Argumentative Essay Draft 2

Junk food has always been the favorite food for youngsters especially schoolchildren as there are a variety of supplies from the school canteens. Junk food can be defined as foods with insufficient nutrients and it is not good for our health (Tran 2005). Junk foods also contain synthetic additives to level up their attractiveness and to expand its expiry date (Smith 2005). Some examples of junk food are chips, biscuits, cookies, hamburgers, soft drinks, instant noodles and confectionery (Health Foundation 2005). The issue of banning school canteens from selling junk food has raised a heated debate among the society. The frights of health issues, behavioural problems and litter problems which are caused by the consumption of junk food have my word on believing that the sale of junk food should be banned.

Fingers are pointing at junk food for causing childhood obesity due to the distinctively low nutritional value and contains inedible synthetic additives (Smith 2005). Over the past 30 years, the healthy food eaten by Australian youngsters has plummeted which can be due to the increasing supplies of junk food (Tran 2005). According to Tran (2005), more than 50 per cent of schoolchildren nowadays purchase their lunch from school canteens which mostly comprise of junk food. This gives us an idea of the most common scenario is a child who is munching on junk food and quenching a can of soft drinks during recess. Tran (2005) also provided evidence from Professor Steven Reynolds who indicates that school canteens providing unhealthy foods are promoting youth obesity. This is further worsened when most youngsters do not exercise regularly.

Other than that, poor eating habits of children can induce unhealthy growth and reduce their learning potential as junk foods often consist of chemical enhancers which can lead to behavioural problems (The Food Show 2005). According to Smith (2005), behavioural problems in children like hyperactivity and poor concentration are results shown from the additives. Since junk food is convenient and is easily available from schools, children are unaware of the havoc they are creating for themselves (Tran 2005). Consequently, the removal of junk foods from school canteen shows noticeable improvement in student’s behaviour (Green 2005).

From a wider perspective, the sale of junk food in schools can also creates litter problems as most junk foods come in pre-packaged meals and canned drinks (Smith 2005). This problem is faced by the schools as plastic packages and cans can be seen lying around the school compound (Green 2005). As a result from littering, schools may be facing health risk, spend more than usual to clean the compounds and may even give a bad impression (Smith 2005). When junk foods are removed, the litter around the school has diminished. The cleaning cost saved can be spent on other beneficial maintenance projects (Green 2005).

In conclusion, I stand for the banning of junk foods sales in school canteens as excessive consumption of junk foods may lead to obesity which has a direct impact on future risks for heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancers, and also behavioural problems. Schools may also encounter opportunity cost due to litter problems. Children must know that what they eat affects their future growth, thus a school cannot neglect their responsibility and drop the buck at food, instead schools need to take up its’ role to assail the problems. The school canteen should be utilized to educate healthy eating habits (Tran 2005).

[Argumentative Essay] [Draft 1]

Junk food has always been the favorite food for youngsters especially schoolchildren as there are a variety of supplies from the school canteens. Junk food can be defined as foods with insufficient nutrients and it is not good for our health (Tran 2005). Junk foods also contain synthetic additives to level up their attractiveness and to expand its expiry date (Smith 2005). Some examples of junk food are chips, biscuits, cookies, hamburgers, soft drinks, instant noodles and confectionery (Health Foundation 2005). The issue of banning school canteens from selling junk food has raised a heated debate among the society. The frights of health issues, behavioural problems and litter problems which are caused by the consumption of junk food have my word on believing that the sale of junk food should be banned.

Fingers are pointing at junk food for causing childhood obesity due to the distinctively low nutritional value and contains inedible synthetic additives (Smith 2005). Over the past 30 years, the healthy food eaten by Australian youngsters has been plummeted which can be due to the increasing supplies of junk food (Tran 2005). According to Tran (2005), more than 50 per cent of schoolchildren nowadays purchase their lunch from school canteens which mostly comprise of junk food. This gives us an idea of the most common scenario is a child who is munching on junk food and quenching a can of soft drinks during recess. Tran (2005) also provided evidence from Professor Steven Reynolds who indicates that school canteens providing unhealthy foods are promoting youth obesity. This is further worsening when most youngsters do not exercise regularly.

Other than that, poor eating habits of children can induce unhealthy growth and reduce their learning potential as junk foods often consist of chemical enhancers which can induce behavioural problems (The Food Show 2005). According to Smith (2005), behavioural problems in children like hyperactivity and poor concentration are results shown from the additives. Since junk food is convenient and is easily available from schools, children are unaware of the havoc they are creating for themselves (Tran 2005). Consequently, the removal of junk foods from school canteen shows noticeable improvement in student’s behaviour (Green 2005).

From a wider perspective, sale of junk food in schools can also creates litter problems as most junk foods come in pre-packaged meals and canned drinks (Smith 2005). This problem is faced by the schools as plastic packages and cans can be seen lying around the school compound (Green 2005). As a result from littering, schools may be facing health risk, spend more than usual to clean the compounds and may even give a bad impression (Smith 2005). When junk foods are removed, the litter around the school has diminished. The cleaning cost saved can be spent on other beneficial maintenance projects (Green 2005).

In conclusion, I stand for the banning of junk foods sales in school canteens as junk foods may pose threats to schoolchildren due to obesity which has a direct impact on their future risks for heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancers, and also behavioural problems. Schools may also encounter opportunity cost due to litter problems. Children must know that what they eat affects their future growth, thus a school cannot neglect their responsibility and drop the buck at food, instead schools need to take up its’ role to assail the problems. The school canteen should be utilized to educate healthy eating habits (Tran 2005).

Aussie News : JUNK FOOD! :p

Junk food bans at schools

• Milanda Rout, education reporter
• From:Herald Sun
• October 16, 2006 12:00AM

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VICTORIAN school children will be allowed to eat fatty junk food only twice a term under strict new canteen rules to be imposed next year.

For the first time, school tuckshops will be told what they can and cannot sell to the state's 540,000 school students.

Chips, potato cakes, dim sims, battered sausages, cakes and ice cream are on the hit list.

The Bracks Government is expected to reveal the latest crackdown today to try to halt the obesity crisis.

It is believed the new rules will apply to Victoria's 1600 state primary and secondary schools.

Independent and Catholic schools will be encouraged to adopt the new rules.

Food will be divided into three groups – everyday, select and occasional – dictating how often it can be sold.

Food listed as "occasional" is defined as having high fat, sugar or salt content and will be restricted to twice a term, or eight times a year.

This will include party pies, sausage rolls and low-fat ice cream.Goodies listed under "select" will have some nutritional value and will be sold irregularly – potentially once a week.

Schools will be told to try to sell as much "everyday" food as possible – which includes items with high nutritional value.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrain bread and cereals and salads are in this category.

Pikelets, crumpets, baked potatoes and frozen yoghurt will also be available daily.

The new rules will apply to school canteens and lunch orders provided by outside caterers and shops.

The Government is believed to have taken a different approach to chocolates and lollies in schools.

It is believed schools will be given information on how to introduce the new rules, which will begin next year.

This includes advice on how to make healthier versions of popular food, for example, replacing commercially made pizza with home-made healthier versions.

Activities for the classroom, promotional posters, a website and other material will also be available.

The Bracks Government introduced canteen guidelines in 2003 and this is believed to be the next step in the fight against obesity.

It is believed the Government wants to send a healthy-eating message to students, who get about a third of their food at school.

Many schools have already adopted healthy eating in their canteens, with restrictions on junk food.

The tough new rules come after a ban on sugar-loaded drinks at schools and an investigation into restrictions on chocolates and lollies.

Drinks with more than 300 kilojoules a serve will not be sold at canteens or in vending machines.

This means sport drinks and mineral water could face the axe.

A spokesman for Education Minister Lynne Kosky would not confirm details of the new rules.

"While many schools already offer healthy food to their children, the Government feels there is more to do," he said.

About 30 per cent of Australian children are overweight or obese.

[Text] [Production] [Essay] [FINAL] [VERSION]

Earth is getting warmer over the last century as there is a sustained increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, where this phenomenon is known as global warming (Woodford 2006). Carbon dioxide from human activities is posing a serious threat to the planet as it is causing dangerous global warming (Nzone Tonight 2008). This situation would be catastrophic towards our mother nature. Hence, it is vital to gain knowledge of what are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and ways to curtail the worsening of global warming.

According to Woodford (2006), hotter temperatures will change the climate across the whole planet and it does not mean that the temperature will increase in every place as temperamental weather will induce more hurricanes and storms, heavier downpour, more snow in certain regions, longer periods of drought, and more paramount heat waves. Unexpected chaotic hurricanes even happened in Brazil even though it is surrounded by hurricane-free South Atlantic and the major Hurricane Katrina during 2005 which destroys whole of New Orleans into debris and took away innocent lives (An Inconvenient Truth 2007). Woodford (2006) also reports that series of more persistent El-Niño has increased three times more often than a century ago, floods are belike to hassle some countries and it is estimated that 100-200 million people would be homeless for good by year 2100.

Moreover, another unavoidable impact of global warming is sea-level rise due to melting of ice (Riebeek 2007). North Pole and South Pole are warming drastically and sea ice in the Arctic has reduced significantly according to the proof provided by Woodford (2006). When the trapped sun ray absorbed by the oceans, it starts to increase the rate of melting of ice (An Inconvenient Truth 2007). From the photo provided by NASA, since the 1940s, the Larsen-B Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula can be seen caved in due to global warming (Riebeek 2007). Woodford (2006) indicates that some glaciers are melting apace, run out water into the oceans and causing fears about humongous rises in sea-level. This would jeopardize low-lying countries facing the chance of submerging underwater. In the film 'An Inconvenient truth' (2007), Al Gore also shows that the polar bears in the arctic may not be able to survive in this kind of condition.

Scientists are very certain that the warming of the planet is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (Riebeek 2007) and emission of carbon dioxide due to human activities is causing dangerous global warming (Nzone Tonight 2008). Therefore, reducing the emission of carbon dioxide is the sole solution to address this issue. We can start off by reducing personal carbon dioxide emissions for instance, using efficient fluorescent lamp, establish renewable energy in company and reduce usage of air-conditioners (Woodford 2006). Besides driving with better fuel economy, Woodford suggested people should walk, cycle or take a bus rather than driving cars. Al Gore also suggested that by making our earth greener like planting more trees and recycling would be able to minimize global warming in the film, 'An Inconvenient Truth' (2007).

On the whole, temperamental weather, sea-level rise and animal extinction are in the lists of the impact of global warming. The rate of increase in earth’s temperature in the last five decades has doubled the rate discovered over the last ten decades and it is believed that the temperatures are sure to step-up farther (Riebeek 2007). Consequently, we should avoid activities that emit carbon dioxide. 'The solutions are in our hands, we just have to have the determination to make it happen.’ (An Inconvenient Truth 2007). If people still do not put their foot down and look into this serious matter, the whole planet would be in chaos in the future.