The Maldives and a man confronting a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced–the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives after thirty years of despotic rule, Nasheed is now faced with an even greater challenge: as one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of three feet in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands of the Maldives enough to make them uninhabitable. The Island President captures Nasheed’s first year of office, culminating in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, where the film provides a rare glimpse of the political horse-trading that goes on at such a top-level global assembly. Nasheed is unusually candid about revealing his strategies–leveraging the Maldives’ underdog position as a tiny country, harnessing the power of media, and overcoming deadlocks through an appeal to unity with other developing nations. When hope fades for a written accord to be signed, Nasheed makes a stirring speech which salvaged an agreement. Despite the modest size of his country, Mohamed Nasheed has become one of the leading international voices for urgent action on climate change.
1988 – Indictments were issued for Lt. Colonel Oliver North, Vice Admiral John Poindexter of the National Security Council, and two others for their involvement in the Iran-Contra affair.
1884 – The State of Mississippi authorized the first state-supported college for women. It was called the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College.
1910 – Slavery was abolished in China.
Slavery in China has taken various forms throughout history. Slavery was reportedly abolished as a legally recognized institution, including in a 1909 law fully enacted in 1910, although the practice continued until at least 1949
Share this:
1948 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious instruction in public schools was unconstitutional
On this day in 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court banned as unconstitutional the use of public school facilities by religious organizations as a venue for religious instruction to students. In an 8-to-1 ruling, the court held that such activities violate the First Amendment.
The case was brought by Vashti McCollum, the mother of a student enrolled in the Champaign public school district.
The use of public school facilities by religious organizations to give religious instruction to school children violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
People of State of Illinois ex rel. Vashti McCollum v. Board of Education of School District № 71, Champaign County, Illinois, et al.
Citations
333 U.S. 203 (more)
68 S. Ct. 461; 92 L. Ed. 2d 649; 1948 U.S. LEXIS 2451
wiki
You must be logged in to post a comment.