Pollution Control Best Management Practices

Companies are required to take steps necessary to ensure that the Pollution Prevention plan works efficiently. These plans when implemented are considered Best Management Practices
or (BMPs) Examples of these practices include:

• Maintenance procedures
• Employ positive activities and procedures that prevent or reduce pollutants from entering waterways

BMPs can be written plans or devices that physically prohibit discharge of pollutants A sample of products that help companies comply with the requirements of the BMPs:

The Pollution Prevention Act extends to all media including air water
and land. Reducing pollution at the source is the main goal for the P2 act. To clarify the new initiative regarding Pollution Prevention, new industries sprang up to bridge the knowledge gap between the government statues and the proper implementation of the governmental regulations. These professional consultant were advisers to business clients on pollution prevention products.

The governmental response to the global pollution is found in the Pollution
Prevention Act enacted in 1990 through the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA has specific mandates considered as the Best Management Practices
to prevent pollution by following specific activities that not only reduce
but eliminate polluting activities.

The purpose and scope of the document seeks to provide the following results

1)Reducing or eliminating waste at the source

(This is done by modifying production processes)

2)Promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances

3)Implementing conservation techniques

4)Recycling of materials rather than adding these materials to the waste stream

Taking the Pollution Prevention Act from a paper document to implementation
involved strict guidelines that states and municipalities had to follow:
Specialized consultants can provide products and information to
industrial locations to help them develop a comprehensive program to address
the problem. Specific guidelines for spill containment, hazardous material handling and safety
measures may require onsite analysis.

Some of the far reaching activities that are implemented by companies and
municipalities include:

• Wastewater pretreatment
• Septic tank programs
• Watershed
• Groundwater protection programs
• Educational activities targeted at residents
• Technical assistance and compliance assistance provided to local businesses and industries
• Local partnership activities between government agencies
• Specific guidelines and practices of municipal and county facilities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the standards and procedures
to enforce the activities that would insure a measurable and positive effect on the
quality of the environment.

As better methods of detection of pollution were discovered, the serious consequences of the problem of pollution is ever expanding. The source of pollution was more extensive than first realized. The most difficult sources of pollution were identified and brought to the attention of governmental agencies that educate industries and the public regarding the problem. There are also governmental guidelines that represented the best practices for pollution control.

These strategies include:

Educate local organizations so they are able to meet compliance standards

Improve practices and procedures to ensure continued compliance

Encourage local organizations to move beyond the basic environmental compliance thresholds

Following the guidelines and procedures of Pollution Prevention (P2 ) provides an unexpected benefit to companies and communities.

-Travis Zdrazil

Abatement of Dangerous Contaminants in Aftermath of Disasters

One of the biggest problems we're finding in the aftermath of huge disasters such as the Sumatra earthquake and the Indonesia tsunami, and hurricane Katrina is that these disasters leave huge amounts of dangerous contaminants. The cleanup of all these environmental hazards can take years and cost millions.

One of the critical keys will be the abatement of dangerous contaminants in the aftermath of such disasters and we need to have a plan in place and FEMA needs to make sure that they have trained personnel and first responders ready to take care of the situation. Easier said than done indeed, there is no easy way to get rid of these dangerous contaminants and environmental hazards or industrial pollution and sewage, as they will be everywhere and soak into groundwater.

It gets worse as the bacteria grows and the insects lay eggs. In the case of hurricane Katrina mosquito abatement is a huge issue because each mosquito lays 400 eggs and nothing can stop the cycle because it becomes a perfect spawning ground for the insects.

Without a plan in place for abatement of dangerous contaminants, mosquitoes and other environmental hazards in the aftermath of large natural disasters things can only get worse. And this compounds the problem in that it turns one natural disaster into two. Consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

The First Step in Reducing Pollution from Shipping

Pooling together their resources, environmental groups filed a petition today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), requesting the federal agency to establish pollution rules and regulations for marine vessels. Shockingly, there are no pollution regulations for these large ocean-going marine vessels, and as a consequence, they are emitting a significant amount of global warming pollutants (3% of the world’s CO2).

With the shipping industry’s growth, emissions are predicted to double by 2020 and triple by 2030. Regulations are needed to take ‘the wind out of the sails’ of this rapid pollution increase. Thee large ships currently are responsible for the transportation of approximately 90 percent of the world's consumer goods. They burn what is known as bunker fuel. Compared to diesel by trucks and buses, this petroleum-based fuel is 1,000 times dirtier.

The resources for innovation exist and they need to be put into use. It is crucial that the shipping industry works to increase fuel efficiency and use cleaner fuels. If ships are not willing to go green on their own, the EPA needs to establish pollution rules that will pressure the shipping industries to change their practices. The EPA has remained far too inactive on this important issue by extending deadlines for the regulations. This slow response will only allow for more damage to be done by the unchecked levels of pollution from carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and black carbon (or soot). The petition filed by EarthJustice on behalf of Oceana, Friends of the Earth, and the Center for Biological Diversity, addresses their concern over global warming and its adverse effects on both the public and environmental health.

For more information:

http://www.oceana.org/north-america/media-center/press-releases/press_release/0/694/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Anselmo

Canvas Bags to Stop Plastic Bag Pollution

The Earth has been facing immense pollution from our garbage and consumption. The latest deadly pollution is plastic bags that fill up the landfills. With plastic bags becoming a growing concern, canvas bags has become the new way to help stop the pollution.

With plastic bag pollution being a rising concern, many shoppers need to start using canvas bags in order to stop the pollution. There's a Youtube music video by Tim Minchin that was released a year ago that sings about canvas bags for shoppers. It did a good job in spreading awareness and the music video was a hit.

Plastic bag pollution is very deadly and takes hundreds of years to break down. Even if the component is broken done, the deadly chemicals will go into the ground and water system. By reducing the usage of plastic bag, Earth can recuperate. That's why canvas bags should be used world wide to help reduce the pollution.

It is our generation to stop the pollution and start using canvas bags as the solution. With global warming going out of hand from gas exhaustion, we don't need any more problems especially plastic bags that are harmful when broken down naturally. These broken down elements cause sickness and destruction to the air, soil and water system.

Use canvas bags starting today as a way to stop the plastic pollution that is becoming a major threat to the environment. Our lives are threatened ever more from the growing usage of plastic bags. It is time you bring a canvas bag to shopping the next time you go to a supermarket.

Tony Andrews is a NY writer. He loves games, animes and movies. With plastic bags becoming a new threat, it is wise to carry canvas bags whenever you go shopping to help Earth and yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_D_Andrews

Don't Be A Victim of Dirty Air

Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about. Can be bad, but doesn't have to be, is easy to manage once you understand where it comes from. The World Health Organization reports that in 23 countries 10% of deaths are due to just two environmental risk factors: unsafe water, including poor sanitation and hygiene; and indoor air pollution due to solid fuel use for cooking. According to the EPA, Indoor air pollution is one of the five most urgent environmental problems facing the United States and among the 13 top environmental problems analyzed. Because of these reports, indoor air is now receiving a great amount of attention. Here are some Facts: Indoor air pollution may exist at levels 2 to 5 times more than outdoors, mostly toxic gases or particles that can harm your health.

The elderly, the very young, pregnant women, and those with allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments are often the first to notice these problems. Homes and offices has been studied extensively in recent years--with sometimes alarming conclusions that have led the building industry to rethink many aspects of design and choice of materials. General Accounting Office has called indoor air pollution "one of the most serious environmental risks to human health,'' yet no agency has authority to control pollutants in indoor air. It has been estimated that 15% of indoor air pollution comes directly from the humans inhabiting the building; the remainder is from non-human sources. That's because everything from pets to gas appliances to paint and cleaning products contributes to this fact. The effects can be costly in the work place too. Building-related illnesses, and "sick building syndrome" have received increased attention over the last several years.

Sources include attached garages, new carpets and furniture, water leaks and condensation, chemical storage, poorly operating heaters, and is worsened by inadequate ventilation. It also comes from a variety of man-made and natural sources including combustion, cleaning agents, and a variety of other substances such as paints, residual chemicals in carpets, and adhesives. Other range of household products that contain potentially harmful substances includes personal care items and candles particularly scented ones, so does cooking and heating with solid fuels on open fires or traditional stoves.

To eliminate indoor air pollution, there must be a good source of fresh air and sufficient air movement. Good ventilation is crucial to maintaining low levels of indoor air pollution as well as installing air purification system for the entire home.

http://www.Ecoquest-world.com

Management Principles of The Environment

The surrounding influences which are now included in the meaning of 'the environment' are the air that we breathe, the water we drink or swim in, our homes, numbers of people, traffic, noise, streets, stores, parks, countryside, seashore, wildlife, factories, farming and mining. It has become the practice in geography to refer to the physical environment when referring to natural features, the human environment when referring to cultural and social conditions and the built environment when referring to urban and industrial issues.

Because it is now apparent that mankind its their own environment by the decisions it makes regarding land use and industrial growth, it is apparent that man has a choice in the type of environment he inhabits. There are areas where action can be taken, such as in planning and rural uses, in conservation, flood control and in resources, all these issues collectively referred to as environmental management.

Government agencies, which seek to control pollution, are seen as the most widespread type of environmental management bodies. All types of pollution can be seen as examples of environmental damage. Various levels of environmental damage can be identified from that which is seen as a local concern and that which is a global concern. Environmental contamination, highlighted by such things as plastic bottles left on beaches to the occasional high levels of noise such as that from aircraft, are seen as the least harmful form of damage to the environment.

An environmental hazard where the pollution level puts organic life at risk of permanent destruction is more serious. Environmental pollution where an organic life is destroyed temporarily in a certain area, such as an oil spill, is more serious again but occurs more frequently. Environmental disaster involving widespread and heavy loss of life is becoming a menacing threat. The recognition of these dynamic environmental issues has led to the creation of many government agencies. The first UN conference on the environment in 1972 issued a 26-principle Declaration which declared the protection and enhancement of the environment to have become an imperative goal for mankind.

As the world population continues to increase the, environmental management to control pollution is becoming increasingly necessary. Unless ecological principles, conservation, resource management and population checks are widely adopted, the environment may degrade to the point of collapse, perhaps in the near future. Because the environment is a well structured system, with varying pathways and alternatives with great flexibility, any approach to instability will be difficult to detect and failure will appear suddenly.

Environmental determination is the belief that all human activity can be explained by environmental laws and controls. It was developed during the 19th century. Environmental determinism is seen as deviation from the mainstream of geographical thought, which views geography as a scientific approach to the describing and mapping regions of the Earth.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Environment Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Read this Article if You Want to Stop Pollution

Do you want to stop pollution? One of the best things you can do to stop pollution is to stop polluting yourself and look in your mirror. Recycle your trash when you can and keep your car tuned up so that it runs efficiently. You could also keep your home immaculate as an example and try not to waste water. You could teach your children about the environment and teach them not to litter. You should be doing all these things already. One thing you can do is volunteer after civic events to work on the trash clean-up crew with your kids, this will teach them to be good stewards and not to pollute.

There are many things you can do to help. Sometimes people go out of their way to tell everyone else what to do yet drive a car with leaky rings which spews out smoke or tell everyone else to conserve fuel while they waste water as it runs down the driveway and into to the gutter and down the street it goes. There is so much you can do and if we all do a little, we all prevent a lot of pollution.

If we are really to be good stewards of our Earth then we must walk the talk and commit to looking into the mirror and asking ourselves; “Am I doing all I can to curb pollution” then and only then can we stop pollution. So do all you can and pass the word on and eventually everyone will make it a habit and there will not be anymore pollution to speak of. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Environmental Engineering Schools

Environmental engineering applies principles of mathematics and science to solve problems of the environment. Opportunities abound in environmental engineering in the many areas of environmental protection, including air pollution and toxic materials control, radiation protection, management of hazardous waste materials, water supply and wastewater management, public health, and land management.

Environmental engineering as a subject is as varied as are opportunities. An environmental engineer may be a designer, a researcher, pollution control operations technician, a professor, a planner, a government official, a manager, or a social worker. Employment may be found in a university, a private consulting firm, a research organization, a testing laboratory, a government agency, or any type of large or small business.

Environmental engineering requires at least a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering, but more often a Masters Degree is expected. A Ph.D. in Engineering provides even more advantages to finding employment in the field.

Subjects of study to acquire a degree in environmental engineering include math, science, and engineering, and as environmental engineering professionals deal with people, studies in the humanities as well as strong skills in writing and speaking are important. Communications studies and a lot of practice are necessary for the environmental engineering professional.

Find the Environmental Engineering School that is best for you at www.SchoolsGalore.com.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc., Managing Organization for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

M. Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find more on Environmental Engineering Training as well as any available Online Environmental Engineering Programs at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante

Environmental Technologies And Their Benefits

With the globe becoming increasingly pollution-prone, all of us face the threat of a dark future devoid of the present beauties of the world. Globally, there is an alarming increase in environmental pollution. Considering the depletion of useful natural resources and the pollution of the environment, the predictions about the end of the Earth no more seem to be wild fantasies. In such a bleak scenario, only environment-friendly technologies can save us from environmental disasters.

Global Warming is one of the most adverse threats the Earth is facing today. It is taking its toll on the world through a whole lot of pollutants. It is high time we heed this alarming fact and take measures to battle the impending hazards.

Environmental Technologies are the only way to curb pollution and create a hazard-free environment. The main concept behind environmental technologies is to convert environmental beneficial material into value added products and services. The purpose of implementing environmental friendly technology is to minimise environmental pollution. Some of the beneficial factors are:

1. Minimum materials as input
2. High energy conservation.
3. Least pollution.
4. Minimum waste disposal.
5. Numerous valuable by-products are recovered.

Environmental Technology is the cleanest and most resource efficient technology. Corporations can gain competitive advantage using these technologies. Many companies utilise environmental technologies to produce common consumer products. Leading players like NTIC produces Polymer Energy with the help of environmental technology for economical and environmental gain. It is an alternative and effective method to recycle and dispose plastic wastes. The Polymer Energy system effectively converts plastics into crude oil with the use of catalytic pyrolysis. Every single ton of plastic waste is converted into 775 litres of crude oil.

Approximately 230 million tons of garbage is generated which is converted into Nature-Tec environmental friendly plastic. Bio-based or bio-degradable plastics are produced using environmental technology. These plastics are fully degradable and prevent the soil from getting polluted. Some of the useful applications of these plastics are carry-out bags, packaging films, trash bags. They can also be used as extrusion coat papers which are used in coated paper cups, trays and others.

NTIC is an extremely environment-friendly and eco-conscious organisation which has completely understood the concept of environmental technology. It is constantly striving to utilise environmental technology to its fullest extent and offer value-added products to consumers. NTIC stands in offering an environment-beneficial clean technology to the public.

Further information about Author can be found in http://www.ntic.com | http://www.polymerenergy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Diana

recycle symbol

Top Ten Tips for Reducing Office CO2 Emissions

There's more pressure than ever for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. Whether climate change is at the top of organisations' agendas or not, measures to reduce CO2 emissions can significantly cut costs and improve staff, partner and customer relations, making business as well as environmental sense.

Give your company a CO2 health check - It's important to determine approximately how much CO2 your company emits and in which areas of the business CO2 emissions are the highest. Some businesses bring in a third party to assess this, however, this isn't essential. Commonsense combined with a decent business-specific carbon calculator are usually sufficient for CO2 health checks in office-based organisations.

Appoint a green executive - If this isn't already in place, a member of staff needs to be given overall responsibility for the company's environmental policy. Smaller organisations may decide to provide an existing member of staff with this responsibility, in which case they need to have the time and the desire to take on the role.

Involve staff - The buy-in of all staff needs to be obtained from the outset if measures to reduce carbon emissions are to be successful. Advise all staff of the company's 'green' plans and request help and suggestions. Ensure staff continue to be involved with the company's environmental direction by establishing a 'green committee' and/or a 'green ideas box' which allows staff to put forward their own suggestions for reducing emissions.

Recycle and re-use - Whenever possible, ensure office waste is recycled or re-used, including paper, IT equipment, office furniture, textiles etc.

Cut-down on paper use - As well as recycling paper, you should implement measures and technologies to cut-down on paper use. Encourage staff to refrain from printing-out emails and invest in document management technology. This technology dramatically cuts-down on paper use as well as the printing and photocopying of paper. With a typical return-on-investment of just six months, document management also makes smart business sense.

Enforce good housekeeping - Ensure staff turn off all electrical equipment when they leave the office, including PCs, phone chargers, photocopiers and lights.

Reduce out-of-office meetings -Where possible,cut-down on car travel by encouraging phone, video and web conferences as opposed to out-of-office meetings.

Promote public transport and car sharing -When staff do have to travel, encourage the use of public transport. A car-sharing pool also reduces the number of car journeys to and from the office.

Look into offsetting schemes - As well as reducing CO2 emissions, look into carbon offsetting schemes, which often have a range of economic and social as well as ecological benefits. Tree planting, investing in 'green energy' projects such as wind farms and providing funds for low carbon technologies in the developing world, are some of the offsetting projects available.
Evaluate progress - After 12 months, it's important to evaluate what impact the various measures have had. Have carbon emissions been reduced? Have staff bought-into the new measures? Have the measures cut costs? Once the results have been evaluated, plan the company's environmental policy for the next 12 months, setting-out organisation-wide targets.

Within the past year, 'climate change' and 'carbon footprints' have been so widely discussed that businesses are in danger of becoming complacent to the part they should be playing in reducing carbon emissions. With organisations trying to profit from the climate change frenzy by offering CO2 consultations and all manner of CO2 reducing solutions, businesses could also be led to believe that implementing measures to reduce CO2 levels is both costly and very time-consuming.

In actual fact, all types of organisation can take steps to reduce their emissions from ensuring staff turn-off their PCs to encouraging web, video and phone conferences. 'Going green' needn't cost a fortune and in actual fact, environmentally-friendly measures can save businesses money whilst improving staff morale.

Catherine Murphy is marketing manager for Version One, a multi environmental award winning Document Management company based in the UK and the USA. They offer money saving document management systems and document imaging software to environmentally conscious business and organisations worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Murphy

19 Hearst Magazines to Include "Please Recycle"

By Geri Weis-Corbley

Hearst Magazines will use the Table of Contents page to encourage its readers to recycle those contents instead of tossing them in the trash. Beginning with July issues, all 19 U.S. glossies will feature the "Please Recycle This Magazine" logo, and Hearst will become the first to adopt, across its entire line, the green initiative launched by the Magazine Publishers of America earlier this year...

Surprisingly, fewer than 20 percent of Americans are recycling their magazines at home, even though at least two-thirds of the population has access to magazine recycling in their communities and curbside. More magazine recycling would help grow the supply of recovered fiber and further reduce demand on the world's forests.

The Please Recycle logo will be prominently displayed in Hearst magazines either on the masthead page or in the table of contents, and Editors-in-Chief will promote the appearance of the logo in their various Editor's Letters and/or elsewhere in their magazines.

The Please Recycle campaign was launched by the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) and is an industry-wide public education campaign the MPA is undertaking with its member publications to get readers to recycle their magazines when they are done enjoying them.

This is not the first time Hearst has shown its green thumb print. It built the first green-certified building in New York City, Hearst Tower, which was given a gold LEED seal of approval and honor by Global Green USA, and has participated in tree planning through National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) and the New York Restoration Project. Riverkeeper, vice chaired by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will honor Hearst on April 19 for its support of the organization.

Pollution Liability Insurance

By Steve Valentino

Pollution liability insurance is known as “pollution incidents"" in the insurance world. There is a thought to suggest that this insurance policy came into picture following the great amount of asbestos litigation in the 1970s. It was around that time that insurers thought it better to do away with pollution liability insurance in general policies and instead offer it independently.

Pollution liability insurance protects you in two ways: one is when the pollution takes place on your property; the other is when you suffer losses resulting from pollution on somebody else’s property. In such cases, it is the insurer’s responsibility to recover costs from the party that caused the incident. Conversely, your policy pays for damages you may cause to other properties.

The most general use of pollution insurance is to protect lenders, buyers and sellers in property transactions. Conventionally, buyers do hire environmental consultants to assess sites. That may take a little over twenty days and cost up to $5,000. Concomitant to the delay, there is another major danger in this. Consultants opine on the current condition of the site and not what may happen in the future.

Pollution liability insurance, on the other hand, guards the insured for the entire term of the policy, including for any later discovery of damage. The policies are largely renewable and can be in place for up to ten years. Also, these policies are a lot more cost effective than a site assessment.

Pollution liability insurance is doubtless a useful and an economically viable way of managing environmental risks. It can be particularly beneficial to those companies that deal with materials that may be considered as pollutants once released into the environment.

Why Rubber Should Be Recycled?

The tyres are recycled in many ways. They can be reused if they are in good shape. You can use them after recycling them. They can be crumbled into rubber pieces and then used later. Recycled rubber can be used to make surface for the playgrounds. It can also be used as fuel. Its uses are many but only after it have been recycled. As such this whole process of recycling is really important one.

Therefore it is not a wise idea to use the waste rubber tyres for landfills either it can be used to benefit a lot of people. People sometimes burn these old tyres in order to get rid off them. The recycling process prevents environmental pollution. The recycling process prevents the manufactures from making new materials and hence it saves a lot of time, money and power or energy. One can create wonderful items from the preexisting old useless rubber tyres just by recycling them. There are many centers or shops that collect old tyres to be recycled later. You can give your old tyres to these centers or throw it away and your old waste materials will indirectly go for recycling.

Let me remind you that burning of tyres causes pollution of air by harmful substances like lead and arsenic. Therefore this practice should be avoided. The recycled rubber should be used in materials like the rubber mulch. This is used for playgrounds, landscapes, arena footing, etc. All these provide a better and convenient life to its buyers.

If you want to know more about Rubber Mulch then it is a good idea to visit Landscaper Rubber Mulch.

Stop Environmental Pollution

Jared Lee

There are a lot of things that you can do to stop environmental pollution. If you don’t know how to get involved, you can start by following these tips.

Make An Online Donation: There are a lot of organizations that can use your financial support. If you do not have a lot time, you can help out by making online donation.

Donate A Used Automobile: If you have an old car, you can also make donation to a program like Car Program LLC. They will use your car to save the earth.

Recycle: Believe it or not, there are tons of things that you can recycle. For instance, you probably know that you can recycle aluminum, metal, paper, and plastic. Do you know that you can recycle mobile phones and car batteries? If you have old clothes, you can donate them to charity. That is one type of recycling. Recycling is not only limited to aluminum, metal, paper, and plastic. Be creative. You will realize that your potentials for recycling are limitless.

Save Energy: Save energy can be simple thing like turning off the light. If your home use incandescent light bulb, you should change it to fluorescent light bulb. Although fluorescent light bulb is a little more expensive, it usually lasts longer. Saving energy can also save your money. Saving environment and saving your money are like killing two birds with one stone.

Encourage Your Friends And Neighbors To Help: Stop environmental pollution is everybody’s duty. It is important to encourage your friends and neighbors to help.