Fighting Global Warming in Austin, Texas

One of the biggest controversial issues that faces our world today is global warming, the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. The main cause of the temperature change, based on their research is the increase in anthropogenic (manmade) greenhouse gas emissions, or the greenhouse effect created by the actions of us humans. With the dangerous potential effects of global warming including heat waves, intense storms, and rise of sea levels, the world has gradually begun to take steps in saving our planet from what may become a catastrophic dilemma.

In the city of Austin, Texas, the ominous issue of global warming and protecting our environment is a matter that is taken seriously by the citizens and government. According to the 2008 edition of Reader’s Digest, Austin, Texas was acknowledged as the 8th cleanest city in the United States, based on criteria including the 5 categories: Air, Water, Toxics, Hazardous Waste and Sanitation. In my community, there are a variety of measures taken to reduce emissions and protect the environment. At my school, L.C. Anderson High, recycling bins are located in every room where recyclables are collected and taken away each week. My house also has two recycling bins that we use on a daily basis. The recycling bins encourage Americans to recycle and reuse items instead of wasting them, or throwing them onto the street where pollution will become a hazard for our environment.

The city provides the civilians of Austin a chance to transport around the capital through their service of city buses called Capital Metro. Many people use this as their main source of transportation, especially the students who attend the most prominent college in Austin, the University of Texas at Austin, or UT. The students get to ride free every day, and every month or so, Capital Metro allows all of its’ customers to ride for free, on a day called Ozone Action Day. The changed fare persuades even more riders to take the bus, which reduces the emissions that would have been released through their personal automobiles, and promotes the earth-friendly actions that we should be conscious about. The government has also created bike riding lanes on the side of streets to encourage people to use their bikes more often, and to enhance the safety of bike riding.

Car dealerships throughout the city of Austin are promoting their environment-friendly cars called Hybrids to everyone by deducting taxes and other encouragements. Hybrid cars use alternate energy sources to power their cars, which ultimately reduces a) the amount of oil us humans depend on, and b) the level of greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere. A plan to construct a city Metro is in the works as well, and I am confident that many civilians will begin to use this method of transportation, which will further eliminate sources of pollution for our environment. The Metro project is said to be completed by March 2009, and I can’t wait to try it!

I truly believe Austin is doing a wonderful job in creating a beautiful and healthy environment for the people living in this amazing city. I think that educating students, who are the future of tomorrow, is vital in solving this problem, and this Blog is helpful in understanding what people across the world feel about the problems that our facing our world today.

During the last two weeks, in our World Geography classes, we have been working and completing our Mosaic of Cultural Icons Projects, where we researched an influentual person from Europe. I researched Nikita Khrushchev, the former first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union who was an influential leader that contributed in the de-Stalinization movement. It was a great project, and I hope to learn through my classmates' presentations in class this week! Other than school, I came back from a tennis tournament yesterday, and got a trophy for second place. The tournament was fun and I got to meet many players from schools in other districts. It was a great learning experience and Anderson High School ended up first out of all of the other competing schools! :)