Bottled water has grown in popularity over the years, but why? Bottled water really isn’t really anything that special, but yet it has been advertised to be something amazing. Bottled water should be avoided because it is no healthier than tap water and it adds waste to land fills.
Bottled water is just water. Bottled water is no healthier than tap water; in fact most bottled water is filled with tap water. There is very little experiential evidence that shows that bottled water is any cleaner or healthier than tap water.
Bottled water causes 1.5 million tons of plastic waste each year. The plastic used to make bottled water is high quality and in demand by recyclers, but only 20 percent of water bottles are recycled. That means that 80 percent of water bottles are thrown away, filling landfills and major oceans.
Bottled water has been advertised as healthy water, but in reality it is just water. Americans spend on average 5 cents per ounce on bottled water when they could easily fill a reusable water bottle. By simply filling a reusable water bottle, less waste would be produced and less money would be spent.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Dilemma Of Laundry
I hate doing laundry. To make the laundry experience even more excruciating, our school does not have enough washers or dryers to accommodate all the students that live on campus. It is rather annoying to carry my clothes downstairs to the laundry room to find out that there are no open washers.
Our school needs to increase the number of washers and dryers to allow more students to get laundry done at one time. I am currently sitting in Coburg’s laundry room, where there is one washer open for five people’s laundry. I came down here, after going to my own laundry room to find that one of the 3 washers is out of order and the other two are being occupied.
Another annoyance is once my clothes have been washed; there are no open dryers available. What am I suppose to do with a pile of wet clothing? I can’t leave them sitting around. If I put them back in the washer, I would be holding up a washer for another student.
By increasing the number of washers and dryers in our school, more people would be able to do laundry. The problem of waiting for a washer or a dryer would be eliminated, thus making the laundry experience less excruciating. I would not longer have to carry my laundry across campus looking for open washers.
Our school needs to increase the number of washers and dryers to allow more students to get laundry done at one time. I am currently sitting in Coburg’s laundry room, where there is one washer open for five people’s laundry. I came down here, after going to my own laundry room to find that one of the 3 washers is out of order and the other two are being occupied.
Another annoyance is once my clothes have been washed; there are no open dryers available. What am I suppose to do with a pile of wet clothing? I can’t leave them sitting around. If I put them back in the washer, I would be holding up a washer for another student.
By increasing the number of washers and dryers in our school, more people would be able to do laundry. The problem of waiting for a washer or a dryer would be eliminated, thus making the laundry experience less excruciating. I would not longer have to carry my laundry across campus looking for open washers.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Why the Driving Age Should be Raised.
The 16th birthday is a major milestone in a teenager’s life, it is the day where a teenager can finally get their drivers license and become more independent. But are 16 year olds ready to take on the responsibility of driving a car? Driving a car takes experience and maturity and those two things have not been 100% mastered at the age of 16, which is why the driving age should be raised.
The main argument behind increasing the driving age is that it would save more lives. 16 year olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. Car crashes are the number one killer of U.S teenagers. The Associated Press reports that more that 5,000 U.S teens die each year in car crashes.
In New Jersey, the only state to have the driving age set at 17, the overall rate of teens killed in crashes is significantly lower than the rates in nearby states. In one particular study, the rate of crash-related deaths among 16-17 year olds was found to be 18 per 100,000 in New Jersey and 26 per 100,000 in Connecticut. This study shows the impact of increasing the driving age to 17; think about what the impact would be if the driving age were increased to 18.
Teenagers need to grow up a bit more before they should be allowed to get behind the wheel. National Teen Driving statistics show that most car crash related deaths among teens between 16-17 are caused by poor hazard perception, low risk perception, risk taking, and lack of skill. By giving teens an extra year to two years to gain more experience and maturity, the number of deadly car crashes can be reduced.
The main argument behind increasing the driving age is that it would save more lives. 16 year olds are three times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. Car crashes are the number one killer of U.S teenagers. The Associated Press reports that more that 5,000 U.S teens die each year in car crashes.
In New Jersey, the only state to have the driving age set at 17, the overall rate of teens killed in crashes is significantly lower than the rates in nearby states. In one particular study, the rate of crash-related deaths among 16-17 year olds was found to be 18 per 100,000 in New Jersey and 26 per 100,000 in Connecticut. This study shows the impact of increasing the driving age to 17; think about what the impact would be if the driving age were increased to 18.
Teenagers need to grow up a bit more before they should be allowed to get behind the wheel. National Teen Driving statistics show that most car crash related deaths among teens between 16-17 are caused by poor hazard perception, low risk perception, risk taking, and lack of skill. By giving teens an extra year to two years to gain more experience and maturity, the number of deadly car crashes can be reduced.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Smoke Free America
The debate over whether or not smoking should be banned in public places has escalated over the years. Why should innocent men, woman and children have to suffer the effects associated with smoking? By eliminating smoking in public places nationwide, second hand smoke and smoke odor would be eliminated thus benefiting the innocent bystanders of our society.
Smoking not only affects those who partake in the physical act but also those who are in close proximity to the one who is smoking. People who smoke affect those around them by unintentionally giving off second hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen that causes headaches, nausea, cancer and heart disease.
The strong odor produced from smoke lingers in one’s clothing and hair. Clothing worn in a bar for thirty minutes may still smell like smoke three days later. The smell protruding off the clothing is classified as third hand smoke, an invisible yet toxic combination of particles and chemicals that affects neurological development.
According to The Center for Disease Control, smoke filled rooms have six times the air pollution as busy streets. Why would a nonsmoker want to inhale all of those pollutants and risk their health? By banning smoking in public places second hand smoke and smoke odor (third hand smoke) would not be exposed to innocent bystanders.
-Birgitta Monson
Smoking not only affects those who partake in the physical act but also those who are in close proximity to the one who is smoking. People who smoke affect those around them by unintentionally giving off second hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen that causes headaches, nausea, cancer and heart disease.
The strong odor produced from smoke lingers in one’s clothing and hair. Clothing worn in a bar for thirty minutes may still smell like smoke three days later. The smell protruding off the clothing is classified as third hand smoke, an invisible yet toxic combination of particles and chemicals that affects neurological development.
According to The Center for Disease Control, smoke filled rooms have six times the air pollution as busy streets. Why would a nonsmoker want to inhale all of those pollutants and risk their health? By banning smoking in public places second hand smoke and smoke odor (third hand smoke) would not be exposed to innocent bystanders.
-Birgitta Monson
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Case Against Valentine's
Valentine’s Day has become too commercialized over the years. Valentine’s Day used to be very simplistic; exchanging love letters amongst couples, nothing more and nothing less. Valentine’s Day has evolved and changed drastically over the years since Saint Valentine graced the world with his presence.
In today’s society, Valentine’s Day has been taken to a whole new level, overpriced flowers, chocolates, diamonds, romantic weekends away and candle lit dinners. The average American spends $100 dollars alone on a gift for their significant other. It seems like even through the rough economic crisis, Valentine’s Day has not suffered in the least when it comes to buying extravagant gifts for one's significant other.
What I don’t understand is why Americans focus on one single day to prove their love to one another? It's almost like this day is reconciliation for all mistakes made through out the year. Valentine’s Day is overrated and takes away the truest aspect of love; spontaneity.
There are many ways in which loved ones can show their love without spending a lot of money. For example, one could have a romantic night at home with no electronics, a candle lit dinner for two and a fire in the fireplace. One can also create a Valentine’s card made with love instead of Hallmark’s version of love. By taking out the commercialism of Valentine’s Day one can save money as well as show how much they truly love their significant other.
In today’s society, Valentine’s Day has been taken to a whole new level, overpriced flowers, chocolates, diamonds, romantic weekends away and candle lit dinners. The average American spends $100 dollars alone on a gift for their significant other. It seems like even through the rough economic crisis, Valentine’s Day has not suffered in the least when it comes to buying extravagant gifts for one's significant other.
What I don’t understand is why Americans focus on one single day to prove their love to one another? It's almost like this day is reconciliation for all mistakes made through out the year. Valentine’s Day is overrated and takes away the truest aspect of love; spontaneity.
There are many ways in which loved ones can show their love without spending a lot of money. For example, one could have a romantic night at home with no electronics, a candle lit dinner for two and a fire in the fireplace. One can also create a Valentine’s card made with love instead of Hallmark’s version of love. By taking out the commercialism of Valentine’s Day one can save money as well as show how much they truly love their significant other.
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