My 5: Artie Knapp, Author and Illustrator

Artie Knapp, author and illustrator. Photo: Courtesy Artie Knapp

When Blue Planet Green Living interviewed author Artie Knapp, we asked him our two favorite questions. Here are his responses. — Julia Wasson, Publisher

What are the five most important things we can do to protect the planet?

1. Our water supplies are vital for our existence, and we must do a better job of keeping them clean. Among other things, we have to put a stop to garbage being dumped into our oceans.

2. Improving our air quality by enforcing stricter emission standards is something that must never wane. We must also enforce stricter penalties on organizations that don’t properly dispose of chemicals.

3. The BP oil disaster in 2010 was a strong reminder that we have to find safer alternatives for energy. Doing so will not only keep our air cleaner by having fewer vehicles burning fuel, but it will also help alleviate disasters that destroy food supplies, as well as natural habitats.

4. We have to keep our communities cleaner by picking up waste. Cleaner communities help alleviate the spread of diseases and sickness.

5. Bees are dying at alarming rates, and the ramification this will have on pollination is profound. If this rate continues our world’s food supplies will face dire consequences. This isn’t making headlines like it should be, and more funding is critical for scientists to get a better understanding of what is causing this to happen.

If you had two minutes with President Obama, what would you say to him?

I would tell President Obama that I appreciate his service to our country. I think he has done a lot of positive things, especially with what he inherited from his predecessor. I would also wish him well on his reelection bid in 2012.

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