TASK+6+-+ENVIRONMENTAL+ISSUES

TASK 6: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
1. Create a new heading on your Country Wiki. Call it TASK 6 - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. 2. Go to the website http://epi.yale.edu/. This website will rank countries based on how they are improving their environmental standards. The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks [|163 countries] on [|25 performance indicators] tracked across ten policy categories covering both [|environmental public health] and [|ecosystem vitality]. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals. Look at the components of this index:



3. Find your country and on the Environmental Performance map. Then go to your country's page on the website. Answer these questions: What is the EPI score given to your country? How does this compare with other countries? Which environmental issues are the biggest concern for your country?

4. Then pick one of these environmental issues and search the web for a recent (in past two years) newspaper/magazine article. Find an article that provides insight into the environmental issue. (Your article has to be at least 5 paragraphs long.) Read the article. Write a one paragraph summary of the main ideas.

5. Include the following information:
 * Title of Article
 * Publication
 * Author
 * Date Published
 * URL

6. EXTENSION TASK -- Find another article to summarize. Embed pictures that show environmental problems in your country.

EXAMPLE: SOUTH AFRICA What is the EPI score given to your country? How does this compare with other countries? Which environmental issues are the biggest concern for your country? Summary: This article discusses the big problem of water pollution. In South Africa, there are many rivers that have become polluted because of mining, agricultural run-off, and contamination from urban waste. This is a huge problem because people need fresh water to survive. The rivers that are most at risk are Olifants River, the Vaal River and the Umgeni River. There are organizations that are trying to educate the government about this problem, but they are not having much success.
 * South Africa has been given a score of 50.8.
 * It is ranked 115th out of 163 countries.
 * Current Issues of Concern: access to sanitation; issues of disease; greenhouse gas emissions; air pollution; water quality and water stress

Title of Article "Long-term pollution killing SA rivers" Publication: IOL News Author: Sapa Date Published: February 24 2009 at 06:48pm URL: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/long-term-pollution-killing-sa-rivers-1.435619