August 10th, 2020
Any topic regarding our environment and being more eco-friendly has always interested me. It's been important to me for so long that I can't really remember when I became so fervent about this. It might have been in middle school, when I was learning about solar, wind, and hydro power, that I realized how our way of living is incredibly unsustainable. My father is also a very passionate environmentalist, as he invests in solar panels, electric cars, and has reminded our family an infinite amount of times to always turn off the lights, use less toilet paper, turn down the heating, and more.
I became more invested as I began watching documentaries on our world's oceans and developing a love for marine life. I've learned of the bleaching of coral reefs, the creation of plastic islands in the oceans, and the unnatural heat-up of the Earth. Last year, I went to the Dominican Republic for a volunteering camp and I witnessed how third-world countries are affected by the desire to catch up to developed world. This wish to become a first-world country has pushed them to use methods, such as single-use plastic and an increased use of fossil fuels, which are detrimental to our environment. This trip also helped me realize how countries outside of the US that are poorer cannot make some of the same efforts to be more eco-friendly that an American, on the other hand, would be able to do. For example, most Americans could switch from fossil fuels to more energy-efficient ways, such as solar power, if they chose to while Dominicans don't even have this choice. They're lucky if they even have enough gas throughout the whole year.
One key thing to note about me is that I've always had a negative outlook on life so I've always focused on how humans are destroying the Earth rather than the efforts that others are putting in to save it. Although it's important to spread positivity, I'm interested in bringing light to the drastic ways that our environment is being harmed by the actions of humans. Currently, my biggest question for this topic is will I be able to have a resolution? If I'm just researching the negative impacts, wouldn't that just discourage people from trying to become more eco-friendly? Also, if I do find any resolutions, should I research what an average American can do or should it be a method that any person in whatever socio-economic situation can follow?