International Day of the Girl Child - October, 11.

The International Day of the Girl Child promotes girls’ rights and highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys. It is a UN observance that is annually held on October 11. 

What Do People Do?

The International Day of the Girl Child gives people and organizations the opportunity to raise public awareness of the different types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world suffer from. On this day, many community and political leaders talk to the public about the importance of girls’ right to equal education and their fundamental freedoms. Various events are held to showcase the work that people are doing to empower girls through active support and engagement with parents, families, and the wider community.

Public Life

The International Day of the Girl Child is a UN observance and not a public holiday.

Background

Discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights still happen. The UN felt a need to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of girls face every day. In December 2011, the UN declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Girl Child, starting from October 11, 2012.

source : http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/girl-child-day

Experiencing empathy.

Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand another person's situation and feelings.
- primarily communicated nonverbally.
- it needs more than an intellectual understanding, it's learned by experience.
- part of emotional intelligence so it should  be "taught" at home and in schools.

 'Why teach empathy ?'  Click on   http://www.britishcouncil.org/blog/why-teach-empathy 

Learn English Through Stories. The Elephant Man (Level 2) (Subtitled)

Nancie Atwell : Global Teacher Prize 2015.

          

" I’m convinced that teaching language arts is one of the great careers: demanding of time and energy, but meaning-filled, worthwhile, and interesting. I get to demonstrate what is possible, teach what is useful, establish conditions that invite engagement, support the hard work of literary reading and writing, and enjoy the kinds of relationships with adolescents that drew me to education in the first place. What job could be more satisfying? "   - Nancie Atwell

If you want to learn more about her click on :
http://www.globalteacherprize.org/top-10-finalist/nancie-atwell 



Congratulations, Nancie.

 BBC World News                              19 March 2015

The man who leads with no limbs

By Peter Bowes

The man standing before the stadium-sized crowd held the attention of thousands, in part because of humorous, yet moving, speech about the power of hope. But also because he was standing there at all.

Nick Vujicic, the 32-year-old president of motivational speech marketer Attitude is Altitude, was born without arms or legs. Though he struggles with some practicalities of everyday living (brushing teeth, for example), he has become an in-demand inspirational speaker.

There is no medical explanation for Vujicic’s physical disability, an extremely rare congenital disorder known as tetra-amelia syndrome. He has a small foot on his left hip which helps him balance. He can type, pick things up between his toes and even kick a ball. The self-confessed adrenalin junkie regularly swims and has gone skydiving.

Confidence didn’t come naturally to Vujicic. Growing up in Melbourne, Australia, he struggled with depression and was bullied at school. When he was just 10 years old, he attempted suicide. Over time, Vujicic worked on adopting a positive attitude, and, at 17, an encounter with his high school janitor inspired him to go into public speaking. The charismatic Australian now travels the world addressing huge crowds, including business groups and schoolchildren. He has visited more than 50 countries and given thousands of talks. 

The author of memoir Love Without Limits now lives in California with his wife, Kanae, and their 2-year-old son. They are expecting another child later in 2015. Vujicic runs a non-profit ministry, Life Without Limbs, as well as Attitude is Altitude, which markets his motivational speeches and campaigns against bullying.

                                                         Have a relaxing Sunday.
                                                                 :)

Dealing with social problems.

Tesco removes spikes over claims they are 'anti homeless'

Tesco bows to pressure from protesters and removes spikes outside a central London store after claims that homeless people should 'not be treated like pigeons' 

 

 Read more clicking on the link below :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10897601/Tesco-removes-spikes-over-claims-they-are-anti-homeless.html

Spanish King Juan Carlos abdicates.

King addresses Spaniards via television message to announce his abdication





Click on the link below to learn more :
http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/02/inenglish/1401707795_803686.HTML


http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/02/inenglish/1401699497_947043.html

Still working ?

 

"70% of teachers do an 'all-nighter' to prepare for lessons..."

‘When most other professions are taking a rest, teachers are busy preparing for the week ahead.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159173/70-teachers-nighter-prepare-lessons-according-survey-teaching-magazine-concludes-hours-rest-us.html#ixzz32lW64uW6

                                                
                                                   Have a fresh beginning of the week.
                                                   :-)

Inhuman borders.

                                   New tactics to control illegal immigration.
                                       

                          * Razor wire: alambre concertina, alambre de cuchillas.

        Is this the best modus operandi to stop illegal immigration from Africa ?

 

Razor wire on fence dividing Melilla from Morocco condemned as inhumane

Human rights activists criticise move to reintroduce razor-sharp barbed wire to border and say it seriously injures migrants.

The Spanish government's decision to reintroduce razor-sharp barbed wire to the border fence that divides the enclave of Melilla from Morocco in north Africa has been condemned by human rights activists as inhumane

 

 

If you want to read the whole article click on the link below:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/01/razor-wire-divide-morocco-melilla-inhumane

Fighting for your dreams takes time, hard work and determination.

                      Here is a clear example of what I mean.

- Vincent Willem van Gogh, (30 March 1853–29 July 1890), was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter.

- His work had a great influence on modern art because of its striking colors and emotional power.

- He suffered from anxiety and fits of mental illness. When he was 37, he shot himself and died.

- He was not well known when he was alive, and most people did not appreciate his art. After he died, though, he became very famous.

- Today, many people think he is one of the greatest painters in the world and an important influence on modern art.

To learn more click on :   http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh

 

 

 

                        "I dream of painting and then I paint my dream"
                                                                       Vincent Van Gogh

Star Trek.

                            "To boldly go where no one has gone before"
                              = Atreverse a ir donde nadie haya llegado jamás.

Did you kow that  ... ?

Star Trek was created as a TV series in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. He and the other authors of Star Trek have, over time, developed a whole fictional universe set in the future.

Trekkies or Trekkers may refer to the many fans who love the series and support this Star Trek Universe. Many conventions and newsletters exist to serve these fans.
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek

What does the term "income inequality" mean ?

Income inequality refers to the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner among a population .


It highlights the gap between individuals. Between the rich and everyone else.

There has been a dramatic rise in poverty, hunger and inequality across Spain since the outbreak of the economic crisis in 2008.

 Spain has now become the country with the most inequality of all 27 countries of the European Union (EU).

The right-wing Popular Party (PP) government and its Socialist Party predecessor have imposed one draconian austerity package after another, introducing cuts in health care, education and social services, raising taxes and passing new labour laws.

Do you want to read more ? Click on   Poverty, Hunger and Inequality Grow in Spain. By Alejandro López.


* Income inequality = desigualdad en los ingresos

What is winter ?

 

 

This is winter.

Very cold weather.

 

 

"Chicago was -16 degrees during the Polar Vortex on Jan 6., colder even than the South Pole. " 

 

(Source: TIME)

Read more: 10 Winter Weather Photos That Will Make You Shiver | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2014/01/21/winter-weather-photos-make-you-shiver/#ixzz2r90Lyksm

What is meant by "domestic energy poverty" ?

Domestic energy poverty refers to a situation where a household does not have access or cannot afford to have the basic energy or energy services to achieve day to day living requirements.

These requirements can change from country to country and region to region.

 The most common needs are lighting, cooking energy, domestic heating or cooling.


" ...approximately 10% of Spanish households (equivalent to 4 million people) were in energy poverty as of 2010 ..."      
           
    To read more click on :  http://urban-energy.org/2013/07/05/energy-poverty-in-spain-the-politicisation-of-energy-vulnerability-at-an-early-stage/

                                                                                 Source  Tirado Herrero

Thinking about New Year's resolutions ? Here are some nice suggestions to think about.

5 Simple Steps to a Better 2014

Resolutions will fail. Here's something easier and better

By Mitch Horowitz @MitchHorowitz

 

1. Try being a little kinder.

2. Be unsparingly honest about personal goals.

3. Radically forgive even cruel people.

4. Express gratitude daily.

5. Commit to civility.

Read more: Mitch Horowitz: 5 Simple Steps to a Better 2014 | TIME.com http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/27/five-simple-steps-to-a-better-2014/#ixzz2oxBMJBBb

                                             
                                                I'm thinking of doing it. :)

Saving the Lost Art of Conversation. (The Atlantic)

 

"We’re talking at each other rather than with each other."

 

"Her most recent book, Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other, explores our reliance on devices that can isolate us under the auspices of connection. "

 

"She advocates limiting our device usage in “sacred spaces” like the dinner table, the places where phones and their enticements may impede intimacy and interaction. She wants us to look into each other’s eyes as we talk. She wants us to read each other’s movements. She wants us to have conversations that are supremely human."

 

“Everybody’s talking,” she muses. "And nobody’s talking about anything except what’s on the machines.”

 

 

If you want to read the whole article click on this link http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/01/the-eavesdropper/355727/

 

                                                       Enjoy your day !

 

 

European Parliament News. Sakharov laureate Malala Yousafzai: "There is poverty, lack of freedom, fear and terrorism, but there is hope"

                                              
                                               Malala Yousafzai

"Ms Yousafzai, who was honoured for her fight to promote education for girls despite the threat of Taliban violence, said: "There is poverty, lack of freedom, fear and terrorism, but there is hope, because we are all here together united to help these children, to speak for them, to take action."

 Click on the link below to read more:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20131120STO25805/html/Malala-Yousafza%C3%AF-There-is-poverty-fear-and-terrorism-but-there-is-hope

Typhoon Haiyan. CNN News.

Tacloban, Philippines (CNN) -- No building in this coastal city of 200,000 residents appears to have escaped damage from Super Typhoon Haiyan.

 

 

Click on this link to read the article and watch the videos:

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/09/world/asia/philippines-tacloban/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Audio News. Nice to work pronunciation, intonation, stress and rhythm.

Why Do Teachers Quit ? And why do they stay? The Atlantic.

Why Do Teachers Quit?

And why do they stay?       

 

Click on this link if you want to read this article

 

.http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/why-do-teachers-quit/280699/