The Morant Bay Rebellion (1865)

Jamaica was once a leading sugar producer, but the 1833 abolition of slavery there along with unfavorable British tax reforms led to the industry’s decline. The resulting economic hardship was one of the prime motives behind the Morant Bay rebellion, which began as a gathering of several hundred black protesters but became a violent riot after a volunteer militia fired upon them. The British ruthlessly quelled the uprising and forced the legislature to surrender its powers, making Jamaica what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Círio de Nazaré

The Brazilian festival known as the Círio de Nazaré is a great “Candle Procession,” which attracts pilgrims from all over the country. It has been celebrated since the late 18th century. It traditionally takes place on the second Sunday in October and winds through the city of Belém, Pará, on its way to the Nazaré Basilica. A statue of Our Lady of Nazaré is carried on a wooden framework pulled by thousands of people as payment for prayers that have been answered by the saint. To people in Pará, this festival is on a par with Christmas, with much feasting and exchanging of gifts. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884)

Eleanor Roosevelt, niece of US president Theodore Roosevelt, was an active worker in social causes before she married future US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905. When her husband was stricken with polio in 1921, she took a more active interest in public issues in order to restore his links with the world of politics, playing a leading role in humanitarian causes such as child welfare, equal rights, and social reforms. How was she related to her husband? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Risk

Risk refers to the potential negative impact that may arise from some present or future event. In common usage, it has become synonymous with the probability of a loss or threat. There are different definitions of risk, and its measurement can be difficult, but industries that are risk-sensitive use the equation: Risk = (probability of the event) x (consequence). Thus, the harsher the loss and the more likely the event, the worse the risk. What role does framing play in risk assessment? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Double Tenth Incident (1943)

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II, several Japanese ships in Singapore Harbor were sunk in an Allied raid. On October 10, or the “Double Tenth,” Japanese military police arrested 57 civilian suspects—none of whom had actually been involved in the plot—and tortured them for months. Fifteen of the detainees died. After the war, 21 of the Japanese officers were charged with war crimes, eight were sentenced to death, and six received prison terms. What happened to the rest? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Double Tenth Day

Double Tenth Day is a national holiday in Taiwan to commemorate the Chinese Revolution of October 10, 1911. The revolt marked the end of the Ching, or Qing, Dynasty that had been established in 1644 by the Manchus, and it led to the founding of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. For several weeks before Double Tenth Day, the plaza in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei is illuminated. Celebrations include massive parades and rallies, displays of martial arts, folk dancing, and other cultural activities. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Helen Hayes (1900)

Hayes was an American actress who began her stage career at the age of five and debuted on Broadway at nine. She went on to star in Broadway productions such as Caesar and Cleopatra and became known as “the First Lady of the American Theatre.” She won three Tony Awards, as well as two Academy Awards for her roles in The Sin of Madelon Claudet and Airport. Hayes is one of only a handful of people who have won a Tony, an Oscar, and what other two awards? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Judith Rodin

In 1994, Rodin became the first female president of an Ivy League University and was, at one time, the highest paid US university president. During her tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, the school rose to 4th place in the US News & World Report college ranking. She has published more than 200 articles and chapters in academic publications and authored or co-authored 11 books. In 2004, who did Rodin have address the university at commencement? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary