ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

ENVIRONMENT
Definition
Sum total of all surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and
other living things, which provide conditions for development and growth as
well as of danger and damage.

Kuwait - Environment
The Persian Gulf War of 1991 and its aftermath caused severe environmental
problems for Kuwait, releasing large quantities of oil into the environment and
threatening the water supply. Kuwait has no renewable water resources and must rely
on wells and desalination of sea water. The nation has some of the largest and most
advanced desalination plants in the world, which provides much of its water. Kuwait's
cities produce an average of0.9 million tons of solid waste per year. In 2001, one of
Kuwait's mammal species and three of its bird species were endangered. The slender-
billed curlew and hawksbill turtle are on the endangered list. The Sa'udi gazelle has
become extinct in the wild.

Kuwait environment 'highly polluted'

Kuwait does not purport to be a tourist destination and it is unlikely to adopt such
a position in the foreseeable future. On first appearances its physical
geography seems to be quite limited, comprising as it does a predominantly
desert landscape. Closer inspection, however, reveals a number of
interesting features. First, there is the desert itself which, as those who
have spent time in search of the country's natural delights will attest, has
some rewarding environments with plants and animals that show
fascinating adaptations to Kuwait's extreme temperatures. There are
several distinct regional or localized features such as Jal Az Zor escarpment
and ridge; Jahra marshes; Umm al-Rimam; Wadi Al Batin; Umm Niqa and
the sand dunes of southern Kuwait. One of the richest biotopes is Kuwait's
marine environment, both its shores and its underwater life. Here there are
gems to be discovered that would satisfy even the most sceptical of visitors
who felt that such an intensively developed country has little left to offer
nature-lovers. And finally, beyond its mainland coastline are Kuwait's
islands: Bubiyan, Failaka, Mishan, Umm al-Nammel, Auhhah, Kubbar, Qaruh
and Umm al-Maradim.

Gulf War Aftermath

Kuwait is one of the most polluted countries in the Gulf region, with its marine life,
atmosphere and soil degrading to alarming levels, said Dr Hamad Al-Mutar, Head of
Kuwait's Green Peace Organization and a Chemistry professor at the Kuwait
University. He added that the Cabinet's failure to address this issue and devise an
effective mechanism to resolve it.

Among other reasons, he cited the aftermath of burning more than 700 oil wells
during the 1991 Iraqi invasion. A thick, black cloud was formed that contained
several hydrocarbon substances which harmed all aspects of the environment for at
least five months.

Dr. Al-Mutar was speaking during a seminar organized by the Socialists Association
titled, 'Our Environment Is In Danger.' He added that the United Nations has
recommended that these hydrocarbon substances be treated biologically instead of
thermally. This is because in this method, substances are burnt at 1,500 degree
Centigrade.

However, he said that the Kuwaiti government has neglected this issue, clarifying that
the UN had contacted four countries (Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) and
provide them with compensations for eco-reform at a value of $5 billion. While all the
three other countries replied to the UN within two weeks of receiving the notice, Dr.
Al-Mutar said that Kuwait sent its reply after a year and a half.

Furthermore, Dr. Al-Mutar said that this inactivity on the Kuwaiti government's
behalf has forced the UN to issue warnings to Kuwait. He also noted that Kuwait's
soil has been almost completely polluted (ninety million square meters contaminated),
adding that this has a detrimental effect on Kuwait's agriculture, making produce unfit
for consumption.

Dr. Al-Mutar pointed out that Umm Al-Haiman area is considered the most-polluted
area in the country, noting that the Environment Public Authority (EPA) had
previously informed the Cabinet about the area's unsuitability for inhabitation due to
it close proximity to oil refineries in Al-Shuaiba.

Dr. Al-Mutar also stated that the pollution has aggravated due to the Mishref sewage
plant spill, saying that it had exposed matter to the public. The incident has placed the
government in a position in which it is obliged to meet with the challenges.

Furthermore, Dr. Al-Mutairi indicated that the 'Umm Al-Qawatti' area, located in the
northern part of the country, has been used by the Kuwaiti Army as a 'dumpster' for
unloading waste. It is also contaminated with Uranium, which has been responsible
for the rising cancer rates in the country, reported Al-Qabas.

Dr. Al-Mutairi concluded by saying that although the situation in the country has not
reached the red zone yet, it has crossed the 50 percentage mark. He called on activists
and the Kuwaiti public to continue placing pressure on the government to save
Kuwait's environment.

Desert in Bloom
The word 'desert' is somewhat of a misnomer for the arid steppe-lands and low-
lands of Kuwait's landscape. Scientists refer to the region as semi-desert and
during winter-time there is a remarkable amount of vegetation, sufficient to
support the camel-herds of old as well as a good variety of wildlife. Wild-flowers
blossom in the desert after rain has fallen, often displaying compressed life-cycles
whereby they emerge from the ground, bloom and produce seeds within very
short time-spans. There are several good places to observe the desert in flower,
the most famous of which is to the west of Kuwait, along the banks of tributaries
of Wadi Batin. But this is by no means the only place to look and almost any area
where rain-water collects will produce its own crop of desert flowers.

Interesting facts about oil, gas and

ocean environment
Below you will find some interesting information on oil, gas and ocean
environment. Click on the links provided to go directly to the source of
information.

What is the future of oil production?

EIA estimates that, based on recent USGS estimates of the
global oil resource base, worldwide oil production is likely to
continue increasing for more than three decades.

How much oil is there in the world?

In 1996 there were 1,047,200 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves, of
which 76.6 per cent was in OPEC Member Countries.

How much oil do the top oil producers produce a day?

Amount of oil produced per day:

• Saudi Arabia* - 8.1 million barrels per day;

*Including share of production from the Neutral Zone
• Former Soviet Union - 6.9 million barrels per day;
• United States - 6.5 million barrels per day;
• I.R. Iran - 3.6 million barrels per day;
• China - 3.2 million barrels per day.

Which countries use the most oil and gas?

The top oil user is the USA (17 million barrels per day) and top gas user is the
former Soviet Union

How much oil does the world consume each day?

The total world consumption of crude oil in 1996 was 71.7 million barrels per
day (there are 42 US gallons in a barrel, or 159 litres). OPEC estimates that
total world oil consumption could reach around 100 million barrels per day by
the year 2020.

How much oil enters the ocean?

The amount of petroleum products ending up in the ocean is
estimated at 0.25% of world oil production: about 6 million tons per
year.

How much oil enters the oceans with oil spills?

Oil spills account for only about five percent of the oil entering the oceans.
The Coast Guard estimates that for United States waters sewage treatment
plants discharge twice as much oil each year as tanker spills.
During the last decade, more than one billion gallons of oil spilled worldwide.

What is 'the number one' oil spill in terms of damage to the

environment?
The Exxon Valdez spill is widely considered the number one spill worldwide in
terms of damage to the environment. It is also the largest ever spill in the
United States, but ranks around 34th largest worldwide.

What are the world largest oil spills?

The three world largest oil spills are:

1. 26 January 1991; terminals, tankers; 8 sources total Sea Island

installations; Kuwait; off coast in Persian Gulf and in Saudi Arabia
(240.0 millions of gallons);
2. 03 June 1979; exploratory well Ixtoc I well; Mexico; Gulf of Mexico,
Bahia Del Campeche, 80 km NW of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche
(140.0 millions of gallons);
3. 02 March 1992; oil well; Uzbekistan; Fergana Valley (88.0 millions of
gallons)

How much oil was spilled during the Exxon Valdez?

The amount of spilled oil was 10.8 million gallons or 257,000 barrels or 38,800
metric tonnes. This amount of oil can fill up about 125 olympic-sized
swimming pools.

What are the most polluted ocean areas detected from space?
Widespread manmade pollution of the sea that can be detected by current
spaceborne systems is concentrated in the Middle East, particularly in the
Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

What are the largest world oil ultimate recovery estimates?

The largest world oil ultimate recovery estimates are the newly released
USGS estimates. The USGS 95 percent probable value is 2,248 billion barrels
(meaning there is a 19 out of 20 chance that the value will be greater than
2,248 billion barrels). Similarly, the USGS says there is a 5 percent probability
(1 chance out of 20) that the value will exceed 3,896 billion barrels. The
USGS mean estimate (the expected value) is 3,003 billion barrels.

Which countries have the world's largest proven crude oil reserves?
Countries that have the world's largest proven crude oil reserves are (1996):

• Saudi Arabia (261,444 millions of barrels);

• Iraq (112,000 millions of barrels);
 • United Arab Emirates (97,800 millions of barrels);
• Kuwait (96,500 millions of barrels);
• IR Iran (92,600 millions of barrels).

What is the role of oil and natural gas in the economy of different
countries?
Oil supplies the US with 30% of its energy, 50% for the UK, 10% for Japan,
22% for India and 90% for Nigeria
Natural gas supplies the US with 26% of its energy, 18% for the UK, 4% for
India and 3% for Japan

Will oil remain the most important source of energy?

Yes, OPEC forecasts that oil demand will continue to grow strongly and oil will
remain the world's single most important source of energy for the foreseeable
future. OPEC forecasts that oil's share of the worldwide energy market will fall
from almost 40 per cent in 1995 to less than 37 per cent in 2020. But oil will
still be the world's single largest source of energy. The reduction in oil's
market share is largely due to the stronger growth enjoyed by other forms of
energy, particularly gas. The amount of oil demanded worldwide is actually
expected to rise, from around 70 million barrels per day in 1995 to about 100
million barrels per day in 2020.

What is the role of coastal areas for the US and world economy?
Although coastal areas comprise one-fifth of the land area of the contiguous
48 states, they account for more than a half of the nation's population and
housing supply. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that
America's coastal waters support 28.3 million jobs and generate $54 billion in
goods and services every year. Over 180 million Americans visit US coasts
every year. The commercial fish and shellfish industry contributes $45 billion
to the economy every year, and recreational fishing contributes $30 billion.

Within thirty years a billion more people will be living along the coasts than are
alive today.

What are the US States with the longest coastline?

US States with the longest coastline are:

• Alaska (33,904 miles);

• Florida (8,436 miles); and
• Louisiana (7,721 miles).

What are the US States with the largest population?

Coastal states with the largest population are:

• California (21,859,530);
• New York (15,026,340); and
• Florida (12,356,550).

How deep is the ocean?

The depth of the ocean is remarkably variable, from the surf zones at the
world's beaches to the deep ocean trenches. The deepest point in the ocean
is generally believed to be in the Marianas Trench in the Western Pacific
Ocean at approximately 36,160 feet [11,021 m], according to the Rand
McNally Atlas of the Oceans (1977).

Environmentalism
The philosophy of environmental awareness is regarding concerns
for environmental conservation and improvement of the state of the
environment. Environmentalism and environmental concerns are
often represented by the color green.

Environmentalism as a social movement

Environmentalism can be seen as a social movement that seeks to
influence the political process by lobbying, activism, and education
in order to protect natural resources and ecosystems. An
environmentalist is a person who may speak out about our natural
environment and the sustainable management of its resources
through changes in public policy or individual behavior by
supporting practices such as not being wasteful. In various ways (for
example, grassroots activism and protests), environmentalists and
environmental organizations seek to give natural world a stronger
voice in human affairs.

How To Help Environment

Here are some tips regarding how to help environment. You need not put any extra
effort. Just by remembering some small things, you can play a big role in preserving
environment.

When in Home
Never waste water. Turn off the tap when you are not using water. Use the water once
used to wash vegetables or salad to water your houseplants. Don't leave fridge doors
open for longer than required. It would help save energy. Turn off electrical and
electronic equipments when they are not in use. You could thus save power. Use
rechargeable batteries and recycle your paper, glass, plastics and other waste. Set up a
system of collecting rainwater and using it later
When Shopping
Use plastic as little as possible. Take pains to carry your own bags to the shops for
taking back your shopping. Prefer organically grown fruits, vegetables, cotton
clothing, and hemp-fiber products. Avoid supporting the plastic and glass bottles
which play a big role in creating mountains of rubbish. Opt for biodegradable
cleaning products which have no negative effect. Try to buy energy-efficient
household appliances.
When in Garden
Stop using chemical pesticides and use natural products. Use plants that repel insects
in place of chemical products. Mix neem oil with garlic oil. Spray it on tree trunks and
diseased plants and shrubs. It would destroy bacteria and fungus. Use organic
compost to improve soil health. You can make your own compost with grass clippings
and vegetable scraps from the house. Avoid using electrical equipment in the garden
unnecessarily.
While Traveling
Support tour operators who shape their itinerary with environment in mind. Visit
parks and nature reserves. This could lead to protection of additional nature. Don't
disturb wild creatures while in the park. Enjoy wildlife but from a distance. Reduce
car use and use public mediums of transport. Choose hotels with an effective waste
treatment system. Say no to products made of animal hides and body parts.

Natural resources can we use them

forever?
People use many of the Earth's natural resources. All of the products
we use have a natural resource base. Minerals, forest products,
water, and soil are just a few of the natural resources humans use
to produce energy and make things people use.

Some natural resources can be reproduced within a few years or decades. These are
called renewable resources. Trees are an example of a renewable resource. Oil,
minerals, and soil take hundreds, thousands and even millions of years to be made.
These are called non-renewable resources.

It is very important we use renewable and non-renewable resources wisely. If a

resource is used and thrown away, eventually the resource becomes scarce. When the
supply dwindles, its price will increase. Products that are made from that resource
would increase in price too.

Sometimes resources become so rare they can no longer be used. In these cases,
substitute resources may be used, which may make a poorer quality product, or one
that is more expensive. If substitutes can not be used, some products could no longer
be made.

Wise use of resources includes not throwing away products that are reuseable or
recyclable. When these products are reused or recycled, it maintains resource
availability, uses less landfill space, and uses less energy.