Emily's Newspaper

Liberia Troubles

    In a war stricken country of Liberia, Kofi Annan seems like a lifesaver. Trying to help this country, he is trying to help Liberia to survive in times of war. Annan spoke at one of the U.N's private meetings and asked for almost $500 million for this cause. Sadly the UN is only considering $200 million to help. Annan was saying that Liberia would automatically need $100 million to help the citizens.

     The good news is Liberia is slowly, very slowly pulling itself together, or at least has become a more peaceful place. This happened when the former president Charles Taylor stepped down in August in 2003. but Liberia will still need lots of help. Only 3 million has been donated, and there are many important issues to cover. To name a couple there is the problem that only 38.3% of the population at 15 or older can read and write. Also 80% of the population is in poverty.

     If the right amount of money is not given to help there is an even greater chance of the country to come back into war, have problems with the food supply, and a lot of sickness. "It will be hard if not impossible for Liberians to start rebuilding their country, while large groups of war victims still are lacking the most basic necessities of life" Annan said.

     What do you think the U.S. could do to help Liberia?

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

    Happy Chinese New Year!!! The year of the monkey!!! Good luck all you little monkeys out there!!! Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of traditions. Customs that the Chinese follow on New Year are said to bring luck and happiness to the New Year and all the people. Chinese children are given special treats on New Year's. Red envelopes of lucky money called lai see are given to them by friends and relatives. They are encouraged to eat many cookies, oranges, and orange-flavored dishes to get ready for the sweetness of the New Year.
(I myself are shocked that the parents actually encourage them to do so!!! ^-^) Also did you know that in China, on New Years Day everything red is lucky?

What Chinese year were you born in? What abilities are told for you in the sign?

 

Come One Come All?

     On the thirteenth of January, President Bush gave mention of a new program that will allow immigrants to be able to work here for a max of 3 years without being an American citizen. But do you think that what happened in the 1800s might happen again because of this? In the 1800s there were thousands of immigrants coming in America weekly. There was not enough room for many people to work or live.

President Bush said, "If an American employer is offering a job that American citizens are not willing to take, we ought to welcome into our country who will take this job." (And no, all children can not hire someone who is an immigrant to take out the trash). Besides that, he also told about the 4 principles.

        America must control their borders to keep criminals out.

New immigration laws should serve the economic needs of our country.

We should not give unfair rewards to illegal immigrants in the citizenship process or disadvantage those who came here lawfully.

New laws should provide incentives for temporary, foreign workers to return permanently to their homelands after that period of time.

After their time is over, they could either choose to stay and become an American citizen, or leave to their own country.

Critics of this plan think that the plan will confuse the current immigration system instead of helping to organize it.

What do you think?

Saddam Hussain Captured

 

Saddam Hussain Captured

On the 11^{th, all the headlines said "We Got Him!" The Him, Saddam Hussein was found in a spider hole on a farm in Tikrit. US soldiers found him in the basement of a man's home. When soldiers found the hole and tried to get a soldier to check what was in the hole, he couldn't get in it. Once the soldiers found out it was Saddam Hussein in that hole, they really wanted to throw a hand grenade in the hole. Once captured, and taken to the US base, he was checked for parasites and cleaned up. The reason medical staff checked him for parasites was because he was living in a hole for months. After one final DNA check, he was sent to Baghdad, where he will stay. What do you think we should do to him? My teacher suggested they send him out on the streets of New York. What do you think his punishment should be?}