Make A difference (WWF)

Everything you throw comes back

Below are three pictures of witty education about not throwing stuff unnecessarily.

Enjoy!

Photo sources from: http://www.bedifferent.it/scheda_blog.php?id=79

Dust Storm in Australia (Sydney)

Hi guys,

Though examinations may be over, but do look through the video and see how just like the haze problem, dust storms can also cause problems, in terms of visibility, health and environment.

Earthquake, Tsunamis, Haze

Hi guys,

As we are finishing off Chapter 10, and how I keep stressing from time to time the very real effects of our actions and pollution that we humans create that would lead to an increased occurrence of disastrous phenomena or natural disasters that would eventually hit back on humanity.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/samoa/6247891/British-toddler-swept-out-to-sea-among-Samoa-tsunami-victims.html

Recent natural disasters seen around the world is clear as crystal, like where Tsunami hit in the South Pacific, Samoa.

Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6992499.stm

Near to home, at Padang, Indonesia a 7.6-magnitude quake toppled buildings and led to fires, leading to quite a number dead and the death toll is still climbing. Even back in Singapore, some parts of Singapore could feel the tremors.

Source:http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/578191/2506855.html?1243388040

And at home, the haze problem is creeping back,with the very dry weather, causing the fires in Indonesia to be persistent. The Pollutant Standard Index is at 53 (at a moderate range), but visibility has significantly dropped.

The environmental problems or natural disasters the human race face is very real and could be triggered or worsened by the pollution we have created, increasing global warming and also ozone depletion.

As you guys study for your EOY, you can use such examples in your answers if need be.

And remember, what you are studying now are not for your grades only, the knowledge you gained through the classes with should EMPOWER you to make better, wiser and conscious choices that help the environment, and of course for a better future for your generation on this Earth.

Australian town in 'world-first' bottled water ban

(AFP) -26th Sept 2009

SYDNEY — An Australian town pulled all bottled water from its shelves Saturday and replaced it with refillable bottles in what is believed to be a world-first ban.

Hundreds of people marched through the picturesque rural town of Bundanoon to mark the first day of its bottled water ban by unveiling a series of new public drinking fountains, said campaign spokesman John Dee.

Shopkeepers ceremoniously removed the last bottles of water from their shelves and replaced them with reusable bottles that can be filled from fountains inside the town's shops or at water stations in the street.

"Every bottle today was taken off the shelf and out of the fridges so you can only now buy refillable bottles in shops in Bundanoon," Dee told AFP.

The tiny town, two hours south of Sydney, voted in July to ban bottled water after a drinks company moved to tap into a local aquifer for its bottled water business.

"In the process of the campaign against that the local people became educated about the environmental impact of bottled water," said Dee.

"A local retailer came up with this idea of well why don't we do something about that and actually stop selling the bottled water and it got a favourable reaction," he said.

Dee said the 2,000-person town had made international headlines with their bid, which he hoped would spur communities across the world to action.

"Whilst our politicians grapple with the enormity of dealing with climate change what Bundanoon shows is that at the very local level we can sometimes do things that can surprise ourselves, in terms of our ability to bring about real and measurable change that has a real benefit for the environment," he said.

The cash savings only made the project more compelling, he added.

"I think that's why this campaign is doing so well, because we're saying to people you can save money and save the environment at the same time," said Dee. "The alternative doesn't have a sexy brand, doesn't have pictures of mountain streams on the front of it, it comes out of your tap."

Activists say bottling water causes unnecessary use of plastics and fuel for transport. A New South Wales study found that in 2006, the industry was responsible for releasing 60,000 tonnes of gases blamed for global warming.

Article from AFP, taken from : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hZlHknsnA1Yhe-ZMnEDsF9w9U5qQ

Oil threat to Australia wildlife By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney

Hi guys,

As you all did Worksheet 6.2 and one of the headlines was about oil spill and the question asked about its impact, below is an article on BBC news about a oil spill from a rig in the Timor sea affecting the waters around Australia (which you can see here, it is a problem transcending all 3 scales: local (Timor Sea), regional(Timor Sea and other waters around Australia, global:affecting endangered marine animals and species that are of the world). Help to clear the slick came from the regions, specifically an emergency rig from Singapore.

Do read the article and gain some insight.
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Photo credits: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8252982.stm

Conservationists believe that, in its rush to exploit abundant natural resources, Australia risks inflicting irreparable damage on its fragile environment.

Environmentalists have warned that an oil slick caused by an accident on a rig in the Timor Sea is threatening wildlife in Australian waters.

Oil has been flowing from the West Atlas platform for three weeks.

Safety authorities have been using chemicals to try to break up the spill but warn it could be at least two more weeks before the leak is plugged.
Up to 400 barrels of oil per day have been pouring into the Timor Sea to Australia's north.

An emergency rig has arrived from Singapore to repair the damage and aircraft and boats have been dousing the slick with dispersants

Fragile environment

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has said that this has helped to contain the spread of oil, the bulk of which remains around the drilling platform thanks, in part, to benign weather conditions.

Officials have stated that the slick is about 170km (100 miles) from the Australian coast.

Environmental groups believe the contamination poses a significant threat to wildlife and is heading towards land.

Piers Verstegen, from the Conservation Council of Western Australia, says the spill - off the north coast of the Kimberley region where whales congregate - is an ecological disaster.

"Humpback whales, an endangered species, go to that area and that region to calf and give birth and this oil spill is happening just off the Kimberley coast," Mr Verstegen said.

"The oil, as far as we are aware, is travelling towards the Kimberley coastline but it is definitely affecting areas that are used by these whales and dolphins."
Fishermen have reported seeing endangered flatback turtles covered in oil.

There have also been claims that fish and sea-snakes have been poisoned.


From:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8252982.stm

Story of Stuff (Animated)

Below is a 20 minutes plus long video about the "Story about Stuff", it is really a good animation and video show that links up the whole story about how human change the earth (through industrialization and extracting resources from the Earth), how the developed countries(in this case, the context is USA) kind of exploit the developing countries and most importantly, our human actions affecting the earth.

A good wrap up and summary on Chapter 6: Managing our changing environment.

Enjoy!