The Dendrobium orchid, also known as the God Flower, is disappearing from the mountains of Alishan in Taiwan due to climate change. The Tsou people, an indigenous tribe, rely on this flower for their ceremonies and believe that without it, the gods will not be able to find them. In the past, the God Flower was abundant and could be found outside Tsou homes, but now the tribe has to venture deeper into the forests to find it. Climate change has caused the minimum temperatures in autumn and winter to gradually increase, making it difficult for the buds to form and bloom in the spring.

Taiwan as a whole has been experiencing more frequent droughts and warmer weather, which has affected not only the rituals of the Tsou people but also their livelihoods. Without typhoons, which are a vital source of water for the island, crops can fail. Farmers like Jui-Chiao Chung have had to adapt their farming practices due to continuous droughts. Ms. Chung has noticed that the coffee beans she grows are darker, indicating higher temperatures. One bad harvest can immediately reduce her income, and she is considering growing a different crop to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Unlike other crops, there is no substitute for the God Flower in the Tsou people's rituals. Elder Gao Desheng fears the possibility of the flower disappearing and points to a large urn containing the dry remnants of what was once a blossoming God Flower. The flower is an essential part of their ceremonies, especially during the three-day Mayasvi festival. The Tsou men pin the leaves of the golden orchid on their hats to identify themselves as Tsou people and seek blessings from the war god Iafafeoi.

The Tsou tribe, one of the 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan, has lived on the island for thousands of years. They are mainly located in the Alishan mountains, where the God Flower grows. Elder Gao is concerned about the future of his tribe and hopes for support from the government. However, he feels that politicians do not address the serious impact of climate change on the Tsou people's way of life. Greenpeace also criticizes the lack of sustainable environmental policies from the presidential candidates in Taiwan.

For the Tsou people, time is running out as the God Flower continues to vanish.

Original news source: Taiwan: The 'God Flower' vanishing because of climate change (BBC)

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article silently. Then, ask each group to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Afterward, have each group share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the class to form small groups. Assign each group a specific topic related to the article, such as "Climate Change," "Indigenous Rights," or "Environmental Policies." Give the groups a few minutes to discuss their opinions on the topic and come up with at least three statements that represent their views. Then, have each group present their statements to the class and hold a class-wide poll to see which statements have the most support.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pencil or pen. Ask them to choose a specific scene or concept from the article and sketch it on their paper. Afterward, have each student share their sketch with a partner and explain the scene or concept they chose.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word from the list. They must then draw a picture on the board to represent that word, without using any letters or numbers. The rest of their team must try to guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly earns a point.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, ask the students to discuss and make predictions about the future of the God Flower and the Tsou people. They should consider the potential impacts of climate change and the actions that the government and society could take to support the Tsou people. Afterward, have each group share their predictions with the class.

The Dendrobium ?, also known as the God Flower, is disappearing from the mountains of Alishan in Taiwan due to climate change. The Tsou people, an indigenous ?, rely on this flower for their ceremonies and believe that without it, the gods will not be able to find them. In the past, the God Flower was abundant and could be ? outside Tsou homes, but now the tribe has to venture deeper into the forests to find it. Climate change has caused the minimum ? in autumn and winter to gradually increase, making it difficult for the buds to form and bloom in the spring. Taiwan as a whole has been experiencing more frequent droughts and warmer weather, which has affected not only the rituals of the Tsou people but also their livelihoods. Without typhoons, which are a ? source of water for the island, crops can fail. ? like Jui-Chiao Chung have had to adapt their farming ? due to continuous droughts. Ms. Chung has noticed that the coffee beans she grows are darker, indicating higher temperatures. One bad harvest can immediately ? her income, and she is considering growing a different crop to mitigate the effects of climate ?. Unlike other crops, there is no ? for the God Flower in the Tsou people's rituals. Elder Gao Desheng fears the possibility of the flower disappearing and points to a large urn ? the dry remnants of what was once a blossoming God Flower. The flower is an essential part of their ceremonies, especially during the three-day Mayasvi festival. The Tsou men pin the leaves of the golden orchid on their hats to ? themselves as Tsou people and seek blessings from the war god Iafafeoi. The Tsou tribe, one of the 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan, has lived on the ? for thousands of years. They are mainly located in the ? mountains, where the God Flower grows. Elder Gao is concerned about the future of his tribe and hopes for support from the government. However, he ? that politicians do not address the serious impact of climate change on the Tsou people's way of life. Greenpeace also criticizes the lack of sustainable environmental policies from the ? candidates in Taiwan. For the Tsou people, time is running out as the God Flower continues to vanish.

1. What is the significance of the God Flower in the ceremonies of the Tsou people?
2. How do you think the Tsou people feel about the disappearance of the God Flower?
3. Do you think climate change is a serious issue? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if a plant or flower that is important to your culture started disappearing?
5. Do you think the government should do more to support indigenous tribes like the Tsou people? Why or why not?
6. What other effects do you think climate change could have on indigenous tribes or their way of life?
7. Do you think climate change is a global problem or just a problem for specific regions? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the Tsou people could adapt their rituals if the God Flower disappears completely?
9. What other solutions do you think the Tsou people could explore to mitigate the effects of climate change on their way of life?
10. Do you think it is important for presidential candidates to have sustainable environmental policies? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the Tsou people's livelihoods have been affected by climate change?
12. What other ways do you think climate change could impact agriculture and farming practices?
13. Do you think it is the responsibility of individuals or governments to address climate change? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the Tsou people's culture and traditions could be preserved in the face of climate change?
15. What other steps do you think can be taken to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on indigenous tribes?

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