Newsletter of November 29, 2005

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High School "U.N. & The Future" Conference Coming This February!

Should one country have the right to invade another county to prevent being invaded? Should one nation be able to veto a proposal that would be good for everyone else? Should the United Nations be allowed to step in when a country is committing genocide on an ethnic group within its borders? Should membership in the United Nations be extended to citizens and non-governmental organizations? At the Civitas United Nations 2006 Weekend Conference, you'll tackle questions like these, as we explore the Future of the United Nations.

The conference will be on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18, 2006 at the Doubletree Airport Hotel. The maximum number of delegates who can participate is fifty, so it is important for those who are interested to quickly complete their application forms and proceed with preparation when it begins in January.

Over thirty students submitted applications at our Model U.N. session on November 19. Students can request forms from any Civitas staff member or click here to access the on-line application form.

Students would be advised to note now that the three preparation sessions for the conference will be on:

1. Saturday, January 21, 2006
2. Saturday, January 28, 2006
3. Saturday, February 4, 2006

They will all be at Crossroads School and will run from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM in conjunction with regular discussion groups.

You can continue to access updated information on the conference by clicking on the link below. We will continue to update our conference web site as we get closer to the conference.

Conference Home Page Including Link to Application Form

United Nations Association of St. Louis Co-Sponsors Film Festival!

Civitas students, teachers, and other Civitas friends may well be interested in a Film Series being co-sponsored by the United Nations Association of Greater St. Louis. The first film is, this Thursday, December 1, is "HIV in the Caribbean" -- with Danny Glover. As with other upcoming movies, it will be at the Missouri Historical Society building in Forest Park (map and directions). The film will run from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM with a suggested donation of $5.00 (probably less for students). In this film, Danny Glover travels to Port of Spain to witness the effects of HIV/AIDS on children and teenagers.

If you would like more information, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call us at (314) 367-6480. You can also e-mail the local chapter of the U.N.A. at [email protected] or call them at (314) 727-2949.
More Information on U.N.A. Film-Fest

That Landmine "Thing"

The Landmine Survivors Network and Adopt-A-Minefield have initiated a new program called That Landmine "Thing". It is an effort to involve more students in activities designed to raise money to clear landmine fields and also to provide needed assistance to victims of landmine explosions.

Among the activities for raising money that the New York office is suggesting are: benefit music concerts, plays, talent shows, car washes, coin drives, invite a landmine activist guest speaker, peace garden "plant a flower, not a mine," raffles, walk-a-thons, donut sales, and more. We will have more information on such activities in the future.

In the meantime, we will be working to develop an event in which one or several landmine survivors will be available to meet with students in Civitas activities.

While a new web site is being developed for 'That Landmine "Thing,'" considerable helpful information is available by clicking on the link below.
Landmine Suvivors.org

Next High School Discussion on Saturday, December 17!

Our next Civitas discussion group (and final one of calendar year 2005) will be on Saturday,
December 17, at Crossroads School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (link to map and directions are located at the bottom of this article). On the heels of the vibrant debate at the November 19 high school model U.N. session, we expect to have some interesting topics to discuss. Additionally, we have nearly a month for the world to throw a whole new set of interesting issues our way. If you would like to suggest any topics to us, please e-mail us or call us at (314) 367-6480.

Links to photos and video from previous discussions as well as model U.N. sessions are located below.

Map and Directions to Crossroads School

Photos!

Streaming Video!

Survey on Whether It is a Good Idea for Cheerleaders to Pep Up Drug Sales

The New York Times reported the following this past Monday (November 28, 2005):

Gimme an Rx! Cheerleaders Pep Up Drug Sales by STEPHANIE SAUL

As an ambitious college student, Cassie Napier had all the right moves - flips, tumbles, an ever-flashing America's sweetheart smile - to prepare for her job after graduation. She became a drug saleswoman.

Ms. Napier, 26, was a star cheerleader on the national-champion University of Kentucky squad, which has been a springboard for many careers in pharmaceutical sales. She now plies doctors' offices selling the antacid Prevacid for TAP Pharmaceutical Products.

Ms. Napier says the skills she honed performing for thousands of fans helped land her job. "I would think, essentially, that cheerleaders make good sales people," she said.

Anyone who has seen the parade of sales representatives through a doctor's waiting room has probably noticed that they are frequently female and invariably good looking. Less recognized is the fact that a good many are recruited from the cheerleading ranks.

Our question of the week is: "Do you think that cheerleaders are a good source of recruits for representatives of pharmaceutical companies?"

Click here to access the entire article on this topic in the New York Times.

Survey on Whether It is a Good Idea for Cheerleaders to Pep Up Drug Sales

Previous Survey Results!

Last newsletter's question was:

Survey on Whether There Is Any Point In Calling Someone "a Patriot"

Recently, Vice-President Dick Cheney called Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha a "patriot." Some people were left scratching their heads when Cheney, who had received five deferments to not be drafted during the Vietnam War, made this statement about Murtha, who had served in the military for thirty-nine years including a tour of duty in Vietnam in which he won two purple hearts.

Cheney made his remark several days after Murtha had advocated the U.S. pulling its troops out of Iraq within the next six months.

Do you think that Vice-President Cheney's remarks reflect a certain absurdity in one person calling another "a patriot" and it would be better if we all refrained from such comments?

Responses:

1. Yes 2 (28%)

2. No 3 (44%)

3. Not Sure 2 (28%)

COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE

Comments on Whether There Is Any Point In Calling Someone "a Patriot"

Patty Rodriguez; Parkway North, 2009

I don't really understand what this survey is asking. Is it asking if I approve of Vice-President Cheney calling Congressman Murtha a patriot, or whether or not I approve of ANYONE being called a patriot? If it's the first, then yes, I do approve. Just because someone doesn't have an amazing war record first off does not necessarily mean that they are not a patriot, and even if they are not patriots, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to call other people patriots. I don't understand why someone would say that no one should be called patriots anyway. It's a compliment and an opinion, like calling someone beautiful.

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