Protection of the environment

Look at the questions below and then read the passage to find the answers. Read as quickly as you can and do not worry about any-thing except the answers you need to find.

1) What problems have been recognized as global?

2) Are these global problems connected with environmental protec-

tion?

3) Does the increasing population make new demands on the envi-ronment?

4) What possibilities did technology give people?

5) What happened to air, watercourses and natural resources as a re-sult of industrialization?

6) Why is it necessary to stop environmental damage?

7) What does environmental protection mean?

Over the last decades, a whole set of problems has been recognized as global: the environment, energy, resources, food, population, and last but not least the arms race. One can easily see that environmental protec-tion is closely connected with all of the above mentioned problems. It really means steps to improve people’s quality of life.

People have always exploited the resources of nature. As time went on an increasing population with greater requirements made new demands on the resources of the Earth. Following industrialization changes occurred in the environment at a greater rate than ever before. With the aid of tech-nology people found new ways to exploit the forces of nature and com-mand its resources. In the industrial countries people’s material conditions were improved, but, at the same time, the forces which they had harnessed began to affect the environment. Watercourses were damaged, air was pol-luted. and natural resources were destroyed.

Today, we know more than ever before about the forces that affect the environment. This increases our responsibility for controlling these forces in such a way that we can achieve continual material progress at the same time as we maintain environmental values. We must stop environ-mental damage in different areas. Otherwise it will threaten continual pro-gress and the improvement of our standards of living.

Once mankind was able to see the Earth from space, it began to be thought of as a whole, as a large common home for four and a half thou-sand million people. Environmental protection is protection of our Earth itself. This is a common cause of all nations, irrespective of the differences in their social system. And all scientific and technological achievements must be usel to protect the land, water and air, which means man’s life, too. The global problem of environmental protection can only be solved by joint national and international efforts.

NOTES

to protect the environment: to preserve it by keeping it safe fromdanger, damage, change or loss;

to recognize a problem as global: to acknowledge that the problemaffects the whole world and all peoples;

to improve people’s quality of life: to achieve a high standard ofliving;

to command the resources of nature: to have the resources of na-ture at one’s service, to be able to use them;

to achieve continual material progress: to provide all people withmore material comforts;

to maintain environmental values: to keep the environment safe,healthy, in good condition;

to make new demands on the resources of the Earth: to exploitthem more and more extensively;

to harness forces: to get control over them;

to pollute air, water, soil: to make them dangerously impure or un-healthy for use;

last but not least: coming at the end, but not least in importance;irrespective of the differences in their social systems: not taking into

account, not paying consideration to the differences in their social systems.

UNIT III. SUPPLEMENT TO UNIT II (PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT)

RECYCLING

The term «recycling» can imply various methods of reprocessing secondary materials and reusing all sorts of products: household, waste packaging materials, even industrial waste. Either the government or local trade associations may organize such schemes. The aim, however, is one and the same – to create a survivable society. In Japan recycling is no whim or fad, but generally accepted part of everyday life.

A poll in 1994 showed that more than 82 % of housewives living in the capital agreed that some nature conservation measures should be taken now, i. e. before, it is too late, which demonstrates people’s real concern at an impending crisis. However, as to what action to take 60 % of those asked agreed to cooperate only «if this does not call for financial expendi-ture» and 65 % said they would cooperate provided «this would not cause them extra inconvenience». These figures could by no means be called en-couraging but they do shed some light on one of the reasons hindering the introduction of a recycling programme, namely lack of information.

Information is necessary for people to become aware of the urgency of establishing a community capable of reprocessing its waste. To find out what needs to be done and what challenges the community faces, more in-formation is required. Even if numerous groups of residents are organized to collect empty cans, tins or milk cartoons, this may prove very ineffec-tive if they act on their own. To pool the efforts of individuals and local bodies, it is necessary to provide an information network. A veritable «re-cycling community» will not come into being unless the efforts of people, businesses and government are coordinated.