The seeds of the European Union were sown as economic alliances like the Coal and Steel Community prospered. With the
implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (p. 118. 176 in your Rowntree text) in 199A. a regulated
economic alliance between Canada. the US and Mexico was instigated. Do you believe a North American Union could be a
reality? Why/Why not? Do some additional research (remember to cite your sources) and include a discussion of the role of
NAFTA and its influence on the region.

Worth 15 points.

Review the information on “Map Projection“ on Wikipedia (or any other site). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_proiection
This site presents a general overview about different mathematical methods to represent a “globe“ on a flat surface and the
distortion that results in space. distance, area etc.

If a map with the same proiection is used in a classroom year after year. students could be “prejudiced” in the way they “view
the world“. What type of effect(s) would this have on how we “think” about the earth or various topics that involve “earth
systems”? Give example(s).

(For example, when you view the Mercator Projection. presented in the first visual encountered on the Wikipedia site. look at
the distortion in the longitude and latitude lines. At the equator. the lines are perfect squares. however as look toward the
north and south poles. the squares elongate into rectangles. What does this do to the perceived size/shape of Alaska? Is it
really “that large”? ) Think about the subject of drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil…if elementary age
students stared at the Mercator projection year after year. . . what would their perceived idea about the size/shape of Alaska
be? How might that “idea” be incorporated into their opinion about drilling for oil in that region?

Can individuals be “prejudiced by maps”?

This Discussion Board is “required” and is worth 10 points. Please refer to the grading rubric, located under “1st Week Info”. Do
NOT email me your response to this Discussion Board (Students need to post their “thread” on the Discussion Board titled:
Map Projection & Prejudice”. Placing your cursor over the title “Discussion Board -“Map Projection and Prejudice” will take you
directly to the correct location to post your response.)