My Thuan bridge

Year level: Upper secondary Learning outcome Students will gain an understanding of a range of factors that affect living conditions and evaluate the effectiveness of governments and international aid agencies in reducing local variations in living conditions. Brainstorm the links - social, economic, historical and environmental - between Australia and Vietnam Identify and label on black outline map of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City Vinh Long Can Tho the Tien Giang and Hau Giang branches of the Mekong River National Highway 1 the direction of flow of the Mekong River (by drawing arrows) My Thuan bridge Describe the relief or physiography of the Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam based on a physical map of Vietnam. Define the terms delta and distributary using a dictionary of geography. Make a sketch from the photograph of the My Thuan Bridge in the case study at http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/page1945.html Annotate your sketch to show: the direction north with an arrow and the direction of flow of the Tien Giang River the central span of the My Thuan Bridge being 350 metres long the estimated width of the Tien Giang at My Thuan the topography around the Tien Giang any distributaries of the Tien Giang in this region the natural vegetation the location of the villages evidence of economic activity in the area the reasons for the flat and low-lying nature of the topography the significance of the bridge as a means of improving transport in the region. Summarise the case study under the following headings: Outcomes derived from the construction of the My Thuan Bridge   Benefits Problems Economic outcomes     at a local scale     at a regional scale     at a national scale     Social outcomes     at a local scale     at a regional scale     at a national scale     Environmental outcomes     at a local scale     at a regional scale     at a national scale     Research how improved access to Ho Chi Minh City, the major urban market, 125 kilometres north-east of the My Thuan Bridge could increase standards of living for people working in horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, and agricultural processing and industrial activities. Explain why the Government of Vietnam favoured the construction of the My Thuan Bridge as a way of reducing poverty in the Mekong Delta region. Explain why the Government of Vietnam sought foreign aid for projects such as the My Thuan Bridge. Debate In what ways can foreign aid help improve living conditions in a country like Vietnam, which, has a wide range of living conditions? What benefits accrue to Australia from its participation in such major infrastructure projects as the My Thuan Bridge? Assessment task Write a report for the Australian government briefly reflecting on the outcomes of the building of the My Thuan Bridge and its contribution to reducing poverty.