Module 4 - Environmental Protection

Lesson 14 - Environmental Education, Protection and

Management

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:
1. discuss the meaning, goal and objectives of environmental education
2. cite common environmental problems and their causes.
3. suggest solutions to identified environmental problems.

Introduction

In the Philippines today as well as all over the world, the alarming rate of environmental
degradation brings havoc and poses a very serious problem. The adverse environmental
issues and problems our world is experiencing nowadays necessitate a drive for
environmental movements toward environmental conservation and sustainable
development. This means that the people must collaborate, cooperate and work hand and
hand in order to save our Mother Earth in great tragedy of havoc. Environmental
awareness, consciousness and understanding are public concerns for the adoption of new
values, change of habits and lifestyles towards the preservation and conservation of our
environment. The people must provide solutions to any environmental problems of this
community and inculcate in their minds to love, care, and nurture our environment. Thus,
environmental education, information and advocacy activities are deemed necessary to
provide solution to environmental crisis.

Definition of Environmental Education

It a process of teaching and learning, helping to acquire understanding, skills and

values that makes them active and informed citizens in the development and maintenance
of an ecological, sustainable and socially just society.

Goal and Objectives of Environmental Education

Environmental education had been introduced in the Philippine Educational System for
many years, but it was never been properly and strongly addressed to all to ensure
functional environmental programs.

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Module 4 - Environmental Protection
The goal of environmental education is to have environmentally literate and responsible
citizenry who will ensure the protection and the improvement of the environment and bring
about sustainability, social equity and economic efficiency in the use of the country’s
natural resources. The people must develop a sympathetic attitude towards the diversity
and sustainability of resources on earth for the survival and stability of life.
The specific objectives of environmental education can be attained in terms of the learners’
awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills and participation to the resolution of environmental
problems, issues and concerns. The learners must consider the environment in its totality-
natural and built, technological and social (economic, political, cultural, historical, moral
and aesthetic).

Environmental education must be

a) action-oriented – it should involve finding solutions to real
environmental problems and issues.
b) Experiential – it should use variety of approaches and environments
c) future-oriented – it must be concerned with the present and future
generations
d) globally-oriented – it must consider the whole earth as one ecosystem
e) holistic – it must deal with the natural and man-made aspect of the
environment
f) interdisciplinary – it must relate to all disciplines
g) issue-oriented – it must deal with local, regional, national and global
perspective.

Classification and Sources of Pollution

Pollution is defined as the alteration of our surroundings, wholly or largely as a product of

man’s actions, through direct or indirect effects of changes in every patter of chemical and
physical constituents of organisms.

A. Air Pollution

The problem of air pollution has become a worldwide phenomenon. If left unabated
it can cause major health problem and even death. In metro Manila air pollution had
reached the alarming levels with a total suspended particles (TSP) as much as five times
greater that the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of particulate matters of 10
microns (PM 10) and the lead levels even higher as two times the guidelines.

Air pollution is defined as physical and chemical alteration of the properties of air,
which is harmful to human health, vegetation and animals.

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Major Types of Air Pollution

1. Outdoor Pollution is a type of pollution derived from the mixture or collection of

additional loads of chemical produced by natural events and human activities which react
with the natural components of the atmosphere thereby producing harmful effects to
living system

The following are the major sources of outdoor pollution:

♦ Burning of fossil fuels for power consumption
♦ Photochemical and industrial smog
♦ Volcanic eruption to emit sulfuric dioxide and suspended particulates ♦
Forest fire, kaingin
♦ Evaporation of volatile organic compounds from decaying organic matters
♦ Natural radioactive 22-gas from Uranium deposits

Classes of Air Pollutants

Pollutants Common members

Carbon Oxide (CO) Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Sulfur Trioxide (SO3)
Nitrogen Oxide (NO) Nitric oxide (NO)
Nitrogen oxide (NO2)
Nitrous oxide (N20)
VOC’s (Volatile Organic Methane (CH4) Butane
Compound) (C4H10)
SPM (Suspended Particulates Dust, soot (Carbon)
Matter) Asbestos, Lead (Pb)
Chromium (Cr)
Arsenic (As)
Liquid Droplets Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) Nitric
acid (HNO3)
Photochemical Oxidants DDT, malathion, etc. Ozone
(O3)

2. Indoor Air pollution – a type of pollution derived from the accumulation or build
up of chemical, SPM, VOC’s inside the office, buildings, houses, school, commercial
store that are harmful top health.

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Sources Class/Type Health Threat

Aerosol sprays Trichloroethane Breathing difficulty
Chlorine treated water Chloroform Cancer
Air freshener crystal and Par-chlorobenzene Cancer
moth balls
Tobacco and cigarettes Nicotine Lung cancer, heart disease
Carpets and plastic products Styrene Liver and kidney damage
Paint stripper and thinner Methylene Diabetes and nerve disorder
Gas stove, kerosene, heater, Nitrogen oxide Respiratory disorder
woodstone
Dry cleaning fluids Tetrachloroethylene Nerve, liver and kidney
damage

B. Water Pollution

Water pollution is defined as the physical or chemical changes in the surface and
ground water caused by pollutants that can adversely affect living organisms. Every year
14 billion pounds of sewage, sludge, and garbage are dumped into the world’s oceans. The
problem of ocean pollution affects every nation around the world. This is true because
water is able to transport pollution from one location to another. As the world has
industrialized and its population has grown, the problem, of water pollution has intensified.

Major Sources of Water Pollution

1. Point Source – a source of pollution that discharges pollutants or any affluent, such as
waste water, through pipes, ditches and sewers into bodies of water to specific location.

Sources: sewage treatment plants of factories, electric power plants, abandoned

underground coal oil tanker offshore oil wells and mine

2. Non-point Source – sources of pollution that are widely scattered and discharges
pollutants over a large area.

Sources: run off into surface water, seepage into ground water in urban and suburban
lands, construction areas and roadways, etc.

Common Types of Water Pollutants and its Sources

 Disease causing organism (bacteria, viruses protozoa and parasites)

 Oxygen demanding wastes (domestic sewage, animal manure)
 Water soluble inorganic chemicals (acids, slats, toxic metals, etc.)
 Inorganic plant nutrients (water soluble nitrate and phosphate salt)

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 Organic chemicals (insoluble and water soluble oil, gasoline, plastic, pesticides,
solvents, etc.)
 Sediments of suspended matter (insoluble pesticide of soil, salt and other
inorganic and organic materials that can remain suspended in water.)
 Radioactive substances (Radon 222 and uranium)

C. Solid Wastes/Land Pollution

This type of pollution is referring to the presence in land of any solid waste in such
quality, of such nature and duration, and under such conditions that would injurious to
human health or welfare, animal or plantlike or property. Solid waste disposal is an issue
for all countries. Most countries produce millions of tons of household wastes and
industrial toxic wastes from factories, industries and hospitals.

These wastes are polluting the air, soil and water because most countries and
communities do not have means of safety disposing it. When solid wastes are burned, toxic
gases spread into the air, causing air pollution. The dumping of some waste can be
dangerous for public health because acids and non-decomposable organic materials seep
through the soil and contaminate the drinking water and pollute farming land. As a result
waste or garbage causes dangers to public health. Solid waste takes up space and produces
unpleasant smells.

Citizens should divide their waste and garbage into four categories:

1) combustibles
2) non-combustibles
3) recyclable
4) hazardous wastes

Solid Waste and its Disposal

There are only three places for wastes to end up:

 in the ground
 in the air
 some of our waste end up in each place

 Landfills – sanitary landfills are designed to reduce the amount of waste that
leaks out into the environment. It protects the environment from pollution
and uses the methane produced in the landfill to generate electricity. Water
dissolves pollutants out of the garbage forming a solution known as
leachate.

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 Incineration – reducing solid waste by burning it first and this causes fly
ash, gases and particulate matter to the air.

 Ocean dumping – about 50 million tons of waste a year are discharge into
the ocean; 300 kilometers offshore. Disease-causing organisms and heavy
metals have destroyed numerous fisheries.

Simple and Effective Ways of 4 R’s (Personal Waste Management)

• Avoid over-packed goods

• Avoid disposable goods such as throw-away razors, pens, diapers, and lately,
even disposable cameras
• Buy food in bulk. Patronize whose contents are refillable.
• Practice composting (e.g. yard clipping and leaves)
• Patronize recycled and recyclable goods. (avoid PVC containers)
• Patronize products that are made from renewable, rather than non-renewable
resources
• When buying products, such as shampoos and other toiletries, choose those with
little packing as possible
• In cases of cardboard packaging, choose products, which come in brown, gray,
or those that specify that they are made from recycled materials
• Recycle paper.

The 4R’s of Ecology:

Strategy in Attaining Ecological Sustainability at School-Community Based Projects

School-community can suffer from the same pollution problems as homes. A school-
community administrator has many needs to attend but in spite of these, he must be able to
“green up” environment by sponsoring and supporting to Cleaning, Greening and
Beautifying Program.

When it comes to attaining Ecological sustainability, the “Four R’s” – reduce, reuse,
recycle and repair as strategies have to be learned and practiced in the communities and
schools by the community officials, residents, students, teachers as well as concerned
parents in solving about the “garbage overload”.

To reduce means to reasonably limit or conserve the use of materials for more important
projects.
To reuse is to “use again” the materials that are non-degradable, reusable and recyclable
To recycle is to reuse after the materials had been reprocessed either to new products or
similar functional products.

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To repair is to reconstruct/restructure and reinstall equipment/appliances/gadgets that are
still repairable to its functional state.

The school-community can spend as much money disposing its trash as it does on buying
textbooks. The amount of trash created in community has grown steadily as marts and
canteens have switched to serving more and more meals and snacks on paper and plastics
and throw away plastics, styrofoam plates and cups instead of reusable conventional
tablewares, glass, forks, and spoons.

Earth Charter for a Sustainable Environment Development

In recognition of World Environmental Month, environmental leaders from around the

world seek to implement the Earth Charter for sustainable development and living and to
spread the word about environmental awareness.

The Charter comprises a set of broad principles designed to guide all humans towards a
sustainable way of life. The Charter contains 16 general principles and 60 supporting
principles, or ways to implement the principal guidelines. It is designed to serve as a
universal code of conduct to guide people and nations toward sustainable development.
They are:

1. Respect earth and life in all its diversity.

2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.
3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful
4. Secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s ecological system, with special concern for
biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is
limited, apply a precautionary approach.
7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s
regenerative capacities, human rights and community well being.
8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and
wide application of the knowledge acquired.
9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human
development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and
ensure universal access to education, health care and economic opportunity.
12. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment
supportive of human dignity, bodily health and spiritual well being, with special
attention to the plight of indigenous peoples and minorities.

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13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and
accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision-making, and access to
justice.
14. Integrate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge, values and skills
needed for a sustainable way of life.
15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace.

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Lesson 15 - Seven Environmental Principles and Laws

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:
1. recognize the Seven Environmental Principles;
2. enumerate the importance of each principles and laws;
3. appreciate the role of education in sustaining the preservation of mother earth.

The Seven (7) Environmental Principles (EPs)

The seven (7) environmental principles (EPs) or core messages are an encapsulated explanation
of environmental phenomena, issues and problems. While the science of ecology reveals the
intricate relationships among living and non-living components of the environment, the EPs
capture these relationships as easy-to-remember slogans. At the same time, they serve as
behavioral guide so that each person may do his/her part in preventing further deterioration of the
environment. It is not enough to know the science of nature; environmental protection must be a
personal commitment.

Below are the 7 EPs, articulated in 3 similar ways.

1. Balance of Nature 2. Biodiversity
Nature Knows Best (Ang Kalikasan ang Mas Nakakaalam)
All forms of Life Are Important (Ang Lahat ng May Buhay ay Mahalaga) 3.
Interconnectedness
Everything is Connected to Everything Else (Ang Lahat ng Bagay ay
Magkakaugnay)
4. Change 5. Materials Cycles 6. Finiteness 7. Stewardship
Everything Changes (Lahat ay Nagbabago)
Everything Must Go Somewhere (Ang Lahat Ay May Patutunguhan)
Ours Is a Finite Earth (Ang Lahat Ay May Hangganan)
Nature Is Beautiful and We are All Stewards of God’s Creation
(Ang Kalikasan ay Maganda at Tayo ang Tagapangalaga ng Nilikha ng
Diyos)

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For each EP, the first phraseology gives the scientific concept. The second is more layman,
more graphic and is the mode that is easier to grasp and remember. The third phraseology, in our
native language, stirs emotive response and is more appropriate for certain groups. For purposes
of this course, the discussion below will utilize the second phraseology. The 7 EPs are explained
in a summary from the Environmental Education continuum prepared by Miriam College Public
Education and Awareness Campaign for the Environment (Miriam P.E.A.C.E)

1. Nature Know best

This principle is the most basic and in fact encompasses all the others. We have to abide
by nature’s rules. We must not go against natural processes if we want to ensure a
continuous supply of resources. Nutrient cycling or the biogeochemical cycles illustrate
the perfect orchestration of processes that yields all organism that needs for food and
metabolic functions. Nature has built – in mechanism to maintain balance, a phenomenon
known as homeostasis.

The availability of nutrients, conduciveness of the environment for growth and

reproduction and the feeding relationships that exist among organism serve as control for
population and ecosystem processes, Interference in these processes have caused
ecological backlashes.

2. All forms of life are important

Each organism performs a fundamental role in nature. When we lose any species, we are
breaking one bond in the web of life. Although extinction is natural, the “normal” rate in
the past has been around one species per century. This is nature’s way of allowing for
ecosystem adaption; the rate of loss is small enough for the community of species to fill in
the gap some way or other; Nowadays, with human activities, we are losing species at the
rate of one a day!

3. Everything is connected to everything else

From the community of Organisms associated with one single tree to the community in an
ecosystem to processes among ecosystems to the global community of life and the air,
water and land that support it, the interactions are intricate and far – reaching. NO
phenomenon can be considered isolated.

4. Everything changes
Nature is constantly changing but the changes are like a coordinated symphony. Changes
in the environment cause changes in plants which are accompanied by changes in animals
and microorganisms, etc. Cyclic, linear and random changes describe the processes in
nature. Problems arise when human ways accelerate, inhibit or introduce alien changes.

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5. Everything must go somewhere

The environment – air, water land- has the ability to absorb waste and recycle them to
become useful resources. But if we do not manage waste properly, it either becomes a
nuisance or a poison. Furthermore, it does not go back to the resource cycle.

6. Ours is a Finite Earth

Non- renewable resources are finite in amount. Renewable resources are finite in the rate
at which they can be renewed. The absorptive capacity of the environment is likewise
finite. We must honor these limits if we are not to turn this richly blessed Earth into
wasteland.

7. Nature in Beautiful and We are Stewards of God’s Creation

Sometimes there is no other practical reason why we should protect a piece of nature except
that it is beautiful. Take the sunset of Manila Bay or in any seashore in Western Philippines.
It is breathtaking and inspires the heart to sing God’s praises, Kawasan Falls in Cebu or
any of our strong waterfalls that shouts of the omnipotence of the Creator. Blocking the
view of such majestic sights should not be allowed. The grand experience should not be
denied anyone. The landscapes and seascapes are a reflection of the Lord’s majesty, just
like all of the myriad of plants, animals, insects, bacteria, fungi which are each one unique
and serve a purpose in the web of life. For practical and spirituals reasons, we should
preserve and conserve nature for the enjoyment of the coming generations.

Man’s excessive and destructive ways springs from his consumerist attitude.

Humans are destructive by nature.

People always bite more than they could swallow

Environmental protection is an indispensable obligation

Human decisions and actions have environmental consequences

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IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

R.A. 9003 – Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological solid waste management program that shall ensure the protection of public health and
environment. The law ensures proper segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal of
solid waste through the formulation and adaptation of best eco-waste products.

R.A. 9275 – Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

The law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based
sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household
activities). It provides for comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize
pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.

R.A. 6969 – Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990 The
law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based sources
(industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities).
It provides for comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution
through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.

R.A. 8435 – Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997

It establishes that the Department of Agriculture, together with other appropriate
agencies, should take into account climate change, weather disturbances and annual
productivity cycles in forecasting and formulating appropriate agricultural and fisheries
programs.

R.A. 8749 – Clean Air Act of 1999

This moves for an effective air quality management program that will mitigate the
worsening problem of air pollution in the country.

R.A. 9512 – National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008

This promotes national awareness on the role of natural resources in economic growth
and the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance towards sustained
national development.

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R.A. 9513 – Renewable Energy Act of 2008

It promotes the development, utilization and commercialization of renewable energy
resources.

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