Facebook and Twitter warning to teachers who befriend pupils

Facebook and Twitter warning to teachers who befriend pupils

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9034485/Facebook-and-Twitter-warning-to-teachers-who-befriend-pupils.html

The General Teaching Council for England revealed shows that in 43 of the 336 cases for “unacceptable unprofessional conduct” teachers had used social media to get into contact with children. Also a wide diversity in school policy regarding social networking was revealed by this council. Karl Hopwood, an internet safety consultant says that schools should always have a clear policy about what is and is not allowed regarding social networking. Social network sites can have a positive effect too says Paul Heathcote from the GTC registar. It can motivate pupils and contribute to the teacher’s way of teaching.

Teachers should not be allowed to become friends with pupils on social network websites. If teachers want to make use of social network sites to motivate pupils or contribute to their teaching, the teachers should make a second social network account. One that is not linked to the private account of the teacher. I believe that this is the only way to prevent incidents like this to happen. On the other hand using social network is a great way to involve pupils in their education.

Lawyers in right-to-die case can act without fear of prosecution

Lawyers in right-to-die case can act without fear of prosecution

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/27/right-to-die-lawyers-prosecution

High court has decided that lawyers or doctors cannot be prosecuted for helping end the life of stroke victims. The article states that the lawyers successfully urged two judges in London to grant them a declaration which will protect them and third parties, including doctors, during preperations for a “landmark” judicial review action brought by a man in his 40s with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. This man is unable to move and is only able to communicate by blinking. His entire life is dependent on others and he requires constant care.

How bad the end of life might seem to be, I think it would be a great relief for this man and his surroundings. Everyone sees him suffer. Ending people’s life seems like a cruel thing to do though. It is a difficult subject and I cannot even imagine what his wife goes through. I agree that lawyers and doctors should not be punished for helping someone ending his life. But only when this person is suffering greatly and cannot experience the joy of life anymore.

New plans for all-Ireland minimum alcohol price

New plans for all-Ireland minimum alcohol price

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16758609

At the first formal North/South conference on alcohol misuse a new plan to fight alcohol misuse was formed. They want to higher the minimum price of alcohol. If this plan will be put into practice, a minimum price of 45 to 50 pence is asked per unit of alcohol. As stated in the article, this will mean that a bottle of cider with 14 units of alcohol, which currently costs 2.30 pounds, would be increased to 7 pounds. Alcohol misuse is a huge problem in Ireland. Health authorities hope for a decrease in alcohol misuse.

It might be easy to say that I find this a good idea, since I do not drink alcohol that often. But I think this is a great way to decrease alcohol misuse since people have to watch their spending on alcohol. This plan makes it less attractive for young adults to drink alcohol. We should have this in The Netherlands as well. It might be a huge change in daily life but I am sure that people will get used to it. Alcohol prices in Sweden are also a lot higher than in Ireland. You do not hear complains about it either.

New nuclear has 'lots of support' locally

New nuclear has ‘lots of support’ locally

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16725952

Positive signs are coming from the region around The Sellafield nuclear plant. The article states that an executive from EDF Energy told MPs there was a “strong desire” for the jobs and other economic benefits new reactors could bring across England. He also says that safety should be the primer priority. EDF Energy’s director of planning and external affairs for future plants believes that his company should be as “open and transparent” as possible to keep the local civilians informed and positive.

Nuclear power plants have my support as well. It is one of the most efficient ways to generate electricity and also is sustainable. I agree that they should be open towards the community in order to keep the civilians informed. As long as the safety in nuclear power plants is maintained, it should not be any problem to generate electricity from nuclear resources. Human errors were made in both Fukishima and Chernobyl. These errors can and must be prevented. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the demand for electricity keeps growing. It will be hard to cope with this demand without nuclear power plants.

UK told to prepare for mass floods in future

UK told to prepare for mass floods in future

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/uk-told-to-prepare-for-mass-floods-in-future-6294672.html

The Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) did research on the most serious of 100 challenges caused by global warming. Flooding caused by heavy rainfall will be the most serious problem in Britain. This research expects an annual cost of 12 billion pounds caused by this rainfall, compared to an annual amount of 1,2 billion pounds it costs UK now. However flood defence expenses have been cut by a staggering 27% for the upcoming four years. The flooding comes from more intense rainfall and causes rivers to flood and surface water to rise and flood cities.

If this study by CCRA is accurate, the government should raise the money spend in flood defence instead of lowering it. The longer UK’s government waits to fight against floods, the harder it will get when years pass. I can imagine that there are other important things to spend money on but I think flood defence is a great investment. On the other hand, you could also try to fight the problem at its roots and put an investment in stopping our atmosphere from heating up.

Medics save baby born with practically no blood

Medics save baby born with practically no blood

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9043527/Medics-save-baby-born-with-no-blood.html

At the 37 ½^th week of pregnancy Katy, mother of 7 year old Jack was rushed to Maidstone General Hospital for medical care. In the hospital medics realised the baby was almost completely drained of blood. While the mother was under anaesthetics the doctors gave the baby a blood transfusion with the help of heart massage and oxygen. Katy was unaware of what was going on and said: “Doctors said it was one of the most amazing recoveries they had ever seen.” The baby is now 15 months old and smiling just like every other child.

It is amazing that lifeless human beings who have no heartbeat and do not have blood running through their veins can still be brought to life. The doctor who came with the idea to run blood through a lifeless baby should be rewarded with a medal of honour. I cannot imagine how he came with this plan. Modern day health care keeps getting better and better. Pretty soon the life expectancy of the human being will be so long, that we will have to inhabit other planets. With enough research it is possible to live on planets like Mercury and Mars. I hope I live to see this moment.

Giant pandas

Pandas in  Edinbrugh Zoo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/04/giant-pandas-edinburgh-zoo-china

Sunday, Tian Tian and Yang Guang flew in with the Panda Express. These two giant pandas whose names mean sweetie and sunshine will have their new homes in Edinbrugh Zoo. The arrival of the pandas would help spread “joy and friendship and spread happiness and understanding between China and the United Kingdom. These pandas are expected to raise the amount of visitors to the zoo for up to 70%. This was really needed after a difficult time for Edinbrugh Zoo. The pandas will be kept in solitude to adjust to their new environment. Tian Tian and Yang Guang are one of the few pandas in UK’s history to settle in its country. One of the goals of bringing the pandas to the Zoo is to have them mate with each other in the hope that they successfully produce offspring. Both pandas are already parents and they also have productive ancestors. China owns 328 captive giant pandas, which are endangered and down to just 1300 left in the wild.

Apart from the benefits for the zoo, there are more reasons for the pandas to be flown in. The two pandas are also a symbol for the relationship between the UK and China as the article already claimed. Let’s hope that these two pandas will save the zoo from bankruptcy and provide the first babies in UK’s history. 

Gamblin problems

Kids should be taught gambling

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8932788/Pupils-should-learn-about-gambling-says-charity.html

Schoolchildren should be taught gambling. GamCare has called on the Department for Education to include lessons on betting responsibly and to know when the odds are against them. GamCare is a charity which receives three million pounds from the gambling sector. The organisation believed that 100,000 problem gamblers are under the age of 18. With the rise of online gambling, there is clearly a need for children and young people to be given good advice. One of GamCare’s aims is to ensure that gambling remains safe for everyone, this includes under aged people. MP Graham Stuart, who is chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee said, “I am generally nervous of trying to make schools the cure-all for society’s ills. Their primary aim is to equip children with the basic skills of a decent education. Others fear that the recommendation would come at a cost to children’s overall education.

This is a great way to make children aware of the risks of gambling. As the article stated, there are a lot of problem gamblers amongst kids. At one point kids aging between 12 and 15 years we’re percent wise twice as many than adults. This is a shocking difference and should be tackled as soon as possible. I see no other options than to teach these kids the risks of gambling in school. Although the supervision of parents over the computer habits of children must also be raised. Since the gambling addiction is mainly practices online, parents should check upon their children more often.

Age UK is accused of ending key research into ageing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/20/age-uk-scientific-research-funding

Age UK is accused of ending key research into ageing

Age UK stopped funding research in the biology of ageing, instead the country’s leading charity for older people funds studies that deliver short term effects. Faragher, a professor at the University of Brighton and an expert on premature ageing mentioned, “Without basic research, you have nothing to translate. If you focus on the short term, you never make the problem go away.” The aim of research on long term ageing related topics is to lengthen the time for people to remain fit and well.

My opinion is that it’s a bad thing to stop funding fundamental research into the biology of ageing. I think that money is better spent on long term topics than on topics which deliver short term effects. When people remain fit and healthy for a longer period of time means that they will be able to work longer as well. Age related diseases like cancer will also be delayed resulting into less costs to take care of people with diseases like cancer. Another important thing Faragher points out is that life expectancy rises while there are no major medical breakthroughs. On average, age-related diseases and disabilities hit when people reach their late sixties.

Universities to pay cash incentives to attract students

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8901375/Universities-to-pay-cash-incentives-to-attract-students.html

Universities to pay cash incentives to attract students

Students with high grades are offered money to join a specific university. New government rules allow universities to take unlimited numbers of sixth formers gaining at least two As and a B at A-level. Universities use thousands of pounds to attract well performing students to their institutes. A downside for universities who can’t afford to offer such privileges for students is that they will miss out on a few well performing students. Other institutions might be forced to compete in prices with the other higher ranked universities.

From the student point of view this is a great system which motivates them to study harder. I wish that we had such a system here in the Netherlands. For me it felt like just passing the subjects is enough. Such money paid to well performing students would definitely motivate me to do more for school. On the other hand, I think that they money can be spent better. Universities are partly funded by the government. So it’s going to be tax payer’s money which will be given away to students. There are other ways to motivate students.

Drug smuggling ‘harder to detect’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15613803

There has been an increase in drug finding at British ports and airports. In the months from April to September more drugs has been found than in the preceding year. The estimated annual amount of drug findings this year will be one of the highest in nearly a decade. Officials say that it is due to intelligence, better teamwork between agencies and better screening techniques. There is also a warning for Christmas post. It is a great opportunity to smuggle drugs by parcel in the weeks before Christmas due to the increase in post.

The increase of drug findings is a great achievement. The more drug findings, the less money drug gangs will earn out of their business. To invest in drug finding at borders may be a way to solve drug problems, but I’m afraid that it’s just a “drop of water on a hot plate”. I don’t believe that this is the right solution in the war against drugs. They should focus more on finding out where these drugs are produced and shut the facility down or cut its resources. Another way is to find out who is behind the smuggling and arrest them.

Funeral Shooting

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/04/funeral-shooting-london-extra-police

Police are investigating a shooting at a funeral. The shooting took place at Thursday afternoon. One man was killed during the shooting and another injured. Several shots had been fired. The shooting happened after the funeral of Joel Morgan at Camberwell Old Cemetery. The man who died was named Azezur Khan. The shooting is possibly linked to gang rivalry, but the investigators have an open mind for the motive of the shooting. Four people were arrested after the shooting. They eventually have been released on bail. The police were aware of the funeral and took measures to manage anything that might happen at the burial.

It is quite shocking to hear that the arrested people are aged from 17 to 20 and two of them were girls, you wouldn’t expect it at all. The news article also mentions that the police will attempt to prevent any revenge actions over the coming days. It is pretty hard to prevent future conflicts like these though, as the police were aware that a fight could start at the funeral. It is quite strange that you don’t read anything about gang rivalry in the Dutch newspaper. Does this mean it rarely happens in The Netherlands or is it just left out of the papers?