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, 

How a character has changed due to certain events that have taken place in his/her life.

                              Based on the novel Step by Wicked step authored by Anne fine, the character that i feel has changed due to certain events that have taken place in the character's life and that character is Colin. Colin loved his stepfather deeply and he cherished his love very much that when he had to move out with his mother, he started to change.
   
                             First and foremost, Colin changed into a very unhappy and lonely boy because he had to join a new school when his mother moved out of their home with him. He had to go through unpleasant experiences because it is very hard for him to make new friends. the children in that school had friends of their own. Thus, he got ignored by his schoolmates. Besides that, his mother had no time to listen to his problems because she's busy with her new job at the canteen and with her household chores. This causes him to miss his stepfather terribly.

                            Secondly, Colin becomes a dreamy boy which causes him to have less focus in class and he did badly in school. the main reason for this was simply because he missed his stepfather very much. Every night, he would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow and pretend like his stepfather was there to listen to his problems. He would then hum their favourite song and stay awake for hours talking to his dad.

                           Thirdly, Colin becomes resourceful. Even though it has been 5 years, 8 months & 7 days since he was separated from his dad but Colin secretly writes his stepfather's name his old address on the forms at school. Furthermore,  he tries to save money to search for his dad when he is older.

                           In conclusion, Colin couldn't adapt well to the changes in his life. He became a sad, sensitve and moody person. This caused him to make a bold decision to search for his stepfather. His love andlonging for his dad motivated him to become optimistic in his search for his dad.

Love is important in a family

Based on the novel step by wicked step by Anne Fine that i have studied, I have learnt that Love is important in a family. Love is needed to bring a family together in a few stories. For example, Claudia, unable to stand the treatment Stella was getting, made a grand appearance at the party and thanked Stella for the beautiful pyjamas she had brought for her. Finally, everyone started noticing Stella. As for Claudia and Stella, this was the starting point.Stella would teach Claudia how to quilt, read maps, change electric plugs and how to skate. This shows that love was important to bring Claudia and her stepmother together despite their differences.
In Robbo’s story, Robbo’s parents broke off when he was six. Whenever his dad visits them, the adults end up in arguments. Finally, his dad stopped his visits. Robbo and Callie had to visit his house which was cold and horrible. Callie hated her stepfather Roy whom she called the Beard. He started to interfere with a lot of things. However, unlike Richard who ran away from his family, Callie tried something different in order to make things work at home. Ralph also mentioned that everyone in their group had tried their best to solve their family problems. Out of love for her family, she did not want anymore family problems and decided to work things out.

Lastly, Pixie’s Dad promised her that she would have a own room but Hetty and Sophie had a terrible quarrel and was decided that Hetty moves out of her sister’s room into Pixie’s room.  Pixie hated Hetty and her habbits. Often, Pixie would tell Hetty Ghost stories so thtat Hetty would get out of her room.  Next, Pixie tried the silent treatment to get Hetty out of her room. Pixie had expected Hetty to go back to Sophie’s room but Hetty went to her mother and told her what was going on. Lucy, her stepmother came to her room and talked to her. They argued  but in the end , each one of them poured their hearts out.  They let their feelings out and hugged each other. Love indeed brought pixie, her stepsisters and her stepmother together.

National Service

It is generally agreed today that national service is compulsory for each SPM leaver. National service was first started around the year of 2004 and ended in the year of 2015. SPM leavers are randomly selected to enter the national service. As directed by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia,it is compulsory for each selected youth to participate in this program. Actions will be taken if they do not participate in it. I personally agreed that compulsory national service is good for the youth. One must admit that national service can bring so much benefits for them.

Firstly, one of the advantage of national service is helps in character building. The module that used implemented to build the effective characters for trainees that include self, family, community and country. The activities encourage trainees to work together this will actualize team spirit for trainees. The module involve in challenging activities such as shooting, extreme activities like abseiling, jungle trekking and etc. At the same time, the activities will instills a spirit of determination. Beside that, National Service involves students in community project like ‘gotong-royong’, visit old folks and so much more. So, activities which involve a good value like cooperation, determination, love, and strength will led trainee to build a good character.

Secondly,  National Service helps to develop leadership skills. Developing leadership skills means being exposed to the concept and principles of leadership along with learning effective leadership strategies or how to convert leadership resources into productive assets. The motivational speakers that highlight the development of leadership skills. The module which involve group activities will train them to be leaders. National Service encourage them into group competition. This can instills value and skils necessary for leadership.