Activity 1 page 2

Explore

Many points of view and perspectives impact any given environmental issue.



Examine the mind map, Environmental Issues, on page 303 of the Issues for Canadians textbook below to see the many perspectives that may be involved. Where might you fit?

What are possible ways that students are able to participate in the resolving of environmental issues?

To view one example, read pages 320 and 321 of your textbook, Issues for Canadians.

Use the Students for Environmental and Social Advocacy graphic organizer to focus your reading.

Click on one of the links below to access the activity.

Students for Environmental and Social Advocacy (Word)
Students for Environmental and Social Advocacy (pdf)
Students for Environmental and Social Advocacy (Google Doc)

Save your graphic organizer to your Activities folder.

Government and economic decisions are often influenced by various individuals and organizations being involved in an environmental issue. Use the Alberta oil sands projects as an example in which many stakeholders are involved.

Read the introduction to the issue in your textbook on page 323. Why is the development of the oil sands an environmental issue?

Next, examine the news articles and the poster on pages 323 to 326 of your textbook.

• Who is involved in the Alberta oil sands issue?
• What are they saying about the issue?
• Are they pro economic or pro environment?
  
  

Use the Alberta Oil Sands handout to help you collect your notes.

Click on one of the links below to access the activity.

Alberta Oil Sands (Word)
Alberta Oil Sands (pdf)
Alberta Oil Sands (Google Doc)

Save your completed work to your Activities folder.

 

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Consider the following questions:

• Are you doing enough as a citizen to reduce your global footprint?
• What more could you do to reduce your footprint?

Examine ways that you can reduce your ecological footprint.

Choose three of the following areas to investigate.

• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Air pollution
• Hazardous Materials
• Protecting at risk species
  

Click on the appropriate links below to investigate the topics you have chosen.

Energy Conservation: https://www.energysage.com/energy-efficiency/101/ways-to-save-energy/

Water Conservation: https://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource-management/environmental-management/natural-resources/water-conservation/25-ways-to-save-water.stml

Air Pollution: https://www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/reducepollution.html

Hazardous Materials: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=1674

Protecting Species at Risk: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-education-centre/tips-help-protect.html


For each of the areas you choose, identify three actions in your notes that you can take to reduce your global footprint.

Please note: The links above provide some information. You are welcome to perform additional research if you wish to learn about more actions you can take to reduce your global footprint.

Save your notes to your Activities folder.

Going Beyond

  Internet Web Search

For information on groups that promote environmental awareness, look for websites on the following groups:

• United States' Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Kids Site is a kid-friendly guide to climate change.
  
  
• Environment Canada's Climate Change site contains information on present and future projections of climate change in Canada as well as the measures being taken to reduce it.
  
  
• EcoACTION Canada provides financial support to community groups for action-oriented projects that address key environmental issues. The site also provides information on the government's environmental initiatives.
  
  
• EcoKids Canada is an interactive environmental web site for children, their families, and educators. It offers topical information about the environment through interactive games and activities.
  
  
• Student Environmental Action Coalition is a grassroots coalition of student and youth environmental groups working together to protect the planet.
  
  
• Environmental Youth Alliance is a local youth-driven non-profit organization dedicated to the health of our urban environment.
  
  
• Youth in Philanthropy Canada links page provides many links to youth-centric, philanthropic, environmental, and other community and activist organizations around the world.
  
  
• Free The Children is the world's leading youth-driven charity, promoting education and sustainable incomes in developing countries and encouraging ethical living and social responsibility.

For information on the Alberta oil sands, research the following information:

• Alberta Energy website has facts, FAQs, and other background information on the oil sands.
  
  
• Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray presents the history, science, and technology of Alberta's oil sands.
  
  
• Athabasca Oil Sands has information about the mining, extraction, and production processes.
  
  
• Suncor Energy Inc. is an energy company focused on developing the oil sands.
  
  
• Alberta Oil Sands Information Services (AOSIS) was established in 1975 to supply public information on Canadian and international developments in oil sands research.
  
  
• Redpath Museum of McGill University's Canadian Biodiversity website aims to teach what is at stake, what has been learned, and what we are doing and still need to do.
  
  
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Network contains information including what you can do to protect biodiversity, reference material, biodiversity news, and links to relevant organizations.
  
  
• Hinterland Who's Who series of vignettes was made in the 1960s to educate the public about Canada's wildlife. Watch video clips, read about wildlife species, and access information about Canada's changing biodiversity. 
  
  Patricia Lychak et al., Issues for Canadians: Teacher Resource (Scarborough: Nelson Education Ltd., 2008). Reproduced by permission.
  

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© Thinkstock

Workbook Summary

In this workbook, you investigated the following question.

As a citizen of Canada, what can I do to make a difference?

The ecological footprint reveals that every person impacts the environment. Depending on the choices that an individual makes, that footprint can be large or small.

Many individuals and groups work towards making a difference in their communities. The Students for Environmental and Social Advocacy group is just one example of how Canadians can make a difference in Canada.