Jodi John
Sustainable Sarasota, Sarasota County Government
Editor's note: After bugging Jodi relentlessly to submit her story, she finally sort of acquiesced by submitting this letter that she wrote to the editor when  she was a Riverview High School student. She also submitted the history of Sarasota County's Sustainability Efforts. Thanks Jodi!!!
Published: June 4, 1970
Column entitled: Letters to the Editor - Our Young Citizens Have Their Say...
Dear Sir:
I think that it is about time for the people of the world to get off their merry go-rounds and take a good look about themselves.
What has man done to his environment?
I feel that we have changed a once-beautiful world into a 'rat race'. I feel that people no longer express any concern over their environment or their neighbors.
People seem to be so wound up in themselves and the progressiveness of the nation that they have little time to take a look at society. People finally realize what's going only after they don't do anything about it. Society seems to feel that we are making great leaps and bounds to the perfect society (with space trips and the powers to create life). But what we are really doing is destroying life with pollution, war, and greed.
I urge everyone to try to enjoy life for life's sake and not for the sake of materialistic values placed on you by society.
Jodi John
