ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
CGR4M1
SEPTEMBER. 2010
MR. B. DUNCAN
Environmental Issues Project
Pollution is a pressing issue in every country; but nowhere is it more alarming than in the
developing countries. As these countries continually strive for a better life, the environmental
impacts of their development are devastating.
The Blacksmith Institute, founded in 1999, has made it their mission to bring these heavy
polluting countries and cities to the forefront of the media. Each year they rank and publish a list
of the ‘dirty thirty’ – the worst examples of pollution in the world. Their goal is to encourage and
support these cities (and the companies causing the pollution) to clean up their act and make the
environment a safe place for their citizens.
The following is a list of the ten worst polluted problems from Blacksmith’s 2008 World’s Worst
Polluted Places (as well as the city or region where the environmental damage is found.)
Top 10 Pollution Problems
Locations
• Artisanal Gold Mining
• Contaminated Surface Water
• Indoor Air Pollution
• Industrial Mining Activities
• Groundwater Contamination
• Metals Smelting and Processing
• Radioactive Waste
and Uranium Mining
• Untreated Sewage
• Urban Air Quality
• Used Lead Acid Battery Recycling
Kalimantan, Indonesia
Old Korogwe, Tanzania
Accra, Ghana
Rudnaya Pristan Region, Russia
West Bengal, India
Candelara, Chile
Cherrnobyl, Russia
Shanghai, China
Delhi, India
Haina, Dominican Republic
In 2009, the Blacksmith Institute change their approach. In the introduction to the 2009 Report,
Richard Fuller states: ‘Whereas our earlier reports focused on educating people about pollution’s
existence and impact, this year we want to celebrate successes. We do this to show that the problems can
be tackled successfully even with limited funding, and through models, can be replicated around the
world. Doing so would save innumerable lives, aid economic development, improve neighborhoods and
increase general intelligence.’ The 2009 Report then continues to identify the success stories for each of
the top 10 worst pollution problems.
Your task for this project is to select one of the 10 problem areas (listed above) and report on the history,
the issues and the environmental impacts of the problem and on the potential solutions to the problem.
The final product will be presented as a Bristol board project.
General background information on the top 10 pollution problems can be found in the 2008 Report of the
World’s Worst Pollution Problems at http://www.worstpolluted.org/ . Use the 2008 link to access the
information.
1. The first part of your report should include a general description of the problem, the environmental and
social context of the problem, the exposure pathways and the health impacts. This information will be
fairly general in nature but should be presented in sufficient detail so the reader of your poster can
understand the severity of the pollution problem.
2. Then you will use the World’s Worst Polluted Places 2009 document (found at the same website as
above) – but click on 2009 to find information on the potential solutions that have been suggested for this
problem in a specific location.
There are two parts to this section of the assignment. First, identify why this specific site was chosen by
the Blacksmith Institute (their rationale). Include information about the context and specific site details of
the chosen location, the exposure pathways and health impacts (who was affected by this pollution
problem and how they were affected).
In the second part of this section, you should identify and discuss in detail the intervention put in place to
solve the pollution problem, its potential for use in other areas and any remaining challenges not yet
addressed.
Evaluation
The poster will be marked out of 80 according to the following chart.
Communication
20 marks
(use of proper terminology, graphics, pictures and the professionalism of the poster)
Knowledge
20 marks
(description of the pollution problem (based on the 2008 Blacksmith listing))
Thinking
20 marks
(discussion of the rationale, exposure pathways, and health impacts)
Application
20 marks
(discussion of the proposed intervention (solution) and its implications
Please see the attached rubric for more information.
Environmental Issues Project
Name: ______________________________
Evaluation Rubric
Criteria
Level
0
0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1-
1
+1
2-
2
2+
3-
3
3+
4-
4
4+
Below
50%
50 52%
53 56%
57 59%
60 62%
63 66%
67 69%
70 72%
73 76%
77 79%
8084%
8589%
90100%
Level 1
not
reached
Limited use of
environmental terms.
Visual components not
present
Communication
Effective use of
terms, graphics and
pictures
Evaluation
0
1-
1
1+
Some use of proper
environmental terms.
Visuals are limited in
effectiveness.
2-
2
2+
Considerable use of
proper environmental
terms. Visuals are
effective and
adequately presented.
3-
3
3+
Thorough and effective
use of environmental
terms. Visuals are
highly effective and
professionally
presented.
4-
4
4+
Knowledge
Description of the
Environmental
Problem (2008)
Evaluation
Level 1
not
reached
0
Limited accurate
information. Basics of
the problem are not
provided.
1-
1
1+
Some accurate
information. Basics of
the problem are given
but not effectively.
2-
2
2+
Considerable accurate
information is
presented. Basics of
the problem are given
and are detailed.
3-
3
3+
Thorough, accurate
information is
presented. Basics of the
problem are given in
great detail.
4-
4
4+
Thinking
Description of the
rationale for site
inclusion (the
problem, numbers
effected) and
exposure pathways
Evaluation
Level 1
not
reached
0
Information reflects
limited understanding
of the rationale for the
project.
No mention of
exposure pathways.
Many facts are
missing.
Demonstrates little
understanding of the
complexity of the
problem.
1-
1
1+
Information reflects
some understanding of
the rationale for the
project.
Limited discussion of
exposure pathways.
Some key facts are
missing.
Demonstrates some
understanding of the
complexity of the
problem.
2-
2
2+
Information reflects
adequate
understanding of the
rationale for the
project.
Good discussion of
exposure pathways
Not missing many
facts.
Demonstrates
adequate
understanding of the
problem.
3-
3
3+
Information reflects a
high degree of
understanding of the
rationale for the project.
In depth discussion of
exposure pathways
No major facts are
missing.
Demonstrates insightful
understanding of the
problem.
4-
4
4+
Application
Description of the
approaches to the
solution and the
intervention to the
problem
Evaluation
Level 1
not
reached
0
Approaches to the
solution are not
identified. No
intervention is
identified.
Demonstrates little
understanding of the
complexity of the
solution.
1-
1
1+
Approaches to the
solution are identified
but with limited
details. The
intervention is
identified.
Demonstrates some
understanding of the
complexity of the
solution.
2-
2
2+
Approaches to the
solution are identified
with adequate detail.
The intervention is
identified and
discussed in some
detail.
Demonstrates a good
understanding of the
complexity of the
solution.
3-
3
3+
Approaches to the
solution are identified
thoroughly and
accurately with
considerable detail. All
aspects of the
intervention are
discussed in full detail.
Demonstrates
considerable
understanding of the
complexity of the
solution.
4-
4
4+