Environment

The environment means surroundings in which people, animals and plants develop and exist.
There are a lot of problems what is connected with the environment. The most serious
ecological problems of today are the pollution of air, water and soil, the destruction of
ecosystems, disappearance of many species of animals and plants, the weather changes, acid
rains, the warming up of the Earth is surface, the destruction of tropical rain forests and the
breaking of the ozone layer. Most of this damage, which proceeds faster and faster, has not
been caused by natural catastrophes such as earthquake, floods or tornadoes but by the man
himself.
The growing number of cars on roads and highways contribute much to the air pollution.
Factories produce large quantities of carbon dioxide, radioactive particles, sulphur and
nitrogen, which get into the air. Some of them in combination with water make sulphuric acid
in the clouds. These dangerous clouds are then blown by the winds and later fall as acid rain.
Acid rains kill trees, and then they get into the soil and make it infertile. The polluted rain
water is carried to the rivers and all life disappears from them. Factories directly increase
water pollution because many of them are built near rivers into which they put their chemical
waste.
The building of dams causes flooding of large areas of nature and disappearance of many
typical animals, birds and plants of the region.
If the destruction of the environment continues, the life on this planet will be endangered.
People, animals, birds and plants cannot exist without air, water and soil. In recent years many
environmental organizations have been founded. E.g. Green Peace. Environmentalists point to
the most serious ecological problems and try to give their warnings the greatest popularity
possible through the mass media and public campaigns. Many of their activities have been
successful. e.g. the use of DDT was banned by law all over the world, catalytic converters and
unleaded petrol in cars are compulsory in many countries the use of phosphates in soaps is
forbidden, most industrial countries have agreed to stop using ozone-destroying chemicals in
aerosol sprays, smoking in public or work is restricted by law in many countries.
There is a great need for environmental education. Children of all ages should be taught about
the mains relationship to nature. They should be educated to a much better understanding of
the fact that this planet, weather, climate, water, air soil, people, animals, birds and plants
create on e ecosystem.