Shanghai now wants a 'two-child policy'

Couples who were both only children, which includes most of the city's young adults, are allowed a second child. There are too many old people in the city and fewer people to look after them. There is a similar problem in Europe. The many only children of China have earned the nickname of "little emperors" as they are very spoiled.
China's birth-control policies have been hugely controversial in other countries and even in China itself, as enforcement has involved forced abortions and other abuses.
It has also been blamed for a gender imbalance, as a traditional preference for boys has persuaded some parents to abort girl babies. In other words more boys are being born than girls and this is now causing problems when boys cannot find a wife in some areas. Read the rest of this BBC article here. Look at sme of the links on this BBC page too as they are very seful for Int 2 and Higher.

Earthquake moves New Zealand towards Australia

A massive earthquake last week has brought New Zealand closer to Australia, scientists say. it was a 7.8 magnitude quake. The quake was powerful enough to generate a small tsunami with a wave of one metre (3ft) recorded on the west coast of New Zealand. It was New Zealand's biggest earthquake in 78 years. New Zealand frequently suffers earthquakes because it sits on the meeting point of the Australian and Pacific continental plates. Read the rest of this BBC article here.

Swine Flu

No comment. “Thanks” to Alan Parkinson on SLN for this one! Silly season continues with a bit of Billy Joel in there as well..

Moon Landing 40 years on

Confession – yes I do remember this. I was very, VERY young at the time and I was forced to stay up to watch it in the middle of the night. I’m glad now my parents made me watch. History can almost be as good as Geography sometimes!!!

Global Warming

Nice video here from the Osocio blog. Makes you think – I hope.

Australian town bans bottled water

People of an Australian town have voted to ban the sale of bottled water. They are possibly the first in the world to do this. Bottled water today is often criticised as an environmental menace, with bottles filling up landfills and requiring lots of energy to produce and transport. To prevent a loss of profit in the town's shops that sell bottled water, they suggested they instead sell reusable bottles for about the same price. Residents will be able to fill the bottles for free at public fountains, or pay a small amount to fill them with filtered water. Last year, students at Leeds University voted for a ban on bottled water at the university's shops, but no UK village, town or city has yet followed in its footsteps. Read the rest of this Guardian article here.

Water resources!!!!

Just too cute for words. This is the silly season remember.