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“Reality is that which, when you don't believe in it, doesn't go away."

Green Business Gas?

By Katie Salazar, Northgate H.S., Walnut Creek,  CA

Many gas stations in Bay Area communities have become “green businesses” although there is still room for improvement, the number of environmentally safe gas stations has been increasing over the years, and companies have been improving the maintenance of their gas stations to help reduce environmental risks. 

 “We have certain guidelines set out by the Chevron Company that we as a business must follow. We follow the rules and recycle cans and bottles in special bins next to the market. We don’t wash the parking lot because of all the oil that sometimes drips onto the concrete, and we use special chemicals to clean it that will help protect fish if waste gets into storm drains. We also utilize filters and stay very organized. I’d say we’re pretty environmentally friendly,” said the assistant manager of the Walnut Creek Chevron station.

Most gas stations in the Bay Area are corporate owned and so must follow a list of rules for cleaning that are regulated by the government. “We have a list of precautions we have follow,” said a Valero gas station worker. 

But how does whether or not gas stations take these precautions affect teenagers using said gas stations? “I’m not usually concerned with whether or not they are ‘green businesses,’ it usually just depends on how badly I need gas,” said Northgate High junior Kelsey Farabee. 

Often teenagers are encouraged to buy gas at whatever station is cheapest at the moment and do not look into whether they are supporting clean stations or not. “I would stop going if I heard something, if I found out there was some sort of scandal. Fuel efficient cars are good, helping to save the environment, but at the same time environment preserving cars and equipment can be more expensive. I try to always at least carpool with friends. hopefully with time things will improve and more people will jump on the bandwagon,” said Northgate senior Natalie McKenna. 

Unfortunately, some student drivers are just apathetic towards environmentally efficient gas stations “I just go for whatever is cheapest,” said junior Jenna Bertuccelli.

Most students and faculty at Northgate High school either were unaware as to what a “green business” was or were simply uninformed as to which gas stations considered themselves to be green. "My brother-in-law runs a “green” auto-shop, but I don't know which stations are which; if I knew that one was not environmentally friendly, I probably wouldn't go there," said English teacher John Miller.  

Poetry Insight of the Tree By Vanessa Schell, The Waldorf School, El Sobrante, CA The wind caresses her like a lover Her leaves bend into foreign shapes And her branches sway romantically. Standing in the same place for all of time she constantly sees        something new. And today I noticed that she blooms in winter, Wakes up in the middle of a rainstorm, and I think to myself,        'She's confused.' For her flowers wither away into nothingness when spring comes        around and she waits for the silence To bring herself back. And I wonder if maybe it's really me who’s confused. She waits for the silence of death knowing it means life and can't        help but bloom a little early, Although it isn't early for her but just right. For she understands that life and death are one and mean the same thing. The cherry tree waits with the wisdom I only wish I had. Before the Hurricanes By James Theodore, Environmental Studies Academy, Briones School, Martinez, CA Before the hurricanes I thought That's their problem, which was to any disaster. Now that I have come to my senses it's everyone’s problem, From the groceries that we eat To the gas that takes us beyond the horizons we see. Sympathy is new to me but it still can go from Good to bad and in a second, vice versa. I won't sympathize with the people doing hateful, greedy, and bad things. Their choices were their choices, and mine are mine. Sympathy will change people in a big or small way: For me a small way, because it was already inside me. Where is it in other people? Haiku from the De Anza HS Poetry Club, Richmond, CA Water meanders Down the river where the sun Sparkles it to light                                           – Thu Anh Trinh The moon shines brightly In the midnight mood while it Waits for its true love.                                           – Thu Anh Trinh The leaves are falling Down the watery stone steps of peace and silence                                           – Jenny Siprasert The sun is shining Autumn leaves fall peacefully Smiles all around me – Catherine Eguilos