Today,
we are seeing that Japan is one of the most prosperous countries in the Asia
and even in the whole world. In fact, according to statistics, it is the 3rd
largest in the world on nominal gross domestic product, the 4th
largest by purchasing power parity, 3rd largest in automobile
manufacturing country, and the 2nd largest developed economy in the
world. And we all know that Japan is known for its high-tech products like
computers, phones, tablets and many more that are exported worldwide.
But
before they reached this level, they have first earned the status of being a
worryingly polluted country. The countrymen had experienced diseases that are
produced by heavy industrial developments.
Back
in 1908, Minamata City had been illed by Minamata disease. The people there suffered
with neurological syndrome that is characterized by unresponsiveness of hands
and feet, damage in hearing and speaking, paralysis, comatose, uncontrollable shaking
of the body, and extreme physical disabilities. This disease is acquired from
sea foods that are contaminated with organic mercury that comes from the
factory.
Meanwhile
in 1912, another city had caught Itai Itai disease (Ouch Ouch disease). The
mining company had been emitting sulfuric acid which is a poisonous chemical. This
sulfuric acid that is ejected from the mining zone flows onto the river where
the rice grains get nutrition. And the people who eat this rice often would get
this disease.
Another
big pollution disease had startle in the city of Yokkaichi. People there did
not know why they have difficulties breathing especially in the night. And
later on, they have developed a disease that they have called Yokkaichi asthma.
This bronchial disease is attained from sulfur oxide that is emitted by
petrochemical processing facilities and refineries.
Being
a very fast developing and progressive country is not bad, but it has always an
equivalent bad consequences. Although they have concurred the problem in the
late 20th century, the damage that have been done to thousands of
lives and to the environment would never be replaced. But truly, the Japanese
people have learned from their mistakes in the past, that is why Japan is now
an admirable country.
Last December 18, 2013, we, the 4th year
Mechanical Engineering students of the Don Bosco Technical College held an
unusual Christmas party. It was an uncommonly party because unlike the typical
Christmas parties in the Philippines where students bring unhealthy foods like
fried chicken, pizza, soft drinks, and ice cream; we brought healthy foods like
fruits, vegetables, pancit, calamansi juice, chicken and many more healthy
foods.
Since we need to produce no waste in this party, we
used stainless steel spoon and fork, and wash it after the program. Also, there
is a rule that one student must only have one paper plate and plastic cup. And
these are disposed properly in the recyclable trash can for well segregation of
waste. The seeds of calamansi are buried in the soil so that it could grow as a
plant. The bones of the chicken and the leftovers are feed to the dogs so that
nothing would be wasted.
This activity is a result of what we have learned on
our subject, Environmental Engineering, because this world is having more and
more waste as time goes by. Every product that we are buying has an equivalent
waste in it. Let us take care of the environment for the future generations and
for us to have brighter tomorrow.
Food,
water, and energy are necessity for our lives. We all know that we need food to
eat and water to drink for us to live, but how about energy? Energy is also
very important to our lives. It helps us in our daily transportation, producing
the food that we eat, producing power in our home, school and workplace, and
many more.
Studies
have shown that in four decades, the population in the whole world will rise up
to 29% as of the population today. Adding 2 more billion people to our 7
billion population today. In addition to that, millions of people are enjoying
higher standards of living. So, if we continue on consuming how much energy
that we use today, energy demand will rise up to 50%. As a result, oil and gas
companies thought about where to draw on many different sources of energy to meet
our needs.
Last
February 6-9, the Philippines have hosted the Shell Eco Marathon 2014 at Luneta
Park, Manila where more than 1,000 students in 110 teams from more than 16
countries have entered the competition. In this competition, students will
design, build, test and run an extreme energy efficient car that could travel
longer in just 1 liter of fuel. Some teams that are featured are: India’s
passionate students where hundreds have applied just to be part of the team; Indonesia’s
teardrop shaped car where they used ethanol to run the car; and our very own,
the Philippines’ strong, lightweight car body which is made from banana leaves.
I
am very fortunate to have witnessed this kind of event because first, it is not
always that the Philippines have hosted this competition, and also, as a
Mechanical Engineering student, I could learn a lot just by observing even though
I’m not part of the Don Bosco Technical College team.
At
the end of the competition, Indonesia and Thailand have emerged major victors with
four and three champion titles each respectively. Team How Much Ethanol from
Panjavidhya Technological College Thailand drove 2,730km on a litre of ethanol.
The team is joined by fellow Thai winners Sakon Nakhon Technical College in the
Prototype Gasoline category and Rattanakosin Technological College in the Prototype
Battery Electric category.
Although the DBTC Prototype Vehicle failed to finish
the competition, our Urban Concept proudly finished 7th out 15
registered participants to end the Shell Eco Marathon Asia.
1. Describe some of the emotions you felt during the
film. Which aspects of the video had the greatest impact on you and why?
- Upon
watching the documentary, I felt guilty and sorry as I contribute on the earth’s
destruction. As an example, in some ways on living in this apartment near my
school, we are not properly segregating our biodegradable and non-biodegradable
wastes because the garbage collectors do not say so. Another one is we are not
conserving energy as we are not unplugging the electronic devices when not in
use. Conservation of water is also not properly done. That’s why, living in
this city, I think that the way of thinking of the people here should be
changed.
2. What information contained in the video was new
to you?
- I
think that the topic of deforestation that can cause drought to the land is new
to me because I did not know that it can cause the land to be a desert.
3. What topics presented in the film would you like
to explore further? Do you know what you need to know in order to continue
learning about environmental issues? If the answer to that question is no, how
can you find out what you need to know?
- I
would like to explore the poisoning of the ocean, water, river, springs and
streams further because it is chronic here in the Philippines. We could see
that these bodies of water here are becoming polluted too, so, I would like
know the preventions and the solutions on how to make these clean.
4. Discuss the ways that eating locally produced
food is an environmental issue. What can individuals do to support the local
production and consumption of foods?
- The
demand of the people for food versus the supply of natural food resources is
becoming imbalance. For example; in fishing industry, due to high demand of sea
foods, fishermen are searching deeper and deeper in the ocean. And as a result,
destruction in the ocean is happening as the fishes are starting to deplete.
5. Who should see this film and for what purpose?
Who might be unreceptive to the ideas of the film and why?
- Everybody
should watch this film so that all of us would be aware on what is happening on
our environment, and also, everyone would make an action to save the future
generation.
6. Share one issue or item that you wrote on your
index card while watching The 11th Hour.
- One
issue that I wrote is the proper segregation of wastes because it is a simple
way yet one of the biggest ways upon having a healthy environment.
7. As a result of your having seen this film, what,
if any, specific actions do you think you will take?
- As
a student, I could do little things like; recycling paper, plastics and plastic
bottles, proper segregation for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes,
unplugging the appliances when not in use, using less water, participating n
tree-planting programs, participating on “Earth Hour”, and being a role model
for good conservation.
My father had been always telling me his childhood
days in our province at Isabela, Philippines where they have been able to
experience fresh air to breath, clean rivers to swim, many big trees to provide
shade, a not-so-warm atmosphere to play on, big farmlands and hills full of
trees to have an adventure, and many more. He said that he was very lucky to
experience any of that and I could be sure of that because of the smile on his
face whenever he has been telling me his childhood stories. He also said that my
generation and the generation to come are so pitiful because of the worsening
environment. And it’s true because we are experiencing an irregular weather
where sometimes it’s very hot and sometimes cold; many super typhoons have been
developing recently, continuously, and more often than before; dirty air that
gives us difficulty in breathing, and many more piteous things.
Environmental sustainability involves making
decisions and taking action that are in the interests of protecting the natural
world, with particular emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment
to support human life. It is an important topic at the present time, as people
are realizing the full impact that businesses and individuals can have on the
environment. It is about making responsible decisions that will reduce your
business' negative impact on the environment. It is not simply about reducing
the amount of waste you produce or using less energy, but is concerned with
developing processes that will lead to businesses becoming completely
sustainable in the future. (toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au)
Mechanical Engineers are said to be the number one
enemy of the environment because that make the fuels, air conditioners, engines
that are polluting the earth. And, as a future mechanical engineer, it is my
dream of making inventions that would break the pattern and will be able to reduce
the pollution so that it will help restore the beautiful environment that we
have back then. But, as a student for now, I could do little things like;
recycling paper, plastics and plastic bottles, proper segregation for the
biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes, unplugging the appliances when not
in use, using less water, participating n tree-planting programs, participating
on “Earth Hour”, writing a blog like this to educate people, and being a role
model for good conservation.
In Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put
him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Also, in Leviticus 25:23-24,
the Lord said “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine.
For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you
possess, you shall allow redemption of the land.” God has given us a very beautiful
place to live in and commanded us to love our mother earth and take care of it.
But, instead, we are destroying it. Imagine if God would take it back from us.
Where would we live? So, let’s unwind and think of the best ways on helping our
environment. Let’s unite together to have a better place for ourselves and for
the future generation. Love God and His creations as the way He loves all of us.
