Friend of the environment

            Here at the UPR unlike in many places in the rest of Puerto Rico we are fortunate enough to be able to observe and be part of various environmentally friendly practices. One of those that I’ve seen in my time studying here are some kind of vegetable patches. Although for some unexplainable reason the universities administration took the liberty of killing one made by some students in front of the theater, recently I saw some students planting another one in the faculty of Natural Science.  Taking care of the environment and promoting it by planting should be an every day practice.

            It’s obvious that growing plants directly helps the environment for various reasons. First of all and maybe most crucial is the unique ability of plant to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen, by doing so they help the environment, every animal that breath and prevents further pollution (Berry, 1982). Also self-cultivating of vegetables and fruits ensures that more resources that contaminate the environment like gasoline are not wasted in transportation to supermarkets. Pesticides are another big problem in this planet so by producing ones own food its consumption declines drastically.

Apart from all of the environmental benefits mentioned above the growing of vegetable patches in the university also haves a symbolic meaning. In a society where it’s unusual to see someone planting this gives a great example. People should open their eyes and see the necessity, beauty and usefulness found in growing. It’s clear that this world is changed with examples not by opinion so there’s no greater symbolism in the renovation of human ways that by doing that which is proclaimed. The greatness of this effort is found not only in the direct contribution to the environment, but its indirect influence in the consciousness of every one who sees it.

As students and as part of the Puerto Rican society we should be agents of change by creating awareness and propagating that easy actions like growing some fruits and vegetables in this fertile land that we were born in could contribute to a better world.  Some people say that a persons live is not complete until they have a son, write a book and plant a tree and from all of this I see the most important and easiest thing a person could do in their lifetime is help the planet that sustains us by planting a tree or maybe even hundreds of them.

Berry, J. A., & Downton, W. J. S. (1982). Environmental regulation of    photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, 2, 263-343.