Social Studies notes Consequences of air pollution increase in illness rates and death permanent injury to the respiratory

systems decreased visibility Solutions to Air Pollution -Strict laws to ensure that factories install pollution control devices -Experiment with the use of alternative sources of fuel in place of gasoline such as natural gas, ethyl alcohol, gashol and hydrogen which emit fewer pollutants. -factories should be required to make waste gases harmless by passing them through special burners and filters before releasing them into the air. -Tall chimneys should be used to expel the gases high in the air where winds may carry them away -Industrial sites should be placed on the leeward side of countries -Unwanted fires must stop now. Serious legislation must be implemented. Penalties must be heavy and hurtful. Through the education system, teach and make the citizens aware if the dangers of air pollution Land Pollution is the degradation of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human activities and their misuse of land resources. Causes Increase in urbanization. Construction uses up forestland. More constructions means increase in demand for raw materials like timber. This leads to the exploitation and destruction of forests. There is more demand for water. Reservoirs are built leading to the loss of land. Increase in agricultural land. As the human population grew there was a greater demand for food. This caused more land allocated to agriculture. Forests were cut down for this purpose. Domestic waste. Every single day, tons and tons of domestic waste is dumped ranging from huge pieces of rubbish such as unused refrigerator to fish bones. If all these wastes are not disposed of properly, the damage they can do to the environment and humankind can be devastating. While waste collected from homes, offices and industries may be recycled or burnt in incinerators, a large amount of rubbish is neither burnt nor recycled but is left in certain areas marked as dumping grounds. We throw away more things today and there is an increase in the quantity of solid waste. This has given rise to problems as new dumping grounds have to be found. Agricultural activities. Besides domestic waste, pesticides and herbicides used by farmers to increase crop yields also pollute the land when they are washed into the soil. Industrial activities. Industrial activities also are a contributing factor to land pollution. For example, in open cast mining, huge holes are dug in the ground and these form dangerously deep mining pools. Heaps of mining waste are left behind and these waste often contain several poisonous substances that will contaminate the soil. Consequences exterminates wild life acid rain kills trees and other plants. vegetation that provides food and shelter is destroyed. it can seriously disrupt the balance of nature, and, in extreme cases, can cause human fatalities.

pesticides can damage crops; kill vegetation; and poison birds, animals, and fish. Most pesticides kill or damage life forms other than those intended. For example, pesticides used in an effort to control or destroy undesirable vegetation and insects often destroy birds and small animals. Some life forms develop immunity to pesticides used to destroy them. Solutions Green House Effect It may be described as the global atmospheric warming caused by the heating of atmospheric gases which are prevented from rising to higher levels. Causes The burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline in motor vehicles releases carbon monoxide. The burning of oil and gas in a variety of industries releases nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect. We are fully aware that plants use up carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. The massive removal of forests therefore contributes to the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons are used as propellants in spray cans, air conditioners and refrigerators. Chlorofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases. Consequences Melting of ice caps and consequent rising of the sea levels. This may have the effect of the sea claiming large portions of the earth. Rise in temperature which will affect man, plants and animals. The stress levels of human beings and animals will increase. The excessive heat may cause climatic changes with droughts, storms and floods becoming more regular and severe. Activities that can reduce the Greenhouse effect Substitutes for petroleum as a source of energy should be explored such as natural gas, ethyl alcohol, methanol and hydrogen. A massive programme of reforestation should be vigorously pursued Burning of sugar cane before harvest, burning of garbage and burning of vegetation in preparation for agriculture should be discontinued. The use of CFCs as propellants in spray cans and refrigerators can be substituted by environmentally friendly products. Energy It is the force which generates the capacity for work. Petroleum, types: -crude oil -natural gas -pitch

By-Products Gasoline Aviation fuels kerosene Liquefied petroleum gas Fuel Oil Lubricating Oil Diesel Oil Grease and Wax Bitumen

Crude Oil-Its by-products and uses Uses Fuel for internal combustion engines Fuel for aeroplanes Fuel for light, heat; solvent Fuel for cooking Electricity generation; heating fuel Motor Vehicles Fuel for: trucks, buses, cars; pesticides, plastics Candles, soap, polish, wax paper Road surfacing, roofing, pesticides and paints

Uses of Natural gases generation of electricity. Compressed natural gas is used as fuel cars, buses, trains, and ships; when bottled it is also used as a fuel for welding. Industrial uses and manufacturing operations. Several light and heavy manufacturing industries use natural gas as feedstock such as methanol, ammonia, urea, and iron and steel plants. As fuel to generate heat for homes and buildings during winter in temperate countries. Solar Energy Uses drying crops (solar crop drier) cooking food (solar cookers) distillation of water (solar still) solar powered calculators and watches Transmission of satellite images. Generation of electricity on a small scale. Heating water (solar water heaters) First attempt at regional integration was the West Indian Federation from 1958-1962. Countries Jamaica Trinidad---->Eric Williams Barbados---->Sir Grantley Adams Aims and Objectives to strengthen the movement for self government to promote to promote economic development to safeguard the democratic system of government vis-a-vis dictatorship and communism Achievements

federation facilitated the movement from colonialism to independence through a united voice. The coming together of small states strengthened their effectiveness in dealing with international bodies such as the United Nations.

Reasons for failure in 1962 the masses were not educated on the importance of Federation Communication between the islands including shipping, telephone and postal services was inefficient. Envy and jealousy among member states stemming from their varying levels of economic prosperity. Distrust by smaller states of the larger members' (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica) proposal to prematurely change the constitution of the Federation Carifta-1968-1973 The Caribbean Free Trade Area Member States Guyana Trinidad and Tobago Barbados St.Vincent St.Lucia Dominica Montserrat Antigua St.Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla Jamaica Belize Aims and Objectives to foster economic and social development by encouraging free trade among member states. This inolved the removal of customs duties, taxes, and licensing arrangements which previously stifled greater volumes of trade among the islands. Member states of Caricom Antigua Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica Montserrat St.Kitts/Nevis

St.Lucia St.Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago