Global Issues: Environment and Poverty

Caring for the world

This module builds your Panjabi for global issues: looking after the environment, and understanding poverty in society. Each example is a Panjabi word with its English meaning. A full sentence looks like this: ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ਼ ਹਵਾ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ (mainu saaf hava pasand hai), meaning I like clean air.

Words for the environment

Start with four words about the environment.

Match each society word

Small actions help

Global issues can feel huge, but small actions add up. Using less, recycling and choosing cleaner energy all protect the environment. People matter too. Poverty and being out of work are social issues, and communities can respond to them with care and respect.

Which word is rubbish?

Which Panjabi word means rubbish or waste?

• ਕੂੜਾ ਕਰਕਟ
• ਪੈਟਰੋਲ
• ਗਰੀਬ
• ਆਬਾਦੀ

Spot the two environment words

Select the TWO words that are about the environment.

• ਪੈਟਰੋਲ
• ਬੇਕਾਰ ਕਾਗਜ਼
• ਗਰੀਬ
• ਭਿਖਾਰੀ

Match each environment word

Planet and people

Reading the whole word tells you whether it is about the planet or about people. Here are more of each.

Find the two environment words

Tap the TWO words that are about the environment.

• ਕੂੜਾ ਕਰਕਟ, rubbish
• ਗਰੀਬ, poor
• ਪੈਟਰੋਲ, petrol
• ਵਿਤਕਰਾ, discrimination

Reading a sentence

Now read a full Panjabi sentence: ਮੈਂ ਕੂੜਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੁੱਟਦਾ (main kooRa nahin suTda) = "I do not throw rubbish". It starts with ਮੈਂ (main, "I"), and ਨਹੀਂ (nahin) means not.

What does it say?

In ਮੈਂ ਕੂੜਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੁੱਟਦਾ (main kooRa nahin suTda), what does the person do?

• They do not throw rubbish
• They throw rubbish everywhere
• They are poor
• They buy petrol

Help the environment

Put the steps of helping the environment into a sensible order.

• Notice how much you waste
• Use less at home
• Recycle your rubbish
• Choose cleaner energy
• Tell others what you do

Complete the global-issues facts

Old things we throw away are _____. The smoke from cars is exhaust _____. Someone with very little money is _____. Being without a job is being _____. The number of people is the _____.

Read the notice

Use what you know to read each Panjabi word on a notice. Choose each time.

• A bin is labelled ਕੂੜੇ ਦਾ ਡੱਬਾ. What goes in it?
• A pump is labelled ਪੈਟਰੋਲ (petrol). What does it hold?
• A campaign is about ਗਰੀਬੀ (gareebi). What does it address?

Write about a global issue

In English, write about how you help the environment and one social issue that matters to you, using some of the Panjabi words. This is written in English and is not auto-marked.

• Name two ways to protect the environment
• Name one Panjabi environment word and its meaning
• Say why a social issue such as poverty matters
• Write one full Panjabi sentence, for example ਮੈਂ ਕੂੜਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੁੱਟਦਾ