An Overview of

WORLD ISSUES

So, what are “world issues” anyhow?

World issues are considered to be geography. Why?

Geography is an interdisciplinary subject – it crosses boundaries and looks at people and things as they are in the real world, not as an isolated subject.

The people of Peru live in a complex and fascinating country we know little about.

So, what is the focus of the course?

All humans are 99.9% the same. That’s what makes us a species. The remainder – 0.1% endows us with our individuality.Bill Bryson, “A Short History of Nearly Everything” 2004

The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.

Albert Einstein

This course requires that you have an open mind so that you can re-evaluate your beliefs with fresh, new insights

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Buddha

Much of how we act is directed by what we are taught. Learning without bias then, becomes the most important tool for this planets future.

Change your thoughts, and you change your world.

Norman Vincent Peale

Change is needed if our world is going to progress in all ways that are qualitative. While the world seems to hate change, it’s the only thing that has brought real progress.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

George Bernard Shaw

Here is what might be for many, a shift in the way we look at the problems of this world. Leadership must focus on those who are unreasonable.

When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.

Dale Carnegie

The simple fact is that emotion is often the spark that will ignite differences into a divide of unbelievable passion and destruction.

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

John F. Kennedy

Knowing that we all share the same fate just as surely as we were on one boat. We need to pay attention to what we have in common and strive to make that better for all.

The fact is that people are good, if only their fundamental wishes are satisfied, their wish for affection and security. Give people affection and security, and they will give affection and be secure in their feelings and their behavior.

Abraham Maslow

Truly understanding this hierarchy of needs is critical if we are to make measurable progress in raising the standard of living for all

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Anne Frank

Brilliant insight from a young girl – simple, understated and true.

Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning.

Mahatma Gandhi

The human mind is the key to understanding IF education allows it to grow freely. Your being here is a first step to understanding.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

Douglas Adams

It is easy to be hard and apparently, humans thrive on the drama and perpetuate the possibility of self destruction.

Let’s see what this course can do for your outlook!

Take out a piece of paper and record your name on it. Then, answer the following questions.What quote did you think was the most profound or interesting of the ones presented here. To restate it in your own words and explain why you selected it.

Course Outline – The Details

You will develop a critical approach to the examination of issues, especially those in a global context.The thought that you will be worldly and insightful is at the core of this course.This is a current events course with connections in many disciplines.

It is essential that Americans understand what is going on in the world around them and even more importantly, to develop opinions based on solid information.

By studying issues, you will come to appreciate that there are at least two and often many points of view about a situation and will gain an appreciation of the interactive and global nature of many issues.

You will learn to organize and synthesize large amounts of information in order to look for patterns and processes and to enhance your use of technological resources for research, problem-solving and presentation of material.

Course Grading/Evaluation

50%: Projects, Homework and Classwork

50%: Participation and Engagement in Class Discussions

Now, lets continue…

We will now watch a movie called Baraka.

You will need a piece of paper to record your thoughts.

Credits: Preston High School