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	• NEWS >> ATW Week of December 20, 2007 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of December 20th… I’m Teej Jenkins. Our top story this week Pakistan ends its state of emergency. TOP STORY – PAKISTAN 33 degrees, 42 minutes north latitude 73 degrees, 10 minutes east longitude Stating that Pakistan has been in “extreme danger” but that the situation has improved Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf called off the state of emergency he put in place six weeks ago, easing the crackdown that has angered opponents. Before lifting the state of emergency, however, Musharraf passed several measures ensuring that many of his recent actions could not be challenged in any court. The amendments were immediately criticized. Opponents claiming they are unconstitutional. Musharraf had been under increasing pressure to end emergency rule, both inside and outside his country. He has repeatedly said that next month’s parliamentary elections will ensure his country’s path to democracy. Opponents, however, say the lifting of the state of emergency does nothing to ensure fair and free elections. crackdown (n) An act or example of forceful regulation, repression, or restraint.ATW Fact Apollo 17 was the eleventh manned space mission in the NASA Apollo program. It was the first night launch and the sixth and final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program. INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… Bolivia drafts a new constitution Hamas celebrates its 20th anniversary And Turkish warplanes attack deep into northern Iraq. #2 - IRAQ 36 degrees, 20 minutes north latitude 43 degrees, 08 minutes east longitude Turkish warplanes targeting rebels from the Kurdish Workers’ Party or PKK staged the largest aerial attack against rebel forces in years. Some 50 planes flew as far as sixty miles into Northern Iraq to strike suspected rebel bases. The PKK has been seeking autonomy for the Kurdish minority in southeastern Turkey for sometime. In October, the Turkish parliament authorized the military to order cross-border operations against the group. Tens of thousands of troops are massed along the northern border of Iraq in response to rebel attacks. Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan, has suggested his country might stage further attacks on hideouts in Iraq. The United States and Iraq are urging Turkey not to undertake any major military operations. Autonomy (n) the condition of self-government, or the right of self-government; independence #3 - BOLIVIA 16 degrees, 30 minutes south latitude 68 degrees, 09 minutes west longitude Tens of thousands of government supporters took to the streets of La Paz to celebrate the drafting of a new constitution for Bolivia. President Evo Morales joined supporters saying the new constitution will help spread more of Bolivia’s natural resources and wealth to the poor. Much of Bolivia’s poor population is concentrated in its western highlands. Opponents from four eastern states gathered to protest the move and called for a declaration of greater independence. Leaders from Bolivia’s four eastern states claim the new constitution will weaken their authority and finances. The contrasting rallies, while mostly festive, highlight rising tensions in the Latin America country. The new charter goes to voters for approval next year. constitution (n) the document embodying the fundamental principles of a nation’s government. #4 ISRAEL 32 degrees, 04 minutes north latitude 34 degrees, 46 minutes east longitude Sending a message of strength the Palestinian militant group Hamas held a massive rally to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its founding. Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in Gaza City. A large turnout was seen as critical for Hamas as it struggles to keep Gaza up and running. Hamas seized control of Gaza last June and since has been virtually cut off from the rest of the world. Hamas was founded in 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian uprising against Israel. That conflict lasted from 1987 to 1993. In 2006, Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections. In response to their victory Israel and its western allies imposed numerous economic and diplomatic sanctions against the Palestinian government. turnout ~(n) the gathering of persons who come to an exhibition, party, spectacle, or the like. POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Pakistan we told you that President Musharraf lifted a state of…. 1. confusion 2. euphoria 3. emergency And the correct answer is number three, President Musharraf ended a six-week state of emergency in Pakistan. OLD CLUE # 1—LOCATION – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA Now its time for the answers to last week’s clues in the news. Find the location of our first clue and you get Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner took office last week to become Argentina's first elected female president. Ms. Fernandez is promising to continue the policies of her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner. Her first days in office were not without controversy. President Fernandez is denying charges that Venezuela tried to send her $800,000 in campaign funds. She says anyone who thinks a female is more easily influenced is mistaken. She did say she hopes to "deepen relations with all Latin American nations including Venezuela. OLD CLUE # 2— CLIMATE CHANGE Fill in the blanks of our next clue and you get Climate Change. Delegates at the U-N Climate Conference ended meetings with a framework for a new international agreement on global warming. Nearly 190 countries attended the conference. The agreement calls for both industrialized nations and developing nations to commit to measurable steps. The U-N will lead a two-year process to complete a binding international climate pact by 2009. OC #3 – WAR SPENDING Unscramble our next clue and you get War Spending. President Bush, in his weekly radio address, called for Congress to give him "real cash for the war”, not just a pledge to fund troops. The Senate passed a 2008 budget bill authorizing 696 billion in military spending. However, the bill does not send actual money to the Pentagon. President Bush said, "Time is running out...Congress must deliver vital funds for our troops." THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… December 19, 1732 Benjamin Franklin first publishes Poor Richard's Almanac. The book was published for the next 25 years becoming one of the most popular publications in colonial America, selling an average of 10,000 copies a year. CHECK IT OUT INTRO Watching what you eat is a good first step toward a healthy lifestyle… but making sure you stay physically active is important as well. Check it out. CHECK IT OUT (Narrator) What you eat and what you do are key factors to staying fit. Unhealthy foods are readily available and advances in technology, that in many cases help our society, often distract kids from healthy physical activities. (Dr. Cook) Technology has rapidly increased and people are using it and its changing us from an active style, lifestyles of leisure and play, being outside, being on sports, just playing in the neighborhood outside to going inside playing Game Boy or Xbox all day, for hours. (Narrator) This trend has removed much of the physical activity that should be in each kids routine. (Dr. Cook) When we talk about physical activity, the other end of the spectrum is sedentary behavior. So TV and TV based entertainment like watching videos and DVDs, definitely increases sedentary behavior in kids. It causes less calories to be expelled, you're not burning calories. (Narrator) Inactivity and poor eating habits can lead to obesity and make you feel weak or tired, but there are things you can do to make changes in your life, lose weight and feel good. Often the best way to begin a healthy lifestyle and break those bad habits is to take small steps and make little changes. (Dr. Cook) When we try to get people to think of small steps to change and specific ideas on where to improve, is definitely have breakfast. I mean skipping breakfast; people think well you know I didn't take those calories in, that’s a meal I'm not eating. (Narrator) And throughout the day avoid those sugary drinks and eat your fruits and vegetables… (Dr. Cook) If you can get small sustainable changes or small changes and sustain them, then you actually get a pattern of not weight loss but just slowing the rate of weight gain. (Narrator) The other piece of the puzzle is staying active, if you haven’t, don’t worry, its not too late. Start simple. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walk while talking on the phone with your friends. Before long you’ll be ready for more challenging activities. ISN’T IT COOL Scientists at Tokyo University in Japan have created a fearless mouse! Using genetic engineering, scientists successfully “switched off” the instinct to cower from the smell or presence of cats. They say that is proof that fear is genetic and not a learned experience, as commonly believed. . ISSUE In 2004 President Bush announced that the United State’s would once again go to the moon and, perhaps, in the very near future send a manned-mission to Mars. Supporters say humans are creatures of discovery and that by returning to outer space there is no end to the possibilities. Some even say we should explore building colonies… raising the possibility of someday living on the moon or other planets. Opponents, however, say it is too expensive to travel to the moon and beyond. They say there are many other things that need to be supported and that the money could be better spent. In addition, they say it will take years to travel to Mars and that no one would want to live on another planet anyway. Well, that got us to wondering what you think? “Would you like to live on another planet?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions MAILBAG We received almost six hundred responses to our issue question, “Should cell phones be banned in schools?” The majority of you, 78 percent, say no, cell phones should not be banned. 16 percent say yes, they are too distracting. 6 percent are undecided. Many of you feel cell phones are too distracting and should be banned. Jessica F. of Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin writes, “When you are texting… it is a distraction to your fellow classmates.” Erin C. of Woodbury, Minnesota adds, “… they can be used to cheat on important tests.” Alyssa C. of Crimora, Virginia agrees and writes, “… if you are cheating, you are not learning.” Stefano d. of Stevens Point, Wisconsin says there are health considerations. Stefano writes, “… recent studies show that cell phones may cause cancer.” The majority of you, however, say cell phones are not a problem. Berthalisia of Des Moines, Iowa thinks it should not be up to the schools to decide and writes, “It is the parent’s (choice) to let their kids have cell phones.” Rebecca S. of Kohler, Wisconsin feels cell phones are too important. Rebecca writes, “If there is a lockdown or emergency… they should use their cell phone to call the police.” Lacey K. of Fairfield, Virginia adds, “I feel a little safer knowing I have a cell phone close at hand.” Many of you feel cell phone use just needs to be managed. Jason E. of Fairport, New York writes, “… cell phones should only be banned from classrooms.” And Jayda B. of Lake View, Iowa adds, “They should be kept in their lockers.” We look forward to your responses to our two latest questions: ” Who is your Newsmaker of the Year? And “Would you like to live on another planet?” If you would like to receive an Assignment: The World Press card, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may write to us here at Assignment: The World, Post Office Box three-zero-zero-twenty-one, Rochester, New York… one-4-6-zero-3… or you may contact us at the A-T-W website at http://atwonline.org. We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org POP QUIZ #2 In our story about the demonstrations in Gaza City, we told you Hamas was celebrating their … 1. Independence 2. Anniversary 3. Confirmation And the correct answer is number two, Hamas celebrated their 20th anniversary of their creation. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 41 degrees, 20 minutes north latitude 69 degrees, 18 minutes east longitude Our second clue is a fill in the blank…it is two words. First word F blank blank T blank A blank L Second word C blank A blank P blank And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter clue… it is two words. First word A O I W Second Word A C S U U C These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming weeks. You can find the answers on radio and television newscasts and in newspapers and newsmagazines. We’ll reveal the answers on next week’s show. Good luck! GOOD-BYE And that’s it for this week’s show. We will be off the next two weeks for the holidays… ATW will return the week of January 10th. For all of us here at Assignment: The World, I’m Teej Jenkins wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season. We’ll see you again next year! © 2007 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.