OPINIONS
4 Blueprint
Nov. 16, 2012 BlueprintStaff
Eco-Fads versus Lasting Impact
Baby steps won’t make the strides toward counter-acting climate change
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Editorials: Editorials reflect the opinion of the Blueprint staff. Subjects and positions for editorials have been agreed upon by the staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, student body or CSD99-South. Student submission: Replies to articles and letters to the editor may be e-mailed to the reporter or submitted in room A310. Letters must be signed, but names can be withheld upon request. Emails with contact information should be sent to DGSblueprint@gmail.com
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The ideology that “even the small steps matter” has helped encourage the young and old alike to get involved in whatever activity is at hand. Although this principal seems redeeming and worthy, it turns out that the small steps may not be enough. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, who promotes “work[ing] together to protect wildlife, safeguard human health and combat climate change,” the climate’s temperature has increased unnaturally fast in the last 100 years due to human activities that produce carbon dioxide, in turn trapping heat and other greenhouse gases. Not only does climate change affect our lives on a global scale, the Midwest has a crucial connection to the deteriorating environmental status that needs to be addressed in a concrete manner. The Great Lakes are an imperative and integrated part of the Midwestern society as the temperature continues to increase, so does evaporation. It is estimated that water levels could drop one to two feet by the end of the century. Heat waves, floods and droughts will cause the Midwestern environment to be extremely hard to handle. This directly impacts the state of agriculture. To throw an already recycled water bottle back in the recycling bin and cross your fingers that it’ll arrive safely back at the recycling plant instead of a landfill will only get us so far. Being eco-friendly in a simplistic fashion won’t produce the positive prevention that is needed. “Real” involvement calls for complex action that will be lasting and effective. As far as DGS is concerned, junior Go Green club member Haley Holz feels there are definitive ways students can help out. “We could use reusable trays in the lunchrooms and encourage a [stricter] recycling rule,” Holz said. “It is frustrating to see students who merely toss any waste they have into the recycling bins.” These baby steps show a conscious effort to combat what many students believe are our environmental woes, but the weight of those attempts is what we believe should be reconsidered. Eco-minded decisions can make a difference if consistent. More times than not, if one step is taken and carried out, it will snowball into other eco-friendly choices. Trends and fads that celebrities endorse on the red carpet fade- and we need long-term progress. While it may be argued that trivial environmental fads are better than nothing, investing time in go-green activities for a week and then, simply forgetting that the environment is deteriorating will not get the job done. Earth Science teacher Bradley Krumpolz acknowledges that although the larger environment’s digression “is a global problem that needs to be fixed by 7 billion individuals,” there are most definitely ways to avoid “dodging our responsibility.” “Many of the initiatives that we are currently investigating in the U.S.A. and other parts of the world will certainly have lasting effects and need to be pursued aggressively,” Krumpolz said. “Examples include alternative energy sources and carbon sequestration.” Climate change is not a child star. Its show cannot get cancelled. It cannot be “bought out-” it is here to stay. We need to find a way to combat the negative effects that are already playing out, and prevent them from digging deeper holes in our environment. G
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News Editor Ali Krecek
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Junior, Jack Marcoski
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Entertainment Editor Stephanie Major
Sports Editor Katie Jordan
Photo Editor Sammie Anselmo
Graphic Designer TJ Stice
Copy Chief Editor Kayla Dickman
Copy Editor Kelly Slagter
Copy Editor Emma Venetis
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Who:
Features Editor Jessica Rouzan
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Opinions Editor Bianca Smith
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Associate News Editor Eleni Eisenhart
All DGS students are welcome
What:
Picking up recycling bins
When:
Every Tuesday after school
Where:
Room D172
Why:
“There should be a Go Green Club at every school ... [to] help with big community recycling projects. If every school in the U.S. has a club like this, our environment can only improve.”
How:
“All you have to do is put something that can be recycled [paper products] in the blue recycling bin.”
Managing Editor Marygrace Schumann
Business Manager Gabhriel Bell
Staff Reporters: Courtney Byczynski Jenna Hinsdale Mira Marchioretto Dhara Puvar Cartoon Artist: Crystal Ponce Faculty Adviser: Agnes Filipowski Co-Adviser: Kari Alore 1436 Norfolk Street Downers Grove, IL, 60561 @DGSblueprint