Download - Eco-Smart Group 2 Magazine
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About the Authors
Our Mission
The magazine was started by four students in the scientific
thinking class with the aim of promoting scientific literacy and
to raise awareness about the environment. We want to show
how easy it is to conserve our Earth’s resources. Let us learn
how to make a difference!
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Contents: word search 29
Recycling and reusing 3 saving water 30
Tips about recycling 4 References 31
Guidelines about recycling 5
Recycling videos 7
Awareness about recycling 8
Different types of pollution 11
Most polluted countries 16
Environmental campaign video 19
Quiz 20
Tips to conserve energy 22
fun Fact+ did you know 23
climate change 24
global warming 25
up cycling 27
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Recycling and Reusing
We, human beings, are the greatest
consumers on earth, especially in food. Have
you ever wondered what the fate of your empty
milk cartons are? What is the endpoint of all
this waste, and where does it go eventually?
Have you ever thought of the consequences of
waste accumulation on the well-being of our
environment?
All these questions raise the same exact
concern on our environment. We are putting
the whole environment at risk because we are
not aware of the outcome of our actions, if we
did not change our habits towards the
environment, it could lead us to serious
irreversible damages in the natural
surroundings. These questions cause people to
think deeply about the consequences of
overconsumption of resources, and finding
solutions to this major problem, we are facing
as human beings.
Especially in Egypt, people do
not care about the environment as much as
they care about everything else; they need to
understand one simple fact, which is that
individual actions could really make a
difference. I believe that two of the main
solutions that will enable us to benefit from
wastes and, at the same time, save time and
space of dumping it are recycling, reducing and
reusing. Our government, business owners,
industrial activities, factories, and most
importantly, people at home need to take into
consideration these two solutions. They are
easy to implement at homes, will save a lot of
energy, and advantageous for the welfare of
the economy, so by recycling, reducing and
reusing, we are being an eco-smart society.
Through this article, we will
help you recognize your role as a responsible
human being towards your environment, and
some simple solutions that anyone can start
implementing at home.
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Think positively and start by yourself...Do not
say that you cannot change the world, because
in fact, you can!
Do not be afraid if you do not
know something, because you
can simply ASK!…
You are now responsible
Help the environment..!
Here are some tips:
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Now in case you wonder how you can
help….
Here is a guideline!
What is recycling?
Recycling is the process of accumulating used
material, which was previously called waste. The
recycling process involves three stages. In the first
stage, the old products are collected and
processed, where they are sorted, cleaned and
made ready for recycling or manufacturing new
products. The second stage involves the
manufacturing of new products from the raw-
material obtained by the processing of the old
products.
Finally, the process ends with the
purchasing of recycled goods by the consumers.
The more people step forward to buy recycled
products the better the success of the recycling
process can be ensured. Buying recycled products
will only increase when every individual will
develop an awareness of the difference that can be
made by utilizing their old household objects as
raw materials to produce new goods and help the
environment by recycling (1).
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What is Reusing?
Reuse is using the things that you think are
useless, and are no longer consumable, again.
Consider the possibilities of an item before
discarding it, as it might be reused
toward a different purpose than
originally intended. An old shirt may become a
car rag. Though reuse is different from reducing
use, when an item is reused, consumption is
reduced as a by-product (2).
What is Reducing?
Reducing is decreasing the amount of
something you consume daily, so that when your
consumption decrease, you are lowering the
materials you were purchasing and are
unnecessary, so you are saving energy, expenses,
and saving your own time. For example, you want
to go to the supermarket to buy some sort of a
hairspray product, you will have to take your car,
go through traffic jams, go to the supermarket,
buy your hairspray, stand in long checkout lines
and then go home.
If you thought about it for a couple of minutes
before you leave your house, you will find that it
is not worth it. Hairspray products are harmful
for the environment, so going out buying one is
probably not a good idea; you are going to emit
gas as pollution from your car for such a short
useless drive. This way you are not just polluting
but wasting energy, also, you are going to waste a
lot of time waiting in endless checkout lines and
traffic jams. Here the term reducing comes in
handy. Examples of reducing in driving are
carpooling, taking public transportation, or
cycling.
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In Egypt, people may tell you that recycling,
reusing, and reducing are rarely practiced by the
Egyptian community as a whole, however, what
may surprise you is that the people who take your
garbage after you throw it away does recycle it.
Unfortunately, the society does not recognize how
important their roles are, the government as well
does not give them much attention though their
work is very crucial. Watch this video, and think
of how you could help the environment in Egypt!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr3ackX82Po
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JQYwF4VyiY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFlYDd_4X0g
Still wondering, how you could really
start working?! Here as some fun videos
that will show you the power of
recycling, and the creative outcomes
people create out of their waste….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOpGhAdQFEY
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Awareness on recycling
You can raise awareness on recycling in so many ways! All you need to do is to organize yourself and
your ideas, and fill out your empty time slots with fun, creative activities that would definitely attract
people’s attention towards recycling, reusing, and reducing. As well as you will get the chance to work
with other people saving our global environment and raising awareness towards such an environmental
cause. Believe me, it is going to be lots of fun!
1- Are you interested to help make a change? If you are then here is your chance! All
you need is some bravery, some confidence, and a lot of team spirit because now you can launch your own
recycling club at your school/university so that you can start the real
work through successive ideas, and deliberate actions. If you someone at
your school/university has already created an environmental club, then
all you have to do is join in and cooperate.
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2- Even if you did not get the chance to join such clubs during your education years, you
can still help! Printout some stickers that says something about going green, so that it can easily convey
your message, and also address your environmental concern.
3-If you are a professor, teacher, or parents then you
have a major responsibility upon bringing up a generation
that is well aware of the environmental issues, and problems.
Schools should give its students lectures/ sessions about
recycling, reusing, and reducing.
4- The government should support research
centers, scientists, and fund environmental
institutions, so that they are financially stable to
start finding solutions to such environmental
problems.
5- Printout t-shirts and sell them for a
specific amount of money, the money of these t-
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shirts should go into the funding of such
institutions.
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1. WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is the
contamination of water bodies including
rivers ,oceans, lakes, caused by the rapid
development of society. Water pollution is
a major global environmental problem
which requires a strong resolution. Water
pollution occurs generally when pollutants
are discharged directly or indirectly into
water without adequate treatment to
remove harmful compounds.
2. AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the
contamination of atmosphere caused
by chemicals, particular matter. Air
pollution became a popular issue in
the modern day. The atmosphere is a
complex dynamic natural gaseous
system that is crucial to support life
on earth. It also threaten the health
and well-being of human, animal and
plants.
POLLUTION…!
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What else in these days?
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is one of the increasing
pollution issues in the current society. It makes
an excessive and unpleasing noise that disrupts
the balance of human and animal’s activity. Noise
pollution is mainly caused by car’s honking,
motor vehicles, airplane, or rail noise.
Light pollution
Light pollution is also one of the
serious pollution problems in the modern day.
It also known as photo pollution or luminous
pollution caused by excessive or obtrusive
artificial lights. There are too many buildings
turning on the lights till midnight which have
a bad influence on the cycle of humans and
animals.
Air pollution cause
Harmful physical changes
To the brain…..!
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According to the recent study from the
Ohio State University, long term exposure to the
polluted air will literally change your brain. More
seriously, the news published that those who are
exposed to the polluted air have a more
probability to get obese and diabetes, as well as
hypertension. The researchers found undeniable
physical differences in the hippocampus of the
mice who were exposed to polluted air compared
to the animals who breathed clean air.
Specifically, neurons (nerve cells) known as
dendrites were clearly changed. Normally,
dendrites have small projections growing off
them, dubbed spines, which transmit signals from
one neuron to another. But in the mice exposed to
polluted air, there were shorter dendrites, fewer
dendrite spikes and, overall, a reduction in the
complexity of brain cells.
And earlier research has shown that these
types of changes are linked to decreased learning
and memory abilities.
Learn more: (3)
http://www.naturalnews.com/032983_air_pollution_brain.html#ixzz2ClzpufQA
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In these days, many people are not aware
of seriousness of the pollution. In fact, it effect
everything in the world not only for humans but
also animals. Mostly, air pollution harms
humans, especially those who are exposed to
polluted air for a long time will be affected
seriously. Sometimes people might feel burning
eyes and nose, sneezing because of the dust and
gaseous atmosphere surrounding them. Also,
health problem could be caused by some
chemicals, such as cancer, birth defects, brain and
nerve damage.
On the other hand, pollution also will
give a bad influence on animals and plants. Even
small amounts of environmental pollution create
discomfort for many animals. For example, acid
rain kills many fishes in the lake and light
pollution effects on nocturnal animals such as
owls or cicadas are droning 24 hours. By
reducing all forms of environmental pollution on
our planet we could save millions of animals but
sadly world is currently not doing enough, and
pollution issue is therefore constantly growing in
size and danger.
Effect of pollution on both human and animals
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FACTS ABOUT POLLUTION
TOP 10 MOST POLLUTED CITIES IN THE WORLD (2012)
10. Yamuna river, India
Scientists estimated that roughly more
than 60% of Delhi’s waste gets dumped
into the river. Almost everyone in Delhi
rely on it for drinking water and bathing
as well!
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9. Tianying, China
This city is home to some of the worst
cases of lead poisoning in the world.
8. Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
Because of outdated regulations, the 40 or
so industrial complexes in the region have
managed to created a severely toxic
environment that has led to numerous
health complications for residents.
7. Vapi, India
The level of mercury in Vati’s water
supply is 96 times higher.
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6. Dzerzhinsk, Russia
This city has one of the lowest life
expectancies in the world at roughly 45
years.
5. Lake Karachay, Russia
This place has been a dumping site of
nuclear stuff, declared the most polluted
place on Earth.
4- Chernobyel, Ukraine
The site of the worst nuclear accident in history,
after the Chernobyl Disaster in 1986 almost all
of this town’s 14,000 residents moved away.
Today it remains for the most part uninhabited
due to radiation and fallout.
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3. Linfen, China
China is known as one of the most polluted
countries in the world. Especially in Linfen, if
you hang your laundry outside, it will become
black before it can even dry.
2. North Pacific Gyre
This is an extensive area in the North Pacific
containing high levels of microscopic toxins,
plastics, and chemical sludge.
1. Ahvaz, Iran
According to the World Health Organization
Ahvaz, Iran is now the most polluted city in
the world, a problem that is only made worse
by its constant dust storms.
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Watch This! A Campaign about environment :
For more information go to (4): http://list25.com/the-25-
most-polluted-places-on-earth/2/
http://youtu.be/cN1itvqdQRc
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Q1. What does EPA stand for?
Earth Protection Association
Environment Protection Authority
Environmental Project Assistance
Q2. Earth is the only planet that we know of that has:
dust and rocks
gas and ice
air and water
Q3. Air is made up of ....
liquids
solids
gases
Q4. Which of the following are common sources of air pollution.
motor vehicles
wood heaters
Quiz About The environment!
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fires
cigarettes
all of the above
Q5. Air pollution can harm the health or comfort of which of the following?
plants
materials
humans and other animals
all of the above
Want More Quizzes, checkout this link
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/air/aq4kids/quiz.asp (5)
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1-Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. Although they cost more
initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent
bulband lasting 8-12 times longer. In a typical home, one compact fluorescent bulb can save 260 pounds of
CO2 per year.
2-Turn your refrigerator down. Refrigerators account for about 20% of Household electricity use.
Use a thermometer to set your refrigerator temperature as close to 37 degrees and your freezer as
close to 3 degrees as possible.
3-Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting, NOT HOT! Switching from hot to warm for
two loads per week can save nearly 500 pounds of CO2 per year if you have an electric water heater, or
150 pounds for a gas heater.
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4-Make sure your dishwasher is full when you run it and use the energy saving setting, to allow the dishes
to air dry. Not using heat in the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity use.
5-Whenever possible, walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transit. Every gallon of gasoline you save avoids
22 pounds of CO2 emissions.
Fun fact
Did you know that setting the
air conditioner below 24
degrees Celsius increases your
carbon emission by 3-5% for
each degree?
Enough sunlight reaches the
earth’s surface each minute to
satisfy the world’s energy
demands—for an entire year.
Let us start using solar energy!
HUNGRY FOR MORE TIPS? (6)
Check out my source:
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/
20things.htm
WANT MORE FUN FACTS? (7)
Visit http://facts.randomhistory.com/energy-facts.html
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We have witnessed lots of western newscasts
and politicians bringing the matter of climate
change to our attention through election
platforms and presentations. Propaganda tells us
to “Save the Earth!” and “Take matter into your
own hands to make a difference!” Organizations
tell us to save energy and keep water usage levels
to the minimum. With all the media and hype
about climate change, we don’t know who to
believe anymore. People have developed an extra-
skeptic attitude and disregarded the issue of
climate change claiming it is false advertising and
information to trick citizens into spending more
money in their purchases. “It is a hoax! It’s not
real! It’s a scam to rip people off of their money!”
But should we really trust what the government
says regarding this matter? Or do we trust the
scientists? Should we really go out and purchase
those swirly energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs?
What IS climate change
really?
How does it affect the earth? Climate change is
the change of the Earth or a region’s climate on
the longer term. It is when the temperature of the
Earth rises causing natural effects. Media usually
presents the most popular effect of climate change
through the polar ice caps, seawater levels, and
CLIMATE
CHANGE
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the polar bears. However, climate change is not
to be confused with Global Warming.
Global warming is the rise
in the average surface temperature of the earth
due to the increase in levels of greenhouse gases.
The four main greenhouse gases are carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated
gases. They are found in our atmosphere with
different, varying levels. The global warming
theory was first proposed by geochemist Wallace
Broecker in 1975. It states that the earth is
affected by human-emitted greenhouse gases.
However, climate change involves global warming
and anything else that greenhouse gases can
affect.
Scientists have performed several
investigations over the years to try to come up
with a conclusion. They have measured rainfall,
greenhouse gas emissions, seawater levels,
changes in the sun’s flare intensity and much
more to determine the validity of climate change.
And as it is worrying, it is indeed true. Scientists
have found empirical and rational
evidence that support the theory of
climate change.
That is what we should trust: evidence. The rise
in sea-water levels as a result of the melting of
the polar ice caps, the major increase of rain in
some parts of the world in contrast to areas of
drought that were once hydrated. All of these are
evidence of climate change and roughly about 90%
of it is due to human activity that increases the
effect of climate change such as the burning of
non-renewable fossil fuels: a major necessity in
daily life used as fuel for transportation. If
climate change doesn’t slow down, it is estimated
that:
The average air temperature will increase by
2.5 degrees by the year 2100 (Kattenberg et al.,
1996).
The sea level will rise and will lead to
increased coastal flooding allowing flooding for
larger areas and higher elevations. This will
cause (8)
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CHECK OUT THESE GREAT IDEAS! (9)
It is the process of
converting waste materials
or useless products into
new materials or products
of better or higher
quality.
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ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? (10)
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Saving Water
Earth consists of 75% water however most are sea water in oceans and seas. Drinking
water is less likely to be found than sea water since rivers are less found in nature than
seas. Obviously water is vital for survival for all living organisms. Our human bodies
consist of 60% body water, and in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is said we must
drink 8 cups of water daily. Water is beneficial for all living organism and without it we
will not survive. So in order to help keep our waters clean for future generations to come
and conserve our water usage, here are some tips:
When brushing your teeth in the morning or at night, make sure to close the tap while
brushing.
If possible, treat yourself to a bubble bath rather than a quick shower. Not only will you
enjoy it more, you will use less water.
When watering your plants, don't leave the hose or sprinklers on too much.
If you work in a club or area that uses fountains, make sure to reuse the water instead of
using new water.
The Nile River, located in the middle of Egypt's map is the main vital source of water for
all of Egyptians, here are some tips to help keep it clean:
o Never throw your litter directly into the water, this will contaminate the water and
can cause diseases.
o Do not wash clothes or your items directly into the water.
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References
Bibliography
1-“What is Recycling and why it is important”
http://ecologiquedesign.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/what-is-recycling-and-why-is-it-
important/
2- Green Living
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/difference-between-reuse-reduce-recycle-
3068.html
3-Pollution
http://www.naturalnews.com/032983_air_pollution_brain.html#ixzz2ClzpufQA
4- 10 Most polluted countries
http://list25.com/the-25-most-polluted-places-on-earth/2/
5-Quiz
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/air/aq4kids/quiz.asp
6- Conserving energy
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/20things.htm
7-Fun facts
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Visit http://facts.randomhistory.com/energy-facts.html
8- Climate change
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
9- Upcycling
http://www.facebook.com/GreenHandsAUC
10- Word search
http://www.google.com.eg/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&bi
w=1366&bih=667&q=Environmental+word+search&oq=Environmental+word+search&gs_
l=img.3..0j0i10i24j0i24.12095.19168.0.19512.27.22.1.4.4.0.312.3214.9j6j6j1.22.0...0.0..
.1ac.1.xmVvIWHSr-U