GEP - Current Events Email - January 1, 2010

+ archive

Dear Educator:

Each month World Savvy will highlight breaking news and current events that can be connected to the classroom, including links to articles at various reading levels and connections to the standards. For complete background information on a range of contemporary issues, visit the World Savvy Monitor.

Cleaning up our Tap Water

A recent New York Times article, part of an ongoing series called Toxic Water, exposed the levels of chemicals in our drinking water, and the fact that many are not prohibited by federal regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act was passed in 1974 and, according to many environmentalists and regulators, the law is now out of date and fails to protect Americans from many chemicals associated with a risk of cancer and other diseases.

Since 2004 more than 62 million Americans have been exposed to drinking water that did not meet at least one commonly used government health guideline intended to help protect people from cancer or serious disease, according to The New York Times’ analysis. However, these guidelines were never officially incorporated into the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the vast majority of that water never violated the law.

Contaminated water is a global concern, and this series of articles reveals that the Safe Drinking Water Act, while protecting many, is not eliminating contaminated water as a concern in the United States. Follow the Toxic Waters series in the New York Times and get up to date news on water issues on a global and international level at Brown and Caldwell's Water News and at Circle of Blue.

In addition, read the latest edition of the World Savvy Monitor on water to find out more about contaminated water and similar issues are having a global impact. Find resources for teaching about water in the Classroom Companion.

Recommended Articles:

Advanced Article: New York Times: That tap water is legal but may be unhealthy
Intermediate Article: Associated Press: School drinking water unsafe
Beginner Article: AP: EPA pledges to protect kids from unsafe water in schools

Multimedia:

NY Times video: Tainted Water
NY Times: Find Water Polluters Near You

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the Safe Drinking Water Act and what does it do?
2. How many contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act? How many contaminants were found and reported in the New York Times article?
3. Why are these contaminants still legal?
4. Some cities are taking action to protect residents from these chemicals, but why are some residents upset?
5. What do you think should be done about the number of harmful chemicals found in America’s drinking water? Who should take action - government, environmentalists, business, citizens? Why?

Curriculum:

1. World Savvy Monitor Classroom Companion: water
2. Water.org: Learning about the water crisis
3. National Geographic Expeditions

California Standards:

World History: 10.11 – Modern World Economy

US History: 11.11 – Contemporary America

Earth Science:6.4 – Energy in the Earth’s System, 6.5 – Ecology

Earth Science (High School): –Atmosphere and Weather, Climate

+ back to top

---

The views expressed in the articles and resources listed above are not the views of World Savvy. They are listed here as resources for educators but do not necessarily reflect the opinions and priorities of World Savvy. If you ever want to unsubscribe from this list, just send an email to Kelly at kelly@worldsavvy.org.