Becoming environmentally aware is easy.
Preserving Our Paradise On Earth
Let us go back to the past...one where ancient tribes roamed the unspoiled lands of Earth, where the miles of undeveloped, untouched coastlines and oak-studded hills were covered in the majestic pink and gold sunsets that faded slowly with no hint of smog or pollution. This was indeed paradise. Humanity has come a far way from this long lost paradise....but at times we are still able to glimpse this beauty that Earth has given us. But it is a rare sight.
Today, many recognize the importance of a clean and healthy surrounding environment. People are beginning to do their part to make a difference. However, I feel we are still a long ways off and at times, I feel humanity is a bit hypocritical in a sense. For example, we need an official 'Earth Day' to pay tribute to the place where we live. Most of us try to do something 'eco-friendly' for that entire day, but then fall back into the natural habits of being wasteful. We have to have 'Commuter Challenges' in which we compete for prizes in order to be more eco-friendly and it lasts for about a month in order to make us feel better about contributing to the Earth. Why do we need incentives for being sustainable...shouldn't a clear sky without pollution or smog clouding it be incentive enough - or how about being able to just breathe clean air?
I am a runner and I have more and more become aware of the quality of air we breathe in. I run a two-mile stretch and within that stretch almost always come across a motorcycle or bus or diesel truck that expels the worst polluting stench and air. It is almost too hard to breathe in, as I am already out of breath from running and it defeats the whole purpose of going out for runs to enjoy nature and breathe in what we call clean fresh air...But it isn't clean or fresh. We take three steps forward and ten steps back.
I still have faith in humanity when I see those glimpses of hope and beauty. Though it is rare, I still am able to believe that we have hope in preserving this paradise. Santa Barbara does a great job in trying to educate the community on environmental sustainability and actually implement it- heck, this is the where Earth Day and the birth of the environmental movement come from. The renovation of the 1924 SB Grenada Theatre included a historic preservation with a green twist. It was actually renovated with sustainable building practices and energy efficient features. New computer-controlled lighting and heating systems maximize energy efficiency, American black walnut accents were added from sustainable forests, and low VOC paints and stains were used in the renovation. These types of projects amid our world of pollution reassure me that we are at least heading in the right direction, even if it might take a while to get there. If we keep in mind random green facts like, "If we recycle EVERYTHING in California, it would be equivalent to taking out ALL the emissions of ALL cars in California" or "If the steps are taken now to correct pollution, the ozone layer will actually fix itself in the next 50-100 years" I think it will put us all in the right mindset to continue our journey (without incentives other than appreciating where we live) toward a cleaner, healthier environment for the future.
Today, many recognize the importance of a clean and healthy surrounding environment. People are beginning to do their part to make a difference. However, I feel we are still a long ways off and at times, I feel humanity is a bit hypocritical in a sense. For example, we need an official 'Earth Day' to pay tribute to the place where we live. Most of us try to do something 'eco-friendly' for that entire day, but then fall back into the natural habits of being wasteful. We have to have 'Commuter Challenges' in which we compete for prizes in order to be more eco-friendly and it lasts for about a month in order to make us feel better about contributing to the Earth. Why do we need incentives for being sustainable...shouldn't a clear sky without pollution or smog clouding it be incentive enough - or how about being able to just breathe clean air?
I am a runner and I have more and more become aware of the quality of air we breathe in. I run a two-mile stretch and within that stretch almost always come across a motorcycle or bus or diesel truck that expels the worst polluting stench and air. It is almost too hard to breathe in, as I am already out of breath from running and it defeats the whole purpose of going out for runs to enjoy nature and breathe in what we call clean fresh air...But it isn't clean or fresh. We take three steps forward and ten steps back.
I still have faith in humanity when I see those glimpses of hope and beauty. Though it is rare, I still am able to believe that we have hope in preserving this paradise. Santa Barbara does a great job in trying to educate the community on environmental sustainability and actually implement it- heck, this is the where Earth Day and the birth of the environmental movement come from. The renovation of the 1924 SB Grenada Theatre included a historic preservation with a green twist. It was actually renovated with sustainable building practices and energy efficient features. New computer-controlled lighting and heating systems maximize energy efficiency, American black walnut accents were added from sustainable forests, and low VOC paints and stains were used in the renovation. These types of projects amid our world of pollution reassure me that we are at least heading in the right direction, even if it might take a while to get there. If we keep in mind random green facts like, "If we recycle EVERYTHING in California, it would be equivalent to taking out ALL the emissions of ALL cars in California" or "If the steps are taken now to correct pollution, the ozone layer will actually fix itself in the next 50-100 years" I think it will put us all in the right mindset to continue our journey (without incentives other than appreciating where we live) toward a cleaner, healthier environment for the future.
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