Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Topics for 11/2
2 Topics for 12/1

Topics for 11/2

Muslims in Britain

Texts

Read from beginnin to "And it's a very powerful grip on one's mind. And in my case it took years to shed that influence." (third box)

Answers to book, p. 86/87 q. 5 + 6
Why does a young muslim turn into an extremist?

crucial event: death of thousands of European muslims in war in Bosnia in 90s! West just watches and doesn't help the muslims there. (Parallels to wars in Iraq .... muslims are being killed and no-one cares)
Islam is cleverly presented as way of looking at history: like in Marxism it is always a struggle, them against us, bad against good, everybody against the muslims (idea of Western/Jewish conspiracy against Islam/muslims)
at school/in university young muslims become part of an active, organized, outspoken movement ⇒ proud to be an active muslim, feeling of power, feeling of belonging to group and of changing the world.

Cartoon ⇐Klick!

4 frames, three show acts of violence/hatred committed in the name of Christianity/Western Civilization
evangelical pastor [=church] burning Korans, evangelical/conservative politician [politics] against building mosque in USA, secret service agent [=government] torturing terrorist suspect)
irony: they all want revenge/act as unchristian/intolerantly as those they accuse of doing this to them
irony: preacher is completely stupid: of course "them folks don't act like Christians" - they simply aren't christians!
preacher also doesn't seem to know his Bilble: "Jesus hates Mohammed" is absolutely like anthing Jesus preaches in the Bible: Jesus preaches love, peace and forgiveness - not hatred!
picture four shows the result: children in USA have learned, that you needn't act as you wish others to act towards you (in civilized way, mercyfully, helpfully, tolerantly ...) but can do anything you want as long as nobody stops you.
General criticism: christian/western preachers and politicians and governments do the same things they accuse terrorists and radical islamist of ⇒ they are no better than them.

Globalization

Definition and Key Facts

Cf. Book, p. 178

History / 3 Phases of Globalization

Globalzation 1.0 (first phase/era) - 1492 (Columbus) until around 1800

world got connected, shrank from size L to M
trade between Old World and New World
countries' power defined by use of horse power/wind power/steam power/ (horses, ships, engines)
aim: to fit into global competition
motivation often religion / imperialism

Globalization 2.0 (second era) - 1800 to 2000

interrupted by the Great Depression, World War I and II
world got more connected, shrank from size M to S
industrial revolution and multinational companies (e.g. East India Company) as most dynamic forces
global integration ⇐ breakthroughs in hardware development

1. falling transportation costs (steam engine, railroad, cars, airplanes)

2. falling telecommunication costs (telegraph, telephone, PC, satellites ...)

development of really global economy ⇒ massive movement of goods and information

Globalization 3.0 (third era) - from 2000 to …

world got even more connected, shrank from S to XXS and countries got even closer
newfound power for individuals to communicate, collaborate, compete globally
key developments:

- fiber-optic cable + Internet + work flow software + mobile computing

- final end of simple East/West division

⇒ very small, flattened world/playing field (many forces on same level, even individuals are very powerful)

- China has become more powerful

- now much more diverse, non-white, non-European influences ⇒ West no longer dominant in globalization

Source: Friedman. The three eras of globalization (Book, p. 176f)

Pros and Cons

Globalisation and the Internet

http://www.bivingsreport.com/2004/globalization-the-internet-and-public-opinion/ ++

Download:

Globalization and culture

Ecology and Protecting the Environment

How green are you?

Look at How green are you?
Look through the test again an create a simple list of dos and don'ts!
Prepare a short talk about at least 4 environmental dos and don'ts and tell people about your favourite!

Environmental DOs and DON'Ts

Zum Vergrößern mehrfach klicken und dann speichern ...!

Saving the rainforests, Global warming and use of energy

See our blog http://howgreenisourfuture.wordpress.com, especially the chapters on "global warminfg" and "energy".
See this blog http://no2deforestation.wordpress.com, especially the two chapters on "effects/risks" and "solutions".

Topics for 12/1

The Hobbit - a Fantasy Novel classic by J.R.R. Tolkien

Cf. your scrapbook + worksheets + notes that you took while we were reading it in class. Especially look at the two concepts of the hero, at Bilbo and Thorin ...!
Reasons for reading Fantasy:

Using Robots

Using robots today ...
New wave of adept robots is changing global industry
How robots can be used:

Effects of using robots ...

Summary of the two articles:

Advantages of using robots:

Military robots:

advantage in war
unlimited supply of robots
fewer in human lives lost
more effective use of weapons than human soldiers
rms race in robotics has begun → US a must keep advantage in this field
Machines: no negative or strong emotions
better at quick, rational decision-making
more rational/calm and ethical decisions (no anger, revenge) is

Household robots

save time/work/do boring and dirty jobs ⇒ useful helpers
can be used to control home/house remotely

Problems/dangers of using robots:

Military robots

Sufficient ability to identify proper targets/combatants?
right to decide about acceptable human collateral damage?
inability to show mercy/give pardon
who is responsible if robot kills wrongly
technical ability to kill and destroy is more easily developed than more role/ethical control-mechanisms
dangerous, 100% obedient tool in the hands of dictators etc.

Household robots if hacked, they could be illegally used to

control our homes
spy on us
attack us

.

Text: Programmed for Love

The original text on the problematic relations between people and robots can be read here!

Answers to questions 1 and 3 on worksheet:

1. Headline makes reader wonder:

programmed (technology) ⇐⇒ love (emotion)?
programmed: no choice, no free will ...
who is programmed for love? (Assumption: a robot/computer/machine?)

Reader curious to answer the question/find connection between technology - emotion

After reading that human beings, and not machines, here are programmed in such a way that they fall in love with robots ⇒ surprise ⇒ interest ... How can that be - "to have" to love a robot due to being programmed to do so?

3. Change in author's attitude to robots:

first/before

enthusiastic about new technologies (MIT)
believed in benefits of creating alternative identities in virtual life
studied human interactions with computers

then / after (encounter in which she realized she wanted the robot's attention, reacted to simple signals of communication) against man - robot relations on an emotional basis as:

Robots can malfunction
afraid that machines play role that only humans should play
it damages our sense of humanity
robots don't love you back, even if the promise
people give up establishing and having relationships with real people

Outlook: Will robots change us?

Improving yourself: The human body as a piece of art:

Plastic surgery: statistics

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jul/22/plastic-surgery-medicine

Plastic Surgery for Men:

want to have more success in jobs
want to attract younger women
want to have an image of vitality
makes them feel better
to look more attractive
to get attention from other people
to look young, fit, with good reactions and professional
to bring out their character
to prevent prejudice

Cf. Worksheet/mediation on plastic surgery for men

Plastic Surgery for Women:

to look like the women in the media
everybody does it
prices go down
feels good to get told that they look good
to improve their self-confidence
to remind themselves of the good times
people don´t like themselves because they are brainwashed by the media
to be more attractive to men
to get better job chances
youth shows fertility
to wear the newest dresses ( fashion ) ????????

Plastic surgery for teenagers: Video

Plastic surgery performed on teens in the USA: Motives, views and attitudes, effects and problems covered by this video clip ...!

How much do looks count today? (Cf. worksheet/handout)

Looks count ... Text on worksheet, too!
Looks count more than skills at work (and that goes for men too). Text on worksheet!

The cult of youth, beaty and the body:

Cultural Obsession with Youth and Beauty

Vocabulary

Vocab sheet on plastic surgery / youth cult:

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