Boko Haram

In 2013, the United States declared that the Boko Haram were officially considered a terrorist group.  However, many Americans do not even know were this group operates or why.

Some facts...from BBC Africa article by Farouk Chothia on May 20, 2014

• Founded in 2002
• Official Arabic name, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad"
• Initially focused on opposing Western education - gaining the nickname Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
• Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state.  They focus on terrorizing northern Nigeria and attacking police, schools, churches, and civilians.  Despite having a Muslim leader of the country, this group does not believe that the government goes far enough to separate Nigerians from the west.  They do not want any social or political activities with the west including secular schools, voting in elections, or wearing shirts or pants.
• Founding leader Mohammed Yusuf (pictured above) killed in 2009 same year in police custody, succeeded by Abubakar Shekau
• Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
• Some three million people affected
• Declared terrorist group by US in 2013

Two attacks have caused some in the world to take notice.  In April 2014, 200 school girls vanished after being abducted by the group.  They remain missing.    Then, on January 3rd, 2015, the group began a raid in the town of Baga.  At least 2,000 people are believed to have perished in these raids that impacted at least 16 villages.  The country of Cameroon is concerned that violence keeps erupting in their neighboring country.  Chad, another neighbor, has deployed troops.  

Given that this group is committing human rights violations through their violent acts, should the United States or any African, European, or Asian country become involved in this fight for control of Nigeria.  Why or why not?

Syrian Civil War

Given that Syria has been involved in a brutal civil war for the past three 
+ years, geographers have tried to show what the map currently looks like in the country. In addition, some geographers and politicians have speculated as to what it may look like if the current leader is overthrown.  Click on the map below to view the map.  Then, decide whether you believe the country will remain as one or be split into parts.  Explain your answer.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syrian_civil_war.png#mediaviewer/File:Syrian_civil_war.png

MLK Jr.:

Watch the video which incorporates actual black and white photos and historical fictional color video from 2015 movie--Selma.

What does it mean to "run with the torch now?"  Explain in your own words.

Asia: Himalayas

Please read the following excerpt from the National Geographic article, "Asia: Physical Geography."

The Himalaya mountains extend for about 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), separating the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia. The Indian subcontinent, once connected to Africa, collided with the Eurasian continent about 50 million to 55 million years ago, forming the Himalayas. The Indian subcontinent is still crashing northward into Asia, and the Himalayas are growing about 5 centimeters (2 inches) every year.

The Himalayas cover more than 612,000 square kilometers (236,000 square miles), passing through the northern states of India and making up most of the terrain of Nepal and Bhutan. The Himalayas are so vast that they are composed of three different mountain belts. The northernmost belt, known as the Great Himalayas, has the highest average elevation at 6,096 meters (20,000 feet). The belt contains nine of the highest peaks in the world, which all reach more than 7,925 meters (26,000 feet) tall. This belt includes the highest mountain summit in the world, Mount Everest, which stands at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet).

The Tien Shan mountain system stretches for about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles), straddling the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. The name Tien Shan means “Celestial Mountains” in Chinese. The two highest peaks in the Tien Shan are Victory Peak, which stands at 7,439 meters (24,406 feet), and Khan Tängiri Peak, which stands at 6,995 meters (22,949 feet). Tien Shan also has more than 10,100 square kilometers (3,900 square miles) of glaciers. The largest glacier is Engil'chek Glacier, which is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) long.

The Ural Mountains run for approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) in an indirect north-south line from Russia to Kazakhstan. The Ural Mountains are some of the world’s oldest, at 250 million to 300 million years old. Millions of years of erosion have lowered the mountains significantly, and today their average elevation is between 914 and 1,220 meters (3,000 to 4,000 feet). The highest peak is Mount Narodnaya at 1,895 meters (6,217 feet).  Some people feel that the Ural Mountains are really more like hills in some spots today, but the Urals do form part of the boundary between Asia and Europe.

How do you think the Himalayas impact the climate of Asia?  To answer this question, please examine at least one physical map and at least one climate map of the region.  Use cardinal and intermediate direction in your response.

What is AQAP?

Recently the world learned that AQAP ordered and financed the January 7th terrorist attack in France.  AQAP is the Al Qaeda branch that is located in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula.  This group represents one of the largest threats to Americans in that they have tried and sometimes carried out terror attacks against Americans and the West since 9-11.

What geographic factors, in your opinion, might make this terror group hard to eliminate or easy to eliminate in your opinion.  Use the maps below as well as any classroom support materials (atlas, desk maps etc.) to support your answer.

 

Intro to Europe

Before we begin our study of Europe, please watch the video below.  Then, record at least 3 important facts that you learned from the video clip on the organizer provided.

Plateau of Tibet: A Warm Up

The Plateau of Tibet is often called the "Roof of the World."  It has the distinction of being the largest plateau on Earth.  (Wait, what's a plateau again?  I forget.)  It includes the autonomous region of Tibet along with regions of southwest China.  The region lies between the Kunlun Mountains to its north and the Himalayas and Karakoram Ranges to its south and southwest.  It represents about 965,00 square miles or 2.5 million square kilometers.  It is an important source for numerous important Asian rivers including the Mekong in SE Asia, the Indus and Brahmaputra Rivers in S Asia, and the Yangtze River in E Asia.

Examine the three photos below from Wikipedia.  Choose ONE photo and explain why geographers refer to this plateau as the roof of the world.

Photo #1

Photo #2--a map

Photo #3

Guess the neighborhood!

Photos by Robin Hammond

National Geographic's Photo of the Day and January 2015 issue "Africa's First City."

Examine the photos above.  What type of neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria, would you say these two pictures depict?  Explain your response.

  

Why does the Earth have deserts?

Watch the following video.

Intro to East Asia's Geography-- Do Now

Most geographers list 5-6 countries in the region called East Asia.  The 4 that remain on the list always are--

China
Japan
North Korea
South Korea

Mongolia is sometimes part of this list due to its location but some geographers prefer to include this country with Central Asia due to its nomadic histories.  In addition, Taiwan is often considered part of East Asia but some geographers include it as part of China not as a separate nation.

Below I have included 4 pictures from the first list.  Examine the photos.  Are there similarities?  Differences?  What conclusions might you make about the geography of these countries based solely on these photos?

#1: CHINA

#2 JAPAN

#3 NORTH KOREA

#4 SOUTH KOREA

All photos came from Wikipedia

Current Events: Charlie Hebdo Attack; Bellringer

Sadly, many of you heard the news that several gunmen attacked the weekly newspaper--Charlie Hebdo--killing a total of 12 people including the editor and several cartoonists.  It has been reported that the three gunmen were shouting in Arabic as they shooting began.  One is now in custody but the two brothers remain at large.  The attack has left people feeling shocked just like people did after Canada and Australia in the last several months.  

This one has led to some feelings of solidarity for the people of France.  Je Suis Charlie or I am Charlie was seen all over social media yesterday.  The weekly newspaper was known for its ability to poke fun at nearly anyone or anything, including most religions.  This is legal in France or for that matter, the United States. 

Examine all three

Attributed to Lucille Clerc and seen on Banksy's Instagram

images below.  Choose one and state what it is attempting to share with the reader about yesterday's tragedy.

L'Equipe is a French sports newspaper and this is their recent cover.

The Je Suis Charlie or I am Charlie slogan is believed to have first appeared on Charlie Hebdo's website and then quickly seen by people in various languages all over the globe.  What does it mean to have it in multiple languages?

The Gambia: Do Now!

In December 2014, two Americans with dual citizenship traveled to The Gambia with the purpose to overthrow the government.  These two men are now in US Federal custody, because their actions violated a late 1700s law called The Neutrality Act that made it illegal for a citizen to attack a country that is at peace with the United States.

Imagine that you are a lawyer for the federal government and you have been put in charge of this case.  Will you try these two men in court and potentially send them to prison or will you return them to their homes in Texas and Minnesota?

To answer this question, you need some background information.

•Where is The Gambia?

•Why did the men violate The Neutrality Act?


BACKGROUND INFO:

Geography of The Gambia: The Gambia is part of the region of West Africa.  It is the purplish country located in the middle of the country of Senegal in the map above.  Some people call it the "snake-like" country.  It has a very narrow coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.  It is one that many Americans have never heard of or one that some middle school cartographers might leave off their maps of Africa due to its unusual location and small size.

Government of The Gambia: For roughly 20 years, the country has been ruled by one leader--Yahya Jammeh, who rules as a dictator.  Yahya Jammeh has been called one of the worst human rights violators in Africa and perhaps in the world.  His country as a result has been called the North Korea of Africa.  He does not allow free speech or the right to vote.  He forces people to perform solidarity marches so that it appears on television that everyone loves him.  The Gambian people have little access to reliable information, because he controls the newspapers and television media.  Back in 2000, he ordered 14 school children killed after they peacefully protested against his government.

The Players in the Case:The two men--Cherno Njie from Texas and Papa Faal from Minnesota--have U.S. and Gambian citizenship.  They traveled to The Gambia in December believing that they had the support of key senior government officials to overthrow Yahya Jammeh's government.  Unfortunately, when they landed, the situation changed and their operation had no hope for success.  It was the 8th unsuccessful attempt to change the government in the past 20 years.

The U.S. Relationship with The Gambia:  The United States has not publicly done much regarding the dictator in The Gambia.  However, The Gambia was recently dropped from The African Growth & Opportunity Act, which encourages African goods to be sold in the U.S. without tax.  This action might indicate that we oppose the numerous human rights violations in this country by this leader.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?  Do you prosecute these two men?  Do you believe the law must always be followed?  Do you believe that these men were entitled to overthrow a "bad" man?  YOU DECIDE.  There is no right or wrong choice.  Please support your answer and be prepared to discuss it.

This "do now" was based on  an interview with Jeffrey Smith on Pri.org on January 6, 2015.  Nina Porzucki was the producer for this interview.

Cuba

Many Americans, outside of the Cuban-American enclaves, give little thought to the geography of Cuba.  The island nation is located south of Florida in the Caribbean Sea.  It is only 100 or so miles from Key West, Florida, making it our closest enemy since 1961.  In addition, it is the largest island in the Caribbean and the 17th largest island in the world.

With President Obama's recent announcement, changes in the U.S.-Cuban relationship seem to be possible.  What will this mean for Cubans? For Americans?

Ponder this--

What will it take for Americans to travel to Cuba for vacation like some Americans did in the 1950s?


Would you be interested in visiting Cuba in the future?  Why?  Why not?

What if? The World still looked like Pangea...

Imagine that the world didn't not slowly move apart millions of years ago.  That all of the continental land was still connected.  

How would communication, trade, culture, and governments be different?  How might they be the same.  This is a purely hypothetically question with no right or wrong answer as long as you can support your choice.

Pangea with political boundaries.

Jot down some ideas and be prepared to share your ideas with your desk partner.

Importance of Rivers--Danube River Do Now

Danube River: Why is it so Important?  

The Danube is the 2nd largest river in Europe and flows through much of Eastern Europe.  It rises in Germany, then flows about 1,770 miles through nine countries--Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Ukraine.  The Eastern European cities of Belgrade, Braila, Bratislava, Budapest and Galati are all on the Danube.

What factors make the Danube so important in your opinion?  Write a clear paragraph about the river, explaining its importance in Eastern Europe.  (Use your knowledge of rivers in general to help you develop your paragraph.  In addition, analyze the map below.) 

Possible factors--economics such as freight transport, generation of hydroelectricity, industrial water supply, fishing, irrigation for farming...Maps show numerous major cities and ports are located along the river such as, Izmail, Ukraine; Galaţi and Brăila, Romania; Ruse, Bulgaria; Belgrade, Serbia ; Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; and Regensburg, Germany, are among the major ports. 

Western Europe Writing Prompt

Topography of Western Europe

Western Europe isn’t very large; in area, its about 428,000 square miles.  (Remember, Europe overall is the 2nd smallest continent.  It is really a peninsula of a supercontinent called Eurasia.  It is often nicknamed the "peninsula of peninsulas.")

But this area or region is broken up into many smaller areas.  Several parts of Europe consist of large islands.  These include Great Britain, Ireland and Iceland in the north and Crete to the south.  Some pieces of land are peninsulas, joined to the mainland by a comparatively narrow neck of land.  These include Scandinavia, Iberia, Italy, and the Balkan.  Even the mainland is broken up, crisscrossed by high mountain ranges such as The Alps.

Based on what you know about people and geography, how do you think the broken-up  nature of Western Europe might have affected the way cultures developed here.  Write one clear paragraph (5 sentence minimum) explaining your answer.

SW Asia Do Now

World Geography Bell Ringer

Pick up the handout.  Analyze the chart on it regarding population data of Southwest Asia.

Population:  The chart below gives some information about populations in countries of Southwest Asia.  Study the chart carefully.  Then answer the questions that follow.

1.  What is the general trend for populations in this region?

2.  Which country has the greatest percentage of increase?

3.  Which country will have the greatest increase in the number of people?

Population Do Now

Do Now (5 minutes): 

Students respond in writing to the following prompt:

What does the word “population” mean? List as many factors that make up a population. Example: age, gender, etc.

After response time, we will share with our partners and then with the whole class.