The Community 5 with Spencer Slade and Lacey Holmes
Spencer Slade, program coordinator for the American Lung Association in Utah and Lacey Holmes, Communications Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA team up for this Community 5.
This article was originally published at examiner.com.
- Take individual responsibility for our air quality. Vehicles create 50 percent of the air pollution. If drivers reduce their driving, air quality can improve. People should also attend meetings where air quality issues are being discussed. As voters, we can make a difference in the policies that our government proposes, but we have to show up to do so.
- Find out about events going on and participate. Community events help build a community. By getting out and getting involved, people are more likely to meet a neighbor, make friends and connect. Some events are educational, too.
- Broaden your perspective. Just because someone has lung cancer, it does not mean that he or she got it from smoking. Lung cancer can also be caused by pollution, genetics, radon and second-hand smoke.
- Recycling. Recycled materials create less pollution and less garbage. Once a person has reduced and is done reusing, recycling will further decrease that person’s carbon footprint.
- Plants. They are important for the oxygen exchange and processing carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. “Take Arbor Day seriously,” says Spencer. Plant a tree. Plant your own garden or join a community garden. They have the great benefits of fresh food and helping to clean the air.
This article was originally published at examiner.com.