Financial markets are so connected war, drought or flood in one country could sink an economy halfway across the globe. Or not. How does that work? Digital stock market board. This article was produced exclusively for News Decoder’s global news service. It is through...
The small island nation of Barbados is leading the call for international finance reform needed to fight the impacts of global warming. The world is listening. From the left, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, Netherlands’ Minister of Finance Sigrid Kaag,...
June to August 2023 were the world’s hottest months on record, meaning the stakes are high to address climate change for all. This is especially true for small island nations and developing countries who do little to contribute to climate change, but disproportionately suffer its consequences. Correspondent Susanne Courtney digs into Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s plan to level the climate financing playing field in this Decoder.
Exercise: Inequities in climate financing loom large. Read the article with students, then have them explore this interactive visualization of historical greenhouse gas emissions by country and region. How does your country or region’s emissions compare to those of the world’s largest emitters? Create an infographic depicting this information, including a call to action for students to promote climate action in their local communities.
China’s economy steamed along until Covid. But government policies decades old are pulling it down. It might already be past its peak. A worker arranges raw filaments at the production base of Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd. in the city of Xining on 22...
A young reporter once exposed the lies of a prime minister. That reporting had global repercussions. Then came the backlash. Scene from a beach on a Caribbean island. (Credit ViliamM/Getty Images) This article was produced exclusively for News Decoder’s global news...
In the fifth of six monthly conversations, three experts ask: can the way nations spend money help bring about the change needed to cool the Earth? The fifth Ecologues discussion featured (right to left) Juan Pablo Arellano, Marlowe Hood and Bianca Getzel with...
Brexit gave the British people independence from Europe. But can the value of national sovereignty be quantified and is it worth more than economic stability? A line of trucks wait at Dover to cross the British Channel into Europe post-Brexit in December 2020. AP...
ND correspondent Alexander Nicoll dives into the post-Brexit world in this article, assessing the balancing act between national sovereignty and strong economic growth. He gets into the past, present and future Britain faces as it navigates its independence from the European Union.
Exercise: In an exercise to teach students synthesis skills, have students create a political cartoon illustrating the central tension in this article — the balance between national sovereignty and economic growth in Britain post-Brexit. How students choose to portray this tension is up to them, but they should consider including: a meaningful caption, public figures, symbols, dialogue, etc. It may be worthwhile to show the class examples of successful political cartoons to inspire ideas.
An historic number of workers are seeking work in other countries, many of them professionals. Should a nation depend on the export of its human capital? Mohamed Ishad, left, and his relative Mohamed Fahim wait outside an immigration office in Sri Lanka to get their...
The Great Barrier Reef isn’t just an endangered world wonder. Protecting the world’s largest coral reef system is also key to Australia’s economic growth. A diver swims past coral on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, 18 October 2016. More than 90%...
Protecting the environment isn’t just the right thing to do, it can also be the profitable thing to do. Take the Great Barrier Reef, for example, which has an estimated value of $56 billion Australian dollars. Help your students disentangle the complicated world of environmental economics with this article.
Exercise: After reading the article, have students take the WWF Carbon Footprint questionnaire at https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/. The questionnaire estimates individuals’ carbon footprint, looking at food, travel, home and consumption habits. After the questionnaire, launch a class discussion on how changes in individual habits may contribute to fighting climate change — and might even be a profitable choice.
The Ukraine war has caused energy prices to skyrocket across Europe. In France, if costs don’t decrease soon, some bakers might have to say adieu! Baguettes in a boulangerie in Rennes, France. Credit: Clover Choi This article, by high school student Clover...
If you owe too much money and can’t repay it, you could lose your car or home. Can a nation have too much debt? What happens then? Currencies from around the world. Getty Images. During the pandemic, businesses closed, people went into lockdown and governments...
Economic issues often confound students – and adults alike. The U.S. has hit its debt ceiling and Italy and Japan are dealing with massive amounts of national debt. But what does that mean and how does that differ from money a student’s family might owe – like a home mortgage or car loan? This month, Correspondent Tiziana Barghini decodes national debt, taking us through this complicated and timely topic.
Exercise: Give students a list of national budget expenses such as defense, food stamps, aid to public schools, road maintenance and construction, public safety etc., with percentages of the budget for each that add up to 92%. The other 8% will be interest payments on national debt. Then increase the percentage for the debt and have students try to get the overall number back to 100% by cutting spending elsewhere. As the payments on the debt go up, where will they find the money to pay it?