I know what you’re thinking another one of those Millennials I mean what
of those Millennials I mean what
of those Millennials I mean what possible information what profound
possible information what profound
possible information what profound knowledge could this kid possibly have
knowledge could this kid possibly have
knowledge could this kid possibly have to enlighten us with well it’s not
to enlighten us with well it’s not
to enlighten us with well it’s not necessarily some sort of new
necessarily some sort of new
necessarily some sort of new groundbreaking information that I’ve
groundbreaking information that I’ve
groundbreaking information that I’ve come to share with you today rather I
come to share with you today rather I
come to share with you today rather I hope that by recollecting some of my
hope that by recollecting some of my
hope that by recollecting some of my diverse experiences that I’ll be able to
diverse experiences that I’ll be able to
diverse experiences that I’ll be able to alter your perspectives on a very
alter your perspectives on a very
alter your perspectives on a very serious topic and the topic is the
serious topic and the topic is the
serious topic and the topic is the environment
environment
environment what can a millennial teach you about
what can a millennial teach you about
what can a millennial teach you about the environment well I’m guessing the
the environment well I’m guessing the
the environment well I’m guessing the first thing that pops up to your mind
first thing that pops up to your mind
first thing that pops up to your mind when the topic is brought up is global
when the topic is brought up is global
when the topic is brought up is global warming climate change maybe even carbon
warming climate change maybe even carbon
warming climate change maybe even carbon dioxide emissions yet what we fail to
dioxide emissions yet what we fail to
dioxide emissions yet what we fail to realize is that the environment is so
realize is that the environment is so
realize is that the environment is so interconnected that it encompasses so
interconnected that it encompasses so
interconnected that it encompasses so much more than just that and therefore
much more than just that and therefore
much more than just that and therefore the problems influenced and aggravated
the problems influenced and aggravated
the problems influenced and aggravated by man are also much more abundant than
by man are also much more abundant than
by man are also much more abundant than we think
we think
we think allow me to elaborate turn back the
allow me to elaborate turn back the
allow me to elaborate turn back the clock three years and I moved from
clock three years and I moved from
clock three years and I moved from Pittsburgh to Pune India a city close to
Pittsburgh to Pune India a city close to
Pittsburgh to Pune India a city close to Mumbai and in India was where I had my
Mumbai and in India was where I had my
Mumbai and in India was where I had my first real experience with serious
first real experience with serious
first real experience with serious environmental issues you see there there
environmental issues you see there there
environmental issues you see there there smog was anything but unusual trash
smog was anything but unusual trash
smog was anything but unusual trash could be seen scattered all across roads
could be seen scattered all across roads
could be seen scattered all across roads even acid rain was quite frequently a
even acid rain was quite frequently a
even acid rain was quite frequently a problem this picture was taken right
problem this picture was taken right
problem this picture was taken right outside my community clearly the problem
outside my community clearly the problem
outside my community clearly the problem was quite widespread
was quite widespread
was quite widespread now rivers local water bodies these were
now rivers local water bodies these were
now rivers local water bodies these were all sources of illegal dumping I mean if
all sources of illegal dumping I mean if
all sources of illegal dumping I mean if you just took a look at some of the
you just took a look at some of the
you just took a look at some of the local rivers in my city they looked so
local rivers in my city they looked so
local rivers in my city they looked so murky so unsanitary quite frankly you
murky so unsanitary quite frankly you
murky so unsanitary quite frankly you might think it looks more like sewage
might think it looks more like sewage
might think it looks more like sewage keep in mind now that these were the
keep in mind now that these were the
keep in mind now that these were the same rivers that we got our drinking
same rivers that we got our drinking
same rivers that we got our drinking water from
water from
water from and as a result most families had to
and as a result most families had to
and as a result most families had to keep separate filters in their houses
keep separate filters in their houses
keep separate filters in their houses just to prevent catching stomach bug
just to prevent catching stomach bug
just to prevent catching stomach bug from drinking water straight from the
from drinking water straight from the
from drinking water straight from the tap can you imagine that Garin Texas in
tap can you imagine that Garin Texas in
tap can you imagine that Garin Texas in America for the most part we have
America for the most part we have
America for the most part we have excellent quality water supply at our
excellent quality water supply at our
excellent quality water supply at our disposal whenever we like that wasn’t
disposal whenever we like that wasn’t
disposal whenever we like that wasn’t the case back in India though where
the case back in India though where
the case back in India though where according to the World Health
according to the World Health
according to the World Health Organization 97 million people lacked
Organization 97 million people lacked
Organization 97 million people lacked access to clean drinking water and that
access to clean drinking water and that
access to clean drinking water and that global number is much much larger yet
global number is much much larger yet
global number is much much larger yet despite all the horrific circumstances I
despite all the horrific circumstances I
despite all the horrific circumstances I just revealed what astonished me the
just revealed what astonished me the
just revealed what astonished me the most was that to a pedestrian on the
most was that to a pedestrian on the
most was that to a pedestrian on the road these sites were a commonplace
road these sites were a commonplace
road these sites were a commonplace overlooked without even as much as a
overlooked without even as much as a
overlooked without even as much as a simple glance of concern now this was a
simple glance of concern now this was a
simple glance of concern now this was a result of years of neglect coupled with
result of years of neglect coupled with
result of years of neglect coupled with ignorance and the situation is gradually
ignorance and the situation is gradually
ignorance and the situation is gradually improving now but just realize for a
improving now but just realize for a
improving now but just realize for a second that this was reality for us and
second that this was reality for us and
second that this was reality for us and I’m trying to paint a better picture to
I’m trying to paint a better picture to
I’m trying to paint a better picture to help explain to you what we faced on a
help explain to you what we faced on a
help explain to you what we faced on a daily basis and having lived in two
daily basis and having lived in two
daily basis and having lived in two drastically different countries I can
drastically different countries I can
drastically different countries I can personally attest to the fact that you
personally attest to the fact that you
personally attest to the fact that you can’t truly appreciate something until
can’t truly appreciate something until
can’t truly appreciate something until you’ve been deprived of it and we need
you’ve been deprived of it and we need
you’ve been deprived of it and we need to ensure that we are not depriving
to ensure that we are not depriving
to ensure that we are not depriving ourselves of a healthy sustainable
ourselves of a healthy sustainable
ourselves of a healthy sustainable environment so where do we as Americans
environment so where do we as Americans
environment so where do we as Americans fall into place here Keep America
fall into place here Keep America
fall into place here Keep America Beautiful one of the largest
Beautiful one of the largest
Beautiful one of the largest environmental nonprofits in the United
environmental nonprofits in the United
environmental nonprofits in the United States did a study where they reported
States did a study where they reported
States did a study where they reported that litter alone cost the United States
that litter alone cost the United States
that litter alone cost the United States over ten billion dollars annually this
over ten billion dollars annually this
over ten billion dollars annually this doesn’t even take into account all the
doesn’t even take into account all the
doesn’t even take into account all the other environmental problems we face and
other environmental problems we face and
other environmental problems we face and their impacts on us
their impacts on us
their impacts on us it’s simply noted that litter itself
it’s simply noted that litter itself
it’s simply noted that litter itself costs us more than 10 billion clearly
costs us more than 10 billion clearly
costs us more than 10 billion clearly the societal cost is huge to us yet we
the societal cost is huge to us yet we
the societal cost is huge to us yet we read such a
read such a
read such a following statistics like this all the
following statistics like this all the
following statistics like this all the time don’t we
time don’t we
time don’t we and after all statistics are well just
and after all statistics are well just
and after all statistics are well just numbers they exist to point out problems
numbers they exist to point out problems
numbers they exist to point out problems so that the necessary steps can be taken
so that the necessary steps can be taken
so that the necessary steps can be taken to solve them and that’s where I believe
to solve them and that’s where I believe
to solve them and that’s where I believe the issue lies
the issue lies
the issue lies we’re often aware of the statistics
we’re often aware of the statistics
we’re often aware of the statistics aware of the numbers yet we still fail
aware of the numbers yet we still fail
aware of the numbers yet we still fail to take action or if we do take action
to take action or if we do take action
to take action or if we do take action it’s after a majority of the damage has
it’s after a majority of the damage has
it’s after a majority of the damage has already been done so my question to you
already been done so my question to you
already been done so my question to you today is why why must we wait for
today is why why must we wait for
today is why why must we wait for something to occur rather than being
something to occur rather than being
something to occur rather than being proactive well I spend years of
proactive well I spend years of
proactive well I spend years of resources and money to mitigate a
resources and money to mitigate a
resources and money to mitigate a national upend emic that could have
national upend emic that could have
national upend emic that could have largely been prevented in the first
largely been prevented in the first
largely been prevented in the first place I mean what if what if we faced
place I mean what if what if we faced
place I mean what if what if we faced some of the serious environmental
some of the serious environmental
some of the serious environmental problems that some other severely
problems that some other severely
problems that some other severely polluted nations face what impact would
polluted nations face what impact would
polluted nations face what impact would that have on us on our long-term health
that have on us on our long-term health
that have on us on our long-term health even on our economy now you might be
even on our economy now you might be
even on our economy now you might be thinking this guy’s clearly crazy right
thinking this guy’s clearly crazy right
thinking this guy’s clearly crazy right he’s out of his mind because we don’t
he’s out of his mind because we don’t
he’s out of his mind because we don’t have trash all over our streets here in
have trash all over our streets here in
have trash all over our streets here in Texas we don’t even have pollution
Texas we don’t even have pollution
Texas we don’t even have pollution nearly severe enough to cause visible
nearly severe enough to cause visible
nearly severe enough to cause visible smog right so why should we care well
smog right so why should we care well
smog right so why should we care well too bad I say the United States
too bad I say the United States
too bad I say the United States Environmental Administration tells us
Environmental Administration tells us
Environmental Administration tells us that Texas is the largest emitter of
that Texas is the largest emitter of
that Texas is the largest emitter of carbon in the United States and although
carbon in the United States and although
carbon in the United States and although it hasn’t yet led to the same level of
it hasn’t yet led to the same level of
it hasn’t yet led to the same level of problems as say those prevalent in New
problems as say those prevalent in New
problems as say those prevalent in New Delhi India where people literally have
Delhi India where people literally have
Delhi India where people literally have to wear face masks to filter out
to wear face masks to filter out
to wear face masks to filter out pollutants on a daily basis does that
pollutants on a daily basis does that
pollutants on a daily basis does that mean we should continue hoping that now
mean we should continue hoping that now
mean we should continue hoping that now what happened to them there’s no way
what happened to them there’s no way
what happened to them there’s no way that can happen to us and if you think
that can happen to us and if you think
that can happen to us and if you think this isn’t a problem that we face here
this isn’t a problem that we face here
this isn’t a problem that we face here in the States
in the States
in the States just look to Los Angeles where pollution
just look to Los Angeles where pollution
just look to Los Angeles where pollution levels have really gotten out of hand in
levels have really gotten out of hand in
levels have really gotten out of hand in the last couple years despite all the
the last couple years despite all the
the last couple years despite all the current regulations in place to impose
current regulations in place to impose
current regulations in place to impose stricter emission limits the American
stricter emission limits the American
stricter emission limits the American Lung Association reported in 2016 that
Lung Association reported in 2016 that
Lung Association reported in 2016 that over half of Americans 52% to be exact
over half of Americans 52% to be exact
over half of Americans 52% to be exact still
still
still live in areas with unholy levels of
live in areas with unholy levels of
live in areas with unholy levels of ozone and particle pollution so clearly
ozone and particle pollution so clearly
ozone and particle pollution so clearly we’re not yet at a level where we need
we’re not yet at a level where we need
we’re not yet at a level where we need to be in terms of sustainability
to be in terms of sustainability
to be in terms of sustainability now having personally witnessed the
now having personally witnessed the
now having personally witnessed the dreadful state of the environment back
dreadful state of the environment back
dreadful state of the environment back in India I then decided to join some
in India I then decided to join some
in India I then decided to join some local groups that were dedicated to
local groups that were dedicated to
local groups that were dedicated to cleaning the streets and upon returning
cleaning the streets and upon returning
cleaning the streets and upon returning back to America in 2014 I wanted to
back to America in 2014 I wanted to
back to America in 2014 I wanted to continue with this environmental
continue with this environmental
continue with this environmental initiative as I was now aware that minor
initiative as I was now aware that minor
initiative as I was now aware that minor issues if gone overlooked could quickly
issues if gone overlooked could quickly
issues if gone overlooked could quickly escalate into major long-term challenges
escalate into major long-term challenges
escalate into major long-term challenges now like I said you may not even notice
now like I said you may not even notice
now like I said you may not even notice much trash on our streets which is
much trash on our streets which is
much trash on our streets which is definitely a positive but have you ever
definitely a positive but have you ever
definitely a positive but have you ever walked down deep into one of the natural
walked down deep into one of the natural
walked down deep into one of the natural parks in your area or creeks because
parks in your area or creeks because
parks in your area or creeks because that is where most of the litter tends
that is where most of the litter tends
that is where most of the litter tends to accumulate you see the first time I
to accumulate you see the first time I
to accumulate you see the first time I really noticed abundant quantities of
really noticed abundant quantities of
really noticed abundant quantities of litter here in Plano was when I was on a
litter here in Plano was when I was on a
litter here in Plano was when I was on a long run with my cross-country team at
long run with my cross-country team at
long run with my cross-country team at Arbor Hills and you know deep into the
Arbor Hills and you know deep into the
Arbor Hills and you know deep into the long run I noticed a cluster of plastic
long run I noticed a cluster of plastic
long run I noticed a cluster of plastic bags caught behind some bushes which
bags caught behind some bushes which
bags caught behind some bushes which really made me wonder how much more
really made me wonder how much more
really made me wonder how much more trash is really out there that we don’t
trash is really out there that we don’t
trash is really out there that we don’t necessarily see on a daily basis but
necessarily see on a daily basis but
necessarily see on a daily basis but that still exists I got my answer when I
that still exists I got my answer when I
that still exists I got my answer when I joined a litter cleanup at coyote creek
joined a litter cleanup at coyote creek
joined a litter cleanup at coyote creek quickly it became evident that the
quickly it became evident that the
quickly it became evident that the reason we don’t see that much trash on
reason we don’t see that much trash on
reason we don’t see that much trash on our roads is because most of it is being
our roads is because most of it is being
our roads is because most of it is being carried down by rain wind and watershed
carried down by rain wind and watershed
carried down by rain wind and watershed runoff into these parks and into these
runoff into these parks and into these
runoff into these parks and into these creeks that poses a major problem to us
creeks that poses a major problem to us
creeks that poses a major problem to us because chemicals from plastics and
because chemicals from plastics and
because chemicals from plastics and other litter will leach into the
other litter will leach into the
other litter will leach into the surroundings and over time these
surroundings and over time these
surroundings and over time these chemicals will contaminate our drinking
chemicals will contaminate our drinking
chemicals will contaminate our drinking water sources
water sources
water sources now after realizing how much trash we
now after realizing how much trash we
now after realizing how much trash we really do leave behind I decided to form
really do leave behind I decided to form
really do leave behind I decided to form a sustainability Club in my high school
a sustainability Club in my high school
a sustainability Club in my high school to conduct more such litter cleanups on
to conduct more such litter cleanups on
to conduct more such litter cleanups on a more consistent and frequent basis
a more consistent and frequent basis
a more consistent and frequent basis initially
initially
initially only had about four maybe five
only had about four maybe five
only had about four maybe five volunteers join us on our first cleanup
volunteers join us on our first cleanup
volunteers join us on our first cleanup and over time the club grew in size but
and over time the club grew in size but
and over time the club grew in size but what was important was that each of
what was important was that each of
what was important was that each of those individuals was genuinely
those individuals was genuinely
those individuals was genuinely committed and passionate I didn’t want
committed and passionate I didn’t want
committed and passionate I didn’t want to simply get students to volunteer
to simply get students to volunteer
to simply get students to volunteer half-heartedly because their main
half-heartedly because their main
half-heartedly because their main incentive was to just get the required
incentive was to just get the required
incentive was to just get the required number of National Honor Society hours
number of National Honor Society hours
number of National Honor Society hours rather I wanted to create a mindset that
rather I wanted to create a mindset that
rather I wanted to create a mindset that it should be our duty to preserve the
it should be our duty to preserve the
it should be our duty to preserve the environment I believe it takes such
environment I believe it takes such
environment I believe it takes such small scale efforts to make a larger
small scale efforts to make a larger
small scale efforts to make a larger impact on society as a whole and I also
impact on society as a whole and I also
impact on society as a whole and I also believe them a millennial generation
believe them a millennial generation
believe them a millennial generation will spearhead such movements in the
will spearhead such movements in the
will spearhead such movements in the future we need to strive to perpetuate
future we need to strive to perpetuate
future we need to strive to perpetuate an environmentally conscious mindset so
an environmentally conscious mindset so
an environmentally conscious mindset so what can you do on your part think twice
what can you do on your part think twice
what can you do on your part think twice about throwing the plastic bag or
about throwing the plastic bag or
about throwing the plastic bag or wrapper out the window of your car and
wrapper out the window of your car and
wrapper out the window of your car and instead wait until you get home to throw
instead wait until you get home to throw
instead wait until you get home to throw it away
it away
it away reduce and reuse try to reduce the
reduce and reuse try to reduce the
reduce and reuse try to reduce the amount of waste you generate and reuse
amount of waste you generate and reuse
amount of waste you generate and reuse whenever possible you might be wondering
whenever possible you might be wondering
whenever possible you might be wondering why I left off recycling not that it’s
why I left off recycling not that it’s
why I left off recycling not that it’s bad or anything but contrary to what you
bad or anything but contrary to what you
bad or anything but contrary to what you might think the recycling process is
might think the recycling process is
might think the recycling process is actually quite energy intensive so try
actually quite energy intensive so try
actually quite energy intensive so try to prioritize reducing and reusing
to prioritize reducing and reusing
to prioritize reducing and reusing before recycling I challenge each of you
before recycling I challenge each of you
before recycling I challenge each of you to dedicate just two hours a month to
to dedicate just two hours a month to
to dedicate just two hours a month to join a local litter cleanup I think
join a local litter cleanup I think
join a local litter cleanup I think you’d be quite surprised to learn about
you’d be quite surprised to learn about
you’d be quite surprised to learn about the impacts we really have on our
the impacts we really have on our
the impacts we really have on our surroundings and these cleanups are also
surroundings and these cleanups are also
surroundings and these cleanups are also a great deal of fun as well in fact just
a great deal of fun as well in fact just
a great deal of fun as well in fact just today
today
today Plano hosted the great American litter
Plano hosted the great American litter
Plano hosted the great American litter cleanup and how to turn out if I think
cleanup and how to turn out if I think
cleanup and how to turn out if I think over 1500 volunteers a better future
over 1500 volunteers a better future
over 1500 volunteers a better future needs to start with change today thank
needs to start with change today thank
needs to start with change today thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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