This is an essay, write in essay format. Word count at least 550.
Please choose ONE!! the following prompts to address in your blog post.
The country I choose is : South Africa
Prompt 1
What are the dominant natural resources in your country? Think broadly… minerals (such as gold or diamonds or copper or oil, etc.), timber, land, etc. Are there any conflicts? If so, how are those resources mobilized in the conflict? This doesn’t have to be a conflict such as in Sierra Leone or Nigeria. Conflicts of other more political and less violent kinds can be discussed here. Keep in mind that this can happen even in developed countries (think DAPL or protests again timber extraction). How are resources framed for each side?
Map idea: A map that lists the dominant resources in different countries or areas of your country
Prompt 2
Are there places in your country that experience food insecurity or famine? What were/are the factors that have led up to that? Consider food production and climate shifts, but also political instability and the ability for governments or international agencies to deliver aid. Consider that famine is not the only way for food insecurity to be experienced. Consider malnutrition rates of a place, too. What are the barriers that result in high levels of malnutrition?
Map idea: year of famine, year of conflict that resulted in food insecurity, malnutrition rates
Prompt 3
Are there issues with deforestation in your country? What are the drivers of deforestation? Who are the actors? What kinds of environments are most targeted? What is the government or public response to this? Who is the timber for and where does it go?
Map idea: percentage of land deforested relative to a time in the past (for example, and I’m making this up, but India might be 54% less forest than it was 50 years ago).
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