Students Encourage People to Keep Oceans Clean

To the Editor:

Don't you love going to the beach and hoping to have a good time? Well, on most beaches, trash is building and it is not a good thing. Ocean pollution is a global problem. It causes hundreds of marine animals to die each year. Every citizen needs to be responsible for cleaning up beaches and river banks so we can have joyful, family times.

As well as oceans, rivers and lakes are polluted too. I go camping every year, and the banks are littered with trash. Our campsite sometimes has plastic bottles and wrappers on the ground. Styrofoam is building up on the banks. The Great Lakes, which hold over 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, are becoming a place to dump garbage. This pollutes the water for humans, and the thousands of other species of animals that are living there. In Lake Erie, scientists find small pieces of trash that are 1-5 millimeters in size, some so small you can only see them in a microscope. With our freshwater depleting, we will have to find another way to get pure H2O.

The water being dirty is a huge problem all by itself. It is very harmful for humans and animals to swim in dirty water. Swallowing the water makes people sick. Weak animals can die from infection. For example, pollution weakens a seal's immune system. The immune system is what fights diseases and sickness. Plant life is affected too. Disgusting oils and gunk can get in the roots and kill the plants. Many animals rely on water holes for drink and protection. Wouldn't it be terrible if species started dying? Help the world and don’t harm wildlife.           

I know that most people want to help and clean the earth. Entire species are already dying out, predators and prey. The predators need food to eat to stay healthy. This is a reason why animals are dying. Approximately 12 animals have gone extinct since 2010. Water pollution will start to affect you. We don't want this to happen, do we? Even donating a few dollars can make a big difference. Please take some time and acknowledge what is happening to our water.

If we all put in a hand, we can save beaches and have fun-filled family times. Let’s dedicate these next few years to helping the earth. With everyone’s help, I believe we can save thousands of species of wildlife by cleaning our banks.

Sincerely,

Joe Sicat

Sixth Grade

Hillside Intermediate School