news/notes 2009.02.16

[Top News]-from "The Japan Times"
Predictions on climate get gloomier
Pace of change on many fronts much worse than expected
The pace of global warming is likely to be much faster than recent
predictions because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased
more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering
self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in gloval ecosystems, scientists
said Saturday.

Japan's Iraq aid mission officially ends

Pyongyang makes possible peace offering

Specific firms got last-minute gifts in stimulus
In rushing to pull together a landmark economic stimulus package
last week,Democratic lawmakers and the White House added billions
in new spending　and tax breaks that will benefit a handful of
specific companies and industries.

[Words]-from "LDOCE"
greenhouse effect
the gradual warming of the air surrounding the earth as a result of heat
being trapped by pollution

greenhouse gas
a gas, especially carbon dioxide or methane, that is tought to trap heat
above the earth and cause the greenhouse effect