World Issues @ DMT

Choose from one of the ideas below. Watch the short move AND read the article then complete the analysis. This assignment must be handed in by the end of the period on Thursday, May 30. 

When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book.

To power his family’s home, young William Kamkwamba built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap — starting him on a surprising journey detailed in the new book, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”

Now read this: Malawi windmill boy with big fans

Many people in Kenya’s sprawling slum of Kibera do not have toilets and often pay to use the few public toilets.

Now read this: Peepoo Bags

Now read this: Plant Tomatoes. Harvest Lower Crime Rates.

Now read this: Eatinginsects

In which John Green investigates the dawn of human civilization. John looks into how people gave up hunting and gathering to become agriculturalists, and how that change has influenced the world we live in today. Also, there are some jokes about cheeseburgers.

A – Trading Away the Right to Food – Powerpoint

nilebasin power point

Ethiopia’s government has embarked on a massive dam-building project, which it hopes will generate alternative sources of power and also help to turn the country’s economy around.

But the idea is not without controversy, and critics have said the endeavour will be an environmental disaster.

Nazanine Moshiri reports from the Gibe III dam site in Oromia, in western Ethiopia.

How do we manage this scarce resource? Should acess to clean water be a human right?

Look at this power point to see how little of the earth’s water is actually useable for us.

Water Powerpoint

Watch this video to see what the Soviet Union did to the Aral Sea in order to grow cotton.

Watch this video to review what we learned yesterday about water scarcity. Notice how water scarcity is a gender equity issue (IMPORTANT POINT)

Now think about how we waste water. Think specifically about our use of bottled water and what a wast of resources this is. Now watch this:

How is drinking bottled water an issue? Look at this power point presentation for more ideas:

Bottled Water Powerpoint

Bottled water creates a lot of plastic waste. Look at this power point to see how our creation of plastic waste has increased over the years.

Plastic and e-waste

Take careful note of the definitions for planned and perceived obsolescence.

Ever wonder where those old electronics go when you’re tired of them? Watch this and be amazed:

e-waste in Ghana