5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

1. The plastic ban: Gainesville will be 100 percent waste free by 2040

https://www.alligator.org/news/the-plastic-ban-gainesville-will-be-percent-waste-free-by/article_4be9d1d4-1aec-11e9-9b28-dfc39205fdd9.html

· Description of story: Karina Elwood wrote an article for The Alligator about the ban of single use plastics in Gainesville, Florida. The Gainesville City Commission recently voted to ban single use plastics and Styrofoam. Plastic harms the environment, which means businesses not using single use plastics will decrease the waste going into oceans. Some businesses are upset because plastic alternatives are more expensive. For example, business like to use Styrofoam because it is a lot cheaper than paper or something that is more biodegradable and recyclable. If businesses use single use plastic, they will be fined $250. Many people are in favor of being eco-friendly and like to help the environment in any way they can.

· What is the problem: This article talks about two problems: One problem is the environment is affected by plastic. Plastic goes into the water and harms the environment and wildlife. Plastics do not break down well and stay in the ecosystem for a long period of time. Because plastics cause problems in the environment, the city of Gainesville decided to ban the use of single use plastics which causes a problem for businesses. Using alternatives for plastics are expensive, and the ban will hurt businesses financially.

· Who has the problem: Everyone who is living now is affected by plastic. People consume tiny microscopic pieces of plastic. Business owners are also affected by the problem because they will have to pay more for alternatives.



2. Red tide washes out fish and tourists

https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180801/red-tide-washes-out-fish-and-tourists

· Description of story: Christina Morales, a staff writer for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, wrote an article about the red tide that hit the west coast of Florida. The toxins in the red tide is killed marine life in the gulf. The toxins and the smell of the dead fish are unbearable and put off a lot of visitors from visiting the Florida beaches.

· What is the problem: The problem is that red tide is killed marine life in the ocean and caused a terrible smell. The red tide and the dead animals is not appealing to tourists, which effects the businesses in Florida who depend on business from tourism.

· Who has the problem: Marine life, people who live near the West Florida coast and business owners in Florida who have a lot of tourist customers.



3. Youth Vaping increases in Alachua County

https://www.alligator.org/news/youth-vaping-increases-in-alachua-county/article_91200192-1dd5-11e9-9850-bbdf28ac9a68.html

· Description of story: Precious Polycarpe, a contributing writer for The Alligator, wrote an article about the increasing number of youth participating in vaping. The article shows how the FDA has recognized the high number of youth vaping and considers it an epidemic. Getting an e-cigarette is easy to obtain. Many of the children get them from friends, peers or older siblings. Because of the easy access and the age requirement for e-cigarettes, there might be a change to the age requirement to buy them.

· What is the problem: There is a rapid increase of e-cigarette use with minors.

· Who has the problem: Youth in America and tobacco companies.



4. Heartbroken

http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2018/investigations/heartbroken/all-childrens-heart-institute/

· Description of story: The Tampa Bay Times conducted an investigation story on the All Children’s Heart Institute. In their investigation, they found a big problem with children’s heart surgery that was kept away from the public. They found terrible mistakes such as needles being lost in two infants during surgery. In a year and a half, 11 children were killed during heart surgery, under the responsibility of two surgeons. Parents sent their children to these surgeons without being informed of their malpractice.

· What is the problem: Children being killed or severely injured after going through routine heart surgery at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

· Who has the problem: Parents, children and hospital employees.





5. Unprepared and Overwhelmed

http://projects.sun-sentinel.com/2018/sfl-parkland-school-shooting-critical-moments/

· Description of story: The Sun Sentinel came out with an article describing the steps of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. The article showed videos and sound bytes of what was going on a certain times to make the story more clear. It shows how there might have been ways to have stopped the shooting before it happened or at least prevented it from going on so long. The people who failed the most was the School Resource Officers and Broward Sheriff’s deputies.

· What is the problem: Cruz was able to obtain an assault rifle and walk into a school, killing 17 people. School Resource Officers did not stop him and the police did not respond in time.

· Who has the problem: The 17 students and faculty who died in the shooting. The problem also caries on to the friends and family of the victims.