Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
November 22012: Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Free Toolkit
Did you know that more than 8 percent of Americans have
diabetes? November is Diabetes Awareness Month, making it a good opportunity to
learn about this increasingly prevalent disease. Risk Factors - Family history, blood pressure, weight, and activity level are a few of the factors that can affect your chances of developing diabetes. Prevention - The onset of Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be prevented or delayed through moderate weight loss and exercise. FREE Toolkit for Managing Diabetes - Get practical advice about medications, insulin, and glucose meters to help you manage your diabetes. Statistics - Get some basic facts, including the number of Americans with diabetes; the prevalence of Type 1 versus Type 2 diabetes; deaths linked to diabetes; and more. |
“Safety and Health During Disaster Recovery” course free.
Safety
and Health during Disaster and Recovery
You
must protect yourself while helping others.
Free Course for Hurricane Sandy Recovery Workers. Start Now! |
As
a way to say thank you to all involved in the Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery
efforts, ClickSafety is offering our “Safety and Health During Disaster
Recovery” course free.
Please protect yourself while helping others. Ensure your workers are properly trained. Top 10 Recommended Courses for Disaster Recovery
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Have
a safe day,
The Team at ClickSafety.com |
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November 15 is America Recycles Day.
http://www.epa.gov/
November 15th is America Recycles Day...find out how you can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!
Nearly everything we do leaves behind some kind of waste. Households create ordinary garbage while industrial and manufacturing processes create solid and hazardous waste. EPA regulates all this waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA's goals are to:
- Protect us from the hazards of waste disposal;
- Conserve energy and natural resources by recycling and recovery;
- Reduce or eliminate waste; and
- Clean up waste, which may have spilled, leaked, or been improperly disposed.
What You Can Do
Find out what you can do to help make a difference in our environment everyday! Whether you're at home, on the go, in the office, or at school, there are many opportunities to go green by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling.
At Home
- Reduce food waste by using up the food you already bought and have in the house instead of buying more. You already paid for it - so use it!
- Non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food can be donated to local food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters.
- Reuse items around the house such as rags and wipes, empty jars and mugs, party decorations, and gift wrap.
- Buy products in concentrate, bulk, and in refillable containers. They reduce packaging waste and can save you money!
- Return used car tires to retailers or wholesalers that recycle or retread them. Tires are banned from most landfills, and illegally dumped tires become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests.
- When buying products, check the labels to determine an item's recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.
At School:
- Before starting a new school year, sort through the school supplies on-hand. Many supplies, like notebooks or pens and pencils, can be reused or recycled. You can share your used books and other school supplies with friends, relatives, or younger schoolchildren.
- For school dances or other events, decorations and other supplies can be borrowed or rented. If you buy these supplies, try adopting a theme that can be used from year-to-year, so that you can reuse them.
- Many schools reuse text books to save money and reduce waste. Covering your textbooks with cut-up grocery or shopping bags helps reduce waste and keeps your books in good condition.
- If you buy lunch, take and use only what you need: one napkin, one ketchup packet, one salt packet, one pepper packet, one set of flatware. Remember to recycle your cans and bottles, and separate your waste if your school has separation bins!
- To reduce packaging waste, use school supplies wrapped with minimal packaging, use compact or concentrated products, or buy products in bulk.
Some of the sites listed on this page are not on the EPA Web site. Please see our disclaimer information
More resources for students....
http://epa.gov/wastes/wycd/forstudentsr.htm
http://epa.gov/wastes/wycd/atschool.htm
http://epa.gov/wastes/wycd/forstudentsr.htm
http://epa.gov/wastes/wycd/atschool.htm
Cool Games
Recycle CityExplore Recycle City to see how the people of the town reduce waste, use less energy, and even save money by doing simple things at home, at work, and in their neighborhoods.
Sort Mania
This interactive game teaches you how to recycle.
This interactive game teaches you how to recycle.
Cool Websites
Clean Sweep USA
There's lots to learn about solid waste management: Garbage pizza, Waste watchers (make less waste in the first place), Compost Office, Recycling Rules, Energy to Burn (burning waste to generate electricity), Landfill Lounge(how landfills work)
There's lots to learn about solid waste management: Garbage pizza, Waste watchers (make less waste in the first place), Compost Office, Recycling Rules, Energy to Burn (burning waste to generate electricity), Landfill Lounge(how landfills work)
Planet Protectors On-Line Coloring Book
Do you like to color? Do you like to color on-line? Visit this page and you'll find a really awesome picture that you can color over and over again!
Do you like to color? Do you like to color on-line? Visit this page and you'll find a really awesome picture that you can color over and over again!
Recycle City
A game, an interactive book, and other puzzles will teach you hundreds of ways a whole town can reduce, reuse, and recycle.
A game, an interactive book, and other puzzles will teach you hundreds of ways a whole town can reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Sort Mania
This interactive game teaches you how to recycle.
Waste No Words
How much do you know about garbage and recycling? Find out in this totally awesome crossword puzzle!
This interactive game teaches you how to recycle.
Waste No Words
How much do you know about garbage and recycling? Find out in this totally awesome crossword puzzle!
Where Compost Happens
See how Mansfield Middle School set up a school-wide food waste composting program.
See how Mansfield Middle School set up a school-wide food waste composting program.
Teacher Resources
Basic information about Waste
Grades: 9-12, adult
Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste
This site describes how people can help solve a growing problem...garbage!
Grades: adult
Hazardous Waste: Superfund
A collection of activities to assist in teaching about hazardous waste, environmental issues surrounding site cleanup, and the Federal government's Superfund program.
Grades: 6-12
Pollution Prevention Toolbox
The toolbox contains a series of four-page lesson plans on various pollution prevention concepts for schools.
Grades: 6-8
The Quest for Less: Activities and resources for teaching K-8
Use this resource to develop lesson plans, incorporate a range of activities into various subject areas throughout the school year.
Grades: k-8
Subtopic: waste
Type of resource: Lesson Plan
Grades: 9-12, adult
Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste
This site describes how people can help solve a growing problem...garbage!
Grades: adult
Hazardous Waste: Superfund
A collection of activities to assist in teaching about hazardous waste, environmental issues surrounding site cleanup, and the Federal government's Superfund program.
Grades: 6-12
Pollution Prevention Toolbox
The toolbox contains a series of four-page lesson plans on various pollution prevention concepts for schools.
Grades: 6-8
The Quest for Less: Activities and resources for teaching K-8
Use this resource to develop lesson plans, incorporate a range of activities into various subject areas throughout the school year.
Grades: k-8
Subtopic: waste
Type of resource: Lesson Plan
Resources for Waste Education
These online activities make learning about recycling fun! Students will love the colorful graphics and educational activities.
Grades: 6-8
Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects (PDF) (16 pp, 245K About PDF ) (EPA 530-K-00-008) Resource booklet designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects
Grades: 6-8
Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects en Español (PDF) (16 pp, 223K About PDF )
Resource booklet designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects.
Grades: 6-8
Superfund: About Superfund
This page provides an overview of the Superfund program, highlights key steps in the Superfund cleanup process, explains how the program is enforced, describes EPA's Superfund offices, and links to other EPA hazardous-waste programs.
Grades: 9-12, adult
Superfund: Classroom Activities
This site has resources to help teachers and educate students about the Superfund Program. It includes several activities, environmental cleanup videos, and a participatory program in which classrooms collect weather data for EPA.
Grades: k-12
Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools
EPA's Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools helps your school and school district reduce the amount of waste you generate. You'll learn how to start a waste reduction program or expand an existing one. The guide will show you how your program can benefit your school, your community, and the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling your waste.
Grades: 9-12
Waste publications by topic - Educational ResourcesGrades: k-12
Where Can I Take My Computer?
Web sites and organizations that can provide information on opportunities for donating and recycling computers and other electronics.
Grades: 9-12, adult
Subtopic: waste
These online activities make learning about recycling fun! Students will love the colorful graphics and educational activities.
Grades: 6-8
Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects (PDF) (16 pp, 245K About PDF ) (EPA 530-K-00-008) Resource booklet designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects
Grades: 6-8
Science Fair Fun: Designing Environmental Science Projects en Español (PDF) (16 pp, 223K About PDF )
Resource booklet designed to generate ideas for students and teachers interested in solid waste science fair projects.
Grades: 6-8
Superfund: About Superfund
This page provides an overview of the Superfund program, highlights key steps in the Superfund cleanup process, explains how the program is enforced, describes EPA's Superfund offices, and links to other EPA hazardous-waste programs.
Grades: 9-12, adult
Superfund: Classroom Activities
This site has resources to help teachers and educate students about the Superfund Program. It includes several activities, environmental cleanup videos, and a participatory program in which classrooms collect weather data for EPA.
Grades: k-12
Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools
EPA's Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools helps your school and school district reduce the amount of waste you generate. You'll learn how to start a waste reduction program or expand an existing one. The guide will show you how your program can benefit your school, your community, and the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling your waste.
Grades: 9-12
Waste publications by topic - Educational ResourcesGrades: k-12
Where Can I Take My Computer?
Web sites and organizations that can provide information on opportunities for donating and recycling computers and other electronics.
Grades: 9-12, adult
Subtopic: waste
The Adventures of Herman the Worm
A site for younger kids to learn about composting, worm bins and the biology of earthworms. What's on the menu at the Worm Deli? ¡En Español tambien!
Grades: k-5
A site for younger kids to learn about composting, worm bins and the biology of earthworms. What's on the menu at the Worm Deli? ¡En Español tambien!
Grades: k-5
Composting in Schools
A comprehensive guide for teachers interested in guiding students' research projects on composting. The book was selected by the National Science Teachers Association to be included in 'Recommends', a collection of the best science education books.
Grades: k-12
Earth 911 (Recycling)
Type in your ZIP code or find your State on a map to locate recycling centers in your community "for all types of recyclables." This site contains information you can use to teach middle school and high school students about waste prevention, recycling and other environmental issues.
Grades: 6-12
A comprehensive guide for teachers interested in guiding students' research projects on composting. The book was selected by the National Science Teachers Association to be included in 'Recommends', a collection of the best science education books.
Grades: k-12
Earth 911 (Recycling)
Type in your ZIP code or find your State on a map to locate recycling centers in your community "for all types of recyclables." This site contains information you can use to teach middle school and high school students about waste prevention, recycling and other environmental issues.
Grades: 6-12
Trash Goes to School - Activities
A range of activities and projects for learning about solid waste and recycling. Covers reduction, recycling, composting, incineration, landfills and risk.
Grades: 9-12
A range of activities and projects for learning about solid waste and recycling. Covers reduction, recycling, composting, incineration, landfills and risk.
Grades: 9-12
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Kid's.Gov: Using Math to Solve Air Traffic Control Problems for Grades 5-9
Using Math to Solve Air Traffic Control Problems for Grades 5-9
NASA's Smart Skies has brought its LineUp With Math™ professional development workshop to the Web in the form of a video workshop. Educators can now watch a series of eight topic-driven, on-demand training videos that introduce the product, show how to solve a problem on the air traffic control simulator and explain the math used to solve the problems.
The Smart Skies website features two mathematics products for grades 5-9. LineUp With MathTM taps into prealgebra skills to challenge students with distance-rate-time problems in a fun interactive air traffic control simulator interface. FlyBy MathTM uses hands-on activities that incorporate graphing as students solve distance-rate-time problems. Both activities are aligned with state education standards.
To download these free education materials, visit http://smartskies.nasa.gov/.
To view the training videos and learn how these lessons and activities can be used in the classroom, visit http://smartskies.nasa.gov/trainer/videos.html.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Underinvesting in Resilience
Underinvesting in Resilience
By Michael Spence
NEW YORK – The hurricane on America’s eastern seaboard last
week (which I experienced in lower Manhattan) adds to a growing collection of
extreme weather events from which lessons
should be drawn. Climate experts have long argued that the frequency and
magnitude of such events are increasing, and evidence of this should certainly
influence precautionary steps – and cause us to review such measures regularly.
There are two distinct and crucial components of disaster
preparedness. The one that understandably gets the most attention is the
capacity to mount a rapid and effective response. Such a capacity will always
be necessary, and few doubt its importance. When it is absent or deficient, the
loss of life and livelihoods can be horrific – witness Hurricane Katrina, which
ravaged Haiti and New Orleans in 2005.
The second component comprises investments that minimize the
expected damage to the economy. This aspect of preparedness typically receives
far less attention.
Indeed, in the United States, lessons from the Katrina
experience appear to have strengthened response capacity, as shown by the rapid
and effective intervention following Hurricane Sandy. But investments designed
to control the extent of damage seem to be persistently neglected.
Redressing this imbalance requires a focus on key
infrastructure. Of course, one cannot at reasonable cost prevent all possible
damage from calamities, which strike randomly and in locations that cannot
always be predicted. But certain kinds of damage have large multiplier effects.
This includes damage to critical systems like the
electricity grid and the information, communication, and transport networks
that constitute the platform on which modern economies run. Relatively modest
investments in the resilience, redundancy, and integrity of these systems pay
high dividends, albeit at random intervals. Redundancy is the key.
The case of New York City is instructive. The southern part
of Manhattan was without power for almost a full workweek, apparently because a
major substation hub in the electrical grid, located beside the East River, was
knocked out in a fiery
display when Hurricane Sandy and a tidal surge caused it to flood. There
was no pre-built workaround to deliver power by an alternate route.
The cost of this power failure, though difficult to
calculate, is surely huge. Unlike the economic boost that may occur from
recovery spending to restore damaged physical assets, this is a deadweight
loss. Local power outages may be unavoidable, but one can create grids that are
less vulnerable – and less prone to bringing large parts of the economy to a
halt – by building in redundancy.
Similar lessons were learned with respect to global supply
chains, following the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeast Japan in 2011.
Global supply chains are now becoming more resilient, owing to the duplication
of singular bottlenecks that can bring much larger systems down.
Cyber security experts rightly worry about the possibility
of bringing an entire economy to a halt by attacking and disabling the control
systems in its electrical, communication, and transportation networks. Admittedly,
the impact of natural disasters is less systemic; but if a calamity takes out
key components of networks that lack redundancy and backup, the effects are
similar. Even rapid response is more effective if key networks and systems –
particularly the electricity grid – are resilient.
Why do we tend to underinvest in the resilience of our
economies’ key systems?
One argument is that redundancy looks like waste in normal
times, with cost-benefit calculations ruling out higher investment. That seems
clearly wrong: Numerous expert estimates indicate that built-in redundancy pays
off unless one assigns unrealistically low probabilities to disruptive events.
That leads to a second and more plausible explanation, which
is psychological and behavioral in character. We have a tendency to
underestimate both the probabilities and consequences of what in the investment
world are called “left-tailed events.”
Compounding this pattern are poor incentives. Principals, be
they investors or voters, determine the incentives of agents, be they asset
managers or elected officials and policymakers. If principals misunderstand
systemic risk, their agents, even if they do understand it, may not be able to
respond without losing support, whether in the form of votes or assets under
management.
Another line of reasoning is that businesses that depend heavily
on continuity – for example, hospitals, outsourcing firms in India, and stock
exchanges – will invest in their own backup systems. In fact, they do. But that
ignores a host of issues concerning the mobility, safety, and housing of
employees. A broad pattern of self-insurance caused by underinvestment in
resilient infrastructure is an inefficient and distinctly inferior option.
Underinvestment in infrastructure (including deferred
maintenance) is widespread where the consequences are uncertain and/or not
immediate. In reality, underinvestment and investment with debt financing are
equivalent in one crucial respect: they both transfer costs to a future cohort.
But even debt financing would be better than no investment at all, given the
deadweight losses.
Cities and countries that aspire to be hubs or critical
components in national or global financial and economic systems need to be
predictable, reliable, and resilient. That implies a transparent rule of law,
and competent, conservative, and countercyclical macroeconomic management. But
it also includes physical resilience and the ability to withstand shocks.
Hubs that lack resilience create cascades of collateral
damage when they fail. Over time, they will be bypassed and replaced by more
resilient alternatives.
Michael Spence, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Professor of Economics
at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Senior Fellow at the
Hoover Institution. His latest book is The Next Convergence – The Future of
Economic Growth in a Multispeed World (www.thenextconvergence.com).
Sunday, November 11, 2012
WEBINAR -- Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much. Nov 16th
General Information
Title: | WEBINAR -- Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much |
Date(s): | Friday, November 16, 2012 - Friday, November 16, 2012 |
Location: | Webinar (audio- and Web-based) |
Member Fee: | $0.00 |
Non-Member Fee: | $0.00 |
CAE Hours: | 1 hours |
Program Description
ASAE CareerHQ.org invites you to join us for a special In Honor of Women webinar, " Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much ," presented by Jessica Hartung, founder and CEO of Integrated Work Strategies.
Women leaders are under tremendous pressure to do more with less. We are under scrutiny in a constantly changing, fast-paced environment.
These multiple, rapid-fire demands create stress and eventually overwhelm and burn out even the most effective leaders.
What can women leaders do to reclaim our time? How can we recharge our sense of purpose? How can we prevent burnout in ourselves and in others?
Our response to the stressors in our lives determines how we are affected by them.
Jessica Hartung will focus on what women can do to meet the high-pressure demands of our various roles with gumption and grace by providing practical tools for burnout prevention and building resilience in ourselves and others.
Remedies for Women Who Do Too MuchFriday, November 16, 2012
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
#asaewebinar
Cost: FREE
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
#asaewebinar
Cost: FREE
Participation in the live presentation is worth 1 CAE credit hour.
What will you learn?
- Recognize the signs of burnout in yourself and others.
- Learn to use six strategies for when there is too much to do and not enough time.
- Understand habitual patterns of response to adversity and how to improve them.
- Focus your attention where it will yield the greatest benefit for you and your organization.
- Review research on factors influencing burnout recovery and prevention.
- Identify your own pathway to a renewed sense of spirit.
This 60-minute webinar will include time for your questions and answers.
Our speaker, Jessica Hartung, is founder and CEO of Integrated Work Strategies.
Our speaker, Jessica Hartung, is founder and CEO of Integrated Work Strategies.
*****
Be sure to tune into the live program for the chance to win a $100 SpaFinder Wellness gift card.
Attendees who log on for the live webinar on November 16th will automatically be entered into a random drawing. The winner will be announced during the live webcast.
Be sure to tune into the live program for the chance to win a $100 SpaFinder Wellness gift card.
Attendees who log on for the live webinar on November 16th will automatically be entered into a random drawing. The winner will be announced during the live webcast.