Purchase Solution

Famines Throughout History

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

You are a member of a panel that has been invited to Westmont College to discuss the causes of famine. Each member of the panel has been assigned to research one of the following famines so the panel can explore shared causes and discuss what can be done to prevent similar outbreaks in the future. As a small group, decide which members will take which topics.

* The Irish "Potato Famine" of 1846-50
* The Sahelian (Ethiopian) famine of 1984-85
* The Sudanese famine (1998-2000)
* The North Korean famine (ongoing)

Each individual presentation should include a discussion of the social, political and environmental conditions that contributed to the famine in whole or in part, a description of the extent of the famine, efforts that were made to alleviate human suffering and the extent to which they were successful.

I have to provide references - no wikipedia please!!!

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solutions gives information regarding famine.

Solution Preview

Hi

There is abundant information out there about the Irish potato famine of 1846-1850 that helps to examine the issues surrounding these years in Ireland. I believe I have answered posts about this topic before but I am going to address your question with a new answer since you can't use what is in our library pool. As a biologist I have found the conditions surrounding the outbreak of the blight fungus pretty interesting so I will start there and eventually touch on all of the factors you are to discuss. I like to approach this sort of question by formulating an outline based on the points you have been asked to consider and then referring to sources of information about each point.

The organism that causes late blight of potato is Phytophthora infestans, a fungus that can very quickly reduce a potato crop to rot (for a good summary of some of the history related to the Irish famine caused by this fungus see http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/m2001alt.html - read the whole page). Two things about the potato crop in Ireland made it particularly susceptible to the disease at that time - the first being the small number ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Basic Vocabulary - The Hydrosphere

This quiz reviews basic terms related to the Hydrosphere for Earth Science. Multiple choice is utilized to select the correct vocabulary word matched to the given definition.

Geography Points of Interest

Brief query of points of interest in the world. For example, choosing the largest body of water from 3 choices.

Gems, Fossils, and Space Rocks

Brief introduction to basic information related to gems, fossils, and space rocks. Great for introducing a science unit to students!

United States and Canada Vocabulary

Assessment of basic vocabulary terms related to geography and resources in the United States and Canda.

"Tornadoes and Hurricanes" Vocabulary

Brief introduction to vocabulary terms related to the atmosphere. Definitions are related to conditions for tornadoes and hurricanes.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Reducing the impact of famines

    108149 Reducing the Impact of Famines Analyze and discuss the causes that many famines seem to share and systemic actions that can be taken by individual governments and international organizations to reduce the probability and/or severity of famines

  • Immigration in the 1840s

    The Oxford Companion to United States History)

  • patterns of food production

    Each panel member should analyze/discuss on the board, the causes that many famines seem to share and systemic actions that can be taken by individual governments and international organizations to reduce the probability and/or severity of famines in

  • Ethiopian Famine

    generally 1-2 sentence for every main body paragraph) -Write about how famine is still a problem Additional reference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2448331.stm http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/0004ethi/ethiopia.htm -Write about how famines

  • Defining Hispanic Identity

    One of the merits of defining Hispanic identity in terms of historical events and relations is that this provides Hispanics with a great deal of pride based upon their accomplishments throughout history, and their deep rooted lineage throughout North

  • History of Punishment & Prison Development

    504447 History of Punishment & Prison Development Hi, I need assistance discussing the purpose and history of penitentiaries, including the history of punishment and the history of prison development.

  • The utility for citizens

    Bangladesh in South Asia, is a highly impoverished country which suffers from famines, flooding and tropical cyclones on a regular basis. Its population is roughly the same as the United States.

  • Similar divinities within different cultures

    Finally, humans throughout most of history have acknowledged that they are not the source of the world around them.

  • good history

    Good History can be well written or produced with visuals or audio and can stand the test of authentication and documentation. Good History invites interpretation and analysis and will give insights throughout its existence.

View More Related Solutions