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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Trends in Arabic Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Trends in Arabic Music - Essay Example Trends in Arabic Music Music The Arabic music that is now heard is known for the rich styles, evolution of popular trends and different implications within the entertainment industry. Recently, the popular music has expanded into international reaches that are able to present the ideologies of the culture. This moves into the folkloric elements, which use specific instrumentation and rhythms which are known throughout Arabia. These musical productions are combined with the newer elements of technology, specifically with the ability to present the music through performances, television and other multimedia images. Combining these factors has allowed the trends in Arabic music to expand and to move into the popular ideologies that reflect the culture while allowing the music to be one which is equal to the popular concepts that are now used within society (Aziz, 1). There are several divisions with the popular Arabic music which continue to set trends throughout the region. The first is known as Rai, which i s the most accepted type of music in the world today, specifically because it associates with the folk type instruments and rhythms while combining with the technology of today. . This is combined with the Sudanese and Nubian rhythms that are within the society, both which consist of fast paced rhythms, polyphonic accents and movements in the music that are specific to the Arabic culture. The rise of Arabic popular music; however, was led by the Egyptian style music through pop stars such as Amr Diab. This has created a hybrid of the Rai and specific rhythms while combining the tribal sounds with the up to date electronics known to many as the new world music (Werner, 1). Creating a Musical Style The overall trends in popular music have also led to specific styles which are now identified as Arabic in nature. This consists of both images and sounds which are used among Arabic music and which distinguish the various features of those that are listening to the music. The first part of this is based on combining the current situations with the ideologies of musical style within the region. The strong commitment to religion, secular beliefs with love and fulfillment in life and leisure activities is the main themes which are presented among those interested in the popular music. This is combined with the ideologies of art, leisure and entertainment as reflecting the ideas of society specifically with making statements about the beliefs and conditions which are in the region. The musical style is then able to create a hybrid component with the folkloric elements that drive the rhythm and sound while creating a style that is reflective of the themes of religion and relationships within the Arabic world (Neiuwkerk, 169). Another component which is now reflected in the musical style is coming from the ideal of moving into globalization. Many of the musical styles are now reflecting the elements of hybrid forms of art and transcultural realities. There are several popu lar trends which are showing this with the musical styles that are present within society. For instance, reality TV is creating a sense of critical transculturalism, which is based on political, economic and cultural changes of the time. Politically and economically, the Arabic world has changed into one which is intertwined with the associations of the Western world and

Monday, October 28, 2019

US and US Government Formation Comparison

US and US Government Formation Comparison CONTENTS PAGE (Jump to) INTRODUCTION Communication strategy used by George Bush and Tony Blair [Similarities and Differences] LITERATURE REVIEW METHODOLOGY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Reformation of the Labour Party Labour gets new supporters The Tony Blair effect The Media – role of press, television and papers American Value system and Image – Differences between USA and UK- Social, Cultural, Political and Electoral CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION The political environment of two of the world’s leading countries has always held a degree of interest amongst researchers of international relations and politics. It has perhaps to do with the level of impact that the internal and external policies of these two governments have on the global economy. In this paper, we shall attempt to understand the differences and similarities between the political setups of the UK and the USA and follow the strategies and tactics of the elected governments over the past decade or so. At this stage, it is important to point out that there are many contrasting viewpoints on some of the decisions taken by the governments of these countries, hopefully; they can in their own way provide an all encompassing picture of the political canvas that surrounds these countries. On the one hand, we shall discuss in detail the formation of the Democratic government with Bill Clinton until the current Republican administration of George Bush. On the other side of the Atlantic, we shall visit a different piece of history where Tony Blair and the British Labour Party which has been in power over much the same period. Beginning with the UK, the Labour Party has been somewhat of a trendsetter. It has been in power in the UK since 1992 with its first elected leader as John Smith. 2 years later, with the passing away of John Smith, Tony Blair was elected as the leader of the Labour Party and has remained so ever since. The party has been in existence through the most part of the 20th century and it came into being on the backs of the large labour force during the advent of the industrial revolution in the UK. It has been seen as the voice of the people and responsible for many social causes such as the introduction of free education and healthcare (when it has been in power during various pockets of the 20th century). The NHS (National Health Service) was created by the Labour Party and is the lifeline on which the people of Britain are heavily dependent upon. Over the years, the Labour party has also been known to be the ‘People’s party’ – as the name suggests it represent s the needs of the people at all levels of society. Interestingly, Tony Blair in the Book – â€Å"The People’s Party† by Wright Carter (1997) mentions that the Labour Party is different from all other parties in Britain for 2 primary reasons. Firstly, it is a relatively new party that has been created over the course of the 20th century and imbibes the modern values and cultural needs of the people. Unlike other parties, it understands the contemporary needs of people and is proxy to the more recent callings of the nation. Secondly, the formation of the party did not take place in the City of Westminster. It was created as a result of the needs of the people in the countryside and in the small towns that lined the UK. The Labour Party was also renowned for bringing in a breath of fresh values and beliefs in comparison to the Conservative Party that had become to be known as the party which didn’t bring about changes to the degree required by the people. With Labour in power over the last decade, things have changed today. It all began very well with Tony Blair drafting policies that was well accepted by the people, but ever since; the Party has seen a steady decline in support over the years. A few years back, there were reservations that the Labour government could not take the country beyond a certain point. Soon after, Tony Blair’s uncompromising support of the US to enter the Iraq War was seen as a shot in the foot for the party. The people were divided in their sentiments on supporting Labour to take down the Saddam Hussein regime. In their opinion, it was correct to go into Iraq but through the United Nations and not as part of the US Taskforce. The few who believed otherwise b egan to change their minds after the invasion of Iraq when more and more British soldiers were killed in action. This created huge waves of disappointment in the UK and the support of the British people slowly left Labour. Whilst Tony Blair was re-elected in 2005, it was by the narrowest margin in the decade old history of the government. And even though Tony Blair finds himself in power, his position at the moment isn’t the best it could be. Moving on to the US side of elections and government policies, the most basic difference in the US is that it has adopted a presidential form of government as opposed to the parliamentary system in the UK. Bill Clinton, a democrat was voted into power in 1993. This was around the same time that the Labour party came into power in the UK. However, the political campaign was not a bed of roses for Clinton. His character was questioned with examples being cited from the Vietnam War of a ‘character issue’. At the same time, he was also personally attacked for alleged infidelity which both him and his wife – Hillary refuted and embarked on a campaign through television interviews and other media vehicles to reassure the American public that they had a strong and workable marriage. To add to this, just prior to the elections, the Clinton’s were involved in what came to be known as the ‘Whitewater Real estate’ scandal. Through trial in 1996, the partn ers in the venture were all convicted of fraud whereas the Bill Clinton was never accused of any wrong-doings on his part. The first real challenge that Clinton faced after being elected was to allow homosexuals in the armed forces. This was faced with a lot of resentment and he received considerable flak for allowing such a rule to prevail in the military. After much debate, it was agreed that homosexuality would not be used against the people serving in the armed forces – more like a ‘Don’t ask me and I wont tell’ policy. Internally, Clinton also faced problems with the issues of welfare reform, the prevention of crime and the healthcare system. The one area that Clinton really shone was on the international map. He instrumented many successes for the US and built valuable bridges for the country’s future. Some of these achievements included the showcasing of America as a friend to the Israel – Jordan peace program, an improvement in the re lations with Russian by proposing economic benefits to President Boris Yeltsin, tackling the instability and security issues in countries in Eastern Europe such as Bosnia and lastly, the improving of relations between the US and India, China and the Far eastern countries. The one significant area which was worked upon together with Tony Blair was the NATO intervention in 1999. Here, the 2 leaders worked to get the NATO to respond to the ethnic cleansing that was taking place in the Serbian capital of Kosovo. As a result, they were able to bomb Serbia for 78 days. However, Clinton did face some degree of criticism of holding back the troops to enter Serbia but was rewarded soon after since the President of Serbia did sign a peace treaty in the following months after the bombing campaign. And Clinton was re-elected and stayed in power till 2001. During his stint, he was popularly renowned for giving America its most prosperous period in terms of peace and economic well-being. The US faced its lowest ever period of unemployment, the highest home ownership in the history of the country and the lowest rate of inflation as well. The only slur on his tenure came in the form of the ‘Monica Lewinsky Scandal’ where he was allegedly involved intimately with one of the White House interns. It must be noted that Clinton was the first president to ever appear before a grand jury in an investigation. Over a period of time, the people of the US gradually forgot about this scandal and allowed him to move on with the governing of the country. On the whole, Clinton was remarkably adept at improving the American equation with a host of countries it had not done so in the past – South Africa, India, China and many more especially in the South East. (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0760626.html) George Bush came into power in the year 2001 as the successor to Bill Clinton. However, he is a Republican and in a short space of time, came to have an impact on world politics and international relations in a way never conceived before. Bush’s tenure has been populated wit the fight against terrorism which began with the attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001. This has been somewhat of a 2 phased campaign against terrorism. Initially, it began with the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist responsible for the September 11th attacks and the corresponding hunt to catch him in the country of Afghanistan. More recently, the campaign trail has focused its efforts on the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. And this in turn, has divided the American public in their opinion on whether the act of entering Iraq was in fact, justified. The problems for Bush rose closer to the end of his first electoral period when many American soldiers were being killed in Iraq. The peop le of the US were growing more and more uneasy with the Iraq campaign and Bush was on the verge of losing his chances of being re-elected in the next election. Experts found that Bush had unfortunately concentrated his efforts and attention too heavily on the war against terror and people were getting tired of it. Additionally, the common man was looking to improve his / her standard of living and with unemployment rising and a stained economic scenario, Bush was looking like he might be in trouble. However, the primary strategy adopted by the Republican administration was to try and highlight the economic benefits that the Bush administration had created over the years and try and push into the background, the campaign against terrorism and the Iraq War. Add to this, the opposition leader from the Democratic Party did not have the political clout to seriously challenge the Republicans. All these ingredients came together to ensure that George Bush was re-elected into power for the second election term. Ever since his second elected term, George Bush and his political policies have stayed relatively sublime in the eyes of the people and the media. What has never ceased to stir interest and conflict in the minds of the people of both the US and the UK is the relationship shared by the two leaders. Both Bush and Blair have been known to share similar political agendas and Tony Blair has received a lot of flak for supporting Bush on the Iraq War and other global political campaigns. The general consensus in the UK is that Tony Blair has not done justice to the UK by bending backwards to the demands of the US. This was once again, explicitly highlighted with growing number of deaths of British soldiers in Iraq. At the time of writing this report, the feeling shared by most people is whether the War on Iraq was justified in the first place and was there a need to go in to it supporting the US as opposed to entering Iraq as the United Nations. Unfortunately, the UK has been hit by a wave of terrorist attacks in the last few months and this has made the people much more uncomfortable in the security assurances by the Blair government. Going forward, the relationship between these 2 leaders is always going to be tested as the people of these countries learn to live through problems inflicting upon them. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/) People and Democracy have been long standing battles between governments and masses. There are a lot of issues which are of prime importance to the government for resurrecting their policies and objectives, the people on the other hand have to understand the impact of these policies to determine how they vote for the government and their representative. In the current scenario, the re lections of George Bush and Tony Blair took place amidst a lot of surprise, indignation, horror and laxity, while some people were expecting it, the others had nothing but stingy remarks about how uninformed people are about world issues to bring back leaders like Bush and Blair back in the lime light. The highlight and common issue which has plagued both these leaders has been terrorism and the Iraq war. It all started with the unfortunate 9/11 attacks on the twin towers. In his quest to prove to the American public his commitment to the people, Bush extended his powers to regimes in Iraq and other pla ces which were supposed breeding grounds for the likes of Osama Bin Laden and terrorism. Tony Blair in his quest to support the American government participated in the war at an equal footing. The people and democracy in USA and UK has harnessed a notion of fight against terror yet the public has been against the government’s initiatives. Communication strategy used by George Bush and Tony Blair [Similarities and Differences] Canvassing Approach and Messaging Public Meetings Agendas for these meetings – Iraq, Health, Taxation, Drugs, Education, Homeland Security, National Security and Environment Advertisements Press Relations Communication is a powerful tool which has been used many a times to gain power and win elections. The communication strategy can be based on various levels covering press releases, campaigns, canvassing, advertisement and mailers among other avenues. Even then the communication strategy used in USA differs a great deal from that of UK; this will be discussed and dissected later in another section. LITERATURE REVIEW Richards Paul(2001) in his book, How to win an election talks about preparation and planning, the different tribes of politics, planning a campaign, direct campaigning and indirect campaigning. Elections are probably one of the most components which differentiate a democratic society from a non democratic society. An election is what makes a democracy work when people truly have a right to vote and choose who is their representative and who would drive and support their. General elections decide which party goes ahead and forms a government and also how the politics and economy work for a country. There have been various attempts to increase interest in elections and their outcomes. In UK, the home office came up with a list of variations:- â€Å"Polling hours: variations in polling hours to allow different start or finish times. Polling days: moving polling to an alternative weekday or a day at the weekend or allowing voting over more than one day. Early voting: opening a limited number of polling stations in the period before polling day at accessible locations to allow any eligible elector to vote. Mobile polling: providing a mobile polling station which could take the ballot box to groups of voters, for example, by visiting residential and convalescent homes. Out of area voting: allowing electors to vote at any polling station in the electoral area, or even outside it All postal ballots: allowing an election to be held on the basis of postal voting only Electronic voting: supplementing polling booths and polling stations with automated voting equipment, telephone voting or online remote voting via the internet.† [Richards Paul (2001), p 20-70] No election can be fought in isolation; there are always background issues which have relevance to the election and campaigning. In September 2000 the British government almost came to a halt due to the widely proclaimed petrol price protests, yet no politician or government was prepared for this action and its repercussions. Candidates who are seen as rising stars could soon be biting dust; history is littered with example of failed careers as aspiring politicians have lost their claim to fame due to the unpredictable ways of elections. Elections have always been a ground of unpredictability and surprises, who would have thought that Winston Churchill after his brilliant win in the year 1940 would be miserably defeated in 1945. The conservatives suffered badly in the year 2001 when Tony Blair defeated them with a massive victory. One does not need massive knowledge about political theory and how it works to know that elections are random and unpredictable. The reason being, that ele ctions are all about people, people who decide who they want to vote for or who they want to disregard based on their perceptions. People are beyond scientific interpretation or calculations, how they react and what the do is beyond anyone’s understanding of the human psyche. Interestingly so the way people choose a brand of washing liquid is probably the way they choose their next political leader. Elections need a lot of research and manpower; there are strategists, campaigners, sociologists, pollsters who work on the way the votes would swing in a direction. There is intense study involved about the last elections and the way they panned, the way people reacted to the campaign and the activities undertaken by the previous government. Modern politics has become an art, the most unlikely candidate can sweep house, and how does one explain the theory behind the victory of George W. Bush? Although politicians will try to sway the way voters work but in a democratic society it is always difficult to understand what really make the people tick. A lot of incidents in political history show how elections can actually sway either way for any candidate and no amount of confidence can confirm the victory or loss in a campaign. In the April 1970, Prime Minister Harold Wilson was extremely fond of using a football metaphor, â€Å"If I were a football manager, on present form I would be more worried about job security than I am a prime minister†. Harold Wilson lost the elections in June, 1970, his confidence in his victory was based on real time facts like good poll ratings, sound majority in the House of Commons, media and peer opinion led him to think so. [Richards Paul (2001), p. 45-55] Yet the voters had other ideas in mind, despite all the facts pointing in the direction of a straight win, Wilson lost badly. So no matter how one campaigns, votes cannot be taken for granted as situations can change really fast. Election campaigns are a very expensive task, consuming hundreds of millions for resources like advertising, media, posters, television broadcasts, direct mail and canvassing. In short winning an election is a tough job and a risky business. Politics is similar to fashion, it runs of trends and fads which are hard to predict and adopt. Election campaigns are also dependent on unforeseen circumstances which can prop up anytime, scandals, loose press criticism, reports and issues which can blow the campaign in minutes. Campaigns are dictated by what Harold Macmillan calls â€Å"events dear boy, events†, they cannot be run with static rules, one need to get innovative and adapt to the current environment and what it seeks. A set of tactics is not what drives one to political victory; it’s the form of changing and learning from others mistakes and best known practices. As the soviet foreign minister said to Ernest Bevin, â€Å"the disadvantage of free elections is that you can never be sure who is going to win them†. [Richards Paul (2001), p 30-40] Richard Paul (2001, p. 65 75) says â€Å"Other than the artistry of the campaign, there is science too. There are components and buildings blocks of a campaign which are crucial to standing a chance. There are the techniques tested against real experience and real elections, and the accumulated knowledge of a thousand campaigns and campaigners. There are a plenty of representative politicians in office today all over the world who owe their positions of power not to have a better ideas or even a majority of support, but thanks to better organization. The result of the 2000 US presidential election was decided on the tiniest margins, was won by an organization – the ability to get out the vote†. This takes us to how much a campaign contributes in the election results and which way they go. Political choices are made by voters not just by weeks and months of campaigning. Neil Connock famously said that â€Å"elections are won in years, not weeks†, the voters get to decide whom they vote for based on a combination on reasons, one of them being a campaign which serves a reminder of what has been done in the past. Analyst David Butler echoes the idea of a campaign as a ritual. He says, â€Å"The campaign may to some extent be a ritual dance, a three-week repetition of well-aired themes, making no substantial net difference to the outcome. British elections are usually won over the long haul. A very large proportion of people vote out of loyalty, supporting the party that they and their parents too have always supported; those that change their minds are usually converted, not because of the final three weeks, but over the months and years because of an accumulated impres sion, positive or negative, and of the values and the performance of rival parties†. [Richards Paul (2001), p. 50 65] Politics in America has been an integral part of International Politics and it affects all nations. If we look at the American political and electoral process and their insightful history, it would help understand how democratic they are in their ways. Richard Maidment and Anthony Mcbrew (1993) in their book, â€Å"the American political process†, talk about liberal democracy in the American political system. The language of the current American politics can leave little doubt in our minds that it’s all about democrats and upholding the values and power of democracy where the public and voters stand the strongest. A very important factor which distinguishes the American society and the people also its political stance is the society. The lack of class consciousness in the American society, the heterogeneous religious and social environment also the lack of feudal system has made it into such a democratic society. The American attitude towards government politics has bee n very individualistic. The stress has always been on the American offices being run by a place of legality and enshrined in the view that this is what makes this society and political distinctive. The nation is so heterogeneous in its approach and outlook that it’s difficult to pinpoint the political culture. The American politicians have had a large share of history and legacy to deal with, the American history which needs the same culture to carry on. The politicians need to make their own choices of public policy options all of which need acceptance on a wider level within the system. It just means that the boundaries are being stretched and the politicians and political systems so that there is a room for more man oeuvre. George Bush had a lot to inherit and manage considering that they were taking over from the Reagan administration right at the beginning of his political career. In 1989, the relationship between the Soviet Union and the USA were brimming the brightest and that the time due to a lot of positive activity in Easter Europe the USA’s position was fairly strong. In this light of the American political system one does need to consider the importance of congress in the political arena of America. The congress has always been an important aspect of the American election and political arena. In 1985, Woodrow Wilson wrote of the congress: â€Å"It is unquestionably the predominant and controlling force, the center and source of all motive and of all regulative power †¦the legislature is the aggressive spirit†¦it has entered more and more into the details of administration, until it has virtually taken into its own hands all the substantial powers of government†¦I know no t how better to describe our form of government in a single phrase than by calling it a government by the chairman of the standing committees of congress (Wilson, 1956, pp.31, 44, 49, 52)† [Richard Maidment and Anthony Mcbrew (1993), p 110-140] Some years later another very distinguished gentleman who took great care in understanding the American society said, â€Å"Congress has been the branch government with the largest facilities for usurping the powers of the other branches, and probably with the most dispositions to do so. It has succeeded in occupying nearly all of the area which the constitution left vacant and unallocated between the second authorities it established. (Bryce, 1889, Vol.2, pp. 711-12)†. [Richard Maidment and Anthony Mcbrew (1993), p 140-180] Brian White, Richard Little and Michael smith (1997) in their book, Issues in World Politics, talks about the political environment across the world, states and statehood, trade money and markets, regions, development and inequality, arms and arms control, nationalism and ethnic conflict, environment and natural resources. An important aspect of today’s political systems and elections is the role media plays in keeping everyone informed. All the information that we now receive locally, nationally or internationally is thanks to media which may come in various forms like television, radio, newspaper and the modern internet communications. Information is now available free and easy unlike the olden days when a lot of places were thought to be remote and so information traveled slower than usual. All that has changed now, all the political issues and what affects the leaders from coming to power is all available on media. The media is playing an important role now where globaliza tion is making the world a smaller place. Someone like George Bush had to see CNN to understand the Iraq situation since it brought the latest news to the public. The elections use the television as a medium to get their message across to the public and let them know of the work being undertaken by them. All of the canvassing and public debates between political opponents are covered by television on a global scale so that countries across continents have complete up to date knowledge about the happenings. Elections in USA and UK the world super powers are an important place for international policies or national policies which will affect other countries that are in business/trade with them. The selection of the political leader is also an important cause since it determines the amiability or hostility of maintaining relationships with leaders of some countries. The two last most controversial elections have been that of George Bush in USA and Tony Blair in UK especially in the wak e of the much controversial Iraq war. A lot of movies, documentaries and new articles have since then been published trying to give the general public across continents a more varied and comprehensive insight into the election process and what tipped the scales in favour of the two most contentious leaders. The American president has been surrounded with controversy since the twin tour attacks and his rebuttal to that, the capture of Saddam Hussein and finally the Iraq war which is a dark reality which has still not ended. The civil disputes are ongoing between the army and anti social elements in that society trying to keep the dispute ongoing. USA has been at the helm of lot of international criticism; all this has been made possible due to the regular broadcasts and news items being provided by television and other media mediums. An interesting name in media who has brought a lot to the fore front and what George Bush has really set out to do is Michael Moore. His book, â€Å"Dude, where’s my country?† is an attempt to uncover some truth and factual information about George Bush, his strategies in the past, terrorism, the use of tax issues to buy the public vote and America the liberal paradise which is no more. The book is a poignant account of how much has changed in America the land of the free under the regime of George Bush who has worked on his terms and conditions against popular demands and International interventions. The history for this big calamity is set in the time when Bill Clinton was the USA president. He being a liberal did not use radical moves to counter attack everyone considered America’s enemy. Clinton was a popular leader by choice who really put USA up there as the world super power and not so by doing direct attacks on countries like Iraq and other nations who pr esented a threat to America’s prosperity. It was during the regime of Bill Clinton that one learnt in the 1990s how to fight all the wars yet keep the losses of the Americans to a bare minimum. Clinton closed down bases, reduced the number of troops, and funneled money into other projects which were indirect attacks on other nations but without jeopardizing the lives of many Americans. The Clinton era built America to become a high tech lean machine which is was really helped pentagon and the Bush government in fighting back the terrorist attacks. The book further goes on to pin the blames of the terrorist attacks in USA on George Bush and his former collaboration with the Bin Laden family. The book is highly controversial in nature as it makes factual claims about Bin Laden’s close association with America and with the Bush family. Despite all this being published openly in the wake of the attacks and the negative profiling George Bush underwent, he still came back successful in the next elections which followed. Is this a surprise or does it contain more fact about the truth in brainwashing the public voters into believing what one wants them to. George Bush in a very strategic move has used the war to win the elections; he has put the fear of public safety and the war against terrorism to pass more and more acts which give them control over public records, their activities and lives. The patriotic act is one such act which takes a bite out of American democracy and freedom of speech and action. George Bush has effect ively used the wars to tell the public that he won these for them and that all his actions are only to serve and protect the American public. Although there is democracy it’s more under pressure that people practice the same for the fear of prosecution under these new acts which give the government and officials more control over a citizens life. Some of the information in this book is insightful and frightening as it explores all the dirty facts which have been so far hidden from the public eye but the most inspiring fact is that the man embroiled in such controversy is once again been reelected as president of Unites states of America. The defense budget was increased drastically in the wake of these attacks and the office was in sync with these efforts given the attacks and the inkling of more such attacks in the future. Also George Bush has had a powerful ally in UK, Tony Blair who has

Friday, October 25, 2019

Naming Death A-I-D-S :: AIDS

Naming Death    I was visiting a doctor in Kwazulu-Natal, the province hardest hit by AIDS, to see for myself the impact of AIDS in the region. The doctor was just finishing up with an elderly patient from a village. After I introduced myself and stated the purpose of my visit, she immediately leaned towards the woman and demanded, "Tell her, just tell her how many young people you've buried this week."    The elderly woman softly replied, "Five funerals this Saturday. Every week about five or six."    "We've been told that one in eight South Africans are estimated to be HIV-positive," I said.    "My dear," the doctor matter-of-factly replied, "it's not one in eight here; 95 percent of the people I see are HIV positive."    95% ! I want you to close your eyes and imagine all of your friends and family - the people nearest and dearest to you. Now, I want you to imagine 95% of them gone.    This is what HIV does, this is what it is doing in South Africa and other parts of the world. What we saw there is a veritable genocide.    Before our trip, all of us read the statistics and in some way thought we understood the magnitude of AIDS epidemic, but you understand it only when you realize there is a human face behind every statistic. When throughout the country it is estimated that 1 in 8 people are HIV positive, do we really think that this battle can be won by multivitamins and condoms?    Yet, this is what I saw over and over again throughout Cape Town and other parts of the country. "These people are living in poverty," health care workers told me. "They can't get jobs. They can't even afford proper food, forget about drugs." The same doctor who told me that 95% of the patients are HIV positive lamented that the only treatment she can offer is multivitamins and one antibiotic!!!    How do we expect the younger generations to hope for a brighter future in this environment? I was told that many South African young people have a fatalistic, "I'm-going-to-die-anyway" attitude. How do you convince them to practice safe-sex? Or that their lives are worth living? There's a stigma attached to being HIV positive (we know that in this country as well).

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 28

â€Å"We need to act now,† Damon said when we reached the line of trees next to the field. The forest floor was slick with leaves, and there was no sound, not even of animals. I'd spent the last minutes desperately racking my brain, trying to think of some way to save Katherine. But I couldn't. Our only hope was to enter the fray, say a prayer for Pearl and Anna, then focus on freeing Katherine. It would be incredibly dangerous. But there was no other way. â€Å"Y es,† I replied with an authority I did not feel. â€Å"Are you ready?† Without waiting for an answer, I deftly moved toward the forest border, guided by the faint sound of angry shouting. I could see the outline of the estate. Damon crept by my side. Suddenly I saw a large burst of flames erupt from the carriage house. I gasped, but Damon simply glared at me. Just then, I heard the strident voice of Jonathan Gilbert. â€Å"Found another one!† I crept closer to the edge of the forest, until I had a full view of Jonathan slamming Henry from the tavern against the back of the police wagon. Noah held one of his arms, while another guard I didn't recognize held the other one. Jonathan held out his compass, frowning. â€Å"Stake him!† he said. The guard drew his bayonet back and thrust it into the center of Henry's chest. Blood spurted as Henry shrieked into the night air. Henry slumped to his knees, his eyes wide and staring down at the bayonet lodged in his body. I turned toward Damon, both of us realizing that we didn't have any time to waste. Damon bit his lip, and I knew we were in this together. Even though we often acted differently, when it counted we thought the same way. Maybe that–the shorthand communication we had as brothers–would be what would save us, and would save Katherine. â€Å"Vampires!† I yelled from the depths of the forest. â€Å"We found one! Help!† Damon called. Instantly, Noah and the other guard released their grip on Henry and ran toward us, their bayonets raised. â€Å"Over there!† Damon panted, pointing deep into the forest as the two guards stepped closer. â€Å"There was a man. We only saw a dark shadow, but he tried to attack my brother.† As if to illustrate his point, Damon traced the sticky path of blood that had pooled onto my collarbone from my neck. I reached my own hand to that spot in surprise. I'd forgotten that Katherine had bitten me. It seemed like a lifetime ago. The two guards looked at each other and nodded tersely. â€Å"Y boys shouldn't be out here ou without weapons. We've got some in the wagon,† without weapons. We've got some in the wagon,† Noah called, before charging into the forest. â€Å"Good,† Damon said, almost under his breath. â€Å"Let's go. And if you let me down, I'll kill you,† he said, breaking away toward the wagon. I followed him, moving wholly by adrenaline. We reached the unguarded wagon. Low moans came from the inside. Damon kicked the back of the wagon open and leapt up to the platform. I followed, gagging when I entered. The scent of the wagon was acrid, a combination of blood and vervain and smoke. Bodies writhed in corners, but the wagon was pitch-black, making it impossible to tell whether the figures were vampires or humans or a combination of the two. â€Å"Katherine!† Damon hissed, leaning down and roughly touching each of the bodies in his search for her. â€Å"Stefan?† a weak voice called from the corner, and I forced myself to not lash out, to not spit in the direction of the voice, to not stare into those villainous eyes and tell her I hoped she got exactly what she deserved. â€Å"Damon?† the voice broke. â€Å"Katherine. I'm here,† Damon whispered, making his way toward the far end of the wagon. I continued to stand, as if glued to the spot. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I began seeing things that were more terrible than anything I'd ever seen in my worst dreams. On the floor of the wagon were almost a dozen bodies, some of people who I recognized from around town. Henry, a few regulars from the saloon, and even Dr. Janes. Some of the bodies had stakes in them, others had muzzles over their mouths, their hands and feet bound and their mouths seemingly frozen in wide O's of horror; some were simply curled up as if they were already dead. The sight changed me, changed everything. I took off my hat and knelt down roughly, praying to God or whoever would listen to please save them. I remembered Anna's kitten-like cries, the dull fear in Pearl's eyes. Y they couldn't live here, but es, why did Father have to condone this brutal treatment? No one deserved to die like this, not even monsters. Why couldn't it be enough to simply run them out of town? Damon knelt down, and I rushed toward his side. Katherine was lying on her back, ropes binding her arms and legs. The ropes must have been covered with vervain, because there were terrible burns on the patches of skin that touched the twine. A leather mask covered her face, and her hair was matted with dried blood. I stood back, not wanting to touch her or even look at her, as Damon set to work untying the muzzle. Once she was free, I couldn't help but notice her teeth, her fangs, her true nature, obvious in a way I'd never seen before. But Damon was gazing at her as if in a trance. He gently brushed the hair off her face and slowly leaned in to kiss her lips. â€Å"Thank you,† said Katherine simply. That was it. And watching them, the way Katherine's fingers stroked Damon's hair, the way Damon cried into her collarbone, I knew that this was true love. As they continued to gaze into each other's eyes, I pulled my knife out of my pocket and gently tried to cut the ropes that bound her. I worked slowly and carefully, knowing that any additional contact with the ropes would cause her even more pain. â€Å"Hurry!† Damon whispered, sitting on his heels as he watched me work. I freed one arm, then another. Katherine sighed shakily, shrugging her shoulders up and down as if to make sure they still worked. â€Å"Help!† cried a pale, thin woman I didn't recognize. She was huddled in the very back of the wagon. â€Å"We'll be back,† I said, lying through my teeth. We wouldn't be back. Damon and Katherine had to escape, and I had to †¦ well, I had to help them. â€Å"Stefan?† Katherine said weakly as she struggled to her feet. Damon instantly rushed to her side and supported her fragile body. Just then, I heard footfalls near the wagon. â€Å"Escape!† one of the guards called. â€Å"We need backup. There's been a breach in the wagon!† â€Å"Run!† I called, pushing Damon and Katherine in the opposite direction of the guard. â€Å"No escape! All clear!† I shouted into the darkness, hoping that people would believe me as I hopped off the wagon. I saw the explosion of gunpowder before I heard the shot. A loud wail rent the night air, followed quickly by another booming shot. Heart in my throat, I ran around the wagon, already knowing what I'd see. â€Å"Damon!† I cried. He lay on the ground, blood oozing from his gut. Yanking off my shirt, I put the linen on the wound to stanch the bleeding. I knew it was no use, but still I held the fabric to his chest. â€Å"Don't shut your eyes, brother. Stay with me.† â€Å"No †¦ Katherine. Save her †¦,† Damon rasped, his head flopping toward the damp ground. I glanced, wild-eyed, from the truck to the woods. The two guards were sprinting back, Jonathan Gilbert behind them. I stood up, and instantly my body was met with the explosive, piercing, agonizing hit of a bullet. I felt my chest exploding, felt the cool night air whoosh past my body as I fell back, onto my brother. I opened my eyes and looked up at the moon, and then everything faded to black.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Failure of Structural Adjustment Programme

INTRODUCTION According to Collin dictionary government is the group of people who are responsible to govern country. Christian council of Tanzania and Tanzania Episcopal conference define government as the chief agency for organizing and in the end of controlling both development and order in the society. Also it is an organized body of persons and institutions that form an agency or machinery of the state which formulates, expresses and realizes the will of state. Therefore, government consists of the activities, methods and principles involved in the governing a country or other political unit. Government failure is the public sector analogy to market failure and occurs when a government intervention causes a more inefficient allocation of goods and resources than would occur without that intervention. Likewise, the government’s failure to intervene in a market failure that would result in socially preferable mix of output is referred to as passive government failure (Weimer and Vining, 2004). The failure is an outcome of policies enacted to regulate trade which create systemic inefficiencies and economic cost that adversely affect a product‘s manufacture and sales. This arises when government has created some inefficiency because it would not have solved a given problem or a set of problems more efficiently. The government supply side failures largely result from principal/agent problems. Market failure – occurs when the supply of a good or service insufficient to meet a demand. A market failure result when prices cannot achieve equilibrium because of some distortions for example, the limits on specific goods and services. In other words, government regulations implemented to promote social wellbeing inevitably result in a degree of market failure. Structural Adjustment Programme are economic policies which countries must follow in order to qualify for new World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and help them make debts repayments on the older dept owed to commercial banks, governments and World Bank, (Whirled Bank Group, 2003). THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT After independence in 1961, the new government adopted the colonial style of economic structure. Between 1960 and 1962, for example agriculture contributed more than 50% to gross national product (GNP), and sisal, coffee, cotton and tea contributed 60% to the total foreign exchange earnings (Taube 1992). Tanzania neglected not only to satisfy its own national food requirements, but also to diversify its export products and promote light manufacturing. Politicians were soon overtaken by the reality of severe deficiencies in the supply of food products, energy, housing, manufactured goods, health and educational services, as well as intermediate inputs and implement for the agricultural sector. Between 1961and 1966 Tanzania economy operated primarily under free market conditions and the government adopted the World Bank’s transformation approach to agricultural development as a component of its first five year plan (Wenzel and Wiedemann 1989). In 1963 Tanzania implemented the Agriculture Product Board Act, which was the government’s marketing board for scheduled crops. This board managed maize, wheat, rice, cashew nuts and oil seeds through market purchase, price regulation, and regulation of storage, transport and processing (Bryceson 1993). DURING ARUSHA DECLARATION In 1967, the ruling party (TANU) which nowadays is Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) passed the first national economic declaration establishing Tanzania’s era of economic socialism. This was the Arusha Declaration. This clearly meant to address the deficiencies in Tanzania’s economic development, but it explicitly enclosed socialism and a planned economy, which the country’s new leaders thought appropriate at the time. Ujamaa (familyhood and relationship) became the expression for Tanzanian‘s social economic system and a synonym for Tanzania socialism. Through this self reliance approach, Tanzania forced its own withdrawal from international market. GOVERNMENT FAILURE Although Tanzania experienced reasonable macroeconomic performance until the mid – 1970s, unfavorable external conditions wiped out the previous economic achievements and led to the crisis period of 1980 – 1985 (Ndulu 1994). The justification for nationalization of private firms and extensive involvement of the state in productive activities was the ability of the state to control negative externalities, exploit economies of scale and operate firms at officially optimal level, the outcome proved otherwise for Tanzania. The government failure occurred in the following ways; The state owned cooperation turned out to be inefficient in almost all areas of their operations. For example many supply companies operated below standard such as National Milling Cooperation which was supplying food stuffs like maize, packed maize flour, rice and wheat causing higher demand in urban areas. Another company was Regional Trading Company (RTC) for supplying commodities like sugar, soaps, wine from Dodoma, and these caused shortages of the commodities. Due to lack of fund from central government health services, water, education (especially primary schools) remained a big problem in both urban and rural areas. The government operation in providing these social services was highly contributed by among other things inadequate foreign exchange as the country relied much on agricultural products which did not competed strongly with the same crops from other countries in the international market such as coffee from Brazil, cotton from Egypt and India. There was also the Tanzania – Uganda war of 1978 – 1979 as much as national earnings was directed to the war. There was extreme weather conditions (drought or too much rainfall) leading to falling of local production in key food crops and high domestic inflation. These conditions contributed to severe poverty to most of the people since they depended on agriculture for their survivor. R. E. Stren adds that Tanzania faced a severe balance of payments originally caused by the rising prices of imported oil. The rise of oil price resulted to the rise of prices of products as well as provision of social and economic services. Due to this the majority could not afford to access these services. Young (2003) argues that the government had been adamant that the buses she owned retain their monopoly status, but the desperate economic situation and the existence of informal sources of transport forced the government to legalized the â€Å"daladala† in 1986. The owners of trucks and pickups were allowed to carry passengers for a fee if they obtain a contract from the public transport authority and met various safety requirements. These situations led to Tanzania try her own economic reforms in early 1980s. These include Nation Economic Survival Program (NESP) in 1981 -1982, Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in 1983 – 1985. Due to these homegrown reforms, Tanzania adopted a series of donor supported reform programs starting in 1986. The first was Economic Recovery Program (ERPI), followed by the ERPII in 1989 – 1992. Despite all these efforts by 1980s Tanzania was the world’s second poorest country in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is these economic crises and poor services delivery which forced most of sub-Saharan African countries to implement the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as a precondition to aids and loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and other donor agencies. In order to solve the persistent severe economic crisis which has been confronting Tanzania since the late 1970s, Tanzania signed an agreement with WB and IMF in 1986 to adopt SAP. SAP WITH MARKET FAILURE Structural adjustment program by World Bank and International Monetary Fund gave a new limited role for governments. No longer should the government supply services itself, instead the ultimate goal would be for the central government to serve in the role mainly educator, promoter and regulator and communities in league with the private sector in that of provider. Structural adjustment program failed also in many countries including Tanzania because many stakeholders (countries) had little or no participation in making its policy. This means, these reforms had been imposed on countries that were neither ready nor had the capacity to implement them. According to Lugalla, Structural Adjustment Programmes had the following principles which had to be adopted: There was devaluation of the local currency. That is the dollar gained more value than the Tanzanian shilling. Due to this the foreigners who bought raw materials such as cotton benefited much as their currency was high. Also the government ended up in importing manufactured goods in higher prices resulting to low profits. The introduction of cost sharing in education and health. Before the introduction of these reforms the government used to provide these services freely, but now the people were forces to contribute. Due to this, many people could not access these services because they were not able to contribute. There was a policy of trade liberalization. This policy aimed that the government should allow free trade where the price of commodities was controlled by donor countries. There were frequent price changes which aimed at benefiting the foreigners and not the producers. Creation for conducive environment for foreign investments. The government had to put easy, friendly and flexible conditions that were more beneficial to the investors than the country. Introduction of democratization which is understood as multipartism. The government was under one party rule but it was forced to adopt multiparty system as a condition to receive loans and grants. By 1992 Tanzania became a democratic state where different political parties such as Tanzania Labor Party (TLP), NCCR-Mageuzi, CHADEMA, Civil United Front (CUF) and others were introduced. Although the aim of Structural Adjustment Programme was said as to improve the socio-economic problems of the country, it proved failure. Failure of the program in Africa is also basing on the fact that there’s assumption that a uniform set of principles can yield successful policies for all countries irrespective of their differences. Failure of Structural Adjustment Program in Tanzania can be seen in; Since Tanzania has been implementing social and economic reforms prescribed by SAP, social services are still a problem both in quantity and quality. The urban areas (cities and towns) has witnessed the problems multiplying rather than decreasing. People have difficulties in accessing clean water, adequate shelter, better health care etc. Let us take Dar Es Salaam as example, there’s frequent water cut which sometimes leave areas dry up to a week, electricity problem in the whole country, overflowing sewage and hospitals without medicine especially public hospitals,( Lugalla). SAP emphasized on reducing government expenditure on the unproductive sectors social development in urban areas in Tanzania. Lack of sufficient budget has made it difficult to finance a variety of urban development projects including the provision of adequate housing. As a result seventy percent of the urban populations live in poor houses without necessities such as sanitation and adequate garbage collection. For example areas like Vingunguti and Hananasif in Dar es Salaam are composed of slum settlement without proper sewage systems. SAP has reduced the health budget significantly. The state allocation budget for health is now estimated at less than five percent of the government’s recurrent budget. Information from the ministry of finance shows that, every Tanzanian is currently spending five US Dollar a year to service foreign debts but spends only two US Dollars for his or her own health. A research from Dzodzi Tsikata from university of Ghana Legon, shows that SAP has much effect on women in Africa. SAP has exacerbated gender issue in, for example work places, wage differences between men and women are growing. For example in Tanzania and Nigeria, poor and middle class women are giving up formal employment for informal sector work because it pays more. SAP also due to its export promotion policy, has increased extractive activities such as logging and mining leading to deforestation and mining pollution and the reduction of ordinary people. These failure of SAP in Tanzania and Africa in general has posed critic from individuals and leaders like the late J. K. Nyerere the first president of Tanzania who tried to resist this program saying it was just for the Washington consensus. Another critic was made by the United Nations economic commission for Africa that SAPs are too narrow, rely mainly on fiscal and monetary instruments and have little relevance to long-term development goals. Another failure is seen in agricultural sector following the devaluation of Tanzanian shilling. For example in 1986, the rate was 192 shillings per dollar; this situation raised the price of imported inputs. This has resulted to poverty implication to the livelihood of farmers in the country. The removal of fertilizer subsidies had the effect of raising the price of fertilizers and therefore reducing profit. The removal of subsidies on maize meal is likely to have negatively affected urban consumers. However, under Structural Adjustment Programmes there was sound macroeconomic substantial growth in economy. The overall economic growth has been rising consistently from almost one percent in the mid 1980s to 6. 7 percent in 2004 (URT, 2005). A substantial improvement has been achieved due to adoption of various expenditure measures and processes including Public Expenditure Review (PER), Medium term Expenditure Framework (MTF) and Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS). Conclusively; Despite the setbacks, Tanzania has made tremendous progress on many fronts. However the remaining central challenge is making growth deliver more efficiently in terms of poverty reduction. The focus on this should be on accelerating growth of agriculture and rural sector development, to engender economic opportunities in rural areas where poverty remains pervasive. Equally important is the need to sustain robust growth, a necessary element to achieving the millennium development goals. Also since the inception of economic reforms in 1986, a promising number of Tanzania’s population has benefited from gradual poverty reduction. Understanding of the issues by wider segment of society through debates and participatory approaches engenders broad ownership of the reforms. The government should insist on the various homegrown programs to ensure sustainability and credibility to citizens as they will feel accountable and responsible for their development. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bidyut Chakrabary and Mohit Battacharya(2003); Public Administration: A Reader; Oxford University Press. David Reed (1992); Structural adjustment and the environment. Economist Intelligence Unit (1995). Tanzania and the Comoros Gibbon, Peter and P. Raikes (1995). Structural Adjustment in Tanzania, 1986-1994. Center for Development Research: Copenhagen. Joe L. P. Lugalla; Online Journal for African Studies; University of New Hampshire; Available at www. africa. ufl. edu ; Sited on 16/12/2011. J. K. Nyerere (1973); Freedom and Development; Dar Es Salaam; Tanzania Printers. L. A. Msambichaka and A. Naho (1995). â€Å"Agricultural Sector Performance Under SAP in Tanzania: Promising or Frustrating Situation? in Beyond Structural Adjustment Programmes in Tanzania: Successes, Failures and New Perspectives. M. Bagachwa, F. Shechambo, H. Sosovele, K. Kulindwa, A. Naho and E. Cromwell (1995). Structural Adjustment and Sustainable Development in Tanzania. World Wildlife Fund and Economic Research Bureau: University of Dar es Salaam. Moshi, H. P. B. (1995). â€Å"Reforms and Economic Performance†. Paper presented at the World Bank Conference â€Å"So cio-Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation in Tanzania†, Arusha May 14-20 1995. Mshana, Rogate (1996). Structural Adjustment and Food Security in Tanzania†. Paper presented at the Danida Food Security Workshop, Arusha, 18-19 November 1996. Richard E. Stren ; Ujamaa Vijijini and Bureaucracy in Tanzania; Canadian Association of African Studies. Tom Young (2003); In-African Politics; Indiana University Press. United Republic Of Tanzania (2002); Country Overview; Available at www. novelguide. com; Sited on 15/12/2011. Whirled Bank Group (2003); Structural Adjustment Programme; Available at www. whirledbank. org/development/sap. html; Sited on 16/12/2011. .

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Cause Of Filipino Migration

STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PAPER: The numbers of Filipinos migrating to the United States had been continuously growing over the years. Unfortunately, the limited research on this topic generally tended to focus more on the Filipino immigrant’s social and cultural adaptation and not on the factors that encouraged them to leave the Philippines. Therefore, this research will investigate the significant reason behind the great number of Filipinos migrating in the United States and the consequences of that to the economy of the Philippines. In acquiring data, the research will employ the use of survey mechanism; a survey will concentrates on asking a portion or samples of Filipino immigrant a set of standardized questions. LITERATURE REVIEW: The continuous influx of Filipino immigrants to the United States had brought the Filipino-American populations to be third largest Asian group in the United States. Based on the 2000 U.S. census, â€Å"Filipinos ranks third in population among Asians race-Asian Indian and Chinese ranks first and second, respectively- with a total population of 1,850,314 or 0.7% of the total population of the United States† (2000 U.S. census). There are many literary studies that pertain to the struggles of Filipinos in the United States. Yet, there are very few that focus on the reason of Filipino exodus to the United States and these few assert that the American way of education, the depleting economy of the Philippines, and the social status standard of Filipinos are among the factors that motivate them to relocate. Historically, United States had twice liberated the Philippines to the hands of cruel colonizer and in helping rebuild the devastated country, the American way of life was deeply embedded to the Filipino society. During that time, United States made universal education as one of their major objectives. A policy that was way different from that of most colonial powers, who took the position of ... Free Essays on Cause Of Filipino Migration Free Essays on Cause Of Filipino Migration STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PAPER: The numbers of Filipinos migrating to the United States had been continuously growing over the years. Unfortunately, the limited research on this topic generally tended to focus more on the Filipino immigrant’s social and cultural adaptation and not on the factors that encouraged them to leave the Philippines. Therefore, this research will investigate the significant reason behind the great number of Filipinos migrating in the United States and the consequences of that to the economy of the Philippines. In acquiring data, the research will employ the use of survey mechanism; a survey will concentrates on asking a portion or samples of Filipino immigrant a set of standardized questions. LITERATURE REVIEW: The continuous influx of Filipino immigrants to the United States had brought the Filipino-American populations to be third largest Asian group in the United States. Based on the 2000 U.S. census, â€Å"Filipinos ranks third in population among Asians race-Asian Indian and Chinese ranks first and second, respectively- with a total population of 1,850,314 or 0.7% of the total population of the United States† (2000 U.S. census). There are many literary studies that pertain to the struggles of Filipinos in the United States. Yet, there are very few that focus on the reason of Filipino exodus to the United States and these few assert that the American way of education, the depleting economy of the Philippines, and the social status standard of Filipinos are among the factors that motivate them to relocate. Historically, United States had twice liberated the Philippines to the hands of cruel colonizer and in helping rebuild the devastated country, the American way of life was deeply embedded to the Filipino society. During that time, United States made universal education as one of their major objectives. A policy that was way different from that of most colonial powers, who took the position of ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Argumentation Paper Over The Leagalization Of Marijuana

An Argument for the Legalization of Marijuana The legalization of marijuana has become an ever increasing controversial issue amongst the American public. People who oppose this practice feel that marijuana is a dangerous gateway drug. I feel that the legalization of marijuana would result in many benefits. Marijuana has many psychological benefits, as well as medicinal uses. The legalization of this drug would also result in aiding our country economically. To begin with, people would gain psychological benefits from the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana has a unique and beneficial ability to summon states of well-being at will. It allows us to witness our many subtle motives that are usually unnoticed under normal consciousness. Marijuana is a threat to modern society due to the healthy balancing nature it poses to the individual. This wonder drug helps people to resolve their dilemmas in a less stressful way. Not only is marijuana helpful to the mind, it also helps the body physiologically. The legalization of marijuana will benefit people in medicinal ways. Both lay and professional persons are coming forward as advocates for marijuana’s medicinal use. The utilization of the drug for sufferers of chronic illnesses has overshadowed the picture of marijuana as a drug used primarily for recreational highs. People suffering from illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma have continually been relieved of their pain by the use of this drug. Scientific research as well as first hand accounts have proven this to be true over and over again. Since the mid 1990’s, medical marijuana Sloan 2 ballot initiatives have received a majority of votes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington State. Besides the psy... Free Essays on Argumentation Paper Over The Leagalization Of Marijuana Free Essays on Argumentation Paper Over The Leagalization Of Marijuana An Argument for the Legalization of Marijuana The legalization of marijuana has become an ever increasing controversial issue amongst the American public. People who oppose this practice feel that marijuana is a dangerous gateway drug. I feel that the legalization of marijuana would result in many benefits. Marijuana has many psychological benefits, as well as medicinal uses. The legalization of this drug would also result in aiding our country economically. To begin with, people would gain psychological benefits from the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana has a unique and beneficial ability to summon states of well-being at will. It allows us to witness our many subtle motives that are usually unnoticed under normal consciousness. Marijuana is a threat to modern society due to the healthy balancing nature it poses to the individual. This wonder drug helps people to resolve their dilemmas in a less stressful way. Not only is marijuana helpful to the mind, it also helps the body physiologically. The legalization of marijuana will benefit people in medicinal ways. Both lay and professional persons are coming forward as advocates for marijuana’s medicinal use. The utilization of the drug for sufferers of chronic illnesses has overshadowed the picture of marijuana as a drug used primarily for recreational highs. People suffering from illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma have continually been relieved of their pain by the use of this drug. Scientific research as well as first hand accounts have proven this to be true over and over again. Since the mid 1990’s, medical marijuana Sloan 2 ballot initiatives have received a majority of votes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington State. Besides the psy...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

5 Tips About Freelance Work

5 Tips About Freelance Work 5 Tips About Freelance Work 5 Tips About Freelance Work By Mark Nichol Self-employment is not for everyone, but many publishing professionals thrive, or at least survive, in a freelance capacity. Before you decide whether to join them, however, keep these factors in mind: You probably won’t get rich from freelance writing or editing, but the qualitative rewards are manifest. Self-employed editorial professionals are hereby excused from useless, time-wasting, poorly run meetings. (Freelancers sometimes need to attend in-person or online meetings as part of a project they’ve been hired for, but such gatherings tend to be more efficient than the average company or department to-do.) Freelancers also are fortunate enough to be able to avoid demoralizing company policies, depressing workplace ambience, petty office politics, inept managers, and annoying colleagues. Then there’s that whole commuting thing and no traffic reports (unless you want to tune in just for the sake of nostalgia). When you work at home, you also get to choose what kind of clothes you wear or whether you wear anything at all. But self-employment is a challenge, especially for those who do not have a strong aptitude for business management after all, you, as a freelancer, are running a business. Therefore, you have no one but yourself (unless you hire someone) to manage your finances or your marketing. Each year, if you’re a US citizen, you must submit a profit-or-loss statement and figure (and pay) a self-employment tax, and you should always be working on getting your next project while you’re completing your current one. Furthermore, your income will be variable. And if you’re paid a flat fee, false starts and dead-end ideas don’t earn you any money. Fiction writers, especially, have to put in seemingly endless hours in a gamble to earn a decent living in royalties and you’re nowhere near done even when the not-so-final draft of your manuscript is accepted. Still determined to go independent? Then follow my advice: 1. Find an anchor client. Your first priority is to enter into a relationship with a company that provides you with a steady source of work that provides you with enough income to get by. Everything else is just frosting on the cake, but bake the cake first. 2. Don’t be particular at first. Certainly, you should search your soul for what kind of content you’d like to work on. But when you’re starting out, accept any assignment that involves writing or editing words and, even though you should have a pay range in mind, be prepared to accept less compensation than is ideal. You can always ask for a â€Å"raise† later, and you can always increase your rate when you are engaged by new clients. 3. Be flexible about your rates. I’ve varied my hourly editing rate by up to $50, depending on the client. Online research will yield extensive information about the market rate for writing and editing in various media, in different industries, and so on. You may very well end up straddling two or more markets, and your pay rate may vary substantially. (Also, if you’re asked what rate you’ll accept, rather than offered one, propose a range with a $5-$10 differential starting at your minimum.) 4. Don’t give up your day job. Not right away, at any rate. Nights, weekends, summer vacations for educators these are the opportunities to wade into the freelance pool. Even if your steady job is making you mentally unsteady, stick it out until you have an anchor client. The transition period may exhaust you as you try to juggle full-time work, your personal life, and your efforts to start your own business, but you may be able to jettison your job sooner than you think. (Or you can work for a part-time salary and be self-employed, too.) 5. Keep it simple. You don’t need much in the way of infrastructure. You can probably get away without business cards. You don’t need a fancy-looking invoice template. Some self-employed people rent a small office or use an outbuilding as a way of separating their professional life from their personal one, but few of us can afford that luxury. Turning a spare room into an office, or using an existing study, or even setting aside part of a bedroom or a family room, is sufficient for most people. (But make sure others in your household know that when you’re on the clock, you’re off limits.) Remember, too, that self-employment will always be hard work but virtually any employment is a hard work, and being your own boss is its own reward. Note: The DWT Freelance Writing Course will re-open September, so stay tuned. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly WordsOne Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .Passed vs Past

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Free Trade benefit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Free Trade benefit - Essay Example Also when countries trade their specialties, nearly all the stakeholders receive the benefits. Free trade theory claims that economic competition with minimal government intervention will lead to greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation; will reduce costs for consumers; and will free up more capital for further investment. First of all, the role of free trade is removal of trade barriers such as tariffs which should promote economic growth, foster a cooperative spirit among nations, help developing nations into becoming independent economies, and end poverty around the world. Free Trade benefits developing countries because it provides economic opportunities, improves working conditions, and advances their technology, becoming more globally conscious. Free Trade provides developing countries different opportunities for economic growth. If free trade becomes a universally acceptable economic system, provisionally wealthy countries and developing countries both gain a number of benefits to grow the worldwide economy. Trade is the greatest factor that leads to economic growth. When trade occurs as a result of true demand and supply, the economic growth that occurs also truly reflects the increase in economic welfare. Thus, free trade brings about increased economic growth, which means better and more jobs; advanced standards of living and so on. Free Trade is not only beneficial for wealthy countries, but also developing ones. The growth is the solution to world poverty. Additionally, free trade improves working conditions for workers in the developing nations. Free trade can help global workers who are working under torrid conditions. If my friend told me â€Å"I feel bad that workers are laboring under life-threatening condition s to produce the goods I buy. However, I don’t know how to change my consumer habits.† I agree we all feel difficulties in changing our consumer habits. Even though

Holocaust Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Holocaust - Literature review Example Adolf Hitler’s role in the Holocaust thus was of absolute measure and his doings led to a changing in the entire world and affected many parts like the Middle East as well. ("Adolf Hitler.") Adolf Hitler, also known as the Fuhrer, was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party and soon went on to become the German Chancellor in the year 1933. He played a very vital role in establishing and taking further the rule of fascism in Europe and has played a very significant role in the Second World War. The Beer Hall Putsch came to be known as the failed coup d’etat that Hitler had attempted which led to him being imprisoned for a short term during which he wrote his biography titled Mein Kampf which has come to be known as one of the most widely read books of today. It contains some of the most monstrous and heinous ideas with respect to cruelty subjected towards mankind. There have been certain accounts of Hitler in his previous days where he has been kind tow ards Jews, thus this animosity towards the Jewish people probably began much later in his life. He used to interact with the common people, mostly Jews and try and make a living before he had become a part of the army and the political party of Germany. He became an anti-Semitic during his time in Vienna and this group of anti-Semitics had a vast number of Jews as well. Many even say that he was influenced deeply by Martin Luther’s book, ‘On The Jews and Their Lies.’ This did indeed make a great impact on the religious and political associations of Germany at the time. (Toland, John) In the First World War, Hitler fought in a number of major battles and had come to be known as a very brave and undefeated soldier. He was a creative man and devoted a lot of his time to his art and cartoon making. Soon after entering into politics, he tried to push his stance in the country with respect to fascism as he tried to take over what is known as the Beer Hall Pustch. Hitle r’s modus operandi, titled Mein Kampf was earlier titled ‘Four and a half years of Struggle Against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice.’ He did not have much regard for people that were below him as more and more power came to attach itself to him. As soon as he became the Chancellor of Germany, he tried to foil all the plans of his opponents that wanted to come to power because he wanted to maintain a dictatorship in all of the land. In 1934, he said to a correspondent, â€Å"At the risk of appearing to talk nonsense I tell you that the Nazi movement will go on for 1,000 years! ... Don't forget how people laughed at me 15 years ago when I declared that one day I would govern Germany. They laugh now, just as foolishly, when I declare that I shall remain in power!†( "Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler."  ) The Holocaust was one of the most evil implemented ideas of Hitler; it was commonly known as the killing of the Jews. During the Second World War, Hitler ordered th e construction of concentration camps by the Nazis, commonly known as Auschwitz, in which approximately six million Jews were tortured and killed. Other people like homosexuals, Soviet prisoners, Polish people, disabled people, and other political and religious opponents were killed mercilessly which led to the total count being almost seventeen million people. (Adolf Hitler Biography.) The prisoners in these camps were also sent to extermination camps and

Holocaust Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Holocaust - Literature review Example Adolf Hitler’s role in the Holocaust thus was of absolute measure and his doings led to a changing in the entire world and affected many parts like the Middle East as well. ("Adolf Hitler.") Adolf Hitler, also known as the Fuhrer, was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party and soon went on to become the German Chancellor in the year 1933. He played a very vital role in establishing and taking further the rule of fascism in Europe and has played a very significant role in the Second World War. The Beer Hall Putsch came to be known as the failed coup d’etat that Hitler had attempted which led to him being imprisoned for a short term during which he wrote his biography titled Mein Kampf which has come to be known as one of the most widely read books of today. It contains some of the most monstrous and heinous ideas with respect to cruelty subjected towards mankind. There have been certain accounts of Hitler in his previous days where he has been kind tow ards Jews, thus this animosity towards the Jewish people probably began much later in his life. He used to interact with the common people, mostly Jews and try and make a living before he had become a part of the army and the political party of Germany. He became an anti-Semitic during his time in Vienna and this group of anti-Semitics had a vast number of Jews as well. Many even say that he was influenced deeply by Martin Luther’s book, ‘On The Jews and Their Lies.’ This did indeed make a great impact on the religious and political associations of Germany at the time. (Toland, John) In the First World War, Hitler fought in a number of major battles and had come to be known as a very brave and undefeated soldier. He was a creative man and devoted a lot of his time to his art and cartoon making. Soon after entering into politics, he tried to push his stance in the country with respect to fascism as he tried to take over what is known as the Beer Hall Pustch. Hitle r’s modus operandi, titled Mein Kampf was earlier titled ‘Four and a half years of Struggle Against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice.’ He did not have much regard for people that were below him as more and more power came to attach itself to him. As soon as he became the Chancellor of Germany, he tried to foil all the plans of his opponents that wanted to come to power because he wanted to maintain a dictatorship in all of the land. In 1934, he said to a correspondent, â€Å"At the risk of appearing to talk nonsense I tell you that the Nazi movement will go on for 1,000 years! ... Don't forget how people laughed at me 15 years ago when I declared that one day I would govern Germany. They laugh now, just as foolishly, when I declare that I shall remain in power!†( "Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler."  ) The Holocaust was one of the most evil implemented ideas of Hitler; it was commonly known as the killing of the Jews. During the Second World War, Hitler ordered th e construction of concentration camps by the Nazis, commonly known as Auschwitz, in which approximately six million Jews were tortured and killed. Other people like homosexuals, Soviet prisoners, Polish people, disabled people, and other political and religious opponents were killed mercilessly which led to the total count being almost seventeen million people. (Adolf Hitler Biography.) The prisoners in these camps were also sent to extermination camps and

Friday, October 18, 2019

Collective Bargaining in US Professional Sports Research Paper

Collective Bargaining in US Professional Sports - Research Paper Example All the professional athletes employed under the NFL clubs and other clubs in the United States professional sports league are unionized to form a better bargaining power. This is in accordance with the requirement of the National Labor Relations Act that wants that any employer must unionize its employees in order to be able to bargain in good faith. The other terms and conditions of employment the bargain covers include division of league revenues, free agency requirements, players’ mobility restrictions, provisions regarding the drafting of players, disciplinary rules, among others. In this case, the employers are barred from making unilateral employment rules changes in regard to the issues required by the NLRA to be negotiated between the two parties-the employers and employees. Another issue that the National Labor Relations Board has found relevant to bargain about between the employers and the representative of the unionized employees are the drug policies that require testing. Therefore, for any setting or moderation of any drug policy, the union must bargain with the league. In this drug issue, it is reported that the NFL has a superior drug policy since it provides a comprehensive list of banned substances, keeps on testing players during the preseason, regular season, postseason and even during off-season, it gives the testing authority more discretion under the reasonable cause testing clause, applies beyond players to team personnel and provides harsher disciplinary to the violators of this policy.

High School and Chronicle of a Summer Film Essay

High School and Chronicle of a Summer Film - Essay Example This paper stresses that  despite being shot over a five-week period, from March to April 1968 in Philadelphia, Wiseman was scared of a lawsuit, so the film was not shown in Philadelphia at the time of its release in October of 1968. Chronicle of a Summer directed by Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin is a film where people talk about topics on the themes of French society and happiness in the regular workers among others and with those affirmations the movie producers make fictional moments taking into account their interviews. Later on, the people talk about the pictures made with their particular words and check whether the film got their level of reality. It is a French documentary shot during the summer of 1960, but the release date is October of 1961.  This discussion highlights that the film starts with a discussion between Rouch and Morin on whether it is conceivable to act earnestly before a camera. Wiseman likes to pick institutions as his subjects this is because of its limita tions to a geographical area providing the boundaries. He is very keen on observing the way organizations are run, the guidelines that they are controlled by the relationship between the general population who give services and the general population who receives services. In the chronicle of summer, Rouch wishes to capture the repercussions of the Algerian war and just before the blast of social mobs that came to dominate that decade in Paris.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Responsibility to Protect Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Responsibility to Protect - Dissertation Example In his studies about democide (a term has come to be used to refer to the murders committed by governments on individual or groups, including genocides, mass killing and crimes against humanity), Rummel (1986, 1997) illustrated that democides are more threatening than international wars, as he estimated the total number of deaths killed by governments in the 20th century 174 million dead, which is more than the battle-deaths during the same period. Moreover, he found that regimes who committed democide are likely to be dictatorial, such as Communists and Nazis. Figure 1: Democide Compared to War Battle-Dead, adobted from Rummel (1994). The next sections of the introduction will initially define three key crimes that violate human rights the most, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Secondly, the struggle of dealing with these crimes, and the evolution of the means used for preventing them will be illustrating. The third section will cover the research question, objectives and structure. The ultimate part will focus on exploring the problem by demonstrating the tension of state sovereignty and the debate of the R2P. War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity War crimes refer to the excessive violation of human rights within wars, and a serious breach of international humanitarian law (Clarisse, 2011). There have been several codifications in the international level concerning war crimes, beginning with The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, followed by the Conventions of 12 August 1949 and their Additional Protocols I and II of 1977 and article 8 of the 1998 Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. Murders, attacks on civilian (either prisoners, free or refugees) and their goods, pillage and rape are all considered war crimes (OHCHR, 2010). Moreover, â€Å"Genocide, crimes against humanity, mistreatment of civilians or combatants during war can all fall under the category of war crimes. Genocide is the most severe of these crimes (BBC, 2009). However, the second concept that must be clarified is genocide, which came from a Polish Jew called Raphael Lemkin in 1944 when he combined a Greek word (genos) meaning group, and a Latin word (cide) which means killing (Rossil, 2003). Genocide can be officially defined with regard to Article II of the 1948 United Nation Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as: â€Å"any of a number of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.† (UN, 1948) Other crimes against humanity include â€Å"murder, extermination, enslave ment, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war, or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal,

Role of geography in shaping life and evolution Essay

Role of geography in shaping life and evolution - Essay Example Geography as a discipline refers to the study â€Å"variations in phenomena from place to place† and explains the spatial features of a place (including climate, topology, land and water elements) that distinguishes it from other places (Holt-Jensen, 2009:9). The influence of a land’s geographical characteristics and the life forms that develop therein have been commonly known in a general way, in the manner that polar bears are known to inhabit glacial areas and elephants are known to naturally thrive in Africa and Asia. There is a need, though, to more profoundly appreciate the impact of geography to the development of animal and plant life, and vice versa, in order to effectively address sustainability. Biogeography involves the junction among biology, geography and history – that is, a merging of the study of the distribution of a species in location and time. Many authors have cited a host of factors that affect the evolution of life forms through time in re lation to geography: speciation, extinction, continental drift; glaciation and changes in water forms; landmass areas and isolation; available energy supplies; adaptation, and adaptive radiation Schluter (2000). Adaptation and adaptive radiation are closely related, but not the same. ... There are several links that may be drawn between biology and geography. The spatial attributes transcend the mere physical characteristics but also impact upon the subtle changes in the chemical constitution of the place. A causal link has been established, for instance, between the calcium levels of a place and the clutch size of birds and other life history traits. This is a relatively new finding, in that avian clutch size (i.e., the number of eggs/ nestlings produced by one female at one time) used to be linked only to food availability, predation and seasonality. It was found, however, that active females consume supplemental calcium during the breeding season and throughout egg formation, which they do not otherwise do during the off-season. This tends to support the observation that calcium availability is a factor that limits reproduction (Patten, 2007). A similar development is the change in the permafrost caused by the interaction between atmosphere, and snow cover in plac es such as the Swiss Alps, that impact upon the life cycles and survival prospects of snow-bound species (Luetschg & Haeberli, 2005). Biogeography has been described as â€Å"a science that is not only about islands but about the whole fabric of the natural world† (Kanigel, 1996). This definition appears to separate â€Å"man-made† from nature, that anything man-made upsets the natural balance. If that were held to be true, then the very existence of man would be unacceptable. The alternative position should therefore admit the viability of the anima urbis, or the role of nature in defining human-animal relations in the context of city life. There has been a resurgence of interest in exploring animals and the urban moral

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Responsibility to Protect Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Responsibility to Protect - Dissertation Example In his studies about democide (a term has come to be used to refer to the murders committed by governments on individual or groups, including genocides, mass killing and crimes against humanity), Rummel (1986, 1997) illustrated that democides are more threatening than international wars, as he estimated the total number of deaths killed by governments in the 20th century 174 million dead, which is more than the battle-deaths during the same period. Moreover, he found that regimes who committed democide are likely to be dictatorial, such as Communists and Nazis. Figure 1: Democide Compared to War Battle-Dead, adobted from Rummel (1994). The next sections of the introduction will initially define three key crimes that violate human rights the most, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Secondly, the struggle of dealing with these crimes, and the evolution of the means used for preventing them will be illustrating. The third section will cover the research question, objectives and structure. The ultimate part will focus on exploring the problem by demonstrating the tension of state sovereignty and the debate of the R2P. War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity War crimes refer to the excessive violation of human rights within wars, and a serious breach of international humanitarian law (Clarisse, 2011). There have been several codifications in the international level concerning war crimes, beginning with The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, followed by the Conventions of 12 August 1949 and their Additional Protocols I and II of 1977 and article 8 of the 1998 Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. Murders, attacks on civilian (either prisoners, free or refugees) and their goods, pillage and rape are all considered war crimes (OHCHR, 2010). Moreover, â€Å"Genocide, crimes against humanity, mistreatment of civilians or combatants during war can all fall under the category of war crimes. Genocide is the most severe of these crimes (BBC, 2009). However, the second concept that must be clarified is genocide, which came from a Polish Jew called Raphael Lemkin in 1944 when he combined a Greek word (genos) meaning group, and a Latin word (cide) which means killing (Rossil, 2003). Genocide can be officially defined with regard to Article II of the 1948 United Nation Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as: â€Å"any of a number of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.† (UN, 1948) Other crimes against humanity include â€Å"murder, extermination, enslave ment, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war, or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal,

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reading the Text of the Photograph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reading the Text of the Photograph - Essay Example The mother’s eyes are directed outside the window where she could be looking at something which caught her attention – or could just be lost in her thoughts. They both appear to be pensive as both their lips are curved downwards. Both are wearing white which glow as the sun shines on them. Two throw pillows neatly covered by a weaved pattern appear beside the mother, with one pillow directly providing cushion to her back. To their back, at the upper left portion of the photograph appears a top thin table containing picture frames which are about nine in number. There are bigger frames, numbering three, which are mounted on the wall above the thin table. Most of the background is obscured in contrast to the bright light focused on the mother and child. It is possible that this picture is taken either late morning (almost near noontime) – or immediately after lunch. The photographer could possibly be a member of the family – the father, or brother, or even a sister who wanted to capture the lazy, reposed mood of the members. It is possible that mother and child did not expect their photos to be taken, as they remain sober and melancholy. This photograph is taken inside an auditorium where two prominently seated men are close to the photographer. A total of seven men are clearly seen in this photo – all smiling. These men could be batch mates or members of an all male organization; maybe a fraternity or a professional civic organization. It is eminent that these men are viewing someone, possible a colleague or a person with great humor. There were not viewing a film as their eyes were not focused on a movie screen – but rather on someone directly in front of them. They could possibly be listening to a guest speaker or a batch mate talking about his previous experiences. The man on the right front seat was holding a snack (possible filled with peanuts) and he was seated in a slouching position

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Criminal Justice System and Terrorism

The Criminal Justice System and Terrorism Terrorism has become a part of up to date life. Hijackings, bombings, and assassinations on distinct countries of the world may appear like isolated attacks, but they contemplate a so straightforward reliance on aggression as a way to encourage communal, political, and devout change. They are components of a pervasive end supports the means beliefs being pursued to its most perverse conclusions. Many of these actions have been conveyed out by the constituents of Islamic Jihad, while other ones are part of a worldwide mesh of terrorists. Claire Sterling contends in The Terror Network that numerous of the terrorists were taught and equipped by KGB agencies from the previous Soviet Union. Analysis Terrorism has become the scourge of popular governments. Experts in the area approximate that less than 1 per hundred of terrorist attacks occurred in the Soviet Union, but as asserted by Rand Corporation professional Brian Jenkins, almost a third of all terrorists attacks engage Americans. Democratic authorities, used to considering inside a lawful structure, often find it tough to deal with criminals and terrorists who regularly function out-of-doors of the law. Yet deterrence is just as much a part of fairness as correct enforcement of the laws. Democratic authorities which manage not discourage criminals inescapably spawn vigilantism as commonly law-abiding people, who have lost self-assurance in the criminal justice system, take the regulation into their own hands. An alike backlash is starting to appear as an outcome of the incompetence of Western democracies to fight back themselves contrary to terrorists. But need of governmental determination is only part of the problem. Terrorists flourish on newspapers exposure, and report associations round the world have been all too eager to give terrorists what they crave: publicity. If the report newspapers provided terrorists the minuscule treatment their figures and leverage claimed, terrorism would decline. But when hijackings and bombings are granted famous newspapers vigilance, authorities start feeling force from their people to determination the urgent position and finally capitulate to terrorists demands. Encouraged by their newest achievement, terrorists generally trial again. Appeasement, Churchill wisely documented, habitually whets the appetite, and latest achievements have made terrorists famished for more attacks. Some report commentators have been reluctant to call terrorism what it is: wanton, criminal violence. They blunt the barbarism by contending that one mans terrorist is another mans flexibility fighter. But this easily is not true. Terrorists are not worried about human privileges and human dignity. In detail, they end up decimating human privileges in their supposed battle for human rights. Terrorism has been called the new warfare. But terrorists turn the idea of conflict on its head. Innocent non-combatants become the goal of terrorist attacks. Terrorist warfare retains blameless persons hostage and makes fighter and citizen alike promise goals for their aggression. Terrorism will extend even though conflict has not ever been formally been announced and our foe is not a lone identifiable country. Instead we are being victimized by a worldwide terror mesh angled on crippling American morale. Government and War First, we should characterize a terrorist. Is a terrorist a widespread criminal? If terrorists are only widespread criminals, then biblically talking, they should only be administered with by their owner governments. In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul states, he who opposes administration has are against the ordinance of God; and they who have are against will obtain disapproval upon themselves. For rulers is not an origin of worry for good demeanor, but for evil. Do you desire to have no worry of authority? Do what is good and you will have applauded from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you manage what is bad, be afraid; for it does not accept the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who adds anger upon the one who practices evil. This route of Scripture assists us make a significant distinction we will use in our investigation of terrorism. The Apostle Pauls teachings on government displays that criminals are those who manage bad and intimidate the municipal peace. Any out-of-doors risk to the reality of the state is not a criminal risk but a proceed of conflict which is furthermore to be administered with by the government. In other phrases, criminals intimidate the state from within. Foreign detachments intimidate the state from outside. In the case of searching household calm, the Apostle Paul summaries how authorities will accept of good works, but that authorities should convey worry to those who are wrongdoers. Evildoers should reside in worry of government. But in the case at hand, terrorists manage no reside in worry of the ruling administration in the nations where they live. Their authorities manage not believe of them as shattering citizen regulations and therefore manage not prosecute them. This is foreign to the American mindset. If an anti-Syrian terrorist assembly were founded in the United States, we would prosecute those terrorists as foes of the state. A U.S. founded anti-Syrian terrorist assembly would be illicit in the United States. And they would be illicit since theyre bearing out undertakings booked for Congress and the President. Only authorities have a foreign principle and war-making strategies. But Middle Eastern authorities manage not prosecute terrorists the way we would. Why? Because terrorists often convey out principles and yearns of such owner governments. Middle Eastern terrorists, far from fearing the sword of the ruling administration, rather than are often granted sanctuary by such governments. Governments who give sanctuary and even give acceptance have often taken up the mind-set that terrorists manage them no damage so why should they proceed contrary to the terrorist organizations? In detail, they are not glimpsed as a risk because terrorist assemblies are portraying out the owner governments policies. Both the terrorist assemblies and their owner countries are really foes of the American government when they arrest and murder U.S. citizens for infantry and foreign principle purposes. This is not citizen killing, but infantry warfare. Police, Court, and Correctional Systems   Ã‚  Ã‚   Every kind of scheme Common, Civil, Socialist, Islamic has localized variation.   Even in English-speaking nations, for demonstration, there is variation.   Canadian fairness locations more focus upon the right to a equitable test, free from prejudicial publicity.   In Canada, the public and the newspapers are generally ostracized from the courtroom, and there is little concern in misdeed news.   In England, there is more focus upon fairness in judgment, and producing certain the at fault dont proceed free.   English policeman dossiers along with two kinds of solicitors (solicitors and barristers) and two kinds of enclosures (Magistrate and Crown) assist double-check this.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Police schemes are rather distinct round the world.   With the exclusions of Japan and the Common Law countries, couple of nations contain their policeman agents firmly accountable for violations of municipal rights.   In Socialist and Islamic nations, the policeman contain tremendous political and devout powers.   In detail, in such locations, misdeed is habitually glimpsed as political misdeed and a co-occurring devout problem.   Police universal are the most evident (and accountable) emblems of criminal fairness, so one universal finding is that when policeman go incorrect to command misdeed, casual procedures of regulation (vigilante policing and community courts) are inclined to arise.   Other universal outcome encompass the detail that minorities universal appear to distrust policeman, and that the American discovery of community policing doesnt move well to other nations because it arrives off as too omnipresent (Braga et al. 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Court schemes of the world are of two types: adversarial, where the suspect is blameless until verified guilty; and inquisitorial, where the suspect is at fault until verified blameless or mitigated.   The U.S. adversarial scheme is exclusive in the world.   No other territory, not even the U.K., locations as much focus upon conclusion of factual guilt in the courtroom as the U.S. does.   Outside the U.S., most tests are worried with lawful guilt where every individual understands the lawbreaker did it, and the reason is to get the lawbreaker to acknowledge, own up to their blame, contend for clemency, or propose an befitting judgment for themselves.   Inquisitorial schemes have more mystery procedures.   Outside of the United States, one is probable to meet community (or neighborhood-focused) enclosures which offer an array of non-conventional, alternate sanctions.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Correctional schemes worldwide can be equitably effortlessly differentiated by if they support corporal penalty (beatings) or not.   Some so-called civilized nations that assertion they are better than the U.S. because they dont have the death punishment frequently perform such corporal penalties as beatings and whippings.   Nations that perform corporal penalty manage are inclined, although, to have less of a correctional overcrowding problem.   Probation and parole, where they live cross-culturally, are inclined to be accessible only for native people, and not for foreigners neither immigrants.   Outside of the United States, jails are inclined to be less sanitary and unhealthy.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Juvenile Justice Systems alter widely.   Scotland has the toughest scheme, frequently judgment juveniles to rough boot bivouacs with a firm infantry regiment and compelled labor.   Germany has a juvenile justice system alike to the U.S., but there is more focus upon education.   Not every homeland in the world accepts as factual in exceptional management of juveniles, neither the notion of adolescence. Military Action Based upon the Apostle Pauls educating of government in Romans 13, terrorists should be classified as widespread criminals in their owner countries. But they are not prosecuted by owner nations and are often bearing out the infantry principle and foreign principle of that country. Thus, when terrorists strike, we should not outlook them as criminals but as foreign fighters who try to intimidate the very reality of the American government. Whether or not the terrorists have the firepower and strategic wisdom to really destabilize the U.S. government is not the issue. At topic is how to deal with a new kind of infantry aggressor. Terrorists are not widespread criminals to be endeavored in American municipal courts. They are infantry goals that should be halted since they are equipped and infantry foes of the American government who are on attack. Yes, America has other equipped foes, but they are not on the strike as terrorists are. In the identical way that it took customary detachments some time to discover how to battle guerilla warfare, so it is taking Western authoritys time to recognize that the directions for warfare have furthermore been modified in the case of terrorism. Diplomatic efforts have failed to assure Middle East authorities to assist the United States in conveying terrorist assemblies to justice. Meetings and discussions havent been adept to hit worry in terrorists hearts. When we battle terrorism we require recognizing we are conversing about war. Military warfare is distinct from citizen peacekeeping. In citizen peacekeeping, persons are presumed blameless until verified guilty. A civilian can be apprehended and detained before test, but should be issued except guilt is proven. Military warfare is different. A test is not held for each infantry action. In a sense, in a just conflict, a trial of kinds is held before any activity is taken. Discussion and arguments amidst congressmen and senators generally happen before conflict is declared. Fact-finding investigations, productions, testimonies, and other types of forethought proceed into a affirmation of war. In a sense, when the use of the infantry is engaged, the test time span arrives before any individual is battled or arrested. But one time conflict is announced, there are nothing less tests until the foe is defeated. And every one who aids and abets the foe is at fault by association. At present, terrorism is a one-sided conflict that the United States is losing. American fighters and people are being slain in the war. Unfortunately, the United State is not healing terrorism like war. The restricted conflict forces conceded to the President by the Congress are not sufficient and arent utilized in a methodical way to beat the enemy. If we are to win the conflict contrary to terrorism, we should recognize that it is war. Until we glimpse it as infantry aggression, we will be failed in finish terrorism in this decade. Constitutional Issues Terrorist assemblies are not dwelling in worry of their owner governments. Instead, law-abiding people reside in worry of terrorist groups. In one television interview a Middle Eastern terrorist was cited as saying, We desire the persons of the United States to seem the terror. The proficiency of these assemblies to convey out their agenda is not the issue. The basic topic is how U.S. government managers should deal with this new kind of infantry strategy. Terrorists have held American diplomats hostage for years, blown up infantry mixtures, and hijacked airplanes and cruise ships. Although some hostages have been issued, numerous other ones have been slain and the U.S. has been failed at penalizing more than a little number of terrorists. Although worldwide diplomacy has been the prime entails utilized by the United States contrary to terrorism, we should address what other entails may furthermore be appropriate. In the past, American managers have answered to infantry aggression in a kind of modes short of affirming war. The U.S. Constitution allocations the next forces to Congress: To characterize and penalize piracies and felonies pledged on the high oceans, and infringements contrary to the regulation of nations; to affirm conflict, allocate notes of marque and retaliation, and make directions in relative to captures on land and water. Terrorist actions drop into not less than two of the Congressional provisions for considering with attacks on the nation. They are: (1) to penalize infringements contrary to the regulation of countries, and (2) to affirm war. In either case, there are powerful Constitutional surrounds for taking activity contrary to terrorists. The adversity arrives in apparently recognizing the foe and being eager to risk offending numerous Arab countries who we address allies. Congress should recognize the foe and call that assembly a infantry target. Once that has occurred numerous of the other steps drop into location with less difficulty. At this issue infantry scheme should be established which can search down little assemblies of well-armed and well-funded men who conceal inside the territory of a owner country. We should furthermore evolve a political scheme that will permit us to work inside a owner country. We should make it clear how grave the United States takes a terrorist threat. American people are exhausted of being infantry goals in an undeclared war. Through diplomatic passages we should make two things very clear to the owner country. First, they should apprehend and penalize the terrorist assemblies themselves as citizen criminals. Or, second, they should extradite the foe fighters and give them up to an worldwide court for trial. If the owner homeland falls short to proceed on these two demands, we should make it clear that we glimpse them in complicity with the terrorist groups. But falling short to work out their municipal blame, they depart themselves open to the penalties of permitting hostile infantry forces inside their borders. Intelligence Collection   The criminal justice system has been the source of exceedingly precious understanding on al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.   The criminal justice system presents mighty inducements for supposes to supply unquestionable, dependable data, and the Department of Justice and FBI work nearly with remainder of the understanding community to maximize data and understanding got from each cooperator.   Below are just a couple of public examples. Cooperators Provide Intelligence on al-Qaeda and Other Terror Groups   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   LHoussaine Kherchtou, who was apprehended, Mirandized, ascribed with terrorism infringements, and cooperated with the government, supplied critical understanding on al-Qaeda.   He testified in 2001 contrary to four al-Qaeda constituents who were subsequent punished to life in jail after being convicted in attachment with the East Africa Embassy bombings.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   After his arrest in Afghanistan, John Walker Lindh pleaded at fault in 2002 to carrying the Taliban and, as part of his plea affirmation, supplied precious understanding about teaching bivouacs and battling in Afghanistan.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Mohammed Junaid Babar, apprehended in 2004 for carrying al Qaeda and contriving attacks in the United Kingdom, has supplied understanding on terrorist assemblies functioning along the Afghanistan/Pakistan boundary and has testified in the thriving tests of terrorists in the United Kingdom and Canada.   He is arranged to testify in another terrorism test in New York subsequent this year.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   David Headley, apprehended in 2009 and ascribed in attachment with a contrive to blasting apparatus a Danish bulletin and his supposed function in the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, has supplied exceedingly precious understanding considering those attacks, the terrorist association Lashkar y Tayyiba, and Pakistan-based terrorist leaders.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Adis Medunjanin, an supposed aide of Najibullah Zazi, was taken into custody in January 2010, and, after waiving his Miranda privileges, supplied comprehensive data to the FBI about terrorist-related undertakings of himself and other ones in the United States and Pakistan.   He has been ascribed with conspiring to murder U.S. nationals overseas and obtaining military-type teaching from al-Qaeda.   Ã‚  Ã‚   * Other regulation enforcement cooperators are actually supplying significant understanding considering terrorist undertaking from East Africa to South Asia and considering plots to strike the United States and Europe. Incapacitating Terrorists Hundreds of terrorism supposes have been effectively prosecuted in government court since 9/11.   Today, there are more than 300 worldwide or household terrorists incarcerated in U.S. government jail facilities.   Events over the past year illustrate the extending worth of government enclosures in tackling terrorism.   In 2009, there were more defendants ascribed with terrorism violations in government court than in any year since 9/11.   Past Terrorism Convictions and Recent Terrorism Indictments   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Richard Reid was apprehended in December 2001 and convicted pursuant to a at fault plea in October 2002 of trying to ignite a footwear blasting apparatus while on a air journey from Paris to Miami bearing 184 travelers and 14 crewmembers.   He is assisting a life jail term.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Ahmed Omar Abu Ali was convicted in November 2005 of conspiracy to assassinate the U.S. President and conspiracy to consign air piracy and conspiracy to decimate aircraft. Ali was punished to 30 years in prison.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   In May 2006, Zacharias Moussaoui was punished to life in jail after pleading at fault to diverse terrorism violations, confessing that he conspired with al-Qaeda to hijack and smash into planes into famous U.S. structures as part of the 9/11 attacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   In September 2009, Najibullah Zazi was ascribed with conspiring to use a tool for fighting of mass decimation as part of an al-Qaeda contrive blasting apparatus goals in the United States. Several of his supposed aides have been apprehended and ascribed in government court.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   During 2009, 14 persons were ascribed in the District of Minnesota attachment with an ongoing enquiry of persons who have traveled from Minnesota to Somalia to train with or battle on behalf of the terrorist assembly al-Shabaab.   Ã‚  Ã‚   *   In September 2009, Daniel Patrick Boyd and other ones were ascribed with contriving an strike on U.S. infantry staff at the Quantico Marine Base, as well as employing juvenile persons to journey overseas in alignment to kill. Just Punishment Although diplomacy has its location, it is so straightforward to glimpse that diplomacy and discussion manage not hit worry in the hearts of terrorists. Yes, American hostages in Iran were finally issued after 444 days. But other American hostages like Lt. Col. Williams Higgins were slain by Lebanese Shiite terrorists. In most situations, diplomatic efforts have failed to convey terrorists to justice. We have shown overhead that Romans 13 devotes government the right to accept the sword to defend its people from criminal risks from inside the homeland and infantry risks from out-of-doors the country. We have furthermore shown that infantry activity is furthermore sanctioned to penalize piracies and felonies and to penalize offenses contrary to the regulation of nations. With this as backdrop, we should now aim on the topic of just penalty which is recounted in Exodus 21. The standard here is that the penalty should be proportional to the crime. A referee could not cut up off a mans hand only because he rubbed another mans hand in a fight. The penalty was to be: set alight for set alight, wound for wound, and band of color for stripe. Excessive penalties were forbidden. Punishment was swift and certain, but it was furthermore equitable and proportional. Just and proportional penalties have been the form for both criminal and infantry punishments. Not that all countries have pursued this rule. But the United States should set up the lesson pitch by next this biblical principle. In the context of our consideration on terrorism, I accept as factual that we should request proportional penalty to terrorists and owner countries. First, this entails that we should not request too critical a punishment. Calls for bombing towns of owner nations in retaliation for terrorist activities should be turned down as unsuitable and unjust. But this furthermore entails we should not request too lightweight a punishment. Host countries that harbor terrorists and deny penalizing or extraditing terrorists should be forced by the United States. Punishment could arrive in the pattern of financial embargoes, import- trade items limits, severing diplomatic relatives, or even infantry actions. But the penalty should be proportional to the terrorist act. Excessive answer or retaliation will not only be unjust, but it will fuel the blazes of anti-American sentiment. In some situations, an American hit force of counterterrorists might be essential when the risk is both genuine and imminent. This should be the choice of last holiday resort, but in certain examples it may be necessary. In 1989, for demonstration, Israeli exceptional forces apprehended Sheik Obeid and no question crippled the terrorist mesh by conveying one of their managers to justice. In 1985, U.S. planes were adept to force an Egyptian airliner down to avert the getaway of another terrorist leader. These are admittedly actions which should be finished seldom and carefully. But they may be befitting entails to convey about justice. Conclusion In deduction, I accept as factual we should identify terrorism as a new kind of infantry aggression which needs governmental action. We are engaged in an undeclared conflict and Congress and the President should take the identical kinds of activities they would if endangered by a hostile country. We should work to discourage farther terrorist aggression in this decade. The best way to apply such a scheme would be through some kind of focused nationwide security court, an concept other ones have suggested with changing grades of specificity. Modeled on the exceptional court that authorizes surveillance in nationwide security situations, such an placement would maximize the public and worldwide legitimacy of detention decisions. It would put detentions in the hands of referees with all the prestige of the government court scheme yet with specific know-how applying directions conceived to defend classified data and organize legitimate security concerns. Such a court is furthermore, in m y outlook, the best venue in which to trial terrorists suspect of conflict misdeeds, utilizing directions that hybridize the present Military Commissions Act with usual government court practice. In addition, the present administrations reliance on a untainted regulation of conflict form for detentions has been a fateful error. But the try to revert to a prosecutorial form for handicapping terrorists would supplant that mistake with a scheme unsuited to the trials we actually face as a society. The right response is-as it has been since September 11-to conceive the detention scheme we require to handle the exclusive position of international jihadist terrorism. That is a task only Congress can complete and it is long overdue.