Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree

1 January 2015Kara L, Mackenzie ‘18

Kara L, Mackenzie ’18, won the Fabrications Speech Contest for Grade 9 earlier this term. The following is the text of her address. For what reason would you possibly use an artificial Christmas tree this holiday season, when you would be better off by having a real tree? Using an authentic Christmas tree will bring you the true experience of the holidays and ensure you are rewarded with the endless benefits real trees offer. Today, I will reveal the truth of why real trees are the way to go this Christmas season, and why fake trees should be avoided. It just ain’t right that people use artificial Christmas trees because they are harmful to the environment, are a health safety hazard, and lack spirit. Although artificial Christmas trees may look beautiful when decorated in a living room, they appear the opposite when dumped in a landfill. Fake Christmas trees cause serious effects on our environment, and it is our responsibility to help their negative impacts come to a halt. Fake Christmas trees are almost always made from PVC plastic, a non-biodegradable material. This causes artificial trees to be non-recyclable, meaning the only place they can be disposed of is in a landfill. The PVC plastic is also made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. It has also been recognized that a large amount of greenhouse gases are released during the manufacturing of artificial trees, linking to the causes of global warming. Clearly, fake Christmas trees are a serious threat to our environment, so why are we supporting their harmful impacts? Along with damaging our environment, plastic Christmas trees act as severe health and safety hazards. Who knew having a fake Christmas tree would ruin your chances of a safe and happy holiday? Artificial trees have proven to pose a number of threats regarding safety and health within a household. One study, led by the Farmington Hills Fire department, conducted a burn test comparing the flammability between artificial and real Christmas trees. The artificial tree caused a much larger fire and was completely scorched by the end of the test, unlike the real tree, which was then proven to be far less of a fire hazard. As well, fake Christmas trees have been classified as health hazards. Researchers believe that the PVC plastic millions of artificial Christmas trees are made of emits dangerous amounts of lead, which can easily be spread throughout a home. In addition to this, plastic trees release dioxins over time. Dioxins are extremely toxic and will be stored in the fatty tissue of humans and animals, later causing depression, neurological damage and cancer. Not only are fake Christmas trees threatening to our health and safety, but to the holiday spirit as well. Artificial Christmas trees lack of spirit and do not fulfill Christmas tradition. Real trees capture the true Christmas spirit with their fresh pine scent and natural appearance. No artificial tree can achieve the crisp pine smell of Christmas, which a real tree offers. Fake trees always appear too perfect, with every branch and needle in a specific place. How is this cheap piece of plastic considered spirited? Real trees are unique and special, and have brought the true Christmas spirit to homes for centuries. If you have already chosen to use a real Christmas tree this year, you have made the correct decision my friend. Using a real tree is the obvious choice, as artificial trees are harmful to the environment, are a health and safety hazard and lack spirit. For your own benefits, I implore you all to purchase a real Christmas tree this year and experience the magic and tradition it brings to the holiday season. Kara L, Mackenzie ‘18

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