https://www.ted.com/talks/parag_khanna_how_megacities_are_changing_the_map_of_the_world?language=en
- How does Khanna feel about the phrase, “geography is destiny”? What is connectography?
- What is a megacity cluster? Provide at least one example of a megacity cluster and a resource the cities within that cluster share.
- Why do people move to cities? How does this help cities and what do cities ultimately want?
- Explain how connectivity has helped improve climate change.
- What does Khanna suggest we need to invest in to address the economic disparity within the same megacities and why?
- What does Khanna note about Russia regarding its connectivity to the rest of the world? In what ways might this impact Russia’s relationships with other world powers?
- According to Khanna, what lines are most important in North America and what does the continent need most?
- Explain why Khanna believes connectivity could greatly benefit the Middle East.
- Discuss why Khanna believes a major war has not yet broken out in the Far East.
https://www.npr.org/2017/03/13/519954275/the-complications-of-living-in-russia-occupied-south-ossetia
- In what ways are the lives of people who live in villages like Khurvaleti impacted by frozen conflicts?
- After listening to Khanna’s TED talk and the report from South Ossetia, how could connectivity help people caught in frozen conflict?
- Are we as dependent on the natural world as ancient groups? Why or why not?
- What are some of the challenges of feeding the world?
- How did agriculture influence the location and structure of early cities?
- How did modern transportation change the relationship of cities to food?
- What does Steel mean by “sitopia”?
- Based on Steel’s discussion, what relationship do you have with the food that you eat? What could you do to have a closer connection to the food that you consume? Write at least two paragraphs discussing this relationship and the changes you could make.
- Does the structure of your town or city have any relationship to food? Why or why not? How could a closer connection to food or a “sitopia” be encouraged in your hometown or city? Write at least two paragraphs in response.
