A: I'm worried about the old trees along the road to our school. A notice says the city may cut them down to widen the road. B: Really? Those trees give us shade every summer. Why don't you find out when the city will decide? A: There's a residents' meeting next Thursday, but I'm concerned that hardly anyone will come. B: How about making a short flyer and handing it out at the apartment entrance? A: Good idea. I'm also worried that adults won't take high school students seriously. B: Why don't you invite our homeroom teacher to come along? She lives in this neighborhood, too. A: That would help. I could also bring photos of the trees, with students walking under them on a hot day. B: Great. Let's meet after school tomorrow and make the flyer together.

This chart shows an imaginary survey of our class of 30 students. Each student chose the environmental problem in our neighborhood that worries him or her most. Trash on the streets tops the list, with 11 students picking it. Fine dust comes next with 9 votes, and too much light at night is third with 5. Noise gets 3 votes, and dirty streams get only 2. Together, trash and fine dust make up two-thirds of all the votes. Our class clearly cares not only about the ground we walk on but also about the air we breathe.