zaman international school newspaper issue 61

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

has lots of friends, he washes his hands before someone reminds him to do so… I would like to thank Z.I.S since they give such an opportunity to the parents.”

Some Other Extra-curricular Activities at Zaman P&K1.Sen Souben Picnic (grades 3)2.Visit Cambodian National Assembly (4-A)3.Picnic at Kirirom (5-A)4.Shopping at IBC (1-A, 1-B, 1-C)5.Visit Jelly Factory (2-A, 2-B, 2-C)6.Shopping at Lucky Supermar-ket (2-A, 2-B, 2-C)7.Visit Royal Palace (1-A, 1-B, 1-C)8.Visit National Museum (2-A, 2-B, 2-C)

Add i t iona l l y, c lasses f rom different grades came to school building on Saturdays for review of the lessons, movie watching, celebrating birthdays and pool parties end enjoyed.

Volume 6 Issue 61 December 2008

Zaman International School Primary&Kindergarten Section held “Open House Days” at the last two weeks of October. Parents of KG 1 / 2 and primary grades 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5 visited our

school and had a chance to witness their children's perfor-mance in both Engl ish and Khmer lesson times.It is a fact that all parents wonder how their sons and daughters behave in the classroom. They often ask to teachers if their children are active, attentive in the class or not. For this reason, Zaman International School P&K Section decided to open its doors to parents. In this activity which lasted two weeks, each day parents of two different classes visited lessons. Everyday Z.I.S had average 20-30 visitors. The parents could see their children's performance in the class time. They cou ld see how the i r children listen to the teacher how

they participate in the lesson, how they study by using such devises as projector, smart board and flipcharts. At the end of day, the parents expressed their happiness and thanked to t h e t e a c h e r s a n d s c h o o l administration for their kindness and hospitality with such words:“I had some questions in my m ind my son ' s c l ass room performance, but today my questions are answered and I could see that he can learn lots of things in the class as well as he can enjoy.” (grade 4 parent)“Every day I see my daughter at home. To see her while she is studying in the class was an interesting and exciting experi-ence for me.”“My daughter is a kind of shy. Even at home she does not like to tell what she has done at school. Today I could see where she sits, what she studies, how she answers the questions.”“Today I realized that how my little son grew up! He says “good morning” to all his teachers, he

NEWSPAPER

Prepared By 12-B

ZAMAN NEWSPAPERZaman, Publisher

Mustafa Dur, Editor-in Chief Gurkan Cil, Editor at Large

www.zamanisc.org

day, when all the boats take to the river to compete.

While the contestants pair off to compete in the middle of the river, the river's edge teems with boat crews practicing for their upcoming run, making for a brilliant display with their colorful shirts festooned with their sponsors' logos.

In the evenings, the festivities continue with carnival rides, traditional music performances, and dances.

A wholesome carnival atmosphere prevails for the Water Festival's duration - food and drink overflow in the streets,Khmer pop bands entertain the packed to capacity with punters cheering their favorite boats on.

The Cambodian Water Festival (variously spelled in the original Khmer as Bon Om Touk, or Bon Om Thook, or Bonn Om Teuk, or Bon Om Tuk) takes place once a year, on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk (usually in November). It celebrates a major natural occurrence: the reversing flow between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River.

For most of the year, the Tonle Sap empties into the Mekong River. However, when the rainy season arrives in June, the Mekong rises, reversing the flow to dump water into the lake, increasing its size ten-fold. When the rainy season ends in November, the Mekong drops once more, allowing the current to reverse again, emptying the excess waters of Tonle Sap back into the Mekong.

This natural occurrence is celebrated in Cambodia with three days of festivals, fluvial parades, boat races, fireworks, and general merriment.

An Ancient Thanks to the RiverThen as now, Tonle Sap is a major focus of life for many Cambodians. It's a source of livelihood for fishermen and farmers alike - it's rich in fish stocks, and the silt deposits left by the floods fertilize the fields. No wonder Cambodians have celebrated Bon Om Touk for centuries - it's a way to give back to the river that's given them so much.

Bon Om Touk dates back to the 12th century, to the time of the Angkorian King Jayavarman VII. The Water Fes t iva l was celebrated by the King's Navy to kick off the Cambodian fishing season - the fluvial festivities are meant to keep the river divinities happy, ensuring a bountiful harvest of rice and fish for the year to come.

A competing story holds that Bon Om Touk was a way for the King to prepare his navy for battle. At Bayon near Siem Reap, naval battles have been carved into the stonework, depicting boats not that much different from the boats that race on Tonle Sap today.

Three ceremonies underpin the

entire Bon Om Touk celebration:

Loy Pratip: an evening fluvial parade, featuring beautifully-illuminated boats lighting up the w a t e r w a y s . G o v e r n m e n t institutions sponsor each of the boats on parade.

Sampeas Preah Khe: the salutation to the moon. The full moon is supposed to be a good sign for the coming harvest, which is why Cambodians make sure to give thanks to it on Bon Om Touk, and pray for a bountiful harvest ahead.

Auk Ambok: at midnight, celebrants gather at temples to eat ambok ("flattened rice"), a holiday rice dish. Ambok is simply rice fried in ths husk, pounded to remove the husk,

and mixed with banana and coconut. Three Day CelebrationPeople come from far and wide to join the celebrations. School is closed, and most workers go on vacation. Upwards of a million Cambodians gather at the river banks to celebrate; those who can't find hotel rooms often just camp out along the streets!Certain roads near the river are blocked against motor traffic, allowing the thousands of celebrants to walk among the streets, sampling the festival's entertainments.

Bon Om Touk lasts three whole days. Many out-of-towners converge on Tonle Sap, whole communities going en masse to enter their boats in competition. The colorful racing boats are arguably the main stars of the event. They have bright paint schemes, often with eyes painted on the prow to protect against evil. The biggest boats are over a hundred feet long, crewed with up to eighty oarsmen. Unlike Western boat races, Cambodian boat crews face forward. Many boat crews are complemented with a colorfully-costumed lady at the prow dancing to the beat of the drums. For the first two days, races are run with two boats each, with the big race happening on the last

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER 2December 2008

HISTORY

responsibilities as well as unity f o r t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a common goal, it can be applied in many different spheres of human endeavour. Just as solidarity

among workers unites them in their fight for better working conditions, it can also unite the global community in the fight against global threats

such as terrorism or the HIV/AIDS pandemic, or to

underscore our obligation to help the victims of natural and man-made disasters.

The successful campaign to ban landmines, for example, owed much of its success to the solidarity

a m o n g a l l t h o s e w h o opposed the use of land-mines, including govern-

m e n t s , c i v i l s o c i e t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d individuals. In the face of the global threat of the

AIDS pandemic, the spirit of solidarity created conditions which made antiretroviral drugs cheaper and more available to the poor. In the immediate aftermath of the Indian tsunami the international community undertook an immense relief effort that demonstrated how much can be achieved through g lobal so l idar i ty. I t is a lso apparent tha t so l idar i ty i s increasingly indispensable in the f ight against environmental degradation and poverty.

T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l H u m a n Solidarity Day serves to remind us about the importance of solidarity for the achievement of the in te rna t iona l ly agreed a g r e e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g p r o g r a m m e s o f a c t i o n o f international conferences and multilateral accords. Only the international community guided by the spirit of human solidarity and a shared sense of justice a n d f a i r n e s s c a n e n s u r e sustainable social and economic development for all.

(http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntSolidarity/index.html)

******

International Human Solidarity Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2005 as an initiative in t he f i gh t aga ins t pove r t y. (A/RES/60/209)

International Human Solidarity Day is:

A day to celebrate our unity in diversity

A day to remind governmen- ts to respect their commitments to international agreements

A day to raise public aware- ness o f the impor tance o f solidarity

A day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication

A day of action to encourage new in i t ia t ives for pover ty eradication

BackgroundIn the Millennium Declaration world leaders identified Solidar-ity as one of the fundamental values essential to international relat ions in the twenty-f irst century and emphasized that “Global challenges must be managed in a way that distrib-utes the costs and burdens fairly i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h b a s i c principles of equity and social justice. Those who suffer or who benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most.” In the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the strengthening of international solidarity and cooperation is indispensable for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

Convinced that the promotion of the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing was important for combating poverty, the General A s s e m b l y p r o c l a i m e d 2 0 December as Internat ional Human Solidarity Day.

Social solidarity refers to the integration, and degree and type of integration, shown by a society or group. It refers to the ties in a

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER 3

society - social relations - that bind people to one anotherScholars have stressed the fact t h a t s o c i a l so l ida r i t y can be c a te g o r i z e d i n to t w o k i n d s : f inanc ia l and molar so l i da r i t y. The latter is r e p r e-sented by m a n y f o r m s becaus

e human n e e d s a r e n o t o n l y f inanc i a l ones, bu t t h e y a l s o includ e different forms such as consultation, advice, friendship, education, and other forms of donation. Therefore, time and in-kind donation is not less significant than financial donation. Moreover, it should be a human development-oriented means rather than a motive for dependence, the result of limiting donation to meet basic needs, w h i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d a s a palliative; ignoring the roots and rational solutions of the problem. So, each one should play a real effective role in society and take responsibility for putting an end to poverty and unemployment. Furthermore, one should offer even least assistance to one individual or family through providing them access to income or education, which can achieve their independence, the basis of social solidarity.

Social Solidarity is one of the bases of society through which it can achieve i ts permanent happiness, goodwill, security, unity, and peace. Simply, each member of society should help those in need so that they can lead even the least decent life and meet their basic needs. This includes all members of society wha teve r t he i r re l i g ion o r

nat iona l i ty. Scho lars have s t ressed tha t so l ida r i t y i s categorized into financial and molar solidarity. Solidarity does

n o t o n l y mean

negative sympathy, but also positive reaction. Financial solidarity includes financial assistant, aiming at making the poor reach the limits of “financial independ-ence” or “prosperity” .

Solidarity in PracticeSolidarity, as a central pillar of in te rna t iona l coopera t ion , acquires new meaning in the face of globalization and growing interdependence. In particular, a globalizing world offers new opportunities to forge innovative alliances that can unleash the potential for broader and faster economic and social develop-ment. Among the more important aspects of sol idari ty at the international level are assis-tance, development aid and cooperation. “For the global community aid represents a mechanism for express ing h u m a n s o l i d a r i t y a n d f o r extending opportunity. Whether motivated by human rights, religious values or wider ethical systems, aid's role in eliminating mass pover ty, hunger and avoidable child deaths is a moral imperative.” (Human Develop-ment Report, 2005) Since concept of sol idar i ty relates to the notion of coopera-t i o n , c o m m o n r i g h t s a n d

HISTORY

December 2008


GENERALDecember 2008

I �ew from Phnom Penh International Airport on 15th October 2008 to Narita International Airport in Japan to participate in a student exchange program. The �ight took one night and I arrived in Japan on 16th October 2008. Ten countries participated and each country was represented by 6 students who entered in the program. Each student represented a di�erent school that is located in each country. For example from Cambodia there were students from di�erent schools such as ChakToMok High School, SIS, Toul Tom Pong High School, OBekKorm High School, SomPevMeas Private School, and Zaman International School.In the morning, when my plane set down at Narita International Airport located about 50 km from Tokyo I felt really happy and proud to be there. I was part of a huge international program. Many coun-tries participated in the program such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Cambodia.The main purpose of this program was to invite the younger generation of high school students to exchange ideas and to represent their own school as best as they can in the international arena.

1st dayAfter landing at Narita International Airport we drove to our hotel in Tokyo, also known as Shinjuku. We arrived a couple hours later, around 11AM and took a short rest due to “jet lag”.

We started to feel hungry so we started to look for a restaurant for lunch. By the time we found a restau-rant, a Turkish restaurant with the really nice smell of donar wafting through the air made me feel even hungrier. And then I started a short conversation in Turkish with the cook. And then we continued on our way to a Japanese restaurant. After feasting on new and exciting foods we headed for our orienta-tion program.

Every country’s representatives attended the orien-tation in the evening. During the orientation we needed to introduce ourselves and our school. Later in the evening everybody chatted and got to know each other. Students from the the participat-ing countries had short conversations and learned about each others’ cultures.

2nd dayAfter I had breakfast we left our hotel and went to visit Toyota City which is the head o�ce of Toyota automobiles. When we reached there, we visited one school called Obara Junior High School. I stayed there for one week to study with Japanese students and to represent our school and expose our Khmer culture to them. From our school I brought some brochures and a slide show with a series of really nice and informative pictures and music that was prepared by Mr. Gurkan, our physics teacher.

3rd dayIntroduction time. It was time to introduce our school to the other countries’ representatives. At that time I tried to explain about our school brie�y; a bit of Zaman’s history, clubs, languages, rules etc.,. �nally the result came from the principal of Obara Junior High School and other teachers from di�erent countries, then all said that they really liked our school ‘s presen-tation and they said that they felt very happy that they knew that our country had a school with such a high quality of inter-national education standards.By the way they also said that Zaman is the best if we compare it to other schools in Cambodia. Also there're some other coun-tries that don't have a school with everything that Zaman has. At that time I felt very proud because every country and especially the Japanese students and teachers wanted to take pictures with me because they said that they really liked our uniforms and some other more interesting things about our school.And then I spent one week studying and comparing the lifestyle of Japanese students and their schools and our school.

I felt I had a valuable experience which made me feel warm and happy. The program lasted one week then it was time for me to leave Obara School to visit other cities. All my new found international friends were crying because we were all going our separate ways. On the ground there were tear drops that belonged to everybody. It made me feel really sad...9th dayIn the morning before I left Toyota City, I went to visit the Toyota company which produces many types of elec-tronic equipment. After that I had lunch and then I left for Kyoto City.Kyoto is one the older cities in Japan which has many interest-ing places to visit and very picturesque . So I needed two days to study it and tour there.

11th dayMy last day in Kyoto I felt that I really liked this trip. But after 1:00pm I left there and went to Tokyo. In Tokyo I went to visit many places and many sights in Tokyo such as the Tokyo Tower, Sumo Museum, National Museum, Palace, Gakuyukai and other tour-ist attractions.I really enjoyed this trip, because my new friends and teachers from other's countries really liked me and our school. I felt really proud that I study at Zaman International School.15th dayIt was time for me to come back to our country. I felt a bit upset because I would miss the things that happened there and miss the chats with student friends from other countries. I will always remember this great educational and cultural experience.


GENERALDecember 2008


GENERAL

RONALD REAGAN once described inflation as being “as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit-man”. Until recently, central bankers thought that this thug had been locked up for life. Thanks to sound monetary policies, inflation worldwide had stayed low in recent years. But the mugger is back on the prowl.

Even though America is close to recession and growth in other developed economies has slowed, inflation is rising. Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, this week gave warning about the mistakes of the 1970s, when inflation was let loose at huge cost to growth. His words were aimed at rich-country central banks, but policymakers in emerging economies are the ones who should most take heed. In countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia even the often dodgy official statistics show prices have risen by 8-10% over the past year; in Russia the rate is over 14%; in Argentina the true figure is 23% and in Venezuela it is 29%. If you measure the numbers correctly, two-thirds of the world's population will probably suffer double-digit rates of inflation this summer

A 1970s reunion you really don't want to attend

Taken as a whole (and using official figures), the average world inflation rate has risen to 5.5%, its highest since 1999. The main cause has been the surge in the prices of food and oil, which briefly soared above $135 a barrel this week. But Mr Trichet's concern is that higher headline rates could push up inflation expectations, leading to bigger pay demands, and so trigger a wage-price spiral, as in the 1970s. Central bankers' mistake then was to hold monetary policy too loose, so that higher oil prices quickly fed into other prices. So it is worrying that global monetary policy is now at its loosest since the 1970s: the average world real interest rate is negative.

By slashing interest rates as inflation has climbed, has the

Fed sowed the seeds of a new inflationary era? That case looks hard to prove in the rich world. Inflation rates of 3.9% in America

and 3.3% in the euro area are far higher than central banks want, and inflation expectations are rising. If growth in the euro area remains robust, the ECB should certainly worry more about inflation. Yet so far there is little sign that higher food and oil prices are pushing up other prices in the rich economies. Wages have remained relatively subdued and core rates of inflation (excluding food and energy) are little higher than a year ago. Moreover, growth is expected to be below trend in America and Europe over the next year or so and unemployment is likely to climb, which will help to curb wage rises. America- 's consumer-confidence index has fallen to a 28-year low, which sugges ts t ha t consumer spending will fall. This, in turn, will spur firms to cut costs and limit pay rises.

The picture is very different in emerging countries. Prices are rising much faster partly because food accounts for a bigger chunk of their consumer-price indices. But wages (rising at nearly 30% a year in Russia) and core-inflation rates are also accelerating. Many of these economies are operating close to full capacity, where inflation is more likely to take hold.

There are alarming similarities between emerging economies today and the rich world in the 1970s when the Great Inflation lifted off. Many policymakers in emerging markets view the rise in inflation as a short-term supply shock and so see little need to raise interest rates. Instead they are using price controls and subsidies to cap prices. Money supplies are growing almost three times as fast as in the developed world. Many central banks are s t i l l not fu l ly independent. And inflationary

expectations are not properly anchored, increasing the risk of a wage-price spiral. Emerging markets may as well be inviting the muggers into their own homes.

raise interest rates. Instead they are using price controls and subsidies to cap prices. Money supplies are growing almost three times as fast as in the developed world. Many central banks are s t i l l not fu l ly independent. And inflationary expectations are not properly anchored, increasing the risk of a wage-price spiral. Emerging markets may as well be inviting the muggers into their own homes.

Watch your back

Rising inflation, like so much of the world economy in recent years, can be explained partly by the increasingly complex links b e t w e e n d e v e l o p e d a n d emerging economies. Emerging economies shared some responsibility for America's housing and credit bubble. As Asian economies and Middle East oil exporters ran large current-account surpluses, they piled up foreign reserves (mostly in American Treasury securities) in order to prevent their currencies from rising. This pushed down bond yields. At the same time, cheap imports from China and elsewhere helped central banks in rich economies hold down inflation while keeping short-term interest rates lower than in the past. Cheap money fuelled America's bubble.

Now that this bubble has burst, the cross-border monetary stimulus has changed direction. As the Fed has cut interest rates, emerging economies that link their currencies to the dollar have been forced to run a looser monetary policy, even though

their economies are overheating. Emerging economies with currencies most closely aligned

to the dollar, notably in Asia and the Gulf, have seen the biggest price rises. Countries, such as Mexico, that have more flexible exchange rates and are more committed to inflation targets have done better.

Even if the Fed's interest rate suits the American economy, global interest rates are too low. In turn, the unwarranted stimulus t o demand i n emerg i ng economies is further pushing up commodity prices; so too is speculative buying by investors seeking higher returns than from bond yields, which are still being depressed by the emerging economies' build-up of reserves. T h i s s t o k e s i n f l a t i o n a r y pressures in America and Europe and makes life difficult for rich-country central banks.

Loose money in America and rigid exchange rates in emerging economies are a perilous mix. The longer emerging economies hold down their exchange rates, the greater the risk of rising global inflation. Admittedly, exchange-rate appreciation is not as simple a remedy for emerging economies as some claim: a rise in interest rates and the expectation of a further appreciation in the exchange r a t e c o u l d , p e r v e r s e l y, exacerbate inflation by sucking in more capital; and setting the exchange rate free risks massive overvaluation. But with an economic serial killer on the loose, one way or another monetary policy will have to tighten and exchange rates rise.

By:Bunnarith An

5670

*********

December 2008

Sothira Soung Toch (8-E)

Somonia Sophoan (7-E)

Chheth Chhen (8-B)

Nary Chan Tauch (12-B)

Molyka Pich Nhek (11-F)

Viriya Keo (8-F)

Sereyboth Savoan (12-B)

Virabot Sok (8-E)

Chan Song PhibounLim(10-E)

Dory Samy (8-E)


GENERAL

With a tanking economy and global violence on the rise, there's at least one thing to smile about: A pair of scientists is reporting that happiness can spread through social networks, meaning that friends of the cheery contract the happiness bug themselves. The data behind the new findings come from, of all things, a massive study of cardiovascular disease. In 1948, researchers began collecting health and other information on U.S. adults as part of the Framingham Heart Study. Today, the project has data on more than 14,000 people, and it has helped researchers identify many of the major risk factors behind heart disease and stroke. Because the Framingham leaders, trying to track volunteers over many years, worried about losing contact with them, they asked all subjects to provide the name of a friend who would know how to find them if necessary. Often, those friends were also part of the study. Nicholas Christakis, formerly a hospice physician at Harvard, and James Fowler, a political scientist at the University of California, San Diego, used these data to create a social network of nearly 5000 people. The duo then matched the information with various health data. Last year, they reported that weight loss and weight gain could "spread" through the

network, meaning that a guy whose friends were overweight was more likely to pack on the pounds himself. Christakis and Fowler published a similar finding on smoking earlier this year. Now, the two have turned to something more ethereal: mood. To measure this, they relied on a questionnaire that was part of a depression assessment in the F r a m i n g h a m s t u d y. T h e volunteers were asked to rate how strongly they agreed with four statements that described their mood in the previous week, including "I enjoyed life" or "I felt hopeful about the future." The 60% who gave the highest score on every question were deemed happy. The rest were considered unhappy, the two report online this week in the British Medical J o u r n a l . T h e h a p p i n e s s assessments came from three examinations that occurred between 1983 and 2001. Christakis and Fowler found that when one person was directly connected to another--for example, a close friend or immediate family member--who was happy, the original individual was 15.3% more likely to be happy themselves. If the person was once removed--the friend of a next-door neighbor, perhaps--the increase was 9.5%. And an individual two times removed from the original person boosted lower than for happiness. "It's person-to-person-to-person transmission," says Christakis.

their chance of happiness by 5.6%. Unhappiness could spread as well, though the chance of becoming unhappy if one's friend became unhappy was slightly lower than for happiness. "It's person-to-person-to-person transmission," says Christakis. The effect only held for friends in very close proximity, however, a mi le o r less apar t . The researchers also found that mutual friends had a stronger effect than when only one considered the other a buddy. As in their obesity work, Christakis and Fowler also found that same-sex friendships and neighbor relationships were more potent than those of the opposite sex. The biggest difficulty in social-network studies like these is showing that effect is actually spreading. It's equally possible that happy people simply like spending time with other happy people, or that they share an environment of safe neighbor- hoods and good jobs that make them happy. Responding to the former argument, Christakis and Fowler say they found that happy and unhappy people still become friends, but that--over time--the mood of one evolves to match the other. As for environmental effects explaining the clustering, the researchers found that although next-door neighbors had an influence, those living farther down the block--where t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w a s

presumably no different--did not. farther down the block--where t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w a s presumably no different--did not. Some experts remain dubious. In an accompanying paper, for example, two economists argue that applying the same methods to qualities such as height and acne in teenagers indicates that these traits too are contagious, even though no one believes that growth spurts are caused by friendships with tall people. Christakis and Fowler also didn't control for certain things that might affect happiness in a community, such as crime, weather, or unemployment, says one of the economists, Jason Fletcher of Yale University. "Their study would really not permit differentiation" among the different explanations for why happy people, or unhappy people, cluster together, Richard Rothenberg, an infectious disease specialist at Emory University in Atlanta who has studied how HIV spreads through social networks, notes in an e-mail message. That said, the work is enticing and "brings a smile to your lips, because it's a funny thing, that happiness should spread," says Rothen- berg, but the proof is not quite there. Christakis and Fowler are continuing to plumb their data, looking also at loneliness, depression, and alcoholism.

December 2008


T h e a t m o s p h e r e , w h i c h completely surrounds our Earth, is an aggregate of different elements. Its composition is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen; the remaining 1% consists of argon, neon, carbon dioxide and water vapor. In its elemental free state, and in a mixture with other gases in the atmosphere, nitrogen exists in a diatomic molecule like all other gases (with the e x c e p t i o n o f t h e n o b l e gases—helium, neon, argon, krypton, and radon). The two nitrogen atoms that form a nitrogen molecule are united by a triple bond. For this reason, nitrogen molecules are stable: they do not separate easily from each other to form compounds with other atoms. This is known as the inertia property of n i t r o g e n , w h i c h c a n b e expressed as follows:

N2+ 172 000 kal. ? N+ N (A very

difficult reaction)

Thus, the nitrogen molecule is inert and stable. However, in spite of this fact, nitrogen molecules undergo oxidization in the presence of water; in other words, nitrogen molecules are unstable in the presence of H2O and more easily form other compounds. This is expressed in the following equation:

N2+ 5/2 O2+ H2O → 2HNO3 (A

very slow reaction)

This reaction occurs quite slowly. If this reaction did not occur so slowly, all of the nitrogen and oxygen molecu les i n t he atmosphere would immediately

combine with ocean water to form nitric acid. If this were to occur, an ex t raord inar i l y terrifying scenario that would lead to a global catastrophe would occur: The earth's oceans would change into nitric acid, the most powerful and harmful acid in both its oxidizing and its acidizing effects! Such an event would entirely consume the nitrogen and oxygen of the atmosphere. The only more devastating global calamity imaginable is the apocalypse and the end of time itself! Of course, this chemical reaction cannot be entirely eliminated, even if its rapid occurrence would result in a terrifying global catastrophe. On the contrary, this chemical reaction must continue to occur slowly, as it has in the past, in order to ensure the proper formation of nitrogen compounds in the chemistry of

the ocean; this is crucial to the continuation of life on earth.

W are nonetheless almost entirely helpless in the face of the dangers that threaten us. The chemical reaction, summarized briefly above, has been taken from a basic chemistry textbook. The rate of the chemical reaction we described? in which nitrogen molecules in the presence of water can result in oxidation and the formation of nitric acid? in fact occurs in such a measured way that it is beneficial rather than harmful. This fact, along with the regularity at which the rate of this r e a c t i o n o c c u r s, c l e a r l y demonstrates the helplessness of the human condition.

Fortunately, the slow rate at which this reaction occurs ensures that the terrifying global catastrophe described above does not occur. Entire oceans do

SCIENCE

however an unusually high 1.0 M concentration buffer is used in this bio battery. This is based on the discovery that such high concentration levels are effective for maintaining the activity of enzymes immobilized on the electrodes. 4) Test cell combining high-power output and compact size The test cells of these high-power, compact bio batteries have been fabricated using these three technologies. The bio battery does not require mixing, or the convection of glucose solution or air; as it is a passive-type battery, it works s imply by supply ing sugar solution into the battery unit. The cubic (39 mm along each edge) cell produces 50 mW, represent-ing the world's highest power output among passive-type bio batteries of comparable volume. By connecting four cubic cells, it is possible to power a memory-type Wa lkman (NW-E407) together with a pair of passive-type speakers (no external power source). The bio battery casing is made of vegetable-based plastic (polylactate), and designed in the image of a biological cell.

The newly developed bio battery incorporates an anode consist-ing of sugar-digesting enzymes and mediator, and a cathode comprising oxygen-reducing enzymes and mediator, either side of a cellophane separator. The anode extracts electrons and hydrogen ions from the s u g a r ( g l u c o s e ) t h r o u g h enzymatic oxidation as follows:

Glucose -> Gluconolactone + 2 H+ + 2 e-

The hydrogen ion migrates to the cathode through the separator. O n c e a t t h e c a t h o d e , t h e hydrogen ions and electrons absorb oxygen from the air to produce water:

(1/2) O2 + 2 H+ + 2 e- -> H2O

T h r o u g h t h i s p r o c e s s o f electrochemical reaction, the electrons pass through the outer circuit to generate electricity.

Key achievements of this bio battery research and develop-ment

1 ) Techno logy to enhance immobilization of enzymes and

mediator on the electrode For effective glucose digestion to occur, the anode must contain a high concentration of enzymes and mediator, with their activity retained. This technology uses two polymers to attach these components to the anode. Each polymer has opposite charge so the electrostatic interaction between the two polymers effectively secures the enzymes and mediator. The ionic balance and immobilization process have been optimized for efficient electron extraction from the glucose. 2) Cathode structure for efficient oxygen absorption

Water content within the cathode is vital to ensuring optimum condi t ions for the eff ic ient enzymatic reduction of oxygen. The bio battery employs porous carbon electrodes bearing the i m m o b i l i z e d e n z y m e a n d mediator, which are partitioned using a cellophane separator. The optimization of this electrode structure and process ensures the appropriate water levels are maintained, enhancing the reactivity of the cathode. 3) Optimization of electrolytes to meet the bio battery cell structure A phosphate buffer of approxi-mately 0.1 M is generally used within enzymology research,

December 2008


SCIENCE

We invite all students to participate chemistry demo contest which will be held at 10 January 2009. The aim of this contest is to present any chemical reaction in a stunning way.

Every grade can join the competition and may work in groups. So let's get started and find a demo that will knock everybody's socks off! Date: 10 January 2009

For further information please apply to your chemistry teacher and check below for further details and resources to get things started.Books:Chemical Demonstrations Volume 1-4 (Library)

December 2008


power and nuclear bombs. U-235 decays naturally, just as U-238 does, by alpha radiation: It throws off an alpha particle, or two neutrons and two protons bound together. U-235 also undergoes spontaneous fission a small percentage of the time. However, U-235 is one of the few materials that can undergo induced fission. If a free neutron runs into a U-235 nucleus, the nucleus will absorb the neutron, become unstable and split immediately.

How Nuclear Radiation Works:Auranium-235 nucleus with a neutron approaching from the top. The probability of a U-235 atom capturing a neutron as it passes by is high. In fact, under reactor conditions, one neutron ejected from each fission causes another fission to occur.

As soon as the nucleus captures the neutron, it splits into two lighter atoms and throws off two or three new neutrons (the number of ejected neutrons depends on how the U-235 atom splits). The process of capturing the neutron and spl i t t ing happens very quickly, on the order of picoseconds (1x10-12 seconds).

The splitting of an atom releases an incredible amount of heat and gamma radiation, or radiation made of high-energy photons. The two atoms that result from the fission later release beta radiation (super fast Uranium-235 has an interesting property that makes it handy

SCIENCE

When you hear the words "nuclear power," different images may flicker through your mind: concrete coolant towers emitting torrents of steam, a mushroom cloud rising high into the sky or even Homer Simpson asleep at the control panel.

Some people praise the technology as a low-cost, low-emission alternative to fossil fuels, while others stress the negative impact of nuclear waste and accidents such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. There's a lot of discussion out there about nuclear power's role in our lives, but what's going on at the heart of these power plants?

David McGlynn/ Photographer's Choice RF/Getty ImagesTricastin Nuclear Power Plant is one of 59 French plants that provide 77 percent of the country's electricity.

As of July 2008, there were more than 430 operating nuclear power plants and, together, they provided about 15 percent of the world's electricity in 2007. Of these 31 countries, some depend more on nuclear power than others. For instance, in France about 77 percent of the country's electricity comes from nuclear power .Lithuania comes in second, with an impressive 65 percent. In the United States, 104 nuclear power plants supply 20 percent of the electricity overall, with some states benefiting more than others.

Despite all the cosmic energy that the word "nuclear" invokes, power plants that depend on atomic energy don't operate that differently from a typical coal-burning power plant. Both heat water into pressurized steam, which drives a turbine generator. The key difference between the two plants is the method of heating the water. While older plants burn fossil fuels, nuclear plants depend on the heat that occurs during nuclear fission, when one atom splits into two.In this article, we'll examine the process of fission, look at what goes on inside and outside a nuclear power plant and discuss

for the production of both nuclear power and nuclear bombs. U-235 decays naturally, just as U-238 does, by alpha radiation: It throws off an alpha particle, or two neutrons and two protons bound together. U-235 also undergoes spontaneous fission a small percentage of the time. However, U-235 is one of the few materials that can undergo induced fission. If a free neutron runs into a U-235 nucleus, the nucleus will absorb the neutron, become unstable and split immediately.

However, for all of this to work , a sample of uranium must be enriched so that it contains 2 to 3 percent more U-235. Three-percent enrichment is sufficient for nuclear power plants, but weapons-grade uranium is composed of at least 90 percent U-235.some of the pros and cons of nuclear power. Nuclear FissionEveryone from comic book writers to theoretical physicists have characterized the splitting of the atom as the ultimate act of man playing God, so it's easy to forget that nuclear fission happens naturally every day. U r a n i u m , f o r e x a m p l e , c o n s t a n t l y u n d e r g o e s spontaneous fission very slowly. This is why the element emits radiation, and why it's a natural choice for the induced fission that nuclear power plants require.

Uranium is a common elem-

ent on Earth. It's been around since the planet formed. Uranium-238 (U-238) has an extremely long half-life (the time it takes for half its atoms to decay) of 4.5 billion years. Therefore, it's still present in fairly large quantities. U-238 makes up 99 percent of the uranium on Ear th, whi le uranium-235 (U-235) makes up about 0.7 percent of the remaining uranium found naturally. Uranium-234 is even rarer, formed by the decay of U-238. U-238 goes through many stages of decay in its life span, eventually forming a stable isotope of lead, so U-234 is just one link in that chain.electrons) and gamma radiation of their own as well. The energy released by a single fission comes from the fact that the f iss ion products and the neutrons, together, weigh less than the original U-235 atom. The difference in weight is converted directly to energy at a rate governed by the equation E = mc2.electrons) and gamma radiation of their own as well. The energy released by a single fission comes from the fact that the f iss ion products and the neutrons, together, weigh less than the original U-235 atom. The difference in weight is converted directly to energy at a rate governed by the equation E = mc2.

The decay of a single U-235 atom releases approximately 200 MeV (million electron volts). That may not seem like much, but there are a lot of uranium atoms in a pound (0.45 kg) of uranium. So many, in fact, that a pound of highly enriched uranium as used to power a nuclear submarine is equal to about a million gallons of gasoline.

However, for all of this to work , a sample of uranium must be enriched so that it contains 2 to 3 percent more U-235. Three-percent enrichment is sufficient for nuclear power plants, but weapons-grade uranium is composed of at least 90 percent U-235.

December 2008


SCIENCE

hat discovery may hold the key to the mystery that Tlong ago captured the

minds and imaginat ions of s c i e n t i s t s , p h i l o s o p h e r s , filmmakers and novelists: Is t h e r e l i f e o n o t h e r planets? On the heels of d iscover ies beginning in 1 9 9 5 o f m o r e than 100 planets orbiting nearby stars, a planet, or even planets, t w i n t o our own in s i z e a n d composition, likely will soon be found, thanks to new telescope designs, say as t ronomers such as Wesley Traub of the Harvard-S m i t h s o n i a n C e n t e r f o r Astrophysics. Within 10 years, an Earth-size planet — the size that scientists consider the most l ikely to contain oceans and therefore life — is expected to turn up in searches by two scheduled NASA probes. And astronomers hope to be able to detect life — or rule it out — in such places within 20 years. Not long ago, astronomers considered an interest in planet hunting akin to confessing a foot fetish. Traub didn't tell any of his colleagues he was attending his first scientific meeting on the topic in 1995, fearing ridicule. "But when I looked around at the meeting, a lot of people I knew were there, too," he says.Later that same year, Geneva Observatory astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz found the first planet to be orbiting a nearby star like our sun. It orbits the star 51 Pegasus.

"We know for certain there are a hell of a lot of planets out there," easily 10 billion in our galaxy alone, says astronomer Steve Vogt of the UCO/Lick

Observatory at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Current data suggests at least 12% of nearby stars have Jupiter-size planets, he says, and 3% may

have Earth-size ones F i n d i n g s o l a r

systems like ou r own,

where a Jupite

r - s i z e planet on a stately

circular orbit screens smaller inner planets from space junk, is the focus of his team's efforts in the next five years.

The first Earth look-alikes may be found orbiting small, dim stars called red dwarfs. About 60% lighter and hundreds of times less bright than stars like our sun, red dwarfs should reveal tidal tugs that indicate the presence of Earth-size planets much more readily than bigger stars.

"I expect we'l l f ind many planets like Earth," says Louis Friedman, head of the Planetary Society, a space activism group based in Pasadena, Calif. Most likely, they will come as a series of scientific "hints," he says, first a planet of the right size but the wrong orbit, then the right orbit but seemingly no atmosphere, and then one giving signs of a water-r ich atmosphere l ike Earth's. Finally, after 2020, probes still on the drawing board with names l ike "L i fe f inder" or "Planet Imager" will fulfill the vision of former NASA chief Dan Goldin, who called for future missions to map nearby Earthlike planets

down to the continents and oceans in his grandchildren's lifetime, a feat many planet hunters would like to pull off. "And t hen an eno rmous l y interesting day, culturally and socially, awaits us," Friedman says.

So far, only giants Most of the "extra-solar" planets — those outs ide our so lar system — discovered so far don't look like tourist spots: They are Jupiter- and Saturn-size balls of gas, some orbiting close enough to their stars to boast super-heated molten-iron skies and c o m p l e t e l y i n h o s p i t a b l e atmospheres. Others follow oddball trajectories more like comets than the planets in our solar system. A few strange stars called "pulsars" have shown signs of hosting small planets, bat tered and blasted

o b j e c t s riddle

d

b y

the r e gular, intense radio e m i s-s i o n s o f these stars.

But a number of planned space miss ions are a imed squarely at detecting Earth-size planets:

Kepler. Named after Johannes K e p l e r , t h e 1 6 t h - c e n t u r y astronomer who divined the laws of orbital motion, this 2006 NASA mission is expected to find about 30 Earth-size planets in Earthlike orbits. It will detect "transits," the slight dimming of a star's light that occurs when a p lanet passes in front of it.

Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). A 2009 NASA mission

expected to detect one or two Earthlike planets from a survey of 200 nearby stars. I t wi l l measure side-to-side gravita-t ional wobbles that planets produce on the i r s ta rs v ia gravitational pull.

Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF). Scientists are still deciding what instruments to install in this 2014 NASA search for l i fe on an Earthlike planet. "The goal is a picture of an Earthlike planet to run in every newspaper, above the fold," says Traub, a member of one TPF development team.

Darwin. The European Space Agency plans to launch this flotilla of small telescopes in 2015. By combining the light f rom telescopes to make a powerful "interferometer" device, the mission should be capable of

detecting chemical composi-tion of atmospheres on

Earthlike planets discovered by

SIM or other missions.

"Finding another E a r t h will be t h e single m o s t exc i t in g mome

nt in all o f

h u m a n h i s t o r y , "

says commu-n i c a t i o n s a n d

media professor Paul L e v i n s o n o f F o r d h a m

University, who writes both sc ience- f ic t ion novels and commentaries on technology and society. "When we discover a n o t h e r p l a n e t l i k e o u r s , suddenly Earth and the rest of the universe will seem intimately tied together.”

Mankind's ancient quest Since Galileo's discovery of moons circling Jupiter in the early 1600s, astronomers and philosophers, once members of the same profession, have

Continued on page13

December 2008


SCIENCE

pondered the ex is tence of planets circling other stars. Scientists from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intel l igence (SETI) have searched for radio signals from aliens, to no avail, since the 1960s.

Now a confluence of technol-ogies, bigger telescopes, faster computers and vastly improved optics offers avenues for spotting planets previously undetectable in the glare of their parent stars, making this a golden age of discovery for planet hunters.

Hunting an Earthlike planet is "the most exciting thing I've done in the last 35 years," says Traub. Last year, he and University of Arizona researchers determined the benchmark for "earthshine," the trademark light from Earth captured in reflection from the moon. Astronomers hope to see a match for that light, an oxygen-rich and life-sustaining blue, in glimpses from future planet discoveries. "It's a very distinct color," says Traub.

George Conyers, a Jesuit

Ozone is both beneficial and harmful to us. Near the ground, ozone forming a s a r e s u l t o f chemical reactions involving traffic p o l l u t i o n a n d s u n l i g h t m a y cause a number o f resp i ra tory p r o b l e m s , part icular ly for young children. However, high up in the atmosphere in a region known as the stratosphere, ozone f i l ters out incoming radiation from the Sun in the cell-damaging ultraviolet (UV) part of the spectrum. Without this ozone layer, life on earth would not have evolved in the way it has.Concentrations of ozone in the stratosphere fluctuate naturally in response to variations in weather conditions and amounts of energy being released from

priest and astronomer who heads the Vatican Observatory in Tucson, has long spoken about the power of astronomy to improve understanding of man's place in the universe.

Scient ists are eager to examine Earthlike planets for clues about the inevitability of life in the universe. One school of thought, pointing to evidence of microbial life on Earth for much of its 4.5 billion-year history, holds that life likely arises wherever the conditions are right. Mix water, heat and organic molecules for a few million years of baking, and voilà, primitive life materializes. Finding Earth-size planets in Earthlike orbits without life would suggest something more is needed.

Others caution that complex life forms, critters with eyes, for example, only arose on Earth about 540 million years ago. Plenty of Earthlike planets may abound with microbial life but hold nothing more interesting than the flu bug. Or they may only hold the global-warming-run-

the Sun, and to major volcanic eruptions. Nevertheless,

during the 1970s it was realised that

m a n - m a d e emissions

o f

C F C s and other c h e m i c a l s used in refrigeration, aerosols and cleansing agents

amok atmospheric broth of Venus. Even so, g iven the billions of planets in our galaxy, something tantalizing seems likely to show up during one of the searches. "We have to hope that nature, once again, has been kind and put something like Earth near enough to see," says Vogt.

“Such a planet will beckon to us and ultimately, we will go there. It's what we've always done as a species. Just as because 'it's there' was reason enough for Edmund Hillary to scale Everest, so too will the mere presence of another world that we can actually live on compel us to visit it," says best-selling science-fiction writer Robert Sawyer, author of the novel Hominids, a Hugo Award finalist.

Mind-boggling distances Such a trip would take a long t ime, no matter what. Even traveling at the speed of light, at 670 mil l ion mph the fastest speed possible, a trip to the nearest star, Proxima Centauri,

may cause a s ign i f icant destruction of ozone in the stratosphere, thereby letting through more of the harmful ultraviolet radiation. Then in 1985 evidence of a large "ozone hole" was discovered above the continent of Antarctica during the

sp r ing t ime . Th is has reappeared annually,

generally growing larger and deeper

each year. More recently, fears h a v e e m e r g e d a b o u t s igni f icant o z o n e d e p l e t i o n o v e r t h e A r c t i c , closer to the

m o r e p o p u l o u s

regions of the N o r t h e r n

Hemisphere.

would take four years. Schemes to accelerate rockets up to a fraction of light-speed rely on nuclear explosions or laser-assisted solar sails to reach cruising velocity — not a casual undertaking.

Lev inson be l i eves the knowledge that another Earth exists will lead to a public clamor f o r m o r e p o w e r f u l s p a c e propulsion systems, ones that can carry probes to other stars in a few decades. "Basically, I think that will be the real start of the space age, and everything we've done from the 1950s until now will be seen as a prelude," he says.

“Whatever we find will be interesting," Friedman says. The only surprise would be a clear-cut "Rosetta Stone" planet that answers all our questions about Earth's place in the universe, he says.Prepared by BUNNARITH AN 5670

*******

Causes of Ozone DepletionOzone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction. Although natural phenomena can cause temporary ozone loss, chlorine and bromine released from man-made compounds such as CFCs are now accepted as the main cause of this depletion.It was first suggested by Drs. M. Molina and S. Rowland in 1974 that a man-made group of compounds known as the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were likely to be the main source of ozone depletion. However, this idea was not taken seriously until the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica in 1985 by the British Antarctic Survey.Chlorofluorocarbons are not "washed" back to Earth by rain or destroyed in reactions with other chemicals.

Continued from page 12

Continued on page14

December 2008


in the atmosphere so long, the ozone layer will not fully repair itself until at least the middle of the 21st century. Naturally occurring chlorine has the same effect on the ozone layer, but has a shorter life span in the atmosphere.

Impacts of Ozone DepletionA loss o f ozone in the s t ra tosphere because o f mankind's pollution with ozone depleting chemicals such as CFCs will increase the amount of UV radiation that reaches the E a r t h ' s s u r f a c e . A s a consequence, it can damages bo th Human hea l th and Environment.

Skin cancer: The most well known effect of UV radiation is the slight reddening or burning of the skin in sunshine. Over a period of years, exposure to original radiation from the Sun causes damage in the skin's connective tissues which will result as the skin gets thicker, more wrinkled and less elastic. UV radiation also increases the risk of getting skin cancer. Australia, with high sunshine levels, has very high skin cancer rates. An estimated 2 out of every 3 people in most parts of the country will develop some form of skin cancer. In Queensland, where sunshine levels are greatest, the probability jumps to 3 in every 4.

They simply do not break down in the lower atmosphere and they can remain in the atmosphere from 20 to 120 years or more. As a consequence of their relative stability, CFCs are instead transported into the stratosphere where they are eventually broken down by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun, releasing free chlorine. The chlorine becomes actively involved in the process of destruction of ozone. The net result is that two molecules of ozone are replaced by three of molecular oxygen, leaving the chlorine free to repeat the process:

Cl + O3 ® ClO + O2ClO + O ® Cl + O2

Ozone is converted to oxygen, leaving the chlorine atom free to repeat the process up to 100,000 times, resulting in a reduced leve l o f ozone. Bromine compounds, or halons, can also destroy stratospheric ozone. Compounds containing chlorine and bromine from man-made compounds are known as industrial halocarbons.Emissions of CFCs have accounted for roughly 80% of tota l st ratospher ic ozone deplet ion. Thankful ly, the developed world has phased out the use of CFCs in response to international agreements to protect the ozone layer. However, because CFCs remain

Eye Disorders: Strong UV radiation from the Sun can cause inflammation of the cornea, leading to "snow blindness". Snow blindness is a kind of eye diseases when people cannot see anything or become blind because of too much light reflecting back into eyes. Unlike the skin, which can adapt to UV radiation by becoming darker and thicker, the eye does not have any such de fence mechanisms.

Immune System: Our bodies need Vitamin D to develop so UV radiation from the Sun can be beneficial to health because it helps generating vitamin D production in the skin. However, the requirement of the UV radiation for maintaining Vitamin D is quite small. In summer, 15 minutes a day of exposure to sunlight is enough for our bodies. Over exposure to UV radiation can damage the body's ability to fight off disease because when skin has been over-exposed to UV radiation, the activity of antibody-producing white blood cells is limited. As a result, the body fails to produce the antigens required for defence against a variety of diseases.

Sea Life: Plankton (small fish, shrimp, crab and other animals) form the foundation of aquatic food webs. Plankton are

generally found in the upper layer of the oceans in which there is sufficient sunlight to support the photosynthesis of food. Since UV radiation has the ability to penetrate up to 20 metres down in clear water, plankton and other light dependent organisms often experience cell damage. As plankton make up the base of the marine food chain, changes in their number and species composition will influence fish and shellfish production worldwide. These kinds of losses will have a direct impact on the food supply. Effects of the ozone hole in Antarctica have already been seen in some of the organisms. Already at the base of the Antarctica food chain an impact has been felt. Increased UV radiation has already reduced the plankton populations by between 6% and 12%.

Land Plants: Excessive UV r a d i a t i o n p r e v e n t s t h e development of almost all green plants (which needs sunlight to process photosynthesis for oxygen). There is concern that ozone depletion may lead to a loss of plant species and reduce global food supply. Some research has suggested that a 25% ozone depletion could result in a comparable reduction in total soya bean crop yield. International research has revealed that some species of rice suffer from even minor increases in UV radiation. Research into the efficient breeding and cultivation of strong species may help to offset some of the damaging effects of stratospheric ozone loss. Plants are very essential for human because plants form the basis of the terrestrial food web, prevent soil erosion and water loss, and are the primary producers of oxygen and a primary removal sink for carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

SOLUTIONSYou as an individual can help by lobbying in Congress, supporting environmental organizations and spreading the word to your friends, family and anyone you know about the causes and prevention of damage to Ozone.

********

Continued from page 13

ENVIROMENT

December 2008


1 . W h a t c a u s e s g l o b a l warming? Is it part of a natural cycle? Global warming is caused by the build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and methane, which form a sort of blanket over the Earth, trapping in heat that would normally escape the atmosphere. The leading greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, a pollutant emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. While it is true that there has always been some natural climate variability, record levels of carbon dioxide are having a far reaching change over our weather, sea levels, and climate. Throughout ice ages, higher concentrations of carbon dioxide have correlated with higher temperatures. Humans are exacerbating global temperatures through industrial activity which dramatically increases carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. In its recent report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that 2005 carbon dioxide levels significantly exceed average concentration levels over the past 650,000 years. 2.How can Global Warming affect our lives?We do not yet fully know how radical climate change will affect our way of life, but we do know that the effects of growing carbon dioxide emissions already occurring are staggering: the eleven years ranging between 1995 and 2006 rank among the twelve warmest years recorded since 1850. Sea level rise will likely increase 20-50 inches (.5-1.4 m) above 1990 levels by 2100, dramatically altering coastal communities and natural

habitats. Leading scientists assert that a rise of two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial temperatures would leave hundreds of millions of people around the world "exposed to increased water stress," decrease air quality in c i t i e s , i n c r e a s e o c e a n acidification leading to the destruction of calcifying marine l i fe ( inc lud ing cora l and dependent species), negatively impact farmers and fishers, increase the likelihood and severity of wildf ires, and dramatically escalate mortality rates resulting from drought, floods, and heat waves. Few ecosystems could adapt to such a dramatic temperature change, potentially resulting in the extinction of 30% of species and the loss of 30% of coastal wetlands. In North America specifically, higher temperatures will decrease snow pack in the western mountains, reducing summer water supplies and exacerbat ing chances o f drought.To avoid such catastrophes, scientists say that we must reduce our carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 to prevent global temperatures from rising above two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial averages.3.Does the rise in the earth's temperature cause more i n t e n s e s t o r m s a n d hurricanes? If so, how? Yes. Hurricanes are powered by warm water on the surface of the ocean. As global warming heats the surface of the water, hurricanes will increase in speed, power, and severity. In its most recent report, IPCC found that tropical storms have become more intense in the North Atlantic since 1970, during

which time period carbon dioxide levels have increased by 80%. The report also found that future tropical typhoons and hurricanes will likely become more intense as measured by higher wind speeds and heavier precipita- tion. More powerful cyclones will lead to crop damage, power out- ages, increase risk of food and water-borne diseases, population migration, and property loss.4.What are the largest sources of global warming pollution in the world and in the United States?According to 2005 figures by the Department of Energy, the US produces 21.1% of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, at 5,957 million metric tons. While it was second to the U.S. in 2005, China took over first place in mid-2007, emitting roughly 28% of the world's CO2. But that does mean that the U.S. emits more CO2 than India (4.1%), Russia (6%), Japan (4.4%), Australia (1.4%), and more than all of Europe (16.6%). The U.S. emits roughly 30% of its carbon d iox ide f rom the transportation sector and 40% from power plants. We burn coal and natural gas to produce electricity for our homes, businesses, and factories. Most of the oil is burned to power transportation - planes, buses, and cars. Unfortunately, nearly all of the technology that produces this energy is outdated and inefficient. We can continue to live our lives by putting more efficient technology to use, and by generating more energy from clean sources like wind and solar.5.Can we curb our emissions of global warming pollution without hurting our economy?Absolutely. America's current

energy policy is terribly expensive, requiring large subsidies while taking a heavy toll on consumers. Studies show that by investing in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency, we can reduce our greenhouse emissions the necessary 80% by 2050 while creating new jobs and saving consumers money, and we can do so without producing dangerous and expensive electricity from nuclear reactors. While many countries in Europe and Asia are recognizing the need to curb emiss ions, America's industries are falling behind. America needs policies and programs that will stimulate green power industries so we can ensure that America will once again lead the world in technology and manufacturing. And by making simple choices in the kinds of products we buy, such as compact florescent light bulbs and hybrid cars, we can all save money and protect the environment by consuming less energy. 6.How is the International Communi ty Address ing Climate Change?Recognizing the urgency of the threat posed by climate change, developing countries agreed at recent UN climate change n e g o t i a t i o n s i n B a l i t o complement developed country mitigation targets with nationally appropriate mitigation actions of their own. This represents a significant change of position on the part of developing countries. The U.S. has the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum of Bali if we act quickly to put in place the necessary legislation to reduce domestic emissions. 7.Is it too late to stop Global Warming?While it is true that global warming is already occurring and affecting the way we live, we can prevent global temperatures from reaching dangerous levels if we take steps now to begin dramatically reducing our carbon emissions. If we do not begin to shift to clean energy, the heat waves and hurricanes that we have already suffered through will worsen. Thankfully, we have all the tools necessary to curb our emissions of greenhouse gases - tools like clean energy, energy efficiency, and cars that go farther on a gallon of gas.

Global mean surface temperature anomaly relative to 1961–1990

Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980

ENVIROMENT

December 2008

1.Where can anybody but you sit

2.Why would a cleaning person prefer to wash a mirror than a window of the same size, assuming both are easilyaccessible?

3.How can you throw a ball so it will reverse direction and return to you without the ball bouncing against or touching any solid object?

4.Your bed and light switch are 15 feet apart. Without using any object or mechanical device, no pole, no remote switch , how can you turn off the light and get into bed before the room is dark?

5.Rusty's Montana cabin is almost buried in snow, and the temperature is 25 below zero. Rusty's eyes move from the single match he has in his hand to a candle, an oil lamp and a fireplace with kindling all ready to be lit. Which does he lightfirst?

6.What common mechanized transports in New York City(120,000 of them) carry 3 times as many passengers daily as all the cities subways, trains, buses, cars, and taxis combined?

7.Why didn't William Howard Taft run for a third term as presi-dent?

8.What is cowhide chiefly used for?

9.Can you arrange these letters into one long word: d o o r n o n e g w l

10.If Betsy Ross were living today, what would she be mostnoted for?


ENTERTAINMENT

A woman was out on her first bear hunt when she heard a noise. Nervously, she turned around to see a huge bear 100 yards due east of her. Panic stricken, she ran due north. Having covered about 100 yards, she regained her composure, stopped and turned to shoot the bear. She was now facing due south and the bear had not moved. What color was the bear?

Proof that 1=2

Sukod

Sister(poem):Why is it that sisters tease?Can you tell me please?They always make me crywith one mean lie.Why is it me,They don't like to see?All I did was love you!Do you have no respect?Or is it 'cause you haveto be perfect?

1) X = Y

(2) X2 = XY

(3) X2 - Y2 = XY - Y2

(4) (X+Y)(X-Y) = Y(X-Y)

(5) (X+Y) = Y

(6) Y+Y = Y

(7) 2Y = Y

(8) 2 = 1

Given Multiply both sides by X

Subtract Y2 from both sides

Factor both sides

Cancel out common factors

Substitute in from line (1)

Collect the Y's

Divide both sides by Y

December 2008

SUDOKU

zaman international school newspaper issue 61

Documents

day parents

i r children

son s c

c h e r s

t h e t e

school building

n d s c h o o

end of day