Japan Tries to Ease Fury of Parents Near Plant

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/world/asia/28japan.html?_r=1&ref=world

On Friday, May 27th, Japan’s education minister said that he would lower the radiation exposure limit for school children whose schools are near the nuclear plants. He also said the government would pay to have schools remove the topsoil that has been affected by the radiation. The education minister has been trying to ease the fury of parents living in Fukushima, where the amount of radiation exposure for the children has been equal to those who work in the actual nuclear power plants. This has been 20 times the previous limit for radiation exposure that the children were revealed to. This issue was further exasperated at Tokyo Electric Power’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

This has made it hard for the Japanese government to determine whether they will lower nuclear activity or have to pay expensive clean ups throughout the cities affected by the radiation. This was heightened last Wednesday when parents demanded the government to decontaminate the schools and then formed a group protest outside the Japanese Education Ministry in Tokyo. In April, earlier this year, an adviser Prime Minister Naoto Kan resigned over the government radiation limits. He claimed that he couldn't be a part of a group that exposed children to these dangerous doses of radiation. While there are some efforts being taken by the government, many claim that their needs to be more cleanups throughout the cities.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Sin: Mankind is totally depraved and his sinful nature is seen throughout history. Law and government were established to restrain this depravity in the governors as well as the governed. The government was established to set these kinds of laws to protect the children. Yet, the government can't even seem to follow their own rules and in doing so its severely affected the children in the worst possible ways. It's time for either the government to step up or be replaced or reformed. The lives of the next generation shouldn't be hindered because careless decisions.

Obama calls for Israel's return to pre-1967 borders

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/19/obama.israel.palestinians/index.html?hpt=T1

On Thursday, President Obama stated that the official support for the U.S stands with the Palestinian state borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East War. In the past, the U.S has supported a two-part solution to the Palestinian and Israeli conflict in the middle east. Now, Obama states that their should be negotiations on both sides to formally fit the borders before 1967. At the same time, Obama promises that their is unwavering support for Israeli's security, while stating that their security was "unshakable." The President went on to state that every state has the right to defend itself, by itself, Israeli included. As expected, many initial reactions were negative, as well as Republican and other potential presidential candidates taking stabs at Obama's stance in foreign affairs. Many politicians have stated that Obama has thrown Israeli under the bus, undermining their ability to negotiate.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Revelation: In society, TRUTH is NOT relative to the individual, but rather is absolute and its source is solely god. Tolerance understands others’ ideas, but does not require surrender of your worldview. Obama's stance on the middle east situation is understandable in a secular viewpoint. However, through a Christian's worldview, Christians understand that Israeli was and still is God's chosen people. Anyone who helps them is blessed, and those war against them will suffer God's punishment. Obama is turning America's back on Israeli by trying to give up the land won in 1967. America is going backwards instead of progressing. Just because Obama states this as America's official stance, that doesn't mean everyone has to agree with it. While I don't understand why we are trying to support a nation controlled by terrorists groups at all, its even more terrifying to see a country once founded on the ideals of God, turn completely against him.

School teaches by ability, not grade level

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/14/education.gradeless/index.html?hpt=C1

In Westminster, Colorado, at Hopkins Elementary,children are experiencing a new type of schooling. In this school, children are taught at levels, not grades. Children are grouped together based on ability, instead of age, with a teacher to watch over them. Some of these students may be on level 5 math, but at the same time, one may be at level 6 reading, with another bring level 7. This program, called Standards-based learning, started three years ago throughout the Adams County School District. With the school district being on the academic watch list, they are eager to try something new. This programs is based on the idea that every child learns at their own pace and in different ways. This Standards-based learning accommodates all the various ways a child needs to succeed in their education.

The CBT that best fits this article is Growth: God’s people are stewards of His blessings, and with those blessings come great responsibility to further God’s ministry of redemption. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to educate the next generation. In order to do so, they have to be stewards in their blessings and resources in order to achieve success.

Alleged rape, killing of gay rights campaigner sparks call for action

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/05/south.africa.gay.activist.killed/index.html?hpt=T2

On May 5th, officials in South Africa found the body of a 24 year old women who was raped and stabbed to death. The woman was identified as Noxolo Nogwaza, a lesbian soccer player, who was a victim of "corrective rape"- a term used to identify the actions of men who rape women in order to reverse their sexual orientation. After dropping off her girlfriend, Nogwaza was rapped, stabbed with broken glass, and her face was bruised by rocks. As a result gay rights activists are petitioning to the South African government to halt the attacks on individuals who are gay, lesbian, or trans-gender. However, officials and other governmental leaders claim that the crime was not connected to hate crime whatsoever. In a country where homosexuality was originally deemed as crime, the gay rights movement is suffering for their cause.

This article is journalism. The reporter who wrote this article accurately included facts about the event, while simultaneously informing the community. Also, the author wrote both sides of the story in order to keep minimal bias from revealing itself. This information could help the South African government to be more aware of the hateful crimes that are happening and thus could create more independence and justice for the rest of society.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Sin: "Mankind is totally depraved and his sinful nature is seen throughout history. Law and government were established to restrain this depravity in the governors as well as the governed." Despite how a community may feel about gay or lesbians, that does not justify "corrective rape" or any violence toward them. The government of South Africa is stalling and is purposely doing nothing to protect their citizens against these awful crimes. It their responsibility to protect and to serve justice to those who deserve it. Therefore, this policy extends to all citizens, including those with differing sexual orientation. A clear indication of man's depraved nature is being displayed, and consequently the government needs to step up and restrain this activity.