Earth, our planet is home to million different species but only one of them dominates everything: human beings .There are nearly 7 billion of us living on Earth and the human population is increasing by nearly 2 people every second, that means 200.000 every day. Each of us needs food, water, energy, shelter and hopefully a whole lot more.

  It is expected that by the middle of the century we will reach the number of 9 billion people and our planet will need to accommodate almost 3 billion more of us. This number is larger than the current population of Europe or Africa. Scientists believe that the least developed countries will experience the most rapid growth and this will not only affect their natives, it will affect all of us. Until now, the population was kept under control by nature. Just like the other animals we would thrive when there was enough food and water but when diseases or droughts stroked, life would be cut short. But those environmental limits are being reduced, since we fought many infectious diseases. Living healthily and long has consequences; the productive capacity of the Earth has limits that will finally determine how many human beings it can support.

  We call Earth “blue planet” because about 70% of its surface is covered in water. But most of that is sea and only 2, 5% of it is available for human use. Additionally, there is no more water on the planet than what there was when life first appeared. However, distribution has changed and more than a billion people lack access to clean drinking water. At some point, wars are going to happen for water instead of oil and we are wasting it when we should be conserving it. As the impact of human demand begins to be seen from space we are taking advantage of half the available water to serve our needs. Desalination might be a solution but with the current economy, it is a very expensive procedure. As you can see for yourselves, the prospect of providing water to 3 billion more of us does not look good, but in many ways this is the least of our worries…

  When it comes to the world’s food supply we are using almost all that’s available to us to get great agriculture potentials and there is hardly any extra land. If the population grows as much as it is expected we will need to double the amount of food that we have at the moment. Food production cannot increase as rapidly as human reproduction does and demand will eventually outstrip supply. Doubling productivity sounds ambitious but we have done even better in the past. In the 20^th century industrialization managed to triple farming goods my using new machines, the least developed parts of the world kept on using traditional methods until the 60’s. Then, Norman Borlaug decided to do something about it. 

   He is credited with saving million lives in what’s became known as the “green revolution”. Borlaug developed disease-resistant crops and taught Indian and Mexican farmers how to get the most out of them with modern farming methods. This allowed many countries to become self-sufficient in food. In 1970 he received the Nobel Peace prize for his work. Thanks to him much of the world is now fed.
Today, international corporations and governments of the most powerful countries on the world seek to take advantage of some of the last remaining areas of undeveloped farmland. Urban land suitable for cultivation is becoming a scarce commodity and countries find it more and more difficult to produce enough food to feed their populations so they are now trying to achieve it by buying land abroad. Their aim is to introduce intensive farming methods and export the food back to their home countries. These deals are often shrouded in secrecy and we’re not always certain that local communities will benefit from them…
Today’s population requires the equivalent of one and a half Earths to support our current way of life. We are simply living beyond the means of our environment to sustain us. In order to remain within the productive capacity of the planet, people in industrialized countries will have to give up consumption of a great deal to create the needed ecological space. If we do not make these compromises we are going to reach a point we will really suffer. As I see it, there are only three ways to avoid that. We can stop consuming so many resources, we can change our technology and we can reduce the growth of our population. We will probably need to do all three.

  The understanding of the natural world is crucial for all of us. After all, we depend on it for our food, the air we breathe, and some would say for our own very sanity. It is a relationship that we are stretching to a breaking point as we continue to grow in numbers. I am fully aware that this article can be seen as depressing. But human beings have capabilities that animals do not. We think rationally, study and plan ahead. We are at crossroads where we can choose to cooperate or carry on regardless what … and I hope our intelligence saves us!

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Dear Readers,

The current issue has been redacted and published by us, the students of the A and B classes of the Model Experimental Senior High School of Patras, as a writing project of the school year 2013-2014, under the supervision of our english teacher, Ms Maria Marisa Christopoulou.

The articles included in our newspaper have been chosen by us, based on our personal interests and research. It is our first publishing experience and we feel really content for that.

Our issue participates in the Digital School Festival conducted in Patras on 3th-5th April 2014

We hope you enjoy reading our work. Please, contact us for any comments.

Yours,

The students

      It is a fact that e-learning has been growing in recent years. No one can deny that it benefits our lives while it offers us an easy and practical way to learn things from home.

To start with, from the educational point of view, this type of learning not only gives the students the opportunity to choose between a wide variety of subjects, but also promotes their autonomy. In other words, it provides them with the freedom to create their own schedule. As far as geography is concerned, it can be argued that e-learning is much more favourable since the Internet can be used almost everywhere, whereas classrooms are only in universities.

On the other hand, from a social aspect, students have no communication with their fellow-students, so they do not learn how to cooperate. Therefore, spending too many ours in front of a computer means that you are locked up at home, have no time for exercise and may cause damage to your eyes.

Taking everything into account, it seems to me that e-learning provides us with equal opportunities all over the world. Thus, choosing this method of learning would not be a waste of time, but rather an attempt to increase your knowledge.

‘’The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow’’ refers Bill Gates. It is obvious that nowadays Internet has become an indispensable part of our lives affecting every single aspect of it. Its tremendous potentials have provided people with a powerful tool which ushered technology in a new era. However, just like any other innovation in technology and science, Internet comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

In the first place, Internet has been the greatest mankind’s means of communication. Social networking websites such as Facebook and Skype have created new ways to socialize and interact. Consequently people are able to keep in touch with friends and relatives from every part of the world. Needless to say that they share thoughts about global issues that concern every one of them.

Moreover, Internet facilitates entertainment as people have the opportunity to select from a wide range of applications and computer games. In fact, there are innumerable apps and games that can be downloaded either for free or for a price. Therefore, online gaming has tasted a phenomenal success due to its increasing demand throughout the world.

Furthermore, Internet is so prevalent because of its abundance of information resources it offers.  Thanks to search engines, people can seek out information about different topics such as environmental hazards, economic recession etc. For instance, students can increase their knowledge status by just searching for details from web pages. Not to mention the fact that they can explore and gather recourses from the web for homework, presentations or even to supplement their own research.

Nevertheless, Internet has caused serious problems in society today. Pornography and Age-inappropriate content is perhaps the biggest drawback of the Internet. The lack of control over the unrestricted access in pornographic material can be detrimental for children. Indeed, it is so effortless to upload this kind of content that people sometimes come across shocking images despite not desiring to.

Additionally, the use of Internet for banking, social networking and other services often makes personal information vulnerable to theft. Unscrupulous hackers can access to private data through unsecured connections by using forms of malware and viruses to commandeer computers. As a result, the damage caused by having their accounts broken into and misused can be both irreparable and embarrassing.

Last but not least, a major problem of Internet is addiction to the virtual world. Excessive surfing, online gambling, social networking and exorbitant gaming can be extremely harmful for people of all ages. That way, these addictions create both physical as well as mental issues that can lead to health complications or even to depression if left unattended.

Taking everything into account, even though Internet has the potential to make people’s life much more convenient, it can also bring about a great deal of problems. With prudent use, people can manage to harness its unlimited facilities and steer clear of its negative effects.

(Source: http://www.brainyquote.com)

One of the most significant discussions in society is about the reliability of the media. We are inclined to believe that most of the times they present us with prejudiced coverage based on the belief of the journalist or the editor. Nonetheless, there are some special cases in which we can find unbiased reporting.

First and foremost, the majority of the media use a specific vocabulary to make things appear worse, bigger or funnier, so they influence the impression of the people. This type of presenting events is called diction. Another trick of the media is the falsification of the truth as the journalists tell lies, invent new facts or distort them with the intent to increasing the sales of newspapers and the numbers of viewers on TV and on the internet. Furthermore, a lot of journalists express their own opinion on the events and as a result they become prejudiced and not unbiased.

Additionally, they omit certain information and do not give a complete picture about an event. They also present trivial issues, such as gossip, and push aside crucial matters which are connected with our daily life. There is also noticed a lack of verification and frivolity on vital events, so that the people cannot be informed entirely.

Moreover, the journalists are often threatened or paid by companies or authorities to protect their interests. Last but not least, editors put the information they think most important in the first and the last paragraph. This “trick” is called placement and it deceives people.

However, we are supporters of the opinion that if we try, we can find unbiased reporting because there are some serious editors and journalists who are dedicated to their work and do not distort the truth.

Taking all the above into consideration, we firmly believe that we should be more conscious, aware and criticise everything that we read or watch on newspaper, the Internet and TV as we cannot trust the media and we do not know when they tell lies and when they do not.

Benefits
School field trips are exciting and engage children. Field trips bring children out of their routines and give them the opportunity for meaningful educational experiences.

Significance
School field trips give students more opportunities for “hands-on learning.” For example, instead of just reading about physics, students who visit a university have the ability to do experiments.

Expert Insight
When students go on field trips, they are taught by more people than their regular teachers. They are brought out into the community to interact with experts in their fields.

Considerations
The things children see and experience on field trips can increase their motivation for learning. Being out and about in the community and seeing how adults are using their education, inspires students to persevere.

Potential
Field trips result in greater appreciation and respect for the institution that was visited. Greater understanding builds interest and care.

Science
Teachers can struggle to come up with relevant, “hands-on” science projects and experiments. Field trips give students the opportunity to see scientists work in action, and see how this is relevant to their lives. Hearing an astronaut speak at a planetarium piques interest in astronomy. Getting to dig with a geologist and feel geodes means so much more than looking at a picture in a book.

Fine Arts
Field trips give students greater opportunities to develop an appreciation for the arts. Students attend dramatic productions, ballets and art museums on field trips. This exposure is vital to a well-rounded education and cannot be accomplished without field trips.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/facts_4912208_how-school-field-trips-beneficial.html

(Source: Yahoo)

While some people can’t imagine a day without meat, others insist that a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is the best way to enjoy food and stay healthy. Vegetarian lifestyles and veganism have slowly moved from fad status to healthy living in the Western world, embraced by millions of people interested in eating natural foods and foregoing questionable meat sources to get their daily protein. If you’re still on the fence about diving into earth and animal-friendly menus, consider the benefits of adopting the lifestyle before making the final decision. Here’s a look at just seventeen benefits of being a vegetarian:

1. Lower risk of lung and colorectal cancer. A diet filled with fruits, vegetables, and fibre can help reduce the risk of lung disease and related illnesses.

2. Prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common with the rise of obesity around the world, and vegetarian diets may even prevent it by including complex carbs and fibre that help the body manage insulin more efficiently.

3. Healthy skin. Diets rich in water-based and plant foods are a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins-ideal for healthier skin every season.

4. Chemical-free food. Meat-based diets take in animal cells and fats, along with chemicals and by products used on the animals during processing. This can include chemicals sprayed on the dead animal, preservatives, and other unnatural ingredients used for packaging and mass distribution.

5. Hormone-free eating. Fruits, vegetables, and soy products are never injected with growth hormones and other chemicals that may harm the human body.

6. Increased energy. With the body spending less time digesting animal protein, an energy boost is a nice side effect.

7. Lower blood pressure. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be naturally low in fat and sodium, helping reduce blood pressure and improve circulation instead.

8. Improved digestion. Plant-based foods and fresh fruits are rich in fibre, improving the digestion and elimination process. High fibre diets have also been linked to preventing certain types of cancer.

9. Lowered risk of diabetes. Steady blood sugar is easily achieved with a nutritious vegetarian diet, and the cycle of blood sugar peaks and crashes is almost eliminated without the meat and unhealthy carb combinations.

10. Lower grocery shopping bills. By shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and stocking up on high-fibre, highly nutritious food, vegetarians can eliminate almost 25% of their food budgets without pounds of meat on the bill. In some cases this balances out if the vegetarian shopper chooses to buy premium veg brands and gourmet ingredients, but average costs do tend to be much lower per trip.

11. Toxin-free food. Some studies suggest that when animals experience fear, the adrenaline rush causes a release of epinephrine, steroids, and other stress hormones into the bloodstream. These are then ingested by the meat eater, presenting a range of toxins that can accumulate in the blood.

12. Healthy amino acids. Plant-based proteins (e.g. soy) can be an excellent source of amino acids that help with protein assimilation and metabolism.

13. Low or no saturated fat. Vegetarian menus typically use all-natural oils and cooking methods to enhance flavour. This is free of unhealthy saturated fat which can lead to a variety of heart problems and cardiovascular disease.

14. Increased life span. With the body in harmony and free of harmful toxins and chemical build-up, vegetarians may live longer than their fellow meat eaters. According to William Castelli, MD, director f or the Farmingham Heart Study, vegetarians can live up to 3-6 years longer than meat eaters.

15. Appreciation for simple flavours. After eliminating meat from the diet, it becomes much easier to differentiate flavours and get a real taste for fruits and vegetables. Palettes can become much more sensitive to different flavours, textures, and combinations.

16. Healthy cholesterol levels. Without unhealthy meat and fat sources in the diet, cholesterol levels of vegetarians can be considerably lower and easily fall into a healthy range.

17. Lower risk of cancer. With a diet rich in antioxidants, phytochemical, and vitamins, vegetarians naturally lower their risk of cancer and other diseases. Meat eaters, especially those that indulge in fatty meats are at a much higher risk of cancer.

From eating more nutritious food and lowering the risk of cancer, the vegetarian lifestyle offers many advantages over a meat-based diet. Dining and grocery options for vegetarians are improving as more people embrace this lifestyle for the long-term; are you one of them?

Many people say that smoking makes them more alert and improves their concentration, while others believe that smoking calms them down, especially when they are feeling anxious or stressed.

Why should people give up smoking?
-Nowadays, due to the financial recession smokers don’t acquire the suitable amount of money which is needed in order to buy the addictive cigarettes.
-Smoking increases the possible heart attack 10 times.
-The extensive usage of cigarettes can lead you to limbs amputation.
-Recent researches have shown that an average smoker loses 14 years from his/her lifespan.
-It seems that 25% of the world’s cigarettes are being sold in an illegal way.

(Picture: http://www.google.gr/imgres?)

Every year, on February 14th, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

We’ve found 2 different legends … Enjoy!

• The first legend, and perhaps the best known, began in Rome, when the Emperor, Claudius II, was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel, as he was called, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. So, he cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome!

The good Saint Valentine, who was a priest in Rome, in the year 269 A.D., together with his friend Saint Marius, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

When Valentine’s actions were discovered, he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off.

But while in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death on the 14th day of February, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed: “From your Valentine” .

In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14^th to honor St. Valentine.

• Another legend says that Valentine’s Day started …in ancient Rome, on February 14th, as a holiday to honor Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. Then, the following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

In those days, the lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, on the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

According to the traditions for St. Valentine’s Day in the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800′s and now … well, you know the rest….

It is a fact that the job of a model is very attractive. A lot of people want to become models because it’s glamorous, lucrative and you might want to be recognized in the modeling world. However, there are a lot of dangers on which we have to emphasize.

First of all, in order to be a model, features indicative of good health are a “must”. Eat and drink healthy foods and beverages, work out, take care of your outer appearance (and inner peace of mind) and look good in clothes. It’s a simple equation, but it’s harder than you might think to execute.

Unfortunately, fashion designers are very demanding. They prefer their models to be extremely skinny. As a result, models are on demanding diets which make them sick and sometimes they suffer anorexia. It is a shame that many models have died from that illness.

Last but not least, models should take care of themselves and try to avoid those diets which are very harmful.