currently teaching in Leonides Morales High School

1. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care
of it." -- Genesis 2:15
Focus
What do you see in the picture?
Why are humans responsible for the destruction of the environment?
What are some basic solutions to prevent the destruction of the
environment?
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2. Before reading:
Learn about the title of this unit
The carbon footprint is a measure of the exclusive global amount of carbon dioxide (CO2)
and other greenhouse gases emitted by a human activity or accumulated over the full life
cycle of a product or service.
The life cycle concept of the carbon footprint means that it is all-encompassing and
includes all possible causes that give rise to carbon emissions. In other words, all direct
(on-site, internal) and indirect emissions (off-site, external, embodied, upstream,
downstream) need to be taken into account.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint
Encompass – to surround on all sides
Before Reading
1. Discuss with a partner the ways you can avoid human destruction to the
environment?
2. Do you know what ecology means?
3. After looking at the picture on page 1, what does the title “Human Insanity”
mean?
Human Insanity
by M. Joy Katz
1Sometimes, I find, my perception of humanity
is overwhelmed by the abundance of insanity.
2 Man sprays the planet with toxic compounds to poison bugs and weeds-
He's ignorant of the poor judgment inherent in these deeds.
3 He endangers many species; renders some others extinct.
He doesn't see 'The Big Picture' and that all of us are linked. 1
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Connected
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3. 4 He renders the soil worthless, devoid of all fertility.
In other lands, he purchases a child, for his utility.
5 Man enslaves his own species and the other animals, too...
engages in mass murder of his own, in times of old and new.
6 He makes the 'Almighty Dollar' his God and his guiding light.
He lives without integrity; does what's easy, not what's right.
7 He lusts after money with a materialistic greed...
while his fellow human cries for help in impoverished need.
8 Man will execute the trees like they are 'growing out of style'...
never pondering the repercussions of this, all the while.
9 He passes through enchanted woods and leaves his rubbish behind,
and limits concern for his fellow man to one of his own kind.
10 He has little tolerance for other religions or races...
He's one who thinks his color is the best color for all faces.
11 He adorns himself with gadgets and pierces his skin for rings...
He thinks he is attractive by doing such meaningless things.
12 He treats the disease, but neglects the preventative measure--
with little forethought, he delves into momentary pleasure.
13 He settles for 'mere sex' rather than the 'art of Love-making'....
He is empty inside, because his passion he's forsaking.
14 He is a being that is cruel; that inflicts suffering and pain...
his viewing of 'animals as a commodity'...is insane!
15 His mind invented the telephone, the computer chip, and more...
but can't learn that 'eating animals' is an action to abhor.
16 He fuels his body and soul with a most violent of diets---
never thinking to correlate this with rising city riots!
17 He lives on top of each other, like hens in a factory farm...
and with businesses polluting air and stream, ignoring their harm!
18 Something he is compelled to do--is to over-populate...
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4. Unlike animals, when resources dwindle, he will still mate!
19 He will step on his comrade to make himself appear supreme---
wrapped up in himself, he cares not for the members of his team.
20 This "He" lives in the street bum, as well as the nation's president...
Some aspect of this man lives in every global resident.
21 Are we powerless to change 'the lack of virtue' that eludes man?
Will we ever know that yearned for 'Peace on Earth' in our life's span?
22 Can the soul subdue the ego; can we unmask our human lies?
Will we elevate and save our race, before humanity dies?
23 Will we annihilate ourselves with the weapons made by man?
Or will we turn it all around, as only us humans can?
24 Humanity created insanity---yet---we're able to see...
that within each of us lies the power to set sanity free.
A. Comprehension Check:
1. Why do you think humans are spraying poison compounds?
2. Do humans know the harm they are doing to the planet?
3. Mention five human practices that contribute to the destruction of earth?
4. Why is it important for humans to be aware of the damage they cause?
B. Vocabulary Building: choose the definition that fits the context in which the word is
used.
Match column 1 with column 2
Column 1 Column 2
____1. He renders the soil worthless a) not having enough of
devoid of all fertility. (¶4)
____2. Man will execute the trees like they b) desired
are 'growing out of style'... never
pondering…(¶8)____
____3. He is a being that is cruel; that c) empty
inflicts suffering and pain... (¶14)
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5. ____4. …but can't learn that 'eating animals' d) decrease
Is an action to abhor. (¶15)
____5. Unlike animals, when resources e) close companion
dwindle he will still mate! (¶18
6. He will step on his comrade to make f) detest, hate
himself appear supreme---
(¶19)
____7. Are we powerless to change g) something unwanted or unpleasant
'the lack of virtue' that eludes man? (¶21) make someone suffer
____8. Will we ever know that yearned h) thinking about
for 'Peace on Earth' in our life's span? (¶ 21)
____9. Can the soul subdue the ego;
i) conquer or gain control of
can we unmask our human lies? (¶22)
____10. Will we annihilate ourselves j) destroy completely
with the weapons made by man? (¶23)
C. Vocabulary Check: Match the words to the definition
_______ 1. worthless (¶ 4) a) desire for more than one needs or deserves
_______2. greed (¶ 7) b) useless, valueless
_______3. impoverished (¶7 ) c)abandoning, to giving up
_______4.repercussions (¶8) d) magical
_______ 5. enchanted (¶9) e) poor
_______6. rubbish (¶9) f) results, effects
_______7.gadgets (¶11) g) prior planning
_______8. forethought (¶12) h) small mechanical or electronic devices
_______ 9. forsaking (¶13) i) garbage
D. Vocabulary in context: Fill in the blanks with the vocabulary below.
devoid (¶4) pondering (¶8) inflicts (¶14) abhor (¶15) dwindle(¶18)
comrade (¶19) lack (¶21) yearn (¶ 21) subdue (¶22) annihilate (¶23)
1. Pacifists are people who __________________violence, people who seek peace.
2. After ______________on the issue of animal killing, I think that it should be avoided.
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6. 3. Humankind use sharp weapons to ____________ animals.
4. Have we the right to __________suffering on others?
5. There has been a _____________ in our natural resources.
6. They carried the same instruments that their eleven murdered ____________ would
have carried.
7. In my darker hours, I dream of and _____________for this day to come.
8. Humankind use massive forces to ________________the enemy.
9. Some humans damage the earth because of a __________ of knowledge of what they
are actually doing.
10. People who kill animals for the fun of it seem __________of any moral respect at all.
E. Sharing Your Thoughts
1. What is the author of “Human Insanity” advocating?
Do her arguments successfully convince the readers?
2. Do you think humans can live better without harming the environment?
3. With a partner, make a list of the things you would do in order to live a life according
to the text?
F. Writing the main Idea: Go back to the poem, “Human Insanity.” In one sentence
write the message the author wants to convey to us.
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7. Before reading learn what is the green house effect and global warming
The greenhouse effect refers to the change in the thermal equilibrium temperature of a
planet or moon by the presence of an atmosphere containing gas that absorbs and emits
infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases, which include water vapor, carbon dioxide and
methane, warm the atmosphere by efficiently absorbing thermal infrared radiation
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emitted by the Earth’s surface, by the atmosphere itself, and by clouds. As a result of its
warmth, the atmosphere also radiates thermal infrared in all directions, including
downward to the Earth’s surface. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-
surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
Before Reading
1. What do you see in the picture?
2. What does this picture suggest is happening to the world?
Web address:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/
080514131125.htm
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Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is longer than that of visible light,
but shorter than that of terahertz radiation and microwaves. (In physics, terahertz radiation refers to
electromagnetic waves sent at frequencies in the terahertz range).
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8. Warming Climate Is Changing Life on Global Scale, Says New Study
1 ScienceDaily (May 15, 2008) — A vast array of physical and biological systems
across the earth are being affected by warming temperatures caused by humans, says a
new analysis of information not previously assembled all in one spot. The effects on
living things include earlier leafing of trees and plants over many regions; movements of
species to higher latitudes and altitudes in the northern hemisphere; changes in bird
migrations in Europe, North America and Australia; and shifting of the oceans'
plankton 1 and fish from cold- to warm-adapted communities.
2"Humans are influencing climate through increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and the
warming world is causing impacts on physical and biological systems attributable at the
global scale," said lead author Cynthia Rosenzweig, a scientist at the NASA Goddard
Institute for Space Studies and the Columbia Center for Climate Systems Research. Both
are affiliates of The Earth Institute at Columbia University.
3 Observed impacts included changes to physical systems, such as glaciers2 shrinking,
permafrost3 melting, and lakes and rivers warming. Biological systems also were
impacted in a variety of ways, such as leaves unfolding and flowers blooming earlier in
the spring, birds arriving earlier during migration periods, and plant and animal species
moving toward Earth's poles and higher in elevation. In aquatic environments such as
oceans, lakes, and rivers, plankton and fish are shifting from cold-adapted to warm-
adapted communities.
4 Rosenzweig and researchers from 10 other institutions across the world analyzed data
from published papers on 829 physical systems and some 28,800 plant and animal
systems, stretching back to 1970. Their analysis of this data revealed a picture of changes
on continental scales; previous studies had looked mainly at single phenomena, or
smaller areas. In physical systems, 95% of observed changes are consistent with warming
trends. These include wastage of glaciers on all continents; melting permafrost; earlier
spring river runoff; and warming of water bodies. Among living creatures inhabiting such
systems, 90% of changes are consistent with warming.
5 The researchers say it is unlikely that any force but human-influenced climate change
could be driving all this; factors like deforestation or natural climate variations could not
explain it. Their work builds upon the consensus of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, which in 2007 declared manmade climate warming "likely" to have
discernible effects on biological and physical systems.
6 "It was a real challenge to separate the influence of human-caused temperature
increases from natural climate variations or other confounding factors, such as land-use
changes or pollution," said coauthor David Karoly, a climate scientist at the University of
1 The usually microscopic animal and plant life found floating or drifting in the ocean or in bodies of fresh
water, used as food by nearly all aquatic animals.
2A huge mass of ice
3
Permanently frozen soil, subsoil, etc.
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9. Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. "This was possible only through the combined efforts
of our multi-disciplinary team, which examined observed changes in many different
systems around the globe, as well as global climate model simulations of temperature
changes."
7 "Humans are influencing climate through increasing greenhouse gas emissions,"
Rosenzweig said. "The warming is causing impacts on physical and biological systems
that are now attributable at the global scale and in North America, Europe, and Asia."
8 The data showing the patterns of change are strongest in North America, Asia and
Europe--mainly because far more studies have been done there, said Rosenzweig. On the
other continents, including South America, Australia and Africa, documentation of
changes in physical and biological systems is sparse, even though there is good evidence
there of human-influenced warming itself. The authors say that there is an urgent need to
study these environmental systems, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.
Journal reference:
1. Attributing physical and biological impacts to anthropogenic climate change.
Nature. May 15, 2008.
Adapted from materials provided by The Earth Institute at Columbia University, via
EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
The Earth Institute at Columbia University (2008, May 15). Warming Climate Is
Changing Life On Global Scale, Says New Study. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 27,
2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/05/080514131125.htm
A. Comprehension Check:
1. What is unique about the new study reported in this article?
2. Mention two things on page 8 that are causing global warming?
3. What is the greenhouse effect, and how is it affecting our climate?
4. What are the effects of global warming?
5. How important are these changes in the long term?
B. Vocabulary Building: Choose the definition that fits the context in which the word is
used.
Match column 1 with column 2
Column 1 Column 2
___1. …and shifting of the oceans'
a) confusing
plankton and fish from cold- to
warm-adapted communities. (¶1)
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10. ___2 “observed impact includes changes b) consider as resulting from, likely to be
caused by
such as melting and lakes and rivers
warming”. (¶3)
___3. ….observed changes are consistent c) a tendencies
with warming trends”. (¶4)
___4. “These include wastage of glaciers d) moving from one place to another
on all continents”. (¶4)
___5. “The influence of other confounding
e) Loss by deterioration, wear, or
factors, such as land-use changes or
destruction
pollution," (¶6)
___6 impacts on physical and
f) to cause a solid to become liquid by heat
Biological systems that are now
attributable at the global scale and in North
America…(¶7 )
C. Vocabulary Match
Go back to the text and find these words which are in bold and match the word with the
meaning.
1. array(¶1) a. getting smaller, more compact
2. assembled all in one spot (¶1) b. thinly spread or distributed, small number.
3. greenhouse gas (¶2) c. Any of the atmospheric gases
4. shrinking (¶3) d. an orderly grouping or arrangement
5. sparse (¶8) e. together in one place
D. Vocabulary in context
shift (¶1) melting (¶3) trends. (¶4)
wastage(¶4 ) confounding(¶6) attributable (¶7 )
1. The article about global warming shows how ready some people are to
____________the blame for their own actions onto someone else.
2. Air curtains reduce heat loss and minimize energy __________________, which is
good for the environment.
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11. 3. Information was sought from three main sources that would identify any
emerging_______________.
4. In Antarctica the glaciers are __________________because the earth's temperature has
risen in recent decades.
5. The pollution caused by humans had a negative effect all around the world, because
temperature has become greater from natural climate variations or other
__________________________factors
6. The word _______________________ means related to a particular cause or source.
E. Making Predictions about the Effects of Global Warming
1. With a partner imagine how the world's climate could change over the next 100 years
if humans do nothing to limit the levels of their greenhouse gas emissions. Analyze and
make predictions about the effects such climate changes could have on humans. Mention
only the ones that are mentioned in the text on pages 7 and 8.
2. Working in pairs or small groups, brainstorm a list of ideas related to these questions in
question number 1. Each should have a copy of the list in order to refer back to it later.
E. Writing Task: Persuasive writing attempts to convince the reader that the point of
view or course of action recommended by the writer is valid. From the reading on page 7
and 8, write 2-3 persuasive paragraphs to answer the following questions:
► Is global warming an imminent world threat? Why or why not?
►Based on your opinion, what actions do you believe should be taken to handle the
global warming issue? Sustain your opinions with specific information from the text.
Before Reading
What do you think this title means?
Diet for a Cooler Planet
By Michael Jacobson
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12. 1 Our planet just experienced the warmest winter in the 105 years during which
records have been kept. According to James Hansen, who heads NASA’s Goddard
Institute for Space Studies, “if further global warming reaches 2 or 3 degrees Celsius [4
or 5 degrees Fahrenheit], we will likely see changes that make Earth a different planet
than the one we know. The last time it was that warm was...about three million years ago,
when sea level was estimated to have been about 80 feet higher than today.” Fossil
fuels1—used in coal-burning power plants and gasoline-and-diesel burning cars and
trucks—top the list of problems. But other factors also contribute:
●Growth: 6.5 billion people double the population of 1965—now draw down our
world’s finite resources.
Higher standards of living: air conditioners, cars, air travel, and other conveniences
require fossil fuels
Figure1.
Heating up. Cattle belch out methane and their manure is a major
source of nitrous oxide. Both are greenhouse gases that keep the
Earth’s heat from escaping into space.
Diet: as incomes rise, people replace wheat and rice with meat and dairy foods.
What do more burgers and cheese have to do with climate change?
2 Between global warming and a lack of land, water, and other resources, the Earth
simply can’t cope with a worldwide jump in meat and dairy consumption. In 2006, a
report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned:
3 “Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its
potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it
needs to be addressed with urgency.
4 ” Livestock not only pollutes our water, air, and soil, said the FAO, it’s also
“responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions...a higher share than transport.”
5 Cattle belch out huge volumes of methane, a gas that’s 23 times more potent at
trapping heat than carbon dioxide. Livestock manure is the source of two-thirds of man-
made nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
6 Growing corn, soybeans, and hay for livestock feed uses up about half of all U.S.
fertilizer, generating large amounts of nitrous oxide. In Brazil, an astounding 70 percent
of one time forest land is being used as pasture and to grow animal feed. Worldwide, the
34 million acres of trees that are cut and burned each year account for 25 to 30 percent of
all the carbon that enters our atmosphere.
1
any carbon-containing fuel derived from the decomposed remains of prehistoric plants and
animals, e.g. coal, peat, petroleum, and natural gas
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13. 7 Eating less meat and dairy foods is a small step that each of us could take to help
slow global warming.
8 Bonus: switching from meat to beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables means lower risks
of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. (See www.EatingGreen.org to
calculate those benefits and to order our book, Six Arguments for a Greener Diet.)
9 So for the sake of our globe—and our own Health—let’s all try to eat more plants
and less meat.
2 N U T R I T I O N A C T I O N H E A LT H L E T T E R n MAY 2 0 0 7
Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Center for Science in the Public Interest
http://www.psr.org/site/DocServer/DietForCoolerPlanet.pdf?docID=2441
A. Comprehension Check:
1. What are the four main things the author states that contribute to global warming?
2. What solution to the problem does the author suggest?
B.Vocabulary Building: Choose the definition that fits the context in which the word is
used.
Match column 1 with column 2
Column 1 Column 2
___1. The earth simply can’t cope with a
a) emit , burp
worldwide jump in meat and dairy
consumption(¶2)
___2. Livestock’s contribution to environmental b) surprise, shocking
problems is on a massive scale.(¶3)
___3. Cattle belch out huge volumes of c) for the good of
methane, a gas that’s 23 times more potent(¶5)
___4. Livestock manure is the source of two- d) animals kept on farms.
thirds of man-made nitrous oxide,
a greenhouse gas (¶5)
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14. ___5. ..an astounding 70 percent of one e) waste matter from animals
time forest land is being used as pasture
and to grow animal feed. (¶6)
___6. Growing corn, soybeans, and hay for f) consumes
livestock uses up about half of all U.S.
fertilizer(¶6)___7. for the sake of our globe
and our own Health…(¶9)
___7. for the sake of our globe g) deal with
and our own Health…(¶9)
C. Use the vocabulary below to fill in the blank (Vocabulary in context)
cope with (¶2) livestock (¶3) belch out (¶5)
manure (¶5) astounding (¶6) for the sake of (¶9)
1. Cows and other ruminants ____________________vast quantities of methane,
which accelerates global warming
2. _______________ is a big problem for global warming because their waste matter
pollutes our water air and soil.
3. Humans need to do something about global warming __________________________
our planet.
4. What are ordinary people doing to help _____________________ the situation of
global warming?
5. American Scientist has made _________________discoveries that will change our
view of the universe.
6. I would like to find a source of well rotted ______________to get the soil healthy for
next year's planting.
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15. D. Problem-Solution Chart
List the problems that cause Global warming in the first column. List solutions in the
right column.
Possible Problems Possible Solutions
Example: Higher standards of living Use fans instead of air conditioners; Use
other types of transportation etc.
E. Discussion: In a small group discuss the benefits of a vegetarian diet.
F. Response Writing: Choose one of these topics:
► According to the poem “Human Insanity” on pages 3 and 4, what is the effect that
pollution has on humans?
►According to the “Science Daily” article on Global warming on page 6, what are the
effects that population growth has on the earth’s resources?
► According to “Diet for a Cooler Planet” on pages 9 and 10, what are the negative
effects that a high standard of living has on our environment?
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16. G. THREE-WAY VENN DIAGRAM Compare and contrast “Human Insanity”,
Warming Climate Is Changing Life on Global Scale, Says New Study and “Diet for a
Cooler Planet”. in the Venn Diagram, mention the differences and the similarities of the
three readings of the unit.
Comparing A “Human Insanity”____________________________________
B “Warming Climate Is Changing Life on Global Scale, Says New Study”
C “Diet for a Cooler Planet. In the out side of the circle”___________
A. Differences B. Difference
C. Differences
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