veggies, office supplies and a welcoming gift but I guess it just takes a little imagination. :)

Read 'n' Seed 3: Second quarter of Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-10-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

This section of the book is titled Grass. It covers chapters 8-14 and pages 123-262. This section begins by explaining how organic food is produced and why it is becoming more popular. The author suggests that it is because it "gratifies some of our deepest, oldest longings, not merely for safe food, but for a connection to the earth and to the handful of domesticated creatures we've long depended on." I thought that quote was very interesting. The next chapter goes on to explain what standards products have to meet to be considered organic. Eventually, the author documents a weeks time he spent on an organic farm.

Terminology

"organic" according to the USDA

100% Organic- means that every ingredient in the product was raised and harvested in an organic environment as approved and certified by the USDA.
Organic- means that 70 to 95 percent of all the ingredients have been raised in a USDA approved manner
Any product containing ingredients with less than a 70 percent organic content can separately list each ingredient that falls into the USDA organic category, but the product may not display a label claiming the product as organic.

Interesting Facts:

Today it takes between seven and ten calories of fossil fuel to deliver one calorie of food energy to an American plate.

Growing food organically uses about a third less fossil fuel than growing it conventionally.

Implications:
The information in this section was very interesting and I think it is very important for consumers. If you want to know what you are buying you need to know how it is made and whether or not you are buying a brand name or a quality product. After reading this I realized that the amount of work farmers put into their crop in order to produce organic products it worth the extra price of organic foods.

Share & Voice: Smoking Forum

2009-10-28T12:22:00.003-05:00

I attended the smoking forum and it was a very cool experience. I didn't know what to expect from the forum because I have never attended one before. I was hoping to hear both sides represented. I am a non-smoker and I support the smoking ban along with all of my friends and classmates. There are also no smokers in my immediate family. Because of this I was excited to hear what the other side had to say and their reasons for wanting to keep smoking on campus. I was surprised that only two "smokers" voiced their opinion at the forum, I was expecting a better turn out. Even though there were only a few people there I think the debate was still very, very, interesting. It was cool to see a few of my classmates get up and voice their opinions in front of the group. They all did a great job!

I didn't say anything but I was still there wearing a t-shirt from the American Lung Association showing my support for the smoking ban. After attending the forum my opinion didn't change about the smoking ban but I tried to keep an open mind and listen to all sides of the issue. I feel more informed on this topic and I am excited to see what happens in the future concerning the ban, smoking shelters, and fines.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update

2009-10-28T11:59:00.001-05:00

My SMART goal: Over the next ten weeks 10 weeks I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, gatorade, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.

Successes: I did a really good job this week on the first part of my goal. I only used a non-reusable container once this week! I have not managed to drink 8 glasses of water a day yet but I am doing better than I did last week. I have been saving money and have almost cut soda out of my diet.

Challenges: It was challenging for me to drink 8 glasses of water a day. I always ended up forgetting and trying to drink a lot of water before bed but then I would have to get up twice a night to go to the bathroom.

Feelings: I was proud of myself for reaching the first part of my goal this week! On the other hand it was frustrating that the second part was so challenging for me. However, this was my first week with my new goal and I am confident that once it becomes a routine I will be able to reach it.

What I learned: I learned that even seemingly simple goals can be hard to meet when they are not a part of your everyday routine.

Next Week: I plan on sticking with my revised goal and improving on it by my next weekly update! :)

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group

2009-10-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Crest Toothpaste: Rated 5 out of 10 and Considered a Moderate Hazard

I never thought of toothpaste being a hazard. It is shocking to see that ingredients within the toothpaste I am currently using are linked to things such as cancer and reproductive toxicity. I need to consider changing some of the products I use. This is a great site to search for healthy and safe products.

Reflection: Weeks 5 & 6

2009-10-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

WEEK 5:
What we choice to eat has a major impact on the environment and week 5 was a huge wake up call to that fact. Our eye-opener this week was the CSPI activity. I did three different assignments that showed me how my diet effects the environment and my health. I was encouraging to see that even the smallest change can make a huge difference. Next, we watched the video "Future of Food". I thought this video was really interesting and it changed the way I look at my food choices. The question that I have been asking myself is, where did this come from, instead of just randomly picking the first thing I see.

I began reading my book Omnivore's Dilemma and so far it has been one of my favorite parts of this class. Watching "Future of Food" was a great introduction to the food industry and Omnivore's Dilemma explores the topic as well. I am excited to continue reading and to learn more about the history and future of food.

WEEK 6:
In class on Monday we watched the video "Diet for a New America" which gave even more interesting information on the food we eat. I learned a lot of things about the cattle industry that I didn't like such as the treatment of the animals and the pollution of drinking water. After watching the video I have cut down on the amount of meat I eat and have decided to quit eating red meat all together. I think it is a good choice for my health and for the environment!

I also learned some fun things about blogging! There are so many things you can do with a blog. I am planning on finding something cool to add to mine soon.

I have added on to my SMART goal this week. I am going to try and drink 8 glasses of water a day! The last few days have been tough but so far I have made my goal. Have a great weekend everyone! See you on MONDAY.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3: Weekly Update

2009-10-21T13:04:00.002-05:00

My SMART goal: Over the next ten weeks 10 weeks I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, gatorade, and juice.
I feel like I am acheiveing my SMART goal. I have had a few draw backs but overall I have used a reusable container for my beverages.

Successes: I feel like I am drinking more water and cutting down on the amount of waste I produce. I never noticed how often I purchased plastic containers and I feel like I am saving money too!

Challenges: I had a few draw backs this past week. I wanted a "hot apple blast drink" from Caribou and I purchased one and didn't use a reusable container. I also purchased an orange juice from the school store and it came in a plastic bottle.

Feelings: I felt greedy when I bought the drink from Caribou because I knew I was going against my SMART goal but I did it anyways. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought. This same feeling of guilt occurred when I purchased my orange juice. But overall I thought I did a good job.

What I learned: I learned that by not drinking out of plastic containers I am saving a lot of money and reducing the amount of waste I produce. I also am drinking less soda and sports drinks and that is good for my health because it lessens the amount of sugar I consume.

Next Week:
I plan on making my goal more challenging by adding drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day. As of now I have not been keeping track of the amount of water I drink so this will be a challenge for me. We will see how it goes! :)

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3 hosted by Amy@Eco-chic with Amy

Share & Voice: Trails.com

2009-10-18T14:13:00.002-05:00

I love going hiking and being outside and I found a website that will make it easier to find different trails anywhere around the United States! It is called Trails.com and all you have to do it search for your desired area and the website will give you surrounding trail options. I searched Duluth and it gave me seven trails in the area along with their distance, skill level, location, and other interesting facts. I think this would be very helpful if you were on a vacation and wanted to find a trail. I hope you guys get a chance to use this site!

Read 'n' Seed 2: First quarter of Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-10-16T13:25:00.002-05:00

First Quarter: Industrial: Corn

Chapters 1-7

Pages 15-109

This sections explains where our food comes from and how it is produced. Corn is in 1/4 of the foods we eat. The book starts by explaining the history of corn and how is has come to be in 14 of the foods we consume today. Pollan covers many disturbing topics from mass production, processed foods, feed lots, obesity, subsidizing, and all of the politics behind it.

There were many amazing facts brought up in this section of the book. A few that I thought were really interesting were:

Facts

Early in the twentieth century American corn breeders figured out how to bring corn reproduction under control and to protect the seed from copiers this eventually lead to the seed patents. Soybeans are also found in 2/3 of all processed foods.
Government spends up to $5 billion dollars a year subsidizing cheap corn.
When you add together the natural gas in the fertilizer to the fossil fuels it takes to make the pesticides, drive the tractors, and harvest, dry, and transport the corn, you find that every bushel of industrial corn requires the equivalent of between a quarter and a third of a gallon of oil to grow it-- or around fifty gallons of oil per acre of corn.
According to the surgeon general, obesity today is officially an epidemic costing the health care system an estimated $90 billion dollars a year.
Three of every five Americans are overweight.
The United Nations reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from overnutrition --a billion-- had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition-- 800 million.
19% of American meals are eaten in the car.

Implications:

The things I have learned in the book so far are very disturbing and shocking. We should care where are food comes from and we should care how our technology has effected our society. Even though Americans are over weight the Government and food industries keep pumping cheap corn into every food product they can in order to make a profit. We need to take control of our own lives and make better choices for ourselves and for the environment. When we buy processed food products, fast food, meat, ect. we are saying that we agree with what is being done in the food industry and that we want it to continue. I am as guilty as anyone but reading this book is making me think twice before purchasing these items.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

2009-10-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

My SMART goal:

Over the next ten weeks 10 weeks I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, gatorade, and juice.

I feel like the first week of my SMART goal has been going smoothly. I purchased a new water bottle and I have only used a non-reusable container once this week.

Successes: I did forget my water bottle one day this week but instead of buying a plastic one I just used a empty glass that I had in my locker. I have been drinking a lot more water since purchasing my water bottle and I have noticed that I have had less headaches! I have always had a problem with headaches and migraines and I find that the more water I drink the less likely I am to get one.

Challenges: I accidently bought a coffee at the coffee shop the other day and I didn't bring my reusable coffee cup. I didn't realize until after because it is such a habit for me. I will just have to keep trying! I also attended a meeting and they were passing out free bottles of water. I was thirsty but I made the choice to turn it down.

Feelings: I was proud of myself for bringing my water bottle most days but when I forgot and bought my coffee I was disappointed in myself for not remembering. At the same time I thought I made the right choice in turning down the bottle of water at the meeting. It was a small sacrifice but it was worth it. :)

What I learned: I learned that even a small thing such as carrying around a water bottle can be hard because it is one more thing to remember. I hope that eventually it will just become a habit.

Next Week: I plan on keeping the same goal for next week and doing my best not to forget to use a reusable container. I will also try and drink more water throughout the day. Wish me luck!!

"Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy"

Share & Voice: My brother

2009-10-13T23:23:00.001-05:00

My brother is 24 years old and he graduated from the University of Minnesota Moorhead in 2009 with a degree in Sociology. During his last year of college he became really interested in living a sustainable lifestyle and eating organically. He decided to accept an internship working on a farm 50 miles outside of Duluth.

The La Finca Farm is a CSA farm where members purchase a share of the harvest before the growing season begins, paying for their share in scheduled installments. Once the harvest begins in mid-June, Summer Share members receive a weekly delivery containing fresh, certified organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Following the Summer Share in October, Fall Share Members receive the best of the fall veggies, and the Winter Share extends the season to the end of January! They also offer a free range chicken share with delivery in summer or fall. Members also receive a weekly newsletter with preparation tips, recipes, and an update from the fields.

After watching the video in class I now have a new appreciation for what he is doing. It is a lot of hard work but he feels like he is learning a life skill and plans to grow his own garden in the future! Not to mention he brings me fresh organic veggies every time he comes to visit. :)

Its a jungle out there...

Eye Opener: CSIP

2009-10-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

I took the tour of our food supply on the CSPI website and learned some disturbing things. It is scary to learn where are food is coming from. Between the pesticides, the cattle filled with antibiotics, fertilizer factories, polluted rivers and the inhuman practices in slaughterhouses we are setting ourselves up for a disaster. Not only do these practices harm the environment our health is also in shambles.

Next I took a look at the Green Calculator these were my results:

I thought since I don't eat a lot of meat my scores would be better but the since I consume dairy and eggs I still am effecting the environment with my food choices.

After reducing my servings of cheese, milk, yogurt, and eggs my scores improved:

With even the smallest change the effects on my diet and the environment show great improvements.

I pledge to protect my health and the environment, I will eat a more plant-based diet—more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts and fewer fatty meat and dairy products. When I do eat animal products, I will emphasize ones that are lower in fat and raised in humane ways that minimize harm to the environment. I took this pledge because I now understand how my choices effect my health and the environment and even the smallest change helps.

My "eating green" grand total was 17 which is considered "good"

Types of foods with the highest score:

Vegetables, Fruit, and whole grain bread. I scored the highest in these categories because they are the healthiest foods and I usually get all the required amount of servings.

Types of foods with the lowest score:

Cheese and dairy. I scored the lowest in these categories because they are animal products and I eat too many servings.

Which category do you need the most improvement?

I need the most improvement in the environmental category.

What can you/will you change to improve the score?

I will eat less dairy to improve my score. I will start by cutting back to the amount of cheese I eat.

Summary

This "eye opener" was very interesting. I think it is amazing how the choices we make effect the environment in such a big way. I have control of what I put into my body and I am going to start to make better choices. In the past year I have basically stopped eating meat and I thought that doing that was enough to help the environment and my health but now I see that cheese and dairy products have the same negative effects.

Share & Voice: Ecorazzi

2009-10-11T14:47:00.000-05:00

Ecorazzi.com provides celebrity gossip and news that helps celebrities share their positive messages on topics covering environmental, humanitarian, animal rights, and vegetarian issues. In America we are fascinated with celebrities and I think it is a great idea to show how they are involved in the "green" movement.

They cover topics from film and music to events and fashion. On this website I learned that October is Vegetarian Awareness Month!

Check out this website and see if your favorite celebrity is GREEN! :)

Reflection: Weeks 3 & 4

2009-10-09T10:47:00.000-05:00

I learned a lot this week! We started by meeting with the TA's to figure out what we were missing on our blogs. I found this very helpful. I also picked out my book that I am reading for read 'n' seed. I have started and im already loving it! I really enjoyed class on Monday. It was awesome to hear everyone's plans for their eco-chic lifestyle change. It inspired me to set my SMART goal which is for the next ten weeks to drink out of a re-usable water bottle 100% of the time. I have already started this project and so far I havn't ran into any obsticals and I have been drinking more water! The most eye opening part of class was completing the ecological footprint suveys and finding out that my lifestlye is contributing to global climate change. I thought watching the Inconvinent Truth tied in really well with this concept. I really enjoyed the video and it opened my eyes to what is happening in our world and also that I am a direct contributer. However there is hope! I am confidnet that if I continue my eco-chic lifestyle change and if I make other small changes I will do my part to repair the damage that has been done. Save the Polar Bears:)

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1: My SMART Goal

2009-10-07T12:01:00.006-05:00

My SMART Goal

Over the next ten weeks 10 weeks I will use reusable water bottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, gatorade, and juice.

How is this lifestyle change Eco-Chic?

This change will reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases that result from manufacturing water bottles and it will cut down on the number of plastic bottles in stuck in landfills .

This change will not only benefit the environment but it will benifit me personally. I will drink more water becuase it will no longer be convinent to buy a soda or sports drink. It will also save me money. I spend a lot of money on soda, gatorade, juice and coffee. This change will help me focus on drinking water.

Why is this lifestyle change important to me?

This change is important to me becuase I need to do my part to help the environment. I think this will be a relativly easy habit to get into and it is something I can do for the rest of my life. I have used a reusable water bottle in the past for water but I think the most challenging part of my goal will be to refrain from buying soda and gatorade. I also will need to remember to bring a reusable bottle for my coffee. Im excited to start this change and see how it will benifit my health and save me money. I think it is a win-win situation!

Making the change!

Starting NOW I am done using plastic bottles!

I also blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1 Linky Party hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.

Eye Opener: Ecological Footprint

2009-10-05T12:42:00.002-05:00

According to the Earthday footprint quiz it would take 3.2 earths to provide enough resources for everyone to live my lifestyle and according to My footprint quiz it would take 3.88 earths to sustain life if everyone lived like I do. I also took the Travel calculator Quiz and according to it I am average. At first I thought there had to be a mistake because I try to do things to "be green." It was shocking to see how my lifestyle can have such an impact on the earth. I am obviously not doing enough to help the planet. I realize now how selfish I am being and how wasteful I am. I can adjust my everyday behaviors to reduce my ecological footprint. I sometimes forget to unplug appliances, I drive my car too often, and I almost never air dry my clothing. I also now see that I am too much of a comsumer. I like to shop and I buy too many clothes that I don't need. I also have always wanted to have my own garden but I have just been too lazy. There are many ways I can reduce my ecological footprint so now its time to do something about it!

Read 'n' Seed: Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-10-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

Omnivore's Dilemma is a New York Times bestseller that has changed the way readers view the ecology of eating, this revolutionary book by award winner Michael Pollan asks the seemingly simple question: What should we have for dinner? Tracing from source to table each of the food chains that sustain us - whether industrial or organic, alternative or processed - he develops a portrait of the American way of eating. The result is a sweeping, surprising exploration of the hungers that have shaped our evolution, and of the profound implications our food choices have for the health of our species and the future of our planet. (Review found on Amazon.) I chose this book because I recently finished reading another book by Michael Pollan called The Botany of Desire and I really enjoyed it. I am excited to learn more about where our food comes from. This book has 20 chapters and is 391 pages long. This book is already divided into three sections. I will divide the last section into two parts in order to have 4 posts.

1. Section One:
Industrial: Corn
Chapters 1-7; Pages 1-109

2. Section Two:
Pastoral: Grass
Chapters 8-14; Pages 123-262

3. Section Three:
Personal: The Forest
Chapters 15-17; Pages 277-304

4. Section Four:
Personal: The Forest
Chapters 18-20; Pages 334-391

I can't wait to get started and share what I learn with everyone!

Share & Voice: Greenzer

2009-09-26T16:31:00.003-05:00

http://www.greenzer.com/
Greenzer is a website that is designed to make shopping for "green" products easier. On this website there are Greenzer products but also products from other green merchants. I like this website because it is a good way to shop "green" but still be able to choose from a wide variety of products. There are many products ranging from computers to apparel to beauty. Take time to visit the websites blog . Thank you for reading my post!

Reflection: Weeks 1 & 2

2009-09-25T10:44:00.002-05:00

(Picture of Pelican Lake at Fair Hills Resort)

Week one:

In the first class meeting we did the "star wars activity" which made us think outside the box. I thought it was a very eye-opening activity and it made me reflect on why I didn't think of another solution to the problem. I think this class will open my eyes to new ideas and new solutions. Next, we learned how to set up our blogs. I thought I would catch on faster than I did but I am getting the hand of blogging now.

Week Two:

In the second class meeting we looked at the environment from a political point of view. It was fun to hear everyone's ideas about the quotes that Dr. V showed us. I realized that the class has a lot of different point's of view. I am excited about this because I think I will learn a lot not only from Dr. V but from the class as well. Next, we watched a short video about global warming. I never realized the extent to which the government censors information that is presented to the public. The permalink blogging assignment was challenging for me but I eventually got it figured out. Im excited for the next class next week! Have a good weekend!

:)

Welcome to Jordanne's Jungle!

2009-09-21T16:29:00.005-05:00

Hi! My name is Jordanne Even and I am from Detroit Lakes Minnesota. I am a Community Health major with a psychology minor. I also play basketball for UMD. This is my first time blogging and so far it has been a lot of fun. My blog will focus on what I learn through the semester concerning the environment. I am very excited for this class!

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

Advocacy Project
Eye Openers
Reflections
Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
Read 'n' Seed
Share and Voice

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all five kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. (Place labels gadget below blog header but above blog text). All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

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

Thank you for reading my post! Have a great day. :)

Blogged for the Welcome Linky Party hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy .