Nicaragua Travel Seminar: 

Culture, Ecology & Environment

Essential Travel Information:	Resources for personal fundraising:
What to do over Winter Break!	Presentation about SHI
Information Packet from SHI	Talking Points Sheet
	Sustainable Harvest International Website

Course Information:	E-Resources for questions:
Syllabus	The Real Nicaragua Forum
Nicaraguan Post - for current events	NicaLiving Forum
Topic List for Group Presentations	Our Latin America Blog

Natural Environment Documents:
Flora & Fauna	Invasive Species	Dangerous Plants
Climate & Geography	Landscape, Flora, Fauna
Natural Environment Readings:
Causes of Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss in General
Causes Specific in Nicaragua
What does it cost to conserve a rainforest?
Full Article (if you're interested)
Opposing Idea on Rainforest Conservation (Part 1)
Opposing Idea (Part 2)
To think about:  Why do we care about biodiversity?   Should ecotourism be encouraged?

History, Politics, & Economy Documents:
Indigenous Peoples
History, Politics, & Economy Readings:
What global networks is Nicaragua a part of?
CAFTA	OAS	FTAA
Globalization Commentary
Excerpt from The Lexus and the Olive Tree (this is on CAMS)
Article Collection (This website has many, many commentary    articles on all aspects of globalization.  I expect that you explore the site and pick three on a topic that interests you to read.)
To think about:  Who benefits from globalization?   What aspects of life should be considered in "standard of living"?  What checks and balances might be necessary to create with increasing globalization?

Religion & Culture Documents:
Religion & Education	Nicaraguan Life
Religion & Culture Readings:
Challenging Machismo
Economic Empowerment for Women through Microfinance
Gender Equality & Water Rights
Microfinance & Gender Issues
Liberation Theology
To think about:  Is gender equality a basic human right, or a construct of culture?   Is microfinancing a road to empowerment for women, or an added burden? What roles does religion play in culture & society in Nicaragua, and how does this compare to the United States?

Agriculture & Sustainability Documents:
Agriculture	Population Demographics	Invasive Species in Agriculture
Agriculture & Sustainability Readings:
Required Reading:
Sustainable Coffee
Shrimp Farming
Alternative Agriculture & Agroecology
Campesino a Campesino
Tropical Agroforestry
Agroecology in Latin America
To think about: