Reflections: Week 13 & 14

Week 13

On Tuesday during the week, we had watched "The Story of Stuff". It was a short, independent film that was actually pretty interesting. It had discussed 5 main topics: extraction, production, distribution, consumption, disposal. The video hit on how all these different areas, effect our environment and what we can do to change the effects.

On Thursday we had done a navigation activity in the Bagley Nature Area. I really enjoyed this project because it got us outside as a class, and we were doing a class "bonding" activity. I really enjoy the friendships I have made because of this class!

During this week we also had an advocacy project due. This advocacy project was an overview of the issue we had selected because it affected us somehow, or we were interested in the idea of it and wanted others in the class to know more. I liked doing this project because it caused me to do a lot of critical thinking and play my own devil's advocate.

Week 14

Tuesday we had a man named Brian come into our class who is a a graduate student in UMD's Environmental Health and Safety Master's Program. He had talked to us about the sustainability events that his office is currently putting on throughout campus, becoming an AmeriCorp member, and how is classes are currently working because they're online. Overall, it was neat to hear about other options that we have after graduation and it got me to think more about whether I want to go to grad school right away or not!

Thursday was our "junking" day! :) This day was a lot of fun! Dr. V had brought in different, somewhat strange, items for groups to think of ways to "revamp" them and put them to use again! Listening to all of the ideas some groups came up with were a little ridiculous, but humorous none the less! I'm looking forward to our speaker on "junking" next week!

... Sadly, there's only one more week of this class left! I think this class joins the rankings of "Top 5" at UMD! :)

Share & Voice: Whole Foods Co-Op

For Dr. Tornabene's class this afternoon, we had taken a field trip to the Whole Foods Co-Op... Originally, this was NOT my idea of a fun field trip but in reality, I had learned a lot more about the structure of the building, the types of food the co-op has available and the cooking classes.

First of all, the Co-Op is a MEMBERS owned grocery store which is really neat! If you're interested in become a member/owner, it is a $100 "entry" fee and from there you are able to attend member meetings and decide what is and is not allowed in the store for purchase. Examples of things that the co-op does not sell are items with high fructose corn syrup, produce that has pesticide residue and certain non-organic foods. In 2005, the co-op decision makers board was 2,500 members strong and is still growing!

"When WFC made the move down 4th Street, the Board of Directors set aside funds for an outdoor art display. This artwork was intended to be a “permanent” installation for the public good on the exterior of our store.Local artist Ron Benson was chosen from the seven excellent presentations received. His design, incorporating recycled glass (most of it from the demolished Two Harbors High School), non-toxic coloring agents and a water theme made this particular design stand out. It was clearly representative of our mission, both in design and material use.



In the fall of 2008, the recycled glass mural was installed on the east end of the store, wrapping around the entrance area. A contest was held by Mr. Benson to allow a co-op Member-Owner to name the piece. In January 2009, the name selected was “The Great Lake”, submitted by Bonnie Summers."

As I already mentioned, many of the foods that the Co-Op carries are certified organic. If a food is not certified organic, there will be a RED sign labeling it that tells you it is not organic, but will still list where the food had come from. What's really cool about the listing of where the produce item or whatever it may be, came from, the produce manager is able to look up the exact truck that brought the food in and what farm it was grown in. Now, if you're in the produce area and there is organic and non-organic foods, you will NEVER see non-organic food that is not packaged and stored above organic foods. This is so that organic food items DO NOT become contaminated by non-organic food and their pesticides. :)

At the beginning of this post I had mentioned cooking classes. When we were brought down to the basement of the Co-Op, there was a room we were brought into specifically for cooking classes. In that room, they built everything by using green produces! It's was really neat and the classes are something I would be interested in... For more information about these check out this website: http://www.wholefoods.coop/dw/Classes.shtml

Now the Co-Op has SO many more things to offer that I didn't cover in this post, but I suggest you check out their website! My visit and tour has definitely made me want to shop there more often! :)

http://www.wholefoods.coop/

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official or Letter to the Editor

Senator Richard Durbin
U.S Senate Washington, D.C
309 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

Erika

752475 Hoop Drive

Duluth, MN 55812

Dear Senator Richard Durbin,

I am writing this letter to question your support and sponsorship of S.624 bill: A bill to provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. There are a few questions and concerns I have with this bill.

After doing further research on this topic, I had found an interesting fact on the Senator Paul Simon: Water for the Poor Act of 2005 website. "Today, more than 1 billion people lack access to improved water sources and more than 2 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. At any given point in time, people suffering from water-related diseases occupy over 50 percent of the world’s hospital beds. Each year, nearly 2 million people - most children under five - die from diarrhea, a disease that is easily preventable through safe water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Beyond its impacts on human health, sound water management is critical to promoting economic growth, ensuring sustainable food supplies, and preserving ecosystems upon which most of the world's inhabitants depend.” This was an interesting fact and I am very happy to see that someone wants to do something about the health and water disparities in growing, urban countries. On the other hand, what about our own country? Shouldn’t proposed bills that would restore the scope of the Clean Water Act to cover all federal waters, including wetlands and smaller streams that have fallen into question under the Bush administration be our main concern right now with a new President in office?

The next concern I have with providing an accessible source of sanitary water is the cost to our country. If this is done, will water within the United State be privatized and become more expensive for rural families that already cannot afford a water bill? Privatization of the United States water would cause an increase in revenue from water companies but also put many individuals throughout the States out of a job.

I believe that before this bill is passed, water problems in our country need to be dealt with. How can we help a country build their water and water sanitation systems when we do not have a good system? Therefore, I ask you Senator Richard Durbin; consider your own country’s problems before trying to solve the worlds.

Thank you,

Erika