Geographic Alliance of Iowa

Rivers in Danger: The Ganges
(From the TBS program “Without Borders)
Kim Daughetee

 

Summary:

Can one person help a polluted river?  A Hindu priest named Veer Bhadra Mishra discovers he can make a difference in bringing awareness to the dangers of dumping untreated sewage into the Ganges River.  Mishra recognizes that the sewage poses serious threats to a river, which for thousands of years has been a life source for India’s people.  At first he writes articles, uses scientific facts, outlining the problem, but nothing happens.  Then he realizes he must speak of the river in terms people understand: as a spiritual entity.  He is then able to convince people that there is a need for sewage treatment plants on the Ganges.  With growing support, an environmental campaign is organized. Money is allocated, but ultimately gets lost in bureaucracy.  He continues his pursuit of public awareness, helping people understand the river can be saved.

 

Objectives: 

To demonstrate that the earth’s natural environment is a series of interconnected life forces
To illustrate the need for environmental awareness
To encourage a sense of responsibility to protect natural resources

 

Geography Standards:

Places and Regions
The physical and human characteristics of places

Standard #4:

  1. The meaning and significance of place.

  2. How relationships between humans and the physical environment lead to the formation of places and to a sense of personal and community identity.

How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions.

Standard #6:

  1. Why places and regions serve as symbols for individuals and society.

  2. How changing perceptions of places and regions reflect cultural change.

 

Human Systems

The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of earth’s cultural mosaics.

Standard #10:

  1. The impact of culture on ways of life in different regions.

 

Environment and Society

How human actions modify the physical environment.

Standard #14:

  1.  How to apply appropriate models and information to understand environmental problems.

How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

Standard #18:

  1. How to use geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives to analyze problems and make decisions.

 

Materials:
Copy of video, “Rivers in Danger: The Ganges”
VCR player
List of terms related to video
Copies of Ganges River map

 

Terms and Concepts:

 Interconnected  Sewage treatment plant
Untreated sewage   Spirituality
In harmony with nature Bureaucracy
Irrigation Public awareness
Hydraulic engineer Environmental campaign
Knowledge as power  

                                         

Before viewing: 

Ask students to define the terms public awareness and environmental campaign.  Ask them to give examples of each. 
Then discuss possible relationships between the two ideas, considering how greater awareness can lead to environmental campaigns.  The discussion need not be limited to the area of pollution of rivers.

 

After viewing/discussion:

1.      Ask students to give examples of a public awareness campaign.  Then discuss the relationship between awareness of environmental problems, and corrective action.

2.      Discuss potential difficulties in building support for an environmental campaign.  Consider the reaction Mishra got when he tried to convince holy men that the Ganges was polluted.

3.      Ask students to compose a letter to the editor of their local newspaper.  The letter should address an environmental problem affecting their lives.

4.      Have students clip articles and pictures illustrating an environmental problem relating to their school or community.  Use the materials to create a bulletin board, which can be posted in a public place.

5.      Divide the class into groups.  Have each group create and act out a drama in which an environmental problem is solved by building public awareness.

6.      Have students research environmental  problems which were addressed after a public awareness campaign was implemented.  Discuss the students’ findings.

 

Resources:  Video, Rivers in Danger: The Ganges, Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation, 1990.
 Website: http://www.sacredland.org/Ganges.htm