The document summarizes Ontario's decision to ban pit bulls following several serious attacks. It discusses the strict new rules for existing pit bull owners and penalties for violations. It also notes mixed public reaction to the ban and references other jurisdictions that have enacted similar bans. Studies show pit bulls account for a disproportionate number of serious dog attacks despite representing a small percentage of the dog population.
The Powerpoint presentation contains every aspect of one of the most disastrious Tragedy that has happened to our country. The "BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY". Starting from the Incorporation of the Gas Company to the After effects and the devastation of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It includes lot of pictures is amazing to view as a slideshow even more. The Presentation has been given a Retro look because of the the Tragedy which is still affecting the country !
- Ashmita Nahar !
The Powerpoint presentation contains every aspect of one of the most disastrious Tragedy that has happened to our country. The "BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY". Starting from the Incorporation of the Gas Company to the After effects and the devastation of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It includes lot of pictures is amazing to view as a slideshow even more. The Presentation has been given a Retro look because of the the Tragedy which is still affecting the country !
- Ashmita Nahar !
An Inconvenient TruthAIT - Kyoto Treaty.pdfTHeBiGSixU.docxgreg1eden90113
An Inconvenient Truth/AIT - Kyoto Treaty.pdf
THe BiG Six
United States
• The treaty called for 55% global reduction of carbon dioxide, based on 1990 levels.
• The United States is responsible for more than one-third (36%) of the entire world’s CO2 emissions – far more than any other country.
• As one of the original signatories of the Kyoto treaty, the United States agreed to reduce emissions by 6% from its 1990 levels.
• In 2001 President George W. Bush refused to ratify the treaty, citing these reasons:
o The US economy could suffer an estimated $400 billion in losses as a result of emissions restrictions on industry and transportation, and the US
could lose almost 5 million jobs.
o Many developing nations that have extremely high emissions are not bound by the emissions limits set in the treaty.
• Since pulling out of the treaty, U.S. emissions have increased 15% above 1990 levels—21% above our initial objective.
• However, several recent events may foreshadow a change in the US position:
o America’s unique political structure gives each of the 50 states the autonomy to legislate Kyoto-like reforms on their own. Environmental leaders in
some states are already promoting legislation that supports the objectives of the Kyoto Treaty.
o The California Air Resources Board has set tough emissions standards and is well known for its strict emissions regulations.
o The Chicago Climate Exchange is a group of North American municipalities, companies and organizations that have agreed to reduce their emissions
over the next several years.
o Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are creating emission reduction and trading systems.
• The recent 2006 elections have placed many in office who are sympathetic to environmental and global warming issues. This may lead to revisions in the
US position on Kyoto.
Reproducible # 1 - page 1
Six Countries and Their Positions on the Kyoto Treaty
THe LeGAL PrOCeSS LeADiNG TO THe KyOTO PrOTOCOLS
1988
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change established.
Environmental
concerns growing.
UN General
Assembly held first
debate on climate
change; adopted
43/53 on the
“Protection of the
global climate for
present and future
generations of
mankind (IPCC).”
1992
UN Framework
Convention on
Climate Change
(UNFCC) opened
for signing at the
Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro.
Also referred
to as the UN
Conference on
Environment and
Development
(UNCED).
1994
Convention
came into force
March 21. 186
governments
are party to
the convention;
it is close to
achieving universal
membership.
1995
In March and
April, the Berlin
Conference
of the Parties
(COP) sought to
determine the
commitments
required by
industrialized
countries.
1997
These talks led
to the Kyoto
Protocol being
adopted on
December 11. 87
countries signed
the Protocol.
1998
Talks to determine
the Protocol’s
rulebook were
discussed in
November in
Buenos Aires and
later in Bonn .
Divestment of fossil fuels: the Fossil Free ACT campaign of 350.orgwcathro
Describes the rationale for divesting from fossil fuels within the context of climate change. Describes the campaign of 350.org Canberra to persuade the government of the Australian Capital Territory to divest.
Dirk Forristers Career Parallels the Ups and Downs of the Kyoto T.docxduketjoy27252
Dirk Forrister's Career Parallels the Ups and Downs of the Kyoto Treaty
Morning Edition
February 16, 2005
POP-UP WINDOW
INSTRUCTIONS
This window may get hidden behind other windows, but it will not close unless you close it.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host: The Kyoto Treaty to combat global warming takes effect today. The United States has not signed on to it but countries in Europe have and they are starting to take the first small steps to slow global warming. NPR's Richard Harris has the story of one man whose career parallels the ups and downs of the climate treaty.
RICHARD HARRIS reporting:
In the back room of a financial trading house a few blocks south of London's Liverpool Street station, you might be surprised to find a genial man with a hint of a Tennessee accent.
Mr. DIRK FORRISTER (Managing Director, Natsource Europe): I'm Dirk Forrister and I'm managing director of Natsource Europe.
HARRIS: Natsource is involved in a brand-new business. Forrister and his colleagues are helping thousands of companies throughout Europe buy and sell permits that give them the right to emit carbon dioxide from their smokestacks.
Mr. FORRISTER: Day to day, we are on the phone with power companies, oil companies, steel, cement, all of the heavy industry essentially throughout Europe and find somebody that has some to sell and bring them to the guy that has a need to buy.
HARRIS: Forrister's career is intertwined with the fate of the Kyoto climate treaty. Back in 1997, he was a senior member of the US delegation to the Kyoto talks. His big job at the bargaining table was to convince some extremely skeptical European diplomats that buying and selling the right to pollute was a good way to tackle global warming. The United States had used a trading scheme like this with great success to control acid rain. Forrister says since Kyoto, Europe's attitude has gone from reluctance to exuberance about trading pollution permits for carbon dioxide, which is the biggest contributor to global warming.
Mr. FORRISTER: And now the United States is nowhere on it and the market is most vibrant in the European Union. It's an absolute stitch when I think about it.
HARRIS: The United States government is nowhere on this because President Bush announced in 2001 that he would have no part of the Kyoto Treaty, so Forrister has followed the action to London which is now the world capital for carbon trading.
(Soundbite of music)
Unidentified Man: ...(Unintelligible) approach to Coventry. Coventry (unintelligible) stop.
HARRIS: Last Thursday, he hopped a train to the British Midlands to talk to one of his clients, a power company called E.ON UK.
Mr. FORRISTER: Hi, Phil.
Mr. PHIL GILLAM (E.ON UK): Good to see you again.
Mr. FORRISTER: Good to see you, yeah.
Mr. GILLAM: Keeping well?
Mr. FORRISTER: Good.
HARRIS: Phil Gillam at E.ON explains that the British government has issued his company a certain number of permits to emit carbon dioxide. If the com.
Essay QuestionsMust use APA citations and short answers of 50 wor.docxdebishakespeare
Essay Questions
Must use APA citations and short answers of 50 words is okay.
1. What is the significance of malaria worldwide, and what are some recent developments in the battle against the disease?
2. What are the environmental advantages of recycling?
3. List the major components of MSW.
4. Define pollution, pollutant, nonbiodegradable and environment.
5. What are the "dirty dozen" POPs? Whay are they on the list?
Multiple Choice
1. If the precautionary principle had been applied to the evidence of the dangerous health effects of smoking tobacco from the 1950s to the 1970s,
we would still be waiting for the final word and no government actions would have been taken.
 tobacco companies would have been given much more time to research the health effects before any government regulations were passed.
 cigarette manufacturers would have been required to demonstrate that smoking was safe and government regulations would have come much earlier.
 more tobacco products would have been sold.
2. If the precautionary principle is applied, a pharmaceutical company that discovers a new drug for blood pressure must demonstrate
the safety of the drug before it is approved.
 the need for the new drug before it is approved.
 that the drug is cost-effective before it is approved.
 that the drug poses no environmental risks.
3. Examining an old abandoned home several months after a flood, a relief worker suddenly experiences difficulty breathing. At the hospital, she learns that she experiencedAnswer
 a chronic respiratory illness more common in the developed world.
 a chronic respiratory illness more common in the developing world.
 an acute respiratory illness more common in the developed world.
 an acute respiratory illness more common in the developing world.
4. Which one of the following has been declining globally over the past several decades?Answer
 nitrous oxide levels in the troposphere
 methane levels in the troposphere
 halocarbon levels in the troposphere
 pH of the worlds oceans
5. Which of the following illustrates a risk assessment of climate system change? Answer
 using natural gas instead of coal to generate electricity
 using solar and nuclear power to generate electricity instead of burning coal
 measuring the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
 determining what sorts of crops will be better suited to the new climate
6. Because many places that people build homes are at high risk of a physical disaster, some people have suggested that town zoning boards identify such high risk environments as "stupid zones." Which one of the following would probably not be located in such a "stupid zone"?Answer
 A new home is built in Iowa, about 2 feet above normal water levels and 1,000 feet away from the Mississippi River.
 A log cabin home is constructed in a dry, drought-prone, coniferous forest in Californ.
An Inconvenient TruthAIT - Kyoto Treaty.pdfTHeBiGSixU.docxgreg1eden90113
An Inconvenient Truth/AIT - Kyoto Treaty.pdf
THe BiG Six
United States
• The treaty called for 55% global reduction of carbon dioxide, based on 1990 levels.
• The United States is responsible for more than one-third (36%) of the entire world’s CO2 emissions – far more than any other country.
• As one of the original signatories of the Kyoto treaty, the United States agreed to reduce emissions by 6% from its 1990 levels.
• In 2001 President George W. Bush refused to ratify the treaty, citing these reasons:
o The US economy could suffer an estimated $400 billion in losses as a result of emissions restrictions on industry and transportation, and the US
could lose almost 5 million jobs.
o Many developing nations that have extremely high emissions are not bound by the emissions limits set in the treaty.
• Since pulling out of the treaty, U.S. emissions have increased 15% above 1990 levels—21% above our initial objective.
• However, several recent events may foreshadow a change in the US position:
o America’s unique political structure gives each of the 50 states the autonomy to legislate Kyoto-like reforms on their own. Environmental leaders in
some states are already promoting legislation that supports the objectives of the Kyoto Treaty.
o The California Air Resources Board has set tough emissions standards and is well known for its strict emissions regulations.
o The Chicago Climate Exchange is a group of North American municipalities, companies and organizations that have agreed to reduce their emissions
over the next several years.
o Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are creating emission reduction and trading systems.
• The recent 2006 elections have placed many in office who are sympathetic to environmental and global warming issues. This may lead to revisions in the
US position on Kyoto.
Reproducible # 1 - page 1
Six Countries and Their Positions on the Kyoto Treaty
THe LeGAL PrOCeSS LeADiNG TO THe KyOTO PrOTOCOLS
1988
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change established.
Environmental
concerns growing.
UN General
Assembly held first
debate on climate
change; adopted
43/53 on the
“Protection of the
global climate for
present and future
generations of
mankind (IPCC).”
1992
UN Framework
Convention on
Climate Change
(UNFCC) opened
for signing at the
Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro.
Also referred
to as the UN
Conference on
Environment and
Development
(UNCED).
1994
Convention
came into force
March 21. 186
governments
are party to
the convention;
it is close to
achieving universal
membership.
1995
In March and
April, the Berlin
Conference
of the Parties
(COP) sought to
determine the
commitments
required by
industrialized
countries.
1997
These talks led
to the Kyoto
Protocol being
adopted on
December 11. 87
countries signed
the Protocol.
1998
Talks to determine
the Protocol’s
rulebook were
discussed in
November in
Buenos Aires and
later in Bonn .
Divestment of fossil fuels: the Fossil Free ACT campaign of 350.orgwcathro
Describes the rationale for divesting from fossil fuels within the context of climate change. Describes the campaign of 350.org Canberra to persuade the government of the Australian Capital Territory to divest.
Dirk Forristers Career Parallels the Ups and Downs of the Kyoto T.docxduketjoy27252
Dirk Forrister's Career Parallels the Ups and Downs of the Kyoto Treaty
Morning Edition
February 16, 2005
POP-UP WINDOW
INSTRUCTIONS
This window may get hidden behind other windows, but it will not close unless you close it.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host: The Kyoto Treaty to combat global warming takes effect today. The United States has not signed on to it but countries in Europe have and they are starting to take the first small steps to slow global warming. NPR's Richard Harris has the story of one man whose career parallels the ups and downs of the climate treaty.
RICHARD HARRIS reporting:
In the back room of a financial trading house a few blocks south of London's Liverpool Street station, you might be surprised to find a genial man with a hint of a Tennessee accent.
Mr. DIRK FORRISTER (Managing Director, Natsource Europe): I'm Dirk Forrister and I'm managing director of Natsource Europe.
HARRIS: Natsource is involved in a brand-new business. Forrister and his colleagues are helping thousands of companies throughout Europe buy and sell permits that give them the right to emit carbon dioxide from their smokestacks.
Mr. FORRISTER: Day to day, we are on the phone with power companies, oil companies, steel, cement, all of the heavy industry essentially throughout Europe and find somebody that has some to sell and bring them to the guy that has a need to buy.
HARRIS: Forrister's career is intertwined with the fate of the Kyoto climate treaty. Back in 1997, he was a senior member of the US delegation to the Kyoto talks. His big job at the bargaining table was to convince some extremely skeptical European diplomats that buying and selling the right to pollute was a good way to tackle global warming. The United States had used a trading scheme like this with great success to control acid rain. Forrister says since Kyoto, Europe's attitude has gone from reluctance to exuberance about trading pollution permits for carbon dioxide, which is the biggest contributor to global warming.
Mr. FORRISTER: And now the United States is nowhere on it and the market is most vibrant in the European Union. It's an absolute stitch when I think about it.
HARRIS: The United States government is nowhere on this because President Bush announced in 2001 that he would have no part of the Kyoto Treaty, so Forrister has followed the action to London which is now the world capital for carbon trading.
(Soundbite of music)
Unidentified Man: ...(Unintelligible) approach to Coventry. Coventry (unintelligible) stop.
HARRIS: Last Thursday, he hopped a train to the British Midlands to talk to one of his clients, a power company called E.ON UK.
Mr. FORRISTER: Hi, Phil.
Mr. PHIL GILLAM (E.ON UK): Good to see you again.
Mr. FORRISTER: Good to see you, yeah.
Mr. GILLAM: Keeping well?
Mr. FORRISTER: Good.
HARRIS: Phil Gillam at E.ON explains that the British government has issued his company a certain number of permits to emit carbon dioxide. If the com.
Essay QuestionsMust use APA citations and short answers of 50 wor.docxdebishakespeare
Essay Questions
Must use APA citations and short answers of 50 words is okay.
1. What is the significance of malaria worldwide, and what are some recent developments in the battle against the disease?
2. What are the environmental advantages of recycling?
3. List the major components of MSW.
4. Define pollution, pollutant, nonbiodegradable and environment.
5. What are the "dirty dozen" POPs? Whay are they on the list?
Multiple Choice
1. If the precautionary principle had been applied to the evidence of the dangerous health effects of smoking tobacco from the 1950s to the 1970s,
we would still be waiting for the final word and no government actions would have been taken.
 tobacco companies would have been given much more time to research the health effects before any government regulations were passed.
 cigarette manufacturers would have been required to demonstrate that smoking was safe and government regulations would have come much earlier.
 more tobacco products would have been sold.
2. If the precautionary principle is applied, a pharmaceutical company that discovers a new drug for blood pressure must demonstrate
the safety of the drug before it is approved.
 the need for the new drug before it is approved.
 that the drug is cost-effective before it is approved.
 that the drug poses no environmental risks.
3. Examining an old abandoned home several months after a flood, a relief worker suddenly experiences difficulty breathing. At the hospital, she learns that she experiencedAnswer
 a chronic respiratory illness more common in the developed world.
 a chronic respiratory illness more common in the developing world.
 an acute respiratory illness more common in the developed world.
 an acute respiratory illness more common in the developing world.
4. Which one of the following has been declining globally over the past several decades?Answer
 nitrous oxide levels in the troposphere
 methane levels in the troposphere
 halocarbon levels in the troposphere
 pH of the worlds oceans
5. Which of the following illustrates a risk assessment of climate system change? Answer
 using natural gas instead of coal to generate electricity
 using solar and nuclear power to generate electricity instead of burning coal
 measuring the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
 determining what sorts of crops will be better suited to the new climate
6. Because many places that people build homes are at high risk of a physical disaster, some people have suggested that town zoning boards identify such high risk environments as "stupid zones." Which one of the following would probably not be located in such a "stupid zone"?Answer
 A new home is built in Iowa, about 2 feet above normal water levels and 1,000 feet away from the Mississippi River.
 A log cabin home is constructed in a dry, drought-prone, coniferous forest in Californ.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
MATATAG CURRICULUM: ASSESSING THE READINESS OF ELEM. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS I...NelTorrente
In this research, it concludes that while the readiness of teachers in Caloocan City to implement the MATATAG Curriculum is generally positive, targeted efforts in professional development, resource distribution, support networks, and comprehensive preparation can address the existing gaps and ensure successful curriculum implementation.
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Thinking of getting a dog? Be aware that breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds can be loyal and dangerous. Proper training and socialization are crucial to preventing aggressive behaviors. Ensure safety by understanding their needs and always supervising interactions. Stay safe, and enjoy your furry friends!
1. Banning Pit Bulls
Mini-Debates
1. In October, 2004, the province of Ontario, Canada announced that it
would ban pit bull dogs. When the law passed it became illegal to
own, buy, sell, breed, or import this kind of dog.
2. The law allowed people who currently owned pit bulls to keep
their dogs, but only under very strict rules. These dogs had to be
muzzled and on leashes. New ownership was completely banned
throughout the province. The law will also placed severe
restrictions and penalties on irresponsible owners of all breeds.
Dog owners who break the new law may have to pay fines of
$10,000 or spend up to six months in jail.
3. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the
government to take this action. In one situation a man was attacked
by two pit bulls and it was necessary for the police to fire over a
dozen bullets before the attack stopped. According to Michael
Bryant, the Attorney General of Ontario, the man was “practically
eaten alive from the ankles up”. In another recent case, a three year
old child needed over 200 stitches to close the wounds he suffered
in a pit bull attack.
4. Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario
government spent several months meeting with different groups on
opposite sides of the debate. Since the government made its
announcement, there has been mixed reaction among the people of
Ontario. Many people were delighted with the law. However, pit
bull owners as well as many other dog owners were not happy. They
believed that the problem was not the breed of dog. They say that
dogs only become vicious when they have irresponsible owners.
5. While Ontario was the first province in Canada to ban pit bulls,
some cities had already done so. In 1990, Winnipeg, Manitoba
became the first Canadian city to ban pit bulls. According to a
Winnipeg city official, the number of pit bull attacks decreased from
29 in 1989 to zero the following year. There are similar bans in
France, Britain, and Germany.
6. According to some studies that were done in the United States, pit
bulls make up only one to three percent of the overall dog population,
but they cause more than fifty percent of all serious dog attacks.
Banning Pit bulls DISCUSS IT
Work with a partner or in small groups.
Discuss the following questions.
1. Should dogs be allowed to run freely
(without a leash) in public parks?
2. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
dog owner should be punished?
3. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
dog should be destroyed?
4. Do you think that any breed of dog can
become vicious if it is not properly cared
for?
5. Do you think that it should be against the
law to own any kind of dangerous pet? (ex.
snakes, spiders, etc.)
6. Do you think that letter carriers should have
to deliver the mail to a home if there is a
dangerous dog present?
WRITE IT ✍
Choose one of the questions above and write
a paragraph stating your own opinion.
2. Chernobyl
1. On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear accident in history took place
at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine.
2. A large cloud of poisonous radioactive elements was released into
the air when one of the plant’s nuclear reactors exploded and started a
huge fire. The plant was only two miles (about 3.22 kilometers) away
from Pripyat, and its 45,000 residents were evacuated within 24 hours,
never to return. Another 85,000 people living within 18 miles (about 29
kilometers) of Chernobyl were relocated in the next month. Over the
years, as many as 350,000 people have left their homes due to high
radiation levels. Today, it is a ghost town that is being taken over by
surrounding forests.
3. The wind carried the radioactive cloud over large parts of Europe,
as far away as Scandinavia and England. Over 55,000 square miles
(about 142,449 square kilometers) were contaminated, but 70% of
the radiation settled on nearby Belarus, which has since suffered
hundreds of billions of dollars in damage.
4. Some scientists estimate that more than 200,000 people have
died since 1986 as a result of the accident, and another 100,000
deaths from cancer may occur in the coming years. Others think
that these numbers are much smaller.
5. Over five million people still live in contaminated areas, and their
health may be at risk from eating contaminated food, such as fish
from the rivers, mushrooms and berries from the forests, and meat
or milk from cattle and sheep that graze on the land. Several European
countries will not accept food products grown in these areas. Many
workers have moved away, and life is difficult for those left behind.
Some even believe that the accident contributed to the collapse
of the Soviet Union.
6. April 26, 2006, marked the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
Ceremonies were held in Ukraine to remember its victims and
to bring attention to survivors who continue to be affected by it.
In 2010, workers from 27 countries began building a new structure
over the damaged reactor to prevent further contamination.
7. One positive outcome of this disaster is that the safety of nuclear
power plants has vastly improved. Many nations now have
strict safeguards and codes in place to prevent similar accidents.
Unfortunately, a similar accident occurred in Japan in 2011 after
an earthquake triggered a tsunami. Has the Fukushima nuclear
disaster brought about even more safety regulations?
The Exclusion Zone:
Experts estimate
that it will take over
300 years before
this disaster site is
inhabitable again.
3. 1. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol is an international
agreement that deals with global warming. Global
warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse
gases in the earth’s atmosphere.
2. Greenhouse gases are produced by the industrial
activities of developed nations, mainly from
burning oil, gas, and coal. When these gases
collect in the atmosphere, they trap heat
near the earth’s surface and cause the global
temperature to rise. This increase in temperature
can produce changes in wind patterns and
precipitation. These changes can lead to severe
weather such as droughts, floods, or powerful
hurricanes that can have devastating social
and economic consequences.
3. The Kyoto Protocol was created to encourage
countries to reduce the amount of greenhouse
gases they produce and to become more energy
efficient and socially responsible. To be legally
binding, the protocol had to be signed by 55
countries that produced 55% of the industrialized
world’s greenhouse gases in 1990.
4. Several countries, including Canada, Japan, and
the European Union, signed the protocol, but there
was concern that the required numbers to make
it legally binding would not be reached. However,
Russia’s decision to sign the protocol in September
2004 ensured it would take effect. In return, the
European Union pledged to support Russia’s
application to join the World Trade Organization.
Russia’s signature was crucial because both
the United States and Australia refused to ratify
the protocol.
5. In February 2005, 30 industrialized countries
started to limit or reduce their greenhouse
emissions to meet the scientific targets set out for
them by the protocol. The goal was to reduce
greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012. Countries that
had not produced significant amounts of
greenhouse gases in the past, including India and
China, would be expected to participate in the
protocol as they become more industrialized.
6. While Canada was one of the first to sign the
protocol, its greenhouse gas emissions rose
significantly. In 2011, prior to the expiry of Kyoto,
Canada pulled out of its commitment. In 2012,
Australia, the European Union, and several
developing nations agreed to work toward a
replacement treaty. The proposed goal was to
prevent global temperatures from ever rising
more than two degrees Celsius. However, Canada,
the US, Japan, and Russia refused to sign on to
Kyoto’s extension.
The Kyoto Protocol