Matt & Maristella's Current Event

•A New Zealander and two Burmese men running a bar in Yangon have been accused of insulting Buddhism over a flyer.

•This flyer appeared on the bar’s Facebook page and that’s when people started getting offended when they say it.

•(Most of Myanmar’s citizens are Buddhists)

•Burmese law makes it illegal to insult or damage any religion. Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been seeing a lot more people supporting Buddhism.

•Also Myanmar is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia.

•http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30426767

Erica & Tony's Current Event

● Malala fought for educational rights for
women and was shot in the head by the
Taliban

● She got the the Nobel Peace Prize for her
efforts against the violence

● She fights for those who are voiceless and
can’t stand up for themselvesImpact:

● The Taliban is using the Qu’ran to defend
their hateful crusade

For example, they use passages like
 [24:3] The adulteress and the adulterer — flog each one of them with a
hundred stripes. And let not pity for the twain take hold of you in executing
the judgment of Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a
party of the believers witness their punishment.
to defend their abuse of women and gays. 

Impact:
● Malala fights to change the treatment of
women by promoting education for them

Works Cited:
"Malala Receives Joint Nobel Award." BBC News. BBC, 10
Dec. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.bbc.
com/news/world-asia-30411049>.

Nick & Charles' Current Event

Washington National Cathedral hosts Muslim prayer service

•First time in the Washington National Cathedral will host a Muslim prayer service

•The Cathedral is famous for hosting presidential funerals and other national religious services

•The service will be for the Muslims midday prayers

•They will deliver the Khutbah or sermon

•A dramatic moment in the world and in the Muslim-Christian relations

oChristians are supporting Muslims and their way for religious freedom

•  Showing that two different religions can all put their differences away and share a common goal for religious freedom in the world

•People do not like the idea where we bury past presidents and national heroes.

•A dramatic moment in the world and in the Muslim-Christian relations

oChristians are supporting Muslims and their way for religious freedom

•  Showing that two different religions can all put their differences away and share a common goal for religious freedom in the world

•People do not like the idea where we bury past presidents and national heroes.

Ty and Paul's Current Event

Facing environmental crisis, can
Buddhist values offer non-religious
China a greener path?

The Problem
- Beijing, China has a major climate problem
- Is one of the most polluted country Solution
- Most of the population is atheist
- One of the solutions to the pollution problem is to convert people to Buddhism and follow their beliefs 

Effect
- People would care about the environment
- If people followed the beliefs of the buddhist it would get rid of the animal killing as well as help stop the pollution of the air and water Citation

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/can-buddhistvalues-offer-non-religious-china-agreener-path/

Carolyn & Josh's Current Event

• In Yushu, China Buddhists are trying to save the lives of tiny river shrimp
• "Buddha has fought us that treating others with love and compassion is the right thing to do, no matter how tiny that life is."
• "These specks of life could very well be the reincarnated sounds of relatives or friends who perished In The earthquake.”
• Referring to an earthquake where 3,000 people died four years ago
• • This act could be a form of meditation for the Buddhists, focusing on one thing only for hours on end
  • Shows their devotion
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/26/world/asia/in-scarred-chinese-tibetan-city-of-yushu-devotion-to-sanctity-of-life-even-a-tiny-river-shrimp.html?_r=0
  
  

Bita & Maria's Current Event

-“Britain's Prince Charles has called on governments around the world to do more to ensure religious freedom and urged religious leaders to promote tolerance between people of different faiths.”

-"My heart goes out to all those around the world but especially at this time in the East, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or Hindu, who are so brutally persecuted solely for the faith they profess,"

-Said in the Prince’s video message: “Christianity is under such threat in the middle east... Our future is a free society, either here in Britain and throughout the world, depends on recognizing the crucial role played by the people of faith… Giving space to to others, whatever their belief.” Then suggesting tangible causes of action that he believes that might be helpful to solve this issue.

Connection to Religion

History: defies England’s past, landmark moment for all political/religious authorities

Sacred Times: global unification of religious beliefs

Beliefs: ELE. tolerance of all individuals

Can be applied to ALL religions. Catholic, Buddhist, Islamic, etc. 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/05/world/europe/uk-prince-charles-religion/

Ken & Samir's Current Event

Is Israel a "Jewish and democratic" state? Or is it "the national homeland of the Jewish people?

Sparked a huge controversy, when the Israeli cabinet voted to amend the country's Basic Law to refer to the state as "the national homeland of the Jewish people."

Since Israel's founding in 1948, the Basic Law has always referred to the state as "Jewish and democratic."

Critics of the proposed bill allege that it codifies discrimination against Israeli Arabs, who comprise 20 percent of the country's population.

A version of the bill would delist Arabic as one of Israel's national languages, instead relegating it as one with a "special status," and would also reaffirm the sole right of Israel's Jewish citizens to national self-determination.

The law was passed on a vote of 14-6

Has been called out by some, and deemed a political move

Isaac Herzog, the head of Israel's left-wing Labor Party, claimed that the bill was an unnecessary, reactionary provocation.

The controversy over the bill comes at a moment of heightened tension in Israel.

There was a recent shooting of an Israeli man, which has been the latest in css-cultural violencehttp://news.yahoo.com/change-wording-sparks-huge-controversy-israel-220259906--politics.html