The UN Conference in Bali - GW

Hi Everyone!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday. I wanted to post a few more links about Global Warming. The following link talks about the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali (which we talked about in some of our classes already). 180 countries participated. This link outlines some of the decisions that were made there:

http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php

Also, below is a link that is useful because it includes a "Background Notes" guide that has a paragraph on international involvement:

Background Notes

Hope this helps. Remember to e-mail globalclassrooms@gmail.com if you have any questions! Happy Position Paper Writing (and Happy Holidays)!

Monica

Yesterday my village was burned....

Alex Squitieri sent the following e-mail with helpful links about the situation in Darfur. I have also posted the Missourri State and MTV links under the Situation in Darfur links that are on the side of this webpage. I encourage everyone to take a look, even if Darfur is not your topic!

This is a photo essay on Darfur, which I thought was very helpful in depicting the situation in Darfur without words: http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/sudan/photo_exhibit.pdf

I found it here, which has a lot of links to resources on Darfur. I don't know that they are any better/different than the ones we already have, but it may be worth a look: http://student.missouristate.edu/u/unruh057/webquestdarfur/un.htm

(I would especially recommend the following link from PBS, because it gives you diagrams to help understand Who´s Who in Darfur: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/sudan/relationshipsa.html -- Monica, Isaace Albeniz)

Also, MTV has a bunch of stuff on genocide and the Sudan. You all might think it´s cool because its from MTV! My kids students are already spending lots of times with all of the other websites I've given them, though, so I don't know that they need more:
http://www.mtvu.com/on_mtvu/activism/stand/search.jhtml

Alex Squitieri
Fulbright Assistant
Joaquin Araujo

Afghanistan and Pakistan

Below are three student readings provided by Alan Shapiro from the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility. The readings talk about the history of AFGHANISTAN and PAKISTAN and some of the problems these two countries face today.

The readings are written from an American point of view, but are still helpful for providing background information on the countries.

The articles can be found here.

UN Priorities for 2008

The Economist "The World in 2008" issue is out and selling on newstands and it has some great, brief articles relevant to MUN topics. This one is An Article written by Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon discussing what UN's priorities should be in 2008 and I think it's a great document just to have on the website (he mentions Darfur and Climate Change as UN priorities, the language isn't too complicated, it's a "voice of the UN" type thing, etc).

Talia Stol

Question for Students:

1. "Principaled pragmatism" refers to a practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems based on defined standards of rightness or morality. Do you think this is an appropriate approach to solving world problems? What are some advantages of this approach? Disadvantages?

2. Do you agree with the priorities of the United Nations? What other priorities do you think the United Nations should consider that are not included in this article?