Wednesday, 29 November 2006
WEIGHING OUR WASTE
All three schools have agreed to make Wed, Nov 29th the day when we all weigh how much rubbish we produce in one day.
Sunday, 26 November 2006
AN ENDANGERED LIFESTYLE...........
Today our region is very different compared to a few decades ago. For example, in the past the dominant landscape was the country while now the small villages – especially those on the mountains- have been abandoned and green fields filled with factories and built-up areas.
In the last twenty years, a lot of poeple have moved from the country to the cities for work. Old population has been partly replaced by immigrants from Eastern-European and Middle-East countries.
The landscape was uncontaminated. There was no air and water pollution nor waste from factories and use of aerosol sprays.
Weather conditions have changed – global warming has led to mild winters and very hot and humid summers also in our region.
About 70 years ago, our civilization was mainly composed by farm workers. Every family cultivated their fields and bred animals at home. People used to eat locally grown foods and products which had not undergone any chemical treatment.
There were no factories but only small wareshops where the implements of the farm workers could be repaired.
The streets were dusty and you could hardly see a car, because only rich people could afford to have one. Poor people used to move using carriages, which were more slowly than cars, but less expensive.
The houses were cold and wet and families tried to heat them using wood and coke stoves.
Recycling wasn’t a big concern because most of the rubbish was “recycled” at home . Everything was re-used: even ash was mixed with animal grease to make soap. Organic rubbish was used to fertilize the soil or to feed animals.
The problem of unneccessary packaging was inconceivable at that time. Plastic or monouse containers weren’t used: people used the same containers –usually made of glass- many times.
Newspapers weren’t bought very seldom because they were expensive and often shared with other families (then used to light the fire at home.....)
There were not many comforts as today; life was hard, but perhaps people enjoyed more happiness, peace and quiet than nowadays.
Today our region is very different compared to a few decades ago. For example, in the past the dominant landscape was the country while now the small villages – especially those on the mountains- have been abandoned and green fields filled with factories and built-up areas.
In the last twenty years, a lot of poeple have moved from the country to the cities for work. Old population has been partly replaced by immigrants from Eastern-European and Middle-East countries.
The landscape was uncontaminated. There was no air and water pollution nor waste from factories and use of aerosol sprays.
Weather conditions have changed – global warming has led to mild winters and very hot and humid summers also in our region.
About 70 years ago, our civilization was mainly composed by farm workers. Every family cultivated their fields and bred animals at home. People used to eat locally grown foods and products which had not undergone any chemical treatment.
There were no factories but only small wareshops where the implements of the farm workers could be repaired.
The streets were dusty and you could hardly see a car, because only rich people could afford to have one. Poor people used to move using carriages, which were more slowly than cars, but less expensive.
The houses were cold and wet and families tried to heat them using wood and coke stoves.
Recycling wasn’t a big concern because most of the rubbish was “recycled” at home . Everything was re-used: even ash was mixed with animal grease to make soap. Organic rubbish was used to fertilize the soil or to feed animals.
The problem of unneccessary packaging was inconceivable at that time. Plastic or monouse containers weren’t used: people used the same containers –usually made of glass- many times.
Newspapers weren’t bought very seldom because they were expensive and often shared with other families (then used to light the fire at home.....)
There were not many comforts as today; life was hard, but perhaps people enjoyed more happiness, peace and quiet than nowadays.
Maribor -WEIGHING WASTE- TASK 2
Dear all
- the radio announcement
- the waste bins signs
- posters and advertisements around school
There will be special containers for different waste placed in the main corridors on all the fllors, as well as one rubbish bin for ‘other waste’.
The school authority and the members of the stuff have been informed.
The
Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Maribor_TASK 1_THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Lifestyle in the past and its influence on the environment
Lifestyle in the past was very simple. It was directed by farming, there was less heavy industry, so people had almost no influence on the environment. There were also some other advantages like:
- people did not use cars and computers so the air was less polluted
- no pesticids (chemical products) – traditional farming
- no hairsprays, chemicals
- using of natural resources – healthier life
- no heavy industry so that is way they didn´t need cleaning devices and there were no exaust gasses
- nature was less polluted - bigger cultural variaety
But as we all know in the past they did not have plastic products at all and they had less garbage than we have now.
2. Lifestyle today and its influence on the environment
Lifestyle today is very different from the lifestyle in the past. People have changed and they also have different habbits and needs. Their influence on environment has grown and nowadays there are a lot of disadvantages like:
- industry and traffic are creating dangerous gasses
- more chemical products
- factories are not using the cleaning devices
- more people - more garbage
- polluted air – change of climate, global warming and increasing of the temperature
- destruction of forests for paper and wood
and advantages like:
- law, which protects environment and natural heritage
- new inventions for cleaning
- some people think in ecological way
3. How do we protect the environment today (government, local authority, industry, organizations, individual houshold...)?
People realised that the clean environment is very important for living on the Earth so they have connected into ecological organizations and they carry out some actions. We also have other possibilities for protecting nature as:
- using of cleaning devices, recycling
- education about human influence on the environment
- public transport or cycling
- protection of natural heritage
- using of natural energy sources – water, wind, sun
- warning people about the demage in the nature
- using harmless products and filter devices
- environmental education at schools
4. What can I do to protect the environment?
There are many things that a high school student can do. Many organizations inform us about ecological behaviour and sure we can try at something to help. Perhaps we can:
- start to recycle rubbish
- inform our schoolmates about collecting the paper and plactics separatelly
- use the public transport or bicycle, walking
- throw the rubbish into the trash bin
- spare with water, electricity and oil or gas
- turn off the lights and televisions when are not in use
- buy products based on environmentaslly friendly packaging
- buy local products and not the imported ones
- not smoking
- do composting
5. Suggestions for the future:
- using water, solar or wind energy – renewable sources of energy
- cleaning devices for all factories
- small changes in our daily behaviour
- education about the meaning of the clean nature
- stricter laws and higher punishments
Lifestyle in the past was very simple. It was directed by farming, there was less heavy industry, so people had almost no influence on the environment. There were also some other advantages like:
- people did not use cars and computers so the air was less polluted
- no pesticids (chemical products) – traditional farming
- no hairsprays, chemicals
- using of natural resources – healthier life
- no heavy industry so that is way they didn´t need cleaning devices and there were no exaust gasses
- nature was less polluted - bigger cultural variaety
But as we all know in the past they did not have plastic products at all and they had less garbage than we have now.
2. Lifestyle today and its influence on the environment
Lifestyle today is very different from the lifestyle in the past. People have changed and they also have different habbits and needs. Their influence on environment has grown and nowadays there are a lot of disadvantages like:
- industry and traffic are creating dangerous gasses
- more chemical products
- factories are not using the cleaning devices
- more people - more garbage
- polluted air – change of climate, global warming and increasing of the temperature
- destruction of forests for paper and wood
and advantages like:
- law, which protects environment and natural heritage
- new inventions for cleaning
- some people think in ecological way
3. How do we protect the environment today (government, local authority, industry, organizations, individual houshold...)?
People realised that the clean environment is very important for living on the Earth so they have connected into ecological organizations and they carry out some actions. We also have other possibilities for protecting nature as:
- using of cleaning devices, recycling
- education about human influence on the environment
- public transport or cycling
- protection of natural heritage
- using of natural energy sources – water, wind, sun
- warning people about the demage in the nature
- using harmless products and filter devices
- environmental education at schools
4. What can I do to protect the environment?
There are many things that a high school student can do. Many organizations inform us about ecological behaviour and sure we can try at something to help. Perhaps we can:
- start to recycle rubbish
- inform our schoolmates about collecting the paper and plactics separatelly
- use the public transport or bicycle, walking
- throw the rubbish into the trash bin
- spare with water, electricity and oil or gas
- turn off the lights and televisions when are not in use
- buy products based on environmentaslly friendly packaging
- buy local products and not the imported ones
- not smoking
- do composting
5. Suggestions for the future:
- using water, solar or wind energy – renewable sources of energy
- cleaning devices for all factories
- small changes in our daily behaviour
- education about the meaning of the clean nature
- stricter laws and higher punishments
Sunday, 19 November 2006
Summary of Findings from Nad Aleji
What people did for the environment in the Czech Republic in the past
· Protection of environment was mentioned in the law in 1950`s but national economic interests were the priority.
· Compulsory collection of paper and iron at school.
· “Let`s protect our forests.” motto
· Feeding forest animals (chestnuts, acorns).
· Collection of dry herbs (nettle, rose-hips, Lamia alba,…)
· Collection of dry orange peels
· Planting trees in the forests.
· Collective cleanups within local communities.
· Everything was controlled by communists.
· Youth organizations were involved (Pionýr).
· Composting very common in the country.
· Temporary workforce at harvest. (hops in spring or harvest season, potato harvest, hay season).
· Saving electricity because of lack.
What people do for the environment in the Czech Republic now
After 1989 radical changes of the thinking of the legislature:
Government
o New laws, statutes and directives – local, national, EU
o New institutions to protect environment – Ministry of Environment, Czech Inspection of Environment, etc …
o Added protected areas- national parks, natural reserves
o Stricter enforcement of environmental laws, statutes and directives and encouraging citizens to report illegal dumping.
o Better environmental education of the public.
· By governmental agencies and private groups/individuals and a number of non-governmental organizations (Green Peace, Děti Země = Children of the Earth, Duha = Rainbow, Jihočeské matky = South Bohemian Mothers, etc.)
o Consulting with environmental experts and the public before new construction projects.
Economic activities
o Priority to modernise infrastructure to make more effective.
o New environmentally friendly technologies and approaches
· Filtration of SO2 at coal power stations
o Practical rational Land Use
· Reforesting and returning fields to meadows
o Good public transportation
o Sorting waste – recycling and removal of hazardous waste
o Developing new ways to reuse waste
o Development of renewable resources
o Re-cultivation of damaged landscape
o Anti-flood measures
· Slowing down river current
· Building dams
Activities of individuals
o Sorting waste
o Composting
o Using public transport
o More passengers in private/business cars
· Protection of environment was mentioned in the law in 1950`s but national economic interests were the priority.
· Compulsory collection of paper and iron at school.
· “Let`s protect our forests.” motto
· Feeding forest animals (chestnuts, acorns).
· Collection of dry herbs (nettle, rose-hips, Lamia alba,…)
· Collection of dry orange peels
· Planting trees in the forests.
· Collective cleanups within local communities.
· Everything was controlled by communists.
· Youth organizations were involved (Pionýr).
· Composting very common in the country.
· Temporary workforce at harvest. (hops in spring or harvest season, potato harvest, hay season).
· Saving electricity because of lack.
What people do for the environment in the Czech Republic now
After 1989 radical changes of the thinking of the legislature:
Government
o New laws, statutes and directives – local, national, EU
o New institutions to protect environment – Ministry of Environment, Czech Inspection of Environment, etc …
o Added protected areas- national parks, natural reserves
o Stricter enforcement of environmental laws, statutes and directives and encouraging citizens to report illegal dumping.
o Better environmental education of the public.
· By governmental agencies and private groups/individuals and a number of non-governmental organizations (Green Peace, Děti Země = Children of the Earth, Duha = Rainbow, Jihočeské matky = South Bohemian Mothers, etc.)
o Consulting with environmental experts and the public before new construction projects.
Economic activities
o Priority to modernise infrastructure to make more effective.
o New environmentally friendly technologies and approaches
· Filtration of SO2 at coal power stations
o Practical rational Land Use
· Reforesting and returning fields to meadows
o Good public transportation
o Sorting waste – recycling and removal of hazardous waste
o Developing new ways to reuse waste
o Development of renewable resources
o Re-cultivation of damaged landscape
o Anti-flood measures
· Slowing down river current
· Building dams
Activities of individuals
o Sorting waste
o Composting
o Using public transport
o More passengers in private/business cars
Saturday, 18 November 2006
Our first task
At each school teachers asked the students to reflect on what we do for the environment and to write it down. Students also were supposed to talk to their parents and grandparents to see what was done for the environment in the past. Each school summarized the results and here they are.
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