Friends will be Friends

With this lective year coming to an end, there are many question in our mind.
What will be our future?
what are the disciplines that we will choose?
and the major question:

Will we stend together?

Fortunatly or unfortunatly we are very united team. We are like
"One for all and all for one"

We also like a lot of our teachers, we were fortunate to have a team of luxury to teach us over the years.

We just cant stand the idea of being separated next year. But the union is strength and I believe that we will be together, we'll never be apart <3

Our class is defined by a phrase that all say again and again:

More that a Team we are a FAMILY!

We're a family and we're all in this together ♥


Class D since 2008 ♥

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AIlz08fZos

by: Raquel Lopes

Racism

Racism is the belief that race is a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. As a practice, it means the same thing as racial discrimination. In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or receive preferential treatment.

For me racism is a big problem in the world.
Racist people are so closed mind , so anoying, they are such a bad person, probably frustrated and have bad feelings in their heart.
They cant see the same that I see, that everybody have the same rights, everybody breath the same air and everybody live in the same planet. Why doesnt we live in harmony?

My Best friend is black and I love her no matter what!

Why can't your best friend be different of you ?

Raquel Lopes

The word xenophobia consists of two parts: xeno (a combining form meaning "guest, stranger, foreigner") and phobia, ("fear, horror or aversion, especially if morbid"). Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything foreign or strange.

Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity. It can also be exhibited in the form of an "uncritical exaltation of another culture" in which a culture is discribed "an unreal, stereotyped and exotic quality".

Diogo Rainho

Choosing a career

Since we are almost in college (1 more year to go!!!) I was wondering about choosing careers. This process isn't very easy and it can alter a person's life, so it should be done with care. With that in mind I did some research on this topic and found some interesting sites.

http://career.missouri.edu/students/majors-careers/skills-interests/career-interest-game/?menu=student&expand=si

A career interest chart that divides careers into six types. It's very useful if you don't have any idea at all about what you want, because this site gives you a general idea like artistic or investigative

http://www.howtochooseacareer.com/careerinformation.html

This site has information on several careers and on how to get (this is an american site so things might be a bit different in Portugal) It also has other great tips on choosing what you want to do.

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/myths_choice.htm

Finally, I found this site that lists 10 myths in choosing a career.

In my opinion, the most important thing is doing something you like :)

By Pedro

The Freedoom Writers

Hilary Swank stars in this gripping story of inner city kids raised on drive-by shootings and hard-core attitude - and the teacher who gives them the one thing they need most: a voice of there own.
Dropped into the free-fire zone of a school torn by violence and racial tension, teacher Erin Gruwell battles an uncaring system in a fight to make the classroom matter in her student’s lives.

Now, telling their own stories, and hearing the stories of others, a group of supposedly "untouchable" teens will discover the power of tolerance, reclaim their shattered lives, and change their world.


By Tânia Batista

Shakira

In her new role, Colombia-born Shakira will travel to see first-hand the struggle of millions of children in developing countries. She will serve as a global representative of UNICEF, using her popularity and her personal interest in children’s issues to support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child survives and thrives through adolescence.
Based on her continuing commitment to education issues, Shakira will lend her star power and energies to UNICEF in its battle to get all children into school and give them a good-quality basic education. Globally some 120 million children are still not in school, leaving them stuck in poverty and vulnerable to exploitation.
“Fifty years ago, UNICEF was the first global organization to utilize the power of celebrity to further global causes when it named beloved entertainer Danny Kaye its first Goodwill Ambassador,” said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. “Since then celebrities have contributed greatly to UNICEF and served as voices for those who frequently have no voice — the world’s children.”

“Shakira, like all our Goodwill Ambassadors, was chosen based on her compassion, her involvement in global issues, her deep commitment to helping children, and her appeal to young people around the world. We’re very pleased to have Shakira join the UNICEF family. I know she’ll help bring UNICEF’s mission to the audience who will have the most impact on our future – young people themselves,” Bellamy said.


By Tânia Batista

Multitasking madness

Multitasking is, as the word shows, doing several tasks at once, like writing a report, answering e-mail and filing contracts at the same time. This habit starts out with teenagers that listen to music, play computer games, talk with their messenger while doing homework. This habit, when carried into adult life, can lead to a decrease in productivity at work. While teenagers have the ability to focus on several things at the same time, adults can't do it as well. So after doing a task it takes a while until they are able to focus on the next one, which, after a while, is a big waste of time.

The site career-intelligence.com offers 4 simple steps to prevent productivity loss:
-Accurately estimate the time to complete tasks and adjust your schedule according to it.
-Use external memory as much as possible.Use the calendar on your computer to remind you of important dates or appointments and quick lists to organize your tasks.
-Batch your work. Put similar tasks together, like paying bills and balancing your checking account, to increase efficiency.
-Remove distractions. Control interruptions and noise. If the workplace is loud, discuss with co-workers ways to control the volume.

By Pedro

Momtrepreneurs

Momtrepreneur is a fusion of the words mom, mother, and entrepreneur, someone that is in charge of his own business. So, a momtrepreneur is a mother that has her own business, based at home. It can be a microenterprise, like making arts and crafts or it can be freelance working for bigger companies in things as different as writing or managing. Work-at-home moms, as they are also known, normally choose this way of working because it allows them to spend time with their children while eaning income and working away from the stressful environment of an office. It is a great option because it also lets the person have her own schedule, so it's a great idea for someone who manages her own time. New technologies, specifically the internet, have helped these businesses a lot as moms can "send" the product of their work to clients and companies easily.

By Pedro

Refugees

Under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees from 1951, a refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country.
In other words,a refugee is someone who is forced to leave his country to avoid being persecuted. There are several reasons for a refugee to live his country, being the main reasons race, religion, social conditions, and political opinions.
The persecution that leads people to run to another country usually happens in underdeveloped countries that have totalitarian governments. Refugees usually run to developed countries where there are resources to protect refugees.

By Pedro

Xenophobia

Xenophobia is the uncontrollable fear of foreigners. It comes from the Greek words xenos, meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and phobos, meaning "fear." Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity.
This definition, taken from Wikipedia, shows a feeling many people have today, with the increase of globalization. Xenophobia is more than a simple fear of strangers because fear causes people to run away and not to attack. Xenophobes don't run away from foreigners, they try to drive them away with insults and stereotypes. Fortunately, people seem to get more used to foreigners and are learning to accept them.

By Pedro

The Terminal

Viktor Navorski, a man from an Eastern European country arrives in New York, but after he has left his country war breaks out and because of that Navorski is a man without a country. The U.S. cannot identifying him and so he is denied entry to the U.S. However, he can't be deported, so he is told by the Security Manager that he has to remain in the airport until his status can be confirmed. Navorski doesn't speak English well, so no one can talk to him and he can’t talk to anyone. But he somehow adapts and sets up residence in the airport. Navorski makes friends with some of the people who work in the airport and is attracted to a flight attendant he runs into whenever she comes in.



by Nance

Michael Jackson-You Are Not Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6-2vPgEea8&feature=related

By Andreia

If your not the one-Daniel Bedingfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4ESs9SeZh4

By Andreia

Westlife- Unbreakable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spK17LQR0pk&feature=related

By Andreia

Seasons In The Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf31kyAb3ZI&feature=related

By Andreia

World of Our Own

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHNXYL2qeZc&feature=related

By Andreia

Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7zmHAEcTvU&feature=channel

By Andreia

Raise me up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1_MydgRFZw

By Andreia

If I Let You Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvZj8NINvuI&feature=related

By Andreia

When You Tell Me That You Love Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5d3Fr8uQI

By Andreia

The effects of tecnhology

Modern technology has a tremendous effect on the lives of people throughout the world. Inventions such as the automobile influenced where people lived and worked and how they spent their leisure time. Radio and television changed people´s entertainment habits and brought them information about world events as they happened while the telephone revolutionised communications. Today, technology has brought goals into reach that few would have dreamed were possible 100 years ago. Humans have the capability to conquer hunger, cure and prevent many diseases, and transport goods and people swiftly and easily all over the world. Even space travel has become a reality.

By Andreia

Electronic Networks

The first computer network began 25 years ago as an exclusive for the US Department of Defense. Since then it has grown into a powerful information Exchange, the first true incarnation of the global village. It has become such an important data-gathering and communication source that few can afford to ignore it. National computer networks in 72 countries have “full connections” to the Internet. You can use the mail service of the Net to get linked to 239 countries and territories by the end of the century.
Despite the explosion of the Net across the Globe, Americans make up the majority of users.
The European-Union-sponsored CITED project is currently developing a Framework for the transmission of paid-for electronic publications.

No doubt those who can communicate fastest can infkuence events. But the Net faces an uncertain future – is it the real world or is it virtual reality? Will it always be possible to separate the two?

By Andreia

Electronic Communication

The electronic computer has affected life more than any other invention since the automobile. Although machines for performing mathematical calculations had existed since ancient times, it was not until the 1940s that these machines became electronic rather than mechanical. An important advance was John von Neumann´s realisation, in the 1940s, that a computer could store in its memory not only the numbers to be worked on, but also a programme of instructions telling it what calculations to perform. This made computers tremendously more versatile.
In 1971, Intel Corporation introduced the microprocessor, an integrated circuit (IC) containing the entire central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. The same year, Intel also introduced a computer memory IC, and it became possible to bild small, cheap micro-computers.
The impact of microprocessors was immense. Computers were suddenly much smaller, cheaper, and easier to use.
This led to new computer applications.
The computers of the 1950sand the 1960s had been so large and expensive that they were used only for large computations that could not be done any other way. But the late 1970s saw the advent of the personal computer, a device no larger than a typewriter and only slightly more expensive. Personal coputers were used for Word processing, simple bookkeeping, vídeo games, and other tasks for which older computers would never have been cost-effective. Microprocessors also provided computerised control functions in other kinds of equipment, such as automobile engines, vídeo tape recorders, “intelligent” thermostats, and even wristwatches.

By Andreia

Telephone communication

Telephone communication has greatly advanced since 1945. By the mind-1950s, almost all telephone exchanges were automatic: users could dial local numbers for themselves without the aid of an operator. Direct dialling was extended to long-distance calls in the 1960s and overseas calls in the 1970s.
Today, the world-wide telephone system can justifiably be called the world´s largest machine. Its parts are linked together not only by wire cables, but also by rádio, satellites, and fiber optics.
In the 1980s, cellular telephones came into wide use.These require no connection to wires because they are linked by rádio to the nearest antenna tower. Mobile radiotelephones had existed since the 1950s, but they required the user to be within a few miles of a particular tower. Cellular phones, by contrast, divide the country into cells, each served by its own tower, and cellular phones are automatically “handed off” fro one cell to the next as the user moves around. Thus, cellular phones work almost anywhere.

By Andreia

Television

The history of television interwines with that of older, related media: telegraph, telephone, film, rádio and the recording arts. Television revolutionised US life in the 1950s.
TV brodcasts began in the 1930s, but World War II tied up technical resources and the real growth of TV began around 1949. Humor, action, drama, songs, celebrities, something for the kids – the formula for TV entertainment changed little after its development in the 1950s. A decade later, what was golden were commercials: more than 20 na hour bombarded daytime viewers. The 50s were boom times for television. More than 500 sitations now dotted the land. Some 40 million television homes watched na average of five hours of programming a day. Ten thousands of sponsors supported the programmes at a cost almost a billion dollars a year. By the end of 1957 more than a hundred series of television films were on the ari or in production. In the 60s, half the people depended primarily on television for their news. TV pulled viewers close to war and riot. TV news also presented moments of triump. Millions saw man arrive on the moon. Television merged with the environment. In a few decades television has grown from a toy to a popular diversion, to a pipeline to millions.
The cultural impacto f TV came from its ability to deliver the same entertainment and advertising to the entire nation at once, thus creating the expectation that people everywhere should look alike, talk alike, and act alike.

By Andreia

The Automobile

When the automobile and the American people met at the end of the last century, the United States was on its way to industrial leadership of the world.
Henry Ford´s introduction of assembly-line mass production reached almost 2,000,000 cars a year. This, however, was not a period of Great technological innovation, as automobiles maintained their Basic designs from the 1890s. Although improvements such as the self-starter were added, producing autos in quantity was the major innovation. Automobiles became the chief means of transportation in the United States during the 1920s.
The automobile industry produced almost unlimited positive and negative consequences: prosperity for the glass, steel, rubber, and petroleum industries, but also absolute dependence on the car; the breakdown of rural isolation, but also the disintegration of the cities; easier acess to national parks but also the erosion of their beauty through overuse.
The automobile and the Americans forged the mobile American culture. The Americans whose livelihoods were directly linked to the automobile included owners and employees of garages, service stations, auto parts stores, roadside restaurants, and the “tourist cabins” which eventually acquired sophistication and became motels. The automobile led to the formidable expansion of industries, becoming the dominant element of the American economy.

By Andreia

The Early Century

In an American cityscape of the early 20th century, New York display what urban evolution had temporarily produced: tall buildings and narrow streets.
Telegraphs, telephones, and electric lights suddenly made their appearance, their wires wrapping the center of the growing metropolis. New transportation systems transformed walking towns into highly mobile cities with clearly defined residential, commercial, and industrial districts. Railroads, carryng commuters and commerce, penetrated most cities. Many of them elevated trolley lines and railroads, sometimes on embankments that segmented the community. Finally, rails went underground when Boston, New York and Philadelphia built subways at the turn of the century and the automobile became king.

By Andreia

Modern technology

Modern technology has advanced at a dizzing pace and in the years sice 1990 the world has witnessed the advento f the airplaine, rocket, space fligh, electronics, nuclear power, antibiotics, insecticides, and the many other inventions. Technology has also led to important politicial changes in the world. In the 1900s, the United States rather than Great Britain became the tecnological leader and as a consequence also became the world´s most powerful nation.
Even more important, each advance openened up new horizons for science and led to further progress in technology. New industries were created as thousands of new products became available. Among the products of the new tecnology were the radar, antibiotics, the jet aircraft, atomic weapons, nuclear reactor, space travel, solar energy, computers, lasers, and robots, to name only a few. Today, the pace of change has accelarated and new technologies are being developed so rapidly that their effects are hard to foresee.

By Andreia

Eurovision Song Contest 2010

Germany was the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2010



By Nance

Immigration

Today, many people decide to immigrate to other countries, and the majority of people flee their countries because of wars or even because they wanted to have a better life, finding a job and forming a family in another country.
But, also the native people of the other countries learn a lot of things about the immigrants and the different customs, traditions, races and languages because they have a contact with the immigrants and this knowledge about each culture is important, serving of experiences for the rest of their life.
Although, there are pros of immigrations , such as contribution to bring diversity to society, change of experiences, interaction of cultures, they develop tolerance, but there are cons as well, because the people think that they take our jobs, some are disruptive or criminals, some don`t adapt to our customs and they turn our country unsafe.
Every person has his opinion, and others respect the differences, for me, I think that is not easy to immigrate to a country completely unknown, because I spend for this experience, tree months in Switzerland with my parents and my brother. I learned new traditions and know other people and places, such a Lake Geneva .
However, my mother didn`t adapt and we returned to Portugal and this experience changed my perspective towards life.
So, in spite of immigrants having dreams, they don`t give up on their homes.


By Tânia Batista

Switzerland is today a country of migration

The migration to Switzerland has always depended on the economic situation. Bilateral agreements with the European Union and the consequent free movement of persons is responsible for a new phase in the migration issue, says Marcel Heiniger, an expert on population development in the Federal Statistics Office.

The first assessments show that the bilateral agreements did not increase immigration to Switzerland. Experts do not believe that major changes will occur in the future.

In European comparison, Switzerland is a country with the highest rate of foreigners: 20%. Germany has only 10% and 5% Sweden. Only Luxembourg and Liechtenstein have a larger number of foreigners in its population than Switzerland.

The foreign population is from the economic point of view, very important for Switzerland, as well as other industrialized countries in Europe. This fact is demonstrated through various studies and statistics. Work done by the United Nations as the "Replacement Migration" show that in the "old continent", is increasing the number of retirees relative to active population.




Switzerland does not escape this situation. Their birth rates would be low without the arrival of foreigners and their children born in the country, decreasing. In Canton Zurich, the increase in population of foreigners is due to the second generation who were born in the country. One quarter of foreigners living in Switzerland already belongs to the third generation.


By Tânia Batista

Video about discrimination

By Nance, Pedro and Tânia

RE: Question of the week

I think that, if you have free time, a part time job is a great idea. I wish I knew of some part time job I could get :) It's a good way to make money and get some work experience. It's also a great way to make someone lazy, like me, work a bit more. Ans it also teaches the value of work. I think that it's a great idea to have a part time job

By Pedro

Immigration

I have never immigrated and I have only visited two other coutries besides Portugal: Spaine and France. I spent a week in France, in the Easter Holidays two years ago and I don't think that experience could teach me much about the reality of being in a different country. However, a friend of mine was an immigrant in Portugal. She was Lithuanian and she lived in Portugal 3 or 4 years (I'm not sure :P). At first she had a bit of a hard time adapting to our country and our language, but everyone wanted to help her fit in, so she soon felt at home in our country and learned our language, even though she still had a bit of accent. I was very sad when she left, but her family missed their home country and had to return. This showed me that even if you're in a country that's totally different, if you work hard, you can fit in.

By Pedro

The Human Rights Club

In our school there is a Human Rights Club (Clube dos Direitos Humanos), and I am a member. I really love it! We talk about a lot of situations around the world where human rights are not respected. Besides that we watch documentaries and movies, play games and activities related to the human rights and promote activities in our school, like seminars an conferences. We also have a project called Amigos da Unicef (Friends of the Unicef)where we contribute with 1 Euro per month to Unicef and even students and teachers that aren´t members of the club contribute. I chose to speak about this today because we are moving to an new room next week and our old one will be torn down.´

By Pedro

Racism

Racism refers to any theory or doctrine stating that inherited physical characteristics, such as skin colour, facial features, hair texture, and the like, determine behavior patterns, personality traits, or intellectual abilities. In practice, racism typically takes the form of a claim that some human races are superior to others.
Racism was a prevalent ideology in Europe and America in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Racist theories about supposed physical or intellectual superiority were advanced by Arthur de Gobineau and Houston Stewart Chamberlain, both of whom insisted that supreme among the races were members of the mythical Nordic, or Aryan, race. Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler based its extermination of millions of Jews and other ‘non-Aryans’ on this theory of race supremacy and the corollary concept of racial purity.

By Tânia Batista

Teleworking

Advantages of teleworking


• Better control of working hours;
• Flexible hours
• Better quality of life;
• Less commuting difficulties and expenses;
• New business creation;
• Achievement of paid work instead of unemployment;


Disadvantages of teleworking

• Long working hours can have health consequences;
• “workaholic” behaviour if the teleworker is not able to control his/her own working styles;
• Physical and social isolation

By Nance

Would You Be Happier- The Corrs

by Nance

David Beckham - Goodwill Ambassador

By Nance

David Beckham- Goodwill Ambassador

David Beckham has supported UNICEF since his days at Manchester United. In July 2001, he travelled to Thailand with the team on their pre-season tour. There he visited the UNICEF-supported Kredtrakarn Centre, meeting children as young as five who had suffered exploitation at the hands of adults. In 2003, David, as part of the team, helped to launch the UNICEF UK ‘End Child Exploitation’ Campaign.

In January 2005, the former England football captain became a Goodwill Ambassador with a special focus on UNICEF's Sports for Development programme. David's first job as Ambassador was a visit to UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen, to see for himself the crucial work being done to aid 1.5 million children affected by the tsunami in South Asia. David then launched a global appeal to raise funds to support UNICEF's urgent humanitarian work in the region.

David has pledged his support for the current ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign and has taken part in a series of films to promote the campaign’s messages. He also captained ‘Team UNICEF’ in a special short film produced in association with MTV and FIFA. Featuring some of the World’s top football players, the film highlighted UNICEF’s 2006 FIFA World Cup theme ‘Unite for Children, Unite for Peace’.