End the Destruction!

     One challenge that not only harms certain localized areas, but also effects the whole globe, is habitat/ecosystem destruction. The continued loss of more and more ecosystem is changing the planet and causing many species to become endangered. A news article I found on a website called Green Environmental News showed a prime example of this. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N.O.A.A.), announced that they will be dedicating two sections (41,914 square miles) of marine habitat for protection, on the West coast where endangered leatherback sea turtles are known to travel. "Critical habitat designations only affect federal plans that have the potential to adversely modify or destroy critical habitat," so this will help aide the leatherback in its fight against extinction by protecting its home. For more information you can visit:

http://www.greenenvironmentnews.com/Environment/Wildlife/Additional+critical+habitat+designated+for+leatherback+sea+turtles+off+West+Coast.

     After visiting the Student Involvement page at FGCU, I found the club called Eco-Action. The main focus of this organization is to improve local ecosystems and encourage environmentally sustainable outdoor recreational activities. I was a bit disappointed that they did not have a website to learn more, but I know that this is a very important issue here in Southwest Florida. With so many natural habitats in our area, it is important that we protect them and keep the ecosystems alive. The biggest cause of habitat destruction is building homes, businesses, and other infrastructure and that is what I want to change. To fight for the protection of wildlife, I could team up with large wildlife organizations such as N.O.A.A. and fight to have important ecosystems protected. Along with protecting these areas, educational tours could be given to specify the importance of each habitat to our entire world. The best way to change a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. When people are knowledgeable about their surroundings, they can better the world by making smarter decisions when it comes to building, recycling, polluting, and other events that take a toll on our environment.

For Love or for Big Bucks

 Gay Marriage Debate is About Money, Too 

By, Richard H. Thaler

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/business/gay-marriage-debate-is-about-money-too.html?ref=samesexmarriage

     In this article, Richard H. Thaler, a professor of economics and behavioral science at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, dives into the controversial question: Are same-sex couples allowed to call themselves "married"? He explains that at the federal level, this issue is not only about the word "marriage", but it is also about money. People who are in domestic partnerships do not qualify for financial benefits that people who are married can obtain. This is because of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which says, “The word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Thaler believes that the solution to this problem is to have Congress amend the Defense of Marriage Act so that wherever the word ‘marriage’ appears in any federal statute, it should say ‘domestic partnership between two people valid under the laws of the state where it was obtained.’ 

     This would mean that all unions that are called 'marriages' would be called 'domestic partnerships' that would be offered to different-sex couples as well as same-sex couples. Marriage would no longer be regulated by the government at this point and weddings would become private matters such as bar/bat mitzvahs. Thaler also argues that anyone who supports freedom of religion should support this proposal because then religions would have the freedom to decide their own criteria for marriage. The churches would be able to decide who they will and will not marry.   

     I agree with Thaler that same sex couples should be able to be together and receive the same financial benefits that any other couple can claim. Just because their relationship may be two men or to women, doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated the same way a man and a woman are treated. However, I feel that it may be too drastic and controversial to change all 'marriages' to 'domestic partnerships'. Too many religious believers stand by the term 'marriage' and would feel that it is an outrage to remove it. Although it would be nice for gay couples and straight couples to be able to marry and be called the same thing, I do not believe that Thaler's proposal would ever pass. Rather than changing the Marriage Act, more people would support the idea of creating a new act that allows couples of all sexes to receive the same financial support in all aspects of their relationship. It's only fair that gay couples be supported with health insurance, joined tax returns, social security, and citizenship just like married couples, in order to make their relationships as successful as different-sex marriages, even if they are given the name 'domestic partnerships'. What's in a name anyways?   

     

Kicking Poverty's Butt: One Microfinance at a Time

     Jamila supports her family by sewing clothes for clients in her neighborhood located in Pakistan. She is very passionate about what she does and she is a very honest salesperson. She regularly receives orders from her clients because her work is so good. Her husband is in the vegetable industry and believes in selling very fresh products for a good rate. Jamila's three daughters also help with her business and daily housework. Jamila has 33% of her loan raised and needs $925 more to have the complete $1,400 she needs. With the money from the loan, she will buy fresh vegetables for her husbands business to increase his profitable income.
     Jamila's group seems like the perfect candidates for the loan because they are honest people who not only love their business, but also have their customers best interest in mind. Both Jamila and her husband put passion into their businesses and that's why their clients return. This constant flow of business shows that Jamila and her group would be financially able to pay back the loan. With the increase in business the loan can provide, Jamila should be able to work her way out of poverty and eliminate her need for future loans.
     Jamila's loan is administered by Asasah, a partner of Save the Children. This field partner meets all standards required for partnership with Kiva. Social performance is something used by Kiva in partnering with organizations that work hard to create positive outcomes for the communities they serve. For this particular loan, Asasah's social performance strengths are anti-poverty focus, vulnerable group focus, family and community empowerment, entrepreneurial support, facilitation of savings, and innovation. Not only should these performance strengths prove to help Jamila in her fight against poverty, but they will also teach her and her community ways to save better, stand up for themselves, support their own businesses they started, and learn ways to make the best of situations by doing what they can with what they have.
     Another plus to this loan is that 0.00% of Asasah's loans are at risk and the currency exchange loss rate is also 0.00%. This is another factor proving that donors will receive their money back through the payment system. Over the 13 month repayment term, I believe that Jamila and her group will successfully pay back the loan and be one step closer to breaking free from poverty. Because this is a group loan, Jamila and her fellow group members will be able to support one another in repaying their share. In working to support her family, Jamila can feel a sense of self worth by providing her husband with the vegetables he needs for his business. She can finally feel more equal when it comes to financial issues.
     Kiva is an organization that uses the power of microfinance to help people of low-income free themselves from the chains of poverty. To learn more about Jamila's story and visit Kiva's informative website, click this live link provided: http://www.kiva.org/lend/385142. Maybe you too will be inspired to lend a hand across the globe. A little buck can go a long way.

 

Jamila (in blue) and the rest of her group members.

  

A salty American

I am the daughter of a nation that we all call home today.
The United States of America is where it all took place.
Born and raised in a salty haze,
I spent my days on the beach.
South Florida is my peninsula home,
and it's a part of what made me, me.

English is my only language and I speak it loud and proud.
My family comes together when the holidays roll around.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the fourth of July, are examples of such.
They've been celebrating these traditions since before I knew their touch.

I may be of Irish, Austrian, and Croatian decent,
but here in the U.S.A. is where all my time has been spent.
I fit the mold of your typical all-American girl,
blonde hair and green eyes are apart of my disguise.
I love the coast that I call my home,
and I feel the salty breeze sweep right through my bones.

Racial Prejudice in the Courts Strikes Again

     In the article, Racist Arrests in Tulia, Texas by the American Civil Liberties Union, racially motivated arrests are shown to be an issue that still occur in the United States. One such case occurred in Texas where 10 percent of the African American population was arrested on drug charges based off of the testimony of one undercover officer. Thirty-nine of the forty-six people arrested were black and in April, a Dallas judge threw out all 38 drug convictions because they were based off of the questionable testimony given by the single officer that was accused of racial prejudice.
     Although the issue of racism is not as extreme as it used to be, racial prejudice is something that still goes on in today's society and it needs to be addressed. Often times racial profiling occurs in the workplace, in the classroom, and in the court systems. We see cases where, although sufficient evidence is not given, people are charged with crimes they did not commit because of their race, ethnicity, or fit to a certain profile. Not only is this unfair to the people who are falsely accused, but it also adds to the issue of racism in all of society.

http://www.aclu.org/national-security/racist-arrests-tulia-texas 

High Five Florida!

Florida’s “Big Five” are panthers, alligators, its beaches, the everglades, and oranges. Over the last twenty years there has been a dramatic change to most of the things on this list. The number of living Florida panthers is very low. The Florida panther was placed on the states endangered species list in 1973 and since then numbers are decreasing at a much slower rate, but they are still dropping because of habitat loss and contact with humans. The Florida Everglades, where panthers were once very abundant, now holds very few of these mammals and the Everglades it self is in danger. From the beginning, the Everglades were actively drained using pump systems and the planting of Melaleuca trees. Although it was realized that the everglades should be preserved and not drained, it was impossible to remove all of the trees harming it because they are an exotic species and have no natural predators or diseases to kill them off. Where as draining is not as large of a problem for the everglades now, industrial development near by is. Building infrastructure so close to the wetlands allows for pollution in the air, pollution in run off, and it creates more contact with humans and the native species. Alligator numbers in Florida have dropped as well. Although the animals are not apart of the endangered species list, their numbers are very important to Florida’s habitats. There are certain hunting seasons when it is legal to poach alligators, but their numbers should continue to be preserved because they are a keystone species in the everglades. As for the beaches in Florida, there has also been a change in the last twenty years. You could go to almost any part of Florida’s coast and notice the receding shoreline. Because of the beauty beaches provide, development on the coast for homes is becoming more and more common. Most of the time, dredging and other tactics that mess up sand distribution are used. Other than homes being built, inlets are designed, sea walls are put up, and jetties are built. All of these man-made projects interrupt natural ocean currents, effect sand distribution, cause habitat loss for animals, create pollution, and in the end, destroy the beaches. Although Florida oranges have not had severe problems in the last twenty years, it is possible that they may in the near future. Factors from global warming and climate change have allowed for very strange weather. Just recently Florida went through a series of freeze periods where farmers were struggling to keep their crops alive. If strange weather patterns continue, the fruit that Florida is known for could be in trouble.   

http://www.campushealthandsafety.org/violence/vandalism/

     Vandalism is the deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property and can take the form of destroying property, setting off fire alarms, stealing, and writing graffiti. Often times, peer pressure and hostility towards a school are the reasons for vandalism on campuses. Most acts of vandalism occur when the perpetrator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to CampusHealthandSafety.org, "One in ten students report engaging in vandalism due to alcohol." The student body is the group that suffers from these acts of violence. Colleges pay economic and social prices when it comes to repairing damage, collecting from student fees and morale. Warning students of the high costs of vandalism on campus and its effects on student fees and establishing drug and alcohol free residences are two ways of preventing this problem.
     I know from personal experiences that vandalism is a problem for countless schools. Many students are careless about their campus and don't feel like it is an issue when they damage something. This type of reckless behavior is most definitely tied to the use of drugs and alcohol. When under the influence, students are even more carefree with their actions and don't see how they effect them in the long run. They believe that it will become the janitor's problem by morning. In order to promote an on campus environment where the issues of vandalism are minimal, schools spirit must be targeted. Events, socials, and other fun activities held on campus make the place more fun and boost resident morale. A student that loves his/her school is much less likely to damage it, even when judgement is impaired by drugs or alcohol.