SAFETY:SAFETY:Taking ActionTaking Action

Ms. MaiMs. Mai

Lawndale High SchoolLawndale High School

Taking ActionTaking Action

We are constantly being exposed to We are constantly being exposed to news about the environmentnews about the environment

Sometimes, the news can be Sometimes, the news can be overwhelming and people are overwhelming and people are confused about what they can doconfused about what they can do

Improving the environment can being Improving the environment can being with the actions of individuals as long with the actions of individuals as long as they are educated and are willing to as they are educated and are willing to make simple changes in their lifestylemake simple changes in their lifestyle

Government and Environmental ProtectionGovernment and Environmental Protection

There are many laws passed by the There are many laws passed by the federal government that set federal government that set standards for clean air, clean water, standards for clean air, clean water, and disposal of wasteand disposal of waste

State and local governments pass State and local governments pass additional laws that may address additional laws that may address specific environmental problems that specific environmental problems that pertain to that area onlypertain to that area only

The EPA is in charge of making sure The EPA is in charge of making sure pollution laws are not brokenpollution laws are not broken

Conflicting PressuresConflicting Pressures

However, there is much debate However, there is much debate about the government’s role in about the government’s role in protecting the environmentprotecting the environment

Almost every American accepts that Almost every American accepts that environmental health is importantenvironmental health is important

Many businesses believe that too Many businesses believe that too many regulations would be costly many regulations would be costly and would hurt the economyand would hurt the economy

Example of the Environmental ConflictExample of the Environmental Conflict

Technology exists that can reduce Technology exists that can reduce the amount of pollutants coal-the amount of pollutants coal-burning companies produce by 95%, burning companies produce by 95%, but the technology is expensivebut the technology is expensive

Opponents argue that the cost of Opponents argue that the cost of using this technology would increase using this technology would increase the price of electricity, therefore the price of electricity, therefore hurting local economieshurting local economies

What do you think?What do you think?

Being HeardBeing Heard

As individuals, there are many ways As individuals, there are many ways that you can make sure your that you can make sure your environmental concerns are heardenvironmental concerns are heard

However, your voice is only effective if However, your voice is only effective if you are knowledgeable about the issuesyou are knowledgeable about the issues

You can become educated about You can become educated about these issues by reading the these issues by reading the newspaper, or talking to other newspaper, or talking to other people who share your concernspeople who share your concerns

What You Can DoWhat You Can Do

Writing letters to your government Writing letters to your government representatives about your concernsrepresentatives about your concerns

Joining a local or national Joining a local or national environmental organization environmental organization

Organize activities that help clean up Organize activities that help clean up the environment and raise public the environment and raise public awareness about environmental awareness about environmental issuesissues

Individual ActionIndividual Action

Laws that protect the environment Laws that protect the environment are necessary for keeping the are necessary for keeping the environment clean and protecting environment clean and protecting public healthpublic health

However, the most significant However, the most significant contributions are made through contributions are made through individual efforts that can also individual efforts that can also influence other people to actinfluence other people to act

Does My Action Really Count?Does My Action Really Count? Imagine if each person in this class Imagine if each person in this class

recycled just one soda can each dayrecycled just one soda can each day That’s 35 soda cans per dayThat’s 35 soda cans per day

In one school year, that’s already In one school year, that’s already about 10,000 cansabout 10,000 cans

Now imagine the potential for Now imagine the potential for reducing energy and water use, or reducing energy and water use, or reducing dangerous household reducing dangerous household chemicals if everyone made a small chemicals if everyone made a small effort to protect the environmenteffort to protect the environment

ConservationConservation Conservation is preserving resourcesConservation is preserving resources

such as the forest, soil, and watersuch as the forest, soil, and water Using energy Using energy (driving, heater, AC)(driving, heater, AC) is is

a major source of air pollutiona major source of air pollution

Therefore, conserving energy can Therefore, conserving energy can 1. reduce pollution1. reduce pollution2. save you money2. save you money3. reduce the need to find 3. reduce the need to find new sources of energy ornew sources of energy or rely on other countriesrely on other countries

Conserving WaterConserving Water(CHOOSE 1)(CHOOSE 1)

Repair leaky faucetsRepair leaky faucets Turn off water while brushing your Turn off water while brushing your

teeth, washing your face, or shavingteeth, washing your face, or shaving Run only FULL loads when using the Run only FULL loads when using the

dishwasher or washing machinedishwasher or washing machine Soak dishes first before hand Soak dishes first before hand

washing them, then rinse altogetherwashing them, then rinse altogether Water your lawn or garden in the Water your lawn or garden in the

morning when evaporation is lowmorning when evaporation is low

Saving EnergySaving Energy The best place to start reducing energy The best place to start reducing energy

is finding alternate means of is finding alternate means of transportationtransportation (remember that 50% of (remember that 50% of air pollution is generated from cars)air pollution is generated from cars)

Consider walking or riding your bike Consider walking or riding your bike because that not only saves the because that not only saves the environment, but is also good exerciseenvironment, but is also good exercise

Consider public transportation, or Consider public transportation, or carpoolingcarpooling

Keep tire pressure at proper levelsKeep tire pressure at proper levels

Saving Energy at Home Saving Energy at Home (CHOOSE 1)(CHOOSE 1)

Turn off lights when you are not Turn off lights when you are not using themusing them

Turn down thermostat in the winter, Turn down thermostat in the winter, and up in the summerand up in the summer

Take shorter showers (10 minutes)Take shorter showers (10 minutes)

Purchase light bulbs that use less Purchase light bulbs that use less electricity (energy-efficient appliances)electricity (energy-efficient appliances)

Reduce WasteReduce Waste According to the EPA, Americans According to the EPA, Americans

produce enough solid waste each produce enough solid waste each year to fill a convoy truck that can year to fill a convoy truck that can reach halfway to the moonreach halfway to the moon

How to Reduce Solid Waste?How to Reduce Solid Waste?(CHOOSE 1)(CHOOSE 1)

Avoid buying products that have Avoid buying products that have excessive packagingexcessive packaging

Reuse items rather than throwing Reuse items rather than throwing them away (paper and plastic bags, them away (paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, bottles and jars)cardboard boxes, bottles and jars)

Donate old furniture, appliances, Donate old furniture, appliances, clothing, and books to organizations clothing, and books to organizations instead of throwing them awayinstead of throwing them away

How to Reduce Toxic Waste? How to Reduce Toxic Waste? (CHOOSE 1)(CHOOSE 1)

Don’t use pesticides, solvents, and Don’t use pesticides, solvents, and drain cleaners because they cause drain cleaners because they cause water pollutionwater pollution

Don’t use Don’t use pesticides, pesticides, solvents, and solvents, and drain cleaners drain cleaners because they because they cause water cause water pollutionpollution

RecycleRecycle

You can recycle paper, glass, metal You can recycle paper, glass, metal some plastics, batteries, motor oil, etc.some plastics, batteries, motor oil, etc.

Recycling saves energy and reduces Recycling saves energy and reduces pollution by reducing the need for pollution by reducing the need for industries to manufacture new productsindustries to manufacture new products

The production of many products uses a The production of many products uses a lot of energy and produces many lot of energy and produces many pollutantspollutants

Encourage Others to RecycleEncourage Others to Recycle

Despite its advantages, only 10% of Despite its advantages, only 10% of solid waste in the country is recycledsolid waste in the country is recycled

Take part in the recycling program in Take part in the recycling program in your community, and encourage your community, and encourage others to join you in your effortsothers to join you in your efforts

Buy products that are made of Buy products that are made of recycled material or are themselves recycled material or are themselves recyclablerecyclable

Safe Alternative ProductsSafe Alternative ProductsCHOOSE 1CHOOSE 1

Mix vinegar with water to clean windowsMix vinegar with water to clean windows

Use bleach to clean toiletsUse bleach to clean toilets

Mix vegetable or olive oil with lemon Mix vegetable or olive oil with lemon juice to polish furniturejuice to polish furniture

Use baking soda and water as an all-Use baking soda and water as an all-purpose cleanerpurpose cleaner

Use corn starch with water to make spray Use corn starch with water to make spray starch or as a rug cleanerstarch or as a rug cleaner