Resource Management Project - Bottle Bill Abstract

This is the abstract I wrote on a bill called the "Bottle Bill" that relates to my resource management topic of choice; plastic. Feel free to read the abstract to learn more about what is being done in the country in order to encourage recycling (unfortunately, it's not much).

ABSTRACT

          The United States is among the top consumers of plastic in the world. This is a benefit for the businesses on the plastic market, but an extremely high cost for the environment. Petroleum based plastics are the leaders in the plastic market. The top two petroleum based plastics are PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), often seen in the form of water bottles and other beverage containers. Water bottle consumption is high in the United States, but plastic recycling is low. Presently, approximately 6.8 % of all plastic used in the U.S. in completely recycled. Recycling is the more environmentally friendly way of disposing of petroleum based plastics due to the fact that plastic does not degrade for up to 1,000 years in a landfill or as litter. However, it is not necessarily an easy task to mandate that all citizens recycle, and it is even more difficult to make sure that they recycle the many types of plastics correctly. However, there are methods to increase the rate of recycling in the United States. One solution to the recycling problem is a bill called the Bottle Bill, used in eleven states nationwide.

          The Bottle Bill was created with the purpose of being a sustainable method of recapturing plastic bottles in order to raise recycling rates. The bill requires that a small charge be placed on all plastic containers that qualify, usually about five to ten cents, when purchased. This fee is refunded when the containers are returned to a recycling center. The monetary reward gives citizens incentive to recycle. The positive outcomes of this bill are said to be the conservation of energy and resources, the reduction of waste and litter and disposal costs, and the potential creation of jobs and businesses. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan , New York, Oregon, and Vermont are states that use their own forms of the bottle bill, and these states have higher rates of recycling that others. Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia are states that have campaigns to put Bottle Bills into action in the state.

Go Green Car!

For the Sociology aspect of our Government class, we were required to perform a Sociology Experiment.
I worked with Bryan Kelley and Aryand Macaraeg. We chose to make a car out of cardboard and walk around in public pretending to drive to see what people's reactions would be. We thought that we would get a lot of stares, but when we actually went through with the experiment we got not only stares, but comments and some purposeful ignorance. Check out our video to see how it went :)

Roles Reversed: Nutrients Eating US

Michael Pollan, author of The Omivore's Dilemma, wrote another book In Defense of Food, part of which we read for Elika's class. We were then assigned questions to answer, listed below:

1. Why do people choose to eat products that are unhealthy for them? (food stuffs)

After reading Michael Pollan's book, I think that aside from having moved to being cheaper (with the growing popularity of cheap additives and such), the issue of concern about nutrients that appeared is a huge detail in choice. When people think that foods need to be pumped with nutrients, helped by the industrialization of food, they buy the foods that are chemically altered. We've been brainwashed that "...what matters most is not the food but the 'nutrient'; that because nutrients are invisible and incomprehensible to everyone but scientists we need expert help in deciding what to eat; and that the purpose of eating is to promote a narrow concept of of physical health."

It seems we don't really govern what we eat.

2. What roles/responsibilities does the gov't have in framing your choice?

In Washington, 1977, the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs seemed to have changed the way of thinking about food from food to nutrients due to correlations they saw between certain foods and health problems. From there on the government recommended certain foods, advice that Americans took to heart. Now the ways food is marketed, which I believe is a direct product of that past influence, is all about nutrition. Eating healthy is what everyone cares about.

a. should they be responsible for educating us?

Haven't they already taken that initiative?
Needing to list the ingredients in food, and what the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs did in 1977 seem to be examples of what they do already.
I think that if anything, since the government is sure to know the deal with chemicals in foods, it should promote organics and Farmer's Markets.

b. should they be responsible for managing all products we consume?

No, because what we eat is our choice. They shouldn't take our free will of what we put in our bodies away.

If you're bored..

Currently, I am exploring my interest in photography. I recently acquired a Canon Rebel Xsi, and have been practicing with it, so that when I go to college for photography or photojournalism, I'll know my camera pretty well.

I have a flickr account, so if you'd care to look at my photos, CLICK HERE. I know they're not fantastic yet, but I'm working on it.

Thanks,
Emily :)

Biography of Jeremy White

Jeremy White prefers paper to plastic. Although he isn’t merely two-dimensional like paper, he also isn’t as easy to see through as plastic. There is more than meets the eye. If one were to glance at Jeremy White on the job, they would see a clean cut, professional man in a business suit. They might think he was very serious and working solely for the money that bought that tailored suit, a typical business man. However, in contrast with this stereotypical label, there is more to him than one might think.

Presently age 33, Jeremy White grew up in Sacramento, California. He lived with his mother, two brothers, and sister for the majority of his young life. Jeremy attended Sacramento High School, where he participated in the school’s marching band. It was in high school that Jeremy found a love of music and aspired to be a drummer in a touring band. This aspiration followed him all the way to Sacramento State University, where he majored in music. He later moved to San Diego State University for graduate school, but unfortunately never completed his education there. If asked for one bit of advice, White might say, “Stay in school, keep learning, [and] learn all you can.”

Although he majored in music, presently Jeremy works with Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Planner. Previously, he had been a member of a few obscure bands, one which toured Japan, and another which toured the United States and Europe. Soon he realized that he did not enjoy the struggles that musicians went through, beginning his list of various jobs he’s had in the past ten years. Mostly self-employed, White once owned his own real estate company which was sold when the market became less profitable. Financial planning might not have been his first choice of career, but ever the optimist, he says that with this job he “…thought that he could help with finances for people and musicians.”

Optimism, in fact, has been a key aspect of White’s personality that brought him to this point in his life. His optimism encouraged him to take on challenges. He is presently happy with his life, but always wants to push to do and try new things. Another aspect of his life that affects the way he sees life is one of his passions, traveling. White has seen 8 or more countries and perhaps 40 out of 50 states in the U.S. in his life time. Having had the opportunity to see the way people live in other countries made him appreciate life in the United States, which added to his optimistic views.

Despite the fact that he might describe his daily routine as boring, Jeremy White says that he has no regrets in life, having made the correct choices for himself at the time. In his young life he never experimented with drugs, and has no tattoos or piercing. Jeremy also does not have is a family of his own, and doesn’t know what’s in store for his future. His ideal life in 10 years would be to be lying on a beach in Hawaii, as long as he isn’t anywhere near his worst dear in life, sharks. He is aware that this dream might not come true, just like his original dream to go to college and be in a band.

Curious, Adaptable and willing to take chances, Jeremy White’s only criteria for the nature of the rest of his life is to “Live adventurously, help people, die among friends, and live a happy life.” With a long bright future ahead of him, hopefully this will come true.


Note: This is biography was assigned in class after a group interview.

U.S. Foriegn Policy - Personal Opinion

I read an article off of Reuters.com about the United States' foreign policy in South American regions in terms of countering the drug trade.

Read Article

The top 3 countries on the list of drug-trade activity are Bolivia, Venezuela, and Myanmar. In the article, it is stated that in an annual report, all three of these countries had landed far from the mark when it came to anti-drug trafficking progress. It is also stated that due to the countries landing top 3 on the list last year as well, the President can cut off U.S. aid other than than counter-narcotics and humanitarian funds.

Yet, instead of doing so, the annual statement announced that:

"In Venezuela, funds will continue to support civil society programs and small community development programs. In Bolivia, the waiver will permit continued support for agricultural development, exchange programs, small enterprise development, and police training programs,"

In addition, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expressed concern about Venezuela's growing purchases of arms. Also, the statement about the countries on the list noted that "...being on the list does not necessarily reflect a country's counter-narcotics efforts or cooperation with the United States, saying in some cases a country may suffer from geographic, commercial, or economic factors that allow drugs to be produced or trafficked "despite its own best efforts."

My Opinion

Personally, I do not know all that much about the drug trading situation. I know that the United States is concerned because the trade has the power to directly effect the drug activity in our country, so naturally I understand why we help the countries in funding counter-narcotics programs.

I might not know what I am talking about, which I apologize for ahead of time, but if the top 3 countries have made the list two years (perhaps more) in a row, I don't understand why the U.S. should continue to help fund many of their other programs. The exact dollar amounts being paid out and how that works is unknown to me, but presently, states within the U.S. aren't doing well either. A few of my friends and family members have wondered why the country we live in is helping other countries rather than itself.

I sometimes wonder the same thing. I do know it is important, especially to the image of the U.S. and relationships with other countries, to lend helping hands to countries in need. I personally believe that we should help out those in need to benefit relations and those who are worse off than we are. BUT, I'm not sure we should be giving lots of money to fund programs that one might say aren't working, such as the counter-narcotics programs in Bolivia, Venezuela, and Myanmar.

I apologize ahead of time if I am missing an important event or bit of information which makes this opinion rude and controversial, but as I see it, the crisis inside our country should be conquered in order to completely conquer crisis outside of it.

The Tale of Barder - Short Story 15 Minute Prompt

Barder was hunting in the fields. It was dark, cold, and silent. Perfect conditions to acquire some supper, preferable gopher.

His ears perked up at the sound of a large rodent scurrying through the leaves, he imagined, as the rustles and faint squeaks were not those of a small field mouse. It occurred to him that it was a tad bit loud for a rodent to make that much noise. Barder focused in on the rustling, curious, - it was yards away. He silently crept through the tall grass and, as he was about to spring he heard not squeaking, but -

"And the Amazing Jeremy finds yet another rare beast to add to his fantastic menagerie!"
Barder cocked his large head and moved closer to the voice. Peeking out of the grass, he saw a little boy, speaking into nothing and holding up a large rock as if displaying it to an audience.

The boy had what looked like a jacket tied around his head, as well as typical clothing children wore.

Barder loved children. His heart picked up and he joyfully forgot about gophers and ran up to the boy, who screeched "WOLF!" as he was tackled to the floor by a very happy dog.
The screech alarmed him, and he sprang off the child. He sat down, appearing more like the household dog he used to be. The boy recognized that Barder was no harm, and after a few seconds of silent staring, he let out another screech, but with pleasure this time.

"The Amazing Jeremy has really done it this time. 7 years old and single-handedly capturing a NIGHT WOLF?!"

Jeremy, who had had his back turned as he spoke to his invisible audience, turned around, ran at Barder, and hopped on his back. The shepherd felt pride at the fast friend he had made.

"Hello Night Wolf!" said the boy, "My name is Jeremy. I'm an Amazing animal catcher!" He hugged Barder's muscular neck and put his small, boyish hands over his eyes.

When he removed them, Barder saw a world unknown to dogs. The starts were bright white, the sky was deep blue, the grass was an infinite multitude of greens and browns, and the boy's head wrap was a bright orange.

Barder, a dog, had never seen color before.

Suddenly, Jeremy exclaimed, "And now audience, observe and be amazed as the Night Wolf performs on of its most fantastic powers! Flight!"

From out of nowhere came sounds of clapping and howls of excitement. But from where?
Pulled out of his thoughts of the whereabouts of the audience, Barder found himself hovering. Instead of continuing to question the unusual phenomena of the night, he began to gallop midair, and soon found himself amongst the stars.

He and Jeremy had a fantastic time.

When he at last touched the ground again, Jeremy removed his head wrap and yawned.
The color disappeared from Barder's eyes, as did the enchantment of the world around him.

"Dog, I have to go home now," said Jeremy sadly, "but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Barder internally agreed.

He couldn't wait.

Writing in Reverse - Frank the Intelligent

Frank Ottaviani was having a terrible Friday evening. Scratch that, a terrible Friday. All week he had had to deal with an idiotic, unceasingly disobedient class of freshmen. Having taught at one of the more impoverished high schools in New York for 15 years, Frank oddly found himself continually surprised at the ever-present immaturity of 14 and 15 year old teenagers.

The subject that Frank felt he was chosen to teach is English, yet to his dismay, he often found at least 4 other languages spoken in his room, which flew this-a-way and that-a-way with the paper balls and planes. Although Frank found himself above the crude method of discipline, today he had no choice but to threaten the imbeciles he taught with Fs if they didn’t “Shut up and learn the art of words!”

This threat did not go well with a few of the rowdier boys in his morning class, and having 5 hours to let the displeasure boil over, the boys decided to take his nice leather coat after school. Stricken by grief at the loss of his jacket, the grief deepened when Frank could not call the police to return it to him. Frank lacked a cell phone, but to him they were a waste of money, what with the incessant blipping and booping that he heard when students used them in class.
Frank was angered even more by the fact that he would have to wait till Monday to attempt to get the boys expelled. What Frank did not realize is that this probably would not work, as the younger principal thought he was an angry middle aged man with superiority issues.

It had begun to drizzle.

With no car, and now no jacket, Frank had to walk as fast as his large belly would allow to the refuge that was the underground subway station. One might think Frank would have owned a car. But, his pay made no room for a car in his apartment complex’s minuscule garage. To Frank, there was no need for a car. He was too smart to contribute to global warming, a model citizen.

When he arrived at the subway station, he went through the turnstile and immediately sat on an uncomfortable bench. Under the fluorescent lighting, his skin appeared sallow, his expression was one of frustration, and now he smelled somewhat like a wet dog.

When the train finally showed up, he boarded and mentally prepared himself to sit next to the insane Baxter Cunningham, who rode the subway at the same time he did every day. Baxter went on for 15 slow minutes about all the trash he collected for his house and the recycling center that day, pulling out a few pieces of tacky, unidentifiable plastic. Frank compensated for the blabber with patient nods.

He has really desired to read his book on the subway home. But, “No matter,” he thought, “I can just read at home.”

Reading and watching re-runs of the show Pet Star on Animal Planet all weekend was all Frank had to look forward to, but he would rather have done that than attempt to be social with human beings he thought lesser than him. That would come Monday.