The power of the wind

Light winds help us fly kites in spring and cool us in summer. Strong winds take away people’s lives. Winds can be friendly or dangerous. They can also work for us.

Wind power is not new. Five thousand years ago, the Chinese first used windmills（风车）. In 700 A.D., the Syrians and Persians used them too. In the seventeenth century, the people of the Netherlands built windmills to get seawater. Now we can use the wind to make electricity.

In many countries, wind turbines（风力发电机）are everywhere. A group of turbines is called a wind farm.

Wind energy has several advantages. One advantage is that there will always be wind. Wind power is also clean. It doesn’t make air pollution. Farmers like wind power because electric companies pay them to use their land. And they can still grow crops and keep animals on their farms.

Wind power also has some disadvantages. One is that turbines are expensive, although the cost has gone down these years. A second disadvantage is noise pollution. This was a greater problem in the past. Today, if you stand under a turbine, you hear only a soft sound. You won’t hear turbines at all 100 meters away. For some people, a third disadvantage is visual（视觉的）pollution, but other people like to see turbines turning together.

Today, wind power is growing fast. A lot of countries get their energy from wind. Denmark gets 20% of its energy from wind. China is going to get 26% of its energy from wind in 2030. Perhaps one day, all countries will use this safe, clean energy to make electricity.

Technology has done our world wonders: from development in medicine, travel, communication, to our day-to-day lives. It has undoubtedly changed the way our society works, and how we communicate with one another and ourselves. However, by completely welcoming technology as a part of everyday life, are we losing our ability to create?

Technology presents a new platform for creativity to exist(存在)on. Through technology, ideas can be set free and come to life in the physical world. We have the necessary tools for greater possibilities and new solutions. For example, businesses now have the opportunity to improve themselves more creatively through websites, film advertisements,social media or radio.

However, when we look more closely, it’s easy to notice some disadvantages. For example, many of us depend so heavily on automated calculations(自动计算)nowadays, rather than taking the time to work it out for ourselves. Another obvious situation is that a lot of people are spending too much time on screens. As a result, they are reducing the opportunities to come up with their own creations.

Is there a way to find a balance between technology and human creativity? I think so. It is simply a matter of making sure that creativity is not deterred by technology. The first way is to reduce our usage of digital devices(数字设备)by setting limits on when, where, and how long we use them,turning off the notifications(通知)on your phone, or putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb”. Once you become used to these, you will feel surprised how little you think about your phone.

Another wonderful way is to take daily walks in the nature. It can help you reset, rebalance, and keep going. In the long run, a daily walk can not only influence our creativity and imagination but further our physical and mental(思想的)health. We can also develop our creativity by doing yoga, keeping a journal, or reading.

The key to the survival(生存)of our creativity starts with us. Will you put your phone away when spending time with friends? Will you try to find happiness and purpose outside of a screen? The actions you choose to take will help change the relationship between creativity and technology for the better.