ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN PREVENTION

There are a host of environmental problems caused by human actions on the environment. If we are to respond to these problems we have to recognize that each of us is individually responsible for the quality of the environment we live in. Our personal actions can either worsen or improve our environmental quality. Several people may feel that environmental problems can be solved with quick technological fixes. While a majority of individuals would want a cleaner environment, not many of them want to make major changes in their lifestyle that could contribute to a cleaner environment. Decisions and actions taken by individuals to a very large extent determine the quality of life for everyone. This necessitates that individuals should not only be aware of various environmental issues and the consequences of their actions on the environment but should also make a firm resolve to develop environmentally ethical lifestyles. With the help of solar energy, natural processes developed over billions of years can indefinitely renew the topsoil, water, air, forests, grasslands and wildlife on which all forms of life depend, but only as long as we do not use these potentially renewable resources faster than they are replenished. Some of our wastes can be diluted, decomposed and recycled by natural processes indefinitely as long as these processes are not overloaded. Natural processes also provide services of flood prevention, erosion control at no costs at all. We must therefore learn to value these resources and use them sustainably. Concepts that help individuals contribute towards a better quality of our environment and human life.

• Develop respect or reverence for all forms of life.

• Each individual must try to answer four basic questions: Where do the things that I consume come from?

What do I know about the place where I live?

How am I connected to the earth and other living things?

What is my purpose and responsibility as a human being?

• Try to plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. They reduce air pollution.

• Reduce the use of wood and paper products wherever possible. Manufacturing paper leads to pollution and loss of forests which releases oxygen and takes up carbon dioxide. Try to recycle paper products and use recycled paper wherever possible.

• From the mail you receive reuse as many envelopes that you can.

• Do not buy furniture, doors, window frames made from tropical hardwoods such as teak and mahogany. These are forest based.

• Help in restoring a degraded area near your home or join in an afforestation program.

• Use pesticides in your home only when absolutely necessary and use them in as small amounts as necessary. Some insect species help to keep a check on the populations of

pest species.

• Advocate organic farming by asking your grocery store to stock vegetables and fruits grown by an organic method. This will automatically help to reduce the use of pesticides.

• Reduce the use of fossil fuels by either walking up a short distance using a car pool, sharing a bike or using public transport. This reduces air pollution.

• Shut off the lights and fans when not needed.

• Don’t use aerosol spray products and commercial room air fresheners. They damage the ozone layer.

• Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil or other products containing harmful chemicals down the drain or on the ground.

• Buy consumer goods that last, keep them as long as possible and have them repaired as far as possible instead of disposing them off. Such products end up in landfills that could pollute ground water.

• Buy consumer goods ages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway bottles.

• Use rechargeable batteries.

• Try to avoid asking for plastic carry bags when you buy groceries or vegetables or any other items. Use your own cloth bag instead.

• Use sponges and washable cloth napkins, dish towels and handkerchiefs instead of paper ones.

• Don’t use throwaway paper and plastic plates and cups when reusable versions are available.

• Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum and other items accepted for recycling in your area. You might have to take a little trouble to locate such dealers.

• Set up a compost bin in your garden or terrace and use it to produce manure for your plants to reduce use of fertilizers.

• Try to lobby and push for setting up garbage separation and recycling programs in your localities.

• Choose items that have the least packaging or no packaging.

• Start individual or community composting or vemicomposting plants in your neighborhood and motivate people to join in.

• Do not litter the roads and surroundings just because the sweeper from the Municipal Corporation will clean it up. Take care to put trash into dustbins or bring it back home with you where it can be appropriately disposed.

• You must realize that you cannot do everything and have solutions for every problem in the world. You can however concentrate on issues that you feel strongly about and can do something about. Focusing your energy on a particular issue will help you get better results.

• You could join any of the several NGOs that exist in our country or become volunteers. Organize small local community meetings to discuss positive approaches of pollution prevention.

• Learn about the biodiversity of your own area. Understand the natural and cultural assets. This would help you to develop a sense of pride in your city/town/village and will also help you understand the problems facing their survival.

• You cannot improve your world by not voting. You have the option to make a choice rather than complain later on.

• It is important that you do not get discouraged at the first sign of trouble. Do not dwell on the negative aspects. But take positive actions wherever you can to make the world a better place to live in.

• When talking to elected officials always be courteous and reasonable. You may disagree with a particular position but be re- spectful in doing so as you will gain little by being hostile and brash.

(Source from Department of environment)

Post by Zurina Zakaria a123555...

Do it !!!

Air pollution occurs when there are impurities in concentrations that interfere with or endanger people, plants, animals and property. These impurities can exist in the form of dust, mist or vapor and gas mixtures of any of these materials.

You should try to reduce air pollution. Among the practices that you can do is:

(i)  Walking, bicycling, or using public transport.

(ii)  Restricting the use of household products that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) such as hair sprays, aerosols, cleaning and polishing furniture.

(iii)  Do not open burning.

One result is a haze of air pollution. Haze is usually represented by the smoke, dust, pollen, or gases suspended in the air (atmosphere). The combination is known as solid particles or particulate size of 0001 micrometers to 100 micrometers. In nature, the haze caused by emission of particles from volcanic eruptions, salt evaporation from the oceans and plant pollen. Result of human activities that cause forest fires, haze was / scrub / farm for agricultural purposes, open burning in residential areas and on-site waste disposal, industrial activities and motor vehicles, quarry and so forth.

create by Unaishah

ENVIRONMENTAL INFO Air Pollution Index (API)

Air Pollution Index is a system that is designed to inform the public about air quality and its impact on their health with the easiest way. It is also a system that measured pollutant concentrations on a scale of 0-500. Thus, the IPU is categorized as five levels of good, moderate, unhealthy, very unhealthy, very unhealthy and dangerous. Range API is as follows:

There are five types of pollutants that are measured in determining the balance IPU. Pollutants such pollutants are:
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Ozone (O3)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• Nitrogen dioxide (A/O2)
• Suspended particles below 10 microns (PM10)

Each pollutant has its own index, also known as subindeks.

Source: Department of the Environment

by : Unaishah

Did you now ????

Water is a vital resource for human life. Without water the world would be a lifeless planet. 3/4 part of the earth covered by water and over 2/3 of the human body weight is water. In general, a man uses 1,000 liters of water a year as a beverage.

Did you know, the color and smell of the water can tell us what happened to it.

  

Green water.	There are small plants called algae that grow in it
Muddy water	There are a content high Siltation or sedimentation caused trouble breathing fish.
Luminous layer	Spillage of oil on the water surface
Foam or foam	The possibility of a house or factory of soap flowing into it.
Smells like rotten eggs	There is sewage.
Reddish orange or yellow layer on the surface.	The plant removes pollutants into streams.

source : Department of the Environment

Create by Unaishah Salleh (A123067)

Just A Story

In ancient times, there is a farmer who was digging the ground under the sun. The weather is so hot that cause farmers to feel jealous to see the sun is so powerful, then he should pray to the sun. Switch to farmers that even the sun and felt he was the most powerful.

One day, when the sun emits light, the sudden the clouds move and protect the sun.The sun felt so angry because of the cloud becomes more powerful, and he prayed to turn into a cloud. His prayer was answered. Since that day, the clouds are just so happy being able to block the sunlight.

Suddenly, with strong winds cause clouds to move from one place to another. Cloud wanted to be a wind, he said. His prayer was answered. Since that day, he showed the strength of its raging. But the mountain would have been prevented. He was very angry because the more powerful of the mountain and prayed to the mountain as well. He felt very proud for having been the mountains, and felt himself the most powerful and mighty.

One day a farmer went to the mountains and digging in the mountains. Mount surprised to feel there is more strength, the man. Immediately he prayed for people to return to again and his prayer was answered.

He feels that human beings are the most powerful and privileged. Power to change human nature to improve the quality of human life but is often abused their power so that the environmental pollution.

-create by Unaishah Salleh (A123067)-

MEASURES AND ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

• USE MODERN TECHNOLOGY

The use of modern technologies to reduce environmental pollution is very important. For example, without modern technology, it is not possible to clean up oil spills in sea. With modern technology, solid waste such as old newspapers, old magazines, paper, cloth, plastic and glass can be recycled. This would certainly reduce the pollution caused by solid waste management is not perfect.

• ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE CURRICULUM

To create awareness among the people, the best way is through education. Reasons of environmental education is that it is necessary to form positive attitudes towards the environment itself.With the awareness of an individual, he will be aware of the importance of environmental quality are maintained. This is because they already know what the problem might be caused by an act which is responsible for polluting the environment.

• EXHIBITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

This exhibition may include environmental issues, the reasons for the pollution, its impacts and what can be done to reduce pollution. Materials like charts, polster and newspaper cuttings may be displayed. In addition, video tapes and slides are available with respect to pollution can also be displayed. Such an exhibition can raise awareness and teach people to protect the environment.

• CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

Participate in a campaign to protect the environment is a healthy and highly recommended. Among the campaigns that protect the environment is to love our river campaign, recycling campaigns, friend of nature, and so forth. These campaigns can affect the depth of its participants.

• DISCLOSURE OF MASS MEDIA

In today's mass media play an important role in shaping the thinking of all users. Thus, the existence of mass media exposure on the issue of pollution, the public will be careful in dealing with pollution problems. So far, most media to make disclosure of the issue of contamination is the magazines and newspapers. Television has also made this disclosure and examples TV3and TV7 but it is too little emphasis.


creat by Unaishah (A123067)

EFFECT OF POLLUTION

(1) Threaten Human Health

As a result of environmental pollution, human health is also affected. In our country today such as the of cars has increased rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s than previously. Unfortunately, the technology of manufacturing of motor vehicles has caused many problems such as air pollution, environmental damage and natural wildlife. Production of monoxide gas is a tonix gas that can kill if retained in a closed area. Another kind of element that can be produced through the use of a motor vehicle is a type of lead is very toxic chemical and can cause brain damage, especially among children. A part from that, as occurred in Minamata Bay, Japan, toxic pollution into the water causing symptoms of numbness and tingling, numbness, headaches, blurred vision and expression that is not correct. Some end up with paralysis and died there. Symptoms caused by mercury poisoning has involved hundreds of fishing families. It is known as Minamata disease.

(2) Threaten plants and animals

The effects of the pollution occurs not only experienced by human, but also affect other wildlife. The impacts of pollution that killed many marine organisms in the shallow waters of the effects of oil spills into the sea. When oil spills occur with many near the coast it forms a layer of oil is threatening marine life and birds. Spill were also affected plankton growth and fertility. The impacts are considered chronic anomalia, the enlargement of the body and which is not normal behavior, and less immune to the use of water rescouces. As another example poisoned effects of mercury, a strange incident occurred in Minamata Bay, Japan, where the birds are flying suddenly plummeted from the sky. Cat walk unstable with a mouth-foaming, then ran and died uncertain.

(3) Property damage

Pollution caused by natural factors like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., substantially affected by the destruction of property. As an example of a volcanic eruption events that occurred in Indonesia, volcano has resulted in property damage to bend. This is caused by hot lava produced by the mountain. Among the property damage that occurred was the destruction of human habitation and infrastructure in the affected areas. 

Create by Unaishah ( A123067 )