Lilliana Escobar and Meera Trujillo
Staff Writers
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and marks the anniversary of the modern environmental movement in 1970 promoting a national standard of cleanliness. This year, Earth Day recognizes the devastating effects of climate change, especially human-induced impacts on the environment. The rising global temperatures, sea levels, and carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are all effects of climate change. Earth Day acknowledges the changes people implement in their life to protect the environment. This year, students were asked what they do every day to protect the environment.
Kalina Kaufman, sophomore, said, “I try to buy from environmentally friendly clothing brands. Fashion is a big part of me, but so is the environment. I also try to go to thrift stores.” The effect of shopping online is major because a great percentage of greenhouse gasses come from shipping and returning products. Shopping in-store, especially at thrift stores where products are second-hand, is a much better alternative to shopping online.
Sophomores Janaba Bah and Hildana Kassa, said, “We both try and recycle plastic bottles.” Bah said, “I only use [reusable] water bottles.” According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only 30% of plastic water bottles are actually recycled. The rest of them end up in landfills and oceans. Using reusable water bottles is one of the best options to avoid pollution.
Another sophomore, Max Ellis, said, “I attempt to spend less time in the shower.” According to the EPA, the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute. Since the average shower is 8 minutes, this is 16 gallons of water being used! Using hot water also uses more energy than using cool or cold water. Taking shorter showers is a very efficient way to save energy and water.
Jack Pache, a sophomore, said, “I’m environmentally friendly because I’m vegetarian.” Pollution from livestock can infiltrate waterways and harm aquatic environments as well as emit greenhouse gasses into the environment. Reducing the amount of meat a person eats would have a significant impact on the environment in a positive way.
Using reusable water bottles, shopping in thrift stores, spending less time in the shower, and eating less meat could be extremely beneficial for the environment.
“Plastics: Material-Specific Data.” US EPA, 30 Sept. 2021, www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/plastics-material-specific-data.
