Jan.10 Dogs and Pets

Article:

Norway Bans Breeding of Two Popular Types of Dog

Norway has banned the breeding of English bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels after lawyers working for Animal Protection Norway argued that it's no longer possible to breed the dogs to be healthy.

"We need to change the way we breed dogs," Åshild Roaldset, the CEO of Animal Protection Norway, told Agence France-Presse. She explained that the way we breed dogs may have been okay 50 years ago, but it's not anymore.

Research has found that bulldogs suffer from a long list of health issues caused by breeding. For example, compared to about 100 years ago, today's English bulldogs have much shorter noses and legs, and bigger shoulders and heads, making it harder for them to breathe and walk.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel we know today was first bred in the 1920s. The dogs often have brains that are too big for their skulls, which can cause a number of painful symptoms and changes in behavior, as well as an extremely serious disease called syringomyelia.

Roaldset said these diseases couldn't be bred out of purebred dogs because there isn't enough genetic diversity. "And it's going to be painful for them because they're just going to get more and more diseases," she said.

While the ban stops people from breeding English bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels in Norway, it won't stop them from owning, selling, or buying them from other countries.

Organizations like the Norwegian Kennel Club worry that people will buy the dogs from breeders in countries that may have lower health standards, or from breeders who don’t care about the breeding ban.

Questions:

Did you know this problem? What do you think about this article?

Have you ever had a dog? or would you like to have a dog from now on?

Speaking of dogs, what thing comes to your mind first?

Which do you prefer, a dog or a cat? Why?

Do you have any good, bad or interesting memory about dogs, cats or any other animals?

Do you have a pet? What made you have that pet?

Have you ever had an exotic pet?

Do you have any allergies?

Zoos are entertaining and educational. But on the other hand, it is considered inhumane to keep animals in captivity. What is your opinion regarding this matter?

Conversation starters for Sunday meeting

・交通事故にあったことありますか？
　Have you ever been in a traffic accident?

・秘密の多い異性は魅力的に見えますか？
　Do people of the opposite gender who have many secrets seem attractive to you?

・もし1日だけ有名人になれるとしたら、誰になりたいですか？
　If you could become a famous celebrity for one day, who would you choose?

・いま立てている計画や目標などありますか？
　Do you have any plans or goals you are currently working on?

・いままで大人買いした経験はありますか？
　Have you ever splurged on something before?

・論理的思考と直感とどちらをより信用しますか？
　Which do you trust more: logical thinking or your intuition?

・新幹線や電車の中でご飯を食べますか？
　Do you eat meals on the Shinkansen or trains?

・貴方のよくある週末の過ごし方について教えて頂けますか？
　Could you tell me how you usually spend your weekends?

・最近の社会問題で何か関心や気になることはありますか？
　Is there any recent social issue that you are interested in or concerned about?

・今までの人生で何か思いきって挑戦したことはありますか？
　Have you ever taken a bold challenge in your life?

 

Dec.27 Food Waste

Article:

IKEA Releases Free Food Scraps Cookbook

Throwing food scraps in the trash is a daily activity for many, but what if those scraps could be made into a meal? IKEA Canada has released a cookbook to help people do exactly that.

The book, called The ScrapsBook, has 50 recipes using food people usually throw in the trash such as stale bread, brown bananas, the tops of strawberries and even sour milk.

"In Canada, research tells us that almost two thirds of food scraps that end up as kitchen waste could have been eaten," said Johanna Andren, Head of Marketing at IKEA Canada. She said that the company wants to show people ways they can reduce this waste.

IKEA worked with 10 North American chefs who wrote five recipes each for the book, which is available online for free.

Recipes include meals for breakfast, main meals, snacks and desserts. For example, one recipe is a vegetable burger made from things like old beans, apple skins and carrot ends. Another is a chocolate and banana cake that's made using banana skins.

As well as the recipes, the book also includes advice on reducing food waste in other ways, such as by putting coffee grounds in the garden to help plants grow.

According to 2017 research from the Canadian National Zero Waste Council, the country throws away almost 2.2 million metric tons of food each year that could have been eaten.

Food waste isn't just a problem in Canada, though. According to a report on 54 countries by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 17% of the food produced in 2019 was wasted.

- You can download the cookbook for free from the following link.

  https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/58/9f/589f2b5d/the-scrapsbook.pdf

YouTube Video

https://youtu.be/Z-He_l6c7wY?si=i8QdauC-N__dhTOW

Questions:

What are your thoughts on this article?

Would you be interested in trying some of the recipes in the IKEA's cookbook?

Do you care about best-before date?

Are you trying or devising a way to reduce food waste?

When it comes to wasting, have you ever wasted money?

When it comes to wasting, have you ever wasted a lot of time?

Among food which are commonly eaten in your country, what food do you hate most?

Is there any food you like which many people don't like?

Did you buy any new furniture recently? or do you have any favorite furniture or home appliance in your home?