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ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's health minister urged TV stations
Saturday to replace Pokemon cartoons with other children's programs
after a 7-year-old girl jumped off a balcony apparently believing
she was a Pokemon character with superhuman powers. Seda Aykanat,
who jumped off her fifth-floor balcony Friday and broke her leg,
was the second Turkish child to jump off a balcony apparently
to imitate Pokemon characters -- cartoon animals with special
powers. Earlier, a 4-year-old boy sustained injuries after a
similar jump. Health Minister Osman Durmus already had asked
ministry experts to study the effect of the Pokemon cartoon on
children. The experts concluded Friday that the cartoon distanced
children from reality, confused them by presenting both ''good
and bad heroes,'' and desensitized them to violence, daily Hurriyet
reported Saturday. Full story at: http://www.newsday.com/ap/text/international/ap934.htm |