Speech- Cassadi Cordea

If you've ever walked across the beach shoreline, you'll notice that you leave footprints. They stand as a reminder that someone has been there, but nature eventually takes course and washes them away. But what if they weren't able to be removed? Imagine how different a beach would look. Certainly not as appealing as before. A permanent footprint would ruin the image of a beach. So what does that say about the rest of the world that we live in? A permanent footprint would tarnish the images of our world. In fact, our “footprints” are becoming permanent, due to the fact that we leave behind so much that nature cannot fix, without a second thought of the consequences. As the people who inhabit this planet, we should be working to take better care of it.  

Nature should be left alone to run its course, but the pollution we create prevents this from happening.For example, in the 20th century, the industrial air pollution actually suppressed some storms. The storms were at a level that was lower than what would have existed naturally. Recently there has been a higher frequency of storms, and this is a result of the attempts to reduce the pollution. The New York Times observed and recorded these changes.This is proof that if we can create a problem like this, we can fix it. [1]

So how do we fix it? The Beavens, a small family from New York City, are a great example of people who truly want to make a difference in our environment. The husband, Colin, and his family were filmed over the course of a year, and this was turned into a documentary titled “No-Impact Man.”  He along with his wife and young daughter pledged to leave absolutely no impact on the environment for a year. They produced no garbage and got rid of everything that required electricity. No TV, no eating out, and no car. The lights and heating in their apartment were even cut off. The Beavens admitted to struggling with their new way of life, and confessed to slipping up a few times.Who can really blame them? Their new lifestyle wasn't easy. But their determination to leave no carbon footprint on this earth gave them a new perspective. An appreciation for the things that most of us take for granted was gained, along with a knowledge of what those things can do. Even after the year was over, they continued to live with a new awareness for the effects of their actions. [2]

Leaders from all over the world came together this year to discuss what the future of our planet might be. They seek to inspire those who look up to them. They want others to want to leave a healthy planet to future generations. And we should. Who can really disagree with that? The big picture looks great, but the individual level is where it doesn't go so smoothly. Honestly, its unrealistic to ask everyone to give up anything that leaves a carbon footprint. Our lives are too intertwined with everything that creates pollution. So us, as individuals, have some choices to make. [3]

What can we choose to do? There’s recycling, turning off lights, walking or riding a bike, as opposed to riding in a car. The possibilities are really endless. If you want to cut off the power in your house like the Beavens did, then go for it.The point is for everyone to be contributing, no matter what it is. Doing something small is better than doing nothing, and if we are all doing something, then we are working for a better world, one that we can be proud to pass on.

1.Justin, Gills. N.p.. Web. 30 Jun 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/science/earth/air-pollution-may-have-suppressed-storms-research-suggests.html?ref=earth>.

2. No Impact Man: The Documentary. Dir. Laura Gabbert. Dir. Justin Schein. Oscilloscope Pictures, 2009. Film.

3.  

Mittermeier, Dr. Russell. N.p.. Web. 30 Jun 2013.  <http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/The-Future-We-Need.asp&xgt;.