1. Environmental Issues in East and South Asia
SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia.
a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers.
b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China.
All images are from Google Images. Video is from NBC News

2. Warm Up: Which environmental issue does each picture depict
Warm Up: Which environmental issue does each picture depict? List as many facts as you can about each issue.

3. Monsoon Cycles
Summer Cycle (wet monsoon season): The winds come off the ocean carrying warm, moist air which becomes rain on land.
Winter Cycle (dry monsoon season): The winds come from the land bringing cool, dry air. Rain occurs off land.

4. The dry monsoon season can lead to a period of extreme drought
The dry monsoon season can lead to a period of extreme drought. This picture shows people in India visiting a communal well for their water needs.
The wet monsoon season can bring floods. This pictures shows a young boy trying to pull his cart through a flooded city street.

5. The Polluted Ganges River
NBC News: Polluted Rivers Series

6. Pollution problems are similar on the Yangtze River.

7. This picture shows a stream polluted by industrial waste feeding into the Yangtze River.
This picture shows Chinese boys fishing on the trash-filled banks of the Yangtze. Despite the high levels of pollution, people still must rely on this river as both a water and a food source.

8. Satellite image of the Asian Brown Cloud.

9. Brown cloud blocks out the sun.
The city skyline is barely visible through the cloud.
People out walking and biking through the cloud. Should they be protecting themselves? What should they do?

10. Pollution on the Ganges River Pollution on the Yangtze River
Copy The Chart
Name of Concern
What it is
Cause
Effects
Possible solutions
Monsoons
Season winds that bring summer rains and cool dry winter air.
Tilting of the earth that changes the direction of the wind
Brings 80% of region’s rainfall
Causes flooding, landslides, drought, agricultural and human losses
Better water management strategies such as dams, water conservation, and evacuation procedures
Asian Brown Cloud
Two mile thick cloud of air pollution stretching from SW to SE Asia
Industrial waste, slash and burn agriculture practices, vehicle exhaust
Damage to agriculture, respiratory illnesses, and acid rain
Reduce industrial wastes, change agricultural practices, reduce vehicle emissions
Pollution on the Ganges River
Ganges is the most sacred river in India and in the most populated region of the country
Religious and cultural practices, industrial and agricultural waste, lack of water treatment practices
Unsafe drinking water, disease and possible death, tainted agriculture
Change in religious and cultural practices, institute water treatment practices including human, industrial and agricultural wastes
Pollution on the Yangtze River
Yangtze is the third largest river in the world and the cradle of Asian civilization
Industrial and agricultural waste
Loss to marine life, unsafe drinking water
Change in agricultural and industrial waste policies

11. Show What You Know
Create a 3-section flipbook that uses each section to describe the environmental issues of monsoon winds, river pollution, and Asian Brown Cloud.
Use personalization as your technique to describe the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
Include a description of the issue, its cause and effect, and possible solutions to the problem.
Draw a picture on the front and put your information on the inside.

12. Example
I am the Yangtze River. Once, I was a mighty river and the location of the beginning of civilization in China. I supplied both food and water to my people. Now, my water and the food I help provide poison my people. Their agricultural and industrial waste have polluted me beyond all safe levels. I feel sad and useless. If only my people would enforce laws to protect me from those waste products and clean up the damage already done, I could again provide clean, safe water for the people and the food I help provide would again nourish a nation.
Outside flap
Inside flap

13. Show What You Know Create a digital story using storybird.com
Use personalization as your technique to describe the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
Include a description of the issue, its cause and effect, and possible solutions to the problem.

14. Show What You Know Create a fake facebook page using Fakebook.com
Use personalization as your technique to describe the situation. ( ex: I am Brown Cloud.)
Include a description of the issue, its cause and effect, and possible solutions to the problem.