Learning Objective: This is a reading and comprehension and conversation class. At the end of the session, the participants are expected to be able to discuss each issue and answer questions correctly.

Indonesia: Oil From Rice Paddies

Bojonegoro in East Java, Indonesia, is an environmental nightmare. Several years ago, an oil field was discovered in this area, and locals are keen to get in on the act.

Some 2000 locals use pulleys mounted on rickety wooden frames to retrieve oil in wells up to 400 meters deep. They then heat the oil over wood fires to burn off water. It's dangerous work, and the profits are minimal.

Discusssion


>>>
Ghana: The Dangers of Recycling Electronic Scrap

Thick dark clouds hang over Ghana's capital, Accra: Computers, fridges and TVs are manually dismantled in the city's scrapyards, and the parts burned to remove plastic from valuable metals such as aluminum, iron and copper.

People here pay a high price for recovering these valuable metals. Recycling e-waste generates high levels of pollution, and the people who work in the scrapyards are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals. Africa has become a major dumping ground for e-waste from developed countries.

Discussion


>>>
Water Management in Madagascar

Climate change poses a serious threat to the population of the Mahafaly Plateau, one of the most arid parts of Madagascar. A water management plan developed by the Worldwide Fund for Nature helps local tribes make agriculture more sustainable.

It's a vicious circle: because of climate change, drought has become a serious problem on the Mahafaly Plateau. But at the same time, locals are clearing forests to use the land for farming, thereby exacerbating their environmental problems. The WWF is now assisting local communities in improving the management and use of the little water available to them.

Discussion
>>>
source