Massive Tokyo rally decries atomic power – Organizers say 170,000 turned out to demand nuke-free Japan
Tens of thousands of people rallied Monday in Tokyo demanding an end to nuclear power, the latest in a series of demonstrations to erupt since the triple-meltdown disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.Under scorching sunshine on a national holiday, demonstrators marched through the streets around Yoyogi Park chanting:
"Don’t resume nuclear power operation! Prime Minister Noda should quit!"
Organizers estimated the turnout at 170,000, which would apparently make it the biggest antinuclear rally since last year’s quake and tsunami sparked the world’s worst atomic disaster in a generation at the poorly protected plant.
China’s official state-run news network finally responded Monday to last week’s controversy over Ralph Lauren’s Chinese manufacturing of the U.S. Olympic Team’s goofy-looking uniforms.
Fox News reported that Beijing’s Xinhua News Agency responded to the outcry from politicians, calling them “hypocritical” and “irresponsible”
for their complaints against the American uniforms being made in China.
Xinhua sarcastically remarked that we should ban American lawmakers from “wearing anything or using any product” that was made in China. This, of course, would be impossible since, well, imagine what a Senator would do without his/her iPhone.
-Learn expressions such as idioms and slang that is unique to culture, age, and business!
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Hiroko, the meeting leader, opens global team teleconference to discuss a product launch with her team.
Hiroko:
This is Hiroko. Who’s on the bridge?
Simon:
This is Simon in New York. It’s 8:30 here, so I brought my morning coffee.
John:
John here. It’s 8:00pm! I’m working the "graveyeard shift" in Singapore.
Xinlai:
This is Xinlai. It’s 7:00pm where I am. I am dead tired but ready to "get down to business".
Hiroko:
Thanks everyone for being flexible about the start time. I guess this is probably the most cost effective way of holding meetings from here on out due to company budgeting restraints.
Simon:
Well, I feel it works out well since we don’t have to waste time flying around the world to have a meeting that can be done easily online.
Hiroko:
Does everyone have the spreadsheets I sent "on hand"?
John:
We are good to go so you can go ahead Hiroko.
Hiroko:
The purpose of this meeting is to plan and coordinate the launch of the new ultrabooks in Japan. Today, we need to discuss three items: product supply, marking support from the US, and sales activities with key customers in Japan.
Simon:
What’s the desired outcome?
Hiroko:
At the end of this meeting, I’d like to have a definitive timeline for our product launch.
Xinlai:
Um.. I hate to be the "wet blanket" at the party but our manufacturing plant is experiencing a heavy shortage in parts. This is going to greatly affect our launch date.
Hiroko:
Are you serious? How long will the launch be pushed back?
Xinlai:
It’s hard to say.. Two to four weeks?
Hiroko:
You need to push hard on our suppliers to get the parts to the factory Xinlai. Time is money!
–This section will cover a broad range of different grammar rules and explanations to help you understand sentence structure and improve awareness of English grammar.
Check your understanding by selecting the correct answer below:　
Read each of the following of sentences and select the best answer. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules if you do not understand your mistakes..
Tenses – Past Tense VS Perfect Tense (Easy)
1
(Did you see/ Have you seen) the news on television last night?
2
Where (were you / have you been) last night when I called?
3
Erica (wasn’t / hasn’t been) at work yesterday.
4
I’m looking for Susan. (Did / Have) you (see/ seen) him?
5
I (lost / have lost) my key last week.
6
I am so hungry! I (didn’t eat / haven’t eaten) anything since this morning.
7
John (graduated / has graduated) from college in 2009.
8
Who is that man talking to Sarah? I (didn’t meet/ haven’t met ) him before.
9
When I (got / have gotten) home last night, I (was/ have been) dead tired so I (went / have gone) straight to bed without taking a shower.
10
Susan: (Did you go / Have you gone) to the movies last night?
John: No, I (went / have gone) there two nights ago.
Moderate level exercises:
Read each of the following of sentences and write the correct form of the verb in the blanks. Print out this lesson plan and ask your teacher to assist you in understanding the grammar rules.
Directions: Write the correct form of the verb in parenthesis using either the past tense or perfect tense ( did vs has/have done)
1
What time ___________________ (you/finish) work yesterday?
2
Jennifer ___________________ (not/ be) busy last week.
3
I’m sorry for not contacting you recently. I ___________________ (be) extremely busy for the last several days.
4
Jason lives in London. He ___________________ (live) there his entire life.
5
___________________ (go / you) to the movies recently?
6
I could not read the letter because I ___________________ (have) my glasses with me.
7
As I ___________________ (forget) my keys at the office, I am unable to enter my home.
8
___________________ (rent / they) a car during their vacation last month?
9
When you took the exam, ___________________ (have / you) time to finish it?
10
I think I mistakenly put my purse somewhere. ___________________ (see / you) it anywhere?
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NEW! – Do you think TEPCO should be allowed to increase electricity rates so easily?
(Sarah U.K. 28y.o. ): Since TEPCO operates as a private company and not as governmental entitiy/organization, the company should first take measures to cut costs. They need to cut benefits to employees across the board! Whether it means reducing salary or cutting bonuses, the company should show the citizens of Japan that they are doing everything in their power to operate more efficiently. Only after attempting all cost reduction efforts can they move on to ask for an increase in electricity rates to cover for their incompetence.
(Corey Australia 41y.o. ): I personally feel that the company has no right at all to pass the responsibility to consumers. The company should be allowed to go bankrupt and allow for either the government to take over or for other companies both domestic/abroad to buy it out. For more drastic measures, the company should be broken apart into separate companies owned and operated by different companies. This will at least provide for more competition that will in the end result in better prices for consumers.
(What do you think? : Discuss with your teacher and share your thoughts on whether or not TEPCO should be able to increase their rates. Go in detail and determine what/if any actions the company has taken to reduce costs/expenses. )
