Assume that you have decided to continue the work of John Peters Humphrey.  How would you modify the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to meet the needs of the 21st Century.  Explain your reasons for the modifications.

A two-part question this week dealing with your vision of human rights:

1. Examine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on page 426.  Of the thirty articles, which two do you consider the most important?  Explain why you think so.
2. As stated in the chapter, there is gender inequality in government.  It might surprise you to learn that gender inequality exists in almost every profession, even in Canada.  With that in mind:
   • Do some thinking and try to explain why there is this barrier to advancement for women in the workforce.
   • What can governments and businesses do to remove these barriers to advancement for women?

As always, responses to this discussion are expected by 11:59 on Thursday, January 13.  It will be closed to assessment on Monday, January 17.

With natural disasters, disease, economic problems, negligence, corruption, and political malaise affecting populations worldwide, do you think our world is heading for chaos?  As a potential leader in your community, province, country, and world, what can you do to help save ourselves from ourselves?

We’ll ask some questions dealing with religion this week.  The questions aren’t research based – they are somewhat more introspective in nature.  Here goes (approximately 100-150 words per response):

1. In your opinion, can more than one religion be true?
2. Why do you suppose that religion doesn’t have the same power over people as it once did?
3. Find a quote that adequately summarizes your religious viewpoint and write it down.  Explain why you chose it.

We have a two-part discussion this week.  One topic deals with the very serious issue of sex trafficking; the other deals with Champions of Change, a CBC-led poll to identify and celebrate people who take volunteering to a new level (something like we’re doing with our PBL units….well, perhaps a little bigger, but you have to start somewhere).  Here are the topics (each response should be in the 150-word range):

1. After reading about trafficking in our notes, completing last week’s discussion, and watching the film this week in class, please offer your final comments on this form of modern-day slavery.
2. Go to the website above and take a look at the biographies of the volunteers.  Vote online and then explain who you voted for and why.

That’s it.  Good luck.

This week, some questions to answer:

1. With increased security measures at many airports in the US (and some in Canada), many citizens have spoken out about violations in human rights and decency.  Others argue that the increased security is necessary.  What is your opinion?  Are these increased security measures necessary?
2. One of the worst examples of involuntary migration is human trafficking and – more specifically – human sexual trafficking.  Do some research and share the brief story of someone who was a victim of trafficking.  Please also include the website used in your research.
3. Finally, go to this website:  http://www.cagle.com/.  It is a website dedicated to sharing the best editorial cartoons from around the world.  Take a look around the site and find a cartoon which you like.  In about 100 words, discuss what it is about the cartoon that you like.  Also, paste the link in your response.

We’ve been studying population-related issues, and especially interesting is the ‘birth dearth’ (Chapter Seven) that affects us here in North America.  Using our discussions/notes and your textbooks, think about these questions and respond thoughtfully to the following questions:

1. Discuss the statement:  ’The birth dearth is essentially a women’s issue.’ Note that, in your response, you should consider both the ways that this statement could be true and those in which it might not be true.
2. What changes in the organization of the work world would be necessary to meet the needs of women and men who want children?
3. Explain why solving the demographic issues of next century is not as simple as moving people from overpopulated regions of the world to underpopulated regions.
4. Finally, we just completed our pecha kucha presentations (quite successfully, in Coffin’s opinion).  In a few lines, explain your most successful 30-second snippet.  Which one did you do the best with and why?

We have a few discussion topics/tasks this week.  Read carefully.

Personal Ecological Footprint

1. In class this week, we will participate in several population-related activities.  One of them involved completing a survey to determine our personal ecological footprint.
2. Today, take your survey results and complete an online calculation of your ecological footprint at this site:  http://www.myfootprint.org
3. Don’t forget to submit your survey when complete to qualify for assessment.

Globalization of Disease – Obesity Rates

• You were required to read chapter 26 in your text this week: Globalization of Disease to accompany our presentation by UPEI Student Nurse, Ms Gunn.  One section from the chapter dealt with obesity rates.  Based on your reading, respond to the following:
  • There are enormous differences in obesity rates in wealthy countries (as outlined on Figure 26-11 on page 418).  People wonder if it’s because of the makeup of national diets.  Your job:
    • Investigate the characteristics of typical diets in two of the countries listed on the chart and compare them to the United States.
    • Describe three characteristics of each national diet.
    • In your opinion, what is it about these national diets that creates such a difference in our obesity rates?

Judging from the responses from our October 24 newsflash, this week’s discussion will focus on some of the more population-related statistics forwarded by The Miniature Earth website.  Here’s what to do:

1. Assuming the population of Canada at 34 million, take three statistics from the miniature earth video and apply them (so some math) to our country.  What do the stats look like?
2. Assuming the population of PEI at 135,000, take three other statistics (not the same ones used in number one) from the miniature earth video and apply them (again, by doing some mathematical calculations) to our province.  How does it look?
3. Two-Part Question:
   1. For everyone, one part of the miniature earth video hits a little harder or makes us think a little more.  What part was it for you?  Explain.
   2. Discover an organization committed to provide aid for the problem you discussed in part one of this question.  What is this organization’s name and its goals and how can ordinary people help?