Foods With Benefits, or So They Say
Story:
Recently there are more food products that says this product is healthy for your body, heart, or whatever. However, are they really healthy food? Or in order to have a good sale, they are just saying this.
Background:
Almost every food products in supermarket cover says this is nutritional this will give you a healthier live. For example, fruit contained juice. Saler will say that this juice contains 100% or 90% of pure fruit and no sugar and other things. But if you really pay attention to the cover, you can find a phrase with small words that says "containing 2.5% original fruit juice" which means that is almost none original fruit juice. If they really put pure fruits in the juice, they are not fresh fruits either. So called fruit's nutrition, usually it is just a reason to sale.
However, no one is saying that this kind of product is unsafe or unhealthy. They just don't worth the prize. Normal people don't know what is really inside of the product and whether they are healthy are not. Nowadays, food products are just functional but rarely have real nutrition in them.
Personal Opinion:
I think the salers and producers are doing the right thing at least for themselves. If consumers really want this product if they after saw this is healthy for you, why don't they just buy an actual apple instead of fake apple juice. Sometimes it is consumers' responsibility to know what they are eating and consuming everyday but not just by looking the nutrition breakdown at the back of the pack.
Questions:
Will people still buy a certain product after they noticed it is not worth or healthy for them?
Will producers produce REAL nutritional products in the future or later on?
Recently there are more food products that says this product is healthy for your body, heart, or whatever. However, are they really healthy food? Or in order to have a good sale, they are just saying this.
Background:
Almost every food products in supermarket cover says this is nutritional this will give you a healthier live. For example, fruit contained juice. Saler will say that this juice contains 100% or 90% of pure fruit and no sugar and other things. But if you really pay attention to the cover, you can find a phrase with small words that says "containing 2.5% original fruit juice" which means that is almost none original fruit juice. If they really put pure fruits in the juice, they are not fresh fruits either. So called fruit's nutrition, usually it is just a reason to sale.
However, no one is saying that this kind of product is unsafe or unhealthy. They just don't worth the prize. Normal people don't know what is really inside of the product and whether they are healthy are not. Nowadays, food products are just functional but rarely have real nutrition in them.
Personal Opinion:
I think the salers and producers are doing the right thing at least for themselves. If consumers really want this product if they after saw this is healthy for you, why don't they just buy an actual apple instead of fake apple juice. Sometimes it is consumers' responsibility to know what they are eating and consuming everyday but not just by looking the nutrition breakdown at the back of the pack.
Questions:
Will people still buy a certain product after they noticed it is not worth or healthy for them?
Will producers produce REAL nutritional products in the future or later on?
Environmentalists Criticize Indonesia's Plan to Save Forests
Story:
Indonesia released the details of a one billion dollars program to limit deforestation and greenhouse gas. However, many environmentalists expressed that the plan will give industry too much leeway to improving the ecosystem.
Background:
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised that they will stop destroying about 158 million acres of virgin forest and carbon-rich peatland. Deforestation may lead to other natural disasters which are extremely harmful.
Environmentalists pointed out that large-scale felling of forests have been frequently the main reason of natural disasters in Indonesia. If the government does not take any effective measures or solutions to stop the natural disasters, Indonesia will have more natural disasters more frequent. Because in Indonesia, 83% of its land is disaster-prone areas, however the large-scale deforestation leads to the main reason to cause frequent natural disasters.
For example, floods. In year 2006, floods and mudslides have killed about 200 people, caused 200 missing, and four hundred and ten thousand people displaced. This is one of the natural disasters that caused by deforestation.
According to statistics, in year 2006, large-scale natural disasters occurred about 150 cases, and killed about 6000 people.
And right now the Indonesian government took an action on stop destroying the forest and supported 1 billion dollars.
Personal Opinion:
Probably 1 billion dollars is too much for it. But still in order to improve our environment, this much of money worth it. However, if we do not limit the main factor which is industrialization, but only just reducing by cutting trees and reducing gases will not be an efficient solution enough.
Maybe Indonesian government can focus and pay more attention on national industrialization.
Questions:
Do you think 1 billion dollars worth to improve our environment?
What is the main factor to pollute the environment you personally think?
Indonesia released the details of a one billion dollars program to limit deforestation and greenhouse gas. However, many environmentalists expressed that the plan will give industry too much leeway to improving the ecosystem.
Background:
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised that they will stop destroying about 158 million acres of virgin forest and carbon-rich peatland. Deforestation may lead to other natural disasters which are extremely harmful.
Environmentalists pointed out that large-scale felling of forests have been frequently the main reason of natural disasters in Indonesia. If the government does not take any effective measures or solutions to stop the natural disasters, Indonesia will have more natural disasters more frequent. Because in Indonesia, 83% of its land is disaster-prone areas, however the large-scale deforestation leads to the main reason to cause frequent natural disasters.
For example, floods. In year 2006, floods and mudslides have killed about 200 people, caused 200 missing, and four hundred and ten thousand people displaced. This is one of the natural disasters that caused by deforestation.
According to statistics, in year 2006, large-scale natural disasters occurred about 150 cases, and killed about 6000 people.
And right now the Indonesian government took an action on stop destroying the forest and supported 1 billion dollars.
Personal Opinion:
Probably 1 billion dollars is too much for it. But still in order to improve our environment, this much of money worth it. However, if we do not limit the main factor which is industrialization, but only just reducing by cutting trees and reducing gases will not be an efficient solution enough.
Maybe Indonesian government can focus and pay more attention on national industrialization.
Questions:
Do you think 1 billion dollars worth to improve our environment?
What is the main factor to pollute the environment you personally think?
China Creates New Agency for Patrolling the Internet
Story:
China's government said on Wednesday that China had created a new central agency to regulate the internet. Including online games, video, online propaganda, and news web sites.
Background:
This plan is still unclear because China didn't explain about is this new agency going to replace all the government internet offices and other government-related workshop and jurisdiction. The agency is mainly going to supervise online gaming system, government propaganda, online news web sites, and publishing business. About publishing business and online news web sites, the agency will wipe out the small news web sites and sponsor more on bigger web sites.
At least 14 government units, from culture and information technology ministries to offices the oversee films and boos, have some hand in what appears on China's Internet and this agency program. We can deduce that this program will be lucrative sources of income.
Opinion:
Right now China has already blocking foreign websites for example Facebook, YouTube, and twitter; there are going to be more and more websites, games, and videos blocking and banning by this new agency. I think people will gradually know less about some informations that hurts China. Also this news, I couldn't find any related article to this on Chinese websites. Probably, China is doing this plan secretly and doesn't want people to know about this...
Questions:
Why China is sensitive on informations on internet more than other countries do?
What are people's reaction, if they notice about this secret agency?
China's government said on Wednesday that China had created a new central agency to regulate the internet. Including online games, video, online propaganda, and news web sites.
Background:
This plan is still unclear because China didn't explain about is this new agency going to replace all the government internet offices and other government-related workshop and jurisdiction. The agency is mainly going to supervise online gaming system, government propaganda, online news web sites, and publishing business. About publishing business and online news web sites, the agency will wipe out the small news web sites and sponsor more on bigger web sites.
At least 14 government units, from culture and information technology ministries to offices the oversee films and boos, have some hand in what appears on China's Internet and this agency program. We can deduce that this program will be lucrative sources of income.
Opinion:
Right now China has already blocking foreign websites for example Facebook, YouTube, and twitter; there are going to be more and more websites, games, and videos blocking and banning by this new agency. I think people will gradually know less about some informations that hurts China. Also this news, I couldn't find any related article to this on Chinese websites. Probably, China is doing this plan secretly and doesn't want people to know about this...
Questions:
Why China is sensitive on informations on internet more than other countries do?
What are people's reaction, if they notice about this secret agency?
McDonald's Makes Subtle Play for Children Online
Story:
McDonald's created a virtual gaming world online for children.Visitors can create an account and make a character. Like other online games, make your character and play. However the differences are that McDonald's online game has a lot of mini games for kids to play, maybe it is not appropriate for teenagers or adults to play.
Background:
This is the latest in online marketing, McDonald's hope that visitors can trust the game because it is well-known all over the world. Superficially, the game seems free, but actually children have to buy Happy Meal boxes to unlock things like special gear for their online character. And Happy Meal is the most lucrative meal set in McDonald's.
As we all know that when we buy Happy Meal, there always is a toy that attached on. Most children are addicted to the toy but Happy Meal. Therefore in Happy Meal there is not a lot quantity of food, so McDonald's does not cost very much for the food, probably they are costing more in toys. In kids' eyes toys in Happy Meal are addicted and interesting, however for parents they are deceptive high-tech marketing model.
There was a trial about banning McDonald's toys in San Francisco few years ago. San Francisco successfully banned McDonald's toys not only because it makes children want to buy Happy Meal and causing parents paying money for them, also because Happy Meal was not healthy for children.
And right now, McDonald's created a online game for people. Again, their target is on children. By buying Happy Meal to get special gears in the game.
Personal Opinion:
I think McDonald's is really good at creating new addictive stuff for children. But everything that McDonald's does now is to receive more money from children. Children are not coming to McDonald's by themselves, and also they will buy a lot of food even though they cannot finish them.
Questions:
Will parents be angry about this new plan?
Is it going to be as successful as Happy Meal toys?
McDonald's created a virtual gaming world online for children.Visitors can create an account and make a character. Like other online games, make your character and play. However the differences are that McDonald's online game has a lot of mini games for kids to play, maybe it is not appropriate for teenagers or adults to play.
Background:
This is the latest in online marketing, McDonald's hope that visitors can trust the game because it is well-known all over the world. Superficially, the game seems free, but actually children have to buy Happy Meal boxes to unlock things like special gear for their online character. And Happy Meal is the most lucrative meal set in McDonald's.
As we all know that when we buy Happy Meal, there always is a toy that attached on. Most children are addicted to the toy but Happy Meal. Therefore in Happy Meal there is not a lot quantity of food, so McDonald's does not cost very much for the food, probably they are costing more in toys. In kids' eyes toys in Happy Meal are addicted and interesting, however for parents they are deceptive high-tech marketing model.
There was a trial about banning McDonald's toys in San Francisco few years ago. San Francisco successfully banned McDonald's toys not only because it makes children want to buy Happy Meal and causing parents paying money for them, also because Happy Meal was not healthy for children.
And right now, McDonald's created a online game for people. Again, their target is on children. By buying Happy Meal to get special gears in the game.
Personal Opinion:
I think McDonald's is really good at creating new addictive stuff for children. But everything that McDonald's does now is to receive more money from children. Children are not coming to McDonald's by themselves, and also they will buy a lot of food even though they cannot finish them.
Questions:
Will parents be angry about this new plan?
Is it going to be as successful as Happy Meal toys?
Sudan Says Israel Launched a Missile Strike on a Car, Killing 2
Story:
On Tuesday Sudan says Israel launched a missile to attack them, and caused of 2 death. In more detail, one of two dead people is a big weapon merchant in Sudan also well known in Israel newspapers. Sudan is a transit point in the weapons route to Hamas. Israel has not responded to this event yet.
Background:
Sudan has been hating Israel since a long time ago. They want a silent society without Israel. However, this is not the first time that Israel attacks Sudan. There is a similar accusation and strike happened in 2009. What happened in 2009 was there is a troop that carrying weapons to another country through Sudan for trading, and Israel thought the troop will bring a hazard in Israel, so they attacked the troop immediately. At the time, there were 100 people killed by the strike in Gaza.
Attacking weapons convoy troop passing through Sudan seems violating the international law. But Israel thinks that to protect themselves it is allowed to attack them.
This time, there are two people killed by the strike, one of them is a big weapon merchant in Sudan.
Opinion:
Both attacks were related to weapons. I think Israel was misunderstanding about something, they maybe thought the troop which was passing through Sudan will give the weapons to Sudan and might use them to attack Israel since Israel and Sudan has a bad relationship. Israel's information network is worldwide, they will focus on other countries actions. I cannot be indifferent to the riots in middle east.
Questions:
Israel has already took several actions to Sudan, will the countries who hates Israel unite together and against Israel?
Do you think Israel's action is rational and reasonable?
On Tuesday Sudan says Israel launched a missile to attack them, and caused of 2 death. In more detail, one of two dead people is a big weapon merchant in Sudan also well known in Israel newspapers. Sudan is a transit point in the weapons route to Hamas. Israel has not responded to this event yet.
Background:
Sudan has been hating Israel since a long time ago. They want a silent society without Israel. However, this is not the first time that Israel attacks Sudan. There is a similar accusation and strike happened in 2009. What happened in 2009 was there is a troop that carrying weapons to another country through Sudan for trading, and Israel thought the troop will bring a hazard in Israel, so they attacked the troop immediately. At the time, there were 100 people killed by the strike in Gaza.
Attacking weapons convoy troop passing through Sudan seems violating the international law. But Israel thinks that to protect themselves it is allowed to attack them.
This time, there are two people killed by the strike, one of them is a big weapon merchant in Sudan.
Opinion:
Both attacks were related to weapons. I think Israel was misunderstanding about something, they maybe thought the troop which was passing through Sudan will give the weapons to Sudan and might use them to attack Israel since Israel and Sudan has a bad relationship. Israel's information network is worldwide, they will focus on other countries actions. I cannot be indifferent to the riots in middle east.
Questions:
Israel has already took several actions to Sudan, will the countries who hates Israel unite together and against Israel?
Do you think Israel's action is rational and reasonable?
Earthquake Hits Myanmar
Story:
According to the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information Network news released, in northeastern Myanmar there is a 6.8 magnitude earthquake happened in the evening of March 24 local time. During less than a minute in Myanmar there are two earthquakes occurred consecutively. Thailand, Vietnam, Yunann, Guangxi, and Myanmar had feeling of earthquake.
Background:
Buildings were damaged near the epicenter in Myanmar, after few hours villagers constantly felt aftershock of earthquake. The numbers of injuries are unknown yet, but so far there are about 50 people died from this disaster, including one Thai in Thailand. Compared to Japan, Myanmar received a huge negative effect financially and economically. For example, one factory or one port that is destroyed by the earthquake, that is going to bring a lot of troubles in trading and transporting and so on... Unlike Japan, Japan is more powerful than Myanmar, one factory, one port destroyed, it will not be a big issue for Japan.
Opinion:
I think this earthquake also effected China's economy, because as we all know that Thailand grows a lot of wheat and rice, and the China will import them from Thailand, the earthquake also quaked Thailand, so I personally think that resource will be not adequated and effect China.
Questions:
Recently many wars, earthquake, and natural disasters happened one by one, is there any connection between them?
Is it possible to control an earthquake?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information Network news released, in northeastern Myanmar there is a 6.8 magnitude earthquake happened in the evening of March 24 local time. During less than a minute in Myanmar there are two earthquakes occurred consecutively. Thailand, Vietnam, Yunann, Guangxi, and Myanmar had feeling of earthquake.
Background:
Buildings were damaged near the epicenter in Myanmar, after few hours villagers constantly felt aftershock of earthquake. The numbers of injuries are unknown yet, but so far there are about 50 people died from this disaster, including one Thai in Thailand. Compared to Japan, Myanmar received a huge negative effect financially and economically. For example, one factory or one port that is destroyed by the earthquake, that is going to bring a lot of troubles in trading and transporting and so on... Unlike Japan, Japan is more powerful than Myanmar, one factory, one port destroyed, it will not be a big issue for Japan.
Opinion:
I think this earthquake also effected China's economy, because as we all know that Thailand grows a lot of wheat and rice, and the China will import them from Thailand, the earthquake also quaked Thailand, so I personally think that resource will be not adequated and effect China.
Questions:
Recently many wars, earthquake, and natural disasters happened one by one, is there any connection between them?
Is it possible to control an earthquake?
The rebirth of MAMMOTH
Story:
Basically the story is about Japanese scientists are trying to use clone technology in order to reborn them by using their DNA left on their fossil bones. Well, the tissue we have is relative small amount, most of it has been frozen and partially decayed, almost leaving nothing suitable for cloning. Japan has very advanced clone technology, and the rebirth of mammoth is hopeful.
Background:
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. It is kind of elephant, the family of elephants and mammoths, it is close relatives of modern elephants. They lived from the Pliocene Epoch from around 4.8 million into the Pleistocene at about 4,500 years ago.
Anyways, the scientists plan is using DNA from mammoth's bone and use its gene bring into an egg from normal elephant, since they are similar. Most of all, he is going to be needed to keep to a tight schedule, the rate of successful cloning of mundane animals like cattle is only 30 percents, and the mammoth will have a gestation period of over a year and a half. And another problem is we have to unfreeze the DNA about two years, also fertilize the egg, and knock up an elephant... It will take a very long time.
Opinion:
If we use clone technology properly, it will be very efficient for reproducing extinct animals, I hope the world can get use to these new technology and save those extinct animals. If technology allow, we can also clone extinct plants! But we still have to keep in mind that the clone of animals will take very long time.
Questions:
Will people keep destroying the ecosystem and environment since we have clone technology?
Will people use clone technology inappropriately?
Basically the story is about Japanese scientists are trying to use clone technology in order to reborn them by using their DNA left on their fossil bones. Well, the tissue we have is relative small amount, most of it has been frozen and partially decayed, almost leaving nothing suitable for cloning. Japan has very advanced clone technology, and the rebirth of mammoth is hopeful.
Background:
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. It is kind of elephant, the family of elephants and mammoths, it is close relatives of modern elephants. They lived from the Pliocene Epoch from around 4.8 million into the Pleistocene at about 4,500 years ago.
Anyways, the scientists plan is using DNA from mammoth's bone and use its gene bring into an egg from normal elephant, since they are similar. Most of all, he is going to be needed to keep to a tight schedule, the rate of successful cloning of mundane animals like cattle is only 30 percents, and the mammoth will have a gestation period of over a year and a half. And another problem is we have to unfreeze the DNA about two years, also fertilize the egg, and knock up an elephant... It will take a very long time.
Opinion:
If we use clone technology properly, it will be very efficient for reproducing extinct animals, I hope the world can get use to these new technology and save those extinct animals. If technology allow, we can also clone extinct plants! But we still have to keep in mind that the clone of animals will take very long time.
Questions:
Will people keep destroying the ecosystem and environment since we have clone technology?
Will people use clone technology inappropriately?
Why did the appreciation of Yen happen after earthquake?
Story:
After the huge earthquake happened in East Japan, in the foreign exchange market of yen-dollar, it appears the phenomenon of appreciation of Yen and depression of dollar. After the earthquake and the explosion of nuclear power plant accident and such disasters, funds went away and yen were sold in Japan, the proceeds would appear naturally weaker and depression in yen. What was the reason for buying yen.
Background:
After the earthquake same thing happened in the earthquake of Hanshin, the appreciation of yen.When investors were provided with large insurance companies to pay insurance, the investigation in foreign assets were bought back abroad as known “Repatori", which means the return of funds to the home country. And that was the reason of acceleration of appreciation of yen.
As I saw the news on internet, consumer sentiment fell to a 5-month low, while business sales rose 2% and business inventories rose .9%. Retail sales rose 1%, as expected by analysts.
Opinion:
The staggering disaster in Japan will remain in focus, and is likely to have a direct impact on the treasury and currency markets. And as both earthquake happened in Japan 1995 and 2011, always what happened after earthquake was the appreciation of yen, because the foreign investigators want to accelerate buying yen and selling dollar.
Question:
Will the appreciation of yen keep rising even after?
Why does the yen is seen as safer assets?
After the huge earthquake happened in East Japan, in the foreign exchange market of yen-dollar, it appears the phenomenon of appreciation of Yen and depression of dollar. After the earthquake and the explosion of nuclear power plant accident and such disasters, funds went away and yen were sold in Japan, the proceeds would appear naturally weaker and depression in yen. What was the reason for buying yen.
Background:
After the earthquake same thing happened in the earthquake of Hanshin, the appreciation of yen.When investors were provided with large insurance companies to pay insurance, the investigation in foreign assets were bought back abroad as known “Repatori", which means the return of funds to the home country. And that was the reason of acceleration of appreciation of yen.
As I saw the news on internet, consumer sentiment fell to a 5-month low, while business sales rose 2% and business inventories rose .9%. Retail sales rose 1%, as expected by analysts.
Opinion:
The staggering disaster in Japan will remain in focus, and is likely to have a direct impact on the treasury and currency markets. And as both earthquake happened in Japan 1995 and 2011, always what happened after earthquake was the appreciation of yen, because the foreign investigators want to accelerate buying yen and selling dollar.
Question:
Will the appreciation of yen keep rising even after?
Why does the yen is seen as safer assets?
Explosion of Japanese nuclear power station
Story:
The largest nuclear power station in Japan exploded few days ago. The explosion of nuclear power station was the second largest of human history. After the explosion, radiation spreads out to the world, right now it already reached California. However recently the scientists found out that radiation does only react mostly in the area of the explosion.
Background:
So basically the prime minister held an emergence meeting after the explosion and asked people that people living with 30 kilometers away from the explosion area, and also asked them to close window and stay indoor. In 1954, Japan badgeted 230 million yen for nuclear energy plan, marking the beginning of the program. Usually the power station remains about 10 years and retire make new one. A lot of people are misunderstanding about the radiation and fear about power station itself. However actually as we discussed in class today it does not harm people that much, even a shopping mall is more harmful than a power station.
Personal Opinion:
I think Japan should recovery their buildings and people from the disaster firstly, and next to measure the common earthquake area and build new nuclear power station far away from there. I hope Japan can get better soon.
Questions:
What is the risk to sealife off the coast of Japan? Same as human?
For how long Japan will recover this disaster?
The largest nuclear power station in Japan exploded few days ago. The explosion of nuclear power station was the second largest of human history. After the explosion, radiation spreads out to the world, right now it already reached California. However recently the scientists found out that radiation does only react mostly in the area of the explosion.
Background:
So basically the prime minister held an emergence meeting after the explosion and asked people that people living with 30 kilometers away from the explosion area, and also asked them to close window and stay indoor. In 1954, Japan badgeted 230 million yen for nuclear energy plan, marking the beginning of the program. Usually the power station remains about 10 years and retire make new one. A lot of people are misunderstanding about the radiation and fear about power station itself. However actually as we discussed in class today it does not harm people that much, even a shopping mall is more harmful than a power station.
Personal Opinion:
I think Japan should recovery their buildings and people from the disaster firstly, and next to measure the common earthquake area and build new nuclear power station far away from there. I hope Japan can get better soon.
Questions:
What is the risk to sealife off the coast of Japan? Same as human?
For how long Japan will recover this disaster?
