Assignment Week Four (1 September 2008 - 5 September 2008)

MONDAY


Headline 1:
Surgeon To Face Hearing Over Deaths (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 2:
Iraq Takes Over Anbar (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
Georgians Rally Against Russia (msn.com)


TUESDAY


Headline 1:
Victory In Taliban Stronghold But No Sign Of Obama (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Nine-Day Curfew Lifted In Indian Kashmir (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
Bangkok Schools To Close For Three Days (The Star Newspaper)


WEDNESDAY


Headline 1:
Zardari Tipped To Become Pakistan President (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Ahmad Ismail Elusive After Racist Talk (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Poverty Line Likely To Be Raised In Beijing (The Star Newspaper)


THURSDAY


Headline 1:
Woman As Japan's PM? (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Hindus Celebrate Ganesha Festival (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
New Orleans Residents To Return To No Power (bbc.com)

FRIDAY

Headline 1:
Bush: McCain Is Ready To Lead Nation (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Obama Is Young And Untested, Says Lieberman (msn.com)

Headline 3:
Malaysia's Anwar says on track to unseat government (msn.com)


TASK 1:
The article I found most interesting is the article about Anwar Ibrahim saying that he is on track to seizing the government. Basically, in this article it highlights the issue about Anwar Ibrahim trying to form a new government by September 16th 2008. All he needs in order to fullfill that is to get 30 defectors from the rulling coalition to join his opposition party. He has been very confident of the way things are going so it will be interesting to see what will happen to this country. We shall know the truth on the 16th of September then.

TASK 2:
I think this week the development on the American presidency candidates are really interesting. McCain and Obama both have delivered their acceptance speeches, and have both been put under fire because of certain choices that they made. It will be interesting to see how things fair out in November. The Republican against the Democrat. As the statement goes,'Whoever wins, we lose'.

TASK 3:
1) Will Japan Have Its First Female Prime Minister (Reffering to the article about the 'female Japanese newscaster becoming PM')

2) Will Anwar Ibrahim Be Able To Take Over The Government? (Reffering to the article about 'Anwar Ibrahim being on track to seize the government')

3)Will The Thailand's Situation Improve (Reffering to the article about 'Bangkok schools being closed for 3 days')

What is The Hindraf?

HINDRAF or Hindu Rights Action Force (Malay: Barisan Bertindak Hak-Hak Hindu; Tamil: (இந்து உரிமைகள் போராட்டக் குழு (Hindu Urimaigal Poratta Kulu) / மக்கள் சக்தி (Makkal Sakthi)) is a coalition of 30 Hindu Non-Governmental organizations committed to the preservation of Hindu community rights and heritage in a multiracial Malaysia. The group has led agitations against what they see as an "unofficial policy of temple demolition" and concerns about the steady encroachment of sharia-based law.
In late 2007, several prominent members of the HINDRAF were arrested, some on charges of sedition; following an enormous rally organised by HINDRAF in November, the charges were dismissed by the courts. Five people have since been detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA).


Fighting For A Cause,
JUST PLAIN SASH

My Proposal to Set up a Social Justice Club at Taylor’s College

How do we change the world? The answer: ‘One simple act of random kindness at a time’. This phrase was quoted from the movie Evan Almighty; proving that there are some good movies out there with a meaningful message. But before we start improving the lives of society, we got to change ourselves first. I have looked around and all I have seen are youths that live in their own world completely oblivious to what is really going on around them. In order to create awareness of our youth, I am eager to set up a club at Taylor’s college to encourage my fellow piers to start making a change in their lives as well as in the lives of our society.

The truth is that anyone can contribute to change; all they have to do is set their mind to it. This is when a person becomes an adult. Would you believe that two 9 year old girls are considered as adults? When I was doing my Canadian English Literacy Exam, one of the articles in the exam paper was about two 9 year old girls that set up a powerful foundation to help protect bear rights in Canada. I felt so inspired after reading this. My definition of an adult is someone who stops living in the little safety box they have built around themselves and start realizing that the world is much bigger than the few meters they see in front of their eyes. I felt ashamed at myself because if two 9 year old girls could be mature enough to wake up and help change the world, then what is stopping us much older folk from doing the same?

In my opinion, we need to get rid of that selfish sense of thinking that we have lived with and start opening our mind and our hearts to everyone. In the spirit of togetherness, we can achieve what has been deemed impossible. All we need is the will power to stand up and do something; creating the echoes of change. I have received mixed feedback from friends and family when I addressed them about this issue and about how I plan to help change it. I’m glad that the majority of the feedback I received agreed to this move; as we need to wake society up from the deep hibernation state that it has fallen into. In the words of Michael Jackson, ‘stop existing and start living’.

I have to admit that this is not going to be easy as it is really big shoes to fill in, but that does not mean that it cannot be achieved. As a mature high spirited generation, I strongly believe that we have the capability to shake the world. Now is not the time to ask the question ‘why’ but instead ask the question ‘why not’. The only thing that has been stopping us from becoming a contributing member to society is self-centeredness. I honestly confess to you that I was a very selfish person myself; only caring about my own welfare. However, many things have inspired me to change this mindset and start helping to change society for the better.

Let us embrace this moral obligation and make the change. Let us join hands in humility and help generate a society of equal and peaceful people. Let us break those walls that we set up high and live as one. Let us make an impact so great that we are able to shape our nation into the ‘True Malaysia’ that it should be. The time to make a change is now. I dream the impossible so that I can achieve the impossible, what about you?


Let's make a change,
JUST PLAIN SASH

Assignment Week Three (25 August 2008 - 29 August 2008)

MONDAY:

Headline 1:
Beijing Closing Ceremony A Smash Hit (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Anwar Ibrahim Gears Up For bi-Election (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Manila To Ask Rebels To Disarm When Talks Resume (msn.com)


TUESDAY:

Headline 1:
Tiger Aircraft Bombs Town In Sri Lanka (bbc.com)

Headline 2:
Anwar Ibrahim Fears Governments 'Dirty Tricks' During bi-Election (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
20 Injured In Bike Bomb Blast Near Rally In Quetta (The Star News Paper)


WEDNESDAY

Headline 1:
Top US Diplomat Escapes Gun Attack In Peshawar (bbc.com)

Headline 2:
Anwar Ibrahim Wins bi-Election With A Landslide Victory (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Pakistan Thrown Into Political Turmoil (The Star Newspaper)


THURSDAY:

Headline 1:
Mattel To Get RM339m In Bratz Case (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 2:
Hillary Backs Obama To The Hilt (msn.com)

Headline 3:
Anwar Ibrahim To Be Sworn In As Opposition Leader (The Star Newspaper)


FRIDAY:

Headline 1:
Public Shaming For Jaywalkers In Shanghai (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Anwar Ibrahim Confident On Track To Seize Power (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Mugabe Forms Govt Despite Disapproval Of Opposition (bbc.com)


TASK 1:
The article that I found interesting from the list above is the article about 'Public Shaming For Jaywalkers In Shanghai. Basically this article talks about Shanghai police planning to start broadcasting images of jaywalkers offenses on television as a way to shame them into respecting traffic rules. Police plan to film and take photos of the rebel pedestrians, as well as cyclists who violate traffic rules, at various intersections in the city. I think that this is another one of those weird things that China loves to do...*salutes*


TASK 2:
This week I found the news on the Malaysian 'bi-election' the most interesting as it was really exciting to see Anwar Ibrahim win the election at his home state in Penang. He is now one step closer to seizing power. In my opinion, this story proves that people are now starting to come around and fight for a true Malaysia which is a nation of culture, humility and equality. It should be interesting to see the follow up of this story as it is not yet over. It is just the beginning.


TASK 3:
1) Will President Mugabe Ever Step Down From Power? (Reffering to the article about President Mugabe forming the new govt eventhough it was disapproved by the opposition)

2) Does Anwar Ibrahim's Win In Penang bi-Election Mean That Malaysians Are Wanting A Change? (Reffering to the article about Anwar Ibrahim winning the bi-election)

3) Are China's acts becoming a little too ridiculous? (Reffering to the article on police showing images of jaywalkers on tv)

Assignment Week Two (4 August 2008 - 8 August 2008)

MONDAY
Headline 1:
Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies at 89 (bbc.com)

Headline 2:
16 Policemen Killed In Western Region of Xinjiang (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
Baghdad truck bombing kills 12 (bbc.com)

TUESDAY
Headline 1:
Obama urges opening oil reserves (bbc.com)

Headline 2:
China confident of safe Olympics (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
Iran Ambiguous On Nuclear Offer (bbc.com)

WEDNESDAY
Headline 1:
Nearly Half of World's Primates Threatened (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 2:
Russians Pay Last Respects To Solzhenitsyn (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Un-Earthlike Soil On Mars (The Star Newspaper)

THURSDAY
Headline 1:
China's Olympics Dream Near But Concerns Remain (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Charged With Sodomy (msn.com)

Headline 3:
US Questions Sodomy Claims Against Malaysian Opposition Leader (msn.com)

FRIDAY
Headline 1:
Malaysia's Anwar Says On Track To Seize Power (msn.com)

Headline 2:
Oil 'Could Hit $200 Within Years' (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
Mbeki Set For new Zimbabwe Talks (bbc.com)

TASK 1:

I found the article about the 'un-earth like soil' on Mars to be really interesting. It seems like the study of Mars as a habitable planet seems to be hitting bum ends as there is always obstacles everywhere. I remember when scientist found a major breakthrough that Mars could in fact be habitable after they conducted tests on the soil there. They were actually going somewhere and now they are back in square one. The reason this article is so interesting is because you can't help but wonder...Can there really be a chance for life on Mars? Or has NASA been wasting so much money for nothing when that money could be used for something else?

TASK 2:

This week the Award to best developed story goes to Anwar Ibrahim's gruelling case of sodomy. It is really interesting to see how to what lengths the government is willing to go to to stop the opposition from taking over. There is no evidence that say he did commit the crime but they are going to charge him anyways. Even the US think it is really stupid of the government to do as they too realize that it is politically motivated. I have no idea what is going to happen. The suspense is killing me.

TASK 3:

1) Should people start investing in alternatives to oil? (reffering to the article on oil prices)

2) Will there ever be hope for civilization on Mars? (reffering to the article about Mars)

3) Will justice prevail or will politics rule them all? (reffering to the Anwar Ibrahim case)

Assignment Week One (28 July 2008 - 1 August 2008)

MONDAY
Headline 1:
British Nasa Hacker To Face trial In US (msnnews.com)

Headline 2:
New Rules For Foreign Students In Britain (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
RM32m For Myanmar Victimes Lost In Scam (bbc.com)

TUESDAY
Headline 1:

Millions Starving In N. Korea (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 2:
Strike Forces Lufthansa To Cancel Flights (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 3:
Zeroes Dropped Of Zimbabwe's Currency To Fight Inflation (bbc.com)

WEDNESDAY
Headline 1:
Record deficit for next US president (bbc.com)

Headline 2:
Obama missed “injured US heroes” (bbc.com)

Headline 3:
McCaine battle’s against age bias (bbc.com)

THURSDAY
Headline 1:
AIDS hitting gays in Asia (The Star Newspaper)

Headline 2:
Inherited Cell Phone Usage Risk (msnnews.com)

Headline 3:
Exploding Tank Hit Cabin (bbc.com)

FRIDAY
Headline 1:
Malaysian PM Losing Support of People (msnnews.com)

Headline 2:
Anwar Ready To Take On Malaysian Government (The Star Newspaper)

Headline3:

Iraq Allowed To Compete In Beijing Olympic Games (bbc.com)

TASK 1:

I think the article about John McCaine’s battle on the age bias was rather funny. If he wins, he will be the oldest president in the history of the United States. I feel a little sorry for him at this point as his age plays a very important factor in his campaign. It is much harder for an older person to get votes compared to a much younger person (Obama). Heck, I also found the internet site that posted things that are much younger than McCaine also hilarious. I mean, his campaign says that it is Obama’s campaign that paid them to do it but I feel it is just the general public’s opinion on the matter.

TASK 2:

I find the news on the Malaysian Government Vs Anwar Ibrahim the most interesting development as the suspense is growing; I can't really tell what is going to happen right now. Anwar Ibrahim might probably be put in jail again on charges of Sodomy but he doesn't seem to be giving in to these allegations. I am curious to know how everything is going to work out.

TASK 3:

1. Why do politician's have to resort to foolish means in order to be on top? (reffering to Anwar Vs Najib (Malaysia), Obama Vs McCaine (USA))

2. Is there a hidden reason to China being nice all of a sudden? (reffering to Iraq being allowed to compete in the Olympics)

3. Will reducing the number of zero's help reduce the inflation rate? (reffering to the inflation in Zimbabwe)