Showing posts with label Eye Openers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eye Openers. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

Air Quality Crossword Puzzle

I think this was a really fun learning activity. There were four websites that pertain to air quality issues both locally and nationally and I needed to read the articles to find the answers to the crossword puzzle. It was fun and I also learned a number of new things about our air quality.

Uncovering the Facts about Cancer

1. First visit the WebMD webpage related to cancer and find 3 facts about cancer that interest you or that you never knew. 
- I didn’t know that there are more than 100 types of cancer and that breast cancer in men is not uncommon. Also, I didn’t know that coffee is used to prevent gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer.
2. Next, visit the American Cancer Society Cancer causes webpage and read about the different known causes of cancer. Be able to list 3. 
- Tobacco, diet and physical activity, sun and UV exposure.
3. Once you feel you know what the causes/ risk factors are for cancer, go to this webpage from Preventcancer.org and read about things you can do to reduce your risk for cancer. 
4. Report 3 common causes of cancer and describe 3 of the ways you think you could best protect YOURSELF against cancer. If you already meet all the criteria, discuss changes you think are the most helpful in general
- Smoking can cause lung cancer. I have never smoked and I am trying to get my friend to stop smoking.
- Get screened. I need to make sure that I get screened using tests such as the Pap test and a mammogram.
- Wear sunscreen. Skin cancer is the most common and most preventable types of cancer. I usually use sunscreen, but there are times that I don’t think I need it. I really need to make sure that I use it more often.

By doing this learning activity I learned a lot about different cancers and what the risk factors are for cancer. I also learned what I can do to protect myself against cancer.

Health Insurance for All

I needed to watch a video and visit two different websites and play a game to learn about health insurance. After that I needed to share one or two things I learned from this activity.
By watching the video, I now understand better how health insurance works and after visiting the websites and reading about health insurance I understand how important it is to have health insurance in the U.S.

Emergency Contraception 101
After reading 10 Common Myths, Misunderstandings, and big Ol’ Lies About Emergency Contraception, please list 3 myths and why they are false.

1. The morning after pill is the same as abortion.
EC is called contraception because it is birth control: it can prevent pregnancy. That is what it is designed to do and all it is designed to do.

2. It's difficult to get.
In most areas of the western world, it's not difficult to get and in most of the world as a whole at this point, some form of EC can be obtained. In the United States, those over 17 can get it without a prescription.

3. It's hazardous to my health.
Less so than regular combination pill use, which is safe for users following the instructions and who do not have health conditions of lifestyle habits which make BCPs risky to use.

Next, do some research and find & list 3 places you could go to obtain emergency contraception in Duluth, MN.

1. Planned Parenthood
2. Women’s Health Center
3. SMDC Health System

I think this was a really good learning activity and I learned new things about emergency contraception. I think the 10 common myths were a really good way to learn about emergency contraception.

Smoking Fact Find

Instructions:
1) Review the links below.
2) Find 5 things that you didn't know before watching the video or things that really effected you.
3) Post the 5 things you learned. Can you think of any personal reasons why you have chosen not to smoke too? For example, parents would be disappointed, dont want to smell bad, ect. Please provide one reason why you have chosen not to smoke or have quit because of (if you feel comfortable sharing).

1. Annually, smoking costs Minnesota nearly $3 billion in health care costs.
2. Tobacco use leads to over 5,500 deaths in Minnesota a year.
3. Children of smokers are almost twice as likely to smoke as children of nonsmokers.
4. Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
5. China has more than 350 million smokers — 50 million more cigarette buyers than the entire population of the United States.

There are a number of reasons why I chose not to smoke. The main reason is because I want to stay healthy. Besides that, I absolutely cannot stand the smell of cigarettes. Whether it be after someone puffs a cigarette or how they smell afterwards, it’s all horrible. I thought this was an interesting learning activity and I learned some new information about smoking. This is definitely something I am going to show my friend who smokes to help encourage her to quit.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

My photo essay is about recycling. I chose this because I think it is important that people recycle at home. These pictures are from my house here in Duluth. We place plastic and aluminium in different garbage cans, and then we have one for every day trash. I know there are many another things that you can recycle but these are the ones that my house has.

 This garbage can is for every day trash.

 
 These ones are for plastic and aluminium trash.

 This one is for plastic garbage.

This one is for aluminium garbage.



Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

PART 1:

* antiques/antiquing

An antigue is an old item that is collected because of its age and beauty.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique

* junk/junking

Junk is a number of different materials that are used in a different form than it wass used for before.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk

* flea market

A flea market is a place where old and used goods are sold. It can be outdoors or indoors.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_market

* thrift shop

Thrift stores sell used clothes and another items that somebody else doesn't want anymore. The most known thrift store is probably Goodwill.http://www.wikihow.com/Shop-at-Thrift-Stores

* upcycling

Upcycling is the process of reusing waste materials and making new materials or products.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling

* resale shop

Resale shops sell gently-used goods and they buy their goods from individual owners.http://www.tgtbt.com/consumer.htm#whatresale

PART 2:

1. What do the terms above have to do with environmental health?

They all help to save the environment. Selling old clothes or furniture rather than just throwing them away will help the environment.

2. Identify at least one local resource for each of the terms above...provide name, location, contact info, and link to website or blog.

Antigues/antiguing
Name: Father Time Antiques
Location: 395 S Lake Ave Duluth, MN 55802
Contact info: 218-625-2379
Website: http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Father.Time.Antiques

Junk/junking
Name: Junkologie
Contact info: alvn.mail@gmail.com.
Website: http://www.junkologie.com/

Flea market:
Name: Flea Market at Fair Grounds
Location: Carlton County Fairgrounds - Barnum, MN.
Contact info: 218-273-4096
Website: http://www.visitbarnum.com/SearchResults/Rummagegaragefleamarketandmovingsales/tabid/1787/Default.aspx

Thrift shop:
Name: Goodwill Industries Vocational Enterprises, Inc.
Location: 700 Garfield Avenue Duluth, MN 55802
Contact info: Marge Bray, Executive Director
E-mail: mbray@goodwillduluth.org
Voice: (218) 722-6351
FAX: (218) 722-8108
Website: http://www.goodwillduluth.org/

Upcycling:
I could not find anything specific on upcycling in Duluth, MN or close by.

Resale Shop:
Name: Plato’s Closet
Location: 5115 Burning Tree Rd, Duluth, MN
Contact info: (218) 733-9455
Website: http://www.platosclosetduluth.com/

Identify whether you do any or use any of these things. Why or why not?
I have never been to any of these stores but now that I have learned more about them I really want to go to some resale or thrift shops.

PART 3
JunkMarketStyle.com Projects:

I think this floral display is really cool and very creative. It is made using window frame and a toolbox.
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/28993/everythings-coming-up-kale

I really like this clock which is made of gear mold.
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/21319/how-to-make-a-gear-mold-clock

This is a really pretty candle holder, made from an old coffee cup and a plate.
http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/17832/simple-monday-evening

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group

I use Clearasil Stayclear Oil-free daily face wash. The website gave this product a rating of six out of ten so it is a moderate hazard. Ingredients in this product are linked to: Cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and use restrictions. Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards.
I didn’t know that this product has so many hazardous ingredients in it. I really like this website and I will try to find another product that wouldn’t be as bad for me.
You can check out my result here: Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Eye Opener: CSPI

I took the quiz named Eating Green Calculator, Effects of Your Diet on Your Health and the Environment.
I used 5890 pounds of manure created by the animals. I took the quiz again and entered 1 servings less per week. After that my result was 4076 pounds of manure created by the animals.
I pledge:
To protect my health and the environment, I will eat a more plant-based diet—more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts and fewer fatty meat and dairy products. When I do eat animal products, I will emphasize ones that are lower in fat and raised in humane ways that minimize harm to the environment.
I don't think my result was that bad, however I think I could eat more vegetables and fruits instead of meat to protect my health and make less harm to the environment.
You can take the quiz here: http://www.cspinet.org/EatingGreen/tour.html

Monday, October 4, 2010

Eye Openers: Ecological Footprint

I did the EarthDay Footprint quiz and the result was shoking. If everyone would live like me, we would need 5.7 Planet Earths to provide enough resources. My biggest ecological footprint was services, which was 35% and most of that is because of all the flying I do from Finland to school.
http://earthday.net/footprint2/index.html
 
I calculated my carbon footprint and my total metric tons was 31.73. My greatest one was flying, which equaled 48% of my total usage. I was really shocked when I saw how high my emissions were. I had no idea how much CO2 I was putting in the air.
http://www.sustainourplanet.com/

I calculated how much energy I saved by figuring out how much I recycle. My total savings were 389.80 kWh. I didn't realize how much energy is saved by recycling.
http://www.facilities.fsu.edu/CUP/recyclemania2010.html

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Welcome to Heidi’s Healthy Environment!














My name is Heidi Pelttari. My blog is going to be about what I am learning in my Environmental Health class.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:
  1. Advocacy Project
  2. Eye Openers
  3. Reflections
  4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
  5. Read 'n' Seed
  6. Share and Voice
If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is labeled with all six kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget in the sidebar. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are: 
  1. Kristen M@Kristen’s Atmosphere 
  2. Casey@Casey's Green Daydream
  3. Callie@Eco-Friendly with Calista
  4. Kara@Kara's Coming Clean
  5. Danielle@Tree Hugging with Dani 
  6. Ashley@Ashley’s Fresh Air Atmosphere 
  7. Sonny@Sonny Days Ahead

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

Thank you for stopping by!