Anglický jazyk
9.2.1 Civilization, environment, ecology
When we say "civilization" we often think about how it is changing our living environment and how it is changing people's lives. Some diseases are considered to be diseases of civilization, sometimes also called diseases of longevity or lifestyle diseases. There is much discussion among scientists as to which diseases are connected to a high level of development and which existed in the past at the same rates.
Civilization has other meanings, too. For the “first world“, Europe and North America, it means a rapid technology development and a high economic level. This comes along with a lot of air, water and soil pollution. This causes not only diseases but also major changes in the nature and the atmosphere. The ozone layer is more and more damaged so it is losing its capability to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. That in return exposes us to higher rates of skin cancers. Emissions that stay in the air prevent the Sun radiation from leaving the atmosphere thus warming it up. This is called the greenhouse effect which is responsible for global warming. Other changes are taking place, too. Animal species are dying out, gas supplies are decreasing, icebergs are melting and threatening to flood the land. Scientists are not yet sure if it is necessarily a negative influence on the nature. It might just be a part of a natural cycle.
However, when or better before we run out of gas we will have to come up with some new ways how to substitute engine fuels and plastics. The car industry invented electronic and hybrid cars, but plastics are difficult to replace. That is why it is vital to recycle our waste. The “3R“ strategy is promoted: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reducing means to try to use less plastics than we need, for example packing our bread in a paper bag. Reusing suggests using a plastic product more than once. Recycling demands a little more effort but is quite effective. Look for recycling containers in your neighbourhood and separate your waste: plastic, paper, glass, metal. Many countries refund glass bottles, some even plastic bottles. This separated waste is then used to make new plastic, paper and glass products.
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(living) environment
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(životní) prostředí
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longevity
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dlouhověkost
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development
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rozvoj, vývoj
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pollution
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znečištění
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major changes
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velké změny
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ozone layer
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ozónová vrstva
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harmful
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škodlivý
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greenhouse effect
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skleníkový efekt
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die out
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vymřít
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gas supplies
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zásoby ropy
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species
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živočišný druh, druhy
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melt
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tát
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threaten
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hrozit
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flood
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zaplavit, záplava
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natural cycle
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přírodní cyklus
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substitute, replace
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nahradit
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engine fuel
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palivo pro stroje
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effort
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úsilí
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neighbourhood
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sousedství
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refund
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vrátit zálohu
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