THE ROLE OF FOOD IN BETTERING OUR LIVES AND OUR WORLD

 

If we are serious in our aim to tackle climate change, we need to start with how we eat and how we produce what we eat. Provided some measures are taken, both we as people, and more importantly, the planet on which we depend will be healthier. In this exercise, the texts and the videos have been mingled, which will hopefully make it easier for you to organize your ideas. If you should find material which you feel should be included in the task, don’t hesitate to contact me.

CLIMATE DISASTERS AND THEIR LINK TO FOOD

·         The foods that could prevent climate disasters

https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-foods-that-could-prevent-climate-disasters/

·         Food and a sustainable climate https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/food_practice/food_climate_cop26/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9e6SBhB2EiwA5myr9ja8ckLEpvXwZA24qkBoqPaKHlCz0cF2Veh4lUXgXHp_kTaZQKdweRoC0S0QAvD_BwE

·         How your food choices can help fight climate change https://www.eatingwell.com/article/290798/how-your-food-choices-can-help-fight-climate-change/

HUMAN HEALTH AND ITS LINK TO FOOD AND CLIMATE

·         Turning back the climate clock

https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/

·         How your diet can treat disease

https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/how-your-diet-can-treat-diseases/

·          Why we need to expand our crop  menu

https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/why-we-need-to-expand-our-crop-menu/

 

A LINEAR VERSUS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

There are two major economic systems one of which has been practiced for many hundreds of years and the second which economists urge us to adopt. The former is termed the linear economy and the latter is termed the circular economy. Do your research and discover what they mean. Then write an essay where you explain why the World needs a circular economy

BEFORE YOU START

·         What is linear economy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nq86ohVMI8

·         Moving from a linear to a circular economy  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nq86ohVMI8

READ AND MAKE NOTES

·         What is a circular economy? There is a wealth of information on this page, both texts and videos, that you need to study and make notes on. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview#:~:text=A%20circular%20economy%20decouples%20economic,loss%2C%20waste%2C%20and%20pollution.

·         The circular economy in detail https://archive.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/explore/the-circular-economy-in-detail

·          What is the linear economy and why do we need to go circular? https://planetark.org/newsroom/news/what-is-the-linear-economy-and-why-do-we-need-to-go-circular

WATCH AND TAKE NOTES

·         The circular economy https://www.ted.com/talks/kristin_kinder_the_circular_economy

·         What is a circular economy: a simple explanation https://www.ted.com/talks/cillian_lohan_the_circular_economy_a_simple_explanation

 

INSOMNIA: THE CAUSES AND THE EFFECTS

 

Disturbed sleep or insomnia is the bane of modern society plaguing millions around the world. What causes this worrying problem and what effects does it have on us? Do your research and find out. When you are ready, write an essay analyzing your findings.

Circadian rhythm

·         Circadian rhythm https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm

·         What is the circadian rhythm? https://www.news-medical.net/health/Circadian-Rhythm.aspx

Documentary

·         How to get a good night’s sleep  DW Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqhSW8miqq8

The major reasons analyzed

·         Blue light has a dark side https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

·         Light and circadian rhythms  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU-JzVwx-2M

·         Diet, exercise and sleep https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/diet-exercise-sleep

·         Anxiety and sleep  https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/anxiety-and-sleep#:~:text=Anxiety%20is%20frequently%20connected%20to,involving%20insomnia%20and%20anxiety%20disorders.

The major effects analyzed

·         Can poor sleep lead to Alzheimer’s or dementia? https://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/05/health/alzheimers-sleep-dementia-study/index.html  

·         What would happen if you didn’t sleep? https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-would-happen-if-you-didn-t-sleep-claudia-aguirre

·         Cardiovascular disease risk greater in people prone to insomnia https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/19/insomniacs-risk-heart-failure-stroke-study

BABY FARMS

 

Farms, you may be forgiven for thinking, are places where animal husbandry is practiced: cows roam the meadows, sheep frolic in the sunshine and poultry scratch around for grubs. You may be horrified to learn that there existed places called baby farms. Do your research, find out what this institution was and discuss the reasons why they were established and why they still exist today. In your conclusion, suggest solutions.

Reading material to make notes on

·         Baby farmers and angel makers http://ultimatehistoryproject.com/baby-farmers-and-angelmakers-childcare-in-19th-century-england.html

·         Baby farming https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/baby-farming

·         The Victorian nurse who strangled babies https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-39330793  

·         Child harvesting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_harvesting

·         Baby farms: a new kind of sex trafficking https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2019/09/27/baby-farms-vietnam-sex-trafficking/

·         Chinese baby factories https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/shocking-pictures-show-chinese-baby-4971128

Videos to take notes from

·         What is baby farming? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhrdHAwENEI

·         Nigeria’s baby farmers https://www.aljazeera.com/program/africa-investigates/2015/12/3/nigerias-baby-farmers

WHAT IF NEANDERTHALS, DENISOVANS AND SIMILAR EARLY HUMANS WERE STILL AROUND?

 

Racism is sadly still endemic in many parts of the world with people of color, ethnic minorities and those of different creeds being discriminated against. Despite the horrors of WW2, anti-Semitism is still rife; despite Martin Luther King’s famous speech and the emancipation act, there is still massive discrimination against people of color. However , how much more complicated would the situation be if various early humans had not died out but lived along-side homo sapiens like they did in the beginning? After all, they co-existed for thousands of years and interbred; what if they continued to do so?  Would people be more tolerant of differences and live together in peace and harmony or would racism become even more widespread? Do your research to find out more about Neanderthals and Denisovans, use your imagination and write an essay. Hint: you will need to use the hypotheticals while writing.

Before you start

What if other human species hadn't died out https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211008-what-if-other-human-species-hadnt-died-out 

·         What if Neanderthals hadn’t gone extinct? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSgkeyqRvIY

The Neanderthals

·         Who were the Neanderthals? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p8tFcIQ8K4 

·         The Neanderthals that taught us about humanity  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h777yfE39O8

·         How did the Neanderthals live? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200128-how-did-the-last-neanderthals-live

The Denisovans

·         Who were the Denisovans?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWaREXA8_fE

·         The Denisovans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coaozuZY-gY

·         Tales of Human History Told by Neandertal and Denisovan DNA That Persist in Modern Humans  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54zB8FOlFcE

·         Ancient DNA puts a face on the mysterious Denisovans https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/09/ancient-dna-puts-face-mysterious-denisovans-extinct-cousins-neanderthals

·         Multiple lines of mysterious early humans interbred with us https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/04/enigmatic-human-relative-outlived-neanderthals/

 

THE GAIA HYPOTHESIS

The Gaia hypothesis or the Gaia theory was proposed by James Lovelock, an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist and has radically changed the way we view the natural environment. Do your research to find out what it is and write an essay describing it. Also mention to what extent you agree with Lovelock and support your opinion.

What  is it?

·         The Gaia hypothesis  https://www.slideshare.net/marianaboterop/gaia-6821731

·         The Gaia hypothesis: the earth as a system  https://www.slideshare.net/mrwozney/the-gaia-hypothesis-the-earth-as-a-system

Reading material to make notes on

·         Is the world an organism? https://aeon.co/essays/the-gaia-hypothesis-reimagined-by-one-of-its-key-sceptics?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3155c7cd23-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_12_04_04_33&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_411a82e59d-3155c7cd23-70333181

·         Gaia theory http://www.gaiatheory.org/overview/  Watch the videos as well

·         Gaia hypothesis https://courses.seas.harvard.edu/climate/eli/Courses/EPS281r/Sources/Gaia/Gaia-hypothesis-wikipedia.pdf

Videos to watch and take notes from

·         Gaia  Hypothesis, James Lovelock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIFRg2skuDI

How to save humankind? James Lovelock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuGj5n_vYz4

THE PROBLEM OF ELECTRONIC WASTE

 

Electronic waste and what to do about it are two of the most important problems facing humanity as valuable resources are wasted and depleted and the natural world is slowly poisoned. Do your research to find out where your discarded iphone or tablet ends up and what effects it has on the environment. When you are ready, use your notes to describe the problem and suggest solutions.

Animation

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ixtgA9uMs

The nature of the problem

·          What is e-waste? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmraERa1WQE

·         E-waste problem: overview  http://www.electronicstakeback.com/resources/problem-overview/   

Reading material to make notes on

·         Can we fix our way out of the growing e-waste problem?  https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51385344

·         The growing problem of e-waste

 https://rethink.ft.com/articles/growing-problem-ewaste

·         E-waste: a global hazard  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214999614003208       

Videos to take notes from

·         Electronic waste and the threat to resource security https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiahTEGJMAI

·         Putting an end to electronic waste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R1a8J1pmYQ

·         Greening our electronic waste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JYZDfmkVL4

·         New e-waste report features evidence from the Royal Society of Chemistry  https://www.rsc.org/news-events/articles/2020/nov/e-waste-report/