The Accidental Tourist By Anne Tyler Essays - The Accidental Tourist

The Accidental Tourist By Anne Tyler Life just is. You have to flow with it. Give yourself to the moment. Let it happen. -Jerry Brown If an individual allows changes to occur in one's life, then love can be the wonderful result of that acceptance. The theme of reasons why we love and how we love different people is demonstrated throughout the book The Accidental Tourist, written by Anne Tyler. There are two main characters that undergo and accept the changes in their lives, and one character that stays static throughout the book, helping one of the characters to change. Macon Leary is first grounded by loneliness and comfort, then slowly opens himself up to what appears to be a whole new world for him. Then, there is Sarah Leary, who controls some of the changes in her life, and tries to make the best of the rest of them. The character that remains the same throughout the book is Muriel Pritchett?a dog-trainer who takes an interest in Macon and helps him to accept the changes in his life. Above all, the universal theme of this book is love?a surprising new journey for all the characters. In the beginning of the book, it is explained how Macon and Sarah Leary's son is murdered and how their marriage suffers because of this. Sarah leaves Macon, which is the beginning stage of Macon's renovated life, but one that does not start off happily: ?He didn't eat real meals anymore?His hair, which Sarah used to cut for him, jutted over his forehead like a shelf. Ande something had caused his lower lids to droop. He used to have narrow gray slits of eyes; now they were wide and startled (14). Macon is not at all used to living alone. He wants to control everything and likes nothing to be left to chance?Sarah's departure is not something he can control and he does not deal with it well. Macon begins to think that he cannot live without his wife, but soon realizes a few things that really make him think about the marriage: His brain buzzed with little worries?The worries changed, grew deeper, he wondered what had gone wrong with his marriage. Sarah had been his first and only girlfriend; now he thought he should have practiced on someone else beforehand. During the twenty years of their marriage there's been moments?there's been months?when he didn't feel they had really formed a unit the way couples were supposed to. No, the stayed two distinct people, and now always even friends. Sometimes they'd seemed more like rivals, elbowing each other, competing over who was the better style of person? (15-16) Macon realizes that he and Sarah never actually became one person; they had always stayed as two separate people living in a stale, routine marriage. Finally, Macon comes to terms with the fact that Sarah is not coming home to him: ?Well, of course she wasn't there. He knew it the instant he stepped inside that house, when he smelled that stale hot air and heard the muffled denseness of a place with every window shut. Really he'd known it all along. He'd been fooling himself. He'd been making up fairy tales? (41). Macon knew that when he got home from his business trip that Sarah would not be there waiting for him like she used to. Although he did not ask for this change in his life, and after living alone for a while, moves back with his sister and brothers?a comfortable change for him. This all begins to change when Macon meets an unusual woman working at the animal hospital where he takes his dog and becomes acquaintances with her. Muriel allows Macon to open up to her, and Macon shows his willingness to do so: ?I lost my son,' Macon said. ?He was just?he went to a hamburger joint and then?someone came, a holdup man, and shot him. I can't go to dinner with people! I can't talk to their little boys! You have to stop asking me. I don't mean to hurt your feelings but I'm just not up to this, do you hear?' She took one of his wrists very gently and she drew him into the house, still not

1984 Essays (2881 words) - Nineteen Eighty-Four, Ingsoc, Free Essays

1984 Essays (2881 words) - Nineteen Eighty-Four, Ingsoc, Free Essays 1984 -George Orwell SUNDAY, NOV 14, 1993 Summary Chapter 1 and 2 We are introduced to Winston Smith the main character of the story. Works at Ministry of truth. Ministry of truth is one of four government buildings in destroyed London, the main city of Airstrip One, a province of Oceania. Year is 1984 and three contries are at war, Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Oceania is run by the party whose leader is Big Brother. Winston is sick of his life in the ruined city and decides to keep a diary. This is against the law in Oceania. He felt his feelings begin to hate Emmanuel Goldstein, leader of the enemy party. He also spots O'Brien, a party leader whose eyes he see's a bit of political sympthy. See's young girl who he dislikes. He feels it is only a matter of time before his though crimes are detected. A knock at the door he thinks is police. Mrs. Parsons, his neighbor is at the door and asked him to unclog a sink. He does it but smells sweat all over the apartment. Mrs. Parsons is a follower of party doctrine and a fellow employee at the ministry. The children are members of Spies, a youth that encourages spying and telling on traitors, including parents. Winston is revolted. He returns home and writes a couple more minutes before going back to work. He remenbers a dream where O'Brien tole him he would meet him in a place wher there is no darkness. He washes his hands and hides the diary Reaction Major ideas, conflicts and themes are introduced. We are shown how the earth has changed, into 3 main contenients. we are also introduced to the main character and how he fits into the new world. Also we are shown how the computer age has taken over peoples minds. The language is easy to understand, it has not really changed much over time. Seems like nothing left after nuclear war, just ruins remaining. We are introduced to Tom Parsons which Winston is contrasted with. The city is very drab. Quotes "Big brother is watching you, the caption beneath it said" "Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever." 1984 -George Orwell MONDAY, NOV 15, 1993 Summary Chapter 3,4 and 5 Waking from dreams, he remembers his mother and sister, and can barely remember their disappearence and feels responsible for there deaths. He has another dream where he is in the perfect countryside with the girl he had noticed eariler. He dreamed she stripped for him. This time he is woken up by the telescreen, telling him to do his exercises. He thinks about how much power the Party has over all information. Begins work at the ministry of truth. His job is to correct printed articles in line with the Party's orders. The Ministry and records department jobs are to rewrite history to make the party look good. They get a break because of the 2 minute hate. When he gets back he replaces a speech by Big Brother with invented history. Makes up story about a man named Ogilvy. The article had become contrary to the present party policy. It is replaced as though is never existed. Winston meets Syme, a philologist, for lunch. Syme explains parts about Newspeak. They are joined by Parsons. Winston thinks of the fate that each co-worker will recieve. Syme will be vapourized because he is to smart, where Parsons is dull enough to escape vapourization. He is the only one who has not been taken over by the propaganda that is always being brodcast. He notices the same girl from the other day starring at him and thinks it is the thought police. Reaction The Golden country that he dreams about is definatly a release or a freedom from the the drabness of London. Also from the party. We are introduced to the fact that he has no mother or father or sisters or brothers anymore because they were taken by the party. He is realizing that he is rebelling against the party and he understands that he is at risk. Winston is in search of the truth and is concerned because of the party's ability to change history. We find that he likes his work even though it is for the party and against morals. He is introduced to the girl that will play a big part in the book most likely. Quotes "People in the Records Department did not talk readily about there jobs." "Winstons greatest pleasure in life was his work"

Impact of UK reservoirs on the surrounding environment Dissertation

Impact of UK reservoirs on the surrounding environment - Dissertation Example The paper tells that over the last 25 years, the â€Å"freeboard and spillway arrangements† for reservoirs in the UK have been based on the unit hydrograph rainfall-runoff and losses model. The model was used to obtain the design of the events of flood that would enable to determine whether the prevailing arrangements might convene the floods. The characteristics of drainage such as the area of the basin, the basin shape, the type of soil, use of the land, drainage density and drainage network topology, and the rainfall characteristics that include duration of the rainfall, its intensity, its distribution and direction are the different factors that might affect the shape of the hydrograph. The unit hydrograph model was established in the year 1975. However in the recent years, the model has been revitalized and hence replaced with the ReFH or Revitalized Flood Hydrograph Model that comprises three significant components – the loss, routine and baseflow models. The seas onality of the floods is also measured through this model such that factors of seasonal corrections are applied to the estimates of the flood designs and conditions with the purpose of meeting the floods. The Reservoirs Act 1975 led the responsibility of the law to protect the reservoirs in the UK. Approximately 25000 cu m of water is held by the UK reservoirs and the Act covers around 2500 reservoirs under its framework. England, Wales and Scotland are under the purview of this Act. However, the Act does not cover the reservoirs across the Northern Ireland. Undertakers, Enforcement Authorities, Qualified Civil Engineers, and the Secretary of the State are the four major persons or organizations in charge under the Act who have the different responsibilities in regard to the protection of the UK reservoirs. The undertakers are referred to the owners of the reservoirs and thus have the most significant responsibility for the reservoir’s safety. The role of the enforcement authorities comprises monitoring the performance of the undertakers. The design and supervision of the constructions of the reservoirs focusing on the safety issue are the responsibilities of the qualified engineers. The Secretary of State is in charge of supervising the activities of the other three major persons or organizations (The British Dam Society, 2010). It is in the last five years that the risks arising out from the reservoirs have been considered significantly as a matter of c oncern. The risk factors have arisen as a result of the uncontrolled discharge of water from the reservoirs threatening the lives of the heavily populated regions where the reservoirs are located in the UK. The reservoir safety legislation was introduced in the year 1930. Since then such disastrous incidents have not occurred. However, there have been several incidents that could have taken several lives (Morris, Hewlett & Elliott, n.d., p.3). Not only are the risks associated with such reservoirs, but also several advantages and disadvantages and impacts are associated related to the surrounding environment that might occur as a result of the constructions and use of the reservoirs in the UK. The present study focuses on the impacts that UK reservoirs have on its surrounding environment. The following figure represents the overall reservoir stocks in England and Wales between 1996-2005: Figure 1: Overall Reservoir Stocks in England and Wales 1996-2005 (Water Levels, 2007). 2. Liter ature Review: For a better understanding of the literature relating to the impact of reservoirs in the UK on the surrounding community it would be significant to gain a proper understanding of reservoirs and their function in the society. This will allow for

Alfred Chandlers Assessment of the Managerial Capitalism Literature review

Alfred Chandlers Assessment of the Managerial Capitalism - Literature review Example Chandler’s implied criticism of the organizational theories that existed had a primary place in the consequent growth of organizational theory. Despite the fact that Chandler raised an array of critical questions, his perception of organizations was assaulted from a formidable force of quarters that had a stake in the sociology of organizations. The consequent development in organizational sociology gave a basis for Chandler’s perspective critics to put a case across that discounted the fact that his ideal heroic managers were only part of the story and not the whole story as he had propagated. However, it is important to note that, Chandlers work still offers an insight into the bigger questions and issues, although his perspective with regard to the ultimate role of the organization in the economy is doubtful from the  sociology of organizations point of view. There are three major perspectives of the sociology of organization in the sixties as well as the beginning of the seventies. The interest of all these strands was to discover a science of organizations. As a result of this, none of these points of view saw the difference between organizations, nonprofits as well as government bureaucracies. Moreover, there also was a discrete absence of interest in the historical emergence of corporations. A significant proportion of the sociology of organizations was primarily concentrated on Max Weber’s original formulation of the contemporary bureaucracy (). One strand of the experiential literature was characterized by a positivist inclination. Its major purpose was to discover the extent to which the corporation did or did not match with Weber’s characteristic description (Blau and Scott 1962; Hage and Aiken 1970).  

Creative writing proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creative writing proposal - Essay Example Due to Sancho’s desire to become wealthy, he has blatantly agreed to accompany me. So we ride the roads of Spain in search of glory and grand adventure and I have given up food, shelter, and comfort, to a peasant woman, Dulcinea del Toboso, whom I envision as a princess. My inner desire to become a hero drives me out of my way and that is why I have easily gives up all most of my wealth to the wicked in the society. He however seems not convinced at all that we were still headed in the same direction as we had set off our journey. I have given up on a number of my ideals though I am not ready to admit it. I have to leave a young boy with an evil farmer because he has sworn an oath with me that he will not harm the innocent boy. That sounds convincing enough as I do not want to harm any anyone. I have just witnessed the death of a student who has died due to his love for a disdainful lady that turned into a shepherdess. I have managed to rescue a slave known as Gines de Pasamonte as well as uniting two couples who had initially separated. Cardenio and Lucinda, and Ferdinand and Dorothea had no serious cause to separate and I find it easy to bring them back together due to my great convincing ability. I have thus achieved number of my inner desires though I still yearn for more. People have begun to perceive me as a savior of mankind and that brings a lot of joy to me. Sancho informs me that an evil enchanter has transformed Dulcinea into a peasant girl and I am deeply moved by the news. Undoing the enchantment becomes my next big goal that has to be achieved in the next few hours. However, I fail to achieve it as soon as I realize that it had been a lie. I meet the Duke and the Duchess who decided to play a trick on me and marks the end of my conquest as I come to the realization that it had all been a dream not a

The Role Of The Un In The Contemporary World International Law Essay

The Role Of The Un In The Contemporary World International Law Essay Despite the United Nations many failures and successes it still continues to be the worlds best peacekeeping component and therefore the best hope the worlds got. The above statement creates lots of debate in the modern world however even with the UNs many fails, it still provides many successes and therefore is the best hope the worlds got. Apart from peacekeeping the UN runs many other agencies and funds that aim to improve peace, development, the environment and health among many other things. The international organization known as the UN was founded in 1945 after the already existent League of Nations had failed to live up to its aims as it did not prevent the Second World War. In 1945, 51 countries signed the UNs peace charter in dedicating to maintain international peace and security. Today the United Nations has 192 member states and many peacekeeping operations. The United Nations aims to maintain international peace and security, promoting social progress, provide better living standards and basic human rights to all and to co-ordinate efforts for a safer world for our present and future generations. Evidently the League of Nations did not prevent war after World War One as the UN was a result of World War Two, another main factor that the UN wishes to maintain under control. The UN has a system that is based on five principal organs; it was previously six however the Trusteeship Council is currently suspended since 1994 as it had prepared the 11 countries to govern for themselves. Therefore the five councils are the General Assembly, The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Security Council, The Secretariat, and the International Court of Justice. The General Assembly is the main reasoning assembly. It is composed of all the member states and it is the only time and place when all the members of the UN have an equal vote and when any nation may voice their opinion. All member states have the opportunity to address the assembly. The assembly is run by the Secretary-General (currently Ban Ki-Moon) who is also seen as the leader of the UN. Current issues are discussed such as peace and security actions, elections of members to organs such as heads and semi-permanent members for the Security Council and funding matters. Many positive actions take place due to the UN however as the assemblys resolutions are non binding they cannot force any actions on a state as the members are under no legal obligation. This leaves the UN with little power regarding the co-operation of member states; this problem also persists in the Security Council when the permanent members use their veto power. The Security Council could be seen as the most powerful part of the UN as any organ can make recommendations however the Security Council has the power to make binding decisions. All member states are bound by the UN charter to obey the Council however it is often that the council cannot come to an agreement due to the veto power. The Security Council has 15 members, which five are permanent. These five states are the allied states of World War Two who were seen as winning the war. They include Russia, America, UK, France and China. The other ten members are non permanent and change every two years. The council decides on certain resolutions for peace and security. The five permanent members have a veto power that they may use at any time, and as often as they like if they do not agree with a certain decision e.g. intervening between conflicting countries. Therefore many decisions and resolutions have been rejected as it only takes one permanent member to disagree. This is a huge negative regarding the UN as it has caused many problems e.g. during the Cold War between Russia and the USA the UN could never intervene and come to a decision as either one of the countries would reject a resolutions if they found it would put their country in danger. This explains why the council often cannot come to an agreement. Once the council has agreed and approved for action it first explores actions to settle the dispute peacefully under the terms of the charter, often the UN sends peacekeeping troops to the province where armed conflict would have been caused. The UN does not have army troops therefore they rely on voluntary admission from member states. An example where the UN was not successful was the intervention in the Rwandan Civil War in 1994. The Security Council voted to pull the peacekeepers out of the war, except for the UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda) its objectives were to supervise and assist the utilization of the Arusha Accords; protocols that were signed to end the Rwandan Civil War. Before the withdrawal of the UN ten Belgian peacekeepers were held hostage and killed. The decisions of the UN could be blamed for the Security Councils indecisive approach. The Economic and Security Council (ECOSOC) stands for the basics of the UNs aims to improve the standards of living and promote international economic and social development, mainly focussing on the worlds poverty stricken groups. The council meets every year and since 1998 twice a year to also discuss the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The councils main activities oversee the activities of a large number of institutions that are known as the UN system, the system includes specialized agencies, programmes and funds. The UN founders decided that they should lighten the suffering of the worlds poorest as the UN believes that prosperous people do not go to war. This is achieved by the specialised agencies and programmes such as UNICEF and WHO. The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund was created to provide help for all the suffering children due to World War Two. UNICEF is still active today and cares for children throughout the world by providing health care, food, education and water regardless of their age, gender, religion or race. Unlike non-government organizations UNICEF is an inter-governmental organization and is obliged to governments. These organizations have lots of supervision and rely on contributions from anonymous donors, government and fundraisers. The use of well known sports teams has become a popular way of promoting UNICEF as the teams donate money to the organization and then promote the fund. The fund received criticism from the Vatican and Catholic groups when they used some finances to condone the sterilization and abortion in women. Despite the criticism and difficulties UNICEF, together with WHO, endures, many of their projects have been successful in improving the standards of l iving especially after war destruction and natural disasters. The World Health Organization is a specialized agency that obtained its approval and resources from its predecessor, the Health Organization which had been an agency of the League of Nations. It aims to improve the standard of health throughout the world and tries to assist countries in providing better health services and ending disease spreading from country to country. WHO have also attempted to control the outbreaks and spreading of infectious diseases such as malaria, swine flu, TB and HIV/AIDS. While the organization has had many successes in treating patients around the world there has been controversy with the Catholic church again as they do not believe in the use of contraceptives however WHO responded by stating that it was irresponsible to make statements against the practise of safe sex as there is a global pandemic which has affected many people around the world. The Security Council may not have lived up to its aims regarding the Rwandan genocide however ECOSOC managed to assist refugees as WHO and UNICEF provided the bare necessities such as food, shelter and health. These are perfect examples of the UNs fails and successes as the Security Council cannot make decisions based on peacekeeping however once the damage has been done seeing as the Security Council couldnt stop it, the ECOSOC council manages to restore some failures by providing health etc. and did what it could to enable them to return home. The main problem within the UN lies in the five permanent members of the Security Council. The ability to veto a decision does not make the organization democratic. Therefore the UN needs to plan ways to reform the Security Council.

Pacific Oil Essay -- Business Analysis

The Pacific Oil Company was formed in 1902 and had been the leader in the manufacturing of a petroleum product Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM). This product was Pacific Oil's major product line and was the main component to the manufacturing of plastics, used in many products. In 1979, Pacific Oil had landed a major contract with reliant and had over the years establish a great working partnership. The Reliant Corporation was one of Pacific’s largest and most valued customers and Pacific Oil Company wanted to renegotiate their current contract with the Reliant Corporation, with the goal of extending before it expired. Pacific’s negotiation team, Jean Fontaine, Marketing Vice President for Europe with Paul Gaudin, Marketing Manager of VCM along with representatives Frederick Hauptmann, Senior Purchasing Manager and Egon Zinnser, Regional VP for European operation from The Reliant Corporation, where to spend nearly two year working through the extension of the contract. In the end, the contract settlement was down to a final item that Pacific was not happy about, that may my then loose the extension altogether. Facing Hard Times Pacific Oil company was facing some economic changes over the next 10 years and the demand for its VCM was going o face some fierce competition. In the next 20 - 30 months other VCM manufactures will be producing the raw product to compete directly with Pacific Oil Company. The supply of the product over the next decade was expected to grow by over 1000 MM pounds each year, nearly doubling that as each year progressed. This poses a massive threat to Pacific oil as it negotiates its contracts only five years our and is now being pressured by Reliant to only extend their contract by three years. Reliant was... ...ine and Gaudin was going to present. Reliant had done their homework on their demands, potential softness of the market and was preparing themselves adequately to be able to deal with any changes. Pacific was not as prepared at the negotiation table as Reliant, and was eventually backed into a corner on a single item in the renewed control, the option for Reliant to re-sale any VCM product they have left over. The was a major oversight on the final advice from Kelsey in securing a huge customer and giving them time in further analysis the demand and impact that the new manufacturers would cause. Reference Lewicki, R. J., Saunders, D. M., & Barry, B. (2010). Negotiation Readings, Exercises and Cases (6th ed.). New York, NY, US: McGraw-Hill. Lewicki, R. J., Saunders, D. M., & Barry, B. (2011). Essentials of Negotiation (5th ed.). New York, NY, US: McGraw-Hill.

Macbeth Act 3 Scene 5 Essay

This scene takes place in a ‘deserted area’ where there is thunder which also parallels with act 1 scene 1 where the witches meet each other with thunder and lightning. The scene establishes the mood of darkness and violence and also creates suspense and eerie atmosphere due to the presence of witches. It begins with Hecate’s monolog where she disapproved the witches for meddling with Macbeth’s future; this passage foreshadows the appearance of the witches to Macbeth along with his downfall. Her anger is shown at the opening of the scene with the use of three rhetorical questions. In the first rhetoric question, Hecate criticizes the witches in a deeming way. In the second rhetoric question the alliteration ‘trade and traffic’ emphasizes her upset tone and in the third rhetoric question she asserts her superiority over the witches â€Å"mistress of your charms, the close contriver of all harms†. Through the metaphor, ‘wayward son’ Hecate gives clues that Macbeth attempted to defy the witches prophecy by trying to destroy Banquo’s line. It also shows his self-centered ambition, and he is called a wayward son because he is not a genuine devotee of witchcraft and only aims to the profit by it. The lines by Hecate give a clear hint that Macbeth’s reliance on the witches is misplaced and that he is doomed. After rebuking the witches for the past errors Hecate commands them to â€Å"make amends† of their folly action. Hecate gives out a feeling of betrayal through the use of her language. She uses rhetorical questions, rhyming couplet, and enjambment which disguises her underline message. Hecate also asks the witches to help her manipulate Macbeth’s emotions and plans to create illusions which will lure Macbeth into a false sense of security. Hecate’s speech is ironical when she says that the witches tempted Macbeth by saying riddles when they actually prophesied to Macbeth. Euphemism is used in the terms glory of art and great business to refer to the witches plan of destroying Macbeth. The great business also refers to the major illusion that they are going to destroy Macbeth. Imagery is used in the scene were a vivid description of the scheme of the witches plan is described â€Å"there hangs a vap’rous drop profound; I’ll catch it ere it come to ground;† Hecate intends to lead Macbeth to his doom and distraction by magic spells which will conjure up powerful apparitions that will be able to lead Macbeth to his ultimate doom. As a result Macbeth will defy fate and death and will ignore all warnings of wisdom and fear of consequences â€Å"security is mortals’ chiefest enemy†, Hecate says that overconfidence is the greatest enemy of man as by depriving of his own wisdom and making him complacent, it sends him to the path of ruin and destruction. These captivating lines encapsulates the fascinating rituals of which craft.

Aneurysms essays

Aneurysms essays While in the my seventh grade P.E. class, I was pulled aside and told that my mother, Frances, was in the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, I learned that my mother was diagnosed with five cerebral aneurysms. That morning while she was at work, three of the aneurysms burst. At that time in my life I didnt know what they were, but I knew that my mother was in a bad condition. My mother was life-flighted to Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas. There she endured hours of extensive, tedious surgery, and a swift recovery. This recovery time was passed quickly by prayer, and family togetherness. I have reason to believe that among all of the family, I was hurt the most with this misfortune. My mother and I had never before shared a close relationship. This incident brought about the prospect of losing her. It not only worried me, but also it improved our relationship. Seeing the tubes and IVs in my mother was very traumatizing. I thought that this was a one time only occurrence; I w as extremely wrong. In November 2001, my Aunt Mavies died of what is believed to be an aortic aneurysm. In an instant my best friend was taken from me. The only discrepancy between the two cases was the fact that my aunts aneurysm burst in her stomach. Recently, one of my other aunts, Clarissa, was screened, and the doctors have diagnosed an aneurysm. She is extremely afraid that her time on Earth is short because of the severity of the other two cases in our family. Current studies show that aneurysms can be passed throughout a family. Moreover, I could possibly be the recipient of this life threatening occurrence. To help cease my aunts worries and to aid my curiosity, I have been trying to load my mind with the knowledge of aneurysms. But three questions remain unanswered in my quest. What exactly is an aneurysm?; What causes them?; and What can be done to resist or prevent them? First of all, understanding what an aneurysm is will...

Canadas Northwest Passage and the Issue of Sovereignty Over these Waters

Canadas Northwest Passage and the Issue of Sovereignty Over these Waters Canada’s Northwest Passage and the Issue of Sovereignty Over these Waters A country’s sovereignty must be established early on because it gives the citizens and its leaders the right to know not only where they geographically speaking but also what is rightfully theirs, to use and to protect.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Canada’s Northwest Passage and the Issue of Sovereignty Over these Waters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is therefore fitting that sovereignty can only be achieved if a country, its people and its government are able to demonstrate that there are able to occupy and use that particular geographic location. In the case of the Northwest Passage located in Canada’s northernmost border the Canadian government is forced by circumstances and recent events to assert their sovereignty over the said region. As a matter of fact over the past three years, Prime Minister Harper has made it repeatedly clear that he will do everything in his power to protect Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. But truth to be told, the Canadian government does not have the resources to back up Harper’s rhetoric, at least not enough to convince the United States and Russia that they are serious with their claim. Overview It has to be clarified that the arctic lands â€Å"presently claimed by the U.S., Canada and Denmark are considered secure† (Grant, p.11). In other words there has never been any dispute with regards to these lands. The sovereignty disputes related to foreign rights of transit in adjacent waters specifically the Northwest Passage (Grant, p.11). The Northwest Passage is the term given to a sea passage that allows for a shorter trip between East Asia and Europe. It is specifically â€Å"a water route through the islands of northern Canada connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans† (CBC News, 2006, p.1). It is a potentially significant region in terms of logistics, however, it is a passageway that is frozen most of the year. No shipping vessel can actually traverse this route except for a few heavily reinforced icebreakers. This explains why since the discovery of the Northwest Passage no one bothered to determine the sovereignty of Canada and as a matter of fact Canada does not need to assert sovereignty because the place is inhospitable and inaccessible. But the current weather phenomenon called global climate change is changing the way the words sees this sea route. Global climate change is said to cause the rapid and pervasive melting of Arctic ice. Scientists are saying that in a few more decades the Northwest Passage will experience long periods of time wherein it will be ice-free. This is not a small thing because using this route will reduce the distance traveled between London and Tokyo by more or less 7,000 kilometers or two weeks of travel time (CBC News, 2006, p.1). Commercial vessels can therefore fi nd it lucrative to use the Northwest Passage.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, there has been much speculation – based on discoveries made in adjacent areas – that the Arctic holds vast reserves of oil, gas and precious stones. This means that the United States, Russia, and even Denmark may find it this region to precious to ignore. In this regard, the lands above the North Pole belong to no country. There seems to be an unwritten rule that most countries around the world are in agreement. Nevertheless, there were recent developments that may change this view. For instance, a Russian scientist went there and placed a Russian flag under the seabed, stating that â€Å"the Lomonosov ridge connects its Arctic territories with the North Pole (Pilkington, 2007, p.1) Political analysts scoff at the idea pointing instead to Russia’s depleted oil re serves as the real reason why they are interested in the Arctic region (Pilkington, 2007, p.1). Aside from the Russians, the Americans have much to gain in the event that sovereignty over these waters cannot be established. The recent news of a piece of arctic land that became highly-valuable overnight because of costs of building oil rigs is one reason why the Americans would love to control this area. Furthermore, the United States is a military power and therefore additional passageway could increase their logistical advantages over their foes. One major point of contention is not only the ease at which U.S. icebreakers can cross the Northwest Passage but also the fact that U.S. submarines can travel subsurface and virtually undetected by the Canadian government. The Law First and foremost sovereignty is established through international law. Nations must agree of some specific set of laws in order to maintain stability. Thus, the law concerning sovereignty can be consulted to re solve this issue once and for all. According to law experts sovereignty is the power or title over a specific territory can be achieved by various means such as: â€Å"discovery, cession, accretion, subjugation, prescription or contiguity† (Grant, p.12). But there is one important thing to consider with regards to this rule, â€Å"If title was based on discovery alone it was considered inchoate† in other words it is undeveloped and temporary† (Grant, p.12). This means that sovereignty could lapse â€Å"if not followed within a reasonable time by effective occupation† (Grant, p.12). This is a real challenge for the Canadian government who is faced with the prospect of patrolling and managing not an ordinary piece of real estate but the Arctic where ice is a perennial fixture in the landscape.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Canada’s Northwest Passage and the Issue of Sovereignty Over these Waters specifically for you for o nly $16.05 $11/page Learn More The law seems to be on the side of the Canadians but there is one problem, they still have to convince other nations that indeed the Northwest Passage is theirs to control. The United States is one of them. According to one commentator, â€Å"Washington classifies the passage as neutral waters because it claims that Canadian sovereignty only extends a limited distance from the shore and it has outraged Canadian opinion by sending nuclear submarines through the strait† (Pilkington, 2007, p..1). The Canadian government must clearly demonstrate their intention to control the Northwest Passage and therefore gain sovereignty over this region. Harper’s Rhetoric Prime Minister Harper made a commitment to the Canadian people that he will safeguard their future especially when it comes to their claim in the Arctic region where the Northwest Passage belongs. Harper said, â€Å"Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sove reignty over the Arctic †¦ We either use it or lose it† (Pilkington, 2007, p.1). Then he added, â€Å"And make no mistake, this government intends to use it† (Pilkington, p.1, 2007). Harper also made the announcement that his administration will build six to eight armed Arctic patrol vessels and a deep-water naval base on Baffin Island in order for Canada to assert control over the said passage (Dyer, 2009, p.1). But these projects remain the drawing board. Aside from the cost of maintaining a significant presence in the Arctic there is probably another reason why Canada will not commit a major portion of its resources to patrolling the Northwest Passage. The reason perhaps is that no one can be sure what exactly they are trying to safeguard. This is because talk about oil reserves and the profitability of Arctic shipping remains just like that, pure talk. According to one scholar who spend time analyzing this subject matter, â€Å"there is profound uncertainty su rrounding the search for hydrocarbons in the Arctic† and he added, â€Å"Arctic oil and gas will always be expensive to produce† (Griffiths, 1987, p.117). Due to the extreme weather in this region it is understandable why it is expensive to extract gas or oil and transport through long distances. Ambitious Plan It is easy to understand why Prime Minister has for the past three years engaged in rabble-rousing speeches with regards to the Northwest Passage. The Russians came tantalizingly close to provoking the Canadians while the United States seems to behave like a school bully every time their submarines using this particular sea route without permission.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Harper is just doing his job as the elected leader of the Canadian populace he has the responsibility to think about the future of the Arctic region and Canada’s stake in it. He had to show the Russians and the Americans that he meant business and that they must think twice if they believe that the Canadians can be easily intimidated or ignored. But there is more. Harper is very much aware of the legal implications of dereliction of duty when it comes to asserting their sovereignty over the Northwest Passage. Harper know so well that if the Canadian government cannot show proof that they are actively patrolling and making investments in securing the area then country’s right to rule over this area can be lost. More importantly the neighboring nations will be emboldened to try to take away this precious possession. It has to be guarded and it has to be subjugated. However, there are many political analysts and scientists who are also aware of the fact that what the Cana dian government intends to do is something that is beyond their capabilities. First of all patrolling the Northwest Passage is not the same as patrolling a river, lake or shoreline. The men and equipment sent to this region will have to work under harsh conditions. This is just the beginning because one way to achieve active occupation is through â€Å"acts by government such as the provision of basic services, administrative structures for governance and enforcement of a nation’s laws and regulations† (Grant, year, p.12). These are activities that the Harper administration cannot afford to finance. One researcher who made it her life’s mission to study this region has this to say about the difficulties that they the Canadian government will face if ever they will support Harper all the way and she did it by describing life in the High Arctic and she wrote: The compelling beauty of the scene slowly gave way to one of incomprehension. How could three young men as sisted by two Greenlandic Inuit families possibly protect Canadian sovereignty in this remote and barren land, which has never been occupied by Inuit and rarely, if ever, been visited by hunting parties? Even the whalers had long departed. With a small wooden skill and rifles used for hunting, how could they do anything of greater significance than raising a flag on Beechey Island? Was it just symbolic? (Grant, year, p.ix) The picture that Grant painted is an inhospitable area that at present Canada is unable to subjugate and administer. But Grant is not talking about the North Pole, she is talking about a territory under Canadian rule and yet the government cannot even secure it without the help of Greelandic Inuits. How much more if the government mobilizes its troops towards the Northwest Passage where everything is covered in ice? In the past, plans to created sophisticated defence and monitoring systems were abandoned (McRae, 1994, p.1). Aside from monetary considerations the e nvironmental factors best explains why it is difficult to claim sovereignty over the Northwest Passage. It is not an exaggeration to say that Harper’s plan to assert sovereignty is simply too ambitious. Conclusion The Canadians may have discovered the Northwest Passage and therefore they can lay hold of it and assert their sovereignty. However, legal experts are quick to point out that sovereignty as a result of discovery alone is undeveloped or temporary. There must be active demonstration of subjugation and administration over these territories. This is the dilemma of Canadian Prime Minister Harper. He knows the rule of law and the need for the government to show the world that they have the capability to assert control over the Northwest Passage. This requires the building of sophisticated facilities that can effectively function under extreme weather conditions. This requires the mobilization of men into barren landscapes and sea routes frozen for the most part of the yea r. In the past these plans, including the use of submarines to patrol the subsurface traffic under the strait had been abandoned, obviously because of monetary reasons. Harper must continue his rhetoric but the Canadian people must be realistic when it comes to securing sovereignty over the Northwest Passage. They could only hope that climate experts are wrong in their predictions or else they can do nothing if other countries will challenge their claim. CBC News. The Arctic Grail. CBC Canada News, 2006. Web. Dyer, Gwynee. Northwest Passage will never be commercially viable. Straight.com, 2009. Web. Grant, Shelagh. Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America. Quebec: Douglas McIntyre, 2010. Griffiths, Franklyn. Politics of the Northwest Passage. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 1987. McRae, Donald. Arctic Sovereignty: Loss by Dereliction? Canadian Arctic Resources Committee, 1994. Web. Pilkington, Ed. Canada flexes its muscles in scramble for the Ar ctic. Guardian News and Media, 2007. Web.

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an Essay

Locate an article on a controversial subject where the author makes an argument you do not agree with - Essay Example The data they used to defend their position was that of crime rates in the US in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Truly, the crime rates for 1970s and 1980s were high compared to 1990s. The two authors claim that the reduced crime rates in 1990s was due to the legalization of abortion in the US in 1973. To them, legalization of abortion led to reduction of unwanted babies. They based their claims on the ground that males of ages 18-24 are most likely to commit crimes. By 1990s, babies born from 1973 were 17 years and above. A reduction of crime rates in 1990s therefore meant that most of those who commit crimes are people originating from unwanted/unplanned pregnancies. I dispute the above claims. First, the rate of murder of 14-17 year in 1993 was 3.6 times that of 14-17 year olds in 1984. The first lot was born during the high-abortion period of 1975-1979 while the second lot was born during the pre-legalization period of 1966-1970. This means legalization of abortion had little impact on crime rates among those born post-legalization period. Secondly, if legalization reduces crime rates, a decline in crime should therefore have started from the youth. Contrasting to the above fact, reduction in crime was first recorded among the older people, those born pre-legalization period.

Free Speech Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Free Speech - Term Paper Example sidered as spreading hate and ridiculing the homosexuals, this decision was based on the isolation of specific content from each of the flyers that were distributed. The tribunal then charged Mr.Whattcott and the Christian truth activists for distribution of the flyers and also because this promoted hatred against homosexuals. It was also decided that Mr. Whatcott will pay $2,500 to one of the complainant and $5,000 to the rest of the three (Canlii.org). However, when the case was appealed again, it was over turned in the year 2010 because it was decided that most of the contents of the flyers were within the constitution and that although it did break the laws of free speech and religion, but it was within the limits of the constitution. According to the court, the two anti-gay flyers were actually a representation of the hate speech and hence it reestablished the Saskatcewan’s tribunal finding and the fines that were decided by the court previously. However, the court decided that the other two flyers did not contain any expressions or speech that could expose or hurt the homosexuals (CBC News Canada). This case serves as one of the few examples that help differentiate between the thin line that exists between freedom of speech and hate crime. The decision made by the Supreme Court was actually justified and correct as the act lies in accordance with Canada’s hate crime law. Talking about the hate crime, According to the criminal code of Canada, hate crime is any act that inflicts harm, terror or threatens a group of people who practice a certain religion or follow certain beliefs or customs. Hate crime law is generally used when the victims are subjected to violence because of who they are and this may include any acts of physical or mental harassment or the application of physical force or threat to that specific group of people, an individual or even a property (CBC News Canada). The section 14(1)b of Saskatchewan human rights code also states that no