[00:00.00]The choice of using remote barren land
[00:03.39]removed from highly populated areas,
[00:05.25]virgin ground so to speak,
[00:07.22]presents its own problems.
[00:08.87]The transportation of dangerous chemicals
[00:11.49]in sealed capsules over major arteries
[00:14.33]increases the possibility of spills and contamination.
[00:17.50]Recurring excerpts in national
[00:20.24]and local newspapers warn of the dangers
[00:22.65]confronting the ordinary citizen.
[00:24.51]The pretext of protecting the public interest
[00:27.57]must be questioned.
[00:28.78]Accidents and poor planning
[00:30.75]lead to the erosion of public faith.
[00:32.71]With certainty, we can report that
[00:35.89]the air we breathe is becoming more polluted daily.
[00:38.29]For those residents of large cities
[00:40.37]who are afflicted with a respiratory condition
[00:42.34]it becomes imperative for officials
[00:44.86]to clamp down on smog conditions.
[00:46.50]To protect their health,
[00:48.47]citizens may deem it necessary
[00:50.33]to check smog levels beforehand
[00:52.62]when they are planning strenuous outdoor activity.
[00:55.36]To disregard this problem
[00:57.44]will surely increase the number of premature deaths
[01:00.07]and serious health problems.
[01:01.38]Direct action by governments should
[01:04.12]help alleviate some of the risks for the elderly
[01:06.09]and those people with heart and lung disease.
[01:08.60]One breakthrough occurred
[01:11.12]when the government signed a pact
[01:12.65]to check pollutant emissions on all motor vehicles.
[01:15.60]Some continuity of policy is desirable
[01:18.78]not only between provinces but
[01:21.40]among nations to monitor air quality.
[01:23.59]On a global scale the deforestation
[01:27.30]of the rain forests of Brazil is
[01:28.95]causing grave worldwide concern.
[01:31.25]The present day regime
[01:33.43]that is encouraging the building of roads,
[01:35.40]allowing for easier travel
[01:36.93]has laid siege to one
[01:38.68]of the world's most valuable natural resources.
[01:41.20]This has become an obscene rape of the land,
[01:44.38]a slash and burn approach.
[01:46.23]An aerial view of this area shows terrible fires,
[01:49.73]enormous blazes every day,
[01:51.71]resulting in consequent air pollution.
[01:54.11]The Brazilian government however,
[01:56.63]is reluctant to abolish this practice
[01:59.15]that would mean less income
[02:00.67]for the poor of Brazil.
[02:01.88]Sadly, on the other hand,
[02:03.96]natives must evacuate their homes,
[02:06.36]becoming exiles.
[02:07.57]A world forum on this matter has
[02:09.86]left people all over the world
[02:11.28]with some indefinite answers.
[02:12.93]Both governments and individuals
[02:15.88]can voluntarily help achieve goals
[02:17.52]for a cleaner safer environment
[02:19.39]by incorporating some of the following ideas
[02:22.11]into their daily lives.
[02:23.76]They can ascribe to the idea of participating
[02:27.15]in local recycling programs.
[02:29.01]As well, they can cut back
[02:31.20]on the use of motor vehicles.
[02:32.95]Walking more will improve everyone's health,
[02:35.90]as well as improving the environment.
[02:38.31]Using alternatives to herbicides on lawns
[02:41.27]and gardens will improve water quality.
[02:43.67]Some general advice might be to differentiate
[02:46.84]between what we need and what we want.
[02:49.57]If we are going to pass on a healthy world
[02:52.39]to our children and grandchildren
[02:54.25]we must remain diligent and
[02:56.22]maintain a balance between our environmental
[02:58.52]and social responsibilities and our economic goals.
[03:02.23]It's our world and how we leave it
[03:04.97]for the next generation depends
[03:06.51]on what we do today.
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