Read 'n' Seed 2: First Quarter of "Exposed"

Well, I will start it off by saying I had no trouble findng my book!  Ha googled for an environmental book and this one had a lot of hits.  It was written by Mark Shapiro.  Mark has been an investigative journalist since before I was born!  He is a journalist for the Center of Investigative Reporting.  His whole career is based on searching out toxic things in everyday life.

The first 3 chapters of the book are mainly about our gov't and how we need to catch up to Europe and start banning certain chemicals.  One chapter is basically about how some of the biggest electonics companies in the U.S. are starting to adapt the the European Unions regulations on toxic chemicals.  Apparently the chemicals used in the a carcinogenic and dangerous when not disposed of properly.  So if we don't start to take those things out of our exports Europe will no longer purchase from us.  Asia is also on the green bandwagon by banning many chemicals and products.

Mark also attacks the U.S. Gov't stating that going green would not be bad for the economy.  Already proven by the European Union that going green creates jobs, adds to the market and is SAFE!  Comparing a European woman's cosmetic bag to someone in United states is completely differnt.  Certain cosmetics are also carcinogens and toxic.
So far he hasn't really gone into detail about any chemicals or certain products, but I think the first few chapters are giving a background for stuff.  So hopefully in the upcoming ones I can learn all about stuff I shouldn't be using!

Pam

Share and Voice: Whole Foods Co-op

So for this share and voice, I just wanted to share with all of you (who don't already know) how wonderful Duluth's local Whole Food's Co-op is.  Located in central hillside, at 610 E. 4th St. it is easy to find, in an easy location, and has so many cool things to offer!
Becoming a member:
A membership to The Co-op is $100, the minimum down payment is $20.  You have a 2 year grace period to pay off the balance, and can also apply for a Fran Skinner Scholarship.  When you are a member you get monthly specials!  A say in how the business is operated, by your vote, and a BIG book of coupons.
Benefits of Shopping at the Co-op:
The Co-op pledges that at least $0.66 of every dollar you spend will stay in the Duluth area.  Which ties in with what we're learning about supporting your local businesses.  They offer USDA Organic, Vegan,  all natural products and many other types of health conscious products.
Other Cool Stuff:
One thing I thought was really nice is all the cool classes the place offers whether you want to take Yoga, learn how to start your own chicken coop, or cook Gluten-Free meals they offer sessions on just about everything.

Just thought I'd share that with you guys!

Pam

Eco Chic Lifestyle Change: Week Two

Overview:

So I've gone through one week with almost no red meat! YEY! ha I'm not gonna lie it has been a little challenging.  Most people think of red meat as just like steak and bacon.  But this week I've had to turn down pepperoni pizza, chili, ham and cheese omellette, pork egg rolls.  So many common foods have red meat in them!  The eye opener this week made me feel so much better about my SMART goal though.  Taking the food tour just showed me how detrimental red meat is to our world, and how it is effecting our environment, especially cattle!
Challenges: 

Eating at school definitely sucks!  With all the different hot options like spaghetti, hamburgers, pizza.  But I have been eating so much healthier, and also saving a lot of calories, and fat from the foods I choose to eat instead.  One thing I am concerned about is Iron.  I need to make sure I am getting enough Iron in my diet so find the vegetables that come packed with it will be a good project for this week.
My Red Meat choice of the week!:
For my serving last week I had tator tot hot dish.  We hadn't turned heat on and my roommate made it in the oven.  So good, and sooooooo worth it!
Haven't decided what I'm gonna have this upcoming week, maybe none at all(but probably some pizza! :))

See you all monday!
Pam

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.

Eye Opener: CSPI

Today I did the Eye Opener #1 for the CSPI, after touring our food supply I feel like I actually knew a little about all that stuff!  I have been getting into the effects that cattle and other livestock have on the environment.  This ties along good with my SMART goal of limiting my red meat servings to 1 per week. I've also been incorporating more organic foods into my diet to do my part to get the corporate farming crisis in America under control.  In high school I did a research paper titled "The Family Farm:Nearing Extinction".  There is SO MUCH information online about the dying family farm.  The subsidization of crops and farm products are making it almost impossible for small production farms to keep up with costs.

Reflections Post: Weeks 3 & 4

Allrighty People!  Can anyone else believe we are done with our 4th week of school?!  pretty soon it will be HALLOWEEN (which I think I am going to be a firefighter this year for it), then turkey day, then Christmas break woohoo!...  Well in the the 3rd week we didn't really have class but me and Steve about my blog and if I was up on everything.  I had a few glitches.  I just need to make sure I stay up on everything and I am checking everyones blogs and such, doing my comments and posts!  I had 5 exams this week :( so not a very fun time for me! This whole blogging thing has become kinda interesting to me, I've been going all over the place and checking out different types of blog and having a great old time!

4th Monday Rita brought Banana's and I don't know if it was because I skipped lunch that day or if she is just really good at picking out bananas, but they were delicious haha!  We also started out with that fun experiment and I got chosen first haha, good thing I had read the SMART goal powerpoint or I probably would have looked like an idiot.  Then we got to watch An Inconvenient Truth.  That was a very powerful movie.... I don't know if I'm completely ready to devote my life to the cause of global warming yet.  It definitely helped me out with a lot of skepticism, but I just don't feel a 100% on it yet.  I can't really explain why, it probably has something to do with being brainwashed by our government, but I just wondering how many of the facts are facts and such.  But that does not mean I don't believe we are destroying our earth.  Slowly but surely we are going to hurt this planet, in a way that might never be reversed...

On a little note me and Jordanne are bringing snack next week!  Not sure what it will be yet, but I kinda have an idea, hope to see you all Monday!

Pam

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1: My SMART Goal

1.  I will limit my intake of Red Meat to 1 serving 4 oz. per week.
2.  This goal is Eco-Chic to me because it will make me to find healthier alternatives than typical red meat options like Ground Beef, which come from corporate farms and are loaded with antibiotics and have other disadvantages.  My SMART goal will force me to find other sources of protein such as white meat and legumes.
There has also been studies that red meats, which are highly acidic are linked to certain cancers, specifically colon cancer.
3. I have always thought about being a semi-vegetarian but I come from a small farm community and have been raised on roasts, hamburgers, steak, ham, and just about every other type of red meat.  But I feel like if I limit myself and make a conscious effort to avoid it, most of the time I am definitely headed in the right direction.  There will be a lot of health benefits arising from this as well!
4. To start today I had a banana and glass of milk for breakfast, and for lunch I am having brown rice with blacks beans and peppers!

See you all Monday!
Pam

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.

Eye Opener:Ecological Footprints

After taking the Ecological Footprints Quiz on http://www.myfootprint.org/ my results were that it would take 3.6 earths if everyone on earth lived like me....
      That is a HUGE eye opener, I thought I did my part by recycling most stuff, taking less showers (or at least shorter ones,) and apparently this is not enough.  I feel as though kinda riding the fence between being eco-friendly and being non conscious about anything is just not enough!  Everything that we do from using chemicals to overeating is effecting the earth!  So I hope to learn a lot over this course!

Read 'n' Seed 1: Exposed

1. Exposed , Mark Schapiro
   
2. The book is about how many ingredients in common American sold products have devastating health effects and may be behind a lot of the major health problems of today's society.  It also focuses on how Europe has begun banning many of these products in there country.  The book attacks the U.S. Government for not following Europe, and argues the our governments reasoning for not doing so.
   
3. I think its interesting how much stuff we surround ourselves with and put into our body that we really have no idea dangerous to our health.  I would like to be more educated in that kind of stuff.
4. Here are a couple reviews, 
1. http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/exposed:paperback/reviews
2. http://www.truthout.org/101508S 
5. In this book there are 189 pages and  9 Chapters.  I plan to read the first  50 pages for Quarter 1, the pages 51-100 for Quarter 2, the pages 101-145 for Quarter 3, and for the final quarter read the remaining pages 146-189.

Above I have linked the title of the book to a web page describing the book, and I have also linked the authors name to a website about his work.  I am very excited to start reading this!

See you all monday...
Pam

Reflections Post: Weeks 1 & 2

As the first few weeks are winding down it feels nice to get caught up with everything that has been going on!   I have to say that out of the all the classes I am taking this is probably going to be my favorite.  The first class was very interesting and a lot more powerful than anything I had expected.  Without  preconceived notions about this class I can't say that I ever thought it would be this interesting.  That probably has something to do with the fact I am a business major though, and haven't really been exposed to this kinda of stuff (academically anyways.)
          I have always been moderately environmentally conscious,  growing up my dad is kind of an old hippie and we always recycled and planted tree around the town.  Living in a small community makes it a lot easier to see the effects people have on their surroundings.  If your neighbor has garbage in their lawn, its their garbage.  If you have cigarette butts all over your front porch they are yours.  Everyone knows everything you do to the around the community.  This also goes for the positive like, picking garbage out of ditches, having a leaf raking day, all sorts of stuff like that.  The main people who are responsible for keeping small communities like ours were the people living there, not city employed people.
         Being that all my classes are with mostly business majors it is so exciting to see all of you taking up classes about different types and industries in health.  I am very excited to take a lot of stuff away from this class.  The Read N' Seed should be very cool to.  Reading is definitely a pass time of mine and the fact that I get to pick the book for the subject makes it even better.  I chose Exposed,  by Mark Schapiro.  The fact that I am required to read a book I would normally not read but is also interesting to me just goes to show how many doors this class will open my mind and perception of the information around me and what I will choose to learn in the future.
         Sometime next month is my snack and I have been thinking VERY hard on what I want to bring!  I am really excited to try something new every week with all of you.  Well I'm going to wrap it up now.  So until the next class.

Pam

Welcome to Pamvironmentally Friendly!

My name is Pam,  I am somewhere in between a Sophomore and Junior and will start my major in Healthcare Management next semester, maybe double majoring in Business Management as well (someday I would like to own my own business.)  I chose a picture of a creek that runs into Lake Superior.  I love Duluth and all the outdoor things it has to offer, yet it still has the feel of a city somewhat.  Some of my favorite things to do are snowboarding, cooking, just hanging out with friends, I am a huge movie buff and love all types of movies.  Reading is also a big one for me,  otherwise I am always down to try new things, like this sweet 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

The members of my web group are:

1. Abby@Abby's Earth Experiment
   
2. Danielle@Danielle's Discoveries
3. Pam@Pamvironmentally Friendly
   

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."

So I'm gonna finish it off by just saying thank you to everyone who stopped by to check out my new blog!  Its still in production but over the semester I'm sure it will evolve...

Pam

Blogged for the Welcome Linky Party hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.

Duluth and its many outdoor possibilities

Being it was only the 2nd weekend since school has started I haven't really been slammed with homework to bad yet.  Saturday was gorgeous and we went to Seven Bridges road which is lake side by Lester Park and did a little jumping :)  Great Weekend see you all tomorrow!  (this is my friend Jason who went up to the tallest one, which you have to sprint off of to clear the rocks, but decided to climb a tree up another 15 feet and jump from that as well! Crazy)