Acronym Adventure
What does UN stand for?
United Nations
What is Global Inequality?
Global inequalities are the unfair differences in things like money, education, healthcare, and resources that affect people's quality of life in different countries around the world.
The quality of life is the same for everyone, no matter where they live.
Trick! The quality of life can vary significantly based on factors such as location, access to resources, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, meaning it is not the same for everyone, no matter where they live.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability means using resources in a way that meets our needs today without stopping future generations from meeting theirs.
What does MSF stand for?
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
Out of the 5 countries I mentioned in a lesson, name any 3 countries that are known for having a "high quality of life" and why.
1. Canada - Free healthcare
2. Finland - Low pollution
3. Sweden - Free university
4. Switzerland - Low crime (one of the safest in the world)
5. Denmark - Happiest country
Quality of life is only determined by how much money people earn.
Trick! It's influenced by many factors like education, healthcare, environment, etc.
what is the name of the guy that started the ocean clean up
Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor and entrepreneur.
What does WHO stand for?
World Health Organization
What 4 categories did we explore that factor quality of life? Give an example for each.
Economic Indicator: e.g., GDP per capita, unemployment rate, poverty rate, job opportunities
Political: e.g., Corruption, conflict and safety, government structure, human rights
Social: e.g. access to housing, gender equality, infrastructure, access to tech/internet
Environmental: e.g., Clean water, air pollution, climate)
The United Nations (UN) helps to improve issues like poverty, education, and healthcare worldwide.
True!
How many gallons of water can a single adult oyster filter per day?
A single adult oyster is capable of filtering up to 50 gallons of water per day.
What does GDP stand for? What does it mean?
GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product which is the total value of everything a country produces in a year (value of goods and services produced in a country, reflecting the economic activity and potential standard of living).
Name all 5 centres we explored. What were they about?
1. Geography Reading (Call to action, leadership)
2. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières
3. WHO Organization
4. Mr. Beast
5. UNICEF
6. Wavin' Flag by K'naan
Global inequality only affects countries with the lowest GDP.
Trick! Inequality is complex and affects both rich and poor countries in different ways.
What are the 3 main pillars of Global Sustainability learned in class?
1. Environmental Sustainability
2. Social Sustainability
3. Economic Sustainability
What does HDI stand for, and what does it measure?
The Human Development Index (HDI) is one common example that looks at life expectancy, education, and income to give a country a score.
In class, we explored 6 case studies from different countries. Name all 6 countries we explored and provide a brief description of the main issue addressed in each case study.
In rural Kenya, many people do not have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water. They depend on rivers, lakes, and shallow wells, which are not always safe or dependable and can affect someone's quality of life.
In Afghanistan, many children, especially girls, face challenges in accessing education due to factors like safety, lack of resources, and cultural expectations. Schools in some areas are hard to reach, and lack of teachers and/or materials.
In Honduras, many people live in overcrowded homes made from weak materials, making them vulnerable to storms and disasters. They also have limited access to sanitation and resources, which affects their safety and quality of life.
In Peru, especially in remote areas, many people have difficulty accessing healthcare. Hospitals are far away, transportation is unreliable, and language barriers make it harder for some communities, especially Indigenous communities, to communicate with doctors.
In Malawi, many people live far from healthcare centers, and transportation can be difficult, especially during the rainy season. Some clinics do not have enough staff or supplies, making it hard for people to get the medical care they need.
In Nepal, many remote villages have limited access to technology, electricity, and the internet. While cities may have better services, people in rural areas face challenges staying connected and accessing modern resources.
Climate change is affecting the quality of life in many parts of the world, especially in areas prone to extreme weather events.
True!
Ms. Morrison introduced 7 initiatives that are working towards creating a sustainable community, not only for the current generation but also for future generations. What are their exact names, and what does their initiative do?
Bee highways: Providing safe passages and food for bees in the city as they are needed for biodiversity.
Barefoot College: Focuses on empowering rural communities in India by training women to become solar engineers.
Tokyo’s Green Roof: Requires new buildings over a certain size to have green roofs or rooftop gardens to address urban heat and help biodiversity.
Sponge Cities: Redesigning cities to handle flooding, climate change, etc. It uses things like permeable surfaces, green roofs, wetlands, and rainwater systems to soak up and reuse rainwater instead of letting it flood the streets.
The Billion Oyster Project, New York City: Works to bring back oyster reefs in the New York Harbor to clean the water, protect from storms, and support marine life.
Mexico City's Living Walls Initiative – "Via Verde”: To fight air pollution from heavy traffic by turning highway pillars into green vertical gardens, called Via Verde to help cool the city and helps biodiversity.
Vertical Farming in Singapore: Started farming in towers instead of regular fields. These farms are climate-controlled, allowing them to grow food year-round with fewer resources and better resistance to climate change.