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AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN
SRI LANKA
Perera,
Mr.K.L.S. “An Overview Of The Issue Of Solid Waste Management
In Sri Lanka” in Martin J. Bunch, V. Madha Suresh and T.
Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings of the Third International
Conference on Environment and Health, Chennai, India, 15-17 December,
2003. Chennai: Department of Geography, University of Madras
and Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Pages 346
– 352.
Abstract:
Almost every year
the world’s newspapers and television screens are dominated
at some point or another by a natural disaster of international
concern. One year it is flooding in Ratnapura in Sri Lanka: another
year drought and hunger in the dry lands of Africa. Recent years
have also produced a succession of major environmental issues
such as acid rain, the dumping of toxic wastes, damage to the
ozone layer, the destruction of the tropical rain forests, people
problems, raw materials and energy, alternative energy, soil erosion,
air pollution, etc……
To quench the thirst
of economic development and the enjoyment of the riches of nature,
humans must come to terms with the reality of resource limitation
and the carrying capacities of ecosystems, and must consider the
needs of future generations. Man must ensure Earth’s capacity
to sustain development and support all forms of life.
The limitless capacity
of human beings for building and creation is matched by equally
great powers of destruction and annihilation. The escalating needs
of soaring numbers have often driven people to take a short-sighted
approach when exploiting natural resources. The toll of this approach
has now become glaringly apparent: a long list of hazards and
disasters. Therefore, globally, there is a need for quick action
to build and conserve a healthier environment. It should consist
of ecologically sound management of productive systems and maintain
their viability and versatility. The global interrelatedness of
actions with it’s corollary of global responsibility is
vital.
In the twentieth century
we experienced an explosion in knowledge and communication technologies
which have far reaching relevance to education, its expansion
and its quality. It has serious implications for the very nature
of teaching and learning process at each stage of education. The
roles of school, community and the teacher are changing at a very
fast pace. The responsibility and the accountability of governments
are under severe stresses and strains. Education has to respond
to realities of globalization on one hand and the emerging identifications
with local and ethnic bonds on the other. This was and is being
realized the world over to respond to these changes, challenges,
issues and tensions. The many tensions have been identified as
central to the problems of the 21st century.
Anthropogenic changes
to the natural environment pose serious threats to human health,
welfare and security. Many examples link human health, environmental
degradation and pollution at local, regional, and global scales.
For example, use of chemical substances, known to be persistant,
toxic and bio-accumulative pose serious threats to both natural
ecosystems and human health and improper management of surface
water resources may promote mosquito breeding-vectors for malaria
and filariasis.
Therefore global strategies
for management of health, development, nature and environment
is very vital. Such efforts, backed by will and determination
at the national and international level should be discussed,implemented
and monitored for the continued existence of man.
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