The world is a beautiful place. Everyday the sun rises, the dew glistens and food service opens. Each new day is so full of possibilities that one must kneel down in awe and reverence to live in such a glorious world. Never before in all of history has mankind enjoyed all of the bounty and beauty that we do today. Yet never before in history have we been in such grave danger of destroying all that is good and wonderful from right under our noses. Pollution, deforestation and the consumption of natural resources are destroying the delicate balance that holds the world in check. I believe that it’s the consumption of our resources, one in particular, that should be at the forefront of our attention. For if we are going to keep the world as wondrous as it is for our children, then we must make sure that we don’t use up all the blue.

In recent years the blue usage in the United States alone has tripled. Blue jeans are being produced in the millions, blue pens are flying off the shelves and Kellogg’s has put hundreds of blue fruit loops in every box. If this unchecked usage continues, the naturally occurring blue that seeps in to the ocean, and the sky will cease. The waters will turn beige and the midday sky will turn burgundy. All the world will look like a cheap motel. Greenland will turn to Yellowland, and I think we all know about yellow snow. But more importantly, I’d like my future children to be able to love the blue goodness of the world as I do today.

There is still hope. People around the world are working to halt the de-bluement of the Earth. Scientists are currently working hard on developing alternatives to pure blue. The current projects include fake blueberries and fake racquetballs, but unfortunately the research has not been met with much success. Due to the alternative materials used, the blueberries weigh over 60 pounds and taste like vitamin B pills, and the racquet balls explode after three bounces. Until scientists make a blue breakthrough, we will still have to conserve this great resource.

What can I do to help? Even one person can make a difference. If you have any blue clothes, turn them in to your local blue recycling program. You can also recycle blue carpet, blue M&M’s and blue eyes. (Have your doctor help in the removal process.) Every ounce of blue that can be saved is worth it. Along with recycling, you also can join one of the many organizations to stop the wasting of blue.

The California-based BPS, Blue Preservation Society, is one of the fastest growing of these organizations. Their main project is catching wild bluebirds and blue jays and stripping them of their feathers which are melted down into usable blue.

KAB, or Keep America Blue, is another productive blue preservation society. The members are positioned at regular intervals along most major highways and confiscate any blue vehicles so that the evil blue paint can be recycled.

The BSV, or Boycott the Smurf Village, is one group who destroys any and all smurf merchandise. They claim that any smurf toy sold is furthering the destruction of the world. They also have a problem accepting that Smurfette is the only smurf with hair, but that’s another issue entirely.

All of these organizations, and many more, are just people like you and I taking action to save the world from non-bluedom. But we need everyone in the world to join in the fight. Until we as a people learn to conserve not only our blue, but all of our natural resources and to protect the delicate balance that we have, the danger of destroying our wonderful world will still be great. And don’t even get me started on running out of pants.

Michael Dahlstrom is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Ankeny.