Agricultural Advances
Agricultural advances have increased crop yields across the globe, successfully addressing
concerns about global food shortages in the 1970s. Today, however, hunger continues to be a
problem in some regions of the world. The scientific advances that produced the first Green
Revolution are now being questioned by some for causing environmental damage and the loss of
needed biodiversity.
Subtopics (Additional topics are possible.)
Advances
 Higher crop yields due to pesticide and fertilizer use
 New seed varieties that are drought and pest resistant due to genetic engineering
Concerns
 Environmental damage due to overuse of fertilizers and pesticides
 Loss of biodiversity and health concerns related to genetically engineered foods
Getting Started…
Read the document found on the site below. It provides a historical overview
and presents some of the arguments in support of, and against, the Green
Revolution.
Green Revolution: Curse or Blessing? http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/ib/ib11.pdf
The following sites are a starting place to expand your understanding of the
different issues and questions related to agricultural advances.
Additional Sites.
Lessons from the Green Revolution http://www.foodfirst.org/media/opeds/2000/4greenrev.html
The Toxic Consequences of the Green Revolution
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/07/07/the-toxic-consequences-of-thegreen-revolution.html
Agroecosystem Biodiversity http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/ecosystems/bioagroecosystems/en/
©2009 MCPS Social Studies
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Lesson Sequence Three: New Technology
Energy Advances
Advances in energy technology, including nuclear, wind, solar, biofuels, and clean coal,
have shown promise in addressing global energy needs and reducing the effects of global
warming; however, many questions and challenges remain.
Subtopics (Additional topics are possible.)
Advances
 Development of nuclear power and clean coal technologies
 Use of wind and solar technologies to generate electricity
 Development of biofuels, such as ethanol
Concerns
 Dangers of nuclear power and unproven effectiveness of clean coal
 Practicality of mass use of wind and solar technologies
 High cost of producing biofuels and impact on global food supplies
Getting Started…
Explore the site below.
Pros and cons of each type of available energy
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hotpolitics/reports/procon.html
The following sites are a starting place to expand your understanding of the
different issues and questions related to energy advances.
Additional Sites.
Questions and answers about nuclear power
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/themes/nuclear.html
Cheap coal and the process to create clean coal technology
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/03/cheap-coal/appenzeller-text
Negative impact of biofuels on world food supply
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070501faessay86305/c-ford-runge-benjamin-senauer/howbiofuels-could-starve-the-poor.html
Interviews with experts from alternative energy fields
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blackout/future/alternative.html
Scientific and political developments in global warming, including the Kyoto Protocol
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hotpolitics/
Analysis and articles about alternative energy sources
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/green/index.html
Sources of world CO2 emissions http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/etc/worldco2.html
©2009 MCPS Social Studies
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Lesson Sequence Three: New Technology
Medical Advances
Medical advances have improved living standards for many, including access to health care, vaccinations,
antibiotics, AIDS drugs, and preventive care. Despite these advances, inequalities in medical care
between developed and less developed nations remain significant.
Subtopics (Additional topics are possible.)
Advances
 New drugs, including vaccines, antibiotics, and AIDS drugs
 Improved access to health care (hospitals, doctors, clinics)
Concerns
 Poorest nations still lag far behind developed nations
 High cost of medical care and drugs
Getting Started…
Explore the site below. It provides data, statistics, and reports on health care in countries
around the world.
Research on global diseases as well as programs to fight these diseases
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/global-health/Pages/overview.aspx
The following sites are a starting place to expand your understanding of the different
issues and questions related to medical advances.
Additional Sites.
Data, statistics, reports on global health
http://www.who.int/en/
Story about cholera in Zimbabwe http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100416070
Health care in India
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/12/community-doctors/rosenberg-text
Maps showing contrast between malaria and expenditures on health care by nation. Click on link; scroll
down to photo gallery: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97338308
©2009 MCPS Social Studies
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Lesson Sequence Three: New Technology
Communication Advances
Technological advances in communication have had a major impact on mass culture
and economic and social interactions. Less developed nations have struggled to overcome the emerging
digital divide that favors more developed nations.
Subtopics (Additional topics are possible.)
Advances
 Impact of the Internet and cell phones on business and personal communication
 Increased global awareness and connections among people
Concerns
 Digital Divide: Growing disadvantage between those who have these technologies and those
who do not
 Impact of digital divide on the quality of education and economic growth
Getting Started…
Explore the site below. It provides an overview of the major issues involved in the
digital divide.
Issues and statistics dealing with digital divide http://www.digitaldivide.org/dd/digitaldivide.html
The following sites are a starting place to expand your understanding of the different
issues and questions related to the digital divide.
Additional Sites.
Search loss of linguistic diversity: http://www.2facts.com/icof/issues-home-feature.asp
Analysis of digital divide in India http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/india/thestory.html
©2009 MCPS Social Studies
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Lesson Sequence Three: New Technology