English conversation lessons based on short newspaper items.

This column is for self-study or classroom use and gives guided help with reading the wide variety of writing styles and topics that appear as feature articles in the Bangkok Post. The lessons include background information, skill-building practice and vocabulary explanations.

July 1, 2003

Having an impact

INTRODUCTION

The Thai way of life has always been closely related to the waterways where we lived. When those rivers and canals become polluted, the survival of the way of life is threatened. That’s what a group of students discovered and what they shared with their community.
As the world became aware that our rivers, land and air were being polluted, it was common to think that there was nothing individuals could do to solve the problems. The problems seemed to be so big, surely only governments and big companies could fix the polluted world, people thought.

However, gradually, sayings like “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem,” were heard. Environmental workers began making us aware that no one is too small or unimportant to have an impact – positive or negative – on our environment.

The stories in today’s lesson and the one in feature focus are excellent examples of groups of students who had very positive effects on the environment in their communities. You’ll enjoy reading about both projects.

Teachers: Today’s lesson and the one in feature focus on page 5 can be used together to help your students build a set of vocabulary they will find in other environmental stories and be able to use themselves. (See the notes for students.) The two stories will also encourage students to realise they too can be effective in your community. You could work with them plus science and/or social studies teachers in your school to carry out an environmental project in your local community.

Students: Here’s what to do: Today’s story is a great one about how a group of students are making an important contribution to their community. First they became aware that there was an environmental problem, then they did some scientific research and worked with others to clearly identify the causes and to correct misunderstandings. With that information they are now ready to improve the situation.

Below are four steps they have taken so far. As you read the story, on a separate sheet of paper fill in the details. That is, add the specific things they did beside each general idea. One detail is filled in to get you started.

Realised there was a problem: they got rashes from the water,

Carried on research and analysis:

Worked with others in society:

Shared information with people in the community:

If you read the story in feature focus and did the activities there, you will already have started a list of words you can expect to find in other stories about the environment. Some of those you will find in today’s story too. After you have read this story, make a list. Meet in a small group within your class to share your lists to make sure you have all the words.
Follow-up

Is there some environmental situation in your neighbourhood that needs to be improved? It doesn’t have to be a big project like a canal or a coral reef, it might be a small environmental situation right in or outside your school yard– dirty water collected where mosquitoes can breed, for example. Have a look around, consult with each other, decide what you can do. Don’t forget to involve others in the community. You’ll find that if you share information with them they’ll have ideas too. That way your school and your community will be able to work closely together.

OUR STORY FROM THE BANGKOK POST

Project to save canal
Severe pollution needs urgent attention,
say Ratchaburi pupils
Students at a school in Ratchaburi province uncovered serious pollution after a series of analyses of canal water at the small town of Pohak.

“The project was a collective attempt by students to save the canal that they have played in since childhood,” said Acharn Sapha Chanpuang, a teacher of science and environment at the Pohak-wongsomboon Upatham school.

The students investigated the number of water creatures still living in the canal, the prevalence of weeds, and the chemical content of the water.

They found that what was once a clean and safe source of water has deteriorated immensely. Where children once played and swam freely, they now come out in body rashes from the murky, contaminated waterway. Various types of fish have vanished from the canal, the study showed.

The findings stirred considerable interest in the area and the local chapter of the Thailand Research Fund decided to provide the students with a budget to further their study.

This time, the children focused on a section of the canal at which a number of shrimp farms are located. It wasn't a popular move at first with everyone, they felt.

“Some adults didn't understand our purpose. Some thought we were collecting information that could be used to impose taxes; others thought we were trying to finger them as polluters,” said Anutha Unim, one of the leaders of the youth team.

To let people know exactly what they were doing, the team held public events.

“We opened small public hearing forums to inform local people about what we are doing. We also invited shrimp farmers to participate,” said Anutha.

The young researchers then released their information to the town's residents. It showed that the pollution was not caused solely by shrimp farming, previously believed to be only cause of the problem.

Waste from households, garbage from the local market, agricultural chemicals and untreated water discharged from pig farms on both sides of the canal contributed to the long list of other reasons behind the waterway's destruction.

Decha Kaewthima, owner of one of Pohak's many shrimp farms, who is also on the research committee said, “The data show that unless we receive water from other sources to assist in cleaning up our canal, it will soon be impossible to use it for daily activities like bathing.”

He added: “We must take this information not just to consumers, but to relevant higher officials, because sometimes the causes of contamination in a small town like ours can be traced to the policies of high-ranking officials.”

Said Anitha, “Right now we have all the information we need — the causes, the current quality of the water, and possible ways to fix this problem. All that's left is to get cooperation from the public to assist us in resolving the problem and to keep the river clean in future.”

Finding a solution soon was vital, she said. “Human life is bound to water. It is essential to our survival.”

VOCABULARY HELP

uncovered
discovered

collective
involving a whole group

investigate
to carefully examine the facts to find out the truth

prevalence
the degree that something is widely present

deteriorated
became worse

rash
red spots on the skin

murky
not clear

contaminated
no longer pure

stir
to cause

chapter
a local branch of an organisation

impose
to cause someone to do something unpleasant

finger
to point to someone suggesting they have done something wrong

discharge
to flow out

relevant
closely connected to the present situation

trace
to find the origin or cause

•This lesson was prepared by Maureen Paetkau, a professional teacher of English as a second and foreign language and Assistant Manager and Webmaster for Learning Post at the Bangkok Post.

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