Read 'n' Seed 5: Fourth Quarter of "Last Child in the Woods"

Covered Material
I read 3 chapters, which consisted of 48 pages. The first chapter I read was chapter 21. The author focused on the connection of spirituality with nature. For example, people explain nature as it resembles how the Bible is explained to us. Children have an easier time explaining nature through religious faith, simply because that is how they are taught. Parents need to bring their children to nature, just as they were brought to church when they were kids. Chapter 22 was on how the implementation of societal change is positively affecting the environment. For example, in the '60s it was common to toss out an empty soda can and a cigarette butt the window, but now days it's an exception. With the smoke-free campaigns and recycling policies it shows how much we can change societal pressure in one generation. Maybe this could hold true with children understanding the importance of nature with campaigns and policies? Through chapter 23, briefly the author refers to one memory being with his kids on a trip to a cabin and makes a point that he feels confident with the way he raised his kids because majority was in the nature. To sum it up, he personally wants to show that he 'practiced what he was preaching' throughout the book by presenting this example with his family/kids.

I learned
I really liked how the author used the correlation with nature and religion. I never thought twice about how I was taught about nature, but it made sense with his referrals. For example, where did Adam and Eve live? Garden of Eden! Never thought twice about it being a garden, only the name of the place where they lived. I also learned that societal pressure can be a good thing! If our society can change the views on smoking throughout campaigns and policies, then society can pressure a lot of things for change! It's a matter of getting supporting opinions to work together and get the job done. 

Implications
This is important information because it links people to nature without directly going outside. Taking a step back and looking in on a topic from a different angle is crucial, because you see other people's point of views. Nature is critical in everyone's lives and we just need to make it more apparent for everyone!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8: Weekly Update

What and How
My SMART goal this last week was to use my reusable bags 100% of the time I go to the store, and to continue to look up products I use to see how hazardous they are. I never went to the store this week, and I couldn't find more products to look up!


Successes and Challenges
My challenge I faced was not being able to find more products I use on the website to see how hazardous they are. That made me decide to quit looking up products right now, but check the website out whenever I buy a new one. 


Feelings
I feel pretty good about my goal, but as I just mentioned, I am dropping the product look up part. It's pretty hard not to feel successful when I don't go to the store, because I know I didn't forget to use my bags!


I learned
Even though I couldn't find more products on the website, I learned that I can use that website any time I buy a new product or use a new one. It's really informational and I can show it to my family members this weekend.


Plans
My plan for next week is keeping my SMART goal the same, but dropping the product look up. My SMART goal for next week is:


I will use my reusable bags 100% of the time I go to the store.








Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 8 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:
What is the issue/problem?
Obesity and overweight trends has increased in children and adolescents over the past decade. Statistics show that overall the problem has accumulated by 30%, or one in every three children is overweight or obese (Action For Healthy Kids).
What current legislation has been proposed to address this?
H.R. 3200-America's Affordable Healthy Choices Act


Who is affected by the issue?
Who is affected the most? 
Trends have shown that depending on your socioeconomic status and race will determine your risk. For example, Native Americans and Hispanics have the highest percentage with child obesity, while Blacks, Whites, and Asians have the lowest risk (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Who loses, and what do they lose?
Those with low socioeconomic statuses have shown to have limited resources to healthful dietary choices. It is not a cause and effect relationship, but a correlational interconnection. This can obviously affect their health status because the chances of becoming overweight and/or obese from poor diet choices is high.
Who wins, and what do they win?
Those with high socioeconomic statuses have shown to have more resources to choosing healthful dietary choices. With that being said, they have a better chance of preventing obesity by nutrition alone, and living a healthier life because of those dietary choices.


What are the consequences of the issue?
For the individuals mostly affected? 
Obesity can cause many health related problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, cancer, dyslipidemia, etc.
For their families?
Depending on the degree of the health related problem and the consequences it poses, families may spend their income on medical bills, treatments, rehabilitation programs, etc. In addition, their family members could be at high risk for the disease, especially if someone in the family has it. The offspring of the obese or overweight person can acquire negative side effects, therefore, posing a high risk of obesity in them as well.
For society?
Due to such prevalence with the epidemic of obesity, the US spent 12% of its health care budget in the 1990s, alone (Global Issues). This has an effect on everyone because insurance plans increase, making the population pay for health treatments.


What are the economic costs of the issue?
What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
As previously mentioned, the health care budget has to spend money on treating those with health related problems that have arose from obesity, thus making the nation pay more for insurance to cover these payments. In general, this is one factor that has played a role on our economy as people can't afford to buy extra items they may want because they have to spend more money on insurance. Our economy hasn't been this low for years, so it's important to address the issues that are factoring into why. Families have to pay for their members, or in this case, their children's medical expenses which contributes to health care.
What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
Obesity has become a scare to many citizens, so companies have tried to step in and make a positive approach to the issue. A few examples include: fast food restaurants have implemented more salads and low-fat or fat-free choices, Subway advertising for "7 sandwiches with 6 grams of fat or less," and Whole Food franchises have increased in their sales (Pepperdine University-Graziadio Business Report). However, not everyone or children and adolescents can afford foods from any or all of these places, so it benefits those who are able to afford them.


What is the social impact of the issue?
What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
For those children and adolescents that struggle with obesity it can negatively effect their self-image, which can influence their social life in many ways. One being how they interact with others at school, or how they interact around others elsewhere (Obesity in Children and Adolescents). Our society is quick to judge and put stereotypes on individuals, based on what's in the media or through word of mouth. A child growing up with negative self-esteem can possess many negative actions, such as suicidal thoughts, thus, effect their health.
What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
Some benefits that have come about from this issue, which have already been mentioned, are better/healthier food choices at restaurants. Other than the ones already referred to, many restaurants and food chains have tried to adjust their menu to make their foods healthier, or have a section dedicated solely for healthier choices. Everyone can benefit from this, as long as they can afford it.




What are the barriers?
What are the barriers to addressing the issue?
Long-term management strategies is one of the barriers to the epidemic obesity (Barriers to Obesity Treatment). Some people think reversing obesity can be a quick fix with surgery, but actually it's a lifestyle change. Another barrier could be that people don't know the long-term health risks with this disease. To some, it just seems like you get the disease, you get rid of it, and you are better. That is not the case at all! On the whole, educating may be a major hurdle on this topic.
How can they be overcome?
To break through these risks, I think if we start implementing more education on the topic, such as the major health risks, then we will can scare people enough to realize they are putting their lives in danger. A lot of the population knows about the problem and some of the causes of it, but a lot of people ignore the side effects and what can happen later in life due to this disease.




What are the resources?
What resources will we need to address the issue?
Providing research, facts, data, and studies are great ways to supply resources. They are real life, first hand, and non-fictional, therefore, people should have no problem believing what is produced from these resources.
Where and how can they be tapped?
Organizations, universities/colleges, businesses, etc. can all provide real life studies, research, data, and facts. Doing a survey within the an organization is just one way to get some of the information to dig into  getting resources.




What is the history of the issue?
What is the history of the issue in the community?
The history with obesity in children and adolescents is it has been increasing over the years. Parents of this generation are considered to outlive their kids because of this epidemic, which has never been a popular problem in the past. 
What past efforts were made to address it?
A few approaches have been executed to address this issue and some of these include monitoring of foods and beverages sold outside the school meal programs, improving the nutrition of the food at school, increasing more physical activity throughout the day, educating through health courses, and providing books and guides to a healthier way of living (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
What were the results?
There hasn't been enough studies or research showing or proving the results of the approaches to this issue. The media says that obesity is still on the rise among children and adolescents, therefore, it doesn't sound like the approaches have done the job.




Allies and Opponents
Who would support this issue?
People who would support this issue would be health advocates, medical personnel, families with the disease, and the general public. I think everyone would support any approaches that deem successful to decrease this issue.
Who would oppose this issue?
The people who would oppose this issue would be anyone who doesn't want to spend money for prevention or treatment. This could be parents who directly have to pay for their children, or it could be for those that don't have a relative or family member with the disease but have to pay for prevention and treatment programs.




My Recommendation
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
I want anyone and everyone to vote yes for this policy! It is an approach to make healthier lifestyles affordable for everyone, therefore, there is no reason not to vote for it to go through. Simply vote yes for bill H.R. 3200-America's Affordable Healthy Choices Act!