FIRST TERM. 1º BACHILLERATO
“Is the Internet safe?”
It's unbelievable how the Internet has become such an unsafe place. You are always faced with the possibility of being hacked or being infected by viruses and all sorts of online contaminants. While we can never be a hundred percent free from the risks, there are things we can do to reduce them significantly, and we don't even have to be experts on Internet security. Just being aware could actually save you a great deal of trouble and, of course, your basic firewall and anti-virus software will have to be updated properly.
Most of the time, we only need to practice some common sense, discipline and a little paranoia. For example, if you receive emails from people you don't know, you’d better suspect the senders may have malicious intentions. Most of these are actually hackers who would try to lead you into clicking on a certain link. If you click on it, you'll end up in their site, so they could, for example, set off a certain code to remotely access and control your computer. That means anyone can steal whatever personal information you have stored in there -maybe your bank account number, your credit card number, your passwords or usernames.
There are also hackers who'll send you emails pretending to be an employee of your bank and asking for your current usernames and passwords to activate your account. Just remember that established institutions never transact online when it comes to very sensitive information. Therefore, when you encounter an email like this, ignore it because it is most certainly a trick.
The doping debate
Another Olympiad, another doping debate. Recent advances in medical science have opened up new possibilities for athletes to improve their performance, but this simultaneously creates new ethical dilemmas. This is especially the case with genetics. Replacing defective genes offers great promise to people suffering from certain diseases; but, if administered to athletes, gene therapy may allow them to swim faster and jump farther. That would be cheating, wouldn’t it?
People who oppose doping in sports do so for two reasons: fairness and safety. But whether or not the question of fairness makes sense is debatable, in the case of genetics. For instance, some people have innate genetic mutations which give them exactly the same sort of advantage as gene therapy would provide. And the question “what is natural?” is as problematic as “what is fair?” – what is natural about electric muscle stimulation, or running in special shoes made of carbon fibre? So, those who want to prohibit doping have the responsibility to prove why it is particularly unjust.
To prove that doping is unfair, other people argue that it would help big, rich countries with better access to the technology. But that is already happening nowadays. Therefore, the main concern should be: is it safe for the athletes? If “gene doping” proves to be dangerous, it could be banned. But even then, one should be careful before reaching a conclusion because many athletes seem willing to face the risks of long-term effects on their health as a result of their vocation. Sport has always been about sacrifice: why should athletes be denied the chance to overcome their limitations?
English replaces first language
The Scandinavians’ adoption of English as an everyday language is beginning to worry authorities, as their mother tongues are progressively less used in business and universities, where English is replacing them. In business, all the top international Scandinavian firms already use written English for their communications. In universities, most classes are taught in English, so they can attract international students and instructors.
Few countries voluntarily adopt a foreign tongue as one of their main languages, but Norway has been doing it for years with English. “I tried to learn Norwegian when I came here. But when they hear you’re a foreigner, Norwegians switch languages”, says Tom Jackson, a scientist from England who moved to Oslo some years ago to work in a research institute. “I knew before I moved that Scandinavians were good at English, but I was amazed at their level of fluency”.
English has become so predominant that the government says it is threatening the existence of Norwegian, which in 30-40 years’ time might not be used in higher education any more. To solve this situation the Minister of Culture is going to present a report to parliament declaring that the survival of the Norwegian language, especially in its written form, is becoming a political priority. This concern is generalized in Scandinavia, and both Sweden and Denmark are also creating initiatives to protect and promote their national languages.
All these initiatives might seem to indicate that the Scandinavians are fearful of the development of English, but this is not the case. The educational authorities of these countries declare that the protection of their own languages is essential, but at the same time they admit that Scandinavians have to be strong in English if they want their countries to be internationally competitive.
THE CHINESE DISCOVERY OF NORTH AMERICA?
“In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Schoolchildren in the United States learn this rhyme because Christopher Columbus was the first non-native inhabitant (since the Vikings) to reach the American continent. Or was he? Amateur historian Gavin Menzies suggests that in fact the Chinese arrived there first in 1421. Other historians, however, aren’t convinced by Menzies’ theories.
Menzies bases his theory on two maps which may date from the 15th century. One, called the Harris map, depicts an imaginary country of Chinese legends; interestingly, it is located exactly where North America is situated, and displays certain identifiable geographic features, including the Grand Canyon. The other map, supposedly published in 1418, also depicts North America in detail, and according to Menzies, may have helped the Chinese to locate the continent. But historian Geoff Wade is convinced this map is a modern fake; among other problems, the Chinese didn’t know in 1418 that the Earth was round, as this map indicates.
Menzies also cites as proof the discovery of ancient Chinese artifacts and drawings in North and South America.
But critics claim that a Chinese conquest would have left more dramatic remains than just a few coins and beads. They also ask why there are no signs of 15th-century American life in China, such as the tomatoes or maize brought home by Europeans from the New World.
Finally, Menzies claims that many North and South American Indian legends describe encounters between native inhabitants and Chinese. But critics ask why there are no accounts of early American life in Chinese culture, as would surely be expected. The 1421 theorists explain this by saying that when Manchu invaders defeated the Ming Dynasty which ruled China in 1421, they destroyed all the documents they found, including those mentioning the Americas.
So, 1421 or 1492? Chinese or European? The evidence for Menzies’ theory doesn’t yet seem to threaten the established idea that Europeans discovered America. But there are enough unresolved issues to make you wonder!
HERE BE DRAGONS
“Here be dragons.” These words, accompanied by drawings of frightening imaginary beasts, are found on some medieval maps. They signified that the area was unexplored, and possibly dangerous. But are all dragons really frightening? Are they purely imaginary creatures or are they based on something real?
Dragon legends exist in many different cultures worldwide. Although their appearance varies slightly, most dragons resemble reptiles with their large, scaly bodies. But Eastern dragons differ from Western ones in function and appearance, possibly because dragons often assume the qualities of local animals.
Chinese and Asian dragons are usually depicted as kind and well-meaning. They were often associated with kings
or gods, or positive qualities such as longevity or wisdom. But because they also represent natural forces, especially water, Chinese dragons may actually be based on Chinese alligators. This idea is reasonable because Chinese dragons are often portrayed without wings or showing any legs.
Most European dragons, however, are shown as evil, magical, fire-breathing creatures that must be killed by a hero in order for him to rescue a princess or break a dark spell. Some experts suggest that these dragons are based on a lizard called the Komodo dragon. It’s over three metres long and has got a poisonous bite. Others believe that these dragons were inspired by prehistoric creatures like the pterosaur – a featherless flying reptile. However, because Europeans didn’t know much about these prehistoric creatures until 1910, they probably didn’t influence European dragon tradition.
Because dragons are a universal phenomenon, some experts think they must have a shared common basis. One theory is that dragons were really comets. Viewed from Earth, comets appear to have wings and long tails, and, like dragons, were often thought to bring good or bad luck. Other scientists deny a common origin, and believe that dragon legends grew up independently in different locations, possibly reflecting a human fear of dangerous animals or certain animal characteristics such as claws and teeth.
Whatever their origin, dragons still exist today in stories worldwide. Even the warning “Here be dragons” is still used; this is how computer programmers warn others not to interfere with especially sensitive sections of code.
WANTED: ELVES
Teenagers who are about to leave school often consider many job opportunities. However, few are likely to think of a career as an elf, which is now possible in Finland’s Arctic Circle.
Finland claims that Santa Claus lives in its northern region of Lapland, near the North Pole, where tourists have gone to visit him for the past two decades. These visitors are met at the airport by professional “elves”, who also accompany them while they participate in various activities, including reindeer safaris, canoeing and hunting.
These elves do more than pack up gifts bought at the Christmas market and answer Santa’s hundreds of thousands of letters. They must be familiar with health and safety procedures, in addition to information about the local environment and Santa Claus stories. Elves must speak English, and possibly other languages, as more tourists arrive from France, Spain, Japan and Russia. Many work 14-hour days at Christmastime, and keeping children amused and occupied all day in freezing weather can be tough.
Until recently, most elves were seasonal workers who received two weeks’ training. However, since April 2008, residents of all ages in the town of Rovaniemi have been able to gain a diploma after studying for a year at the new Elf Academy. This will help to guarantee standards in the tourist industry, vitally important in this part of Finland, where the unemployment rate may reach double the national average. By building on the Santa legend, about half a million tourists now visit this area each year, providing work for local residents.
It’s true that not everyone dreams of a career that may involve wearing a green or red costume, baking gingerbread biscuits or receiving a name like “Christmas Star”. But for Finns who live in an isolated area with sub-zero temperatures and where opportunities are few, these jobs are as welcome as presents on Christmas morning.
SECOND TERM. 1º BACHILLERATO
Nessie, the monster
For a long time the Loch Ness monster has been seen in Lake (Loch) Ness in Scotland. This creature, which resembles a large aquatic serpent, is today best known as Nessie, a nickname given by its fans. Although nobody knows for sure if it really exists, the monster is a celebrity today. In fact, there are video cams and web cams on different points of the lake ready to capture a picture of Nessie. Many people have moved to tents and mobile homes in the vicinity hoping to see their long-awaited ”idol”. There is even a reward for whoever sees him arise from the depth of the waters either live or through the cameras installed for that purpose.
There are many theories surrounding the Loch Ness monster. Most researchers believe that a specimen of this creature could have existed in the lake at least 200 million years ago, and that very possibly any actual living Nessie could be the descendant of many generations from the original monster. They also think that there is more than one Nessie, or that there is a possible underwater passage allowing the monster to travel. In the United States, a similar monster has been reported in Lake Champlain, Vermont. This creature, known as Champie, would strengthen the idea of a possible underwater passageway connecting Scotland to the USA; Champie could be Nessie, changing its identity.
The first documented report on the monster was made in 1930, but he became famous and was widely publicized in the early 1960s. Nowadays, although many people claim they have seen the monster in recent years, the cameras installed show no clear shots of Nessie, only movement in the lake’s waters. Nobody has claimed the reward yet, but Nessie’s enthusiasts keep watching the lake religiously. In the United Kingdom, confirming the existence of Nessie is irrelevant because the monster has a purely mythological meaning for the British people, and particularly for the Scottish, who do not need proof to believe in the monster’s existence. There is a popular legend saying that a certain hornpipe melody has the ability to attract Nessie to the surface; however, only a few people who know the music are still alive today.
Global warming
“Global warming has emerged as the most serious environmental threat of the 21st century. Only by taking action now can we ensure that future generations will not be put at risk” (taken from a letter to the US President from 49 Nobel Prize winning scientists).