It’s been over five billion years since the Earth was formed – and yet, it is today, in this year, in this new century, started no more than eight years ago, that we are abusing our world, our home. 
Nature has been moving around us and look at how it’s resulted. Turtles, as seen in the picture, are accidentally eating our man-made goods. Dolphins are getting their trapped in old nets. Penguins are getting stuck in our coke-pack-plastic-holders. What man created as an advancement in technology really brought us to this conclusion: technology = the end.
And this isn’t to say that technology is bad, no, because, in fact, we can use our modern-day technology to examine our mistakes in harming the environment. We’ve already identified that certain types of plastic – types 3, 6, and 7 – contain the harmful substance “bisphenol” and we’ve developed biodegradable goods.
For many students – teens, actually, like myself – the idea of saving the world coming before your next manicure is extremely terrifying. But think about this: would you rather live in a clean, safe environment, where you’ll probably not be in danger of dying before that next manicure? Or would you rather live in a filthy place filled with old plastic and other unnecessary items that are not biodegradable that could potentially put you – and the rest of the world – in danger of death and extremely polluted air, a place where manicures are out of the question? Exactly.
You see, the idea of saving the world sounds like a huge concept, but really, it’s not. The best example of this is Mohandas Gandhi’s quote: “We must become the change we wish to see in the world.”
Do what you can:
1. Start by using cleaner plastic – and reuse. For example, when buying any drink that comes in a plastic bottle, check to see that the bottle does not have a number 3, 6, or 7 on the bottom. If it does, don’t buy it. In addition, once you’re done drinking, although recycling is a great idea, keep in mind that animals can always get to the plastic. Reuse your bottle for that basketball game or for some other activity.
2. Pick up that litter. Although it seems like a tedious job, just doing the simplest of things by going through your neighborhood and picking up trash that has gone astray would be beneficial to the environment. If you want to get really into it, go through more than just your neighborhood. You can get together with several people to go and clean an entire road, possibly a portion of a highway, and you’ll be doing a lot for the world.
3. Spread the news. The last short suggestion for the day is to spread the news about environmental friendliness: how people can help, where people can help, who to contact, and how to get a cleaner world. Start a blog like this one, create videos on youtube, make graphics, write a newsletter, write to the editorials, promote blogs like this one, and do whatever else it takes to get the message spread throughout the world.
Together, we can make a difference.
For Kids to Help the World:
For All to Help the World:
Until next time,
me
