From the driest spring in over 100 years to the wettest
April to June on record, you could say that the weather in the UK has been a bit
odd recently.
Well according to a group of experts the weather in the UK over the last few
months has actually been the "weirdest" ever on record.
Scientists from three organisations have been keeping an eye on the weather
here.
They think it's a pattern we might have to get used to.
Paul Mustow, head of flood management for the Environment Agency said: "We
have to get our heads round the possibility now that we're going to have to move
very quickly from drought to flood."
Experts from the Environment Agency, the Met Office and the Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology say the UK needs to put better plans in place for the
future. (CBBC Newsround)
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when men and women around the world unite in a show of support against the disease.
The annual campaign has helped put breast cancer under the spotlight, and it has worked hard to teach women the importance of early detection and breast awareness, the best weapons in the fight against the disease.
Both have helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including some famous faces who have successfully battled breast cancer because it was caught in its early stages.
Here's how to stay vigilant and reduce your risk. Have an annual check For average-risk women, a clinical breast exam done by a GP or nurse as part of a regular health examination is recommended. For those aged 47-50 and above, this annual check can be an important complement to a mammogram, which is offered every three years Examine your breasts regularly Know what is normal for you and report any changes to your doctor Eat healthily Make friends with vegetables and fruits, high in fibre and antioxidants. A low-fat diet has been shown to help ward off breast cancer Maintain a healthy weight Extra pounds also mean extra risk Limit alcohol Drinking is one of the known lifestyle choices that increase your risk of developing breast cancer, so cut back or quit if you can Stub it out Now is the time to stop smoking Get active To reduce your risk of disease, the World Cancer Research Fund recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days a week (Hello!)
Walt Disney was one of the most famous people ever to have lived. He has
touched the lives of millions of children and adults. He holds the record for
winning the most Academy Awards (26) and was an innovative film producer and
animator. He created some of the most successful characters, movies and theme
parks of the 20th Century.
Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago. He developed a great love of drawing as a
youngster. When he was ten, he discovered the world of theatre and cinema and
fell in love with it. He became the cartoonist for his high school newspaper. In
1920, he set up his own animation company and his “Laugh-O-Gram” cartoons became
very popular.
Disney wanted more and so he moved to Hollywood. He developed a character
based on a pet mouse he once had. He gave the mouse his own voice and
personality. Disney’s wife named him Mickey. Disney put Mickey in his first
movie with sound, ‘Steamboat Willie’. By 1930, Mickey Mouse was the world’s most
popular cartoon character and Walt Disney was a household name.
Following on from Mickey’s success, Disney created characters such as Donald
Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. He then produced an animated feature-length version of
Snow White, which was the most successful movie of 1938. Dozens more movies
followed, including Fantasia and Bambi. Disney built up a global entertainment
empire, including his Disneyland theme park. He died of cancer in 1966. (Famous People Lessons.com)
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for
her marvelous voice and controversial private life. She debuted in 2003 at the
age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers
everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progress. She
was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and
alcohol.
She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to
see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n'
Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she
began writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her
distinctive voice.
Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international
star. She won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the
biggest names in rock were waiting to collaborate with her. George Michael said:
"Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my entire career, as well
as one of the best writers."
Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape
the reporters who followed her every move. She has given them good reason to
write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her
self-destructive behaviour was often tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing
talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011,
aged 27. (Famous People Lessons.com)
In this day and age of supposed sexual equality, it is unbelievable that there
is not a single woman among the top 58 positions of the European Central Bank
(ECB), even though women make up 34 per cent of the European Parliament. This
situation, or crisis, has led to the postponement of a hearing for a new
nominee, another man, to be appointed to the six-member Executive Board of the
ECB. The Board did have a woman member from after it was founded in 1998 until
May 2011, when Austria's Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell left her post. Besides there
being no women on the Executive Board, there is also a total female absence on
the ECB's 23-member Governing Council and its 29-strong General Council.
The European Parliament's economic and monetary chief Sharon Bowles expressed
her frustration with the all-male institution. She said: "There is now not even
a single woman sitting on the main board of what is one of the most powerful and
essential institutions in the EU." She added that the bank needs to act to
rectify things, saying: "The symbolic and practical effects of this absence are
not without note. It does seem, as with corporations, that there is a systemic
cultural problem to address." Ms Bowles said she had been told "that no women
could be located" and that there were no plans in place to promote women. It is
likely that Luxembourg banker Mr Yves Mersch will fill a current vacancy on the
Board. (Breaking News English)
A Polish hospital cleaner in Norway has been fired for speaking Polish during
her lunch break. Johanna Renclawowicz, 34, received her marching orders from the
Sykehuset Telemark hospital. Her dismissal letter said: "You have been given
information that only Norwegian shall be spoken during working time. Your
colleagues and patients have repeatedly complained that Polish is spoken in the
eating area, cleaning department and corridors, etc." The hospital claimed they
continually warned Ms Renclawowicz against using Polish at work. In August, they
sent her a letter that was titled, "The use of language in the workplace". In
it, she was told that speaking Polish created a "bad working environment".
Ms Renclawowicz moved to Norway four years ago to find a better life. She now
has a three-year-old daughter and a mortgage on her house. She started work at
the hospital in August 2011 as a temporary worker. Four other Poles at the
hospital warned her that the hospital had banned Polish. She said: "It was
strange that we were expected to speak Norwegian to each other on our breaks,
even when we're not that fluent….Every time the boss heard one of us speaking
Polish, she said, 'Speak Norwegian'. She mainly complained if it happened during
lunch breaks." There were even, "We speak Norwegian at work" posters put up in
the hospital. She will now sue the hospital for discrimination and unfair
dismissal. (Breaking News English)
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has revealed that the next
book she writes will be for children.
Her latest novel was written for adults but JK told fans at a book festival
in Cheltenham that her new book would be for young children.
She said she had "a number of ideas on my laptop" but would not say what the
new book might be about.
The world-famous writer also told to the crowd she makes up bedtime stories
for her three children.
"But they are tailored very much for my children, so don't expect to see
those being published anytime soon."
The author has sold more than 400 million books worldwide. (CBBC Newsround)
A report has been presented by Eccolgists in
Action
94% of Spanish people breathe dirty air which damages their health. The
circulating traffic and industrial activity are responsible according to the
World Health Organisation. 400,000 premature deaths occur in 27 members
of the European Union every year because of contamination of which 20,000 were
registered in Spain. The annual report from ‘Ecologistas en Acción’ is
the only one to measure the quality of air and the particles in suspension.
Nitrogen dioxide, tropospheric ozone, and sulphur dioxide were the main
contaminants in 2011. The costs derived from atmospheric contamination
represents between 1.7% and 4.7% of Spanish GDP. Eight times more times
of people are killed by contamination than in traffic accidents. (typicallyspanish.com)
