Form Time 1 Our World:People, Politics, Key Events

President Trump……..not guilty?

Last week, a very sad moment occurred in the history of modern America.

Donald Trump was acquitted (found not guilty) at the end of his impeachment trial.

Impeachment is an incredibly serious & important charge, particularly for a President.

Important because the charge indicates that no individual, regardless of how powerful they are, is above the law. Even the President.

In Britain, we share this belief and it is one of our most important British Values:

The rule of law

‘But Trump may have genuinely been not guilty’

Indeed. But that is not the point.

The point is that the impeachment trial was clearly not about finding out the truth about what Trump may or may not have done…but only about politics and party rivalry. That is a disgrace to justice.

The proof of that statement:

The Senate has 100 members, all of who were required to vote on the 2 separate impeachment charges: a/ abuse of power; b/ obstruction of Congress

53/100 members were from the Republican Party. All they were interested in was protecting their own.

Trump is a member of the Republican Party.

52/53 Republicans found Trump not guilty of the charge of abuse of power

53/53 Republicans found Trump not guilty of the charge of obstruction of Congress

Power can be a highly corrupting force

What message does such a sham trial send to the world about:

Democracy and the rule of law

People’s trust in their elected representatives

crucial values such as: integrity, honesty, righteousness?

Not a lot, sadly.

‘A triumph for Trump – not just over the Democrats, but over democracy’ (Germany)

‘A hollow pretence of justice’ (France)

‘Destructive for constitutional democracy’ (Australia)

‘The Republican defence arose like an unshakeable wall’ (Spain)

Newspapers around the world

have been highly critical:

What is next for President Trump?

Business as usual. He has been found not guilty – that is the end of his impeachment.

The USA has the equivalent of a General Election in November.

Trump is standing for re-election as President – he wants another 4 years.

Anyone trying to beat him has a real challenge because, although many voters

dislike Trump personally:

Under his presidency, the American economy is doing very well – with particularly

strong employment rates. This has a positive impact on people’s lifestyle and

personal finances. The economy is always a key voting issue for people.

Many like his ‘Make America Great’ ethos and his desire to put America first

Click on this video of Trump launching his re-election campaign

Some other key news stories

A whopping 30% discount

The government is considering introducing a scheme which would help first time house buyers to get a third off the cost of purchasing a home.

The scheme would only be for identified ‘key workers’ in the public sector:

Nurses, teachers, prison officers

Police officers, and other emergency workers

Military veterans

The average saving is estimated to be around £100,000 pounds

The proposed 30% off would be paid for through contributions from housing developers.

Discussion point: a good idea? The right category of people being helped?

COP 26: search for a leader

The 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 26) is being planned for

November 2020.

It is a gathering of world leaders and experts – to discuss the climate change

emergency. The UK is hosting it, and the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been

trying to find a high profile figure to lead it- currently without success.

David Cameron, former PM,

has turned the job down.

William Hague, former

Conservative leader, has

also said no to the job.

We need to find a ‘big hitter’ to lead COP 26. It is essential for climate action.

Watch this space……..

Shamima Begum: an ISIS bride

The Story

She left the UK aged 15 & joined

ISIS in Syria.

She married an ISIS fighter and

had 3 children.

She was found in a Syrian refuge

camp, 9 months pregnant, after

ISIS were defeated. She is now

20 years old, and is homeless

abroad.

She asked to be allowed to

return to London – but the UK

government removed her British

Citizenship and said she would

never be allowed back home

because of her terrorist

activities.

Discussion Point

Last week, her lawyers failed in their attempt to

get her British Citizenship restored, so she could

return to the UK.

Is this a fair decision, given how young she is?

Should we be giving her a 2nd chance?

Form Time 2

Our World: Art, Culture & Environment

A different approach this week

Nothing but drawings and photographs.

The drawings: all designed to make you smile, feel amazed……and perhaps inspired with a love for art.

The photographs: all designed to teach you about your world.

Enjoy.

The next few slides show

some incredible pencil

drawings

Brazil (South America): a protestor smokes his pipe during a break in protesting against

the destruction of his indigenous tribe’s land by businesses trying to build housing

developments

El Salvador (Central America): the feet of a chained gang member – the government

has launched mass arrests to crack down on a growing problem with criminal gangs.

South Africa

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Two of the

world’s greatest

tennis players

take a selfie

together, after a

charity match.

China

Children

wear

makeshift

masks made

out of

plastic

bottles.

The

coronavirus

& a ‘global

emergency’

– it is still a

top priority

to deal with.

Nearly a

1000 people

have died

to date.

China

Even the

railway

stations are

being

disinfected

France

Paris.

Workers

continue to

protest

against the

government

’s plan to

change

their

pension

schemes

Canada

One of the

world’s

rarest dogs

– the merle

bully.

Famous for

its

distinctive

colouring.

Sold this

week for

$10,000

dollars.

Loving Science: Fact of the Week

You brain uses over 25% of the oxygen within by the human body

If you live beyond 30 years old, your heart will already have beaten over a billion

times