In Doing Geography-1, you are watching a film by Michael Moore – ‘Where to Invade Next’. Moore is a documentary filmmaker who has made several films such as Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko among others.
The significance of watching this film is not only to discover geography through the eyes of this film, but also to understand similarities and differences between places (countries). Filmmaker Moore takes you to various countries in Europe such as Italy, France, Finland, Germany, Norway, and Portugal among others to examine how Europeans view work, education, healthcare, sex, equality and other issues. From cafeteria food to sex education, Moore examines benefits of school education in France, Finland, and Slovenia. In Italy, he marvels at how workers enjoy reasonable hours and generous vacation time. In Portugal, Moore notes the effects of decriminalization of drugs. Through his travels, we discover just how different America is from the rest of the world.
This film is available through YouTube free. Click on the following link or copy paste the link into your browser (google, internet explorer or firefox etc.)
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4JJvfrkH3M (2-3 minutes)
Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgU0I8rl-ps (2 hours approximately)
Do not worry if the film takes a few minutes to download (depending upon your internet speed and browser). The film lasts about 2 hours. Try a new browser (google, firefox) if one does not work.
As you watch the film answer the following questions –
- Which countries does the movie take you? (Name the countries) / answer in a sentence
- What is the difference (broadly) between school education in the US on the one hand and France, Finland, and Slovenia on the other? / no less than 100 words
- What would be the benefits of following the education and social policies followed in European countries in the US? No less than 100 words
- In which country of Europe do school children have no ‘homework’? What are the reasons for dropping homework from the school education system? / answer in no less than 100 words
- Student in the US accumulate a lot of debt while studying in college. In which countries of Europe do student accumulate debt, if any? Why do students not have debt in countries of Europe? What policies do these countries follow? How does society and economy prosper in these countries? / answer in at least 150 words
- Why do most Germans not have a second or third job? / answer in about 50-100 words
- Why is use of recreational drugs not a criminal activity in Portugal? / answer in about 100 words
- What is the difference between a prison in US and Norway? / answer in about 100 words
- How is the concept of ‘women’s equality’ different in US from Iceland? / answer in about 100 words
- What is the fundamental difference between European countries and the USA in terms of quality of life? / answer in about 100 word
