Theme 2

31 octobre 2007

The Inuit confronted to global warming

!!! Remember: one Inuit, two Inuit (no '-s' in the plural) !!!

I. DISCOVER THE INUIT:

♠ Go to this web page:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1104241,00.html

Read the part entitled “Arctic Dwellers” and find information to fill in the gaps:

“The word “Inuit” means ............................. . It is the name of the ............................. people of .... ................ . We can oppose it to the word “......................”, meaning “.............................................”, which is considered derogatory. The Inuit live in the Arctic parts of 3 regions: ....................., ........................... and ................... . To survive , they rely on ..................... and ......................... whales and seals. In recent times, Inuit have been fighting against .............................. ........................ to their homelands.”

II. WHAT PROBLEMS ARE INUIT POPULATIONS FACED WITH ?

1)WILDLIFE AND THE LANDSCAPE

♠ Go to this web page:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/photogalleries/global_warming/photo3.html

Read the short article below the photo and make a diagnostic of the problem:

Of which environmental phenomenon are the Inuit experiencing the effects? What does it threaten?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Can you give at least 3 examples?

-……………………………..

- ……………………………..

♠ Now, go to this web page:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070515-inuit-arctic.html

Read the part entitled “Changing land” and continue your diagnostic of the problem:

What are the names of the two Poles?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What is special about the Poles?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

What will probably happen before the end of the century?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2) THE INUIT THEMSELVES

♠ Go back to this web page:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1104241,00.html

Look at the title and at paragraph 7: more than the wildlife, who is also being killed by global warming? What animal are the Inuit compared to?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Can you quote a forceful sentence at the end of paragraph 8, showing that the Inuit consider themselves in the same position as the wildlife?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

III. FIND OUT ABOUT ONE SOLUTION THE INUIT HAVE FOUND TO CONFRONT THE PROBLEM:

♠ Stay on the same web page and read paragraphs 1 to 4:

What did the Inuit do in 2003 when the article was written?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

For what reason(s) did they sue [poursuivre en justice] the USA and the Bush administration?