Procedure for International Court session: Monday, June 26 and Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Monday, June 26
Step 1. 10:00 am. Special Interest Group presentations
The head judge introduces the session. He explains its purpose and describes the order of events.
The head judge of the court will establish the sequence of presenters today. The five groups include the Chilian government, Barrick Gold, Environmentalists, Farmers, and International Agencies.
Each member of a group will have a maximum of 4 minutes to present his or her point of view. One of the judges is responsible for timing the presentations. Presenters should support their position with one visual, such as a map, chart or illustration.
Note: Judges and news reporters should be taking notes during the presentations.

Tuesday, June 27
Step 2. 9:00 am - 10:15 am. Question period
Judges question each of the five special interest groups. Each judge will ask a maximum of 2 questions to each group. Each group will have a maximim of 15 minutes to answer questions.

Step. 3. 10:30 am - 11:00 am. Verdict
Judges present their position on the case. Each judge will have 4 minutes to make a statement supporting, opposing or being undecided about the project. Judges should support their arguments. The majority opinion wins.

Step 4. 11:15 am. News Reports
Each of the news reporters has 4 minutes to report on their newspaper's view on the project and position on the verdict.

Step. 5. Debriefing session on the simulation activity.

Petition against the Pascua Lama Project

In the Valle de San Felix, the purest water in Chile runs from rivers, fed by 2 glaciers. Water is a most precious resource, and wars will be fought for it. Indigenous farmers use the water, there is no unemployment, and they provide the second largest source of income for the area.

Under the glaciers has been found a huge deposit of gold, silver and other minerals. To get at these, it would be necessary to break, to destroy the glaciers - something never conceived of in the history of the world - and to make 2 huge holes, each as big as a whole mountain, one for extraction and one for the mine's rubbish tip.

The project is called PASCUA LAMA. The company is called Barrick Gold. The operation is planned by a multi-national company, one of whose members is George Bush Senior. The Chilean Government has approved the project to start this year, 2006.

The only reason it hasn't started yet is because the farmers have got a temporary stay of execution. If they destroy the glaciers, they will not just destroy the source of especially pure water, but they will permanently contaminate the 2 rivers so they will never again be fit for human or animal consumption because of the use of cyanide and sulphuric acid in the extraction process.

Every last gram of gold will go abroad to the multinational company and not one will be left with the people whose land it is. They will only be left with the poisoned water and the resulting illnesses.

The farmers have been fighting a long time for their land, but have been forbidden to make a TV appeal by a ban from the Ministry of the Interior.

Their only hope now of putting brakes on this project is to get help from international justice. The world must know what is happening in Chile. The only place to start changing the world is from here.

We ask you to circulate this message amongst your friends in the following way.

Please copy this text, paste it into a new email adding your signature and send it to everyone in your address book.

Please, will the 100th person to receive and sign the petition, send it to noapascualama@yahoo.ca to be forwarded to the Chilean Government.

No to Pascua Lama Open-cast mine in the Andean Cordillera on the Chilean-Argentine frontier. We ask the Chilean Government not to authorize the Pascua Lama to protect the whole of 3 glaciers, the purity of the water of the San Felix Valley and El Transito, the quality of the agricultural land of the region of Atacama, the quality of life of the Diaguita people and of the whole population of the region.

Last class I introduced the Pascua Lama Project and simulation activity.

You should be building a Pascua Lama Porfolio on your blog page with the following information:

General information on the Project:

- find references to three Web-sites that you used in your research- write a two-sentence synopsis describing each Web site
- write a summary of the Project in your own words (75 words)

Specific information related to your interest group:

- find three Websites or sources of information related to your interest group
- write a two-sentence synopsis describing each Web site
- begin describing the role you are going to play.
- write the name and position of the person.
- Start developing your person’s viewpoint.
- Share your ideas with other persons in your group so you have varied roles for your interest group
- Create a team blog in blogger in which you can share information
- Consult with me on your role individually and your roles within the team
- Show me your portfolio before the end of class today

Evaluation:

• Remember your portfolio will be used for a combined reading / writing assessment of 30 percent.
• The speaking assessment of 10 percent will be based on your participation in the simulation.

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.

Today's writing test:

WRITING EXAM – 10% / 100 points


INSTRUCTIONS:

Please do not talk during the exam or use your cell phone.

§ Write a 400 to 450- word report based on the information you gathered in your survey. Any fewer than 390 words will result in a loss of marks.
§ You may only refer to your survey questions and the charts or tables you prepared.
§ Use Word to write your text.
§ Give your report a Title.
§ Your report should include these four sections: introduction, method, results and discussion.
§ Use your knowledge of the structures of comparison and contrast to express your ideas clearly.
§ You must indicate the number of words of your text in the Header.
§ Send your report to me by e-mail.

COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONS:

In Word, click on “View” in the Toolbar. Click on “Header and Footer” to create the following header:

102 B ANG-GPS The Date: ____________
NAME _____________________________________ Number of Words: ____



GOOD LUCK!

Hi gang,

Here is a revised list of our class blog sites:

Daliaann
Myrkul82
AC86
The-margin
Girlsstuff-girlsstuff
Pollyall
Ilovemyenglishcourse
Hypsiphobic
Diplomat101
Stephybubblebath
Tylersnothere
Fair2006
Liquid--brain
Asbane432
Chubbdr
Inconceavabkydirty
Rossygnollemonde
Zelbubble
Junelaregazza

Check out the sites and most a comment.

Frank B.

Hi gang,

Check out your classmates Blog sites today. Send a word of encouragement!

daliaann
myrkul82
the-margin
pollall / greensurvey
ilovemyenglishcourse
hypsiphobic
senegal2
lquid--brain
asbone432
chubbdr
inconceavablydirty
rossygnollemonde
zelbubble
junelaregazza

Cheers,
Frank B