POLITICS “Let’s make this a year of action,” President Barack Obama said in his 2014 State of the Union address. What issues was he talking about, and what actions can the government take? (New York Times) Use our resources to better understand the U.S. government. Discussion Ideas Discuss key issues in the debates surrounding the five key issues addressed in the New York Times article. … Continue reading So, What’s the State of the Union?
WORLD Egypt is one of the biggest recipients of U.S. aid in the world. President Obama’s 2014 budget tentatively includes $1.55 billion in funding. In the wake of July’s military coup that ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, many Americans have called for a halt or reduction to that aid, which the White House is considering. So, where does all that money go? (ProPublica) Use … Continue reading U.S. Aid to Egypt: Where Does the Money Go?
GEOGRAPHY “I am chasing you like a drone/You have become al-Qaida/there’s no trace of you.” Trucks painted in vivid colors and lettered with poems are part of the cultural landscape along the dusty roads of Afghanistan. The short poems take the form of landays, a style native to Afghanistan and other Pashto regions. The verses are read by passers-by, discussed in homes and shops, and … Continue reading Afghanistan’s Poetry in Motion
TRAVEL AND TOURISM Afghan Ski Challenge Promotes Tourism to War-Weary Hindu Kush This article describes the Afghan Ski Challenge, a sports competition that encourages people to visit the rugged slopes of Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountain range. Discussion idea: Look at our collection on tourism. What activities or landmarks are featured? What are some popular activities or landmarks in your community? Read through the activity “Creating … Continue reading Current Event Connection: Afghan Ski Challenge
According to this article in the Daily Telegraph (UK) and this ABC News article, Thomas Gillespie, a UCLA Geography professor, claims to have narrowed down the probable locations of Osama bin Laden to just three particular houses in Parachinar, a large town in Pakistan. According to Gillespie, his team used biogeographic theories to pinpoint the terror leader’s exact location. Specifically, they employed established animal distribution … Continue reading Geography professor claims to have found Osama bin Laden
