Global IssuesGlobal Issues

What’s happening in our world?What’s happening in our world?

Our Cultures Project: The BasicsOur Cultures Project: The Basics Select a culture you are interested in Select a culture you are interested in

knowing more about.knowing more about. Brainstorm a list of 5 non-western Brainstorm a list of 5 non-western

cultures you are interested in learning cultures you are interested in learning more about. Be as specific as you can.more about. Be as specific as you can.

Xhosa tribe in South Xhosa tribe in South AfricaAfricaWomen in GuatemalaWomen in GuatemalaVoodun culture in HaitiVoodun culture in HaitiHindu culture in NepalHindu culture in NepalNorth KoreaNorth KoreaKurds in IranKurds in IranCubaCubaBuddhism in TibetBuddhism in Tibet

Religious turmoil in Religious turmoil in PakistanPakistanJapanJapanIndonesiaIndonesiaSri LankaSri LankaThe SudanThe SudanAmazon rainforestsAmazon rainforestsLOOK AT A MAP: WHAT LOOK AT A MAP: WHAT IS AN AREA OF THE IS AN AREA OF THE WORLD YOU KNOW WORLD YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT?NOTHING ABOUT?

The Basics:The Basics: Once you’ve selected a culture, begin to look at print and Once you’ve selected a culture, begin to look at print and

electronic sources to find contemporary issues affecting that electronic sources to find contemporary issues affecting that culture that you would like to learn more about. For culture that you would like to learn more about. For example:example: Reparations for apartheid in South AfricaReparations for apartheid in South Africa Genocide in DarfurGenocide in Darfur Commercial farming and its impact on rural Latin Commercial farming and its impact on rural Latin

American farmersAmerican farmers Traditional Islamic values and treatment of women in Traditional Islamic values and treatment of women in

PakistanPakistan Trade embargos on CubaTrade embargos on Cuba Food shortages in NigeriaFood shortages in Nigeria AIDS in the CaribbeanAIDS in the Caribbean Medical treatment in PeruMedical treatment in Peru The treatment of the “Untouchables” in IndiaThe treatment of the “Untouchables” in India Religion in ChinaReligion in China World Bank, debt forgiveness, and Sub-Saharan AfricaWorld Bank, debt forgiveness, and Sub-Saharan Africa Potable water in KenyaPotable water in Kenya Mining practices in ZambiaMining practices in Zambia Education in BrazilEducation in Brazil

Where can I begin to look for Where can I begin to look for contemporary issues that interest contemporary issues that interest me?me?

Print resources:Print resources: Red Red Issues and ControversiesIssues and Controversies binders at the binders at the

front of the libraryfront of the library World cultures reference section in library (near World cultures reference section in library (near

stairs)stairs) National Geographic and newspapersNational Geographic and newspapers Periodical sectionPeriodical section

Electronic resources:Electronic resources: Databases – Ebscohost, Sirs, and Facts.comDatabases – Ebscohost, Sirs, and Facts.com The Global Issues Gateway at The Global Issues Gateway at

http://www.gig.org/http://www.gig.org/ BBC World News at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ BBC World News at http://www.bbc.co.uk/

worldserviceworldservice The United Nations at http://www.un.org/english/The United Nations at http://www.un.org/english/ Oxfam International at Oxfam.orgOxfam International at Oxfam.org Amnesty International at amnesty.orgAmnesty International at amnesty.org

BBC News Tuesday, 27 February 2007, 19:25 GMT

Sudan defiant on Darfur suspects Sudan says it will not hand over two men named by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court as war crimes suspects in the Darfur region.

The ICC named Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb.

Sudan said the ICC had no jurisdiction to try Sudanese and that its own courts were capable of prosecuting suspects.

Some 200,000 people have died in a four-year conflict in Darfur.

BBC News BBC News Sunday, 25 February 2007, 08:32 GMT Sunday, 25 February 2007, 08:32 GMT

Islam's pioneering women priestsIslam's pioneering women priests

A radical innovation in the Islamic world A radical innovation in the Islamic world has arisen in Morocco - women priests. has arisen in Morocco - women priests. The Mourchidat, as they are known, are The Mourchidat, as they are known, are the first women ever in any Muslim the first women ever in any Muslim country that can perform the functions country that can perform the functions of a male Imam in a mosque, except lead of a male Imam in a mosque, except lead the prayers. the prayers.

Fifty Mourchidat have graduated and have Fifty Mourchidat have graduated and have now begun their ministries. However, not now begun their ministries. However, not everyone agrees with the new everyone agrees with the new appointments. appointments.

The Mourchidat will be allowed to lead The Mourchidat will be allowed to lead religious discussions and give advice in religious discussions and give advice in their communities - particularly to women. their communities - particularly to women. The only thing they will not be able to do is The only thing they will not be able to do is to lead prayers. That role will still be to lead prayers. That role will still be reserved for male Imams.reserved for male Imams.

Tackling Papua New Tackling Papua New Guinea's Aids epidemicGuinea's Aids epidemic By Penny Spiller By Penny Spiller BBC News BBC News

Thursday, 28 September 2006, 12:32 GMT 13:32 UKThursday, 28 September 2006, 12:32 GMT 13:32 UK Papua New Guinea and its population of just under six Papua New Guinea and its population of just under six million is in the grip of an HIV/Aids epidemic. The million is in the grip of an HIV/Aids epidemic. The Health Minister Peter Barter shocked a recent meeting Health Minister Peter Barter shocked a recent meeting of world health officials by saying that infection rates of world health officials by saying that infection rates had reached double digits in some remote parts of the had reached double digits in some remote parts of the country. country.

With nearly 2% of the With nearly 2% of the population now believed population now believed to be living with HIV and to be living with HIV and Aids, experts fear Papua Aids, experts fear Papua New Guinea is heading New Guinea is heading for a crisis similar to that for a crisis similar to that in sub Suharan Africa. in sub Suharan Africa.

Dirty water 'kills 1.5m children' BBC NEWS: Thursday, 28 Sept.

2006, 05:57 GMT 06:57 UK

More than 1.5m children

under five die each year

because they lack access to safe water and proper sanitation, says the United Nations children's agency.

In a report, Unicef says that despite some successes, a billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water from protected sources.

More than 1.2 billion people have gained access to safe water since 1990.

But sub-Saharan Africa remains a major area of concern, especially countries affected by conflict.