Save The Earth

Save the Earth With all the talk about going green, it seems much easier to let the cards fall where they may. What’s easier? Just throwing all the trash into one can, or sorting it into separate cans? As hard as it could be to clear the mess that this and past generations have left, it would be severely healthier than the alternative. Plutonium is a dangerous toxin that is released from nuclear power plants. “Plutonium, which has the half-life of only 0.5 million years, but is so toxic that if distributed evenly ten pounds of it could kill every person on Earth.” (Saukko Par 1) The United States produces tons of these dangerous toxins each year. “Because the United States generates about 18 pounds of plutonium per year, it is the best substance for long term poisoning the Earth.” (Saukko Par 1) It would be best if one of the many alternatives were used verses nuclear power plants. “It would help if we would build more nuclear power plants because each one generates only 500 pounds of plutonium each year.” (Saukko Par 1) One of the most dangerous things to do to the Earth is injecting toxins, and in the United States it’s done frequently. “Deep well injection involves drilling a hole that is a few thousand feet deep and injecting toxic substances at extremely high pressure so they will penetrate deep into the Earth.” (Saukko Par 2) This is called fracking and is used to bring fossil fuels to the surface. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) there are about 360 such deep injection wells in the United States.” (Saukko Par 2) Not only is there deep well injections, there are also shallow well injections which effect the surface and ground water. “We cannot forget the groundwater aquifers that are closer to the surface. These must also be contaminated. This is easily done by shallow well injection, which operates on the same principle as deep well injection, only closer to the surface.” (Saukko Par 2) This is just as bad for the