Cue Card # 113: Group that works to protect the environment

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card # 113

Describe a group or organisation that works to protect the environment.

You should say:

• what group or organisation it is
• how it operates
• whether you can become a member

and explain what they do to protect the environment.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer:

As a responsible citizen of this earth, I like to remain informed about the environmental issues which are continuously being faced by our planet. And, to do this, I try to follow the activities of different environmental organisations of the world, such as “Greenpeace”. So, thank you for this cue card topic as I will try to talk about it in brief now.

This non-profit, environmental organisation was founded in 1971. However, even though, it is still not clear as to who really started this organisation, it surely announced its presence clearly and loudly in that year by protesting nuclear testing in an area called Amchitka, off the West Coast of Alaska, in the USA. Since then, Greenpeace had continued to protest against nuclear testing. They also led protests against toxic-waste dumping, whaling, and other environmental issues, including protecting oceans and ancient forests, phasing out fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy in order to stop climate change, preventing genetically modified organisms to be released into nature, to end nuclear contamination, and to ensure safe and sustainable trade.

As a result, Greenpeace today has established itself to be a powerful influence on global environmental protection. Anyway, Greenpeace has a global presence in over 40 countries around the world and operate independently of the governments. Naturally, it doesn’t accept any funding from governments, corporations or political parties – its work is funded by ordinary people, which means it is free to confront governments and corporations responsible for the destruction of the natural world and push for real change.

Since this organisation is run by ordinary citizens of the world, anybody can become a member of this organisation as long as he or she is serious about protecting the environment of this world.

Anyway, to achieve its noble goals, the organisation investigates case by case, documents and exposes the causes of environmental destruction, and then start lobbying, creating consumer pressure and mobilising members of the general public in order to effect the necessary changes. They also take peaceful direct action to protect our Earth and its environment by promoting solutions for a green and peaceful future.