Thursday, January 17, 2019

Assignment 5A- Identifying Local Opportunities


“Most say CEO’s Port Miami Should Expand More, Without Hurting the Fragile Ecosystem” by Alexia Fodere of the Miami Herald
·      In this article it discusses the idea of expanding the Port of Miami to accommodate larger ships, but at a cost of $205 million. However, the environment is a large consideration. Within this article many people believe that this development needs to happen in order for more jobs to be created and for the Port of Miami to play a bigger role in the market place.  This port is a gateway to economic resources and needs to be maintained in order to meet the increasing demand. It is apparent that the majority of people are mainly focused on the billions of dollars that will be generated from this modification rather than the effect on the environment around it. It is imperative that this action is done in an ecologically sound manner. 
·      The problem that is presented in this article is that there must be a balance between the environment and this new project. Many people are just focusing on the economic side of this. As they expand they must find solutions that allow for economic growth that are balanced with protecting our fragile environment before any modifications are done.
·      Who has the problem: There are two groups who have this problem. First, CEO’s have this problem because if they want to further their expansion their plan must be approved, which means it must include some way that it preserves the environment. And second, the local community is impacted because this modification would be happening near people’s homes and daily lives, that in result, affect them directly.

“ 'Jack Ryan' Can't Fix the Climate for us; We Have to do that Ourselves” by Andrea Dutton of the Miami Herald
·      This article discusses the many disasters that are occurring because of climate change. This has become a danger to health and wealth. A study that they conducted showed evidence to help us understand how warming is costing us economic dollars and human lives. The reports have shown that climate change is the root cause of many of the disasters, like the sea level rising causing flooding. Studies have showed that we are the ones responsible for the climate change, causing devastating results.  Since we, the people, are responsible for this effect, it is our responsibility to end it.
·      The problem is that climate change is destroying businesses, neighborhoods, infrastructure, transportation, and people’s lives.
·      Who has the problem: This affects everyone, whether you are old or young. But specifically much of the southeast is enduring this warming of climate currently.

“Shingles Vaccine is in Short Supply. What Should you do?”  By Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald

·      This article discussed the vaccine for shingles being in high demand so much that there are now waiting lists for the vaccine at pharmacy outlets like Publix and Walgreens. Although there is a greater demand, there has not been a show of significant upshot or epidemic in new cases. The vaccine, called Shingrx, is a two-step process. There is a first shot but then you must get a second shot two to six months later. This vaccine will prevent the painful rash, much like chickenpox, that shingles would bring someone. Researches have said that this vaccine has proved to be ninety percent effective. With almost one out of three people in the United States developing shingles, it is possible for children to get it, but it is highly recommended for people fifty years and older to get the vaccine because it is more common in that age range especially if you’ve had chickenpox before.
·      The problem is that the demand for the shingles vaccine is outweighing the available supply. And many people who got their first shot in the summer are now due for their second one.
·      Who has the problem: many people nation wide who want the vaccine, usually around the age fifty and older.  

“Miami-Dade Women were Closing the Earnings Gap with Men. But has that Progress Stalled”? By Andres Viglucci of the Miami Herald

·      FIU researchers have recently found that the gap in earnings between men and women has grown since the first study two years ago. These findings show an earnings gap across all occupations in the country. Based on this increase back to 15%, students say that means women are earning 85 cents for every dollar a male earns. FIU students, diving in deeper on this issue, have noticed that the gender gap is even larger in professional occupations, like the legal field for instance, showing a 47 percent gender gap. The higher the career pay scales the bigger the earning gap that was found. There is not just one reason for this gender gap. Many try to argue that it is because women work fewer hours, decide to take off to become a mother, or that they work part-time jobs. However, They have now been studying trends that show a possible bright future for women. There are more women graduating with business, science, and engineering agrees opposed to social and art degrees like they did in the past.  
·      The problem is that in recent months that the wage gap between men and women has increased form 13% back to 15%, which is where it was at 2 years ago.  We should be moving forward not backwards.
·      Who has the problem: women in the workforce who should be getting equal pay for the same job

“With Florida's High HIV Infection Rate, the State Should Become a Leader in Prevention” by Daniel P. Bicknell of the Miami Herald

·      Recently, Florida has become the third highest rate of new HIV diagnosis. They have discussed preventions that they urge all to take part in. One of the preventions was PrEP, which is an HIV antiviral. However, with the many people without healthcare, it is a barrier that stops them from getting treated or tested. In the efforts to expand the Affordable Care Act and failing it is leaving 1.3 million people with having to find another solution for treatment and prevention. For now they have offered sex education to be available to the youth, but many, like the “getting to zero” Task Force, see prioritizing reducing new HIV infections a need in the upcoming 2019 legislative session.
·      The problem is that a large number of people are living with the HIV infection and don’t even know it. Also, there needs to be numerous prevention methods to reach people with and without healthcare.
·      Who has the problem: The majority who do not know they have the infection are young people, however about 1 and 7 adults also don’t know they have the infection.



6 comments:

  1. Hi Kaitlin,
    I found all four of the articles you chose very interesting! I especially liked the first economic article about the expansion of the Port of Miami because it demonstrated the difficult decisions that must be made between what is best for both economics and the environment. Additionally, I agree that this article portrays the balance that we must find when executing an opportunity or unmet need in society. I also enjoyed reading the article about equal pay for women as this is definitely an unmet need in society today. With a simultaneous increase in the wage gap and increase in women graduation with higher degrees, it is confusing as to why women still receive less than men do for completing the same work. Overall, I think you did a great job in identifying key issues and opportunities in today’s society.

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  3. Hi Kaitlin,
    You chose very interesting articles to discuss. It was surprising to learn that one in three people are at risk of getting Shingles. I thought it was unfortunate to learn how the Shingles vaccine is in short supply as it is obviously very important. It was also interesting to learn about the HIV crisis in Florida as I was completely unaware that this issue was so prominent. It's scary that one in seven people do not know they are infected. I agree with you that there needs to be prevention methods for people, regardless of whether or not they have healthcare. Overall, great job on this assignment.

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  4. Hi Kaitlin,
    I think you did a great job by choosing to talk about issues in fields like health, environment, and gender discrimination. The information was taken from a local newspaper, but I think it could easily represent the situation of the entire country regarding to those topics. I would be interested in following these stories to see how they end. Thank you for your summary, and good job.

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  5. Hi Kaitlin, I really enjoyed all four of your choices for this assignment, I found the miami port article particularly interesting. This is just my opinion, but I felt like you also chose issues that all have something in common, they discuss topics that seem much more up for debate than they should be. In our changing political climate, I feel that most people agree that a high HIV- infection rate is something that should be at least improved by now, same with the pay-gap and environmentally friendly business expansion in the Miami area. All of these issues feel like problems that, in 2019, we should have figured out by now. Obviously this is just my opinion, but I think there is definitely some correlation in the topics you chose. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Hey Kaitlin, I was really interested in reading the articles you chose for the assignment. I was surprised to read that shingles is such a nationwide problem right now and even more shocked to find out Florida has the third highest rate in HIV diagnosis. You did a great job at explaining the articles and specifying the problem and whose problem it is. Great work on this assignment!

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