自2006年來每一個BTU的生質能源其價格上漲的幅度大於每一單位的石油。
這是因為石油的上漲使得替代能源更容易被人們所接受，再加上在環保意識逐漸高張的今日，生質能源的使用可以減少地球的暖化，這使得生質能源的需求不斷的上升因此推升了他的價格。
生質能源是穀物所作成的，其中主要是小麥和玉米，於是小麥和玉米的種植面積增加了，於是這相對排擠了其他作物的種植面積，如黃豆、玉米、柳橙….等；所以當牛、羊、雞所需的飼料需求不變但供給減少，這造成了去年美國柳橙汁的價格上漲了1/3、雞蛋價格上漲了1/5、牛奶價格上漲了5%，而食物價格上漲的速度在今年更是驚人。
全球穀物的生產在2006年達1569萬噸，預計今年可達1660萬噸，但今年的需求預估達1680萬噸，需求大於供給；根據EIU的預測在2009年這樣的狀況都會持續著。
於是有趣的連結就產生，如上個禮拜的奈及利亞罷工事件推升了石油的價格，同樣的它亦推升了雞蛋的價格。
我們活在一個充滿蝴蝶效應的世界。
Reference：http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9378875
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
老師的十二樣見面禮 & International Baccalaureate
最近剛結束了一個自以為很簡單的考試〈事實上還是要花一點時間和下一點功夫的〉，之後，開始讀了一本我大學時代所欣賞的作者所出的新書”老師的12樣見面禮”。
天下父母心，如果有能力我也願效法孟母三遷；
這一本簡的新書描述的是他們一家在美國科羅拉多州的Fort Collins生活半年的所見所聞，其中我覺得最令人欣羨的是其子在Dunn IB World School所接受到的教育。
IB World Schools，是經過International Baccalaureate所認證的學校，上網查了一下IB的資料後深深的認同其教育理念，可惜台灣只有美國學校和歐洲學校取得他16-19歲diploma programme的教學認證，如果台灣有IB的小學和幼稚園〈IB的其中一項學程--Primary Years Programme--是針對3-12歲的學生〉，我會很樂意送我的小孩去那裡接受教育的。 還有我覺得如果台灣的教改如果能有90%像IB, 我會對台灣的教育與未來更加的寬心，但現在的我只好儲備自己的能量以便有一朝能帶全家逃離這個小島。
關於老師的十二樣見面禮這一本書，我尚未看完，但我把Dunn IB World School的特殊歸因於他是一所IB World School，所以想要了解3-12歲的小朋友在IB World School所可能接受到的教育與改變可以參閱簡的這一本新書，其中的幾篇可以感受到IB的獨特性，如：一所小學、老師的十二樣見面禮、頒獎、期中成績單、小學裡的選修課、請假授課備忘單、研討會練習、織一張閱讀網….等；藉由簡的眼和其生花妙筆，我見識到了教育的美好與未來。
接下來是從IBO網站所剪貼下來的關於International Baccalaureate的相關資料。
1. What is International Baccalaureate〈IB〉？
The International Baccalaureate was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation. Its original purpose was to facilitate the international mobility of students preparing for university by providing schools with a curriculum and diploma recognized by universities around the world. Since then its mission has expanded, and it now seeks to make an IB education available to students of all ages.
2. Why the IB World Schools and their students are so unique？
The IB offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning.
To encourage international-mindedness in IB students, we believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. All IB students learn a second language and the skills to live and work with others internationally—essential for life in the 21st century.
We encourage a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, and to learn how to learn. We encourage community service because we believe that there is more to learning than academic studies alone.
3. How the IB World Schools be assessed, organized, and managed？
IB World Schools cooperate in curriculum development, student assessment and the governance of the IB, making this a unique international collaboration.
The IB does not own or manage any schools. Instead, we work with schools around the world (both state and privately funded) that share our commitment to international education.
Schools that have been authorized by us to offer one or more of our programs are known as "IB World Schools".
These schools:
Shared the mission and commitment of the IB to quality international education.
Played an active and supporting role in the worldwide community of IB schools.
Shared their knowledge and experience in the development of the IB programs.
They are committed to the professional development of teachers.
Authorization to become an IB World School is an intensive process that typically takes two or more years and includes site visits by an IB team.
Schools that have been authorized undertake a regular process of evaluation.
At our heart we are motivated by a mission to create a better world through education.
4. The mission statement of IB.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
5. What Jeff Beard, IB director general, said？
You may ask why demand for IB programmes continues to be so strong? In my opinion, it’s because the IB is better positioned to respond to today’s educational challenges. As people increasingly realize what it takes to compete in today’s interconnected world, the IB is increasingly viewed as offering one of the best educational systems to prepare young people for the future. IB programmes are international, develop critical thinking skills, require a second language, and emphasize cultural understanding in our principle that other people can be right as well. IB students undergo a unique experience which better positions them to tackle today’s global issues in a more creative way than has been done in the past. Our programmes are shaped around creating “a better and more peaceful world” with a core determination to develop students who can create this better world through intercultural understanding and respect.
In essence, IB programmes are “fit for purpose” for the 21st century!”
6. For more information.At glance the facts of IB at http://www.ibo.org/facts/fastfacts/index.cfm
天下父母心，如果有能力我也願效法孟母三遷；
這一本簡的新書描述的是他們一家在美國科羅拉多州的Fort Collins生活半年的所見所聞，其中我覺得最令人欣羨的是其子在Dunn IB World School所接受到的教育。
IB World Schools，是經過International Baccalaureate所認證的學校，上網查了一下IB的資料後深深的認同其教育理念，可惜台灣只有美國學校和歐洲學校取得他16-19歲diploma programme的教學認證，如果台灣有IB的小學和幼稚園〈IB的其中一項學程--Primary Years Programme--是針對3-12歲的學生〉，我會很樂意送我的小孩去那裡接受教育的。 還有我覺得如果台灣的教改如果能有90%像IB, 我會對台灣的教育與未來更加的寬心，但現在的我只好儲備自己的能量以便有一朝能帶全家逃離這個小島。
關於老師的十二樣見面禮這一本書，我尚未看完，但我把Dunn IB World School的特殊歸因於他是一所IB World School，所以想要了解3-12歲的小朋友在IB World School所可能接受到的教育與改變可以參閱簡的這一本新書，其中的幾篇可以感受到IB的獨特性，如：一所小學、老師的十二樣見面禮、頒獎、期中成績單、小學裡的選修課、請假授課備忘單、研討會練習、織一張閱讀網….等；藉由簡的眼和其生花妙筆，我見識到了教育的美好與未來。
接下來是從IBO網站所剪貼下來的關於International Baccalaureate的相關資料。
1. What is International Baccalaureate〈IB〉？
The International Baccalaureate was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation. Its original purpose was to facilitate the international mobility of students preparing for university by providing schools with a curriculum and diploma recognized by universities around the world. Since then its mission has expanded, and it now seeks to make an IB education available to students of all ages.
2. Why the IB World Schools and their students are so unique？
The IB offers a continuum of high-quality education that encourages international-mindedness and a positive attitude to learning.
To encourage international-mindedness in IB students, we believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. All IB students learn a second language and the skills to live and work with others internationally—essential for life in the 21st century.
We encourage a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, and to learn how to learn. We encourage community service because we believe that there is more to learning than academic studies alone.
3. How the IB World Schools be assessed, organized, and managed？
IB World Schools cooperate in curriculum development, student assessment and the governance of the IB, making this a unique international collaboration.
The IB does not own or manage any schools. Instead, we work with schools around the world (both state and privately funded) that share our commitment to international education.
Schools that have been authorized by us to offer one or more of our programs are known as "IB World Schools".
These schools:
Shared the mission and commitment of the IB to quality international education.
Played an active and supporting role in the worldwide community of IB schools.
Shared their knowledge and experience in the development of the IB programs.
They are committed to the professional development of teachers.
Authorization to become an IB World School is an intensive process that typically takes two or more years and includes site visits by an IB team.
Schools that have been authorized undertake a regular process of evaluation.
At our heart we are motivated by a mission to create a better world through education.
4. The mission statement of IB.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
5. What Jeff Beard, IB director general, said？
You may ask why demand for IB programmes continues to be so strong? In my opinion, it’s because the IB is better positioned to respond to today’s educational challenges. As people increasingly realize what it takes to compete in today’s interconnected world, the IB is increasingly viewed as offering one of the best educational systems to prepare young people for the future. IB programmes are international, develop critical thinking skills, require a second language, and emphasize cultural understanding in our principle that other people can be right as well. IB students undergo a unique experience which better positions them to tackle today’s global issues in a more creative way than has been done in the past. Our programmes are shaped around creating “a better and more peaceful world” with a core determination to develop students who can create this better world through intercultural understanding and respect.
In essence, IB programmes are “fit for purpose” for the 21st century!”
6. For more information.At glance the facts of IB at http://www.ibo.org/facts/fastfacts/index.cfm
Something you don’t know about the tide
There’s another alternative fuel that we never see it seriously- the tidal wave.
I get to know about it from the GARP News of yesterday. It said the seawater is 832 times as dense as air, providing a six mile-per-hour ocean current with more kinetic energy than a 217 mile per hour wind.
Unlike hydropower, tidal energy doesn’t require the permanent impediment of water flow and the subsequent harm to aquatic life.
But tidal power plants can impede sea life migration and can affect local ecosystems. To work it environmentally, carefully select sites for the plants that preserve the shorelines.
Hope to see the workable future and the reasonable price for the electricity from tidal wave.
reference：www.garp.com/resources/newsfeed.asp?Category=6&MyFile=2007-06-25-14934.html
I get to know about it from the GARP News of yesterday. It said the seawater is 832 times as dense as air, providing a six mile-per-hour ocean current with more kinetic energy than a 217 mile per hour wind.
Unlike hydropower, tidal energy doesn’t require the permanent impediment of water flow and the subsequent harm to aquatic life.
But tidal power plants can impede sea life migration and can affect local ecosystems. To work it environmentally, carefully select sites for the plants that preserve the shorelines.
Hope to see the workable future and the reasonable price for the electricity from tidal wave.
reference：www.garp.com/resources/newsfeed.asp?Category=6&MyFile=2007-06-25-14934.html
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Talking about Peace Index
What you can’s measure, you can’t understand. So The EIU complied the first “Global Peace Index”
In accordance with the Taiwan’s Business Weekly, Most of the happiness nations came to the top of index. Those northern Europe countries were not surprised me but the America. America listed 96th, ironically, just above Iran. Maybe the index was comprised of relations with neighbors, arms dales, foreign troop deployments, crime rates, prison population, etc., and America came with huge military expense annually. So the index might have your comprehension to understand it.
If the peace is like a mantra always in your mind, the article is worth your reading.
I just try to keep the introduction simple and concise, and wish you would like what I recommended.
You may hyperlink the column to http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9266967.
In accordance with the Taiwan’s Business Weekly, Most of the happiness nations came to the top of index. Those northern Europe countries were not surprised me but the America. America listed 96th, ironically, just above Iran. Maybe the index was comprised of relations with neighbors, arms dales, foreign troop deployments, crime rates, prison population, etc., and America came with huge military expense annually. So the index might have your comprehension to understand it.
If the peace is like a mantra always in your mind, the article is worth your reading.
I just try to keep the introduction simple and concise, and wish you would like what I recommended.
You may hyperlink the column to http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9266967.
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