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Welcome to the Level 5 Writing and Grammar class blog. This will be a fun supplement to our class, and we will use it to create conversation, to do additional homework, and share words, pictures, and possibly videos. Enjoy.




Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Current Controversy in Your Home Country

Please write about one of the current controversies in your country. Discuss the controversy and give a couple of the opinions from each side. Then give a link to a current news story about the controversy. Finally, comment on two of your classmates comments.
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21 comments:

  1. YUYAApril 10, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    I guess current the most controversy topic in Japan is building nuclear plant. As you know, we had a huge earthquake and gigantic tsunami. After that, some nuclear plants have been broken, and Japan was in a serious situation. Many people are still struggling, and having difficulties. Many people are scared nuclear plant accident. They think it might happen again. However nuclear plants are really important to supply electricity for Japanese people, and what's more there were many Japanese worker for control nuclear plant. by demolishing nuclear plant many people lose their job. I guess it is also serious problem. Well, in my opinion, I need nuclear power plant, it is the best way to supply people with electricity. Actually, my home country is far away from where tsunami attacked, so I don't know how scare tsunami is. That's why I might able to say 'we need nuclear power plant'.

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    Replies
    1. Mohammed AlmesbahiApril 10, 2012 at 8:49 AM

      It's really big problem. Hopefully this controversy will done soon.

      Delete
    2. QuincieApril 10, 2012 at 8:51 AM

      This controversy in Taiwan is famous,too. We saw the situation of Japan, and the think about ourselves. Someone said if we have such dangerous earthquake like 311, the whole Taiwan will be bombard and ruined by the nuclear. So we except the way that Japan solve this problem and hope we can learn your experience.

      Delete
    3. Kyeong AApril 10, 2012 at 8:54 AM

      Building nuclear plant is also controversial issue in Korea. Nuclear plant can maintain the safety in ordinary condition, but in emergency condition it can't guarantee our safety.

      Delete
  2. QuincieApril 10, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    The health insurance in Taiwan is very famous in the world. People pay the less insurance fee and use the high-level insurance. The government subsidize people a lot of money on the insurance. However, people in Taiwan don't still be satisfy about our insurance, they think the insurance fee is still too high ti afford for them. In this year, our insurance will be improve, but some people are afraid the insurance will be increased, thus there are some controversy in Taiwan now.

    Here's a little description about the improved insurance in Chinese.
    http://news.cts.com.tw/cna/life/201204/201204100977478.html

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    1. Mohammed AlmesbahiApril 10, 2012 at 8:59 AM

      I think This controversy is important in all of the world these days. In Saudi Arabia it's one of the important controversies lately.

      Delete
    2. kahoApril 10, 2012 at 9:06 AM

      The problem between insurance and money is serious controversy, but it is very important thing to protect our life.

      Delete
  3. YUYAApril 10, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/01/japanese-experts-question-safety.html

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  4. kahoApril 10, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    On 30the March, the Japanese government approve a politically charged bill to double the national sales tax. Passage of the bill, which would raise the tax to 10% in two stages by 2015, is likely to be far from smooth. This is one of the chances to mend Japan's finance and prevent a fiscal crisis, but many citizen do not agree this policy.

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577312453885593964.html

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    Replies
    1. Kyeong AApril 10, 2012 at 9:00 AM

      I remember sales tax was 3% in Japan. All government would raise the tax in the national financial crisis. And they would decrease the payment of government officials.

      Delete
    2. IkueApril 10, 2012 at 9:08 AM

      It is big problem for us to change sales tax so much.

      Delete
    3. KeiApril 10, 2012 at 9:13 AM

      I can't stand if it comes true.

      Delete
  5. Kyeong AApril 10, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    Should OTC Drugs Be Sold At Supermarkets?

    OTC Drugs, Over-The-Counter Drugs

    The current controversy in Korea is permit supermarket drug sales.

    Unlike other countries, including the US, UK and Japan, non-prescription drugs can only be purchased at pharmacies here in Korea, which some of us find inconvenient.

    After years of debate the question of whether OTC drugs can be sold in general stores resurfaced again. This time the pressure was on from the nation's top office and angry citizens, so the Health Ministry came up with some meaningful changes to the strict OTC rules, and Health authorities have concluded that 44 OTC drug items, including popular energy drink Bacchus-D and some intestinal pills, can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores.

    But not everyone is happy about the ministry's new plan. Citizens are welcoming the news but the ministry still faces strong oppositions, especially from the pharmacists.

    According to a recent survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency on 500 adults across Korea, over 70 percent of the respondents said OTC drugs must be sold in general stores, while 30 percent were against.

    Of all the related parties, the sale of OTC drugs at supermarkets and convenience stores is most strongly supported by the public. Easier access to medicine, preventing overpricing by pharmacies and not having to stock pile unnecessary OTC drugs at home were among the most frequently picked reasons. And, sales of drugs at supermarkets will really come in handy in emergency situations, especially if you have a baby at home."

    However, pharmacists warn that most citizens overlook the fact that medical accidents can occur once OTC drugs are sold by non-professionals.


    http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=117168&code=Ne2&category=2

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  6. Mohammed AlmesbahiApril 10, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    In Saudi Arabia women want to drive these days, but the government doesn't agree yet. women say that they want to drive because sometimes they have emergency situations that they have to drive their cars that time like if someone is sick and there is no man in the house how the sick person will go to the hospital. The government doesn't agree because it's religious thing that women don't drive alone, so women drive is the most important controversy happening lately.

    To read more here is the link :
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8930168/Allowing-women-drivers-in-Saudi-Arabia-will-be-end-of-virginity.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kahoApril 10, 2012 at 8:53 AM

      I did not know this controversy. The religion is one of the hardest point to argue...

      Delete
    2. QuincieApril 10, 2012 at 8:57 AM

      I hope women can drive in your country soon. It's the basic right of a normal person.

      Delete
    3. KeiApril 10, 2012 at 9:16 AM

      I didn't know the controversy. The system seems to be strange for me.

      Delete
  7. YUYAApril 10, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    I didnt know that saudi's women cannot drive. In my opinion, government should accept it. I guess thanks to permission of driving car, many people can go to the hospital before they get too late to see doctors.

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    Replies
    1. Mohammed AlmesbahiApril 10, 2012 at 8:55 AM

      Saudi Arabia the only country that women can't drive there even if they are not saudis.

      Delete
  8. IkueApril 10, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    I found controversy against the Futenma base and the U.S. the new that i found was written by Okinawa perspective.
    according to "Japan focus", "This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the conclusion of the revised Japan-U.S. Mutual Security Treaty (Ampo). This stipulation was carried over to the revised Mutual Security Treaty of 1960 (Article 6) and with it the U.S. has been assured of its continued formidable military presence in Japan, dominating its sea, land and air space to this day."
    Although Okinawa has been admitted as independent from the U.S., there are still a lot of military bases in Okinawa. 75% of them is concentrated in Okinawa. And, Due to its urban location, concerns surrounding training flights over residential areas causing noise, air pollution and endangering public safety have become controversial issues in Ginowan city.
    It is difficult for a primer choose a correct decision, because both are important to maintain relationship with the U.S. and consider opinion of Okinawa citizens, then make them live comfortable.

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  9. AnonymousApril 10, 2012 at 9:18 AM

    I think starting fall entrance and summer graduation in university of Tokyo is one of the current controversies in Japan. This movement is very usual in U.S, but in Japan this is not usual and lead some problems. 1st problem is leading difficulty to do job hunting. In Japan all company employ recruit from April to March and hold entrance ceremony on April. So the time to do job hunting in university of Tokyo is shorter than other university student`s time. 2nd problem is wasting time. In Japan all high school finish on March. Therefore From April to September student who enter the university of Tokyo have nothing to do.
    Even though there are couple of problems, I agree with this movement. because this movement apply Japan to world semester system. It will be easy to exchange student .

    http://www.kiyoshikurokawa.com/en/2011/07/will-the-university-of-tokyo-change-the-social-responsibility-of-the-university-of-tokyo.html

    ReplyDelete

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