Environmental myths are born from ignorance and unwillingness to know the truth. Some false judgments about the processes in nature we recorded on the background in school.

The myth of the environment No. 1

The most common environmental myth: "Forests are the lungs of the planet. They give us oxygen." On closer, scientific consideration, it turns out that forests give O2 much less than they consume. But with the task of cleaning the air and protecting the soil from erosion, they cope like no other. Because forests in their function more like the liver and kidneys. Oxygen is produced by bacteria and single-celled organisms that inhabit the seas and oceans.

The myth of the environment No. 2

The era of consumption has generated many myths. One of them, about the environmental friendliness of goods — a real battleground for the consumer. Now in fashion includes organic products. Manufacturers sing songs about healthy food, do not forget to add on the price tags Noli. Their goal is to sell and earn. Moreover, the wealthy citizens who care about their own health, is becoming more and more. However, the practical benefit to the body from the naturally grown vegetables or chickens, compared with traditional agriculture, has not been scientifically proven. But the damage to the environment from extensive organic farming, which uses a quarter more acreage, can be calculated. And this is not the only argument of critics of organic products. But the inhabitants continue to insist on the benefits and environmental friendliness of organic matter.

The myth of the environment No. 3

Another example. What is more environmentally friendly plastic or paper bag? The answer seems obvious. And as the main argument, the thesis that the latter is better decomposed in nature is put forward. But not everything is so simple. Cardboard and paper industries pollute water bodies and use wood or recycled as raw materials — waste paper, which for a quarter of a century no one collects in our country. Imagine how much paper you need to spend to make it a package comparable in consumer characteristics with plastic. And finally, a paper bag will end its age in a landfill. Separate garbage collection we have not adjusted. And the process of decomposition of organic materials in a non-ideal environment is fundamentally different. Without access to oxygen, at high temperature and pressure during decomposition methane will be released, which is more harmful than carbon dioxide in dozens of times and creates a greenhouse effect.

To top it off, another fact. From paper bags remains several times more solid waste. Now the answer to the question about the harm caused by the nature of plastic bags does not seem so obvious?

Where to find answers?

At the heart of any myth about the environment is misleading, and increases his desire to manipulate human consumption. Environmental myths generate a human habit of finding simple explanations for complex things, based on personal experience and the opinion of others. In reality, the ecosystem is much more complex than it might seem at first glance. There are no and cannot be unambiguous answers to resolve environmental issues. For this reason, it is necessary to study in depth and detail environmental processes and threats on the one hand. On the other, to educate. To form consciousness and habits for the preservation and protection of the environment in the kindergarten. Only in this case myths about ecology will give way to the real care for the preservation of our planet.