Dear next President,

When it comes to the topic of our Earth’s environment, most of us will readily agree that it is time for a change. But how much does the Earth matter to you? Natasha k from “Living in Pollution” reminds us that around four billion years ago the Earth was born, allowing any living organism to easily survive on its surface. However, the Earth has been sick for a while now with a disease affecting the planet called pollution. The formal definition of pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products to the environment. Many sources of pollution are man made. Mostly our industrial processes are the main thing to the problem. We’d like to go out and breathe fresh air- but how fresh is our air, really? Before it is too late, we as Americans need to shift our behavior and discover options to benefit this planet we all share.

Pollution is everywhere around us, it is in the air, oceans, and even in the water we drink. It acts as a domino effect. It changes the way livings things survive, from the animals to humans and every plant. Without a change in pollution everything could disapear and our home planet could fail. According to “Everything Connects”, About 40% of deaths worldwide are caused by water, air and soil pollution, That’s comparable to global diseases like malaria and HIV. In 1975, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that ocean-based sources, such as cargo ships and cruise liners had dumped 14 billion pounds of garbage into the ocean. Which is extremely harmful to our ocean life. An estimated 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every year. I believe as a future president. You should become more concerned with the lives of every species in your country. Whether one likes it or not, pollution is one of the most ignored issue in the world today. We should take action and save the planet.

To help make pollution better known, you should try harder to educate students and citizens about the problems of pollution. Some examples from the “NPI” are to commute smart by walking or biking instead of the usual motor vehicle that pollutes the air around us. Also, try to make use of carpooling. If you and someone you know come from the same locality and have same timings you can explore this option to save energy and money. Another would be saving energy, as in turning off appliances when not in use. Also we can get the concept of recycling more commonly known. According to “Recycle Across America”, Without exception, recycling is the top action society can do to simultaneously improve: the environment, the economy, sustainable manufacturing and to prevent waste from going into oceans. We are seeing a series of innovations and experiments aimed at unconventional options to reduce pollutants. Air Pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man’s follies, and a challenge we need to overcome to see a tomorrow. Our planet is turning darker and darker because of our own selfish needs. Do you care that we are pulling the trigger to our own survival? If so, please make a change.

Abby Hearth