HELP US HELP THE ENVIRONMENT

(1) …….. responsibility is it to look after the environment? Yours! And (2) …….. should you start? Right now is the answer! But (3) …….. is going to help you? We are! We are GreenWarriors, the environmental protest group, and we know the answers to all your questions. We’ve put together this factsheets to get you started.

(4) …….. me? We all have a responsibility to the world around us. Ordinary people like you can make a big difference.

(5) …….. can I make a difference? By recycling your paper, glass and plastic and by taking part in GreenWarrior demonstrations and protests in your area.

(6) ……..’s the first step? The first step is to come along to the Green Warrior offices and speak to one of our officers. They will let you know about the next protest in your area.

(7) …….. other organizations are you connected to? GreenWarriors is a completely independent protest organization.

(8) …….. is GreenWarriors based? We are a national organization, with our headquarters in Northampton.

1.23 Study the information about International Green Organizations. Some are campaign groups (spreading information and influencing public, business and government actions), whilst others are involved in conservation work (like creating, maintaining and improving natural sites).

Friends of the Earth (FOE) – campaigns for protection of wildlife and habitats, and improvement of the environment at local, national and international levels.

World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (formerly World Wildlife Fund) – campaigns to protect wildlife and habitats throughout the world. Uses education to show the importance of the world’s natural resources.

Intermediate Technology – works on long-term development in poor countries, using technology appropriate to the needs of the rural poor. Aims to help people to become more self-reliant.

Greenpeace – uses peaceful but direct action to defend the environment. Campaigns to: save the whales, oppose nuclear power and weapons, stop acid rain and protect Antarctica.

Oxfam– involved in practical, long-term improvement of agriculture, health-care and social conditions in poor countries, as well as giving vital short-term emergency aid where and when it is needed most.

Survival International – campaigns to protect surviving native peoples and the environments in which they live. Publicizes the risks to native peoples, and campaigns for their basic human rights around the world.

Green Politics. Many people believe that we must all make major changes in the way we live our lives if we are going to save the planet and ourselves from a harsh and difficult future. This view is put forward by ‘green’ political parties all over the world, many of which are represented in their national parliaments. The West German green party (die Grünen), for example, increased their number of seats from 27 to 42 (out of 520) in the 1997 elections.

The green parties claim to offer an alternative to the usual political choices of the left, the centre or the right. They propose such things as a fairer sharing of the world’s resources between rich and poor nations, and have far-sighted plans for the rebuilding of a new and better society. They believe that all governments should place people, the environment and the quality of life at the top of their list of priorities when making policy decisions.

► Read the text “Greenpeace – Saving the Whales”. Fill the gaps with the correct word from the list:

GREENPEACE – SAVING THE WHALES

Going / whales / film / survive / hunted / campaigns / ban / activists / preventing / extinction / whaling / believe / species

One of the most famous ……. by an environmental group was that of Greenpeace, when they attracted the attention of the world to the fate of ……. In the 1970s. Some ……., including the humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales, had been ……. to the edge of ……., and whaling was still ……. on unchecked. Greenpeace ……. confronted the whalers, ……. them from harpooning the whales. Their actions were captured on ……., and shown to millions around the world on television news or in the papers.

The media coverage given to these actions resulted in growing public pressure to …….whaling. This, in turn, led to the 1982 decision of the International Commission (IWC) to ban commercial ……. for five years from 1985. However some countries have continued whaling since then, though on a smaller scale. Greenpeace are continuing their campaign against these whaling nations. They ……. that after 50 million years of peaceful existence in the oceans, whales have earned the right to ……. in peace.

1.24 Work in a group and discuss these questions:

1 Are you ecologically aware?

2 What environmental problems exist in the place you live in?

3 Which of them do you personally come across?

4 Can you say that you have contributed to the conservation of nature or protection of the environment?

5 What is your opinion about green movement?

UNIT 2 POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION

When examining our effect upon our environment, we cannot ignore the problem of pollution. There are many varieties, including air and water pollution, noise pollution, soil contamination, solid waste pollution.

Sources and reasons of pollution may be different. For example, the principle sources of air pollution are divided into 2 categories: anthropogenic (human activity) and natural.

2.1 Look at the phrases below and decide which can be used to describe anthropogenic factors and which can be used to describe natural factors. Fill in the table.