BtN: Episode 35 Transcript 27/11/12
On this week's Behind the News
· Rising temperatures but what difference would an extra four degrees make to the planet?
· We meet a young refugee who now calls Australia his home.
· And we head to the bright lights of Bollywood.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to the last episode of BtN for 2012.
Also on the show today, we'll look back at some of the big stories we've brought you this year. But first:
Gaza
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: Last week you might have heard a lot in the news about two places called Israel and the Gaza Strip or Gaza for short. For more than a week they fired rockets at each other and many people were killed. So what was the fighting all about? And why did it take so long to stop it? Here's Sarah.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: They were the first happy scenes we'd seen from Gaza in more than a week.
And they followed news many people had been hoping for; a ceasefire.
The leaders of Israel and Gaza agreed to stop firing rockets at each other and end the violence that had killed more than 160 people.
REPORTER: So why were they fighting? Well, answering that isn't easy, and people with different points of view will tell the story differently.
Israel is here in the Middle East, and this is Gaza. It's not technically a separate country but the people who live there call themselves Palestinians and they have their own government.
Militants in Gaza had been firing hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities so two weeks ago Israel killed the man in Gaza who they said was leading the attacks.
He led the military wing of a group called Hamas, which is in charge of Gaza.
That sparked a series of rocket attacks from both sides which have killed many people. Hamas has fired rockets which have reached Israel's main cities; Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
And Israeli rockets have killed more than 160 in Gaza, including many innocent people.
REPORTER: It's not the first time we've seen fighting like this in Gaza. In fact, it's just one episode in a conflict that's been going on longer than most of you have been alive. Let's go back to that map:
It didn't always look like this.
Before 1948 there was no Israel. The area was known as Palestine and it was ruled by Britain.
The people who lived there were from different ethnic groups and while the majority were Muslim there were also Christians and Jews and other religions.
In other parts of the world Jewish people were being treated really badly and when the Nazis came to power in Germany thousands fled to Palestine.
Some of them wanted to set up their own Jewish country there, in home of their ancestors and a place that they believed was promised to them by God.
But it was also sacred to Muslims and Christians and some already living in Palestine were worried about losing their land and there was some fighting.
So the United Nations came up with a solution.
They wanted to split Palestine into two separate countries, one Arab and one Jewish.
The Jewish leaders said yes and created the state of Israel. But the Arab leaders didn't accept the plan and a war broke out.
Israel won that war and others that followed and claimed the area we know as present day Israel.
Many Palestinians left their homes in Israel and became refugees in Gaza and the West Bank.
Many who live there still feel like they were forced off their land and over the years there's been a lot of bloodshed on both sides.
But there have also been steps forward. In the 90’s the Palestinians got their own government and some land back and started talking to Israel about ways to find a lasting peace.
Sadly, it didn't last and every now and then violence breaks out between Israelis and Palestinians.
Many Palestinians believe they're being treated unfairly and Israel says Hamas want to destroy it, so finding a solution is hard.
But, of course, not everyone agrees. On both sides there are many people who just want peace.
And around the world people are watching waiting and hoping that this time it lasts.
PRESENTER: Let's see what else is making the news. Here's Sophia with the Wire.
The Wire
The NAPLAN national school tests have been criticised for putting too much pressure on teachers and students.
A survey of teachers revealed many believe the tests are stressing kids out while also putting pressure on teachers to make sure their students do well.
Subjects like art, music and languages were also said to be suffering because of the time it takes to prepare for the exams.
But the government has defended the tests, saying they're meant to show which schools need extra help.
*****
No hat, no play or slip slop slap.
They are the sun safety messages we've all heard.
But now, research has shown that we've taken notice of them too.
Rates of childhood melanoma, a type of skin cancer, have halved over the last 15 years.
Overseas, the rates are rising, so experts think it's those little rhymes and the education campaigns that went with them that might have made the difference.
Climate Change
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: Some people are predicting that in the next hundred years temperatures will rise by 4 degrees. That might not sound like much but according to a new report the consequences could be really serious. Let's take a look.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: How do you imagine the world will look in 100 years time?
Something like Wall-E? Or maybe Tron?
Well either of those predictions could always end up to be true.
Although it's probably not likely.
But recently the World Bank, an international aid group, said they have a prediction of their own.
And it's got nothing to do with cute robots. It's all about temperature.
Their prediction is that by 2100, the world will have warmed by 4 degrees.
NATHAN: Wait up, 4 degrees is nothing! Yesterday was 4 degrees warmer than today for example, but it doesn't even feel that much different! So how could 4 degrees possibly have much effect on our planet?
Well our earth is a really delicate place. All of our weather patterns, ice caps and water systems are finely balanced.
Even one degree could cause things to change. And four degrees could change everything.
Here are 4 ways the World Bank says that 4 degrees would make a difference.
1. Ocean Changes
Under the water here at the Great Barrier Reef, life looks pretty spectacular.
But if the world warms four degrees over the next century, it could look very different.
Coral is really sensitive to changes in water temperature.
A couple of degrees rise can stop their growth, a couple more degrees can start to destroy them.
So 4 degrees could spell disaster for many reefs around the world.
2. Heat Extremes
During a heatwave, things already feel pretty hot. You might think 4 degrees extra wouldn't make much difference.
But the temp rises wouldn't spread out evenly across the globe.
If you're living in these areas in 2100, then your temps might rise by up to 9 degrees.
And considering many of those areas are already pretty hot now, your air con might struggle.
3. Food Shortages
We all like a good feed, but with 4 degrees extra on the temperature gauge, food could be a problem.
Some crops die if conditions are too hot.
And with extra heat around, some water sources are likely to evaporate too, making it a double whammy.
So we could see more drought and even tougher conditions for farmers.
4. Rising Sea Levels
Finally, we have the most dramatic change of all - rising sea levels.
With extra heat around, the immense amount of ice around the polar caps will start to melt, dumping billions and billions of litres into the sea.
Low lying island nations, like Kiribati in the Pacific, are already facing big problems with rising sea levels.
These people's homes aren't far from going under the waves forever.
But by 2100, if the predictions are correct, all of these areas could follow suit, including some parts of Australia.
That's why the World Bank is calling for all countries to work together to fight climate change now.
Because it'll require a big effort from everyone to reduce pollution and stop the 4 degrees before it happens.
Quiz 1
OK, on the subject of the environment, let's have a quiz.
The question is: Which of the following is not a source of renewable energy?
Wind power
Fossil fuels
Geothermal power
Answer: Fossil fuels
Young Refugee
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: Renewable energy is power from things like sunlight and wind. We hear a lot about asylum seekers travelling to Australia by boat and the politicians trying to protect our borders. But on those boats are real people with individual stories of struggle and survival. We met up with a kid who made the journey on his own and is finally settling in Australia. Here's Tash.
NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: It's a normal school day for Bashir. He's like any other 16 year old, laughing and having fun with his mates between lessons. But life hasn't always been like this.
Bashir is from Afghanistan, a country in central Asia. He's the oldest of four brothers, who were left orphaned after their dad died in a car accident and they lost their mum to illness. For many years now, a war has been going on in their country and some people have fled Afghanistan in search of a better and safer life.
BASHIR: When I left Afghanistan I was 14 years old. It was because of the Taliban. Every day is fighting and everyday is no education, lack of education, the people is killing each other.
He made the tough decision to go on a dangerous journey to Australia, while his uncle took care of his brothers. He travelled by car from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Then to Malaysia, Indonesia and across to Christmas Island, where the boat he was on was intercepted by the Australian Navy.
BASHIR: That was absolutely horrible. For 7 days and 7 nights we didn't have any water. We didn't have any food to eat, nothing. Because the smuggler promised us, everything is on the boat.
Bashir stayed at a detention centre on Christmas Island, where he tried to learn as much English as possible.
BASHIR: When I arrived to Christmas Island, I found a friend. He can speak English a little bit. So I took his dictionary, then after that I read the words and then I remember the words. It's like a daily 15 words or 20 words I remember every day.
After 7 months, he was allowed to move to mainland Australia. He now goes to school, where he attends English classes like this. Bashir's best friend is Mohsen. They met at Christmas Island and they now live together.
MOHSEN: He is alone and I am alone so he and me became a family here. We have nobody else here to talk with, to sit with. Me and Bashir live together, come to school together, go home together, all our activity together.
But there's still one thing missing in his life.
BASHIR: So the only thing sometimes I can't concentrate properly and sometimes worry about my brothers. I wish they come to here soon so they can study. I'm waiting still I'm waiting for the result what the government will say, yes or no.
Bashir is one of thousands of young people, who've made the dangerous journey by boat to Australia looking for a better life.
BASHIR: I feel I belong to Australia, I don't belong to Afghanistan or I don't belong to some other country. So that's why I'm always feeling I'm always proud of myself. Bashir, you took that dangerous journey, but you will make a better life here because this is your own country.
PRESENTER: Good luck to him.
Bollywood
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: A few weeks ago we told you how the government was trying to encourage kids to learn an Asian language. But part of that plan was to teach kids about Asian cultures too. Sarah met some Aussie kids who are getting involved in an Indian tradition that's bigger than you might think.
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: It's colourful, it's fast and it's fun. Ask these guys and they'll tell you Bollywood dance is the sort thing any kid would enjoy.
KID: It's just fun it inspires us to be free.
KID: You can express your feelings and you do lots of grooves and you feel much better, I do.
KIDS: It's colourful, the costumes, the music I think is amazing compared to normal music that we listen to every day.
Bollywood blends lots of different types of dance together, from jazz and hip hop to traditional dances from all around India.
KID: I know that our Goddesses they do do it and it's been a tradition from the ancient times of doing it and then we get taught to do it.
KIDS: It's really graceful. It can be graceful, hip-hop style, contemporary, jazzy all different type of dances can be put together and that is Bollywood
While to some Aussie kids it might seem a little unusual, in India it's a different story.
Singing and dancing is a massive part of Bollywood films. It's used to help tell the story, to show characters falling in love, or just because dancing is fun!
KID: It's another way to connect the audience and it's also there to make the movie a bit more happy and stuff.
Bollywood is based in India's biggest city, Mumbai. It used to be called Bombay, and that's where the name comes from; a mixture of Bombay and Hollywood.
It's not the only film industry in India but it's the best known, and it's the biggest.
REPORTER: Judging from what you see at the cinema you might think most of the world's films come from Hollywood; not even close.