Everybody Is An Environmentalist.

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Poll after poll says so. Giant SUVs have “Recycle!” bumper stickers. Even our president says he is an environmentalist. Then why are we in an unparalleled period of environmental destruction?

The problem is we often speak of “the environment” as something outside of our daily lives. But we are the environment. We exist with nature, and can’t exist without it. We are one small part of this planet, yet everything we do has a very big impact.

Forests moderate climate, produce oxygen, and prevent flooding. Over 95 percent of native forests in the United States are gone. In California, 2,000-year-old redwoods are cut down to make patios and office products. Rainforests, where over half of all species on Earth are found, are destroyed at the rate of 2.5 acres per second. They are often cut for timber and cattle grazing, to meet American demand.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to top 9 billion. The world’s resources are limited: Already, one in 7 people are undernourished. Yet more than one out of five Americans are obese. The United States is about 5 percent of the world's population, but consumes 25 percent of the world's resources.

Levels of carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming, could double by the middle of the century. About 20 percent of total emissions of the gas come from the United States. About 180 countries support the Kyoto Protocol, a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Bush administration refused, claiming it would hurt the U.S. economy.

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What can we do?
We can’t be perfect, but we can tread lightly. This means consuming less. Considering adoption. Walking, biking or using mass transit instead of driving. Growing your own food on your own plot or through a C.S.A. (community supported agriculture). Buying produce and goods locally. Recycling. Using your own bags at the grocery store, and not buying products with excess packaging. These things are just the beginning. In every aspect of our lives, we should be asking, “Is this really the best I can do?”