Third World Farmer Reflection

http://madeoftrash.blogspot.com/


Name: Marie-Benedicte Capuano
Home Group Teacher: Reiser


Global Issues Portfolio Reflection
3rd World Farmer Reflection

Describe the game. What was the purpose of the game?
The purpose of Third World Farmer is to make you know how it feels like to be in poverty. Third World Farmer is a fun game but it also makes you feel sad and angry for not doing anything for all those people out there that are suffering right now. This game builds up the awareness around the world of what is happening everyday.

Describe and explain your strategy during the game.
To survive in this game you must be very careful and thoughtful of what you do. For example, if someone comes to your house to asks you to plant *opium and you don’t have much money you HAVE to accept to get some money. Then what happens is you plant the drug and that’s when everything goes wrong. First you think it’s okay because your money is going up by selling it but then you kind of get sucked into this swirl of danger and get into the underworld. People might come to your house with guns or tell you to come to war with them.

What is a short- term decision?
It is a decision made without considering long term consequences.

Why are they bad?
Because you don't plan anything, you don't think about the future and what will happen.

Why could somebody in a situation of poverty get stuck in a cycle of short-term decision-making?
Because they can't, they don't have the money to plan it. They live on day-to-day bases and struggle to survive everyday. Their priority is not long-term, it is to deal with their immediate and basic needs.

What could get them out of this cycle?
To start with, they need a helping hand so that they can concentrate on other things than surviving.

What is a long-term decision?
It is a decision made considering long term consequences.

Why are they good?
They are good because they consider various options for the future.

Why do long-term decisions lead to development and increased standards of living?
Because the focus will be on a goal to be achieved in the long term and the steps to reach this goal will be developed. In the mean time, you can adjust your plans based on your new needs and the changes in your environment.

What did you learn from playing this game?
I learned more on how poor people have a really hard time to survive. They only have short-term desisions and only think about how to get food the next day. I definately learned that to get out of the cycle of poverty they need a helping hand, our helping hands.