Today people prefer to spend holidays in the countryside in Belarus. What can attract people to it?

Belarus is a country with rich natural resources, such as forests, rivers and lakes, birds and animals. So, tourists can enjoy the beauty of our national parks, for example Belavezhskaya and Nalibokskaya Pushchas. Agritourism is also popular in Belarus. Some farm hosts arrange such activities as hunting, fishing, walk or bicycle tours, swimming and boating.

22. Let’s talk about environment.

1) Let’s talk about environment. People say that our planet is in danger. Do you share this opinion?

No doubt the protection of nature is a matter of paramount importance. Ecological problems are so acute nowadays that mankind may soon face the problem: to be or not to be. On the one hand, our life has become much more comfortable due to the progress of science and technology, but on the other hand, our environment is being more and more polluted with every passing day. There are different types of pollution: air pollution, water pollution, nuclear pollution, even noise pollution. Factories, plants and cars pollute the air in big cities. Rivers that used to be so beautiful and full of fish are poisoned by industrial waste. It is not always pleasant to bathe in the sea because the water is not blue but brown with rubbish floating in it. Besides, millions of tons of oil are released into the seas every year and a lot of seabirds and animals die because of it. It is dangerous for human beings too.

2) What do you think people should do to protect the environment?

There are many things that every person can do to protect nature. We must review our wasteful, careless ways, we must consume less and recycle more. We must plant more trees and we mustn’t break them. We must not do any harm to our lesser brothers – animals. Cars are major polluters, so it is much better for us and for other people if we walk or bike. We should not smoke as smoking is harmful to us and those around us. To reduce noise pollution we must not make our CD players sound too loud. Well, there are many more things we can do to protect nature. We should always remember that the Earth is our home and we must take care of it for ourselves and for the next generations.

3) What questions would you ask a Greenpeace member?

4) A friend of yours wants to develop a program to protect the city where he lives. Give him a piece of advice.

I think that this program should include removing some factories and plants from the city, improving purifying systems, using environmentally friendly sources of energy such as wind or solar energy.

5) Your school is going to take part in the contest ‘Green School of the Year’. Give ideas for some green events.

One of the items of the contest can be helping to find a shelter for stray animals. Another item can be connected with recycling. Some green events can be connected with planting trees and some other practical things. As they say: Don’t fight for cleanliness, just take a broom and sweep the streets.

23. et’s talk about weather and climate