Airport Chaos

Read the text

London’s Heathrow Airport is at the centre of criticism for its virtual shutdown during recent heavy snow in England. Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports, yet it failed to deal with snowfall of 9 centimetres, even 3 days after the snow fell. Airport authorities cancelled more than 3,200 flights, leaving thousands of frustrated passengers stranded in the terminal buildings.

The situation is made worse as the Christmas holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for air travel. What has been frustrating travelers most is the lack of flight information and basics like food and water. Passengers who have spent days sleeping on the airport floor are perplexed as to why only one third of flights are leaving, mainly long haul, when there has been no snow for three days.

Colin Matthews, chief executive of British Airports Authority, is facing a storm of criticism over this problem. Mr Matthews could not give any real answers to journalists’ questions about the mess. He said in an interview with BBC radio: "I am really sorry...We are going to crawl over every aspect of these last few days when we've got every passenger in the right place.” Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has added his worries that the airport should not come to a standstill because of snow. He said: “I'm frustrated on behalf of all those affected that it's taking so long for the situation to improve.” Mr Cameron offered the help of Britain’s Army to help clear the snow from the runways, but the airport declined, saying they already have 200 volunteers.

What would you do if you were in the same circumstances?

Do the travel companies behave properly with travelers?

Audio from http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

My best journey was arrived in U.K.

Listen to this audio

What can you say about Migdelia experience?

Audio from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

Around the world

Coca-Cola sent three young people on an unprecedented journey known as Expedition 206. The mission: Visit 206 countries and territories where Coca-Cola is sold - or as many as possible in one year - to seek out and document what makes people around the world happy.

Tony Martin, Kelly Ferris and Antonio Santiago started their expedition in Madrid, Spain, on Jan. 1, 2010. The year-long adventure concluded at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 29.

The traveling team visited 186 countries and traveled more than 275,000 miles by air, sea and land throughout the expedition. For comparison's sake, the earth's circumference is about 25,000 miles.

Along the journey, the team visited several major events, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Canada, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China.

From Aruba to Zimbabwe and nearly everywhere in between, the team members brought the world along for the ride, too, sharing constant updates via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other online networks.

Through their daily interactions with people from all walks of life, the team members learned that family, friends, food, sports and music were, far and away, the most commonly cited sources of happiness for people from all corners of the world.

Comment on this experience

Youth and environment

Hazel from Greenvoice.com finds out how important the environment is for young people in London. It highlights the congestion in central London and the environmental impact that flights and 4x4s are having on the capital.

How important is for you?

Plastic shopping bag

Read this text about biodegradable bags.

Kenya has introduced a new system to make shopping more eco-friendly. The Environment Ministry has launched a campaign to encourage the use of biodegradable shopping bags across Kenya. The East African Standard reported that the Environment and Natural Resources minister launched the new bags, which are designed to reduce litter and prevent pollution. A spokesperson said: “This will make our landscape less of an eyesore.”

It was difficult to introduce the new bags in Kenya. Manufacturers complained that changing from the traditional plastic bags would cost 20,000 jobs. Environmentalists argued that reducing litter and pollution was far more important. The new biodegradable bags will also help reduce Kenya’s high rates of malaria. The new “green” bags decompose and thus prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes. A nationwide ban on plastic bags is next on the agenda in Kenya.

Comment on the previous text.

What do you think of the new system in Kenya?

Does your country need to clean up its environment?

Are there any parts of your town that are an eyesore?

Do you think you should take your own shopping bag when you go to the supermarket?

In what other ways do you use your plastic bags?

Do you agree with a nationwide ban on plastic shopping bags?

Adapted from

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/