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Annual Editions: Global Issues 09/10. (2009).
Posted by: admin on Monday, February 8, 2010Recommended because new editions each year contain collections of 30-40 up to date articles from scholars and the world press that examine the most important global issues facing the planet. The book has a world map, a glossary, a topic guide, and a list of related websites. This is one of many Annual Editions series. Others (see list on the Annual Editions website) are also relevant to specific issues as well as regional studies.
Citation: Jackson, Robert M. (editor). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. http://www.dushkin.com
The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. (1996).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because because it provides an analysis of the state of world politics after the fall of communism based on his seminal article “The Clash of Civilizations” published in the Foreign Affairs journal in 1993. The themes of the book are (1) the crucial impact of population growth on instability and the balance of power and (2) how ‘clashes of civilizations’ are the greatest threat to world peace, and an international order based on civilizations is the surest safeguard against world war. The book provides analyses of (1) the concept of civilizations, (2) the question of universal civilization, (3) the relationship between power and culture, (4) the shifting balance of power among civilizations, (5) cultural indigenization in non-Western societies, (6) the political structure of civilizations, (7) conflicts generated by Western universalism, Muslim militancy, and Chinese assertion, (8) responses to the rise of Chinese power, (9) the causes and dynamics of fault line wars, and (10) the futures of the West and of a world of civilizations. The author intends for the book to be an interpretation of the evolution of global politics after the Cold War.
Citation: Huntington, Samuel P. New York: Touchstone.
Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism (2000).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this is the 2000 report of the National Commission on Terrorism, which was set up by Congress in the aftermath of the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Recent commentators have called the report prescient; the commission predicted that there would be a terrorist attack on the United States on the scale of Pearl Harbor. It also noted that our multi-billion dollar counter-terrorism effort designed to thwart and warn against such an attack is plagued by procedures that have made it difficult for the CIA to employ “the services of clandestine informants” while the FBI “suffers from bureaucratic and cultural obstacles in obtaining terrorism information.” This book would be used to teach high school students the ways to prevent or respond to terrorist attack.
Reviewed by PBS Frontline.
Citation: The National Commission on Terrorism.
The Gaia Peace Atlas: Survival into the Third Millennium. (1988).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides global perspectives on peace as more than just the absence of war. It provides analyses of the roots of peace and war by exploring human, nuclear, and environmental crises threatening humanity and our planet. The book provides research from international people and organizations/institutions on proposals for immediate and long-term sustainable peace. Exercise and exercise overviews center on (1) what is culture, (2) the building blocks of culture, (3) styles of communication, (4) culture in the workplace, and (5) the cross-cultural perspective. Chapter 2 contains exercises that explore the concept of self (individualist vs. collectivist), personal vs. societal responsibility (universalist vs. particularist), the concept of time (monochronic vs. polychronic), and locus of control (internal vs. external). The ‘Dialogues’ exercise contains four brief cross-cultural dialogues (with seemingly missing exchanges) where students have to figure out the cross-cultural meanings/misunderstandings in the dialogues.
Citation: Barnaby, Frank (editor). New York: Doubleday. http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday
Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century: A Reader. (2000).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it explores globalization and its impact from interdisciplinary perspectives. The ten-part book explores global order and disorder, the new nature of national borders, conflict and security in a new world order, globalization and the evolution of democracy, the new global economy, doing business in the information age, forecasting the future, the environment, and an emerging global culture.
Citation: O’Meara, Patrick, Mehlinger, Howard D., & Krain, Matthew (editors). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Student Atlas of World Politics, 5th edition. (2002).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it explores recent developments geopolitics and international relations through maps and data tables. The book contains maps of (1) the contemporary world, (2) states: alliances and conflicts, (3) the global economy, (4) population and human development, (5) food, energy, and materials, (6) environmental conditions, and (7) regions of the world. The book also contains data tables on world countries and a geographic index.
Citation: Allen, John L. Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. http://www.dushkin.com
The State of the War and Peace Atlas, 3rd edition (1997).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides global overviews on (1) international terrorism, (2) landmine and military dumping grounds, (3) military spending and nuclear testing, (4) arsenals and the arms trade, and (5) NATO and the UN. The book also provides full-color maps that explore (1) the dynamics of war, (2) wars of identity and belief, (3) wars of poverty and power, (4) the military world, and (5) the dynamics of peace.
Citation: Smith, Dan. London: Penguin.
Stolen Dreams: Portraits of Working Children. (1998).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it documents the lives of working children in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States. The book explores (1) why children work, (2) where children work, and (3) what can be done about the problems and issues associated with child labor. Here’s a quote from Doi, a 13 year old factory worker in Bangkok, Thailand: “My father died and my mother just didn’t have enough money to feed all my brothers and sisters, so that’s why I came to work. What I really miss is games. We don’t have any time to play football or anything like that. I don’t understand why we can’t have some time in the evening to play. I suppose it’s because there’s so much work to do.”
Citation: Parker, David L. with Engfer, Lee, & Conrow, Robert. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications.
The State of the World Atlas: The Unique Visual Survey of Political, Economic, and Social Trends, 6th edition. (1999).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains key political, economic, and social indicators translated into full-color maps and graphics. The book provides visual representations of such topics as (1) international debt and inflation, (2) production of goods and services, (3) population growth and migrations, (4) pressures on the environment, (5) military spending and arms trade, (6) freedom of expression, (7) religion and the rise of fundamentalism, (8) racism and gender politics, and (9) language and illiteracy.
Citation: Smith, Dan, & Kidron, Michael. London: Penguin.
Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh. (1993).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it explores environmental, social, and psychological problems associated with our push for ‘progress’ and ‘development through an examination of the breakdown of Ladakh’s culture and environment (ecological balance and social harmony) because of ‘modernization’. The film is based on the Helena Norberg-Hodge (founder of ISEC) and Peter Matthiessen book of the same name.
Arms for the Poor. (1998).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Arms for the Poor illustrates how the U.S. government and arms exporters affect lives of people in other countries through the arms trade. Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has doubled its arms sales; the U.S. sells more weaponry abroad than all other 52 arms exporters combined; 80% of U.S. arms sales go to repressive, non-democratic governments. Activists and experts interviewed link U.S. arms sales to the maintenance of global inequality.
Banking on Life and Debt. (1995).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because The video is an overview of World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies that promote poverty, starvation, and ecological ruin. Measured by its ability to engage most high school students, Banking on Life and Debt is spread too thin, covers too much history and too much political economy, and is narrated by too many talking heads. Nonetheless, through examining World Bank and IMF policies in Ghana, Brazil, and the Philippines, the video offers a convincing portrait of an international economic order that drains resources from poor countries in the name of development. And if used with other readings and activities that explore the global debt crisis, this can be an important resource. The video doesn’t bubble over with hope, but we do meet activists in every country visited who describe efforts to organize for alternatives to debt slavery. Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
Cancel the Debt, Now! (2000).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Cancel the Debt, Now! outlines the immorality of the global debt crisis. Activists from numerous countries tell about the impact of debt on the poorest people in their societies, as well as the effects on the environment. The video emphasizes the global Jubilee 2000 Campaign to cancel the debt for the poorest countries and explains why this is not charity. Although the campaign is Biblically-grounded (in the Book of Leviticus) and thus the video has religious overtones this should not prevent its use in public schools. Its strength is in its advocacy for activism in solidarity with the world’s poor, and in its scope. However, other than their dire poverty, we learn little about the lives of people affected by the debt crisis.
Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
Deadly Embrace: Nicaragua, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. (1996).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because deadly embrace of the video’s title refers to the post-Sandinista government’s acceptance of the structural adjustment policies of the World Bank and IMF, which have devastated Nicaragua’s economy at least from the standpoint of the vast majority of the people. According to the video, unemployment has rocketed to 60%, credit to small farmers has been slashed, public school teachers work in deteriorating conditions for $60 to $70 a month, and public programs of all kinds have been eliminated. Meanwhile, free trade zones welcome transnational corporations who pay pennies an hour to desperate workers.
Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
Life and Debt. (2001).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this may be the best video overview of the effects of globalization on one society in this instance, Jamaica. Life and Debt focuses on the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Jamaica, but it’s much more than that. It weaves together interviews with the IMF deputy director, farmers, workers, scholars, a former Prime Minister (Michael Manley); a narration based on Jamaica Kincaids A Small Place (see p. 54); Jamaican music; life in a tourist hotel; and a kind of Greek chorus of Rastafarian men who comment on Jamaica’s neocolonial plight. The conclusion: Jamaican society has been devastated by high interest payments on its external debt (52% of the entire national budget), cheap imports (potatoes, peanuts, carrots, milk powder, chicken), the WTO ruling forcing Jamaica’s bananas into direct competition with much cheaper bananas from Central and South America, and exploitative practices in Jamaica’s World Bank pushed free zone. (Of course, there are some economic winners: Because of high crime, one security firm featured has gone from 120 guards employed to between 1800 and 1900 guards and over 300 dogs.) It’s this relatively comprehensive video walk through Jamaica’s economy that can help students see the relationship between farm conditions and sweatshops, and provides a partial answer to the sweatshop defense: Well, no one is forcing people to go to work in these places.
Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
The Debt Crisis: An Unnatural Disaster. (1990).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this video is a primer on the history and social consequences of the Third World debt crisis and structural adjustment programs, especially focusing on the Caribbean. It has something of a homemade feel to it and lacks the polish that students are used to, but it is a clear and hard-hitting overview of the severe difficulties the debt crisis creates in poor countries. One of the videos strengths is that it is entirely narrated, and the skits acted, by Caribbean people themselves. The Debt Crisis covers much the same ground as Banking on Life and Debt, although its Caribbean focus is narrower. However, the playfulness (some might argue, silliness) of its skits and its concentration on a smaller geographic area probably make this more accessible for many students.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1988).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this is the music video for the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. Short psychedelic cartoons illustrate each of the Declaration’s 30 articles. They are mostly clever and amusing. For example, the segment for Article 12, which includes guarantees against arbitrary interference with correspondence, features a letter ripped out of an envelope and attacked by an army of needles poking and shredding. The entire series of short cartoons almost all of which are 30 seconds or less would make an excellent prompt for students to complete their own illustrations of these and any other rights they believe should be universal. Students could also be divided into small groups to perform improvisations based on the Universal Declaration or to create pantomimes and perform them as in a game of charades, with other students guessing which article is being acted out.
Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
Where Are the Beans? (1994).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Where Are the Beans? is a kind of detective story and an excellent classroom resource. Linda Shelly, of the Mennonite Central Committee, lived in La Esperanza, Honduras for several years. While there, she loved to eat red beans, a staple of the Honduran diet. But when she returned in 1993, she found that no one ate beans any longer. Where are the beans? is the question that Shelly pursues as she visits old friends to learn about how their lives have changed. Shelly discovers the answer in the structural adjustment policies that the International Monetary Fund pressed the Honduran government to adopt: fewer subsidies to the poor, currency devaluation, no more government loans to small farmers, and increased exports of … you guessed it: red beans. The small Honduran farmers have been pulled into the global economy pulled in at the bottom, says Shelly. Their new position in this system demands more and more from them and offers them less and less. Review from Rethinking Schools/Rethinking Globalization Resources Page, 07/2002.
Free Trade Area of the Americas: the Threat to Social Programs, Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this booklet looks at the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), a trade agreement currently being negotiated by 34 countries of the Americas and the Caribbean. The FTAA, largely crafted under the advisement of corporations, is poised to become the most powerful trade agreement in history with sweeping new authority. This booklet will explain the agreement and what is at stake for the hemisphere in terms of setting standards for public health, food safety, worker and environmental protections, and many other areas. 50 pages. Recommended for high school students. Reviewed by International Forum on Globalization.
Citation: Barlow, Maude (Chair, International Forum on Globalization (IFG) Committee on the Globalization of Water). $2 for members and non-members of IFG.
BLUE GOLD. The Global Water Crisis and the Commodification of the World’s Water Supply.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this new 4Slavic and Eastern Europe-page report reveals that emerging water policies of many governments will likely worsen the imminent global water crisis. As the World Bank notes, “The wars of the next century will be about water.” The report addresses: Who owns water? Should anyone? Should it be privatized? What rights do transnational corporations have to buy water systems? Should it be traded as a commodity in the open market? What laws do we need to protect water? What is the role of government? How do we share water in water-rich countries with those in water-poor countries? Who is the custodian for nature’s lifeblood? How do ordinary citizens become involved in this process? Reviewed by International Forum on Globalization.
Citation: Barlow, Maude (International Forum on Globalization (IFG) board member and national chairperson of the Council of Canadians). (1999). $8 for members, $12 for non-members of IFG.
Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book was first published in 1981. By embracing the tenets of voluntary simplicity—frugal consumption, ecological awareness and personal growth–people can change their lives and begin to change the world. For nearly two decades this powerful and visionary work has been a catalyst in the emerging dialogue over sustainable ways of living. As the push of environmental stress combines with the pull toward more meaningful ways of living, Duane Elgin’s extensively revised and updated book is more relevant than ever. This book will be recommended for high school students. Reviewed by Eco Books.
Citation: Elgin, Duane. (1993). $12.00.
Teaching About Climate Change: Cool Schools Tackle Global Warming.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because helping teachers and students to tackle the challenging topic of climate change, this new anthology from Green Teacher offers a framework for teaching fundamental concepts and a variety of activities that can be undertaken in school, at home or in the community. Teachers will find practical ideas for making the intangibles of climate change more concrete to students, including experiments that demonstrate the greenhouse effect, school energy and waste audits, and hands-on explorations of energy and transportation alternatives from solar cookers to bike-a-thons. Up-to-date lists of learning resources and related organizations round out the collection of the best of Green Teacher on the topic of climate change. Reviewed by Green Teacher.
Citation: Grant, Tim & Littlejohn, Gail. (Eds.). (2001). $12.95.
Greening School Grounds: Creating Habitats for Learning.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because schoolyard “greening” is an excellent way to promote hands-on, interdisciplinary learning through projects that benefit schools and increase green space and biodiversity in communities. In this new anthology from Green Teacher magazine, readers will find step-by-step instructions for numerous schoolyard projects, from tree nurseries to school composting to native-plant gardens, along with ideas for enhancing learning by addressing the diverse needs of students. Among more than a dozen schoolyard habitat options presented, the guide includes detailed articles on rooftop gardens, far-north gardens, desert gardens, butterfly gardens, ponds and prairie restorations. For project planners, there are practical tips on minimizing vandalism, maximizing participation and raising funds. And for teachers, there are dozens of outdoor classroom activities and curriculum links, a bibliography of learning resources, and up-to-date listings of funders and training organizations. Greening School Grounds is a compendium of the best schoolyard greening articles and activities from Green Teacher. Reviewed by Green Teacher.
Citation: Grant, Tim & Littlejohn, Gail. (Eds.). (2001). $16.95.
The Environment: Saving the Planet.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because The Environment: Saving the Planet offers a practical, hands-on approach to helping children to explore, learn and understand about the world around them. This absorbing book provides an all-round introduction to environmental science, covering pollution and waste, recycling, endangered species and habitats, and types of energy. It is filled with practical ideas and activities to help young earth-watchers learn more about their world. Reviewed by environ – for people, the environment and the future.
Citation: Harlow, Rosie & Morgan, Sally. (2001).
The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because in Stolen Harvest, Vandana Shiva charts the implacts of globalized, corporate agriculture on small farmers, the environment, and the quality of the food we eat. With chapters on genetically engineered seeds, patents o life, mad cows and sacred cows, and the debate on shrimp farming, this is an impassioned and inspiring book that will shape the debate about genetic engineering and commercial agriculture for years to come. This book will be recommended for junior and high school students. Reviewed by Eco Books.
Citation: Shiva, Vandana. (1999). $14.00.
Global Education: A Worldwide Movement. (1999).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it explores what is done in primary and secondary schools in over 50 countries to further the development of global perspectives in education. The book explores content and curriculum, teacher education, teaching methods, and barriers to global education. The book also explores issues of nationalism–political and ethnic–that create problems and challenges for global education.
Citation: Tye, Barbara B., & Tye, Kenneth A. Orange, CA: Interdependence Press. http://www.interdependencepress.com ($29.95).
Exploring the Diversity of Life.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this is a series of ten 10-minute programs that explores the large variety of species that share this planet, examining the underlying role of that variety, its biological sources, its natural history and its intrinsic value. The series crosses the curriculum beginning with biology including natural selection, ecology, morphology, and taxonomy, earth science, language arts and social studies. All concepts are illustrated by comparing examples filmed in the wild in North American temperate forests and Amazonian rain forests. Reviewed by Environmental Media.
Forest Family Forever!
Posted by: admin onRecommended because journey into an enchanted rainforest where magical trees come to life to empower young people with ways they can help protect the last ancient rainforests on Earth! Forest Family Forever! tells the story of a thousand year old grandfather tree who teaches his sapling grandson about the wonders of the rainforests and what kids can do to save them. Be aware of the fact that you can watch this video in Rainforest Action Newtwork site. Reviewed by Rainforest Action Network.
Full Circle. (1991).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because the teen host of Full Circle presents the issues of waste management to junior and senior high school students. The students learn how to become involved in waste reduction, re-use and recycling programs. Reviewed by Environmental Media.
The Vanishing Lands
Posted by: admin onRecommended because The Vanishing Lands tells the story of sea-level rise in the Chesapeake Bay and offers viewers a beautifully illustrated documentary of the social and environmental impacts on the bay. Reviewed by Environmental Media.
The Water is Ours, Damn It! (2000).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is a documentary on the uprising against the privatization of water in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The video features interviews with a wide range of people that were involved in forcing the government of Bolivia to back down. It also includes riveting footage from street battles in Cochabamba, which at one point had up to 100,000 people confronting armed troops in the main plaza. Recommended for high school students.
Available at http://www.1worldcommunication.org/documentaryonbolivia.htm
Reviewed by Foreign Policy in Focus.
The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this comprehensive introductory text focuses on explaining to students without previous knowledge of the subject how contemporary world politics work. An introductory chapter discusses the concept of globalization and summarises the main arguments for and against it. Each chapter is written by a leading specialist in the field, and uses diagrams, boxes, and discussion points extensively, making this an extremely reader-friendly student text. Each chapter has a guide to further reading and ends with a series of questions. Reviewed by A World Connected.
Citation: Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (Eds.) (1997). Oxford University Press.
Globalization and the Postcolonial World: The New Political Economy of Development.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it examines the ways in which globalization is affecting the countries of the developing world, with emphasis on emerging global forms of production, exchange and governance. Topics and materials include examples of diverse impacts of globalization in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Latin America; identification of different postcolonial responses to globalization in these parts of the world; the new architecture of globalization of core-periphery relations in the world economy in which social divisions replace geographic divisions, and in which the politics of exclusion replace the politics of incorporation. I recommend this book for use by educators and teachers, and also for use by high-school students. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Hoogvelt, Ankie (1997). The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Going Global for the Greater Good: Succeeding as a Nonprofit in the International Community.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Going Global for the Greater Good offers a unique look at the way nonprofits–of any size–an increase their impact and better achieve their missions by engaging in the international community. Nonprofits that see themselves as part of a global community can provide a broader reach for programs, enhance the diversity of their organizations, raise their organizations
Citation: Koenig, Bonnie (2004). MA: Jossey-Bass.
Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its examining globalization, its views around the world, and its affects on our lives. Topics and materials include global order ad disorder; changing nature of national borders; conflict and security in a new world order; globalization and the evolution of democracy; new global economy; the age of information; environment and technology; new global culture. I recommend this book for use by educators and teachers, and also for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: O’Meara, Patrick, Mehlinger, Howard D. & Krain, Matthew (2000). Indiana University Press.
The United Nations: Come Along With Me!
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it offers a personalized view of the United Nations; of its purpose; of the people that work for it; and of the world problems the organization was created to solve and is currently engaged with. The book is written by the wife of the current secretary general of the U.N. Topics and materials include first person account of various UN enterprises and accomplishments around the world; personal narratives describing various personal experiences connected with the UN activities; photos representing the organization, its employees, people and places it serves; drawings of and by children expressing their views of hardships and happiness of their everyday life. I recommend this book for use in elementary school.
Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Annan, Nana (2000). The American Forum for Global Education.
The Myth of American Eclipse: The New Global Age.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it examines the United States’ status in today’s world and forecasting its future, and arguing that the U.S.’s greatest influence lies ahead, in the “new American century.” Topics and materials include the end of the nation-state era and the beginning of the new Global Age; the “triple revolution” – globalization, reindustrialization, and the ascent of a scientific, technological, megascale culture in incessant change; Americanization of the global society; “perestroika” (structural and content change) in education, media and cultural institutions, and politics are needed to dissolve concerns of the U.S. national spirit. I recommend this book for use by educators and teachers, and also for use by high-school students. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Balk, Alfred (1990). Transaction Publishers.
Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its elegant and illuminating analysis of the central conflict of our times: consumerist capitalism versus religious and tribal fundamentalism. Topics and materials include the fall of the west and the rise of the east; Hollywood McWorld videology; MTV as the McWorld’s noisy soul; Wild Capitalism vs. democracy; capitalism vs. democracy in Russia; and other. I recommend this book for use by teachers and educators, and also for use by high-school students. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Barber, Benjamin R. (1996). Ballantine Books.
The World as a Total System.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because the extent to which the Earth is a total system of interacting parts as well as the degree to which it is a “great mosaic” of isolated systems having little or no impact on one another. Topics and materials include extensive explanation of various “static” and “dynamic” systems, and representation of the world as a physical system, biological system, social system, economic system, political system, communication system, and an evaluative system. I recommend this book for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Boulding, Kenneth E. (1985). Sage Publications, Inc.
Global Awareness: Thinking Systematically about the World (2002).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book intends to raise readers awareness and understanding of global trends, forces, and events. Topics and materials included in this book are
Thinking about the world as a single place, global awareness, systems, changing systems, global systems, invisible systems, and globalization and nation-state politics. Start by the chapter 1 Thinking about the World as a Single Place since this chapter discusses various aspects of globalization including culture, economics, biology, history, futurism, and biography. Be aware of the fact that each chapter follows the relevant case study.
Citation: Clark, P. Robert. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Global Governance: The Battle over Planetary Power (2003).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book attempts to seek ways to create an international system of just governance. Topics and materials included in this book are the international institutions, the global economy, corporate politics, citizen action, and what is possible. I recommend you start with Introduction: Who is in charge? since this chapter discusses who is in charge of this planet and attempts to raise the awareness that we must create a more democratic and just governance. This book is recommended for junior and high school students.
Citation: Dawkins, Kristin. New York: Seven Stories Press.
Teaching International Politics in High School.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it offers answers to the question of how America’s schools should teach about international politics and ways of peace. The volume makes it clear that approaches should be realistic and pragmatic rather that based on generalities about global education and “peace education.” Topics and materials include essays on international economic relations, cultural and linguistic understanding, and the conflict of ideologies and value systems in international affairs. The volume examines traditional academic methods as well as recent innovations. A historian-filmmaker analyzes characteristic distortions of TV news and documentaries. Appendices include sample textbook pages as well as glossary, maps, and an international time line from 1945 to the present. I recommend this book for use by teachers and educators and also for use in high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: English, Raymond (1989). Ethics and Public Policy Center, University Press of America.
The Global Trap: Globalization and the Assault of Democracy and Prosperity.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its frightening analysis of the world’s economic future in which only 20% of the world’s population will be enough to keep the world economy going. Topics and materials include the analysis and causes of the modern day multi-million army of the unemployed, of the massive job insecurity, of the growing gap between low and high paid; the discussion of the upcoming collapse of the world as we know it and other topics. I recommend this site for use by educators and teachers, and also by high-school students. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Hans-Peter, Martin & Schumann, Harald (1997). Zed Books Ltd, New York.
Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World (2002).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book attempts to examine and help readers understand roles of international organizations in the making of the world today. Topics and materials included in this book are the origins of global community, the new internationalism, beyond the cold war, more states, more nonstate actors, the growth of civil society, and toward global community. Start by the chapter 1 The Origins of Global Community since this chapter attempts to answer the question How did the global community emerge and develop? by looking at the creation, growth, and activities of international organizations.
Citation: Iriye, Akira. Los Angels, CA: University of California Press.
The Role of the United States in a Changing World: Choices of the 21st Century.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it employs an innovative and class-tested strategy to present students with four different views of what policies the U.S. should follow in the 21st century.
Topics and materials include human rights and democracy; global cooperation; U.S. economic development; the “Korean peninsula crises”; the “four” alternate futures. The text is accompanied by the Instructor’s Resource guide. I recommend this book for use by high-school students.
Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Lindeman, Mark, Rose, William & Malkasian, Mark (1993). The Dushkin Publishing Group, Inc.
Teaching About International Conflict and Peace.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it links substantive current scholarship in major topics in the management if international conflict, economic cooperation and promoting peace in the world. Topics and materials include the use and control of military power; diplomacy; negotiation and peaceful settlement; economic cooperation; human rights; global environmental issues and other. I recommend this book for use educators and teachers, and also for use in high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Merryfield, Merry M. & Remy, Richard C. (1995). State University of New York Press.
Losing Control? Sovereignty in an Age of Globalization.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it examines the rise of private transnational legal codes and supranational institutions such as World Trade Organization and universal human rights covenants, to argue that sovereignty remains an important feature of the international system, though it is no longer confined to the nation-state. Topics and materials include the effects of globalization on the denationalization of national territory; the roles and implication of such institutions as NAFTA, or European Union; economic citizenship; immigration and other. I recommend this book for use by educators and teacher, and also for use in high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Sassen, Saskia (1996). Columbia University Press, NY.
About the United Nations: Africa Recovery. (1990).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its description of the current state of political, economic and military affairs in several African countries, and the reasons behind the ongoing financial problems. Topics and materials include the description of the state of African schools due to its financial debts to the West; general relationship between Western financial aid and African debts; live interviews with several African men and women. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/27/04.
Out of the Ashes of War: The Founding of the United Nations. (2002)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides a clear and elaborate summary of history and current involvements of the U.N. Topics and materials include the explanation of the failure of the League of Nations; the origins of the WWII; the role of the U.S. and the former USSR in the politics of the Eurasian continent; and the formation of the U.N. I recommend this video for use in high school and middle school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
The Marshall Plan: Against the Odds. (1997).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it gives a fair description of the origins, goals, and implications of the Marshall plan. Topics and materials include the explanation of the role of the U.N., and the U.S., in rebuilding post-WWII Europe. The historic narrative of the documentary is supported by contemporary expertise of historians and other academics. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Be aware of certain cultural biases of the video. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
The Model United Nations. (1992).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its excellent presentation of the structure and purpose of the model United Nations. Topics and materials include the explanation of the underlying principles of the organization, with special emphasis on international cooperation; interviews with the students involved; and the ways of getting involved. The video also contains a parallel explanation of the structure the actual U.N.
I recommend this video use in middle and high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
Education and the Rise of the Global Economy.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it explains how education is being increasingly shaped to fit a global economy dominated by corporate interests.
Topics and materials include critique of globalization and neo-liberal education initiatives around the world; call to rethink education in terms of the fundamental human right; ways of defending education and human community from the tyranny of transnational corporations and the threats they pose to the cultural and biotic diversity of the planet.
I recommend this book for use by educators and teachers, and also for use by high-school students. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Spring, Joel (1998). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (Publishers)
All Connected Now: Life in the First Global Civilization
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this books vividly describes four kinds of global change – economic, political, cultural, and biological. Start by Part 2 “Connections” since this part discusses how globalization has been advanced economically, politically, culturally, and biologically.
Citation: Anderson, Walt. Boulder, Colo. : Westview Press. $27.50.
Views from the South: The Effects of Globalization and the WTO on Third World Countries
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book provides readers a rare chance for a comprehensive perspective on the WTO from some of the leading voices from the South. Martin Khor (Malaysia), Vandana Shiva (India), Walden Bello (Thailand), Oronto Douglas (Nigeria) and Sara Larrain (Chile), as well as Anuradha Mittal (India and the U.S.) debunk the idea that global instruments have been designed to benefit the interests of the Third World or the poor. In fact, exactly the opposite is the case as the South bears extra burdens from the rules of trade. This book would be recommended for high school students to learn economic globalization from the perspectives of third world countries.
This resource was reviewed by Global Exchange Fair Trade Store.
Citation: Anderson, Sarah. (Ed.). CA: International Forum on Globalization. (2000). $12.95
Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book provides numerous sources to teach global economic systems. Topics and materials included in this site are teaching materials such as background readings, lesson plans, teaching articles, role plays and simulations, student handouts, interviews, poems, cartoons, annotated resource lists, and teaching ideas about various topics such as colonialism, global economy, global sweatshops, child labor in the global economy, food, and culture, consumption, and the environment. Start by any chapter depending upon your teaching topics or your students interests. I recommend this book for use by high-school teachers. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/7/04.
Citation: Bigelow, B., & Peterson, B. (Eds.) (2002). Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools Press.
Who Will Feed China: Wake-up Call for a Small Planet.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it suggests that in an integrated world economy China’s rising food prices will become the world’s rising food prices; China’s land security will become everyone’s land security; China’s water scarcity will affect the entire world. Topics and materials include a discussion of China’s dependence on massive imports; collapse of world fisheries; Earth’s (in)-capacity to feed us; arguments for the planet-side maintenance of food supplies. I recommend this book for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: Brown, Lester R. (1995). W.W. Norton and Company, Worldwatch Institute.
World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book shows the unexpected consequences of free market and democracy after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Start by Part I “The Economic Impact of Globaliation” since this part examines the actual impact of economic globalization in every region of the world by showing some examples including Chinese minority dominance in Southeast Asia, “White” wealth in Latin America, the Jewish Billionaires of post-communist Russia, market-dominant minorities in Africa.
Citation: Chua, Amy. (2003). New York : Doubleday. $26.00
Free the Children: A Young Man Fights Against Child Labor and Proves that Children Can Change the World
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this books introduces stories about some children fighting to gain their human rights in Bangladesh, Nepal,India, and Pakistan where the author traveled. Start by reading “Prologue” since this book is an easy reading story.
Citation: Kielburger, Craig., and Major, Kevin. (1998). New York: Harper Collins Publishers. $13.00
Focus: International Economics.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book includes lesson plans to teach basic concepts and issues in international economics. Topics and materials included in this site are 20 lesson plans organized around several major content themes: international economics, global production and competition, exchange rates and issues in international finance, free trade vs. protectionism, international economic development, and economic systems. Start by “Introduction” since it provides overview information about each major content theme. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/8/04.
Citation: Lynch, J. G., Watts, W. M., & Wentworth, R. D. (1998). New York, NY: National Council on Economic Education.
Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century: A Reader
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it examines globalization, its views around the world, and its affects on our lives. Topics and materials include global order ad disorder; changing nature of national borders; conflict and security in a new world order; globalization and the evolution of democracy; new global economy; the age of information; environment and technology; new global culture. I recommend this book for use by educators and teachers, and also for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04.
Citation: O’Meara, Patrick., Mehlinger, Howard.and Krain, Matthew. (Eds.). Bloomington, Ind. : Indiana University Press. (2000). $19.95
Losing Control? Sovereignty in an Age of Globalization.
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it examines the rise of private transnational legal codes and supranational institutions such as World Trade Organization and universal human rights covenants, to argue that sovereignty remains an important feature of the international system, though it is no longer confined to the nation-state. Topics and materials include the effects of globalization on the denationalization of national territory; the roles and implication of such institutions as NAFTA, or European Union; economic citizenship; immigration and other. I recommend this book for use by educators and teacher, and also for use in high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/28/04
Citation: Sassen, Saskia (1996). Columbia University Press, NY.
Asia Rising: Japan and Korea Rebuilt (1999).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its depiction of the miraculous economic recovery of Japan, South Korea, and other nations of the Pacific in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Topics and materials include the explanation of the role of the U.S. in the economic development of the region following the WWII; the depiction of the economic devastation on common people and their role in economic recovery of their countries; the analysis of the effectiveness of democratic institution in aiding economic recovery. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/24/04.
Elite Globalization vs People’s Globalization
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this film discusses two kinds of globalization: elite globalization and grassroots globalization. Danaher explains why, since September 11, it has become even more important for us to build the build the global justice movement and strengthen grassroots globalization. Be aware of the fact that this film can be ordered here.
This film would be recommended for middle school or high school students.
This resource was reviewed by Global Exchange Fair Trade Store.
Emerging Powers: China (1996).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its elaborate presentation of China as rapidly immerging economic power, with the potentially largest economy in the world which rests on the contradictory set of communist and capitalist values. Topics and materials include the explanation and examples of the successful economic transformation of the most populated nation in the world. The video contains multiple real life commentary and interviews with common Chinese men and women, and also the narration of several individual success stories. The video also contains a discussion of the ongoing socio-economic problems and existing political barriers on the way towards the future national development of China. I recommend this video for use in high school classes. Be aware of the underlying assumption that economic development means national development implied throughout the video. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
Emerging Powers: Mexico (1996).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its portrayal and in-depth analysis of the economic situation in Mexico following the 1995 economic crises, and the implications if Mexico’s economic development for the U.S., regional, and world economy. Topics and materials include the explanation and analysis of the reasons behind the 1995 economic crises and its implications for Mexican economic development and political atmosphere; live interviews with everyday Mexican people and business men and women; explanation of Mexican import/export markets and the place of the U.S. American market in Mexican economic development. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Be aware of the underlying assumption that economic development means national development implied throughout the video. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/22/04.
Globalization and Human Rights (1999).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its discussion of how today interdependent global economic activity is affecting the rights of people around the world. Topics and materials include the discussion of how economic forces, multinational companies, and international institutions such as International Monetary Fund promote human rights; the thriving sweatshops of Asia and Africa; child labor; diverse impacts of globalization around the world. I recommend this video for use in middle and high school classes. Be aware of the predominant view of globalization as the phenomena mainly linked to economic activity. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/26/04.
Korea: War, Prosperity and Democracy (1995).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its successful attempt to portray South Korea’s road towards political and economic success, and military stability; and its successful establishment as one of the world’s leading nations. Topics and materials include the portrayal and explanation of the history and implication of the Korean War; the discussion of the Korean split and its implications for the world order; the successful of the South Korean economic recovery; the future of Korea in the increasingly globalizing world community. The video is separated into three parts which focus on the three major aspects mentioned in the title. I recommend this video for use in middle and high school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/27/04.
South Africa: Building Democracy (1998).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its depiction of the historic, social, political and economic in South Africa. Topics and materials include the discussion of the causes and forces supporting apartheid; the 1994 Nelson Mandela’s democratic victory; the political and socio-economic changes that took place in the country since that date; the implications of the South African transformation for other countries in the Region, for African continent, and for the world. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
The Continent that Overslept: Africa (1994).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its depiction and explanation of the reasons for the economic stagnation in several major African countries.
Topics and materials include personal commentary and interviews with a number of business men and women, and also expert analysis and explanation of the current economic situation. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Be aware of the country specific problems that exist in African and that do not apply to the continent as a whole. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/25/04.
The Future of the European Union (2002).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its analysis and explanation of the current and future state of the European Union, and its implications for the world’s political, economic, and military environment.
Topics and materials include the explanation of the E.U. political and economic structure, with relation to its current and future member states; the U.S. position towards the E.U. and its future potential as major economic and political power. I recommend this video for use in high-school classes. Reviewed by, Aleksandr Kvasov, 01/22/04.
The Global Economy and Democracy
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this interview with noted author Noam Chomsky is packed with the kind of sharp insights that Chomsky is known for. He covers third-world debt, the global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund, proposals for reform, and much more. A great educational tool for your community or classroom. Be aware of the fact that this film can be ordered here.
This resource was reviewed by Global Exchange Fair Trade Store.
The Global Technology Revolution: Bio/Nano/Materials Trends and Their Synergies with Information Technology by 2015
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this study, sponsored by the National Intelligence Council, provides ways in which various technologies could shape the world by 2015. Although this study is meant to be helpful to U.S. policymakers and intelligence analysts, it provides an excellent source for secondary teachers of social studies. Chapter Two, entitled “Technology Trends,” should be of special interest to teachers because it contains information on such topics as Genomics, Bidomedical Engineering, Smart Materials, Nanotechnology, and Molecular Manufacturing and Nanorobots. Chapter Two contains an excellent discussion pertaining to the technology revolution and culture. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Anton, Philip S., Silberglitt, Richard & Schneider, James Rand. 2001.
Consumers and Luxury: Consumer Culture in Europe 1650-1850
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book would help secondary teachers develop world history, economics, or European history lessons. This book would be helpful in examining the effects of consumer psychology upon products produced by new technologies. Each of the eleven chapters is an analysis of items such as coffee, sugar, tulips, clothing, paintings, and a host of commercially produced items. This work explores the complex variety of associations attached to goods and their users of the period. There is an extensive coverage of consumption practices in France and England. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Berg, Maxine & Clifford, Helen (eds.) Manchester University Press. ISBN 0719052734. 1999
The Social Construction of Technological Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology
Posted by: admin onRecommended because there are 13 essays, which cover individual case studies and provide examples of how social processes construct technological artifacts. Cases explain how the technological artifacts work or don’t work, depending on how they are used. Other cases show how relevant social groups interpret and define the technological artifact. Each group defines the artifact by what they already know about related technologies. Many of these case studies would provide excellent resources for the secondary school sociology teachers who are teaching about social systems. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Bijker, Wiebe E., Hughes, Thomas P. & Pinch, Trevor F. (Editors) MIT Press. ISBN 0262521377. 1994.
As The Future Catches You: How Genomics and Other Forces are Changing Your Life, Your Work, Your Investments, Your World
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Juan Enriquez, of the Harvard Business School, demonstrates how technology destroys existing systems and at the same time creates new ones. In particular, he demonstrates how the mapping of DNAs genetic code of life has set into motion a new revolution. In this 260-page book, he writes in a way most students in grades 11-12 can understand. He has a fascinating discussion of the possible effects upon systems by bio computing specialists who may grow computers organically to store data on a nano scale. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Enriquez, Juan Crown Publishing. ISBN B000050VHG. October 1991.
Minding the Machines: Preventing Technological Disasters
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this book contains 30 case studies of technological disaster. They include such disasters as Challenger, Titanic, Bhopal, Chernobyl, Ford Pinto, and Dow Corning breast implants. Beware that Minding the Machine is targeted at engineers, scientists, government officials, and senior managers. The case studies are so fascinating, however, that they make good resources for students in grades 11-12. The book concludes by examining the roles that government, corporations, and society should play in reducing the risks of technology. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Evan, William & Manion, Mark Pearson Education Australia. ISBN RRP. 2002.
They Made America: Two Centuries of Innovations from the Steam Engine to the Search Engine
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this work can be obtained on audio tape, as well as from Time Warner. This 4Latin America-page work is written by an English science reporter and contains numerous illustrations. He provides interesting insights into such entrepreneurial undertakings as Disney’s theme parks and Turner’s CNN 24-hour news venture. His work includes discussion of such figures as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, George Eastman, Edwin Land, Gary Kindall, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. This work is quite appropriate for students in grades 9-12. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Evans, Harold Little, Brown. ISBN 1586217054. 2004.
Leonardo to the Internet: Technology and Culture from the Renaissance to the Present
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of the interesting case studies found within the thematic chapters of this 324-page book. The author provides a comparative history of the interrelationship of technology and culture, which secondary students would find quite compelling. He provides numerous case studies, from Johann Gutenberg to the telecommunication revolution of today. Many of these case studies would be quite appropriate for secondary school world history, U.S. history, economics, or civics courses. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/24/2005
Citation: Misa, Thomas Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN0801878098. 2004.
A Problem with Fear
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this film, through the humor of its director Gary Burns, shows that even though technology can make our lives safer and better, it can result in increased complexity. He questions whether the faith we have in technology is really giving us any more control over our lives. By centering the films plot around a new wrist bracelet technology, the director shows how people’s fears come to the forefront of their lives. This film is appropriate for grades 9-12. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/25/2005
Dissolving Boundaries: Solving Global Problems
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of a discussion of the greenhouse effect and discussion of the need of international controls on polluting technologies. Bill Moyers and several international experts discuss a wide number of global issues. Be aware that the film is somewhat dated. The issues, however, are still relevant to our times. This film is appropriate for grades 10-12. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/25/2005
The Letter
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it demonstrates how technology plays a role in a teenager’s life. Sasaki Yusuke, a 17 year old Japanese student, produced and directed this film. It centers around a boy who spends his entire evening chatting on a cell phone. In all but two minutes of the film, the cell phone is the sole focus of the action. This is an excellent portrayal of human-computer interaction. This film is appropriate for grades 10-12. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/25/2005
Secrets of Silicon Valley
Posted by: admin onRecommended because the film brings out the message that high tech and globalization still involve labor and capital conflict. The husband and wife producer team, consisting of Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman, build a strong case that racism persists within the Silicon Valley economic system. By following the lives of Magda Escobar and Raj Jayadev, the film underscores the disconnect between the rhetoric of capital and daily lives of poor minority workers. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/25/2005
The Great Warming
Posted by: admin onRecommended because these three 46-minute films tell three stories of people around the world who are describing exciting ideas and technologies for a sustainable future. The series is based upon the book Storm Warning- Gambling with the Climate of our Planet, written by the Canadian author Lydia Dotto. The three episodes are “The Human Fingerprint”, “The Age of Uncertainty”, and “Our Children’s Planet.” These films are recommended for grades 8-12. Reviewed by Ronald Reichel. 01/25/2005
Sweating for a T-Shirt (1999).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is about a college student’s travels to Honduras to find out about the conditions of the workers who make the t-shirts and sweatshirts worn by students. The video provides a first-hand account of the living and working conditions of works in sweatshops. Available from the Resource Center of the Americas ($25.00). http://www.americas.org.
Costa Rica: The Land and its People (1998, 25 minutes) (Environment)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides wide-ranging view of the Costa Rican people, their origins, customs, and aspirations. The film is an open window on the immeasurable biological richness, the culture, the government, and the political and social life in the only country in the world that has no army. Kansas.
Rainforest Action Network
Posted by: admin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010Recommended because it links provides information on protecting tropical rainforests and human rights of the people who live in and around the rainforests. The site links to an Action Center, information on rainforests, resources for teachers and students and RainForestWeb.org with links to rainforest issues, topics, and regions in North and Central America, South America, and Brazil. Start by For Teachers & Students and Kids Corner sections.
URL: http://www.ran.org/
The Globalization Website
Posted by: admin onRecommended because because it is a megasiteof globalization resources. The site was created and is maintained by the Sociology Department at Emory University and used in their globally oriented courses. The site links to organizations, books, people, issues, theories, and a glossary. The site also links to other megasites, data sources, non-English sites (German, French, and Spanish).
Foreign Policy Association
Posted by: admin onRecommended because the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental, educational organization that educates Americans about significant international issues that influence their lives. Start by the Great Decisions Global Affairs Education Program and the Educators’ & Student Corners links. The Great Decisions Global Affairs Education Program is supplemented by a teacher’s guides & packets, briefing book, and classroom packets which are available through the FPA Bookstore. The Great Decisions guides include topics on world regions, terrorism, religion, globalization & trade, migration & refugees, the United Nations, and more.
URL: http://www.fpa.org/
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it focuses on helping youth understand, improve, and sustain water resources in their communities. The site links to information and resources on how youth can become involved in watershed protection projects. The resources can either be downloaded (Adobe Acrobat required) or read online. Teachers and students may find the background information, help, mapping your watershed, watershed basics, identifying watershed problems, and water quality monitoring links very beneficial in understanding the process of protecting and sustaining water resources. The site also links to good resources for teachers and students learning how to conduct research on environmental issues.
International Forum on Globalization (IFG)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because because the IFG focuses on (1) exposing the multiple effects of economic globalization in order to stimulate debate, and (2) seeking to reverse the globalization process by encouraging ideas and activities which revitalize local economies and communities, and ensure long term ecological stability. IFG Programs include the International Forum on Food and Agriculture, the Committee on Environmental Impacts of Economic Globalization, the Committee on the Globalization of Water, the Committee on Global Finance, and the Committee on Corporations. IFG also produces tapes and publications on globalization and its impacts. The site also links to information on the World Trade Organization (WTO), the IMF and the World Bank, and the United Nations & the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
URL: http://www.ifg.org/
Project Learning Tree (PLT)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because PLT, an international environmental education program for educators and students in Pre-K-12, is a program of the program of the American Forest Foundation, one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. Contact your state/international PLT coordinator for information, resources, and materials. Check PLT curriculum materials for lesson plans, ideas, and activities for students in Pre-K-8 and 9-12. For community action and service learning projects, ideas, and activities, check GreenWorks!
URL: http://www.plt.org/
World Resources Institute
Posted by: admin onRecommended because WRI is an environmental think tank that provides information, ideas, and solutions to global environmental problems. Start with Global Topics to find resources on agriculture and food, biodiversity and protected areas, business and economics, climate change and energy, etc. See links to WRI Projects and EarthTrends, an Environmental Information Portal.
URL: http://www.wri.org/
UNICEF The State of the World’s Children
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its many resources on the world’s children, their issues and lives. See reports on the state of the world’s children along with many other publications, information by country and other topics.
Constructing Understandings of Earth Systems Teachers Reference The American Geological Institute (AGI)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because AGI develops a comprehensive earth system science program for the middle grades. Topics and materials included in this site are information about instructional design, teacher resources, and on-line evaluations. Start by “Pilot Teacher Resources’ since it provides teaching materials about various topics such as Systems in Space, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere. Be aware that the three topics: Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere are under construction.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/26/04.
Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this DLESE attempts to improve the quality, quantity, and efficiency of teaching and learning about the Earth system at all levels. Topics and materials included in this site are educational resources, resources for educators, News, information for developers, and information about DLESE. Start by ‘For Educators’ since it provides some ways to find resources suitable for your students.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/26/04.
Community Science Action Guide
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site provides hands-on materials on environment issues developed by actual in-service teachers in the U.K. and the U.S. This site would be good for K-12 teachers to find available materials suitable for their students. Topics and materials included in this site are planning resources, activities, and ready-to-use materials to teach about various topics such as Saving Water Everywhere, Protecting Resources Today, or Appreciating Age Everyday. Start by any topic looking suitable for your students. Be aware that each topic is organized by grade levels: primary and secondary and by themes: water, life science, and energy.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/26/04.
Curriculum: Geographic Data in Education Initiative (GEODE)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because GEODE Initiative currently supports a middle school and a high school curriculum initiative. Topics and materials included in this site are information about the project, curriculum for middle school and high school, and downloadable software. I recommend you start with ‘Curriculum’ since it provides a year-long curriculum for high school (Looking at the Environment) and eight week unit for middle school (Global Warming Project). Be aware of the fact that two softwares (WorldWatcher and My World) are available to download here.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/26/04.
EarthTrends: The Environmental Information Portal
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. Topics and materials included in this site are information about coastal and marine ecosystem, water resources and freshwater ecosystems, climate and atmosphere, population, health and human well-being, economics, business and the environment, energy and resources, biodiversity and protected areas, agriculture and food, forests, grasslands and drylands, and environmental governance and institutions from world renowned data sources in multiple formats. Start by “About Earthtrends” since it provides video tutorial on how to use this site. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/13/03.
Energy Education Curriculum Project
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site provides various units or curricula to teach energy issues. Topics and materials included in this site are 5th 6th Grade Modules and Middle School Modules. Start by any topic suitable for your students’ grades and interests.
Eco-pros
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to present numerous links to the websites on various issues related to environment. This would be the first site for K-12 teachers to visit in order to find websites on particular issues relevant to environment. Topics and materials included in this site are a list of links to the websites on various issues such as the blue planet, grasslands and prairies, sky watch, endangered species, third from the sun, genetic engineering and much more, and links to education in the news (Washington Post Education Section, eSchool News Online, MSNBC Education News, and CNN Education News). Start by Tips for Kids” since it explains how your students should learn environmental issues through websites and other resources. It is also recommended to start with “Teacher Resources” since it provides links to the websites presenting reference material for teaching.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/13/03.
Environ – for people, the environment and the future
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to provide information, advice and practical help to encourage individuals and organizations to take practical steps towards a more sustainable future. Topics and materials included in this site are an overview of most major environmental issues such as climate change, energy, food, nature, pollution, population, sustainability, transport, waste, and water. Start by the page of the url that I present above since it briefly explains how each issue is interconnected.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/13/03.
Global Response – Environmental Action and Education Network
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site attempts to encourage the youth to be environmental activists through letter-writing to corporate and government officials who are killing the earth. Topics and materials included in this site are information about current actions, on-going actions, activist tips for teens, kids, and teachers, letter writing tips, successes, and relevant links. Start by with any current action or on-going action to show to your students so that they can recognize importance and possibility of their participating in the actions. Be aware of the fact that you can obtain free video created by Global Response to celebrate their tenth anniversary and launch a new membership drive here.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/13/03.
Global Environment
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to promote scientifically sound solutions to the major problems of global environmental change. Topics and materials included in this site are information about activism events on environmental issues, current news about environmental issues, and information about three particular issues: forests, invasive species, and global warming, and archive. Be aware of the fact that this site also provides other issues related to environment such as Food, Vehicles, and Energy.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/13/03.
Kids for a Clean Environment (Michigan)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to encourage the youth to take an active role to clean and maintain environment around them. This site would be good for students to develop their own missions to take an action on recycle, build, and plant by joining Earth Odyssey missions. This site is recommended for elementary students. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/15/03.
URL: http://kidsface.org/
Investigating Earth Systems (IES)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because IES is a new, standards-based, Earth Science curriculum for the middle grades developed by the American Geological Institute in association with It’s About Time Publishing. Topics and materials included in this site are collection of links to websites about various topics such as soils, rocks and landforms, oceans, water as a resource, materials and minerals, dynamic planet, fossils, climate and weather, and energy resources. Start by any topic that you would like to teach to your students. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/26/04
The GLOBE Program (Michigan)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because GLOBE is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program. Thus, this site would be good for primary and secondary school teachers and students. In this program students actually gather data and share findings with groups around the world. Topics and materials included in this site are information about education & science, GLOBE data, GLOBE partners, and library. Start by ‘Earth System Resources’ in Educators’ Corner since it provides audio / visual materials about earth system. It is also recommended to start with ‘Teacher’s Guide’ since it presents some basic information about GLOBE programs. Be aware of the fact that this site is available in different languages such as English, Spanish, German, and French. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
Greenpeace International (Hawaii)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to provide various types of resources on environmental issues. Topics and materials included in this site are basic information about Greenpeace, texts, audio, visual resources on numerous environmental issues (such as climate change, forests, oceans, nuclear, toxics, trade and environment, and no war) that Greenpeace deals with. Start by ‘Site map’ since it presents all the topics that this site includes so that you can visit any topic including various types of resources (texts, news, and multimedia) from there. Be aware of the fact that each topic includes not only various kinds of resources, but also articles discussing the topics in depth by dividing into subtopics and regions. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
Green Teacher: On-Line Articles (Michigan)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site offers past articles published in a magazine called ‘Green Teacher.’ Topics and materials included in this site are articles from past issues of Green Teacher, columns called ‘Inside the Internet,’ and the Planet Earth Pages including 20 to 30 short description of K-12 activities related to environmental issues. Be aware of the fact that you can subscribe this magazine and subscription information is here. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
A Paleo Perspective on Global Warming (Hawaii)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because The NOAA Paleoclimatology Program, an effort funded by NOAA’s Office of Global Programs, has released a web site entitled “A Paleo Perspective on Global Warming.” This site was developed to help educate, inform and highlight the importance of paleoclimate research; as well as to show how paleoclimate research relates to global warming and other important issues regarding climate variability and change. Recommended for high school students. Reviewed by Office of Global Program.
National Wildlife Federation
Posted by: admin onRecommended because National Wildlife Federation provides individuals, organizations, businesses and government with accessible, hands-on conservation education and action opportunities, leadership training and development, educational curriculum, information outreach and networking opportunities. Topics and materials included in this site are information about National Wildlife Federation programs, Take Action, photos, films and televisions, links for Kids and Teens, and links for educators. Start by ‘KidZone’ since it provides various activities for particular ages from age 1 to age 13 & up. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 4/25/04.
URL: http://www.nwf.org/
KidZone: National Wildlife Federation (NWF) (Duke)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because NWF attempts to protect wildlife, wild places, and the environment by uniting individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments. Topics and materials included in this site are activities, book reviews, games, photos, and newsletters about wild animals for kids at the ages of 1-3, 3-7, 7-13, and 13 & up. Be aware of the fact that this site is a part of National Wildlife Federation (NWF) offering some facts on global population and environment in ‘Population & Environment’ section. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
One Sweet Whirled – One Sweet Campaign to Fight Global Warming (Hawaii)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site attempts to enhance students’ learning about solutions to global warming. Topics and materials included in this site are a guide to understanding global warming, interactive map, and interactive dorm in ‘Learn More’ section. Start by ‘a guide to understanding global warming’ since it provides detailed information about global warming with beautiful visual images and neat tables. Be aware that this site is available in different languages. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
Teachers and Students: Rainforest Action Network (RAN) (Duke)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its effort to provide useful resources about rainforest. This site would be good for K-12 teachers to find lesson ideas to teach rainforest and students to learn about rainforest through various resources. Topics and materials included in this site are information for teachers including resources, lesson plan ideas, and rainforest audioviduals, and information for students including basic information about rainforest, facts about rainforest, and things students can do. Start by “Rainforest Lesson Plan Ideas” since it presents a list of activity ideas in different subjects in order to teach rainforest. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03.
Save Our Environment Action Center (Hawaii)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because Save Our Environment Action Center attempts to increase public awareness and activism on today’s most important environmental issues. This site would be good for teachers looking for comprehensive information about various environmental issues. Topics and materials included in this site are links to the websites of organizations on relevant environmental issues such as clean air, clean water, conservation, endangered species, energy, and more. Be aware of the fact that the pull-down menu on the right side of the front page will guide you to a list of links to the webistes on particular environmental issues. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/14/03
TakingITGlobal (TIG) (Michigan)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because TIG attempts to to collaborate on concrete projects addressing global problems and creating positive change. Topics and materials included in this site are Action, Community, Expression, Opportunities, and Voice sections, links to websites of different regions, latest events, news, and articles about global problems including environmental issues. Start by “Discussions” in Community section since it provides a place to discuss global problems with other students around the world. It is also recommended you start with particular region such as Africa, Asia, Australia & Pacific, Europe, North America, and South America when you click on left-most colored globes.
Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 8/15/03.
Boycott Shell/Free Nigeria
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is an example of one of the things that can be done on order to stop profit hungry multinational corporations from continuing to abuse and exploit natural resources of developing Third World countries. The site offers insights on how and why a multinational corporation thrives on political instability and economic under-development of a developing country. Topics and materials included in this site are history and mechanics behind Shell’s activities in Nigeria; Nigerian resistance groups, their accomplishments and agendas; brief photo gallery; and endless links and resources approaching this and similar issues from various perspectives. Start by the “Shell Rap Sheet” which is good for background information.
Canadian International Development Agency
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its continuous dedication to helping “people in developing countries lift themselves out of poverty by offering them the support they need to improve their quality of life.” The site is an admirable example of a mutual humanitarian effort by the Canadian government and private citizens to reach out and help those in need. Topics and materials included in the site offer an extensive list of “Global issues” currently in works and on the agenda of the CIDA. This list includes a section on poverty. Start by this section, and in particular with the “International Community” section within it, which provides access many resources on global co-operation and development. Consider going to the OCED link within this section to view extensive lists of economic data sorted your own way, among many other useful resources. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/20/03
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because ASEAN is a system attempting to further the idea of regional economic and political integration of transnational issues. Topics and materials contained within this site include an extensive ‘in and out’ overview of the Association, its history, philosophy, members, etc. The ‘About ASEAN’ section provides a variety of resources, which include maps, ASEAN organizational structure, galleries, etc. There is also an excellent statistical database which covers a variety of areas, including very detailed sections on economic integration, social development, etc. Start by About ASEAN’ section to get a better idea about the Association, its goals, and members. An excellent section to visit is ‘ASEAN Statistics’, and within it ‘Links with member countries’. The latter contains scores of statistical information, accompanied by links to local and international economic organizations involved with ASEAN.
Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/10/03.
Caviar Emptor: Let the connoisseur beware
Posted by: admin onRecommended because its in-depth analysis of the decline of Caspian Sea sturgeon and a presentation of the alternative road to recovery of the caviar industry. The site is especially good for high school students to use. Topics and materials included in this site are extensive and high quality photo and video galleries, which offer an excellent over-view of the condition of today’s Caspian and world caviar industry. The site also contains an extensive ‘Question and Answer’ section, which offers some basic info and detailed explanation of the problems, which face the caviar industry today. It also offers some possible solutions to these problems and explains extensively the driving force behind the ‘caviar protection and recovery’ campaign. Start by the ‘Video Gallery’. After viewing some/all of the segments, one could start a group/discussion based solely on what has been seen, without assuming any prior knowledge of the subject. Be aware of the promotional nature of the website, which tends to be advertising the growing popularity of the American caviars. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 06/27/03.
Europa
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its seemingly complete overview of structure, purpose, and current engagements of the European Union. This site is a great supplement to the Euro Parliament site, only it is more extensive and developed. Topics and materials included in the site are a detailed collection of encyclopedic resources which tell a complete story of the EU, supplemented by great visual resources, such as maps, photos, tables, etc. The site is available in all of the member languages. Start by “The EU at a Glance” section, which is a wonderful introduction to EU, with the quick EU history, maps, and downloadable, recently rewritten EU anthem. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/26/03
Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because APPF attempts to promote greater regional identification and cooperation with particular focus on issues relating to regional peace and security. Topics and materials included in this site are information about brief history of APPF, milestone declaration, areas of interest, relevant links. Start by “Areas of Interest” as this provides brief overview of topics that APPF deals with. Be aware of the fact that “Related Links” provides numerous links to various political organizations. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/5/04.
The Brookings Institution
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its independent, nonpartisan nature and organization, and its devotion “to research, analysis, education, and publication focused on public policy issues in the areas of economics, foreign policy, and governance. The goal of Brookings activities is to improve the performance of American institutions and the quality of public policy by using social science to analyze emerging issues and to offer practical approaches to those issues in language aimed at the general public.” Topics and materials included in the site consist of a variety of topics and projects. “Topics, or areas of research, vary from general (“Business”) to specific (“Defense, Homeland Security”). Projects are activities funded by gifts and grants and explore specific policy questions.”Start by the Brookings Research Topics section. This section provides access to all of the current research projects, which in their turn, offer access to a large amount of related information and resources in many areas, including national defense, terrorism, global politics, etc. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/23/03
Council for a Livable World
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is “among the nation’s preeminent arms control organizations and focuses on halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction, opposing a national missile defense system, cutting Pentagon waste and reducing excessive arms exports.” Topics and materials included in this site are a number of resources, including the current arms control and weapons’ production debates on the Capitol Hill and around the world. Start by the “Links” within the “Resources” section. This section offers a more extensive look at the weapon industry. It also provides access to an impressive list of websites which break down the issue even more and in great detail and expertise. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/21/03
URL: http://www.clw.org/
The Economist
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its long-standing and world-known tradition of providing consistently savvy, critical, and supported by the exceptional expertise information on political and economic topics and issues. The on-line magazine is a wonderful example of the incredible interconnectedness of politics and economics, which for almost one and a half centuries has persistently demonstrated the importance and inevitability of the well-being of each for the well-being of the other. Recommended for use in high school classes. Topics and materials included in the site are concise, well-written and well-researched articles; extensive and exceptionally detailed statistical information, with centuries old archival resources. Start by the “Past Issues” section. Enjoy the front covers! Be aware of the fact that you must pay for any article. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/25/03.
Green Party: Global Greens
Posted by: admin onRecommended because The Global Greens is the international network of Green parties and political movements attempting to promote the Global Green Charter among the Green Parties of the world, kindred groups, and in society at large; and to stimulate and facilitate action on matters of global consequence. Topics and materials included in this site are news and press on regional green parties, party history, green party audio and video, photo essay, and literature/bibliography. Start by “Global Green Charter” in order to get a sense on what global greens do. Be aware of the fact that some of the audio/video resources do not work. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/5/04.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because AOSIS is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change. Topics and materials included in this site are statements and reports, Islands News, and contact information. Start by “Islands News” since it provides updated news about island themes. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/5/04.
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its maintenance and access to a vast archive of social science data for research and instruction. Topics and materials included in the site are extensive data and research study archives, which are easily located using the resources and tools offered by the site. Start by “Data Access and Analysis” to get an idea of the possibilities and extents of the search engine and the kinds of data offered. Be aware of the fact that this search engine will be useful for teachers looking for specific topics or data. The site also has an option for depositing research data, which is also a potentially useful feature. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/23/03.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent organization to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. Topics and materials included in this site are information about ICRC activities, focus, humanitarian law, info resources, and news. Start by “Focus” since it provides recent reports on various issues such as Biotechnology and weapons, landmines, missing persons, women and war, children in war, war and displacement, RC movement, emblem, war and money, accountability, people on war, and debate on humanitarian action. Be aware of that “Info resources” provides numerous photos, audio, video resources on ICRC activities. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/6/04.
URL: http://www.icrc.org/
Mid American Model United Nations (MAMUN)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its opportunity of simulation of the U.N. in the classroom. “Students assume the roles of ambassadors to the United Nations and are provided with an agenda comprised of items also being debated by the real United Nations in New York. Students, acting as delegates, research the issues from the agenda and study their assigned nation’s point-of-view in order to accurately represent the country.” Topics and materials included in the site are all the necessary resources and information to get acquainted and to get involved with MAMUN. Start by “About us” section, which answers all FAQ’s. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/26/03.
NATO
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its extensive and up-to-date coverage of NATO, its history and current state. The site is a good resource for learning about this important international organization, and it is easy to navigate. Topics and materials included in the site are extensive photo, audio, video, and text archives which offer large amounts of information on NATO’s international involvement throughout its entire existence. Start by the “Welcome to NATO” section or the “Frequently Asked Questions” section to get basic information about NATO. It is also recommended to start with “Issues” as it offers information about critical concerns that NATO is currently dealing with. Be aware of the fact that NATO, well-promoted by its “high-tech” site to suite young generations’ needs for stimulating virtual presentation, though important to know and reference, in reality if a “left-over” of the Cold War. Its international role is and will be drastically changing to suite today’s political game. Reviewd by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/20/03.
URL: http://www.nato.int/
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its continuous and successful effort to provide information and networking opportunities “for citizens and environmental activists concerned about nuclear power, radioactive waste, radiation and sustainable energy issues.” The service offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the political implications and significance of the nuclear energy industry in the U.S. and around the world. Topics and materials included in the site are regularly updated press releases; complete coverage and link to the NRIS campaigns at home and abroad; U.S. and International news and information; numerous fact sheets; and a variety of ways to get involved. Start by the “Links” section. This sections offers access to an extensive list of socially and politically conscious organizations around the world, actively involved in resolving critical issues by political means. It is also recommended to start with “Fact Sheets” since it provides information about various topics related to Nuclear resource or energy. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/26/03
URL: http://www.nirs.org/
Political Debate (the site currently not working)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its access to live and recently updated information in the area of politics and economics. Topics and materials included in the site are access to live video transmissions; an on-line chat room and message boards, which tend to offer discussions of current political issues and debates. Start by the “Messageboards”, which displays the issues that are being discussed on that particular day. Be aware of possible immature remarks in the chat room. Though it doesn’t happen often, anything is possible. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/26/03.
The United Nations
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its thorough presentation of possibly the single most powerful international political organization in the world. Although its international prestige and legitimacy have been weakened by the recent war in Iraq, the UN is still the only international organization rightfully serving the ideals of world peace and justice. The UN is the ultimate political institutions, whose immense international value and necessity are yet to be explored by the world. Topics and materials included in this site are a collection of extensive resources about UN — its history, current undertakings, and future goals. Start by the “About the United Nations” section and in particular with the “Organization Chart of the UN system” section, to get an idea of the complexity and size of this organization. It is also recommended to start with “Daily Briefing” provides daily updates on UN briefings and public press releases. Be aware of the fact that “The Situation in Iraq” presents up-to-date information on UN involvement in Iraq. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/26/03.
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because UNPO is an organization of nations and peoples not adequately represented in the international community. Topics and materials included in this site are information about summary of UNPO, members, rights of peoples, and relevant links. Start by “Members” since it provides a world map locating members of UNPO and presents brief information about each member when clicking it. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/5/04.
UN Wire
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its “daily news summary covering the United Nations, global affairs and key international issues”. “U.N. Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation and its sister organization, the Better World Fund, which is dedicated to supporting United Nations efforts on behalf of the environment, population stabilization and children’s health.” Topics and materials included in the site are news releases, photos, reports, statistical banks, and multiple links to various related resources. This on-line publication is free, to which one can easily subscribe by entering their e-mail address in the subscription window. Start by reading “Today’s Top Stories.” The U.N. Wire offers a refreshing unbiased perspective on critical international issues. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/25/03.
United States Institute for Peace
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is “an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts.” Topics and materials included in the site are daily news updates, reports, guides to specialists, electronic data bases, library and various links to a large number related resources. There is also an extensively developed education section which includes a number of downloadable teaching guides concerning “hot” political domestic and international issues. Start by the Resources section. This section contains links and summaries of all of the resources mentioned above and various other information. It is also recommended to start with “For The Classroom” as it offers educational materials such as simulations, teaching guide, and other institute resources. Reviewd by Aleksandr Kvasov, 08/21/03.
URL: http://www.usip.org/
Corporate Resources (Pittsburgh)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its extensive list of critical and informational websites which treat a variety of economic issues pertaining to corporate activities. Topics and materials included in this site provide information on and about corporations or reactions to them. You can find out about their products, their earnings, and their potential growth. However, you can also find out about the affects they have on people’s lives. Start by clicking on the following link, which can also be found on the “Corporate Watch” site, listed with other resources mentioned above: http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PII.jsp?topicid=104 (the link currently not working). This link offers a critical look at globalization. It undermines the very meaning of the word “globalization”, by associating it with the popular today neo-liberalist values and causes. Be aware of amateur websites which lack professional expertise and serve no other purpose than promoting the freedom of speech. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/18/03.
Center For Economic and Policy Research
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its extensive research and analysis of global economic resources, and also for its critical perspective on the ongoing process of globalization on the economic and political levels. The site offers analysis and criticism of various weekly publications and on-line resources which focus on economic and public policy coverage. Topics and materials included in the site offer a broad range of resources on global and related issues. Start by the following link, which offers direct access to global resources: websites, web articles, print materials, etc.: http://www.cepr.net/pages/Globalization_page.htm . A possible starting point is the article “Globalization: A Primer”: http://www.cepr.net/GlobalPrimer2.htm#What%20is . The goal of the article “is to make the reader economically literate enough to be able to discuss current international economic issues of pressing importance” and think critically about them “without putting anyone to sleep.” The text of the article is well supported by 3D graphs and various tables. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/18/03.
Child Labor Coalition
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its intense, heart-breaking, realistic, sobering, and engaging coverage of the problem of Child labor in the world. Topics and materials included in this site include a must-see extensive and mind-bugling photo gallery of children-laborers from several countries and epochs. Start by the “Read the Message of the Month…” sections, followed by the “Photo Gallery” section. One could hardly think of a more educational combination of documents with the purpose of teaching about the child labor. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/22/03.
Co-op America’s Guide to Ending Sweatshops and Promoting Fair Trade (the site currently not working)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its insider critical look at today’s profit oriented corporate world and its ways of creating and sustaining modern day exploitation. The site is an extensive resource for learning all about sweat-shops, from their mere definition to the forces which prolong and even encourage their existence in today’s closely connected global economy. Topics and materials included in this site are various ways of getting involved with the issue in question. The site offers links to actual current campaigns fighting for a fairer economy without worker exploitation or child labor. It also offers links to over 2000 environmentally and socially responsible companies through searching in “National Green Pages” catalogue. Start by the “Sweatshop myth-buster” quiz, which can be found going in the “Educate: what is a Sweatshop section?”, and then continuing in the “More about Sweatshops” section on the right-hand side of the page, under “Sweatshops myth-busters.” Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov,07/16/03.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it promotes the global “transition toward a sustainable future” and seeking “to demonstrate how human ingenuity can be applied to improve the well-being of the environment, economy and society.” Topics and materials included in this site are “policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management to make development sustainable.” By using Internet communications, IISD covers and report on “international negotiations and broker knowledge gained through collaborative projects with global partners, resulting in more rigorous research, capacity building in developing countries, and a better dialogue between North and South.”Start by the “Basic Issues: Introduction” section. The list of “Current Issues” on the left-hand side of the section offers a pretty good summary of the extent of the involvement of the IISD and the kinds of questions at stake! This section and this site in general serve as an example of positive critical thinking within the already established global economic and social framework with the goal of reforming the already acquired knowledge, technology, and resources, and not of just taking a negative stance and refusing to coop with regard to the current economic and social situation. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/20/03.
Global Exchange: Global Economy
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site attempts to provide ways for you to educate yourself about ways to Democratize the Global Economy. Topics and materials included in this site are critical facts and analysis of how the global economy works and how we can act to change it. This page includes links offering basic information about Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), World Trade Organization (WTO), Oil and Auto, Fair Trade, Green Festivals, Sweatshops, World Bank / IMF, and International Right to Know. Be aware of the fact that this site provides printer-friendly version. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/6/04.
Fight Against Child Labour and Exploitation Project
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its personalized and humane depiction of the problem of child labor through the use of the first-hand documents (confessions, testimonies, reflections, etc.) made by the child labor victims, witnesses, peers of children affected by this problem around the world. Topics and materials included in this site are numerous examples of children’s articipation in the fight against child labor, icluding writing, art, etc., to carry on the battle and to prevent child labor around the world. Start by the “Warren Proclamation of Child Labour”, available immediately on the front page. This is a powerful example of a collective effort by the members of different age groups, but mainly children, of one community to contribute to the fight against the child labor. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/22/03.
International Monetary Fund
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its portrayal of one of the largest international financial organizations in the world. The site is one of a kind resource for acquiring the extensive official data and information about the past, present and future planned activities of the largest foreign investment establishment in the world. Topics and materials included in the site are articles, assessments, data tables, development reports, maps, and various other information which concerns the work of IMF in over 180 countries around the world. Start by the “Poverty Reduction: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers” section under Topics. This sections offers a look at the countries’ “macroeconomic, structural and social policies and programs over a three year or longer horizon to promote broad-based growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing.” This is a good starting point for learning about particular countries’ economic development progress and the role that the IMF is playing in that process. Be aware of the fact that information in this site, because of its official nature, depicts only the IMF’s “cultured” perspective on the matters. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/21/03.
URL: http://www.imf.org/
Multinational Monitor
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its collection of resources which focus on the effects of global economic activities and their connection with public policy and international politics. The site is an obvious advocate of the notion that the modern drive for economic gain and its global political repercussions are interconnected. Topics and materials included in the site are “Child labor”, “Children and Corporations”, “Commercialism and Consumerism”, “Corporate Globalization”, etc. The site offers extensive country coverage in dealing with the above mentioned and a variety of other global economic issues. Start by the following link which could also be found by navigating in the “Coprporate Globalization”, and then the “Global Exchange” section of the site: http://www.globalexchange.org/. Be aware of the fact that some of the resources may be out of date. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/19/03.
Public Citizen 30 Years: Global Trade Watch
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its continuous “fight for openness and democratic accountability in government, for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordabe prescription drugs and health care.” This website is an excellent example of the effort against corporate globalization and enforced universalization, or “harmonization” of social and economic values in nfavor of “uniform global standards.” Topics and materials included in this site are in-depth critical analysies of such multinational organizations as WTO, FTAA, NAFTA, etc., and the various ways of “taking action” to change their often destructive, profit hungry behavior. Start by viewing WTO, FTAA, NAFTA sections to catch up on some of the recent developments related to these organizations. To follow up, consider browsing through the “Take Action” section to review some of the ways to get involved to make a difference. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/22/03.
New Internationalist magazine on-line
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this magazine attempts to report on issues of world poverty and inequality; to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless in both rich and poor nations; to debate and campaign for the radical changes necessary if the basic material and spiritual needs of all are to be met. Topics and materials included in this site are magazine articles, links on teaching global issues, country profile, audio section, and war on want. Start by “The Global Economy: The Facts” as it provides overview information about global economy. Be aware of the fact that “Teaching Global Issues” provides teaching resources and links to assist people learning about global issues. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/8/04.
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its modern day example of the economic and accompanying it political co-operation between countries. OECD groups 30 member countries, sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. “With active relationships with some 70 other countries , NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Topics and materials included in the site are various publications and statistics, which cover economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development, science and innovation.”Start by the “By Country” section which is a good example of the kinds of purposes the website could be made to serve. This section applies the tools that the website carries to any country on the list by providing extensive and detailed information and data classed by topic, department, etc., pertaining to that country. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/21/03.
The National Peace Corps Association
Posted by: admin onRecommended because of its continuous and effective role in promoting and improving the extent and the quality of “global experience” which defines people’s lives and views of the world, and of their roles in it. The site would be especially good for the use in high school classes. Topics and materials include “A Global Issues Toolbox for Educators” which contains an extensive coverage of global issues. Start by the “Economics, Globalization & Debt” section. Within this section, go on to the “United for a Fair Economy” (UFE) link. The latter website offers an objective coverage of the current global economic issues and provides a variety of teaching and learning resources in this area. The “Economic Education” section of this site has numerous downloadable workshops, which, aside from furthering the effort of the UFE’s Economic Education Program, offer great resources for beginners and advanced students. These workshops could also be an opportunity for teachers to get involved on their own. Reviewed by Aleksandr Kvasov, 07/16/03.
URL: http://www.rpcv.org/
A World Connected: Free Trade / Fair Trade Resources
Posted by: admin onRecommended because A World Connected looks at the lives of real people who are being affected by the processes of globalization. Topics and materials included in this site are links to facts, figures, and opinions on free trade and fair trade. Start by an article “Free Trade versus Fair Trade” as it presents cases for Free Trade and Fair Trade. Be aware of the fact that “Backgrounders” presents links to various issues related to globalization. Reviewed by Masataka Kasai, 5/6/04.