ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)



Questions for discussion

Taser debate

1. Discuss the main issues raised in the Taser debate story with another student.

2. Brainstorm a list of words that describe the job of a police officer.

3. When is capsicum spray used by police?

4. What are the disadvantages of capsicum spray?

5. What does Taser stand for?

6. Describe how a Taser works.

7. What are the advantages of police using Tasers?

8. Why have some people questioned their use?

9. Why do they have a camera built in?

10. Do you think police should be allowed to use Tasers? Explain your answer.

`Should police be allowed to use Tasers?’ Vote in the BtN online poll

US Dollar

1. What was the main point of the US Dollar story?

2. How many US cents is the Australian dollar worth at the moment?

3. Many years ago, money was made from precious metals like_____________ and ________________.

4. Why did the US decide to measure the value of its dollar against gold?

5. Over the past 10 years, the average value of the Aussie dollar has been…

6. What is parity?

7. What does a high Aussie dollar mean for the price of exports?

8. What are the benefits of having a higher Australian dollar?

9. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?

10. In pairs, discuss and record what the higher Australian dollar means for you. Share your responses with the class.

Test your knowledge in the online quiz.

Drownings

1. Explain the BtN story to another student.

2. What proportion of drownings in Australia happen in the ocean?

3. What are the four biggest factors that can lead to drownings?

4. Choose one and illustrate it.

5. Most people who have drowned in Australia are…

6. How is Surf Life Saving Australia trying to raise awareness about beach safety?

7. Surf Life Saving wants to reduce the number of drowning deaths by

a. 20 percent by 2020

b. 50 percent by 2015

c. 50 percent by 2020

8. What are some ways people can keep themselves safe in the water?

9. What do you do to stay safe when swimming?

10. What do you understand about water safety since watching the BtN story?

Think about your own involvement in water activities. Make a list of activities that you and your family participate in.

Aussie Saint

1. What were some of Mary MacKillop’s achievements?

2. Mary MacKillop will be the first Australian saint. True or false?

3. What do experts look at when deciding whether someone becomes a saint?

4. What is canonisation?

5. What and where is the Vatican?

6. How will Catholics celebrate when Mary MacKillop is canonised?

7. Describe how the young people interviewed in the BtN story feel about Mary MacKillop.

8. Why do some people think she should be made a saint?

9. What will Mary MacKillop’s official title be when she becomes a saint?

10. How did this story make you feel?

Write a message about the story and post it on the BtN guestbook

Radio jobs

1. Briefly summarise the Radio jobs story.

2. Why did Jibba Jabba radio start?

3. Is the show live or pre-recorded?

4. What opportunities does community radio provide?

5. When did radio first start in Australia?

6. What did it provide to people?

7. Describe some of the changes to radio over the years.

8. What do you think the future of radio is? Explain your answer.

9. Describe your own radio listening habits.

10. Create a T chart to show the similarities and differences between radio and television.

What is community radio? Investigate a local community radio station to find out: What does it offer the community, who is the target audience, how does it operate? Create a poster to display your findings.

Taser debate

Focus Questions

1. Discuss the main issues raised in the Taser debate story with another student.

2. Brainstorm a list of words that describe the job of a police officer.

3. When is capsicum spray used by police?

4. What are the disadvantages of capsicum spray?

5. What does Taser stand for?

6. Describe how a Taser works.

7. What are the advantages of police using Tasers?

8. Why have some people questioned their use?

9. Why do they have camera built in?

10. Do you think police should be allowed to use Tasers? Explain your answer.

Taser debate

Students will explore the issue of police using Tasers by conducting a `What do you reckon?’ to find out public opinion.

Begin with a think-pair-share focussing on the following questions:

• What is the role of the police?

• What do they do for the community?

• Why do they do it?

• What skills and equipment do they need to do it?

Write down the words you associate with Taser.

Share your responses with the class.

Students will be investigating what the public thinks about police using Tasers to control people.

Watch the BtN Taser debate story again and ask students to record the main issues raised in the story. To ensure they have a clear understanding of the issue, they will need to write a brief summary. The summary can be used to explain the issue to interviewees.

Students will interview a range of people – students, parents, teachers, family and friends. To get a range of opinions, at least five people will need to be interviewed.

Students will need to devise question/s to ask. Possibilities include:

• Do you agree with the Police being allowed to use Tasers to control people? Why?

• What other methods could police use to control people?

Discuss with students how they can present their responses. This will depend on how students recorded the interviews/responses. Students could create a `What do you reckon?’ segment similar to the one on BtN. Other options include:

• PowerPoint presentation

• Oral report

• Video news story

In small groups, students discuss the responses from people they interviewed. What was surprising about the responses? What do they understand more clearly about the issue?

Reflection

What worked well with your survey?

What would you do differently next time?

( Related Research Links

ABC Behind the News – Taser Troubles



ABC News – Taser victim `could have killed police’



ABC News – Police told to get tough on Taser misuse



SBS World News – At a glance: Taser use in Australia



Queensland Police – Tasers: Frequently Asked Questions



BtN: Episode 28 Transcript 12/10/10

On this week's Behind the News:

• Can one dollar buy you another dollar and why would you want to?

• We look at what's being done to reduce the number of people drowning.

• And if you like the sound of your own voice then a career in radio might be just your thing.

Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News.

Also on the show today, we're going to meet some kids who are travelling all the way to Rome in Italy to witness a very special religious event.

Taser Debate

Reporter: Nathan Bazley

INTRO: Last year we told you about the use of Tasers, a gun that uses electricity to stop dangerous people without hurting them permanently.

Police around the country are using them more and more as an alternative to handguns.

But lately there have been a few cases of these supposedly safe weapons killing the people they are meant to be shocking.

Should police stop using them? Let's take a look.

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Policing is a dangerous job.

A day in the office often involves trying to stop dangerous and violent people, desperate to get away.

Many are armed and ready to use their weapons against police or members of the public.

To deal with these situations, police have weapons of their own.

These are police issue handguns.

All police carry these whilst on patrol, as a last line of defence in dangerous situations.

They are trained to use them only against armed criminals; to protect themselves or other people.

But unfortunately, handguns are often fatal.

Not every situation calls for that kind of force though, and the police don't want to see people die unnecessarily.

So police now have a few different options.

The first of these is capsicum spray.

It's based on the active ingredient in chillies, which police spray into the eyes of people who are becoming violent or aggressive.

It blinds and causes irritation for up to an hour, but generally has no permanent effects.

The downside to this is that police officers have to get pretty close to use it, and it doesn't always stop people.

So if someone has a knife, they could still continue blindly swinging it after being sprayed.

This is where the second, more controversial option comes in - Tasers.

The name actually comes from an old kid’s book called "Tom Swift", about a kid who builds an electric rifle.

When a man called Jack Cover invented his own electric gun in the 70s, he named it after "Tom A. Swift's Electric Rifle" or "TASER".

It works by sending a jolt of electricity between two electrodes.

You can also get Taser guns, which fire electrodes attached to wires that stick in a person's skin and give them a jolt.

That causes pain and makes the muscles of the body seize up, meaning they lose control.

That's the big advantage for police. They can disarm people carrying weapons like knives from a safer distance.

They say Tasers have certainly saved officers lives.

And while they do hurt a fair bit, Tasers are very unlikely to kill those targeted.

But unlikely, doesn't mean they can't.

REPORTER: Frantic efforts by paramedics couldn't save the man. His heart stopped when he was Tasered by police.

This is the latest of four Taser deaths Australia-wide over the past few years.

In this situation, NSW police have said the officers involved did exactly the right thing.

But in a couple of other cases, Tasers have been judged to have been used too much, or in situations that didn't call for them.

It's led some people to question their use.

Some object to the pain they inflict, saying it's more like torture than a policing tool.

Others say the risk of death is not being considered before they're used, while others say there needs to be tighter guidelines for when they're used.

Some police have cameras installed on their Tasers, to record the situation as it happens, to make sure they're used in the right way.

And in NSW, these cameras are now becoming mandatory.

But with nearly 7000 Tasers already being used across the country, it looks like these small electric guns, have become a permanent tool for police on the beat.

Presenter: OK that's a serious issue that has a lot of people talking so let's make that our poll this week.

The question is: Should police be allowed to use Tasers?

To vote, just head to our website.

The Wire

Ok there's been a lot happening in the news this week so let's catch up with the headlines on the wire with Alfie.

*****

In Chile the rescue of the 33 miners trapped underground could be finished by Thursday.

Engineers are trying to stabilise a rescue shaft after drilling the chamber on the weekend.

The miners have been trapped underground for more than two months.

****

To Hungary now where workers are racing to build an emergency dam to prevent a second wave of toxic sludge.

A reservoir holding the toxic waste from an aluminium plant is cracking and protective walls are being built around it to hold back further spills.

About 800 people have been moved to emergency accommodation and thousands more have been told to pack a bag and get ready to leave at any time.

In the first wave of sludge, seven people were killed and more than 120 injured.

US Dollar

Reporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: If you've caught the news in the past week or two you might have heard a bit about the Aussie dollar being pretty high right now.

But it's not just something for finance experts and accountants to get excited about.

Believe it or not the value of the dollar may affect you and your family.

Why do we pay so much attention to the US dollar? And how does it affect you?

Sarah got out her calculator and came up with the answer.

SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: What can you get for a dollar?

Or how about 98 US cents?

Maybe if you could get to the States that would be helpful.

But we're a long way from the US so why are we so concerned with US dollars? You know what I mean?

And why does the value change so much?

The answer can be found back in time

Way, way back in the old days money was made from precious metals like gold and silver. They're valuable just about everywhere so no matter where you went in the world money would be worth something.

Then they started to make money out of less valuable things - copper and nickel and paper and cloth. So people had to agree on how much it was worth.

The US decided to measure the value of its dollar against gold. That made the value of US dollars pretty trustworthy because you could always swap your notes and coins for solid, valuable gold.

After WW2 other countries decided to measure their money against the US dollar. It became the standard currency that lots of things were traded in.

Eventually it was so trusted that they didn't need gold. Instead they let the markets decide how much a dollar was worth.

Yep, money is traded in financial markets just like everything else. The more people want it the more it's worth, and people want it when the economy's doing well.

Except right now the US economy isn't doing so well. Lots of people are unemployed and the country's in a lot of debt.

So their dollar has gone down in value.

Here in Australia it's a different story. We've got lots of natural resources which are bringing in money, unemployment is low people are spending. The economy's going well so more people want Aussie dollars.

The result?

FINANCE REPORT: The Aussie dollar is worth 98 US cents

REPORTER: That's way higher than usual. The average value of the Aussie dollar over the past 10 years has been about 70 US cents.

Now some people reckon it could get to one whole US dollar. That's called PARITY and if it happens, you'll hear all about it.

It’s actually a pretty big deal. And it affects a lot of people.

Remember that a lot of trading is done in US dollars so imagine you're trying to sell something overseas like fashion.

If the Aussie dollar is high compared to overseas countries, it’s going to cost other countries more to buy your stuff.

It might mean that big companies profit and that affects the whole economy.

But there's good news too, especially if you want to go on an overseas holiday. You'll be able to exchange your Aussie dollars and get more US dollars.

Or if you want to buy something from overseas a high Aussie dollar means imported things like electronics and cars will eventually get cheaper.

Your Aussie dollars will buy you even more!

Presenter: OK still on the money theme let's have a quick quiz.

Quiz 1

What's another word for the US Dollar?

Greenback

Razorback

Hunchback

Answer: Greenback

And that's because the back of the note is printed with green ink!

Drownings

Reporter: Nathasha Thiele

INTRO: Now summer's on the way and most of us love heading to the beach or pool for a swim.

But there are a few things you need to know to stay safe around water especially after some pretty scary stats were released about drownings.

A new report's found the number of Aussies who've drowned is the highest it's been in seven years.

Tash went to find out how we can protect ourselves and others from getting into trouble.

NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: When people travel to our country, they might think sharks are the biggest threat in the water.

But the water itself can be just as deadly!

We hear about people drowning in places like backyard pools, dams and rivers and about a third of all drownings happen in the ocean!

It can happen anywhere, at any time!

REPORTER: Experts say there are four things that can lead to drownings. First is a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, so you're unaware of the dangers that are actually out there.

REPORTER: Next is being ALLOWED INTO DANGEROUS AREAS like a pool that's not properly fenced.

REPORTER: Another problem is LACK OF SUPERVISION like if you're at the beach and there are no adults or life savers around.

REPORTER: And finally a LACK OF SURVIVAL SKILLS. That means you don't know how to save yourself.

It's those key factors that are most likely to lead to someone drowning in Australia.

Stats show a lot of people who've drowned here are international tourists and migrants.

Surf lifesavers reckon that's because they're not used to our waters, like the strong waves and rips we have in some parts of Australia.

But it's not just the ocean that can be dangerous, swimming pools can be too!

Many kids who drown are under the age of four and have died in backyard pools.

Surf Life Saving Australia is trying to reduce the number of drownings and raise awareness of beach safety.

BEACH SAFETY CAMPAIGN: Your guide to enjoying Australia's beaches safely.

It recently launched a video campaign that's being shown on six international airlines. So overseas visitors can learn about our conditions as they fly in.

The video explains the red and yellow flags and the safety signs on our beaches.

Beach goers are reminded to swim between the flags and with a friend just in case they hit trouble.

There are also brochures, posters and online games to help get the message across.

So how do we prevent drownings from happening?

Well, these young surf lifesavers, Charlotte and Jack, know all about the dangers of getting into trouble in water.

CHARLOTTE: It can be dangerous depending on the conditions and whether you don't know if you know what you're doing well enough and if you go out unprepared and without people watching you or by yourself.

JACK: It's also dangerous if you go out at night because you don't know where you're going as well.

They say there are several things to remember if you're ever in trouble, including not panicking.

CHARLOTTE: They should always read the conditions before they go in and swim between the flags.

JACK: And if they're unsure they should also ask a lifesaver about the safest place to swim as well.

Surf Life Saving wants to reduce the number of drowning deaths by 50 percent by 2020.

So next time you head out for a swim, no matter where you are, remember to keep your eyes and ears open and stay safe!

Presenter: Ok now let's get you thinking about geography with our next quiz.

Quiz 2

The question is: Where is Vatican City?

Brussels

Rome

Venice

Answer: Rome

And its population is around 800.

Aussie Saint

Reporter: Natasha Thiele

INTRO: Well there will be a lot of eyes on Vatican City this weekend because

Australia is getting its first Catholic saint.

Mary MacKillop will be canonised on Sunday at a big event at the Vatican.

But who is Mary MacKillop and what does it take to become a saint?

Tash asked a group of students who are making the journey overseas to join in the celebrations.

NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: Many people have a lot of respect for this woman, Mary MacKillop.

She was born in Melbourne in 1842 and died just over 100 years ago.

Back then most schools were only available to the rich, so Mary opened a free catholic school in the South Australian town of Penola.

It was actually set up in an old stable and any child could go to the school.

Mary then helped open more schools around the country, so kids could get a good education.

By the time she died in 1909, she had helped set up hundreds of schools.

But it takes more than just good work to be called a saint!

There are thousands of Catholic saints and they've come from all over the world, but this is the first time they've made an Australian a saint.

There's a big process the church has to follow and it's called canonisation.

In the Catholic Church, that's when the Pope declares someone who's no longer alive a saint!

Special experts need to look closely at the person's entire life to make sure they were close to God, did good work and are worthy of the special honour.

Sometimes the process can take hundreds of years!

They also need to have performed two miracles, like when someone who's dying of cancer is cured in a way that doctors can't explain.

Mary will be recognised for her miracles when she's canonised at the Vatican in Rome. That's where the Pope lives and it's where the Catholic Church is governed.

When this happens, Catholics around Australia and the world will celebrate the moment through church masses and parades.

Thousands of people will make their way to the Vatican to witness the big event, including these four students from Mary MacKillop College in Adelaide.

This is one of the schools Mary set up and these girls say they work to keep her spirit alive.

FRANCESCA: She's a role model for lots of people and someone that lots of people look up to, someone that she inspires so many people. So I think it's a pretty big deal for a lot of people.

ELISE: I think we've been so closely connected to her throughout our lives with the College and you know, with this chapel here, she actually lived here. So I think it's such a big deal that we actually get to see a person that's you know, so much related to our lives.

CELESTE: She's been a big part of my life and being able to see her become a saint and get the recognition she deserves will be amazing.

STEPHANIE: It is a really big part of Australian history and something that we'll remember for a long time

For Catholics it will be a special event, but some people don't think Mary MacKillop should be made a saint.

They might have different religious beliefs or don't believe in miracles and look for other explanations.

Either way, in less than a week's time Mary MacKillop will be officially known forever more, as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Presenter: And we'll show you some of the ceremony from Rome on next week's show.

Now let's look at what's been happening in sport.

The Score

It's been a huge weekend of motorsport so first to Bathurst where the year’s most famous V8 race ended with victory to two of its most successful drivers.

Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife took out the race for Holden but it was eventful from the first lap right down to the last.

Lap 1 saw Fabian Coultard spectacularly roll after suffering a flat tyre.

He walked away unhurt proving how good the safety equipment in these cars really is.

There were plenty of other close calls too, including this one between Garth Tander and Skippy.

Skippy also hopped away unhurt.

The finish came down to the wire between Lowndes and teammate Jamie Whincup but Lowndes just had the speed to hold on for his fifth Bathurst crown while partner Mark Skaife made it six.

In the driver’s championship, Ford's James Courtney is still well ahead with four races remaining

*************

To Formula 1 now and Aussie Mark Webber has extended his lead in the Championship after a solid second place in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Webber finished just behind teammate Sebastian Vettel giving him a handy 14 point lead overall with 3 races remaining.

********

We'll round out motorsport on two wheels where Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has clinched his first Moto GP world title with a comfortable 3rd at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Valentino Rossi took out the race but Lorenzo was by far the happiest man on the track.

******

To soccer now and the Socceroos used their friendly against Paraguay in Sydney to try to impress new coach Holger Osieck.

Under their last coach, the team was geared for defence but the new coach has demanded attack.

And David Carney delivered.

Shots were flying thick and fast under the new attacking formation a positive sign looking ahead to January's Asian Cup.

********

And finally, remember we told you about veteran swimmer Geoff Huegill who came back from retirement to lose a heap of weight and get back into competition.

Well he's capped off his comeback with a gold in the 100m butterfly and a silver in the 50m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games!

Radio Kids

Reporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: A career in radio sounds like a pretty good idea to a group of kids learning to put their own community radio program to air.

Sarah found out there's a rich history of radio broadcasting in Australia and its future is sounding solid with these DJs behind the microphone.

SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: Wherever you are and whatever you're doing you can always count on the radio to bring you news, laughs or your favourite tunes no matter what your taste.

But have you ever wondered what it would be like to work on the radio and hear your own voice coming from that speaker?

That's something these guys are getting used to. They're the stars of Jibba Jabba radio, a show that's by young people, for young people.

It looks easy sitting around here and talking. Is it easy?

KIDS: No, no don't say that. Planning is so easy but once we get in here and actually start recording it's like oh god what do we talk about now

Jibba Jabba was started as a way of advertising events for young people. Community radio seemed perfect.

But it soon grew to a regular half hour show - a way for these guys to get their voices heard while getting some valuable radio experience.

They meet weekly to plan and research their show.

REPORTER: What sorts of things do you put in the show?

KID: We do all sorts of things - discussions, chat, jokes, celebrity news, etc.

Then they take it in turns to record. Today Tristan is in charge of all the dials and buttons.

TRISTAN: I control all the sound levels I make sure these lovely CD players play the music when we want to play it.

The show isn't live so they have a chance to go through and make sure everything they've said is OK. Because you never know who could be listening.

DENISE, PBA FM CEO: They're slowly building listenership and not just their friends oldies like me who want to know what young people are thinking.

There are community radio stations like this one all around the country. They're designed to bring communities together and give them a voice. They're also training grounds for people who want jobs in the media.

Compared with TV, radio has been around for a long time.

When radio first came to Australia in the 1920s there were only a few stations. And they were the main source of entertainment for anyone who could afford to tune in.

Instead of Neighbours or Home and Away whole families would gather round to listen to radio plays performed by actors in studios.

Sports matches were retold by commentators, complete with sound effects and the biggest news stories were heard first on the radio.

But in the 50s things changed.

"Welcome to television"

When television came along lots of people thought it would replace the radio.

But that's not what happened.

SARAH: Radio still has a place in the world I think because when you're on the go you can't watch television while you're driving so you flick on the radio you hear the news you hear what's going on, celebrity news, the hottest songs.

Over the years radio has grown and changed. In the 70s we got FM stations with stereo sound. Then the government helped start up a whole bunch of community stations. Now there are more than 400 on the air.

Then there are the ABC's four national and sixty local stations and there're heaps of commercial ones too.

Now there's digital radio which has more channels and even better sound so these guys can look forward to a future in an industry that's proven it's here to stay!

That looks like fun.

Closer

Don't forget to log onto our website and get more info about any of our stories, and you can tell us what you think in our guestbook. We love hearing from you.

You can catch us on BtN Daily and of course you can always get a dose of BtN Extra each weekday on ABC3.

And we'll see you next time.

-----------------------

Episode 28

12TH OCTOBER 2010

LEARNING AREA

Society and Environment

Key learning

Students will investigate the issue of police using Tasers to control people.

Episode 28

12TH OCTOBER 2010

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download