Blog Session 8: How green are you?

How green are you?

Santiago, the city I live in, is a polluted city. Because it is surrounded by mountains, the air conditions get very bad in winter, when the smog layer comes down to the city. Another problem in this city is the one related with garbage. We produce a lot of trash and we recycle very little.

Personally, I learned some environmentally friendly practices as I was at school. I did not receive those kwoleges at home, because the generation of our parents knows even less about environmentally issues then we do. That´s why I think every school should teach this practices, so that through the children, they become usual  practices. That was what happened for example with my family. As I was little I told my mom we should recycle, so now we do it every time. We put in different containers plastic, glass and papers/carton, and every Sunday a special lorry picks those thing up. The only thing that we don´t recycle, (but I would like to do it) is organic waste. We don´t do it because the lorry doesn´t take that kind of waste and we don´t have a large backyard to do a “compost box”.

Another thing that I like to do to be green is using the bike. Instead of going by car to the University I use my legs, and like that I can also exercise a little bit. When I have to travel long distances to go some place I use public transport. I think if Santiago improves it´s public transport system, more people would live their car home and like that we would reduce our carbon footprint. Also, in Santiago it depends on the local authorities of the “comunas” if they have a recycling policy or not. It shouldn´t be like that, because what happens is that poor “comunas” have to solve other needs that are priority. I think the state should take care of environmental issues.