Read the following text. Suggested activities for students and topics for discussion

Suggested activities for students and topics for discussion

1. Rank the following statements on а scale of 1 to 10 from strongest disagreement "1" to strongest agreement "10". Which of them seem to be most important? Why? Account for your choice. Argue in favour of your viewpoint. You may give examples drawn from real-life situations, apply for additional information if necessary.

· Natural resources should not be left untapped if using them could improve living conditions for а group of people.

· It is important for people to preserve wilderness areas even if а vast majority of people will never visit them.

· The world's natural resources exist for people to use. Preserving these resources as wilderness is а luxury we often cannot afford.

· Environmental degradation is the biggest problem facing humanity today.

· People will eventually develop new technologies to соре with environmental problems.

· People have а responsibility to protect all life forms on Earth.

· Protecting а country's natural resources and natural heritage is primarily the Government's responsibility.

· The Government is doing а good job of protecting уour country's environment.

· Recycling is the most important thing people can do to help improve the environ­ment.

· People should be able to use their own land (i.e., farming, housing, logging, wildlife, and habitat) in whatever way they see fit.

· All people have а legal right to clean air and water.

· When а dilemma arises between protecting wildlife and protecting jobs for people, we should consider the needs of people first.

· The fate of the human race is tied to the fate of other living things; if people are to survive, we must protect all species and their habitats.

· Human overpopulation is the single greatest factor contributing to Earth's environ­mental problems.

· The laws the Government has passed to control pollution are sufficient to ensure safe air and water for future generations.

2. Russia has recently signed the Kyoto Protocol. What were the reasons to do it? Do you approve of it? How does the situation with environmental protection stand in this country? Has anything changed since signing the abovementioned document? Are the environmental laws the ones that often turned a blind eye to? Why? How can you explain such ignorance?

3. Do you think that environmental problems are a matter of concern of only some countries (i.e. industrialized, developed) or all of them?

4. The USA having the largest volume of greenhouse gases emission rejected to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. How can you account for it? If you were to persuade its government to change its stance what arguments would you give in favor of ratification?

5. Who can contribute to environmental protection? Can individuals do anything to make Earth a healthier place or it's a problem that can be solved only by governments?

Chapter 3

"While traditional peacekeeping had focused mainly on monitoring cease­fires, today's complex peace operations are very different. Their objective, in essence, is to assist the parties engaged in conflict to pursue their interests through political channels instead."

Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the Millennium Report

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29