CNN Student News - Oct 10, 2011

It's Columbus Day, and CNN Student News commemorates the occasion by exploring the history of this holiday. We also consider how the U.S. economy might impact next year's presidential election. We offer some students' thoughts on how to stop bullying. And we meet a runner whose personal goal is more than 200,000 miles away.

Transcription downloadable here.

My life in the UK

Have you ever studied abroad? How different is it from studying in your home country?

Would you choose to live with a host family or your fellow students in a dormitory if you studied overseas? Why?

Some people may experience culture shock when they first study or live in a foreign country. Are there any ways to overcome or cope with these negative feelings?

A fellow student from Hong Kong tells us her experience studying in the UK.

Hear the podcast by clicking here!

I wanna talk about my life in UK. I went to study in the UK a few years ago. The most exciting experience is that I went to a host family for my Christmas holiday in December. I went there alone…on a train, it took me one or two hours to get there, to York and then I stayed there for one week. This was the first time that I spent time with a UK family which I learnt a lot from them. They treat me like a family member, they took me out to eat, to play and to see all the different interesting culture of their region. On Christmas Day, they even bought me some presents to celebrate the Christmas.

When I went back to Oxford, which was the place that I stayed for that year, I had a chance to teach in a Chinese school every Sunday. The kids are about 14 years old and I taught them Chinese. They were all very cute but they all speak (spoke) in English. I spent lots of time to encourage them to speak in Cantonese.

During my study (studies) in the UK, I lived with few other students from different countries. They are very nice and we use to cook on our own just like a big family. Every day we will go to…every day we went to supermarkets to buy food and drinks and desserts. We cooked every day…I was not a good cook, normally I just put everything into oven. And I’ve tried to bake a cake before but failed and they all laughed at me. And every time when I bake a cake, they never taste it. We share a flat together - we share kitchen, bathrooms but we do have our own sink and bedroom. The life in the UK is quite relaxing besides study because you can explore more and do different activities at school or even some other extracurricular activities.

After I come back (to) Hong Kong, I still keep in touch with all my friends in the UK, from different countries like Italy, Malaysia, Japan, UK and other countries. Sometimes we even send email(s) to each other, sometimes they may come to Hong Kong to visit and we will meet each other again.

I really enjoy the time in the UK, I hope you will also have the chance to explore more in other different countries in the future.

Daughter of ‘Dirty War,’ Raised by Man Who Killed Her Parents

Victoria Montenegro was abducted as a newborn by a military colonel. She testified last spring in the trial over baby thefts. This is a report taken from The New York Times on October 8, 2011 by Alexei Barrionuevo. The article makes reference to the Oscar-winning Argentine film "The Official Story," which we post after the article with subtitles in English (as released in the USA in 2004)

BUENOS AIRES - Victoria Montenegro recalls a childhood filled with chilling dinnertime discussions. Lt. Col. Hernán Tetzlaff, the head of the family, would recount military operations he had taken part in where “subversives” had been tortured or killed. The discussions often ended with his “slamming his gun on the table,” she said.

It took an incessant search by a human rights group, a DNA match and almost a decade of overcoming denial for Ms. Montenegro, 35, to realize that Colonel Tetzlaff was, in fact, not her father — nor the hero he portrayed himself to be.

Instead, he was the man responsible for murdering her real parents and illegally taking her as his own child, she said.

He confessed to her what he had done in 2000, Ms. Montenegro said. But it was not until she testified at a trial here last spring that she finally came to grips with her past, shedding once and for all the name that Colonel Tetzlaff and his wife had given her — María Sol — after falsifying her birth records.

The trial, in the final phase of hearing testimony, could prove for the first time that the nation’s top military leaders engaged in a systematic plan to steal babies from perceived enemies of the government.

Jorge Rafael Videla, who led the military during Argentina’s dictatorship, stands accused of leading the effort to take babies from mothers in clandestine detention centers and give them to military or security officials, or even to third parties, on the condition that the new parents hide the true identities. Mr. Videla is one of 11 officials on trial for 35 acts of illegal appropriation of minors.

The trial is also revealing the complicity of civilians, including judges and officials of the Roman Catholic Church.

The abduction of an estimated 500 babies was one of the most traumatic chapters of the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. The frantic effort by mothers and grandmothers to locate their missing children has never let up. It was the one issue that civilian presidents elected after 1983 did not excuse the military for, even as amnesty was granted for other “dirty war” crimes.

“Even the many Argentines who considered the amnesty a necessary evil were unwilling to forgive the military for this,” said José Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch.

In Latin America, the baby thefts were largely unique to Argentina’s dictatorship, Mr. Vivanco said. There was no such effort in neighboring Chile’s 17-year dictatorship.

One notable difference was the role of the Catholic Church. In Argentina the church largely supported the military government, while in Chile it confronted the government of Gen. Augusto Pinochet and sought to expose its human rights crimes, Mr. Vivanco said.

Priests and bishops in Argentina justified their support of the government on national security concerns, and defended the taking of children as a way to ensure they were not “contaminated” by leftist enemies of the military, said Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, a Nobel Prize-winning human rights advocate who has investigated dozens of disappearances and testified at the trial last month.

Ms. Montenegro contended: “They thought they were doing something Christian to baptize us and give us the chance to be better people than our parents. They thought and felt they were saving our lives.”

Church officials in Argentina and at the Vatican declined to answer questions about their knowledge of or involvement in the covert adoptions.

For many years, the search for the missing children was largely futile. But that has changed in the past decade thanks to more government support, advanced forensic technology and a growing genetic data bank from years of testing. The latest adoptee to recover her real identity, Laura Reinhold Siver, brought the total number of recoveries to 105 in August.

Still, the process of accepting the truth can be long and tortuous. For years, Ms. Montenegro rejected efforts by officials and advocates to discover her true identity. From a young age, she received a “strong ideological education” from Colonel Tetzlaff, an army officer at a secret detention center.

If she picked up a flier from leftists on the street, “he would sit me down for hours to tell me what the subversives had done to Argentina,” she said.

He took her along to a detention center where he spent hours discussing military operations with his fellow officers, “how they had killed people, tortured them,” she said.

“I grew up thinking that in Argentina there had been a war, and that our soldiers had gone to war to guarantee the democracy,” she said. “And that there were no disappeared people, that it was all a lie.”

She said he did not allow her to see movies about the “dirty war,” including “The Official Story,” the 1985 film about an upper-middle-class couple raising a girl taken from a family that was disappeared.

In 1992, when she was 15, Colonel Tetzlaff was detained briefly on suspicion of baby stealing. Five years later, a court informed Ms. Montenegro that she was not the biological child of Colonel Tetzlaff and his wife, she said.

“I was still convinced it was all a lie,” she said.

By 2000, Ms. Montenegro still believed her mission was to keep Colonel Tetzlaff out of prison. But she relented and gave a DNA sample. A judge then delivered jarring news: the test confirmed that she was the biological child of Hilda and Roque Montenegro, who had been active in the resistance. She learned that she and the Montenegros had been kidnapped when she was 13 days old.

At a restaurant over dinner, Colonel Tetzlaff confessed to Ms. Montenegro and her husband: He had headed the operation in which the Montenegros were tortured and killed, and had taken her in May 1976, when she was 4 months old.

“I can’t bear to say any more,” she said, choking up at the memory of the dinner.

A court convicted Colonel Tetzlaff in 2001 of illegally appropriating Ms. Montenegro. He went to prison, and Ms. Montenegro, still believing his actions during the dictatorship had been justified, visited him weekly until his death in 2003.

Slowly, she got to know her biological parents’ family.

“This was a process; it wasn’t one moment or one day when you erase everything and begin again,” she said. “You are not a machine that can be reset and restarted.”

It fell to her to tell her three sons that Colonel Tetzlaff was not the man they thought he was.

“He told them that their grandfather was a brave soldier, and I had to tell them that their grandfather was a murderer,” she said.

When she testified at the trial, she used her original name, Victoria, for the first time. “It was very liberating,” she said.

She says she still does not hate the Tetzlaffs. But “the heart doesn’t kidnap you, it doesn’t hide you, it doesn’t hurt you, it doesn’t lie to you all of your life,” she said. “Love is something else.”

Good Theatre in NYC

Before the fall season on Broadway swings into high gear, a specialiazed critic checked back in with two of last season's Tony-winning hits to see how they are holding up and filed the following review.

Transcription downloadable here!

Trailer to War Horse


Anything Goes (2011 B'way Revival) on ABC News

Bestival - Part 2

Video 1

Stephen: Morning Ashlie.

Ashlie: Morning.

Stephen: Sleep well?

Stephen: Come on Ash, get up.

Ashlie: I need coffee!

Stephen: I'll put the kettle on. Oh Ash, we forgot the sugar. I'll see if any of the other campers have some.

......

Stephen: Hi there.

Camper: Hello.

Stephen: Erm... I was I wondering if I could borrow some sugar?

Camper: Yes sure, here you go.

Stephen: Ah thanks. Hi, I'm Stephen, and that's my sister Ashlie over there.

Camper: Pleased to meet you. My name's Andy.

Stephen: Where are you from?

Camper: I'm from Sheffield. Where are you guys from?

Stephen: Ah, we're from London. Great tent!

Camper: Yeah it is great, isn't it? It's got two sections; one for sleeping one for cooking.

Stephen: Is it easy to put up?

Camper: It's really, really easy actually. All modern tents are simple to put up.

Stephen: Er yeah. They are, aren't they?

Ashlie: Stephen, kettle's boiled!

......

Stephen: Er - excuse me, when's your next show?

Performer: In an hour.

Stephen: So, who are you?

Performer: We're the River People Theatre Company – we do folk theatre with puppetry and live music.

Stephen: So do you get to travel much around the country?

Performer: Yeah – a bit – we've started. This is our first big festival. Er... and so we're going to do a bigger show and do more next year … going to do all the festivals next year.

Stephen: Ah wonderful – well, hopefully I'll catch your next show.

Performer: Yeah. Thanks very much.

Stephen: Take care – bye!

......

Stephen: Look Ash, a yoga class. Let's join in.

Ashlie: It might be a bit advanced for you.

Stephen: I'll be fine, just watch me.

Ashlie: If you're sure.

......

Stephen: Er... Ashlie, I don't think I can get up. Can you give me a hand?

Ashlie: Come on you. I think you need a bit more practice.

Stephen: What do you mean? I'm a natural!

Ashlie: Hmm yeah. I'm starving. I think it's time for something to eat.

Stephen: Yeah - let's go back and have a BBQ back at the campsite.

Ashlie: Great idea!

......

Stephen: Right, I'm an expert at this. I've got my charcoal, all I need is dry sticks and a stone.

Ashlie: How about some matches?

Stephen: That's cheating.

Ashlie: But I'm really hungry!

Stephen: OK, OK.

Ashlie: Here you go.

Stephen: Do we have any bread?

Ashlie: Ah no - I'll have to go and get some.

Stephen: Great.

......

Ashlie: Stephen – it's burning!

Stephen: Oh no…

Ashlie: The food, it's on fire!

Stephen: Oh the food's ruined!

Ashlie: And my tent is soaking – come on! We can't cook anything else on that now. We'll have to go into town and get some more food.

......

Ashlie: Stephen! It won't start!!

Stephen: What are we going to do, we're stranded!

Video 2

Bestival - Part 1

Video 1

Ashlie: Oh look, Stephen. I can see the Isle of Wight.
Stephen: Ah – you'll never guess what I've done.
Ashlie: What Stephen? I don't believe it. What have you forgotten?
Stephen: I don't have my passport!
Ashlie: Stephen, we're not leaving England. You don't need your passport.
Stephen: Oh, so you mean I don't need any foreign money after all?
Ashlie: Ha ha - very funny. We're heading to a music festival on the Isle of Wight. It's an island on the south coast of England.
Stephen: It's called Bestival, and I can't wait. There's going to be music, food and camping.
Ashlie: I love camping; fresh air, stars at night...
Stephen: Don't you mean, er, insects, cold showers and sleeping on the ground?
Ashlie: It's going to be brilliant, Stephen. I just hope the weather's good, I do not fancy camping in the rain.
Stephen: Well, you know what I always say; be prepared! So I've brought clothes for any weather. We'll be fine.
Ashlie: Well, we're almost there. So we better head to the van. Come on you.
......

Stephen: I'm so glad we borrowed a camper van.
Ashlie: It's cool, isn't it. Very retro!
Stephen: I know. There aren't too many of these vans still around. This one's nearly forty years old.
Ashlie: Oh, so just a bit older than you then!
Stephen: Ha-ha. Come on. I want to have a look round the festival.
Ashlie: OK, well I saw some interesting stalls over there.
Stephen: Oh, I want to go to the main stage. I want to see some live music.
Ashlie: OK, well I will meet you at the tea tent then in an hour. Have fun!

......
Ashlie: Oh! Hey you scared me there! You guys look great. What have you come as?
Festival Goer 1: Erm, the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland.
Ashlie: Oh wow. I've noticed a lot of people in fancy dress, actually. What's going on?
Festival Goer 2: Oh it's erm – at this festival, every year, everybody gets dressed up.
Festival Goer 1: And the theme this year is fantasy.
Ashlie: So what does fantasy mean?
Festival Goer 2: Fantasy means anything from outer space to Alice in Wonderland.
Ashlie: Well, I must say you guys look amazing. I'll have to remember that one for next year. Have a nice festival guys!

......
Waitress: Hi, can I help?
Ashlie: Oh yes. Can I get tea for two, please?
Waitress: Would you like a high tea?
Ashlie: That would be lovely, yes please.
Waitress: I'll just be a minute.
Ashlie: Thank you
Stephen: Hey Ash!
Ashlie: Wow Stephen!
Stephen: Did you order tea?
Ashlie: Yeah. Nice fantasy costume. But what on earth are you? You look like an alien.
Stephen: What are you talking about? This is my rain gear. I thought I felt a few drops earlier.
Ashlie: Oh.
Waitress: High tea for two.
Ashlie: Thank you.

......
Ashlie: Come on then, let's set up camp.
Stephen: Are you really going to sleep in your tent, Ash?
Ashlie: Of course I am. I love sleeping under the stars, you know, getting closer to nature.
Stephen: Well, I'm staying in the camper van. I don't want to sleep on the ground.
Ashlie: Stephen you can't do that. That's not proper camping.
Stephen: Yes, but I've got running water and…even a fridge.
Ashlie: Well, I still say that that's not real camping.
Stephen: It is to me and besides, you snore.
Ashlie: I do not!
Ashlie: Where's my tent?
Stephen: There you go. We need to get everything sorted before it gets dark.

......
Stephen: Right, that's me done!
Stephen: Do you need a hand?
Ashlie: I think there's another pole or something somewhere.
Stephen: Are you sure you don't want any help?
Ashlie: No, I'm fine, I know what I'm doing.
Stephen: OK, if you're sure.
Ashlie: I think I've sorted it... Ta da!

......
Stephen: Right, I'm off to bed. See you in the morning.
Ashlie: OK, night!
Stephen: Night!
Ashlie: Stephen!

Video 2

Ethical Shopping in the UK

Are you after value for money when you're shopping for fashion; or fashion that's made with values? Listen and find out more.

Hello and welcome to Trend UK, your shortcut to popular culture from the British Council. In the next few minutes we’re going to be asking whether you’re after value for money when you’re shopping for fashion; or fashion that’s made with values. We’re all after a bargain on the high street. But how often do you stop to consider how some stores seem to stock low-cost/high fashion items quicker and more cheaply than others? Fulfilling our needs for fast fashion means increased production and competition in clothing made in countries with low-wage economies. Our reporter Mark has been to the high street to find out more.

Here in a typical British high street there are plenty of bargains to be had. Handbags at £3.99, T-shirts for a fiver and shoes for under a tenner - all roughly equivalent to the price of an everyday meal. But how many of the people shopping in this high street have stopped to think about how it’s possible to sell clothes so cheaply? Is it because some companies are turning a blind eye to the exploitation in the countries where these items are made? Ruth Rothelson is an expert on ethical shopping from the Ethical Consumer Research Association, who amongst other things produced the magazine ‘Ethical Consumer’.

Ruth, just tell us what the Ethical Consumer Research Association is.

OK, well the Ethical Consumer Research Association exists to provide information for shoppers, letting them know what the companies are doing behind the brands that they see on the shelves.

So what makes an ethical shopper?

Very broadly speaking, people who are concerned about ethical issues want to know that the product they’re buying hasn’t been made at the expense of the people who are producing it, whether it’s in this country or abroad. They might also be concerned with other kinds of issues: whether the company is involved in armaments, or whether they’re donating money to certain political parties. And that as a shopper, you might not want to give your money to that party so therefore you might not want to buy a product from a company who is supporting a political party that you don’t agree with.

And is there any kind of rule of thumb? Is something that’s more expensive, for example, likely to be more ethical?

Unfortunately it isn’t always the case that the more expensive something is, the more ethical it is. We can buy very cheap products and it’s very likely that when products are cheap, something has suffered in order to get it to us. Whether it’s the person making it or the animals or the environment. Quality however, is often a good indicator whether something, especially with clothes, has been made well. And unfortunately a lot of ethical products will cost more because they reflect the real cost of bringing that thing into the shops. So something that has been made in a factory where the workers have been paid a proper wage will cost you more to buy, simply because the people making it are getting paid enough to live on.

Do you have to be well off then to be an ethical shopper?

It really depends. You don’t have to be rich to be an ethical shopper. One way of thinking about ethical shopping is thinking about buying less. Sometimes we buy an awful lot more than we need. We buy more items of clothing than we need. So being an ethical shopper really means thinking a bit before you go and spend your money in the shops. Some things may cost a little bit more in the short-run, but be worth it in the long-run. If you are paying for quality, something will last you longer and then save you money. And sometimes you can buy things second-hand. There’s a lot of charity shops on the high street to buy good clothes. Sometimes you can look a lot better than someone who’s just bought off the high street because you can have quite a unique look, and the quality that you find in most second-hand shops is really very good these days. So it’s about thinking before you shop.

Thanks Ruth. Now among the shoppers here I’ve got Lauren and Bella. Starting with you Bella, would you consider shopping ethically?

Definitely for food. And clothing, well, when I buy clothes I wouldn’t want to think of them being made in a sweat shop.

Lauren you do shop ethically. But you’ve got a slightly different take on it haven’t you.

Yeah I suppose I shop ethically but my original thing for that was that I like to wear clothes that are different from everyone else. So I would start shopping for vintage clothes. So ethically, obviously they’re second-hand so…also I buy a lot of clothes from market stalls, from fashion students maybe. So they’re all made here, so they would be made ethically as well.

Thanks Lauren, thanks Bella. Well it’s an interesting debate, and I’ll certainly be doing my clothes shopping with a little bit more care in future.