1, Independent learning (no technology needed)
Read this extract from a newspaper – it is a scientist’s opinion of what started the corona virus:
“The vast illegal wildlife trade and humanity’s excessive intrusion into nature is to blame for the coronavirus pandemic, according to a leading US scientist who says “this is not nature’s revenge, we did it to ourselves”.
Scientists are discovering two to four new viruses are created every year as a result of human infringement on the natural world, and any one of those could turn into a pandemic, according to Thomas Lovejoy, who coined the term “biological diversity” in 1980 and is often referred to as the godfather of biodiversity.
“This pandemic is the consequence of our persistent and excessive intrusion in nature and the vast illegal wildlife trade, and in particular, the wildlife markets, the wet markets, of south Asia and bush meat markets of Africa… It’s pretty obvious, it was just a matter of time before something like this was going to happen,” said Lovejoy, a senior fellow at the United Nations Foundation and professor of environment science at George Mason University.
His comments were made to mark the release of a report by the Centre for American Progress arguing that the US should step up efforts to combat the wildlife trade to help confront pandemics.
Wet markets are traditional markets selling live animals (farmed and wild) as well as fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, often in unhygienic conditions. They are found all over Africa and Asia, providing sustenance for hundreds of millions of people. The wet market in Wuhan believed to be the source of Covid-19 contained a number of wild animals, including foxes, rats, squirrels, wolf pups and salamanders”
Answer the following questions:
Q1: What do you think about this opinion? Do you agree with it?
Q2: How important is hygienic practice to our food chain?
Q3: How many times a week do you eat meat or fish?
Q4: Could you give up meat and fish?
Q5: Do you know what kind of plant-based foods you could eat?
2, Learning with your family
Either
Design and make a family meal without meat or animal products. Try to use protein complementation (combining two or more low biological value proteins from plant sources, to provide all of the essential amino acids your body needs; for example, putting chickpeas and lentils or beans on toast.
And/or
Have a debate about whether or not is fair or ethical to farm animals for food – come up with some arguments for and against.
3. Using technology
Google newspapers such as The Guardian, look for articles about the food & environment crisis, and then write a short article of your own, suggesting ways we can improve our situation:
· For example, eating less meat, buying high welfare and organic produce, and banning wet markets where diseases can spread.
· Your article could include illustrations in the form of photos or sketches.
· Your article needs to have a catchy headline.
· Your article should make it clear to the reader what your opinion is.
Please send any photos or anything you want me to look at to
Thanks and stay safe.
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