Module 3. Environment Protection

Task 1. Study the information below and complete the sentences with the appropriate forms.

Environment /in’vairənmənt/

Environment-al /in’vairən’mentl/

Environment-alist /in’vairən’mentelist/

Environment-ally /in’vairən’mentəli/

Environs /in’vairənz/ - районы

1. An unhappy __________ can affect a child’s behavior.

2. ___________ problems are of primary concern of the people worldwide.

3. Some extremely polluted territories are called _________ sensitive areas.

4. Perm Land consists of Perm and its __________.

5. ______________ are often calling for the new regulations to be enforced.

6. Many people are polluted about the pollution of the _________________.

7. Some products are considered to be _________ friendly.

Task 2. Read and learn the new words/phrases by heart.

Acid precipitation	/’æsid ‘presipi’tei∫n/	выпадение кислотных дождей
Acidity	/ə’siditi/	кислотность
Surface	/’sə:fis/	поверхность
Fossil fuel	/fosl ‘fjuəl/	полезные ископаемые
Proclaim	/prə’kleim/	объявлять, провозглашать
Cycle	/saikl/	круг
Weigh	/wei/	взвешивать
Nonrecycled	/’nonrə’saikld/	не пригодный для переработки
Sustainable	/’səs’teinəbl/	поддерживающий
Recycling	/rə’saikliŋ/	переработка
Scarcity	/’skeəsiti/	недостаточность, скудность
Solid	/’solid/	Твердый
Wastes	/’weists/	Отходы
Consumption	/ken’samp∫n/	Потребление
Sustainable earthy society	/’səs’teinəbl ə:θ sə’saəti/	Общество, выступающее в защиту землю
Hazardous	/’həzədəs/	Опасный

Task 3. Read the text and do the tasks after it.

The laws of nature

There are four laws of nature:

1. Everything is connected to everything else;

2. Everything must go somewhere;

3. Nature knows best;

4. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The first law can be explained as follows: acid precipitation follows the natural connections in the eco system increasing the acidity of surface and underground water supplies, and damaging both living and nonliving components.

As for the second law it must be said that the widespread effects of acid rain have come to our attention over the past twenty years. A long time ago in order to solve local air pollution problems power plants and other industry decided that they could get rid of their air pollution by building taller smoke stacks that sent the unwanted gases higher into the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, as the laws of ecology note, there is no away to throw things. The result of this misfortune was international acid rain.

The third law of ecology reminds us that human-made alterations in natural cycle will result in problems. This is surely the case with acid rain. Normal rain is slightly acidic. Some acidic precipitation occurs naturally. The ecosystem can deal with this level of acid precipitation. Nature has provided natural buffers in some areas that counteract the acidity. However these buffers cannot handle the acid precipitation created by a person.

The fourth law of ecology tells us that for every technological advance there is an ecological price tag. One of the prices of our fossil fuel burning ways is acid rain. Possibly the most visible damage from acid rain is the corrosion of architectural structures around the world. In Athens, Greece, the Parthenon and other monuments are threatened.

A variety of social factors affect out environment and thus impact on our health and well-being. It is important that we examine these factors and weigh the consequences of our consumption patterns.

We do not always develop wasteful consumption habits on our own: often they are “sold” to us through advertising. The use of nonrecycled bottles is a prime example. Recycling is on the rise due to the public’s recognition of the increasing problems of dealing with solid wastes.

Our current consumption patterns have a tremendous impact on the ecosphere. Where are our excessive consumption patterns leading? It has been estimated that the world has begun a transition toward an age of scarcity. Energy, food and water shortages are already being experienced.

Leading environmentalists have proposed a move from the throwaway mentality toward what they term the sustainable earth mentality. A sustainable earth society must be founded in the laws of ecology, especially the third law. A sustainable earth society is also firmly grounded in the laws of thermodynamics. Slowing entropy through recycling and reusing matter and decreasing our energy consumption are emphasized. This type of society is of necessity decentralized, calling on its people to be more responsible and self-reliant.

There are also inherent dangers in this type of society. When people become dependent on institutions and technology for much of their adapting they may lose the ability to adapt using their personal resources.

Task 4. Translate the underlined sentences into Russian.

Task 5. Decide whether the sentences are true or false.

1. No harm is done to the nature in case some human-made alterations occur. True/False

2. Recycling helps to get rid of the solid wastes. True/False

3. Excessive consumption patterns are not connected with the shortages of food, energy and water. True/False

4. A sustainable earth society is based on nature and its laws. True/False

5. A sustainable earth society has some inherent dangers. True/False

Task 6. Match the laws of nature with the suggested situations.

Everything is connected to everything else/ Everything must go somewhere / Nature knows best / There is no such thing as a free lunch.

1. The cities are crowded with cars. It is very convenient to have a car. You don’t have to wait for a bus for along time. A car allows you to travel whenever and wherever you want. But because of a great number of cars the cities are extremely polluted. It’s very difficult to breath and people are affected by lung diseases.

2. Hazardous wastes are of great concern. It is very difficult to recycle them. The wastes can be stored not only in special sites, but also they can be released into the atmosphere.

3. Deforestation can cause some species to vanish in the next 20 years.

4. High above the earth’ atmosphere there is a protective layer, but it is damaged by the chemicals which are released by fridges, cleaning chemicals, food packaging and so on.

Task 7. Read the text about Greenpeace and speak on the suggested themes.

1. Name 2-3 problems of special concern for Greenpeace.

2. Explain where the name of the organization flagship comes from.

3. Describe one of the banners.

Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action. Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. To maintain its independence, Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments or corporations but relies on contributions from individual supporters and foundation grants. As a global organisation, Greenpeace focuses on the most crucial worldwide threats to our planet's biodiversity and environment.

We campaign to: --Stop climate change --Protect ancient forests --Save the oceans --Stop whaling --Say no to genetic engineering --Stop the nuclear threat --Eliminate toxic chemicals --Encourage sustainable trade Greenpeace has been campaigning against environmental degradation since 1971 when a small boat of volunteers and journalists sailed into Amchitka, an area north of Alaska where the US Government was conducting underground nuclear tests. This tradition of 'bearing witness' in a non-violent manner continues today, and our ships are an important part of all our campaign work.

We exist to expose environmental criminals, and to challenge government and corporations when they fail to live up to their mandate to safeguard our environment and our future. In pursuing our mission, we have no permanent allies or enemies. We promote open, informed debate about society's environmental choices. We use research, lobbying, and quiet diplomacy to pursue our goals, as well as high-profile, non-violent conflict to raise the level and quality of public debate.

And we believe that the struggle to preserve the future of our planet is not about us. It's about you. Greenpeace speaks for 2.8 million supporters worldwide, and encourages many millions more than that to take action every day.

We take the name of our flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, from a North American Cree Indian legend. It described a time when humanity's greed has made the Earth sick. At that time, a tribe of people known as the Warriors of the Rainbow would rise up to defend her.

As one of the longest banners we've ever made summed things up, "When the last tree is cut, the last river poisoned, and the last fish dead, we will discover that we can't eat money..."

Task 8. Look through the text and find the phrases which mean the same:

non-commercial company

the most important ecological issues in the world

to call for

to reveal

can’t follow their own instructions

summarized

Task 9. Replace the underlined words/phrases with the phrases from the previous task.

Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. As a global organisation, Greenpeace focuses on the most crucial worldwide threats.

We campaign to stop climate change, protect ancient forests, save the oceans and so on. We exist to expose environmental criminals, and to challenge government and corporations when they fail to live up to their mandate to safeguard our environment and our future. As one of the longest banners we've ever made summed things up, "When the last tree is cut, the last river poisoned, and the last fish dead, we will discover that we can't eat money..."

Task10. Speak on the topic “What can we personally do to protect our environment?” (about 15-16 sentences).

The following interview can provide you with some ideas.

• John, I know that you are interested with all things to do with the environment and need to protect it. Can you tell me some of the things you have changed in your lifestyle to become a green person?

• Oh, yes, I could. I could think of one or two things that I was trying to do over a last couple of years. I think it’s a couple of years since I got my bicycle out of a garage and repaired it. And now I use it as much as possible. I use my car less. I try to do 10% fewer miles every year. So last year I drove 11.000 miles and this year I’m going to try to do only 10.000.

• So, does this mean that you travel less?

• This doesn’t mean I travel less. This means I walk more often. When I do my shopping I always walk now. I use public transport when I can, usually I’m going by train.

• I’m sure your car runs on unleaded petrol.

• Yes, it does. It’s cheaper and it keeps the air cleaner.

• So, that’s transport. What about in the home? What’s different in the kitchen?

• Well, I save as much as I can. I don’t throw it away. I’ve different bags for different things. One bag has all the cans going into it, the second one has got the papers going into it and the third bag has bottles from olive oil bottles, lemonade bottles. But the milk bottles still go on the door steps, so that they can be reused.

• What do you do with these bags?

• I take them to places where they can be recycled. There’s a place in a village where you can take them.

• Have you changed any of the things you buy?

• Yes, I get washing-up liquids and washing powder that don’t harm the environment.

• But does it get your clothes whiter?

• I don’t think my washing was ever white actually. No, it’s fine.

• We were talking about food. I know you’ve become a vegetarian. Is this part of being green or something totally different?

• Yes, I know. Looking after animals I think is an important as looking after the environment. I mean, they are part of it. So I prefer not to kill animals to eat them. Animals eat food the people could eat. But if people want to eat meat, that’s their decision.

• I think it’s true that people all over the world are becoming more aware of the need to look after the planet. If we don’t look after it, what would happen, do you think?

• If we don’t become more friendly to environment, then the environment will make it more difficult for us so that our life will not be as comfortable. I think we’ll survive, but these are very important times.