Analytic

Current Events--Humans are trying to clean up and fix the earth. Whether these programs have been working or not is up for debate. Efforts are great, especially because of the current climate crisis. As in Prosser High School, the students stated, “We decided that this [garbage] was disgusting and unacceptable." These students had an excess of garbage in their school and they realized that if they put a little effort into it, they could reduce their impact on the earth. In general, people believe they have lowered levels of trash and waste because of what happens to the air and land when it is composted and doesn’t disintegrate. The converse is actually true; the output of waste has increased so the waste output is actually relatively close to the waste output 20 years ago, not better. According to the pollution debate, the rate to which garbage is created needs to decrease significantly. As for the pollution debate, it is argued whether or not pollution has improved or not in the past few years. The reasons for the largely different opinions on this matter occur because of data. There are always studies that support all different types and kinds of viewpoints, and it is hard to decipher which are accurate and unbiased. How data is interpreted, the optimism of the person doing so, and the range of samples taken (small or vast ) leads to the thought of whether or not pollution has increased or not. Some view the subject of pollution as getting better because, with all of these programs that are put out-how could the earth’s climate not be improved? As well as a study indicating that pollution has decreased and that the, "areas studied, between 1980-2000 have appeared to have added nearly five-ten more months to people's lives as pollution decreases.” The article indicates within it that not all areas are studied, and there is a possibility that other areas could have decreased lives. Other perspectives are created because of the limited knowledge people have about the subject area and the opinions are created off little knowledge people have of the subject-or even if people are given a one sided view of whether pollution is getting better or not- is why different opinions form. Still, the two current events that were produced indicate pollution getting worse. Asarco polluted the earth with irreplaceable damage, and public schools like the students from Prosser High School struggle to find a way to help the environment in terms of decreasing waste output. The fact that only these two articles were presented, demonstrates how different opinions form, because if another article were presented refuting the idea of pollution increase, then a reader could create an informed opinion about pollution. New themes seem to include group efforts. Schools, students, and communities banned together reduce their environmental impact. This occurred in a situation close to home, Chicago. Group and community efforts also reached Los Angles and in New York. The idea of bonding and helping to save the earth is catching on.