by Sara Gerdy

Earth Day, started in April of 1970, has given people worldwide the opportunity to celebrate the natural world as well as to plan for ways to protect the Earth in the future.  Here are some interesting facts about the spring celebration of the earth’s natural resources.

Warning: some of these facts may be surprising, so read with caution

• During the time it takes to read this sentence, 50,000 12-ounce aluminum cans are made.
• Recycling just one of those aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a TV for three hours
• To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.
• Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour! Most of them are thrown away!
• Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
• The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
• A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.
• Every day 50 to 100 species of plants and animals become extinct as their habitat is destroyed by humans

Providing a clean, healthy environment for the future falls from one generation’s hands to the next. It only takes one light bulb, one unplugged charger or one recycled can to make a difference. Teenagers who often complain that they can’t make a difference, can use Earth Day to take a stand and to make a difference.   Earth Day 2010 is  a great place to start.