My PSA outlines different contaminants, their effects on human and animal life, and their environmental impacts. I wanted to capture two perspectives by showcasing “The Two Sides of Philly”: The green side and highly polluted side. My PSA was specifically directed towards the city and large companies to emphasise the majority of responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions they hold, despite the blame often being pushed onto individuals. With this PSA I aimed to educate individuals on dangerous outdoor and indoor pollution, without making them feel like a future of sustainability is their responsibility ALONE. “In addition to marketing the idea of an individual ‘carbon footprint’, companies should audit their process to identify environmentally harmful operations, and then work to replace them.”

Though I am happy with the perspectives I was able to capture, I wish I had captured the polluted side of Philly better. This could have looked like more images of factories, trash, and neighborhoods.

The most meaningful part of this experience, for me, was being able to analyze an area in which I have spent my whole life exploring. I have had access to both the green areas, and polluted areas of Philly all my life, and this project has introduced me to an entirely new perspective on pollution here. I am more motivated than ever to advocate for families and individuals living in parts of Philly where air quality is much less than adequate.

Biodiversity and the earth’s natural resources are crucial for the preservation of all life on earth. As biodiversity and natural resources decrease, ecosystems destabilize. Human activity plays a significant role in the altering of Earth’s natural systems. CO2 emissions from fossil fuels factories and cars, deforestation, overfishing, general overconsumption, agriculture, and monoculture are all examples of this. As individuals who are part of a larger community, there are myriad ways we can alter our consumption habits to live more sustainably. Consuming less plastic, utilizing public transportation over cars, composting food, and donating clothes are all examples of sustainable living habits. Moreover, advocating for policies to change the consumption and production habits of multi-national corporate entities that drive these environmental impacts, moves us even closer to sustainability.

Reflection:

This project has introduced me to an area of unsustainability that I was previously uneducated on. I feel more motivated than ever to adjust my habits to lessen my eco-footprint. I was especially surprised at the amount of environmental damage caused by overfishing, and the lack of access to sustainable foods in low-income areas.

Faith and I worked together to craft our group’s food truck. I am especially proud of the detail put into the explanation of our food truck, the hand-crafted produce, and our company name.