Reflection Post: Week 9 & 10

Week 9

We read articles for class on advocacy. In class we did an activity, we got into groups and we each had one of the topics we had Advocacy 101: Getting Started in Health Education Advocacy. Some groups did skits, and our group did a presentation. I learned a lot and it was fun getting involved with teaching for the day. We also did a advocacy project about our political representatives, I found out a lot of new information, like my hometown not having a mayor. We also did eco-chic week 6 and my new read n seed on my second book, paper or plastic!

Week 10

We watched a documentary called Unnatural Causes, in sickness and in health. I loved this movie it was very informational. It talks about in any state there are areas of different life-spans and overall health. It talked about how the U.S. is 30th on the list of best places of health care, and we are supposed to be the richest country yet, so many people don't have health care. People who have more education live longer, or people who live in wealthier neighborhoods, you live longer then in the worst. The people in the worst neighborhoods, don't work and live off of what they can and the state, and are afraid to get jobs because then they will lose the little healthy care they are getting. It is a sticky situation. We also did hthly people advocacy project, I picked cancer and we also did eco-chic-week-7.

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

For healthy people 2010 goal of interest I chose was Cancers

Objective: 3-15 Persons living 5+ years after cancer diagnosis

Target Goal: 46% toward goal from progress quotient chart

Baseline: The target method for objective 3-14 is to increase the number of states with population-based cancer registries. It is being modified because of new ways to collect data.

Progress: Progress has been up and down for this are. Two of the objectives for 3-14 have met or exceeded their targets. Also, several objectives or sub objectives moved toward their target of improving cancer living rates. One of the objectives has moved away and five of the objectives didn’t show any change. Some of the objectives could not be looked at.

Two objectives met or exceeded their targets:

Mammography screening (3-13)  

Prostate cancer death rate (3-7)

Disparities: White Non-Hispanic groups are most likely to live 5 or more years after the diagnosis of cancer. Male and female are equally as likely to live, either ethnicity. Income, location, and disability were not used as an objective.

Opportunities & Challenges: Opportunities are helped by public/private organizations at all levels, like nationally, state, and locally. Challenges the CDC and CCC work together to work against cancer development. The developments of early detection, more advanced treatment and these will both improve survival rates.

Emerging issues: They want more scanning’s which would be every two years instead of every year. The death rates will and are dropping by changing treatment practices. Anything to reduce cancer would be positive.

http://www.healthypeople.gov/Data/midcourse/html/focusareas/FA03Introduction.htm

H.CON.RES.158

Title: Expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer.

Sponsor: Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] (introduced 6/25/2009) Cosponsors (50)

Related Bills: S.CON.RES.38

Latest Major Action: 6/25/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Recommendation: Vote Yes for H.CON.RES.158 expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer.

My Political Representative(s): Congressman Ron Kind (http://kind.house.gov/)

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7: Weekly Update

SMART goal


Using a reusable bag every time I go to the grocery store or Target also to buy one organic product each time too. Achieving my SMART goal went well this past week! I am also going to go grocery shopping tomorrow morning, I don't have any food, and I am excited to use my bags and pick an organic product! 


Successes & Challenges


My success was completing my SMART goal. Challenges I face our maybe trying to find another organic product at the grocery store, that I will like and continue to buy. 


Feelings & Learned 


It feels really good to just use my reusable bags without thinking much about it. This is something that I will continue after our class is over. What I learned is a website where you can learn how to pick cheap organic products, so you are not spending a bundle of money. 


Here is the website: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18120.cfm

Plans For Next Week


I hope to do just as well as I did this previous week. I also hope that I kind find another awesome organic product that I will like at a cheap cost! I don't think I will make any changes to my SMART goal at the moment. 


"Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy." Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7" 

Read 'n' Seed 4: Third Quarter of Paper or Plastic

Paper or Plastic 

"The dramatic increases in plastic packaging, single-use disposable food containers, and shopping bags, collectively known as "white pollution," has prompted increasing numbers of Asian cities and national governments to impose bans on certain types of disposable packaging." - Paper or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Over-packaged World (Daniel Imhoff)

Chapters and Pages


I am now on to my second book for quarters 4 and 5. I covered pages 6-54, chapters: The Packaging Landscape and the Search for Solutions. 


Main Topics


Some main topics in the first chapter are: the package is the product and does packaging waste equal more food. In the package is the product,"the laws of modern retail design dictate that primary package must accurately reflect contents in order to achieve its ultimate goal-repeat the purchase (12)." In 2000, for every 100 pounds of goods or food waste thrown away by Americans, 65 pounds of packaging waste were also thrown out (20). The second chapter it talks about different companies that package more with less! I am sure we have all heard of Aveda and maybe have some of their products, which we know their products are mostly natural, well so is their packaging. They use post-consumer recycled (PCR) content for all packaging. It is hard for them to find companies that will support this option, but they think its a smart way to help the environment. Another company they talk about is Ben & Jerry's and I know we all love their ice cream!! At least I do! :) Ben & Jerry's developed a 100%, non-chlorine bleached, virgin wood, kraft paperboard container for their ice creams. This eco-friendly way has helped with adding chemicals and bad things into the packaging that could get into your food. 

                                                     




Learned & New Terminology 


I learned that companies are producing more plastic packaging then products. Also, we are dumping are excess plastic in other countries that we don't think is important. That is not right, in my book it shows pictures of miles and miles of trash that we just dump in areas where people live. I can't believe we do this and we think it is acceptable. 


Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR): This is any material that was used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product. 
http://www.blueegg.com/Green-Glossary/Post-consumer-recycled-PCR-content.html


Packaging Chain


Raw Material--Processing--Design--Manufacture--Distribution--Use--Post-Consumption


Implications


This affects society because not only are we spending more money on plastic on consumers goods, but we are also dumping our waste in other countries! We should care because we are affecting other peoples area of living and the earth. Producing and wasting all the plastic is not eco-friendly. I think companies should all adopt a cleaner way to produce and use plastic and not dump it in other countries! I still can't believe this!  

Share & Voice: Kinesis

Kinesis

Kinesis is a new way to get fit! You use resistance cables to push, pull and twist your way to a cardio/fat burning workout! I don't like to lift weights but needed to do some kind of strength training, and I love kinesis. 

Visit this website for full article on Kinesis: 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2004042466_kinesis02.html

I am doing kinesis right now at UMD and its the best workout I have ever done, I have only had 6 sessions, but I have seen a difference in my body already. I am going to sign up for another 6 soon! 

Visit UMD website for more information:   http://www.umdrsop.org/(RSOP%20Web)/Fitness/#kinesis

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update

My SMART Goal


My goal is to use reusable bags every time I go to the grocery store or Target. I also added on buying one organic product from either place when I am shopping for food. This week I have done well, but I did slip today because I forgot to bring bag today and the item I got needed a bag.


Successes and Challenges


Challenges was not having my reusable bag with me to use, I really need to work on that! Successes is trying Silk Soy Milk! I have never tried it before and it was really good! 

Feeling Experienced


It felt good to try something new and liking it! I think more people should try different things because you never know if you might like. 


Learned


I learned trying new things will lead me to make others around me try new things. I also learned more about Silk Milk, I have their website above check it out! 


Next Week


I am going to stick to my plans as the following week with using a reusable bag and not forgetting it! As well as buying a new organic product! Which hopefully I will like and continue to buy! :)


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

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

 

President of the United States

Barack Obama

 The White House

 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

 Washington, DC 20500

 Comments? Call: 202-456-1111

 Switchboard: 202-456-1414

 http://www.barackobama.com/

Governor

Jim Doyle

 Doyle for Wisconsin

 PO Box 2687

 Madison, WI 53701


 Phone: 608-255-2661

 http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/

Wisconsin Congressman

Ron Kind

 Eau Claire

 131 S. Barstow St.

 Suite 301

 Eau Claire, WI 54701

 8:30am to 5pm

 PH: (715) 831-9214

 FX: (715) 831-9272

 http://kind.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=10&sectiontree=10

Wisconsin Senators

Russ Feingold (D) 

 http://www.senate.gov/~feingold


 Email:   senator@feingold.senate.gov


 Senator Feingold's District Offices

 The best way to contact is via contact form.

 Fax at (202) 224-2725

 Phone at (202) 224-5323.

Herbert H.Kohl (D) 

 http://www.senate.gov/~kohl


 Email:   senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov


 Senator Kohl's District Offices

  Eau Claire Office


  402 Graham Ave., Suite 206


  Eau Claire WI 54701


  (715) 832-8424


  Fax: (715) 832-8492

Wisconsin State Legislators (senate & house)

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/w3asp/contact/legislatorslist.aspx?house=assembly

President Fred Risser and President Pro Tempore Pat Kreitlow (wisconsin state legislator)
http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/senhome.htm
Madison: 266-9960
Toll Free: 1-800-362-9472

County Board President: District Three

Howard Ludwigson

 County Board

 5537 Bayview Drive


 Eau Claire, WI 54703


 715.832.6759


 ludhv@charter.net

 http://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/CountyGovernment/countyboardmembers/index.htm

 Eau Claire doesn't have a Mayor or Village President. 

Since Eau Claire doesn't have a mayor, Eau Claire City council are elected at large to serve as a head council. http://en.wikipeida.org/wiki/eau_claire,_wisconsin