Ecological problems

1. What is ‘ecology’?

Ecology is a science which studies the relationship between all forms of life on our planet with its environment. This word came from the Greek ‘oaks’ which means ‘home’. The idea of ‘home’ includes the whole planet of ours, its population, nature, animals, birds, insects, all other living beings end even the atmosphere around our planet.

2. What are the most acute ecological problems?

The main problem is pollution in all its forms ( water pollution, air pollution) Every year the world’s industry pollutes the atmosphere with millions of tons of dust and other harmful substances. In some places the air is so dirty that it’s not safe to breathe. Seas, rivers and lakes are poisoned with garbage and chemicals which are dumped right into them. The other urgent problems are the depletion of the ozone layer, acid rains and global warming. They all lead to unfavorable changes in the world’s climate. If we don’t take measures to protect the planet the hole in the ozone layer will widen. This will inevitably lead to high incidents of skin cancer and other diseases. Icebergs will melt causing intensive flooding of huge areas of land.

Another serious ecological problem is the disappearance of forests. Some of them die from acid rains, others are cut down. Rain forests disappear at an alarming rate. If man continues to cut down rain forest millions of species of plants and animals will become extinct. Animals’ natural habitats are also being destroyed as a result of urban expansion. Many animals are endangered because hunters kill them in order to sell their fur or skin.

3. What is the most urgent ecological problem in our country?

The most urgent problem in our country is the radioactive pollution after the catastrophe on the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which took place on April 26, 1986. That catastrophe can be considered the largest disaster of the 20^th century. As a result of that accident 18% of territories of our republic were contaminated by radioactive elements. The agriculture of our country suffered great losses. The contamination caused a rapid raise of many incurable illnesses such as thyroid cancer, leukemia and others.

4 What things have to be done to protect nature?

- governments should take actions against pollution

- plants and factories should fit effective filters, use modern technology

- green zones around big cities should be extended

- natural recourses should be used economically

- people should broaden ecological education, so that everyone should understand that our planet is fragile

- people should use alternative sources of energy

5 What can you personally do to become more friendly to the environment?

We can show our concern with the cleanliness and the beauty of the place we live in. We can plant greenery, protect trees in parks and yards, collect rubbish. We can save energy by turning off lights and electric appliances when we don’t need them. We can avoid spray cans and aerosols which destroy the ozone layer, avoid using chemicals in our house or garden, use public transportation, cycle or go on foot, avoid using cars, recycle (re-using materials instead of throwing them away), recycle (not buying things that can’t be re-used)…

Travelling.