Religion (Islam)

(followers called muslims)

Why is the role of religion and Islam so important to understand when studying the Middle East?

· Translation of Islam is “submission.” Islam is not a “part” of life but defines most muslim’s lives.

· Follow prophet Muhammad and Allah (similar to Jesus and God to Christians)

· Not as old as Judaism, Christianity or Buddhism but one of the only religions that is considerably growing, especially in Europe. Today, #1 boy’s name in the world is Muhammad

· Nearly all the Middle East is muslim (http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-religion-map.htm) compared to only about 1% of United States. Remember too, largest population of muslims is in Indonesia!

· Two types of muslims (Shia and Sunni)

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nWnvk3N0U_c/SCLbQeoljAI/AAAAAAAAADg/oQQ5cwWuv0k/S760/Muslim%27s%2BMap%2Bof%2BDistribution.jpg&imgrefurl=http://203-05-b3.blogspot.com/2009/11/difference-between-sunni-and-shiite.html&usg=__WnOBvPmEGMmZ-LjroYOfHmRMXRU=&h=399&w=760&sz=125&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=nRA7ob-tory6oM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=154&ei=vqzFTcjfD4uusAOi2r3LAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmap%2Bof%2Bworld%2Breligions%2Bislam%2Bsunni%2Band%2Bshiite%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1150%26bih%3D503%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=426&vpy=204&dur=553&hovh=163&hovw=310&tx=172&ty=98&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0

Difference between these two main sub-groups is political and not spiritual. Division happened after Muhammad died:

Sunni=thought new leader should be the most capable

Shia=thought that new leader should stay within Prophet Muhammad’s own family

he differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed not from spiritual differences, but political ones. Over the centuries, however, these political differences have spawned a number of varying practices and positions which have come to carry a spiritual significance.

· 5 Pillars

Faith or belief in one god (Allah) and the prophet Muhammad

Pray five(5) times daily

Give to those less fortunate (almsgiving or charity)

Fasting (especially during the 9th month of the lunar calendar=Ramadan)

At least once in your lifetime, make a pilgrimage to Makkah

· Islamaphobia: Dress is a topic of debate right now in Europe

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135305409/frances-burqa-ban-adds-to-anti-muslim-climate

Resources

Oil, a blessing or a curse to the Middle East?

Why is water so important to the region, historically and presently?

· Middle East’s greatest resource is oil (began making a lot of money in the 1970s and 1980s)

· Saudi Arabia has largest oil reserves (U.S. is an ally). Also, Iran has some of the largest oil reserves

· U.S. largest consumer of oil (other big consumers are Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada)

http://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/who-has-the-oil.jpg

· Crude Oil is fossilized organic material

· Peak Oil=the top of the Earth’s oil production (cheap oil is over)

· Some cities (Dubai) built on profits from oil (sustainable?)

· Oil, a blessing or a curse (can you explain both sides?)

· Importance of water=first civilizations (Mesopotamia) and today (look at Australia or even this island), most people live near the water

· Water Crisis=Yemen is first country predicted to run out of fresh water (implications of this are???)

· Only 1% of water available is fresh

Politics and History

Why might relationships today with some countries in the Middle East be a result of what has historically happened?
(focus on Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, President Mahmoud Abmadinejad, and Saddam Hussein)

· History of U.S. intervention in the Middle East (see below)

· CIA’s first removal of a president was in Iran (Mossadegh in 1953)

· U.S and Iran still not on good terms (Ahmadinejad and U.S. not really talking)

· Mossadegh was respected around the world and overwhelmingly won a democratic election in Iran. One thing he wanted to do was nationalize the oil (Britain was in Iran and making a lot of money. The company was and is today still, BP or British Petroleum). Britain of course didn’t like this and the U.S. was/is a friend of Britain. Mossadegh was overthrown even though he was so well-liked and respected by both Iran and the world.

· Ahmadinejad is friends with Hugo Chavez. That says something doesn’t it? He is a controversial leader. Well-educated and took part in the Iranian Revolution of 1979 (responsible for U.S. embassy hostages taken in 1979?). Being watched to see that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.

· Saddam Hussein was Iraq’s leader. U.S. was friendly with him during the Iran/Iraq war (1984). In 1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait (oil was a big part of this). The U.S. became involved (Persian Gulf War) and before Iraq retreated, they set fire to 700 oil wells.

Do the math to figure the economic cost:

“Around 6 million barrels (950,000 m3) of oil were lost each day. Eventually, privately contracted crews extinguished the fires, at a total cost of US$1.5 billion to Kuwait.[2] By that time, however, the fires had burned for approximately ten months, causing widespread pollution.” (borrowed from Wikipedia)

Not to mention the cost to the environment!

Then, Saddam was seen as “the devil.” He was known to be a very strict leader and responsible for many deaths. Ultimately, he was executed in 2006 by being hung. His was convicted of crimes against humanity and for murdering 148 people.

Situation today in Iraq and Afghanistan? We are still there. Thoughts? Opinions? Questions?

· Know how these three men are/were are similar and different

Letter:
Be sure to copy/paste the correct address in.
In the BCC: please type (mpiercy@hpa.edu)
Subject: Questions about ____________ (your country's name)



Sample letter:

May 3, 2011

Dear Sir or Madam (even better if you have a person's name),
Aloha from the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We are two sixth graders writing to you from Hawaii Preparatory Academy on the Big Island. Hopefully you might have a few minutes to respond to our few questions below. If not, we understand. A part of a research project we are doing asks us to contact an expert and you are who we selected. Here are our couple questions.

*

*

*

We eagerly will await your response. Thank you so much!




Kindly,



----------------------------------------

If interviewing, please begin with, "Hello my name is __________ and I'm a sixth grader from the Big Island in Hawaii. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
"Great! My partner and I are studying ____________ and a part of the research project is to contact an expert. Hopefully you might be able to help us with a few questions. Is this okay?"
"I'm going to pass the phone to my partner __________."
"Hi, my name is ________. The first questions is ..."
"Thank you...The second question is..." "I'm going to pass you back to ________."
"Hi again, the last questions is...." "Thank you so much. Have a great day!"

Please add helpful sites you find in the comments below. Many of you will love this one:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/index_flash.html

Self Reflection

Please take approximately ten (10) minutes to thoroughly and honestly complete these seven (7) questions. When you’re finished, save your work and then send me an attachment with it mpiercy@hpa.edu

Your answers are confidential J

1. What descriptive word best describes how you are working with your group?

2. How do you feel about what you have contributed to your group? (Is this your best?) Please free to add more bullets J

·

·

3, Please highlight, make bold and change the font (20) of the number you feel best corresponds to your effort in understanding your topic.

5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10

4, Please highlight, make bold and change the font (20) of the number you feel best corresponds to the quality and quantity of your notes.

5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10

5. Does your group have a noticeable leader? If so, please explain who this is and why or what they are doing.

6. There’s a saying, “A group is only as strong as their weakest link.” Does your group have a ‘weak’ link? If so, who or what is it? Explain.

7. What can YOU specifically do to help make the weak link stronger?

POLITICS and HISTORY:
Why might relationships today with some countries in the Middle East be a result of what has historically happened?
(focus on Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, President Mahmoud Abmadinejad, and Saddam Hussein)

Helpful Websites:

Oil-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhCduxoiyTQ (Oil And The Middle East Explained)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlgsudbHiv0 (A Short Biography of Saddam Hussein Al-
Majid)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjuCXuESyyA (Larry King with President Ahmadinejad)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYutojeC5Kk (Mossadegh and Kinzer’s book)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1021_031021_islamicdemocracy.html (Can Islam and Democracy Co-exist?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrYJoUYRZ7U (IMAX: Fires of Kuwait)

Articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20090213friday.html

Iran History (please ask me and I’ll print out from my desktop)

Questions to answer:
Who is each? (Mossadegh, Ahmadinejad, Hussein)
Where ruled?
When ruled?
How ruled?
What did?
Relations with U.S.A.? / Why important to us?
How are the 3 men related (similar but also different)?
*BE ASKING ME QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT!!!

Iraq:
—Is Iraq a stronger nation than it was before the United States was involved?
—Should the situation in Iraq continue to receive international aid and support?
—Is the world is safer now that the United States army is involved in the Middle East?
—Can democracy be imposed/forced on other countries?
--Kuwait oil fires?

Iran:
--Why doesn’t the U.S. and Iran get along?
--Oil and nuclear weapons in Iran?
--Democracy in Iran? Public uprisings in the last few years?

RELIGION:
Why is the role of religion and Islam so important to understand when studying the Middle East?

Helpful Websites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK1mZs0kCvI (Islam Call to Prayer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inGYa4qdMSw (5 Pillars Video)

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80633670/ (Muslims Taking Over at an Alarming Rate)

Articles:
http://www.islam-guide.com/ (Focus on:Chapter 3 General Information on Islam)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124494788 (“Is the Bible More Violent than the Quran”).

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112181196 (NPR article--Ramadan: A Fast Track to a Larger World)



Further Questions to consider:
How is the importance of Islam connected to resources? (governmentally, politically, etc.)
What? What is Islam?
Where? Where do we find it? (% in U.S. %s in several M.E. countries)
Why? Do many in U.S. have problems/fear it?
What are their beliefs? Customs (women’s rights? What countries?) + Today in Paris, etc?
Compare to Christianity. (What is similar and what is different?)
Most common boy’s name today is ________________?
Where on the map would we find the largest population of muslims? (hint: not West Asia)

RESOURCES:
Oil, a blessing or a curse to the Middle East?
Why is water so important to the region, historically and presently?

Helpful Websites:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/agriculturalrevolution/ (begin with this Brainpop of “Agricultural Revolution” and civilization dependency on water / Mesopotamia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhCduxoiyTQ (Oil And The Middle East Explained)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkNY78B2Jio&feature=related


Articles:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g68/iraqoil.html (Oil and Water lessons. Many inoperable links. This site gives a good overview and hopefully will get you thinking more)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6883051.ece (Yemen could become first nation to run out of water)

http://www.economist.com/node/14743791?story_id=14743791 (Economist article: A Fresh Way to Take the Salt out of Saltwater)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics (What is oil?)

Oil Map—(wow!) http://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/who-has-the-oil.jpg

http://www.oildecline.com/ (Peak Oil)

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0406/feature5/index.html (End of Cheap Oil--National Geographic)

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/ (International gas prices—kind of interesting)


Further Questions to consider:
What countries have a lot of oil reserves? Water?
What countries may be challenged with water?
What is crude oil?
What is peak oil?
What positives has oil offered individuals and countries? What negatives?

1. Please read as much as you can so you understand the pros and the cons of building dams. Please begin by reading the websites below.

2. Type in the 'comments' an opinion statement.

Remember, be bold, brief, and creative.

3. Also type the second sentence which is evidence. The second sentence needs to begin, “For example….” Make sure this sentence is in fact an example that supports your opinion.

Next week we will have a mini-debate. Make sure you are able to present either side and intelligently have evidence :-)

Against:

http://chamisa.freeshell.org/dam.htm

http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/287 Go to bottom: (Damned Rivers, Damned Lives: The case against large dams)

http://www.uga.edu/srel/ecoviews/ecoview040919.htm

For:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hubei/yichang/three-gorges-dam-project.htm

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/damfailure/benefits.shtm

For and against:

http://www.englishdaily626.com/high_school_english_essays.php?024

http://www.purposegames.com/game/east-africa-map-quiz-quiz
http://www.purposegames.com/game/e26d39ed

Extra: this you do not need to know for tomorrow but it is a fun challenge--http://www.purposegames.com/game/69ff96f3dd

http://video.pbs.org/video/1082085620/

FRONTLINE The Hugo Chavez Show

Video Link: http://video.pbs.org/video/1082085620/

Please watch the rest of the video. Pay close attention to the following questions. You should know these for Friday’s test.

1. How did Hugo Chavez become president?

2. The 11th of April 2002 is a date no one in Venezuela can forget. Why? What happened?

3. Where is Hugo Chavez's money coming from? The U.S.? How? Explain this.

4. At about the 36 minute mark we hear a few of the governments and leaders that are not "best friends" with the United States but do share some of the same opinions as Hugo Chavez. What are at least three of these leaders/countries?

5. What was supposed to be special about the "new" city in Caracas where Hugo Chavez designs and has people to relocate (move) to?

6. During the Chavez Show, some say Hugo Chavez has created a "hot house" atmosphere. How do people feel? Why?

7. When Chavez's mentor begin to no longer really respect Chavez, who becomes Chavez's mentor? This is the person Chavez admires and listens to.

8. What does Chavez call the United States?

9. How has Venezuela helped Cuba?

10. Part of the move for socialism and a new constitution has to do with how long the president can remain the president. What did Hugo Chavez want?

11. How does Hugo Chavez respond to Rory's question (Rory is the writer for the paper in London)? Explain.

12. Describe how Caracas is today, even though it supposedly is socialist. You might want to pay close attention to what the man at the 1hour 15 minute mark has to say.

13. You hear how people love and hate Chavez. What is your opinion? Can you support this with evidence?

14. What is the first defeat (the first loss) for Chavez?

Due: Tuesday

E-mail this assignment to me (mpiercy@hpa.edu)

Creatively respond to the following question. I expect you to edit your work. Doing a couple drafts is recommended. Choose your format (poem, song lyrics, paragraph writing, etc.). Please make sure you explain yourself :-) Again, this should be CREATIVE. Have fun!

Question: What can we learn from the example Ernest Shackleton set?

Write a one-sentence opinion statement on Che Guevara. You have learned a lot so please make sure your statement accurately represents your thoughts and feelings. BE UNIQUE in how you write this statement. Remember to be bold, brief and creative. Word choice is important :-) Next class we will read these and learn how to write the second sentence. Yippee!

Write a one-sentence opinion statement on Che Guevara. You have learned a lot so please make sure your statement accurately represents your thoughts and feelings. BE UNIQUE in how you write this statement. Remember to be bold, brief and creative. Word choice is important :-) Next class we will read these and learn how to write the second sentence. Yippee!

Write a one-sentence opinion statement on Che Guevara. You have learned a lot so please make sure your statement accurately represents your thoughts and feelings. BE UNIQUE in how you write this statement. Remember to be bold, brief and creative. Word choice is important :-) Next class we will read these and learn how to write the second sentence. Yippee!

Please follow this format when posting your 10-15 questions. These questions should encapsulate the most important and/or interesting information heard in the country presentations.

Names:________,_________,__________

Argentina:
1.
2.

Brazil:
1.
2.

etc. etc.

Please follow this format when posting your 10-15 questions. These questions should encapsulate the most important and/or interesting information heard in the country presentations.

Names:________,_________,__________

Argentina:
1.
2.

Brazil:
1.
2.

etc. etc.