One Man, One Bike, One Fight

      In 2009, Andrew Marinelli traveled from Key West, Florida to San Francisco, California on the seat of a bicycle. Yes, I know that riding a bicycle six thousand miles, across the United States seems crazy, but Andrew harbored good intentions.
     As addressed in my speech earlier within the week, Americans do not notice the lack of awareness of the Global Hunger Crisis, and therefore cannot be faulted. Unfortunately, seeing as though they do not notice the lack of awareness, which plaques the nation, they also do not seem to acknowledge the importance that rests behind resolving the issue.
      Andrew took public action to bring the complicated, two-part issue involving 'Lack of Awareness Within America of the Global Hunger Crisis', using his long bicycle ride as a tool. Attention was flooded on to Andrew as he journeyed across the country, and instead of basking in the attention, he chose to enlighten his audience about his personal, two-year experience, spent in the African country of Niger as a member of the Peace Corps. Andrew titled the long, bicycle ride, 'the one man, one bike, one fight campaign', and defined it's purpose as advocating Global Hunger Awareness. Andrew told people about the citizens of Niger, about personal connections he made with special individuals, and about the general way in which the country handles agriculture, and basic lifestyle practices of the public. Andrew reflected on what he had learned while working with the Peace Corps, promoting the organization and it's goals. Andrew addressed the World Food Programme, too, hoping to familiarize Americans with the way the global non-profit operates. Today, Andrew continues to personally donate his time and funds to various organizations, with the hopes of spreading Global Hunger Awareness across America, and as a way to personally stay involved in the fight to resolve the actual Global Hunger Crisis.
     When attempting to motivate individuals to 'get involved', it's important to use creative, original techniques, as a way to display the urgency of the issue; people tend to find new ideas and presentations to be more attractive. Andrew, forming a completely unusual, but very thoughtful way to focus attention on Global Hunger Awareness, was able to display the exigency in an enlightening way, that caused the majority of his audience to crave information surrounding the issue. In addition, acquiring and maintaining a strong ethos, remains important when motivating others to join a cause, as a way to reassure the audience that what you are advocating and encouraging them to participate in is indeed, legitimate and worthwhile. Andrew's prior experience in Niger, in the Peace Corps, and the obvious research he had accumulated on the subject, built a strong ethos around his character, which reassured Americans that the cause was true, and what Andrew spoke was worth listening to. Andrew showed dedication in spreading Global Hunger Awareness, it was obvious that the problem personally affected his beliefs, and that authenticity, contributes in building ethos, but also in stimulating pathos within the audience, and may be the most important aspect of a motivational campaign. Once the audience emotionally connects with what you are preaching, it becomes easier to convince them that they MUST 'get involved', it makes them feel personally connected to the issue and it's resolution.
    Andrew addressed the issue of Lack of Awareness Within America of the Global Hunger Crisis in a way I would've never dreamt, a way that may have at first seemed irrational, but through his creative effort, obvious credibility, and ability to involve Americans emotionally, he was able to attract much needed attention towards the issue. Andrew was able to collect donations, to enlighten a broad audience, and to show Americans why they must involve themselves in resolving this exigency. Andrew motivated a slew of people to educate themselves of the Global Hunger Crisis, and the success of his campaign can be described using 'the domino effect', because the individuals that he motivated, will in turn motivate others to collect information on the Global Hunger Crisis. Andrew Marinelli proves to be a great example of a successful motivational effort.

It Can Wait

Texting and driving seems to be an epidemic that no one wants to go out of their way to tackle. However, after the death toll from texting-related accidents rose through the years, someone finally rose up to speak to the public in 2010. In December of last year, AT&T uploaded a video onto their youtube account in order to kickstart their anti-texting and driving campaign. The video is a documentary, featuring several people who were gravely affected by texting-related accidents. Some share stories about losing their loved ones to a text. Others share their grave injuries sustained from the accident. The video ends with a line of text, and slowly types out one letter at a time, 'Txting and driving... it can wait.'

The message presents a powerful theme, emphasizing that no text is worth dying for throughout the video. Because AT&T is not only a powerful company, but a phone company campaigning against the use of their phones while behind the wheel, the strong ethos is generated immediately. Along with that, the video aims a sharp right hook into our pathos. By discussing deaths and severe injuries caused by the problem, it evokes the correct emotions of "That's so sad... I definitely don't want to be responsible for that..." It also ties in a good percentage of logos by giving us the statistics to convince any skeptical viewer of texting's harm and distraction. The only thing that I would include would be a slightly stronger emphasis on statistics, and mentioning of the reaction time being that of someone with a .08 BAC. Other than that, I think that the message is delivered beautifully, tapping into all of the key points of rhetoric. The intention is to show people the real life consequences, unblocked from any statistic or unreadable diagram, and they very much succeed in doing so. I know that my mother watched this a few months ago, and she ever since has been trying to cut down on her own cell phone use in the car.

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund is an organization that works, in 100 different countries, to preserve the environment and protect endangered species against habitat fragmentation The people who are part of the organization are knowledgeable about the environment and are passionate about what they are doing, which is why they are so successful. The WWF is determined to encourage the whole world to practice sustainable living and protect the environment as much as possible. The people in WWF go all over the world, even to small villages, and show the citizens how to live a more sustainable life, while still improving conditions for their own lives.

It is good that the WWF recognizes the tight knit connection humans have with the environment and that using the environment for further human development is necessary, but that there just needs to be less damage to the environment in the process. This idea is similar to the idea I present in my speech, that habitat fragmentation cannot be avoided all together, but that it needs to be done less. If their idea of sustainable living becomes a global success, then I think it is a great way to stop habitat fragmentation and protect the environment. I think the WWF does a good job of encouraging others to donate money and get involved in the important environmental problem, just as they themselves have all over the world. One way I think they could get even more people involved, is if they had some smaller goals to accomplish, as well as the ambitious goal of more sustainable living all over the globe. If more people felt as though they could easily make a difference in their community, or if the WWF set specific goals for a concerned community, then more people may be inclined to help the cause.

"States step up to the plate against steroids"

With a topic like steroids, there is not much individuals can do to alleviate such a widespread problem, of national appeal. The first steps being taken to fix this program are being taken at the state level. Four states - California, Illinois, Texas, and Virginia - have passed measures as of 2005 to discourage use of steroids at the high school level, and hopefully this can end steroid use in higher levels as well. Penalties include suspensions for players and loss of coaching certificate for coaches/teachers.

But this still falls into the problem stated in my speech. These measures passed will certainly make punishments stricter, but it still does little to prevent it in the first place. And it's unfortunate that tragedy has to lead to these measures. "Tragedy led the parents of two athletes – one in Texas and another in California – to lobby for stricter regulations after their sons committed suicide after taking steroids." They are attempting to combat this though. "Rather than adopting the rigorous testing of college athletics, states are steering toward early intervention through better education, such as an Illinois law that requires school districts to develop steroid-abuse prevention instruction specifically for athletes." Hopefully policies like this will be able to end steroid use in sports.

This article and the effort to end steroid use is legitimate. This isn't just some rally or protest, it's states coming together to help solve this problem. The article itself is touching as well, as it uses real stories and facts to back up an otherwise solid argument, and that is why this is a good argument for a current issue.

Relief at the Gas Pump?

As mentioned previously in my speech, gas prices have been on the rise lately. Drivers nationwide have been limiting their consumption of gasoline. SOme of the ways they've accomplished this is by car-pooling to destinations, public transportation and even retiring the automobile for the bike once in a while.

Recently however, President Obama came to his senses to realize that something needs to be done about this problematic situation we are facing. Outside of Andrews Air Base in Washington, D.C, he was quoted saying "We're announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America's natural resources, this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies more on homegrown fuels and clean energy. And the only way this transition will succeed is if it strengthens our economy in the short term and long term.”

What does this mean for consumers like us? This plan will most likely not be put in affect for at least another year so until then we are stuck paying in the $4 range. By Obama implementing this plan, millions of drivers will feel a bit of relaxation, especially in the wallet. This is decision that will be supported by many. This influential decision will hopefully lower those dreadful prices we are forced to pay day in and day out.

Greenpeace

Ever since Japan's Fukushima disaster in March, groups have been protesting against nuclear energy. Not only are people protesting in Japan, but they are protesting all over the world. German protesters are part of the reason that the government decided to start shutting down nuclear reactors there. The protesters make signs about how they want to get rid of nuclear energy. They protest in the streets and hope that what they want is heard.


Another group that's trying to solve the nuclear energy problem is the Greenpeace website. The website talks about the risks involved with nuclear energy. It says nuclear energy is "an unacceptable risk to the environment and humanity." Greenpeace believes that the use of nuclear energy should not be expanded, but rather shutdown like my proposed policy for the problem-solution speech. Greenpeace.org is telling people to get involved. They are asking people to tell banks not to fund new nuclear power plants. One of their slogans says, "Help stop the next Fukushima." They make it easy to donate and get involved. The more people that join their cause the faster the world could be safer from nuclear energy.

To Write Love On Her Arms

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement aimed to help people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. They have a vision that we were meant to live life, that we are part of a bigger story, and that your life matters. Their website includes tons of information such as facts and how to get help. They connect people with websites, treatment centers, support groups, and other resources.

TWLOHA was founded in March of 2006 by Jamie Tworkowski. He was inspired by a 19 year old girl named Renee Yohe who was denied entry into a drug treatment center, yet struggled with depression, addiction, self-injury, and attempted suicide.

Many popular bands such as Paramore, Switchfoot, Anberlin, Hawthorne Heights, Underoath, and The Rocket Summer have embraced TWLOHA's message and support the movement. While performing, the bands often wear TWLOHA shirts and clothing to spread the message. These "celebrities" bring in more awareness and simultaneously gain credibility for the organization.

Their website evens makes it easy to purchase their merchandise. While some people may say that it is just a way to make money, the organization identifies itself as "non-profit". I think that their efforts are very effective. They are true to their mission statement and put their money into programs and events such as Kristin Brooks Hope Center and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

TWLOHA shirts can be seen out in public which shows that the movement is spreading. There is even a "To Write Love On Her Arms Day", where people literally write "love" on their arms to show support for people struggling with these problems. This organization is very relatable to a variety of people. They admit that we live in a difficult world at times, but that we are not alone. Today's youth are attracted to the musicians and clothing, which make them become aware of what problems are actually going on. TWLOHA has been getting a lot of publicity, and has reached out to many lives. It is so easy to get involved, whether it is donating, joining their street team, or simply spreading the movement. Love is the movement.