Critique of the article Overpopulation threatens the environment Essay

Critique of the article Overpopulation threatens the environment - Essay Example The author brings to fore a grave problem that faces the modern world today, by seeing it in a different perspective. He points to the fact that in order to sustain the environment, human beings have to control the birthrates and take immediate action so that the environment is protected for all living beings, including humans to survive. According to him, the best means to achieve this objective is to refrain from producing more children and he considers vasectomy as a noble mission of the modern day man, in the face of the current situation. The article, published in the Opposing Viewpoints Series by Green Haven Press, deals mainly with the problem that over population of the earth by the human species has a lot of â€Å"far-reaching and overwhelmingly destructive impacts on many other animal and plant species† (Cascadia 22). The author claims that overpopulation destroys biodiversity on earth to such a extent that it will become impossible for life to sustain on the planet in the long run. The author also argues that â€Å"The entire history of humanity is one of environmental destruction and the eradication of other species† (Cascadia 22). ... Human encroachment of the environment, and the dire consequences that await them due to over exploitation of the resources, remains a topic of engaging debates across the globe. In this scenario, Cascadia attempts to reemphasize this concern, in a bid to make his audience take cognizance of the problem. The author uses the literacy devices of logos, pathos, ethos and logical fallacies as well as statistical data, to put his point convincingly across to his audience. The title itself, simple and precise, communicates the essence of the essay directly to the readers. The author then introduces the topic, referring to the impact of overpopulation and its exponential growth, by referring to the data of births and deaths. In any major mishap such the Asian Tsunami or 9/11, the death toll is much less than the birthrate in a day. By citing statistics such as this, the author illustrates a logic that controlling birth rate is a significant concern for humans in order to protect the environm ent whose resources are already over consumed. The very logic of the situation amply convinces the readers of the essay about the gravity of the situation. Cascadia appeals to the emotions of his audience by referring to historical context of human migration to different landscapes. By specifically citing the instance of the â€Å"extinction of mega fauna† in North America as a consequence of human influx in the area over 10,000 years ago, the author deftly illustrates the impact excessive human concentration can have on the environment. Again, the author’s dexterity in deploying the literary elements of pathos and rhetoric becomes evident when he refers to the example

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 15

Research paper - Essay Example Over the years, the region has become the centre for conflicts as the United States has been keen on safeguarding its interest and those of Israel in the region. This vast region is generally very hot and dry while its soil type is sandy soil, which does not support plant cover. Ideally, the Middle East mainly comprises of the Arab culture but it also accommodates other minute descents of the Turks, Iranians, and Israelis. Therefore, the most common religion in here is the Islamic religion. Over the years, this Iraq is a rich oil-producing region across the world, but poor administration has influenced its stunted economic growth. With most of the world nations being oil and petroleum reliant, economic growth was inevitable due to heavy supply of these products. With this, this essay will delve into the environmental issues and problems in the Middle East region, especially Iraq and the impacts of the same. Further, the focus will also be on the ways of influencing positive relationship between the USA and the people of the Middle East within my personal view. The attacks on American soil of the 9/11 terrorist bother by the Al Qaeda in 2001 was the turning point as this made the country to scale up its efforts towards curbing insurgency on its soil and in foreign lands. The result of this was a pledge by President George Bush to wage war on terror to the point that this would no longer be a threat to the progress of this super power (Fontenot, Degen and Tohn 16). This led to the funding of military activities in Iraq in an attempt to destroy the threat that Iraq posed to other nations such as Israel through its leader Saddam Hussein because of their alleged possession of nuclear very destructive weapons. The American administration at the time pledged that the military activity in Iraq was a way of protecting Israel because it was prone to such attacks. In essence, the stalemate between Iraq and Israel began in the 1980s when the latter

Is Globalization Ultimately Positive or Negative, or Somewhere in Essay

Is Globalization Ultimately Positive or Negative, or Somewhere in Between - Essay Example While the process has led to enormous advancements and explored unbelievable possibilities, it has also impacted negatively on many nations that seek to develop and prosper in isolation(Friedman). The advent of the internet and other forms of electronic media has made this transformation even more rapid. This paper shall analyze the good and the bad of globalization and analyze the overall impact it has on the life of human beings. The Good:- An interconnected world leads to greater opportunities and the discovery of new ways to improve living standards. Globalization has led to the coming together of the economically advanced and powerful nations with the developing states. This coming together has led to economic, political and cultural exchanges that have increased the speed of development of these less developed countries. Through transformation of technology in the form of infrastructural inputs, investment machinery, economic assistance, social and cultural exchanges and touris m, many countries have been able to break out of the shell of self restriction and catalyze their development(Weinstein). Globalization has led to the expansion of businesses across borders, creating employment, generating economic growth and facilitating prosperity. It has also led to the transformation of ideas and individuals across borders resulting in a greater amount of intellectual exchange(Friedman). The tourism industry has benefited from the phenomenon as well. Furthermore, businesses are allowed to seek new markets and no economy is disconnected or isolated when it faces severe difficulties due to the functioning of global institutions that act responsibly towards members of the international community, such as the UN, IMF and World Bank. Furthermore, the interaction of cultures, religions, castes and creeds has facilitated a decrease in racial discrimination and a broader understanding of people from different regions. People have better access to education due to standa rdized tests, improving education methods and new sources of education via informal, online and formal trainings(Allen and Thomas) The Bad:- The interconnectedness of economies often fare well for the powerful and lead to exacerbation for the less privileged. According to western arguments, Globalization results in increased inequality among rich and poor nations whereas counter arguments from the south state that globalization provides good opportunities for their countries(Weinstein). It will be fair to analyze what are the cons that substantiate arguments that globalization is bad for the global community. Many developed countries are home to commercial giants that have operations across the world. The most pervasive exhibit of this situation is the functioning of Multinational corporations. MNCs often have most of their revenue stream and profits concentrated in the country of inception or ownership however, most of their production is outsourced to less developed countries. The main motive behind this is to extract cheap labor and make people work under unsafe and environmentally threatening conditions; often at below minimum wage. The poor law enforcement situations in less developed countries lead to embezzlements and violations of minimum wage acts. There are also cases of extreme exploitation and tyranny. The most

Psychology Adrian Monk Essay Example for Free

Psychology Adrian Monk Essay Adrian Monk, portrayed by actor Tony Shalhoub, is the main character in the USA Network series MONK. Monk is a former homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department, suffering from an anxiety disorder known as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as numerous phobias. After Monk’s wife was murdered, his disorder worsened leading to his suspension from the police force. When the series opens, Monk works as a private police homicide consultant and undergoes therapy to overcome his anxiety disorder and phobias. He is assisted by a private nurse who helps him cope with his disability on the job. Part One—Case Study Character Background The episode â€Å"Happy Birthday Mr. Monk† shows that Monk, born October, 17, 1959, is a California man of Welsh ancestry. Monk is 50 years old, and was born in Marin County, CA. He stated, â€Å"His alma mater is the University of California, Berkley. † His parents were very strict and authoritarian. Monk’s father Jack Monk abandoned the family when Monk was eight years old. Jack said that he was going to get Chinese food, but he never came back. Ambrose Monk, Monk’s brother, is agoraphobic and afraid to go out in public. Monk’s mom died in 1994. Because of these childhood family events, Monk is already a very sensitive and fragile person. Mr. Monk dislikes unorganized, rude, dirty, and filthy people. He also dislikes murderers, people who commit evil acts, and criminals on the loose. That is the reason he became a homicide detective. Mr. Monk likes people who help others, such as his physician and Trudy. In addition, he likes organized, clean, and tidy people. Mr. Monk’s strength is that he is a very clever detective. Plus, he has an amazing photographic memory, which helps him catch criminals. His weakness is that he has many phobias, which affect his performance as a detective. Mr. Monk doesn’t have any friends because of the weird and odd behaviors caused by his OCD. His family consists of his assistants/nurses Sharona, and then Natalie. He also works with people in the homicide department, namely Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Randy Disher. Stressors/Pathology Mr. Monk does not have any relationships with anyone, mainly because of his odd behaviors. He acts strangely in front people because of his OCD. In the episode â€Å"Mr. Monk Makes A New Friend† he annoys a new friend by calling him too much. Monk explains himself, stating, â€Å"I can’t not call him or hear his voice. † It is very annoying to call a friend every hour. That is one example of how Mr. Monk has difficulty with personal relationships. His wife, Trudy Monk, with whom he had a meaningful relationship, died in a car bomb. Before his wife’s death, Mr. Monk’s OCD symptoms had alleviated. After Trudy was murdered, the OCD symptoms intensified, and those around him could clearly see that he had issues, which affected his job performance and led to his isolation. When the series begins, Mr. Monk’s condition is somewhat stable, but his lives in an overly organized apartment. The battle Monk faces daily is how to make it through the day with his OCD. He tries to avoid everything that makes him uncomfortable or is viewed as a threat. Mr. Monk stresses over the fact that every room must be neat and tidy. Plus everything must be a multiple of 10; for example he buys a box of eggs, which contains 12 eggs and deliberately throws two eggs away. Mr. Monk doesn’t have any history of this disorder, but his brother was agoraphobic. Symptoms Other symptoms of OCD manifest themselves typically as ritual behavior such as repetitive hand washing. Mr. Monk needs to wash his hands every time he touches an object or shakes a hand. He becomes obsessed with shapes. For example, his toast has to be a perfect square. Numbers occupy his time. As mentioned above, everything must come in multiples of 10. He has the typical preoccupation with dirt and germs. For example, he can’t stay in an untidy or dirty room; he has to tidy it up. Mr. Monk is terrified of germs, milk, dust, and heights. So what Mr. Monk does all day is try to stay away from all of these fears. These symptoms never emerged in the series; rather, the viewer is led to believe that Mr. Monk had OCD since he was born. However, the viewer is also informed in conversations with the police sergeant and with Monk’s nurse and therapist that what triggered this disorder was the murder of his wife. Immediately after his wife died, his disorder worsened. Outcome of Case Monk’s treatment was to go to Dr. Charles Kroger for psychotherapy that would aid him to cope with his disorder. In the sessions, Mr. Monk talks about what he did during the day and the goals he accomplished. The treatment is not entirely effective, but it helps Mr. Monk relax and get all the stress out. In the long term, Mr. Monk cannot overcome his disorder because he cannot imagine that he can be cured. In addition, he is not a risk taker, meaning he could never do anything that would make him uncomfortable. Because of this, there is little hope that he will be able to completely overcome his disorder. This makes sense because his disorder is inherited, and not attributed to environmental causes. Part Two—Disease Diagnostic Criteria Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a pattern of recurring obsessions and compulsions that are severe enough to be time consuming and interfere with a person’s daily functioning. They must cause marked distress (such as pain or physical harm to the person) or significant impairment. Usually, they take more than one hour of a person’s time. It is important to specify whether or not the patient has poor insight, meaning that the person does not realize that the obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. At some point, the person must realize that their obsessions and compulsions are not reasonable (i. e. , normal). â€Å"Obsessions are consistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or stress† (DSM IV-TR, 300. 3). Most common obsessions are about contamination with dirt or germs, repeated doubts, a need to have things in a particular order, horrible impulse, the need to shout obscene words, or sexual impulses. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors which people do to reduce the anxiety or distress of the obsessions. For example, repeated hand washing is a compulsion, which satisfies the obsession of repeated thoughts of contamination from dirt. For a complete list of Diagnostic Criteria from the DSM IV-TR, see Appendix A. Etiology (Causes) Nearly 1 to 2 percent of the population suffers from OCD. Most of those begin to be afflicted in early adulthood, and it is often preceded by a particularly stressful event such as pregnancy, childbirth, or family conflict. It may be closely associated with depression, with the disorder developing soon after a bout of depression or the depression developing as a  result of the disorder. Men and women are equally affected. A fairly high proportion (as much as 50 percent) do not marry (Baldridge 2001). Although Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, it may begin in childhood. Modal age at onset is earlier in males than in females: between ages 6 and 15 years for males and between ages 20 and 29 years for females. For the most part, onset is gradual, but acute onset has been noted in some cases. The majority of individuals have a chronic waxing and waning course, with exacerbation of symptoms that may be related to stress. About 15% show progressive deterioration in occupational and social functioning. About 5% have an episodic course with minimal or no symptoms between episodes (DSM IV-TR, 300. 3) No cause for OCD has been isolated. Four theories exist which try to explain the basis of OCD psychologically: guilt, anxiety, and superstition. 1) The theory of guilt has its origins in Freudian psychoanalysis. Freud believed that patients with OCD developed repetitive rituals, such as hand washing, to replace obsessive thoughts about sex. The obsessive ritual, then, was seen as a way to replace the guilt of being overwhelmed by forbidden, sexual thoughts. 2) The anxiety hypothesis poses that OCD behaviors develop to reduce anxiety. Many thought or action patterns emerge as a way of escape from stress, such as daydreaming during an exam or cleaning one’s room rather than studying for a test. If the stress is long lasting, then a compulsive behavior may set in. 3) The superstition theory proposes a connection between a chance association and a reinforcer that induces a continuation of that behavior. In other words, a particular obsessive-compulsive ritual may be reinforced when a positive outcome follows the behavior; anxiety results when the ritual is interrupted. 4) A fourth theory is accepted by those who believe that mental disorders are the result of something physically or physiologically amiss in the sufferer, employing data from brain structure studies, genetics, and biochemistry. Brain chemistry has been found to be altered in those suffering from OCD, along with increased metabolic activity. In addition, relatives of OCD sufferers are twice as likely as unrelated individuals to develop the same disorder, indicating that the tendency for the behavior could be inheritable (Baldridge 2001). Treatments OCD is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. Treatments usually fall into four categories: psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, drug therapy, and psychosurgery. The goal of psychotherapy in treating OCD is to find and then remove an assumed repression so that the patient can deal honestly and openly with whatever is actually feared. It is hoped that in dealing with the fear, the compulsions that have developed to replace the fear will lessen. The most effective type of psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is behavioral therapy. It can help by desensitizing the patient to the feared object or situation. For example, the therapist will aid the patient in replacing the symptoms of the obsession or compulsion with preventive or replacement actions, such as a non vocal, internal shout of â€Å"stop! † when obsessive thoughts enter the mind or the action of snapping a rubber band on the wrist. Behavioral therapy may also help by gradually lengthening the time between the stimulus and response. For example, a patient may hold dirt and then gradually lengthen the amount of time after which he or she will wash his or her hands. While behavioral treatment can help to control OCD, it does not â€Å"cure† the disorder. Drugs used to treat OCD include antidepressants, tricyclic, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), LDS, and tryptophan. Antidepressants help by reducing depression by correcting the serotonin abnormality in the brain, which may decrease the need for compulsive behavior. MAOIs may help OCD associated with panic attacks, phobias, and severe anxiety. With drug therapy, it should be noted that when the drugs are stopped, the patient often returns to the obsessive-compulsive behavior. Psychosurgery to reduce OCD is a last resort. The patient would undergo a lobotomy in which the frontal cortex would be separated from the lower brain area in an 8-centimeter square area. A combination of behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and drug therapy is recommended. General Research Behavioral treatments are new ways to deal with the disorder. For example, someone with an obsession about germs might be asked to practice handling dirt and then not washing his hands for increasing lengths of time. With repeated exposure to the anxiety-provoking object or situation without performing the compulsion, usually the anxiety lessens, and the compulsion weakens its hold. Obsessions can fall into one of five categories: 1. Obsessive doubts, which are persistent doubts that a task has been completed. 2. Obsessive thinking, which is an almost infinite chain of thought, targeting future events. Obsessive impulses, which are very strong urges to perform certain actions, whether they be trivial or serious, that would likely be harmful to the obsessive person or someone else and that are socially unacceptable. 4. Obsessive fears, which are thoughts that the person has lost control and will act in some way that will cause public embarrassment. 5. Obsessive images, which are continued visual pictures of either a real or an imagined event. (DSM IV-TR, 300. 3) Compulsions on the other hand are repeated, ritualized behaviors. For example, fearing one has forgotten to turn off an appliance, such as a stove, is a common obsession. It is likely to be accompanied by a compulsion to check repeatedly, perhaps hundreds of times each day, perhaps to see if the appliance has been turned off. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors, the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress, not to provide pleasure or gratification. In most cases, the person feels driven to perform the compulsion to reduce the distress that accompanies an obsession or to prevent some dreaded event or situation. For example, those with obsessions about being contaminated may reduce their mental distress by washing their hands until their skin is raw. There is difference between OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). A personality disorder is, on the one hand, a type of mental illness characterized by serious and persistent distortions in the total personality. Every perception, attitude, feeling and behavior is affected. OCD, on the other hand, is an anxiety disorder. Like other anxiety disorders, fear is at its root—fear of a hot appliance burning down the house, for example, or fear of the body being contaminated by germs. The fear produces an anxiety which can only be alleviated by a ritual, or compulsion, which will reduce the fear. Conclusion Evaluation of Case In conclusion, Adrian Monk has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. He satisfies the following OCD patterns of behavior: 1. Washer, because he is afraid of contamination; 2. Checker, because Mr. Monk repeatedly checks if the door is locked, or whether the oven is turned off. Mr. Monk checks everything a dozen time just to make sure. For example, he checks his oven if it is closed everyday at least twelve times; 3. Arranger, because he always arranges his utensils based on size and shape and his books based on color. He cannot function in a messy room or disorganized room. In addition, Mr. Monk has other phobias, such as fear of blood and fear of the woods. He is terrified of germs, milk, heights, and spiders. Mr. Monk has a rule that everything he has must come as a multiple of ten. When he buys milk, he gets 10 bottles even though he lives alone and the milk will expire before he has time to drink it all. Monk’s symptoms may improve with therapy, but his OCD will not completely resolve.

Terrorism and the Media

Terrorism and the Media Mass Media has always historically been recognised as newspapers, radio, and television, also dramatic arts, through film and theatre, and books. Since the advent of the Internet, global media has been revolutionised with new ways to broadcast information and the speed at with which that information is conveyed. Terrorism requires media publicity in order that the political message they wish to convey reaches the target audience thus influencing and swaying public opinion. The Media seek to provide information to their audience to meet their need for information and news stories. The more dramatic and spectacular the news coverage then the greater an audience the Media will attract. A greater audience brings intrinsic benefits to the Media. I will discuss the symbiotic relationship between Media and Terrorism and whether it exits and to what degree it is symbiotic. I will also examine how the internet has affected the symbiosis between Terrorism and Media. Introduction I am a passionate believer in freedom of speech. I would not support anything which would impinge on aggressive robust freedom of the British press. Nick Clegg, British Deputy Prime Minster (as cited in Chorley, 2012). Nick Clegg made this comment in the wake of the Leveson enquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press. Freedom of the Press has always been part of the foundation of a democratic society; however it is this democratic society that enables the terrorist to deliver their message through the media. democratic society make the tasks of terrorist propaganda, recruitment, organisation, and the mounting of operations a relatively easy matter (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 22). As Wilkinson rightly argues a democratic society is an enabler for terrorism to exist, especially in regard to delivering their propaganda and political message. In late March 2001, three simultaneous car explosions killed twenty-three and injured more than one hundred civilians in southern Russia. If this had happened in the old Soviet Union, the state-controlled mass media probably would not have reported the incident. (Nacos, 2007, p. 36). In the old USSR state-controlled mass media would simply deny the terrorists the propaganda of their attack. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had it right when she proclaimed the publicity is the oxygen of terrorism (Ibid., p. 36). Nacos correctly reminds us of what Mrs Thatcher said, and it is this oxygen that the terrorists seek to obtain when they plan an attack. without the medias coverage the acts impact is arguably wasted, remaining narrowly confined to the immediate victim(s) of the attack, rather than reaching the wider target audience at whom the terrorists violence is actually aimed. (Hoffman, 2006, p. 174). Hoffman reinforces that terrorists require publicity form the media. It is clear from the above that terrorism and the media are in some form of relationship. This essay discusses the interactions of the relationship between terrorists and media, if it is symbiotic, and how does advent of the internet affect the relationship. Definitions Defining terrorism has been difficult since it has first been studied. Laqueur states More than a hundred definitions have been offered (including a few of my own) for the phenomenon. (Laqueur, 1995, p. 5). There are characteristics that can be found in the majority of the definitions and these have been highlighted by Wilkinson: It is premeditated and designed to create a climate of extreme fear. It is directed at a wider target than the immediate victims. It inherently involves attacks on random or symbiotic targets, including civilians. It is considered by the society, in which it occurs as extra normal, that is, in the literal sense it violates the norms regulating disputes, protest and dissent. It is used primarily, though not exclusively, to influence the political behaviour of governments, communities or specific social groups.(Wilkinson, 2011, p. 1) These characteristics will define terrorism for the discussions within this essay and specifically the act being premeditated, designed to create a climate of extreme fear, and being directed at a wider target than the immediate victims. Wilkinson also comments on the meaning of symbiotic In sociology the term symbiosis is taken to mean relations of mutual dependence between different groups within a community when the groups are unlike each other and their relations are complementary (Ibid., p. 145). The relationship between terrorism and media will be examined and discussed to assess whether it is mutually dependent and complementary, and if so, does this remain true in the era of internet media. The mass media are taken to encompass newspapers, radio and television and other important forms of communications, including books, films, music, theatre and the visual arts. (Ibid., p. 144). Wilkinson defines the meaning of mass media, for the purpose of this essay and discussion For the purposes of this essay I will separate mass media from new media technology including the internet. Terrorist interaction with media The Assassin Sect of Shia Islam which attempted to sow terror in the Muslim world and Middle Ages, relied upon word of mouth in mosques and market places to relay news of their attacks (Ibid., p. 144). Wilkinson informs us that terrorists need to spread the news of their attacks is not a modern phenomenon, but as terrorism has increased, their need for publicity has also. Without being noticed, in fact, terrorism would not exist. The sheer act of killing does not create a terrorist act: murders and wilful assaults occur with such frequency in most societies that they are scarcely reported in the news media. What makes an act terrorism is that it terrifies. The acts to which we assign that label are deliberate events, bombings and attacks performed at such places and times that they are calculated to be observed. Terrorism without its horrified witnesses would be as pointless as a play without an audience. (Juergensmeyer, 2003, p. 141). Juergensmeyer states that the terrorists need to horrify witnesses, if the act is not sufficiently terrifying then it will not achieve the publicity any further than the initial audience. Schmid and de Graaf concur, the immediate victim is merely instrumental, the skin of a drum beaten to achieve a calculated impact on a wider audience. As such, an act of terrorism is in reality an act of communication. For the terrorist the message matters, not the victim (Schmid and de Graaf, 1982, p. 14). When transmitting this message what are the terrorists trying to achieve? Nacos argues that there are four media objectives that terrorists seek to achieve when they commit/threaten an act of violence. First, terrorists want the attention and awareness of various audiences inside and outside their target societies and thereby condition their targets for intimidation. Second, terrorists want the recognition of their motives. They want the media and the public to explore the question: Why do they attack us? Third, terrorists want the respect and sympathy of those in whose interest they claim to act. Fourth, terrorists want a quasi-legitimate status and the same or similar media treatment that legitimate political actors receive. (Nacos, 2007, p. 20) Nacos has neatly packaged the objectives, not all these objectives will be achieved in every attack by terrorists, but generally they will be trying to achieve the majority of them. On the 12 April 2010, the Real IRA attacked Palace Barracks in Northern Ireland, the Headquarters for the British Security Service in Northern Ireland. The date of the attack was not chosen at random, it was the day that justice and security powers were devolved from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Mark Simpson BBC Northern Ireland Correspondent stated On a day when a new political era is starting at Stormont, dissident republicans wanted to highlight one of the weaknesses of the peace process the threat of further violence. (Simpson, 2010). The Real IRA succeeded in achieving media coverage of the incident and took the headlines rather, than the devolution of justice powers. When we examine Nacos objectives we can see that the Real IRA achieved certainly the first three objectives, and the fourth being open to debate if whether it improved their claims to be legitimate political actors. On 14 June 1985 TWA Flight 847 was hijacked by Lebanese Terrorist enroute from Athens to Rome. The flight contained a considerable number of United States citizens. This incident provides a good example of how terrorists optimise their media exposure and how perhaps unwittingly the media played into their hands. Schmid (as cited in Wilkinson, 2011. p. 155) Schmid observes that National Broadcasting Company (NBC) devoted no less than two thirds of their total news time to the crisis over the fate of the American hostages taken to Beirut throughout the 17 days of the hijacking. The US media brought its considerable might to bare upon the coverage of the drama. The focus of the coverage was on the hostages and their families, which proved detrimental to the Reagan administration A gross imbalance therefore emerged: soft, human-interest feature stories predominated (mostly interviews with the hostages and their families), accounting for slightly more than a third of all reports, with few er than half as many stories addressing real issues (Hoffman, 2006, p. 175). The media coverage achieved what the terrorists desired, in that the concentrated effort was the safe recovery of the hostages at any cost. The domestic demand for the release of the TWA Flight 847 hostages placed such pressure on the US government that it led them to press their Israeli allies to release over 700 prisoners demanded by the hostage-takers, thus conceding an enormous political and psychological victory to the terrorists (Wilkinson 2011, p. 106). The effect that transpired was that terrorism was seen to produce results. As Hoffman states the most pernicious effect of the crisis was its validation of terrorism as a tactic. (Hoffman, 2006, p. 175). The terrorist manipulation of the media was no coincidence. According to John Bullock, a British journalist who covered the story, throughout the crisis the terrorists knew exactly what they were doing. (Ibid, p. 176). It can be seen from the above how additional media pressure influenced US foreign policy and ultimately achiev ed the terrorists goals. Do all terrorists seek publicity? Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path, Peruvian Terrorist Organisation) long remained quite uncommunicative and seemingly uninterested both in the wider media and in creating an underground press through which to broadcast its ideology on a media level (Wieviorka, 2004, p. 43). Wieviorka argues that The Shining Path terrorist group had no expectation of any mediation whatsoever on part of the press (Ibid. p. 43). Wilkinson disagrees with Wieviorka assessment arguing This category is totally unreal because even for the purpose of creating terror in an intended set of victims, the perpetrator relies on some channel or medium of communication to relay the threat. If there is no aim to instil terror, then the violence is not of a terroristic nature. (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 145). Nacos further highlights that it doesnt matter if the terrorists do not directly seek media coverage But whether terrorists claim responsibility for their deeds does not matter at all with respect to media coverage. (Nacos 2007, p. 18). The media, if they become aware of the incident, will provide coverage to the public. Nacos further states that most terrorist groups dont just want their terrorist act publicised They typically want their political causes publicized and their motives discussed. For this to happen the perpetrators do not necessarily have to do the explaining themselves- the media do it for them. (Ibid., p. 21). It can be seen from the above analysis how terrorists use the media to their advantage and to convey their political message. In the vast majority of terrorist incidents the terrorists rely upon media coverage of their attack to ensure that they reach a wider audience. English aptly summarises the role of the media in the eyes of the terrorists media provide a crucial amplifier for the terrorists cause, case and deeds (English, 2009, p. 44). Media interaction with terrorists. I will now discuss why and how the media interact with terrorism. Why the media interacts with terrorism is relatively simple. a cynical aphorism in the newspaper business holds that if it bleeds, it leads.' (Mueller, 2006, p. 40), this holds true as the media require headline news to attract viewers. Media in an open society are in a fiercely competitive market for their audiences, are constantly under pressure to be first with the news and to provide more information (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 147). It is the drive to attract more viewers that places media under pressure to report terrorist incidents. A high drama incident is the ideal news story to attract a greater audience, in the first three weeks of the Tehran Hostage crisis in 1979 all the major television networks achieved an 18 per cent increase in audience rating. (Ibid., p. 150). According to Hamin Mowlana (As cited in Wilkinson 2011, p. 150) the networks were able to secure, in 1979, an annual increase of  £30 million for each percentage point of audience rating increase. From this argument we can see where the advantage for media is in covering such incidents, there is however no suggestion that the media are constantly hoping for a terrorist incident, as outlined by Nacos While I do not suggest that the news media favour this sort of political violence, it is nevertheless true that terrorist strikes provide what the contemporary media crave most drama, shock, and tragedy suited to be packaged as human interest news. (Nacos, 2006, p. 81-82). Laqueur further states It has been said that journalists are terrorists bes t friends, because they are willing to give terrorist operations maximum exposure. This is not to say that journalists as a group are sympathetic to terrorists, although it may appear so. It simply means that violence is news, whereas peace and harmony are not. The terrorists need the media, and the media find in terrorism all the ingredients of an exciting story. (Laqueur, 1995, p. 44). It has been shown why media pay so much attention to terrorist incidents, but is the coverage disproportional to the actual threat that the terrorists pose in comparison to other threats that the public face daily, and thus giving an uneven balance of threat to the public, which in turn may be assisting the terrorists? Jenkins argues it makes no difference that ordinary homicides vastly exceed murders caused by terrorists. The news media do not allocate space or air time proportionally according to the leading causes of death in the world. (Jenkins, 1981, p. 2). Jenkins further states Content analysis of coverage of terrorist incidents in The New York Times and the Times of London shows that the news media provide little context in which the public can judge the events Ibid., p. 2). Iyengar gives additional evidence Between 1981 and 1986, more stories were broadcast on terrorism than on poverty, unemployment racial inequality, and crime combined (Iyengar, 1991, p. 27). The media have the unhealthy habit of being anecdotal rather than factual, skewing reality and the threat. It is my opinion that this only aids the terrorist by inflating the threat that is posed. From the analysis it is evident that terrorism can be overrepresented and overemphasised by the media; this in turn only aids the terroris t in the broadcast of their political message. To additionally aggravate the situation is pressure upon media to get the Scoop before competing media channels. As Nacos states In this competition, terrorists seem to start out with a significant advantage because their violent deeds are a powerful message that commands the mass medias attention and thus that of their target audience(s). (Nacos, 2007, p. 198). Shpiro states Speed plays a critical role in global news coverage. While the newsreels of World War II could be edited and censored for several days or even weeks before being publicly screened, the audience of present-day con ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡icts demands media reaction time measured by hours and even minutes. Media outlets that, for technical, political or  ¬Ã‚ nancial reasons, cannot supply the most up-to-date news coverage lose out in a  ¬Ã‚ eld saturated by intense competition. (Shpiro, 2002, p. 77). Shprio points out that unless the media outlet gets the story out quickly they will lose to the competition, but does this then affect the coverage? Nacos argues Given the all-out competition between news organizations, the pressure to present breaking news, the determination to report some new angle although a terrorist situation has not changed, and the tendency to sensationalize even genuinely dramatic situations, the hastily reported and often unverified news is likely to contain inaccuracies, mistakes, and problematic features. (Nacos, 2007, p. 207). We can see from Nacos that there is the possibility of inaccuracies and mistakes to become apparent in the rush to release news, this can potentially influence the true perspective on the incident and ultimately may play into the terrorists hands. I have now discussed how terrorist interact with the media and in turn how the media interact with terrorist, I will now discuss whether this relationship is symbiotic. Is the relationship between media and terrorism symbiotic? If we take Wilkinsons earlier view of what a symbiotic relationship is then in order for it to exist the relationship must have mutual dependence between terrorism and media and the relationship is complementary. Hoffman notes that Clearly, terrorism and the media are bound together in an inherently symbiotic relationship, each feeding off and exploiting the other for its own purposes. (Hoffman, 2006, p.193). Wilkinson also comments that once terrorist violence is under way, the relationship between the terrorists and the mass media tends inevitably to become symbiotic (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 145). There is dependence in both cases, the terrorist dependence on the media to publicise the incident, and the medias desire for spectacular news stories to broadcast and attract viewers. Wieviorka offered a counter argument refuting that terrorism and the media are in a symbiotic relationship, stating that terrorists relate to the media in any of four different ways, from pure indifference to media, through relative indifference, then to a media-oriented strategy, and finally to coercion of the media (Wieviorka 1988, p. 43, as cited by Wilkinson, 2011, p. 145). Paul Wilkinson questioned Wieviorkas four categories of the relationship, saying that channels of communication always are used by any terrorist. The first of Wieviorkas categories is pure indifference to any desire to terrorize a population beyond the immediate victim of violence. Wilkinson states that This category is totally unreal because even for the purpose of creating terror in an intended set of victims, the perpetrator relies on some channel or medium of communication to relay the threat. If there is no aim to instil terror, then the violence is not of a terroristic nature (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 145). In Wieviorkas second category relative indifference Wilkinson dismisses Wieviorkas argument that terrorists are disinterested with regard to communicating through powerful media when they have other channels already existing to communicate and explain their position. Wilkinson argues that The kind of channels he lists that already exist are a legal and relatively free press, radio transmitters and centres for free expression such as universities, churches and mosques. But what are these channels that already exist if not alternative media? (Ibid., 2011, p. 146). The third category media-orientated strategy is the only category the Wieviorka believes that terrorists are actively engaged in a relationship with the media. Wilkinson counter argues that this type of media-orientated strategy in reality it is intrinsic to the very activity of terrorisation that some form of media, however crude, is utilised as an instrument to disseminate the messages of threat and intimidation (Ibid., 2011. p. 146). The final category offered by Wieviorka, total break is described by Wilkinson Wieviorka is referring here to cases where the terrorists come to view the media organisation, editors, journalists and broadcasters as enemies to be punished and destroyed. Those working in the media have often been the targets of terrorist violence (Ibid., 2011, p .146). Wilkinson dismissed the total break category for the same reason as media-orientated strategy. It is clear that there is a relationship between terrorism and media, but is it always complementary? Wilkinson lists a number of incidents where the media irresponsibility aided the terrorists or came very close to aiding them with adverse coverage; Firstly the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, where a news team defied police instructions and filmed the SAS Assault, if this had been broadcast live in would have severely endangered the hostages and rescue team, Secondly the hijacking of a Kuwait airliner in 1988, whilst on the ground at Larnaca Airport, media coverage was so intense a rescue mission was impossible to launch, and finally the media coverage of an IRA trial in 1997 collapsed after media published material that prejudiced a fair trial. (Ibid., 2011, p. 151). The above examples are not to illustrate that the media consciously aid terrorists, Wilkinson further states There is no evidence to suggest that the Western-dominated mass media organisations share the political aims of the terrorist organisations, but sophisticated media-wise terrorists can certainly exploit and manipulate the power of the mass media for their own malevolent purpose. (Ibid., 2011, p. 151). Media attention also brings with it unpredictability for the terrorist organisation, as Wilkinson rightly states, Western-dominated mass media do not share the political ideals of terrorist organisations, therefore are unlikely to give positive coverage of the terrorist incident, Hoffman further points out While most terrorists certainly crave the attention that the media eagerly provide, the publicity that they receive cuts both ways (Hoffman, 2006, p. 188). Wilkinson notes Terrorists like to present themselves as noble Robin Hoods, champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. By showing the savage cruelty of terrorists violence and the way in which they violate the rights of the innocent, the media can help to shatter this myth. (Wilkinson, 2011, p. 152). If we break the symbiotic relationship down to the fact that terrorists require coverage and the media require an audience to produce revenue, it is my opinion the symbiosis does clearly exist. If believe this relationship can aid the terrorists, as the analysis has shown, unless the media report is more balanced and less anecdotal. I will now discuss how the internet may affect the symbiotic relationship. New media and the symbiotic relationship For the purpose of this discussion I will limit new media to terrorist use of the internet and the publicising of their attacks. Lumbaca and Gray define the internet as The internet is an information tool used in namely all parts of the world. The internet has made life a lot simpler for the average person who is looking to earn a degree, engage in commerce exchanges, make purchases, write friends and look up information. Unfortunately while it wields these benefits, this capability is a double-edged sword; these benefits are also open to terrorists. Whether right-winged or left, terrorists view the internet as a powerful too; it is inexpensive, easy to set up and can be found just about anywhere. (Lumbaca, Gray, 2011, p. 47). Hoffman informs us that Few technological innovations have had the impact of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Beyond any doubt, in a comparatively short span of time, they have revolutionized communications, enabling the rapid (often in real time), pervasive, and-most important-inexpensive exchange of information worldwide. (Hoffman 2006, p. 201). Weimann contends the internet is ideal for terrorists-as-communicators: it is decentralized, it cannot be subjected to control or restriction, it is not censored, and it allows access to anyone who wants it (Weimann, 2006, p. 25). Lumbaca, and Gray, Hoffman, and Weimann point out the distinct advantages the internet and World Wide Web offer to terrorists, namely speed, non-censorship and ready access to anyone who wants it. So does the advent of the internet and World Wide Web affect the symbiotic relationship between terrorism and media? As discussed earlier in the essay, the terrorists wish to garner as much publicity regarding their attack as possible, Hoffman reinforces this The overriding objective for the terrorists is to wring every last drop of exposure, publicity, and coercive power from the incident (Hoffman, 2006, p. 180). With regard to terrorist use of the internet Weimann correctly states that it can be accessed by anyone who wants to, this in my opinion is the key to how the internet affects the symbiotic relationship. In order for the terrorists to maximise the exposure of their incident they are still somewhat reliant upon mass media to pick up information they place on the internet, this practice by mass media is becoming known as information laundering for example, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was one of the first jihadist terrorists to optimise the use of the internet and World Wide Web Zarqawi went straight to the internet, which enabled him to produce graphic videos that would have never been shown on mainstream media Katz as cited in (Shane, 2006, p. 1). As these videos were breaking news they were picked up by the mainstream media, and reported upon, thus Zarqawi achieved his publicity. The symbiosis between terrorism and mass media is still apparent in the internet era although the balance is shifting in that the relationship is blurring from the traditional symbiosis in that terrorist can now influence and dictate what information they choose to be available and when. Conclusion Terrorists require publicity of their attack or incident in order to reach a wider audience. The wider audience is essential if the terrorist political message is to have any impact. It has been argued that not all terrorist groups seek publicity; however they have no choice if the media decide to provide coverage of it and thus the relationship is still present. Media is about revenue, it has been shown that terrorist incidents have all the human interest factors that attract a wide audience, with this comes additional revenue through advertisements. The detrimental effect of coverage is that it can skew public and governmental approaches to terrorism, disproportionately over emphasising the threat posed and undermining government policy. Media however seldom portray terrorists well, and this can readdress some of the detrimental effect. The symbiotic relationship is evident in that the relationship between media and terrorism is complementary, however with the advent of the interne t there is less of dependence by terrorist upon media to pick up incidents when the terrorist can publicise their own acts.

A Garden for the Blind :: Architecture Design Essays

A Garden for the Blind In â€Å"Dimensions of Creativity† in The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida makes note of the dramatic changes seen in the modern world’s society contrasted with society during the 1950’s. Florida delves into the more conspicuous aspects of these analogous societies and makes mention of how at first the differences between them to not seem that dissimilar at first glance. Technology, modern medicine, and other realms remained more or less the same when compared to society in the early 1900’s. What strikes the change between the 1950’s and today as â€Å"bewilderingly different† is the existing social order along with its norms and values. The driving force of this dramatic social change, taking place within the last 50 years, has been the rise of creativity which has instated itself in our economy and society, as it values creativity as well as creative impulse. Creativity in today’s world is continual and widespread. Technological creativity and economical creativity have interacted with artistic and cultural creativity to produce a â€Å"creative ethos† that compels our society through its dynamic transformation. Through the development of these creative elite in our society we are also met with a responsibility to the rest of humanity, to guide and direct them throughout the course of their lives. This must be applied especially to those who are disadvantaged and cannot take care of themselves adequately. Through innovation and design, their needs can be met so that they may harness a sense of belonging in the world. The land located immediately south of the Hume Hall Honors Residential housing consists of approximately one or two acres encircled by a number of trees, all of which is on a slope when looking at the topography of the land. A proposal has been made to build a garden for the blind on this sector of land. Different types of plants and natural resources would be installed into this area in the creation of this garden that would require the use of sensory functions other than just sight or vision. An important bodily function or sense must be greatly considered when dealing with the blind is their sense of touch. In the book Sensory Design, authors Joy Malnar and Frank Vodvarka describe haptic perception, which they quote from James J. Gibson, as â€Å"a sense of touch that includes temperature, pain pressure, and kinesthesia encompassing both body sensation and muscle movement.

American Literature Essay

American literature traces back to the time of the Native Americans and Puritans, and over time developed many literary movements influenced by Transcendentalists and Realists. The beliefs of the Native Americans and Puritans as well as the philosophy of the Transcendentalists and Realists contrast with one another. These four major groups of American writers all differ in the sense that all of them look to a different power head or ideology for truth. For example, Native Americans look outside themselves to nature; while Puritans look to God, and Transcendentalists look within themselves; whereas realists question whether there is truth. The Native Americans have enriched our history of American literature with their stories and songs that depict their nature oriented beliefs. The Native Americans were polytheistic, meaning they believed in multiple gods. The gods they worshiped were all elements of nature such as the sun, the sky, and the earth. Look more:  irony in huckleberry finn essay The Indians had a strong spiritual connection with nature which is shown quintessentially in a Native American piece, Song of the Sky Loom, when the poem reads, â€Å"Oh Mother Earth, oh Father Sky, your children are we† (Tewa 34). The Indians believed without qualms that the truth is found in nature, which differed greatly with another group of American writers that became very popular in this time. The Puritans had a very strict religious ideology, and only looked to one place for truth; God. Unlike the Native Americans, the Puritans were monotheistic, in other words they only believed in one god. The structure of their life and their actions all revolved around the word of the bible. The Puritans believe that God is the creator of everything and therefor legislated by his law making Puritans very strict, moralistic, and conservative. Puritans looked to God for truth and faith which is expressed when a Puritan poet writes, â€Å"And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, that laid my goods now in the dust† (Bradstreet 141), showing her devotion and respect towards God. Further down the road in American literature, a new philosophy was developed with a liberating idea of truth. The idea that truth can be found not outside of man, as other groups of writers suggest, but within man, had evolved. This idea is called Transcendentalism and it emphasizes the idea that truth is found in man’s own thoughts and intuition. Transcendentalists stress individualism and self- reliance while straying away from the desire for material things. They are religious; however, do not find it necessary to worship instead just stay in tune with one’s introspective thoughts and nature. Walt Whitman, a famous transcendentalist poet, wrote, â€Å"I celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you† (Whitman 400), showing that every person is an individual but is also unified with the world and nature. Realists conceptualize their beliefs through questioning whether we can even find truth. Realists tend to try and dig beneath the facades that society so blindly accepts. One of the key strategies realists use to enable readers to question the truth is satire. Mark Twain was a famous Realist writer in early American literature that became very famous for using satire in his novels. Twain used satire to poke fun at social norms, potentially giving readers a new perception of the social normality people succumb to. Mark Twain’s famous novel, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn consists of several uses of satire, for example, when the main character of the novel responds to a women’s lecture on heaven by saying, â€Å"Well, I couldn’t see no advantage in going where she’s going so I made up my mind I wouldn’t try for it.† (Twain 12). This quote allows readers think of religion less seriously and question whether it is even a place worth striving to get to. Although Native Americans, Puritans, Transcendentalists, and Realists differentiate from each other, they all embellish American literature with a wide range of ideologies and point of views towards where to seek truth. This variety allows readers to develop their own individual thought and conceptualize where they can also find truth.