From the Winter 2002 Issue
REAL LIFE
Oh
Canada...and Beyond!
Abortion
Pill in Supermarkets
In a controversial move, Britain’s largest supermarket
chain, Tesco, piloted a project to dispense the ‘Morning
After’ pill, free-of-charge to teenagers, in an
attempt to reduce unwanted pregnancies. However, in response
to pressure from customers to cease the distribution,
Tesco abandoned the project. Questions have been raised
about the health risks of the pill, particularly among
young teens. There are fears that high doses of hormones
in the pill could have an adverse effect on fertility
in later years.
Source: BBC News and SPUC New Release
Go
Green!
U.S. researchers say vegetarian teens have a healthier
diet than their meat-eating counterparts. A team at the
University of Minnesota studied more than 4,500 teens,
of which 262 were vegetarians, and found that the vegetarians
were, “1.4 to two times more likely to eat two or
more servings of fruit, three or more servings of vegetables
and five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.”
The vegetarians got more iron, vitamin A, folate and fiber,
however, both groups failed to get enough calcium.
Source: Reuters
Date
Rape Drug Surges
Police say the number of young Canadians voluntarily using
the date rape drug GHB to get high is on the rise. It
is often used because it is relatively cheap, triggers
a euphoric feeling and enhances sexual urges. However,
predators know that it also causes dizziness, loss of
inhibition, memory impairment and often loss of consciousness.
Overdoses can result in a coma or death. Det. Page of
the Toronto Police Service says, “It’s used
as a weapon. It scares me because of how easily they can
put it into someone’s drink.”
Source: The National Post
Arrested
for Burning Shoes on Plane
A Canadian teen, of Iranian descent, was arrested after
an attendant on a US Airlines flight saw him flicking
a butane lighter near his shoes. The 17-year-old told
police he was trying to burn loose material off of it.
After being interviewed by federal authorities, the teen
was cited for disorderly conduct and released into his
father's custody.
Source: CBC News
School
Shut Down Over Bribery
A principal at a Belgrade high school in Yugoslavia quit
after teachers refused to stop taking bribes from students
seeking better grades. Some teachers were forging diplomas
for more affluent pupils. The government has shut down
the school and fired its 100 teachers. “It‘s
extraordinarily damaging when children see at the age
of 15 that you can buy a teacher off for
less than $50.” Teachers are paid about 150 euros
a
month (approx. $225).
Source: Teen World News
The
Unveiling
The Islamic government of Iran, in power since 1979, has
decided to let girls and their teachers at all-female
schools remove their veils and robes during class. For
now, this applies only for schools in the capital, Tehran,
which is more
liberal than the conservative provincial towns. Families
say the heavy black outfits depress children and cause
skin rashes and hair loss. A local newspaper complained
that relaxing the rule encourages nudity.
Source: ABC News Online
Date
Rape Drug Surges
Police say the number of young Canadians voluntarily using
the date rape drug GHB to get high is on the rise. It
is often used because it is relatively cheap, triggers
a euphoric feeling and enhances sexual urges. However,
predators know that it also causes dizziness, loss of
inhibition, memory impairment and often loss of consciousness.
Overdoses can result in a coma or death. Det. Page of
the Toronto Police Service says, “It’s used
as a weapon. It scares me because of how easily they can
put it into someone’s drink.”
Source: The National Post
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