Teachable instant https://www.morningsidecenter.org/ en Teachable Instant: Anti-Government Standoff in Oregon https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-anti-government-standoff-oregon <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Anti-Government Standoff in Oregon</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h4><br> Quiz<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Ask students: &nbsp;Which of these does NOT describe a current standoff between anti-government militants and the federal government?</p> <p>a) &nbsp;John Joe Gray of Trinidad, Texas, bit a state trooper during a traffic stop, refused to show up in court, and for 15 years has threatened to shoot any officers who try to come onto his property.</p> <p>b) A group of animal rights activists are occupying a federal research lab in Rockwell, Minnesota, to protest the treatment of monkeys in medical experiments. The FBI maintains a 24-hour presence outside the building.</p> <p>c) Cliven Bundy recruited militia members from around the country to fend off federal law enforcement officers attempting to seize his cattle in payment of $1 million in grazing fees. To date, Bundy still has his cattle and his money.</p> <p>d) Several dozen armed anti-government militants broke into a federal wildlife sanctuary and announced that they intend to remain there indefinitely to protest the vast ownership of land by the U.S. government. Authorities have so far taken no action to evict the occupiers.</p> <p><br> <strong>Answer:</strong></p> <p>b) Animal rights activists are<em> not</em> occupying a federal research lab in Minnesota. The other stories are true.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Why did anti-government militants take over a wildlife refuge?</h4> <p><br> <em>Read aloud, or have students read on their own, the following information about the armed anti-government militants now occupying a federal wildlife refuge near Burns, Oregon.</em></p> <p><br> On January 2, 2016, about 300 people rallied in Burns, Oregon, to protest the resentencing of two local ranchers for arson.&nbsp; Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, who are opposed to federal land policies, were convicted of setting fires that burned 139 acres of federal land. The protesters, who came from other western states, share the Hammonds’ anti-government philosophy.</p> <p>After the rally, about 20 of the 300 demonstrators drove out to the 185,000-acre Malheur Wildlife Refuge and bird sanctuary some 30 miles south of Burns, and occupied the refuge headquarters. Though the men are armed with handguns and rifles, there has been no violence. Authorities have chosen not to intervene, hoping to avoid a violent confrontation.</p> <p>The leader of the group is Ammon Bundy. Bundy’s father, Clivon Bundy, made national news in 2014 by refusing to pay fees for grazing his cattle on federal land in eastern Nevada. Bundy has so far successfully prevented federal agents from removing his cattle from federal land.</p> <p>The occupiers are demanding that the federal land be returned to "its rightful owners."</p> <p>The Northern Paiute tribe of Native Americans, who were evicted from the land in the 19th century, think that the "rightful owners" might include those who have lived there for thousands of years. Tribal council member Jarvis Kennedy said he thought that if the Paiute tried to occupy the land, the consequences would be different: "We’d be already shot up, blown up or in jail. Just being honest; they are used to killing us... They [the occupiers] are white men. That is the difference. That is just how I see it."</p> <p>The federal government owns up to 47 percent of the land in the West. Since it was taken from the continent's original inhabitants, the land has never been owned privately. The use of these lands has been a source of tension. The government leases some of the land to individuals or companies for grazing or extraction of natural resources, charging prices that are far below market value. Still, many individuals and companies would like to be able to exploit the land further:</p> <ul> <li>Logging companies want to clear forests</li> <li>Ranchers want access to grazing land for their cattle</li> <li>Oil companies want to drill</li> <li>Mining companies want to dig the land for coal and minerals</li> <li>Hunters want access to wilderness lands</li> <li>Hikers, bikers, birders, climbers, boaters, skiers, snowmobilers, fishers and others want access to the lands for their enjoyment</li> </ul> <p>Environmentalists and scientists are concerned about the damage these human activities do to the land and its non-human inhabitants.</p> <p>Many residents of the rural western states have jobs that depend on logging, ranching, or mining on the public lands, and some argue that the federal government should not be allowed to restrict this economic activity. &nbsp;Some subscribe to a political ideology that opposes government intervention in general. Over the last few decades, a variety of anti-government factions, including white identity groups, militias, anti-immigrant groups, gun rights activists and others, have joined together to challenge the government’s control of public lands. Because they are angry and armed, these groups spark fears of a deadly confrontation. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors extremist organizations, the anti-government militia movement grew to 276 groups in 2015.&nbsp;</p> <p>The police and other authorities, who often react aggressively to relatively minor infractions elsewhere, have so far not challenged the armed protesters in Oregon. Why?&nbsp;</p> <p>One answer is that federal authorities have overreacted to past standoffs with armed anti-government groups, with terrible consequences. In standoffs during the 1990s in Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, federal agencies were condemned for being too aggressive and causing needless deaths. Since then, the feds have often chosen to wait out the opposition.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> For Discussion:<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p><strong>On the tactics:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Many people have labeled the occupation "terrorism." Is it terrorism?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>How should the government respond when a group of activists occupies a government office or land?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Should the response depend on the demands of the protesters? Would your own response be different if the occupiers were Native Americans or environmental activists, for example?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Should the response depend on whether the protesters are armed? How should it be different if they are armed?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Do you think Paiute council member Jarvis Kennedy (quoted above) is right that the government would not be as patient if the occupiers were Native Americans?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Can you imagine yourself occupying a building to protest the government?</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>On the political issues:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Who should own/control the vast acreage of land in the West?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>How much of the land (if any) do you think should be protected from economic exploitation (mining, drilling, grazing, logging)?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Who should decide the use of public lands? The local government, state government or national government? Private interests?&nbsp; Why?<br> <br> &nbsp;</li> </ol> <hr> <h4><br> Sources</h4> <p><br> <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/why-malheur-wildlife-preserve-is-relevant-in-the-militia-fight">http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/why-malheur-wildlife-preserve-is-relevant-in-the-militia-fight</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-group-refusing-leave-oregon-wildlife-refuge-sheriff-n493261">http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/armed-group-refusing-leave-oregon-wildlife-refuge-sheriff-n493261</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0106-walker-oregon-malheur-terrorist-20160106-story.html">http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0106-walker-oregon-malheur-terrorist-20160106-story.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://swtimes.com/nationworld/tribe-protesters-occupying-oregon-wildlife-refuge-we-were-here-first-video">http://swtimes.com/nationworld/tribe-protesters-occupying-oregon-wildlife-refuge-we-were-here-first-video</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/upshot/why-the-government-owns-so-much-land-in-the-west.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&amp;smid=nytcore-iphone-share">http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/upshot/why-the-government-owns-so-much-land-in-the-west.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&amp;smid=nytcore-iphone-share</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/homeland-security-looked-past-militia-movement-ex-analyst-says.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/politics/homeland-security-looked-past-militia-movement-ex-analyst-says.html</a></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2016-01-10T08:40:35-05:00" title="Sunday, January 10, 2016 - 08:40">January 10, 2016</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:40:35 +0000 fionta 416 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Trump and Fascism https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-trump-and-fascism <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Trump and Fascism</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ask students to read the quotes below aloud.</p> <p>"Whether or not we want to call Trump a fascist outright, then, it seems fair to say that he’s closer to the "proto-fascist" zone on the political spectrum than either the average American conservative or his recent predecessors in right-wing populism." [Note: the prefix "proto" means an early form of.]<br> --Ross Douthat (New York Times, Dec. 3, 2015)<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>"The word ‘fascist’ has been abused by the left over the years. But a look at Trump's rhetoric shows scary parallels."<br> --Conor Lynch (Salon, July 25, 2015)<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>"Trump is a fascist. And that's not a term I use loosely or often. But he's earned it."<br> --Max Boot (Historian, and advisor to Sen. Marco Rubio)<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>"Donald Trump’s fascist ideas have an audience."<br> --Jamil Smith (New Republic, Dec. 4, 2015)<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>"[Trump’s] Muslim registry idea is fascism, plain and simple."<br> --Brett Stephens, Wall Street Journal (Nov. 20, 2015)<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>Since World War II, the ideology he represents has usually lived in dark corners, and we don’t even have a name for it anymore. The right name, the correct name, the historically accurate name, is fascism. I don’t use that word as an insult only. It is accurate.<br> --Jeffrey Tucker (Newsweek, July 17, 2015)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Defining Fascism</h4> <p><br> Ask students what they know about the term "fascism."&nbsp; How would they define the term?</p> <p>Explain that there are many definitions of fascism. According to the Oxford Dictionary:</p> <p class="rteindent1">"The term Fascism was first used of the totalitarian right-wing nationalist regime of Mussolini in Italy (1922-43), and the&nbsp;regimes of the Nazis&nbsp;in Germany and Franco in Spain were also&nbsp;fascist. Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy&nbsp;of one national or&nbsp;ethnic&nbsp;group, a&nbsp;contempt for democracy, an insistence on&nbsp; obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach." &nbsp;</p> <p><br> Note: demogoguery means trying to gain political support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.</p> <p>Fascism is also associated with qualities including a far-right economic stance, support for corporatism, support for traditionalist values, a survival-of-the-fittest mentality, and intolerance of criticism.</p> <p>The word "fascist" is a charged term, and has been used carelessly in the past to attack conservative politicians, so caution about using the term is warranted.&nbsp; Given the word’s many meanings, there is ample room for a politician, especially one whose speaking style is loosely scripted and contradictory, to have some qualities ascribed to fascists.</p> <p>Max Ehrenfreund argued in the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/04/why-you-should-stop-calling-donald-trump-a-fascist/">Washington Post</a>&nbsp;that commentators should stop calling Trump a fascist:</p> <p class="rteindent1">Some of Trump's rhetoric does invoke the tyrannical speeches&nbsp;of fascist leaders of the past. Asked about his plans to track American Muslims,<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/politics/donald-trump-has-big-plans-1303117537878070.html">Trump ominously told Yahoo News last month</a>, "Certain things will be done that we never thought would happen in this country." But the key aspects of fascism are at odds with Trump's persona and his message. For all his bluster, a President Trump wouldn't pursue&nbsp;the authoritarian, collectivist&nbsp;agenda that characterized Germany's Nazi Party and Italy's Benito Mussolini, at least not according to what he's said so far about his political views. Calling&nbsp;Trump a fascist risks misleading voters about his agenda, which is not that much different from that&nbsp;of his rivals for the GOP presidential nod.</p> <div><br> Nevertheless, the fact that both conservatives and progressives have asked the question, "Is Trump a fascist?" invites discussion about both the meaning of "fascist" and Trump’s stances.<br> &nbsp;</div> <p>Ask students to read the paragraphs below, or use the piece as background for discussion.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Trump and Fascism<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Below is a brief exploration of whether &nbsp;Donald Trump’s words and actions adhere to some of the most common, accepted elements of fascism.</p> <p><u>Anti-democratic</u>.&nbsp;<br> Fascists have always resorted to anti-democratic methods before and after attaining power. Donald Trump has not expressed any dissatisfaction with the democratic process, nor utilized any extra-judicial means (e.g. violence) to gain power.</p> <p><u>Fear and loathing of outsiders</u>.<br> On December 7, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/">Trump</a> called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." The<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/"> New York Times</a> called the statement "an unprecedented proposal by a leading American presidential candidate, and an idea more typically associated with hate groups."&nbsp;Trump’s strong anti-immigration stance, which propelled him to the top of the Republican field, has largely rested on the supposed danger that undocumented immigrants pose. In repeated reference to a murder committed by an immigrant, Trump blamed "an animal, an animal that shouldn’t have been in this country."&nbsp; The "we" and "they" construction has been a constant theme of Donald Trump's. The "they" tend to be Hispanic immigrants or Muslims. Trump taps into the fear some white Americans have of their country being overrun by "outsiders"—people who look different, sound different and seem to act different than themselves. "They" are responsible for crime, violence, and terrorism.&nbsp; Trump’s call for a "registry" of Muslim Americans was labeled fascist by commentators on both the left and right.</p> <p><u>Use of violence to suppress opposition.</u><br> At a Trump rally in Birmingham, Alabama, &nbsp;in November, a black protester was attacked by Trump supporters. The next day Trump said "Maybe he should have been roughed up." But Trump has neither urged his supporters to use violence against dissenters, nor built an organization of thugs in any way similar to the Nazis and Fascists of the 20th century.</p> <p><u>Intense nationalism</u>.<br> One of Trump's repeated themes is to restore America to its former greatness. He maintains that because of weak leadership, other countries are taking advantage of us. China is "raping this country" and "laughing at us." Iran has "suckered us." "Our leaders are stupid, our politicians are stupid, and the Mexican government is much smarter, much sharper, much more cunning, and they send the bad ones over because they don't want to pay for them, they don't want to take care of them."</p> <p><u>Militarism</u>.<br> "We’re going to make our military so big, so strong and so great, so powerful that we’re never going to have to use it. We’re going to have a president who is respected by Putin, respected by Iran."&nbsp; Trump speaks often of increasing our military power, but tends to boast of his negotiating prowess, rather than proposing new wars.</p> <p><u>Demagoguery. </u>&nbsp;<br> Trump appeals to our emotions with little effort to make arguments with facts, position papers or intellectual reasoning. One day after a black protester was punched and kicked at a Trump rally, he tweeted a chart which showed "whites killed by blacks--81%." &nbsp;(According to Politifact, the real number is 15%.)&nbsp; In an analysis of one week of Donald Trump's speeches, the New York Times found ample evidence of demagoguery in his ominous scenarios, repeated use of "we" and "they," personal attack and denial of fact-based evidence.</p> <p><br> <strong>Discussion</strong></p> <p><br> 1. Does the Donald Trump phenomenon indicate an anti-democratic threat to the country?</p> <p>2. Is the speculation about Trump as a fascist overblown?</p> <p>3.&nbsp; Is it illucidating to ask the question "Is Trump fascist"?&nbsp; Or does asking the question amount to name-calling and finger-pointing that does not advance understanding and discussion?</p> <p>4. In the past, fascists have often come to power during hard times when an anxious populous was looking for a strong leader who could "get things done." In what ways does this describe the situation in the U.S. today? In what ways does it not describe our current state?</p> <p><br> If there is time, ask students what questions they have about the meaning of fascism, Trump’s stances on the issues, or anything else we discussed in today’s lesson.&nbsp; Make a list of these questions and assign students to research them for future discussion.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Activity<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Watch clips of a Donald Trump speech (for example, selections from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apaToLjdRp4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apaToLjdRp4</a>)</p> <ol> <li>What political positions does Trump take?</li> <li>What is the emotional content of his speech?</li> <li>What is his speaking style?</li> <li>From watching Trump speak, can you explain his wide appeal?</li> <li>From what you know of fascism or fascists, can you identify any elements in his speech which tend toward fascism?<br> &nbsp;</li> </ol> <hr> <h4><br> Sources</h4> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/opinion/campaign-stops/is-donald-trump-a-fascist.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/opinion/campaign-stops/is-donald-trump-a-fascist.html?_r=0</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/04/why-you-should-stop-calling-donald-trump-a-fascist/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/04/why-you-should-stop-calling-donald-trump-a-fascist/</a></p> <p><a href="https://newrepublic.com/minutes/125070/donald-trumps-fascist-ideas-audience">https://newrepublic.com/minutes/125070/donald-trumps-fascist-ideas-audience</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-fascist-354690">http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-fascist-354690</a></p> <p><a href="http://theweek.com/articles/574097/donald-trump-leading-protofascist-movement">http://theweek.com/articles/574097/donald-trump-leading-protofascist-movement</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/politics/donald-trump-fascism/">http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/politics/donald-trump-fascism/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/23/donald-trump/trump-tweet-blacks-white-homicide-victims/">http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/23/donald-trump/trump-tweet-blacks-white-homicide-victims/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/us/politics/95000-words-many-of-them-ominous-from-donald-trumps-tongue.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/us/politics/95000-words-many-of-them-ominous-from-donald-trumps-tongue.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism">http://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism</a></p> <p>http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-banning-muslims-from-entering-u-s/</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-12-07T07:38:34-05:00" title="Monday, December 7, 2015 - 07:38">December 7, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:38:34 +0000 fionta 424 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org University of Missouri: A Win for Students against Racism https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/university-missouri-win-students-against-racism <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>University of Missouri: A Win for Students against Racism</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><br> Read students this quote from Payton Head, president of the Student Association at the University of Missouri, Columbia:</p> <div class="rteindent1">"I really just want to know why my simple existence is such a threat to society."<br> &nbsp;</div> <p>Ask students if they know why Payton Head made this comment.&nbsp;</p> <p>Explain or elicit that his comment was in response to racist epithets that had been yelled at him on campus. This fall, Head and other students organized protests against racism at the University of Missouri that have led to the resignations of the university's president and the Columbia campus chancellor.</p> <p>&nbsp;Ask students to read the following, or share the information with the class.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> &nbsp;Students mobilize against racism<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Sustained student protests over racism at &nbsp;the University of Missouri have led to the resignations of the university's president and the Columbia campus chancellor. The protests, which were joined by faculty members and other allies, began after a series of racist incidents at the school this fall:</p> <ul> <li>Racist slurs were yelled at Student Association president Payton Head, a Black man.</li> <li>A group of Black students rehearsing a play was interrupted by a white man shouting the n-word at them.</li> <li>Students found a swastika drawn with feces on a dorm bathroom wall.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;<br> The incidents at the University of Missouri were not the only outbreaks of racism on college campuses this semester. Here are some of the many others that have been reported:</p> <ul> <li>At Claremont McKenna College in California, Dean of Students Mary Spellman responded to a student article on campus racism by referring to students "who do not fit our CMC mold." (After protests, she resigned.)</li> <li>At Yale, a guard at a fraternity party announced, "We're only looking for white girls."</li> <li>At UCLA, white students appeared in baggy pants and blackface at a campus party.</li> <li>At an alumni panel at Ithaca College, a white alumnus repeated referred to an alumna of color, Tatiana Sy, as a "savage" after she talked about a "savage" hunger to succeed.</li> <li>At Michigan Technological University, a student was arrested for posting "Going to kill all Black people" on the Yik Yak social media site.</li> <li>The racial epithet "nigger" was carved into the door of a Fordham University student.</li> </ul> <p><br> At Missouri, students of color and their allies did not allow the racism to be noted and forgotten. Students repeatedly called on the university president to take some action to address the hostile racial climate. The students formed a group called Concerned Student 1950 (the year the first Black student was admitted to the school). They held protests, sit-ins and met with MU President Tim Wolfe. Their demands included: a racial awareness curriculum, an increase in Black faculty and staff, increased funding for the counseling center, and the resignation of Wolfe.<br> &nbsp;<br> The protests gained momentum as support grew around the campus.&nbsp; One student activist, Jonathan Butler, began a hunger strike to protest the university's &nbsp;inaction. He vowed to continue his fast until Wolfe resigned. Several graduate student organizations (which were already fighting health insurance cuts and the ending of a contract the university had &nbsp;with a Planned Parenthood clinic) joined the movement. Faculty support steadily grew.<br> &nbsp;<br> Black members of the football team threatened a strike.&nbsp; The players posted a tweet: "The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe 'Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere.' We will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students' experience."<br> &nbsp;<br> Head Coach Gary Pinkel gave his full support and posted a picture of the entire team and coaching staff linking arms in solidarity. &nbsp;<br> <br> <br> <img alt src="/sites/default/files/pictures/UM%20team.jpg" style="width: 450px; height: 190px;"><br> &nbsp;<br> <br> The threatened strike had a powerful effect, since the team generates enormous revenues for the university.<br> &nbsp;<br> A group of professors, Concerned Faculty, led a walkout of classes.<br> &nbsp;<br> Finally, on November 9, President Wolfe resigned his position. He admitted that he should have acted sooner.&nbsp; Students, faculty and their allies celebrated the victory. (See this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2015/11/09/us/students-celebrate-university-of-missouri-presidents-resignation/s/09missouri-campus-ss-slide-VF43.html">New York Times slideshow</a>.)<br> &nbsp;<br> On November 11 and 12, students on campuses across the country protested in solidarity with Missouri, and against racism on their own campuses. They organized marches and teach-ins, and &nbsp;called for administrators to resign. They created new organizations, including the Black Ivy Coalition, with representatives from all the Ivy League colleges.<br> &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>For Discussion&nbsp;</h4> <p><br> 1. With the recent growth of the Black Lives Matter movement and now the widespread campus activism, is there a new civil rights movement happening?<br> &nbsp;<br> 2. The Concerned Student 1950 has won a victory with the removal of the college president. What additional steps do you think students at UM and other colleges might take to counter racism on campus?<br> &nbsp;<br> 3.&nbsp; Some have charged that the campus anti-racist protesters’ calls will lead to a limiting of &nbsp;free speech and open debate on campus.&nbsp; What do you think of this argument? How can we encourage the free expression of ideas while also helping ensure that students are safe from incidents such as those described at the beginning of the reading?&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4>&nbsp;<br> Sources<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/09/16/what-the-student-body-president-did-after-he-was-called-the-n-word-again/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/09/16/what-the-student-body-president-did-after-he-was-called-the-n-word-again/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-of-missouri-system-president-resigns.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/university-of-missouri-system-president-resigns.html</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/college-students-across-the-country-stand-in-solidarity-with-mizzou_5644dc52e4b08cda3487e1a1">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/college-students-across-the-country-stand-in-solidarity-with-mizzou_5644dc52e4b08cda3487e1a1</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/11/university-of-missouri-president-resigns-racism-football-hunger-strike">www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/11/university-of-missouri-president-resigns-racism-football-hunger-strike</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://claremontindependent.com/cmc-students-feel-marginalized-demand-resources-and-resignations/">http://claremontindependent.com/cmc-students-feel-marginalized-demand-resources-and-resignations/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/9/16/msa-president-payton-head-combats-campus-discrimin/">http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/9/16/msa-president-payton-head-combats-campus-discrimin/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackIvyCoalition/">https://www.facebook.com/BlackIvyCoalition/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://claremontindependent.com/we-dissent/">http://claremontindependent.com/we-dissent/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/timeline-recent-events-university-missouri-35113024">http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/timeline-recent-events-university-missouri-35113024</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/06/black-grad-student-on-hunger-strike-in-mo-after-swastika-drawn-with-human-feces/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/06/black-grad-student-on-hunger-strike-in-mo-after-swastika-drawn-with-human-feces/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/opinion/sunday/the-seduction-of-safety-on-campus-and-beyond.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/opinion/sunday/the-seduction-of-safety-on-campus-and-beyond.html</a><br> &nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-11-15T13:48:34-05:00" title="Sunday, November 15, 2015 - 13:48">November 15, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 15 Nov 2015 18:48:34 +0000 fionta 429 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Power Clash in the GOP https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-power-clash-gop <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Power Clash in the GOP</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h4>Quiz</h4> <p>Ask the class:</p> <p>How many of you have heard of John Boehner (pronounced BAYnor)?</p> <p>Is he:</p> <p>a) the head of the Republican Party<br> b) a justice of the Supreme Court<br> c) a character from Game of Thrones<br> d) Speaker of the House of Representatives<br> e) all of the above</p> <p>Answer:&nbsp; Boehner is Speaker of the House until the end of October 2015. &nbsp;On September 25, Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, resigned both his position as Speaker and his seat in the U.S. House, which he had held for 25 years. &nbsp;</p> <p>On the face of it, the resignation of a Congress member - even a Congress leader - might not seem that important. Members of Congress come and go. But this particular resignation is an indication of a power clash with implications for the entire country.</p> <p>Have students read the material below, or use it as background material to fill students in on the politics behind John Boehner's resignation.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> GOP Power Struggle</h4> <p class="rteindent1">"... John Boehner represents the Republican establishment in Washington, and they certainly have lost touch and trust of the grassroots conservatives across America."<br> -&nbsp;Rep. Tim Huelskamp, chairman of the House Tea Party Caucus</p> <p>Speaker John Boehner, himself a stalwart conservative, was effectively unseated by the "Freedom Caucus," a group of about 50 extremely conservative representatives, who thought Boehner compromised his conservative principles too easily. Boehner resigned in the midst of a struggle over whether Republicans should force a<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.6875px;">&nbsp;</span>government shutdown over the funding of Planned Parenthood. &nbsp;</p> <p>While the Speaker still holds immense control of the legislative process, the Speaker's power over individual representatives has been eroded. There are several reasons for this, including:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>The &nbsp;practice of "earmarking" - attaching pet projects to important legislation - has been cut way back, so the Speaker can't hand out earmarks as rewards for loyalty as easily as before.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The Speaker has always had a central role in doling out party money to assist in individual races. But now that the Supreme Court has cut restrictions on political contributions, billionaires and super-PACs can provide funds when the party won't, reducing the influence of the Speaker.</li> </ul> <p>Speaker Boehner was even less able to exert influence over this group of ultra-conservatives:</p> <ul> <li>&nbsp;The 50 or so Freedom Caucus representatives who have challenged Boehner come from districts that have been artfully gerrymandered* by Republican state legislatures to maximize conservative voters.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The Freedom Caucus representatives are ideologically opposed to government (except the military), so they are not afraid if their hard-line politics ends in a government shut-down.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>They are able to rely on the Tea Party, a network of grassroots anti-government activists, conservative media, and corporate funders. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>They have a track record of defeating establishment candidates in Republican primaries, which extends their influence to less conservative colleagues who fear for their jobs.</li> </ul> <p><em>* Gerrymander:</em> "to divide (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible." (Merriam-Webster)</p> <p>So what effect has this powerful caucus had on Congress and congressional action? Because the Senate has rules giving the minority party (currently the Democrats) some power to block legislation, and because the current president is a Democrat, the House of Representatives cannot enact laws without making compromises. But the "Freedom Caucus" conservatives will not compromise on what they see as their bedrock principles.</p> <p>The result so far has been a record low number of laws passed and a steady stream of government near-shutdowns. This has led to record low approval ratings for Congress: Only about 15% of Americans currently approve of the institution. However, if support for the ultra-conservative movement grows and succeeds in electing more members of Congress or a sympathetic president, legislative success could follow.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> For Discussion</h4> <ul> <li>The Progressive Caucus of the House of Representatives has about 75 members. Why do you think they have not been able to exert the level of power that the conservatives have?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>If you were Speaker of the House, what would you do to make Congress more effective?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Is it a good thing that some members of Congress - on the left or right - refuse to compromise on what they see as their principles? &nbsp;What is good about it? What is not good about it?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The goal of the Freedom Caucus is smaller government (except for the military). Do you agree with this goal? Why or why not?&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <h4><br> Sources</h4> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/insurgent-bloc-of-house-conservatives-proving-to-be-a-thorn-in-boehners-side/2015/03/04/6bec23e4-c29c-11e4-9ec2-b418f57a4a99_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/insurgent-bloc-of-house-conservatives-proving-to-be-a-thorn-in-boehners-side/2015/03/04/6bec23e4-c29c-11e4-9ec2-b418f57a4a99_story.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/us/john-boehner-to-resign-from-congress.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/us/john-boehner-to-resign-from-congress.html?_r=0</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/01/03/5-reasons-why-being-speaker-of-the-house-aint-what-it-used-to-be/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/01/03/5-reasons-why-being-speaker-of-the-house-aint-what-it-used-to-be/</a></p> <p><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/230693-house-gop-conservatives-form-new-freedom-caucus">http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/230693-house-gop-conservatives-form-new-freedom-caucus</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-mccarthy-conservatism-gop-radicals-20150929-story.html">http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-mccarthy-conservatism-gop-radicals-20150929-story.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/10/the-conservative-war-on-the-gop/280637/">http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/10/the-conservative-war-on-the-gop/280637/</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-10-03T17:08:53-04:00" title="Saturday, October 3, 2015 - 17:08">October 3, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:08:53 +0000 fionta 439 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Clinton's 'Email-gate' https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-clintons-email-gate <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Clinton&#039;s &#039;Email-gate&#039;</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Ask students what, if anything, they have heard about the debate over Hillary Clinton’s private email server.</p> <p>Elicit or explain that presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was U.S. Secretary of State for four years. During that time, Clinton used her own personal email server instead of the federal government's email server for her official communications.</p> <p>Since this became news in March 2015, there has been a steady stream of media reports about the legality of Clinton’s email system, possible security breaches and email deletions, a governmental review of her 55,000 emails, Clinton's arguments in her defense, and accusations by political opponents. Public distrust of Hillary Clinton, as measured by opinion polls, has grown steadily.</p> <p>But despite Clinton’s drop in the polls and favorability ratings, 39% of those polled believe that Clinton "did nothing wrong" in using a private email system.</p> <p>People on all sides of the political spectrum say they believe that open government, or "transparency," is a crucial ingredient for a working democracy.</p> <p class="rteindent1">Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what&nbsp;their government is doing. &nbsp;Information maintained by the&nbsp;federal government is a national asset.<br> -- President Barack Obama</p> <p class="rteindent1">But one of the reasons there is a crisis of confidence in this country over the government is because there is not transparency. Without transparency, accountability cannot be carried out.<br> -- Republican Senator Tom Coburn</p> <p class="rteindent1">Openness in government is not a liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Tea Party or Libertarian issue. The importance of transparency in local, state and federal government should transcend parties and political ideologies. Checks and balances provide few checks and little balance when officials broker deals behind closed doors and conceal documents that contain important information that citizens have the right, and often the need, to know.<br> -- National Freedom of Information Coalition</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Journalists, advocacy groups, historians and other researchers use tools like the Freedom of Information Act to pry information out of government agencies at all levels. There are thousands of examples of new stories that originated with Freedom of Information requests. For example:</p> <ul> <li>the safety hazards of the Ford Pinto</li> <li>the health hazards of Agent Orange to Vietnam War veterans</li> <li>thefts by TSA agents at airports</li> <li>the FBI practice of allowing informants to break the law</li> <li>the Pentagon paying to plant articles in Iraqi media</li> <li>federal loans designed to help businesses recover after 9/11 that went to companies completely unrelated to 9/11 (e.g. a dog boutique in Utah)</li> </ul> <p>Secrecy versus openness in government will continue to be a key issue for our democracy - no matter how Hillary Clinton’s "email-gate" problem is resolved.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> For discussion:<br> &nbsp;</h4> <ul> <li>One of Hillary Clinton's defenses is that other government officials--including other secretaries of state, like Colin Powell--also used private email accounts. Is this argument persuasive? Why or why not?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Should we allow public officials to decide which of their communications should be public and trust that they are making the right choices?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Is it possible that the email scandal is being blown out of proportion by Clinton's political enemies?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>If Hillary Clinton were to visit your class, what questions would you ask about her private email server?</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Optional assignment<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Ask students to go to the National Security Archive website (<a href="http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nsa/foia/stories.htm">http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nsa/foia/stories.htm</a>) to view some news items (from 2004-2006) that originated with Freedom of Information Act requests. Ask students to choose one story to research and write two paragraphs on the importance of the news story.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Sources</h4> <p><a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-110shrg35801/html/CHRG-110shrg35801.htm">http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-110shrg35801/html/CHRG-110shrg35801.htm</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/19/politics/2016-poll-hillary-clinton-joe-biden-bernie-sanders/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/19/politics/2016-poll-hillary-clinton-joe-biden-bernie-sanders/index.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/foia_default">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/foia_default</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/06/02/the_shocking_news_about_government_secrecy_that_should_have_every_american_worried/">http://www.salon.com/2015/06/02/the_shocking_news_about_government_secrecy_that_should_have_every_american_worried/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/foia-hillary-clinton-email-daniel-metcalfe-116011">http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/foia-hillary-clinton-email-daniel-metcalfe-116011</a></p> <p><a href="http://foia.blogs.archives.gov/2012/01/27/striking-the-balance-with-third-party-requests/">http://foia.blogs.archives.gov/2012/01/27/striking-the-balance-with-third-party-requests/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/mar/12/hillary-clintons-email-did-she-follow-all-rules/">http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/mar/12/hillary-clintons-email-did-she-follow-all-rules/</a></p> <p><a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/transparency-and-open-government">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/transparency-and-open-government</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/politics-swirling-around-clinton-email-scandal-obscure-real-problems">https://www.aclu.org/blog/politics-swirling-around-clinton-email-scandal-obscure-real-problems</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nfoic.org/guest-view-transparency-not-republican-not-democrat">http://www.nfoic.org/guest-view-transparency-not-republican-not-democrat</a></p> <p>&nbsp;<a href="https://freedom.press/blog/2013/03/freedom-information-act-most-powerful-tool-my-reporting-arsenal">https://freedom.press/blog/2013/03/freedom-information-act-most-powerful-tool-my-reporting-arsenal</a></p> <p><a href="http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nsa/foia/stories.htm">http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nsa/foia/stories.htm</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/politics/using-private-email-hillary-clinton-thwarted-record-requests.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/politics/using-private-email-hillary-clinton-thwarted-record-requests.html?_r=0</a></p> <p><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/03/how-did-the-state-department-respond-to-open-records-requests-for-hillarys-emails/">http://dailycaller.com/2015/03/03/how-did-the-state-department-respond-to-open-records-requests-for-hillarys-emails/</a></p> <p><a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-an-open-letter-to-hdr22clintonemailcom.html?referrer=&amp;_r=0">http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/opinion/sunday/maureen-dowd-an-open-letter-to-hdr22clintonemailcom.html?referrer=&amp;_r=0</a></p> <p><a href="http://qz.com/362594/hillary-clintons-email-and-the-pitfalls-of-transparency-accountability-and-trust/">http://qz.com/362594/hillary-clintons-email-and-the-pitfalls-of-transparency-accountability-and-trust/</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-09-13T16:04:28-04:00" title="Sunday, September 13, 2015 - 16:04">September 13, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 13 Sep 2015 20:04:28 +0000 fionta 442 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Hurricane Katrina Anniversary https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-hurricane-katrina-anniversary <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Hurricane Katrina Anniversary</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ask students to read, or share out loud, the following:<br> &nbsp;</p> <h4>Hurricane Katrina Anniversary</h4> <p><br> Why are people marking the anniversary of a hurricane?</p> <p>What makes Hurricane Katrina so special that Amazon lists over 60 books and 15 movies on the subject? Why are there almost 1500 articles on Katrina in the New York Times?</p> <p>The storm was devastating, but the answers to the above questions lie as much in the human reaction to the hurricane (especially in New Orleans) as in the storm itself.</p> <p>The storm:</p> <ul> <li>Was one of the largest in U.S. history.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Resulted in the deaths of over 1800 people, many of them senior citizens.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Produced a rise in water level of 20 feet.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Cost over $125 million in damage.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Climate scientists are virtually certain that the global rise in water temperatures increased the water level and wind speed.</li> </ul> <p>The human reaction:</p> <ul> <li>The preparation for the storm and response to the storm by governments at all levels was inadequate, inefficient and late in arriving.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The residents of New Orleans were mostly poor and mostly African American, leading most commentators to conclude that the miserable rescue effort in the immediate aftermath of Katrina had a lot to do with the race of the victims.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>National media focused much attention on the violence and lawlessness (mostly proven to be exaggerated) in New Orleans during and after the hurricane.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Some flooding of the city was entirely predictable and the levees designed to protect New Orleans from flood waters were known to be inadequate.<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <h4>Ten Years After</h4> <p class="rteindent1"><br> Definition: &nbsp;<strong>Gentrification</strong> is the process of change accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into low-income areas, often leading to rising rents and prices that displace poorer residents.</p> <p><br> Hurricane Katrina forced more than 80% of New Orleans residents to move from their homes. Some moved into temporary shelters; some stayed with relatives and some moved out of the area completely.</p> <p>Amidst the celebrations of the city's "rebirth" after Katrina, there are concerns that not all of the city's residents have benefitted from the billions of dollars poured into the reconstruction.</p> <p>Again, race has been a crucial factor:</p> <ul> <li>New Orleans has 100,000 fewer African Americans now than before Katrina<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The percentage of the city that is Black has decreased from 67% to 59%.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The white population has grown from 26% to 31%; Latinos from 3% to 5%.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>56% of new arrivals to the city are white.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Less than half the displaced African American residents were able to move back after one year had passed; this compared to over 70% of white residents.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>80% of New Orleans residents who are white say that Louisiana has mostly recovered from the storm, while 60% of Black residents say Louisiana has <strong>not </strong>mostly recovered.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The 55% of New Orleans residents who do not own their own homes have seen their rents and utilities go up by 33% since the storm.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Home sale prices have gone up by about 40%</li> </ul> <p><br> As prices go up, lower-income residents can no longer afford to rent or buy houses. The process of gentrification, which occurs in many U.S. cities, got a big helping hand from the hurricane and the rebuilding that came after. The African American residents of New Orleans have created a special and much-loved culture over the centuries that includes music, food and language. But many feel that culture is being threatened by what some outsiders see as a great recovery.</p> <p>As hard as it is to fight against a process that is proceeding in many places at once, furthered by decisions made at high levels of government and business, there are dozens of groups working to slow gentrification and to address the conditions that made the storm extra-devastating. Neighborhood associations, churches, unions, environmental and political organizations have fought battles large and small. One group, <a href="http://www.gulfsouthrising.org/">Gulf South Rising</a>, has formed to coordinate the campaigns of dozens of organizations throughout the Gulf states.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4>For Discussion:<br> &nbsp;</h4> <ol> <li>Should the government response to natural disasters mostly affecting poor people be equal to the response to natural disasters mostly affecting&nbsp; middle class people? If no, how <em>should</em> resources be allocated? If yes, how can we make sure the government handles emergencies fairly?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Gentrification results in more prosperous houses, stores, parks, schools and neighborhoods. It also pushes poor people from their homes.&nbsp; Is gentrification a good thing or a bad thing?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>The African American and poor people of New Orleans were treated unfairly during and after Hurricane Katrina. Is there anything more they could have done to receive the services they needed?<br> &nbsp;</li> </ol> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Sources</h4> <p><a href="http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/katrina/">http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/katrina/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/08/24/white-people-in-new-orleans-say-theyre-better-off-after-katrina-black-people-dont/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/08/24/white-people-in-new-orleans-say-theyre-better-off-after-katrina-black-people-dont/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/32478-climate-change-and-hurricane-katrina-what-have-we-learned">http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/32478-climate-change-and-hurricane-katrina-what-have-we-learned</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/birthplace-american-music-has-been-handed-over-real-estate-speculators">http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/birthplace-american-music-has-been-handed-over-real-estate-speculators</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.gulfsouthrising.org/">http://www.gulfsouthrising.org/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/23/new-orleans-lower-ninth-ward-condos-gentrification">http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/23/new-orleans-lower-ninth-ward-condos-gentrification</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2015/08/22/a-resilience-lab/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2015/08/22/a-resilience-lab/</a></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-09-07T09:28:13-04:00" title="Monday, September 7, 2015 - 09:28">September 7, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:28:13 +0000 fionta 444 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Refugee Crisis https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-refugee-crisis <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Refugee Crisis</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Share some or all of the following background information with students, or ask students to read the paragraphs silently.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4>A Refugee Crisis</h4> <p>Hundreds of thousands of refugees flowed into Western Europe this summer, most fleeing war and desperate conditions in the Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan. The media has been filled with images of these people, many families with small children, crowded onto rickety boats trying to cross the Mediterranean, trapped in train stations, marching down highways, some finally reaching their northern European destinations.</p> <p>The flow of people continues in what has become the largest human migration since World War 2.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of the refugees are from Syria, where Islamic State fighters and other Islamist militants (as well as Kurds seeking autonomy) are battling Syrian President Bashir al-Assad and his forces. Estimates vary, but according to the UN, over 220,000 people, including many civilians, have been killed in the Syrian war. Many others live in terror and have limited access to shelter, food and water. Over the past few years, many Syrians escaped to neighboring countries, including Lebanon and Jordan. But those countries have struggled to accommodate the huge influx of refugees.&nbsp; Now people from the region are pushing into Western Europe, looking for safety.</p> <p>The route to Europe has been fraught with danger. Many, including children, have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, hoping to reach Greece or Italy,&nbsp;two countries giving&nbsp;them access to&nbsp;the rest of the European Union. &nbsp;From there they&nbsp;continue their travel&nbsp;over land routes, through Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and heading further&nbsp;north where economies have not been as hard hit and immigration policies are more welcoming. (See maps of migration paths here: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24583286">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24583286</a>.)&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.75pt;margin-left: 0in"><span helvetica style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:">Some of these countries, including Hungary, have </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">been&nbsp;clear about the fact that refugees are</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;not welcome. Hungary </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">in particular has been quite hostile,</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> set</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">ting</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> up a holding camp surrounded by razor wire and guarded by dogs and the police. Hungary has passed new laws penalizing people for helping the refugees. However, other countries, including Germany, have agreed to accept&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">up to 800,000</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;people seeking asylum this year alone. &nbsp;By comparison, the U.S. has accepted only 1,500 Syrian refugees since the start of the violence in Syria. &nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p>A note on terminology:&nbsp; The <a href="http://www.unhcr.org/55df0e556.html">UN High Commission on Refugees</a> says that the terms "migrant" and "refugee" should not be used interchangeably.&nbsp; According to UNHCR, refugees left home because of armed conflict or persecution. It is too dangerous to return home, and they need sanctuary. Refugees are accorded certain rights and benefits under international and national laws. Migrants are not facing death or persecution, but are seeking work, education or better lives, and don’t receive the same protections. &nbsp;</p> <p>For more background, see previous TeachableMoment lessons on Syria here:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/syria-today-diplomatic-vs-military-responses">http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/syria-today-diplomatic-vs-military-responses</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/syria-today-what-it-means-be-syrian">http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/syria-today-what-it-means-be-syrian</a></li> </ul> <hr> <h4>Video: Stranded in Hungary</h4> <p>Show students this 4-minute video produced by the Guardian, a newspaper based in the UK. (A 10-second ad precedes the video.)&nbsp;</p> <p>The video shows scenes of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere who were stuck in Keleti train station in Budapest, Hungary, on September 4-5, 2015. Most hoped to go on to Germany or Austria, but the Hungarian government refused to let them board trains.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/04/un-calls-on-european-union-to-take-200000-more-refugees">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/04/un-calls-on-european-union-to-take-200000-more-refugees</a><br> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Discussion</strong></p> <p>After students view the video, ask:</p> <ul> <li>What did you observe about the people who were stuck in the train station? What belongings are they carrying with them?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Did any particular scene or person stand out for you?&nbsp; Why?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Who seemed welcoming of the refugees?&nbsp; Who didn’t?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Why do you think one woman did not want the refugees to wave the Hungarian flag?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>What emotions do you think the people in this train station are feeling?&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>List students’ responses to the last question on the board.</p> <p>Tell students that the refugees in the video were eventually given buses to Austria; many are traveling on to Germany and other countries in Western and Northern Europe. However, they await an uncertain future there: Will they be given asylum? Will they find decent homes and jobs? Will they be welcomed by their new neighbors?</p> <p>Debates are now underway in European countries, the Gulf states, and in the U.S. about taking in more of the refugees.&nbsp; And many organizations are calling on governments and individuals to come through with aid and support for those trying to escape war and desperation in Syria and elsewhere.</p> <p>To date, the U.S. has taken in only about 1,500 Syrian refugees. Aid groups and some lawmakers have argued that the U.S. should take in at least 65,000 more. For more information see these articles in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/05/us/many-obstacles-are-seen-to-us-taking-in-large-number-of-syrian-refugees.html">New York Times</a> and <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-pressed-to-take-more-syrian-refugees-1441396786">Wall Street Journal</a>.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Closing</h4> <p>Ask students in a go-round to say one thing they wish for the refugees we saw at the train station in Hungary.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><strong><em>Note to parents:&nbsp;</em></strong>See this Parent&nbsp;<a href="http://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/parent-table-talk-refugees-reactions-and-world-response">'Table Talk'</a>&nbsp;activity for suggestions on discussing this topic with children. &nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-09-07T08:32:17-04:00" title="Monday, September 7, 2015 - 08:32">September 7, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Mon, 07 Sep 2015 12:32:17 +0000 fionta 445 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Automatic Voter Registration https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-automatic-voter-registration <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Automatic Voter Registration</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Tell students that on June 4, 2015, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivered a major speech advocating the expansion of voter access. Among other policy changes, Clinton called for automatic voter registration at age 18. (See <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?326400-1/hillary-clinton-remarks-voting-rights">C-Span video</a> of Clinton's full talk at Texas Southern University; her remarks on voting rights begin at about 26 minutes.) &nbsp;</p> <p>Currently, it is up to each individual to take the active step of registering. Only the state of Oregon registers voters automatically, when they get a drivers' license. Though there are constitutional provisions about who is eligible to vote, it is up to the states to decide most of the rules and procedures about voting.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Quiz: Voting facts<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Have your students take this quiz on voting facts:</p> <p><br> <strong>True or False?</strong></p> <p>1) The minimum age for voting in the United States is 18 years.</p> <p>2) In Montana, voting in state elections is mandatory.</p> <p>3) The states with the highest African-American and Hispanic populations have all enacted voter restrictions since 2008.</p> <p>4) People in prison are prohibited from voting in the U.S.<br> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Answers:</strong></p> <p><br> 1) False:&nbsp; It is up to the individual states. 19 states allow 17-year-olds to vote in party primaries if they will turn 18 before the general election. And Tacoma Park, Maryland, allows 16-year-olds to vote in local elections.<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>2) False: Not only do no states require voting, there are no states that even require people to register to vote.<br> &nbsp;</p> <p>3) Not quite true (but close):&nbsp; According to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, 7 of the 11 states with the most African-Americans have new voting restrictions and 9 of the 12 states with the highest Hispanic populations have new restrictions.</p> <p>4) False: Two states (Maine and Vermont) allow prisoners to vote.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Background<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Share with students some of all of the information below.</p> <p>On March 23, 1971, 18-year-olds were granted the right to vote in the United States. That right was granted by the 26th amendment to the Constitution (ratified in only three months, a record short time). Until then, the voting age had been 21.&nbsp; There was strong pressure to lower the voting age because so many young people were being asked (or forced) to go to war in Vietnam,&nbsp; yet did not have the right to vote.</p> <p>Though Americans can begin voting at 18, mostly they don't. People in the 18-24 age bracket are the least likely to vote of all age categories. Young people are consistently about 30 percent less likely to vote than their grandparents. Even in the 2008 election, in which Barack Obama's campaign generated an unusual level of excitement in young people, only 44 percent of young people voted.</p> <p><br> <strong>Current context</strong></p> <p>The debate over access to voting has become a partisan issue, with the Democratic Party advocating looser rules for voting and the Republican Party successfully advocating tighter restrictions.</p> <p>In the last five years, 22 states (almost all with Republican majority legislatures) have passed laws restricting access to voting. These restrictions include shortening the time allowed for early voting, stricter rules for voter registration drives, eliminating election day registration,&nbsp; and requiring specific kinds of identification for voting. Democrats charge that the restrictions disproportionately affect people of color and young people, groups that tend to vote Democratic. Republicans insist that the tighter rules for voting are necessary to prevent voter fraud, though such fraud is extremely rare.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> For discussion<br> &nbsp;</h4> <ul> <li>Is greater participation in elections necessarily a good thing? Should the United States (or individual states) take steps to increase participation?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Should legislation on voting rights and access be left&nbsp; to each state or should the rules be national?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>At what age should people be allowed to vote in elections?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>In the countries with the highest rate of voter participation, voting is compulsory. Some <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/22-countries-voting-mandatory/">22 countries</a> require citizens to vote, including Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, and Belgium.&nbsp; Should the United States make voting mandatory?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>What are the pros and cons of automatically registering people to vote when they reach the age of 18?<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Do you plan to vote once you reach voting age? Why or why not?<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4>Sources<br> &nbsp;</h4> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-calls-for-sweeping-expansion-of-voter-registration/2015/06/04/691f210c-0adb-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hillary-clinton-calls-for-sweeping-expansion-of-voter-registration/2015/06/04/691f210c-0adb-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.people-press.org/2015/04/30/a-different-look-at-generations-and-partisanship/">http://www.people-press.org/2015/04/30/a-different-look-at-generations-and-partisanship/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/25/the-gops-millennial-problem-runs-deep/">http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/09/25/the-gops-millennial-problem-runs-deep/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/state-voting-2014">https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p20-573.pdf</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/state-voting-2014">http://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/state-voting-2014</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/22-countries-voting-mandatory/">www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/22-countries-voting-mandatory/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?326400-1/hillary-clinton-remarks-voting-rights">http://www.c-span.org/video/?326400-1/hillary-clinton-remarks-voting-rights</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-06-07T08:02:22-04:00" title="Sunday, June 7, 2015 - 08:02">June 7, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:02:22 +0000 fionta 455 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Hot Debate over Trans-Pacific Partnership https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-hot-debate-over-trans-pacific-partnership <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Hot Debate over Trans-Pacific Partnership</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h4>&nbsp;<br> <strong>The News</strong></h4> <p><br> Ask if students have heard about the furious debate now underway about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).<br> &nbsp;<br> Elicit or explain that the TPP, if passed, would be the largest trade agreement in history. The Obama administration is trying to get authority from Congress to "fast-track" the 12-nation treaty through Congress, which means that elected officials would not be able to vote on individual provisions of the treaty or make amendments, only vote on it as a whole.<br> &nbsp;<br> The TPP is strongly supported by President Obama, who has argued that it is essential for helping American businesses "sell more American products overseas," creating new jobs in the U.S. &nbsp;President Obama maintains that the trade deal is needed because it will allow U.S.-based companies to outmaneuver China on trade rules. Many Republicans and some Democrats agree with the president.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> However, the TPP faces powerful and growing opposition from a wide range of grassroots, religious, consumer and environmental groups, unions, Latino organizations, most Democrats, and some Republicans. This opposition has gotten stronger as parts of the TPP - which has been negotiated in secret over the past five years - have been leaked.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> Read to students the following excerpt from a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/business/trans-pacific-partnership-seen-as-door-for-foreign-suits-against-us.html?_r=1">New York Times</a> story based on the leaked documents:&nbsp;</p> <p class="rteindent1">&nbsp;An ambitious 12-nation trade accord pushed by&nbsp;President Obama&nbsp;would allow foreign corporations to sue the United States government for actions that undermine their investment "expectations" and hurt their business, according to a&nbsp;classified document.<br> &nbsp;<br> The Trans-Pacific Partnership — a cornerstone of Mr. Obama’s remaining economic agenda — would grant broad powers to multinational companies operating in North America, South America and Asia. Under the accord, still under negotiation but nearing completion, companies and investors would be empowered to challenge regulations, rules, government actions and court rulings — federal, state or local — before tribunals organized under the World Bank or the United Nations.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Video: An Argument Against the TPP</h4> <p><br> Economist Robert Reich outlines (and draws) the argument against the TPP in this 2-minute video. Reich was secretary of labor under President Clinton.<br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://robertreich.org/post/109593544790">http://robertreich.org/post/109593544790</a><br> &nbsp;<br> After watching the video, ask students:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>What do you think of Robert Reich’s argument against the TPP?</li> </ul> <p>Explain that the Obama administration insists that Reich and others are wrong about the TPP.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/02/26/investor-state-dispute-settlement-isds-questions-and-answers">Whitehouse blog</a>, Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council, said that the agreement &nbsp;provides a dispute resolution process that "allows for an impartial, law-based approach to resolve conflicts and has been important to encouraging development, rule of law, and good governance around the world. [It] does not undermine U.S. sovereignty, change U.S. law, nor grant any new substantive rights to multinational companies."&nbsp;</p> <p>Zients argues that the TPP will "make it absolutely clear that governments can regulate in the public interest, including with regard to health, safety and the environment."<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Secrecy: Yes or no?&nbsp;</h4> <p><br> Defenders of the TPP say that it was negotiated in secret (except for the several hundred corporations that were consulted on it) because opening it up for debate and change in all 12 countries would surely doom it.<br> &nbsp;<br> And it is true that the more information is leaked about the trade deal, the stronger the opposition becomes. "The government doesn’t want you to read this massive new trade agreement. It’s top secret," said Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. "Why? Here’s the real answer people have given me: 'We can’t make this deal public because if the American people saw what was in it, they would be opposed to it.'"<br> &nbsp;<br> Ask students:</p> <ul> <li>Do you think trade deals like the TPP should be negotiated in secret?&nbsp; Why or why not?</li> <li>Do you think trade deals should be "fast-tracked" through Congress? Why or why not?<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <h4><br> Optional follow up activities:<br> &nbsp;</h4> <ul> <li>Ask students to investigate what has been leaked about the TPP and how this has affected the debate.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Split the class into four teams, each playing one of the roles below. Teams will first research their group’s views on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, then argue together for their position in class discussion.&nbsp; Groups are:</li> </ul> <p class="rteindent1">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republicans/conservatives supporting TPP<br> 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republicans/conservatives opposing TPP<br> 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrats/progressives supporting TPP<br> 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrats/progressives opposing TPP<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Sources</h4> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/business/trans-pacific-partnership-seen-as-door-for-foreign-suits-against-us.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/business/trans-pacific-partnership-seen-as-door-for-foreign-suits-against-us.html?_r=0</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/01/30/the-obama-administrations-illusionary-job-gains-from-the-trans-pacific-partnership/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/01/30/the-obama-administrations-illusionary-job-gains-from-the-trans-pacific-partnership/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/02/26/investor-state-dispute-settlement-isds-questions-and-answers">https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/02/26/investor-state-dispute-settlement-isds-questions-and-answers</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/03/what-a-good-trans-pacific-partnership-looks-like">http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/03/what-a-good-trans-pacific-partnership-looks-like</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/opinion/dont-keep-trade-talks-secret.html?_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/opinion/dont-keep-trade-talks-secret.html?_r=0</a><br> &nbsp;<br> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/23/why-almost-everyone-hates-the-trade-deal-obamas-negotiating-in-japan/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/23/why-almost-everyone-hates-the-trade-deal-obamas-negotiating-in-japan/</a><br> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-04-26T08:08:13-04:00" title="Sunday, April 26, 2015 - 08:08">April 26, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 26 Apr 2015 12:08:13 +0000 fionta 463 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Teachable Instant: Targeting Greenhouse Gases https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teachable-instant-targeting-greenhouse-gases <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Teachable Instant: Targeting Greenhouse Gases</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It's all in the numbers. President Obama made a key announcement about climate change on March 31, 2015: &nbsp;He unveiled the U.S.'s targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions, which come mainly from burning fossil fuels, are causing growing instability in the world's climate, including floods, droughts, rising oceans, and violent weather.<br> &nbsp;</p> <div>Nations around the world are required to set emissions targets in the coming months as part of UN-sponsored climate talks. &nbsp;The goal is to arrive at a global plan to combat climate change at a summit in Paris this December. Meanwhile, grassroots climate activists across the U.S. and the world are organizing hard to pressure their governments to take dramatic action.</div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The target announced by the Obama administration is far below what scientists say is needed. &nbsp;But many conservatives say we shouldn't even have a target: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans argue that cutting emissions will result in job loss. &nbsp;Scientists say that <em>not</em> addressing climate change will cause much worse dislocation and loss, especially for low-income people. But many Republicans say they don't believe the scientific evidence. &nbsp;</p> <div><br> So what <em>are</em> these numbers, exactly?</div> <p>&nbsp;<br> <strong>Scientists:</strong> Climate scientists say that developed countries like the U.S. need to cut their emissions between <u>25-50% from their 1990 levels by the year 2025</u> if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. It is already too late to prevent some climate disruption, but the extent of that disruption depends on our ability to reduce greenhouse gases now.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Obama administration:&nbsp; </strong>The U.S. announced it would cut emissions by 26-28% from 2005 levels by 2025. &nbsp;Note that the administration is using the year 2005 as a starting place instead of 1990, which is the base year usually used to set targets. This is important, since emissions were much higher in 2005 than they were in 1990. As <a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=31&amp;Itemid=74&amp;jumival=13566">one analyst</a> noted, it's like the U.S. is "going on a diet, but we're going to use Thanksgiving as our baseline." If we use the international standard baseline of 1990, then the U.S. is proposing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by only <u>14-16% from their 1990 levels by the year 2025</u>.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Republicans: </strong>Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged to block the administration's targets. McConnell said the Obama plan "would have a negligible effect on global climate but a profoundly negative impact on countless American families already struggling. The regulation is unfair. It's probably illegal."&nbsp; Many Republicans advocate for <u>no caps on greenhouse gas emissions</u>.<br> &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> Ask students:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>What do <em>you</em> think this situation requires?&nbsp;</li> <li>What if any targets should the U.S. set?</li> <li>What action should regular people (like us) take on this issue, based on what we know?</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> Sources:&nbsp;</h4> <p>Obama administration's emissions target proposal:<br> <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/31/fact-sheet-us-reports-its-2025-emissions-target-unfccc">https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/31/fact-sheet-us-reports-its-2025-emissions-target-unfccc</a><br> &nbsp;<br> Obama administration's climate plan:<br> <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/149809454/President-Obama-s-Climate-Action-Plan">http://www.scribd.com/doc/149809454/President-Obama-s-Climate-Action-Plan</a><br> &nbsp;<br> Heritage Foundation editorial:<br> <a href="http://dailysignal.com/2015/03/31/the-problems-with-obamas-plan-to-slash-u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-nearly-30-percent/">http://dailysignal.com/2015/03/31/the-problems-with-obamas-plan-to-slash-u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-nearly-30-percent/</a><br> &nbsp;<br> Senator McConnell editorial: &nbsp;<br> <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article44558769.html">https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article44558769.html</a><br> &nbsp;<br> News stories on the Obama announcement:<br> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/us/obama-to-offer-major-blueprint-on-climate-change.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/us/obama-to-offer-major-blueprint-on-climate-change.html</a><br> <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/obama-greenhouse-gas-emissions-116544.html">http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/obama-greenhouse-gas-emissions-116544.html</a><br> &nbsp;<br> Center for Biological Diversity statement on the Obama announcement:<br> <a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2015/carbon-pollution-03-31-2015.html">http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2015/carbon-pollution-03-31-2015.html</a><br> &nbsp;<br> European Commission Climate Action website:<br> <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/future/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/future/index_en.htm</a></p> <p><em><strong>Photo: </strong>Grassroots groups protest at the UN demanding that rich nations step up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;(C) Mongkhonsavat Luengvorapant/Oxfam</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>fionta</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2015-04-04T10:36:50-04:00" title="Saturday, April 4, 2015 - 10:36">April 4, 2015</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sat, 04 Apr 2015 14:36:50 +0000 fionta 471 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org