当我在网上搜索“环境”二字的时候，第一个弹出来的词条，却是“环境污染”。从什么时候起，人类开始关注环境问题了呢？是当我们意识到，沙尘暴会给我们带来诸多不便的时候？还是当我们意识到，雾霾会给我们带来各种可怕的疾病与危害的时候？难道只有这些时候，我们才能想起来保护，这个原本就脆弱的环境吗？

    你知道吗？看似只是简单的砍树，实则却会造成多方面的影响。仅仅在上半个世纪，亚马逊热带雨林就减少了至少百分之十七的森林覆盖面积，无论是对于物种多样性还是气候都有不可预料的危害。还有能源危机、全球变暖、土地荒漠化…..这些专有名词我们却似乎每天都能听到、看到。

    面对这些严重的环境问题，难道我们每个人只能束手无策，当作一个旁观者吗？

    我想起了艺术家雷曼在1961年创作的《无题》，这副极简主义画作以1500万美元的价格被拍卖。近年来，极简主义逐渐成为一种潮流，越来越多的人被极简主义所提倡的轻松愉快的生活方式所吸引，事实上这也包含着一种环保节约的生活理念。

    我们要学会取舍有道，不再因为一时冲动而买一堆不实用的东西，不再通过囤东西来获得心理的满足感。蓝天白云是我们共同的期待，我们每一个人都应该贡献出自己的力量，不要自私地只去追求自己的舒适。如果你是一个学生，那么就请尝试着骑车去上学，如果你是一个上班族，那么就请你每周挤出一次乘坐地铁上班的机会。

    可能我们没有享有丰厚的物质生活，却不影响我们领悟到快乐的真谛。正如《无题》一样，从远处看起来是白色的，但仔细观察，会发现画布上被涂上了厚厚一层颜料，在白色的表面，依稀有一些绿色和蓝色的痕迹。这就是最基本的我们每个人都可以拥有的一种环保精神——不浪费。

    面对环境污染问题，重要的是责任共享，一个人或许改变不了什么，但是一群人一起的力量是可以开出花来的。我们每个人每天做一点，一切都会变好的。

Your choice matters

  My topic today is environmental protection.

  When I google the word‘environment’, the first entry that popped up was ‘environmental pollution’. That got me to think when we human beings begin to place emphasis on the environment. Is it when we realize that the sandstorms might bring an abundance of inconvenience to our daily life? Or, is it when we figure out the terrible diseases that smog would cause? More importantly, is it only these times that wecan remember to protect the fragile environment?

  It’s commonly believed that the seemingly simple logging could actually bring about huge amounts of negative effects. Unfortunately, the Amazon Region has lost at least 17% of its forest cover during the last half century, which would absolutely give rise to unpredictable damage to not only the climate, but also the diversity of species. On top of that, energy crisis, global warming, desertification, those are also the terminologies that most of us are likely to hear or see every single day.

  So, is waiting and feeling a wave of helpless the last thing we can do when facing those serious environmental problems?

  That reminds me of a painting called Untitled, created by Robert Ryman in 1961.What impressed the pubic most is that this minimalism painting is auctioned at 15 million dollars. As a matter of fact, minimalism has become a tendency in recent years since an increasing number of people are attracted by the stress-free and pleasant concept it appealed.

  There is no doubt that learning to let things go is rather important. Don’t purchase things on impulse and don’t ever think storing various products is the only way to gain your happiness and psychological satisfaction.Staring at the white cloud floating on the clear blue sky is our mutual hope. And definitely each of us has the responsibility to do something for the environment， instead of merely thinking of our own comfort. If you are a student, try to cycle to school every other day and indulge yourself in the unique scenery throughout the way. If you are a worker, then try to take public transport， a case in point is subway， getting rid of the annoying daily routine-traffic congestion.

  It is likely that we might lose the chance of living an abundant material life，however，it is not gonna prevent us from living a happy life. Just like the painting Untitled I mentioned above， which is seemed white from a far distance， but when you come closer， you will find a layer of thick pigment that is decorated with the colour of green and blue beyond the original white pigment. That is the most basic environment friendly awareness——no waste.

  When it comes to dealing with environmental pollution，what really matters is to share responsibility. Don't bury your head in the sand. Sometimes it is the integrated force that can play a significant role in making the world a better place to live in. With the involvement and commitment of each individual, major change is bound to be made.