Animal and Planet Club

The CMS Animal and Planet Club raised a total of $859.05 to help the Sterling Animal Shelter. Check out the article in the Concord Journal:

http://tinyurl.com/4ylrzgv

Mega-Earthquake Rattles Japan! By Claire D.

An earthquake that measured 8.9 struck Japan on March 11, devastating the country and triggering a giant tsunami.

You’re sitting on your couch at home, silently reading the newspaper, when suddenly, your furniture starts violently vibrating. Panic starts to kick in, and you flee from your rapidly collapsing house.

On March 11, a giant earthquake struck Japan. This earthquake measured an 8.9, making it the most powerful earthquake in Japan in record. The quake is the fifth-largest in the world since 1900, and it killed hundreds of people. Soon after the earthquake, a 23 foot tsunami hit the already devastated cities. The tsunami raced across the Pacific Ocean at 500 mph towards the coast of Japan, and when it crashed down on the shores, it kept going 6 miles inland. Around 2,000 bodies have already been found washed up from sea or hidden in the rubble, but the death toll is expected to run in the tens of thousands. This earthquake has devastated Japan, and the world will work hard to help Japan recover from the disaster.

Somalian Pirates

Danish family is taken hostage by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean

Somali is now becoming known for it’s blood-thirsty pirates. On February 24th, three Danish children and their parents were taken hostage by Somali pirates while they were sailing in the Indian Ocean. The children were said to be from the ages of 12 and 16, and that two crew members were also taken hostage. As of last week, the EU’s anti-piracy naval force said that pirates are estimated to be holding 31 vessels and 688 hostages. Many of the vessels they target are cargo ships sailing near the Gulf of Aden.

The ship with the Danish family on it sent out a distress signal on Thursday. The Danes are the second non-commercial sailors taken by pirates in recent weeks. For an example, a group of Americans were seized earlier in February and four were shot when the US forces tried to rescue them. The pirates seem to be responding with increasing violence as navy forces try to rescue the hostages. Two Philippine sailors were murdered last month because the pirates were enraged at the attempted rescue.

This is becoming a serious issue. Somali gangs have recently hijacked a tanker with $200m worth of crude oil on board. To try to control the issue, international naval forces patrolling the area will try to free more hostages.

Original Story- BBC News
Re-Written By- Emily L.