Children at a school in Italy have today begun an experiment to replace all their books with personal computers. The pupils involved will each be given a special laptop that contains their entire curriculum. From Rome our correspondent Duncan Kennedy reports:
Until today, the Don Milani di Rivoli elementary school in central Turin was like any other. Children turned up, got out their books and pens and began the process of learning. But now, in what's being described as a unique experiment, 60 fifth-grade pupils and a number of third-graders, will start using computers only.
The mini-laptops, which run Windows software, all have a full curriculum programmed into them. The pupils will use the computers to do all their reading and writing. Security systems within the laptops mean the children's access to the internet is strictly controlled. The machines weigh less than a kilogram, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 metres and are waterproof.
Instead of spending the equivalent of 700 dollars a year on books, the laptops, built by the Italian company Olidata, cost less than 400 dollars. One of the teachers involved in the scheme says that, for the first time, schools will be able to verify in a scientific way how a computer alone can improve the learning process. The experiment, which has the backing of parents, is due to last a year.
elementary school ilkokul, genellikle 5-11 yaş grubundaki çocukların temel eğitimlerini aldığı öğretim kurumu
turned up beklenmedik şekilde çıkıp gelmek, burada, okula gelmek
grade sınıf, aynı yaş ve düzeydeki öğrencilerin bir araya toplandığı düzey
curriculum müfredat, bir okulda öğretilen konuların bütünü, aynı zamanda bu sözcük belirli bir konuda okutulan ders kitapları ve malzeme için de kullanılabiliyor
access to erişimi olmak, kullanabilmek
are waterproof su geçirmez, sudan zarar görmeyen
the equivalent of tekabül eden miktarda, denk gelen miktarda
involved in the scheme programa dahil olmak, deneye katılmak
to verify doğrulamak, bir şeyin doğruluğunu teyit etmek
Pope Benedict read the opening words of the book of Genesis live from his apartments in the Vatican at the start of a week-long Bible reading marathon on Italian television. David Willey reports:
The Pope began this seven day non-stop Bible marathon by reading the story of the creation.
He wants Catholics to return to reading the Bible and feels that the scriptures are being neglected in the modern world. A Russian Orthodox prelate took over the Bible reading from the Pope after a few minutes and then it was the turn of an Italian Protestant leader who read with great emphasis the story of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden. One of Italy's most popular actors Roberto Benigni took over to read the story of Cain and Abel. The Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang Bach during the first interlude.
Rome's Chief Rabbi had originally been scheduled to read immediately after the Pope but he pulled out after complaining that the event had become, in his words, 'too Catholic'.
The television broadcast of the Bible will continue all week, day and night, on a satellite educational channel. Earlier in the day the Pope opened a synod of Catholic bishops from around the world who will be debating how to give a better knowledge of the Bible to Catholics. In his homily the Pope attacked the godless character of modern culture.
The US House of Representatives is considering a revised version of the financial rescue plan passed by the Senate. The Senate added tax breaks and other sweeteners to get the package through but the bill's passage through the House is still uncertain. Rachel Harvey reports:
Passing this huge rescue package in the Senate was one thing. Getting it through the House of Representatives is quite another.
There is a lot of arm twisting going on behind the scenes. But despite the careful words of cautious optimism from some senior figures, it's not at all clear whether enough minds will be changed to make the difference. Steve LaTourette is one of a group of conservative Republicans, who still questions the central premise of the plan.
Steve LaTourette: "The number 700 hundred billion dollars continues to be difficult for us. And it's difficult because nobody can seem to explain why the secretary needs 700 billion dollars."
Even those in favour of this bill describe it as an imperfect document. But time is of the essence. This is no longer just about bailing out banks. Ordinary Americans are hurting.
There is very real anger about what caused this economic crisis. But there is also a growing recognition that it could spread very quickly if nothing is done. That's why the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is calling for an end to the wrangling.
Nancy Pelosi: "I don't think that any changes here will do what we need to do, which is right now to send a message of confidence to the markets that Congress will act. This isn't our last act. We'll have plenty of time to do more. That's what I tell the Democrats. That's what I tell the Republicans."
So once again a call to those facing re-election to put partisan politics aside. Once again the fate of the financial rescue package lies with the House of Representatives. And once again, that fate is far from certain.
the central premise ana fikir, burada: bankalara 700 milyar dolar verme sözü
an imperfect document mükemmel olmayan bir belge, sorunlu bir plan
time is of the essence vakit nakittir, kaybedecek zamanı yok
bailing out kurtarma
a growing recognition (krizin yayılabileceği fikri) giderek daha fazla kabul görüyor
the wrangling kavga, çekişme
to put partisan politics aside memleketin iyiliği için partiler üstü anlayış benimsemek, yalnızca kendi partisi adına politika yapmayı bir kenara bırakmak
All work in India's film and television industry hub of Bollywood has been stopped today as thousands of technicians and actors have gone on strike over pay and conditions. With more, here's our South Asia correspondent Damian Grammaticas:
On the first day of this strike Bollywood has fallen silent. All productions in the world's busiest film hub have been halted. Everyone - from dancing girls to carpenters, lighting technicians to cameramen, soundmen to script writers - has downed tools.
Dinesh Chaturvedi, head of the Federation that represents 22 unions with over 147,000 members working in the film and television business said they'd decided to halt all co-operation with industry producers. He said union members, most of whom fill the lowest paid jobs, are protesting because of abysmal pay, long shifts that can often last for up to thirty six hours and unpaid wages that can be withheld for up to six months leaving workers on the verge of starvation.
It's television productions on tight schedules like reality shows that are being hit the hardest. But Sushma Shiromanee of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association said employers were not panicking. They will meet to decide their response to the strike on Thursday, she said, but are prepared to hold out for months if necessary.
The Brazilian environment minister has promised to publish today the names of the 100 people responsible for the largest acts of illegal deforestation in the Amazon. He promises to step up action to prevent destruction of the world's largest tropical forest. Here's Tim Hirsch:
It's more than eight months since the Brazilian government announced a package of measures to combat deforestation, after satellite observations showed the rate of destruction in the Amazon was picking up again. So far, there's been little evidence of a slowdown, despite a string of raids on illegal sawmills and moves to cut off credit to farmers operating outside the law.
The latest initiative concentrates on the impunity with which illegal deforestation is still carried out in Brazil, according to the government's own account. The environment minister Carlos Minc reckons that only one in ten offenders is prosecuted and fewer than one in 200 convicted in the courts.
As well as naming the top 100 deforesters, Mr Minc is planning to set up a task force with the prosecuting authorities and environmental enforcement agencies, to ensure that more are brought to justice. He's also promised to step up efforts to bring greater legality to farming and forestry activities in the regions of the Amazon where most deforestation has taken place.
