Unit 1

What Is to Be Green?

1. Watch the video fragment “And Then Came Man”. What is your opinion of this? Do you
agree or disagree with the authors? Why? Organize a discussion using the appropriate strategy:

2. What is to be green? Do you know what green living is? How green are you? To find out all
that you will have to either
a) do the quiz online. (There you choose a room, move the cursor arrow until the sign (?)
appears. Click on it and answer the question) or
b) do another one below:

How Environmentally Aware Are You?

1. Do you care whether the products you choose contain recycled materials?

 Yes.  No.

2. When you buy one or two items at the supermarket do you buy a plastic bag for them?

 Yes.  No.

3. How often do you have your waste-bin full?

 Daily.  More seldom.

4. Do you always wrap chewing gum in the fold paper after use before throwing it away?

 Yes.  No.

5. Does your family return the bottles for recycling (take them to a recycling bin or a special shop)?

 Yes.  No.

6. How often do you use scrap paper for your own educational needs?

 Often.  Not often.

7. Do you smoke?

 Yes.  No.
 8. Have you ever practiced discriminate dumping waste?

 Yes.  No.

9. Do you use ecologically friendly vehicles or prefer walking to riding a bus if the distance is not big?

 Yes.  No.

10. If a local park is damaged after celebrations will you volunteer to help with the clean-up project?

 Yes.  No.

11. Are you concerned about diminishing number of trees and bushes in your city? Would you like to
participate in planting trees yourself?

 Yes, I would.  It’s never crossed my mind.

12. Have you noticed in what condition are our rivers in the city?

 Yes, I have.  It’s never crossed my mind to.

13. When you clean your teeth you leave the tap running until you have finished.

 Yes.  No, I only use one glass of water.

14. When you buy paper products, you try to purchase recycled paper.

 Yes.  No.

15. Are you satisfied with the quality of the tap water?

 Yes.  No.

16. If you were invited to a leisure hunting, would you like to go?

 Yes.  No.

17. Would you participate in the movement against using natural furs in clothing?

 Yes.  No.

18. Do you consider burning tree leaves in autumn the most optimal way of cleaning streets?

 Yes.  No.

19. When you are at home do you care to turn off the lights where they are not needed?

 Yes.  No.

20. Do you have any concrete suggestions as for the Kyoto (Doha) Agreements?

 To tell the truth, I’ve never heard about them.

 Yes, I have, here they are:
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________

Now count your results:

For “Yes” in questions: 1, 4-6, 8-14, 17, 19 – add 5 points, 20 (2 points for each
suggestion).
 For “No” in questions: 2-3, 7, 15-16, 18 – also add 5 points.

Sum up your points. If you have:

From 0 to 35 – There is little in the world about which you could care less. It’s just not your cup
of tea. But beware. The other drink may contain hazardous pollutants!

From 35 to 75 – You care about the nature but there are a lot of other much more important
things in your life. Environmental issues worry you but let someone else do something about it.

From 75 to 101 – Congratulations! You are green! Due to the people like you the humanity has a
chance. You consider yourself a part of the environment, which is actually true.

Discuss your results in the group. Do you agree or disagree with them?

3. Read the following text. Which of the ways offered for Canadians you consider appropriate for
you? Discuss with your partner and then as a class.

Seven Simple Ways to Save the Planet

Photo: iStockphoto.com/hjalmeida
Slowing climate change starts with you!
By Green Living Editors

Climate change is not a problem of the future—it’s happening now, and has emerged as the most demanding environmental and economic challenge

facing our planet. Its effects are felt every day, in the form of health problems, environmental damage and a system that doesn’t meet today’s needs.

And what we’re seeing now is just the beginning—the future holds the likelihood of more damage thanks to our increasing population, rampant

consumption habits and unsustainable water management.

Although Canada is one of the worst offenders with regards to greenhouse gas emissions (at 20.3 metric tonnes, our annual per capita emissions are

the second highest in the world), it’s not too late to change course. The choices we make in our day-to-day lives, however small they may seem, play a

key role in slowing climate change. We’ve compiled a list of nine simple ways you can join the fight for a healthier planet:  

1. Eat wisely

Vote with your fork! By simply changing a few of our food habits, we can have a tremendous impact on climate change. Here’s how:
 Go veg (Or eat less meat).  It takes approximately 16 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of meat. Each of those pounds of grain

takes considerable energy to produce, process and transport. Couple that with the fact that an estimated 18 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas

emissions can be attributed to livestock production, and you can begin to see why meat production has a huge climate impact.

 Buy organic. Research has shown conventional farming uses about 45 per cent more energy per unit of production than organic farms,

which rely on natural inputs. Better yet, organic farms store much more carbon in the soil than their counterparts, keeping it out of the atmosphere.  Find

local farmers who grow organic, and be sure to read labels when you shop.

 Buy local. The average Canadian meal contains ingredients from more than six different countries, and travels thousands of kilometers

before reaching a plate. Food grown closer to home will therefore have fewer transportation emissions associated with it, and supports your local

economy! 

 Waste not! According to a study by the UNFAO, more than one third of all food produced worldwide is wasted (that’s a shocking 1.3 billion

tonnes per year). Unused food in a landfill is one of the top sources of greenhouse gases.

2. Be energy smart

Canadians have a huge appetite for energy. In fact, we are the second largest consumers of energy per capita in the world. To make a difference:

 Reduce your energy consumption. From switching to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, to buying low-flow showerheads, to fixing

leaky windows, there are literally thousands of ways you can save energy at home. Download this Energy Savers Guide for great ideas.

 Buy energy efficient appliances. Commit to buying Energy Star qualified products.

3. Get water wise

We can’t live without clean and abundant water supplies, yet climate change is already having profound effects on the quality, quantity and availability

of our resources. Canada’s track rate isn’t great—we have the second-highest per capita water consumption in the world. Here’s how you can help:

 Reduce, repair, and retrofit. A typical household can reduce household water consumption by 40 per cent or more, and they won’t feel a

hit to their lifestyle. From installing a low-flow toilet, to using an outdoor rain barrel, to taking shorter showers there are thousands of ways you can save

water at home. Check out Wise Water Use guide or read 100 ways to conserve water.

 Support sustainable water policies. Read how the UN recommends we implement sustainable use of our water. And support

government policies that encourage water conservation through metering or disincentives for high water use.

4. Travel light

 Fly less. Air travel has a massive carbon footprint—in fact, it’s the mode of freight transport that has the most emissions. Consider greener

transportation options like buses or trains, or better yet, travel less altogether and utilize technology like video-conferencing and e-mail.

5. Check your trash

The average Canadian produces about 2.2 kg of garbage each day—that’s over 30 million tonnes of waste in total per year! And while it may disappear

from your curb, the majority ends up buried in landfills, producing methane gas as the materials decompose. In fact, landfills produce approximately 25

per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s what you can do:

 Recycle. Did you know 95 per cent of Canadians can recycle plastic bottles thanks to a greater availability of recycling options? While

items accepted in your blue box or blue bag program vary greatly from city to city, recycling is on the rise. Check your municipality website or recycling

hotline for more details.

 Compost. Your garbage is about 40 per cent organic waste. Composting keeps that garbage out of a landfill, and provides nutrient-rich

food for your plants.

 Vote with your dollar. Together, let’s demand less waste. Tell your local stores you want products with minimal or recycled packaging.

Kudos to companies like Wallmart, who score their suppliers on how recyclable and energy efficient their products are, or General Motors, who require

suppliers to take back all packaging in which parts were delivered, and recycle almost all of their waste worldwide.

 Consume less. We have a problem with stuff. Since the industrial revolution began in the 1800s, the world has been on an unprecedented

consumption binge, with global warming as the consequence.

6. Join the movement

Together, we can combat climate change: Make your voice heard and join other concerned citizens working together to create a better future for our

planet. Here’s how you can help:

 Challenge injustices. Despite the fact that climate change is largely caused by the world’s richest countries, it’s the world’s poorest that

are hit most heavily by the impacts—devastating floods, droughts and other extreme weather events. Get inspired by Practical Action, who use simple,

innovative ideas to help change lives for the better.

7. Buy smart

Every time you make a purchase, you’re voting with your dollar for the type of system you support. To encourage change:

 Support. It’s never been easier to buy green products and services, thanks to the growing eco-market concerned with more than just cost

and quality. We consume every day, and there are so many great choices and companies doing good. Check out the Green Living Marketplace, or visit

a green consumer tradeshow in your area.

 Demand better options. We wish green choices were always easy to find and affordable, but the reality is that misguided laws and

policies often favour unsustainable products. Speak up on behalf of innovative green solutions and push for change.

4. Another view of green living is offered by Vanessa Farquharson in the video “Do’s and Don’ts
of Green Living”.

a) Watch it first and answer the following questions:

1. What is the biggest mistake in the people’s concept of green living?
2. What may hide under an “eco-friendly” label?
3. Why does an option between local and important food make a problem for green
living?
4. How can one become a real green?
5. Is it possible for everyone to start up green life?
b) Watch it again and fill in the gaps using the words in the box.

healthy looking, unplug, propellants, packaging, natural, waste

reduction, green movements, non-organic, eco-friendly, nutritionist,
plastic, ingredient, propylene glycol, conserving water, consuming,
antifreeze, garbage, solar panels, preservatives, green living,
fragrances, organic product, hybrid car

Vanessa Farquharson is just the average girl, except she keeps a blog, has
written an book and has inspired tons of followers after spending a year
making her life more (1)__________. Hi, I’m Rebecca Britton and welcome to
watch_water.com and today we are speaking with Farquharson to get some do’s
and don’ts of how to make your life more green.

B: Well, what you say is the biggest mistake most people make in terms of
(2) _______________?
F: What bothers me, I guess, as when people kinda just wonna pay the way
they’re green. Some buy them (3) ___________ and buy a (4)____________,
throwing money at the (5)_____________, which won’t necessarily work, because
it’s more in a role and mentality you have to have for just (6) _________
less.
B: Is there anything you were surprised to learn as not eco-friendly?
F: Well, there’s a lot of products that claim to be (7)_________, that are
full of (8)__________, and (9) __________ and (10) _________ and staff.
Unfortunately you just have to do you research and read every single
(11) __________ lest, you know, all this staff like at Starbucks whatever
they have as (12) _______________salads you read ingredients like
(13) _____________, which I think is some root of an (14)_________, it’s
like…
B: Was there a problem you encountered that you didn’t foresee?
F: You often have to chose between an imported (15) ______________and a
local (16) __________ product. The rule that my (17) _________ friend has is
like first is local organic, second is local, third is organic.
B: What would you say is the trick to making these changes and sticking with
them?
F: Find your own or may be your niche you just something you really care
about most, I mean some people just don’t care so much about (18) ___________
and kneel at the tap-run, and may be care a lot about (19)______________ and
(20)_________, and I know personally that’s kind of my situation like I just
hate creating garbage, I hate buying things with lots of (21) __________.
There’s a lot of blogs where people are trying just not buy any (22)
___________, not consume any plastic whatsoever. It’s just gonna be some
thing that you really care about for whatever reason. And just focus on that,
be like yourself, have a few things every now and then.
B: Do you believe anyone can live as eco-friendly as you?
F: Do you think that everyone can step outside of their comforts on more than
I did? I really’d never thought to be that type of a person to (23) ________
my fridge one day but I did and I was so surprised how easy it was. I’m
surprising myself at how much happier I am having done all these things that
I never though I would. So, it’ll just help more people just take that leap.
 5. Consider the chart below and decide which option is an
odd one according to the sample in option No. 1. The
answers may differ depending on your opinion, which you
will have to voice.

Environment

A B C
1. green efficient environmentally friendly
“Green” and “environmentally friendly are words used to discuss protecting the environment. “Efficient” may be
just relevant to the topic.
2. to prevent to save to protect

3. to disagree with to campaign for to oppose

4. traffic jams motorway tolls traffic accidents

5. nuclear energy oil pollution radioactive waste

6. to recycle to share to reuse

7. sustainable limited renewable

8. an oil rig a power station a recycling plant

6. So, what is green living? Visit the site dedicated to Green Living and formulate. Brainstorm in
groups 5 main points of green living for you.

7. Consider the following sites. Find a piece of advice on green living you like best and share it
with the group using speaking strategies:
Good Housekeeping, Green Living, Pinterest. Green Living, Green Living at Home, Green
Home, The Green Guide