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Why use Milking it?
Milking It, Oxfam's new on-line learning resource,
equips young people aged 13-16 with a deeper understanding of
the issues behind world trade and globalisation. By focusing
on the lives of two dairy farmers – one in Wales and one
in Jamaica – pupils will come face to face with key questions:
Why are some countries poor while others are rich? Why are farmers,
and countries whose economies depend mostly on agriculture,
falling behind? Who makes the rules on international trade?
How can ordinary people make their voices heard?
The resource helps to develop young people's thinking skills,
by stimulating their curiosity about international issues. The
interactive quizzes, activities and case studies help to motivate
them to find out more about the issues. There are opportunities
for them to do research, and to develop their ICT skills. A
spectrum of viewpoints is presented, so that pupils can consider
and analyse them. They are encouraged to think of solutions,
and to engage in democratic processes to bring about change.
Agricultural dumping
Milking It investigates the causes and effects
of 'dumping' – a term describing the tendency of rich
countries to sell their surplus produce to poorer countries
at low prices, undercutting producers in these countries. Richer
countries can do this by subsidising their produce, but farmers
in poorer countries are forced out of business because they
cannot sell their goods. In one of the case studies featured
in Milking It, powdered milk from the EU is
'dumped' on the Jamaican market.
The underlying economic factors affecting agriculture in rich
and poor countries are similar. By comparing farmers in two
very different countries, pupils can see that producers in developed
countries and those in developing countries face some of the
same problems, but that farmers in developed countries receive
more support.
The information sections provide explanations of the economic
theories of free trade and the agricultural problem, and a section
on international organisations (the European Union, International
Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation).
Curriculum areas and target age range
Milking It is particularly suitable for use
in Citizenship and PSE lessons. The themes and learning outcomes
also make it suitable for Geography, Modern Studies and Economics
/ Business Studies. It is aimed at pupils at keystage 4 /Standard
Grade, but will also be useful for pupils at the upper end of
key stage 3 / S1, S2.
The content of Milking It is differentiated.
The case studies and games contain simpler language, and are
more accessible, whereas the information sections (the
issues, and International organisations)
are more difficult, both in style and in content. News
and views, the activity in which pupils encounter and
compare a number of viewpoints, is somewhere between these two
levels. A glossary explains the meaning of terms which may be
unfamiliar.
The resource encourages active citizenship, by prompting pupils
to take action in various ways. For Oxfam, active citizenship
does not merely mean that pupils should raise money for charity.
They should also learn about the issues behind inequality, food
shortages, and other injustices, and take part in informed action
to call for change.
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