Michael Gaerthoeffner
January 28, 2008
Wendy Sumner Winter
English 1020 – 046

Protecting our Environment
I read this article about Dave Ulrich who protects the great Lakes ecosystems. In my opinion it is very important for us as consumers and citizens of the planet earth to act right now, otherwise there will be not much of our earth left for our children. I think the same way than Ulrich; we have to protect our environment and be careful with our resources. This protecting of our environment starts locally. Everybody is able to do something; even small things help to reach the goal to protect our ecosystem. Today I had a discussion with my room mate. He never turns the light and the air conditioner in his restroom off. This really bothers me because I think that this is a waste of recourses. So I told him my reservations that I have and to turn these things off and he replied that nobody would do that. I answered that just because many people commit crimes he does not have to commit crimes, just because everybody does something that is no reason to do it, too. Than he said that it would not help if just one person turns these things off and I said that somebody has to start with doing the right thing and to influence other people to do the right things, too. The sad fact is that my room mate was probably right with his statement that nobody would turn off these things, just because we are lazy. Finally, he said that we have a room scholarship so we do not have to pay for the electricity, so why would it bother me. I replied that the fact that we do not have to pay for the electricity is no reason as well to not turn the things off because it is still a waste of electricity. What happens if everybody would do that? Our children would not have an earth anymore because some scientists prognosticate that in 2050 there will be no natural resources anymore. So guys, be smart – do not waste our resources!!!