What are the causes and effects of statements:

China’s justice minister

gave a speech saying lawyers should above all obey the Communist Party and help foster a harmonious society. To improve discipline, the minister said, all law firms in China would be sent party liaisons to “guide their work.” The full New York Times article » By Andrew Jacobs.

Wicha Mahakhun, a former Thai judge and (military coup sponsored) constitution drafter, stated:

"People, especially academics who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naïve. We all know elections are evil. Even HM the King places trust in the judges; would you condemn them?" From the article: Charter drafter pans 'evil' elections - The Nation.

Giles Ungpakorn, (who left Thailand and is now in exile in the UK after the previous government filed les mageste charges against him) was a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University said:

The whole (Thai) justice system should be overhauled, from the police to judges to bureaucrats. He advocates trials by jury and elections for judges to increase public accountability.
"The constitution (sponsored by the military) has a problem right from the start," he said. "Giving power to unelected civil servants who tend to be very conservative is a step backwards." - The Asian Sentinel article - By Daniel Ten Kate  

• A Learning Foundation Lesson - Comparing justice in China and Thailand -
  Overview | Thailand is copying Mao's "Cultural Revolution" which he used to purge his political rivals - updated » Background - - Compare and Contrast Lesson
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Democracy in Action -
  Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. They then work in groups to research countries that have recently transitioned to democratic forms of government. Their learning is further enhanced by reflecting on what has transpired in these countries to date. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

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• The New York Times - Learning Network - Exploring Music Teaching Methods -
  Overview | What is the purpose of music education? Does teaching rock-and-roll threaten or help preserve the future of classical music and jazz? In this lesson, students learn about a controversial “hands on” approach to musical instruction, investigate its benefits and drawbacks and find parallels in areas like language acquisition. » Go to this ESL Lesson.

• It is starting to appear that Burma's junta may have inadvertently set off political dynamite by coupling their rigged Nov. 7 election with the decision to free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi six days later.
• But the junta has to be as concerned as her supporters about what happens next. Having gone this far with both the election and freeing her in trying to legitimate itself in international eyes, arresting her again will once again plunge Burma back to the pariah status from which it is struggling to free itself. The election has probably called more attention to Burma's political process than the isolated junta, led by senior general Than Shwe, ever thought it would.
• The government almost certainly would have fallen except for the fact that it has been largely propped up by resource sales of natural gas, minerals and timber to India, China and Thailand, using the funds to equip its military with state-of-the art equipment. China particularly has given the junta aid and cover, along with Singapore, which has served as a conduit for the generals' money into the international banking system. » The full Asia Sentinel article - Published: November 16, 2010

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• A Learning Foundation ESL Lesson - Similarities and Differences between: Thailand's military created constitution and election and Burma's - Go to this ESL Compare and Contrast Lesson.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Democracy in Action -
  Overview | Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about democracy. They then work in groups to research countries that have recently transitioned to democratic forms of government. Their learning is further enhanced by reflecting on what has transpired in these countries to date. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - The Political is Personal -
  Overview | Students explore their own personal political philosophies by identifying events, people and experiences that have helped shape their beliefs and writing an essay. Go to this Building Society and ESL Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - The Second Draft of History -
  Overview | Students draft entries about a recent historical event for a history textbook using two specific sources of information. They then compare their entries and examine the differences. Go to this Media and ESL Lesson.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words -
  Overview | Students will explore the power of images through political cartoons. Go to this Media and ESL Lesson.

Nebraska-based Buffett has built a vast army of US followers who admire his flair for picking successful investments and acquisitions. His fortune is estimated at $37bn (£22.5bn), ranking second only to Bill Gates's $40bn on Forbes magazine's annual ranking of the world's richest people.
Buffett said the credit crunch served as a reminder of the need to teach children about money: "What better time to help educate our kids about financial responsibility." From this Guardina article » By Andrew Clark.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Preparing an Annual Budget -
  Overview: Students play a game to determine if they know the costs of common items. As consumers, they then develop their own personal finance budgets to determine how they might reduce their personal spending.Go to this Economy and ESL Lesson.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Understanding Credit Cards and Credit Card Debt -
  Overview: Students examine and learn the basics about credit cards and credit card debt, then create an informational brochure for young students. Go to this Economy and ESL Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Promoting Awareness of Modern Addictions -
  Objectives: Students will: consider their understanding of addiction, brainstorm and research ’modern ’addictions, such as food, shopping, the Internet, and video games, create public service announcements promoting awareness of different modern addictions and resources available to help. Go to this Health and ESL Lesson.
• The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial Case - "I really want to play!"

Where will new, real sources of growth come from? Not from Wall Street, probably. Nor, obviously, from Detroit. Nor from Silicon Valley, at least not by itself. Well before the housing bubble burst, the big productivity gains brought about by the 1990s technology boom seemed to be petering out.
So for the first time in more than 70 years, the epicenter of the U.S. economy can be placed in Washington. And Washington won't merely be given the task of pulling the economy out of the immediate crisis. It will also have to figure out how to put it on a more sustainable path - to help it achieve fast, broadly shared growth and do so without the benefit of a bubble. Obama said as much in his inauguration speech when he pledged to overhaul Washington's approach to education, health care, science and infrastructure, all in an effort to "lay a new foundation for growth." Read this New York Times article » By David Leonhardt

The mourners lashed out at the prosecutors and the conservative media who had relentlessly pursued accusations of corruption for the past year, after Mr. Roh had left office. Most also accused the sitting president, Mr. Lee, of guiding or at least encouraging the investigations. In Mr. Roh’s native village, Bongha, his supporters trampled a funeral wreath sent by the president.

“It has become a bad political habit for presidents in South Korea to try to gain support by punishing the former president,” said Kang Won-taek, a politics professor at Seoul’s Soongsil University. “What happened to Roh Moo-hyun shows that it is time to break this habit.”
But political experts, and even many average Koreans, say that their nation’s struggle to shed its authoritarian past was never finished, and that investigation of Mr. Roh highlighted at least two other legacies: a powerful presidency and a justice system with few checks and balances, especially on its prosecutors. The full article » By Martin Fackler

Judging the judges - Compare and Contrast the experiences of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Thailand's treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra and his suppporters -

Thailand - 8/12/2008 - The former prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, skipped a court appearance Monday and announced he was seeking refuge in London, leaving behind more than $2 billion frozen by the generals who ousted him from power two years ago.
He said that in Thailand he had been the victim of a “political assassination” and said that his enemies had used dictatorial powers to persecute his family. “My family and I were continually treated unfairly, without justice or truth,” he said. in this New York Times article » By Jane Perlez (IHT)

Editors Note - 6/6/2009: Thailand's "normal" rule of law has been overthrown and rewritten 17 times, on average every two and a half years, since the country became a constitutional monarchy 75 years ago.
The current military and court installed government of Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered prosecutors to pursue cases against Thaksin supporters who claimed he had seized power illegally and he should call a new election.
But no prosecutions have been filed against the group, which helped Abhisit take power, by hijacking both Thailand's international airports stranding over 300,000 tourists for weeks in December last year.

Abhisit claims his actions show “This is to signal to the world that our country has returned to normal,” Abhisit told reporters in Bangkok. “We will maintain the nation’s peace and order by using existing laws.”
More about the credibility of » Thailand's military constitution.)

A Learning Foundation Lesson - Compare and Contrast justice in South Korea and Thailand - Go to this ESL Law and Society Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Discussing Strategies for Coping with Emotional Stress. -
Overview: Students reflect on the increase in self-injuring, specifically "cutting," among teens and then participate in a written discussion to identify and discuss healthy methods of coping with emotional stress. Finally, they conduct further research and write a mock dialogue. Go to this Health and ESL Lesson.

• The New York Times - Learning Network - The Life You Save...
Overview: Students identify common warning signs of depression that, if not addressed, could lead to suicidal behavior. They then write skits and create booklets in which they document appropriate suicide prevention techniques. Go to this Health and ESL Lesson.

Judging the judges - Compare and Contrast the Rule of Law in Thailand and Pakistan:

Thailand - Update: The former prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, skipped a court appearance Monday and announced he was seeking refuge in London, leaving behind more than $2 billion frozen by the generals who ousted him from power two years ago.
He said that in Thailand he had been the victim of a “political assassination” and said that his enemies had used dictatorial powers to persecute his family. “My family and I were continually treated unfairly, without justice or truth,” he said. in this New York Times article » - By Thomas Fuller
Looking Back - In the most bizarre case, a junta-appointed court dissolved Thai Rak Thai for trying to gain power through unconstitutional means even as it upheld administrative orders from the generals who tore up the constitution when they took power. The decision essentially gave legal legitimacy to coups.
Many political analysts in Thailand accepted the court decisions at the time under the belief that they would be one-off measures to get the country through the political crisis. But then the military-appointed assembly took another step by permanently changing the constitution and the law to reflect the dubious legal interpretations. Read the Asian Sentinel Article » - By Daniel Ten Kate

Pakistan - Zardari's sudden revival is a reminder of how Pakistan has veered between military rule and civilian governments that have been dogged by allegations of corruption, and how those cases can be prosecuted — or wiped away — depending on the political wind. Read Article » By Jane Perlez (IHT)

• A Learning Foundation Lesson - Using these examples Compare and Contrast the rule of Law in Thailand and Pakistan - Go to this ESL Law and Society Lesson.

Related - Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial lesson Plans:
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good?
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Only One Way to Think"

The Institute of Medicine recently noted that you can meet your body’s need for liquids in many ways, including drinking coffee and tea (with or without caffeine) and eating fruits and vegetables with a high water content. Two clues that you may need to drink more are thirst and the color of your urine, which should be clear like, well, water.

If you are physically very active, especially in hot weather, repeatedly sipping cold water is helpful. But beyond two quarts, you may need to also replace the salts lost in sweat — for example, by drinking a diluted sports drink or eating foods with salt and potassium. More about health myths in this Article » By Jane E. Brody - New York Times

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Finding Evidence to Support or Refute Commonly-Accepted Scientific Claims -
Overview: Students investigate commonly-accepted scientific claims and gather evidence that supports or refutes them. They synthesize their learning by writing their own "Really?" columns modeled after those found in The New York Times’s weekly Science Times section. Go to this Health and Science Lesson.

From The Buddha's teachings ... every action that one performs in the present moment — whether by body, speech, or mind itself — eventually bears fruit according to its skillfulness: act in unskillful and harmful ways and unhappiness is bound to follow; act skillfully and happiness will ultimately ensue.13 As long as one remains ignorant of this principle, one is doomed to an aimless existence: happy one moment, in despair the next; enjoying one lifetime in heaven, the next in hell.

• World Wise School Lesson - Students will recognize that their classmates hold a variety of opinions. - This activity is designed to illustrate the variety of perspectives and opinions represented in the class. It will help students understand that perceptions are influenced by personal experience and taste as well as cultural background.  Go to Building Society Lesson Worksheet.

• Compare and Contrast - Ask students if the Buddha and Socrates thought the same or different? -
Writing help from TOEFL- Prep Writing Practice Site Lesson - More about Comparison and Contrast.

• WWS - World Wise School Lesson - Students will recognize that a single observation can be misleading -
Young children often make assumptions and judgments about people based on quick impressions. For example, a little girl noticing a house with peeling paint and an unkempt yard told her aunt, "I bet the people who live in that house are ugly." The girl had somehow learned to make assumptions about people she had never met based on her perception of their possessions. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.

(AFP)
Wicha Mahakhun, a former Thai judge and (military coup sponsored) constitution drafter, stated:

"People, especially academics who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naïve. We all know elections are evil. Even HM the King places trust in the judges; would you condemn them?" From the article: Charter drafter pans 'evil' elections - The Nation.

Giles Ungpakorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University charges:

"The drafters will claim they are following the policies of the palace, but it's much more complicated than that, .... Moreover, the monarchy is just one institution. There are 65 million other people in Thailand who deserve an equal say in how the country is run."
"The (18th Thai Constitution) has a problem right from the start,... Giving power to unelected civil servants who tend to be very conservative is a step backwards." From the article: The Rise of Thailand’s Third Branch - By Daniel Ten Kate   - The Asia Sentinel.

Expand as an ESL lesson by asking students to compare and contrast the current Thai constitution with Burma's:Burma’s Junta Seeks to Legitimize Its Rule - By Brian McCartan - The Asian Sentinel

• WWS - World Wise School- Is That a Fact? -
Overview: Understanding the difference between fact and opinion is critical to our ability to examine our reactions to events and people. Stereotypes and prejudices are often based on opinions that are perceived as facts. Go to this Building Society Lesson Worksheet.
• The New York Times - Learning Network - Educating Youth on Voting and the Electoral Process -
Overview: Students create voter education campaigns to raise awareness of and interest in the government for future voters. Go to this Building Society and Law Lesson.

Related - The Learning Foundation - Simplified Mock Trial cases and Lesson Plans:
• "It's my country/I can do what I want!"
• "Making Patriots in Thailand"
• "Only One Way to Think"
• "Freezing Bus Fares" - Appealing a lower court opinion.
• "The 18th Thai constitution?" - What makes a law good lesson plan.

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama told reporters that if Bin Laden were found during his watch, he would bring him to justice in a way that wouldn't allow the terrorist mastermind to become a martyr... "and to assure that the United States government is abiding by basic conventions that would strengthen our hand in the broader battle against terrorism," he said. Read this UK Press article »

Making a Case - Compare and Contrast: Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein

• The New York Times - Learning Network - Investigating the Charges Against Saddam Hussein -
Overview: Students share opinions about human rights. They then research the specific charges in the case against Saddam Hussein, and propose an argument for or against the accused. Go to this Law and Society lesson.

Youk Chhang was 14 when the Khmer Rouge seized power, and like many teenagers, he was forced into hard labor in the fields, with food and death his twin obsessions.
"There were all those people my age, just little kids, naive, innocent."
Read Article » By Seth Mydans - International Herald Tribune

"They're us, and we are them," Youk Chhang said in an interview in his small office in Phnom Penh where photographs of both victims and killers hang on the walls. "They are the evil side of us. Crimes are committed by human beings, by people just like me."

• The New York Times - Learning Network - The Killing Fields
Documenting Ethnic Division and Ethnic Cleansing Throughout Modern History
Overview: Students learn about ethnic divisions in the West African nation of Ivory Coast and research instances of ethnic cleansing in many nations throughout history. Students then create global history textbook entries that explore, compare and contrast these historic examples. The Killing Fields Go to Law and Society Lesson.