Friday 25 January 2013

DESIGNER BABIES by Mrs Teoh (SAMPLE)

Link to Designer Babies 
SUMMARY : In the UK, a family who had seen generations of their women die of breast cancer was given the chance to change all that with a scientific process called PGD. Normally women who have this cancer gene undergo a double mastectomy. However the revolutionary PGD process allows for screening and removal of the defective gene. Several embryos from the couple were genetically tested and the ones without the breast cancer gene were kept refrigerated for incubation whenever a new family member was desired. Doctors explain it is not a cancer cure and does not suit every couple.
 
OPINION: In my opinion science has advanced so much that we are now able to determine the future of our children to give them a brighter future. Without the once inheritable diseases like Muscular Dystrophy – which Stephen Hawking suffered from - mankind can then live in an age of better health. This benefit will reduce tremendous health costs and allow the money saved to be channelled to other needs. Without debilitating diseases, there will be less suffering within families. Children who have been set free from the legacy of a fatal illness will be able to live a full life and contribute significantly to society. All in all, society benefits from such an advancement.

Friday 11 January 2013

smoking in public areas BY JUNTIAN

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1247303/1/.html
SummaryFrom January 15, 2013 onwards, smoking will be prohibited in more public places. This is to protect the general public from inhaling second-hand smoke. Areas affected include overhead pedestrian bridge, five-meter radius of bus stops and many more. Signage will be placed at different places to deter smokers. Bins with ashtrays will be shifted or replaced with bins without ashtrays, and will be moved five-meters away. Fines are as high as $1000 should smokers smoke at banned areas.
Opinion:I am a very strong supporter of the introduction of this new law. Second-hand smoke affects one’s health very badly, and may even lead to very serious health problem like lung cancer. The public definitely do not deserve to have their health or even their lives at risk, just because some people like to smoke at public places. Therefore, I am really glad and appreciate this new law. I hope there can be some people patrolling around too, to make sure that this law can be enforced to its fullest.


A TEEN HERO ~ JUNTIAN

A teen hero
“Bang…Boom…Piang…Bang…” Gunshots and the sound of glass any many other things being destroyed echoed down the hallway, and can be heard clearly even in the classroom. “This couldn’t be another shooting massacre, right?” Michelangelo thought to himself, as panic raced through him. However, evidently this was what he had feared. The last shooting massacre in Newtown had just taken place a few weeks ago, Michelangelo could not believe it had happened here in Miami too.

Michelangelo had come to the Miami Heat Elementary School as a volunteer to be an assistant math teacher. Now, innocently he had been drawn into a shooting massacre. From inside the classroom, he could hear the screaming outside, and the painful cries of those who had been gunned down, and the moan of those who helplessly witnessed the death of their friends or teacher. Michelangelo was always against the fact that gun could be held by normal citizens. Suddenly, he felt anger swelling up, replacing all his fear and anxiety. He knew he had to do something. These innocent people do not deserve to have their lives gone just like that.
Without wasting any more time, he quickly located all the areas in the small classroom where the students could stay safely hidden, and with the help of the math teacher, quickly leading them to safety. When they were finally done, Michelangelo could hear the gunshots approaching. This could be his last day. Quickly sending a message to his parents, he was now prepared for the worse. Then, everything happened way too quickly. The gunman entered with a crazy grin on his face, and aiming the math teacher. Just before he could fire, Michelangelo picked up a penknife and pounced on the gunmen. Anger and courage raged within him, and he found strength he never had. However, the gunman was not someone to mess with too. With lightning fast reflexes, he turned the gun and fired at Michelangelo. With his last breathe, Michelangelo brought down the penknife straight at the gunman’s heart, ending both their lives and this cruel shooting massacre.