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[[image:sustainabilityisland2012/Island-Map.JPG width="400" height="256"]]
= Welcome = Welcome to this exciting and important project. As you have been told in your first briefing session, there is an **urgent** need to locate alternative habitable locations for human populations that have been affected by the impact of recent natural and man-made disasters. Populations of small island nations are facing the prospect of their homes being inundated by rising sea levels resulting from global warming; populations that in the past have relied on nuclear power are now facing the real prospect of having to leave their homes due to dangerously high levels of radiation; and populations of countries like New Zealand are beginning to realise that parts of their country are not safe to inhabit due to rising frequency ofsignificant and damaging earthquakes. The United Nations has asked SMITE to undertake a significant investigation into establishing **sustainable** new human settlements in previously unpopulated lands, both on Earth and beyond. A number of teams have been put together to undertake this important work. You are part of one of those teams.

Your Mission
Your **important** mission is to explore new territories and colonise them, in readiness for large scale human migration. An over-riding consideration is that your solutions need to be **sustainable**. We do not want to repeat the problems of past human development. This will involve hard work, clear **thinking**, **creativity**, ingenuity, and a high level of **problem-solving**, **collaboration** and **communication** skills. Multi-disciplinary **teams** of ecologists, economists, agronomists, engineers and communications experts will be formed to address a range of issues. These teams will need to refer to this site for **regular updates** and the tasks they need to undertake. On occasions, experts will come together to consult in their specialised areas of expertise.

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Your **ideas** and **skills** are highly valued - that is why you have been chosen for this high-level mission. But you will need to **share** those ideas regularly with your Task Force Leaders and Task Force Command. Use your **wikis**pace pages to share your solutions to the many problems that will be faced on your journey.

The Island
One of the locations to be explored and colonised in preparation for displaced people to be re-located is ** The Island **. This as yet un-named and uninhabited land has been discovered in the South Pacific. A preliminary reconnaissance of The Island has been undertaken by a team of zooligists, botanists and geolgists. A map has been produced showing key features. Indigenous flora and fauna have also been identified.

YOUR FIRST TASKS
//** 1. Establish your team and your occupations **// In your first briefing session you will be asked to form teams. Each team must have at least one of each professional occupation. Most teams should have five members, up to a maximum of six. Your team will be responsible for individual tasks and will be asked to collaborate with other teams.

Create a team name and a team wiki (you cannot change the wiki name once you have created it, so choose your team name carefully). Enter a link to your team wiki on the Team Wikis page of this wiki.

Your team needs to act professionally - every member must commit to an agreed way of working, cooperating and resolving conflicts. You will each need to develop and sign a contract within your team. Post this on your team wiki page.
 * // 2. Agree on how your team will operate //**



You do not necessarily know each other. To help establish a positive working relationship you each need to develop a personal and professional profile. You will be given time in your briefing session to do this. (We've also provided some background about your respectiveprofessional roles in this site) When you have completed your profile add it to your team wiki. If you are unable to attend the briefing session you are expected to complete this task by the end of the week.
 * //3. Get to know each other//**

Your team needs to develop a logo - this logo and a photo of you needs to be added to the security badge template (attached - please note this is a Microsoft Publisher file so you will need to access it using Publisher). Please attend to this in a timely manner.
 * // 4. Develop a team logo //**

Once you have established a good working relationship your team is to examine the materials about the island that have been provided to date. Your task is to make recommendations regarding possible locations for human settlement. Your tea, lead by your Ecologist, will need to consider what factors need to be considered when planning for human settlement. Your team will also need to consider the conditions that prevail on The Island.
 * Settlement Recommendations (Ecologists) **

Your team will need to upload your recommendations to your wiki page before your next briefing. Please include the questions and thinking behind your recommendations.

Please check this site regularly for additional materials and updates.

= Communications, Transport and Energy =

Our Task Force Commander has some feedback from your first briefing session and directions for the next step we need to take. Please view the video below for your next task

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What energy sources are recommended - where, why? What modes of transport are being recommended and why? What sort of communications infrastructure is needed? What other forms of infrastructure need to be considered? What methods might they use to minimize the impact on the local ecosystems? How are sustainability needs being addressed?

Remember, if you don't have all the information you need use the discussion space above to pose questions to Task Force Command. Make sure you ask these questions in time to allow a response before your next briefing session.

The Island Economy
Task Force Command is very impressed with your work so far. Here is his latest message to you. media type="custom" key="20555300"

Economists, it is your turn to take responsibility to lead this part of the investigation. Your task is to make recommendations about the economic system that should be put in place on The Island. How is The Island going to generate enough revenue to pay for the goods and services that it imports. How will The Island pay for the infrastructure and essential services it might need to provide its citizens. The Agricultural Scientists should be able to provide some suggestions to the Economists about what farming produce can be produced in sufficient quantities for export. The environmental scientist/ecologists should also be able to help suggest other natural resources that might be exploited for economic benefit. They might also do some 'black hat' thinking and provide input on sustainability implications. The Engineers will also be able to identify the essential services that need to be provided. Where will the money come from? What other industries or ventures could be developed to generate a source of income??

= Island Government =

In the three years since your last directive there have been some changes at Task Force Command. Things have progressed significantly based on your excellent recommendations. But it is time to start thinking about handing over responsibility for The Island. Events elsewhere in the world are affecting our timeline and we need to move more quickly. Task Force Command has the folowing message for you:

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What is the role of government in representing the people?? What are its functions and what services does it provide( laws, public order, currency, defence, education, health, parks and libraries, protection of national borders, protection and management of natural environments, etc etc) Does the Island need more than one level of government? These questions are based on an assumption that we have a democracy on The Island? Is this a reasonable assumption? What other forms of government might be considered?? What are the values of democracy, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship??

What are the key tasks of a member of parliament or councillor? How does parliament make laws? What laws does The Island need?

= Banana Infestation = Task Force Officers - you have done a fabulous job advising about governance of The Island. The inaugral Government has just been sworn in and is gradually taking over responsibility for the leadership and management of The Island. Unfortunately there has been a slight hiccup in SMITE's plans to withdraw from The Island. Evidence of an infestation of banana aphid has been found in the Banana plantation at The Port. The banana plantation carries the Banana Bunchy Top Virus, which poses a serious threat to the economy of The Island. You are aware that at this early stage of The Island's development that banana plantations provide a major source of revenue whilst other industries slowly become established. Here is what Task Force Command has to say:

media type="custom" key="20595243" So there you have it.

How many days will it take for the Banana Bunchy Top Virus to spread to all plantations and wipe out our banana industry?? How much will this cost the economy??

Agricultural Scientists - who needs to be told about this threat? What will you need to tell them? How will you communicate your warnings to them? What measures need to be taken to minimse the threat - ie how can we contain this outbreak??