FIRST PRIZE, KINDERGARTEN
Paul Drumheller, Richard Leatherwood, Eric Ellinger, Samuel Bowman
WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, VIRGINIA

We like lots of things about trees: They give our oxygen so we can have clean air. We can make wooden houses out of them, and use them for firewood. Squirrels, chipmunks, owls, birds and termites wouldn't have any place to live or anything to eat if we didn't have trees. Climbing them makes us bigger and stronger. They give us shade. They give us good things to eat, like apples, oranges, bananas, pears, grapefruit and nuts. They make the land nice.

What we can do to help trees: When we recycle, we don't have to cut down other trees to make paper. We can be sure not to cut down trees when they are little. We can make compost that will help tress when they are little. We can try not to break their limbs. We can tell other kids to take care of trees. Each of use can make a book about trees to share with our friends in class so they can learn about taking care of trees, too. Maybe we can make a difference when we grow up.

SPECIAL PRIZE FOR DRAWING
Molly Provencher,
ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL, MA

To help the environment you can recycle. Recycling is saving paper, plastic, glass. Then they are made into something different. Recycling saves energy. Evryone in my family recycles.

Click for the full size picture(34K)

FIRST PLACE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kent Genis,
OLSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MN

Earth, our planet, is being destroyed because of many environmental problems. Among these are threats to our air, water, rainforests, farmland, and the ozone layer. We need to study and take action to preserve our environment and make the future worth living in. Our fresh air is one thing we take for granted, but it might be toxic or hard to breathe when our grandchildren grow up. The water we need is very threatened. In the future, the ocean's and sea's colorful marine life might be reduced to small numbers because of all the toxic chemicals that are being put into the ocean every year in tremendous amounts. These are just two of the many problems we might have in the future or in the year 2022. A few others are: overpopulation, not enough food, holes in the ozone layer, and the greenhouse effect. In the future we might not be able to do many of the activities we do for entertainment at the present, like sledding, swimming, or skating. It might not be healthy to swim in the oceans or lakes because of all the toxic chemicals that are being dumped into them. We might not have room to sled because of overpopulation. Ice might not be solid enough to skate on since the earth might be a lot warmer because of the greenhouse effect. We need to help the environment in every possible way we can before drastic things happen because they WILL happen if we don't do something soon. Fossil fuels are the main contributors to air and water pollution, and they also cause the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect works like this. When we burn fossil fuels for our cars, or to run factories, it puts carbon dioxide into the out into the atmosphere, and the carbon dioxide forms a ring around the planet. When the sun shines and the solar rays enter the ring of carbon dioxide, the rays heat up. The carbon dioxide actually reflects back to the ground heat that would otherwise go back into space. The extra heat causes the earth to become warmer. Six billion (6,000,000,000) pounds of carbon dioxide is entering the atmosphere every year, which is a lot considering that carbon dioxide is very light in weight. Scientists think that in a century the earth could easily become 2-7 degrees warmer. If temperatures keep rising at that speed the icecaps at the north and south poles could melt. The icecaps hold 98% of the worlds fresh water. If over the centuries the icecaps happened to melt, the land would be covered! Surviving would be terribly hard if not impossible (very similar to the movie "Waterworld"). Many scientists have tried to create alternatives to fossil fuels because of all the problems they cause and the fact that there is only a limited supply of them. Besides we need them for things like shampoos, medicine, soaps, and plastic. The non-polluting power sources that are used the most are: wind power, solar power and hydroelectricity. The problem with using these power sources is that we need an enormous amount of solar panels, windmills or hydroelectric generators to power more efficient or think of better ones. Overpopulation is a major problem that might not have a possible solution. More and more people are coming into the world outnumbering the people that die because of advances in medicines that are being invented to cure illnesses and extend life. Also the people that are being born every day need to build houses, and then that land which could be used to grow food, now has a house sitting on top of it. Then, with more people and less food, people would be starving, houses might be stacked on top of each other to fit everyone, or people might be living in giant sky-scrapers. All those people probably won't help the environment, because, for instance, every day each person in America throws away approximately 4 lbs. of trash. However, if each person could work to protect the environment instead of hurting it, then overpopulation would not be such a threat to the earth. Schools should also educate children more than they do about our polluted environment, so the children can grow up to be scientist or engineers and create solutions to the many problems. The future could turn out many different ways depending on the decisions we make today. The more we all learn about the environment and how we can help it, the closer we get to making the future more worth living in. Still, in order to make a better future we'll need everyone's help!

SECOND PLACE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Rebecca Leatherwood,
WILSON ELEMENTARY, VIRGINIA

In the year 2022, I think the most pressing environmental problems will be pollution and wasted energy. Factories making things will pollute the air, and dump hazardous chemicals into the ocean. It could kill the animals, and we would not have enough to eat, so people would hunt land animals. This would not do much harm at first, but soon the land animals would become extinct. Humans would starve and die. To solve this problem, I would write a letter to the factory explaining the problem. For the wasted energy, I would get some help from friends, and try to convince people to the use solar energy for cars and houses. That way we would have plenty of energy, and it would help save the environment.

THIRD PLACE, GRADE THREE to FIVE MULTI-STAGE CLASS
Mrs. Strup's CLASS, MSD of STEUBEN CO., IN.

The worst problems we have with the Earth today will be more crucial in 2022. What problems are there? The three major types of pollution are water, air, and land. Air pollution has the biggest potential to cause other problems such as depletion of the ozone layer, greenhouse effect, acid rain, desertification, water pollution, land pollution, and ultimately, extinction of humanity. Air pollution was the main cause of the hole in the ozone layer. Loss of the ozone layer lets the sun's ultraviolet rays hit the Earth. More people All get cancer. Global warming caused by the greenhouse effect would lead to melting glaciers, more floods, and rising sea level. Global warming would cause changing weather patterns. Increased violent weather would erode soil, further polluting the water, as well as damaging homes and crops. Acid rain forms when pollution chemicals mix with water vapour in the atmosphere. Clouds forms, then acid snow or rain falls. Ground water gets polluted and wildlife may eventually die. The soil gets polluted with chemicals that were once in the air. Desertification will dry out everything and that would make crops and other food sources die. People would starve. Desertification can be caused by changing weather patterns due to global warming. To avoid more damage to the Earth, new ideas are needed, as well as help to apply old solutions. New technology could solve some of the problems. For example, a substitute for styrofoam, aerosol cans, and refrigeration methods could be found to eliminate the use of CFC'S. Perhaps new technology for solar cells would cut down factory and transportation emissions. It would be best to monitor factory emissions worldwide. Finally, there should be no cutting down large stands of trees, or at least require five tree plantings per destroyed tree. These ideas may require subsidizing to get people to help. Worldwide cooperation is needed. We think that all these environmental problems tie together as a web, starting with air pollution. This can lead to making holes in the ozone layer. Rays of the sun come through pollution and cause the greenhouse effect. This is what causes global warming. Changes in weather due to global warming cause increased desertification. Air pollution causes acid rain, and that leads to water and land pollution, which kills wildlife. All these problems tied together equal extinction of humanity. The effect is magnified by increasing population and new industries. World citizens must work together to prevent pollution problems, or we all die!

FIRST PLACE, FIFTH GRADE
Christen Hebert,
TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL, LA

Pollution is a term that refers to the way that people damage their surroundings. People dirty the air with gasses and smoke, poison the water with chemicals and other substances and damages the soil with fertilizers and pesticides. People also pollute their surroundings by littering and throwing things in the water that they drink and play in. They use vehicles and other machines that fill the air with bad gasses and disturb the air with noise. Air, water and soil which are harmed by pollution are all necessary for any living thing to live. Polluted air can cause serious illness and sometimes death. Polluted water kills fish and other animals that live in the water. Pollution of the soil reduces the amount of land that is available for growing food. Environmental pollution also brings ugliness to our world. To stop or reduce pollution, people would have to stop using things that help them to live. But pollution can be reduced in several ways. Scientists and engineers can work to make cars that lessen the amount of pollution that is caused by their exhaust systems. They can also work on making improvements in the way that factories get rid of their wastes so that they would not hurt the environment. The government can pass laws which would require businesses and people to reduce pollution We as people can help our environment in many ways. We can plant trees so that the oxygen can go into the air and so that the soil doesn't wash away. We can make sure that we don't litter and can help to clean up our streets, highways, and our bayous. We can join our clean sweep groups when they get together to clean up the roads and get into boats to help clean our shoreline of the Bayou Teche. We can make sure that our town treats the raw sewerage, that is currently going in the Bayou Teche, in a proper manner. We can learn more about chemicals and other poisonous substances and check to see if they are being disposed of properly and not in a way which would poison our fresh water supplies. We must learn more about the pesticides being used, especially the ones used for sugarcane plants, because they are the ones that affect us here in our area. We must try to help find better solutions for controlling bugs and not have these poisons that affect so many people here in Louisiana And last, but not least, we must learn to RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE. By continuing to re-use recyclable items,. we will leave less trash on our earth and hopefully leave a healthier and safer place for our children.

SECOND PLACE, GRADE FIVE
Tanisha Cartledge,
McCORMICK MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOUTH CAROLINA

Some environmentalists warn us that groundwater is badly polluted. Almost everyone uses groundwater and will be adversely affected if it becomes seriously polluted. It is the largest available supply of drinkable water. Those on the opposite side of the debate about water pollution contend that the water supply is safe. Some people say that the only pure water has never existed in nature, only in laboratories. Whether it is safe to drink depends not so much on what is in it, but on how much of the contaminant is in it. The EPA has identified more than seven hundred different chemical compounds in America's drinking water. One of the deadliest and most common pollutants found in drinking water is lead. The lead usually leaches or, dissolves, into the groundwater from lead water pipes or solder used to connect pipes together. These ill effects include birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and increased risk for heart disease. Since the 1960's the U. S. Congress has passed laws to clean up rivers and lakes. Environmentalists are worried about water becoming more polluted. They report finding greater numbers of industrial chemicals in the water supplies than ever before.

DISEASE CAUSED BY POLLUTION OF THE WATER Some of the chemicals that get thrown in the water cause cancer. Dr. Joseph Weissman states, "Cancer is now responsible for almost 9% of all the deaths in Europe and the United States." Toxic residues that are found in food, water, air, and homes continuously exposed people to pesticides, to herbicides, and to residues from waste dumps.

TOXIC WASTES BEING DUMPED IN THE OCEANS The United States creates tons of toxic wastes every year. Burying the waste is dangerous because it can leak out of the barrels and contaminate the water supply. Our fresh water contains toxic chemicals that seep into the ground from dump sites on land. Half of us drink from the groundwater; only now we have begun to realize the danger from waste disposals. In March 1969, a super tanker Torrey Canyon, sank off the shore of southwestern England. It spilled 118,000 tons of Kuwait oil. January 1969, ten billion gallons of crude oil spilled out in the first 100 days. In both cases many sea animals and birds died and beaches were covered with muck, while major oil spills cause widespread public concern, the dumping of toxic wastes in the ocean is hidden. Year after year more toxic wastes get spilled. So in 2022, there will be a lot of toxic waste in the water. We must find a way to prevent this from happening.

REGIONAL IMPACT Countless southeastern lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams are being threatened by pollution. The pollutants take many forms of chemical runoff, oil and gasoline spills, solid waste from urban developments, toxic wastes leached from landfills, acid rain from industrial smokestacks and so on. Even the mighty Atlantic Ocean has become a huge sink for the disposal of garbage and other wastes. Still, the pollution continues. Wetlands play an important role in replenishing groundwater and in acting as a natural water purifier. Wetland plants can absorb excess nutrients and can help to immobilize pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins, preventing them from moving up the food chain.

ACID RAIN AND WATER POLLUTION Acid rain caused by industrial pollution has been known since 1872 when Robert Angus Smith discussed its appearance in -England following the Industrial Revolution. It wasn't until 1961, though, that the problem began to be taken seriously when Swedish scientist Svante Oden discovered evidence of acid rain in Scandinavia. He took his findings to the press instead of to the scientific journals. More recently, acid rain has been pegged as one of the most persistent, widespread sources of air, land and water pollution known. Rainwater seeping through the mines create waste. Acid is carried to nearby streams, destroying aquatic life and contaminating water supplies. Floods and mass wasting are the result of external Earth processes. Removing water from underground sources such as aquifers and surface water such as streams and lakes faster than it is replaced by natural processes causes problems too. As a result, water scarcity is emerging on every continent. One infamous water pollution problem was Lake Erie. By the late 1960's Lake Erie had become severely polluted. Large numbers of fish died. Commercial fishing declined, and public beaches were closed. On April 22, 1970, the first annual Earth Day took place in the United States. Awareness impacts desired change. Rivers contaminated in Poland, Latin America, and Asia are still used as a source of drinking water. The waters carry pesticides, fertilizers and hazardous organic chemicals. Educating the citizens of these hazards is a priority for saving lives, saving water quality, and protecting the future generations of the countries affected by polluted waters.

THE YEAR 2022 A. D. In 2022, I think that the water quality will most likely improve. It is reported that poor water quality is harmful at present. Awareness of a danger is a major step toward curing. There is a need to fix the ills of bad water in the world. We are trying to prevent polluted groundwater, diseases, and toxic waste dumping. Toxins are being dumped in the water still today. Now is the time to stop the pollution in order for the water quality to be improved by 2022 A.D. I believe that water pollution is improving. It will be great in 2022 A.D. We will have a safe environment. Currently, what many of the people refuse to accept is that unsafe water can kill you. I think the prevention for many of the diseases lie in clean water.

THIRD PLACE, FIFTH GRADE
Jeremy Trammel,
MCCORMICK MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOUTH CAROLINA

Pollution is very harmful. one example is chlorofluorocarbons, which are released by aerosol cans and air conditioners. Chlorofluorocarbons speed quickly to the upper layers of the ozone and very slowly eat it up. Each year, Americans throw away 16 billion disposable diapers, 1.6 pens, and 220 million tires. For a sake of convenience, we tend to throw these and other used goods away rather than repair or recycle them. About 80% of garbage is now buried in landfills. In New York City, over 75 -wells had to be closed because of groundwater pollution. Japan burns about half of its solid waste in incinerators. Many people believe that recycling can solve the garbage problem. The National Solid Waste Management Association has estimated that we can recycle only 25 percent of our garbage. Still, one of the most serious environmental pollution is acid rain. Acid rain harms our lakes, our forests, and our health. Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These gases combine with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids return to the earth in the form of rain and fog. Mining can harmfully affect our environment in several ways. Runoff creates flooding. If we put something into the environment that isn't there in abundance, it is out of control. The harmful out of control supply is named pollution. Mining places harden toxic compounds into streams by unsafe mining reclamation practices. By the year 2022, trash is expected to be largely created by beach goers. People will be on the beaches all the time. Trash gets in the water because of wave actions. Unmonitored beach pollution will kill many organisms. Thus, all life as we know it will be wiped out. Boats can cause pollution. When the engines are cut on they put gas and oil into the water. A big tanker can hit a little island or sand bar spilling oil. Oil can kill many animals. Birds can land on the water and get it on their wings, so they will not be able to fly. In 2022, restaurants will cause much pollution. Owners may dump trash into receptacles at the beach and still residue around it will soak into the ground, seep into the water and pollute the water too. We all can help by speaking up, picking up, and showing up for a cleaner pollution-free environment.

FIRST PLACE, GRADE SIX
MRS. WATOLKA'S HOME ROOM, NEBULA HOUSE,
HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WI

Imagine you are walking on the crowded city streets of New York. You look up and instead of seeing the blue sky, the birds and the trees, you see skyscrapers - tons of skyscrapers with smoke flooding out, like water rushing off a waterfall. The sky is a dull gray, not anywhere near sparkling. A piece of gum gets stuck to your sneakers as you walk. You see a gull, stuck in plastic soda can ring. As he flaps his wings and squawks, you keep walking, gagging and coughing from the smoke, still flooding from the city of blackness. Not so great, is it? The Earth is dying. By 2022 there will probably be five major environmental problems: pollution, animal extinction, ozone depletion, nonrenewable resources, and toxic and nuclear waste. Some of these problems have simple answers while some have very complicated answers. Pollution is in our sky every day and night. Acid rain kills our lakes. We need to make sure what we burn burns clean. Trash pollutes our streets, our country sides, and our soccer fields. One solution is to pick up a piece of trash whenever we see it. Managing litter is a very important objective because animals that eat or get tangled up on trash can possibly die or become sick. To further reduce pollution effects, we should pass laws against carwash detergent that pollutes or make it illegal to use polluting materials. Dumping waste into the ocean must stop. This will allow the plants and the fish in it to live. Another good idea is to use filters to purify water and smoke. An easy money saving solution to landfills would be to find ways to reuse non-recyclable materials and recycle the ones you can. Making more biodegradable containers is a definite way to take up less space in landfills. Pollution has a negative effect on both animals and humans. Another important problem is the extinction of animals. If there were no animals, then there would be no humans. We need the animals, but animals don't need us. Animals have lived on this Earth longer than humans. It is time to take care of all Earth inhabitants. Once very obvious solution is to make stricter hunting laws. Because of strict enforcement, the eagle is off the endangered species list! One of the most crucial problems that our world faces today, is nonrenewable resources that are being completely used up. A solution to this problem could be using a substitute to solve each smaller problem. For instance, using solar energy to ‘fuel' cars helps save oil that is make into diesel and gasoline. The thinning of the ozone layer is another crucial problem related to nonrenewable resources. Global warming is when the earth starts to heat up and polar ice caps melt, flooding the coastal shores. All life would die in these places, if that happens. Humans need the ozone to protect them from the sun. If we don't do something - like fast - the sun will fry us! As a solution, using harmful products, such as aerosol cans, should be illegal. We need to buy products that won't harm our atmosphere. Voters should encourage the leaders of our country to pass laws making products that harm the environment illegal. We must cut back on industrial activity. Also, humans should use common sense and walk or ride a bike for short distances instead of driving a car. Toxic and nuclear waste is another issue we must confront. This waste must be carefully stored and studied. People who break the laws should be fined and arrested. Alternatives to nuclear energy like wind, solar, and tidal energy must be explored. This would help overall pollution. Countries need to make treaties to end the testing of all nuclear weapons. World peace must be our goal. Nowadays, it seems we have more problems than solutions. There is one solution: Namaji. Namaji is a very special word. Namaji is an Anishinaabe word that means dignity, pride, honor and respect. The Earth's health is at stake. We need to make all decisions based on how it will affect the seventh generation from now. Applying Namaji to everything we do will make a difference. It's not always about big choices. It's also about little choices, like should I ride my bike or get a ride? Should I buy the box of candy with lots of packaging or the one that has little packaging? We believe that if each human takes a little more time to care for their environment, the world will have less problems. We should use technology we've developed to survive on this planet without destroying it! Without the environment, we would have nothing, not even technology. We must protect our earth. It's easier to get things done together, instead of a couple of people trying to do everything. Do you want to save the environment? The Earth needs your help! The Earth needs OUR help! Now imagine you are strolling along a rustic road enjoying the beautiful scenery and fresh air of the country side. The sky is a gorgeous shade of sparkling blue. Your ears are filled with the harmonizing songs of the bluebird, the robin and golden finch perched high on a branch. You notice a tress covered with emerald green leaves that shine as the glowing sun drops its rays upon them. Remember: the world is in our hands. The future is now!

SECOND PLACE, SIXTH GRADE
Morgan Marshall,
FERN RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, OR

Do Scientists really know all there is to know about Pollution and Acid Rain? Not all of us know what acid rain is, but I can give you 2 definitions of it. Acid rain is caused by the combination of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds with water in the atmosphere. Another definition of acid rain is, dangerous air pollution caused by factories and cars that injure crops, forests and threaten life in freshwater lakes and streams. Acid rain is caused when industrial emissions mix with atmospheric moisture. Acid rain forms when oxides of sulfur and nitrogen combine with atmospheric moisture to yield sulfuric and nitric acids, which may then be carried long distances from their source, or may drift onto the ground in dry forms. The dry form of such pollution is just as damaging to the environment as the liquid form. The problem of acid rain originated with the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700's and 1800's, and it has been growing ever since. Acid rain effects the environment by damaging forests, polluting and killing living organisms in streams and lakes, and acidified soils. This is bad, because if the acid rain kills green plants, we might run out of oxygen in the world. I fall the lakes die, fish, aquatic animals, salamanders, snails, birds, ducks, frogs, snakes, turtles, and many more animals will die, which will make more endangered animals, and disrupt the entire food chain. Acidified soil is bad because it damages root systems which are then unable to collect nutrients. The root systems become weak, and cannot support the trees in heavy winds. When these toxic pollutants fall to the ground in dry form it is called deposition. Deposition is when the chemical pollutants do not combine with the rain, but instead fall to the ground in the chemical form, and mix with the soil and vegetation. The pollution enters the ground and is absorbed by plants just like the acid rain. Studies released by the U.S. government in the early 1980's strongly blamed industry as the main source of acid rain in the Eastern U.S. and Canada. Environmentalists and scientists were trying to explain why forests were being defoliated (losing their leaves) and dying. These forest areas were near the mills and coal burning power plants that produced sulfur dioxide emissions. In 1967 the U.S. government created the Clean Air Act. This set of laws was designed to prevent deterioration of air quality by setting limits on the amounts of hazardous substances that can be produced by industries. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcing the Clean Air Act, to keep pollution low enough to protect the public health. The Act was amended in 1970, 1977 and again in 1990 to deal with the major air pollution problems caused by ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and acid rain. The main idea of these amendments was to require industry to reduce the amounts of pollution that they were releasing, so that air quality would not get worse. Scientists are not sure if there is a solution to acid rain, other than shutting down all industries and outlawing all cars, but there are things that we can do to reduce the problem. Recycling all material that can be recycled will reduce the amount of power that needs to be generated by coal-burning power plants. Re-using material like aluminum cans takes less than ½ the energy it takes to make a new aluminum can. Another thing each of us can do is walk, bike, or car pool where we need to go, so we cut down on the exhaust created by driving our cars everywhere we go. I think that in the year 2000 and beyond acid rain and other air pollution will get worse, because most people can't see the air quality getting worse, and so they ignore the problem. People in big cities like Los Angeles are just starting to realize that they are going to have to do something to stop air pollution before it is too late. We all need to be aware of what we are doing to the environment, and do our best to keep it clean and beautiful for our children and their children.

THIRD PLACE, GRADE SIX
MRS. JONES' HOME ROOM, NEBULA HOUSE,
HORACE MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WI

It's the year 2022. The air is stuffy. You can hardly breath. The sun feels terribly hot or at least it would if you weren't in the shade. You see, because of global warming, it is too hot to do most things. You can't go to the beach; that would be too hot. You can't get relief from the public pool because that would be too crowded. And of course, why go in the nearby lake? It's much too polluted. You're stuck in the shade of your backyard scorching hot, all because of the decisions we made when we were young. Unless we are willing to confront the many important issues facing us - the new generation - the Earth will probably end because of environmental concerns. Then it may be time to say, "Good bye, Earth." We believe there will be three main problems by the year 2022: global warming, pollution, and deforestation. However, we can fix some mistakes that have been made in this world. Global warming is a serious problem. It is caused by pollutants in the air that destroy the ozone layer in our atmosphere. Global warming has increased through the years and it will continue to increase unless we do something about it. The ultimate consequence will be the Earth heating up, causing us to die. Hair products, overuse of motor vehicles and factory carelessness are some of the causes. To fix this, we could car poll more and walk/bike/blade to closer destinations. We should only use cars for moderate use. These changes would help repair would help repair the hole in the ozone layer, because we would stop putting fumes into the air. So think about our planet the next time you choose hair products or are deciding how to travel. Pollution! Its got to stop! We harm the Earth when we pollute. Pollution is one of the top problems we are facing today. Pollution effects the animals, plants and people who live on the Earth. Litter is piling up. Why can't people put their trash in the garbage? Don't be lazy. It's not that hard. But it's not just the litter that people throw on the ground. "Litter" should now include all unnecessary garbage found at local garbage dumps. We need to recycle everything we can and use only what we need in order to stop this habit. We need to make it easy for people to recycle. Recycling bins should be available in parks and other public places. If we do not recycle, we will pay for it down the road by not having that resource. It's time to clean up the Earth! Deforestation. It is as simple as not peeling bark off trees and as complicated as saving the Rain Forests. Why are we cutting down so many trees? Is it to have bigger houses? Is it because we really need more room to live? Does a bigger house mean we have more money than somebody with a smaller house? If that's the case then why don't we just put a sign in front of our house saying, "I've got a ton of money!"? Greed will wreck both animal's and people's habitat. Forest destruction is a big problem! Since trees produce oxygen, we won't have any oxygen to breath if all of our trees are cut. Without trees everything that breathes oxygen would be history. It should be illegal to cut down the rain forest. People should be fined and put in jail in order to learn a lesson. If we cut down trees, then we are destroying a lot of habitats. An estimated 00 animals become homeless every five minutes! It's time to think about the animal's space. Deforestation, the destruction of habitat, is causing worldwide species extinction. If we aren't careful, we will wipe out the rain forest like we wiped out the white tiger. But, there are many things we can do. Raise a "Save the Rain Forest Campaign"! Argue your case in front of a large crowd of adults and have them take action. Every time someone cuts down a tree anywhere, they should have to plant two more. Another issue worth discussing is awareness. The Earth gave us it's beauty and we took it for granted. We need to make people aware of what's going on in the world. We need to make people understand what will happen if we don't recycle, if forests are destroyed, if the ozone layer continues to be ruined. If people become more aware, we can think of many more solutions. Be kind to Mother Earth. After all, would organisms be here if it weren't for her? Would you? But it's not too late. It's the year 1997. If we help the earth now, the sun will be high in the sky and the air well be clean for decades, even centuries, from now. We will hear birds and critters all around for the next million years. We hope we will also hear, "Welcome Back Earth!"

FIRST PLACE, GRADE SEVEN
Nina Maffetone,
ST. VINCENT FERRER SCHOOL, FLORIDA

Deforestation is the destruction of forests. It is hard to imagine that there are still places on the Earth that have escaped the effects of human technology. These bright green jungles hold thousands of undiscovered and unnamed species of plants and animals. South America's tropical rain forests are exactly these places. The life there has gone on living without any disturbances for thousands of years. Soon, the life forms living there may all come to an end. Right now, there is a threat of crisis. More that fifty acres of rain forest are being destroyed for farming or for timber every minute. There are many different organizations, clubs, and businesses that are working hard to explore these mysterious rain forests and help to stop deforestation. Every year, hundreds of field biologists go through the thick tropical forests to solve the mysteries. Their goal is to learn as much as they can about forests before they all become extinct. The scientists believe that only fifteen percent of all of the species of plants and animals living there have been identified. If this deforestation is not stopped, these different kinds of species will soon become extinct; some viruses might become exposed; and the plants that produce different medicines that help to cure diseases may become extinct. Also, the different species that are undiscovered might become extinct and will remain undiscovered forever. The great selection of plants and animals in the rain forests of the world is being destroyed by humans at a fast rate. One-fourth of all the species alive today may be lost within the next thirty years. The destruction of rain forests will affect every human in the future in a big way. Not only is saving the different species of animals important, but the trees and plants are also important. The atmosphere depends on them to remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. The loss of tropical forests will affect the air that we breathe. The damaged atmosphere may case changes in weather patterns and dangerous storms. The climate of the different areas of the United States could also change. The Northeastern region could have the tropical climate of Florida, and the Southeast may become a desert. In addition to the wild animals, trees, and plants, there are native people who depend on farming these areas to live. They are dependent on farming or logging for their livelihood and survival. Excessive farming is destructive to rain forests because it destroys the soil. An area can only be farmed for a few years before it can't raise any more crops. So, a new area must be destroyed every few years to grow crops to survive. Soon there will be no more land to use and everything will eventually die. Here are some solutions: The government can pass more laws to help save trees/rain forests; citizens should conserve paper so the trees will have more time to grow back; citizens should boycott companies that use an excessive amount of paper; companies should stop sending so much junk mail, and using so many cardboard boxes. This generation well be in a position of power in the year 2022. What will the Earth be like then? It all depends on what goes on in the world right now.

SECOND PLACE, GRADE SEVEN
Mary Beth Robicheaux,
TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL, LA

What I'm about to write will hopefully encourage another to make a difference in the world by cleaning up mother nature. A person can make a difference simply by picking up a piece of trash off the side of the road, recycling, composting, collecting newspapers from other neighbours, etc. It doesn't take long to pick up a piece of trash off the ground. All you need is devotion and willing and wanting to save the earth. I mean hey, where would you be without mother nature? We shouldn't ask "what is she/he doing," but ask "what am I doing?" If you would stop for a moment and just think about how the earth is trying to stay alive with all the garbage we produce to the earth. Stop for a moment and listen. You will hear trees swaying in the breeze, birds chirping, a squirrel running from tree to tree and all of that is mother nature's way of trying to communicate to us. Stop for a moment and look. You will see beautiful trees, birds soaring, beautifully cut grass and dozens of beautiful flowers. How wonderful nature can be when we clean it up and try to preserve it. I admire mother nature for she puts up with all our garbage that we destroy her with and for her fighting back against us with all her strength and every breath in her body. To me I think of her as a person - the most beautiful creature alive. If she were a person, and as beautiful as she is in real life, all the boys would want her because of her beautifying body would intrigue them as well as her intelligence, but then again, that could never happen here, but only if. Even if it couldn't happen it sure is magnificent to think so. But instead we push her down and hit her and yet she comes back after all the torture and cruel treatment and seems to be three times stronger. It's like a game of hide-in-go-seek, mother nature is always seeking and we're always hiding from things we can't bare. Some people are not making a difference because they're afraid of how people will react to their actions. Right now I am taking action. Doing what mother nature would want me to do. I am recycling, composting, not littering grounds and collecting newspaper from a neighbour to bring to my parish recycling planner. I am also talking to people to try and convince them to take action and I am planting trees and flowers. Did you know a tree improves the air's quality? As I was taking about recycling and composting, recycling is making something new out of something old, instead of throwing it away and composting is recycling rotting plant matter, manures, yard waste and kitchen waste. Mother nature has given us challenges by rising the level of heat just to show us that she is that powerful and to show us what we are doing to the earth. We are destroying the ozone layer which protects us from certain hazards in the air and when we are finished destroying the ozone layer what will protect us? The pollution is affecting kids like us by not being able to swim in certain bodies of water because of chemicals dumped there and all the trash we throw into the bodies of water. That is only one of many problems that we kids, today, dace due to pollution. I hope, I have encouraged someone by writing this essay and remember every little bit helps.

FIRST PLACE, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Jimmy McArthur,
MATAWAN AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL, NJ

Question----What do you think the pollution will be like in the year 2022?

Answer--- I believe that the pollution will increase in the year 2022, because the population will also grow. And what I mean by this is that new mothers will bring children into the world and immigrants from other countries will move into this area. When more people arrive you will notice that the pollution grows because the new people who come into the world or from another country tends to take up a lot of space. There will be more litter on beaches that will get washed up into the shores, which will harm the fish and will also cause water pollution. Also there will be less air for the other people in your area, which would probably get them sick because they will be breathing in your air from your own body. Another bad reason about the population growing is that most of them are probably going to be smokers. And a problem with them being smokers is that if there is a bunch of them around you, you could probably get sick or die from their smoke that could easily get into your lungs and cause lung cancer. Another possible effect is from the basic polluting things. For example, oil tankers case water pollution because if it spills its oil into the water it will not only harm different types of fishes it can also harm you. What I mean by oil can also harm you is basically because if someone accidentally dropped a match in the water where the oil is and didn't notice it until the oil caught on fire, also the oil can effect our drinking water. Another thing that has to do with oil, is that people who don't care about their environment they just keep dumping oil down into sewers. Then when the oil is dumped into sewers it seems to travel under ground all the way to a reservoir or some other type of open water area. In the year 2022 I believe that there will be more factories that will cause air pollution and some of them will cause water pollution. I also believe that there will be a lot more cars runned by gas and battery. I believe that cars cause air pollution. Also some people who throw trash into the woods are causing air pollution. Another reason is that some people who have boats take them out with tons of garbage, into the middle of an open water area and dumps the garbage into the water. What this causes is water pollution that not only effects the water animals, but it also effects our drinking water. Another thing that effects our drinking water is the fertilizer that some people lay down on their lawns. What that does is the fertilizer travels through the ground until it reaches the water shed that is located under ground. I believe that the ozone layer is being effected by the pollution that is going on in this world. I also believe that if the pollution keeps growing it will make a big enough whole so that the suns ultra violent rays can effect our bodies and cause skin cancer. Because of that reason, that is why we wear suntan lotion that says UV protection or SPS protection. Also if the suns' ultra violent rays get through, it will tend to get hotter and hotter, until it is hot enough to kill us. By that time the earth will be totally empty except for the bodies of the sufferings. So, I believe that the pollution will get worst only if people don't care about others including themselves. What I mean is that when they throw trash into the water it doesn't only effect the fish but it also effects their drinking water. So with my opinions about how the pollution will be in the year 2022 hopefully will convince everyone in the world to stop polluting our airs and water if they wish to live a long and happy life.

SECOND PLACE, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Greg Cannon,
MATAWAN AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL, NJ

I feel that the biggest pollution problem facing the planet is air pollution. This is basically because there are so many cars as well as industries that involve the production of poisonous gases and fumes as waste products. In addition, many countries do not have the pollution control laws that the United States has. Therefore, air pollution is a world-wide problem. Industry also continues to grow in every country in the world and even more factories are popping up everywhere. This means that the amount of waste being put out by factories is sky-rocketing. Because of all these factors, I feel that air pollution will be the worse and most wide-spread pollution problem in the future. In order to prevent serious problems in the future, the solution has to begin now. This solution would have to involve lowering the amounts of waste that factories produce, and reducing the amount of waste put out by cars. These two solutions put together would greatly reduce the amount of pollution in the air. To start, better pollution controls, such as filters, need to be fitted to the waste output of factories, for example, smokestacks and air vents. These filters would remove harmful gases and would also remove many environmental contaminants. However, filers are only part of the solution and more efficient use of the chemicals that produce the waste is needed. Perhaps installing a more efficient burner would put out less pollution or maybe making the existing components work better would also help. In addition, it is possible to reuse the waste that has already been produced by the factory. For example, say methane gas is a waste produce of a factory. This gas can be burned to produce a very hot flame. Therefore, the heat produced by the factory's waste can be used to possibly heat the water for the employee's bathroom. Through these easy solutions, the waste going into the atmosphere is reduced and the factory saves money by heating water with its own waste. Unfortunately, factories are not the only contributors to the problem of air pollution. Cars are the biggest producers of air pollution, mainly because there are so many of them in the world. Every car is equipped with a filter on its tailpipe called a muffler. The muffler filters out many harmful gases, however mufflers have plenty of room for improvement. By adding a more advanced filter like HEPA filter or even a filter with a little less power, pollution would be greatly reduced. Another way to cut down on waste is to make the engine more efficient. By making the engine burn fuel more efficiently, it would reduce the amount of gas needed to run the car and therefore, the amount of waste. The last way to reduce the amount of gas needed to run the car and therefore, the amount of waste. The last way to reduce the amount of pollution produced by cars is to make the fuel that the cars burn cleaner and more efficient. By producing gas with less impurities in it, the efficiency of the engine and the amount of pollution produced by the engine are greatly improved. As a result of all of these solutions, the atmosphere will be cleaner and the danger of the air we breathe becoming poisonous will be averted.

THIRD PLACE, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Tiffany Johnson and Eugenie Lee,
MATAWAN AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL, NJ

In my opinion, the biggest environmental problem in 2022 will be the destruction of the ozone layer. The destruction can be caused by air pollution from cars and factories. Refrigeration, air conditioning, fumigants, additives to gasoline, artificial fertilizer, and exhaust from supersonic, highflying aircraft are also causes of the annihilation of the ozone. Aerosols are also a major element in the damage of our earth's ozone layer. First of all, air pollution, a major factors, is a big problem. The smoke and fuel from cars and factories go into the air which breaks down into harmful chemicals once in the atmosphere. The black smoke contains harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide which attacks the molecules of the ozone layer. It obliterates the layer of ozone that protects us from radiation from the sun. I predict that by the year 022 it will have small gaps or holes in the layer because of the constant attacks. The abundant amount of cars and factories being produced allows more smoke and fuel in our atmosphere. Eventually, all the smoke and powerful, harmful gases rise and attack thee O3 (ozone) molecules and splits them. By 2022, the split or annihilated molecules would leave very small parts of the world in danger Because of the ultraviolet radiation piercing through the atmosphere. For this reason, the ozone layer is being damaged and will continually be devastated because of the over usage of cars and factories. Furthermore, the use of refrigeration, air conditioning, fumigants, and other fumigants rise into the air and break apart the ozone molecules. Additives to gasoline, artificial fertilizer, and the exhaust from supersonic, high-flying aircraft also rise in the air to destroy the ozone. The chemicals and exhaust rise and float into the atmosphere. Therefore, the chemicals extinguish the ozone molecules. As I have noted, radiation and exhaust is also a big factor in the destruction of the ozone. In addition, the biggest cause that most people and scientists have already recognized, are aerosols. Spray aerosols can be found in cosmetic products such as hair spray and shaving cream. It's also found in whipped cream and aerosol cans. The propellants used in half of all aerosol sprays are fluorocarbons. Fluorocarbons rise into the atmosphere, where they break down into chlorine and attack the ozone layer. The chlorine atoms attack the ozone (O3) molecules and separates them, leaving a hap of ozone. The propellants contain hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. The government banned the use of certain fluorocarbon propellants because of the ozone danger. Without a doubt, this is a very good act to help stop the destruction, but we need to do more to save the ozone layer. As you can see, there are many causes contributing to the damage of the ozone layer. By the year 2022, this should be the biggest environmental problem. The world's over usage of cars and factories which produces air pollution, refrigeration, air conditioning, and exhaust from supersonic aircraft which contribute to smoke and radiation are two of the main reasons for the big problem. Aerosol sprays that rise into the atmosphere is another big factor. IN conclusion, I hope you have clearly seen the many elements in the destruction of the ozone, and why this environmental problem will effect the world.

FIRST PLACE, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Maria Ghiso,
ELMHURST, NY

The sustainability of a system of process is its ability to be continued indefinitely without depleting any of the materials or energy resources which are required to keep it running. For this the society must efficiently utilize its energy and various resources. There exist various laws of sustainability. These laws are necessary to maintain a society with the ability to exist for generations and generations to come. The first law states that ecosystems must dispose of wastes and replenish nutrients by recycling all elements, which include water (H2)), phosphorous (P), nitrogen (N), carbon © and oxygen (O2). The second law of sustainability states that ecosystems utilize solar energy as its primary source of energy. The third law states that consumer population cannot exceed the ability of producer populations to sustain them. The fourth and last law of sustainability states that biodiverstiy, both interspecies and intraspecies, must be maintained. These are the various conditions which are necessary in order for a society to be sustainable. Let's focus in the third law of sustainability, which tells us that consumer population cannot exceed the ability of producer populations to sustain them. Therefore, there must be a balanced population. If the population explodes, the resources of the society will be quickly depleted. To balance the population we must first examine the factors which affect population growth. The availability of contraceptives, the death rate, the age and health of the population, the education and literacy levels, the current GNP and economic prospects, emigration and immigration, religious beliefs and military and defence actions all affect the population. The standard of living, poverty and industrialization area are also key factors in population growth. The areas of greater population are usually the low-income third world nations. Therefore to solve the population problem, we must promote development within the third world. This can be done by improving education, especially the literacy and education of girls and women so that it equals that of their male counterparts. Also, improving health, especially lowering infant mortality rates, making contraceptives more available, enhancing income, and improving resource management or reversing environmental degradation will aid in the development of these sectors and thus help regulate population growth. Population control is one factor which affects a society's sustainability. Currently we are experiencing a population explosion concentrated in the areas of least development. I believe that once we control the population growth in a society we can more efficiently abide by the laws of sustainability. Once the immediate needs of the people are taken care of, the focus can then shift to other laws of sustainability such as the use of solar power or the recycling of resources. However, this cannot occur until the developed nations aid the developing nations and the population explosion is brought under control.

SECOND PLACE, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Raye Palmer and The Class of 1998,
AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, TX

There are multiple environmental problems of today's society that will have effects on human health, environmental growth, and economic growth in the future. People of our generation fail to realize the extent of these environmental challenges. The steps which must be taken to save our environment may be strenuous but, in the end, it will be beneficial and profitable. In the year 2022, issues like air and land pollution, the cutting down of the rain forest, and ozone layer degradation will have caused disastrous effects on civilization. Despite the fact that these three identified problems are very crucial to environmental growth, the most crucial problems of today most probable to effect the economy are provisions on natural resources and population growth. Population growth is very crucial to our environment because of the limitations of natural products. The exponential population growth steadily increases every year. Population growth in the United States is mostly effected by lack of birth control and foreign immigration. In other parts of the world population growth causes starvation, the lack of efficient food allocation, and the lack of clean water. In other countries, the lack of food and water increases the mortality rate, therefore, the mortality rate may increase and reach or even exceed the growth rate. Water shortage is also very crucial to the survival of civilization. Population growth has an immense effect on the supply of water in the world today. The higher the population, the less water there is to spare. Water reservations in the United States have increased greatly in the past decade. Yet, with the rapid growth of population we are still in jeopardy of water deprivation in the future. Population growth in some foreign countries causes tremendous health problems resulting from the water. In some places villages have no alternative but to waste, bathe, and to drink from the same water because of the scarcity of it. This causes death, in turn, causes the mortality rate to reach or even surpass the growth rate once again. The strategies that will be necessary to meet these challenges of the environment will be meticulous and time consuming but over time prove very worthwhile to our economy. A lower population growth means more money for our economic system. A lower population rate means more jobs for more people which, in turn, may prevent inflation. If water becomes scarce in the world then the prices of water rises. Rising prices on water will cause less people to buy water, therefore, less people will drink it efficiently. As a result our society will become unhealthy. To prevent higher population rates and less water contamination, action should be taken immediately. In the United States, stricter quotas should be given to control the large amounts of foreigners immigrating into the country each year. Also, petitions should be circulation and signed throughout the cities in favour of more water reservations. In other parts of the world, people should be taught about the consequences of over-population and water reservations should be stored to provide better water supplies for their villages. These few steps may take years to produce but will make our lives in the future a better place to live.

Third Place, Senior High School
Rich Barnes, Damond Bullock, Jason Osborn, Jennifer Cataldo, Jennifer Neisler, Matt Boerema, Brad Siebert and Floyd Callahan,
Elim Christian School