Bibliography-lokiofasgard

Posted on December 7, 2021 by lokiofasgard24

Chris.warren@science.org.au. (2016, September 7). The immune system explained. Curious. Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://www.science.org.au/curious/video/immune-system-explained

Background: This video explains the way the immune system operates. It uses an example of a virus introducing itself into the body, then in Laymen’s terms, begins to show how the body defends this attack, as well as learn from it.

How i used it: I used this source to explain the way the immune system will react and adapt to foreign entities. I used a virus as an example similarly to the video. I eventually related this example back to the way the body reacts to the suns rays and how similar the reactions are.

Waxman, E. (2018, July 18). Feel the burn? explaining the science of Sunscreen. UChicago Medicine. Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/explaining-the-science-of-sunscreen

Background: The article includes many sections that explain sunscreen such as, how to wear it, what spf is and which one you should use, how it should be applied, the scientific type of sunscreens, (etc.). The article give a simplified yet, in depth explaination of what sunscreen is.

How i used it: In my writing, I used this source minimally. I only used the section that tells you how to apply the sunscreen. I explained that sunscreen is not often used in the way they listed, applying 15-30 minutes before sun exposure.

How does melanin protect the skin? melanin skin and the melanin function. BloqUV. (2019, September 16). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://www.bloquv.com/blog/how-does-melanin-protect-the-skin-melanin-skin-and-the-melanin-function/

Background: This article is explaining what Melanin is. Melanin are cells that give our skin pigment. this function protects the skin from the sun. The post explains this function and other things such as sun protection and the dangers of the sun.

How i used it: I used this source in a section of my paper where I am explaining the body’s natural defense to the sun’s harmful rays. I illustrate what Melanin is and what its function is, which I had learned from the article. I chose to ignore the sun protection and dangers part due to the fact that I explain my own version of sun protection.

Nall, R. (2019, April 1). What are the benefits of sunlight? Healthline. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

Background: Healthline made this post on their website which highlight the beneficial effects of sun exposure. It depicts the mental and physical benefits that our body’s can obtain from the sun. The article creates the clear picture that sun exposure is indeed goo dfor you.

How i used it: I use this article in synthesis with another source in that the way sunscreen works, it blocks the skin from experiencing any sunlight. This in turn means that all the mental and physical benefits of the sun will be missed. This is an effort to bash sunscreen.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, & Bramlet, K. (2020, February 4). How does sunscreen work? MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/how-sunscreen-works.h27Z1590624.html.

Background: The article by MD Anderson Cancer Center defines the science of sunscreen. It explains the two main types of sunscreen, chemical and physical, and how they are different. The text states that both of these type do not allow the sun’s rays to pass through. In addition, it is mention that they are often used to together in many products as a compound.

How i used it: In my paper, I managed to show how sunscreen completely shields you from the sun. I explained that this is concerning because it makes your skin weaker and disallows the beneficial rays to be absorbed.

Boost the immune system. University of Maryland Medical System. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/what-to-know/managing-medical-conditions/healthy-habits/boost-immune-system.

Background: This is an article that is giving advice to people on how to strengthen the immune system. It shows examples of good practice for your immune system as well as boosters such as probiotics. All of the examples will help your immune system grow stonger.

How i used it: Instead of medicine that replaces your immune systems function, I made the readers understand that strengthening your immune system is much more beneficial to your overall health. I advised in favor of the techniques and strategies in the article.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, February 11). Lasting immunity found after recovery from covid-19. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19. 

Background: This source showed studies of people who had long lasting immunity after contracting the carona virus. The body fought off the virus and remained ready to face the virus again long after. The body developed antibodies of the virus.

How i used it: In my paper, I used this article of an example on how the immune system works. Once you go through the “practice” the body familiarizes itself with the virus and will know what to do instantly if it were to introduce into the body again. I related this example to the sun’s rays, by say the sun’s rays are to melanin as the virus is to antibodies.

Heather L. Brannon, M. D. (2019, June 19). How melanocytes defend your skin against UV rays. Verywell Health. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-melanocyte-1069513.

Background: Another article that explains how the body reacts to the sun through the “melanin technique.” They explain that melanocytes produce the melanin when needed.

How i used it: This source, in addition to another similar source, was used to further explain what melanin is and what its purpose is.

Sun Care Products Market Size, share & covid-19 impact analysis, by product type (sun-protection, after-sun, and tanning), form (lotion, Spray, Stick, and others), SPF (0-29, 30-50, and >50), distribution channel, and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. Sun Care Products Market Size, Share | Industry Report, 2020-2027. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/sun-care-products-market-103821

Background: This is a study on how the sunscreen market has performed over time and presently. The current value of the market is listed at $4.19 Billion. It also shows that the market will continue to grow.

How i used it: I informed the readers of the value of the sunscreen market. I used this information to show that company have a lot of money to market their products deceivingly so the market continues to grow in value. It is hard to refute this considering the paid promotions they will feed consumers.

Isguven, S. (2012, May 9). How does sunscreen protect you? cropped-YSM-Wordmark-Only-Black-High-Res.png. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from shorturl.at/bctGR

Background: Yale Scientific is another source that explains the way sunscreen works. Sunscreen blocks the sun’s rays with both physical and chemical compounds.

How i used it: This is another credible source that helped me define sunscreen and how it works. I made sure that the readers understood how sunscreen works to be able to move on to my point of blocking the sun completely from the skin is not healthy.

Sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2021, May 28). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/ 

Background: The post informs about sunscreen. Tells why you should use it, what kind you should use, how it is used, and what it does.

How i used it: I used this source solely for the one of its sub links it included. That source is listed in the resources.

The New York Times. (2010, June 23). Sunscreen: A history. The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/fashion/24skinside.html 

Background: This is a timeline of how sunscreen came to be. Originally introduced in the 1940’s, sunscreen was FDA approved in the early 1990’s.

How i used it: I use this source in synthesis with another source to explain that since sunscreen became widely used the skin cancer rates have only gone up. This nullified the argument that sunscreen prevents cancer.

Melanoma of the skin – cancer stat facts. SEER. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html

Background: The study shows cancer rate data dating back to 1992. A chart is shown that clearly shows the upward slope of cancer rates since 1992 up until 2019.

How i used it: I use this source in synthesis with another source to explain that since sunscreen became widely used the skin cancer rates have only gone up. This nullified the argument that sunscreen prevents cancer.

Ask the expert: How much sunscreen should I be using on my face and body? The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2020, December 2). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-how-much-sunscreen-should-i-be-using-on-my-face-and-body/ 

Background: This post told readers how to apply sunscreen properly. It also states that the majority of sunscreen users do not apply it correctly.

How i used it: I explained that since a majority of consumers use this product improperly it in turn makes the product majorly ineffective. Therefore, when applying the sunscreen incorrectly, all you’re doing is letting the skin grow weaker while still reaping the harmfulness of the sun.

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Definition

Posted on December 7, 2021 by ziggy026

The Legal Drinking Age Kills

Drinking restrictions create more drunk drivers. The first time someone hears this it may come as a shock since these restrictions are made to protect and they are meant to keep our children safe, and they are meant to stop what they cause. It’s hard for us to think about something that we have been hearing for so long, but when you think critically and are aware of your thoughts and feelings you have an understanding that you cannot drink alcohol (legally) until you turn 21. No one argues with this and more importantly no one questions it. When this is done, however, we can see the flaws with this logic and the reasons why it does just the opposite of it is supposed to.

            To begin, when it is said that drinking restrictions in America inversely cause more drunk driving accidents, it does not mean it literally. They do not directly cause these accidents in the way one might think. When looking at the surface we see this meaning that the restrictions that keep alcohol away from teenagers is putting it in their hands and then putting them immediately behind the wheel; that is not the case. What it does mean, however, is that we are taking experience away from them. We are taking away the knowledge and ability to discover how their bodies interact with alcohol, how it impacts them, how much is too much, and many other factors that come into play when drinking and knowing when to stop and when not to drive you and your friends home after a night out. When kids do not have these experiences they end up not knowing what to do, what not to do, or when to do (or not do) it. This can be difficult to have an understanding of for most people as it’s not an easy topic to discuss. We don’t want to think that the restrictions put in place to keep us safe are actually causing more harm than we realize but accepting this is the first step in changing it. With this in mind we can then talk about the next point, that the age being as high as it is encouraging kids to drink in different conditions. 

            It is no secret that teenagers will do what they can to get their hands on alcohol if that is what they want to do. When this is done, there is the risk of keeping it a secret. This means that after a night of drinking at a friend’s house they are going to have to get home. They have an 11:00 curfew which is inching closer and closer and they’re still seven shots in. The drive home is as long as it was before and that is not changing. If they tell their parents they need to stay a little longer or spend the night because they have been drinking, then they face the disastrous repercussions when they return home. If they give their parents a call asking for them to come pick them up, again, because they have been drinking heavily, then they will still have consequences to face. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that many kids take the risk of driving themselves home after these types of nights to avoid the wrath of their parents finding out how they had been spending their seemingly harmless time with friends. This is just one of the ways that the legal drinking age does just as much harm as it does good. 

            One final point that should be made is that when these teenagers drinking their dad’s scotch in the basement on a Saturday night when everyone else has conveniently gone away, turn 21 and are legally allowed to purchase alcohol and go out to bars or restaurants it is a recipe for disaster. We are letting them out into the world without a single restraint on them. Without a doubt the first stop for them is their local bar for a drinking binge with their best friends. There are a number of these kids who are going to make the conscious decision to drive themselves home. These restrictions enable the behavior and enable the behavior to be postponed. Keeping children from drinking is postponing the drunk fatalities they will cause. That does not mean that you should let your 7-year-old enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, but it does mean that something should be done to educate people about drunk driving, not about drinking. We leave our focus on the drinking aspect rather than the driving which is our main problem. How this can be avoided is unknown, but identifying the issue is the very first step.

            In conclusion, the statement that the legal drinking age and the various restrictions that go along with it cause motor vehicle fatalities caused by drunk driving can be easily misinterpreted and misunderstood. When we take this statement at face value there is undoubtedly going to be some confusion. When we take a deeper look at it and understand the dangers of letting 21-year-olds with no experience with alcohol have access to not only a valid ID and a driver’s license, but the ability to make decisions that could cost them their own lives and others, we can see how accurate this statement is. Not many people are prepared to hear the message behind this since it is undoubtedly harsh, but it is true and needs to be changed.

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Bibliography-RowanAnnouncer

Posted on December 7, 2021 by RowanAnnouncer
  1. The bean belt – coffees from around the world. Adams + Russell Coffee Roasters. (2021, July 20). Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.adamsandrussell.co.uk/the-bean-belt-coffees-from-around-the-world/

A: This article talks about where specifically coffee comes from. The specifics are centered around the “Bean Belt” where all coffee is grown because of the ideal climate. This article goes in depth about each region and what makes the coffee from each different from each other.

B: I used this article to gain information about the specifics about the “Bean Belt.” I also used this article to gain information about the different types of coffee beans and where they were grown.

2. Fletcher, I. (2002). Ian Fletcher an effective approach for the … – core. An Effective Approach for the Management of Waste Coffee Grounds. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/74208261.pdf

A: This article details different ways coffee is managed in the sense of waste management. This article provides specific statistics which detailed where coffee grounds go after they are initially used. 

B: I used this article to gain specific information and statistics about waste management of coffee grounds. This proved very useful in my search for reliable statistics to help my claims. 

3. Rankinen, L. (2020, December 16). Unique research revealed that significant amounts of coffee go to waste. Luonnonvarakeskus. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.luke.fi/en/references/significant-amounts-of-coffee-go-to-waste/

A: This article details how much coffee goes to waste on the side of the consumer. This article provided reliable statistics and information that gave insight to the amount of waste contributed by each household.

B: I used this article to efficiently illustrate the coffee waste contributed by each household. The statistics and information provided helped me explain the total amount of waste produced. This article helped me prove some questions I had in regards to the consumer side of things.

4. Okafor, J. (2021, September 14). Coffee – environmental impact of our caffeine habit. TRVST. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.trvst.world/sustainable-living/coffee-environmental-impact/#cmf_footnote_5

A: This article is very detailed in the aspects of the environmental impact of the coffee industry. Soil degradation, loss of natural habitat, coffee pollution, consumer pollution, resource consumption, coffee waste, coffee production impact, and tips on how to efficiently use sustainable coffee consumption methods. These were all things described in great detail in this article.

B: I obtained a ton of information from this article. Much of the information I didn’t already know, which was great for my progress through this topic. I gained very valuable information from this article that helped me validate hypothesis. 

5. Sorby, K. (2002, June). Environmental benefits of sustainable coffee. Documents & reports – all documents. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/831701468762315416/text/295970Env0bene10also02453501public1.txt

A: This article went into detail about sustainable methods of growing coffee beans. This article provided a ton of details behind the method of shade grown coffee beans. This article also provided details about environmental vulnerability about growing coffee beans.  

B: This article provided great insight about shade grown coffee beans. I learned a lot and gained valuable information that helped me move along in the process of developing my hypothesis.

6. IvyPanda. (2021, August 4). Starbucks Company’s Environmental Impacts. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/starbucks-companys-environmental-impacts/

A: This article was centered around Starbucks and its environmental impact. This article provided detailed information about the past and present of Starbucks and how they are improving their business model to be more environmentally sustainable. 

B: I gained very detailed information about the past and present of Starbucks sustainability in conjunction with the environment. This article was very helpful to really understand Starbucks’s impact on the environment.

7. Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://news.dunkindonuts.com/file/sustainability-fact-sheet?action=

A: This article by Dunkin’ really illustrated how the future of Dunkin’ will be sustainable and safe for the environment. This article provided dates and plans for how they will conduct their future as a leading representative of the coffee industry. 

B: This article was very informative and helpful for the large section I dedicated to one of the largest brands in the coffee industry. It also reinforced the collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance, which was a big part of my analysis of the coffee industry.

8. Kraft Heinz releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada. Waste360. (2020, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/kraft-heinz-releases-maxwell-house-compostable-coffee-pods-canada

A: This article provided statistics and specific studies that revolved around the Maxwell House brand. It illustrated the detailed past, present and future of the brand as a whole. This article also provided quotes from the brand, and future sustainability of the brand. 

B: This article perfectly illustrated the current plans of sustainability for Maxwell House. I learned a lot about how the brand operates and their plans for the future. 

9. Scauzillo, S. (2019, July 19). The curious, environmental case of the keurig K-cups (or what to do with them). San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/07/19/the-curious-environmental-case-of-the-keurig-k-cups-or-what-to-do-with-them/

A: This article talks about the sustainability, or lack thereof, of the brand Keurig. The article provides specific statistics about the impact of the K-Cups and how detrimental they are to the environment. This article provided specific information about the different types of plastics and their recyclability. The article also provided useful information about the current plans for the Keurig brand. 

B: This article was very helpful to fully understand the Keurig brand. The statistics and quotes provided were very helpful to illustrate the impact of the Keurig brand.

10 Fair Trade Coffee. Grounds for Change. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://groundsforchange.com/blogs/learn/fair-trade-coffee

A: This article provided reliable information about the Fair Trade Certification and their impact on the coffee industry. This article laid out their goals and specifics about how Fair Trade impacts farmers. This article provided useful information on why this non-profit organization is so important to the farmers and more importantly the world as a whole.

B: I used this article to provide reliable information about Fair Trade and their Certification. The information in this article was the basis for much of my research.

11. Rainforest Alliance Certification. What is Rainforest Alliance certified coffee? (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from http://www.ethicalcoffee.net/rainforest.html

A: This article provided information about the Rainforest Alliance and its pledge to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainability. This article gave detailed information about the Rainforest Alliance’s certification standards and how a farm or brand becomes certified. 

B: This article was very helpful to really understand what the Rainforest Alliance really is. I used much of this information to build upon my hypothesis and promote a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to grow coffee beans. This article in conjunction with the Fair Trade article morphed much of my arguments about sustainability.

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Bibliography – LunaDuna

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Lunaduna
  1. Akhtar, A. (2015, October). The flaws and human harms of animal experimentation. Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics: CQ: the international journal of healthcare ethics committees. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594046/.

Background: The author Aysha Akhtar, discussed how procedures in a laboratory may influence the animal’s behavior for which the scientist cannot control. The animal’s behavior can even affect the outcome of the experiment. Having an animal in an enclosed space can cause distress and even abnormal behaviors in the animals.

How I used it: The article I had chosen was the first one that made me start my research. I started to think how animals could even jeopardize the research for new medications or vaccines.

2. Pros & Cons – ProCon.org. Animal Testing. (2020, June 10). Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://animal-testing.procon.org/.

Background: The most common argument on animal experimentation is whether it is humane or not. Animals used in experiments are forced to eat/drink, and even deprivation. Sometimes animals are deliberately sickened with certain chemicals and infected with diseases. In some cases, at the end of the experiment, the animals are killed. On the other hand, animal testing contributes to life-saving treatments for humans. The first-ever vaccine was created with the help of reaching cows, which helped end smallpox. Animal testing continues to create breakthroughs with the healthcare system today.

How I used it: I used this article to support my hypothesis. I mentioned how animals used in these experiments are treated unfairly.

3. Cornett, E. M., Jones, M. R., & Kaye, A. D. (2019, May 11). Ethics of animal experimentation – springer. Ethics of Animal Experimentation. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-99124-5_25.

Background: Animal research is extremely important to the advancement of medicine and even science. The number of lives saved by the inventions derived from experimentation is numerous. Even though this data seems positive, many people continue to be controversial about the opinion. Animal research first began back in the fifth century, starting with the Greeks, such as Aristotle. In this time period, the Greeks performed exploratory surgeries on live animals. 

How I used it: I described the past and how people in the present do not appreciate how we treat animals.

4. Animal Research at Stanford. (n.d.). Why animal research? Animal Research at Stanford. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://med.stanford.edu/animalresearch/why-animal-research.html.

Background: The use of animal experimentation has been essential for the discovery of treatments for many years. People have always asked questions about whether animal testing is actually ethical. But animal testing has been very critical for biomedical research. Scientists have confirmed that animals are susceptible to many of the same health conditions as humans.

How I used it: The article was used to go against my hypothesis, mentioning that animals are of high importance for the future of human health.

5. The Public Engagement team at the Wellcome Genome Campus. (2017, March 3). Should animals be used in research? Debates. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.yourgenome.org/debates/should-animals-be-used-in-research.

Background: Removing animals in a lab will impede our understanding of health and disease, but sometimes these experiments shorten the quality of life for the animals. Scientists have created a principle to help minimize the pain animals could experience. The principle is called the ‘three Rs.’ The three Rs reduce, replace, and refine. First off, scientists need to reduce the number of animals used in experiments. Replacing with computer modeling, or cell culture, or even human volunteers instead of using animals. Finally, refine the way animals are cared for. Scientists need to try to minimize the pain that animals may feel. Try using less invasive procedures and improve the living conditions where the animals are staying.

How I used it: These three Rs are extremely important for experimenting. I feel as though there could be another way to develop medications and even cures for diseases.

6. PETA. (2021, November 18). Animal Testing Facts and Statistics. Animals Are Not Ours. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animals-used-experimentation-factsheets/animal-experiments-overview/.

Background: Peta discussed how animals are wasteful and do not even help human health. Medical medications and vaccines rarely make it to the human trials. Even in past experiments, humans were harmed by the newly transmitted vaccines. Animals seemed to be fine with the medications, but human health was compromised.

How I used it: Peta mentioned how vaccines were “invented” because these animals never seem to make it to the human trials. Which in most cases, can cause harm to humans, even though it was fine for the animals.

7. Cruelty-Free International. (n.d.). About Animal Testing. Animal Experimentation. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/about-animal-testing.

Background: The author of the article mentions what types of animals are used in each experiment. Mainly animals that are vertebrates are used in experiments, such as mammals, amphibians, and birds. Although, some invertebrates are used like octopi. Animals that are used for these experiments are only bred for that one reason, in a million-dollar facility.

How I used it: There are specifics in choosing the correct animals for experimenting. The animals chosen need to have similar structures to humans for the trials to work.

8. Lone Star College. (n.d.). Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing. Save the animals: stop animal testing |. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.lonestar.edu/stopanimaltesting.htm.

Background: Animals deserve to have their own rights. Tom Regan, a philosophy professor at North Carolina State University, states: “Animals have a basic moral right to respectful treatment. . . .” The moral concept is wrong no matter if human health can benefit from the cause of animal experimenting.

How I used it: I used this article to describe how animals should not be forced to inflict pain for the health of humans. Animal life should not value more than a human.

9. Foundation for Biomedical Research. (2020, May 27). Medical advances. Animal Testing and Research. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://fbresearch.org/medical-advances/.

Background: The Foundation for Biomedical Research explains how animal experimentation has benefited human life. The research company discusses the use of everyday treatments that came from experimenting on animals, such as chemotherapy, dialysis, blood transfusion, etc.

How I used it: I used this article for the rebuttal part of my research essay. I explained how experimental research on animals has been a benefit for years, and many years to come.

10. Humane Society International. (2019, March 31). Limitations of animal tests. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.hsi.org/news-media/limitations-of-animal-tests/.

Background: The Humane Society explains how using animals for experimenting can have its limits. First of all, animals cannot test the same toxicity treatments as humans do, since the genetic make-up is different.

How I used it: I stated facts about how animal experimenting is not the best way to help find treatments for human health. For instance, mice, rats, and even rabbits have skin that absorbs chemicals quickly which humans can not do.

11. Schiffelers, M. J., Hagelstein, G., Harreman, A., & Spek, M. van der. (2005, August 1). Regulatory animal testing: A survey of the factors influencing the use of animal testing to meet regulatory requirements. DSpace Home. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/45061.  

Background: The article is mainly about the suffering that animals go through within each experiment. (Which also mentions the three Rs)

How I used it: I used this article to continue with my thoughts from the article used in number 5, “Should Animals be Used in Research?”

12. Gleeson, A. (2020, August 6). Animal testing outperformed by computer modelsALFIE GLEESON. BioTechniques. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://www.biotechniques.com/drug-discovery-development/animal-testing-outperformed-by-computer-models/.

Background: Researchers from the University of Oxford (UK) have developed computer simulations using cells from humans that project future treatment better than animal experimenting.

How I used it: Using these models can help benefit human trials more closely than using animal models. Having closer, more exact measurements to humans, since these cells are from humans.

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Reflection – LunaDuna

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Lunaduna

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

Throughout the semester, I have used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development. I have received numerous amounts of feedback from my professor, as well as from my peers. For example, I used the feedback I have received to rewrite my definition argument. I had issues with how to create a quotation “block,” and I received the correct information to fix my problem. Even the grammar exercise showed me how to fix my essay. I had to change my grammar used to make it more understandable. I also learned to make sure not to use the word “you” in my essay. After receiving the feedback, I had to go back and change my essay, hopefully, to make it better.

https://compclass2021.com/2021/10/20/definition-rewrite-lunaduna/

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

I believe that my work does demonstrate that I read critically. Throughout the semester, we have received numerous assignments that require reading texts and responding to them, such as replying in the comment field. I believe am able to read arguments carefully and understand what the author is trying to persuade. I am also able to critically interpret the author’s message and write it in my own words. I believe the work that demonstrates my skills is the purposeful summaries. That assignment showed how I was able to create a paragraph and rewrite the author’s message in my own words. I think I handled the task in a way that improved my understanding. I also believe that doing this task helped me to understand how to rephrase the author’s words, but still share the clear message.

https://compclass2021.com/2021/10/11/white-paper-lunaduna/

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

I believe that the visual rhetoric assignment shows how I analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of writing. When doing this assignment, I had to think outside the box and pay attention to every single detail. I had to create a summary for an audience that have never seen the video. The video was approximately thirty seconds long. I had to be very specific with what I was saying. I needed to create a picture for my audience so they could see what I was seeing. I will continuously learn how to create meaningful arguments presented to viewers.

https://compclass2021.com/2021/10/27/visual-rhetoric-rewrite-lunaduna/

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

Throughout the semester I started to understand how to create writing that involves my own ideas and interpretations. I believe I have met the expectations of academics with my writing. During my academic research, I have used many different sources to back up my evidence, to make it stronger and understandable to the reader. I believe the example I have used this technique in my causal argument. I have searched for different sources to support my hypothesis.

https://compclass2021.com/2021/10/29/causal-argument-rewrite-lunaduna/

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

Throughout the semester I believe my work demonstrates that I respect ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. I think that my annotated bibliography shows this in the best way. In my bibliography, I had to describe how each of the sources helped me support my hypothesis. I also had to explain in which ways the sources had improved my research argument. Of course, I had to make sure to properly use the correct citations to give the credit to the original authors. I completely understand how important it is to show the original authors credit for their ideas.

https://compclass2021.com/2021/12/07/bibliography-lunaduna/

Posted in Reflective SP23 | Leave a comment

Research-RowanAnnouncer

Posted on December 7, 2021 by RowanAnnouncer

A Change Can Change Everything

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word iniquitous means grossly unjust or unrighteous; wicked. This term perfectly encapsulates the overall actions of the representatives of the Coffee Industry, and it’s unfortunate consequences dispersed amongst our dwindling environment. 

What is coffee to you? How does coffee impact your life? Most people would answer both of those questions by saying coffee is that drink to wake you up in the morning before work/school, and that’s where the impact really stops. The average coffee drinker has no concept of where the coffee comes from, or how it’s grown. This ignorance needs to be stopped for the sake of the future of our environment. Every aspect of the coffee industry, from growing to before and after consumption, hurts the environment in some way. In an article called, “Coffee – The Environmental Impact of our Caffeine Addiction,” the author, Jennifer Okafor, starts off by saying “Our consumption of coffee is global and so is it’s environmental impact. Our coffee drinking habit has consequences for the climate, biodiversity, and the financial well-being of farmers. Since most coffee-growing regions are areas with delicate ecosystems the impact on the environment can prove both concerning and significant.” This quote perfectly scratches the surface of how much influence the coffee industry has on the environment and on the consumer. The consumer blindly endorses this behavior by purchasing the product. Not only is the manufacturer at fault, but the uneducated consumer is as well. 

The practices of the cultivation of coffee has changed drastically throughout the years. The traditional shade grown method was preferred for being environmentally friendly but over the years a different method has been adopted to keep up with the growing demand. There are two types of coffee plants; arabica and robusta. Arabica plants favor more shaded environments for better quality beans. Robusta plants are typically grown in direct sunlight thus creating a lesser quality bean. Okafor continues to explain that, “The demand for inexpensive coffee has positively encouraged farmers to embrace the practice of growing coffee directly under the sun. The yield from coffee fields without tree canopies is much higher than that of shaded farms and, as a result, is cheaper.” This favoring towards the sun grown method has put a damper on the environment in the area called the “bean belt.” The bean belt consists of South America, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and others including Australia, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Jamaica. In an article by Adams + Russell, they speak about why the bean belt got its name, “The Bean Belt is the name given to the collection of countries across the globe that produce most of the coffee that we drink each and every day. These countries are mainly in the southern hemisphere and all lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.” The loss of natural habitats is one of the main environmental consequences of the coffee industry’s misconduct. From Okafor’s article, “Coffee – The Environmental Impact of our Caffeine Addiction,” she presents statistics on deforestation and biodiversity, “The spread of coffee plantations has resulted in critical deforestation, putting certain plants and animals in danger. Out of the 50 countries globally with the highest deforestation rates, 37 are major coffee-growing regions. Out of the 25 biodiversity hotspots, 13 areas with delicate ecosystems are coffee-producing regions.” These statistics come from an article written by Kristina Sorby called, “Environmental benefits of sustainable coffee.” Sorby adds more informative statistics by saying, “Of the 11.8 million hectares used for coffee production around the world in 2001, only 2.3 million hectares are not planted in areas of former or current rainforest.” This statistic is troubling considering the massive amount of deforestation in rainforests worldwide. 

Following the cultivation process, the next step would be to turn the coffee beans into grounds. In an article by Ian Fletcher called, “An Effective Approach For the Management of Waste Coffee Grounds,” he speaks about the pollution during and after the processing of coffee ground, “Over a 6 month period in 1988, it was estimated that processing 547,000 tons of coffee in Central America generated as much as 1.1 million tons of pulp and polluted 110,000 cubic meters of water each day. This excess waste can also play havoc with soil and water sources as coffee pulp is often dumped into streams, severely degrading fragile ecosystems.” This process only accounts for about 4% of the coffee industry’s environmental impact, according to the article, “Unique Research Revealed that Significant Amounts of Coffee Goes to Waste,” written by Lea Rankinen. She continues to share that the largest impact the coffee industry is involved with is the cultivation of coffee at 68%. Following the theme of pollution through soil and water, the cultivation of coffee under direct sunlight provides more environmental difficulties. The vulnerability of the coffee plants to pests forces the farmers to use pesticides to certify a healthy harvest. The use of pesticides causes the air and ground water to be polluted causing contamination in the soil and water supply. Okafor explains that the organic waste from coffee production causes “significant river pollution. The discharged waste from the coffee processing plants into the waterways triggers the eutrophication of water systems and robs aquatic plants and animals of oxygen.” The amount of intentional or unintentional environmental impacts of the coffee industry have proven to negatively determine the future of the climate. 

The waste of the consumer accounts for a huge portion of the environmental impact. Rankinen shares a statistic about coffee waste by saying that, “It turned out that coffee is the third biggest category in total food waste, only vegetables and fruit products are thrown away more. An average Finn wastes some 2.5 liters of coffee drink annually. Differences between households were significant: the 16% of households that generate the most food waste poured away approximately 13 liters of coffee per person annually.” As well as the massive amount of liquid waste, the amount of waste from disposable cups, filters, and coffee pods generate a large amount of excess waste. This waste causes an extensive carbon footprint, thus contributing to climate change. There’s a lot of things you can do to help the environment and decrease your carbon footprint, but you must first learn where to look. Your selection of coffee and cup would’ve never been your first thought, but I hope now it might be. 

Choosing the perfect coffee brand may not seem like an important task for you. Your local supermarket may have a sale on a well-known brand, and that’s how you make your decision. You may see an enticing commercial on TV, that gets your mouth watering for a hot cup of joe. This mindless decision to pick the best coffee brand is something that many Americans deal with daily. Little do they know that their decision, although seemingly unimportant, will endorse unforseen toxic behavior carried out by the manufacturer if the wrong purchase is made by the consumer.

Undoubtedly, the irresponsible consumer claims they hold no responsibility, asserting that the industry leading coffee brands themselves are most accountable for the environmental detriment. Although this may be partly true, the line between manufacturer and consumer is seemingly slim because of their coinciding negative influence on the environment. The overall impact is too large on each side to not consider a substantial change to each of their practices. This change may be costly, mainly for the manufacturer, but it must be done to maintain a sustainable planet for future generations.

The first step of change must begin at the very start, planting and harvesting. Although most environmentally compliant coffee companies plant and harvest under shaded areas, the largest coffee companies are met with the dilemma of a safe environment or cost efficiency. Almost all of the time they choose the latter. The option of a safe environment refers to the choice to grow the coffee beans naturally under shaded beds of trees. The more favorable and cost efficient method is to cause massive deforestation in areas along the “Bean Belt.” Familiar brands such as: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Keurig and Maxwell House all share similar qualities, but their environmental compliance needs to be put into check. 

In 2020, Starbucks has committed to a more environmentally friendly future as the multi-national company celebrates 50 years since it’s creation. Although this may be great for it’s investment profile, their actions still leave much to be desired. Being one of the industry leading coffee companies, it’s assumed that their environmental impact would be massive. That assumption would be correct. Their wasteful practices were at an all time high throughout the 2000’s. Their biggest impact comes in the form of cups. Their increasing issue with disposable cups has led to the company being heavily criticized by environmental groups. Starbucks has recently pledged to lessen the impact by introducing recyclable cups and reusable mugs. Although this may be great, their environmental impact is felt through many other mediums. Energy consumption and water waste are two major contributing factors to their water footprint and most importantly, greenhouse gas emissions. Illustrated in an educational essay written by Ivy Panda called “Starbucks Company’s Environmental Impacts,” “Starbucks uses dipper wells to wash coffee and utensils. The company also uses a lot of water to prepare its beverages. That being the case, water usage has remained another critical concern for Starbucks Coffee. Statistics show that Starbucks wastes over 6.2 million gallons of water every single day.” Their water consumption not only affects the environment, but also the water sources of communities that are being exploited. Their waste management techniques use large amounts of energy, thus contributing to excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Another massive industry leading coffee company is Dunkin’ Donuts. Their overall contribution to environmental decay was previously felt through their widespread use of styrofoam cups. These styrofoam cups were a massive issue until they introduced a plan to eliminate styrofoam, and replace it with a recyclable paper cup. In 2018 Dunkin’, “announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018 with a targeted completion date of 2020. Dunkin’ U.S. has replaced the foam cup with a new, double-walled paper cup. Dunkin’ completed this transition in early-May 2020. The elimination of foam is expected to remove approximately 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually.” This information can be found in an informational article posted by the company themselves titled “Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet.” Both Starbucks and Dunkin’ have complied with growing concerns and improved their environmental sustainability to improve the future of both companies. With these changes being implemented within the past 2 years, environmental groups await further statistics to confirm their compliance. 

While Starbucks and Dunkin’ are mainly available in their countless coffee shops, Keurig and Maxwell House bring coffee to your kitchen each morning. Keurig and Maxwell House rely on the consumer to purchase their wide range of coffee pod products. Keurig being the lead manufacturer of which, selling approximately 30 billion K-Cups yearly. While Maxwell House is the smaller manufacturer, they hold a larger stake on their plans of fully compostable and recyclable pods compared to Keurig. Detailed in an article posted by Waste 360 titled, “Kraft Heinz Releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada,” the Head of Sustainability at Kraft Heinz, Nicole Fischer, details how they “recognize the significant concern packaging waste presents and we are working collectively at all levels of our operations to explore alternative solutions. Through ongoing collaboration with packaging experts, organizations and coalitions, Kraft Heinz Canada is working towards a circular economy to ensure real measures are taken to reduce single-use plastics and divert food waste from our landfills, limiting harmful impacts to our environment.” This goal will be hopefully achieved by 2025 as a part of Kraft Heinz’s aim to obtain a fully sustainable, fully recyclable product. Little can be said on Keurig’s part though. Feeling the pressure of creating a sustainable product, Keurig “announced that by the end of 2020, they will create a recyclable K-Cup pod made out of plastic #5 known as polypropylene plastic. You peel off the foil lid, compost or chuck the grounds and recycle the cup,” as detailed in an article called “The curious, environmental case of the Keurig K-Cups (or what to do with them),” written by Steve Scauzillo. Although this may be great for Keurig’s image, the “recyclable” K-Cup may not be completely recyclable. Scazillo continues by explaining that “only one-third of major recycling programs accept this kind of plastic. Also, just because a recycling facility accepts it, that doesn’t mean it gets recycled. That’s because this is a low value plastic. It cannot be made into another cup, unlike polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET plastic, used in soda bottles that can be recycled into other plastic bottles.” This is bad news for the overall sustainability of Keurig’s newly implemented product. Both Maxwell House and Keurig have implemented new ways to transform their product for a more sustainable future, but their pasts may cast a dark shadow on the future of the environment. In Scauzillo’s article he detailed a particular study called The Story of Stuff Project held by a Berkeley environmental nonprofit. This study estimates that “the amount of K-Cups in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times.” Is it too late to fix what’s already been done?

On a different side of the spectrum, the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade Certification are fighting to transform how we farm coffee beans from the very start. These extremely important improvements will refine how coffee is grown and harvested, while hopefully setting the standard for how changes should be made for the industry as a whole.

Although there has been a recent surge in deforestation directly associated with the growing/harvesting of coffee beans, the Fairtrade Certification, and more importantly the Rainforest Alliance, are willing to fight for the betterment of the world. The Rainforest Alliance standards are meant to protect the environment in the aspects of growing and harvesting. The Fairtrade Certification offers support to farmers and workers who are directly funded by the consumer. These two corporations offer the consumer plenty of environmentally friendly coffee brand alternatives to help the world in its quest for a better present and future.

The formula for a better environment must start with the production of coffee, or the more important efforts will fall short as well. Coffee may do a lot for our lives, but if the consumer fails to help the efforts in conjunction with Fairtrade along with the Rainforest Alliance, those attempts will be just that… attempts. Firstly, the ventures of the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade must be laid out to understand what we must do in return. 

Fairtrade Certified coffee directly impacts the lives of the farmers and workers, supplying them with a healthy lifestyle through “fair prices, community development and environmental stewardship.” Pulled from the same article by Grounds For Change titled, “Fair Trade Coffee,” “Fair trade coffee farmers market their own harvests through direct, long-term contracts with international buyers, learning how to manage their businesses and compete in the global marketplace. Receiving a fair price for their harvest allows these farmers to invest in their families’ health care and education, reinvest in quality and protect the environment. This empowerment model lifts farming families from poverty through trade, not aid, creating a more equitable and sustainable model of international trade that benefits producers, consumers, industry and the Earth.” Being fortunate enough to be granted a fair price is something many farmers can’t obtain. This cycle of unfair prices causes a domino effect across the whole market. Unable to obtain secure and reasonable prices for their coffee beans, farmers are forced to cut production costs. Choosing the cheaper options for everything results in questionable practices, thus hurting the environment. All of the environmental decay from coffee farming is a direct result of the farmers not being able to support their families. Desperation and distress are a dangerous combination when it is affecting your family. 

The Rainforest Alliance standards are meant to protect the environment and the rights of workers. In an article published by EthicalCoffee.net titled, “Rainforest Alliance Certification,” the author details how the Rainforest Alliance targets “Farms that coexist with natural forest cover, like coffee farms, are required to maintain 40 percent canopy coverage” while growing their beans. This requirement helps lessen the reach of deforestation on many coffee farms throughout the “bean belt.” “Farmers are not allowed to alter natural water courses. While they can use chemicals, such as pesticides, they must maintain buffer zones of natural vegetation between the crop areas and areas used by humans, including public roads. The standards also prohibit such activities as trafficking in wild animals, destruction of ecosystems, dumping untreated wastewater, and other harmful practices.” These requirements, in theory, should produce a healthy environment.

If you are willing to buy coffee brands with the Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance Certifications, then you must commit yourself to helping the environment in similar, yet helpful ways. Although the efforts by Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance are out of reach for the average consumer, you must commit yourself to helping in ways that are convenient and helpful within your realm. To endorse Fairtrade/Rainforest Alliance you must buy coffee brands with either of their certifications. Next step is to invest in an eco-friendly coffee maker to help one of the biggest impacts we have on the environment. Lastly, the need for a reusable coffee cup cannot be understated. Using disposable cups is our greatest impact on the environment when it pertains to coffee consumption. 

Funding each association will increase their reach, thus affecting the more crucial environments, while simultaneously helping the “big picture.” Both the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade are non-profit organizations, any donations towards their cause will undoubtedly help them continue their fight to make the world a better place. 

In conclusion, the Coffee Industry and their eco-friendly qualities are pointing to a more successful future. From the hard work proven by non-profit organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade, to the sustainable improvements by Starbucks, Dunkin’, Maxwell House and Keurig, and lastly environmentally friendly alternatives adopted by the consumer, all in conjunction will produce a successful future for generations to come. I can acknowledge that’s a lot to ask for, but ultimately perfection is what we can all strive to achieve. The world is in good hands if we can all band together and save what’s most important; our future.

References

The bean belt – coffees from around the world. Adams + Russell Coffee Roasters. (2021, July 20). Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.adamsandrussell.co.uk/the-bean-belt-coffees-from-around-the-world/

Fletcher, I. (2002). Ian Fletcher an effective approach for the … – core. An Effective Approach for the Management of Waste Coffee Grounds. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/74208261.pdf

Rankinen, L. (2020, December 16). Unique research revealed that significant amounts of coffee go to waste. Luonnonvarakeskus. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.luke.fi/en/references/significant-amounts-of-coffee-go-to-waste/

Okafor, J. (2021, September 14). Coffee – environmental impact of our caffeine habit. TRVST. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://www.trvst.world/sustainable-living/coffee-environmental-impact/#cmf_footnote_5

Sorby, K. (2002, June). Environmental benefits of sustainable coffee. Documents & reports – all documents. Retrieved October 23, 2021, from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/831701468762315416/text/295970Env0bene10also02453501public1.txt

IvyPanda. (2021, August 4). Starbucks Company’s Environmental Impacts. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/starbucks-companys-environmental-impacts/

Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://news.dunkindonuts.com/file/sustainability-fact-sheet?action=

Kraft Heinz releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada. Waste360. (2020, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/kraft-heinz-releases-maxwell-house-compostable-coffee-pods-canada

Scauzillo, S. (2019, July 19). The curious, environmental case of the keurig K-cups (or what to do with them). San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/07/19/the-curious-environmental-case-of-the-keurig-k-cups-or-what-to-do-with-them/

Fair Trade Coffee. Grounds for Change. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://groundsforchange.com/blogs/learn/fair-trade-coffee

Rainforest Alliance Certification. What is Rainforest Alliance certified coffee? (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from http://www.ethicalcoffee.net/rainforest.html

Posted in Research | Leave a comment

Casual Rewrite-Rowan Announcer

Posted on December 7, 2021 by RowanAnnouncer

A Change Can Change Everything

Choosing the perfect coffee brand may not seem like an important task for you. Your local supermarket may have a sale on a well-known brand, and that’s how you make your decision. You may see an enticing commercial on TV, that gets your mouth watering for a hot cup of joe. This mindless decision to pick the best coffee brand is something that many Americans deal with daily. Little do they know that their decision, although seemingly unimportant, will endorse unforseen toxic behavior carried out by the manufacturer if the wrong purchase is made by the consumer.

Undoubtedly, the irresponsible consumer claims they hold no responsibility, asserting that the industry leading coffee brands themselves are most accountable for the environmental detriment. Although this may be partly true, the line between manufacturer and consumer is seemingly slim because of their coinciding negative influence on the environment. The overall impact is too large on each side to not consider a substantial change to each of their practices. This change may be costly, mainly for the manufacturer, but it must be done to maintain a sustainable planet for future generations.

The first step of change must begin at the very start, planting and harvesting. Although most environmentally compliant coffee companies plant and harvest under shaded areas, the largest coffee companies are met with the dilemma of a safe environment or cost efficiency. Almost all of the time they choose the latter. The option of a safe environment refers to the choice to grow the coffee beans naturally under shaded beds of trees. The more favorable and cost efficient method is to cause massive deforestation in areas along the “Bean Belt.” Familiar brands such as: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Keurig and Maxwell House all share similar qualities, but their environmental compliance needs to be put into check. 

In 2020, Starbucks has committed to a more environmentally friendly future as the multi-national company celebrates 50 years since it’s creation. Although this may be great for it’s investment profile, their actions still leave much to be desired. Being one of the industry leading coffee companies, it’s assumed that their environmental impact would be massive. That assumption would be correct. Their wasteful practices were at an all time high throughout the 2000’s. Their biggest impact comes in the form of cups. Their increasing issue with disposable cups has led to the company being heavily criticized by environmental groups. Starbucks has recently pledged to lessen the impact by introducing recyclable cups and reusable mugs. Although this may be great, their environmental impact is felt through many other mediums. Energy consumption and water waste are two major contributing factors to their water footprint and most importantly, greenhouse gas emissions. Illustrated in an educational essay written by Ivy Panda, “Starbucks uses dipper wells to wash coffee and utensils. The company also uses a lot of water to prepare its beverages. That being the case, water usage has remained another critical concern for Starbucks Coffee. Statistics show that Starbucks wastes over 6.2 million gallons of water every single day.” Their water consumption not only affects the environment, but also the water sources of communities that are being exploited. Their waste management techniques use large amounts of energy, thus contributing to excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Another massive industry leading coffee company is Dunkin’ Donuts. Their overall contribution to environmental decay was previously felt through their widespread use of styrofoam cups. These styrofoam cups were a massive issue until they introduced a plan to eliminate styrofoam, and replace it with a recyclable paper cup. In 2018 Dunkin’, “announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018 with a targeted completion date of 2020. Dunkin’ U.S. has replaced the foam cup with a new, double-walled paper cup. Dunkin’ completed this transition in early-May 2020. The elimination of foam is expected to remove approximately 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually.” This information can be found in an informational article posted by the company themselves titled Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. Both Starbucks and Dunkin’ have complied with growing concerns and improved their environmental sustainability to improve the future of both companies. With these changes being implemented within the past 2 years, environmental groups await further statistics to confirm their compliance. 

While Starbucks and Dunkin’ are mainly available in their countless coffee shops, Keurig and Maxwell House bring coffee to your kitchen each morning. Keurig and Maxwell House rely on the consumer to purchase their wide range of coffee pod products. Keurig being the lead manufacturer of which, selling approximately 30 billion K-Cups yearly. While Maxwell House is the smaller manufacturer, they hold a larger stake on their plans of fully compostable and recyclable pods compared to Keurig. Detailed in an article posted by Waste 360 titled, Kraft Heinz Releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada, the Head of Sustainability at Kraft Heinz, Nicole Fischer, details how they “recognize the significant concern packaging waste presents and we are working collectively at all levels of our operations to explore alternative solutions. Through ongoing collaboration with packaging experts, organizations and coalitions, Kraft Heinz Canada is working towards a circular economy to ensure real measures are taken to reduce single-use plastics and divert food waste from our landfills, limiting harmful impacts to our environment.” This goal will be hopefully achieved by 2025 as a part of Kraft Heinz’s aim to obtain a fully sustainable, fully recyclable product. Little can be said on Keurig’s part though. Feeling the pressure of creating a sustainable product, Keurig “announced that by the end of 2020, they will create a recyclable K-Cup pod made out of plastic #5 known as polypropylene plastic. You peel off the foil lid, compost or chuck the grounds and recycle the cup,” as detailed in an article called The curious, environmental case of the Keurig K-Cups (or what to do with them), written by Steve Scauzillo. Although this may be great for Keurig’s image, the “recyclable” K-Cup may not be completely recyclable. Scazillo continues by explaining that “only one-third of major recycling programs accept this kind of plastic. Also, just because a recycling facility accepts it, that doesn’t mean it gets recycled. That’s because this is a low value plastic. It cannot be made into another cup, unlike polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET plastic, used in soda bottles that can be recycled into other plastic bottles.” This is bad news for the overall sustainability of Keurig’s newly implemented product. Both Maxwell House and Keurig have implemented new ways to transform their product for a more sustainable future, but their pasts may cast a dark shadow on the future of the environment. In Scauzillo’s article he detailed a particular study called The Story of Stuff Project held by a Berkeley environmental nonprofit. This study estimates that “the amount of K-Cups in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times.” Is it too late to fix what’s already been done?

On a different side of the spectrum, the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade Certification are fighting to transform how we farm coffee beans from the very start. These extremely important improvements will refine how coffee is grown and harvested, while hopefully setting the standard for how changes should be made for the industry as a whole.

References

IvyPanda. (2021, August 4). Starbucks Company’s Environmental Impacts. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/starbucks-companys-environmental-impacts/

Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://news.dunkindonuts.com/file/sustainability-fact-sheet?action=

Kraft Heinz releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada. Waste360. (2020, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/kraft-heinz-releases-maxwell-house-compostable-coffee-pods-canada

Scauzillo, S. (2019, July 19). The curious, environmental case of the keurig K-cups (or what to do with them). San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/07/19/the-curious-environmental-case-of-the-keurig-k-cups-or-what-to-do-with-them/

Posted in Causal Rewrite | Leave a comment

Casual Argument-Rowan Announcer

Posted on December 7, 2021 by RowanAnnouncer

A Change Can Change Everything

Choosing the perfect coffee brand may not seem like an important task for you. Your local supermarket may have a sale on a well-known brand, and that’s how you make your decision. You may see an enticing commercial on TV, that gets your mouth watering for a hot cup of joe. This mindless decision to pick the best coffee brand is something that many Americans deal with daily. Little do they know that their decision, although seemingly unimportant, will endorse unforseen toxic behavior carried out by the manufacturer if the wrong purchase is made by the consumer.

Undoubtedly, the irresponsible consumer claims they hold no responsibility, asserting that the industry leading coffee brands themselves are most accountable for the environmental detriment. Although this may be partly true, the line between manufacturer and consumer is seemingly slim because of their coinciding negative influence on the environment. The overall impact is too large on each side to not consider a substantial change to each of their practices. This change may be costly, mainly for the manufacturer, but it must be done to maintain a sustainable planet for future generations.

The first step of change must begin at the very start, planting and harvesting. Although most environmentally compliant coffee companies plant and harvest under shaded areas, the largest coffee companies are met with the dilemma of a safe environment or cost efficiency. Almost all of the time they choose the latter. The option of a safe environment refers to the choice to grow the coffee beans naturally under shaded beds of trees. The more favorable and cost efficient method is to cause massive deforestation in areas along the “Bean Belt.” Familiar brands such as: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Keurig and Maxwell House all share similar qualities, but their environmental compliance needs to be put into check. 

In 2020, Starbucks has committed to a more environmentally friendly future as the multi-national company celebrates 50 years since it’s creation. Although this may be great for it’s investment profile, their actions still leave much to be desired. Being one of the industry leading coffee companies, it’s assumed that their environmental impact would be massive. That assumption would be correct. Their wasteful practices were at an all time high throughout the 2000’s. Their biggest impact comes in the form of cups. Their increasing issue with disposable cups has led to the company being heavily criticized by environmental groups. Starbucks has recently pledged to lessen the impact by introducing recyclable cups and reusable mugs. Although this may be great, their environmental impact is felt through many other mediums. Energy consumption and water waste are two major contributing factors to their water footprint and most importantly, greenhouse gas emissions. Illustrated in an educational essay written by Ivy Panda, “Starbucks uses dipper wells to wash coffee and utensils. The company also uses a lot of water to prepare its beverages. That being the case, water usage has remained another critical concern for Starbucks Coffee. Statistics show that Starbucks wastes over 6.2 million gallons of water every single day.” Their water consumption not only affects the environment, but also the water sources of communities that are being exploited. Their waste management techniques use large amounts of energy, thus contributing to excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Another massive industry leading coffee company is Dunkin’ Donuts. Their overall contribution to environmental decay was previously felt through their widespread use of styrofoam cups. These styrofoam cups were a massive issue until they introduced a plan to eliminate styrofoam, and replace it with a recyclable paper cup. In 2018 Dunkin’, “announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018 with a targeted completion date of 2020. Dunkin’ U.S. has replaced the foam cup with a new, double-walled paper cup. Dunkin’ completed this transition in early-May 2020. The elimination of foam is expected to remove approximately 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually.” This information can be found in an informational article posted by the company themselves titled Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. Both Starbucks and Dunkin’ have complied with growing concerns and improved their environmental sustainability to improve the future of both companies. With these changes being implemented within the past 2 years, environmental groups await further statistics to confirm their compliance. 

While Starbucks and Dunkin’ are mainly available in their countless coffee shops, Keurig and Maxwell House bring coffee to your kitchen each morning. Keurig and Maxwell House rely on the consumer to purchase their wide range of coffee pod products. Keurig being the lead manufacturer of which, selling approximately 30 billion K-Cups yearly. While Maxwell House is the smaller manufacturer, they hold a larger stake on their plans of fully compostable and recyclable pods compared to Keurig. Detailed in an article posted by Waste 360 titled, Kraft Heinz Releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada, the Head of Sustainability at Kraft Heinz, Nicole Fischer, details how they “recognize the significant concern packaging waste presents and we are working collectively at all levels of our operations to explore alternative solutions. Through ongoing collaboration with packaging experts, organizations and coalitions, Kraft Heinz Canada is working towards a circular economy to ensure real measures are taken to reduce single-use plastics and divert food waste from our landfills, limiting harmful impacts to our environment.” This goal will be hopefully achieved by 2025 as a part of Kraft Heinz’s aim to obtain a fully sustainable, fully recyclable product. Little can be said on Keurig’s part though. Feeling the pressure of creating a sustainable product, Keurig “announced that by the end of 2020, they will create a recyclable K-Cup pod made out of plastic #5 known as polypropylene plastic. You peel off the foil lid, compost or chuck the grounds and recycle the cup,” as detailed in an article called The curious, environmental case of the Keurig K-Cups (or what to do with them), written by Steve Scauzillo. Although this may be great for Keurig’s image, the “recyclable” K-Cup may not be completely recyclable. Scazillo continues by explaining that “only one-third of major recycling programs accept this kind of plastic. Also, just because a recycling facility accepts it, that doesn’t mean it gets recycled. That’s because this is a low value plastic. It cannot be made into another cup, unlike polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET plastic, used in soda bottles that can be recycled into other plastic bottles.” This is bad news for the overall sustainability of Keurig’s newly implemented product. Both Maxwell House and Keurig have implemented new ways to transform their product for a more sustainable future, but their pasts may cast a dark shadow on the future of the environment. In Scauzillo’s article he detailed a particular study called The Story of Stuff Project held by a Berkeley environmental nonprofit. This study estimates that “the amount of K-Cups in landfills could wrap around the planet 10 times.” Is it too late to fix what’s already been done?

On a different side of the spectrum, the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade Certification are fighting to transform how we farm coffee beans from the very start. These extremely important improvements will refine how coffee is grown and harvested, while hopefully setting the standard for how changes should be made for the industry as a whole.

References

IvyPanda. (2021, August 4). Starbucks Company’s Environmental Impacts. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/starbucks-companys-environmental-impacts/

Dunkin’ Sustainability Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://news.dunkindonuts.com/file/sustainability-fact-sheet?action=

Kraft Heinz releases Maxwell House Compostable Coffee Pods in Canada. Waste360. (2020, September 4). Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/kraft-heinz-releases-maxwell-house-compostable-coffee-pods-canada

Scauzillo, S. (2019, July 19). The curious, environmental case of the keurig K-cups (or what to do with them). San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.sgvtribune.com/2019/07/19/the-curious-environmental-case-of-the-keurig-k-cups-or-what-to-do-with-them/

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Rebuttal Rewrite-toastedflatbread

Posted on December 7, 2021 by toastedflatbread22

The Mahna Mahna Phenomena

Puppetry is a theatrical art form that makes great use of the emotional aspect of theatre. Unfortunately, people tend to view puppetry as a childish practice, rather than a powerful and important art form that is often practiced in a professional setting. The art of puppetry shouldn’t be overlooked because it makes use of emotions that other art forms do not. In order to understand the art of puppetry, it is vital to recognize how and why emotions are processed differently in terms of puppetry as compared to human performers. This idea has been studied in theatre arts as an exploration of the human mind regarding puppets as characters. However, some have proposed that emotion distracts the audience from thinking critically about the performance on stage. Berthold Brecht was one of the most outspoken supporters of this idea during his time in the early to mid-1900s.

 As outlined in “Engaging Emotion in Theatre: A Brechtian Model in Theatre History”, Paul Woodruff explains how Brecht believed that “an empathic spectator could not take a critical attitude towards a character or the character’s situation because he-the empathic spectator-would feel on his own behalf what he supposed the character to feel.” This type of non-emotional theatre is referred to as “epic theatre.” Rather than experiencing a performance in an artistically appreciative and genuine way, it is experienced straightforwardly. Brecht essentially worked to eliminate the illusion of the theatre and keep the audience as objective as possible. He would often keep stage lamps in full view, use minimal props, etc. to remind the audience that they were in a theatrical setting, so as to keep them empathetically and emotionally neutral. Many theatre professionals would argue that “epic theatre” defeats the purpose of the performance by stripping away the glamor and amazement, but that is exactly how Brecht liked it; he wanted to challenge the audience, rather than dazzle them. 

Brecht also crafted characters in hopes the audience would not empathize with them. This seems like self-sabotage because if the audience cannot form emotional connections with the characters, they are not going to pay attention to the performance; character development is the driving force of a strong plot. Interestingly, Brecht’s audiences still empathized with even Brecht’s evil characters. This validates that humans are hardwired to empathize with characters that exist in a separate reality. 

 Brecht did not explain whether he believed all empathy was negative, or if there were certain situations where it was acceptable or useful. Also, Brecht failed to explain why exactly he believed empathy prevented audience members from thinking critically. Today, many in the profession believe empathy enhances the viewer’s experience and inspires the viewer to analyze the work deeper. While it is important for the audience to consider the performance critically, emotion plays an essential role in ensuring they connect with the art and characters on a deeper level. It is still difficult to say why Bertold Brecht took his unique approach to theatre, but he left future artists with a counter-intuitive approach to this art form.

Empathy is embedded in human nature and absolutely belongs in theatre. The theatre is a place for experimentation, for passion, and for expression. As stated in the article “Emotions, Empathy and Drama” by Irina Yakubovskaya, “Empathy has been inscribed in the history of drama since the known beginning of it, as well as in the history of humankind. In the review article, Bernhardt and colleagues (2012) conclude that multiple studies, mostly based on empathy for pain, showed that ‘empathic responses recruit, to some extent, brain areas similar to those engaged during the corresponding first-person state’ (p.). Linderberger (2010) describes the mirror neuronal process as two consecutive phases: stage one – imitation of the observed actions, second – internalization of the information and as a result the understanding of it (p.4). Those two stages may indeed constitute true empathy, and yet they only seem to be manifested in someone who is experiencing the event/emotion/story vicariously. When applied to the people impersonating and embodying characters in a story, the empathy cannot be enough.” 

The entire existence of puppetry depends on the audience’s ability to empathize with the characters. Watching a puppet show objectively requires no guide; no preparation. Without emotional reciprocation, puppets would not be effective tools for performance. Humans are not going to pay attention to a sock with googly eyes or a wooden spoon with a face unless they feel something. The puppet by itself constitutes no soul, however, the animated puppet with a voice and personality suddenly is a living being; it grabs the human interest. This character now sparks an emotional reaction and, instead of simply staring at an inanimate object, the audience is watching a friend; going through its story with it. The experience is not only more enjoyable but also memorable. This is all to say that removing emotion from the theatre, as Brecht believes is necessary, is simply futile. Puppetry and theatre as a whole is drained of its color without empathy.

References

Woodruff, P. (1988). ENGAGING EMOTION IN THEATER: A BRECHTIAN MODEL IN THEATER HISTORY. The Monist, 71(2), 235–257. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27903080 

Yakubovskaya, I., Yakubovskaya, I., 12, H., 21, W., & 21, I. (2014, October 10). Emotion, brain, & behavior laboratory. Retrieved December 08, 2021, from https://sites.tufts.edu/emotiononthebrain/2014/10/10/82/ 

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Bibliography-toastedflatbread

Posted on December 7, 2021 by toastedflatbread22
  1. Between Human and Object: Performing Artists on the Possibilities of Puppets. (2013, June 3). Creative Capital. https://creative-capital.org/2013/06/03/between-human-and-object/

Background: This article provides insight into why spectators feel a connection to puppets and how it stems from a place of struggle. It also suggests that puppets allow for greater experimentation in a theatre setting and the audience will feel safer witnessing new concepts through puppets rather than living human beings. The article explains why understanding this relationship allows not only performers but spectators also to experiment with new emotions and concepts in a safe setting.

How I Used It: I used this article in my causal argument because it does a beautiful job of exploring the existence of the puppet and how that relates to the existence of humans. It grapples with the idea of puppets being real and unreal at the same time, which is interesting and adds a nice new level to my causal argument and overall paper.

  1. Wright, M., & Wright, M. (2016, August 3). Power in Puppetry. Getty Iris. https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/power-in-puppetry/

Background: This article explores the relationship between the puppet and the puppeteer, as well as the puppet and the audience. It highlights how the puppet’s breath comes from the puppeteer, however somehow, these objects take on a life of their own, completely unknown to humans. This life has the ability to move spectators to laugh, cry, gasp, and feel various other emotions that human actors may convey in the same way. 

How I Used It: This is one of the most helpful and powerful articles that I used while writing my research paper. It provided incredible information about the emotional effect that puppets have on the audience. For that reason, I used it in my definition argument to explain why humans empathize so deeply with puppets. One of the stories told in the article is referenced in my paper because it is a wonderful example of how puppets can touch humans so deeply. This article is a statement of how effective and powerful puppets are and always will be.

  1. Cummings, S. T. (2019, December 30). Puppets: Still Very Much a Thing. AMERICAN THEATRE. https://www.americantheatre.org/2015/06/24/puppets-still-very-much-a-thing/ 

Background: This article touches on the relationship between human and puppet, claiming that puppets can determine their own stories as long as the puppeteer lets them tell the story. The article also dives into the performance aspect of puppeteering and how the puppet shape’s the audience’s interpretation to be whatever they allow themselves to believe.

How I Used It: I used this article in my definition argument because it has strong quotes to explain the relationship between the puppet and the audience. I used quotes to present the idea that the puppet’s liveliness exists primarily in the audience’s heads. This shows readers that puppetry is a collaborative art form between the performers and the viewers.

  1. Eprints.worc.ac.uk. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/5218/1/The%20Theatricality%20of%20Objects.pdf

Background: This article explores ‘object theatre’ and how artists can work with objects in a way that includes them as characters and important parts of the story, rather than just props. The article also urges audience members to view objects in theatre in a more inclusive and curious light, constantly wondering how they impact the show and what their relation to the characters is. 

How I Used It: I quoted this article in my definition argument and it was incredibly helpful for explaining the concept of object theatre. I used it to not only define object theatre but also explain why it is a fascinating and exciting aspect of theatre. This article was beneficial for my paper because it expands the definition of puppetry and expands the reader’s viewpoint of inanimate performance.

  1. UNIMA. (2018, September 17). Theatre of Objects. World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts. https://wepa.unima.org/en/theatre-of-objects/

Background: This article does a great job of giving examples of instances in history when puppetry or the use of inanimate objects has been used in theatre. It explains how inanimate objects have been used for symbolism, storytelling, and development throughout the history of theatre. It illustrates how throughout those years puppetry has changed and formed into what it is now.

How I Used It: I did not directly cite this article, however, it was a useful source for providing historical facts about how puppetry and object theatre has developed and evolved over time. This article was used in writing my definition argument.

  1. Epic Theatre of Brecht. Epic theatre of brecht. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://tinyurl.com/mrxp2emk

Background: This article provides detailed biographical information about Berthold Brecht and the development of “epic theatre” and how it influenced his work. It describes some of the tactics he used in the theatre to encourage his audiences to view his work critically rather than emotionally.

How I Used It: I used information from this article in my rebuttal to provide background information about Berthold Brecht. It was a helpful article for giving examples of Brecht’s ideas and I think it really strengthened my rebuttal argument. 

  1. Origins of the puppet. World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts. (2016, September 6). Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://wepa.unima.org/en/origins-of-the-puppet/ 

Background: This article is a quick, but informative article about the origins of puppets. The article includes information about where puppets originated, how they were used, what form of puppet they were, and how those forms differ or compare to other puppet styles. 

How I Used It: I used information from this article in my definition argument. Although I did not directly cite this article, I included information from it to give historical details about the many places that puppetry originated and the different styles that were explored during these times. This article gave wonderful support in explaining how the current state of puppetry was influenced. 

  1. Woodruff, P. (1988). ENGAGING EMOTION IN THEATER: A BRECHTIAN MODEL IN THEATER HISTORY. The Monist, 71(2), 235–257. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27903080 

Background: This article provides extensive information about Berthold Brecht and his theories regarding “epic theatre”. It also includes a strong argumentative statement against Brecht, like a rebuttal of its own. The article explores the many different forms of emotion in the theatre, how they are engaged, and why they are important. It is an engaging and thorough article and helps the reader understand Brechts’s view and a view opposite of his. 

How I Used It: I used this article in my rebuttal to not only provide information about Brecht but to also provide support for my statements, as the author of the paper made many strong points and reinforced my opinions.

  1. Roe, R. (2017, September 20). Mahna Mahna, yes… but why? Retrieved December 08, 2021, from https://toughpigs.com/mahna-mahna-yes-but-why/ 

Background: This article provides a wonderful example of audiences finding empathy within puppets. In the famous “Mahna Mahna” video, two characters perform, both of which are very different from each other. Audiences typically relate to one puppet or the other and this reveals information about themselves as human beings. It is a fascinating and entertaining article and does a wonderful job of tying a real-world example into this bizarre theory.

How I Used It: This article was used in my causal argument in order to strengthen my argument that puppets cause an empathetic reaction within humans. I put it in at the end of the argument to act as a nice bow, as it is relatable, lighthearted, and strong. I also used the article because it relates to my title and can show the readers why I chose the name of my paper.

  1. Yakubovskaya, I., Yakubovskaya, I., 12, H., 21, W., & 21, I. (2014, October 10). Emotion, brain, & behavior laboratory. Retrieved December 08, 2021, from https://sites.tufts.edu/emotiononthebrain/2014/10/10/82/ 

Background: This article explores the neurological nature of theatrical performance, including what emotions people experience in the theatre, why they experience these emotions, and why emotional reactions, including empathy, are vital aspects of a performance setting. Aristotle’s many studies are included in this article, along with techniques for conveying emotion as an actor and how that compares and differs from genuine emotion.

How I Used It: I used this article in my rebuttal statement to strengthen my statements about the importance of emotion in a theatrical performance. It provided incredible support for explaining why empathy is natural in performance art and it provided me with the words I could not think of to say what I wanted to express. It helped me rebut the opposing viewpoint and really strengthened my argument.

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