NATURE

BOOK

LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME

COMENIUS Bilateral school partnership

WE DESERVE A BETTER PLANET TO LIVE ON

NATURE BOOK

BULGARIA, PORTUGAL

Humanity is a biological species, living in a biological

environment, because like all species, we are exquisitely
adapted in everything: from our behavior, to our genetics, to
our physiology, to that particular environment in which we
live. The earth is our home. Unless we preserve the rest of
life, as a sacred duty, we will be endangering ourselves by
destroying the home in which we evolved, and on which we
completely depend.
Edward O. Wilson

We, students and teachers participating in the Comenius

school partnership We deserve a better planet to live on
dedicate this book to all people who want to preserve the
beauty of our planet for the next generation and to make it
a better place to live on.

Contents
ESSAYS WRITTEN BY BULGARIAN STUDENTS ................................................ 4
The privilege to live on the Earth .............................................................................5
The Earth is our only home ....................................................................................... 6
Save our planet ..............................................................................................................7
Pollution of the planet the price we pay for the modern world .................... 9
Pollution - what can we do to reduce it? ...............................................................10
Environmental problemswhat can be done to solve them? ............................ 11
All about people and nature .................................................................................... 13
ESSAYS WRITTEN BY PORTUGUESE STUDENTS ............................................. 15
Azores a land of natural beauty .......................................................................... 16
Deforestation................................................................................................................ 17
Greenhouse effect......................................................................................................... 18
Smog: causes and solution ......................................................................................... 19
Overfishing ................................................................................................................... 21
Overpopulation ........................................................................................................... 22
DRAWINGS MADE BY STUDENTS ....................................................................... 24

ESSAYS
WRITTEN BY
BULGARIAN STUDENTS

The privilege to live on the Earth

The privilege to live on the Earth is given to us but we
pollute and destroy our planet day by day. It fights with a
lot of problems caused by us.
Climate change is one of the greatest threats for our
planet. The use of coal, gas, intensive agriculture,
deforestation and lots of other human activities increase the
amount of hothouse gases in the air. This increases the
temperature of the Earth which lead to melting of polar ice,
uploading the level of the ocean, floods, disappearance of
species. Regularity of the quality of the environment and
our physical functioning as organisms depends on solving all
these problems. Fortunately, it is not too late to solve them.
We still have the time to make our planet a better, cleaner
and safer place. There is something each of us can do to
preserve the environment. Each of us can contribute to this
cause by doing simple things-moving by public transport or
going on foot instead of driving cars to reduce the air
pollution, using energy saving light bulbs, switching off the
lights and computers when are not in use.
To sum up, if we all take care of the Earth we actually
will help ourselves because the Earth is the only place we
can live on.
Petya Tododrova, 10b

The Earth is our only home

The Earth is our home and we are inseparable part of
it. It is the only place where we, human beings can live on
and we have always depended on it. We have the power to
destroy it or to save it for all the next coming generations.
We can protect our planet and enjoy all its gifts or we can
let it die and die with it. Because what happens to the Earth
it also happens to us.
Our planet is in great danger nowadays because of the
serious problems it is facing every day global warming, air
and
water
pollution,
overpopulation,
acid
rains,
deforestation, soil erosion, habitat loss. It is not easy to solve
all this problems but fortunately we still have the time to
make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place by
recognizing the importance of taking care of the
environment. There is something each of us can do to
preserve it. Each of us can contribute to this cause by doing
simple things- using eco-friendly products, biodegradable
packings and energy saving light bulbs, by not wasting too
much water on washing and switching off the lights and
computers when are not in use. It is a good idea to use public
transport or go on foot instead of driving cars to reduce the
air pollution.
To sum up, the best way to save our future is to start
take care of the Earth and thus we will help ourselves. It is
our responsibility and must do our best.

Adriana Dimitrova, 10b

Save our planet

Every day we throw so much of different kind of
packaging, boxes, plastics, iron, etc., which form mountains
of junk. All this harms not only our planet but also on us.
Substances that these dirt separate in the nature, pollute
and destroy, leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect,
which in turn destroys the ozone layer that protects us from
the harmful rays of the sun. When they get into watersheds
in compounds with water become dangerous chemicals that
pollute the water and are also able to destroy some species,
leading to disruption of ecosystems. Furthermore, when the
water evaporates, it goes into the clouds, wherein when
forming certain compounds and the acid rain that has
destructive properties. In the air litter with his harmful
effects reduces the oxygen we breathe. Despite the many
damages that cause these wastes, the sight is not
particularly pleasant. They cause massive and abrupt
climate changes that violate the natural rhythm of our
planet which leading to loss of animal, plant species, new
diseases and daily shortening our lives. Nature itself has
created mechanisms and natural products that are
available to help each of us, but we are becoming more
materialized and mechanized society, we create a very
artificial and unnecessary things that are pile up us every
day and remind that healthy lifestyle is the best.
Not only garbage threatens harm life on our planet.
Annual clearing of thousands of hectares forest is also
harmful. With a similar result are the killing of animal
species, fertilizers that are put into the soil to have a fast
growing fruits and vegetables. Construction of beaches, fields,
in general of every free area, sprawl and construction of
more plants, factories and different types of mains, concrete
dams of most of the rivers in the world. You can add and
rapid wasting and draining the planet's resources. The

combination of all this leads to rapid destruction of us and

our habitat.
Recently it is talked about solutions to this problem
worldwide. One way to salvation is recycling. It not only
allows us to reduce the production of garbage, but to use it
again and again. If we reduce other human activities that
cause serious damage to the place where we live, so will
further increase the benefits and ways to save our lifes.
Do not we deserve a better planet to live on? Is not it
nice to walk in a beautiful green lawn without paper and
plastic bags around, sipping a glass of crystal clear water
and breathing clean air and productive, odorless gasoline,
diesel, coal, etc. ? Why do not we plant a tree for every year,
we do not use artificial Christmas tree, or use a little plastic
products, save the water and turn off the lights not only for
the Earth Day. We need more and good, full life on our
Earth, but it depends on us.
Polly Kasakova, 10b

Pollution of the planet the price we pay for the

modern world
I think all of us are aware of the state of the world.
Public awareness has been raised these last years, but are
we really aware of what we are up against.
The melting of the ice on the Polar caps does not seem
like a big issue, but the truth is all the continents are sinking
because of the melted ice. The changes need to start now if
we want to save the world.
Acid rain, the disappearance of the ozone layer, more
sickness and a steady rice in temperature which does not
stop.
These are just a few of the issues we face.
Scientists are trying to find new ways to use exploit the
natural sources of energy to our advantages. There are
ways to use solar power instead of burning fossil fuels and
the technologies are improving every day.
No matter how many advertisements are made there
could always be more, and different ways which will make
more people participate. This planet is our home but with
our destructive way of living we are turning it into a
graveyard. A graveyard which will swallow us all if it must
stop us. We should care more about the Earth- our place of
residence, source of food and water. The change starts with
every one of us. Small steps make a big change.

Elina Kircheva , 10a

Pollution - what can we do to reduce it?

Our planet is polluted but we can change that because
we all deserve a better planet to live on.
Why the world cant be green with many forests, clean
rivers and pure lakes?
The main factors for pollution are the outflow of dirty
water or used chemicals from factories and the fumes and
mucky smoke from chimneys. Cars and aircraft are also
example for the pollution in our planet. Bottles, tines and
other cast-off items are choking canals, streams and rivers
of the world. Massive loads of terrifying lethal chemicals
and atomic waste have been dumped into the oceans where
they quietly lie like time bombs, waiting for the
decomposition of their metal or concrete containers.
If we dont do anything to save our planet, the impact
based on theory is maybe inevitable. There are little things
we can do every day to help reduce greenhouse gases and
make a less harmful impact on the environment. Taking
care of the earth is not just a responsibility its a privilege.
We can help reduce pollution just by putting that soda can
in a different bin. We will also help environment when we
go to school or workby bicycles, not by cars. It is also good
when we turn off lights when were not in the room and
unplug appliances when were not using them. It only takes
a second to be environmentally conscious. What will we do if
a tree dies? I think we have to plant another.
People start pollution and people can stop it. We have
to do it with pleasure, because when we do it we dont only
save our earth, we also save our live.
Vicky Kaneva , 10a

10

Environmental problemswhat can be done to solve

them?
The earth is considered one of the most beautiful
planets in the universe. It is the only planet in the galaxy
that has enough water to support life. Unfortunately, the
planet is suffering due to many environmental problems
that may affect people, societies, and ecosystems. These
problems can result in major consequences for everyone's
daily life. The major environmental problem that is facing
the world today is global warming.
Global warming is defined as the increase of the
average temperature on earth. This increase in the earths
temperatures is the cause of natural disasters like
hurricanes, floods and droughts which are becoming
increasingly frequent all over the world. The effects of global
warming are very dangerous for our existence and survival.
Unless global warming is not controlled, no men, animals
will be able to live, grow and thrive. So, we should try to
maintain the ecological balance to decrease the effects of
global warming. There are several things we can do to solve
the problem of global warming. Trees are cut by humans
every day. And we dont even realize that without trees on
our planet, it will become a hotter place just like a large
desert and our lives will be harder and even impossible. We
should plant more trees because they absorb carbon dioxide
and produce oxygen We should also use less energy and
recycle more products. Generating electricity is one of the
main sources of carbon dioxide. If we use less electricity, we
will produce less C02. We should all be very concerned about
our future on Earth as human beings. We may not be at
such an immediate risk of burning to death, but our future
descendants are. Every year, the overall temperature has
gone up slowly. Eventually Earth will be too hot to live on,
and the human race will become extinct! The best way to
save our future is to start now.
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In conclusion, if we make small changes now in the

way we live, we can avoid huge changes in the future.
Scientists, governments and individuals must work together
to overcome this threat.
Katy Anadoliiska, 11a

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All about people and nature

Nature is where we all come from. Its everything
around us, every answer of our problems, everything we
need to be healthy. But we are so stupid creatures. We make
our life harder and harder and harder every single day.
People somehow think they are more then the wild power of
nature. Somehow they think they can change everything in
whatever way they want. Cant they understand that we
need just as much as the nature gives us? Why does it have
to be that hard, since its all so plain and simple?! Pollution
is so common word these days. There is a whole bunch of
people that make money just by talking about pollution,
organizing campaigns and so on and so forth. But! But
nothing seems to change. Just because nobody seems to care
enough. But we really pollute the air, the soil, the water and
everything ells around us. Why and how?
Lets talk about the air. In Bulgaria we dont have a lot
of factories but we have so many cars. People are getting as
lazy as possible, I have friends who have no idea what it
means to take the bus to somewhere, god knows why they
think that driving there own car makes them speci n some
way. Living out in the country for so many years helped me
understand that walking is not only good for the
environment, but mostly healthy for us. And riding a bike is
such an amazing feeling for sure. Its so relaxing to feel the
air blowing in your face and to know that the speed depends
only on your own strength. Keeping the air clean is not
hard at all, its almost as easy as everything ells. Just we
have to think a little.
There are so many things to do, so many things that
need to change! If I were an ecology minister Ill hardly find
time to eat. In the last one hundred years the world is
getting so dirty and polluted and as I said, nobody seems to
care about that. But Ill sure have to start from somewhere.

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One of the biggest problems in Bulgaria is that everyone

builds everything, everywhere and cuts trees just because
they are in ones way, or because one could make money that
way. So, my idea is to bring in a requirement for every new
building plan (its supposed to have a yard twice bigger than
the building itself or it just cant exist). Then someone has to
control real closely every new building plan and stop it in
time if the requirement isnt observed.
When I was manager for a day last year I was amazed
by the huge waist of paper in that institution. They printed
the same document probably ten times or more. I thought
they are crazy, but they werent. Soon I understood that its
almost the same in every office, school, institution around
the world. That has to change fast. all the kids at school and
all the working people need to plant at least three new trees
every year required by law. There has to be a limit of paper
for each institution and using the new technologies has to be
strongly encouraged from now on both at school and
everywhere ells. I hope these little changes will make our
planet a bit greener.
Being alive, being part of that huge world full of
different people is not easy sometimes. But after all, people
say that were the only rational beings on earth. Lets try
not to act like the most stupid creatures ever lived! And as I
love saying. Lets never forget that were a result of millions
of years of evolution. Thats what I call a huge responsibility.
Wouldnt it be terrible if at the end appears it was all for
nothing!

Kalinka Boneva, 10a

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ESSAYS
WRITTEN BY
PORTUGUESE STUDENTS

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Azores a land of natural beauty

Azores are one of the two autonomous regions of
Portugal. It is formed of nine volcanic islands West of
Portugal continental which are Ilha de So Miguel, Ilha do
Pico, Ilha da Terceira, Ilha do Faial, Flores, Ilha de So
Jorge, Graciosa, Corvo e Ilha de Santa Maria. The vast
extent of the islands is an immense exclusive economic zone.
The highest point of Portugal is located in Pico, with an
altitude of 2352 m.
Pico
Pico is one of the most beautiful islands of Azores. It is
the second major island and its mountain is the highest
point of Portugal, known as well as Ilha-Montanha. It has 14
806 citizens. The island has a great gastronomy, specially
sea food like crab, clams, limpets, octopus and crayfish. .
Dolphins and Whales
The Azores are currently one of the worlds largest
whale sanctuaries. Among resident and migrant species,
common or rare, more than 20 different types of cetaceans
can be spotted in the Azores. Its an ecosystem with unique
characteristics, with whales and dolphins.
Ins Correia

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Deforestation

Trees are wonders of nature and a great gift to humans

as they are immensely useful to all of us. They give us so
much, taking almost nothing in return. Trees are essential to
our survival. They not only help to keep the climate in
balance, but more importantly, they support 60% of the
worlds wildlife by giving shelter and food for millions plant
and animal species. Also, they protect people and wildlife
from noise, dust, air pollution and ultraviolet radiation and
reduce the effect of the wind. In addition, forests provide us
with lots of products- fruits, nuts and seeds; wood to build
houses and make furniture and to be used as fuel.
Main causes of deforestation (a process of complete and
permanent disappearance of forests).
Forest fires of human and natural source
Need to expand the areas for agriculture and livestock;
Timber extraction
Urban
expansion
and
development
of
lines
of
communication;
Development and growth of the tourist areas;
Air pollution and phenomena arising, for example acid rain
leads, consequently, to decreased diversity of plant and
animal species.
Consequences of Environmental deforestation:
Soil erosion and desertification (lost of fertility of soils)
Climate changes in order to evapotranspiration ( the soil
loses water because of evaporation and the animals and
plants also lose water by transpiration)
Decline of biodiversity (extinction or modification of several
habitats, and the number of animal and vegetal species)
Reduction of the production/emission of oxygen Solutions
for the deforestation
lLss observation of carbon dioxide
Increase of carbon dioxide on atmosphere).
Beatriz Garcia
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Greenhouse effect
How does the Earth stay warm and comfortable in
coldness of space? Temperatures on Earth are liveable
because of a natural process we call the greenhouse effect.
The process of the Greenhouse effect:
It starts with the Sun.
When the suns radiation reaches our atmosphere, some
is reflected back into space and some passes through and is
absorbed by the Earth. This causes the surface to warm up.
In other words, the greenhouse effect is a process by
which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is
absorbed by a blanket of atmospheric greenhouse gases, and
is re-radiated in all directions (some towards space and
other towards the ground). This keeps the Earths
temperature at a level necessary to support life.
This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse
effect.
The major non-gas
greenhouse effect.

contributor

to

the

Earth's

Clouds also absorb and emit infrared radiation and

thus have an effect on radioactive properties of the
atmosphere.
Angela Brum

18

Smog: causes and solution

mog is a type of air pollution that is very common in

big cities.
Smog is caused by many factors. The smog that enters
the atmosphere consists of over 100 chemicals, many coming
from different sources.Particulates present in smog include
carbon monoxide, dirt, soot, dust, and ozone. To really
create the smog effect, sunlight, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen
oxides have to mix together.Major producers of smog
include automobiles, fires, waste treatment, oil production,
industrial solvents, paints, and coatings.Car engines,
especially diesel engines, as well as gas stations that allow
gas to be leaked out are huge contributors to the smog
problem.
Gas vapor that gets away from gas pumps
contributes
to
the
hydrocarbons
needed
to
form
smog. Diesel engines emit particles of soot that enter the
atmosphere.a city, especially during summer months. Today,
the smog problems created by cars are becoming
increasingly severe. As gas prices decline, consumers are
buying cars that use more gas, and hence pollute the
atmosphere to a greater extent. When an area becomes
covered with smog, the people feel the effects immediately.
Unlike other problems, which may be harder to understand
and visualize, smog creates immediate problems that
everyone will experience. It can cause anything from
minor pain to deadly diseases such as lung cancer. Smog
slowly ruins people's lungs to an extent as great as that of
cigarettes.
Smog is is an increasingly dangerous problem in today's
society and has detrimental impacts on health and the
environment. However, there are many things people can
do to decrease the smog in their communities.

19

Since cars are one of the main causes of smog, one way
to eliminate the problem is to stop driving everywhere. We
have to try walking or riding a bike. This not only helps the
ozone layer and the atmosphere, but also increases health by
creating opportunities to exercise. If a person's destination is
not too far away, this is a wonderful option.
Sometimes smog cannot be eliminated altogether, but it
can be reduced with less driving. Taking public
transportation is one way to reduce the number of cars on
the road. Buses, subways and other transportation systems
allow many people to ride at the same time. Carpooling is
another viable option.
Nothing is going to change until people are aware of
the problems smog creates. By informing neighbors and
friends about the effects of smog, we will encourage more
people to take the initiative and decrease their reliance on
personal cars.
Ins Correia
Nara Santos

20

Overfishing
Over three quarters of our planet are covered by the
oceans. Their biodiversity unmatched and they contain over
80 percent of all life on earth, mostly unexplored. Millions of
people worldwide are depending on the oceans for their
daily livelihoods. More and more all this is endangered
because of ignorance and a global lack of management.
Overfishing can be defined in a number of ways.
However, everything comes down to one simple point:
Catching too much fish for the system to support leads to an
overall degradation to the system. Overfishing is a nonsustainable use of the oceans .
Over 25% of all the world's fish stocks are either
overexploited or depleted. Another 52% is fully exploited,
these are in imminent danger of overexploitation
(maximum sustainable production level) and collapse. Thus
a total of almost 80% of the world's fisheries are fully- to
over-exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse. Worldwide
about 90% of the stocks of large predatory fish stocks are
already gone. In the real world all this comes down to two
serious problems.
We are losing species as well as entire ecosystems. As a
result the overall ecological unity of our oceans is under
stress and at risk of collapse.
We are in risk of losing a valuable food source many
depend upon for social, economical or dietary reasons.
Ines Ferreira

21

Overpopulation

That's what the human population has successfully been

doing for thousands and thousands of years, expanding,
exploring,

migrating,

conquering,

utilizing,

evolving,

civilizing, industrializing, and now, destroying the very

land upon which we live.
According to projections, the world population will
continue to grow until at least 2050, with the population
reaching 9 billion in 2040,
Wars to be fought in the future will continue to be over
natural resources.
Humans

everywhere

must

understand

that

rapid

population growth damages the Earth's resources and

diminishes human well-being."
Fresh water supplies are running low worldwide.
Declining water supplies is having disastrous consequences
for agriculture.
More than one out of six people lack access to safe
drinking water
World will sho80% of the world's commercial energy
comes from non-renewable fossil fuels and there is no
replacement to these resources.
Shortly come to an end of fossil fuels- the world's
primary energy resource.
Poverty and Overpopulation
22

During a remarkably short period of time, we have lost

a quarter of the world's topsoil and a fifth of its agricultural
land, altered the composition of the atmosphere profoundly,
and destroyed a major proportion of our forests and other
natural habitats without replacing them. Worst of all, we
have driven the rate of biological extinction, the permanent
loss of species, up several hundred times beyond its historical
levels, and are threatened with the loss of a majority of all
species by the end of the 21st century.
Think about it
Andre Galhofa

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DRAWINGS MADE BY STUDENTS

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