Protecting our environment is not just something we can do; it's something we must do. Having a clean, healthy environment is a human right, and we must do all we can to protect our rights. This does not just mean those who can afford it should have a clean and safe environment. This means everyone should have and clean and safe environment. We must all join together to make our planet healthy, because what affects one area of the globe easily affects another. We are all connected in one way or another, so we must all do our part to help each other out by saving our planet. Failing to do so would not just be unwise, but possibly deadly as well.
Failing to clean up our environment can have some very deadly results. Louisiana, for example, has had the most toxic environmental releases and waste generation every year since 1989 (Bullard 93). It has been constantly pumped full of dangerous chemicals and hazardous materials until, in 2005, the world looked in horror at what happens when the environment just can't take any more. Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans with a great and terrible force. It created winds that went as fast as 145 mph and a path of destruction 125 miles long. It was a single storm that took the lives of at least 55 people, and destroyed too many homes to count (Whoriskey A01). The environment can only take so much damage, until one day, it will strike back twice as hard as it was hit. We must do all that we can to protect our planet so that nothing like Hurricane Katrina ever comes along again.
The problem, however, is that most well off people do not think about any of this; they let those in poorer living conditions deal with it instead. Those with influence in this country get the lakeside homes with clean, fresh air, while other choke on polluted air in big cities. Even if any of the richer neighborhoods did become polluted, those who could afford it could easily make sure their environment was cleaned up. However, this is not at all the case for those in lower-income areas. They must struggle with the environment they live in, even as it gets worse and worse. "Poverty and pollution are intricately linked" (Bullard 4). There is only one way to solve this problem, and that is for those in clean-air environments to start helping out those in polluted environments in whatever way they can. If we all work together to solve this problem, it can be solved very easily. Otherwise, we are all doomed to face the wrath our planet has in store for each and every one of us.
Outside sources
Whoriskey, Peter, Guy Gugliotta. "Storm Thrashes Gulf Coast." Washington Post August 30 (2005): A01
1 comment:
I agree with what you say in the post, when you say that the rich should start helping the poor. However, I think the rich are doing their part, they are not solely responsible for the poor of this country/world. A lot of the rich are doing what they can to preserve energy and stop pollution (at least those that are environmentally aware). I think it's better that we have rich people who are trying to do their part by taking into consideration the energy use of their homes.
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