CROWDED PLANET

On Monday 31 October 2011 the UN says the world population will hit 7 billion people. That's a bit scary, considering how our natural resources are becoming smaller, and I mean non-renewable resources like crude oil. Is there enough drinking water in the planet for so many people, even food?  People need food and water at least and more people also mean more waste and pollution. This increase in population has caused climate change, rising sea levels, expanding deserts and the "sixth extinction" of wildlife. Or maybe it's not the growth in the world population per se but the over-consumption (we consume too much and, what's worse, we feel the need to) of western civilizations like ours.
Of course, there are many theories as to what's causing climate change but it's easier to see why our resources are running out. The problem may be how we use the planet and share its resources. Today, there's not equality in that. While in developed countries they have problems like overeating and obesity, in third world countries people are starving. And that's only an example.
Well, that's a lot to think about so I'll leave you to it. Maybe we can change the future together.

There was a very interesting article yesterday on the guardian about this. In it, child six billion, Adnan Nevic, 12, hopes child 7 billion will see world peace. Is it possible in a world of growing competition for resources?

If you would like to know how big the world's population was when you were born go here. 
Some tips and tricks for living green at ourbreathingplanet.com
The following are two videos by National Geographic on this subject:

Friday's Poem #5

Today's poem belongs to the collection of poems Broetry by Brian McGackin. As the author himself declares, "Broetry  is poetry for dudes. It's poetry for people who don't like poetry".

"A lot of poets have broetic qualities," he says. "Robert Frost liked baseball; he wrote about sports. His poetry was always very accessible. Even Shakespeare — Shakespeare was just writing about chicks."
"If you think you don't like poetry, you just haven't found a poem that's right for you," McGackin says. "Broetry is poetry that's right for you. Broetry is a literary chili cheeseburger."
The following poem appeared on the cover of Broetry and it is very similar to a very popular poem by William Carlos Williams , This is Just to Say. Carlos Williams is, by the way, another great poet to teach English as EFL. I highly recommend him.

I have finished

the beer
that was in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for Friday

Forgive me
this girl came over
so sweet
and so hot

Friday's Poem #4

I'm sorry this week's Friday's poem is a day late. Now, I'm not only lacking inspiration but apparently I'm too busy to do this one thing on time. Maybe it's becauseI'm a bit lost with this change to a new school. I need to get my bearings soon! I'll try to post more often from now on...
Today I've chosen Variation On An Old Rhyme by John Mole. Some of you may recognize the old nursery rhyme which inspired this poem, The House That Jack Built, which you can find here. Both poems are great to practice relative sentences, as they're full of them.

VARIATION ON AN OLD RHYME

This is the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

These are the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines on the blackbird that wakes with a song.

This is the wrong that none can put right
That caused the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

These are the nations in all their might
That suffer the wrong that none can put right
That caused the quarrel that started the fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines for the blackbird that wakes with a song.

And this is the song that goes on in spite
Of all the nations in all their might
That  suffer the wrong that none can put right
That causes the quarrels that start every fight
That stains the wonderland of white
That surrounds the children that cry with delight
That play in the snow that fell through the night
That covers the earth
That welcomes the sun
That shines just the same on everyone.

In addition to writing poetry for both children and adults, John Mole (b.1941) is an accomplished jazz musician. He has won several prizes for his poetry and is currently the Poetry Society's Poet in Residence to the City of London. He trained  as a teacher and often returns to schools to lead poetry workshops and readings.

Friday's Poem #3

Sweden's most famous living poet, Tomas Tranströmer, has won the Nobel prize for literature. That's why, for the first time and without setting a precedent, I'm posting a translation. I must confess I hadn't heard much about him before yesterday's news but once I read about him and his life and read some of his poems I thought you too would enjoy his poetry.
Robin Robertson, one of his English translators, has written a moving little article in today's Guardian of which I'm posting an extract:

"Every October, for decades, a group of reporters and photographers have gathered in the stairwell of an apartment block in a quiet district of Stockholm, waiting to hear if the poet upstairs has finally won the Nobel prize for literature. The poet's wife, Monica, would bring them tea and biscuits while they stood around – but they would always leave, around lunchtime, as the news came in that the prize had gone to someone else. Annually, the name of Tomas Tranströmer comes up, and with every year one felt a growing sense that he would never receive this highest literary honour from his own country. The vigil is over now, with Thursday's wonderful news".

So this is my choice, enjoy!

Source of picture

The Tree and the Sky

There’s a tree walking around in the rain,
it rushes past us in the pouring grey.
It has an errand. It gathers life
out of the rain like a blackbird in an orchard.

When the rain stops so does the tree.
There it is, quiet on clear nights
waiting as we do for the moment
when the snowflakes blossom in space.

Copyright © Tomas Tranströmer, translated by Robin Fulton