Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President Barack Obama--Democrat
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone: 202-456-1111


Switchboard: 202-456-1414


Fax: 202-456-2461

To email: fill out form provided on www.whitehouse.gov/contact
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Junior Seat

Democratic/Farmer/Labor

Northeastern Office: 

Olcott Plaza.Suite 105
820 9th Street North


Virginia, MN 55792


Main Line: 218-741-9690, Fax: 218-741-3692

Washington, DC Office 

302 Hart Senate Office Building


Washington, DC 20510


phone: 202-224-3244, fax: 202-228-2186

http://klobuchar.senate.gov/ (email form provided on website)

US House Representative James L. ‘Jim’ Oberstar,District 8 

Democratic/Farmer/Labor

Washington D.C. Office

2365 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515

Phone: (202) 225-6211

Duluth Office

231 Federal Building

Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 727-7474

http://oberstar.house.gov (email form provided on website)

Minnesota Governor Timothy J. Pawlenty- Republican

Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

Saint Paul, MN 55155

Phone: 651-296-3391
Fax: 651-296-2089

Capitol Email: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/

State Senator Yvonne Prettner, district Solon 07--Democratic/Farmer/Labor

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 

Room G-9
St. Paul, MN

55155-1606

Telephone: 651.296.4188

http://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?district=07&status=active

(email form provided on Website) 

Thomas Huntley, District 07A-- Democratic/Farmer/Labor

585 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.


Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155


Phone: 651-296-2228 


E-mail: rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn


http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=07A

St. Louis County Board 1st District
Commissioner Dennis Fink, Board Chair


Room 208
100 N. 5th Avenue West


Duluth, MN 55802


Phone: (218) 726-2458
email: finkd@co.st-louis.mn.us 

Duluth Mayor Don Ness

Mayor's Office
Room 402, 411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: (218) 730-5230
Fax: (218) 730-5904

email: dness@duluthmn.gov

http://www.duluthmn.gov/mayor/

Share and Voice 7: Denver International Airport, Going Green?

Hey everyone! As you know, I fly into the Denver International Airport (DIA) like every other day. When I was walking though the airport waiting for my flight back to Minnesota [  =(  ], I noticed a little informational board that talked about DIA's efforts towards going green!  Check out what I learned: 

SOLAR ENERGY

The two-megawatt solar photo voltaic system, developed through an innovative public-private partnership with the City and County of Denver DIA, MMA Renewable Ventrues, and WorldWater and Solar Technologies uses more than 9,200 Sharp solar panels, and features and tracking system that follows the suen for greater efficiency and energy production.  The system will generate over 3 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually which is the equvalent of half the energy needed to operate the train system at the airport.  

The solar power system is part of the Xcel Energy Solar Rewards program and demonstartes Denver's commitment to enviornmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere by more than 5 millions pounds each year. 

NATURAL AREAS

DIA's 53 square miles are home to a wide variety of animal life, including migratory  birds, and provide many natural habitats and wetlands areas. 

RECYCLING

DIA recycled over 2,500 tons of material from various sources, including the public areas of the terminal and concourses-- material that would otherwise have ended up in our landfills.  AT DIA, 22 different types of waste are recycled-- everything from batteries and electronics to restaurant grease, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. 

I thought this stuff was pretty neat, but to learn more information visit these websites!! 

Denver International Airport Business Center

MMA Renewable Ventures

Entech Solar

Share and Voice 6: Let's Talk about Sex...

OKAY! Sex is way too taboo in our society.  On campus I am a Peer Health Educator where I go to various classrooms/events on campus and talk about sex realistically.  So I present to you Share & Voice sex: Realistic talk about sex with my fellow environmentalers. 

Basically, I care about you guys.  I don't want any of you ladies coming back with an unwanted pregnancy, I don't want any of you unprepared men to find out in about 6 weeks that you will be a father thanks to your frisky spring break sex. 

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I don't want any of you guys coming back to UMD with STI's.  So, let's talk about sex!

This is a handout I made for Eta Sigma Gamma National Health Education Honorary.  We have been doing some tabling to promote spring break safety which includes: sex, alcohol, sun, and basic safety.  Since I seem to talk about sex all of the time these days (I am a PHE member, I am doing a UROP on family planning, I am in Georgia's Sex Ed class this semester...) I volunteered to prepare a handout that includes the following tips: 

• Know your sexual boundaries before your trip.  Make sure your travel buddies and you are all on the same page and hold each other accountable throughout the trip.
•  Make sure you pack lots of condoms, lubricant and your birth control pills if you take them. Also, head to the pharmacy before you take off and pick up some Plan-B Emergency Contraceptives (just in case).  Even if you don’t plan on having sex, one of your friends might be. 
• If you have sex during spring break with someone other than your normal partner, GET TESTED when you return.  Many STI’s don’t have symptoms, especially for the first few months of infection.
•  If you feel as though you were too intoxicated to consent to sex, or were drugged, and taken advantage of, go to the local police or emergency room to get tested, and documentation.
• LADIES: Female condoms can be inserted up to 8 hours before having sex.  Consider inserting one before going out, especially if you plan on drinking.
• GUYS: You are just as responsible for birth control and STI protection! Pick up some Plan-B yourself; pack plenty of condoms and lubricant!! Don’t be afraid to ask a lady if she is using birth control. 
• Lets be honest: 9 out of 10 HIV infections have been transmitted while under the influence, majority of infected persons do not know they are infected (with any STI), majority of people may not admit to being infected…   

Do you want an STI; do you want an unplanned pregnancy??  

If not, plan ahead, be prepared, take responsibility for own birth control and STI protection.

Have a wonderful and sexually safe spring break!!  

Reflection: Weeks 7 & 8

Week 7
This week for class we read Chapter 16 in our books titled III Winds: The Chemical Plant Next door written by Becky Bradway. The article was about the Bradway’s childhood of growing up in Buffalo, Illinois and the way the face of the town changed as time went by.  “The chemical plant next door” she refers to is Borden Chemical. The reading of this article lead to a lot of critical thinking on my own behalf.  I grew up in Monticello, which is a town known for the nuclear power plant.  Literally, the plant is in my backyard.  The good news is, I have a lot of backyard!!  Honestly though, to give you guys the idea: my backyard extends to I-94 the distance from my house to the freeway is about 1 mile.  The distance from the other side of the freeway to the power plant is about 500 feet.  A.k.a my backyard. This article made me think about how everyone in my town growing up loved so many aspects of it, while majority of adults and my parents have hated it the entire time. 
The eye-opener project for this week was to visit the Skin Deep website which is run by the Environmental Working Group and evaluate a cosmetic product we use daily.  Check out my blog post on the results this website gave me regarding my shampoo!  In class we had a pretty great discussion about the eye-opener.  Basically this is the issue: each of us is single-handedly contributing to the chemical industry and the problems they are causing (for humans and for the environment) by using the products we use.  I think that it has become MUCH more important for me to consider the products I am using and how I am changing the face of the earth and the lives of thousands of people.  I have been inspired to change the cosmetics I use to ones that aren’t contributing to the problem—wish me luck on my research in finding these products!
In week 7 we also watched the documentary “Green”.  This documentary was done by a student as a graduate project and it was nothing less than amazing.  I can understand where you are coming from Dr. V. when you say that this documentary inspired the format of this class.  It was EXTREMELY eye opening and made my entire mindset on chemical products and their effects not only on the environment, but also on the people take a 180.  I was assigned to do a review of this documentary, if you want to read more of my thoughts on it, visit my documentary review blog post!!
Week 7 was really, really eye-opening for me.  Honestly, I care so much more about people and humanity than I do the trees and animals and grass. (I know, I know, you can all yell at me all you want but it is the truth).  The topics covered in class this week really challenged my thinking and basically slapped me in the face.  Sure, I enjoy the products I use, but I do not enjoy knowing that what I am doing to the people directly affected by the production of these products.

Week 8
This week in class we started out by talking about Reading 31: Privatizing Water, written by Curtis Runyan.  Before class, I didn’t really understand what the article was exactly talking about.  After the class discussion, I felt like it left me even more confused.  Not because of terms/concepts but because of the issue at hand.  I am still a little on the fence with this issue because I can see where both sides are coming from.  Something that helped to set me straight on this issue was reading Kathy’s Review of the reading post.  She did a really great job helping me figure out what was really going on.  To be honest, I think I am still somewhat ambivalent towards the issue.  I wish for everyone on the planet to have free access to clean water whenever they need it.  Clearly, my wishes aren’t going to be coming true anytime soon so it is time for me to figure out ways I can help in the time being.  Maybe but opposing water privatization will do some help??
We also watched the documentary Thirst. The movie itself was only somewhat interesting to me.  I thought the best part was watching the 3rd world countries survive by collecting their rain water.  It was so innovative!  However, since we didn't finish the movie, it left us with a great opportunity to have a very in depth class discussion.  I thought we had a great discussion and it was a really good way to leave for spring break!! 

Concepts that Challenged My Thinking
Basically week 7 made me think about my daily life in a whole new way.  Week 8 wasn’t as impacting on me, but both made me consider a few things:

1. It is time to switch a lot of the products I use.  I am not a fan of "cancer alley", I am not a fan of the petrochemical plants in LA, I am not a fan of people dying from rare forms of cancer on my behalf. 
2. I have reconsidered my childhood and the way I grew up viewing my town.  Although the nuclear power plant is "very clean", and there "aren't any toxic pollutants", this information has been delivered to me by city officials and plant workers. Hmm, could this information be smudged?
3. The documentary Green was amazing.  I want to go to grad school and make a documentary like that. (I know this concept isn't really "environmentally-related" but seriously, I was basically inspired to go out and change the lives of under-represented populations).
4. Water is water.  I like that it is cheap, I like that in majority of places it is VERY easily accessible.  The fact that this can be taken away scares me.  But the fact that if something isn't done soon we will run out of water scares me more.  
5. If water is privatized I will probably get a well. Just throwing that out there... 
6. America needs to stop telling other countries what to do when we can't figure our own stuff out.  Seriously, we don't have all the answers.  It appears to me that people are smart enough to figure out how to get water, even in extremely dry areas of the world. Maybe it is innate to figure out ways to get water, after all water is essential to life??
7. The documentary Thirst challenged the way I think about politics.  Honestly, water becoming a political and economic issue?  I can't wait until my kids are in school and they start learning about the amount of oxygen rationed per person... sick. 
8. Becky Bradway, the author of reading 16 lives in Denver, CO! Maybe over spring break I will go pay her a visit?!?!

Well, I hope that you enjoyed my reflection, and everyone has a WONDERFUL and safe spring break!! 

Review of Documentary: Green (2000)

Summary of the Documentary

Green is a film made in 2000 that was written and directed by graduate student Laura Dunn.  The documentary travels along the last 100 mile stretch of the Mississippi from Baton Rouge, LA to New Orleans, LA to uncover the truth about one thing: money changes everything. 

This stretch of the river is home to over 150 petrochemical plants that are responsible for producing 25% of the nations petrochemicals.  This stretch has the highest amount of chemical users, chemical disposers, and chemical industry.  According to the people with the loudest voice, it is an area with an abundance of jobs, an area where intense revenue for the nation is made, and an area where safety and health are not of concern because the industries care enough to report when they find anything suspicious.  To the rest of the nation, and the communities affected by these plants, it is the "chemical corridor", or "cancer alley". 

Baton Rouge, LA

It is such a breath-taking site to see the capital of Louisiana placed just perfectly in front of a beautiful backdrop of chemical plants. Even more beautiful is the trip to the farmers market, where fresh produce is sold right outside of the plants.  What a great way for the community members to get their daily fruit intake with a side of carcinogens....??? 

In Baton Rouge, one 13 year old girl told her story of the rare case of cancer she had, producing tumors all over her body to be removed as often as they grow.   

Another woman couldn't have explained the problem at hand more perfectly: "when it comes to chemical plants, everyone is thinking green. And by green I mean M-O-N-E-Y." 

Gonzales, LA

We heard a story about a very loved little boy named Caleb.  Caleb suffered from a rare form of cancer as a small boy, so rare that only 1 in a million people have it.  In fact, it is so rare that 2 other kids on his block had the same disease??  But don't make any assumptions, if the petrochemical plants in Gonzales were linked to this rare form of cancer, the tumor registry would report this data so that community members may take precaution.  It is good to know that the tumor registry is funded by the Louisiana Chemical Association.  So back up the train, would those reports be made?  Apparently, they aren't.  But according to the Louisiana Chemical Association, those reports do not need to be made because their data shows that per plot of land, the rates of rare forms of cancer are normal.  Of course their data doesn't support the concern, because they divide their land into plots instead of collecting data parish by parish.  This section of the documentary was concluded by introducing the audience to some new evidence: recently, clusters of rare types of cancer found in children have been reported mainly in southern Louisiana. Did anyone see this coming??

Norco, LA

A local Shell plant that is not-so-local sized, has a majestic tower for the whole town to see.  At the top, it even has a flare which serves as a release valve for many "vapors".  So what happened when this Shell plant experienced an explosion killing seven people and alarming the members of the community?  Well of course the town now has a new look!  Oh thank God, we were all so worried about the way the town looked.... 

Shell is producing the chemical benzene and numerous other toxins that have been linked to malformations and health concerns for developing fetuses and small children.   

Narco is a town with both white and black people.  It is predominately white away from the plants, and predominately black in the plants' backyards. One citizen of this town enlightened the audience with his thoughts: "environmental civil rights are not about black people, its about all of the low socioeconomic citizens that involuntarily live right next door to these plants". 

New Orleans, LA

In 2000, this was a wonderful place where Mardi Gras and beautiful people existed.  Now lets move outside of our tourist eyes, travel to the outskirts of the town and see something else.  A landfill. 17 feet deep but thankfully had the first 2 feet removed for the safety of the residents whose homes were built right on top of it. One citizen, Don Lewis was a gardner in the area that had to stop growing because his ground tested positive for toxic substances.  His daughter who ate from the garden at the age of 16 died from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

This is an area of toxic wasteland, and according to the mayor of New Orleans, "the EPA hasn't been an ally of the citizens of the community dealing with the landfill."  

New Terms: (Not already linked in paragraphs above) 

polyvinylchloride: abbreviated as PVC, it is the third most used thermoplastic polymer. 

environmental justice: the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to development, implemenation and enforment of environmental laws. 

environmental racism: refers to intentional or unintentional racial descrimination in the enforcement of environmental rules and regulations, the intentional or unintentional targeting of minority communities for the siting of polluting industries, or the exclusion of minority groups from public and private boards, commissions, and regulatory bodies. 

Executive order 12898: Federal actions to address environmental justice in minority populations and low-income populations. 

Concepts that challenged my thinking

1. Viewing this documentary tied in perfectly with the Working Group eye-opener.  The products we choose to use, are indirectly supporting the petrochemical plants in Louisiana that are irresponsibly poisoning the community members that live near the plants. 
2. I think it would be easier to not know of this issue, because now that I do, I am compelled to do everything I can to stop supporting the petrochemical industry. 
3. Rare cancers intrigue me.  I feel as though I want to broaden my knowledge on where they are located and find out what they may be linked to.  I firmly believe (along with most of the Southern LA citizens) that they are linked to the petrochemical industry. 
4. This country isn't so great after all.  Correction: this country's government system isn't as protective as we all thought after all.  Why on earth would the EPA allow this?  Why would the government allow the LA Chemical Association to fund the LA tumor registry?  Why would they allow data to be skewed the way it is?
5. According to some, certain groups of people are determined to be expendable in our nation.  Really?? No human life is expendable. That is a new opinion I have formed in regards to the placement of industry. 

Additional Resources

In the paragraphs above I linked to numerous websites to expand your knowledge including: The LA Tumor Registry, The LA Chemical Association, The EPA, and a couple of others. Check those sites out...very intersting!!

One additional site I found for you is the Citizen Perspectives on Environmental Health Hazards in "Cancer Alley".   This is a report written by Angela Hackel, a MA candidate at the Center of Environmental Studies at Brown University.  Check it out! It seems to be somewhat of a follow up to the film!!

Eye Opener 4: Environmental Working Group

Summary of the Eye-Opener

The Skin Deep website is brought to us by the Environmental Working Group, and is  a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products.  Skin Deep is a nonprofit organization and is the largest integrated data resource of its kind.  They simply keep this website up and running for one reason: because the FDA doesn't require companies to test their own products for safety. Therefore, the researchers at Environmental Working Group do it for them. 

The Environmental working Group uses the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.  EWG is also a nonprofit organization that advocates for health-protective and subsidy-shifting policies.  

My Results

I chose to search Pantene Pro-V 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner Always Smooth.  This is the shampoo I have used for about 7 years.  I don't use conditioner, so I thought this would be a really good product to search since it is something I use everyday, and have been using for an extended amount of time.  

The Pantene Pro-V product I use seems to have lots of concerns according to Skin Deep. It got a score of 5, which means that it is a moderate hazard since the scale goes to 10.  I learned that 41% of conditioners and 49% of shampoos have lower concerns. Ingredients in Pantene Pro-V 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner have been linked to:

1. cancer
2. developmental/reproductive toxicity
3. violations, restrictions & warnings
4. allergies/immunotoxicity
5. other concerns such as: neurotoxicity, organ system toxicity, irritation, enhanced skin absorption, and contamination concerns. (To name a few...)

The manufacturer of this product Proctor & Gamble has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and they also conduct animal testing. Knowing this information tells me that they haven't yet jumped on the bandwagon of making their products "green" and making them safer.  

Some other information I found on this website is that 92% of the ingredients in my shampoo have no data about them or have a high level of uncertainty.  92% of the ingredients have not been reviewed by the FDA, and 42% do not have any industry review.  Finally, 3% of the ingredients are labeled as 'high hazard". Talk about scary...

My Opened Eyes

The website gave me TONS of information regarding Pantene Pro-V 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner; in fact, so much information that I didn't even summarize it all on this blog.  I guess what is of main concern to me is the fact that there are so many other products out there that are less risky.  It is hard for me to take in all of the information and decide what is important and what isn't.  To me, its all important enough to know, but not important enough to change the shampoo I have been using since middle school.  However, since 49% of the products out there are better for me than this one, I feel like I have been motivated to make a change.  I think that next time I am at the store I will buy something different.  Recently I have been considering switching to Dove Products anyways because of their AMAZING campaign for real beauty. I thought this was a really good activity to do, it has helped me so see exactly what I am doing to myself and to the environment by the products I am choosing to use.