About 25 years ago the UN [ United Nations ]  met for a Global meeting about safety at sea or the Law of the sea as they called it. They ruled out borders of which countries are to help ships in distress and trouble. An interesting fact is that when the titanic was sinking it’s distress signal was picked up by Carpathia a French cruiser ship, it saved many hundreds of people but the great thing is that it helped even though it was over 1000 km from french waters.

But the whole ocean can’t be a safe place and can’t always be monitored by any one nations Coast Guard. A few days ago an Australian Navy ship called HMS Canberra found in Indonesian waters a half sunk tug boat far to overcrowd, HMS Canberra jumped to the rescue even though it was in Indonesian waters. Later though the crew of the HMS Canberra found the tug boat held 78 Sri Lankan’s and a few Pakistani’s, Afghani’s and Iraqi’s. Now there is a huge conflict about whether the asylum seekers should try and become an Australian Citizen or a Filipino citizen { the prime minister of The Philippines has offer to have them live in Manila, or maybe even Indonesia but that still is being discussed with Mr. Rudd and Mr. Banbam. Another option still under consideration is NZ there foreign minister said under there new government it is a slim chance for more than 40 asylum seekers to be able to live in NZ.

My opinion is that the asylum seekers should go back to their original homes to their families and friends and even try to find a better job and home in there own countries or try to become an Australian Citizen the better way by taking a examination test to see what skills they posses and see if Australia need there skills instead of smuggling themselves into Australia. Also I strongly believe that all boats in distress should be helped no matter where they are. Safety is our TOP priority.

By Will Bainbridge

The Australian Government has led an investigation into the junk food ads kids are watching, the investigation is lead by the enthusiastic Nicola Roxon the health minister for Australia. The facts say that one in three Australian kids are obese which often causes diseases like heart disease, certain types of cancer, breathing problems, type 2 diabetes and even TB.  The Health authorities and a company in charge of kids TV called The Australian Communications and Media Authority [ACMA] are trying to ban junk food ads because many of the public say that the fast food franchises are advertising food that is contributing to Australia’s obesity problem. Did you know, Australia has the most obese people in the world second is America. The ACMA also lead an investigation with a definite conclusion that there is no proof that these junk food ads contribute to our ongoing obesity problem. But they also gave a few tips in the newspapers about child obesity and how to prevent it so visit this website for some tips: www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/haa/obesity/subs/sub128.pdf

My opinion on banning junk food ads when kids are watching TV is no the reasons being because these fast food franchises have to survive in the current bad economical times also I don’t believe junk food ads contribute to the obesity problem because it the your own choice if they want to eat junk food or healthy food. The health authorities are unhappy about the outcome of the report done by ACMA so the debate continues for an expected 2 years.

By Will Bainbridge

Many Australians love to travel but you need to pack more than just some clothes and other things you need to research about the customs in other countries. Or you could end up like Melbourne mum Anice Smoel who was on a holiday with some close friends in Phuket, Thailand. One night Anice went to a local Thai Bar when her friends put a bar mat in her handbag. The Owner of the Bar called the local Thai police and Anice was arrested. The consequences in Thailand are much greater than here in Australia because of the old Military ruling of Thailand. Anice’s family back home were terrified that their mum would be kept in a Thai prison for 2-5 years. Anice’s husband flew over to comfort and support her while her three kids wept and worried back home. Now Anice’s case is dismissed due to the Australian Government which helped to persuade the Thai Authorities to release her.

In many of the 200 countries in the world each has it own Laws, Annerversaries and customs. For example in Japan you are not allowed to eat or drink in public places and in Hong Kong you are not allowed to take photos of government buildings or government officials. In many countries drug dealing or helping asylum seekers is a death or total confinement [ prison for life ]. The Government of Australia has its own laws and customs and have had to arrest many foreigners for drink driving, alcohol problems and murders. So in the end every country has its own beliefs and each want tourists to respect them or they will unfortunately will have to pay the price for braking that countries law.

Egypt, when you think of Egypt you think of mummies. But lately there have been discoveries of other mummies on another continent, South America. In the country of Chile right in the Atacama desert a few hundred kilometres north of the capital Santiago. The dry conditions in the desert have killed the bacteria so the mummies are well preserved. There are some Australian archaeologists who have discovered the 8000 year old mummies. Unlike the Egyptian mummies who are 5000 years old.

The archaeologists have found the graves,houses and a few belongings of The Chinchoro people. The team are trying to investigate and uncover the graves of The Chinchoro people. To get this done the archaeologists have to race against time before thieves and grave robbers steal the gold and silver belongings.

The mummies were skinned and ripped of their organs and stuffed with leaves and bushes. They were wrapped in sticks and bark, and then buried in a wooden grave or simply buried in the dirt.

I thought Egyptian mummies were the oldest of all but now archaeologists have proven me wrong. They have found older mummies so that has changed my view.

Pakistan is one of the cricket capitals of the world. It was going to host the world cricket tournament in 2011 but … the Sri Lankan cricket team was put in danger and 2 of them were seriously injured when they were on the way to a match in Lahore, Pakistan. The terrorists were trying to kill the team but failed and got away with no causalites on their side.

It is suspected that the terrorists are from neighbouring Afghanistan which currently are at war with rebels. The Pakistani supporters have been very shocked at what has taken place in their country. But some think that other teams should still play in Pakistan because the attack was just a security slip and it is unlikely to happen again. Still many are wary and some do suspect another terrorist attack.

Cricket fans across the globe are upset and discomforted about the happenings in Pakistan. But many countries are asking about the security in Pakistan because the terrorist got away with no police in chase. Pakistan and Australia will be playing in a unknown neutral country in the coming month.

Anyhow I think that maybe after the violence in that area has subsided then we can play cricket there. But until then it is not safe in Pakistan. Hopefully other teams will play in Pakistan without fear.

A few days ago a shark attack took place on a popular beach in Tasmania. Hannah and Syb were unlucky enough to be at the beach at the time and Hannah was involved having to punch the shark with the help of Syb until it let go of her leg. When they reached the beach Hannah was rushed to hospital to have 200 stiches. She is still recovering and has said she will carry on surfing.

Shark attacks have been common lately. One occured on Bondi Beach where there have been none for 80 years. Some people think there should be more nets and aerial patrols and there are thoughts about banning swimming at dawn and dusk because aerial patrols are useless in the dark.

In the end I think that there be more shark nets and aerial patrols because people are being attacked.

On the Islands of Sumartra and Borneo the main source of income comes from producing palm oil. Which to be produced has to have the main ingredient palms. Orangutans live in these palms and are endangered because of falling trees and a small habitat. Many Orangutans are orphaned or alone. Orangutans grow to the size of a 7 year old child. The people of Borneo and Sumartra are trying to resolve this conflict between nature and man by introducing a Orangutan day care system.

If we don’t stop cutting down the Orangutans trees then the people who do it will lose there jobs. It would be a shock to these workers who are out of a job which could lead to more poverty in those countries. There would be less palm oil for the rest of the world. Did you know that when we eat palm oil it is disguised as vegitable oil. Palm oil is used in many products including some food products, shampoo and cosmetics.

I think we should stop cutting down as many trees to save the enviroment and Orangutans.  

Bushfires have raged in Victoria laterly destroying around 8 000 homes and killing many loved ones to many families. The damage has devastated the world. People were found bracing themselves against the heat of the flames. It is suspected that some of the fires were lit deliberately. The fires were the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history due to the best weather conditions for fires to thrive and destroy.

Most fires are contained or controlled now and residents are being shown their villages from a tour bus window to servey the wreckage. Indonesia has donated up to 1 million dollars to rebuild community’s ,New Zealand and America have sent firefighters in aide. And many Australian’s have donated everything at hand to help.

The Goverment has thought that most houses should have a fireproof bunker in those affected areas and will allow residents to salvage anything before clearing and rebuilding houses and community’s.