THE OLYMPICS: The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in China, giving viewers an opportunity to witness world-wide efforts at being green. The greatest concern for the Olympics was the air quality of the games. Beijing is a huge industrial center which has been producing large amounts of air pollutants every day. Some marathon runners actually refused to compete because the air was considered potentially dangerous.
When the Olympics were held in Los Angeles in 1984, smog had been a problem for many years. But by the time of the ‘84 Summer Games, significant improvements had been made.
In order for Beijing to become pollution-free for the Olympics, all major factories were banned from continuing production and most automobiles banned from roadways in and around the city until after the Games had concluded.
RECYCLING: Although it is extra labor to separate and recycle products, Americans are doing it 35% more in this decade than they were in the last one and recycling centers are appearing all over the country. The increase in effort can be credited to it being efficient and profitable to recycle. Using recycled products instead of mining or manufacturing new ones is less expensive, and it cuts energy costs. Cleaning, separating and selling these recycled goods back to the parent companies is not only good for the environment but also creates jobs.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The Trans-Alaskan oil pipeline has become a model for sustainable development and has been as much a technological success as well as an environmental one. In fact, the advent of computer controls on a pipeline built in the late 70's has made it safer than ever, and all of the major problems with leaking and spillage are from 1990 and before. What other country would go to the extremes to make an environmental disaster on paper like a pipeline, across some of the most rugged terrain on the planet, actually work? In this world, only America.
EDUCATION:Green and environmental studies are becoming the norm in classroom curriculums across the country. What better way to get on the green bandwagon than to teach our kids the ways and the means of green, and then practice it? The future is with them, and by teaching and learning, it will be a greener one.
We have come so far already, and while we have a long way to go, let's enjoy the success we have already achieved. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we should be proud of what we've accomplished!
Source: BecauseAction.com
