Story #1
- Make improvements to neglected areas
- The Story - Residents on the southwest side of Gainesville argue that they do not have enough bus routes or safe streets. Located near wealthy areas, these low income residents feel that the city of Gainesville is not doing its part to help them, especially when compared to the neighboring areas and the perks they enjoy.
- The Problem - Residents who do not own a vehicle are often left stranded by the bus system or it takes a substantial amount of time to get anywhere. One resident was forced to take three separate buses and spent over three hours to simply go grocery shopping due to the lack of buses and routes. Neighborhoods also lack speed bumps and protective awnings over the bus stops.
- Who's affected? - Residents in the neglected, low-income southwest area of Gainesville that do not have access to the bus system.
Story #2
- Consequences of malnutrition reach far into the future
- The Story - The world's population is expected to grow 30% in the next thirty years. This means not only will food production need to increase but so will the need for more nutritious food. All around the world, undernourishment is a large issue, especially in children. UF is at the forefront in attempting to solve these issues. Agriculture researchers are looking at agricultural techniques hoping to make crops more fruitful and increase nutrients in food.
- The Problem - The increase in world population is greater than that of food production, causing a large number of people throughout the planet to lack both quantity and quality of food and nutrients.
- Who's Affected? - Currently individuals worldwide. The most susceptible are the poor or people in areas lacking the necessary resources needed to grow or buy food. In the future, the problem could extend to everyone, depending on the population and food production.
Story #3
- Prevention is key to combating Zika
- The Story - The Zika virus, which is a vector borne disease, is linked to birth defects and Florida is a potential area it could spread due to the climate and terrain. As a result prevention is vital to controlling the virus. However, the article takes an interesting approach to prevention. The solution proposed in the article is to prevent unintended pregnancies - or at least reduce the number. This involves access to and education on contraceptive use.
- The Problem - The Zika virus has potential to spread into Florida, and almost 60% of the pregnancies in the state are unintended. Florida is also known for the mosquito population which is why it has the potential to spread into the state.
- Who's Affected? - Pregnant women and their children are the most likely to be affected by the Zika virus
Story #4
- Know your snakes: Florida's 6 venomous serpents
- http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF18D94B411698?p=AWNB
- The Story - The story explains the nature of snakes in general. It then discusses the normal habitats of snakes, how to prevent snake bites, and what to do if you are bitten by a snake. The article then lists each of the 6 venomous snakes in Florida, where they are usually found, and easily distinguishable physical characteristics.
- The Problem - Many people are unaware of the types of snakes in Florida and which ones are venomous. Also the summer months offer the highest likelihood of snakebites.
- Who's Affected? - People who are frequently outdoors in forests, marshy areas, or even in their own backyard. Children are also higher risks because they tend to be outdoors more and are less careful.
Story #5
- Two continents, one big goal
- http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15CEC51E447CD1A8?p=AWNB
- The Story - Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey's circus has recently retired their remaining elephants and, for the first time ever, no longer use them in any of their shows. They will now focus on conservation of elephants. Just before this was finalized, Kenya's president ordered over 105 tons of ivory tusks seized from poachers to be publicly burned, in an attempt to show that poaching will not be tolerated.
- The Problem - Poaching and illegal trade have decimated elephant populations in both Africa and Asia, threatening the future of both species of elephant.
- Who's Affected? - Elephants mainly. However, animal activists, conservationists, and animal lovers are also affected. As are the illegal poachers, the Kenyan president was sending a message to.
Wow, some very interesting articles that you have stumbled upon here. I was totally unaware of the malnutrition that was going to occur just simply due to lack of income and resources. That is almost sickening to think that children will have a difficult time getting the nutrients they need. I wonder if the will, since they are aware, take provisional measures to ensure that kids most importantly will be able to get the nutrients that they need.
ReplyDeleteWow, some very interesting articles that you have stumbled upon here. I was totally unaware of the malnutrition that was going to occur just simply due to lack of income and resources. That is almost sickening to think that children will have a difficult time getting the nutrients they need. I wonder if the will, since they are aware, take provisional measures to ensure that kids most importantly will be able to get the nutrients that they need.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteI want to firstly relay my appreciate for the organization and clarity of this blog post. I formatted mine similarly and I value your efforts taken to highlight each factor to be considered from each respective article. I have fallen victim to the first article, surely. There are many places in Gainesville where Alachua County Residents are unable to take advantage of the public transit system, and certainly a large body of residents who are advocating for expansion in response. The remainder of your articles were also very interesting, as I was unaware that our University was on the forefront of combating future undernourishment due to an impending a 30% population increase, or that Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Brothers were making an active effort to conserve elephants, given their eclectic history with the large scale use of these animals. You have truly shed some great light into my day through this post, and I look forward to watching your entrepreneurial spirit develop!
My post: http://elementalentrepreneur.blogspot.com/2016/05/identifying-local-opportunities.html
Hey Chris,
ReplyDeleteAgain, very well done. I particularly appreciated the article about venomous snakes. I feel like that is something that a lot more people should be aware of.
- Ryan