As part of our ongoing series, in collaboration with the Southeast Minneapolis Council on Learning (SEMCOL), The Bridge asked students from Derek Hyland’s eighth-grade class at Anne Sullivan Communication Center, 3100 E. 28th St., to write short essays on the importance of “going green.” Here’s what they came up with.

Go green
By Muna Ahmed

The reason I think it’s important to go green in terms of energy conservation and climate change is, if we don’t deal with this now our next generation will have to. By the time our next generation tries to fix the problem of global warming, the damage will be done, and on a much larger scale. So for that not to happen, we need to gradually start becoming eco-friendly by replanting trees because of all the deforestation. We should cut down or even try eliminating the use of fossil fuels and try using renewable energy. By doing those kinds of simple tasks we can make it easier for future generations to care for our environment because they are the ones who will have to deal with the outcome of our irresponsibility.

Global warming
By Lucy Pipkin

Global warming is a huge topic of concern today. We see it on television and read about the effects of it in the paper every day. We are learning how to be green by changing how we buy food, clothes, cars and homes.

I think that the most important issue related to global warming is the simple fact that it’s turning our lives upside down. This is a good thing because we need to change our habits and how we think of the planet. It is bad because we are finally changing due to global warming and its effect on our world. Warmer temperatures are not the only things we have to face in coming years. If we continue to live the way we have been, by being superconsumers and causing vast amounts of waste, a series of unfortunate events will leave my generation with a ton of problems to fix.

Just as today we are concerned about the melting icebergs and how it affects animal species, the next generation must face the possibility of actually losing critical habitat and never having the chance to experience nature undisturbed. Thinking of this fact makes me fear for the kids that will come after me.

If you share my thoughts, you know you must do something to help. Turn the lights off when you leave a room, buy energy-efficient appliances, bike to work or school instead of driving. If everyone on Earth did a little bit, global warming might slow down, and that’s something every generation can be proud of.

Go green
By Mason Johnson

I believe it’s important to go green because it conserves energy, reduces the impact of climate change and makes our air better.

Going green helps conserve energy; the pollution is killing the ozone layer slowly.
It’s important to go green because of the impact of climate change. Climate change is affecting our environment. For example, global warming is melting the North Pole and South Pole. That warming is affecting the polar bears.

Going green helps the trees because the loggers cut down the trees for our paper.
This is why going green is good. It helps us with these problems, conserves energy, and [lessens the] impact of climate change.

Green
By Jazeya Kalis

I think it is important to go “green” because our environment is taking a turn for the worse. I think all parents should take a little time out of their day and talk to their children about conserving electricity, and how important it is to do so. If we just took the time and turn off/unplug everything that is not in use, not only will our monthly utility [costs] go down, but our overall energy consumption levels will decrease as well.

Could what we do and use affect our weather? The answer is “yes.” Simple things like our car’s gas can put a lot of damage out into our air, which is deteriorating our ozone layer. I think if auto mechanics upgraded car systems by making cars’ motors run off of water, then our air would be in much better condition than it has ever been, and global warming would not be such a problem. Even if people could just pick up a piece of trash every now and then and recycle, it would be much help to our environment, climate, and humans’ and animals’ health.

Global warnings are signs of global warming
By Iftou Yoya

I see locally and in the world things that might be signs of global warming. One result of global warming is flooding, which is caused by the ice caps melting and this also causes sea levels to rise. When the ice caps melt, floods are not the only problem. Animals that live on ice, like polar bears, don’t have a place to live any more. I learned about this from commercials on the CW. Now that people are getting more concerned about global warming, there are more advertisements on the TV and Internet about the problem and how we can help.

Locally, people are worried about global warming, so they make sure to pick up garbage, ditch their cars and ride the transit, and recycle; oil companies are switching to ethanol, and car companies are making hybrid cars. I am glad to see that so many people are worried about global warming because I’m worried about the future of our planet.

last revised: June 19, 2008

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