I’ve recently become very passionate about saving the Earth. We are ruining our planet, and most of us do not have an excuse. It’s our everyday life, we’re killing the ecosystem and we don’t even know we’re doing it. The cars we drive, the amount of paper we throw away or don’t even use, and the plastic straws and bags.
Air pollution is the contamination of air, whether it be indoors or not. One killer is sulfur-dioxide, which is emitted from 62,500 power plants, 23,596 industrial facilities in the U.S, 26,546 locomotives in the U.S, 52,183 ships, and other equipment around the world. We also have to think about everyday things. Indoor air pollution can be caused by cleaning products and painting supplies that can emit toxic chemicals in the air. That’s why you’re parents always freak out when you spray paint or inhale a permanent marker. Have you ever painted your house and then smelled the strong scent that reeks of chemicals? Have you ever noticed how hard it is to breathe? That’s what the plants feel like every time we drive to and from school. That’s what the plants feel like every time the factory starts off for the day. That’s what plants feel like every time we have a bonfire with friends. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do those things, but it’s time to think about what the world really needs. The plants can’t live in pollution, and neither can we. The effects of air pollution can be small or big. Heart and respiratory problems, acid rain, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, eutrophication, and effects of wildlife. To reduce pollution we can all use public transportation, such as buses; we can conserve energy, turn off lights and heat when we don’t absolutely need them; and recycle, go thrift shopping and recycle water bottles.
Similar to the air, water pollution is the contamination of bodies of water. Groundwater is one of the easiest bodies of water that could be contaminated. Things such as pesticides, fertilizers, and waste can seep from septic systems and landfills, polluting the once clean water. Surface water covers up 70 percent of the earth, including salt water (which we don’t drink, if you didn’t know that). According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, about half of our rivers, lakes, and streams are polluted and unfit for drinking, swimming, and fishing. As much as we love to hydrate ourselves, we have to think about the dangers we’re releasing into the ocean, dangers that affect ocean life even if it doesn’t affect us as much. Plastic, marine debris, oil leaks, and other chemicals washing up into the ocean. Reefs are dying more and more by the year, water creatures are suffering. Things the government is spending their money and attention on will not matter when we’re all dying from lack of good air quality or unclean water.
Whether you believe in God and the book of Genesis or not, we’ve been given a beautiful earth filled with trees, animals, and water. This is it, this is the only earth we’ve got. Unless, you know, you want to live in a spaceship in 100 years but then realize everyone’s gonna die because apparently we can’t take care of a freaking spaceship either. Then you’ll have to risk your life to find a way to save everyone else on the ship because you’re losing oxygen. You know, like in the movies? Well, fortunately for you, we already have oxygen down here, on earth. So, we don’t have to do all that extra work.
Release the marine life into the ocean, Sea World is a prison for dolphins. Zoos may be fun, but I bet the polar bears wouldn’t die every other year if we just left them where they belong. I live in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, so I like to swim. You think I want to see your trash in nature’s swimming pool? Hotels don’t allow it, Mother Nature doesn’t either.
Seriously, save the earth ‘cause it’s the only one we have.
The polar bears may die anyway because people hunt them so actually they polar bears are safer in the zoo!