Index  Page The Conference in Poland 1 and 2 Global warming 3 The European day of languages 4 and 5 Travel through the U.S.A 6 Being a doctor 7 Horsemanship 8 European stereotypes 9 and 10 What does STRAIGHT EDGE mean? 11 Music 12 Lou Reed 13 and 14

The Conference in Poland

(27-30 October 2009)

We had some special guests visiting our school during the last week of October. Poland was a host of six countries: Norway, Finland, Italy, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands.

On Tuesday, our first day, we shared with each other the challenge presentations we prepared before.

In the afternoon all the students and teachers went to an icon museum in Suprasl. Everyone had so much fun, especially the students, who were allowed to write their own icons. On Wednesday students were divided into four groups, in which they prepared a cabaret presentation. They presented their sketches on Friday. On Thursday we all went on a field trip to the Biebrza National Park – one of the biggest mushy area in Middle Europe. Students were able to go on two trails, during which they

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experienced the beauty of the forest and bogs, with its wildlife.

In between the trails we ate traditional polish food-a soup with vegetables and sausage and a cabbage dish with meat. Students also had the opportunity to try archery. On Friday it was time to say goodbye, everyone cried and exchanged e-mails

Lets just hope we will see each other really soon.

We miss you all,

Anna Kretowska, 15, Poland 2

Is GLOBAL WARMING a MYTH?

'Prognosis of global warming can be uncorroborated'professor Lew Karlin thinks,the rector of theHydrometeorogical University in Petersburg which is theWorld Meteorological Organization's regional educationalcenter.

From an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change'sreport results climate is changed mainly by humans.However, more and more climatologists maintain that thereasons of global warming should be perceived in naturalperiodical climate fluctuation on our planet.

Opponents of the theory that global warming is caused by humans claim thistheory has no scientific confirmation in the shape of studies. They adduceinformation about temperature measurement from the period of industrialrevolutions that is since 1946. If human activity, industry development arereasons of global warming so why that time temperature was falling down?Furthermore, before industry developed, climate was fluctuating much better.

Volcanoes are one of the natural emitters of carbon dioxide, but the biggestones are oceans. Comparing natural emission of carbon dioxide and itsproduction by factories, transport, agriculture and other human influences,people activities comprise approximately 5% of the whole emission of thiselement to the atmosphere. Professor Zbigniew Jaworowski is a sceptic in thematter of human influence on global warming. He refers to the facts which saythat global warming has no connection with the level of carbon dioxide.Furthermore professor Jaworowski shows observations that carbon dioxide isnot a reason but the consequence of temperature increase. Everything isbecause of the oceans which emit more greenhouse gas when the climate iswarmer.

As you all know global warming effects are inter alia more frequentoccurrence of hurricanes, droughts, floods, tropical diseases, growth ofdeath-rate, deficit of water. But according to studies which were carried outby Ryan Maue from the Florida University, occurrent activities of hurricanesand typhoons decreased. There are less hurricanes and typhoons than 30 yearsago.

A result of global warming is also glacier melting in arctic areas. Meanwhileaccording to the newest studies the amount of glaciers on Greenland wascritically low approximately 6000 years ago. It's hard to interpret that warmclimate was caused by excessive emission of carbon dioxide so many years ago,when there were no factories and no cars. It turned out that percent of icesheet raised for the first time since 1979, either. As well the population ofpolar bears increased by 25%. Their amount in Arctic is 15 thousand, whereasten years ago there were 12 thousand bears.

Scientists of Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences and Max Planck Institute for Meteorology from Germany and University of Wisconsin harmoniously confirmthat the process of global warming will slow down in 10-20 years or evendivert.

At the beginning of the 2009/2010 school year our Institute – the “E. De Amicis” Commercial Technical Institute in Rovigo – took part in the series of events which have been organized all over Europe to celebrate the European Day of Languages.

Since September 26, 2001, the Council of Europe in collaboration with the European Union has decided to promote language diversity and support the importance of language learning by encouraging the organisation of any kind of events which can celebrate plurilingualism and intercultural understanding throughout the 47 states which are members of this important international organisation – the Council of Europe.

Our school organized a music show entitled “Languages in music” in which

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students from different classes sang songs in five different foreign languages – English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. They organized the show with the support of their language teachers and in few days a large number of students decided to take part in the show the programme of which included twenty-one songs, from “Manos al aire” to “Ces mots stupides”, “Durch den Monsun”, “I will follow him” and so on. The audience was mainly composed of teachers and students who were enthusiastic about their schoolmates’ performances; the only drawback was that the theatre where the show was held was not wide enough to contain all the students of our Institute. That’s why our headteacher suggested organizing another show during one of the monthly school assemblies which will be held in 2010.

Brundu Mirko Vecchiati Stefano 4^A Mercurio

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In the summer of 2009, I made a trip through the U.S.A, where I´ve been for three months. I´ve been in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Miami. I worked in very different branches.

In New York City I worked at Barney´s New York. Barneys New York is a chain of luxury department stores. They sell a lot of brands like Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Jil Sander, Prada and Balenciaga. Every day I helped to help to find some new clothes for my customers. It was a great experience to work in a big fashionstore as Barney´s New York. I´ve worked there for three weeks. The next trip I went to Las Vegas. I worked in Flamingo Hotel and casino, that´s a very big and popular casino in Las Vegas. Every morning I had to clean the bathrooms and I also worked as a barkeeper in the evening. I´d never worked as a barkeeper, but it was really nice to do that. Las Vegas is really awesome and I liked the people there and the many casino´s… I worked there for two weeks. The third trip I went to Philadelphia. I worked in the Philadelphia Museum of Art for two weeks. Every day I worked in the little shop of the Art Museum. And sometimes I should give a guided tour. I´ve learn how I give a guided tour and to work in a team. In Miami I worked in a beach restaurant, where I´ve been for two weeks. I worked as a waitress also I had to help with the administration of the restaurant. It was a very busy restaurant and it was hard working. I think working as a waitress is more pleasant, then to help with the administration of the restaurant. But it was nice to have some more experience with this job. My last trip through the USA went to Los Angeles. I worked by a world famous make-up artist, her name is Bobbi Brown. She has her own shop in L.A., with beauty salon. She sells cosmetic products and she gives some advice which make-up is good for you. It was more an internship to become a make-up artist. She has learned the tips and trucks of a make-up artist and she has give me some advice which make-up is good for me also I shelled cosmetic product in her shop. It was nice to work with her and it was a great experience. My trip through the USA is finished. I’d a amazing time and make some huge experience. I don’t forget this trip.

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Anne Berber van der Werff – 4KHW

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Hallo, I am Samian Said. And I am going to tell you about my experience as a doctor. During the last 5 years I was in Irak. I was there to help people, because there is a short age of doctors. Also I have a lot of family that live there. My experience whit being a doctor is: You sometimes have to work the hole day. You have to be a clean person. You have to work clean, because if you don’t work clean enough your patient my get infections in his wounds. My favourite par of my job is that I save lives, and help people, with things that not everyone can do. And the feeling that you get if you have saved someone’s life and you see that They are really happy with what you have done for them. Another good things of this job is the money that you earn. And also a good thing is that this job is much respected. My Experience in Irak The time that I was working in Irak, was awesome. The best thing was that my family lives there. I hadn’t seen them for a very long time, so I was very happy to see them. I like mountains and the terrain there, and the people are very nice by nature. Everyone is ready to help each other, because they know that they need each other. They’ve gone through many bad times. So they know the value of life and friendship. I had some great experiences there. And I think that everyone should go somewhere around the world and. Experience the same things, like I did.

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At the beginning of December two students from 3^A class came to our classroom to present us a short PPT about their trip to Poland. Paolo and Maddalena told us about their journey to Warsaw (by plane) and then to Bialystok (by train). They described what they did there and the people from different European countries they met in Bialystok. They enjoyed themselves so much and, in particular, they liked the visit to an icon museum and the trip to Biebrza National Park. So we have discovered that our school is participating in a Comenius project called Europenminded the partners of which are seven schools from seven European countries: the Netherlands (the project coordinator), Italy, Poland, Germany, Portugal, Norway and Finland. We started talking about the project and its partner countries to find out what we know about people from these countries. A small group of students from our class read some articles about what Europeans think of each other and we found out this funny cartoon about stereotypes which are commonly attached to certain European nations.

But ... what is a stereotype?

It can be described as simplistic, and mostly negative generalization (based commonly on ignorance and prejudice) held to be true about certain individuals or groups.

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For example, the Germans are considered industrious but uptight and humourless, while the Finns are said to be oddly introverted. As for the Dutch, they have an enviable economy and social order, however they have a reputation of being righteous “know-it-alls”. We were not able to find out any special stereotypes about the Poles or the Norwegians except that they are quiet, whereas the Portuguese are famous for their lack of interest in technology. There are lots of stereotypes about us, for example the Italians are said to have little or no self-control and to be disorganized and lazy. According to another stereotype, all we care about are pasta, pizza and mandolino and we could add a long list of stereotypes about us and other Europeans. What other national stereotypes do you know? Do you think there is some truth in these stereotypes?

Before leaving you, we would like to share a joke, once again about stereotypes:

Heaven is where the police are British, the chefs Italian, the mechanics German,

the lovers French, and it's all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German, the chefs are British,

the mechanics French, and it's all organized by the Italians.

Omietti Giorgio Mariano Gianluca Lazzarini Luca Malagugini Monica Bernardi Andrea 3^A Mercurio

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What does STRAIGHT EDGE mean ? It started…

in the midst of the drug-infested punk rock underground scene in Washington, D.C. in the early 1980’s, a band called “Minor Threat” emerged. They would prove to be a great threat to the drug world. The vocalist, Ian MacKaye, would start a revolution that is still present to this day. The revolution would be coined as “Straight Edge” by the title of a song by Minor Threat:

Straight edge                                                 

I'm a person just like you But I've got better things to do Than sit around and fuck my head Hang out with the living dead Snort white shit up my nose Pass out at the shows I don't even think about speed That's something I just don't need I've got the straight edge I'm a person just like you But I've got better things to do Than sit around and smoke dope 'Cause I know I can cope Ian MacKaye Laugh at the thought of eating ludes Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue Always gonna keep in touch Never want to use a crutch I've got the straight edge

Nowadays… Straight edge is a term used to describe someone who does not drink alcohol or use any kind of illegal drugs. Not because they have never been exposed to it but because they hold themselves to a higher standard than most people these days. Many people will live life no other way except the “Straight Edge” way. It’s a way to truly live life to the purest and fullest. Meant for the true romantics of life. What do people think straight edge is?

Straight Edge is about self control and a positive outlook on life. It means NO drugs, NO alcohol, and NO casual sex (casual sex is having sex with someone who you don't truly love or have a relationship with.).

Straight edge is about being in total control of your life, thinking for yourself, it’s not a set of rules that you must follow, it’s a choice: no-one is forcing you to be straight edge.

Straight edge is a life long oath to abstain from all forms of recreational drugs including alcohol and cigarettes, and to abstain from promiscuous sex and moderate our sexual desires in general.

Maybe, in the end, Straight Edge means: Respect for who you are. 11

Hi everybody!!!! What’s up people??? my name’s Davide!! But you can call me DaDe if you want! In this article I’m gonna talk to you of one of my most important passions… MUSIC!!!! There’s not only a kind of music!!!! There are millions of kinds of music!!! The most notable ones are: classical music, pop music, house music, techno music, rock, hard rock, metal etc….!!!!! Now the question is obviously the following:

What’s your favourite kind of music?? ^__^

Mine is metal. That was an easy question, men! but this one is more difficult…

Did you know that music is always in our life?? Every day, in every action we do, even when we talk, we play music!!!! ‘cause, music is not only a song, a band, or playing an instrument, music is every sound we hear or we make!!!!! So, music is part of our life in every second! Generally, music is played by persons with instruments, or through technological tools (like mixers or a computer). There are different kinds of instruments, percussion instruments (like drums or bongs), stringed instruments (like the guitar, the bass, the violin), wind instruments (like the flute, the sax, the clarinet). Oh my god!!!!!!!!! I was forgetting to say that we can make music by singing!! . I can play the piano, the guitar and the drums I have been playing music since 2003 … Music is my life… I couldn’t live without it…’cause with music we can make other people feel our feelings, without talking… for example, when I hear a solo played on a guitar by Carlos Santana…. I cry like a baby . Music is important!! Don’t forget it!!! C ya! DaDe Bettarello Davide 3^B Mercurio

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Lou Reed Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (born March 2, 1942) is an American rock musician best known as the guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground as well as a successful solo artist whose career has spanned several decades.  The Velvet Underground gained little mainstream attention during their career, but became one of the most influential bands of their era.  As the Velvet Underground's main songwriter, Reed wrote abouhis personal experience that never had been examined so openly in rock and roll, including a variety of sexual topics and drug cult

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ure. 

 

t of commercial music. 

Reed began a long and eclectic solo career in 1971.   

Early life Lou Reed was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Freeport, New York. Reed received electroconvulsive therapy in his teen years to "cure" homosexual behavior; he wrote about the experience in his 1974 song, "Kill Your Sons". In an interview, Reed said of the experience: “They put the thing down your throat so you don't swallow your tongue, and they put electrodes on your head. That's what was recommended in Rockland County to discourage homosexual feelings. The effect is that you lose your memory and become a vegetable. You can't read a book because you get to page 17 and have to go right back to page one again.”  

Career Reed and Cale lived together on the Lower East Side, and, adding Reed's college acquaintances guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker to the group, they formed The Velvet Underground.  The band has a long‐standing reputation as one of the most influential underground bands in rock history. The group caught the attention of notable artist Andy Warhol, who raised their profile immeasurably, if not improving their immediate fortunes. One of Warhol's first contributions to the band's success was securing them a steady spot as the house band at Max's Kansas City. A conflict emerged when Warhol had the idea for the group to take on as "chanteuse" the European former model Nico. Reed and the others registered their objection by titling their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Despite his initial resistance, Reed wrote several songs for Nico to sing, and the two were briefly lovers (as were Nico and Cale later). With the Velvet Underground music group he’ll compose and he’ll write a lot of songs who regard human psychological and human weaknesses themes like drugs, sex and other psychological problems.  

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) The Velvet Underground & Nico was he first album of the Velvet Underground 

group. The album cover is famous for its Warhol design: a yellow banana with “Peel slowly and see” printed near a perforated tab. Those who did remove the banana skin found a pink, peeled banana beneath. With this album and his first song “Sunday morning”, The Velvet Underground and his singer Lou Reed began the English pop era and the concep

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Solo career 

1970s His first solo album was overlooked by most pop music critics and it did not sell in significant numbers. Though Transformer would prove to be Reed's commercial and critical pinnacle, there was no small amount of resentment in Reed devoted to the shadow the record cast over the rest of his career. A public argument between David Bowie and Reed ended their working relationship for several years, though the subject of the argument is not known Reed followed Transformer with the darker Berlin, which tells the story of two junkies in love in the titular city. The songs variously concern domestic abuse, drug addiction, adultery and prostitution, and suicide.  

1980s  In 1986, he joined the Amnesty International A Conspiracy of Hope Tour and was outspoken about New York's political issues and personalities on the 1989 album New York, commenting on crime, AIDS and Pope John Paul II. Reed sings of his love for his late friend Warhol, but also criticizes both the doctors who were unable to save Warhol's life and Warhol's would‐be assassin, Valerie Solanas. 

1990s  In 1996, the Velvet Underground were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony, Reed performed a song entitled "Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend" alongside former bandmates John Cale and Maureen Tucker, in dedication to Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison, who had died the previous August.  

2000s  In May 2000, Reed performed before Pope John Paul II at the Great Jubilee Concert in Rome. On October 6, 2001 the New York Times published a Lou Reed poem called Laurie Sadly Listening in which he reflects upon the 9/11 terrorist attacks.   

Today  Still today, the Velvet Underground group is remembered  as one of the most important groups in the music history and still today Lou Reed is invited to record some songs with other famous groups like The Killers or Metallica and recently he performed White Light White Heat with Metallica at Madison Square Garden for  the 25th‐anniversary celebration of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Lou is one of the most important music artist in all the music history because he allowed the start of English pop era and he composed songs about issues never sung before. He is a music myth and a legend for all the rock music fans. 

   

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