Student Handout #1A: Shipwreck
You are one of five young people who have been washed ashore on a small,
deserted, South Pacific island that has few resources. Offshore, the wreckage
of your ship can be seen on the reef. Along the beach, various items have
floated in from the wreck. Suddenly, to your horror, the ship shifts, slides
off the reef and sinks. You are trapped on the island not knowing whether
anyone has been able to get out the news to the outside world about your
misfortune. You are now faced with the reality of having to spend a very
long time on this island before being rescued. If you are to survive, it
will be necessary f7or you to use the resources that can be gathered along
the beach and whatever is on the island and in the ocean.
Below is a list of the items that you have found washed up on shore, as well as those things already on the island. It is up to you to use these resources, as well as your knowledge and intelligence, to create a life for yourselves on the island. You cannot depend on any other resources. It is important that you use your resources carefully to meet your basic survival needs and not waste them on wants.
Your island is a lonely one, thousands of miles from any civilization. It is about five miles long, shaped like a kidney surrounding a lagoon, which is protected from the ocean by a barrier reef. It is on this reef that your ship sank. The island is covered with trees and brush, but has one grassy area about one acre in size (about the same size as half a football field). One hectare equals 2.47 acres.
Resources
1. broken short wave radio
2. flare gun
3. canteen, parachute and helmet
4. hunting knife
5. a crate of old Reader's Digest magazines
6. five metres of rope
7. a coke bottle
8. driftwood (six 2 metre planks, three sheets of 15 mm plywood, 4'
x 8')
9. three cans of gingerale
10. abundant oysters
11. a Trivial Pursuit game
12. an underground spring that produces 40 litres of water per day
13. a Bible
14. a whistle
15. numerous Palm trees
16. a variety of tropical birds
17. a kettle
18. ten pencils
19. a baseball bat
20. 100 sheets of paper (8.5" x 11")
21. a box of precious metal (gold coins)
22. three textbooks: physics, biology and geography
23. character #1
24. character #2
25. character #3
26. character #4
27. character #5
Characters
The following are the five people who have been washed ashore on a deserted island. Each person has distinct characteristics that may influence his or her choices of the technical and natural resources found on the island. When reviewing each character, bear in mind that you may choose a fellow character to fill a need.
Character #1:
The first individual is very timid. This person must be coaxed into group participation. However, this person is very ingenious and can find amazing uses for resources that the others overlook. This persons gains satisfaction by solving problems that the other members are unable to solve. He or she likes to invent new ways of doing things.
Character #2:
The second person is very studious. This person spends his or her time on the island locating resources that can offer knowledge. He or she offers to teach the others subjects such as mathematics, science, health and so on. This person feels good when helping others.
Character #3"
This person has some leadership qualities. He or she is well organized, has the respect of others and works well under stress. This person was an outstanding athlete on school teams and misses competition. However, other group members may feel as though they are being bossed and ordered about unfairly by this person. He or she substitutes leadership and survival as methods of gaining satisfaction now that school athletics are impossible.
Character #4"
The fourth person is very cautious. This person criticizes the decisions of others because he or she is very afraid, feels alone and fears for his or her life. Before the shipwreck, he or she gained satisfaction by pleasing others (teachers, adults, employers and so on), people whom the person feels important.
Character #5:
This person is very adventurous. He or she acts as if the shipwreck is a dream come true. Unfortunately, this person's spirit of adventure may cause a serious accident to either him or herself, or to another member of the group. This person has explored the jungle and has found a place to live. This person gains satisfaction by just being on the island.
Note: You may have to attempt to live a lifetime here. You must
come up with a plan that will explain how you are going to survive this
situation. It is up to you to figure out how to use the resources that
you have to satisfy your needs and wants.
The people who volunteered for this project have agreed to spend at least ten years at the moon colony. Because it is expensive and dangerous to make the trip from the Earth to the moon, a great deal of time and effort must be spent in deciding what to take on this voyage. Because the space ship is limited in what it can carry, some tough decisions have to be made about what can be taken. Most of the space ship's capacity has to be used to carry resources (food, water, shelter, etc.) for basic survival of the colony.
Decisions have to be made about what is absolutely necessary to survival (needs) and what could be considered a luxury (wants). It was decided that the people who must live with the decisions should help make them. As a result, the group has to decide what it can allow each individual to take, and what the group will take to be shared by everyone. Each person is allowed 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of goods and the group can take 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of goods. Note: Basic food items will be provided.
Your group is responsible for choosing, from the list of resources below, what will be taken to the moon colony. Remember, what you take must do you for the next ten years. For items 2, 24, 25 and 26, the group must reach consensus about the items to be taken, although an individual might also choose to select items such as CDs or books. The characters are listed because they may be viewed as human resources.
Resources
1. vitamin capsules (500 grams per bottle)
2. athletic equipment: exercise bicycle (50 kg), barbell set (100 kg),
golf clubs (25 kg), skipping rope (1 kg), table tennis set (25 kg). [choose
one]
3. stellar map (500 grams)
4. a set of encyclopedia (25 kg)
5. a psychology book about interpersonal relations (1 kg)
6. a sun lamp (1 kg)
7. two 50 kg oxygen tanks (extra)
8. a deck of cards (500 grams)
9. a personal diary (500 grams)
10. TV reception guide (1 kg)
11. a personal cosmetic kit (1 kg)
12. special foods that you are fond of (packages of 1 kg each)
13. a variety of potted plants (2 kg each)
14. a personal computer (10 kg)
15. Monopoly game, Trivial Pursuit game, etc. (1 kg each)
16. a family picture (500 grams)
17. a tool kit of small tools for hobby and handyman jobs (5 kg)
18. character #1
19. character #2
20. character #3
21. character #4
22. character #5
23. a popcorn popper (1 kg) and popcorn (1 kg per bag)
24. a stereo (10 kg) or a VCR and TV (25 kg) [choose one or the other]
25. ten CDs (5 kg) or 10 video cassettes (5 kg) [choose one or the
other].
26. The following are nine categories of literature. Your group may
take fifty books (50 kg). Each individual may decide to take some books
as part of his or her personal possessions (each book weighs 1 kg). Decide
upon which categories and the number in each category you will take: romance,
fantasy, action and adventure, poetry, horror, plays, religious works,
including the Bible, non-fiction books (how to do it books, crafts, travel,
biographies, history, medicine, etc.), mystery.
Characters
The following are the five people who have been selected to live on the moon. Each person has distinct characteristics that may influence his or her choices of natural and technological resources. When reviewing each character the students should bear in mind that they may choose a fellow character to fill a need. There is no one perfect character.
Character #1:
This person is very energetic. He or she has always taken great pride in his/her athletic abilities. However, this person appears to try to ignore the others by bicycling and jogging alone. Although he or she works well with others, having the opportunity to relax and exercise alone is viewed as a priority. Space travel has always been a desire for this person.
Character #2:
The second character enjoys being with people and makes friends easily. This person has experience with space travel, but not with beginning a colony. He or she is somewhat concerned about going for ten years and questions his or her ability to do so.
Character #3:
This person is very knowledgeable. He or she knows everything there is to know about space travel, the mineral structure of the moon and survival skills. These qualities can be very beneficial to the crew, but the speed at which he or she supplies information and corrects others tends to annoy fellow members. It is the ambition of this person to further his or her knowledge of space.
Character #4:
The fourth person is very kind and charitable. He or she is going on his/her first space journey, and believes that helping the others overcome any fears they may have would be a good way to help the others. Unfortunately, this person may be too quick to offer help to others and occasionally bothers the other members. This person gains satisfaction by assisting others.
Character #5:
The fifth person is a perfectionist. He or she likes to have all work completed to his or her expectations. This trait is a good influence on the group because the chance for accidents is reduced. However, this "perfectionism" causes the others to feel less able to succeed at their own tasks. This person would be satisfied if the others would accept him/her for who he/she is.
Note: You will have to spend the next ten years in this colony.
You must come up with a plan that will explain how you are going to survive
this situation. It is up to you to figure out how to use the resources
you have to satisfy your needs and wants.
The explorers will have to look after themselves because the Inuit have their own families to sustain. This means that the explorers will have to make shelter for themselves, find some way to heat it and find a supply of food somewhere. The Inuit are friendly and will help the explorers as much as they can. These Inuit depend for survival on what they can find on the land, and especially in the sea, for their clothes and food. They depend on seals and whales for food and heat. However, going out on the sea ice searching for game is an extremely dangerous occupation.
The following are lists of technological and natural resources available to you. You can use these as aids to surviving in the Canadian Arctic. Column one contains items that came from the provinces to the south, and column two contains resources that came from the Inuit way of life. You may use resources from each column to improve your chances for survival. The characters may be viewed as human resources to fill your needs as well.
| The Explorers' Resources
1. a week's supply of food concentrate
|
Inuit Resources
1. spears
|
Characters
The following are the five people who have been forced to spend the remainder of a Canadian Arctic winter with an Inuit family. Each person has distinct characteristics that may influence his or her choices of natural and technological resources. When reviewing each character, keep in mind that you may choose a fellow character to fill a need.
Character #1:
The first person is very rugged. This explorer enjoys challenging the outdoors and looks upon the winter with the Inuit as an opportunity to learn a new culture. However, this person, despite his/her rugged characteristics, lacks an ability to use common sense with the environment. This person feels a great sense of achievement when accomplishing something new and challenging.
Character #2:
The second person is a very active person who must always be doing something. Because this person has a vast knowledge of the outdoors, and because this person is so dependent on the Inuit family and cannot leave, he or she is becoming very restless. This person helps the others overcome their fear and advises them of good and bad decisions. This person feels satisfaction by working hard and accomplishing set goals.
Character #3:
This person is what one would deem the true explorer. This person enjoys the outdoors and will stop at nothing to go somewhere where no one else has been. However, this person feels a sense of anger towards the other "explorers" whom he or she blames for getting the group lost. This person would feel satisfaction by leaving the other explorers and finding civilization alone.
Character #4:
The fourth person is the calm, cool and collected member of the five. This person is not bothered by having to spend the winter with the Inuit. This person is learning how to hunt, collect and gather as the Inuit would. Unknowingly, this individual has adapted to the Inuit culture to the point where he or she has little to no contact with the other members. The other members feel abandoned by this behaviour. This persons gains satisfaction by adapting easily to the Inuit culture.
Character #5:
The fifth person is the scientific individual in the group. He or she has completed various experiments that could not have been done in any other environment than in the Arctic. However, this person is very lonely and does the experiments to keep his or her mind off the situation they are in. This person achieves satisfaction by finishing a successful experiment with the limited resources on hand.
Note: You will have to spend the winter here. Spring will not
come until June. You must come up with a plan that explains how you are
going to survive this situation. It is up to you to figure out how to use
the resources that you have to satisfy your needs and wants most effectively.
The following is a list of resources you may use in planning and on your trip to Los Angeles. Use this list to plan how you will get to Los Angeles, how you will use your money, and things you will do when you get there. Remember that you must do things as a group.
Resources
1. a map of the city
2. a transportation guide to the city that lists ways of travelling
around the city, including bus, taxi, subway and car rentals (car rentals
would cost about $100 per day)
3. a hotel guide that lists various hotels around the city and their
prices which range from $30 to $150 per night for two people sharing (an
extra person in a room ranges from $5 to $15 per night)
4. a Los Angeles telephone book
5. suntan lotion
6. a restaurant guide to Los Angeles (breakfast--$3 to $6, lunch--$5
to $9, dinner--$9 to $16 )
7. a map of the homes of various actors and actresses-a tour will cost
approximately $20 per person
8. a Visa card ($500 limit) to be used only for emergencies
9. the telephone number of one group member's sister who lives in the
city
10. envelopes and paper
11. airline brochures outlining the various prices of seats (the fare
for one person one way is $385 if the flight is booked one month in advance
12. a list of upcoming concerts in Los Angeles (a concert ticket is
approximately $25)
13. a guide to various colleges and universities around the city
14. ten US stamps
15. a brochure of tours offered around the city (tours around $20 to
$30 per person)
16. a book, listing the following sites and activities in and around
the Los Angeles area:
| · Disneyland
· beaches · theatres · television and movie studios · Knotts Berry Farm · Movieland Wax Museum · Beverly Hills · shopping centres · art galleries · Hollywood Boulevard (Walk of Stars) · naval and air bases · Botanic Gardens · boating, golfing, surfing, scuba diving, swimming, tennis, water skiing, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, skiing and various other participant and spectator sports |
· museums
· libraries · race tracks · Mount Wilson Observatory · various cultural neighbourhoods such as Mexican, Japanese, etc. · Anaheim Stadium · Marineland · national and local parks · Spanish mission (built by monks in 18th and 19th centuries) · La Brea pits (pre-historic museum) · cafes · City Hall (famous landmark) · Country Safari and zoos · Queen Mary (famous luxury liner) |
17. a magazine explaining how to protect against crime when in Los Angeles
18. the addresses of studios where various TV shows are taped
19. a complimentary case of cola from the company
20. playing cards
21. character #1
22. character #2
23. character #3
24. character #4
25. character #5
Characters
The following are the five people who have won a trip to Los Angeles. Each person has distinct characteristics that may influence the group's choices and actions. Keep in mind that you may choose a fellow character to fill a need.
Character #1:
This person is the individual who thought up the jingle and encouraged his or her friends to enter the contest. He or she is very caught up in the "Hollywood Image" and feels the group should spare no expense in having a good time, including staying at the best hotels, eating at trendy restaurants and so forth. Because this person thought of the jingle, he or she feels the group should do as he or she wants to do, with little regard for what others want. This person is persuasive and can often get others to do what he or she wants.
Character #2:
This person is easily excited, and is rarely certain of what he or she wants to do. As a result, he or she usually does what others or the group wants to do. This person has a strong interest in art and is very creative and would like to see some galleries around Los Angeles. This person may be able to offer suggestions as to how the group might spend its time creatively.
Character #3:
This person is very friendly and intelligent, and sees the trip as an opportunity to see as much of Los Angeles as possible, including some colleges and universities in the area. He or she has little interest in the glitter of Hollywood, but is willing to make concessions if others are also willing to do the same.
Character #4:
This person is very organized and is able to plan out activities and budgets. When going to Los Angeles, he or she would like to see and do as much as possible, but is open to suggestions. This person finds more satisfaction in spending time with his or her friends than in the activity they are doing. This person's main goal is to ensure that everyone has a good time and that no one misses out on doing something he or she wants to do.
Character #5:
This person tends to worry about money. He or she is always conscious of how much money is being spent, and feels the group members should not do anything extravagant as they could run low on money. This person has never travelled this far from home, and is both scared and excited about what he or she may find. He or she also enjoys watching television, and would like to see where some actors and actresses live and work.
Note: This is a holiday you have always dreamed about. Holidays
generally are more enjoyable when a careful plan has been worked out, which
will explain how you are going to handle this opportunity. It is up to
you to figure out how to use the resources that you have to satisfy your
needs and wants.
Resources
Remember these restrictions: your group may choose a maximum of 40 small items or 20 medium items or 10 large items, or a combination of these. 4 small items = 2 medium items = 1 large item
| Small Items
1. flashlight and batteries
|
Medium Sized Items
1. stool
|
Large Items
1. trunk
|
The group must plan what to take and how those resources will be used. Take into consideration the following:
1. How you will use your food and water. Some may wish to bathe daily, drink water liberally and so forth. How are you going to use your rations?
2. What will you do if you must stay in the shelter longer than originally thought because the surface is still radioactive? How will you survive after you leave the shelter?
3. Do you have a plan for how you will entertain yourselves and stay active in such a small space?
4. How will you know when it is safe to come out of the shelter?
5. Do you have a set of rules for living in the shelter, and ways of settling disputes if they break out?
Characters
The following are the five people who have decided to build and stock a bomb shelter. Each person has distinct characteristics that may influence the group's choices. Keep in mind that you may choose a fellow character to fill a need.
Character #1:
This person is very practical. He/she believes that the group should select items that will fulfil its basic needs, and that they should take nothing that does not contribute directly to helping the group stay alive. This person has gone camping in the past, and has basic cooking skills. He/she believes that if the group plans ahead, living in the bomb shelter, for as long as necessary, will not be difficult.
Character #2:
This person is very outgoing. He/she enjoys being with people and makes friends easily. This person is particular about cleanliness and likes to bathe daily. He/she has studied first aid and CPR. This person is concerned that living in the bomb shelter will be very uncomfortable, and is reluctant to be part of the planning.
Character #3:
This person is very energetic and independent. He/she has always taken pride in his/her athletic abilities. This person likes to be alone, and tends to enjoy sports and activities such as jogging and bicycling. He/she is an amateur HAM radio operator and has knowledge of how radios work and how to repair them. This person is not used to being part of a team, and is concerned about getting along in such close quarters with four other people.
Character #4:
This person is very easygoing and intelligent. He/she is part of a peer mediation team, and has knowledge about conflict resolution methods. This person enjoys reading and movies. He/she has done some gardening and enjoys the outdoors. This person sees the experience as a challenging adventure. He/she is more than willing to use his/her skills during the planning and in the bomb shelter.
Character #5:
This person is a perfectionist. He/she likes to have everything completed to his/her expectations or standards. This person enjoys playing cards and board games. He/she believes it is important to win. This person is willing to be part of the planning so that he/she can influence the choice of items chosen.
Note: This is a very serious situation. If everyone is to survive,
the group must work out a careful plan explaining how it will handle various,
possible situations. It is up to you to figure out how to use the resources
that you have to satisfy your needs and wants.
| Carrot | Orange | Rock | Cow | Horse |
| Wheat | Oil | Corn | Tiger | Copper |
| Sheep | Silver | Oats | Wolf | Iron |
|
|
|
|
What is an appropriate name or label for each category?
| Category 1 | |
| Category 2 | |
| Category 3 |
What characteristic(s) or criteria did you use to define each category?
| Category 1 | |
| Category 2 | |
| Category 3 |
| Categories | Characteristics or Criteria for each Category |
| Renewable Resources | · may be maintained or even increased when used responsibly |
| Non-renewable Resources | · cannot be replaced after being used |
Place each of the following resources into one of the categories, renewable
or non-renewable, based on the criteria stated above.
| cattle | salt |
| gold | seaweed |
| forests | coal |
| soil | water |
| wildlife | minerals |
| natural gas | air |
| sunlight | fish |
| diamonds | oil |
|
|
|
Location ________________________________________________________
Owners _________________________________________________________
Determine the soil zone of your farm from the Soil Zone Map. Determine average wheat yield per acre. Write this information below.
Soil Zone
Yield (bushels) per Acre Average for Wheat ____________________________
A typical homesteader would have one-quarter section of land (160 acres). Of this total, only a portion would be seeded. For the purposes of this activity, we will assume your seeded acreage is 100 acres.
_________________________________________________________________
| Round 1 | Year | 1919 |
| Crop Result | Bumper Crop (each group receives a 5 bushels-per-acre bonus above the average) | |
| Marketing Option | Canadian Wheat Board | |
| Yield Per Acre | ____ bushels | |
| Price Per Bushel | $2.63 (initial price of $2.15 per bushel, an interim payment of 30 cents and a final payment of 18 cents) | |
| Grade | #1 | |
| Gross Revenue | 100 acres x _____ bushels/acre x $2.63/bushel = $ _____ | |
| Round 2 | Year | 1920 |
| Crop Result | Below Average (each group receives five bushels per acres less than the average yield) | |
| Marketing Option | Wild Oat Elevator Company
Buffalo Elevator Company |
|
| Yield Per Acre | _____ bushels | |
| Price Per Bushel | $____ | |
| Grade | _____ | |
| Gross Revenue | 100 acres x _____ bushels/acre $_____ bushel = $_____ | |
| Round 3 | Year | 1921 |
| Crop Result | Average (each farm produces the average yield for its zone) | |
| Marketing Option | Wild Oat Elevator Company
Buffalo Elevator Company |
|
| Yield Per Acre | _____bushels | |
| Price Per Bushel | $_____ | |
| Grade | #_____ | |
| Gross Revenue | 100 acres x _____ bushels/acre $_____ bushel = $_____ | |
| Round 4 | Year | 1922 |
| Crop Result | Average (each farm produces the average yield for their zone) | |
| Marketing Option | Wild Oat Elevator Company
Buffalo Elevator Company |
|
| Yield Per Acre | _____ bushels | |
| Price Per Bushel | $_____ | |
| Grade | ||
| Gross Revenue | 100 acres x _____ bushels/acre $_____ bushel = $_____ |
The crop land of Saskatchewan is divided into four areas based on climate,
vegetation and soil type. The relative yields of crop varieties vary from
area to area.
| Area 1: | The Brown Soil Zone
Drought is a definite hazard and high winds are common.
|
| Area 2: | The Dark Brown Soil Zone
Often low rainfall in this region.
|
| Area 3: | The Black Soil Zone
Drought is not often a problem in this area. The frost-free period can
be fairly short in the northwestern and northeastern sections.
|
| Area 4: | The Grey-Wooded Soil Zone
Rainfall is usually adequate for crop production. However, early frosts
and wet harvest weather are frequent problems.
|
1. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool is ...
Definition
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Values
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
The Cooperative Principles
1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community
Source:
International Cooperative Alliance Web site: Cooperative Information
Superhighway: http://www.coop.org
The Canadian economy will be hit hard by this crisis because, besides providing for our national needs, the petroleum industry exports both crude oil and refined petroleum products. In 1997 crude oil exports were valued at $10.8 billion and exports of refined petroleum products were valued at $3.9 billion. The loss of these industries could result in massive unemployment. As well, the amount of consumer goods available will go down, contributing to mass unemployment, as the people who make these goods will be laid off. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians previously employed in the administration, manufacturing and sale of petroleum products will be unemployed, also.
In Saskatchewan, line-ups at gas stations now stretch for several blocks in some locations. As well, many stores that once featured shelves stocked with paint, cosmetics, medicines, countless plastic products and many other manufactured petroleum products are now bare. To prevent panic buying, the provincial government reported that, along with producing over 1.33 million barrels of crude oil each day in 1997, Canada is estimated to have 8.6 billion barrels in reserve. Unfortunately, even with these reports, the cost of petroleum products has risen over 200 percent in a little over a week with no end in sight. People who do simple mathematics can figure out that these reserves represent only a few-month supply of oil.
We have just received an emergency report from the White House in Washington,
DC. The President of the United States has stated that, because the United
States is the world's largest consumer of oil for industrial purposes,
the Americans will now go to any length to secure oil reserves. Similar
messages have been received from Russia and the industrial countries of
Europe.
Canada occupies more than 9.9 million square kilometres, and 68 million hectares (7%) are used for agriculture. The agricultural industry provides almost 500,000 jobs directly, and about 1.5 million in related industries such as food and beverage processing, and food services and retail outlets.
However, Canadians now face a very serious agricultural crisis, which could cause our country to lose much of its agricultural capability. The crisis is soil degradation. Soil degradation is the process of using up all the nutrients in the soil and/or allowing the soil to be eroded (blown or washed away). When this occurs, the soil is no longer able to grow plants such as wheat effectively.
The agricultural industry contributes billions annually to the Canadian economy, therefore soil degradation is a problem that affects us all. In 1995, the agricultural industry in the province of Saskatchewan alone was worth $5.25 billion.
The problem arises with our farmers caught in a current state of economic depression. Rising production costs, coupled with low prices, have caused a demand for increased yields. The farmer has to produce more or go bankrupt. This need for increased production results in "farming out" or lowering the soil nutrients in the land. Paying for fertilizers and pesticides only add to the costs that farmers must meet. Hence, farmers feel forced to farm in ways that lead to soil degradation. The erosion of only one-inch of prime soil can reduce grain yields by one to two bushels per acre. Farmers use chemical fertilizers to feed hybrid crops, and they use pesticides and herbicides to protect their crops from insects and weeds. However, in some areas of Saskatchewan, soil degradation is occurring even with increased fertilizer application.
The reality is that conservation is not cheap, nor is it a short-term undertaking. Some experts argue that our farmers must shift from current practices of summer fallowing, which can lead to erosion by wind or water, to other methods that would be less damaging to the soil (e.g., zero tillage). Others argue that zero tillage means that more fertilizers must be used, which tends to alter the soil, and the products of that soil, in unacceptable ways (e.g., chemicals).
Feeding a growing world population presents an enormous challenge for
the farmers of Canada and Saskatchewan. As a major grain exporter, Saskatchewan
is expected to help feed the estimated six billion people on Earth in the
year 2000. Will soil degradation be slowed and/or controlled by then? Agriculture
in Saskatchewan is everyone's business in one way or another.
The importance of forestry to our daily lives is apparent all around us. Most of our homes are built with wood products. This includes kitchen cabinets, tables, desks and many other products within our homes. Furthermore, newsprint, paper cups, writing paper and other common items depend upon forestry products. And, beyond the comforts and shelter delivered by forest products, the Canadian forest industry plays an important part in our national economy.
The forestry industry contributed $18.1 billion to the Canadian economy in 1997. At that time, total employment in the forestry industry was 830,00 people, 365,000 directly and 465,000 indirectly employed in the processing, transportation and sale of forest products. Canada is the world's largest forest product exporter. Total forest products exported in 1996 to the United States, Japan and the European Union amounted to $38.9 billion.
Perhaps the greatest losers in forest depletion are the animals and
plants who live within the forests. Currently there are many species of
plants and animals, which, if they become extinct, would be an enormous
loss to the people of the Earth. For example, many of the medicines we
use come from plants. However, awareness appears to be growing, and both
provincial and federal governments are devising programs for forest management
and regeneration. Annually, Canada harvests less than half of one percent
of its commercial forest area. As well, in 1996, 413,545 hectares of land
were planted with 641 million seedlings. Such conservation efforts will
help our forests remain a source of plant and animal life to fulfill our
needs.
Many people now live in large cities (e.g., Beijing, China has a population of 18,000,000 people). These cities have to find sources of clean water and ways of getting rid of sewage and wastes that do not contaminate the water supplies. Many people in Saskatchewan have to drink water that comes from the cities of Calgary and Edmonton.
Industry also creates a lot of poisonous wastes that have to be disposed of, but has failed to find inexpensive and efficient methods for disposing of waste products. As a result, the Earth's water systems have served as disposal sites for waste products and the situation has now reached a point where much of the world supply of water is unsafe to drink. The World Health Organization reports that about two billion people have been exposed to diseases through contaminated drinking water, and each day thousands of people worldwide die from factors related to contaminated water.
Countries that use one-third or more of available water supplies each year may be seen as using a critically high percentage of their water resources. The problem is caused by the public's unwillingness to conserve the water that does remain. People tend to use water as if there is an unending supply of it. For years experts have been predicting a severe shortage of safe water. A rise in population has increased water consumption, and this prediction has finally become a reality. Nature can supply only a certain amount of water. Even that amount can vary from year to year. Some years are drier than normal, and countries like Ethiopia that are already short of water, experience even greater shortages. And, a country such as Pakistan that has 3960 cubic metres of water per capita (per person) falls into the low category of available water resources, which means its population could experience critical water shortages in the future.
What alternatives do we have to deal with this problem? One alternative is to use the large amount of water stored in the ground. Much of it remains untapped. Unfortunately, it often costs a great deal to get it out. The other problem is that human and industrial wastes have already polluted much of the groundwater. However, if it could be accessed, it would not last forever because the amount of groundwater is limited (finite).
Another approach is to distill seawater. If seawater is heated, it will evaporate and leave the salt behind. The vapour can then be condensed into water that is fresh and drinkable. There are large plants that do this now. The problem is that these plants require huge amounts of energy to make them work and this is very expensive.
There seems to be only a few alternatives to the problem of water shortages.
The major long-term alternative is conservation. This means that when we
use the water, we have to clean it so that other people can use it. This
is expensive. Secondly, we have to be more careful about how much water
we use and what we use it for. If there is not enough to go around, then
we will have to plan carefully how it is to be used.
Minerals also play a vital role in the economy of our country. Canada is one of the largest mining nations in the world, producing more than sixty minerals and metals. In 1997, the mineral industry contributed $18.8 billion to the national economy. And, in Saskatchewan, much of our provincial revenue comes from the sale of minerals such as potash, sodium sulphate and uranium.
Canada is one of the world's largest exporters of minerals and mineral products. About eighty percent of Canada's mineral and metal production was exported in 1997. This amount is made through the production of mineral fuels such as petroleum and gas, as well as through the production of structural materials such as cement, sand and gravel, and metallic and non-metallic minerals. In 1997, Canada's mineral and mineral products exports included the following: United States (71.2% or $22.5 billion); European Union (10.5% or $3.3 billion; Japan (4.6% or $1.5 billion); Mexico (0.3% or $0.1 billion); and other countries (13.4% or $4.2 billion).
Mineral production is also important because it creates jobs for Canadians. In 1997, for example, more than 203,000 people were employed directly in the mining industry across the country. From 1987 to 1997, labour productivity increased by eight percent in the mining industry, and by more than fifty-one percent in the smelting and refining industry.
What would our country's economy and lifestyle be like without this
important resource?
All forestry companies are responsible for the forest environment that they have been given legal permission to harvest. This includes the responsible harvesting of trees (cutting down only those that will be used and leaving smaller trees to grow) and the reforestation of the area harvested. The government will be given the power to send in government officials to monitor the above regulations closely. The forest company must bear the cost for the above regulations. These costs will be passed on to the consumer in higher lumber prices, which will encourage them to be less wasteful in their use of lumber.
Option 2
The government intends to spend several million dollars on research programs, looking for alternatives to the use of wood. The government intends to fund a number of different projects:
· Paper is a large consumer of wood products. Is it possible to replace a large portion of paper products with computer technology?
· Can alternative building materials to wood be found? The Japanese
are experimenting with ceramics as a building material. Is this a feasible
alternative to wood?
The government will be empowered by this bill to take land out of production for an extended period of time. This land will be seeded to grasses and legumes so that the soil can be regenerated. The government will also have the power to rotate land in and out of production over a ten-year period so that all of the land in Saskatchewan can be rejuvenated. Farmers whose land has been taken out of production will be compensated for the loss of the land's earning power. These costs will be born partly by the taxpayer and partly by the consumer in higher food costs.
Option 2
Farmers will be encouraged to use zero tillage methods to work the land, along with chemicals to control weed growth. They must give permission for government officials to remove a yearly soil sample from their land. The sample will be analyzed for nutrient levels. If the nutrient level is found to be below the accepted level the following information must be provided:
· A detailed report on crop rotation including how often a section of land has been farmed, fallowing methods and crop yields.
· A report on the use of fertilizers, stating the amount used, when it is applied, and on which areas of land it is used.
· A report on the use of pesticides, stating the frequency of use and the level of applications.
The cost of these new technologies will be passed on to the consumer
in higher food costs.
Canadians in the dry areas of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta are becoming concerned about water shortages, especially during dry cycles. These areas are found to have insufficient water to allow heavy irrigation and power generation to take place at the same time. This means that, at certain periods, these areas must restrict their use of water to a ration decided upon by the provincial governments. Although Canada has abundant water resources, it is thought that a reduction in consumption now will remove problems in the future. The number of car washes and swimming pools will be reduced, and the watering of lawns will be strictly controlled. Water consumption will continue to be monitored by metre, and fines for over consumption can and will be applied.
Option 2
Northern Canada has a great deal of water that is not being used. Large
dams could be constructed on these rivers, and the water could be diverted
to the southern areas that are now experiencing water shortages. These
dams are very costly and the backed up water causes damage to the environment
by destroying the shore line. This could affect hunting and fishing and
thus destroy the livelihoods for people living in the north. All of these
costs will have to be paid either by the taxpayer or the consumer of the
diverted water.
Regulations regarding the pricing of crude oil in Canada will be removed. Because of oil shortages, consumer prices will rise. Higher prices will mean that people will not use as much oil and gas. They will turn down their thermostats, drive less frequently and in smaller cars, and will use public transportation more. As well, the high prices will give oil companies a reason to look in areas such as Newfoundland and the Arctic regions for more oil. The cost of this new and expensive oil will be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher oil and gas prices.
Option 2
The government intends to research and develop a number of new technologies that can be used gradually to replace our dependence on oil:
· Nuclear energy can be developed and used to produce energy. The major research problems are to make sure that the reactors are safe, and to find a way to store the used fuel for thousands of years.
· Canada has a great deal of potential to build more large hydro-electric
dams. They will be able to produce a great deal of electricity cheaply.
This electricity can be used to produce hydrogen gas that can be burned
as fuel wherever gasoline and natural gas are used now.
| Needs and wants | Resources to meet needs and wants | Cost of these resources |
