Help the Environment!

There are many reasons that people are worried about the future of the Earth. Let’s take a look at some of the problems that humans face in keeping the Earth clean.

The environment may play an important role in the future of the world The environment may play an important role in the future of the world. Most people think that Global Warming causes Climate Change. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Hairspray Cans Fridges Plastics A group of greenhouse gases called the chlorofluorocarbons, - which are usually called CFCs have been used in These are dangerous because small amounts of greenhouse gases can trap large amounts of heat in the atmosphere.

Because there are more and more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped which makes the Earth warmer. This is known as GLOBAL WARMING.

We could have some very dangerous problems on Earth If we continue polluting the atmosphere A lot of scientists agree that human activities are making the natural greenhouse effect stronger.

More heat gets trapped on Earth The planet becomes warmer The temperature gets hotter The temperature now is perfect for life on Earth. Hotter temperatures could be very bad for life here

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Another problem that all cities and towns have is what to do with all their garbage?!  It can be a big, smelly problem! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Hundreds of years ago, most cities did not have laws about garbage. Sometimes people were known to just throw their garbage out the window.  Too bad if you were standing down below! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Today there are many different ways that cities deal with garbage.  Here are some... Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

LANDFILL: A landfill is when a city digs a big hole in the ground, collects all the garbage from houses and businesses, throws the garbage inside and then covers it up.

Here are some parts of a typical landfill… Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Here are some pictures of some real landfills before they were buried... Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

1. They tend to give off gases into the sky 2. Rats love landfill! But landfills have some problems. 1. They tend to give off gases into the sky 2. Rats love landfill!

3. Sometimes the garbage can seep down and pollute water under the landfill

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum 4. People don't like to live near garbage landfills.  The trucks that hide the garbage are loud, and it can be smelly and dusty!

Put a landfill near people's houses and they might get pretty mad! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Put a landfill near people's houses and they might get pretty mad!

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum INCINERATION: Another way cities get rid of trash is through incineration.  This means that they burn the trash.

Ooh, look at all that pollution!

If a government spends more money, they can make landfill and incinerating cleaner. For instance, with landfill, you can protect the water, by building a liner on the bottom of the landfill.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum RECYCLING: In more recent times, most cities have begun recycling more and more.   Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Recycling means reusing things instead of throwing them away. Of course, not everything can be recycled.  

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum But most cities that do recycling do not recycle *plastic bags *cartons *blocks *Styrofoam

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Many places have set up Recycling Centers for collecting newspapers, boxes, plastic bags, paper bags, soda cans, glass and computers.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum But there are some problems with recycling...Not everyone likes to recycle and some people refuse to do it.

Also sometimes there is no one to use the recycled materials and eventually they become landfill anyway.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Also some people say it doesn't really help the environment as much as you would think.  For instance, to collect recyclable things, cities have to send out a second garbage truck.  Some people say the pollution those trucks make is worse than if they didn't recycle at all. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum And all cities do at least some trash collection because not everything can be recycled. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum

Still most people think recycling is best when possible --- as long as it is well-organized! So...what do you think we should do about our country’s garbage problem!?

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. Making sure everyone gets enough water is another important environmental issue. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. Many cities and towns are bordered by an ocean.  But people can't drink ocean water. There is too much salt in it! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Of course, there are machines that some governments and businesses use to take the salt out, But they are very expensive!

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. Here is a picture of a plant that turns salt water into drinking water. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

A simpler way to get water is out of the ground through a well. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. Wells are cheap and you can get the water out of the ground.  If there are lakes and rivers in your town or city there is sure to be water under the ground. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. You send a bucket down into the well and get the water.  Then you pull it up. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

But to clean the well or fix it, someone has to go down inside. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. Of course, you still have to go outside and get water when you want a drink.  Plus it is hard to know if the water is safe! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. More advanced cities use WATER PLANTS to get water to all the houses using pipes! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

A long time ago, cities used pipes with lead in them A long time ago, cities used pipes with lead in them.  This was very dangerous and caused many people to die --- but no one realized that the lead was the reason!

these days communities usually use safe pipes made from copper or other safe materials.  The pipes take the water from the rivers or lakes to a WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. A water treatment plant is a place where they take the water and get rid of anything bad in it --- lead, sand, very small bugs and other stuff.  These plants can be expensive though! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Here is a water treatment plant from above. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Here is another water treatment plant from the outside. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. From there, the water goes through more pipes to the houses, businesses and fire hydrants. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. In America, we are lucky to have running water…In many places there is not enough drinkable water! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. In Africa, almost half the people don't have a way to get safe drinking water.  This leads to many diseases! Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.

Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc. We have heard about some environmental issues. Start to think about what can you do in your life to help the environment. Copyright Right Brain Curriculum Inc.