Aussie news : Qantas cancels flights for a third day

AAP From: AAP April 18, 2010 10:50AM

ALL Qantas flights bound for Europe have been cancelled for a third consecutive day, as volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland continues to play havoc with air travel.

"Any passenger that is through booked to Europe on Sunday - their flights are cancelled," a Qantas spokeswoman told AAP.

 

"This is looking like it's going to go on for several days.

"We do not recommend that they go in to Asia and try to wait it out there as it's still uncertain as to when the European air space is going to open."

Qantas said passengers should prepare for significant disruption, with the vast cloud of volcanic ash grounding flights across Europe in the biggest air travel shutdown since World War II.

The airline has warned that flights from Australia to Europe could be delayed up to a week.

Qantas said it would make an announcement this afternoon regarding Monday's flights to Europe.

"At this stage we are at the mercy of the European authorities," the spokeswoman said.

"If you are flying to Europe please stay at home, please don't come to the airport."

For those who could delay their travel plans into the future, Qantas said it would rebook flights at no extra cost, or provide a full refund.

Qantas was developing a contingency plan, which could include putting on extra flights to get passengers into Europe once the travel ban is lifted.

"But that's all quite complicated as airlines only have a certain amount of slots going in to airports and it's whether the European authorities are going to open up extra slots to deal with the demand."

About 2000 Qantas customers in Asian ports were being given the option of onward flights to other destinations or flights back to Australia.

The airline estimates at least 9000 Qantas customers have been affected by the volcanic eruption, while about 100 international passengers stranded in Australia are being accommodated in Sydney hotels.

In Britain, flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport until at least 1pm on Sunday London time (10pm AEST) due to the risk volcanic ash poses to the operating of jet engines.

The Air Transport Association in Geneva estimates the current cost of the eruption to major airlines is around $A214 million a day.

Critique : I am feeling bad for so many travellers stranded due to the volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland. Minute pieces of particles that had created in the air had caused the flights to be dangerous to operate. No choice, air travel shutdown is a must. In fact, volcanic eruption is the natural disasters that we can neither resist nor control. Hence, I just hope that the situation will get better soon so that air travel will be back on track as many inconveniences have been arisen due to this shutdown. Frankly, it is a real heartaches to see so many disasters happening all around the Earth from time to time, so people please do appreciate what you have now and try to help the needy when you are capable to do so!

Argumentative Essay : Junk Food Draft#1

Should the sale of junk food in school canteens be banned?

According to Family Journal (2005), junk food aptly meant any food that is presumably unhealthy and of low nutritional value. Owing to the simplicity, time and cost saving factors, junk foods have always been opted to be sold and consumed. However, the decline in the sale of junk foods in Cook High School after 2001 has shown that the society is getting more health-conscious nowadays (School News 2005). Thereby, I strongly agree that the sale of junk food in school canteens should be banned as it triggers behavioural problems, creates health problems, as well as contributes to litter problems.

Firstly, junk food will affect the behaviour of children. According to Family Journal (2005), chemical additives have been lavishly added to enhance flavor and colour of most junk food as well as to prolong its shelf life. Most of these additives are proven to cause behavioural problems in children, namely hyperactivity and poor concentration. By removing junk food and soft drinks from the canteen, Hillview primary school teacher observed a noticeable improvement in students’ behaviour in class as they had become calmer after lunch (The Food Show 2005). Hence, in order to make the students well-behaved, the sale of junk food in school should be banned in the first place.

Secondly, junk food deteriorates the health of schoolchildren. High calories level in junk food has led to childhood obesity which can further result in heart disease, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. Professor Steven Reynolds puts the blame of obesity in youth on the school canteens that offering foods high in fat and sugar. Besides, Dental Association is also urging state governments to prohibit the sale of soft drinks as the dental health of Australia’s primary-school children is worsening (Weekend News 2005). In short, when junk foods are readily available at school, students’ learning ability is reduced as the nutrients required for healthy development and growth are insufficient (The Food Show 2005).

Thirdly, the packaging of fast food is the main contributor to litter problems. Regarding to Family Journal (2005), litter jeopardizes the safety and health as well as tarnishes the image of our communities. When junk food is sold at the school canteen, there will be cans, crisp packets, cartons and plastic containers everywhere. As a result, there will be more time spending on cleaning the surroundings while less time can be allocated on maintenance projects that benefit the school (The Food Show 2005). Although the sale of low-cost production junk food generates bigger profits for school, the cleaning costs of litters on the other hand incur high cost as well.

In a nutshell, school which is responsible for the well-being of students should outlaw the sale of junk food as it contributes significantly to the behavioural, health and litter problems. Professor Reynolds postulates the prohibition of the sale of junk food as it will give young generation the perception that they can consume junk food whenever they like without any repercussions (Weekend News 2005). There is no better time than now to provide a supportive environment in school for nurturing good eating habits for students. Accordingly, junk food should be banned in school canteens.

p/s Welcome to give any comment on my essay . Thanks in advance ! ^.^

Final Version of Text Production Essay

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how can they be arrested?

In this era of urbanisation, advocates attribute the climate change to global warming. Global warming refers to the rising in global temperature due to the increase in greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide. According to the film, An inconvenient Truth (2007), the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased over 300ppm regardless the record in the past 650,000 years that remained below 300ppm. The projected concentration of carbon dioxide after 50 more years of unrestricted fossil fuel burning is even higher. Therefore, the potential effects of global warming should be cautiously scrutinized so that the appropriate solutions can be implemented to deter the impacts from deteriorating.

Global warming has the potential effect on the average and extreme temperature as well as precipitation. The rising of temperature due to global warming warms up the ocean and Earth. Consequently, the heated water occupies larger volume, causing the sea level rises. According to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), roughly 8 percent of ice in the Arctic has been reduced over the past 30 years. Melting glaciers in Antarctica are also contributing to the substantial rises in sea-level. Prediction proclaimed that Bangladesh or low-lying areas, including Florida, California, and Maldives Island might disappear underwater in the future (Woodford 2006). Besides, the film, An inconvenient Truth (2007) unfolded that ten hottest years have been occurred in the last 14years. The warmer oceans will intensify the storms, hurricanes, tornados and typhoons. Owing to the facts that global warming is not only increasing the precipitation worldwide but also relocating the precipitation, global warming paradoxically causes flooding and drought. Darfur and Niger are the nations that suffering from severe drought due to the desiccation of Lake Chad. Significantly, the erratic weather happens as a consequence of global warming should take into consideration.

With the happening of global warming, the ecological balance of the nature has been affected. Warmer temperatures have altered the growing season in parts of the globe. Flora and fauna that cannot migrate or withstand the rising temperature will be eventually in the brink of extinction. Invariably, the poorest people as part of the complex ecosystem who are incapable in fencing off the climate change are expected to be hit hardest. As tropical temperature zones expand, there will be the outbreak of infectious diseases like malaria. Intense droughts could also give rise to malnutrition. Fresh water will become scarcer as mountain glaciers disappear, particularly in Asia and parts of North America (Riebeek 2007). Chris Woodford (2006) predicted that climate change flooding could cause approximately 100-200 million people permanently homeless by 2100 and more people are expected to suffer serious water shortages thereafter. Subsequently, the ecosystem imbalance due to global warming causes the lives of organisms in chaos.

In order to arrest the intractable problems of global warming, feasible strategies should be adopted. Bob Carter (Nzone Tonight 2008) likens the climate change to the natural hazards that we can neither predict nor control but to adapt. An inconvenient Truth (2007) on the other hand convinced individuals partake in cutting down the emissions of carbon dioxide. The use of high efficient electric appliances, end-use efficiency and passenger vehicle efficiency that adds up to the transport efficiency, renewable technology as well as Carbon Capture and Sequestration are suggested. Besides, he emphasised that political will as part of the renewable sources can solve the issue of global warming.

As a whole, the indiscriminate development on Earth has been worsening the issue of global warming. The potential effects including rising sea-levels, horrendous natural catastrophe and the imbalance of ecosystem had brought detrimental impacts on the population on Earth. Hence, prompt actions should be spearheaded by the authorities with the cooperation of nations to ensure that these potential effects will come to a halt in the foreseeable future.