Congratulations to everyone who attended the Global Classrooms simulation yesterday! You did an amazing job and we are so proud of you.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Congratulations on Global Classrooms!
Congratulations to everyone who attended the Global Classrooms simulation yesterday! You did an amazing job and we are so proud of you.
History lives on!
Newly found documents shed light on MLK's convicted killer
March 31, 2011 10:13 a.m. EDT
Box of MLK assassination info found
Editor's note: Don't miss "CNN Presents: Eyewitness to Murder -- The King Assassination" at 7 p.m. ET Sunday. CNN's Soledad O'Brien retraces the steps of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., James Earl Ray, the FBI and Memphis police, and she explores alternative scenarios of who may have been responsible for King's death.
(CNN) -- Recently discovered photos and letters are giving an inside look at the man convicted of assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.On April 4, 1968, King was shot and killed by a sniper as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was trying to mediate a garbage workers' strike.
The celebrated civil rights leader's death led to race riots in dozens of cities and mourning around the world.
American James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the murder of the civil rights leader and was sentenced to 99 years in prison in March 1969. Ray died in 1998.
Little was known of Ray's state of mind in his months in jail before his guilty plea -- until Shelby County, Tennessee, officials came across a bundle of documents about five years ago in a local archival building.
"In 2005, we started going through the Shelby County archives -- going through organizing, identifying things," Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County register of deeds, said Wednesday. "But then in 2006 or 2007, we found this bundle. I said well, what is it? Let's see. And so we picked it up, turned it over, and there it was."
James Earl Ray, here in a 1968 jail booking photo, later recanted killing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Inside was a wealth of information, including photos of the newly incarcerated accused murderer, as well as letters to family and his attorney during the eight months he was detained at the Shelby County jail.
Since then, Leatherwood said, he has been working with the county attorney to try to get those documents released to the public.
"There's no game-changer here, but for history lovers, there's some really great information," Leatherwood said.
Black-and-white photos show Ray being patted down by law enforcement; others show him being ushered into his jail cell. One photo shows him being escorted out of a vehicle by then-Sheriff Bill Morris and surrounded by a phalanx of police, apparently on the night he arrived in Memphis after his extradition from England, where he was captured.
Letters and Christmas cards exchanged between Ray and his family indicate a close relationship. "Take it easy," was a frequent sign-off from Ray to his brother and sister.
Ray asked his sister to visit two months after his capture by police. "Bring enough to stay a couple of days," his note reads. "I can explain everything when I see them."
Another letter, sent to Ray's brother Jerry just a month before he pleaded guilty, read: "If you have anything to say about case or anything else don't write it wait until I see you or visit."
Ray also made sure whatever financial gains his story might produce for future generations would be passed on to his brother, Jerry.
We found this bundle. I said well, what is it? Let's see. And so we picked it up, turned it over, and there it was.
--Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County register of deeds
--Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County register of deeds
"I hereby leave the property belonging to me at the time of my death, being any rights to book royalties, movie royalties and rights and rights to any other monetary compensation whether literary or otherwise," he wrote by hand in his last will and testament.
Also included in the document release are photos of Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted killer of Robert F. Kennedy. The sheriff had contacted law enforcement in California to gain knowledge on how they managed security around Sirhan.
"(Morris) knew he had a potentially explosive situation here, so he reached out to them for advice on how to handle a high-risk, high-profile inmate," Leatherwood said.
After his sentencing, Ray recanted and asked to be tried on an innocent plea, but was rebuffed by the courts. Forensic tests were conducted in 1997 on a hunting rifle recovered near the scene of the assassination, but the results were inconclusive.
After years of fighting to get his name cleared, Ray spent his last days in a coma at a Nashville hospital and died of liver failure in 1998.
Monday marks the 43rd anniversary of King's death.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Weapons
With a partner or by yourself, read all the parts of this graphic. Respond with one posting on the blog, and put the names of you and your partner at the bottom.
Why does this feature argue that signing the non-proliferation treaty is ironically a smart step toward getting nuclear weapons?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using uranium or plutonium to create a bomb?
If you were a rogue nation seeking a nuclear weapons program, which would you choose and why?
Why isn’t a country necessarily dangerous just because it has a nuclear weapon?
Many components of nuclear weapons can be bought on the black market. Name one country that you believe would be a hot spot for illegal nuclear parts trading, and explain why.
The non-proliferation treaty requires nuclear states to “mentor” other nations in developing their peaceful nuclear programs. How has this backfired to defeat the purpose of the treaty?
If you were a nation hoping to secretly start a nuclear program, what would be your strategy?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Research: Safety of Nuclear Power
Find one substantive article or high quality video about the risks and benefits of nuclear power. Post a link to your article or video on this blog so your classmates can access it for their research for the simulation.
If your video is on YouTube or another site requiring a proxy, don't post a link, because it won't work. Tell us which website you used, and tell us the title of the video so we can access it through the proxy.
After posting, view and read the postings of the other members of the class.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Do you agree or disagree with the protestors?
Hundreds protest treatment of alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower
March 21, 2011 8:33 a.m. EDT
Protesters: WikiLeaks suspect a 'hero'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Hundreds of demonstrators protest the treatment of Army private
- 1971 Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg among the protesters
- Ellsberg and retired Army Col. Ann Wright are among dozens arrested
Among them were Daniel Ellsberg, the 1971 Pentagon Papers leaker and Retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright, both of whom were arrested along with at least 31 other protesters, according to rally organizers. See a CNN.com exclusive interview with Ellsberg in which he talks about his kinship with Manning.
The 23-year-old Army private is accused of giving WikiLeaks hundreds of thousands of classified military and State Department documents, and is awaiting a military decision on whether he will face a court-martial.
The protesters marched near the base, carried placards, shouted slogans, chanted "Free Bradley Manning" and left flowers in front of an Iwo Jima monument at the entrance of the base. Supporters of Manning and WikiLeaks also made speeches deploring Manning's alleged treatment and asserting that the dissemination of secret military documents is vital for democracy.
Did Army ignore WikiLeaks warnings?
Secy. Clinton spokesman out
Reports that Manning has been held in near-total isolation and forced to sleep without clothing during his nearly eight-month detention has sparked outrage from human rights and peace activists. The controversy even played a hand in the resignation of now-former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, who reportedly suggested that the Defense Department is mistreating Manning.
Ellsberg told CNN that Crowley "acted honorably and boldly" for uttering the remarks that resulted in Crowley's departure. Crowley called the treatment of Manning at the hands of the military "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid."
Ellsberg called Manning's detention illegal.
"The president could change this treatment of him. Apparently, (President Barack Obama) has been told by the Defense Department that this is appropriate," Ellsberg said. "That's a terrible commentary on our standards, which means that they feel free to use illegal measures against someone in their custody."
Ellsberg said the Marines holding Bradley should not wait for an order from Obama "to stop disobeying the law."
Ellsberg said his opinion is shared by legal experts across the country.
"As a Marine I am ashamed that the corps is doing this," said Ellsberg, "and I would like to see them stop it."
Sunday evening, the protesters put their grievances in a open letter addressed to Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
In addition to Ellsberg and Wright, the letter is signed by a number of musicians and actors, including Rosanne Cash, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Danny Glover and Viggo Mortensen.
The Obama administration has said repeatedly that Manning is being treated properly.
David House, a friend of Manning's, disputes that. House told CNN that he has visited Manning nine times since the soldier was taken into custody. House said that his friend recently appeared to be in "decline mentally and physically."
House said Manning also has been reluctant during recent visits to discuss his treatment. Manning's attorney has said that, among other things, his client has been put on suicide watch and forced to stand at attention while naked.
Military officials have said Manning has been forced to sleep naked to prevent him from committing suicide.
"There can be no conceivable justification for this type of degrading treatment," the letter from the activists says. "It brings back memories of the abuses committed in Abu Ghraib, which blackened the reputation of America's armed forces," said the letter, referring to an Iraqi prison that was the center of a prisoner abuse scandal.
The letter demands an immediate investigation into the conditions of Manning's detention.
On Sunday, many of the 400 supporters, peace activists and veterans tried to enter an administrative building to deliver a letter to Base Commander Daniel Choike, but were stopped by police.
It was the second straight day of rallies -- and arrests -- for many of the protesters, including those from antiwar groups Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against War and Code Pink, who attended a demonstration in front of the White House on Saturday to mark the eighth anniversary of the war in Iraq.
For Ellsberg, Sunday marked his second arrest for the weekend.
Ellsberg famously leaked thousands of classified documents -- dubbed the Pentagon Papers -- that revealed that top American officials were actively concealing the "unwinnable" reality of the Vietnam War from the public.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What is Terrorism?
Witnesses: Fresh air strikes hit eastern Libyan towns
March 3, 2011 7:17 a.m. EST
Libya: Battle for Brega
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Eastern towns bombed in Libya, witnesses say
- The International Criminal Court will announce an overview of the alleged war crimes
- An Arab League statement rejects foreign intervention
- Plans to investigate Gadhafi are not objective, a government spokesman says
Two bombs were dropped on military camps in Ajdabiya, a tribal leader said.
Another bomb fell in al-Brega between the oil facility and the airport Thursday, but there were no injuries or damage, witnesses said.
The attacks come a day after ground and air attacks on al-Brega, which has key oil and natural gas facilities.
Bombing in Libyan oil town 
Gadhafi warns against intervention 
Should U.S. arm Libyan rebels? 
Libyan army reclaims crossing While CNN has staff in some cities, the network cannot independently confirm reports for many areas in Libya. CNN has gathered information through telephone interviews with witnesses.
Protesters calling for the ouster of longtime leader Gadhafi have taken to the streets for a third week amid clashes with government forces. He has been in power for nearly 42 years.
"We need tribal intervention, social intervention to help us convince these people to come to the negotiating table," Musa Ibrahim, the government spokesman, told CNN's "AC360."
"This is an armed rebellion, with people going around attacking police stations, army offices, getting a hold of guns and attacking."
The government spokesman said that assertions of military attacks on demonstrators are wrong. The government had supported peaceful protests, he said, but reiterated accusations that al Qaeda supporters have hijacked the movement and are triggering chaos.
"We have captured dozens of these people, we have figures, we have interviews, we are willing and prepared to take these people and show them on international media," the spokesman said.
More than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed and many more injured during the protests, according to the United Nations. Libya's ambassador to the United States has estimated that the death toll was about 2,000.
The International Criminal Court will announce Thursday an overview of the alleged war crimes since the protests started last month.
"Following a preliminary examination of available information, the prosecutor has reached the conclusion that an investigation is warranted," the ICC said in a statement.
Ibrahim slammed plans to investigate the alleged war crimes and said the decision was based on reports without any fact-finding mission into the country.
"The international community's reaction toward what is happening in Libya has not been very honest and transparent,"
he said.
"The Security Council, for example, based its agreement against Libya on reports without any fact-finding mission, without visiting Libya, without allowing Libya to defend itself."
US, allies debate no-fly zone for Libya 
Libyan protests: Raw and online 
CNN crew witnesses air bombing in Libya 
Egyptian refugees escape Libya Libya is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, and does not recognize the authority of the international court. But the United Nations Security Council referred the matter to the court, essentially giving it "jurisdiction" over the situation in Libya.
The clashes in Libya have gone on for days, with the bombings in al-Brega on Wednesday happening as Gadhafi addressed his supporters.
News of the bombings could support calls for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent such attacks. The United States has said all options are on the table and is weighing a possible military role, but Arab League officials have also rejected foreign military intervention in Libya.
"We perceive what happened and what is happening is an internal affair that is decided by the people and their governments," the Arab League said in a statement.
Gadhafi spoke with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday about a proposal to bring an international mediation team to Libya, Venezuela's information minister said.
The demonstrations -- which follow protests in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia that ousted those countries' leaders -- have sparked criticism from world leaders.
Nations have scrambled to evacuate scores of citizens as the unrest continues.
The Netherlands defense ministry said Thursday that three Dutch navy personnel were captured by armed men loyal to Gadhafi during an evacuation operation Sunday. The ministry did not release information earlier because of safety reasons.
The capital city of Tripoli remains under Gadhafi's control, though opposition forces have taken control of the eastern city of Benghazi and a number of other cities.
The U.N. refugee agency reported that nearly 150,000 people had crossed Libya's borders into Egypt and Tunisia, and thousands more were arriving hourly at the borders.
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