INITIATING QUESTIONS
1. What is an epidemic?
An epidemic is defined by an illness or health-related issue that is showing up in more cases than would be normally expected.
2.What is a pandemic?
First a pandemic is normally used to indicate a far higher number of people affected than an epidemic, and a pandemic refers to a much larger region affected.
3. What is an infectious disease?
A disease that transmit itself by air water or food, it infects healthy people.
4. What is a virus?
A microorganism smaller than a bacteria, which cannot grow or reproduce apart from a living cell. A virus invades living cells and uses their chemical machinery to keep itself alive and to replicate itself.
5. What makes the H1N1 virus a "novel" or "new" virus?
H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
6. How do viruses mutate?
It mutate because the environment conditions and it affect with a different manner to each person because each person is different and had more or less defense to combat the virus.
7. What does it mean that this virus has "parts" from other known swine flues, human flus and American bird flus?
Because the virus has muted and changed its composes Mexico had a vacuum for the normal influenza virus, but the World Health Organization declared that the vacuum would not be useful because this was a different kind of virus.
8. How does that process happen?
With the environment conditions and the overcrowded people that are in big cities.
9. How is the flu vaccine created?
By this time there is not a vaccine created for this virus but there is controlled by washing our hands use a mouth mask and not go to crowded places.

10. Why are some viruses transmittable from human to human while others are not (avian flu)?
Because the virus muted and there are diseases that only pass from animal to animal and others are passed from person to person like VH1 virus.
11. How does Tami flu work?

Tami flu is an antiviral drug used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenza virus A and Influenza virus B. Like zanamivr, Tami flu is a neuraminidase inhibitor. It acts as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase, preventing new viruses from emerging from

12. Scientists worry that H1N1 might become resistant to Tami flu. How might that happen?
It might happen because the virus affects different to each people, and Tami flu would not work on them because they are less resist full.

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What is the most predictable thing about influenza?
That it passes from person to persona and that the issue its big because the virus had killed many people.
2. How many people have died in Mexico? (based on the article as well as on latest news)
68 deaths in Mexico by the influenza virus.
3. Name 3 countries where swine flu has been confirmed in the last three days.
Argentina, Israel, Spain.4. What are the symptoms of the swine flu?
Are Faber, head ache, flu, temperature,etc.5. When was the outbreak of the Spanish flu?
The pandemic lasted from March 1918 to June 19206. What percentage of the world population died of influenza then?
50 to 100 million people were killed worldwide7. Why was there an emergency vaccination program in 1976?
It started on January 27, 1976, when a small outbreak of mild respiratory illness occurred at the Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey. Throat cultures taken from sick soldiers grew out what laboratorians at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified as a “swine-like flu virus which was believed to have been inactive in the human population since 1930 with the exception of a handful of cases of swine-to-person transmission.
9. What were the consequences for Mexico and Mexicans due to the actions taken by the government?
Well the actions taken by the Mexican Gov were the correct ones because they acted quickly to confront the influenza issue, by telling them how to be safe and how to protect their selves.10. What industries were particularly hard hit?
In Mexico there were damaged the Industries of Tourism, Restaurants and entertainment industries because all the people were in their houses.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Mexico has shut down schools and other public spaces; do you think that was the correct thing to do? Why or why not?
Yes because if the issue goes to overcrowded places like this the kids can be infected quickly and this could make a pandemic.
2. More people die from the regular flu then from swine flu, why do you think this became a big news story?
Because the Normal flue mutated very quickly and the regular flu had more years that had be been confronted by medicines, and this flue is new and infect quickly the persons.
3. Why did people stop visiting Mexico? Why have Mexicans been discriminated? Do you think the fear of the disease is justified?
Because They in some way hadn’t information about the new disease.4. What questions about individual and human rights does preventing the spread of flu raise?
People can travel with freedom to everywhere and in some places are discriminating Mexicans because they think every Mexican is infected, but its not and they are having them in quarantine.

Bag of tricks

World problems issue         Bag of tricks

1.-

I. Why are plastic bags so common?

Because the plastic bag is an icon of convenience culture, by some estimates the single most ubiquitous consumer item on Earth, almost all the persons when going to the super market by the time to pay for the products they are placed in tricks, and there are many persons doing that in the world so it became an ambient issue.

II. In what other ways is plastic used?

Plastic is essential in men’s life because we found them in almost every place, like glasses plates in TV etc.

III. What are the benefits of plastic bags?

That are used to carry things and prevent that they fell down, not only for supermarket articles, it can be used at home to place things into.

IV. What are the dangers of plastic bags?

The problem with plastic bags isn't just where they end up, it's that they never seem to end. "All the plastic that has been made is still around in smaller and smaller pieces," says Stephanie Barger, executive director of the Earth Resource Foundation.

 Plastic doesn't biodegrade. That means unless they've been incinerated -- a noxious proposition -- every plastic bag you've ever used in your entire life, including all those bags that the newspaper arrives in on your doorstep, even on cloudless days when there isn't a sliver of a chance of rain, still exists in some form, even fragmented bits, and will exist long after you're dead.

V. What has been done so far?

llowing the lead of countries like Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, Thailand and Taiwan, some U.S. cities are striking back against what they see as an expensive, wasteful and unnecessary mess. This year, San Francisco and Oakland outlawed the use of plastic bags in large grocery stores and pharmacies, permitting only paper bags with at least 40 percent recycled content or otherwise compostable bags. The bans have not taken effect yet, but already the city of Oakland is being sued by an association of plastic bag manufacturers calling itself the Coalition to Support Plastic Bag Recycling. Meanwhile, other communities across the country, including Santa Monica, Calif., New Haven, Conn., Annapolis, Md., and Portland, Ore., are considering taking drastic legislative action against the bags. In Ireland, a now 22-cent tax on plastic bags has slashed their use by more than 90 percent since 2002. In flood-prone Bangladesh, where plastic bags choked drainage systems, the bags have been banned since 2002.

VI. Has it been successful? Why or why not?

There are 46,000 pieces of plastic litter floating in every square mile of ocean, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, so they can sell the bags for a small price, to use that money to recycle the bags floating in the rivers or that are killing the animals and in a future they will kill us.

2.-

a. What are some of the potential benefits of charging fees for and/or banning plastic bags? b. What are some of the potential drawbacks of such programs?

Because the countries would have benefits by selling the bags at a low prize they can have money to clean the contaminated parts of each country.

As the issue grew across the country and overseas, it became layered with debates on topics like the environmental benefits of bans and fees and to how to win support from retailers for them.

Over the last year, bag makers have increased their marketing efforts, saying that their product has been unfairly maligned and that they will do more to reduce waste through recycling.

c. Which benefits and drawbacks seem the most compelling? Why? d. Would you support a local law charging fees for (or banning) plastic bags? Why or why not?

Despite its popular appeal, the issue has not been a priority for national environmental groups. They are more likely to focus on broad federal issues, y would support the charging for the bags but the money earned would be used to clean the places with excessive bags and recycling them so the environment would be more likely and the country will be clean.

Problem in Mexico

1. Do you agree with this new law? Why or why not?

Yes because if there are banned the people would contaminate less and if you want bags you will need to purchase them, and the ecology will become healthy.

“The plastics industry is not to blame” for the plastic bags problem, he said. “It’s the fault of the authorities, who are incapable of managing waste.”

2. What has been done so far?

It’s in process that the law would be placed and Mexico would need to find a way to recycle all the plastic used so far.

3. What needs to be done to enforce such a law?
The legislative assembly would need to prevent that the new law would be obeyed and apply the law, Store owners will then have a year in which to replace polyethylene T-shirt bags and those available in rolls with ones made from degradable materials.

If they don’t, they will face up to 36 hours in jail or a maximum fine of 20,000 times the minimum daily wage.

4. What campaigns would you suggest?

Use different kind of things to carry the super market stuff but the real issue is that the environment is contaminated and Mexico would be full of trash in the future if we do not recycle, we need at home to put in a trash can the organic trash and in another the inorganic.

Feb. 11, 2008 Memphis, Tennessee	A 17-year-old student at Mitchell High School shot and wounded a classmate in gym class.
Feb. 12, 2008 Oxnard, California	A 14-year-old boy shot a student at E.O. Green Junior High School causing the 15-year-old victim to be brain dead.
Feb. 14, 2008 DeKalb, Illinois	Gunman killed five students and then himself, and wounded 17 more when he opened fire on a classroom at Northern Illinois University. The gunman, Stephen P. Kazmierczak, was identified as a former graduate student at the university in 2007.
Sept. 23, 2008 Kauhajoki, Finland	A 20-year-old male student shot and killed at least nine students and himself at a vocational college in Kauhajok, 330km (205 miles) north of the capital, Helsinki.
Nov. 12, 2008 Fort Lauderdale, Florida	A 15-year-old female student was shot and killed by a classmate at at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale.

German school killer

Who: A German student named Tim kretschmer at 9:30 of the 11 of march shot teachers pupils and students,with an automatic gun stole from his father’s room.

When: 11 of March 2009 at 9:30

What: A German student shoot teachers pupils and students in Germany.

Where: In Germany at Albertville technical school in Winnenden, in the suburbs of Stuttgart.

Why:  There’s not a reason of why he did that, but I think that something bad would happened before he went to kill the people, I think he had problems with the persons in the school, but there’s not a specific reason for that massacre.

new of the 3 of march

what? 2 Chileans students died in florida the 3 of march by the hands of a man that shot without reason.

Where? In the north east of Florida US.

when? the past wednesday 3 of march

Why? without a reason the man only shot and kill the 2 students.

Partial

1. Who is Robert Mugabe? How long has he been in power? How popular is he?

He is the president of Zimbabwe he have been in power from 1996 and been reelected 2 more times so that makes him popular. 
2. Who is Morgan Tsvangirai? Which is/ has been his political role?

He is the prime minister of Zimbabwe, and is the president of the movement of democratic change and is the oposition of Mugabe.

3. What happened during last year's elections? Which was the outcome?

the president spent much money for his campaign and he isn't helping people that really need it.

4. Whis is the economic situation in Zimbabwe? How do the people feel about this?

that the president is spending much money and he isn't helping the poor people that are suffering by cholera.
5. What do you think about the celebrations and the lavish party?
it was a very expensive party and invite many people and the party was done in the precedents house that is very large.

Based only on the article below, define a conflict.

a) Give the conflict a name and explain why you think it is a conflict.

The money used for personal beings.
b) Who is involved and why?

the president of Zimbabwe and his family.

c) Explain in detail why the conflict has happened.

It started when the actual president of Zimbabwe that has been reelected for 2 times celebrate the 21 of February his 85 years birthday party in his house at the edges of the city.
d) Give a timeline of events (at least 5) related to the conflict.

1 In 1985, the economy rebounded strongly due to a 30% jump in agricultural production.
2 on the 2000 the inflation vaulted to over 66,000%, and there were persistent shortages of foreign exchange.
3 As of February 2004 Zimbabwe's foreign debt repayments ceased, resulting in compulsory suspension from the Internacion al momentary found.
4 On augost 2008 Zimbabwe devalued the Zim Dollar by 60% against the US dollars

5 On 1 May 2008, the RBZ announced that the dollar would be allowed to float in value subject to some conditions e) How do you think this conflict can be solved and why?

if the president of Zimbabwe spend the money  on the poor people instead doing it on parties.

Country name: Bolivia

Conflict: 2009 economic crisis.

Global Voices (Bolivia) - http://blogsbolivia.blogspot.com/

The page I search for bolivian conflicts is a blog created 

from bolivians to bolivians,it says that if you are a bolivian 

living in us you can have this privileges and also you would 

need to take care of some things that are affecting 

the country like the economic crisis.

Also it is a blog to inform you of what is happening in 

the country, like the result of the football mach,or 

what is happening like what is new in museums 

or also there is a chat-box in another page to 

discus about world and political problems.

the economic crisis affected much in the truistic area, 

because one of the things that givemoney to the country

were the tourists.

this conflict wasn't created from bolivia it was created from 

the U.S. , but it affect bolivia like many countries, the most 

affected area was tourism, but it also affect the big 

corporates situated in La Paz, and many more areas like 

fish and other mini business.

Who is involved in the conflict?

Almost all the world

Where is it happening?

In many economic areas

When did it happen and how long has it been going on?

It started at the beginning of december, it steel going on

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/01/22/cuba.castro/index.html?eref=rss_world
Who: Fidel Castro
Where: Cuba
When: Jan, 22, 2009
Why: Because of Fidel`s health.
What: Fidel is afraid not to be able to see what Obama does during his presidency because of Fidel`s weak health.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7844600.stm
Who: Fidel Castro
Where: Habana, Cuba
When: Jan, 22, 2009
Why: Because of Fidel`s health.
What: Fidel wants to meet Obma because he thinks he is a good man, even though Raul Castro says he is giving to much hope. Fidel wants to see Obama`s actions but his health might not let him.

Both news talk about Fidel wanting to see Obama`s progress with the U.S. He is afraid that because of his health he might not be able. The president of Argentina met him not long ago, an say that his health is "ok" but that he is 82 years old now and the risk keeps going up, but we know there is no time left for him.
I think BBC news have better information about this new.

world politicians

1. Silvio Berlusconi - Italy
2. Michelle Bachelete - Chile
3. Hillary Clinton - USA4. Hu Jintao - China
5. Álvaro Uribe - Colombia
6. Ehud Olmert - Israel
7. Gordon Brown - UK
8. Ban Ki Moon - Korea
9. Nocolas Sarkozy - France
10. George Bush - USA
11. Vladimir Putin - Russia
12. Fidel Castro - Cuba
13. Mahmoud Abbas - Palestine
14. Taro Asso - Japan
15. José Luis Zapatero - Spain
16. Kim Jong Il- North Korea
17. Barack Obama- United states
18. Dalai Lama - India
19. Pratibha Patil - India
20. Thein Sein - Myanmar
21. Robert Mugabe - Zimbabwe
22. Hamid Karzai - Afghanistan
23. Raul Castro - Cuba
24. Mohamed Osni Murbarak - Egypt
25. Dmitry Medvedev - Russia
26. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner - Argentina
27. Abhisit Vejjajiva - Thailand
28. Ignacio Lula da Silva - Brazil
29. Angela Merkel - Germany
30. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Iran
31. Asif Ali Zardari - Pakistan

Where is Israel? Locate it on a map?


It is located In the middle east, with borther with libanon, egypt, and jordan, and palestin.



Why was Israel created?


It was created to give the Jewish people a city, and in there are much of the religious places for Jewish people, so thats why Israel was created.



Where are the Palestinian Territories?


There are In Gaza, and West Bank, are the ones in yellow.

1- What is happening in Israel and Gaza?
A war to defend their territory and political personals.
2- How many Palestinians have died and how many Israelis?
like 635 Palestinians and like 14 Israelis.
3- What is Hamas?
Hammas is a palestine group which is considered by the UN as a terrorist group.
4- What was the U.S. response to the attacks?
The U.S. supports Israel's decission to attack Gaza, because hamas is a terririst group.
5- What happened when Israel was declared a state in 1948?
It was invaded by arabian armies.
6- What did Israel agree in the Oslo accords?
Israel agreed withdrawing from parts of Gaza Strip and West Bank.
7- How did Hamas come to power in Gaza?
Hamas won the elections by the majority of the palestinian that vote for them.

"The New Meaning of an Old Battle"

a) To which "old battle" does the article's headline reffer?
It reffers to the battle between Palestine and Israel.

b) What seem to be the hopes underlying Israel's assault on Gaza?

To take away, Hamas’s leadership in the eyes of the Palestinian people and eliminate its power.
c) How would a clear Israeli victory affect the region?
The clear victory would affect Iran.
d) How would a clear Israeli victory affect the United States?
A clear victory would become the way for a restoration of political control in Gaza.
e) Why does Iran have much at stake in the outcome of the current crisis?

Because it would break up the strategy between Hammas and Hezbollah influence in the arabian world.
f) How likely is it that the Israeli assault will be successful?
Israel’s attacks also could fail.
g)What are some of the divisions in the Middle East that this conflict has highlighted?
Egypt, Hezbollah, Lebanon. A Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister gently and indirectly rebuked Hamas for provoking the conflict, because it is afecting other nations.
h) What happened in Lebanon in 1982? How are the Gaza attacks similar?
Israel failed an atat to lebanon in 1982 and ageed a negosiation.
i) In what ways might the attacks on Gaza backfire?
Israel has a lot of probabilities to fail just as it did in lebanon on 1982.
j) Why does Mr. Abbas say he will walk away from the peace talks begun by President Bush in 2007?
Because fighting was embolding palestinian resistance.
k) What lessons has Israel learned from Lebanon?
Israel has learned to lower expectations.
m) In what way is the timing of this renewed battle beneficial?
It came like a month ago like at the begining of december, before Obama was elected.
n) How will the Obama administration be able to capitalize on the situation in Gaza?
Obama would not aproach this and i thing he would try to change the U.S. the problem was before the obama goverment.

What is going on in the photograph?
Some women are protesting to stop the Israeli atack.
-Who is pictured?
Some palestinian women,complaining and showting in a march
-What can you learn about how the main subject in the photo is feeling from his or her facial expression?
By her facial expressions, they are like desperate waitting for the war over.
-What might this person be feeling, given what is going on in the photograph?
They might be felling kind of fear and they are angry at the Isreaelies
-What might this person want to say to the "opposite side"?
That they are not responsible for the terrorist attacks to Israel, and that there is dying lot of inocense people.

New 1

Spiderman´s comic made a Special edition with Obama

who: Marvel

where: In USA

when: 9 of january 2009

why: Because marvel likes obama and they made an special editoin of spiderman where he is in.

what: Marvel decide to make a special edtition of the cominc of spiderman of 10 pages with Barak Obama, about he will defend his country very well and will become a good president.