Friday, June 4. 2021

Today's class schedule is:

9:15 - 11:50 B Block Human Geography

12:30 - 3:05 C Block Legal Studies

B Block Human Geography - Today we'll finally move on to our next key question, "Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions?" Universalizing religions have diffused from specific places of origin (or hearths) to other regions of the world, while most ethnic religions have generally remained clustered in a defined area. Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism all originated in Asia and diffused the world over from there. So we'll try to find out how and why religions spread the way they do. To help:



Don't forget the three major universalizing religions of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism diffused from specific places of origin, or hearths, to other regions of the world, while most ethnic religions have generally remained clustered in a defined area. Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism all originated in Asia and diffused the world over from there. You'll have a chart to fill in and then some questions to answer about about the diffusion of Christianity and Islam...From Bridging World History (Annenberg Media)

Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam alike were proselytized by their followers, adapted to different cultural settings, and used to provide religious sanctions for rulers. Unlike Buddhism, however, both Christianity and Islam used military power to conquer and convert peoples and created their own governments. 

From its origins in sixth-century B.C.E. India, Buddhism was transmitted through central to east Asia by the beginning of the first millennium C.E. to become one of the great proselytizing, universal religions of world history. Emerging from the Sumerian and Judaic traditions of early West Asia, both Christianity and Islam were, by the close of the first millennium C.E., institutionalized universal religions with large populations of adherents in lands that stretched from northern Europe to North Africa and from the Mediterranean to East Africa and the Himalayas. As all three of these religions were introduced into different cultures and societies, they underwent significant adaptations to indigenous belief systems at the same time that they dramatically altered the religious ideals and values of peoples around the globe. 

All three early universal religions—Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam—were further expanded by those who held the reins of power in the areas where they took root. Although Buddhism interacted with political authority in various cultural settings, lending its sanction to some rulers, it did not become the engine of empire that Christianity, and especially Islam, did. Just as political forces shaped the growth and spread of these religions, so Christianity and Islam both played powerful roles in legitimizing political authority. 

C Block Legal Studies - For this week's Criminal Law activity you need to choose two of the eleven hypothetical criminal cases I will give you and provide a minimum one-page memo/letter for each. Each memo (format below) will need to address the questions or directions at the end of each of the cases you choose. So use the bolded section titles below and the explanation after them to help you write the response to the two cases you choose. Each case is a scenario and at the end of each is a question-set of questions you need to try to answer. Take case one as an example...in this case you were specifically asked to

prepare the Crown arguments regarding whether Forrest can be proven on these facts to have aided in the trafficking or the possession of narcotics, or both. The Crown has also asked also to identify and assess any arguments that you think defense counsel might make. In considering whether it is likely that Forrest will be convicted, you may assume that the facts set out in the hypothetical case will be proven in court, and that no other relevant facts arise. NOTE: Please consider that the Crown has a duty to consider whether prosecution is in the public interest (having regard to the harm caused by Forrest’s actions and her degree of moral blameworthiness) and whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction if the matter proceeds to trial. 

So, you need to explain the reasons why Corley Forrest could be found guilty of the charge of aiding Morgan Height in drug trafficking (remember aiding is the same as actually doing) based on the facts outlined in the story. You'll need to find out what the charge of drug trafficking in cocaine involves and what the Controlled Drug and Substances Act says possession is. Then, you'll need to determine what aiding means so look at the Parties to an offense  at the Canadian Criminal Law notebook & at the Criminal Code (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-21.html). You'll also need to look at the principles of sentencing, the options for sentencing, and then sentencing for Drug Offences at the Canadian Criminal Law Notebook or at Ron Jourard's chart for drug offenses. You were also asked to look at defense council's options so look at possible defenses for Forrest.

So, using the text and the criminal code, and explain from the facts given to you if Forrest can be found guilty. You will also need to explain how you think the defense lawyer would argue that Forrest should be found not guilty.

Monday I'll post more on the format/structure of the legal memo for you. Today you should choose two cases and research charges/defenses/exemplar cases/sentencing options and anything else you need to begin your memos.