ISSUES & ACTION Debate: Industry On The Bronx River Objective: Students will learn about the complex nature of conservation and development decisions in urban areas and the dilemma of promoting jobs and the economy while trying to preserve nature. Students will learn how to make an effective persuasive argument based on facts and emotion. Students will learn how to compromise and work to understand the viewpoints of an opposing stakeholder. Students will generate creative thinking regarding city-planning issues. Materials: Role Playing Cards - copied for each group. ACTIVITY SUMMARY: Class will debate the building of a plastics recycling factory on the Bronx River. PROCEDURE: Divide the class into four groups and hand each group a folder with information about the group they will represent. The Groups: Bronx River Canoe Club Alliance for Heron Conservation Factory Management Bronx Panel on Development This last group will make the final decision. SOME EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM Skills: Reading/Writing, Communication, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Ethics and Debate. Subject/Discipline: Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Civics, Social and Environmental Justice Science Standards: S4, S7, S8 Grades 4-12 Time: One or two class meetings. The Inside track: See IS THE BRONX RIVER HEALTHY? for more information of the health of the Bronx River. Visit the National Recycling Coalition website for more information on recycling. http://www.nrcrecycle.org/default.htm For more information and resources for teaching about water quality see the DEPs education website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/ html/educres.html Each group should review the information in their packet and decide whether or not they support the building of the factory. They must create supporting arguments and make their presentation to the class. Have groups use the Key Points sheet to plan their arguments. NOTE: The case study and accompanying data featured in this lesson are fictional. For examples of real community action in the Bronx, see Take Action! in this section.
After hearing all views, the Bronx Panel on Development takes a few moments to discuss amongst themselves and give their final verdict, which can be either for the factory, against the factory, or some sort of compromise between the two. ADVANCED: Assign this a week in advance and have the teams research the different positions. Can they find an example of a similar debate in the real world? Submitted by Kevin Matteson. Edited by Jill Weiss and Bronx River Alliance staff.
Debate on the Building of a Plastics Recycling Factory on the Bronx River Goal: Our goal is to support / prevent (circle one) the creation of the plastics factory on the Bronx River. Key Points to make our presentation: 1. Supporting point # 1 #2 #3 2. Supporting point # 1 #2 #3 3. Supporting point # 1 #2 #3
Factory Management Role Playing Card 1a You are managers at a factory that is based on the Bronx River. The factory takes used plastic and makes it into new products. They then send it out on boats or barges to different parts of the country. There will be over 200 workers at the factory. The factory needs to be on the river because it is cheaper to send the plastic in and out by boat than by train or truck. Factory Management Role Playing Card 1b
Factory Management Role Playing Card 1c Factory Management Role Playing Card 1d Estimated number of jobs produced by the new plastics factory 200
Alliance for Heron Conservation Role Playing Card 2a You are members of a conservation group focused on bringing herons back to the Bronx. There used to be many heron species, but they have become absent in the Bronx due to pollution and habitat destruction. Herons that can be found on the river include blue Herons, green herons and black-crowned night herons. Now there are several areas on the river where the green heron is coming back, but this species will need help. The new plan to build a plastics recycling factory on the river will destroy heron habitat and make it difficult for these species to come back. You have been invited to come to the hearing to voice your opinion to the government as to what you think should be done. Alliance for Heron Conservation Role Playing Card 2b Alliance for Turtle Conservation Role Playing Card 2c Turtles of the Bronx River Green Herons on the Bronx River A different factory was built in heron breeding habitat on the Bronx River in early 1998.
Alliance for Heron Conservation Role Playing Card 2c Heron species: Black-crowned night heron, green heron, great blue heron. Alliance for Heron Conservation Role Playing Card 2d Other animals on the Bronx River: Snapping turtle, Eastern oyster, spotted turtle, opossum.
Alliance for Turtle Conservation Role Playing Card 2e Human uses of the Bronx River. Cultural Events (festivals, ceremonies, gatherings Bronx Government Panel on Development Role Playing Card 3a You are a group of elected officials that have the job of deciding whether or not development plans, such as the creation of the plastics recycling factory, can go forward. It is important that you carefully listen to all the groups that have come to voice their opinions on this issue, but ultimately you will make the final decision. Remember, the people of the Bronx elected you and it is your job to do what is best for the people, if you want to get re-elected.
Bronx Government Panel on Development Role Playing Card 3b Human uses of the Bronx River. Cultural Events (festivals, ceremonies, gatherings Bronx Government Panel on Development Role Playing Card 3c
Bronx Government Panel on Development Role Playing Card 3d Estimated number of jobs produced by the new plastics recycling factory 200 Bronx River Canoe Club Role Playing Card 4a You are an organization that seeks to get people to enjoy the Bronx River through hiking and canoe trips along the river. You have organized river clean-ups for years, pulling trash, tires, and even cars out of the river. Now the proposed plastics recycling factory will block areas of the river that you used to canoe on. Club members are concerned that the factory will increase air and water pollution on the river, increase barge traffic and the need for dredging, and expose workers to dangerous levels of indoor air pollution. You have been invited to a government hearing on this issue to voice your opinion as to what should be done.
Bronx River Canoe Club Role Playing Card 4b In a poll of those who canoed or hiked along the Bronx River, 78% said they felt better and healthier and were extremely happy to know that there was a natural place they could visit in the neighborhood. 94% said they would return and bring family and friends. Bronx River Canoe Club Role Playing Card 4c Other animals on the Bronx River: Snapping turtle, Eastern oyster, spotted turtle, opossum.
Bronx River Canoe Club Role Playing Card 4d Human uses of the Bronx River. Cultural Events (festivals, ceremonies, gatherings Bronx River Canoe Club Role Playing Card 4e Canoeing along the Bronx River