(SOCIAL EFFECTS) Ambiente

 dez21

Mesmo com menos turistas e as fronteiras condicionadas Macau continuou a gastar muita energia e a produzir muitos resíduos alimentares e domésticos. Os dados foram avançados na sexta-feira pelo Governo. “Com a queda do número de turistas, a produção de resíduos diminuiu, mas não foi significativa”, disse Raymond Tam, director dos Serviços de Protecção Ambiental (DSPA). O secretário para os Transportes e Obras Públicas, Raimundo do Rosário, adiantou mesmo que entre Janeiro e Outubro a taxa de utilização da electricidade baixou apenas dois por cento em relação ao mesmo período de 2019.

“Com menos turistas reduzimos apenas em dois por cento. Que significado tem este número? Que as tarifas são baratas e as pessoas não tomam muita atenção a isto. Macau é uma cidade rica, as pessoas não ligam ao uso de água e electricidade, todos têm dinheiro para pagar estes bens. Não temos pressão de preços.”

Além disso, Raimundo do Rosário frisou que, nos últimos anos, “[os níveis] de emissão de carbono no interior da China têm diminuído, mas nós estamos a aumentar as emissões”. “Quando se abre um novo casino aumentam as emissões de carbono e reduzi-las não é assim tão fácil”, acrescentou.

https://hojemacau.com.mo/2021/12/06/producao-de-residuos-e-gastos-de-energia-elevados-durante-a-pandemia/

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected air quality due to extreme changes in human behavior.

15 We assessed the air quality response to different emergency levels during different COVID-19

16 periods and the naught period in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

17 We obtained the following conclusions: (1) The measures implemented to prevent and control of

18 COVID-19 directly impacted ambient air pollutants. The air quality index and the concentrations

19 of NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and CO in the GBA for 1–19 January 2020 declined 19.4%, 16.7%, 27.5%,

20 15.8%, and 25.7%, respectively, compared to the same time period in 2016–2019. (2) The

21 reduction in air pollution was strongly associated with the first-level emergency response during

22 this pandemic. The AQI, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, O3, and CO in the GBA decreased by 37.4%, 47.0%,

23 40.5%, 44.8%, 6.7%, and 24.1%, respectively. We found no statistically significant difference in

24 the concentrations of different pollutants, except for NO2, during the second- and third-level

25 responses. (3) The higher the emergency response level, the greater the NO2 pollutants reduction.

26 The NO2 concentration was reduced by 47.0%, 25.5%, and 12.1% at emergency response levels 1,

27 2, and 3, respectively. The results highlight the importance of understanding the role of

28 emergency response in air quality, and provide reference for authorities to formulate more

29 scientific and reasonable emergency responses to epidemic prevention and control.

Effects of COVID-19 Emergency Response Levels on Air Quality in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China

Em comparação com o ano passado, o número de dias com ar insalubre caiu 73 por cento. A culpa é da pandemia, dizem os Serviços Meteorológicos e Geofísico. No ar, fica também a promessa de reforçar critérios de concentração de poluentes de acordo com o Instituto Nacional Hidrográfico e Ambiental chinês. Pelos vistos, nem tudo piora com a pandemia. De acordo com os Serviços Meteorológicos e Geofísicos (SMG), nos primeiros 10 meses de 2020, o número de dias com qualidade do ar insalubre caiu 73 por cento, em comparação com o ano passado. https://www.plataformamedia.com/2020/11/05/dias-com-qualidade-de-ar-insalubre-em-macau-caem-73-este-ano/ 

(SOCIAL) Educational Challenges

 All classes have been suspended since 24 Jan 2020 and the on-line

classes replaced for students’ learnings at home since 3 February

2020. As this outbreak of COVID-19 is not foreseen and predictable,

there have been issues emerged regarding the preparedness and

applications of on-line study including hardware and software

situations among schools, faculties, and students with their parents

in Macao.

Most teachers have experienced some challenges in online teaching

including training for the use of on-line teaching especially in

“how to use the on-line teaching software”, technical supports for

on-line teaching (software installation and use), broadband speed

and stability for internet, students’ attendance status (how to check

student who is “real” at on-line class), the effective evaluation of

on-line learning among students, and time issue for the preparation

of on-line learning.

There are some feedbacks from students including software installation

and application problem, too tight on-line class schedule,

too many assignments, internet connection issues, and assessment

problems. The parents also experienced the communication issues

with teachers and schools.

Educational challenges of COVID-19 may include the preparation

for on-line teaching (training and material preparation), technical

support (hardware and software), application (attendance and

assignment), and the effectiveness and achievement of the on-line

classes.

Moreover, 217 countries/territories/areas have confirmed cases

of COVID-19 which represented all people under the threats of the

public-health crisis on COVID-19. Some countries/territories/areas don’t have clear guideline and strategies for the prevention of the

pandemic of COVID-19, it would be dangerous to people’s life and

wellbeing of all societies.

COVID-19 has changed all people’s daily life especially in teaching

and learning. All students are encouraged for the continue

learning during the pandemic of disease. The “Learning from home”

policy in Macao provides students for the chance of non-stop learning

during the class suspension or lockdown at home. There are

some challenges of on-line class emerged from educators, students,

and parents including training, technical support, application, and

effective evaluations. Those suggestions provided directions for the

improvement of on-line classes if “Learning from home” continued.

COVID-19 has caused many people deaths and life changes,

educators should try to prepare teaching materials not only for the

face-to-face classes but also for the on-line classes use. Educators

also need to think how to promote students’ learning experiences

from the on-line classes for students’ better learning achievement.

Jul20

The Responses and Challenges of COVID-19 in Macao

HSU, Mei Hua Kerry∗

Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao

Contexto (editorial?)

 "In February 2020, Macau was one of the first regions where the pandemic of coronavirus or Covid-19

affected the totality of social and economic life leading to increased anxieties over movement and

distance. Although Macau has had very few actual cases of the virus – 41 in total – and no deaths

from it, the Macau government rapidly instituted a lockdown. Anxiety in this respect is demonstrated

in the vignette on public bus above and the general obedience of people that could be observed not

to assemble, to stay at home, and avoiding meetings or gatherings in public places, including

transport, shops, and restaurants" Anxious immobilities: an ethnography of coping with contagion

(Covid-19) in Macau

The most important

thing is that Macao government stays vigilant for the quick

responses to face the public health crisis or disaster to this pandemic

infectious disease of COVID-19. The useful strategies to deal

with this crisis including centralized visitors from Hubei province,

enough quantities of facial masks for residents and workers, and

suspension of all activities as anti-epidemic period for residents

staying at home over one month since the outbreak of COVID-19

on 21 Jan 2020. The Responses and Challenges of COVID-19 in Macao

HSU, Mei Hua Kerry∗

Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao