READINGS
G. McCormack, Water Margins: Competing Paradigms in China (2001)
http://www.informaworld.com/index/XKQ9ABYWWCTVAMGP.pdf
C. Dugger, Charity finds that U.S. food aid for Africa hurts instead of helps (2007)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/14/news/food.php
E. Omondi, Potential of Biologically Intensive Agriculture for Feeding People in Kenya (2006)
http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/wc2006/techprogram/P18579.HTM
F. Muchena, Turning the tides of soil degradation in Africa (2005)
http://community.middlebury.edu/~ppicotte/Muchena.pdf
Also, please watch this video:
Kilili Self Help Project, Kenya and Uganda: http://www.kililiselfhelp.org/whoweare.htm
PRESENTATIONS
Philip, Land Degradation and Property Rights
Thursday's Class: Food Issues in Africa
Outline for class:
1)Presentations by Matt and Maggie
2) Debate:Food Aid/Food Security: Direct commodity aid or tools for change (see groups and outline below)
3) Concluding thoughts
DEBATE
Food Aid/ Food Security: Direct commodity aid or tools for change?
Question for debate
How should developed countries help feed the impoverished in African countries? Should we continue supplying direct food aid to countries or should we eliminate food aid and provide communities with the tools and knowledge to be self-sustaining?
1) In your assigned group be prepared to defend one side of the debate by utilizing the readings and additional sources (see below)
2) Each group must defend their side of the argument by highlight the effectiveness of the program, how it can help people and other benefits associated.
3) This will be a slightly formal debate – you will present your case and then have time for a rebuttal
4) ENJOY!
Group A: Pro Food Aid! You believe that developed countries such as the US should continue supplying regions like Africa with food supplies and this is the most effective means of improving their lives.
Sarah
Casey
Allison
Shane
Nick
Ashley
Group B: No Food Aid! Knowledge is power! You believe that traditional donations of direct commodities is not the answer; rather, communities would benefit more if they received the tools and know-how that would allow them to improve their lives.
Lizzie
Cassidy
Nickhil
Cameron
Phil
Tania
Emily
Suggested Readings for the debate:
UN site about 'Organic Agriculture and its Benefits'
UN report on strategies to improve Africa's agricultural food security
Farmer training school in Kenya:
check out the Goldman Environmental Awards, delivered last night in San Francisco to 6 top global activists (one for each continent, sadly Antarctica doesn't count). The award carries a hearty check for $150,000 to support the entrepreneurs' work...if you'll remember from Bornstein's book, Richard Goldman was a key financial supporter of the ASHOKA fellowship in its founding. http://www.grist.org/feature/2008/04/13/goldman/?source=weekly