A wish

Filled with emptiness,
My heart pains,
For I've just said goodbye to; my good old pals.
The days we spent together,
Like children of the same mother,
Are a pleasant memory to me,
Though the race and the religion are different,
That wasn't an obstruction to us.
And now I realise,
Though we didn't know then,
That we gave a message....
A message of friendship,
To the whole world,
Which is breaking into pieces,
Thinking of the difference between people.
They don't realise humanity.
But though we were so young,
We unknowing have understood it.
Oh! I wish the days will be the same,
And won't let us forget each other.
Because we've grown and we have to be apart.
But may our friendship be saved in our hearts for ever.
No I won't change my mind though the whole world would blame me,
I'll never change my mind about you.
To reach for help, you can always count on me,
I'll gladly be a help to you.
Let me ask for just one thing,
And not a thing more
Please always be my friends,
As you used to be before.
And deliver the message given by us,
To this vicious world once more.

by Chaya Kapuwattage,
B/Kuda Kusum Balika Maha Vidyalaya,
Bandarawela

Don't spoil your future

Today we are living in a fast moving world. We have luxury items to make our daily work easier but at the same time we have items which make our lives unhealthy and dark. The best example is drugs. In Sri Lanka there are three types, which are available in liquid, pills and in powder form.

Young people are getting used to this because they seek some adventure. People who import these drugs to Sri Lanka do not think about our future generation, all they want to do is to make money. It is a large-scale business all over Sri Lanka.

The rich in society use them as a mode of getting pleasure, some others take drugs to solve their problems, and others take drugs to get into a good mood. My dear friends do you ever think that you can solve your personal, economic and other problems by taking drugs and do you think that you can have fun having drugs? Never ever think that drugs can give you fun. The only thing they give you is pain.

These harmful drugs can make people physically as well as mentally ill. It can make ordinary people go mad by making changes in their brain and nervous system. You will get kidney problems when you grow old as well as heart problems. These things will make your life shorter. Drugs like MARIJUANA, HASHISH, CAFFEINE, COCAINE, LSD stimulate the central nervous system giving permanent personality changes. The smoke emitted from cigarettes causes lung problems.

Many young and old people turn to drugs but it is mostly the young people who become drug addicts. The main reason for this is peer pressure. Most children are urged to take drugs by their friends who give them the idea that it is good and not harmful. Because of their ignorance young people think it's fun and try it. Guys might think that keeping a cigarette in their hands and releasing clouds and clouds of smoke is a fashion, but surely this menace changes them and their families are always in tears.

It takes only one second for a man to get used to drugs but it takes years to stop it. So if you think about this you can stop this bad habit in less than one second.

My dear friends when you are with your friends learn all the good habits from them and you can prevent them from taking drugs, and show them the correct path.

If all of us try we can root out this great evil from our country and the future of every youth can be saved. So my dear friends, we can show you the effects of these drugs but it's up to you to put this in- to practice for your own good. If you want a better future my advice is to refrain from these things and concentrate on your studies. Then you will be able to reach your desired goal.

Harshini Denesh
Royal Institute
Colombo 5

Dear soldier

Why are you so silent today?
Where is your smile?
Your bravery
Your dignity.
We cannot see you
Like on past days
Today you're departed from us
But...
We cannot forget
The service that you did for the nation
So, every day you live with us
Your blood was mixed to the earth
Showing that
You will never be afraid of death
So... you are a treasure to the nation
Though you departed from us
Your name is living with us
Forever... forever,

Evita Christine Weerakoon
MR/ Deniyaya Central College
Deniyaya

Accent on Health

By Uncle D.C.R

Many are the tasks of the specialized agencies of the United Nations in the sphere of health. Particularly the World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned with fighting disease and improving the mental and physical health of everyone. Established in 1948, WHO operates from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to its constitution, WHO is "the directing and coordinating authority on international health work" and is responsible for helping all peoples to attain "the highest possible levels of health". Its services are either advisory or technical.

World Health Day is observed annually on 7 April. A theme is selected every year.

A good example of the success of UN's efforts at elimination of diseases is the fight against smallpox. In 1967 WHO launched a worldwide vaccination campaign against smallpox. At the time an estimated 10 to 15 million cases of smallpox were reported each year. There were around 2 million deaths. By mid-1975 when India was declared free of smallpox, only a few cases were left in just two countries - Bangladesh and Ethiopia. In 1979, after two years without a reported case of smallpox WHO declared that the disease had disappeared from the two countries.

It recommended that countries stop vaccinating against smallpox and that laboratory stocks of the vaccine be destroyed. By 1980 it was declared that smallpox had been totally eradicated in every country.

In July 1990 WHO warned that AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency System, a destruction of the immune system resulting from infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - is the main cause of death for women between 20 and 40 years of age. It has been estimated that by the year 2000, 40 million people will be affected by HIV virus.

The United Nations has effectively made use of stamps to create awareness of this deadly disease. It was pointed out that with loss of immune function, a clinical syndrome (a group of various illnesses that together characterize a disease) occurs over time and results in death from opportunistic infections or cancers. In HIV infected individuals, there is a gradual loss of immune cells and immune function so that the patient becomes vulnerable to pneumonia fungal infections and other common ailments.

The mechanisms by which HIV causes immune deficiency are still not completely understood. It generally takes six to ten years from the point of infection to develop AIDS.

In 1993 WHO declared tuberculosis a global emergency saying that it could kill 30 million by year 2003.

On 30 September 1994 WHO declared that polio had been completely eradicated from the western hemisphere. WHO is spearheading an immunization campaign in other countries in a bid to see that polio is also totally eradicated.

Apart from UN stamps on the fights against smallpox, cancer and AIDS, the promotion of sport and global vaccination have also served as central themes for stamp illustrations.

What do you call a baby Kangaroo?

Have you ever stopped to think about what young animals are called. A newly hatched owl, for example, is an owlet. That's logical. But why is a young Kangaroo called a joey? The young of many animals, birds and fish are called by special names. How familiar are you with these baby-animal names? Let's test your "baby-animal IQ"!

1. Whose babies are referred to as "fry"?

2. What are "squeakers"?

3. A baby____ is called a "cygnet".

4. Are you tired of being called a "kid"? Don't people know that a "kid" is a ____?

5. A baby frog is a _____. .

6. Bet you can't guess what baby eels are named!

7. What would you call a baby rhino or hippo?

8. A "cockerel" is a baby _____.

9. What is a name for a baby pig? 10. A baby goose is a _____.

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