Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President: Barack Obama (Democrat)

Contact information:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Email:http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history. To send questions, comments, concerns, or well-wishes to the President or his staff, please click here!


Mayor of Duluth: Don Ness

Contact Information:
Don Ness:
Mayor's Office
Email:dness@duluthmn.gov
Room 402, 411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 730-5230
Fax: (218) 730-5904
Something I found very interesting is that Don Ness has facebook as well to communicate!
Don Ness Home Page



Governor of Minnesota: Tim Pawlenty (Republican)

Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Other ways to reach the office:
Telephone: (651) 296-3391
Toll Free: (800) 657-3717
Facsimile: (651) 296-2089
E-mail: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

^^^^^ The following information found here
Tim Pawlenty's home page


Congresspersons:


Senate: Senator Amy Klobuchar (Democrat)
Contact Information:
Washington, DC
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186
Email: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm
Amy Klobuchar's Webpage here



House: James Oberstar (Democrat)

Contact Information:
James Oberstar
United States House of Representatives
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2308

Email: http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm">http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm
Webpage here

State Legislatures:

State Representative: Thomas Huntley (Democrat)
Contact Information:
585 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Phone: 651-296-2228

Email: rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn
Website here




Senator: Yvonne Prettner Solon (Democrat)
Contact Information:
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capitol Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
Phone: 651-296-4188

Email: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1061&ls=86
website here

County Board Commissioner: Peg Sweeney

Contact Information:
Peg Sweeney
826 Almac Drive
Proctor, MN 55810
218-628-3598
peg@pegsweeney.com
Website here

Reflections: Weeks 7 and 8

Hey Bloggers!!!
Wow, we sure have covered a lot of information the last couple weeks. Hopefully everyone's keeping up! I feel like I've learned so much the last couple weeks. I am beginning to put the pieces together in order to change my lifestyle and the way I view my environment.
Week 7
The coolest thing that we did this week was the Environmental Group activity. This activity required us to research a daily product we use and to see how harmful the chemicals involved are. I chose Herbal Essences Hairspray which turned out to be a level 6. I was shocked! I know hairspray is not the most environmentally friendly, but I did not expect a level 6. It informed me that this product has been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, and also tested on animals. After knowing this information I have cut down my usage of this product. I don't plan on quitting it anytime soon, but am willing to try other products.

We also watched a movie called "Green" which was a student created film showing the effects of factories' pollution in Louisiana. It's known as "Cancer Alley" which is really frightening. The movie began interviewing families of the community who were physically effected from their cities' conditions. A woman told her story how she is a cancer survivor. Another story told of a woman who's children are developing asthma through the pollutants in the air. I was very shocked to see this film, but then began to think what these companies are actually contributing to. We are all unintentional contributors to these companies. Everything we use on a daily basis has been created through these corporations.

Week 8
During week 8, we watched a movie called "Thirst," which showed us the political side of privatizing water.

Since water is scarce, crime rates have increased along with death. The people of these communities are shouting, "Water for Life, Not for Profit!" That is exactly right! These companies try to make profit on everything possible. Everything is about money, money, money. Pretty soon the air we breathe will cost money at the rate we're going. I really take my water supply for granted. I can't imagine paying for water like fuel prices. Many people are dying due to lack of water.

That's when I began to think. What if Duluth was going through these problems? Would I be holding up signs and protesting like the people in the picture above? I actually don't know what I would do. I don't think that we should sit back and prop up our feet waiting for this problem to affect us. Would you protest against water prioritization? What if we run out of our water resources as a whole? We need to be aware of the fact that we have limited resources.

I believe that these movies have taught us a lot of information that will be useful in the future. Since many of us are in progress of being health educators, these are topics you may introduce to your communities. I never even knew these issues were being discussed since I took this course. I feel that we're all uninformed of these issues that are to be known. So take a stand, make a difference, and tell others about water privatization.
Check out this link:
Stop Prioritizing Water

Share and Voice: Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Hey Bloggers! Have any of you ever watched the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition on television? If you haven't, I highly suggest it. I have learned to love this show by seeing the differences people have made for others. One of the episodes that stuck out to me was a story about the Miller family.

The New House>>

The part that caught my interest was that this family took a risk creating this environmentally friendly home. Their home was partially underground to save money for insulation. Little did they know that gases were being trapped in the house and not able to escape. "It was discovered that the Millers were being poisoned by Radon, a cancer causing gas that is odorless, colorless and tasteless. The level of Radon gas in their home is the toxic equivalent of four people smoking 12 cigarettes a day. The Millers' respiratory illnesses could turn into lung cancer if the Radon continues to invade their home. Although the family had taken some steps to eliminate the toxins, not all have been removed. They've been told that they need to re-build their home, which is something that the Millers cannot afford."
Ty and the crew built them an amazing home which they began their new life. I always become emotional when I watch this show because it shows the devastation families are experiencing with little help and resources. Extreme Makeover Home Edition have also made strides in creating more efficient homes for these struggling families. Since radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless, people are unaware that these gases exist in homes. Check out the chart below!

If you have any further questions regarding Radon, I have a couple links below. Inspectors are here to help you if you want your house inspected. Primary resources such as radon monitors are available as well.




What do you have to lose besides your health?
Radon FAQ
Radon Testing
Radon Inspectors

Share and Voice: The Old Man and the Storm

Hey everyone! For those of you who did not attend "The Old Man and the Storm," I'll fill all you in on what you missed. When I heard about this opportunity I was looking forward to it since I overlooked it in the past.
Hurricane Katrina has caused tramatic effects on the New Orlean's population. Many people lost their homes, possessions, memories, and even families. Herbert Gettridge is a 82 year old man who had been tragically affected by Hurrican Katrina. He had lost his home and was separated from his family (7 children, 36 grandchildren, and great grandchildren). He spent day after day cleaning up the wreckage the storm had caused. Herbert continually says he'll never leave even if the government comes after him. He worked too hard to leave it. Herbert's wife of 65 years was living in Madison, WI while he was fixing the house. She dreamed of returning to New Orleans even if it was crucial to her health. Herbert said even the little things he lost made a huge difference. Seeing the grass grow in the front yard and the children playing in the streets was missing. It's almost as if the life of New Orleans died.


You can see the sadness in his eyes the entire movie. He was sick of waiting for the government to intervene and help the people of the community. Herbert did not give up. He had a dream to finish the house in order to reunite his family. Herbert worked for months on his own with no shelter or electricity. After months of working on the house, he began to see results. His wife was able to return home. She was overwhelmed and sadened with what she saw.

The images in this video were breathtaking. I could not believe how much damage the storm created. Seeing the ruined schools, churches, and homes broke my heart. All the memories were destroyed with the storm and appeared like an abandoned graveyard. Many people reflected how they got married, attained jobs, and raised a family in the old New Orleans. I couldn't even imagine losing everything the way these individuals have. Mardi Gras was not the same after Hurricane Katrina. People paraded around, but it did not have the same energy it had in the past.

Politics:
Many of the citizens of New Orleans felt that the government did not care about what the conditions they were dealing with. Herbert stated that the insurance he had on the houses did not cover very much of the damages that had been made to his home. Herberts son Leonard was dealing with the same types of issues. The "Road Home Program is designed to provide compensation to Louisiana homeowners affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita for the damage to their homes. The program affords eligible homeowners up to $150,000 in compensation for their losses to get back into their homes." FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) apparently did not know the extent of hte number of homes destroyed. Then it made me wonder what would've happened if Hurricane Katrina had occured in an area with low poverty and highly educated individuals. Kathy mentioned a very interesting statement about environmental racism that we discussed in class. What if we dealt with a disaster similar to New Orleans'? If Duluth had a crisis situation happen to the whole community, how would we handle it? I'm guessing that West Duluth would be having a rougher time recovering due to the populations and conditions. East Duluth would have the advantage over the West due to education and lack of poverty. That's why I feel like Hurrican Katrina has been such a debatable topic. It has been 3 1/2 years since the storm, and the city is still under water. If it was in a more socioeconomical location, they would've recieved the aid needed and have made a lot more progress.

Shocking Facts:
500,000 families were displaced during Hurricane Katrina
200,000 homes were ruined
600 congregations were destroyed
After Hurricane Katrina: suicide rates tripled, drinking rates increased, and depression overtook the community
50% of New Orleans suffered from mental disorders of some kind after the tragedy

What can you do?
After watching this video I really reflected on my own life. I feel like a spoiled brat for even feeling sorry for myself about anything. I am blessed with an amazing family, friends, education, and future. I hope that everyone really evaluates themselves by looking at those less fortunate and really take action to help these people. I plan on traveling to New Orleans in the future during spring break to help rebuild the city with a team. I feel like it's what I'm meant to do. I think it will be a very humbling positive experience. If you haven't seen this video I would really recomment you to do so.



****Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Opportunities: (Click here)

****More Volunteer Opportunities:(click here)

Share and Voice: Are You Polluting Your Home?

Do any of you use candles, reed diffusers, or candle warmers? Well, I do and thought it would be interesting to know which of these would be less damaging to oneself. What I found is that they all are harmful. I started buying reed diffusers since burning candles produces smoke causing me to get headaches and candle warmers need to be plugged in for hours before they take effect. I found a website called Azsustainability which informed me of the dangers of these products and gave tips of what other methods are effective.

Alternatives:

#1 Boil aromatic botanicals on the stove. Boiling citrus peels offer a fresh scent!
#2 Heat essential oils or pure food grade extracts in boiling/simmering water on the stove. Many flavors are available for your preference.
#3 Get a tea light or electric diffuser to warm and distribute essential oils or food extracts.
#4 Make your own “solar” aromatherapy diffuser by putting some water and essential oils or food extracts in a glass in a sunny window.
#5 Look for essential oil based products - Aura Cacia has some great plug in essential oil based products available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and probably several other health food stores.
#6 If you want to neutralize odors leave a bowl of vinegar in the middle of the room for an hour or so. Try cleaning your surfaces with vinegar to help reduce odors all over.
#7 Open your windows! It's almost summer time! Allow the fresh air inside your house. Circulation is critical for airing out your home.

The alternative I thought was the most interesting is the solar reed diffuser. I think this is a great solution for keeping your home smelling fresh without polluting harmful chemicals.

Christen's Thoughts:
I really enjoyed researching this topic since I use many reed diffusers throughout my house. I am interested in the solar reed diffuser, but will probably continue using the reed diffusers that I have been using. They smell amazing, but I am open to trying other techniques as well. I hope you found this share and voice interesting. Remember, GO GREEN!

Eye Opener:Environmental Working Group

Environmental Working Group:
After taking the quiz on cosmetics, I realized how dangerous some of the products I use everyday are. Wow, no way! I use makeup on a daily basis like most girls and had no idea there were dangerous substances in it. I did a variety of the quizzes, but the one that really stood out to me was the hairspray I use.



Ingredients in this product are linked to:
yes: Cancer
yes: Developmental/reproductive toxicity
yes: Violations, restrictions & warnings
yes: Allergies/immunotoxicity
yes: Other concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards
This manufacturer:
no: Compact for Safe Cosmetics signer
yes: Conducts animal testing

Christen's Conclusions:
I evaluated all of the makeup I use from the lip gloss to the contact solution and none of them even compared to the hairspray I use. The hairspray I use rated a 6 on the scale which indicates it's moderately dangerous. I honestly don't plan on changing my hairspray because I've used the same kind for many years and am happy with it. I will keep my options open about the makeup I use and will keep my eyes open for organic cosmetics. I think it's really important for us to know these issues. I never would've guessed my hairspray was that dangerous.

Share and Voice: Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Hey everyone! I was watching T.V the other night and came across this documentary on sea turtles. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is an organization that protects sea turtles based on their injuries. "Every year 100,000 sea animals are killed due to plastics in our oceans. Humans are directly affecting the lives of thousands of sea animals by inaccurately disposing of plastic and other ocean litter."(Sea Turtle Restoration Project).
Many sea turtles are injured due to fishing practices, pollution, and even light pollution. Improper outdoor lighting is one of the biggest problems affecting sea turtles. To get a better look, check out this link to see the youtube video where they show a rescued turtle being released back out into the wild. It's a very inspirational thing to see.

Interesting Facts:
When sea turtles consume the plastic bags, they often get lodged in their stomachs making it seem like they are not hungry, and eventually causing them to die of starvation. Sea turtles also get caught in plastic floating in the ocean causing them to drown. What is it going to take for people to quit littering in the ocean? Littering can also cause infection on sea creatures since plastics that are littered carry pathogens that affect sea turtles.

"Through sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education programs, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment."

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center also allows you to become a member or their organization and offer helping hands. I think that it would be an honor to help out these magnificent creatures that are near extinction. Hopefully we eliminate these problems before it's too late for these sea turtles.