In my opinion, the most important issue that we have discussed in our environmental science class this semester is sustainability and reducing our “footprint” on the earth. I believe that sustainable living is the key to so many issues facing us today – air pollution, water pollution, global warming, even waste reduction.  Generally, our fuel sources create many of these problems. Coal burning produces harmful chemicals and particulate matter that contaminates our air and contributes to global warming. By using alternate sources to generate electricity and fuel our cars, we could significantly improve our air quality over the next 20 years. Waste reduction is also a crucial part of reducing our footprint on the earth. We continuously dump non-biodegradable waste into landfills which eventually leach harmful chemicals into our ground water supplies. If waste is not buried in the landfill, it is burned, which releases even more toxins into our air. Chemicals are also produced as a byproduct of many manufacturing processes; much of this waste is dumped into the water, further contaminating our water supplies. Water is a necessity for life. We need to do everything in our power to protect our water supply for future generations.

To help solve these issues, we as a society, need to reduce our consumption of unnecessary items that exist merely to end up in the landfills. Even though recycling helps with the issue of waste, it is not a permanent solution.  We need to change our way of life so that we can reduce the demand for things such as plastics and we need to find ways to fuel our lifestyles that do not involve the pollution of the very air that we breathe.  Personally, my plans are already in action to help reduce my impact. Because I live so close to work, I frequently walk to my office. (Truthfully, the occasional co-worker will stop and pick me up, but I’m still carpooling, right?!) I have been using my own shopping bags for the past few years and make an effort to reuse the shopping bags that I am given at the stores. I now compost my organic kitchen waste and reuse it in my veggie garden. I have purchased energy efficient appliances, including the pool pump, and have future plans to go solar for all of my electricity needs. Also going forward, my car is over 10 years old and I plan to invest in a more efficient vehicle when it dies, possibly electric, or even hydrogen.

The most interesting thing that I have learned in this class is how truly wasteful Americans are. I was shocked to learn how much food is thrown away in this country while people in other countries are struggling for survival. Not only was I shocked at the food waste, but the waste in general! We take these materialistic possessions for granted, when in actuality, we don’t “NEED” any of it! And when we are done with our stuff, we simply discard it and purchase the next new thing! It is truly upsetting to me. The amount of waste in this country has made me more aware of the things that I purchase and the things that I choose to dispose of. Not only that, but I have become more aware of things that my friends are throwing away and have even tried to intervene! I would really like to find a way to make my friends and family understand that the little bit of recycling that they do isn’t enough! But how do you make them understand without sounding like you have lost your mind?? That’s the part that I have yet to figure out. People don’t want to hear how their materialistic ways are destroying the planet. They are constantly out to impress the next person with their possessions. We have become an out of touch, unrealistic society, but I fear that its going to take some sort of catastrophe before people understand the damage that we are inflicting on our planet and how it will affect the future generations. Sounds grim, I know, but I really think that the key to change is government intervention. I believe that it is up to our government to lead by example and to demonstrate the importance of our global impact as Americans.