Reflection: Weeks 9 & 10

Week 9

On Monday during class we learned about what advocacy was through three class presentations based on the three readings that were due at class time.  Two of the groups did a skit and the other group gave a pretty thorough presentation.  I really enjoyed being involved in the skit and watching the other skit, because it gave me a visual image and scenario that I could relate advocacy to.  I'd recommend making a skit relating to advocacy a course project, rather than just listening to someone explain the reading...just my opinion though! 

Also we had a advocacy project due at class time, which brought about our political representatives and their contact information.  On Wednesday, as usual, we had our weekly update of our Eco-Chi Lifestyle change, which mine is getting outside three times a week.  I reached my goal successfully, thanks to the beautiful weather we had throughout the week.  On Friday we had our third quater of our reed 'n' seed due.  I think this post was much better than my previous reed 'n' seed posts, because it was more concise and I just highlighted the main topics.

Week 10

On Monday we watched a clip from the documentary series called "Unnatural Causes".  The part that we watched was about health and wealth and how they correlated.  I loved this movie!!  I did not know the correlation between the two was so great, and this video gave me great insight to why the association seems to be true.  It seems that people who are poor have such a hard time dealing with medical costs, health problems, housing factors, and even getting food on the table.  This was a big eye opener that something needs to be done in America to get universal health care, so people can sleep easier at night.  I also thought itw as crazy that the United Statse spends 3 trillion dollars (if I remember right) on medical services a year, but we are bumber 30 on the list of the healthiest countries.  That is crazy!  We should learn from other countires and get on track.  During the movie we got to snack on delcious banana apple bread that was brought in by Danielle.  It was soooo good!!! 

Dr. V also went over the Photo Essay an the basics dealing with that assigment.  From what I've heard, it seems like this is going to be a pretty fun assignment.  Our advocacy project dealing with healthy people and THOMAS was due at class time on Monday and I decided to pick a goal dealing with obesity and nutrition.  On Wednesday we also had a lifestyle change update, and I just gave a summary of how I have been reaching my goal.  It's been a good two weeks and I can't wait for the junking project on Monday...hopefully I can think of something creative!  Have a good weekend!

Share and Voice: What is Earth Day?

I was looking through my planner the other day and it listed April 22nd as "Earth Day" and I had no idea what this holiday was all about.  I decided to search the web and figure out what is Earth Day and how it evolved.

*Earth Day was created to inspire awareness and appreciation for our planet.  It was actually founded by a U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin.  After the holiday was set in stone, a symbol was created November 7, 1969 to represent Earth Day which looked like this....

*The symbol is a combination of the letters "E" and "O", standing for Environment and Organism

*Earth Day mainly came about because of the increasing worriness about environmental crisises, so a national day was put in affect to talk about environmental problems.

*In 1999, as the millennium was nearing, a campaign was put into effect on Earth Day that focused on global warming and a push for clean energy.

*On the first Earth Day in 1970 a Earth Day Network was put into action where activists can connect change in local, national, and global policies.  This network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries.

*Why April 22nd? This date was chosen because people thought that it wasn't a busy time in the year for students (final exams weren't nearing) and wanted to teach these students about cirtical factors dealing with the environment.  There was also no spring breaks that needed to be worried about, and it was late enough in the spring months that there would be pretty good weather.  It was also decided that Wednesday would be a best day because it was mid-week, and most students would most likely be attendants in their classes.

*The main point of this holiday is to foster appreciation of the Earth's environment and become aware of the issues that threaten it.

*If one would like to become involved in Earth Day, your school would be a good place to contact, since they usually have some kind of environmental meeting or volunteering program on the holiday.

Share and Voice: Go Green! Advantages of Reusable Bags

http://www.helium.com/items/976541-go-green-benefits-of-reusable-bags

After reading Mal's Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Update, I wanted to find out what are some specific advantages of using resusable bags.  Unfortunately, I have still not bought any of these, but now after this article it really gives me a kick in the butt that I should get some!!  Some of the advantages were listed as...

*Plastic bags are made from harmful, non-renewable resources.
*These non-renewable resources are already being consumed in large amounts (ex: fuel for automobiles), so if people lessen their use of plastic bags, non-renewable resources could be lessened.
*Only 0.6 percent of bags are recycled
*Every year people throw away over 100 billion plastic bags
*Most of the bags don't even make it to the landfill because many get caught in the wind, then these get caught in trees, sewers, gutters, and waterways.  This unfortuneately has created a huge pile of plastic bags floating in the Pacific Ocean, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is double the size of Texas and still growing
*This Great Pacific Garbage Patch causes great hazzards for ocean animals
*"267 marine species had suffered from some kind of ingestion or entanglement with marine debris"
*Plastic bags are not only hazzardous to animals, but can be hazzardous to children as well.  There is an average of 25 deaths a year who died of suffocation due to plastic bags, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and 90% of the deaths were under the age of one.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 7: Weekly Update

My SMART Goal:  To get outside 3 times a week, for at least 30 minutes each time.  For example running, walking, rollerblading, sledding, hiking etc.

Successes and Challenges:  I was successful this week and got outside 3 times.  I went on two walks and played tennis today with my roommate.  Although one challenge I faced was that the weather was rather chilly this weekend.  My sisters came up for the weekend, so we decided to bundle up and go walk around down in canal.  We probably walked around for about 30 minutes, but no more since it was quite chilly.  The scenary was so pretty though!  Other than that, I did not face any other challenges, since there hasn't been much rain lately, in comparison to last month.

Feelings Experienced:  Even though most of the days I exercised outdoors were chilly, that did not make me stop going outside to exercise.  I put on a scarf, mittens and even a hat one day.  I felt a little funny, but I when I saw other people running outside that were bundled up, I didn't feel as weird.  Like I have said before in my previous posts, I feel refreshed every time I go outside and exercise.

What I Learned This Week:  I learned that if you have company from out of town it is a great idea for them to get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenary of duluth (esp if they are from the cities), instead of just bumming around in your house all weekend.  It is a great way to "bond", have company while exercising, and it is much healthier than sitting on your butt all weekend stuffing yourself with junk food (which my sisters and I usually do).

Plans for Next Week:  I know the weather is getting cold, but I am still hoping to get outside 3 times a week.  If the weather gets way cold, I plan on exercising indoors, but we'll see what happens.  I also figure that I should start going on runs and walks during the day, because at night it is much more chilly.

Hope everyone's week has been running smoothly!

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Goal: Promote health and reduce chronic disease associated with weight and diet


Objective: Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese.

*Progress Quotient Chart: This chart showed that children from 6-11 years old 83% of them moved away from the target and children ranging from 12-19 years old 83% moved away from target, as well.

*Unfortunately, no objectives in this focus area have been met or surpassed their goals.

*Food security (19-18) was the only objective that moved toward its target for which the change was statistically significant. "Food security" is defined as household members having access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. This objective aims to increase food security among U.S. households from a baseline of 88 percent in 1995 to a target of 94 percent in 2010.

*Challenges: There are countless challenges dealing with this goal and objective.  The food in the United States is more abundant than ever and the sizes of meals are increasing.  Another obstacle to overcome is that our country is becoming extremely sedentary.  It is important to realize that healthy food may cost more, but the nutrients in that food are priceless.  Also people may not have the resources needed to get access to a fitness center.

*It is important to heighten the amounts of healthy foods consumed, such as fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.  However, people who do not regularly eat this these types of foods may feel that these products do not taste as good, the price may be higher, and they may not be at convience for the shoppers.

*Seven objectives are aimed at encouraging healthful eating patterns:
-They address fruit, vegetable, and grain product intake (19-5, 19-6, and 19-7)
-saturated and total fat intake (19-8 and 19-9)
-total sodium and calcium intake (19-10 and 19-11).
*The data dealing with the above facotrs were not available to an idea up updated esimates on the percentage of the population that does meet these specific food intakes.  The assessment of progress in relation to the targets was not possible for this report because a second day of diet recall data on survey respondents was not available from the most recent national dietary intake survey, the 1999–2002 NHANE.

Emerging issues: Surgeries are coming about as treatment options, but there are health risks involved dealing with these major surgeries and they need to be evaluted and compared with the benefits.  Data needs to be collect to monitor medical care and the quality of assurance.

*It is also important to realize that prevention instead of treatment could be the best option in turning around the commonality of obesity in America.  It is critical that society will unite together to give hope to people fighting this deathly state of being.  There is still much overweight progress that needs to get done before 2010.


HR 3688 IH To Encourage Programs of Health Promotions or Disease Prevention. (Introduced to the House)


Title:  For purposes of subsection (a), a program of health promotion or disease prevention (referred to in this subsection as a `wellness program') shall be a program that is designed to promote health or prevent disease that meets the applicable requirements of this subsection.


Sponsor: Rep Michael Arcuri, Introduced October 1st 2009, Cosponsors Mr. BUYER, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. POLIS of Colorado, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, and Mr. DEAL of Georgia


Latest Major Action:  1st session in the House of Representatives 10/1/09

Recommendation: Vote Yes for HR 3688 To encourage programs of health promotion or disease prevention