2015-16 Topics
Treatment of Animals PP1
Farmers, pet and animal owners, and scientific researchers have many different ways of treating animals in their care. Fewer than
30% of countries have animal welfare laws, and existing laws are not always enforced. Researchers assert that it is important to be
able to use animals in research to test drugs and new medical procedures that can help both people and animals. Sometimes
endangered animals are kept in captivity at a high cost in order to protect their limited populations. Animal shelters are often filled
with feral animals or those that have been abandoned by their owners. Wild animals in many parts of the world come into conflict
with human activity.
In the future, how might research impact human understanding and treatment of animals? Are zoos useful educational tools or
unethical exhibitions? Are certain animals entitled to more rights than others based on cultural or intelligence differences? How can
humans be better stewards in the treatment of animals? Who decides the appropriate treatment of animals and their role in society?
Disappearing Languages PP2
Language is the soul of a culture. The survival of a culture may depend on the language used for rituals and to describe cultural ideas,
beliefs, and understandings. What is the impact on culture when its language disappears? By some estimates, of the six thousand
languages left on Earth, 90% are expected to disappear or be endangered before the end of this century. In New Zealand, government
and community initiatives are trying to revive the language of indigenous people, but even so it is in a precarious state. Many
indigenous peoples around the globe don’t have support to prevent their language from disappearing. Will anyone be able to read the
rich literature embodied in the disappearing languages in the years to come? What oral traditions will be lost? What responsibilities, if
any, do governments, institutions, and communities have towards preserving endangered languages?
Recovering from Natural Disaster QP
Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters are big news when they occur. Front-page
news and internet feeds bring us the details of staggering statistics and images of loss of life and property. Recovery work such as
rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and businesses go on even when the news moves on to the next big story. The human factor such as
recovery from emotional, mental, and physical stress is a painful and difficult journey for survivors of natural disasters, often taking
many years after the disaster strikes. A disaster recovery plan (DRP) often proves inadequate especially since it is often developed
only after a disaster. Government agencies, insurance companies, charitable organizations, celebrities, and individual volunteers
respond with immediate help, but long-term support can be difficult to sustain. How can relief efforts be best utilized, coordinated,
and sustained to assist survivors? How can the people, communities, and countries that are affected by a disaster begin to recover
from their losses and cope with their changed lives? How will the impact on psychological and physical health be managed?
The Global Workplace AB
The world today is increasingly interdependent with the advent of interconnectedness. The internet brings individuals living in diverse
places together for innovative opportunities in global collaboration. Physical space may no longer define a workplace. Many local and
international corporations are able to employ people without them having to step out of their homes or countries. Developed
countries outsource jobs to other countries where labor may be cheaper and labor laws less regulated. How might a more global
workplace affect local and national economies? Some firms downsize their workforce in favor of automated systems that require less
human input. These changes create a pool of workers who, besides being out of work, are often unprepared for other jobs. How might
employers develop innovative ways to work globally? Is the growing trend of working globally online benefiting current workplace
trends? How might this affect the world economy? What economic or educational changes might better prepare governments,
businesses, and workers for a global workplace?