Blog 14 - It's a boy! Couple reveal sex of their 'gender neutral' kid after five years

Source

Battle, B. (2011, Jan. 20). The Sun. Retrieved from http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4075523/Its-a-boy-Couple-reveal-sex-of-their-gender-neutral-kid-after-five-years.html.

 Is it a boy or a girl?

Summary

A British couple from Sawston, Cambridgeshire, concealed their child’s gender for five years. Even family and close friends did not know what it was. No little cars or baby dolls, but gender-natural toys were the only things Sacha could play with. Sasha’s parents have explained to the media that they hoped that “its real personality would shine through”. They wanted to avoid stereotypes and let the child decide whether it wanted to be a boy or a girl. However, after the child started to go to primary school it became harder to conceal its gender. Finally they revealed: it’s a boy!

Reaction

First of all, I cannot believe that Sasha’s parents are convinced that gender pushes people into specific boxes. They should know that everyone in the UK has the opportunity to become whatever he or she wants. People can develop themselves without any restrictions. It does not matter if you are a boy or a girl. Another thing is that I do not believe that personality is shape by clothes or toys. It is formed by someone’s experiences. People have a life-time to find out who they are and what they stand for. This knowledge makes people unique and it gives them their own personality.

Blog 13 - Abstaining from alcohol for two days is a sign of not having a drink problem, says adviser

Source

Bowater, D. (2012, Jan. 9). The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9001868/Abstaining-from-alcohol-for-two-days-is-a-sign-of-not-having-a-drink-problem-says-adviser.html

 No more beer in the weekend?

Summary

There is a lot of confusion about the government’s guidelines on alcohol. The confusion is even so big that people believe that having a few pints of beer every day will not cause any harm. According to Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of The Alcohol Health Alliance, there are 1.5 million drinkers in the UK who drink every day. To warn and advice people about alcohol, he and a couple MPs suggest that people should have two ‘dry’ days a week. It would be a very good indicator to find out if someone is addicted to alcohol or not. They presume that the government should review its guidelines to face the British alcohol problem.

Reaction

A lot of people are addicted in some way. Not only alcohol or drugs, but also food, games, work, etcetera, can become someone’s addiction. In this current situation I believe that the major problem is not the addiction itself, but that people have no idea how they can handle it. The government should not introduce ‘dry’ days to face the British alcohol problem, but it should introduce better advice and information programmes. Also professional facilities should be more accessible for the addicts. When alcoholics want a drink, they always find a way to get one. What they really need is professional help.

Blog 12 - Stranger donated kidney after meeting at a party

Source

Smith, R. (2011, Dec. 29). The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8980591/Stranger-donated-kidney-after-meeting-at-a-party.html.

Left: More than 6,500 people in the UK are waiting for a donor kidney.

Right: Manoly Viravong and Veronica Buttigieg.

Summary

Thousands of people in the UK are waiting for a heart, liver or kidney that could save their lives. Manoly Viravong was one of them. Short after she had given birth to her first child, doctors diagnosed her with chronic kidney disease. Her physical condition was so severe that she was put on the transplant list. However, there was no suitable donor until she met Veronica Buttigieg at a party. Minutes after meeting each other Veronica decided to donate her kidney. In July the procedure took place and with success. After two years Melony no longer needs dialysis. She is now even able to fly to Laos to visit her family.

Reaction

It is amazing that there are still people like Victoria. I do not believe I will ever have the courage for what she did. Of course I will give a kidney to a family member, but I do not know if I will do the same for a completely stranger. Maybe I need to know the person before I donate one of my organs. Our society should really be grateful for all the others who do not hesitate to become a donor. Because of all these people many lives are saved or can be saved in the future.

Blog 11 - How Britain bins 227,000 miles of Christmas paper

Source

Ross,T. (2011, Dec. 18). The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8964837/How-Britain-bins-227000-miles-of-Christmas-paper.html

Every year thousands of presents are waiting under the Christmas tree

Summary

Christmas is always the time of family and friend, but also of presents. Every year millions of presents are placed under the Christmas tree. The British passion for Christmas is even so great that they throw away more than 226,800 miles of wrapping paper each year. That is nine times around the world! The government is aware of all this Christmas waste and its costs that it wants to stimulate retailers and manufactures to reduce the amount of packaging. Even a Swedish example has been proposed that would give the British customers the possibility to return their used packaging to the shops. According to the ministers, people should be aware of what they dispose to the landfill. It is not only their burden, but also a burden for the future.  

Reaction

I am stunned about the amount of waste during Christmas holiday. 125,000 tons of plastic wrappings, ten million of turkey packaging and twenty-five million Christmas pudding packages are thrown away. It is not only a lot garbage, but it also costs the British taxpayer £168 million each year. I only can say that a fully support the government’s idea of recycling and better packaging. Why should we not think about our planet during Christmas? If we are giving each other so many presents, why should we not give the world one big present as well? A cleaner world is not only good for our health and environment, but also good for our own pockets. It will give us a lot of benefits in the future.

Blog 10 - Men can’t do washing machines, women don’t get iPhones

Source

Unknown author. (2011, Dec. 8). The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8943382/Men-cant-do-washing-machines-women-dont-get-iPhones.html

 

The washing machine is not the man’s best friend.

Summary

A lot of women think that men understand technology better than they do. But they are wrong. A study of 2,000 adults has revealed that men have a lot of problems with household appliances. Women always assumed that men hated to do the housekeeping, but in fact they just don’t understand. Especially the laundry is a major problem. Twenty-five percent of men admitted they had no idea how to use their washing machine. Also the dishwasher, the iron, the hob and the vacuum cleaner are causing a man a headache. They are more interested in gadgets like iPhones, laptops and digital cameras, which are three things a woman often struggles with.

Reaction

I am really surprised that there are so many men struggling with household appliances. I never believed that men could have so much difficulty with such technology. However, it shows us that we have to appreciate the things that other people do, also with regard to the housekeeping. Sometimes it really costs blood, sweat and tears to keep it running. That men are not so familiar with the washing machine or the vacuum cleaner, does not mean that they are discharged of any other job in the household. It is not an excuse to go and watch football on TV. There are many other things that they can do and a woman is always willing to explain.

Blog 9 - Occupy London’s anger over police ‘terrorism’ document

Source

Malik, S. (2011, Dec. 5). The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/05/occupy-london-police-terrorism-document.

Worldwide people are protesting against financial cuts, growing poverty

and capitalism in the financial sector

Summary

Occupy activists in London are angry at the police now they have noticed that their movement is listed among terrorist groups like al-Qaida and Farc. The City of London police sent a terrorism/extremism update to local businesses with detailed information about the Occupy’s activities in town. According to the Occupy movement, activism is not a crime. It should not be a cause for concern for the police in a free country like the UK. However, the City of London police do not agree and hold to their opinion. They say that they have seen crime that was linked to the protests.

 

Reaction

 

Protests against authorities and companies are not unusual. I mean that it is not a whole new issue in society. Each year there are protests against animal cruelty, innocent prisoners and so on. What surprises me the most is that the police have so much difficulty with the Occupy movement. It is in my opinion absurd to say that the movement is equal to a terrorist group like al-Qaida. Yes, some of the Occupiers have damaged properties, but they do not blow themselves up or plant bombs at government’s buildings. The only thing the activists want is that the government will pay more attention to the current financial situation. Since when is holding a protest board a crime?

Blog 8 - Giant pandas touch down in Scotland

Source

Carrell, S. (2011, Dec. 4). The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/04/giant-pandas-edinburgh-zoo-china?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

 

The giant panda returns at British zoo after decades.

Summary

After years of preparation the giant pandas Tian Tian (Sweetie) and Yang Guang (Sunshine) finally arrived at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland. With a lot of media attention the zoo offered them a warm welcome at their new home. The two pandas are not only on loan from China for the next ten years to contribute to the worldwide breeding programme, but politicians of the UK and China also hope that it will help “to spread joy and friendship, understanding and cooperation” between the two countries. The zoo knows one thing for sure: the arrival will be good for the local economy. It expects an enormous boost of extra visitors up to 70%.

Reaction

Pandas are amazing animals and it is fantastic that zoos all over the world are trying to save them from extinction. However, I do believe that animals should not be a tool in international politics between countries. The animal will always be the victim when something goes wrong. Besides you have to admit that two pandas will not change the oppression of thousands of people in China. Let us hope that the counties’ relation in the future will help China to realize that only democracy is the answer to their problems. My only wish for the pandas is that they will have a good time at the Edinburg Zoo and that there will be offspring very soon.