Miguel (米格尔)
Professional Teacher
Oil prospecting in the Canary Islands (a sample letter for the proficiency exam) To the editor I am writing you in response to the invitation to readers featured in the last issue of your magazine. What I am currently most concerned about with regard to the environment is the current oil prospecting on the coast of the Canary Islands, here in Spain. This oil exploration was authorized by Spain's Industry Ministry last August, and it poses serious risks for the marine ecosystem of the area. The extraction process is not only hazardous, but there are also chances associated to eventual freighters operating in those waters. We should not forget about the disaster involving oil tanker Prestige, occurred on the Gallegan coasts twelve years ago, and whose aftermath still affects both local fishing industry and environment. Moreover, Fuerteventura was declared Biosphere Reserve several years ago, and it is the home of many animal species, including some marine mammals. Not only does oil leakage pollute vast expanses of ocean, but its effects are really long-lasting and hard to remove. Fishes and shellfishes are the first ones to die, and subsequently their predators do. Even seabirds are threatened, since they often fly off-coast in search for food. As I write these lines, I remember those really dramatic images of seagulls and pelicans oil-covered in Galicia, whilst cleaners were striving to save them. As far as I am concerned, an international campaign to stop this unnecessary prospection should be set in motion and governments worldwide should give priority to this environmental issue, starting with Spanish one, whose ineptitude and apathy are notorious. Fossil fuels will someday come to an end, therefore the G20 group of nations should put more effort in developing renewable energies and in researching for alternative and non-polluting ones. We must take the initiative now to protect our planet, and make a more reasonable use of its resources. After all, the damage caused to ecosystems by our actions will eventually affect us as well. Yours faithfully,
Nov 21, 2014 10:40 PM
Corrections · 4
1

Oil prospecting in the Canary Islands (a sample letter for the proficiency exam)

To the editor:

I am writing to you in response to the invitation to readers featured in the last issue of your magazine. What I am currently most concerned about with regard to the environment is the current oil prospecting on off the coast of the Canary Islands here in Spain.

This oil exploration was authorized by Spain's Industry Ministry last August, and it poses serious risks for the marine ecosystem of the area. The extraction process is not only hazardous, but there are also chances associated endangers to eventual freighters operating in those waters. We should not forget about the disaster involving the oil tanker Prestige, which occurred on the Gallegan coasts twelve years agowhose aftermath still affects both the local fishing industry and the environment. Moreover, Fuerteventura was declared Biosphere Reserve several years ago, and it is the home of many animal species, including some marine mammals.

Not only does oil leakage pollute vast expanses of ocean, but its effects are also really long-lasting and hard to remove. Fishes and shellfish are the first ones to die, and subsequently their predators do also perish. Even seabirds are threatened, since they often fly off-coast in search for of food. As I write these lines, I remember those really dramatic images of oil-covered seagulls and pelicans oil-covered in Galicia, whilst cleaners were striving to save them.

As far as I am concerned, an international campaign to stop this unnecessary prospecting should be set in motion, and governments worldwide should give priority to this environmental issue, starting with Spanish one, whose ineptitude and apathy are notorious. Fossil fuels will someday come to an end; therefore, the G20 group of nations should put more effort into developing renewable energies and in researching for alternative and non-polluting ones.

We must take the initiative now to protect our planet and make a more reasonable use of its resources. After all, the damage caused to ecosystems by our actions will eventually affect us as well.

Yours faithfully sincerely

November 22, 2014
1

Corrections in red.  Stylistics in blue.

Oil prospecting in the Canary Islands (a sample letter for the proficiency exam)

To the editor

I am writing you in response to the invitation to readers featured in the last issue of your magazine. What I am currently most concerned about with regard to the environment is the current oil prospecting off [1] the coast of the Canary Islands, here in Spain.

This oil exploration was authorized by Spain's Industry Ministry last August, and it poses serious risks to the marine ecosystem of the area.  Not only is the extraction process, but there are also risks associated with freighters eventually operating in those waters. We should not forget about the disaster involving the oil tanker Prestige, which occurred on the Gallegan coasts twelve years ago, and whose aftermath still affects both the local fishing industry and the environment. Moreover, Fuerteventura was declared Biosphere Reserve several years ago, and it is the home of many animal species, including some marine mammals.

Not only does oil leakage pollute vast expanses of ocean, but its effects are really long-lasting and hard to mitigate. Fishes and shellfishes are the first types of marine life to die, and subsequently their predators will also perish. Even seabirds are threatened, since they often fly off the coast in search of food. As I write these lines, I remember the truly dramatic images of oil-covered seagulls and pelicans oil-covered in Galicia, whilst rescuers cleaned them in an effort to save them.

As far as I am concerned, an international campaign to stop this unnecessary oil prospecting should be set in motion, and governments worldwide should give priority to this environmental issue, starting with Spain, whose ineptitude and apathy are notorious. Fossil fuels will someday become exhausted/be depleted; therefore, the G20 group of nations should put more effort into developing renewable energies and in researching for alternative and non-polluting ones.

We must take the initiative now to protect our planet, and make a more reasonable use of its resources. After all, the damage caused to ecosystems by our actions will eventually affect us as well.

Yours faithfully,

 

[1]  "On" the coast would be on the land.  "Off" the coast means in the water, frente a la costa.

November 22, 2014
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