PASCUA LAMA PROJECT: Economic benefits vs. protection of the environment

As a class activity for the rest of the course, we are going to do a simulation based on the Pascua Lama Project. What is a simulation? It's an extended group activity in which students take on roles and act out a real-world situation.

The Pascua Lama Project involves the controversial initiative of a Canadian mining company to extract gold reserves from two glaciers in waters belonging to Chile in South America.

In this activity, you will:
- do research on the Internet and collect information
- create a bank of documents
- take notes on your reading
- write summaries of the information you found (posted on your blog under the section: Pascua Lama Project
- join a special interest group
- create a role as part of a special interest group, organization or company as well as an international tribunal
- write your own role card
- develop your position, for, against or undecided on the Project
- participate in group and whole class discussions
- evaluate your performance in the activity

There will be six groups of 4 students and one group of 5:
1. International Tribunal: 5 judges
2. Mining Company spokespersons
3. Local government officials
4. Local farmers
5. Environmentalists
6. Representatives from international agencies, such as the United Nations
7. News reporters from different news agencies

The activity will extend over the next five classes. Your particiaption in the activity will be evaluated for speaking, reading and writing. In the last class on June 27 we will hold the final activity, the presentation of positions before the International Tribunal.

Steps
1. Join one of the seven groups mentioned above. Work with someone you haven't worked with previously.
2. Get the general facts on the Project by searching information on the Internet, such as in newspapers.
3. Then research information specifically related to your group. For example, mining company people should find out about the company, the purpose of the project and the benefits they carrying out the project. Decide on who does what in the group.
4. Decide on your specific role and write up your role card including:
- Title of special interest group
- Your name and position in the group
- A short statement of your point of view worded as such: (3 0r 4 lines)
'You are primarily concerned with improving the quality of life by (give reasons). You also want to . . .
5. As you do research, keep a written record of your developing position.
6. Participate in group discussions to your presentation before the International Tribunal
7. Defend your point of view before the International Tribunal.

Judges and reporters should see me for special instructions.