1. Unit 17 – Health, social and environmental responsibility

2. Wellbeing of the environment
Laws and policies to protect environment
Everyone has the right to:
An environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being.
Environmental protection for this generation and those to come
Note:
Different government departments are responsible
for protecting different aspects of the environment

3. Health of the environment
SA – environmental protection protocols that are binding (there are checks and balances which must be adhered to).
Africa – world leader in prevention of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

4. National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)
Air Quality Act
Waste Act
Biodiversity Act
Coastal Management Act
Protected Areas Act
The Environmental Conservation Act
Marine Living Resources Act

5. Health of the environment
Environmental crime
Can have serious social and economic impacts.
Can destroy resources and threaten sustainability.
Examples:
Dumping hazardous waste
Hunting endangered species (rhino)
Mining in protected areas
*Can you think of other examples?

6. Waste
What is waste?
Unwanted materials that are discarded of because they are no longer needed.
It can be solid, liquid or gas.
Types of waste:
Municipal waste
Industrial waste
Hazardous waste
Human waste

7. What do we do with our waste?
Dumping on land
Developing countries– empty pieces of land
Developed countries – landfill sites
Dumping in water and space
Causes water pollution
Toxins kill plants, fish and aquatic biodiversity
Human waste in water causes diseases

8. What do we do with our waste?
Incineration
Rubbish is burnt in incinerators when there is not enough space to build landfill sites.
Problems with incinerators:
Expensive
Gives off toxic ash and gasses
Large amounts of
ash left behind

9. National Earth Day Earth Day – 22 April
First Earth Day was on 22 April 1970.
General and community involvement
Wear a green ribbon and clothing
Environmental awareness information
Community clean-ups
Plant an indigenous tree
*What else could you do?

10. National Earth Day At home At school Solar water heater
Turn off plugs/lights when not being used
Energy efficient bulbs
Put used water into garden
At school
Reusable container for school lunch
School food garden
Litter awareness campaign at school