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026: Current News for Kids – 10

Sep 19, 2020

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Hi There! Here’s another episode with lots of interesting news from across the world. Listen to know more about How the Californian fires have still not died out. I’ve made a collection of environmental news and explained why the fires, declined bio diversity and climate changes are all linked. Part of this news continues to show how Samarrth Khanna grew a forest in Faridabad junction when he was just 16. Its something we could all do. I’ve even shared news on how the commonwealth Realm country, Barbados will stop having the Queen as their head of State by next year. Not to forget the news that grabbed attention of the world was fire that shattered the world’s largest migrant camp in Greece The episode ends with how a determined woman, Brazilian pro-surfer Maya Gabeira was declared a Guinness book record holder. Listen on to know more. Thanks, Siyona

Transcripts

EPISODE-026 CURRENT NEWS FOR KIDS-10

[0.01] {Background Music}

[0.09] Siyona: Good Morning everyone! It felt like so long since I spoke to you all. Welcome to my podcast, Little Mind Chats. Minds are little, not our thoughts. Today’s episode is the fortnightly news for us to know more about what’s happening across the whole world.

[0.26] Yeah. I’d like to give a quick update. Cases in United States, India and Brazil are still raising. Imagine it’s just the first wave in these countries. European countries are now bracing for the second wave. Belgium, Italy, France and the United Kingdom are witnessing a sudden rise in cases. These were among the worst affected European countries during the March-May period.

[0.57] Dozens of wildfires have been burning their way through parts of the US west coast over the last month killing more than 30 people and forcing tens of thousands from their homes. The fires were so huge, they burnt down nearly 6.7million acres. That’s really sad as it’s not just burning down but the air pollution that comes with it. The state Oregon, Washington and California are experiencing some of the unhealthiest air on the planet according to global air quality rankings. Pollution from wild fires contain soot and other fine particles dangerous to human health.

[1.48] Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. The Island nation of Barbados for remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and move towards complete sovereignty from Britain. 54 years since attaining independence from United Kingdom and becoming a commonwealth realm. This announcement was made by the governor general of Barbados Sandra Prunella Mason. Barbados is one out of 16 common wealth realms that have the queen as their head of state. The last country to remove the queen as it’s head of state was Mauritius in 1992.

[2.37] A common wealth realm is a sovereign state which has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. And Head of state is a position that is largely ceremonial. Meaning, Heads of state do not control any aspect of the government of a state. While the Queen holds the highest position, she executes her powers on the advice of elected ministers of the respective country.

[3.10]

Massive fires destroyed Europe’s largest migrant camp Moria on Greece’s Lesbos island. Firefighters are still trying to contain the flames at the refugee camp that houses at least 13,000 people, that’s more than six times its maximum capacity of 2,200 people. the fire might have been started by migrants protesting against coronavirus rules they say. The situation in the camp is dire, with people having to wait in queue up for almost a day for food and everyone including children sleeping in open air… Aww

[4.00] Why are some people called migrants? Migrants are people who leave their original country to a different place for better living conditions or jobs.

[4.11] Since 2011 about 5.6 million people have moved out of Syria to escape the war in that country. They cross the dangerous Mediterranean Sea to reach Turkey. And then, they make their way to Greece as that’s the first country to enter Europe. I think this news makes me realize how lucky we all are, to live in safe countries with parents always providing us such good quality of living… not to mention, more food than we can eat.

[4.54] We all know that our earth is in deep trouble because of global warming. The following news actually proves the effects. World could pass 1.5-degree warming threshold within five years: UN report.

[5.16] Previously, in 2018, according to the UN report, it was thought that the world was likely to hit 1.5 degrees sometime between 2030 and 2052. But the report just published anticipates this to happen by 2025. UN’s annual update on climate disruption highlighted the reasons as burning of coal, oil and gas. It also highlighted Record heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts continue to worsen, affecting communities, nations and economies around the world. This makes the Californian fires clearer to us!

[6.06] The other effect of Global warming, is that a huge chunk of Greenland’s ice cap broke off in the far north-eastern Arctic. A development that scientists say is evidence of rapid climate change. the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said on Monday that the broken chunk is roughly 80 kilometres (50 miles) long and 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide, That’s huge!

[6.35] So what if this Ice melts? The rapidly melting ice could hugely influence global climate slowing down major ocean circulation pathways, disrupting air temperatures around the world. So, would you think all this would spare the other species? Of course, NO.

[6.59] The Worldwide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2020 shows that global population of mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles have reduced by 68 percent over the last half of the century. The most affected were populations which live in the freshwater ecosystems, which have shown a decline of 84 percent. It makes me wonder, if our adults are really taking good care of our earth! Can we as children help make our environment any better? The next headline will answer this question.

[7.42] Samarth Khanna was 16 years old and studying in Class 11 at the Delhi Public School, Faridabad when he noticed the patch of land near the Lal Bahadur Shastri Chowk in Faridabad city near Delhi. He passed by it every day on the way to and from school and he saw how people were treating it like a garbage dump. Over time the land had become choked with polybags, packets and other rubbish.

[8.22] . Samarth and his friends started visiting the spot, on weekends to clear out the garbage. They managed to clear 4,000 kilograms of waste from this place. To heal the land, they initially took help of earthworms and bio-enzymes to loosen the soil and make it suitable for plants.

[8.53] The mini-forest is now home to many different plants and animals including 112 species of plants, 37 species of birds and 22 species of butterflies. WOW! That truly is inspiring.

[9.10] But let’s end this news episode with another inspiring news about how Grit in a human can make wonders happen.

[9.26] Most people would shudder at the idea of getting caught up in a 73.5-foot wave. But for Brazilian pro-surfer Maya Gabeira, it presented the perfect opportunity to break her 2018 world record for the largest wave surfed by a female. The athlete skilfully maneuvered the massive swell earlier this year, at the inaugural World Surf League (WSL) in Praia do Norte, Portugal.

[9.57] Though Gabeira completed the incredible feat on February 11, 2020, her record was not announced by the Guinness World Records until September 10, 2020

[10.09] Gabeira, has been surfing competitively since she was just 15, she suffered a devastating wipe-out in her first attempt in the world’s biggest waves in Nazare, Portugal, in 2013. She broke her ankle and almost drowned. However, the setback did not stop her from setting a legacy as one of the world’s greatest surfers!

[10.36] What determination! Would you say that’s inspiring enough to end this news episode? I definitely think so.

[10.46] Before we end this episode, I’d like to remind you one last time about our competition for this month. It’s to name your favourite space movie and explain why you liked it. Remember! The last day for your submission is 24th, the Thursday next week. I’m so looking forward to next week’s episode which will be the results week.

[11.09] Hope you enjoyed listening. Please do remember that this podcast is for children and please forward it to all children you come across. And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now on LinkedIn too!

[11.25] Thanks a Ton for listening… Bye…