Scrap 'breast is best' slogan, say campaigners

Campaigners are calling on the government to drop the slogan ' breast is best'. They think that this slogan does not convince the new mums to breast feed their newborns. The Breastfeeding Network says that breastfeeding is a norm and not something called special. Research shows that breast milk helps reduce obesity. Lesley Backhouse, chair of health department breastfeeding network, says that it is important to communicate to new mums that breastfeeding is free and easy to feed a baby. Figures show that eight in ten women in England start off breastfeeding but only five continue breastfeeding their child up to six months. Breastfeeding is good for mothers and for babies.


Comment:
I think that the Breastfeeding Network is right. Breastfeeding is definitely a norm and not something special. Breastfeeding is the easiest and most natural way to feed a baby. Studies show that breastfeeding protects from obesity, allergies, asthma etc. so why spend your money on baby milk, if you can feed your child with breast milk, it is easy and free. I think that it is good that the Breastfeeding Network wants to convince the pregnant women and the new mums to breast-feed their babies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/10368037.stm

Different exams set for girls and boys.

Exam board wants to prepare two types of science GCSE. Studies have shown that girls are better in coursework and boys are better in the exams. Bill Alexander, the exam board's director of curriculum and assessment, told the Times Educational Supplement: "We could offer a route for boys that are very different to a route for girls. John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said it was "extremely dangerous" to get into gender stereotyping. He says that there are also enough boys that are interested in coursework as well. However, he suggested that their work should be marked by professional assessors.


The exam board has to reconsider this plan, because I think too that it is gender stereotyping. Not every girl is good at coursework and not every boy is good at exams. On the other hand, it shows that the exam board wants to improve the percentage of passing the GSCE. However, they have to ask the pupils as well and even the parents have their right to say something about it. The bigger problem is, in my opinion, how are they going to mark it. There is going to be different way of marking it between the girls and the boys.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jun/18/boys-girls-different-gcse-course

The secret to happiness - speak to your father

Studies have shown that children, who talk to their father regularly, are happier than children who do not. Young people who talk to their father about things that matter “most days” gave themselves 87 per cent on a happiness scale compared with 79 per cent of those who hardly ever speak to their dads. As academic research has shown that child’s well-being later in life depends on how the relationship is with their fathers. The investigation will go on in autumn for recommendations on how the obstacles to better child-father relationship will overcome.

Comment: I find this article very interesting, because it seems that the child-father relationship is very important for a child’s well-being later in life. I never thought that relationship between father and child is so important to have a happier life. I think it is more important for boys, because they see their father as a role-model and cannot talk about everything that matters to them with their mothers. The relationship with the father is important, but we have to not forget that the relationship between mother and child is important too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7835708/The-secret-to-happiness-speak-to-your-father.html

Home computers ‘harm children’s test results’

Studies have shown that PCs can lead to a decline in test scores amongst pupils. Using home computers, children get distracted and spend a lot of time socializing with friends than spending time for homework. Professor Jacob Vigdor said: “Adults may think of computer technology as a productivity tool, but the average kid doesn't share that perception.” Researchers compared the results of children before and after having a computer at home and the results showed that children who have home computers are getting worse at math and reading. The conclusions from last year are that technology disrupts education.

Comment: Nowadays, children are using computers all the time. I can see a point in that children are getting worse in math, because everything is now solved with a calculator. Computers are a distraction for the children. The average kid does not read that much anymore now technology has taken over. In my time, when technology was not used that much, children were reading books or playing outside to make fun, but nowadays children are sitting at home and spending time with their computers. I think that parents have a say in this, they have to make rules so that their kids would spend more time for homework instead of getting distracted by their computers.

Study to probe mobile health risk

The largest study untill this day on the safety of using mobile phones has been started by researchers in London. The research will engage 250.000 phone users in UK and five other different European countries. It is still not assured that mobile phones are the gate to a serious illness. This will take between 20 and 30 years of research and the aim is to provide definite answer. Researches say that those studies are to short to detect cancer or other illnesses. The study is calles Cosmos, the cohort study on mobile communications. The study is funded by the mobile telecommunications and the health research programme. One of the member is saying that they cannot rule out the possibility that mobile phones cause cancer, evidence say that this is not the case, but they want to be sure. Nowadays, phone users do not only use their phone for calling or texting, but surfing the web as well. Phone users in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands will be recruited as well.

I think that this is subject is very essential. Not everyone is aware of how mobile phones can play a crucial role in our health. I have heard this issue for years. The researches who are involved in this project are still not sure if phones cause cancer or other illnesses, so my question is, will they know it after 20 or 30 years? I find this topic important because the study is also going to be held in the Netherlands ass well and we all use mobile phones. But I still have a huge question mark, because if they say that evidence showed that mobile phones do not cause cancer, but why did this whole issue started? I think I have to search for why this project started.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8637466.stm

Former Angel Delight model jailed for doctor's murder

Two boys at the age of 20, have been jailed for life for murdering a doctor in a robbery in London Park. The man, Nadim Gulamhuseinwala, 32 years old, was attacked by a former model child and his friend on 25 july while he was walking home through Green Park.He was hit and stamped on his face and after that they took his money and used it for prostitues. Thomas Connor and William Paton, will serve minimum terms of 25 and 23 years respectively. The jury heard that the two boys had been drinking and taken cocaine in a bar that night. Conner took 90 pounds from a cash machine and was later robbed that night. “ This seems to have driven him into a towering rage,” said mr Andrew Adis QC. After the court, Nadim’s father said, “ we will remember him as a unique, loving son. Both the boys were given concurrent terms of 10 years’ detention for robbery apart from the serve minimum terms.

I find it very frustrating that boys at that age or oven girls are able to do these kinds of horrific things. It is shocking to hear that drugs or alcohol can drive you to a rage that you cannot control anymore. The decision of the court, in my opinion is perfect. They have to know and understand that this shocking action is unhumanly. Apart from this article, the youth nowadays, are getting used to criminalisation and becomes common. The world has to stay aware that these actions cannot be tolerated. We have to focus on how to prevend these criminal activities.