Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

Local Political Representatives

President

President: Barack Obama

Political Affiliation: Democratic

Contact Information:

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Phone:

Web Address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Congresspersons (Senate & House)

State Representative: Tim Huntley

Political Affiliation: DFL

Contact Information:

585 State Office Building

100 Rev. Dr. Matin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55155

Phone: 651-296-2228

Web Address: rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn

U.S. Representative: James L. Oberstar

Political Affiliation: DFL

Contact Information:

Duluth Federal Building Room 231

Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: 218-727-7474

Web Address: http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm

State Senator: Yvonne Prettner Solon

Political Affiliation: DFL

Contact Information: 

75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Capitol Building, Room G-9

Phone: 651-296-4188

Web Address: http://www.senate.mn/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1061&ls=86

U.S. Senator: Amy Klobuchar

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Contact Information:

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510-2304

Phone: 202-244-3222

Web Address: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/contactamy.cfm

Governor, State Legislators (Senate & House)

Governor: Tim Pawlenty

Political Affiliation: Republican

Contact Information:

Office of the Governor 130 State

Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone: 651-296-3391

Web Address: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

County Board President

St. Louis County Administrator: Alan Mitchell

Phone: 218-726-2448

2nd District Commissioner: Steve O'Neil

Political Affiliation:

Contact Information:

Room 208

100 N. 5th Avenue West

Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: 218-726-2359

Web Address:

City Major: Don Ness

Political Affiliation: DFL

Contact Information:

Room 402

411 West First Street

Duluth, MN 55802

Phone: 218-730-5230

Web Address: dness@duluthmn.gov

"It's not easy to be Green."-Kermit

Reflections: Weeks 7&8

Week 7:

We read "Ill Winds The Chemical Plant Next Door" which is about a chemical plant (Borden) and its effects on the small town that it is in (Buffalo). Borden has been accused of dumping illegal amounts of toxins into the water, which had some major effects on the families that lived there. The article left us wondering if the chemical plant was the major cause of the people developing cancers. In my own personal opinion I truly do think that it does has some effect with the residents developing cancers. We also watched the documentary "Green" which was made by a student named Laura Dunn. The video was a big eye opener to the issue about the 100 mile stretch of the Mississippi River in Louisiana called "Cancer Alley". Cancer Alley has a huge trend of cancer among the residents. This video really opened my eyes to what the chemical plants are really doing to the environment and the surrounding communities! We also did an Eye opener: Environmental Working Group. In this eye opener we went to the Environmental Working Groups database where we got to pick one of the cosmetic that we use everyday and found out how dangerous they really are to the environment and to us as well. I picked the face wash that  I did used but now I don't after what I found out about it!! I am still in search of the perfect face wash that is environmentally friendly and one that will not react to my super sensitive skin.

Week 8:

We read Privatizing Water which was about the riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia where hundreds were injured and one killed  over the water privatization. After reading this it really made me think of how lucky I really am to have water and to not take it for granted, which most of us Americans do. We also watched the documentary "Thirst" which was also on water privatization. The film showed us how other countries are dealing with the water issues and how some are preserving. In the video the mayor of Stockton, California is planning on signing their water to be run by a private sector which really made the citizens mad due to the fact they had no say in it what so ever. We were unable to finish the video due it not working but I can only imagine how it finished in the end! The person with the power always seems to win...

"It's not easy to be Green."-Kermit

Eye Opener 4: Environmental Working Group

The Product:

For this eye opener, I decided to do the face cleaner that I use everyday which is Clean & Clear Blackhead clearing scrub. The results were not in my favor and pretty much made me want to throw it away and never use it again!!

Results:

-The face wash scored 6 out 10 on the hazardous scale.

-The ingredients in this product are linked to: cancer, violations, restrictions & warnings, allergies/immunotoxicity

-Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: neurotoxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation, organ system toxicity, miscellaneous, multiple, additive exposure sources, irritation, enhanced skin absorption, contamination concerns

-They also conduct animal testing (which I had no idea they did!!)

What I learned:

I was really shocked on how bad this product is...I had no idea they would even test face wash on an animal. That fact right there just makes me sick to my stomach! I will never again use this product. I even typed in some of the other products that I use everyday just to see what they would score too. Well pretty much everything that I use everyday is horrible and well I plan on changing this when I get done with college because the things I use now are usually on sale and really cheap. I use to use the Burt bee's but I guess my skin really did not like the product because I broke out from it but I am going to try some other products that are more natural.  From now on I am going to do some research before I go and buy some product!!

"It's not easy to be Green."-Kermit