A Cleaner, Healthier Environment
Benefits of Wind & Solar Power |
Before getting to the specifics of our new, quite innovative policies, it is important to understand the basic principles of solar energy and wind energy. They are both clean, environmentally friendly, and effective alternatives for fossil fuels that use the Earth's processes in an advantageous manner. While solar energy harnesses energy from the sun, wind energy subsequently harnesses its energy from the wind. Because of these sustainable energy sources, rather than modify the coal mining industry, we propose its downsizing to a smaller industry within a more localized region inside Virginia. Based on the negative environmental impacts, the endless human health problems, and the overall minuscule economic growth, we find it more opportune to invest our time, energy, and capital into more sustainable endeavors (See OUR PLAN for more information).
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ENVIRONMENTAL
LAND USE - coal mining, escpeically open pit mining, creates massive amounts of unused earthen material and also destroys entire ecosystems WATER POLLUTION - open pit coal mining and other less invasive types of coal mining can cause water pollution by infeltrating the water table underground AIR POLLUTION - coal mining not only causes particulate air pollution, which is the emission of free radicals into the air, but also causes chemical air pollution, which involves the emission of mercury, sulfur dioxides, and nitrogen oxides |
HEALTH
CANCER - the most serious and common form of cancer assoicated with coal mining is lung cancer; shockingly, approximately 3% of all coal miners will be diagnosed with lung cancer CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES - due to the ever prevalent free radicals associated with coal mining, it is no wonder that miners struggle with lung-related health problems including asthma and COPD; however, more serious is the prevalence of black lung. Black lung, given its name for obvious reasons, is caused by continuous exposure to the byproducts of coal mining and/or coal burining |
Kellam High School
2665 W Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 |
MAIN: (757) 648-5100
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