The Five Most Important Things You

Can Do for the Environment

If you feel you’re not doing enough for the environment by replacing your
incandescent light bulbs with CFL or LED lights and composting your kitchen
garbage, maybe you’re ready to make a deeper commitment to environmental
stewardship.

Some of these strategies may seem a little radical, but they are among the most
valuable actions you can take to protect and preserve Earth’s environment.

• Have Fewer Children—or None

Overpopulation is arguably the world’s most serious environmental problem,
because it exacerbates all of the others. The global population grew from 3
billion in 1959 to 6 billion in 1999, an increase of 100 percent in just 40 years.
According to current projections, the world population will expand to 9 billion
by 2040, a slower growth rate than during the last half of the 20th century but
one that will leave us with many more people to accommodate.

Planet Earth is a closed system with limited resources—only so much fresh

water and clean air, only so many acres of land for growing food. As the world
population grows, our resources must stretch to serve more and more people.
At some point, that will no longer be possible. Some scientists believe we
have already passed that point.

Ultimately, we need to reverse this growth trend by gradually bringing the

human population of our planet back down to a more manageable size. This
means more people must decide to have fewer children. This may sound pretty
simple on the surface, but the drive to reproduce is fundamental in all species
and the decision to limit or forgo the experience is an emotional, cultural or
religious one for many people.

In many developing countries, large families can be a matter of survival.

Parents often have as many children as possible to ensure that some will live
to help with farming or other work, and to care for the parents when they are
old. For people in cultures like these, lower birth rates will only come after
other serious issues such as poverty, hunger, poor sanitation and freedom from
disease have been adequately addressed.

In addition to keeping your own family small, consider supporting programs

that fight hunger and poverty, improve sanitation and hygiene, or promote
family planning and reproductive health in developing nations.
• Use Less Water—and Keep It Clean
Fresh, clean water is essential to life—no one can live long without it—yet it
is one of the scarcest and most endangered resources on our increasingly
fragile planet.

Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but most of that is
salt water. Freshwater supplies are much more limited, and today a third of the
world’s people lack access to clean drinking water. According to the United
Nations, 95 percent of the cities worldwide still dump raw sewage into their
water supplies. Not surprisingly, 80 percent of all illnesses in developing
countries can be linked to unsanitary water.

Use only as much water as you need, don’t waste the water you do use, and
avoid doing anything to taint or endanger water supplies.

• Eat Responsibly
Eating locally grown food supports local farmers and merchants in your own
community as well as reducing the amount of fuel, air pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions required to move the food you eat from the farm to
your table. Eating organic meat and produce keeps pesticides and chemical
fertilizers off your plate and out of rivers and streams.

Eating responsibly also means eating less meat, and fewer animal products
such as eggs and dairy products, or perhaps none at all. It’s a matter of good
stewardship of our finite resources. Farm animals emit methane, a potent
greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and raising animals for
food requires many times more land and water than growing food crops.

Livestock now use 30 percent of the planet’s land surface, including 33

percent of farmland worldwide, which is used to produce animal feed. Every
time you sit down to a plant-based meal instead of an animal-based meal, you
save about 280 gallons of water and protect anywhere from 12 to 50 square
feet of land from deforestation, overgrazing, and pesticide and fertilizer
pollution.

• Conserve Energy—and Switch to Renewable Energy

Walk, bike and use public transportation more. Drive less. Not only will you
be healthier and help to preserve precious energy resources, you’ll also save
money. According to a study by the American Public Transportation
Association, families that use public transportation can reduce their household
expenses by $6,200 annually, more than the average U.S. household spends on
food every year.
 There are dozens of other ways you can conserve energy—from turning off
lights and unplugging appliances when they are not in use, to substituting cold
water for hot whenever practical and weather stripping your doors and
windows, to not overheating or overcooling your home and office. One way to
start is to get a free energy audit from your local utility.

Whenever possible, choose renewable energy over fossil fuels. For example,
many municipal utilities now offer green energy alternatives so that you can
get some or all of your electricity from wind, solar or other renewable energy
sources.

• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Many human activities—from using coal-fired power plants to generate
electricity to driving gasoline-powered vehicles—cause greenhouse gas
emissions that contribute to climate change.

Scientists are already seeing significant climate changes that point to the
likelihood of serious consequences, from increasing drought that could further
reduce food and water supplies to rising sea levels that will submerge islands
and coastal regions and create millions of environmental refugees.

Online calculators can help you measure and reduce your personal carbon
footprint, but climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions
and, so far, the world’s nations have been slow to find common ground on this
issue. In addition to lowering your own carbon footprint, let your government
officials know that you expect them to take action on this issue—and keep the
pressure on until they do.
Environment Essay: Save Environment-
Save Earth
Environment is our surrounding which includes everything from a non-living to a
living being. There are two kinds namely the natural environment and Built
environment. An environment essay necessarily has to focus on these points. In actual
parlance if one has to describe a natural environment it is one that has natural
existence and the built is one that man is responsible for like the dams cities etc. You
can obtain more particulars from the Nature and Environment Essay.

The natural atmosphere is being polluted due to the unnatural factors. While natural
causes like volcano's have its own turn in causing pollution it is the man made ones
that are more rampant. It is the reckless and the caustic human nature that is primarily
responsible for the environmental pollution. It is the self centered humans that are
causing more destruction to the environment. An Environment Essay should contain
the causes that destroy ecosystem.

It is natural for every human being to live in the circumstances they are born and any
changes to it causes a lot of trouble. Built environment, which lacks natural
components, has become quite significant in today's era. There is a lot of
environmental peril that has been responsible for the problems associated with mother
earth like Global warming Land degradation pollution etc.

Global Warming is defined as the increase in the average temperature of the earth near
surface air and ocean since the mid 20th century and its projected continuation. There
is a lot of heat caused to the earth due to the green house gases that get rapt in the suns
rays thereby causing global warming. You may get more details about Global
Warming in the Global Warming Essay.

A writer needs to specify the causes that affect the environmental corrosion. It is the
growth in population and also the economic advancement that has added to pollution
as well. Every living and non living thing is being affected by this so one must
understand that biophysical environment is meant for all and understand the
importance of ecological balance.

It is mandatory that the Environmental Essay has all the essential things affecting the
pollution and how one can take steps to control it. The consumption of petroleum has
to be brought down by one and all. The first step towards reducing our dependence on
petroleum is to understand what products are made from petroleum. It is necessary
that one takes sufficient measures to reduce the environmental degradation. It is better
that we look for natural solutions like shift to a more fuel efficient vehicle make use
of paper bags try to economize by using the car pool or public transport, go by walk
or use a bicycle, recycle things etc.

It is the responsibility of every person in checking the causes that affect the
environmental disaster and play a positive role in improving it and these things have
also got to be mentioned. One must realize the importance of a healthy environment
and that it is for his/her own benefit to protect it and to take measures to make the
world clean and green because as the proverb says "We won't have a society if we
destroy the environment".
Save Environment-Save Earth
The gamut of environment is nothing but the inclusion of both living and non living
things. It can be categorized as Natural Environment and the Built Environment.
These things have to be essentially discussed in an environment essay. Natural
environment consists of phenomenon occurring naturally where as the built
environment a term that describes man’s made landscapes such as buildings, cities,
dams etc. The Nature and Environment Essay can give more details about it.

It is the artificial environment that is causing all the pollution as against the natural
environment. While natural causes like volcano’s have its own turn in causing
pollution it is the man made ones that are more rampant. It is the reckless and the
caustic human nature that is primarily responsible for the environmental pollution. It
is the self centered humans that are causing more destruction to the environment. An
Environment Essay should contain the causes that destroy ecosystem.

All living beings adopt an environment in which they are born and live, and any
change in its condition affects the normal life. In todays times there has been an
enhanced relevance attached to the artificial environment. There is a lot of
environmental peril that has been responsible for the problems associated with mother
earth like Global warming Land degradation pollution etc.

Global Warming is defined as the increase in the average temperature of the earth near
surface air and ocean since the mid 20th century and its projected continuation. The
main cause of global warming is the emission of green house gases which trap in the
sun’s infrared rays in the earth’s atmosphere, which in turn heat up the earth’s
atmosphere. You may get more details about Global Warming in the Global Warming
Essay.

A writer needs to specify the causes that affect the environmental corrosion. The
increase in population and development of the countries that is further adding to the
pollution. Every living and non living thing is being affected by this so one must
understand that biophysical environment is meant for all and understand the
importance of ecological balance.

One needs to definitely specify the causes for the various kinds of environmental
issues and what can be done about it. The consumption of petroleum has to be brought
down by one and all. The first step towards reducing our dependence on petroleum is
to understand what products are made from petroleum. It is necessary that one takes
sufficient measures to reduce the environmental degradation. You can choose an
alternative in order to reduce usage of petroleum such as we can buy a more fuel
efficient vehicle, use paper bags instead of plastic ones, use public transport or
carpool, walk or use bicycles for short distances, recycle etc.

It is the responsibility of every person in checking the causes that affect the
environmental disaster and play a positive role in improving it and these things have
also got to be mentioned. Learn from the proverb “We won’t have a society if we
destroy the environment” and understand the value of having a hail n hearty
environment as that will be for our own wellbeing to have a clean and green
environment.
It's Time to Save the Planet
Regret. Think back to your childhood. Do you remember those infamous words "No
playing ball in the house," and do you remember that feeling of terror as you tried to
reconstruct your mother's favorite porcelain figurine? Its poor mutilated body
shattered beyond recognition. Immediately your mind thought, "If I fix it before she
finds out, it will be O.K. I just have to sneak the glue from the kitchen," but it was too
late. She had heard the noise and came to see what had happened.

Regret. Now onto those reckless teenage years. Do the words, "The tree jumped right
out in front of me" sound familiar? How did you react when you climbed from the car
to see the fender and grill intertwined into a mass of metal? And oh, that nice shiny
paint scarred with streaks of metal. Did your heart start to pound and your palms
sweat as you thought of your parents reaction?

Regret. As an adult you didn't expect that old recliner that went to the dump last week
to mean that much? You didn't think you would miss its worn, comfy cushions. How
could you have known? And now there was no way to get it back.

The earth, unfortunately, isn't a figurine or a car or a recliner. Man did not create
nature, yet we feel we have the right to use it in whatever manner we see fit. And like
those items, one day we may regret what we have done. We will look for a way to fix
the Earth, a way to make it better, and one will not exist. We cannot glue the ozone
layer back together. We cannot paint over the missing trees of the rain forest. We
cannot buy a new species of animals. Our actions today have long term consequences.
Are we ready to deal with them?

"Unchopping a Tree" by W. S. Merwin is a fictional essay that explores in detail how

a chopped tree can be reconstructed by man. Its futuristic views challenge the mind
like a hopeful dream of redemption. Merwin describes how the pieces of the tree,
even the splinters, must be gathered and pieced together like a puzzle. A special
fixative holds everything back in place just as it had once been. Merwin makes the
reader aware of what a pain staking task rebuilding a tree is. In reading this essay, I
realized just how impossible it is to reconstruct our environment, and that we must
protect it from further damage.
We, the human race, are solely responsible for the deteriorating environment. I believe
that while we have improved our living status, we have endangered every other
species. We prevent fires that replenish the soil, add chemicals to the water, and block
the sun with thick smog. The current status of the world is our making. Our expanding
knowledge is the cause and ultimately must be the solution. Merwin makes a similar
statement about with whom the responsibility rests. "Even in the best of
circumstances it is labor that will make you wish often that you had won the favor of
the universe of ants, the empire of mice, or at least a local tribe of squirrels, and could
enlist their labors and their talents. But no, they leave you to it. They learned with
time. This is men's work". I believe we currently have the adequate knowledge to take
responsibility for our actions. Unfortunately, our knowledge is not the same as
Merwin ; we only hope that one day we can rebuild a tree.

While I believe we must correct the wrongs of the past, I know we have limitations.
Like the rebuilding of a tree, certain things cannot be fixed. "We do not have the
spider's weaving equipment, nor any substitute for the leaf's living bond with its point
of attachment and nourishment". This, however, is no reason not to try. We must
remember that the environment is based on a chain of cause and effect. What good
will it do to replant a forest if we continue to poison the stream that runs through it? I
believe in order to succeed we must break the negative chain of events. As Merwin
describes the reconstruction of a tree, he mentions the possible damage to the area
around the tree. "Almost always it involves, in itself, further damage to the area,
which will have to be corrected later". Preserving the environment will not be an easy
task, but it is not impossible.

A major step towards a healthy environment is a true realization of what we have

done in the past. I think this was Merwin's main goal in "Unchopping a Tree". I agree
and believe the weight of our mistakes provide incentive to prevent further pollution.
Mother Nature's creations are extraordinary. We do not have the ability to recreate
them. Even in "Unchopping a Tree", Merwin emphasizes, "When the splinters are
perfectly complimentary, the appropriate fixative is applied. Again we have no
duplicate of the original substance". Nature cannot be manufactured on an assembly
line. Its beauty is unique and demands appreciation as Merwin also implies, "There is
a certain beauty, you will notice at moments, in the pattern of chips as they are fitted
back into place. You will wonder to what extent it should be described as natural, to
what extent man-made". Though we cannot go back and make the world as it once
was, man must be aware of past mistakes to prevent their repetition.

I believe the world has yet to learn its mistakes. Like Merwin, I too wanted to make
you think, beyond statistics, how much our environment matters. I think that one day
we may find ourselves lost in hopelessness and asking as Merwin asked, "What more
can you do? What more can you do?". I fear the response will be, "But there is
nothing more you can do. Other's are waiting. everything is going to have to be put
back.". If we let the degradation of the environment to continue, I fear that soon the
job will be insurmountable and we will be paralyzed with regret. It is up to the whole
human race to end it before "Everything is going to have to be put back"

What Can Be Done To Help Save The Earth's Environment

Our planet is in great danger. For the last one hundred or so years, the people of earth
have wasted and misused the natural recourses of earth. Several plans have been
developed to stop the abuse of earth. Some of these plans I will discuss in this essay,
many of which can be executed by any one. Environmental problems have become so
complex that many individuals feel they can have no effect on them. Problems like oil
spills, hazardous waste, loss of rain forests, endangered species, acid rain, the ozone
layer, the municipal waste crisis can feel out of our control. At the very least, these
problems require group and corporate action or government intervention. However,
there are some things the individual can control. Our waste reduction and recycling
activities can make a difference. That's why so many communities began voluntary
recycling programs.

There are some household items that are dangerous if they are just thrown away with
the regular garbage these items can damage the environment and injure plant and
animal life some of these may include moth balls, spot removers, aerosol cans,
fluorescent light tubes and shoe polish. Your local waste management agency has
information on how to properly dispose of these items.

A compost bin may be set up in your yard. Compost bins return plant and some food
materials to the soil through decomposition so it can be used as a natural soil additive,
called compost. Compost improves soil texture, increases the ability of soil to absorb
oxygen and water. Compost also suppresses weed growth and reduces the need to add
chemicals and pesticides to plants, which may be harmful to the environment.

Keeping recycle bens in the kitchen may help to stop people from accidentally
throwing into the trash an item that could have been recycled. Some recyclable items
include glass, paper, and most types of mettle. You want to be sure that glass, paper
and mettle are all separated into different bins. Once these bins are full of recyclable
materials they can be given to your local recycle center.

Solar panels are a series of mirrors that transform sunlight into solar energy. Solar
energy can help heat water and power home appliances. Solar energy is a great source
of clean, non-polluting energy.

The home is not the only place wear people can pitch in and help the environment.
School playgrounds can use recyclable materials for play equipment and to make the
play ground safe for the children. Old rubber tires can be made into a recreation area
where kids can crawl in and out. Sports coaches may also use old tires, by having the
kids run through them, to test the kids stamina and agility. Jungle gyms, slides and
swing sets can be made from recycled mettles.

The school and public libraries are great examples of the reuse of materials. Books
can be barrowed, read and returned instead of every one who wants to read a certain
book going and purchasing a copy. The reuse of these books saves thousands of trees
that would be used to make copies of books. The library also offers computers that
can be used for research, by using the Internet, by taping the local or global
newspaper web sights and other research centers around the world. Receiving
information through the Internet saves paper and energy consumption is reduced.

By taking school buses or car pools to school instead of individual vehicles, students
can not only save fuel but also reduce both traffic and air pollution. People may also
try to invest in electronic vehicles, which do not pollute. People should make sure to
keep maintenance up on their vehicles to prevent unnecessary toxins from entering the
environment.

The idea of a landfill is a great one, but it won’t work if people continue to believe it
is a place for all trash. A landfill is a big divot dug out of the earth for garbage
disposal.

We need to make sure we don’t put chemicals or non-biodegradable substances into

these landfills because they are harmful to plants and animals, they may also
contaminate our drinking water. A few of these chemicals include antifreeze,
insecticide, batteries and Styrofoam, for proper disposal of these items contact your
local waste management agency.

You can help save natural resources by taking your old belongings that are no longer
needed to a second hand store or the Salvation Army. A second hand store is a place
where people can purchase donated items at a cheaper price than if they were to buy it
brand new. The Salvation Army is much like a second hand store, but the items are
free. Most items found at a second hand store or The Salvation Army are articles of
clothing. The benefit to donating old items is that when people find what they need at
a second hand store or The Salvation Army fewer items are manufactured which
means you are saving natural recourses.

We can help, over the last twenty to thirty years we have been trying every thing in
our power to conserve energy and natural resources, many plans have been developed
as to what should be done all of which are very good ones. The problem with these
plans is that not every one contributes to the efforts to reduce pollution and waste, in
fact most of the people I know believe recycling is a waste of time and they by them
selves cannot make the difference. In some cases, I have found myself questioning my
efforts. However, it is still important that we don’t quit. If only every one in every
home would decide to do their part and help to keep our air clean, our water
unpolluted and our wild life safe. The Earth is our home and we need to protect it.

Why We Love the Earth

Recently, a poll conducted by the authors of Environmental Values in American
Culture (MIT Press), revealed some surprising news: Most Americans agree with the
statement "Because God created the world, it's wrong to abuse it."

It is safe to say that the environment has not been prominent on the evangelical
agenda. We may privately acknowledge the need to be better stewards of our natural
resources, but we generally stay away from groups and organizations working on
environmental issues because we suspect they are either too "liberal," "New Age," or
both. Indeed, some groups clearly have New Age ties, and political liberals seem to
have cornered the environmental market. But if this poll accurately reflects the
philosophical underpinnings of most Americans regarding care of the planet, our fears
may have been unwarranted. Rank-and-file Americans want to take better care of the
earth for the same reason we do: God made it.

Happily, more evangelicals are being motivated more by obedience to God's Word
than by fears spread by environmental extremists. The recent formation of the
Christian Society of the Green Cross is a case in point. The society's quarterly, Green
Cross, "seeks to help Christians become good stewards of creation" and promotes
biblical thinking about ecological issues.

For years, World Vision International has built environmental stewardship into its
development ministry. Working in Ethiopia's Ansokia Valley, ravaged by famine,
World Vision helped local residents plant millions of trees for food and fuel and to
stabilize the soil, and pioneered the use of drought-resistant crops. Now the valley is
green and exports food to other regions.

Michigan's AuSable Institute, begun by a small group of Christian biologists, is

another example of a practical "theology of ecology." Through its publications,
seminars, and conferences, the institute has done cutting-edge work in Christian
environmental concern for over a decade.

More recently, some Christian colleges have hired environmentally conscious

administrators to help with energy conservation. Christian publishers are increasingly
using recycled and environmentally safe paper and are recycling wastes.
Still, these examples are more the exception than the rule. Many evangelicals,
especially in the United States, seem to feel that ecology is of no deep concern to
God. The physical world is of little value compared to the human soul. Some ask:
"Shouldn't we just stick to saving souls?"

In a word, no. The question is not the motives or politics of others who are concerned
about the environment, but where biblically informed and Jesus-motivated
compassion leads us. We ought to do a better job of caring for the environment
because "the Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Nothing in the New Testament
suggests that the biblical concern for creation was canceled by the coming of Christ.
Quite the opposite. In the risen Jesus Christ we see the first fruits of a renewed
creation. So we seek God's help in being earth-keepers today. Christians ought to be
the most active and effective environmentalists in America. Here are some
suggestions to begin that work:

• Teach our children a biblical perspective on the environment. This means

avoiding both extremes: purely secular environmentalism, or
overspiritualizing that undercuts good stewardship.

• Become informed on environmental issues. A number of books and other

publications by Christian writers and scientists are now available.

• Take care of our property. Christian churches and organizations are major
holders of real estate, most of it untaxed. These pieces of the environment
should be demonstration plots for our concern for God's world.
Recycle to Save Our Planet

Collecting, processing, manufacturing, and buying recycled products all result in

positive benefits for our vast world. So many different products, paper, metal,
aluminum, glass, plastic, and so much more can be recycled and reused to keep
unnecessary trash out of landfills. Recycling does not just consist of reusing materials
but preserving and being energy conscious of limited resources. Never taking more
than needed is a great start to recycling to save the planet and preserve the resources
we have left. Although many don’t want to take the time, recycling causes
beneficial outcomes because it reserves resources, reduces energy use, and
preserves the environment.

In today’s world where natural resources are quickly dimensioning, we need to do

everything possible to save what is left. Gold, silver, copper, steel and other metals
can be melted down and reused for many different products. Michael Arms (n.d)
reports, “A statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:
‘ By recycling over 1 million tons of steel in 2004, Pennsylvanians saved 1.3 million
tons of iron ore, 718,000 tons of coal, and 62,000 tons of limestone.” That is just one
state in the practice of recycling; if every other state producing steel recycled it the
world would dramatically slow the process of using iron, coal and limestone. Many
products take a great amount of oil in production, with recycling the oil; the act of
drilling for new oil falls as well.

The reduction in energy use is also a great benefit to the recycling of waste. When you
think of where a lot of products come from it makes sense. Trees are cut down to
make paper, less trees means lower amounts of carbon dioxide is changed to oxygen
for us to breath. The nasty and harmful chemicals rise up and continue to rip away at
our atmosphere. It would be smarter to collect all waste paper and recycle it into
useable paper products. The energy it takes to cut trees down, hall them to paper
factories, produce the paper and package it to be sold, is far greater than it takes to
collect old paper products and convert them back into useable goods. Two to three
extra steps are cut out that require energy when materials are recycled. The same
procedures go for many other materials that can be reprocessed, metals, steel, etc. The
State of Massachusetts Recycle Coalition (n.d) reports, “It takes 95% less energy to
recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials. Making recycled steel
saves 60%, recycled newspaper 40%, recycled plastic 70%, and recycled glass 40%.”
Reducing our energy use by recycling results in other benefits that help preserve our
busy world.

The last and most obvious result of reusing material is the preservation of our
environment. Landfills are dirty, ugly and take up useful land. When materials are
recycled the growth of landfills slows substantially. Many of the products that are
recyclable and can be used many times over, sit in landfills for years and never fully
biodegrade. Many landfills can contain toxic chemicals that seep into the ground and
into our water systems or the lakes, rivers and oceans. This is bad for both humans
and animals that drink or live in the water. The land taken up by trash can be put too
much better use such as farming, a new playground for kids, or a park.

Gas emissions that harm the atmosphere and make harmful air pollution are cut down
with the process of recycling as well. The emissions given off from factories, or
transportation of the raw materials to and from factories, are seriously speeding up the
effects of global warming. The National Recycling Coalition (n.d), reporting on
benefits of recycling, reveals the gas emission crisis and reduction due to recycling,
“An increase of the recycling rate in the US from the current 32% to an achievable
65% could mean an additional 180 million tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions,
brining the total to approximately 360 millions tons.” Small, Simple actions can
substantially reduce the gases that leak into the atmosphere.

Many people think they are just one person, they will not make a difference, but that
is untrue. It starts with just one person. By simply separating out waste by material
category and taking it to one of the thousands of drop off sites around the world, the
start of preserving out world for the future has begun. The benefits of recycling are
various, reducing energy use, preserving our environment, as well as reducing use of
limited resources such as oil and metals. Start today to help preserve our land, water,
natural resources, air and energy by recycling your trash.
how we can save our environment
My purposes are
Saves Energy
Saves Environmental Conditions and Reduces Pollution
Saves Natural Resources
Economic Benefits
Saves Space for Waste Disposal.

The word recycling or going green has been said many times thorough out the years.
If you ask a random person what they think about recycling, they might say, “Well,
it’s good for the environment.” The matter of fact is, it is good for the environment,
but it is also very beneficial to the creatures and humanity. Even though many things
has been said about recycling, not much has or being done. Recycling is one of the
best ways for you to have a positive impact on the globe which we live. “Why should
you recycle you ask?” Well, according to massrecycle.org and recycling-guide.org
UK, recycling is crucial because recycling saves our environment, energy, natural
resources, and it is critical to the people.

Recycling is effective by reason of reducing greenhouse gasses and help end the
source of global climate change. For example, on August 28th, 2005 hurricane
Katrina hammered the southern coast of the United States with devastating effects,
which killed more then 1,800 people and more than 81 billion dollars of damage
occurred, according to hhs.gov.

Possibly a more important reason to recycle is because it will reduce pollution risks in
our society. The most obvious way is by keeping waste out of landfills, which
introduces contaminants and other toxins into groundwater systems. Recycling also
keeps materials out of incinerators, which pollutes the air and create severe ash
residue, which is very dangerous for the health. Furthermore, it reduces financial
output in the economy, making products from raw materials costs much more than if
they were made from recycled products.
What can you do to recycle? Here are three easy steps you can do. Firstly, you can
separate plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper, into different container or bags.
Secondly, you can turn the water off when you’re not using it. Thirdly, you can switch
to energy- efficient light bulb, which saves you money.

In conclusion, Recycling is one of the best ways for individual to have a positive
impact on the world in which we live. Recycling Saves Energy, Environmental
Conditions and Reduces Pollution, Natural Resources, Economic Benefits, and Saves
Space for Waste Disposal. Therefore, I think we should make more of effort to
recycle.

Population And Its Effect On The Environment

Over time, the world's population has grown at an exponential rate. Many have
questioned whether or not our planet can sustain such huge numbers of humans
without serious depletion of natural resources, and shortages of vital substances, such
as water and air. Many feel that we are inevitably going to use up what we have much
too quickly and that we will not realize this until it is too late to change our patterns
and habits.
In the United States, there have been many efforts to help save the environment, and
to protect our childrens' futures. But these efforts, in relation to the damage being
done, are nothing. Germany is known for having implemented effective recycling, and
many school children learn to live with recycling and other efforts to save the
environment in order to help the future. All of these small changes help the future, but
with a global scale reformation it is unlikely that a difference of large enough impact
can be reached in time.
After reading an article for the in class debate on what is happening in the Chesapeake
Bay Area, it is obvious that our efforts, although noble, are not enough. An example is
that we have decreased our harmful emissions by between 30 and 50 percent, but in
the same amount of time our population has nearly doubled, so the reduction barely
makes a difference simply because of the high population growth in that area.
Another article, this one about Kahzakhstan, tells the sad story about their lake,
Kazalinsk, which when translated means 'place of fish death.' The reason behind the
name, was the fishing industry. Now it sounds more like a bad joke. Since the 1960's
Lake Kazalinsk has been shrinking. Now there is nothing left of it. The elders of the
region did not notice the change in the water levels at first. But now it has changed
their lives forever. Intestinal and stomach disorders are epidemic, and the infant
mortality rate is 50 to 60 per 1000, compared to 8 per 1000 in the United States. One
man said, "the children have no idea what the sea was like, or the river for that matter.
They have never soaked their feet in the sea's warm, salty waters, never seen the sun
sink gloriously into its azure depths, never heard the surf breaking against the shore
after a storm, sounding like the fizzle of a million champagne glasses being poured at
once." Now it is too late to rescue the Kazalinsk and the children will most likely
never know the glory of the sea that once was.
The question being asked is that of sustainability. Can the Earth sustain our huge
growing numbers of people? In order to answer this, we must ask ourselves what we
mean by sustainability. My opinion of sustainability is what involves a zero-sum
game of distributing fixed natural resources among people's regional demands for
habitability and life-style. However, this is too confining for our growing world
population. A better way to look at this is to consider that the planet is finite, and with
that all of its resources are also finite. Unless we restrain ourselves, no matter what
happens, we will eventually reach the limits. The exponential trends of population
growth and resource depletion will be globally devastating. With this we can see that
unless we act immediately and strictly, the quality of life as we know it will only
rapidly deteriorate.
Quality of life, as we know it, is most commonly measured using data collected on
infant mortality rates, life expectancy rates, and education standards, such as literacy
rates. Using these rates we can learn more about the general population of a town,
country, region, or even our planet. However, it is absurd to conclude that an illiterate
person with a short life expectancy will lead a terrible life. These factors indicate
numbers, which must be then put into perspective with the culture and their views on
personal freedom, and how they foresee life.
Another big issue with sustainability of the world's population and the environment is
whether or not we can feed ourselves. One article I read said that the planet could
easily increase food production. In industrial countries only about 10 percent of the
work force is needed in production and distribution of food, therefore there are no
limitations with the work force. Currently in industrialized nations, more than half of
the food produced goes to waste through spoilage. The crucial issues are more likely
to be the availability of water, and energy to support the growing, processing and
distribution of the food.
Water is a big concern for the growing global population. Water is the world's most
valuable, and most wasted resource. If the water needs of the next two hundred years
are to be met, then the global population needs to put into effect international and
continental management of the water supply. Although many regions have
implemented such programs, it has yet to be done on the global scale, which is key.
As we can see through these many examples, the problems we will encounter in the
future in relation to population and sustainability are all easily remedied when they
are handled promptly and wisely, and most importantly on a global scale. We know
what we have to do, and we have the means to do so. The biggest barrier is getting
everyone on the planet to participate in order to save the planet for our children, and
our childrens' children.