Journey to the End of the Earth-Tishani Doshi

Journey to the End of the Earth-Tishani Doshi

1.The lesson is an account of the author during her journey to the end of the earth- Antarctica under ‘Student on Ice’ programme headed by a Canadian, Geoff Green.

2.Antarctica- an expansive white landscape with uninterrupted blue horizon is the source of profound wonder. Its immensity and isolation have a deep impact upon the visitors.

3.Antarctica, because of its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity provides rare opportunity to study how the little changes in the environment can cause big repercussions .

4.The main aim of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme is to provide the new generation with inspiring educational chances to help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet- Earth.

5. Antarctica is the best place to understand the past, to experience the present and to predict the future. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern super continent Gondwana was forced to separate into continents, sub continents and countries, shaping the globe. Antarctica holds in its ice cores half- million- year old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice.

6.The rapid increase of human population has left us battling with other species for limited resources. Unmitigated burning of fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. The average global temperature is slowly but surely increasing. Climatic changes are threatening the west Antarctic sheet and Gulf StreamOcean current.

7.Antarctica exhibits that if we take care of small things the big things will take care of themselves. The author clearly explains this notion with an example of microscopic phytoplankton, small grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire southern ocean’s food chain. If those small grasses are destroyed, the whole marine system would be in danger. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton.

8.The author concludes by writing about her experience of walking on the frozen surface of ocean with 180 metres of living and breathing salt water as one of many epiphanies

Short Answer Questions

1.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

2.How does the author create a sense of distance between the rest of the world and Antarctica?

3.Why does the author say one loses all earthly sense of perspective and time?

4. Who started the Students on Ice programme and why?

5. How have humans managed to create a ruckus on this earth?

6. “And for humans, the prognosis is not good". Explain the situation and observation.

7. Why does the author say "that a lot can happen in million years, but what a difference a day makes"?.

8.How is Antarctica untouched as compared to the rest of the world?

Long Answer Questions

1. Why is the Antarctica the place to go in order to understand the earth’s past, present and future?

2. How was the journey to the Antarctica an incredible experience for the narrator?

3.“Take care of small things and the big things will take care of themselves”. What is relevance of this

statement in the context of the Antarctic Environment?

Suggested Answer / ValuePoints-

1 It has no population, but changes caused due to human activities more visible, more importantly it holds in its ice-cores half million-year old Carbon record

2.The writer had to travel over hundred hours using a combination of car, aeroplane, ship- journey involved crossing nine time zones, six check points, three water bodies

3. vast expanse of ice, devoid of human markers, visual scale ranging from microscopic to the mighty, 24 –hour austral summer light

4.The programme was headed by Geoff Green, offering high schools students, future policy makers a life changing experience at an age when they are ready to absorb, learn, and most importantly act.

5.over population,limited resources,global temperature increasing due to unmitigated burning of fossil fuels,created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world-arising immediate fear of melting ice sheet of west Antarctic

6.The span of 12000 years of human existence is quite insignificant in comparison to earth's history-but man has created ruckus- by dominating nature with man-made structures, burning fossil fuels, battling with other species for limited resources, point to an uncertain and bleak future.

7. The author suggests that much more can really happen in a million years as it has happened in case of Antarctica-but a day can also make a big difference- with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the planet ,there is still optimism.

8.Antarctica-has never supported human population,24 hrs austral light makes one lose entire earthly sense-the visual scale ranges from microscopic to the mighty, different phenomenon-no trees, no bill boards , no buildings.

Sample Answers

Q.1.Why did Geoff Green decide to include high school students in his programme?

A.1.Geoff Green felt that celebrities or rich curiosity seekers who visited Antarctica could give back to the society in a limited way. Impacting young minds with such an enlightening experience will have far reaching effects. It will help the students absorb ,learn and act for a better future.

Q.2. Why is Antarctica the place to go in order to understand the earth’s past, present and future?

A.2. Antarctica holds half a million year old carbon track records in its layers of ice.It gives us an understanding of evolution and extinction, ozone and carbon. A visit to Antarctica where once Six hundred and fifty million years ago Gondwana existed, helps us understand the world’s geographical history. Because of its simple eco system and lack of bio diversity Antarctica offers us an ideal opportunity to see the visible changes caused by human activities. The studies show how little changes in the environment have big repercussions as in the example of microscopic phytoplankton. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of Phytoplankton, in turn affecting the eco system of Antarctica. It is also a pointer to the future demonstrating the effect of global warming on our ecology.