Hello. My name is Jeremiah LaMorte. I attend the International School Bangkok. I have done a large amount of research into the "ozone depletion problem". I now believe that the ozone layer is just fine. according to scientists who are specialized in the study of atmosphere and climate, the ozone layer is actually thickening and there are less UV rays getting down to earth. The "ozone hole" we here about on the news is not caused my manmade CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), but by a natural occurrence called the "polar vortex". You are most likely to know of the reports of increasing cases of skin cancer. I believe in two theories to show reason for this. One is that there has been a rise in the fad of sun worship by light skinned people. The other theory I follow is one that reasons that the rise of skin cancer can be contributed to the spread of light skinned people in to environments that they are not used to (in terms of evolution). I think it is important to do the research on a topic, but some people just listen to the news and go along with the hip theory. There has been an 8% decrease in the amount of ultra violet rays that reach earth. If people would be more responsible in using suntan lotion, less people would be diagnosed with skin cancer in my opinion. Write me back and tell me your thoughts on the ozone. Don’t be afraid to express yourself.   Hello. My name is Takako Fukui. I attend the International School Bangkok, ISB. When I was 3rd grader, I studied about ozone. At that time, people realized that they made reason to break the ozone. I never think if we lose ozone. I read the book, which was about ‘lost ozone’. Fluorine  carbon gas is the cause of the break the ozone. When fluorine  carbon gas and ultraviolet ray meet in the stratosphere, they make hydrogen. Hydrogen broke ozone in the stratosphere. Fluorine - carbon gases break out by a hair spray, air-conditioning and a refrigerator. Ozone protects people and plants from bad ultraviolet ray. If we lost ozone, people and plants got directly bad ultraviolet ray in our body. People got sick for that and plants can’t grow up because of strong sunlight. In Japan, many hair spray companies tried to don’t use the fluorine gas in sprays. They made mark for that commodity. It is like those two hands protect the Earth. When I want to buy a hair spray, I can find that mark and believe that commodity. It is good idea to protect ozone from fluorine gas. Our small attitude makes safety for ozone depletion. I’m living in Thailand. I think ozone depletion is serious problem. Thailand is always like summer. So, I’d always had an anxiety for ozone depletion problem. I usually wear T-shirt. So, I’m worry to get strong sunlight and become illness. Especially, children get skin problem easier because they are weak. So we must protect ozone for children and us. What do you think my idea? I want to know more about ozone. Please send back e-mail to me. Takako F. (ISB)      Hello, my name is Yoriko. I'm a 10 th grade student in International School Bangkok. You says "ozone depletion problem" is not serious problem, but I think "ozone depletion problem" is very serious problem in this world. Because now ozone hole is still expanding by old time's CFCs. In old time most countries used CFCs to hair spray and electric appliances without no knowledge that CFCs break ozone. In 1985 world realize that if we dump things that are used CFCs then CFCs rise to ozone layer after long times. Then CFCs is break down by ultraviolet rays and make chlorine. The chlorine destroy ozone layer. The world decided that forbid to use CFCs at all countries before 2000 years. They help poor countries who don't have money to remove CFCs, all countries and cooperate to remove CFCs from the world. I heard when ozone hole expand then skin cancer increase among people, I think the ultraviolet rays will damage other living things, too. All countries tackle the problem seriously, so I think "ozone depletion problem" is real problem. The world realized that CFCs destroy ozone layer, after very long time sinse they start to use CFCs. So I think after long time, the world will realize other substances that damage nature. I think recombination crops is not good for people. What do you think about recombination crops?  Yoriko Miyamoto  International School Bangkok   Hello, Jeremiah. I have a question and a comment:  1) Explain how the "polar vortex" is a natural phenomena, and how it is responsible for the ozone hole over Antarctica. I need more details before I can form an opinion :)  2) You are certainly correct that, over centuries, increased skin cancer rates in Australia and New Zealand are indeed the result of Caucasians moving to these regions of intense solar radiation. However, I believe that increases in the last few decades aren't the result of any shifts in population, but are the result of the increased UV that now reach these regions. Whether it's the result of CFC's or a polar vortex, my understanding is that more UV is reaching Australia and New Zealand than reached these regions a few decades ago.  I appreciate your careful writing and thinking about this major public health problem, and look forward to discussing it further with you :)      Hello. My name is Dan Pantumsinchai and I’m currently working on the I*EARN project in my Modern World History class. This I*EARN is about the current world crisis of the erosion of the ozone layer. I think Michael and Ayumi both have good points but I'd like to point out a few things.  I think everyone knows about the impending disaster, UV radiation seeping through the eroding ozone layer. Getting hit by UV radiation is not a big deal, but the cancer resulting from it is. The problem actually begins with cars, refrigerators, spray paint, aerosol, deodorant, and other everyday objects. The majority of these seemingly harmless objects do in fact destroy the ozone layer, which protects us from the suns violent rays. Not the objects themselves, no! A car won’t destroy the ozone layer; it’s the smoke and gas coming from it. Many refrigerators, deodorants and other such objects produce a certain type of gas, which can erode the ozone layer in large amounts.  So what’s the solution to this problem? As far as I can see, telling people to stop using products that erode the ozone layer is not the answer. What are you going to say to people? “Stop using refrigerators (and have all your food spoil) so that in 30 years you won’t get some form of cancer”? I don’t think so. The average person won’t be concerned by events that MIGHT happen in 20-30 years. It has to be now, otherwise they won’t care. Such is human nature to ignore problems and work until it’s too late (yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Yeah, you at the computer). I think a much better solution is for the companies who produce the products that erode the ozone to make their products ozone friendly. Many companies have taken this approach and it doesn’t reduce the effectiveness of the product. It may be slightly more expensive, but I think the companies should take the profit cut to develop the technology. It will benefit everyone in the long run, but a little foresight is needed.  That works for things like refrigerators and deodorants, but something such as a car, that uses gasoline and produces smoke is totally different. The car manufactures would have to develop a completely new type of fuel that wouldn’t destroy the ozone layer. I guess something like the electric car, but a little more practical. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for your time.   Dan Pantumsinchai International School Bangkok May 3, 2000