Share and Voice: Super One Bags

SOOO i finally used my Super One bag the other day and wanted to share my experience.....I am going to admit it..I felt a little weird and didn't really know how to carry the bag through the store....it was a little awkward and I saw people second glance at me...but I think it was a good second glance like thinking in their head..."Oh look at that girl..she is using a reusable bag. She's doing something good for the environment." Most of the second glances were from older people who didn't think college aged kids cared. WELL I DO! I also asked for the manager Dave to thank him but he wasn't there so I proceeded to thank the cashier at the counter I was at for working at a place that cared about our environment,who I have to say was really confused and awkward towards me(but hey who isn't?) SO....that is my awesome experience using my bag from Super One....I will be back folks.

Share and Voice: Earth Day on Oprah

Ya Ya...I watch Oprah too! I actually tivo every episode so when I was watching the episode last week on earth day, I could go back and catch actual facts that they were giving out. Here are some of the interesting things I learned:

Garbage Ring:As we have talked about in class before, there is a garbage ring from the coast of California to Japan. Here are some key facts I learned:

• Garbage patch is twice the size of Texas
• 90 ft
  
• largest one out of many garbage patches
• Considered an ecological disaster
• 3.5 million tons of plastic
• 80% liter from land, blown by wind, rivers and streams
• Dead albatross, which are a type of bird, are being found with stomachs full of plastic and garbage(including cigarettes)
• killing many types of animals
• Starting to see first cases of breast cancer in killer whales
  

What opened my eyes about this issue is that everything we are putting in our garbage is coming back to haunt us by being put back into the foods we eat. How scary is that???

Plastic Bags: Another Interesting topic was on plastic bags and how they are a major threat to our environment.

• 1% of bags are recycled
• San Francisco was the first U.S city to ban plastic bags in grocery stores in 2007
• Ireland now charges .33 cents per bag

For more stories and information about the earth day episode, check out Oprah.com!

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

April 28, 2009

Senator Amy Klobuchar

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Klobuchar,

I am writing to you to inform you of a topic that has recently been brought to my attention. Obesity is one of the number one health problems in our society today. I believe that the key to managing this problem is proper nutrition and exercise. We cannot force people to exercise, but we can provide healthier food options for citizens to choose from. Many citizens today do not have the proper knowledge on nutrition and eating healthy, which leads to obesity. Even though resources are scarce to support healthy habits, I believe that by us making healthy choices more available, we will create a healthier lifestyle and environment.

By supplying healthier options in schools and restaurants, we could really improve this problem. Although this could effect tax payers who would have to pay for these healthier foods in schools and restaurants, those tax payers would also benefit from the change by eating healthier foods. People who would really support this bill are parents of children in school, farmers who are growing these healthy options, doctors, dietitians, and citizens alone who are seeking to live a healthier lifestyle.

I believe that by simply passing the H.RES.274 bill, a great start would take place. By signing this bill, obesity could be reduced a great deal. This bill supports the month of March as National Nutrition Month. Education is key to increasing awareness and knowledge of this topic. We need to set good examples for our children now and in the future, so that they have the knowledge and confidence to live healthy lifestyles. Living a healthy lifestyle can be done, and I think that passing this bill will make our children's future brighter as well as our own.

You should really think about supporting this bill with a YES, because to my understanding you are a supporter of a healthy environment. By eating healthier foods, also helps out in keeping our environment healthy. Providing healthier options and more varieties of whole grains, fruits and vegetables will be a great start in the fight against obesity!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have at 221-223-8876. I would be happy to inform you with any extra information that you may need. I would also be willing to be an advocate for this issue as much as possible. I would also like to thank you for all the positive things you have done for our state and country.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Katie Nash

111 Bloggers Ave

Green Rules, MN

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Overview of Goal 19: Nutrition and Overweight


For my advocacy Project, the goal I chose is Goal 19: Nutrition and Overweight, but I decided to pick a different bill because I feel very strongly about nutrition and this topic interested me more.

The bill from THOMAS that is related is:

 

S.581: A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the excluion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrtion program for women, infants and children.
Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
My political representative: Sen. Amy Klobuchar

How I would vote on this....

I would ask for a vote of YES for this bill because it is very important that our society starts off with healthy eating habits starting with the elementary setting, rather than learning how it affects your health later in their lifetime.

Who is affected by this issue?

Those who are affected by this issue?

Those who are most affected by this issue are children and their families.  If parents/guardians do not set examples from the start, children will develop poor eating habits that will be hard to break as they grow older. Knowledge is the key thing in preventing disease and weight problems, which is then associated with wellness and overall quality of life. Those who will be negatively affected by this issue will be the government and tax payers who are paying for these programs to promote healthy eating and lifestyles.

Consequences of the issue?

The positive effects of this issue will be healthier children, which will then lead to a healthier society overall. When children are practicing healthy habits in school, they will then take those skills home to their families and the knowledge will be passed on to their families as well,making the family healthier as a whole as well. Learning healthy lifestyles at an early age will prevent health problems later in life, which at the same time could cause a negative effect in the health field when they will not be needing to purchase medical care as much.

Economic and social impact?

Economic impact would be that taxpayers and government would have to dish out money for these school based programs. Healthier foods tend to be more expensive, which causes our society to opt out for the cheaper, less healthy items today. Many taxpayers who do not have elementary aged children could be opposed to this bill, while many who do have elementary aged children will be positively benefiting from this action. Social impact will be there will be a healthier flow in elementary schools which will cause many schools to be healthier as a whole when it comes to disease and illness.  Throughout the school day, germs and illnesses are spread very easily from child to child.  Knowledge on being healthy will help build immune systems so the illnesses and diseases can be reduced in schools. This leads to a better social stand.

Barriers?

Once again a strong barrier would be money needed to fund these programs and healthier food options in schools.  Also, there will be many people who do not want to put in the effort to start these programs.  There will need to be teachers and committees who are willing to put in extra time to implement and evaluate these programs.

Resources?

Resources for this issue would be time and people who are willing to put effort into these programs. There would need to be lots of extra time beyond the work day to work on setting goals and implementing these goals.

History of Issue?

Much has been done since the rising of this issue appeared. In 2004, President Bush passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. This act states that to provide children with increased access to food and nutrition assistance, to simplify program operations and improve program management, to reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes. Basically the main point of this act is to make sure there are healthy options for kids to chose when picking out their own meals and snacks at school, and also easing the process for low income families as well.

Allies and Opponents?

People who would support this issue would be parents/guardians of children, teachers,governmental authorities, doctors, and children themselves. Opponents of this issue would be tax payers who would have to pay more, school officials who might have to put in more time at work, and children who might think this issue is non beneficial and boring.

Reflection: Weeks 11%12

Okay...so I have to say it like everyone else..I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE AT WEEK 12 ALREADY! ha! This is so crazy to me! Not only have I learned about the environment in this class but I have also learned a lot about myself! I have also really enjoyed the people in this class and really am going to be sad when its over....!(not Jk)  There is so much more that I want to learn about the environment and I think that I can really use the skills that I learned in this course beyond this class! I have also learned that the environment is not just thinking about the trees and air around us...it is so much more! There are many links to health and environment too!  

During Weeks 11 and 12 we actually did a lot. We got to view the film "Unnatural Causes," which is a documentary series broadcasted by PBS. We watched the segment called "In Sickness and in Wealth."This documentary shows that there is much more to our environment then bad habits, health care and unlucky genes. This was one of my favorite documentaries because it was very interesting to how much money actually takes over our environment.  Something else that we did which was very interesting is we all picked a goal from Healthy People 2010 and did some research pertaining to the objectives and progress of that certain goal. The goal that I chose is to improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity. I am especially interested in fitness and nutritional health so this was a perfect fit for me.  There is so much that ties the environment and fitness and nutrition together. 

There is so much that I have learned over the past couple weeks that it would take a book to write.  I really enjoy this class and it makes me want 12:00 to come everyday!(looking forward  to class is something new for me!)  I cant wait for these next few weeks and will be sad when this class is over...a little! ahah HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEKEND:)

Advocacy Project:Healthy People/Thomas

Goal: Improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity.

According to the Progress Quotient Chart, 7 out of 10 objectives have moved towards the target, with 3 out of the 10 objectives moved away from

 the target. The objective with the highest progress percentage of 28 was objective 28-11 (Increase the proportion of adolescents who view television 2 or fewer hours on a school day).  The objective with the least amount of progress was objective 22-6(Increase the proportion of adolescents who engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day 5 or more days per week).

Objective 28-11: Increase the proportion of adolescents who view television 2 or fewer hours on a a school day.

Target:75%

Baseline: 57% of students in grades 9 through 12 viewed television 2 or few hours per school day in 1999.

Target Setting Method: Better than the best.

Data Source: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP

Progress, Disparities, Opportunities and Challenges, and emerging issues:

Gains were made among students ages 9-12 for objectives addressing physical activity during physical education class. The proportion of adolescents who limited television viewing 2 or fewer hours on a school day increased from 57% in 1999 to 62% in 2003, achieving 28% of the targeted change and moving towards its target of 75 percent. The suggestion that was made physical activity is socially unacceptable for kids ages 9 through 12. This evidence explains the decrease in vigorous physical activity among this population group. The progress toward eliminating health disparities shows that the more education and knowledge there is on this topic, the more the increase in percentages of phys

ical activity there will be.   After the emergence of the automobile in the 20th century, physical activity has decreased rapidly in numbers.  Physical activity and fitness were a essential part to daily life and cultures in the areas of transportation, occupation, and even maintaining a home and family life. Gender, education, Location and Disability play a major role in physical activity. The group with the best rate for physical activity is male, and white(non-hispanic) population. 

There are a couple emerging issues for this topic.  First, technology has been explored to promote action on this topic including: pedometers, heart rate monitors, and motion detectors. Motion detectors have been used for population assessment. These provide the opportunity to 

to track population progress. Also, public health practictioners are working towards providing more access to suitable locations for physical activity such as walking/biking/hiking trails. By doing so, physical activity will be more reasonable to access.

Politcal Representative: Amy Klobachar

Reflection weeks 9&10

WEEK 9&10
These past two weeks have flown by fast...and Spring is suppose to be here?  I love Duluth but sometimes the weather makes me think different.  Environmental is flying by, and I have learned so much. Wherever I go, whether its a mall, restaurant, grocery store...etc.. I find myself thinking about the environment and what that place is doing to help.  I am also learning to critical think better and ask questions about things I do not understand.  The benefits I am getting by taking this course are unreal!

During Week 9 we learned about the Advocacy project.  What is advocacy? It is active promotion of cause or principal and it involves actions that lead to a specific goal.  It is one of the ways that we can access a problem in our community.  ALso, during week 9 we were assigned My Political Representatives.  We each asked to research political representatives in the Duluth Area, list their name and political affiliation and also their contact information.  This was a fun activity for me to do because I didn't know who represented Duluth in politics.  Even though a lot of people's posts look the same it was still interesting to see what other people found while researching! 

   

In Week 10, class was not held because Dr. V was attending the AAPHRD conference but we were given an eye opener to work on.  The eye opener was a photo essay where you had to go out(or in like I did) and take pictures of something having to do with the environment.  I decided to work around my house and take pictures of ways that my roommates and I were going green.  It was easy but hard in a way because it made us realize that we aren't really doing that much around our house to help the environment.  Totally made me realize that I need to be doing a lot more such as trying to really restore energy and water by shutting lights off ,taking shorter showers and waiting to do laundry until it is really needed.  This definately was an eye opener for me!

I hope everyone is enjoying this class as much as I am! It has really made me realize what I take for granted everyday and what I can do to help out our environment that is definitely in need of our help! If we all work together it can be accomplished! 

Have a great and safe weekend!!!!