Last week there was a special ceremony in Canberra, where PM Kevin Rudd apologized to hundreds of   Australians that were treated awfully by teachers, nuns and caretakers at orphanages in Australia from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. It was a huge moment and made a lot of people pretty emotional – even though the events themselves happened more than 40 years ago.

These Australians were kids at the time. Some were in orphanages, often there would be a lot of kids squished in. Other kids were given to families to be looked after. There were lots of different reasons why they ended up there. Sometimes they were orphans; sometimes their parents just couldn’t look after them. Sometimes they were told their parents had died.

But it wasn’t just Aussie kids that were in conditions like these many of them were British children. You see their parents thought sending them to Australia would be better for them give them some good life skills and be better than living in Brittan. Many of the Aussie and British kids had horrible experiences. They were bullied or treated badly. It was also difficult growing up without a real family; they weren’t given much affection. That made it tough to look after their own kids when they grew up.

Back then there weren’t as many rules to protect kids but nowadays Because of the bad things that happened back then there are now a lot more rules to make sure kids are treated fairly.  I think the national apology was important for the Forgotten Australians and the Lost Innocents to recognise what they had been through. Even though all of them may remember those horrible times very well.

By Sophia R

When you watch a TV add or look at a magazine you see flawless tan skin, slim bodies, handsome bodies and many more unrealistic body images that make you feel bad about yourself. You want to look like them; you want to have the “perfect body”. But we all know that’s not possible but we still try to starve our self’s to like that way and that is why the federal government is looking to change all that by in forcing  new body image codes. 

Firstly many models that are shown in ads are air brushed which means they are changed to look a lot better by computer software. So they aren’t really the “real them”. But the public don’t really know that and may young teens and adults are trying to look like that by starving themselves, getting implants  and Botox to make themselves look like this but that is just plan right hideous. In particular many young girls are getting very sick by trying to make themselves look like the “beautiful people”.

Secondly the fashion industry and media are manly showing these perfect people that everyone wants to be like but is completely impossible. Personally I think that advertisers, the fashion industry and the media should  show more models of different shapes, sizes and cultures. I think the industry should stop using digital technology to make unrealistic images. And if the image is changed, the consumer should know about it. I also believe models should look healthy and be older too. People aged over 16 should be used when it comes to modelling clothes for adults, and I strongly believe fashion shops should stock a large range of sizes to fit different customers.

So in total the fashion industry should show healthier older models that are real sizes. The industry shouldn’t use computer soft ware to make models look flawless and Perfect and if they do the consumer should be told. If the Fashion and media industry do all these things then hopefully more young teens will live a healthier better life without felling uncomfortable with their bodies.

By Sophia

Lately the Government has been trying to improve the health of Australian kids, because too many Children are overweight and eat the wrong things. The majority of ads during kids programs have advertise junk food. So clearly that’s not helping the government.

Firstly junk food should be called “sometimes food” because far too many children are confusing unhealthy junk food with every day eating food. Therefore the government are trying to help ban or at least reduce ads on junk food. Another company called ACMA want to ban the ads too. I mean did you know that three in ten children are overweight; I know that number is far too high and you know that too.

Another reason why these ads should be stopped is if everybody buys junk food, fresh food shops will not make enough money and will have to close down.  This could mean UNEMPLOYMENT, not only for the shops but also for the farmers who supply the food and the package companies that package the food!

Therefore these junk food ads should be banned at once, because too many kids are overweight and those numbers are increasing by the minute. So please help stop these ads and help the adults of the future.

By Sophia 6D

Hello every body this is my newspaper article for jan 1901.

click on the link below to view…..hope it works.

The morning post

Recently at the World Swimming Championships held in Rome. There was alot of controversy over wheather or not the polyurethane swim suits should be banned, After over 30 World Records were smashed including Ian Thorpes 400 m Freestyle record which was set in 2002.

Firstly the swimsuit contains a plastic called polyurethane which is tough but still very elastic and is basically impermeable, Which means gas and liquid can’t pass through it. So glad wrap in “Impermeable”, where as a t-shirt is “Permeable”  because liquid and gases can pass through it. There for the benefit of being impermeable is water can’t be soaked up in the suit, which means less drag and friction. Reducing drag is really important because it helps the swimmer swim faster. The suit also gives the body more buoyancy.

Secondaly when it comes to creating these suits , NASA scientists and enginers are involed. But now it looks like all their work has gone down the gurgler because the suits will be banned. FIFA the World organisation in charge of swimming , has anoused  that the suits will not be able to be used after 2009. Thats because many people think the swimmers wearing the suits have an unfair advantage. I mean what will happen to all the world records people have set with the suits on. Those records won’t be able to be brocken, I think it is just down right terrable.

I personally think that the suit should be banned and that all records set by people waering these suits should be scrapped off the history books and gone forever. I mean you think of all the people who set records with out their suits they would feel annoyed, angry and discouraged. SO STOP THESE SUITS AND MAKE THE SWIMMING WORLD A BETTER PLACE!!!!

by Sophia

Over the recent years Aussie brands like Bonds, Davenport, Hard Yakka and many more others have started to have their products made in China. This is due to high wages the owners have to pay their workers in Australia.

Lately Bonds have just announced their move to china and the workers are definitally not happy.Workers have been Marching out side Pacific Brands factories over the last couple of weeks. Some even had signs and were yelling at the owners. Now if you go to Myers or Target these days and go to buy some Bonds High-tops for example and you look at the tag and it says ” Designed in Australia Made in China.” This is now happening all the time with Aussie Brands.

I personally think that Aussie Brands should be made In Australia and bought by Australians. I mean over the recent years the amount on clothes being made in Australia has dropped by millions. I just think this is so terrible. I really think that we should all support Australian Brands well the Remaining ones.  

By Sophia

Orang-Utans are animals that are very very close to extinction. They are found in S.E Asia in particular on the islands of Borna and Sumantra, where very poor people are found. These people make their money from Timber which is chopped down from rain forests where Orang – utans live.

The cutting down of these trees is one of the main reasons that these very cute and unique animals are almost coming to a close. Another reason why Orang – utans are dying off is the growing of palm plants. These plants are used to make Palm oil otherwise known as Vegetable oil. This oil is found in everydayfood that you buy at your local supermarket. To grow these plants workes bulldoze forests and jungles, which Orang – utans homes are found in. Most of the Orang – utans have been killed but the remaining Orang – untans have been sent to orphanages.

Personally i think that we should all watch what we are buyingat the supermarket and go with alternatives. Hopefully everyone will relise what horrible things we have done.

SO PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

By sophia