Discuss these questions with a partner or small group, or write down your answers:
1. Which option do you prefer and why?
a. restaurant food vs. home-cooked food?
b. supermarket vs. farmers’ market?
c. farmers’ market vs. home-grown food?
d. thermos flask vs. plastic drink cup?
e. new fast food place opening in your town vs. new library / school?
f. to do something yourself vs. to have it done for you?
g. to cook for yourself vs. to have food cooked for you
2. What does the phrase carbon neutral mean? What is the cost of recycling? Is it carbon neutral?
3. What is a carbon footprint? Do you know yours? If yes, how did you found out? If not, why not? Do you think it is necessary to know? Why do some businesses have bigger carbon footprints?
4. Which companies consume the most resources in the world? Why do they do it? Do we need them to do so?
5. What is the connection between fast food and deforestation? What is the solution?
6. In the future, will we be able to grow meat in a lab? Will this solve the problem of cutting down trees in order to make farmland for animals that are destined to be eaten as fast food?
7. Why are some people apathetic when it comes to the environment?
8. Are wind turbines effective in generating enough green power – or are they rather a blot on the landscape?
9. What effect does fast food have on… a) our societies, b) our town centres, c) our waistlines, d) our health, e) our wallets, f) the weather?
10. Is fast food harmful? Why is it legal to buy products that are bad for you? Should it be illegal to sell harmful products? Why do fast food companies target children in particular?
11. Does fast food need to be the same (uniform) all over the world? Is it?
12. What’s the point of eating a healthy meal / salad at a fast food chain? Do you do that? Why?
13. Does fast food tell us anything about the decline in Western culture in the 21st century? What?
14. What would happen if half of the fast food restaurants in the world closed down voluntarily?
15. Agree or disagree? ‘Why should I separate my rubbish at a fast food restaurant? I don’t want to feel like a member of staff. That’s their job! They should do it. I paid for my food.’
16. Why do people leave their used fast food wrappers in places of natural beauty, e.g. forests?
17. What are the dangers of consuming too much… a) salt, b) sugar, c) fat, d) meat, e) caffeine?
18. Agree or disagree? ‘You should never take more than you give.’ – Tim Rice, ‘Circle of Life’.
19. Agree or disagree? ‘When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realise that one cannot eat money.’ – Native American saying.
