7. Read the text and answer the questions: The Acute Problems of Ecology

Our ancestors considered the Earth’s resources to be boundless and endless. We have no right to blame our ancestors for their ecological ignorance: they fought to live.

Even in the 19^th century when the word “ecology” was born people continued to use nature as consumers, considering Man to be “lord and king” of nature and not the child.

In the 20^th century with the rapid growth of science and technology human achievements in conquering nature became so great that man’s economic activities began to produce an increasingly negative effect on the biosphere.

People are striving to reach an immediate objective, and their consumer attitude to nature in disregard of natural laws break natural balance. According to the International Union for the Protection of Nature 76 species of animals and some hundred species of plants have disappeared from the planet in the course of the last 60 years. 132 mammal and 26 bird species face extinction not so much due to hunting as due to the pollution of the biosphere.

The destruction of nature gradually led to the loss of the most essential element of existence, a healthy biological habitat. Environmental pollution increases the cases of disease, raises the cost of medical services, and reduces the life-span of a man. By now the pollution and poisoning of the soil, water and air have reached a critical level.

Environmental pollution has become a significant obstacle to economic growth. The discharge of dust and gas into the atmosphere returns to the Earth in the form of “acid rain” and affects crop, the quality of forests, and the amount of fish. To this we can add the rise of chemicals, radioactivity, noise and other types of pollution.

Economic, social, technological and biological processes have become so interdependent that modern production must be seen as a complex economic system. It is wrong to see economy and ecology as diametrically opposed: such an approach inevitably leads to one extreme or the other.

How can we describe our ancestors’ attitude to the nature?

When did the word “ecology” appear?

When did the problems of ecology become extremely acute? Why?

Why do numerous species of animals and plants disappear from the planet?

Does environmental pollution affect people’s health?

Can you explain the term “acid rain”?

Try to explain why modern production and ecology are closely connected.

8. Read the text. Ecological Problems

Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in harmony with the environment and it seemed to them that natural riches were unlimited. But with the development of civilization man’s interference in nature began to increase.

Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises have appeared all over the world today. The by-products of their activity pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we grow grain and vegetables. Every year world industry pollutes the atmosphere with about 1000 million tons of dust and harmful substances. Many cities suffer from smog. Vast forests are cut and burn in fire. Their disappearance upsets the oxygen balance. As a result some species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever, a number of rivers and lake dry up.

The pollution of air and the world’s ocean, destruction of the ozone layer is the result of man’s careless interaction with nature, a sign of ecological crisis.

As a result of the Chernobyl tragedy the Belarusian people faced the most horrible ecological disaster. About 18 per cent of the territory of Belarus was contaminated with radioactive substances. A great damage has been done to the republic’s agriculture, forests and people’s health. The consequences of the atomic power station explosion are tragic for the Belarusian nation. Only a small per cent of Belarusian land remain uncontaminated. Today we have a great increase in children cancer and leukaemia.

Not only Chernobyl but many of our “peaceful” productions cause a great damage to the environment. Dangerous dust and blow-outs of the enterprises are being carried out by winds for long distances destroying the life around.

People all over the world are worried about what is happening to the environment. They understand that the Earth is their common home, a big green home. The environmental protection should be our universal concern. Serious joint measures to create a system of ecological security should be taken.

Some progress has been already made in this direction. As many as 159 countries – members of UNO – have set up environmental protection agencies. Numerous conferences have been held to discuss questions of acute ecological problems. The international organization Greenpeace is also doing much to preserve the environment.

But these are only the initial steps that must be carried forward to protect nature, to save life on the planet not only for the sake of the present but also for the future generations.