Ironically, only 1% of the world's fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use. Translated into something we can understand readily: one American taking a 5-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in an entire day -- and most Americans take far longer than 5-minute showers. This is a crisis that must be addressed, if it is not, over the next two decades the average supply of water per person will drop by over 30%, condemning millions of people and animals to death (Atlas of a Thirsty Planet). This assignment opened my eyes to a new way of looking at food -- I will be unable to go into a grocery store and look at rows and rows of perfect fruits and vegetables; knowing that half are thrown out while people starve. In the same manner, knowing that each American eats on average 2.5 times more calories than necessary, while many children go to bed hungry. Perhaps not only is it important that we read and research, but that we also vote with our pocketbooks; say no to egregious portions (Supersizing and places that service way too much food). We need to demand local produce, demand higher quality foods,...

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