世界环境日

世界环境日

WinCompetitionofEnvironmentProtectionforBeijing

Althoughthe2008Olympicsarestillthreeyearsaway,anotherspecialcompetitionhasalreadystartedinBeijing.Thistime,thecompetitorsarenottheathletesfromallovertheworld,butthepeoplelivinginBeijing.Thespecialcompetitionisnotheldinastadium,butineverystreetandeverycornerofBeijing.Isupposesomeofyoumayhavealreadyguessedwhatthespecialcompetitionis.Yes,itisthecompetitionofprotectingourenvironmentandcreatingagreenBeijingforthe2008OlympicGames.

Someonemayaskwhoisourrivalinthiscompetition?ThemodernLosAngeles,thecharmingSydney,orthehistoricAthens?No,noneofthem.Therealrivalisourselves.Itisourbadhabitsofneglectingtoprotectenvironmentinourdailylife.

Severalyearsago,IwasveryluckytohaveanopportunitytoliveintheUnitedStatesforabouttwoyears.Inotonlyenjoyedthebeautifulenvironmentthere,butalsoappreciatedtheAmericanpeople''''sactivewayofprotectingtheirenvironment.Now,whenevertheenvironmentprotectionismentioned,abeautifulviewofCaliforniawillariseinmymind:whitecloudsflyingacrossthebluesky,greengrassplotsprinkledwithcolorfulflowersandsmallanimalsplayinghappilyamongthetrees.

IrememberthatatthebeginningofmycomingtoAmerica,Ioftenwenttomyfather''''sworkingplace,theUnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey,tohavefun.EachtimeIfoundalotofpeopleridingbicyclestotheiroffices.Amongthecyclists,anoldmanwithwhitehairattractedmyattention.Curiously,Iaskedmyfather,"Whydoestheoldmanridehisbiketoworkeveryday?Doesn''''thehaveenoughmoneytobuyacar?"Fatherlaughed,"No,notbecauseofmoney.Actually,heisoneofthegreatestscientistsintheworld.Hecanaffordtobuyamotorcadeifhelikes.Heisjustanenvironmentalistandusuallydoesn''''tdriveunlessgoingshopping,orinbadweather.InAmerica,therearealotofenvironmentalists,whoactivelyprotecttheirenvironment.Forexample,inPaloAltocitywearelivingnow,thereisevenabicycle-to-workdayonMay19theveryyeartoencouragepeopletodecreaseairpollutioncausedbycars".

Later,Ialsolearntanotherinterestingfactofenvironmentprotectionthere.InsomestatesofAmerica,inordertodecreaseairpollution,saveenergyandreducetrafficjams,stategovernmentsencouragepeopletotakebusestoworkortoshareacaramongseveralpeople.Theyevensetspecial"diamondlanes"insomemainstreets,whichareonlyforthevehicleswith2ormorepeople.

ThepositiveactionsofAmericanpeopleandtheeffectivemeasurestheAmericangovernmenttakesinenvironmentprotectionfullywonmyrespectsanddeeplyaffectedmyconsciousnessinenvironmentprotection.

WhenIwasbackinChina,peopleoftenaskedme:"WhatdoyouthinkofAmerica?"Ialwaysboltout:"Wonderful,especiallythebeautifulenvironment."Franklyspeaking,afterseveralyears,thefacesofmyAmericanteachersandfriendshavegraduallyfadedawayfrommymind,butthebluesky,greengrassandlovelyanimalsinCaliforniaoftenariseinmymind,andbecamemydreamofvisitingthereagain.

The2008OlympicsprovideuswiththeopportunitytopublicizeandpractiseenvironmentprotectioninBeijing.IsitpossibleforBeijingtoIsitpossibleforBeijingtobecomeasbeautifulasCalifornia?Theansweris"yes",butthedreamneedseveryBeijingcitizen''''sfullsupportandactivemovestoaccomplish.

Fromnowon,ifeverystudentwhoisdriventoschoolcantakebusorridebicycletoschoolonceaweek,ifeverycarownergoestoworkinacarpoolonceaweek,wecanmakeadifference.Ifeveryonecanactivelyprotecttheenvironmentinourdailylife,thebluesky,greengrassandlovelyanimalsinCaliforniawillappearinBeijing.

Tinystreamscancombineintoavastocean,smalltreescantogetherbeanimmenseforest.Beijingisoftendescribedasabeautifulandagedpicture.IfeveryBeijingcitizenaddsatraitofgreenonthepicture,thewholeBeijingwillbecomeanoceanofgreen.LetusunitetogethertowinthecompetitionofenvironmentprotectioninBeijing,andpresenttheworldabiggoldmedal.Thatis"GreenBeijing,GreatOlympics"