THE ENERGY CHALLENGE

As we saw in class, there is so much to learn about energy: its sources, its uses, its dangers and its promises for our world. So, this weekend let us begin.

I am technologically unable to convert today's Power Point to a webpage for linkage here. Perhaps Felipe will help figure that out. Until then, though, here are two things. First, a video on energy. I watched it; it is of a student using media clips to present on the topic of "peak oil," which is related to what we are studying. I found it interesting and provocative. We will talk about other points of view on Monday.


Also, I ask that you look through the following series of articles on energy at the globalissues.org site. When you have looked at these materials relating to our presentation today, post your comments below. I want everyone to post something insightful on what we learned today or what you read. Questions are okay, too.

The Luckiest Nut in the World

Okay, here is the video I wanted to show in class. It is not long, and does not explain all facets of anti-globalization views, but it does show 2 points in detail:

1) it tells an actual story of how one African nation came to be in serious debt to the World Bank

2) it does show how the World Bank encourages "liberalization" (which = removal of trade barriers to ensure a free-market) while some parts of American agriculture do not practice the same liberalization here.

Also, I want to mention here the site where I found this. The site was recommended to me by our very own class member Elliot Majers. The site has material on almost every issue we will address this year; it should not be the only site you turn to, but it is a respected and well-researched site. It is called globalissues.org

So enjoy the video, notice a reference to Ghana, its flag and the product that it also is a big exporter of: ground nuts.

Know Your Bank

As members of the world, we should know our World Bank. AND SO, Monday in class I will begin by asking you to explain the powers, and controversies, of this institution. As I have said, so much of what we will study depends on knowing the assumptions guiding one's view of the world. It also depends on knowing how globalization is happening. And no institution is more a part of globalization--for better or worse--than the World Bank.

Here are two links below, one positive toward the World Bank (and IMF, be sure to understand the difference) and the other quite negative. Read them both. Use other sites as well to really get a handle on what the World Bank is. On Monday, each of you should be ready to explain what the World Bank is, how it works, and why it has been so controversial.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/exrp/differ/differ.htm
http://www.50years.org/pdf/GG-Sample.pdf

GLOBALIZATION and poverty

One of the most talk-about proposals for using globalization and capitalism to help developing countries is the. This project is led by economist Jeffrey Sachs and supported by institutions such as The World Bank. The Millennium Project has goals to achieve by 2015 (here is an interacive map of goals) and also has named 12 "Millennium Villages" in Africa that will demonstrate how technology and investment can reduce poverty.

Here is a short video of Sachs. Note that he says "Agricultural Revolution," by which he means an end to subsistence farming an the introduction of commercial farming, is essential to development. This reduction of subsistence farming is at the heart of the debate over globalization. Listen in...

The World Bank

To see how the World Bank explains its own mission and responds to criticisms, click here. For a critical look at the how the World Bank was formed, check out this lecture excerpt:

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Okay folks, wow this takes a while; you had a lot of grades to be computed! Below are point totals. The first # was your points at midterm; the # of possible points for that period was 165.

The second # is your points since the midterm. We have had more grades (and more extra credit!) that are now all added up. The # of possible points is 275.

That means so far we have a possible 440 points.

The final essay will be worth 50 points and the presentation will be worth 50 points. So the overall points for whole semester will add up to 540.

I WILL then, as I did at midterm, do a curve (showing great mercy for you), with the top 10 students receiving A or A- for the semester; the next 10 will be in B range, and the next 10 in the C range, and hopefully not many below that. That means almost 1/3 of the class will get A or A-, and the average grade will be in somewhere in the B/B- range. That's pretty good.

On the final, doing a great job will land you between 45 and 50 on each part. To get a 50 it must be simply exceptional. If you do a decent job you will get in the 40 range on each part. So work hard and turn in papers that are typo and error free and which make clear and concise points. And practice your 3 minute speeches. I WILL be timing them, so do not go more than 45 seconds under or over.

Remember to make comment on this post if you want to come for the early final at noon on Thursday in V-143.

Alright, then, add up your scores and see where you will stand depending on how well you do on the final...


800031357 77 150

800023132 153 262

800019819 116 204

800041681 124 229

800035014 151 299

800025391 136 199

800035726 150 192

800033807 87 163

800028022 141 205

800035221 159 224

800023261 117 261

800041689 82 187

800040930 151 216

800036478 159 132

800035958 132 244

800023380 129 205

800054445 137 230

800026035 89 83

800027445 113 168

800034120 145 173

800047245 86 147

800035197 166 237

800022382 75 226

800046491 173 219

800037933 148 202

800035366 92 221

800041728 95 159

800034487 37 10

800047141 131 241

800045876 175 262

800036370 112 212

800021036 127 171

Still Not Done

This grading takes a long, long time. I insist on reading papers carefully. So here is the deal. The big reason to do this extra informing you of where you are at is to help you really crank it up for the final, so I will get you not only your present points but your present grade and how much it can be raised / lowered by your final. That will take longer to compute but will be more useful, I assume. So you will get that Friday.

As for now, my fiancee Catherine is waiting for me to meet her for dinner.

Peace all,