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