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Filipino Sailors Face Pirates and Financial Crisis
CHAN:
Despite the dangerous increase of piracy on the high seas, Filipino sailors, who make up 40 percent of the world's shipping crews, are more fearful of the global financial crisis than getting hijacked.
STORY:
The Philippines provides up to 40 percent of the world with sailors. And Filipinos make up 127 of the 243 sailors still held captive by Somali pirates.
The increasingly brazen attacks by pirates off Africa's east coast were well known among the seamen, but they were still eager to get back to sea.
Up to 1,000 seafarers gather every day at a park in downtown Manila to look for available jobs offered by some 100 shipping and manning agencies.
Advertised salaries range from $1,300 to $12,600 U.S. dollars per month for varying crew positions, a far cry from Manila's minimum wage of USD $7.64 a day.
Many were anxious to nail down jobs since they fear the mounting global financial crisis will begin to bite next year.
[Mario Isagani Aniora, Seaman]:
"We're more scared of the global financial crisis - because that's what will hurt us if the opportunities for seafarers disappear -- compared to passing through Somalia. We're not scared of that.”
Most belittle the threat of hijacking.
[Richard Mendez, Seaman]:
"It's just a matter of timing. Sometimes it's your turn to face danger. And maybe the vessels lack security. Anyway the manning agencies know where there are hijackings, so why do they still send sailors there?"
Manning agencies say there could be as many as 20,000 jobs lost next year due to the global economic slowdown.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 22, 2008
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Culinary Competition Champions of Chinese Cuisine
STORY:
During the final round, you could have cut the tension with a knife; the chefs were concentrating on preparing their dishes, but also anxiously awaiting results from the judges' table.
During the ten-course banquet and awards ceremony that ended the competition, winners were announced in five categories of traditional Chinese cuisine.
In Shandong Cuisine, the Bronze Award was given to Suen Wai Tung of Hong Kong, the Silver went to Wan Chia-Chu of Taiwan, and the Gold Award Winner was Chen Yongming from Flushing, New York.
In Cantonese Cuisine, the Bronze Award Winners were Chang Yung-Cheng and Hsu Chih-Huang from Taiwan, and the Silver Award Winner was Liu Shixian from Oakland, California. Due to the high standards of judgment, no Gold Award was given for this, or the other remaining three categories.
For Huaiyang Cuisine, the Bronze Award Winner was Chin Meng-Hsiung from Taiwan, and the Silver Award Winner was Zhang Ming from Queens, New York.
For the Cuisine of Northeastern China, the Bronze Award went to Chen Weiliang of Flushing, New York, and the Silver to Alex Zhong of Pennsylvania.
And finally in Sichuan Cuisine, the Silver Award went to Chang Ming-Yen of Taiwan. No Bronze or Gold Awards were given for Sichuan Cuisine.
According to judges, every aspect of traditional culture has its specific requirements - and in this competition chefs were judged by Taste, Texture, Appearance, and Nutrition and Sanitation. In each area, chefs strove to display the brilliant recipes that have been simmering and sizzling on stoves throughout China's 5,000 years of recorded history.
Now as we lay down our bowls and chopsticks and look to the future, NTD's next competitions promise to deliver even more of the essence and flavor of traditional Chinese culture.
This is Ryan Mitchell for NTD, New York.
CHAN:
Don't miss NTD's coverage of the rest of our competition series, which will continue with the Chinese International Figure Painting Competition.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 22, 2008
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Canned Food Makes a Difference
ZHANG:
What would happen if you locked a bunch of architects in a room with stacks of canned food? You'd have some very nourishing structures. Our own Sarah Matheson got a glimpse of what's possible with canned food construction--and the cause it represents--at New York's Canstruction 2008.
STORY:
Manhattan's World Financial Center is currently home to many canned food creations, all as part of the event known as Canstruction.
[Cheri Melillo, Canstruction 2008 Organizer]:
"Well Canstruction is a competition where architects and engineers, and students they mentor, compete to design and build structures, that are made entirely from full cans of food."
Once the event is over, all of the food is donated to City Harvest charity, which endeavors to help those less fortunate.
[Cheri Melillo, Canstruction 2008 Organizer]:
"The structures are kind of like beacons of hope."
[Joseph Zappulla, Canstruction Architect]:
"It'll bring awareness to the issue of hunger throughout the world, and more and more people will be willing to donate or just do what they can to help feed the hungry, or just to help the unfortunate."
Some of the structures are unlikely, and others were indeed graceful sights to behold.
[Courtney Webb, Canstruction Architect]:
"We decided to build a swan because it hadn't been done before, and it's a beautiful form found in nature, it's simple, it's elegant, so that's what we set out to do."
There were many entrants this year, and the judges cast their vote in favor of a sea faring structure.
[Alberto Quinones, Canstruction Architect]:
"Our project this year is a sailboat, it is made out of three thousand cans, all tuna fish, because the cause is to donate all of the food to City Harvest, which is a great charity to donate for, and they've asked for us to donate a lot of protein."
With Canstruction in it's sixteenth year, and the popularity of this event spreading around the world, organizers hope the less fortunate will continue to receive the benefits.
Sarah Matheson, NTD, New York.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Bomb Blast Kills 10 at Shi ite Funeral
ZHANG:
A bomb attack has killed at least 10 people and wounded at least 30 others at the funeral for a Shi'ite Muslim on Friday in the northwest Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan.
Witnesses gave conflicting accounts on whether the blast was caused by a suicide bomber or a device planted along the funeral procession route.
The funeral was for a man killed on Thursday. A Shi'ite cleric was also killed on Friday morning before the funeral.
The incident triggered an outbreak of shooting around the hospital where the dead and wounded were brought. Police reportedly fired tear gas to restore order at the scene.
Violence between Sunni Muslims and Shi'ites has been ongoing in the region since the 1980s.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Bring Back the Pied Piper
ZHANG:
There's a rat plague in the Town of Hamelin in Germany, the birth place of the legendary Pied Piper. Exterminators are able to control rat populations, but some people see no problem in having a few of them still running around.
STORY:
Hamelin town officials are alarmed at a surge in the rat population much like the great plague in 1284. The legend "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is based on the rat plague of that time.
In the tale made famous by the Grimm Brothers and Robert Browning, a man claims extraordinary rat catching skills and promises to solve the town's rat problem by playing his magic pipe. He lures the rats into the river where they drown.
But after he removed the rats, the villagers refused to pay him so he extracts revenge by using the same pipe to abduct the village children.
And back in 2008, not all of the town's residents see the rat-infestation as a problem, even the official rat catcher.
[Guenter Loeschner, Hamelin's Rat Catcher]:
"I think it is quite a nice thing because this is the rat town, and then to be able to be the real rat catcher, well, this is something really great. But another reason why I do it is because I think that it is a useful job, and being able to help people really makes it worthwhile."
[Thomas Wahmes, Hamelin Town Spokesman]:
"I wouldn't really talk about a problem. Of course there are rats in Hamelin, but there are also rats in every other town. In some areas we have a rat infestation and we are working to eradicate it."
Wahmes says that everything will be done to solve the problem fast and that it will all cleared up by next year, when the city celebrates the 725th anniversary of the well-known tale.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Walking House Takes Off
ZHANG:
What if you could move your house just by pulling a lever and telling it to get up and walk down the street? Well if that sounds far-fetched, take a look at this.
STORY:
Build a house on solid foundations. That's been a popular view for centuries. But in uncertain times, a house that can move, be it a bit tentatively, might hold some sway.
This walking house was created by Danish art collective N55 and commissioned by the UK's Wysing Arts center. The Cambridgeshire-based center has been exploring ideas of neighbourliness and different ways of living. This structure was built by volunteers from donated 'waste' materials after a call went out to the local community.
Donna Lynas, the center's director, says the Walking House project explored notions of nomadic lifestyles.
[Donna Lynas, Director of Wysing Arts Center]:
''Artists are actually the people who reflect society back on the rest of us and I think really all we're trying to do with this project is to say there is another way of thinking and what about some of these ideas.''
To be free to roam is one of those ideas and that called for elements of sustainability and self-sufficiency in the design.
Wind and solar power supply energy while a composting toilet and a rain water filtration system support green living.
Modules can be added to accommodate growing families and communities, while hydraulic legs enable slow, peaceful movement.
N55 teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to solve that particular technical challenge.
[Donna Lynas, Director of Wysing Arts Center]:
"It is interesting how artists really once they have an idea like this they have to almost become engineers to make it happen, you know to really genuinely deliver a project. This for an artist is not straight forward.''
But N55 don't appear to shy away from difficulties. Lynas says the collective are now designing a rocket to go into space. Now that really would take the idea of 'free to roam' living to its nth degree.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Rihanna and Ne-Yo Team Up for UNICEF
ZHANG:
Singer Rihanna and rapper Ne-Yo join forces with Gucci to benefit the United Nations childrens humanitarian organization UNICEF. The occasion? Lighting the UNICEF snowflake in New York City.
STORY:
Stars Rihanna and Ne-Yo joined forces in New York City on Wednesday, November 19 at the lighting of the famed UNICEF snowflake chandelier. The event was co-sponsored by Gucci and held at its flagship 5th Avenue store.
The stars stressed the need for continuing public donations for children in third world countries.
[Ne-Yo, R & B, Soul Music Star]:
"Well, the economy is definitely the economy, but I don't think that's an excuse to overlook our children, I don't think it's an excuse to abandon what it is that they need."
As the global representative for the Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF, Grammy-winner Rihanna was happy to assist the UN organization in providing aid to impoverished children all around the globe.
[Rihanna, Singer, Model, Fashion Designer]:
"I think it's important that we send that money to children who are less fortunate, who need it, who need it to eat, who need to get to school."
The UNICEF snowflake is 23 feet in diameter, over 28 feet high, and weighs in at over 3,000 pounds. Adorned with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms it will shine over 5th avenue through this year's holiday season.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Amnesty Int l Accuses Russia Georgia of Abuses
ZHANG:
Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses blamed on both sides in the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia. They accuse all parties involved of failing to take the necessary measures to protect their civilians during the conflict.
STORY:
Violence continues on the de facto border between South Ossetia and Georgia. Analysts say tensions could increase again after a five day conflict that saw Russia launching a massive counter-attack against Georgia. Both Georgia and separatist South Ossetia blame each other for stoking the conflict.
Now human rights group Amnesty International says human right abuses took place on both sides. And the NGO is calling for the matter to be investigated.
[John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International Spokesman]:
"Amnesty is concerned that present needs shouldn't obscure responsibilities for past deeds and in that context Amnesty International is calling for a thorough independent and impartial investigation into allegations of serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law both by the Georgian and Russian authorities themselves but also by the international community."
Thousands of people have been displaced from the fighting. Amnesty estimates that around 24,000 ethnic Georgians are still not able to return to their homes.
Klara Durglishvili's family is one the thousands who is still waiting. They have set up camp in a school in the outskirts of Tiblisi. Her home was destroyed by the war but she wants to return to her village.
[Klara Durglishvili, Former Resident of Evedi Village]:
"People were killed the during bombing - at least twenty from the village. We still hope to return, but who knows, it may take years."
President Mikheil Saakashvili's government is now faced with building thousands of new homes to provide shelter against the harsh winter.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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Market Report - Asia Stocks Hit 5-year Low
ZHANG:
Asian stocks hit a 5-year low after Wall Street plunged on Thursday. Frantic flight from risk--prompted by investors' deepening fears about the economy--drove the benchmark S&P 500 index to its lowest level since 1997.
Cautious Asian investors are now seeking refuge in government bonds and cash.
Japan's Nikkei average fell more than 3 percent in early trade this morning, striking a three-week low. The yen dipped against the dollar.
Seoul shares opened 2 percent lower today, as U.S. markets affected sentiment in South Korea.
Taiwan stocks fell 2.4 percent after the economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter. This dragged down top contract laptop PC makers Quanta and Compal--even after Dell reported strong results.
And Chinese stocks fell sharply in early trade on Friday as well. Hong Kong opened 3.9 percent lower, with financials, properties and commodities, taking another hammering.
And finally in Australia, shares ended flat today. After earlier hitting a five-year low investors stepped in to buy cheaper stocks following this week's heavy losses.
Author: NTDTV
Keywords: ntd ntdtv news
Added: November 21, 2008
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