Dear (place reason for stress here),

Dear NCSU Admissions,

You should send notifications to students that have holds on their accounts, especially to freshman who have never enrolled or experienced holds on accounts. Now, even though you have received my final transcript you have not had the hold on my account and I will not be able to register because you do not have an office that is open for 24 hours, which you most definitely should because what student do you know that can afford to miss class and fit your hours. None. Also, why would you not answer the phone when I call? If you cannot have an office that is open 24 hours then you can at least have someone that can answer the phone and calm some nerves. Even when I call at normal hours you still don’t answer. I just don’t get it. People have questions and people want answers. Now.

Best regards,

Madison Broadway

Dear NCSU Scheduling,

You should be able to only see classes that fit the requirements when you are trying to make the wish list because there is no reason for the amount of back and forth from catalog to requirements that I have done. If that is too hard then you should be able to have two widows open on my pack portal so that this hindrance can be avoided. There are plenty of smart people here that we should be able to figure something to make your students happier, spend less time on the wish list, and get more sleep so we do better in the classes we are trying so hard to get into. I understand that you cannot fulfill every persons needs but these seem to be really simple changes that would make plenty of people lives easier. I love going to school here, but seriously, registering for classes is the worst thing I have ever done, ever.

Best regards,

Madison Broadway

Dear contacts,

Why do you insist on driving my eyes crazy? I loved you because it was so simple to put you in a go. I could wear my sunglasses; I could do athletic activities and see; but now. Now I can only half see because my right contact refuses to make peace with my right eye. It doesn’t matter how new or old you are, you have been such a bother for three months to that eye. So I go without you. I hope you enjoy being lonesome, never getting to see the world, just staying in your little pod, all alone.

Best regards,

Madison Broadway

Ecojustice Education

Ecojustice Education main "point is that educational effort of substance will be required to get the most out of that small set of ideas—agrarianism, the commons, no-growth economics, and the maximum wage—that hold the greatest promise for solving the world’s most vexing problems." It talks about different economic theories that could result in an economy that is better for the environment. Most of the theories are not realistic, for instance a maximum wage. Few people will vote for that, and if it ever happened, people would find ways around it. Other theories involve creating utopias. "Today, any vision of what a society might become that does not look very much like what society currently is, is quickly dubbed “utopian,” and therefore impossible to achieve." These utopian societies involved common meetings in which every person could speak and have input on what would happen in the community if they lived there. Obviously people that own more of the land, and more money, will have more say than the beggar or town drunk.

This text argues that project based learning and community based curriculum are the solution to many of the global problems. These education methods steer away from making as much money as possible and takes away putting one's self first. Instead of leaning self fulfillment by going to school making god grades and going to college to get a job making a ton of money, they learn about the fulfillment of helping others. These ways also involve immediate learning. Everyday a new skill is learned, instead of learning one chapter for a few weeks and testing and then deciding if they learned something or not. These ideas could work, however I believe it is still important to learn different basic skills in the classroom and then maybe going out and learning to apply it.

Mapping Everyday

Mapping Everyday: Gender, Blackness, and Discourse in Urban Contexts is an article by L. Hill Taylor and Robert J. Helfenbein that looks at how students in primarily black schools are educated differently that primarily white schools. It looks at the students' views of the world that white, privileged students may not see.  One of the main points made was about the different ways spaces are described. For instance, you have a woman which is the physical description. Then you have the dominant representation, which means that women are delicate, they should be polite, wear make up, fix their hair, and shave their legs. Then there is the small percent of women that do not fit that dominant representation. This is described as the thirdspace representation. If enough people start to see that the thirdspace representation as the "right" however, then that becomes the dominant representation. This theory is Edward Soja's. Anything can be taken into consideration with this theory. People, places, areas of a city, people that live in a certain area. The problem is that the thirdspace is less than likely viewed by the majority as acceptable, thus ending sex, gender, orientation, disability, and religious discrimination is a never ending task.

180 Degrees South

180 Degrees South is a documentary of a man's journey to climbing Corcovado. Corcovado is a mountain in Patagonia. In the winter it is a relatively easy climb, but when the ice thaws at the top of the mountain, the rocks are very loose and it becomes unsafe. Jeff has been dreaming of the day he would climb the mountain for years and knew about the climate situation. Part of his journey there was on a boat, and when one of the masts breaks, they have to make an extended stop in Rapa Nui. He ended up arriving to Corcovado later than he wanted and could not make it all the way to the summit because it would be too dangerous. Jeff is young enough that one day he plans to return and make it all the way to the summit.

I envy his journey. I would love to think that I could drop everything and just go somewhere for 150 days. But the reality is, I can't. Or maybe I just don't think I can. I have to go to school, get a degree, get a job, stay with family, update my Facebook, go shopping, celebrate the holidays, the list goes on and on. Yvon Chouinard made the journey to Patagonia in 1968 in a van. In the documentary he says it is very easy to make our life complicated, simplifying it is the hardest thing to do. This statement is so true. I can have thousand worries at one time, but clearing my mind during yoga or meditation can be one of the hardest practices ever. After watching this I will try and think about what is really important in life and hopefully, one day, I can make a journey relative to this one. 

Happy travels,

Madison Broadway

Uniqlo Reusing

My previous posts were about how to defeat the rising cost of clothing in a sustainable way and how to help the people that actually make your clothes. Today's article is about how to help the people that have little or no clothing. Uniqulo is a company that started in Japan and is now branching out to other countries including the United States. They are also branching out by starting a new project. This company is notorious for selling extremely cheap clothing and only the newest trends. As a consequence, many people who shop at their stores find their clothing that they bought just last month outdated and 'old'. Their project encourages their consumers to bring in lightly worn clothing which they will distribute to countries in need. This company is not local with my community but I understand that there are other companies doing the same reuse project. 

Happy trending!

Madison Broadway

Indigenous Resistance

Indigenous Resistance by Michael Marker is an article about a group of native americans that were divided by the USA-Canada border. Then the white settlers tried to force them to go to their schools and forget everything about their native past. The schools in Canada were very religious and the natives were abused physically. The schools in the USA were very racist and the natives experienced psychological trauma. The natives had to learn their language and dances in secret or they would be punished. When the natives integrated to public schools in the USA the racism became so bad over fishing rights that eventually they went back to the boarding schools that their grandparents remember as the worst times of their life. It is amazing that something that was once so bad, becomes the choice because other people feel they have so much more power because of skin color. It is a good that the boarding schools are now letting the natives learn about their culture now however, because diversity is important. It would be better if the natives and white could both learn about it in a civilized manner, but no person should by traumatized by their school years. I do not really know how the Canadians go about life, but I know that forcing an entirely different religion on any person is wrong. Students should have a choice to go to a school or not that includes religion.  In this case, the natives should be taught by their elders. It is important to keep various cultures alive, if every person had the same values and beliefs, then there would be none. This article shows that an open mind is important. Some of the most amazing experiences I have had, have had nothing to do with what I believe in, but I know that it is important to have respect for anything that other people do and I cannot imagine shutting out anything without giving it a try first.

Happy embracing,
Madison Broadway

Penguin Lessons

In Butterfly Lessons a main claim that is made is that climate change does effect species in a matter of ways. Sometime genetically, other times in behavior, and the most unlucky species may become extinct.

"When an animal changes its routine by, say, laying its eggs earlier or going into hibernation later, there are a number of possible explanations. One is that the change reflects an innate flexibility; as conditions vary, the animal is able to adjust its behavior in response. Biologists call such flexibility "phenotypic plasticity," and it is key to the survival of most species. Another possibility is that the shift represents something deeper and more permanent-an actual rearrangement of the organism's genetic structure."

Butterfly Lessons discusses how species are impacted by climate change. My project is about how species, both flora and fauna, are impacted by invasive nonnative species, including humans. Humans are a main contribution the the warming of the environment; as well as, the invasive species in the Galapagos. Humans are working to eradicate the invasive species of the Galapagos; however, reversing the global warming damage will not be as easy. Some of the species in the Galapagos are facing treats from global warming, including the penguins. The Galapagos Islands have not faced many cases of extinction, but if the invasive species are not continually eradicated than their chances for survival lessen. 

Butterfly Lessons

Butterfly Lessons by Elizabeth Kolber discusses the issues with global warming and how it effects organisms and their habitats. It is obvious that their habitats are getting smaller as more parking lots are created, trees are cut down, and factories are built. However, these organisms habitats are also being forced to change as areas get warmer. Birds in Costa Rica that normally stay in the lowlands, are beginning to nest in the foothills and butterflies in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California are being found at elevations 300 feet higher than 100 years ago. Climate change does happen naturally, but recently CO2 levels have risen, causing the change to speed up perhaps. Another part of climates change that must be remembered is not only temperature, but also moisture changes. This is another aspect that the organisms must adjust to. Over time some of them have enough time to change genetically; nevertheless, other are not so lucky. The golden toads of Coast Rica for example endured one warm and dry spring and the ponds that the tadpoles rely on to mature in dried up. A golden toad has not been seen since that spring. We need to remember that humans are just another organism and if we continue to take our habitat for granted then the damage will be irreversible.

Happy Habitating!
Madison Broadway

Just Imagine

I live in Indonesia. I come from a village family. We always grew our own food and made our own clothing. Fathers chose the husbands for their daughters, and children never spoke out against their elders. Many times there is never enough food for everyone. I grew tired of this, I believed I could have a better future. I do not want to have as many children as possible, not knowing if I will be able to support them. I left my village at 14, striving for independence. I know longer speak to my family, but when I am successful I will visit and show other young women what they can become. Every morning I wake up at 4 am and walk to hours to the sweatshop. I sew swooshes on tennis shoes of every color imaginable. I always dream of having my own pair, but they are not in my budget yet. The bosses harass me verbally, physically, and mentally if I mess up and say I am costing them money. I do my best because I do not want  to lose my job. Recently there have been protests in front of the factory. White people wearing the rainbow shoes with swooshes on them holding signs that push for better working conditions and less abuse. My girlfriends say this has happened at some factories that they worked at and got them shut down. I would hate for my factory to get shut down. It was so hard to get the job to begin with. I walked everyday for months always trying to be first in line so that when somebody was fired I would be more and more likely to get the job. When I got the job, it was the happiest day of my life. I knew this was the beginning of a successful future for me and my family. All these people protesting believe sweatshop labor is bad because it abuses their workers, but the abuse is not as bad as what the village like was like; we choose to work here and do not expect to get five star treatment from the companies. My name is Maya and I am a sweatshop worker at Nike.

This is what I believe sweatshop workers think of the importance of their jobs.
This is made up from studies I have read about.

Happy imagining!
Madison Broadway

Who am I to Judge?

Are you in denial about whether or not it is okay to buy clothes knowingly made in a sweatshop? Have you read my blog posts about why sweatshop labor is not as bad as it seems and still believe it is ethically wrong? It probably is, but it's not your fault. So get over it. Sweatshop workers love their job. They go everyday to their job happy, happier than any American worker. They have more appreciation for their jobs than any person reading this ever has. If they did not have sweatshops they would not have a reason to wake up at 4 a.m. in the morning. There are numerous people selling scraps they find at a garbage dump in developing countries for a dollar a day that dream that their children will work in a sweatshop. These people are in denial as well. If they can barely take care of themselves then why are they going out and having children. Why would you ever want to put your child in a situation as bad as their own. Maybe I am in denial as well. They want to have their own kids to love and cherish. I just cannot see how they can do that, knowing they will not be able to provide for them. Are you in denial about buying clothes from thrift stores or Goodwill? You just cannot open up and take a chance. Is it gross to wear clothes that someone else has already worn? 60% of the clothes I buy at thrift shops have never been worn. The rest are good finds with expensive labels. Anybody that could afford those clothes new probably showers regularly, so it's no biggie. It is like borrowing my rich friends' clothes. Kissing someone on a first date is worst than wearing clothes from a thrift shop. Do you know when they last brushed their teeth?

Happy Denying!
Madison Broadway

Rekindle with Reknit

Today's blog is about a really neat service I first heard about on Rachel Zoe's daily fashion newsletter. It is an entire new take on renewing clothes. To give you a gist of how it works: you have an old sweater you love because of sentimental value or color but would never actually wear it as a sweater; then you send that sweater to the company Reknit; and within a week you have a scarf or hat or both made from the old sweater.  No machines, no new fabric, but a an entire new item to add to your closet that will last a lifetime or two!

Happy Knitting!
Madison Broadway

Indigenous Ideas

Luther Standing Bear, the chief of the Oglala, Lakota made a powerful speech about how the native Americans viewed the world different than the white people. To them nothing was 'wild' it just just part of their life. They were never rushed for an answer or rushed to speak out, everything happened with time and thought. The animals had the same rights as the natives and they had more respect for life than any white man ever hoped to. The main point in his statement was that the natives adapted to the world rather forcing the world to adapt to them. [Indigenous People]

H. A. Smith's version of Chief Seattle's speech talks about how he is thankful that the white men want to help his tribe be protected from the other tribe they often go to war with. Chief Seattle thinks it is thoughtful for the white men to be willing to give them a reserved land and does not think the white men coming over to America is a problem. He apologizes for his young men getting angry and wanting to fight  the white men because they see revenge as gain. However, he also brings up the issue of their Great Spirit verses the white man's God and how they can never be the same God. The white man's God does not like his "Red Children" because he does not protect them. He says they will probably accept the proposition but should be able to visit their ancestors' graves when they wish and ask that all of the land not be destroyed because the natives love their land more that with white men ever will. [Chief Seattle]

There is controversy over whether the translations of Chief Seattle's speech is what he actually said. There are many different translations and some have almost the same meaning while other's are extremely different. Some translations are so wrong that the animals and trees he talks about would not even be in the region Chief Seattle is from. Smith's is questionable because he probably would not apologize for his people fighting for what he believed in. Smith's version also sounds close to his own poetry and the ideas mentioned in it were popular among European Americans at the time it was published. [Controversy]

The Northeast Indian says that H.A. Smith's version is the most accurate and has the most citations and reviews. This article states that Smith was actually at the Point Elliot hearings. People that review and agree with the translation say that what Chief Seattle says is not metaphorical the land was truly sacred to them and they respected the world and life a great deal more than any white man ever has. This idea is supported by surrounding tribes and in his speech. [Support]

Chief Seattle or a Rando?

Today I read what is or was supposed to be Chief Seattle's Speech in response to when his tribe was being asked to sell their land and move to a reservation. However, there is major controversy over whether he actually said these words after translation. It is thought to be fake because the translation shows no realistic relations to the part of the nation that he is from. Some translations state that he used horses to get around, has seen many buffalo, and seen or smelled pine trees and whippoorwills. None of these would be relevant to his lifestyle. H. A. Smith's has more relevance than others. He talks mostly about how he's sorry for the fighting they have done and thanks the white for wanting to protect them, but it shows almost nothing in common with other translations. Pretty much all of them seem wrong so maybe we will never know what he actually said. The only notes taken at the meeting were that Governor Stevens and Chief Seattle met and traveled along the Puget Sound. So the question we end with is what is the harm? So what if we portray one thing when something else was meant? Well we lose a grip with reality. Thoughts are more biased than they normally would have been to begin with. The natives of North America have already been hurt enough and there is no need to go and put words in their mouth.
[Speech]
[More about Authorship]

Madison Broadway

The Dilemma

     My first blog was about how the prices of clothing are going up in order for items to be sustainable. Otherwise we would have to continue to buy clothes from places that use sweatshop labor. However, in a way sweatshop labor is good, because it is the only chance for the young women, who have left their traditional villages to strive for freedom, to get out of poverty.

     Then there is issue of buying fair trade items. Items that we knowingly buy at a more expensive price out of the goodness of our hearts. So we can feel good about helping developing countries get away from horrible working conditions that we cannot even imagine. However, if we only did that then eventually the sweatshops would "ideally" be shut down, so the women striving for liberty would have no hope to getting out of the poverty rut. 

     Another option is to buy clothes from thrift shops and places like Goodwill at ridiculously cheap prices. But if we only bought clothes from there, then the textile industry would disappear and that would be a tragedy unfathomable. No Chanel? Ha. No more clothes never worn by anyone else? I guess the lingerie department would still be okay.  

     It is all so overwhelming. 

     Today my mom and aunt picked me up from NCSU and we took a little shopping trip Crabtree. Tonight I think about the socks I bought at H&M and how they were probably made in a sweatshop and part of me feels a little guilty. Then part of me feels good, because I would love helping a young woman like myself, strive for independence.
     When I am cold, I pull out the el pacca pancho I purchased from an old man in a tiny shop in Ecuador. He was so happy every time he sold a poncho or blanket or hat. A huge grin would come across his face and show both of his teeth. You can't help but to love to make people feel that way. When you purchase fair trade items online, you may not get the full feeling of how you are making those people feel, but imagine what I just described and you may come close.
     Next, I remember the thrifting spree my mom and I took last weekend. All the sweaters have already lasted one lifetime, now it is ready for another. So the question is which is right and which is wrong? What if only one shopping strategy existed?

Happy shopping!

Madison Broadway

What we Owe, to Help others Grow

     Today's article is about the IOU Project that makes sustainable clothing. The clothes are handmade by people in India, from locally grown cotton. The best part is that the weavers use almost no energy. You purchase the clothes online and each piece of clothing has it's own story. It allows the buyer to form a connection with the maker. Many buyers are more likely to purchase items when they know that it is helping a person, so putting a face to a shirt ups the chances even more. Each piece of clothing is unique, so just like thrifting, the chances of ending up in the same top as someone else are slim. This project's main villan is the machine. Machines can make the same piece of clothing over and over with few people. If more and more people support weaved clothing then the makers can get a better profit and climb up the ladder out of poverty. In a way this project allows us to give back to people that would normally be making our clothes for unfair wages in sweatshops, and to the earth that would normally be taking a beating from the emissions and energy used in the factories. So, if you are not into wearing clothes from 20 years ago, then this is definitely another sustainable option.

Happy Shopping!
Madison Broadway

Cheap Chic Crisis?

     I have recently been focusing on outsourcing, fair trade, and how they effect sustainability. Today's article is about how selling a multitude of clothing at ultra cheap prices is no longer sustainable. As a consequence, prices are beginning to rise.
     Many people in my community shop at retail stores such as Forever 21 or H&M because the prices are so cheap. However, these shops also use outsourced labor. We feel we can buy much more for our money because the prices are so cheap. Though, as more people and companies strive to be more sustainable, a new objective may be less items for more outfits, think transitional! What can you wear every season? What only need tights, a cardigan, and a scarf to be winter appropriate?
     The article talks about the company Primark, notorious for their cheap clothing. This company is going to try and keep their prices down even if everyone else's go up. When I researched this company I noticed they have a Ethical Trading section. This is similar to fair trade. The products in this area are made from people around the world in developing countries and areas. Normally this would mean in 'sweatshops' but as ethical trading products they have a label that means the workers get fair wages and have good working conditions. The items are not actually owned by the larger companies, like Primark, they just help them sell. Most of the products are handmade, thus less emissions are released in the making and they are much better quality.
     This article will definitely come into mind the next time I go shopping. I realize the most sustainable way to go is reuse and recycle just like trends come and go. There is no embarrassment in thrifting, it's the only place to get absolute authentic, will soon be the only place to get more for less, and you are much less likely to end up in the same top as someone else at the same party... tragedy! I say this is not a crisis, just a time for our creativity to come out of the closet.

Happy Shopping!
Madison Broadway