The bureaucratic task that my partner, Christine Walden, and I researched and flowchart-ed was filing for income tax. In the interest of keeping it simple and clean, we decided to focus on first time income tax filers (under 65 years of age, non-home owner, etc).
We began by narrowing down our subject. We decided on making a guide for first time income tax filers because, quite simply, they are the ones who need the most help. We downloaded the forms, and using the W2 of a generous donor, we completed them. We then created, edited, and submitted the flow chart.
The paperwork that we needed to fill out was relatively short but tedious. We first made the mistake of printing the forms and the directions, after which we were left with 50 some pages to deal with. I personally mis-marked two forms before realizing that it would be easier to complete it digitally. After matching the correct directions to each sheet, it was pretty easy to enter the numbers and do the addition.
I think the most difficult part of the process was locating the correct paperwork and directions. The forms are labeled in a way that makes it difficult to find the one meant for your situation. If I could change it, I would make the online linking to the forms more user friendly.
The system was, at first, very simple, I'm sure. However, with the development of technology, government, culture, and economics, the process became appropriately tangled. It had to do with the country changing more quickly than the process could, so the powers that be settled for reformatory rather than flat out change.
In the past year, Greenworks Philadelphia has traveled leaps and bounds towards its 2015 goal. Originally funded solely by Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability, Greenworks has developed into a collaborative effort between dozens of benefactors, ranging from federal and local government entities to various private non-profit organizations. As Katherine Gajewski, Philadelphia's Director of Sustainability, stated in the 2010 Greenworks Philadelphia progress report, "In an impressive display of coordination, leaders from numerous City agencies as varied as the Streets Department, the Zoning Code Commission, and the Department of Health, came together in our Sustainability Working Group and committed to bring champions of sustainability across city government."
What seems to be stopping Greenworks Philadelphia from making a true impact on the public is its lack of media attention. Thus far, Greenworks' online presence is limited to a couple of blog posts, several press releases, and a smattering of miscellaneous posts on "green" websites.
People see and use Greenworks' products, sure-- over 500 solar-powered trash and recycling bins scattered throughout center city, energy efficient building materials and methods used to make government buildings, 14,000 residents employed as"green" workers, with plans to add 15,000 more. But this isn't enough. The citizens of Philadelphia need to know more than the what-- they must know why it is important. In order for the project to continue to develop and receive further funding, Greenworks must be publicized on a larger scale.
This is where I come in.
Over the next few months, I'm going to be exploring several options for my lobbying campaign. Here are some of my ideas.
- Publicizing Greenworks Philadelphia on the internet. I would raise awareness of the project via various social networking and link-sharing sites.
- Contacting Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability. I would reach out to the local government in hopes of helping to organize a media outreach program for Greenworks.
- Start a public campaign by means of paper fliers. I would create and distribute throughout philadelphia appealing paper "advertisements" in order to put Greenworks into the public eye.
At this rate, there is little question in my mind that Greenworks will have achieved its goals by 2015. But we must think ahead-- when there are thousands more trees, environmentally friendly building materials available, cleaner energy resources-- who will be relied upon to maintain the green-ness that has been created? The answer is clear-- it will be up to the public to preserve what Greenworks has created.
The only way that they will be equipped to do so, however, is if they are taught how.
Only through education on the issues being addressed by Greenworks Philadelphia will the public come to fully understand the severity of our current environmental situation and the importance that we all work to change it. My next blog post will focus on how I plan to contribute to this education.
Phillip, Jose. "Philadelphia Sports Solar-powered Trash Bins." GreenPacks. Greenpacks.org, 1 July 2009. Web. 23 Nov 2010. <http://www.greenpacks.org/2009/06/01/philadelphia-sports-solar-powered-trash-bins/>.
Gates, Kelly Patrick. "It's a green scene for the city." PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future. PlanPhilly, 29 April 2009. Web. 23 Nov 2010. <http://planphilly.com/node/8791>.
Here are some frequently made claims evolution followed by why they are false.
Evolution claims that humans are descended from monkeys
While it is true that humans are somewhat closely related to modern apes, it is not true that we are “evolved from dang-dirty monkeys.” The truth is that humans share a common ancestor with monkeys; it is believed that this ancestor existed between 5 and 8 million years ago. At some point in time, this ancestor’s species evolved into two separate lineages.
So, to provide an analogy, monkeys are more like our cousins than our parents.
Evolution is entirely random
Evolution is the result of natural selection; this means that organisms are more likely to pass on dominant gene traits than recessive gene traits.
Now, to clarify—natural selection does not determine dominance of genes directly based on interactions with the environment. What happens is very simple—
Organisms with “dominant” genes survive.
Organisms with “recessive” genes do not survive.
Science!
Evolution is just a theory
Yes, evolution is classified as a scientific theory—this doesn’t mean that it has not been proven. It is it is important for one to note the difference between the scientific definition of theory and the contemporary definition of theory.
Contemporary definition of theory: A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
Scientific definition of theory: A scientific explanation of an observed phenomenon.
The theory of intelligent design is as feasible a theory as evolution
This is false; if not for many reasons, then for one:
Evolution is backed by empirical evidence.
Intelligent is not backed by empirical evidence.
More science!
Citations
Harding, Ken. (1999). But it's "just a theory!". Retrieved from http://www.evolution.mbdojo.com/theory.html
PBS. (C 2001). Evolution: frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat02.html
This is the Q1 Digital Video project for Graham Davis, Camille Maldonado, Harrison Talese-Rhodes, and Devon Thomas. It is a trailer for our film To Kill A Popstar.
Song is Toxic by Britney Spears
Today I went to my polling place.
I helped a very nice volunteer named Jack hand out voting literature for about an hour. Afterward, I interviewed a woman named Nina about her polling experience.
1. What motivated you to come out and vote?
I don't want the republicans to win—so part of it is a defense-- a defense vote. And plus, I always vote. I feel it's my civic duty.
2. Do you vote in every election? (How regularly do you vote?)
Yes.
3. Where have you encountered the highest amount of ad campaigning? Radio, TV, print, etc.
T.V.
4. What was the most memorable campaign ad that you have encountered?
An ad against Onorato saying that there were jobs lost in his county-- that was part of the economy! That had nothing to do with him. Oh, and Christine O'Donnell.
5. Are you always sure of who you are going to vote for when you walk into
the booth or are you still deliberating?
It's a mixture. Some people I know, others I don't know are running until I get there, haha.
6. What impact do you feel that your vote will have on the election?
'I know I'm only one person, but together, we can make a change. Blah blah blah.' Something like that.
