Are Electric Vehicles green actually?

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Michikazu Kitaoka, Japan

Now, we are facing global warming. Many countries, especially developed countries, are trying to reduce CO2 emissions. At the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. To achieve lowering 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, they are taking actions in some way. It is said switching gasoline-driven cars to electric vehicles is one of the most efficient actions. They do not need gasoline to drive, so some researchers predict it is going to save amount of emissions. Some countries have already released banning sales of gasoline cars actually. Norway is going to prohibit them by 2025, India 2030, the UK and France 2040.

Electric vehicles have some advantages. As I mentioned before, there is no CO2 emissions to drive. In United States, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas.

On the other hand, some people say they have bad effects for environment. Electric vehicles use electricity for driving, and we emit CO2 to generate it. How they are generated is really important. For example, in China, the biggest energy of generation is coal which emits lots of CO2 emissions. According to researchers, for environment, electric vehicles are less effective than gasoline cars in China. In addition to resource of generation, electric vehicles emit more than gasoline cars in manufacturing process. According to a research, manufacturing a mid-sized EV results in about 15% more emissions than manufacturing an equivalent gasoline vehicle. For larger, the manufacturing emissions can be as much as 68% higher.

Electric vehicles could be ‘earth savior’ in a way of emissions reduction. They have some proved advantages and people seem to be excited to this solution. However, I feel people are in blind to disadvantages of electric vehicles. There is possibility make the situation worse because of the electric vehicles. It depends on the resource of generation or manufacturing process. Now it is time to think about how they are green actually.

My Experience About The Life In The USA And Switzerland

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Michael Kressig, Switzerland

I would like to write in my final issue some things about the different living standards between California and Switzerland. I think some things are quite different between this two countries, but we have a lot of the same living standards and similar life settings.

 

The standard of living with the amount of food or the time for your hobbies are similar most of the time. In Switzerland, you must work around 42 hours a week, normally you work 2-4 hour more for more overtime. You can use this time for more payment, or more vacation days. I heard that many people here in California have two jobs to earn more money. A full time job here does not have as many working hours as jobs in Switzerland. So it is possible to work for two companies. The amount of the salary of same jobs are in both countries are similar.

 

In Santa Barbara, the prices of the houses are similar to the prices in Switzerland. A difference is that our houses are built a little bigger with better thermal insulation and sanitary facilities. Also I think is there a difference with the sound insulation in the walls. It is difficult in both countries to own a house with a normal paid job. You must have some money from the family or a job in the higher level. For the normal earning person both countries it is difficult to have a house.

 

I think the American lives more her life than the swiss people. They go more out in every age, to a restaurant, or a bar and have a good time. Even the time for the morning coffee, the American spent some time to have that in a coffee shop. The normal Swiss person drinks her coffee at home or at work to save money and also time. Also I think make the Swiss people make some things on her own and not from a company or another person. Some example are; the wash and vacuum the car; to have a cleaning lady; and make the work in the garden. These things are too expensive to pay every week in Switzerland. The opening hours from the restaurants and the shops are different. In Switzerland are all shops except the gas station shops are closed on Sunday. Also the restaurants, except in a centre of a big city, or some few restaurants in the residential areas. Because of them, you must plan your week quite differently. Sunday in Switzerland is a day to relax; take a trip; and play some sports. In America you do your stuff on every day in the week. You don’t have to think about the time or on the day to go shopping or do some things you would like to do.

 

I like the way the American live their lives and enjoy the moment. The personal contact with strangers is more open and friendly. People search here more the contact with strangers. In Switzerland every person thinks about a possible bad situations and to save money. Going out to a restaurant every week is only for the younger people. The older ones are enjoying the evenings at home in their own houses. In this point I think Swiss people are lazier than the Americans. In Switzerland is quite better in the whole working situation, the pension and the health insurance. You have on your retirement day the safety for a certain pension amount, and you know at which age you can go in the retirement without having problems with money. But I could imagine living here in the USA if my friends and my family were not in Switzerland.

 

The Eurovision Song Contest

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By Mareike Rupaner, Germany

1

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is an international competition in Europe. European nations must choose each year a singer, who represents their county. The best singer, who has the post points, wins the contest. He hosts the next contest in next year in May.

It all starts on the 24 March 1956 with seven nations. A very strict rule fo2r participants was to sing in their country’s national language, but it relaxed with the year 1973. After that in 1999 the participants could sing in every language, which they want. Today it’s mostly in English.

In the contest, the participants have two options to get points. One the one hand, normal people can vote with televoting by telephone or SMS. On the other hand, there is a national jury, for each participant, which gives the other country’s points. The point’s Scala starts at 1 – 8, 10, and 12 points.

Since the 1990’s more and more countries join to the contest, so the organizer takes two sem3i-finals to find the Top 50. Only the “Big Five”: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are automatically in the Final.  The map shows, how many and in time the nations join to the contest by decade.

Fun Fact:  In 1974, ABBA wins the contest for Sweden

In 2015, the ESC celebrated 60 years anniversary. For the first time Australia joins to the contest and since that, it is very strong part in the contest.

The ESC is very important thing in Europe and in the European culture. Almost all nations of Europe join to one place, local or watching at the television.  Look and enjoy the next contest. On the 12th May, 2018, the Final is in Lisbon; don’t miss it or you can watch it next year 🙂

Take a look to the official site: https://eurovision.tv/ 4

THE HISTORY OF SURF

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Valentina Monnerat, Switzerland; Chloe Persoglio, France

We all know this beautiful sport named surf but do we really know it’s origins ?

tina surf

 

Everything started when humans began to swim in the ocean. At first they didn’t have the surfboard so they were using their body, so the body surfing was the oldest way to surf.

 

Using surfboards is pretty recent and it’s the Polynesians who started to use them. He’e ‘ana, the art of surfing in Hawaiian, was discovered by Joseph Banks in Tahiti. At the beginning for the Hawaiians surfing was considered as an art and not as a sport: he’e nalu, wave sliding. When the ocean was violent, Hawaiian people would do a surfing prayer asking the gods to have a great surf session. For the Hawaiian, constructing a surfboard was like a spiritual ceremony. They used three types of trees to create surfboards: Koa (Acacia Koa), ‘Ulu (Artocarpus altilis), and Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis).

tina surf 2                   evol surf tina

When the Western World arrived in Hawaii, the Hawaiian culture was forced to change. Surfing and traditional culture have been suppressed. Later in time, Waikiki became a really touristic destination and surfing began to gain popularity and started to be considered as a sport. Surfing was only for men at that time, women could start surfing only in 1926. After that surfing became really popular in America.

Surf description by The Beach Boys in their first album:                                              “For those not familiar with the latest craze to invade the sun-drenched Pacific coast of Southern California, here is a definition of “surfing” – a water sport in which the participant stands on a floating slab of wood, resembling an ironing board in both size and shape, and attempts to remain perpendicular while being hurtled toward the shore at a rather frightening rate of speed on the crest of a huge wave (especially recommended for teen-agers and all others without the slightest regard for either life or limb).”

 

05/08/18 – Hawaii is on alert since the Kilauea volcano woke up on Hilo Island.

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Chloé Nabavi – France

Kilauea erupted last week, and the increase in volcanic activity has forced a dozen vents, bringing with it spewing lava, earthquakes and toxic gas that made the island peaceful, now unrecognizable.

On April 30, the floor of a crater on top of thehawaiiiii Kilauea volcano collapsed, sending its pool of lava back underground and causing small earthquakes. Days later, the ground split open on the east of Leilani Estates. Molten rock burbled and splashed, then shot dozens of feet in the air. Soon, another such fissure had formed a few streets to the west. For days, hot steam and noxious gases rose from the vents, before magma broke through, with some lava fountains shooting as high as 330 feet into the air.

Images of lava destroying homes, cars and power poles have been increased. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency called it “active volcanic fountaining.” Some residents said it was Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, coming to reclaim her land. About 1,700 Leilani Estates residents were ordered to evacuate because of “extremely high levels of dangerous” sulfur dioxide gas. Lava isn’t like water, snow or mud. It’s liquid rock, so it’s heavy, sticky and moving underground. And it’s also nearly 2,000 degrees.

Residents’s frustration and anxiety have been felt after being forced to evacuate their homes. Many of them fought with uncertainty, not knowing whether their homes are intact or have been engulfed in lava flows. On Monday night, Hundreds of evacuees have been waiting out at local churches, shelters or elsewhere on the island, seeking answers.

hawaiiiiiiiii

Most people’s orientation on this kind of thing comes from movies. However, they forget how unrealistic it is. Even among evacuees, the attitude toward Kilauea’s latest explosion has seemed to be a blend of sadness, acceptance and, for some, respect to Mother Nature. 

In interviews and in online forums, several  residents have invoked Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess said to live inside Kilauea, when asked about the fate of their homes. Currently, it is impossible to say when the island will be safe for its residents.

Fashion & Style

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Angele Dubos, France.
“Fashion becomes out of date, style never” Coco Chanel.

This famous French designer and business woman already teaches us during the World War I era that we must follow our own lifestyle, because it’s never going to change in our deep human being. Style categorizes people, people are categorized by the style, it’s how it works, for instance, if you want to have a Californian surfer style, have an emo hairstyle and a rock’n’roll behavior… Some updated people prefer to follow fashion for the following reasons.

Fashion and style, what a huge difference between both. However, they are intimately linked.

Fashion is a popular style at a particular time of a year. It includes clothes, accessories, hairstyle, footwear, even lifestyle products. It’s a kind of temporal concept which is repeated mostly every twenty years. Let’s take the example of  watches. Daniel Wellington watches have a very common form which has been so well-known sixty years ago. Champion sweatshirts rose so fast in the fashion industry and now three years ago, whereas they were widespread in the 1980s. Do I need to talk about vinyl records? Those shops that have been reopened, where you can see teenagers looking for the unique records of The Strokes, Led Zeppelin, or Serge Gainsbourg. It’s a pretty good thing and view of our society,  because it means: things never end. They are constantly repeated at some point.

pull champion       montre DW

Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delavingne. The well-known model trio has worked very well in the fashion industry. They inspired young women on clothes, bravery, topics issues… But who inspired them? A Brief review of the past. Marie-Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI in the 1700s in France, was already a leader of fashion. Her clothes were highly influential. Such as this white dress called chemise a la Reine.

                                                          marie antoinette

Some designers have inspired our fashion and style society. That’s why their brands are still in our mind. Think about Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld… They democratize the fact that every woman must have at least, a high quality lipstick or mascara. They are reflected in the cradle of fashion industry. Finally, here we are: fashion industry. Around that sector are the Fashion Weeks events where fashion designers and brands display their collection for one week. They are four capitals where are “the mothers of fashions” and held the fashion weeks ; sometimes they are called the “Big Four”: New-York, London, Milan and Paris. These events are followed very closely by the Media. Italy, as well, is renowned for fashion: Gucci, Dolce Gabbana, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand…

YST

Last but not least, this article will be ended by a kind of philosophical question. Is it really valuable to people to dress themselves well? Do they believe some clothes as master pieces? Do they want to feel good and having a great self-image?

Here the Met Gala’s video of yesterday in New York City.

Good time with friends

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Jeanne BEAUDOIN from France

It was our last restaurant together in Santa Barbara before some of them person leave and come back in their countries.  It was very cool and we have spent a lot of good time. jeanne

Santa Barbara Zoo Prepared to Evacuate Animals to Los Angeles Zoo If Necessary

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By Gaelle Hebert, France

Facility reopened on Wednesday after a three-day of closure, and has trucks waiting in case the Thomas Fire burns into Santa Barbara

SB zooooo 1The Santa Barbara Zoo’s animals, including a giant anteater and her pup, have been kept inside during a closure due to the Thomas Fire.  (Santa Barbara Zoo photo)
The Santa Barbara Zoo is prepared to transport its animals to the Los Angeles Zoo if the Thomas Fire were to roar down into Santa Barbara. The growing fire is burning above Carpinteria, but the Santa Barbara Zoo closed for three days due to the large smoke cloud and unhealthy air quality. It reopened Wednesday and offered free admission, parking and indoor activities after the closure.

The gorillas, big cats, condors and hundreds of animals were living inside their night quarters Sunday through Tuesday, while giraffes had access to their beachfront yard.

Zookeepers have been taking part in enrichment activities with the animals, playing games and giving them a variety of toys and treats.

Zoo is ready to roll if necessary.

“We have a number of large trucks in the parking lot and we have received offers of assistance from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and Santa Barbara Animal Control,” said Dean Noble, marketing director for the zoo.

Noble said staff hasn’t seen any health impacts on any of the animals.

“We have a very talented team of zookeepers,” Noble said. “It is easy for them to see when an animal is being agitated. We haven’t seen anything thus far that indicates an animal is in distress or not faring well.”

He said animals do a good job of taking care of themselves.

“Animals are generally very intelligent and good at looking after their own welfare,” Noble said.

Zoo staff members have been making closure decisions on a day-by-day basis.

Noble said as far as he knew, this is the first time the zoo has unexpectedly been closed.

He added that staff will have a variety of indoor activities available when the zoo reopens.

Noble said people who want to support the zoo should consider buying a family membership for themselves or donate one to a loved one.

Since the zoo staff members have been using a lot more toys and treats while animals are kept inside, the zoo will be asking the public for donations of cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, and gently used/new towels, which they use for animal enrichment.

There will be a drop-off bin available at the front gate for people who want to donate items, according to zoo staff.

unday through Tuesday, while giraffes had access to their beachfront yard.

sb zoooo

The City of New York

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by Mirna Vrdoljak, Austria

New York City is the most populous city in the United States. Counting 8 million people living there, it became one of the biggest megacities worldwide. It is described as the financial, cultural and media capital of the US and the whole world.

NYC offers so many themes to discuss- from the theatreal Broadway scene down to the financial capital in Wall Street, but here are some main facts to begin with.

Geography

  • The City of New York is located at the southern tip of the County of New York
  • an estimated population of 20 Million, counting the metropolitan area around New York in its 2017 Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • New York City is located on the East coast of the United States. It consists of islands surrounded by sea. (f.e. Hudson River)
  • the city itself consists of five boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island (Richmond)
  • Queens is the largest borough by area and Brooklyn by population, with more than 2.5 Million people living therenewyorkboroughs

    Demographics

    • New York City is home to more than 3.2 million residents born outside the United States, the largest foreign-born population of any city in the world
    • The city is a true melting pot with 44% white (German, Irish, Italian), 25.5% black (23% non-Hispanic black),12.7% Asian and only 0.7 Native American people
    • Like a lot of cities, New York’s boroughs and districts segregate different ethnical groups.
    • Manhattan is known as the business center where a lot of white and Asian people live. Queens and Brooklyn have a wide diversity of ethnical groups, containing a lot of artists and cultural driven people. Bronx is home to a lot of black and Italian immigrants.

koreatown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attractions

As already mentioned, New York City is the center of the world’s of finance, fashion, music, art, theater, literature, and architecture. The city offers so much to see and to do that it just is not possible to see everything in one trip. Still there are some main places you should go to if you ever have the chance to land in NYC.

  • The Statue of Liberty

It was a gift to the United States in 1886 from France in honor of their friendship during the French Revolution. The statue became an American symbol of freedom.

  • Grand Central Terminal

It is NYC’s biggest hub for transportation, but also a breathtaking example of Beaux-Arts architecture. It’s much more than just a station. You can find cafes, restaurants and even a shopping mall inside it.

  • One World Trade Center

It’s the heighest and most expensive building in New York City. The tower was constructed with the memory of the Twin Towers in mind. Right next to the One World Trade center there’s the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The memorial is build in the footprint of the Twin Towers that were attacked on September 11 in 2001. It honors all the victims in the building.

easy consumerism

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By Jeanne Beaudoin from France

 

Consumerism is the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers and the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods. What is the great danger of consumerism today? First of all, we will talk about the danger of consumerism for each one, and then we will talk about how consumerism is dangerous for the world.

 

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The society is dangerous for every mind because everything is too easy: we want tomato; we just have to go to a shop and buy tomato. Everything we want is possible because of the consumerism. This facility is negative for everybody because we become selfish; we are just some complacent yet covetous heart. We don’t know the real difficulty; everything is served on a silver platter. We’ve never have to fight to eat, to drink water, to take a shower… Everything we need is available. And because everything we need is given, we are every time searching something better, something we can’t have. We cannot appreciate a glass of water because it is unlimited. We are eternally unsatisfied. We do everything for our own interest and it is always difficult to do something if it is against our own inte

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rest. Why would I like help each other if it’s difficult and if I can stay in front of my TV? Consumerism cut our interest for the world off. It is very dangerous because often some people never realize this. But, it is also dangerous for the world.

 

Consumerism is daRésultats de recherche d'images pour « consumerism »ngerous for everybody because it gives us everything we want, letting some people being selfish. But it is also dangerous for our environment. Due to consumerism, the world is going to die slowly. To have beautiful clothes and furniture we kill lots of sheep, elephants, snakes and other animal species extinctions have happened at times. To give us lots of paper, we create deforestation. It is very selfish because we won’t have enough oxygen since trees are lungs of the Earth. Consumerism entrains climate change from the smog of enterprises and powerful countries. Consumerism also creates a big difference between rich and poor people. When someone is poor it is very difficult for him to leave this circle of poverty. Poor countries have lots of difficulties to live next to very rich countries because of this consumerism. It’s almost impossible to become a rich country for a poor country because rich countries try to steal their wealth (petroleum…).

 

In conclusion, we can say than consumerism is negative from every point of view. I hope in the future we will find a solution to have less selfish people and a better world.

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