Saving the Earth with 125,000postcards

Image 1. A postcard of approximately 2,500 square meters, made of contributions from more than 125,000 individual postcards

containing messages aiming to combat climate change, is pictured on the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland, November 16, 2018.

Photo by: Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP

ALETSCH GLACIER, Switzerland — Kids across the world are worried about global warming.

They showed it by making a giant postcard. The postcard was put on a glacier. A glacier is made

of ice. This glacier is huge. But it is melting.

Global warming is causing temperatures to increase. They are increasing around the world. It is

also known as climate change. Many scientists think this is because of humans. Humans use

cars and electricity. These things are mostly powered by fossil fuels. These natural fuels create

greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is one such gas. These gases go into the air. They form a

bubble around the Earth. This bubble causes the Earth to heat up.

By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.21.18

Word Count 318

Level 430L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

One Huge Postcard

The postcards were about hope. They made promises to take care of the Earth. There were more

than 125,000 cards. Together, they made one huge postcard. The card is half the size of a

football field.

The card is a cry for help. The children want people to save the Earth. Warming weather can

affect things like glaciers. It can affect animals and plants. It can even hurt humans.

Glacier Is Melting

The card was put on top of a glacier. The glacier is the longest and deepest glacier in the Swiss

Alps. Now it is melting. It could be gone in 80 years.

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The postcard was held down with clamps and nets. It was covered with plastic. The plastic will

protect it. It will be safe from ice and snow.

Drones took pictures of the giant postcard. They hope it will raise awareness. They want people

to pay attention to climate change. Organizers plan to use one to make another postcard.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3