DISCLAIMER: The links below are meant to be educational and to help you
develop your own, independant political views. I do not endorse all of the
views expressed on the following sites, and neither does the school or the
school board. My job is to help you find information on all sides of current
issues and to teach you how to question that information. Use your common
sense, be true to your own values and and decide for yourself.
Want a more international view of the news? Here's a website that allows you
to link to newspapers from all over the world. Want to see the front page of
a newspaper from South America, Asia, Africa or Russia? You can do it.
http://www.newseum.org/
Want to learn more about your world? Start here!
http://www.globalissues.org/
Want to become more informed by watching documentary films? Guess what--you
can do it for free from the comfort of your own computer. This site has a really good
selection. Grab some popcorn and get smarter!
http://freedocumentaries.org/index.php
Here's the link to SOMA, the Southern Ontario Model Assembly. It's the best
model UN conference in Ontario. Students go "in character" as diplomats from
a country and participate in meeting just like the real ones at the United
Nations. The conference happens every April, and LEAP always sends a
delegation. Maybe you should go!
http://www.soma.on.ca
So you think you'd like to rule the world, eh? OK, smartie--try it! This is
an interactive, interesting and fun site that lets you make your own country,
compete with others, and participate in the United Nations. Warning--it's
kinda addictive!
http://www.nationstates.org
Here's the link to the movie "Hotel Rwanda." A must--see movie for your
generation. Look for the book, too, by Romeo Dallaire called "Shake Hands
with the Devil."
http://www.mgm.com/ua/hotelrwanda/main.html
Here's a site run by PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
for those looking to avoid supporting companies that test on animals, or
abuse them.
http://www.caringconsumer.org/
Want to buy products that don't use child labour? Want to be a more informed
consumer? How can you make responsible choices as a consumer? Check out
this site--Kim Plewes from Leaders Today recommended it.
http://www.responsibleshopper.org/
Want to help end hunger by clicking your mouse? Visit the hunger site--and
check out the banners across the top for similar sites. You might want to
make one of these pages be your home page.
http://www.thehungersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites
Still looking for a protest to go to? Well, on this website, you can even
find out about protests happening in other countries!
http://www.protest.net
Proof that the UN is getting more creative these days. Here's a link to a
free video game you can download. But instead of fighting "bad guys", you're
fighting hunger! Check it out.
http://www.food-force.com/
Have you seen the ads? Snap your fingers, and think about the child that
dies every three seconds from hunger and preventable disease.
http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/
Are you doing the 30-hour famine? Want more info? Here's the link.
http://www.famine.ca
Want to make simple changes to your lifestyle that will help save the
planet? Visit David Suzuki's site and try the Nature Challenge Calculator!
When you're done, go "home" and surf through the rest of the site--it's
packed with useful, interesting invormation about environmental issues.
http://challenge.davidsuzuki.org/index.php
If you don't know who Stephen Lewis is, then...well, you should. He's a
truly great Canadian--he's been a political party leader, Canada's Ambassador
to the UN, and now the UN Special Envoy on AIDS. He's been a passionate
advocate on the AIDS issue and has a new book out called "Race Against Time"
which is a must-read for anyone who's passionate about this issue. Here's
the link to his remarkable AIDS charity, which does great work.
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/
This UN link is actually teenager-friendly!
http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/res.html
Looking for bonus marks? Interested in learning more about the issue of child soldiers? Click here for
a WebQuest assignment. See me before beginning this to discuss evaluation.
http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/childsoldiers/webquest/index.asp
A great link for global issues--the UN news page.
http://www.un.org/News/
I thought this was cool--it's a site that gives you information about
upcoming elections in other countries. Learn about their political parties,
their system of government and more. Very interesting.
http://www.electionguide.org/
Hey this is cool--it's a link page all devoted to African music. This one is
for those of you who have never listened to something from outside North
America!
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/africa/cuvl/music.html
Gotta have a link to Greenpeace.
http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/
Gotta have a link to Amnesty International.
http://www.amnesty.ca/
Here's the link to Doctors without Borders or Medecins Sans Frontiers.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/
If you love children and hate war, this is a group you'd probably love--
War Child. Each year, LEAP hosts a "Battle of the Bands" event, and all the money we raise goes to War
Child.
http://www.warchild.ca/
If you're doing research on a foreign country, the CIA World Factbook is--
hands down--the best place to start. This is all of the information that the
American Central Intelligence Agency has about countries around the world.
It's current, it's thorough, and it's accurate. A great site for research.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Need some inspiration? Check out this magazine--and read some GOOD news for
a change. (Thanks, F.T.!)
http://www.odemagazine.com/
Don't really know how to describe this website--but it's very interesting.
It also has an excellent "quotes" page if you're looking for something to put
on your Display Board Project. (Thanks, F.T.!)
http://www.zaadz.com/
If you're tired of mainstream media, check this out. You can hear them on
CIUF.fm at 89.5, and if you search around the site, there is a lot of stuff
you can hear for free, even if it's just a sample.
http://www.alternativeradio.org
This is an American site devoted to encouraging more women to get involved in
politics by seeking public office.
http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org
Check out this website for a very critical look at the Russian government.
http://theotherrussia.org/
A really interesting American site that looks at hot-button political issues
from both sides. Great for research on a debate topic!
http://www.balancedpolitics.org
Very good wikipedia page about the history of protest songs. Includes links--
lots of great ideas to help you with choosing your song for the Political
Display Board project.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_song#The_Iraq_War_and_the_Revival_of_the_Protest_Song