Art 1: Paul - the octopus who ruled the World Cup
Who is Paul the octopus?
The 2010 FIFA world cup may be over but one octopus named Paul will remain in people’s minds for months- if not years. Paul is a two year old octopus housed in a cubic tank at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany.
He rose to fame after correctly predicting the results of international soccer matches in which Germany was participating during the EUFA Euro 2008. He was also consulted during the 2010 World Cup, first for matches that Germany was playing and later for the semi finals and the finals.
How does Paul make his predictions?
Paul would be presented with two food containers in form of boxes made of transparent glass each bearing the flag of the contending countries in an upcoming fixture. The country whose box he chose to eat from would be then expected to win the upcoming match. Paul correctly foretold the results of all the matches for which his opinion was sought during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He correctly predicted Spain’s win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final. It was only in the UEFA Euro 2008 that he went wrong – twice. One instance was when he picked Germany as the winner-to-be but Spain won the match instead and the team was crowned the European champions. He also predicted a German thrashing of Croatia in the same tournament, but that was never to be. He does not only predict favourable results however, in this year’s World Cup, he correctly guessed Germany’s loss to Serbia in the first round of play.
Potential ‘engagements’?
Suggestions are now emerging for him to be used in foreseeing other events apart from just football matches. Some ideas include asking him to choose the labour party leader! As if that is not enough offers to buy him are springing up from all over the world, and yet barely a month ago, he was virtually unknown outside the realm of German football (soccer).
Disgruntled losers
Britain, where Paul originated from is not so amused. The British have called him a traitor after he predicted a win for Germany against England in the qualifying stage of the 2010 World Cup. Some are said to want to make a meal out of him for ‘betraying his roots’.
Back to normal life
Paul is now retired from his predictor role. His owners made it clear that Paul will be making no further predictions regarding football or any other subject. His former job was entertaining children which he is set to continue.
After the last match of the World Cup was played, Paul was presented with his usual food (a mussel), only this time it was on a dummy World Cup trophy. A reward that was well received by the loyal and brutally honest fan.
Art 2: The Green Revolution- blessing or curse?
Who is Paul the octopus?
The 2010 FIFA world cup may be over but one octopus named Paul will remain in people’s minds for months- if not years. Paul is a two year old octopus housed in a cubic tank at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany.
He rose to fame after correctly predicting the results of international soccer matches in which Germany was participating during the EUFA Euro 2008. He was also consulted during the 2010 World Cup, first for matches that Germany was playing and later for the semi finals and the finals.
How does Paul make his predictions?
Paul would be presented with two food containers in form of boxes made of transparent glass each bearing the flag of the contending countries in an upcoming fixture. The country whose box he chose to eat from would be then expected to win the upcoming match. Paul correctly foretold the results of all the matches for which his opinion was sought during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He correctly predicted Spain’s win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final. It was only in the UEFA Euro 2008 that he went wrong – twice. One instance was when he picked Germany as the winner-to-be but Spain won the match instead and the team was crowned the European champions. He also predicted a German thrashing of Croatia in the same tournament, but that was never to be. He does not only predict favourable results however, in this year’s World Cup, he correctly guessed Germany’s loss to Serbia in the first round of play.
Potential ‘engagements’?
Suggestions are now emerging for him to be used in foreseeing other events apart from just football matches. Some ideas include asking him to choose the labour party leader! As if that is not enough offers to buy him are springing up from all over the world, and yet barely a month ago, he was virtually unknown outside the realm of German football (soccer).
Disgruntled losers
Britain, where Paul originated from is not so amused. The British have called him a traitor after he predicted a win for Germany against England in the qualifying stage of the 2010 World Cup. Some are said to want to make a meal out of him for ‘betraying his roots’.
Back to normal life
Paul is now retired from his predictor role. His owners made it clear that Paul will be making no further predictions regarding football or any other subject. His former job was entertaining children which he is set to continue.
After the last match of the World Cup was played, Paul was presented with his usual food (a mussel), only this time it was on a dummy World Cup trophy. A reward that was well received by the loyal and brutally honest fan.
Art 2: The Green Revolution- blessing or curse?
These days, the talk everywhere is to adopt ‘green’ practices in a bid to conserve our degraded environment. Some of us may have come across the term - The Green Revolution. However, this term has little to do with environmental conservation and a lot to do with increasing agricultural yield. It is an international movement to increase agricultural yield by irrigation, mechanization, use of fertilizers, pesticides as well as hybrid seeds.
The Green Revolution was pioneered by Norman Borlaug. He was a plant breeder in the U.S who became a member of the Rockefeller foundation in 1944 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.He started his Research in Mexico in the 1940’s and came up with disease resistant high yielding wheat varieties.
It was the success of this system in Mexico that led to its technologies being adopted worldwide in the two decades that followed. Various organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the governments of developing countries contributed greatly to its research.
The green revolution practices were adopted in India in 1961 when India was facing severe famine. The new varieties of rice seeds were introduced in the Punjabi region because water was more available there and they produced a bountiful harvest.
Countries all over the world have benefitted from the green revolution. Fertilizers have helped greatly to increase yield, irrigation has enabled crops to be grown in dry areas. Machines have enabled more work to be done in less time.
Critics have blamed the green revolution for the current global overpopulation citing that availability of food has led people to have more and more children. The Green Revolution principles may not be applicable to developing countries which lack infrastructure, security and are governed by dictatorships which are highly corrupt.
The Green Revolution, due to its encouragement for the use of pesticides has been blamed greatly for the environmental degradation currently being witnessed globally. Chemicals in insecticides and pesticides have been linked to cancer. High yield crop varieties are said to lack vital nutrients. People who consume them are likely to suffer from malnutrition. It seems like a double edged sword that has the nations of the earth increasing their food supply but at the same time polluting our ecosystems.
