Water, food and agriculture by

A Conversation article, focusing on the struggle of native Americans for control over their sacred land.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 17:14:10 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is the policy of ‘co-management’, and why are some states introducing it? How do indigenous beliefs determine the relationship indigenous peoples have with the natural world? Why is this at odds with the way the US government views both ‘sacred land’ and indigenous religion? Overall, why is it important to build in multiple outlooks and perspectives when we try to understand and manage the environment?

KEY TERMS Origin narrative, Truly religious, Culturally important

A Grist article, arguing that the best forest managers are indigenous people

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 17:18:31 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How important is immediacy when it comes to the management of the environment?

KEY TERMS Locally focused, Rights-based, Transfer of power, Restoration

A Guardian article, looking at how a Colombian restaurant specializing in indigenous food helps us to appreciate traditional knowledge.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 17:18:57 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What type of food does Mauricio Velasco specialize in? What does he mean when he says, ““I want people not to just fall in love through the stomach, but to understand.” How can the work he does help to promote and protect indigenous communities and their traditions? To wrap up: “Food is as much the means to convey knowledge and heritage as it is the way to satisfy an appetite.” Do you agree? How can this way of thinking be used to safeguard indigenous societies around the world?

KEY TERMS Understand, Different cultures, Traditions, Awareness, Explaining

An FT article, which questions whether adding carbon food labels would change the way people shop.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 17:20:08 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What is ‘transparent labelling’ on food, and what impact is this designed to have? From the information in the article, do their food habits have a negative impact on the environment? How important is it to base transparent labelling on reliable data - and how easy is it to gather this? Overall, how prepared do they think people will be to change their behaviour when presented with evidence that it is damaging the environment?

Key terms Transparent labelling, Reliable data

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A Forbes article, demonstrating how the labelling of a phenomenon (climate change) as an ‘emergency’ changes the way we perceive that phenomenon.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 17:20:26 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Whilst few experts doubt the link between human activity and climate change, persuading people who are not familiar with the scientific data (or are not persuaded by it) is another matter. How has language (specifically, the word ‘emergency’) helped to change perceptions of this issue? Thinking more widely, what is the role of language in helping to communicate scientific understanding? What are the pros and cons of using words and phrases that are emotive?

KEY TERMS Political language

A CNN article, looking at how Whanganui River in New Zealand is now legally regarded as a person.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:08:30 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Begin by asking students why they think a community would want to change the status of a natural feature into a ‘legal person’. Then get them to read the article. How does our perception of the natural world change when we view it as an individual (for help with this, see the quote "When we see rivers as living beings that are part of our community then that does actually profoundly change the way we speak about them")? Can - and should - we apply this to other aspects of the natural world?

KEY TERMS Legal personhood, Mauri, Single holistic entity

A Guardian article, looking at how Cop28 addressed the issue of global agriculture.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:10:50 UTC

A BBC article, investigating a Dutch tech approach to promote sustainable farming.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:11:52 UTC

A BBC article, looking at how US farms are using AI to raise production levels - and how this could help feed the world.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:13:05 UTC

A Guardian article by food writer Jay Rayner, discussing how allotments are not the answer to feed the world.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:15:41 UTC

A World Economic Forum article, looking at how satellite data can help to change the way agriculture works.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:16:26 UTC

A National Geographic article, looking at the development of agriculture from 12,000 years ago onwards.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:18:07 UTC

A Guardian article, looking at how water is being used as a weapon of war - and why that means cooperation is more important than ever.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 18:19:50 UTC

A Politico article, looking at the dangers of water conflict in the EU.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 19:54:38 UTC

A Foreign Policy article, investigating the risk of conflict in Central Asia over water scarcity.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 19:55:53 UTC

A Le Monde article, assessing the dangers of water wars worldwide, and how we can avoid them.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-28 19:56:38 UTC

A Forbes article, investigating the water-use of AI tech giants contributes to shortages.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 07:43:19 UTC

A Guardian article, looking at how an oil boom in Iraq is worsening the water crisis in the south of the country.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 07:45:34 UTC

An Observer opinion article, explaining how new data centres -particularly ones supporting AI - use vast amount of water, worsening the shortages that are facing the world.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 07:47:17 UTC

An FT article, measuring the amount of water used by Microsoft, Google, and Meta.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 07:49:41 UTC

We're proud to work in partnership with the FT, to promote their free FT for Schools programme. Follow this link to sign up your school, and access this and other articles.

An Independent article, which asserts that a 20-50 question conversation with an AI chatbot uses 500 ml of water.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 07:51:44 UTC

theory_of_knowledge — 2026-06-08 10:21:31 UTC

Check out our key concepts here, which will help you to apply a critical thinking lens to this topic, and articulate your ideas about it. These concepts are highlighted.