the anthropocene

1. THE ANTHROPOCENE
HUMAN KIND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSIVE USE OF FOSSIL
FUELS WHICH HAS CHANGED THE ATMOSPHERE AND
TEMPERATURE OF THE PLANET. TOXINS AND PLASTIC ARE AN
ACCUMULATING PROBLEM OF THE OCEANS, LAND AND AIR, WHILE
TECHNOLOGY IS BECOMING OUR FIRST NATURE
NATALIE MARTSOUKAKI Γ2
SCHOOL PROJECT IN ENGLISH 2017
2ND EXPERIMENTAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL OF ATHENS
TEACHER: MS DIMITRA DERTILI

2. WHAT ARE FOSSIL FUELS?
• Millions of years ago dead plants and
animals sunk and settled on the ocean
floor. As time passed by this organic
matter was covered by layers of mud,
sand and rocks. Afterwards these layers
grew thicker and as a result they were
placed under a great amount of pressure.
• After millions of years the decomposed
plant and animal matter transformed into
the widely known today fossil fuels.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-fossil-fuels-definition-advantages-
disadvantages.html

3. WHICH ARE THE FOSSIL FUELS?
COAL
http://www.wyomingmining.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/05/Hands-with-Coal.jpg
NATURAL GAS
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.n
et/sitkawildorg/pages/2078/meta_im
ages/original/oil-demand-is-hitting-
a-peak.jpg?1437166755
OIL
http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/natural-gas-energy.jpg

4. USE OF FOSSIL FUELS:
• A huge number the products we use in our everyday lives are made
only because of the existence of fossil fuels!
• They produce huge amounts of energy (electricity)
• Medicine
• Plastic
• Synthetic fabric
• Lubricants
• Cosmetics
https://www.nmoga.org/what-
are-fossil-fuels-used-for

6. ADVANTAGES:
• They generate huge amounts of energy: Since the Industrial
Revolution fossil fuels are known for their easy and fast combustion.
That is one of the reasons we use them at such a great level
nowadays. They are considered “portable forms of energy”.
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-fossil-
fuels.php

7. ADVANTAGES:
• Easily available: along with the
development of technology the
extraction of fossil fuels has
become a lot easier than in
previous years.
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_fossilfuels.php
http://www.alternativeenergysecret.com/fossil-
fuels.html

8. ADVANTAGES:
• Transportation: fossil fuels can
be easily transported with
underground pipes.
• Construction of power stations:
Power stations can be easily
constructed in almost any
location.
http://www.alternativeenergysecret.c
om/fossil-fuels.html
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_fossilfuels.p
hp

9. ADVANTAGES:
• Stability: due to the composition of the molecules (carbon and
hydrogen) the structure of the fossil fuels is very stable. On the
contrary, nuclear power another common source of energy, is known
for its instability.

10. DISADVANTAGES:
•High cost: 13 countries
produce 40% of the global
oil supply. This
phenomenon causes the
rise of the prices of fossil
fuels. More specifically
Middle-East countries
have the upper hand when
it comes to oil and natural
gas and many countries
depend on them for
constant supply.

11. DISADVANTAGES:
Non-renewable: fossil fuels
are estimated to be out of
demand and supply 30-40
years from now. This
means that coal and oil will
be available in millions of
years from now until they
recompose.

12. DISADVANTAGES:
• EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

13. DISADVANTAGES: ENVIRONMENT
• Environmental pollution from the use of fossil fuels has become a
serious problem nowadays.
• When fossil fuels are burnt emissions of carbon dioxide and other
harmful gases are set free. Global warming is an issue that occurred
due to these emissions of gases.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.
gov/Features/GlobalWarming/i
mages/giss_temperature.png
http://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/disadvantages_fo
ssilfuels.php

15. RISE OF THE SEA LEVEL:
• Causes: the seas of the earth are rising, due to the environmental
change of climate all over the world. Because of the augmented
temperature, glaciers are melting and so the sea level is rising. This
environmental problem affects not only humans but animals too which
are living in icy areas such as Antarctica.
https://sealevel.nasa.gov
/understanding-sea-
level/causes/overview

17. ACID RAIN
• Acid rain includes any form of moisture in air with acidic components,
such as sulfuric or nitric acid that falls to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail
or even dust that is acidic.
• The major sources of these acids are:
• Vehicles
• Factories
• Volcanoes
• The combustion of fossil fuels https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-
acid-rain

18. ACID RAIN:
•Effects of acid rain:
• Plants, mammals, aquatic life are
harmed from acid rain
•Monuments: they are usually made
of marble or limestone whose
molecules interact with those of the
acid rain and as a result these
monuments are eroded.
https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-
acid-rain
http://sciencing.com/acid-rain-
affect-buildings-statues-
22062.html

19. OIL SPILL:
• It can cause a great deal of damage to marine ecosystems
• The damage caused by them is permanent and takes a long time to
clean up.

20. EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH
• Underground mining: even though the conditions of this job have been
improved throughout the years, today it still poses a great danger to
health and safety issues.
• According to some investigations 10,000 miners have died between
1990 and 2000.
• Coal mining causes chronic health issues such as: black lung disease
(pneumoconiosis).
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-and-other-
fossil-fuels/hidden-cost-of-fossils#.WN6jVRiE0zI

21. EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH 2
• A big percentage of health problems is associated with air pollution.
• Illnesses
• premature mortality
• workdays lost
• direct costs to the healthcare system

22. TOXINS
• A toxin: is a poisonous substance
produced within living cells or
organisms.
• Gas pumps: exposure to toxic fumes is
a health hazard.
• Sprays like bug sprays, hairsprays are
absorbed into the skin, bloodstream
and intestines.
• Chronic stress creates toxins
• Food: pesticides , hormones, food
coloring , preservatives, Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs)
https://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Toxin
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/life
style/hidden-toxins-in-our-
everyday-lives-and-how-to-avoid-
them/
https://www.mindbodygreen.
com/0-9694/13-dangerous-
toxins-to-avoid-in-your-
food.html

24. TOXIC WASTE
• Pesticides, fossil fuel and waste combustion, toxic waste products
enter the water as runoff from the land.
• Living organisms are poisoned (diseases and reproductive failure)
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2006
/03/marine-pollution-how-ocean-became-
toxic-waste-dump

25. • Because we have polluted the Earth, we are searching for other
planets which can support life and we are spending millions of dollars
in space exploration. Shouldn’t we be spending this money in order to
make our planet a better place again?

26. IMAGE SOURCES:
• http://hengplasticmx.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/blue-and-green-plastic-bottles1.jpg
• http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/horizonwholesale/halo-diamond-ring.jpg
• http://lightingandceilingfans.com/wp-content/uploads/imgp/electricity-lamp-3-2942.png
• https://encryptedtbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSc9PqUiokTGWMWMeViFaZ6cnZ3dora0wXI1aCVzn86NZToXIni
• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR6klFML-sh68FiGYHKpL-QqTEy15PXHN70SYKd3Tpe3Wj60829sg
• http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/missoulian.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/dc/3dcd72ca-0564-5d8f-9bd2-
73dc243a79c7/556e3d6d7a1ec.image.jpg
• https://cbbigelow.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/t047854a.jpg
• https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2013/apartiallyco.jpg
• https://data.bloomberglp.com/bnef/sites/14/2016/01/annual-investment-2015.png
• https://longtailpipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/smokestacks.jpg
• https://popularresistance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2013/07/1cli-e1375070285369.jpg
• https://www.argoit.com/uploads/images/news/140512_102213.jpg
• https://assets.rbl.ms/6465548/980x.jpg
• http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/exhaust-from-car-e1436609877926.jpg
• https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/images/giss_temperature.png
• http://www.carboun.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1.jpg

27. • http://i.bnet.com/blogs/rising-sea-level1.jpg
• https://www.google.gr/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ah
UKEwiG04mitoHTAhUEvRoKHQl5AQoQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnwodniakenst.wordpress.
com%2F&psig=AFQjCNElbQgRonmG1ZcSW2J0TnLImqHE7Q&ust=1491073073125514
• http://www.explorenorth.com/blog/513-bc_museum_of_mining-0078-430.jpg
• http://www.21stcentech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Oil-spill-cleanup.jpg
• https://s-media-cache-
ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/02/ee/7d02ee334459ab65a18c3c96152dd2a8.jpg
• https://nwodniakenst.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/untitled21.png
• http://amritaretreat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Toxin-Graphic.jpg
• https://d1hekt5vpuuw9b.cloudfront.net/assets/article/9325406f5db21466839d8add4738fb14_toxin-
lede-580x326_featuredImage.jpg
• http://www.motherjones.com/files/imagecache/master-image-
main/legacy/news/featurex/2006/03/runoff_265x347.jpg
• http://www.mdpm.ie/uploads/images/logos/2016%2008%2009%20%20%20%20go-green1.jpg
• http://www.48gogreen.com/images/savelogos/3.png

28. Natalie Martsoukaki