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In school debate can play an active role in many subject areas from Geography, English and Science through to Citizenship and ESD. A useful stimulus for debate can be provided by presenting case studies which engage the students in consideration of controversial issues. Topics chosen can be Foot & Mouth Disease, the organic movement, genetic engineering or flooding; in fact, anything relating to the countryside which involves an element of controversy. Suggested topics | Rural issues - public services e.g. transport, village shops, schools, health
- employment
- housing
- country sports
| Work of farmers - cultivation methods - organic, conventional and integrated crop management
- land ownership issues
- animal welfare
- impact on environment
| Pressure on farming to change - leisure and recreation resources
- farmers managing & maintaining landscape
- farm shops, farmers markets & sale of regional produce
- use of green field sites for building
| Food, health and environment | Trade - food trading prices - trade barriers, fair trade for all, subsidies, role of large food retailers, exploitation - labour& market demand, over production, starvation, distribution, food dumping
- rich & poor farmers
| Transport of food - global economy
- live exports & Freedom Foods
- seasonal production, local growing costs - distances as food miles covered, fuel prices, processing location
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