Opinion essay

dumping= leaving waste deliberately without storing or treating it
waste = any material not wanted or needed after a process
landfills = organised areas where waste is buried in the ground
waste processing = recycling or reducing waste into manageable forms
poaching =illegally hunting and killing animals
habitat loss = destruction or disappearance of an animal’s natural home
food chain = the natural system of animals eating other animals and plants
dwindling numbers = (to dwindle = to steadily decline in quantity)
extinction = the final death of all animals in a species
famine = a situation where there is a lack of food in an area for a long time
drought = similar to famine, but a lack of water
irrigation = supplying water to land for agriculture
catastrophe = a great disaster affecting many people
exacerbated (= to exacerbate = to make an existing problem worse, accidentally or deliberately)

Culture, art and traditions

to preserve = to protect and keep something, usually because it is valuable for some reason
rituals =highly traditional ceremonies which have meaning for the participants
parades = organised processions in public by groups of people, usually to commemorate an event
to transmit = to communicate a message, literal or symbolic
social memes = social habits or patterns which are transmitted between people
public duty =the willingness to serve the public or the state
self-sacrifice = the willingness to suffer or die for a cause
cultural traditions =traditions carrying cultural importance
mythology, myth = a classic story from the past which people know is not true but which carries meaning