SEPTEMBER 2014 · SEPTEMBER 2014 News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 2 IN THIS ISSUE Homegrown Terrorism (Duration: 18:24) As the threat of terrorism continues

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News in Review, September 2014

1. Homegrown Terrorism (Duration: 18:24)

2. Korean Ferry Disaster (Duration: 14:52)

3. Edward Snowden Exposed (Duration: 17:32)

4. Israel‐Gaza Conflict 2014 (Duration: 15:54)

SEPTEMBER 2014

News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 1

CONTENTS

In This Issue ........................................................................................................ 2

Homegrown Terrorism

Minds on ....................................................................................................................................................... 4

Digging deeper .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Video review ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Homegrown terrorists: A recent threat to Canadian security ...................................................................... 8

Radicalization: A Muslim thing? .................................................................................................................. 10

Korean Ferry Disaster

Minds on ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

Setting the stage ......................................................................................................................................... 12

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 15

South Korea’s cultural norms ...................................................................................................................... 17

Edward Snowden Exposed

Minds on ..................................................................................................................................................... 19

Setting the stage ......................................................................................................................................... 19

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 22

Are there limits to publishing state/economic secrets? ............................................................................. 24

Israel‐Gaza Conflict 2014

Examining personal bias ............................................................................................................................. 26

Video review ............................................................................................................................................... 28

Gaza: A geopolitical issue ............................................................................................................................ 30

Two nations, one land ................................................................................................................................. 31

SEPTEMBER 2014


IN THIS ISSUE

Homegrown Terrorism (Duration: 18:24) As the threat of terrorism continues throughout the world, many Canadians are also taking up extremist

views. They choose to risk their lives in order to further their new beliefs. This story looks at what

motivates these individuals and how many go from a middle class lifestyle to planning death and

destruction.

News in Review Study Modules

Kenya Mall Attack, November 2013

London Bombers: Alienation and Terror, September 2006

Toronto Arrests: 18 Face Terror Charges, September 2006

Related CBC Programs

Best of News in Review: Law

Love, Hate & Propaganda III: The War on Terror

Korean Ferry Disaster (Duration: 14:52) More than 300 people were killed when a ferry sank off the coast of South Korea in April 2014. Most of

the dead were young students taking part in a school trip. Many blame poor emergency procedures for

the tragedy, but others say the blame rests solely on crew members who put their safety ahead of their

passengers.


The Raising of the Costa Concordia, November 2013

On the Rocks: A B.C. Ferry Sinks, May 2006

SEPTEMBER 2014


Edward Snowden Exposed (Duration: 17:32) Considered both a hero and a traitor, Edward Snowden was a contractor for the National Security

Agency (NSA) in 2013 when he stole a huge quantity of top secret documents. They exposed a massive

global surveillance operation run by the agency. Glenn Greenwald, one of the two journalists who

helped expose the documents, talks about meeting the man who stole them.


Airport Wi‐Fi: Canada Spying on Its Own, March 2014

Bill C‐30 and Internet Privacy, April 2012

WikiLeaks and the Information War, February 2011

U.S.‐China: The Risks of Spying, May 2001

CSIS: Spying on Canada, October 1994


Corporate Whistleblowers: Honesty Has Its Price

Inside CSIS

Security Threat: The New World Order

Web Warriors

Israel‐Gaza Conflict 2014 (Duration: 15:54) An escalation in violence occurred in early July between Israel and members of the militant group

Hamas, based in the Gaza Strip. This latest conflict allegedly erupted after the kidnapping and killing of

three Israeli teenagers. After seven weeks of violence, Egypt brokered a tenuous cease‐fire, but not

before the death of 2 200 people, a majority of whom were Palestinians.


Stephen Harper in Israel, March 2014

Eight Days: Israel and Hamas, January 2013

Election Shock: The Hamas Victory, March 2006

Yasser Arafat: Death of an Icon, December 2004

West Bank Wall: Barrier to Peace?, December 2003

The Mideast: Escalating Crisis, May 2002

Arab Revolt: Israeli Political Upheaval, March 2001

Israel 2000: A New Middle East?, April 1999


Covering the Israeli‐Palestinian Conflict: Can the media ever get it right? (audio)

Exile Without End: Palestinians in Lebanon

News in Review – September 2014 – Teacher Resource Guide

HOMEGROWN TERRORISM


Muslim youth leaders in London, ON speak with a CBC journalist

and share their dismay over extremists in their city.

The threat of terrorism has escalated in recent months throughout the world. An alarming new trend is that some Canadians are taking up extremist views. They choose to risk their lives in order to further their new beliefs. This story looks at what motivates these individuals and how many go from an average middle class lifestyle to planning death and destruction.

MINDS ON

1. What makes a group a terrorist organization? What are their motives and tactics? Why do you think they choose violent actions over non-violent ones?

2. What groups would you predict have been identified as terrorist organizations by the Canadian government?

3. What do you think would motivate a Canadian citizen to join a terrorist organization based in another nation?

4. Is there a serious risk of a terrorist attack in Canada? Why or why not? What makes you think so?

5. Think about your own bias and perception of terrorists. What experiences and information has led to your point of view?

DIGGING DEEPER

Go to the Canadian Government's Public Safety site: publicsafety.gc.ca

Go to the National Security tab, choose Counter-terrorism and then search for Listed Terrorist Entities (Canada has listed 40 terrorist groups). Complete the following chart on two terrorist entities, one example of a radical Islamic group and one example of a non-Islamic group.

Name of Terrorist Entity

Location Objectives Actions Frequency of Attacks

Total Casualties

SEPTEMBER 2014 – HOMEGROWN TERRORISM


VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

1. What recent terrorist groups and activities are you aware of from the news and/or social media?

2. Why do you think terrorism is on the rise and who are its main victims?

3. Why do you think a young person raised in "middle class" Canada would want to leave Canada to join a terrorist organization in another country?

4. How do you think terrorist organizations "reach out" to young people in other countries?

5. What negative impact do you think Islamic extremism has on Canadian Muslims?

While viewing

1. Why did the "Toronto 18" pose a serious security threat in 2006?

2. The three young men who attended high school in London, Ontario were recent converts to Islam.

TRUE FALSE



3. What is the viewpoint of the members of London's Muslim community who were interviewed regarding extremist views?

4. What alternative viewpoint does the politics professor Salim Mansur give regarding extremism in the Muslim community?

5. What role could parents play in preventing the radicalization of youth?

6. What Canada Day plot was uncovered and prevented in B.C.?

7. How does the internet fuel extremist views?

8. Canada is unique in having the problem of homegrown terrorism. TRUE FALSE

9. What was the motivation of former terrorist Saad Khalid?

Post‐viewing

1. Do you think a person who has committed violent terrorist acts can be "de-radicalized"?

2. What do you think are the root causes of radicalization?



3. What do you think can be done to prevent it?

4. What would you say/do for a friend who became increasingly "radicalized" in their thinking?

What is radicalization? According to Wikipedia, radicalization is a process by which an individual or group comes to adopt

increasingly extreme political, social or religious ideals and aspirations that reject or undermine the

status quo or reject and/or undermine contemporary ideas and expressions of freedom of choice.

Radicals can choose non‐violent and violent means to achieve their goals.



HOMEGROWN TERRORISTS: A Recent Threat to Canadian Security

The face of terrorism is changing for Canadians. What was once largely considered a security issue of other nations is now hitting closer to home. Threats of terrorism in Canada and acts of terrorism committed by Canadians in other nations are growing concerns.

In 2013, Canada's intelligence service estimates that 130 Canadians left Canada to fight for terrorist groups in the Middle East and Africa. The problem of young men (and to a far lesser extent, women) joining the ranks of terrorist organizations is one Canada shares with the United States, England, Australia and other nations. In addition to people that leave the country to commit violence in other countries, some "homegrown" terrorists threaten Canadian people directly.

The following summaries list some of the more recent cases of Canadian citizens planning terrorist actions against Canadian targets or cases where Canadian terrorists have committed violent acts in other nations. One of the shared characteristics of terrorists, whether they work within Canada or abroad, is their hatred of the characteristics and/or actions of Western democracies, and in some cases Western beliefs and lifestyles. They believe that an alternative system, one that is more just and legitimate, is required and that this new political and cultural system can only be attained through violence.

2002: Mohammed Mansour Jabarah

Mohammed Mansour Jabarah moved to

St. Catherine's, Ont., from Kuwait when he was

12 years old. He and his brother joined al‐

Qaeda and were planning attacks on Western

embassies and a U.S. warship in the Singapore

harbour when he was detained and brought

back to Canada for questioning. He was

extradited to the United States and sentenced

to life in prison in 2008.

2006: "The Toronto 18"

Police arrested 14 Toronto men and four youths

for planning two terrorist attacks in Canada,

including on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Seven

adults pleaded guilty to crimes ranging from

participating in a terrorist group to planning

violent attacks. Four more men from the group

were convicted, including a youth who was

sentenced as an adult. Sentences ranged from

2.5 years to life in prison. Charges against the

remaining seven members, including three

youths were dropped or stayed. This case made

the Canadian public more conscious of

Canadian vulnerability to terrorist actions.

July 2012: Bulgaria bus suicide bombing

A suicide bomber killed five Israelis, a bus driver

and himself in Burgas, Bulgaria. One of the two

suspects is believed to have used a Canadian

passport to enter Bulgaria. Canadian

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said

that the suspect was born in Lebanon and

moved to Vancouver, B.C., when he was eight

years old. He had not resided in Canada for over

10 years.

January 2013: Gas plant siege in Algeria

Two young men Xristos Katsiroubas, 22, and Ali

Medlej, 24, formerly of London, Ont., were

killed when involved in an al‐Qaeda‐linked

attack on an Algerian gas refinery that left

dozens of refinery workers dead. A third friend,

Aaron Yoon traveled to North Africa but did not

participate in the attack. He is now in a prison in

the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. How the

young men got involved in the attack in Algeria

is not yet clear nor is it clear why the three men

converted to Islam and became radicalized in

their thinking and actions.



2014: Ahmad Waseem Ahmad Waseem of Windsor, Ont., is wanted by

the RCMP for his connection to terrorist attacks

in Syria and Iraq. Salman Ashrafi, a friend of

Waseem from Calgary, was a suicide bomber

responsible for killing 46 people in Iraq.

2014: Mohamed Hersi Mohamed Hersi was the first person convicted

(and sentenced to 10 years in jail) under new

Canadian anti‐terror laws. The laws make it

illegal to attempt to participate in a terrorist

activity and to counsel another person to do the

same. Some Canadians question this new law

that allows prosecution of people who may not

have even committed a violent act. In the case

of Hersi, the jury ruled the young Somalian‐

Canadian was preparing to join al‐Shabab. Hersi

was caught due to the work of an undercover

Toronto police officer of East African heritage

who posed as Hersi's friend. Hersi and his family

deny the allegations and claim he was

"entrapped" by the undercover officer.

July 2014: Hasibullah Yusufzai In July 2014, Hasibullah Yusufzai was charged

with travelling for the purpose of terrorism. The

RCMP alleges that the B.C. resident had left

Canada in January to join the Islamic State of

Iraq and al‐Sham (ISIS), a terrorist group in

Syria.

August 2014: The Gordon brothers Two brothers in Calgary have been identified as

members of ISIS, Collin and Gregory Gordon.

The brothers disappeared from their family in

late 2012, when they are thought to have

travelled to Syria. Experts point to the growing

influence and importance of social media

propaganda in luring new members to terrorist

groups. Like other Western jihadis, Collin is

active on social media to promote his beliefs.

Further your inquiry

1. Think of inquiry questions on the topic of homegrown terrorism from at least two different perspectives (e.g. political, cultural, sociological, legal, economic, psychological, national security). Be sure your inquiry questions are effective in that they have the following qualities.

A good question:

Makes you think (not recall or summarize)

Comes from curiosity and confusion about the topic

Invites both deep thinking and deep feelings

Is open-ended with no final, correct answer

2. Continue your inquiry based on one of your questions.

Check out the inquiry questions and research that the Canadian federal government has funded to help

answer tough questions on homegrown terrorism at Kanishka Project:

publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl‐scrt/cntr‐trrrsm/r‐nd‐flght‐182/knshk/rsrch‐thms‐eng.aspx



RADICALIZATION: A MUSLIM THING?

It is hard to avoid the stereotype of the fanatical Muslim terrorist. Is this stereotype pure myth or based in reality? Below is an excerpt from a June 2008 RCMP document, “Radicalization: A Guide for the Perplexed,” that addresses the connection between radical thought and Muslims.

“In a contemporary context, radicalization is most often discussed with reference to young Muslims

who are influenced, to one degree or another, by Islamist thought. Islamism (the practical application of

Islamist thought), a term that is NOT a synonym for Islam, is a set of ideologies that holds that Islam is

not simply a religion, but also a political system. This system is exemplified by the various Caliphates —

political dynasties that combined political with religious hegemony — that ruled the medieval Islamic

world. The basic tenets of Islamist thought hold that modern Islam must return to its historic and

theological roots, that this “proto‐Islam” must become a political unifying factor for Muslims the world

over, and that a truly Islamic society must be governed by law derived from traditional Islamic sources.

“There are many different proponents of Islamism, and many different schools of Islamist thought.

Many of these, like the Muslim Brotherhood, are not terrorists, nor do they necessarily advocate

violence (although Hamas, among others, has its ideological roots in the teachings of the Muslim

Brotherhood and some senior al‐Qaeda associates are linked to it). By far the best known and most

problematic Islamist group, however, is al‐Qaeda and all of the groups and individuals that are

associated with it. Moreover, most recent radicalization leading to terrorism in Canada, in the United

States, in Europe and elsewhere has been driven by al‐Qaeda, its ideology, or by groups or individuals

who are either associated with or influenced by al‐Qaeda.

“Radicalization can occur due to a multitude of factors and influences. There is no single group that

seeks out vulnerable and impressionable young people. Nor is radicalization limited to any single ethnic

or interest group. Historically, violent factions of various political ideologies have employed similar

recruiting strategies and targeted similar demographics.„

– Radicalization: A Guide for the Perplexed, RCMP, National Security Criminal Investigations, June 2009

(celarc.ca/cppc/228/228966.pdf)

1. How does this “guide for the perplexed” distinguish between Islam and Islamism? Do you think this distinction is helpful?

2. Read the remainder of the RCMP document, “Radicalization: A Guide for the Perplexed,” and summarize the conclusions regarding why radicalized people can become terrorists.

3. Research another radicalized group that has engaged in terrorist actions (e.g. environmental and animal rights activists, neo-Nazis, FLQ, Air India Bombing). Note differences and similarities between terrorist groups.



Further Research Activity

Read the article, “Radicalization of Youth as a Growing Concern for Counter-Terrorism Policy,” Margarita Bizina and David H. Gray, Global Security Studies, Winter 2014, Volume 5, Issue 1 (globalsecuritystudies.com/Bizina%20Youth-AG.pdf)

Consider why the radicalization of youth is viewed as a problem of community. How does the article suggest that community engagement could help eliminate the problem of homegrown terrorism?


KOREAN FERRY DISASTER


Note to Teachers The classroom must promote a safe place for

students to discuss sensitive issues such as disaster

and death. Prepare students for the topics that will

be discussed. Allow for individual reflective time in

addition to small group activities where students can

safely process their thoughts and emotions.

MINDS ON

School offers students many opportunities that go beyond the classroom. One popular feature is going on field trips to enrich students’ education. These trips tend to be popular with students as they get to leave the confines of the classroom and explore sites with their peers. Most trips are happy occasions but sometimes there can be mishaps.

1. Before you go on a field trip, what safety precautions are taken? Are there additional precautions you feel should be taken?

2. What are some challenges teachers may face taking a class of teenagers on a field trip?

3. Have you been in a dangerous situation? How did you react?

SETTING THE STAGE

On April 15, 323 students from Danwon High School in Ansan, South Korea set out on a school trip that would take them on an overnight sail to the holiday island of Jeju. The next morning the ship began to list and roll over. Hints that proper protocol was not being followed occurred around 8:53 when a distress call was made not by the crew but by one of the passengers. During the hours after the ship began to roll over help came from local fishers who tried to rescue passengers from the cold

water. Soon the ship turned over and trapped many passengers. At least 250 students would die in this tragedy.

Response: Chaos and bravery When it became apparent that the ship was in trouble many students waited for instructions and were told to remain in their area until further notice. We get a sense of the confusion among the students from a video found on a victim’s cellphone. One student is heard pleading with the coast guard to come to their rescue but it appears the coast guard does not grasp the severity of the situation. We also keep hearing

SEPTEMBER 2014 – KOREAN FERRY DISASTER


announcements from the crew for students to remain in their locations. When the coast guard did arrive it waited for passengers to escape from the ship before rescuing them, instead of gaining access to the survivors in the ship.

Most of the crew, including the captain, abandoned ship, despite repeatedly telling students to stay put. One young crew member remained on board and helped some of the passengers escape but she died in the process. Some students helped their peers acquire life jackets and escape through windows.

Who is to blame? As the shock and reality of the disaster set in, many people began to question the actions of the crew and government. The immediate focus of attention was the captain and crew of the ferry.

It was reported that the captain and many members of his crew were the first ones to be rescued. Captain Lee Joon-seok defended his actions not to order an evacuation stating that he feared that passengers would panic and not put on their life jackets and would fall into the cold water. He wanted to wait for rescue ships to arrive before passengers left the ship. It took over 30 minutes before the order was given to abandon the ship.

The captain and members of his crew have been arrested and charged with negligence of duty and violation of maritime law. The owner of the ferry boat company, Yoo Byung-eun, was also being sought and charged with corruption and criminal negligence. He would later be found dead after an extensive police search.

What could have caused such a terrible disaster to take place on a route that was frequently used by ferries? Initial investigations indicated that the ship may have been going too fast and the

helmsman may have turned the steering gear too abruptly, causing cargo to shift.

These findings lead to further investigations regarding the cargo on the ferry. It was discovered that the ferry had been illegally altered to allow it to carry more cargo than was recommended. Authorities also indicated that the cargo may not have been properly secured and so shifted when the ship turned sharply.

Initial reports also indicated that the helms person was a young member of the crew who lacked extensive experience in steering such a ship. It was also revealed that the captain was not on the bridge at the time of the accident.

Other theories began to appear such as the ferry hitting a reef or even of a North Korean mini-submarine sinking the ship.

The government launched a full scale inquiry with results expected to be released in the near future.

Impact of the Tragedy The final death toll was 245 students; only 75 were rescued. This was the worst maritime disaster in South Korea over 40 years. The nation went into mourning with flags at half-mast and massive religious services for the victims and their families.

The sinking of the ferry had far-ranging consequences that went beyond the death of the students. Two days after the disaster a vice



principal who had organized the trip, and survived, committed suicide. In his suicide note he indicated that he took full responsibility for the disaster and felt guilty that he had survived. He also asked that his cremated remains be scattered over the site of the sinking. Rescuers were hit hard, not only by the heavy emotional task of trying to recover the bodies of young victims, but also by the loss of two divers killed in search-and-rescue efforts. In June a daughter of one of the arrested crew members also committed suicide and indicated that she did so because of the shame the disaster had brought to her family.

The impact of this event was still being felt in August during Pope Francis’ visit to the country. Parents of the victims camped near a papal event hoping to gain the Pope’s support for government action and compensation. The Pope met with some families of the victims and wore a yellow ribbon which had become the symbol of the tragedy.

The sinking has not only resulted in a great loss of life but may get many South Koreans asking if safety regulations have been overlooked during a time of rapid economic growth. Are profits more important than human lives? Should citizens demand more accountability from their governments and businesses? Should there be more coordination among government departments to ensure rapid response to disasters? But the question that tops the list for many is will this event truly impact South Korea’s government policies, or will it slowly disappear from public notice?

For the survivors of this disaster and for the families and loved ones of its victims, the event can never be forgotten.

Longer term results of the ferry sinking:

1. The South Korean prime minister

resigned, taking the blame for the

inadequate rescue response.

2. President Park Geun‐hye issued a formal

apology to the nation and promised that

a thorough investigation would be

conducted and guilty parties brought to

trial.

3. The sinking also had an impact on the

South Korean economy. Numerous trips

were cancelled across the country which

had a negative impact on service

industries. This was one reason given for

a government stimulus package that was

meant to encourage spending.



VIDEO REVIEW

While viewing

1. How did improved technology help to paint a vivid picture of events on the ferry?

2. How did the circumstances of the ferry sinking result in so few survivors?

3. Outline what steps you feel should have been taken to avoid such catastrophic loss of life.

4. How have some reactions to this disaster been uniquely South Korean and some more universal?

Post‐viewing

1. It has been over five months since this disaster occurred. Conduct a search and make note of any new developments.



2. Examine this video link which displays conditions inside the ferry: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617625/This-fun-Footage-aboard-doomed-South-Korean-ferry-shows-school-students-joking-laughing-ship-begins-list.html. How are the students’ reactions typical of teenagers?

3. In early June, 70 surviving students returned to Danwon High School to commence a new term. Awaiting them were the parents of many students who died on the ferry. What do you think would be going through the minds of these students and parents? Tweet a thought from the perspective of one of the surviving students and one of the victims’ parents (120 characters each).

4. View this video from the Holland America Line website — click on the green button labelled “Our Commitment to Safety: hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Safety+and+Security&WT.ac=footer_SafetySecurity

a) How safe are large passenger ships? Are you satisfied with the safety protocols?

b) What safety features appear not to have been followed in the South Korean ferry sinking?



SOUTH KOREA’S CULTURAL NORMS

Focus Question

Could some of South Korea’s cultural values have contributed to the high loss of life?

Some South Korea social scientists have suggested that the nation’s cultural norms may help illuminate the reasons behind the ferry sinking, the inadequate response, and the seeming reluctance of the passengers to leave their positions and escape from the ship.

Take on the role of an investigator! If you were to try and present your opinion on the focus question what questions would you want answered before you presented your opinion? Develop a series of questions to help guide your opinion making process.

Possible Cultural Norms

Confucianism This was a philosophy developed in the 5th century BCE China which promoted the Five Basic Relationships: ruler and subject; father and son; elder brother and younger brother; husband and wife; and friend and friend. The philosophy stressed that each side of the relationship had well‐defined duties and a responsibility to the other. The younger was to be obedient to the older; the lesser status person was to be obedient to the superior.

Fatalism This view sees humanity as having little or no influence over events in life and therefore individuals and society may not take pro‐active steps to address potentially dangerous situations.

Unfounded optimism This theory proposed by a Korean sociologist suggests that South Koreans believe that everything will work out for the best no matter the danger. Those that warn of negative consequences are seen as weak and alarmist.

Ppalli ppalli This translates as “hurry, hurry” and is meant to describe the attitude adopted by government and society after the Korean War. The onus is on all citizens to work hard to revitalize the nation after the destruction of the war. This could result in short cuts and various risks being taken to achieve economic success.

Source: “Culture closely tied to Korea’s vulnerability to disasters” by Kim Hoo-ran. The Korea Herald, May 13, 2014. koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140513001280

1. Which if any of the above might explain the actions of the ship owners, the coast guard, the crew and the passengers?

2. What cautions should be kept in mind when trying to apply these philosophies to the actions?



Counter Point

Examine the following article and identify the arguments that could be used to discredit the philosophies: vice.com/read/stop-blaming-south-koreas-culture-for-last-weeks-ferry-disaster

Use the following organizer to help you summarize the points.

Philosophical norm Arguments against the norm

(as a contributing factor)

Is there other information you require before you attempt to answer the focus question?

What is your answer?


EDWARD SNOWDEN EXPOSED


MINDS ON

“The world is at your fingertips” is a phrase that highlights how easy it is to locate information and communicate with friends. You can now use your phone to snap photos, capture video, play video games on the go, catch up on TV viewing, buy movie tickets, compare air fares, get instant updates from friends, identify unknown songs, and much, much more.

Is this convenience worth the fact that every time you use your communications device some server records your choices and passes them on to interested companies?

Whether you know it or not you are being tracked for commercial reasons and in some cases for security reasons.

Is technology being used to both benefit society and watch over us?

When you go online do you protect your privacy? By what methods?

Is it possible or desirable to regulate the internet to protect people’s privacy?

SETTING THE STAGE

Government spying It is generally known that companies use the internet to monitor the buying habits of customers. It is even well documented that governments use technology to track the activities of citizens. The extent of government surveillance became very clear when an American systems analyst, Edward Snowden, released a large number of classified documents.

Snowden is a former system administrator for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and, at the time of the leak, was employed by a private

contractor working for the National Security Agency (NSA). His cache of leaked documents revealed the American government’s efforts to track its own citizens as well as foreigners.

Edward Snowden

Glenn Greenwald

SEPTEMBER 2014 – EDWARD SNOWDEN EXPOSED

News in Review ∙ CBC Learning | Curio.ca ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 20

Snowden decided that he had to share this information and contacted Glenn Greenwald, a reporter with the British newspaper The Guardian. Snowden’s actions have sparked a heated debate about the importance of an individual’s right to privacy versus the need for national security.

The United States government has a long

history of surveillance of its own citizens and

foreigners. During the 1970s the American

government was spying on many anti‐Vietnam

protesters and even used the Internal Revenue

Service to audit opponents of government

policies.

Ever since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 the American government has passed laws that have given intelligence agencies the authority to track potential threats. With the explosion of technology over the last few years it has become easier for agencies to gather data. Although this process has been ongoing for a number of years, the full extent was not clear until Snowden released documents outlining the scope of government intelligence activities.

One file indicated that some world leaders were targeted by the agency for attention. The Chancellor of Germany had her phone tapped, a revelation that prompted an angry phone call to the White House demanding an explanation.

The Canadian government’s role Some of Snowden’s leaked documents also revealed that Canada was not innocent in these matters. Files indicated that Canadian intelligence agencies were tapping servers in Brazil’s Mining and Energy Ministry. Canadian energy companies are competing with Brazil for contracts and any insights into the Brazilian government’s policies would give Canadian companies an advantage.

Another case of Canadian complicity occurred during the G20 summit meeting in Toronto in 2010 when the government allowed the NSA to spy on world leaders. The Canadian government refused to respond to the story stating it did not comment on national security issues.

Reactions The initial reaction to Snowden’s revelations was shock and dismay among citizens who did not realize the extent of government tracking. The reaction intensified when it was revealed that the U.S. government had authorized a secret program labeled PRISM that allowed the government to gather emails from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail and other providers.

The reaction was not limited to the general public but also included members of the U.S. Senate. The Senate had set up a commission to investigate the use of torture on suspected terrorists by the Central Intelligence Agency. The commission examined documents and was preparing a report on its findings when it was discovered that some of its computers had been hacked. Suspicions quickly feel on the CIA, which later admitted that it did hack some Senate staffers’ computers.

Snowden’s motivation Snowden was recently asked if he regretted his actions. He said that not only did he not regret his disclosures but felt his actions actually benefitted Americans. He feels his actions have raised American awareness of lack of privacy as well as lack of supervision of the intelligence agencies. He denies he has compromised American intelligence efforts, as he has not released the names of any spies nor passwords that access government systems. In fact Snowden claims his efforts have exposed a weakness in the government’s computer systems. He condemns the government for lax oversight of national security information.



Snowden’s Future Since the documents have been released the U.S. government has been seeking Snowden's extradition to face felony charges. When Snowden first fled the U.S. from Hawaii, he flew to Hong Kong and eventually arrived in Russia. He was forced to live in a Moscow airport for three weeks while the Russian government ruled on his request for asylum. Eventually he was allowed to remain in Russia and recently he was given a residence permit for three years. Snowden still fears that the American government will succeed in getting

him extradited to face charges of treason or that he may become a victim of American revenge.

In the wake of Snowden’s actions many American and Canadian citizens have begun to question the actions of their governments regarding the balance between individual privacy rights and national security. Many wonder what controls are in place to limit intelligence agencies’ tracking of individuals. It has become clear that technology has enabled not only governments but also individuals to hack servers, email accounts and websites.

To consider

1. Has it become necessary for some international regulations and standards of practice to be negotiated?

2. Do the increased instances of terrorism after 9/11 meant that individuals will have to live with the knowledge that their internet use is vulnerable to monitoring?

3. Does identifying potential attackers warrant a large scale monitoring of individual use of technology?



VIDEO REVIEW

While viewing

1. What chances was Greenwald taking in agreeing to down load an encryption program and meet with Snowden?

2. What criteria would you apply in deciding what documents you might release if you were in Greenwald’s position? Do you agree with his criteria? Why or why not?

3. Do you feel Snowden was justified in leaking secret documents? Why or why not?

4. The released documents indicate that the United States government spied on its allies. Why would the government feel the need to spy on friendly nations?

5. Why does Greenwald feel the government’s spying is a greater threat to citizens than terrorism?

Post‐viewing

1. After hearing the facts behind this story do you feel Snowden is a hero or a traitor? Use the accompanying organizer to help you and a partner (or group) make a decision.

Arguments for Snowden as a hero Arguments for Snowden as a traitor



Arguments for Snowden as a hero Arguments for Snowden as a traitor

a) Which arguments do you feel carry more weight? Why

b) Is Snowden a hero or traitor?

2. Are your privacy rights protected in Canada? Check out the following government site that outlines privacy laws: priv.gc.ca/resource/fs-fi/02_05_d_15_e.asp. Do you feel these laws provide enough protection?

3. Have you ever read the privacy policies of browsers and sites you use? Scan the privacy policies of Google — google.ca/policies/privacy/ — and determine if you feel your privacy is safe with this multinational browser. Are there points you feel should be included in the policy to better protect your privacy?



ARE THERE LIMITS TO PUBLISHING STATE/ECONOMIC SECRETS?

Glenn Greenwald was astonished at the wealth of documents Edward Snowden had managed to download from his position in the NSA. Greenwald’s initial reaction to the revelations they contained was disgust and a conviction that the spying activities by the U.S. government had to be made public. As he became aware of the large number of files Snowden had copied, however, Greenwald realized he would have to limit his reporting. He decided to publicize government abuses and along with two colleagues created the online publication The Intercept.

Scenario You and your peers have been commissioned by Greenwald to examine the short‐ and long‐term goals

created by his team for the publication. Your job is to determine if there should be a balance between

exposing wrongdoing and the need to protect sensitive information. You are to provide some criteria or

guidelines for Greenwald in determining which articles should be posted.

Roles

Working in groups of three, select the person on your team who will assume the following roles:

Government/military representative

What would your concerns be over publication of Snowden’s material? Since you cannot ban all stories, what criteria would you recommend?

International business representative

What concerns would you have about Snowden’s revelations about economic spying? Since you cannot ban all stories, what criteria would you recommend?

Privacy rights advocate

You work with an organization that supports privacy rights. Would you oppose all spying no matter what the rationale? What criteria would you recommend?

Process

1 In the above groups of three, examine The Intercept: firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/02/10/welcome-intercept/. Read the justification Greenwald and his colleagues present for creating this site. Paraphrase the justification to ensure all members understand the message.

2 Re-organize yourselves into new groups by role — one group with all the government/military representatives, another with all the international business reps, and a third with the civil rights advocates. These groups will discuss what cautions they would present to Greenwald to determine which articles to post. The purpose of these groups is to share ideas and reach a consensus.



3 When the larger groups by role have wrapped up discussion, divide again into groups of three with a single representative for each role. Share your concerns and collectively record your suggestions.

4 Now to determine if Greenwald would accept your suggestions, the final groups of three will examine the latest edition of The Intercept. Review a sample of articles and compare the content to your group’s recommendations. Do you feel Greenwald has used similar criteria in selecting topics to post?

Timeframe

Period 1

In groups of three, choose your roles.

Examine the material from the Intercept.

Work in the larger groups by role to discuss criteria. Suggested discussion time: 30-40 minutes.

Period 2

Begin class by allowing larger groups to review ideas from previous class.

Regroup in threes (with one of each role) to share information and, as a group, develop and record your criteria.

Evaluate The Intercept site to determine if your criteria would be accepted.

Allow time for debriefing.


ISRAEL‐GAZA CONFLICT 2014


An escalation in violence erupted in early July between Israel and members of the militant group Hamas based in the Gaza Strip. This latest conflict allegedly erupted after the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers. After seven weeks of violence, Egypt brokered a tenuous cease-fire but not before the death of 2 200 people a majority of which were Palestinians.

EXAMINING PERSONAL BIAS

Before proceeding with an examination of the Israel-Gaza conflict, rank yourself using the following six questions.

1. I have strong opinions/beliefs on who is at fault and who is right in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

2. I have friends with different ideas/beliefs/views than mine on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know

3. I have enough information to make an informed decision regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


4. I feel very emotional when talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


5. I can understand why there are different perspectives on Israeli and Palestinian actions during the recent conflict in Gaza.


6. There will never be peace between the Palestinian and Israeli people.


Have you ever wondered how you came to believe in a certain viewpoint or why you hold a specific position on a topic? Your age, gender, socio-economic status, culture, what you have learned in school, what you view on the news and social media, and the conversations and relationships you have with friends, family, peers and co-workers are just some aspects of your life that impact your thinking and beliefs.

SEPTEMBER 2014 – ISRAEL‐GAZA CONFLICT 2014


One of the greatest challenges to becoming a "good thinker" is to become skilled at identifying your own bias (viewpoint) and possible reasons for that bias. It is also important to be able to pinpoint bias in other people's thinking. Interestingly, scientific studies have noted that the ability to recognize one's own bias is much more difficult that recognizing someone else's.

In order to grasp what social psychologists call “cognitive bias,” we need to consider some of the main areas of possible limitation in our thinking and everyone else's thinking.

Some Types of Cognitive Bias

Confirmation bias Do we listen more carefully to people we agree with? Do we only highlight sentences in text that we agree with? Do we follow social media of people who have the same background and beliefs as we do? Do we tend to have friends that have similar tastes and opinions? Social psychologists believe so. They also propose that we all have unconscious tendencies to ignore or dismiss opinions that threaten our own opinions. What do you think?

Ingroup bias Ingroup bias causes us to overestimate the intelligence, abilities and value of the immediate group of people in your life. The dangerous drawback is that we tend to devalue or be suspicious, and even fearful, of others. Can you think of examples of ingroup bias in your class, school and community?

Status‐Quo bias Humans tend to not like change or at least not a lot of change. Thus the decisions we make and ideas we hold often guarantee that things remain the same. This bias impacts everything from economics to politics. Can you think of examples where you exhibited status-quo bias? Where others exhibited it?

Re‐evaluate

Reconsider your answers to the six preliminary questions. Think about why you answered the way you did and note your reasons below each question.

Consider how different types of bias may be at play in some of your beliefs regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Talk with someone who had very similar answers to you. Talk with someone who had very different answers than you.

Try to be mindful of confirmation bias throughout your class discussions on this and other controversial and sensitive topics.

According to recent polls, 66

per cent of Canadians support

neither side in the Gaza war.

Only 21 per cent side with Israel

and barely half that, 10 per

cent, with the Palestinians.

What do you think accounts for

Canadian "neutrality"?



VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

1. Be sure you know some basic facts about the following before viewing the video:

People: Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu

Event: Six-Day War

Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian Authority

While viewing

1. What murders led to the increase in violence between Israel and Palestine?

2. What is the official White House position on the conflict?

3. "Hardline" settlers in Israel respect Benjamin Netanyahu as their Prime Minister.

TRUE FALSE

4. How many Palestinians live in Gaza?

5. Israel has occupied the Gaza region since ___________ following the Six-Day War and did not withdraw its troops until ___________.

6. Gaza has been governed by Hama since 2007. TRUE FALSE

7. What is the core issue for Hamas?

8. What is the core issue for Israel?



9. Palestinian civilians have the highest casualty rates in Israeli-Hamas conflicts.

TRUE FALSE

10. There are lots of leaders trusted by both sides that are capable of negotiating a ceasefire.

TRUE FALSE

11. How many UN schools have been struck by Israeli shells?

12. What nation brokered the ceasefire agreement?

13. How many Palestinians and how many Israelis were killed in the seven weeks of fighting?

Post‐viewing

Watch the video again without the sound.

1. What images are the focus of the report?

2. Which people are considered "experts" on the topic?

3. Does this seem a balanced report on the topic or is it biased in some way? Explain.

4. What further questions do you have regarding the conflict?



GAZA: A GEOPOLITICAL ISSUE

1. Locate a map of Gaza that shows its position in the Middle East. What do you notice about its political borders that may impact the lives of people living there?

2. Research the population density, natural resources and economy of the Gaza Strip. How do you think the natural and human geography of Gaza impact the lives of people living there?

Bias in Maps

All maps have a "point of view" or bias. Consider the following maps and discuss point of view or bias. Determine who created the map, for what audience and for what purpose as a beginning of your analysis.

a) The Gaza Strip (2007) – created by The Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs

vox.com/2014/7/18/5915549/gaza-israel-map-blockade

b) Violence escalates in Israel, Hamas battle – created by MCT News Service, News from Abu Dhabi

thenational.ae/world/middle-east/map-violence-escalates-in-israel-hamas-battle

c) Communities in Israel's south under fire – created by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund

www.kkl.org.il/eng/people-and-environment/community-development/israel-defense-south/kkl-jnf-gaza/

d) Gaza rockets – created by the Israel Defense Forces

www.idfblog.com/blog/2014/04/21/gaza-terrorists-attack-israel-passover-holiday/

What map would you like to see that would assist you with your understanding of the Israeli-Gaza conflict?

40 Maps that explain the Middle East

An additional site with multiple helpful maps related to conflict in the Middle East.

vox.com/a/maps‐explain‐the‐middle‐east

Did you know?

Only 26 miles long and seven miles wide and situated between Israel, Egypt and the

Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth.



TWO NATIONS, ONE LAND

Why is there so much violence between Israel and Palestine? Both sides have killed innocent civilians, including children, and have violated international law.

For decades there has been a stalemate between Israelis and Palestinians, both claiming legitimate aspirations, each with painful histories. This conflict can essentially be considered a conflict about land and who has the right to inhabit and govern the land both today and in the future.

Below are simplified answers to some of the common questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that invite you to research and investigate further.

Why are these people fighting? For over 120 years there has been violence between Israel and Palestine. Some argue that the conflict can be boiled down to a dispute over a small piece of geographically diverse land. Others see the conflict as rooted in religious and ancient historical issues. There have been many attempts to redraw the borders of this land in order to establish two independent states that satisfy the claims of both Jewish and Palestinian nationalists.

What does Israel want? Israelis want to live in a safe homeland without fear of violent attacks on its citizens. Israel defines itself as a state of the entire Jewish people, wherever they live, not simply a state for its own citizens. Some Israelis want to keep all the occupied territories. Others think that their government should end the occupation with a two-state solution that returns some land to the Palestinian people.

What do the Palestinians want? Many older Palestinians were expelled from their homes in 1947 and 1948, inside what is now Israel but was then Palestine. Some of them would like to return to these homes. Many more Palestinians were expelled from their homes in the West Bank and Gaza in 1967 and have been sheltered in refugee camps for 40 years.

Palestinians want human rights, equality, and a state of their own that would allow the return of refugees.

What is a two‐state solution? In the past two decades, many versions of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been articulated and negotiated. The two-state solution requires that Israel and Palestine divide up the contested land based on pre-1967 borders and live side-by-side in peace and security as separate nations.

What is preventing a two‐state solution? Neither side seems willing or able to compromise. When ceasefires are negotiated, they are broken. When peace talks conclude, their terms are not observed — and violence begins afresh. For the Palestinians, there seems to be a lack of unified leadership committed to peaceful negotiations. Israeli leaders and citizens are unwilling to reverse or even contain new settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. The issue of Palestinian refugees and their "right of return" remains a stumbling block in all negotiations and settlements.

What is the Palestinian Authority? The Palestinian Authority (PA) was created under peace terms of the Oslo 2 agreement in 1995. It is a quasi-governmental body with the



authority to administer small parts of the occupied territories under overall Israeli security control. It has the authority to run day-to-day life for residents in Palestinian towns and cities but not to control the land. Any law passed by the PA's parliament is subject to approval or rejection by Israel.

What is Hamas? Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic group that operates around the Muslim world. Since its 1987 founding, Hamas has waged war with Israel through suicide bombings and rocket attacks. It seeks to replace Israel with a Palestinian state and has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel as a legitimate state, although recently it has agreed to a truce. Some Hamas leaders have suggested they would be satisfied with a two-state solution. In 2006, at the urging of the U.S. government the Palestinian Authority held elections across the West Bank and Gaza for seats in the Palestinian legislature. Hamas won a slight majority. Hamas has fought a bloody civil war with the more moderate Palestinian Fatah party and has seceded from the Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza independently from the West Bank.

What role does the UN play? After World War 1 and the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, Britain carved out and then ruled over the newly created state of Palestine. This ultimately doomed attempt at facilitating Arab-Jewish cohabitation in a single state ended in 1937. At that point, Britain "handed over" Palestine to the control of the United Nations.

In 1947, the UN mapped out new boundaries for the new state of Israel and Palestine. The situation deteriorated into civil war. In 1948 the State of Israel was proclaimed and units of Arab armies invaded. Over 700 000 Palestinian Arabs were expelled or fled the fighting. Since 1950, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency

for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has provided assistance and protection for five million registered Palestine refugees.

Israel declared independence on more land than originally proposed by the UN. During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel defeated Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip were taken from Egypt, the West Bank from Jordan, and Golan Heights from Syria. The UN Security Council approved Resolution 242 calling for an exchange of land for peace. This resolution became the basis for every subsequent attempt at peacemaking and is widely recognized as the basis for a permanent settlement of the conflict. Since 1967, however, the United States has resisted the UN's position to place international law and UN resolutions at the centre of negotiations and has attempted to broker the peace largely on its own.

Also since 1967, Palestinians have lived under an Israeli military occupation that the UN deems illegal. The UN recognized Palestine as an "observer state" on November 29, 2012. Israel, Canada, and the United States voted "no" against the Palestinian status in a 138-9 vote (41 abstaining).

What is happening in Gaza in particular? Israel withdrew from the narrow strip of land that is Gaza in 2005, but it continues to control its airspace, water ways and border crossings (except the border with Egypt). An economic blockade has been imposed on the strip by Israel since the election of the Hamas government. Conditions of life, employment, medical care, and access to food and water have worsened over time and breed greater desperation and violence.

Documents

SEPTEMBER 2014 · SEPTEMBER 2014 News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 2 IN THIS ISSUE Homegrown Terrorism (Duration: 18:24) As the threat of terrorism continues