Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Colombia Drugs, War and Cartels - 2311 Words

Colombia has been a very unstable country for the past fifty years. Beginning in the 1960s Marxist guerilla groups formed. The two strongest groups called themselves the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the other was the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Making things worse, in the 1970s drug trafficking became a huge problem for Colombia. Drug cartels pretty much controlled the country starting in the mid-1970s. By the 1990s right-wing paramilitaries had formed. They were made mainly of drug traffickers and landowners. The main paramilitary group called themselves the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Since the 1970s, Colombia has been home to some of the most violent and sophisticated†¦show more content†¦Violence was an integral part of the operations of the Medellin syndicate from the start. As the organization grew in size, power and wealth, it also grew in ruthlessness and violence. After first establishing their dominance on the South American side of the market, in 1978 and 1979 the Medellin drug bosses turned their attention to control the wholesale distribution in the United States. As the cartels consolidated control over a billion-dollar drug industry, their leaders sought political power through legal and illegal means, all backed by violence (Younger and Rosin). Several bought interests in local radio stations and newspapers. Others, like Pablo Escobar, sought to create patron-client followings in the cities by handing out cash to the poor, building low income housing in the slums or purchasing sports teams and constructing sports stadiums. Lehder went as far as to create his own Latino Nationalist Party and to publicize his hybrid political ideology through his newspaper (Country Studies). In 1982 Escobar was actually elected as an alternate congressman on a Liberal Party slate in his home department of Antioquia. Pablo Escobar was incredibly violent and his quest for power within the Colombian government led to a stand-off between the cartel and the government. During the 1980s, the cartel revolted against theShow MoreRelatedThe Drug Crisis Of Colombia1594 Words   |  7 Pagesastounding how a group of traffickers in Colombia have been able to keep a drug trade business going despite the government rejections. The traffickers started off with importing marijuana into the United States, and later turned to cocaine. The amounts of drugs being traded also grew rapidly. â€Å"†¦shipments grew from individuals carrying small amounts of large quantities on boats and low-flying airplanes†(Gilmore). The growth of drug trade in Colombia created two cartels, one that was led by Medellin andRead MoreDrug Trafficking And Its Effects On America1600 Words   |  7 Pages In a country of struggling economies, many have viewed the drug trade as one South American’ s most successful businesses. Latin America s drug trafficking industry has been depicted in United States popular culture through motion pictures such as Scarface and Traffic. The purpose of my research is to take away society’s perception of what Hollywood has depicted drug trade to be and bring out what narcotics trafficking really is, as well as trying to coincide with the motivations of those peopleRead MoreThe Drug war in Mexico and Colombia has persisted for decades and will continue to do so if we1200 Words   |  5 PagesThe Drug war in Mexico and Colombia has persisted for decades and will continue to do so if we don’t change our plan of action. Colombia notoriously was and still continues to be a major drug producer, exporting a large percentage of its drugs to the U.S and neighboring Latin America. Analysts predict that Mexico is soon becoming the next Colom bia of the 1960-1990 era and has the potential to surpass Colombia in terms of producing, selling and distributing drugs both domestically and internationallyRead MoreThe Medellin Drug Cartel : Background1691 Words   |  7 PagesThe Medellin Drug Cartel BACKGROUND Drug cartels have grown and expanded throughout the interior and exterior of states for many years. The way drugs started to be introduced to Mexico, Colombia, and other places around the world was believed to be a myth. It was a tale that was known by many through storytelling, which over the years turned into an actual realistic issue. One of the most known cartels that existed for a long time was The Medellin Cartel. It became a subculture of its ownRead MoreWar On Drugs : A Comparative Analysis Of Human Rights Violation1339 Words   |  6 PagesDorce Richard Stahler-Sholk PLSC 367 07 April 2016 War on drugs or a war on people ? A comparative analysis of human rights violation in Latin America Ever since the War on Drugs campaign began there has been a more complex relationship between the U.S and Latin America. While the media portrays the U.S as providing aid to Latin America to combat such issues, the U.S is also seen as a victim in the war on drugs. Over the course of the war on drugs numerous human rights violations have been reportedRead MoreColombia Is A Country Located At The North Tip Of South America907 Words   |  4 PagesColombia is a country located at the north tip of South America. It is bounded by Panama and the Caribbean Sea in the north, by Venezuela and Brazil in the east, by Peru and Ecuador in the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea (National Geographic.) Colombia is one of the largest South American countries at 439,733 square miles, or about the size of Texas and California combined. Colombia isRead MoreU.s. Congress Approved Assistance Fo r The Colombian Government1500 Words   |  6 Pages Plan Colombia had clear objectives of; (1) reduce the flow of illicit narcotics and improve security, (2) promote social and economic justice, and (3) promote the rule of law.1 The assistance consisted of providing equipment, training, and financial support to the nation to combat the increase in coca and opium poppy cultivation. As more drugs appear, there has been an increase of other criminal activities including violent crimes and illegal armed groups attempting to control the drug trade.Read MoreCausal Analysis Of Mexico And Theu.s.1440 Words   |  6 PagesOver the past decade drug cartels has had a free flow through Central America to import illegal drugs to the U.S. Even with a strict drug policy drugs are still crossing the Mexican border. Due to corruption and political influence drug cartels are able to manipulate the government to go undetected. The drug cartel is infamous for their ability to kidnapped, corrupt, and kill anyone trying to crackdown or expose any operation. Due to this corruption within local governments drug activity has been ableRead MoreDrug Trafficking Has Caused The Coffee Industry Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesContinuous war in combination with rampant drug trafficking has caused the coffee industry in Colombia to struggle for many years, though Colombia’s long hist ory with coffee predates that struggle. The coffee plant first reached Colombia sometime in the late 1700s (Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present) and Colombia entered the coffee trade in the 1830s (Wikipedia, Coffee Production in Colombia). The geography of Colombia lends itself well to coffee production. Located inRead MoreMany top ranked commanders and leaders belonging to the M-19 were captured and the urban factions1000 Words   |  4 PagesMexico has become the Colombia from the 1970-1990 era. The drug trade and war that ensues because of it has grown out of proportion and out of the central government’s control. It is a very similar case to that of Colombia’s, yet it has the potential to surpass and take over as the leading drug producing and trafficking country in the world. Mexico’s location plays a huge role, making it a bridge between the large consumer market for drugs found within the U.S. and the drug cultivating, and pro ducing

Monday, December 23, 2019

Aldous Huxley 5 - 1128 Words

When Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World in 1931, nobody imagined that his fairytale story would someday be a reality. It is almost scary to see how accurate Huxleys far-fetched fantasies came to be. When Huxley wrote about the conformity, drug use and sex and technology of the society, he was almost pinpoint exact to predicting todays societies. Unfortunately, all of these things havent exactly changed our society today for the better. It is amazing to see how accurately Aldous Huxley was in his predictions to human conformity today. The novels classes of Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas and Epsilons each have assigned roles. In the novel, each caste is brainwashed into believing that it is crucial and important for the well†¦show more content†¦In this world, the family unit does not exist and the concept of having a mother and father is considered a primitive quality of humans. Technology has subverted the world so much that even God is replaced by Ford. Constant refe rences throughout the novel are made to Our Ford, referring to Henry Ford, the embodiment of industrial development. The real world in which we live is not much different from this that Huxley writes about in the 1930s. Technological developments have already allowed us to create embryos outside of the womb. The values that once existed in religion and family are slowly but surely disappearing. Even today\, the vast majority of America and the world have lessened their beliefs, their worshiping of God and practicing religion. Technology has become the new religion as it provides the materialistic progress that people desire. Women will soon have the ability to have children but not carry the children themselves for nine months. What is important anymore? Because of technology, a family unit merely represents a group of people that has dinner together every so often. Values in education and good citizenship are no longer taught to children in such intensity as distractions bro ught forth by the media and video games only encourage having fun as opposed to studying and working hard for a future. We are destroying our own world with the obsessive violence taught and practiced by elementaryShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Aldous Huxley s A Brave New World1708 Words   |  7 Pagesessential to ones physical and mental well being. So naturally when we discuss human issues in societies, specifically those of the fictional variety we apply our mashed set of ideals based on truth and happiness on each of these different societies . In Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World, by conventional societies ideas the citizens of the world state know nothing of traditional reality and by the standards of the traditional world are far from a state of contentment, but if examined by the ideals of theRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley1743 Words   |  7 PagesIn some novels it is blatantly obvious what the author’s view on a certain topic is. Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, made it known that he is not a supporter of totalitarianism. His works have illustrated his opinions on this topic. Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, analyzes the dangers of losing one’s individuality based on the main characters’ struggles and refusals to conform. This book is set in a futuristic society where the government controls everything including the conceptionRead MoreThe World State Society1261 Words   |  6 Pageseight to ninety-six buds and where every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo†¦ And the Epsilons suffer oxygen-shortage for keeping an embryo below par, where the lower the caste. †¦ The shorter the oxygen, the brain will be affected first (Huxley 4-5, 15). This genetic fallacy they are told that they can’t do anything more than what they were made for. Does everyone in each social class believes without an unquestionable doubt that their role in society is perfect for them and they need n o otherRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley1965 Words   |  8 PagesNeal Mars Professor Bradley English 1102 February 19, 2015 Brave New World â€Å"Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ is largely about what we got – a consumerist post God happy land †¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote from Kyle Smith in his article about Brave New World is an example on how the world is becoming the dystopia that Aldous Huxley created in Brave New World. In Brave New World people are taken away from reality by a drug called soma, the belief in Henry Ford as a God instead of a person, the technological controlRead MoreAnalysis Of Aldous Leonard Huxley s Life862 Words   |  4 PagesI. Based on the information I read from www. SomaWeb.com, Aldous Leonard Huxley was born on July 26, 1894 in Godalming, England. a. Huxley was born into a family of wealthy elites with a history of achievements. b. On his father’s side, Leonard Huxley, was his grandfather Thomas Henry Huxley, who was a prominent biologist in the development of the theory of evolution. c. On his mother’s side, were poets and novelist including Matthew Arnold and Mary Augusta Ward. II. As for his education, he attendedRead MorePlot Development in Aldous Huxleys Brave New World Essay examples1337 Words   |  6 Pages In the beginning of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, set in the year 2450, the reader is educated on the society in which the novel’s premise takes place, through a tour given by the hatchery director for a group of students. It introduces the basis of the society, artificial procreation, while also establishing the societal hierarchy that they hold so dear. It also demonstrates the fact that Alphas, members of the highest caste, hold prestigious positions of honor, while EpsilonsRead MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley1756 Words   |  7 PagesAldous Huxley is best known for his novel Brave New World, which depicts a post-industrial revolution utopia. Huxley greatly feared the ramifications to an industrialized world run by consumer capitalism, which is displayed in Brave New World. The government within the nove l focuses solely on the bettering of technology and not scientific exploration and experimentation. The society’s values lie in instant gratification and constant happiness. The utopia is maintained through the means of drugs,Read MoreObjectification Of Women : Women1377 Words   |  6 PagesJon† shows us, almost perfectly, the power men have over women, and helps us understand how women confuse love and sex and why so many men do not (Mallory). In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, there is a thing called Feelies. Feelies are, in short, movies where one can have a touch sensation to (Huxley 79-85). They show women having private moments with men, and show women as objects of seed instead of human beings. Even though Feelies show women in a vulnerable state, the citizens of BraveRead MoreComparing The Station Twelve And Brave New World By Aldous Huxley1112 Words   |  5 PagesIn my report I have chosen to examine the four texts of ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily Mandel, ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley, ‘1984’ by George Orwell and ‘Harrison Bergeron’ by Kurt Vonnegut from the dystopian genre. Throughout these texts, I studied the two connections: the use of Shakespeare and the setting of a totalitarian government. The texts Station Eleven and Brave New World both use Shakespeare as a symbol of art and culture. In Station Eleven, Mandel uses this symbol to tell us how importantRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley1518 Words   |  7 PagesGiles 1 Attie Giles Lorna Martin AP English August 24, 2016 Brave New World Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a very graphic novel that exemplifies the problems of modern society with a fictional setting that dates far into the future. However, the one feeling that Huxley describes most is the feeling of complete loneliness, even when surrounded by the very materialistic desires that were created for complete joy. This story revolves around one character in particular that portrays the theme of

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Steps to Take to Improve the Quality of your Essay Free Essays

So, you’ve mastered the basics of essay writing (with the aid of our other helpful guides!). How do you go from so-so to superThis guide will help you improve your essay’s quality with some easy-to-follow hints and top tips. The most effective ways to improve are to assess your grammar, check your structure and make sure your reasoning is sound. We will write a custom essay sample on Steps to Take to Improve the Quality of your Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Grammar The key to improving your grammar is practice. Improve your work through reading, through writing and through getting feedback from others. Here are some points you should consider †¦ Check (or get a friend to check) your syntax: the way your sentence is structured. A badly organised sentence can be very hard to understand. Use the correct tense. The present tense should be used for author’s opinions (in most cases). Sometimes the future tense is used in introductions, but it can be better to use the present tense here also Ensure you use prepositions correctly. Prepositions are words such as ‘on’, ‘of’ ‘from’ etc. which denote the position and movement of the nouns. Make sure you understand how to properly use colons and semi-colons, and if you don’t understand, leave them out. Also learn how to use commas correctly. The most commonly misused punctuation mark is the apostrophe. Make sure you understand when it should and shouldn’t be used. Remove unnecessary words. Try to use a simple style in which each word used is necessary. In academic writing you should not use colloquial or informal words and phrases. Watch out for over-long sentences. Start new sentences where it’s appropriate. Remove inappropriate capitals in the middle of sentences. Only proper names and proper nouns should be capitalised. Limit your use of metaphor and other ‘poetic’ devices, or remove them altogether. Finally, proof-read several times. If you can, get an academically-inclined friend to proof read as well. Structure It’s been suggested that poor structure is one of the most common reasons for poor marks for essays.Refer to our other guides on essay writing, but remember to use the ‘introduction – main body – conclusion’ structure, and ensure that the main body is clearly organised and that your ideas ‘flow’ well. Correct referencing is also important. Not only must you reference every point you make in the essay, you need also to use the right referencing system as dictated by your tutor. Note that Harvard and other systems have several variations, so if unsure ask! Reasoning Make sure the points you make follow logically. Understand how an argument works, that is, how you provide evidence for the things you want to say. Ask yourself, does this sentence follow from the previous oneHave I given the reader enough evidence What possible objections are there to this statement Don’t make sweeping generalisations if you can’t back them up with empirical evidence or theoretical models. Similarly, make it clear when you are speculating, and restrict the occasions upon which you do this. Avoid indirect assumptions. That is, be aware of your own prejudices and try to eliminate them from your writing. A List of Checks Before you Submit Is the title correct, that is have you used the title you were given – and all of it Is there an introduction, where you identify the topic and state what you are going to sayHave you defined your key terms Is there enough referencingAll the points made should be referenced. Make sure you are using the correct referencing style. Also make sure that you don’t use too many direct quotations, and where you do use them you should mention the page number. Is each main idea in a separate paragraph Does the essay ‘flow’, with each paragraph following logically from the next Does your conclusion summarise the main body and tie findings back to the main question Are you conforming to any layout instructions given by your tutor (font size, spacing and so on) Bibliography De Montford University (2013) ‘Focus on Essay Writing’, [online] (cited 14th February 2013) available from www.library.dmu.ac.uk/Images/CLASS/Essay writing.pdf Loughborough University (2013) ‘Essay Writing’, [online] (cited 14th February 2013) http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/ltd/campus/essaywr.pdf University of Essex (2013) ‘How to Improve your Academic Writing’, [online] (cited 14th February 2013) available from http://www.essex.ac.uk/myskills/How_to_improve_your_academic_writing.pdf University of Glasgow (2013) ‘Coursework’, [online] (Cited 14th February 2013) available from http://www.gcu.ac.uk/student/coursework/essays/ University of Nottingham (2013) ‘Writing Essays’, [online] (Cited 14th February 2013) available from http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/philosophy/documents/ug/essay-guidelines.pdf How to cite Steps to Take to Improve the Quality of your Essay, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Analysis on Movie Water free essay sample

In my opinion, Deepa Mehta is a courageous and bold director to produce a movie ‘Water’ which is intended to affront the tradition and living style of Indians back then. She displays how every character brings up almost perfectly similar kind of stance which is because of the doctrine and beliefs that have been set in their minds for a long period of time. The practice inherited from one generation to another generation which later becomes the tradition of Indian community. I could see how every widow refuses and rebuffs changes; which they are forbidden to marry again as a result of believing in they themselves bring unluckiness or bad luck to others. In fact, other women either married or not, they will never want to touch or to be touched by any of the widows, or else they will also turn to be bad luck. I could never help myself to understand the solid reasons for this kind of attitude, but to only believe in them (the Indians) are brought up with religious beliefs though it merely looks as women oppression. Reema (2009) documented this fact on her blog; in chapter 5, verse 1560-1611 of Dharamshastras, the Hindu sacred texts, Manu wrote: ‘A widow should be long suffering until death, self-restrained and chaste. ’ ‘A virtuous wife who remains chaste when her husband has died goes to heaven. ’ ‘A woman who is unfaithful to her husband is reborn in the womb of a jackal. ’ Based on the verses above, it is indeed, Indian women are too much looking up on what Indian text contains. Nevertheless, I find this very contradicting to one another. The widows keep saying that they fear God; unfortunately, their action is not more than making them imprisoned in a small cage that will never enable them to see and view things in bigger scope. Why can’t just they accept changes that could possibly lead them to a better life? This is because putting blames on God is a mere blasphemy. As a matter of fact, I personally do not know what Indian religious text teaches, and not knowing those facts only makes it harder to reveal the truth. However, I suppose, every religion on this earth will always teach its believers to not bring their own self down. Therefore, there are few questions that we need to ponder; if women are born only to be oppressed, insulted and even to be buried alive in some cases, what is God’s ultimate objective of creating this gender in the first place? If we believe in God’s power, why must we blame widows for their husbands’ death? If only we could have empathy feeling, what and how would we feel and react if we are in the widows’ shoes? And, will married men receive the same fate if their wives are dead? For all of these questions, I think, what Deepa does, makes me nods my head. Apparently, Narayan is created to become a hero of this film though Deepa inserts a situational irony towards the end of the film. The situational irony is depicted clearly when Narayan’s father tells him that he is not a hero of the epic play, who is ready to wage war for love. I am delighted to see how Narayan inherits his father’s liberal thinking in much more positive way compared to his father himself. It is really a symbol of respect and appreciation to Indian widows in this film when he proposes Kalyani to be his wife. In fact, to fall in love with widow has already shown respect. At least, he knows how to value God’s creatures without having to offend God’s laws. Somehow I feel that Asians, generally, also have similar kind of attitudes; too much preserve the tradition and sometimes disguise as tradition or beliefs. In order to support this view, I quote Narayan’s saying which can be found towards the end of the movie; â€Å"One less mouth to feed. Four saris saved. Disguise as religions, it’s all about money. † Perhaps, it is Asians’ attitude to put the blames on other factor when they themselves who cause the troubles. In this movie, the Indian women make a scapegoat of their religions instead of admitting that their faith is too strong to be amended up to the point they cannot realize that their practices never benefit them. Changes can be made at any time as long as it is for the sake of our happiness. However, how can Indian women in this movie pursuit their happiness when they think they are deemed to suffer after their husbands’ death as a symbol of devotion to husband? Frederick and Mary (2012) documented on their blogs regarding Deepa’s response upon the significance of water in this movie. Deepa said, â€Å"Water can flow or water can be stagnant. I set the film in the 1930s but the people in the film live their lives as it was prescribed by a religious text more than 2000 years old. Even today, people follow these texts, which is one reason why there continue to be millions of widows. To me, that is a kind of stagnant water. I think traditions should not be that rigid. They should flow like replenishing kind of water. † I personally agree that traditions should not be rigid. It can be changed as long as we never forsake our solid ground, forgetting of who we are and where we are from. We are born to seek and to create a better life, guided by religions to ensure that we do not go astray. If accepting changes are simply called defiance, what should women oppression be called? I am clueless. On the other hand, I understand that water is the element of purity in this movie. It is shown that all Indians come to the bank of Ganges River to clean their bodies from sins or bad luck in particular. Similarly, in Islam, Muslims need to take wudhu’ before performing prayers. This wudhu’ aims to ensure that Muslims are clean from dirt or small sins. I am very much pleased to watch the ending of this movie, in reality. Shakuntala Didi, who has been a widow for quite a long time, saves the little girl Chuiya from being forced into prostitution by the head of ashram, Madhumati. Didi passes Chuiya to Narayan and asks him to make sure that Chuiya is in Ghandiji’s care. It is a powerful moment that the film ends with Didi gazing directly at the camera. Through her haunting eyes, Didi makes a desperate plea that something needs to change. By saving Chuiya, I believe, one generation can be saved from the insignificant tradition. Chuiya is the youngest widow at the ashram and she is not supposed to spend her whole life at the ashram. Children at her age should be playing around, eating ice creams or asking parents of what life is. I am depressed to know the fact that Chuiya gets married at eight years old, the age that she knows nothing. Chuiya does not even remember when she gets married and surely, does not even understand what marriage is. How can she play her role as a wife? At least, Chuiya can make differences to other Indian widows when she is set free. She can tell how she really wants to return to her mother but she cannot. She also can tell how she adapts to dreary rhythms of her days at the ashram. I also believe that Deepa chooses to end this film as such is to nurture acceptance and appreciation among the Indian women. In an effort to make changes, there must be someone who dares to speak the truth. Similarly, Deepa desires to stop this stagnant tradition among Indian women by directing this movie. Though she receives great opposes from Indians until she has to set this film in Sri Lanka, her movie receives a worldwide attention and supports. I am also glad to watch a scene which Didi is speaking to the priest whether widows should be treated badly in the Holy Scriptures. In my point of view, Didi seeks the truth and starts thinking about widows’ fate. In the journey of seeking the truth, Didi starts accepting reality that widows also have rights. When she knows that there is a law is recently passed favouring widows to remarry, she straight away finds and sets Kalyani free from the ashram. She allows Kalyani to get married with Narayan even though Madhumati disagrees. Her thoughts and stance become more firm when she listens to Ghandhi’s saying that truth is god instead of God is truth. In conclusion, it is difficult to assimilate the Indian widows’ practice of living at ashram and not remarrying with other Indian men into our modern world. This is due to the ascending feminism and focus on the equality and human rights between men and women all over the world. Undeniably true, the practice still occurs up to the present day and is still regarded by some Hindus as the ultimate form of womanly devotion and sacrifice although it has been outlawed and illegal in today’s India. Cassandrah (2006) argued that if one really believes in equality, one should show compassion just as equally. Do not get fixated on the small picture. Why is this so? This is because the real issue here is about human dignity- not just women’s, but every single human being. As humans we need to treat each other better, regardless of race, gender, culture, spirituality or religion, age, social groups or intelligence. Equality does not necessarily mean equal in every aspect of life. Rather, it is about being treated and respect toward women. Watching this movie actually makes me thinking a lot, I question; are women to weak to stand up and fight for freedom and rights? I do not mean to say that women are powerful compared to men. Instead, I mean to tell that women and men are two-sided coins that complement each other. Again, if women are born to be oppressed and to prove that men are protected from such ill fated, I believe God is being unfair; and what Ghandi says is absolutely correct; truth is God not God is truth. REFERENCES