Slowly dying!

The purpose of this Action Project was to find the carbon footprint that I create with my lifestyle. I also had to find three actions to reduce the carbon that I put in the atmosphere, and in order to show this information, I created a diagram that shows all of the actions I will take. This also relates to one of the Field Experiences that we went on during this term. We went to the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation, and we learned how they power their whole community with renewable energy. They talked about how renewable energy is going to be big in a few years. I think that is eye-opening that one part of Chicago is already taking steps to try to save our Planet. Just as the Galvin Center is trying to take steps to save our Planet, I am sharing my action plan below, so that even individual people can make a difference. The challenging part of this Action Project was getting my carbon information. What I found most interesting was how much carbon I actually put into the atmosphere. I was surprised by the information, because I produce a lot of carbon, so imagine how much the whole world produces. What I am most proud of is how my essay came out because I think I have good information for people to go off of.

Created by JV 2014*

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment , which cause adverse change. Pollution can be released into the atmosphere by breathing, gas being given off from livestock, burning fossil fuels, volcanoes, and fracking. Most of these pollutants are man-made, and the only way to stop it is for us to change the way we live.

Carbon dioxide is one pollutant that is warming the Earth’s atmosphere and dramatically changing our climate. My individual information will provide some reasons why this is happening. According to the “Footprint Calculator,” I release about 22.1 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. High levels of carbon are affected by the food I eat, shelter, mobility, and goods. My lifestyle is being supported by 23 global acres of Earth’s productive area, and if everyone lived like me, we would need 5.2 Planet Earth’s to provide enough resources.

My lifestyle is equal to the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as 4.2 passenger vehicles, while my carbon dioxide is equal to 2,248 gallons of gasoline consumed. That is a lot of vehicles and gasoline for one person, so can you imagine the world living like me? We would not have an Earth to live on!

In order to reduce my carbon footprint, I will have to change my lifestyle so that I can produce less carbon annually. I pledge to:

• Reduce the amount of animal products I currently eat by half. I frequently eat beef, chicken, and dairy. Livestock such as these release the greenhouse gas methane into the air. By reducing the amount or animal products I eat by half, I will reduce the number of Planet Earth’s by 0.4! ( from 5.2 planets to 4.8). This will reduce my CO2 emissions from 22.1 tons to 21.4 tons. 

• Purchase products that use less packaging or made out of 100% post-consumer recycled content material. As waste decomposes, it produces methane, which increases global warming. By reducing waste and recycling, I will reduce the number of Planets Earth’s by 0.7! (From 4.8 to 4.5 planets). Recycling will reduce my CO2 emissions from 21.4 tons to 18.6 tons!

• Switch to solar panels for electricity in my home. By switching to solar panels that give pure energy from the sun, I will help to combat greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and reduce fossil fuels. I will reduce number of Planets Earth's by 0.2! (From 4.5 to 3.9 planets). Using solar panels will reduce my CO2 emissions from 18.6 tons to 16.4 tons!

Even if I follow with all of the actions listed above, I cannot eliminate my carbon emissions completely. Another way I could offset carbon from my lifestyle is to invest in an emissions reduction project that will capture and store greenhouse gases, preventing their release into the atmosphere. To eliminate carbon that I produce, I would have to plant 514 trees and here is why: Scientists have found that 1 urban tree will remove 0.039 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere. As mentioned previously, I produce 20.1 metric tons of carbon annually. If we use the conversion formula, we find that it takes 514 trees planted to remove 20.1 metric tons of carbon.

20.1 metric tons (1 tree/0.039 metric tons) = 20.1/0.039 = about 514 trees.

By taking these actions listed above, I would reduce my carbon footprint from 5.2 to 3.9 planets. In terms of carbon, it would decrease from 22.1 tons to 16.4 tons. That is 4.7 tons less carbon in the atmosphere. I would make the world a cleaner place if I follow through with my three actions. I would need to plant 514 trees to remove these emissions. All of these actions will be challenging, but I am willing to try, because we need to reduce our carbon ppm from 400 to 350. If we don't, future generations will not be able to survive in such a polluted climate.

Work cited:

“Air pollution.” National Geographic. 1996-2014. Web. 16 Feb. 2014

“Clean Energy: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.” U.S Environmental Protection Agency. n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

“Footprint Calculator.” Global Footprint Network. Sept. 2011. Web . 14 Feb. 2014.

Till I see you again.

The purpose of this Action Project for my Humanities class, Who am I? was to find a important dream and analyze it for its meaning. My dream was about my grandfather and how he is sending me a message. The most challenging part about this Action Project was writing about my grandfather. What I am most proud of is my dream catcher, it means a lot to me and I love how it came out. 

Photography JV PEACE 2014*

The center of my dream catcher symbolizes peace and love. I want my life to be full of happiness and my bliss is anything that I love doing. When I am asleep my unconscious sends me messages in the form of dreams. I want these dreams to lead my life in the right direction. In the middle of my dream catcher is a heart to symbolize my love for my family. The colors of my dream catcher is mainly light neutral colors. I chose colors like that because they make me feel calm and safe. I wanted the center of my dream catcher look like a star because I really like how that design looks. The star has six points and I put 6 beads in the middle. The points of the star and the beads symbolize the number of people in my family. The six feathers represent my family that I want each member of my family to be safe.

Photography JV PEACE 2014*

I attached a 6” dream catcher on the bottom of the 8” one to symbolize my grandfather because I feel like he is still with us, and he watching over my family. For his dream catcher I put 15 beads representing his children and grandchildren. To symbolize negative elements I tied knots in my dream catcher, I did that to show struggles that I have in my life. I want my dream catcher to filter anything that may repress my desires.  
                                                                                                            

                                                                      Photography JV PEACE 2014*

The dream that I had that inspired me to make my dream catcher was about my grandfather. He had passed away and that same night I had a dream about him. He was wearing all white and told me not to be sad anymore, for my family not to worry that he is fine and he is okay now. He said to be happy and that we will all see him again soon. 

If I could go back to the dream, then I would ask my grandfather some questions. I would ask him why did he only reach out to me? I would ask him if he was okay. And If I ever had this dream again, then I would want it to last longer. I would want to talk to my grandfather and tell him I love him. What I learned about dreams during this project, is that people can have similar dreams. My boyfriend and I both had dream about a relative that we care about that had passed away. I also learned that dreams can send you messages, that you don’t even realize. I think that that is really interesting because dreams can tell you your future or what will happen.

Who Are You?

The purpose of this action project in the Humanities class Who am I? was to come up with a guiding question that can guide my life. My Guiding Question is Who are you? I came up with this question because I think a lot of people think about this in their lives. What was most challenging was coming up with a guiding question because I didn't want mine to be too confusing. What I am most proud of is how my essay came out. I think it is really interesting. I will like to grow as a writer, that is why I chose to write an essay rather than doing a slide show. I hope my guiding question inspires you to find out who the people in your life are.

                        David Brooks. Who You Are then What You Do. 28 May 2012. Internet: SWiVELtime.com. 10 Feb 2014.

Who are you? On the Truman show, Truman Burbank was a real life reality TV star not knowing who he was. Truman became suspicious of his perceived reality and embarked on a quest to discover the truth about his life . Truman’s wife did not love Truman because she was an actor, she was just a part of the play. While, one of the actresses on the show, Sylvia, who really did care about Truman was kicked out of Truman’s world (The Truman Show) for attempting to tell him the truth about his reality. She made Truman think about his life. What if the people that come in and out of your life are like Sylvia? What if they were kicked off the show because they were trying to tell you that your life was fake? Who are the people in your everyday life? Do you think the people in your life care about you? Or are they all actors? Are you part of the Truman show?

I want you to think about the people in your life. Do you ever have scruple about the idea of people being real to you? Perception allows you to see the people around you in different ways, how do you know if people are lying? How do you know what people really want from you? How do you know if someone is sincere? A psychiatrist can help a person with paranoia, and offer that person medication and weekly meetings to help them understand the people in their life. A social worker can help people overcome trauma or past experiences and help them perceive the world in a different way. They can also tell you to meditate. Which is to calm your body and mind, to be at peace with yourself. 

WHO ARE YOU? Do you doubt who you are? What do the people in your life want from you? What do they expect? Do the people in your life truly love you do they care about your feelings? Do they care if anything will happen to you? This question is important to me because I think I know the people in my life. Or are they all lying to me? What risks will you take to find out? I would examine people around me at all times. I know many people around the world have the same question. This goes for all humanity because we need to know the people around us. We do not know when people are lying or if they are telling the truth. The people in your life can be like Truman’s wife they can just act like they love you or care about you. Is someone watching your life? Are you on the other side of the TV? Is every single person in your life true to you? Have you ever taken any risks to find out? Have you ever look around you to find out who you are?

Solar Panels

The purpose of this Action Project was to research a type of renewable energy that a home owner can switch to. I picked solar panels, which are a type of radiant energy because solar panels absorb the sun’s rays. I chose to do this type of renewable energy, because I think solar panels use more recent technology, and I love how we are constantly trying to further develop our technology. I like how we can get energy from the sun. To present my findings, I created a video that encourages viewers to switch to renewable energy. What I found most challenging about this Action Project was inserting pictures that match the audio portion of my project. I overcame this challenge by doing research about solar panels to understand them better. I am most proud of my video, because I think viewers will recognize the importance of switching to renewable energy. The video will help spread the word of how to make our planet cleaner and last longer. I also really like how all the pictures came together! 

                                                                                     Created by JV & RD

JV- Man my electricity bill has been going up! I need to make a change. Any suggestions? I just realized that buying light bulbs and wasting energy on light can really effect the earth and my wallet!

RD- Funny that you brought that up, because I just recently lowered my electricity bill. It’s something that I would have never thought I would switch to, but I’m using Solar panels now.

JV- Solar panels, What are those?

RD- Solar panels are designed to absorb the sun's rays, a type of radiant energy. They serve the purpose of transferring the heat energy from the sun to electricity for your home.

JV- I'm sorry I still don’t understand, and how does that benefit my wallet? 

RD- Solar energy is produced by conducting the sun’s radiation, a process that excludes any smoke, gas, and other chemical by-products. It does not need expensive raw materials like coal and oil, and it requires a way lower operational labor than normal power productions.

JV- So your saying if I buy these Solar panels, I will save money and live a healthier and less expensive life?

RD- I sure do! How much are you paying right now, for your electricity?

JV- I am paying $105.20 every month.

RD- Wow! Exactly what I used to pay.

JV- I mean, I’m hearing some good things about these panels, but there has to be at least another downside to them, besides the price right? 

JV- For example, do I get any light in the night?

RD- No. However, if the previous day was full of sunlight, your panels will collect that energy and save it for cloudy days or at night. Other than that, the only problem is that the sun doesn't shine 24/7.

JV- Okay where would I be able to buy these solar panels?

RD- I got mine at Solar panel warehouse, for a pretty good deal! Plus they install them for you, but for a steep price.

JV- What’s the initial cost? And will I break even? If so, when?

RD- You typically use 513 kWh in any given month, which means you are paying $23.78 per kWh for electricity in a single month. This is known as your electric supply charge, and its really high! Basically, at this rate, you are paying $105.20 each month just for electricity.

RD-If you were to install Solar panels, initially, it will cost you $8,000. I know that is a high cost, but if you wait 9 years, you will break even, and your investment will pay itself back in cash. Over 14 years, your annual average utility savings will be anywhere between $1,930 to $3,682!

JV- WOW! I am totally switching, thank you for the information!

Cherishing Family

The purpose of this Action Project in the humanities class Who am I? is to become a time machine and tell a story that brings people back by using different senses. I had to come up with a memory that defines me as person and how it shapes me. I chose to write about how I cherish the people in my life. What I found most challenging was bringing in props to present my memory by using senses. How I came over this challenge was by bringing in all the right materials to make my memory feel real. What I am most proud of is letting people know who I cherish most in my life.

                                                                                        Created by JV Six Flags 2014*

On April 20, 2013 I spent a day at Six Flags Great America that I will never forget. We walked among people with big smiles on their faces, pushed through the smell of funnel cake in the air, and talked to each other over the tracks of the roller coasters and the people screaming because of them. The lively park was perfectly balance by the calm weather, feeling warm on my skin and the sun shining. I strolled through the park with my sisters, boyfriend, and hundreds of others that were there that day laughing, making fun of each other, and fighting over which ride to get on. A couple hundred miles away, hundreds of people’s laughter turned into screams when 3 people were killed in the bombing at the Boston marathon. As I go to Six flags it lets me forget about everything that is going on in the world and also in my life.

It brings back so many memories when I was a child. This memory defines me because as a little girl I would be brave and sneak on all the crazy big roller coasters. That was when I started to show that I was really brave, even though I was terrified of heights. My family always took me to Six Flags and I cherished the moments with my family. When I experienced it with my boyfriend, it made it even more interesting. I wanted to go on the big rides while he was scared, he thought I was crazy. He made me realize I’m even braver than I thought. Because of that I cherish him in my life even more. If I didn't have my boyfriend in my life I wouldn't be the person I am now, he teaches me things about myself that I didn't even realize. This memory will relate to Jung’s collective unconscious because everybody at some point in their life has gone to six flags, a carnival, or festival. They have gone on roller coasters and maybe faced their fear. They also shared memories with people that they cherish in their life. My Grandmas has always told me to cherish what I have in me life. This experience taught me to cherish the tradition of going to Six Flags every year. To have great memories and learning how to be brave. This experience shapes me to cherish all the people I have in my life to shape me and show me how brave I am.

Natural Gas- Methane

The purpose of this Action Project was to create a presentation that explains a specific energy producing nonrenewable source. I chose to study natural gas, and found that it is mainly made up of methane. I chose to research methane because this natural gas heats homes and is a big source of energy that we use in our everyday lives. In my presentation I had to find two points for natural gas. One point measures the original amount of this source, and the other point measures how much of the source existed today. After finding these two points I had to make a graph and predict when the resource will run out. I predicted that the resource will be gone in 545.45 years from now. We are using so much natural gas, what will happen when we run out?

What I found most challenging about this Action Project was doing all the research and finding my two points. How I overcame this challenge was finding good web sites and getting reputable information. I also got detailed information from a person that I interviewed about natural gas. What I enjoyed most about this project was finding out so much information about natural gas and how we get it and use it. I never thought I would be so interested in researching about different types of fuel. It is so interesting to me to ask questions, what will we do if we run out of this essential resource? I am most proud of how my presentation turned out I worked hard and did a lot of research!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

The purpose of this Action Project was to find my own voice, and to express what I believe in. We made a podcast that talks about what we believe in and I chose to write about courage. What I learned during this action project was making a podcast. What I found most challenging was telling my story about how I found courage. This was challenging because I never talked about my story. What I am most proud of is how my podcast turned out.

L. Frank Baum. The Cowardly Lion. 1900. Internet: Wikicommons. 17 Jan 2014 . 

Why did the Cowardly lion from the Wizard Of Oz want courage? He wanted courage so he could become the king of the forest, so he went to Emerald City. Followed the Yellow Brick Road in search of the OZ to get his courage. When the Cowardly lion discovered that the OZ did not have the power to give him courage, he realized he had it all along. Just like the Cowardly Lion, I believed that I needed to find a place to get courage. But I had an experience that made me realize, just like the Cowardly Lion that I had courage all along.

I try my best to face my fears and I believe that that makes me stronger. I believe in courage because courage helped me when I needed it most. I believe that we are all to afraid to show that we have courage. I believe that courage can shape me. I believe that courage opens my eyes. I also believe that courage is my biggest fear and that being courageous is scary. But, I believe being courageous allows me to conquer my biggest fears.

I was hiding from my classmates throughout my 3rd and 8th grade. I discovered my courage by facing my fear. I was afraid of going to school because I had an IEP and being put in a room with only 5-10 kids that made me feel like I was a prisoner. Being in special education intimidated me into not showing how much I actually knew. Kids would stare at me like I was a animal, they would ask me “why are you in special ed, you don’t look retarded”? They were right I wasn't, special ed kids aren't retarded. I didn't need to be in special ed, but, I was afraid to tell the teachers I didn't need it. By being courageous and speaking up, I was able to get out of the special ed class and show people how smart I am. I felt liberated . My classmates started looking at me differently.

My fear of not getting into a high school I wanted to go to gave me the courage to speak up. This brought me to where I am now, at GCE. GCE taught me to have courage. I also was afraid to attend GCE because of how small the classrooms are. I knew I had to talk but I was afraid to open up and speak in front of the class everyday. I knew that by going to GCE I would learn to face my fears of speaking to the public. I would also learn how to travel around the city by myself. At the same time, I was afraid that I would be placed in special ed again, but the staff here understands the students and are good at communicating. The staff is pretty awesome. Because I knew that I could not hide at GCE, I found the courage.

Courage is so important to me because it help me face my biggest fear and gave me my greatest gift to attend my high school. I didn't always believe in courage. I didn't even know I had it. I got so much courage from GCE. I have already learned so much and changed as well. Courage will help you with your biggest fear. You don’t have to hide from it, be like the Cowardly Lion and face what you fear so you can get what you want.