Block 3 1. Issues related to Environment Modern society is faced with a lot of issues related to environment.

Killing of wild animals, building huge dams, cutting down trees, the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides and pollution of air, water and sound are some of the major environmental problems that we are facing. They upset the balance in nature. They are a threat to human survival. The destruction of forests or the felling of trees is a great threat to human existence. Trees are very essential to our environment. The trees utilize carbon dioxide released by us and in turn they provide us oxygen which keeps us healthy, lively and active. The trees provide shelter to many animals and birds in the forests. People cut down trees for fuel, timber and agricultural purposes. This has upset the balance of nature. The more trees we cut, the less rains we get. The roots of the trees fix the soil on the surface of the earth. When the trees are cut down, the rains will wash away all the soil from the hills into the rivers. Planting trees in a large scale is one of the solutions suggested for this. The indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides is dangerous to mans health because they poison the food he takes in. The remedy suggested is that we should use only bio fertilizers and bio pesticides. Pollution of air, water and sound is on the increase. This impairs the health of human beings. Industri8al development has led to air pollution. The smoke coming out of the factories fills in the air and the air is contaminated. The waste materials from factories let out into the rivers and lakes. They pollute the water. As a result the people who use this water and those who live by are liable to become victims to diseases. Pollution control measures should be adopted to check this. 2. Fable for tomorrow Rachel Carsons account of an imaginary town tells us about the major environmental issues faced by mankind. The town referred to was in the heart of America. There once all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings. There were prosperous farms and fields of grain. There were oaks, birches, maples and pines. Foxes barked in the hills and deer crossed the fields. The roadsides were places of beauty. The countryside was famous for the abundance and variety of bird life. People came from far and wide to watch the migrants and to fish in the streams. That was the state of the town many years ago. Then a strange and harmful force crept over the area and everything began to change. Some mysterious illnesses swept the flock of chickens. The cattle and sheep sickened and died. There had been several sudden and unexplained deaths among adults and children. The birds had disappeared. The few birds were seen were at the point of death. Silence prevailed over the fields and woods and marsh. The apple trees did not bear any fruits. The roadsides were unattractive and were deserted by all living things. The reason for the change is perhaps the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. 3. What are the views of Chief Seattle regarding the conservation of nature? Chief Seattles speech is a plea for conservation of nature. He says that the earth is the mother of his people. But they are part of the earth and it is part of them. He believes that the shining water on the rivers is not just water but the blood of their ancestors. The earth is rich with the lives of their kin. The ground beneath their feet is the ashes of their grandfathers. So Seattle says that the earth is sacred to his people. He is also pained by the condition of the white mans cities where there is no peace and no sound of birds or animals. Seattle warns us that whatever happens to beasts soon happens to man. All things are connected. Seattle reminds us that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. We must teach our children that the earth is our mother. This earth is precious to God. To harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator. Seattle warns that by contaminating the environment man is bringing disasters upon himself. Seattles speech points to mans reckless exploitation of nature and his indiscriminate destruction of trees and animals in the name of development and civilization. 4. On killing a Tree Gieve Patels poem on killing a tree summarizes mans indiscriminate destruction of trees. Tree is here represented as an enemy to man and man as a professional killer of trees. The poem gives a realistic picture of mans cruelty to trees. The tree grows slowly consuming the earth. It rises out of the earth feeding upon its crust. Just like a human being it absorbs years of sunlight, air and water.

The man comes down like a butcher and cuts it down. The poet uses words like hack and chop to show mans cruelty. Man thinks that just hacking and chopping alone will not be sufficient to kill the tree forever. He thinks that if it is not checked, it will rise again to former size. So he pulls its root out of the earth which anchors it. He ties the tree with a rope and pulls it out of the earth. Then he burns out its surface. The dead tree is subjected to various methods of processing and then it is used for commercial purposes. Man is satisfied only with the total destruction of tree. The poet here exposes mans thoughtless action. Killing a tree is not a simple job. It is a tedious work. Man in his greed for money destroys the trees. It leads to his own suffering and pain. 5. Prepare a set of questions for interviewing a social or environmental activist. 1. How did you get involved in social activities? 2. Will you please describe your first experience in social work? 3. Which social problems or environmental issues have you so far taken up? 4. Do you confine your activities to a particular area or a particular group of people? 5. What is your opinion about the Governments cooperation in solving the social problems which you are trying to solve? 6. Have you ever encountered any strong opposition from anyone? 7. What is your method of action? 8. How do you get support from the public? 6. The effect of Bhopal tragedy on women and children. Prepare a report. The Bhopal gas tragedy which took place on 3 rd December 1984 is definitely a black spot in the history of modern India. Thousands of women and children are still bearing the brunt of the disaster. The rate of abortions in the city has gone up. Hundreds of deformed babies have been born after the gas leak. Thousands of women are doubtful about becoming mothers. A study by two women doctors after the tragedy showed that women had developed all sorts of gynecological problems after the tragedy. Another survey by an expert team confirmed these findings. But the medical profession in Bhopal ignored these findings. Women have no peace in the social front also. Many have been sent away from their homes as they are unable to work anymore. Divorces are reported in plenty on simple grounds. Some fear the birth of deformed babies. Others doubt their ability to conceive. No men came to compensate for the misery of these poor women and children. 7. Women and children are the most affected in disasters natural or manmade. Why? History speaks of innumerable disasters, both natural and man-made. Floods, drought, earthquakes, landslides etc. are natural disasters. There are also man-made disasters like wars, terrorism and industrial accidents. In any disaster, whether natural or man-made, the worst hits are women and children. Children are particularly at risk because they are in the process of physical and mental development and hence are the worst affected due to their lack of experience and maturity. The world has witnessed several atrocities against women by many armies and terrorists. Women and children are the people most affected by civil war and food crises. Millions of children have been abandoned or separated from their families due to armed conflicts. Since women and children as active participants and recipients of disaster assistance, it is important to ensure their overall protection and well being. Hence, there is a need to develop a regional framework of action to address the special needs of women and children vulnerable to multiple natural hazards and manmade disasters. 9. Suppose a project like a metro railway, a massive dam or a super highway is going to be introduced in your area. You are facing the threat of evacuation. Make a speech representing the problems of your people. Respected Chairman, honourable M.L.A and other representatives of people on the dais, dear brothers and sisters, I am happy that the whole village is here to protest against the building of a Metro Railway in our area. We have been asked to vacate our houses. Where will we go? Is it easy to uproot us from our soil and plant us somewhere else? This is our land. For generations, we have been living in this area. Our forefathers lie buried in this earth. It is sacred to us. We cannot walk out on them. They say the metro railway will bring development. We dont want such developments. Let us take a strong decision today. We will not allow anybody to force us out of our land. We will tell them plainly that every land-mark here is precious to us. We grew with them and like our forefathers, we will die with them. Thank you for listening.