The Biggest News of the Decade
China’s rise tops 9/11 and the Iraq War as the most-read story of the 2000s
The end of 2009 marked the end of the 2000s decade. To celebrate this, news media around the world made lots of lists. But can you guess what the most-read news story was? According to an American research group, it wasn’t the 9/11 terrorist attacks ― that was third. And it wasn’t the Iraq War ― that was the second. It wasn’t Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, or the global economic crisis. In the last decade, the top news story was the rise of China as a global power.
The rise of China has truly changed the world. Now that it is the world’s factory, money is flowing into China from everywhere. Its people are enjoying a better standard of living. They can now buy houses, cars and goods that they could not afford before. In the past China mainly produced goods for other countries, but now its people are consuming goods and traveling abroad more. The country is showing its new face to the world through events such as the Beijing Olympics and the F1 Chinese Grand Prix. The Expo 2010 Shanghai will also help remind the world of China’s rise.
Unfortunately, this rapid growth is not helping everyone. China is now the world’s biggest producer of greenhouse gases. Many parts of the country are still very poor, and demonstrations against the government happen every day. However, freedom of expression is still very strictly controlled. Many Chinese now have access to the Internet, but they cannot freely search for information. And after incidents with poisoned foods and toys with lead paint, the safety of products made in China is still a concern.
China must find a balance between its new power in the world and the needs of its people. However, the world will soon see more of China than just the Chinatowns like those in Yokohama and Kobe. Young people in China are studying English very hard. They are building their skills and looking toward the future of China as a global business leader. Young people Japan must also work hard so that Japan does no fall behind.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Fair Trade
Unbelievable Prices
Why are clothes so cheap today?
Jeans for less than 1,000 yen. T-shirts for less than 300 yen. This is the age of very, very cheap clothing. In the past couple of years, the economy has been in a recession and more and more people want to buy cheaper things. Many companies are competing for customers. This has led to some of the cheapest clothing ever.
Despite their low prices, their quality and designs are surprisingly good. Have you ever wondered why they are so cheap? One reason is that they are mass-produced, which means that many of the same items are made so that each can be sold for a low price. Another reason is that technologies are improving. Clothing companies can now make better fabrics for less money. The main reason for the low prices in Japan, however, is cheap labor in other countries.
For many years, cheap goods such as these have been produced in China. However, China’s economy is growing, so wages for workers are rising. This makes the goods more expensive in Japan. So Japan’s top clothing makers have moved production to less expensive countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
The system seems to work well for everyone. Customers in Japan get cheaper clothes, while people in developing countries get jobs. However, there is concern about the conditions in countries such as Cambodia, where wages are about one-third of Shanghai’s and less than one-fortieth of Japan’s. The work in manufacturing is long and hard. Workers in Cambodia earn less in one month than most Japanese workers earn in one day. Because their living standards are very low, not only adults but also children have to work instead of going to school. The children may learn skills in their jobs, but they are missing their education. As developing countries grow, as is the case in China, conditions for their workers will gradually improve. However, today there are still large income gaps between developed in developing countries. Cheap clothing in Japan can only be cheap if someone in the world is earning low wages. Do you think this is fair?
Why are clothes so cheap today?
Jeans for less than 1,000 yen. T-shirts for less than 300 yen. This is the age of very, very cheap clothing. In the past couple of years, the economy has been in a recession and more and more people want to buy cheaper things. Many companies are competing for customers. This has led to some of the cheapest clothing ever.
Despite their low prices, their quality and designs are surprisingly good. Have you ever wondered why they are so cheap? One reason is that they are mass-produced, which means that many of the same items are made so that each can be sold for a low price. Another reason is that technologies are improving. Clothing companies can now make better fabrics for less money. The main reason for the low prices in Japan, however, is cheap labor in other countries.
For many years, cheap goods such as these have been produced in China. However, China’s economy is growing, so wages for workers are rising. This makes the goods more expensive in Japan. So Japan’s top clothing makers have moved production to less expensive countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
The system seems to work well for everyone. Customers in Japan get cheaper clothes, while people in developing countries get jobs. However, there is concern about the conditions in countries such as Cambodia, where wages are about one-third of Shanghai’s and less than one-fortieth of Japan’s. The work in manufacturing is long and hard. Workers in Cambodia earn less in one month than most Japanese workers earn in one day. Because their living standards are very low, not only adults but also children have to work instead of going to school. The children may learn skills in their jobs, but they are missing their education. As developing countries grow, as is the case in China, conditions for their workers will gradually improve. However, today there are still large income gaps between developed in developing countries. Cheap clothing in Japan can only be cheap if someone in the world is earning low wages. Do you think this is fair?
A World without Nuclear Weapons #02
There are efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, but not all countries have joined them. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was written in 1968 and has been signed by 189 countries. It allows only the five countries in the UN Security Council to have nuclear weapons. India, Pakistan, and Israel have said that this treaty is unfair so the will not sign it. North Korea signed it, but in 2003 said it will no longer follow it. Another agreement called the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) prohibits all testing of nuclear weapons, even in space. It was adopted in 1996 and has been signed by 183 countries, but has not yet been ratifies by 44 countries, including the United States, as of the beginning of February 2010.
In his speech in Prague, President Obama talked about a world without nuclear weapons. He said: “First, the United States will take concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons. To put an end to Cold War thinking, we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same.” On December 10, President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. His speech in Prague was one of the reasons for this award.
I believe that most Japanese people agree with the plan to get rid of nuclear weapons. However, I was surprised by a survey that said 61% of Americans believe the bombing of Japan in World War II was “the right thing.” They probably think that the atomic bombs ended the war. Perhaps that is true. The war had continued for many years. Millions of innocent people in many countries were killed during the war, and Japan’s military refused to surrender. However, I think that the Americans who believe the bombs were “the right thing” probably do not fully understand the bombs’ effects. If they could see these effects for themselves, they may change their minds.
I know that the nuclear weapons problem is very complicated. Japan is now protected by the United States, which has nuclear weapons. Therefore, one can say that Japan is also “under the nuclear umbrella.” Nevertheless, Japan should not stop telling the world about the need to ban all nuclear weapons. As President Obama said, this goal will not be reached quickly. The world would definitely be a better place, however, with no nuclear weapons at all. Japan, as the only country that has suffered the effects of ones, can best present this idea to the world.
In his speech in Prague, President Obama talked about a world without nuclear weapons. He said: “First, the United States will take concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons. To put an end to Cold War thinking, we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same.” On December 10, President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. His speech in Prague was one of the reasons for this award.
I believe that most Japanese people agree with the plan to get rid of nuclear weapons. However, I was surprised by a survey that said 61% of Americans believe the bombing of Japan in World War II was “the right thing.” They probably think that the atomic bombs ended the war. Perhaps that is true. The war had continued for many years. Millions of innocent people in many countries were killed during the war, and Japan’s military refused to surrender. However, I think that the Americans who believe the bombs were “the right thing” probably do not fully understand the bombs’ effects. If they could see these effects for themselves, they may change their minds.
I know that the nuclear weapons problem is very complicated. Japan is now protected by the United States, which has nuclear weapons. Therefore, one can say that Japan is also “under the nuclear umbrella.” Nevertheless, Japan should not stop telling the world about the need to ban all nuclear weapons. As President Obama said, this goal will not be reached quickly. The world would definitely be a better place, however, with no nuclear weapons at all. Japan, as the only country that has suffered the effects of ones, can best present this idea to the world.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A World without Nuclear Weapons #01
A Nuclear-Free World
Stopping the spread of nuclear weapons
On April 5, 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama gave a speech in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. He said that countries should work together to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. I was very inspired by Obama’s speech. However, I know that the U.S. has the most atomic bombs of any country in the world. I want to learn about nuclear weapons, including why countries have them and what should be done to stop them.
The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The second was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. These bombs created a blast of 4,000 degrees Celsius. Instantly everything near the bomb blast was vaporized. The bombs killed tens of thousands of people, and caused sickness and death for many more in the following years due to radiation poisoning. It is said that the two bombs have caused nearly 400,000 deaths as of September 2007, and many people are still sick today.
The atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki had other effects throughout the world. The Soviet Union became afraid of America’s power and increased development of its own nuclear weapons. This started a nuclear arms race. Countries did not use their weapons, but just having them gave a feeling of security. This period was called the Cold War. It lasted from around 1945, the end of World War II, to 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. At the height of the Cold War, there were about 60,000 nuclear weapons in the world.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, the U.S. had a better relationship with Russia. The two countries began to gradually reduce their stocks of nuclear weapons. However, the still have about 30,000 weapons. Also, the U.K., France and China ― the three other countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council ― have them. India, Pakistan, and North Korea say that they have nuclear weapons, and Israel, Iran and Syria are also thought to have them.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Meat Free Monday
“Less Meat = Less Heat”
Paul McCartney and others promote Meat Free Mondays
In recent years, people have become more concerned about health. This includes their own health and the health of the planet. One thing you can do to help both is to eat less meat. That’s what Sir Paul McCartney, one of the Beatles, says. He is a supporter of the Meat Free Mondays campaign.
Meat Free Mondays was started by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, a UN scientist who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 as the chairperson of the IPCC. The concept of Meat Free Mondays is simple: For one day a week, you shouldn’t eat meat. One of the goals is to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Cows and other animals produce methane gas and nitrogen oxide, which are more harmful to the environment than CO2. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that meat production is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gases, eating less meat will help solve the problem of world hunger. The UK group Compassion in World Farming says that 20kg of grains are consumed to produce 1kg of beef. The grains that are fed to farm animals could be used to feed two billion people around the world. Yet one person every five seconds dies from hunger. The UK group says, “Crops that could be used to feed the hungry instead being used to fatten animal raised for food.” Selling meat also requires land for raising animals, fuel for shipping, and plastics for packaging
To support Meat Free Monday, Sir Paul McCartney used his most effective tool: His music. He recorded a YouTube video in which he sings a song about the campaign. “Meat Free Monday. It’s a fun day. And it’s happening all around the world. Come on, join us!” the campaign’s website has recipes and other ideas for reducing meat consumption. And remember, you can go more than just one day without meat. The less meat you eat, the healthier you ― and the planet ― will be.
Paul McCartney and others promote Meat Free Mondays
In recent years, people have become more concerned about health. This includes their own health and the health of the planet. One thing you can do to help both is to eat less meat. That’s what Sir Paul McCartney, one of the Beatles, says. He is a supporter of the Meat Free Mondays campaign.
Meat Free Mondays was started by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, a UN scientist who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 as the chairperson of the IPCC. The concept of Meat Free Mondays is simple: For one day a week, you shouldn’t eat meat. One of the goals is to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Cows and other animals produce methane gas and nitrogen oxide, which are more harmful to the environment than CO2. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that meat production is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to reducing greenhouse gases, eating less meat will help solve the problem of world hunger. The UK group Compassion in World Farming says that 20kg of grains are consumed to produce 1kg of beef. The grains that are fed to farm animals could be used to feed two billion people around the world. Yet one person every five seconds dies from hunger. The UK group says, “Crops that could be used to feed the hungry instead being used to fatten animal raised for food.” Selling meat also requires land for raising animals, fuel for shipping, and plastics for packaging
To support Meat Free Monday, Sir Paul McCartney used his most effective tool: His music. He recorded a YouTube video in which he sings a song about the campaign. “Meat Free Monday. It’s a fun day. And it’s happening all around the world. Come on, join us!” the campaign’s website has recipes and other ideas for reducing meat consumption. And remember, you can go more than just one day without meat. The less meat you eat, the healthier you ― and the planet ― will be.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Population Explosion
9 Billion People in 40 Years
Population growth may lead to serious problems throughout the world
According to historical materials, there were about 200 million people on the Earth in the year 0. This increased to about 1 billion by 1800. Since then, the population has grown much more rapidly, to 2.5 billion people in 1950, 5 billion in 1987, and 6.8 billion in 2009. The UN says that by 2050, the world will have more than 9 billion people. This is called the population explosion.
Why has the world population grown so much? One reason is the Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the 18th century. This brought new machines to make farming, trade, and manufacturing easier. The safety and supply of food improved. New medicines helped people live longer and allowed more babies to survive. Cures were found for diseases that once killed large number s of people. As quality of life improved, the number of people increased.
In recent years, however, the population explosion has led to huge problems. Birth rates in Japan and many European countries have decreased, but this is now happening in developing countries. In some Asian and African countries women have an average of seven babies in their lifetimes. Populations in these countries are expected to double in the next 25 years. As a result, shortages of food, water and other resources will become even more severe. People will have to fight for resources, leading to wars and conflicts.
It will be difficult to stop the population explosion, but there are things developed countries should do. They must work to make poor countries’ governments stable, and help them give their people better education and family planning programs. Just sending food, clean water, and medicine is not a long-term solution. If the causes of the problems are not addressed, the problems will not go away ― they will get worse. This is a great concern not only for developing countries, but for your country as well.
Population growth may lead to serious problems throughout the world
According to historical materials, there were about 200 million people on the Earth in the year 0. This increased to about 1 billion by 1800. Since then, the population has grown much more rapidly, to 2.5 billion people in 1950, 5 billion in 1987, and 6.8 billion in 2009. The UN says that by 2050, the world will have more than 9 billion people. This is called the population explosion.
Why has the world population grown so much? One reason is the Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the 18th century. This brought new machines to make farming, trade, and manufacturing easier. The safety and supply of food improved. New medicines helped people live longer and allowed more babies to survive. Cures were found for diseases that once killed large number s of people. As quality of life improved, the number of people increased.
In recent years, however, the population explosion has led to huge problems. Birth rates in Japan and many European countries have decreased, but this is now happening in developing countries. In some Asian and African countries women have an average of seven babies in their lifetimes. Populations in these countries are expected to double in the next 25 years. As a result, shortages of food, water and other resources will become even more severe. People will have to fight for resources, leading to wars and conflicts.
It will be difficult to stop the population explosion, but there are things developed countries should do. They must work to make poor countries’ governments stable, and help them give their people better education and family planning programs. Just sending food, clean water, and medicine is not a long-term solution. If the causes of the problems are not addressed, the problems will not go away ― they will get worse. This is a great concern not only for developing countries, but for your country as well.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
2010 Haiti Earthquake #02
The numbers from the earthquake are shocking. Haitian President Rene Preval said 170,000 bodies had been counted as of January 27. About 20,000 buildings and over 200,000 houses collapsed or were seriously damaged in the earthquake, which left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Almost everything has been wiped out. President Preval said it would take 5 to 10 years for the country to return to “normal,” but this may not be enough for the people.
The response from the international community was fast and huge. The United Nations, the World Bank, and de United States promised hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Haiti. Cuba immediately sent another 30 doctors, who worked with the nearly 350 Cuban doctors already helping people in Haiti. More than 100 celebrities, including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen, appeared on TV and asked people for donations. Julia Roberts and Steven Spielberg even called people to ask for help. Air cargoes with relief supplies from foreign governments filled the airport.
In the weeks after the earthquake, people heard good and bad news. The good news was that people were being rescued from under the wreckage, even after a few weeks. The bad news was that these were the lucky ones. Others were trapped but could now be saved. On top of that, some people began stealing and rioting. They broke into shops and took clothing and food. Because the government was not functioning properly, the police could not control the situation.
Rin thought carefully about the disaster and understood why her parents were so worried. It was because they had experienced the same kind of disaster. For them, Haiti is far away as a country, but not so far in their hearts. Rin came to understand not only the Haitian people’s suffering, but her parents’ suffering as well. Rin’s parents taught her this lesson: “After destruction, you must rebuild.” Rin knows that it will take a long time for the Haitian people to rebuilt, but hopes that, with the help of the world, the will be able to have better lives in the future.
The response from the international community was fast and huge. The United Nations, the World Bank, and de United States promised hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Haiti. Cuba immediately sent another 30 doctors, who worked with the nearly 350 Cuban doctors already helping people in Haiti. More than 100 celebrities, including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen, appeared on TV and asked people for donations. Julia Roberts and Steven Spielberg even called people to ask for help. Air cargoes with relief supplies from foreign governments filled the airport.
In the weeks after the earthquake, people heard good and bad news. The good news was that people were being rescued from under the wreckage, even after a few weeks. The bad news was that these were the lucky ones. Others were trapped but could now be saved. On top of that, some people began stealing and rioting. They broke into shops and took clothing and food. Because the government was not functioning properly, the police could not control the situation.
Rin thought carefully about the disaster and understood why her parents were so worried. It was because they had experienced the same kind of disaster. For them, Haiti is far away as a country, but not so far in their hearts. Rin came to understand not only the Haitian people’s suffering, but her parents’ suffering as well. Rin’s parents taught her this lesson: “After destruction, you must rebuild.” Rin knows that it will take a long time for the Haitian people to rebuilt, but hopes that, with the help of the world, the will be able to have better lives in the future.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
2010 Haiti Earthquake #01
Haiti’s Terrible Tragedy
Understanding the conditions in one of the poorest countries
When the Great Hanshin Earthquake happened in 1995, Rin and her family lived in the southern part of Osaka. Rin was only one year old at the time, so she doesn’t remember how bad it was. However, her parents have often told her what happened. No one in her family was killed, but her parents lost some close friends in the disaster. Therefore, it is quite natural for Rin’s parents to show their concern when they heard about the big earthquake in Haiti. Rin had never even heard of Haiti before this, so she decided to learn more about the country and the earthquake.
The Republic of Haiti is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It shares the Hispaniola Island with the Dominican Republic. To the northwest is Cuba, and to the west Jamaica. Haiti has a complicated history. After Christopher Columbus discovered the Hispaniola Island in 1492, Spanish people migrated with slaves from Africa and made the island their colony. In the 17th century, French people also started to move in from the western part of the island, also with black slaves. By 1697 they controlled the western third of the island, which created today’s border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The slaves started a revolution in the late 1700s. Their revolution gained power, and on January 1, 1804, Haiti became independent from France. Its leader then drove the white people out of the country and started the first country governed by blacks.
Since it became independent, Haiti has not been a very wealthy country. The government has always been unstable and its economy has had all kinds of troubles. The country’s main industries, sugar and coffee beans, are very small. Two-thirds of the Haitian people are engaged in farming, which does not earn them much money. Most people live on just a dollar or two a day. Haiti is believed to be the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Therefore, a natural disaster would be devastating to Haiti for many reasons.
On January 12, 2010, a huge earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Haiti. More than 50 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater followed. Because there had been no major earthquakes in Haiti since 1946, the building and houses were not built to be earthquake-proof. Many buildings collapsed and trapped many people under their wreckage. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Port-au-Prince, the capital. The government buildings, including the president’s palace, were seriously damaged. Many important government functions stopped. In areas near the epicenter, 90 per cent of the schools were destroyed.
Understanding the conditions in one of the poorest countries
When the Great Hanshin Earthquake happened in 1995, Rin and her family lived in the southern part of Osaka. Rin was only one year old at the time, so she doesn’t remember how bad it was. However, her parents have often told her what happened. No one in her family was killed, but her parents lost some close friends in the disaster. Therefore, it is quite natural for Rin’s parents to show their concern when they heard about the big earthquake in Haiti. Rin had never even heard of Haiti before this, so she decided to learn more about the country and the earthquake.
The Republic of Haiti is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It shares the Hispaniola Island with the Dominican Republic. To the northwest is Cuba, and to the west Jamaica. Haiti has a complicated history. After Christopher Columbus discovered the Hispaniola Island in 1492, Spanish people migrated with slaves from Africa and made the island their colony. In the 17th century, French people also started to move in from the western part of the island, also with black slaves. By 1697 they controlled the western third of the island, which created today’s border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The slaves started a revolution in the late 1700s. Their revolution gained power, and on January 1, 1804, Haiti became independent from France. Its leader then drove the white people out of the country and started the first country governed by blacks.
Since it became independent, Haiti has not been a very wealthy country. The government has always been unstable and its economy has had all kinds of troubles. The country’s main industries, sugar and coffee beans, are very small. Two-thirds of the Haitian people are engaged in farming, which does not earn them much money. Most people live on just a dollar or two a day. Haiti is believed to be the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Therefore, a natural disaster would be devastating to Haiti for many reasons.
On January 12, 2010, a huge earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Haiti. More than 50 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater followed. Because there had been no major earthquakes in Haiti since 1946, the building and houses were not built to be earthquake-proof. Many buildings collapsed and trapped many people under their wreckage. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Port-au-Prince, the capital. The government buildings, including the president’s palace, were seriously damaged. Many important government functions stopped. In areas near the epicenter, 90 per cent of the schools were destroyed.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Usain Bolt
A Bolt out of the Blue
Usain Bolt surprises hit trainers, fans, and the sports world
How fast can you ride your bicycle? You probably can’t ride as fast as Usain Bolt can run. The Jamaican sprinter set a new world record for the 100m race, with a time of 9.58 seconds, at the Berlin World Championships in August 2009. His average speed was more than 37 kilometer per hour. At one point he reached 44km/h. Bolt ran 100m in just 40 steps ― an amazing per-step distance.
In the 100m race, runners practice to improve their times by just a hundredth of a second. Their training is based on science. Good runners study data on their height, weight and muscle strength. Bolt did these kinds of training, too. His trainers, however, did not expect him to become the world’s best sprinter.
When he was in his teens, Bolt won the World Junior Championships. This made him a star in the running world. However, his body kept growing. Eventually his height reached 195cm. past record holders were American sprinter Tyson Gay, who was 183cm, and Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who was 190cm. the fastest sprinters are usually under 190cm. many experts thought Bolt was too tall from a scientific point of view.
That’s why Bolt’s performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was like a “bolt out of the blue” ― a big surprise, now only for the spectators but also for the experts. He won the 100m race and set a new world record of 9.69 seconds. Some people didn’t like his “show” at the end, when he slowed down and pounded his chest for the camera. But he definitely left a strong impression on everyone. He also won the 200m race in 19.30 seconds and (with his teammates) the 400m relay in 37.10 seconds, setting the new world records in both. Then, just one year later, he broke his 100m and 200m records in Berlin.
Bolt isn’t sure which races he will run at the London Olympics in 2012. No one knows what to expect from the unpredictable Bolt, but the world will surely be watching.
Usain Bolt surprises hit trainers, fans, and the sports world
How fast can you ride your bicycle? You probably can’t ride as fast as Usain Bolt can run. The Jamaican sprinter set a new world record for the 100m race, with a time of 9.58 seconds, at the Berlin World Championships in August 2009. His average speed was more than 37 kilometer per hour. At one point he reached 44km/h. Bolt ran 100m in just 40 steps ― an amazing per-step distance.
In the 100m race, runners practice to improve their times by just a hundredth of a second. Their training is based on science. Good runners study data on their height, weight and muscle strength. Bolt did these kinds of training, too. His trainers, however, did not expect him to become the world’s best sprinter.
When he was in his teens, Bolt won the World Junior Championships. This made him a star in the running world. However, his body kept growing. Eventually his height reached 195cm. past record holders were American sprinter Tyson Gay, who was 183cm, and Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who was 190cm. the fastest sprinters are usually under 190cm. many experts thought Bolt was too tall from a scientific point of view.
That’s why Bolt’s performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was like a “bolt out of the blue” ― a big surprise, now only for the spectators but also for the experts. He won the 100m race and set a new world record of 9.69 seconds. Some people didn’t like his “show” at the end, when he slowed down and pounded his chest for the camera. But he definitely left a strong impression on everyone. He also won the 200m race in 19.30 seconds and (with his teammates) the 400m relay in 37.10 seconds, setting the new world records in both. Then, just one year later, he broke his 100m and 200m records in Berlin.
Bolt isn’t sure which races he will run at the London Olympics in 2012. No one knows what to expect from the unpredictable Bolt, but the world will surely be watching.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Soccer World Cup
World Cup 2010
South Africa gets a chance to make a fresh start
Soccer is the most popular sport in many developing countries. This is also true in South Africa. There, children play it on rough streets without shoes of nets. They dream of playing on European soccer teams and becoming rich and famous. For a long time, however, their homeland was not even allowed to take part in the FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest soccer event. It was no recognized as a member of the international community because of its infamous policy called apartheid.
Apartheid was a system that segregated racial groups by law. Blacks were forced to live in separate areas and only whites were allowed to own land and vote. Nelson Mandela and many others worked hard to stop it, and the policy was abolished in 1994. Since then, other countries have gradually begun to accept South Africa. Now it has been given the chance to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup ― the first time an African country has ever hosted the event.
Still, many difficulties remain. In recent years the country has had unemployment of 20%, compared to 5% in Japan. The murder rate in South Africa is 30 times higher than that of Japan. These problems have led people to believe that South Africa is a dangerous country. The World Cup gives South Africa a good opportunity to clean up its image. If the event is successful, the country can show a new face to the world.
In 2010, all eyes will be on the pitches in South Africa. The world’s biggest stars, such as England’s Wayne Rooney and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, will play there. And the chance to play for South Africa at the World Cup is a dream for Benni McCarthy, who grew up in one of the its poorest areas. The World Cup is one of the most intense competitions in all of sports. For South Africa, however, it may lead to new growth and a better life for its people. Let’s hope the country takes advantage of this amazing opportunity.
South Africa gets a chance to make a fresh start
Soccer is the most popular sport in many developing countries. This is also true in South Africa. There, children play it on rough streets without shoes of nets. They dream of playing on European soccer teams and becoming rich and famous. For a long time, however, their homeland was not even allowed to take part in the FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest soccer event. It was no recognized as a member of the international community because of its infamous policy called apartheid.
Apartheid was a system that segregated racial groups by law. Blacks were forced to live in separate areas and only whites were allowed to own land and vote. Nelson Mandela and many others worked hard to stop it, and the policy was abolished in 1994. Since then, other countries have gradually begun to accept South Africa. Now it has been given the chance to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup ― the first time an African country has ever hosted the event.
Still, many difficulties remain. In recent years the country has had unemployment of 20%, compared to 5% in Japan. The murder rate in South Africa is 30 times higher than that of Japan. These problems have led people to believe that South Africa is a dangerous country. The World Cup gives South Africa a good opportunity to clean up its image. If the event is successful, the country can show a new face to the world.
In 2010, all eyes will be on the pitches in South Africa. The world’s biggest stars, such as England’s Wayne Rooney and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, will play there. And the chance to play for South Africa at the World Cup is a dream for Benni McCarthy, who grew up in one of the its poorest areas. The World Cup is one of the most intense competitions in all of sports. For South Africa, however, it may lead to new growth and a better life for its people. Let’s hope the country takes advantage of this amazing opportunity.
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