From Scarcity Mind to Eco Mind

The scarcity-mind, for example, focuses narrowly on quantities, and through my life’s work on food and hunger that means a fixation on bushels grown or calories produced. It ignores the quality of human relationships that ultimately determine whether people have power to access to what is grown. In this world created by the scarcity-mind, we continue therefore to produce more food and yet more hunger at the same time. Fortunately, we can leave behind the lens fixed on quantities and choose to see through the lens of ecology—one incorporating the relationships among organisms and their environment.

Visionary German physicist Han-Peters Düerr once reminded me that in biological systems, “There are no parts, only participants.” We are therefore all co-creators. From this ecological worldview the only choice we don’t have is whether to change the world. Every act we take, or don’t take, shapes the world around us. Through an ecological lens, we can rethink the thought traps that keep us in scarcity-mind and make the “leaps of the mind” that release us from the paralysis of fear. We discover we can move forward creatively with our fear, for in developing our eco-minds we realize our power to create the world we really want.

(Adapted from EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want by Frances Moore Lappe).

Group Discussion. Comment on the following quotation.

Past sustainability efforts have not focused sufficiently on fixing the failures of economic policies. But we now have a chance to tackle these challenging problems given the policy openings created by the response to the financial crisis.

FOCUS ON SPEAKING

1.International conference on major economic issues is to be held in Almaty. The topic is: “Economic growth in Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA”. Suppose you are the representatives from Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA, who are taking part in this event. In groups of three or four, discuss the problems and further perspectives of the economic growth of Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA. Point out the problems, their reasons, suggest the possible ways of solution.

2.Round table discussion: «Development of the main sectors and enterprises in Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA as the key factor of economic growth».

3.Discuss the following: «Role of banking sector in economic growth of Kazakhstan».

FOCUS ON WRITING

Writing 1.Essay writing

Key points:

· When writing an essay, make sure you are using an appropriately formal register

· Clearly separate paragraphs that helps with organization

· Introduce topic and describe tendencies

· Use appropriate phrases for a discursive-type essay (e.g.,It is probably true to say that…., It is also the case that…..)

· Use formal linking devices (e.g., On the other hand…., In conclusion…..)

· Use impersonal language in preference to first person pronouns

Task

Your class has recently been doing a project on major economic issues. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay, giving your opinion on the following: “Economic progress is often used to measure a country’s success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country’s success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?”Write your essay in 250 words.

Writing 2

Submit a brief individual reflection on the following:

• What are your own views on a Green Economy? Is it another weakly defined catchphrase to maintain the status quo? Can it be a meaningful and valuable concept to alter the course of the Global Economy? Is it a term worth promoting, criticizing, or forgetting?

Your writing should be not less than 250 words.

Unit 4: ECONOMY

Communication sphere: economic

File 2.Finance(Taxation system in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA. Banking system in Kazakhstan, Great Britain and the USA. Securities Market)

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