Make-up Compacts?

So I guess the whole converting old pieces of furniture pieces is too "already been done." So, we wanted to gear toward using a single object/material to reuse in multiple ways. Here's what we came up with...

Every girl, well almost every girl, uses make up at least sometimes. I don't know about everyone else, but for some reason I also keep my empty blush and eye shadow compacts, even after their pretty much all used up, just to pile up in my countless make-up bags. I don't know why I do it, I just do. I know a lot of girls use compressed powder, etc, that probably pile up the same way. Laura and I decided to use this as the main recycled object for our project. We want to use the mirror part of the compacts to create a larger, decorative wall mirror. We also plan on making several different kinds of decorative candle holders using compacts, both the mirror part and the side that once contained the make up. Using paint and other materials, we will transform these once not so attractive containers that just unnecessarily took up space into beautiful, decorative pieces!

During brainstorming, after thinking of a bunch of different items that just lay around the house taking up space, we thought of a few other ideas as well... An end table made with stacked books, with an old decorative picture frame as the top (after thinking of this "brilliant idea," I researched already been done DIY ideas... this one has somewhat already been done, so I'm not sure about this one). I also was super excited when I thought of making decorative, comfy pillows out of old wool sweaters... also already been done. Then, I thought of how I could make/alter a sweater that can be folded and buttoned to create a pillow for road trips, plane rides, etc that can then be unbottoned and unfolded to wear as a sweater or use as a blanket. For now, just sticking with the compacts...

(Scratch the pillow to blanket idea...apparently they're called quillows? Already been done. Rats!)

Turning Asphalt Into Edible Education

Oct. 19, 2010

This article is similar to my first idea for Design Problem 2 of going to preschools and planting vegetable and fruit gardens with the children to gain appreciation of nature and in favor creating less production/pollution by home growing veggies, as well as promoting healthier eating. That's pretty much what Celia Kaplinsky, a Brooklyn elementary school principal, did with New York children.

There are already 285 school gardens in New York City, according to a recent state survey, part of a national school gardening trend. Most are small affairs, completely reliant on parent volunteers and teachers’ spare time...The P.S. 216 project, known as an Edible Schoolyard, is part of a second generation of gardens, which involve things like state-of-the art greenhouses, professional staff, large city grants, and ever-more-ambitious agendas. Ms. Waters’s project, for example, aims to find a solution to childhood obesity by integrating the lessons of food growing, food preparation and healthy eating through the curriculum. A recent study found that her projects in Berkeley had made headway toward that goal."

My opinion? This is great. More projects like this should be stirred up all around -- it's a great experience for children and teaches them at the core age that habits form. Like I said, they gain a better appreciation and understanding of nature and how it works, they get to really help and see the development/growth of natural things, all while eating healthier, natural and organic foods (in turn creating less pollution for foods that need to be shipped and cleaned from other countries, states, etc).

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/turning-asphalt-into-edible-education/

NYTimes: Needing Students, Maine School Hunts in China

Published Oct. 26, 2010

"Faced with dropping enrollment and revenue, a high school in [Millinocket, Maine], a remote town, has fixed on an unlikely source of salvation: Chinese teenagers. Never mind that Millinocket is an hour’s drive from the nearest mall or movie theater, or that it gets an average 93 inches of snow a year. Kenneth Smith, the schools superintendent, is so certain that Chinese students will eventually arrive by the dozen — paying $27,000 a year in tuition, room and board — that he is scouting vacant properties to convert to dormitories."

A school that once held over 700 students, now only has 200 students enrolled. It's enrollment decreased after the paper mill went bankrupt in 2003 -- a main source of jobs in the town. So, the superindendent of the school in this town is convinced that he will be able to get Chinese students to come to Maine to attend their school. I personally think this is crazy. I think that he is completely taking advantage of the fact that Chinese students want to come to the states, and feeding off of their nievety, probably thinking that anywhere in the States is amazing, fun, etc. Well, I don't know if anyone would really want to live in a remote area like Millincoket, Maine if they had the choice. I could be wrong, and perhaps this would be a good experience for Chinese students if they did choose to come study in this town for a year. Any way of being submersed in another culture is a great thing, given how sheltered many people around the world really are -- it opens peoples eyes to what is going on in the world around them (socially, economically, environmentally, etc), gives them new ways of thinking, and other great opportunities. But, I think Smith is completely taking advantage of the situation for his school's personal financial and academic gain. I don't know if I would say it's completely wrong or right one way or another, I just don't personally really agree with it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/education/27students.html?ref=todayspaper

NYTimes: Riches May Not Help Papua New Guinea

Published Oct. 25, 2010

"In 2014, ExxonMobil is scheduled to start shipping natural gas through a 450-mile pipeline and on to Japan, China and other markets in East Asia. But the project, which is expected to bring Papua New Guinea $30 billion over three decades and to radically increase its gross domestic product, will force a country already beset by state corruption and to grapple with the windfall... Local leaders worry about the continuing flow of guns [with more money coming in through ExxonMobil] into an area with almost no government presence, and no paved roads, electricity, running water, banks or post offices...While the West's richest companies are used to seeking natural resources in the world's poorest corners, few places on earth seem as ill-prepared as the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea."

Okay, first off, I think it's outrageous that we are going into the poorest countries of the world and robbing them of their resources in order to fulfill our greedy, snobby desires, in order to better OUR lives. And we wonder why so many other countries don't like us? I don't understand how we continuously take and take and take from other unbelievably poor countries to make our lives richer, easier, and "better." Did it ever occur to ExxonMobil that maybe it isn't that we need to go take oil from the poorest countries because it's becoming scarce everywhere else, but maybe that we need to find other means of energy? Probably not, because just like every other American business, their probably greedy and just want to fill their pockets the quickest, easiest way possible. What about sustainable development -- meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs? Or, like discussed in Designers, Visionaries, and Other Stories, Triple Top Line -- the objective to balance economic, social, and environmental responsibilities to aim towards a win-win situation and focus on 'effectiveness' rather than 'efficiency.' Sheesh, come on people.

Like Albert Einstein said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/10/25/world/1026PAPUA-2.html

Sites on reuse!

http://loadingdock.org/redo/Benefits_of_Reuse/body_benefits_of_reuse.html

http://green.thefuntimesguide.com/

Change of Pace!

So although I was really excited about working with children on the importance of the environment, I've had some change in my idea on the next project. Yes, still focusing on the environment -- the importance of reusing, reducing, recycling. Laura and I are going to do a collaborative project, focusing on taking old, "ugly," unwanted things, particularly furniture pieces, and turning them into beautiful pieces (in an inexpensive manner). Reusing what is already here, reducing the cost of making and buying a new of the same thing, which is recycling that old piece into something new and beautiful! Also, perhaps finding non-functional pieces and turning them into functional pieces -- once again, reducing, reusing, and recycling! Yay, I'm excited! Earlier in the semester I was telling Laura how I had needed a nightstand for a while. When going to Goodwill to donate clothes (inspired by my Materialism Geurilla Project), I saw an old, ugly, definitely not my style, nightstand. I bought it for $15 (the guy who worked there gave me $5 off). I bought a small bucket of paint from Wal-Mart (about $6), used a paint brush I had, and bought new handles for it ($8), and vwah-la! A super cute, fresh, new nightstand that I love! Muchhh cheaper than buying a new one. (I later saw one almosttt similar at Anthropologie selling for $675 or so! Is that really necessary? I'll take my own personalized one). Reduce, reuse, recycle! Laura reminded me about this and we were both kind of inspired! We plan on going to thrift shops, yard sales, etc. (Freecycle?) to find pieces to convert. If we use materials that are also environmentally friendly, that'd be even better! This also reduces furniture and pieces from being wasted, thrown away, and left to sit in landfills and rot. Why throw away pieces that with a little spice and tender loving care, could be amazing, gorgeous, and perfectly functional?! We want to have the pieces go toward a cause, or donate it to something, we just haven't figured it out yet! Still working out the kinks, but this is our foundation so far! :)

Here's a cool website I found sort of revolving around this same idea: http://weburbanist.com/creative-recycled-art-architecture-and-design/

"Many people associate environmentalism with gloom-and-doom predictions about the planet. While climate change is a serious issue, many artists, architects and other designers are also working on smaller scale green projects that both effect the environment and cause change by sparking discussion and reflection. While the actual direct impact of any given artwork or design may be small the cumulative result of their efforts is palpable and grows bigger with each creative and sustainable design or art project."

"Recycled Material Used in Furniture Design and Construction: While some of these works could be considered kitsch a number of these are not only functional but also aesthetically compelling. Many recycled furniture designs flaunt their former lives as anything from bicycle tires to bath tubs. Instead of simply going for an ultra-sleek piece of modern hipster furniture, why not try something a bit out of the ordinary that is also good for the environment?"

Other cool recycled products that I found on http://ecoble.com/2008/03/12/10-unusually-creative-ways-to-recycle-ordinary-objects/

Spice4Life: Teaching Children the Importance of Recycling

An article from http://www.spice4life.co.za/teaching-children-the-importance-of-recycling.asp

Teaching Children the Importance of Recycling

Actor Robert Redford was once quoted as saying: "I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?" But why be on the defensive when you can be proactive? And if research is to be believed, the majority of eating and lifestyle habits are formed in children by the age of 10. So, pay attention all parents - the responsibility for teaching your children the importance of recycling and caring for the environment lies with you. Adopting environmentally friendly habits and passing on these life lessons will ensure a sustainable environment for their future and the future is now!

In an ideal society, recycling should be as natural to your children as brushing their teeth, packing away their toys and putting on their seatbelts when climbing into a car. Not because they are radical environmentalists or the offspring of crazy “tree huggers”, but rather simply because it’s all they know! From a tender age, we teach our children to say please and thank you, we tell them not to talk to strangers, not to litter and so many other small yet essential life skills that we don’t even consciously think about. Why should lessons in environmental protection and recycling be any different?

The approach employed is personal but to be effective it should be fun. Scare tactics might work when demanding a clean up campaign for a messy bedroom, but will probably prove less effective in starting up a recycling regime. The Glass Recycling Company, South Africa’s national organisation responsible for facilitating the recovery of waste glass for recycling, is working hard at mobilizing citizens to improve glass recycling quotas. To this end, since its inception, successfully dented its target, by increasing the recovery of waste glass from 148 000 tons to more than 204 000 tons per year. This is effectively an increase in recovery of just over a 38% over a two-year period. But this growth trend needs to be sustained and grown further still and company is offering advice to help facilitate this process:- Knowledge is empowering so begin by educating your children regarding the potentially negative impact that glass has on our environment and how they can help make a difference by reusing and recycling it. Due to the fact that it is not bio-degradable, glass can cause: Unsightly litter Injury to human and animal life Pollution of natural water sources Fires – broken glass is a key factor in the starting of runaway veld fires which can have a devastating impact on the environment Due to the fact that glass does not decompose, it ends up in landfills which are not only unsightly, but have a negative effect on our soil, vegetation and underground water systems and are breeding grounds for disease carrying vermin Recycling is easy, and tips from The Glass Recycling Company to be followed include-: Recycle all glass containers – not just beverage bottles. Containers, which hold food, medicine, and household items and are made of glass are all recyclable Reuse old containers – they are great for storing paint, crayons, buttons and arts and crafts tools such as paint brushes, rulers and much more Explain to your children what is recyclable and what is not. For example, light bulbs and cookware such as “pyrex” are NOT recyclable. They have different properties that can contaminate a recyclable load of glass Plan your trips to the bottle banks to fit into your daily schedule – it will become part of your plan rather than a chore! Take your children along with you and show them how and where to put their bottles. In South Africa, it is not necessary to wash glass before placing it into “Glass Banks” in addition to this, we don’t need to separate different coloured glass into separate banks. All in all – recycling is very easy Encourage your child’s school to participate or start a recycling programme of their own There is no doubt that children are influenced by their peers. By making recycling a way of life and making it as habitual as the other lessons we teach them, before we know it, we will have a generation of recyclers that work together to build a sustainable environment. In this way, the balance in society will shift from a generation of non-recyclers to a generation of recyclers that respect our planet. To find more about a glass bank in your area, visit the Glass Recycling Company Web site www.theglassrecyclingcompany.co.z

Haha! Videos on humorous approaches to environmentalism and global warming!

http://noconsensus.org/comic-relief.php

Man, I really need to figure out how to post videos on here!

I keep looking for ways other people have already approached children about environmentalism, but all I can find are articles about children and the best learning "environment" ... I need to reword how I'm searching I think... the search continues.

Aha! I'm getting warmer!

From an article at:
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-teach-a-child-the-importance-of-nature.htm

"Children aren't born understanding the importance of nature, but learn by modeling the behavior of those who are important to them. If they learn from observation that nature is disposable, that is how they will treat it. Children can learn the importance of nature by teaching them a few simple things." >>> The point/idea I'm getting at for Design Problem #2.

"Recycling is a great way to teach your children the importance of nature. It also makes them feel like they are contributing to environmental conservation. This makes it more likely they will continue the behavior later in life. Allow your children to collect all the cans and bottles in the house and trade them in for cash. It is a great motivating factor for children." >>> Good - yes. Boring- yes. I want something that will really stick. Something that's fun to them, that they will remember, and want to repeat.

Marijuana, Once Divisive, Brings Some Families Closer

This article discusses the use of marijuana by elderly people to help with their health issues, such as nausea, dizziness, pain relief from nerve damage, raising heart rate, lowering blood pressure, etc. In some cases, the use of marijuana has helped elderly people to ease off of their medical drugs. Although it may put some people at risk of falls, impaired cognition, impaired memory, and loss of motor control, it seems to have more positives than negatives. It is legal is some states now but not all. In some cases, children of the elderly people have been the suppliers of their marijuana and has brought some families closer by bonding while "making brownies," smoking together occasionally, etc. Although this sort of sounds ridiculous, if its works, it works! I think it's definitely interesting how something illegal and once so secret and so "bad" that we mostly heard younger people were doing, is now coming up as being beneficial for elderly people to use. Times are changing, that's for sure. I think that this if it truly is beneficial for elderly people to use and doesn't have as many side effects as medically prescribed pills, etc, then more doctors, practices, and states should be more open to medical marijuana (after much research and experimenting with the drug, of course). Like I said, times are changing, so we need to change with them at least a little. Closed minds won't benefit anybody, or the future.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/us/10pot.html?src=me&ref=general

In Topeka, the Price of Free Speech

This article talks about the Phelps' family, who practically make up the members of the Westboro Baptist Church. They picket the funerals of dead soldiers with signs that say things such as "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and have made many controversial stands. (As shown in the picture above with Fred Phelps). They have been at the "heart of decades of local debate about the proper limits of the First Amendment when speech is meant to be as purposefully inflammatory as it is here."

The Phelps' and the Westboro Baptist Church believe "the acceptance of homosexuality has doomed America."

"Fred W. Phelps, whose operation is at the center of the case before the highest court now, arrived [in Topeka] a half-century ago to work as a preacher for a local Baptist church. Now a self-described prophet of God’s wrath, Mr. Phelps has solicited outrage with his venomous protesting at military funerals all over the country — including the burial of a young Marine in Maryland that prompted the case before the Supreme Court — as well as burning the Koran and enlisting his grandchildren to stomp on the American flag."

This situation definitely makes you wonder exactly how far our freedom of speech should be able to go. Yes, it is a right as an American, however, doesn't this seem to be taking the right a little too far? When you're inflicting pain on other people (although it is not physical), isn't there some point where the line needs to be drawn? I think so. Surrounding a funeral of a loved one with hate signs, is disrespectful, insensitive, disgusting, and just rude. I honestly can't believe how some people are these days. Where is the respect?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/us/10kansas.html?pagewanted=2

For Those Near, the Miserable Hum of Clean Energy

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/business/energy-environment/06noise.html?src=me&ref=general

NY Times: Lead Poisoning Kills Nigerian Children

In the last six months, more that 400 children have died of lead poisoning in Nigeria. The deaths occurred in seven villages in Zamfara State, where runoff from illegal gold mining, which contains high concentrations of lead, entered the soil and water supply. Disturbingly enough, local residents are "reluctant to disclose the poisoning for fear the authorities will ban the gold mining... for two weeks, villagers in Bagega denied any deaths or illnesses among the children in the village." 

This is such a sad, disturbing story -- that villagers would risk and pretty much give up their children's lives for money. By not wanting to give up the gold mining, they are pretty much murdering their children, at least the way I see it. I feel like there should be some kind of punishment or consequence for this, however the article doesn't say anything about that. It simply states that, "denying that the problem exists 'delays and hampers intervention and makes it too late when it eventually comes." That is absolutely horrible. Innocent young lives in exchange for money. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/world/africa/07nigeria.html?_r=1&ref=world

Environmentalism

The environment has done so much for us, so we should always give back and do good for the environment... no relationship can be one sided, and our relationship with the environment is definitely no different. At the rate things are going today, we don't really have a choice if we still want to be able to use and enjoy the environment in the future. For my project I want to do something regarding environmentalism. I want to do something geared toward younger children -- the young people in society today are the ones who will shape our society's and environment's future. I feel like getting children to care and be passionate about the topic is one way to help ensure a better future for our environment and therefore a better well-being for humans. In a perfect world, it'd be a win-win situation:)

My four and half year old sister Hailey was definitely my main inspiration and motivation for chosing to do my project geared toward little munchkins. Friday I came home to visit her and she wanted to take our dog, Rico, for a walk around our property (my dad owns 30 acres) on a leash (he NEVER walks on a leash -- little kids are too funny). Anyway, she packed a little book bag of snacks for a picnic. As we were sitting on the grass eating, she went to throw the wrapper to her gummy snacks in the field. I explained to her how you're not supposed to do that and taught her about pollution, how it effects the environment, animals, our health, etc. She picked up her trash and definitely showed concern for the animals affected by pollution. The next day, my other sister, Paige, took her on a walk down the road where they could hear the electricity running through the electric lines above her. Paige asked if she knew what electricity was and Hailey said it's what "gives power to our house." Then Hailey saw trash laying on the side of the road and told Paige that that was bad and would hurt the animals and said, "Hey! I have an idea! We could get a bag and pick up the trash!" No joke. I was so proud of her. This just goes to show that things like this really do get engraved in little kids minds. Tell a 20 or 30 year old and they'll probably forget it by the next day, or think about it, feel bad about it, but do it anyway, or not do anything about it. I think it's the little kids we need to focus on now for a better future later!

From an article on suite101.com on Environmentalism:

Environmentalism is a movement to preserve the health of Earth and its ecosystems. While it is based in science, it's also inspired by values and spirituality.

-eliminating pollution

-protecting biodiversity

-restoring habitat

-slowing climate change

-conserving natural resources

-recycling waste

-reducing consumption

-increasing energy efficiency

-using alternative energy

-monitoring ecosystems

-designing, building and living green

-getting children outdoors >>> see, other people agree!