Cigarettes

One of the most common problems today that are killing people, all over the world, is smoking. Many people start this horrible habit because of stress, personal issues and high blood pressure. Some people began showing off or some people wanted to enjoy it . One cigarette can result in smoking others, which can lead to major addiction. When someone smokes a cigarette they are not only hurting themselves, but others around them. Smoking does many horrible things to the human body that most people are not aware of. Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dirham’s a year. So, why people are still smoking? The answer is obviously, addiction. Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. There are several effects and causes of smoking; 
First of all, teenagers smoke because they want to be fit,. Teens see their friends smoke and they think it makes them look cool or independent plus them. Feel no tension plus worries. The first cause of smoking which is Nicotine is an addictive and harmful substance contained in cigarettes. It reduces tension and it is also believed that it can have a calming effect on people who are anxious and worried. Although, people smoke when they are depressed, lonely or bored and it helps them to reduce the stress. Second main cause of smoking is “psychological” (MENTAL) which seems to be a very important factor for people to get the habit. In many cases, smoking is started at a young age due to high blood pressure, tobacco. 

Many people who start smoking have a family member or close friend who smokes. Smoking is like a slow death. There are various examples of smoking. Smoking leads to lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, asthma and wide variety of other diseases. Smokers experience more coughs and colds as compared to non- smokers. Besides affecting oneself, it also has a negative impact on others around smokers which is also known as second hand smoking. Also any pregnant women who are exposed to cigarettes smoke will have an increased risk of having abnormal baby. Did you ever wonder what's in the cigarette that millions of people love to smoke every day? Well, there are over 4000 toxic substances in a cigarette. Some of these are: Arsenic (found in rat poisons), Acetic acid (found in hair dye developer), Ammonia (found in household cleaners), Benzene (found in rubber cement), Butane (found in lighter fluid), Carbon Monoxide (found in car fumes), Hydrazine and Methanol (both found in rocket fuel), Tar (found in roads).

Independence Day

The Independence Day is an annual celebration by the whole world but Malaysian names it as a Merdeka Day. All countries honour their respective independence day, celebrating it as a national holiday. Thus, on the 31 August every year, it is marked as the Malaysian Independence Day. However, there are lot differences of celebrating the Independence Day on 31 August and today in terms of spirit and technology.

On 31st of August every year, we as Malaysians celebrate the National Day. A lot of people enjoy celebrating the National Day. We enjoy singing the National Songs, decorating our classroom, watching the countdown concert, counting down the time to midnight and watching the parade on National Day. But when we do all those things, do we feel anything or we just celebrate National Day without understanding or feeling anything?? Don’t you at least feel proud being a Malaysian?? At least, we should appreciate  living here in Malaysia. There are a lot of reasons why we should.

We have to remember that everything we have is given to us by God. We should appreciate even the smallest thing that God gave us. Having good health, a happy family, and a peaceful environment. All this things we have to appreciate because God can take it back from us anytime. We should never take for granted of anything that God has given to us. When we learn to appreciate things, we will live happier because we realize that the world is not a bad place after all.

There are varieties of food in Malaysia. The Malay traditional food are very sweet. For example, the layer cake is made of sugar, flour and other ingredients. The Chinese like to eat herbal soup, mixed vegetables, steamed fish with extra ginger and soy sauce. The Indians like spicy food such as tandoori chicken and the vegetable dalca, which blends well with briyani rice and lentil soup.I love my country so much. I am proud to be a Malaysian.

Endangered animals in Malaysia

Tapir

Tapir is a pig-like animal with a short snout. They inhabit the forest regions of South America, Central America and South East Asia. Their closest relatives are the horses and rhinoceroses, and all 4 species have been classified as endangered. In Malaysia, only 1 of the 4 species of tapir exists – the Malayan Tapir. Tapir mainly survive on the forest’s resources such as berries, leaves and fruits. They have not many natural predators in the forest thanks to their thick skin and ability to run fast. As for Malayan Tapir, its strange body colour is often misunderstood as a large rock when lying down. This serves as a good camourflage for the creature. However, their numbers are fast declining due to their habitat loss (establishment of plantations, forest burning and logging), and the hunt for their meat and hide.

Estimated number left in Malaysia (Malayan Tapir) = about 369

Mouse Deer

Mouse Deer or better known as Sang Kancil in one of Malaysia’s folklores, is a small creature about 70 centimeters long, 30-35 centimeters tall (shoulder), and around 5-8 kilograms in weight. That’s the estimated size of the Greater Mouse Deer while the Lesser Mouse Deer species is estimated to weight around 2 kilograms. Mouse deers can only be found in Malaysia, Borneo and parts of Indonesia. They survive mostly on fruits and leaves. They are also believed to be nocturnal creatures.

Estimated number left in the world = No population estimate has been made, but has been classified as Endangered

Orangutan

There are basically 2 species of Orangutan – the critically endangered Sumatran species and also the endangered Bornean species. Both these species could only be found in the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The name Orangutan is actually derived from the Malay language Orang Hutan which means “forest man”, due to the similarity between the Orangutans’ behavior and those of the human beings.

Orangutans are very intelligent creatures, said to be the smartest creature on Earth after human. However, their numbers have been on a decline in the past few decades due to active logging activities and forest fires.

Estimated number left in the world (Sumatran species) = about 7000

Estimated number left in the world (Bornean species) = about 45000 – 69000

There are few other unique looking shrews which have already been classified as extinct due to their habitats being destroyed by human beings. I think it’s time for us to take up a more active role in helping these defenceless animals before more of them become extinct. 

Gold

Money does not grow on trees. But gold does, at least according to a group of scientists who have confirmed the presence of the mineral in the leaves of some plants.

Australia based researchers found the gold particles hidden within eucalyptus tree foliage, indicating that gold deposits may also be buried many metres below.

The grains growing within the leaves are approximately one fifth the diameter of a human hair, making the discovery unlikely to start a gold rush. However,  it can provide a unique opportunity for mineral exploration.

Geochemists from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRPO) said eucalyptus trees in western Australia are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it their leaves and branches.

Although the amounts found were tiny, their presence could indicate gold ore deposits buried up to tens of metres underground and under sediments that are up to 60 million years old.

Lead author of the study, Dr Mel Lintern, said the team used CSIRO's Maia detector, a machine that uses x-rays to probe matter in great detail, to search for gold deposits. They were able to produce images of gold found in the leaves, bark and twigs of some of the trees.

Their research, published in the journal Nature Communications,suggested plants were absorbing gold particles found around the soils of eucalyptus trees, Dr Lintern explained. 

Poverty

Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not being able to go to school, not knowing how to read, not being able to speak properly. Poverty is not having a job, fear for the future and living one day at a time. Poverty is loosing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of freedom

Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most often poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action - for the poor and the wealthy alike - a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and protection from violence. 

Unfortunately, poverty is often an invisible problem. The voices of the poor are seldom heard. And what makes me feel like writing about poverty is the unwillingness of our society to deal with this preventable problem and how politicians who rule the country pretend that poverty is simply a given human existence - a force of nature - unstoppable and eternal.

In fact what makes a good life? Material and physical well-being, security, freedom of choice and action - the very things that bring joy to human existence, all make a good life. It is living healthy and peaceful lives in love with no hunger; no worrying about the future of children that brings the principal pleasures of everyday life.

Tragedy of the golden daugther

For a while, Jennifer Pan’s parents regarded her as their “golden” child.

The young Canadian woman, who lived in the city of Markham just north of Toronto, was a straight A student at a Catholic school who won scholarships and early acceptance to college. True to her father’s wishes, she graduated from the University of Toronto’s prestigious pharmacology program

Pan’s accomplishments used to make her mother and father, Bich Ha and Huei Hann Pan, brim with pride. After all, they had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, working as laborers for an auto parts manufacturer so their two kids could have the bright future that they couldn’t attain for themselves.

But in Pan’s case, that perfect fate was all an elaborate lie. She failed to graduate from high school, let alone the University of Toronto, as she had told her parents. Her trial, for plotting with hit men to kill her parents, ended in January, and she’s serving a long sentence. But the full story of this troubled young woman is just now being told as a complete and powerful narrative by someone who knew her and indeed, it’s searing. She pretended to be transferring to the University of Toronto and indeed, to be graduating from it, telling her parents when it came time for the graduation ceremony that there weren’t enough tickets to go around and they would not be able to attend. Ultimately, Ho wrote, Pan’s parents finally got suspicious, began tailing her and learned the truth. After they found out the truth, they became more strict towards her and she couldn't handle it. So she hired Hitman to kill her parents. Her father was badly injured but unfortunately her mother passed away.

Comparing two characters

                    I chose the novel Step By Wicked Step authored by Anne Fine. I am going to compare and contrrast two characters from the novel namely Richard and Collin. There are similarities and differences between them which can be showed throughout the story.


                   First of all, Richard and Collin share similar fate where both of them missed their fathers dearly. Richard's father passed away due to a sickness. Where as, Collin and his mother moved out from their home with his father's knowledge. Richard said somtimes he sits beside his father's graveand run his fingers over the letters of his father's name cut deep in stone. While Richard had no way to contact his father anymore, Collin is still in the search for his father. Collin frequently asks his mother 'When's dad coming ?' 'When will he be here ?' 'Will he be here for my birthday ?'


                Secondly, Richard and Collin were ignored by their mothers. They did not get enough tender loving care from their mothers. Richard felt that his mother, Lilith, ignored him when she married Mr. Coldstone despite his obvious dissatisfaction for Mr Coldstone. His mother turned a blind eye when Mr. Coldstone's treated him badly and brushed it off saying everything he does is for your own good. All his mother did was to lower her eyes. As for Collin, his mother was not aware of how much he missed his stepfather because she is too occupied working at the canteen and doing household chores. I think Mum thinks that I've forgotten him.

               Thirdly, Richard and Collin wanted to run away to make things work. They could only think of running away as the best option to solve all their problems. Richard ran away from home with the hope that he could make life more pleasant for everyone. Without me, the three of them would get on well enough. Collin however, was planning to run away to find his stepfather. Both of them have their differences as Richard realized that running away does not solve any problems. Collin, on the other hand, was still bent on the idea to search for his stepfather. He even does three paper rounds in an effort to accumulate more money for the search.

           

              In the nutshell, it is shown that both of the characters namely Richard and Collin had suffered much pain and sorrow. No one cared how they felt and running away is not the best solution in fact, it can affect the people around. Therefore, we need to think wisely before making a serious decision in life,