GEP - Current Events Email - November 15, 2007

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Dear Teacher:

As a recipient of World Savvy's Current Affairs Update, every two weeks you will receive a set of resources for 3 major recent news stories, including articles at varying reading levels, a list of relevant standards, and curriculum that can be used to teach about the issues covered by that news story. If you are interested in teaching a larger unit on a specific issue, please contact us for support.

Topic 1: Pakistan's Musharraf Declares Emergency Rule

Advanced Article: www.nytimes.com
Intermediate Article: www.cnn.com
Beginning Article: afp.google.com

Background Article: news.bbc.co.uk

Discussion Questions:

1. Who recently declared a state of emergency in Pakistan? What are the specific measures of this state of emergency?
2. Why has Musharraf put Bhutto under house arrest?
3. How are freedom of the press and assembly related to fair elections? Is it possible to have fair elections without these rights?
4. Why is Pakistan's political stability important to the United States?
5. What role, if any, do you think the US should play in mediating the political situation in Pakistan? What role should other governments and international organizations play?

Curriculum:

1. New York Times Daily Lesson Plan: In Trouble in Islamabad: Read it now >>
2. Indian and Pakistan at 60 - learn about the short history of modern Pakistan: Read it now >>
3. PBS Frontline - Freedom of the Press around the World: Read it now >>

California Standards:

Government: Freedom of Press, Freedom of Assembly, Constitutional Issues, Judicial Issues
World History: Contemporary Nation-Building
Language Arts: Analyzing the Media, Reading and Writing

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Topic 2: Oil Spills In San Francisco Bay and Black Sea

Advanced Article: www.sfgate.com (San Francisco Bay)
www.washingtonpost.com (Black Sea)
Intermediate Article: www.nytimes.com (San Francisco Bay)
www.nytimes.com (Black Sea)
Beginning Article: news.bbc.co.uk (San Francisco Bay)
news.bbc.co.uk (Black Sea)

Discussion Questions:

1. How much oil was spilled in the San Francisco Bay? In the Black Sea?
2. What are the suspected causes of each of the spills? How could they have been prevented?
3. What are the potential environmental impacts of each spill?
4. Who should be held responsible for the spills? Individuals? Ship owners? Safety organizations such as the Coast Guard? Governments?
5. Does the US have regulations regarding oil spills like this? If so, what are they?
6. What specific or additional regulations would you put in place to prevent future spills? Who do you think should create and enforce these regulations?

Curriculum:

1. New York Times Daily Lesson Plan: Sunken Hazard (based on '02 Prestige oil spill): Read it now >>
2. Liquid Density and Oil Spills: Read it now >>
3. Oil Spill in a Test Tube: Read it now >> (advanced)
4. Learning the Zones of the Ocean Using an Oil Spill: Read it now >>

California Standards

Economics: Market Economy (oil market), Modern World Economy
Science: Ecology & Ecosystems, California Geology and Ecosystems
Government: Local, State, National Government
Language Arts: Analyzing the Media

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Topic 3: IMF Agrees to Cancel Liberia Debt

Advanced Articled: allafrica.com
Intermediate Article: www.ft.com
Beginning Article: news.bbc.co.uk

Background Article: news.bbc.co.uk

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is the IMF? What decision did they just make regarding Liberia?
2. How much debt has the IMF agreed to cancel? What is Liberia's total international debt estimated to be?
3. From what national crisis is Liberia recovering?
4. Why might some nations oppose Liberia's debt cancellation?
5. Under what, if any, conditions do you believe a country's debt should be cancelled? Should developing nations receive different treatment from wealthier nations? Why or why not?

Curriculum:

1. International Financial Organizations: Read it now >>
2. Globalization101: World Bank and IMF: Read it now >>
3. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization: A help or a hindrance to developing countries? Read it now >>
4. The Story of Debt Relief: Read it now >> (Beginning-level)

California Standards:

World History: Modern World Economy
Government: International Trade
Language Arts: Reading and Writing, Informational Materials

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The views expressed in the articles and resources listed above are not the views of World Savvy. They are listed here as resources for educators but do not necessarily reflect the opinions and priorities of World Savvy. If you ever want to unsubscribe from this list, just send an email to Kelly at kelly@worldsavvy.org.