4.5 Baby it's cold outside

With the cold temperatures today I thought this topic would be fitting.  Here is a picture of the frozen Great Lakes on Wednesday at 80.29% frozen.  At its peak of 88.42.% on February 12-13 it was the most frozen it has been since 1994 (or before you were born).  With cold temperatures today and this weekend it should freeze even more.
Two articles to read here but they are short:
http://www.midlandbaysailing.org/links.html
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/stunning-images-of-frozen-great-lakes-captured-from-space-1.1699152

Think about this:
1) What impact will this have on the Great Lakes and the regions surrounding it?
2) How will this affect the water levels?
3) How is this a world issue?
4) How does this fuel the fire for global warming nay sayers?

Friday Survey Data Site

Please use this link to input your data that was gathered from the class survey.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkbeBYouBEZtdG41VllDMFozNmpWVnBmUzBpakx5M0E#gid=0

More information to come in class.

4.4 Population Growth

Babies, babies and more babies.  Now don't go getting any ideas here especially since a high population growth means a lot for to this Earth.  Read the following article and think:
1) What effects will this have in Canada?
2) What effects will this have on you?
3) What can Canada do to help countries that are tops on the list?
4) What other effects will this have on our Earth?

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-20/news/40093943_1_new-species-population-growth-extinction

4.3 Money money money...MONEEEYY

Looking at different countries like we have been doing this week we see that money is not distributed equally among countries and people.  The following article looks at where the richest people live in the world.  Check it out and think of this:
1) Why are those regions represented?
2) Why are some regions not represented?
3) Do those with tons of money have a responsibility to look after those who do not?
4) How much money do you really need?
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20140225-the-worlds-wealthiest

4.2 Making money; makes cents but at what cost?

We all know the earth is warming up and polar ice caps are melting but how can we make money off of this?  Seems like a legit question but one that I don't think would be the first to come to my mind.  Read the article and think:
1) Is this a good thing?  Should people be able to benefit from the environment?
2) What are your thoughts on the Northwest Passage?  Do some research why is this a big deal?
3) How could we make some money here in Barrie off of this?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/24/windfall_find_out_whos_getting_rich_off_global_warming.html#

4.1 Intranet in North Korea

Pretty cool article about the use of the internet in North Korea.
1) Why is the country so secretive?
2) What other forms of media/information are monitored like this is North Korea?
3) How would you react if this happened at our school? or our country?http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/23/north_korea_where_the_internet_has_just_5500_sites.html

3.4 Keystone Pipeline

Happy Snow Day!
When I first heard about this pipeline I thought what a strange way to deliver beer. Now I get it.  Read the article and think.
1) How do you feel about the decision by the state of Nebraska?
2) How do you feel about the pipeline in general?
3) Why is Canada so bent on getting this built?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/20/nebraska_delivers_a_glacial_setback_for_keystone_xl_pipeline_project.html

3.3 I fell into a Burning Ring of Fire and it burns, burns, burns...

The Ring of Fire is a great song by Johnny Cash and a region around the Pacific ocean known for earthquakes and volcanoes.  It turns out that Ontario has it's own Ring of Fire.  A great opportunity exists to develop Northern Ontario and what really struck me is the very last line
"The provincial government should also remove regulatory barriers that impede the Ring’s development “to the greatest extent possible,” it adds."
Read the article and think:
1) Mining is already not environmentally friendly what would removing barriers do to our environment?
2) Should we remove these barriers to allow growth in the north where it is needed?
3) Would a road be a good idea or would hovercrafts be cool and better?
4)Do we really need to make this a national priority?
What are your thoughts?
http://www.thestar.com/business/economy/2014/02/20/ring_of_fire_must_be_a_national_priority_report.html

3.2 The other side of Syria

This article is very pro-Israel and anti-Syria.  Research other articles that explain the war from Syria's point of view.
1) Why does the article favor Israel over Syria?
2) Who is the article written for?
3) What is so wrong with Syria?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/syrian-wounded-flee-to-hospitals-in-israel-derek-stoffel-1.2541562

3.1 Olympics/Politics

As mentioned in the fake newscast I wrote, produced and starred in the band Pussy Riot has been once again in the media.  This article brings politics into the Olympics.  Read the article and answer the following:
1) Why did the band members get jail time?
2) What is their message?  Why do they feel so strongly about their cause?
3) Do politics belong in the games?  Do they take away or help the games by bringing more attention to them?
4) Is this attention positive or negative?

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014/2014/02/18/pussy_riots_detainment_during_sochi_olympics_was_incredibly_stupid_by_vladimir_putins_regime_kelly.html#

2.5 Manufacturing Consent

Ok so we saw this in class and I want you to see it again as it is pretty important.  Edward Bernays and Noam Chomsky both said that democracy is in trouble without as it can be hacked with Manufactured Consent.  Watch the video and comment:
1) Do you agree that democracy is in trouble without manufactured consent?  Explain.
2) Who is at the helm when it comes to putting ideas in our heads? Should we trust them?
3) What can we do so that we are in the 20% not the 80%
4) Is 20-80 good or should we make it more 50-50?  Explain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWoorJKA6pg 

PS if you didn't get to see this video you should see it too.  Don't worry so much about the Monsanto stuff as we will talk about them a lot later.  Focus on the actual reporters and how they have to do their job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZkDikRLQrw&feature=related

2.4 Central African Republic

See here is why you need to take world issues as it keeps you informed.  I had no idea that stuff was going on in the Central African Republic and that "ethnic cleansing" was being used.  These are the words of Hitler in WWII and in Armania and Rwanda during their genocides.  Read the article and make a post:
1) What is the underlining issue here?  There must be more than just religious groups fighting.
2) Research the issue in depth and tells us why this is going on.
3) Why would France be involved in country so far away?  Does the country have something to offer supporters?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26195583

2.3 China's in trouble

How do you feed 1.3 Billion people?  Read this article and tell me what you think.
1) Is there bias in the article?
2) Is it opinion or fact?
3) What can we do to help countries that need land for food like China or India?
4) Should a country be able to buy land from another country that is in-dept to them? 

Explain these and other questions in more detail.

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/25/countries-like-china-want-foreign-farm-land/

2.2 Flooding in the UK

Not sure if you heard about this but since record keeping started (250 years ago) this is the most precipitation to ever fall in the United Kingdom.  Flooding is rampant and people are having to bail out their living rooms on more than one occasion.  Check out the article and think:
1) Does it seem that more frequent and powerful storms are happening lately? What could be attributing to this rise?
2) Here is a wealthy country where no money will be spared to help the victims.  What happens to countries that don't have this kind of wealth?
3) What kind of global fallout could happen from this catastrophe?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26153889

2.1 Figure Skating Drama at Sochi

One of my passions is Figure Skating...not really but just go with it and the thing that has always intriged me was the scoring system. There is so much discretion involved in marking someone and so the judges are given so much power to decide who did what best.  It really does come down to perspective and judgement of the person viewing the event and sometimes that isn't fair for the athletes.  In speed skating there is a clock, a very accurate clock that determines the winner and it is hard to dispute who wins.  In figure skating it is a series of judges and to me that makes not much sense.  This isn't the first time that judges have been bought for votes but nonetheless it does put a big asterisk beside the winner.
1) Do you think events with judges should be thrown out of the games?
2) How can the event be cleaned up from judge tampering?
3) How would you feel if you put your heart and soul into an event to find out the best you can do is second because the judge has something against you?
4) Does this happen anywhere else?

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014/figureskating/2014/02/08/sochi_olympics_ice_dance_fix_talk_throws_virtue_moir_for_loop_dimanno.html

1.5 Ukrainian Protesters using Social Media

I didn't know much about this protest other than it is about 3 months old and will change the face of Ukraine but this article gives a lot of background information and tells about how the protestors are using social media to help them during their fight.  Read the article and think about this:
1) Why is this fight happening?  What is the deeper story here?
2) Would you ever join an "occupy" movement for a cause?
3) Why would the current President sign with Russia instead of the EU?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/02/05/ukraines_revolutionary_movement_euromaidan_stays_organized_with_social_media.html

1.4 Sochi Olympics a big deal

With the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics set to begin this week here is a fitting article about how much money has gone into the games thus far.  Putin, the president of Russia has been critized that he has spent way too much money on these games when there are lots of people in his country starving.  Historically speaking the hosting the Olympics has garnered world wide attention bringing in all sorts of revenues.  It is a chance to showcase to the world what your country has to offer in hopes of generating trade, tourism, jobs and money.  However, Putin may have overdone it on this one.  Think about this while reading:
1) Compared to how much other games have cost in past will this be another Olympics where they loose money?
2) What value do the games hold?  Are they even necessary?
3) Why would Putin spend so much when his country is in such desperate need for financial help?
4) Will you watch the games?  Why or why not?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/the-costly-distraction-that-is-vladimir-putin-s-sochi-olympics-1.2521816

1.3 Tar Sands cause Cancer

Not only do tar sands cause environmental damage (which we will get to later).  A new paper just published from U of T shows that they are also causing life threatening pollutants that not only are we breathing in but so are the animals we eat, the plants we eat and the water we drink.  Follow the link to the short article and then please watch this amazing video from Neil Young.
Think of these questions.
1) where is all this oil going?
2) Who will be responsible for the clean-up?
3) Who's land is this truly that we are digging up?
4) How could you use less oil?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oilsands-air-pollutants-underestimated-researchers-find-1.2521134

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7hTATM4i_8

1.2 I have been guilty of this

One unit of study we will be looking at is Food.  So this is a good one to read and think about.

When wondering the aisle of the grocery store trying to buy food that is good for you can be difficult.  I know for myself eating healthy has been a challenge but I always try to find a Natural food to eat.  On the door to room 236 there is a sign "Want to eat healthy? Don't eat anything with a commercial!" and I think of that often.  However, the food industry has a hold on us and it can be very difficult to break this habit of eating commercialized food.  Check out the link below and answer these questions:
1) What foods do I eat that say Natural?
2) What food item is the most prevalent on the list?
3) What can you do to eat better?
4) What other labels are out there that lead us to believe it is ok to eat.


http://www.onlyorganic.org/pretenders