Can you help the people of Haiti?

Please help if you can. You can donate money using your credit card or paypal account to the World Food Programme:

https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti

Thank you.

English-at-home.com members – help save the planet!

Climate change experts are warning us that time is running out. The world is getting hotter, and more and more people are at risk of extreme weather conditions, and losing their homes and livelihoods. What can we all do to cut our energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help save the planet? Every little counts, so here are my "resolutions" to become more energy-efficient and reduce my carbon footprint.

I promise to
- replace all the lightbulbs in my house with the new low-energy ones
- use saucepan lids when I cook to save gas
- walk or cycle to the local shop rather than driving (this is a hard one for me – the shop is a good 20 min uphill cycle away!)

What can you promise to do?

(PS: If you need ideas, click this link to the 10:10 climate change campaign.

How do you save energy?

If you're interested in what houses of the future will be like, read this article about a zero-carbon house in England.

What do you do to save energy on a daily basis?

Financial crisis in California

The BBC reports that the US state of California is facing a budget deficit from the property crisis and economic recession.

The governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has declared a 'fiscal emergency'. If politicians can't reach an agreement, California may have to stop paying welfare support to those in need.

How is your country dealing with the economic crisis? It is becoming harder to find a job?

How will you remember Michael Jackson?

Music legend Michael Jackson died this week from a cardiac arrest.

Perhaps the world's most famous entertainer, he brought us the thrilling "Moonwalk" and catchy pop songs. What will you remember him for?

Photo credit: Current news

Illegal downloads

Do you download files or music from the internet? The BBC reports that around 7 million people in the UK are involved in illegal downloads, and it's estimated that this costs the economy £120 billion a year.

A report examined consumer attitudes and found that people are confused about what is or isn't illegal – especially as so much is already free on the internet.

What's your opinion? Should the government criminalise people who download from the internet? Should everything be free anyway?

Who's your hero?

The BBC Learning English site has a great article about Susan Boyle, the contestant on Britain's Got Talent, a TV talent show.

Unknown only a few weeks ago, her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" became an instant hit on YouTube, and has now been viewed by more than 100 million people.

So why is she so popular? Perhaps because at first sight, she looks so unlike a singing superstar. I think she makes us all question how we judge people on their appearance, and how quick we are to ignore people who don't live up to certain stereotypes.

What do you think? Who's your hero?

Do tall people earn more?

Researchers in Australia say that tall people earn more than shorter people, and chubby (= fat) people earn more than skinny people. Apparently this is because society considers taller people as more powerful.

What do you think? Do tall people in your country earn more?

Scandal of MP expenses

A "mole" (= spy) has leaked details about what British MPs have claimed as expenses. Now, parliamentary authorities have called in the police to find out who the identity of the mole, who has supplied information to the Daily Telegraph. But the government are worried that the police investigation may backfire as there is huge anger at what the public consider as greed and fraud by MPs.

An example is the cost of a razor, claimed by a health minister. He said that when he was told the expense was inadmissible, he withdrew his claim. He said "In order to represent my constituents effectively I have somewhere to live – in my family home – and I have somewhere to live in London to carry out my duties in parliament. In all my claims for the costs of the accommodation in London I have acted with the full approval of the fees office and the claims are entirely in line with the rules of parliament."

Some other examples:
- a minister claimed about £60,000 under the second homes allowance, but for a house where his parents lived.
- an MP claimed for two tins of pet food.
- a minister claimed for two packets of nappies
- a senior politician claimed for the service on his swimming pool boiler.
- some MPs have changed their second home from London to their constituency home to allow them to claim for renovation work on the new second property.

David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party said: "I completely understand how angry the public are about this and we desperately need change. "We've got to radically reduce the number of things that MPs can claim for such as barbeques and patio heaters."

Words in the news

leak details / information = tell other people confidential information
MP = Member of Parliament
claim sth as an expense = say you needed to buy something from your own money and ask the company to pay back (i.e. if you need to pay for a hotel room when you are on a company trip)
backfire = have completely the opposite effect of what you wanted
greed = when you want more money than fair or necessary
fraud = trying to get money by making a wrong claim
inadmissible = cannot be allowed
constituents = the people an MP represents
act with the full approval = do what is allowed
in line with = in accordance with
boiler = machine which heats water

Other related words

submit a claim for = give your company a form where you write down what you paid and attach the receipt
constituency = the geographical area that an MP represents
personal expenditure = the money you pay for personal items
personal gain = doing something to get money for yourself
unethical = not ethical / morally acceptable

Madeleine McCann – two years on

Today is the second anniversary of the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from the resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal.

The anniversary was marked by prayers in her home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, where the family priest dedicated today's mass to Madeleine.

The McCann family have released a digitally enhanced age progression image of Madeleine at six years old. Their spokesman said, "This is the child that somebody who is close to Madeleine may spot, rather than the child in those other photos." In a statement the McCanns said,"It is two long years since Madeleine was taken. It is two years since we were a happy family of five. The pain and anxiety does not lessen, but our determination to find our beautiful daughter remains steadfast. We are no longer looking for a four-year-old little girl, but a six-year-old one. This is crucial."

A documentary about the disappearance will be aired this week. In it, two private detectives try to piece together witness evidence. They believe that the answer to Madeleine's disappearance lies in Praia da Luz. The McCann family hope that the documentary will jolt people's memories.

Photo credit: Find Madeleine Campaign/PA

resort = a village or town where people go on holiday
mark the anniversary = do something special on an anniversary
mass = Catholic service
spot = see by accident
lessen = become less or weaker
steadfast = strong, constant
documentary = factual TV programme
aired = broadcast
piece together = to put together small pieces
a witness = someone who has seen something
jolt someone's memory = make someone remember

Related vocabulary

to go missing = to disappear
to be abducted = when a person is taken away by someone
to be kidnapped = to be taken by a person who then demands money to release the victim

To help, please visit the Find Madeleine site.