Writing, writing, wrighting where do we find stories. Were do we find good stories. Who decides what is an important story and what is a good story. Well in our class I decide. Just as an editor would decide in the real world. If you can convince me that your story or world view is important to the public good then you win. I like this. What is happening with this same problem in Japan? We know about Minimata which is quicksilver and water and the rumour is that 50% of the solid particles air pollution in Tokyo is from China (Is this true?) How can you check? What is the source of this information. Do some research and write me a story conected to the above and the below and you will earn 50 extra points, and some of you really need them. See you next week. Clark

GIVIN' THE SMOG A BONE
Huge new study shows that smog does, in fact, kill

The largest study ever conducted on the health effects of smog, or more particularly, ground-level ozone, concludes that, well, smog kills people. Published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found that a ground-level ozone rise over a week of roughly 10 parts per billion (ppb) increases a given person's chances of croaking by roughly 0.52 percent -- higher for cardiovascular and respiratory deaths, and higher yet for senior citizens. This means, says study lead author Michelle Bell, "if ozone levels were decreased by 10 ppb, about 4,000 lives would be saved each year in [the 95 urban centers studied]." The U.S. EPA is currently reviewing its standards for maximum daily ozone levels, which were tightened in 1997 to 80 ppb over an eight-hour period. The study could lead to a further tightening of that restriction, as it shows that mortality rates rise even when ozone peaks below legal levels.

straight to the source: New Scientist, Maggie McKee, 16 Nov 2004


straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Marla Cone, 17 Nov 2004


straight to the source: MSNBC.com, 16 Nov 2004