350--What's That?

In the summer of 2007, Arctic ice began to melt far more rapidly that scientists had expected. This is when the thawing of glaciers and the spread of droughts showed global warming was a present crisis, not a future threat. This is when George W. Bush, Jr., announced global climate change was indeed a national threat. Most importantly, this is when our leading climatologists gave up a number for the red line: 350—The number of parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere. Guess what? We’ve already passed it!

At a recent talk at Wake Forest’s Center for Sustainability, author Bill McKibben discussed the inspiring global movement that he’s led to help change the world’s understanding of its’ imminent danger. He’s even spurred the reforms necessary to get the planet back to safe CO2 levels.

According to him, above 350 parts per million carbon dioxide, the atmosphere heats too much for us to have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.” Well….Guess where we are today? 390 parts per million…and rising two parts per million per year. Tragic, huh? At 450 ppm, climatologists claim its atmospheric suicide. In the past when carbon levels rose to that height, sea levels rose 120 feet. Digest that…if you can still breathe.

He discussed one action that fascinated me. Around the dwindling Dead Sea, Israeli activists formed a huge human 2 on their shore, and the Palestinians a 5 on their beach, while in Jordan, a huge 0 was formed, proving that, even in places with deep division, people understand that the crisis that faces us now calls for one thing: UNITY.

He pointed out that rapidly getting the world off fossil duel is the most difficult task we’ve ever undertaken as a planet. Global movements are rare things—to work across linguistic boundaries, and the enormous divide between rich and poor, is extremely difficult.

His last comment—NO ONE (especially the United States Congress) has even begun to talk about spending the kind of money the developing world needs to adapt to the changes already coming at us…even in the Copenhagen treaty.

Graduation Robes--A New National Movement towards being Green!

My boyfriend recently graduated from Wake Forest University...and when he walked across the stage, we wore a graduation gown made COMPLETELY from recycled plastic bottles. Pretty Cool, huh? I thought so!

Then, come to find out, Salem College's Class of 2012 has also adopted this new intuitive and will be purchasing these gowns for the next graduating class! How exciting!

This new line of graduation wear, named "GreenWeaver" is made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. The result is a fabric so comfortably soft you have to feel it to believe it! It takes an average of 23 bottles to make each gown.

Today, here are the statistics:

5% of today's colleges and universities support GreenWeaver

310,000 graduates have worn, or plan to wear, GreenWeaver gowns this year as they graduate

7,130,000 bottles have been removed from the landfill to make these gowns

How's that for reducing our ecological footprint?!?

Check it out here!

$76 BILLION...a year

For what, you ask? Treating children in the United States who have lead poisoning. That's a larger number than autism and cancer...COMBINED.

Lead poisoning has been directly linked to environmental toxins and pollutants in our air, food, water, soil and homes.

A study that was published in the May issue of Health Affairs found childhood healthcare costs to be:

-- Lead poisoning, $50.9 billion.

-- Autism, $7.9 billion.

-- Intellectual disability, $5.4 billion.

-- Exposure to mercury, $5.1 billion.

-- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, $5 billion.

-- Asthma, $2.2 billion.

-- Childhood cancer, $95 million.

Left unchecked, these preventable environmental factors will continue to harm the health of our children and push up healthcare costs. By updating environmental regulations and laws aimed at protecting the public's health, we can reduce the toll taken by such factors on children's health and the economy.

Boston implements new bike-sharing system!

BOSTON SHARES BIKES!

Boston implemented a new bike-sharing system in late April. It allows Boston-ers to rent bikes at just over 60 stations through the city. The new program is called New Balance Hubway. They have hopes of expanding the program to 5,000 bikes!

Renters will use swipe cards to use Hubway bicycles with costs of $5 per day, and free trips that are 30 minutes or shorter. There will be $85 annual memberships. Users will rent bikes from one station and return them at another across the city, with about 10 bikes available at each station.

“Over the past four years, we have taken great strides toward making Boston a city that welcomes and encourages bicycling but this innovative bike share system may be the most significant step yet,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “We have worked tirelessly to build the infrastructure necessary to support such a system and we are confident that there is no better time to make Hubway a reality. We have had the goal of going from worst to first, and with Hubway we’re nearly there."

So how can we go green in college? I have the answer...

In College, it's hard to go green...SO WE THINK.

As college students, we are just as capable of making a difference. Certain “green” habits are so easy and effortless, they can be worked into your everyday routine too!

1. Be aware of the energy we use at home. Use windows and ceiling fans for air, as opposed to air conditioners. Turn off lights when you leave the room, and use high efficency bulbs. I know they may be more expense, but in the long run, you'll save on those power bills we'll soon have to start paying.

2. Avoid packaging...in the grocery store that is. It's a waste of money and mother Earth.

3. Use reusable shopping bags. Not only are the cute, but they're helpful to our environment! They are also much stronger than plastic or paper bags, and can carry more too! One reusable shopping bag can hold the same amount as up to four plastic bags!! WOW! (Just digest that...)

4. RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE...EVERYTHING! Starting a recycling bin for you and your roommate(s) is easier than you might think! There are so many different materials that can be recycled that we often don’t even think about.

5. Buy reusable water bottles. Bottom line: In the end, it's worth the extra money you'll save in the long run. Promise! Plus, you can decorate that Nalgene bottle with stickers too!

JUST THINK, THEN RECYCLE.

EVEN IN COLLEGE, WE CAN HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT TOO!

Last Week...I'm writing a little late.

Hey! So it's been a crazy, hectic 2 weeks in my life. But last week, I swam 4 times! It was great. It felt amazing--As a former competitive swimmer, being back in the water consistently is a nice way to relieve stress. I also ran twice.

ALSO....

I have really enjoyed the project in the class! It has been so much fun working with everyone, and I thoroughly enjoyed the "market" research we did with MyPlate. I thought the program was great, but had lots of potential for improvement. Working with Matt was very informative. I enjoyed this aspect of the class much more than I had originally thought.

Such an active week!

This week has been super! I've been SOOOOO active!

Monday: I played tennis with my boyfriend for about 2 hours. Now, since he doesn't actually know how to play tennis and lifts weights on the regular, he thought it was a home run derby contest. Needless to say, it was a lot of ball chasing, which still counts as exercise, right? Regardless, we both got something out of it...but the end of the two hours, we could at least volley the ball back and forth. He learned some tennis skills, aka, how NOT to hit it OFF the court, and I burned some calories.

Tuesday: I ran for just under 5 miles through Robinhood. It was a good run--I felt accomplished. I was tired and sore after, and let me tell you--I felt the burn on Wednesday.

Wednesday: In the spirit of Academic Day of Excellence, I did no physical exercise that day. Wait, that's NOT the spirit of ADE? Oh well, I was sore. Bottom line: my butt slept in, with my legs and lungs.

Thursday (aka Today): I swam TWICE today! I got back to my competitive swimming days. I sway just over 6,000 yards today...and I'm positive I'll pay tomorrow. I got out of the pool around 5pm, and slept a solid 3 hours...that's how tired I was.

Overall, I think it's been a good week of productiveness, well, physically. Let's NOT discuss the loads of work I've put off all week.

Veggies...from a Southern cookbook

I remember growing up in the South...and eating every vegetable known to man. I have picked three of the most "typical" Southern veggies to share!

The first being... FRIED GREEN TOMATOES.

You will need to cut 4 green tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices. You will need the following ingredients: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, salt & pepper to your tasting (a.k.a. a "good amount" in the South), 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 egg (You must beat "real good".), 1/2 cup milk, and some Canola oil. Mix together your cornmeal, flour, salt & pepper. Add the milk to your beaten egg, and soak the sliced green tomatoes in this mixture. Then, coat the tomatoes with the cornmeal/flour mixture. You will need to heat the Canola oil in the frying pan--about an inch deep is good. You will drop the tomatoes in and cook until golden brown.

My second choice is...COLLARD GREENS.

Wash and remove the stems of about 5 pounds of collard greens, or collards, or, simply, greens. Place about 1 pound of ham hock(s) in 3 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Reduce your heat, and cover. Allow the meat to cook until meat is tender, which normally takes about an hour. Then, cut your greens in half and place into your boiler. Add a whole chopped onion, roughly 2 tablespoons of sugar, and salt & pepper to your liking. Unfortunately, for us non-pork eaters, my mother has yet to find a tasty-SOUTHERN vegetarian option to this. But, for now, you can just leave out the ham, and replace the water with vegetable stock. (You'll want to add more salt & pepper, and possibly a clove of garlic.)

My last choice is my favorite...FRIED OKRA.

Go out to the garden, or you local farm, or your CSA basket, and pick some okra. Clean, de-steam, and slice. Beat 2 cups of milk with 2 eggs, "real good" now. Place the okra in this mixture, and let sit for about 15 minutes. Following this, you will drain the okra, small portions at a time. DO NOT DRAIN ALL AT ONCE. Then, in a large freezer bag, or mixing bowl, mix 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup yellow corn meal, and salt & pepper (somewhere between a 1/2-1 teaspoon ). Add the drained okra and shake until the okra is well coated. Heat 2 cups Canola oil in a skillet, cast iron is best...especially when it has years of fried okra seasoning inside! Place okra into the hot oil. Again, do this in small portions. Only turn once with spatula, cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels in order to soak excess oil out. Repeat until all okra is fried. While fried okra takes some time, it's totally worth the time...and calories.

Hope you all enjoy a taste of the South. Beware: Contains CALORIES...and lots of them. But don't all things that taste sinfully delicious?

A "Blast" to the Past: Chernobyl 25 Years Later

"The 30-km radius around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is known officially as the "zone of alienation."--Caught my attention...how about yours?


The photo above was taken in May 1986. It shows the damaged Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
As we discussed in class, this had devastating effects on its' victims, residents, and liquidators. Those effects are still seen today. My media article discussing Chernobyl today, with a flashback to the events of the past.

Even now, the effort to contain the Chernobyl accident is far from over: workers in white suits and respirator masks show up for work every day, constructing a new concrete shield to replace a massive sarcophagus built in 1986 that contains the still-radioactive core. The sarcophagus is starting to crumble and could collapse, which could release another radioactive cloud into the air. It's easy for those unaffected to leave the shambles of Chernobyl in a pile at the site of the former nuclear plant...but it's not that simple for 'victims' of Chernobyl. For, the live with that memory EVERY DAY.



"Neither Ukraine nor the world community has the right to turn its back" on Chernobyl, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said at the end of the conference. "The accident left a deep wound that we will have to cope with for many years."

Read here! http://www.time.com/time/health/article0,8599,2067562,00.html#ixzz1KsVJzFNn

California Children are flame retardant! Who knew?

The University of California at Berkeley found that California children have SEVEN TIMES more flame-retardant cells in their blood when compared to Mexican children.

The study focused on chemicals called "PBDEs," flame-fighting substances that saturate the stuffing of millions of couches. In 2006, the chemicals were banned in California; however, the state continues to follow "technical bulletin 117" which requires couch makers to pour ample chemicals into every couch.

The results showed that California children had far higher levels of the flame-fighting chemicals in their blood as a likely result of absorption of household dust through the skin, breast milk, and hand-to-mouth contact.

PBDE has been linked to a number of reproductive problems, including lower sperm count in men. The chemical is also linked to altered thyroid levels in adults, infants, and felines. As items like couches and other upholstered furniture age, the flame-retardant chemicals tend to migrate into household dust, leading to human ingestion. The chemicals have also been detected in the air and food items.

Community Supported Agriculture

Since I am the only student in the class to have ever been involved in a CSA, I decided I would further explore this topic. When I was living in Yosemite National Park, the employees had the option to partake in a CSA for food, as opposed to eating the "national park" food every day. It was an amazing (and very different experience). My tentmate and I paid $15 a week, and a local farmer brought us fresh fruits and veggies at the beginning of every week. Not only was it amazing to essentially live off of $15 a week, but exploring new foods was pretty amazing. We had HUGE avocados all the time. I wish I could get them that tasty on the east coast (:

I interviewed Meredith Perritt, a junior Communication major at Salem College.

Me: Have you ever been involved in a CSA before?

Meredith: No. However, I have used farmers markets and am very supportive of North Carolina farms.

Me: Would you be interested in participating in one if Salem College made it available?

Meredith: Totally! I think it would be a great opportunity to experience new foods! I'm always up for something new!

This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...

Advantages for farmers:

• Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

Exercising away...still.

Over spring break, I'll admit...I WAS LAZY.

However, I did run once and take the dog out for a walk once. If you've ever taken a 68 pound English bulldog out on a walk, you would agree it's a workout worthy of posting.

Using MyPlate has been interesting. I will say I'm not the best at adding my food as I eat, or even in the day I eat. I've found it takes longer to do that I normally have periodically throughout the day. So, I end up writing it all down and doing 2-3 days worth of entries at a time. It's a bad idea...in case you were wondering. But I'm getting great ideas for our project...things like "I wish myplate was FREE for my blackberry!"

Just a shout out to the class...everyone PLEASE get us your answers to our questions as soon as possible. Thanks ladies!

"The Only Way to Have a...COW"

My media article, "The Only Way to Have a Cow", was published in the Orion magazine. It discusses the need for Americans to divulge away from feedlot beef. I found it interesting, and even more so when we discussed feedlots in class. I felt it fit perfect!

In addition to the connection with class, it also connected with my Independent Research topic outside of the classroom walls, Global Climate Change.

According to the article, vegetarians and vegans don't just see meat is disgusting (Read Animal Farm to agree.), but they also see how meat in America is personally affecting the climate. "The numbers range from 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions to--in one recent study that was quickly discredited--51%."

Another shocking fact in the article is that going vegan is 5o PERCENT more effective in reducing greenhouse emissions than switching to a hybrid car!!!! Even more surprising...The UN Food and Agriculture Organization finds that a half pound of ground beef has the same effect on climate change as driving an SUV 10 miles!!!

We now use an enormous percentage of our arable land to grow corn that we feed to cows who stand in feedlots and eructate until they are slaughtered in a variety of gross ways and lodge in our ever-larger abdomens. And the fact that the product of this exercise “tastes good” sounds pretty lame as an excuse.

Bottom Line:

Ow, Ow, Ow.

Monday this week, I was not feeling great. I think I'm allergic to Mondays. However, after my 5:30pm class, I drug myself to the YMCA for my 7pm private swim lesson. After I finished teaching my lesson, I was wet and cold and rather miserable, but I made myself get back in the pool and continue swimming. I swam for just about 2,200 meters. On Wednesday, I taught a private lesson at 1pm (making me late to class--finding the class missing). Lesson learned--do NOT teach preschool lessons on Wednesday at 1pm. While I didn't physically swim laps, working with 4 four-year-olds for 45 minutes takes a lot out of you. Regardless, after my 5:30pm class, I taught my 7pm private lesson and then swam about 3,000 yards. Thursday morning, I "Dawn-ed with the Dean" again, running 3 miles. Today, after work at 6pm, I ran around the campus at Wake. Unfortunately, I think I pulled my groin muscle. I ended the run, and am currently icing my leg. Pain, Pain gooooo away!

Still excited about using myplate. And very excited to hear the class' answers to our group questions. (Look out for an email from Amy Allison.)

Over-due Blog Entry

Two weeks ago, during the week of March 7-11, I ran three times!

Wake Forest has the "Dawn with the Dean" program where students are invited to run with the Dean of the WFU Schools of Business at 6:25am on Thursdays. Wednesday I was up at 7am (after pulling an all-nighter in the library) running through Buena Vista. Thursday, I ran with the Dean. Sunday afternoon I ran again...in the rain. Horrible idea, because when I woke up Monday morning, I felt as if a hurricane had entered my head. All is well now, but Monday and Tuesday were rough.

I have also created a myplate.com account and am excited to be using it! It is a pretty cool program and I am excited to be working with Matt and Novant Health to make it a much easier program to use!

Lots to Share!

I have so much to share this week!
First, I wanted to talk more about my article. Actually, I had two--which fit nicely together. The Naked Bike Ride article was my favorite. I thought the ride was a creative way to express cyclist vulnerability when braving the roads with automobiles. I have included a video from the World Naked Bike Ride 2008, which was held in Vancouver. (Beware, there is some "indecent exposure"; but I assume we're all over 18...aka can watch "R" rated movies.)

World Naked Bike Ride Vancouver - 2008 from Ian MacKenzie on Vimeo.

The second article is about the "1 METER PLEASE" campaign for cycling on the roads. This campaign focuses on educating drivers the distance needed to pass a cyclist on the roads safely, being 1 meter. "The key thing for motorists to remember if they come upon a cyclist from the rear and cannot give at least one meter of space when passing is to wait until they can," states avid cyclist and campaign founder Joe Mizereck. (View Article.) The campaign has recently introduced a campaign jersey. Cool, huh? (:

Next, last night, while babysitting until 2am, I downloaded lots of cool Apps to my phone. Boredom officially set in after UNC's unfortunate win. Two that I am particularly excited about is a running program. It creates my workouts and talks to me while I run. The second is a calorie counter. I thought this would be an easy way to continue to count my calories without having to log online. I do plan to create a myplate.com account this week, but in the meantime I like having the calorie counter with me at all times on my Blackberry.

Also, I'm really excited to get started working with Matt Gymer at Novant Health. I think this project is going to be pretty cool. I also think the myplate.com website is going to be pretty amazing and help me control my "in" calories, which is something every American could use. I hope my group can help Novant Health promote this website! Plus, I love the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Here's the link to the website in case any of you are more curious: MyPlate. Also, for you Facebook users, you can follow LiveStrong on there as well.

Lastly, this week, I rode on Tuesday. I had plans to head out to the barn today, but the rain has stopped that! I did hit the pool yesterday for a few hours and got a good couple (4) thousand yards in. (So i got wet anyway.) My arms are dead today...

Rain, Rain, go away, come again some other day.

Stationary Cycle Time

Once again, I mounted a bike this week. Not in cycling class this time, but on a stationary cycle machine in the gym. It was one of those "sit back and read" bikes. So I did just that, sat back and enjoyed a good book and global climate change. I pedaled away on that bike for nearly two hours, just reading away. Can I walk today? That's debateable. My legs burn. My muscles are severely fatigued. Note to self, and this class, do not; I repeat, do NOT, pedal away into never-look-at-the-clock land. In addition to riding the bike yesterday, I rode at Hidden K Stables on Tuesday. We cantered for almost an entire hour. My buttocks and abs hurt well into late Wednesday. I've most certainly gotten my workouts in for the week!
As for the service project, I'm interested in doing quantitative research at Novant Health. However, I was compelling to raise awareness by The Center of Design Innovation. I most definitely have some thinking to do this weekend...

Burning Muscles & South Carolina

This week, I chose to cycle in the Fitness Center at Salem. I biked for 60 minutes with the new personal trainer. In addition to biking, I did squats for 30 minutes. Once again, I find my leg still burn. During the work out, my lungs felt great. My heart didn't beat out of my chest. Nor did I have soccer moms showing me up all around. It was great. This week, I hope to hit the cycling class again. Time was just an issue this week.

Every Tuesday, I ride at Hidden K Stables. I'm on the Equestrian team and have lessons once a week, in addition to a hack ride on my own. Yesterday, we had a show in Virginia. SOOOO in addition to riding a bike once this week, I've ridden a horse three times. Oh how my muscles burn...

Also, I've researched Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston blows me away! In 2009, the mayor created a "Charleston Bicycle Friendly Community Task Force" to increase the use of bicycles in Charleston. This city blows me away...you can essentially bike or walk EVERYWHERE! This committee is currently in the process of developing an action plan for developing a completely bicycle friendly city. In addition to reading about the amazing works of this committee, I read a blog called "sirbikesalot". He's amazing. Check it out for sure! (sirbikesalot.com)

Biking, or rather, Cycling Class

With Scholarship Weekend this past weekend and 2 major exams this week (Tax and Business Law), waking up before the sun was my only option to get a bike ride in....rather, to attend a cycling class. The YMCA offers a 6:30am cycling class. So I decided to give it a try.

After all, every day, on my way into work (at 4pm), I see all these "soccer moms" unloading a mini-van full of little munchkins and bags of soccer and swim equipment...AND THEN heading off to cycling class. They perch on their bikes and pedal away. How hard can it be, right?

I ALWAYS THOUGHT that cycling was for "soccer moms", until I attended a cycling class. Well, I discovered it's not made for the light-hearted, or the feeble-footed. This cycling class was a no-joke, kick-butt workout. I've swam and ran for exercise lots. I've considered a triathlon, thinking the bike portion can't be that difficult. Well, it may not be that difficult, but it's also not that easy.

Yes, yes, I've biked before. For the months I lived in Yosemite, biking was actually my main mode of transportation; but cycling class kicked my butt. End of story. KICKED MY BUTT.

My legs burned. My heart felt as if it would pound out of my chest.

At 7:45, we climbed off our bikes, laid on our yoga mats, and persisted to do 15 minutes of "Ab Attack". At 8:00AM, sharply, I died.

Now, I consider myself rather athletic; but I must admit, I now look at "soccer moms" in a whole new perspective. Cycling class...here I come. I shall not let those "soccer kick-butt moms" conquer you while I fall by the wayside.