GEP - Current Events Email - February 1, 2009

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Dear Educator:

Each month World Savvy will post current events resources for one topic, with links for articles at varying reading levels, a list of relevant standards, and discussion questions and curriculum that can be used to teach about the issues covered by that news story. For more in-depth current events resources, please preview and subscribe to our World Savvy Monitor, www.monitor.worldsavvy.org.

President Obama to Close Guantánamo Detention Camp

On the 22nd of January, President Obama signed an executive order directing the Central Intelligence Agency to close Guantánamo Bay and other secret prisons within a year. Several obstacles prevent the immediate closing of the prison, most notably where to put the prisoners, many of whom are seen as too dangerous to be set free. Many Guantánamo prisoners were subjected to “waterboarding” or other forms of torture, allowed during the Bush Administration, making it legally difficult to convict them in a court of law. In addition to closing Guantánamo, Obama also signed an executive order prohibiting the CIA and other American authority from torturing prisoners.

Advanced Article: New York Times
Intermediate Article: CNN
Beginning Article: BBC News

Background and multimedia:
Video and Audio - NPR: Detainees at Guantánamo Bay: NPR
PBS: Guantánamo Justice? PBS

Discussion Questions:

1. What was the original purpose of the Guantánamo Bay Detention Center?
2. Why is the prison at Guantánamo so controversial?
3. What are some of the options for what to do with the prisoners at Guantánamo? What are the risks associated with these options?
4. Why is it difficult to prosecute prisoners that have been tortured?
5. What do you think the United States should do with the prisoners in Guantánamo?
6. What are the arguments for and against torture? What is your opinion?

Curriculum:

1. World Savvy and Link TV: Guantánamo Bay – The Constitution Asserted: Link TV
2. PBS Newshour Extra: The Rights of Detainees at Guantánamo: PBS
3. Teachable Moment: The Supreme Court, Habeas Corpus, and Guantánamo: www.teachablemoment.org
4. Choices Program: Terrorism – How Should We Respond?: www.choices.org

California Standards:

Government: 12.2 - Individual Rights in Society, 12.4 - Three Branches of Government, 12.10 – Tensions within Constitutional Democracy
U.S. History: 11.9 - Foreign Policy post-WWII

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