* Team Name
2.2 billion
* Team Email Address (Email will be used for
team communication with/by the U.S. Fund
for UNICEF):
team2.2billion@gmail.com
Team Members
First Name
Last Name
Email address
Shefali
Netke
Carissa
Jansen
Elaine
Song
Curran
Kaushik
10shefalin@stude
nts.harker.org
10carissaj@studen
ts.harker.org
10elaines@student
s.harker.org
10currank@studen
ts.harker.org
Gender
(M/F)
F
School / Organization
The Harker School
Date of Birth
(YYYY-MMDD)
1992-11-18
F
The Harker School
1992-04-12
F
The Harker School
1992-12-13
M
The Harker School
1992-03-20
2) G8 Summit agenda issues
Focusing on selected G8 agenda topics, describe two ways you would recommend to G8
leaders to solve each problem. Please write up to 300 words to describe two ideas for
each topic below.
A. The Environment and Climate Change
Describe two ideas for ways G8 countries can achieve sustainable and efficient
energy supply, energy consumption reduction and other measures to curb global
warming and better protect the integrity of the environment. (Maximum 300
words.)
Solar Panel Requirements
Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere are accelerating the process of
global warming. Factories in G8 countries have a particularly large output of
greenhouse gases, and in response, several nations have levied taxes against these
businesses. However, we believe that widespread use of solar panels by
businesses will be a more effective way to combat global warming in the long run.
Solar power has proved to be an effective alternative energy source due to recent
technological breakthroughs and advancements; Spain currently requires the use
of solar panels on all of its new buildings. We propose that the G8 require
businesses exceeding a certain carbon dioxide emission level, determined by
individual governments, to install solar panels on their facilities. This plan will
reduce the carbon footprint of large businesses in the G8 countries and have the
added benefit of decreasing energy expenditures for business owners.
Facilitating local environmental efforts
While governments have largely planned to tackle climate change on a global
scale, there is even greater potential to enact change by acting locally. For this
reason, local governments could combat global warming by promoting awareness
and action. People around the world are often unaware of their impact on global
warming, not realizing that collectively individuals emit approximately 43% of
the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Local governments could create programs
to educate and encourage citizens in ways to reduce their carbon footprints,
emphasizing both the environmental and financial benefits of living a “greener”
lifestyle. Additionally, local governments could use their taxation powers to
provide incentives for becoming more environmentally friendly. Tax credits could
be rewarded to citizens purchasing high-efficiency vehicles and appliances, while
tax penalties could be levied against wasteful individuals who use electricity and
gas at levels governments determine to be excessive.
B. HIV and AIDS
Infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are a major
burden on the health and productivity of people – particularly children - in many
low-income countries. Describe two measures to help curb one or more diseases
that can be undertaken by G8 leaders. (Maximum 300 words.)
Grassroots Organization
In 2007, 2 million people with HIV/AIDS died, from a total of 33 million afflicted
with the disease. With 67% of the HIV population living in Sub-Saharan Africa,
the international community must recognize that cultural barriers within local
communities are the biggest impediments to success -- the only way to succeed is
through local mobilization. In many developing nations, antiretroviral (ARV)
drugs have been introduced, yet they are still not accessible to a majority of the
public. Because many patients live in rural and isolated areas, the international
community must collaborate with local population leaders, such as healers, tribal
chiefs, and business owners, to ensure accessibility to to these drugs. Regional
organizations like ALCS Morocco are extremely effective in reaching local
populations. Thus, the G8 should encourage national governments to work
through their own local leaders to create a coalition focused on the grassroots
distribution of ARV medication.
Water Purification Projects
Contaminated water is a major transmitter of infectious diseases such as diarrhea,
viral hepatitis A, cholera, dysentery and dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) as
well as other infections. As a basic necessity for life, unclean water is consumed
despite its health risks. This lack of sanitation has a devastating effect on
populations. G8 leaders should use the Global Fund to invest in projects similar to
"Potters for Peace," an organization which has developed a water filter that
requires only basic tools to build. This solution would also provide local
manufacturing jobs. The filter costs approximately fifteen dollars to make and
serves a family of six. It removes at least 99% of the bacteria from the local water,
giving people safe drinking water and lowering the risk of disease transmission.
Simple, yet effective, projects like this have the most potential for ensuring vital
clean water supplies.
C. Chosen Topic : World Hunger
Every year, the leaders at the G8 Summit discuss the world’s most pressing issues,
of which there are many. Topics could include the financial crisis, the global food
crisis, education, etc. Please identify a global issue you feel is particularly
relevant to your team and to young people around the world and describe a
response that you think G8 leaders should support. (Maximum 300 words.)
Bio-fortification Programs
About 25,000 people die daily from the effects of malnutrition. Thus, G8 leaders
should support programs that involve the development and planting of fortified
crops like sorghum and golden rice to address hunger and to achieve sustainability.
Golden rice contains increased levels of Vitamin A and other nutrients, while
sorghum is tolerant to both droughts and floods, providing a sustainable food
supply despite climate change. Genetically modified sorghum and golden rice
would provide people with an abundance of food as well as essential nutrients,
preventing malnutrition. These crops can be designed and produced in the G8
countries and distributed as seeds to allow developing nations to grow their own
crops rather than rely on food donations. The local production of these crops
would greatly benefit underdeveloped nations in overcoming hunger. Additionally,
local production would stimulate the country's economy and reduce poverty.
Promoting Self-Sufficient Agriculture
Any solution for combating world hunger must be both effective and sustainable.
Rather than blindly dumping money, food, and other resources into impoverished
countries, developed nations should focus on the creation of programs that will
help the struggling masses. The best way to effect such necessary changes to
curtail world hunger is to establish an international program to educate farmers
and provide fundamental supplies. This organization would teach the small
farmers of impoverished nations efficient techniques to increase local crop yields,
promoting agricultural self-sufficiency within these countries and decreasing their
dependence on developed nations. While such a program would have a substantial
direct impact, the indirect changes brought about would be just as sweeping. The
establishment of a sturdy agricultural system would lay the foundations for
gradual economic growth and avert violence over limited food supplies,
contributing to the overall stability of countries aided by the program.
3) References
Cite all of the references you used in a bibliographic list (include the websites, newspaper
articles, magazine articles, letters, presentations, books, etc. that informed your research).
AVERT. “Global HIV/AIDS estimates, end of 2007.” Worldwide AIDS & HIV Statistics. 18
Mar. 2009. AVERT. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm>.
Billitteri, Thomas J. "Reducing Your Carbon Footprint." CQ Researcher 5 Dec. 2008:
985-1008. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2008120505>.
Biofortification: Harnessing Agricultural Technology To Improve the Health of
the Poor. International Food Policy Research Institute. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://www.ifpri.org/themes/grp06/papers/biofort.pdf>.
BioSorghum. 2008. Africa Harvest. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://biosorghum.org>.
Clemmit, Marcia. “Climate Change.” CQ Researcher 27 Jan. 2006: 73-96. CQ
Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006012700>
- - -. “Global Food Crisis.” CQ Researcher 27 Jun. 2008: 553-576. CQ Researcher
Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2008062700>.
Cooper, Mary H. “World Hunger.” CQ Researcher 25 Oct. 1991: 801-824. CQ
Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1991102500>.
Dickinson Jr., W.B. “World Food Shortages.” CQ Researcher
28 Jul. 1965. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1965072800>.
"Finding the political will to end hunger." The Christian Science Monitor (Jan.
2001): 16. Student Resource Center Gold. Gale. The Harker School Lib., San
Jose, CA. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/
?db=SRC-1>.
Greenblatt, Alan. “Confronting Warming.” CQ Researcher 9 Jan. 2009: 1-24. CQ
Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2009010900>.
“Guns Germs & Steel: Variables. Sorghum.” PBS. 2005. PBs. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/sorghum.html>.
Hickson, Joyce, and Dawn Mokhobo. “ombatting AIDS in Africa: Cultural Barriers to Effective
Prevention and Treatmen.” Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development 20.1
(1992): 11-22.
"Hunger pains: there is enough food in the world for everyone, but one out of
every seven people on Earth is hungry." Canada and the World Backgrounder
69.1 (2003): 18. Student Resource Center Gold. Gale. The Harker School
Lib., San Jose, CA. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/
?db=SRC-1>.
Kates, Robert W, and Thomas J Wilbanks. "Making the global local: responding to
climate change concerns from the ground." Environment 45.3 (2003): 12.
Student Resource Center Gold. Gale. The Harker School Lib., San Jose,
CA. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/?db=SRC-1>.
Mayer, Himmich H. “The Role of an NGO an Antiretroviral Treatment Access: The Moroccan
Association for the Fight Against AIDS.” Paper presented at IAS Conference on HIV
Pathogenesis and Treatment, 2003, Paris. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/
MeetingAbstracts/ma?f=102262915.html>.
Moyo, Dambisa. "Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa." The Wall Street Journal 21
Mar. 2009: W1. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB123758895999200083.html>.
“Potter for Peace- about.” Potters for Peace. Quixote Center. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://s189535770.onlinehome.us/pottersforpeace/?page_id=2>.
Shah, Anup. "Poverty Facts and Stats." Global Issues. 22 Mar. 2009. 30 Mar. 2009
<http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats>.
Sharrock, David. “Spain makes solar panels mandatory in new buildings.” Times Online
9 Nov. 2004. http://timesonline.co.uk. Times. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article389061.ece>.
“Statistics by Area- Water- The Challenge.” Childinfo. Sept. 2008. UNICEF. 29 Mar.
2009 <http://www.childinfo.org/water.html>.
South Africa Looks to Set New Course in HIV/AIDS Fight. 2003. Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. 29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june09/
aids_sa_03-23.html>.
Woodard, Colin. “Curbing Climate Change.” CQ Researcher Feb. 2007: 25-48. CQ
Researcher Online. CQ Press. 29 Mar. 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/globalresearcher/cqrglobal2007020000>.
5) Mobilizing others
The Junior 8 Summit is one event in a wider UNICEF strategy to connect and assist
communities of young people in their efforts to make the world a better place. If you
were able to attend the Summit, how would you inspire other young people to become
involved in global issues in your community upon your return? (Maximum 500 words.)
Today’s youth are more globally interconnected and more concerned about the
world than ever before. 2.2 billion will utilize this fact to our full advantage in promoting
our ideas within our local and school communities and beyond. Should we be able to
attend the Summit, upon our return from Italy we would use press releases and public
speaking forums to inform young people of the various opportunities for involvement.
Our peers do indeed wish to make the world a better place – but do not know where to
start. 2.2 billion will provide them with such a launching pad.
Within our school community, we would hold an assembly discussing the various
goals presented in the Summit, and ways that students can see these goals to completion.
Not only will we urge volunteer support of charitable organizations such as UNICEF, but
we will also encourage direct action. For example, climate change is an issue that can be
immediately impacted by the daily habits of students in our community. Small steps—
turning off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances, taking public transportation, even
filling up car tires—can make enormous impacts upon energy consumption.
Moreover, we will mobilize the youth of our community in a manner that is
interesting and fun, therefore compelling our fellow students to action. Currently, 2.2
billion is in the process of creating a documentary featuring the opinions of our peers on
climate change, infectious diseases, and world hunger. We have received great responses
from our peers in the process; students appreciate having their ideas heard and taken into
account. Should we be selected, we will continue filming in Italy and include clips from
our trip in the film. Through this documentary, we hope to take youth participation in our
community to the next level and inspire even more students to make a difference in the
world, no matter how small.
Youth education and awareness is also a major component in encouraging
students to take part in the community. A main problem with encouraging today’s youth
to participate in global issues is distance. Troubles in Africa, South America, and abroad
seem worlds away from thousands of more privileged teenagers in the United States. 2.2
billion will make global issues tangible and real to students in our community. Working
in cooperation with our international club GEO, we hope to invite speakers, particularly
students, from countries all over the world who are affiliated with charitable
organizations.
Lastly, 2.2 billion proposes using music—a medium respected and followed
closely by millions of youth worldwide—to educate and promote awareness in our peers.
Our team’s strong involvement in music will certainly allow us to succeed in this area.
Thus, we will promote a global consciousness within students by encouraging artists
within the community to write global songs, with all proceeds benefiting UNICEF. Both
students and already famous artists would be encouraged to contribute in a joint effort to
create an album. In these ways, we hope to inspire the youth of our community.