In our time, our planet is facing a lot of serious threats.  Overpopulation, water and air pollution, deforestation, climate change, resource depletion and endangered species and ecosystems are only some of the major issues we have to solve in the years to come if we want our children to live in a healthy world.

Of course, most of the responsibility falls on governments and international organizations which should make laws to promote the conservation of the environment and set strict rules against human activities which threaten it. However, individuals can play a major part in reversing this condition as well. People must learn from an early age how to act in their everyday life in an environmentally friendly way. Children should be taught at schools and in their families how to care for their planet.

Activities

• Read the above text and discuss the threats to the environment mentioned. What do you know about each of them?

• Watch this video by the European Commission and discuss in pairs what this family used to do and how that changed.
  • Discuss in class how we can save energy in our everyday lives by changing some of our habits.

• Watch this video about waste management and make a list of the ways in which we can manage our waste to reduce the amount of stuff we throw away. Discuss.
  • Name three places mentioned in the video where people use their waste in multiple creative ways.

• Write an article for the school newspaper on the things we can do as individuals to help the environment. What is the role education can play in this direction?
  • Draw a picture to accompany your article in the newspaper (The pictures of this post were kindly given to me by my students Dennis and Christine!).