GECW 8 THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

ENGAGE:
What do you think are the issues faced by migrants and how are these issues being resolved?
Migrants are often faced with challenges of being accepted by host communities, hence the difficulties
in communal integration, harmonious living, commerce, cultural practices, religious beliefs, language
barriers, agricultural practices, economic activities, social integration, pastoralism and others. Increase
overall living conditions for people in poor areas, This includes better access to health insurance, better
access to education, better social security schemes, better job opportunities and also a high level of
safety for the local population. All these factors will reduce the incentive for migration.

LEARNING CHECK:
How do poor countries balance their need for development with the necessity to protect
environment?
One way to achieve sustainable development in these countries is by first setting policies to enhance the
living conditions of the least fortunate for them to later be able to take care of their environment. These
initiatives include reducing urban emissions through public transportation in Brazil and bike sharing in
Argentina. They also include protecting forests and designating national parks in Argentina and Costa
Rica. Costa Rica has even set the impressive goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2021. Examples include
expanding educational opportunities for women and, improving soil conservation, water supply and
sanitation services. For instance, investments in female education, particularly at the secondary level,
have some ofthe highest returns for development and the environment.

KNOWLEDGE-BUILDING
ASSESMENT TASK 1: IDENTIFICATION

1. The depredation caused by industrial and transportation toxins and plastic in the ground; the
defiling of the sea, river, and water beds by oil spills and acid rain; the dumping of urban
waste.
There are several contributing factors to ocean dumping. Carelessness, ignorance, and lack of
effective disposal systems are just some of the biggest causes. Since 70% of the earth is filled
with water, the oceans and the seas continue to face all manner of dumping, especially in terms
of waste material deposits from industries, sewerage, tankers and factories. The dumping of
trash, such as plastics and construction waste, has also aggravated the situation. It is not a new
environmental concern: as a matter of fact, it continues to escalate.
2. Changes in global weather patterns (flash floods, extreme snowstorms, and the spread of
deserts) and the surge in ocean and land temperatures leading to a rise in sea levels (as the
polar ice caps melt because of the weather), plus the flooding of many lowland areas across
the world.
A warming climate can cause seawater to expand and ice over land to melt, both of which can
cause a rise in sea level. Many people are interested in climate change and how a changing
climate will affect the ocean. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather, both in the U.S.
and in other countries, can damage factories, supply chain operations and other infrastructure,
and disrupt transport. Drought will make water more expensive, which will likely affect the cost
of raw materials and production. “Global warming” refers to the rise in global temperatures due
 mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate
change” refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time –
including precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns
3. Overpopulation
Human overpopulation is the concept of a human population becoming too large to be
sustained by its environment or resources in the long term. The idea is usually discussed in the
context of world population, though it may also concern regions. More people means an
increased demand for food, water, housing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and more. And
all that consumption contributes to ecological degradation, increased conflicts, and a higher risk
of large-scale disasters like pandemics.
4. Water pollution arising from industrial and community waste residues seeping into
underground water tables, rivers, and seas.
Sometimes, industrial waste is dumped into nearby freshwater systems. The toxic chemicals
leached from this waste can make the water unsafe for human consumption, and they can also
cause the temperature in freshwater systems to change, making them dangerous for marine life.
According to the EPA, pollution from industrial facilities is responsible for threatening or fouling
water quality in more than 10,000 miles of rivers and more than 200,000 acres of lakes, ponds
and estuaries nationwide.
5. Pandemics and other threats to a public health arising from wastes mixing with drinking
water, polluted environments that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and disease
carrying rodents, and pollution.
The COVID-19 crisis has clearly demonstrated that societies need to strengthen their resilience
to pandemics and other emergencies. Countries are concentrating, in the short term, on shoring
up public health systems and addressing the immediate economic impacts of the crisis. But, in
the medium to longer term, enhancing the environmental health of societies – i.e. aspects of
human health and well-being that are determined by environmental factors – is a key
component to the economic recovery and stimulus measures that governments are currently
designing. Limiting people’s exposure to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in
air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media will reduce their vulnerability to future
pandemics, increase their health and well-being, and provide an important complement to
public health systems.
CRITICAL THINKING
ASSESMENT TASK 2: ESSAY WRITING

1. What are the major environmental problems you are exposed to?
 Changes in global weather patterns (flash floods, extreme snowstorms, and the spread of
deserts) and the surge in ocean and land temperatures leading to a rise in sea levels (as the
polar ice caps melt because of the weather), plus the flooding of many lowland areas across
the world
2. Refer to your answer on question number 1, how are these problems global?
As the world has warmed, that warming has triggered many other changes to the Earth’s
climate. Changes in extreme weather and climate events, such as heat waves and droughts, are
the primary way that most people experience climate change. Human-induced climate change
has already increased the number and strength of some of these extreme events. Over the last
50 years, much of the U.S. has seen increases in prolonged periods of excessively high
temperatures, heavy downpours, and in some regions, severe floods and droughts. Heat waves
are periods of abnormally hot weather lasting days to weeks. The number of heat waves has
been increasing in recent years. Higher temperatures lead to increased rates of evaporation,
including more loss of moisture through plant leaves. Even in areas where precipitation does not
decrease, these increases in surface evaporation and loss of water from plants lead to more
rapid drying of soils if the effects of higher temperatures are not offset by other changes (such
as reduced wind speed or increased humidity). Heavy downpours are increasing nationally,
especially over the last three to five decades. The heaviest rainfall events have become heavier
and more frequent, and the amount of rain falling on the heaviest rain days has also increased.
3. Discuss the effects of global warming to the developing countries especially on the economic
Well-being of the nation?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that the increase in global
atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) is primarily due to fossil fuel use and, in a
smaller but still significant level, to land-use change. An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary by
former United States Vice-President Al Gore, has also drawn public attention to the critical issue
of global warming and how the burning of fossil fuels has increased the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere. Global warming can result in many serious alterations to the environment,
eventually impacting human health. It can also cause a rise in sea level, leading to the loss of
coastal land, a change in precipitation patterns, increased risks of droughts and floods, and
threats to biodiversity.
Besides the visible effects on people's livelihoods, global warming is predicted to have a strong
and adverse impact on human health. The populations of countries that have contributed the
least to global warming are the most vulnerable to death and diseases brought about by higher
temperatures. The coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and in sub-Saharan
Africa will be at higher risk of enduring the health effects of climate change. The World Health
Organization (WHO) reports that climate change is responsible for at least 150,000 deaths per
year, a number that is expected to double by 2030. The effects of global warming will cause dire
health consequences:
Infectious diseases. IPCC predicts that global warming will worsen human health conditions,
especially in tropical regions. In places like Africa, an increase in temperature signifies an
increase in mosquito populations, thus escalating the risk of malaria, dengue and other insect-
borne infections. Other regions are also affected.
 Heatwaves. Prolonged periods of abnormally high temperatures can have serious health effects
on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and the sick. This was already seen during the
2003 heatwave in Europe, which claimed approximately 35,000 lives.
Loss of agricultural productivity. Global warming can result in droughts that can worsen living
conditions, particularly in Africa. The World Wild Fund has reported that climate change can
drastically alter rainfall pattern, and risk water and food supplies for millions.
Asthma and other respiratory diseases. People suffering from heart problems are more
vulnerable to increased temperatures, especially those living in already warm areas, as their
cardiovascular system must work harder to keep their body cool. Hot temperatures increase the
ozone concentration, which can damage people's lung tissue and cause complications for
asthma patients and those with lung diseases.

CREATING
ASSESMENT TASK 3: CASE ANALYSIS