DISASTER IS AVOIDABLE Answer the following questions. 1. How is pollution affecting the environment of your country? 2. What can you do to help make this world a better place by preventing and reducing pollution? 3. Do you think recycling is important? Do you recycle? Does your local government make it easy for citizens to recycle? 4. What can large cities do to improve their air quality? Do you think private cars should be banned from city centers? Under what circumstances? 5. What types of energy are popular in your country? What are some ways energy is wasted? Which alternative energy source would you choose to develop? Why? 6. In what ways can we save more water? 2 BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION A clean and healthy environment is necessary for healthy living and it is we human beings, who should make all the effort to avoid its pollution or destruction. There are many things each of us can do to reduce our impact on the environment. If we all use energy, transport and other goods and services more responsibly, we can reduce harmful emissions to our air, water and land. By becoming aware and doing the right thing, we choose to be part of the solution. Reduce, reuse and recycle Consumption is the first step in the process of pollution creation so, if we reduce our consumption, it will automatically reduce pollution as well. We have largely become accustomed to a throwaway lifestyle, but that is neither healthy nor ecological. The industrialised world simply consumes in a way that is not sustainable and the developing world is rapidly imitating the model. Reducing consumption (that is, getting in the habit of only buying what we need, buying biodegradable products and products that have little packaging and recycling) and re-using all items, instead of throwing them away, are necessary if we are interested in decreasing our own contribution to waste. We should recycle any waste that is recyclable: paper, plastics, glass and metals. Even organic peelings from vegetables can go on a compost heap. Still usable clothes or things that are of no use to us should not be thrown away but given to someone who needs them. Public education systems should play a major role in spreading the correct type of information on how to reduce consumption of everything. Educated populations should support stronger environmental regulations in their countries. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, have also made it easy for people power to help spread the knowledge and share ideas on how to improve the state of the environment. Cut the car About half of the air pollution comes from cars and trucks. Cutting down on the use of cars reduces consumption of fossil fuels and helps keep air pollution under control. Whenever possible, rather than driving a car or riding a motorcycle, we should commute smart by walking, biking, using public transportation or carpooling to school, work or to run errands. Save energy and water Most traditional sources of energy burning fossil fuels cause pollution so anything we can do to save energy will help to reduce pollution (and global warming as well). Primarily, we should choose clean sources of energy, like solar and wind power. Switching off lights and electrical appliances when we leave a room or when we do not need them are easy habits to pick up, which also help save a lot of money. To consume less electricity and lower electricity bills, we should also choose energy-saving electrical appliances and replace fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. 188 Module 5 ELEMENTS