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Tens of thousands of civilians in Georgia and in the disputed territory of South Ossetia fled their homes during conflict between Georgian forces, South Ossetian separatist forces and Russian Federation forces. The United Nations estimated that almost 160,000 people were forced to leave. While many have begun returning following a cease-fire, thousands may be unable to go home for many months.
Humanitarian aid has included providing hospitals with water, sanitation and medical supplies. Essential household items, including blankets, clothes, towels and soap have been distributed to those displaced from their homes. One of the main priorities for the International Committee of the Red Cross has been visiting people detained during the conflict. Red Cross delegates register names, assess the conditions of detention and, where possible, inform relatives.
Discussion ideas
> Talk about how vulnerable people become when they have had to leave their homes. What would their immediate needs be? How reliant on outside assistance are they likely to be? Many arrive at hastily set-up centres offering shelter, some in abandoned buildings. Talk about the organisation needed to provide water, food, medicines and toilet facilities. What do students think the priority would be? Talk about those who decided not to leave their homes. Many are elderly or disabled, physically unable to flee. What are their humanitarian needs likely to be?
> Some detainees in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali were able to call their relatives using mobile phones provided by the Red Cross. Written messages were also collected for distribution to the detainees' relatives. Talk about why contact between prisoners and families is so important. Discuss what it might be like not to know where your close relatives are when a war is going on. Have students seen news bulletins showing people desperate for news of their families? The laws of war say that authorities must help in every possible way to reunite families dispersed as a result of armed conflict and must ensure respect for the remains of those who died. Discuss why such humanitarian laws are needed.
More resources
>> Download the new missing in warfare assembly
Flu worse than terrorism | Top |
An official assessment of the security challenges facing the UK has been published for the first time. The government's national risk register assesses the threats of terrorism and other emergencies, including health and natural disasters. The register, updated once a year, contains information about risks that was previously confidential.
Press reports focused on the discovery that pandemic flu is a much higher risk than terrorism, because of the far greater numbers of people likely to be affected. Up to a half of the UK population may become infected, with many tens of thousands of deaths. The aim of publishing is to encourage public debate on security. The government says the register will help organisations, individuals, families and communities to prepare for emergencies.
Discussion ideas
> As well as estimating deaths, illness or injury following an emergency, the risk assessment includes social disruption. What disruption to people’s daily lives do students think emergencies might cause? The report mentions closed hospitals and schools, interruptions to electricity or water supplies and the possible need for widespread evacuation. How prepared do students think they are for such changes? How do they think they might react? What do students think might reduce the levels of fear, stress and panic that are expected?
> The report suggests that people think about preparing for different emergencies. What if telecommunications were disrupted? How might students carry on their lives if landlines and mobile phones did not work? If you needed to leave your house, do you know where you would go and how you would get there? Who in the local community would be most vulnerable and might need help? What would you put in an emergency kit? Invite students to share their answers.
More resources
>> Download the national risk register
As Britain's Olympic athletes celebrate their medal haul, disabled athletes are preparing for the 2008 Paralympic games. Opening in Beijing on 6 September, the 11-day event will see the world's top athletes with disabilities compete in familiar sports such as archery and athletics, as well as adapted ones such as wheelchair fencing and wheelchair rugby. There are also unique events, such as boccia, a sport similar to bowls but played from a seating position and using an optional chute.
The Paralympics are elite sporting events for athletes with a range of disabilities, including people with amputations, cerebral palsy, spinal chord injuries and visual impairments. The organisers say the emphasis is on participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability. Nearly 4,000 athletes from 136 countries took part in the Paralympics in Athens four years ago.
Discussion ideas
> Many disabled athletes use aids such as sports wheelchairs, adapted cycles, or artificial limbs known as prosthetics. Talk about the ways technology helps improve performance in the Paralympics. Is it the same as or different from the use of technology in the Olympics? Invite students' views on the dividing line between human effort and technical expertise. Will wealthy countries with access to high technology and expensive training always do better overall than poorer countries?
> Oscar Pistorius, a 400-metre sprinter known as the "fastest man on no legs" was first banned from the Olympics because his carbon-fibre blade legs were said to give an unfair advantage. The ban was overturned, but he failed to qualify. He will be competing in the Paralympic games. So will swimmer Natalie du Toit, who has a leg amputation. She was also the first leg amputee to compete in the Olympics – coming 16th in the gruelling 10km open water swim. She beat many non-disabled swimmers. Does it change students' view of disability? Talk about how lives of elite disabled athletes might compare with the lives of most disabled people. What kind of media coverage of the Paralympic events do students expect? Will they be watching them?
More resources
>> Read the ten-minute briefing for teachers about the social model of disability
The health of UK teenagers is "getting worse", according to the Conservative party. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley says many young people are turning to drug and alcohol abuse at a young age.
The Conservative party has collated official figures to show that admissions to hospital for alcohol abuse have risen by 51 per cent since 2000 and admissions for smoking by 41 per cent. Levels of sexually transmitted diseased have increased, and nearly a third of children are starting their teenage years overweight.
Discussion ideas
> Do students agree that teenagers' health is a reason for concern? Do they think that adults are more or less healthy than young people? Talk about some of the root causes of teenage ill health. Health experts say that growing bodies can be particularly vulnerable to damage by alcohol and drugs. Discuss why. Invite students to think about ways that health messages might be communicated to young people. What might help young people adopt less risky behaviour?
> Talk about media coverage of teenagers, alcohol, drugs and sex. Why are many photographs of so-called binge drinkers so obviously posed by models? Some people say that the national health service should start charging for treating people with health problems that are self-inflicted. Do students agree? What responsibility do providers of alcohol products and food high in fat, salt and sugar have? What about the government?
News think! is one of a number of free educational services produced by the British Red Cross. You can find more resources at www.redcross.org.uk/education
Have you used these topics to raise discussions or plan classroom work? Let us know your experiences or thoughts by emailing us at reducation@redcross.org.uk | 
