Injustice Rant
Welcome! This guide contains useful resources to support the Injustice Rant for Ms. Patterson's Social Justice class. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions on how to improve this page, please email Mrs. Binning at [email protected].
This page was last updated 02/10/2025
Electronic sources
main source
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Your primary source of information will be the Human Rights Watch website. From the home page, click on ‘Countries’ to learn more about violations in different parts of the world. You can also click on ‘Topics’ to learn more about a specific area of focus. You will be corroborating one source from this website with a digital source from a different website, and also with a print source. Suggested sources of information are below. Please see Mrs. Binning if you need help locating information.
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Online databases
Log-in is required from home. See Mrs. Binning for username and password. Database descriptions are from SurreySchoolsOne.
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Gale: Global Issues in Context
Research database with print resources, video clips and primary source documents on international topics, including: news, countries, statistics and current global issues. |
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World Book Advanced
In-depth articles, primary sources, and research tools covering a wide range of academic subjects, including science, history, and literature. |
Additional Websites
Annotations generated with assistance by Microsoft Copilot (GPT‑5 model), December 2025.
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Amnesty International is a global organization that works to protect human rights everywhere. They investigate and expose abuses, campaign for justice, and advocate for laws and policies that uphold human dignity. Their mission is to ensure that every person enjoys the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |
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Bellingcat is an independent collective of researchers and citizen journalists that uses open-source data and social media to conduct investigations. Their editorial standards emphasize fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and transparency, ensuring all findings are evidence-based and ethically sourced. They prioritize public interest while avoiding harm, and openly share their methods and motivations. |
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Al Jazeera is an independent Arab news channel that aims provide in-depth, impartial journalism by offering “The Opinion and the Other Opinion.” It has grown into a major global media network with over 70 bureaus, more than 3,000 employees across 95 countries, and reaches over 430 million households, while maintaining editorial independence and pioneering innovative storytelling across multiple platforms. |
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The Conversation is an independent, nonprofit news organization that publishes articles written by academics and researchers, aiming to share expert knowledge with the public. Its mission is to provide fact-based, accessible journalism that improves understanding of complex issues and supports informed public debate. The platform emphasizes transparency, editorial integrity, and collaboration between scholars and professional editors. |
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The Guardian is a British news organization committed to independent, high-quality journalism guided by the values of honesty, integrity, and fairness. It owned independently by the Scott Trust, which guarantees editorial independence and protects the publication from commercial or political influence. Their mission is to deliver fact-based reporting and foster open, informed debate on global issues. |
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The David Suzuki Foundation is a Canadian environmental organization dedicated to protecting nature and creating sustainable communities. It focuses on science-based solutions to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and environmental justice, while advocating for policies that safeguard the planet for future generations. Their mission is to collaborate with people and governments to ensure a healthy environment for all. |
print sources
Descriptions are from Follett Destiny Catalogue, December 2025
Arms
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The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade, by Andrew Feinstein [Call# 355.8 FEI]
"The tale of the global arms trade, exposing in forensic detail the deadly collusion that all too often exists among senior politicians, weapons manufacturers, felonious arms dealers, and the military---a situation that compromises our security and undermines our democracy. Andrew Feinstein reveals the cover-ups behind a range of weapons deals, from the largest in history---between the British and Saudi governments---to the guns-for-diamonds deals in Africa and the current $60 billion U.S. weapons contract with Saudi Arabia."--Provided by publisher. |
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The Arms Trade, by Clive Gifford [Call # 382 GIF]
Chronicles the impact of arms trading around the world, who buys and sells arms, what weapons are bought and sold, the problems that arise from it, and the measures taken to curb its continuance. |
Children's rights
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Child Soldiers, by Linda Barghoorn [Call# 355 BAR]
"This book shines a light on the disturbing practice of recruiting children as soldiers into conflicts around the world today. Many are physically abducted and desensitized to violence. If they survive, the only way they can be reintegrated into their communities is through physical and emotional rehabilitation"--Provided by publisher. |
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Living in a Conflict Zone, by Linda Barghoorn [Call# 303.6 BAR]
"This . . . book describes the dangers and instability of living in a conflict zone, especially for children. Examples of contemporary conflicts show how children's lives are affected, and help explain why the United Nations felt the need to create the Convention on the Rights of the Child"--Provided by publisher. |
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The History of Children and Conflicts, by Petrice Custance [Call# 305.23 CUS]
"This . . . book describes the impact conflicts have had on children's lives throughout history. Some children served in military campaigns, some went to live in safe zones, others were sent to concentration camps. At home, children mainly helped war efforts by raising money, tending gardens, and helping the wounded"--Provided by publisher. |
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I Have a Right to Be a Child, by Alain Serres [Call # E SER, Picture Book Section]
Picture book. Simple text and illustrations describe what it means to be a child with rights and explains that certain rights are outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, and belong to every child living in the 193 countries that have ratified it. |
Crisis and conflict
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The Darfur Genocide, by Zoe Lowery and Janey Levy [Call# 962 LOW]
"This volume offers readers a history of the term genocide and then moves into what has been called perhaps the foulest humanitarian crisis of the early twenty-first century: the crisis in Darfur. This edifying resource offers a look into the country's history and the events that led up to the violence of February 2002, when Africans staged a rebellion against the Arab-controlled government of Sudan. Readers will learn about the horrors of the terrifying Janjaweed militia, or devils on horseback, as the government endeavored to eradicate Africans from Darfur, the major players in the conflict, as well as the reaction around the world"--Amazon.com. |
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A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, by Illan Pappe [Call# 956.94 PAP]
The devastation of 7 October 2023 and the horrors that followed astounded the world. But the Israel-Palestine conflict didn't start on 7 October. It didn't start in 1967 either, when Israel occupied the West Bank, or in 1948 when the state of Israel was declared. It started in 1882, when the first Zionist settlers arrived in what was then Ottoman Palestine. Ilan Pappe untangles the history of two peoples, now sharing one land. Going back to the founding fathers of Zionism, Pappe expertly takes us through the twists and turns of international policy towards Israel-Palestine, Palestinian resistance to occupation, and the changes taking place in Israel itself. |
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The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of Gaza and the Occupied Territories, by Illan Pappe [Call #956.94 PAP]
In this comprehensive exploration of one of the world's most prolonged and tragic conflicts, historian Illan Pappe uses recently declassified archival material to analyse the motivations and strategies of the generals and politicians - and the decision-making process itself - that laid the foundation of the occupation. From a survey of the legal and bureaucratic infrastructures that were put in place to control the population of over one million Palestinians, to the security mechanisms that vigorously enforced that control, Pappe paints a picture of what is to all intents and purposes the world's largest 'open prison |
Disability rights
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Demystifiying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally, by Emily Ladau [Call# 305.9 LAD]
"A guide for how to be a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and how you can help make the world a more accessible place."--Provided by publisher. |
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Good Morning Sunshine!: The Joey Moss Story [Call# E MOS, Picture Book Section]
"The biography of Canadian Joey Moss, a man born with Down syndrome who worked with the NHL Edmonton Oilers hockey team, and was an inspiration for neurodiverse people and an advocate for inclusivity"-- |
Economic justice & rights
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The Age of Increasing Inequity: The Astonishing Rise of Canada’s 1%, by Lars Osberg [Call# 339.2 OSB]
"Lars Osberg looks separately at the top, middle and bottom of Canadian incomes. He provides new data which will surprise, even shock, many readers. He explains how trade deals have contributed to putting a lid on incomes for workers. The gradual decline of unions in the private sector has also been a factor. On the other end of the scale, he explains the factors that lead to growing high salaries for corporate executives, managers, and some fortunate professionals. Lars Osberg believes that increasing inequality is bad for the country, and its unfairness is toxic to public life. But there is nothing inevitable about this, and he points to innovative measures that would produce a fairer distribution of wealth among all Canadians." |
Free speech
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Cancel Culture: The Latest Attack on Free Speech and Due Process, by Alan Dershowitz [342.73 DER]
"[Alan Dershowitz] . . . makes an argument for free speech, due process, and restraint against the often overeager impulse to completely cancel individuals and institutions at the ever-changing whims of social media-driven crowds"--OCLC. |
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Banned Books: The Controversy Over What Students Read, by Merly Loonin [Call# 098 LOO]
"According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were more attempts to ban books in 2021 than at any time since the group began tracking three decades earlier. The latest, unprecedented wave of book banning is driven mainly by conservative parents and politicians, who are also behind extreme new censorship laws in many states that restrict what teachers and students can read and discuss in the classroom. Free speech defenders say the laws are a threat to intellectual freedom--and democracy itself."--Provided by publisher. |
LGBTQ Rights
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LGBT Discrimination, by Heidi Feldman [306.76 FEL]
Explores discrimination based on the LGBT community, including what it entails, how it manifested, how widespread it is, the effects on people, and how to address the problem. |
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Human Rights in Focus: The LGBT Community, by Damon Karson
"Human rights advocates contend that the LGBT community has yet to achieve full equality and acceptance in the United States and elsewhere. In [past] ... years in the United States, state legislators have introduced more than 250 bills that limit LGBT rights and twenty of these have become law. In other parts of the world, it remains shameful to identify as LGBT; in some countries, it is even punishable by death. These and other human rights concerns are examined"--Provided by publisher. |
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Facing Homophobia, by Robert Rondi and Laura Ross [Call #306.76 ROD]
Discusses homophobia, hate crimes, and the murder of Matthew Shepard and how people are working together to fight such discrimination. |
Refugees and migrants
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Human Rights in Focus: Human Trafficking, by Leanne Currie-McGhee [Call# 364.15 CUR]
"Globally, millions of people live in modern day slavery. Men, women, and children across the world are subject to forced labor and sexual exploitation at the hands of human traffickers. The challenges human trafficking victims face, the efforts to eradicate this crime, and how to assist victims are discussed [in this book]"--Provided by publisher. |
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Human Rights in Focus: Illegal Immigrants, by David M. Haugen [Call# 364.1 HAU]
"Immigration laws are designed to manage immigrant populations, reassert a nations boundaries, and help define what it means to be a citizen of a given country and all of this is meant to be carried out humanely and without discrimination. But some argue that these protections are not enough to guarantee the welfare and human rights of immigrants who enter the country illegally. Those rights, and whether they are being violated, are among the topics examined"--Provided by publisher. |
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Human Rights in Focus: Refugees, by Michael Uschan [Call #323.6 USC]
Discusses the challenges refugees face as they flee poverty and violence in their home countries, and the conditions they endure while waiting for opportunities to resettle in other countries. |
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Ink Knows No Borders: Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience, edited by Patrice Vecchione and Alyssa Raymond [Call# 811INK]
"This collection of poems addresses the many issues confronting first- and second- generation young adult immigrants and refugees, such as cultural and language differences, homesickness, social exclusion, human rights, racism, stereotyping, and questions of identity"--Provided by publisher. |
Terrorism/counterterrorism
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The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State, by William McCants [Call# 363.325 MCC]
"Based almost entirely on primary sources in Arabic -- including ancient religious texts and secret al-Qaeda and Islamic State letters that few have had access to -- The ISIS Apocalypse explores how religious fervor, strategic calculation, and doomsday prophesy shaped the Islamic State's past and foreshodow in the dark future."--Dust Jacket. |
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Modern-Day Piracy, by Debra Miller [364.16 MIL]
An exploration of piracy that discusses its prevalence, history, and existence in Asia and Africa, and examines military operations against pirates. |
tORTURE
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The Bite of Mango, by Mariatu Kamara [Call #966.4 KAM, Real Life Stories Section]
A courageous biography by a woman from Sierra Leone who at 12 was tortured and lost her hands to child soldiers, her subsequent life in refugee camps, begging in Freetown and her eventual arrival in Toronto where she began to pull her life back together. |
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Human Rights in Focus: Torture, by Bradley Steffans [Call# 346.6 STE]
"Torture is ... practiced in ... [many] nations and by several paramilitary groups--a direct violation of human rights. The tortured include prisoners of war, political dissenters, members of a persecuted religion, and victims of drug wars. The book discusses various types of torture, who uses it and why, its consequences, and steps being taken to reduce its use worldwide"--Provided by publisher. |
wOMEN'S RIGHTS
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33 Things Every Girl Should Know about Women’s History: From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A., edited by Tonya Bolden
A collection of essays that profile women, events, and legislation that have had a serious impact on women's rights and freedom in the United States. |
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The Luis Orgega Survival Club, by Sonora Reyes [FIC REY]
"Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers--despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen. Luis's attention soon turns to something more, and they have sex at a party--while Ari didn't say no, she definitely didn't say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumor mill begins churning--thanks, she's sure, to Luis's ex-girlfriend, Shawni. Then Ari finds a mysterious note in her locker that eventually leads her to a group of students determined to expose Luis for the predator he is. To her surprise, she finds genuine friendship among the group, including her growing feelings for the very last girl she expected to fall for. But in order to take Luis down, she'll have to come to terms with the truth of what he did to her that night--and risk everything to see justice done"--Provided by publisher. |
assignment reminders
You will cycle through the process of picking a credible main source, corroborating it with other sources (digital and print) and with your peers in order to further help you further develop and refine your ideas. Eventually, you will pick one issue to focus on. Since the assignment will be completed in class, the assignment package and any supporting material must be submitted to the teacher daily.
