Sinks' blog

Read the recent articles regarding the Israeli raid on the flotilla to the Gaza strip

Washington Post — http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/AR2010060100341.html?hpid=topnews

BBC News — http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10208027.stm

New York Times — http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/middleeast/02flotilla.html?hp

Write your opinion regarding the following:

1. What should the US position be in regards to the suppossed attacks on a peaceful mission to provide aid to the people in the Gaza strip?
2. Do you think it legal for Israel to create a naval blockade preventing goods and aid reaching the Gaza strip?
3. What do you think is the best way to resolve the situation?

Check out the latest articles regarding the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

BBC News —  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10198201.stm 

Washington Post — http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/us-attorney-general-opens-crim.html?hpid=topnews

New York Times — http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/us/02spill.html?hp

Then offer your opinion on the following:

1. Who should ultimately be responsible for organizing and executing clean-up of the oil spill? Why?
2. How can the Federal Government ensure companies like BP follow off-shore drilling laws?
3. The oil disaster has created even more scrutiny of our dependency on fossil fuels and the consequences on the environment, tourism, and the economy. Do you think the Obama adminstration should shut down off-shore drilling in light of the recent disaster? Why or why not?
4. If you answered no to the last question, what should the governemt do to prevent future disasters?
5. If you answered yes to question 3, then what should the government do to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels?

Read the prompt below and write a response, then comment on 2 of your classmate’s response.

The hardcover version of the subtitle to 3CT was “One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations … One School at a Time,” yet the authors repeatedly requested Penguin Books to change the paperback version to “One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time.” Regardless of which you think is the more accurate subtitle, what – according to 3CT – is the relationship between education and the war against terrorism? How are some schools promoting Islamic extremism? What might be the implications for current U.S. policy?

Look at the discussion questions below and post your opinion, then read another person’s post and comment.

One of the most difficult tasks Mortenson faced in running the CAI (Central Asia Institute) was raising money to build more schools. Why do you think people are so reluctant to donate money for charitable causes?

Assess Mortenson’s organization, and ask yourself, do you think the CAI is effective in what it does? Does it deserve funding to expand and build more schools?

In this chapter, the narrator talks about the fact that Mother Theresa was criticized for accepting donations from scrupulous people, to which she argued: “I don’t care where the money comes from. It’s all washed clean in the service of God.” After Mortenson’s own struggle to raise money, he comes to understand why she might have made such a statement.

What are views on the subject? Should charities accept money that comes from unreputable means all in the name of the common good?

Finally, why do you think it’s so difficult to enact change? How is it that one person such as Mortenson makes a bigger difference in a country than an entire government?

“…We may be uneducated. But we are not stupid. We have lived and survived here for a long time.” “That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I’ve ever learned in my life, Mortensen says …. ” (p150)

Mortenson’s experience with Haji Ali is in many ways an excellent summary of what it takes to be a good manager in any setting but especially in international business. Complete the following keeping this thought in mind.

1. What life lesson did Mortenson learn from this uneducated, illiterate man he describes as the “wisest man I’ve ever met?” Your answer must use supporting statements taken from the text to defend your statements.

2. Describe in detail a situation in your life where you have learned a valuable life lesson from another person, place or experience.

3. After you have posted your answers to questions 1 & 2, read through other students comments and choose one to post a response back. List the name of the student you chose and comment back on both their answer to number 1 and their life lesson in number 2. Your response should support, elaborate on, or contradict the statement again using citings from the text and personal experiences.