“The only thing that really lasts is the energy on Earth, because when you breathe out the plants breathe in, then the plants breathe out & the cycle starts again.”–An excerpt from “Mirrors” by IN-Q, National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, & multi-platinum songwriter
The Kalimantan Rainforest in Borneo, Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse spots on Earth. Bustling with life, the dense greenery is home to orangutans, all kinds of birds, frogs, you name it. But the rainforest won’t stay that way if mining and logging continues unchecked. Which is why The Nature Conservancy’s Dr. Eddie Game is listening to the sounds of the rainforest to measure the impact of human activity on the area’s wildlife.
Vocabulary chunks to learn from video
And believe it or not
One of the most biodiverse places on the planet
Mining and logging
As a measure of environmental health
Vocal ones
A bioacoustics monitor
Trek hours through the forest
Pulling around 20 devices in a day
We literally strap it to a tree
And set it to record
Lots of hard work and sweat
The rainforest is so dense
Eddie listens to the sounds
How full the soundscape is
Forestry companies and communities
It often surprises people just how noisy a forest is
From breathtaking stargazing and vast wetlands to fascinating desert discoveries and ocean shipwrecks, we’ve found the best hidden gems to visit in Dubai. Come along on a diving adventure, meet the wildlife thriving in the desert, and be enchanted by the spectacular desert sky.
This Great Big Story was made possible by Visit Dubai
Vocabulary chunks to learn from video :
Average cosmopolitan city
It’s a lively place
Rich in culture
Steeped in history
An array of landscapes
What sets it apart is its many unexpected surprises
A thriving trade hub
Set in the spectacular desert landscape
One of the most exciting discoveries of the 21st century
Unique artifacts
Are on public display
The worlds only live museum
Delve deeper into the story
The 3D Cinematic room
The bustling city of Dubai
The vast wetlands
It comprises of a variety of
More than 25 000 resident migratory birds
Flock to the area
Guided tours take visitors on a journey
Through the eyes of a conservationist
The emerald waters of the Gulf
Over 500 species of aquatic life reside in the pristine warm waters
One of the most popular dive sites
For advanced open water divers
That lie deep below
Diverse wildlife
Is home to over 200 species of native birds
Nomadic civilizations relied on heavily to survive
The once plentiful sea turtles of Zanzibar are disappearing. Poaching and bycatch have severely reduced the population of these elegant reptiles. But there’s still hope. The Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation project is working hard to look after the turtles in order to bring their numbers up to previous levels. A Great Big film by filmmaker Dan the Director.
Vocabulary chunks to learn from video :
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean
When I scuba dive I feel great
My first dive
A world of its own
I don’t see many turtles
To participate in the conservation of turtles
For educational purposes
I am an uneducated fisherman
Save the sea turtles
We had a lot of poachers
We talk to the village fishermen about conservation
Our children and grand children will not be able to see them
The village of Kamikatsu in Japan has taken their commitment to sustainability to a new level. While the rest of the country has a recycling rate of around 20 percent, Kamikatsu surpasses its neighbors with a staggering 80 percent. After becoming aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide associated with burning garbage, the town instated the Zero Waste Declaration with the goal of being completely waste-free by 2020.
Soda and soap bottles don’t belong in the sea, but it’s too often where they end up. In fact, experts estimate that an entire garbage truck worth of plastic hits our oceans every minute—the vast majority of it coming from developing nations like Haiti. To alleviate the problem, the Plastic Bank pays people to collect plastic waste that can be recycled and reused. Richardson Gustave oversees the organization’s daily operations around his home city of Port-au-Prince, coordinating transportation and inspection, and ensuring that collectors have the equipment needed to complete this vital task. This is the second story in our latest series, “The Brave,” all about the incredible people protecting our Great Big Planet.
Want to help protect our oceans? Get involved: https://oceanconservancy.org/ Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. With their partners, they create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
Vocabulary chunks to learn from video :
Faced with one of the biggest challenges
Huge amount of plastic
Make a change
One bottle less
Pays people to collect plastic
Preventing the plastic from going into the ocean
Attack the problem
Dispose of any waste
Alleviating poverty
It dawned on me that I have to make a change
We have to be more responsible
They collect the plastic
In return you get cash or other services for that plastic
‘A good well lived life is one where you’re able to pursue your passions and do something you feel strongly about. Rehabilitation is just the most exciting thing. When you see an animal just doing what it does and engaging with you, priorities really do get put in place.’ – Talitha Noble
Talitha works in the Turtle Rehabilitation Unit at Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. She nurses sick or injured turtles back to health, and then releases them into the wild again. Thanks for all that you do for these beautiful creatures Talitha.
Lexical chunks to learn from video :
• A good well lived life
• Pursue your passions
• Do something you feel strongly about
• Doing what it does
• Engaging with you
• Deadlines or what you’ve got to do
• Experience of being able to interact
• A sea turtle
• My happiest place is the sea
• The consequence of what we are doing
• As a species we should be a lot more embarrassed
• You can’t love the ocean without wanting to protect it
• Hands-on interact with these amazing animals
• It’s just a dream come true
• Not earn a single cent
• I get to wear mermaid leggings
Find out more by visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium HERE
Vocabulary chunks to learn after watching the video :
This is not a circus act
Work with captive lions
The lions are his equals
They rarely take orders
He can break every established rule
Interacting with these big cats
You should never ever turn your back on them
They lovingly greet you when come back
A truly social cat
The biggest misconception is mindless man-eating killer
They are designed to kill cause that is how they’ve evolved
The truth be known
They would rather run away than confront
More about Kevin Richardson
After graduating with a BSc degree, Kevin began his career in exercise and post-operative rehabilitation. He made a dramatic career switch when he was given an opportunity to work with lions at a local lion park.
As a self-taught animal behaviorist, he has broken every safety rule known to man when working with these wild animals. Flouting common misconceptions that breaking an animal’s spirit with sticks and chains is the best way to subdue them, he uses love, understanding and trust to develop personal bonds with them. His unique method of getting to know their individual personalities, what makes each of them angry, happy, upset, or irritated-just like a mother understands a child-has caused them to accept him like one of their own into their fold.
Kevin’s unique relationships with these large predators have opened many doors and captivated the imagination of many people throughout the world. He has presented and produced several documentaries that detail his relationships with the animals and highlight the plight of lions both in captivity and in the wild.
Kevin has also written a book appropriately named, “Part of the Pride” detailing his work over the years with the large carnivores and is now affectionately known by his fans worldwide as “The Lion Whisperer”.
• Everything on our planet works together
• We need to take care of our environment
• Nurture our marine resources
• Advance renewable energy
• Promote responsible farming
• Encourage low-carbon transport
• Develop sustainable business
• Conserve our natural heritage
• Choose ethical labels
• Be wise with our water
• Safeguard our endangered species
• We are all connected
Vocabulary in Chunks 
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