Monday, 19 July, 2021
Floods wreak havoc in Europe ; a robot helps a Queen; Wallabies beat the French; and Joshi the gentle gorilla.
LINKS
Drone footage of European floods aftermath https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-57869617
Queen and Robot open a bridge: https://apnews.com/article/technology-europe-amsterdam-a37e034e02967886c2e0a64c17f34f3a
Joshi the gorilla: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-57854071
Squiz Kids Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/squizkids/?hl=en
Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Send us an email at [email protected]
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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A big clean up was underway in parts of Europe over the weekend as residents of Germany, Belgium and Austria took stock of some of the worst flooding to hit the region in decades.
Houses were washed away and at least 150 people are believed to have died when heavy rains caused flash flooding and rivers to break their banks.
Break their banks is an expression used when there is so much water in a river that it flows over the banks of the river.
In some villages, the rain was so heavy and the rivers rose so fast that the water reached up to the second floor of some houses. Other homes were washed away completely, while landslides buried entire communities in mud.
While residents of the many towns affected have begun the clean-up, the army has been sent in to search for survivors, with residents of many villages still missing.
The flooding happened when more than a month’s worth of rain fell in a 24 hour period .. with the leader of one of the worst-affected regions in Germany calling it a ‘catastrophe of historic proportions’ and calling for urgent action to stop climate change.
I’ve put a link in today’s episode notes to drone footage of the damage. It’s pretty remarkable stuff.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops .. and today we’ve landed in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, world famous for its canals and bridges – where the queen of the Netherlands got help from a robot to open the world’s first 3D-printed bridge over one of the old canals.
The 12-metre long, 4,500-kilogram steel bridge was built by four robots, and looks like something out of Star Wars. It’s loaded with electrical sensors that will record information on how the 3D printed steel responds to weather, strain and use by pedestrians and cyclists… and scientists are hoping that they can use that information to safely design and build bigger 3D steel structures.
And yes, of course we’ve put a link in your episode notes so you can check it out for yourselves.
You’re welcome.
SPORTS TIME
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Felicitations is how the French say ‘congratulations’ – which is what France’s national rugby team, Les Bleus, were saying to the Wallabies on Saturday night when the boys in green and gold held on in a thrilling match at Brissie’s Suncorp Stadium to win the three match Renaissance series.
The magic boot of Brumbies fly-half Noah Lolesio helped the Wallabies secure a narrow 33-30 victory over the visiting French team .. a win that was made all the more sweet by the fact the Wallabies were playing most of the match one man down after star centre, Moreika Koroibete was sent off for a high tackle early in the game.
Speaking of the French .. all eyes were on Paris overnight when the Tour de France came to its usual picturesque end with the traditional processional ride into the French capital. The winner, Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia claimed his second title. The Tour de France is the most famous bike race in the world. It happens every year and sees hundreds of cyclists from all over the world ride three-and-half-thousand kilometres around France over a period of some 23 days. I’m exhausted just thinking about it …
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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If you’ve ever moved to a new town, or changed schools and had to start over again, then you’ll know exactly what Joshi the gentle gorilla is going through right now.
Born and raised in a zoo in England, Joshi has recently been relocated to a new home in a country in Africa called Congo-Brazzaville.
It’s a country that is famous for its lush jungles – and for the gorillas that live there in the wild.
Because Joshi is used to living in a zoo – he’s been teamed up with a couple of other young gorillas who are going to teach him how to find food in the wild. A bit like when you’re the new kid at school and the principal pairs you with kids who have been there a while to help you find your feet in the playground.
Joshi’s zoo keepers were super sad to see him go – because he’s a really gentle, well-mannered boy: but happy at the same time because they knew he was going to live an exciting life in the jungle – and do what gorillas were born to do.
It’s also hoped Joshi might meet a lovely girl gorilla and start a little gorilla family. With gorilla experts saying at the weekend they’re confident he’ll be a hit with the females because gentle male gorillas were just as attractive as their louder, rougher counterparts. Go Joshi!
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- Which city in The Netherlands has just unveiled a bridge made with a 3D printer?
- Who won the rugby test in Brisbane on the weekend – the Wallabies or Les Bleus?
- Where did Joshi the gentle gorilla live before he was sent on an adventure to live in the jungles of Africa?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s July 19 … tonight marks the beginning of the Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice … tonight in households all over the country – and all over the world – people of the Muslim faith will gather – where COVID restrictions allow – share a special meal and pray. It’s one of two major Muslim holidays celebrated each year.
It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today… Nicholas from Cherrybrook, Patrick from Killarney Vale, Laith from Chiswick, Paxton from Woy Woy, Hugo from Baldivis, Carly from Bomaderry, Pippa from Clothiers Creek, Lewis from Mt Riverview, Madeline and Noa from Queanbeyan South, Charlotte from Revesby and Hayley from Mansfield.
Happy belated birthday Will, Alex and Bella from Mansfield, Ben from Caringbah South, Lacey from Tumut, Mason from Woodhill and Eve from Granton.
Classroom shout outs today go to…. 4P at Matthew Flinders Anglican College at Buderim where their teacher Miss Peddie is celebrating her birthday. Year 6 at Deception Bay Public School and a belated happy birthday to their teacher Mrs Webber. Year 4 and room 11 at Mullaloo Beach Primary School. Year 5 and Mrs Tregido at St Paul’s Primary in Gateshead. Class 5/6CS at Como West Public school and finally to Mr Melissari and class 2/3 Teal at Dalmeny Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Amsterdam
- Wallabies
- In a zoo