Topic Reading-Vol.1001-1/7/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Scientists find first frog that gives birth to tadpoles

How many species of frogs have been known?

How do they produce their offspring?

Do all tadpoles come out of eggs that are fertilized externally?

If you’re interested in these questions, you’ll find the answers in the article.

Enjoy reading and learning about reproduction process, normal and rare, of frogs..

http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-first-frog-gives-birth-tadpoles-193258670.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1000-1/6/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Baby shortage imperils Japan's economy

In Japan, more people die than were born, by nearly 26 percent, or 269,000 in 2014. If this trend is to continue, the nation’s population could decline by a third in the next half century. This is apparently a serious problem for the third largest country in economy in the world as elderly people require financial and human support by younger generations.

Are there any viable solutions? Of course there are. First, make more babies. This requires not only encouragement but also incentives and support to allow women to become mothers. Another solution is to bring in more immigrants. This seems mentally difficult for Japanese as they are used to live only with Japanese in Japan. .

Will the central and local governments take more progressive approach to solve this clear and disastrous problem?

Enjoy reading and learning about this population problem and think of workable solutions in this 1,000th issue of Topic Reading.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/02/news/economy/japan-baby-shortage/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.999-1/5/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Syria conflict: 76,000 die in deadliest year – activists

What made so many people dead in a year? There were uprisings against the regime a few years ago. Now there are more serious battles in the country against brutal and ruthless Islamic State, or IS, that kills anyone who doesn’t follow their beliefs and activities. More government soldiers, civilians and other militants were killed than IS soldiers, bringing the total deaths to slightly higher than the previous year to a little over 76,000.

There are other numbers that cast a shadow over the country where Bashar al-Assad still holds the presidency despite the criticism against his tyranny. Over half of the country’s population is under severe poverty and half of the children don’t attend school. Who should be the leader of such a devastated country?

Read and think what the situation of this country this year and the future of the people will be like.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30648181

Topic Reading-Vol.998-1/4/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

India to check on toilet use in 'real time'

A big problem in the second and soon-to-be the most populous country. Nearly a half of people there are estimated to defecate in the open, some of them have no choice but others choose to do so instead of using toilet. It became one of the most prioritized causes by the newly elected leader of India to install a toilet in every household within five years. So far, they distributed over a half million toilets and have started monitoring if they are actually used. It seems like a very long way to go for a country whose population and the number of households are both growing rapidly. But if cleanliness and sanitation aren’t improved, the growth of population and economy may not be sustained because it’s one of the most important health issues.

Enjoy reading and learning this India’s challenge to change everyone’s daily practice.

http://news.yahoo.com/india-check-toilet-real-time-154320142.html

Topic Reading-Vol.997-1/3/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Effort to kill California's ban on plastic grocery bags moves forward

Will plastic bags be banned for grocery shopping? In some cities and counties in California, they already are. But the move to ban the use of plastic bags, which was already passed and signed, may have to clear a rigorous hurdle to be put into effect.

Who is opposing the ban? The plastic bag manufacturers. They put millions of dollars in a campaign against the ban and collected over a half million of signatures needed for an appeal.

They say plastic bags are easily recyclable. Environmentalists argue that such manufactures make money at a cost of California’s environment.

Enjoy reading and learning how economy and environment conflict in a certain situation.

http://news.yahoo.com/effort-kill-californias-ban-plastic-grocery-bags-moves-214733293.html

Topic Reading-Vol.996-1/2/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

China's wealth finds home in Washington state

Isn’t mainland large enough for rich Chinese? While anti-corruption campaign is looking into people in mainland China, Chinese money is flooding into West coast in the US. They’ve been known for big real estate buyers for years creating China towns all over the places. Business money has been invested in prominent properties like Waldorf Astoria in New York so has been the private money in West coast for residential homes especially in the state of California and Washington where they can reach non-stop from major cities in China. The average purchase price is approximately a half million dollars, nearly twice as much as the state average in Washington.

Why are they buying houses in America? Some of them buy a house for their children to study there. It sounds like a bold and sound investment in education and real estate, doesn’t it?

Enjoy reading and learning about where and how wealthy Chinese are investing their money.

http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-wealth-finds-home-washington-state-070807409--finance.html

Topic Reading-Vol.995-1/1/2015

Dear MEL School’s Topic Readers,

Doubts as giant China project's water reaches capital

There is already the longest canal in the world to Beijing. The 1,776km long Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which links the Yellow River and Yangtze River. Its construction began in 5^th century BC and completed in 7^th century AD.

12 and a half centuries later in 1952, Mao Zedong, the country’s founding father said, “There's plenty of water in the south, not much water in the north. If at all possible; borrowing some water would be good.” Then this ambitious water canal construction began and completed in 2014 and started supplying massive water from the Yangtze River in south to thirsty industrialized northern China through three canal systems, The Eastern, Central and Western routes.

Though it is one of the most expensive engineering projects in the world, the effect and return of this investment is doubtful because of declining rainfall in the south, increasing water demand in the north and pollution of the water being carried.

Enjoy reading and learning about this historic and symbolic human project in great China on New Year’s Day.

http://news.yahoo.com/doubts-giant-china-projects-water-reaches-capital-034005462.html