10
-NiE ,
4 OCTOBER 2017
ADVANCED
Man-made disasters
Every life is precious
HAVE you watched the movie Deepwater Horizon? The movie is based on a true event that took place in 2010 aboard an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Methane gas was released in the process of drilling for oil and it ignited and exploded, killing 11 people and injuring many others. Apart from the human lives lost, massive damage was done to the environment as tonnes of oil spilt into the sea, making it the largest, marine oil spill to date. As the oil spread, it affected the habitats of wildlife and marine life, killing countless of species. Although rescue operations were set up and people worked continuously to clean the beach areas, the devastating effects of this man-made disaster can still be felt today. Fire boat response crews spraying water on the blazing remnants of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig. — AP
NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason
● Organise
Creative thinking ● Connect
Problem solving ● Question ● Research
● Recreate ● Present
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
Collaborating ● Listen ● Attain goal ● Contribute respectfully
Using articles, pictures and words taken from The Star, design a timeline chart to show man-made disasters that have taken place in the last five years. Write a short description for each of the disasters in the space given. Work on this activity in groups of four. Discuss why these disasters happened. Do you think that they could have been prevented? Next, present your work in class.
NiE Activity 2 Creative thinking
Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
● Measure ● Organise
Problem solving ● Question ● Research
● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent
Communicating
● Recreate ● Present
Read the article below.
● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural
Collaborating ● Listen ● Attain goal ● Contribute respectfully
Mumbai building collapse death toll rises to 17 MUMBAI: Rescuers stepped up a desperate bid to find victims buried under the rubble of a collapsed building in Mumbai as the death toll rose to 17. The disaster, which occurred in the northern suburb of Ghatkopar on Tuesday morning, was the latest to shine a spotlight on poor construction standards in India. “Seventeen have died and 28 people have been rescued,” Tanaji Kamble, a disaster management spokesman for Mumbai’s civic administrative body, said. Some bodies were found during the night. Rescuers, using diggers, sifted through the debris yesterday morning in the hope of finding more trapped survivors. Building collapses are common in India, especially during the
monsoon season from late June to September. India’s financial capital is particularly vulnerable with millions forced to live in cramped, ramshackle properties because of rising real estate prices and a lack of housing for the poor. The city has been hit by several deadly building collapses in recent years, often caused by shoddy construction, poor quality materials or ageing buildings. The chief minister of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, ordered an investigation into the latest incident after reports that renovation work was going on at the site at the time of the collapse. In 2013, 60 people were killed when a residential block came crashing down in one of Mumbai’s worst housing disasters. A dilapidated building left 12 people dead when it collapsed near
Parties responsible
Part A The city has been hit by several deadly building collapses in recent years, often caused by shoddy construction, poor quality materials or ageing buildings. What do you think are some actions that the authorities in Mumbai can take to prevent such a disaster from happening again? Discuss in groups of four.
Part B Building collapses are common in India, especially during the monsoon season from late June to September. Imagine that a non-governmental organisation has asked you to create a oneminute radio public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness of building collapses, especially during the monsoon season. What would you include in the radio PSA? Discuss in groups of four. Then, perform the PSA in class, like how radio DJs do it.
the city in August 2015. Nine people died the same month when another old three-storey building collapsed in monsoon rain in the Mumbai suburb of Thakurli. — AFP (The Star, July 27, 2017) Rescuers searching for survivors on the second day after the building collapsed in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai. — AP
Actions that can be taken
Shoddy construction Poor quality materials Ageing buildings
Tips:
Part C
● What message do you want
Imagine that you have been given a chance to interview a survivor of the Mumbai building collapse. What are some questions you would ask him? Brainstorm ideas in groups of four. Then, as a group, plan the survivor’s answers. Next, carry out the Q&A session before the class. Finally, as a class, vote for the most engaging interview.
to convey and who are your target audience?
● How would you draw your
listeners’ attention?
● Provide factual information
to support your message.
● Make your PSA short and
straightforward.