One of the major problems facing the world today is that the resources of the world are unevenly distributed and the numbers of those who lack an adequate supply of such basics as food and drinking water are increasing at an alarming rate. Access to Resources looks at this problem and shows how people gain access to resources, goods and services – land, water, money, education, health care, for example – and how they can make decisions about these resources in order to improve their lives.
The text begins with a look at the global distribution of people’s access to resources and shows, through a case study, the consequences of inadequate resources. The environmental, economic, political and social factors that contribute to inequality are considered, as well as some of the myths about poverty. A final chapter on the ways that individuals and communities can overcome some of the obstacles to development provides a positive conclusion for the study.
The text is in full-colour, with diagrams, cartoons, illustrations, maps and photographs. There is a contemporary real-life case study of a family from Malawi, Africa.
Curriculum content
- The text focuses on the first achievement objective of the Resources and Economic Activities strand of the Social Studies Curriculum at level 5.
- A global perspective is taken
- Activities have been designed to provide interest for students and cover a range of different learning styles as well as to provide a balance between the skills of inquiry, values exploration and social decision making.
Additional resources
A video, A Future for Fredson, has been made to accompany this book. It features Fredson and his family, who are the subject of the case study featured in chapters 2 and 5. It is available for purchase from any educational bookseller, or for loan from World Vision New Zealand, Private Bag 92078, Auckland.