Season's Greetings

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Earth Song

Michael Jackson – Earth Song



What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain...
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

…

What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

…

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

(…)

Hey, what about yesterday
What about the seas
The heavens are falling down
I can't even breathe
What about the bleeding Earth

(What about us)

Can't we feel its wounds
What about nature's worth
It's our planet's womb
What about animals
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
Have we lost their trust
What about crying whales
We're ravaging the seas
What about forest trails

(What about us)

…

Burnt despite our pleas
What about the holy land
Torn apart by creed
What about the common man
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
Can't you hear them cry
Where did we go wrong
Someone tell me why
What about babies
(What about us)
What about the days
What about all their joy
What about the man
What about the crying man
What about Abraham
(What was us)

What about death again
Do we give a damn


Comment on Earth Song


This song was written in the 1990s and the singer, Michael Jackson, is warning us of some world problems. He tries to draw our attention to them and he explains what we have been changing and how these endangered things are important for our well being on Earth.

He feels pain caused by Man because he sees people in the world destroying what is of everybody. He asks what’s going on about sunrise, rain, fields, children, seas, animals and so; and he didn’t have any answers. He is defeated, he misses these simple things and he warns Man of the end of Mankind.

From his point of view, things have changed not only in nature but also in people’s mind. They are more and more greedy, they only feel worried about making war, money and material things. Man’s rights have been lost and it’s very hard to replace them.

I agree with Michael Jackson, it’s high time we did something and helped Earth but it’s harder when there are people who don’t care about it, it’s sad. And this is not a brand new problem, it has been lingering during decades and decades. Man’s evolution power is very strong but I believe that if every person tried to help each other and the Earth, we could live on a better place. We just need to learn how to live with powerful things and keep dignity.

WE NEED TO SAVE THE WORLD!




R.I.P Michael Jackson


Raquel Guerreiro

*11ºC no 28758

Treepeople: Andy Lipkis has sent us mail!

Dear Professor Serraninho and Students at Escola Secundaria c/3 ciclo de Diogo de Gouveia--Beja, Portugal,

I was wonderful to receive your letters via my friends Gilbert and Shirley Saint-Leon. They have known me and my parents since I was 8 or 9 years old.

I am so happy that you are studying ecology and the environment at your school. I wish that schools here in the United States were all doing that as well. I have spoken with some of the people in your government, especially concerning the terrible fires that seem to come every late summer/early autumn season both in Portugal and in Northern California. But I did not know that I and my Tree/People Organization were covered in your text book.

I have learned that next March Portugal is hoping to have a million volunteers working in your forests in an efforts to clean out old trees and plant new young trees to replace them. Perhaps you and your school mates will be taking part in this effort. It is the only way to prevent the forest from burning up.

The email for us is Treepeople.org, and our BLOG is attached.

Again, I want to thank each of you for writing to me. It made me very happy.

ANDY LIPKIS (President of TreePeople)

Global volunteers at school

Our school has hosted two wonderful Global Volunteers: Mr. and Mrs. Saint-Leon. They have enriched our lives with their stories and knowledge. On leaving back to Los Angeles they surprised us all by telling us they happened to know Andy Lipkis, the president of TREEPEOPLE, and we took the chance to congratulate him for the wonderful job he has been doing for the environment by writing him a letter that they would personally deliver and... guess what...! Andy Lipkis has already answered back.

Thank you so much Mr and Mrs Saint-Leon.

We are back again - European Day of Languages 26th September

After our refreshing and inspirational holidays we're back again and we start by celebrating the European Day of Languages with English which is our bridge to multulcuralism and togetherness. At ESDG we have built the Tree of Languages in several languages and messages as the following by Teresa Brissos:

"There are many words to describe what English is, but none of them would do it fair justice. Long goes the time when English was the British and American language. Today, the world is linked by it, and therefore the British and American people are too. It became a huge, unprejudiced gate for everyone to freely walk through. And even though they say Mandarin will be the next lingua franca, right now, if you have English at your disposal, you have the whole wide world at your feet."

Teresa Brissos


11ºB, nº 27911

Learn, listen,... talk when you're ready!

Another school year has ended. For some, there are still examinations to come, for others this is it.For many there are no more English lessons in sight. We (11th graders) are an example of that. Through out all these years of learning English I never gave much thought to the day when they would come to an end. And that day was today. This isn't definitive, though. I will never give up on English because, aside from speaking my own language, learning and communicating in English is one of the most pleasant things I can do and, I am sure, one of my best tools. Like I've written today, still in class, English is culture. For the last two years we've discussed so many subjects that I am thrilled with the depths of our conclusions. We've been visited by North American people (our nice Global Volunteers) and, I confess, those were the lessons where I felt the excitment of speaking with a foreigner, specially one who spoke a better English than I do. I still remember our first lesson with Mrs. Rocha. The topic of our conversation was the importance of the English language in our modern world and the reason why we had chosen English as a second language. My answer was, basically, that I had always adored English, because it widened my horizons and it increased my odds in every area of life, and also because I very much appreciated English speaking countries (the words were not exactly these ones because I didn't know them at the time although I meant them), being my favourite the UK. Among other things, Mrs. Rocha told me "The grass is greener on the other side of the hill". This proverb kept popping out every once in a while in my mind and, for some unknown reason, I didn't forget it.Now I understand that the first words exchanged between people who don't know each other are, in fact, the most important ones. And now that communication has got so far that people who are in different and distant parts of the Earth can actually talk and share values, ideas and cultural aspects of their lives, we have reached a turning point: we are no longer just Portuguese, or British, or Cuban, or Chinese, or Russian, or Greek, or South African. We are global citizens and communication is pivotal to overcome all the prejudice that still has a strong presence in our world. Therefore, if we learn a new language, speaking and communicating, in general, will become easier tasks to accomplish. Due to a better understanding we will bridge our differences, foster tolerance and respect, perhaps build a better world where there is room for everybody and where no one will be discriminated because they have a different skin color or a different religion.Nevertheless, it seems that our main problem is communication and it is not that simple, whether it is because we're narrow-minded, or because we're not understood. So, as someone said before me, "what we have here is a failure to communicate". What better solution than learning first and speaking only after we're prepared for that? Hey! Listening is also a very important step! Joining both qualities looks pretty attractive and, guess what?! It is possible! I believe that many of our global riots would find better solutions if those involved cared about listening and understanding. Many people suffer and get angry with the world apparently for no reason, when what they need is to be heard ("Freedom Writers" is really an awesome example). Listening, trying to understand, learning how to communicate and being careful with our words (so that we won't hurt anybody's feelings) are some of the aspects we all should take into consideration. Attention, people! We need education if we want to do all this! What better place to start than our school?! Let's listen carefully to our teachers, make some effort to understand their work, focus on the important subjects, collect knowledge and, hopefully, we'll be ready to communicate.

Patricia Caixeirinho, 5th June 2009

Every little bit of life conveys a message

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsjTTgzsq94

Ups and downs

We have not forgotten English nor this blog? In fact English is under our skin and it is embedded in our lives! In fact on the 29th January we had a Tea Party at ESDG and students brought tea and homemade scones and muffins, which softened and sweetened our hearts and shortened school breaks.

How to Pronounce the th sound

Maria Antonieta Palma Ferro

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill is the trendiest area of London. It lies in west London close to the north western corner of Hyde Park.

Here in Notting Hill a street carnival takes place every year in the last week in August, a parade along the streets of this famous borough, over two days (Sunday and the following bank holiday). It is considered the second largest street carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro.

This festival began in 1965. It initially began with the immigrants from the Caribbean where the carnival tradition is very strong and the people living locally dreamed of creating a festival to bring together the people of Notting Hill. Most of them were facing racism, discrimination and poor housing conditions. At the time the state of race relations was very depressing. The Caribbeans organized the event to minimize the tensions between the two rival groups and it was attended by around a thousand people turning out to be a huge success.

However, this carnival and many of the following were spoiled by riots between Caribbean youths and the police.

This event is generally considered as a real proof of London’s multicultural diversity though dominated by the Caribbean culture.

The carnival is made up of five disciplines: masquerade, political, social and satirical commentary set to music, which is a fusion of soul, calypso and samba. The parade is filled with feathered costumes and plenty of dancers who dance to the rhythm of music.

Don’t miss it. If you have a good opportunity go and enjoy yourself!!






RESEARCH BY: MICAELA TOSCANO, 11st C

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Genetically Modified World

posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration as well as penitence because it's the last day before Lent.

Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs, which were forbiden during this period.

Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before to Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between February 3rd and March 9th. In 2008 Pancake Day was on 5 February and in 2009 it will be on 24th February.

On this day there is a friendly little competition that consists on women running down the streets of each town flipping pancakes and it has been on for more than 50 years now. It is still the only race of its kind on the planet.

The pancake race tradition is based on the story of a woman that was very busy making pancakes when she heard the churh bells ring callinf for everyone to the shriving service. She put her head scarf (required in church at that time) and ran to the church forgetting that she was wearing the apron and was taking the pancake on the frying-pan with her.

From then on neighbours started the habit of a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a "kiss of peace" from the verger (that is the bell ringer).

Nowadays racers must still wear a head scarf and an apron and the runner must flip her pancake at the start signal, and again after crossing the finish line, to prove she still has her pancake. The kiss is stil the traditional prize.

Research by: Teresa Guerreiro, 11th C

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Genetic Manipulation

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Our Planet, the Earth

All of us live in the same magical and wonderful place, The Earth.

Our planet is the third of Solar System and so far the only one where life exits. The Earth is the largest telluric planet with one satellite, the Moon. It has surface area with 510,072,000 km² and 1.0832073×10¹² km³ of volume. The Earth has an atmosphere with Nitrogen (78, 08%), Oxygen (20, 95%), Carbon Dioxide (0,038%) and Water Vapor (about 1%), among others. This atmosphere is conducive to life and it is because of it there we live. The Earth has an average temperature of 15º Celsius, the rotation period of 23.9 hours and the translation period of 365 days and 6 hours. In our planet there are six continents, but 71% of it are oceans.

Like all the Solar System, the Earth is very old with about 4600 million years, but the life of human beings on this planet came to only 2.5 million years ago.

Human beings have inhabitted Earth for a short time but it seems that they will end up with life on this planet. Due to the pollution, global warming and extinction of species caused by the human activities, the Earth is exhausting all its natural resources and the conditions which are favourable to existence of life. In the future the Earth will probably be an empty and gloomy planet, like all other planets in the Solar System and life will cease to exist forever.

In my opinion the Earth is not a simple planet in the Universe, it is our home, the only place where we can live and forge relationships with different living beings. The Human Being has a mission: to take care and preserve Earth and not to destroy it. That way, all of us will live together and in harmony with the Earth for as long as possible.

BY: Inês Sofia Gouveia Abundância

10^th B

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

Holidays, festivals and festivities in the UK and the USA

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is commemorated on 17th March, which is the day of Saint Patrick's death.

Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland but his history is a little bit mysterious and people don't know many things about him.Saint Patrick's real name was Maewym Succat and he was born in Wales. He was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16, then he went to Ireland as a slave, but he managed to escape to France. Some years later he became a holy man and returned to Ireland, and then he converted Irish people in to Catholicism.

He is known by explaining the holy trinity (God, Jesus and Holy Spirit) by using the leaves of a clover. Although Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish festival, people commemorate it all over the world because Irish colonists spread it worldwide. Every year, people celebrate it wearing green clothes, painting everything green because it's the colour of the shamrock, hope, nature and Ireland and by eating Irish food, going to a parade, trying to catch a Leprechaun and drinking a lot of beer.

There are some curiosities about this day. Did you know that... There aren't snakes in Ireland because they are afraid of the shamrock and because Saint Patrick got rid of all the snakes? ...If someone isn't wearing something green, another person can pinch the person that isn't wearing green? ...The Chicago River is painted green? ...When people who are commemorating this day raise their glasses, there are some funny statements which they say and that I am going to quote? "May God bring good health to your enemies enemies" " May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you are dead."

Research by Ana Dias, 11th C

Pollution

Nowadays there is a huge problem which is affecting the whole world: pollution.

Pollution is a term which means the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder and discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in.

Pollution is not a recent phenomenon. It exists since prehistory and it has been growing day after day due to the action of human beings.

There are different types of pollution like air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, noise pollution and visual pollution, among others.

Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine a

nd Zambia are at present the world’s worst polluted places which is harmful for the people who live there and all around the world.

Although people know that, pollution continue keep

s being a fact which is very dangerous for the whole world and for all living beings and it can cause problems like global warming and ocean acidification and it can contributes to the extinction of many species.

Because of these reasons and many more we should bear in mind what we have been doing and that way we would live in harmony with our planet and with ourselves.

BY: Inês Sofia Gouveia Abundância

10th B

Posted by: Teresa Guerreiro

British and American Culture - The Mall

The Mall in London is the road running from Buckingham Palace (at its western end) to Admiralty Arch - a large office building - and on to Trafalgar Square (at its eastern end). It is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, and on ceremonial occasions. The Queen Victoria Memorial (2) - is a sculture placed at the centre of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace - it is immediately before the gates of it. Running off the Mall at its eastern end is the Horse Guards Parade (3), where the ceremony of Trooping The Colour occurs.The Mall was created as a ceremonial route in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, matching the creation of similar ceremonial routes in other cities, such as Washington, D.C., Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Vienna, St. Petersburg and Oslo. These routes were intended to be used for major national ceremonies in the era of the nation state.During state visits the Mall is decorated with union flags and the flags of the visiting head of state's country.

Research by Inês Salsinha