July 2010

Martial Law in Thailand continues to choke-off dissent and cover-up the past

Posted on July 17, 2010 at 9:17 am in

The worst part of censorshipselling news

  • Thai Academics Shut Down

    Thai academics are being intimidated out of speaking
    out on a large scale, according to University World
    News, a London-based publication for academics. In
    an article by Yojana Sharma, published on July 11, the
    publication said that “broadcasting freely is no longer a
    simple and safe matter since the government
    crackdown against Red Shirt protesters in May.”
    “When Thai newspapers quote English-language newspapers they distort the news. I explained to my listeners that
    Thai newspapers don’t give the right translations,” said Suda Rangkupan, a lecturer in linguistics at Bangkok’s
    Chulalongkorn University.
    “Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn described Red Shirt broadcasters as a “threat to national security”. But Suda said only the radio stations that supported the democracy movements were closed whereas those run by the pro-government Yellow Shirts were still open even though they were also community radio
    stations. » The full Asia Sentinel article – Written by Yojana Sharma – Published July 12,2010

  • Bangkok: International Media under Fire

    Although nearly a month has passed since the Thai
    government forcefully ended the Bangkok protests by
    the Red Shirt followers of deposed Premier Thaksin
    Shinawatra, the conflict persists. Now the Thai
    authorities and segments of Thai society have opened
    up a new flank. They are on a collision course with the
    foreign media.» The full Asia Sentinel article -
    Written by Haseenah Koyakutty – Published June 15,2010

  • Protest by disabled vendors dispersed
    A protesting group of 200 disabled lottery vendors – including a number of blind sellers – gathering yesterday near the Government House were dispersed by police under the state of emergency, although their demonstration was peaceful. » The full Nation article – Published on June 9, 2010
    Protest by disabled vendors dispersed Image source
  • May 18 | Thai Media joins government in spreading hate –
    (International Herald Tribune) – A constant crawl at the bottom of television screens, which started running in March on two government-owned stations, makes the case that “malevolent” protesters are hurting the country and should go home. And an advertisement implores, “Thais should love each other because we all live in the same country.”
    “The Thai people love peace but when we go to war, we are not fearful,” read one of the dozens of messages exhorting people to oppose the protest movement that has paralyzed parts of Bangkok for more than seven weeks.
    At the same time the government has shut down an opposition television station and at least 420 Web sites affiliated with the red shirt movement.
    Officials are also accusing red shirts of trying to overthrow the monarchy, an incendiary charge that protest leaders reject. » The full International Herald Tribune article By By Thomas Fuller.

Fighting intolerance image source Tolerance.org

To the Rescue! – Learn first aid responses to a variety of emergency scenarios

Posted on July 11, 2010 at 9:23 am in
Act F.A.S.T.
  • FACE
    Ask the person to smile.
    Does one side of the face droop? 
  • ARMS
    Ask the person to raise both arms.
    Does one arm drift downward?
  • SPEECH
    Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
    Are the words slurred?  Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
  • TIME
    If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. 
    Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
    More from – Stroke.org

    • Warning signs of a stroke Image source

CPR Saves Lives Image source

“The thing that’s killing people is inaction,” said Dr. Michael Sayre of Ohio State University, who headed the association’s team that drafted the new recommendations.
Sayre said people not trained in CPR should do two things when they encounter an adult who has suddenly collapsed: first, call emergency services; and second, begin pushing “hard and fast” in the center of the person’s chest.
This is necessary to maintain vital blood flow, according to experts. Chest compressions should continue until emergency medical services responders arrive, Sayre said. Read Article » By Will Dunham – Reuters

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Understanding Medical Responses to Emergencies –
    Overview | Students review their understanding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They then learn about other types of medical responses to common emergency situations and evaluate the importance of CPR. Go to this Health and Science Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – To the Rescue! –
    Overview | Students learn about the trial of an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machine. They then investigate and role play first aid responses to a variety of emergency scenarios. Go to this Health and Science Lesson.

Tibetans lose interest in playing by China’s rules and Bejiing is striking back

Posted on July 2, 2010 at 3:58 am in

Even prominent figures are taking a stand and Bejiing is striking back

BEIJING — Karma Samdrup and his two younger brothers were the kind of Tibetans who put the Chinese Communist Party at ease. Vaunted environmentalists, they were pillars of their community who steered clear of politics. Even better, Mr. Samdrup had become a rich philanthropist and planned to donate part of his immense Tibetan art collection to a state-run museum…. (continued after the picture)

Playing by China's rules
Karma Samdrup, shown in December 2008, is a wealthy Tibetan who prospered within the Chinese system. In a sign that Mr. Samdrup’s case has reached the highest echelons of power, the two books about him were recently banned by government censors in Beijing. » image source.

Mr. Pu says the legal process against his client has been flawed. He was not allowed to see Mr. Samdrup for six months, and it was only on the eve of the trial that the two were allowed to meet. Their entire 30-minute exchange, he said, was videotaped by the police, making a frank exchange nearly impossible.
During the hearing on Tuesday, according to the lawyer, Mr. Samdrup pleaded not guilty and told the court his interrogation had been accompanied by daily beatings from the police and fellow prisoners. He also said he was drugged with a substance that made his eyes and ears bleed, all part of an effort to force him to sign a confession. His wife estimates he lost at least 40 pounds in custody.
Although the trial is closed to the public, Ms. Woeser said many Tibetans were nervously awaiting news of the proceedings, which continued Wednesday.
“People are very angry, but they are also afraid,” she said. “The feeling is that if someone as influential as Karma can be taken down, none of us is safe.” » The full New York Times article – By Andrew Jacobs – Published: June 23, 2010.

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – The Torture Question –
    Overview | Students will research the recent history of torture in the U.S., examine opinions about whether torture is ever justified, and engage in a debate on the issue. Go to this Law and Society Lesson. Related background on: Torture in China
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Splitting the Motherland? –
    Overview | Students learn about the issues surrounding Tibet’s struggle for independence since China’s invasion in 1950. They then write dialogues discussing the issue from opposing points of view. Go to this ESL, Law and Society Lesson.

Bet on Private Sector for Recovery Could Prove Risky

Posted on July 1, 2010 at 9:10 am in

The world’s rich countries are now conducting a dangerous experiment.

They are repeating an economic policy out of the 1930s
— starting to cut spending and raise taxes before a recovery is
assured — and hoping today’s situation is different enough to assure
a different outcome.
The parallels to 1937 are not reassuring. From 1933 to 1937, the United States economy
expanded more than 40 percent, even surpassing its 1929 high. But the recovery was still
not durable enough to survive Roosevelt’s spending cuts and new Social Security tax. In
1938, the economy shrank 3.4 percent, and unemployment spiked.
We are left to hope that we have absorbed just enough of the 1930s lesson. » The full New York Times article – By David Leonhardt – Published: June 29, 2010.

Its a puzzle Image source

  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Examining Key World Economies and Comparing Their Current Volatility -
    Overview | Students review key economic terms and ideas necessary for understanding world economies. They then research the economies of countries in the Group of 8 (20) and present how their economies have changed over the past five years and how the relationships among these countries affect each other in light of world events. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – A Plan for Recovery-
    Overview | Students examine the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of the proposed stimulus plan for the U.S. economy; they then write their own proposal outlining how stimulus funds might benefit their community. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.
  • The New York Times – Learning Network – Comparing the 1929 Stock Market Crash to Today’s Wall Street Crisis –
    Overview | Students use resources from The New York Times to compare the circumstances under which the Great Depression came about to the circumstances of the current economic crisis. Go to this Economy and Society Lesson.

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