Share and Voice 10: "Repurposing"

Hey everyone!!

So I think we all did a great job with the "junk" that Dr. V had brought into class today and it was absolutely hilarious to hear everyone's unique repurposing ideas! Everyone was so creative! (I'm still laughing at some of the ideas).

So this Share and Voice is dedicated to a craft blog that I visit sometimes and I really want all of you to take some time and look at this blog! There are some really cool and crafty ideas for things you can make yourself. For these crafts, this blog encourages you to reuse things and the results are absolutely amazing!!! Please take a look at this blog, you may be inspired to make something yourself with the things you find around the house!! Click on this link to view the blog.

Also, from this blog is a list of ways to inspire yourself and to make "repurposing" or "repairing" a part of normal life!!

Have a good day! :)

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

April 27, 2009

The Honorable James L. Oberstar

House of Representatives

2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2308

Dear Minnesota Representative James L. Oberstar,

I am writing to you today to address an issue that has been brought to my attention. I currently support the proposal to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. 

With the improved Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, homeowners who reside in homes built before the 1950's will protect their health and be aware of the hazards in their homes. The problem is that many home-owners do not know that their houses might contain lead-based paints that were used in their homes because lead-based paints were not considered a health threat before the 1950's. This issue is part of a goal for HealthyPeople 2010 where Objective 8-22 states that their goal is to increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1950 housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based paints. With the current Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, this act does not require the head of the lead agency for a response action to many different home hazards of pre-1950's homes. With the amended act, notifications and concerning actions for the removal of lead would be improved. 

With your decision to support this act, lives will be changed. This act will provide appropriate actions to protect the health of the people and the people that support you. The citizens in the 8th congressional district that you represent are directly effected by this issue. The biggest city in your congressional district that you represent is the city of Duluth, MN. Recent data shows that 80% of homes in Duluth were built before the 1950's. This population living in these homes are the majority of the people that support you. I think that the families, children, pets, students, etc. living in these homes have the right to know if their homes are contaminated with a life-threatening poison. 

Your position as Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has been positively reflected in the successes of your past support and quick action with the collapse of the I-35 W Mississippi River Bridge. With your approval of passing legislation to appropriate $250 million to build a replacement bridge, I know many lives were positively changed by this decision. 

To assure our communities health and safety, I believe the best course of action is to vote "YES" to House Bill 1005: To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards.

Should you need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the contact information provided below. Thank you for devoting your time to this issue. I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,

Katherine S. Choh

(Contact info)

**Alright group, there is my letter! Would love feedback :)**

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Share and Voice 9: Super One Grocery Bags!

Hey Class!

So as you all know, Dr. V hooked all of us up with reusable "Super One" grocery bags! I was so excited, I always wanted to get one, but never did. I went grocery shopping yesterday and used it, I felt super cool and loved that I didn't have to decide between 'paper or plastic'. I went to a different grocery store in the area so I have not been able to personally say thank you to Dave for the bags! Thankfully, Heather and Shar got the whole class together to sign a paper "Super One" grocery bag as a thank you card to Dave for his generous donation! Also, Shar took a group class photo to give to him and for us to look back on to remember the good times of this class. :)

Thanks for the bags Dr. V and Dave!!

Picture courteous of Shar Drew! :)

Check out her blog to see more pictures!!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview!

Introduction

• What is the issue/problem?- For my advocacy project, I chose to do the issue of lead-based paint being used in homes. The problem is that many home-owners do not know that their houses might contain lead-based paints that were used in their homes because lead-based paints were not considered a health threat pre-1950's. This issue is part of a goal for HealthyPeople 2010 where Objective 8-22 states that their goal is to increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1950 housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based paints.
  
• What current legislation has been proposed to address this?-The bill that I found doesn't exactly match this topic but it can help promote health through a healthy living environment. The bill HR 1005 expresses in their title; To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. This bill requires the head of the lead agency for a response action to many different responsibilities. 
  

Who is affected by the issue?

• Who is affected the most? I think the people that are the most affected would be children and low-income families living in pre-1950's homes. According to the Department of PLanning and Urban Development, 8.5% of children have elevated lead levels. The town Akron in Ohio has the highest risk of housing with lead concentrations. Of the people in this population, 73% of families do not meet the median-income and 72% of homes in this area were built before 1950. The people living in pre-1950's homes are affected the most because the older the home, the more likely lead paint was used on and in it due to the widely used lead-based paints at that time. To present a health threat, it must somehow enter the body. Even in well-maintained homes, friction and impact surfaces, such as door jams or sliding windows can create fine lead dust that can be inhaled or swallowed.Those negatively affected by this bill may be taxpayers or the government due to the increase in cost to support this change!
• Who loses, and what do they lose? Taxpayers and government lose money.
  
• Who gains, and what do they gain? Homeowners gain health as a result.
  

What are the consequences of the issue?

• For the individuals mostly affected? The positive consequences of this issue for the people mostly effected are healthier people and lower levels of lead concentrations in people, esepcially children (the ones who are most effected). Lead poisoning is a serious issue. WebMD states that lead poisioning leads to irreversable problems with growth and development with children and can also lead to behavior, hearing, and learning problems. If pregnant women are effected, their developing babies will have birth defects. 
  
• For their families? Families will be healthier but taxpayers may not be happy.
  
• For society? Positive consequences for the society would include healthier people such as children and babies. Negative consequences would be again, the money issue and more houses going under construction for lead contaminants.
  

What is the economic impact of the issue?

• If homes are tested and found positive for lead contaminants, the housing market would probably go down again. The real estate industry is already suffering compared to previous years, and if pre-1950's homes' value would go down or people would specifically not be looking at those houses. Overall, for the future, if pregnant women have developing babies and are effected by lead, in the future, many health problems could arise leading to more needs for health counseling or treatment. 

What is the social impact of the issue?

• Social costs and issues of this issue are diverse. The benefits would be healthier people and people with lower toxins in their blood levels. 

What are the barriers?

• The barriers are that some people are not informed about this problem and are uninformed about this issue. Some people do not know that this was even a problem and it is a common issue. It is estimated that at least 19 million homes have lead-based paint hazards, of which at least 4 million have young children under age the age of six living in them.

This issue shows that it is a big problem, but people are unaware. Also, another barrier is that many remodelers might be hesitant to remodel a home because there is such a risk to remodeling a home contaminated with lead. Why is remodeling an older home considered such a big risk?? If proper precautions are not taken, remodeling or renovating an older home (pre-1978) can generate a very large amount of dust. Even small jobs done during routine maintenance -- like painting -- can generate lead dust.  (leadpro.com)

• To break through these barriers, I think if people are informed about the risks and educated on this topic, they would care more because it could directly relate to them! Since many home owners do not know how common it is in homes, if they found out how common it is, they might care a little more and would not be opposed by this topic. 

What is the history of this issue?

• Since the late 1960's lead has been banned in all materials that  could effect humans through the environment. Before that time, lead was a man-made chemical with little known health risks. Many houses in the pre-1950's era used paints that were lead based. When studies showed that lead was an extremely hazardous material, it was banned in many items such as paint and gasoline (hence the "unleaded" gas in gas stations) When lead was outlawed in gasoline, a study showed that between 1970-1987, each year the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found that one can estimate that the blood-lead levels of up to 2 million children were reduced every year to below toxic levels. Since then, lead was outlawed, but there are still homes that have not been tested.

Allies & Opponents

• Who would support this issue? The people who would support this issue are environmentalists and families, especially families with children. Also, people who renovate houses and their companies would benefit from this because business would be in demand if houses were found with lead contaminants.
  
• Who would oppose this issue? The people who would oppose this issue would be taxpayers, government officials due to the costs and lack of information and education. 
  

Your Recommendation

• How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy? I think policy makers should vote YES for bill HR 1005, "To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. This bill requires the head of the lead agency for a response action to many different responsibilities."

**I WOULD REALLY LIKE ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ON SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS! I WASN'T SURE HOW TO THOROUGHLY ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS! THANKS GROUP!! :)**

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Reflections: Weeks 11 and 12!

Hola Class!

Coming back into the swing of things was nice and it was really good to see everyone again. After Dr. V came back from the 2008 AAHPERD convention, I felt good vibes from everyone in the class and it seemed like we were all refreshed and ready to tackle the final few weeks we have together! Here is what went down in weeks 11 and 12...

Week 11:

On Tuesday, we started watching the video "Unnatural Causes". This was a veryy interesting film with the main question, "Is inequality making us sick??!". It covered issues of racial and socioeconomic issues in health. This sparked my interest because I have never really heard of this issue before. The data and research showed alarming results. The studies showed that stress levels and income level correlates with health. Even if an African-American man had high-income, the average Africa-American man had a shorter life expectancy. Do you think it has anything to do with the stressors that someone from a minority population encounters in their daily life? Then, on Friday, Dr. V showed us around the Healthy People 2010 site and how to read the certain charts of the objectives of a certain health topic. By showing us this, this information would eventually lead us to the next Advocacy Project!....

Week 12:

On Tuesday, we did our Advocacy Project and we had to pick a certain environmental health issue and pick one objective of that issue and then report the goals, changes, and improvements of the certain objective. We finally had to find a bill that relates to the certain objective I had to do this blog twice!! Very frustrating! lol. But everyone's specific issues were very interesting to read about! 

Also this week, on Thursday, Dr.V and Shar switched things up and Shar lead the class discussion about Reading 20 which talked about how some people say that the ozone layer is closing up and maybe the environment IS getting better and it gave such an inspiration to all people who do "live green"! GREAT JOB SHARRRALEE!!

My dear friend Shar Drew. 

Finally, Dr. V showed us what HER passion was and it was taking other people's "junk" and using it for other purposes! So amazing. She also  gave us super cool green bags from Dave @ Super One! I always wanted one, and I am thankful to have been given one! Shar, Heather, and some other people from class took a group picture of us and had us sign a SUPER ONE grocery bag as a thank you to Dave! Reallly cool.

Thank you Dr. V!

Choh's Final Thoughts:

These past 2 weeks and I guess you could say this semester SO FAR has been such a great experience! I can tell everyone is very passionate about the things we do, have great feedback for all the hardwork everyone does, I enjoy hearing people's thoughts and opinions, the blogs look great! Keep up the good work guys! You all are thinking critically, blogging amazingly, and making this course one that I look forward to going to! :)

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

For this assignment, we had to chose a HealthyPeople 2010 goal that we were particularly interested in.

 

Goal:

Focus Area 8: Environmental Health.

• Goal: Promote health for all through a healthy environment.
  
• Objective 8-22: Increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1950s housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based paint.

Target: 50%

Baseline: 16 % of persons aged 18 years and older living in homes built before 1950 in 1998 reported that their homes had been tested for the presence of lead-based paint (age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population).

Progress Quotient Chart:

The progress for this goal in meeting the 2010 standards are as follows according to data from the Progress Quotient Chart: Objective 8-22 has moved towards the target by 15%.

Progress: 

For the healthy homes and communities portion of this goal, the proportion of the population that lived in pre-1950's homes that has been tested for lead increased.

Disparities:

• Race and Ethnicity: data was not available for the American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander populations. The Asian and two or more races population was less than 10% or not statistically significant. However, for the Hispanic or Latino and White or non-hispanic was 10-49%. The Black non-Hispanic group was the group with the best rate for specified characteristic.
• Gender, Income, and Location: Females and middle to high income populations were the group with the best rate for specified characteristic. Males and poor-middle poor population was 10-49%. Urban or metropolitan and rural or non-metropolitan population was not selected for this objective.

Opportunities and Challenges: The Health House program is an example of a national education program intended to raise standards for better indoor environments. EPA is using education and nonregulatory approaches to address indoor air pollution. The HUD Healthy Homes Initiative supports activities that focus on researching and demonstrating low-cost, effective home hazard assessment and intervention methods and public education that emphasizes ways in which communities can reduce housing-related hazards.

Emerging Issues: The public health issues associated with toxic substances are not always resolved after initial intervention. Some affected individuals may continue to have health concerns that must be addressed through ongoing case management, rehabilitation, and other forms of tertiary prevention.

Related Bill:

HR 1005

Title: To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Bill found from THOMAS. For this specific topic, I will contact Congressman James L. Oberstar and share my opinions and concerns and ask him to vote YES to bill HR 1005.

My Political Representative: James L. Oberstar

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Share and Voice 8: On OPRAH "Secrets of the Blue Zones"

So I am watching my favorite T.V. show right now.."OPRAH"! (turn it on right now if you see this blog before 5 p.m.)

This episode caught my eye because the topic today is "Secrets of the Blue Zones". What they mean by the "Blue Zone" is that there are certain areas in the world that the population lives significantly longer than ANY other area in the world. These areas include:  

~Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
~Okinawa, Japan
~Sardinia, Italy
~Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.  (surprising!)

People in the "Blue Zones" live past 100 years old in large amounts of the population. This episode reminds me of the "Unnatural Causes" video we were watching today in class when it talks about how stress levels correlate to longevity. Dr. Oz goes around the world to these places and talks to the people who exceed to live 100 years. Not only is the longevity of the lives of these people that is amazing, but these people are living with vitality, happiness, and meaning.

Sure, this episode could explain what the 100+ year olds eat, drink, or exercise all day. But what this episode is emphasizing is how the healthy people of the "Blue Zones" credit their long lives to eating well and exercise ALONG with living a life where family is important,STRESS LEVELS ARE LOW, having a PASSION for work, faith, volunteerism, and having life-long friends. 

If you missed this episode!!!! Please check out this link from oprah.com and click through the arrows to see the special ways people from the "Blue Zones" live their daily lives. It is really interesting!!!! It makes you wonder, "how do these people do it!!??"

Let me know what you think!

All images from www.oprah.com:

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Reflections: Weeks 9 and 10!

Weeks 9 and 10 are over, we are closer to the end!

Week 9: This week introduced us to the meaning of advocacy and health advocacy. Advocacy is the active promotion of a cause or principle. This lecture/discussion sparked our minds to think about our up-coming Advocacy Projects. For blogging, we had to find our political representatives' contact information. It was something that all students should do if they want to make a difference and have a reference if we ever need to get a hold of our president, governor, mayor, etc. In class on Thursday, we were introduced to our new Eye Opener: Photo Essay. The lecture was about the ethics of taking photos and how to take some interesting photos!

Week 10: This week we didn't have class but this it was time to take pictures for our photo essay. For my Eye-Opener, I chose to take pictures of Stadium Apartments and how their environment does not correlate with the mission statement of our University. I was hoping my photo essay would open all of your eyes to the daily life of someone who is disabled or in a wheelchair.

It will be interesting to see what the new few weeks have in store for us. Have a good weekend everybody!!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Eye Opener: Photo Essay!

Most of us will be physically disabled at some point in our lives. As a child with a broken leg, a parent with a bad back, an elderly person with a walker, etc. We are all disabled in one way or another. As far as the built-up environment is concerned, it is important that it should be barrier-free and adjusted to fulfill the needs of ALL people equally.  I believe planning for the majority involves planning for people with varying abilities and disabilities.

According to the UMD website, The University of Minnesota's Mission Statement states that,"...founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community...provides an atmosphere of mutual respect, free from racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice and intolerance; that assists individuals, institutions, and communities in responding to a continuously changing world; that is conscious of and responsive to the needs of the many communities it is committed to serving..." 

Stadium's Purpose Statement states almost the same thing, "A community built upon mutual respect, responsibility, and opportunity..."

With the statements above, I found that the environment of Stadium Apartments on campus here at UMD does not follow it's mission/purpose statement. This facility does not provide an atmosphere of mutual respect, does not respond to a continuous changing world, and also is non responsive to the needs of the many diverse communities...especially for people that are wheel-chair bound or have serious allergies.

My photo essay is not to "bash" Stadium Apartments, but for you to take a moment, open your eyes, and step out of your own body. Put yourself in the shoes and mindset of someone who is dependent on a wheelchair or having severe allergic reactions to dust. Now take a seat in your wheelchair and enjoy the ride.....

"I am a student at UMD, their mission statement states that everyone has an equal opportunity of living and learning. I'll check out Stadium Apartments...it's on-campus living, my disabilities won't hold me back! right?...."

"Wait, no buttons or automatic doors for me to enter...I guess I'll just have to wait for someone to come and open the door for me..."

"I'm meeting with my group to study for our test, we are meeting in the study lounge."

"There is no way I can make it up those stairs with my wheelchair, and there are no elevators, I guess I'll have to study on my own..:("

"Since there are no elevators here, I'll check out the rooms on the first floor and see if I can live here!"

"All of the bathrooms and bedrooms are upstairs, there is no way I can go up these stairs!!"

"OR down these stairs!!"

"Wow, so many stairs in this building, but NO ramps of elevators for me!"

"Yikes, just a few weeks worth of dust off the carpet...achoo!"

"There are no plug-ins for Cable TV upstairs..."

"I guess the only option for watching cable upstairs is to get an extra long chord and trail it to the upstairs!"

"The accumulation of chords for televisions upstairs and Ethernet internet chords is crazy!  You can only get internet from the upstairs of the apartment, you would think with wireless internet being so common now, Stadium would be able to get wireless internet so we can avoid all of these dangerous chords!"

"Wow, there is a ton of dust up there, this window is 15 feet high, how do you get rid of the dust up there!?"

"No ventilation=tons of dust everywhere! Even with dusting regularly, so much gets accumulated on the heaters, how dangerous! Achoo!"

"My wheelchair definitely won't fit through this kitchen, how could I make food!?"

"The bathrooms are only upstairs, this shower has no handles or seating for me!"

"Also upstairs, I can't use this restroom, my wheelchair will not fit in here and there are no handlebars for me to grab onto!"

*sigh* 

"I guess UMD's mission and purpose statement was wrong, the environment here is not safe for my health or accessible for my wheelchair! :( "

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi