Blur's Alex James calls cocaine 'a trail of death'

Blur's

Alex James called cocaine a "relentless trail of death".

The bassist recently visited Colombia to film a documentary about its drug trade. After seeing the situation there, he told Newsbeat: "It's a relentless trail of death, it's just not stopping and it did start to wear me down."

James has publicly admitted to using cocaine himself, mentioning in his autobiography that he spent "a million pounds on champagne and cocaine," but the star has since quit using.

James was invited by Colombian president Alvaro Uribe along with other celebrities linked to cocaine use to witness first-hand the harm it has done to the South American country.

"My heart started beating faster when I was met at the airport by heavily armed security guards and escorted to a bomb-proof monster truck," he said, adding, "The cash generated by coke basically has been funding a civil war that's been raging for decades."

James said that drug use among musicians has almost become acceptable, but he hopes that shedding light on the negative impact it has on others may change people's attitudes.

"It's seen as a victimless crime I suppose taking drugs, but if you follow the trail of dots back to Colombia it's pretty horrible."

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“Forgive but not Forgoten”

The atmosphere of Indonesia could be best described as mixture of uncertainty and curiosity, this is especially true considering the critical ondition of ex-President Suharto. The ex-dictator’s health condition has become spotlight of headlines among media since last week.

It noticeably also has been source of discussion among Indonesian Bloggers. (this post was marked as latest top post in my wordpress dashboard). People who took benefit of Suharto’s long reign would probably feel sorry or sympathize his critical, near-vegetative condition.

I won’t give preach about the corruption he has done during his one-third reign in here, public knows better. I won’t preach about the long list of his violation toward human rights I’m sure you know it better than I do.

There is only one thing I won’t forget, one thing I consider his gravest sin, personally: Javanization.

I don’t want to spark useless debate about racial issues, but I can’t help but associate Suharto with cultural genocide, especially toward Chinese minority in Indonesia. There are many third generation Chinese here who forget to speak their ancestor’s tongue, and alienated from their big family who still speak Chinese language.

I know there are cases when a Chinese descent feel shameful because they have physically Chinese attributes, but don’t speak Chinese speak at all. Maybe they speak Javanese more fluently than they supposed to be toward their ancestor’s language. Some maybe also feel confused about their identity, are they Javanese? Are they Chinese?

That’s one of the saddest fate of Chinese descent who live in Indonesia, they lost their cultural identity, all because ambition of one man.

I admit that Soeharto had been a great President. He was almost a Leviathan, but too bad he wasn’t. He is a man with Javanese-centric mentality. He considered himself a great king and all other were his vassals. He is nowhere a Leviathan.

He built this country in weak foundation, making us fell on the trap of great debt. His superiority complex made us non-Javanese to act and behave like one. Chinese descent may not spoke their language, and they miss the chance to take benefit of the rising China. Get the big picture?

I might forgive Soeharto if he gonna passed out real soon. Forgiven not forgotten. He’s suffering a great pain anyway. He might win and beyond the reach of the law, but he was beaten by himself, by his existence of human being.

(from Republikbabi.com)

Indonesia’s Former President, Soeharto, Rest in Peace

Indonesia's former president finally rest in peace, after series of his story headlined recently in local media. Soeharto have rulled Indonesia for 32 years replacing Indonesia's first president, Soekarno.

Soeharto has been hospitalized in RSPP hospital for about 24 days for his series ilnesses ; kidney, lungs, and heart. And after punished today by the team doctors that all the organs have completelly malfunction, Soeharto release his final breath at 13.10 in 87 years of age.

Indonesia government stated mourning moment for Soeharto's death for 7 days. Soeharto will be buried in Giribangun, Solo.

The death of one of the most corrupt and brutal rulers of the 20th century is unlikely to spark civil unrest in the country of 230 million, analysts in
Jakarta said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will preside over ceremonies mourning the death, insisting in recent interviews that Soeharto's mistakes would not stop the nation from thanking him for his achievements.

But 10 years after being driven from power in a pro-democracy uprising, Soeharto remained a divisive and influential figure in Indonesia where people are sharply divided over his political legacy and where he will be remembered as much by his corruption and human rights abuses as his achievements.

The global corruption agency Transparency International estimated in 2004 that Soeharto had stolen between US$15 billion to US$35 billion in state assets while in power.

His six children, other family members and cronies enriched themselves
through hundreds of businesses that came to dominate Indonesia's economy in the 1980s and 1990s.

But Soeharto, who was born into a poor farming family in Java in 1921, is credited with holding the vast Indonesian archipelago together and
fostering economic development that lifted millions of people from poverty.

(from news-to-you.blogspot.com)

Rambo (2008)

Rambo Film Review by James Berardinelli

ACTION

United States, 2008

U.S. Release Date: 1/25/08 (wide)

Running Length: 1:25

MPAA Classification: R (Violence, gore, rape, profanity)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Paul Schulze, Graham McTavish, Matthew Marsden

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone

Cinematography: Glen MacPherson

Music: Brian Tyler

U.S. Distributor: Lionsgate

In the Rambo canon, where does this one fit? The tone is closer to First Blood but the body count is more Rambo III. No matter how one dices and slices this new Rambo, the first one in 20 years, it will likely please fans of the long-in-the-tooth series, provided they still go to see movies. Rambo probably has enough action to capture the attention of the next generation, but will they view Stallone as a dinosaur or as someone who can wreak carnage with the best of them? Rambo is as gory as films come while maintaining an R rating, and the carnage is too explicit to be considered cartoonish. The camera doesn't cut away when limbs are shot off or when unsuspecting peasants step on landmines.

It's impressive that Stallone is still authoritative as John Rambo, ex-Green Beret. The actor is 61 years old but Rambo (unlike Rocky) has a timeless quality to him. One never questions the credibility of this aged actor playing this action hero because Rambo, as befits his iconic status, doesn't appear to have changed much in the last 20 years. It's interesting to note the different directions in which Stallone has taken his two famous screen alter-egos. In Rocky Balboa, the title character is defined by his age. He's getting old and the years are weighing him down. In Rambo, age is irrelevant. John Rambo has come to terms with his killer instinct and how many years he has left is irrelevant.

As the film opens, we are provided with a thumbnail sketch of the situation in Burma, where most of the action will take place. Credit Stallone for not being topical by setting this in Iraq or some other Middle Eastern location where Rambo could battle terrorists. (Ironically, Rambo III put the character in Afghanistan battling alongside the "freedom fighters" who would eventually develop into terrorists.) Here, he's after the old stand-by of a corrupt army led by a sadistic colonel, whose evil and cruelty are highlighted in brutal scenes where innocent peasants are slaughtered by the dozens. Anyway, Rambo is minding his own business, grunting, catching snakes, grunting, hammering hot metal rods into weapons of mass destruction (in his hands, at least), and grunting some more. That's when Michael (Paul Schulze, the guy from Division that Jack Bauer shot in the head) and Sarah (Julie Benz, a popular TV actress) enter his life. They're Christian missionaries on their way up river from Thailand to Burma and they would like Rambo to be their guide. He takes some persuading but ultimately can't resist a pretty face. The film smartly avoids having these two dance around in a ballroom while Angela Lansbury sings in the background.

The river trip doesn't go without incident. Rambo has to wipe out a boat full of nasty pirates to keep them from raping Sarah and beheading her colleagues. Michael doesn't approve of Rambo's tactics and, once they reach their destination, he huffily informs their guide that his services will no longer be required. Of course, the missionaries are soon captured by the bad guys and in almost no time, Rambo is retracing his path upriver with a bunch of mercenaries in tow. Following a lot of running around in the jungle (where we keep expecting Marlon Brando to appear), we are treated to a few Rambo moments and the climax has a suitably high body count. The denouement is strange, though, being reminiscent of the ending to episodes of the old TV series The Incredible Hulk.

Is there a reason to be disappointed? Not by the plot, surely, which is in the good Rambo tradition of not making a lot of sense and not being at all bothered by that fact. Not by the acting, either. Stallone knows Rambo well enough that he could play him in his sleep and none of the other characters possesses much in the way of individuality. I think this is supposed to be a little like The Dirty Dozen, but the only mercenary to make an impression is the tough-talking Graham McTavish, who seems to be doing a Vinnie Jones impersonation. No, if there's a reason for mild dissatisfaction, it's that there aren't enough Rambo moments. Why are we in the theater in the first place? To see Stallone cut, shoot, and blow his way through enemies from start to finish. Unfortunately, there are a few too many scenes that feature Stallone running through the forest or staring daggers at people he doesn't like. One could argue that the climax makes up for it but, despite all the mayhem, it's not visceral or personal enough. Oh well, I suppose you can't have everything. We do get to see Rambo outrun the blast wave from a Claymore mine that has the explosive power of a small nuclear weapon.

Rambo does pretty much what one could reasonably expect it to do. It's not the best of the series (that would be #1) nor is it the worst (#2). It's a middling movie both in terms of the franchise and in terms of action movies in general. If what you want from a movie is a lot of Stallone looking morose and pensive before suddenly going apeshit and slaughtering a bunch of people, then Rambo is your kind of experience. And if you're looking for something else… why the hell would you be considering going to see a Rambo movie in the first place?

Other Film Review :

• Meet the Spartan (2008)
• Untraceable (2008)

TV Stars Plan Mini Music Tour for Charity as Writer's Strike Drags On

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Jan 10, 2008

"House" star Hugh Laurie, Jamie Denton of "Desperate Housewives," Greg Grunberg from "Heroes," "Cashmere Mafia's" Bonnie Somerville and the rest of their Band from TV cohorts aim to make the most of their strike-imposed time off. They've turned their collective attention to making music that will bring funding to good causes. Tonight (Jan. 10), they play at Hollywood's 3 of Clubs club, and they "have some big gigs ahead that aren't finalized yet that will raise a lot of money," reveals vocalist Bonnie. "We're also going to play some gigs in Vegas and do, like, a mini-tour," she adds.

Not only that, but Band from TV has "recorded an album with David Foster ("Hoggin' All the Covers"), with proceeds going to our individual charities. We'll do a press tour for that, and the DVD we also have coming out. You can read about each actor and our charities at www.bandfromTV.org."

Somerville is happy about the initial response to "Cashmere Mafia," which she says "just gets better and better" through the seven episodes filmed before the show shut down due to the Writers Guild of America strike. She plays Caitlin Dowd, the cosmetics industry VP who unexpectedly finds herself in a romance with her female assistant (Lourdes Benedicto). "I don't want to jinx the show," she says. "I've was on Darren Star's 'Grosse Pointe' -- one of the most acclaimed comedies in years -- and everyone expected it to do well, but somehow it just didn't click. I'd love to have something that I like on the air for more than two years."

SUPERWOMAN: "Law & Order's" S. Epatha Merkerson is in an ironic situation. While most of the industry is frozen in the grip of the writers' strike, she's juggling series shooting and preview performances of her Broadway revival "Come Back, Little Sheba."

"I'm getting up in the wee hours of the morning to do 'Law & Order,' and then doing the show in the evening. And since we're in previews, we have rehearsals as well. At my age, I'm buckling down and making sure I get all the rest I can. It's a demanding role," she says, referring to Lola, the character that won Shirley Booth a 1952 Oscar. "The character only leaves the set for a minute or two. There's only one scene she's not in. But I'm just really happy, enjoying it. I'm up to the challenge."

Indeed. Epatha did the play in Los Angeles last year and drew dream reviews, and it appears she's headed for more such raves for her starring performance in the William Inge drama at the Biltmore Theatre. At the same time, "Law & Order" returned to production Monday.

"When the strike started, we had four back scripts, so we're good to keep shooting 'til the end of January," explains the actress, who holds the record for longest stint among the cast on the 18-season-old series. "We will finish our full mid-season order of 13."

Epatha says she's still enjoying "L&O," and notes, "We have a couple of new guys this season, great guys -- Jeremy Sisto and Linus Roache. I'm a fan of both their work. They're a great addition. But I haven't had a chance because of the play to see the show yet this season, so I can't comment on their episodes," she adds with a laugh.

KISS OFF: Nia Long, who starred with Ice Cube in "Are We There Yet?" and with Jude Law in "Alfie," told an interviewer that "hands down, Cube is the better kisser. His lips are softer, fuller." So Entertainment Weekly asked Cube what he thought of that as part of a Stupid Questions feature in the magazine's issue that hits stands tomorrow. His response: "Jude Law know what time it is. You ain't telling him nothing he don't know already." So what else does Cube think he has over Jude? "Better actor. Better rapper. Look better. He's got that little English thing going on, that's about it." And Jude wasn't the only fellow movie man who got the Ice treatment. Cube, who has the big-screen "First Sunday" opening tomorrow (Jan. 11), also was asked whether Chris Tucker is grateful enough, and swings by weekly to kiss the Cube ring, for his career-launching help with the movie "Friday." His response: "Nah, he's not grateful enough. He needs to break me off some of that money. He can keep the kiss."

FULL DANCE CARD: Superhot jazz songstress Nnenna Freelon reports she has "Better than Anything," a greatest-hits CD she calls "the essential Nnenna Freelon," due out Jan. 16. The five-time Grammy nominee says, "I've been recording for 11 years, and they pulled the Nnenna tunes you must have for this album. It's music that maybe some of my fans have, but not all in one package."

Meanwhile, Freelon headed out this week (Jan. 8) with the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary tour. "I'll be on the road for 10 weeks with James Moody, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Greene, Derek Hodge and Kendrick Scott traveling all over the country, so my dance card is full till March."

Others News :

• Slash: Weiland Playing With STP This Summer

• R.E.M Rocks Hard On New “Accelerate”

Scientific Study of Sex Education

The debate over teenage pregnancy and STDs has spurred some research into the effectiveness of different approaches to sex education. In a meta-analysis, DiCenso et al. have compared comprehensive sex education programs with abstinence-only programs. Their review of several studies shows that abstinence-only programs did not reduce the likelihood of pregnancy of women who participated in the programs, but rather increased it. Four abstinence programs and one school program were associated with a pooled increase of 54% in the partners of men and 46% in women (confidence interval 95% 0.95 to 2.25 and 0.98 to 2.26 respectively). The researchers conclude:

"There is some evidence that prevention programs may need to begin much earlier than they do. In a recent systematic review of eight trials of day care for disadvantaged children under 5 years of age, long term follow up showed lower pregnancy rates among adolescents. We need to investigate the social determinants of unintended pregnancy in adolescents through large longitudinal studies beginning early in life and use the results of the multivariate analyses to guide the design of prevention interventions. We should carefully examine countries with low pregnancy rates among adolescents. For example, the Netherlands has one of the lowest rates in the world (8.1 per 1000 young women aged 15 to 19 years), and Ketting & Visser have published an analysis of associated factors.^[38] In contrast, the rates are:

· 93.0 per 1000 in the United States (85.8/1000 in 1996)

· 62.6 per 1000 in England and Wales, and

· 42.7 per 1000 in Canada

· 15.1 per 1000 in Belgium (1996)^[39]

We should examine effective programs designed to prevent other high risk behaviors in adolescents. For example, Botvin et al. found that school based programs to prevent drug abuse during junior high school (ages 12–14 years) resulted in important and durable reductions in use of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis if they taught a combination of social resistance skills and general life skills, were properly implemented, and included at least two years of booster sessions.

Few sexual health interventions are designed with input from adolescents. Adolescents have suggested that sex education should be more positive with less emphasis on anatomy and scare tactics; it should focus on negotiation skills in sexual relationships and communication; and details of sexual health clinics should be advertised in areas that adolescents frequent (for example, school toilets, shopping centres)."

Also, a U.S. review, "Emerging Answers", by the National Campaign To Prevent Teenage Pregnancy examined 250 studies of sex education programs. The conclusion of this review was that "the overwhelming weight of evidence shows that sex education that discusses contraception does not increase sexual activity".

(From Wikipedia)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth

Youth seeking his father's advice on love from the Haft Awrang of Jami, in the story A Father Advises his Son About Love. His counsel is to choose that lover who desires him for his inner beauty. See Sufi outlook on male love Freer and Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are often ignored in sex education classes, including a frequent lack of discussion about safer sex practices for manual, oral, and anal sex, despite these activities' different risk levels for sexually transmitted diseases.

Some people do not agree with comprehensive sexual education that references or discusses such practices, believing that including this additional information might be seen as encouraging homosexual behavior. Proponents of such comprehensive curricula hold that by excluding discussion of these issues or the issues of homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderedness, feelings of isolation, loneliness, guilt and shame as well as depression are made much worse for students who belong or believe they may belong to one of these categories, or are unsure of their sexual identity. Supporters of including LGBT issues as an integral part of comprehensive sexuality education argue that this information is still useful and relevant and reduces the likelihood of suicide, sexually transmitted disease, 'acting out' and maladaptive behavior in these students. In the absence of such discussion, these youths are said to be de facto forced to remain in the closet, while youths are left without guidance on dealing with their own possible same-gender attractions and with their LGBT classmates.

Supporters of comprehensive sex education programs argue that abstinence-only curricula (that advocate that youth should abstain from sex until marriage) ignore and marginalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, who are often unable to marry a partner due to legal restrictions. Proponents of abstinence-only education often have a more conservative view of homosexuality and bisexuality and are against them being taught as normal, acceptable orientations, or placed in equal footing to heterosexual acts/relations, and so they generally do not see this as a problem. While supporters of comprehensive programs feel that this is a major problem as it could lead GLBT youth to feel even more alienated and shameful of their sexual orientation.

(from Wikipedia)

Morality of Sex Education

One approach to sex education is to view it as necessary to reduce risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, and equip individuals to make informed decisions about their personal sexual activity. Additionally, some proponents of comprehensive sex education contend that education about homosexuality encourages tolerance and understanding that homosexuality isn't something that is wrong.

Another viewpoint on sex education, historically inspired by sexologists like Wilhelm Reich and psychologists like Sigmund Freud and James W. Prescott, holds that what is at stake in sex education is control over the body and liberation from social control. Proponents of this view tend to see the political question as whether society or the individual should teach sexual mores. Sexual education may thus be seen as providing individuals with the knowledge necessary to liberate themselves from socially organized sexual oppression and to make up their own minds. In addition, sexual oppression may be viewed as socially harmful.

To another group in the sex education debate, the question is whether the state or the family should teach sexual mores. They believe that sexual mores should be left to the family, and sex-education represents state interference. They claim that some sex education curricula break down pre-existing notions of modesty and encourage acceptance of practices that those advocating this viewpoint deem immoral, such as homosexuality and premarital sex. They cite web sites such as that of the Coalition for Positive Sexuality as examples. Naturally, those that believe that homosexuality and premarital sex are a normal part of the range of human sexuality disagree with them.

Many religions teach that sexual behavior outside of marriage is immoral, so their adherents feel that this morality should be taught as part of sex education. Other religious conservatives believe that sexual knowledge is unavoidable, hence their preference for a curricula based on abstinence.

(From Wikipedia)

Sex Education Worldwide

United States

Almost all U.S. students receive some form of sex education at least once between grades 7 and 12; many schools begin addressing some topics as early as grades 5 or 6. However, what students learn varies widely, because curriculum decisions are so decentralized. Many states have laws governing what is taught in sex education classes or allowing parents to opt out. Some state laws leave curriculum decisions to individual school districts.

For example, a 1999 study by the Guttmacher Institute found that most U.S. sex education courses in grades 7 through 12 cover puberty, HIV, STIs, abstinence, implications of teenage pregnancy, and how to resist peer pressure. Other studied topics, such as methods of birth control and infection prevention, sexual orientation, sexual abuse, and factual and ethical information about abortion, varied more widely.

Two main forms of sex education are taught in American schools: comprehensive and abstinence-only. Comprehensive sex education covers abstinence as a positive choice, but also teaches about contraception and avoidance of STIs when sexually active. A 2002 study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 58% of secondary school principals describe their sex education curriculum as comprehensive.

Abstinence-only sex education tells teenagers that they should be sexually abstinent until marriage and does not provide information about contraception. In the Kaiser study, 34% of high-school principals said their school's main message was abstinence-only.

The difference between these two approaches, and their impact on teen behavior, remains a controversial subject in the U.S. Teenage birth rates had been dropping in the U.S. since 1991, but a 2007 report showed 3% increase from 2005 to 2006. From 1991 to 2005, the percentage of teens reporting that they had ever had sex or were currently sexually active showed small declines. However, the U.S. still has the highest teen birth rate and one of the highest rates of STIs among teens in the industrialized world. Public opinion polls conducted over the years have found that the vast majority of Americans favor broader sex education programs over those that teach only abstinence, although abstinence educators recently published poll data with the totally opposite conclusion.

Proponents of comprehensive sex education, which include the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, the Society for Adolescent Medicine and the American College Health Association, argue that sexual behavior after puberty is a given, and it is therefore crucial to provide information about the risks and how they can be minimized; they also claim that denying teens such factual information leads to unwanted pregnancies and STIs.

On the other hand, proponents of abstinence-only sex education object to curricula that fail to teach moral behavior; they maintain that a morality based on sex only within the bounds of marriage is "healthy and constructive" and that value-free knowledge of the body may lead to immoral, unhealthy, and harmful practices. Within the last decade, the federal government has encouraged abstinence-only education by steering over a billion dollars to such programs. Some 15 states now decline the funding so that they can continue to teach comprehensive sex education. Funding for one of the federal government's two main abstinency-only funding programs, Title V, was extended only until December 31, 2007; Congress is debating whether to continue it past that date.

The impact of the rise in abstinence-only education remains a question. To date, no published studies of abstinence-only programs have found consistent and significant program effects on delaying the onset of intercourse. In 2007, a study ordered by the U.S. Congress found that middle school students who took part in abstinence-only sex education programs were just as likely to have sex (and use contraception) in their teenage years as those who did not. Abstinence-only advocates claimed that the study was flawed because it was too narrow and began when abstinence-only curricula were in their infancy, and that other studies have demonstrated positive effects.

Europe

In England and Wales, sex education is not compulsory in schools as parents can refuse to let their children take part in the lessons. The curriculum focuses on the reproductive system, fetal development, and the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, while information about contraception and safe sex is discretionary. Britain has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and sex education is a heated issue in government and media reports. In a 2000 study by the University of Brighton, many 14 to 15 year olds reported disappointment with the content of sex education lessons and felt that lack of confidentiality prevents teenagers from asking teachers about contraception.

In Scotland, the main sex education program is Healthy Respect, which focuses not only on the biological aspects of reproduction but also on relationships and emotions. Education about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases are included in the program as a way of encouraging good sexual health. In response to a refusal by Catholic schools to commit to the program, however, a separate sex education program has been developed for use in those schools. Funded by the Scottish Government, the program Call to Love focuses on encouraging children to delay sex until marriage, and does not cover contraception, and as such is a form of abstinence-only sex education.

In France, sex education has been part of school curricula since 1973. Schools are expected to provide 30 to 40 hours of sex education, and pass out condoms, to students in grades eight and nine. In January 2000, the French government launched an information campaign on contraception with TV and radio spots and the distribution of five million leaflets on contraception to high school students.

In Germany, sex education has been part of school curricula since 1970. It normally covers all subjects concerning the growing-up process, the changing of the body, emotions, the biological process of reproduction, sexual activity, partnership, homosexuality, unwanted pregnancies and the complications of abortion, the dangers of sexual violence, child abuse, and sex-transmitted diseases, but sometimes also things like sex positions. Most schools offer courses on the correct usage of contraception. There are also other media of sex education, in first place the youth magazine "Bravo", which always contains a topic where teenagers pose questions about partnership and sexuality. Though it has to be added that the importance of this particular purpose of the magazine has faded somewhat since the 1990ies, mostly due to teenagers getting the desired information from the Internet.^{[citation needed]}

Subsidized by the Dutch government, the “Lang leve de liefde” (“Long Live Love”) package, developed in the late 1980s, aims to give teenagers the skills to take their own decisions regarding health and sexuality. Nearly all secondary schools provide sex education as part of biology classes and over half of primary schools discuss sexuality and contraception. The curriculum focuses on biological aspects of reproduction as well as on values, attitudes, communication and negotiation skills. The media has encouraged open dialogue and the health-care system guarantees confidentiality and a non-judgmental approach. The Netherlands has one of the lowest teenage pregnancy rates in the world, and the Dutch approach is often seen as a model for other countries.

In Sweden, sex education has been a mandatory part of school education since 1956. The subject is usually started at grades 4–6, and continues up through the grades, incorporated into different subjects such as biology and history. In Finland, the Population and Family Welfare Federation provides to all 15-year-olds an introductory sexual package that includes an information brochure, a condom and a cartoon love story.

In Switzerland, the content and amount of sex education is decided at the cantonal level. In Geneva, courses have been given at the secondary level since the 1950s. Interventions in primary schools were started more recently, with the objective of making children conscious of what is and isn't allowed, and able to say "No". In secondary schools (age 13-14), condoms are shown to all pupils, and are demonstrated by unfolding over the teacher's fingers. For this, classes are usually separated into girl-only and boy-only subgroups. Condoms are not distributed, however, except among older adolescents engaged in state-run non-compulsory education (age 16-17).

Asia

The state of sex education programs in Asia is at various stages of development. Indonesia, Mongolia, South Korea and Sri Lanka have a systematic policy framework for teaching about sex within schools. Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand have assessed adolescent reproductive health needs with a view to developing adolescent-specific training, messages and materials. India has programs that specifically aims at school children at the age group of nine to sixteen years. These are included as subjects in the curriculum and generally involves open and frank interaction with the teachers. In India, there is a huge debate on the curriculum of sex education and when should it be increased. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan have no coordinated sex education programs.

In Japan, sex education is mandatory from age 10 or 11, mainly covering biological topics such as menstruation and ejaculation.

In China, sex education traditionally consists in reading the reproduction section of biology textbooks. However, in 2000 a new five-year project was introduced by the China Family Planning Association to "promote reproductive health education among Chinese teenagers and unmarried youth" in twelve urban districts and three counties. This includes discussion about sex within human relationships as well as pregnancy and HIV prevention.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation and the BBC World Service ran a 12-part series known as Sexwise, which discussed sex education, family life education, contraception and parenting. It was first launched in South Asia and then extended worldwide.

Africa

Sex education in Africa has focused on stemming the growing AIDS epidemic. Most governments in the region have established AIDS education programs in partnership with the World Health Organization and international NGOs. These programs commonly teach the 'ABC' of HIV prevention, which has been frequently backed by the Bush Administration: a combination of abstinence (A), fidelity to your partner (Be faithful) and condom use (C). (See Abstinence, be faithful, use a condom.) The efforts of these educational campaigns appear now to be bearing fruit. In Uganda, condom use has increased, youths are delaying the age at which sexual intercourse first occurs, and overall rates of HIV infection have been going down.

Egypt teaches knowledge about male and female reproductive systems, sexual organs, contraception and STDs in public schools at the second and third years of the middle-preparatory phase (when students are aged 12–14). There is currently a coordinated program between UNDP, UNICEF, and the ministries of health and education to promote sexual education at a larger scale in rural areas and spread awareness of dangers of female circumcision.

Sex education

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.

Sex education may also be described as "sexuality education," which means that it encompasses education about all aspects of sexuality, including information about reproduction (fertilisation, conception and development of the embryo and fetus, through to childbirth), plus information about all aspects of one's sexuailty including: body image, sexual orientation, sexual pleasure, values, decision making, communication, dating, relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to avoid them, and birth control methods.

Sex education may be taught informally, such as when someone receives information from a conversation with a parent, friend, religious leader, or through the media. It may also be delivered through sex self-help authors, magazine advice columnists, sex columnists, or through sex education web sites. Formal sex education occurs when schools offer sex education.

Sometimes formal sex education is taught as a full course as part of the curriculum in junior high school or high school. Other times it is only one unit within a more broad health class, home economics class, or physical education class. Some schools offer no sex education, since it remains a controversial issue in several countries, particularly the United States (especially with regard to the age at which children should start receiving such education, the amount of detail that is revealed, and topics dealing with human sexual behavior, eg. safe sex practices, masturbation, premarital sex, and sexual ethics).

In 1936, Wilhelm Reich commented that sex education of his time was a work of deception, focusing on biology while concealing excitement-arousal, which is what a pubescent individual is mostly interested in. Reich added that this emphasis obscures what he believed to be a basic psychological principle: that all worries and difficulties originate from unsatisfied sexual impulses.^[1]

When sex education is contentiously debated, the chief controversial points are whether covering child sexuality is valuable or detrimental; the use of birth control such as condoms and hormonal contraception; and the impact of such use on pregnancy outside marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the transmission of STIs. Increasing support for abstinence-only sex education by conservative groups has been one of the primary causes of this controversy. Countries with conservative attitudes towards sex education (including the UK and the U.S.) have a higher incidence of STIs and teenage pregnancy.^[2]

The existence of AIDS has given a new sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. In many African nations, where AIDS is at epidemic levels (see HIV/AIDS in Africa), sex education is seen by most scientists as a vital public health strategy. Some international organizations such as Planned Parenthood consider that broad sex education programs have global benefits, such as controlling the risk of overpopulation and the advancement of women's rights (see also reproductive rights).

According to SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, 93% of adults they surveyed support sexuality education in high school and 84% support it in junior high school.^[3] In fact, 88% of parents of junior high school students and 80% of parents of high school students believe that sex education in school makes it easier for them to talk to their adolescents about sex.^[4] Also, 92% of adolescents report that they want both to talk to their parents about sex and to have comprehensive in-school sex education.^[5]

Growing Orchids

From : The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service

Paul A. Thomas, Extension Horticulturist-Floriculture

Orchids belong to the most diverse family of plants known to man. There are over 880 genera, 28,000 species and well over 300,000 registered cultivars currently documented. These numbers only begin to tell the true story behind the evolutionary success of modern day orchids. Orchids are the most rapidly (genetically) changing group of plants on earth and more new species have been discovered over the last few thousand years than any other plant group known.

Orchids are also one of the most adaptable plant groups on earth. Some Australian orchids grow entirely underground, and many tropical jungle orchids grow in the upper branches of trees. Tundra, rainforest, mountain, grassy plain, desert and swamp environments contain numerous orchid species.

Orchids produce seed pods with literally hundreds of thousands of seed that are released and scattered by the wind. Orchid seeds must establish a symbiotic relationship with a special fungus to survive its first year of life. The fungi gathers water and minerals for itself and the seedling, and the seedling shares its sugars from photosynthesis with the fungus. Only one or two orchid seeds will ever germinate and survive on that perfect crevice or depression that is both moist and has the fungus present. Even then, its chances to survive in the wild long enough to bloom are slim.

To avoid this problem, greenhouse growers sow orchid seeds on moist, sugar-rich, sterile agar, or they cut out growing clumps of orchid cells and place them on the agar. These techniques allow many hundreds of orchid plants to survive to maturity. New and improved hybrids can be mass produced rapidly. This is important as orchids are very slow growing. Many orchids take five to seven years to mature to flowering. You can see why breeding three or four orchid generations could span a person's lifetime just to get one new hybrid propagated sufficiently for sale.

Classification

All orchids belong to the Orchid Family, Orchidaceae (or-Kid-ACE-ee-ee). Orchids are divided into two basic growth types: monopodial and sympodial. Monopodial orchids have a central stem which grows continuously from the tip. Flowers are produced from the stem between the leaves, usually alternately from side to side. Phalaenopsis orchids are a good example. Sympodial orchids, such as cattleyas, laelias and paphiopedilums, possess a rhizome which sends out a shoot. This develops into a stem and leaves and eventually produces flowers. In time, from the base of this growth, a new shoot develops and so on in a continuous cycle. The buds are often, though not always, protected by a sheath.

The mid section of stems of sympodial orchids are often expanded into water-storage organs called pseudobulbs. These vary greatly in size and shape, ranging from tall and pencil-thin to bulbous and onion-like. The leaves vary too, some being soft and folded like a fan, others thick and leathery. The roots of epiphytic orchids have an outer layer or corky cells called velamen, which protects the thin, living cortex within. These adaptations allow orchids to absorb water and nutrients rapidly from raindrops, but protect roots, stems and leaves from water loss during dry periods. Most orchids are adapted to conserve water and should be cared for as such.

Orchid Cultural Requirements

Growing Medium

There are many different types of orchid potting medium used in orchid culture. The overall consideration is to provide structural support for the orchid roots, but also to provide lots of air spaces between medium particles. Many orchid plants are grown in osmunda fiber. This fiber comes from the roots of the Osmunda fern that is native to Australia and the Pacific. The tough, wiry fibers break down very slowly and is an ideal potting medium. Fresh pine bark is also a popular medium but is usually mixed with other amendments before use. Both materials are sometimes mixed with peat and perlite or vermiculite. Some orchids are even grown in pebbles mixed with bark. Most orchid roots are adapted to being exposed to air and harsh conditions, but cannot tolerate being wet for more than a day or two.

Orchids grow slowly compared to houseplants. However, most orchids need to be repotted about once every two years. To pot an orchid, the pot is filled about two-thirds with orchid potting medium, then the plant is set in the pot with its roots spread out. The growing tip either centered (monopodials) or placed two fingers from the pot rim (sympodial). Then additional media is packed tightly around the plant to hold it in place. You should be able to turn the pot upside down without the orchid or medium falling out. Practice will insure successful repotting. When the plant outgrows the pot by extending the new shoots over the edge, usually about every two years, it is time to repot.

Light

The ideal place in the home for growing orchids is a bright window, free from drafts, where your plants receive indirect sunlight both morning and afternoon. (A south window is best.) In winter, give orchids all the light possible. Light intensity should be between 1500 and 2000 foot candles the equivalent to a bright south-facing window. With extra large windows or especially intense sunlight, the light may be adjusted downward by moving plants 18 to 36 inches from the window. Plants in the home require a greater light intensity because they receive light from only one direction, while in a greenhouse they receive light from many sides.

Many orchids can be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors. All will require partial shade. Therefore, it is best to shade the section of the greenhouse you intend using or else grow them in an area that you have already shaded for foliage plants or African violets. Dendrobium Oncidium and Vanda will grow best in 20-30% of normal outdoor light, whereas Phalaenopsis-type orchids require only 10- 15 % of normal light.

Artificial Light

If you have neither a greenhouse nor the proper windowsill conditions, fluorescent lighting provides good results. You can grow and flower many types of orchids in the darkest basement or shadiest apartment with the addition of just one shop light. Most orchid hobbyists find having at least four 36" or 48" fluorescent tubes provides excellent light levels. Each group of orchids (primarily those with low to medium light requirements) will need a minimum of two forty-watt fluorescent light tubes hung six inches above the plants.

Keep lights on for a minimum of 12 hours per day in order to provide the minimal amount of light necessary for proper growth and flowering. If you are able to place your fluorescent light setup near a sunny window, your orchid flowering chances will increase. The best type of fluorescent tubes seem to be those designed specifically for plants.

Humidity

Potted orchid plants may be set on decorative pebbles in a water-filled tray, saucer, or other container. Evaporation of water from pebbles provides humidity. Pebbles also make the growing area more attractive, while assuring good drainage. Mist your plants with distilled water because tap water can lead to salt deposits on the leaves. A plant which is kept soaking wet invites attack by bacteria and fungal diseases. If you are able to enclose an area like a greenhouse, you will find it easier to maintain a proper humidity.

Temperature

Orchids are not as delicate and temperature sensitive plants as most people think. Most will adapt readily to conditions offered by any home or greenhouse. For growing purposes, we group orchids into three temperature classes:

The medium temperature class is represented by many Cattleyas, Epidendrums, Oncidiums, and Laelias, and most other commercially available orchids. The ideal minimum temperature is 60 degrees F nights and high 70s during the days. An occasional deviation will have no harmful effect. This group will do very well with the air, temperature, and light facilities found in the average home.

The cool class includes Cymbidiums, Cypripediums, Odontoglossums and Miltonias, and should be grown 5 degrees to 10 degrees F cooler than the medium class. These plants also require high light, so imagine cool, sunny October mornings as an example of the light and temperature that this class needs.

Warm class orchids are represented by Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilums, Vandas, Rhynchostylus and Dendrohiums. These plants should be grown 5 degrees F warmer than those in the Medium Class. They do well in high humidity and can be grown outdoors in Georgia from late spring to early fall if shaded and protected from rain. Never expose orchids of this class to less than 45 degrees F.

During cold, freezing night temperatures, all orchid plants should be moved away from the window to provide a protective airspace against freezing. Air temperature can be 15 to 20 degrees F cooler near the windows than the room temperature.

Watering

Watering is the most important factor in orchid culture. A good rule of thumb is to water whenever the medium (osmunda fiber or bark mix) is dry. If you grow the plants in pots suspended in the air, they will dry out more rapidly than bench grown plants and will need watering more frequently. Orchids potted in bark require more frequent waterings than those in most other potting media, just as plants in clay pots require more frequent watering than those in plastic pots. Orchids may be grouped into three categories according to their moisture requirements.

Low Water Use. Cattleyas, Laeliocattleyas, Brassolaeliocattleyas, Oncidiums, Miltonias, and Odontoglossums are ephiphytes or "air rooted" orchids, with built-in "water tanks" or pseudobulbs. They should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings so air can circulate between the epiphytic roots. Water every five days or so. In the heat of mid-summer, water may be needed every three or four days. During the short, cool days of winter, increase the time between waterings to 10 to 14 days. If you do err in watering, make sure it is on the dry side.

Moderate Water Use. Phalaenopsis, while also epiphytic are monopodial and do not have built-in tanks for water storage, but store some water in their leaves. They require watering similiar to ordinary house plants, but more frequent waterings than orchids with pseudobulbs. Water enough to keep the potting medium from becoming dry for more than a day or two.

High Water Use. Paphiopedilums and Haemeria orchids are semi-terrestrials or terrestrials (meaning "earth-rooted"). Unlike the preceding groups, they do not mind "wet feet." They like an abundance of moisture and the soil can remain damp for many days without any negative effects. Many terrestrial orchids are potted in peat based media which will naturally hold more water than the bark mixes.

Outdoor Conditions. Cymhidiums and many other orchids, such as cattleyas, can be grown outdoors during frost-free months in Georgia. They also like an abundance of moisture - but with good drainage and plentiful root aeration. However, do not plant tropical /greenhouse orchids outdoors in your garden soil. The soils are too dense to allow the roots to survive.

Fertilization

For best results, fertilize orchids with soluble plant food. When fertilizing plants growing in osmunda, bark or peat/bark mixes, use a complete liquid fertilizer with a 20-20-20 analysis, or a 30-10-10 orchid-special fertilizer. Don't fertilize more than once a month. Apply the fertilizer in place of a normal water application. It is always best to use fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended rate. Orchids are adapted to environments where nutritional levels of the soil or bark are very low. More orchids are killed because of over-fertilization and over-watering than by any other cause.

Ventilation

In greenhouses, a small fan should be run continuously to circulate the air. A window left ajar in all but the coldest of weather may also be adequate to provide proper ventilation indoors. Airconditioning may harm orchids because the air is much too cold coming out of the unit. Keep orchid plants out of cold drafts and away from heating vents.

Orchid Pests and Diseases

Orchids have few insect pests or diseases if properly cared for. It is important to have a problem identified before attempting control. Take a sample to your county Extension agent and follow recommended treatments suggested. Many disease prevention tips are provided in an orchid disease guide published by the American Orchid Society. Wiping leaves with a warm, soapy, wet cloth is sufficient to eradicate insects like mealy bugs if you have but a few plants in the house. Be careful because many insecticides can damage your orchids. Read the label to see if the pesticide can be safely used on orchids specifically. If you have questions, ask your county Extension agent.

Orchids for Hobby Growers

One of the most frequently asked Questions from the hobby grower is, "What type or variety of orchid should I grow?" Usually when you mention the word "orchid" most people immediately think of the purple-flowered Cattleyas, and rightly so as they have long been the most popular in the trade. However, the genus Cattleya contains a mere 50 species of the 28,000 known. Many, many other orchids do wonderfully in the home.

Hobby growers should try growing hybrids of Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Vanda and Epidendrum. Phalaenopsis orchids are excellent for beginners. They may produce up to 15 or more flowers per spike. The flowers measure up to four inches across. Flowers may remain open for six weeks or longer. Frequently when a spike is cut, a secondary spike will develop on the old stalk below the original flower head, thus extending the blooming season. Phalaenopsis plants are very easy to grow.

Dendrobium hybrids are some of the better corsage type orchids. Lavender or white flowers are borne in profusion on a well-grown plant and are long lasting. They are a prolific group in that offset plantlets are frequently produced on the cane. When each offiet has produced several aerial roots, it can be cut from the parent plant and will frequently flower after one year of growth.

Oncidiums, commonly, referred to as dancing girls, are also easy to grow. These dainty yellow and brown or white and brown flowers are suitable if used alone or in combination with other orchids. Large flowered Oncidium sdhacelatum - with their yellow and brown color combination can be made into a corsage. These hardy plants flower well even under adverse growing conditions.

Vandas are becoming popular among orchid growers. The wide range of colors which includes some fairly good blues and browns and long lived flowers has added greatly to their popularity. Vandas may grow to be very large plants, sometimes 10 to 12 feet high, but they grow very slowly. A plant two feet tall may be seven or eight years old. Vandas are often grown outdoors in hanging baskets during the summer months.

A tough group of orchids is the Epidendrums. Epidendrum hybrids are becoming popular plants.

These are undoubtedly one of the easiest orchids to grow and one of the most prolific groups. The tall, thin, reed-like growths constantly put forth new plantlets. It is relatively simple to take tip cuttings having a few aerial roots. Although the flowers are small, about one inch in size, they are produced in great profusion.

Paphiopedilums are one of the best orchid groups to grow under artificial lighting. There are many spectacular hybrids available, and quite a number of species. They are not fragrant, but have very interesting and colorful "lady slipper" shaped flowers. Due to import regulations and conservation considerations, we recommend you grow only orchid hybrids so as not to promote the collecting of species from the wild.