This week's video news #2... (discuss in class March 20)

Hi students,

Here are the video news stories for this week (which we will discuss in class on Thursday, March 20).


Antarctica glacier melting faster

A glacier used as a benchmark to measure global warming's impact on the Antarctic Peninsula melted more than usual in the past year, according to an Argentine glacier researcher.

The whole of Antarctica holds enough ice and snow to raise world sea levels by 187 feet if it all melted over thousands of years, according to U.N. data.

Pavithra George reports.





Lockdown in Tibet

Mar 16 - The Dalai Lama wants claims of cultural genocide investigated, as police and troops lock down the capital Lhasa.

The Dalai Lama said on Sunday that there should be an investigation into whether cultural genocide has been taking place in Tibet, and said China was relying on force to achieve peace.

His comments came as police and troops locked down Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, after ugly street protests against Chinese rule that the contested region's government-in-exile said had killed 80 people.

Michael Tetlow reports.





Champagne demand fizzing

Mar 15 - French champagne production has hit a wall against growing demand for bubbly.
In response the country has decided to expand growing areas, side-stepping concerns about quality and prestige.

Andrew Potter reports.





Remember that our main goals are to:
- Summarize the main content of the story
- Express some personal opinions in response to the stories and issues
- Make some predictions based on the content of the story

Good luck and look forward to seeing you again on Thursday evening!
- Jason

See you on Thurs.

A. In groups of 3-5 students, try to complete each of the sentences below:

1. It's _________________ Antarctica that's warming ________________________ the global average.

2. What worries the researcher __________________________ - that's the ____________________ ice in the zone ___________________ the glacier.

3. Some of the huge ice shelves that line the peninsula's coast __________________________ in the ocean.

4. __________________________, Antarctica holds enough ice and snow __________________________ by 187 feet ____________________ over thousands of years.



B. Exchange opinions and predictions with your classmates using these constructions:


I'm of the opinion that...
I also think that...

My prediction is that...
... will
It's also likely that ...


Good luck with it~!

Jason


***

Hi class,

Just remember that this week, you can choose any one of the three videos to write a response about.

Please indicate the title of the video you have chosen in the "Subject" line of your post.

Then give your opinion and make some predictions using the key language we practiced in class.

Your opinions and predictions for this video news are due no later than Thursday, March 27.

Thanks and best of luck,

~ Jason


***

Opinion: I'm of the opinion that what's happened and is still happening in Lhasa, Tibet should be investigated thoroughly and reported more objectively by the journalists from around the world. All I can see from the video clips regarding the violence in Lhasa is about Tibetians using violence, damaging Chinese people's property, getting arrested by the Chinese soldiers. But the news doesn't show much of the violence made by the Chinese army, which many think is editted by the Chinese government before the news is released to the world. The international communities, however, suppose that a serious case of human rights' violence is being committed in Lhasa. While the Chinese government claims that only about 10 Tibetians were killed, the Tibet's government-in-exile argues that the number reaches up to as many as 80 or 100.
Watching Tibetians being chasing after by the Chinese soldiers with a club in hand, and Tibetians women crying uncontrollably at the sence of their men being beaten and arrested by the brutal soldiers, I felt a strong sympathy towards Tibetians, who lost their sovereignty in 1950 when the Chinese Liberation Army conquered the country by powerful military forces. If you watch the movie, "Seven Years in Tibet," you can see how Chinese military destroyed the peaceful life of Tibetians, burning up the village and killing people. Similarly, Korea also experienced brutal colonial rule by Japan for 35 years in the first half of 20th century. In 1910, March 1st, Koreans across the nation stood up against Japan calling for our independence. So how can we who had gone through similar experience in the past not help but feel sympathy towards Tibetians?

Prediction: My predition is that many people around the world will boycott the China's 2008 Summer Olympics. Some countries are expressing their negative views on the recent violent, heavy-handed crack down on Tibetians by the Chinese government and considering shunning the opening ceremony of the sports event. In addition, China's diplomatic relations with other advanced nations will get worse as more political leaders are to meet up with Dalai Lama. China has already shown its utter unpleasantness when German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, invited Dalai Lama, in Germany and when Dalai Lama gave a speech at the congress of United States.

Hi Pilsu,



I just read your opinions and predictions in response to the video news article about protests in Tibet. Fantastic effort - you've expressed your thoughts extremely well and given great rationales.

Keep up the excellent work!

Regards,

~ Jason


***

This video news reminded me of some stories that I heard in my middle school days. The stories were that our planet earth would be exterminated by Fire and Water(Flood). I think Fire means global warming, greenhouse effect by carbon dioxide, the destruction of the Ozone layer and so on. And Water means, I guess, flood, that is, glacier's melting.
I'm of the opinion that, in the end, the Fire and Water are dependent upon our behavior, i.e. to keep our environment safe and clean or not.
The environmental pollution (including air, water and soil pollution and all kinds of wastes) causes the earth to get disease and the earth has got the fever like that we have fever when we get disease. Here, the fever means global warming.
Due to global warming, the glacier is melted away. The melted water from the glacier is flown into the ocean. And the sea level is raised, finally flood!!!
So, all over the world is trying to save the earth, except USA and China. Sometimes I think if USA and China control their wastes and pollution, our earth will be O.K. soon.
But, without keeping the earth safe and clean, global warming would be accelerated and flood is coming much sooner than several thousand years.
I'm not sure the future is safe and hopeful in terms of this point. If the glacier is melted away, the sea proportion of the earth will be wider than now, and then we cannot have any land as much as now.
Or like the movie, "Tomorrow", all over the world will be covered with snow and ice. And only cold will remain. How miserable the world will be! What will our descendents become of?
For our earth and our descendents, we should do something.
The answer depends on us. Let's save the earth.

Thank you. Take care,

young

I'm of the opinion that Tibetans keep protesting peacefully to recover their autonomy. This is the perfect time for them to get attention from all over the world owing to 2008 Beijing Olympic Game. However, an Olympic boycotting is not a way to solve this problem because it's against the spirit of the Olympic.
Whatever the reason is, China's reaction to this problem should be criticized for using military force. China is such a hugh country and Tibet is just a small part of it. Comparing military forces between two parts, it's just like beating one's head against the wall. Therefore if it is asserted that cultural genocide is taking place in Tibet, there should be a through investigation upon it.
My prediction is that it's going to develope like a Tienanmen Square crackdown. As you see, no powerful country but France and Germany is announcing their opinion on this problem. Because China's power is getting stronger in the world, many powerful countries pretend not to know anything about it. Using this weak point, China's authority will block down all the mass media and rely on military power to achieve peace.

I'm of the opinion that melting glacier is one of the climate changing problems, which we must be concerned about nowadays. We have been facing the problems every year, particulary in summer and winter. Even though the sea level has risen up each year, we haven't yet noticed or, mayby we can say, ignored the coming disasters. Melting glacier is the result of what we have done to nature, so that we must know and take some actions to protect it.
I'm so worried about what will meet in every season because of the climate changes. In the late spring, we will have the heavy yellow dust all around the Korea and Japan, nobody can escape from the attack of nature, in spite of the fact that we have tried to prevent the deseted area in China and Mongol for ages. It is shameful that human beings are so stupid that we make our mistakes contuinally and repeatedly.
My prediction is that as long as we do not take the problem seriously, we will face the disater in a couple of years. I don't know what we are doomed, but we can save our lives at least if we do act somthing before we lose the chance done by us. After experiencing more damages than before, we will know that what we have done. But somehow, in the Europe and other countries in the world, the authorities began to realize that nature is sick and the problems around the world are getting out of control. I hope we will not be the generation of the destroyer. All wake up and take some actions right now!!

Opinion : I'm of the opinion that, it's imperative for China to let people in other contries know what's happening in Lhasa "objectively". China has shut off Tibet to foreign visitors and is denying requests from foreign journalists to visit the region. Hongkong reporters have been told to leave. I also think that China is going to crack down on demonstrators "without any witnesses".After the failed uprising in 1959, when Dalai Lama, Tibetans' spiritual leader, fled to India, Tibetans have been persistently calling for independence from China. They simply want to keep their own culture and tradition, without any political causes. How humble and naive their wishes are !!
I'm of opinion that China insists on the idea that Tibet is part of China, although no country in the world reaffirms support.
Prediction : My prediction is that the violence in Lhasa will result in a deathblow to China,which will host the Olympic Games this summer,looking forward to regain its "proper"place in the world. Some human right advocates see the Olympic logo as the symbol of suppressed Tibetans. It's also likely that repression in Tibet could end in demands to boycott the Olympics. Some athletes are reported to consider it already.
The Chinese government has been investing money into Tibet, including the construction of a railroad to connect the region with major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. Therefore, My prediction is that, as long as China think of Tibet as an area of economic, millitary, and political importance, it WON'T allow Tibet to have independence.

(opinion)

Judging from hot issues of climate changes, I'm of the opinion that the life of future generations doesn't seem to be better than now. I also think that blasphemous disasters may suddenly happen sooner or later. What makes us more serious is that it is impossible to predict the size and strength of upcoming disasters. For sure, melting glacier is one of good examples. Frankly speaking, as a woman, I'm seriously concerned about my children's life in the Earth. In this reason, I'm not sure whether I will have a baby or not, if I get married. Do you think that I exclusively focus on the negative side? I don't want my children to live in the Earth which will probably be transformed to the world in the movie "The Day after Tomorrow".



(prediction)

As the article said, the rate of melting glacier is faster than expected. In Antarctica, the thickness of glacier becomes thinner and the size of it is getting smaller. My prediction is that melting antarctic glacier will have little effects on the world sea level; the glacier in Antarctica is in a different situation from that in the Arctic. In other words, antarctic glacier is floating on the sea, which can be explained in the same way that ice is floating in the cup which is full of water. If it is melted in a cup, it is unlikely to flood. However, this story is totally unsuitable for applying to the Arctic. The moment glacier is melted in the Arctic, the earth may go through many confusing changes. The reason is that hugh arctic ice lies on the land, not floating in the sea. If all of the ice undergoes changes in the Arctic, the world sea level will rise up to 60 meters higher than now. If so, areas that are 60 meters above the present sea level are likely to submerge into the sea. Moreover, many world famous or even ancient cities are located near the sea or rivers. It's also likely that the sea will become less saltier because of the influx of fresh water from glacier. Caused by low density of salt, the pattern of currents will become less active.

opinion -I'm of the opinion that this phenomenon is very serious thing and it may threaten our life. So we immediately have to take action to make our global climate normal temperature. We just take care of our own health. We do all the things to make our body and mind strong and sound. But we don't do anything to make our environment better place. We just use a lot of disposable products and much chemical which pollute the whole environment. Also we don't save the natural resources. As there is a saying that it is no use crying over spilt milk, we need to make the environment and the sea level normal as soon as possible.

prediction -My prediction is that if we don't take care of the entire global climate, the earth itself as well as our health and life will not be exist any more. As the melting glacier might make flood, the people living in the area which is lower than any other area and the people living in the area near the Antarctica may lose their living place. Moreover, if the phenomenon of melting glacier keeps going on, the people just living in the lower area and near the Antarctica and the people living all around the world cannot live in the earth any more. In the end the whole earth may sink down. And before long, perhaps some scientists may invent and develop very special place which many people can live in. For example, we can have a place to live under the sea or on the sea such as a submarine house and a boat house. Melting glacier faster means that the climate of the earth keeps warming faster. When it comes to just Korea, now we have distinct four seasons. But if this kind of phenomenon keeps going on, the distinctive seasons may become one weather just like summer during all the year.
So, to keep our beatiful four seasons we need to save our environment by plating lots of flowers and trees, not using many disposable products and chemical products, and saving important and valuable natural resorces. By doing these things we can prevent the climate from warming and the Antarctica glacier from melting. Also we can live peacefully in the beautiful and precious earth all together including other animals.

Opinion: I feel really sad and pitiful about what is going on in Lhasa, the capital of former Tibet. I'm also of the opinion that the Chinese government has been doing something that should be criticized worldwide. The store owner in the video clip said she was not worried because the Chinese Liberation Army would crack down on the riots and give her peace back sooner or later. At first, I was wondering how she could say that even when her brethren was being killed in the military campaign. But, after a while I came to know she was not Tibetan, but Chinese who moved to Lhasa to make money. Just like what Japanese militarists did to our country, the Chinese government tried to move their Han(Chinese) race to the Tibetan territory trying to trample the thousand-old spiritual country and obliterate their cultures and traditions. I was really furious and enraged about the Chinese mean demeanor and felt a strong sympathy to the Tibetan women having no other option to look at their husbands and sons being chased and beaten to bleeding by the Chinese soldiers.

Prediction: My prediction is that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be crucially defamed by the Chinese government's inhumane treatment of Tibetan people. Some celebrities have already voiced their concerns and put their words into action. For example, Steven Spielberg, a world-famous American movie director, is said to refuse to take the role of artistic advisor for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Plus, the China's foreign relations with other European countries may be dampened. However, considering the merciless Chinese suppression and secretive military campaign, I don't think the Chinese government will give in to the Tibetans' demand for their independence.

opinion: I think that China must be critisized for it wants to conquer Tibet by force. It's not legitimate. Tibet is not a part of China. They have been wholly different. Tehy have been seperate nations for a long time and have nothing in common in culture, history and so on. But China wants to have Tibet for their profit. Many people in the world feel wonder about Tibet for it is famous for Tibet Buddhism. I think that by taking advantage of them, China wants to make money. It doesn't have right to do that. Events like this happened several times. Chinese killed Tibetan protesters, destroyed temples and tried to own it by force. Tibetan hatred to China is so deep. How can China have Tibet as a part of it despite this situation? To have Tibet ignoring people and its culture is impossible.China must respect other nation's right of its own and gift independence to Tibet.
Chinese economy is growing rapidly so it wants to be a leading country. That's why it tried so hard to hold Olympic games. But it is caught in narrow opinion that it is best in Asia and the world. So it tries to conquer other nations like Tibet and Korea by force or changing history. To be a real leader in the world, China has to learn how to respect other nations and coexist with others peacefully.

prediction: My prediction is that inspite of Tibetan protest and boycott opinion for Beijing Olympics, there will be little change. Personally I agree with the boycott but China is so strong that other nations may be afraid of their ties' being broken with it. NGOs can make movements against China. But government leaders cannot do things against it easily.
And I think Olympic games will be held eventually. IOC is against boycott for the Beijing Olympics. There was riot in Mexico City just one day before the Mexico Opympic games, but IOC insisted having it on time. Finally it was held...

It's such a tragedy that china has cracked down on Tibet and has abused human rights since 1951. I'm of the opinion that this tragedy is such an irony because China promised they'll keep the olympic charter, which extols "human dignity" when they won the olympic bid. Therefore, this "cultural genocide" which is called by Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is obviously against their pledge.
The More interesting thing is that the international tepid response about this. Most countries concern their relationships between China over human rights or dignity. It's not only for the tibetan, anybody can be in that situation. Especially, can Korea, which has similar issue with North Korea, raise some questions or ask some help to the international community later unless they do something with other countries like being anemic to this issue..

My prediction is that most countries like USA, Japan, and etc. will show their lukewarm responses about this since they did same thing to other countries in the past and still they don't have complete different opinions from China when it comes to taking other nations by force. Even though boycotting of a few countries like France might tarnish China's great world party in a way, eventually, China might be able to do anything like what they want without formidable challenges...

Opinion: I am of the opinion that Tibet should be liberated. The Chinese occupation of Tibet should be criticized by the world because it has been done by military force in violent ways. Every people have the right to control over its nation but Chinese has violated that. However, the world hasn’t taken any action yet. When it comes to Iraqi war, the world tried to play a role and took some actions to find out mass destruction weapons- they were not actually found, though. I know many countries are studying the pleasure of Chinese but in my opinion we have to do something to protect human rights and weak minorities and to keep the world peace.



Prediction: I think Chinese will do anything to keep taking Tibet- even killing a lot of Tibetans. There are a lot of minorities in China. If China makes Tibet liberated, other peoples might protest and struggle to get independent. But I think that if the more people in the world recognize this situation due to the Olympics, the better solution we will be able to find out.

(Prediction)

First, my prediction is that as Antarctica glacier melts and the sea level goes up, most of the land which is under the sea level will have sunk under the water. This will drive thousands of people out of their place.

It is also likely that global warming will bring devastated destruction of ecosystem. Most of vegetation will be endangered with this climate change. The break of ecosystem will drive into starvation. This is because global warming ruins all the ecosystem on the farm. In other words, there will be no vegetable to eat. What about meat? Livestock will not have food to eat, so we will not be able to have meat either. In other words, we may not have enough food to eat.

Last but not least, global warming will threaten our health. This is largely because of heatwaves caused by climate change. Heatwave causes a cardiac disorders, high blood pressure, and respiratory diseases. This has even killed many people worldwide.


(Opinion)

Then what should we do to prepare for the global warming? I'm of the opinion that the first thing to do is to realize how dangerous a situation we are in right now and what should be done. For this, I think, we should focus on education. We can start from elementary school to college and help students understand the dangers and realize what can be done to save our earth. I also think that media campaigns on TV, newspaper, and internet should let people know about these problems and encourage them to take positive action. After education, it is up to the individual to act responsibly. People should consider environment first. The future is in our hands. Our every little effort can make a difference. So, why don't we start right now?

Unfortunately, it's true that a lot of ice shelves have broken up into chunks in the ocean because of global warming. Over the decade, I have seen snow even in spring. (I had a picture the golden-bell trees were in full bloom when snowing. too strange!! ) Besides, the roar of thunder and lightning shook heaven and earth. People call these phenomena an unusual change in the weather. Global warming is one of them. As this news said, what happened if all ice melted over thousands of years? the world see level will raise and then... I don't want to imagine anymore and you maybe know the results.
Like air, people usually forget how our earth, nature, is precious. Without it, we can't live anymore. Now, it's time we have to do something. A small step can make big change. There're so manythings we can do ; instead of driving, walk when you go to somewhere near, open the windows when it's hot, don't use disposable things, don't throw trash away, and so on.
Unusual changes in the weather including global warming are a kind of warning that those who live together on the earth should do something to save it. Nowadays, researchers find that non-human beings such as water, plants (I think even non-animated thigns) can feel and express their emotions like human. We are one. Everything concerns all of us. It's time to change our thought that people have a power to control the nature. To destroy nature is to destroy ourselves.
Finally, I heard that there are a lot of sources in the North Pole. Due to the huge ice shelves, people aren't able to explore possibilities to improvement. However, as we mentioned that lots of ice shelves are melting now, countries will compete with others for its sources. To prevent a struggle for power about it, it's necessary to make regulations among countries. It's the way we live together.

I'm of the opinion that this situation is getting more serious. Obviously, it is because of envionmental pollution and we can't deny that people have lots of responsibilities about it. This kind of news is not unfamiliar with us, it means it is easy to contact some serious articles of envionmental pollution. Nevertheless, people tend not to consider it seriously. They think, of course, this situation is growing more and more intense, but the disaster never happen in our generation. Through this video, however, i could think that this is the time to move for our envionmen!

My prediction is that we will meet with a calamity if we pass over this situation. As this reporter mentioned, the speed of melting is getting faster. So it can be happen that all Antarctica glacier is melting at all and sea level is going up. Anyone can guess the next situation. What can we see next? I think all of people in the world have some responsibilities about this situation.

Opinion:

I'm of the opinion that it's a really serious environmental problem. Through a number of media reports, all of us already know that average temperature of the Earth is rising annually and the melting of glacier caused by global warming leads to rising of the sea level and the submersion of certain areas. Quite a few movies have warned us of environmental catastrophe. Especially the movie The day after tommorow dealt with the direct result of global warming. It's no longer a virtual reality. In fact, several islands including Maldives and Tuvalu are already submerging. I saw a short TV program dealing with the problem of Tuvalu, a group of islands located near New Zealand. The highest sea level of the islands is under 5m. They are submerging annually and before long will disappear completely. The residents are being threatened and desperate. Some of them emigrated to New Zealand, and others old and incompetent weren't accepted. We cannot assure this kind of disaster is none of our business. It warns us to take an action to stop global warming.




Prediction:

If the voluntary effort to save the Earth is not sufficient, strong legal controls will be needed. In some parts, we are already being legally controled. We pay for the grocery bags and take a day off of a car once in a week. Someday it may be that a bill will be approved to ban on the use of fossil fuel, the main cause of global warming. Then we should get the electricity by another way. Some environmentalists already use human-powered energy through collecting electricity from pedaling a specially designed bicycle. To use electronics, all of us may be forced to have that special bike at home and pedal it to gain the electricity generated by physical labor.