Qu’ran burning threat ignites protests around the globe
Despite the cancellation of his plans to burn copies of the Qu’ran on Sept. 11, 2010, Rev. Terry Jones has sparked protests around the globe.
Almost 600 people protested in the Logar province of Afghanistan on Sunday, Sept. 12.
The protestors chanted “Death to America,” burned tires and raided several shops.
The demonstration turned violent when security officers opened fire after protestors tried to raid the local government headquarters of the Baraki Barak district. Two people were killed and four were injured, reported the Associated Press.
Jones announced his plans to halt the burning on Saturday, Sept. 11, saying that “we feel the God is telling us to stop,” which was to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Several cities across Indonesia also held anti-Qu’ran burning demonstrations.
PETA demands investigation of use of animals in U of Michigan nurse training program
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a formal complaint with U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sept. 7 against the University of Michigan for their use of animals in one of their nurse training programs.
The program under scrutiny is the flight survival course, which teaches future nurses who go on helicopters emergency procedures using live cats and pigs.
According to Justin Goodman, associate director of PETA laboratory investigations, the students learn incubation and trauma skills by inserting tubes down the throats of cats and into the hearts of pigs.
Goodman told The Detroit News that the practice was “outrageous and absolutely indefensible”.
A spokesperson for the university said that the majority of the cats are adopted and the procedures mirror those used on human patients and by vets.
PETA previously asked the USDA to investigate the university’s advanced trauma and life support course for surgeons for its use of shelter dogs.
Study finds cheaters mirror clinical psychopathic behavior
A University of British Columbia study has found that students who cheat “are highly likely to fit the profile for subclinical psychopathy,” according to Macleans OnCampus.
Subclinical psychopathy is a personality disorder in which the patient displays patterns of manipulation, callousness and anti-social behavior.
The study, which was conducted by UBC psychology professor Del Paulhus and his research team, used a combination of personality tests and surveys asking whether or not the student had ever cheated in high school or university. Two hundred forty-nine students participated in the study.
Students who exhibited traits of the personality disorder saw nothing amoral with cheating and viewed it as necessary to reach their goals. Although a small portion of the students in the study cheated because they felt unprepared, this was a much smaller group.
