THE ANTHROPOCENE

LYDIA KOROMPELIHELEN KOUKOURAKI

ENGLISH PROJECT 2016-2017

Γ32ND EXPERIMENTAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL OF ATHENS

TEACHER: DIMITRA DERTILI

•Humankind is responsible for the massive use of fossil fuels which has changed the atmosphere and temperature of the planet. Toxins and plastic are an accumulating problem of the oceans, land and air, while technology is becoming our second, if not our first, nature.

FOSSIL FUELS

http://time.com/money/3423142/divestment-fossil-fuel-free-investing/

Fossil Fuels are fuels (as coal, oil or natural gas) formed

underground from plant or animal remains.

COAL OIL NATURAL GAS

http://www.wyomingmining.org/minerals/coal/ http://www.mawaridegroup.com/oilgas.php http://psc.wi.gov/utilityInfo/gas/index-naturalGas.htm

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fossil%20fuel http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fossil-fuel

The use of fossil fuels These substances play a pivotal role in our lives. They

give us the means to get around, to keep our homes warm, to cook our meals, and more.

More specifically, human use fossil fuels in order to: Produce electricity for all sorts of purposes, such as lights

and computers. Power vehicles, airplanes and industries. Heat buildings. Make medicine, cosmetics and synthetic fabrics.

http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/fossil-fuels.html https://www.nmoga.org/what-are-fossil-fuels-used-for

http://greenergy.oakridgeprojects.com/

http://www.greensolarcafe.com/big-oil-vs-renewables/us-government-policy-fossil-fuels-vs-renewable-energy/

http://www.newsbomb.gr/tags/tag/33861/petrelaio-thermanshs

http://www.binarytradingworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/pros-cons-binarytradingworld.jpg

Advantages of fossil fuels

Available in plenty

Humans have been relying on fossil fuels for many decades now, and everything is in place and ready for us to gather and use such energy resources. We already have plenty of people gathering coal and oil, for instance, from all the places in the world that are rich in fossil fuels, using all the equipment that has been specially created for the extraction of fossil fuels. Therefore, it is better to use fossil fuels because we have already invested a lot of time, effort and money in them.

http://greengarageblog.org/12-impressive-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuelshttp://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels.php

Easy to find Fossil fuels are actually very easy to find. They occur all over

the world and they are sourced from the very deep regions of the planet which means that, when they are extracted from the ground or sea, we are guaranteed to get a lot of resources from that particular area. The fact that they occur all over the world means that all countries and regions should be able to have access to at least some type of fossil fuel.

http://greentumble.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels/http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels.phphttp://greengarageblog.org/12-impressive-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels

http://www.ethnos.gr/oikonomia/arthro/se_3_mines_trypani_gia_eksoryksi_petrelaiou-63753285/

Extremely efficient Fossil fuels are extremely more efficient than newer energy

sources. This means that they can generate huge amounts of energy, even if we just use a small amount of it. So far, the most effective fuel for vehicles has always been petroleum. Nothing else – no renewable energies, at least – even comes close to generating the same amount of energy that it does.

http://greentumble.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels/http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels.phphttp://greengarageblog.org/12-impressive-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels

Disadvantages of fossil fuels

Non-renewable

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources. Their supply is limited, and there will come a point in time where the earth’s fossil fuel deposits will have been completely used up. When this happens, we will need to be able to transfer to some other form of energy generation. Consequently, we shouldn’t be investing time and money into extracting more fossil fuels and improving our extraction techniques. Rather, we need to focus on developing alternative, renewable forms of energy.

http://greentumble.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels/http://flowpsychology.com/6-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels/

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cpc7WD45UOs/UTMWU106C-I/AAAAAAAAAYY/6TuOT825fS8/s1600/renewable-vs-non.gif

Health issues The burning of fossil fuels is not at all environment friendly,

so it’s hazardous to human health. Pollution-related diseases kill millions of children a year. High levels of air pollution can affect your lungs and trigger asthma. People who live in areas with a large amount of traffic are at a higher risk.

http://greengarageblog.org/12-impressive-pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuelshttp://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-fuels.php

http://www.safeteens.org/wp-content/uploads/lgbtq-health.jpg

Fossil Fuels and their impact on the environment

https://gr.pinterest.com/pin/285204588876372683/

Unfortunately, the biggest disadvantage to burning fossil fuels for energy is the fact that they are so damaging to the environment. Fossil fuel combustion emits some common air pollutants that have local and global effects on human health and the environment.

Air pollution When fossil fuels are burned, pollutants are released into the

air. These pollutants include carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4),nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), known as greenhouse gases.

http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/fossil-fuels.html http://www.earthtimes.org/nsimages/files/air-pollution_12312.jpg

Global Warming The release of carbon dioxide has been directly linked to

global warming. Climate scientists believe that if the amount of carbon dioxide transmitted in the atmosphere continues to increase, the planet will become warmer in the next century and may possibly result in a rise in sea levels due to the melting ice, altered weather patterns that may result in extreme weather events, and increased frequency of droughts in agricultural zones. These climate changes in turn look likely to change the world as we know it.

https://grist.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/peterman-glacier-before-and-after.jpg

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/drought-lake-bed-global-warming-9888293.jpg

http://d1br7wc30ambms.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/global-warming.jpeg

Oil spill

http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/pictures/gallery/Analysis/OilSpill-3.jpg

Not only are fossil fuels harmful when burnt, but they can also cause huge environmental damage if spilled. It is known that fossil fuels have damaged the environment through accidental oil spills. Oil spills are one of the leading causes of marine disasters, and can cause the deaths of millions of birds, mammals, and fish every time they happen. These disasters would not only affect the seas but also the land, especially the animals that live in them. Though oil spills are not often, they can kill thousands of animals if they occur.

TOXINS & PLASTIC

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/01/ocean-plastic-toxic-absorb.jpg

http://www.livinggreenandfrugally.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/EVHzLpWL.jpg

Toxins (definition and types)

They are poisonous substances, especially produced by bacteria, that cause diseases.

There are two types of toxins: endogenous or biotoxins that are produced by the body and exogenous or environmental toxins that are ingested into the body from external factors (air, water, food, etc)

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/toxinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxinhttp://www.medicalinsider.com/toxicity2.htmlhttps://www.google.gr/search?q=toxins&biw=1366&bih=638&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1zr7O4rPSAhWEbxQKHXOVBIgQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=Pz6ai6_j_Bz3SM

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The air is polluted by environmental toxins, emanated from the use of cleaning products, chemical vapours, traffic fumes, sprays and plastics.

The pollution of the sea is caused by chlorinated swimming pools, bathing products like skin oil, lotions, etc.

The food chain is disturbed by toxins that originate in junk food, food heated on plastic containers or fried food.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxinhttp://www.medicalinsider.com/toxicity2.html

Toxins and environment

Plastic It is an artificial substance that can be shaped

(when it is soft) into many different forms and has many different uses.

Plastics are used in all human activities, such as feeding, clothing, transportation, communication, health care. Human Consumption exceeds 150 million tons of plastics per year.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plastichttp://icpeenvis.nic.in/index2.aspx?slid=50&sublinkid=237&langid=1&mid=1https://www.google.gr/search?q=toxins&biw=1366&bih=638&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1zr7O4rPSAhWEbxQKHXOVBIgQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=plastic&*&imgrc=PXUBeXz26eCoGM:

The effect on the environment

Plastic pollution involves the hyper-concentration of plastic waste in the environment that affects the land, oceans, wildlife and humans.

Land: Chlorinated plastics may release toxic chemicals in the ground, which can then be soaked up by groundwater and the ecosystem

Oceans: plastic litters, such as plastic bags or bottles end up in the ocean and release toxins to plankton, fish and finally to humans through the food chain. Consuming the fish that have these toxins can develop cancer, immune disorders and birth defects.

http://blog.conservation.org/2013/07/reducing-global-plastic-use-is-key-to-fight-ocean-pollution/http://icpeenvis.nic.in/index2.aspx?slid=50&sublinkid=237&langid=1&mid=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution

Technology

http://advtechconsultants.com/WhatisTechnology.htm

Technology The collection of techniques, skills, methods and

processes used in the production of goods and services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.

http://realislaam.com/tag/define-technologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology

Theory of technological Evolution

Czech philosopher Radovan Richta (1924–1983),referred to how technology evolved through the ages.

According to him, there are three technological stages: Tools (pretechnological period) Machines (second stage) Automation (final stage)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_evolution

Technology’s everywhere It improves communication It provides access to information - Social Networking It improves housing and our lifestyle It enriches entertainment (more video games now, good

music to listen to and visual systems) It provides better education – online It facilitates traveling It provides a better health system – modern technology

in hospitals, improves patient treatments It promotes efficiency and productivity of businesses.

http://www.ubiwhere.com/en/news/2015/05/25/technology-advantages-and-disadvantages/#.WLXlX2_yjIU

Drawbacks Humans are replaced by machines. Massive destruction weapons lead to

endless wars. Social media encourages loneliness and

isolation. We depend on modern tools which

lessen our creativity and intelligence. 

http://www.ubiwhere.com/en/news/2015/05/25/technology-advantages-and-disadvantages/#.WLXlX2_yjIU

Importance of modern technology  Modern technology led to the evolution of civilization. There are

people who believe that the lack of technology would mean the end of mankind.

On the other hand, there are people who choose to live without modern technology or conveniences.

For most of us though, it has made life easier and more enjoyable.

http://civilengineersforum.com/modern-technology-advantages-disadvantages/https://www.theodysseyonline.com/is-technology-making-us-antisocial

THE END

Thank you for your attention!