With the technology industry booming in Korea and Japan, and the wide gamut of products being made in China, pollution has become a great problem for many Asian countries that have developed so quickly from rural areas to big cities and large factory towns.

Even in the United States, immigrants are often focused on earning more, achieving more, and getting more out of the opportunities that this country has to offer, instead of focusing on using less plastic, lowering carbon emissions, and using biodegradable products.

But as cancer towns spring up around China, as natural disasters plague Pacific Island nations, and as global warming becomes a growing concern across the world, are Asians paying attention? Those in the API community active in promoting awareness in these issues are often met with greater concerns and challenges in the community, like poverty, racism, injustice, language barriers, educational issues, and other social challenges.

However, as the struggles of the Marshallese community highlighted in this issue show, the many challenges endured by disenfranchised communities, including immigration, are closely tied to the environment.

There is no greater reminder of our responsibilities to this ailing planet than knowing that many of the socio-political issues we face today can be tied to the environment and a lack of natural resources. Part of growing wiser as a global community is stopping for a moment and finding ways to grow and expand in more sustainable ways.

The only benefit to sharing the responsibility of creating a widespread problem is having the ability to reverse the effects. We can make wiser choices by using less plastic, wasting less water, reusing more products, and being more conscious of our consumer choices. But it’s not all doom and gloom. As we’ve shown in this issue, being green can also involve being creative, saving money, developing a healthier lifestyle, and working closely with our neighbors. When it’s put that way, it’s really not so much to ask. (end)