Hello Everyone!

Hope you are all doing well!

My name is Divet and I am 35 years old. I was born and raised for the first 10 years of life in Cuba. I graduated from Miami Senior High School in 2004. My current school is Miami Dade School - Kendall Campus, however I am doing all my classes online. I work at an Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) clinic with the University of Miami. My goals are to finish my master in Health Services Administration in the next 5 years. This is my second time attending Miami Dade, as I took a 10 year break due to family. 

During my free time away from work, I spend my time with my son who is turning officially a teenager (13 years old) in just a few days. He usually has a very full schedule full of activities or sports. When I am not doing something with my son, I am stuck in my kindle reading a novel. I do not have an specific food but I do love to cook and to try new foods. I am usually the one cooking for my family on any special occasion; such as birthdays, graduations and holidays. I would love to live in a smaller city and/or own a small farm. 

I am most proud of all the accomplishes and even mistakes I have made, without them I would not be the person I am today.

Looking forward to working with you all. 

There were several topics I’ve been debating that I wanted to do research and write about. My two top choices were “the scarce of food in Miami during Covid-19” and “the reality of sex trafficking in Miami”. The option I have chosen is Sex trafficking in Miami. When it comes to the food of scarce of food in Miami, it is something that is currently happening, but I feel like it would be resolved. However, the reality of sex trafficking in Miami is a problem that we continue to have after many years. Unless we fight against it, and train people to look for signs of sex trafficking, we will continue to have this issue for years to come.  

This article explains on how Hotels and Motels play a significant role in the human trafficking industries. It also goes over the importance of implementing regular training programs and educational regiments to learn the signs of human trafficking. Hotels and Motels can help minimized the chances of human trafficking by creating policy against human trafficking. 

This article discusses human trafficking, also known as “modern-day slavery” is a global industry worth $36 billion dollars. The U.S. congress have passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TV) In October 2000, to change the nature of modern-day slavery. The article goes over the three top states of the United States of America with highest trafficking activities. With all the immigrants, undocumented workers, and trafficked persons; Florida has become one of the key ports for trafficking. It also goes over on the actions some Christian organizations are doing to fight against human trafficking. 

The last article I choose explain what are the five myths or misconceptions about human trafficking. The first myths focus on how we human trafficking are done by people known by the victim. Secondly, human trafficking is not only a done outside of the United States of America. A total of 22,526 human trafficking victim contacted the US trafficking hotline in 2019. The third myth is that human trafficking increases in large city sporting events such as the Superbowl hosted in Miami in 2020. Fourth myth is said that human trafficking is done only by gangs and cartels. And lastly, that trafficking requires victims to be moved across borders or cities. 

For my first topic of reflection, I chose CAS1. In this essay, I have learned how we are so focused on getting more stuff that we do not stop to think about how it is made or the process it goes through just for us to discard it. Before this assignment, I never took the time to think about it. I did not expect to learn so much about the consequences of buying something at a lost cost, made out material that can break easily and will need to be replaced at a shorter time. This activity opened my eyes to think hard and be more self-conscious of what I purchase. I want to make sure I leave behind a livable home for my future generations. All actions I have taken since doing this assignment or activity are to be mindful of what I buy and to do research of the company I buy from. This article changes me as a person because it made me realize that in my haste to own more stuff than I need, it made my child and future generations world a place where it may not survive for long.  

The second topic I chose is CAS2. In this assignment I choose the two articles related to giving back during the holidays. During covid-19 a lot of nursing homes were affected, not only did they had to quarantine away from their family, but their lives were in danger. They had to find ways to make sure the holidays were not spent alone a second year in a row. They started the program Santa’s grandchildren, that focused on volunteers that offer their time and love to all those grandparents away from their loved ones. I also chose an article about how a family created or adapted toys for kids and adults with disabilities and sensory issues. Both stories made me realize that anyone can overcome a setback or an obstacle. Both these stories capture my heart. Santa’s grandchildren program showed me that people are willing to go beyond when needed. This program made sure to make these grandparents feel like they matter and like they were unforgettable. The non-profit organization MazMods, showed me that parents are willing to make sure their child feels as normal as possible. Not only did they both make sure their child was able to play with toys other kids played with just adapted to his need. But they also offer the services to other parents that were looking for similar solutions. 

The last of the activities that I chose is CAS3. In this article, I was to choose two Ted Videos that I found as an innovation. The first video I chose was how to eliminate waste by rediscovering thrifting. This concept was very enlightening. It gave me ideas of the items around my house or that are gifted to me that can be reused. The second video I have chosen is old books Reborn as art. I am not going to lie but when I first read the title of the video, I hesitated to watch it. I saw how Brian used old books that may have ended in the land-field and were used as a new way to reintroduce them to the world.  

I have learned from each activity. Whether it is to rethink the items I repurchase, to learn that thrifting can be a new way to make sure I help the environment, or just finding a way for me to volunteer. My favorite assignment of all these is Santa’s grandchildren. This story touched my heart knowing that all those grandparents had a special someone wishing them a happy holiday and sharing such a special time with them.  

 

In the story of Stuff with Annie Leonard, talks about how she wanted to know where all our stuff comes from to where they end up after being discarded. Annie says that she traveled the world for over 10 years, and she discovered a lot of things are missing during the materials economy process and the limits we tend to push, just so that we can own more stuff.

She talks on how in each step during the materials economy (Extraction, production, Distribution, Consumption, and Disposal) some key steps: people, government, and corporations. The government's main concern is to make sure that corporations are taken care of instead of the people.

With extraction we push the limit when we are cutting trees, blowing up mountains to access the metals inside, when we use all the water, end up wiping out all the animals, and the people that will end up having to relocate after losing their homes. We are so full of greed and wanting to own so much stuff that we are running out of resources in the United States of America. In order to supply the demand, we ended outsourcing all our natural resources from third worlds. According to the United States, these homes and land are not owned by the generations of people that have lived there. In today's system, we measure people by what they own and buy.

During production, we use so much energy just to mix toxic chemicals with our natural resources to make toxic contaminated products that we end up using without thinking of the consequences to our health and environment.  We use so many synthetic chemicals in today’s products and only a handful have been tested for health impacts. In the United States of America, we are responsible for billions of pounds of pollution in a year. In order to hide all the pollution, we are sending all our factories overseas.

In distribution everything is about how quick we sell, and we accomplish this by having stuff at a very lost cost. What we do not stop to think is why and how it can be so cheap. It’s cheap because again everything starts in the extraction process, people are losing their home while we are harvesting their natural resources, or during production; when the same people having to relocate ends up working for the same company, they lose their homes too. They work in a corporation in unworkable conditions, risking their health by dealing with toxic, and getting paid close to nothing.

Along the consumption process, we end up participating in their two most effective strategies. 1. Strategy is Planned Obsolescence which means we buy products that are designed to break at a fast pace, so that we end up discarding and buying new ones. 2. Strategy perceived obsolescence will convince us to throw away products that were still useful for a newer, more appealing version.

And lastly, during the disposal process, we end up dumping all these items in a landfill or worse, by burning those same products that were made with toxic chemicals. These products are burned and all the toxic chemicals such as Dioxin, the most toxic substance manmade, are released into our air, land and water. Other methods of disposal can be recycled but a lot of these items can’t be recyclable due to many chemicals used while making them or they were NOT made to be recyclable.

There’re many ways for us to intervene and to get involved such as renewable energy, zero waste, and many more.

 

In the story of Cosmetics with Annie Leonard she goes over one of the keys factors in material economy called toxic in and toxic out. Annie wanted to know what the ingredients of some of her favorite cosmetics were. And what she could not believe what she found.

She found ingredients that can lead to cancer, asthma, learning disabilities, amongst many more. We women tend to us double the personal care products than a man, with each products containing dozens of chemicals which are not even FDA approved. With all the choices in the stores you would think a more natural or safe product will be accessible. The government and the same companies that create those toxic products are the one that make the choices for what product to sell in store.

The same companies that will support in the cure for Breast cancer, are the one that uses chemicals in their products that are linked to cancer. The government and companies are the one that decide what chemicals goes in each product.  They are still using formulas and chemicals that were used in the 50s. Even though there’s doctors and scientists that can link these chemicals to serious health problem there’s no law that prevent companies from continuing using them.

Companies like the FDA won’t test the products or even the ingredients that are used to make them. Since 1938 only 8 ingredients have been banned in the use of products that we use.

 

Reflection:  A

My role as a global citizen is to make sure that my future generations will have a livable home. In order to do so is to be more self-conscious of what I buy, own and discard of my stuff.  I do acknowledge that my consumption role is a big part of the problem we currently have. I tend to buy items knowing they are coming from a third world in order to save money. I also tend to be persuaded to buy newer versions of items I already own in order to have the latest, more chic items. Consumption will never go away as we need things daily but if we all acknowledge and make the necessary changes to have a greener life for our future generations to have a better world.

 

Reflection:  B

The changes this story has inspired me to make after watching it is to be more self-conscious on my purchases. To think more when purchasing an item, that just because it may seem like a bargain it does not mean it’s better. Another change that I could make is by researching where my stuff is coming from and how ethical are the corporations, I spend my money on. Using local companies will be a better option for me if they focused more on their workers and on how greener to the environment their products are. Also teaching my kids and any future generations on how to take care of this world and the benefits it will have if we do our part.  

 

One of the articles that caught my attention was the story of Santa’s “grandchildren” spreading joy in Italian homes. Due to all the rapid increases of Covid-19, all nursing homes in Italy were closed or limited the visitation to all their patients. Nursing homes like the Martino Zanchi Foundation nursing home in Northern Italy had to close their doors to all visitors. The nursing home was participating for the first year in the Santa’s grandchildren program to spread a little cheer with all their patients. A lot of the volunteers had said they had signed up to the program since some have lost their own grandparents and they still wanted to feel like a grandchild. Some adoptee grandparents do not have anyone or family could not visit them due to all the Covid-19 restrictions, were able to receive gifts and video chat with their adoptee grandchildren and even their own families. 

 

How a Colorado family launched a Christmas toy hack-a-thon for children with disabilities that has gone global. Written by Kevin Simpson 

 

In this story, the family Watson – mother Deana and father Steve – wanted their child Max, who has severe disabilities to be able to use a toy, however his motor skills were limited. After searching for an adapted toy that will be accessible for Max, they found them at a much higher price. Steve knew he could make an adaptable version for Max that was not so expensive. After people started to send requests for other adaptable toys, the family decided to open a non-profit organization called the MazMods; that cater to creating or adapt other toys for other disabled kids and adults as well. Hundreds of volunteers got together to help, some did not even know or had done anything like that. Volunteers were divided into groups that worked on a specific duty; some solder the toys with the new wires, some tested the quality of the toys, labeled the package, and others helped in shipping the boxes. This non-profit organization became so big, that packages request from all over the world have been requested; such as, Canada, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, and many more.  

 

REFLECTION: 

What I learned in each article was that sometimes another solution to setback can be found by trying something new. In the first article the nursing home found a solution for the grandparents to be able to spend the holidays with their family and their adopted grandchildren. In the second article the parents did not give up and found a way for not only their child to be able to have an accessible toy but were able to offer to others as well. My thoughts on both these articles, is that sometimes strangers get together to offer a new way to connect with others. These articles in the solutions journalism compared to other media were portrayed in a humane way of staying positive of finding a solution to a situation. News is usually portrait in a negative way or news is told after something bad has happened. 

 

References:  

Santa's 'grandchildren' spread joy in Italian nursing homes | AP News 

https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/25/toy-hack-a-thon-colorado-christmas/ 

In the first Ted Talk video in the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle tab, I picked the “Old books reborn as art” by artist Brian Dettmer. He talks about how he turns old books and into beautiful, unexpected sculptures. He talks about the process he goes through, like using clamps and others material in order to turn the book into a solid material before using varnish. He sees a book as a body and a tool that can be reused to create a new piece. Brian sees himself almost like an archaeology, after excavating to discover as much as possible within the books. He mentions that people think books will become extinct since we now use more of the digital technology such as e-reader.  He however thinks book will evolve more, he compares it to how people thought painting was going to die when photography and printmaking became an everyday thing.

In the second video, I choose, “To eliminate waste, we need to rediscover thrift” by Andrew Dent. Mr. Dent explains on the concept of Thrifting and how it can be done in many aspects of our lives. He talks about how his grandma showed him how to thrift, he mentions her jar of string that she collected throughout her life, and she reuse it when needed, but put it back inside the jar when she was done.  This show him that reusing something she already own saved money, which is the real purpose of thrifting. He talks about how to of the major industry are doing when it comes to reducing, reusing and recycling, also known as thrifting. In one hand the automotive industry recycles 95% of the cars and about 75% of the old car get reused again. On the other hand, the architecture Industry struggles to thrift. They only think of the building process but not on the taking down part. When it comes to taking down, they don’t dismantle, they demolish. A third of this ends up in our landfills, which we already have about 1.3 billion ton of material there. There plenty of industry that can reduce their waste if only they thrifted more.

 The first video with Brian Dettmer was very enlightening to watch on the art he created. Coming from someone like me that loves reading, it broke my heart how books were first treated. But as you continue to listen to him you realize that this is an amazing way of keeping those books alive. They way that people find ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle have always amazed me and this was not an exception. The book of Raphael paintings is a fantastic way to display his renaissance art in a new way. When it comes to Andre Dent, and how he explains the way major industries, and everyone can help with providing a zero waste in a lot of ways. From using all we already have, we must reduce, reuse, and recycle if we do not want 4 billion tons of waste in the landfills by 2100. I know we may not all be here by then, but our future generation will, and the way we keep adding to those landfills, we may not be able to leave any future for them. Any actions we take have consequences, and I want mine to impact as much as I can for my future generations. I pledged about 5 months to not buy plastic bottles of water. I instead, travel everywhere with my reusable water bottle.

The actions that this video has inspired me to take are to learn ways in which I can reduce my own food waste in my kitchen. I usually tend to plan my meals however I never take into consideration the items I already have in my pantry. I will be using this weekend to take inventory of all the items I already have and will be planning my meals with them before I decide to purchase any other can or food item.