BtN: Episode 17 Transcript 18/6/13
On this week's Behind the News:
· The Dalai Lama visits Australia. So who is he and what does he do?
· We check out a new bionic eye which aims to help blind people to see.
· And we meet the girls running their own hair salon from school!
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News. Also on the show today we meet a family with 3 generations of go-kart champions. But first today.
Spy Leak
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: A former US spy has revealed some secrets that have got a lot of people talking. Intelligence agencies in the states have been collecting people's internet data and keeping a record of lots of their phone calls. He felt that was wrong so he told everyone about it. Sarah takes up the story.
This is Agent X. He's a spy and his job involves, well, that's a secret. We can tell you that he's trying to protect his country by gathering information. He might do it by watching people or meeting people and he might do it by tracking their digital footprint and seeing if they've been contacting enemies of the state.
But how would you feel if Agent X was watching you? Recently the world found out that spies in the US are watching a lot more people than many thought. The Government admitted to running a project called PRISM. It lets spy agencies look at what people all over the world are doing online.
For the past six years they've been spying on emails, social network activity, listening in on Skype calls and watching searches. And although they deny it, it's alleged some big tech companies have been helping them do it. The US Government has also been collecting the details of many phone calls. And while spying on people might be what you expect from spies PRISM has shocked many.
In the US these guys are supposed to suspect people of a crime before they watch them. But in the last few years laws have changed and it's become easier for agencies to collect information from more people.
It would have stayed a secret if not for this guy. Edward Snowden did work for spy agencies and says he had access to lots of private information.
EDWARD SNOWDEN: I sitting at my desk certainly have the power to wire tap anyone from you or your accountant to a federal judge to even the resident if I had a personal email.
He thought it wasn't right for spies to have that sort of secret power. So he told some newspapers.
What Snowden did is known as a leak; when someone gives away information they're not supposed to. It's a big deal. Giving away government secrets is against the law. If he's caught Snowden could face a long time in jail or worse. He left his home in Hawaii and hid out in Hong Kong.
But is he a criminal or a hero? That's a question that's dividing people in the US and overseas. Some say Snowden betrayed his country and put people in danger. They say spy agencies need to be able to operate in secret to keep people safe
Plus, to some the idea of being watched online isn't really a big deal. In a world where people share all sorts of information about themselves privacy isn't that important to everyone. But some say it's a basic right.
Many in the US and overseas are horrified by the thought of the government watching over them. They say it's the sort of thing that goes on in countries like North Korea where people have no freedom.
The US Government says it wasn't trying to control people, just catch bad guys. But some reckon it shouldn't be doing things in secret. They say Snowden has sacrificed his career, his home and possibly his freedom just because he wanted to do the right thing and let people know the truth.
But no matter what you think of Snowden he certainly has a lot of people asking questions about the spy game - like who are they watching and who's watching them?
PRESENTER: OK let's make that our poll this week.
Online Poll
The question is:
Should governments be allowed to monitor what we do online?
To vote, just head to our website.
Last week we asked if Australia should become a republic.
47 per cent of you said yes.
and 53 per cent said no - you'd rather keep the Queen.
Let's see what else has been making the news this week. Here's Tash with the Wire.
The Wire
The Gillard Government has been hit with some bad news only a few months out from this year's Federal Election. Latest opinion polls show support for Labor has fallen to 29 percent. While the Federal Opposition is up to 47 percent. The news comes as some government pollies call for ex-PM Kevin Rudd to return to the leadership.
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New research reckons that mining emissions are the cause of lead poisoning in Mt Isa in Queensland. It follows a study in 2008 that found 11 percent of local kids had been exposed to lead. University researchers looked at samples of dust, soil and air from homes and public areas collected between 2005 and 2008. A special group investigating lead levels in Mt Isa will review the research.
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Dinosaur bones, believed to be 98-million years old, have been uncovered in outback Queensland. Among the bones are giant limbs, vertebrae and two-metre long ribs! The huge fossils were discovered by scientists and volunteers involved in a two-week dinosaur dig near Winton.
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And it's been 50 years since the first woman went into space. Valentina Tereshkova was 26 years old when she blasted off on a solo trip in 1963. Her mission lasted three days, which included circling the earth 48 times. Valentina, who's now 76, remains the only woman to have ever made a solo flight in space.
Dalai Lama
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: Australia's had a very famous visitor this week a guy called the Dalai Lama. He's the leader of a type of Buddhism and is respected by many people around the world. He's even won a Nobel Peace Prize. So why is his visit seen as controversial by some? Let's take a look.
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: China says you shouldn't talk to him, that he's not who he says he is, and that you're no friend of theirs if you do.
So who is this shadowy guy, China is so worried about? Yep, it's this guy - the Dalai Lama. Otherwise known as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. He hardly sounds like someone you should be wary of though, does he? In fact, he actually looks like a pretty fun-loving guy! So why have China said things like this about him in the past?
JIANG YU, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY: We hope that relevant governments and parties can stay on high alert to the actions and words of the Dalai Lama and not give him any support.
Well, there is some history there. When his holiness was just a teenager, thousands of Chinese troops invaded his homeland, Tibet. The Dalai Lama tried to make them leave, but they took over. Soon, Tibet became too dangerous, so he and his family fled to India. That's why they say he's IN EXILE, because he can't return home. And ever since, China has been in control of Tibet and its people.
Many people in Tibet want to be free from Chinese rule. And the Dalai Lama often talks about the issue as he tours around the world. But China says Tibet is a part of their country, so they think the Dalai Lama is just making trouble by bringing it up. So that's the history between China and the Dalai Lama. Which can make it awkward for Australian leaders to meet with him.
We have a strong relationship with China and do a lot of very important business deals with them. So seeing the Dalai Lama might upset that relationship. But not seeing him is seen by others as very rude, because to many he's an important spiritual leader. It's a tricky situation, but that hasn't stopped many others gathering to hear his peaceful messages on this trip.
As you can see, he's pretty popular here. He's even got his own twitter account with more than 7 million followers. Bet that's a whole lot more than the first Dalai Lama had! That one lived over five hundred years ago and there's been 13 since. Tibetan Buddhists believe each Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the previous one. That means when one dies, they believe his soul enters a newborn boy, ready to live again. Or maybe the next one could be a girl.
DALAI LAMA: If the circumstances are such that a female Dalai Lama is more useful then automatically a female Dalai Lama will come.
Only problem is - how do they know which kid is the right one to be the next Dalai Lama?! Well one of the tests is actually pretty fun. They give the child some items, some of which belonged to the last Dalai Lama, and some which didn't. If the child picks out the right ones, they're a step closer to being chosen!
But what if a few kids choose right?! Well in that case, they just draw a name from a hat. Sorry, an urn. So that's just a couple of the steps that it takes to be Dalai Lama. It's a complicated position, but if this Dalai Lama's smile is anything to go by, it must be a fair bit of fun too.
Quiz 1
Time for the first quiz of the show.
The question is:
What is the literal meaning of the name Dalai Lama?
Ocean Teacher
Spirit Guide
Earth Father
Answer: Ocean Teacher
His followers believe he is spiritually as deep as the ocean.
Bionic Eye
Reporter: Sarah Larsen
INTRO: Recently a team of Aussie scientists unveiled a model of what could become the world's first bionic eye. If successful, it would allow people who are blind to see the outlines of their surroundings. So how would it work? Sarah explains
SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: In just about every way Jessye is a normal 11 year old kid.
She likes singing and reading and her favourite subject is creative writing. There are just some things she does a little differently.
JESSYE: I'm totally blind I can't see anything and I've been blind since I was 5 so nearly 7 years.
Jessye has lots of different ways of getting around without sight.
JESSYE: You could use the cane. Basically you tap it around in front of you. Echo location is one. Basically you just make a noise and the noise bounces off anything around you and you can hear it and you know what's around you or you could use a guide dog which takes you around but you have to know where to go.
But soon kids like Jessye could have another way to navigate the world. This is a bionic eye, a new Aussie invention which scientists hope will one day help around 85% of people to see. Bionics are man-made technologies designed to work in the same way that your body does.
One of the best known examples is the Cochlear Bionic Ear which was developed by Aussie scientists back in the 70s. By using a microphone that sends signals to an implant in people’s head it mimics the way the ear works and helps people like Sophie who was born deaf to hear.
SOPHIE: There were a few moments where I just sat back and I just went, I can't believe I am hearing this. It's fantastic!
For years now Aussie scientists have been trying to create a device which would use similar techniques to help people see.
In the eye light enters through the front and is directed to the back of the eyeball to something called the retina. It's the retina's job to take that light and transform it into electrical signals which it sends through your optic nerve to your brain. Your brain then interprets that signals into what we know as vision.
Scientists at Monash University in Victoria have now developed a device that can be implanted right into the part of the brain devoted to sight. It's wirelessly connected to a transmitter which is attached to a camera on a pair of glasses. It acts a bit like your eye, turning light into electrical signals that your brain can use.
REPORTER: The new bionic eye wouldn't let people see in the same way as regular eyes do. The researchers say they can't know for sure but they think the images people get will be more like this.
PROFESSOR MARK ARMSTRONG, MONASH UNIVERSITY: I guess the best way I can describe it it like a dot matrix printer so it's low resolution so that the camera and the processor distil what you see and the great thing about it is those low resolution dots will show a table edge or a chair or your silhouette for example so the theory is that it will give people back navigation so you can walk around objects and step on the floor and that's the thing that's very exciting, isn't it?
This new invention will be tested next year. And with different sorts of bionic eyes being developed in Australia and overseas, scientists reckon the technology will keep getting better.
JESSYE: I think for some people it would be interesting and maybe useful it would suit some people, not all of them. Personally I'm happy like I am so I'm happy to stay like this.
Even without sight there's very little Jessye can't do and she's looking forward to whatever the future brings.
Quiz 2
Let's have another quiz.
The question is:
What is the name of the colourful part of the eye?
Retina
Pupil
Iris
Answer: Iris
The iris controls the size of the pupil and so the amount of light that it lets in.
Salon School
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: Now to a story about an unusual way to stop kids wagging school. A group of girls have been given the chance to run their own hair dressing salon, but only if they turn up to class. So far it's been an amazing success. Tash checks it out.
NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: This is an important sisterhood. One that brings together teenage girls with similar stories and one that's making a difference to their lives, both at home and at school. They're part of a program called Shine. Shine is all about giving Year 9 students a chance to run their own hairdressing salon. Some of them might have problems with learning or have issues at home, which might affect them going to school. So the program is designed to get them back on track and back in school. And the rules are simple, if they don't turn up to school then they're not allowed to be part of Shine! Classes are held here at this specially-designed salon in their school. Although they're taught the tricks of the hairdressing trade. They're also taught about issues that affect young people.