Share & Voice: Local Restaurant

I was trying to find restaurants that are organic in Duluth, and I came across the Northern Waters Smokehaus. Its dedicated to using local, sustainably-raised meats and fish, and better yet... its actually affordable! If you are like me, and find it hard to give up on eating meats (even though we all know how they're inhumanely raised) then this would be a good spot to check out!! 

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Objective: Increase use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation’s air quality.


What is the issue/problem? 
-Lack of alternative modes of transportation to reduce polluting emissions
What current legislation has been proposed to address this?
-H.R. 3271: Green Routes to Work Act (introduced in House)
WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE?
Who is affected the most?
-People that live in close proximity cities, where vehicle emissions are in high concentration
Who loses, and what do they lose?
-Those that live in cities with a large amount of vehicles. They lose their right to clean air, and are at higher risk of health issues.
Who wins, and what do they win?
-The vehicle distributions and gas stations. They continue to make money off of buyers, regardless of the efforts to reduce pollution.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ISSUE?
For the individuals most affected?
-premature death, cancer and long term damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems
For their families?
-Premature deaths, high healthcare costs/medical bills
For society?
-increased taxes on medical care
WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE ISSUE?
What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
-Money is needed to fund transit systems, and to create suitable biking and walking trails. Taxes would probably increase for everyone 
What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
-Cleaner air, less medical costs. Everyone would benefit from this, especially the people in bigger cities. 
WHAT IS THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE ISSUE?
What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
-Not as convenient to regular vehicle-drivers. May be difficult to obtain for those who do not live near destination or transit location
What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
-Physical exercise, a new means of meeting people, less money spent on gasoline. The people that decide to use the alternative transportation benefit.
WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS?
What are the barriers to addressing this issue?
-Money to spend on transit systems and trails, motivation.
How can they be overcome?
-Advertisement, promotion. If the bill passed, taxes would allow money to be spent on alternatives
WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES?
What resources will we need to address this issue?
-safe biking/walking paths, convenient and available transit locations, billboards/media to advertise.
Where and how can they be tapped?
-Taxes, local construction crews, multiple locations to access transit. Word can be spread by famous/well-known people that support the new bill
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE?
What is the history of the issue in the community?
-It has been a long-time search to find alternative forms of transportation. We knew that our oil supply would not last forever, so other resources must be used.
What past efforts were made to address it?
-They have come up with hybrid and electric cars. City busses were expanded into the public, exercise was further promoted
What were the results?
-Some of the alternative vehicles too expensive, so didn't really catch on much. According to Health People 2010, transit has been moving AWAY from the target goal, so the bus does not have a large impact. Convenience is what stops a lot of people from making change.
ALLIES & OPPONENTS
Who would support this issue?
-environmental activists, people that want to reduce pollution levels, people that have/know someone that has been affected by emission levels of vehicles
Who would oppose this issue?
-those that do not want taxes raised, those that don't realize/care about the effects of emission of hazardous toxins
How can you involve allies and opponents in advocacy efforts?
-Make taxes inexpensive and make sure transit centers are located conveniently
YOUR RECOMMENDATION
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
Vote YES for on this bill








(http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/volume1/08environmental.htm#_Toc490564700)

Share & Voice: Do you give GREEN thanks?

So in light of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I searched a little on the internet and found a quiz that you can take to see just how green your thanksgiving is. I was surprised by some of the facts that it provided, about how much energy it takes to heat the oven to cook a turkey, and about how much waste we make yearly. Take a look, and see how eco-friendly you are around this time of year.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

1. My SMART goal was to drink 64 oz. of tap water 5 days/wk. Though I DID drink much more water than I usually do, I could not fully achieve this goal throughout the week.


2. I always keep my nalgene hooked onto my backpack at school, so that way I am reminded to constantly be drinking water. Also, a few times I exchanged beverages such as milk or iced tea with water at meals. As goofy as it sounds, a challenge that I faced was always having to go pee when I drank all of that water!! It's quite obnoxious having to go in between every class. Another challenge was that if I did not drink 64 oz one day during the week, I'd have to try and compensate over the weekend and I did not bring my water bottle with me everywhere, so I didn't know how much I was actually consuming. 


3. I've been actually very content with how hydrated I've been this last week. I rarely get the feeling of thirst, and it is actually becoming easier to incorporate water into my lifestyle as I continue on through the week. It is not so much as of a force to make me drink it, I actually WANT to drink it. 


4. I learned that it is so important to keep hydrated. I feel like I have more energy, and I know that it is actually refraining me from drinking other substances that may not be as beneficial. 


5. For week 2, I think that I will alter my goal a little by drinking 56 oz of water 5 days/wk, instead of 64 oz. The daily recommendation is 64 oz, but since I did not reach my goal every day for 5 days, I want to see if I can achieve it by lowering my intake by 8 oz (1 glass) of water. If I achieve my goal then, I plan on increasing my intake again. 


"Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2 hosted by Amy@Amy in the Rain"

Share & Voice: Household cleaning products

I found an article on the Duluth News Tribune website about how our very own household cleaning products actually contain poisonous chemicals that have never even been tested!! The EPA is supposed to be regulating the use of these chemicals, but some products get released before being tested. So the next time you hear the advertisement that a clean house smells good, know that it is not safe to inhale such products. What I found interesting as well, is that the use of these cleaning products have been known to link to ADD, ADHD and OCD. It's disturbing how much the public is not informed on such issues...

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

1. I chose objective 8-2: Increase use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation’s air quality. Targets to meet were measured by use of bicycles, walking and transit use. According to the Progress Quotient Chart, we have moved 11% AWAY from the bicycling target, 59% TOWARDS the walking target, and 11% AWAY from the transit target.


2. The walking section (8b) made progress towards its target. However, the bicycling and transit targets were not met. There were no disparities available for objective 8-2. It was found challenging to measure the improvement in outdoor air quality. The FDA and CDC use a market-based approach that encourages newer forms of technology to control pollution. Unfortunately, a few issues make it difficult to accurately measure levels. Extreme weather conditions such as heat waves and hurricanes can alter the annual summary statistic, and not all countries have monitoring stations- so not all populations are accounted for.


3.

 H.R. 3271: Green Routes to Work Act (introduced in House)

Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve commuting and transportation options.

Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] (introduced 7/21/2009) Cosponsors (16)

Latest Major Action: 7/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Recommendation: Vote YES for H.R. 3271: Green Routes to Work Act

My Political Representative: Mike Opat