Introduction
I quote Kermit the Frog to illustrate the argument that it is not easy to be “green”. It is difficult to change decades of a mindset that is allowing abuses of Earth’s atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic provisions for the sake of human comforts.
As man evolved, the importance of finding shelter, food sources, heating, clothing, etc. were of the utmost priority for survival. The discovery of fossil fuels would answer, and meet most of the needs. Oil, coal, carbon, and natural gases found in various states of matter were the major components (in the fossil fuel category) enhanced to accomplish the requirements for survival. Lives were progressing along maintaining a “somewhat” symbiotic relationship with the environment until the Industrial Revolution. The Revolution invoked energy consuming habits that found humans seriously threatening this homeostatic relationship.
In this age of instant gratification and technological advancements, humans have put more stress on Earth’s health than any other time in geologic history. Fossil fuels are now being interpreted as villains destroying Earth’s natural biome. It is not fossil fuels in general that are responsible for our environmental damage, rather the abuse of over consuming those energy sources that has placed mankind in a delicate balance that has fatal repercussions if not addressed.
I feel it imperative to introduce and establish a curricular unit for my students to identify energy sources, and their overconsumption, establish effective ways to reduce personal usage, and in turn become Green Ambassadors to further educate our K-8 students. It is my hope to pattern a new paradigm following the Peace Corps advice “Think Globally Act Locally”.
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