Pascua Lama Simulation

Economic benefits vs. protection of the environment
As a class activity for the rest of the course, we are going to do a simulation based on the Pascua Lama Project.
What is a simulation? It's an extended group activity in which students take on roles and act out a real-world situation.
The Pascua Lama Project involves the controversial initiative of a Canadian mining company to extract gold reserves from two glaciers in waters belonging to Chile in South America. In this activity, you will:

• do research on the Internet and collect information
• create a bank of documents
• take notes on your reading
• write summaries of the information you found (posted on your blog under the section: Pascua Lama Project
• join a special interest group
• create a role as part of a special interest group, organization or company as well as an international tribunal
• develop your position, for, against or undecided on the Project
• write your own role card
• participate in group and whole class discussions
• evaluate your performance in the activity

There will be six groups of students (five groups of three and 1 group of 2):

1. News reporters from different news agencies: 3
2. Judges of an International Tribunal: 3
3. Representatives from international agencies, such as the United Nations: 2
4. Mining Company officials: 3
5. Environmentalists: 3
6. Chilian government officials: 3

The activity will extend over the next three classes. Your particiaption in the activity will be evaluated for speaking, reading and writing. In the last class on June 28 we will hold the trial before the International Tribunal.
Monday, June 18:
- Join one of the six groups mentioned above. Work with someone you haven't worked with previously. Choose a group leader to coordinate the work.- Get the general facts on the Project by searching information on the Internet, such as in newspapers. Take notes on the sources you found and put them on your wiki. Indicate which sources and summaries are yours.

Tuesday – Thursday, June 19 and 21:

1. Research information specifically related to your group. For example, mining company people should find out about the company, the purpose of the project and the benefits on carrying out the project. Decide on who does what in the group.

• Decide on your specific role.
  Write up your role card including: Title of special interest group
• Your name and position in the group
• A short statement of your point of view worded as such: (3 0r 4 lines) 'My name is ______. My responsibilities are ______ . I am primarily concerned with improving the quality of life by (give reasons). I also want to . . . - As you do research, keep a written record of your developing position.
• The team leader should insure that there are different positions in the group, ranging from pro-project and neutral to anti-project.

Thursday, June 28:
Session 1, testify before the International Tribunal.
Session 2, answer questions from the judges and other groups