January 2010 in Review

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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 8 (February 2010).

January 2010 in Review
By Jessie (Asylum)

Despite its exciting name, we all know that news can be boring. Let’s face it; wading through websites knee-deep in articles on topics you don’t care about is a daunting task any day of the week (unless you like that sort of thing.) For those of you less inclined to dig up the stories on your own (and even those of you who enjoy the hunt), now you have nothing to worry about! Check out this section for synopses of news events from the past month that you’re talking about (or should be!)

Mental Health

On January 1st 2010, a study released by Columbia University Medical Center in New York, USA suggests that teenagers who go to bed late and who sleep less each night are more likely to develop depression and suicidal thoughts. Data was collected from 15,500 12 to 18-year-olds, and the results were staggering: teens who went to bed after midnight were 24% more likely to have depression than those who went to bed before 10pm, and teens who slept less than five hours per night had a startling 71% higher risk than those teens sleeping eight hours. For more on this study visit www.bbc.co.uk.

On January 12th 2010 a study finds students are more depressed now than during the Great Depression. The study, to be published in a future issue of the Clinical Psychology Review, analyzed 77,576 high school or college students. Overall it found an average of five times as many students in 2007 struggled with one or more mental health disorders, compared to 1938. To read more visit www.ap.org.

Health

A study published January 11th 2010 on the Website of Circulation, an American Heart Association journal, suggests that watching too much television can take years off your life. The study of 8,800 adults found that those who watched less than four or more hours of TV per day were 80% more likely to die from heart disease and 46% more likely to die from any cause, compared to those who watched less than two hours of TV per day. To read more about this study visit www.cnn.com or www.health.com.

Human Rights

On January 11th 2010 Perry v. Schwarzenegger begins in San Francisco, California, USA. The case challenges California Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment stating that only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized in the state of California. Perry v. Schwarzenegger is expected to be a landmark case regarding same-sex marriage, and many suspect it will reach the Supreme Court of the United States. For the latest, visit www.ap.org or www.cnn.com.

On January 12th 2010 Internet superpower Google announces it may end operations in China. Since 2006 Google has conceded to the Chinese government’s demands on censorship, but upon announcing that they may cease to censor search results, google.cn expects disruptions in or cessation of services. For more visit www.reuters.com or www.bbc.co.uk.

Economy

On January 19th 2010 it is announced that British confectionery company Cadbury will be purchased by American company Kraft Foods for UK£11.5 billion (approximately US$18.9 billion). The acquisition is controversial, and layoffs are expected, as the deal will put Kraft in debt. For the latest news visit www.bbc.co.uk.