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.

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.

dinosaur smuggling: By Lim Kay Ray

Summary
A Florida fossils dealer has admitted smuggling dinosaur bones into the US from Mongolia and China. The smuggler, Eric Prokopi, was charged a maximum of 17 years imprisonment when he is sentenced in April. He also admitted illegally importing a Chinese flying dinosaur, two oviraptors and a duckbilled creature known as a Saurolophus. After he was sentenced, the US officials returned the fossils to where they actually belonged.
Opinion
I think that Eric Prokopi should not steal these bones but actually hire archaeologists and historians to excavate the area, or dig and find these fossils himself. He sold a Tyrannosaurus Bataar, which was discovered seven years ago in the Gobi desert, at an auction for more than $1m. This money that he earns is not honest money but dishonest gains from stealing then smuggling fossils from other countries. 

S'pore's environmental issues in 2013 by Kai Yi

Summary: This article mainly talks about Singapore’s environmental issues for example, preparing for climate change, littering, preparing for Singapore to get “water independent”, etc. and measures that they will take to overcome these problems.

Opinion: One of the problems that Singapore faces as mentioned in the article is about littering. I think that in order for Singapore to maintain its reputation for being a garden city, the ministry should cultivate Singaporeans to have a strong sense of belonging to their home country, this will in turn motivate them in having a sense of responsibility in preserving a clean and safe environment for Singapore. In my opinion, I feel that getting people to do what they want to do for their country is much better than getting people to do what they have to do in the fear of getting punishments from the law.

Link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1245083/1/.html

 

Delhi Gang-Rape by Zhi Gang

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20765364

News Review:
Thousands of people staged peaceful protest in India's Capital Delhi, following the death of a woman who was gang-raped in the city. The 23-year old woman was savagely attacked and raped by a group of men inside a moving bus and her male friend is beaten up senselessly. Battered and beaten profusely, they were then dumped near an expressway in Delhi, where they were found by a passer-by. The woman, a paramedic student, who is on life support at a crowded city hospital was treated by doctors who were aghast by the extensive injuries. They said that this was the most grievous case of rape they have handled as it appears that a blunt object was used repeatedly by the attackers. However, she did not managed to survived from the specialist treatment in Singapore and died on early on Saturday in Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Opinion:
I feel that India should change the law on the status on the woman. There has been many cases on mistreatment of women. Female foetuses were aborted and baby girls killed after birth leading to an appallingly skewed sex ratio. In the other hand, I am deeply moved by the change of reaction in India's Society. They feel that these should stop and punishment should be carried out for justice. Rape is also not regarded as the crime where the woman has to be blamed. I feel that this time India should take a blunt decision over the rape cases. Then only people don't dare to do such a thing. It would be a time to wake up and fight for justice in India.  

A story of a teen hero: By Lim Kay Ray

"Aaaah! Help! Somebody help me! Robbery!" cried Anna, a lady in her mid 20s.
"Another word from you and I'll slash this blade across your  pretty face. Now hand over the money and all your jewelry!" demanded the burly man, a medium-built man in his mid 30s, with a silver blade in his hand. Anna, now terrified of her face being disfigured, slowly took off her jewelry and took out her wallet from her handbag. Henry, a courageous boy, saw this scene and immediately informed the police, then running near the scene and shouted at the man to stall time. 
"Go away boy! Or she will be disfigured by my blade!" the burly man shouted across. Anna gestured to me to go away with tears rolling down her cheeks in fear. Soon, the sirens of the police car was heard then the man grabbed her jewelry and took flight. Policemen soon arrived at the scene and dashed toward the robber. A policewoman came to comfort Anna and another came to take my statement.