Global Issues: Understanding State-Sponsored Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation, and Human Rights

1. Global Issues • Key Terms • terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, nuclear proliferation, human rights • Find Out • • What is state-sponsored terrorism? • • Why has the United States been reluctant to sign the treaty creating the International Criminal Court? Section 4 Introduction-1

2. Global Issues • Understanding Concepts • Global PerspectiveWhat steps have been taken to halt the global threat of nuclear proliferation? • Section Objective • Understand the major global issues facing the world today. Section 4 Introduction-2

3. After the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, Americans began to prepare for a possible nuclear attack. The Civil Defense Administration was created to inform the public on how to survive a nuclear war. The nation worried that the Cold War would end in a global conflict. Section 4-1

4. I. International Terrorism (pages 708–709) • A.Terrorism is the use of violence by nongovernmental groups against civilians to achieve a political goal. • B. Since World War II, most terrorist attacks on Americans have been carried out by Middle Eastern groups; several Middle Eastern nations have been accused of state-sponsored terrorism, or terrorism that is secretly supported by a government. Section 4-2

5. I. International Terrorism (pages 708–709) • C. An Afghan resistance movement called al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, was responsible for many terrorist attacks against the United States, culminating in the September 11, 2001,terrorist attacks on America. • D. In response to the 2001 attacks, President George W. Bush launched the war on terrorism; however, many nations will have to work together in order to defeat terrorism on a global scale. Section 4-3

6. I. International Terrorism (pages 708–709) Do you think that President Bush’s goal of eliminating “every terrorist group of global reach” is a realistic one? Explain. Answers will vary. Students should note the complexities involved in locating and destroying terrorist groups. Section 4-4

7. II. Nuclear Weapons Threat (pages 709–710) • A. As nuclear proliferation continues to threaten global security, the international community works to contain the spread of nuclear weapons. • B. In the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty, the major nuclear powers agreed: • 1. not to provide nuclear weapons technology to other nations; • 2. to promote the safe use of nuclear power; and • 3. to encourage the general disarmament and destruction of existing nuclear weapons. Section 4-5

8. II. Nuclear Weapons Threat (pages 709–710) • C. It is now possible to build small nuclear weapons using readily available products; thus the chance of terrorists obtaining such weapons has increased. • D. North Korea and Iran have nuclear capabilities and have both been accused of sponsoring terrorist groups. Section 4-6

9. II. Nuclear Weapons Threat (pages 709–710) What are the advantages of having an international organization to stop the spread of nuclear weapons? It is not subject to rivalries between individual countries. Section 4-7

10. III. Human Rights (pages 710–712) • A. International efforts to safeguard human rights have the potential to limit or interfere with the sovereignty of individual nations. • B. Human rights are the basic freedoms and rights that all people, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or ethnicity, should enjoy. • C. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists the political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights that all human beings should enjoy. Section 4-8

11. III. Human Rights (pages 710–712) • D. The UN Security Council’s international criminal tribunals and the European Court of Human Rights were established to prosecute violators of international human rights laws. • E. The United States has refused to participate in the International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002. Section 4-9

12. III. Human Rights (pages 710–712) Why did the United States refused to sign the treaty that created the International Criminal Court? The United States is involved in controversial military actions across the globe and was concerned that American troops and leaders could be tried for war crimes by enemies of the U.S. Section 4-10

13. IV. Protecting the Environment (pages 711–712) • A. The environment is threatened by exploding population growth, increasing consumption of natural resources, and growing discharge of pollution. • B. Policymakers debate how to attain sustainable development, or continued economic development combined with protection of the environment. Section 4-11

14. IV. Protecting the Environment (pages 711–712) • C. In 1999 the United States refused to implement and then later withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, which established timetables for reducing greenhouse emissions, because of the belief that the treaty would harm the U.S. economy and did not do enough to hold developing industrial nations accountable. • D. Governments must balance the economic needs of their nations with the environmental needs of a global society. Section 4-12

15. IV. Protecting the Environment (pages 711–712) Do you agree with the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol? Explain. Answers will vary. Students should be aware of the difficulties of balancing economic and environmental needs. Section 4-13

16. Checking for Understanding • 1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one below to list two international treaties dealing with the environment, along with U.S. objections to these treaties. • Biodiversity Treaty—too many limits on U.S. patents, would damage U.S. economy; Kyoto Protocol—would harm U.S. economy, does not hold developing nations accountable. Section 4 Assessment-1

17. Checking for Understanding • A. terrorism that is secretly supported by a government • B. the spread of nuclear weapons • C. fundamental freedoms • D. the use of violence by nongovernmental groups against civilians to achieve a political goal Match the term with the correct definition. • ___ terrorism • ___ state-sponsored terrorism • ___ nuclear proliferation • ___ human rights • D • A • B • C Section 4 Assessment-2

18. Checking for Understanding • 3. Identify Non-Proliferation Treaty, international criminal tribunal, sustainable development. • The Non-Proliferation Treaty is an agreement between the major nuclear powers not to provide nuclear weapons technology to other nations. • The international criminal tribunal is a temporary court convened under UN authority to prosecute violators of international human rights law. • Sustainable development is continued economic development combined with protection of the environment. Section 4 Assessment-3

19. Checking for Understanding • 4. Identify four of the rights protected by the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. • Answers will vary but may include freedom of movement, the right to seek asylum, the right to marry, and the right to own property. Section 4 Assessment-4

20. Critical Thinking • 5. Predicting Consequences What could result if the major powers totally abolished their nuclear weapons? • Answers will vary. Section 4 Assessment-5

21. Global Perspective Research the Kyoto Protocol, and create a poster that illustrates the basic goals of this treaty. Also highlight industrialized nations that have or have not signed the treaty, with a brief statement of each nation’s position on the issue. Display the completed posters in the classroom. Section 4 Concepts in Action