Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA,Mar. 10, 2003 : For once, parents in the city are not complaining about their children watching too much television. A new breed of cartoon characters � Bob the Builder, Pingu, Oswald and Kipper � is taking the world of tiny tots by storm.
And, as the little ones, right from a two-year-old to a five-year-old kid, sit glued to the screen, markets are cashing in on the craze with Bob the Builder and Pingu accessories. The characters are fast gaining demi-god status as the builder with chubby cheeks, Bob, the blue octopus, Oswald, or the little penguin, Pingu, are scoring over favourites Johnny Bravo, Dexter or Superman. For five-year-old Aditya Pabari, the world revolves around these cartoon shows.Like most children of today, he doesn�t miss even a single one.
Kenya, Mar. 10, 2003 - A few weeks ago, street children appeared on newspaper front pages looking feisty and uncivil. Why? They had been whisked off the streets and given boarding and accommodation.
After being removed from the streets in a government move to rehabilitate them and then send them to schools and other institutions, they had expected something decent, but were not impressed with what was on offer - alleged sub-standard and insufficient food, dismal hostels, few blankets and the loss of freedom.
Some of us were shocked at first: Can beggars choose? Should anyone look the gift-horse in the mouth? Aren't we meant to be grateful for any charity we get?
The childrens' defiance illustrates the basic problem about charity: It can look patronising. The implication: I'm kind and generous, and you are rather lowly and needy, so I will give to you. If nothing else, it will make me feel better.
The street children's attitude is in fact healthier than humble submission. It is an assertion of their essential humanity and a reminder that they too have standards.
They did not ask to be brought into this world, but now that they are here, they insist that they have a role to play and should be given a chance.
Look at the number of troupes that have been formed by street children - acrobats, actors, singer - and have provided superb entertainment.
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Sly and manipulative, bullies who once plagued their victims in the school playground are now causing grief with abusive text messages and vitriolic Web Sites.
Cyber-bullying has become so common in Britain it is estimated one in four youngsters is being targeted via the Internet or mobile phones.
"In the past, if bullies picked on you at school or on the way home, at least when you got to your bedroom there was some respite," Carr told Reuters.
With most youngsters now carrying mobile phones, the bleep of a text alert heralds for some children not a chatty message from a friend but the prospect of a frightening threat.
Carr said a third of cyber-victims don't tell anyone what is happening and of those that do tell, it is often a school friend rather than parents or the police.
His advice is not to suffer in silence.
"Tell the mobile phone companies, try and get your number changed and tell the police," he said.
Carnell warned that youngsters should be wary about giving out their email address or mobile phone number.
"But sadly a lot of phone bullying is when friends fall out," she said, adding that teenage girls were the most common instigators and recipients of text bullying.
Seniors' knowledge inspire kids' songwriting By Jan Kaus, Northern Hills Bureau
SPEARFISH, U.S.A. � The music on the stage at East Elementary in Spearfish March 6 was not the only harmony taking place as children celebrated their elders in a program called "Elders' Wisdom, Children's Song."
Students turned personal interviews to songs with the help of local musicians, and in a culminating performance, audience members listened with interest, smiles and tears.
It was a tribute to four Spearfish elders who took the time to visit the school and share their lives with the students.
Students quizzed their elders on everything from childhood to retirement, asking questions ranging from, "What are your favorite foods?" to "What was life like when you were a kid?" Songwriter Marianne Fridell and fourth-graders from Michelle Damuth's class tried to capture the spirit of their elder, Arne Koski.
"We could call him Mr. Harmonica Man, Super Volunteer, Hard Work Harry or Bull of the Woods, but Arne says, �Just call me Arne,'" the students said in a narrative written after their interview.
The names described Koski's hobbies and priorities ranging from his "amazing harmonica collection" to his dedication to serving others. The "Bull of the Woods" designation referred to his years of service in the timber industry. And his song, "You've Got to Wake Up Ready to Go," speaks of the attitude he takes with whatever he endeavors.
Fourth-graders Austin Sprynczynatyk, Janessa Bakeberg and Adam Gomez said Koski is "fun, has cool hobbies and is just a cool guy."
The boys were most impressed with how hard-working Koski has always been, while Janessa said she likes the way he devotes a lot of his time to the community.
For the elders, it would be quite a challenge deciding which part of the program they enjoyed more � the interview and interaction, or the culminating celebration where they listened to the words of their lives in song.
Key West, Fl, U.S.A., Mar 10, 2003- Jasper Bergwerff has a friend in Saudi Arabia. Chad and Justin Worrall lived in Chile for more than a year, and Alice Williamson was a kindergartner in Italy before moving to Iceland.
Yet circumstances and military orders brought them all together, at least for now, at Sigsbee Elementary School. The school's 330 students have spent much of their young lives moving from place to place, learning their way around new schools and adjusting to different teachers, principals and classmates.
The students all have one or more parents in the military, and the government decides where their parents live, and how for how long.
"The worst part about my dad being in the military and moving all the time is that you always have to leave your friends," said Justin Worrall, who is in fifth grade at Sigsbee. "We only stay long enough to start to get to know people, and then we have to leave."
Sometimes it's better to go to a public school somewhere, because then when you have to leave your new friends, at least you know that they''ll be staying and you know where to write to them," she said. "Because at military schools kids are always coming and going and you don't know where they'll be to keep in touch with."
But the constant movement of students through schools like Sigsbee can also be comforting, some students said.
Everyone there has been "the new kid" a few times in their life, so the other students understand the life and the challenges that come with military moves.
"I want the students to see that they are not alone when events occur in their life," Principal Adams said, "and know that together we can make a successful transition."
Many Sigsbee students will be making that transition yet again in the coming months.
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