I have found my political representatives of my hometown, Duluth, MN, and have listed their information below:
President:
Barack Obama~ Democrat
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington DC, 20500
Congress Representatives:
U.S Senate
Al Franken~ Democrat
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
Amy Klobuchar~Democrat
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
U.S House
James Oberstar 8th district~Democrat
2365 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-6211
Governor
Tim Pawlenty~ Republican
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Telephone: (651) 296-3391
Minnesota Senate
Yvonne Prettner-Solon- 7th district~Democrat
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
651.296.4188
Minnesota House of Representatives
Mary Murphy~Democrat
343 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-296-2676 or 800-890-5428
County Board Representative
Peg Sweeney
5th District Commissioner
Room 208
100 N. 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-2450
Mayor
Don Ness
City Hall
411 West First Street
Duluth, MN, 55802
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Reflection Weeks 5-8
In the past few weeks I have learned a lot of information that has changed how I view the environment. The documentaries that we have been watching in class have been especially eye opening.
We have watched several documentaries such as "Tapped" "Fresh" Green" and "The Future of Food". Most of these documentaries have made me very angry. It seems like all of the documentaries, even though they are talking about different aspects of the environment have one common theme, big corporations are polluting our environment and killing us to make a profit. These big companies are driven by greed and do not care if the products they make are safe, if their plants are killing the environment, and they always seem to target their competition such as small farmers that do not have prayer of a chance of winning a fight. Also, the documentary "Green" as shown me that people and companies think that certain populations are expendable or not as important. It makes me sick to think that these larger corporations are poisoning populations along the Mississippi River and deny that they have anything to do with it. What also is disturbing is that people will protect these companies. I think as consumers, we need to make a statement and let the companies know that we do not believe any population is expendable and what they are currently is wrong. They need to find a new solution.
The documentary "Tapped" also shocked me. The fact that the bottled water companies are basically stealing water from the residents and selling it back to them for 1900 times the original cost. It just is wrong, no one has a right to sell water as a commodity. It is essential to life and everyone has a right to it. I work as a cashier and the next day when I was cashiering and I saw someone by a bottle of water I had to fight the urge not to say something. I think I started discouraging customers from buying bottled water I would be in trouble by my employer.
I also learned about junking. A brief introduction was done and I learned what junking is and what can be created. I find using old things to make new things is really fun and really creative. In fact I did not even think crafting like this was considered recycling, but it totally is! IT is so cool and all of the projects are so unique. It seems a lot better than just buying something generic from a big box store!
We have watched several documentaries such as "Tapped" "Fresh" Green" and "The Future of Food". Most of these documentaries have made me very angry. It seems like all of the documentaries, even though they are talking about different aspects of the environment have one common theme, big corporations are polluting our environment and killing us to make a profit. These big companies are driven by greed and do not care if the products they make are safe, if their plants are killing the environment, and they always seem to target their competition such as small farmers that do not have prayer of a chance of winning a fight. Also, the documentary "Green" as shown me that people and companies think that certain populations are expendable or not as important. It makes me sick to think that these larger corporations are poisoning populations along the Mississippi River and deny that they have anything to do with it. What also is disturbing is that people will protect these companies. I think as consumers, we need to make a statement and let the companies know that we do not believe any population is expendable and what they are currently is wrong. They need to find a new solution.
The documentary "Tapped" also shocked me. The fact that the bottled water companies are basically stealing water from the residents and selling it back to them for 1900 times the original cost. It just is wrong, no one has a right to sell water as a commodity. It is essential to life and everyone has a right to it. I work as a cashier and the next day when I was cashiering and I saw someone by a bottle of water I had to fight the urge not to say something. I think I started discouraging customers from buying bottled water I would be in trouble by my employer.
I also learned about junking. A brief introduction was done and I learned what junking is and what can be created. I find using old things to make new things is really fun and really creative. In fact I did not even think crafting like this was considered recycling, but it totally is! IT is so cool and all of the projects are so unique. It seems a lot better than just buying something generic from a big box store!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Share and Voice: Activity: How are Green Are You?
We almost 10 weeks now we have been learning about the environment and how we can make our world a healthier place. Now I propose the question:
How green are you?
Have you been soaking in what we have learned and have you made any significant changes in your lifestyle since beginning this class?
I have found a cool little quiz How Green Do You Want to Be? It may not be the most scientifically accurate quiz but I thought it was fun.
I took the quiz I received the result "I've Seen the Green Light" Basically, I have acquired the necessary information about what is harmful and what is good for the environment. I have started taking some action, such as bringing my own bags to the grocery store or Target. But there is a lot more I could do, such as take public transportation more often.
I challenge everyone to complete the activity, share your results and if you would like share what changes you are going to make or already have made to make your lifestyle a little more environmentally friendly!
How green are you?
Have you been soaking in what we have learned and have you made any significant changes in your lifestyle since beginning this class?
I have found a cool little quiz How Green Do You Want to Be? It may not be the most scientifically accurate quiz but I thought it was fun.
I took the quiz I received the result "I've Seen the Green Light" Basically, I have acquired the necessary information about what is harmful and what is good for the environment. I have started taking some action, such as bringing my own bags to the grocery store or Target. But there is a lot more I could do, such as take public transportation more often.
I challenge everyone to complete the activity, share your results and if you would like share what changes you are going to make or already have made to make your lifestyle a little more environmentally friendly!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain
PART 1. I used dictionary.com or Wikipedia to define the following terms:
- antiques: according to dictionary.com, antiques are "in the tradition, fashion, or style of an earlier period."
- junk: according to dictionary.com, junk is "any old or discarded material"
- flea market: An outdoor market with multitudes of vendors selling old or used items
- thrift shop: a store that sells old or secondhand items at reduced prices
- upcycling: Wikipedia describes upcycling is taking an old useless item and converting it into a something completely different for added value.
- resale shop: a shop that sells old or secondhand items.
PART 2:
- These terms relate to environmental health because they are all forms of recycling. They all take old discarded items and reuse them again. Also, when people do not buy brand new items, then they are creating less junk in the world. The less junk in the world, the more healthier the environment is going to be. I think it is good practice for people to secondhand shop; you can really find some good treasures and help out the environment at the same time.
205 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802
(218)722-1917
Open Mon thru Sat 11am-6pm
Flea Market: Hinckley Flea Market
701 Fire Monument RD, Hinckley, MN 55037
Open Thurs-Sun May thru Sept
Resale Shop: Dannie Duluth
932 E 4th Street, Duluth, MN 55805
(218)724-8507
Antique Shop: Father Time Antiques
395 S Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802
(218)625-2379
No website available
- I have never really done any of things, I would like to but sometimes I feel I just do not have the time to go to all of these shops. I usually treat shopping like I am on a mission; I have to get "x" so I go to "y". I have never been the type of person to just browse. Yet, I feel like it would be really fun, relaxing and exciting to take the time and bounce around to the different thrift stores and flea markets to see what unique things I could find.
PART 3: Getting my junk on!
- One project I found really cool was where someone took an old car window from a model T and made it into a picture frame! It is awesome! I could not even tell that this was an old car window and when I read that it was I was blown away! The creator called the project Freeze Frame.
- Another project I found really cool is called A Window of Organization. She took out the glass of an old window and filled the 4 panes with a chalkboard, magnetic board, cork board, and her child's artwork. I thought this was a cool alternative to a new dry erase board.
- I love the holidays and I especially love to decorate. I loved how this person made an ornament out of old jar lids. I'm for sure going to give this a try and decorate my tree this year!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Share and Voice: Poisioned for Profit
I thought this book looked very interesting:
Poisoned for Profit is a book about how environmental toxins are making children seriously ill. For example, there are higher rates of cancer and birth defects. I was reading the synopsis of this book and it reminded me of the film, Green, we just watched in class. I was outraged and could not believe what type of environment the people we living in; and they are simply trapped helpless there. No one is helping them relocate and they are just being ignored; it makes me sick to think about it. This book includes what type of toxins are in our environment, such as the one s found in our yard, home, and other unsuspecting places. It also talks about how the evidence of environmental toxins are being covered up; this how the companies that make these toxins continue to stay in business. Finally, the book offers solutions of how to avoid these deadly toxins and what can be down to stop the companies that pollute our environment.
This book looks extremely interesting and I plan on reading it in the near future, and suggest you give a try also :)
Poisoned for Profit is a book about how environmental toxins are making children seriously ill. For example, there are higher rates of cancer and birth defects. I was reading the synopsis of this book and it reminded me of the film, Green, we just watched in class. I was outraged and could not believe what type of environment the people we living in; and they are simply trapped helpless there. No one is helping them relocate and they are just being ignored; it makes me sick to think about it. This book includes what type of toxins are in our environment, such as the one s found in our yard, home, and other unsuspecting places. It also talks about how the evidence of environmental toxins are being covered up; this how the companies that make these toxins continue to stay in business. Finally, the book offers solutions of how to avoid these deadly toxins and what can be down to stop the companies that pollute our environment.
This book looks extremely interesting and I plan on reading it in the near future, and suggest you give a try also :)
Read n' Seed 5: Fourth Quater and Final of Citizen Powered Energy Handbook
I read the final chapter of the book, pages 259-295, which is titled Community Solution. Throughout this book Pahl has addressed the energy crisis, our horrible habits which make us addicted to non-renewable energy sources such as oil. Throughout this book he has presented six different types of renewable energy sources, water, wind, solar,geothermal, biomass and liquid biofuels. He has presented the pros and cons of each energy source, and has presented examples of small communities and even small countries that these energy sources have worked in. He now call for action to implement some of these renewable energy sources in the United States.
In this last chapter he sums up each renewable energy source and describes ways the energy can be harvested. For example, solar power can be harvested by constructing buildings in which have windows to allow sun to heat the building. After Pahl recapped each energy source he reminds us, that even though these sources are great, there is no way to implement them without strong community support as a base. He introduces Community Supported Energy, CSE, which is where local residents invest in different energy solutions for their community for their specific needs. Also, another way the community can help save energy is conservation. Conservation is just using less resources and creating so much waste. Pahl believes that CSE is the key to reforming our country and our energy supplies. He feels if and when the idea catches on, it will be unstoppable. He sums up his book stating that the best investment a community could make would be in renewable energy sources, because the benefits are endless.
The three most important things that I have learned would be:
I would definitely recommend this book to others. It has a lot of information on the different types of renewable energy sources, and inspiring examples of places in which partnered with dedicated community members renewable energy sources have been implemented.
In this last chapter he sums up each renewable energy source and describes ways the energy can be harvested. For example, solar power can be harvested by constructing buildings in which have windows to allow sun to heat the building. After Pahl recapped each energy source he reminds us, that even though these sources are great, there is no way to implement them without strong community support as a base. He introduces Community Supported Energy, CSE, which is where local residents invest in different energy solutions for their community for their specific needs. Also, another way the community can help save energy is conservation. Conservation is just using less resources and creating so much waste. Pahl believes that CSE is the key to reforming our country and our energy supplies. He feels if and when the idea catches on, it will be unstoppable. He sums up his book stating that the best investment a community could make would be in renewable energy sources, because the benefits are endless.
The three most important things that I have learned would be:
- What I can do to conserve the energy I use.
- The different types of renewable energy sources; I have never even heard of biomass before.
- Finally, I became more aware of the current energy crisis we are in. I became aware of some of the main culprits of the energy crisis.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. It has a lot of information on the different types of renewable energy sources, and inspiring examples of places in which partnered with dedicated community members renewable energy sources have been implemented.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group
I looked up my Covergirl fantastic Lash Curved Brush: very black on Skin Deep, cosmetic safety guide. The safety results shocked me and made me very concerned. The ironic thing is I actually went to target this morning and bought a few cosmetics. I wish I had done this eye opener assignment before I had a shopping spree. The ingredients found in my mascara are linked to, cancer, immunotoxicity, reproductive and organ toxicity, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. With such a long list of harmful effects it is amazing that these cosmetics are allowed to be sold in the U.S. This product also scored a 7 out of 10 on the hazard scale and is considered a very high hazard. Also, according to this website 93% of mascaras scored better on the hazard scale than mine. This means I'll be doing some more shopping tomorrow. I can't believe I am willingly putting something this bad on my face. I am really glad this assignment made me take a closer look at my cosmetic products.
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