Thirst: The quarrel of water (Part II)

1. Quiz #2: Study the vocabulary from Lesson Plan #4

Turmoil: A state of uneasiness or disturbance of public peace.

Fiasco: A complete failure: The expectation created by Microsoft with its Windows Vista only magnified the fiasco; many users chose not to install it.

Private Sector: The part of the economy in which goods and services are produced by individuals and companies, not the government. Not owned by the state.

Privatization: A business term referring to the transfer of ownership or property from a government to a privately owned entity, such as a company.

World Bank: A branch of the United Nations that provides financial and technical assistance to enhance economic growth in developing countries.

Profit: Refers to the money gained in business, for example, by selling something. Profit is not the same as income.

Income: The amount of money received during a period of time in exchange for labor or services: His monthly income while working in Hispanic Teleservices was not enough to pay his studies.

Loan: The lending of money.

Scarcity (Scarce): Lack or shortage of something: Overpopulation, rapid industralization, and increasing agricultural use have lead to a worldwide water shortage and scarcity.

Bill: A note showing how much money is owed for goods: A water bill.

Bond: A certificate of debt issued by government or corporation guaranteeing payment of the original investment plus interest by a specific future time.

Commodity: Any good that can be exchanged in commerce; any good that can be bought or sold.

Expense: Charge or payment of money,


2. Homework: Answer to the questions with nice and well-founded answers (use as much information you know or learned from our debate).
a. How will our lives change if water was scarce in our community?
b. What did I learned from the discussion?
c. What was my role-play? How was my opinion affected after performing this role?
d. Historically, water has been viewed as a shared common, but do you think of it as a) a public good or right or b) a market commodity that can be bought or sold? Explain your answer.

3. If you want to know what happen after your planning, read "The Aftermath of your decisions" :)

Additional reference

You've seen in class the first part of the video, at 5.41s you can see a second solution to avoid privatization.

Thirst: The quarrel for water

The Aftermath of your decisions....

CEO Ian Hinojosa from Smart Decisions, Ltd., proclaims the feasibility of a sustainable water management plant in Smallville, as a solution to the town's water scarcity. Griselda Solis, Head of Treasury, asserts that the private sector can bring the needed financing.

Alexandra Flores, World Bank (WB) Country Director, stresses that bringing the private sector into water and sanitation service provision will ensure access to hundreds of people who lack clean and affordable water.

Araceli Torres, Mayor of Smallville grants the rights for management and operation of water and sanitation services to Small Decisions, Ltd (co-owned by the Velazquez, Carreón and other wealthy families). The WB agrees to provide an adittional 92 million loan for investment in a developing program.

By the next year, 400 more families are connected to the water system. With the improved services, increased consumption brings unexpected loss to Smart Decisions.

Since the partnership was announced, increased expectation of employment has boost the population of Smallville: "We're chasing our own American Dream" says Gerardo Tijerina, one of a thousand job-seekers. The company is not able to provide adequate access to all.

Only a year into the contract, Smart Decisions seeks the first price increase. The government argues that there is no commitment to universal access to clean and affordable water unless significant profit is guaranteed. In turn, the company proclaims that local authorities have no intention of making significant contribution to ensure the access.

Fixed prices are granted by the company, but the weak regulation from government allows Smart Decisions to make futher price adjustments.

Price hikes prompt consumers to boycott paying their water bills.

The Regulatory Commission lead by Luis F. Vela and Rocio Corpus bans any form of rate increse for the sake of it's people.

In turn, trade union is crushed by the company. 648 workers are laid off to "reduce costs". Outraged people guided by Zurizadai Rodriguez, Luis F. Garcia, and other labor and human rights leaders start a 4 daystrike to drive out the water company. Smallville's in turmoil as riot police and protesters clash in the streets.

Chairman Alberto Brunswick threatens to cancel the contract if the additional rate increase is rejected by the Water Commisioner Victor Infante.

Unment promises of investment and expansion force the city officials to conclude the time to end the relationship. Control of the waterworks reverts to the government.

Smart Decisions claims that the city has not met it's obligations and bring the dispute to the International Chamber of Commerce, demanding compensation from the Government lead by Torres.

The government will not take on 530 million in loan payment from the World Bank to it's creditors. "The following generations of this town will pay the costs of additional debts." states Andres González, member of the Civil Rights Watch Movement.

What began as a simple 10 year term concession turned out to be the largest lease agreement in the town's history and another privatization fiasco.

Today, most of the poor in this town still remain without piped-water services.

1ra Junta de Padres de Familia

Estimados Padres de Familia,

Se les informa que este 28 de agosto se llevará a cabo nuestra 1ra Junta de Padres de Familia en el horario de 12.00 a 1.00 p.m. Salón Aula Inteligente. Esperamos contar con su valiosa asistencia.

Lic. Luis Jaime Guerra
hoogdalem@gmail.com

Starting a New Civilization

Activity #1

To write a 1 page survival plan considering an specific background (a shelter and 7 survivors will be assigned to you).
Rule #1: Choose 6 between 7 of your survivors and answer for each of them:

Character:
Reason in favor of survival:
Reason against survival:
Decision of the commitee: (Yes / No)

Rule #2: With the chosen people, you'll write a survival plan (the plan is in addition to the survivor analysis).

Rule #3: Watch the video clip below and answer the questions about leadership:

a. With the chosen people. what type of leadership do you think your group is most likely to have? (liberal, democratic, authocratic) Explain why.

b. Which people are more likely to become the leaders of your group? Which the followers? Why?

c. Based on your analysis, what type of prejudices (prejuicios) did you have toward the people? Do you think those views are justified or detrimental (dañinos) for the decisions of your group.

To see your list of survivors as for the assigned shelter, open this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=19ZC1oifi7bYBq7DQZoGcw-s67dbb9WSkrCis0q-7kCs&hl=en

This movie sucks

Lost and Found

Hi students,

Learn to follow instructions!!!!!

ALL essays should follow these requisites:
a. Arial font, size 12, 2.0 space between lines, justified paragraph, 1.5 page
b. Research is allowed to develop a judgment prior your drafting, as long as you DON'T COPY-PASTE
c. NO late assignments (you have a whole week to work on your homework)

Now, lots of you are still missing any of these:
1. Paying bill
2. Signed counterfoil from our regulations and code of conduct
Bring them the next class, or you penalty is 5 pts less per each you fail to bring on your 1st Quiz.

Your homework is...

(chill out)

1. To write a 1.5 page essay about: "8 inventions that are the most important for humankind." Explain you reasoning ON EACH of THEM. Think about how life would be without any of them.

2. Study all vocabulary from: Lesson #1 "Alternative Beliefs" and Lesson #2 "Lost and Found". DON'T memorize the meanings! Try to understand their definition, look for synonyms or relate them to real life examples.

You'll find the vocabulary in the attachments.

http://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1EYDyI8K1KMb0FoFPwb5hXEM8DpdWvXkUA8Mf1B4MebA&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1qL-IAaaxeplTtmBFKaiMW7unfK_nJEc84AowRm426HI&hl=en

3. Next class we're having our 1st TOEFL Test, don't miss the class (you're only alloud 3 absences in the semester).

Alternative Beliefs

Hi people! This is your first assignment for next Saturday.

Remember, for all homeworks and essays:
1. Avoid "yes/no" type answers and explain your reasoning.
2. Typed homework, Arial font, size 12, justified paragraph, 1.5 space, 1.5 page at least
3. Senseless ideas or poor content to "fill the requisite" will be banned.

1) Alternative Beliefs
Write a 1 1/2 page essay

Topic: Should we manipulate our dreams?

Science tells us we dream every night, which suggests that dreaming is a natural experience, but the questions under discussion really are:
What are dreams for? Do they have a real use? Can lucid dreams pose a threat to your health? If our waking lives are so controlled, why (or why not) change them? At what point you want less awareness? Is it better to use them as a resource for self-knowledge than to be grateful for waking up? Would you like to change anything from your dream journal? etc.

These are some hints to encourage your critical thinking. Do research as necessary to develop your judgment.

2) Shipwreck!

These questions will be answered only by the chosen students to be stranded in our icebreaker:
*Luis F. Vela - Soccerplayer from Real Madrid
*Luis F. García - General doctor
*Paula Pagaza - Pshycologist
*Alberto Brunswick - Engineer
In your case, I expect BOTH homeworks. Missing any of these tasks will be considered as incomplete assignment.

1. How were the decisions made by your group?
2. How did I feel about the decisions? Do I think it were fair?
3. Where the people in my team (including me) straight and honest? Have all of them exposed valid reasons to survive?
4. How is this exercise like our English Course? In other words, how does it resembles with our class?

4) Vocabulary + Attachments

1. Vocabulary: from Alternative Beliefs and Shipwreck. I'll let you know soon or later when is your 1st quiz:

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMzAwZ3B2ZDR0aHE&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbbCmn08YwmYZGZ0anI3cWNfMzE0ZHZ2Y3czOW0&hl=en

2. Now, i was very upset with the performance of our InFocus Projector, so I share with you again the last clip.



3) Additional references.

Now, get used to it. I will usually provide adittional material for your reference. You're not required to watch it all, but learning plus the chances of answering a bonus question in the quiz is worth it.

Around the World in 80 Faiths by Peter Owen Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYgpYM2DYs

Welcome

Hi people. Welcome to our blog. During the following months, the homework and assignments will be posted in here. Your duty is to be aware of them and work during the week to hand them over ON TIME. Sorry, there are NO late deliveries.

Student discipline

Read together with your parents the regulation and code of conduct from our school. (Yes, even though you're a CIDEB student.) We intend to foster cooperation between the teacher, parent's and students, of course.

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYODgyZDhmMjMtZDZhMS00NGU0LTgwNzUtNzEyZmNlMmNmZThi&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYZGMxZTNiZjYtZDM3My00N2E4LWFkYjgtNDhlMGE1Zjc3YWNh&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYMThmZGY2M2MtNzdlZS00YzM2LWFiYWMtMTA3OTAwZGQ1OTQ4&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYMTA0MGNhZjAtZGM0My00YWExLWJhOTYtMzE1YjJlYWE2NzY3&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYZjAxNjNmN2MtN2Y3Mi00YjM0LTg4NTgtYmU3YzcyOWEzYjZi&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYNjIxOGYwMDMtNWIzMi00YmFiLThjNWMtMzQ5ZjZmYWRlNWM5&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYMjc3MTNmZDMtNmFjNy00NWFjLWFkNDYtNjRiNjU2ODkwMGMz&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYZGU0OWJlYTMtZDc2OS00N2I0LTliZTMtZDMwMjljZTI5YmIy&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYNTdmODY0ODctYWZkOS00ZWI5LTgxOWEtMmNjNjQyYjFlZmQ4&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7bCmn08YwmYZmYwZGI1ZTUtZDVjNi00NjViLWEwZTYtOWI4OTI0MjkxZThl&hl=en

Avoid pointless penalties from the teacher or our staff members for any "material or substantial disruption". In other words... "don't meet trouble half way", that is "don't borrow trouble".

Questions regarding any of the activities? Write me an e-mail or post them here to share them with your classmates. I check my e-mail on Wednesday.

Lic. L. Jaime Guerra

Communicative 1

Dpto. de Extensión, CIDEB

hoogdalem@gmail.com