WITW 21st April

Article: Report on Sewol - BBC and Yonhap
URL: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27100056, http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/21/0701000000AKR20140421170200054.HTML?template=208

A recent article on the Sewol Ferry that began its submerge four days ago, reports that 87 people have been confirmed dead (and counting) with 215 still missing. Its unfortunate that only 174 people were saved while more than 300 of the passengers (that were mostly grade 11 students) were still in the ship during its submergence. It has also been reported that the ship's captain had fled the scene during the whole chaos and his last orders were, "Stay in your positions/seats and be calm". The captain did not give sets of orders to the crew nor did he open the emergency vault that contained auto-inflatable life boats that could carry 1500 people. Many of the crew members also fled with the captain in the time of crucial need. Yonhap states that the captain and two other crew members have been charged with negligence of duty and violation of maritime law. Another article states that the judge of the case said that they could easily be charged for more than 2000 years if you took account for every person that have died or reported missing. With the nation in distress and the families of the students experiencing tragic loss, we can only pray that the situation can get better.

Questions:

1. What has happened recently in Mount Everest?
• The deadliest avalanche in Mount Everest. Sherpas threaten to stop work unless money is paid to families of guides killed in Mount Everest's deadliest avalanche. 13 guides were reported killed and three others seriously injured in the avalanche on khumbu Icefall (one of the most dangerous parts). The men were trying to fix ropes and crack snow and ice to carve out a route for foreign climbers.
• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/04/nepal-guides-demand-avalanche-compensation-201442164210813808.html
2. What is going to happen in Egypt soon?
• An election for a new government of Egypt. Polls show former Egyptian military chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will easily win next month's presidential election. Aljazeera reports that when sisi formally registered last week as a candidate for the May vote, he delivered 200,000 signatures to Egypt's election commission - eight times the number required.
• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/04/sisi-godot-egypt-201442082728108499.html
3. What has happened in Syria?
• Assad, whose term ends on July 17, is expected to run and win another seven-year term in office despite the conflict. The conflict, which began with peaceful protests against Assad's government, has also displaced nearly half of Syria's population inside and outside the country. 
• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/04/syria-presidential-date-fixed-june-3-201442195533727216.html

WITH April 16th

Article: Man arrested for Boston Marathon bomb Hoax
A man was arrested for possessing a rice cooker, in his bag, near Boston Marathon finish line during the anniversary tribute to the Boston Bombing victims. After being suspiciously found walking and acting strangely, a police officer stopped him and interrogated him after finding that he had a rice cooker in his bag.

Questions:

1. What has recently happened in South Korea regarding ships.
• A Ferry carrying 459 people sank with a 100 people still reported missing. 
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27045512
2. What has the Taliban decided to do recently?
• The Pakistan Taliban has announced that they will not extend the ceasefire they began in March, effectively ending their truce with the government. 
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27053267
3.  What has happened to the UK Economy regarding wage?
• After six years, wage rises match with inflation.
• http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27047966

5 Articles

5 Articles regarding Death Penalty

1. "Why Whites Support Capital Punishment" - Article published by Slate
• An American point of view of Capital Punishment relating it to the history of racial discrimination and its origins. This article mentions how the death penalty came about in America and how it was used as a tool of authority and control, particularly over slaves, Native Americans and blacks. 
• http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/03/pew_research_death_penalty_poll_why_whites_support_capital_punishment_more.html
2. "Death Penalty is dead wrong: it's time to outlaw capital punishment in America completely" - Article published in NY Daily News
• Unlike the first article, this piece argues that the death penalty should, 'finally', be completely abolished in America. It states the reformed legislation's focusing on the death penalty and the public opinion on it.
• http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/death-penalty-dead-wrong-time-outlaw-capital-punishment-america-completely-article-1.961087
3. "Death Penalty states mull return of firing squads, electric chairs" - Article published in NY Daily News
• Completely contradicting to the article above, this article explains that the instrument for executions; lethal-injection drugs have come short on supply and that the effectiveness is also questionable. This being said they suggest that executions might have to be practices the old traditional ways such as firing squads, electrocutions and gas chambers. 
• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/death-penalty-states-mull-return-firing-squads-electric-chairs-article-1.1593687
4.  "Perspective on representing Death row inmates" - Article published in Death Penalty Information Center.
• A primary source of a given perspective of a lawyer who represented Death Row inmates. He specifically describes his clients on the story of how they were lead to capital punishment. He strongly believes that death penalty should be abolished in every form.
•  http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/5736
5. "The Death Penalty V. Human Rights: Why Abolish the death penalty" - Article published by Amnesty International.
• The 62nd session resolution of the UN General Assembly regarding the affirmation of the right to life and stating that abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of human rights. This report is in respect international standards that guarantee he protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty.
• https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ACT51/002/2007

Death Penalty

Topic Outline: Death Penalty

Death Penalty, also known as Capital Punishment, is the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime (Oxford).

This particular field of study is definitely one of the most reserved, dark and enigmatic topics that are considered one of the top ten Humanities issue. Organizations such as the UN (HRC) and Amnesty works towards abolishing the Death Penalty and exposing the reports of such actions so that the public is aware of such government activities. I will provide information to the class about the field (detailed list below).

The Topic: Death Penalty will cover,

• Facts and Figures (General)
• Predictions
• Data analysis
• Government Reports
• Government action
• Politics behind the penalty
• Public opinion
• Public Decision 
• Crime related (What is considered capital Punishment)
• Countries that practice death penalty
• Hiding information (Total Secrecy) 
• Organizations that work toward abolishing the Death Penalty

Interview and Articles (Case Study)

Endangered Languages 

People Interviewed:
Mr. Chophel (Staff)
Mrs. Chophel (Staff)
Tenzin Jigmey (Student)

Articles:

·        1. "Endangered Languages | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization."Endangered Languages | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/endangered-languages/>.

·         2. "Enduring Voices." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://travel.nationalgeographic.co.in/travel/enduring-voices/>.

·        3. The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703467304575383131592767868>.

·        4.  "Endangered Languages." Ethnologue. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ethnologue.com/endangered-languages>.

·         5. "Endangered Language Fund." Endangered Language Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.endangeredlanguagefund.org/resources.php>.

·         6. "Wade Davis:Dreams from Endangered Cultures." Wade Davis: Dreams from Endangered Cultures. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/wade_davis_on_endangered_cultures>.

·         7. "Lost Language, Lost Culture." Government of Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Canadian Foreign Service Institute, Centre for Intercultural Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. <http://www.international.gc.ca/cfsi-icse/cil-cai/magazine/v04n03/1-1-eng.asp>.

The primary focus of my case study is the direct correlation between endangered cultures with endangered languages. The particular endangered language I chose is the Tibetan Language. Fortunately, Woodstock School welcomes Tibetans as part of their own community allowing me to interview some of them regarding the case of the Tibetan Language hence Tibetan Culture. A good friend of mine, Tenzin Jigmey, has spent approximately half of his life dedicated in being part of the Woodstock Community. I have asked for his opinion on the status of Tibetan Culture and Language, I also asked him if he could fluently speak Tibetan, also if he could follow up on his current knowledge of Tibetan Culture. I had asked the same questions to both Mr and Mrs. Chophel on the matter and all three responded fairly similarly. Arguing that Tibetan culture is slowly disappearing because of three major factors, immigration, globalization and political regression from China. In the Case Study I will further focus on a detailed analysis of the situation.

WITW 25th March

Article: Muslim Brotherhood members sentenced to Death

• Aljazeera (Most reliable when it comes to Middle East News) reports that an 'Egyptian court has sentenced 529 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death on charges including murder, in a sharp escalation of a crackdown on the movement.' This charge is reported to be the biggest mass death sentence handed out in Egypt's History another thing to note is that this was the 'quickest case' in history with no instant rebuttal of any sort. Interestingly it seemed that the nation, including the judge himself was strongly against the Muslim Brotherhood that it went as far as sentencing 500+ people (Majority of the Brotherhood). A quote sums this point saying, "When the trail begun with the procedural hearing, the judge doesn't listen to any lawyers or witnesses and doesn't even call the defendants, you are before a group of thugs and not the judiciary," Walid, a relative of one the defendants, told Reuters.

Question:

1. What has recently happened to Ukraine?
• Ukraine has ordered its troops out of Crimea after Russia has seized and annexed the peninsula in response to the fall of the Ukrainian government 
• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/ukraine-orders-troops-out-crimea-2014324125620276454.html
2. What has James Cameron announced regarding the G8 Summit?
• James Cameron announced that the G8 Summit will no longer be held in Russia because of its conflicts with Ukraine.
• http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26722668
3. What has the PM of Malaysia announced regarding the Missing Malaysian Plane?
•  Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak has informed the families of those missing in the flight MH370 that the plane has likely crashed in the Indian Ocean west of Perth.
• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/03/families-told-plane-lost-indian-ocean-201432414843733737.html

Endangered Language = Endangered Culture (Not the other way around)

Language is most arguably the core of all cultural practices. We often neglect language as part of our culture when in fact, language is the essential base factor of it. We use language everyday and every moment of our lives as our medium of communication but it is being constantly being lost in a significant rate, hence so does culture with it. According to UNESCO, it is estimated that 'half of 6000 plus languages spoken today will disappear by the end of the century. With the disappearance of unwritten and undocumented languages, humanity would lose not only a cultural wealth but also important ancestral knowledge embedded, in particular, in indigenous languages.' (UNESCO)  The essay will focus on the importance of language embedded on cultures and how the loss of language is directly correlated to the loss of culture.