Air Pollution 'Causes 467,000 Premature Deaths a Year in Europe.

 

A citizen is using a masker to protect herself from dangerous air pollution. Source: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/C244/production/_92623794_facemask.jpg

Based on an article with the same title posted by BBC on November 23, 2016

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38078488

 

There are approximately 467.000 people killed due to air pollution in Europe every year. The victims are mostly from urban areas in which vehicles are usually used and industrial activities are operating. In fact, the air has been contaminated by fine particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ground-level ozone (O3), which may jeopardize the citizens. They become vulnerable to heart disease and respiratory disruption. 

PM2.5 and PM10 are both particulate fine matter formed by human industrial processes or natural causes like forest fires. They are differentiated from each other by the size of each diameter in microns. They are so small that they can go through human respiratory system or even blood vessels. According to European Environment Agency (EEA), the level of air pollution is still high despite the improvement in air pollution between 2006 and 2014. There are three countries which have produced air pollution the most, and they are Bulgaria, Poland, and the Czech Republic  

I think it is the right time for citizens to take part in overcoming air pollution issue. We do not need to be experts to decrease the level of contaminated air. We can simply decline to use private vehicles, start to plant a tree, and avoid smoking. It is very important to do, but it is not as easy as we thought. As a result, good cooperation between the government and its people is needed to tackle air pollution.

Health Canada Proposes Ban on Pesticide Linked to Bee Deaths

A bee will be weaker and vulnerable to parasites as a result of pesticides exposure. Source: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/B973/production/_92657474_mediaitem84448047.jpg

Based on an article with the same title posted by BBC on November 24, 2015

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38096765

 

Neonicotinoid and Imidacloprid are kinds of pesticide being assessed by Canadian health regulator or Health Canada after finding those pesticide polluting waterways and killing beneficial insects and aquatic animals. Thus, Health Canada has proposed a new regulation to ban the use of those dangerous pesticides in the agricultural regions especially on corn and canola crops. It involves citizens to give feedback about the proposal for 90 days before Health Canada comes to final decision. 

Murray Borer, a president of his regional beekeeper’s association, believed that this new regulation was good news for all beekeepers although it took too much time to be proposed. He suspected that those pesticides were the main cause of the degradation in his business since the use of pesticides made bees become weaker and vulnerable to some parasites. The case actually has happened since 2012 when there were a lot of bees dying due to neonicotinoid use in Quebec and Ontario. Health Canada has been trying to re-evaluate the pesticides since then.

I agree with the initiative conducted by Health Canada. Indeed, the use of pesticides has brought both advantages and disadvantages to environment. It helps farmers to keep the crops. On the other hand, it kills a lot of animals and even contaminates the environment. Human also gets the effect of the excessive use of pesticides as it will influence human’s health. Regardless of that good step, I think Health Canada should find another alternative which is environmentally friendly for farmers to keep their crops when the regulation is officially applied.

Seasonal Wetlands Face Uncertain Future

 

Seasonal wetlands appear in the form of shallow water in rainy season. Source: http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/173CF/production/_92638159_dsc_0630.jpg

Based on an article with the same title posted by BBC on November 25, 2016

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38091006

 

Ephemeral wetlands are ecosystems which only appear temporarily in rainy season. These kind of ecosystems can be found in the US, Greece, and South Africa. These unique wetlands are habitats for a lot of peculiar plants and animals especially the aquatic ones which do not live in permanent wetlands. Nevertheless, the seasonal wetlands are predicted to become endangered in the future because of some reasons. Consequently, those unique species are also on the edge of local extinction.

The first factor threatening the sustainability of ephemeral wetlands is people who are in attempt to dig up or make them permanent. As a result, people indirectly exchange the peculiar special in ephemeral wetlands with the new species. Another factor is climate change causing unpredictable rainfall and temperature patterns. To preserve the ephemeral wetlands, there have to be credible records about the ecosystems and species inhabiting there. Through that action, further law supporting the precious ecosystems can be initiated.

Preserving such unique ecosystems is not an easy task. Therefore, I suppose that not only experts but also ordinary people have to take fast and real actions in a good collaboration. That action is very necessary to be done since those ecosystems will as well affect human’s life. Just in case they do not influence our lives, we still have to save them as they consist of living creatures, and it is our responsibility to prove that we deserve to be called human.

S Korea Sees Largest Protests against President Park Geun-hye

 

South Korean people are demanding President Park Geun-hye to leave the office. Source: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/A291/production/_92671614_mediaitem92671613.jpg

Based on an article with the same title posted by BBC on November 26, 2016

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38114558

 

South Korea has witnessed the biggest demonstration after pro-democracy demonstrations in 1980s. A series of demonstrations has occurred in the capital and other areas across South Korea since five weeks ago. Protesters have compelled President Park Geun-hye to resign due to the presidential scandal involving her friend, Choi Soon-sil. Instead of leaving the office, President Park simply delivered her apology to the public. 

President Park admitted that she had put too much faith in her personal relationship. She has agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the scandal which made her friend, Choi Soon-sil, got arrested this month. The prime suspect has been accused of using President Park’s power to obtaining abundant money as business donations for a non-profit fund she organized from South Korean companies. Meanwhile, President Park has to face the possibility of impeachment. 

I believe that a president must be the role model of his/her people. I think President Park Geun-hye is being blind with power. It is very obvious that she has done something wrong, but she is too reluctant to step down. Not all things can be done by apology, so she has to console her citizens by fulfilling their demand. This case might be an indication that if the president herself has the nerve to break the law, then her subordinates can do the same.

Migrant Crisis: Turkey Threatens EU with New Surge

 

Migrants have to go through a rough sea from Turkey to Greek islands. Source: http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/69AF/production/_92655072_mediaitem92655071.jpg

 

Based on an article with the same title posted by BBC on November 25, 2016

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38103375

 

The number of migrants heading toward Greece has decreased this year. Obviously, it happens not because all migrants suddenly cease to seek refuge, but it happens due to EU-Turkey deal in March to limit migrants who come to Greece. As a result, Turkey has accommodated nearly three million migrants, and it will get privilege from the EU including aid, visa-free travel for its people, and discussion about membership in exchange. However, the deal does not run well like Turkey has expected as a non-binding vote was held by the European Parliament to decide whether they have to delay the discussion about the membership of Turkey.

 

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that if the EU does not fulfill its own pledge, Turkey will break the agreement as well. He said that he would let migrants move to Greece, and he would not accept any migrants sent back from Greek islands due to asylum official request. Ulrike Demmer, the spokeswoman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, supposed that threats would not work since both parties need each other to achieve their interest. What’s more, President Erdogan’s cliché strategy has no effect to change European’s leaders decisions despite the risk of losing the deal.

Migrants issue seems to be misused by several countries in which asylum-seekers expect to start new lives. I pretty understand why European countries are trying to restrict the number of refugees to live in because it will absolutely affect their people, laws, and economy. In some countries, those refugees might disrupt social order or even cause civil unrest. Those countries still have to treat their people well and fairly. Frankly speaking, it is pathetic to see Turkey has used this moment to get what it wants. In other words, Turkey hosts migrants based on greediness and its own agenda instead of conscience or humanity.