Earthquake survivor pulled from rubble, walks away from destruction

          On Thursday morning, a man was pulled from beneath the rubble of the United Nations compound in Port-au-Prince, Hati. He was one of many people who have miraculously survived the massive earthquake earlier this week. The man didn't come out easy though. According to Mike Davis, a specialist with the Fairfax County, Virgina, Urban Search and Rescue Team, a 15 member rescue squad worked for five hours to remove the debris using a jack hammer and buckets. The rescue squad had to climb down two to three stories of rubble to reach the covered man, as the building collapsed on him when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Hati. Unfortunately, the geographic location of the United Nation's headquarters proved to be problematic. Davis told CNN's "American Morning" that the location was on the backside of a hill, so everything was upside down and inverted," David also said that luckily "we were able to self-assist him out, and he was able to walk out on his own." This rescue is only one of the many that are currently going on in Hati right now. Not all rescues have had the benefit of professional aid workers. Many have done whatever they can to help find survivors. Some have even clawed their way to survivors beneath buildings, using only their bare hands! Due to the shortage of heavy machinery to clear the debris, residents have used their hands and whatever tools they could find to lift large slabs of concrete. Near the presidential palace, Hati residents dug for hours on Wednesday to rescue a thirteen year old girl named Bea. As she was pulled out alive, a wild cheer erupted. She was happy to be alive, but sad to see the bodies of her family members lying nearby. As of right now, Haitians and rescuers are rushing to save as many people as they can. They know that some will perish waiting for help. A Fairfax rescue member, Sam Gray, said that "the hardest part is to know how many people aren't going to be saved."

          I agree with Mr. Gray, it is extremely hard to know that a great deal of people are not going to be saved. This earthquake is currently the worst disaster of the new year, and for it to happen to the poorest country in the western hemisphere is extremely sad. Before the earthquake, the people of Hati were living in poverty, and now they are living with nothing. All of the buildings in Port-au-Prince collapsed, crushing thousands of people with the debris. The hospitals have been destroyed, and the jail as well, so there is criminals running around the streets for the first time in a while. This is the definition of a catastrophe. There is thought to be as many as 500 000 people dead, which is terrible. The people of Hati must be extremely sad, but thankful that they survived. I can't imagine how I would feel if my whole entire town got demolished in seconds. It would be devastating, so I am very sensitive to the situation. I would love to help, and I hope that other people in the world feel the same way. I hope other countries around the world send money and resources to help Hati. The people of Hati are grateful for anything. After the cleanup is finished, the world should focus on helping Hati rebuild. They need a stronger government, a new hospital, and a new jail to start. Sending people to help build new houses and schools is crucial. I think that this was a terrible disaster, and I hope that nothing like this ever happens again. The only positive side to the whole event is that the countries around the world are working together to help. China, the United States, Canada, and Russia are all sending aid. I think that this may help to contribute to world peace, but it is still sad that Hati has to go through all of this. I hope that they can successfully rebuild, and I hope that as many people can be saved as possible.

Traffic cop holds up speeding surgeon

           On Saturday, a man named Jeffrey Halstrom suffered a massive heart attack around lunchtime, and was taken to St. Michael's Hospital, where he lay on the operating table fighting for his life. Meanwhile, the surgeon who had been rushing to his rescue was waiting on the side of the road for a Toronto police officer to write him a ticket for speeding. When Halstrom was brought into the hospital, the hospital's cardiologist, Dr. Michael Kutryk, was called in. On his way, Dr. Kutryk was stopped by a radar unit while rushing from his Leaside home to help. Dr. Kutryk explained the situation to the officer, but to no avail. The officer made him wait there to issue him a $300 ticket. Const. Wendy Drummond, a police spokeswoman, said Kutryk was driving 35 km/h an hour over the posted limit of 40 km/h in the Bayview and Moore Aves. area. On Monday, Dr. Kutryk did not return any of his many phone calls, and police would not identify the officer who wrote the ticket. The top officer at the force's 53 Division, where the ticket was issued, confirmed the incident had occurred and that Kutryk had complained to him about it and was intent on fighting the fine. Staff Insp. Larry Sinclair, the division's unit commander, explained that roadside officers use their own discretion to determine whether an emergency warrants illegal speeds. However, Sinclair defended his officer, saying that the officer might have prevented an accident by stopping the doctor. "It doesn't matter if it's a physician or whoever that is on his way to what he or she considers an emergency. If he or she gets in a collision on the way to that emergency, they're no use. They're going to be tied up a lot longer than what it takes to write a ticket." Michael Oscars, Halstrom's longtime partner, recalled that "the doctor arrived a little later than he wanted to be, very upset, very angry because he had encountered a police officer. In spite of him (Kutryk) saying he was on his way to an emergency of a 47-year-old man in cardiac arrest, and that every minute counted ... the police officer either chose to disbelieve him or chose to be a moron." Oscars believes that the officer should have at least escorted Kutryk to the hospital. However, a senior Toronto officer said that police do not escort civilians at high speed because they face liability issues if there is an accident. Because of the delay and the severity of the heart attack, damage to Halstrom's heart was so severe that he was given a post-operative 50 per cent chance of survival.

          I find this situation to be very unique. While my first instinct is to believe that the police officer is a jerk, I realize that this situation is more complicated than it seems. From the doctor’s perspective, I am sure that he was pissed and extremely mad at the officer. I would be too if the same thing happened to me. However, rules are rules, and the police officer was only doing his job. The doctor was speeding, and how did the police officer know that the doctor wasn't just saying this to avoid getting the speeding ticket? Isn't the doctor supposed to have papers or some kind of document that shows that he is in fact a doctor? Maybe this could be considered the doctors fault as well for not having his papers. I think that a solution to this problem would be to give the doctor a special green light to put on the top of his car that flashes to let police officers know that he is in a rush. It is the same idea as an ambulance, and an ambulance driver doesn't get charged with speeding! Anyways, it is unfortunate that this situation happened on the way to the hospital, but I am still happy that Mr. Halstrom is alive. He is lucky to have survived the heart attack, as it was very severe with three clogged arteries. Due to the delay of the doctor’s arrival, Mr. Halstrom received lots of damage to his heart, and only has a fifty per cent chance of survival. I hope that Mr. Halstrom has a safe recovery, so that he can enjoy life even longer. I wish him the best in the future.

In winter, some homeless choose between independence, warmth

           More than 21 000 people in Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb counties were estimated to be homeless sometime last year, according to the Metro Atlanta Tri-Jurisdictional Collaborative, a group that records homelessness in the area. Of these 21 000 projected people, a 42 year old homeless man named Brook counts for one. Brook lives wherever he can, usually in what he calls his "cathodes," places in which he has slept which have provided some refuge from the outdoor elements. Brook does what he can to keep warm during the winter season. He covers up with a donated blanket and rests his head on a bag where he keeps his belongings. Last Tuesday night, although the temperature was extremely cold, Brook slept in one of his usual cathodes. You would think that a man like him would go to a homeless shelter to keep warm, but not Brook. He has different ideas about homeless shelters. He doesn't trust the men who stay at them, and he believes that "it's an environment where you can't keep your eyes closed." Brook mentioned that he has seen too many men stealing from others in shelters, and he feels that he is better off alone. Brook is among the thousands of Atlanta- area homeless choosing where to keep warm during the winter season. Another homeless man named Sherman Vickers, who is 63, also prefers to sleep on his own, but when temperatures get too cold, Vickers gratefully stays at The Shepherd's Inn, which is an emergency men's shelter run by Atlanta Union Mission. Vickers explained that "This time of year, you need to be somewhere out of the cold." His statement seems to be true in Atlanta, as the shelter took in more than 400 people on Tuesday night due to the cold temperatures. Although shelters try to accept many people as possible during cold weather, not every homeless person who'd want to stay at a shelter can. "In 2007, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reported that 12 of 23 U.S. cities surveyed said they had shelters that at least sometimes had to turn people away because of a lack of capacity." Brook is thankful that more shelters like The Shepherd's Inn exist, as he feels that "being here at the mission is a good thing. It's well-staffed, it's comfortable, clean, the food service is good, and they're safe," he said. "It's good being out of the cold."

          It seems to me that Brook has adjusted being homeless pretty well. I know this may sound strange, but he is trying to make the best out of a very tough situation. I admire his courage, because not very many people can summon the will to keep living in situations like his. I am sure that tons of homeless people have given up, but not Brook. He is a positive thinker, and I hope the best for him in the future. As for the shelters, I find it very disturbing how Brook says that people steal from other people in the shelters. I can see why he avoids staying at them as much as possible, but I think it would be nice if the homeless people could learn to respect each other’s property. It is sad how Brook says he must stay awake all night if he does stay at a shelter. After a few cold nights, I am sure that Brook would become extremely exhausted after having to stay awake for forty-eight hours. I guess this respect will never happen because people in situations like these will do almost anything to make a small amount of money. It is sad but true. I hope that the people of the United States do their part to help out their communities by trying to make a difference. The United States definitely needs to build more shelters to help out those who are less fortunate and in need.

TSA takes responsibility for Newark airport breach

          Today, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) took full responsibility for a security breach earlier this week at the airport in Newark, New Jersey. On Sunday, a man walked the wrong way through security, which prompted a security breach that resulted in a shut down Terminal C for hours as well as forced the rescreening of thousands of passengers. When TSA when to confirm the cause of the breach, they realized that their cameras were running, but not recording. TSA is unsure of the length that the cameras have not been recording, and they are working on figuring it out. Spokeswoman Ann Davis said that "although the TSA was unable to locate the man, any threat he may have presented was eliminated by rescreening everyone and re-combing the airport to make sure he didn't introduce anything to the environment or hand anything off to anyone." The security breach caused many delays, which mainly affected the airport’s largest tenant, Continental Airlines. After the incident, TSA met with Port Authority, who installed and operates the cameras. They decided that they are going to make it a daily task to check the cameras to ensure that they are properly recording. Davis also said that "the TSA has changed the location of the officers' station at the exit lanes in Terminal C and added staffing there." The airport source confirmed that "Continental's cameras did in fact show a man going the wrong way through security and leaving through a normal airport exit." Newark was one of the airports that some of the September 11 hijackers departed from.

          I find this incident to be very random and puzzling. After the disasters from previous years like the September 11, 2001 bombings, weird incidents like this always raise an eyebrow. Hopefully this was just an accident, and not a real terrorist hijack attempt gone wrong. I believe that the TSA needs to tighten up their security and maybe add more staff to ensure for the best. I am optimistic that the TSA will figure out their camera problems for the future, and I am impressed about how the TSA has already adjusted to this incident. It shows that they are taking this situation seriously, which is more comforting as a passenger departing from the airport in Newark. I think that this was a good practice test for the airport security, as they had to deal with panic and frustrated passengers, which will hopefully help to prepare them in the case of a real terrorist hijack attempt. I hope that nothing like this ever strikes Newark ever again, and by tightening our worldwide airport security, I am confident that we can limit the amount of terrorism and hijacking which will contribute to the peaceful nature of the world.

Police officer killed at Ottawa hospital

          On Tuesday morning, Ottawa lost one of the members of its police force due to a bizarre surprise attack at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. A suspect is in custody for the incident, which is the first one since the slaying of the 1983 Ottawa police officer. The stabbing took place around 4:30 a.m. as the police officer was sitting in his cruiser outside the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital writing up notes on an unrelated case. Ottawa police chief Vern White told the Canadian Press that "It appears our officer was in his vehicle doing notes on a call that was unrelated when the altercation or the incident happened," The police believe this to be a surprise attack and they have not found any connection between the individual and the officer. Paramedics tried their best to revive the officer, but were unsuccessful as the officer died shortly after at around 5:30 a.m. The two paramedics did, however, manage to apprehend the suspect. The Major Crime Unit is investigating and police said the suspect will not be identified until charges are laid. The police chief seemed to be visibly shaken and told media that "It's tough. This city, particularly in relation to police officers, has been very, very safe. We haven't lost an officer since the early '80s. Not that it would be easier. But it certainly is not something we're used to dealing with or managing," Mr. White said that his "condolences go out to the family and friends of this officer." The officer and his family will always remain a part of the Ottawa police service organization.

          This is a very tragic event. I don't understand why the police officer was targeted. I mean, he was an innocent man doing his job. No connections have been found between the suspect and the officer, which is puzzling. I find it to be very bizarre how the suspect snuck to the officer’s car at 4:30 in the morning and killed him in a surprise attack. I would love to hear the reason of the slaying from the suspect. The actions of the suspect have affected the officer, as well as his family, friends, the Ottawa police service organization, and the citizens of Ottawa. If all that was said is true, then I believe that the suspect should be put in jail for a long period of time. Killings like this can only lead to fighting and war, which is the opposite of what we as citizens want our world to be today- peaceful. This was a very tragic event, and I give my gratitude to the police officer and the family of the police officer. I feel very sorry for them, and I hope that incidents like these can be limited in the future.

Charity straight from the oven

          Cathy Langdon and Carol Metanczuk are special people in today's world. For many years, these two people have been trying to make a difference in the world by making donations to their church and other causes, but donating the same things every year is getting old. They want to contribute in a new way. From her home in Saskatoon, Ms. Langdon said that, "there are so many good causes out there and there are only so many times a person can ask the public to keep pouring donations out of your pocket." This year, Cathy and Carol asked themselves what they could do to raise more money for charity. They came to the idea of opening a bakery, and selling bread to make profits which would be donated to charity. The proceeds from their small endeavor, known as In Our Hands, are donated to two charities: International Justice Mission, which works on human rights issues; and Hands at Work, an African charity that works on poverty and HIV/AIDS issues. Both women stay around their houses, and they fit the bread making around the schedules of their families. Ms. Metanczuk is considering going to Africa to see the charities in action. Both Ms. Metanczuk, and Ms. Langdon have been told that, "it's not going to make a difference." They think that this is wrong- they believe that "every little bit that everybody does, does make a difference." They hope that this article has encouraged people to think, "Well, gosh, we can raise a few hundred dollars. It will count."

          I strongly believe that the work that the two women are doing is outstanding. First of all, they are donating to charity. I think that everyone who is in the middle-class or higher should donate money or gifts to help those in need. I appreciate the work that these two women are doing, and I applaud them even more for having found a creative way to raise money by baking bread. They are good citizens, and they are doing their part to make a difference. Some people think that donating a few hundred dollars does not make an impact on world issues. We need less of those people on the planet, and more people who are positive and willing to donate. Donating any amount of money makes a difference. Just think about it; if every fortunate person in the world donated one hundred dollars, it would all add up to a significant amount. Globally, we need more special people like Cathy and Carol, who are committed and willing to make a difference. Donating helps, no matter what the amount is because it all adds up.

To catch a cheat: York U. targets bogus degrees

          Recently, York University has made changes to their degrees and transcripts to strengthen the integrity of the university's degrees. This has happened due to an investigation conducted by the Toronto Star which showed that "a former student fabricated dozens of its degrees." An undercover investigation conducted last December revealed how Peng Sun, a former York University student, was illegally selling almost perfect copies of York University degrees for three thousand dollars apiece. Mr. Sun also sold near perfect copies of transcripts on watermarked paper that contained the university logo. A star reporter allegedly bought an MBA and a sealed transcript of marks from Sun for only four thousand dollars after a series of meetings in parking lots around Toronto. During these meetings, Sun told the undercover reporter that he had manufactured hundreds of York University and University of Toronto degrees in the four years since he began this process. Sun also noted that his clients were mainly Chinese visa students who had done poorly in their school careers "in Canada and wanted to go home with a degree that would get them good jobs." Sun charged the same amount for a BA, MBA, and a PHD because he felt that it was all the same- pen ink on paper. After the transaction, two Toronto Star reporters confronted Sun in his car. When they demanded for the money to be given back, Sun obeyed and has never been charged. Sun's own degree, a bachelor's in human resources management from York University is real. He graduated from the Atkinson School of Administrative Studies in 2007.

          I find it unbelievable how this man has continued to sell these diplomas and has not been caught yet. Why didn't the reporters from the Toronto Star call the police when they met with Sun during their investigation? I find Sun's actions to be considered a crime. He is taking away jobs from those who are working hard and actually paying the full amount to earn a specific degree. How would you like it if some person got a job over you because they had a certain fake degree that you didn't? I would be furious. In life, I have learned that you must work hard to be successful. This certainly does not fall into that category. If I was one of the people who had bought a degree from Sun, I would feel extremely guilty and ashamed of myself for having taken jobs from hard working innocent individuals. By buying the fake degrees, the buyers are not doing themselves very many favours. Although they may have gotten a job because of the degrees, they have cheated themselves and have not learned the basic essential skills that you learn in university. If I were a director of Admission for a certain company, and had to hire some people to work, I would definitely thoroughly check the background of each person to make sure that their degrees were real. I would not want to hire a person who has cheated in education, because it is a sign that they may also cheat in the workforce. I hope that the police can find Mr. Sun, because he is taking jobs away from innocent people, and is a threat to businesses and companies throughout Toronto.

Caledonia protesters may have had guns, court told

          On Tuesday, a Caledonia man who is suing the Ontario government and Ontario Provincial Police told court that he spied on native protesters as they unloaded wooden crates that police later speculated could have contained assault rifles. David Brown and his wife, Dana Chatwell, have filed a seven million dollar lawsuit against the Ontario Provincial Police for abuse of power and neglect of duty over a standoff at Douglas Creek Estates. The small portion of land located twenty kilometres southwest of Hamilton is claimed by natives to have been stolen from them two hundred years ago. It has been the site of conflict since 2006 between the town, police, and native protestors. The police bought the land from the developer later for around twelve million dollars. David admitted that he crept into occupied land after concerns were raised by neighbours due the excessive amount of unusual activity and trucks in the area in 2006. Due to his curious nature, he took a peek for himself by crawling about 50 metres onto the occupied property, keeping low to the ground and hiding in the grass. He said that he saw men unloading wooden crates from a white Jeep and carrying them to a couple of tents. He claimed the crates to be one metre long, thirty centimetres deep and thirty centimetres wide. He noted that the crates appeared to be marked with fluorescent pink and green "funky" letters, which David noticed were similar to the Cyrillic writing from his time spent working in a lumber yard, which he saw on shipments of Baltic birch from Russia. After seeing this, David decided to call OPP Inspector Brian Haggith, the detachment commander, and to meet with him and another officer to pass along the information. Over the past two days, Brown has testified in Superior Court about living under siege after the OPP's unsuccessful raid on Douglas Creek Estates in the early morning of April 20, 2006. Almost 200 police officers were repelled by native protestors, who held bats, bars, and two-by-fours. For six weeks, David and his family were trapped inside the native barricades until the Ontario government negotiated an agreement which allowed them to be taken down. After that, David's family claims that their home was trespassed, as well as being subjected to constant threats from the natives. The stress and fatigue wore David and his family down, but when David's wife collapsed at work and was taken to a hospital in July 2008 of a suspected heart attack, David contacted a lawyer and eventually ended up in counseling.

          I believe that David is right in saying that the government has not done their part in this situation. He definitely has the right to sue the government. After all, this situation caused so much stress and fatigue on David's family that it almost killed his wife. Part of the problem here is the government in the first place in their ability to mediate and come to an agreement. The natives feel that the Hamilton land was stolen from them two hundred years ago and is rightfully theirs. This has caused anger in the hearts of all the natives in the areas, and they have done almost anything to protect it. This is the major conflict. The government needs to come to an agreement with the natives because if they don't, then the land will continue to be the site of conflict in the area. The natives are fighting for what is theirs, and they have no problem in repelling the police using baseball bats and wooden sticks. That brings in another part of the situation- police. I feel that David is wrong in suing the Ontario Provincial Police. The police don't want to start fights, their job is to resolve conflict and save people who are in danger. They had a very little influence on the situation. I mean they could have fought and killed the natives to resolve the situation, but that wouldn't go over well with the natives in the other parts country. The police did the best they could, and David should recognize their efforts and thank them for trying to help the situation.

Jobless rate spikes as manufacturing hit hard

           Due to the recession over the past year, Canadian employment has dropped by 43 200 jobs. Canada released this statement on Friday, which also states that all of the jobs dropped were part-time. The decreased amount of jobs has resulted in a change in Canada's employment rate from 0.2 percent to 8.6 percent. Many people predict that this rate will be increased to 10 percent by 2010. The United States unemployment rate is the highest since April 1983, as it has already reached the double digits at 10.2 percent. The disappointing decline in Canada was due to the job losses from women aged 25 and older, and youths between 15 and 24. The decline came from retail, wholesale, natural resources, and other services. Alberta was the province with the highest amount of job losses, with 15000 lost, while British Columbia was second with a decline of 13000. Erin Weir, an economist with the United Steelworks, described that "Other pockets of employment growth were construction, education and healthcare, which supports the notion that government stimulus is currently the only job creator," Rising unemployment is not uncommon, but the data from October changes the positive signs of the previous two months, which showed a trend of small growth. Overall, there were 70 700 fewer employees in October- 25 600 less in the public sector, and 45 200 less in the private sector. Although this seems to be only bad news, there were two positive things that we found out in the data. There was a net increase of 16 500 jobs including self-employment, and hourly wages were 3.3 percent higher than at this same time last year.

          I find it baffling how there are so many people unemployed in Canada right now. How do they live? I can't believe that so many people are currently losing their jobs due to this recession. I knew that the recession was affecting some businesses, but I didn't realize the amount of people who have lost their jobs. As a country, we need to stimulate the economy and create more jobs to bring it back to what it was before. I hope that we can accomplish this goal, because it pains me to see so many good workers without jobs just because companies and businesses are trying to cut costs to survive the recession. The mother of one of my friends lost her job this year, and it was devastating for her. Not only did it affect her confidence and self-esteem, but it also affected the lifestyle that she lived. Suddenly she had lots of free time, and became angry when she couldn't find a job to suit her. There is more to behind the scenes than everybody realizes, as this current recession has affected many people including their personal lives as well. We are in a bad economic situation, and I hope that we can pull out of it and restore the amount of jobs and employment opportunities for the people who are desperately trying to earn money.

Stray jet's pilots were on laptops

          Last Wednesday, a commercial jetliner overshot its destination by approximately 150 miles. The safety board said that the Airbus A320 was flying at 37 000 feet over the Denver, Colorado, area at 5:56 p.m. when it made its last radio contact. Northwest flight 188 had left San Diego to travel to Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport carrying 144 passengers, two flight pilots, and three flight attendants. The pilots blamed the overshooting of the plane on laptops. They said that they were using their laptops on the plane and lost track of time as well as their location. Delta airlines released a statement Monday that said, "Using laptops or engaging in activity unrelated to the pilots' command of the aircraft during flight is strictly against the airline's flight deck policies and violations of that policy will result in termination." One of the pilots, Pilot Timothy Cheney, 53, was hired in 1985 and has more than 20 000 hours of flight time. First Officer Richard Cole, 54, was hired in 1997 and had more than 11 000 hours of flight time. After finally landing at the airport, neither of the pilots reported anything wrong. The pilots had a 19 hour layover in San Diego, where they both said that they had not slept on the flight, but they did say that "there was a distraction ' in the cockpit. Neither of the pilots had any ongoing medical conditions on the flight. The pilots did add, however, that there was "a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the airplane or calls" from air traffic control. They both said that they did hear discussion on the radio, as they claimed that they were busy discussing the airline crew flight scheduling procedure. An airline spokesperson said on Monday that the company has sent the passengers on the plane $500 travel vouchers to compensate for the inconvenience. The spokesperson also mentioned that the pilots have been suspended until the conclusions of investigations that are currently being performed.

          I think that this is a very interesting event. It seems to me that something definitely happened in the cockpit during the ride, because no pilot would lose track of time in a normal flight. There has to be more to this story than mentioned. I believe that the pilots were actually sleeping, not being amused by their laptops like they claim, because they didn't respond to calls by the control centre. Obviously even if they were paying attention to their laptops, they could still hear the radio calling them. As it says in the article, the pilots did claim that they heard the radio call, but my question is- why didn't they respond? This fact basically tells us that the pilots were asleep. There is one thing that is making my response very difficult. In the article it states that the main pilot has had his job for 24 years, with over 20 000 hours of flight time. Those statistics determine that the pilot was no beginner. He is a veteran. Veterans shouldn't make those mistakes, so I believe that the pilot definitely screwed up. Should he be severely punished for his actions? I don't think that he should be terminated from his job, but I do think that he should be suspended without pay for a few months. While unemployed for a couple of months, I think that the pilot will think about what he did, and will never make this mistake again when he resumes his pilot career.

Fire rages at Puerto Rico fuel depot

        On Friday afternoon, a massive fire broke out at a fuel storage complex in Puerto Rico. The sky was filled with a thick cloud of black smoke over San Juan, which forced firefighters to act quickly to contain the blaze. Fire Lt. Jose Atorre was at the scene, and he told reporters that this might be the worst fire in the history of Puerto Rico. The fire was apparently started when eleven of the 40 fuel tanks at the Petroleum Corporation facility in the city of Bayaman caught fire. Officials were investigating the cause of the blaze, which started just after midnight. An FBI agent is looking into graffiti found on at least one San Juan tunnel that mentioned the fire. The facility is located on San Juan's bay, which could very well be contaminated by the fire according to Gov. Luis Fortuno. He declared a state of emergency for the area so that Puerto Rico can get aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Newspaper and TV reports said that the fire was hard to contain because a 4 inch pipe from a lagoon on the property was broken, which prevented firefighters from using 2 million gallons of water to battle the fire. Over 350 people were evacuated from their homes, due to the heavy clouds of smoke in the San Juan area, and only one was taken to the hospital because of smoke inhalation. The smoke can be toxic, so the governor is asking people to stay away from the area. Due to the danger of the fire, schools in Bayamon, San Juan, Toa Baja and Catano were closed. Puerto Rico Road 28 was also closed, as well as Roads 5 and 22 which were partially closed. Flights in and out of Luis Munoz International Airport in San Juan were not affected and continued on schedule.

          This is a very unusual event for Puerto Rico. This is said to be the biggest fire in Puerto Rico's history, which is affecting a high population in the San Juan area. I am hoping that the fire was started by accident, not on purpose. It is very unfortunate for the fire departments to have to contain a fire without one of their lagoon pipes which can access 2 million gallons of water. I believe that there is more to this fire than what is visible. I am guessing that whoever wrote the graffiti on the tunnel wall is responsible. It could be a gang, or just a citizen trying to cause trouble. The culprit was very smart, as he/she thought to dismantle one of the lagoon pipes, knowing that it would be ten times harder for the fire department to battle the blaze. This is a very unfortunate event, and I hope that the officials and the FBI figure out the cause of the fire. I hope that the firefighters are able to overpower the fire, so that the people who were forced to leave their homes are able to return to their normal lives again.

Terror blast test caught on camera

          Yesterday, Superior Court Justice Bruno Durno released three videos- the first one of a terror blast test conducted by the RCMP in September 2008. The goal of this blast test was to test the effects of a bomb made with one tonne of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel. The video shows the affect of the explosion on a 2,230-kilogram steel shipping container. The container was flipped by the force and completely damaged. Another video was released of Zakaria Amara, a homegrown terrorist, who was performing a trigger test on a remote detonation device, which he built as a part of a bomb plot targeting downtown Toronto. He was charged for two terrorism offences, and pleaded guilty to both. The last video shows Saad Gaya and Saad Khalid unloading a delivery truck filled with three tons of ammonium nitrate, moments before they were arrested on June 2, 2006 when police busted the Toronto 18 group. The exhibits provide a glimpse into the inner plans of the group, and they also show the intelligence of Zakaria Amara and the potential explosion that could have occurred if the group wasn't dismantled. The targeted area of the failed attack was the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Front St. offices of Canada's spy agency, and a military base off Highway 401.

          I think that releasing these videos now is a beneficial idea because it will make the public aware of the potential disaster that could occur if the ammonium nitrate is put in the wrong hands. The people need to realize how deadly ammonium nitrate can be, and they need to make sure that they report anything suspicious to the police. These videos force me to realize how the police are doing their best to protect the people, which makes me feel safer in public places in the future. I think that there is also a downside to releasing these videos- future terrorists might see these videos which may spark ideas and cause them to start gathering ammonium nitrate to make a bomb. As a society, we need to do our best in making sure that terrorist attacks decrease, and we also need to do our best to remain safe in the case of one of these deadly explosions.

Accused in 200 km/h crash seeks translator

          Yesterday, a twenty-one year old man named Roman Luskin appeared at court due to a horrific car crash on the weekend. The man was apparently driving at an extremely high speed- over 200 km/hour on a 60 km/hour road when his BMW was "out of control" and smashed into a minivan killing three people. When present in court on Monday, he asked for a Russian translator. Roman limped into court with a bandage on his left hand and bloody marks on the right side of his head. He is facing three counts of impaired driving causing death, three counts of criminal negligence causing death, and failure to provide a breath sample. One of the three people who were killed in the crash was 44 year old Hon To who appeared to be winning her battle with bone marrow cancer. Her daughter, Khan Taing, was nursing her back to health and also was training to become a nurse. Pho Taing, the husband and father, was devastated. He ended up with a broken collarbone, and an empty house. He is fighting off depression, and will have a hard time moving on after their deaths.
          I think that the crash is devastating news, not only for Pho Taing, but also for the residents of Toronto. The people of Toronto must question the amount of safety in their neighbourhoods. I think that the police should do a better job of enforcing drinking and driving, because obviously the message isn't clear to everyone. If I was Pho Taing, I would be devastated- having lost my family including my wife and daughter due to the stupid decision by Roman Luskin. I believe that Roman should be locked up behind bars for a long period of time and receive fair punishment for his actions. He killed three people and he is going to have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life. I think that Roman is going to have a struggling life down the road, due to the fact that he may never be able to drive again. Driving at high speeds is one thing, but driving at 140 km/hour over the speed limit is something else. If you want to drive that fast, that is what NASCAR racing is for. This makes me question one thing: why are our cars able to drive at such high speeds? We don't need to drive at 200 km/hour, so why bother in making the cars go that fast? I think that if the car companies made the cars only able to reach 150 km/hour, about ten times less accidents would occur. This would help to resolve the problem of speeding and racing in cars, which would make our world an overall safer place.

How bald chickens help troubled kids

          At Cobble Hills Sanctuary near Stratford, 43 battery chickens have been saved from the slaughterhouse. These battery chickens are very ugly looking- they have no feathers, they are weak, and they have never even seen sunshine in their lives. Christen Shepherd, the proprietor of the rescue farm, has saved only 43 of thousands of these chickens. Her goal is to nurse them back to good health. The way that she is doing this is by letting the chickens run around, exposing them to sunlight and grass, and most importantly- she has four boys who look after the chickens. These boys are aged from 8 to 12, and they have special needs. They visit the chicken coop once a week, to clean it, feed the chickens sometimes, and to interact with the chickens. The boys look forward to this every week, as they have grown a relationship with the chickens and think of them as their own pets. Shepherd has been taking in animals for a couple of years now- some of them she can't really afford to take in. The farm is a non-profit organization and it is slowly losing money. The farm survives on a few donations and the income of Shepherd's husband to keep running. Yesterday, Shepherd and her 16 year old son Michael coaxed the chickens out of their coop and into the sunlight for their first time ever. They watched the chickens peck at grass- their first grass ever. During the event, Shepherd said, "When you see a chicken in the sunshine ... stretching its wings out, it's hard to deny a chicken that."

         I think that the actions of Christen Shepherd and the Cobble Hills Sanctuary have been unbelievable. Not only have they saved tons of animals that were going to be killed, but they also did it without enough money to spend on the animals. I think that the government should lend this sanctuary some money because the sanctuary is slowly losing money, and eventually it will have to close. Right now, the Shepherd family is running this sanctuary because they feel it is the right thing to do. I definitely think that the Shepherd family should be rewarded for their effort and determination to save these animals. I would also like to thank the boys who look after the chickens every weekend as they are doing a great job feeding them and interacting with them. I think that every province in Canada should have at least 10 animal shelters like this one to save animals from the slaughterhouse. The government should make this a law and fund for the shelters to be built. I think that every animal should have a decent life- not one spent inside without any sunlight or fresh grass. Hopefully more non-profit sanctuaries like this are built in the future to save more animals.

Soldier who shot tentmate faces sentence of two years: judge

          Cpl. Matthew Wilcox, a Canadian soldier who served in Afghanistan in 2007, may be sent to jail for his act of criminal negligence causing death and neglect of duty in the March 6, 2007, shooting of Cpl. Kevin Megeney. The 24 year old is facing a prison term of at least two years, a military judge said Tuesday. Despite the sentence, Matthew's attitude has not changed, as "he's dealing with it like a trained soldier," Col. Troy Sweet said. "He's proud to have served his country." Wilcox's court martial heard evidence that he and the 25-year-old Megeney, were playing a game of quick-draw when Wilcox shot his close friend in the chest. Wilcox told the court that his action was none other than self defense, as he claims that he heard somebody behind him cocking the hammer on a gun inside his tent at Kandahar Airfield. Without looking, Wilcox blindly fired his 9-millimetre Browning pistol towards the target, which turned out to be his close friend- Cpl. Kevin Megeney. Members of Megeney's family told Wilcox's sentencing hearing their lives have been shattered by his death. Dexter Megeney, Kevin's father, said that since losing his son and best friend, he has not been sleeping well, and takes up to 18 pills a day to control stress. Karen Megeney, Kevin's mother, said that she has also had trouble coping after Kevin was killed two years ago.

          I think that this is a very sad article. Both Kevin and Matthew volunteered to fight for Canada in Afghanistan, where Canada was on a peacekeeping mission. They were proud Canadians and very loyal to their country. It makes me upset when I read an article like this. Matthew made a big mistake, and it ended up affecting him for the rest of his life- not only does he wake up every morning knowing that he killed somebody, but he also might have to serve two years in prison. Also, the Megeney family has been affected, as they have lost a son. Dealing with a terrible event like this can be tough at times, but I think that now it has happened, the families should remember Kevin for who he was and move on. A situation like this causes stress on both families, mostly on Matthew, who I hope will forget about the past and move on. One mistake shouldn't ruin a person's life; they can learn from it and take that knowledge into the future for later use.

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Three-part flu fight in works

          Ontario is delaying the seasonal flu shot program until after a pandemic vaccine, as there has been some concern that the seasonal flu shot could increase your chances of catching swine flu. To solve this concern, Ontario will roll out their new vaccination program in three parts. First, the seasonal flu shot will be available in October to people who are 65+ and residents of long-term care facilities. Next, the H1N1 vaccine will be available in November, first to those who are most susceptible to serious illness. After that, the province will provide the seasonal flu shot to the rest of the population in December and January. Data taken from a series of studies in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, appears to suggest that people who got the vaccination against the seasonal virus last year are about twice as likely to catch swine flu as those who were not vaccinated. This finding is causing lots of concern around the world. Starting next week, mail about the new vaccination program will be sent to every house in Ontario. The provinces in Canada are taking different actions to prevent this virus, but MP Dr. Carolyn Bennett, health critic for the Liberal party, says that, "I had thought these were decisions taken in a consensus way, that there would be one plan for the country. I'm very surprised." In the next year, we will find out which provinces' approach was the best solution to this problem.

          I believe that Ontario has taken a good approach to this solution. They have created a plan, and are ready to fight the virus. They figured out who was most likely to get the H1N1 flu virus first, and then they created a new vaccination program which was also based on the data from studies in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Ontario is prepared to fight the virus, as they have also started to mail every household to inform them about the new vaccination program. I don't understand why Canada hasn't taken the same approach amongst the province and territories to fight this virus. Not only would it make things much less complicated, but it would also treat every citizen of the country fair. Every person would be receiving the same shots, at the same time, which means that the disease would have less time to spread. In the end, I just hope that Canada and its provinces and territories are taking the right action, because I would not like to be a victim of swine flu, nor would I like to hear about any more deaths from the flu.

Rising seas create first climate refugees

          The World's first climate change refugees may belong to the 1700 residents of the Carteret islands. Ursula Rakova, a resident of the Cabaret islands, says that the stormy weather has come very unpredictable these past couple of years. "Now we cannot predict it because they come more frequent and stronger," declares Rakova; "Last Christmas the storms destroyed homes and the food gardens were devastated. Now we know the sea will wash over our islands. It is heartbreaking but we have to leave." The 17000 islanders are beginning to transport over to the larger island of Bougainville, where the land is higher which will allow them to grow their food. Over the next couple of years, the Cabaret islanders (Tulunn) will be heading over to the new island, leaving behind the 1000 year history of the Tulunn people. Rakova says, "It is especially hard for the older people. Many of them are refusing to leave. We don't want to force them. None of us want to go. But the saltwater is spoiling our ability to grow food. So there is no choice." Rakova travelled to Manhattan, New York, to claim for her people that they should become the world's first climate-change refugees.

          I think that Rakova has a very valid reason for her people to become the world's first climate-change refugees. The island is being flooded so much that the Tulunn people are not able to grow their crops because of the amount of salt water from the ocean. This reminds me of how our world needs to be more environmentally friendly- so things like this won't happen nearly as often. We need to cut back on the things we do to pollute the air and cause global warming. If I was in Ursula Rakova's situation, I would hate to have to move to a different island. Not only would I have to leave the place I know best, but I would also have to adjust to the people and the different setting on the new island. I hope that New York declares them the world's first climate-change refugees because the Tulunn people are going through a lot of change, and not doing this would be a mistake.

New Deputy Peter Sloly a Rising Star

          Peter Sloly has one goal in life- to become Toronto's first police chief of colour. He has many supporters who believe that this will happen. This week, Sloly will assume the position of deputy chief, one of just four deputies below the police chief. With only 21 years of experience, Sloly has rapidly ascended through the ranks- he is a rising star. At 43 years old, Sloly is believed to be the youngest officer in the country to achieve such an accomplishment-"one that is both remarkable and a liability", according to a high-ranking officer who did not want to be named. When asked about the critics, Sloly replied, ""Well, for one, I think I'm only a couple of years younger than the most powerful man in the free world, (U.S. President Barack Obama, who is 48). If you're required to be in a place for a certain amount of time, I guess I don't hit that benchmark. If it's about experiences, and adding value to help build the police service into the best it can be, then I think I hit that benchmark." Sloly has also helped to change the way Toronto police recruits new officers: about one-third of recent recruits are non-white. Peter Sloly has lots of leadership, and city councilor Michael Thompson says, “"If you think of all the qualities you would hope for in a police chief, Peter has them in spades. I really think it's not a matter of if, but when.”

          I think that this is quite a remarkable story because Peter Sloly could make history. He could become the first police chief of colour! I believe that Peter Sloly is doing an awesome job- not only is he almost the police chief of Toronto, but he is a good role model for young coloured kids who would like to be involved in the police force. Hopefully Peter can achieve the rank of police chief in the next few years, because it would make a world of difference to the city of Toronto if he was the chief. Peter has accomplished a lot in his short police career, and hopefully it will continue in years to come. My wish is for Sloly to become the police chief in the next few years, so that he can lead the police force and make it more multicultural in years to come.

Yale student was targeted, police say

          On Sunday at around 5 p.m in New Haven, Connecticut, the body of Annie Le was found stuffed in a wall on the day she was supposed to be married. New Haven police officer Joe Avery said, "We do not believe it's a random act, that's all I'm giving you right now." Investigators appear to be closer to determining who killed the 24 year old girl who was a Yale University graduate. The other Yale students are shocked that something like this could have happened at such a safe facility like Yale. One student, Natoya Peart of Jamaica, said "I'm not walking at nights by myself anymore. It could happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere." Le was supposed to be married to Columbia University graduate student Jonathan Widawsky that same day, but sadly, it is never going to happen. The death is the first killing at Yale since the unsolved December 1998 death of Yale student Suzanne Jovin.

          I think that this is a very sad story. Annie Le was apparently an extremely smart individual who wanted to be involved in medicine. Her long term goal was to become a laboratory pathologist, which would take 12 years of higher education. I don't understand how anybody would have the nerve to target and kill this girl who never hurt anybody. This girl was obviously going places in life, but somebody took that away from her. I hope that the police can solve this crime, find the killer, and then put him or her behind bars, so that nothing like this will ever happen again. Also, I think Yale needs to upgrade their security, because obviously somebody snuck in who wasn't supposed to. This is a very tragic event and I hope it will never happen again to anybody.

Man won't be charged in Scarborough evacuation

          Charges are not going to be laid against the 27 year old man who was connected with the event of September 14, 2009. In Northeast Scarborough at approximately 1:30 p.m, a potentially explosive device was found in a vehicle next to a large propane tank, which caused the police to tow the vehicle and evacuate the entire neighbourhood. When officers inspected the van at the towing pound, they found a 3-inch diameter PVC pipe with wiring and a bottle containing clear liquid attached to the assembly in the vehicle’s rear. The police evacuated the 1.6 km area bordered from Steeles Ave. to the north, Finch Ave. to the south, Morningside Dr. to the east, and Middlefield Rd. to the west. Investigators proposed charging the man with three different offences including mischief and possession of an explosive device, but after a while of consulting with the crown attorney, he was not charged. Instead, the man will undergo mental health assessments instead. As of now, the police are unsure of how potentially dangerous the device might be, but bomb experts are examining it.

          I think that this is a very scary event, because lots of innocent people could have been potentially killed. I think that the police should charge the man because it sounds like parking the van there with the device was no mistake. It was done to create fear which is the definition of terrorism. It does not sound as though he had a legitimate reason as to why that device was in his vehicle. I hope that the experts can find out how deadly the device really is, because my thoughts on the safety of the city of Toronto have changed. Hopefully the police can get this all sorted out and make the people of Toronto feel more safe.