Rivalry

Mainland officials tried to play down the rivalry.

rivalry (n.)

a situation in which two teams are competing for something. especially over a long period of time

There has always been intense rivalry between Hong Kong and Singapore.

Awestruck

The initial surprise quickly transformed into awestruck “wows”, with the volume rising with rocket’s trajectory.

awestruck (adj.)

feeling great respect for the importance of something

Ming had an awestruck expression when he saw the formula.

Decline

Taiwan’s National Space Organisation and the National Science Council declined to comment on the launch.

decline (v.)

to say no politely when someone wants you to do something

Ming declined a hot drink and went to bed.

Newsline on 9-9-2007

This programme is about the issue ‘Child Abuse’. Leaving children at home is not regarded as child abuses in Hong Kong no matter the parents are negligent or have no choice. But, in contrast, the other well developed societies just like Hong Kong have legislated on this issue. In those society, it is illegal to leave children at home and it will be automatically become child abuse. Ironically, Hong Kong which is claimed to be international does not follow the worldwide trend.

In Hong Kong, we have more tragic accidents due to the lack of childcare happened in poor family than well-off family. Why is that? I think the both of the parents in poor families have to work and leave no time for taking care of their children. The parents have no choice because they need to earn money for living. Also, they cannot afford to hire housemaids to look after their children. The government should help these families to overcome the problem by offering free childcare service to the poor people. Besides, we should also legislate to punish the ones who are negligent and abuse children. In long term, I think legislation is the most effective method to solve the problem.

Donating Organs

Donating organs is mostly not accepted among the Chinese community, or even worse, it is regarded as a taboo as some of the Chinese believe they might end up without vital organ in the next life. However, the deeply-rooted thought should be terminated in the modern world.

Organs transplants save lives. Once a person dies, the internal organs will start to deteriorate and finally end up with nothing else. It is a waste bringing the organs into coffins or incinerating them instead of donating them to desperate patients. So why don’t we let our organs carry on to function in the others’ body to save precious lives?

Some Chinese are so superstitious and think they will have next lives. The out-dated notion is originated from the ancient Chinese ancestors who were living in superstitious society and it has been passing to next every generations. We, everyone in the modern world, should open our mind to accept scientific facts instead of believe in superstition.

But the major reason people, including Chinese, are not willing to give the pledge is that they worry the doctors will not do their best to save them if their organs are authorized to be transplanted. They do not want to lose their opportunities of having treatment.

Boycott Japanese Goods

Few days ago, hundreds of thousands of university students marched through the streets of Changsha, Hunnan province, after a Japanese supermarket chose to celebrate its opening ceremony on the 76th anniversary of the September 18 incident. They gathered in front of the Heiwado supermarket’s DongTang branch, shouting slogans and holding up banners saying “Boycott Japanese Goods” and “Japanese, I want to duel with you”.  

First, the CEO of the Heiwado supermarket did something wrong. He should not choose that day for the opening ceremony. It was impossible for him not to know that September 18 was a day very sensitive to have the opening ceremony as he was the elite designated to be the CEO of Chinese area. He was supposed to be proficient in the Sino-Japanese issue. Or he fails to qualify for the position. It was not difficult for anyone to believe that he was trying to provoke the Chinese. No matter what he does, he should do the right thing at the right time. Would any normal people celebrate their birthday on the anniversary of the death of their parents? Definitely not! The reason is just that simple. For the sake of the profit of the supermarket, managers of the supermarket should reflect on their marketing strategy even though they have a deep hatred on Chinese.  

On the other hand, the angry university students were quite dim. Did they think that just by their shouting can harm the Japanese? The Japanese actually got no loss. But on the opposite side, the university students did. The people all around the world might think Chinese are rude are not civilized. In other words, their behavior made an impact on the image of Chinese.  

However, I am not convincing people not to hate the Japanese. Just shouting and crying out slogans actually do nothing. I believe when the protest has gone, they would keep buying SONY’s PSPs, TOYOTA’s cars and PANASONIC’s digital cameras. If they really boycotted Japanese goods, why am I still seeing these Japanese enterprises still here in China? 

Podcast

A postcast about our ideas to the unreasonable school rules.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/a781jd

Embrace

In the motherland’s close embrace

embrace (v.) (n.)

1. to hold someone tightly with both arms to express love, liking or sympathy, or when greeting or leaving someone
2. to include something, often as one of a number of things
3. to accept something enthusiastically

e.g. Ming embraced the precious  opportunity offered by JAXA.
e.g. I saw Tom embraced Mary.

Alma Mater

mater (n.)

UK OLD-FASHIONED OR HUMOROUS
mother

Nankai University was the late premier’s alma mater.

alma mater (n.)

the school, college or university where you studied

e.g. CNEC TA TUNG SCHOOL was Ming’s alma mater.

Baptism

baptism (n.)

a Christian ceremony in which a person has water poured on their head, or is covered briefly in water, in order to show that they have become a member of the Christian Church

 Anson Chan’s  political debut a baptism of fire

a baptism of/by fire (n.)

a very difficult first experience of something
e.g. I was given a million-dollar project to manage in my first month – it was a real baptism of fire.

e.g. Ming has a baptism of fire for being a member of QEA.