SUMMARY:

Bill Gates, one of the world’s richest person, had shocked people by saying that one way to defeat world hunger is to get products from poor African farmers. With help to add value to agriculture, it will be more sufficient and sustainable. It will also reduces the use of excess energy and be more environmental friendly. Bill Gates knows this and knows that not only will it help the poor farmers to make more money, it will also reduce world poverty because there will be more food production.

REFLECTION:

I my opinion, I think what Bill Gates suggested is a great idea. Not only will it help farmers in poverty in Africa, it will also combat world poverty and hunger, which is a world wide problem right now. However, my question is that will there be countries willing to help? Or will they not cooperate?

Work Cited

DeloreZ. “Bill Gates is Right On – We Can Feed a Growing, Hungry World.” New     Geography, 25 Nov. 2009. Web. 25 Nov. 2009.     <http://www.newgeography.com/content/001224-bill-gates-right-on-–-we-can-feed-a-growing-hungry-world>.

Another xtranormal project published, later than it was due:

Our job was to create an xtranormal video about the millenium development goals. In school, we have been studying the MDG’s for a quite a while. This video is an interview between two people which shows my thought on the goals and how we can help.

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A. Vocabulary

1. stimulus – something that incites to action the feelings, emotions, etc…

2. surge – rush

3. initiatives – leading action

B. Summary

In this article, India has faced a dramatic change in the country, which is the growth of the economy. India had the fastest growing pace it had since last year April. The growth of economy was 7.9%, which is pretty high for India. This has brought good news to the stock markets who are selling products. However, because of this, the economy all depends on how the government handles it, such that the food price rises by 12%. The food prices became a major issue to India since people in India needed food.

C. Reflection

As I have read this article, this is good news to the LEDCs because now the LEDCs have the hope to develop their own country. However, the rise of food prices gave depression to a lot of people since they needed food but the food prices went higher than usual. I could identify that the growth of the economy in India is good, but the rise of food prices in India made by the government is also a bad news towards them.

D. Bibliography

Pasricha, Anjana. “India’s Economy Grows at Fastest Pace since Global Financial Crisis | Economy | English.” News | English. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/economy-and-business/-Indias-Economy-Grows-at-Fastest-Pace-since-Global-Financial-Crisis—-78127572.html>.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/economy-and-business/-Indias-Economy-Grows-at-Fastest-Pace-since-Global-Financial-Crisis—-78127572.html

A. Vocabulary

1. prior – previous

2. presided – to occupy the place of authority

3. commitment – a pledge or promise

4. compensation – something given/received as an equivalent of services

B. Summary

In this article, it discusses about the Nepali government having an meeting in a cabinet at Mount Everest to discuss about the climate of global warming. They wanted to protect the Himalayas at all cost because they think that the Himalayas would greatly make an impact change in the world if it collapses. Other people in the meeting also complains about emitting a lot of gases in the greenhouse effect. They think that this is the main cause to globa warming.

C. Reflection

As I have read this article, I also agree with what they say. If I was one of them, I would’ve done all things to save the Himalayas at all costs. Since Himalayas are really tall, they would greatly impact the earth if the mountain melts. Therefore, I would protect the environment from any harmful UV rays or rays from the sun. This would save the environment as well as protecting the earth from being in ruin.

D. Bibliography

Bohora. “Nepal to hold highest altitude cabinet meeting to protect Himalayas.” BusinessGhana. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://www.businessghana.com/portal/news/index.php?op=getNews&id=117203>.

http://www.businessghana.com/portal/index.php

A. Vocabulary

None

B. Summary

This article talks about the death of 8 people who received mutated swine flu virus. People in China are afraid of it, however, the China Influenza center announced that these mutated swine flu virus could be cured by an vaccine. Followed by it, the WHO announced the deaths of other people in the world. These deaths are also happening in Norway, Brazil, Japan, US, etc… The WHO is announcing that it is dangerous.

C. Reflection

While I read this article, I thought that going to China might be a dangerous place to go because there are a lot of people with mutated swine flu right now. Also because nobody wants to get swine flu from someone else, this article was important to read. Without reading a newspaper or watch the news, people going to China would’ve caught mutated swine flu which is hard to cure.

D. Bibliography

Wong, Gillian. “China reports 8 cases of mutated swine flu virus.” The Republican-American. 2009. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://www.rep-am.com/news/national/452423.txt>.

http://www.rep-am.com/news/national/452423.txt

Location: Afghanistan

Summary: The UN concludes that Afghanistan is the worst place to be born. “Half the population of Afghanistan comprises children, yet they remain deprived of the most basic necessities like food, shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, healthcare and education. Forced labour and sexual exploitation make their condition even more precarious.” About 1/5 of the children in Afghanistan die before their 5th birthday because of simple preventable diseases. “The country also has some of the worst child malnourishment, stunting, underweight and vitamin deficiency figures in the world.”

Reflection: I feel really lucky and blessed to be outhere unlike the unfortunate children who are born there in Afghanistan. Some people around me say that they are unsatisfied of what they have now, and I feel that too somtimes. But reminders like this article of how lucky we are living here in comfort, enough to eat, and have all sorts of entertainment. While the others don’t have even the basic needs that people should have. Again, I feel very lucky and blessed to be here writing this on my personal computer.

Vocabulary:

• Stunting: to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf
• Accommodated: to do a kindness or a favor to; oblige
• Protracted:  to draw out or lengthen, esp. in time; extend the duration of; prolong

Bibliography:

Summary: Scientists think that we are focusing too much about how to raise the food: organic, land based production… But the issue really lies in how we are distributing and producing these food. How we eat is also part of this matter, “Driving to the store alone and then cooking alone at home has a big environmental impact. Going out to dinner more, or just eating more frequently with friends and family at home, has huge benefit.” The making of the food itself is in fact a great deal but also how we eat and the distribution of the food is also very important.The important things are: how salmon are caught in the wild, what they’re fed when farmed, how they’re transported, how they’re consumed. Considering this can have a positive environmental impact and is also a way to live more sustainably.

Reflection: I think this idea is rebelious against the “popular” way of thinking of things. I didn’t think that by changing the way we eat can also help or damage our environment. Also the scientists made a very good point about how it is very important to notice where the food is being produced. Also they make sense by saying that by catching salmon in a big group is better sustainably than catching a small amount of salmon while using a bait.

Location: N/A

Vocabulary:

• Realm: the region, sphere, or domain within which anything occurs, prevails, or dominates
• Nuanced: a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc

Bibliography:

Ecotrust. “Global Study of Salmon Shows: ‘Sustainable’ Food Isn’t So Sustainable.” ScienceDaily 30 November 2009. 30 November 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/11/091124152803.htm>.

Picture Credit:

KBS WORLD

Location: South Korea

Summary:

Today I saw on TV that one of the leading electronics company in the world, LG electronics, is making effort to reduce the ‘green house effect’. They realize what the world is like today and is developing towards a better world for us all to live. Recently, they have made electronics that doesn’t require to emit a lot of CO2 while producing. Also making electronics that doesn’t use as much electricity compared to other products. LG brand washing machines have been recorded 1st in the US from 2007 to 2009. LG is aiming to reduce the emission of cabon emission drastically.

Reflection:

I really was touched that LG electronics is doing this and greatly respect them for doing this. It really is great that they also do care about the environment knowing that this potentially may harm their payment and decrease their economy. I hope that other companies can also think about this critically and help the world like LG electronics is doing now. Monster electronic companies such as Samsung, LG, Nokia… etc. should all do this. Then the amount of Co2 emission will actually decrease a lot. I hope the quality of the products they make will not fall. They should try as hard as ever to reduce carbon emission and build up their economy.

Vocabulary: NONE

Picture Credit:

November 25, 2009

Siberian tiger in severe decline

Capital of Russia: Moscow

Vocabulary:

• poaching: the illegal practice of trespassing on another’s property to hunt or steal game without the landowner’s permission.
• detectable: able to discover the existence of

Summary: Siberian tigers are in severe decline in Moscow. The main reason is because of the loss of their habitat. Also the deep snow caused them to reduce the amount they travelled and to be less active, therefore they are less detectable. Now, Russian scientists are working hard to improve the condition of habitat and to protect the tigers.

Reflection and Questions: The loss of animals’ habitat is very bad that we can make them disappear forever. I felt that not only people are important but also animals are important. We should try to make the world better for people and for animals too. I thought it is good that Russian scientists are actually working toward the strong protection of Siberian tigers. I hope every animals in this world can be strongly protected. What can we do to protect them?

Bibliography:

 “Detectable.” Def. 2. Dictionary.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/detectable>.
Gill, Victoria. “Siberian tiger in severe decline.” BBC NEWS. 25 Nov. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8379095.stm>.
“Poaching.” Def. 1. Dictionary.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/poaching>.

Picture Cited:

http://www.mapsofworld.com/russian-federation/maps/russia-location-map1.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46803000/jpg/_46803378_lutka112007100.jpg

November 27, 2009

Oceans abosorbing carbon dioxide more slowly, scientist finds

Capital of: N/A

Vocabulary:

• fluctuation: continual change from one point or condition to another.

Summary: Scientists at Yale Univerity found out that oceans around the world are absorbing carbon dioxide more slowly. The data showed less CO2 had been absorbed by oceans. As the oceans become warmer, less CO2 are trapped in oceans. “It strengthens the projection that the oceans will not absorb as much of our future CO2 emissions, and that the pace of future climate change will quicken,” said Jeffrey Park.

Relfection and Questions: First I saw this news article’s title, I immediately clicked it because it was about the topic we just learned in geography class. I was very interested and tried to find the connection between the article and what we learned. Suprisingly, the oceans around the world are actually losing its strength to absorb carbon dioxide. As we learned, the oceans became warmer that less CO2 are trapped in the oceans. While I was reading this article, I felt the reality that I couldn’t feel in the class. I felt like we really need to stop producing CO2. Is there any solutions to prevent this?

Bibliography:

“Fluctuation.” Def. 1. Dictionary.com. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fluctuation>.
“Oceans absorbing carbon dioxide more slowly, scientists finds.” ScienceDaily. 27 Nov. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091124140957.htm>.

Picture Cited:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/11/091124140957-large.jpg