Care

Why is the Middle East so important to the U.S. and internationally? Objectives

OIL GROUP
Most people think of oil as the central resource that shapes the Middle East. Why is this so?
 * Look at the linked mapand consider the variable crude oil reserves of the different countries.
 * The Middle East's top oil producers: interactive map
 * Which countries appear to have the most oil? The least? Please highlight areas on the map.

OIL VIDEOS



__**Discussion:**__
 * Why do you think we hear more in the media about some countries in this region than others?**

WATER GROUP
Look at the map and think about water and the following quotes... "Many of the wars of this [20th] century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be about water." –Former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin "The next war in the Near East will not be about politics, but over water." -Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali

__Select one and read:__ WATER AND PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Protests Grow Over Plan For More Turkish Dams Mideast Water Crisis Brings Misery, Uncertainty Unrest in the Middle East: A Problem Bigger Than Oil Water Conflict (iTunes) Water politics in the Middle East [|Analysis: Middle East water wars] Water in the Middle East Conflict WATER VIDEOS

Using the Iraq map and highlight the areas of water (rivers, lakes, etc) on your map.

__**Discussion:**__
 * Why do you think water is so important? Have them form small groups and brainstorm about this question, writing down their ideas.**

WHOLE GROUP Discussion & Debate
You need to decide what you can live without- water or oil? On Smartboard highlight the water and oil on the following map.



What is more important OIL or WATER????? media type="custom" key="11479136"