Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Earth, perfect distance from the sun


"Rivers shaped the surface of the earth, cutting their channels, they ran to the lowest places on the globe to form the oceans." For ages we lived on what the planet gave us, now we are evolving and using the earths resources faster than it can reproduce them. "Home," a documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, was a very popular last stop for many students involved in Focus Frostburg. Little did the viewers know this was not a slideshow of magnificent landscapes, but a warning to our generation of what is to come of our planet if we keep using its resources in irresponsible ways.

"5,000 people die a day because of dirty drinking water, 1 billion people have no access to safe drinking water." Even though this is the case all over the world, we spend 12 times more on military expenditures than on aid to developing countries. Most of the documentary talked about the things humans have done to destroy the earth over the years, but the strongest message was at the end, giving us hope for our future.

"Everything on earth is linked, and the earth is linked to the sun; its original energy source. In one hour, the sun gives the earth the same amount of energy as that consumed by all humanity in one year." Although we have destroyed vital parts of the earth we live and thrive from, we are now realizing the damage we have caused. The first natural parks were created just over a century ago, and we are learning new ways to create our own energy without taking from our planet. Solar powered, Wind powered, whatever the creation we are changing the way we use the earth's resources and slowing gaining back what we have lost.

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