YOU WANT THE WORLD TO MELT? didn't think so...

Hey, everyone! For my Rhetoric Action Project we were assigned to design a piece of artwork that "breaks the barrier" on an important social/political issue. I chose climate change as it impacts everyone and everything. Climate change is unlike any other social/political issue because if we do not address it now, our world will be forever changed.  Addressing climate change now could save our tomorrow and it should not continue to be ignored. Ignoring the issue of climate change will not benefit anyone or anything because everyday things are getting worse.

Art type- I chose to make stickers as my art piece because stickers are trendy, popular and they easily express a person views. On any given day I pass people on the streets, buses and trains with stickers on water bottles, phone cases and/or laptops. Additionally, many activist organizations pass out stickers as a visual expression of support. I even have several stickers of support for various organizations on my own belongings. I believe that stickers are small tokens of appreciation to advance the message of big issues. 

In part, climate change is defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns and it has greatly increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Human expansion and increased human activity are the leading causes of climate change phenomena, global warming. When people talk about climate change terms like greenhouse effect are mentioned but few people really understand what it is. Truthfully, I still struggle to fully understand the ‘whats and whys’ of climate change but the greenhouse effect occurs when heat from the Earth gets trapped in the atmosphere. Despite all of the scientific terms this climate phenomena is very real and is  causing devastatingly irreparable harm. 

The most important thing we could do now is to address the issue of climate change in every way possible. The unintended consequences of climate change are still unknown but traditionally predictable climate patterns have become difficult to predict. Thus far, the effects of climate change have contributed to overly warmed oceans, melting and disappearing glaciers and increased sea levels. Increased heat and extreme weather patterns have led to more evaporation and precipitation which has caused unseasonably heavy rains and floods. Climate change impacts all weather patterns and disrupts seasonal weather patterns all over the world. If we do not act now, by the year 2075, 18% of the Earth’s surface will suffer from annual extreme heatwaves.  In order to combat this present climate crisis, humans need to do whatever they can to decrease their individual carbon footprint. I am working hard to do my part to combat climate change by making small changes like forgoing plastic water bottles for a reusable metal water bottle, recycling at home and giving up straws. It may not seem like a lot but, I needed to start somewhere. I will continue to do my part to combat climate change and with every sticker I will advance the message to a larger audience. Humans the leading abusers of the planet so, we have a moral obligation to try to reverse the damage to combat climate change.

BENEFICIAL BIKE SUCCESS

Hello everyone! For this unit in Design & Engineering, we focused on wheels and motion. Specifically, how wheels, motion, and weight distribution of the rider all work together to operate a bicycle. For this Action Project, we were asked to assist a cyclist named Ko a Taiwanese native who loves to cycle. Taiwan is an extremely bike-friendly city but, the city's high rates of theft can make cycling a dangerous pastime. In designing Ko's bike, we considered the region, available resources, and terrain. Therefore our objective was to make a practical bicycle that allowed Ko to remain safe and secure while cycling. Ko's daily cycling routine consists of commuting to and from school and picking up groceries at night for her family. To help Ko, complete her daily tasks my partner and I decided to add a few cool features like a basket, several lights, and reflectors to her bicycle but, we primarily focused on her safety. Although Ko loved to cycle, her bike design was not built to simply look cool. We designed Ko's bicycle to withstand the elements, maintain speed, and meet her specific needs. Understanding the terrain and the rider's skill level were key factors in our design. We made a 3D model of our sketch which is both shown in our slideshow below.

Our field experiences at Earth Rider and Working Bikes gave me better insight into understanding the needs of cyclists. It is vital that all cyclists feel comfortable while riding and that the bicycle meets the needs of the rider. Like the bicycles at Earth Rider, our bike design for Ko met her needs while allowing her to enjoy her riding experience. During our field experience at Earth Rider, I could see that most of the bicycles were well equipped to handle the flat terrain of Chicago and support various weights of riders. Although, gadgets like baskets and reflectors do enhance the rider's functionality they are not as important as safety and comfort level. At Working Bikes, I was inspired by their deep understanding of bicycle transportation in developing countries. I also learned that bicycling is the only form of transportation in certain villages in Panama and townships in Ghana. This just reinforced the importance of meeting the needs of specific cyclists according to their region. The insight I gained from visiting Working Bikes and Earth Rider inspired me to create a uniquely practical yet thoughtful bike for Ko because I have a better understanding of her needs.