NEWS 101; Current affairs; The news is packed with topics and phrases

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Nov 7, 2004

The United Nations What's going on?

In the lead up to the Iraq war last year the United Nations was mentioned as many times as Iraq itself. The world cares what the United Nation thinks because it is the only organisation that can claim to represent the world. The United Nations was established in the wake of the second world war in 1945, to maintain international peace and encourage countries to co-operate in everything from security to trade. Almost every country is a member, with 191 on board at the last count. The headquarters is in New York. Kofi Annan is the Secretary General, essentially the United Nations boss.

What's happening now?

The United Nations has come under criticism recently. The fact that the US-led war in Iraq happened at all, against the wishes of the UN, showed how ineffective it can be. It has also been criticised for not preventing mass killings and genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s. It's role within the world is constantly being questioned, but it is still a respected organisation. One of the reasons why the Iraq war was so controversial was because the UN did not support it.

Why should I care?

The United Nations is a place where all countries, even those at war with each other, can come together and talk. In a post September 11 world this is becoming more important than ever.

GM food What's going on?

Genetically modified (GM) food is things like fruit, vegetables and meat whose genetic make up (life's building blocks) have been altered by scientists to either withstand disease, increase their vitamin content, or produce more crops. There is an argument that GM foods will increase food production and help feed the world's growing population.

What's happening now?

Are they safe? That's the main question organisations like Greenpeace are asking. They feel that GM foods and crops are potentially dangerous to the environment and to whoever eats them because their true impact is unknown. There is also an ethical debate over whether we should be altering any organisms' genes at all. The government has allowed some GM crops to be grown in the UK and more could be on the way.

Why should I care?

You need to eat, and in the future who knows where your food will come from?

HIV/aids What's going on?

There is huge confusion about the difference between HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system; Aids is the disease that results from HIV as the immune system is destroyed and if your immune system is gone, you are open to any disease. People can suffer from HIV and live, but if Aids develops, it is fatal. There are over 55 million people infected with HIV in the world, 30% of whom live in southern Africa. HIV is transmitted via the exchange of bodily fluids, by sex or blood transfusion. You cannot catch it by holding hands or kissing.

What's happening now?

Last year alone around 40 million people were infected with Aids. Parts of Africa have been ravaged, like Botswana where 35.8% of the adult working population is infected.

Why should I care?

There is no cure as yet for either HIV or Aids. It is a plague on a global scale.

Downloading musicWhat's going on?

In the late 1990s, sharing music files for free over the internet began with Napster. The record companies didn't take too kindly to their products being given away for free. Napster was down, but hundreds of similar websites were created in its wake, both legal (iTunes) and illegal (WinMX). While some bands are in favour of free downloads, people like Pete Waterman claim that as well as being illegal, sharing illegal music files means record companies have less money to sign new bands.

What's happening now?

While you are reading this there are 700 million illegal music files being shared online, and authorities are starting to crack down on illegal downloaders. Last month, 28 individuals were charged in the UK.

Why should I care?

You could be sued by a huge record company for downloading the new Green Day album for free.

Pensions Crisis What's going on?

People are living longer. By 2050 the average lifespan of healthy adults is expected have reached 100 years. A weak stock market since 2000 has slashed the amount of money available for pension schemes so when people retire there will be less cash for them to live on.

What's happening now?

The main proposals are to raise the age at which people retire to 70 or more - it is currently 65 - or else to make saving into a pension compulsory. The government has launched a commission to find solutions to the crisis.

Why should I care?

If no solution is found, you will probably find yourself having to scrape by on a pittance after you retire, even if you've been stashing money into a pension scheme throughout your working life. You will also have to pay higher taxes during your working life in order to pay for the ever increasing numbers of longer-living pensioners.

fresh cuts - Around the world, approximately 35 million hectares, an area one and a half times the size of Britain, is producing commercial crops of genetically modified plants, mainly in the US, Canada and China - Three million people died from Aids in 2002, that's more than 8000 a day - On September 1, 2004, Radio 1 began the UK's first ever download chart to keep a track on the musical revolution. Westlife was the first act to be its number one - In 2002, there were 10.9 million pensioners in the UK but by 2031 the figure will have almost trebled, with around 15 million elderly people living in the United Kingdom