Environmental Issues inEast and South Asia

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

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

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

All images are from Google Images. Video is from NBC News

Warm Up:Which environmental issue does each picture depict?

List as many facts as you can about each issue.

Monsoon Cycles

Summer Cycle (wet monsoon season): The winds come off the ocean carrying warm, moist air which becomes rain on land.

Winter Cycle (dry monsoon season): The winds come from the land bringing cool, dry air. Rain occurs off land.

The dry monsoon season can lead to a period of extreme drought. This picture shows people in India visiting a communal well for their water needs.

The wet monsoon season can bring floods. This pictures shows a young boy trying to pull his cart through a flooded city street.

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&fg=&vid=7c8d7838-c315-4d25-b80b-7815ab64f4c5&from=00NBC News: Polluted Rivers Series

The Polluted Ganges River

Pollution problems are similar on the Yangtze River.

This picture shows a stream polluted by industrial waste feeding into the Yangtze River.

This picture shows Chinese boys fishing on the trash-filled banks of the Yangtze. Despite the high levels of pollution, people still must rely on this river as both a water and a food source.

Asian Brown Cloud

Satellite image of the Asian Brown Cloud.

Brown cloud blocks out the sun.

The city skyline is barely visible through the cloud.

People out walking and biking through the cloud. Should they be protecting themselves? What should they do?

Copy The ChartName of Concern

What it is Cause Effects Possible solutions

Monsoons Season winds that bring

summer rains and cool dry winter

air.

Tilting of the earth that changes the direction of the

wind

Brings 80% of region’s rainfallCauses flooding,

landslides, drought, agricultural and human losses

Better water management strategies such as dams, water conservation, and evacuation procedures

Asian Brown Cloud

Two mile thick cloud of air pollution

stretching from SW to SE Asia

Industrial waste, slash and burn

agriculture practices, vehicle

exhaust

Damage to agriculture,

respiratory illnesses, and acid rain

Reduce industrial wastes, change agricultural practices,

reduce vehicle emissions

Pollution on the Ganges River

Ganges is the most sacred river

in India and in the most

populated region of the country

Religious and cultural practices,

industrial and agricultural waste,

lack of water treatment practices

Unsafe drinking water, disease and

possible death, tainted agriculture

Change in religious and cultural practices, institute water treatment practices

including human, industrial and agricultural wastes

Pollution on the Yangtze River

Yangtze is the third largest river in the world and

the cradle of Asian civilization

Industrial and agricultural waste

Loss to marine life, unsafe drinking

water

Change in agricultural and industrial waste policies

Show What You Know• Create a 3-section flipbook that uses each

section to describe the environmental issues of monsoon winds, river pollution, and Asian Brown Cloud.– Use personalization as your technique to describe

the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)– Include a description of the issue, its cause and

effect, and possible solutions to the problem.– Draw a picture on the front and put your

information on the inside.

Example

Outside flap

I am the Yangtze River. Once, I was a mighty river and the location of the beginning of civilization in China. I supplied both food and water to my people. Now, my water and the food I help provide poison my people. Their agricultural and industrial waste have polluted me beyond all safe levels. I feel sad and useless. If only my people would enforce laws to protect me from those waste products and clean up the damage already done, I could again provide clean, safe water for the people and the food I help provide would again nourish a nation.

Inside flap

Show What You Know• Create a digital story using storybird.com

– Use personalization as your technique to describe the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)

– Include a description of the issue, its cause and effect, and possible solutions to the problem.

Show What You Know• Create a fake facebook page using

Fakebook.com– Use personalization as your technique to describe

the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)– Include a description of the issue, its cause and

effect, and possible solutions to the problem.