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CHILDREN
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Capital
(and largest city) Niamey
Language(s)
French (Official)
Hausa, Fulfulde, Gulmancema, Kanuri, Zarma, Tamasheq (as
'national')
Demonym
Nigerien
Independence from France
- Declared August 3, 1960
Area
- Total 1,267,000 km2
Population
- July 2009 estimate 15,306,252
Currency
West African CFA franc (XOF) |
Niger
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The Grand Mosque in Niamey, Niger. Pic. courtesy: Google
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Niger is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the
Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the South, Burkina Faso and
Mali to the West, Algeria and Libya to the North and Chad to the East.
Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2, over 80 percent of
which is covered by the Sahara desert. The country's predominantly
Islamic population of just above 15,000,000 is mostly clustered in the
far South and West of the nation. The capital city is Niamey.
Niger is a developing country. Much of the non-desert portions of the
country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The
economy is concentrated around subsistence and some export agriculture
clustered in the more fertile South and the export of raw materials
especially uranium ore. Niger remains handicapped by its landlocked
position, desert terrain, poor education and poverty of its people, lack
of infrastructure, poor health care and environmental degradation.
Nigerien society reflects a great diversity drawn from the long
independent histories of its several ethnic groups and regions and their
relatively short period living in a single State. Historically, what is
now Niger has been on the fringes of several large States. Since
independence, Nigeriens have lived under five constitutions and three
periods of military rule. A majority live in rural areas and have little
access to advanced education.
Courtesy:Wikipedia
Battle against Dengue
Dear Children,
 If
you have been following the news over Radio and TV or reading newspapers
in the past week, you would have heard the alarming news about the rapid
spread of Dengue.
The health authorities are battling to contain one of the worst
Dengue outbreaks in years - over 20,000 dengue cases and 150 deaths have
been recorded this year.
The Colombo Municipal Council has recorded one Dengue patient per
hour and this figure could be more. So, children make sure your
surrounding environment is kept clean and tidy.
June was the worst month, with 6,600 cases of the mosquito-borne
infection and Kandy is the worst affected, with about 2,200 cases.
The coastal districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, which have
been susceptible in the past, have also recorded a high rate of
infection and deaths.
The Education Ministry too has launched an awareness campaign in
school level so that children can actively participate in the dengue
prevention campaign. Active community participation is vital in this
battle.
According to health experts, more than half the patients are women
and children.
Accurate early detection and treatment is very important.
The mosquito is active during daylight hours and also inside homes,
where women and children stay during the day.
The government has taken steps to contain its spread, including
conducting public awareness campaigns and clean-up operations.
Prevention agencies such as the National Dengue Prevention Unit are
also undertaking outdoor spraying campaigns. What is unfortunate is most
of the breeding areas are man-made and can be eliminated. The public
needs to be more vigilant and be more responsible in taking care of
their gardens as well as inside their homes and offices.
Tyres, discarded canisters and even flowerpots with excess water can
all serve as deadly breeding grounds.
It is very important to clean-up the environment and not wait until
an epidemic breaks out to take action.
We should join hands in destroying Dengue breeding grounds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the incidence of
dengue has grown dramatically. Some 2.5 billion people - two fifths of
the world's population - are now at risk. It estimates that there may be
50 million dengue infections worldwide every year.
Mandela turns 92
Nelson Mandela |
Last Sunday former South African President Nelson Mandela celebrated
his 92nd birthday. The world's focus was on this rainbow nation having
successfully hosted the greatest show on earth FIFA World Cup 2010.
As you know and may have learn in school, Nelson Mandela is a
remarkable figure. Having been convicted of treason and sabotage in June
1964 by the most hated Apartheid regime he was sentenced to life
imprisonment.
Then the world's best-known political prisoner, Mandela was 71 when
he was finally released.
His release brought freedom to South Africa. He was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1993 for his peaceful stuggle and revolution.
Bye for now and don't forget to clean your environment.
- Aunt Anji
Caught in a spell
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Return of - Part 30
By Uncle Sachi
and Aunt Ruwi |
Four children, Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka, go on a
trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the
middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On
following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the spell of the
'luring stones'. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book
of spell to cast off the spell while the others remain behind with Sachi,
a gnome. A storm breaks and the kids are scattered.
Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for
the mythical creatures, comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang
up the rest of her pack and reveals an age old secret.
However the group discovers that it is not only Sulo's secret that is
uncovered by the storm. Something dark and deadly had been hidden in the
depths of the earth waiting to release itself and return for revenge...
 ('Return
of the Kids' is the sequel to 'Kid's Den')
Jay sighed. Humans were normally like this. They get upset and lose
their temper easily.
"I do not have the children but I have seen them. Three of them are
caught in a spell. They are asleep but unharmed. The eldest... There is
something different in him... Dark magic does not effect him..."
Hearing this the little man was almost hysterical with fright and
anger. He almost danced around with worry and excitement.
"You are lying... You have kidnapped our children and are keeping
them hostage. Now you have brought me here to get a ransom," he
shrieked.
Jay was thoughtful. Was there any way to convince the man that he is
telling the truth? It is extremely hard to make a man see the truth and
this one in particular does not seem like he would heed sound advice.
Humans are more suspicious of each other than goblins are of each other!
They belonged to a similar clan though it is easier to reform a human
than a goblin.
An idea struck him. He looked at the children's father and waited for
him to get out of the first stages of his frenzy. As soon as he showed
signs of calming down Jay addressed him in a low tone.
"We need each other to save the kids. For that we have to develop a
trust in each other. What do you say? How am I going to win your trust?"
"You have to give my children back to me. My wife is in such a state.
We wake up in the afternoon and their beds are empty. It is such a
shock.
We were devastated. We called the police but they, the fools, had
only a lot of questions to ask. One thinks the kids are drowned in the
river so they have sent for divers now."
He was almost in tears. Then his features hardened as he turned on
Jay again.
"But you knew where they are. You kept them from us and only chose to
appear now. You hid them from us. Now you come looking for trust and
friendship to deceive me..."
Yet again Jay let the outburst die down. Elves had a lot of patience.
However compared with the past their level of patience had deteriorated.
"I am sorry I could not come to you sooner. Believe me I mean not
harm on you or your family. It is important for us to be friends to save
the children. I will perform any task you wish. Otherwise our world as
well as your is in danger."
The man seemed calmer now. He was absorbing Jay's words. The elf
waited for his next move. Finally the man looked up.
"You say you possess great powers. If that is so nothing will be able
to harm you. I will make a fire. You will have to jump into it," he said
hesitantly.
Jay nodded.
"So be it," he whispered.
To be continued
Calls of Sherwood
Through the green leaves,
Through the giant wines,
‘Robin! ‘Robin’!
Calls the Sherwood.
Listening for the Albion to clash,
Looking for an arrow to dash,
‘Robin’! ‘Robin’!
Calls the Sherwood.
Listening to horse hooves,
Awaiting for the commanding voice,
‘Robin’! ‘Robin’!
Calls the Sherwood.
Seeing the poor people,
Hearing their cries,
‘Robin’! ‘Robin’
Calls the Sherwood.
Above mountains and in the wind,
Awaiting for the return of Hood,
‘Robin’! ‘Robin’!
Calls the Sherwood.
To rob the rich and feed the poor,
To give Nottingham the lost glamour,
‘Robin’! ‘Robin’!
Calls the Sherwood. D W Lilani Anuruddhika 9G, Sanghamiththa
College, Galle
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