POLITICS Last week brought two passionate and dramatic popular votes for independence, in Iraqi Kurdistan and in Catalonia, Spain. Everyone, even those who dismissed both votes as illegal and meaningless, called them national “referendums.” (New York Review of Books) What is a nation? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Text Set. Discussion Ideas The author of the great … Continue reading What Is a Referendum? Who Decides?
We’re slowing down for the summer! Instead of our usual roundup of “This Day in Geographic History” (TDIGH) events, here’s a closer look at one historic event that connects to something in the news today. We’ve also matched it with a map or visual, background information, and additional resources. Wednesday, July 5 TDIGH: Venezuelan Independence Day Though Venezuela declared its independence from Spain in 1811, … Continue reading This Week in Geographic History: Venezuelan Independence Day
GEOGRAPHY An online campaign has been launched in Norway to give Halti, a mountain peak, to neighboring Finland. Halti would be a birthday present to mark the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017. (BBC) Use our resources to find Halti and redraw the border between Norway and Finland—or anywhere else you want. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ … Continue reading Norway May Help Finland Reach New Heights
WORLD On September 18, Scottish voters will answer a simple question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the referendum. (Guardian) Use our resources to get an idea about how long England and Scotland have been debating this issue. Discussion Ideas Scots will go to the polls next week to answer Yes or No to a simple, … Continue reading Scots Free?
