SECTION 9 · INTERDEPENDENCE · ACTIVITY 9.4
Map and Pebbles AIM OF ACTIVITY
To understand where our clothes come from, interdependence, and the connections between Ireland and the rest of the world. TIME NEEDED
MATERIALS NEEDED
30 minutes
Map of the World, stickers or pebbles to place on the map
ACTIVITY OUTLINE
1 Invite participants to check the labels on their clothing to find out where each item was made. 2 When they have identified this, place a pebble on the map where the item was made, e.g. China, Vietnam, Spain, etc.
3 When everyone has placed their pebble, observe the pattern that has been made on the world map. DEBRIEF
1 What do you notice about where our clothes come from? 3 What do you think might be some of the conditions in which our clothes are made? 4 What are some of the global issues evident in this activity (trade, human rights, gender equality, climate change, consumerism, multinational corporations, etc.)?
5 What are some of the decisions we as consumers can make to challenge the unfair nature of trade and the impact of climate change?
6 Invite participants to make a pledge of something they will do (e.g. buy less, buy local, buy second hand or upcycled clothing, write to companies who are known to be unethical, boycott certain companies, etc.) HOW THIS ACTIVITY COULD BE ADAPTED l The same activity could be done with food items; the facilitator could bring in a bag of
everyday foodstuffs, or else invite participants to check where the food in their cupboards comes from in advance of the session, or else after the session. SOURCE l Children in Crossfire, ‘Gertie Gets Global!’
IDEAS FOR IMAGERY/DESIGN l Clothes, map of the world with lines and arrows across it.
FURTHER LINKS l www.ethicalconsumer.org
l www.storyofstuff.org
l www.buynothingday.co.uk
l www.cleanclothes.org
100