1 Person : 7 Billion

Living day by day in our busy lives, it is easy to feel immortal, untouchable, and even ephemeral. What does it matter that we may throw a wrapper onto the street as we walk by? However, our isolated actions culminate and multiply in impact, spanning the world and cutting years off of our futures.

For better or worse, one person among the seven billion people inhabiting the Earth can make an impact.

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Facts & Stats

Here are some facts and stats on the devasting effects caused by ignoring our environments needs.

American Average Household Carbon Emissions

Facts & Stats About the Atmosphere (sky).

People who live in places with high levels of air pollutants have a 20% higher risk of death from lung cancer than people who live in less-polluted areas.¹

Air pollution is any physical, chemical or biological particles that change the natural atmosphere. The IARC has classified many components of outdoor air pollution as carcinogens, including diesel engine exhaust, solvents, metals, and dust. Not only does air pollution strip away the earth's clear skies, but it also negatively impacts our health.

It takes only 5 days for a jet stream in China to carry the air pollution to the United States.²

The earth's wind currents are all connected, and with the rise of climate change may cause shifts in the wind's patterns. Even though it might seem like pollution in faraway places such as China are not your problem, they are and affect the air quality across the globe.

The people most susceptible to high ozone levels are children, elderly, those with lung disease, and those active outdoors.³

Ozone is one of the many causes of asthma and has led to the increase in asthma in our population. It can cause COPD, shortness of breath, and an increase in susceptibility to infections of the lung among other health problems. With more pollution in our air, this will only worsen. A nice run outside should not put your lungs at risk.

Ways you can help!

You can minimize your impact on the atmosphere by using public transportation, biking or carpooling instead of using your car, and decreasing your use of harmful chemicals. Everyday things like plastic bottles and even nail polish can break up into many small particles and turns into carcinogens. By spreading this issue on social media to inform other people, you can also fight for our environment.

Facts & Stats About the Land, Including People, Deforestation, Etc.

While children make up 10% of the world’s population, over 40% of the global burden of disease falls on them. More than 3 million children under age five die annually from environmental factors.⁴

Air pollution, and unsafe water and environmental factors that affect million of children around the world and will only get progressively worse with time if we do nothing about it.

5000 people die every day as a result of drinking unclean water.⁵

The most prevalent water quality problem is eutrophication, which in plain terms is the runoff from agriculture, domestic sewage and other pollutants. All the systems of earth are interconnected and the pollutants in the air will eventually end up in bodies of water and vice versa. Pollutants are the cause of many deaths and everyone should not accept this and take action.

The production of plastic uses around eight percent of the world's oil production (bioplastics are not a good solution as they require food source crops).⁶

Most plastics are unnecessary and the fact that they take up 8% is overwhelming and detrimental to the environment. Oil production is a major contributor to pollution and the earth's air quality. Bioplastics also contribute to pollution because they use food crops which then contribute to unclean water and more death.

Ways you can help!

Ways you can help to diminish these problems is to donate or volunteer to charities which help to combat these tragedies; reduce your impact on the environment by buying less goods that are made with oil and take a toll on the environment, such as plastic bottles, or even meat products; or reduce your footprint by carpooling, taking the bus, taking shorter showers, and remembering to turn off appliances when not in use.

Facts & Stats About the Ocean

Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every year.⁷

Trash that ends up in the ocean is not only detrimental to humans health but also to animals. Sea animals can mistakenly eat the trash and then not have enough room in their stomachs to eat food and then die of starvation. Even throwing away your trash will fix this problem because non-biodegradable and non-recyclable products like straws have a risk of being eaten by birds and causing death.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 80 percent of pollution in the marine environment comes from the land through sources like runoff.⁸

The best way to eliminate the pollution in the ocean is to cut off the source which is the pollution on the land, because most of the pollution of the land will eventually go into streams that lead into the ocean.

Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences in the oceans making up about 40 percent of the world's ocean surfaces. 80 percent of pollution enters the ocean from the land.⁹

Plastic never actually biodegrades even in hundreds of years, the closest it comes is breaking apart into millions of tiny particles that like particles in the air and cause many adverse effects like killing sea life.

Ways you can help!

Ways you can help to diminish these problems is to donate or volunteer to charities which help to combat these tragedies; reduce your impact on the environment by buying less goods that are made with oil and take a toll on the environment, such as plastic bottles, or even meat products; reduce your footprint by carpooling, taking the bus, taking shorter showers, and remembering to turn off appliances when not in use; or picking up trash whenever you see it.

Sources of Our Facts & Stats

^{1. “51 Facts About Pollution.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php.↩}

^{2. “51 Facts About Pollution.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php.↩}

^{3. “51 Facts About Pollution.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php.↩}

^{4. “11 Facts About Pollution.” DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change, www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-pollution.↩}

^{5. “51 Facts About Pollution.” Conserve Energy Future, 25 Dec. 2016, www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php.↩}

^{6. EcoWatch. “22 Facts About Plastic Pollution (And 10 Things We Can Do About It).” EcoWatch, EcoWatch, 14 June 2018, www.ecowatch.com/22-facts-about-plastic-pollution-and-10-things-we-can-do-about-it-1881885971.html.↩}

^{7. “11 Facts About Pollution.” DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change, www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-pollution.↩}

^{8. Bradford, Alina. “Pollution Facts & Types of Pollution.” LiveScience, Purch, 27 Feb. 2018, www.livescience.com/22728-pollution-facts.html.↩}

^{9. EcoWatch. “22 Facts About Plastic Pollution (And 10 Things We Can Do About It).” EcoWatch, EcoWatch, 14 June 2018, www.ecowatch.com/22-facts-about-plastic-pollution-and-10-things-we-can-do-about-it-1881885971.html.<↩}

Submissions From Our Readers

Disclaimer! We do not guarantee that any of these facts are true, they are merely submissions from our readers with their sources included

Social media is present in our daily lives and makes it easy to spread awareness about any issues such as environmental problems. Many people are unaware of the damage they are causing to our environment and tend to ignore the warning signs. We need our environment to strive and continue to exist. One way you can help is by spreading the word. Raising awareness about the issue allows others to realize the dilemma we’re facing and motivate them to help the environments. According to a Nielsen study, 92% of consumers believe suggestions from friends and family more than they do advertising - this stat alone solidified the word of mouth use case. Spread awareness, not germs. If you love this planet or want to live a pleasant life, protect it.

There are many organizations and scientific researches that are dedicated to solving environmental problems. By donating to these causes, you can greatly assist the search for solutions to these devastating problems.

The Nature Conservancy helps regrow the diminishing coral reefs, and provide fundings towards conservancy studies to research innovative ways to save the environment. Using their research results, they help prevent habitat loss and save endangered species.

Earth Day’s strive to create a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations. They work with more than 50,000 clients to raise awareness by going around schools and cities to educate others about the environment and what they can do to protect it.

GreenPeace challenge the systems of privilege that destroy the environment and place disproportionate burdens on the economically disadvantaged and the vulnerable. They do this by investigating, documenting and exposing abuses of power. They aim to disrupt the myths, narratives and barriers that discourage innovation and deny much needed progress. Your donation will enable them to defend our oceans and forests and protect our environment from toxic pollution.

Friends of the Earth aim to build a system that promotes clean energy and solutions to climate change. They’re fighting for a truly safe and healthy food system, protecting marine ecosystems,and the people who live and work near them. They try to expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit.

Tule Ponds

Tule Ponds is a training center for students adults interesting in attaining restoration skills. It is based in Fremont, California and serves as a home to several forms of wildlife. Volunteers may help by planting special flora and fauna intended to replace harmful effects from invasive species. Volunteers may also perform other tasks such as mulching and removing invasive species.

Lake Cunningham

Lake Cunningham welcomes volunteers looking to help the environment. The lake is located in San Jose, California and involves tasks such as invasive plant removal, mulching, planting, and watering. Most available workdays are on Saturdays. Find out more about how you can contribute by clicking "Lake Cunningham"

Our City Forest

Join Our City Forest's planting team by signing up to volunteer. The organization includes several tasks such as planting, transplanting, maintaining care of trees, shaping land to drought-resistant landscapes. Other volunteering options are available as well. The main office is located in San Jose. Check the link above to find more information about Our City Forest volunteering.

Garden for the Environment

Garden for the Environment is a San Francisco based garden designed to mitigate some hazardous effects of city living. Drop-in garden volunteers are welcomed every Wednesday and Saturday. All ages are welcome and no previous gardening experience is required. Tasks involve composting, planting, pruning, weeding, etc.

Grassroots Ecology

Located in Palo Alto, Grassroots Ecology is a nonprofit organization striving for a change in environment. Volunteer services include a variety of tasks, such as creek monitoring, installing rain gardens and water barrels, weeding, and planting. You may choose to focus on either habitat restoration, community science, and greening urban watersheds.

Save the Bay

Volunteer while having fun by cooperating with Save the Bay. Attached is a calendar of all available events to volunteer. You may volunteer at coastal areas, wetlands, rivers, streams, and other places to make an impactful change to the environment. Sign up now!

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About

Our Mission

Spread awareness of the MAGNITUDE of the problem and what can be done to MITIGATE its effects. A LITTLE step can make a BIG difference. From sharing news, to volunteering, to making donations: any step can bring us closer to our goal.

Why Care

Whether you care about the environment or not, the Earth’s deteriorating condition will inadvertently affect your daily life, both directly and indirectly. From the little things, such as having a shortage of honey on your toast, to canceling that trip to an island now experiencing unforeseen volcanic activity, to your future children having asthma in a city full of air pollution, what we do to our environment now affects everyone. Other more obscure impacts include a decrease of productivity within the economy, damage to property and infrastructure, and mass migration causing raising of taxes. We care because we want future generations to enjoy the wide range of opportunities that we enjoy now. Every decision we make in the present lingers into the burden our children will carry. So whether you care about the environment or not, we hope we’ve made an impact on you.

Vision

Our vision is to spread awareness of our Earth’s health to the public that does not recognize the severity that any issues of the environment have on all aspects of our lives. Help us in our movement to lift the blight plaguing our earth, oceans, and skies.

About Us

We are six students at the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program at Intuit, and we made this as our final project to raise awareness for the pressing issues regarding our environment. Girls Who Code gave us all a wonderful opportunity to explore the computer science field. After all of our hard work, we hope you enjoyed looking at our site and will keep in mind that every little action counts in protecting our world.

	Adina Chen: I am a rising senior at Irvington High School. I love boba (food in general) and marching band.		Angelina Luo: I am a rising senior at Arroyo High School. I enjoy piano and playing video games.
	Sophia Chadsey: I am a rising senior in Santa Clara High School. I love boba and playing the violin and piano as a part of the San Jose Youth Symphony.		Nancy Nguyen: I am a rising senior at Milpitas High School. I love being a part of orchestra and color guard as well as NHS. I like to sleep and read in my free time.
	Michelle Lim: I am a rising senior at American High School. I love playing volleyball, being a part of the robotics team, and partaking in the UNICEF and MUN clubs in school.		Katelyn Yu: I am a rising junior at Notre Dame High School. I enjoy being a part of my school's golf team, a brown belt in karate, and playing piano.