China's Qing Dynasty and its Collapse Research Paper

China's Qing Dynasty and its Collapse - Research Paper Example The Qing dynasty was started by a Manchu tribe, the Jurchen Aisin Gioro clan, from northeast of China (â€Å"Qing Dynasty†). The first three rulers had peaceful and prosperous reign and the administrative system used by the Qing rulers had mostly been inherited from the Ming dynasty with minor modifications. The military setup under the Qing was noteworthy. The army which was owned by the ruler was divided into separate units that had individual banners and troops. The civil servants were sometimes chosen from the banner men.The Qing dynasty was able to preserve its identity although it reigned over the Chinese. The rulers would go back to Manchuria during summertime and would speak their language. They even prohibited inter-marriages between Manchus and Chinese. The Manchu troops and Chinese troops were delegated with duties separately. Several other changes in social behavior such as men shaving heads and wearing queues were initiated. However, the peace during the early par t of their rule allowed for growth and development in all areas such as public works. The taxation structure was light, and the benevolent rulers would even reduce taxes during famine. This led to a spurt in the growth of trade and commerce. Art and learning were patronized. Porcelain painting was revived with new shades of colors, and European influence could be observed in the samples of that era.Under Qianlong’s rule, China had the largest territory ever. Signs of internal disturbances were becoming evident.... The impoverished masses rose in the form of popular uprisings, and though they were effectively handled, the causes for the uprisings remained unresolved. Some of these reasons were to provide the fuel for future uprisings such as that of the Taiping rebellion in the 1850s and 1860s, which would prove to be a big blow to the Qing dynasty. However, the disintegration of the empire did not seem evident till the mid nineteenth century. The major reasons for the decline of the Qing dynasty can be put under several heads. 1 - Backward Imperialism The last few rulers of the Qing dynasty were trapped in backward traditions and did not keep up with technological advancements of other nations in the contemporary context. They thought of themselves as divine rulers of a grand nation and looked at European inventions such as canons and artillery with suspicion. Hence, they failed to upgrade their war equipment and lacked modern infrastructure as well. In comparison to the Self Strengthening Mov ement in China (1861-1895), the Meiji Restoration in Japan was very successful and this gave the Japanese the role of a formidable opponent during the late nineteenth century. This even resulted in losing the First Sino-Japanese war in 1894-95. 2 - Foreign invasion Another reason why the Qing dynasty began to fail was that of the strong European colonial influences. Britain was interested in trade with China for tea and silk. However, with nothing else to import the British started opium trade with the Chinese. This proved to be a disaster for the people of China since many got addicted to opium and began producing it in land plots meant for food grains. Also, the high exchange rates of opium put a

Current Environmental Laws In The Philippines

Current Environmental Laws In The Philippines Our environmental laws are very important to us. It is very important beacause we all know that some are still depending to our natural environment for a living like those who are belong to a community located to mountaneous areas and also for us living in a rural areas or urban areas. By the implementation of these environmental laws, we are all gaining informations and knowledges about the proper protection of our environment. For me, the summarization of all the current environmental laws and policies are mainly composed of the proper ulitization and management of all the aspects of our natural environment. Below are some of the most important environmental laws of our country. The Philippine Environmental Policy Governs the general policies on the pursuits of a better quality of life for the present and future generations and mandates undertaking the environmental impact assessments for all projects, which may significantly affect the environment. (P.D 1151) Defines the objectives and the strategies for the various aspects of environmental management, such as air and water quality management, natural source development, land management, and waste management. It launches a comprehensive national program of environmental protection and management, with reference to policies and standards of noise, air quality, classification of water and waste management. (P.D 1152) The Philippine environmental policy is really very important because it promotes the protection of our natural resources and our natural environments. We all know that our country is very famous around the world by having the most wonderful and aesthetic natural resources thats why we really need to preserve this resources in order to sustain that title and also for us to be still benifited with these natural and environmental resources. The Forestry Reform Code P. D. 389 (P.D. 705) Codifies, updates and raises forestry laws in the country. It emphasizes the sustainable utilization of forest resources. The law which concerns about our forest are very important to sustain our flora and fauna which are living in our forest and also to help sustain those endangered species. The banning of illegal cutting of trees is very important because when trees are all gone, it can cause soil erosion and can harm us by causing great flood just like what happened this past few years. Illegal logging can also contributes in the loss of our ecosystem which can cause distress not only for those flora and fauna but also to us.It also governs the preseravation and otimimum productivity of fishery resources through conservation and protection. Water Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1067) Adopts adequate measures to conserve and regulate the use of water in commercial, industrial and residentail areas. It also provides other policy guidelines in water quality and management of water resources. This protects our water system especially for those who depends their business in the water. They imposed this law to govern those who are being unaware to the posibilities of damaging our water resources through improper disposal of garbages and ineffecient use of waters. Other laws under the environmental laws are Pollution Control Law, Sanitation Code, Control of Pesticides, Local Government Code of 1991, Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act, The Fisheries Code of the Philippines and The Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. These environmental laws are really needed in order for us to protect our natural environment through good management of these resources and these laws is a eye opener for us to see the posible effects of the improper usage of our natural resources. Through good governance, we will be able to help each others to protect and sustain our natural environment for the next generation to come. We need to comply to these laws in order for us to have the limits in which we can use these resources and be able to preserve and protect such very imporatnat element of our life, the natural resources and our natural environment. Source of the three environmental laws that I discussed: http://bio427.blogspot.com/2010/10/environmental-laws-of-philippines.html How Hospitality and Tourism Management is affected by the current environmental laws? The Hospitality and Tourism Management is affected by the current environmental laws in a very positive ways. It is very beneficial for them because they will be able to know the guidelines in protecting our environment which this Hospitality and Tourism Management is very dependent. We all know that under Hospitality and Tourism Management is the tourism industry which really relying on our environment with their businesses. For they are the most dependent to our natural environment, they must be the one who needs to protect it and also to sustain it. Another positive effect of these environmental laws to Hospitality and Tourism Management is that tourism industry will be boost knowing that they have the ability to protect, sustain and improve our natural environment which can help to promote our country. The tourism industry is really obliged to protect our environment to sustain the tourists that they have and they will have. When the tourist see that they are helping our governme nt in managing our environment, they will be glad to still go back to our country not only for a good service nor good employees but merely by the fact that our environment is still in good conditions and still improving which this guests and tourists are visiting for and which they can also enjoy. When we look to the other side which this tourism industry is not complying and not implementing these environmental laws, it will greatly contributes in damaging our environment and might causes negative impacts not only to our natural environment but also to the species of animals, plants, fishes and also to us humans. All other industry must be in accordance to our environmental laws because they are interrelated to each other. For example, a mining industry which disposes their toxic wastes directy to the sea or ocean can affect the businesses which are relying on the sea or located beside the shoreline because this toxic wastes can cause deseases and can cause damages on the corals, fishes and other living organism in the sea. They are co-related to each other thats why they need to act as one for them to show also that they respect each others. The Hospitality and Tourism Management which is the mother of all indutries specifically the tourism industry must know the proper usage of our environment and the proper management of our natural resources because we all know that this industry is the most income generating to our country and it produces works for our local employees and we all know that a lot of employees are all depending to this industry. If we will not be able to protect and sustain this natural environment, a lot also of negetaive effects will come out and one of the most dangerous effect is that when our environment is greatly damaged, a lot of workers will be dismiss to their work and what will now happen to them? Unemployment rate level will increase and a lot of local people will experienced poverty. As a tourism student, we are very much thankful because we are able to know the positive and negative impacts of the misgovernance of our environment. We are also able to know the environmental laws which our g overnment has imposed and it is very important for us because at young age, we are in the capacity of opening our minds in protecting and in helping in sustaining our environment which in the near future, we will be also be dependent on it. We should act as one and we need to focus in protecting the natural environments that we have. 3.) How Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) businesses can help improve the current environmental laws? Hospitalty and Tourism Management businesses can really help to improve and sustain the current environmental laws of our country by basically complying to these laws. By showing that they are implementing and they are abiding to these environmental laws, they are greatly contributing in promoting the need to act in the way that is legally pursuits. These businesses are the ones who much need to follow these laws because they are more benefited. We all know that the tourism industry is depending to our natural environment. And if we are not able to protect our environment, the tourism industry will really fluctuate. And as you can see, some whos under the tourism industry are not complying to our environmental laws and greatly causing damages to our environment. For example, some resort owners are not following the rules and regulations of our environmental laws just like the proper measurement of the establishment, the proper disposal of their garbages and many more. These careless actions are greatly causing damages, and if these actions are continuosly happening, for sure our environment will be highly damage. Our environmental laws are really important for us to help preserve the natural resources and the natural environment that we have. As you can obeserved, laws makes us more be practically be knowldegeable about the dos and donts regarding to the implementation and usage of our natural environment. The businesses which are under the tourism industy must know the proper environmental management, waste management, land management, and natural source development in order for them to help in improving our environmental laws as well as our natural environments. They are really can promote in preserving and sustaining our environment which is the environmental laws is protecting. Another example of improving the environmental laws by the hostipitality and tourism manangement businesses is that if a specific establishment which are under this industry are very competitive to others, they are much more well appreciated and much more advantageous knowing that they have all the necessary papers like permits and other legal documents that they need to accomplish which our goverment are imposing and their guests will be more knowledgeable about helping in protecting our environment by simply knowing the proper disposal of their own garbages. Environmental laws are providing the necessary information that a single business must know and the ordinances that they need to comply with. Basically, if all the businesses are do have a great information and they are all aware to these environmental laws, we are greatly a means of instrument in helping in preserving our natural environments. As we all know, the tourism industry which is under the Hostpitality and Tourism Management is the fastest income generating out of all the industries that we have and our tourism industry are really helping in uplifting our economy. These tourism businesses are also generating jobs and employment to a lot of workers. By means of protecting our environment, they are also helping in sustaining these businesses which is really important to our country. The proper utilization of these natural environment and natural resources,will not only benefits ourselvelves but also we are also ganing respects from others. As a tourism student and in the near future my future work will be also depending on the natural environment that we have, I need also to contributes my effort in helping to promote the good usage of our environment by merely knowing the implemented laws regarding in protecting our natural resources and our environments just like the very simple way, throwing my garbages on proper and also by merely helping and joining to tree planting activities of our school, our barangay and also of our municipality. At young age, we need to be knowledgeable to what we need to do and what we need to act in order for us to know the implications of being aware to the current situation of our environment.

The Effect of Slavery on the Identity of Cuba Essay examples -- Slaver

The Effect of Slavery on the Identity of Cuba The Caribbean is a diverse region with a unique history. The progress and advancement of each island complied with the European country in control of it at the time. The Caribbean was conquered and colonized soon after Columbus’ discovery in 1492. A similar aspect of the heterogeneous region has been its plantations. The plantations were an important aspect of the cultural history of the Caribbean. Mintz believed that the plantations tied the colonies in the Caribbean to the European country that was colonizing it. He states: "the plantation system was an agricultural design for the production of export commodities for foreign markets- a means for introducing agricultural capitalism to subtropical colonial areas, and for integrating those areas with the expanding European economy"(Mintz 26). The plantations of the Caribbean are also useful tools in learning more about the history of the island who once inhabited the island, as Benitez-Rojo states in his essay, From Plantation to Plantation, "the plantations serve as a telescope for observing the changes and the continuities of the Caribbean galaxy through the lenses of multifold disciplines, namely economics, history, sociology, political science, anthropology, ethnology, demography, as well as through innumerable practices, which range from the commercial to the military, from the religious literary"(Benitez-Rojo 38). The plantations in the Caribbean played a significant role in shaping each colony in the development from colonialism to the modern society. In the other readings in class, we learned that Michelle Cliff (Abeng) despised the plantation systems because the Europeans profited from the sugar plantations, whic... ...combination. The blending of the Spanish guitar and the African drum gives Cuban music its distinctive form, the rumba and son are good examples. Today Cubans are peoples of all different colors. The islands complicated history is evident in its inhabitants. WORKS CITED Beckles, Hilary& Shepard, Verene. Caribbean Slave Society & Economy, New York, 1991. Cliff, Michelle. Abeng. Penguin Group, 1984. Knight, Franklin. The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism. New York, 1990. Paquette, Robert. Sugar is Made with Blood. Middletown, CT, 1988. Perez, Louis. Slaves, Sugar & Colonial Society, Wilmington, Delaware, 1992. Benitez-Rojo, Antonio. The Repeating Island, Duke University, Durham & London, 1992. Mintz, Sidney W. The Caribbean as a Socio-Cultural Area, Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean, Garden City, New Jersey, 1971.

Black Swan Evaluation

Destiny palmer Professor Vicki Schwab 10/26/2012 English 101 Evaluation Essay The Black Swan Evaluation Essay Perfection is a dream chased by many, but only a few ever achieve it. More often than not, reaching that level of flawlessness requires great sacrifice. â€Å"The Black Swan†, directed by Darren Aronfsky, is a captivating psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet. The Movie received high ratings and Natalie Portman, who played the lead role of Nina, received praise for performing a majority of the dance scenes herself without much help from a stunt double.The real controversy comes a week after the movie is available on DVD when Portman’s stunt double, Sarah Lane, claims that it was actually she who did the majority of the dancing. According to Lane, Portman’s dramatic transformation into a ballerina – a story firmly at the center of her successful Oscar campaign- was not as impressive as the public was led to believe. â€Å" I mean, from a professional dancer’s standpoint, she doesn’t look like a professional ballet dancer at all and she can’t dance in pointe shoe. And she cannot move her body; she’s very stiff,† says Lane. Katrandjian) She claims that they [the directors and producers] only wanted for Portman to win an Oscar, and that’s their reason for falsely claiming that Portman danced. Otherwise it would not have been that effective of a movie. Others claim that it is not the dancing that won Portman an Oscar, but the way she portrayed an innocent, fragile, and sheltered adult-child who morphs into something perfect and unrecognizable at a fatale expense. â€Å"Black Swan† stars Natalie Portman as Nina Seyers, a featured dancer who is casted as the Swan Queen in the production â€Å"Swan Lake†.Nina is a quiet girl with an innocent demeanor, but also has hallucinations which are why her mother keeps her confined. She strives for perfection, but in order to get the part as the swan queen, she must show herself capable of playing the black swan. The black swan part requires her to not only â€Å"losing herself† but to be â€Å"seductive† in the dance. The audience is able to see the transformation of Nina throughout the movie. Nina’s life is a parallel to the production in which she is dancing. She is pure like the white swan, but later transforms into the polar opposite.She becomes the black swan towards the end of the movie and achieves perfection but only in death. Nina has a thirst for perfection, and it is this thirst that takes her to the edge and ultimately out of her innocence and into adulthood. Jen Chaney, a publisher for the Washington Post, noted â€Å"What impressed me the most about Portman’s work in â€Å"Black Swan†- and, I, suspect, most critics and Oscar voters- was the way she convincingly portrayed a fragile young woman descending into madness. The dance part of it nev er factored into my assessment of her performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chaney).Elizabeth Vargas, an anchor on Good Morning America, hosted an interview with Sarah Lane and others concerning the controversy. Vargas asked Jess Cagle, managing editor of entertainment weekly, â€Å"Do you think that any of the people that voted for Natalie for best actor for the Oscars would not have voted for her had they known that she didn’t do all the dancing for the movie? † Cagle replied â€Å"I can guarantee that it would definitely hurt Natalie Portman, and there was a lot of great dancing that Sarah Lane did that enhanced this performance and helped Portman win an Oscar. (Natalie). The way that a stunt double works is that the director would cast someone of similar height and weight and they would dance in that scene, and later they would digitally graft the face of the actor/actress onto the body. Portman’s face was superimposed onto Lanes body through special effects called â €Å"face replacement† in crucial dance scenes to make it appear as if it were Portman performing the sophisticated moves. The stunt double signs a contract that explains that she might not be featured in the credits. I am unable to say if Lane completely understood the contract.It is possible that lane is unfamiliar with the film industry but slandering the film and actors in it could prevent her from ever being casted as a stunt double in any future major films. It was unprofessional and Lane was told when casted that she wouldn’t receive out right credit. Others feel differently, they feel that Lane should defend the honor and hard work that dancers put into their line of work. Nikol Klein, a professional Ballet dancer, coach, and blogger wrote on her website â€Å"Whoever did the dancing in the movie is not the reason it won anOscar. I understand {as a dancer] that some in the dance community feel that Natalie Portman won the Oscar for her â€Å"Upper Body† portrayal of a dancer, but if you truly watch the film you will see that it is far more than that. Natalie Portman received a much deserved Oscar for her work as an Actress, not as a dancer. In fact, if you watch the movie again you will see that there really isn’t much dancing in the movie at all. Has Lane seen the movie? So why the controversy? One thing that we dancers have is pride.Our profession feeds off of acknowledgement and acceptance. † A lot of what Lane is upset about is how she feels that Portman is claiming that you can become a ballerina in a year in a half. Although this is untrue and was never stated by Portman, actors and actresses do go through intense training for their part. For example, the movie â€Å"Walk the Line†, a film about the life and career about Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon actually had to learn to sing like June Carter Cash. Oscars like these are often handed out for full artist transformations.It is part of what acting involve s, which is why the audience saw Reese Witherspoon win an Oscar for â€Å"Walk the Line†. Anytime an actor can mold them into something they’re not, real talent is shown and Oscars are given. It’s been done time and time again. It has been said repeatedly that if Natalie had been honest about her lack of actual dancing, she probably would not have won. When did she ever lie though? In countless interviews I watched, Natalie has always acknowledged the fact that there was indeed a stunt double; they all had one. Needless to say, it was about the transformation that took place.Portman spent year and a half training for this part and had lost a significant amount of weight in order to show the actuality of a ballerina. Lanes statement were followed by a rebuttal in a March 23 2011 L. A Times article in which Portman’s then fiance (now husband), and Black Swan dance choreographer, Benjamin Millepied said Lane’s work in the film was far less significant . â€Å"There are articles now talking about her dance double that are making it sound like [lane] did a lot of the work, but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouett? , and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio,† he said, â€Å"honestly, 85% of that movie is Natalie. † â€Å"Black Swan† editor Andy Weisblum agreed to take a closer look for â€Å"20/20. † â€Å"There are about 35 shots that are full body shots in the movie. Of those 35 shots, 12 are Natalie, and then the rest are Sarah,† Weisblum said. â€Å"But over the overall film, Natalie did a lot more than that. I mean, she did most of the other shots. It was sometimes hard for me to tell the difference as the editor, it was so close. † (Zakarin).As I researched the background history, I came across this statement from Darren Aronofsky, â€Å"Here is the reality; I had my editor count the shots. There are 139 dance shots in the film – 111 are Natalie Portman untouched,â €  he said â€Å"28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math, that’s 80% Natalie Portman. † (Zakarin). The point is this movie is one hour and 48 minutes long. Regardless of how many shots were of Lane or Portman, we all know for a fact that 100% of the acting was Portman which Is what makes â€Å"Black Swan† an Oscar winner.

Organ Donating… Good or Bad?

Organ Donation What is going to happen to your body when you die? Will you be buried, cremated, or will you use it for the benefit of others? Organ donations can save lives and be used for research. Organ donation is not solely restricted to people who have passed. Donating is also possible when you are alive. Every American needs to become an organ donor because millions of lives could be saved. Saving lives after death is one of the major motivating factors for organ donations. One organ can save up to eight lives (â€Å"Organ Donation Facts†).There are over 114,000 people waiting for organ transplants (â€Å"Organ Donation Facts†). There was a case of a woman’s husband dying from a car crash and he donated his organs. A few months after his death she got letters in the mail that his organs saved the lives of five people, one of which was a single mother of two small children. On average, eighteen people die a day from being on the waiting list for organ transp lants (â€Å"Organ Donations†). Every ten minutes someone is added to the waiting list (â€Å"The Need Is Real†). These tragic facts are just some of the reasons why people need to become organ donors.It is also possible to donate certain organs while still being alive. While this is more difficult, there is an excellent success rate for the surgeries (CNN Health). Most of these situations involve donating to a family member, saving the life of someone cared for by the donator. Also, by donating to a family member it makes you closer to that person. After you donate you will be contacted by the person that got your donated organ, in case you want to talk to them ( Living Donors Online). In 2010 more than eighteen thousand kidneys were donated by live donors (â€Å"Save A Life†).If a person needs a new kidney they are on dialysis, but if you would donate a kidney to them it would double there life span (â€Å"Benefits Of Living Donation†). Donating an orga n while being alive is an incredibly generous thing to do and every American should consider. Yet another option is whole body donations for science and research. There is a significant shortage of human tissue, the tissue that they have are being used to find cures for cancer and neurological disorders (Fox News). Tissue is also needed to give surgeons operating experience (Fox News).If surgeons do not get the experience they need then when they go into surgery on someone they are not prepared and are more likely to make a mistake. Also firefighters and EMT's need experience with tissue because of burns and emergency medical treatment (Iiam). Also when you donate your entire body it can be used in museums for educational purposes. This educates people on how the body works and why we should be organ donors (Iiam). Donating for science is a very useful way to donate organs after you die. While donating your body and organs is obviously a selfless and beneficial act, there are some p eople who are opposed to organ donation.There are some who argue that if one is in a situation that requires serious medical attention, doctors will not try as hard to save you because you are a donor and could save others. However, doctors will put just as much effort into saving you because only the transplant team knows if you are an organ donor. Some also believe that old people cannot donate organs, making it impossible for people who die of natural causes to donate. There is no defined age limit for a donor; organs have been successfully transplanted from people in their seventies and eighties.Every American needs to become an organ donor to save and help many lives. Your body has no use to you after you have died. Also you could save up to eight peoples lives. Donating organs while you are alive is also an option when donating and it could save the life of someone very important to you. Research is a very important part of organ donating because it trains medical personnel to be better prepared so that they can save lives when they are working. When you get your license or renew your license, be sure to answer yes to being an organ donor.

Wonderful Guide to Rewriting Top Tips

Wonderful Guide to Rewriting Top Tips Top Tips on Rewriting The first thing to know about rewriting is that it is not especially easy. If you have ever rewritten and/ revised any rewritten texts you will know it is difficult. Sometimes, it can go very well, but at other times, you may find there are many things to learn. However, with practice and experience, you should acquire some valuable rewriting skills that serve you well. We would like to share the following tips, which we trust you will find helpful. The suggestions outlined below are a few things that should help if you get stuck. This is not a definitive list, and it is recommended you use only those techniques that work for you and discard the rest. However, remember, you have goals to achieve and these are well worth working for. Put your draft in your filing system and begin again This is a piece of advice that always appears in relation to rewriting. It is good advice and well worth noting. There is nothing shameful about putting a text aside and starting anew. Do not think of it as a loss. Whenever you begin the process of revision, save your previous draft, file it, and begin a fresh document. If there are any aspects of your previous draft you want to keep any language or good ideas paste these into your new document. However, in most cases, it is best to write from scratch. You should find this next version begins to flow more quickly and more cohesively. Any characters you have created will start to come to life, and any boring or irrelevant parts will remain filed away in your first draft. Some experts suggest the theory for this is that a writers brain is at first working overtime trying to figure out their script, develop their characters, and create the plot. Of course, all this work is interspersed with flashes of energy, inspiration, and enlightenment. However, these flashbulb moments can get lost in the very real task of developing the text you are working on in a manner your readers and yourself will be able to understand. Then, when you get to the next or second draft, these rules will have been ingrained in you so you can write more freely about the things that are now clearer to you. All this, of course, is time consuming, but very worthwhile. Doubt yourself by all means but trust in your goals A lot of writers really believe there are two elements within an unfinished written piece. These are:The goals to be achieved The writers own egoThe process of rewriting is about figuring out what is what and then discarding the egotistical elements. Everyone gets attached to the flowery descriptions they write, the parts of a plot that they manage to rework back into their text, and the cool words they have carried with them for many years. The fact is, however, that no matter how clever, descriptive and creative one might be, it does not matter if it does not achieve the end objectives. And that is what matters. Things to bear in mindTry not to put too much faith in adverbs and adjectives. Most characters soon start speaking in a unique manner and, usually, none of their voices sound identical. It is normal to have some doubts about various aspects of your work e.g. about whether you should add something new, change the gender of a character, and so on. The best answer here is to say try it. Then decide what you think about it. Do not hesitate to cut. Keep only what is vital. No one wants to get stuck in a time or situation that has already passed.Collaboration really helps One final thing worth mentioning about rewriting is that there should be more of it. People usually write alone so this activity is a solitary one. People also read and revise alone. When the work is done, it is handed in and the writer hopes it will bring the desired results. However, there is another option! This involves collaborating with others who can bring new angles and dimensions to your work. These people include tutors, friends, publishers, designers and directors. We are surrounded by such people. A piece of written work is often richer where there is collaboration. So, wherever possible, seek the input of those who can make your work better!

Fatwa Islam and Political Islam Essay

Fatwa Islam and Political Islam Essay Fatwa: Islam and Political Islam Essay Colvin Greenberg Book response Pià ±ar, Section AB May 30, 2015 Fatwas aren’t political! From a young age us â€Å"westerners† have been ingrained with perceptions about the Muslim world, due to the politics of the Muslim majority countries and the media representation of said countries. All to often the US media focuses on Huntington’s clash of civilizations, an argument that the world is involved in a war between religions, and all Islamic followers are opponents to the secular west. This is evident in their sole publication of stories relating to political Islam and the terrorist activities that often arise from this political Islam. In Karima Bennoune’s book, â€Å"Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here† we see a different perspective on both political Islam and the actual Islamic religion. This book has a number of anecdotes describing the Islamic struggle between religious followers of Islam, and the Islamic fundamentalists, who use Islam as a political tool rather than a religious ideology. By seeing this struggle between the true tenants of Is lam and the Islamism political followers we can divert from Huntington’s clash of civilizations theory and begin to understand possible solutions to the political Islam problem. In her book, Bennoune describes how these Islamist fundamentalists use the fatwas of Islam â€Å"in the context of globalization in order to manipulate religion and achieve their political aims (14)†. This book focuses on how to combat fundamentalism in a number of ways by rejecting the clash of civilizations theory that misinterprets Islam and focusing on fundamental Islam as the main issue. In a modern context we need to focus on secularity, feminism, education reform and media reform in order to curb post-colonial fueled fundamental Islam. In Bennounes book, she describes possible solutions to Islamic fundamentalists through a series of anecdotes. In one of these anecdotes, Bennoune explains the cause of fundamentalist support from the west, â€Å"In someplace, the failure to solve basic problems of â€Å"economic justice, democracy, human dignity, and legitimate grievances like past colonialism and current military occupation, contributed to creating fertile ground for its project to gain adherents.( Bennoune 25)† . This shows a justification for fundamentalism, which she uses to dissect and evaluate the problem .By analyzing the root cause for the fundamentalists occupation she can find the solution to the fundamentalist problems within the Middle East. Due to the political context of fundamentalist Islam, Bennoune describes one of the political problems that is a result of fundamentalism â€Å"secularism has been rubbed out by terrorizing dissenters†(Bennoune 91). She uses this diction â€Å"terroriz ing dissenters† to describe fundamentalist who according to Bennoune are going against the true tenants of Islam. Additionally the political context of the word secularity and its description in her book highlights the necessity of re-secularization to destroy fundamentalism. The main stereotypes of Islam are due to political Islam frequently a result of the subjugation of women in Islamist societies in accordance with some Sharia law. Bennoune stresses the importance of women within the movement to curb fundamental Islam and it’s marginalization of women. â€Å"Women of Muslim heritage are under pressure to cover more and more of their skin, their hair, their very beings. To disappear.(Benoune 8)†. This description could be described as orientalist due to the fact many women wear the hijab with pride, but in the context of political Islam it is very true. Bennoune looks at the oppression of women as one of the roots to the fundamentalist problem and again a hint to a solution. In addition she stresses the need for increased education in both the school systems and media outlets of these fundamentalist regimes. â€Å"Misinformed children grow up to be misinformed adults (Bennoune 84)† , this statement highlights the need for revised curriculum and accurate