Инглиш / Story of stuff Student's copy

Independent Work Assignment

Topic: Environmental issues

I. Getting started. Look through the quotes below, choose the one you like most and comment on it. 1.“ The Earth is what we all have in common”. (Wendell Berry) 2.“The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it”, (Barry Commoner) 3. “One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken”, (Leo Tolstoy)

II.The story of stuff The Story of Stuff is a short animated documentary about the lifecycle of material goods. Filmmaker Annie Leonard wrote and narrated the film to show a critical vision of consumerist society. Vocabulary notes: 1) extraction- добыча 2) production-производство 3) distribution-распределение 4) consumption-потребление 5) disposal-утилизация 6) finite- ограниченный, имеющий предел 7) to haul- перевозить, транспортировать 8) to undermine- подрывать, разрушать 9) handful- горстка, небольшое количество 10) brominated flame retardant(BFR)- бромированный антипирен(компонент, добавляемый в материалы органического происхождения с цельюо беспечения огнезащиты) 11) sacred- священный, неприкосновенный. 12) brunt- основная тяжесть, бремя. 13) slums- трущобы 14) current-поток, течение 15) “maquiladora”(исп.)- сборочный цех/предприятие. 16) stewardship-контроль, надзор 17) obsolescence- устаревание (planned obsolescence- запланированное устаревание). 18) dump, landfill- свалка 19) impediment- препятствие, помеха 20) scant- ограниченный, скудный 21) incineration- сжигание, кремация.

“I hold true to the vision and values that governments should be of the people, by the people, for the people”. (Annie Leonard)

III. Points for discussion

1. In the picture above you see the example of materials economy(also known as “linear economy”). Why is this system called “unsustainable” ?

2. The materials economy has major effects on people and the environment. How does it influence people and environment?

3. What role do governments and corporations play in the materials economy according to A.Leonard?

4. Planned obsolescence is another word for “designed for the dump.” Do you agree with this statement?

5. Have a look at the bottom of the 1^st page. Do you share the author’s opinion?

IV. Brainstorming Divide into 2 groups and brainstorm any possible solutions to the problematic question below:

What could replace the materials economy?

VI. Linear economy vs circular economy A. The graph below shows two major types of economies. Which type is more sustainable and why?

B. Work in small groups and discuss the following questions below: 1) What are the most important components of a circular economy? 2) Can the Internet and other forms of IT promote the circular economy? 3) Will moving toward a circular economy require changes in consumer behavior?

VII. New approaches to sustainability. Match concepts with their definitions. In what way can these approaches contribute to the sustainable environment?

1. Cleaner production	a. is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators, or the ocean.
2. Green chemistry	b. A sustainable system in which a product iscreated using renewable energy, with no pollutant output and no waste-the materials used in production are recycled and reused rather than discarded.
3. “Zero waste”	c. use of energy that is collected from renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves and geothermal heat.
4. Closed loop production	d. preventive, company-specific environmental protection initiative intended to minimize waste and emissions and maximize product output.
5. Use of renewable energy	e. is an area of chemistry and chemical engineering focused on the designing of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances to prevent pollution and reduce consumption of nonrenewable resources.

VIII. Writing Write an opinion essay of 220-270 words on one of the following topics:

1) Marketing and consumerism: the major enemies of a healthy environment. 2) Steps I take to save our planet. 3) The flip side of the industrialization.

P.V.Khliust, DEOL, BSEU