Post on 16-Feb-2016
description
Global Issues
American Ideals
All “men” created equal
Equal Justice Under the Law
Knowledge is Power
Individualism
Power of Gov’t rests in hands of people (Popular Sovereignty)
Separation of Church & State
Standards For Human Rights
Human Rights: basic freedoms that all people should enjoy
Examples: right to food, safety, shelter, free speech, etc.
Human Rights & Democracy
Spreading Democracy & protecting Human Rights has been goal of USA since Constitution written
Mixed Picture: Bad News…
While # of Democratic countries has increased over last 50 yrs, # of people abused/imprisoned (i.e. human rights violations) has changed little
Countries in which human rights violations are still occurring:
China Iran Cuba
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Encouraged by USA, adopted by U.N. in 1948
Addresses social and economic freedoms as well as political rights
Statement not of the way things are, but how they should be
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (cont.)
Protection of Rights
All human beings are born equal in dignity & rights
Many of rights are the same as included in the US Constitution (e.g. own property, right to marry)
Raising Standards of Living (e.g. right to work, receive an education, receive equal pay for equal work, etc.)
Spread of Democracy & Liberty
1900: 12% of countries were Democratic
2007: 64% of countries Democratic
Problem: 37% of world’s pop. live under a non-democratic gov’t (e.g. China)
Reasons to be a “Global Citizen”: Current Events
War on Terror: Afghanistan & Iraq
Human Rights atrocities: Rwanda & Darfur (Sudan)
Threats to International Security: Iran & N. Korea
The Environment (i.e. Climate Change)
Afghanistan
Known as “the Graveyard of Empires”
Has defeated every foreign country/empire that has tried to enter (Persia, Mongols, Great Britain, USSR (USA?)
Afghanistan (cont.)
Afghanistan comprised of multiple tribes that continuously fight for control of the country
Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in 1996
Afghanistan (cont.)
1996-2001: Taliban allowed Osama Bin Laden & Al Qaida to train in Afghanistan
2001: Afghanistan invaded by multi-nation force (led by USA) &
Taliban “removed” (war lasted 3 weeks)
Afghanistan (cont.)
2001-current: USA & allies attempting est. Democracy & fight terrorism (i.e. Taliban & Al Qaida)
Result: ??? (USA to withdraw troops by 2014, but…)
Iraq
1980s: Iraq ally of USA (fighting war against Iran)
1991: Iraq invades Kuwait (USA ally) due to border dispute over oil field
Result: Persian Gulf War: USA + allies attack Iraq for invading Kuwait (ally of USA)
Iraq (cont.)
Victory! But: did not remove Saddam Hussein from power
1992-2002: USA used military force to keep Iraq from threatening neighbors
Iraq (cont.)
2002: USA invades Iraq (Iraq “accused” of having Weapons of Mass Destruction (no proof ever found)
2002-current: USA attempting to est. Democracy & fight terrorism
Result: ??? (USA has withdrawn troops, but…)
Rwanda
Rwanda former Belgium colony (independence in 1962)
Two major cultural groups/tribes in constant conflict in Rwanda:
1) Hutu 2) Tutsi
Rwanda (cont.)
1994: Hutu began genocide of Tutsi (800k exterminated in 10 days, 2 mil+ exterminated by “end” of genocide)
Currently: armed conflict still present in country (Hutu now an insurgency against Tutsi gov’t)
Darfur Region (Sudan)
2003: rebels attack Sudanese gov’t (frustrated over poor economy)
2004-2011: war b/t gov’t & rebels forces (and fight for local support) has resulted in genocide of citizens of Darfur
2012: 300k+ have been exterminated w/ little foreign gov’t pressure/involvement to end conflict (not even from USA)
Working for Human Rights
Major point: Efforts by Individuals are more often successful at protecting human rights than actions/ policies of governments
Iran
1930s-1940s: Discovery of oil makes Iran important economically for W. industrialized countries (e.g. USA)
1950s: Middle East wars w/ Israel (USA ally) cause relations b/t USA and Iran to become tense
Iran (cont.)
1953: Iran’s Shah (leader), supported by USA is removed from power
Result: USA’s CIA overthrow’s new leader & puts back in old Shah
Result: Iran views USA as “hypocrite” & threat
Iran (cont.)
1960s: Iran grows frustrated w/ constant USA involvement & continued support for Israel
1979: Iran rebels against USA involvement by taking US embassy + workers hostage
Iran (cont.)
1980-current: USA does not conduct foreign policy/diplomacy w/ Iran
2009: Iran “trying” to developing nuclear weapons (USA response?)
N. Korea
1945: USSR occupies N. Korea after WWII
1946: Became Communist (helped by USSR) + given weapons
1949: N. Korea invades S. Korea (ally of USA)
Result: Korean War
N. Korea (cont.)
Korean War ends in stalemate (i.e. no one wins)
1980s: N. Korea begins to try to develop A-bomb (helped by USSR)
N. Korea (cont.)
1994: Convinced by USA + U.N. to give up Nuclear program (in exchange for aid)
2004: re-starts nuclear weapons program & detonates 1st A-bomb in 2006
N. Korea (cont.)
2007-2009: defies USA & U.N. by testing more A-bombs + rockets
N. Korea views USA as enemy & “preparing for invasion by USA”
Future: ????
Question:
Why is being both a citizen of the United States and a global citizen (i.e. practicing Civics) important?