Global Issues

American Ideals

All “men” created equal

Equal Justice Under the Law

Knowledge is Power

Individualism

Power of Gov’t rests in hands of people (Popular Sovereignty)

Separation of Church & State

Standards For Human Rights

Human Rights: basic freedoms that all people should enjoy

Examples: right to food, safety, shelter, free speech, etc.

Human Rights & Democracy

Spreading Democracy & protecting Human Rights has been goal of USA since Constitution written

Mixed Picture: Bad News…

While # of Democratic countries has increased over last 50 yrs, # of people abused/imprisoned (i.e. human rights violations) has changed little

Countries in which human rights violations are still occurring:

China Iran Cuba

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Encouraged by USA, adopted by U.N. in 1948

Addresses social and economic freedoms as well as political rights

Statement not of the way things are, but how they should be

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (cont.)

Protection of Rights

All human beings are born equal in dignity & rights

Many of rights are the same as included in the US Constitution (e.g. own property, right to marry)

Raising Standards of Living (e.g. right to work, receive an education, receive equal pay for equal work, etc.)

Spread of Democracy & Liberty

1900: 12% of countries were Democratic

2007: 64% of countries Democratic

Problem: 37% of world’s pop. live under a non-democratic gov’t (e.g. China)

Reasons to be a “Global Citizen”: Current Events

War on Terror: Afghanistan & Iraq

Human Rights atrocities: Rwanda & Darfur (Sudan)

Threats to International Security: Iran & N. Korea

The Environment (i.e. Climate Change)

Afghanistan

Known as “the Graveyard of Empires”

Has defeated every foreign country/empire that has tried to enter (Persia, Mongols, Great Britain, USSR (USA?)

Afghanistan (cont.)

Afghanistan comprised of multiple tribes that continuously fight for control of the country

Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in 1996

Afghanistan (cont.)

1996-2001: Taliban allowed Osama Bin Laden & Al Qaida to train in Afghanistan

2001: Afghanistan invaded by multi-nation force (led by USA) &

Taliban “removed” (war lasted 3 weeks)

Afghanistan (cont.)

2001-current: USA & allies attempting est. Democracy & fight terrorism (i.e. Taliban & Al Qaida)

Result: ??? (USA to withdraw troops by 2014, but…)

Iraq

1980s: Iraq ally of USA (fighting war against Iran)

1991: Iraq invades Kuwait (USA ally) due to border dispute over oil field

Result: Persian Gulf War: USA + allies attack Iraq for invading Kuwait (ally of USA)

Iraq (cont.)

Victory! But: did not remove Saddam Hussein from power

1992-2002: USA used military force to keep Iraq from threatening neighbors

Iraq (cont.)

2002: USA invades Iraq (Iraq “accused” of having Weapons of Mass Destruction (no proof ever found)

2002-current: USA attempting to est. Democracy & fight terrorism

Result: ??? (USA has withdrawn troops, but…)

Rwanda

Rwanda former Belgium colony (independence in 1962)

Two major cultural groups/tribes in constant conflict in Rwanda:

1) Hutu 2) Tutsi

Rwanda (cont.)

1994: Hutu began genocide of Tutsi (800k exterminated in 10 days, 2 mil+ exterminated by “end” of genocide)

Currently: armed conflict still present in country (Hutu now an insurgency against Tutsi gov’t)

Darfur Region (Sudan)

2003: rebels attack Sudanese gov’t (frustrated over poor economy)

2004-2011: war b/t gov’t & rebels forces (and fight for local support) has resulted in genocide of citizens of Darfur

2012: 300k+ have been exterminated w/ little foreign gov’t pressure/involvement to end conflict (not even from USA)

Working for Human Rights

Major point: Efforts by Individuals are more often successful at protecting human rights than actions/ policies of governments

Iran

1930s-1940s: Discovery of oil makes Iran important economically for W. industrialized countries (e.g. USA)

1950s: Middle East wars w/ Israel (USA ally) cause relations b/t USA and Iran to become tense

Iran (cont.)

1953: Iran’s Shah (leader), supported by USA is removed from power

Result: USA’s CIA overthrow’s new leader & puts back in old Shah

Result: Iran views USA as “hypocrite” & threat

Iran (cont.)

1960s: Iran grows frustrated w/ constant USA involvement & continued support for Israel

1979: Iran rebels against USA involvement by taking US embassy + workers hostage

Iran (cont.)

1980-current: USA does not conduct foreign policy/diplomacy w/ Iran

2009: Iran “trying” to developing nuclear weapons (USA response?)

N. Korea

1945: USSR occupies N. Korea after WWII

1946: Became Communist (helped by USSR) + given weapons

1949: N. Korea invades S. Korea (ally of USA)

Result: Korean War

N. Korea (cont.)

Korean War ends in stalemate (i.e. no one wins)

1980s: N. Korea begins to try to develop A-bomb (helped by USSR)

N. Korea (cont.)

1994: Convinced by USA + U.N. to give up Nuclear program (in exchange for aid)

2004: re-starts nuclear weapons program & detonates 1st A-bomb in 2006

N. Korea (cont.)

2007-2009: defies USA & U.N. by testing more A-bombs + rockets

N. Korea views USA as enemy & “preparing for invasion by USA”

Future: ????

Question:

Why is being both a citizen of the United States and a global citizen (i.e. practicing Civics) important?