Reflection: Week 8-14

Share and Voice- I really enjoyed the Share and Voice posts on our blogs. I liked the freedom of researching and blogging about topics that I was very interested in. I also enjoyed reading other classmates posts and seeing what they come up with for topics to write about. I wrote about zebra mussels in Minnesota lakes, my deer hunting experience, and the show "American Pickers" on the History Channel.

Advocacy Project- I did not enjoy blogging for this project. My topic was not very interesting and I do not have a great knowledge of politics. However, I did learn some things while researching and I learned how to write a letter to a politician to persuade them to vote a certain direction.

Junk Project- For my Junk project, I made a picture frame out of old wood hockey sticks. I

currently do not have a picture for it yet but am working of finding one. I found a few good websites I can use to find ideas for re-using items. I really enjoyed looking for ideas for this project online.

Photo Essay- For my photo essay I took pictures of things around my house that have been re-used or re-purposed. I had pictures of christmas decorations, a refinished cabinet, a recycled glass bowl, an old fruit box, and a rubber floor we re-used from a hockey arena.

I really enjoyed taking this class and have gained an awareness for the environment that I didn't have before I took this class. Hopefully I keep learning new ways to contribute to a healthier environment and continue the habits I learned in this class in the future. As for my blog I may keep updating it once and a while if I come across anything interesting that I would like to share. I actually liked my experience blogging so I may create a new blog for fun.

Share and Voice: History Channel

As I was trying to think of something to write about for this share and voice assignment, I had the t.v. on the History Channel. I was watching re-runs of a show called American Pickers. Basically there are two guys who travel around the U.S. looking for old or rare items to purchase from people. They dig through old barns, garages, houses, and other places cluttered with what looks like useless junk to most people. They buy items from these people and clean them up and re-use or re-sell them. It is interesting to see some of the items they find and use. Many of the items are just laying around and serving no purpose, so it is cool to see them bring items back to life. Even though the items look old and are sometimes in rough shape, many of them are as good as new once they are cleaned up a little. If you haven't seen this show before I suggest you check out an episode or two. You can also view episodes online on the History Channel.

There is also a show on the History Channel called "American Restoration" where they restore old items. I have only watched part of an episode before but it looks very interesting.

Advocacy Project: Letter to Elected Official

December 11, 2011

Senator Amy Klobuchar

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington D.C. 20510

Please vote “YES” to EH- 16.7- Inspect drinking water outlets for lead in Schools and S-875 Drinking Water Right to Know Act require additional monitoring of contaminants and for other purposes.

The only way to determine how much lead is present in the drinking water at your school is to have the water tested and documented. As a health educator, I believe increasing drinking water inspections in schools will result in healthier students, staff, and communities. This will ensure a safe drinking supply in Minnesota’s school systems.

Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, which can add significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. With the amount of old school buildings still being used, monitoring the contaminants closely is critical to ensure safe drinking water.

Opponents may argue that the cost of increasing inspections is too high. However, by increasing the amount of inspections, we can save money on health care costs. High doses of lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and blood system and can even be lethal. It is particularly dangerous for babies and for small children because their bodies and brains are still growing and developing.

The health of students, staff, and community members is very important for the future of our state. Therefore, ensuring a drinking supply that is safe to consume is important for the health and development of our state. Please vote “Yes” to increase drinking water inspections in Minnesota’s schools. If I can provide any further information, feel free to contact me at 111-222-3333. By E-mail at Safewater@school.edu.

Colton Borwege

Advocacy Project: Fact Sheet

Lead in School's Drinking Water

S-875: Drinking Water Right to Know Act

A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require additional monitoring of certain contaminants, and for other purposes.

The Issue: Lead and other chemicals in school’s drinking water

What is Lead?
Lead is a toxic material known to be harmful to human health if ingested or inhaled. Lead in the body can damage the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells.

Who is affected by lead?
EVERYONE! However, children, infants, pregnant women and their unborn children are especially vulnerable to lead.

How does lead affect us?
In children, lead has been associated with impaired mental and physical development, as well as hearing problems. The harmful effects of lead in the body can be subtle and may occur without any obvious signs of lead poisoning.

How does lead get into the school’s drinking water?
Lead enters drinking water from a building’s plumbing system. Lead may be present in various parts of the plumbing system (such as lead solder, brass fixtures, and lead pipes) and is picked up by the water passing through the plumbing system. The amount of lead, if any, in a plumbing system will depend on the age of the system and the materials from which the system was constructed.

How do you know how much lead is in the drinking water?
The only way to determine how much lead is present in the drinking water at your school is to have the water tested. Each tap or fixture providing water for drinking or cooking purposes should be tested for lead at least every five years. Based on the results, action should be taken to replace or repair the water outlets or pipes.

For more information contact the Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health, Section of Drinking Water Protection, 651-215- 0770, www.health.state.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning, 651-582 -8748, www.cfl.state.mn.us

Sources:

Minnesota Department of Health and the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

These are pictures of recycled or re-used items that are in our house. Some of the items are old, some are more recent. Before taking this class I have never really thought about where these items have come from. I never even knew we had some of the things I found and was surprised how many recycled or re-used items we had in our home. My mom was setting up Christmas decorations at our house this weekend so some of the items are Christmas related.

My grandpa made these two items about 10 years ago. On the right is a candle made out of part of a birch tree. Then he stapled ribbon and pine cones and pine needles on for decoration. The bigger log on the right holds two candles sticks and is decorated the same way as the small candle. This is just a simple way to make a nice looking candle or holiday decoration.

This was an old sled that was sitting in storage at our house and my mom decided to make it into a Christmas decoration for the outside of our house. She put a ribbon, wreath, and bells on it and it sits by our front door.

This is a lamp that is in our bathroom. It is made out of a glass jar and has been painted and decorated with twine. I think this is a cool use of an empty glass jar.

This is a bowl made out of recycled glass. One of my mom's students made it and gave it to her as a gift.

This cabinet was taken out of my great grandparents house and was in rough shape. We refinished it and it looks as good as new. It is currently sitting in our dining area with some other decorative type things inside.

This is a picture of some christmas decorations my mom has made in the past. On the left is a reindeer ornament made from an old christmas light and pipe cleaners. On the right, since my mom is a teacher, she made these apples out of a crushed pop can and wrote holiday messages on some.

The box that is temporarily holding up our new t.v. until we get a shelf built in our entertainment center was an old wooden fruit box that we sanded and painted and is usually used a decoration in our home.

This is the exercise room at our house. The floor is rubber matting that was torn out of the hockey arena in my hometown that was going to be thrown away. We asked if we could have some and cleaned it up and put it in our exercise room and it has worked out great!

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Problem:

Schools water and water outlets containing lead

This is an amendment to the S-875 Safe Drinking Water Act to require additional monitoring of contaminants and for other purposes.

Whom does the issue affect?

This issue affects students who attend the school and staff that work at the school the most. The school loses due to the money that would come out of the budget to test the water and outlets for contaminants. The students, staff would gain the most knowing they have safe drinking water. The community would also gain from having less health problems due to drinking water. The company that tests the water and water outlets would also gain business from this amendment.

What are the consequences of the issue?

High doses of lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and blood system and can even be lethal. Continuous low-level exposure causes lead to accumulate in the body and cause damage. It is particularly dangerous for babies and for small children because their bodies and brains are growing rapidly. These health issues would also cause emotional stress to families and friends. Other contaminants may also cause cancer and reproductive complications. Consequences for society include increased health issues in the community and increased health expenses.

What is the economic impact of this issue?

The economic cost would fall on the school budget would have to cover the cost for the increased monitoring of the water. Which would cut into spending for other things in the school. The economic gain would be increased health and less medical expenses for students, staff, coaches, and other people who use the school’s drinking facilities.

What is the social impact of the issue?

If this bill passes it would result in healthier and happier individuals, families, and communities. Without the worry of contaminants in their drinking water it will relieve stress. The cost of the issue would be less healthy individuals, families, and communities. More emotional stress to individuals, families, and communities due to not knowing if drinking water is safe.

What are the barriers?

The biggest barrier is the financial barrier. You would have to find money to pay for the inspections and money to replace equipment if a problem occurs whether it comes from the government or funded by the school.

Another barrier could be proving to people that this is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with. Some people may think there are better ways to spend the money.

What are the resources?

Some resources we would need are a company to test the water and water outlets. They could then present the results in a meeting open to the school or community to attend. If you held a meeting you could inform people that there is a need for this and figure out the funding for the project.

History of the issue:

Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new homes are also at risk; even legally “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, which can add significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. With the amount of old school buildings still being used, monitoring the contaminants closely is important to ensure safe drinking water.

The first Safe Drinking Water Act was born after four years of work by Congress to develop a national program that would ensure the quality of America’s drinking water. For the first time, the 1974 act authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set standards for any contaminant in public water systems that adversely affects public health. Passing the proposed bill would further monitor drinking water contaminants to ensure safe drinking water in the schools.

Allies and Opponents:

Allies would be the students, staff, and other users of the schools. Other allies would be community members, the company or inspectors that would do the inspecting and repairs of the water system, and also parents who have children that attend the school.

Opponents could be the school, government, or the community depending on where the funding is coming from.

My recommendation:

Please vote “yes” to require additional monitoring of contaminants in schools.

References:

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/ndwc/pdf/OT/OTw99.pdf

http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/index.cfm

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=12

Share and Voice: Deer Hunting 2011

I have been deer hunting every year for the past 8 years. During my time in the woods I have seen many other animals besides deer, including: squirrels, rabbits, birds like owls, eagles, wood peckers, also foxes, porcupines, beavers, woodchucks any probably even more. This year when we walked through the woods to set up our deer stands, the trees were marked for logging. When we got home, we researched to see how much they were logging off and when it was going to take place. It was an eye opening experience to see how much of these animals habitats they were going to log off, not to mention the woods that we have hunted in for 8 years. To think of all the old trees and plants that are going to be destroyed and all the animals that are going to have to find a new home is kind of disturbing. And its all to produce paper and paper products.

For my eco-chic lifestyle project I eliminated the use of paper products such as paper plates, napkins, paper towels, and fast food containers. To see first hand how logging and the production of paper affects the environment and the things that live there was shocking. Since taking this class my awareness for the environment has increased a ton and it was interesting to experience that while taking this class. So I urge everyone to try to reduce the amount of paper products they use and think about how your decisions are affecting the environment.

Here is also an article about logging in MN that I found while writing this post: Click here