World News

My Air Pollution Solution

I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose.  Hmmm?it must be a poor reading on the Air Quality Index again! If it does not improve soon, I?ll have to wear an oxygen mask to school!

Many human activities (e.g. burning fossil fuels for energy) pollute the air and change the climate.  Clean air is essential for our well-being.  If we don?t fight air pollution, we will soon go the way of the dinosaur and become extinct. 

You may think that there isn?t much you can do, but collectively we can make a huge difference.  We could ask our friends to bike, walk, carpool, or take public transportation to get to school.  At home, we must use electricity wisely by heating up food in a microwave instead of an oven, drying clothes outside on a sunny day, turning the heat down and putting on a sweater, taking a shower instead of a bath, turning off lights in empty rooms, and using energy-saving light bulbs.  We could also choose pollution-free energy suppliers that use solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.  Skip the power tools and use air-friendly push mowers and hand clippers for yard care.  Businesses should use technology that reduces waste gases.  Industries that cannot help producing pollutants should move away from high-populated areas to improve public health.  The government should enforce recycling and create an incentive program to buy recycled goods.  Building bicycle paths would encourage the use of bikes instead of cars.  Government should conserve more areas for planting trees to clean the air naturally. 

It is possible for us to tackle this urgent global issue.  Imagine what would happen if everyone used public transportation.  What if everyone used electricity wisely?  What if we recycled all our trash?  The air would be cleaner and nicer to breathe.  We must work together to live in a better environment.  Everyone shares the planet.  Everyone can help save it!