By: Samantha Peavler

 On the next couple slides, they will explain how humans hurt our planet. Also, there will be some slides that explain how we could help out planet.  3 ways humans hurt our planet Overfishing Cars Coal mining  5 ways to help the planet Recycle Leave your car at home Walk or ride your bike to work Reduce water use Compost

Ways humans are hurting the planet; Overfishing Mankind's appetite for seafood has emptied our oceans to such a degree that experts worry many species can't replenish themselves. Ninety percent of the ocean's large fish (tuna, swordfish, marlin, cod, halibut, skate and flounder) have been fished out of their natural habitats. It's estimated that unless something changes, stocks of these fish will disappear by Today's commercial fishing boats are basically floating factories equipped with fish-finding sonar. They drop massive nets the size of three football fields that can sweep up an entire school of fish in minutes. Once a commercial fishing boat stakes a claim on an area, it's estimated that the fish population will decline by 80 percent within 10 to 15 years.

Cars There are more than 232 million vehicles on the roads in this country -- only a tiny portion of which are electric-powered or hybrid. A single car emits 12,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year in the form of exhaust. It would take 240 trees to offset that amount. Combustion in the car's engine produces fine particles of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and sulfur dioxide. In high quantities, these chemicals interfere with the human respiratory system, causing coughing, choking and reduced lung capacity. Cars also generate carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas formed by combustion of fossil fuels that blocks the transport of oxygen to the brain, heart and other vital organs.

Coal Mining Market realities create grave risks to mountains in coal (heavy regions, especially in the United States. Coal is a cheap source of energy) one megawatt of energy produced by coal costs $20 to $30, versus $45 to $60 for one megawatt of energy produced from natural gas. Two of the most environmentally destructive forms of mining are mountain top removal and strip mining. In mountain-top removal mining, up to 1,000 feet might be shaved off the peak in order to scoop out the coal inside. Strip mining is used when the coal is closer to the surface of the mountain. Usually the mining company simply dumps the rocks, trees and wildlife in a nearby valley. In West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, more than 1,000 miles of streams have been buried by strip mine refuse.

Ways humans can help the planet; Recycling Recycle. You can help reduce pollution just by putting that soda can in a different bin. If you're trying to choose between two products, pick the one with the least packaging. If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be the equivalent of taking almost 400 cars off the road. Recycle aluminum cans, water bottles, plastic, glass, just about anything can be recycled.

Reduce Water. Pay attention to how you use water. The little things can make a big difference. Every time you turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth, you're doing something good. Got a leaky toilet? You might be wasting 200 gallons of water a day. Try drinking tap water instead of bottled water, so you aren't wasting all that packaging as well. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can. Lets all pitch in with helping the planet and use less water? Take shorter showers? Just a small cut back could help so much.

Walk or Ride Walk or ride your bike to work, school and anywhere you can. You can reduce greenhouse gases while burning some calories and improving your health. If you can't walk or bike, use mass transit or carpool. Every car not on the road makes a difference. One of the main causes of water pollution, especially in urban areas, is runoff from roads and parking lots. Biking and walking require less paved space for roads and parking lots, which leaves more room for the kinds of green spaces that can filter our waters and leave them safe for our kids.

Compost Compost. Think about how much trash you make in a year. Reducing the amount of solid waste you produce in a year means taking up less space in landfills, so your tax dollars can work somewhere else. Plus, compost makes a great natural fertilizer. Composting is easier than you think. Composting reduces landfill waste and incineration, and therefore emissions. It reduces dependence on fossil fuels. Everything you compost at home becomes a thriving habitat and nutritious fodder for an entire population of bacteria, bugs, worms, fungi and creepy crawlies, and what they leave behind becomes nourishing fodder for you plants.

Leave Your Car At Home If you can stay off the road just two days a week, you'll reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year Combine your errands, hit the post office, grocery store and shoe repair place in one trip. It will save you gas and time. Every time you leave your car at home you reduce air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve your health and save money.