Environmental Air Pollution Essays - Environmental Chemistry

Ecological Air Pollution My perspectives on nature are established in my faith in creation. I don't accept that life on earth started unexpectedly, nor do I accept that the earth is so carefully adjusted. I don't accept that the earth and its biological system are delicate. Numerous extreme tree huggers do, they accept man can tag along, without anyone else and make a huge difference in negative ways. Following a huge number of years, they accept that we are the last two ages of human presence. What's more, they figure we can demolish the earth without anyone else? I essentially can't accept this perspective on man and his works. I will not accept that individuals, which is additionally an aftereffect of Creation, can crush the best creation known to man. Albeit some egotistical radical researchers accept that they are equipped for opening each entryway of the universe or more all else, fit for getting it, there are a few things in this world that man can't comprehend, and can't comprehend, and we should acknowledge these things in confidence. This one little planet has the conditions that are vital forever and is totally positioned in our close planetary system. In the event that we were put somewhat further from the sun, we would be a huge ice solid shape. On the off chance that we were somewhat nearer, we would broil in one major broiler. What's more, the situation of the Earth isn't by some coincidence, it was set here which is as it should be. We people had nothing to do with earth's creation, nor did we have anything to do with it's arrangement or it's working. We are just a piece of it. We are as much piece of it as the Spotted Owl, which is a winged creature. Be that as it may, hippies picture people as a characteristic foe of nature. As per them, we are equipped for crushing earth simply by acting naturally. I likewise don't see how these ?researchers? of whom which express we are incredible enough to devastate earth, can likewise say we are no superior to a frog. Sadly for them, this is the thing that they accept. They assume that all life shapes on the planet, other than people, calmly exist together. They believe that people devastate. Most creatures and creepy crawlies rely upon one another for food and don't calmly exist together. We were unable to demolish the earth regardless of whether we needed to. The earth is more than 4 billion years of age. Man has been here for close to 200,000 of those years. We can't verge on making the powers of nature, yet these powers have been around for 4 billion years. But then, the earth is still here. Mount Pinatubo, in the Philippines, heaved forward in excess of a thousand times the measure of ozone-draining synthetic concoctions in a single emission than all the chloro-fluorocarbons at any point produced by abhorrent man and had enterprises in the entirety of history (RLimbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, p155). So now researchers state that 4-6% of the ozone misfortune could happen over the Northern Hemisphere throughout the following 2-3 years (RLimbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, p155). Keep in mind: this has been continuing for billions of years we despite everything have a solid ozone layer. Once more, the realities are here, man can't verge on rising to the CFC yield of a spring of gushing lava. End, Mother Nature has been assaulting her own ozone layer for many years, it's still here. We have just been estimating ozone since 1956 (RLimbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, p155). Scientists despite everything guarantee that they know enough for us to completely change us. Possibly the biggest natural concern in the ongoing years is the ?potential issue? of the Earth warming up in view of man's maltreatment of nature. There is little proof behind these speculations, and a large portion of these hypotheses are being voided after each new investigation. Researchers state a supernova 340,000 years prior disturbed 10% to 20% of the ozone layer, causing just a burn from the sun in ancient man (RLimbaugh, See I Told You So, p178). Has man at any point made anything really near the radioactivity and unstable power of a supernova? My answer: far fetched. Also, if pre-notable man just got a burn from the sun, how might we get malignant growth from climate control systems

J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace: Post-Apartheid South Africa Essay -- South Afr

You act as though all that I do is a piece of an incredible narrative. You are the primary character; I am a minor character who doesn't show up until part of the way through. All things considered, as opposed to what you think, individuals are not isolated into major and minor. I am not minor. I have my very own existence, similarly as critical to me as yours is to you, and in my life I am the person who settles on the choices (Coetzee 174) This is an impactful articulation made by Lucy Lurie to her dad David the hero and focal awareness of Disgrace. It is her reaction to his absence of understanding her life decisions and his absence of profound respect for anybody however himself. It is his debilitation, his powerlessness to comprehend anything outside of his self-reflections, and his mentality is because of a degree of haughtiness and feeling of benefit, as he proceeds with his endeavors at self-rise. Lucy is fighting his powerlessness to comprehend her life decisions and the base of his absence of any profound respect for anybody however himself. At the point when David loses his situation at the University through his own presumption,- - one perusing of the â€Å"disgrace† of the title, regardless of whether he feels it thusly or not,- - his mostly cognizant and somewhat oblivious quest for compromise compels him to tune in to the voices of in the past quieted people, ladylike, and dark spoke to in the just cited section by his little girl. David in his portrayal twists the extent of his story toward the predicament of ladies, instead of the â€Å"colored† in a post-politically-sanctioned racial segregation South African scene. Lucy is an advantageous portrayal for David of those truly disfavored in post-Apartheid South Africa, while David speaks to those apparently disrespected who sidestep the real factors of their activities, those unashamed un-sorry masses that pardon ... ...t of snakes. No, Professor Lurie, you might be arrogant and have a wide range of degrees, however on the off chance that I was you I’d be exceptionally embarrassed about myself, with God as my witness. On the off chance that I’ve got hold of an inappropriate finish of the stick, presently is your opportunity to state, yet I don’t think in this way, I can see it from your face.’ Lurie murmurs accordingly, ‘excuse me, I have business to take care of and leaves (Coetzee 38) David’s reaction to Melanie’s father in the section above just further shows what is resounded all through the content. His shirking, pretentiousness and powerlessness to apologize become clear. In that scene toward the start of the novel we see David’s capacity to sidestep a reasonable offense made by him when faced, and consequently gives us a brief look at the individual we will rely upon to disclose to us the story. Works Cited Coetzee, J. M. (2000) Disgrace. London: Vintage.

How to Build a Blog Audience

How to Build a Blog Audience You can create a beautiful blog full of fascinating videos, photos and stories, and maybe four people a year will see it if you do not let people know about your blog. So how do you do this? Do you send an email to your friends? Do you post it on a social media site like Facebook or Twitter and hope that people perusing your page will check it out? There are several things to consider in how and where you advertise your blog.What Kind of Blog Have You Created?If it is for your business, you should work with Google algorithms to make your blog most likely to show up under certain keyword searches on Googles search engine. Thankfully, Google has changed the way it determines what is the most quality information available is rather than simply looking for content that is filled with the most keywords. This is a new development, so what you need to worry about is putting well-written, grammatically sound, and well-informed information and content on your blog. You no longer have to use t he same tag word ten times in four hundred words to show up on the Google search engines first page of a search.If you have created a personal blog with a specific focus, you should look for blog circles or groups with similar interests. When you find a blog you really like, put a link to it on your blog. It could be something based on the same topic that you have chosen to focus on; for example, knitting and crocheting is a great blog topic if you have a passion for it. People will want to see your techniques and tips, as well as the finished product. You might find a blog where the blogger lists great deals on yarn or knitting supplies. Thats a great blog for you to follow and its also a good resource to share with your own followers. People like useful information that is accessed and read quickly, so keep that in mind as you create your blog content.Keep posting contentIf you want to have a stable and growing readership, you need to regularly and consistently post on your blog. Update at least once a week with something that is high quality. The importance of quality and consistency cannot be stressed enough. If you post sporadically, your audience will lose interest.You could write a great blog post about something really funny and charming and it could get a bit of traffic from being shared on Facebook or in an email blast from just one reader. You have the opportunity to attract countless numbers of followers but only if you post again soon. If you are only going to post once a week, make that clear on your blogs about section. That way, readers will know when to expect more of what they love from you and during the days between, wont forget about you.Trolling versus strollingConnecting with other bloggers by posting comments on their blogs will always help introduce you to the blogosphere. There are some things you should not do when you are commenting on other blogs because they will probably not help you gain readers except in the form of trolls. One thing you should not do, speaking of trolls, is troll other blogs.Trolling is when someone goes to an online conversation of some form in social media like on a Facebook fan page or a blog about a certain topic where a conversation is started. If you are going to say something, say something nice. Do not harass, name call, cyber bully, or insult the blogger or other people commenting. There is no need to pick fights on the internet and you will look like a jerk. Unless you want to create a blog that people love to hate, you will not help your readership by doing this. If you are reading a blog you find offensive, and you feel the need to share your sense of offense, that is your right. However, this is not the tactic to build strong connections and relationships with other bloggers.Instead, go to blogs that feel the same way that you do about this offensive topic and post well thought-out and well-informed comments there. I would say this is strolling over trolling. Strolling along with a peaceful pace and in a manner where you may even disagree on a subject with someone, can really help your readership. The key is that you must remain polite and calm about it; if you do, you will have an interesting conversation rather than an online slugfest that you will likely not be proud of later.Utilize every social media platform you can findIf you have a blog, you can create a Twitter page, a Facebook fan page and a LinkedIn page to let everyone connected to your personal pages and your blog profiles or fan pages know when you have updated. It is a great idea to connect with everyone you have ever known on Facebook and Twitter to expand the social circle with which you can share your blog.When you post a short description of your blog update and a link to the blog, you are giving everyone else a chance to read it. More importantly, you are giving them a place and easy way to share it. You might have four hundred friends on, for example, Facebook. Maybe you have an av erage of thirty friends in common with you on Facebook. If ten of your friends share it with all of their friends, and ten of their friends read it, you may have just gained one hundred new readers from one blog update.

Making People Perfect - 568 Words

If everyone is perfect, then won’t perfect lose its meaning? Or would perfect only be for the wealthy? Scientists are now taking eggs from women and are changing the genes so they can decide what hair color, eye color, and skin color they want their child to have. They may also do it if their genes have a genetic disease like, higher risk of heart attacks or strokes, autism, cancer and much more. But at what risk? Overpopulation, dominating groups, decided futures, preventing the less fortunate or naturally born from progressing and/or unforeseen consequences. We should not design babies because if we do then if will overpopulate and sooner or later if the earth is overpopulated we may have a shortage of food or water. Then what? Some of the advantages of designing babies is the freedom of choice. The freedom of choice argument is letting a woman and man choose if they want a genetically modified baby. This is an advantage because it is pro freedom of choice. And that if your family has a genetically transferred disease, because then you could prevent your kid from having said disease or diseases (Parry). But as well as advantages there are disadvantages. For example, history has shown that in the 1940s, the Nazis tried to design the human race, just like they are trying to design the next generations of people (Keim). Another disadvantage is overpopulation, which can lead to many other things like not enough resources. There are only a finite amount of things on thisShow MoreRelatedWhat If I Just Lost Weight Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pagesworkouts, just to become perfect in someone else eyes. Woman and young girls see figures of other women with a double zero pants size and ask â€Å"why can’t I l ook like that?† Today society puts too much pressure on young women to have the perfect body. What society needs to say is all women are beautiful, there is no such thing as the perfect body. Today, women are putting down other woman for being a size fourteen. The men in our society are not helping either, by making a woman feel her body isRead MoreTodays Unrealistic Body Expectations1311 Words   |  5 Pageswaist, lean hips, and perfect skin complexion. As a result, many people are affected by our own societys portrayals of good looking men and women that they feel pressured into doing whatever it takes and going through extreme measures, most of the time, spending countless hours in the gym trying to achieve that perfect body. Body image is evident in the gym, as the men are lifting weights they are frequently looking in the mirror examining every angle of their body making sure no area is lackingRead MoreIs The Outside World Really Just Another Cave?1321 Words   |  6 Pagesseen and unseen (better known as universals, ideas and forms) were right, yet, Plato’s work â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave† refutes such an opinion. The theory itself is based upon two worlds. The experienced and the unseen. Only in this example, two people cannot be right depending on what they are speaking of, due to their difference in thoughts and estimates. It is a void of matter and only focuses on thoughts and pure varieties. It supplies a â€Å"standard† of a thought as to what one believes they knowRead MoreEssay on Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado1048 Words   |  5 PagesEdgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado Is there really a perfect crime? This is the main point in Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado.† The story is a dark tale of a presumably insane man who suffers from, according to him, â€Å"the thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could† (Poe 75). One of the major factors in telling this story is the setting. The story is set primarily in the Montresor family catacombs, which provides the dark setting, filled with human remains, andRead MoreHow to Plan the Perfect Party Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesSue Doe Professor Brown Engl 1301 How to Plan the Perfect Party When you decide to have a party, you must realize that the people you invite are there to have a good time. If you do not plan the party correctly and your guests do not enjoy themselves, they may never come back to one of your get-togethers. Take this into consideration when planning the event even if making the necessary arrangements becomes time consuming and tedious. No matter what, remember how important it is to take the timeRead MoreWhy Management Is An Organization Or Corporate Body1457 Words   |  6 Pagescarries out decision making processes with a small number of members within the management caucus. In other institutions, decision making by managers is made through consultations of all individuals or stakeholders within the company. Looking at the two, it is evident that institutions that involve a huge number of members in decision making are often successful in their endeavors. In light of that, this essay tries to give reasons as to why involvement of employees in d ecision making is important inRead MoreThe Common And Heavenly Love922 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent types of love that Pausanius refers to, which are the common and heavenly love. The common love is based on your love for someone for their body, sex or beauty making it physical love and desire for a person. Heavenly love is love for the mind such as your intelligence and strength, someone you can benefit from making one more wise. Any love that is encountered has a purpose whether is it the love between a mother and daughter or the love between a husband and wife. In the end, all loveRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne913 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short story The Birthmark, Nathaniel Hawthorne used Aylmer and his wife Georgiana to display that no person can be perfect. He does this by using Aylmer obsession with perfection and science. His wife Georgiana beauty is amazing and almost perfect, except for a crimson scar on her check that looks like a hand. Aylmer wants to remove the mark that symbolizes imperfection, sin, and mortality; though it could result in death. In the act, he is acting like God. Hawthorne’s argument in The BirthmarkRead MoreNew Meta Description Essay947 Words   |  4 PagesNew Meta Description Illawong Beach in Mackay is famous with locals. It offers serene and peaceful coastline with off and on dog leash areas making it perfect for sunset strolls. Harbour Beach with its sparkling water, beautiful views and serene atmosphere is a crowd favourite located adjacent to Mackays Reef Marina development. Connie Bay on Keswick Island offers uninterrupted views towards the northern Whitsundays. It is a secluded beach of turquoise water and fringing coral. Keswick Island isRead MoreCharacteristics of Different Market Types891 Words   |  4 Pagesinformation. There are four basic types of markets: monopoly, oligopoly, perfect competition and monopolistic competition. Perfect examples of these four basic types are hard to find due to their specifications and assumptions. However, the industries or firms closest to each of these will be discussed further to get an idea about the characteristics of each market type. Textile industry in Pakistan can be taken up as a good example of perfect competition. There are a large number of producers and a large

Support Of Family Reunification As A Primary Outcome For...

In recent years, there has been much support for family reunification as a primary outcome for children in foster care providing them a better alternative than aging out of the foster care system. Some of the reasons in support of family reunification include that children do best when raised in a stable family setting, preventing multiple placements increases safety, permanency and well-being, there are cost benefits in reduction in the number of children in care, and states can avoid funding sanctions by meeting federal outcome goals (Supporting Reunification and Preventing Reentry Into Out-of-Home Care). Leaving children to grow up in the foster care system is not a good placement option as there is a substantial amount of research about the negative impact it has on children. Some recent findings of a study reported that 25 percent of youth who aged out of care did not obtain high school diploma or GED, only 50 percent were currently employed, and three quarters of the males and more than half of the females had ever been arrested (Courtney et al. 2007). Another study examining youth in California, Minnesota, and North Carolina found these employment patterns persist for many at age 24, with only a small portion of youth (25 percent in California, 22 percent in Minnesota, 16 percent in North Carolina) managing to maintain consistent connections to the labor market and earn as much as their peers nationally (Macomber et al. 2008). In addition to the poor outcomesShow MoreRelatedThe Foster Care Systems Lie Under The Jurisdiction Of The Department Of Human Services / Child Welfare1770 Words   |  8 PagesStable Families Act,† which is the primary responsibility of child welfare services. In each state there is an entity for child protection, in the State of Rhode Island it is the department of Children, Youth and Families. According to the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse RI, the money is funded from the federal government with the guideline s that each state must abide by. This funding allows the state the ability to do their job and provide services to protect and reunify children who areRead MoreThe Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children2503 Words   |  10 PagesIncarceration, a topic of controversy, has received much attention in both academic and political arenas. Policy changes in recent years have influenced incarceration rates and, in turn, affected families and children in the U.S. (Hagan Coleman, 2001; Visher Travis, 2003; â€Å"Pew Charitable Trusts†, 2010; Arditti, Lamburt-Shute, Joest, 2003). Policies, such as â€Å"tough on crime† and â€Å"war on drugs†, have contributed to not only a steady rise in incarceration rates and over crowding of correctionalRead MoreQuestion 2. Review The Scholarly Literature Within The6014 Words   |  25 Pagesengagement in family partnership meetings and permanency planning? This study looks to expand on the concept of foster parents as m embers of a multidisciplinary team through their engagement in Family Partnership Meetings (FPM) and permanency planning. More importantly, it would advance the human services field by contributing to existing knowledge on FPM and permanency planning within the foster care system. From the literature, four trends were identified: reunification; family partnership meetings;Read MoreChildren, Families, And Foster Care : Analysis And Recommendations2696 Words   |  11 PagesChildren, Families, and Foster Care: Analysis and Recommendations Foster care is intended to serve as a temporary haven for abused or neglected children who cannot safely remain with their families. However for some children, the journey through foster care is characterized by further trauma and abuse; and even in the best situations, foster care is inherently fraught with uncertainty, instability, and impermanence. The number of children and families who require foster care services has grown substantiallyRead MoreMy Field Placement Will Be At Child Protective Services Essay1441 Words   |  6 Pagesinclude, investigating reports of abuse and neglect of children, provide services to children and families in their homes, providing services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood and helping children find adoption. There are many subdivisions within the department itself which offers different amenities during an open case with CPS, although these services solely justify the department, there is a unit known as Family Base d Services or also FBSS which focuses on resourcesRead MoreEffectiveness Of The Jackson County Oregon1907 Words   |  8 Pages The Effectiveness of the Jackson County Oregon Community Family Court Brandi Briggs Arizona State University CRJ 308-16169 spring 2015 Dr. Gary Sweeten The Effectiveness of the Jackson County Oregon Community Family Court According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), 1 out of every 100 people in the United States has been incarcerated (â€Å"The Facts on Drugs,† n.d.). Substance abuse is partly to blame. Approximately 60 percent of prison inmates had a positive drugRead MoreThe Agency : Purpose And Mission2353 Words   |  10 Pagespurpose/mission: ChildNet is a private non-profit agency that manages the local system of services and support for children in the community. It is the community-based-care lead agency in Broward and Palm Beach County and its mission is to protect abused, abandoned and neglected children in the community they serve. B) Population being served: The population being served at ChildNet are children and families who are involved in the child welfare system in Broward and Palm Beach County. C) Services providedRead MoreThe Center For Children of Incarcerated Parents Essay2452 Words   |  10 PagesThe social welfare program identified for the purpose of this paper is the Center for Children of Incarcerated parents. The social problem for which it was designed to address is that of the effects of parental incarceration on children and families of the incarcerated. Its’ target population, children and families of the incarcerated. This paper will explore how services are provided and its source of funding. Additionally, it will seek to provide an understanding of theRead More The Typical Progression a Child Makes through a State Welfare System4032 Words   |  17 Pageschild welfare system. Each states child welfare agency is responsible for ensuring the safety and well being of children. Child welfare systems have several chief components:  · Foster care ? full-time substitute care for children removed from their parents or guardians and for whom the state has responsibility. Foster care provides food and housing to meet the physical needs of children who are removed from their homes.  · Child protective services (CPS) ? generally a division within the childRead More Child Maltreatment Essay2814 Words   |  12 PagesChild maltreatment is a widespread issue that affects thousands of children every year. There are four common types of child maltreatment; sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. All of these types of abuse are very serious and can have many consequences for the children and families. The most common consequence of severe child maltreatment is the removal of that child from their home (Benbenishty, Segev, Surkis, and Elias, 2002). Most social workers trying to determine the

A Sacred Product Free Essays

In our current society, material things really do matter, as these things make our lives much easier and comfortable. We need to have certain types of gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, PDAs or the likes in order to function well and communicate with the people around us. We will write a custom essay sample on A Sacred Product or any similar topic only for you Order Now We also need to have cars in order to get to work or school. Without these things, our lives would be much harder and complicated. Technological advancements have changed the way we live and also the society living in it. In addition, with all the advertisement and marketing strategies employed by companies, most people now immensely feel the need for these material things that they could no longer ignore them. However, we may be surrounded with material things that we use as tools for our convenience, but I do believe that some of these things are not just a tool but a part of us. Everyday, I have a routine of waking up in the morning then staring at the ceiling for a couple of minutes before finally getting up. That short span of time is my moment to reflect about the things that happened the day before. I think of the specific things that happened in terms of the words and the actions that a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger had done to other people or to me. After a few minutes of reflection, I get out of the bed and I make a cup of coffee. I then sit on a comfortable chair and gaze on the view outside the window. I then try to appreciate what I see and enjoy the moment of peace and tranquility of the small garden that we have. I observe the grass that rises from the rich soil and examine the small colorful flowers that have bloomed. While I take a sip of my favorite Starbucks Coffee, I think of the activities that I want and need to do, such as deadlines, office work, catching up with old friends, and seeing my family. I also think of the chores that need to be finished for the day. I plan and organize early in the morning, as it is the time when I can focus more as my mind is clear. If I am not organizing my plan for the day, I would be writing the things that I have in my mind. The scent of coffee adds to the aura of the mornings. It somehow sets the mood and awakens my sense due to its strong and tangy flavor. Home-made Starbucks Coffee has become one of my strongest weapons in the morning, as it brings life to my mind. My mornings would not be complete without a cup of coffee; it lightens my mood and takes away the sluggishness of mornings. Coffee has been a part of my daily routine that I regard it as a sacred product that I cannot do without. It is like a habit (or maybe an addiction) that I cannot give up because it livens up mood to start my day right. Starbucks Coffee houses are also a venue for many of my friends to just relax and unwind due its peaceful and calming ambience. In that quiet little spot, we talk about our concerns such as our jobs or the current situation of our country. We also talk about entertainment and music which I and my friends enjoy. But how come coffee has become one of the most popular drinks which an individual or a group of people enjoy? I believe that advertisements and media, which are one of the most influential aspects of society, have made a simple coffee into a social construct. The endless TV commercials and the seemingly ubiquitous ads are one of the many reasons that caused coffee to become a thriving industry that is well-known to different people not only in the United States but also around the world. Another good aspect of coffee shop advertisements that I believe have captured the attention of many is the theme of having a place to just stop and relax after many hours of work. Coffee shops provide the space for friends and family to just be together, talk about anything, reminisce the old times, and reflect on their past experiences together. The inviting advertisements entice everyone to try coffee, and before anyone knew it, coffee has already become a become part of his or her everyday life. In conclusion, most people have their own sacred products that they use or need to have in order to have their lives complete. Although material things are truly needed by everyone, it must be taken in mind that advertisers and media are only promoting products and it is their job to do so. Still, there are things that we really need and there are things that we do not really need. It is our discretion if we need a product and not the advertisements that entice us to buy their products. We must be wise consumers and not just believe in the advertisements of companies who just want to increase their profit. How to cite A Sacred Product, Papers

Toward A Sustainable Community Essays - Environmentalism

Toward a Sustainable Community Not until the spread of the Industrial Revolution in the late nineteenth century, has man possessed the ability to adversely alter, on a global scale, the geologic and climatic cycles that have existed for millennia. Planet earth, which man calls home, is approximately 5 billion years old. The science of paleontology tells us that man is a relative new comer to the planet. Modern man did not arrive on the scene until approximately 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Developments in hunting, agriculture, literacy, and the sciences, have allowed man to thrive and inhabit nearly every corner of the planet. However, this success has not been good for the earth. The world's population has recently surpassed 6 billion and the developed countries community models and lifestyles are not sustainable. Due to rapid, unrestrained growth, housing, shopping, and entertainment construction has spread across the surface of the planet like an oil slick. We are depleting resources and altering ecosystems at an alarming rate. Only now are we beginning to comprehend the long-term effects of more than a century of environmental ignorance, neglect, and apathy. Historically, city and community planners lacked the vision and understanding that would lead to environmentally friendly and sustainable conditions, allowing us to live in harmony with nature. This, coupled with irresponsible consumerism and poor individual choices, has led us to a crossroad. It is now clear we cannot continue to build communities that are unsustainable and we must change our lifestyles. We have arrived at the threshold of the 21st century where nothing less than a global call to action is necessary. We can continue on our current path, which will ultimately lead to severe health problems, loss of valuable resources, extinctions, and a wholesale denial of contaminated areas, or we can take positive, radical steps to break with the past. Regarding unsustainable communities and lifestyles, the blame lies mainly with two specific phenomena, American's love affair with the automobile, and the "American Dream" of owning a home and land outside of the city. A car-dependent lifestyle introduces numerous problems and exacerbates the dilemma of exurb migration. With so many cars on the road, they become congested, leading to the need for new, longer, and wider roads that encroach on existing ecosystems and animal habitats. With roads and highways stretching farther and farther from the city, suburbanites can now live at greater distances from the cities requiring a need for increased fossil fuel production. This increased consumption and burning of fossil fuels increases air and water pollution and contributes to the greenhouse effect. It is estimated that out of the millions of underground storage tanks of gasoline and diesel fuel across the U.S., over 300,000 have failed, contaminating the surrounding ground water tables ( Nebel, Wright 490). In the case of the fuel additive, Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE), contaminated wells have to be shut down entirely. Many cities fail to meet air-quality standards even with improved pollution controls. Vehicles are responsible for an estimated 80% of the air pollution in metropolitan regions (Nebel, Wright 581). Vehicle traffic congestion increases year after year, accounting for billions of dollars worth of lost time and productivity. From 1945 to 1980, U.S. oil consumption nearly quadrupled while the population grew by just 60 percent (Nebel, Wright 581). According to the Washington Post, the world's oil reserves will be exhausted in approximately 40 to 50 years. The "American Dream" of owning a home and land is something almost all Americans aspire to. However, this lifestyle is also responsible for a unique set of associated problems that contribute to a wasteful and unwise depletion of energy sources. Single family homes or detached dwellings, cost much more to heat than apartments. The paved area around all homes reduces rainfall percolation back to ground water tables. The increased run off due to the paving over of existing soil, causes erosion, and carries away surface pollutants such as lawn and garden chemicals. The unplanned communities that extend out from the cities eat up existing rich farmland, requiring food to be transported in from greater distances. The only way we are going to be able to move away from unsustainable practices and behavior is through education, inclusion, planning, and regulation. By