Presentations - Campana/ Head

Alex Campana-   

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in March 2006 and presided over a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. OLMERT, who in June 2007 resumed talks with PA President Mahmoud ABBAS, resigned in September 2008. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.

Presentations-

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing struggle between
Israelis and Palestinians that began in the early 20th century. The
conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to
the earlier phases of the same conflict, between the Zionist yishuv
and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman and then
British rule. It forms part of the wider Arab–Israeli conflict. The
remaining key issues are: mutual recognition, borders, security, water
rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom
of movement and legalities concerning refugees. The violence resulting
from the conflict has prompted international actions, as well as other
security and human rights concerns, both within and between both
sides, and internationally. In addition, the violence has curbed
expansion of tourism in the region, which is full of historic and
religious sites that are of interest to many people around the world.

-Ronni Balko

Presentations

NOOR-
 
The last royal family of Russia led a country with full control in their hands. The ultimate power over the entire country resided in their hands, and if one got through to the Tsar, one had the access to power and rule over the whole nation. Because of this unrestrained government Grigory Efimovich Rasputin was able to manipulate the Russian government by acquiring the royal family's personal favor. 

     At the time the people of Russia, mainly poor peasants, were waging revolts against the Tsar. Their living conditions were horrid, as most had barely any food, shelter or possibility of trade, as well as a freezing climate to endure. Meanwhile, Russia had a humiliating defeat against the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese war, where many lives were lost. Shortly after the defeat Russia was engaged in World War I. The citizens of Russia needed a true leader to support them through these harsh conditions, because their Tsar, Nicholas II, was a weak man, overruled by his own wife, Alexandra. 

     The royal son and heir to the throne, Alexei, suffered from the deadly disease hemophilia. The Tsar and Tsarina enlisted the magic "man of God" Rasputin to use his "healing powers" to save their child's life. The boy lived and from that moment on Rasputin became the most important and influential person in the Russian court. This mysterious and destitute Siberian peasant manipulated the royal family and acquired immediate access to the ruling of the country. He deeply influenced the Tsarina, who in turn controlled her husband. Rasputin had gained the personal worship of the Romanov family and therefore was able to gain full access to the government of Russia. He influenced the political and religious scene. 

     The lack of a checks and balances system, and rather an unrestrained government, was the reason of Rasputin's sudden rise to power and the demise of the Russian dynasty.

Presentations Wednesday May 2

http://books.google.com/books?id=IVvnrsaIgA8C&pg=PA662&lpg=PA662&dq=transition+from+the+czar+to+vladimir+lenin&source=bl&ots=Bpobrn5nVU&sig=skM6MDEVDjYiIdirbBrYxSh4n6o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9qGgT5eGCIqc9gSbzMiCCA&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Presentations Tuesday May 1

Miranda

Attorney General v. X.

Ireland. Supreme Court.

Abstract

KIE:

In this case in which a 14-year-old girl said she had become pregnant after being raped by her friend's father, the Attorney General of Ireland had enjoined the girl and her parents from traveling to England for an abortion. A psychologist had testified that in her present state of mind, the girl was suicidal. The Supreme Court of Ireland held that the right to life supersedes all other rights, including the right to travel. However, if there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother which can only be avoided by termination of the pregnancy, then an abortion is permissible. The Court determined that the girl's risk of suicide satisfied this condition, and therefore the girl was allowed to terminate her pregnancy.

Tyler - 

The bitter, bloody feud between the two branches of Islam, the Sunnis and the Shi’ites, has gone
on for centuries and now this vicious sectarian strife is exploding again in Bahrain, threatening to
cause an even greater conflict in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The implications of the worsening hostility for the world are nightmarish, for the entire region
could soon be gripped by turmoil, bloodshed and economic meltdown. What was naively seen
a few weeks ago as a fight between freedom and autocracy could descend into an epic clash
between two Muslim ideologies, the savagery made all the worse by their long history of enmity.

The roots of the hostility between Sunni and Shia lie not in profound theological differences,
but in the political intrigues that took place in the Muslim world in the 7th Century. When
the Prophet Mohamed died in AD 632, the question of the succession to his leadership was
dominated by family rivalries and disputes.

Essentially, there were four candidates to succeed as ‘caliph’, or leader, and one group in
particular, which went on to form the Shi’ites, strongly favoured the claims of Ali, the grandson
of Mohamed. Even the name, Shi’ite, derives from ‘party of Ali’. But three times in succession,
Ali was passed over as each of the other candidates was chosen before him.

The opposition to Ali deepened the sense of anger among his supporters. Eventually, in this
climate of tribal factionalism, Ali became the fourth caliph, though the indignation of his
followers was provoked when he was then brutally assassinated.

The tribal feuding in the post-Mohamed era reached its climax at the Battle of Karbala in AD 
680. This is really the key moment in the creation of the Shi’ite movement, the point at which the
fissure was permanently established.

Presentations Mon April 30

Lisie

On the 21st of December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was flying 31,000 feet

above Lockerbie, Scotland, en route from London to New York, when the plane

exploded and killed all 259 people on board along with 11 on the ground. A hole in

the side of the jet allowed the wind to rip the plane apart and caused it to plummet

to the ground (Rodney). On the ground in Lockerbie "the whole sky lit up and it was

raining fire,” (Keith). Mr. Carnaham, a Lockerbie resident recounted what he saw

when the debris of the plane hailed down on Lockerbie. When the plane crashed,

bodies and debris were scattered over 15 miles, and bodies were found the next

day on roofs, scattered on lawns and even hanging from trees. One was found lying

across the doorstep of a Lockerbie resident that discovered it when she walked out

her door and tripped over it (Keith). "There was barely a mark on him. But from the

way he was lying, like a rag doll, you knew all his limbs were broken,” Robin Devlin

said (Emerson, Duffy)

Libya was behind the crash, acting through a man named Abdelbaset Ali

Mohmed Al Megrahi. After the crash, many investigators had hypotheses before

all the evidence was gathered, that Iran, Palestine and even Syria had caused the

disaster. But after much evidence was put together, Libya became the main focus,

especially Megrahi. Megrahi was arrested and charged with the bombing of Pan

Am flight 103, but the Libyan Intelligence Services were the driving force of the

operation. Much evidence was gathered against Libya as well as against Megrahi,

but all the blame was placed on Megrahi. Megrahi did not act alone, though. He had

the Libyan Intelligence Services behind him and one known companion at his side

helping with the operation.

Minh
My presentation will be about the fighting tactics, tunnels, and traps that the Vietcong used in the battle. There will be sections about traps, tunnels, and tactics. In each section, there will be descriptions of the section, why they are effective...  There will be pictures of traps and tunnel system, the use of each traps, each part of the tunnels. There will be overall tactics in fighting of the Vietcong used, what they do to earn the trust of the peasant.

Causes of WWI

CAUSES OF WWI -  Please complete the following tasks in this order.

1. http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/wwi/wwicauses.htm

2. https://docs.google.com/document/d/15MgUdxkjgWJS-l3K0MgOvx_Rw6J5P27WAZd6O31a51w/edit

You will need to make a copy and then answer the questions and share it with me. 

3. Final Task:  Spend the rest of your time playing the game, Trench Warfare.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/trenchwarfare.shtml