1. Read through the 1994 Congressional Research Service report titled "Below-Cost Timber Sales: Overview," available on the National Council for Science and the Environment's web site.
   
   What is a below-cost timber sale? Why do below-cost timber sales occur? Why do some people criticize below-cost timber sales? What could be done to reduce below-cost timber sales? Finally, what do you think should be done, if anything, about below-cost timber sales?
   
   
2. Read through the 2000 article by Lester Brown titled "Population Growth Sentencing Millions to Hydrological Poverty," published by the Worldwatch Institute and available on the Earth Policy Institute's web site.
   
   According to the article, what is the relationship between population growth and water supplies? How could water shortage affect grain markets? Does Brown think demand-side or supply-side approaches should be taken to respond to water shortages? Why? What specific steps does he suggest? Do you agree with his conclusions? Why or why not?