Qantas boosts flights on growing demand

As mentioned above, Qantas group has decided to increase the supply for domestic flight. Jet Star will raise its domestic capacity by about 30% in parallel to the rising demand. As such, 66000 extra seats will be provided across the two brands weekly. Qantas would bring 7 aircraft online and new service would begin next year from Brisbane.

This is indeed a good news for the future customers..i strongly believe that all of us will spend on Qantas domestic flight when we study there....We will rock the Australia.

Full Article CLICK HERE

Daredevil tourists warned over hotel leaps

Have you ever think of crossing over the hotel leaps to jump into the pool? Currently, there is a Spanish hotel facing the problem of the craze of crossing the balcony leaps to get into the pool. According to the tourist authorities on the Balearic Island, there are already 4 lives and 30 accidents occurred on the island this year, and the "balconing' accident is reported every 2 days. It is indisputable that concerns need to be put on this issue. The hoteliers said most of the transgressors are people who were drunk or had taken heavy drugs. To tackle the problem, the hoteliers had participated in a campaign to combat loutishness, and they claimed that 'we will throw them out on the street if they do this kind of thing' as they are on the way to clean up hteir reputation.

Full Article CLICK HERE

My comment:

They must be too hyped up as so they forget about their personal safety. Crossing the leaps to get into the pool is something fun, provided you are just one floor above the pool and the pool is right below your balcony, and it is a safe one!

Mother became prostitute in Queensland to pay inner-city Sydney rent

Hiu Wa Tsang who aged 40 has to work as a prostitute in order to support her life in inner-city Sydney. She was pleaded guilty on 3 charged for knowingly participate in prostitution and found in the places used for prostitution, as mentioned by Townsville Bulletin. Too bad, $1000 fined was charge on her and she has to hand out the $1000 earned from prostitution too. This means that she has earned nothing with her body, instead end up paying more for her wrongdeeds. According to the duty lawyer Mr.Baldock, Ms tsang and her husband are having a hard time in inner-city of Sydney, her husband often out for work, and she has failed to find for a job due to the lack of english proficiency. The high living expenses and rent of $590 a week forced her to become a prostitute.

How awful the story is. My comment is, why dont they move to somewhere with lower standard of living? Perhaps Perth?

Australian tourist Tania Hearnden wakes from coma after horror cliff fall

24-year-old Tanis Hearntern who slipped and fell down from a 14m cliff woke up from coma in last morning. She was on a trip with her husband and she was about to jump off from a cliff near Dubronik. Yet, she paused and decided to hold herself back. Unfortunately, when she was walking away, she slipped and landed on rock on swallow water, with her ribs,arms, hips broken, and she lost her one kidney and spleen as well. The scene was so bloody that her face was broken into half. Her family transferred her from a hospital in melbourne to another hospital in Milan, as the new hospital has better experience in facial operations.
Tanis is recovering and she shows positive signs that gloat her family members. Some questions from her when she first wakes up are "was she a vegetable?","will she be able to have kids?" and "is her face and teeth fixable".
Glad that she is no longer in coma, and pray hard that she will recover soon, she was a pretty girl though.

More Details CLICK HERE

Former girlfriend of Tasmanian murderer Stavros Papadopoulos wants to sell story

Jazmin Haygart who was the ex-girlfriend of a Tasmanian murderer Stavros Papadopoulos is planning to sell her story to a national magazine. Papadopoulos was sentenced to a life in prison for kidnapping, rapping and killing a 23-year-old accounting girl from China. Ms. Haygart who received a six-month suspended jail sentence after failing to report the killing of the China girl is so angry that the media has ruined her model life. During the murder night, Ms Haygart was not in the house, she was speding the whole wonderful night with her friends. As her model life has been ruined for suspected involving in the crime, she decided to sell her story to a national magazine, though there is no law against selling story. She claims that Papadopoulus was actually a lovely man, and he was not that bad as the one sketched by the newspapers.

Original Article CLICK HERE

Dead boy in dryer 'playing hide-and-seek'

A 4-year-old kid was found dead in a drying machine after trapping inside the machine for an hour. His mother was away for shopping and he was supposed to be taken care by the elder sisters and brothers at home. Who knew the little kid decided to hide himself and surprise his family members, too bad he managed to reach the dryer, climbed into it and shut the door. His neighbour did not know the kid was trapped inside the tumble dryer. The kid's mum returned and found her son went missing, she,together with the policemen searched for him at the field nearby, and finally they found him breatheless inside the dryer. His mum was so depressed and awful for losing such a cute son.

Original Article CLICK HERE

Jetplace ordered to own up to adding fake profiles to dating site redhotpie

Jetplace, the owner of dating site www.redhotpie.com.au has been forced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to admit their anti-competition activity that added approximately 1371 fake profiles to its ‘Uncut” section.

Jetplace used the non-bona fide profiles to send flirts or customised messages to the registered users on the websites. Now, Jetplace was ordered to disclose the deception. Many online dating sites have created some fake profiles to keep an eye on their websites, so did Jetplace. Jetplace claimed that those profiles were created for security purpose.

However, this reason failed to convince the ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel. Immediate action will be taken by ACCC to acknowledge the consumers about the deception. Anybody who registered with the dating site between December 2004 and November 2008 will be greeted with Jetplace’s admission to deception upon their log on. Besides, Jetplace is required to :
• send a copy of the notice to the email address of each of those users,
• implement a corporate trade practices law compliance program, and;
• pay ACCC costs.

Refunds will be offered to those users who could prove that they were misled into paying for access to the site.

Original article CLICK HERE

'Flying Pasties' claim to hide your nakedness from airport scanners

A Las Vegas company has introduced a new "flying sticker' which claims to preserve the passengers' medesty from full-body airport scanners. These orange stickers are sold at $US15 each to be pasted on or under a passenger's unergarments to obscure their private parts.
However, doubt arises among the public that, the scanner can get through a thick leather wallet, yet, the tiny thin sticker can prevent the scanner from scanning through? It the stickers serve no purpose, the consumers will be wasting money on something to paste on their bodies.
Thus, similar to the full-body scanners introduced at the airport, the sticker-issue is another controversial topic that craze the globe now.

Original Article CLICK HERE

BP stems flow of oil into Gulf

The leaking of BP oil into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since April has been threatened as the BP engineers have shut all the valves on a new cap place above the fractured wellhead. However, test is still running to make sure no further leaking is happening. Senior vice-president Kent Wells is glad that no oil flowing into the Gulf, yet the process should be cautioned as they are still in the testing phase. There is an estimate that approximately 35000 to 60000 barrels of oil was flown in to the Gulf each day for about 13 weeks, which has jeopardised the vulnerable wildlife and polluting the shores of 5 Gulf states. In the following 48 hours, monitors on the pressure inside the giant 10-metre cap will be conducted. High pressure shows no other leakage while low pressure indicates the casing of wellbore has cracked and there might be leaking. Anyway, Mr. Wells said they would prefer a result that says there is perfect integrity.
-----------------
Original post CLICK HERE

Asylum seekers could work to earn the right be Aussies, Colin Barnett says

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett suggested that the asylum seekers can actually be allocated to work under farming and hospitality so they can be qualified to become australians. He said that there were problems arising from the overcrowded camps in extreme conditions, especially in Curtin. Thus, he feels that instead of having detention on them, he sees merit in putting the asylum seekers to work. Besides, Colin voices that it is not a bad thing to get them work on the farm and for some ways they can earn their australian citizenships.
However, the plan is opposed by the Immigration Minister Chris Evans, as well as the East Timor Deputy Prime Minister Mario Viegas Carrascalao who felt that Timor-Leste is not a colony of other countries, and it does not serve the right to become the puppet of the other countries.
Meanwhile, the australian governemnt is planning on the reopening of retention centre in Nauru. Yet, this plan is still in the process of discussion and there are authorities who urge the government to reconsider the decision.

-------------------------------------
From my point of view, the acceptance of asylum seekers as australians are highly controversial. From the comments on the news, there are australians who feel that it is too easy for the asylum seekers to gain citizenships. However, there are also some australians who feel that it is quite a good idea as it reduces some social problems and at the same time, this can ensure those asylum seekers can at least, contribute some to Australia.

Original article CLICK HERE.

Live our own life

Da-DAng! Share with you guys my favourite MARIE CAT!
*MEOW!*
Well, do not ask me why i like Marie since i scare of cats a lot, i bet many of my classmates had seen my reaction towards cats, without doubts, they gave me a =.=!! face....haha..
----------------------
Back to the topic, live our own life? huh?? Actually i couldnt think of what to write as the title so i just crapped one.
Live our own life -- live the way we meant to live? haha! nice!
Life is like a ROLLER COASTER, we experience ups and downs, peaks and troughs
Life is like a CIRCLE, everything becomes ZERO/THE SAME at the end
Life is like a ROSE, thorny yet smells good
Life is like a RUBBER BAND, elastic but it breaks when it is extended to a limit
Life is like a CHOCOLATE, originally taste bitter but we can add something to make it sweet
Life is like a COSMETICS SET, when we fully utilise it, it becomes gorgeous
Life is like a SONG, people can play the same song or choose to rock it
Life is like a CAMERA, we pose and it records
Life is like a DRUM, it stuns!
.....
Life is like a MARIE CAT, it meows and purrrrs!
...
JPA is like a LIFEJACKETS, he throws us into the borderless sea with unmeasureable depth, with the lifejackets and our determination, we swim hard to the surface, or to the coast.
Overwhelming the rage storm is not easy, we get water into our mouths, we struggle, or we sink, but still we need to swim to the beach to stay alive, some people may take only a day, some take a week or even a year, somehow all of us still manage to get on board. Its hard, but if you are strong enough and never give up, you will reach the destination faster than anybody else. If you are talented, you manage to swim to the beach even though u do not know how.
--
It had already been a year studying in INTI-IU, it was not that bad but it wasnt that good as what i have thought, but still, it was a memorable one. Half more year to go, precisely few more months to go, more challenges to be faced, and more sweet memories to be carved. Lets enjoy the last few months in INTI-IU.
---
My jpa-mates, SWIM! SWIM! lets swim to the destination and return our lifejackets.
There are people waiting for our lifejackets, and there are people waiting for our returns.
GO GO GO!

OYAYA

::happy holiday::

Couple jailed for gay wedding

A MALAWI gay couple has been sentenced to the maximum 14 years in prison with hard labour for holding the country's first same-sex wedding, which landed them with a sodomy conviction.
Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were arrested on December 28 after their symbolic wedding and accused of violating "the order of nature". They have been in jail ever since.
Homosexuality is illegal in Malawi and most other African countries.
"I sentence you to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour each," magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa told the two men in a courtroom in the commercial capital Blantyre overnight.
"I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example," the judge said.
"Malawi is not ready to see its sons getting married to its sons."
The couple looked subdued when the sentence was handed down and were quickly rushed out of the packed courtroom.
As they were escorted away under heavy police guard, hundreds of curious onlookers outside the court shouted at them, with one woman yelling, "Malawi should never allow homosexuality at any cost."
The sentence could be appealed, said the judge.
Former colonial power Britain and the United States expressed "deep disappointment" at the ruling.
"We view the criminalisation of sexual orientation and gender identity as a step backward in the protection of human rights in Malawi," said the US State Department.
"The sentence is entirely disproportionate and against international human rights principles," said Ireland's overseas development minister Peter Power.
"We are working with our partners for a strong EU response," he said.
Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries. Nearby South Africa is the only country on the continent to recognise same-sex marriages.
Thirty-eight out of 53 countries criminalise consensual gay sex, which is punishable by death in some nations, according to Human Rights Watch.
In January, the Malawi couple appealed to the Constitutional Court to toss out the case, but the top court refused to consider that appeal.
Their lawyer Mauya Msuku, who has been hired by the country's underground gay-rights group, the Centre for the Development of People, argued that laws banning homosexuality "violate the right to marry and find a family".
Mr Msuku said he would consult with his clients on filing an new appeal.
In an unusually graphic language, Usiwa Usiwa convicted Monjeza of "having carnal knowledge of Tiwonge through the anus, which is against the order of nature".
Chimbalanga was found guilty of "permitting buggery", which the judge said was similarly contrary to the natural order.
Human rights organisations said the sentence was a blow for minority groups and the fight against AIDS.
Undule Mwakasungura, director of Malawi's Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, said the sentence would drive gays into hiding.
"We have many of them who need to publicly access information and HIV and AIDS medical care. It's a big let-down," he said.
Richard Bridgen of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre said the sentencing was a "real tragedy for Malawian society".
"The deep point is that they have the right to be different... the right to live the life they choose," said Mr Bridgen.
But Protestant churches in Malawi have urged the government to uphold its ban on homosexuality, which religious leaders described as "un-Christian".

-------------------------------------------

Comment:

i feel that homosexual should be treated fair and square. People have the right to choose their own partner and being homosexual may not be their deliberate intend. They were born like that and we should not see them as the 'special spesies'. But for the case, if gay-marriage is illegal in that country, maybe they can consider living together forever without the marriage contract. Try to tolerate and harmony of a country can be maintained.

Argumentative Essay - The effect of television viewing: Final Draft

As the sophisticated lifestyle spearheads this modern century, television has become a prevalent necessity rather than a luxury good. American Time Use Survey(2003) states that men and women in United States spend approximately 2.4 and 2.8 hours per day respectively in watching television. This statistics manifests the truth that more than ninety percent of households in modernised countries own at least one television set (Sharif 1999). Parallel to this, issue on television viewing becomes highly controversial when the detrimental pitfalls of television viewing are getting noticeable on all levels of people. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring negative effects, as it affects the children’s thinking, intervenes their positive behaviour building and jeopardises people’s health.

---------------
Firstly, children’s thinking skills can be adversely affected if they watch inappropriate television programmes for a long period. According to Sharif (1999), short segments with interesting presentation in modern children’s programmes and music video clips encourage the development of short attention spans in children. Children may have the wrong thoughts that overwhelming all the difficulties in life will be a piece of cake as they are used to those thirty minutes problem-solving programmes like ‘Friends’. As a result, they always lose out patience when it is the real time for them to counter the hardship and rigour situations. Moreover, Jones claims that children who are heavy viewers are among the lowest achievers at school because they do not develop imaginative skills to create fictitious characters, situations and make-believe worlds (Leigh 2001). In short, excessive television watching hours may plague the healthy thinking of the children.

--------------
Secondly, the structure of children’s behaviours will be less desirable, particularly the emanating of wildness and violence. Television programmes and even the news, televised at prime time, depict violence scenes which may cause the children to become desensitised to violence (Sharif 1999). Consequently, they may feel that violence is a plausible and acceptable way in solving problems. Furthermore, some children attempt to imitate the superhero in the television shows they have watched. For instance, there were children jumped out of trees in Superman costumes and got themselves injured (Sharif 1999). Besides, the stereotyped movies showing the narrow roles of characters played by the women and men in society influence the children’s behaviours towards themselves and others. This evidence proves that television viewing can be actually harmful by forming disfavour behaviours among children.

--------------------
Prolonged periods in front of the television which is a sedentary activity can trigger many health problems such as obesity and related diseases. Nowadays, people, especially the youngsters, become inured to the habits of indulging themselves with snacks while watching television (Rutherford 2002). The elevated number of couch potatoes is intractable as it spreads erratically without control. Meanwhile, extended periods in front of the television mean that children are not being physically active (Sharif 1999). Moreover, children may become autistic as television viewing encourages the development of antisocial behaviour. Briefly, obesity will become the most discernible fallout when children consume too much calories, adding to the dearth of physical exercises.

-------------------------
In conclusion, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring harmful effects such as underdevelopment of thinking skills, formation of negative behaviours and cultivation of unhealthy lifestyles. The negative effects of television viewing are stark, albeit, some people assert that its pros outweigh the cons. However, I am prone to the stance that television viewing brings more harms than benefits. A balance point on television viewing should be adhered in order to best utilise the television by minimising its negative effects and at the same time get ourselves refreshed and ready to concentrate on things like homework (Rutherford 2002).

Argumentative Essay - The effect of television viewing: Draft#2

As the sophisticated lifestyle spearheads this modern century, television has become a prevalent necessity rather than a luxury good. American Time Use Survey(2003) states that men and women in United States spend approximately 2.4 and 2.8 hours per day respectively in watching television. This statistics manifests the truth that more than ninety percent of households in modernised countries own at least one television set (Sharif 1999). Parallel to this, issue on television viewing becomes highly controversial when the detrimental pitfalls of television viewing are getting noticeable on all levels of people. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring negative effects, such as affect the children’s thinking, intervene their positive behaviour building and jeopardise people’s health.
----------------------------------------------------
Firstly, children’s thinking skills can be adversely affected if they watch inappropriate television programmes for a long period. According to Sharif (1999), short segments with interesting presentation in modern children’s programmes and music video clips encourage the development of short attention spans in children. Children may have the wrong thoughts that overwhelming all the difficulties in life will be a piece of cake as they are used to those thirty minutes problem-solving programmes like ‘Friends’. As a result, they always lose out patience when it is the real time for them to counter the hardship and rigour situations. Moreover, Jones claims that children who are heavy viewers are among the lowest achievers at school because they do not develop imaginative skills to create fictitious characters, situations and make-believe worlds (Leigh 2001). In short, excessive television watching hours may plague the healthy thinking of the children.
----------------------------------------------------
Secondly, the structure of children’s behaviours will be less desirable, particularly the emanating of wildness and violence. Television programmes and even the news, televised at prime time, depict violence scenes which may cause the children to become desensitised to violence (Sharif 1999). Consequently, they may feel that violence is a plausible and acceptable way in solving problems. Furthermore, some children attempt to imitate the superhero in the television shows they have watched. For instance, there were children jumped out of trees in Superman costumes and got themselves injured (Sharif 1999). Besides, the stereotyped movies showing the narrow roles of characters played by the women and men in society influence the children’s behaviours towards themselves and others. These evidences prove that television viewing can be actually harmful by forming disfavour behaviours among children.
-----------------------------------------------------
Prolonged periods in front of the television which is a sedentary activity can trigger many health problems such as obesity and related diseases. Nowadays, people, especially the youngsters, become inured to the habits of indulging themselves with snacks while watching television (Rutherford 2002). The elevated number of couch potatoes is intractable as it spreads erratically without control. Meanwhile, extended periods in front of the television mean that children are not being physically active (Sharif 1999). Moreover, children may become autistic as television viewing encourages the development of antisocial behaviour. Briefly, obesity will become the most discernible fallout when children consume too much calories, adding to the dearth of physical exercises.
--------------------------------------------------
In conclusion, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring harmful effects such as underdevelopment of thinking skills, formation of negative behaviours and cultivation of unhealthy lifestyles. The negative effects of television viewing are stark, albeit, some people assert that its pros outweigh the cons. However, I am prone to the stance that television viewing brings more harms than benefits. A balance point on television viewing should be adhered in order to best utilise the television by minimising its negative effects and at the same time get ourselves refreshed and ready to concentrate on things like homework (Rutherford 2002).
---

Argumentative Essay – The effect of television viewing : Draft#1

As the sophisticated lifestyle spearheads this modern century, televisions has become a prevalent necessity rather than a luxury good. American Time Use Survey(2003) states that men and women in United States respectively spend approximately 2.4 and 2.8 hours per day in watching television. This statistics manifests the truth that more than ninety percent of households in modernised countries own at least one television set (Sharif 1999). Parallel to this, issue on television viewing become highly controversial when the detrimental pitfalls of television viewing are getting noticeable on all levels of people. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring negative effects, such as affect the children’s thinking, intervene their positive behaviour building and jeopardise people’s health.

-------------------------------------------------
Firstly, children’s thinking skills can be adversely affected if they watch inappropriate television programmes for a long period. According to Sharif (1999), short segments with interesting presentation in modern children’s programmes and music video clips encourage the development of short attention spans in children. Children may have the wrong thoughts that overwhelming all the difficulties in life will be a piece of cake as they are used to thirty minutes problem-solving programmes like ‘Friends’. As a result, they always lose out patience when it is the real time for them to counter the hardship and rigour situations. Moreover, Jones claims that children who are heavy viewers are among the lowest achievers at school because they do not develop imaginative skills to create fictitious characters, situations and make-believe worlds (Leigh 2001). In short, excessive television watching hours may plague the healthy thinking of the children.

-------------------------------------------------
Secondly, the structure of children’s behaviours will be less desirable, particularly the emanating of wildness and violence. Television programmes and even the news, televised at prime time, depict violence scenes which may cause the children to become desensitised to violence (Sharif 1999). Consequently, they may feel that violence is a plausible and acceptable way in solving problems. Furthermore, some children attempt to imitate the superhero in the television shows they have watched. For instance, there were children jumped out of trees in Superman costumes and got themselves injured (Sharif 1999). Besides, the stereotyped movies showing the narrow roles of characters played by the women and men in society influence the children’s behaviours towards themselves and others. These evidences prove that television viewing can be actually harmful by forming disfavour behaviours among children.

--------------------------------------------------
Prolonged periods in front of the television which is a sedentary activity can trigger many health problems such as obesity and related diseases. Nowadays, people, especially the youngsters, become inured to the habits of indulging themselves with snacks while watching television (Rutherford 2002). The elevated number of couch potatoes is intractable as it spreads erratically without control. Meanwhile, extended periods in front of the television mean that children are not being physically active (Sharif 1999). Moreover, children may become autistic as television viewing encourages the development of antisocial behaviour. Briefly, obesity will become the most discernible fallout when children consume too much calories, adding to the dearth of physical exercises.

--------------------------------------------------
In conclusion, I strongly believe that television viewing can bring harmful effects such as underdevelopment of thinking skills, negative forms of behaviours and unhealthy lifestyles. The negative effects of television viewing are stark, albeit, some people assert that its pros outweigh the cons. However, I am prone to the stance that television viewing brings more harms than benefits. A balance point on television viewing should be adhered in order to best utilise the television by minimising its negative effects and at the same time get ourselves refreshed and ready to concentrate on things like homework (Rutherford 2002).

Final version of the argumentative essay(Junk Food)

The recent arise of junk food issue that jeopardized the children’s health has alerted the schools to scrutinise the selling of junk food in school canteens. Junk food is food that is perceived to be unhealthy and of low nutritional value (Family Journal 2005). According to the statistics published in Health Foundation(2005), out of 13 most popular snack foods, 6 of them are of low nutritional value while 3 are of moderate nutritional value. The prevalent consuming of junk food is aggrandising even though the public are acknowledged with its pitfalls. I strongly believe that the sale of junk food in school canteens should be banned because excessive junk food consumption leads to childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and disposal problem.

-------------------------------------------

One of the detrimental effects of consuming junk food is childhood obesity, which may contribute to many future cases(Weekend News 2005). According to Weekend News(2005), consumption of junk food raises the kilojoule intake of the students and the situation is worsened when they do not exercise much. Besides, obesity problem is also contributed by the high content of fat and sugar in junk foods. For instance, Steven Reynolds says that the sale of junk food in school canteen gives the youngsters the wrong thought that they can consume junk food whenever they like without any consequences(Weekend News 2005). Parallel to the drifting of junk food consumption, statistics from Australian Nutrition Journal(2004) shows that the percentage of Australian children aged 12-14 that intake sugar in the level more than recommended intake is far outweigh the percentage of children that intake in ideal level. Therefore, sale of junk food in school canteens should be confined to prevent any peril consequences.
------------------------------------------

Secondly, I agree with the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens as junk food hinders the healthy growth of the children. Junk food contains chemical additives to enhance flavour and colour and to increase shelf life. These addictives build hyperactive children who have poor concentration(Family Journal 2005). Regards to The Food Show(2005), a child psychologist voices out that there is research showing the reducing unhealthy foods in children’s diets can improve their behaviour. Besides, nutrients required for healthy development and growth are not supplied by junk food. Consequently, their learning potential will be reduced. A teacher from Hillview Primary feels that the students become calmer after a lunch with no junk food consumption. In short, junk food should be banned to make sure the students can have a holistic growth.

------------------------------------------------

Thirdly, the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens is encouraged as it triggers the litter problem. Students prone to discard their junk food package anywhere other than trash bins. The schools end up having a dirty compound with plastic wrappers all on the floor. According to Family Journal(2005), litter increases cleaning costs and creates bad reputation of our communities. It is proven that the removal of junk food in school canteens reduces the litter problem. Consequently, school groundsman can have more time for beneficial maintenance projects rather than spending the whole day just for cleaning. Thus, the banning of junk food in school canteens can ensure a cleaner and better environment for effective learning.

---------------------------------------------------

In a nutshell, the sale of junk food in school canteens causes childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and litter problem. Although the sale of junk food in the school canteens generates vast funds for the schools, but it contradicts with the health education they learnt in school. The negative fallouts should not be neglected. In order to move the country a step forward, we have to ameliorate their growing environment to assure the young generations are capable to lead the country in the future. Last but not least, I am against the sale of junk food in school canteens.

Fatal crash driver 'too busy chatting up passenger'

Sean Fewster, Court Reporter , From: AdelaideNow , May 06, 2010 12:53PM

A DRUNK and drugged driver was more interested in "chatting up" a backseat passenger - and asking to see her breasts - than in watching the road minutes before a head-on crash, a court has heard.

Matthew Scott Shepperd was therefore unable to avoid another drunken driver, resulting in a collision that killed his cousin Bettina Appelt.

Today, prosecutor Kos Lesses told the District Court it was not the first time Shepperd had put the community at risk - nor the last.

"He has a prior conviction for driving with excess blood alcohol of .147, just under three times the legal limit," he said.

"Subsequent to this crash, he accelerated through a crowded car park with a reading of .194, almost four times the legal limit.

"This man, frankly, has problems with alcohol and driving, which we say is sufficient basis for an immediate jail term."

Shepperd, 27, of Sheidow Park, pleaded guilty to one count of driving in a manner dangerous to the public.

In November 2007 he was driving himself, Ms Appelt, her partner Rachal Shepard and another woman down Wheatland Rd, Seacliff.

His car was hit head-on by a vehicle driven by Mark Lewis David Henson, whose blood alcohol level was five times over the limit.

Henson was last year jailed for a minimum 27 months, and disqualified from driving for 15 years, for causing Ms Appelt's death.

Today, Mr Lesses said the group had been drinking and smoking cannabis prior to the crash.
"Shepperd was very drunk, his words were slurred, his eyes were glassy, he staggered and was falling down," he said.

"Witnesses said he was trying to chat up the other woman and `behaving like a bit of a wanker'.

"While driving, he kept turning around to talk to the woman instead of watching the road, saying `show me your tits'."

Grant Algie, for Shepperd, said his client's crime was less serious than those who drive recklessly, aggressively or with "willful" disregard for the law.

"He did not cause this crash or its terrible consequences," he said.
"There was really nothing he could have done."

Judge Julie McIntrye will sentence Shepperd on Monday.

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Comment:
It is so ridiculous that someone risked his and others’ lives by driving in unconsciousness, and even sacrificed his cousin’s life for paying no attention during driving. The news reflects that there are many drunkards who have been punished before still drive with body blood alcohol level exceed the limit. This situation endangers all the drivers on the road, passengers and passerby who are sober. The innocent one may be involved in those unnecessary accidents that actually can be avoided. Advice to all the drivers, drive safely, for yourselves and for the rest.

Argumentative Essay (Junk Food) - Draft #2

The recent arise of junk food issue that jeopardized the children’s health has alerted the schools to scrutinise the selling of junk food in school canteens. Junk food is food that is perceived to be unhealthy and of low nutritional value (Family Journal 2005). According to a statistics published in Health Foundation(2005), out of 13 most popular snack foods, 6 of them are of low nutritional value while 3 are of moderate nutritional value. The prevalent consuming of junk food is aggrandising even though the public are acknowledged with its pitfalls. I strongly believe that the sale of junk food in school canteens should be banned because excessive junk food consumption leads to childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and disposal problem.

---------------------------------

One of the detrimental effects of consuming junk food is childhood obesity, which may contribute to many future cases(Weekend News 2005). According to Weekend News(2005), consumption of junk food raises the kilojoule intake of the students and the situation is worsened when they do not exercise much. Besides, obesity problem is also contributed by the high content of fat and sugar in junk foods. For instance, Steven Reynolds says that the sale of junk food in school canteen gives the youngsters the wrong thought that they can consume junk food whenever they like without any consequences(Weekend News 2005). Parallel to the drifting of junk food consumption, statistics from Australian Nutrition Journal(2004) shows that the percentage of Australian children aged 12-14 that intake sugar in the level more than recommended intake is far outweigh the percentage of children that intake in ideal level. Therefore, sale of junk food in school canteens should be confined to prevent any peril consequences.

-------------------------------------------
Secondly, I agree with the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens as junk food hinders the healthy growth of the children. Junk food contains chemical additives to enhance flavour and colour and to increase shelf life. These addictives build hyperactive children who have poor concentration(Family Journal 2005). Regards to The Food Show(2005), a child psychologist voices out that there is research showing the reducing unhealthy foods in children’s diets can improve their behaviour. Besides, nutrients required for healthy development and growth are not supplied by junk food. Consequently, their learning potential will be reduced. A teacher from Hillview Primary feels that the students become calmer after a lunch with no junk food consumption. In short, junk food should be banned to make sure the students can have a holistic growth.
---------------------------------------------

Thirdly, the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens is encouraged as it triggers the litter problem. Students prone to discard their junk food package anywhere other than trash bins. The schools end up having a dirty compound with plastic wrappers all on the floor. According to Family Journal(2005), litter increases cleaning costs and creates bad reputation of our communities. It is proven that the removal of junk food in school canteens reduces the litter problem. Consequently, school groundsman can have more time for beneficial maintenance projects rather than spending the whole day just for cleaning. Thus, the banning of junk food in school canteens can ensure a cleaner and better environment for effective learning.

---------------------------------------------------
In a nutshell, the sale of junk food in school canteens causes childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and litter problem. Although the sale of junk food in the school canteens generates vast funds for the schools, but it contradicts with the health education they learnt in school. The negative fallouts should not be neglected. In order to move the country a step forward, we have to ameliorate their growing environment to assure the young generations are capable to lead the country in the future. Last but not least, I am against the sale of junk food in school canteens.

Argumentative Essay (Junk Food) - Draft #1

Argue either for or against the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens.

The recent arise of junk food issue that jeopardized the children’s health has alerted the schools to scrutinise the selling of junk food in school canteens. Junk food is food that is perceived to be unhealthy and of low nutritional value (Family Journal 2005). According to a statistics published in Health Foundation(2005), out of 13 most popular snack foods, 6 of them are of low nutritional value while 3 are of moderate nutritional value. The prevalent consuming of junk food is aggrandising even though the public are acknowledged with its pitfalls. I strongly believe that the sale of junk food in school canteens should be banned because excess junk food consuming leads to childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and disposal problem.

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One of the detrimental effects of consuming junk food is childhood obesity, which contributes to future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers (Weekend News 2005). According to Weekend News(2005), consumption of junk food raises the kilojoule intake of the students and trigger weight gain. The situation is worsened when they do not exercise much. Besides, obesity problem is also contributed by the high content of fat and sugar in junk foods. For instance, Professor Steven Reynolds is against the sale of junk food in school canteen because it gives the youngsters the wrong thought that they can consume junk food whenever they like without any consequences(Weekend News 2005). Parallel to the drifting of junk food consumption, statistics from Australian Nutrition Journal(2004) shows that the percentage of Australian children aged 12-14 that intake sugar in the level more than recommended intake is far outweigh the percentage of children that intake in ideal level. Therefore, sale of junk food in school canteens should be confined to prevent any peril consequences.

--------------------------------
Secondly, I agree with the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens as junk food hinders the healthy growth of the children. Junk food contains chemical additives to enhance flavour and colour and to increase shelf life. These addictives build hyperactive children who have poor concentration(Family Journal 2005). Regards to The Food Show(2005), a child psychologist voices that there is research showing the reducing unhealthy foods in children’s diets can improve their behaviour. Besides, nutrients required for healthy development and growth are not supplied by junk food. Consequently, their learning potential will be reduced. A teacher from Hillview Primary feels that the students become calmer after a lunch with no junk food consumption. In short, junk food should be banned to make sure the students can have a holistic growth.

-------------------------------------
Thirdly, the banning of the sale of junk food in school canteens is encouraged as it triggers the litter problem. Students prone to discard their junk food package anywhere other than trash bins. According to Family Journal(2005), litter increases cleaning costs and creates bad reputation of our communities. It is proven that the removal of junk food in school canteens reduces the litter problem. Consequently, school groundsman can have more time for beneficial maintenance projects rather than spending the whole day just for cleaning. Thus, the banning of junk food in school canteens can ensure a cleaner school compounds for effective learning.

-----------------------------------

In a nutshell, the sale of junk food in school canteens causes childhood obesity, unhealthy growth and litter problem. Although the sale of junk food in the school canteens generates vast funds for the schools, but it contradicts with the health education they learnt in school. The negative fallouts should not be neglected. In order to move the country a step forward, we have to ameliorate their growing environment to assure the young generations are capable to lead the country in the future. Last but not least, I am against the sale of junk food in school canteens.

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::Please leave some comments after reading:: ^^

Text Production #DRAFT 3

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how can they be arrested?

The unparalleled rising in world average temperature has startled the public of how grave the earth is jeopardized in this industrial revolution. Global warming which has come to the forefront is an intractable issue arose from the trapping of heat inside the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. Array plausible researches show that the world is experiencing substantial spike in temperatures, yet not much efficacious measures are being conducted even if the public is exposed to unadulterated view of its detrimental fallouts. Our planet is taking a heavy toll resulting in a fair chunk of disastrous consequences such as climbing temperature which lead to topography changes and losses of lives which deserve swift actions to deter the deteriorating situation.

According to Holli Riebeek(2007), inordinate temperature and rainfalls are the most conspicuous effects of global warming. Since 1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased 35 percent, while temperatures have gone up between 0.6℃ and 0.9℃ (Riebeek 2007). The erratic increase in temperature leads to the breaking of Larsen-B ice shelf in the Antarctic Peninsula and the melting of ice in Himalaya, Switzerland and Alps. Besides, flood in Europe, China and India triggered by the melting of land-based ice is a paradox as global warming also causes droughts when water evaporates rapidly and the land cracks due to extreme dryness. According to the film An Inconvenient Truth(2007), Lake Chad, which was once one of the world largest lakes dried up over the last few decades to almost nothing. Significantly, the earth’s geographical features will change dramatically if the world remains unperturbed with the emanated warnings from climate change.

Global warming also potentially plagued the living creatures particularly when the heat wave in Europe killed 35000 people. The escalating ocean temperature leads to rage storms and horrendous hurricanes such as the most destructive Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The higher elevation of mosquitoes and other vectors also causes the outbreak of many infectious epidemics, such as SARS and Avian Flu. Besides, with a relatively rapid climate change, plants and animals may not be able to adapt quickly enough—and many will become extinct (Woodford 2006). For instance, the film An Inconvenient Truth(2007) mentions that coral reefs are bleached and pine trees in United States face vigorous attack from pine beetles. In short, innocent lives will be sacrificed if the sophisticated countries still show lackadaisical attitude over this issue.

Severe degradation of environment that brings lots of negative consequences should no longer be neglected. Therefore, we as the provisional parasites of the planet should rise to arrest the aggravating conditions. The use of machines or equipments efficiencies and renewable technologies will help us to achieve carbon dioxide emission in 1970. You can use fluorescent lamps in your home, switch to renewable energy, bicycle, walk, or take busses instead of using cars (Woodford 2006). Almost every country takes part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions either by joining Kyoto Protocol or establishes their own acts. It is unethical to let the situation worsens, so let’s put your knowledge into action (An Inconvenient Truth 2007).

In a nutshell, global warming triggers the abnormal rise in temperature and rainfalls, besides threatens the living creatures. Thus, proponents should advocate everybody to implement rigorous measures in combating this knotty moral issue. We do not have to choose between the economy and environment because economy would not exist if we do not have a planet, wealth and job opportunities would be the fruits if we are doing the right thing, consequently, the economy will inevitably, moves forward. The solutions are in our hands (An Inconvenient Truth 2007). It is inconceivable to root out global warming as greenhouse gases are long-lived, however, we can at least do something to minimise the degree to which global warming changes lives on earth.

Text Production #DRAFT 2

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how can they be arrested?

The unparalleled rising in world average temperature has startled the public of how grave the earth is jeopardized in this industrial revolution. Global warming which has come to the forefront is an intractable issue arose from the trapping of heat inside the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. Array plausible researches show that the world is experiencing substantial spike in temperatures, yet not much efficacious measures are being conducted even if the public is exposed to unadulterated view of its detrimental fallouts. Our planet is taking a heavy toll resulting in a fair chunk of disastrous consequences such as climbing temperature which lead to topography changes and losses of lives which deserve swift actions to deter the deteriorating situation.

According to Holli Riebeek, inordinate temperature and rainfalls are the most conspicuous effects of global warming. Since 1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased 35 percent, while temperatures have gone up between 0.6℃ and 0.9℃. (Riebeek, 2007) The erratic increase in temperature leads to the breaking of Larsen-B ice shelf in the Antarctic Peninsula and the melting of ice in Himalaya, Switzerland and Alps. Besides, flood in Europe, China and India triggered by the melting of land-based ice is a paradox as global warming also causes droughts when water evaporates rapidly and the land cracks due to extreme dryness. For example, Lake Chad, which was once one of the world largest lakes dried up over the last few decades to almost nothing. (Al Gore, 2007) Significantly, the earth’s geographical features will change dramatically if the world remains unperturbed with the emanated warnings from climate change.

Global warming also potentially plagued the living creatures particularly when the heat wave in Europe killed 35000 people. The escalating ocean temperature leads to rage storms and horrendous hurricanes such as the most destructive Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The higher elevation of mosquitoes and other vectors also causes the outbreak of many infectious epidemics, such as SARS and Avian Flu. Besides, with a relatively rapid climate change, plants and animals may not be able to adapt quickly enough—and many will become extinct.(Woodford, 2006) For instance, pine trees in United States face vigorous attack from pine beetles while coral reefs are bleached because of global warming and other factors. (Al Gore, 2007) In short, innocent lives will be sacrificed if the sophisticated countries still show lackadaisical attitude over this issue.

Severe degradation of environment that brings lots of negative consequences should no longer be neglected. Therefore, we as the provisional parasites of the planet should rise to arrest the aggravating conditions. The use of machines or equipments efficiencies and renewable technologies will help us to achieve carbon dioxide emission in 1970. You can use fluorescent lamps in your home, switch to renewable energy, bicycle, walk, or take busses instead of using cars. (Woodford, 2006) Almost every country takes part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions either by joining Kyoto Protocol or establishes their own acts. It is unethical to let the situation worsens, so let’s put your knowledge into action. (Al Gore, 2007)

In the nutshell, global warming triggers the abnormal rise in temperature and rainfalls, besides threatens the living creatures. Thus, proponents should advocate everybody to implement rigorous measures in combating this knotty moral issue. We do not have to choose between the economy and environment because economy would not exist if we do not have a planet, wealth and job opportunities would be the fruits if we are doing the right thing, consequently, the economy will inevitably, moves forward. The solutions are in our hands. (Al Gore, 2007) It is inconceivable to root out global warming as greenhouse gases are long-lived, however, we can at least do something to minimise the degree to which global warming changes lives on earth.

Text Production #DRAFT 1

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how can they be arrested?

The unparalleled rising in world average temperature has startled the public of how grave the earth is jeopardized in this industrial revolution. Although the intractable global warming issue has come to the forefront, many countries still remain unperturbed with the emanated warnings from the climate change. Global warming is the negative effect arose from the trapping of heat inside the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. Array plausible researches show that the world is experiencing substantial spike in temperatures, yet not much efficacious measures are being conducted even if the public is exposed to unadulterated view of its detrimental fallouts. Our planet is currently taking a heavy toll resulting in a fair chunk of disastrous consequences such as climbing temperature which lead to topography changes and losses of lives and species which deserve swift actions to deter the deteriorating situation.

According to Holli Riebeek, inordinate temperature and rainfalls are the most conspicuous effect of global warming. Since 1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased 35 percent, while temperatures have gone up between 0.6℃ and 0.9℃. (Holli Riebeek, 2007) The erratic increase in temperature leads to the breaking of Larsen-B ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula and the melting of ice in Himalaya, Switzerland and Alps. Besides, the melting of land-based ice triggered by the melting of sea-based ice also leads to the occurrence of flood in Europe, China and India. Paradoxically, global warming also causes more droughts when water evaporates rapidly and the land cracks due to extreme dryness. Lake Chad, once one of the largest lakes in the world also dried up over the last few decades to almost nothing.(Al Gore, 2007) Significantly, the geographical features of the earth will change dramatically if the world pays invariable concern towards this issue.

Global warming also potentially plagued the living creatures particularly when the heat wave in Europe killed 35000 people. The escalating ocean temperature leads to rage storms and horrendous hurricanes such as the most destructive Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The higher elevation of mosquitoes and other vectors also causes the outbreak of many infectious epidemics, such as SARS and Avian Flu. Besides, with a relatively rapid climate change, plants and animals may not be able to adapt quickly enough—and many will become extinct.(Chris Woodford, 2006) Coral reefs in the whole world are bleached because of global warming and other factors. (Al Gore, 2007) In Arctic, polar bears may be unable to survive if the sea ice melts and in United States, pine trees face vigorous attack from pine beetles that are usually killed by the cold winter weather. In short, innocent lives will be sacrificed if the sophisticated countries still show lackadaisical attitude over the impacts of global warming.

The aggravating conditions that bring lots of negative consequences should no longer be neglected. Therefore, provisional parasites of the planet, such as people from all social strata should rise to arrest the severe degradation of the environment. Al Gore opinions that the use of more efficient electricity appliances, end-use, carbon capture and storage, passenger vehicle and other transport and renewable technologies will help us to achieve carbon dioxide emission in 1970. You can replace the incandescent lamps in your home with energy-saving fluorescent lamps, switch to renewable energy, bicycle, walk, or take the bus from time to time instead of using cars. (Chris Woodford, 2006) Nowadays, almost every country takes part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions either by joining Kyoto Protocol or has their own acts. It is unethical to let the situation worsens, so let’s put your knowledge into action. (Al Gore, 2007)

In the nutshell, global warming is threatening the earth, environment and living creatures. Proponents should advocate everybody to implement rigorous measures in combating this knotty moral issue start from today. We do not have to choose between the economy and environment because economy would not exist if we do not have a planet, wealth and job opportunities would be the fruits if we are doing the right thing, consequently, the economy will inevitably, moves forward. The solutions are in our hands. (Al Gore, 2007) It is inconceivable to root out global warming as greenhouse gases are long-lived, however, we can at least do something to minimise the degree to which global warming changes lives on earth.

-------------------------------------------------------

I'm glad if everyone can leave some comments after reading, so i can know where my weaknesses are ^^

Woman fined $9000 after caught living in car with 23 animals

By Lean Fineran

AN Australian woman who lived in her car with 23 pets - 12 of which were cats - has been fined $9000 and forced to surrender all the animals to authorities.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported Carol Lynette Samuels, 66, said she was a successful cat breeder but tough financial times last year had forced her to move out of a $1.5 million mansion on Macleay Island in Moreton Bay.

She told the Southport Magistrates Court she no choice but to move into her car along with her pets which she considered to be her "children".

An RSPCA inspector found Samuels and her pets in the undercover carpark of the Arundel Shopping Plaza in September after a complaint.

The court was told inside the car, which stank of ammonia, the inspector found 11 long-haired Persian cats and a Himalayan cat inside seven cages on the back seat and nine Pomeranian dogs and two poodles beside the car.

Vet checks showed the cats were malnourished had matted fur, fleas and cat flu. The RSPCA seized the animals and one cat had to be put down.

Samuels yesterday pleaded guilty to nine counts of breaching the Animal Care and Protection Act by failing her duty of care to feed, clean and provide adequate shelter for the cats.

"I'd lost an awful lot and a didn't want to lose my cats as well because they are the only family I've got," she said.

Magistrate Michael Hogan fined her $4000 and ordered her to pay the RSPCA $5000 for veterinary care and to pay $73.80 in court costs.

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Critique:
This is one of the special news i have ever read. It again implies the various characters in this world, some treat their pets like their own children, just like Samuels in the context above, controversially some tyrannize the tiny lives just like they arent living creatures. However, it is so exaggerating than one will see her own living less important than breeding 23 animals until she sold her mansion and lived in a car with her so-called children. The seizing of her pets must have left her in great agony as she has lost her home and now her children. It is just so unbearable that it needs time to fill up the void in her heart.

::oyaya in penang::

happy holiday~

When Farm Sprays go astray- The Australian

Leigh Dayton and Matthew Denholm ( April 11, 2009 12:02AM )
WHEN fisheries veterinarian Matthew Landos got his first look at the double-headed fish embryos in a Queensland hatchery, he had no idea he would soon team up with a Tasmanian doctor worried that the widespread use of agricultural and forestry chemicals was making her patients sick.

"In hindsight it makes perfect sense. If exposure to agricultural chemicals could cause deformed and dying fish, as the evidence suggests, of course the chemicals had the potential to trigger serious health problems with other animals, including people," says Landos, who runs a consulting practice called Future Fisheries Veterinary Services and is a research associate and honorary lecturer with the University of Sydney.

Late last year hatchery owner Gwen Gilson hired Landos to find out why - after years of healthy hatchings - embryos and fish fry were dying in huge numbers, while others showed bizarre physical or behavioural abnormalities. His investigation suggested the problem was the result of a cocktail of chemicals sprayed on a nearby macadamia plantation.

Pathology reports on Gilson's fish, written by Roger Chong of Queensland's Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, backed Landos's conclusion. It revealed the deaths, deformities and behavioural abnormalities of fish and fish fry were consistent with exposure to the types of agrichemicals used to treat macadamia trees.

Landos's work led to a report last January in The Australian of a possible cancer cluster among residents living close to the plantation. The residents have since asked Queensland Health to investigate. That coverage struck a chord for Alison Bleaney, a GP at St Helens on Tasmania's east coast.

About a decade ago Bleaney began wondering why so many of her patients were getting so sick. "I just started feeling something wasn't right. It just didn't make sense." She was seeing a rise in cancers, auto-immune diseases, diabetes, thyroid problems, reproductive difficulties, children with behavioural problems and lots of flu-like illnesses.

The situation puzzled her for years until, in 2003, a helicopter used for aerial spraying of agrichemicals crashed in a forest plantation in the upper George River catchment. A short time later, there were mass deaths of oysters in Georges Bay.

"Suddenly I thought, 'What is happening to our drinking water?'," Bleaney says. "There had been a rapid increase in plantation areas in the catchment and a corresponding increase in pesticide use. It struck me, and still strikes me, as being consistent with the timing."

Turning to scientific reports, Bleaney concluded that the rise in local cancer cases she had documented between 1995 and 2005 made sense. Agrichemicals and cancer go hand in hand, she thought, despite Tasmanian Director of Public Health, Roscoe Taylor, finding no evidence to back her fears.
Although Taylor found no proof of a cancer cluster in Bleaney's data, he remains concerned about some commonly-used agricultural chemicals which are applied by aerial spraying in drinking water catchments. He has called for an end to all aerial spraying.

Today, Landos and Bleaney are waving the warning flag for all Australians, not just Queenslanders and Tasmanians. They point to a growing body of international scientific and circumstantial evidence suggesting that the fungicides, pesticides and weed killers used on the nation's farms and forests can cause a range of human health problems. These run from transient stomach pain and headache to far more serious conditions such as reproductive and neurological disorders, and even cancer.

While many of the studies are conducted on experimental animals such as fish, experts suggest that because backboned animals share biological systems with people, the findings are worrying.

One scientist exposing human cells to agrichemicals such as endosulfan in the laboratory is Dayanthi Nugegoda, , an ecotoxicologist with RMIT in Melbourne.

"Endosulfan is terrible," says Nugegoda. "We found it's very toxic in our in-house experiments."
The active agents in the so-called agrichemicals on Landos's and Bleaney's personal hit-list include wetting agents that break down into compounds such as nonylphenol, known to disrupt hormonal production, organophosphate, a known neurotoxin, and carbendazim, a hormone disruptor which also causes developmental abnormalities in foetuses.

Farmers often use more than one of these toxic agents on their crops, says Landos.
"A NSW Department of Primary Industries study of vegetable residues found up to six residues on individual vegetable crops."

Worse, when two or more such chemicals are combined they may pack a mightier punch than each would individually. Earlier this year US researchers reported they had observed exactly that in a study of the effects on young fish of various mixtures of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.

"Several combinations of organophosphates were lethal at concentrations that were sublethal in single-chemical trials," they wrote in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (doi:10.12889/ehp.0800096).
Then there's atrazine and a related compound called simazine. Used to prevent weed growth in tree plantations and in most agricultural food productions in Australia, these "triazines" disrupt human hormones.
Developmental endocrinologist Tyrone Hayes, with the University of California at Berkeley, has conducted laboratory experiments that show atrazine promotes the growth of breast cancer cells by altering the production of the hormone oestrogen.

On a visit to Hobart last month, organised by Bleaney, Hayes told Weekend Health the triazine-cancer phenomenon had been neatly exploited by industry.

"The same company that makes atrazine (as a herbicide) spun out a new company that makes an anti-breast cancer medication that blocks its action," he says, noting that the company involved has complained formally to UC administrators about his public pronouncements on the subject.

Similarly, Landos's and Bleaney's concerns are not welcome in Australian industry circles. The Australian Macadamia Society and forestry giant Gunns Limited, for instance, dispute the suggestion that their agrichemicals make anyone sick.

They argue that they follow safety guidelines set by state authorities and the national regulator, the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority.

Setting aside the possibility of misuse of the agrichemicals, both outfits are right. The chemicals are approved for use by the APVMA. And that's exactly the problem, the critics argue.

Speaking of the triazines, Hayes says: "My professional opinion is that I don't think they can be used safely. They harm the environment and human health and reproduction. We need to protect the people using it and manufacturing it".

Hayes may get his wish, at least in the US. Atrazine is at present under review by the US Environmental Protection Agency. As well, a bill to ban it outright is before Congress, where Congressman Keith Ellison is leading the push to get a full hearing on the matter in key committees.

In Australia, the APVMA has no plans to review atrazine. But the Tasmanian Government has requested a formal review of triazines due their persistence in waterways potentially sourced for drinking.
As to organophosphates, they too are approved for specific uses by the APVMA. And carbendazim? It's been under review by the AVPMA since 2007.

According to Hayes, they too should be banned, along with another group of insecticides, the pyrethroids.
"They're so toxic I don't study them because the harm they cause to animals is so early in development it's too early to study their endocrine systems," he says.

[Full article click here]
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Summary:

Matthew Landos, a fisheries veterinarian who saw the double-headed fish embryos in a Queensland hatchery teams up with a Tasmanian doctor to halt the spreading of life-threatening agricultural and forestry chemicals. Landos voices that the agricultural chemicals may affect the growth of marine lives and put the animals, including people’s lives on risk. An investigation shows that the deformation and abnormal behaviours of fish are mainly caused by the chemical sprayed on a nearby macadamia plantation. There was also an increase in the number of patients suffering different kinds of illnesses. The bizarre situation puzzled Alison Bleaney, a GP at St Helens on Tasmania's east coast until the incident of massive deaths of oysters in Georges Bay due to the aerial spraying. It is proven that endosulfan threatens human cells, worse when it is concocted with atrazine, triazines or more other chemicals. However, those chemicals are permitted for use by the Australian Pesticide & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the approvals of these chemicals raise the conflicts among the nations. According to this, Tasmanian Government has asked for a formal review of triazine even though the APVMA does not plan to review atrazine.

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Critique:

From this article, the use of certain agricultural chemicals such as endosulfan, atrazine and triazines has became a debatable issue as these chemicals may endanger the lives of living creatures. I do agree that the approval of these chemicals by APVMA should be reviewed to prevent the further widespread of the negative impacts on humans and animals. Although these agricultural chemicals help to improve the quality of macadamia plantation, but the issue brought by the use of these chemicals should gained more concern by the Australian government,the Queenslanders and Tasmanians. There must be other chemicals that are more appropriate to be used, and I believe that it is not a big deal for the current advanced technology to invent a new chemical.

--Welcome to leave your comments-- HUHU

:: oyaya @ RC4-L12 ::

Chinese New Year survives wild weather

THE tiger roared as Chinese New Year celebrations kicked off in Sydney under a blanket of rain but thousands of cultural revellers remained captivated.
Thunderstorms closed in on Belmore Park in Sydney's CBD shortly after 7pm (AEDT) tongiht for the launch of the Chinese New Year 2010.

Celebrating The Year of the Tiger, more than 5,000 people - locals as well as overseas visitors - sampled Chinese food from dozens of stalls and took in authentic performances.

Visiting artists from Chongqing City in China performed an ancient face-changing ritual in which they wore brightly-coloured masks, swapped within a fraction of a second.

Other performances included lion dances, roving entertainers and a contemporary dance by Chen Wen of Sydney Dance Company.

But just before the good times rolled, rain bucketed down, forcing some revellers out of the park and under cover.

Luckily, most people brought umbrellas and remained for the festivities which saw rain ease and almost abate by the time scheduled fireworks concluded events.

British tourists Tom and Gemma Fowler found about the festival on the internet before they embarked on their Australian holiday.

The couple and their two young daughters, who live in Colchester about 100km from London, chose to spend their last night at the launch because they don't see much of other cultures back home.

"I quite like Chinese New Year stuff and I wanted to see what was going on here,'' Mrs Fowler told AAP.

Tessa Boyd-Cainem, who has been living overseas for the past five years, said she was surprised to find the launch had "become a really big thing''.

"I've always wanted to check it out but I've missed all the others in Sydney,'' she said.

The Chinese New Year Festival runs for nearly three weeks and will showcase 40 events, including Chinese markets, a film festival and a performance of Chinese opera.

The celebrations conclude on February 28 with the finals of the dragon boat race competition on Darling Harbour.

More than 600,000 people attended the 2009 Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney.

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Critique:

Chinese New Year is just a day ahead! i think not only the chinese but everyone is anticipating. Over in Australia, the sudden rain almost spoil the chinese new year celebration. However in Malaysia, once again we experience the scorching new year sun and the freaking hot weather. The hot weather irritates the chinese because they always end up having their new clothes wet with sweat after house-to-house visit. So, its new year again, and we could feel the hotness since a week ago, the hot weather hints us " Chinese New Year is coming!!"

GONG XI FA CAI!

enjoy ur chinese new year holiday~

LET GO

life is unpredictable,
sometimes people may say,our life is in our hands,
we can twist it,consummate it or ruin it,
However,its not always true,
life is sometimes uncontrollable when something is fated to be happened..
---------------------------------------
i think everyone knows about the tragedy involved a family of our friend,
i know it is difficult for me to fathom the pain felt by her family,
but yet i could sense her pressure and agony,
i can do nothing for her,
but to help a little bit from her studies and support her..
-----------------------------------------
Quote from mr.yee:

Let It Be,
Just Let Go and Do Your Best

Things that already happened can not be restarted,
but things that havent happen can still be halted,
since we do not know whats going to happen next,
why dont we just treasure each seconds and make our lives worthful..
-----------------------------------------
Foresee our bright future and walk towards it!
Let the passed be the PASSED

::back to normal::

oyaya

Lazybug eats nothing

Yo..it has been so long after my last article..
be frank,i have no clues at all on what to blog,
Since it's still my blog,i should keep it updated,
atleast once a few months,not neglecting it..
--------------------------------------------
It is a brand new year,
where we have more setbacks to encounter,
more challenges to overcome and more achievements to be reached,
i always have some uncanny feeling in this new semester,
no matter in the classroom or in the room,
seems like 2months holiday had brought some subtle changes,
or maybe im the one who changed~
yea~ appearantly, i had made some changes on my hairstyle,especially the colour..
but i received more negative feedbacks than positive one..
sobx! /\
-------------------------------------------
Time flees and everything is like go-and-pass in an extremely fast pace,
next on the chinese new year,valentine's,........................
So as the public exam,it's approaching!
and i could feel that people are getting serious over the academic,
The 2months holiday supposed to be a recharged for us,
but i felt the negative way,i had not get ample rest..
and so i feel tired now..
its not that i disparage my capability,
but i really doubt my ability to fight till the end..
--------------------------------------------
This is life~
so just enjoy it to the fullest and make it as meaningful as you could,
besides holding your responsibility as a student,...
--------------------------------------------
People, lets live the way it lives..

::oyaya::