vrijdag 26 juni 2009

Transsexual wins treatment funding

My summary
Debbie Davies born as Richards Davies knew she was different from a early age on. She has been living as a female for the pas sixteen months. She had previously been on a hunger strike because of the lack of funding but now Nottinghamshire County PCT has written to Ms Davies agreeing to pay for the full treatment. Ms Davies used to be on hormone pills but due to the cost she was not able to keep this up longer and that is when she applied for the total treatment to be funded. Debbie Davies' hunger strike lasted for seven days in May. The PCT has said it was happy the case had now been resolved and they continued to support Ms Davies.

My opinion
I think it is good that this man got a chance to change into a woman. However I do not think it is very fair that she got this far by going on a hunger strike. I think there should be a fund for people like that. The treatment is very expensive and I can understand that many people cannot afford the change so I think there should be something to help these people. I cannot imagine being in the wrong body but I can imagine you will not want to continue in the same body.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/8120772.stm

Fewer pupils eating school meals

My summary
It has emerged that pupils are eating less school meals. The number has dropped sharply since the ministers first launched healthy eating policies. Secondary schools will be obliged by law to serve only healthy food from August, in line with the regulations introduced in primary schools last August. “Although overall school lunch uptake was down slightly, several authorities reported significant increases. We need other authorities to learn from this good practice so that more of our pupils enjoy the healthy and tasty school lunches on offer."

My opinion

Most pupils do not want to eat healthy that is why they are not eating school lunches anymore. That is what I think is very concerning. The government is trying to promote healthy food but in secondary school it does not appear to work. Obesity is a very big problem in the UK so I think children should eat the healthy school meals. Especially since they are trying to promote free school meals as well. I believe there should be free and healthy school meals for every student in the UK to combat obesity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8115758.stm

Babbysitter beat toddler to death

My summary
A fifteen year old boy has been convicted for murdering a two-year old girl who he was babysitting. She was only in his care for ninety minutes. She was beaten, bitten and her hair was sheared off during the attack which left her with 86 injuries. She was taken into hospital en her parents were with her in the hospital when the machines that were keeping her alive were switched off.


My opinion
I think this is a really shocking story, the little girl was only in his care for ninety minutes. Why would he do such a thing? There is not an awful lot that can happen in just an hour and a half but apparently it can. I can’t imagine how the mother must have felt when she arrived back home. The boy who did it was only fifteen! This shows you can’t just trust anyone else with your child.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8120560.stm

Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50

My summary
Michael Jackson died last Thursday afternoon probably from a cardiac arrest. The paramedics had been trying to resuscitate him for over an hour but were unsuccessful. Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said: "I always doubted that he would have been able to go through that schedule, those concerts. It seemed to be too much of a demand on the unhealthy body of a 50 year old.” Michael Jackson the king of pop the musical icon has died at the age of 50.

My opinion
I never knew he had medical problems. I think Michael was a very sad man he never had a proper childhood and never learned to spend money correctly. Which was the reason he needed to do the concerts after all he had no money left. The stress might be the cause of his death. I do think Michael was a brilliant performer but at the end things went kind of wrong.

donderdag 25 juni 2009

800 BA workers set to work unpaid

My summary
British Airways has said 800 workers have volunteered to work for nothing for up to a month, following the airline's request to cut costs. And another 4000 have taken an unpaid leave and another 1400 people have volunteered to work part –time. The BA chief had already agreed to work in June for free which saves BA another 61.000 pounds. The staff is able to react to the request later on in the year too if they are not able to miss the money this months.

My opinion
I think this is a good way to fight the crisis. British airways has lost a lot of money this year and because of this they can save money and keep their workers. This way the people had the choice themselves. I do think it is sad that out of 40 000 employees only 6200 have volunteered to do anything. After all if BA keeps losing money there is a big chance people might get fired!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8119388.stm

mum's mission to ban party drug

My summary
Maryon Stewart's 21-year-old daughter Hester died in April after taking the legal party drug GBL. Maryon believes that her daughter would have never taken the drug is she had known the potential risks. GBL is related to the banned date rape drug GHB and can be legal in tiny doses when combined with alcohol. Maryon said she was concerned about how some people saw taking legal highs as harmless as "eating smarties". Maryon thinks the drug should be banned and people should be made more aware of the risks.

My opinion
Of course I think it is good that she is trying to make people aware of the risks of the drug and is trying to ban it but there is something that is bothering me a bit. She is portraying her daughter as an angel throughout the whole article. It was her daughter who was taking the drugs in the first place! I think it is stupid to take drugs because even if it is legal there are still risks involved.

dinsdag 23 juni 2009

Quick step to “better behaviour”

My summary
Ballroom and Latin dancing can improve not only pupils fitness but also their behaviour studies show. Ballroom and Latin dancing helps improve the pupils’ self esteem and even the less sporty pupils get involved. The trial was very successful in all 29 primary and secondary school the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. The boys and girls dancing with each other learnt how to communicate better and had a fun time doing it. The dancing also has the potential to improve social interaction within families and in the local community.

My opinion
I do Ballroom and Latin dancing myself so I know how much fun it is to do and you really have to trust on your partner to guide you. It is a wonderful idea to learn schoolchildren how to dance. I really believe that it can have a positive effect on them. I just wonder how it can improve the social interaction within the family.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8113090.stm

no rush to loose extra baby pounds

My summary
Women should take months not weeks to loose the excess baby weight. New mothers are being warned not to try to be like celebrities and shed the baby weight within weeks. Naturally it can take mothers six months to a year to get rid of the weight and I they try to do it faster it cannot only hurt themselves but also the baby. The pressure for women to loose weight is very high but most women need the excess baby weight to provide nourishment for their baby. Mothers should not run to the gym after giving birth to their baby but they should go on a sensible diet to lose the weight. Thinking about your weight is also something you should do when you are still pregnant it is not a good idea to “eat for two”. Mothers should look after themselves and the baby after giving birth and not try to get rid of the weight by doing things that are not good for them such as crash dieting.

My opinion
There is much pressure to be thin when you are a woman and I know that is not good. One thing my mom always says is “it takes you nine months to gain the weight and another nine to loose it”. I do not think it is a very good idea to try and follow the celebrities in anything. The only reason they loose the weight so fast after the birth of their babies is because of their crash diets and personal trainers. Women should take their time to regain their own weight again and take good care of themselves and the baby.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8114262.stm

No proof for filling baby teeth

My summary
Filling rotten baby teeth may be an unnecessary trial for children to endure, experts say. In the UK about 40% of the five-year olds have tooth decay and at least one in ten of them have been treated with fillings. The dentists are now trying to figure out another way of treating the children there have always been a couple of options when the child had teeth decay whether they were left untreated, had gotten fillings or the teeth got pulled. When the decay is causing the children immense pain they have to be treated but if the decay is not showing any symptoms what should you do then? The baby teeth will eventually fall out by the time you are eleven. The treatments that are unnecessary such as the fillings could cause a child to develop a fear for dentists something that is totally unnecessary and something that could cause serious problems later on. That is why they are trying to find out whether to treat tooth decay in baby teeth or not.

My opinion
I used to have very bad baby teeth and I had gaps in my teeth every time I went to the dentists fortunately I had a very nice dentist so I did not develop a fear of them. However I do know a lot op people are afraid of them and mainly because of treatments they had when they were a little child. I did not know they were trying to figure out whether it is necessary to treat children with child decay but I think it is a very good idea that they are doing this because why should children suffer pain they do not have to and develop anxieties that are not necessary either?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8112603.stm

Whale-watching worth billions

My summary
According to a report released at the IWC international whaling commission whale watching generates far more money than whale hunting. It is said that whale hunting countries would gain money by switching to whale watching. Whales are worth more alive than death and it is more environmentally sustainable. Anti-whaling organisation ifaw has been battling against whale hunting for many years and also says that whale hunting is hurting the whale watching industry. However in Iceland they say that whale watching and whale hunting can co-exist. In Norway a group of tourists saw a minke-whale get harpooned by whale hunters this may be a cause of the debate whether whale watching and whale hunting can co-exist.

My opinion
If whale watching is generating more money than whale hunting why should we continue hunting them? I do not think whale hunting is necessary especially not in the quantity they are doing it now. Tourists are more interested in seeing the whales swimming in the sea happily than seeing them in pieces at markets. I think we should do what we can to decrease whale hunting as it is better for the environment, the animals and the incomes of the governments. After all a dead whale only delivers money once a living whale delivers again and again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8114353.stm

Appeal a year after arson deaths

My summary
Hameeda Begum, 71, Alana Mian, four, died a year ago in the fire in Little Holme Walk, in Great Lever. Their family is appealing for anyone with information to help the police. They have said that anyone who is not coming forward with information is “cruel”. There have been arrests made a fourteen year old boy and a twenty-two year old man have been arrested and are now on bail. Alana’s mother has gotten seriously hurt during the fire that started in a bin at the front of the house but has been released from hospital since.

My opinion
It is really shocking to hear that after a year there are almost no leads to who has started the fire. People should really come forward with information about this case. For me it is really hard to think that the fourteen year old boy was a part of this maybe that is just because he is a child. I just cannot understand why anyone would start a fire without a reason. This probably started out as a joke to put someone’s bin on fire but it has had devastating results.

R&B singer admits Rihanna assault

My summary
Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. He was ordered to five years of probation and six months of community service. Rihanna has said that the sentence was “fair”
They have also gotten a stay-away order even though they did not seek to get one. The judge thought that it was best for both of them to stay away from each other.
Speaking outside the court, Brown's lawyer Mark Geragos said: "He embraces this as a chance to get the message out that domestic violence will not be tolerated. He wants to get his life back on track."
After reports of the assault emerged, a photograph was posted on a US gossip website which purported to show Rihanna with welts, scratches, bruises and swelling on her face. The police are now trying to find out who leaked the photograph.


My opinion
I think it is good that Chris Brown got sentenced because of his actions however I do not know whether his punishment was just. I think that only because he is famous that his sentence is as low as it is you see that with a lot of celebrities. He has gotten five years probation and six months of community service while the original sentence was a jail sentence of four years! This is obviously more serious than the final verdict.
I do think the judge’s order for them to stay away from each other was a very good idea even though Rihanna did not ask for one. You see most of the woman who have been assaulted by their boyfriend or husbands tend to go back to him. However as Oprah says “If he has hit you once he will hit you again”

zondag 19 april 2009

Beating the bulge (again)

Beating the bulge (again)

Summary

Everyone is agreed that obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing the country. Almost a quarter of the adults are obese while ten years ago it was 50% less. The increase among children is even worse. The government has recognised that there is a problem and that it should be tackled but this is not the first time ministers are trying to fight obesity. Back in 1992 the Tories published a paper, which set a number of targets to tackle obesity. But they were dropped in 1997 when Labour came into power. Choosing health set out a range of measures, such as food labelling and a crackdown on junk food. And campaigns to get children to exercise more and eat healthier. Ministers are facing an uphill struggle to even encourage the public to adopt healthier lifestyles. People do not eat healthy enough and do not exercise enough while it are things such as this that are essential to tackling obesity.

My opinion

Par 1 (“Everyone is agreed…facing the country”) If everyone is agreed that obesity is the main challenge facing the country then why are they not changing their eating habits and lifestyle? That is something I cannot understand. Why agree if you are not willing to do anything about it? If nearly a quarter of the adults are obese there really is something wrong.
Par 3 (“the increases among…been even worse”) this might be even more disturbing; children and obesity are not compatible. If the child is obese now it is usually because the parents aren’t feeding them right. This is a disgrace because it is not healthy to be obese and it can have serious effects when they get older.
Par 9 (“Choosing health set…and eating healthily”) I think it’s a good thing that choosing health is trying to take action and making people aware of obesity. The fact that they are taking serious measures is a good think. Getting children to be more active and eating healthily is the start. But the children do not really have the choice what they eat so I think they should pay attention to the parents as well. If the parents do not cook healthy food their actions won’t help.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7200274.stm

Pre-marital sex 'more accepted'

Pre-marital sex ‘more accepted’

Summary

British people are increasingly tolerant of sex before marriage. 70% of 3000 people had no objections to pre-marital sex. But when it was tested in 1984 52% was against it. Another thing which has changed is the role within a relationship, now it’s not only the woman who has to do all the housework men do it as well. People’s attitudes towards gender roles have changed, but their behaviour lags behind. This is important because a gap between a person’s views about gender roles and what actually happens in their own home seems to lead to greater stress, for women at least. A similar story of apparent double standards is when it comes towards the environment. But the fact that there is a gap between what people say and what they do is not hypocrisy because a lot of people actually get conflicted on what they should do. What we need to do is find out what it is that makes people stop taking the final step, and then encourage them to take it.

My opinion

Par 1 (“British people are…a survey suggest”) I do not think there is anything wrong with pre-martial sex I think it is something that people should decide for themselves if they do it or not. The time when you got married first and had sex then has passed. There is nothing wrong with it I think and as it shows 70% agrees with me.
Par 16 (“this is important…women at least”) Many people say they don’t think it matters who does all the housework but if you look at the day to day life of many people, you will say that it’s the women who does all the work. I understand why it can be stressing for a woman to hear everybody talk about gender roles and that they have changed. While actually nothing changed and women still have to do everything.
Par 23 (“what we need…to take it”) I think this is a very good idea, if we would be able to find out why people usually don’t take the final step it would be much easier to convince them to take it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7202947.stm