Christian Aid week

About Christian Aid and Christion Aid Week 11th - 17th May 2008

"For more than 60 years, Christian Aid has made a practical difference to millions of lives around the world. Working with people of every faith and none, we are fighting for a world free of poverty and injustice.

Christian Aid provides disaster relief, helps build long-term development, speaks up for the oppressed and campaigns for change among the powerful."

Year 9's, you are currently looking at development. Find out more about Christian Aid by visiting their website: http://www.caweek.org

Strawberries and Poles

Farmers unions have warned the government that 50,000 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables may have to be left to rot this summer because of tightening immigration laws.
Poles are now returning home because their native country's economy is booming. It is not just Poles who have helped British farmers. But it is likely the labour shortage will result in supermarkets importing large quantities of produce from countries such as the Netherlands to make up the shortfall in stock and we could see prices rising above current levels of about £2.50 for a kilogram of strawberries and £2.99 for a punnet of raspberries.

One reason being put forward for the staffing problems by growers is a government decision to reduce the number of workers allowed to enter Britain on a longstanding scheme aimed at foreign students.

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), which had previously allowed workers from non-EU countries such as Ukraine and Belarus to do the low-skilled picking work in Britain, is this year restricted to citizens of Romania and Bulgaria, who are members of the EU.

For more info click on the title link.

Chinese earthquake kills up to 9,000

China's most devastating earthquake in 30 years struck today in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The earthquake measured a massive 7.8 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located in a mountainous region just 100 km from Sichuan's capital Chengdu, a bustling city of 10 million.

The quake hit in the middle of the school day, toppling eight schools in the region. Chemical plants and at least one hospital were also flattened, trapping many hundreds, state media said.

For more information check out the title link.

Burma cyclone

Top news story this week is the Burma cyclone. This is a natural disaster made far worse by human actions. The military government of Burma has repeatedly changed its policy on whether or not to allow aid and aid workers in. The result? An estimated 100, 000 people have died and the situation is set to get even worse as people succumb to nasty tropical diseases such as cholera and typhoid. The question of whether to donate to the appeal fund is a tricky one - the Burmese people desperately need help, but what's the point of donating if it just doesn't reach them? What do you think?

An eruption in Chile

A volcano has erupted in southern Chile, scattering ash over the surrounding area and forcing more than 4,000 people to leave their homes.

The eruption of the Chaiten volcano caught local authorities by surprise, as experts say it has been dormant for at least 450 years.

Click on the title link to be directed to the BBC news website and watch aerial shots of the erupting volcano.