We can all fight global warming

We can all fight global warming

Editor’s note: The following column was written by Columneetza Grade 12 student Brittany Betts-Edwards as part of the work experience component of his graduation transitions program.

The baking sun of the approaching summer is starting to feel like we are all ants getting burned under a magnifying glass. Scorching hot!

What happened to the times when it was hot, not scorching? The summers of our childhoods, back when the breeze was actually cold and could send chills down your spine? Global Warming is winning the fight against this. We will be lucky if we ever get to see our old summers again.

If we do not slow down Global Warming, it will get worse. Do we really want it to become more like Global Boiling or something of the like? I sure know that I don’t want that.

“Global Warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century,” as said by online source, Wikipedia.

Solar variations, combined with volcanoes, are natural phenomena that have led to the contribution. But through the natural, there are many unnatural, many that us humans have put in ourselves. Non-renewable resources, with carbon dioxide in the lead, are a huge problem.

Some of our other problems are that some families have too many vehicles when they are not needed. Yes, my family included.

Many families also use too much energy inside their homes when they don’t even need to. As the commercials on Much Music say, “Flick Off!” And pollution? That’s another huge problem. Why do people litter anyway? Not only is it dangerous for our environment, but it also looks disgusting. We really need to stop this mess.

The scorching sun is not only harming us as people, but harming everything around us as well. Because of all the sudden heat waves, sea levels are rising very quickly. Yes, it is true that they would be rising anyway, not this fast though. Global Warming has sped up the process quite quickly. The ozone is turning into a giant magnifying glass over the world due to the depletion.

Solutions are waiting for you everywhere. Look around you. Even the simplest of all things could help. It’s worth it, right?

No one wants to burn up under the sun. You can do things in your home, with your vehicles, inefficient energy, in your yard, and with a littering habit that you may, or may not have.

Sitting in your house alone right now? Take a look around you.

Right there you saw many things that could probably help in our fight — the light bulbs for instance. Have lights that you use often? Switch them to the energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Another bright side to fluorescent bulbs is that they last longer. (Did you know that switching even just one light to a fluorescent bulb saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year?) That’s what we are doing in our house. Most of our lights are the fluorescent bulbs.

Do you have a dishwasher? If yes, next time you plan on running it, make sure it is full. If it’s not, wait or do the dishes by hand.

This saves both water and energy, both of which are valuable. Also, you should never leave water on that is not being used.

Fun Fact: Using a clothesline when possible can save you more than 600 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Throughout the summer, we only use our dryer on the days that the clothes are out on the line when it starts to rain.

How many vehicles does one family really need? If it’s nice out, why don’t you walk? Walking is a great way to get around.

Or you could bike, depending on which you prefer. Why not? They are fun, save energy, and help to get you in shape.

What have you really got to lose? But, if you really must drive, think about carpooling.

Get as many of you as you can into the vehicle. Think about it. If you don’t do it that way, most of you will take separate vehicles.

That is a lot of pollution right there.

Fun Fact: leaving your car at home three days every week can save you up to 2,385 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year.

There is so much energy being used, much of which is inefficient. Think about it. Does your television really need to be on when no one is watching it?

How about the light that is on in the empty room down the hall?

Or how about your computer that is sitting there, no one even thinking of touching it for another hour or two? Get up and turn them off; they do not need to be on.

The least you can do with a computer is turn the monitor off. Yes, the monitor uses the most energy out of the entire computer.

Why leave the lights on when you are in bed, or not in a room at all? It is pointless, yet many of us do it. Why? Are we just scared of the dark?

The same things will get you either way. Light will only really protect you from vampires and other monsters of that sort.

Since they do not exist, we do not have to worry about it. Every night before bed, check that all the lights and appliances are off. Either my mother or I make sure to do that every night. Plus, turning them off gives you an advantage in another way: smaller bills.

Stop using powered tools in your yard. Is that really necessary? No. That is the lazy way of doing yard work. You should be using push-mowers, rakes, shovels, and hedge clippers.

My father has a powered lawn mower, but every time he goes to use it, there is something wrong.

Whether it is the cord being chewed by a pet, or being out of gas, it is a problem. With a push-mower, you do not have to worry about those problems.

Litter is a very vile and disgusting habit. Garbage on the ground of the Earth is what second hand smoke is like to people. It is both dangerous and deadly.

Those who don’t do it, have no control, and often can’t escape the smoke.

Well, the Earth cannot escape litter, no matter how bad it would like to. Is it so hard to use garbage cans or recycle? Anything that cannot be recycled could at least be thrown into a garbage can.

Just hold onto the garbage until you come across an appropriate can to place it in. Next time you see someone drop something on the ground, stop him or her and ask him or her to pick it up. If you are too scared to say something, pick it up yourself. Either way, you are helping out and should feel good about yourself. Now that you are doing things the proper way, the world is beautiful and is one step closer to being saved.

Unaware of the places you can go in Williams Lake you can go to recycle? Fear no longer. There are three places that you can go: Hodgson Road, the Recreation Complex, and the Landfill. We are all familiar with at least one of these places.

Things that can be recycled:

•Newsprint (no glossy flyers)

•Mixed papers (no glossy magazines, pizza boxes, or books)

•Tin cans (no aerosol, paint, or metal cans)

•Cardboard

•Glass food jars and bottles (no pane glass, light bulbs, or other glass)

Global Warming is a major problem that needs special attention. We just need to follow these simple steps, and we can save the world in a big way. We should all pitch in; we all want to live, right? No one wants to get burned under that giant magnifying glass.

Summers may never go back to the way that we remember them, but it is worth a try. How are we going to find out if we do not try?
source-http://www.bclocalnews.com