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        We are MSU-Graduate Students! This blog site is a partial requirement for CURRENT TRENDS AND ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (SE 203) subject. With this blog, the author is OPTIMISTIC to create awareness to general public in understanding the consequences of actions that affects environmental issues such as marine litters through the use of the 21^st Century Skills packed up by ICT and Multimedia.  Our class is also HOPEFUL that using the widely known blogging and other social media channels, this awareness campaign may influence others to join in the fore sought of addressing global issues such as Marine Litters that creates human and other living organisms’ extinctions. 

COURSE CONTENT
       I. TABLE OF CONTENTS
            MODULE 1: Overview: A Perspective on Current Trends,Issues, and Challenges in Education
                 Lesson 1: Current Trends in Education
                 Lesson 2: Current Issues and Challenges in Education
                 Lesson 3: Definition of Science and Technology
                 Lesson 4: Environmental Issues
                 Lesson 5: The Science Processes and Scientific Attitudes
           

          MODULE 2: Challenges and Opportunities in Science Mathematics and Technology Education
                Lesson 1: Students' Aptitude and Attitude
              Lesson 2: General Profile and Performance Rating of Science and Mathematics Teacher
                Lesson 3: Assessment of Science/Mathematics Skills
 

          MODULE 3: Strategies for Effective Teaching
              Lesson 1: Effective Teaching Strategies: Six Keys to Classroom Excellence
               Lesson 2: Effective Teaching Strategies for Mathematics
               Lesson 3: Effective Teaching Strategies for Science
               Lesson 4: Effective Teaching Strategies for 21st Century
               Lesson 5: Do's and Don'ts in Teaching as well as Best Practices in Teaching Science/Mathematics
         

           MODULE 4:Current Trends and Innovations in Teaching-learning
               Lesson 1: The Use of Weblog as Opportunities for Innovation
               Lesson 2: The Advantages and Disadavtages of Weblogging
               Lesson 3: The Inquiry-based Learning Design
               Lesson 4: The Project-based Learning Design
               Lesson 5: The Research-bases Learning Design
               Lesson 6: The 21st Century Teaching-learning Model and Rubrics
         

           MODULE 5: Math-Science Innovations: Addressing the Future T-learning
               Lesson 1: Mathematics/ Science Innovations in Local Settings
               Lesson 2: Mathematics/Science Innovations in Global Setttings

Chapter I: Introduction

Introduction

            Seventy percent (70%) of the earth is water.  It composes all water forms. The big part of it is the ocean.  Because of human behaviors and actions – accidental or intentional –the big part of our ocean has been polluted and damaged by litters.  The majority of sea or ocean-based sources of marine litter come from merchant shipping, ferries and cruise liners; fishing vessels; military fleets and research vessels; pleasure craft; offshore oil and gas platforms and drilling rigs; and aquaculture installations. Marine litter dispersion and deposition are strongly influenced by ocean currents, tidal cycles, regional-scale topography, including sea-bed topography and wind.

            What is Marine Litter?  Marine litter is defined as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.  Marine litter consists of items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or rivers or on beaches; brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, storm water or winds; accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (fishing gear, cargo); or deliberately left by people on beaches and shores. (Jeftic, Ljubomir, et.al. 2009)

            Marine litter is found in all the oceans of the world, not only in densely populated regions, but also in remote places far from obvious sources and human activities.

Marine litter is a global concern affecting all the oceans of the world. It poses environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems that are rooted in poor solid waste management practices, lack of infrastructure, indiscriminate human activities and behaviours and an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions.

            Following this scenario happening in our oceans or seas is frightening.  A kind of problem that has not excuse General Santos City coastal area, in fact, it is undoubtedly known to us that General Santos City Coastal areas are surrounded by community especially canning factories that may or may not accidentally or intentionally become the roots of marine litters.

            With this fact, education and public awareness campaigns were essential tools for environmental protection, and that raising public awareness and encouraging people to change their attitudes and behaviours related to solid waste management were essential components in efforts to mitigate marine litter.

            On this regard, this project with its title “COASTAL CLEANING AT THE GENERAL SANTOS CITY QUEEN TUNA PARK BARANGAY SOUTH, GENERAL SANTOS CITY: WAY TO COMBAT MARINE LITTERS” was conducted to create awareness to all beach goers at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park who may accidentally or intentionally cause littering on the beach while having coastal picnic ; recreational use of the coast;  and having fishing activities and to influence fellow Generals in cleaning and disciplining them in understanding the potential consequences of their actions to environment.

Statement of the Problem

            This study sought to help the global challenges of Marine Litters.  Specifically, the following challenges:

1.    What are the Sources of Coastal Litters at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park?

2.    What are the possible impact of Coastal or Marine Litters to people and the environment?

3.     What is the significance of Coastal-Clean up Drive in addressing the challenges?

Scope and Delimitations

            This study would like to find out the coastal litters at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park, Barangay South, General Santos City.  Furthermore, the researcher delimited her study on the possible impact of Coastal Litters to people and the environment.

            It also delimited to the Coastal Cleaning at the Queen Tuna Park which was conducted last May 4, 2012 between 5:45 A.M.- 8:00 A.M.

Significance of the Study

            The researcher envisioned that the results of this study would be a great help to the following persons:

            The government.  This study would serve as an awakening means to the government officials who can make Institutional Arrangements, Policies and Laws in the enforcement of regulations related to solid waste management.

            The community.  It would helped the community to avoid the possible economic problem that may arise such as; (increased expenditures for beach cleaning, public health and waste disposal), tourism (loss of income, bad publicity), shipping (costs associated with fouled propellers, damaged engines, litter removal and waste management in harbours), fishing (reduced and lost catch, damaged nets and other fishing gear, fouled propellers, contamination), fish farming and coastal agriculture.

            The future researchers.  This study would help the future researchers as the basis of their study and additional literature for the future investigation. 

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature

The Coastal Litter Defined

            Broadly there are three main ingredients of coastal litter; these are (1) Seaweed, (2) Leaves, and (3) a cocktail of manmade rubbish.  Almost without exception coastal litter is borne by water to its ‘resting place’.  Litter in the bay comes from rainwater drains, creeks and rivers.  By definition, Seaweeds are those decaying smelly that is washed ashore, (or wrack), plays a role in ensuring the health and cleanliness of the bay.  Leaves can be gone to coastal areas because of man “induced”.  Prior to urban development, leaves mainly remained where they fell; now they fall impervious surfaces ( roofs, pavements, etc.) and are washed into rainwater drains and water courses and into the bay.  Leaves are harmful in the bay.  In the process of their decay in the bay, they release among other things, nitrogen, which promotes the growth of algal blooms etc.  Man Made Rubbish has two interesting aspects: (1) There’s large seasonal element; more litter in summer, and (2) There always seems to be “bits” that are marine industry related (paint spray cans etc.)  www.litter.vic.gov.au/.../Leading_On_Litter_...

Environment Studies: Importance

            Importance of Environment Studies: The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment.

            At present a great number of environment issues, have grown in size and complexity day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth.  Environment studies have become important for the following reasons:

1.    Environment Issues Being Of International Importance

2.    Problems Cropped in the wake of Development

3.    Explosively Increase in Pollution

4.    Need for alternative solution

5.    Need to save humanity from extinction

6.    Need for wise planning of development

Philippine Marine Litter Experience

            In the presentation made by the government on the “First COBSEA Marine Litter Workshop” at Indonesia last May 2007.  It was reported that in the Philippines, we are experiencing tremendous problem on marine litters.  In their survey and monitoring, it was found out that the sources of Debris or litters in the coast have these percentage; (1) Medical/Personal Hygiene : 4%, (2) Dumping related Activities: 3%, (3) Smoking Related Activities:17%, (4) Ocean/Waterways:17%, and (5) Shoreline and  Recreational Activities: 59% (2005 ICC, Summary Report Philippines)  

            The International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) has reported that the Top Ten Debris with equivalent percentage from Total Debris collected last 2005 (Summary Report Philippines, 2005 ICC) are as follows:

1)    Cups, plates, forks and spoons     5%

2)    Food wrappers or containers         30%

3)    Cigarettes or cigarette filters          16%

4)    Bottles (plastic)                                 8%

5)    Straws or stirrers                              8%

6)    Bags                                                   7%

7)    Caps and Lids                                  7%

8)    Clothing, Cloth                                 7%

9)    Beverage bottlers (glass)                6%

10) Beverage cans                                 6%

Education and Community Awareness Raising

            Education and awareness raising “tools” that are shared have more impact than separate ones.  It is essential to make the public aware of the formidable consequences of the environmental degradation.  It is essential to get the country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts may be eco-friendly. 

            It has been well recognized that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence must be tackled with public awareness education.

            To this effect, on the part of Philippines, an Institutional Arrangement was done related to solid waste management.  Policies and Laws are made to combat the problem on marine litters regulations, such as, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA No. 9003); Marine Pollution Decree of 1976 (PD No. 979); Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 9ra No. 9275); Philippines’ National Marine Policy of 1994; Section 42 of the Philippine Environment Code( PD No. 1152) and Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990 (RA No. 69696). www.cobsea.org/.../Marine%20Litter/Annex%... 

            On the other hand, The United Nations Environment Programme Public Awareness and Education Campaign on Management of Marine Litter last June 2007 has envisioned to succeed in Raising awareness, Influencing Behavior, attitudes and Values and Strengthening Participation on reduction and possibly eliminating marine litters.   The major channels used for appropriately and targeting the indivuals participations are: through education ( as a child via family orientation) and the media.  (UNEP(DEPI)/MED WG.316/Inf.7 Medium Term Public Awareness and Education Campaign on Management of Marine Litter in the Mediterranean.  The role of education and media had played an important and common principles on raising awareness, educating and effectively mobilizing action in combating the problem of marine litters.

Chapter III: Methodology

This study has gone through a series of consultations and research until the final formulation of the project came out.  The study entitled “COASTAL CLEANING AT THE GENERAL SANTOS CITY QUEEN TUNA PARK BARANGAY SOUTH, GENERAL SANTOS CITY: WAY TO COMBAT MARINE LITTERS.  In light of the mentioned title above, the researcher then decided to concentrate the clean-up at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park as the targeted area to do the cleaning activity.  It was chosen since the Queen Tuna Park is a public beach which has high risk of getting littered from community living nearby, and especially from the beach goers having picnics and or in some fishing activities conducted from time to time. 

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher first mailed a permission letter to the CENRO office of General Santos City where the coastal cleaning has conducted.  When the permission was granted, the researcher made meetings and influences family and volunteers to join the cleaning activity at the Queen Tuna Park.  After the tarpaulin printing on the said campaign has out, volunteers prepared all the needed materials in the cleaning campaign such as ricks, broom sticks, and sacks for collected trash. Cleaning Activity then followed.

The researcher then examined the subject place to determine the sources of coastal litters, find out the impact of coastal litters to environment and people and how the clean-up drive help in the public awareness education.

   After the researcher and all volunteers examined the area, all volunteers started the cleaning campaigns.  It started 5:45 A.M. and ended at 8:00 A.M. of May 4, 2012.

Chapter IV: Summary and Reccomendations

Summary:

            The researcher tried to help the global challenges of Marine Litters.  Specifically, the following challenges are:

1.    What are the Sources of Coastal Litters at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park?

2.    What are the possible impact of Coastal or Marine Litters to people and the environment?

3.     What is the significance of Coastal-Clean up Drive in addressing the challenges?

After thorough investigations and examination at the General Santos City Queen Tuna Park, it was found out that the main causes of the marine litters on the said area are as follows:

1.    80% from and-based activities (from run-off, industrial waste coming from the Public Market and other establishments situated nearby where in their waste disposal were thrown directly to the sea, careless disposal of garbage by beach users, campers and visitors)

2.    20% from activities at the seashore

It is also found out that Coastal Litters poses major threat to all living organisms.  It reaches the coastline which constitutes to a major source of aesthetic pollution that may deter tourist and impact on local economies.  Communities may lost revenues and beach cleaning is so expensive.  Marine litters can endanger human health safety.  Sharp objects may cause serious injuries to people.  Contaminated medical and sewage waste can pose a public health hazard through disease transmission.

Recommendations:

            Based on the activity and observations made, the researcher and all volunteers have these recommendations and learnings:

1.    There should be proper and strong implementations of existing laws or policies on the regulations of solid waste.

2.    There must be coordination among stakeholders and responsibility areas officers.

3.    Information and Education Awareness campaigns.

4.    Sustained Clean up activities.  

5.    Support for research activities related to Coastal Litters.

Learnings:

1.    Environmental Awareness must start from the family.  All members of the family should be aware of the Environmental Literacy.

2.    A small things can make a big difference to others and the community.  People must see from their hearts the eagerness to be a helpful individual.

3.    The role of media plays a major part in conveying all needed information for public education on environmental issues such as marine litters.

DOCUMMENTATION

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