Category: Environmental Issues

By its formal definition, light pollution means the superfluous, unwanted, or poor use of manufactured light during nighttime. Other aliases include photopollution and luminous pollution. This is correct, by all means, but is inadequate in such a way that it doesn’t speak for all the parts that go into light pollution. In other words, light pollution is much more than that. More often than not, this specific type of pollution is overlooked. Light pollution effects are often ignored and aren’t a substantial topic of interest globally. However, the severity of this cannot be disregarded. Light pollution clouds up the night sky, is closely knitted with air pollution, degrades environmental quality, and most importantly, damages living organisms. Light pollution is worst in parts of Asia and Europe, specifically Singapore, Hong Kong, and Qatar, although many places are somewhat affected by it. What many don’t know is that light pollution can be resolved almost instantly. By and large, light pollution is a serious, topical matter and has adverse effects on Earth’s ecosystems and atmosphere (“Light Pollution”).

Anthropogenic activity is a prominent source of light pollution. In the most basic sense, this is wasted light and heat energy that is directed upward by poor lighting structure design. Research has shown this is most evident in areas that have numerous amounts of LEDs, instead of the standard sodium-vapor lamps. Although the diodes are relatively inexpensive and known for their power efficiency, people start overusing them, using LED lights in areas that don’t need them. Since electricity is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, there is a fine line between air and light pollution. Therefore, controlling the latter will also resolve the former, and vice versa. Skyglow is produced by reflective particles in the atmosphere. As light escapes into the atmosphere, the particles within scatter the light photons, creating a dim glare in the nighttime sky that blocks the view of the stars. This is called the Rayleigh Effect and is also why the sky appears blue during the daytime. Skyglow also results in a bright nighttime sky. All of this is inimical to astronomers hoping to observe the skies. However, skyglow causes nitrate radicals to disintegrate chemical substances that are connected to smog and ozone pollution. This means there is actually lower smog and ozone pollution in light-polluted areas. If, for example, this is prominent in a town of only 3,000 people, the 10% skyglow level will cause significant unclarity for an observer as far as six miles away (“Light pollution”).

There are three identified categories of light pollution. The first is glare. This refers to inappropriate light that causes visual unease. Nighttime driving is the epitome of this. The second is clutter, which is excessive sets of lights. For instance, Times Square has plenty of clutter. Lastly, light trespass is the third type of light pollution. Light spreading beyond where it is needed is an example of light trespass. Excess glare adversely impacts visual acuity by impairing the human eye’s ability to adjust to the dark after being in the light. This “recovery” time tends to increase with age and makes nighttime driving a dangerous hazard for old people. In some heavily light-polluted areas, the night sky doesn’t darken so much that citizens can fully achieve “night vision” when out in the open at nighttime (“Light Pollution”).

This type of pollution is destructive for birds and other animals, especially those that migrate. These animals get disoriented when flying past big, bright cities. A study made by the American Bird Conservatory shows that more than four million of these birds die each year in the US by colliding with brightly illuminated buildings. This is considered to be one of the contributing factors in the decline of migratory songbird populations. Additionally, moth and caterpillar populations get disrupted due to their avoidance of lit areas. Namely, sea turtles lose track of direction due to disruptive lights during migratory seasons, resulting in their death. A number of insects are also attracted to bright lights, but end up dying when touching them. Astonishingly, a recent study shows that some birds living near big cities, disrupted by traffic noises and unnatural lights, start singing five hours before dawn. Due to this, numerous cities have developed a “Lights Out” program, where citizens are advised to turn off their lights after a certain time. Light pollution also may hurt the human circadian rhythm. It also affects melatonin production. Nocturnal light means lower melatonin, which leads, potentially, to sleep deprivation, tiredness, headaches, anxiety, cancer, and other health-related problems (“Light Pollution”).

There are four myths commonly associated with light pollution (“Five Myths about Light Pollution”).

Myth: only big cities have light pollution.

Although they do have more anthropogenic light, light pollution can also be a problem in small towns. This is because small towns tend to be near wildlife and even just a fraction of it has a big impact.

Myth: birds are afraid of light.

They are actually drawn to light, known as being positive phototaxic. When birds fly into brightly lit areas, they get overwhelmed and can’t get out.

Myth: light pollution has worse effects on birds in the winter when it is darkest.

Light pollution is most disastrous for migratory animals during the fall or spring. Research has shown that light pollution causes stress in birds and decreases their immune system.

Myth: more efficient LED lights help curtail light pollution.

LED lights are good for our environment. However, when people start overusing them, that’s when it becomes bad. Additionally, blue-light LED bulbs are even direr to the environment.

Countless steps are being taken around the world to cease the expansion of light pollution. Organizations like the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) are improving Earth’s light pollution situation. In recent years, light pollution has gotten worse. A recent study shows one-third of the world’s population cannot see the pure night sky at nighttime. More than 80% of the human population lives under a cloudy night sky, and 99% of Europeans and Americans. The IDA was formed in 1988 to defend the night sky from light pollution. Numerous quotas are being taken today to limit light pollution. These include warmer-colored bulbs, motion sensors, and dimmers, minimizing blue light emissions, regulating unnecessary lights, and, most importantly, well-designed light fixtures. The IDA predicts that more than 75% of light pollution is the result of insufficient light fixtures. A measure of light wavelength is Color Temperature (CT). As the frequency increases, the energy of the light increases as well. Correspondingly, the wavelength decreases. The American Medical Association recommends a CT of less than 3000k for street lights and lampposts. Middle schoolers can get involved in many ways. Some of these are assessing the lighting around someone’s residence, using sky-friendly lighting at home, spreading the word, becoming a community scientist, setting up an outreach table at a community event, and being an advocate for lighting policies and ordinances in your town. People, in general, can also help. Citizens are participating in the Globe at Night (GaN) program to monitor light pollution. GaN volunteers submit night sky measurements through the smart app. Places that have no light pollution are called Dark Sky Parks (“How Can You Help Curb Light Pollution?”).

All in all, light pollution is one category of pollution that is often overlooked. Heavily light-polluted cities have bad environmental qualities, disrupted animal behaviors, and, most noticeably, a clouded night sky that obscures stars. Air pollution goes hand in hand with light pollution. Today, almost all electric energy is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, which releases carbon, a harmful gas, into the atmosphere. On the bright side, what many people overlook is the competency to solve light pollution. Unlike other forms of pollution, this specific type can be resolved rather quickly. And that is why it is crucial for the human population to come together and elucidate light pollution.

One of our main resources on earth is water and everything on this earth needs water to survive. Water is found below the earth’s surface which means that the water can be easily contaminated. Nowadays, water pollution is considered a serious problem in Macau. Goal number 6 Target 6.3 from the Sustainable Development Goals tackle this issue and by 2030 improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally (Sustainable Development,2018). Water pollution is any change in the physical, chemical, or biological properties of water that will have a detrimental consequence on any living organism. The demise of the freshwater is not inevitable, however, there are many solutions that can help this demise. A positive change could be made when all Macanese take action by establishing the polluter pays principle, permitting penalties for ballast water, and even flushing with seawater.

This essay will focus on the water pollution problem in Macau. First, it may be a form of dust emissions from the ground blowing into the nearby waters; secondly, heavy metals may come from fly ash landfills; finally, more and more buildings and land dredging will eventually transport toxic chemicals to the sea. It’s ridiculous that Macanese are using freshwater for Toilet flushing but not the wastewater which is generated in every sector of Macau. That’s really caused a great water-wasting problem.

As we all know, Macau’s population density is the highest in the world. Industrial and commercial activities are more developed and consumption levels are high. Nearly 100,000 tons of sewage are produced every day. The first solution to this case of water pollution is establishing the polluter pays principle in Macau, It is designed to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an environmentally responsible way (Chris Woodford, 2006). It means that anyone who causes water pollution must pay to clean it up in some way. Coastal water pollution in Macau has been deteriorating over the years. The treatment plant has aged and the amount of wastewater that has to be treated every day has already exceeded its handling capacity. Coastal waters have been contaminated several times, but three years later, these problems still threaten the quality of water in the area. So we need to think of a way to tackle the water pollution problem. polluter pays principle may mean that tanker owners should purchase insurance covering the cost of oil spill cleanup. Polluter pays can operate in a variety of ways. For example, this may also mean that consumers must pay for their plastic food bags, which is now common in Ireland to encourage recycling and reduce waste (Chris Woodford, 2006). This may mean that factories using rivers must have water pipes downstream of their sewage outflow pipes, so if they cause pollution, they themselves are the first people to be polluted. This method can not only reduce water pollution, and increase public awareness of environmental protection, but also increase the urban economy. Therefore, Establishing the polluter pays principle in Macau is designed to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an environmentally responsible way.

On the other hand, In Australia, vessels are not allowed to dispose of ballast water without having the proper permits. Ballast water from other places is often not allowed to be dumped at all in Australian ocean water. When loading ballast water many micro-organisms are introduced into the sediment ballast tank. Many of these creatures are able to survive in these tanks. When the ballast water is discharged and the organism is released into the new environment, the ballast water can affect the environment. If appropriate conditions exist in this release environment, these species will survive and multiply and become invasive species. Therefore, the second method to achieve target 6.3 is permitting and penalties for ballast water, and the application in Macau is to restrict the discharge of sewage from ships in Macau and require all ships in Macau to install oily water separators (OWS). OWS is a piece of equipment specific to the shipping or marine industry. It is used to separate oil and water mixtures into their separate components.

The last method is flushing with seawater, this method can save freshwater directly. Flushing with seawater can help save precious freshwater resources. In addition, the supply of seawater consumes less electricity than the supply of water, thus reducing carbon emissions, and users can reduce water bills. It actually kills two birds with one stone, we can save money and save the water source at the same time.

It is possible to apply in Macau. Because Hong Kong has been doing it successfully, it is a very good example for Macau to reference. If Macau wants to be like Hong Kong, the Macau government should change the plumbing materials, and the Macau government has a very strong financial ability to achieve it. Otherwise, the existing materials are not available to be resistant to seawater corrosion. If the government did it, there should not be any problem with the maintenance of the inside service after conversion to seawater for flushing. The quality of seawater for flushing actually does not need to be treated to the same standard as fresh water, but its standard still has to comply with the guidelines laid down by the WSD to ensure the quality of seawater for flushing is acceptable. The seawater is firstly screened by strainers to remove sizeable particles and then disinfected with chlorine or hypochlorite to ensure the water quality meets the WSD’s guidelines on color, turbidity, odor, and so on, before being pumped to service reservoirs and for distribution to consumers. In fact, using seawater to flush is no different from using freshwater, the government needs to achieve it as soon as possible.

Generally speaking, water pollution will bring economic losses, damage the ecology, and affect health.

• Economic losses

Water pollution not only directly leads to the death of high economic value aquatic products, but also reduces the light penetrating into the water, and slows down the photosynthesis of plants in the water, so the food provided to high-food-level organisms will also be reduced, resulting in a reduction in fish production. In addition, the environmental damage caused by pollutants also requires a lot of money to repair.

• Destroying Ecology

Because the water is polluted, the habitat of organisms in the water will also be destroyed. Affected organisms are not confined to polluted habitats but to the whole ecosystem.

• Impacts on health

Drinking contaminated drinking water and eating seafood containing contaminants (such as heavy metals) can affect health. At the same time, high levels of E. coli and other pathogens in water can also cause diseases.

In conclusion, the Macau government can make the situation better by using ways such as establishing the polluter pays principle, permitting and penalties for ballast water and even flushing with seawater. Macau is a high-density population area and freshwater is the worst affected. Through the essay, some solutions to these problems remind citizens to protect the environment in Macau and these methods work in other places. The issue of water pollution is global, After that, goal 6.3 will have a way to do it and everyone needs to work together for the sustainable development of the city. no matter whether saving water at home or the government implements a new water-saving policy. Hence, certainly, all characters in Macau should participate in a way to reduce water pollution.

References

1. Natalie Leung. (2011) Experts call for attention to coastal water pollution. Retrieved from http://macaudailytimes.com.mo/archive-2009-2014/macau/26082-experts-call-for-attention-on-coastal-water-pollution.html
2. Chris Woodford. (2006) Water Pollution: An Introduction To Causes, Effects, Solutions Retrieved from https://www.explainthatstuff.com/waterpollution.html
3. Measures Taken to Reduce Water Pollution in Australia. (2017, November 6). Retrieved April 6, 2019, from http://www.pta.asn.au/index.php/news/66-measures-taken-to-reduce-water-pollution-in-australia
4. WSD. (2017) Seawater for Flushing Retrieved from https://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/core-businesses/total-water-management-strategy/seawater-for-flushing/index.html

An individual’s dependence on the use of plastic grows stronger as each year passes, resulting in a massive quantity of detritus being discarded in oceans. Although plastic may be the most versatile material with favorable qualities (mechanical resistance, durability, etc), it has created serious environmental issues that keep snowballing due to its non-biodegradable properties as it takes thousands of years to decompose. With its exponential production and negligence towards recycling and waste management, millions of plastic waste are carried and accumulated in oceans instead of a recycling plant.

At this alarming rate of plastic use, there will be more plastic than aquatic life present in the oceans by the year 2050. This is because, the build-up of litter in oceans, traps and imprison animals in fishnets or debris. It also has a more fatal effect as the ingestion of plastics by organisms concerns the entire food chain of the marine ecosystem.

Besides, the arrival of microplastics and microbeads of plastics from cosmetic and body care products pass through filtration systems, which pose a potential threat to aquatic life as well.

The use of plastics can also have severe impacts on human health. Since chemical additives are used in the production of plastic, exposure to these toxic chemicals can cause cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, and other health problems.

To overcome plastic pollution, the waste hierarchy could be followed. It consists of the three R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle. These basic principles can be implemented in our daily activities which would help to live a sustainable life.

To efficiently reduce and reuse plastic pollution, multi-use and durable products can be purchased so that the use of plastic spoons, straws, and plates can be avoided.

It is very crucial to reduce the use of single-use plastic. The plastic pollution crisis has increased significantly, and the word ‘single-use’ was the word of the year in the year 2018 by the Collins Dictionary. And lastly, it is also important to recycle properly. Recycling prevents pollution as it reprocesses materials into new ones which reduces the need to collect new raw materials.

Along with following the waste hierarchy, many individuals have also participated in a beach or river clean-up organization. This can be said to be one of the most direct and rewarding ways to fight ocean plastic pollution.

To combat plastic bag addiction, countries like Canada, India, and Peru aim to ban single-use plastic by 2021. The goal is to replace single-use plastics with ‘reusable, biodegradable plastic or others whose degradation does not generate contamination by micro-plastics or dangerous substances.”

Many companies such as Starbucks and McDonald’s have also taken the initiative to phase out plastic straws. Although cutting straw usage won’t solve the whole pollution problem, it is still the first step towards it.

While Australia has decided to place nets on drainage pipes. In the city of Kwinana, two drainage nets in Henley Reserve were installed. The nets are designed to prevent waste from flowing into natural reserves. This kind of waste management is cost-effective as it is easy to install and collect them so they can be transported to a sorting facility.

Global warming has been a raised topic of concern in recent times. But what is it really, what does it affect and how does any of this affect humans? In recent years, ecosystems and many wildlife within our oceans have been destroyed by the brutal effects of global warming. Increasing temperatures affect coral reefs, plankton, seals, and polar bears. All of these animals are essential to survival in the wild. This raises the question. Why are these different types of wildlife important? The answer to the question is simple, they keep our ecosystem alive and thriving. Bees are a large population of wildlife that is affected. Fruit and flowers all exist because of bees. Without them, the world would be a very barren, colorless place. With raised talk of increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere, global warming is not only affecting ecosystems themselves but the things that keep these ecosystems alive and thriving. Global warming is a very large and broad topic and many things are related to this topic. We are experiencing things in the world that haven’t happened before and global warming is to blame. You may be wondering, how do bees and other animals fit in? Well, these animals are being directly affected by increasing temperature causing them to decrease in population. There is a lot that goes into trying to prevent global warming and if we all stand together we definitely can make a difference. Global warming is directly human inflicted and finding ways to help reduce your carbon footprint can not only help the planet but it can also help save these animals that are vital to the growth and success of our ecosystems.

To begin with, global warming is a huge problem and is defined as the overall warming of the planet. Humans are partially to blame for this occurrence and greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere hold a large part of global warming as a whole. The presence of climate change comes from global warming. Climate change refers to changes in weather patterns the expansion of warmer seas and the melting of ice sheets and glaciers (NASA). Global warming causes climate change and it poses a serious threat to our lives in the forms of increased occurrences of natural disasters and extreme weather. Many organizations provide solid information regarding climate change. NASA and many organizations provide the public with diagrams showing the long-term effects of the increase in CO2 and how this concentration has occurred over the years. Greenhouse gases are a large part of global warming as they trap heat on the surface of the earth and cause more heat. In some ways these greenhouse gases are useful but in the long run, they have a disastrous effect on our environment.

Bees are essential insects for our environment. Pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the female parts of a flower to the male parts. The result of pollination is the formation of a fruit or seed. We are able to enjoy apples, watermelons, cucumbers, and other fruits because of bee pollination (Charlotte). They pollinate flowers and different plants to make different fruits and allow plants to flourish. Without them in the environment, plants would suffer tremendously and flowers would no longer blossom. With an increase in CO2 levels and global warming, bee populations could begin to die off at faster rates, which will heavily disrupt ecosystems worldwide. There is clear evidence of recent declines in most pollinators. It is crazy to think that such a small insect can make such a difference in the success of an ecosystem. It is estimated that close to 90 percent of all flowering plants benefit from animal pollination (Spear). Which equals up to around more than 300,000 plant species worldwide. So if the bees begin to die from an increase in temperatures, those plants that require the bee’s pollination will eventually die off. A research study that was done, compared to how bees will survive in different conditions. If the bees were in a cooler and normal environment they thrived, but when placed in a hotter environment, the bees died. This small insect has the power to keep plants and ecosystems alive all over the world and they deserve to be protected to maintain a good ecosystem. Especially if it human-caused.

Even though it is proven through science that global warming is human-caused and is actually happening, people still believe that it is natural for the earth to be warming at these rates. As people avoid the fact that global warming is happening and wildlife and ecosystems are dying, they are ignoring facts instead of doing something about it. Even educated, high-up officials don’t believe that global warming exists but in all reality, it is happening as we speak, and some actions can take place to help prevent climate change. Specifically, President Trump’s administration is notorious for denying that global warming exists. In addition to this, most of the officials in his administration have no experience on the topic and are only in power because they oppose global warming. This isn’t how this topic should be approached. If the American people’s high officials are taking action to prevent global warming and climate change, they will be more likely to take a stand to help prevent it. Action and policies need to be put into place to help save the environment. To make a real difference in the world it is going to take time and money to fund programs to help the effort, but if this action takes place, it is more than possible to reduce global warming. Congressional action is one of the first steps to help limit climate change from CO2 emissions on a large scale. Reducing emissions from power and industrial facilities, and advancing nuclear energy, which is the largest source of zero-carbon energy in the United States, will play a role in any long-term change. Improving energy efficiency not only helps reduce carbon emissions, but it also reduces emissions from power plants, improves the energy grid during periods of high electricity demand, saves consumers money, and creates jobs. Continued and improved federal action can produce stronger and better environmental benefits. These are just a few ways the government can help prevent the continuation of climate change.

Life as we know it could be changed in a matter of 30 years if action is not taken place to try to fix this climate change. Ice caps are melting, oceans are rising, polar bears are decreasing in population and the coral reefs are dying as we speak. We can’t avoid the facts. The ocean provides quite a bit of wildlife in our entire world. There are millions of species that live in the ocean that are crucial for the food system to survive. If one species is affected and dies off, it affects the animal that eats that in the food chain. Everything has a chain reaction. Just a few examples of the effects of climate change on the ocean environment deal with plankton. Plankton may seem to be a small thing in a massive ocean, but they play a major role in the success of the food chain. Plankton are the beginning of the marine food chain, and if anything happens to them, the rest of the food chain will be severely affected. Many whales rely on plankton as a constant source of food, if the plankton begin to die, then this will affect the lives of whales which are crucial to the marine ecosystem. You then may wonder how whales really affect us. This can affect us because if these whales die off or any animal dies off in an ecosystem, the species that are eaten by these predators will thrive. Thriving of a species may seem good for the environment, but it is actually worse. If a species thrives it can lead to overpopulation which may cause species to destroy the population of animals it feeds on. This is only one reason why whales and many other animals are affected if global warming continues.

Similarly to how bees provide pollination to let nature thrive, coral reefs give the ocean its natural beautiful quality. When we think of coral reefs, we think of colorful species thriving with life and diversity. But because of the recent temperature increase, the coral reefs are slowly dying off. The coral reefs are severely affected by increased temperatures. Coral reefs are home to hundreds of species and if just a few of these species die, there will be an instant change to the ecosystem. Coral bleaching is the result of increased ocean temperature. The bleaching is a stress response. “When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality” (National Ocean Service). Corals are turning from colorful thriving areas to bare and white, stressed environments. Also if the coral begins to die, so will species that rely on the coral to survive.

Reducing your carbon footprint is taking different actions to try to limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere which is associated with climate change. There are many ways that we can limit our carbon footprint. These ways truly make a difference if enough people work to find a solution. Some of the ways include: limiting greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural businesses. These emissions are an even bigger problem than fossil fuels. Red meat is mostly to blame because the animals consume 11 times more water and produce 5 times more emissions than their poultry counterparts (Holth). The second way we can limit CO2 emissions includes reducing the use of our technology. The article suggests keeping tech unplugged at all times unless it is being used. Another way we can contribute is by driving less. Using public transportation or using a bike or walking will limit the emissions released. A different way we can contribute is by planting a garden that can produce plants that can absorb some CO2 in the atmosphere. A final way we can contribute is by eating local and organic. This can help to limit the shipping of foods around the country by keeping them local. These small changes may seem like they won’t make a difference but in the long run, when even more people contribute, this will definitely make a difference. Action needs to be taken to help the entire world and all the ecosystems within it.

In conclusion, with the increased talk of global warming, action needs to be taken to help prevent the release of carbon emissions, which is the leading human-caused effect on the environment. The environment is dying because of humans. There are ways to prevent this from happening. Bees are essential to our environment, without them, we wouldn’t have the fruits and flowers that make our environment colorful and thriving. Plankton provides the first level of the food chain and if they die off, the food chain will be severely affected. And finally, if coral reefs die so do the many species that rely on it. Everything in life causes a chain reaction. One thing always affects another in one way or another. Congressional action needs to be taken to help protect the suffering environment. People who have no experience in these topics should be allowed to create bills on topics they have no knowledge of. Carbon emissions are being released at an all-time high by humans and are directly correlated to global warming. This is a fact and action needs to be taken to protect our only planet. Little things like driving less, and limiting the use of technology will help in the long run but action right now in a time when it is most needed in our lives will help change the environment for the better to make sure our world is thriving at its full potential. Those are the reasons why we need to help to save our environment.

Cited Sources:

1. “Carbon Dioxide Concentration | NASA Global Climate Change.” NASA, NASA, 15 May 2019, https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/.
2. Holth, Jesse. “7 Instant Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 6 June 2017, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/7-instant-ways-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint_b_59321992e4b00573ab57a383.
3. “Honey Bees Are Pollinators.” Pollination Facts – American Beekeeping Federation, https://www.abfnet.org/page/PollinatorFacts.
4. Honey Bees Are Pollinators.” Pollination Facts – American Beekeeping Federation, https://www.abfnet.org/page/PollinatorFacts.
5. “Marine Problems: Climate Change.” WWF, https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/oceans/problems/climate_change/.
6. National Geographic Society. “Global Warming.” National Geographic Society, 27 Mar. 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/global-warming/.
7. Spear, Lisa. “Could Climate Change Lead to the Extinction of Bees?” Newsweek, Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2018, https://www.newsweek.com/bee-populations-dying-climate-change-global-warming-lead-extinction-1000183.
8. US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Is Coral Bleaching?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, 15 Mar. 2010, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html.

Introduction

This report is meant to investigate whether all seismic events have the same cause and effect as the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010. The second seismic event chosen to compare whether the same causes and effects are common with eruptions is Mount Ontake. The theory of plate tectonics is the idea that the crust of the earth is divided into separate sections that create a shell from the mantle. The theory was brought to scientists’ attention by Alfred Wegener when he recorded earthquake and volcano positioning. He found the locations created a type of boundary that could be defined as sections or ‘tectonic plates’. He also believed that when the tectonic plates moved, they caused continental drift from a theoretical past supercontinent. The theory also created an explanation for natural disasters by looking at the plate’s movements and classifying them according to their movements – transform, convergent, and divergent.

Causes

The volcano (Eyjafjallajökull) is situated on a divergent boundary and is a strato volcano that is built by many layers of lava and ash. The volcano was formed by water being converted into a gas. The explosion was caused by the common magma inside the volcano meeting with silica-rich magma. In contrast, the Honshu volcano is on the boundaries of the Phillippe, Eurasian, and Pacific tectonic plates and the boundary is convergent. The Honshu volcano is a complex volcano which uses water to form its shape. The cause of the Honshu eruption was the opening of a vertical crack of previously intact rock which led to the instant boiling of groundwater. By looking at the way the events occurred a hydrothermal explosion seems to do more damage than 2 different chambers of magma joining

Effects

The Eyjafjallajökull volcano was higher than the Honshu volcano on the volcano explosiveness index, but it had no death toll compared to Honshu which had 63. This is because the area around the volcano was uninhabited as opposed to in Japan where the volcano was situated close to a town. For the cost of the explosion, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano cost a total of 1.7 billion dollars in airline costs as it’s close to Europe. There was also an ongoing cost of over 3.8 million dollars per year in import and export costs, but for Honshu, it only cost 100 million dollars as the explosion was smaller and further away from larger cities.

Secondary

The Honshu volcano was a famous tourist attraction where people could climb its’ sides. When it erupted it caused people to become trapped and this killed 63 people. The Ontake volcano had an explosiveness index of 2. The Ontake also had an ash cloud that reached 11km above sea level. The Ontake volcano also had a mudflow which was caused by the volcano eruption. The Ontake eruption lasted 7 days. The Eyjafjallajökull eruption ash cloud reached 10km above sea level and had an explosiveness index of 4. The Eyjafjallajökull eruption also caused flooding. The eruption lasted 6 days.

Trends

The common trends found were the time the eruptions lasted and how high the ash cloud went into the atmosphere. The eruption length was only one day off for the other this means that it is more likely that strato volcanos have an eruption time that is close to a week. The ash cloud height also shows that even though the volcanos had a difference in the explosiveness index it had an ash cloud height that nearly reached the same height.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the earthquake of Mount Ontake did not have the same cause of explosion as the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. The Ontake eruption was caused by water pressure being instantly built up while the Eyjafjallajökull eruption was caused by mixing magma with silica magma. The Ontake eruption was able to do lots of damage to structures in the area but it did not cause as much a cost as the Eyjafjallajökull eruption as airlines were not heavily affected. Therefore the two volcanoes had unique characteristics for different aspects of their explosions.

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4. https://www.livescience.com/37706-what-is-plate-tectonics.html
5. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/monitoring-eyjafjallaj%C3%B6kull-eruption

Environmental law is a relatively recent idea that encompasses a wide range of topics such as climate change, energy sources, pollution, and corporate social responsibility. Sinha stated that environmental conservation cannot be realized without sufficient laws. Environmental education and raising environmental awareness are two vital ways to ensure that the environment is conserved for future generations. At the level of international conventional law, environmental measures have been provided for, expressed, and acknowledged as a framework for legislation. The European Union and the United Nations are some of the main parties that enforce these laws, as a method of protecting our environment. In this essay, I am going to explore the importance of environmental law in protecting our environment through an analysis of its two main policies.

One of the main principles of environmental law is environmental human rights. It was conceived in the Tehran Conference, which resulted in the promulgation of human rights agreements. It declared that all human rights are interrelated and indivisible, allowing complicated concerns like environmental rights to be considered. To characterize the relationship between human rights and the environment, complementary approaches were designed, with the most proficient one being that international environmental laws incorporate and utilize those human rights guarantees deemed necessary or important to ensure effective environmental protection. Giving human rights to the environment has enabled countries and organizations to enforce more laws to enable better protection of their environment.

A prevalent example of how this law has been a success is giving the Whanganui River in New Zealand environmental personhood. Gordon (2017) explained that giving environmental personhood is the emergent concept of defining aspects of the environment as legal entities and independent persons. In 2014, the Whanganui River was protected by the Te Urewera Act, which gives the board the right to govern the area and its interests. The membership of the board is composed of the tribal group and representatives of the crown. This gives them the ability to administer funds to support the health and conservation of the river.

Enforcing this law also enables people to be held accountable for wrongdoing, as well as resolving disagreements between different stakeholders. Looking at law in a holistic approach, the success of the Whanganui River may inspire more healthy and sustainable solutions to legal problems around the world by recognizing the environment as people. It also highlights the role law plays in the contests over fundamental values and draws attention to the contribution that this legislation provides to the ongoing discussion concerning land, authority, and colonization.

The polluter pays principle is the second policy I want to explore in the context of the importance of environmental law. Tilton (2016) explained that this principle means that businesses and countries should be held accountable for the entire costs of their existing pollution to society. This policy is important as it improves both efficiency and shared equitable perceptions. The sanctions will cover all environmental costs, not only those that are immediately economically measurable but also those that have a detrimental cost to the environment. This principle can be used internationally to promote law and legislation as a mechanism to protect the environment.

Zhao and Zhu’s (2015) study of the application of this principle to ship-source pollution in Hong Kong highlights its importance for limiting and compensating ship-source pollution, as well as the idea of implementing steps to fully implement it. The protection of Hong Kong’s marine environment is concerned with pollution from ships. To control and rectify ship-source pollution, when the polluter is responsible, a thorough legal and policy framework has already been constructed to enforce justice and responsibility. This has found a reduced number of breaches in pollution from shipping companies as they are more concerned with the responsibility they now have. Another example of the polluter pays principle is Smith Lake and Mariano Lake, in New Mexico. Gallagher (2021) explains that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with other departments to produce a five-year plan to address abandoned uranium mines in the Pacific Southwest in 2008. The polluter pays principle was enforced on the Homestake Mining Company of California as the abandoned uranium mines had contaminated the lakes and become a safety hazard and was estimated to cost $500,000.

These examples have shown the ability to put the responsibility on polluters as an effective mechanism for environmental protection. It enables firms, businesses, and countries to be held accountable for their actions and therefore gives them financial incentives to minimize the potential pollutants generated. This could lead to more investment into more clean and environmentally friendly technologies and methods. It also is supported by a vast percentage of the public as it takes the burden off taxpayers who are affected by pollution in their local areas.

Environmental protection is currently an important area of international regulations with the purpose of global action and at the same time a difficult task. Environmental law can be used as an effective mechanism for this (as evidenced by the implementation of environmental human rights and the polluter pays principle discussed in this essay), which implies its crucial importance.

Executive Summary

This report was commissioned to examine and evaluate a pressing issue known as Plastic Product pollution. This has been administered and accepted by the government of Canada, Organizations such as Walmart, and Markets which are the customers and suppliers. Plastic product pollution is killing the planet and us, slowly but steadily and we are causing our own peril by allowing it to happen, I believe my policy known as the Plastic Product Ban will take down this problem.

Introduction

Plastic product pollution is “the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the earth’s environment that affect wildlife, wildlife habitats, and humans” (Plastic Pollution, n.d.). There are many different examples of plastics, such as water bottles, plastic containers, plastic wrapping, plastic bags, and straws. The problem with plastic products is that they are created with so many different chemicals and because of that they are resistant to natural ways of degrading. Plastic pollution can cause many health defects such as cancer, immune system suppression, birth defects, and liver dysfunction. Plastic products are being discarded and tossed around carefree, yet people do not know the ramifications they are causing themselves. For example, when a person throws away a plastic wrapper without putting it in the garbage, they may think it is harmless, but it is. That plastic wrapper will circulate around the atmosphere for a thousand years before it actually starts to decompose. Now imagine billions of people doing that same gesture, the plastic will accumulate and go places that it should not even be able to go, and this can endanger wildlife. The stakeholders involved are the consumers, employees, suppliers, and government. The consumer is interested in plastic products because of its service quality and its resourcefulness. Plastic products can help a person carry their objects, preserve their food, and make it easier to perform activities. Plastic products are also inexpensive, meaning that all classes of consumers from poverty to rich are able to acquire them. Plastic products are also durable which allows the consumers to reuse them as many times as they want. The employee is interested in plastic products because they earn an income from manufacturing and producing them, which can give them the money to provide for themselves and their families. The supplier is interested in Plastic products because they sell the goods and rely on its revenue to provide and nourish themselves. The investors are interested in Plastic products because they invest capital into the different companies that manufacture and distribute these entities allowing themselves to gain a certain rate of return back. The government is interested in plastic products because they can put taxes, tariffs, and GDP on the goods and the employees from the organizations that are manufacturing and distributing them so that they can profit from the collections of taxes. In this paper I will discuss in this order; The Executive Summary, Introduction, the issue of the discussion, major sections on how the organization, the markets, and the government can resolve the issue, and then I will outline my policy.

Issue Discussion

Plastic is “a word that originally meant pliable and easily shaped” (The History and Future of Plastics, n.d.). This means that plastic could be morphed, altered, and created into many shapes or sizes. “The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm’s offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory”. Back then people were killing animals for ivory such as elephants and tortoises. When plastic was discovered it became a major discovery for people around the world. It allowed people to move on from using natural resources like metal or wood and instead create new materials. It was also environmentally friendly back then because people had stopped killing animals for their ivory, horns, and tusks. However, that period did not last as a result of the widespread accumulation of plastic waste. “Plastic debris in the oceans was first observed in the 1960s, a decade in which Americans became increasingly aware of environmental problems” (The History and Future of Plastics, n.d.). When this global phenomenon happened, people started to realize that plastic was not good but actually bad for the environment. People realized that plastic was taking very long to decompose, and they did not know what to do with it, once they were finished using the substance. I believe that John Wesley Hyatt was responsible for causing the issue on the fact that he invented the substance. He may not have thought of it as an environmental health concern in 1869 but it slowly became a problem because of its extremely slow deterioration rate. I believe this issue to be a legal matter because it is endangering the lives of this planet. It’s killing wildlife, destroying the environment, ruining the oceans and it’s a health hazard for humans. It has been a moral matter for too long, people do not seem to care, and nothing has been done to significantly decimate the issue but in fact, it has risen on the threat level. By implementing it as a legal matter the United Nations and governments from around the world would ban it completely. The current policies in Canada addressing the issue are, to begin with, “Banning harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act” (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Government of Canada taking action to reduce plastic pollution, 2019). This means that the government of Canada will pass a law that will make single-use plastics prohibited; this does not mean that all types of plastics will be banned. This will stop the production of plastic shopping bags and plastic straws. The Canadian government has also decided to “Invest in new Canadian technologies” (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Government of Canada taking action to reduce plastic pollution, 2019). This means that the Canadian government will start investing money into small businesses in Canada to figure out different ideas that can reduce plastic pollution. The Canadian government has also assured “Mobilizing international support to address plastic pollution” (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Government of Canada taking action to reduce plastic pollution, 2019). This explains that the Canadian government is planning to obliterate plastic pollution at the G7 summit and help the G7 recognize the pollution they are causing to the ocean.

Perspective Discussion

Governments

Governments can do many things to fix the issue known as plastic product pollution. The government regulates the rules and passes new laws to help govern the country. The government has the necessary power to ban plastics. For example, “Visitors will no longer be allowed to carry in single-use plastics into Peru’s 76 natural and cultural protected areas” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). This means that the government of Peru used its power to ban plastics, and in doing so decreased its plastic waste. “In class, we discussed that government regulation- force business to address public problems”. This means that if we force businesses to address the plastic pollution crisis, they would not have a reason to hide the issue but instead engage the public in ways to spread awareness. The pros of this solution would be that the people who walk in or know these businesses would not be oblivious to the problem but rather pass on the information. The cons of this solution are that the businesses will still sell plastic and some people will not pay attention. Another solution that the governments can implement to stop plastic pollution, is raising taxes on plastic products to an exceedingly high rate, doing so will make people less likely to buy these items. The pros to this solution are that people would not bother buying the plastic item, because it’s more expensive and instead seek alternatives to supplement for them. A con to this solution is that the organizations that are producing the plastic products realize that if people are not buying their items they will lower the prices. “In class, we discussed how governments can change consumer behaviour” By doing this we can educate the people on recycling and why certain plastics are dangerous to human health and the environment. The pros to this solution are that people will become more aware of the side effects of plastics and not choose to use them anymore. The cons of this solution are that citizens may not even take the time to become educated on these important issues or find them appealing to learn. An additional solution, we discussed in class, is that the government should “establish fines to curb environmental impact. For example, if you litter or throw away any forms of plastic you should be fined a big ticket that must be paid immediately. An example would be “in Washington, D.C., as of January 1. By July, businesses in the district will begin receiving fines if they continue to offer plastic straws” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). This shows that governments have already started giving out penalties for plastic waste and that we should follow. The pros to this solution being enacted are that people will not litter anymore out of fear of being fined. The con of this solution is that people will only get fined if they are caught in the act. My last solution is to use the government to create a law that bans the use of plastics completely, meaning no one will be able to purchase, sell, distribute, or manufacture the substance in Canada. The government has the power to create these laws so I believe they can resolve this issue.

Markets

Markets(societies) can impact change for plastic pollution in a great way, the reason being that all plastic waste is used from markets. Markets can easily be influenced to put a stop to plastic pollution. Markets use plastics to help with their everyday activities. I believe markets can save the planet by preventing plastic product pollution from damaging it any further. “In the lecture, we discussed societal pressures (activism through social media, hashtags) can affect brand image, loyalty, and customer support”. This can be a solution to stopping plastic pollution because everyone uses social media, especially younger consumers. By establishing an online campaign exposing plastic pollution through activism on all major social media platforms, I believe that people would spread awareness to help stop plastic pollution. For example, “Branded as “No Straw November, the campaign is a push to eliminate single-use plastics” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). This organization known as the ACP is using this social media campaign to persuade 500 businesses to stop using plastics. Another solution that we can do through social media is allowing celebrities figureheads, and social leaders to advocate how plastic product pollution is killing the planet. Some pros to these solutions are that consumers will acknowledge that this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed and will pass on or retweet and share the information with their friends and family. The cons of these solutions being implemented is that consumers may just ignore it as something trite and boring to the eye or as fake news. The markets have many stupendous courses of action that help extend the reach of knowledge to consumers of all ages, on how to stop plastic product pollution.

Organizations

Organizations manufacture and distribute plastic products to gain profit regardless of how they affect the environment or society’s health. Organizations have the power to stop making plastic products if they want to. In class, we discussed that “Business should no longer focus solely on economic benefit – the external environment (and its stakeholders) is complex, and management should pay attention to ALL stakeholder’s needs, not just shareholders”. This means that organizations should not only appease the shareholders but instead, they can do so much more to benefit the environment. There are many solutions that organizations can bring forth to stop Plastic Product pollution. The first solution is to become more resource-efficient; avoid using plastics and instead find alternatives such as cardboard, that can be recycled. If the organization can’t eliminate the waste, they can lessen the number of plastics being used. Another solution an organization can use is to stop doing business with suppliers that manufacture and distribute their goods in plastic. This will minimize the intake of plastics being distributed through your organization and force the supplier to manufacture their goods with reusable, decomposable, or recyclable substances. For example, “Red lobster phasing out Plastic straws” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). The company says that this new move will benefit in reducing marine plastic pollution, by eliminating the use of plastic straws. Another example is “Alaska and American Airlines moved to ban plastic straws this year” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). This organization is doing this to prevent plastic pollution from spreading. Organizations can also participate in the collection of plastics or invest in smaller companies to collect and sell them to manufacturers to make new products, even though this is not banning plastic products, it would stop factories from creating new plastic products. An example would be “Circulate Capital hopes to bump their commitments to at least $100 million over the next few years as a move in that direction” (BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, A running list of action on plastic pollution, 2019). This organization is trying to invest enough money into smaller companies so that they can collect plastic waste. By doing these solutions from an organizational perspective, Plastic Product Pollution would decrease.

Based on my perspective of solutions within the perspectives, the one that I will choose is the policy that I created. By using the government to pass a law known as the Plastic Product Ban banning the use of plastics altogether. Many of the solutions I have talked about through these perspectives may work, but my recommended policy will be the solution that revolutionizes the world.

Recommended policy

The policy I will be implementing is the Plastic Product Ban. The purpose of this policy has been established to provide regulations on Plastic products worldwide, by banning the use of these goods indefinitely. Plastic product alternatives may be used such as cardboard and recyclables. Based on my perspectives and my alternative solutions, my overall resolution is that plastic Product pollution will always exist unless it is stopped immediately. Based on my perspective of organizations dealing with the issue, if you implement practices such as reducing the amount of plastic your organization uses, it could help but it won’t affect the people outside your organization. For example, McDonald’s can enforce policies limiting the distribution of plastic, but as soon as the employees leave the organization they will ignore and not apply the same rules to themselves outside of work. Based on my perspective of markets engaging in the termination of plastics, the consumers can stop using plastics and spread the awareness to others, however, the organizations may not follow this movement and eventually continue manufacturing and distributing different types of plastic. Based on my perspective of the government upholding laws against plastic, I believe it will work because society truthfully is scared of going against the law so they will do everything they can to follow. My policy closely relates to the government’s perspective on fighting the issue. The intended audience that the policy will address is all the people residing in Canada. The policy can also be applied on a global level if all the governments implement the same policies. The intended outcomes of my policy are to make the earth cleaner, provide alternatives, and diminish the use of plastics. My policy is going to solve this issue rather than the current policies and the alternatives identified because my law that will be passed will be absolute and if the people don’t follow it, they will face jail time ranging from 4-10 years. I believe the organizations will resist my policy because they’re accustomed to using plastic as it is cheap and inexpensive. I don’t believe there will be any unintended consequences as a result of my policy being implemented because it will improve the planet and the wildlife that live upon it and also solve problems such as plastic pollution. The municipal government will measure the success of my policy by doing monthly garbage checks all over the country to see if plastics have been used or not. Another way to measure the success of this policy is by doing geographical surveys to see if the policy is actually influencing our intake of plastic products. In conclusion, I strongly believe that my policy will change the world for the better and decrease the effects of pollution.

Bibliography

1. BRIAN CLARK HOWARD, S. G. (2019, June 10). a running list of actions on plastic pollution. Retrieved from National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/
2. Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Q. (2019, june 10). The government of Canada taking action to reduce plastic pollution. Retrieved from JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2019/06/10/government-canada-taking-action-reduce-plastic-pollution
3. plastic pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution#Policy the history and future of plastics. (2019). Retrieved from Science History Institute: https://www.sciencehistory.org/the-history-and-future-of-plastics

Diamond mining has long been a controversial topic, given its negative consequences not only for society but also for the environment. As history shows, they were not called ‘blood’ for nothing, because their search destroyed many parts of the world, especially Africa. There are some ways in which Africa and other countries are doing this to prevent the mining of blood diamonds, but this process still hurts countless people for a simple stone. Mining for blood diamonds is an illegal crime, bringing so much pain to Africa.

Diamonds were discovered in Africa right as Brazilian mining declined. Rhodes incorporated De Beers in 1888 as a means to fund his dream of an Anglicised Africa, and his company took charge of the industry where the Portuguese left off, eventually controlling over 90 percent of the South African mines. Since the 1990s West Africa has been destroyed by a conflict between the national government and different rebel groups, all wanting control over natural resources. The natural resource everyone wanted was diamonds. But these diamonds were not just called regular diamonds, they became known as blood diamonds. Another name for these diamonds is ‘conflict diamonds’, because of all the war and fighting, as well as inhumane activities done to retrieve these stones.

One of the worst aspects about these diamonds, in my opinion, is that the process of mining them so quickly destroys the natural resources of Africa. When someone mines for diamonds, they must dig extremely deep and dig in many different areas. The people also used bombs and other devices to get deeper into the soil. And after the diamonds are all taken from the field, the people do not take the time to reverse what they did to the environment. Because of poor planning and no regulation on what miners can and cannot do, there have been many problems throughout Africa’s environment. For example, Angola’s diamond industry has caused the environment to have many problems. The miners have destroyed streams from exploitation. Diamond miners have re-routed rivers and constructed dams to expose riverbeds for mining, with disastrous effects on fish and wildlife.

One of the biggest places where mining was destroyed was in the Kono district of eastern Sierra Leone. Thousands and thousands of pits have been left from the mining. Wildlife has vanished, topsoil has eroded, and land once suitable for farming is now a desolate moonscape. The mining pits have created a public health disaster as well. When the pits fill with stagnant rainwater, they become infested with mosquitoes, spreading malaria and other water-borne diseases. What were once farming villages and beautiful landscapes soon turned into blood baths. Sierra Leone was once a beautiful and lushes’ area, with many natural resources to offer to its people. But now most of it is a wasteland.

Diamond mining has been a problem all over the world for many years. These ‘blood’ diamonds and the search for them have destroyed many parts of the Earth, especially Africa. Africa’s natural resources have been completely abused and there is not much left to be proud of. There are things being done to help, but it is just so hard to actually regulate what comes in and out of Africa and how legal it actually is. Africa has been destroyed because of blood diamonds and it is still counting today.

A forest is a large area that is covered by trees and plants. It is important for the lives of living things present on the earth. Without forests, it’s impossible for life to survive because they provide oxygen to the environment and take carbon dioxide from the environment. If there are fewer forests in any country or the world, there will be less amount of oxygen and higher chances of different diseases, because if there are fewer forests, there will be fewer birds and other animals, so there will be high chances for the spread of diseases. The importance of forests in general lies in the fact that they provide beauty to the country, greater health facilities, resistance against natural disasters, food for us, jobs, and of course they provide shelter for living organisms.

Firstly, forests are important as they provide beauty to the country, because due to forests the environment of the country becomes more clean and fresh. Forests bring more chances of rain, and due to high rain, it also helps in the agricultural process. They also make the earth cool and protect the environment from global warming as they absorb CO2 from the environment so that most of the heat and polluted air is being absorbed by forests, so the temperature of the earth becomes cool. Forests do not only provide beauty to nature but they also provide beauty to houses by using their woods and different organic materials that are naturally present in forests such as pines and others.

Forests not only provide beauty they also help human health because they provide us with natural medicines for different health issues like blood pressure, cholesterols, asthma, etc. They are a vital source of nutrients and medicines. They also provide relief from different pains like spinal pains and other body pains. They also protect the body from cancer. They also provide resistance to bacterial diseases.

Being the natural safeguard of the environment, forests provide safety from different natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, soil erosion, etc. It acts as a barrier to floods and their roots absorb most of the water, so there will be fewer chances of flood in the country. Residents of the country can easily enjoy beauty and health, and the government is protected from higher losses in the economy. Forests also play a key role in protecting the country from earthquakes because the roots of the plants and trees hold the soil, so there will be fewer chances of earthquakes.

Moreover, since plants are a natural source of food, large forests provide food to living organisms such as humans, birds, insects, and animals. Due to forests, the cycle of the live (predator-prey) takes here, and every living organism gets its food from forests, just as a human gets fruits, meat, nuts, berries, mushrooms, etc. While animals get their food from other animals and plants.

The importance of forests also lies in providing people with jobs. More than 30% of the country’s population relies on forests, so if there are no forests, there will be fewer jobs. Farmers take mushrooms and farm them in forests, woodcutters cut wood and sell it for building or cooking purposes, and carpenters take wood for making different furniture. Meanwhile, directly and indirectly, many people are employed in forests.

And finally, forests are important as they provide shelter to living organisms. Their wood is also used in making houses for people and acts as a shelter for the people. Since it is a very cheap and natural source, poor people use it to make their homes to live in. In addition, animals also live and reproduce in the forests, so it is used as the best place to live for animals.

In summary, the value of forests is extremely high. Without them, our life on the planet would be impossible. With this in mind, we simply must protect them, especially in this time of environmental crisis.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and fellow advocates for environmental preservation,

Today, I stand before you to shed light on one of the most pressing issues of our time: ocean pollution. Through the power of storytelling, I aim to convey the gravity of this problem and inspire each one of you to take action to protect our oceans.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the vast expanse of the ocean, its crystal-clear waters teeming with life. Now, envision that same ocean suffocating under a blanket of waste and pollution. Plastic bottles, discarded fishing nets, and toxic chemicals are choking the marine life we hold dear.

I was once fortunate enough to witness the beauty of a pristine beach firsthand. The soft sand beneath my feet, the gentle rhythm of the waves, and the vibrant colors of the coral reefs left me in awe. But as I explored further, my excitement turned to dismay. Among the seashells and driftwood, I noticed an alarming sight—a plastic bottle, half-buried in the sand. It was a stark reminder of the growing crisis our oceans face.

Ocean pollution poses a grave threat to marine ecosystems and the delicate balance of life within them. Countless marine species, from majestic whales to tiny sea turtles, are entangled in discarded fishing gear or mistake plastic debris for food, leading to injury, starvation, and death. Coral reefs, often referred to as the rainforests of the sea, are bleached and degraded by pollutants, causing irreversible damage to these vital habitats.

But the impact of ocean pollution extends beyond marine life. As the toxins seep into the water, they contaminate the seafood that ends up on our plates. The health of human populations, particularly those dependent on fishing as a primary source of sustenance, is compromised. Furthermore, the economic consequences cannot be ignored. Coastal communities that rely on tourism suffer as pristine beaches are marred by floating garbage and foul odors.

The question we must ask ourselves is: How did we get here? The sad truth is that our convenience-driven, single-use culture has played a significant role in exacerbating the problem. Plastic, once hailed as a revolutionary material, has become a ubiquitous pollutant. It takes hundreds of years to break down, and even then, it merely fragments into smaller microplastics that persist in the environment indefinitely.

So, what can we do to combat this crisis? The power lies in our choices and actions. We must reduce our consumption of single-use plastics and opt for sustainable alternatives. It starts with small changes like carrying reusable water bottles and shopping bags, saying no to plastic straws, and supporting businesses that prioritize eco-friendly practices.

But individual action alone is not enough. We need systemic change and government policies that promote the reduction, recycling, and proper disposal of plastic waste. We must hold corporations accountable for their environmental impact and advocate for stricter regulations on industrial waste management.

Education and awareness are also vital components of the solution. By educating ourselves and others about the consequences of ocean pollution, we can inspire a collective sense of responsibility and empower future generations to become stewards of our planet.

In closing, let us remember that the fate of our oceans rests in our hands. We have the power to make a difference, to reverse the tide of pollution and protect these invaluable ecosystems. Together, we can create a future where our children and grandchildren can enjoy the wonders of the ocean just as we once did. The time for action is now.

Thank you.