Grade 7 and 8 students from Kim Wallace’s class at École Desrochers in Jasper submitted opinion letters to the editor as part of the Write-On contest, put on by the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association (AWNA). 

They entered the Write an Opinion category, based on their grade level, in which students are asked to write a 100 to 300 word Letter to the Editor, expressing their views on any issue which directly affects their community.

The following winning entry, selected by the Fitzhugh, will be submitted to the AWNA for judging, and the provincial winner in the Grade 7 to 9 category will win $500.

Entries are judged based on:

1. Clarity of Expression

2. Knowledge of Topic 

3. Logical Reasoning

4. Original Thought

5. Spelling, Grammar, Legibility

Thank you to all the students who entered the contest. We received nine great entries and faced a difficult decision in choosing one. The winning piece, printed here, has not been edited or changed according to a request from teacher Kim Wallace.

Turn Off the Tap!

Dear Editor,

Informing all ages of the importance of saving water, concerns us all. We have so little water to share. If one litre represents all of our water on Earth, 97% is salt water and not available for our consumption. Of the remaining, 99.4% is in ice caps or too polluted to use. This leaves 0.6% of the 3% left for all living beings on the planet. We need to be very careful with where we put the water and how we use it.

Personally, I think it’s atrocious the way people just leave the tap running without a conscience for its direct effects on the environment. 

Is our world worth it? Is it really that necessary for every individual to do their part? The answers to those questions are both yes. A single toilet flush uses more water than most people in developing countries use in a day for drinking, washing, and cooking.

While the daily recommended amount of water is eight cups per day, not all of this water must be consumed in the liquid form. Nearly every natural food or drink item provides some water to the body.

Jasper’s visitor rate in 2006 was 1,988,600 people. Imagine the amount of water which wasted be wasted by tourists alone with hotel laundry and unaware tooth brushers who leave the water running. 

Everyone is affected by the decisions you make right now.

Sincerely

Ayla Paltzat, Grade 8