Teen Vision Spring 2010

teen

Vision Discipline. Empowerment. Success.

WHAT MAKES A

green COLLEGE?

The Green Revolution From urban gardening to sustainable fashion—get the inside scoop on how you can join the movement to save our planet

plus...

Help for Haiti Now Learn what you can do to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti spring 2010

Send check to: ReCapturing the Vision 9780 E. Indigo Street, Suite 301 Miami, FL 33157

contents

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departments

For Your Health

4 Best of the Web Learn more about “carbon footprint,” and where to go online to calculate yours.

5 For Your Health Microdermabrasion is a great option for keeping dark skin looking healthy and refreshed.

7 Values Valores Miami native Barrington Irving proves that “inspiration” is a value we could all learn from.

8 Impress Yourself

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Ten tips to help you do your part to save our planet.

12 Shoulders, Ears & Hearts

Spring Greening

When you need advice from someone who’s been there, Shoulders, Ears, and Hearts is the place to turn.

28 Keeping It Real Making the world better on Earth Day and every day.

features

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9 What Makes a Green College?

Why sustainability matters on campus.

Urban Gardening

13 Grind for the Green A movement for eco-equity that the hip hop generation can get down with.

15 Urban Gardening Why the apple is always sweeter when you grow it yourself.

17 Methamphetamine What you need to know about this high-risk drug.

20 Sustainable Couture How one designer is taking the fashion industry to greener heights.

On our Cover: Jenna Meyer

9 What Makes a Green College?

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21 Spring Greening Striking a pose for a sustainable future.

26 Haiti’s Tragedy Belongs to the Environment Lessons in sustainability from the earthquake in Haiti.

editor’s letter

teen

Vision Spring 2010 Crew

Publisher

ReCapturing the Vision, International

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario

S

pring is in the air again, a time when the flowers are blooming, the trees have regained their leaves, and the scent of summer wafts on the breeze, so it’s fitting that we’ve decided to make this the “Green” issue. Inside we explore one of the most important issues facing our world today: Sustainability.

The future of our planet is at risk. Each day 50 to 100 species of animals and plants are driven extinct by human influences.

By the year 2080, 33 percent of the world’s coastal wetlands will be eroded and become open water. At least 50 million acres of rainforest are lost every year, totaling an area the size of England, Wales and Scotland combined. If we continue on this track, average temperatures around the world will increase by as much as 12 degrees by the end of the century, leading to food and water shortages, mass extinction, and floods and natural disasters that will displace hundreds of millions of people.

Sustainability is the effort to preserve humankind’s wellbeing by reducing our carbon footprint on the planet and using natural resources responsibly. Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms, from small adjustments made in your individual lifestyle to development of green technologies, such as cars.

In this issue we explore what teens can do to contribute to the effort to make the world a greener place. Inside, we show you how to calclate your carbon footprint and give you tips on how you can make your day-to-day life more eco-friendly. And just because you live in a big city doesn’t mean you can’t get back to your green roots.

We let you know about a new trend in city living—urban farming— and how you can get in on it. We also show you how one group is using hip hop to spread the message for a greener earth, and even get up-close-and personal with a fashion designer who’s taken the concept of sustainability from the recyclng bin to the runways.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the environmental crisis and feel like there is nothing you can do. We’re here to show you how a little effort on everyone’s part can be the difference that just might end up saving our world.

Wishing you well,

Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario

President, ReCapturing the Vision, Int. Managing Editor

Adrinda Kelly

Graphic Designer

Tiffany N. Castillo

Photography

Amanda Langford

Photoshoot Director Jada Hunter Fashion Spread

Sandy Maranesi

Makeup Contributors

Stephan Faris Joe Hickman

Dr. S. Manjula Jegasothy

Adrinda Kelly

Tara Monks

Tania Zamora

The Princeton Review Special Thanks

Miami Skin Institute

The Princeton Review

On the Cover

Jenna Meyer

ReCapturing the Vision, International

Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Grant No. 90FEXXXX. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

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best on the web

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint Find out whether the mark you’re leaving on the environment is “green” or grimy

by Tara Monks

Y

our carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions you, as an individual are responsible for producing. Today, everyone is discussing and debating the importance of reducing our carbon footprint by “going green.”

The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, causing a sense of defeat before the journey to lessen your carbon footprint even begins. Thankfully, there are people out there that not only understand the need for easily accessible information, but want to help others begin and keep up with their journey towards low impact living.

These people can be found at www. lowimpactliving.com.

This site seeks to help environmentallyconcerned individuals understand what exactly is happening to our planet and what we can do to help. Complete with definitions and examples, its main message is that consumption leads to waste. The website is filled with information on resources we use every day such as natural gas, oil, electricity and water right next to links to info on their counterparts: carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas, trash, pollution and sewage. The goal here is to help users understand what happens when these resources are used and abused.

Even more helpful is the Low Impact Living’s Environmental Impact Calculator. This tool will help you determine your carbon footprint and compare your energy use to that of the average American. After you calculate your carbon footprint, the website provides you with tips and recommendations to help you reduce your impact, based on your personal input.

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These recommended projects and tips are not only fun, interesting, and environmentally-responsible, but, best of all, save money in the long run. (For example, planting trees in your yard for shade can not only help your parents save on the air conditioning bill this summer, bit it also adds a nice, aesthetic touch.)

Aside from the articles on cool projects, you will also find news and information on the newest green products on the market.

Here you will find green gifts, green furniture, green cleaning supplies and even green retail outlets. So no matter what you are looking for, whether it is a new hanging clock for Mom made out of recycled plastics, or eco-friendly party planning, this site is here to help. Wherever you are in your green journey, this website can help you reach your destination. tv ReCapturing the Vision does not endorse the websites listed in this article.

for your health

The Color of Perfection Microdermabrasion is a great option for keeping skin of color looking healthy and refreshed

by Dr. S. Manjula Jegasothy

A

s many people of color and their dermatologists know, darker skin is considered by many to be beautiful and protective against the harmful UV rays of the sun, but it also carries with it an unique set of dermatologic problems.

Dermatologists have identified a range of skin conditions that are common to people with complexions ranging from light brown to almost black. Those conditions include:

Keloidal scarring: Scars that result from keloids, or the raised, reddish nodules that develop at the site of an injury Folliculitis: Infection of the hair follicles Eczema: Chronic, recurring, intensely itchy, inflammation of the skin In addition, conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and fungal skin infections which affect all skin types, may have unique manifestations in skin of color.

Dr. S. Manjula Jegasothy

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Microdermabrasion is a skincare procedure

in which tiny crystals removes impurities and imperfections on the skin.

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Even normal skin of color, free of the above conditions, can be plagued by chronic cosmetic problems which do not affect light skin. These cosmetic problems include uneven skin tone, dark blemishes, and chronic dryness (also known as “ashiness”). In addition, pits, scars, and open pores may be magnified in skin of color because it reflects light differently.

Many of the above problems are exaggerated when the top 3-5 layers of “dead” skin cells are exfoliated unevenly.

This is what gives skin a “dull” or “tired” appearance. In skin of color, these dead skin cells retain pigment and their buildup can cause overall uneven skin tone.

Microdermabrasion is a skincare procedure in which a spray of tiny crystals removes impurities and imperfections on the skin.

Superficial microdermabrasion can remove layers of dead skin cells from your face and make the skin surface look more smooth and even. It is important to use a microdermabrasion system with

precise power and handpiece controls, to ensure even removal of the layers of dead skin cells.

An even more frustrating cosmetic concern in skin of color is postinflammatory pigmentation. This is dark blemishes, or patches, that appear in skin which has experienced a recent inflammation, such as a pimple, insect bite, or allergic reaction. Sometimes it can even occur in areas that never experience any evident inflammation. These dark patches can persist long after the original inflammation of the skin has ended.

Miami Skin Institute offers a MegaPeel Gold Series Microdermabrasion system to address these concerns. The system delivers precise power and even exfoliation.

Experienced technicians ensure that clients have the very best results. tv For more information about the Miami Skin Institute’s services, visit www.miamiskininstitute.com.

The Meaning of Inspiration

values valores

Why “Inspiration” is a value we could all learn from

by The Staff of Teen Vision Magazine

E

ach February, we celebrate Black History Month. It is a special time set aside to remember and salute AfricanAmerican pioneers who were inspired and determined to accomplish great things despite the many obstacles that stood in their way. That value of inspiration continues today with Florida native Barrington Irving.

the value of inspiration continues today with florida native barrington irving.

On June 27th, 2007, at the tender age of 23, Barrington Irving became the world’s first black man and the youngest pilot to fly solo around the globe. The Jamaican-born Irving, who grew up in Miami, was greeted by a crowd of about 2,000 people at Opa Locka airport.

After flying a few low passes over the tarmac in a single-engine Columbia 400, which he built with more than $300,000 in donated pieces, Irving was able to bring the plane in without any trouble to

Barrington Irving

Photo: www.experienceaviation.org

thunderous applause and a praying group of clergy.

“I’m home,” a jubilant Irving said. “The flight was a long flight that challenged me mentally and physically.”

The Florida Memorial University senior majoring in aerospace embarked on his journey in hopes of only taking a month and getting back in time to don his cap and gown, but ended up taking 97 days due to sandstorms, snowstorms, and a tropical storm.

Not surprisingly, the single-engine plane he aptly named “Inspiration” is exactly what he wants to be to children in poor, urban neighborhoods. Irving states, “I want to show them they can do more with their lives than resort to violence.”

Irving’s trip was made possible by the kind support of Miami Executive Aviation, Chevron, Universal Weather and Aviation, Miami Dade Empowerment Trust, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Avidyne, Teledyne Continental Motors, NASA, Miami-Dade County and many more companies who wanted to see this historical trip manifest.

Barrington Irving is an African-American hero who is living proof that the sky is the limit when you pursue your “Inspiration.” We should all take note. tv teen vision magazine

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impress yourself

Shortcut to a Greener Tomorrow Seven easy ways you can help save our planet

by The Princeton Review

T

he magnitude of the environmental crisis can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know what you can possibly do to make a difference. While it’s tempting to throw your hands up and say “Just screw it, we’re all gonna die anyway” we encourage you to resist the pull of apathy. In the immortal words of JFK: “One person can make a difference and every person should try.”

Fortunately, there are little things you can do each and every day to help make a difference in the fight to save our planet. Here are some habits, that if you implement them into your daily routine, will go a long way toward helping our world get on the path to sustainability.

Green Tips Tip #1: Use laptops instead of desktops. Laptops use less energy and require less resources to manufacture. Whatever you use, make sure you set you activate those sleep/hibernate settings when its not in use. Screen savers do not save any energy!

Tip#2: Light it up. Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of regular bulbs. They last 8-12 times longer and use 25 percent less energy.

Tip #3: Avoid water waste. Turn off the water when you’re not using it and check all your faucets for drips.

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Tip #4: Be a groupie. Organize a carpool to travel to work and school. For solo trips, travel by bicycle or public transportation whenever possible.

Tip #5: Shop smart. Always ask for paper bags—never plastic (plastic bags are not biodegradable). Better still, bring a cloth bag when you shop, or if your purchase is small enough, don’t take any bag at all.

Tip #6: Cut down on paper. Use only as much toilet paper as you need in the bathroom. For those pesky allergies, use handkerchiefs instead of Kleenex. Wipe up kitchen spills with a dish cloth instead of a paper towel.

Tip #7: Reuse as well as recycle. Use reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping food in foil or plastic wrap. Make it a point to buy products with recycled contents and/ or recyclable packaging. Remember: one person’s trash is another person’s treasure! tv This information was adapted with permission from “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges,” available at www.princetonreview.com.

What Makes a Green College?

Why sustainability matters on campus

by The Princeton Review

S

till wary that the sustainability movement is just a passing phase? Here’s a little anecdotal evidence for you: in 2008, the U.S. Patent Office handed out over 300,000 trademarks to names that included “eco” or “green” in their title.

Investors have been rushing to fund a huge range of new companies, featuring everything from solar energy to green building materials. Even corporations like WalMart, Google and HP are greening their products and improving their environmental record in response to consumer demand.

Colleges have also jumped on the bandwagon.

Colleges want to equip their students to join the emerging green market, and that means offering a green education. Many schools offer

ve o r p m i o s l a s e Green colleg en h w e f i l f o y t i l your q ua . g n i n i d o t s e m it co courses renewable energy, organic agriculture, and the tools for developing smart, efficient products. Schools like Georgetown University and Northland College in Wisconsin even offer environmental literacy courses to undergraduates.

But a college’s commitment to going green will also

affect your life outside the classroom. For example, would you like to live in a dorm that resembles an institution or a room that’s as inviting as a crawl space?

Or would you prefer a top-of-the-line residence hall, one that considers environmental factors by incorporating natural lighting, improving air quality, and reducing energy and water use?

Green colleges also improve your quality of life when it comes to dining. Fruits and vegetables transported from across the country are often picked early and then sprayed with chemicals. Wouldn’t you rather eat something that has more of its natural vitamins and minerals, and isn’t coated in pesticides?

Lastly, consider how mobility plays into your standard of living. How “walkable” is a particular campus? Is public transportation accessible? Green schools provide a myriad of transportation options, from free bus passes to bike-share and even carshare programs. You’ll definitely appreciate the freedom these choices afford, all while lessening your environmental impact.

If you choose to attend a school with a commitment to sustainability, the academic, research and extracurricular opportunities available will put you a step ahead of the competition when it comes to getting one of the green jobs of the future, not to mention make your college experience that much more enjoyable. tv This information was adapted with permission from “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges,” available at www.princetonreview.com.

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shoulders, ears & hearts

Support, help & guidance

at ha s y a alw

Dear Shoulders, I don’t have enough money to go to prom this year. My father recently got laid off from his job, and money is really tight at home right now. I got an after-school job to help out, but I only work three days a week and I give a lot of that money to my parents to help out with bills. I don’t know how I’m going to get enough money for to pay for the tickets and to rent a tux, much less a limo, dinner, corsage, etc. I’d hate to miss prom this year since I’m a senior but I’m thinking of just not going. What should I do?

–Not hyped about prom, Anonymous Dear Not hyped, You’re not alone in feeling the effects of this recession.

Going to prom has always been expensive and this year, many families just cannot afford it. But you can still participate in your prom. Talk to your date about your concerns. Ask her if she would mind splitting the dinner and ticket expenses with you. Find a group of friends to share the limo costs with. (Or skip the limo altogether, and drive your family’s car instead.)

The tux rental is a big expense so do your homework. Try to find places that offer student discounts. You can even go online to sites like eBay and purchase a tux for less than it would cost to rent one. Whatever you do just remember: you’re not the only one. With some open communication and a little creativity, you can still make it a night to remember!

Dear Ears, I’m in the tenth grade and will be taking the FCAT Reading test this Spring. I’ve never been a great test-taker and English is my worst subject. I’m terrified that I will fail. I feel so anxious that I can’t even concentrate on my other classes. I just don’t know what to do.

–FCAT-phobic in Ft. Lauderdale Dear FCAT-phobic The good news is that you understand that it’s important to take the FCAT seriously. The bad news is that your confidence level is way low, and you’re psyching yourself out. There are some simple things you can do beforehand to make sure you’re ready come test day and you don’t pass out from all the anxiety. First, study! If you know what you’re facing then you will no longer be afraid of the unknown. You can find plenty of free practice tests online at www.testprepreview.com/fcat_ practice. Talk to your teachers to find out if your school offers after-school tutoring sessions or extra prep. Second, the FCAT

nd

Reading tests your reading skills, so ramp up your reading between now and test day. It doesn’t matter what you read— books, newspapers, magazines—just make sure you look up unfamiliar words and you are comprehending what you have read. To deal with Test Day anxiety, make sure you get a good night’s rest the night before and eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. Don’t go into the test with a defeatist attitude.

Practice Self Talk and tell yourself you CAN succeed and you WILL do well. With just a little extra practice and a positive attitude you are sure to come out on top!

Dear Heart, I have a problem dating a guy and staying with him!!! It’s not that I can’t get a boyfriend, but I just can’t stay with them for more than a couple of weeks! All my friends are either in longterm relationships or they have a new guy every week. I am the only one who isn’t in love with one guy or in love with two or three different guys each week. I never seem to find a guy I really like and when I do find a guy, I like I try to find something wrong with them. My mom keeps saying it’s because after my first serious relationship I am afraid of being hurt again, so I stay distant from guys. If what my mom said is true, how can I keep my fear of getting hurt from interfering with my social life? Please help!

–Playing the Field in Pinecrest

Dear Playing the Field, Well, it sounds like you and your mom have identified the source of your problem already. Previous relationships (especially bad ones) can set the tone with other guys in your life and could totally effect the way you are with future boyfriends. It’s called “baggage” and everyone has some form of baggage they bring into a relationship whether from previous relationships gone wrong or troubled childhoods. The key to stopping all that is being aware of it. Next time you’re out on a date with a truly compatible person and you catch yourself looking for problems (with him and the relationship), start reminding yourself of all the good things about the guy that made you want to go out with him in the first place (he’s cute, good at sports, funny, etc.) instead of dwelling on the little issues (pimples, he’s got dorky shoes, etc.) Remember, everyone has faults.

You don’t have to date everyone that asks you out so make certain that you are compatible first and then take your time and really get to know the ones that fit the bill. tv Have a problem you need help with? Email us at recap7@aol.com

...Life, Laughter, Learn

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Grind for the Green: A movement for eco-equity that the hip-hop generation can get down with

by Tania Zamora

“G

reen” seems to the buzzword going around today; marketers especially love it because it taps into the liberal humane attitude of your generation.

With terms like “green technology,” “eco-tourism,” “sustainable living,” and the rising of green jobs, it is easy to lose track of the whole point the movement to “go green”: your well-being.

Luckily, it’s not only advertisers and public agencies that are catching on to this environmental movement; teens just like you around the country are connecting environmental issues to their quality of life as well. Teens across the nation are coming together to clean up the environment and the communities that suffer from lack of environmental concern.

From the Earth to Your Body Since the first factory that brought mass-produced goods to the home and tables of America, there has been a frightening disconnect from the goods we consume and where it comes from. At first, it made us prosperous. We were able to purchase our food off shelves, drink water straight from the tap, and drive places our legs would have taken days to take us. But it is these same advances that have made American neighborhoods full of diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and obesity, just to name a few conditions exacerbated by the condition of the environment and the climate it creates.

The environment and society it creates has become a matter of social injustice. Teens across the nation are making the connection between the pollutants in their neighborhood and the health problems that plague their community, and they are speaking out.

Groups across the nation are giving youth a stage and the resources to voice out their concerns and solutions to the environmental crisis. One such group is California organization Grind for the Green. Co-founder Zakiya Harris of G4G says that youth living in low income neighborhoods in the California Bay Area are connecting the state of their environment to the health problems prevalent in their community.

Harris made some clear connections to justify her community’s need for eco-equity. She shared a story about a bay area community near a naval shipyard that loaded an atomic bomb onto naval ships. This left toxic elements to linger in the air and soil. Over the years, as this soil is moved it releases toxic dust into the air. In this same community there is a high rate of asthma cases compared to other communities of the Bay Area.

Coincidence? I think not.

Another community health crisis plaguing urban environments is the increase in diseases related to eating.

Harris puts it this way: “It is easier to buy a gun than good food in some areas.” She is referring to the scarcity of full grocery stores that carry fresh vegetables, and the over-abundance of convenience stores and fast-food chains in urban communities.

This disproportionate access to greasy and sugary foods begins to control what families eat. It affects the way food is prepared and what types of foods are served at the family table.

“From the Earth to your body” is concept that is becoming more mainstream, but it forces the consumer to become more educated about the products they consume. What does this mean for you? For starters take back control of your food!

Harris says to start by looking at your typical foods, and

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Grind for the Green brings kids out to hip-hop events to expose them to alternative energy methods and organic foods.

then reprogram the way you cook those foods by exchanging processed ingredients for fresh ones, for example. The idea of organic and fresh food has become a commodity for the elite and privileged, but Harris believes in food justice and encourages people to research programs like Oakland’s PeoplesGrocery.org.

These organizations help connect you to the fresh foods you should be eating.

Kids all over the country are making the connections between their lifestyle, their environment, and their health. As a result, their lives are changing for the better. They are lowering their carbon foot print on the planet and reaping the benefits of an organic life-style. Youth have often been the main vehicle for revolutions, and the movement for eco-equity just might be another example.

Rapping about the green Turn on the radio and it is not hard to find artist rapping about green, but what if instead of money, they were rapping about lettuce, collard greens, and organic broccoli? After all, hip-

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hop started as a stage to voice the social injustices of the inner city; eco hip-hop voices the social injustices of the inner city caused by environmental factors.

Environmentally aware hip-hop is not something most rap fans would expect, but long-time hip-hop writer and follower of youth movements Eric Arnold does not think it is odd or even unexpected.

Arnold says, “Hip-hop in and of itself is a reaction to environmental [social] issues.” Organizations like Grind for the Green is making these issues about the environment. Poverty, sickness, malnutrition are not new to the inner city, but people are gaining awareness of the connection these issues have to the environment. As Arnold observes, “The youth are the future… but they are also inheriting all the social and environmental problems of the previous generations.”

Eco hip-hop is no different than any other social justice movement. Grind for the Green brings kids out to hip-hop events to expose them to alternative energy methods and organic foods. Eco movements are bringing opportunities and possibilities back to inner city. Have you heard President Obama talking about green jobs? Movements like community gardens, rainwater collecting, and converting to solar energy are creating jobs and cleaning up urban areas.

Whoever said kids couldn’t make a difference was obviously wrong. Youth-generated green movements are taking root and branching across the country, and organizations like Grind for the Green are streamlining the channels of communication to bring messages that need to be heard, preferably over a hot beat. tv

urban gardening Why the apple is always sweeter when you grow it yourself

by Tara Monks

U

rban gardening is changing the face of Overtown one harvest at a time.

Roots in the City is a nonprofit organization founded by local historian and former Florida International University professor Marvin Dunn whose idea to start an organic garden in one of Miami’s most blighted communities reflects a growing trend in city living: urban gardening.

Much more than a community beautification project, Roots in the City takes vacant land in Overtown and puts it to good use by planting collard greens, lettuce, pumpkin, tomato, papaya, orange and banana trees, and decorative flowers such as violets. These items are later sold at Overtown’s Farmer’s Market. Not only does the project provide a fresh food alternative for the Overtown community, but it also creates jobs and a self-sustaining business.

As an urban gardening project, Roots in the City is on the cutting edge of sustainable living practices. Urban gardening, also known as urban agriculture, is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a town or city. The recognition of worsening

environmental conditions in cities has inspired the urban gadening movement. Community gardens, Farmer’s Markets, and food co-ops are all examples of urban gardening models. But you don’t have to go to your local community garden to be part of the movement. You can start with your own backyard.

The benefits of creating and maintaining your own urban garden, no matter how large or small, can not only lighten your carbon footprint, but help you live a healthier and happier life. A vast array of environmental benefits stem from gardening. It will help maintain biodiversity within your neighborhood, providing habitats for native animals that may be hurting due to urban sprawl.

And with gardening comes composting.

Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil.

Composting is resourceefficient because it turns food and organic waste products into fertilizer for your garden. Compost can suppress plant diseases

the benefits of creating and maintaining your own urban garden, no matter how large or small, can not only lighten your carbon footprint...

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and pests, promote higher yields of crops and remove the solids, oil and grease from storm water runoff that can taint your plants.

Composting is not only easy to learn about and easy to do, but is also another way to keep your lifestyle as self-sufficient as possible.

Using compost helps keep your garden organic. By keeping it organic, you know what you put into your plants and are protected from the many food recalls (remember the recent recall of spinach due to e. coli contamination?) that just creates more waste to hurt our planet. Just think, when a recall occurs the trucks that delivered the produce in the first place must now return to the stores (burning more fuel) to

reload their trucks with inedible food (more waste) and dispose of them (more waste).

You are less likely to waste food that you have grown yourself. Psychologically speaking, it is much easier to let an apple you purchased at your local grocery store go bad on your kitchen counter than it is to not eat that yellow pepper you’ve been watching come to age in your urban garden. This is because gardening can elicit a sense of pride like none other. Even if you are just growing a batch of tomatoes from your apartment patio, it is impossible to ignore the sense of glory you feel with the first successful crop.

You made this happen. You took the time to care for something outside of yourself.

You produced a beautiful red tomato, or a full, juicy cantaloupe, or a tiny hot pepper.

Whatever it is, you planted and produced it. These fresh fruits and vegetables are not only good for the Earth, they are good for your ego. And once you have had a fresh cucumber picked right off the vine, the thought of returning to the grocery store to purchase your next one will seem impossible.

And that’s not just because planting your own garden has proved to be so rewarding from both an ecological and personal level— it’s just because it tastes so good.

For more information about how you can start your own urban garden, visit www.urbangarden.com. tv

how to grow your own tomatoes Purchase your tomato plants.

Place the plants outside for the entire day and night. select the planting location.

Tomatoes need lots of sun. Prepare the soil by adding compost. Space plants about 12 to 18 inches from each other.

Dig a hole for the plant outside. The hole should be about the size of a full soccer ball.

Once the tomato plants you purchased begin to bear flowers, they are ready to be planted outside. Place the tomato plant in the hole and gently fill the remaining area with a mixture of soil and compost. Firm the soil around the base of the plant. It is okay to cover the branches of your plant as long as you allow the top four branches to remain above the surface ground.

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place a paper collar at the base of each tomato plant to deter cutworms. As the tomato plant grows, secure it loosely with soft twine into a stake. If the tie becomes too restrictive, loosen it. water your plants on a regular basis. Pick the tomatoes as they ripen.

Methamphetamine What you need to know about this high-risk drug

by The Staff of Teen Vision Magazine

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I

f you’ve ever seen that new series Breaking Bad about the terminal cancer patient who becomes a crystal meth dealer in order to raise money for his family, then you know crystal meth has hit the mainstream. But far from offering a glamorous high or a noble way to leave your family a little nest egg after your passing, crystal meth extracts a high price for the brief high it provides. Here’s what you need to know about this high-risk drug.

A Deadly Toll Methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth,” “ice,” “tic,” “chalk,” “speed,” and “glass,” is a drug with a long and storied history. Methamphetamine increases alertness and energy, and in high doses, can induce euphoria, enhance self-esteem, and increase sensation. Created in a lab by a Japanese chemist in 1893, it was used during World War II to help keep militia awake during long nights in the trenches. Widely distributed across ranks and divisions, it was even reportedly given to Adolf Hitler to treat his Parkinson’s onset.

The 1960s saw the rise of significant use of secretly manufactured methamphetamines as well as methamphetamines created in people’s own homes for personal use. Illegal use of the street drug version of methamphetamine was at its height near the middle of the last decade. Users smoke the drug in glass pipes, similar to how crack cocaine is used. It may be injected, snorted, and swallowed.

In Miami, crystal meth use is decreasing, but it remains a major social problem that is linked to risky sexual behavior and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. Public health officials cite crystal meth use as a major factor in Miami-Dade’s high prevalence of HIV and syphilis cases.

Andre Agassi and Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson are two celebrities who have recently come out about their crystal meth abuse. Fergie has been quoted as saying that crystal meth was “the hardest boyfriend she had to break up with.”

World-famous tennis player Andre Agassi has admitted to taking the drug when he was competing. It was the reason he fell off the map for awhile and had to make a comeback. Both concede that they are lucky to have come through it with their lives and careers intact.

Notoriously addictive, crystal meth takes a deadly toll on your appearance and overall health. “Meth mouth” is a condition common to crystal meth users where extreme tooth decay occurs as a result of dry mouth, extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high-calorie carbonated beverages, and teeth clenching and grinding.

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From Beauty to Beast Crystal meth is notorious for the hard toll it takes on your physical appearance.

Check out these before and after pictures of crystal meth users:

Source: www.albertastars.com/posts.php?topic=1501&forum=16

Fergie has been

quoted as saying that

crystal meth was “the hardest boyfriend she had to break up with.”

Pop superstar Fergie poses for photographer Tom Munro durin g the Fergie and Fergalicious bran d photo shoot in New York.

The August 8, 2009 issue of Newsweek focused on “The Meth Epidemic - Inside America’s New Drug Crisis.” Newsweek examined how methamphetamine has swept into mainstream America and what’s being done - nationally and locally - to combat it. The epidemic has lead to burn centers being overwhelmed with victims of meth lab explosions.

Another common condition is skin scabbing and lesions due to meth users biting and scratching themselves because of a sensation of flesh crawling. Long-term use can lead to brain damage, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, headaches, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

fergie photo: prnewsfoto/brown shoe company newsweek cover: prnewsfoto

Pharmaceutical meth While the use of the street drug version of methamphetamine may be falling in Miami, the illegal use of pharmaceutical methamphetamine is on the rise. The pharmaceutical brand name for methamphetamine is Desoxyn, one of the most popular psychostimulant drugs used to treat ADHD. As many as 29 percent of students prescribed pharmaceutical methamphetamine report diverting their prescriptions to others for non-medical use. As much as 9 percent of middle and high school students and 35 percent of college students have used others’ prescribed methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine compound drugs like Desoxyn should only be taken under the supervision of a medical professional.

Unlawful, recreational, experimental use can quickly become a serious problem. Abusers of pharmaceutical methamphetamine experience some of the same effects as abusers of the street drug version, crystal meth. All become addicted quickly, and try to increase the amount and frequency of their doses desperately chasing after the same feelings they felt with their first “hit.”

The sad thing is that this experience is never reached again and the user falls deeper into the addiction with the pursuit. .

High doses of methamphetamine damage neuron cell endings.

Other side effects include confusion, tremors, convulsions, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Methamphetamine increases the heart rate and blood pressure and can lead to strokes, heart attack, and death.

getting help Kicking a methamphetamine habit is difficult, but not impossible. If you or someone you know is struggling with a methamphetamine addiction get help now. Call the Drug Addiction Hotline at (866) 746-4084. tv

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Sustainable Couture How one designer is taking the fashion industry to greener heights

by Adrinda Kelly

A

nnie Kay Brown isn’t your typical fashionista. A graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology and textile consultant for J.Crew, this New Yorkbased designer has been blazing a path toward sustainable fashion–and now the industry is starting to take notice. We sat down with Annie Kay for a oneon-one about her vision for a fashion-forward future where everyone is dressed to “green.”

TVM: What is sustainable fashion?

AK: A basic fabric goes through numerous stages before it can be placed on fabric rolls to be sold to the mass market. A strike off is the result of a pre-production color-correction process when a manufacturer is trying to pitch the right colors or make corrections in the artwork. It usually takes about five to eight strike offs before the printed fabric is ready to be placed into production. That is about ten to sixteen yards of unused fabric that will become waste material for just one design. Sustainable fashion creates clothes from the fabric that was discarded during the production process.

Sustainable fashion

so I wore a lot of hand-me-downs. I also grew up in a household where we were only allowed to watch TV on weekends, so finding something creative to do was always a challenge. One weekend I was watching Reading Rainbow and saw the host of the show visit a factory that made construction paper from old shredded denim.

I was amazed that from denim you could get construction paper. This opened up a whole new world for me. All of sudden I realized that those old hand-me-downs I had to wear could be a medium for my unleashed creativity. I started by making outfits for my Barbies and then graduated to making little pieces for me. I had discovered my passion for taking something used and old and ugly and recreating it into something beautiful.

When I was in college I interned at a design studio and saw firsthand all the waste that was generated. The thought of wasting materials that could become beautiful art was terrible to me. I began to realize how important it was for me to make something new out of something old.

TVM: Are there any designers out there doing sustainable fashion?

AK: Not really. The only clothing designer I read about recently that is doing anything is Nike. They recently came out with a sustainable sneaker.

is about being unique and helping the environment at the same time.

TVM: Why should teens be interested in sustainable fashion?

AK: Sustainable fashion is about being unique and helping the environment at the same time. It’s a win-win.

TVM: How did you become interested in sustainable fashion?

AK: I have six older sisters and four older brothers,

TVM: Where can people find your clothes?

AK: They can visit www.akaydesigns.us or contact me at anniekayb@yahoo.com. tv

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“I believe that the earth is in trouble with climate change and greenhouse gases and everything that’s going on. But there’s something that everybody can do about it. My school doesn’t really do anything but I believe that everybody should do their part.”

Allondra Simmons, South Dade High School, 15 years old

Spring Greening Striking a pose for a sustainable future photography by amanda langford

Makeup by east coast makeup by sandy Maranesi • on location at coral reef park teen teenvision visionmagazine magazine 21

“I think that when it comes to saving the planet, everyone needs to come together and make a contribution to ensure the health and success of future generations.�

Jordan Kreke, Coral Reef High School, 15 years old

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“Sustainability means doing your part. Everyone has something they are meant to do ... why not try to do something good for the world? Everyone can do something to help sustain our earth. Go green!�

Monique Bell, 16 years old

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“It’s very important to recycle and do things like that. If everybody does their part it helps the world in the long run. Pollution is the biggest problem right now, with all the cars on the road and the whole greenhouse effect. That’s affecting us a lot. I would love to get a hybrid or electric car—they’re cool. It’s an added bonus that they help cut down on pollution.”

Christopher Cepeda, Robert Morgan Educational Center graduate, 19 years old

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Haiti’s Tragedy Belongs to the Environment Lessons in sustainability from the earthquake in Haiti

by Stephen Faris This commentary by Stephan Faris originally appeared in GlobalPost. The views expressed are his own. This article is based, in part, on his book, “Forecast: The Surprising — and Immediate — Consequences of Climate Change,” which was published in paperback in September 2009.

M

ost people wouldn’t consider an earthquake to be an environmental issue. But while the tremors that shattered Haiti in January have nothing to do with the island’s degradation, the extent of the suffering they unleashed is a direct result of the country’s ecological woes.

The reason can be seen from the sky. The devastated nation shares its island with the Dominican Republic, but misfortune always seems to strike on its side of a border that is demarcated by an abrupt shift from lush green to bare brown. While the Dominican Republic has largely managed to preserve its trees, Haiti has lost 98 percent of its forest cover.

In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne struck the Dominican Republic, and killed 18 people. In Haiti, where the storm didn’t even make landfall, more than 3,000 lives were lost under floodwater and mudslides. Deforestation had left the slopes too weak to be able to retain the downpour. But while some of the extra body count can be attributed to barren hillsides giving way, the true cause goes deeper. The country’s environmental troubles have become entangled in its economic and political problems, making all of them harder to fix.

It’s no coincidence that Haiti is both the poorest country in the western hemisphere and the most environmentally devastated. Decades of poverty, population growth and unstable government have stripped the countryside of its forests and

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A woman cooks over charcoal heat in a tent community on a soccer field in Jacmel, Haiti, February 9, 2010 . People across Haiti continue to deal with the aftermath of the devastatin g January 12 earthquake.

ent of 3.3 million eggs donated A volunteer at Deb-E1 Foods loads a shipm en as part of the Good Egg Childr The Feed to s

by America’s egg farmer uake disaster in Haiti. earthq the Project to feed families affected by

woman cooking photo by jonathan ernst for lwr, prnewsfoto/ lutheran world relief, jonathan ernst egg donation photo by prnewsfoto/american egg board

split farms into small, infertile plots. “What you see in Port-au-Prince — the concentration of people in the slums, which creates violence, which creates disease — it’s because the people cannot produce more in the countryside,” says Max Antoine, executive director of Haiti’s Presidential Commission on Border Development.

If deforestation has made the country poor, the resulting poverty intensifies the environmental degradation. Forests disappear. The slopes lose their soil. Farm land slips away.

Entire villages disappear under mudslides. Roads and bridges are wiped away. The slums continue to swell. The country sinks deeper into poverty. Pressed to survive, another farmer chops down another tree to sell in the city as charcoal. “It’s not a vicious circle,” said Philippe Mathieu, the Haiti director for the Canadian charity Oxfam-Quebec. “It is a spiral. Each time you make a turn, you have less space.”

January’s tragedy showed how tight that space has becomeis now 230,000. Many lost lives could have been avoided if buildings in the capital had been built to withstand earthquakes. Many others could have been saved if systems for emergency response and medical care had been in place. As a point of comparison: In 1989, an earthquake of exactly the same strength struck San Francisco at almost exactly the same time of day. The death toll was 63.

But unlike San Francisco, Port-au-Prince doesn’t have building codes. And if it did, its residents couldn’t afford to comply; most concrete blocks in the capital are handmade, with cheap, light materials. Even the buildings built by the United Nations couldn’t withstand the quake. As for coordinating an emergency response, Haiti wasn’t able to maintain much of a police force — never mind staffing a system of first responders or supporting a strong medical infrastructure. So when the earthquake struck, the residents of the capital were left pretty much on their own.

The way that Haiti’s challenges have interlocked has made them particularly difficult to overcome. The country has tree-planting programs, but they haven’t been able to keep up with the rate of deforestation; nor are they likely to as long as the poor depend on the charcoal trade for their income. Even before the earthquake, Haiti’s government was unable even to keep order on the streets of the capital. It’s no surprise that it couldn’t solve two seemingly intractable problems at once.

Now the focus has turned to rebuilding the country.

There’s talk of reconstructing its agriculture, its educational system, its housing, its infrastructure. The effort is expected to cost billions of dollars. It’s also expected to take decades.

That’s enough time to grow some trees. tv

What Teens Can Do to Help Haiti There are tens of thousands of Haitians living in South Florida, and many of you attend school with teens who have been personally affected by the disaster.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to help aid the relief and rebuilding effort.

4Purchase the Hope for Haiti Now Music at itunes. It is an awesome collection of music from some of your favorite artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake and more!!!

4Sponsor a fundraiser at your school or religious organization. Any donation amount can help!

4Check out updates on what other teens are doing to help at Free the Children, www.freethechildren.com, an organization started by Craig Kielburger.

4Watch for updates and donate at the Hope for Haiti Now website, www.hopeforhaiti.now.org.

Tell us what you’re doing and spread the word to others!

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keeping it real

Pay It Forward Making the world better on Earth Day and every day

by Joe Hickman

E

ach year we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. It is an annual event for people around the world to celebrate the Earth and renew their commitment building a healthier, safer, and cleaner world for all of us.

Recent Earth Day celebrations have tended to focus on the easy things a person can do for the environment, like taking public transit, toting cloth shopping bags, or buying more-efficient light bulbs. The message conveyed is simple: you can change the world by reforming yourself. One of the easiest things we cal all do is reuse and recycle.

Over one million members in almost 3,000 communities worldwide are helping to transform the world’s environmental health by sharing their unwanted stuff.

All the getting and giving is possible through an organization called Freecycle, a grassroots movement of people who give away things for free in their own towns. All of the trading is done online. Membership is free. Freecycle is open to individuals and non-profit organizations.

The Freecycle Network was started in 2003 in Tucson, Arizona, to promote waste reduction and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. In just two years the idea has spread worldwide.

The process is quite simple.

Go to www.freecycle.org and find a group near you.

The process is quite simple. Go to www.freecycle.org and find a group near you. (If there’s not one close, consider starting one yourself.) Then when you want to find a new home for something, just send an e-mail offering it to members of your Freecycle group.

All items must be completely free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. What you offer doesn’t matter: computer parts, couch, clothing, an old window, broken car, perfume, whatever.

If you have it and don’t want it, someone else probably can put it to good use.

If something is posted that you’re interested in obtaining, simply respond to the member’s offer. The giver decides who receives the

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gift and sets up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

Many local networks also allow “wanted” posts. If you’re looking for a 10 gallon aquarium, check with Freecycle first. Odds are good someone may have one sitting in their basement collecting dust.

The intent of Freecycle is to help others by giving and getting.

And at the same time, help the environment.

What a great, fun organization. tv

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