Being inspired!

I think that one of the keys in teaching students is to be inspired, which is why I'm such as advocate for professional development (when it is effective). I believe that students become inspired when we are inspired. I was inspired today when I heard Dr. Samantha Nutt speak at the "Connecting Globally" conference in Edmonton.

Here are some notes I took:

- 200 000 000 AK47s around the world
- 1 billion rifles
- $20 a gun 600 rounds in one minute
- 70 percent of this is bought by developing countries. 90 percent come from 5 permanent UN members
- 1.5 trillion dollars spent on arms
- Top 100 arms company's are worth 350 billion dollars
- CPP invests 200 million dollars in 26 arms companies
- Small arms treaty. Smallarms.org Smallarmssurvey.org
- in eastern DRC half ppl fighting are kids
- REV rape of extreme violence
- Closer you get to mining areas in DRC the higher REV
- Mugabe earned 200 million dollars from conflict diamonds
- 26 conflicts in the world

Teachers should:
1. Commit to knowledge and read international news
2. Give and contribute
3. Ensure our consumerism and investment is equitable. Make informed and ethical decisions.
4. Make a difference in the lives of the international world


Final thought: find what inspires you, so you can keep inspiring!