ARGUING BOTH SIDES IN A DEBATE

Your class will stage a short debate on whether or not a soda ash factory should be built at Lake Natron. You will need to be able to argue for both sides. No matter how strongly you might feel about an important issue like the flamingos at Lake Natron, To prepare for the debate, you will review two perspectives. Understanding another point of view is critical, even if you strongly disagree with it!

If you would like to use a Cornell Notes template, click here. (Google Doc)

 

Ken Mwathe's Statement

First, a statement by Ken Mwathe who works as the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the BirdLife International Africa Office in Nairobi, Kenya. He helped convince a large private company to stop investing in the soda ash project at Lake Natron, but in this second clip from The Nobelity Project’s flamingo video, he makes his case that the government of Tanzania should also stop their plans for soda ash mining.

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Scrub through the video to capture and take notes on why Mr. Mwathe is against the soda ash factory.

Possible cue phrases:

• The value of fresh water
• Tourism
• Community livelihoods

To view the entire video, click here.

The Government's Position

Second, you will be using an excerpt an article. These statements reported by Ms. Isaacs will help you understand the government's position in support of soda ash mining.

 

MONGABAY NEWS

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Tanzania weighs new soda ash plant in prime flamingo territory

by Jenny R. Isaacs

[The] government argues that the soda ash of Lake Natron is too economically enticing to ignore. Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete set an ambitious goal of nearly doubling Tanzania’s industrial sector by 2025. On a tour in 2011, he reminded reporters that Lake Natron’s natural soda ash deposit was one of the richest in the world and he portrayed the plant as a path to national prosperity.

“We cannot continue to mourn about our country being poor while our minerals are lying untapped,” he said, adding that “at times I wonder whether those who are opposing this move are really patriotic.”

The Tanzanian government (represented in the project as The National Development Corporation) continues to see the soda ash project as a way to reduce poverty, provide jobs, become self-sufficient, and increase revenues.

On his 2011 tour to the area, President Kikwete acknowledged that “what matters here is the application of sophisticated technology which is not harmful to flamingo’s breeding” and to that end, a representative from The National Development Corporation said in a September public meeting in Dar es Salaam that their intention was to find a way to mine soda ash using safe technology that does not harm flamingos.

“We are still carrying out research to find out the best mining methods,” they said.

Possible cue phrases:

• Mining important for economy
• Will help people
• Safe technology research

To read the entire article, click here.

 

Debate

Your teacher will now lead the class in a debate. It is your job to argue well for the position you are assigned. Use information on this page as well as information from the prior sessions. Is it also a great time to use your previous notes and the unit's focus words:

​habitat (noun)the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organismWhy do you think animals prefer certain habitats?condition (noun)the state of something, especially having to do with appearance or qualityWhat kinds of conditions are best for flamingos to breed?source (noun)1. someone or something that provides what is wanted or needed2. the place of origin of a stream or riverWhat is your favorite source for information? Explain.destruction (noun)the process of ruining something beyond repairCan you think of a time when you saw destruction in your city or town? What happened?extinction (noun)the state or process of a species, family, or larger group ceasing to existWhat are some reasons why a species might face extinction?optimal (adjective)best or most favorableWhat do you think the optimal time of year is for playing outside?threat (noun)something that is likely to cause danger or harmWhat types of environmental threats might endanger animals?impact (noun)1. the act or force of one thing hitting another2 the effect or influence of one thing on anotherHeavy rains had an impact on the flamingos in the Reader's Theater. What other animals could rain have an impact on?preservation (noun)the act of maintaining something in its original or existing stateWhen might preservation be a good use of government money? Explain.habitatconditionsourcedestructionextinctionoptimalthreatimpactpreservation

 

Discussion

Finally, your class will have a general discussion sharing your own comments and raising your own questions about issues in this Science Generation unit.