Category: Environmental Issues

This course has really built my knowledge on most of the vital issues related to environments, I learned a lot of environmental issues. Throughout this course, I was disappointed by our leaders on how to deal with environmental issues, it is important to be aware of our environment and know how we can contribute to its protection. Personally, I think the world, in general, can do more, what we are doing to save Mother Earth is not enough. There were topics that I already knew, but a revolution for me was the unit that we learned about water or reduced water quality around the world. I have made it a habit to educate the people around me about how people misuse natural resources and urge them to conserve them. The number of children dying every year due to lack of safe water is a big surprise and shock to me. I hope to see strict international laws that help preserve natural resources and the environment in general.

There are three strategies to help make my city more environmentally sustainable. The first is birth control. Most of the cities in the world face this with overpopulation growth or a rapid increase in population growth. I think that my city is not be different. For the reason, the first strategy I would introduce would be the birth control program. A series of programs on family planning and birth control would be introduced in my city. Follow by intensive education on this program, by letting the general public know why it is necessary for the development of the city and the betterment of their lives.

The next strategy that I think would make my city more environmentally sustainable is to introduce a specialized busing service. I would just copy and paste the Curitiba specialized busing system. We would not just copy their specialized busing service, but also reduce fares as low as possible. I believe this would make the public bus more attractive. I think this system would make my city one of the best in the world in terms of environmental friendliness. Hence, this system would reduce the number of cars in the city and people would turn to use public transport more than their personal cars. Meaning I killing two birds with one stone, reducing traffics and air pollution.

And the last one is recycling program. As days past by we humans create waste everywhere we find ourselves. The street of Accra is full of trash. From the food we buy from the street, the water we drink to the cloth we wear. All-cause huge tons of trash a day. My city being trash free would be my ultimate goal, and for this matter, recycling program would be perfect for this mission. I would once again take inspiration from Curitiba just because this system worked perfectly for them. Would introduce different trashcans based on the trash they make. Together with my team, we would also organize centers that would pay people who separate their trash and send it to the centers. This would be one of the strategies dear to my heart because most of the flood that happens in my city is caused by people dumping trash in gutters. I strongly believe that this will not only clean the city, but also stop the flood and create an income for the city when we sell the recycle trash.

In summary, environmental problems are becoming more and more relevant every day. As conscious citizens, we must make every effort to change the situation and save Mother Earth. I believe that the strategies I have described to improve the city are really worthwhile and can really make it more environmentally sustainable.

By 2050 the total population is projected to be around 9 billion people (FAO, 2017). The challenge the world’s population will face in the future is to guarantee food security for everyone. This means, to provide produced nutritious food, that is accessible for all people (Campbell, et al., 2016). As agriculture uses large parts of the scarce sources land and water, food production needs to become more sustainable in the future in order to preserve the worlds recourses and ecosystems and guarantee high quality food. Unfortunately, there is not just one solution, which will solve the future problems all at once. A combination of solution approaches is required, which differ in each location, place and country. Not all approaches are equally suitable for the different countries. With putting the focus on the aim of producing sustainable food, the approach of supporting and consuming only local food from organic farms, in form of community supported agriculture (CSA), will be discussed more detailed below. The aim of this essay is to discuss the environmental impacts and benefits of organic farming compared to conventional farming, but also to give an idea about the relatively new and not yet widely spread concept of community supported agriculture in connection with organic farming.

One of the main goals of community supported agriculture is to develop a partnership between local farmers and consumers who share the reward but also the risks of the harvest (Saltmarsh, et al., 2011). Such communities already exist throughout the world. To optimize this concept in my suggested problem-solving approach the supported growers run solely organic farms and produce vegetarian food. The consumer pays a subscription fee before the growing season and in exchange they get a share of the harvest. In other words, during the main season, CSA members get a weekly delivery of local and seasonal food from organic farms nearby. Outside the growing season, the delivery varies depending on the location of the farm land. In Germany, it is usually a fortnightly delivery during the off season. Community supported agriculture benefits the farmers as well as the consumers. The former ones get financially support beforehand and the latter ones receive a weekly fresh, healthy and local food supply.

By far the greatest problem with the currently more used conventional farming are negative impacts on the environment, such as biodiversity loss, soil erosion, water and air pollution and greenhouse gas emission, to name just the major implications. The aim of most conventional farming is to achieve as much yield output as possible. Reaching this goal contributes a large part to the before mentioned negative implications on nature. As organic farming forgoes of fertilizers and pesticides supporting this type of farming has a positive impact on biodiversity. Biodiversity means the abundance and variation of all living organism on earth and the interactions of them (Willem Erisman et al., 2016). In most of the cases biodiversity is measured by the species abundance (Rundlöf et al., 2016). Research on farms in the United States has shown that organic farms the species richness is significantly higher (up to one third) than on conventional farms (Tuck, et al., 2014).

The other scarce resource is land. Agriculture covers already 38 % of the worlds available land areas. Most of it for food cultivation and animal husbandry. For the meat production, land is used for the animals to graze as well as for crop production to feed the stock. The yield reduction under organic farming, resulting in more land needed to produce the same amount, could offset some of the biodiversity benefits of organic farming.

To meet the needs of the growing food demand water and land are crucial for agriculture and food production. For agriculture alone 70 % of the worlds fresh water is used (Bertarki & Chartzoulakisa, 2015). For both, agriculture and food production high quality water and availability of water resources are essential. With the rapidly increasing population this will no longer be guaranteed. Some countries already face severe water scarcity and conventional farming and animal husbandry play a major role for this problem. Most of the water is used for irrigation. Misuse and inefficient water irrigation management leads to water waste and consumption of more water than necessary (Bertarki & Chartzoulakisa, 2015).

Moreover, commercial farming causes environmental pollution due to animal waste disposal and the usage of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals which infiltrates in the water and soil. Organic farming on the other hand, reduces the environmental contamination by avoiding fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to higher water and soil quality. With the higher soil quality, also the water holding capacity of the soil is increased. Which means, that water in the soil can be stored longer and less irrigation water is necessary. The higher capacity also makes the soil more resilient to extreme weather events likes droughts, which will be more common in the future due to the global warming.

Supporting local organic farms as a CSA member also reduces the greenhouse gas emission. In every step of the food chain from the field to the customer greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere including rearing, farming, transport, storing, as well as the disposal of the food. A high amount of greenhouse gases results from food waste. About one third of all produced food is thrown away. By far the greatest contribution to the greenhouse gases has the usage of fertilizers and the livestock rearing. They contribute large amounts of nitrogen and methane to the total amount of produced greenhouse gases. Another part of the food production that causes large amounts of greenhouse gases in form of carbon dioxide is the transportation of food. The long-distance transportation by boat, train or airplane are more efficient compared to the short transport from the supermarket to the customer. Small amount of food is mostly picked up with a car by the end consumer and these short drives are the least efficient and causes the largest carbon food print in the overall contribution by transportation. In this case, CSA member can for example cause less greenhouse gases if they chose an environmentally friendly way for picking up the food boxes from the pick-up stations. But besides the way of transportation, supporting local, plant-based and organic food reduces the greenhouse gases emission significantly. Due to the plant-based diet there are no greenhouse gases released by animal rearing and farming, meat production and crop production to feed the stock.

Furthermore, it also decreases the food waste. One key characteristic of community supported agriculture is that the harvested fruits and vegetables have no long transportation from the field to the customer. In other words, there will be no waste due to long distance transportation and storage. Another waste reducing advantage is, that even fruits and vegetables will be consumed, that do not fulfil the requirements, such as appearance, shape and size, for being sold in supermarket chains.

One of the greatest future challenge the world’s population will face is to provide enough food for the growing population. Here the question arises if organic farming can contribute sufficient food for the world’s demands. As already mentioned before, it requires more than one single approach to solve this problem. As already mentioned before, research has shown that the yield on organic farms is less than of commercial farming. However, with expected increasing droughts due to climate change, organic farming becomes more important due to the higher resilience to such extreme weather conditions. Consuming just local food from organic farms as part of a CSA member has also positive impacts on the rural population. On the one hand, the farmers are financially supported by this relationship. With the money growers can pay for seeds, equipment and everything else, which is needed to run a farm. Moreover, the invested money in local farmers stays in the community and benefits the local economic. On the other hand, supporting local organic farms creates new job opportunities. The concept of community supported agriculture also eases the pressure on farmers because they are no longer bound to meet the demands of the industry and are no longer forced due to this pressure to use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to rapidly increase the harvest output. The CSA does not just affect the farmers in a positive way, but also the members benefit in different ways from this relationship with the local farmers. CSA communities not only brings fresh, local and healthy fruits and vegetables to their members, which has been harvested just right before they receive them. The buyer also knows where the food comes from due to this close relationship between the two parties. Most of the CSA communities also encourage their members to help out on the field two or three times per year. This will even strengthen the relationship between farmers and members and increases on the side of the members the appreciation for the farmland and for the harvesting practices, but also the awareness of it. It also brings the seasonal limits of regional food production and the differences in food quality to the consumer’s attention. Hence, the consumer is encouraged to become more conscious about environmental behavior and the importance of sustainable produced food.

In countries like Germany, there is already an increasing trend of changing the diet towards less meat consumption. These circumstances already create a basis of favorable conditions for upscaling the idea of CSA, and with that a diet change to only consume vegetarian or even vegan local food from organic farms. Germany is a relatively wealthy country which implements already a higher environmental concern. This means, a greater amount of people is more concerned about where the food comes from and are interested that it is produced sustainably. It also makes it easier to reach a greater number of people with the concept of community supported organic agriculture. However, this advantageous basis for mainstreaming this idea is different for other countries, such as the developing countries. The majority of the population is financially dependent on agriculture.

As discussed before, supporting local organic farms has an overall positive impact on the environment and biodiversity. However, it is proven that the yield outcome in organic agriculture is significantly lower than that in conventional farming. Moreover, crops of organic farms are more vulnerable to pests. Even in case of a pest, an organic farmer is not allowed to use pesticides. If farmers of organic farms could use pesticides only in the actual event of a pest, high crop losses could be avoided, without the organic farmer losing its status and benefits from the state. Besides the positive effects of community supported agriculture on the relationship between farmers and consumers, it also implements a diet change towards less meat consumption. With more people being vegetarian (or at least consuming less animal products), great parts of the arable land, which are now used for animal rearing, could be used for organic cultivation of food. This could also offset the lower yield output of organic farming, as there would be more land available to grow crop to feed the population. However, this whole topic of how to feed the growing population is an unavoidable challenge the world must deal with sooner or later.

Sugar cane is one of the most cultivated crops around the world. There are over 90 countries that grow and harvest sugar cane. With the top producers being Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines and the United States. Brazil stays on the top of this list. 90% of the sugar produced in Brazil is from the south central region. India was the first country to discover a way to crystallize sucrose. With the discovery, India was able to make a profit from trading the sugar for a high price.

Sugar cane was originally found to be native to warm tropical regions of Asia. However, with rising demand for sugar cane, other countries began to start harvesting the plant as well. Since at the time that sugar cane was introduced to new lands, it was not easy to grow. Since the African slave trade was still of high use, the landowners began to send the sales out the fields to work, which helped with making the growing faster and highly profitable.

Sugar canes are grown in many areas around the world. Once India had discovered that sugar cane could be crystallized the demand for sugar worldwide had an uproar. This was due to sugar used to be extracted by chewing on the cane. Then later many countries began to also start growing sugar canes since the demand became very high.

In recent years there has been numerous sugar cane restaurants and stores popping up in many places such as in shopping centers. The businesses then boomed as many people wanted to try something new to them, earning a higher profit the businesses.

Due to the demand of sugar cane, there had been numerous regions of land being cleared for the canes to be planted. There has also been loss of habitats of the species that live in the tropical forests and biomes. There is also degradation of the biomes due to agriculture. Overgrazing can lead to the loss of a biome. Overgrazing causes the land to become dry as if it were a dessert, the biome starts to become more like a dry wasteland.

As with many plants there are usually pests that could possibly threaten the production of the sugar canes. Pests are able to damage the plant from the inside to the leaves. Ways that some pests can spread to other stalks are through planting infected materials or through wind borne spores in a short distance.

Sugar cane can also have diseases and viruses. A disease such as grassy shoot disease can cause severe yield loss of sugar cane. This disease can be spread through the use of infected planting materials or from insects.

With the diseases and pests that comes with growing a sugar cane supply it would be difficult to meet consumers demands as the supply has lessened which makes the supply smaller. With the high demand, time and money is lost as soon as sugar canes are harmed, as there is no use for dying or diseased canes.

The environmental impact of sugar crane producing not only disrupts the biome that is needed for the growth, but also other biomes as well. Since farmers need to produce the canes at a fast rate, they may use fertilizers that contain chemicals that harm the environment. The runoff of the fertilizers can end up in the waterways through flooding or just being washed down a river which may lead elsewhere. An example of the damage to another environment is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Since the use of fertilizers, this causes the runoff from the lands of agriculture to be harmful to the environment. Since there is the use of nitrogen in fertilizers, the runoff that leads to the Great Barrier Reef can cause outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. These starfish are harmful to coral, as they eat away at the coral. These starfish cause the coral to deteriorate drastically, as they are able to eat one square meter of coral per month. Seeing that the corals are eaten away, the fish that used to live and rely on the coral have to go elsewhere due to coral not being there anymore. As many fertilizers are also high in nutrients, the runoff into the reefs can cause more algae growth in waters. The animals and plants of the reefs may also change due to the growth of algae.

As the farming of sugar canes and the impacts it causing have come to the attention of those who wish to preserve and stop biomes from deteriorating, there are programs to help stop the environmental impacts. Australia’s Smartcane BMP program has one of the best sugar crane management practice programs. The program was developed by the canegrowers of Queensland with the help of the Queensland government. This is due to the fact that the canegrowers needed the funds in order to begin the program. The BMP program categorizes the canegrowers with ‘below industry standard’, ‘industry standard’ or ‘above industry standard.’ Categorizing the farms helps with spreading and promoting the proper practices, as each canegrower would recognize the work of others and want to do the same but better. As the program promotes a better practice, the soil health, nutrient management, diseases, pests and weeds management and the management of drainage are all focused on by the growers. With the focus on the environment, it helps to keep their location as healthy as possible while keeping other biomes just as healthy.

Planet Earth is in the nature of a human being, yet very fragile from how it gets treated over the years. In the event that planet Earth doesn’t get the support needed from people, the present and future generations will not be able to experience or enjoy it. Over the past decade, the world has changed drastically as human beings made an impact in regard to the environment. Over the centuries the population increased and natural resources started in order to fall and collapse. Human beings reshape the world to fit their isolated demands. Humans have caused irreplaceable damage. The world becoming dirty and polluted can be deadly to humans and present dancers to civilization. Humans as a race, have a long history of destruction. This has led to many problems that humans have created, is destruction against itself.

The destruction of the environment through the depletion of resources such as air, water, and soul. Environmental degradation is one of the threats officially cautioned by means of the high-level panel in regards to threats. Certain populations, such as children pregnant women, and older adults. The living is culpable for all the plummets of biodiversity. Annihilation is global-wide due to the fact that individual occupations cause harm to the environment on a global scale. With reference to human reproduction, overconsumption, over-exploitation, pollution, and deforestation.

A few complications include climate change, multifariousness, and overpopulation caused the damages. species started in order to go extinct and habitats being ravaged. Pollution and the overuse of natural resources. Impacts on society can have the ability to lead to human health, energy, agriculture, and food security. Leads for the purpose of level of consumption of resources. For the world, it Changes precipitation, rising sea levels, and threatens the resources for food and water.

Ecosystem destruction increased flooding due to the erosion of soil and lack of trees. The ocean has water pollution and illegal fishing. Rising sea levels due to the melting of the glaciers, caused by Global Warming. Disruption of the food chain when the apex predators become extinct. Disturbance to the environment is perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.

Climate change has increased temperatures caused by the gasses burned and polluting the air. Climate change is the change in the atmosphere by the amounts of carbon dioxide levels that come from using fossil fuels burned by human exploitation. Climate change can occur when the Earth’s atmosphere becomes warmer than it naturally should be. An effect that can happen from climate change is extreme weather change which can cause flooding in areas that it has not flooded before as well as drought and glaciers to melt as well as cause the environment to change. A lot of climate change is directly due to human activity; one of the activities that humans have done is releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases have wrapped around the earth’s surface like an extra blanket causing the Earth to heat up much more and affecting the balance of nature. Greenhouse gases are not only limited to large factories but also the number of vehicles on the road.

India is a free state found in South Asia, and it is situated as the seventh most prominent on earth with a district covering 1.269 million square miles. India’s masses are staying at about 1.2 billion people making the country rank as the world’s second-most transcontinental nation. According to the IMF, India’s economy in 2017 was worth $2.611 trillion (Benjamin Elisha, 2019). India is among the world’s most rapidly creating economies. In any case, the country is situated 140th, concerning apparent GDP per capita, and ranks at position 129th, concerning GDP reliant on securing power balance. The country kept up a protectionist approach with an effect from the socialist economies up to 1991 (Benjamin Elisha, 2019). A segment of India’s ordinary resources fuses iron minerals, bauxite, manganese, mica, gems, combustible gas, oil, arable land, and chromites among others. Assets join physical like land, water, soils, and minerals; common living like vegetation, untamed life, and fisheries.

The mining business in India speaks to 11% of the mechanical GDP in the country and around 25% of the full-scale GDP. Beginning in 2010, mining and mechanical metal mineral were regarded at more than $104.6 billion. Little-scale mining in the country contributes generally 6% of the whole cost of mineral creation in the country. The business uses around 700,000 people. Beginning in 2012, the country was the world’s boss in conveying sheet mica, the third-greatest producer of iron metal on the planet, and the fifth-greatest creator of bauxite mineral (Benjamin Elisha, 2019).

Mining of coal in India has a long history, which can be pursued back to 1774 when the primary business misuse was finished by the East Indian Association, Suetonius Grant Heatly near the banks of Damodar Conduit. By 1946, due to WWII, the age of coal in India was averaging 30 million metric tons yearly. In 2016-2017, India made 662.79 million metric tons, which addressed the development of 4.69% diverged from the prior year (Benjamin Elisha, 2019). Starting now, India is situated as the second-greatest producer of coal on earth, and a segment of the principle communicates that producing coal consolidates Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. India is likely the greatest producer of iron metal, situating as the third greatest on earth, following Australia and Brazil, and it is surveyed that the country has recoverable stores of iron metal coming to as much as 9,602 million tons. The key areas making iron metal in the country join Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. In 2009-2010, India conveyed around 226 million tons of iron minerals and conveyed about 117.37 million tons (Benjamin Elisha, 2019). By and by, there are more than 500 mines, and about a bit of these are operational which are held by practically 80 one-of-a-kind associations. The high-grade iron metal of about 62% to 65% iron is made particularly in the eastern and southern bits of the country, while low-quality minerals have someplace in the scope of half, and 60% iron is mined in the western and southern pieces of India.

The main reason for the lack of food security is that there is a major reasons for poverty, population growth, population and drought, so the need for food resources is growing around the world, but it is a food crisis for return to the insured. These food security reasons affect the population in the form of nutrition, vulnerability, and booking children.Millions of children in the world today face the worst crisis of hunger who saw the world in decades.Now they are close to Kia of the million people who are the most difficult to children and women.Over the past six months, there are hungry levels of hunger’s hunger and 584, girls, boys, women and men.Now you will not be able to accept action.More boiled children, especially destructive results for girl’s lives will feel for 1 years.Because food is a basic necessity to maintain fatty bottles.Therefore, we have to develop audits for the modernity of the current generation and the preservation of food resources for modernity of future generations.Below is a step on food preservation.Minimize food loss at all home.Giving leftovers to someone before they go bad.Cook only the amount you need Save food resources for future use.Reduce the use of chemicals in food crops.Land resources refer to land that can be exploited, such as non-agricultural land for construction and residential development.A land resource (economically referred to as land or raw material) is a natural form that occurs naturally in an environment relatively untouched by humans.Land resources are important because people not only live, but also carry out all economic activities on Earth.The land also supports wildlife, natural vegetation, and transportation and communication activities.Ninety-five percent of our basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, come from the earth.It is useful for producing food, fiber, fuel or other biological materials for human use.Providing the biological inhabitants of plants, animals and microorganisms.It also helps to jointly define the global energy mix and global hydrological cycle that provides both sources and sinks of greenhouse gases.Worldwide, approximately 34% of land is green and open space (forests, vegetation, etc.), 28% for commercial use, 24% for transportation, 5% for social facilities and 5% for completion of construction. .Utilities and the remaining 4% are used for residential purposes.The most obvious reason for conservation is to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity.Preservation of land helps to prevent the entire ecosystem being harmed.Land conservation is vital for our future.Some ways to conserve land resources:

By using the process of reforestation .Avoding over irrigation to prevent water logging and salinisation.Monitoring industrialization effluents before releasing into streams.Giving more priority to preserving natural habitats for forest animal and birds.Limiting expansion of urbanized areas to prevent drastic landscape changes such as concrete covering all over the city.By using process of remediation, restoration and preservation.

Mineral resources are the occurrence of this form of economic interest, the occurrence of solid materials for solid materials or districts of the district, a variety of rational views for diversity (quality ) and possible economic production. Mineral sediments are provided in many forms and sizes depending on the mineral concentrated position.Minerals are concentrated by magnificent, sediment and denaturation process.Since the use of metals in humans has been built with the two major times of human history, the two main era of human history. Minerals are used as a number of daily use of methods to use daily in domestic, agriculture, industrial and commercial areas, so it will form a very important part of the country’s economy. The main applications of minerals are: Industrial equipment and machinery development. in the vehicle.For example, energy generation.Coal, lignite, uranium.Housing, construction, settlement. jewelry yes. gold, silver and diamonds.Agriculture such as fertilizers, fungicides, and seed dressings. Forming alloys for a variety of purposes.Telecommunications, telephone lines, cables, electronic devices.Means of defense, weapons, weapons.in the medical system.Mineral resources must be protected geologically because the process of mineral formation isrelatively slow, the replenishment rate is infinitely low, and the consumption rate is quite high.The mineral resources found on the Earth’s surface are limited and subject to depletion. We have reached an enormous consumption level of minerals, so that the good deposits of many elements have already disappeared and many other elements are in the process of being depleted. These resources belong not only to us, but also to our children and grandchildren.It’s time to seriously think about their preservation.Important steps to conserve minerals: By reducing waste in the mining process.Through the use of alternative renewable substituents.The use of advanced technology that allows low-grade ores to be used at low cost.Planned and sustainable use of mineral resources Reuse and recycling of metals.It makes the finished product durable.Use cheaper alternatives.Planned and sustainable use of minerals.Discover new realms of minerals.Renewable resources can be used to conserve mineral resources.Restore the mined area by creating vegetation with the appropriate plant species.Accept EcoFriendly Minig technology.Energy is the ability to perform useful tasks necessary for life processes.An energy resource is something that can produce heat, prolong life, move objects, and generate electricity.Substances that store energy are called fuels.’The sun is the source of energy in the earth’. Energy is essential to life and all living things.The sun is the direct or indirect source of all available energy on Earth.Our energy choices and decisions affect our planet’s natural systems in ways we don’t know, so it’s important to choose energy sources carefully.Energy resources (non-renewable energy resources) that are often used for a long period of time on a large scale and are likely to be depleted in the near future are referred to as conventional energy resources. Examples include fossil fuels, wood, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and natural gas.

Large-scale, unused energy resources are relatively recent and unable to not be uneven, and can not be uneven, which can not be uneven, and are called a traditional energy resource that is a traditional energy source (renewable energy source). For example, solar energy, biomass wind, tide geothermal, hydrogen energy.Saving energy The energy must save money and save resources longer to use.The general energy circles emits the harmful gas to the atmosphere and contaminates the environment.The general energy circle is limited and can expire a day. Therefore, we are responsible for saving and saving as much energy as possible, and we can access future generations and protect the environment from further disassembly. How to maintain energy resources: It turns off when not using light, fan, and other devices.LPG costs are saved using solar heaters to cook on a sunny day.Keeping trees near the house and to get the wind and shadows to get wind and shadows to get electricity fees in A C and cooler.Always use pressure cooker.I work day, and at night will save a lot of electric energy.Energy storage, energy waste prevention or reduction and more efficient use.Buy energy efficient devices.Use a microwave instead of the stove. Use natural light.Replace your old light bulbs with LEDs.By reducing the use of household appliances.Make sure your home is well insulated.Let your clothes dry naturally.Wash clothes in cold water.For our country’s survival, our national survival is essential to use specific and unequaled use of irregular and unexpected resources.Our environment offers the various products and services needed for our daily life.As a human beings, we naturally bear their own social responsibility.We should save natural resources to provide a sustainable benefit while it is possible to meet potential conservation of the potential for futuregeneration requirements. Sustainable development is an instrument for managing sustainable and permanent use of resources.When dealing with resources, we follow the principles of sustainable development.Natural resources are not only possible to survive but also make our lives comfortably and are the blessings of nature to those who eat.It helps to completely meet the needs of human needs.In addition, the reasonable use of natural resources supports the Earth’s atmosphere.Wise use also leads biodiversity protection.People can not submit their lives without natural resources. With population growth, it is now important to recognize the need and value of natural resources and disseminate full information about the risks associated with resource scarcity. So it is essential to keep it the same.

Introduction:

There are actually two types of energy resources that we can use. Nonrenewable energy comes from fossil fuels, oil, etc. The energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our lifetimes. Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keeps shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

Body:

Natural resources are earth materials used to support life and meet the needs of people, and any organic material used by humans can be considered a natural resource. The natural resources include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone, and sand. air, sunlight, soil, and water are other natural resources. As the human population is increasing at an astounding rate. If we move at this rate, we will quickly reach a day when nature will now no longer be capable of providing us with resources such as plants and trees, animals, mineral ores, and fossil fuels including coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

If the use of these resources is not monitored carefully, there will be a great effect on our environment, due the coal smoke is connected with everything from asthma and start defects to most cancers and premature death. Natural gas fracking is tied to infected groundwater and earthquakes. And oil is the single biggest source of air pollution and smog in the world.

Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide after they burn, which provides a greenhouse impact and will increase global warming. Of the three fossil fuels, for a given quantity of energy released, coal produces the most carbon dioxide, and natural gas produces the least. Understanding the scope of their influences is important for informing our selections around energy production, and for preventing the worst effects of climate change. Therefore we’re using renewable sources that generate energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution. Variation of some supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels. Creating economic development and jobs in manufacturing, and installation. Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies [Web log post]. (2008, July 14). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from https:www.ucsusa.orgresourcesenvironmental-impacts-renewable-energy-technologies

Conclusion:

The empowerment of the countries needed for reliable and affordable energy is more fundamental. It can improve and even save lives. In these countries, reliable energy supports expanded industry, modern agriculture, increased trade, and improved transportation.

Environmental Racism in Flint, Michigan

How did racial and economic conditions develop to become a blatant example of environmental racism in the Flint Michigan water crisis? This question was answered by examining articles that have described the conditions in Flint, Michigan leading up to the crisis and emphasized how racial and economic conditions played a significant role in its creation. This topic interested me because it is such a clear example of how structural inequality in general, and environmental racism specifically, have a serious impact on primarily minority and disadvantaged communities in the US. I examined several scholarly articles that were retrieved from google scholar. I reviewed eight scholarly articles from different sources. I read these articles over approximately one week. Each of them approaches the issue of environmental racism in Flint in slightly different ways but all come to similar conclusions regarding the conditions that existed that allowed the Flint crisis to occur.

Flint had been a thriving industrial city, in the mid-twentieth century, however, in the 1980s, these conditions began to change. The auto industry, which had been a strong economic force in Flint, started to make significant changes at that time, shifting many jobs overseas and leaving Flint with few other employment options. As a result, “Flint has never recovered from the devastation of deindustrialization” (Pulido, 2016). Facing difficult economic circumstances, Flint experienced an extended period in which white privileged citizens left the city, leaving it to be mostly poor and minority, with high crime rates, creating a situation in which the city had little economic support from its tax base. As Pulido describes, “Flint was abandoned by capital decades ago, and as it became an increasingly poor and Black place, it was also abandoned by the local state. This abandonment can be seen in shrinking services, infrastructure investment, and democratic practices.” (Pulito, 2016, p. 2).

From the 1980s to the early 2000s, Flint’s infrastructure suffered dramatically and state leaders determined that they had to make significant changes to be able to prevent the city from going into bankruptcy. The nationwide recession of 2008 led to an even greater loss of jobs and housing. “In 2011, Governor Rick Snyder declared Flint to be in financial crisis and placed the city under emergency management which took the control out of the hands of local government.” In 2011 he declared Flint to be in a financial crisis and placed it under emergency management.

A municipal Emergency Fiscal Manager (EFM) was appointed by the governor. (Pulido, 2016, p. 1). The EFM believed one significant way to save money would be to change the source of water for the city from the Detroit River to the Flint River. The Flint River was historically polluted from years of industrial activity and was never considered suitable for human use. The extremely toxic levels of lead and other contaminants in the water led to several deaths and the lead poisoning of many residents. How this was ever allowed to happen is a clear example of environmental racism (Pulido, 2016). The levels of lead in Flint water weren’t just slightly above normal, they were extremely toxic, and in some cases, “the lead was so high it could be considered hazardous waste” (Mckenna, 2018, p. 48).

The Flint water crisis is an example of environmental racism due to the fact that if the same incident were to happen in a predominantly white wealthy neighborhood, people in power would care to make changes and those changes would actually occur. In reality, this incident wouldn’t happen in a predominantly white wealthy neighborhood because the people in positions of power would actually listen to the citizens who reside in that town. Those who hold positions of power in Flint may have said that it wasn’t their intention for this to have happened, but, the results show that actions speak louder than words. As Campbell, Greenberg, Mankikar, and Ross describe in their case study on Flint,

“Environmental justice or injustice, therefore, is not about intent. Rather, it is about process and results—fair treatment, equal protection, and meaningful participation in neutral forums that honor human dignity…The facts of the Flint water crisis lead us to the inescapable conclusion that this is a case of environmental injustice. Flint residents, who are majority Black or African American and among the most impoverished of any metropolitan area in the United States, did not enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards as that provided to other communities” (Campbell, 2016, p. 5). Given the amount of information that was available concerning the quality of the Flint River water, it is not possible for the state officials to claim that they were trying to make decisions in the best interest of Flint residents.

Further evidence of the harm the Flint River water was doing became very clear as lead testing on Flint children was done. Levels were found to be almost twice as high following the switch of water sources, and even when some state officials began to express concern, they were ignored by the health department, and once again told that the water was safe (Campbell, 2016) pg 2. These high levels of lead in Flint’s children can have significant long-term effects, leading to “decrements in intelligence, development, behavior, attention, and other neurological functions” (Campbell, 2016, p. 2).

Failures by several key governmental groups lead to and allowed the Flint crisis to continue. The Flint Water Advisory Task Force determined that the findings of the The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) stating that Flint water was safe, were completely false. Further, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHD) failed to act on information that would have protected the public. While government agencies are often accused of ineffective leadership, the Flint case has been described by many as more specifically a case of environmental injustice and racism as opposed to simply a lack of effective leadership. Dr. Robert Bullard, the dean of the School of Public Health at Texas Southern University describes the Flint situation as a “Classic case of environmental racism… environmental racism is real…so real that even having the facts, having the documentation and having the information has never been enough to provide equal protection for people of color and poor people” (Campbell, 2016).

In an interview with Silvia Hood Washington, Dr. David Pellow describes the relatively inexpensive ways in which the Flint water crisis could’ve been prevented. He, like so many others, finds the Flint crisis to be a clear example of environmental racism. He states, “Again, we have a community of color, of working-class folks whose well-being, health, and welfare are really not the priority, apparently, for the unelected and appointed emergency manager. Saving money should be a priority. We should always be fiscally responsible. But if you do so at the expense of human health, then we really have a problem.” (Washingoton, Pellow, 2016). He goes on to describe the crisis as a “Democracy deficit”, as the people who were in charge who were in charge of the water situation were not elected by the Flint citizens, but rather, appointed by the governor, further taking control over their own safety away from Flint minorities (Washington, Pellow, 2016).

Had the Michigan government agencies responsible for providing safe water to its citizens recognized and acknowledged the risk of the Flint River water, they might not even then have acted on this information. As Dawson describes, “Regulators have the tendency to underestimate environmental health risks in minority communities because they fail to adequately consider multiple, cumulative, and existing exposures to environmental toxins.” (Dawson, 2001, p. 372). They would likely have viewed information regarding poor water quality in a vacuum, not understanding the many other sources of risk to the health of minority groups.

The tragedy of the Flint case lies in the structural changes in power that occurred when the governor took the decision-making power out of the hands of locally elected citizens and placed it in the hands of appointed state officials. Had local government control and decision-making remained in local hands, the disastrous decision to use the poisoned Flint River as the city’s water source certainly would not have happened. The governor’s appointment of an EFM not only eliminated the democratic process for Flint citizens but also exposed them to blatant racist decision-making. On a basic level, racism may be considered to be about the thoughts that some people have about people that don’t look like them. Racism moves from this intellectual idea to a structural reality when these thoughts result in policies. As Pulido writes, “It is one of those rare moments when the larger public can actually “see” the structural nature of environmental racism” (Pulido, 2016, p. 2).

Bullard goes on to describe how the structure of environmental protection in the United States is not only ineffective but its negative effects are strongly skewed to the disadvantaged citizens of this country. He states,

“The dominant environmental protection paradigm institutionalizes unequal enforcement, trades human health for profit, places the burden of proof on the ‘victims’ and not the polluting industry, legitimates human exposure to harmful chemicals, pesticides, and hazardous substances… exploits the vulnerability of economically and politically disenfranchised communities” (Bullard, 1999, p. 7).

The events that occurred in Flint are a clear example of all of the above failings. When the Michigan state government took the political control over the water sourcing out of the local peoples’ hands, they took any remaining power out of the hands of people who, due to their economic status as underprivileged, already had very little power or control. The EFM clearly traded the health of Flint’s citizens for the economic benefit of the city and the state. Ironically, this approach failed to recognize the unintended cost of treating the widespread illness that the poisoned Flint River water caused for so many citizens.

This lack of environmental justice has been recognized by the United States Government for many years, and attempts have been made over the years to address this issue, although with no substantial progress as of the present. Mohai describes many efforts since the early 1990s to address the structural inequities in the environmental protection realm. The Office of Environmental Justice within the EPA and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council were created in the early 1990s. In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed the Environmental Justice Executive Order. All of the above were created with the purpose of recognizing environmental injustice in the country and taking this into account when creating policy (Mohai, 2018, p. 15). Unfortunately, even with all of these structures that were set up with the intent of protecting citizens, the structures were ignored by The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Switching to the Flint River as a water source required changing treatment plants, and the Flint River treatment plant did not have the necessary corrosion controls, allowing for poisonous substances to enter the water. The MDEQ “failed to require optimized corrosion control in the treatment of the water, a critical failure “in contradiction to long-standing federal policy” (Mohai, 2018, p. 28).

It is difficult to imagine this type of failure to follow policy taking place in an affluent community. Those with the voices that come with privilege would never allow such failures to occur. Flint was in the unfortunate position of not only experiencing serious policy failure but also, lacking the power and voice to prevent or combat that failure. As described by Robinson, Shum, and Singh, “The demographics of Flint, Michigan, have made it the poster child for a community that was most at risk to experience the failure of our infrastructure in severe ways” (Robinson, Shum, Singh, 2018, p. 305).

The Flint water crisis was and should remain a shocking and disturbing example of the complete failure of both policy and those in power to equally protect all citizens from environmental dangers. The sad fact is that economic gain at the expense of the disadvantaged remains far too easy to achieve and continues the cycle repeatedly. Those without power are taken advantage of, put into even more difficult economic and social circumstances, and have even less control over their situation. While this is clearly a failure of policy developed out of structural inequality, the root of the problem remains deeply seeded racism that continues to exist in the United States and remains embedded across communities and institutions. Only with the continued persistence of organizations whose mission is to bring attention to and work to eliminate the effects of this environmental racism will measurable and sustained progress be made. It is essential to bring a greater voice to the disadvantaged communities that are most directly impacted by negative environmental forces. It is equally important for privileged communities to understand that it is also in their best interest to

The challenge for environmental justice movements continues, as courts and governmental agencies typically require solid evidence of intentional discrimination in claims of environmental racism. – (Robinson, Shum, Singh, 304).

the demographics of Flint, Michigan, have made it the poster child for a community that was most at risk to experience the failure of our infrastructure in severe ways. – (Robinson, Shum, Singh, 305).

A growing body of evidence reveals that people of color and low-income persons have borne greater environmental and health risks than the society at large in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and playgrounds. – Bullard 7 (Beasley, 1990a, b; Austin & Schill, 1991; Bullard, 1993c).

Bibliography

1. Brian McKenna (2018) The Agony of Flint: Poisoned Water, Racism and the Specter of Neoliberal Fascism, Anthropology Now, 10:3, 45-58, DOI: 10.1080/19428200.2018.1591053
2. Campbell, C., Greenberg, R., Mankikar, D., & Ross, R. (2016). A Case Study of Environmental Injustice: The Failure in Flint. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(10), 951. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13100951
3. Emily L. Dawson, Lessons Learned on Flint, Michigan: Managing Multiple Source Pollution in Urban Communities, 26 Wm. & Mary Envtl. L. & Pol’y Rev. 367 (2001), h ps://scholarship.law.wm.edu/ wmelpr/vol26/iss2/5
4. Laura Pulido (2016) Flint, Environmental Racism, and Racial Capitalism, Capitalism Nature Socialism, 27:3, 1-16, DOI: 10.1080/10455752.2016.1213013 Retrieved From: https://doi.org/10.1080/10455752.2016.1213013
5. Mohai, P. (2018). ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE FLINT WATER CRISIS. Michigan Sociological Review, 32, 1-41. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/26528595
6. Robert D. Bullard (1999) Dismantling Environmental Racism in the USA, Local Environment, 4:1, 5-19, DOI: 10.1080/13549839908725577
7. Robinson, T. M., Shum, G., & Singh, S. (2018). Politically unhealthy: Flint’s fight against poverty, environmental racism, and dirty water. Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research, 1(2), 303-324. h ps://doi.org/10.30658/jicrcr.1.2.6
8. Washington, S. H., & Pellow, D. (2016). Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan: Interview with David Pellow, Ph.D. Environmental Justice, 9(2), 53–58. doi: 10.1089/env.2016.29003.sh

Introduction

Dr. Seuss’ timeless children’s book, “The Lorax,” has captivated readers of all ages since its publication in 1971. Through its vibrant illustrations and poetic narrative, the story sheds light on pressing environmental issues and serves as a call to action for the protection of our planet. This essay will explore the environmental issues addressed in “The Lorax” and discuss their relevance in today’s world. By examining the destruction of forests, pollution, and the importance of environmental stewardship, we can gain valuable insights and take steps towards a more sustainable future.

Deforestation and Habitat Destruction

In “The Lorax,” one of the primary environmental issues highlighted is deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats. The Once-ler’s relentless pursuit of profit leads to the exploitation of the Truffula trees, resulting in the displacement of various species, including the iconic Lorax. The book serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the devastating consequences of unchecked deforestation and the importance of preserving and restoring our forests as crucial ecosystems.

Pollution and its Impact

Another significant theme in “The Lorax” is pollution, particularly air and water pollution caused by industrialization and excessive consumption. The Once-ler’s factories release noxious emissions and toxic waste, resulting in a degraded environment and the disappearance of clean air and water. Through vivid illustrations and poetic language, Dr. Seuss draws attention to the detrimental effects of pollution on human health, wildlife, and the overall well-being of our planet.

Overconsumption and Materialism

“The Lorax” also critiques the culture of overconsumption and materialism that drives environmental degradation. The Once-ler’s insatiable greed and his invention of unnecessary products, such as the Thneed, symbolize the relentless pursuit of material possessions at the expense of the environment. This aspect of the story serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to reassess their own consumption habits and the impact they have on the natural world.

Environmental Stewardship and Personal Responsibility

Throughout “The Lorax,” the eponymous character speaks for the trees and advocates for environmental stewardship. The story emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the power of individual action in making a positive difference. The Once-ler’s eventual change of heart highlights the potential for individuals to learn from their mistakes and take steps towards sustainability. “The Lorax” encourages readers to consider their role as environmental stewards and prompts them to take action to protect and preserve the planet for future generations.

Conclusion

“The Lorax” serves as a timeless and thought-provoking exploration of environmental issues. Dr. Seuss’ captivating storytelling and imaginative illustrations effectively convey the urgent need for environmental awareness and action. By addressing themes such as deforestation, pollution, overconsumption, and personal responsibility, the book encourages readers of all ages to reflect on their own impact on the environment and consider ways to promote sustainability in their lives.

“The Lorax” continues to resonate with readers today, as environmental issues remain a critical global concern. The book reminds us of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of protecting and preserving the natural world. By heeding the lessons of “The Lorax” and embracing a mindset of environmental stewardship, we can work towards a sustainable future where the beauty and abundance of nature are safeguarded for generations to come.

Introduction

The Grand Canyon has always held a special allure for adventurers and nature enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into the vastness and beauty of our planet. One summer, I embarked on a hiking trip to explore the breathtaking North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Join me as I recount the challenges, discoveries, and unforgettable moments of this extraordinary journey.

Body

The journey began as our group gathered at the trailhead, eagerly anticipating the adventure that awaited us. The air was crisp and carried a hint of pine as we set foot on the winding trail that would lead us to the edge of the magnificent North Rim.

The path was enveloped by towering pine trees, their branches reaching out like guardians of the wilderness. The forest was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, creating a symphony that echoed through the serene surroundings. As we hiked deeper into the canyon, the trail gradually unveiled sweeping vistas and breathtaking panoramic views.

The North Rim offered a different perspective from its more popular counterpart, the South Rim. Its rugged beauty and secluded atmosphere gave us a sense of being explorers on a hidden path. The trail wound its way along the rim, revealing jaw-dropping overlooks that seemed to defy the limits of imagination. Each stop compelled us to pause, absorbing the grandeur of the canyon and marveling at the forces of nature that had sculpted it over millions of years.

The hike was not without its challenges. The steep descents and ascents tested our physical endurance, while the rocky terrain demanded our utmost focus and balance. But with every step, we were rewarded with breathtaking vistas that made the effort worthwhile. We encountered hidden waterfalls cascading down rugged cliffs, and our spirits soared as we dipped our toes into the cool, refreshing pools at their base.

The North Rim also offered a rich tapestry of diverse flora and fauna. Vibrant wildflowers painted the landscape with bursts of color, while playful squirrels and curious deer accompanied us along the trail. As we immersed ourselves in the natural wonders, we couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of reverence for the delicate balance of this untamed wilderness.

Camping under the star-studded sky was a cherished highlight of the journey. Far away from the city lights, the night sky dazzled with a brilliance rarely seen. The Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a celestial river, captivating our senses and igniting our imaginations. The silence of the canyon at night embraced us, creating a deep connection with the ancient and untamed spirit of the place.

As the days unfolded, we became a close-knit community of adventurers. We shared laughter, stories, and the joys of overcoming challenges together. The camaraderie built on the trail transcended the boundaries of age, background, and experience. We formed lasting friendships, united by our shared love for exploration and the grandeur of the North Rim.

Conclusion

Hiking the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was an unforgettable journey that left an indelible mark on my soul. It was a humbling experience that reminded me of the immense power and beauty of nature. The grandeur of the canyon, the serenity of the forest, and the camaraderie among fellow hikers created an atmosphere of awe and wonder.

This adventure taught me the importance of pushing beyond my limits, both physically and mentally. It showed me the rewards of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown. Through the challenges and triumphs of the hike, I discovered a renewed sense of resilience, gratitude, and appreciation for the wonders of the natural world.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon will forever hold a special place in my heart, beckoning me to return and explore its hidden treasures once again. It serves as a reminder of the vastness and beauty that exist beyond our everyday lives, inviting us to embark on new adventures, connect with nature, and discover the true depths of our own spirit.