Warming-up.

Where do terrorists get their money and weapons from?

If the money was right, would you work in a known terrorist-plagued state?

Are governments listening hard enough to extremists? If not, why not?

How much do you believe extremists are open to dialogue with Governing bodies?

In your opinion will terrorism spread or decline in the future?

Do you know anything about terrorist activities?

     Read the text. Sum up the most significant ways to fight terrorism.

Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:

to affect innocent people

to apply a broad range of measures

to establish closer police and judicial cooperation

to promote peace and security by participating in international operations

being aware of suspicious activity

to be vulnerable to cyber terrorism

 to perpetuate hate against specific demographics of people

Global ways to combat international terrorism

Terror affects innocent people, spreads fear and is the cause of some of the gravest violations of human rights and international law. Terror must never be tolerated and can never be justified. It must be prevented and combated, at both the national and the international level. Terror can therefore only be defeated by applying a broad range of measures: by improving education, fostering cultural understanding and promoting development. By establishing closer police and judicial cooperation. And, as a last resort, by using force. The fight against terrorism is ultimately a struggle over values. Our efforts to combat terrorism will only succeed if they are in full accordance with the principles of the rule of law and universal human rights.

Strategy for contributing to the international fight against terrorism must be to: support the development of an effective international frame work for combating terrorism ensure that all efforts are in line with international law and respect human rights support reconciliation, conflict resolution and reconstruction foster understanding between religions and communities fight poverty promote peace and secrity by participating in international operations prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction prevent terrorism financing strengthen international police and intelligence cooperation

How to Help Stop Terrorism

Watch for suspicious behaviour. While large-scale, transnational terrorism has more wide-reaching effects, domestic terrorism is a more frequent occurrence in the U.S. and many other nations. Look for suspicious activity in your community to help thwart local terrorism attempts. Alert local authorities if you witness:

• Individuals amassing a large quantity of weapons, chemicals, or other potentially harmful items
• Individuals who are not authorized security officials conducting surveillance (e.g. with binoculars, video cameras)
• Individuals trying to gain information about secure facilities (in person, by telephone, or via email)
• Individuals attempting to breach secured entrances

Recognize the diverse forms of extremism. To truly be vigilant and observant of suspicious behaviour, avoid narrowing your scope to a specific demographic or profile of terrorism. Violent extremism is not unique to any one social group or religious belief system, and should not be regarded as such. Make a point of being aware of suspicious activity regardless of the race, age, appearance, or social standing of the person(s) involved.

Note alarming changes in members of your community. Individuals who commit terrorist acts generally go through a period of radicalization that leads to their violent behaviour. Be on the lookout for alarming behavioural changes in colleagues, acquaintances, friends, or family that might indicate radicalization. These changes might include:

• Suddenly dropping relationships with family and long-time friends
• Unexplained dropping of commitments (e.g. school, work)
• A drastic change in dress, eating, sleeping, money management, or spoken language
• Becoming antisocial and withdrawing from everyday life
• Expressing radical or extremist views, or participating in social media networks that promote these views

Report potential danger to local authorities. Be sure to contact your local police department immediately if you witness suspicious events or behaviour in your area. Be sure to provide a clear, accurate account of what you saw, exactly when you saw it, where you saw it, and why you are concerned. Include concrete details about the person or persons involved, as well as any vehicles or other objects involved.

Report possible cyber terrorism. If you suspect that a breach to cyber security has occurred (e.g. an attempt to gain unauthorized access to a secured system or its data) report it to local authorities. Finance and power systems are especially vulnerable to cyber terrorism, but security fixes and upgrades are increasingly being mounted to lower the risk of such attacks. Reporting potential threats may aid with these measures.

Support charities that fight global poverty. Extreme poverty can cause a low standard of life, a sense of disenfranchisement, and a lack of opportunities. This lack of choices and hope sometimes creates a feeling of desperation that leaves young people vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups. Support charities that fight poverty on a global level, such as: Unicef, K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations), Interaction, Action Against Hunger.

Do your part to combat everyday discrimination. Discrimination can cause unrest, distrust, and anger, all of which may create an environment where terrorism becomes more likely. Do your best to fight discrimination within your community on a day-to-day basis by being aware of it, denouncing it, and declining to associate with individuals who perpetuate hate against specific demographics of people. Be considerate in your dialogue and treatment of others.

Put terrorism into perspective. The goal of terrorism is to spread fear, so help overcome its paralyzing effects by keeping terror statistics in perspective. The odds of a U.S. citizen being killed in a terror attack are approximately one in twenty million, taking into account both home and overseas incidents. Keep this information in mind and share it when family, friends, or colleagues express anxiety about the threat of terrorist attacks.

Questions to discuss:

1. What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘terrorism’?
2. Has your life changed in any way due to terrorism?
3. Is the name “war on terror” a correct name?
4. If a country repeatedly kills innocent civilians while trying to kill terrorists, does that country take part in terrorism?