The Pueblo Revolt of 1680

Running head: PUEBLO REVOLT The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 Kelley Christy Grand Canyon University HIS 103 May 17, 2009 The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 The English and Spanish strategies at colonization in the late 1600’s were very different, resulting in very different outcomes. The English methods of displacement and extermination of the native populations led to wholesale destruction of the cultures targeted. On the other hand, the Spanish attempted to peacefully associate with the local populations. This lead to the creation of a hybrid culture of Spanish and Indian peoples. The birth of this new culture demonstrated the success the Spaniards had in the waning days of the century (Otermin, 2007). The Spaniards used the idea of converting the native populations to Christianity and forcing their values to match their own (Otermin, 2007). Eighty years after the establishment of the first colony in the Rio Grande Valley by Juan de Onate in 1598, Spanish missionaries had built thirty missions as well as thirty religious stations. The Pueblo tribes and the Spanish colonists coexisted but not without conflict. Thousands of Pueblos were converted to Christianity. The converts adopted the rituals of the Christians, such as the Christian form of marriage and baptism. They also practiced the Christian burial rituals. However, these converts also observed their native religious rituals. This straddling of both religions angered the Franciscan missionaries. This anger drove the Franciscans to destroy religious objects and shrines of the natives, and punish Indian ceremonial leaders (Otermin, 2007). In addition, the Spanish forced the natives to provide slave labor to build churches, as well as work in mines and farms for the encomenderos. These encomenderos were Spanish colonists whose role was to protect the local natives from hostile Indian tribes. Late in the seventeenth century, diseases imported by the Spaniards such as smallpox and measles, began to decimate the Indian population. Natural disasters such as crop failures and major droughts added to the misery of the natives. Attacks by the hostile Navajo and Apache tribes aggravated the strained relationship between the Spanish colonists and the Pueblos (Otermin, 2007). In 1670, a missionary claimed he was bewitched by a Pueblo community. Several Indians were executed and several more were beaten for this offense. From this, the seeds of revolt were planted. Ten years later, Pope, one of the beaten natives rose to lead a massive revolt. Pope’s united forces sought to drive all traces of Spanish influence from their lands. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was successful in ridding the Pueblos of the Spaniards for a decade. Pope’s efforts united the Pueblos against an oppressive Spaniard regime and gained their people a few more years of independence. Reference Otermin, D. A. Mexican American Voices: Resistance and accommodation in New Mexico. (2007). Digital History. Retrieved May 14, 2009, from: www. digitalhistory. uh. edu/mexican_voices/voices_display. cfm? id=24

Atmospheric Pollution

Firstly, we must question: How does air pollution occur? To understand this, one is required to recognise the earth's surroundings. Life is totally dependant upon the blanket of mixed gases referred to as ‘air' surrounding our planet earth. This atmosphere is, approximately, a five hundred kilometre thick1 composite layer of colourless, odourless gasses that surrounds the earth kept in place by gravitational forces. Due to its intangible form, it is often ignored by man, making it vulnerable and easily damaged (this fact being highlighted by a large number of disasters caused, effectively, by man). The political and scientific debate on the so called ‘Greenhouse Effect' is based on concern over increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide resulting from combustion of fossil fuels and emissions of other ‘Greenhouse Gases' – such as methane (from decomposing waste), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrous oxides (NOx). The activities of homo sapiens have introduced these new chemicals into the atmosphere and disturbed the distribution of its natural constituents. At first, this was limited to the effect of the fireplace, but later, with the greatly expanded usage of coal, these effects grew more acute. And, after the Industrial Revolution, these effects were compounded. As will be made clear, this revolution reached such a point that consequences began to be regarded more than just an inevitable residue of industrialisation and the struggle for economic growth. 1.1 Secondly, in order to intertwine the above information with the issue at hand, it may be necessary to ask oneself, what is environmental law, who is using it and for what purposes? These questions are being posed, as it is imperative to understand the background of the subject, not just for this subtopic in environmental law, but any topic, before entering it in any depth. Environmental law is first and foremost, a combination of primary legislation2, secondary legislation3 (which will be explained in more depth throughout the project), judicial decisions, common law principles, European Community legislation4 – ‘which impose an obligation on members states to enact legislation to give effect to the terms of the Directive'5 which are transposed into national law (as regulations), European treaties and international law (found in treaties, conventions and protocols). 1.2 The foremost function of environmental law is not, as many would imagine, to completely eliminate pollution altogether, but rather, to allow, or balance pollution levels with the gains we, as a society receive from economic growth. This phenomenon, known most frequently as ‘sustainable development' is one that will be referred to time and time again in any environmental law topic. Sustainable development's widely accepted definition is to be found in the 1987 Bruntland Report – â€Å"Our Common Future† (the report for the World Commission on Environmental Development 1987). It states: ‘†¦development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs'. In layman terms, what this report was recommending, or advising the inhabitants of this earth to do, was to use our resources on the planet in such a manner, so as not to jeopardise the way in which it can be used by others in those years after us. A classic example highlighting the necessity of sustainable development is that of the Communist regimes, such in Poland, in which they favoured production and economic development over protection of the environment. In brief, economic growth will lead to changes in the environment. If this growth is not controlled/governed, it can lead to an ugly and dangerous environment. One could be as bold as to say that obviously, the overriding consideration of any commercial enterprise is the maintenance and expansion of profit. To achieve this, one tactic is to minimize costs and this can occur by reviewing methods of disposal of unwanted materials. If discharging these wastes into the atmosphere represents the cheapest way of accomplishing this, then the industry will have a strong inclination to adopt this strategy. The costs of disposal do not disappear when pollution is emitted into the atmosphere, and as has been discovered, the society will eventually end up paying far greater costs. Therefore, it is the governments of each nation must choose limits to benefit both the environment and economic growth. This is often referred to as ‘anthroprecantic'7 and most law is based on it. As it was eventually assessed (with regards to the situation in Poland) that their lack of concern for the environment in which they inhabited was, in effect, the reason for their poor economic advancement. It was also noted that their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was less than those countries who followed the anthroprecantic system. This perhaps is the most precise example of how the environment plays such a big factor on our lives, not just for our health, but also for the development of our respective countries. (After all, it is the aspiration of each and every governing nation to become wealthy and prosperous – economic development is at the heart of each nation). In working towards sustainable development, whether in broad terms or looking at one particular aspect such as air quality, a number of basic concepts must guide action. These concepts have been clearly outlined in a number of governmental papers8. Within the United Kingdom's largely secular and pragmatic societ y, it seems inevitable that pollution is view in an economic context. 2.0 The industrial revolution was the main cause of such concern over the environment. Before this time, ‘environmental law in England and Wales was characterised by a parochial focus on localised pollution problems'9. Such problems date back to the early uses of coal in domestic fires. The production of fumes and particulates from fires caused pulmonary infections and related lung diseases. Notwithstanding this effect, coal continued to be used. In 1661, John Evelyn published his famous work on air pollution in city areas, Fumi Fugiumi, which not only outlined the problems that atmospheric pollution from smoke caused, but also, more importantly, tried to suggest methods by which the problem could be resolved. After this period, much legislation was passed addressing specific problems in this area of law, for example, atmospheric pollution from chemical industries and ‘unclean' modes of transport, water pollution and the regulation of statutory nuisance. 2.1 Very few areas of the United Kingdom are safe from air pollution. Pollution levels exceed Government health standards all over the country on many days every year, even in rural areas. It is difficult to assess exactly the impact of air pollution on public health. However the government itself stated that: â€Å"the Department of Health's latest assessment is that air pollution is at present responsible each year for several thousand advanced deaths; for ten to twenty thousand hospital admissions, and for many thousands of instances of illness, reduced activity, distress and discomfort†10. It was also assessed that short-term episodes cause between 12,700 and 19,500 premature deaths in the UK a year11. And three years prior to this, it was estimated12 that short-term pollution episodes were responsible for between 12,000 and 24,000 deaths per year. These figures have put new pressure on the Government to fully support the Road Traffic Reduction Bill13, from Cynog Dafis MP. Over 400 Members of Parliament are supporting the principles of the Bill, which requires the government to produce a national plan to cut road traffic from 1990 levels by 5% by the year 2005 and 10% by the year 2010. As can be imagined, road transport is a major source of air pollution in the UK. Five of the key pollutants are: particulates (fine dust and soot particles – PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), benzene and hydrocarbons (HCs). ‘After more than half a century of under-investment in Britain, roads are the most congested in Europe'14. However, knowing that transport is the cornerstone of modern society, yet it is responsible for poor air quality in many urban centres around the world, what is there that can be done about its damaging effect on our environment? There are increasing concerns about the impact of traffic exhaust emissions on the health of citizens who are exposed to the high concentrations of pollutants, plus the wider global implications. Legislation is helping clean up vehicles and fuel, but there is a significant time lag while the vehicle stock is being replaced. In the interim, mechanisms could to be introduced that accelerate the replacement of vehicles or improve the existing stock. 2.2 In the UK such a concept has taken the form of Low Emission Zones, which aim to restrict the use of the most polluting vehicles from specific areas in an urban environment. In Sweden, a similar concept has been in operation since 1996 whereby environmental standards are specified for heavy vehicles entering the central area of the main cities. The government has also recently set health standards for eight key pollutants. For these pollutants it has also set policy targets to be reached by the year 2005. Meeting these targets will need action locally, nationally and internationally. The Environment Act 1995 set up a system known as Local Air Quality Management through which local authorities will play a major part in reducing pollution levels. 2.3 If we are to meet the Government's targets for air pollution, then pollution from traffic must be cut drastically. There are two main ways to do this: Traffic reduction: cutting the volume of traffic on the roads. A number of environmental organisations are supporting the Road Traffic Reduction Act (which is now law) and the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill. This Bill, which is currently in Parliament as a Private Members Bill, aims to cut traffic levels nationally by 5% by 2005 and 10% by 2010. Greener cars: making sure that cars pollute as little as is possible. This is achieved through tightening engine technology and fuel quality standards. These standards are set at a European level15. 2.4 Although the above issues are seemingly simple, everyone does not welcome the manner in which they will be implemented. For example, There are a huge number in opposition to the government increasing taxes on fuel, and in one particular instance, it was stated by a former chairman of a lobbying institution, that ‘if Gordon Brown increases his fuel taxes, he will see the same situation as he saw in Autumn 2000' [where there was a great number of protests and havoc was caused around Britain]16 This threat was reinforced by a totally independent party, namely the Petrol Retailers Association, who warned ‘if taxes on motor fuels are increased, petrol forecourts will close'17. With statistics and threats such as those provided, it is difficult to advise what the government can do to aid the situation. The Liberal Democrat party also showed its urgency when it released a statement highlighting its concern that the Chancellor of the Exchequer must freeze fuel taxes in real terms for the lifetime of this Parliament. The party also called for a ‘sliding scale' of car tax emissions, so that consumers with polluting vehicles paying higher duties, and those with the most environmentally friendly, paying nothing18. And, in support of this plea, it was stated, by The Confederation of British Industry, that they would be ‘surprised and disappointed if there was a real increase in fuel duties' 2.5 The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who is behind many of the more noticeable environmental issues with regards to London stated in his manifesto that he aims to ‘put the environment at the heart of London government and provide for comprehensive environmental assessment and monitoring of all strategies which the Mayor is required to produce'19. In addition to this, the Mayor said that he will ‘aim to reduce road traffic by 15% by 2010'20. In favour of this aim, recent figures suggest that the UK's emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being reduced21 and in addition, greenhouse gases are also being reduced. However, as stated previously, with the correction of specific pollution problems, comes an uplift of other hazards, such as in this case, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions and recent developments in the electricity market suggest problematic situations. 3.0 All aspects of environmental law have a domestic, European and international dimension to them. For example, if one lives in a country where there are dangerous waste materials being transported thorough, the government of transporting town will ensure that the standard of safety provided is of a standard expected on a international level. These precautions must be taken in any environmental situation as will be discovered through this assignment. The influence of international law on the regulation of air pollution has been significant. This may be in recognition of the fact that many of the problems caused by air pollution can have impacts across a large geographical area (and in many cases cause seriously global effects). There have been a number of areas where international law has helped to shape policies and rules on both a domestic and European level. Therefore, with regards to our particular topic, atmospheric pollution in England is regulated, not only by domestic bodies, but moreover, on a European and global level. The problems related to air pollution are by no means a new phenomenon. The prohibitions on certain activities producing smoke are probably the first instances of environment pollution legislation in the United Kingdom, and legislation dates back to 1863 with the Alkali Act, Public Health Act 1875 and 1936, Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act 1926 and the Clean Air Act (CAA) 1956. The first modern piece of legislation combating air pollution, namely the Alkali Act, represented the culmination of a long period of dissatisfaction with environmental conditions, especially in London. For example, in 1819, an M.P had written, â€Å"[T]he volumes of smoke which issues from the furnaces on every side of the river Thames opposite my own house actually blacken every flower I have in my own garden in Whitehall†22 Until the CAA 1956 was introduced, the government of Britain has had a large amount of difficulty in tackling the problems of atmospheric pollution. Nowadays, the 3 main pollution controls in Britain (which will be clearly explained in detail in), are the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC)23 and Integrated Pollution and Control (IPPC), the Clean Air Act (CAA)24 1993 (a consolidation of the CAA 1956 and CAA 1968), and the controls relating to vehicle emissions. In addition to these, the Environmental Act 1995 25(EA 1995) naturally plays a large role, as it does in all environmental issues. 3.1 Having discussed the topic of environmental law, recapped on the history of atmospheric pollution, and established that there is a need for change, it is now necessary to discuss and evaluate the measures and changes which have been made, by domestic, European and international governments along with a vast number of very influential pressure groups. The main three are (mentioned in section ): a) The Integrated Pollution Control (IPC)26 and Integrated Pollution and Control (IPPC) license based controls relating to a range of highly polluting industries detailed in part1 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) 1999. b) The criminal sanction based controls over the emission of smoke and other particulate matter from chimneys and furnaces detailed in the Clean Air Act (CAA) 1993. c) Controls relating to vehicle emissions. These controls encompass engine efficiency standards, the chemical composition of fuels, the mandatory use of catalytic converters, eco-taxes, price differentials between different types of fuel and the use of traffic management powers.27. The aforementioned controls are an enhancement made by the Environmental Act 1995. 3.2 The CAA 1993 concentrates on the control of emissions on smoke, dust and grit by means of criminal offences. The main offences are, emissions of dark smoke – from a chimney or from industrial premises, emissions of dust and grit from non-domestic furnaces, emissions of smoke from a chimney in a ‘Smoke Control Area' and various other offences relating to the installation of furnaces. Having stated earlier, atmospheric pollution is not merely a domestic issue, the involvement of Europe is particularly highlighted with the great many directives established. Since 1993, when the Maastricht Treaty on the European Union (EU) reformed the Treaty of Rome, Articles 130r – 130t of the EC Treaty have provided the legal basis for Community environmental law. Specifically, under Article 130r (2), environmental policy is guided by four principles: the precautionary, the polluter-pays principle, the integration principle, and the source principle. Moreover, the aforementioned Article further provides that a directive or regulation may include a ‘safeguard clause', which allows Member States to take any appropriate measure to protect the environment in case of emergency28. European Community (EC) measures to curb air pollution can be divided into different categories. Emissions from industrial plants – whereby the most important directive is the Large Combustion Plant Directive (88/609/EEC). In addition to this, Directives 89/369/EEC (dealing with emissions from incineration plants, and Directive 96/61/EC (IPPC) which was implemented into national law in 1999 are the most important directives regarding Emissions from industrial plants. Another category is that of Air pollution affecting the ozone layer and global warming in which EC regulations 3322/88, 591/91 and 549/91 which have banned CFCs and hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), respectively. Air quality standards have been inputted in Air Quality Framework Directives (96/62/EC) and 99/30/EC. As can be seen, the EC has implemented a large number of directives, however, what is not apparent from the information given, is which have been implemented in British national law. The EC also concentrates on vehicle emission standards, product quality standards and atmospheric pollution and waste reduction29. 4.0 As an evaluation, it is necessary to view the opinions and publications of specialised bodies that thrive to ever improve the environment, such as Green Peace and Friends of the Earth. However, when consulting such sources, one is required to acknowledging the great possibilities of biasness, in order to assess the contribution these measures and policies have made on the atmospheric pollution levels in Britain. Regarding one particular publication issued by Friends of the Earth, it was stated, that by using government data and methods to calculate an Air Quality Indicator for 1999 established that air quality is still ‘very poor'. The calculation shows, for key monitoring sites around Britain, the average number of days on which air pollution levels were above the Government's air quality standard. John Prescott called it a â€Å"key quality of life indicator†. It was also stated that road traffic is the major source of air pollution in the UK, which is responsible for 48% of UK emissions of nitrogen dioxide, 26% of particles, 2% of sulphur dioxide and 74% of carbon monoxide. Ozone is a secondary pollutant, produced by reactions between nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons. Road traffic is responsible for 38% of UK emissions of hydrocarbons. In this report, it was stated that the share of pollution produced by road traffic would be significantly higher in towns and cities. 4.1 The (New) Labour government took office in 1997 promising to be â€Å"the first truly green Government ever† and to put â€Å"concern for the environment at the heart of policy making†. There have been real achievements. In Labour's first term, both Tony Blair and John Prescott led international efforts to agree the Kyoto treaty to fight climate change. Labour committed the UK to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, the most significant climate changing gas, by 20% by 2010. Despite Tony Blair's very close relationship with the United States, he is still prepared to criticise President Bush for reneging on this treaty and attempting to undermine support for it from other states. Gordon Brown overcame considerable hostility from the business lobby to introduce the Climate Levy, which has begun to give industry clear incentives to cut emissions. Unfortunately, this is where achievements tend to become more difficult to establish. Early in Labour's first term, Chancellor Gordon Brown took important steps to implement the basic principle of green taxation, that tax should be raised on polluting and environmentally destructive behaviour, with the revenues used to pay for green initiatives and to cut taxes on employment. But New Labour has now simply surrendered to the fuel tax protestors, and abandoned the process of gradually raising fuel duty to ensure that the cost of motoring more accurately reflects the environmental damage it causes. And in his last Budget, Brown put employers' National Insurance contributions back up again, increasing the cost of labour and discouraging job creation.30 4.2 Ultimately, it appears that any capitalist economy must face the full scale of any atmospheric pollution problem presented by their production. As stated in 1.2, a capitalist economy focuses on survival of the fittest to ensure its own self preservation. Eventually, if the exhaustion of natural resources is approached, a capitalist economy will have to modify it's own behaviour to guarantee it's own survival, for it requires these resources to continue it's existence. It appears as though we are, environmentally, living in a vicious circle, whereby our preventative measures are preventing one particular problem, but at the same time, causing a problem of a different nature. It is only when that problem becomes apparent to public knowledge that it begins to be tackled. It appears, from methods undertaken before, for the protection of the environment that we may be preventing the condition of our earth from deteriorating to such a dismal point. Our structural interventions in capitalist economy do not appear without merit, albeit sometimes unnoticeable. 4.3 It was stated by Al Gore31 in his book ‘ Earth in the Balance': †Modern industrial civilisation is colliding violently with our planet's ecological system.' We inherited Eden and are leaving our children a depleted rubbish tip'32. However, on a global scale, this appears not to be, in my opinion, the case. Having researched this project for a number of months, one can honestly believe that environmentally, things are getting better. Although issues are still to be found on a daily basis in any newspaper one picks up, the fact remains that things are getting better – or are getting worse, at a slower rate than they were previously. 4.3 ‘Air pollution is not a new phenomenon that has been getting worse and worse, but an old phenomenon that has been getting better and better, leaving London cleaner than it has been since the Middle Ages.'33 Having evaluated governmental policies and researched air pollution, foremost in Britain, one would hope that this statement can now be conclusively agree, or disagreed with. Evidently, the system in which the British government takes actions often referred to as the ‘sectoral approach'34 means that whilst our nation is tackling one particular aspect of pollution, another problem would shift to another sector. ‘Britain has a problem with embarking upon the environmental issue on the whole'35. Therefore, in a brief summary of the above conclusions, it can be said that the environmental issues themselves are not seemingly the problem. Moreover, it is the funding of the implementation that causes the problems. Environmental issues are being discovered and publicised weekly. If the nation were to consider only issues relating to the environment (which it seems the Green Party and other such organisation are aiming for), there would be no advancement in other fields. Therefore, the question of sustainable development is highlighted again. How much should a nation consider the state of the environment, when clearly it needs to concentrate on the economy? As everyone is aware, the government obtains most of it's funding from taxes. If they were to continuously tax the nation, then no one would vote for them. Therefore, they have to bind their policies with one another and establish a sustainable method in which to provide both for the present, and the growing nation. Consequently, on the whole, the implementation of policies and legislation appear to be having a generally good effect on the atmospheric pollution level in Britain. One question remains, however, and that is, for how long will the preventative principle prevail, and will be sufficient in curbing an environmental hazard? In essence, it appears as though sustainable development is the mainframe of environmental and political ideology, and that government policy, and legislative implementation is delivering a sound task in the   field of atmospheric pollution in maintaining sustainable development. After all, it must be remembered, that no organisation in this world is flawless in its methods, and with it come faults, as is evident with the topic of atmospheric pollution. On the whole, policy and legislation appear to be achieving the ever fervent goal of sustainability.

Crime in the 21st Century: Technology and Terrorism Essay

It is an accepted fact that globalization has been a dominant development of the 21st century. Together with globalization, the major crimes in the 21st century became also global in scope and nature. The website policy-traccc. gmu. edu/ (2008) cited Louise I. Shelley, Director of George Mason University School of Public Policy as saying that â€Å"Terrorists and transnational crime groups will proliferate because these crime groups are major beneficiaries of globalization. They take advantage of increased travel, trade, rapid money movements† (1st para. ). Based from the statement, the major crimes in the 21st century in the likes of Sept. 11, 2001 of World Trade Center and the subsequent activities of Al Queda were considered as terrorist-related crimes. Terrorism which is domestic in nature was defined by www. tfft. co. uk (2008) through Boaz Ganor, an expert in the same field as â€Å"the intentional use of, or threat to use violence against civilians or against civilian targets, in order to attain political aims. †(1st para. ). Based on the definition, the target victims of domestic terrorism were the local population of a particular community or communities within a country. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General define international terrorism as â€Å"any action intended to kill or seriously harm civilians or non-combatants, with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling action by a government or international organization† (â€Å"Discussion of definitions and the possibility of amalgamation†, 4th par. ). In both definitions, the use of violence, the target are individuals or a country or an international organization and the purpose is to attain political objectives were the salient points. Related to use of violence against individuals or an international organization, experience in 9/11 bombing will tell us that the impact of terrorist act is much intense when it was done in a surprise manner. In this age of great technological advancement, it is imperative for a government to use technology to pre- empt terrorist acts which usually result to great destruction of lives and properties. In order to promote development of anti-terrorism technology, the US Congress after the 9/11 has acted decisively and passed the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act. This act provides protection to sellers, manufacturers, distributors and providers of hi-tech anti-terrorism gadgets and instruments. As a result, about 200 different companies were awarded the SAFETY Act certification. (Cafarano, 2008). This paper aims to document the availability of the latest high technology instruments, what is the principle behind such instrument and elucidate how the government is using the gadgets to 2 pre-empt surprise terrorist attacks. It was mentioned by Louise I. Shelley, Director of George Mason University School of Public Policy that terrorists usually use the benefits of globalization related to increased travel, trade and rapid money movements. This was the reason why terrorists were always associated with urban centers, buses, airplanes, airports and places where people usually congregate. The following are the popular ant- terrorism gadgets so far invented: The Anti Human-Bomb Bus In Israel and Iraq, the suicide bomber is one of the most deadly threats to innocent citizens. Numerous prevention techniques have been developed to address this problematic threat. According to Holmes, et al (2005), in Israel bus system, a new technology aimed at preventing suicide bombers from boarding a bus was invented and being used at present. This is achieved by detecting explosives from approaching passengers. Developed by Israeli Military Industries, the system takes the form of turnstile fitted with shield sensors. The sensors can detect explosives at a distance of up to a meter from the bus. When the sensor detect a suspicious passenger, the turnstile remains blocked and a red warning light flashes near the bus driver. A green light flashes when a boarding passenger is not a threat. Another turnstile at the rear of the bus allows passenger to get off the rear but not board it in cases of emergencies. The bus windows were bullet and shrapnel – proof and a communication system can allow the driver to talk to waiting passengers outside and call for help in emergencies. A bus with these features costs $25,000. 00. Rapiscan Airport Scanner This technology was developed as an answer to the improvements needed with neutron and ion detector technology (Panel on Assessment of the Practicality of Pulsed Fast Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy for Aviation Security, 2008) According to the Panel, the drawback of the two technology instruments earlier developed is that it cannot detect explosives and other materials if hidden under lead cover and plastic materials. According to Holmes, et al , the instrument was called Rapiscan Secure 1000 and function by scanning the passenger like a virtual strip search. The machine uses a low-level reflective x-ray technology to scan a person’s body through their clothing thus showing clearly metal objects like guns and explosives wrapped in plastics. Civil liberties advocates were opposed in using it due to the virtual strip effect. The technology has been considered for compulsory use in airports. The potential of people being embarrassed due to virtual strip effect of the scanner can be avoided by separating the male from female. The eXaminer This is an advanced form of Explosive Detection System (EDS) and is currency being used in the Middle East although the technology is still being perfected in the US according to Holmes,et al. The instrument is called the Examiner 3DX600 and being used to detect explosives in baggage and not from people. This instrument uses advanced Computer Tomography that result to complete 3D image reconstruction of entire bags and analyzes any potential hazards from the baggage without the need for opening it. This reduces the likelihood of exposure of staff to hazardous stuff inside the baggage. . This EDS can completely and continuously scan over 500 bags an hour. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology and Biometrics This new system is called US-VISIT. It scans photographs of the visitor’s face and index finger into a computer and matched with the criminal data base of the federal agencies. According to infowars. com (2005), the RFID technology practically is an invisible automatic ID check by the government and has long been needed in clogged border system of most countries particularly the US. With RIFD technology, people or objects are identified automatically and swiftly. The technology allow vehicles outfitted with the technology to pass through toll plazas without stopping but will be stopped in borders if their identifying data produce red flags; if otherwise, they will just be stopped for a brief check without lengthy questioning. The website declared that â€Å"U. S. officials want to see if the same technology that speeds cars through highway tolls and identifies lost pets can unclog border crossings without compromising security†. As part of the biometric data base, foreign visitors at the 50 busiest land border crossings in 10 states of the US are now being fingerprinted. The chips with identifying information will be placed in a document such as the State Department issued border crossing cards for those making regular short trips across the Mexican border. The chips can also be attached to an antenna that transmit data to a handheld or stationary reader which then converts the radio waves from the RFID tag into a code that links to identifying biometric information in a computer database of border agents. The use of biometrics which involve the physiological and behavioral characteristics for identification purposes has been initiated by the US to enhance security and identification (Batch, et al, 2006). There 4 were considerations however related to its wide scale collection like its practicality and social impact which infringe on self’s autonomy. To address the concerns, the NRC and the CIA were undertaking comprehensive assessments on current biometric capabilities and future possibilities. Summary and Conclusion It was documented that 21st century crimes were mostly international terrorism in nature and can be linked to advances in technology and globalization especially with the ease of international travel and readily available financing through electronic money transfers. Since terrorists were using the technological advances in doing their crimes to achieve their political aims, the countries were also doing its best to encourage companies and individuals to develop technologically advanced gadgets to pre-empt surprise attacks which were the very common style of terrorist activities. In the US, a total of over 200 companies were registered and given the incentive of being free from legal suit and damages for them to continue their business of inventing instruments aimed at pre-empting terrorism. Only a few newly invented gadgets were available in literature. A number of them being done by the 200 companies according to unwritten sources were highly confidential in nature and therefore no literature yet are available. This was being done by the US Defense Department so that the terrorist themselves will be surprised that their planned acts of terrorism has been long monitored and therefore will think twice before implementing their plan. Surprise attack and defense has been the name of the game against terrorists. The new gadgets documented in this paper were living proof that government is not winking their eyes even for a moment and always several steps ahead of terrorist plans. The government was aware that terrorism cannot be stopped and can only be prevented from happening for the time being but the plan and danger will always be there as experienced in 9/11 bombing. Terrorism is man- made and the inspiration which fuel terrorist acts is a product of an insane mind. This cowardice act can only survive in a society which is ill- prepared and whose ideals were blurred by the blinding light of success and achievements. After the 9/11 incident, we can no longer judge the readiness of one country towards terrorism. The technological advances made it possible to hide all the preparations and readiness in the pretext that everything is topsy-turvy and no one dares to make the first move. Technology will save us all. 5 References Batch, K. , Millett, L. , and Pato, J. (2006). Summary of a Workshop on the Technology, Policy, and Cultural Dimensions of Biometric Systems. Washington. National Academy of Sciences. 62 pp. Cafarano, J. (2008). Backgrounder #213:Fighting Terrorism, Addressing Liability: A Global Proposal. May 21, 2008. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www. heritage. org/Research/NationalSecurity/bg2138. cfm Holmes, A. , Abarra, O. , Chamberlain, A. , Chan, W. , Ho, K. , Hsiao, A. , Von Lendeiner, J. and Nusibeth, Z. (2005). Technologies for Fighting Terrorism. 2004/2005. Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www. tfft. co. uk/Files/Report. pdf Infowars. com (2005). Radio Technology to Fight Terrorism. TechNewsWorld. February 5, 2005. Retrieved November 9, 2008 from http://www. infowars. com/articles/bb/radio_tech_to_fight_terrorism. htm Panel on Assessment of the Practicality of Pulsed Fast Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy for Aviation Security, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council (1999). The Practicality of Pulsed Fast Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy for Aviation Security. Washington. National Academy of Sciences. 58 pp. Shelley, L. (2008). TraCC: Devoted to understanding of crime scope and causes and to formulating policy to reduce the problem. George Mason University School of Public Policy. Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://policy-traccc. gmu. edu/ Tfft. co. uk. (ca 2007). Discussion of definitions and the possibility of amalgamation. Technologies for Fighting Terrorism. Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www. tfft. co. uk/ApproachEnd. htm

Biography of an Economist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biography of an Economist - Essay Example Details and specifics of his line of thought are given in the following segment. The text is finally rounded off with conclusions and comments about the scholar that Marshall was. Alfred Marshall was the foremost economist in England of his times. He was fussy at times, which distanced some of his contemporaries. However, the mantle of leading the newly emerging field of economics fell on none other than him. As Wood (2004, p. 220) states, Marshall saw Economics in the light of human behavior which was measurable in terms of money. This was a paradigm shift in the emphasis of the field away from market economics. He was of the opinion that people craved more for perfection and acknowledgement from others rather than for material gains. He gave importance to the standard of life than the standard of living. Towards this end, he felt that the government should guide whereas the employer should lead. Only then would there be an end to the deep-rooted poverty. He followed a deductive method of theorizing based on observation. It could be argued that he tried to boost the image of this discipline in the eyes of the common man by stretching too far the maturity and continuity of Economics. He established the Cambridge School which was succeeded by luminaries like Keynes and Pigou. He used illustrations to teach economic concepts, which was then taken forward worldwide. More than a teacher, he has been immortalized for his works that have enriched and broadened the horizons of Economics. Marshall hailed from London (born in 1824) and showed an inclination for Mathematics in his childhood. He started his higher education in philosophy but ended up in the newly formed discipline viz. Economics. His forte was Political Economy. He married one of his students Mary Paley, with whom he co-authored The Economics of Industry (1879). He was Principal and Professor of Political Economy at Bristol. He shifted to Oxford and later to

Answering Questions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Answering Questions - Research Paper Example Funs get to know the names of the scorers, who helped in different goals, how the team performed in every move, and what it can do to better future games. Kofi Anan uses this analogy of competition to depict a different world and drive his points home. Annan suggests that if countries would come out and compete for respect of human rights, child survival rates, and enrolment in secondary education, then the world would be a better place. Like many who come out to make suggestions and analyse football, Annan argues that the same energy should be used to debate on critical issues like HIV and AIDS affecting countries. In addition, world cup happens on a level ground where each country has an equal chance of participating. In the same manner, other global issues need to be levelled to allow growth and development in all countries of the world. Tim Bowling is a hockey sport lover. He especially remembers some crazy things he has done out of love for this sport. NHL is his main spectator entertainment of this sport. Although he had to give up so much to watch hockey, Tim now realises that this is just a sport. He uses this analogy to pass a message to fanatics of hockey. Apparently, to my shock, some fanatics will go ahead and shed blood just to see their teams reach their intended levels. In reality, too much love for something results in some idolizing it and one will even shed blood to defend it. Besides that, hockey being a major sport that Canada is known for all over the world gives citizens pride associating with this nation. People derive nationhood from association with a country that does so well in a particular sport. In addition, there is a strong connection between hockey and Canadian citizens because it is a shared story. I agree with some politics about sports in that every citizen is entitled to talk about i t and take pride in it. However, hockey sport has considerably changed over time

Technologys Affect on Families and Society Essay

Technologys Affect on Families and Society - Essay Example The interaction amongst individuals will reduced to such an extent that they will even not recognize their neighbors. This will create an America with no social bonding amongst the individuals and people staying in their home without the concern for the overall society, city and the country. When a customer comes out of his home for shopping he generates a living mostly for the lower strata of the society by picking a taxi or a tram, eating out at restaurants or kiosks thus generating incoming not only for the small owners but for the cab drivers and loads of workers at the eating junction. While income of these comparatively lower strata will definitely reduce, the affluent online vendors and reputed food giants who will cater to online requests will become even richer thus creating a wider gap between the rich and the poor. Obama government is working hard to keep a check on outsourcing of IT related services and products to developing country. If we have a closer look then we will find out that the web based services for development and maintenance has been offered primarily by the developing nations to US and therefore curbs in outsourcing will definitely delay any such mishaps for the lower stratum of our society Our c... ook then we will find out that the web based services for development and maintenance has been offered primarily by the developing nations to US and therefore curbs in outsourcing will definitely delay any such mishaps for the lower stratum of our society -How do you see this changing the elements of our culture Our culture has been a strong supporter of the principle of equality to all nationals. This implicitly refers that everybody has the right to equality even in financial matters. By increasing a gap between the richer and the poor, we are hindering the basic rights of equality for our relatively poor citizens thus snatching them this right to financial equality. -Who will be affected the most and how will their lives change Mostly this will affect the small shop owners who are not affluent enough to sell their items via online shopping. This is because they neither have sufficient resources to start an online shop, nor do they have the brand name that a customer will trust while placing an order online. Moreover every small worker involved in transportation sector will be hit by these changes. -Are there any social movements or collective behavior contributing to this change Our increasing dependency on internet for every small affair is catching the attention of affluent retailers and food giants to sell their products online and thus contributing to this change. Reference: American Teenagers. (July 2005). U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from

Journey of life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journey of life - Essay Example Each family member is supportive of each other’s needs as evidenced by frequent interaction and meeting, communication, and eating together. Ever since I can remember, as a young child, we were taught to respect the older members of the family. Every member can help other one without asking to return the favor. I have therefore been brought up to show love, support, and concern for each family member and as such, the bonds we shared have continued to be strong as all siblings went through the various developmental stages. The relationships that have been established during my lifetime consisted of forming friendships in school and within the neighborhood. My parents have reminded me to choose my friends carefully since some people could make bad influences in one’s life through the activities that are shared and undertaken. Therefore, I learned to be selective of friends who make my life better through sharing productive activities and experiences that enhance learning, knowledge and assist in the development of skills and abilities. The friends developed during school years have become my constant circle of friends whom I get to interact with frequently as we all make memorable events that became basis for productive learning. From the time that I transferred and pursued my studies in the United States, the circle of friends grew larger as it comprised of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. I therefore realized that the wealth of knowledge gained from sharing experiences with diverse pe ople is more enriching and rewarding. For me the school provided the most significant impact in my life, second to my family. So far, school activities have been a positive experience since I was a very young child, until the present times. Academic events include complying with academic project, assignments, group works, joining extra-curricular activities, among others. I realized, early on, that by performing well

How can omniscience and free will be recociled Essay

How can omniscience and free will be recociled - Essay Example Therefore, if God is omniscient, then He has the knowledge of what mankind will do in the future. The activities that he will undertake in coming days are already known by Him. Hence, the question of free will in human beings arises. Because God knows everything, then human beings do not have free will. In its definition, free will is described as the ability to make voluntary choices. It is the ability of an individual to choose something without being influenced by other factors. For example, God knows what you will do tomorrow or a day later or even know what you are going to request Him in prayer so that your wishes can be fulfilled. Because of the idea that God is omniscient and thus knows everything in this world that takes place, human beings do not have the choice of doing what they want, whenever they want to or in whichever manner. This is because their actions have already been pre determined by God. This idea that God controls all our actions right from being formed in the womb and being born into the world until our dieing days, has made some theologians state otherwise. They say that God knows everything but his omniscience is one that does not predetermine the actions of His creation. This has thus given rise to two types of omniscience in trying to describe God. Total omniscience was the first description of God. ... In this ideology, God before creating the Universe had already prepared the destiny of His creation and therefore some people have already been chosen to enter heaven on judgment day. This eliminates the idea of free will in humans in determining their destiny. An example of this idea that God exhibits total omniscience is evident in the Bible. In the book of Jeremiah chapter five, in verse five it is said that before we were born, God knew us as before putting us in our mothers' wombs. This statement by God shows that He already knew what His intentions for the world were. The other definition of God is of inherent omniscience. In this definition, God is described as limiting His ability in knowing everything by choice and thus favors the aspect of free will in humans. In the Biblical book of Deuteronomy in chapter 30, God allows free will in humans by stating that He has given them the choice between life and death. That if mankind abides by God's goodness he will enjoy eternal life in heaven. If he is devoid of goodness, then he is bound to leave his life after death in hell with Satan. Hence, the definition that God exhibits inherent omniscience is what is upheld by many theologians and other religious people. If He only showed total omniscience, then human beings would not have the ability to make their own choices. Everything they do would not be voluntarily generated but unknowingly fostered by God's command on His creation. (Stewart & Taylor) Because of the inherent omniscience of God, omniscience and humans' free will can be reconciled. God has given mankind the ability to choose his own destiny through the ten commands that were handed down to Moses in Mount Sinai. With the presentation of these commandments, God showed that He does not control the

Plato Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Plato - Essay Example In about his fortieth year Plato is said to have left Athens to study with Pythagoras at Crotona. Plato was perhaps the only Pythagorean whose work and teachings are known today. Traveling to Syracuse, Plato met Dionysius I and became friends with his brother ¬ in-law, Dion, who later became his follower (Jaspers, 1962). After leaving Italy Plato traveled to Egypt, Cyrene, Judea and to the banks of the Ganges. It was said that his mind became a treasure house of the world's wisdom (Thomas & Thomas, 1941). But it was Socrates to whom Plato remained devoted all his life. Plato returned to Athens in 386 to start his Academy, which he patterned after Pythagoras' school in Crotona. Here he immortalized the mental prowess of his master, Socrates, presenting Socratic ideas in the form of dialogues though the mouth of his teacher. He gave us a fair picture of Socrates but little of himself, so that it is hard to tell when Socrates leaves off and Plato takes over. When Plato was sixty (c. 368) Aristotle, then twenty, joined the Academy and continued as Plato's primary student for the next twenty years, until Plato's death in 347 BC. Personal Opinion Merely recalling the name of Plato brings instant and complete admiration in most educational circles. As Alfred North Whitehead put it, it seems that all of Western history is a series of footnotes to Plato. Plato took the liberty of giving his personal philosophy through the mouth of Socrates. The two seem inseparable. Socrates is known to us because Plato took the time to write down the story of his teacher. Everything we know of Socrates was written by Plato. There is no way to know where Socrates' thinking stops and Plato's begins. Body Influences on Plato Plato's early life and writings were very much influenced by Socrates. Plato's beginning works reflected Socrates' thinking, and perhaps ideas that came to him as Socrates was speaking, but which Socrates himself never uttered. As time passed the words of the teacher appeared to reflect the original thinking of the student. In time Socrates became a secondary character, then finally disappeared altogether in Laws (Jaspers, 196 2). Plato and Socrates are distinct in some aspects. They approached life in two utterly different ways. Socrates walked the streets of Athens verbally proclaiming his message while Plato lived in seclusion, away from the evils of society. Socrates was bound to Athens; Plato remained an Athenian but was on his way to becoming a cosmopolitan; he was capable of living and working outside of his native city. Socrates philosophized in the immediate present, Plato indirectly, through his works and the school he founded. Socrates remained in the market place, Plato withdrew to the Academy with a chosen few. Socrates did not write a line, Plato left a monumental work (Jaspers, 1962, p. 121). On their darker sides, the two philosophers shared an acceptance of homosexual attraction between adult males and their young male students that most would not agree with today. In his Symposium Plato creates an argument for homosexual love for boys. He suggests that some men are meant to pursue heaven ly love and some earthy love. Those who look to heaven are more attracted to boys than to women. Why? Because boys are mentally keener, more beautiful, thus closer to the realm of perfection. According to Plato, loving boys is a means of acquiring wisdom. But also necessary to the pursuit of perfection, according to Socrates and Plato, is the exercising of

The below figures from the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Essay

The below figures from the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that in 2011 sales of hybrid vehicles were signifi - Essay Example The hybrid cars were less pollution causing in nature and run on biodiesel fuels. Thus the basic idea of petrol driven cars remained the same but it was innovated in a different environment friendly form. Diffusion of innovative products and factors influencing the tradeoffs According to the sales figures in UK in 2011, there was a reduction in the number of electric vehicles over the hybrid vehicles. Trade off is the system where certain features of a product are left out for the sake of some other feature. In case of innovative products like the carts there can be many features which might not be at par with the market conditions, economical scenario and environmental aspects. There can be a number of tradeoffs seen in the supply chain management system in marketing. There can be situations where the supplier of innovative cars may wish to transport in bulk but this might not be in accordance with the market scenario if the conditions in the market are grim. There can also be situa tions where the supplier might have to face an increased lead time. Sometimes, the supplier of cars may also wish to ship directly to the customer to save costs and time (Stevenson, 525). Apart from these, there can be tradeoffs in the design of the innovative product too. There can be situations where the company might think the design to be feasible but might have to give up going by the designs prevalent in the markets. This can make economical impacts too. Sometimes, the innovative products might not provide the required revenue to the company. In other words it might not be economical. In such situations again, trade off of the products comes into action. Tradeoffs can arise due to environmental constraints too. The innovative design thought by the company may not be in accordance with the environmental factors and might have to be removed or substituted. Any new product launched in the market spreads by innovation and it is affected by the technical, market, economic and envir onmental factors. These factors will determine the tradeoffs that will be introduced for the innovative products. Environmental impacts of the electric and hybrid vehicles Electric cars and hybrid cars have had their environmental impacts. While the former is considered not environment friendly, the latter does not cause much harm to the environment. Electric cars increase pollution levels than hybrid cars. Electricity that is generated to power electric vehicles led to more pollution caused by particulate matter than the pollution caused by the equivalent number in the petrol driven cars (Gayle, 2012). Though there are several benefits of electric cars over hybrid cars the harmful consequences are more in case of the electric cars. Sustainable consumption and its importance to global issues Sustainable production as well as consumption means the usage of goods and other services that caters to basic requirements and leads to a better quality in life, while reducing the usage of nat ural resources, decreasing the toxic materials and the harmful emissions of the wastes and the pollutants over the product life cycle, so that the conditions for the future generations are not jeopardized (Solid Wastes and Emergency Response, 2012).The concept of sustainable consumption is important to understand how to use optimum levels of resources and minimize the release of harmful substances. It is important in global issues as

Establishing a Formal Systems Development Process Essay

Establishing a Formal Systems Development Process - Essay Example Jane being the first ever process manager she is among the top level members who contribute on the kind of systems to implement. However, the development analysts have a different opinion from the process manager. This paper will evaluate the kind of behaviour and reaction that Jane should pose though she is not agreeing with the develop systems to be implemented. One major trait of a major is flexibility; this means that Jane being a manager she should consider the entire organisation employees rather than focus on an individual. Considering that the entire organisation is comfortable with the system development approach; Jane could try and fit in the shoes of the entire organisation (Beardwell, I.; Holden, L, 2010). Jane can take personal development and training sections to try and understand every system development approach. These will her to evaluate every system and come up with positive feedback on each. Understanding all the systems will help to make a solid decision on what is favourable of the organisation rather than considering an individual. Jane should practice a democratic leadership approach in the organization in order to give employees an opportunity to choose what they feel is best for the company (Campbell & Giles, 2010). Jane should also consider that she is the process manager; and managers take risks for the benefit of the organisation. However, the proposed approach does not promise a risk free implementation. This means that there various factors that one need to consider in order to develop a system (Purcell, Kinnie, Swart, & Rayton, 2009). As a process manager there are factors that one needs to consider in case of changes or solutions to any problems. According the company’s report Jane wants to change the organization process to a formal approach. However, there are factors that need to be considered in order to be successful

The Journey of Olaudah Equiano Essay Example for Free

The Journey of Olaudah Equiano Essay He wrote his narrative in order to teach his readers about the horrors and atrocities that took place every day to people just like him in the hopes that he could advance the movement against the slave trade. In order to do this, Equiano focused not only on the physical journey he took, but the spiritual journey as well. His expedition, from Africa to enslavement to freedom, closely corresponds to his spiritual journey, from ignorance to conversion to religious completion. This allowed his readers to understand his struggles in a way that was more familiar to them, which tied a closer bond between the reader and the author. Since his readers could relate to the two separate but intertwined journeys, Equiano could now enlighten his readers on the revulsion of the slave trade just as he was enlightened through Christianity. Colonial North America was a brand new world, where the opportunities for wealth were plentiful, ever-present, and over-powering and the slave trade was a direct result of man’s greedy drive for wealth. It took over one hundred years for slavery to be abolished, but Equiano’s journey, both physical and spiritual, presented to the world the true dreadfulness behind the slave trade, a paramount mistake on mankind. Equiano opens his narrative with a description of his native African culture, including the customs of clothing, family, food, war, and religious practices. Equiano describes Africans as â€Å"rude and uncultivated† (43) and that all are â€Å"ignorant of their language, religion, manners and customs. (44) His time in Africa ties into his religious ignorance as he suggests that Africans could be the indirect relatives of Christian Europeans. Although this could be considered accurate from today’s standpoints, in the colonial era, this would be taken as an ignorant, blasphemous statement. The African customs and traditions were foreign to most of the world during this time and Equiano presents his former customs, particularly his pagan religious practice s, as not necessarily a result of sin, but rather a result of ignorance. Although Equiano acknowledges the coarse rituals of the African continent, he also notes the unfairness of this situation. â€Å"Are any pains taken to teach them these? Are they treated as men? †¦ Did nature make them inferior to their sons? † (45) While Equiano concedes the savageness of the African people, he still argues that slavery is as an affront to humanity, â€Å"Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and extinguish all its fire† (45) Here, slavery is simply shown as an imbalanced product of European greed and the opportunity of wealth the New World provided. Next, Equiano describes his grim voyage through the Middle Passage and his eventual enslavement on a merchant ship for a British captain. After the ship’s arrival in England, Equiano is exposed to Christianity for the first time, â€Å"a great man in the heavens, called God: but here again I was to all intents and purposes at a loss to understand him. † (67) As Equiano becomes more assimilated to European culture, he develops a deeper understanding of Christianity and is eventually educated and baptized. Equiano’s entire enslavement is closely connected to his religious developments; as more time progresses as a slave he becomes a more erudite follower of Christianity. His religious conversion reaches its precipice when Captain Pascal betrays him and turns him over to be enslaved in the West Indies. â€Å"with contrition of heart, acknowledged my transgression to God, and poured out my soul before him with unfeigned repentance. † (95) In that instant, Equiano gave his life to God and became as Christian as any of his readers. Consequently, it is at this moment his life begins to turn around as he is sold to a kindly Quaker merchant who gives him the opportunity to make his own money in order to purchase his freedom. Equiano’s enslavement is filled with hardships and poor treatment, but is emphasized by his religious transformation. He shows his readers that even as an educated Christian, his life as a slave is meager and dangerous and he questions how Christians could treat others so grotesquely, â€Å"How he, as a Christian, could answer for the horrid act before God? (104) Once again, Equiano shows there are no boundaries that man, when blinded by greed, will not cross. After some time, Equiano acquires enough money to purchase his freedom and completes his long excursion to becoming free. Just as his physical journey becomes complete, his spiritual journey reaches an endpoint. Equiano now bases his life around God and â€Å"Now the Bible was my only companion and comfort. † (191) When hi s ship picks up some men stranded at sea, Equiano takes the most impactful step in Christianity as he starts to spread the word of God. and took great delight in him, and used much supplication to God for his conversion. † (203) Equiano links his freedom from slavery to his religious completion in order to help his readers fully grasp his journeys completion. Both are immense accomplishments, but the reader can more adeptly understand the end to a spiritual journey rather than the journey from a slave to freedman. Although Equiano is no longer a slave, he hopes his story enlightens readers of the terrors of the slave trade, just as Christianity had enlightened him to leading a life for God. Olaudah Equiano’s slave narrative was one of the first published works of a firsthand account of the American slave trade. Equiano introduced the world to how slaves, such as himself, were treated on a daily basis. However, what makes his narrative so effective is the way he connects his physical and spiritual journeys together. Anyone who was to read his narrative would have a hard time relating to his physical struggles beyond his descriptions, so he effectively connects them with his spiritual voyage and struggles. This allows the reader to connect to Equiano in a more relatable way and helps strengthen his case against the slave trade. Today, we can use his narrative to find out about what colonial North America was like during this time. The New World was, simply enough, a vast farmland with an unlimited crop yield and in order to harvest these crops, sufficient labor was needed. The quest for wealth helped formulate the slave trade, but man’s greed turned it into a business. Colonial North America was a time full of growth and opportunities, all tried to take advantage as much as possible. Equiano was one of the luckier slaves and his life fits into the popular American success story of patience, hard-work, and endurance as important qualities. Equiano was enlightened through Christianity and he hoped the story he shared would enlighten the world about affront to humanity that slavery was. Over two hundred years later, we are still reading his narrative.

Reflection On Separation Of The Church And State History Essay

Reflection On Separation Of The Church And State History Essay In the early sixteenth century there was only one religion in Western Europe. This was the Roman Catholic religion. For a long time, the Catholic Church had been involved in the political life of Western Europe. As a result of their involvement in politics, the Catholic Church became very rich and powerful. This caused the church to become weakened spiritually. The church had become a lot more interested in or had become corrupted by power and wealth causing it to pay very little interest to its actual purpose which was handling the spiritual problems of the masses. This caused the church to begin a number of malpractices, such as the sale of indulgences to the masses. Indulgences were documents signed by the pope that forgave or absolved people of all their sins and gave them access into heaven. Indulgences could also be purchased on the behalf of a dead relative, to reduce their time in purgatory before entry into heaven. The relationship between the church and the masses soon beca me solely based on money. Most of these practices, especially that of the sale of indulgences caused a number of people in different European states to start questioning the church, which was labeled as an act of heresy by the church. This people were the likes of Martin Luther in Germany, Erasmus of Rotterdam, John Calvin in Switzerland, and Henry VIII in England. Martin Luther was actually the main person behind the reformations which took place in Germany, and eventually spread to other parts of Europe. His actions started with the letter and 95 theses he wrote against the church in 1517(). In his writings, he questioned the churchs sale of indulgences as well as other malpractices. His writings spread throughout Germany and eventually most parts of Europe causing people to begin to see the malpractices carried out by the Catholic Church. As a result of this, Luther was excommunicated by the Catholic Church in 1521. This did not change anything as Luthers ideas had already spread throughout Germany. Luthers reforms led to a number of wars against the church, which eventually led to the separation of the church. Luther formed the Lutheran church. Another important figure that contributed to the reformation of the Catholic Church was John Calvin. Most of John Calvins works, such as the Institutes of Christian Religion were published in Switzerland which was a more liberal place as compared to France where he was born and escaped from. The Institutes of Christian religion was published in 1536(). He would have been persecuted by the king and the church if he had published his works in France. Calvins ideas were hugely successful in Switzerland and majority of the Catholics became protestant. Like Luthers ideas, the Catholic Church was against them and labeled them to acts of heresy. Calvin formed the Calvinist church. The king of England at the time, King Henry the VIII also played a major role in the reforms against the Catholic Church. English reformations against the church began under his reign. He pulled England away from the rule of the Catholic Church, making himself the supreme head of the English church by an act of parliament in 1534(). Although the English church had been cut off from the popes control, the English people were still predominantly Catholic. It was only later that the Church of England was to be known as the Anglican church of England and Anglicanism became a religion. Although Henrys actions were for personal reasons, he questioned the Catholic Churchs authority, something that would spread throughout England. There were many others who contributed to the reformations against the Catholic Church, but the likes of Martin Luther, John Calvin and King Henry VIII were at the fore front. The reforms that took place against the church helped most governments to break away from the control of the pope and the church. Most countries such as England and North Germany could to some extent make political decisions without the churchs permission. The population did not have to pay any more taxes to the church. The Catholic Church hit back against the protestant reformers with what was known as the Counter Reformation. The Counter Reformation was led most notably by pope Paul III in 1534. He hit back with the approval of the new religious order called the Jesuits in the convocation of the council of Trent to deal with disciplinary and doctrinal questions asked by the Protestants 1545 1563() . He also readily deployed military assistance when necessary to act against the Protestants. The Catholics succeeded to save some of its territories from the reformers as well as obtain new territories in North and South America. This was done through a number of wars against the Protestants. Although most of Europe still remained predominantly catholic, the church lost the grip it had on the masses. People began to ask questions unlike before. The reformations against the church had a major impact on the separation of the church from the state. After the reformations, the next period that really affected the church was the period of revolutions in science and political thought. During this period, ideas such as geocentrism accepted by the church where being questioned by scientist. The likes of Nicolas Coperincus, Johannes Kepler, Gallileo Gallilei and Isaac Newton proved the idea to be wrong and came up with the idea of heliocentrism. William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood, which was previously and unattainable feet because the church did not permit dissection of the human corps. More aspects of the catholic religion were questioned and yet again were proven to be wrong. Although the church threatened most of them and ordered their works not be read, the damage had already been done. The church began to lose its supremacy over the masses. The works and discoveries by scientist greatly affected philosophers of the next century. Like scientist, a lot of philosophers also started coming up with new ideas which enc ouraged people to begin thinking. A lot of these philosophers gave ideas concerning political thought and reasoning. They included the likes of David Hume, John Locke, Francis Bacon, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), Charles-Louis de Secondat Baron de Montesquieu, Immanuel Kant and many others. Most of this philosophers or philosophes came from the enlightenment (Age of Reason) period in the eighteenth century. The idea behind most of their work was the reduction of power from the kings in Europe. The kings in Europe at the time were absolute monarchs, and exercised authority over their subjects as the head of state and government. Most of the philosophes at this time were against this form of government, and strongly encouraged a form of power reduction. Montesquieu, for example came up with the idea of the separation of power into three distinct branches. These three branches included; the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Most governments tod ay such as those of France and Germany are being ruled with the idea of separation of government. John Lockes idea was that a rulers authority was supposed to be conditional and not absolute. In his book entitled Two Treatises of Government (1680 1690), he defines political power to be A right of making laws with penalties of death, and consequently all less penalties for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community, in the execution of such laws, and in the defense of the common-wealth from foreign injury; and all this only for the public good (195). The United States of America is an example of a country that uses this form of government today. The ideas introduced by these philosophers led to revolutions in Europe, such as the French revolution and in European colonies abroad such as the American Revolution. The people sort to end the reign of absolute monarchy and introduce a new form of government. The French philosophe Voltaires ideas were also very influential. He directly questioned religious dogma at the time. He strongly routed for the separation of the state from the church. At the time the government was integrated with religion. What the church saw as an offense against its doctrines, the government laid out a sanction for the crime. No one could speak freely, choose his religion, or think without being persecuted. Revolts against absolute kings in a way were revolts against the church. As different European countries reluctantly accepted the change from absolutism, they became open to many other things including Protestantism. The Catholic Church slowly lost its grip over political affairs of the state thus leading to secularism and eventually, separation of the church from the state. With this, punishment was not given out to the citizens on the bases of religious laws or doctrines. In 1648, after the thirty years wars (a war that caused a transition from medieval to modern politics), secularism was really put into effect. Church lands were transferred to the state during the treaty of Westphalia, as well as the tolerance to other minor religions (Protestants). With the coming of secularism and the separation of the church from state, most countries picked up what was known as sovereign nation-states. The treaty ended the Holy Roman Empire as an institution and began what was known as a modern European system. England was the first European country to end the reign of the absolute monarchs in Europe. This happened at the end of the seventeenth century through the glorious revolutions under James IIs rule. These revolutions saw the complete over throw of absolute monarchs in England. The power of the monarchs became supplementary to the powers of branches of government. Parliament then drew up a Bill of Rights which restricted the power monarchs over the parliament and individuals in the society. It would not be for another century that absolutism would end in other parts of Europe. Absolutism ended mainly in most of Europe with the coming of the French revolution. The French revolution began in France in 1789 under the reign of Louis XVI. The revolution ended with the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793 (). This brought an end to absolute monarchy in France. This period was followed by Robespierres reign of terror under a new form of government called the National Convention from 1793 1794 (). The system in France eventually led to a consulate form of government in 1799. Napoleon Bonaparte became the emperor of France in 1804. Napoleon Bonaparte was strongly for the removal of the church from state affairs. France and the Catholic Church were not on good terms during the period of the revolutions. Regardless of this, Napoleon signed the Concordat 1801, which was an agreement that Napoleon would recognize the church and Pope Pius VII would recognize the revolution. All this was a formality for Napoleon as he did not really care what the Catholic Church thought. He was very displeased with the amount of power the Catholic Church had. During Napoleons coronation by the pope in 1804, he seized the crown from the pope and crowned himself emperor. This was in a way to show that he was not going to share his power with the pope. Napoleon was also in favor of religious tolerance and this was clearly seen through his Napoleonic code. her minor religions (protestants) thus followed. the bases of religious laws or doctrines s including protestianism

The Short Story Of Mother To Son English Literature Essay

The Short Story Of Mother To Son English Literature Essay There are so many great stories, short plays and poems to critique within this text book. The poem I chose to critique was Mother to Son by Langston Hughes. He was born James Langston Hughes on February 1st 1902, in Joplin Missouri. James was a member of an abolitionist family. Hughes attended central high school in Cleveland Ohio, but he started writing poetry when he was just in the eighth grade. During this time, he was even selected as class poet by his fellow classmates. Langstons father did not think that his son could make a living on writing poems alone, so he enrolled him in an engineering program at Columbia University. Soon after, Langston withdrew from the program in order to pursue his writing career. Shortly after, Langston published his first poem which was his most famous, The Negro Speaks of Rivers. Langstons work got so much recognition it appeared in the NAACP and other publications. He was a prolific writer and throughout his life, he wrote sixteen books of poems, two novels, three collections of short stories, four volumes of editorial and documentary fiction and the list goes on. With all these prior knowledge of Hughes, I was able to understand his writing style a bit more clearly and grasp his theme within the poem. The theme for Hughes poem is, Even though life has been hard for the mother and she could not see what was ahead, she still encourages her son to continue on in life because she made it through. I love the way that Langston, so clearly depicted this theme within the poem and while you read it you can get a clear sense of exactly what is going on and you may even seem as if it were your mother speaking to you. The poem is self narrated and one can feel the love and emotion from the character. It has a strong meaning behind it because the mom cares for her child and wants him to continue on in life and to never give up. In life, mothers always wish the best for their children and never want them to fall by the way side or be led astray. Every mother wants for the child to be successful in everything that they do. It makes a mom heart broken or feels as if they failed, when their child fails. A critic by the name of R. Baxter Miller says In this poem the woman also represents the continuation of the race. Having given life to the next generation, the mother represents a figure of female strength, affirmation and generational continuity. Another critic by the name of James Baldwin says, Hughes is at his best in lyrics like Mother to Son. The poems lyrics elements include a first person speaker, an expression of intense personal emotion and a belief in spiritual transcendence of time and early circumstance. Both critics are correct and within the poem you can see exactly what they are referring to. The tone of the poem is full of love but also has intense warning. The mother wants the best for her son and Hughes clearly depicts that within his poem. The poem starts off by the mother informing the son that life for her has been hard. She states Well son, Ill tell you; Life for me aint been no crystal stair. Its had its tacks in it and splinters and boards torn upà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Meyer 1168) The mother, just like every mom who has had a hard time in life, tells her child what she has gone through; her trials and tribulations. She goes on to describe her life by saying the boards were torn up there was no carpet in places, which symbolizes her emptiness, how tough it was and chaotic. Think of a house if you were looking to buy one and you came across a house with the boards up in the air, mold on the walls, roof is leaking, insects infested the place and there was no carpet where carpet should be. Chances are you would turn your head the other way and look for something better, for you would know this is not the way a house should be. You could never make your family stay in this house for you know that they deserve better. Just li ke the mom she talks about the hard parts of her life, but she is trying to do better even in spite of whatever it is that she is going through. She goes on to say that shes been climbing and reaching landings to make it. Meaning shes been going ahead trying to do better and make something out of her situation and she is not giving up. Sometimes in life we have to realize that our situation is not the worst thing on earth. Even if we were going through the loss of a job, the death of a child, the loss of the house, being homeless, starvation or battling a deadly disease. We should realize that we can make it through in spite of. The mom warns her son to stay focused and persevere. She states, dont you turn back. Dont you set down on the steps because you find its kinder hard. (Meyer 1168) You can hear in her tone that she does not want him to ever give up or turn back while hes experiencing his tough times. Every mom encourages their child to go through whatever the situation may be and to never look back and say we cant do it. Sometimes as a child, we may think the problem is just too big for us to deal with or that we cant get through it. Sometimes we get weak and weary when our situation looks like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Even though it looks as if we cant go on, we have to remember the warnings that our mothers have said to us. We have to remember when they tell us to be better than them in everything that we do. Mothers try hard to get as far as they can in life, educationally and physically. Every mom tells their child to go higher and do more. So if your mom got a bachelors degree and made only 30,000 a year, she would want you to get a masters or a PH. D and make 60,000 a year. We have to remember when our mothers tell us to be better than they were. An example would be if your mom use to mistreat you as a child excessively beat you or put you down every time you needed her, she would want for you to treat your children with love and compassion. Your mother would also want you to be there for your child and uplift them in times of need. Anything that your mom did that you did not agree with, you should do better when you have your children. After all the warnings and encouragement, the mother ends of the poem by saying Ise still climbin, and life for me ain;t been no crystal stair.(Meyer 1168) A critic by the name of Alishia talks on her belief of what the crystal stair symbolizes. She states, I believe the crystal stair reference means that crystal is transparent, you can see the other side clearly through crystal. If her life was no crystal stair, she didnt know what the outcome was going to be, she just knew that she had to keep moving and keep working f or the best life she could make for herself. I agree with Alishia because if something is crystal you can see right through it and since the mom says life hasnt been a crystal stair she cant see through her life or see what is to come. When you cant see whats ahead of you, it makes it hard to plan out what you will do and prepare yourself accordingly. If life was a crystal stair for the mom, then should would be better prepared for everything and have time to plan out a solution to all her problems but life is never like that we never know whats to come. All we know is that when it does come our way we must not fall back, or get scared and give up. We must keep on going and persevere to the end so we can feel good that we accomplished something and made it out on top. Not only will we get personal satisfaction, but our mothers will be satisfied. This is what the main theme is for the poem Mother to son. Its all about us making it until the end and never giving up because we cant see whats ahead. The poem was very meaningful and motivational and Hughes did a wonderful job displaying this within his poem. This poem encourages and uplifts the reader to keep on moving forward in life and this is a life lesson that we all should take heed to. Work Cited Page Meyer, Michael. Mother to Son. Eighth. Boston: 1168. Print. Miller, R. Baxter. Mother To son critical overview. answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr 2010. . Baldwin, James. Mother To son critical overview. answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr 2010. . Alisha, . American poems. American poems.com. N.p., 21 04 2009. Web. 26 Apr 2010. . (February 1, 1902 May 22, 1967) Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. He was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston, brother of John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black American to be elected to public office, in 1855. Hughes attended Central High School in Cleveland,

Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart :: Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart "The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart." As the British colonized the areas of Nigeria inhabited by the Ibo, they brought with them their new religion of Christianity, which sought to overrun the traditional animist way of life that had endured in the area for centuries. The new religion was treated with skepticism early on, but the lure of the wealth that British traders brought into the city, along with the support of the British government and judicial system eventually displaced Ibo society completely. Although many historians make the assertion that the tribes’ conversion to Christianity by English missionaries was responsible, even noble, the truth is that the fragmentation of Ibo culture was not for the love of God, but for the love of money and power. For the colonialists, Christianity was used as an effective wedge between the Ibo and their land. They knew that without infiltration from the inside, the people of Umofia and surrounding villages would continue to rebel against British authority in the area. By introducing Christianity into the villages, and creating conflict amongst the natives, they were able to gain a foothold into the psyches of the tribespeople. Converted Christians, having been ostracized by the rest of their communities, were forced to rely on the British for support. The presence of natives loyal to the Queen gave the British blanket jurisdiction over the entire village, and the Royal administrative and judicial system could now enforce British law over the Ibo. Although the argument can me made that these effects were merely byproducts of a noble effort on the part of the Europeans to bring the Christian faith to Africa, more evidence suggests that the real motivation was money, not religion. The colonists had much to gain from a colonized Africa, including abundant natural resources and workers to tend farms and chop trees for the Queen. As the proverb goes, â€Å"Before the White Man came, we had the land and they had the Bible. Now we have the Bible and they have the land.

Analysis of Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti Essay -- English Literat

Analysis of Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti describes a cottage maiden who was seduced and used by the lord of the estate for which she worked. She was surprised and taken a back by the fact that someone so great and powerful could be slightly interested in her, and so she automatically fell in love with him. It wasn't until after he had slept with her that he left her for her cousin, Kate. The cottage maiden was devastated that he had done that to her. She felt unclean and unwanted. The lord asked for Kate's hand in marriage and she accepted. The cottage maid thought that he married Kate because she was innocent and pure, 'Because you were so good and pure/He bound you with his ring' - the cottage maiden is in complete contrast to her cousin. The only good thing that came out of this was the cottage maiden had a child, 'Yet I've a gift you have not got...' and 'my fair-haired son'. The lord had seduced the cottage maiden and used her like a 'silken knot'. This basically means that the lord used the cottage maiden as a trophy and used her when he wanted to. This is a poem based and written in the 19th century. There are three main characters in the story. Cousin Kate, the cottage maiden and the Lord. The title of this poem is self-explanatory. The poem is based on a character called Cousin Kate. As she is the main character in the poem, the whole poem revolves around her. The poem basically tells us about 19th century life and people's attitudes towards unlawful relationships. The poem tells us about a cottage maiden who had an affair with a Lord. She loses her virginity to him, and then regrets the whole ordeal. In the 19th century, if you were not known as pure ... ... but further on she's not able to contain this calmness anymore and has an outburst of hatred towards the Lord - something that she's been trying to cover. The last stanza of the poem becomes more of revenge than hatred. She feels she's had revenge over the Lord and Kate by having a child - something that they're not likely to get. She sounds very self-satisfied. Christina Rossetti has written a very good portrayal of life in early times. It shows how society rejected woman who had unlawful sex in earlier times; women were judges and disowned by all people who knew them. Society has now changed. Women are no longer judged or even looked down on by anyone. It has become a way of life that in earlier times may have been considered as dirty and unlawful, people's attitudes have changes and it is no longer as big a deal as it was in the early 19th century.

Disciplining Children Essay

When I was younger we used to get disciplined with corporal punishment. Not saying that this is always the answer but it is what is needed sometimes. If more parents were allowed to use corporal punishment as means of discipline it would let the children know who is in charge. Sometimes it seems the law gives most of the authority to the children. When children do something wrong there needs to be a punishment fitting to the actions. If a child writes on the wall you should talk to them and tell them that it is not ok to write on the walls and why. When you catch them a second time and they acknowledge what they did was wrong you explain to them why it is not ok to write on the walls, and let them know that they will really be in trouble if they do it again. Now if you catch them writing on the walls again at this point there needs to be something that shows them you are serious†¦ in comes corporal punishment. Depending on the age of the child and what was done decides the severity of the corporal punishment. Sometimes this could be as simple as a tap to the hand of a three year old for using foul language, up to taking a belt to the behind of a thirteen year old for taking a knife to school. I’m not saying that corporal punishment is the first means or the only means of discipline. Explaining what was done is wrong should always be the first course of action. When the same problem constantly arises that’s when it is necessary. But after you do use corporal punishment you must talk to the child and explain that you don’t like having to spank them, but you have to show them there will be serious consequences for their actions in life. If you only talk to children it could lead them to believe this will be the highest level on discipline. As children get older they base the level of punishment on what was given to them by their parents. If you constantly let your children get away with things and only talk at the problem they will think that’s what the world will do also, so acting out in school would be nothing to them even when the teacher tells them they are going to have to call their parents. But if the child receives corporal punishment often for being too out of hand when the teacher says they are going to call the child’s parents they’ll know the better get it together because there will be serious consequences if they don’t.

Trainspotting

The Uncanny in Trainspotting I am interested in analyzing the â€Å"repression† element of the term uncanny in the way it is used in the â€Å"cold turkey† scene of Trainspotting. Repression is the way in which one pushes a memory or feeling to the back of one’s mind, in the hope that it will never come about in one’s train of thought again. If it does however, it would create an uncomfortable and unnerving situation. Trainspotting revolves around characters that are aiming to repress life itself by shooting up heroin all hours of the day.The â€Å"cold turkey† scene of this movie in particular is the most uncanny scene of all because it encompasses many of the thoughts and emotions that Renton, the main character, is trying to repress, but is forced to face. Paranoia, depression, hallucinations, and zombie babies are all a part of this timeless scene that truly leaves the viewer in an uneasy and ambivalent state of mind. Danny Boyle does not waste time easing the audience into Renton’s withdrawal symptoms, but rather throws them right into the scene.From the second Renton is locked in his room, a feeling of uncanniness sweeps over the audience, for as awful as Renton may feel, the audience is left unsympathetic to the whole situation. Renton, as he states throughout the film, is a bad person, and the audience will never sympathize with the bad person. Therefore, as the scene progresses, there is a sense of cognitive dissonance between wanting to feel sorry for Renton, and feeling that he is getting what he deserves. The uncanniness of the scene continues as Renton’s bedroom comes into perspective.It takes place in his childhood room which is covered in trains. It is uncanny that Renton is locked in a room like this, for it perfectly embodies the theme of the movie. The word â€Å"trainspotting† has many meanings, all of which can be applied to Renton’s life. First, it literally stands for one who s pots trains and takes note of when it comes and goes, which therefore translates to an utterly useless life. It also refers to the track marks that are left in the veins after shooting up. Users typically shoot along one main vein, therefore adapting the term, â€Å"station to station,† to this action.A child’s bedroom is typically a place of innocence and safety, however in Renton’s case, it is his doomed sarcophagus. His bed soon starts moving backwards, and the room starts elongating, as if to personify the notion that Renton is being pulled into limbo where he will be forced to face the reality of his oncoming hallucinations. What he soon starts seeing is rather uncanny, for he believes he is being visited by his family and friends, but in reality they are all figments of his imagination made up in his ongoing heroin derived/deprived mind.In particular, he imagines his friend Diane singing the song â€Å"Temptation. † It is coincidental that she is si nging this song because it is about being enamored and drawn to certain people and situations, but having to cope with the reality that they or it will no longer be there. The crawling, dead baby is another vital character of Renton’s hallucination. Baby Dawn, whom Renton has repressed his feelings for since her poor demise, crawls across the room, stops right above Renton’s body, and stares lifelessly into his eyes.The term uncanny is most brilliantly personified through this scene because this baby that was once familiar to Renton, is now altered, creepy, and morbid, creating immense uneasiness due to the uncertainty of her state of being. Danny Boyle masterfully articulates the horrors of withdrawals in the â€Å"cold turkey† scene of Trainspotting, which is why it is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. This was only achieved, however, through the presence of the uncanny, for it was the quintessential factor that made the scene that much more i nsightful and visceral.