Our Environment

 My name is Jennifer Catalan. I volunteered and helped cleaned the LA River on April 28, 2012. When my professor told the class we had the option to go and clean the LA River, my reaction was, "why are we going to go and clean a river. I am sure that the river is already clean." I was wrong. The river wasn't clean. Everywhere I looked there was trash. For example, there was plastic bags, clothes, cans, plastic bottles, shoes, and etc. Seeing all the trash at the river made me feel disappointed because how did we allow the river to get that dirty? Although I was disappointed to see a part of my home look so unwelcoming,  it also made me feel happy to see children, parents, students, and other people cleaning the river with their buckets, plastic bags, and gloves ready to help.  Also seeing that there are people that care and want to make a change in our environment. My experience there was different. I got to see a part of LA I didn't know. Now I know better not to liter because the LA river is my home too.

Time to Clean the LA River

My name is Maron Azanaw,I go to Cal State La. I volunteered at the La River on a saturday.Cleaning La River was a very good experience but it was really hot that day. I felt proud of myself that I came out there and did a good deed. Cleaning LA River made me realize that I should do more stuff like this. It was pretty fun cleaning up but at times I felt kind of grossed out, when I saw this white stuff in the air and it was getting close to me I started getting freaked out a little. By me doing this,makes me want to do some more volunteer work like every weekends if possible. But overall I had fun and felt like I did something good without it being for me.

Make a Change :)



Hello my name is Jessica Alcala. I am a student at Cal State LA and I'm taking English 101 with Professor Ximena Hernandez. On April 28, 2012 I attended the LA River clean-up day. It was a wonderful experience knowing that you help your environment and you get the opportunity to see how unsafe is the surrounding where you live. Sometimes you don’t really understand on how a plastic wrapper you throw on the floor could affect your environment until you actually see it. While cleaning the river I notice that everywhere I turn I would see plastic bags. Plastic bags is a big issue because plastic is not that easy to dissolve so it would last for a long period of time. We found many types of objects throughout our day cans, shirts, sweaters, shoes, blankets, a shopping cart, metal signs, water hoses, and a tea pot. I would never have thought I was going to find these objects at a river.

               

It might have been difficult waking up early in the morning getting muddy, sweaty, and going up the hill carrying the trash to the trash can (which was a work out) but it was all for a good cause. We made a little change, but there is still many more places we need to change and take care of. So now when you see someone throw something to the floor you can tell them where can it end up and the danger it can cause. We made a difference, but anyone else can make a difference too. We can all work together.

Hello my name is Lupe Marin. I'm a student from Ms. Hicks English 101 class and my service community project was to clean the LA River. Cleaning the LA River was a great experience and made me realize theirs so many people out their that are very dirty and don't respect our planet. I believe if we all get together as a team and actually clean the LA River little by little we can get this filthy place looking into a beautiful place. If the river were to be clean and being in a good condition I will guarantee that families will actually go their on the weekends for a picnic, as they watch the flow of the water go by. I realize that if we don't do anything about helping out and cleaning all the trash it will eventually continue to go to the sea where all the fishes out their will die:(. Now i will think twice about throwing a piece of trash on the ground:)

Hello, my name is Jose Reyes. Im a student from Mrs. Hicks English 101 class and as my assignment I had the option of cleaning Dockwelier beach or the LA river and I choose the LA river. :) Cleaning the LA river was a great experince for me beause it opened my eyes to many things and it changed the way I now look at the enviorment. Now I make sure I throw away my trash and pick up trash on the floors as well as inspiring others to do the same because it was not fun cleaning the river and it needs alot of help. :/ Seeing the LA river so dirty sadden me becuase the river should be a place where families can go on sudays afternoons and have a good time.Unfortunately, the river is not in those conditions but we can achieve it if we put our hearts into it and inspire others to help clean the enviornment. So remember to throw away your trash and inform others because you can make a difference by simply throwing away a piece of trash. Thank You for reading my post. :D 

Hello my name is Cindy Estrada. I am a student from Jenny Hick's English class.The Los Angeles River was a great experience, I was able to see how trashed a beautiful place could be and how inconsiderate we humans are sometimes,but I was glad to be able to participate in this event. Cleaning the River made me realize that if we work together we can make any filthy place a beautiful place once again. The River flows beautifully currents and when the sun rays hit the water, it shines brighter then a piece of jewlery.

Elysian Park, Los Angeles River

Hello my name is Kassandra Martinez. I am a student from Ximena Hernandez English class. Cleaning the Los Angeles River was a great experience I was able to see dry animals and I was also able to touch the water. The river is beautiful the only problem there is, is that each individual trashes the river without thinking about the animals that need the enviornment clean. Cleaning the River and the outside made me realize that we need to keep the environment clean in order for people to be able to have fun and actually be able to adventure the beauty of nature. The trees, the water and the sunshine makes the River a calming place by sitting there and listening to the currents.