Doing this project, I've felt many things which astonished me a lot. As I mentioned on Introduction, we would have extremely serious problems and could become extinct as dinosaurs had disappeared if the ozone layer were totally destroyed. The issue, holes in the ozone layer that might cause the end of the Earth, has to be considered as the most dangerous problem and being very important in the world so that we can try to reduce something harmful to it. Now that many people have been educated all over the world, they know about the ozone layer and the holes in it. Few people, however, are just conscious of the issue, fewer people are doing something individually to protect the ozone layer, and the fewest people are doing it appropriately. Generally, although the issue is known as one of the most serious problems which all countries have to discuss about to solve, no one knows specifically what to do and how to do to help it. In my personal view, all governments should try to invent or find out some replacements of harmful materials we now use as soon as possible, impose high taxes on harmful goods and vice versa reduce taxes on harmless goods at their level. And they also should educate people about the issue and ways to protect the ozone layer individually. Mankind has been living on the Earth only for 4 million years and the Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years but now we are destroying the great nature and ourselves. In this way, there wouldn't be any space to breathe in the future. Do we use just useful materials but harmful because we will die before the end of the Earth? Humans in the future will have been living on the Earth as well and they are our descendants and our children! We have to concern the issue and do our best to leave our beautiful natuer so that our descendants can see it. The earliest time is when you think it is late.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Conclusion
Doing this project, I've felt many things which astonished me a lot. As I mentioned on Introduction, we would have extremely serious problems and could become extinct as dinosaurs had disappeared if the ozone layer were totally destroyed. The issue, holes in the ozone layer that might cause the end of the Earth, has to be considered as the most dangerous problem and being very important in the world so that we can try to reduce something harmful to it. Now that many people have been educated all over the world, they know about the ozone layer and the holes in it. Few people, however, are just conscious of the issue, fewer people are doing something individually to protect the ozone layer, and the fewest people are doing it appropriately. Generally, although the issue is known as one of the most serious problems which all countries have to discuss about to solve, no one knows specifically what to do and how to do to help it. In my personal view, all governments should try to invent or find out some replacements of harmful materials we now use as soon as possible, impose high taxes on harmful goods and vice versa reduce taxes on harmless goods at their level. And they also should educate people about the issue and ways to protect the ozone layer individually. Mankind has been living on the Earth only for 4 million years and the Earth has existed for 4.5 billion years but now we are destroying the great nature and ourselves. In this way, there wouldn't be any space to breathe in the future. Do we use just useful materials but harmful because we will die before the end of the Earth? Humans in the future will have been living on the Earth as well and they are our descendants and our children! We have to concern the issue and do our best to leave our beautiful natuer so that our descendants can see it. The earliest time is when you think it is late.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Inverviews
Here are 10 questions and the answers of 4 people I interviewed. My aim of the interviews is to know how many information they know about the issue of the ozone layer and how serious they think it is.
1. Do you know about the ozone layer?
Patrick - Yes, I know.
Karman - Of course.
Wenke - Yes.
Rasha - little bit.
2. Could you tell me what the ozone layer is?
Patrick - I think it's layer that basically protects human being from strong sunshine that might cause some side effects such as skin cancer. We can't survive without the ozone layer.
Karman - It's basically a layer that protects us from the rays of the Sun around the whole globe around the whole world.
Wenke - It's a kind of chemical barrier that's kind of the atmosphere around the Earth.
Rasha - It is part of atmosphere around the world where we have pierced a hole into it because of CO2 emission. It has been eroded. The ozone layer protects the Earth from overheating.
3. Can you explain what would happen if there were no ozone
layer?
Patrick - As I mentioned for the second question, it can cause skin cancer. For the natural environment we experience the green house effect that might cause even more damage than what we expected. For example, global warming.
Karman - We would burn I guess from the movies I've watched. The environment would just be so overheated that we won't have what we have now.
Wenke - I think we'd feel the Sun's radiation more. Absolutely a lot of power of the Sun.
Rasha - We'd fry.
4. Have you heard about holes in the ozone layer?
Patrick - Yes I think it's because of the global worming that we mentioned before since human being are careless about their natural environment.
Karman - Yes.
Wenke - Yes.
Rasha - Yes, I have.
5. Could you tell me what creates holes in the ozone layer?
Patrick - I have no idea.
Karman - Well..there are different theories about that, but I would say, some would say, scientists say that is pollution is one, main one.
Wenke - I think it's a combination of pollution and other environmental issues, but definitely pollution and the atmosphere carbon.
Rasha - Continuous emission of gases, notably CO2.
Yes, something which they mentioned can cause ozone holes but two of the most dangerous materials are man made things that cause CFCs and Br. Mostly they come from air conditioners and tools for extinguishing fire which are very useful for human beings.
6. How big do you think the hole is above Antarctica?
(measurement : million square miles)
a) 1-3
b) 5-7 (Patrick, Wenka, Rasha)
c) 8-11 (Karman)
d) more than 11
The size above Antarctica is more than 11M square miles even though its fluctuation depends on the weather. I thought they just guessed it or remembered the past size. Yes, in the past, the size was much smaller but now it is so surprising that we can remark the issue.
7. How serious do you think the ozone layer issue is?
Patrick - Right now we should be taking it seriously. Some scientists who have done research on the ozone layer have said that it's going to be a big issue in the near future. I totally agree with that.
Karman - I guess it's serious but recently scientists have been taking about how it's not so serious, so I'm kind of on the fence. I'm not sure. I used to think it was really really important but after programs I've watched I don't think it's that big of a deal. I don't know. I'm on the fence.
Wenke - It's pretty serious like a scale from 1-10 like an 8. probably 8.
Rasha - It's very serious. Especially since I said that without the ozone layer we would burn.
8. What can people do individually to protect the ozone layer?Patrick - They try to do save electronic power as much as they can do and try to keep avoiding using fossil resource. We have to try to use natural energy resources as much as possible. Such as energy from the Sun (solar power)
Karman - Just try to lessen pollution so driving less, taking the transit. Even hair spray..don't use hair spray just little things you hear just do it less.
Wenke - I don't know if it's an individual thing. Like it has to be everyone working together but definitely try to reduce the carbon foot print.
Rasha - Individually as consumers we can be conscious of the products that we buy. For example, anything from hair sprays or nozzles. Emission, factories. We can buy products from factories that wouldn't emit copious amounts of CO2, etc.
9. How can the government implement ways to protect the ozone layer?
Patrick - They might give some tax benefit such as increasing taxes that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and decreasing taxes on what is environmentally friendly.
Karman - I think that's already in effect. For example, Ontario. If you buy an old car, you have to go to test it to ensure it's not contributing to pollution to much so that you do every year if you have an old car. So things like that car, programs like when it comes to a car, when it comes to garbage or when you go buy a product the government needs to see what the product contains. If it's something that's bad for the ozone layer, that's the limit. So monitor to see how much you drive, monitor businesses what they sell then taxes on products that are good for environment.
Wenke - I don't think it's only one government. It's probably a worldwide thing that they have to have policies in place where they have the incentive to reduce pollution as much as possible, so giving big businesses for example burn lots of lots of fuel the government gives the money or a discount if they improve their emission something like that the government tries to do that with the Kyoto accord. I'm not a hundred percent sure.
Rasha - They can start taxing products. Heavier taxes on products that effect the ozone layer. That's on an individual basis. But also like I said, factories need to have certain rules. You need to have sorts of regulations like amounts or quantities that you are allowed to emit.
10. I'd like to ask you if you do anything to protect the ozone layer?
Patrick - Sure. I recycle. I use recycled paper and a recycling bin all the time to save our natural resources.
Karman - Well, I try to buy a car that's not as polluted so that's one thing that I did and that's about it. I don't really think about it on a regular basis.
Wenke - Specifically the ozone layer? I don't think so. I take the bus. I don't drive everywhere. I try to walk if I can but I definitely try to produce less garbage and buy products with less packaging if possible. I'm just environmentally friendly in general not specifically the ozone layer.
Rasha - Yes, I'm conscious of the products I buy. I use my buying power to purchase products that do not contribute to ozone layer depletion.
Yes, all of them want to contribute to helping not to create holes in the ozone layer. However, actually their effort for the ozone layer is not effective because they do not know about causes of holes well. I think every person wants to be environmentally friendly but they do not know about specific causes and solutions. Therefore, I think we have to educate people about the details which can make them be concsious and have mind to help environment.
1. Do you know about the ozone layer?
Patrick - Yes, I know.
Karman - Of course.
Wenke - Yes.
Rasha - little bit.
2. Could you tell me what the ozone layer is?
Patrick - I think it's layer that basically protects human being from strong sunshine that might cause some side effects such as skin cancer. We can't survive without the ozone layer.
Karman - It's basically a layer that protects us from the rays of the Sun around the whole globe around the whole world.
Wenke - It's a kind of chemical barrier that's kind of the atmosphere around the Earth.
Rasha - It is part of atmosphere around the world where we have pierced a hole into it because of CO2 emission. It has been eroded. The ozone layer protects the Earth from overheating.
3. Can you explain what would happen if there were no ozone
layer?
Patrick - As I mentioned for the second question, it can cause skin cancer. For the natural environment we experience the green house effect that might cause even more damage than what we expected. For example, global warming.
Karman - We would burn I guess from the movies I've watched. The environment would just be so overheated that we won't have what we have now.
Wenke - I think we'd feel the Sun's radiation more. Absolutely a lot of power of the Sun.
Rasha - We'd fry.
4. Have you heard about holes in the ozone layer?
Patrick - Yes I think it's because of the global worming that we mentioned before since human being are careless about their natural environment.
Karman - Yes.
Wenke - Yes.
Rasha - Yes, I have.
5. Could you tell me what creates holes in the ozone layer?
Patrick - I have no idea.
Karman - Well..there are different theories about that, but I would say, some would say, scientists say that is pollution is one, main one.
Wenke - I think it's a combination of pollution and other environmental issues, but definitely pollution and the atmosphere carbon.
Rasha - Continuous emission of gases, notably CO2.
Yes, something which they mentioned can cause ozone holes but two of the most dangerous materials are man made things that cause CFCs and Br. Mostly they come from air conditioners and tools for extinguishing fire which are very useful for human beings.
6. How big do you think the hole is above Antarctica?
(measurement : million square miles)
a) 1-3
b) 5-7 (Patrick, Wenka, Rasha)
c) 8-11 (Karman)
d) more than 11
The size above Antarctica is more than 11M square miles even though its fluctuation depends on the weather. I thought they just guessed it or remembered the past size. Yes, in the past, the size was much smaller but now it is so surprising that we can remark the issue.
7. How serious do you think the ozone layer issue is?
Patrick - Right now we should be taking it seriously. Some scientists who have done research on the ozone layer have said that it's going to be a big issue in the near future. I totally agree with that.
Karman - I guess it's serious but recently scientists have been taking about how it's not so serious, so I'm kind of on the fence. I'm not sure. I used to think it was really really important but after programs I've watched I don't think it's that big of a deal. I don't know. I'm on the fence.
Wenke - It's pretty serious like a scale from 1-10 like an 8. probably 8.
Rasha - It's very serious. Especially since I said that without the ozone layer we would burn.
8. What can people do individually to protect the ozone layer?Patrick - They try to do save electronic power as much as they can do and try to keep avoiding using fossil resource. We have to try to use natural energy resources as much as possible. Such as energy from the Sun (solar power)
Karman - Just try to lessen pollution so driving less, taking the transit. Even hair spray..don't use hair spray just little things you hear just do it less.
Wenke - I don't know if it's an individual thing. Like it has to be everyone working together but definitely try to reduce the carbon foot print.
Rasha - Individually as consumers we can be conscious of the products that we buy. For example, anything from hair sprays or nozzles. Emission, factories. We can buy products from factories that wouldn't emit copious amounts of CO2, etc.
9. How can the government implement ways to protect the ozone layer?
Patrick - They might give some tax benefit such as increasing taxes that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and decreasing taxes on what is environmentally friendly.
Karman - I think that's already in effect. For example, Ontario. If you buy an old car, you have to go to test it to ensure it's not contributing to pollution to much so that you do every year if you have an old car. So things like that car, programs like when it comes to a car, when it comes to garbage or when you go buy a product the government needs to see what the product contains. If it's something that's bad for the ozone layer, that's the limit. So monitor to see how much you drive, monitor businesses what they sell then taxes on products that are good for environment.
Wenke - I don't think it's only one government. It's probably a worldwide thing that they have to have policies in place where they have the incentive to reduce pollution as much as possible, so giving big businesses for example burn lots of lots of fuel the government gives the money or a discount if they improve their emission something like that the government tries to do that with the Kyoto accord. I'm not a hundred percent sure.
Rasha - They can start taxing products. Heavier taxes on products that effect the ozone layer. That's on an individual basis. But also like I said, factories need to have certain rules. You need to have sorts of regulations like amounts or quantities that you are allowed to emit.
10. I'd like to ask you if you do anything to protect the ozone layer?
Patrick - Sure. I recycle. I use recycled paper and a recycling bin all the time to save our natural resources.
Karman - Well, I try to buy a car that's not as polluted so that's one thing that I did and that's about it. I don't really think about it on a regular basis.
Wenke - Specifically the ozone layer? I don't think so. I take the bus. I don't drive everywhere. I try to walk if I can but I definitely try to produce less garbage and buy products with less packaging if possible. I'm just environmentally friendly in general not specifically the ozone layer.
Rasha - Yes, I'm conscious of the products I buy. I use my buying power to purchase products that do not contribute to ozone layer depletion.
Yes, all of them want to contribute to helping not to create holes in the ozone layer. However, actually their effort for the ozone layer is not effective because they do not know about causes of holes well. I think every person wants to be environmentally friendly but they do not know about specific causes and solutions. Therefore, I think we have to educate people about the details which can make them be concsious and have mind to help environment.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Introduction
Do you know about the ozone layer? It was my first question on my interview. How about you? How much do you know about it? Many people do not know the seriousness of the ozone layer issue although it can cause fatal problems such as skin cancer, eye cataract, and even weakening our immune system.
The Ozone layer is a layer that includes a relatively high concentrations of ozone. It protects us from biologically harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can cause some problems that I mentioned before. Actually, there are 3 sorts of UV based on its wavelength - UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C, all of which can cause some damages to human being but the damages from UV-B and UV-C are very harmful. Fortunately, they are screened out by the ozone layer that consists of Ozone(O3) divided two oxygen atoms(O2) and an oxygen atom(O) when it is exposed to extremely energetic UV like UV-B and UV-C. And O2 is also divided two oxygen atoms(2O) which become O3 again by combining with O2. Ozone keeps us from UV-B and UV-C by circulating on that cycle.
However, ozone holes where there is relatively low concentrations of ozone are coming to the fore all over the world. What creates the holes? The answer is chemical materials such as freon gas(CFCs) and halon gas(Br), both of which can destroy the ozone layer by changing O3 to O2, and one molecule of which can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules while staying at ozone layer for 100 years, which means cutting the cycle off. These dangerous molecules come from man made equipment which is very useful and necessary including refrigerants from refrigerators and air conditioners, materials for fire-extinguishing, spray and so on.
Mankind has to consider the issue and solve it even though some equipment is essential. To solve this problem, we have to try to do it, and to try, we have to be aware of it. That's why I focused on how much people are aware of it and know about it and I had expected that people might know the issue is just dangerous but not specifically before I interviewed them.
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