By KATHY JORDAN

The clean white dresses and fragrant flowers won't look the same this spring compared to the messy incinerators and garbage dumps. Through the haze of the factory smoke, by the dirty river, we take our spring hike. It's not funny because it's all too true.

Of all the problems of this world, the one that strikes me as vitally important is that of pollution. Everyone is sick of that familiar title, but it has many others. For example, the environment problem, the conservation crisis, and perhaps more simply, human survival.

What do the other problems matter if we cannot survive? Just because we live with this contamination, we don't have to treat it with casual awareness.

It is important, and it is important now!

Aren't you looking forward to the beach this summer? (The clean fresh air whipping your hair as you run through the beautiful blue water, squishing sand between your toes.) Now this picture has changed to include the polluted air and water. Instead of squishing sand you might get alewives.

Pollution starts small. It can be a pencil on the floor in study hall, a milk carton missing the trash can at lunch, or a cigarette flipped out the window of your car.

We have at the most a generation to retard the effects that the pollutants have done, and it will be a difficult job to do. If the oceans go, man also will go.

Automobiles constantly pump pollutants into the air. Why can't the government be firm with the manufacturers? They're not playing with a toy. They're risking my world and my life; and I, for one, don't like it.

Many articles I've read and people that I have discussed this problem with say to understand it you must have the facts. I say, not necessarily. All I know is that people are endangering my life and my whole environment. I want to have something to say in this decision and I will.

This is not a remote problem; it is here in Des Plaines. Look at our air, our coffee brown river, and at the center of our town. To be more specific, look at our cafeteria.

I am not content to stand by and watch "the men in power" dig a grave for me; are you?

I remember hearing of a plan being passed in Student Council concerning pollution. The federal government has more influence in this issue, but Student Council is our government and will listen to any constructive ideas concerning the problem of pollution.