 |
FOOD OR FAMINE: FEEDING AFRICA
Food or Famine, 2002: The Debate over Genetically Modified Crops in Southern Africa
by David E. Henderson
 | Genetically Modified Foods or Starvation? This game is set in an African conference at which nations facing famine are confronted with the choice between accepting genetically modified (GM) corn from the USA and the risk that they will not be able to export their agricultural products to the EU as a result, or allowing people to starve. Students learn about GM foods, the controversies over their safety, both for health reasons and ecological reasons. The subtext for the controversy in this game is a trade war between the USA and the EU over GM foods. The application of genetic engineering to food products (GM food) has been highly controversial. The fact that the products brought to the market have primarily focused narrowly on pesticide and herbicide issues and have been aggressively marketed by Monsanto and a few other companies has also led to public skepticism. At the time of this game in 2002, the US government is actively supporting the use of GM technology around the world. At the same time, the European Union (EU) had introduced a total ban on GM products and crops that extends to imports of any GM Food product. The conflict between the US and the EU played out in Africa during a famine that made the safety of GM crops a life or death decision for the African leaders involved. This is a Level 3 game that is still under development but has been approved by the Reacting Editorial Board (REB) for general use. A detailed explanation of the editorial process and game levels can be found on our REB Page. |
Details
|
Using the Game
Class Time
Assignments You can adjust the assignments to fit the desired learning outcomes of your class. This game can include traditional paper/research/thesis-driven writing, science writing, and journalism. Not all roles are required to give formal speeches.
|
GAME MATERIALS
Reacting Consortium members can download all game materials below. You will be asked to sign in before downloading.
Please Fill out the Permissions Request Form Before Using Food or Famine in Your Class!
Gamebook All students need a Gamebook, which includes resources and historical content. Members can download the Gamebook, and provide it to students for free or at cost. VERSION 4.6 | Instructor's Manual and Role Sheets The Instructor's Manual includes guidance for assigning roles, presenting historical context, assignments, activities and discussion topics, and more. Students also need a Role Sheet, which contains biographical information, suggestions for further reading, and role-specific info or assignments. | Additional Materials Additional materials for this game include a setup PowerPoint, EU files, student files, character name placards, a post-mortem article, and a post-mortem PowerPoint. |
FRENCH TRANSLATION GAME MATERIALS
Reacting Consortium members can download all game materials below. You will be asked to sign in before downloading.
All MaterialsTranslation of Version 4.6. Translated 2021. Zipped Word documents. |
This includes the Student Gamebook, Role Sheets, and Ancillary Materials (quiz and handouts). All materials were translated into French by Vincent Thibeault.
|
David E. Henderson
David E. Henderson is Professor Emeritus at Trinity College (Connecticut). He is the author of nine Reacting game modules on science, public policy, and religion. | Reacting and Related Titles
|
Members can contact game authors directly.
We invite instructors join our Facebook Faculty Lounge, where you'll find a wonderful community eager to help and answer questions. We also encourage you to submit your question for the forthcoming FAQ, and to check out our upcoming events.
|
|
|
