Unit 4: Life Issues

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 Life Issues

Environment
Health
Issues

Success

Smoking

Natural Poverty
Disasters

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 Health Issues
Nutrition and Obesity
 Overweight is defined as “a BMI greater than or equal to 25”.
 Obesity is defined as “a BMI greater than and equal to 30”.
 BMI is body mass index, an index commonly used for classification of obesity. The WHO
defines it “as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters
(kg/m2).”

Tips to Lose Weight/ Maintain a Healthy Weight

 Staying hydrated is important for good health. Drink zero- or low-calorie beverages, such as
water or tea. Sweetened drinks add lots of sugar and calories to your diet. This includes fruit
juice, soda, sports, and energy drinks, sweetened or flavored milk, and sweetened iced tea.
 When you want to snack, make sure to eat low-calorie snacks, like fruit and vegetables.
 If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you should not feel as hungry because this kind of
nutrient-rich food is also high in fiber and water, which can give you a feeling of fullness.
 Consume food moderately → Instead of cutting out your favorite food altogether, be a slim
shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box. You can still enjoy your favorite food
but with moderation.
 Eat several mini meals during the day and remember, dinner is the last meal.
 Eat protein at every meal as it is more satisfying than carbs or fats and keeps you feeling full
for longer. Besides, it helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning.
 Be sure to incorporate healthy proteins, like seafood, lean meat, egg whites, yogurt, cheese,
soy, nuts, or beans into your meals and snacks.
 Stock your kitchen with healthy, convenient food, such as frozen vegetables, whole-grain
pasta, reduced-fat cheese, canned tomatoes, canned beans, pre-cooked grilled chicken breast,
whole grain tortillas or pitas, and bags of salad greens.
 Order children's portions at restaurants since it is a great way to cut calories and keep your
portions reasonable.
 At home, use smaller plates for they help make the portions look bigger, and if your mind is
satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.
 Eat less pasta or bread and more fruit and vegetables.

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 Always make time for a healthy morning breakfast, like high-fiber cereal, low-fat milk, and
fruit, as not eating breakfast can make you hungry later, leading to too much nibbling and
binge eating at lunch and dinner.
 Include fiber in your diet because fiber aids digestion, prevents constipation, and lowers
cholesterol -- and can help with weight loss. Good fiber sources include oatmeal, beans, whole
grain foods, nuts, and most fruit and vegetables.
 Reduce temptation by purging the cupboards of fattening food. If you want an occasional treat,
then make sure you have to leave the house to get it -- preferably by walking.
 Bake, grill, or broil meat instead of frying it. Remove the skin before cooking chicken or
turkey.
 Eat fish at least once a week.
 Reduce extra fat. This includes butter on bread, sour cream on baked potatoes, and salad
dressings. Use low-fat or nonfat versions of these products.
 Read the nutrition labels on food products before you buy them. If you need help with the
labels, ask your doctor or dietitian.
 When you eat out, be aware of hidden fats and larger portion sizes.
 Get enough sleep. When you are sleep deprived, your body overproduces the appetite-
stimulating hormone ghrelin but under-produces the hormone leptin, which tells you when you
are full.
 Cut down on alcohol. A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of
chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain.
 Exercise daily. A minimum of 30-45 minutes of daily physical activity (i.e., 5-6km/h) is
crucial if you want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. As for children, they need to be exposed to a
lot of physical activity.
 Keep track of your food intake by writing down what you eat and drink every day. This record
will help you assess your diet. This will help you see if you need to eat more or less from
certain food groups.
 Chew slowly, swallow only when the food is all chewed up, and repeat.
 Eat until you feel just 80 percent full. Pack any extra food away instead of eating till the last
bite and cleaning your plate.
 Try Intermittent Fasting for many studies suggest that it is as effective for weight loss as
continuous calorie restriction.
 Think about asking for help from a dietitian. He or she can help you follow a special diet,
especially if you have a health issue.

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 Set a realistic weight-loss goal of about one to two pounds a week. If you set your expectations
too high, you may give up when you do not lose weight fast enough.
 Be patient and do not give up if you do not see the expected results. → losing weight takes
time.
 Celebrate success (but not with food). If you lost five pounds this month and walked every
other day, it would be good to celebrate! Rewarding weight loss success really can encourage
more success, so revel in your achievements. Buy a CD, watch movie, and set a prize for the
next milestone. Just do not celebrate with a deep-dish pizza!
 Try to relax and avoid stressors. Too much stress can take a toll on health and contribute to
weight gain by leading to unhealthy eating and other unhealthy activities.
 Limit your screen time as more time spent sitting in front of a screen means less time for
physical activity and good sleep. Because exercise and sleep play a role in a healthy weight, it
is important to encourage those activities over computer or TV time.
 Tell family and friends about your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they will join you
in exercising, eating right, and losing weight. When you feel like giving up, they will help you,
keep you honest, and cheer you on -- making the whole experience a lot easier.
 Weigh yourself at the same time of day, on the same day of the week, on the same scale, and
in the same clothes.

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Smoking
Facts

 Tobacco is the name of a plant. The leaves have a chemical in them, called nicotine, which is a
drug that can change the way that people feel.
 Sometimes, people like to chew tobacco. Some like to "dip" it, which means they can put a bit
between their gum and lip. Some even like to use snuff, which is powdered tobacco that is
sniffed up the nose. These forms are known as smokeless tobacco.
 More nicotine gets into your body using smokeless tobacco than smoking cigarettes.
 Smoking means burning dried tobacco leaves and breathing in the smoke. Tobacco could be
smoked in a pipe, a cigar, or a cigarette.
 Smoking is an unhealthy behavior that can become an addiction.
 Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death.
 Smoking includes all forms of smoking, such as cigar smoking, cigarette smoking, pipe
smoking, and exposure to secondhand smoke.
 All forms of smoking are harmful and there is no form of safe or safer smoking. For example,
smoking mentholated, natural, or low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes does not lower the risk of
serious complications of smoking.
 Smoking causes or worsens many diseases and damages almost every tissue and organ in the
body.
 Smoking tobacco exposes you to over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic and even
carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals).
 People close to a smoker are exposed to the same toxins and can experience similar
complications of smoking due to the inhalation of secondhand smoke.
 Vaping delivers more concentrated nicotine than cigarettes in a smokeless inhaled mist
(vapor).
 Health risks from vape products range from asthma to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and cancer.

Then why are people still lighting up (smoking)?

➢ The answer is addiction!

➢ Because of the addictive nature of smoking, quitting is a difficult challenge.
➢ Addiction is marked by the repeated, compulsive seeking or use of a substance despite its
harmful effects and unwanted consequences.

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➢ Addiction is mental or emotional dependence on a substance.
➢ Nicotine is the known addictive substance in tobacco.
➢ Regular use of tobacco products leads to addiction in many users.
➢ Nicotine is a drug that occurs naturally in tobacco and it is thought to be as addictive as heroin
or cocaine.

Why do people smoke in the first place?

➢ Most people who smoke started smoking when they were teenagers.
➢ Those who have friends and/or parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking.
➢ Some teenagers start smoking because they “just wanted to try it,” or they thought it was
“cool” to smoke.
➢ The tobacco industry’s ads are a big influence in our society.
➢ The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars each year to create and market ads that show
smoking as exciting, glamorous, and safe.
➢ Tobacco use is also shown in video games, online, and on TV and movies.
➢ Young people who see smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking.
➢ The e-cigarette and other high-tech, fashionable electronic “vaping” devices represent a newer
influence, especially on teens.
➢ Often wrongly seen as harmless, and easier to get and use than traditional tobacco products,
these devices are a way for new users to learn how to inhale and become addicted to nicotine,
which can prepare them for smoking.

Health effects/ risks of smoking

❖ About 80% of lung cancers, as well as about 80% of all lung cancer deaths, are due to
smoking. → Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
❖ The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage your body in many ways. For example:
 Nicotine narrows your veins and arteries. This can:
 damage your heart by forcing it to work faster and harder.
 slow your blood and reduce oxygen to your feet and hands.
 Carbon monoxide deprives your heart of the oxygen it needs to pump blood around
your body. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs.
 Tar is a sticky substance that coats your lungs like soot in a chimney.
 Phenols paralyze and kill the hair-like cells in your airways. These cells sweep clean the
lining of your airways and protect them against infections.

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  Tiny particles in tobacco smoke irritate your throat and lungs and cause ‘smoker’s
cough’. This makes you produce more mucus and damages lung tissue.
 Ammonia and formaldehyde irritate your eyes, nose, and throat.
 Cancer-causing chemicals make your cells grow too fast or abnormally. This can result
in cancer cells.

❖ Smoking increases the risk for cancers of the:

Mouth
Larynx (voice box)
Pharynx (throat)
Esophagus
Kidney
Liver
Bladder
Pancreas
Stomach
Blood
Colon/ rectum
Cervix
Vulva
Penis
Testicles
Anus

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❖ Breathing problems and chronic respiratory conditions

Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious,
progressive, and disabling condition that limits airflow in the lungs. Active smoking also worsens
asthma in active smokers and is associated with an increased risk for asthma in smokers.

❖ Heart disease, stroke, and blood circulation problems

Smoking is major cause of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke. Smoking
increases the risk of blood clots, which block blood flow to the heart, brain or legs. Some smokers
end up having their limbs amputated due to blood circulation problems caused by smoking.

❖ Diabetes

Smoking causes type 2 diabetes, with the risk of developing diabetes 30 to 40% higher for active
smokers than non-smokers. Smoking may also worsen some of the health conditions related to
type 1 diabetes, such as kidney disease.

❖ Infections

Smoking weakens your immune system, so you’re more likely to get bacterial and viral infections.

❖ Dental problems

Smoking increases the risk of gum diseases, tooth loss and tooth sensitivity. Once a person has
gum damage, smoking also makes it harder for their gums to heal.

❖ Hearing loss

Smoking reduces blood flow to the inner ear. Smokers may also lose their hearing earlier than a
non-smoker.

❖ Vision loss

Smoking damages the eye and can lead to macular degeneration — the main cause of blindness in
Australia.

❖ Fertility problems
 Smoking can make it more difficult to fall pregnant and affect sperm quality.
 Tobacco use can damage both men and women’s reproductive health.
 Women who smoke are more likely to have trouble getting pregnant.

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  Nicotine can cause contractions in the fallopian tubes. These contractions can prevent an
embryo from passing through. One possible result of this is an ectopic pregnancy. This
happens when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, either in the fallopian tube, or
in the abdomen. In this situation, the embryo must be removed to avoid life-threatening
complications to the mother.
 Men who smoke have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. This risk increases the more
they smoke and the longer they smoke.
 Smoking can also affect sperm, which can reduce fertility and increase the risk for
miscarriages and birth defects.
❖ Osteoporosis and menopause

Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis and in women, may result in early menopause compared
to a non-smoker.

❖ Other effects
 Decreased sense of smell and taste
 Bad breath and stained teeth
 Lower bone density (thinner bones), which means a higher risk for broken bones,
including hip fracture.
 Higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
 Increased risk for cataracts (clouding of the lenses of the eyes).
 Increased risk for age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness.
 Wounds taking longer to heal.
 Coughing spells.
 Shortness of breath, even when not exercising.
 Wheezing or gasping.
 More frequent headaches.
 Increased phlegm (mucus).
 Respiratory illnesses that are worse and happen more often.
 Poor lung growth and function, which increases the risk of COPD later in life.
 Smoking can worsen mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks
or schizophrenia.
 Worse cold and flu symptoms.
 Reduced physical fitness.
 Signs of premature ageing: wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.

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  Yellow-brown stains on your fingers, tongue, and teeth.
 Tooth loss and bad breath.
 Losing natural hair shine.

Smoking during pregnancy

• Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage in the unborn baby, particularly in the
lung and brain.
• Lowers the amount of oxygen available to the mother and her growing baby.
• Increases the baby's heart rate.
• Increases the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Increases your baby's risk of developing respiratory (lung) problems.
• Increases risks of birth defects.
• Increases risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Raise the chances of placenta problems like placental abruption (when it peels away from
the wall of the uterus too soon) or placenta previa (when it is in a position where it could
rupture during contractions. Placenta problems can cause severe bleeding and threaten the
life of both the mother and the baby.
• Smoking during pregnancy raises the risk of the baby being born with birth defects. The
most common types of problems are congenital heart defects and problems with the
structure of the heart. Other health issues that have been linked to smoking while pregnant
include cleft lip and cleft palate.
• Mothers who smoke are more likely to deliver their babies early. Preterm delivery is a
leading cause of death, disability, and disease among newborns.
• One in every five babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy has low birth
weight.
• Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant are more likely to have
lower birth weight babies. Babies born too small or too early are not as healthy.
• Both babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed to
secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS) than babies who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.
• Babies whose mothers smoke are about three times more likely to die from SIDS.

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 • Babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant or who are exposed to secondhand smoke
after birth have weaker lungs than other babies, which increases the risk for many health
problems.

What about Secondhand smoke/ passive smoking?

❖ Secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking

adults and 400 deaths in infants each year.
❖ Secondhand smoke causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults.
❖ Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death
syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory
symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
❖ Secondhand smoke or passive smoking can cause many of the health effects associated with
active smoking.
❖ Babies and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of getting
serious illnesses, including:
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) or “cot death”.
Chest illnesses such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.
Weaker lungs.
Cough, phlegm, wheeze, and breathlessness.
More frequent and worse asthma symptoms.
‘Glue ear’ (middle ear disease) which is the most common cause of hearing loss in
children.
Meningococcal disease, which can sometimes cause death, mental disability, hearing
loss, or loss of a limb.

Are e-cigarettes, vaping, and smokeless tobacco safer?

❖ E-cigarette vapors contain other damaging substances, too. Inhaling these non-nicotine vape
ingredients may cause severe, sometimes deadly lung damage (called EVALI).
❖ Health risks from vape products range from asthma to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and cancer.
❖ Smokeless tobacco can cause nicotine addiction. People who use chewing tobacco may
develop cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas.
❖ Chewing tobacco causes gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.
❖ Smokeless tobacco contains almost 30 cancer-causing chemicals.

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❖ All forms of tobacco — cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco — are health
hazards. It does not help to use products that are advertised as better for you, such as e-
cigarettes or filtered or low-tar cigarettes.
❖ The only thing that really helps is staying away from all these products.

Smoking and the Environment

▪ Cigarette smoking causes environmental pollution by releasing toxic air pollutants into the
atmosphere.
▪ The cigarette butts also litter the environment, and the toxic chemicals in the residues seep into
soils and waterways, thereby causing soil and water pollution, respectively.
▪ Animals and plants that come into contact or absorb the toxic substances from the cigarette
residues are affected as well.
▪ The key ingredient in the manufacture of cigarettes is tobacco, and the reality is that most of it
is planted in rainforests areas. Accordingly, it has contributed to major deforestation in the
areas where it is planted.
▪ Areas, where tobacco planting began on small lands, are now extensively covering large fields,
and some of such places were covered by very dense forest.
▪ A publication even indicated that in an hour, a cigarette-manufacturing unit needs about 4
miles of paper for rolling and packing, which translates to the destruction of one tree for every
300 cigarettes made.
▪ Many of the producing countries have to burn lots of wood used to create fire for drying the
tobacco leaves.
▪ The entire process of cultivating, curing, and transporting tobacco needs the use of a large
amount of chemical and other toxic materials.
▪ The production process generates huge amounts of wastes, such as harmful chemical
pesticides and fertilizers.
▪ One of the habitually used substances in the production process is known as Aldicarb. It is
highly toxic to humans, plants and animals and can seep into waterways and intoxicate the soil
for several years.
▪ The industrial processing and smoking of cigarettes add huge volumes of air pollutants into the
atmosphere.
▪ Second-hand smoke pollutes the air directly, and the manufacturing process releases air
pollutants in many ways.

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 ▪ It starts right in the tobacco farms where the machines used emit greenhouse gases from the
fossil fuel combusted to produce energy.
▪ Most of the ingredients present in cigarette butts, on the other hand, are non-biodegradable and
take years to break down.
▪ Smoking globally emits nearly 2.6 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide and 5.2 billion
kilograms of methane into the atmosphere each year. → smoking contributes to climate
change.
▪ Second-hand smoke poses indirect health risks such as cancer to other people and animals.

Quitting
How? Benefits
 You need to be ready emotionally and When you quit, benefits happen almost
mentally. immediately:
 Get rid of all cigarettes and anything related  After 20 minutes, your blood pressure and
to smoking, like lighters and ashtrays. heart rate drop, and the temperature of your
 Do you live with another smoker? Ask hands and feet increases. Plus, you stop
them not to smoke near you or convince polluting the air.
them to quit with you.  After eight hours, your blood will contain
 When the cravings hit, do not focus on lower levels of carbon monoxide and higher
them. Cravings are temporary, so focus on levels of oxygen.
why you want to quit instead.  After 24 hours, your heart attack risk
 Keep yourself busy and find things to do decreases.
with your hands — doodling or playing  After 48 hours, your nerve endings adjust to
with a pencil or straw. Change any the absence of nicotine, and you begin to
activities connected to smoking, too. Take a regain your ability to taste and smell.
walk or read a book instead of taking a  After two weeks to three months, your
cigarette break. circulation improves, and you can tolerate
 When you get the urge to smoke, take a more exercise.
deep breath. Hold it for ten seconds and  After one to nine months, your overall energy
release it slowly. Repeat this several times level increases, and you cough less. Plus, sinus
until the urge to smoke is gone. You can congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath
also try meditation to reduce baseline stress decrease.
levels.  After one year, your risk of heart disease cuts
in half compared to a current smoker.

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 Avoid places, people, and situations you  After five to 15 years, your risk of stroke
associate with smoking. Hang out with lowers to that of people who never smoked.
nonsmokers or go places that do not allow  After 10 years, your risk of dying from lung
smoking (like movies, museums, shops, or cancer drops to almost the same rate as a
libraries). lifelong nonsmoker. Plus, you decrease the
 Do not substitute food or sugar-based risk of other cancers.
products for cigarettes. These can cause  After 15 years, your risk of heart disease
weight gain. Instead, choose low-calorie, finally reaches that of people who never
healthy foods. Try carrot or celery sticks, smoked.
sugar-free hard candies, or gum.  Quitting helps you live longer.
 Drink plenty of fluids, but limit alcoholic  Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
and caffeinated beverages. They can trigger  Reduce your risk of developing a variety of
urges to smoke. other conditions.
 Remind yourself that you are a nonsmoker,  Feel healthier and have more energy.
and you do not smoke.  Look and feel better.
 Do not forget to exercise, because it has  Improve your sense of taste and smell.
health benefits and helps you relax.  Save money.

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 The Environment

Global warming

 It is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system due to human activities, primarily fossil
fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere.
 It is most commonly measured as the average increase in Earth’s global surface temperature.

Climate Change

 It refers to both human- and naturally produced warming and the effects it has on our planet.
 Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define
Earth’s local, regional, and global climates.
➔ Global warming and climate change are the byproducts of pollution. Loss of natural habitat,
species extinction, diseases, and death are just a few repercussions of the three.

Pollution

 Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment.

 These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash.
They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories.
Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.
 Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the
air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water.
 Pesticides (chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects) seep into waterways and harm
wildlife.
 All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth’s supply of air
and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened.
 Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common
types of trash to break down?
➔ Paper: 2-4 weeks
➔ Orange peel: 6 months
➔ Milk carton: 5 years
➔ Plastic bag: 15 years
➔ Tin can: 100 years
➔ Plastic bottle: 450 years
➔ Glass bottle: 500 years

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 ➔ Styrofoam: Never
 Diseases caused by pollution were responsible for an estimated:
➢ 9 million premature deaths (16% of all deaths worldwide) in 2015.
➢ Three times more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
➢ Fifteen times more deaths than all wars and other forms of violence.
 Despite significant health impacts, the international development and health agendas have
largely overlooked pollution. Funding is sparse when compared to resources for infectious
disease and other environmental issues. No large foundations include environmental health
and pollution as a focal area.
 The three major types of pollution are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.

Air Pollution

 Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health
and the planet as a whole.
 Indoor air pollution refers to the air inside your house being polluted. Air and carpet cleaners,
insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.
 Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people’s eyes
burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer.
 Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt, they
eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere. Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for
months.
 Volcanic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for
years.
 Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels—coal, oil, and
natural gas. When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide, a
colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations, or amounts.
 City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide.
 Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide,
and hydrocarbons. These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog, a thick fog or haze of
air pollution.
 Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults.
 When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change
into acids. They then fall back to earth as acid rain. Wind often carries acid rain far from the
pollution source.

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 Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest. It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other
waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish cannot survive.
 Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone. It has erased the words on
gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments.
 Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on
Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By
trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called
the greenhouse effect.
 Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average
temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the
warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human
activity, is called global warming.
 Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea
levels to rise at a rate of 2 millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually
flood low-lying coastal regions. Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened
by this climate change.
 Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification. Ocean
acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is
threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans.
 Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms. It will
also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others.
 The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where
plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting
ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food, and their numbers are shrinking.
 Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that
damages the ozone layer, a region in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth
by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. When people are exposed to
more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other
illnesses.
 Short-term exposure to air pollution can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause upper
respiratory infections, headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions.

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 Long-term exposures can lead to chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, and heart disease.
 Long-term exposures can lead to significant climatic changes that can have far reaching
negative impacts on food, water, and ecosystems.
 According to the WHO, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every
year and result in increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
 About 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution, according to WHO. That is
one in eight deaths worldwide.
Land Pollution

 Land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste.

 Waste is classified as:
✓ Non-hazardous, such as construction material (wood, concrete, bricks, glass, etc.).
✓ Medical waste (bandages, surgical gloves, surgical instruments, discarded needles, etc.).
✓ Hazardous waste is any liquid, solid or sludge waste that contain properties that are
dangerous of potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Industries generate
hazardous waste from mining, petroleum refining, pesticide manufacturing and other
chemical production.
 Households generate hazardous waste as well, including paints and solvents, motor oil,
fluorescent lights, aerosol cans and ammunition.
 Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants,
animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help
them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies.
Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases.
 Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic
products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Animals can die if they
mistakenly eat plastic.
 Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants
can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people.
 Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is
picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill. Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes,
communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out
of places to dump their trash.

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 Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from
the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be
contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the
predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level
of the food web, is called bioaccumulation.
 Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic
food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer
from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.
 Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side
of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. The trash is dangerous to ocean life
and reduces economic activity in the area. Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing
in the area’s hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities.
 Some cities incinerate, or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release
dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So, while trash incinerators can help with
the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution.

Water Pollution

 Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted
water looks clean but is filled with harmful chemicals humans can’t see or smell.
 Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming.
 People who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick
years later.
 The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water.
 Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in
polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh.
 Oil and natural gas can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources.
 Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These
chemicals are called runoff, they can create a toxic environment for aquatic life.
 Runoff can help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae.
Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB). Harmful algal
blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated
with “dead zones” in the world’s lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface
water.

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 According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 80% of pollution in
marine environment comes from the land through sources like runoff.
 Mining and drilling contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major
contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines. Acid helps miners remove coal
from the surrounding rocks. The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with
rocks and sand, releasing chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand and creating a river rich in
sulfuric acid, which is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms, as well as people.
 Oil spills are another source of water pollution. They kill plants and aquatic organisms such as
crabs and fish. Even birds can become coated in oil and become unable to fly or access food.
 Buried chemical waste also pollutes water supplies. For many years, people disposed of
chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. This can lead to extremely high rates of
cancer and birth defects.
 If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the
environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water.
 Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities
around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. This pollution
makes rivers and waterways dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It
also reduces their fishery, resulting in less food for the local community.
 Fertilizers used in agriculture are major sources of water pollution. A fertilizer is a material
added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams
and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus, which are found in large amounts in fertilizers,
cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms.
 The artificial warming of water is called thermal pollution. It can happen when a factory or
power plant that is using water to cool its operations ends up discharging hot water. This
makes the water hold less oxygen, which can kill fish and wildlife. The sudden change of
temperature in the body of water can also kill fish.
 Power plants produce a huge amount of heat. They are often located on rivers so they can use
the water as a coolant. Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated
water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature.
Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish
eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms.
 Trash makes rivers difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash,
such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical
pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the

7
 river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high
levels of chemical toxins in their flesh and people absorb these toxins as they eat the fish.
 Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown
overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other
floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas,
called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. It is estimated
that this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which
mistake the plastics _ many of which covered with chemical pollutants _ for food.
 783 million people do not have access to clean water and around 2.5 billion do not have access
to adequate sanitation. Adequate sanitation helps to keep sewage and other contaminants from
entering the water supply.

Noise Pollution

 Noise pollution happens when the sound coming from planes, industry or other sources
reaches harmful levels.
 Research has shown that there are direct links between noise and health, including stress-
related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss.
 A study by the WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group found that noise
pollution may contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year by increasing the rates of
coronary heart disease.
 Underwater noise pollution coming from ships has been shown to upset whales' navigation
systems and kill other species that depend on the natural underwater world.
 The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine
animals to communicate or locate food.
 Noise makes wild species communicate louder, which can shorten their lifespan by attracting
predators to them.

Light pollution

Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution is almost always
found in urban areas. Some consequences of light pollution are:

 Light pollution disrupts circadian rhythms for both humans and animals alike and may even
contribute to the development of cancer.
 Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day.

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  Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal
animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night.
 Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused.
 Some birds sing at unnatural hours in the presence of artificial light.
 Scientists have determined that long artificial days can affect migration schedules, as they
allow for longer feeding times.
 Streetlights can confuse adult and newly hatched sea turtles that are drawn toward lights along
the beach, thinking they are heading toward the moon.
 Light pollution, called sky glow, also makes it difficult for astronomers, both professional and
amateur, to properly see the stars.
 Plants’ flowering and developmental patterns can be entirely disrupted by artificial light.
 According to a study by the American Geophysical Union, light pollution could also be
making smog worse by destroying nitrate radicals that helps the dispersion of smog.
 Turning on so many lights may not be necessary. Research published by International Journal
of Science and Research estimates that over-illumination wastes about 2 million barrels of oil
per day and lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumption worldwide.
 Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy.

Solutions

Individuals Governments Organizations Factories and

businesses
Donors, foundations, governments, and individuals should prioritize pollution interventions and planning
in their strategies.
 Turn off the lights  Elevate pollution as  The level of  Place noisy
when you leave your a national and funding for equipment inside a
bedroom. international pollution control in plant room with thick
 Take quick showers priority and low- and middle- walls as far as
instead of long baths. integrate it into income countries possible.
 Carpool, use public country and city is meager and  Choose equipment of
transportation, bike, planning processes. should be low-noise brands or
or walk whenever  Government leaders substantially models.
possible. at all levels should increased, both  Refer to the statutory
prioritize pollution within national noise limit and

9
 Follow gasoline control within their budgets and include noise levels
refueling instructions agendas; integrate among specification when
for efficient vapor pollution control international ordering new
recovery, being into development development equipment.
careful not to spill planning. agencies.  Develop and
fuel and always  Creating policies  Monitoring the implement adequate
tightening your gas and passing laws to financing treatment facilities
cap securely. restrict pollution. programs to assess for handling
 Consider purchasing  passing laws that cost-effectiveness industrial waste.
portable gasoline limit the amount and to enhance  Avoid setting up
containers labeled and types of accountability. business with large
“spill-proof,” where chemicals factories  Collecting data at scale sound
available. and agribusinesses the local and amplification system
 Keep car, boat, and are allowed to use. national levels as it in buildings in which
other engines  Enact laws to is essential for people live.
properly tuned. punish the measuring  Filter the smoke from
 Use cars with offenders. pollution levels, coal-burning power
increased fuel  Use renewable identifying plants.
efficiency or electric energy sources: pollution sources,  Switching from coal,
cars that do not rely wind, solar, and evaluating oil to natural gas
on fossil fuels. water. interventions, reduced operating
 Be sure your tires are  Invest in better, guiding costs and extend
properly inflated. affordable public enforcement, plant’s life by
 Use environmentally transportation and informing civil eliminating corrosion
safe paints and developing city society and the from fuels.
cleaning products plans that include public, and  Proper maintenance
whenever possible. infrastructure for assessing progress of machines.
 Combine errands and walking, biking, and toward goals.  Give awards to
reduce trips. Walk to public transit.  Organizing employees who
errands when  Mandatory rigorous campaigns to reduced emissions in
possible. evaluation of new sensitize the their shifts.
chemicals. people about the
dangers of

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 Avoid excessive  Funding pollution and raise  Choose materials
idling of your organization and awareness among which are made from
automobile. associations that communities. recycled materials.
 Refuel your car in aim at protecting the  Research is needed  Encourage
the evening when its environment. to understand and teleconference than
cooler.  Planning regulatory control pollution physical meeting.
 Conserve electricity and enforcement and to support  Encourage activities
and set air assistance. change in pollution like planting trees
conditioners no  Building technical policy. once a year among
lower than 26 capacity and  Therefore, employees.
degrees. supporting direct governments and  Replace lights in your
 Defer lawn and interventions to organizations factory to energy
gardening chores that save lives. worldwide should efficient bulbs.
use gasoline-  Cross-ministerial encourage and  Encourage employees
powered equipment collaborations that fund pollution- to use bicycle for
or wait until evening. involve ministries related research. daily commute.
 Reduce or eliminate of Health,  Work at local,  When purchasing a
fireplace and wood Environment, national, and vehicle for the
stove use. Finance, Energy, international levels company, they should
 Avoid burning Agriculture, to reduce consider buying most
leaves, trash, and Development, and pollution. efficient, lowest
other materials. Transport.  Encourage local, polluting or if
 Invest in renewable  Referring to inter- national, and possible zero
energy sources to agency partnerships international emission electric
power your home. and public-private conservation and vehicle.
 Monitor air quality collaborations. environmental  Encourage employees
warnings and take  Signing and being awareness. to use public
action on poor air committed to  Promote transport or arranging
quality days. international sustainable living. a bus from a common
 Avoid using plastics agreements to  Push governments point for employees.
whenever possible reduce pollution. to pass more  Conserve energy by
and seek alternatives  Conduct regular stringent rules to turning off lights,
for plastic bottles, maintenance check take action against computers, air

11
 plastic utensils, and on the condition and the companies that conditioners and
straws. routing of the do not follow other appliances
 Consider installing drainage system and proper protocol when not in use.
an efficient toilet in repair any drainage and give more  Make the switch to
your bathroom that defects promptly. significant rewards clean energy sources,
will not use as much  Conduct dye-tracing for the companies like natural gas
water when flushed. tests to confirm that operate instead of coal and
 Avoid using toilets drainage routes. properly. fossil fuels.
as wastebaskets.  Foster the use of  Turn to a variety of
 Take action within green agriculture. technologies to
your community to  Recycling glass, destroy air pollution
find solutions to air aluminum cans, and at the source before it
pollution. many types of enters the earth’s
 No cleaning & plastic that can be atmosphere to reduce
tidying up work after melted and reused. the ecological
11pm. Paper can be broken footprint of
 No music/karaoke in down and turned manufacturing sites.
the vicinity of into new paper.  Replace dangerous
residential premises. materials with non-
 Select quiet cooking hazardous biocide
appliances. alternatives.
 Switch to electric
vehicles in the supply
chain.

→ Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed

nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to
strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing
countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future
use.

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Eco driving

✓ ECO driving refers to “economical, ecological and safe” driving.

✓ Eco driving is a modern and efficient way of driving that emphasizes fuel efficiency, speed,
and safety and reduces fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and accident rates.
✓ In challenging economic times, improving gas mileage saves money and decreases our
collective dependence on oil.

How? Pros
If you want to eco-drive, remember the  Savings in fuel and fleet maintenance.
following:  Lower carbon emissions.
 Preheat the engine – (if this is not possible,  Reduced risks and accidents.
go calmly).  Improved driver performance and
 Drive smoothly and keep the vehicle in awareness.
motion – think ahead and consider traffic  A reduction of variable costs (fuel, repairs,
signs and lights as well as other road users; tires, maintenance system)
Avoid complete stops as much as possible.  An increase of effectiveness (less down
 Accelerate briskly and use low engine time due to repair works and maintenance)
speeds – reach a safe and desired speed  A decrease of negative environmental
quickly, and then try to keep it stable. impacts
 Do not idle – if you stop for more than 20  A decrease of insurance costs due to fewer
seconds behind a level crossing or at a accidents from less aggressive driving
traffic light, stop the engine.  Stress reduction for drivers, passengers,
 If possible, remove excess cargo from the and fellow road users.
car – each added 20 kg increases fuel  Climate protection.
consumption by an average of 1%  European Climate Change Program
 Check tire pressure regularly – even a calculated a reduction potential of Eco
small loss in tire pressure increases fuel driving of at least 50 million tons of CO2-
consumption by 10% emissions in Europe by 2010, saving about
 Use auxiliary equipment only when 20 billion EUROS.
necessary – when driving at low speeds,  Eco driving reduces noise pollution as well
open the windows instead of using the air as local air pollution. The engine noise of
conditioner. one car driving with 4000 rpm (revolutions
per minute) equals the engine noise of 32

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 Choose the best route – your usual cars at 2000 rpm. Thus, ECO-DRIVING
commute to work may be the shortest in reduces one of the main problems of traffic
terms of mileage, but it will not save you in urban areas.
any money if you are spending half of the  Eco-driving emphasizes on keeping a
travel time being stuck in a traffic jam. greater amount of distance from the car
 Close the windows while driving at higher ahead. This results in safer driving
speeds to reduce the drag resistance of the practices and less accidents.
car.  Lower costs of maintenance and car repair
after accidents. The safer driving behavior
results from:
 An anticipating driving style
 Maintaining a steady speed
 Less speeding
 Less overtaking
 Less stress/aggressiveness

www.TakiAcademy.com
14
 Attitudes

Positive Negative
 Bravery / courage  Cowardice
 Generosity  Meanness/ stinginess
 Acceptance/ tolerance  Intolerance
 Honesty  Lying
 Sincerity  Hypocrisy
 Loyalty  Disloyalty/ treason
 Faithfulness  Unfaithfulness
 Integrity/ uprightness  Dishonesty/ fraud/ deceitfulness
 Fairness  Unfairness
 Hard work/ assiduity  Laziness
 Selflessness  Selfishness/ self-centeredness
 Altruism  Greed/ avarice/ egoism
 Philanthropy  Misanthropy
 Self-confidence  Self-doubt
 Positivity  Negativity
 Optimism  Pessimism

Attitude-related Quotes

 A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it. ~ Unknown
 Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring
to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. ~
Kahlil Gibran
 ‘Twixt optimist and pessimist
The difference is droll–
The optimist sees the doughnut;
The pessimist sees the hole.’
~ Wilber D. Nesbit
 In fact, you cannot have a positive, exciting life and a negative mind. ~ Joyce Meyer
 Nothing is interesting if you’re not interested. ~ Helen MacInnes
 Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. ~ Zig Ziglar

2
 If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change
the outcome. ~ Michael Jordan
 A bad attitude is the worst thing that can happen to a group of people. It’s infectious. ~ Roger
Allan Raby
 The only disability in life is a bad attitude. ~ Scott Hamilton
 The only people who find what they are looking for in life are the fault finders. ~ Foster’s Law
 The soul does not absorb negativity by accident, always by choice. ~ Dodinsky
 Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations. ~
Edward de Bono
 Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. ~ Charles Swindoll
 People with a positive attitude are influenced by what goes on within them. People with a
negative attitude are influenced by what goes on around them. ~ Keith Harrell
 Nothing can stop the Man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on
Earth can help the Man with the wrong mental attitude. ~ Thomas Jefferson
 Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed, or offended. But what you’re
doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power
over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you. ~ Joel Osteen
 The attitude you pose is greatly influenced by the links of friendships you bookmark. Good
friends, good attitudes; best friends, best attitudes. Guess what for toxic friends…! ~
Israelmore Ayivor
 Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed. ~ Jonathan Swift and
Benjamin Franklin
 Up is not an easy direction. It defies gravity, both cultural and magnetic. ~ Mike Abrashoff
 Negative thinking destroys your brain cells and causes global warming. ~ Dodinsky

3
 Consumerism

Definition

 Consumerism refers to the consumption of goods at a higher rate.

 The consumption of goods and services more than one’s basic needs, usually in greater and
greater quantities.

Cons Pros
 Can have devastating effects on the environment.  More industrial production.
 Causes more pollution.  A higher growth rate
 Factories create large amounts of air and water pollution economy.
as a byproduct of the production process.  More goods and services
 Leads to huge amounts of waste or trash. For example, it available.
is common for the packaging of a good to be immediately  Customers are given more
thrown into the trash after the consumer has opened the options and choices.
product. → modern societies have struggled to deal with  A variety of goods and
the large amounts of waste produced by constant services to choose from.
consumerism. → incinerators (burning of trash) and large  More advertising.
landfills (burying of trash) which caused further pollution  Consumerism stimulates
of the environment. economic growth.
 A major contributor to resource depletion, which refers to  Creates a never-ending
the idea that human beings are using up the resources on cycle of buying and selling
the Earth as an ever-increasing rate such that we will which allows the economy
‘deplete’ or completely use up some resources. to grow.
 Increased rates of consumption = using up some resources  Increased production will
on Earth at an incredibly fast rate. result in more employment
 For instance, large fish in the world’s oceans are depleting opportunities.
at a very fast rate. Some studies claim that there will  Additional employment
longer be any large fish in the world’s oceans by the leads to better wages in
midpoint of the 21st century. local communities.
 → Consumerism is putting immense pressure on the  More comforts for a better
environment and the resources that human beings depend living style.
on.  Higher wages lead to more
 Leads companies to develop low quality products. spending.

4
 Competition pushes companies to offer goods at lower  Higher standard of living.
prices than their competitors. In order to do this, many  That process creates more
companies have lowered the quality of the products. homes, food, and job
 Modern companies practice a technique called ‘planned security for the average
obsolescence’, which is best understood as products that family.
are designed to fail. They do this to encourage consumers  Boosts creativity and
to repurchase a product over and over again. → some innovation.
modern products are designed with short lifespans which  The only way to provide
further intensifies the pollution and resource depletion. new goods or services to
 Promotes poor labor standards and pay for workers. encourage ongoing sales is
 As companies seek ways to decrease the price of their by investing in research and
products, they refer to outsourcing their manufacturing to developing better products.
other countries, usually in parts of Asia where the overall  Competition between
cost of wages when developing a product because workers companies keeps prices
in countries like China and Mexico will work for much down.
smaller wages than similar workers in the United States  Self-employment becomes
and Canada. an option because
 → Some of the manufacturing jobs in Asia are often individuals provide high-
criticized for containing long hours, dangerous work, and quality services at prices
little pay. This means that consumerism promotes poor much lower than the
working conditions for some people while causing others average competitor.
to lose their jobs altogether.
 Does not necessarily lead to increased happiness beyond a
certain point. For example, they point to the fact that
consumption has increases dramatically throughout the
20th century, but happiness levels have remained relatively
stagnant.
 Increasing consumerism tends to shift away societies from
important values such as integrity. Instead, there is a
strong focus on materialism and competition. People tend
to buy goods and services they do not need so that they
can be at par or at a higher level than everyone else.

5
 Consumerism also increases debt levels in a society. The
number of people taking short term loans such as payday
loans to buy luxury goods has increased drastically.
 Consumerism increases debt levels which in turn results in
mental health problems like stress and depression.
 The poor are always left behind by consumerism.
 If you do not have the money to pursue a choice, then
you’re left with no choice. You purchase what you can
afford to meet your needs.

Consumerism-related Quotes

✓ “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” – Edward Abbey
✓ “We need new thinking, new leadership, and innovation to create a post-carbon economy. Our
goal is not to undo industry, but to remake it into a force for sustainable wealth generation.” –
Jigar Shaw
✓ “The most critical task facing humanity today is the creation of a shared vision of a sustainable
and desirable society, one that can provide permanent prosperity within the biophysical
constraints of the real world in a way that is fair and equitable to all of humanity, to other
species, and to future generations.” – Robert Costanza
✓ “We are human beings, not human havings.” – Mike Nickerson
✓ “Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you. And in this
materialistic age, a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.”– Mildred Lisette
Norman
✓ “Educational and cultural institutions, governmental agencies, financial institutions, and even
the family itself changed their meaning and function to promote the consumption of
commodities.”– Richard Robbins
✓ “The only reason a great many American families don’t own an elephant is that they have
never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments.”– Mad Magazine
✓ “There must be more to life than having everything!” – Maurice Sendak
✓ “The world will no longer be divided by the ideologies of “left” and “right”, but by those who
accept ecological limits and those who don’t.” – Wolfgang Sachs
✓ “Change is disturbing when it is done to us, exhilarating when it is done by us.”– Rosabeth
Moss Kanter

6
Solutions

 Slow down long enough to honestly evaluate the whole picture: your income, your mortgage,
your car payment, your spending habits, your day-to-day pursuits.
 Be aware of the advertising techniques and their impacts on consumers. Advertisers play on
our motivations by appealing to our desires in subtle ways. They do not communicate facts
about a product; they seek to stir up emotions. They promise adventure, reputation, esteem,
joy, and fulfillment. Try to understand these drives and needs and satisfy them in another way
other than consumption.
 Monitor your email subscriptions and guard your inbox. Purchase only what you truly need.
Everything else is useless.
 Choose carefully how you spend your time. If you are constantly attached to a mobile device,
more than likely you are exposing yourself to consumer messaging.
 When we travel, we take only what we need for the journey. As a result, we feel lighter, freer,
more flexible. Adopt a mindset that seeks to carry only what you need for the journey.
 An important step to overcome consumerism is to embrace the reality that there is more life to
be found in owning less than can be found in owning more.
 Instead of constantly spending, try saving your money and making it work for you.
 Test your limits and experiment with a no-shopping challenge. Go 30 days with no consumer
purchases, 60 days without visiting the mall, or 120 days without buying clothes. You set the
specific challenge based on your needs. You will break the cycle of shopping in the short term
and lay the groundwork for greater victory in the long term.
 Equipped with knowledge about the culture industry, you can become a leader within your
family, group of friends, workplace, or even your local community.
 Practice generosity as it is the surest path to contentment. Give more things away. Your life
will feel lighter. Your heart will feel warmer. The world will be better. And you will be
reminded that shopping is not the answer.
 Donate to organizations or politicians that support policies that keep our air and water clean.
 Volunteer for an organization that combats excessive consumerism.
 Count the hidden cost of each purchase. Too often, when we purchase an item, we only look at
the sticker price. But this is rarely the full cost. Our purchases always cost more. They require
time, energy, and focus (cleaning, organizing, maintaining, fixing, replacing, removing). They
prompt worry, stress, and attachment.

7
 Make gratitude a discipline in your life during seasons of plenty and seasons of want. Focus
more on your blessings than your troubles.
 Do more of what makes you happy. Your possessions are not making you happy. So, find
what brings you happiness each day and do more of it. It could be your faith, your family, your
friends, or your contribution to the world around you.

8
 City Vs. Countryside

Advantages of Living in the City Disadvantages of Living in the City

 Improved public transport.  Public transport might not always be as
 Transport facilities are highly developed reliable as you would like, and many
and often receive regular funding for towns or cities are restrictive with parking.
updates. It can be faster to get from place If you prefer to drive, you may find it
to place in a city or town. harder to keep a car close to where you
 Due to better public transport, you can live unless it is at great expense.
save money on a car.  Because of larger populations, cities can
 There are often roads of a better quality have higher levels of pollution, including
and well-built houses in urban areas. noise pollution. This could be damaging to
 Easy access to shops and amenities. your health in the long term.
 Most amenities and entertainments are  Cities have more people and more traffic
easy to reach. Clubs, restaurants, and that contribute to the noise, as well as
cinemas are more prolific in these busier trains and nearby airports with loud planes
areas and you often find new attractions flying in and out. Special events such as
will open in a city before anywhere else. concerts and ball games can also make a
 Hospitals and clinics are close by for easy neighborhood louder and more congested.
access to healthcare or aid in an Downtown areas in some major cities are
emergency. loud and busy almost 24 hours a day.
 There are a greater number of jobs  Busy towns or cities can feel crowded and
available in urban areas. Starting a new may mean you feel more stress or pressure.
career could be far easier if you move to a You may also not be able to form such
town or city. tight-knit communities in urban areas.
 Despite the high costs of living in the city,  Urban areas tend to be more expensive to
employers are usually willing to pay more. live in. Property prices are higher and so
Therefore, many suburbanites commute to are goods and services.
the city to get the higher pay and still enjoy  Major cities always have a higher cost of
the economical housing costs. living than the surrounding suburbs.
 Cities and towns tend to have a greater mix Normal living expenses, such as rent and
of cultures and ethnicities which can help utilities tend to be higher in big cities and
when making new friends and meeting you may have additional living expenses
people.

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 Most cities have a lively nightlife, different you wouldn’t have in the suburbs such as
types of food to try, shows of all types, parking permits and laundry.
museums, landmarks, parks, festivals,  Moving from the suburbs to the city
sports games, and much more. almost always involves downsizing your
 The biggest events such as sporting events, living space.
concerts, festivals, and art openings  Houses are more compact in urban areas.
happen in major cities. You can catch a To maximize space, flats and smaller
concert or a baseball game without the apartments are built instead of houses with
long drives to and from the suburbs. larger gardens.
 While many activities are typically more  There are often fewer green spaces in a
expensive due to the higher overhead town or city. You may not always be able
costs, there are also many free things to do to enjoy natural spaces.
when they are planned well. Everything  If you have pets, you may find it harder to
including going to the park, window find a place to live that allows them. It
shopping, visiting museums during their may also be harder to find a place to walk
free admission days, and enjoying the sites a dog or enjoy outdoor space with them.
downtown are all free and you can spend  Some cities will have higher crime rates
all day staying busy. While you will not be than other, but you can definitely count on
spending your money, you’ll definitely be these urban areas to be more dangerous
spending your time at these gorgeous sites, than smaller towns. More people = more
making the most out of your city-living crime.
experience.  Higher crime rates also raise auto
insurance rates, due to car theft and
damage, burglaries, and vandalism

Advantages of Living in the Countryside Disadvantages of Living in the Countryside

 Cost of living: typically, the cost of living  Fewer job opportunities: due to their small
is lower in rural areas than in either urban size and low cost of living, rural
or suburban ones. However, the cost of communities typically offer fewer jobs.
living can vary greatly from place to place, Available jobs likely pay less than those in
even in rural areas. bigger cities. However, this may be less of
 More affordable housing: housing costs a concern if you can work remotely, are
can vary greatly depending on geographic your own boss, or are retired.

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 location, but overall, rural housing is fairly  Fewer businesses: similarly, because there
affordable. Compared to busy cities, there are fewer people, there are also fewer
is more land available in the countryside, businesses you can patronize. This means
which helps keep housing costs low. that you may have to travel outside of your
 More space: you have a lot more space, town, or spend more money, to get all the
physically speaking, in rural areas. In products and services you need.
addition to having a more spacious home,  Access to utilities: utilities present a
you can also purchase surrounding land. challenge in rural areas, with many
This gives you plenty of room to add on to residents struggling to access the services
your home, raise animals, or build new they need at an affordable rate. Even
structures. water, a basic necessity for human life,
 Proximity to nature: rural communities may not be provided or treated by a utility
may be far from the big city, but they are company in rural areas; this leaves many
closer to nature and green spaces. people to rely on well water, which can be
Spending time outdoors is highly unsafe to drink without some kind of
beneficial for your health and wellbeing. softener or filter. You can still get the
 Slow-paced lifestyle: country living has utilities you need to live in the countryside,
long been associated with a relaxed but it may simply require more effort and
lifestyle. Not only are you removed from creativity to secure them.
the hectic energy of the city, but you have  Lack of public transportation: small towns
more privacy and autonomy to live at your have limited access to public
own pace. transportation. Some rural communities
 Know your neighbors: rural communities may not have any transit options
tend to be small and tight knit. Because whatsoever.
there are so few people and only a handful  Since rural areas tend to be spread out,
of places to congregate, you can really get they are not very friendly to bicycles or
to know your neighbors. You and your pedestrians. This means you are required
neighbors may come to rely on each other to own a car to commute, run errands, and
for support and assistance, especially if the get around.
nearest services and amenities are
relatively far away.

www.TakiAcademy.com
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 Staff Management

 Staff management is about supervising and guiding the employees for efficiency in
performance. It is an important part of human resource management.
 It ensures and drives smoother workflow, effectiveness, and productivity in the organization. It
usually involves the upskilling, development, and improvement of each individual with HRM.
 Staff management is often aligned with the HR department and line management. Both
involve the employees of an organization and they complement each other and make the
workforce stick together.
 Staffing is another vital aspect of staff management. It prioritizes filling up the job positions
available in the organization. The priority is to appoint the appropriate candidates that are the
right fit for the job.
 Staff management is important because this is the backbone of any business and poor
industrial relations can mean that productivity will be low and staff turnover will be high. If
you want the most from your employees, then it is vital that all consideration and care is put
into good staff management.

Solutions for Better Staff management Advantages of Effective Staff management

 Maintain good communication by keeping  Profile the job and position and selecting
employees informed about ongoing the most suitable candidates, reducing staff
projects, goals, and deadlines. turnover costs and wasting time.
 To get the most from your workers they  Happier employees.
should always have a clear idea about what  With effective team management, you can
you want from them; if they are unsure shape a culture where employees thrive. →
then this can lead to high degrees of stress more productive employees.
and burnout.  Reduce employee turnover.
 It is essential that you encourage feedback  Managing people in the company usually
and that your staff feel that they can results in a good organizational
approach you with any questions or issues environment, benefits, and staff training.
they want to address, so making yourself  All these factors strengthen the employer
accessible to your staff is critical. brand and become a competitive
 Build positive working relationships as it differentiator in the job market, which
is important to get to know members of contributes to attracting and retaining
your team individually, not only on a talent.

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 professional level but on a more personal  Improved communication.
level too.  Promoting and valuing soft skills,
 Acknowledge good work since by including:
providing your staff with positive feedback  Adaptability
it will help to build their confidence and  Conflict resolution
encourage them to get more involved in  Empathy
the future. It is vital that you acknowledge  Initiative
their achievements and the effort that they  Innovation
are putting in. Encourage creativity and  Listening
ensure that everyone is clear about what is  Motivation
expected of them.  Organization
 Be decisive and assert your authority and  Problem solving
make important decisions for the team.  Professionalism
 Delegate proper functions that suit each  Teamwork
employee.  The application of good practices in the
 Keep deadlines realistic. area increases the sense of belonging,
 Have regular productive meetings with shows the importance of everyone for the
your staff to identify problems before they business and how much their work assists
get out of control. in the achievement of business goals.
 Manage conflicts. When there is conflict in  The result is a reduction of conflicts
the workplace, it should not be ignored. between employees and managers, as well
Turning a blind eye could lead to a as an improvement in the management of
negative atmosphere, which could have these situations, as well as being beneficial
implications for staff productivity, and to the motivation and quality of the team’s
communication among the team may life.
suffer.  The importance of people management in
 Your staff will look to you for guidance the company also goes through the
and inspiration, so it is essential that you analysis of employees’ knowledge and
set a good example to gain their respect. skills. By assessing these aspects, the
 Hire competent people, then get out of organization can identify each person’s
their way. strengths and weaknesses, investing in
strategies to improve this, which affects
the productivity of professionals.

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 Build trust between you and your  Employees at high-trust companies report:
employees. You can instill trust for your  Less stress
leadership in three ways:  More energy at work
✓ Create credibility: Do what you say  Higher productivity
you are going to do. If you promise  Greater engagement
your employee a project or learning  Motivation is the key to the success of any
opportunity, follow through on your organization, and motivated employees
word. work better.
✓ Be respectful: Ensuring your people  Devising strategies to train employees and
are set up for success. Arm them with seek to develop significant skills for
the resources and support they need to professional performance such as
do their best work. leadership, trust, communication, and time
✓ Make fair decisions: especially when it management.
comes to promotion decisions and for  Investing in training and improving
people who are different than you performance will be positive for the
(whether gender, racial background, or organization.
tenure).  Staff feel valued and are allowed to
 Work with your team to co-create plans contribute their skills and experience and
and concoct new ideas. Improve give the company even more than what
collaboration by: would normally be expected.
➢ Involving your team in decisions that  Avoiding excessive stress, pressure, and
affect them. Get their feedback before burnout.
decisions are made.  Consistency across the board ensures
➢ Seeking employees' opinions on the identical problems are addressed in the
next problem you are trying to solve. same way – so there is no need to reinvent
➢ Having regular one-to-ones and the wheel! Exceptional situations and
informal conversations, such as responses can also be clearly defined to
staffroom lunches and coffees away ensure that they are handled properly.
from the office.  Giving companies the opportunity to work
 Provide constructive criticism. Convey it more efficiently so that they are able to
in a way that is easy to understand, and the save resources. In turn, this reduces waste
employees get the message in the right while eliminating ongoing inefficiencies.
way.

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 Job Applications

Writing a Letter of Application

Opening the Letter

 Dear the Human Resources Manager,

 To whom this may concern, → Formal, recipient/s name and gender completely unknown.

 Dear Sir/ Madam, → Formal, recipient name and gender unknown.

Reason for Writing

• I wish to apply for the post of…which you advertised in…on…

• I am writing in response to your advertisement posted on…

• I refer to your advertisement in…dated…

• I read your advertisement for an experienced…in…

• I would like to apply for the position of…

Education/ Qualifications

✓ I graduated from... in...

✓ In secondary school I majored in...

✓ I hold a certificate/degree in...

✓ I have been working as...

✓ I am currently a student at...

✓ I have completed the following courses...

✓ I will graduate this year with...

Work experience

I am currently employed at... / Currently, I am working for… and my responsibilities

include…
I would be well suited to the position thanks to my previous work experience as…

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 My professional qualifications / skills appear to be well suited to your company's

requirements.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, my experience and qualifications match this

position's requirements.

During my time as ..., I improved / furthered / extended / my knowledge of…

Whilst working at… I became highly competent in…

My current position as…for...has provided me with the opportunity to work in a high-

pressure environment to…

I have a lively interest in…and would appreciate the opportunity to broaden my knowledge

by working for your firm.

Although I have no previous experience in…, I have had…

Skills

 My professional qualifications / skills appear to be well suited to your company's

requirements.

 I believe I possess the right combination of...and…

 I have an excellent command of…

 I am proficient in…

 I am computer-literate.

 I am fluent in…

 Apart from speaking… fluently, I speak…

Closing the letter

➢ I am highly motivated and look forward to getting this position.

➢ I see new tasks / this position as a welcome challenge, which I look forward to.

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➢ I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further details of the position with you

personally.

➢ Please find my resume / CV attached.

➢ I can supply references from…if required.

➢ References can be requested from…

➢ I am available for interview on…

➢ Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing why I am

particularly suited to this position. Please contact me via…

➢ It would be an honor to start my career with your company, and I am confident that I will

be an asset to the business.

➢ Thank you for your time and consideration.

➢ I would welcome/ appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my potential

contributions to your company.

➢ I believe that my skillset perfectly matches your requirements.

❖ Yours faithfully, → Formal, recipient name unknown.

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