November 26 - December 1

For HW, read an article on any MAJOR EVENT OR STORY that happened over the Thanksgiving break. (See below for ideas) Write a one page reaction on what you read. This would include a brief summary, questions that you might have about the article, connections you can make to what you learned in class, and how you feel about the event. Be sure to write down the name of the article and where you got it from (Newsweek, NYTimes.com, etc...) Write your responses in your sourcebook.

example of how to start a reaction:
The article that I read was called "U.N. Reports That Taliban Is Stockpiling Opium" from the nytimes.com website ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/28/world/middleeast/28opium.html?ref=world). Based on Kirk Kraeutler's findings, Afghanistan has produced an incredible amount of poppy which is what the drug opium is made from. The Taliban, an insurgent group which still control parts of that country, are hoarding raw opium in order to finance their military. Many world organizations have been trying to stamp out international drug trade. However, many poor farmers in Afghanistan depend on growing poppy in order to make a living.

I have several questions about this article. Shouldn't the UN be condemning the international growth and trade of opium. In this case, the money used would be given to support the Taliban, a group that the U.S. has been fighting since 2001 along with Al Qaeda. How worried should our nation be? Though largely illegal, the international drug trade has been very profitable for certain nations and groups that take part. How closely should we monitor the Taliban to ensure they will not be using newly purchased weapons against the U.S.? As for the farmers, is there another crop that they can grow? One that will better sustain their families economically? The content of this article makes me wonder a great deal about whether or not there are tough enough regulations on trading illegal drugs.....


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/politics/27obama.html?ref=us


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/28/world/asia/28mumbai.html?hp