Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Reflection: Weeks 13-14 & Overall Course


Well folks this is my last blog post....at least for Environmental :( It has been a blast getting to know everyone in class, at least those I did not already know. I have to admit I was not sure about blogging but after doing it I realized it was a lot of fun.

These past 2 weeks have flown by! Here is a recap of what we did:
  • Toured Goodwill
  • Did our Advocacy letter/fact sheet and online learning activities
  • Wrapped up our SMART goals
  • Show and Tell of our junking projects
Touring Goodwill was a lot of fun and interesting. I had never been there before this class so I was able to learn a lot. I could not believe how many things they had in the back of the store. It is great so many people donate things. While there I was even able to pick up a cute leopard cardigan!

Our advocacy projects opened up a lot of our eyes to new issues and bills. As I have stated in previous blogs, I had never really participated in government issues but se
eing which bills are trying to be passed was really cool. The bill I focused on was an education act for Emergency Contraception. Not only did I learn a lot of this topic but I hope my blog groups did as well.

After wrapping up our SMART goals I felt such a sense of accomplishment. Being able to succeed at this goal made me feel very good. Along the way I was also able to influence others which was just as important to me. Thanks for all the support from my fellow bloggers! :)

Last, but definitely not least, we did our junking projects. I had the most
fun with this project. It was cool being able to create something from junk and sharing it with the class. My junking project was a wine cork board. It was very easy to make. All I needed was a frame, black paint, hot glue gun, and wine corks. The pictures below are my junking project. Enjoy!

Overall, I learned a lot about myself and the environment. I admit I was a little selfish when it came to the use of the environment. I wouldn't recycle sometimes, never really cared about governmental issues, and used as many resources as I wanted without thinking anything of it. Well now I rethink everything I do. For example, do I really need that bottle of Gatorade or hormone-injected meat....do not think so!! Environmental health opened my eyes to many issues that get swept under the rug....well that rug is rising. It is time to talk and fix these problems before we run out of resources and ruin it for future generations.

Hope everyone has a safe, relaxing break!!!




Picture Source for top picture:This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 with a copyright notice, and its copyright was not renewed

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

These Online Learning Activities were made by members of my group. Below I will post my answers to their activities!

Kristen's Air Quality Crossword Puzzle
Instructions: Read the 4 posted articles. After reading, use the articles to complete the crossword puzzle.

Answers:
Down:
1. Air Quality Index
2. Air Toxics
3. Mobile

Across:
4. Asthma
5. Carbon Monoxide
6. EPA


Heidi's Childhood Obesity Quiz
Instructions: Click on the Childhood Obesity Quiz link to take the quiz. Record your results and report back what you learned.

There were 10 true and false questions pertaining to childhood obesity. I received a score of 10/10 = 100%. I knew many of these questions because I have done numerous papers on childhood obesity. This topic interests me because it is such a big issue that needs to be addressed and fixed. One of the questions that could trick people are; a child should have 3 glasses of fruit juice a day. Even though I did get this question right, they should have been more specific because 100% fruit juice is different than juice concentrate.

Brier's Smoking Fact Find
Instructions: Review the posted links. Find 5 things that you did not know before watching the videos or things that really effected you. Post the 5 things learned you learned. Also, provide 1 reason why you remain smoke-free or chose to become smoke-free.

5 Things I did not know or things that effected me:

1. The video, MDCH-It's Like They are Smoking, was very sad. When people smoke around others or their kids it drives me crazy. It is not fair to those who do not smoke to have to be exposed to these chemicals. Why should we have to get sick because of someone else's actions? Smoking around people, especially kids, is one of the worst things you can do to their health.

2. According to the American Heart Association, there has been a 15 percent drop in heart attacks since the Smoking Ban took place. (In 2007, 91,000 Minnesotans got treatment for heart attack. In 2009, 78,00 were treated.)

3. There are new cigarettes called E-Cigarettes that people are starting to smoke. These are cigarettes that contain nicotine but produce no smoke. These are absolutely ridiculous. Things like this make me wonder what they will come up with next.

4. According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, 446 U.S. campuses are either tobacco-free or are in the works of implementing such a policy. This is amazing that so many schools have taken the initiative to become smoke-free. If campuses can have a policy on alcohol use on campus, why not have a tobacco policy. Many people can be exposed to secondhand smoke on campus so implementing policies should decrease the intake of these chemicals. Hopefully these policies will give smokers the willpower to consider quitting.

5. Smoking costs Minnesota nearly 3 billion dollars in health care costs. Smoking kills. When health care costs rise to 3 billion dollars you know there is a problem. Hopefully with all the work the U.S. is doing with implementing smoking bans and policies we can start to see an even bigger decrease in tobacco use.

I choose not to smoke because I know how detrimental it is for your health and people around you. I grew up with parents who smoked and it drove me crazy. I will never put myself or my family in jeopardy.

Mary's Health Insurance For All
Instructions: Watch the posted video. Visit the two posted websites. Play the game, You Bet Your Health. After completing all of this, share one or two things you learned from this activity.

What I learned:
1. The game, You Bet Your Health, put a lot of things into perspective. If you do not have health insurance you get stuck paying for everything. Doctor visits, medication, and annual check-ups cost a lot of money. It was aggravating seeing the insurer win all of this money because your bills were not covered.

2. I think the new Health Reform has some great points. I like how kids are allowed to stay on their parent's plan until age 26 and that insurance companies are not able to drop you because of a submitted claim.

Emily's Uncovering the Facts About Cancer
Instructions:
First, visit the WebMD site and find 3 facts about cancer that interest you or that you never knew. Second, visit the American Cancer Society site and read about the different causes of cancer. Be able to list 3. Third, go to the webpage Preventcancer.org and read about things you can do to reduce your risk for cancer. Fourth, report 3 common causes of cancer and describe 3 of the ways you think you could best protect yourself against cancer.

3 facts about Cancer:
1. Observation studies have shown that cancer is more common in some people with certain dietary habits--such as colorectal cancer in people who have diets rich in meat products.

2. In the Gerson Therapy, cancer patients are treated with caffeinated coffee in the form of enemas every four hours on a daily basis.

3. An estimated 40% to 50% of fair-skinned people who live to be 65 will develop at least one skin cancer.

3 Different causes of cancer and ways to protect myself:
1. Genetics-Ways to protect myself would be to get screened
2. Tobacco- Do not ever take up smoking and avoid second-hand smoke as much as I can
3. Diet and Physical Activity-Remain Active and Eat more green--add color to my diet

Molly's No Way BPA in Baby Formula
Instructions: After looking over the websites listed, decide if you think the chemicals should be more or less regulated specifically relating to baby formula. Post a short reflection on it.

Yes, I 100 percent agree that chemicals should be more regulated when it comes to baby formula. Our kids are our future generations. Do we really want to put them in harms way? I was surprised by this next piece of information I found. The Toxic Substances Control Act fails to require that chemical companies prove their products are safe before they are sold. How are you able to sell a product without knowing if it is safe or not?

Everyone had great activities. I learned so much about all these topics. They are all important in their own ways. Keep up the great work!




Thursday, December 9, 2010

Advocacy Project: Emergency Contraception 101


Emergency Contraception 101

Purpose:
To provide education for people who are interested in knowing more about emergency contraception. Educating others' on this would help lower pregnancy rates, abortion, and adoption processes. It is also very important for both men and women to know where emergency contraception is readily available just in case of an accident.

-Read 10 Common Myths, Misunderstandings, and big Ol' Lies About Emergency Contraception to learn about common myths associated with emergency contraception (EC)

-Learn more about Emergency Contraception from Planned Parenthood. They are a great agency that offer many resources for people of all ages. (Hint Hint)

-Go to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and play the Method Match activity. You choose 4 different methods of birth control and it compares the cost, effectiveness, side effects, prevention of STI's, and etc. It is very informative!

Instructions:

  • Next, do some research and find & list 3 places you could go to obtain emergency contraception in Duluth, MN.

Emergency contraception is a safe, effective way to prevent a pregnancy from occurring in the event of an accident. Hopefully after doing some research you can decide for yourself if this is something you would ever choose to use.



Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Final Weekly Review & Overall Project Reflection


My SMART goal is I will eat 4 servings (serving= 3 oz.) of hormone-free, grass-fed meat, per week. The new goal of 4 servings worked out great. I say this because this past weekend I had a second Thanksgiving so I ended up eating more meat than I usually do but I did not go over my SMART goal!

The strategies that helped me be most effective was letting my friends and family know what I was doing. Many of my friends and family did not understand that their are differences in meat so they had never really looked until I said something. Also, since I have told my family about this they either buy hormone-free deli meat or soy burgers if I am going to be home. The challenge I faced the entire time was when I went out to eat. I did cut out going out to eat a lot but of course there were times when I either did not have food or did not have time to make something.

I was very happy with myself this past week. I stuck to my new goal and let others know this option is out there. I felt most happy when I could explain to others what we have learned and why I chose this as my SMART goal. Many people have no idea what I am talking about which does not surprise me because I just learned a lot of it this semester! I learned I can easily do things I put my mind to and if you feel passionately about something try to influence or educate others to do the same.

Original SMART goal: I will eat 3 servings (serving= 3 oz.) of hormone-free, grass-fed meat, per week.
Updated SMART goal: I will eat 4 servings (serving= 3 oz.) of hormone-free, grass-fed meat, per week.
My goal changed because I felt I accomplished what I wanted to. I found hormone-free meat at a reasonable price so I felt I could increase my intake a little. It was nice having a variety in my meals. It also worked out perfect with the holidays approaching.

As I stated above what helped me most successful was letting others know what I was doing. Because they knew, they understood when I would search for the hormone-free option or wanted to stay in and make dinner. The one thing that complicated my goal was restaurants. It would be nice if they could state where they get their meat from. Not only would this make people feel comfortable knowing their meat was not injected with antibiotics or hormones, but it could increase their sales.

My SMART goal led me to new things. Never before did I think to look over my meat packages to see if they were hormone-free. I never thought about this before because I really did not know much about it. Accomplishing my goal made me realize I can do anything I set my mind to. I also learned I am able to influence others by my decisions. Many people do not know what really goes into their meat because they do not question it. I hope I can keep spreading the information I have learned to others. Behavior change is not hard when you really want to change. It takes time, will power, and confidence to really see a behavior change.

Making this change benefited the companies that sold this product and farms that chose to raise their animals the natural way. Hopefully by educating friends and family what I am doing they will do the same. Farms that choose to raise their animals the natural way should be rewarded and receive the most business.

I will continue this behavior because it is easy and rewarding. Taking the extra couple of minutes to look over the package is worth it. If I can somehow help farms who raise their animals without hormones I will do it.

Recommendations for others: Stick to your goal, modify if you want/have to, if you have questions....ask, and know you can do whatever you set your mind to!


Picture Source: You are free: to share-to copy, distribute and transmit the work

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Advocacy Project: Letter and Fact Sheet

December 5, 2010

Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

VOTE YES ON H.R. 5561: EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION EDUCATION ACT OF 2010

The proposed bill on educating others' about emergency contraception use is very important. Emergency contraception would significantly lower the rates of teen or unwanted pregnancies. Instead of aborting the baby or having to go through the adoption process, ovulation would never occur. As a soon to be health educator I feel every person should know there are options out there if an accident were to ever happen. The use of this pill would help lower the cost of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

This act would provide education to people who are interested in knowing more about emergency contraception. Educating others' on this would help lower pregnancy rates, abortion, and adoption processes. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), "Nealy half (49%) of the more than 6 million pregnancies that occur each year are unplanned". Also, the effectiveness for emergency contraception can be as high as to 89 percent (ACOG 2010). Mistakes and accidents happen so lets inform people there are options out there to help.

Opponents of this bill may say emergency contraception is abortion or parents/guardians may feel it will be an incentive for kids to be sexually active. Kids will do whatever they want to do. Parents and guardians need to face the reality that they cannot be there for every part of their children's lives so we need to have another plan, like education. If we are able to educate kids or people in general, they will know they have this option and can choose for themselves whether to use it or not. Also, emergency contraception is not abortion. It stops ovulation so the sperm and egg do not meet. With the use of education, we can reach out to many people and provide them with resources to meet their needs.

I appreciate your support on health care, education, and family and children. Family planning is very important in all three of these groups. I hope you realize how important this is for people out there and vote "yes" to H.R. 5561. If I could provide you with any other information, please contact me.


Alicia


Emergency Contraception Use
Fact Sheet

What is Emergency Contraception?

Emergency contraception, also called the morning-after pill, is a pill that prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. It can be started up to five days after intercourse.

When should you use emergency contraception?
  • condom broke or slipped off, and he ejaculated in you
  • you forgot to take your birth control, you are not on birth control, or birth control was ineffective (e.g. ring fell out, diaphragm slipped out of place)
  • miscalculated your "safe" days"
  • you were forced to have unprotected sex or were raped
How does emergency contraception work?

Emergency contraception is made of progestin, one of the hormones found in birth control pills. The hormone in the morning-after pill keeps the ovaries from releasing an egg so sperm and the egg never meet. This pill also thickens the cervical mucus, which blocks the sperm and egg from joining.

How effective is emergency contraception?

There are many different brands of emergency contraception. Some of the more popular brands are Plan B One-Step, Ella, and Next Choice. These brands reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent when started within three days of unprotected intercourse. This is effective up until five days after intercourse but gets less effective as time goes on.

How safe is emergency contraception?

The morning-after pill is safe. It does not have the same risks as taking ongoing birth control because this is made for a one-time use.

What are the disadvantages of emergency contraception?

There can be side effects while using the morning-after pill. Nausea and throwing up are the most common side effects. However, many women feel fine after taking it. Other side effects of the morning-after pill may include:
  • breast tenderness
  • irregular bleeding
  • dizziness
  • period may become irregular (come earlier or later, last longer or shorter)
Where can you get emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception is available from drugstores, clinics, or outlook clinics. Women and men older than 17 do not need a prescription. If you are younger than 17 you will need to go to a health center like a clinic to get a prescription. Places like Planned Parenthood or outlook clinics are a convenient and fast way to receive the morning-after pill. They are also able to bill most insurance companies if you do not have sufficient funds to pay for it.

Information provided by Planned Parenthood


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Reflection: Weeks 9-12

I know everyone, including me, has said this over and over again but where has this semester gone?! I feel like three weeks ago we were just learning how to blog now we all have our blogs decorated fancy with cool backgrounds and tools and are making our posting so interesting and fun. Lets see, in the past four weeks we have learned a lot about:
I think two of the most important things we have done in the past four weeks are our advocacy and eco-chic projects. Because of this class I was obligated to find out about our political representatives. This actually made me happy because everyone should at least know who their representatives are. I am usually up-to-date with politics but this year I just had too many things going on. I also enjoyed being able to look on the Healthy People and THOMAS sites for current bills or proposals that are trying to be passed. Since our blogging groups are larger I was able to read about many different bills and why others' felt they should be passed.

Our SMART goals were another fun project. It was cool seeing how and why everyone picked their goals the way they did. Being able to receive positive feedback and constructive criticism from my groups members really helped me stay on track and become more eco-friendly.

Personally, I had a lot of fun with the photo essay. I was able to go to my friend Emily's farm, which I had wanted to do for a while. It was very exciting to be able to see things like this first hand because it puts things into perspective. It was also fun being able to see what others photo essays were about. I think our junking projects are going to be a lot like the photo essay. We are able to pick or make whatever we want to do and then show the class. I am excited to see what people make with their "junk".

Overall, besides learning a lot of from our eco-chic and advocacy projects, I have learned a lot from my group members. By switching groups and having to post individual messages on each blog I have got to know a lot of people in the class. I have read what others are doing, what interests them, and what they think of what I do. I love posting and reading the comments because then I get others' opinions and suggestions. Blogging is a good way to network, get others' opinions and ideas, and post what is on your mind.

Picture Source: Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Share & Voice: Wrap Recipe


Pepper Roll-Ups

Well since I have had a lot of requests for the wrap recipe I made for class, I decided to post it to my blog for anyone to have! They are very easy and usually a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients:
  • 1 package of Whole-Wheat Tortillas (Any type of tortilla would work)
  • 1 package of Neufchatel Cheese (Any type of cream cheese works)
  • 1 jar of Jalapeno Pepper slices
  • 1 jar of Roasted Red peppers
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin (Can alter to your taste)
  • 1 bag of Shredded Cheese
  • 1 package of turkey (optional)
Directions:
Mix cream cheese and cumin. Spread across wraps. Finely chop jalapenos and red peppers. Sprinkle shredded cheese and peppers over wraps. Roll up and cut into thicker slices so ingredients do not fall out. If using turkey or other meats put on meat after sprinkling shredded cheese then put on peppers.

The great thing about this recipe is you can really make it however you want. You can alter or change the ingredients to your liking. Other ingredients you could use are ham, roast beef, olives, other types of peppers, other spices, and etc. Hope you all enjoy! Also, if there are any questions just ask!