Contemporary World Problems (vanderzee)

Race for the White House 2008

2007-06-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

This link shows some background information on the candidates:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/

This one has polls to show which candidates are most popular:
http://www.pollingreport.com/2008.htm

Here are a couple links that compare the candidates' positions on issues:
http://www.selectsmart.com/president/2008/comparethem.html
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/compare-candidates/index.html

extra credit opportunities

2007-06-05T18:13:00.000-07:00

You may watch one of the following and write a one page summary and reaction for 10 points extra credit. Be sure to include a parent signature that says you watched the film. You may only do two of these, for a grand total of 2o extra credit points.

These 2 are documentaries and I don't know if Blockbuster carries them:
1- "Obsession: Radical Islam's War the West"
2- "The Iron Wall"

These ones might be easier to find-
1- El Norte (a story of immigration to the U.S.)
2- Munich (the story of what happened after 11 Israeli's were killed at the Munich Olympics)
3- Hotel Rwanda (about the genocide in Rwanda)

letter writing

2007-05-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Some of you have been asking about tips for writing a letter to congress or to other people. Listed below are some links that you definitely should read if writing a letter. Many of these same rules apply to writing people other than congress members.

How to write a letter to congress

Writing a letter to congress

Do's and Don'ts of writing congress

Following the directions and tips on the links above should be helpful, and please do take them seriously. Make sure that when you write you include an addressed envelope for me. Put your own return address on the upper left of the envelope. I'll provide the stamp.

Below is a sample that I found online that might give a good idea of the format. Notice the different headings depending on who you are writing.

For the Senate:
The Honorable ___________
U.S. Senate
Washington D.C., 20510

For the House of Representatives:
The Honorable ___________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington D.C., 20515

Dear Senator ___________: (or Dear Congressman/Congresswoman:)

I am writing to express my concern regarding the human rights abuses suffered by the individuals detained in the United States in connection with the investigations into the attacks of September 11, as documented in Human Rights Watch's report, "Presumption of Guilt: Human Rights Abuses of Post-September 11 Detainees."

I am deeply concerned that immigration charges were misused in order to circumvent legal restraints on the Department of Justice's power to detain and interrogate people. Human Rights Watch found that some post-September 11 detainees were held for prolonged periods of time without being charged, had their access to counsel impeded, were subjected to coercive interrogations, were incarcerated under restrictive conditions, including solitary confinement, and suffered physical and verbal abuse.

I urge you, as member of Congress who has a responsibility to oversee the Executive branch of our government, to ensure that the investigation and detention of persons suspected of having links to terrorism are conducted with full regard for the rights of all persons in the United States to be free of arbitrary detention, mistreatment in confinement, and violations of due process, including the right to counsel.

I am also troubled by the secrecy that surrounds the investigation. Secret arrests and secret hearings are incompatible with the core democratic values enshrined in the Constitution. Congress should exercise legislative and oversight authority to ensure that the necessary changes in current policies and practices are made.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I look forward to your response.

Respectfully,

More citation help

2007-05-23T20:08:00.001-07:00

Some of you have complained that your senior project materials (and the last link I gave you) does not sufficiently cover how to cite sources. To that end, I found some more detailed links to MLA citation help. Check them out.

http://www.easybib.com/reference/
has all the basic info for MLA sources

Since so many of you are websites, here's their page for citing websites
http://www.easybib.com/reference/mla/website.php

MLA FORMAT

2007-05-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

here is a link to the proper MLA citations for most sources (including websites).
http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm

And here is the proper heading for your paper (all double spaced)

William Wallace (your name)

Mr. Vanderzee

CWP Final Paper

22 May 2007

Electric Cars: The Greatest Invention

U.S. Citizenship links

2007-04-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Your assignment has two parts, to be completed on a sheet of notebook paper.

1- Take this Citizenship quiz
write down your score.

2- Read over the Citizenship requirements by following the link.

In a paragraph, summarize the citizenship requirements. Don't try to write them all. Did you already know many of these or do many of them surprise you?

Global Warming Links

2007-03-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a web page that has a variety of information about global warming, including a link to 'An Inconvenient Truth's home page. http://www.healthpolitics.org/archives.asp?previous=latest_on_globalwarming&spg=PPC&sky=hgygooglobal+warming

For our debate you should use the interviews found on this PBS webpage. These people are speaking on both sides of the issue. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming/debate/ Select one article and focus on the strongest arguments for your side.

More project ideas

2007-03-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

added Mon. pm 3/5
more thoughts from Mr. Vanderzee
Peace Centers
Free Clinics
Retirement Homes
Rape/Abuse Crisis Centers
Animal Shelters
Public Transportation
added Mon. am 3/5
-Cocoon House in Everett
-Habitat for Humanity (the org. that Jimmy Carter has been so active with which builds home with donated labor)
-Pilchuck Audubon (centered in Everett, which would allow students to study or work on habitat preservation and protection, growth management, doing bird counts, old growth forest preservation)
-Contacting the Snohomish County Democratic Party or Republican Party headquarters. You would do work with and/or for a candidate at any level or for any office.
-In the same tone, you could contact either Sen. Murray or Cantwell’s office, or either Rep. Rick Larson or Jay Inslee to do volunteer work for them.
-Come up with a cause relating to the homeless on the streets, or at a tent city, or in more traditional shelters, or even those who are at battered women’s shelters. Decide what you want to do or seek to provide (clothing, food, toys, etc.) You could then contact groups like Goodwill, Saint Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Everett Gospel Mission, etc. and see if they would partner with you in achieving your goal.
-Catholic Relief Services might also be able to use students to head up or assist with any number of community needs. I know they provide people to come in and clean homes of the elderly and/or ill, or do grocery shopping, or take them to the doctor or dentist.
-Something to spruce up a local park and then contact either the Snoh. Co. Park Dept. in Everett or the City of Lynnwood’s Park Dept. to learn what and how you could go about benefiting the community. This same basic approach could be used for merely a weekend clean-up of a park, playground, or beach.
-Initiate a tutoring, reading buddy, or whatever program with a local elementary school. This could just for you, or to organize a cadre of students who would do at a certain time once a week for perhaps the rest of the school year to work with students on reading or perhaps math. You would initiate this through the principal of a particular school.
-There exists in the City of Lynnwood such service clubs as Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis. Lions focuses above all on getting hearing aids and eye glasses or surgery for those who need them but cannot afford things on their own. Each club has a specific area of concentration. For the Lions, you could lead a collection of used eye glasses.
-Fremont Abbey is a Seattle community arts project that has benefit concerts, art shows, etc. They are always in need of volunteers, and I’ve got contacts there if you're interested.
-International relief and development organizations have some local chapters. World Vision, Oxfam, etc.
-Northwest harvest is a great organization that collects food for food banks and gets it to needy people in our own communities. Contact them about the work they do and possibly volunteering.
-The YMCA website is a good place to look for many different ways to get involved, especially in working with kids. They have health programs, drug treatment, community development, and even international relief. Boys and Gilrs clubs also have some good resources.

Nuclear Rewards

2007-02-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

This is funny

2007-02-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

Federal Budget Links

2007-02-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

Ben and Jerry's American Pie

Budget Explorer

Why pay taxes?

Citizens Against Government Waste

U.S. Federal Budget -2007

2 extra credit opportunities!

2007-01-17T22:08:00.000-08:00

Two films are showing in the area, and 10 points extra credit will be available for each one you attend (you must write a 1 page summary and reaction). They are both free and one shows this Saturday the 20th, and the other Tuesday the 30th. Also make sure to grab a handout or program and say 'hi' to me if you see me! Here are the details:

1 - "The Iron Wall", a film by Mohammed Alatar, on Saturday evening, January 20th at 7 PM at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church, 8109 224th St. SW in Snohomish County. The showing will be followed by a talk on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict given by Dr. Steve Niva, Professor of International Politics and Middle East Studies at Evergreen State College.

"Tragic and heart-rending, a powerful and shocking expose' of the separation of a people from their land, this highly acclaimed film by Mohammed Alatar examines the Palestinian loss of land in the occupied territories as a result of Israeli settlement policy. It documents the timeline, size, and population of the settlements and the effect the settlement policy has had on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Particularly noted is the wall Israel is building in the West Bank and the effect it has on Palestinian life there."

This is clearly a film that sympathizes with the Palestinian viewpoint and it addresses some of the things we talked about in class. It should be very good.

8109 224th St. SW, in south Snohomish County . Turn West off of Highway 99 onto 224th St. SW and drive a few blocks until you see the sign advertising "The Iron Wall".

2 - "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West"
Where: Cedar Park Church at 16300 112th Ave. NE, Bothell WA 98011 (Directions)
When: Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 PM
Here's a PDF flyer with more information: http://www.cedarpark.org/vernon/pdf/other/Obsession.pdf

"Using images from Arab TV which have rarely been seen in the West, Obsession reveals an insider’s view of the hatred the Radicals are teaching, their incitement of global jihad, and their goal of world domination. (Obession the Movie)
Radio talk show host Michael Medved of 770 KTTH will lead the Question and Answer session after the viewing. There is no admission charge for this important event."

This film takes a more right wing perspective that is certainly familiar to our current administration, but rarely talked about in academic circles. It examines the hatred seen in Radical Islam and encourages us to stand up and face the enemy.

Watch both of these films with a critical eye and write thoughtful reactions! See you there!

Humor - Supply Side Jesus

2007-01-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

With all our talk of 'creating a rising tide', 'trickle down' theory, etc. some other names for the same idea of stimulating economy to reduce poverty are - Reaganomics, or Supply-Side Economics.
On that note, I give you an example that takes these theories to the extreme in the life of 'Supply Side Jesus'. Enjoy this 10 page comic book- a more liberal satire on the conservative theory.

Iraq from a child's point of view

2007-01-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

I'd like to link an interesting site for you all to check out if you have a minute. It's a blog from CNN journalists that gives some interestnig perspective. The latest one is a journalist interviewing a handful of Iraqi kids about the war. There is also some interesting perspective on the Hajj (remember from our study of Islam?)
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/blogs/in.the.field/

Saddam humor

2007-01-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

Group project suggestions

2006-12-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

one – HIV/AIDS
December 1st was World AIDS day so there is probably a lot of resources from the past week. Look in the newspaper, Time Magazine, Newsweek, etc. Other good resources:
www.worldaidsday.org
www.unaids.org
http://www.avert.org/aidsinafrica.htm

In addition to what I put on the assignment sheet, these are some things you’ll probably want to include – A history of the HIV problem in Africa, the causes of the problem, who it affects and how that often looks, how it affects the demographics in Africa (young population, orphans, etc.), where the problem is most extreme, a comparison of this problem in Africa compared to the rest of the world, and some good stats and data. It should be easy to find a good personal story.

two – Poverty
some good resources:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/indexafr.htm
http://www.sarpn.org.za/
http://www4.worldbank.org/afr/poverty/default.cfm

In addition to what I put on the assignment sheet, these are some things you’ll probably want to include- What is poverty?, Different views on the causes of poverty in Africa (there are many), the countries where the poverty is worse, the results of poverty in the every day lives of people, what are some solutions, current events, and give us some good stats or graphs.

three – Famine/Malnutrition
some good resources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2002/famine_in_africa/
(this site is from 2002, so doesn’t have most recent stats)
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food/8F154e/8F154E0f.htm

In addition to what I put on the assignment sheet, these are some things you’ll probably want to include- What are the causes, what are the results, where is it the most extreme, what countries, malnutrition among children and how it affects them. Give us some hope too,

four – Genocide
some good resources:
any news source has lots of info on Sudan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/default.stm
http://www.preventgenocide.org/africa/
http://www.asante.net/articles/sudan.html

In addition to what I put on the assignment sheet, these are some things you’ll probably want to include- What is genocide? Genocide in Rwanda, Sudan (other places in the past?), the causes of these genocides, the effect, is it important/worth our while to put an end to it? why, or why not?, The United Nations’ role, etc.

five- War
some good resources

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/emergency/WA_WAR.htm
http://www.crimesofwar.org/africa-mag/index.html
http://www.ppu.org.uk/war/countries/africa/africa_index.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9006024/

In addition to what I put on the assignment sheet, these are some things you’ll probably want to include- War in Uganda, DR Congo, West Africa, South Africa (not currently), child soldiers, What are the causes of these wars? What do they look like? Don’t go into detail about every war, give me a broad picture, and then take one or two of the strongest examples. Also - although what's happened in Rwanda and is happening in Sudan is considered war, don't focus much on that because the genocide group will be.

extra credit opportunity - Darfur Diaries

2006-11-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

This Saturday (11/25) if you go see the film, Darfur Diaries, and write a one page reaction to it, you will be eligible to recieve 20 pts extra credit toward your homework grade. The film is about the current crisis (genocide) in the Sudan, Africa. I'll be there, so if you see me, make sure to say hi. If not, make sure to pick up a flyer to prove you were there. Here are the details.

The film begins 7PM (doors open at 6:30 PM)
The cost is $7, and all proceeds benefit an education initiative in Darfur.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
104 17th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98144

For more information about the film, click here
Email me with any questions.

Directions to the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center are below:

Start address:
3001 184th St SWLynnwood, WA 98037
End address:
104 17th Ave SSeattle, WA 98144
Distance:
18.2 mi (about 27 mins)

Take the I-5 S ramp to Seattle - go 15.6 mi
15.6 mi
17 mins

Take exit 165A to James St. - go 0.4 mi
0.4 mi

Continue on 6th Ave - go 0.3 mi
0.3 mi
1 min

Turn left at Yesler Way - go 0.3 mi
0.3 mi

Continue on E Yesler Way - go 0.5 mi
0.5 mi
1 min

Turn right at 17th Ave S - go 45 ft
45 ft

Arrive at 104 17th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98144

Troops respond to John Kerry

2006-11-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here's the picture I showed in class of our troops getting creative in their response to John Kerry's 'botched joke'.

General Election (11/7/06) Activity

2006-11-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

Hi Seniors.
Here is the link to the Sample Ballot for our Election Activity.
Snohomish County Sample Ballot

These sites also have some good information on key races.

Everett Herald Endorsements has some good info on local races (Snohomish County)

The 2 below have better info on statewide races.
Seattle PI Politics (Seattle PI Endorsements)
Seattle Times Politics (Seattle Times Endorsements)

axis of evil

2006-11-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

Hi seniors. Here's the Saturday Night Live clip we watched in class last Friday in case you wanted to see it again. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dL30YtV5CM

Razanne vs. Bratz

2006-10-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here's the Razanne doll we looked at in class yesterday compared with a popular U.S. doll - Bratz. An interesting contrast that helps us see why many conservative Muslims in Arab countries find American pop-culture offensive and invasive.

Get Involved! (Israel/Palestine)

2006-10-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some links to websites that can give you some more information or just help you get involved in some way. No matter what you believe or where you stand, my hope for all of you (yes Joe, all 47 of you), is that you'll believe it enough to do something about it. To that end here's a few links. If you find more that are relevant I encourage you to post them in the 'comments'. Have a good weekend.

Stand With Us!
NACPAC
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Americans for Peace Now
Christian Peacekeeper Teams in Palestine
Jews Against the Occupation

Joe Sacco

2006-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here is some more info about the author/artist of the comic book we read in class today. Enjoy, and have a good weekend.

Mark Foley Ad (spoof)

2006-10-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

This Ad pokes fun of the fact that to vote for Mark Foley's replacement, Joe Negron, you actually vote for Mark Foley on the ballot (Negron's name does not appear on the ballot). Here's the link to the ad we listened to today in class. Click here, and then click the 'listen' button.
nv

Welcome!

2006-10-19T07:49:00.001-07:00

Well here it is Seniors. A blog just for the 47 of us. The purpose of this blog is to post links related to 'Contemporary World Problems' that may be helpful, interesting, or even humorous. The blog is an extra thing, and it is in no way a requirement to check what is being posted. It's all gravy (the meat and potatoes are still taken care of in class). Showing up here is not extra credit or anything, but nice try.