Alyssa

Resume 1. The character that will be representing the social issue of the degradation and preservation of biodiversity is a representative of the World Bank.

2. The country that this representative is representing is Madagascar. Specifically, they represent the poor country of Madagascar which is currently going through hard times due to a political and economic crisis that is putting the valuable biodiversity of the country at risk. Fighting and exporting has and still is hurting the key biodiversity that Madagascar, and only Madagascar, has.Located off of the eastern coast of Africa with a tropical climate plants and animals that are found nowhere else flourish here. Without some of these species Madagascar would stand no chance and waste away to nothing once all of the resources that are of great value to the world run out.

3. The background of this representative would be schooling that proves that there is a great deal of knowledge associated with the situation but also education that is linked to an understanding of economics and finance. This proves that there is an understanding of the severity of situations and how help in the different situations depending on the severity but also the location and types of government. The finance would help them to have a better understanding of how to use the money, what to use it on, and how much to use for a given issue. A previous occupation should consist of time in another organization given that it can be proven that the person knows what they are doing and that they have been proven to be successful. This ensures that there is a greater chance of success but also that this person has been faced with these issues but also it provides an insight to reliability. That or holding a higher position in which the same things can be proven, having a place in the government for example.

4. Three references that reflect the ideas of this representative are the president of Madagascar, the United Nations, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). These references reflect these ideas in different ways. The president because without the unique and rare biodiversity that is found in Madagascar the amounts of tourism may decrease and it will be even harder to maintain the country in it’s already poor political and economic standing. But also, in the current state all of the valuable resources found on the island are being shipped away for a profit, but to continue the flow of money they need to conserve the resources and find a way to replenish them. The United Nations would greatly reflect these ideas due to the fact that some of the funds that are being granted are going to help those that are living in poverty but also for the preservation of the environment, which will help the people to live in a much better environment. The GEF would be another great reference due to the fact that are currently trying to help the same cause. This organization is also helping the current situation in Madagascar by also donating money to go toward the preservation of the ecosystems and the abundance of natural resource that can be found in the country.

5. Safety and Rule of Law One part of this that the social issue of biodiversity links to has to do with Transfers of Power. It relates because of the fact that before and after an unconstitutional transfer of power there have been fights occurring in different degrees and at different times in different locations. This relates because through these fights the environment is being greatly harmed. But also, these fights are putting Madagascar into a bad economic position. Then, due to the poor economic state the resources are being exported for a profit which is further destroying the environment and biodiversity.

Another that it links to is Accountability, Transparency, and Corruption in the Public Sector. This area has to do with employees who are members of the public are held responsible for the use of resources under what is referred to as the executive. This has a strong relation due to the fact that there are people in Madagascar that are shipping the natural resources to different places when these resources are often only found in Madagascar. This is in relation to the government due to the fact that due to the low economic state to get a profit these people are often only left with the exporting of these resources.

Participation and Human Rights The only area to which the social issue of biodiversity relates to in this area is Free and Fair Executive Relations. This is because they all have the rights that they are entitled to and there is also gender equality. But the new form of government did not come into power in a fair way but in an unconstitutional way. Due to this there has been more fighting. This fighting has been destroying the environment and due to this the valuable biodiversity that is found in Madagascar, and often only Madagascar, is being threatened and destroyed as well. Also the economics of the country have deteriorated and therefore the environment is being damaged and biodiversity threatened due to people in need of money that are exporting resources and key components of the environment for a profit, this also hurts the unique biodiversity.

Sustainable Economic Opportunity Diversification relates to the issue of biodiversity. This has to do with the exports of a country/state being diverse and different. This is true in the case of Madagascar. There are many different species of plants and animals that are being exported due to the need for profit. There are many species of plants, some of which are only found on Madagascar, that are being shipped, it is the same case with the animals as well. These are exotic and very rare species that are being exported, and at a high cost to the environment. These plants that are being taken impact the ecosystems in a negative way when they are taken, and due to this the biodiversity is also affected negatively, and these are some things that cannot be undone.

Human Development In this area the issue of biodiversity is heavily tied into the category of Welfare Regime. This includes “social safety nets” to help with poverty. But currently in Madagascar there are areas in extreme poverty, and there is nothing in place currently to improve or help the situation in any way state or form, and the best way to establish this is to get a cash donation/grant to help those in poverty. This all ties into the biodiversity problem because these people are exporting the rare and valuable plants and animals for money to help their families because due to the current economic and political state they have no other option. So the poverty in Madagascar is linked to biodiversity problems in the country to a mild degree.

Reason to Receive the $5,000,000 Prize This prize needs to go to Madagascar for many reasons, but one specifically. The degradation of the biodiversity and the environment in Madagascar is not only costly to the country, but also to the world. Some of the animals and plants that are found in Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world. But not only that, the resources that are also present are of great value to the world, and without any of these things Madagascar will fade away to nothing due to the fact that it will not be able to sustain itself. With this cash prize money can put towards the protection of the biodiversity but also help out with other things that greatly impact the biodiversity. Poverty for example, those who are living in poverty are exporting animals and plants crucial to this unique environment for money to support themselves. This is greatly damaging the biodiversity, and it cannot be undone in short time and those plants and animals are not easily replaced. The money can help to lift people out of poverty and teach them how to live with the environment and protect it and its resources, this will greatly help to restore the biodiversity. But also some of the money can go to help and restore the political and government systems which are causing fights that are affecting the environment’s health and therefore hurting the biodiversity. So, this money can be used for more than one thing, but all of these things will then help to protect and restore the rare and unique biodiversity of Madagascar that can be found nowhere else in the world.

Works Cited

"American Museum of Natural History Details Research in Biodiversity." Ecology, Environment & Conservation 15 June 2012: 26. Global Issues In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Lunau, Kate. "Island of earthly delights: Madagascar is a treasure trove of unique creatures--more than 600 of them."Maclean's 27 June 2011: 54+. Global Issues In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

"MADAGASCAR : World Bank to Support Urgent Biodiversity Conservation in Madagascar." Mena Report 22 June 2011.Global Issues In Context. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.

Mo Ibrahim Foundation. N.p., 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. .

"Studies from R.C.J. Walker and Co-Researchers in the Area of Conservation Research Published." Ecology, Environment & Conservation 21 Sept. 2012: 757. Global Issues In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.