Ajitha Times
Editorial
“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” a popular quote originated from John Wesley. Virginia has developed from a settlement, passed through an industrialization age, and has finally ended in today’s modern, technological days with an urban touch. Littering in public areas at a certain amount is considered illegal. Clean-up costs are very expensive, leaving the US at a loss of billions of dollars annually. If nothing is done, our beautiful Virginia will soon become a barren wasteland.
The amount of littering has become tremendously great these days, and is constantly threatening our environment. Litter can join major water sources and endanger the lives of aquatic creatures. It can also clog up drains and sewers, leading to floods and unsanitary conditions. By littering a person is just making the world dirtier and uglier, which is definitely unnecessary. But it’s not just about the looks, as littering causes some everlasting effects. Bottles and plastic bags look like homes and sources of food for unsuspecting small animals, while they are actually death traps. The animals that do survive drink from the half emptied soda cans and can contaminate themselves and others that might eat that animal.
Stop littering! Even if littering is sometimes done unconsciously, stop and think about the negative effects it will have on our environment. Even one small step can make a big difference! Whenever people work together to achieve something, it always results in success. Littering greatly impacts our environment, as it is a cause of bad health, unsanitary conditions, contaminated surroundings/food, and an unattractive environment. Stop littering and strive to build a beautiful Virginia!
Citations:
"City of Hampton, Clean City Commission/Keep America Beautiful Research: Litter Remains a Pervasive Problem." City of Hampton, Clean City Commission/Keep America Beautiful Research: Litter Remains a Pervasive Problem. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
Irving, Catherine. "The Effects of Littering on the Environment & Animals." EHow. Demand Media, 22 June 2011. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
"Littering." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.
"States With Littering Penalties." States with Littering Penalties. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2012.