My Contribution towards a Healthy Environment
(Original)

Charlene Sharmini Fernandes
(Age 14, Malaysia)
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Alam Megah

Everyone wants to be the best. But, what’s the use of being the best after destroying the environment? For some people, it might seem impossible to develop their country by not destroying the environment. But I say it is possible, provided with some effective planning.

I strongly believe that if I want something to change, then, I must change myself first. And that is exactly what I am going to do now! Change myself to love and to care for the environment.

I was thinking of all the human activities which contribute to the depletion of our ozone layer i.e. the usage of pesticides, open-burning, excessive logging etc. As a fourteen year old, I can’t do much to save my environment. It will be silly if I say that I want to go into the forest and ask the loggers to stop logging. Or to go and ask the farmers to stop using pesticides for the agricultural needs. They are just going to laugh at me and ask me to behave like a fourteen year old. Suddenly, the story of Mahatma Gandhi came to my mind. “If he could fight for India’s independence all by himself, why can't I do this small thing? He isn’t much different from me. So, what’s stopping me?” I thought. Then, “Of course you can do it!” my heart whispered.

The positive thoughts rushed into my mind and I decided to do something simple i.e. planting my own vegetables in my garden. I am being environment-friendly at the same time providing oxygen by planting greeneries. I’m also making my garden look beautiful, gaining benefit by eating healthy vegetables and also cutting cost. With the prices of fuel and food rising rapidly, I can save cost and enjoy consuming these healthy organics vegetables.

I’m will start by doing this at home, getting my family members involved. Then, I’ll influence my neighbors to start doing this. Slowly it shall spread around my housing area. Later, I’ll start by planting vegetables in the school green–house during recess, getting some friends to help me. These vegetables will be sold to the teachers and I’m sure the demand will be high as they are organic vegetables. Slowly, I’ll get more students involved. These students will later go home and spread this good deed around their housing areas and the cycle repeats. Just imagine, how much we are helping to save the environment? At the same time, people will be healthier as they will be eating healthier vegetables. This will make them smarter as good brains come from a healthy body and a healthy body comes from eating healthy food. When this happens, the country will definitely benefit, as it would have good and effective leaders workers.

I will also start cycling to school and convince my friends to follow suite. I’ll urge everyone close to me to cycle to their destination. It is an undeniable fact that vehicles play a vital role in our everyday lives. However, reducing the number of these vehicles will tremendously benefit us as we are reducing the amount of carbon monoxide in the air. Carbon monoxide is a very dangerous gas released from vehicles. It destroys the ozone layer, thus putting mankind and other living creatures in a very serious situation. Therefore, traveling by vehicles should be avoided for short distances. Cycling becomes an easy yet important alternative as it not only saves the environment, but also promotes a healthier lifestyle because it is also a form of exercise. At the same time, we are also saving money on the unnecessary fuel and the cost of going to the gym to exercise.

In all what I do, I’ll get youngsters to get involved because this group of people are strong-willed. If they put their hearts and minds into something, nothing will stop them from doing it! Besides, by getting them involved in these healthy activities, the chances of them getting influenced by bad companies will be erased and they will be impulpitated with additional knowledge and good morale values. Since, today’s youngsters are tomorrow’s leaders, they would bring benefit to the country and community. Imagine, if everyone is going to be good people with good morale values, what a heavenly paradise would the world be?

Definitely there will be a change in everyone’s life “A change for the better”. Now, I am convinced that I can make a difference as an individual towards the development of the environment and my community. Hopefully, the healthy seeds which I have sowed will grow into big trees reaping juicy fruits and shady spots for everyone to enjoy.