Let’s Stick Together
Global decision-making
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Key Stage 4/5
Aims
To encourage us to consider how governments could work together to address world economic issues.
Preparation and materials
- This assembly encourages a lot of discussion. The issues need thinking through by the leader before the assembly.
Assembly
- July is an important month for world economic decisions: the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development takes place in New York from 10 to 19 July. The forum brings together a wide range of nations, from the most developed to the least developed.
- The forum has five key development goals. Let’s consider the first four briefly one at a time.
- Clean water and sanitation. Why do you think that this is a key goal to help the least developed nations?
Pause to allow time for a short discussion and a range of responses.
- Affordable and clean energy. Why do you think that this is a key goal to help the least developed nations?
Pause to allow time for a short discussion and a range of responses.
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure. Why do you think that this is a key goal to help the least developed nations?
Pause to allow time for a short discussion and a range of responses.
- Sustainable cities and communities. Why do you think that this is a key goal to help the least developed nations?
Pause to allow time for a short discussion and a range of responses. - The fifth key development goal, Partnerships for the goals, is what we are going to focus on today.
Action that involves only one country rarely affects world affairs in any significant way. If a major power takes an initiative, it is likely to be acutely aware of the reactions of other major powers.
If a minor player on the world stage tries to take an initiative, major powers are likely to take action if they believe that their influence and status are being threatened. To be effective, to reach a goal, requires a partnership that involves the majority. - Think back to the first four development goals: water and sanitation, energy, innovation and community development. What sort of international partnerships are required to achieve these goals?
Encourage the students to discuss with a partner or in small groups.
Use the following areas of consideration to prompt discussion.
- The level of financial support (0.7 to 0.9 per cent of gross national income has been promised).
- Debt reduction. (How did less developed nations become indebted?)
- Sharing technology.
- Trade (import duties).
- Respect for the autonomy of every nation.
Time for reflection
We could debate the issues involved for a long time, particularly in relation to the perceived poverty and national debt in the UK.
But what about the underlying concept of partnership? How might it be relevant to our lives, our family’s lives and the life of the school and community to which we belong? What issues are we facing as we hover between childhood and adulthood? We might feel that we want to face some of these issues alone, and we may gain valuable experience in doing so. However, we need to consider the idea of partnership. Our peers and mentors may have been there before us. They may be able to give resources, reduce pressures and open up opportunities that will help us to attain our goals.
And remember: within our family, within this school and within our local community, we may be someone who has resources that open up opportunities for others.
Song/music
‘Let’s stick together’ by Bryan Ferry, available at: https://youtu.be/Z9EbR0ckb40 (3 minutes long). (The song is about marriage, but it is a worthy symbol for world partnerships.)
Extension activities
Imagine that you are one of the major powers within this school, which you are as members of the upper years. How can you contribute to the school’s goals?
Think about:
- the resources that you control
- your imagination and innovative thoughts
- the autonomy possessed by those younger than yourselves and members of staff
- how you can create a partnership
