Lamination is considered a form of recycling by the Central Administration Bureau of Cerra (CABC). If you worked for the CABC, what other policies would you implement to help preserve the environment?
Apart from the terrorist attacks and wars happening around the globe, human beings still have time to manage their own impending extinction. They have solely created environmental problems, which will be their own demise in the near future.
Case in point, a few minutes ago it was reported that a dam holding back billions of gallons of toxic waste at a Tennessee power station has ruptured. The waste contained heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury and selenium. Previous studies have indicated that toxic wastes such as this may cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems. I’m afraid that this incident has set back human evolution to several generations. (For more information click: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/us/07sludge.html?_r=1&em )
On a smaller scale level, a person who doesn’t recycle would probably dismiss the idea of polluting the environment since he is only one person. But one piece of paper does make a difference. According to the world fact book provided by the CIA, the estimated world population as of July 2008 is 6.7billion. Since there are approximately 400 billion trees on Earth (about 61 per person), and an average tree can yield 9,000 sheets of copy paper, a person is entitled to about 551,000 sheets of copy paper in his lifetime (61x9000). This is assuming that every person will dismiss recycling and hence will eventually lead to an environmental catastrophe. (Figures were taken from http://wikipedia.org) Yes, I’m a self-confessed number freak.
On the brighter side, there have been efforts to preserve the environment. Various organizations have constantly reminded the financial and consumer sectors to mind their actions towards the environment. For example, Green Peace (http://www.greenpeace.org) have lead series of campaigns wherein major international companies have chosen to be more environmental-friendly while generating a profit.
Nations have also strived for stricter policies relating to environment protection. In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 8749 “Philippine Clean Air Act” was declared in 1999. The act states that the government is responsible for environmental protection while balancing economical development.
The above actions are merely an act of preservation, since the state of world environment has been deteriorating as years go by. As for Cerra, this place has been barren to begin with. I think the more appropriate term to pursue an environmental goal is “atmospheric flourishing”.
If I worked in CABC, these are the following policies I would have implemented to preserve the environment:
1. All lights in every house and public area have sensors to automatically switch off unused lights.
2. Waste segregation and recycling will become mandatory in both residential and commercial areas. Lottery tickets are given to each citizen who turns over at least 2 pounds of recyclable or biodegradable material. Lottery is held every month. 40% of the profits will be going to environmental research. Rewards motivate and encourage people into doing something productive.
3. Private vehicles are required to have at least two passengers in order to travel the highways to encourage citizens to carpool.
4. Biodegradable materials are then made into compost for renewable energy.
I know these policies may seem trivial and funny at first, but they are actually practical in order to preserve the environment. In addition, I think this will make the citizens of Cerra have a more positive outlook for the future.
In order to make the environment flourish, I believe that about 5 hectares of Cerra should be dedicated into government research. Flaura and fauna should be imported from other planets, preferably Earth to facilitate the study. Since Cerra is enclosed in a glass dome, controlling the atmosphere may be easily attainable.
In addition, since the ancestors have chosen Cerra as their home planet, it would be wise to study and learn the history of the planet and its ancestors. They should have had a reason in choosing Cerra as their second-home. Perhaps, by understanding the past, Cerra might have a future.
