BASKETBALL: a way to succeed in life

Poverty is the shortage of common things such as food,

clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, all of which

determine our quality of life. It may also include the lack of

access to opportunities such as education and employment.

Due to poverty, people get sick and in some places where

poverty rates our high people die.

The continent in which poverty is higher is, in fact,

Africa. Children and old people are the most affected; a huge number of people die in every

three seconds due to diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, AIDS and so many others. This

reality doesn’t seem to be a problem to developed countries visa what they do nothing

against it and just look at their navel.

Then, since this is so, some people who live in poor countries like Guinea-Bissau,

have to struggle against this problem if they want to succeed in life.

Manuel, Carlos and Henrique Sicó are the perfect live example of it. Three brothers

who live, study and play Basketball in Barreiro, city that welcomed them after they left

backwards their family, friends and Guinea-Bissau. They came from the poor country due to

poverty and to difficulties that they passed there.

The elder brother Manuel was the leader of the younger

brothers. He was the first one to come to Portugal, in search of better

conditions of life. He came to a little city called Torres Novas, where he

played until he joint Barreirense.

The other two brothers follow his steps and joint Barreirense

too. These three brothers are very good players, some promises of Portuguese Basketball.

They really have to make an effort to subsist in Portugal, because despite they are alone

here, without any relative, they have to send money to their family in Guinea-Bissau.

Besides Basketball, they study. The elder brother is taking a vocational course and

the two younger brothers are in Secondary School. This shows that they have their feet on

the ground as far as their future is concerned.

People like these three brothers should be like an idol to us. They struggled to

succeed and because of their will, they achieved what they wanted. We should do the same.

Alexandre Nascimento, 10º CTA

Cinema or theatre: What do people prefer nowadays?

Graphic of theatre and cinema in Lisbon. The peaks of the research for "cinema" are during the weekend. During the week theatre exceeds the cinema until it reaches its peak of researches.

Nowadays, in Portugal, most people prefer going to the cinema than spending their free time in a theatre. Cinema is cheaper than the theatre and there aren’t too many theatres in Portugal, except in the big cities and the shows are not on stage everyday and are not there much time, while cinemas are very common; in the cinema spectators can socialize more, talk and share opinions about the film without disturbing the actors and can eat and drink; the screen is very big, so everyone can watch the film even in the last row, while in the theatre is much different, spectators on the last rows don’t see or even listen to the show very well. But cinema has its disadvantages, sometimes the noise of other people talking or eating is annoying and makes it difficult to concentrate on the film; people don’t have the chance to chose how they would prefer to see an animation film, if dubbed or not. They are always dubbed in Portuguese which doesn’t show the true essence of the original movie (like Shrek without Antonio Banderas or Eddie Murphy voices). Theatres are magical and live, there is interaction between the audience and the actors; it is more educational; there is more respect for other spectators and for the actors, while in the cinema there are some rude people who like to disturb other by talking loudly or even throwing pop corns to other people.

Theatre: In Portugal and In England.

In Portugal there aren’t many theatres and, as people aren’t really interested, shows don’t stay on stage much time. However, in England, for example, there are a lot of theatres and musicals that are so seen they stay on stage for more or less twenty years.

- London and Lisbon:The following graphic is just an approximation; it shows from 0 to 6 what people prefer in London and in England.

Theatre and cinema in 10º CTA

Written by: Ana Miguel Henriques

Beatriz Galrinho 10º CTA

-What if cancer is the cure?

I have recently read a fascinating theory about cancer by

Eva Vertes. She is a young scientist that discovered, at the age of

17, a compound that stops fruit fly brain cells from dying, a step

toward curing Alzheimer’s. She has also a radical point of view

about it, in such a way that can create a revolution in cancer

investigation. For her, cancer is a way of regeneration of the

body, in a process that has not yet been perfected by evolution.

As you should know cancer is a high proliferation of cells, which results in the growth

of a tumour, creating serious complications. But the interesting fact is that this process occurs

in injured parts of the body (for example, if you have bone fracture, then bone cancer can

appear; if you have acid reflux, damaging the oesophagus, cancer appears), as if the body was

trying to reverse the situation, starting a repair response. However, it can’t handle this

increase in the number of cells. This means that if we could tell the body, at a certain point, to

stop super-producing cells, we could, actually treat a large group of diseases.

To strengthen this theory, we have to understand what stem cells are. Well, stem cells

are an extraordinary type of cell of our body that has the ability to differentiate into any type

of tissue, any type of the 220 cells of our body. And, as recent studies indicate, cancer begins

from a single stem cell; but how to combine the future of treating an endless number of

pathologies with one of the most fearful diseases of our time? This theory gives a satisfying

explanation for this relation – stem cells “activates” cancer in this direct response of the body.

However, there are some details unproven, or without explanation, that bring some

doubts to the whole theory. For example, the science community has a strong opinion about

the “birth” of a cancer – a DNA malfunction, originating the disease.

Although this theory has a lot of radical suggestions that may be proven wrong, her

passion and fascination for the complexity of a single disease, demonstrated in this

unconventional explanation (you can see it at www.ted.com), is truly amazing.

Miguel Oliveira, 10º CTA

English Joana Coelho 10 AVA

The History of PaperSince the invention of writing, people had been trying to come up with something easier to write on than

papyrus or

parchment, and also something easier and cheaper to make. But it took 3000 years to come up with paper! Paper was invented around 100 BC in China. In 105 AD, under the Han Dynasty emperor Ho-Ti, a government official in China named Ts'ai Lun was the first to start a paper-making industry. Ts'ai Lun has made his paper by mixing finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with water, mashing it flat, and then pressing out the water and letting it dry in the sun. He may have based his idea on bark cloth, which was very common in China and also made from mulberry bark. Ts'ai Lun's paper was a big success, and began to be used all over China.The paper has become very useful for people. We use it in many different ways such as to write, to clean, to pack, to make publicity, to make art… Nowadays, because of the environmental problems, people have started to make recycled paper; however, people usually prefer the paper which is made from virgin pulp because it is brighter and stronger than the recycled. Can anyone imagine how life would be without paper? Well, we would have to use anything else to write on! Paper is probably one of the most important inventions of all times.

Why didn’t print this? Because I’m saving trees.

Ballpoint Pen

Ballpoint pen is a type of ink pen moisten with a rolling ball that slides on the surfaces.

The concept of a ballpoint pen was made by John J. Loud, 30 October 1888. But it was the Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro who invented the first ballpoint pen in the 1930s. It started when he noticed that the type of ink used in printing of newspapers dried quickly, leaving the paper dry and without blots. Imagine then to create a pen using the same type of ink. However, the thick paint did not flow well and he had to plan a new kind of art for his pen. He did it through the assembly of a small sphere at the point. The innovation was practical: while the pen ran the paper, turned the ball inside, so the ink was deposited on the paper. Laszlo Biro and his brother Georg (a chemist), came with a patent application of its ballpoint pen in his home country, Hungary, France and Switzerland in 1938. In Europe, the first ballpoint pens available in 1945 were produced by Marcel Bich, who developed an industrial process to significantly reduce the cost of pens per unit. In 1949, these pens have been launched commercially under the name "Bic", an abbreviation of his surname. With all the global developments in the future may not exist ballpoint pen. More and more technologies are being developed for all areas and at school is no exception. Until now, to write,we use a ballpoint pen, a pencil, etc... In the future it is planned to use the digital pen. This has already been invented, and can write a digital book. The pen will record everything that is written and then transferred to a PC.

Vanessa Silvares 10ºAVA

Computers -

my hobby

My hobby is computers, Information

Technology. Computers are verycomplicated machines. I don’t know whatour life would look like if there weren't anycomputers. These machines are built from:

mainboard, central processing unit (CPU),operating memory (RAM), Hard Disk Drive(HDD), optical discs drive, graphics card,floppy disk drive. All of these items can work correctly, if you want to use a computer

for years. If we want to play games, we want to have a computer with a good graphics card. Ifwe want to search for information or download some files, we need to have access tothe Internet.

People also use the Internet to buy things in Internet shops. I like to download music,pictures and videos (legally, of course), software and install it on my computer. Iwon’t write about RAM memory, …, you have to use the net if you want to find outmore about it.

What I like most about computers is modding. I change many things in mycomputer, for example the case. I also improve the software. If you want to see theeffects of modding just search for videos on the Internet, for example:www.youtube.com, and search for the topic: computer modding or computer mod.

You can find a lot of information on the Internet. Information Technology is a very interesting science.

Marcin, 15, Poland

In the nowadays world it is farmore difficult to distinguish ourselvesfrom the crowd of the ordinary people.Most of people decide to buy notalways cheap, mass-made clothes„made in china” and they don’t eventry to put them together in aninteresting way. However, Polishfashion is still developing. More andmore people try to make fabulouscreations.

That’s how ‘’wardrobe girls’’are- girls who, just a moment afterputting cool, often unconventionalclothes on, take picture of themselvesand put it in the Internet. Those girlsare various age, they live just likeother people, but they shine because oftheir great interest In fashion andclothes. ‘’Wardrobe girls’’ are also verybrave – they are not afraid to showtheir clothes to many people, whocomment them and judge their style.Comments are not always pleasant andnice due to differences between

people’s taste. But ‘’wardrobe girls’’ are different – they prefer to talk aboutdifferent tastes and they have a lot to say. By their clothing they express theirintriguing personality. They not only do the shopping in famous chain stores butalso browse in second-hand shops and even make them on their own. We giveyou some links to Polish ‘’wardrobe girls’’ websites below:

• http://alicepoint.blogspot.com/

• http://jakubowa.blogspot.com/

• http://pangenialna.blox.pl/html

• http://styledigger.blogspot.com/

• http://szafasztywniary.blogspot.com/

This kind of showing personalities in the Internet becomes popular in boys worldtoo.

Face-hunting – what does itmean? Face-hunter is a person whotravels around different cities with acamera in their hand and takes photos ofpassers-bies wearing interesting clothes.Face-hunters usually have their ownstyle but it doesn’t mean that they don’ttake picture of other people even if theydon’t actually like their clothes. For face-hunters it’s more important to bedressed in fascinating way, not alwaysaccording to their taste. Face-huntingexists in a few Polish cities, for exampleWarsaw, Cracow, Gdansk, Poznan,Wrocław and Lodz.

Our Polish fashion designers become more and more famousaround the world too. Ten years ago you could see their work only inPoland, now they are well-known in Europe and soon they will be famousaround the whole world. Three the most popular Polish fashion designersare Ewa Minge, Dawid Wolinski and Maciej Zien.Ewa Minge's adventure with fashion begun with an order placed by Polishex-president's wife, Jolanta Kwasniewska. The picture of her daughterwearing Ewa's dress was seen by the whole world. That is when EwaMinge's career accelerated. Her new collection was shown during ParisFashion Week lately. She also opened her luxurious boutiques in manycountries around the globe: in Poland, Russia, the USA, Germany, Italy,Israel, France and many other.Maciej Zien - young and talented designer, who is very famous in France.As the rumour goes, he is going to create a special collection for one ofthe most important Paris concept store. His dresses are chosen by manycelebrities around the world, like for example Andie MacDowell.Another famous Polish designer is Dawid Woliński. He became verysuccessful in the USA. His clothes are worn by Paris Hilton and NicoleRichie. His collection was show during Lisbon Fashion Week and wasregarded as very good by Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Englishstylists.

That is how things are going in fashion in Poland. We are veryinterested in how it is in your countries.

Agata Jańczuk i Dorota Choińska, 16, Poland

Films & TV series for teenagers

Almost everyone likes watching TV. It’s a very popular kind ofentertainment. Why do we like it so much? I think it’s because they are

about magic, love, unfaithfulness, betrayal, things that doesn’t happen

every day to everyone. For several dozens of minutes we can move toanother world, cut off from our problems. We hope that we could

experience some things that are shown there.

Also, we usually have our favorite character. If he’s upset or angrywe are too and if he’s happy we are also glad. We like watching things

that are unbelievable or that we know will never come true.

For example, recently in cinemas there was a film ‘‘Twilight’’ whichtells the story of a young, ordinary girl who falls in love with Edward who,

as she later knew, was a vampire. After I watched it I was absolutely

amazed and I can’t wait to see the second part of this great movie. The“Harry Potter” movies were also blockbusters. This is the proof that we

love imaginary, created stories. Everyone likes watching films or TV series

that are set somewhere we would like to go or are about something thatwe are interested in (for example fashion, music bands, sport, dance).

I’m sure that people will never stop making films and TV series

because other people in future will be always interested in it and will takeTV as a good way to relax and ‘charge their batteries’. Some people say

that it’s a waste of time or that it kills our imagination but I think it’s not

true.

Diana, 15, Poland

„Katyń”

It is 17 September, 1939. A day, when RussianRed Army attacked Poland. Anna, a captainAndrzej’s wife, wants to find her husband. Butsomething is wrong. All soldiers are near thechurch, but there aren't a few officers.Somebody tells her where Andrzej is. She goesto the train station, where Polish POW’s1 arekept. Her husband wants to stay with othersoldiers. His honor doesn’t allow him toescape. It’s 1943. German soldiers find bodies of http://www.stopklatka.pl/film/plakat.asp

murdered soldiers, in the forest near Katyń. ?xi=21280&zdjecie=8fd4c5b19f4a677

Anna thinks that her husband is still alive, but… Yes, but. After the warcolonel Jerzy tells her the true, but Anna doesn’t believe him. She thinks thatis another communist lie.

The film “Katyń” is based on the book “Katyń post mortem”. The beautifulscenario with the patriotic subtext makes this film one of the best in itscategory. Amazing acting with brilliant special effects – it’s definitely worthseeing. Don’t miss it.

Director – Andrzej WajdaScreenwriters – Andrzej Wajda

Władysław PasikowskiCast:

Captain Andrzej – Jakub śmijewskiAnna – Maja OstaszewskaCaptain’s mother – MajaKomorowskaColonel Jerzy – Andrzej ChyraGeneral – Jan EnglertPilot – Paweł Małaszyński

1 – Prisoner of warhttp://www.stopklatka.pl/film/zdjecie.asp?t1i=1&xi=21280&number=9&g4i=

Maciek S., 15, Poland

The best in the world !!!!!!

Everyone knows where the best fans in the world are – certainlyin Poland. Everywhere wherePolish sportsmen or sportswomenare, there are Polish fans.The best fans are volleyball fans.For example when there was theWorld Championships in Japan,there were loads of Polish fans.I think that thanks to the fansPolish volleyball players won a silver medal. Every year when

Poland plays in the World Leagueall tickets are sold. The mostfavourite place where matchestake place is 'Spodek' inKatowice. 'Spodek' is amultipurpose arena in Poland.The arena can hold 11,500people. The arena resemblesUFO ('spodek' is a 'saucer' in

English). Not only the representation hasfans. Every volleyball team has a'fan club'. When their team plays amatch they support them.

Handball and ski jumping fans arethe best in the world too. Thanksto the success of Polish handballplayers and Adam Małysz, there

are more and more fans.

Every fan club has characteristic gadgets like sca rves, forexample, and songs which they sing during matches. I think thatin comparison to football fans they behave much be tter,praiseworthily, like real fans. There is no fightin g duringmatches.

Gosia, 15, Poland

Let’s talk about

environment - the Dutchguests in Poland

During the first week of Februaryour school, Stanislaw Konarski

Junior High School no7 in

Bialystok, hosted four students andtwo teachers from the Netherlands.

We presented Challenges and

started working on Environmentproject. First, we wanted to show

some precious environments of our region, still worth protecting.

Then,we talked a lot about living ecologically and how to make our world acleaner and healthier place. It was combined with trips to: Białowieski National

Park (where we visited museum and had a walk through the primeval forest-

The Oak Trial ), to the National Forests department,pro-eco glass plant Bialglass and finally we had

practical workshops during which we designed ‘eco-

fashion’ and every-day-use things, like a pencil case ora dinner-bell :-) from recycling materials (paper, wool,

old boxes).

Our guests participated in lessons: Maths, Arts andshooting classes. They had a possibility to see for

themselves how our – Polish – lessons are different

from theirs. During that week there were many ‘parties’ at

Stanislaw Konarski Junior High – Dutch students took

part in our school disco and Saint Valentine Singing Contest. They also went ona sleigh ride through the forest – thankfully, a few days before, it started to

snow :-)

As a bonus, our guests had an opportunity to try bigos - a dish made fromsausage, mushrooms and sauerkraut, but in fact, they didn’t seem to like it :-(

We believe, that participating in EurOpenminded project will stay in our

memories for a very long time.

Meeting the Dutch guests was

an opportunity to bring up

environmental problems withgreat fun – entertaining

workshops and interesting

discussion. New friends, newknowledge and new view on

important topic – now that’s

something worth experiencing!