EP - Spring 1999 - Youngsters Show They Value Clean Air

On Saturday, March 20, a total of 50 posters and written works which consider the importance of clean air from the fifth and sixth grade perspective started a month-long display at the Illinois State Museum. The museum's lower level corridor gallery was the site of a reception hosted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for youngsters from around the state who submitted the works after intensive study during January of "The Air We Breathe."

Top winners included Kelsey Straeter, of Breese, who took a first place award in each category. She attends St. Rose Elementary School. Other top entrants were Kristin Ayers, Fowler, who attends Liberty Grade School; Caitlin Hall, Chicago, St. Christina School; Jamie Claire Hewitt, Chicago, Roycemore School; and Charlie Knibbs, Chicago, St. Christina School.

The event is part of the Illinois EPA's "Air, Land & Water" program, which this year attracted 556 Illinois teachers with total classroom enrollments of 88,148 students.

The annual reception is the highlight for the Illinois EPA's 12-year-old environmental awareness effort. Participating teachers are provided materials focusing on the importance of unpolluted air, land or water. At the end of the classroom focus, students write or draw their interpretations of what they have learned.

From entries selected at each school to represent it in the statewide judging, 50 finalists are selected. These are then further narrowed by a second jury which picks three written works and three posters whose creators each receive $50 U.S. savings bonds and specially inscribed environmental books for their school libraries. All finalists receive ribbons.

This year, there were only 46 finalists, since four students entered works selected as finalists in both the written and poster categories.

The finalists, their families and teachers were invited to the March 20 reception. All the finalists' works will remain on display at the museum through April. Information about the winners, their photos and their winning entries will be featured on the Illinois EPA's homepage at www.epa.state.il.us.

The Air We Breathe

Air pollution is very bad for our earth. It is important that everyone works hard to prevent it. Since people are the major contributors to air pollution, people can also reduce the cause of air pollution.

The rapid growth of population and industry, and the increase in the number of automobiles and airplanes has made air pollution an increasingly serious problem in many big cities since the 1950's. The air over these cities often becomes so filled with pollutants that it harms the health of people. Polluted air can also harm plants, animals, fabrics, building materials and the economy. The damage caused by air pollution costs the people of the United States alone about $16 billion a year-or $75 per person. This money is spent for increased maintenance of buildings, cleaning and replacement of clothing, and health care.

Controlling pollution from automobiles and trucks and involves changing the way engines operate, changing the ingredients in gasoline, and adding pollution control devices to the vehicle. Air pollution from such stationary sources as factories, furnaces, incinerators, and power plants can be reduced in several ways. For example, a plant can install equipment designed to limit the amount of pollutants given off. It can change a method of manufacturing or burning fuel that causes less air pollution. Or the plant can switch to a cleaner fuel.

Air pollution is very harmful to our environment. Humans cause air pollution, and they can also prevent it. If everybody puts in an extra effort and does their share, we can reduce air pollution.

By Kelsey Straeter

The Air We Breathe

We can't see it,
We certainly need it.
It's free,
It will always be.
Around here,
Far and near.
Plants synthesize,
Humans utilize.
Pollution destroys,
With dirt and noise.
It's fragile; handle with care,
Don't pollute the air.
Be smart,
Do your part.
Breathe deep,
While you sleep,
And keep in mind;
It's one of a kind.
The air we breathe.

By Caitlin Hall

Clean Air

Made from trees
drunk by people
and animals.

Driving its way
through brush
like wild stallions.

Always there
never speaks a language
but it speaks to you.

Letting us drink its clean self
so clean you can taste it
dancing on your tongue.

The clean air
is what we need
to survive.

By Jamie Claire Hewitt

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Youngsters Show They Value Clean Air

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