The Environment Site Eco Kids: Why you should Care

Many people like to talk about the environment as something seperate to the human race....but we are as much a part of the environment as any other creature on this planet. Plants are as vital to our breath as our lungs are, healthy rivers are as important to our survival as is repoduction, and we need to start looking at our world that way. In reality saving the environment means saving ourselves.

In order to save the environment we have to make choices, often initially difficult choices about our lifestyles. Habits have to change. Sure it is a lot easier to drive a car down to the shops instead of taking a bike, or public transport, so why should you do anything else? Because your car is pumping lethal gases into the atmosphere, into other peoples lungs, because people are dying prematurely in part from your pollution, not to mention what it does to our plants and animals. Because you are a human being with the ability to make ethical choices, and one is staring at you. The answer you give is a reflection of your conscience, a mirror of your soul. Do you look away and follow your own interest, or do you make the hard decision and choose a positive choice for the world around you?

First and foremost we don't need a society of followers, we need a society of leaders, educate yourself, look into the situation, satisfy yourself (if you are not already) that there is overwhelming evidence of the destruction of the environment. By doing so you will identify facets of environmental responsibility you feel are most important, the ones that you connect with, whether it be global warming, animal habitat, forests, genetic modification, over fishing, water pollution, air pollution or something else. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed by the immensity of the problem before us, but this should validate your choice and show you how important and meaningful the choice you have made is. You don't have to fix everything, but it is important that we each do what we can. Although I might not know you, I know what potential there is in the human spirit, that you can do great things with this unique life you are given.

It is time to get active as individuals, so what do we have to do? Pick up a pen and write letters and emails, tell the evil doers you know them, tell the people doing great things that they inspire you, write to your local and regional politicians and tell them what you care about, what influences your voting choices. A letter or two a week might mean nothing to you, but the evidence tells us they make a real difference. There are many other simple things you can do, walk, ride a bike, eat less animal products, recycle, buy recycled, choose energy efficient appliances, get green energy from your power company, choose environmentally aware products, join any one of the great organisations out there...the list is endless, the choices are yours, every small action is a positive statement against a polluted, selfish world.

Ultimately its about putting thought into your life, and even though it is difficult sometimes, you have encourage others to choose to THINK as well. To make decisions, to find alternative ways of doing things, to slowly work through the levels of our lifestyle. Perhaps everything won't suddenly get better tommorrow, or the next day, it will take time and may seem futile at moments, but you will know that confronted with ethical decisions, you did not turn aside. That in this life you did what you could to create a better world.

by Cameron Green