What Does Green Really Mean?By Dianne Irene All Rights Reserved.

The concept of going green has been gaining attention in the media and in marketing campaigns from a growing number of companies. This concept continues to become the conversation that businesses are discussing. Going green means that society will have to consider renewable resources, cleaning up poor environmental practices, and taking a serious look at responsibility.

As a human race, many things have been done to impact our environment. We have made technological advances that have given way to conveniences and advances. However, humans have taken some routes of advancement that have not been environmentally responsible. Our ecosystem relies on a balance of factors. Upsetting this balance eventually affects the whole ecosystem.

The Great Garbage Patch, estimated to be about the size of Texas, is threatening our ocean and its wildlife in a serious way. The real culprit to this hazard is plastic. Our environment suffers when plastic is not properly disposed or recycled. Now, scientists are examining the Pacific Ocean with great concern and finding wildlife with plastic in their systems. These creatures are suffering from plastic poisoning and the fish are not safe to eat. This great travesty is truly irresponsible and needs to be cleaned up. The other issue to consider is that this should not have happened in the first place.

It is important to address this issue as citizens of this planet and ensure that this and other environmental disasters do not happen again. Going green does not just mean that citizens just accept the idea, but that the concern moves into action and responsibility. It should not be seen as a fad, an excuse to gain attention, but as a way to take responsibility as citizens of the ecosystem.

Resources:
The Great Garbage Patch. Retrieved on March 14, 2009 from:  http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/