Acid Rain Causes and Action
Natsumi Ikeda

Have you ever heard of the nursery rhyme, “Rain, rain go away, come again another day.”? As a child, I would always sing this to cheer myself up from the cold wet weather. In Spanish, “Lluvia, lluvia, vete .Ya otro dia vuelve.” and in French, “Pluie, pluie, pars au loin. Un autre jour, reviens.” It is popular world-wide so children all around the world sing the same lyrics. Children usually dislike rain because it keeps them inside. Farmers consider their crops and orchards but countries like Africa and Australia have less rain, causing drought which is a problem for harvests. And some countries have too much rain which causes floods that also damage crops.

I remember sticking my tongue out to catch the fresh water and snow falling from the sky but the rain and snow we have now are too dangerous to do this. Why? The rain and snow that falls on our cities contains too many acidic chemicals that eventually damage our bodies. In fact, not just our bodies but the food we eat everyday.

Acid rain falls when carbon dioxide from factories, appliances and car emissions as well as other acidic chemicals from natural resources such as volcanoes and lightening, combine together with the atmosphere and fall to the ground. This was first discovered by a researcher from Scotland, Robert Angus Smith. He showed the relationship between acid rain and air pollution. Because of our desire to live comfortably and conveniently, transportation and production have increased and factories have expanded which has caused acid rain to become a common phenomenon. A research figure shows that 30% of the cause of acid rain comes from factories and another 30% from car emissions. Other causes are from sewage, hot springs burning trash and also rotten food (food waste) Agricultural related causes are burning off grass from unused fields and raising farm animals such as cows, pigs and sheep. In some countries like New Zealand, the population of sheep is more than the population of the citizens, therefore their carbon emissions are mainly from agriculture and not the human population. However, according to one article from “NZ Centre for Political Research”, over 90% of the agricultural products are exported which means that many other countries depend on them so how can they reduce their emissions?

There are so many goods in the market that attract our interest or increase convenience. Today people say they do not have enough time to clean so they buy washer dryers and dishwashers to save time to do other things. Do we really need them? Do people need time to do something useful or is it just wasted time? Japan has a lot of sunshine therefore we can mostly dry our clothes outside. How about ionizers? If we had not polluted the air we would not need ionizers to keep our rooms fresh and our bodies healthy. Creating these new gadgets has made matters worse. We buy a new gadget then trash it when there is an upgrade. In other words, we increase trash to buy new gadgets and trash produces carbon. Since we are used to living comfortably we are forgetting how to make any effort in how we live. You might not think “acid rain” is a big problem from this explanation, however, our desire for more comfort and more convenience increases carbon emissions which is affecting the cycle of life and the ecosystem.

Let’s take the example of water. It is an important source for us humans and for all living things on earth. Tests show the level of acid or chemicals contained in liquid by a number from 0 to 14. Neutral water is 7, while acidic water is rated below 7. The average rate in which animals in streams, lakes and river can live comfortably is usually around 5 to 6. All living things need a balance of acid and alkaline. However, the average rate of water we have today is around 4 to 5 which is below a healthy content. Some animals can stand living in high levels of acidic water but if they eat insects or plants that are affected they can also be affected. If a plant absorbs this water, it reduces its’ ability to grow and reproduce or survive in cold weather and you might have seen trees with a cover around their trunks to protect them from the cold. This absorption of acidic water will cause wild animals to lose their habitats and food which link to our survival. As a result, as lakes and streams become more acidic, the number of plants and animals and eventually, humans will decrease.

Acid rain is one of the biggest issues in global warming although challenges and actions are already being taken throughout the world. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil the Rio Declaration stated, “Every nation has the right to develop its own resources, but at the same time has a responsibility to avoid damaging the environment of other nations.” In 1997, The Kyoto United Nation Framework Convention was held concerning climate change. This declared, “Reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse causing gases being emitted to 5.2% below the level of 1990.”

Brazil opened the world’s first ethanol power plant this January and is expected to produce 27.8 billion liters of ethanol in the 2009 - 2010 seasons. They are planning to develop this concept in Japan also. Many companies are taking action too. For example, in the automobile industry, more cars are made to emit fewer emissions and hybrid cars are becoming popular. In the electric industry, they are encouraging us to place solar panels in homes to save energy. One residence heated this way can save 216 trees and 62 cans of oil (310 liters). One company has opened a cafe that runs electricity when customers walk. They have set up a tour for students and adults to get knowledge about the environment and actually feel it by camping.

Unfortunately, eco, environmentally safe, hybrid and other labels have been adopted by some companies and businesses as a marketing tool. Therefore, we need to have very clear guidelines and standards and carry out our own research. For example, going to the factory and looking at the process of how the product is being made. You can not just rely on the information that comes to you. If you really want to save the earth, you have to take time to research and see details yourself. You can even teach people to be “eco friendly” by starting off with things at home. Although, we need courage to compromise our comfortable and convenient living, we are the ones who created this disaster so we should be the ones to prevent it and help rebuild our resources. For example, not wasting food, avoid unnecessary idling of cars or use of air conditioners, hanging clothes outside in the sun and running the dishwashers with a full load. Learn from the elderly people and ask what they did. As for transportation, walk or ride a bike, share a ride and use public transportation.

You could also participate in environmental events. This year, one of the events coming up is 22nd in April. It is called “Earth Day.” This is to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment and 13 countries all around the world have joined in this project. Japan is one of them although it is still a small volunteer activity. Earth Day celebrations will be held on the 17th and the 18th of April at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. There you can enjoy cooking and baking, with organic ingredients, making things out of nature and feel how it is to live off the grid. Small things make big changes.

A Special Challenge to Readers in Japan.
Before you go shopping, try using the environmentally friendly product listed below. There are many other goods and perhaps you have some favourites. We have tried the following:

Dr. Bronner (http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/LS.htm)
1. Classic liquid and Bar Soaps
2. Organic Hand and Body Soaps
3. Baby and Sensitive Skin Care

Natural House (http://www.naturalhouse.jp/)
1. Organic Food (Snacks, Spices, fruits, vegetables, etc.)
2. Make-ups and Beauty Products
3. Skin and Hair Care products

Carpet Doctor (http://www.e-carpetdoctor.com/)
1. Super Concentrated All Purpose Cleaner
2. Soy Blended Cleaners ( For washrooms, sinks, bath and tile)
3. Laundry liquid

Help our country become a positive example for our neighbours and trading partners. Let’s all turn off our convenient gadgets on the 17th and 18th from 8:30 to 9:30pm. This small action will reduce at least 5% of the electricity we are using. This is a start and everyone can do it.