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FEBRUARY2014EDITION

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News in Review, February 2014

1. Nelson Mandela: An International Symbol (Length: 16:48)

2. Pope Francis Making Headlines (Length: 15:42)

3. Addiction and the Food Industry (Length: 15:25)

4. Winter's Bitter Grip (Length: 14:27)

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FEBRUARY 2014

CONTENTS

In This Issue........................................................................................................2

Nelson Mandela: An International SymbolMinds on......................................................................................................................................................4Setting the stage: Mandela's story..............................................................................................................4Video review................................................................................................................................................8Activity: Mandela in his own words...........................................................................................................10

Pope Francis Making HeadlinesSetting the stage: The pastoral pope.........................................................................................................12Video review..............................................................................................................................................15Activity: What makes a leader?.................................................................................................................17

Addiction and the Food IndustrySetting the stage: Engineered to be irresistible?.......................................................................................18Video review..............................................................................................................................................20Activity: Researching sugar, fat and salt....................................................................................................22Activity: Making a supported opinion........................................................................................................24

Winter's Bitter GripSetting the stage: Dangerous weather......................................................................................................26Video review..............................................................................................................................................28Activity: What happened to global warming?...........................................................................................30

News in Review CBC Learning ∙ ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 1

FEBRUARY 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

Nelson Mandela: An International Symbol (Length: 16:48)The world lost a great leader in December 2013. Nelson Mandela had been an activist against a bigoted regime in South Africa. His protests landed him in prison for nearly three decades. While there Mandela became the face of the movement that eventually toppled the apartheid regime, and Mandela himself went on to become the first black president of South Africa. Here is the story of his life and how he will be remembered.

News in Review Study Modules

South Africa's Election: Majority Rules, May 1994

South Africa: Voting for Change, April 1992- -Actualité en revue: À la mémoire de Nelson

Mandela, January 2014

Related CBC Videos

Africa on the MoveMadiba: Life and Times of Nelson Mandela- -Brian Mulroney: L'activiste international

(en français)

Pope Francis Making Headlines (Length: 15:42)In March 2013, Jorge Maria Bergoglio, a humble cardinal from Argentina, became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He took the name Pope Francis and promised change at the Vatican. Within months he was making headlines for his openness to new ideas and willingness to change.


The Pope: Resignation and Election 2013, April 2013

Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005, May 2005Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith and the

Pope, September 2002

Related CBC Videos

Answered PrayersBlessed Teresa of Calcutta: The Making of a

SaintMy People, My PrayersThe Nativity


FEBRUARY 2014

Addiction and the Food Industry (Length: 15:25)There is science behind the manufacturing of the foods we eat — science that makes us crave more, eat more, want more. That science is being used every day by the food giants to keep us hooked. They use sugar, salt and liquid fat to make foods as addictive as narcotics. In this report, CBC health reporter Kelly Crowe investigates how the food industry is manipulating consumers — all for the bottom line.


How Healthy Are Canadians? February 2011

Related CBC Videos

Cafeteria ConfidentialEat Cook Love: Fixing Our Food HabitsFood & Obesity: What We EatThe Great Salt ShakedownLunchbox BreakdownProgrammed to Be FatStuffed (from CBC Radio’s IDEAS)Sugar Surprise: Dieter's Dilemma

Winter's Bitter Grip (Length: 14:27)Canadians tend to be a hearty bunch, ready to adjust to all kinds of weather. In Southern Ontario however, things got a little out of hand at the end of 2013. A winter storm plunged much of the Toronto area into darkness as trees covered in ice fell onto power lines. Thousands spent the holiday season in the cold and darkness.


Canada and the Swine Flu, September 2009The Big Melt: Canada's Changing Arctic,

September 2006Canada’s Long, Hot Summer, September 2002

Related CBC Videos

Extreme Weather, Episode 2: Fire and IceLife Below ZeroWeather: Dragons of Chaos


News in Review – February 2014 – Teacher Resource Guide

NELSON MANDELA: An International Symbol

MINDS ON

Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela is considered one of the world's greatest political leaders. He overcame overwhelming oppression as a black man in a racist, segregated nation where only white people had power and privilege. He committed his life to helping South Africa move from institutional racism to a multi-racial democracy.

A. Why should you care about Nelson Mandela?

B. What do you think you gain personally by learning about a great political leader?

C. What do you know about the life of Nelson Mandela?

Important vocabularyBe sure to understand the meaning of the following words before reading the summary of Nelson Mandela's life:

apartheid communism Ghandism socialism

Africanism Afrikaner segregation

SETTING THE STAGE: MANDELA'S STORY

On December 5, 2013 the world lost a great hero, a skilled political leader, and a wise and compassionate man. Nelson Mandela's funeral was a world event celebrating the determination and courage of a black leader who fought his government's racist apartheid laws, who spent 27 years in prison, and who emerged to eventually win the country's first democratic election to become president.

Rolihlahla Mandela was born in 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa. He grew up with the royalty who

governed the Transkei homestead. He was the great-grandson of a Thembu king. He was a strong-willed, independent young man who paid great attention to details, including how he spoke and how he dressed. He was disciplined in regards to his health, rising at 4:30 every morning for one hour of exercise and he usually ate only one meal a day. The name “Nelson” was probably given to him by an elementary school teacher who noted his serious and confident nature (Nelson was a famous general in British history).


FEBRUARY 2014 – NELSON MANDELA: AN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL

As a young man he wanted to be South Africa's first black lawyer. He was one of only a handful of non-white people accepted to the University of Witwatersrand. His schooling was funded by a loan from the Bantu Welfare Trust, an organization that supported the educational dreams of black South Africans. While at university he meet other students who shared his beliefs in freedom and equality for all people in South Africa. He met black, white and Indian activists who wanted to explore Africanism, socialism, communism and Ghandism. These are the ideas that shaped Mandela's political beliefs.

Mandela suffered a setback in that he failed the final exam to become a specialist lawyer and instead became an attorney. But Mandela never let failure define who he was and what he wanted to achieve for South Africa.

The beginning of apartheidSouth Africa was a nation shaped by continuous wars and interracial violence. In 1948, a minority government was formed by the Afrikaner party, who began to introduce segregation laws that favoured white people. In 1950, three Apartheid Acts were passed by the government of South Africa. These acts included the “Suppression of Communism Act,” the “Population and Registration Act” and the “Group Areas Act.” These laws allowed for the persecution of non-white political activities and legally enforced the supremacy of white people by categorizing people who were considered “non-European” in origin into four racial groups: “white,” “Bantu/black,” “Asian,” and “coloured/biracial.”

People classified as coloured or black were not allowed political participation. Members of the African National Congress were arrested (Mandela was a member of the ANC). Black citizenship was revoked and all aspects of life — such as what school you attended, where you

were permitted to live and where you could access medical care — were based on strict segregation laws. Public transportation and beaches were also segregated.

Fighting back by peaceful meansIn response to these racist laws, some anti-apartheid groups launched violent strikes. Mandela initially opposed violence. In 1952 the Defiance Campaign was formed, a non-violent program of mass resistance with Mandela as the leader. In the same year Mandela opened the first black-owned legal firm with Oliver Reginald Tambo. Both men devoted their legal knowledge to helping South African blacks.

In 1958 he married Winnie Madikizela, Johannesburg's first black social worker. This was his second marriage. He had four children with his first wife and he had two more children with Winnie.

On March 21, 1960 in the township of Sharpeville, thousands of blacks were peacefully protesting apartheid laws when the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 protestors. Most of the people had been shot through the back as they attempted to run from police gunfire. Some children were killed. This event convinced Mandela that peaceful methods to try to change government laws wouldn't work.

Mandela abandons non-violence In 1961 Mandela was appointed the commander-in-chief of the ANC's newly formed armed wing Umkonto we Sizwe, translated “Spear of the nation.” He secretly travelled across Africa meeting with heads of state to get funding for his cause and for combat training. In 15 months he became a worldwide legend, masterminding bombing campaigns against government buildings. In August 1962 he was captured and put on trial.



Three weeks later at his trial the government called 60 witnesses and Mandela called none. Instead, he prepared an hour-long speech in which he explained why his actions were just when compared to the unjust actions of the South African government. He received a five-year sentence. Further evidence of treason was uncovered and he was eventually given life imprisonment. He could have been sentenced to hang but international pressure was intense on South Africa to spare his life.

For 27 years, while in prison on Robben Island, he slept on a thin mat on a stone floor in a 7 x 9 foot cell. He worked for 13 years on the island's limestone quarries until his lungs and eyesight were too damaged to continue that work. He was allowed one letter and one visitor every 6 months. He spent time teaching politics to the island's political activists. There was an embargo that forbade South Africans to mention his name, words or images. But Mandela continued to remain in his supporters' hearts and prayers.

Apartheid undoneAfter years of protests within South Africa and international boycotts and sanctions, the South African President, P. W. Botha decided to consider Mandela's release from prison. Mandela was very ill with tuberculosis and Botha was terrified that if he died in prison, it would spark a civil war. In 1989 Mandela secretly met with the president. One month later Botha was removed from office after suffering a stroke. The new president, F.W. de Klerk, announced in 1990 that he would free Mandela, lift the ban on the ANC and negotiate a new constitution for South Africa. The announcement came as a shock. White racists marched on Pretoria demanding that Mandela hang. One of the most popular ANC leaders, Chris Hani, was assassinated which caused a new wave of violence.

In a televised address Mandela attempted to stop the violence by acknowledging the fact that a white man had killed Hani but that a white woman had risked her life so that the murderer was caught. Mandela's calm and persuasive presence controlled the day and commanded the nation. He decided to work with his enemies at a peaceful transition of power and to avoid a civil war that he once would have encouraged.

Mandela demanded a new multi-racial election in South Africa and it was granted. Mandela voted for the first time on April 27, 1994. Two weeks later, he was the country's first democratically elected president. The election also marked the official end of apartheid.

Mandela conciliatory as presidentMandela never once expressed bitterness or resentment about his time in prison nor towards the South African white community who had enjoyed power and privilege over black South Africans. As president Mandela oversaw the rewriting of the constitution. He asked Archbishop Desmond Tutu to head the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which guaranteed amnesty for those who confessed all they knew about the politically motivated crimes of the apartheid era. He was the president from 1994-1999.

He achieved personal happiness on his 80th birthday when he married his third wife, Graca Machel, an international advocate for women's and children's rights.

Stephanie Findlay and Nancy Macdonald summarized Mandela's legacy in a Maclean's magazine aptly titled Freedom Fighter; “The world doesn't celebrate Mandela for his four years in the president's office. He will forever be remembered for his magnanimity, his integrity and his unbreakable strength as he walked the long, tumultuous road to lift South Africa from



the darkness of apartheid, and into a new future, whose story isn't yet 20 years old.”

Did you know?Only four months after Nelson Mandela was released from prison he travelled to Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. He was very grateful for Canadian support in the struggle against apartheid. He described Canadians as “steadfast friends of our struggling people.” The prime minister at the time, Brian Mulroney, had put a lot of diplomatic and economic pressure on the South African apartheid regime despite many other world leaders who chose to ignore or downplay the issue.

ActivityCreate a photo essay, comic book or song based on the life of Mandela. Before you begin, decide who the audience will be for the product (elementary school children, your peers) and for what purpose you are sharing Mandela's story. Be sure to create a narrative that highlights his personal traits, his leadership skills, the political and social contexts of South Africa, and his accomplishments.



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre-viewing

1. Think about the words “terrorist” and “freedom fighter.” What are the possible similarities and differences between these two terms in your mind?

2. Is it possible for someone to be viewed as both a terrorist and a freedom fighter? How and why?

3. What do you already know about Nelson Mandela?

4. Why do you think that Nelson Mandela's death caused an outpouring of grief and remembrance around the world?

While viewing

Read the questions over before viewing the video. Write down your answers to them while watching the News in Review Mandela segment.

1. Mandela was in prison for __________ years.

2. Mandela became the first black president in South Africa’s first democratic election. TRUE FALSE

3. How was his health impacted while in jail?



4. How did he fight the stigma of AIDs?

5. Who was “booed” at Mandela’s funeral?

6. Who officially represented Canada at the funeral?

7. 40% of black South Africans currently live in poverty. TRUE FALSE

8. Mandela led South Africa out of apartheid. TRUE FALSE

Post-viewing

1. List three words you think describe Nelson Mandela. What facts about his life led you to choose these descriptive words?

2. Why do you think so many world leaders attended Mandela's funeral?

3. Music and dance were an important part of the South African's celebration of Mandela's life and accomplishments. What song would you pick as part of a memorial service for Mandela and why?



ACTIVITY: MANDELA IN HIS OWN WORDS

Select five of the quotes below from Nelson Mandela and answer these questions:

1. What “big” or significant idea is central to the Mandela quote?

2. Should we care about this idea? Why?

3. What is Mandela's viewpoint/perspective on the “big” or significant idea? (You may have to do further research on Mandela's life in order to answer the question.)

4. Do you agree or disagree with the quote?

5. Create one or two deep questions regarding the big ideas represented in this quote.

A. “ I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.„

B. “ For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.„

C. “ I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.„

D.“ I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists.„

E. “ When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.„

F. “ Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.„

G. “ No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate,

they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.„

H.

“ During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.„

I. “ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.„

J. “ Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.„

K. “ I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.„

L. “ I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to



despair. That way lays defeat and death.„Extension activities

1. Research more Mandela quotes and choose one that you feel should be added to this list and explain why.

2. Choose the quotations that you feel would be best for school announcements, bulletin board posters, website postings, school planners and work towards spreading his words to your school community.



POPE FRANCIS MAKING HEADLINES

SETTING THE STAGE: THE PASTORAL POPE

On a cool wet March 13, 2013 thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome awaiting the election of a new pope. 2013 was proving to be an extraordinary year for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. In February Pope Benedict XVI suddenly announced he was resigning due to old age and declining health. There had not been such a resignation since the 14th century. His stunning announcement immediately led to speculation about who would be the next successor of St. Peter.

With all eyes on the Vatican, cardinals from around the world gathered to elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. The first day of the process did not result in a successful election. No one knew how long the process would take. The next day, however, the traditional signal appeared — white smoke issuing from the Sistine Chapel chimney — indicating that a pope had been elected. Cheers went up from the crowd and all eyes turned to the balcony above the main doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. The doors opened and a cardinal announced that the new pope was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina. Many people in the crowd did not recognize the name but it did not matter — a pope had been elected!

A new name, a new approachThen the Vatican announced that the newly elected pope had selected the name Francis. This name had never been used before and immediately people felt there was something different about this pope who named himself

after St. Francis of Assisi, known for his dedication to the poor. Then a white-robed figure appeared on the balcony. He was not wearing the traditional red cassock or ermine stole that previous newly elected popes had worn. He stood erect and waved to the crowd. After a few moments he spoke to the faithful and joked that the cardinals had looked a long way from Rome for a pope. Then he asked the crowd to pause and pray for him; he bowed to the crowd which immediately went silent. In these few early hours of his papacy, Pope Francis had already changed the tone of the papacy.

Bergoglio’s backgroundThese actions early in his pontificate were to signal that this was a different pope. After all, his background was not one often associated with the papacy. As a young man Jorge Bergoglio had worked as a janitor and a night club bouncer. In 1957 he entered the seminary and decided to become a Jesuit priest. He chose the Jesuits because he appreciated the order’s stress on discipline and work for social justice. Father Bergoglio moved up the ranks of the order and in 1973 was named the head of the Jesuits in Argentina. He had to deal with a

FEBRUARY 2014 – POPE FRANCIS MAKING HEADLINES

troubling period in Argentina’s history when anyone working in the slums of the country was viewed as a potential communist by the military government. In 1998 Bergoglio was made an archbishop and led by example. He did not live in the lavish archbishop’s palace but in an apartment. He took public transit instead of the private car that former archbishops had used. He made a point of visiting all the areas of his archdiocese, with an emphasis on the poorer areas. In 2001 Bergoglio was named a cardinal.

After the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, Cardinal Bergoglio went to Rome considered a strong candidate to become the next pope. However Cardinal Ratzinger was ultimately elected as Benedict XVI.

Informal pope gains in popularitySince his election Pope Francis has continued to set an informal, active tone to his papacy which has earned him praise from some quarters and concern from others. His popularity has been steadily increasing especially after people have seen his interactions with individuals and crowds.

The day after his election, Pope Francis returned to the hotel where he had stayed during the election to pay his bill. He decided that he would not move to the lavish papal apartments but take a room in a church-owned residence. His aids would find him in the morning making his own breakfast and eating with other residents of the building.

When he held his open air audiences where he would drive among the people he frequently ordered the car to stop and he would bless an individual, accept children handed to him for his blessing and one occasion he stopped and embraced a physically challenged person. These were the same type of actions associated with St. Francis.

On Holy Thursday when Catholics commemorate the last supper of Christ and his apostles, the pope washed the feet of 12 people following Christ’s example. Pope Francis continued the tradition but this time included women and some adolescent prisoners. This was the first time women had been invited to participate in such a ceremony!

“Who am I to judge?”The next pronouncement that pleased some and surprised others occurred on the pope’s visit to Brazil in August, 2013. The pope held an extended press conference on the plane and was asked about the possibility of gay priests working within the Church. The pope replied: “If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?” The pope’s declaration so impressed the gay community that one influential LGBT publication, The Advocate, named the pope its Person of the Year. Many marvelled that a Catholic pope could be given this honour by both The Advocate and the more mainstream Time Magazine!

As with other comments made by the pope, some saw his statement as a change in the teachings of the Catholic Church. In fact the pope was just reiterating the Church’s view that all persons no matter sexual orientation should be treated with respect and compassion. But this was the first time a pope made this kind of specific call for understanding and empathy.

More controversial remarksFrancis indicated with the choice of his name that he intended to follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi and promote the cause of the poor and marginalized of society. When he was a bishop in Argentina he made a point of visiting the slum areas to pray with the destitute. He has frequently called for the church and society to give “preferential treatment to the poor” by advocating a more equitable distribution of goods. In fact the pope spoke out against aspects


of the capitalist system that he feels creates a disposable culture and rewards the rich at the expense of the poor. These comments were criticized by some who felt the pope was moving too much to the left and was even appearing to be sympathetic to communist teachings.

Since his election in March, the pope hasn’t shown signs of changing the Church’s position against abortion or the use of contraceptives. But some have criticized him for not publicly condemning these practices. The pope replied that he still supported these teachings but did not feel you had to talk only about these issues all the time.

Although this pope has won early praise from many quarters there are some elements both outside and within the church community that see him as a potential threat. His statements on capitalism and gay priests have alienated some segments of the Catholic Church community. Tangible evidence of this opposition appeared with some wealthy Catholics reducing their contributions and making it known that they questioned the pope’s language.

Francis the reformerPope Francis has let it be known that he intends to reform the bureaucracy of the church. He has commissioned a group of trusted cardinals to review the structures of the church government to make it more accountable. He has led by example with his simple way of living in the Vatican and expects others to follow his example. This was clearly demonstrated when he removed an archbishop from a diocese in Germany for spending millions of dollars refurbishing his residence. In October, 2014 the pope will meet with bishops from all over the world to examine the structure and function of the family. He has challenged his priests and bishops to exhibit more compassion to divorced and separated Catholics. He even admonished a

priest who refused holy communion to a child whose parents were not married.

“ The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules.„“ Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.„“ I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.„

–Pope Francis

It seems this pope is a man in a hurry. This might be partly due to the fact that as a young man the pope lost a lung, and since he is 77 years old, he may feel that he may not have a lot of time to bring about change in the Church’s role. The challenge this pope will face is pursuing his goals while not disappointing the liberal wing of the church that so far has supported him, and not alienating the more conservative elements of the church who may feel this pope is downplaying Catholic Church teachings.

Tough work aheadA major challenge the pope will face is responding to the United Nations report condemning the Church for not protecting children who were abused by the clergy and for not identifying these clergy and removing them. The report claimed that many of the accused clergy were simply moved from parish to parish. This is an issue that has been raised in the past and some action has been taken. It was reported that during Pope Benedict’s papacy over 400 priests were removed from their priestly duties. Many Catholics are looking to see how this pope will deal with these issues.


This pastoral pope leads a diverse flock which is looking for a leader who not only preaches the gospel but lives it.


VIDEO REVIEW

Pre-viewing

1. What qualities should a leader posses if she/he is to be successful? Is the list any different for a religious leader compared to a political leader?

2. Take a few minutes to explore the website of the Holy See and examine the photos posted of Pope Francis. Based on the photos, what impression do you think the Vatican is trying to project of this new pope? www.photogallery.va/content/photogallery/en/papi/franciscus.html

While viewing

1. Why is Pope Francis such an appealing personality?

2. How has this pope demonstrated that he is different from his predecessors?

3. How did Pope Francis’ comments on the role of women in the Church indicate that he is not changing official Church teaching?

4. What needs to change in people if the Church’s teachings are to be balanced?

http://www.photogallery.va/content/photogallery/en/papi/franciscus.html


5. How does the architecture of the new St. Giana Church reflect Pope Francis’ approach?

6. What issue could cause the most difficulty for the Pope?

Post-viewing

1. Pope Francis criticized aspects of the capitalist system which he felt focused more on profits and the rich at the expense of the poor. One of the strongest proponents of a pure capitalism is Ayn Rand. Examine Rand’s website — www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_intro — where she summarizes her philosophy. How do her views contrast with the pope’s?

Ayn Rand’s belief Pope Francis’ response

http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_intro


ACTIVITY: WHAT MAKES A LEADER?

A. Pope Francis / Pope Benedict

Many people have compared Pope Francis with his predecessor Pope Benedict. Examine the following videos of the general audiences of the two popes. What similarities and differences do you note? Which individual is more appealing? Should people put so much weight on a pope’s effectiveness based on these videos?

Pope Benedict: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyfq7Xoa-AY

Pope Francis (watch about 2 minutes): www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuxT354joHQ

Similarities between the popes Differences between the popes

B. Person of the Year?

Time Magazine selected Pope Francis as its Person of 2013. The criteria the magazine uses for its selection is the person who most affected events — someone whose impact would be remembered for many years. Based on this criteria, do you believe the pope was a good choice? Who else might you have selected? Provide some reasons for your choice.

C. Effective leadership

Pope Francis is the leader of over 1 billion Catholics. What do you feel are the qualities of an effective leader? Based on what you have read and heard of Pope Francis do you believe he is an effective leader?

Qualities of an effective leader Pope Francis: Does he have this quality?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuxT354joHQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyfq7Xoa-AY


ADDICTION AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY

SETTING THE STAGE:ENGINEERED TO BE IRRESISTIBLE?

Take a moment to think about the type of foods that you crave (if any). Are these foods nutritious foods like vegetables, fruits and legumes? Are they foods that you associate with good times, your family and comfort? Are they foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar?

Have you ever wondered why you and most others find it hard to resist processed foods like chocolate bars, ice cream, bread, pasta, potato chips, and other salty or sweet snack foods? Have you ever eaten large quantities of these types of processed snacks at one sitting? The simple fact may be that these snacks taste good and we find them irresistible. Many people would claim that these salty, sugary and fatty foods taste better than healthier foods.

The science of food cravingsSome scientists and food experts wonder if the food industry is using the science of food cravings and taste to make people want to eat and buy more of these types of foods, even though, when consumed in large quantities, they are very detrimental to a healthy lifestyle. The controversial term “addiction” has even been used to describe what some researchers see as a person's inability to stop consuming these types of foods despite the negative impact on their health and their desire to stop eating them.

There are three important trends in food production that seem to point to food industry manipulation. The first is the use of advertising to make people want to buy and consume products that are not the most nutritious. The second is the trend to “supersizing” portions of certain types of foods — mostly unhealthy pop, snack foods and fast food meals. The third trend

is the food industry's deliberate manipulation of the taste and texture of food to make people want to eat more. These three trends could be behind the growing rates of worldwide obesity along with increases in diabetes, heart conditions and other health concerns.

Do you see any manipulation?As a critical consumer, you can probably “see through” the fact that food companies want to make their brands “fun” and “sexy” by their use of clever advertising. Brands such as M&M’s, Oreo, Coke, Pepsi and Doritos are just some of the products that bring to mind savvy

FEBRUARY 2014 – ADDICTION AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY

advertising aimed at getting you to want to purchase them.

What you may not realize is that over the decades, size portions have become larger and larger. Why? Because scientists have shown that when given large quantities of foods high in sugar, fat, and/or salt, humans will keep consuming them. This points to our evolutionary history when food was scarce and the basic fact that our large brains require more energy intake to fuel. Foods that are rich in salt, sugar and fat are also shown to be more likely to trigger chemical reward systems in our brains.

Researchers at Cornell University conducted an experiment where two groups were given two sizes of popcorn to consumer during a movie —

one was medium-sized fresh popcorn and the other group received a large stale popcorn. Guess what happened? People with the larger stale popcorn ate more, despite the taste.

The third trend in food production is possibly the most manipulative of all, even more so than glossy ads and increased serving sizes. It is the use of scientific evidence to produce foods that are irresistible — some say addictive — by using high amounts of salt, sugar and fat, as well as more pleasing textures. Critics claim this manipulation is unethical and that food producers do not care for the health of the people that buy their products. They just want them to consume more of their products so they can make more money. What do you think?

Activity

1. What evidence do you see in your daily life of the following food production trends?

a) Ads that make the food product fun and desirable

b) “Supersizing” portions

c) Foods that consumers (including you and your friends) commonly “crave”

2. Name as many brands of snack foods and beverages that you can (candy, pop, chips, coffee). Name as many brands of healthy foods as you can (fruits, vegetables, granola, cereal, cheese, milk, legumes, beans, rice). Can you draw any conclusions from your lists?

3. Create a hypothesis regarding the connection between teen's food habits and the food industry. Create a survey that will test your hypothesis and conduct your survey. Share the results.


VIDEO REVIEW

Pre-viewing

1. What matters more to you, good taste or nutrition (or both)? Give examples to illustrate your typical daily choices for meals, snacks and drinks.

2. Do you think the food industry should be better regulated to help protect consumer health? Why or why not?

3. Do you think it's possible to have an “addiction” to food?

4. Have you ever felt that you were “addicted” to a certain type of food? Give an example and describe your experience.

While viewing

Read the questions over before viewing the video. Write down your answers to them while watching the News in Review Food Addiction segment.

1. State one example of vintage diet advice sponsored by the sugar industry.

2. The Canadian Sugar Institute claims there is a scientific consensus concluding that there is no evidence of harm at current rates of sugar consumption. True False

3. What is Michael Moss’ main argument?

a) For the food industry, consumer health is not as important as making money.

b) The food industry is trying to make its products healthier.

c) The government should ban products with too much sugar.


4. Give an example of how the food industry uses science to understand why people are attracted to food.

5. The key ingredients used in perfecting taste of processed foods are salt, _________ and _________.

6. Why did Bruce Bradley, a former food executive, leave the food industry?

7. What word does the food industry hate?

8. What is one technique that the food industry uses to make consumers eat more?

9. What is “vanishing caloric density”?

10. State one example of how snack foods are being deceptively marketed as healthy.

Post-viewing

1. How has the information in the video changed the way you think about what you eat?

2. How has the information in the video changed the way you think about companies that manufacture and advertise food?

3. To what extent do you agree with the following statement, “Scientific knowledge should not be used to manipulate consumers into unhealthy choices.” State your reasoning.

ACTIVITY: RESEARCHING SUGAR, FAT AND SALT

Human beings seem to crave the taste of sugar, fat and salt. One can argue that these three substances are part of a healthy diet. But the quantity or type of each can really impact our health. Fructose sugar especially has come under scrutiny for its harmful effects, as have trans fats.

1.Complete Chart 1 below by researching the health impact of potentially “addictive” ingredients in processed foods. For each ingredient, find one source that details health benefits (if any) and another that outlines negative health effects. For each source, briefly summarize your findings.

2. On the following page, complete an Assessment of Credibility for each of your six sources.

Chart 1: Research on sugar, fat, salt and its effects on human health

Potentially “addictive” food

ingredient

Research on health benefits(Summarize findings)

Research on negative health impacts

(Summarize findings)

SUGAR (fructose)

FAT(trans)

SALT

Once you have completed your research, what do you conclude about the effects of sugar, fat and salt in processed foods? Is one more detrimental to health than the others? Has your research changed your mind about your eating habits? Why or why not?

Assessment of Credibility

SUGAR – Benefits1. Source:

2. Who says this (doctor, scientist, journalist, company owner, government)?

3. Why are they saying this?

4. What evidence do they have for their assertions (scientific tests, health studies, opinions)?

5. How credible do you think this evidence is?

FAT – Benefits1. Source:





SALT – Benefits1. Source:





SUGAR – Negative impacts1. Source:





FAT – Negative impacts1. Source:





SALT – Negative impacts1. Source:





ACTIVITY: MAKING A SUPPORTED OPINION

Should the food industry be regulated?

Our government has laws that protect us from unsafe and unsanitary food production. A hundred years ago it was common for people to die from eating foods and drinking liquids that had not been safely made or stored. The government was seen as the protector of the health of all citizens.

In 2014, is it time to reconsider the government's role in protecting consumers from “bad” food and beverages? And at the same time update and expand our definition of “bad”? Today we’re concerned less that our food and drink will poison or kill us immediately; we worry more that in the long term it will cause health conditions that compromise our ability to live a long and healthy life.

Governments have laws that govern alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other “toxic” products. There are also laws governing advertising, especially to young children. Food label laws make it mandatory for companies to tell consumers what’s inside a product and in what quantity. Some think it’s time for the government to be even more active in regulating the food industry — especially in terms of portion size, and the use of sugar, fat and salt.

What do you think?Should the government be more active in creating laws to restrict what the food industry sells? Below are some case studies for you to consider before you reach your conclusion.

Ontario’s school policyIn 2010 the Ontario Ministry of Education passed the School Food and Beverage Policy including measures that:

eliminated the sale of foods with trans fats; removed sugar pop products from vending

machines; and banned the sale of caffeinated coffee from

high schools.

Some people feel that the new laws have had a positive impact on students' nutritional choices and health. Statistics have also shown that school cafeteria sales have plummeted since many students simply pack their own unhealthy lunches or leave school property to buy less nutritional options. Some celebrity and community chefs have argued that the healthy meals and snacks offered by schools don’t taste

good, so they’ve offered to show teens how to make and enjoy better-tasting nutritional food.

Finland’s sodium regulationsFinland has passed many laws to force food manufacturers and restaurants to identify and reduce the amount the salt consumed by its citizens. Over three decades it has seen a 40% drop in sodium intake and a corresponding reduction in average blood pressure levels and 80% drop in deaths due to stroke.

New York’s calorie listings In 2009 a New York law was passed that made it mandatory for restaurant chains to publish the amount of calories and nutritional information of food served in a font equal or larger than the size of the name of the item. Other states have also adopted this law. The verdict is still out as to whether this law impacts the eating habits of

patrons. It seems that people who are already “health conscious” are most influenced by the display of this kind of information.

High fructose corn syrupIn response to the rising cost of sugar in the 1980s, the U.S. soft drink industry began using high fructose corn syrup instead. Researchers like Robert H. Lustig (author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease, 2012) argue that fructose is an especially dangerous form of sugar. It can lead to the consumption of excess calories that turn into fat, especially in the liver where fat accumulation is the most harmful. He argues that foods are being manufactured as addictive, and he believes the government should step in with effective laws to regulate the food industry.

Lab animals prefer cheesecakeStudies with lab animals show that a “cafeteria diet” of sugary and fatty foods like cheesecake and bacon leads to rapid obesity. The animals actually prefer this diet even when threatened with electric shock. What’s more, data suggests that possible changes in the brain from such a diet may be passed on to the next generation.

Brain chemicals and obesityScientific studies show that obese people lack certain receptors to brain chemicals associated with reward. Thus they may need to eat more to stimulate these “feel good” chemicals. Other studies find that obese people may have more ghrelin, a key hormone involved in stimulating appetite.

Your conclusion?Should the government be more active in creating laws to restrict what the food industry sells?


WINTER'S BITTER GRIP

SETTING THE STAGE: DANGEROUS WEATHER

No matter where you live in Canada there is one topic of conversation that comes up everyday of the year — the weather. Our vast country experiences a variety of climatic conditions: temperate rainforest on the West Coast; extremes of heat and cold on the Prairies; humidity in Central Canada; and damp, breezy days on the East Coast. Canadians have experienced all ranges of weather over the years but the winter of 2013 will be remembered for dangerously low temperatures, high winds and a devastating ice storm. There seemed little relief in sight and even the ground hogs could not agree on the duration of this winter.

An icy ChristmasAs Canadians prepared to celebrate Christmas, Central Canada was hit with a vicious storm. The storm arrived on December 22 and overnight ice became its main feature. Soon trees and electrical wires were covered in heavy coats of freezing rain. It did not take long for tree limbs to break under the weight of the ice and many landed on electrical wires. In short order, there were large stretches of southern Ontario and Quebec, as well as parts of the Maritimes, with massive power outages.

Hundreds of thousands of people faced days without power and freezing temperatures. They were forced to either move in with friends and relatives with power or seek shelter in the warming centres that cities made available. In an effort to remain warm, people lit gas heaters and ended up suffering — and in some cases dying — from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The hydro companies worked overtime dispatching workers to clear the fallen trees and reconnect the wires. In Ontario crews arrived from other provinces and even from some American states to assist in the effort. The storm actually put a great deal of stress on the ability of the power companies to restore electricity, since the storm also affected parts of the United States which needed their own crews to help out. Even with the best efforts of hydro workers, there were some homes that were without power for over a week. For many families the holidays were filled with a little less Christmas cheer.

Polar vortexAs people came to grips with this extreme weather a meteorological term entered our vocabulary — polar vortex. This referred to the cold air mass located above the Arctic Circle. This cold air builds up as the dark regions of the Arctic go through winter. Typically the air is kept north by the jet stream, a band of strong wind that blows west-east in the upper level of the atmosphere. Occasionally a section of that Arctic air heads south to produce the cold temperatures we expect for the time of year. This year, however, a weaker jet stream allowed a polar blast to move further south and remain for a longer period of time. Temperatures dropped and the situation was made worse by

FEBRUARY 2014 – WINTER'S BITTER GRIP

strong winds. Cities recorded temperatures in the double digit below zero range — in Winnipeg on December 31 the temperature was -36 without the wind chill! With the added wind there was a real fear of people suffering frostbite. In some southern American states, the unusual cold resulted in schools and businesses being closed.

Weird weather elsewhereThis unusual weather also had a global impact. With the strong winds moving west to east, the jet stream pounded the coasts of England resulting in coastal flooding. The system also produced record amounts of rainfall that added to the flooding. In Scandinavia the impact of this climatic shift resulted in an unusually warm winter. Temperatures were 3-4 degrees above average. This resulted in some plants flowering early and even bears prematurely leaving hibernation. The long-term impact of such weather may be felt later this year; if some berry producing plants flower too early and die off there will be a smaller food supply for various animals. These warm temperatures could also allow some disease-bearing insects and bacteria to survive and pose future health threats.

The climate change questionThis strange weather quickly reignited the debate on climate change. Was this winter a sign of the future? Some scientists warned that we should not rush to conclusions based on one unusual year. Others warned that this winter could be an example of how our warming planet is responding to climate change. These scientists point to the shrinking ice mass in the Arctic and believe that with more open water appearing the air mass above this area is becoming warmer and more moist. As this moist air moves further south it can produce heavy rain and snow.

Economy also takes a hitThis year’s storms did not only take a personal toll but also had a large economic impact. It was estimated that in the United States the storm caused about $3 billion in lost industrial production. The cost of the clean up to Ontario municipalities was approximately $275 million. Many local officials called upon the federal and provincial government to help with the cost, claiming their towns and cities could not afford to cover the entire cost. At the year’s peak travel time, Toronto’s Pearson Airport was closed for a number of hours due to the icy conditions on the runways. This resulted in hundreds of passengers being forced to miss flights or be stranded at the airport. Once the airport was reopened, it took days to clear up the backlog of flights. The economic impact did not stop there, as passengers were forced to cancel holiday plans and business meetings.

Although this has been a hard winter for many Canadians, at least we know that spring will eventually come. However it is doubtful that we’ll soon forget the winter of 2013. The question many of us are asking is whether this winter is an aberration or a hint of what is to come for the future.


VIDEO REVIEW

Pre-viewing

1. Has this winter had an impact on you? List one positive and one negative impact.

2. How would you cope if you lost power for two or more days?

While viewing

1. Besides poor road conditions, what other impact did the ice storm have on institutions such as hospitals and power sources?

2. How did the city of Toronto respond to the ice storm and power loss?

3. What were the dangerous practices some people used to stay warm in their homes that lacked power?

4. How did some people make the best of bad situation?

5. What obstacles did hydro crews face in trying to restore power?


6. What lessons could be learned from the power losses?

7. Why was the impact of the storm more severe in the United States?

Post-viewing

1. This was a hard winter even by Canadian standards, but it had a huge impact on many U.S. states unaccustomed to such cold and ice conditions. Using your Canadian expertise identify some issues that could arise from this bad weather and offer some possible solutions.

Problems Possible Solutions

e.g. A lot of car accidents due to ice Drive more slowly than you would in better weather conditions

2. When the storm hit and power went out, many people were caught unprepared. Suggest a list of items people should keep on hand to deal with potential storms and outages. Once your list is complete, compare your suggestions to those posted on the Weather Channel: www.weather.com/outlook/wxready/articles/id-33

3. After the ice storm hit and power outages became widespread, there was a call by some people to have a state of emergency declared in Toronto. This would allow assistance and funds to be directed to the city. Some western Canadians scoffed at this demand; they basically felt central Canadians were too soft and hadn’t lived until they had experienced a real prairie winter. Do you agree with these western Canadians or would you reject their comments? You can either write a half-page commentary/tweet a response/write a blog /record your opinion either supporting the western Canadian perspective or justifying southern Ontario’s position.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/wxready/articles/id-33


ACTIVITY: WHAT HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING?

Does a bitterly cold winter disprove global warming or provide more support for the theories? Complete the organizer below by identifying arguments in favour of global warming and arguments skeptical of the theory. You can begin by examining the following two articles that support the theory of global warming and the third article that offers a skeptic’s point of view. After you complete your chart, determine where you stand and offer your opinion using information from the articles and other sources you may find.

Climate change might just be driving the historic cold snap: science.time.com/2014/01/06/climate-change-driving-cold-weather/

Wild winter a sign of climate change? www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40608&Itemid=100413

Councillor under fire after suggesting Calgary’s bad winter brings global warming into question: www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Councillor+under+fire+after+suggesting+Calgary+winter+brings+global+warming+into+question/9351203/story.html

Arguments for Global Warming

Arguments Against Global Warming

My questions or concerns on each argument

My conclusions (e.g. “I believe…… because….”)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Councillor+under+fire+after+suggesting+Calgary+winter+brings+global+warming+into+question/9351203/story.html

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Councillor+under+fire+after+suggesting+Calgary+winter+brings+global+warming+into+question/9351203/story.html

http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40608&Itemid=100413

http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40608&Itemid=100413

http://science.time.com/2014/01/06/climate-change-driving-cold-weather/

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