The restoration of Iraq's marshlands

Topic:

         

This article is about the restoration of a marshland area in Iraq.

         

       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Iraq on a map? What do you know about it?
• What is UNESCO, and what are its main mission
• What are the characteristics of 'marshland'?

           

Speculate:

• What are some reasons that natural areas might be destroyed? In other words, what are some of the causes (human or otherwise) of ecological destruction?

             

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the PRI website. Word count: 543

           

Iraq's marshlands, nearly destroyed under Saddam, are coming back

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• In your own words, explain why it is important to preserve these marshlands. Look for hints in the article, and give as many reasons as you can.
• How might the new UNESCO World Heritage status affect the region? Make a list of possible consequences.
• Although previous Iraqi governments have actively caused the destruction of the marshlands, Azzam Alwash says that the current government has made a commitment to protect this area. What does this imply about the current government?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• Can you think of any traditions in your culture that have remained unchanged for a long period of time? Why do you think this tradition hasn't changed?
• Does your country have any sites with World Heritage status? What makes these places special? Have you been to visit any of them?
• Like the Iraqi marshlands, are there natural areas in your country that have been destroyed by humans? What were the effects of the destruction? How were people and animals affected by the destruction?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

           

Also in the news:

• Read about successful efforts in China to convert land back into forest. But this success, as it turns out, is a double-edged sword: What China's successful reforestation program means for the rest of the world

             

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. Like Lively Exchanges on Facebook, and don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Eat like Arnold Schwarzenegger

Topic:

            

This article is about efforts in China to reduce the amount of pork in people's diets.

         

          

Before reading:

         

General Knowledge:

• Can you find China on a map?
• What are some examples of "diet-related diseases"?
• Vocabulary: Do you know the meaning of these initialisms? Look them up if you aren't sure.
• The WHO
• USDA
• PSA

       

Speculate:

• An advocacy group in China is trying to convince people to eat less meat. In addition to health benefits, what might be some other advantages to reducing meat consumption?
• What challenges might the advocacy group encounter during their campaign?

         

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and watch a YouTube video on the NPR website. Word count: 632

        

Can Arnold Schwarzenegger Persuade China To Eat Less Meat?

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Re-read the first sentence of the article. Why might the writer have chosen to begin by identifying similarities between the US and China? How might this comparison affect the way the audience perceives China?
• Why are celebrities often chosen as spokespeople for campaigns?
• What is the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions? What are possible consequences of failing to reduce emissions?
• Jeremy Haft doesn't think the media campaigns will be successful. On the contrary, he thinks Chinese demand for meat will increase. If media efforts fail, what are some alternative strategies that could be used to convince people to change their meat-eating habits?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• What do you think about the choice to use Arnold Schwarzenegger for this particular campaign? What are some possible reasons that he was chosen?
• In your country or culture:
• Is obesity a concern for many people? Does the government make balanced nutrition a priority?
• Is meat a big part of your local cuisine? What kinds of meat are most common?
• Are celebrities (from the US or other countries) often used to promote certain campaigns? Give an example. Do you think this strategy is effective? Explain.
• Are there any dishes that signal social status, like eating pork in China?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

         

Beyond the page:

• Learn more about the WildAid organization: wildaid.org
• Check out some examples of different food guidelines in countries around the world: Food-based Dietary Guidelines

        

Also in the news:

• In the United States, celebrity endorsements of unhealthy food have made headlines recently. Take a look at this article: This Is How Much Celebrities Get Paid To Endorse Soda And Unhealthy Food

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

A Great Green Wall for Africa

Several African countries are cooperating on a project that will improve people's lives. Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and stream or download the audio file on the PRI website. Word count: 619

         

Africa's Great Green Wall is making progress on two fronts

      

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Where is the Sahara Desert? Can you name any of the countries that are in this desert?
• What is 'desertification'? What causes it? How does it affect the people living nearby?

       

Speculate:

• Many countries in Africa are cooperating to build a 'Great Green Wall'. What do you think it might be? What might be its purpose?

     

      

Credit: Bobby Bascomb

       

After reading:

      

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What does the article's title mean? What are the 'two fronts' that the writer is referring to?
• How many benefits of the Great Green Wall project are mentioned in the article? Make a list. Can you think of any other possible benefits that were not mentioned?
• What does Elvis Paul Tangam mean when he says that a sense of 'ownership' is the greatest accomplishment of the project?
• Why might the French government be interested in investing so much money in the project? (Hint: consider Africa's colonial history.)
• Tangam thinks it will take at least a generation for the Great Green Wall to become a reality. Why?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

        

Reflect and evaluate:

• What do you think might have been some of the challenges to achieving cooperation among so many different countries?
• What does this article suggest about gender roles in these countries?
• What are the biggest threats to the environment in the area where you live? Is anything being done to change the situation?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

         

Beyond the page:

• Explore the website for the Great Green Wall initiative: Great Green Wall
• Indigenous plants are an important part of the Great Green Wall project. What plants are indigenous to the area where you live? Why do they grow well in that environment?
• Do some research to find out more about the Sahara Desert.

           

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to like Lively Exchanges on Facebook!

Smog-induced stress for Mexico City residents

**Special note: Check in again tomorrow for a free download!**

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about how high levels of smog are affecting the residents of Mexico City. Word count: 492

Before reading:

      

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Mexico City on a map?
• What is smog? What causes it?

     

Speculate:

• One of Mexico City's strategies for reducing smog is to limit the number of cars on the road each day. Consider: a) How can the government make a fair rule about which cars are not driven on which days? b) What could be some of the consequences of preventing drivers from using their cars?

    

After reading:

         

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• As the article states, smog in Mexico City isn't as bad as in other parts of the world, or even as bad as in the city's own past. What can be inferred by the fact that the government is taking steps to limit smog now?
• What problems might result from not reducing the smog? Think about consequences for the environment, public health, etc.
• Imagine that you are a business owner in Mexico City. How could you help relieve the stress of the commute for your employees?
• Which types of businesses and which types of people are likely to be more affected by the car ban than others?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• What kinds of pollution does your city struggle with? Has the government taken steps to change the situation?
• What forms of transportation do people rely on the most where you live? Do people usually use cars? Trains? Bicycles? What would happen if they had to use different transportation once a week?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

          

Also in the news…

Read about other places that must deal with their smog problem:

• Southern California: Air pollution study shows children got healthier as the air got cleaner
• Italy: Milan and Rome ban cars as pollution rises
• China: China smog sparks red alerts in 10 cities

        

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this blog with others!