Transcript Important Topics

Important Topics
SW Asia
Natural Resources
• Oil and Water
• How do humans modify their environment to deal with water issues?
Religions
• What are the important factors in each of the Big Three Monotheistic
Religions of South West Asia?
• Create a T-Chart with a partner
• God, Holy Book, Beliefs
Arab Israel Conflict
• Turn to a partner and explain the conflict.
• Who are the two sides?
• What do they want?
• Why have peace talk failed?
Stateless Nations: Group of people with a common
culture who do not have a country of their own.
• Kurds
• Spread throughout many SW Asia
Countries
• Minority Ethnic Group
• Independence movements
• Palestinians
• Why would the Palestinians be
considered a Stateless Nation?
The Arab-Spring
• The Arab Spring is a revolutionary
wave of demonstrations and protests (both non-violent and
violent), riots, and civil wars in the Arab world that began on 18
December 2010 and spread throughout the countries of the
Arab League and surroundings.
Arab-Spring: Jasmine Revolution
• Tunisia became independent in 1956
• Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali come to power in 1987 and lives an extravagant
lifestyle and holds complete power
• 12/17/2010 Mohamed Bouazizi immolates himself to protest a life made
futile by a lack of jobs and the harassment of street vendors by government
officials
• Dec. 2010-Jan 2011 Facebook and Twitter are used by educated Tunisians
to organize massive continuing demonstrations against the Ben Ali
government and family
• Jan 14 2011 President Ben Ali leaves Tunisia after a 23 year dictatorship
Iran
• Islamic State /Theocracy
Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
• 20% of the world’s oil is
transported to through the Strait
• Connects the Persian Gulf to the
Indian Ocean! Great Location for
trade!!!
• Iran has power to control the
strait because of its location
• Has the ability sabotage shipping
in the strait leading to worldwide oil crisis.
Iran the Nuclear State
• Research dates back to US
sponsored initiatives during the
Cold War
• 2003, Iran was discovered
participating in nuclear research
and development without
informing the international
community
• They stopped under pressure from
the EU and only continued in
Uranium enriching activity
• 2004-2005 Iran agreed to stop all
uranium enriching activities
• 2006, Ahmadinejad, a hardliner
president declared that Iran had
developed significant enrichment
capacity and further development
was ongoing.
• UN and the USA are nervous that
Iran is secretly developing Nuclear
weapons.
• Iran is not folding under pressure
from the United Nations.
Terrorism:
• Read the article about the
United States' War on Terror
• As you read, underline main
ideas.
• Write a summary of the United
States’ involvement in the War
on Terror. For example: Who is
involved? Why are we involved?
What is the goal?