Jack Sparrow
English 201
April 27, 2009
Activist Proposal
Several problems plague the world today. Some examples are sickness, poverty, natural disasters, global warming, the economy, etc. However, the one problem that my group, which is the 4-H Club, and I believe is really urgent is pollution. Pollution is affecting the environment more today than it has ever done in the past. This is why we need a change, but first I will describe the different types of pollution and how pollution is damaging the environment.
There are three main types of pollution, which is air, water, and land pollution. For starters, air pollution is a big concern because it is damaging the atmosphere. Most scientists believe that a major cause of this global warming is air pollution caused by human activity (Gifford, 20). Another major concern is that smog, which is a mixture of air pollutants, build up to unhealthy levels in big cities and urban areas. Smog in these areas can cause major health problems, is partly responsible for breathing disorders like asthma, and can kill people.
Another pollutant is water pollution. Water pollution sources can be divided into two types, which are point source, where pollutants reach water through a specific entry point like an oil spill, and non-point source, comes from different sources and can be harder to control like sewage and chemical runoff (Gifford, 22). There is also radioactive pollution, agricultural pollution, industrial pollution, and people dumping trash into lakes and rivers. Water pollutants can help transmit disease, kill animals, plants, and humans, and cause dead zones where there is not enough oxygen for life to exist, like in lakes and parts of the sea. Many foreign countries still do not have clean water and people have shorter life spans compared to countries that have clean water, in which people have longer life spans.
The last main type of pollution is land pollution. Trash can suffocate or trap land animals. People bury trash in landfills and the soil eventually becomes contaminated. Pesticide pollution from farmers can also pollute the soil over time and can give people pesticide poisoning. Some areas of soil become so polluted that people have to leave their homes and move to different areas.
All of these pollutants are harming the environment, but there is something we can do about it. First and foremost, people can recycle. This is one of the easiest ways people can help the environment. You can search the internet to find a recycling center close to home or ask neighbors, friends, or family where you could find a recycling center. There are also several things you can recycle. For instance, you can recycle paper, metal, plastic, glass, oil, batteries, light bulbs, shoes, etc. You can even recycle laptops, regular computers, cell phones, and some other electronics, but you have to recycle these things at computer stores and stores like Best Buy.
Another way you can help the environment is by reusing things. Factories do not have to make as many products for people if people reuse what they already have. Also, factories will give off less carbon emissions if they do not have to make as many products. You can also give stuff away that you don’t use anymore to places like Goodwill. This way so much trash does not end up in landfills.
Using different types of transportation can help the environment. We need to use vehicles less so that we produce less carbon dioxide, which affects the atmosphere. People can walk to different places, but this can be slow going if you have to be somewhere that is ten miles away. Bicycling is another option, but you have to be in good physical shape. These two options are really good for the environment. However, if you have to use a vehicle try public transportation, carpool with friends or coworkers, and if you have to use your car make your trips count by getting everything you need to get done on one side of town.
Gardening and composting are also great ways to help the environment. A garden can help absorb some pollution from the air and soil. It also helps people save money on groceries and people eat healthier. Also, composting is the process of breaking down old food, leafs, and pet poop and these things can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants.
For the most part, I think planting trees is the most effective way of helping the environment. Trees help reduce carbon emissions from factories and cars. This is why my organization, the 4-H Club, is planting trees across the U.S. and Canada. The 4-H clubs from around the U.S. and Canada are doing the 4-H million trees project. Basically, the goal of this project is to get 4-H clubs to plant one million trees across the continent to help the environment. Other groups and organizations can join this cause and become members of the Arbor Day Foundation within four years. Several 4-H clubs and other organizations will also get twelve trees to plant, one dollar each tree, throughout these four years. Another great thing about planting trees is that the shade from trees helps cool buildings, which reduces the use of electricity, trees absorb runoff, and new trees make up for trees lost to deforestation.
Basically, most of the pollution from around the world is damaging the environment. People are dying from diseases caused by air, water, and land pollution. Different animals are going extinct because pollution is causing global warming, which affects animal’s habitats, and pollution destroys animal’s food sources, like plants and smaller animals. We need a change and we need it now. The planet needs to be preserved for future generations because if we do not protect the environment and the earth now, we will not have an earth to protect in the future. English 201
April 27, 2009
Activist Proposal
Several problems plague the world today. Some examples are sickness, poverty, natural disasters, global warming, the economy, etc. However, the one problem that my group, which is the 4-H Club, and I believe is really urgent is pollution. Pollution is affecting the environment more today than it has ever done in the past. This is why we need a change, but first I will describe the different types of pollution and how pollution is damaging the environment.
There are three main types of pollution, which is air, water, and land pollution. For starters, air pollution is a big concern because it is damaging the atmosphere. Most scientists believe that a major cause of this global warming is air pollution caused by human activity (Gifford, 20). Another major concern is that smog, which is a mixture of air pollutants, build up to unhealthy levels in big cities and urban areas. Smog in these areas can cause major health problems, is partly responsible for breathing disorders like asthma, and can kill people.
Another pollutant is water pollution. Water pollution sources can be divided into two types, which are point source, where pollutants reach water through a specific entry point like an oil spill, and non-point source, comes from different sources and can be harder to control like sewage and chemical runoff (Gifford, 22). There is also radioactive pollution, agricultural pollution, industrial pollution, and people dumping trash into lakes and rivers. Water pollutants can help transmit disease, kill animals, plants, and humans, and cause dead zones where there is not enough oxygen for life to exist, like in lakes and parts of the sea. Many foreign countries still do not have clean water and people have shorter life spans compared to countries that have clean water, in which people have longer life spans.
The last main type of pollution is land pollution. Trash can suffocate or trap land animals. People bury trash in landfills and the soil eventually becomes contaminated. Pesticide pollution from farmers can also pollute the soil over time and can give people pesticide poisoning. Some areas of soil become so polluted that people have to leave their homes and move to different areas.
All of these pollutants are harming the environment, but there is something we can do about it. First and foremost, people can recycle. This is one of the easiest ways people can help the environment. You can search the internet to find a recycling center close to home or ask neighbors, friends, or family where you could find a recycling center. There are also several things you can recycle. For instance, you can recycle paper, metal, plastic, glass, oil, batteries, light bulbs, shoes, etc. You can even recycle laptops, regular computers, cell phones, and some other electronics, but you have to recycle these things at computer stores and stores like Best Buy.
Another way you can help the environment is by reusing things. Factories do not have to make as many products for people if people reuse what they already have. Also, factories will give off less carbon emissions if they do not have to make as many products. You can also give stuff away that you don’t use anymore to places like Goodwill. This way so much trash does not end up in landfills.
Using different types of transportation can help the environment. We need to use vehicles less so that we produce less carbon dioxide, which affects the atmosphere. People can walk to different places, but this can be slow going if you have to be somewhere that is ten miles away. Bicycling is another option, but you have to be in good physical shape. These two options are really good for the environment. However, if you have to use a vehicle try public transportation, carpool with friends or coworkers, and if you have to use your car make your trips count by getting everything you need to get done on one side of town.
Gardening and composting are also great ways to help the environment. A garden can help absorb some pollution from the air and soil. It also helps people save money on groceries and people eat healthier. Also, composting is the process of breaking down old food, leafs, and pet poop and these things can be used as a natural fertilizer for plants.
For the most part, I think planting trees is the most effective way of helping the environment. Trees help reduce carbon emissions from factories and cars. This is why my organization, the 4-H Club, is planting trees across the U.S. and Canada. The 4-H clubs from around the U.S. and Canada are doing the 4-H million trees project. Basically, the goal of this project is to get 4-H clubs to plant one million trees across the continent to help the environment. Other groups and organizations can join this cause and become members of the Arbor Day Foundation within four years. Several 4-H clubs and other organizations will also get twelve trees to plant, one dollar each tree, throughout these four years. Another great thing about planting trees is that the shade from trees helps cool buildings, which reduces the use of electricity, trees absorb runoff, and new trees make up for trees lost to deforestation.
Works Cited
Begley Jr., Ed. Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. New York: Clarkson
Potter/Publishers, 2008.
Gifford, Clive. Planet Under Pressure: Pollution. Chicago: Heinman Library, 2006.
Hall, Eleanor J. Recycling. Detroit: Gale and Kidhaven Press, 2005.
4-H Million Trees. March 2008. University of Illinois Extension. 19 April 2009
