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.

Reflections: Weeks 5 and 6

Hello Bloggers! Wow, I know I say this a lot, but time is flying by! Can you believe that we’re about to start our 7th week of class? Our blogs are looking better than ever, and we’re all keeping up with our share and voices that are very informative for the rest of the class to view.

Weeks 5 and 6 have been very informative. I’ve learned so much from reading people’s posts to watching the documentaries shown in class. I’ve made changes to my everyday behaviors by conserving more water, energy, and driving a lot less. Dr. V showed us a neat coffee mug that demonstrates the result of melted glaciers. I bet everyone wanted a mug like that. I know I did. Dr.V also shared a story about a blog that she’s been following. The blog showed a cheeseburger that had been kept for 12 years with no mold or rotting of any kind. That is disguising! It just goes to show how many preservatives there are in fast foods.

Diet for a New America:
I didn’t know the effect that animals manure actually makes. I was shocked to hear that the manure that polluted water actually caused defects in children. These movies really made me second guess my diet and how much meat I consume on a weekly basis. The United States’ portion sizes on meat are more than double the amount that other countries consume. This makes a lot of sense! Whenever I go to a restaurant and order a chicken breast, it completely covers my whole plate. If you times that by the 6 billion people, that adds up very quickly.



Food for the Future:
We also watched the movie “Food for the Future.” This movie showed us that the ecosystem can act as a chain of events. Increased fertilizer = cost increase = pollution increase. It also showed us a story about a farmer who lost everything he had because of a corporation called “MONSANTO.” Percy Schmeiser vs Monsanto has been a perfect example of what Monsanto has done to farmers. Percy had lost his whole crop and his retirement fund due to the roundup canola oil patent. Another intersting thing discussed in the video involves the amount of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) that are present in the United States. I never really checked labels to see the ingredients involved. I usually look at the calories and % of fat like most people. I was suprised to find out that genetically engineered foods are not included on labels. How do we know what we're eating? About 80-90% of people want that information on the label. How will we know if we're really in danger? Babies have allergies to their formula and other health concerns. If it was labeled, we could relate this technique to the causes of health conditions.

Christen’s Thoughts:
These two documentaries really made me think outside the box. Since I'm from a farming family, I thought I would've understood a lot of these concepts before watching the movies but I didn't. I really enjoyed the films and am going to pay more attention about the foods I eat to know if they are genetically enhanced.

Eye Opener: Summary of Reading #7 Hostile Beauty

Before reading the chapter, I tried interpreting what “Hostile Beauty” meant. I didn’t know what it dealt with or what I was preparing myself for. Well, after reading the article here’s what I figured out.
This chapter discusses the Red Desert, its resources, and the dangers headed its way. The Red Desert, known as the heart of the Great Divide Basin, has large reserves of coal, uranium, oil and gas. With our nation currently in need of these resources they are considering digging up the resources in the Red Desert. Tom Bell, a wildlife biologist, defended the Red Desert against those who dig up its minerals, wipe out its wildlife, or string power lines. He believes that the Red Desert is “one of our very best wildlands, and one of our last.” This is a very scary thing to think about.
Bell discovered that plovers, sage grouse, and other species are declining to the east as the Great Plains are fenced and cultivated for agriculture; to the west, energy development and exotic species have invaded and compromised their habitat. If we install oil reserves in the Red Desert, we have a lot of problems headed our way. Oil is only a temporary resource! Oil spills are another risk we would face if industries were built. The natural ecosystem would cease to exist if these actions take place. It’s almost as if they would be changing nature to industrialization.
Wyoming’s has a reputation as the nation’s energy breadbasket since they have large reserves of coal, uranium, oil and gas. What will become of it if we take over and industrialize this landmark?

DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS:

"Green River Resource Management Plan (approved August 8, 1997) - The Green River Resource Management Plan (GRRMP) provides management direction for resources contained within the Rock Springs Field Office area. The objective for management of oil and gas resources is to provide for leasing, exploration, and development of oil and gas while protecting other resource values."

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has decided to give priority to oil and gas development over these rare and irreplaceable resources. The BLM's plan would allow several hundred new oil and gas wells to be drilled in sensitive wildlife habitats.

CHRISTEN’S THOUGHTS
I think that building these industries in the Red Desert is an insane idea. Ya America is in need of these resources, but this is not the right action to take. What if we used all of the resources provided, then what? All that's left is destruction for the remaining desert and animals. We will not only be hurting the environment, but ourselves as well. We have already been the cause of glaciers melting and other destruction related incidences of nature. I don't think that any of these programs should be implemented. Even if you limit your usage, you're still damaging the terrain and wildlife living within the area.

Discussion Question:
Now that I've told you what what my beliefs are about the topic, now it's time for you to tell me yours. Do you think that digging up these resources is a positive or negative action? Are you more concerned about getting these resources or the future of wildlife in the Red Desert?
Let me know what you think!

DEFINITIONS:
Red Desert
Oregon Trail
Great Divide Basin
Plovers
Sage grouse