Environmental issues across Environmental issues across AsiaAsia

Georgia Performance StandardGeorgia Performance Standard

SS7G10 a and bSS7G10 a and b

Enduring UnderstandingEnduring Understanding

The student will understand that The student will understand that humans, their society, and the humans, their society, and the environment affect each other. environment affect each other.

Georgia Performance StandardsGeorgia Performance Standards

SS7G10 The student will discuss SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia. and Eastern Asia.

a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers. on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers.

b. Describe the causes and effects of air b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China. pollution and flooding in India and China.

India-water pollutionIndia-water pollutionCauses of Ganges River pollution: Causes of Ganges River pollution:

1.1. Waste from factories (industrial waste)Waste from factories (industrial waste)

2.2. Chemicals from fertilizers (run-off)Chemicals from fertilizers (run-off)

3.3. Sewage (Human Waste) and GarbageSewage (Human Waste) and Garbage4.4. Cremated remains of humans (some people Cremated remains of humans (some people

cannot afford cremation, and put the whole cannot afford cremation, and put the whole body in the river)body in the river)

Effects of Ganges River pollution:Effects of Ganges River pollution:1.1. Shortage of clean water for drinking, cooking, Shortage of clean water for drinking, cooking,

and bathingand bathing2.2. High rates of water-born diseases High rates of water-born diseases 3.3. Changing religious practices (Hinduism)Changing religious practices (Hinduism)

China-water pollutionChina-water pollution

Causes of pollution on the Yangtze River:Causes of pollution on the Yangtze River:

1.1.Waste from factories (industrial waste)Waste from factories (industrial waste)

2.2.Chemicals from fertilizers (run-off)Chemicals from fertilizers (run-off)

3.3.SewageSewage

Effects of Pollution on the Yangtze River: Effects of Pollution on the Yangtze River:

1.1.Plant and animal species are disappearing Plant and animal species are disappearing (the endangered Yangtze River Dolphin) (the endangered Yangtze River Dolphin)

2.2.People are getting sick from drinking the People are getting sick from drinking the water and from eating contaminated fishwater and from eating contaminated fish

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/jul/18/china.pollution?picture=330216024

Beijing: A worker clears rubbish from canal. Reports suggest that as many as 300 million Chinese people - nearly one in every four - drink dirty water

Water PollutionWater Pollution

Air pollution in India and ChinaAir pollution in India and ChinaThe biggest general cause of air pollution in both The biggest general cause of air pollution in both

India and China is India and China is overpopulationoverpopulation. Specifically, . Specifically, more people mean more more people mean more carscars, and more , and more factories and power plants factories and power plants (most of which run (most of which run on coal) to produce goods and electricityon coal) to produce goods and electricity

According to the World Bank- 12 of the15 most According to the World Bank- 12 of the15 most polluted cities in the world are found here (8 in polluted cities in the world are found here (8 in China and 4 in India)China and 4 in India)

The 2008 Olympics in China were even affected. The 2008 Olympics in China were even affected. Many countries would not sent their athletes to Many countries would not sent their athletes to compete for fear that they would get sickcompete for fear that they would get sick

Effects of air pollution in India Effects of air pollution in India and Chinaand China

1.1. More than 500,000 deaths each year (this is the More than 500,000 deaths each year (this is the highest in the world)highest in the world)

2.2. Increase in respiratory and heart diseasesIncrease in respiratory and heart diseases

3.3. Lower GDP (because workers are in the hospital and Lower GDP (because workers are in the hospital and not working, less goods are being made, so less not working, less goods are being made, so less goods can be sold)goods can be sold)

4.4. Changing weather here in North America (particles Changing weather here in North America (particles found in Chinese/Indian air are being found in found in Chinese/Indian air are being found in California)California)

5.5. The Taj Mahal is turning yellow!The Taj Mahal is turning yellow!

More problems because China’s overpopulation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/jul/18/?picture=330216042

Asian Brown CloudAsian Brown CloudBrown haze that has many effects on the places it travels Brown haze that has many effects on the places it travels

aboveaboveCauses:Causes:1.1. Toxic waste from factoriesToxic waste from factories2.2. Motor vehicles emissionsMotor vehicles emissions3.3. Improper cooking fuels (cooking everyday indoors Improper cooking fuels (cooking everyday indoors

using wood or animal dung)using wood or animal dung)4.4. forest firesforest firesEffects:Effects:1.1. Alters monsoon patterns (the winds bring rain too Alters monsoon patterns (the winds bring rain too

early or too late-affects farming)early or too late-affects farming)2.2. Affects overall climate (reduces rainfall and increases Affects overall climate (reduces rainfall and increases

temperatures)temperatures)3.3. Reduces photosynthesis (affects oxygen levels)Reduces photosynthesis (affects oxygen levels)4.4. Increases human respiratory problemsIncreases human respiratory problems

A satellite image showing a haze of pollution over part of China caused by the country's reliance on coal.

Air PollutionAir Pollution

Flooding in India and ChinaFlooding in India and China Monsoons are essential for farming, but can Monsoons are essential for farming, but can

cause heavy flooding. This can cause cause heavy flooding. This can cause death, destruction of houses and crops, and death, destruction of houses and crops, and water-born diseasewater-born disease

Yellow River (“China’s Sorrow”) killed 2 Yellow River (“China’s Sorrow”) killed 2 million in 1887 and 4 million in 1931 when it million in 1887 and 4 million in 1931 when it floodedflooded

Deforestation and draining wetlands also Deforestation and draining wetlands also cause rivers to flood more easily cause rivers to flood more easily

What are they doing to fix it??What are they doing to fix it??1.1. Government getting involved (passed the Ganges Government getting involved (passed the Ganges

Action Plan and created Environmental agencies)Action Plan and created Environmental agencies)

2.2. Building new and improved sewage and water Building new and improved sewage and water treatment plants to make the rivers cleanertreatment plants to make the rivers cleaner

3.3. Building sanitary landfills to keep garbage away Building sanitary landfills to keep garbage away from the riversfrom the rivers

4.4. Chinese govt. built Three Gorges Dam to stop Chinese govt. built Three Gorges Dam to stop flooding and create clean electricityflooding and create clean electricity

5.5. Closing factories temporarilyClosing factories temporarily

6.6. Slow population growth (1 baby policy in China)Slow population growth (1 baby policy in China)

7.7. Trying to stop deforestationTrying to stop deforestation

Ticket Out The DoorTicket Out The DoorIf you were in charge of an If you were in charge of an environmental organization in India OR environmental organization in India OR China, how would you try to solve your China, how would you try to solve your nation’s environmental problems? nation’s environmental problems? Choose 1 problem in 1 country and Choose 1 problem in 1 country and address how YOU would fix it.address how YOU would fix it.

Write 1 paragraph (Write 1 paragraph (at least 5 sentencesat least 5 sentences) ) explaining your answer. explaining your answer.

Your topic sentence should be: If I were Your topic sentence should be: If I were in charge of the environment in in charge of the environment in ________, I would…________, I would…