Thursday, March 31, 2011

David Wolman

Osawatomie girls’ basketball coach Don Blanchat speaks to the crowd at the school’s annual winter sports banquet. He guided the varsity team to a 13-7 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in the Pioneer League this season. He shared a story about Mo Preueksapraopong, a foreign-exchange student from Thailand who made two 3-pointers in a late season basketball game against Anderson County.

http://www.kccommunitynews.com/osawatomie-graphic-sports/27359682/detail.html

Young women blending entrepreneurship, philanthropy

By Anne Kallas
Posted March 30, 2011 at 4:18 p.m.

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/The Star Elizabeth Guzman, Genesis Mena, Taylor Penny, Paloma Guzman and Shomari Patterson huddle to see an image related to their social enterprise Compassion Fashion.

The monks and I: Teaching and learning in Thailand

International volunteers pay to teach Buddhist monks in Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi. Journey to nirvana not guaranteed

By Richard S. Ehrlich 31 March, 2011

Foreign teachers can expect to work six hours a day, but can spend the rest of their time absorbing Thai culture.

Foreigners are being invited to teach English to Buddhist monks at two temples in Thailand -- at a cost of hundreds of dollars.

And staff at one temple claim that many visiting instructors "experienced nirvana temporarily" during meditation sessions.

The temples, Wat Luang Phor Sodh in Ratchaburi and Wat Doi Saket in Chiang Mai, run slightly different programs, but essentially offer the chance to learn about Thai culture while teaching English.

Foreign teachers have to pay for their own lodging, food and other expenses, as well as their airfare to and from Thailand. And though all of the saffron-robed monk students are male, the temples welcome both men and women teachers.

"All English speakers are welcomed," said Dr. Barton "Bart" Yanathiro, a 75-year-old American Buddhist who helps run the classes in Ratchaburi, about two hours southwest from Bangkok by bus.

Foreigners teach basic English grammar, pronunciation, spelling and conversation to monks in brightly lit classrooms.

Dr. Yanathiro is the temple's secretary for international affairs and assists with the Immersion in Buddhist English Program. He also manages the Buddhist Meditation Institute, which teaches meditation in English, as part of the World Buddhist University.

Dr. Yanathiro said the abbot and several monks at the temple already speak English, and "a foreign professor monk" heads the teaching program.

"We began informally two years ago, but last year was our official opening," said Dr. Yanathiro. "We have had a total of 18 teachers and 85 registered students so far. Two teachers stayed long-term, but most came for one to two months.

"The [monk] students learn English from fluent English-speakers, and the teachers learn meditation and Thai Buddhist culture."

Classes run from May 23 to September 7, and from October 10 to February 22, 2012.

When foreign instructors are not teaching the monks, they can study Buddhist Samatha-Vipassana meditation, in an English-language program led by Dr. Yanathiro.

"Numerous teacher volunteers have been able to meditate to experience nirvana, and get advice from Buddha or the Noble Disciples," he said. "This is an undreamed of, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Of 16 teachers since the very beginning, six experienced nirvana temporarily. An additional three transcended beyond this world to Dhammakaya, and another three more achieved trance states like heavenly bliss. The remaining four only attained inner peace."

All of the monk students are male, but both temples welcome male and female teachers from abroad.

Asked about their purported temporary experience of nirvana, Dr. Yanathiro replied: "I am using the official definition, where one actually sees and communicates with Lord Buddha and his disciples.

"Most amazing is the personal instruction some have gotten directly from Buddha. One was taken to a volcano and told to jump in. When he did so he became one with the earth. In another meditation he became a tree. Another teacher-meditator experienced becoming a leaf on a tree which then fell to earth, decayed and became part of the earth.

"They see Buddha and the disciples. Communication is by direct telepathy, so language is irrelevant. One does get clear verbal communications, but more impressive are their descriptions of experiences such as feeling oneself becoming a tree."

None of the teachers reported any side effects from their trances.

'Hey, fat lady! You so beautiful!'

Foreigners who want to teach and study at the temple can register with Global Service Corps of San Francisco, via its website which offers classes lasting two weeks or longer.

Fees, described as "Service-Learning Program Contributions," start at US$1,480 for a two-week program and jump $415 dollars for each additional week, up to a 13-week program which costs a total of $6,045. After that, the weekly fee increases by $255.

The temple provides "a U.S.-style house across the street from the wat, which has two bedrooms for two people each. A cabin and separate dormitories for men and women, which are more spartan, are also available inside the temple," Dr. Yanathiro said. Thai cuisine, non-vegetarian and often spicy, is included.

An American woman, who taught at the temple, wrote in her "CHITARITA" blog in 2010 that shortly after she arrived, a good-natured monk called out to her: "Hey, fat lady! You so beautiful!"

American director David Poppe has been developing the teaching program at Wat Doi Saket since October 2009.

She described her role as an English teacher at the temple as a "culture shock" and fascinating life-changing experience.

In Chiang Mai, Wat Doi Saket welcomes foreign teachers but does not actively encourage meditation, though they are welcome to study Buddhism in their free time.

"I have been developing this program since October 2009," said Wat Doi Saket's teaching director David Poppe, 25, who was born in Simsbury, Connecticut.

"The temple has 160 novice monks, and class sizes range from six to 35. Given the size and schedule of the school, only two volunteers can live here and teach at one time.

"Teachers can expect to work roughly four to six hours per day, with the mornings free."

Wat Doi Saket's English teaching program is part of the ATMA SEVA Foundation. Foreigners pay much less to teach English at Wat Doi Saket, compared with the teaching and meditation program in Ratchaburi.

The first volunteer came for four months and paid 30,000 baht (US$1,000). A two-week trip would cost between 5,000 to 8,000 baht, depending on accommodation and working hours.

"At the wat, there is a kitchen below the volunteers' bedrooms, and each day one of the cooks delivers breakfast, lunch, and dinner," Mr. Poppe said.

"So far, none of the volunteers has been Buddhist. Religion has no bearing in regards to acceptance to the program. The goal is to improve conversational English, and if volunteers are interested in Buddhism they can pursue infinite knowledge, but nothing is scheduled or pushed."

Mr. Poppe first came to Thailand in 2007 and while not a Buddhist himself, is "very intrigued by Buddhism."

"I can arrange meditation retreats, dharma lectures, and have access to Buddhist resources if the desire to learn is present," he said.

For more information on volunteering in Thai temples, click on the above links.

Richard S. Ehrlich is from San Francisco, California. He has reported news for international media from Asia since 1978, based in Hong Kong, New Delhi and now Bangkok.

The golf course inside an airport

From a distance Don Mueang International looks like any other midsize airport. However, smack-dab in the middle of the two runways is an 18-hole golf course. (Link)

Thailand-No 3G and half a MB maximum is the reality

Kansas City is first city chosen for Google's fiber-to-the-home rollout

Last year Google announced plans tobuild and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the U.S. that will deliver Internet speeds of one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) via a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service. After receiving submissions from nearly 1,100 cities, the Internet giant has now revealed it will build its first ultra high-speed network in Kansas City, Kansas. Read More

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Presides at the Opening Ceremony for High Level Group for Education

The 10th Meeting of the High Level Group for Education for All (EFA) at Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH), Royal Cliff Hotels Group

Pattaya, Thailand – H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided the opening ceremony of the 10^th Meeting of the High Level Group on Education for All (EFA) at Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), a prominent facility of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group.

This conference was hosted and presented by the Government of Thailand, which included Thailand’s Prime Minister, HE Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Minister of Education Thailand, Mr. Chimnavorn Bunyakiat and senior Thai Government Officials on 22^nd – 24^th March 2011. Together with UNESCO’s Director General, Mme. Irina Bokova and officials from 34 leading member countries of UNESCO, delegates converged to discuss strategies on educational progress of ‘Education for All’ objectives.

This meeting was considered an important record in Thai history as Thailand had the opportunity to again host this conference which was first held in 1990, when the Jomtien Declaration was launched; and where the birth of Education for All (EFA) was initiated. This followed by a meeting held in Dakar, Senegal and where the Dakar Declaration was formed.

This meeting held in Jomtien-Pattaya, Thailand had objectives to achieve 6 of EFA’s goals, which included: pre-kindergarten educational cares, basic education, life skills, literacy rates, educational equalities among genders and educational qualities. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s personal interest in education, children and the efforts of EFA was apparent in Her Royal Highness’ speech during the event. In his opening speech, Thailand’s Premier pledged the kingdom’s efforts to work together with all nations to identify strategic and operational initiatives to address the remaining challenges before the next meeting in 2015.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also graciously declared open a commemorative exhibition of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been conferred as the ‘Teacher of the Land’ for His Majesty’s continual work with education and children.

HRH the Princess and all delegates enjoyed a Welcome Dinner at PEACH, and were entertained by children from the local schools and institutions, who put on spectacular performances from traditional Thai dances, theatrical shows to enchanting choirs.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group’s Managing Director, Mrs. Panga Vathanakul and the hotels group’s executives were present to welcome HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Prime Minister, Mme. Irina Bokova, top dignitaries and all delegates who attended this productive and important meeting.

Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH) is a world-class multipurpose ‘one stop convention solution’ offering complete versatility and flexibility for any meeting, exhibition or banquet needs. Located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand; PEACH together with the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, offers 53 different meeting venues measuring over 23,500 sqm, making it the largest and best ‘state-of-the-art’ convention centre outside of Bangkok. This highly rated self-sufficient column-free convention centre accommodates up to 8000 delegates in theatre-style seating and 3700 seats for banquets.

For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group facilities, please visit www.royalcliff.com or www.peachthailand.com

IELTS test in Italy and Sri Lanka – March 2011 (Academic Module)

Listening test

Section 1. A conversation between a receptionist at the hotel and a man booking rooms for a group of college workers.
Questions: filling a form, multiple choice.

Section 2. A student talks to his study adviser about his experience in a volunteers’ organization and about his thesis status.
Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice.

Section 3. A lecture by a university lecturer about the history of Bergers and Tuareg people (nomads).
Questions: filling in blanks.

Section 4. A lecture by a wild life photographer regarding photographing red squirrels.
Questions: multiple choice, filing a form.

Reading test

Passage 1. Research into dinosaurs.

Passage 2. An article dated 2003 about e-books and e-publishing.

Passage 3. A scientific article about planet formation and interstellar matter.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We had to write a report on a data table of total visits to the cinemas in three countries, namely Australia, Azerbaijan and Japan, between 1995 and 1999.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that individuals are depending a lot on each other and some say individuals are getting more independent of each other. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- What should I call you?
- Are you working or studying?
- What is your major?
- Is it easier for you to relate to the teachers or other students?
- Where are you from?
- Let’s talk about live music.
- On what occasions can people listen to live music in your city or region?

Cue Card

Describe a situation when you have helped someone. Please say

- Who is the person that you have helped?
- What kind of help was it?
- How did you feel when you were helping him/her?

Discussion

Don’t remember.

Cesium Fallout from Fukushima ALREADY Rivals Chernobyl

Cesium Fallout from Fukushima ALREADY Rivals Chernobyl....but anyone who believes that Fukushima cannot possibly become as bad as Chernobyl has no idea what they are talking about.

read more...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

IELTS test in the UK – March 2011 (Academic Module)

Listening test

Section 1. A phone conversation between two friends.

Section 2. Don’t remember.

Section 3. A discussion about project work among 3 people.

Section 4. A professor was presenting his report.

Reading test

Passage 1. A report about usage of electronic devices in airplanes.

Passage 2. A research into sea cows.

Passage 3. Don’t remember.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a chart which described foreign students’ applications to a UK university from 1999 to 2003. There were 4 categories of countries of origin (EU countries, Middle East, Far East and African countries).

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Costs of international travel are decreasing and the tourism is growing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an increasing tourism activity in different countries?

Speaking test

Interview

- Where are you from?
- What is your full name?
- What should I call you?
- Can I see your ID?
- Are you currently working or studying?
- What are your responsibilities at work?
- Do you enjoy doing your current job? Why?
- What do you study?
- Which part do you like the most about your studies?
- Do you like flowers?
- Why do you like / dislike flowers?
- In your country, when do people give flowers to others?
- Is there any festival in your country involving the use of flowers?

Cue Card

Describe a successful company that you know. Please say:

- How did you hear about the company?
- How did this company become successful?
-What is your opinion about the company?

Discussion

- In your opinion what is better: working for someone and having a boss above you, or having your own business and managing it yourself?

IELTS Speaking tests in Malaysia and Nigeria – March 2011

Our kind friends S and K sent us the Speaking questions that they were asked in their exams in Malaysia and Nigeria.

Speaking test 1

Interview

- Do you live in a rural or urban area?
- Do you like it there, and why?
- Do you think that people sometimes need time to be alone?
- Why do you think so?
- Do you think it is easy to find time to be alone, nowadays?
- Do you think that choosing a gift is easy?
- Do you prefer to receive or to give gifts, and why?

Cue Card

Tell me about a peaceful place that you like, please say

- Where is the place located?
- What is this place?
- How did you come to know about the place?
- Why do you like that place?

Discussion

- Noise levels in urban area becoming a problem. How do you think this can be reduced?

Speaking test 2

Interview

- What is your name?
- What should I call you?
- May I see your ID?
- Do you live in a city or a village?
- What do you like the most about your home town?
- Lets talk about painting, what kind of painting did you do as a child?

Cue Card

Talk about the oldest person that you know. Please say

- Who is he/she?
- How old is he/she?
- What does he/she do?
- When did you see him/her last time?

Discussion

- What is the attitude towards aged people where you live?
- Do you think it has changed over time and why?

Using TV and movies as a teaching tool

How Soon Before your Cell Phone Replaces your Wallet?

Did you know that your cell phone may soon replace your wallet? Below displays a brief History of Money from the Past to Present and to the very near future of using your cell phone to make purchases.

[CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE]

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Education Ministers commit to achieve Education for All

Mr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director General of UNESCO, at the Press Briefing on the 10th High-Level Group on Education for All, Jomtien, Thailand 23 March 2011.

Mr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director General of UNESCO, at the Press Briefing on the 10th High-Level Group on Education for All, Jomtien, Thailand 23 March 2011. (©OK MASS 2011)
24.03.2011

Jomtien, 24 March 2011 – During the 10th High-Level Group Meeting on Education for All, Ministers and high-level representatives from 34 countries reaffirmed their commitment to achieve the six Education for All (EFA) goals by 2015

In the three-day meeting Ministers and high-level representatives reviewed the progress towards the achievement of Education for All over the last two decades and identified new and emerging challenges for the post 2015 agenda.

“It is very encouraging to see that some countries have made considerable progress,” said Mr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO.

“This tells us that it is possible to achieve the EFA goals through strong political will and financial support.”

Progress towards the EFA goals is uneven – across countries and in regards to the different goals. Remarkable advances have been made in primary school enrolment; many countries have a fair prospect to achieve universal primary education by 2015. However, progress towards the other goals has been much slower, notably early childhood care and education, youth and adult learning, vocational education and training, gender equality and literacy, as well as the quality of education.

Quality issues and marginalization remain major obstacles to education goals in developing and developed countries.

“Indeed, many population groups are still deprived of their right to quality basic education. African Ministers highlighted the difficulty to reach nomadic children, whereas in many Asian countries early marriage excludes girls from school,” Mr. Tang said.

In 2008, 67 million children were out of school and 17 percent of the world’s adult population lacked basic literacy skills.

“Less than four years are left before the 2015 target date, the current trend tells us that we are likely to miss the EFA goals – most of them by a wide margin,” he said.

Poor and rural households are among the most disadvantaged. Marginalized children, youth and adults are at risk of not getting a response to their basic learning needs – as the Jomtien vision had originally foreseen.

Progress towards EFA is thwarted by different types of disadvantages and discrimination, such as gender, income, location, nationality, disability, language, race and ethnicity.

Women and girls continue to face significant obstacles: nearly two-thirds of 796 million adults without basic literacy skills in 2008 were women. Gender stereotypes and disparities, especially at secondary level, reproduce social and economic injustices and impact disproportionately on girls’ capacity to earn wages and on their country’s overall progress in health and education. Furthermore, HIV&AIDS and persisting child labour prevent countries from achieving the EFA goals.

“The lack and inefficient use of financial resources is preventing many countries from attaining the EFA goals,” said Mr. Tang.

Participants firmly insisted on the need for a stronger focus on early childhood care and education, more and better qualified teachers, as well as reform of post-primary education, including technical and vocational training, and the need to concentrate more on all aspects of the quality of education.

Minister of Education Mr. Chinaworn Boonyakiat of Thailand expressed in his closing statement the strong belief that all nations, including Thailand, will put all possible efforts to achieve the EFA goals.

“With serious efforts, strong will and determination, EFA achievement is not a far reach dream,” he said.

Organized by UNESCO and hosted by the Government of Thailand, the 10th High-Level Group on Education for All is comprised of Ministers of Education and International Cooperation, representatives of international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector across six continents.

The High Level Group discussions are reflected in the Statement adopted by the participants. This statement is a call for action to all governments and EFA partners to meet the goals they committed to. Meeting in Jomtien, just over twenty years after the 1990 World Conference on Education for All, has been a symbolic act renewing the initial spirit and commitment of the global community towards education.

This meeting sends a strong signal and will inspire countries, and donors alike, to increase their efforts in the next four years in order to reach the six EFA goals timely by 2015.

“Here in Jomtien, where delegates from 155 countries adopted the World Declaration on EFA almost 20 years ago, we reaffirm our commitments to achieve the EFA goals. Let us join hands and substantially scale up efforts to reach the EFA goals,” said Mr. Tang.

*****

For more information:

UNESCO EFA webpage: www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-all/

UNESCO’s EFA Global Monitoring Report: www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/

EFA in Asia and the Pacific: www.unescobkk.org/education/efa/

Quakes batter Thailand's north

Tsunamis in the Mekong River?

Japanese Teacher at inlingua Bangkok needed

inlingua International School of Languages
Bangkok (Thailand)
At least 400 Baht/hour
recruit@inlinguabangkok.com
Send Resume
Part Time Japanese Teacher
日本語教師（日本人）

日本人の日本語教師（パートタイム）を募集しています。詳細については、下記のとおりです。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　記

学校名 : Inlingua International Language School,
Chitlom Branch
Tel. 02-254-7028-30 Fax 02-254-7098

場所　　：Central Chitlom Tower ７階
　　　（セントラル　デパート　チットロム店　後方のビル）

授業時間：平日　夕方

報酬　　: ３００バーツ/５０分
　　その他に、コース終了後、全報酬の１０％の
　　　　ボーナスを支給

Inlingua 語学学校は、語学教師の経験のあります各国の方々が、自国語を
教授しております。
日本人で、日本語教師に興味ある方は、早急に履歴書をＥメールにて、
Mr. Fraser Morrell, Director of Studies, recruit@inlinguabangkok.com 宛に送付して下さい。
尚、インタビューの日時は、上記Mr. Fraserからご連絡いたします。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　以上

Friday, March 25, 2011

Teacher Charlie - I felt the earthquake in Bangkok

Teacher Charlie's comments: Last evening at 21:03 I sent a message to a friend here in Thailand asking her if there had been an earthquake. It seems that I was correct although her response at the time was that I was drinking too much. (She was joking...)

At the time this wave hit Bangkok, I was standing at the top platform of the Pleonchit BTS station when I first noticed the swaying of the platform beneath me. It continued and as I searched around me for confirmation of what my body was telling me, I looked up to see the hanging overhead lights swinging wildly from their chains. This continued way too long and as the BTS train pulled up to the station, I boarded it very hesitantly. I was actually beginning to think I was the only one feeling/seeing this as most around me were too wrapped up in their Blackberries to notice that we were in the middle of an earthquake. Trust me when I say this wasn't minor because I had to grab the station railing for a moment to keep my balance.

Earthquakes DO HAPPEN IN BANGKOK!!!

Teacher Charlie

Two dead as strong quake hits Myanmar: officials

By Hla Hla Htay (AFP) – 10 hours ago

YANGON — A strong earthquake struck Myanmar near the Thai border on Thursday, killing at least two people, including a child, officials from both countries said, with shaking felt across the region.

Terrified residents fled their homes, tall buildings swayed and hospitals and schools were evacuated after tremors spread as far away as Bangkok, almost 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the epicentre, Hanoi and parts of China.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially recorded the quake as magnitude 7.0, but later revised it down to 6.8. A powerful aftershock was later measured at magnitude 5.4.

The epicentre was close to the borders with Thailand and Laos and was just 10 kilometres (six miles) deep.

A Myanmar official said a youngster died in a town close to the border with Thailand.

"We received a report that a child was killed in Tachileik town when a building collapsed because of the quake," said the official, who declined to be named.

Another three people were reported to have been injured in a different part of the town, which was close to the epicentre of the quake, and a resident said he could feel a tremor as he spoke to AFP.

"We have to lie down on the ground. The ward authorities are warning the people through loudspeakers to stay outside the buildings," he said.

"We are really afraid to stay inside our houses tonight."

Aid group World Vision said at least one bridge in the region was reported to have been broken by the quake.

"This part of the country is quite mountainous, and, given last week's severe rains, there are also concerns about landslides following this earthquake," Jenny MacIntyre, communications manager with World Vision in Myanmar, said.

Just across the border from Tachileik in Thailand, police in Mae Sai district said a 52-year-old woman was killed after a wall of her house collapsed.

Colonel Thanomsak Yospan, superintendent of Mae Sai district police, told AFP that the woman's home was poorly constructed and did not stand up to the tremor.

Chiang Rai governor Somchai Hatayatanti confirmed the woman's death and said the aftershock felt in the area was "quite serious".

He said efforts were made to evacuate people from tall buildings and he had ordered all patients from Mae Sai District Hospital to be taken to Chiang Rai.

The quake struck 90 kilometres (60 miles) north of Chiang Rai and 235 kilometres (150 miles) north-north-east of Chiang Mai, Thailand's second city and a popular tourist destination. Tall buildings shuddered in Bangkok during the tremor.

In China, villagers around 40 kilometres from the Myanmar border in the southwestern province of Yunnan said buildings swayed for over a minute during the quake, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 350 students and teachers were evacuated from a school in Menghai County, Yunnan, after the building developed cracks, Xinhua said.

People in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, nearly 900 kilometres (550 miles) from the epicentre, fled buildings when they felt tremors, Xinhua said. No casualties were reported in China.

In central Hanoi -- in Vietnam, away from the epicentre -- the quake was felt as a smooth rocking motion that lasted for several seconds.

Some Hanoi residents described fleeing their homes in panic.

Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, 36, who lives on the 10th floor of a highrise, said her husband noticed their pet fish shaking in their tank.

"We all rushed to the street. All the other people in the apartments also rushed out," she said.

Dang Hoang Anh Thu, 36, said her 17th-floor apartment also shook enough to move pictures on the wall.

"We got out, and saw that all other people in the building were heading downstairs as well," the university teacher said.

The city felt the tremor at about magnitude 5.0, according to Dinh Quoc Van, deputy head of the earthquake monitoring department, though there were no immediate reports of damage.

Officials in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw said they had clearly felt the quake, while a resident of Mandalay in central Myanmar said the shaking lasted for about five seconds.

The quake comes two weeks after Japan was hit by a monster earthquake, which unleashed a devastating tsunami that left around 27,000 people dead or missing and triggered a crisis at its Fukushima nuclear plant.

No tsunami warning was issued after the Myanmar quake as US seismologists said it was too far inland to generate a devastating wave in the Indian Ocean.

Two earthquakes strike in the border area in between Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and China

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have both confirmed that a on 3/24/2011 1:55:36 PM UTC (about 2035 local time), a 6.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in the highly-populated region of Shan State in Myanmar.

YubeNet is reporting that based on an automated impact model, this earthquake, which occurred in a region with medium vulnerability to natural disasters, has potentially a high humanitarian impact. It not clear at this time, however, whether international humanitarian aid is needed. Such a decision will be made by an expert.

The first earthquake occurred 89 km (55 miles) N of Chiang Rai, Thailand; 168 km (104 miles) SSW of Yunjinghong, Yunnan, China; 589 km (365 miles) NE of Rangoon, Myanmar; annd 772 km (479 miles) N of Bangkok, Thailand.

The USGS said the first 6.8-magnitude quake, which occurred six miles deep, was followed by another of the same strength but far deeper: 140 miles.

Potentially affected critical infrastructure:

* Nuclear plants: [None]
* Hydrodams: [None]
* Airports: Chiang Kham (161km), Xieng Lom (173km), Chiang Rai (113km), Chiang Tai International (105km), Ban Houayxay (92km), Tachilek (47km), Monghsat (78km), Luang Namtha (158km), Keng Tung (52km), Mengla (185km), Gasa (150km), Zheli Airfield P (155km)
* Ports: [None]

For more on the technical aspects of the first earthquake, go to USGS's webpage: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0002aes.php

It is being reported that the earthquakes were not powerful enough to generate a Pacific Ocean tsunami warning.

A must watch 抢救切尔诺贝利 The Battle of Chernobyl - Europe's Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (福島第一原子力発電所

切尔诺贝利核事故是一起发生在苏联乌克兰切尔诺贝利核电站的核子反应炉事故。该事故被认为是历史上最严重的核子电厂事故，也是国际核事件分级表中唯一的第七级事件。因为功

率的剧增导致反应炉被破坏，使得严重的放射性物质被释放到环境中。事故中绝大部分受害者的死因都归咎于放射线。绿色和平组织所估计的总伤亡人数是9万3千人，但引用在最新出炉的一份报告中的数据指出发生在白俄罗斯、俄罗斯及乌克兰单独事件在1990年到2004年间可能已经造成20万起额外的死亡。

The Chernobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine. At that time, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The event is regarded as the worst accident in the history of nuclear power. Because there was no containment building to trap the radiation, radioactive fallout drifted over parts of the western Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the UK, and the eastern United States. Large areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were badly contaminated. About 70% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus. About 200,000 people needed to be evacuated (moved away) and moved to other places where they could live after the accident.

チェルノブイリ原子力発電所事故（チェルノブイリげんしりょくはつでんしょじこ）とは、1986年4月26日1時23分（モスクワ時間 ※UTC+3）にソビエト連邦（現：ウクライナ）のチェルノブイリ原子力発電所4号炉で起きた原子力事故。広島に投下された原子爆弾（リトルボーイ）に換算して約500発分の原爆投下に相当する量の放射性物質が撒き散らされたことから、「核戦争」とも表現された。

Steven Pinker: Language as a Window into Human Nature

Thursday, March 24, 2011

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBODIA STUDENT RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDY IN THAILAND

Chhun Seakkeav, 20, a seventhterm student of The University of Cambodia (UC), interviewed with The Southeast Asia Weekly, describing about how hard she worked to get a scholarship to study in Thailand. She is majoring in English literature. Seakkeav received a scholarship to study in Thailand after she was selected
by UC to participate in a five month exchange program at Payap University, starting from 26 October 2010 to 13 March 2011.

She that after she saw the announcement paper on the information board at UC, she was really interested in it. The scholarship provider demanded candidates to write a one page essay of their study plan and submit it before the deadline, so she decided to spend few hours to finish her essay and then submitted it to the
university.

“I thought that it was such a great chance for me to try and test my ability. Perhaps a week later, I got a phone call from The University of Cambodia for an interview with other six short-listed candidates. Finally, I was one of the two selected candidates and was interviewed by seven instructors at UC. Several days later, I was told that I won the scholarship. I was so excited,” she said. As she is majoring in literature, she decided to choose English com-exchange program in Thailand because it is related to her major. Over there, she selected five subjects, such as instructional skills, creative writing, introduction to poetry and drama, introduction to short stories and novels, and Southeast Asian dance.

“The beginning four subjects are the relevant subjects to my major. Although the dance class is not related to my major, what has inspired me to choose this course is the Thai cultural that motivated a curiousness to learn more,” she added. Living in the new environment, she had met some differences and challenges between studying in Cambodia and abroad, she said. Because of entering the international college, she could meet lots of friends from different countries and cultures,
from all around the world, such as America, China, Burma, Korea, Italy, England, Australia, etc. that had given her a great chance to practice her English skills.
She said that she had tried her best to represent Cambodian people to foreign students. “I felt that during the time I studied in Thailand, I had more responsibilities on behalf of Cambodian students in trying to promote my home country to foreign people,” she said.

While she over there, the challenge was higher than studying in Cambodia because most of the foreign students did well in their study performance. She said they worked really hard, so to compete with those students, she had to study hard too. Seakkeav found it hard to adjust herself to the new environment. She couldn’t manage things well during life over there and felt a little homesick, but the separated life from friends and family has taught her to be more independent than before.
This scholarship taught her a lot about student life during studying abroad. She has learnt about communicative skill with new people, building knowledge and capacity, feeling of missing home country, and especially being an independent person.

After enjoying life in Thailand for over five months, this March, she has come back to Cambodia, along with an unforgettable experience. She is now continuing her study at UC. She said that she is planning to further her study in Master’s Degree in the field of education abroad after three or four years of working experiences either in accounting or education. (SEAW)

BY CHRIN SAMVISAL

Vietnamese students will leave for Japan as previously scheduled

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam International Education Development under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has announced that the Vietnamese students who plan to go to Japan to attend training courses under the scholarships granted by the State of Vietnam and MEXT scholarships granted by the Government of Japan, will still be able to leave for Japan in late March and early April 2011 as previously planned.

Plans to bringing students to Japan still ongoing

Photo by Vu Duy Loc, Vietnamese student in Tokyo

MOET has released a notice that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan will not affect the plan of Vietnamese students going to Japan to study.

“If Vietnamese students go to the areas which do not suffered from the natural calamity and wish to go studying as planned, and if the Japanese side affirms it can satisfy necessary conditions for Vietnamese students, MOET will soon complete procedures for them to go,” MOET has announced.

In case students plan to go to the natural calamity stricken areas, the Japanese side will suggest the delay in receiving Vietnamese students. Officers of the Vietnam International Education Development will work out with every Vietnamese student on the specific plan for the student.

In case Vietnamese students want to return to Vietnam after considering the difficult conditions in Japan and the consequences of the natural calamity and concluding that the conditions are not good enough to ensure the good learning and living, students should show their aspirations, so that Japanese government agencies, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and MOET consider and make decisions on every specific case.

MOET has also said that the Vietnamese Embassy in Vietnam, considering the situation, will submit reports to the Government and give suggestions on how to deal with the Vietnamese community in Japan in general and Vietnamese students in Japan in particular.

Vietnamese students in Japan safe

MOET has said that all Vietnamese students in Japan are safe or they have got temporary accommodations at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, and that they have got the support from the Vietnamese Embassy and Japanese relevant agencies. Some students have spontaneously left Japan.

Right after hearing the news about earthquake and tsunami in Japan, MOET immediately contacted Do Van Trung, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, who is in charge of managing Vietnamese students in Japan, to update information.

Regarding the students studying in Japan under the scholarships granted by the Japanese Government (MEXT, JDS), the Vietnam International Education Development has been informed by JICE and Japanese Embassy in Vietnam that Vietnamese students in Japan are all safe, while those students, who are living in temporary accommodations, are getting support from the Japanese side.

Some Vietnamese students said in the last few days, the consequences of the natural calamity have made the life of the students disturbed.

Van Minh, a student in Niigita said these days he mainly watches news about the nuclear crisis in Japan, talks with relatives in Vietnam and contacts friends.

Vu Duy Loc, a student in Tokyo, said he is now in the spring holiday, therefore, he is not busy. He always reads newspapers, talks to relatives and reads documents. “Some changes have come in my life, but there is no big disturbance,” he said.

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