AIR POLLUTION PLAN CANNOT BE DELAYED, HIGH COURT TELLS GOVERNMENT

The government has been ordered to publish tough new plans to tackle air pollution after the high court rejected attempts by ministers to keep the policy under wraps until after the general election. In the latest defeat for ministers over their continued failure to tackle the UK’s air pollution crisis, which is believed to be responsible for 40,000 premature deaths a year The new measures are likely to include the imposition of multiple clean-air zones across the country, where drivers will face fines if their vehicles do not pass roadside emissions tests. The judge said the government’s own figures showed that nitrogen dioxide pollution is linked to the premature deaths of 23,500 people a year in the UK. The court decided that the threat to public health constituted “exceptional circumstances”. The nation’s dirty air is one of the most important public health issues in recent times. The high court’s decision recognises the need to urgently tackle this crisis. The plans included five clean-air zones where diesel drivers faced charges if their cars did not pass emissions tests.

Be careful of our environment is crucial for our health and for the maintenance of our planet. The environmental pollution can cause many deaths every year. For this it is important that the governments raises awareness about this problem and try to solve it.

Link of the news:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/27/air-pollution-plan-election-campaign-bomb-court-government

IS DEATH A TABOO?

In our culture, Western culture, talking about death is considered a taboo. 

It is absolutely true because when we go down the street and we hear the conversations, people never talk about death. If we analyze our discurses we will see that never speak about it or we avoid talking about death. 

I strongly believe that death is considered unpleasant, bitter and especially painful. People know that they must die but do not want to think, try to forget it and try to live as if death does not exist. It is very painful to lose someone that we love. 

Another reason is that everyone is born knowing that someday will die, it is a natural fact. Personally I think that we, all the people in general, do not speak about death because we fear it. We are afraid of death because we do not now what we will find after it. Many people have talked about it and have elaborated theories, but they have been not confirmed. 

It is clear that causes us a sense of uncertainty. We do not know what will happen when we die and that disturbs us. In addition, it makes us afraid and respect it. Not only that, death causes a lot of pain for people who suffer the death of an acquaintance. But certainly, an undeniable fact is that we will die one day. 

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF F. KAFKA

This book talks about an amazing and strange transformation of Gregor Samsa, who would completely change his life and the way to see their family. It’s a great book that surprised me the most.

The story talks about Gregor Samsa that, one day, when he wakes up, is transformed into a terrifying insect. His principal fear isn't his new body, otherwise is being late for work. He doesn't want to lose his work. 

His family is worried too, because Gregor is still in his room. He can't have power over his body and talk normally. The biggest problem appears when an envoy of the boss of Gregor calls the door. Finally, Gregor, open the door and all the people see his status. 

His family scares very much and cannot believe what happens. The parents don't want to enter in the room of Gregor. The only one that worries for Gregor is his sister, who brings food to him. But she doesn't want to watch the body of her brother. Gregor's transformation is a very hard blow in the family.

In this novel we can observe how the life of Gregor makes a radical change. He is the main character and he is a person who sacrifices himself for his family. But his family don’t do that when they see the situation of his member.

I like very much this book because talks about not usual themes that confound and perplex the reader. This book is a critique to the society, which treats badly the people who is different. I recommend it to all people. 

REVIEW ABOUT A PROTEST SONG

"We Shall Not Be Moved" is a traditional American folk song whose lyrics probably stretch back to the slave era, but there is no indication of when the song was written or who wrote it.

It is a spiritual song that was adapted and the lyrics changed to "We Shall Not Be Moved”.

It is one of the protest song more recognized arround the world. It has sung and translated into many languages.

It is a song easy to sing since the same phrase repeats a lot of times.

This is traditional for the folk songs: the lyrics have adapted which the song has been sung. When the tune became an anthem of the labor movement, verses were adjusted to be appropiate to union organitzation. When the song was sung during the civil rights movement, verses were adjusted to reflect radical unity.  

Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley recorded two of the most notable versions. 

COULD GAS FROM GRASS RIVAL FRACKING TO HEAT UK HOMES?

According to a British businessman who claims grasslands could provide enough gas to heat all of the UK’s homes. Dale Vince, the chairman of renewable energy company Ecotricity, he says that the “green gas mills” could compete against gas from fracking (a technology to extract natural gas of not conventional deposits).

The company said its Hampshire plant at Sparsholt College will take grass harvested from nearby fields. Grass at the plant would be turned into biomethane and then injected into the national network, providing the heating needs of more than 4,000 homes.

Vince admitted that no other country had done it before. The company is planning four other mills in addition to the one at Sparsholt College. Vince said the environmental impact of cutting grass would be benign. 

To find new sources of renewable energy is very important for our planet. It is important not to send gases in the atmosphere to improve the conditions of our planet.

Vocabulary:

Fracking

Methane

Grassland

Link of the news: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/18/could-gas-from-grass-rival-fracking-to-heat-uk-homes

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AFTER FIVE SUICIDES IN ONE YEAR AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

An investigation has started after five students at The University of York killed themselves in one year. The number is very high.

City of York will investigate the deaths. All the persons were studying at the university.

Ms Ahmad was an estudent. She had received treatment for depression for several years prior to her death. Friends described Ms Ahmad as a kind person who had a bright future. The girl tried to kill himself once and nobody warned her parents.

After these incidents, the university will invest money in medical mental assistance to help the students. The University of York is the worst university for mental health care. In this university there have been many cases of self-harm. 

The cases of self-harm are usuals. When the people go to the university they are very pressured. They have the obligation to be the best in the dagree that they have chosen. They think that they will have a better future. This stress causes a discomfort that can take them to the suicide.


Vocabulary:
Self-harm
Suicide
Mental health

Link of the news: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/investigation-five-suicides-york-university-one-year-mental-health-a7328836.html