Current Events - October 17, 2012

20 Days

UN agency funded with Saudi money wants to edit worldwide textbooks
The UN agency that promotes education wants a say in how future textbooks are written, and Saudi Arabia -- a nation whose own school books have been criticized for promoting hatred of Christians and Jews -- is helping to bankroll the effort.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is currently working with member states to revise its strategy for the publication of textbooks and learning materials. According to UNESCO's website, experts from 21 countries met in Paris last month at a meeting financed by a $29,000 Saudi donation and focused in part on "ways to ensure that content aimed at students systematically reflects cultural and religious diversity, and avoids gender stereotypes."

Critics warn that the funding will come at a price, and predict the Saudis will want input into what goes into rewritten textbooks.

"Saudi textbooks are extremely hateful and full of xenophobic texts," said Ali AlAhmed, author of the upcoming book "Saudi School Books: Objective Education or Extremist Indoctrination?" and director of the Gulf Institute in Washington, D.C.

According to AlAhmed, the Saudi funding "shows how xenophobic governments like [that of] the Saudis are able to buy influence." He said UNESCO was betraying its mandate to uphold "value and standards of education and tolerance" as he warned UNESCO and the UN system as a whole were "susceptible to financial buyouts from countries like Saudi Arabia."

Drawing from research in his upcoming book, which assessed Saudi school textbooks for the last academic year, AlAhmed gave examples of what Saudi children are taught. He said a guidebook says first-grade teachers should tell students that:

• "Adhering to Islam is the only path to enter heaven, and escape hellfire."
• "It is from Islam to love Muslims, and to hate the unbelievers and not to imitate them."
• "Examples of false religions [include] Judaism, Christianity."

AlAhmed says a ninth-grade book teaches that, "The Jews and the Christians are enemies of the believers. He says an 11th-grade book states, "The cursed are: The Christians and all those who have erred from the true path, and worshipped God with other than his orders."

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/10/16/un-agency-funded-with-saudi-money-wants-to-edit-worldwide-textbooks/?test=latestnews

Secret Service 'Aware' of Threats Against Romney

Twitchy reports that "Post-presidential debate, Obama supporters renew vows to murder Mitt Romney." The threats are numerous--and explicit and graphic. Many call for Romney's murder or assassination.

The Secret Service confirms it is "aware" of the threats against Romney, a spokesman for the federal agency confirms.

"The Secret Service is aware of this and will conduct appropriate follow up if necessary," Brian Leary, a spokesman for the United States Secret Service, says in an email.
Here is a small sampling

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/secret-service-aware-threats-against-romney_654788.html


Not Just Gas! Check Out the Drastic Price Increases on These 21 Everyday Items

Tuesday’s presidential debate touched on some massive economic issues that are affecting all Americans. The immense increase in gas prices was a crucial part of the discussion, but have other everyday products seen a drastic increased in price over the same time period? According to Blaze research on data provided by the the Bureau of Labor Statistics* gas prices are not alone in skyrocketing over the last decade.

 

Gasoline [all types]

2002 Average – $1.44
2012 Average- $3.73
Percent Increase:

158%

 

Beer [per 16 oz.]

2002 Average – $.99
2012 Average-$1.24
Percent Increase:

25%

 

Eggs, grade A, large [per doz.]

2002 Average – $1.03
2012 Average-$1.80
Percent Increase:

73%

 

Coffee, Ground Roast, All Sizes [per lb.]

2002 Average – $2.92
2012 Average-$5.58
Percent Increase:

90%

 Peanut Butter [per lb.]
2002 Average – $1.96
2012 Average-$2.75
Percent Increase:

40%

 

Milk, fresh, whole, fortified [per gal.]

2002 Average – $2.75
2012 Average-$3.47
Percent Increase:

26%

Loaf of Bread, white

2002 Average – $1.01
2012 Average-$1.41
Percent Increase:

39%

 

 

Spaghetti and macaroni [per lb.]

2002 Average – $0.91
2012 Average-$1.32
Percent Increase:

44%

 

 

Orange Juice [per 16oz.]

2002 Average – $1.84
2012 Average-$2.69
Percent Increase:

46%

 

Apple, Red Delicious [per lb.]

2002 Average – $0.94
2012 Average-$1.35
Percent Increase:

43%

 

Wine [per 1 liter]

2002 Average – $6.23
2012 Average-$10.03
Percent Increase:

60%

 

Electricity [kilowatt/ hour]

2002 Average – $.091
2012 Average-$.130
Percent Increase:

42%

 

Beef Steaks [per 16 oz.]

2002 Average – $4.40
2012 Average-$6.22
Percent Increase:

41%

 

Margarine,soft, tubs [per lb.]

2002 Average – $o.86
2012 Average-$2.09
Percent Increase:

143%

Tomatoes [per lb.]

2002 Average – $1.18
2012 Average-$1.44
Percent Increase:

22%

Turkey, whole [per lb.]

2002 Average – $1.05
2012 Average-$1.65
Percent Increase:

56%

 Bacon [per lb.]
2002 Average – $3.23
2012 Average-$4.52
Percent Increase:

39%

Ground Beef [per lb.]

2002 Average – $2.28
2012 Average-$3.69
Percent Increase:

61%

Cookies, chocolate chip [per lb.]
2002 Average – $2.59
2012 Average-$3.61
Percent Increase:

39%