EASYPRINT TRANSCRIPT
04/04/06
This week: Defectors, immigrants and visitors; how elections affect peace; and injuries in sport.
Hi I'm Krista Eleftheriou.
Also on the program today... how technology is improving entertainment and good news about our native frogs.
Those items later... but first to our top story this week...
Australia is a great place to live and many people from other countries would like to move here.
But there are rules about who can live here and what they must do to get permission.
Just recently we've seen people arriving by boat and foreign athletes wanting to stay here after the Commonwealth
Games.
Sarah looks at the reasons and the rules.
VISA SYSTEM
By Sarah Martinelli
Duration: 3.14
These athletes recently competed in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. But last week they made headlines for
a different reason.
Lamin Tucker: I would prefer to die than to go back to that country. I would die instead of going back to that
country.
These athletes come from Sierra Leone, in western Africa. It's one of the world’s poorest countries, and recently
was the scene of a violent war between the government and rebel groups.
More than 50 000 people died and millions were left displaced or mutilated. But these athletes say the killings and
torture continue even though the war ended in 2002. That's why these athletes want to defect to Australia,
abandoning their home country. But defections are pretty rare.
If people want to come to Australia to live, they can apply in their own country and wait their turn, or if they have
already arrived illegally, they can then apply for asylum.
Musa Kamara: I want to seek asylum here and I won't want to go back to my country. The people come - the
government comes - and they kill my sister.
An asylum seeker is someone who applies for asylum or protection in a foreign country because they fear they will
be severely punished if they return to their home country.
In some countries having a different religious view, supporting a different political party, or belonging to a different
ethnic group from the government, can put your life in danger.
Mohamed Sesi: They catch me and beat me up and shot me on my leg.
While asylum seekers are waiting for their claims to be checked in Australia, they are often locked up in one of 7
detention centres. A lot of people who now live legally in Australia were once kept in detention centres while their
details were being checked.
Of course not all people who end up in Australia arrive here illegally.
Finda: Hi my name is Finda and I'm from Sierra Leone.
Patrick: Hi my name is Patrick and I'm from Sierra Leone.
Like the athletes from their home country, 18-year-old Finda and her 14-year-old brother Patrick know what it's like
to fear for their lives.
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Finda: I was terrified, I was so scared and I think I am going to die everyday, in my head that is there, I can die
anytime.
So the entire family, 7 kids and their mother, fled Sierra Leone, for neighbouring Guinea. They applied to come to
Australia, but even that was a struggle.
Finda: We struggle to get money to even put the application, get form from Internet, it was really hard, and we
have to sell our clothes, sell wood go to farm and farm so we can come to Australia.
Sarah: So how did you feel when the plane touched down in Sydney?
Finda: Oh it was so wonderful; it was step to the future. I want to stay in Australia for the rest of my life, I can go
visit overseas and stuff but I wanna be an Australian.
True or False? The capital of Sierra Leone is Freetown.
Answer: True
ZOOM
We have an update now on some stories we've been following on BtN ...
Australia will sell billions of dollars worth of uranium to China after it agreed to use it only for peaceful purposes.
The Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed the deal this week.
Now people are wondering whether India will be allowed to buy Australian uranium too.
The Federal Government's new Work Choices industrial system took effect last week.
Unions say the laws make it easier for employers to sack workers without a good reason.
People have been sacked already and the Federal Government says some employers may have acted without
understanding the new laws and what they are allowed to do.
TERROR CHANGES
Federal police say they've stopped a major terrorist operation by arresting three men in Melbourne.
They charged the men with financing and being members of a terrorist organisation.
Also in the last week Victorian man Jack Thomas became the first person to be sentenced under Australia's new
counter-terrorism laws.
Thomas was sentenced to a minimum of two years jail for receiving money from Al-Qaeda.
True or False? The leader of Israel's newly elected government is in a coma.
Answer: True
His name is Ariel Sharon and someone else has taken his place while he is ill.
That's just one of the many reasons why recent elections in that part of the world are so interesting.
They could have a big effect on peace in the region.
Kerry looks at the troubled past of Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
ISRAEL ELECTIONS
By Kerry Staight
Duration: 3.39
There's been a lot of voting going on in the Middle East. Israel has just chosen a new Government. And in January
the Palestinian Territories held an election too. So what's the big deal? Elections are nothing new.
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Well Israel and the Palestinian Territories are neighbours. But they don't always get along. In fact, Palestinians and
Israelis have been fighting on and off for decades. While an international peace plan is in the works, some people
are worried the Government changes this year will ruin this plan.
So what's the fighting all about? Well it's a complicated issue, but the simple answer is land. The two groups say the
same patch of land is theirs. And it's not just any old patch. This region is considered Holy land. It contains many
significant religious sites, so it's important to Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Israelis are mostly Jewish. They believe their ancestors created the Kingdom of Israel around four thousand years
ago. And they believe God gave the land to them. You can read about this in the Bible. That's why it's sometimes
called the Promised Land.
But the Kingdom of Israel didn't last. And many Jews were forced to leave. But they didn't forget about their
homeland. And in the 1900's Jews started coming back, after millions of their people were murdered and treated
badly in Europe.
Problem... the land had new owners - Palestinians and a new name - Palestine. Palestinians are mostly Muslims
(correction), although some are Christians.
Big dilemma. In 1947 the United Nations came up with a solution. They decided to divide Palestine and create a
new State of Israel. That didn't make these guys very happy and war broke out between the two groups. Israel won
and many Palestinians became refugees.
In 1967 Israel captured even more land during the Six Day War, including two bits we hear a lot about - Gaza,
which is a tiny strip of land and the West Bank, which is an area that runs along the West bank of a major river.
The Palestinians were even angrier. There was more fighting and more deaths.
In the early 1990s, both sides were getting tired of the fighting and worked out a peace deal. As part of that deal,
Israel agreed to give the Palestinians some land back - the bits known as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
All fixed... err no. You see many Israelis had settled in these Palestinian areas and weren't in a hurry to leave. The
result is more fighting.
It's a really sensitive issue, working out what to do with people who live in the Israeli settlements. Last year Israel's
Government told its people to leave the Gaza Strip, as part of the peace process and all the settlements were
destroyed. Some Israelis were not happy with this decision. The new Government is now looking at doing the same
to smaller settlements in the West Bank. It says it can then establish permanent borders between the two groups
and separate Israel from the Palestinian Territories. But will this barrier bring peace or more problems?
Are males or females more likely to be hospitalised with sports injuries?
Answer: Males
Nearly seventy-four percent of injuries are to men.
But it's a tricky thing to look at numbers of injuries and say which sports are more dangerous.
For example: a lot more people play football and because many play several times a week you'd expect a lot more
injuries.
But is it fair to say football is more dangerous?
I've been looking at the whole issue of injuries in sport.
SPORTS INJURIES
By Krista Eleftheriou
Duration: 4.50
It's time to get into those winter sports. The Australian Rules, rugby and netball seasons have just begun. Playing
can be fun, but it can also be quite easy to get hurt.
NETBALL COMMENTATOR: And it's a knee and she's in a lot of trouble
A new study has looked at which sports are responsible for the most serious injuries. Guess which game tops the
list for sending the most players to hospital. AFL - Australian Rules Football.
JOSH, AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL PLAYER: Got concussion clashing heads last year and ended up in hospital.
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Josh is not alone. Each year about four thousand Australian Rules players end up in hospital with sporting injuries.
And it's not just Aussie Rules. More than 45 thousand people go to hospital with sporting injuries each year. And
one person out of every three injured is under the age of 15.
So is AFL really the most dangerous sport?
Actually no. The huge number of injuries compared to other sports is largely due to the huge numbers of people
frequently playing Australian Rules.
The sport participants are most likely to be injured in happens to be wheeled motor racing, those involving cars and
bikes. Followed by roller sports, like skateboarding and roller blading. Australian Rules comes in third and then
equestrian.
JOSH, AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALLER: I've been playing Aussie Rules since I was eight and really for the amount
of games I've played there's not a whole heap of injuries..
KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU, REPORTER: How do your parents respond when you get injured?
JOSH, AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALLER: Mum's a bit of worry wort.
Some parents and players do get a bit worried and it has seen the rise of other sports, which have less physical
contact, such as soccer.
KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU, REPORTER: What would be the most popular sport in the school?
DANIEL LEES, SCHOOL SPORTS COORDINATOR: Soccer has definitely taken over from Australian rules football.
But research shows soccer still accounts for a number of injuries.
ANTHONY, SOCCER PLAYER: I've sprained both my ankles at a younger age. My right groin, I've done last year and
my driver.
KATHERINE, SOCCER PLAYER. Most people would probably say Australian Rules Football is more dangerous, but
soccer can be pretty dangerous, mostly because it can be pretty rough sometimes with tackles. Even just not
stretching properly after the game and before the game, you can get your teeth broken, noses, I've seen it happen.
KRISTA ELEFTHERIOU, REPORTER: So why would anyone want to play the sport?
KATHERINE, SOCCER PLAYER. Because it's fun, it's fun to play and it's good to get fit and go out and meet people.
And that's the message Government and health professionals want to get across. Doctor's say the health benefits of
playing sport far outweigh the negatives from risking injury.
And the Federal Government has launched
this new advert to try and get more kids taking up sport. With a couch like this, it would certainly be safer to head
outdoors for some exercise.
And we're doing a survey on your sports injuries. If you'd like to take part, head to our website at www.abc.net.au
SPIN
In other sports news ...
More than a third of the cars in the Australian Grand Prix failed to finish and this is why ...
Michael Schumacher was just one of the drivers who crashed out in spectacular style...
Australia's Mark Webber failed to finish for the second time in a row.
World champion, Fernando Alonso won the race, just ahead of Ralph Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonnen.
The AFL season is underway.
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In the first round the Kangaroos beat Port Power by 41-points
HAWTHORN defeated FREMANTLE by 22 points.
The BOMBERS beat SYDNEY .
Brisbane lost to Geelong
And last year's bottom side CARLTON stunned MELBOURNE.
True or False? MP3 is short for Music Player number 3
ANSWER: False
It's actually short for Motion Picture experts Group audio layer 3 - which is a mouthful.
The Australian Record Industry Association, which compiles popular music charts, is about to launch this country's
first chart of the most popular music downloads.
While most people still buy music from shops the new chart shows that the digital revolution is changing
entertainment.
DIGITAL REVOLUTION
By Kerry Staight
Duration: 3.45
Remember when it was really cool to walk round with a great big cassette player on your shoulder, pumping out
loud music?
STEPHANIE: No
RAECHELLE: Yeah right.
What about this listening device, the Walkman - it was huge in the early eighties.
Oh all right cassettes and their players are a bit past it. They were replaced by CDs when digital technology took
off. But digital technology is becoming so advanced; even CDs aren't as popular as they used to be.
CD sales are on the decline, according to new figures, especially singles. Last year fewer than 7.5 million CD singles
were sold in Australia, compared to more than 9 million the year before. (ARIA)
RAECHELLE: I don't tend to buy CDs anymore cause it's just easier to download.
STEPHANIE: Well I bought this Discman just over a year ago and it was all new and spanky and now it's just really
old cause everybody's got their MP3s and iPods and it's a bit embarrassing to bring it out in public.
These days mobile listening devices like iPods and phones are all the rage. And more and more people are doing
their music shopping on the net, where the doors are open 24/7 and there's a massive selection.
RAECHELLE: It's all about you really. If you don't like all the songs on a CD you can just choose one.
Illegal sites, which share music for free without artists’ permission, still get a lot of traffic. In January last year, more
than 8 million people were using illegal sites around the world at any one time, even though there are penalties.
(Digital Music Report 2005, IFPI)
But legal sites, which have been given permission by record labels and artists to sell their music online, are doing a
lot better than they used to.
Digital technology is also changing how we access other entertainment too.
Less than a century ago the only place to watch a movie or the news was at a cinema. TVs, VCRs and more recently
DVD players brought this entertainment into the lounge room.
RAECHELLE: This is rubbish.
STEPHANIE: I've downloaded a movie onto this. Do you want to go to the beach and watch it?
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Digital technology now allows us to watch what we want, where we want, when we want. Instead of heading off to
the local video store, you can rent a movie online, say Bewitched, by paying a fee and then downloading it onto
your computer or mobile device. Of course just like normal video rentals, you can't keep them forever, so many of
these downloads are playable for just a few days. This protects the copyright owners and prevents people from
recording programs and copying them.
Managing copyright issues is one of the biggest challenges facing the digital entertainment industry. And it doesn't
look like this industry is about to slow down anytime soon, with podcasting the latest craze.
STEPHANIE: You can't get really attached to anything these days, because within five months it's old.
But remember just like fashion, some things come back in. For example, a lot of people now collect records. So
maybe there is a future for the good old cassette player after all.
How many toad species are native to Australia; 311, 27 or none?
None
While we know some native creatures as toads, they are really frogs.
So when cane toads first arrived here there were concerns that our smaller frogs couldn't compete.
A study has shown that Australian native frogs are doing ok but as Sarah has found out other animals have been
affected by the spread of the toad.
NATIVE FROGS and CANE TOADS
By Sarah Martinelli
Duration: 2.49
Cane toads are on the move.
Ever since they arrived in Queensland from Hawaii more than 70 years ago, cane toads have been hopping their
way across Australia.
While they haven't been responsible for the extinction of any species, they are to blame for loads of dead quolls,
birds and lizards, which die after eating the poisonous toads. In some cases, local populations have been almost
wiped out.
But it was the native frog population that had scientists really worried. Already under pressure from habitat
destruction and disease, it was feared cane toads would be the death of native frogs.
PROFESSOR HAMISH McCALLUM, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND: Frogs, of course, are in exactly the same
environment as the cane toads. Frogs can be eaten by cane toads. They can eat cane toads and be poisoned and
they can compete with cane toads for food. So if you wanted a group of animals that you were worried might be
affected by cane toads, then frogs would be it.
But surprisingly, research has shown that frogs aren't losing the battle against the poisonous cane toads.
To monitor just what was happening to the Northern Territory's native frog population, eight years ago scientists
put these listening polls in place at Roper River and Kakadu National Park. The polls record the frog's distinctive
sounds.
PROFESSOR HAMISH McCALLUM: There's some software that records the frogs, identifies 23 different species, logs
it all to computer flash card every 10 minutes and does that for a whole year. So we can go along after the wet
season, download the full set of data and then work off that.
Hamish McCallum has been studying the frog calls recorded at Rope River.
PROFESSOR HAMISH McCALLUM: Now, it seems we haven't really got much evidence that the number of frog
species calling has been going down following the arrival of cane toads.
While that's good news the search continues for a biological control to reduce cane toad numbers. Scientists think
they might be able to stop them breeding by using a gene critical to their development. But, it's likely to take years
before any control is available, so Frogwatch is continuing to trap and kill cane toads.
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GRAEME SAWYER: In part it's trying to hold back the flood. (EDIT) I mean, the issue has got to be surely to
minimise the damage these things are doing in our ecosystems and to minimise that damage you have to minimise
their numbers. So the research should be clearly focused on getting rid of cane toads.
In the meantime, scientists are waiting and listening, hoping new data from Kakadu will confirm that native frogs
can leapfrog the threat of the cane toad.
(Cane Toads originally came from South America, but were sent to the Pacific Islands and then to Australia.)
Hopefully they can!
That's it for now I'll be back after school with Short Takes, and here Friday morning at 10:15 for our special on Your
Body.
Check out our website for stories, scripts, activities and puzzles.
We'll leave you with some memories of popular Australian Artist Pro Hart who died last week.
By for now.
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