Care for bears

ANIMAL lovers Kimberley Hill and Nicola Kearns have written an article on the worldwide ill treatment of bears as part of a national challenge to highlight cruelty.

They have to complete five tasks in the Tusk Force Challenge for a chance to be invited to London for a conservation award.

They have written a poem and designed a poster, made a model of an animal, planted a butterfly garden and raised money.

The final part of the challenge is to have an article printed in a newspaper and they have turned to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for help.

Kimberley, 13, of Hall Street, Colne, attends Towneley High School, Burnley, while Nicola, 12, of Ighten Road, Ightenhill, Burnley, attends Ivy Bank High School. They have been dancing partners since they were six years old.

Kimberley's mother Cindy said: "They are both very concerned about animals and their welfare and are members of a lot of charities and organisations.

"Kimberley has written to President Bill Clinton about the monkeys they use at NASA, but she never received a reply.

"They are always raising money and getting involved in campaigns and Kimberley wants to be a vet when she is older."

Their article reads:

"Day by day all different species of bears are decreasing because there is a huge demand for their gall bladders and other body parts which are used for Chinese medicine and exotic delicacies. Some bears are involved in bear baiting where the bear will be forced to fight several times a day. Its teeth are removed and two or more dogs pin the bear to the ground and attack the bear. Both the bear and dogs can suffer appalling injuries.

Another ordeal bears have to go through is a trade called dancing bears where the bear's legs are severely beaten to make them stand upright and their sensitive noses are pierced with a ring which hooks on to a chain.

The bears will be left in hot temperatures without food or water until the owner is ready for the bear to entertain.

You could help these poor animals by supporting groups like Tusk Force, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the World Society for the Protection of Animals and many more organisations and give bears a better chance of survival."

Keep up with the news

PUPILS at St Barnabas CE Primary School, Darwen - pictured right - have been keeping up to date with the news this month, through our Story Search Reading Scheme.

The project, now in its fifth year, is designed and produced by our newspaper, especially for schools in East Lancashire. Daily copies of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, a booklet guiding youngsters through 46 different reading tasks, plus nine free gifts for each participating pupil, are delivered into the classroom. If your school would like to join the scheme, available at any time at a cost of £2.50 per pupil, ring Rita Shaw on 01254 678678 ext 255.

Book reviews

SCHOOLS taking part in any of our NIE projects in the classroom are offered free books for reviews, which might be published. For more information on making links with our project and writing book reviews, ring or write to the NIE address.

DEATH OR GLORY BOYS, by Theresa Breslin (Methuen, £11.99 hardback) THIS is an all-action story about Sarah and Phil who join the Army Cadets and are plunged into a nightmare involvement with Cal, a terrorist bomber.

This book is unlike others I have read and makes the reader think about our response to terrorists in the real world. It also has a thriller element bringing the story to life, like watching an exciting film.

I would definitely recommend this novel to any young person looking for a really gripping story.

MICHAEL HONG, Year Nine, Habergham High School, Burnley.

CLOSER, CLOSER, by Steve May (Mammoth, £3.99)

THIS book is about a teenage girl, Sarah, who feels that she is in her twin sister's shadow, so she makes some new friends. But she finds that her new friends go out drinking, smoking, clubbing and also bunk off school.

When Sarah goes to Ashdown Festival with Jess, Bo, Moose and Bobski, her new friends, things start going wrong.

This is an interesting book that can warn you of the dangers of going somewhere without telling your parents where you are going. I would give this book seven out of 10 because although it was a good story, I did not like the use of swearing.

HELEN FLETCHER, age 13, St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington.

History and language bonus

ABOUT 60 schools are all set to use our history and language resource. Material for classroom use includes copies of our educational supplement "Spotlight on the Century" with 12 pages of events, news and pictures from our archives, researched and written by teachers.

Participating schools will also receive daily copies of our newspaper with more local history features from October 6-10 and a free copy of our hardback book "Images of East Lancashire" worth £16.99.

Last date for orders was September 20 but, if you hurry, your school just has time to join in by using the order form delivered to your school or ringing Rita Shaw on 01254 678678.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.