Advocacy Project: Letter to an Elected Official

December 8th, 2011

Pat Strachota
Room 324 East
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53703

VOTE YES ON EH-2 Increasing the Different Means of Transportation Act of 2011

The main purpose of this proposed act is to offer alternative means for transportation that are more environmentally friendly that will produce less air pollution from the standardizes buses, trains, and cab services. I am in favor of this idea to promote biking, walking, or even car pooling in some cases to help keep healthier air for everyone to breath, and to promote a healthier lifestyle by implementing exercise into our daily lives. This act will provide an all around healthier lifestyle for everyone.

This act will help us all become healthier. It is proven that since 1980 cases of asthma have increased 75% and this is due to the quality of air we are breathing. All of the different buses, bus routes, taxi, trains, excessive driving produces mass amounts of pollution, and fuel going into the air. We are all greatly affected, since we are all breathing this dirty air. It is shown that shopping trips to the store, or local businesses are less than 5 miles from home, which would be the perfect opportunity to either walk, or ride a bicycle. It is known that obesity is a problem in our country today due to the newly developed sedentairy lifestyle we have developed. If this act is passed we all will be breathing healthier air due to increased air pollution from automobiles, and become more active, and healthy in terms of our own respiratory and cardiac health. The benefit of our health out weigh the cons in both short and long term effects.

Opponents of this bill may say that by promoting alternatives means companies are going to lose business. However, the same companies can also offer bike, or roller blade rentals, and they would still be making a profit. They would also be saving large amounts of funds as they would not have to supply their vehicles with the expensive gas prices they are having to pay. If they increase their prices of their company it will discourage many from taking the bus, or a taxi, but for the ones who really want to they are going to pay the amount, so all of these companies are still going to be making a profit. I believe for my solution and support for promoting alternative modes of transportation in our daily lives is a great idea for everyone's health, and daily behaviors, as we will all be benefitting in the long run from this. We all breath the same air, so we should all work to keep it clean, and not be selfish.

We greatly appreciate the efforts you have made to finding a solution to this problem, and look forward to hearing from you soon. We hope that you vote "yes" on this proposed act to help all of our well being. If you have any further questions, or concerns please feel free to contact me at, 262-222-3333 or healthylife@d.umn.edu.

Sincerely,

Lindsay W.

Advocacy Project: Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet About Minimizing Public Transportation and Promoting Other Environmentally Friendly Transportation Options

What is the current problem? 

People rely too much on public transportation, or driving themselves places instead of walking, biking, or finding alternative methods. All of this driving pollutes the air, and people are unaware of how much this really affects all of us, because we are all the ones breathing the air. 

Who is affected by this?

1. Us (the citizens breathing this polluted air)

2. Transportation companies (buses, taxis)

What are possible solutions to reduce this pollution, but still provide safe ways to get around?

1. Have companies offer services for a small fee. This way they are still making money, but also discouraging people to rely on it so much, causing less pollution, and dirty air that we all have to breath. Many people are unaware of the long-term affects that occur from the air we are breathing now.

2. In the summer time offer rental bike services right by the train, bus, or taxi station, and have the option available to people.

Take a Bike Over the Bus and Here's Why!

(All found from Air Resource Board: Bicycle Awareness)

-More than half commute trips, and 3/4 of shopping trips are under 5 miles in length, which would be perfect for biking and getting outside

-About 27.3% of the driving public reported that they rode a bicycle at least once last summer, which equals to approximately 57 million people over the age of 16 who rode a bicycle and have access to one

-A bicycle is an excellent choice for an aerobic, enjoyable exercise

Asthma and Air Pollution

-Asthma has increased within 75% since 1980, which is affected our children and their potential health

-The long-term affects of breathing polluted air are still unknown

By helping to promote other means of transportation such as biking and walking we can help save ourselves and our health in the long run. Even though public transportation and automobiles are a good idea our health is more important. 

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

Pollution in the air from motor vehicles and excessive public transportation

HF0400 Environmental and Natural Resource Money Availability, trying to find different methods of funding, and ways to get around without polluting the air as much

Who is affected by the issue?

All of the citizens are affected by air pollution, because we are the ones that breathe the air. People that are in more industrialized and crowded cities, such as Minneapolis are affected more, as they are around it more.

All of the citizens in highly populated cities lose the most, like their health because they are the ones breathing this air, and polluting their lungs. Also, by relying on public transportation they are partaking in less exercise. These citizens lose their health and fitness compared to the citizens living in the cities that don’t breath in as much smoke and smog, and walk around their land more.

The public transportation drivers (bus and taxi) and businesses gain money and revenue, as they know people depend on them, and their services, because people take the easy way and are lazy.

What are the consequences of this issue?

The consequences are poor health, air pollution, and short quality of life.

The individuals’ health is affected. Their families are affected by having their loved ones potentially become sick from the pollution, and decreases expected life.  The consequences for society are more overall pollution, less air quality.

What is the economic impact of the issue?

The economic costs are expensive to pay for all the gas used to transport people, maintenance repairs, and miscellaneous costs. It would be more worthwhile to not offer so many options, or reduce the number of buses and taxis available.

The economic benefits stem from all of the revenue public transportation brings in. All of the business owners, and employees of these companies benefit from this.

What is the social impact of the issue?

The social costs of this issue are an opportunity to meet other people while traveling publically, so everyone can benefit from this. Also, a recreational activity, and sight seeing opportunity. The companies providing this service bear the cost since they are the ones paying for repairs, and gas. Also, everyone is affected by the pollution at its costly levels.

Some of the social benefits are getting to be around new people, and in different parts of town. When you take a public bus there are a lot of stops along your route which gives you a social opportunity, and you get to learn from others, and see different parts of town that you may of not known were there. Everyone can benefiting from this new experience while getting to know and learn from others and their experiences.

What are the barriers?

The barriers are that there is a need, and high demand for different ways to get around the city due to the lack of cars people have, and high gas prices, so they use these methods to save money. Taxis are used for people who are under the influence and need a safe ride home. Also, in the cold weather people will not want to walk, or take a bike from place to place, it does become a safety concern.

The barriers to addressing this issue are people are stubborn, and won’t want to make a change, or try something different. People are also lazy and even in nice weather they will refuse to walk, or use a bike and will just expect to be picked up, and taken care of from public transportation.

The people can be overcome by seeing how bad it is to breathe the city, highly polluted air, and all of the damage it does to their body. There are a lot of long term affects that people are unaware of, so stressing those. Also, all of the damages their methods do the environment, like ruining the eco system, and plants.

What are the resources?

The resources needed to address this issue are evidence and statistics of breathing in poor and polluted air stressing the health affects long term from this. The safety concerns from taking public transportation at night, or by yourself when you do not know who is around, or the kind of people on the bus. Also, the effects from the smoke and smog that go into the air from big buses and trains.

The health affects can be found by comparing the breathing capacity and quality of breaths from an individual who lived in the city, and rode the bus for many years compared to someone who lived out in the country, who hasn’t been exposed to as much pollution.

The safety issue can be found by looking and observing the people around bus stops, and on buses late at night.

What is the history of this issue?

The history of this issue in the community is known to not travel alone at anytime, it is just unsafe. Also, breathing in this type of air is comparable to cigarette smoke, and the poor affects it has on your lungs, brain, and respiratory system.

The past efforts made were trying to promote different methods of transportation that would help benefit your health and be a source of exercising, like biking or walking.

The results of this were in the warm weather people would attempt other ways, but once it was cold or poor weather they resulted back to using the bus everyday, or driving themselves.

Allies & Opponents

The people who would support this issue are the citizens concerned with preserving and maintaining the environment. Also, healthy people who want to live and long healthy lifestyle, and do not want to be breathing poor air. Fitness buffs would also like this idea, as walking or biking is healthier then driving places, and a good source of exercise.

The people who would oppose this issue are the companies that own buses, taxis, cabs, or the people who drive everywhere and do not like to exercise or go out into the cold or outside in general.

To involve both the allies and opponents regarding this issue would require a bit of compromise. Both sides are looking to help out people, whether it’s providing transportation, or promoting their own health and well being, so both sides share that. In order for both sides to win they could both focus on promoting walking, or biking in the warm weather times, and then come winter offer more public transportation, so it will cut down on the pollution, and help promote a healthy lifestyle, yet still as a back up offer public transportation.

Your Recommendation

I want policy-makers to vote in favor of spending more money on advertising, and alternative transportation methods that don’t pollute our air and environment like buses, trains, and cabs. I want there to be more of a push for car polling, only if absolutely necessary. I would like to see more promotion towards walking places, making it accessible and a realistic idea, or even renting a bike to use would be beneficial and less air pollution, while still being quick.

Sources:


http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=12


https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF0400&ssn=0&y=2011


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eco-friendly


http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution.html


http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2020
EH-2 Increase the different modes of transportation to and from work
Definition: Find different, environmentally friendly ways of transportation in our everyday life that will not pollute the air, or cut down the amounts of fuel we are using and putting into the air
Target: .6 percent
Baseline: .5 percent of trips were made to work via bicycle in 2008

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary the definition of environmentally friendly is something that is not environmentally harmful


HF0400 Environmental and Natural Resource Money Appropriate
Title: To fund the community with money to help clean our air from all of the pollution caused by all of the fuel expensive modes of transportation used. Then, encourage people to use public transportation, or other forms of transportation; bike,walking etc. 
Sponsor: Denny McNamara (R)
Latest Major Action: Representative Denny McNamara, Chair of the Committee on Evironment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance called a forty-fourth meeting to order at 8:53 a.m. on May 3, 2011, in Room 5 of the State Office Building. 
Recommendation: Yes for HF0400 Environmental and Natural Resource Money Appropriate Act
My Political Representative: Governor, Mark Dayton 

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

This week for our project we learned about political advocacy, and the importance of it. This was a very good idea for me, because I do not pay attention to politics at all. It was good to find out and read a little about who is actually representing me. I do live in Minnesota, but am a registered voter in the state of Wisconsin, so I researched who represents Slinger, WI. 


The President is, Barack Obama. Since he is after all the president it would be hard to reach him personally, but his contact information would go through the White House. 


The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 2500


Visitors Office:
202-456-2121

One of my State House Representatives are, Pat Strachota, a Republican of the 58th District.


Room 324 East
State Capital
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53703


(608)264-8486


Rep.Strachota@legis.wisconsin.gov

The second State House Representative is, Glenn Grothman, a Republican of the 20th District.


Room 10 South
State Capital
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707


(608) 226-7513


Sen.Grothamn@legis.wisconsin.gov

The governor is, Scott Walker.


PO BOX 620437
Middleton, WI 53562


govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

One of the Wisconsin Senators is, Herb Kohl, a Republican. 


310 W. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 950
Milwaukee, WI 53202


senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov

The second Wisconsin Senator is, Ron Johnson, a Republican. 


517 East Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202


(414) 276-7284


info@ronjohnsonforsenate.com

Lindsay's Loving Land

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Lindsay, a junior at UMD enrolled in the class HLTH 3500, which focuses on the importance of cutting down our resources and preserving the earth! The focus of my blog is to learn and discuss ways we can all go green and help the earth we live in! There are many simple everyday behaviors we can change and work on to not only help ourself, but everyone else around us as well! I know for me personally I am very health conscious, but there is still many things I can work on!

My blog will contain these types of posts:

1.  Advocacy Project
2.  Eye Opener
3.  Reflection
4.  Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Share and Voice

The members in my web group are:

1.  Sierra W@See-Air-Ah
2. Dr. V/Kristen@Enviro Surfing with Amy and Kristin
3.  Chnice@Eco Summit With Chnice
4. Duzong@Duzong's Treehouse

This is the beginning of making life style changes to help our earth, and also a great way to find out different ways my fellow classmates are making changes as well. I believe if we all work together we can really make a difference!