LESSON LightofRestorationPeace,WorldCulture,Heavenly 35 ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION LESSON OBJECTIVES 1 Understand why environmental pollution is a serious social problem. 2 Find out about environmental protection activities that you can do on a personal level. TERMS TO KNOW • Environmental protection • Hydroelectric • Nuclear • Eco-friendly • Water footprint
The Earth in Pain As of 2022, the earth’s population is 7.9 billion. There were about 300 million people 1000 years ago, and about 2 billion people 100 years ago; the earth’s population is increasing at a very rapid rate. For such a large population to live, sufficient resources such as food, water and energy are needed. In the process of obtaining these resources, the earth’s environment is being destroyed and polluted. In addition, the resources available to humans are getting smaller and smaller.Theworld’s most used energy resource is petroleum. Petroleum is used as a fuel for automobiles, heating appliances, and as a raw material for plastics and textiles. However, because of reckless mining and usage of petroleum, many experts predict that the world will run out of this natural resource in 50 to 100 years.
2 35. Enviromental Protection
Figure 35-1 Thermal power plants and air pollution
Figure 35-2
35. Enviromental Protection 3
Electricity is essential for lighting at night and for using different appliances and computers. There are thermal power generators, hydroelectric power generators, nuclear power generators, solar power generators, etc. as methods of producing electricity. Among them, the thermal power generator, which produces electricity by burning coal, is the most used worldwide. However, since the thermal power generator is the main cause of air pollution and global warming, efforts should be made to increase the proportion of eco-friendly power generators, such as solar and wind power generators.Waterpollution and water scarcity are also global problems. Water is not only used for drinking, but it is also a very important resource because it is used for agricultural and industrial purposes. Due to the lack of water, not enough food can be produced, and if factories do not run, various necessities for life cannot be produced either. The total amount of water required to make a product is called the ‘Water Landfill
The 3Rs stand for Reduce, Reuse, andReduceRecycle.refers to lessening unnecessary consumption of water, electricity, and disposable items in daily life. Savings include turning off unused lights, using a tumbler instead of a paper cup,
4 35. Enviromental Protection Footprint.’ According to a study, to produce a one-liter bottle of cola, it takes one liter of water for the beverage itself, 10 liters of water for making containers, one liter of water for washing containers, and 200 liters of water for growing the sugar needed for the cola. It needs a total of 212 liters of water. It takes about 2,500 liters of water to make one cotton shirt and about 450 liters of water to produce one pound of wheat. Clean water is usually produced in forests, and as forests are destroyed, the amount of available water is decreasing. Environmental pollution caused by garbage is also very serious. The most common waste disposal method is incineration. However, air pollution occurs during the waste incineration process. Another method is landfilling. However, there is the problem of the number of landfill sites must continue to increase because garbage continues to be generated. In addition, if polluted water from garbage seeps into the ground, it also contaminates groundwater and soil. The Earth’s population continues to grow, and the environment is increasingly being destroyed. When environmental destruction passes a certain threshold, it may become difficult for humans to live on Earth any longer. Therefore, it is necessary to have a mindset to protect the environment, and we must strive to find a way for humans and nature to coexist.
The 3Rs ProtectionEnvironmentaland Environmental protection cannot be achieved with the efforts of one government or some groups alone. When all citizens take an interest in environmental protection and participate in small things, environmental destruction can be prevented, and a clean environment can be created. Let’s learn about the 3Rs that anyone can do to protect the environment.
35. Enviromental Protection 5 using a shopping cart instead of a plastic bag, and using refillable detergent and cosmetics. Reuse means using an item more than once instead of throwing it away or allowing someone else to use it if it is in good condition. Reuse includes trading used furniture, toys, and clothes in second-hand markets, or repairing broken items, and donating them to people who will use them.
Recycling is the process of collecting used items and turning them into new products. Above all else, in order to recycle properly, separate discharge and collection of waste must be done well. Plastics, cans, paper, and bottles are easily recyclable items. If recycling is done well, the amount of waste can be significantly reduced, and environmental pollution can be drastically reduced too. Above all, towns and cities can be cleaned, creating a livable environment. Figure 35-3 Recycling bin
6 35. Enviromental Protection Reviewing the Lesson 1 What types of environmental pollution are currently taking place on Earth? 2 What is the term for the total amount of water used to make a product? 3 What does the 3Rs stand for? 4 What are some ways you can practice reducing? 5 What are some ways you can practice reusing? 6 How can you practice recycling? Activities 1 Let’s investigate and share cases of environmental pollution that are happening in the country and region I live in. 2 Let’s make a 3R plan that you’ll practice and share it with the class.
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/06/21/20/11/power-station-374097_960_720.jpg
Figure 35-1
Figure 35-2 https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/09/30/15/48/red-cross-project-1705604_960_720.jpg
Figure 35-3 https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/07/14/16/06/park-4337477_960_720.jpg
Lesson35. Enviromental Protection 5th floor 20, Nambusunhwan-ro 347-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South-Korea Tel. +82 02-514-1963 Fax. +82 Thehwpl@hwpl.krhttp://www.hwpl.kr02-514-1961firsteditionon31 July 2022 Published by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light Copyright 2022 Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light All rights reserved. You must get consent from a copyright owner to use all or parts of the contents of this book. Image Credits
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