Suggestions should be given by the scouts. It is very important to learn the views of others. That's where the radio comes in. Consult with your radio counterparts on the ideas you have developed to tackle a certain situation.
Scouts will soon discover that their views differ from those living in other towns or other parts of the world. As everyone is using the same three projects, it is easy to compare each others points of view. For the scouts to decide which solution is best suited for a given problem.
Each project needs some advance preparation. This could well be done some weeks before the JOTA. Resource materials may be sought from national UN committees that exist in every country. The National JOTA Organizers are kindly requested to publish this resource information together with their JOTA publicity.
The presentation of the end result of each project can take several forms. To name a few: a logbook, an interview with the local press, a creative placard on the wall of the scout building, an exposition at the town hall, a photo series. How about presenting the end results to your National UN Committee on the official celebration day, October 24? Of course you invite the press. Use your imagination.
Paper: how much paper do you use each year? Make an inventory of the weight of all the paper you use: school books, library books, magazines and newspapers. Calculate the total. How many new trees should you be planting each year if the mass of a tree for paper pulp is 150 kg?
Bottle life cycle: make a cartoon about the different stages in the life cycle of a bottle. Where do the raw materials come from? Who makes a bottle out of it and at what cost? Who uses the bottle? What happens after it is used? Are there any environmental issues?
Exploring the countryside: a list of questions to answer. Do people come here? Have they left any tracks? For what purpose do people use this land? Does anyone live nearby? What is the story behind the name of the area? What sort of people coulld live here successfully? What problems are they likely to face? Are ther any signs of environmental damage?
A personal letter: write a letter to yourself after your visit to a special place. Answer questions like: what things would I like to remember? What do I want to tell others? Have I changed? How can I help my special place?
First aid: visit a doctor and a hospital. Are there any health risks in your area? How do you cope with them?
Your discussion partners might include school teachers, the director of a large school, local politicians, the president of a school committee, your parents, and of course other Scouts.
Survive the environment: what things do you need to survive hunger, thirst and cold? Look around and identify edible plants and possible sources of drinkable water. Prepare a few of these plants and eat them. Do you like them? What clothing is needed in a harsh environment? How can you make them by yourself, using natural resources?
Disaster: how to act when dealing with the following incidents: a lightning strike on a person, a bee attack on your hike partner, a snake bite in your own foot with nobody else around, someone caught in rip currents in the water, a big guy sunk through broken ice, an avalanche hit on your camp site, a scout leader lost in the woods.
Radio emergency networks: imagine that all telephone communications are out of order. Set up an improvised amateur radio network with coverage to the local police station, the fire brigade, your scout headqarters and the nearest hospital.
Your discussion partners might include the amateur radio emergency Association, the local fire brigade, local politicians responsible for the community's emergency plan, the police chief, the emergency co-ordinator of the nearest hospital and of course other Scouts.
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