Scientific

Because environmental problems are so interconnected and therefore complex, scientific information is essential to understanding and solving environmental is­ sues. While more research is clearly needed, it is also clear that disturbing trends are already in motion. It is only a matter of time until these trends reach a crisis point. Some scientists argue that the crisis point is now.

Some environmental problems can only be solved by scientists. For example, new substances need to be discovered or invented to replace the damaging "greenhouse gases." New methods for garbage disposal need to be designed. Fertilizers that do not destroy the soil over time need to be discovered.

ECONOMIC

Because much of today's environmental damage was done in the name of "eco­nomic progress," sound environmental policies must also be economically rewarding. Businesses need to make a profit from recycling, inventing new "en­vironmentally friendly" products and operating new non-polluting factories.

INTERNATIONAL

Pollution of the air and oceans is clearly global in nature. Existing international agreements need to be enforced and international standards need to be followed. More international agreements are also necessary. The existing agreements will be better enforced if citizens know about them and petition their governments and corporations to follow them.

NATIONAL

Today most countries have a department focusing on environmental issues. Governments set rules and establish basic parameters by writing laws, setting policies and by providing tax incentives. Once laws and guidelines are written, en­forcement frequently becomes an issue. Citizens groups are essential to prod governments in the direction of environmental care programs.

LIFESTYLE

There are many ways that individual lifestyle choices can help to improve the en­vironment:

• > Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles and jars, newspapers

• > Save water by turning the water off while brushing your teeth, washing

dishes or the car, taking shorter showers

• > Save energy by turning off lights, TV and radio when leaving a room

• > Buy products that are packaged simply—not in 3 to 4 layers of plastic or

paper

• > Buy products that are made from recycled materials

• > Carry your own bag to the grocery store

• > Use environmentally friendly household cleaning products such as baking soda for basic cleaning—avoid harsh chemical cleansers

• > Learn about the environment—local, national and international

• > Write letters to your government officials expressing your desire to safeguard the earth and its inhabitants—plants, animals and humans

• > Participate in local, national and international environmental activities

• > Enjoy the earth

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Step 1. Exchange your points of view on the questions below. Work in groups.

1. What are the most acute problems which need to be solved in the modern world?

2. What are the negative consequences of the population growth for the world?

3. What are the main reasons of unemployment in the developed and developing countries?

4. Why is alcohol abuse considered to be the greatest national vice in Belarus? How is this problem being solved in this and other countries?

5. What are the dangers of taking drugs? Do you think that drug abuse is a serious problem in Belarus?

6. Which are the most devastating diseases of today’s world? Do you think that it will ever be possible to bring all diseases under control?

7. Why is terrorism one of the major threats to the modern world? What are the goals that terrorists usually aim for? What act of terror have you heard of?

8. What are the main causes and effects of poverty?

9. What are the major environmental problems in the world? Why have they become a matter of great concern to all nations?

10. What is the ecological situation in Belarus? Is it possible to change it for the better? How?

11. What are the ways to solve environmental problems? What can you personally do to save the environment for future generations?

12. What is pollution of the atmosphere caused by? What are the consequences of air pollution?

13. Why should mass media draw the public’s attention to ecological problems?

14. Do you approve of the policy of “Green Peace” movement? Why? Why not?

15. What are the main reasons for climatic changes in the world?

16. Why are the forests being destroyed? What other problems does deforestation cause?

17. Why do intolerance and racism present the major threat to the modern world?

18. Why are demographic problems not easy to solve?

19. What is the situation of the handicapped in Belarus like? How do they cope with their life?

Step 2. Respond to the following statements reasoning your own opinion.

1. Biological weapons can’t cause mass annihilation.

2. Terrorism causes panic and hysteria.

3. Governments should control the size of the family.

4. Overpopulation will definitely lead to exhaustion of the Earth’s natural resources.

5. The situation in the modern world is getting worse.

6. Demographic problems lead to a great number of other problems.

7. Acts of terror can’t be justified.

8. Terrorists kill only for religious purposes.

9. Drug and alcohol abuse lead to crimes.

10. In the 21st century a lot of plant and animal species will become endangered.

11. Rain forests are being cut down at an alarmingly high rate.

12. It is essential to persuade people not to buy real fur products.

13. The misuse of scientific achievements is dangerous.

14. Drug addiction is easy to overcome these days.

15. It is ridiculous to live in abysmal living conditions in the 21st century.

16. More and more people are getting skin cancer as a result of the destruction of the ozone layer.

17. The greenhouse effect is a dangerous phenomenon.

Step 3. Comment on the quotations below. Express your own attitude towards their essence.

1. “Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites”. W. Ruckelshaus

2. “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself”. F.D. Roosevelt

3. “I am I plus my surroundings: and if I do not preserve the latter, I do not preserve myself”. J.O. Gasset

4. “I don’t take drugs because I want to be in control of my life”. (Madonna)

5. “When a man wants to murder a tiger we call it sport, but when a tiger wants to murder a man we call it ferocity”. A.B Shaw

6. “Nature, like a kind and smiling mother, lends herself to our dreams and cherishes our fancies”. V. Hugo

7. “Nature is unchanging harmony”. P.B. Shelly

8. “Who lives to Nature rarely can be poor…Who lives to Fancy never can be rich”. E. Young

9. “We drink one another’s healths and spoil our own”. J.K. Jerome

Step 4. Make up stories using the following proverbs and sayings. The contents of the story should reveal the gist of the proverb/saying.

1. It is not a crime to be poor.

2. Who breaks, pays.

3. The worst enemy of man is man himself.

4. It is never too late to mend.

5. Poverty breeds strife.

6. Drink is the source of evil.

7. Ill comes upon war’s back.

Step 5. Read the beginning of the text and develop the idea touched upon in it.

Take a look out of the window right now. What do you see on the ground? Cigarettes butts, plastic bags, bottles, cans, banana peels, paper bits… Yet, this is a mild example of the littering we all see on an everyday basis. How many people litter every day? Probably, most. We do not only pollute our beautiful streets and parks, we turn the world we live in into a big dump. Littering is not a joke. It influences us all. Let’s consider the broader spectrum of this careless act…

Step 6. Make up and act out conversations that would be appropriate in the situations below. Work in groups of 2 or 3.

1. Round-table discussion on the topic “Drugs – for and against legislation” is going to take place. Invite the opponents and proponents of legislation of drugs and organize the exchange of opinions.

2. Ecologists from all over the world have gathered together to discuss the most acute ecological problems. Each of them takes part in the discussion and dwells on the ecological issue which is the most alarming in his/her country. Putting forward a plan of how to solve this or that environmental problem is indispensable.

3. You’ve just returned from Ethiopia where you had worked as a doctor for several years. You witnessed poverty and its consequences: malnutrition, starvation, outbreaks of infectious diseases, mental illness and drug dependence. Your colleagues in Belarus are eager to ask you a lot of questions connected with your work experience and life in the poor country of the Third world.

Step 7. Arrange a group discussion on the problems suggested below.

1. What may happen to the world in the next fifty years? Are you personally concerned about the future of our planet? Please, explain why.

2. Say what you think about the importance of ecological education. Should it be introduced at schools, colleges and universities? Why? Why not? Give valid reasons.

3. Nowadays every ecologically-minded person can do a lot to save our planet from the coming catastrophe. Do you agree? What do you personally do in this respect?

4. The world’s population will have risen to10 billion by the year 2050. Most people find this figure alarming. Do you? Will we really run out of food, land, energy? What do you think?

5. “Man’s survival depends upon the way he treats the environment”. Do you approve of this idea?

6. The problem of the alternative energy gets so much attention at the moment. Can you explain why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative sources of energy?

7. Disabled people: is it a social problem? Should the handicapped be given equal opportunities in society? Share your ideas.

Step 8. Debate on the controversial statements. Work in two groups. One group should agree with the statements below and the other should disagree. Put forward the appropriate arguments and convince the members of the other group.

1. Extinction of animals is a natural process.

2. Drinking alcohol is just a social custom and not a national vice.

3. Reserves of minerals and fossil fuels will go on forever.

4. The idea “fewer births, greater prosperity” is the only way to solve demographic problems.

5. Global warming is the most pressing out of all the environmental problems facing our planet today.

6. Greenpeace only put forward slogans and take no practical measures to protect the environment.

7. Nothing can be done about anomalies in the weather.

Step 9. Fulfill the following written assignments.

1. As a Geography teacher write a lecture on the topic “Causes and consequences of climatic changes”, that you are going to present to your students.

2. Write a magazine article under the title “We are responsible for the future of our planet”.

3. Write a letter of condolence to the victims of any terrorist attack you know of.

4. Write an advertisement on any of the problems of the modern world. Try to be laconic and persuasive.

5. Write a letter to the Parliament with your suggestions to improve the life of the handicapped in Belarus.

6. Write an argumentative essay on the topic “Animals shouldn’t be used in medical experiments”.