Reflection Post: Week 7 & 8

 Week 7:

In the seventh week of Environmental Health we watched a documentary called Green and discussed the upcoming smoking ban forum with our class and a guest speaker from the American Lung Association. 
Green: I was so impressed this documentary was done by a graduate student from Texas. Not only was the documentary well done but it also did a really good job of showing what was going on in the world and specifically on cancer ally as it was called in the documentary. Cancer ally is on the Mississippi River running from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. After the documentary we had a discussion on it, for this discussion we split into two groups, the people that lived in the city and the people/company harming the city with their chemicals. I was on the side of the people living in the city, I had a much easier side to argue than the other half of the class. This discussion was really helpful because it made you look at things in a different perspective. 

Smoking Ban Discussion: In class we were informed about what would take place at the smoking ban forum by a representative of the American Lung Association. We discussed the up coming smoking ban forum that would be going on at UMD on Tuesday October 27th. People voiced their opinions in class and what they would say if they went to the forum. I went to the smoking forum the next day and saw some of my classmates there and was very glad some people were able to go and of those that spoke at the forum. 

  Week 8:

In the eighth week of Environmental Health we, watched a documentary called Thirst and discussed the smoking ban forum and those who went talked about their experience. It was also Mal and my week to bring snack, we brought in raisins and almonds (which were not salted) for the class.

Thirst: One thing I really liked about this movie was the fact that they broke it up and showed both view points instead of just one. The two of the view points they showed were that of the community and their group and the mayor of the city along with the council members. The documentary discussed stopping the privatization of water, one point that was brought up by the people was that if they did allow the privatization of water in Stockton, California, they feared it would end up like gas prices. The citizens of Stockton wanted the right to vote on this matter, therefore they went to get signatures of people in the area. In the end they were not able to get enough signatures and were not allowed to vote. One thing I really questioned was the mayor's motives and what he was getting out of it. He did not seem to be for the people but rather looking out for himself, I am guessing he doesn't get reelected in Stockton.
Smoking Ban Discussion: The smoking ban was discussed  in class, for those that went talked about their experiences and those that did not were able to hear what happened even if they couldn't go. It was fun to hear about what other people thought of the smoking ban forum. I found that I agreed with what a lot of other people in the class had to say. Within this discussion it was was brought up the importance of not judging people based on appearance and what they say. I felt that at the smoking forum you could tell who smoked and who did not. I feel that I should have been a little more considerate before coming to these conclusions with perhaps not enough information.  

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Weekly Update

 

SMART Goal: 

My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic water bottle everyday for the rest of the semester and hopefully the rest of my life.I was able to achieve my smart goal because last week because I used my reusable water bottle every day of the week! My other goal was to check in on my mother and see how she was doing with a reusable water bottle. This week on Monday I also decided to try walking to school, which is a few of my class members goal. It was actually a lot of fun and I would like to walk when it is still nice outside.

Success and Challenges: 

I felt successful this week because I used only my reusable water bottle. I however did drink out of one plastic water bottle this week. I could have prevented drinking from a plastic water bottle but did not think about it ahead of time. The instance was when I was donating blood over the weekend. I went to a blood drive that I had signed up for and when you are finished they want you to drink lots of fluids to replenish. When I was done donating they gave me a water bottle and a snack at what they call the snack station. I of course drank the water from the plastic water bottle, while I was waiting to be able to leave. I should have thought about this ahead of time because I have donated blood before and know they have you drink water after, of course my reusable water bottle was in the car, but I had to wait 10 minutes to leave and needed to drink wanted right then. A challenge this week was when I talked to my mother about her switching to a reusable water bottle. I asked my mother how it was going with her reusable water bottle and she told me that she lost it. I was rather disappointed. I decided that instead of getting a $4 water bottle that she didn't really care about and probably lost it at work, I am going to show her some of the really cool water bottles that we have talked about in class, like the glass ones. May be this way she will have more interest and will be more careful about where she sets it down.

Feelings:

I felt frustrated when I found out my mother lost her water bottle because I told her about how she will save and all these important things that go along with reusable water bottles. In the end I was disappointed because it seemed like she didn't care. I hope to get her on the right track with a new water bottle.

I Learned:

I learned this week that it takes time to make changes, may be it was easier for me to switch to reusable water bottles because it is actually something that I want to do and for my mother may be she didn't want to switch yet. I also thought that may be she didn't care about the goal because she didn't track it and measure her goal or even set goals for herself.

Next Week: 

I plan to continue on my goal of drinking only out of my reusable water bottle. I also plan to think ahead on when I might actually need my water bottle so that I am not using a plastic water bottle even if it is being offered to me. This week I would also like to use reusable bags when I go to the store for groceries or items I need. To make my goal a little more challenging I want to start trying out other people's goals for a day or two. 


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

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

Part I:
Antiques: a work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period, and according to many customs laws, at least 100 years ago.
Antiquing: Producing a rich glow on the surface of a leather by applying stain, wax, or oil, allowing it to set, and rubbing or brushing the leather.
Junk: any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags.
Flea Market: a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-rate merchandise, etc.
Thrift Shop: A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization.
Upcycling: involves processing used materials into new products, or the re-use of a product with crippled functionality for alternative purposes, to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production, with the intent of creating a product of higher quality design and artistic value.
Resale Shop: The selling of a good to another party after having purchased it.

Part II:
1.What do the terms above have to do with environmental health?
      The terms above have to do with environmental health because they all have to do with some for or reusing or continuing the use of items that some people might normally throw away.
2. Identify at least one local resource for each of the terms above...provide name, location, contact info, and link to website or blog.
Antiques: Father Time Antiques
395 S Lake Ave
Duluth, MN 55802 
(218)625-2379

Junk: Jadco Special Haulers

4011 Rehbein Rd, Duluth, MN

(218) 724-5538‎

Products and Services: Recycling, Scrap Materials, Waste Materials

Flea Market: Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth, MN 55811

Thrift Shop: Dannie Duluth
932 E 4th St
Duluth, MN 55805-2150
(218) 724-8507

Upcycling: I couldn't find anything in Duluth, I did find this from definition and a bit more information from about.com.Upcycling is "The practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value" From the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.

Resale Shop: Plato's Closet
5115 Burning Tree Road
Suite 315C
Duluth, MN 55811
218-733-9455

3. Identify whether you do any or use any of these things. Why or why not?
I honestly am not currently using any of these places. I have in the past been to Plato's closet to sell my clothes and then while I was there looked around to see if there was anything I might want to buy. I tend to go to some of these places to search for Halloween costumes. I don't know why I don't use these places, especially if I am willing to sell them my clothes for others to use. I think as I get older I like to spend my money on things that look nicer. I would buy from these places but I guess with all the big stores out there and being able to save money through sales, I never really thought about looking at second hand items such as clothes.

Part III:
Paris Themed Necklace
This one grabbed my attention because I really like to wear necklaces and having been to Paris, I found this to be really cool and something I would wear myself and would be interested in learning how to make it.
  Simple Monday
This caught my attention because deer hunting season is starting soon and its amazing what you can do with a few things you find outside.
Sometimes its okay to break a dish
I absolutely love this one because once in a high school art class we used broken tiles and made them into a picture (this is called mosaic art). Ever since then I have wanted to do another one but to buy all the materials would be expensive. I think mosaic art is something I want to pick up as a hobby when I am done with college, until then I will just buy mosaic art pieces that I see.