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Topic 3

Safeguarding the environment


our Earth, our Home ( Lets go
Green)

What is Environmental Education?


Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues,
engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a
deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible
decisions.
The components of environmental education are:

Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges

Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges

Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental
quality

Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges

Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges


Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather,
environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking
and it enhances their own problem-solving and decision-making skills.
https://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education

Other definition of Environmental Education

Environmental education may best be defined as a process directed at creating awareness and
understanding about environmental issues that leads to responsible individual and group actions.
Successful environmental education focuses on processes that promote critical thinking, problem solving,
and effective decision-making skills. Environmental education utilizes processes that involve students in
observing, measuring, classifying, experimenting, and other data gathering techniques. These processes
assist students in discussing, inferring, predicting, and interpreting data about environmental issues.

Environmental education is not environmental information. Environmental information is providing


facts about specific environmental issues or problems. This may be accomplished through news releases,
informational brochures, bulletins, videos, or other media techniques. It is often geared toward the general
public instead of targeting a specific group or audience. Information can be very useful to the highly
motivated individual who is concerned about a specific topic or issue and can be a critical element of
environmental education.
Environmental education is not environmental advocacy. Quality environmental education
concentrates on the educational process. It is non-biased and science-based. Environmental educators
may consider themselves environmental advocates in their personal lives. However, in their role as
environmental educator they must remain neutral; there is no room for personal beliefs to take center
stage. It is important for environmental educators to remember which role they are in when working with an
audience.
Environmental problems and issues are complex and there are not simple answers. Often there are
many possible solutions or no obvious solution at all. It is through the processes of quality environmental
education that students can sort through the frequently biased, emotional, and propagandized elements of
environmental issues, weighing various sides of an issue in order to make informed, balanced, and
responsible decisions.
http://www.kacee.org/what-environmental-education-0

Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure people and
damage property. Earthquakes, windstorms, floods, and disease all strike anywhere on earth, often without
warning. Natural disasters are often extreme, sudden events that are usually caused by abrupt climatic
changes and certain environmental factors. A natural disaster can cause property damage, econimic
damage or loss of life. Man has spent years trying to find ways to predict weather patterns, but it seems
that there's still a long way to go because windstorms, earthquakes, floods, diseases, and other types of
natural disasters are still striking the earth with death tolls in the millions. Here's a list of the top 10 natural
disasters that changed the face of the world.

Top 10 Natural Disasters

1. Floods
When an expanse of water overflows, it submerges land and
destroys everything that gets in its way. This is a flood. Floods are usually
caused when the volume of water within a lake, river, or other body of
water exceeds the total capacity of the body. Sometimes, the water level
rises and causes it to overflow its channel.
Worst Case: The world has seen
numerous floods throughout history, but the Yangtze River floods were the
most disastrous ever recorded. They were caused by torrential rains and killed more than 3.7 million people
in southern China.

2. Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violent, rotating, funnel-shaped clouds that usually extend
from thunderstorms to the ground and have wind speeds of between 50
and 300 mph. A tornados path of damage can exceed 50 miles in some
cases. Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while others are not. Similarly,
there can be only one tornado at a time or there can be a large number of
tornado outbreaks along, what are called squall lines.
Worst Case:
Tornadoes are responsible for causing an average of 70 deaths
and over 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year. The Tri-State tornado that
hit Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana in 1925 is still the deadliest tornado of all
time with a death toll exceeding 695.

3. Extreme Temperatures
Extreme temperatures caused by a heat wave or cold wave
are one of many climatological hazards. A heat wave increases the
temperature in a certain region and pushes the human body beyond
its limit. The same is the case with a cold wave that is accompanied
with heavy snowfall and extreme cold, which may lead to hypothermia.
Worst Case:
The deadliest heat wave of
all time struck Europe in 2003 and
led to 70,000 casualties.

4. Avalanches
An avalanche is a geophysical hazard caused by a large
amount of snow sliding down a mountainside. It is a common
sight in some mountains in winter. When an avalanche moves
towards ground level, it gains mass by amassing snow from the
snowpack and is usually at its highest speed when it gets nearer
to the bottom of the slope. An avalanche occurs when the snow
packed down on the surface fails to carry its weight. Rapid wind
speed, major temperature changes, and manmade influences are
other common factors causing avalanches.
Worst Case:
The Huascarn avalanche in Peru is considered the deadliest in
history it was triggered by the 1970 Ancash earthquake and killed more than 20,000 people.

5. Droughts
A drought occurs when a region doesn't receive enough rainfall which
leads to a severe deficiency in the water supply. When the situation
persists over an extended period, it changes the ecosystem and
destroys the agriculture of the region.
Worst Case:
The Horn of Africa witnessed
the worst drought in 60 years in
2011, leaving more than 12.4 million
people with limited to no food supply.
Due to its impact, a draught has to be included in the list of natural
disasters.

6. Wildfire
In the United States, over 90% of wildfires are caused when
people leave campfires unattended, discard cigarettes
carelessly, etc., but long-lasting lightning bolts can also start a
fire in wild lands.
Worst Case:
The Peshtigo
Fire in Wisconsin is
the deadliest wildfire
in U.S. history with estimated deaths of over 2,500 people.

7. Tsunami
Usually caused by a powerful earthquake, underwater
explosions, landslides, or volcanic eruptions under the ocean
floor, a tsunami is one of the deadliest types of natural disasters
and can affect millions of people. Tsunami waves get bigger as
they approach the coast and cause tremendous damage.
Worst Case:
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami is the deadliest of all time
causing about 280,000 deaths.

8. Volcanic Eruption
A volcano is formed when magma from the earth's upper
mantle moves to the surface. It takes the form of a pool filled with
molten rock. A volcano erupts when pressure builds. This can
cause hot ash flows, lava flows, lateral blasts, falling ash, and
avalanches. An erupting volcano can often trigger flash floods,
tsunamis, mudflows, earthquakes, and rock falls.
Worst Case:
Indonesia witnessed the deadliest volcanic eruption in 1815 when Mount Tambora erupted and killed over
92,000 people.

9. Hurricanes

Cyclones, tropical storms, typhoons, and hurricanes


describe the same disaster type. Basically, these types of
natural disasters refer to a closed circulation system in the
atmosphere that consists of strong winds and low pressure.
The winds rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere and
counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere. A tropical
cyclone is usually characterized by a low-pressure center with
strong winds and spiral rain bands.
Worst Case:
Bhola
cyclone that hit
Bangladesh in 1970
is considered the deadliest since it caused the deaths of over
500,000 lives.

10.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are one of those types of natural disasters that


strike without an early warning. An earthquake is the result of
the sudden break within the upper crust of the earth, which
may also break the surface and lead to the vibration of the
ground.
Worst Case:
In 2008, the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck
Wenchuan, a county of Sichuan Province in China was
devastating and killed over 61,150 people.

http://www.enkivillage.com/types-of-natural-disasters.html

10 Worst Man Made Disasters of All Time


Mankind has frequently created catastrophes that devastate the environment and taken lives. The
10 worst man-made disasters of all time are difficult to determine with so many blunders. However,

excluding the loss of life resulting from war, terrorism or transportation disaster, this list includes the
incidents that have had the most affect on people and the environment.

1. Londons

Killer Fog

Londons Killer Fog


With the advent of industry, Londons population was
accustomed to seeing foggy, pollution laden air. In 1952
however, this pollution took a tragic turn. This winter, the
weather was cold and residents burned more coal in their
fireplaces to alleviate the chill. The smoke laced with
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and soot, and left London
encased in a black cloud of near total darkness and killed
over 12,000 people.

2.

The Al-Mishraq Fire

The Al-Mishraq Fire


Another of the 10 worst man-made disasters of all time
was the Al-Mishraq fire on June 24, 2003. This fire at an
Iraqi sulfur plant burned for about a month releasing
sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide can kill
people by causing respiratory problems and also creates
acid rain which destroys crops.

3. The

Nuclear Power Plant Explosion in


Chernobyl, Russia
The Nuclear Power Plant Explosion in Chernobyl, Russia
On April 26th 1986, the Chernobyl Plant in the Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic had a major meltdown which
resulted in the atmospheric release of radioactive material
four hundred times more radioactive than Hiroshima. Since
the accident there have been countless children with birth
defects, a sickening increase of cancer sufferers and many
other health issues as well. It is estimated that the disaster
could result in nearly 100,000 fatal cancers, and the area
wont be safe for any activity, including farming for up to
200 years.

4. The

Kuwait Oil Fires

The Kuwait Oil Fires


The Gulf War oil spill is the largest oil spill in history making it
one of the 10 worst man-made disasters of all time. In 1991,
following the invasion of Kuwait, Hussein sent men in to blow
up the Kuwait oil wells. They managed to set over 600
ablaze and these burned for over seven months. The oil spill
that resulted from the fires caused considerable
environmental damage.

5. The

Destruction of the Aral Sea

The Destruction of the Aral Sea


The Aral Sea was one of the four largest lakes at one point
in time. However, in the 1960s, the Soviet Union diverted
the waters from the rivers that fed the lake to irrigation
projects. The sea has now shrunk by 90 percent and the salt
and sandstorms that the devastation created kill plant life
and have negative consequences for hundreds of miles
around.

6. The

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill


On March 24, 1989, the American oil tanker the Exxon
Valdez collided with the Bligh Reef. This created an oil spill
with far reaching consequences in the Prince William Sound
in Alaska. Over 11 million gallons of oil spilled over nearly
500 miles polluting the coastline. Over a quarter million birds
were killed and countless other wildlife. Over 11,000 people
aided in the clean up process.

7. Dioxin

Pollution

ICMESA Dioxin Pollution


On July 10, 1976 in Meda, Italy, a reactor in the ICMESA
chemical company exploded. This led to a toxic cloud of
dioxin being released into the atmosphere. Dioxin is one of
the most toxic chemicals known to man. While no one died
as a direct result of the accident, many children were
affected by the serious skin disease chloracne from the
accident.
8. The

Love Canal

The Love Canal


In the 1940s a strange smell enveloped the area around the
Love Canal near Niagara Falls. Residents also began to
notice an odd seepage leaking into their yards and people
began to fall ill. In addition, many women began to have
miscarriages and give birth to babies with birth defects. Upon
inspection, it was discovered that there was over 21,000 tons
of toxic industrial waste buried below the surface of the town
by a local company.

9.

The Union Carbide Gas

Leak

The Union Carbide Gas Leak


On the night of December 2, 1984, the
pesticide plant in Bhopal, India began to
isocyanate gas and other poisonous
atmosphere. Over 500,000 were
there were up to 15,000 deaths at that
more than 20,000 people have died
accident from gas-related diseases.

Union Carbide
leak
methyl
toxins into the
exposed
and
time. In addition,
since
the

The Three Mile Island Nuclear


Explosion
10.

The Three Mile Island Nuclear Explosion


In Harrisburg, PA on March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island
nuclear reactor experienced a partial core meltdown. While
little radiation was released from the accident thanks to a
working containment system, this accident became the
rallying call for fears about the nuclear power industry.
Livestock deaths, premature deaths and birth defects have
been attributed to the nuclear melt-down.
Man can have a devastating effect on the environment and the 10 worst man-made disasters of all time
have had a negative effect on the environment for decades afterwards. Frequently these disasters are

related to poor industrial oversight within developing countries. However, even with regulation a
catastrophe can strike.

Things we can do to save/ help our environment

1. Switch off anything that uses electricity when not in


use. If you're not using it, turn it off. This goes for lights,
televisions, computers, printers, and so on.
Put timers on lamps and use them to turn off lamps at
the same time each day. Timers like these can be found
in hardware stores and they can be plugged into outlets,
then control the power to your lamp.
You can also find heaters and fans that have timers on
them. So if it's cold or hot during the night it will switch
off for you. Most of the timers go for an hour and then
automatically switch off.
2. Unplug devices when possible. Leaving devices
plugged in, such as laptop chargers or toasters, can use
"phantom" energy. Even when an appliance is turned off,
it may still use power.[1] It is best to unplug anything that
you do not anticipate using in the next 36 hours (or
more).
Use a power strip to turn lots of things off with the flip of
a single switch. You can plug all your devices in one
areasay, your computerinto a power strip. When
you're done, simply turn the power strip off with the
switch.
Measure the energy your devices use or look up typical energy use. To measure usage yourself, use a Killa-Watt. You plug an appliance in through the Kill-A-Watt, and it measures the power use. This tool can also
tell you whether a particular appliance or device draws power when it is turned off.

3. Trade in your dryer for a good old-fashioned


clothesline. Air drying leaves your clothes smelling
fresh and is environmentally friendly. Tumble
dryers are among the biggest energy users in
most households, after the refrigerator and air
conditioner. If you do use a dryer, make sure to
keep the vent clear, for safety as well as
efficiency.
Also, when using a washing machine, make sure
you have a full load of dirty clothes. Do not just
put a couple of dirty clothes into the washing
machine as that wastes water. Instead make sure
you have a full load of dirty clothing to conserve
the water and electricity.

4. Conserve water. The average family of four in the U.S.


uses about 400 gallons (1,514 L) of water every day.[3] Make
conscious choices to lower your consumption of water.
Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub only one-quarter to
one-third full.
Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
Install low flow faucets (taps) or aerators, low-flow shower
heads, and low-flush toilets.
Run your dishwasher only when it is completely full.
Wash full loads of laundry in a washing machine. Choose a
front-load machine if possible.
If you hand wash your car, park it on your lawn and use buckets and sponges. Use the hose to rinse. Use a
hose nozzle to stop the water or turn the hose off between rinses. Keep in mind, however, that the soap
and other cleaning products might go down the storm drain (if you have one), leading to pollution.
If you have a swimming pool, use pool covers to reduce evaporation and keep leaves out.

Plant drought tolerant landscaping, and consider xeriscaping. Maintain your outdoor irrigation and water no
more than is necessary.

5. Recycle all you can. If you have curbside recycling,


use it. Be sure to separate your recycling into glass,
metal, paper and so on.
Take special trips to a recycling center if you dont
have curbside recycling, or if you need to recycle
certain materials not accepted by your recycling
service.

6. Avoid using disposable items. Anything you use only a


few times and throw away consumes resources only to
spend centuries in a landfill.
Carry your own reusable cup or water bottle, eating
utensils, and cloth shopping bags with you. Pack a
waste-free lunch.
Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable
batteries. Batteries not only take up landfill space, as
they can't be incinerated. They also can leak acid into
the Earth.
Dispose properly of hazardous waste. Many materials,
including batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, e-waste (most
anything with batteries or a plug), cleaning products,
pharmaceuticals, pesticides, automotive fluids, and paint, should never be disposed of in a landfill, sanitary
sewer, or storm sewer. Instead, contact your city for proper disposal opportunities.

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