How do you make a decision?

Most will be analyse how building a dam will have an impact on the environment. Some may be able to evaluate the benefits and consequences of building a dam, and consider why various geographic and political factors may influence the decision. All will be able to understand the decision making process. To develop an underdecisions are made involving environmental issues. Lesson 1

As we look at the images, consider: How would you describe the environment? Where in the world would you place these images? How do you know?

Read the article Case Study: Friends of Lake Turkana. Highlight key points which within the text which will help you to answer the following questions: What is the reason for building the dam? Who does the dam benefit? What would happen to the environment in the area if the dam were built? What would happen to the people and other living things in the area if the dam were built?

What is your initial understanding of the article? Paired talk to discuss your ideas.

Teacher notes. What is the reason for building the dam? (to generate electricity for the surrounding areas through a hydropower station within the dam) Who does the dam benefit? (It will benefit the surrounding areas, particularly rural Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Djibouti.) What would happen to the environment in the area if the dam were built? (The dam affects water flow into the Lake Turkana region. It would lower the lake level, and it could change the salinity of the lake and affect its inhabitants.) What would happen to the people and other living things in the area if the dam were built? (The indigenous people practice flood-retreat agriculture. The dam would alter the outflow and would reduce seasonal flooding. The lack of the rich silt would destroy flood-retreat agriculture.)

Peer Assessment: Mark your partner’s work. Have they expressed a clear understanding in their response to the questions? How do you know? Where could your partner have developed or added information to demonstrate their knowledge?

Most will confidently analyse how building a dam will have an impact on the environment. They will also consider how stake holders play a vital role in determining complex decisions. Some may be able to evaluate the benefits and consequences of building a dam, exploring why various geographic and political factors may influence the decision. All will be able to understand the decision making process and begin to identify factors which will influence this. To explore how and why decisions are made involving environmental issues. Lesson 2 and 3.

A stakeholder is… A person with an interest or concern in something. A person, organization, living organism, or physical environment that is affected by the decision that is made. Some stakeholders, such as people and organizations, have a strong voice other stakeholders, such as plants, animals, and the physical environment, are silent and do not have a voice in decision making. Paired talk: Who would be the stakeholders in this decision?

Stakeholder Stakeholder What does this word mean? Can you think of any examples of a stakeholder? Does the stakeholder always need to have a strong voice? Can we have silent stakeholders?

Group work. You will each be given a stakeholder. From their perspective you must work together to consider : What should the decision be? Who might this impact? What are the reasons behind your decision?

As each group present their ideas, make notes and fill in the table.

Why is the decision- making process so difficult?

Use website to explore Geography of area n/mapping/interactive- map/?ar_a=1&b=0&f=481&ls=800007&t=1&bbox= , , , Why is it important for us to understand where the Omo River is located on the map? Why is the river not straight; why does it meander? What evidence does the map provide to support that the Omo River feeds into Lake Turkana?

Use website to explore Geography of area tion/mapping/interactive- map/?ar_a=1&b=0&f=481&ls=800007&t=1&bb ox= , , , How will the dam affect Lake Turkana?

Use website to explore Geography of area tion/mapping/interactive- map/?ar_a=1&b=0&f=481&ls=800007&t=1&bb ox= , , , Are there any patterns across the data sets?

Explore the viewpoint of each stakeholders and their influence on the decision to build the Gilgel Gibe III dam. Some stakeholders that have a voice (e.g., people) and those whose voices are silent (e.g., living organisms and physical environment)

Consequences Benefits Decision time!

Who has the most influence? Why? What are the benefits? What are the consequences?

Plenary How would you negotiate with all stakeholders? Do you think you could come to a decision in which all involved would be happy? Why? What would the process be? Reflection: What were some of the roadblocks you experienced in making your decision? Was there anything you considered but was not necessary in your discussions during your decision-making process? Explain. How did your group weigh the different consequences when making your decision statement? Did you feel that all stakeholders got a fair voice in the process? Why or why not?

Decision time!

Most will confidently analyse how building a dam will have an impact on the environment. They will also consider how stake holders play a vital role in determining complex decisions. Some may be able to evaluate the benefits and consequences of building a dam, exploring why various geographic and political factors may influence the decision. All will be able to understand the decision making process and begin to identify factors which will influence this. To explore how and why decisions are made involving environmental issues. Lesson 2 and 3.