1. HONR 229L: Climate Change: Science, Economics, and Governance
Opposite Paths to Success:
New Guinea, Tikopia, and Japan
Your name here
13 September 2017

2. This chapter focuses on three examples of societal success that occurred in New Guinea, Tikopia, and Japan.
State the two vastly different types of political structures employed on these three islands, briefly state what each structure means, then identify which structure was used on each island.
You can make this especially interesting by working real world examples of each of these structures into your material, perhaps drawing upon examples on campus ... and of course asking students, perhaps from the outset, for their own examples

3. Provide an overview of the New Guinea section and in this material, define silviculture and briefly summarize how the people of New Guinea used innovative approaches for the both silviculture and agriculture
Consider working into the material the helpfulness, or lack thereof, of the European visitors and certainly work into the material Diamond’s impression of the curiosity of native New Guinea people
Be sure to ask the class to give their impressions of the resourcefulness of the natives of New Guinea, and their view of the interactions with Europeans

4. Provide an overview of the Tikopia section and in this material:
describe the two problems the people of Tikopia had to overcome to keep their tiny habitat continuously populated for 3,000 years
note how these two problems were overcome
Consider working into the material the anecdote about the pigs
Of course, do your best to engage the class in a discussion of what it would have been like to have been born on Tikopia as well as their views on the manner of overcoming the hurdles for continuous population. This discussion can go in various directions ... do your best to guide it in an interesting manner.

5. Provide an overview of the section on Japan.
In this material:
describe the multi-staged, elaborate approach for woodland management that was used by the ruling class of Japan
work into the description the top down management structure used by Japan
state whether you think the other political structure would have worked for Japan
and of course do your best to engage the class on these points

6. Remarkably, in the essay about Tikopia, Jared Diamond has resisted the temptation to draw an analog to modern, global society. Describe how Tikopia might serve as an analog to modern society, with a focus on the dual topics of population control and resource management. Try to work into the material the concept of "carrying capacity"
Consider also working into the material this excellent presentation on Earth’s population led by Prof Eugenia Kalnay of UMd
should you so desire (this is just a suggestion!)