SHOULD PALM OIL BE BANNED?

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ISSN 2564-2219 (print)

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SPAS AROUND THE WORLD

Choose a spa and research facts:

• What is special about the spa?

• What cultural heritage is being promoted by the spa?

DAY 1

Somatheeram

Ayurveda Resort, the Himalayas

DAY 4 Asia Herb Association, Thailand

DAY 7

Great Bamboo Massage, Thailand

DAY 10

Aromatherapy, India

DAY 2 Kuta, Midori Spa, Vietnam

DAY 5 Kusadasi, Aga, Turkey

DAY 8

Mandara Spa, Honolulu

DAY 11

La Reserve Geneve, Switzerland

DAY 3 Mandara Spa, Bali

DAY 6 Selma Citypoint, Stockholm

DAY 9

Japanese Shiatsu, Japan

DAY 12

FAMOUS SPAS IN THE WORLD SPAS

Villa Stephanie, Germany

(“10 Best Massage Destinations In The World: TripHobo”) I (Adamiyatt)

Palm oil producing countries : How sustainable is their economy?

“Palm oil is the cheapest vegetable oil on the market, in part because of its high output per hectare, but also because of the cheap labor it depends on. In some cases, labor is not just cheap, but forced under violence or the threat of violence. Child labor is common, with children doing hazardous tasks.” (“Palm Oil Controversies Forced Labor and Child Labor”)

In my opinion… that…

It’s fascinating!

I do not approve of…

I feel that…

As far as I’m concerned,…

What I regret is… It is unacceptable!

I personally believe that…

I agree that…

What really matters, is...

On a personal note,…

What matters to me is…

My idea, my feeling, my opinion is that…

Palms are a part of the Arecaceae family of plants, which includes climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. There are currently around 2600 known species of palm (Christenhusz & Byng 201217).

Most palms are native to tropical and subtropical climates, although they inhabit nearly every type of habitat, from rainforests to deserts.

Only about 130 palm species from naturally entirely beyond the tropics, mostly in humid lowland subtropical climates such as highlands in southern Asia and along the Mediterranean.

The northernmost native palm is the Chamaerops humilis along the coast of Liguria, Italy, whilst the southernmost palm is the Rhopalostylis sapida on the Chatham Islands (Francesco and Silvia 261-272).

Palms have two methods of growth: solitary and clustered. Solitary growth is seen as a single shoots ending in a crown of leaves, as is the common image of the palm tree. Species of palm limited to solitary growth include Washingtonia and Roystonea. Some palms instead grow in space but dense clusters. On clustered palms, the trunk develops a bud at a leaf node, from which a new shoot emerges. The new shoot will repeat this process, itself producing several new shoots to create the clustered effect. This is also called sympodial growth. Many rattans or climbing palms grow in clusters, such as Guihais and Rhapis.

Palms have large, evergreen leaves. They are either fanleaved (palmate) or feather-leaved (pinnate) and arranged in a spiral at the top of the stem. Palm flowers are typically small and white.

There is cellulose in palm fruit fiber. (Ayu et al.)

Cellulose is “ a polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of plants, occurs naturally in such fibrous products as cotton and kapok, and is the raw material of many manufactured goods (such as paper, rayon, and cellophane).” (“Definition of CELLULOSE”)

To learn more about this topic, research: «Cellulose»

Palm fruits are usually single-seeded and berry-like, however some genera may contain multiple seeds in each fruit.

The most common palm fruits are coconuts and dates, but others include acai berries, oil palm fruits and jelly palm fruits. Some palm fruits are commonly sold in stores, whilst others are most commonly processed and used in the food industry such as in health supplements.

Palm fruits can also be used to make palm oil, an edible oil which is used in a large amount of products and is one of the fastest growing global industries.

Palm trees are distinctly different from other trees, with most in face being more closely related to grasses than most trees. These differences affect estimations of carbon uptake and storage tropical forests, but also impact

the response of these forests to climate change. (Emilio 2020)

The main environmental impact of palms is due to palm oil, a widely used vegetable oil that is made from the fruit of oil palm trees. The palm oil industry also has a negative impact on the environment in these areas. This is due to the fact that it drives deforestation in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, often destroying habitats of already endangered species. As these rainforests are cleared, massive amounts of CO2 are released into the atmosphere, further contributing to climate change. According to Ecosia (2019), over 20% of the rainforests in Indonesia alone have been deforested and replaced with palm oil plantations. According to the European Palm Oil Alliance, palm oil accounts for 6.6% of cultivated land for oils and fats while delivering almost 40% of the output. Since global demand for all vegetable oils is climbing steadily, it will not be possible to replace palm oil with other, more sustainable oils (such as rapeseed or sunflower oil) without further increasing deforestation. This issue is expected to worsen, and by 2050, the demand for palm oil is expected to quadruple (CHEC).

Palm oil is in a vast number of products, according to WWF it is in “close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets”. Therefore, the palm oil industry provides millions of jobs globally. There are seven main sectors of palm oil production: oil palm producers, processors/traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, investors and environmental and social non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (Kan 2018).

Malaysia is currently one of the largest producers and exporters of palm oil in the world, and much of the country’s recent economic and social development is supported by this industry, with almost a million people working in the palm oil industry in Malaysia alone (MPOC).

Despite the ever-growing financial success of the palm oil industry, concerns about the environmental impact and labour exploitation have begun to drive many consumers and producers alike away from the product, potentially risking jobs and security in the industry.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (2014) acknowledged that the sector needs “violent endangerment” in order to improve its environmental impact and continue to thrive.

“We need to make sure we have a higher standard that makes sure people don’t go anywhere else” said Fiona Wheatley, Marks & Spencer’s sustainable development manager.

Initiatives such as this – which aim to improve the palm oil industry – also produce jobs in the “retail, investors and environmental and social non-governmental organisations” (Kan 2018) sectors which monitor and manage the industry externally.

“According to Ecosia (2019), over 20% of the rainforests in Indonesia alone have been deforested and replaced with palm oil plantations.”

• How much C02 has been released in the atmosphere since 2019?

1 2

“In 2019/2020, the palm oil usage amounted to over 73 million metric tons worldwide. That figure increased to approximately 75.45 million metric tons in the following year. ”

(Statista, https://www statista com/statistics/274127/worldpalm-oil-usage-distribution )

• What was the rate of increase over the two years?

Palm oil is in a vast number of products, according to WWF it is in “close to 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets”. :

• If palm oil were to be banned, what would the economic impact be? Estimate the impact for businesses that sell a lot of palm oil and palm oil products.

“According to the European Palm Oil Alliance, palm oil accounts for 6.6% of cultivated land for oils and fats while delivering almost 40% of the output. Since global demand for all vegetable oils is climbing steadily, it will not be possible to replace palm oil with other, more sustainable oils (such as rapeseed or sunflower oil) without further increasing deforestation. This issue is expected to worsen, and by 2050, the demand for palm oil is expected to quadruple (CHEC).”

• What is the profitability ratio now?

• What would be the projected profitability ratio in 2050?

What are you being asked to do to solve the Math problem?

➢ Review the Math concepts (Big Ideas) that relate to the Math problem you chose.

➢ Decide which Math skills (ex. Arithmetic skills) make more sense to you, in this context and think about the different ways you can apply them to solve the problem.

➢ Select the formulas you want to work with.

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

ability: the word comes from the old French. It means “state or condition of being able; capacity to do or act,".

(“-Ability | Meaning of Suffix -Ability by Etymonline”)

Design a word wall with words formed with the suffix “ability”

(EX. PROFITABILITY) and look up the definition of your new words.

WORD WALL

…it drives deforestation in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, often destroying habitats of already endangered species, ....

• Make different sentences with the verb to “drive” .

“Brand ambassadors are an important part of the formula companies and organizations use in order to help build a solid brand identity and reach consumers on a consistent basis.”

(“5 Characteristics of a Successful Brand Ambassador | Indeed.Com”)

• What school and university or college courses do you have to take to become a Brand Ambassador?

• In your country, how many companies use Brand Ambassadors?

• What skills do you need to have to be a good Brand Ambassador?

• What is the average salary for that job?

• What is the future of that job?

Trans fats increase the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes, and many food companies are using palm oil in their products as it contains a very insignificant amount of

Think about an original tasty and healthy recipe made with local ingredients and palm oil.

• What constraints do you have to take into consideration when designing your recipe?

• Who would be the potential users/consumers of your recipe?

Photo by Eva Blue on Unsplash

Palm nut oil is extracted from palm fruit pulp. Inside the fruit, there is the kernel, a white substance that looks like coconut flesh. The kernel has a shell that can be used to make jewellery and bio charcoal.

Photo by zibik on Unsplash

How beneficial and profitable is a palm shell jewelry business? Gather some facts from palm oil producers and consumers.

• What quantity of palm kernel shells is thrown away every month? Year?

• How much money is it worth?

• Palm kernel shells are converted into charcoal and used to make jewelry. What other items could be made with palm kernel shells?

• How much time is invested in the process?

• What are the operating costs?

• Is there an existing need for items made from palm kernel shells?

• What is the impact of the business on the local community?

Palm kernel shells can also be converted into high quality charcoal.

To learn more about this topic, research: «palm shell charcoal»

The following countries are big producers of palm oil.

Indonesia I Nigeria I Columbia I Malaysia I Thailand (Sawe)

• Which country is ranked number one?

• How much palm oil was produced last year by each country?

• Place the countries on the map below with their production numbers.

GENES AND MUTATIONS IN DATE PALM FRUIT

“…researchershaveidentifiedthegenesandmutations thatleadtocolorchangeandthelevelsofmajorsugars indatepalmfruit--includingthegenesfortheenzyme invertasethatbreaksdownsucroseintoglucoseand fructose.Themappingofthesefruitcolorandsugar geneswasconductedusinggenome-wideassociation studies(GWAS).GWAShasbeenusedformapping importantdiseasegenesinhumans,andthisisthefirst timeithasbeenappliedtodatepalms.”

Source

New York University. "New genome sequence of the date palm: Discovery further uncovers the genetic basis for important fruit traits of an essential MENA region food source." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 October 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191015131518.htm>.

Potassium “regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper function of the muscles and nerves, and is vital for synthesizing protein and metabolizing carbohydrates.”

(“The Importance of Potassium - Harvard Health”)

➢ Dates are high in potassium. To learn more about this topic, research: «Dates nutrition facts»

“Therapeutic Effects of Date Fruits (Phoenix Dactylifera) in the Prevention of Diseases via Modulation of Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Tumour Activity”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992385/

A glucan is defined as “any polysaccharide consisting of a polymer of glucose, such as cellulose or starch.”

(“Glucan Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.Com”)

Dates are a staple food for people in the Middle East.

❑ How many people have had a tumour in the Middle East?

❑ How does that statistical information compare with that of people from your continent or another continent?

What Math Concepts and skills can you use to find these figures?

➢ What biological and chemical activities are involved?

Wax palms are very common in South America. This variety of palm tree is actually one of the symbols of Colombia. One interesting fact about the wax palms is that “there are females and males, as in humans. This implies that for its reproduction the palm needs some mechanism to carry the pollen from the males to the females.”

How do wax palm trees reproduce and grow? Fill the concept map below with facts about their reproduction and growth.

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

What does this mean?

To have a mountain to climb

― Mother Teresa –

(BrainyQuote)

“The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”

― Ralph Nader -

(BrainyQuote)

“The lamp burns bright when wick and oil are clean.”

― Ovid -

(BrainyQuote)

“Truth will rise above falsehood as oil above water.”

― J. Paul Getty –

(BrainyQuote)

Miguel de Cervantes -

(BrainyQuote)

“If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”

“Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.”

Brand Ambassador

E Fcountry that produces palm oil. Person B matches the country with its most recent palm oil sales (last

predicted palm oil sales figures (next year’s projections). The three

Trans fats are believed to cause stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

a)Outline each image. b) Colour it. c) Explain how each item of the puzzle is associated to the health concerns highlighted above.

d) cut out your puzzle and e) have someone play your puzzle game.

Photo by David Holifield on Unsplash

Photo by Georgia Vagim on Unsplash

Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash

Photo by Miguel Perales on Unsplash

Photo by Sorin Gheorghita on Unsplash

Photo by Tetiana Bykovets on Unsplash

Photo by Mustafa Bashari on Unsplash

Photo by Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash

Photo by Kevin Kelly on Unsplash

Photo by Mgg Vitchakorn on Unsplash

Photo by Food Photographer David Fedulov on Unsplash Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash

Which oils are vegetable (V) oils? Seed oils (S)? Nuts oils (N)? Essential oils (E)? Write the correct letter at the end of each oil from the list and do the wordsearch puzzle.

This puzzle is a word search puzzle that has a hidden message in it.

First find all the words in the list. Words can go in any direction and share letters as well as cross over each other. Once you find all the words. Copy the unused letters starting in the top left corner into the blanks to reveal the hidden message. “Palm

Decode the message.

Each letter in the phrase has been replaced with a random letter or number.

Try to decode the message.

Use your talent to send a cultural message to people from your community and beyond. Email your creative piece to connect@thinkandreach.com to have it published in: Think & Reach Magazine.

What are palm fruits used for?

Paint or draw a picture to illustrate your answer.

Create and present a choreography on the impact of palm trees on the environment.

Create and present a play on the evergrowing financial success of Palm oil industry, and labour exploitation.

THINK & REACH

To learn more about the Scientific Method, look up: «Scientific Method» on the Internet.

Sula. “The Wax Palm and Why It Is a Must to See When Visiting Colombia.” Sula Travel Agency, 5 Nov. 2020, www.sula.com.co/blog/wax-palm-colombia/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2022.

Reichling, Jürgen. “Antiviral and Virucidal Properties of Essential Oils and Isolated Compounds – a Scientific Approach.” Planta Medica, 18 June 2021, 10.1055/a-1382-2898. Accessed 23 June 2021.

“Climb.” The Free Dictionary, idioms.thefreedictionary.com/climb. Accessed 7 Feb. 2022.

Hu Chen. “Man Climbing Cliff beside Beach.” Unsplash.com, Unsplash, 27 Mar. 2018, unsplash.com/photos/FZ0qzjVF_-c.

“List of Vegetable Oils.” Mcgill.ca, 2019, www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/l/List_of_vegetable_oils.htm.

“Trans Fat: Double Trouble for Your Heart.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/trans-fat/art20046114#:~:text=How%20trans%20fat%20harms%20you%20Doctors%20worry%20about. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

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“Biofuels Market Report | Biofuels Market Overview by 2028.” Www.emergenresearch.com, www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/biofuelsmarket#:~:text=The%20Global%20Biofuels%20Market%20size%20was%20valued%20at. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

“Definition of CELLULOSE.” Www.merriam-Webster.com, www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/cellulose.

Seth, K. P. (2020, August 19). Food for thought: the benefits of sustainable palm oil. ET HospitalityWorld. https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/speakingheads/food-for-thought-the-benefits-of-sustainable-palm-oil/77628417

Undlin, Siri. "Different Types Of Palm Trees (And Palm Tree Varieties) - Plantsnap". PlantsnapIdentify Plants, Trees, Mushrooms With An App, 2020, https://www.plantsnap.com/plantblog/types-of-palm-trees/

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Moll, Jennifer. “Which Foods Contain Trans Fats?” Verywell Health, Verywellhealth, 24 Dec. 2008, www.verywellhealth.com/which-foods-contain-trans-fats-697735.

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Unsplash. “Photo by Kevin Kelly on Unsplash.” Unsplash.com, unsplash.com/photos/PPneSBqfCCU. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

Unsplash. “Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash.” Unsplash.com, unsplash.com/photos/gsllxmVO4HQ. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

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"8 Things To Know About Palm Oil". WWF, 2022, https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-knowabout-palm-oil

"Nearly 1M Work In Oil Palm Industry". Malaysian Palm Oil Council, 2022, https://mpoc.org.my/nearly1m-work-in-oil-palm-industry/

The Impact of Palm Oil on the Environment. (n.d.). CHEC International. https://www.checinternational.org/palm-oil-impactenvironment/#:~:text=Problems%20with%20Palm%20Oil&text=Burning%20down%20forests%20l ead%20to,the%20world's%20most%20biodiverse%20forests.

"Types Of Palm Fruits (With Pictures And Names) - Identification Guide". Leafy Place, 2022, https://leafyplace.com/palm-

fruits/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20fruits%20that,like%20miniature%20coconuts%20called% 20coquitos

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Ayu, G. E., et al. “The Production of Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Oil Palm Fruit Fibers Using Chemical Treatment.” 3RD INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE CONFERENCE on MATERIALS, MINERALS & POLYMER (MAMIP) 2019, 2020, 10.1063/5.0015667. Accessed 9 Feb. 2022.

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Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash