Exploring Environmental & Humanitarian Issues

As part of a research project into global humanitarian issues, students investigated an issue of their choosing, including an NGO that is working to address the issue. Students focused on a wide range of topics, including child soldiers, violence against women, conflict minerals, landmines, access to medicines in developing nations, climate change, human rights violations and many more. The projects included a display board, a brochure and a media or graphic element. Some students chose to create art projects reflecting their chosen issue, while others developed informative websites and other resources.

Here are just a few of the issues the students researched.

Lenna Zosky (’16) focused on the issue of access to medicines in developing nations. Major obstacles to high-quality health care in developing nations include the high costs of drugs, international paten law and a lack of appropriate research and development. Lenna’s project profiled the work of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders to advocate for access to and development of life-saving and life-prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines to people in these nations.

John Boright (’15) researched the destructive impact of landmines left behind in prior conflict zones. Mines can remain dangerous many years after a conflict has ended, endangering the economies and citizens of many developing nations. John’s research included an examination of the NGO Apopo, which uses existing demining technology, as well as trained genetically modified Mine-Detecting Rats (or MDRs) to detect landmines and aid in their safe removal.

Kate Shier’s (’15) project focused on the impacts of war on children. She investigated the work of Child Soldiers International, an organization that works to prevent the military recruitment of children and their involvement in armed conflict through research, global monitoring and on-the-ground work. CSI’s work also includes research on the psychosocial impacts of armed conflict on children, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

Nate Daviau (’15) looked at the issue of global trade practices and fair trade standards, focusing on the coffee trade. Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional trade based on equitable partnerships between producers, traders, businesses and consumers. Nate profiled Fair Trade International, the world’s the largest fair trading system and certification body, and created a website outlining the basics of fair trade.