Text Production #2

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

It is admittedly that we are currently facing a dominating issue concerning our mother Earth—global warming. Although the scientific and technological revolution has led human beings a luxurious and convenient life, this blessing ceases to be a tremendous advantage when it has simultaneously brought us into a life of devastation. As a matter of fact, global warming, or simply defined as the gradual rise of Earth’s temperature, is caused by a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect. Scientists believe that the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide is the major contribution to global warming. Accordingly, it is imperative for us to explore the potential aftermath of global warming in terms of climate change and subsequently map out compatible strategies to resolve this issue to its minimum.

One of the feasible impacts of global warming has to deal with the geographical change of the Earth. Sea-level rise is an inevitable consequence. Chris Woodford (2006) illustrates that the expansion of sea water and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets are driving up the sea-level. The IPCC estimates that sea levels will rise between 0.18 and 0.59 meters by 2099. Besides, global warming may also shift major climate patterns as well as prolong and intensify current catastrophes such as hurricanes, tornadoes and droughts. There will also be paradoxical phenomenon where a country is facing severe drought at the same time a neighbouring country is having horrendous flood. The rapid disappearance of ice shelf in Antartica and the dramatic topographical change in Greenland are several instances demonstrating the effects of global warming.

Apart from that, global warming may also disturb the world’s ecosystem when the loss of species and lives occur. According to Albert Gore (2007), species loss is now occurring at a rate of 1000 times greater than the natural background rate. A case in point, the warming oceans are bleaching the coral reefs and this has put most of the fish species in jeopardy. Moreover, the erratic climate change will also bring disastrous effects on human beings all over the world. Hotter summers will lead to more cases of heat stroke and deaths. Resurgent infectious diseases such as malaria, are predicted to emerge and cause further deceases. Mosquitoes, for example, breed faster in warmer climates, spreading diseases to more people. (Riebeek, 2007) Furthermore, the intensifying catastrophes such as hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons will sacrifice millions of lives too.

Realising the deleterious impacts we may get from global warming, more pragmatic measures should be implemented to arrest this obstinate problem. Reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and using energy efficiently are those steps that should be put in precedence. For instances, buy energy-efficient appliances, recycle, plant more trees and switch to renewable energy such as solar energy. We can also practise car-pooling, use a bicycle or walk instead of drive a car, or maybe use a hybrid car if possible. In addition, according to Albert Gore (2007), he says that when the warnings are accurate and based on sound science, then we as human beings, whatever country we live in, have to find a way to make sure that the warnings are heard and responding too.

After all is said and done, global warming has the potential to bring us disastrous consequences. The current anomalous climate change should act as a portent to all of us that we are going to reap as we have sown for the worsening global warming. As what Albert Gore (2007) says, we are witnessing a collision between our civilization and the Earth. One may concern about the economic growth when measures of using less energy are carried out, but have we ever thought that how are we going to enjoy the affluence if we do not have a healthy Earth? Ergo, it is up to us as human beings to make the right decision. The fact is, we do have the ability to avert this issue and secure the nature for our next generation.

Aus News 4: Lights go out worldwide for Earth Hour

Nasa satelite image shows the amount of light pollution in the world / AFP Source: Getty Images

The Empire State Building, the Houses of Parliament and the Eiffel Tower all went dark / AFP Source: Getty Images

Sydney Harbour Bridge before the big switch-off / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

And after / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY Opera House fell into darkness last night as millions of lights were switched off across Australia, kicking off a global energy-saving marathon.

Homes and businesses killed their lights at 8.30pm (AEDT) for Earth Hour in an effort to lower the planet's carbon footprint and raise awareness of the environment.

In Sydney, harbour ferry horns blared to signal the rolling event, which began in New Zealand and will wrap up 25 hours later in Apia, Samoa, at 6.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

Earth Hour executive director Andy Ridley said: "I'm so amazed that people take part on the scale that they do and enjoy it, because that's what it's about.

"What we're still looking for in this coming year is a global deal that encourages all countries to lower their emissions and China is going to have to be a big part of that but so is every other major economy."

In December, two weeks of UN talks in Copenhagen failed to produce a binding commitment to limit global warming or set out concrete plans for doing so, in a setback for the environmental movement.

But commitment to change still exists at a grassroot level.

Earth Hour is supported by 4000 cities in a record 125 countries. It also includes 1200 landmarks, among them the Pyramids, the Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower.

For the first time, the Forbidden city in Beijing is also be taking part, along with 20 cities across China, despite the country's resistance at Copenhagen.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 when 2.2 million people switched off the lights in their homes, offices and businesses for 60 minutes to make a point about electricity consumption and carbon pollution.

The campaign went global the following year, and it has now harnessed support from a raft of multinational companies including Google, Coca-Cola, Hilton, McDonalds, Canon, HSBC and IKEA.

Text Production #1

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

It is admittedly that we are currently facing a dominating issue concerning our mother Earth—global warming. Although the scientific and technological revolution has led human beings a luxurious and convenient life, this blessing ceases to be a tremendous advantage when it has simultaneously brought us into a life of devastation. As a matter of fact, global warming, or simply defined as the gradual rise of Earth’s temperature, is caused by a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect. Scientists believe that the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide is the major contribution to global warming. Accordingly, it is imperative for us to explore the potential aftermath of global warming in terms of climate change and subsequently map out compatible strategies to resolve this issue to its minimum.

One of the feasible impacts of global warming has to deal with the geographical change of the Earth. Sea-level rise is an inevitable consequence. Chris Woodford (2006) illustrates that the expansion of sea water and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets are driving up the sea-level. The IPCC estimates that sea levels will rise between 0.18 and 0.59 meters by 2099. Besides, Holli Riebeek (2007) indicates that the rising sea-level will cause more frequent coastal flooding. Global warming may also shift major climate patterns as well as prolong and intensify current catastrophes. There will also be paradoxical phenomenon where a country is facing severe drought at the same time a neighbouring country is having horrendous flood. The rapid disappearance of ice shelf in Antartica and the dramatic topographical change in Greenland are several instances demonstrating the effects of global warming.

Apart from that, global warming may also disturb the world’s ecosystem when the loss of species and lives occur. According to Albert Gore (2007), species loss is now occurring at a rate of 1000 times greater than the natural background rate. A case in point, the warming oceans are bleaching the coral reefs and this has put most of the fish species in jeopardy. Moreover, the erratic climate change will also bring disastrous effects on human beings all over the world. Hotter summers will lead to more cases of heat stroke and deaths. Resurgent infectious diseases are predicted to emerge and cause further deceases. The intensifying catastrophes such as hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons will sacrifice millions of lives too.

Realising the deleterious impacts we may get from global warming, more pragmatic measures should be implemented to arrest this obstinate problem. Reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and using energy efficiently are those steps that should be put in precedence. For instances, buy energy-efficient appliances, recycle, plant more trees and switch to renewable energy such as solar energy. We can also practise car-pooling, use a bicycle or walk instead of drive a car, or maybe use a hybrid car if possible. In addition, according to Albert Gore (2007), he says that when the warnings are accurate and based on sound science, then we as human beings, whatever country we live in, have to find a way to make sure that the warnings are heard and responding too.

After all is said and done, global warming has the potential to bring us disastrous consequences. The current anomalous climate change should act as a portent to all of us that we are going to reap as we have sown for the worsening global warming. As what Albert Gore (2007) says, we are witnessing a collision between our civilization and the Earth. One may concern about the economic growth when measures of using less energy are carried out, but have we ever thought that how are we going to enjoy the affluence if we do not have a healthy Earth? Ergo, it is up to us as human beings to make the right decision. The fact is, we do have the ability to avert this issue and secure the nature for our next generation.

INTI Charity Night

Hey guys, it has been a long time I didn't update my blog...so now is the time for me to share something here with you all...

Last two days (Monday), I went back INTI for Charity Night. Haha, believe it or not guys, I really went for the charity show!! Well, I want to say thank to my friends who sent and accompanied me back to INTI. We reached INTI around 7pm and the show had actually started. We got into the hall at about 7.30pm, and of course we had missed out a few performances. Anyway, we enjoyed the following performances. There was variety of performances, which included performances from each orphanage, INTI club performances, singing and dancing, as well as the highlights of the night--beat box performance, performances from Ultimate Power Groups and the singing session of Anthena Beh.

For your information, the beat boxer, Shawn, is only an 18-year-old guy, yet he is already a world ranking 16th beat boxer. We were amazed of his live performance. Next, there were four performances from the top twelve Ultimate Power Groups. We missed out the first group, but still enjoyed the rest, and not forget to mention about the MC who came along with them was really humour. The last event on the list was the singing session from Anthena Beh. I have to admit that she is a not-really-that-famous singer, and I not even know her even till the time when she performed on the stage. Anyway, though she is not famous, she did sing really well that night.

Overall, I would say that the Charity Night was a success. The organizer managed to hand over a fund of RM1700 to each of the six orphanages. The orphans representing their respective orphanages had performed well throughout the night, especially for the group of boys who performing break dance. It was nice, and cute too. ^^ Some of them are really talented.

I like this kind of event, it’s meaningful and meanwhile can help those who are in need. Hopefully, there will be more charity events in the future, not only in our school, but throughout the world too, spreading LOVE to the world, to those in need.

Sometimes I feel quite sympathetic to the orphans. Do we have to say this is what so-called fate to them, or do we have to point our fingers accusing the irresponsible parents? I wonder.

Aus News 3: Letters, sounds at core of new curriculum

Letters, sounds at core of new curriculum
Justine Ferrari, Education Writer From: The Australian February 25, 2010 12:00AM

ALL states and territories will be forced to follow a set program for teaching reading under the first national English curriculum, which stipulates the letters, sounds and words students must learn in each year of school.

The curriculum, obtained by The Australian, dictates what students from kindergarten until the end of Year 9 are expected to know and be able to do in English, history, science and maths.

The English curriculum, to be released for public consultation next week, enshrines the importance of teaching letter-sound combinations, or phonics, giving examples of the sounds and words to be taught from the start of school. Students in their prep year will learn to sound out simple words such as "cat", recognising the initial, middle and end sounds; by Year 1, they will have learned two consonant sounds such as "st", "br" and "gl".

The national curriculum ends the piecemeal approach to what is taught in schools, with state curriculums emphasising different course content and teaching it at different stages of school.

The new curriculum is a detailed document that provides specific examples and is longer than many existing state syllabuses, some of which are a couple of pages long for each subject.

The curriculum for the senior years of school, from Years 10 to 12, will be released separately by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority later this year.

The English curriculum places a strong emphasis on the study of grammar, from learning different classes of words such as verbs and nouns in the early years through to the difference between finite and non-finite clauses in high school.

In a speech to the National Press Club yesterday, Education Minister Julia Gillard welcomed the "strong appearance" of grammar in the national curriculum.

Announcing its release next Monday, she said the curriculum set out the essential content for each year of learning as well as the achievement standards students should be expected to perform.

"This will not be a curriculum `guide' or a supplement to what states and territories currently teach," she said.

"It will be a comprehensive new curriculum, providing a platform for the highest quality teaching."

Ms Gillard also outlined the next phase of Labor's education revolution, including the external assessment of schools and the introduction of student identity numbers to enable parents and schools to track a child's individual progress through school.

After the speech, a spokesman for Ms Gillard said the government would investigate different systems for assessing school performance in coming months, including a form of school inspectors and the method used in Britain, where the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills conducts detailed inspections of schools and publishes its findings.

"The government believes that some external inspection or assessment of schools would be an additional way of ensuring that our schools are providing the best possible education for our children." the spokesman said.

Ms Gillard said the government would examine "how every school can get the right support and scrutiny to make sure it is performing well and improving in the areas where it needs to improve".

The idea of external assessment of schools was mooted by the national teachers union for public education, the Australian Education Union, in a charter of school accountability reported by The Australian in December.

The AEU proposal advocates a system of regular assessments against a set of standards by a panel of principals, teachers and education experts, and then working with struggling schools to lift performance.

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said yesterday teachers wanted to see the detail of the government's proposal on school assessment before giving their support, although they were still committed to the principle of accountability and external review.

"But the government must consult with teachers," he said.

"We're seeing announcement after announcement without consultation and the Rudd government has to realise that it needs to consult with the profession.

"Ultimately, we're the ones who implement education policy."

Mr Gavrielatos said the union was also not opposed in principle to the idea of student identity numbers and welcomed moves to improve the measure of student progress than that currently used on the My School website.

Tony Abbott said students already had unique identifiers in the form of names, and questioned why their results could not be tracked using their names.

Unforgettable Birthday Celebrations

My 19th birthday is quite unforgettable this year. Thanks to all my friends.^^

My first birthday celebration was done with my INTI friends, on last Wednesday night. Actually they bring forward the celebration as they all will be going back on Thursday night. We were playing cards at dining hall that day and this was actually part of their plans. While i was obsessed playing cards, song of happy birthday came out from behind, ShiLing was carrying a birthday cake towards me and the rest were singing the song. I was quite confused at that moment, wondering whose birthday actually before i got the answer.
I made a wish and there was a traditional event before we could eat the cake,i.e i had to take out one candle from the cake using mouth, and the candle had already been pushed deep inside the cake, the purpose was obvious, i.e to make my face 'creamy'. While i was trying to take the candle out, some of them pushed my head down making my face full of cream!!! Oh my goodness!! My ugliest look had been given to them...LOL. I took about 15 minutes just to clean my face and hair. After that, we took photos and ate the cake and continued to play cards. It was really fun for the brief celebration, and we were scolded by the guard there as we were making a lot of noise, hehe.
Oh yea, before i forget, i wanna say thank you to my roommate siewlin for her 'special gift' that day, it was really special and...funny too, LOL. Actually the gift was just a simple ride on her back, she carried me on her back, and walked around at basketball court, and at that moment i really wondered why she suddenly did so, but later on i got the answer. How cool was it.~~ It seems weird but it really means a lot to me. Thanks ya siewlin, muacksss.....
I can't say that there was no surprise at all, though i could guess it before the celebration. The thing most surprised me was that i never thought the celebration would be carried out in a gambling situation, quite unique in this case, LOL.

For the second birthday celebration, it was celebrated with my friends here in my hometown last night. I was again treated badly by them, LOL.
They had their own plan and trying hard to cheat me just to give me a surprise. However, i could guess it before the surprise came, maybe i'm too clever, haha. A few of them cheat me to a park, and there were others of them waiting for me there. Again, i had to blow the candle(though there is saying that we can't blow the candles for second time). They closed my eyes and brought me to the park. When i reached there and opened my eyes, there was a large box right in front of me. They urged me to open it, and i was thinking would there be a person hiding inside? It's true! One of my friends jumped out from the box when i unwrapped it. How funny was it. As soon as i opened the box, some flour were thrown towards me, and i had successfully 'turned white' in just a few seconds, LOL. After some snapshots, there was again the traditional event of taking out the candle using mouth, and guess what, i was again became 'creamy'. What more funny was, when they wanted to give me the gift, they just found it disappeared!! After searching here and there, they just realised that one of them had accidentally threw it away! Arghhh.....My birthday's gift..TT__TT Anyway, i'm ok with it. Now you should able to see why i said the celebration was unforgettable.
Wanna say thank you to my best friend Jiayi, i know that she was busy on that day actually, as that day was her sister's wedding as well, but she still spent her precious time to celebrate with me, really appreciate it, thanks Jiayi, love you~

Now the time had just passed 12am, it's the first day of CNY!! Happy CNY everyone...Gong Xi Fa Cai~
By the way, my place here is full of firecrackers' sound right now, and the sky is full of fireworks. I like this moment~^^
Enjoy your days ya everyone... got to go and enjoy now...see ya after one week~