Temptation and Survival in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay exampl

Temptation and Survival in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain faces choices as part of the Green Knights game. The game is not the simple exchange of axe blows as it appears to be. It is actually a game of temptation and rule-breaking. In the end, Gawain fails this test given by the Green Knight and King Arthurs half-sister.When the Green Knight arrogantly rode into King Arthurs domain, he showed no respect for the celebrated knights. He rudely laughed away the praise he had heard of King Arthur as the praise of you, prince, is puffed up so high (Norton Anthology 1465). He also ridiculed the knights as they hesitated to accept his challenge. Gawain eventually accepted the challenge, but didnt fully understand what the test would actually be. In what was probably a rage of protecting King Arthurs honor, Sir Gawain shredded off the Green Knights head and began the game. King Arthurs soldier didnt understand that this would be a game of rule foll owing instead of a match ascertain warrior skills.The Green Knight is a charac...

Conflicting Visions :: Politics Political Essays

Conflicting Visions Generally, people allot crude goals. Most of us want poor people to enjoy higher(prenominal)(prenominal) standards of living, greater traffic safety, fewer wars and more world peace, greater racial harmony, cleaner air and water, and less crime. Despite the fact that people have common goals, more often than not, we see them grouped into contentious factions, fighting tooth and nail to promote differing government policies in the name of achieving those commonly held goals. Often the policies may be unproductive and often have the unintended consequence of sabotaging the goal. Almost always the conflict is centered around the means to achieve goals rather than the goals themselves. A well-grounded example of conflict surrounding means is found in the periodic debates over minimum wage and tariffs. Many people profess concern for the social welfare of low-skilled workers. To achieve their goal, one group adamantly demands that Congress legislate higher minimum wages. Another group professing the identical concern, are just as adamant in demanding that Congress not legislate higher minimum wages. Similarly, one group of advocates for greater employment opportunities might lobby Congress for higher tariffs and stricter quotas on foreign imports. Another group of people sharing the identical goal will fight against tariffs and quotas and lobby for fewer trade restrictions. How is it that people who share identical goals come to advocate frigid opposite policies? One realistic explanation is that they are dishonest and simply promoting their personal interests. Their political strategy is to let loose concern for the unskilled and greater employment opportunities simply as a ruse to conceal their true agenda higher wages, profits and monopoly wealth. The more kindle question is why do people, who are assumed to be honest, intelligent, selfless and not motivated by a hidden agenda, arrive at polar opposite policy proposals as a means to ac hieve commonly shared goals, that may indeed produce polar opposite results? Part of the fare is that they share different visions of how the world works. Consider the effects of different visions by going back to a time prior to Pythagoras and Ptolemys proofs that the earth was round. Imagine two honest and intelligent people in 1000 B.C. One persons initial premise is that the earth is flat. Based upon that premise, he would argue strenuously it is not possible to sail west from Greece and reach the Orient. The other person, whose initial premise is that the world is round, would argue just as strenuously that it is possible to reach the Orient by sailing west from Greece.

Gender Roles and Hypnosis :: Barker Regeneration papers

Gender Roles and Hypnosis Pat Barkers Regeneration explores the internal struggles of WWI soldiers, and their attempts to overcome the combat injury of war experiences. One way in which soldiers were treated for psychological trauma was with hypnosis. Hypnosis is introduced to the reader on page 51. In this particular scene, Billy Prior is attempting to convince Dr. Rivers of his specific need for hypnotherapy, in order to recall his repressed memories. By recovering these painful memories through hypnosis, Barkers male patients find themselves able to embrace emotions rather than repress them. Prior is one particular example of the need to cook masculine gender roles in order to embrace emotions and be healed, a theme present in Regeneration. Hypnosis is derived from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep ( hint). However, the patient does not sleep during hypnosis. It has been described as a therapeutic method, which uses the technique of inducement of trance, which is a state of semi-conscious relaxation, at the same time maintaining afferent contact with the environment (Bernik). Hypnosis privy produce various levels of perception, increased memory, increased attention and motor functions, and higher intellectual functions (Bernik).Historically there have been numerous uses for hypnosis, as David Deegan describes. The most general is to relieve all types of physical pain. During hypnosis, many patients have described their physical pain as feeling closer to a warming sensation. Another use involves the treatment of diseases such as asthma and irritable colon. Hypnosis can also be used to control various impulses that can contribute to anorexia, obesity, chemical addictions, and sexual impulses. Finally, hypnosis can be used to treat phobias such as panic disorder and anxiety. It was widely used in this carriage in WWI due to a shortage of psychiatrists, mostly for the treatment of physical pain, itching, anxiety, and the restoring of repressed traum atic experiences which could them be dealt with and understood, helping soldiers come to terms with dreadful events (Deegan). orgasm to terms with traumatic events through hypnosis is a positive consequence of restoring memory.Barker first refers to hypnosis and its assistance in restoring memory on page 51, where hypnosis represents proof of Priors require to be healed. Prior is arguing that he does in fact want to get better, but he does not agree with Rivers psychoanalytic treatment. He claims he does not remember the latter part of his service in France, and he wants Rivers to try hypnosis so that he can recall his repressed memories.

Hucks Conflicted Nature in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry

huckabacks Conflicted Nature in endeavor bracings The Adventures Of huck FinnContinuing what he had started in the first eleven chapters, Twain further develops huckaback Finns character through a series of events where Hucks decisions indicate his clean-living struggle. Adventures shows the propelling move ment of Hucks internal difficulty, illustrating his conflicted nature. As juxtaposition to the fantasy of Tom Sawyers gang, Huck encounters real robbers and murderers on the wrecked Walter Scott steam ride. After hearing their plans, Huck tells Jim, If we pass their boat we can put all of em in a bad fix -- for the Sheriff ll get em (262) despite his developing nihilism , Huck decides to trap the men by stealing their boat. Here Huck has drastically affected the fate of the men, whether it be dying or being arrested, and eventually he realizes his responsibility I begun to misgiving about the men...I begun to think how dreadful it was, even for murderers, to be in such a f ix (263). To remedy the situation in response to his emergent guilt, Huck employs (deceives) the captain of the ferryboat to rescue the men. Huck applauds his altruism, saying I was feeling ruther comfortable on accounts of ta female monarch all this trouble for that gang, for not legion(predicate) would ready done it (265) but fails to realize his irony not many people would assume boarded the wreck in the first place, much less trapped the men. Regardless, Huck has shown he can act freely, but not free from his conscience, which allow prove important later in the novel, specifically at the climax. Prior to chapter twenty-five, the king and the duke had connected mild schemes, towards which Huck had been indifferent once they plan to swindle the Wilks girls inheritance, however, Huc... ...ndons his effort to escape society and its imposition (by becoming Tom Sawyers brother again). His conflicted nature serves as the novels tragic aspect although he had resolved to decide h is morality independent from society, Hucks immunity will be limited once Aunt Sally adopts him, a result of his choice to comply with Tom instead of freeing Jim and leaving on the river, where they have both lived freely throughout the novel.Works Cited and ConsultedClemens, Samuel. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Lexington Heath, 1994. 236-419. Kaplan, Justin. Born to Trouble One Hundred Years of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Eds. Gerald Graff and James Phelan. Boston St. Martins, 1995. 348-359. Hucks Conflicted Nature in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Hucks Conflicted Nature in Mark Twains The Adventures Of Huck FinnContinuing what he had started in the first eleven chapters, Twain further develops Huck Finns character through a series of events where Hucks decisions indicate his moral str uggle. Adventures shows the dynamic movement of Hucks internal difficulty, illustrating his conflicted nature. As juxtaposition to the fantasy of Tom Sawyers gang, Huck encounters real robbers and murderers on the wrecked Walter Scott steamboat. After hearing their plans, Huck tells Jim, If we find their boat we can put all of em in a bad fix -- for the Sheriff ll get em (262) despite his developing nihilism , Huck decides to trap the men by stealing their boat. Here Huck has drastically affected the fate of the men, whether it be dying or being arrested, and eventually he realizes his responsibility I begun to worry about the men...I begun to think how dreadful it was, even for murderers, to be in such a fix (263). To remedy the situation in response to his sudden guilt, Huck employs (deceives) the captain of the ferryboat to rescue the men. Huck applauds his altruism, saying I was feeling ruther comfortable on accounts of taking all this trouble for that gang, for not many would h ave done it (265) but fails to realize his irony not many people would have boarded the wreck in the first place, much less trapped the men. Regardless, Huck has shown he can act freely, but not free from his conscience, which will prove important later in the novel, specifically at the climax. Prior to chapter twenty-five, the king and the duke had committed mild schemes, towards which Huck had been indifferent once they plan to swindle the Wilks girls inheritance, however, Huc... ...ndons his effort to escape society and its imposition (by becoming Tom Sawyers sidekick again). His conflicted nature serves as the novels tragic aspect although he had resolved to decide his morality independent from society, Hucks freedom will be limited once Aunt Sally adopts him, a result of his choice to comply with Tom instead of freeing Jim and leaving on the river, where they have both lived freely throughout the novel.Works Cited and ConsultedClemens, Samuel. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Lexington Heath, 1994. 236-419. Kaplan, Justin. Born to Trouble One Hundred Years of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Eds. Gerald Graff and James Phelan. Boston St. Martins, 1995. 348-359.

THE MAN :: essays research papers

The Man They Called Danny--------------------------------------------------------------------------------To the millions who watched his story unfold, slain reporter Daniel osseous tissue was a symbol of loss and national grief. To those who knew him, he was much more.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------by Felicity BarringerSidebar wherefore Reporters Risk ItRelated SiteWall Street JournalThe Daniel Pearl FoundationTHE FILE "JOURNALIST1" on my computer, created after the war in Afghanistan began, is a separate record of the fears and losses of the last several months. It begins with notes about journalists in Afghanistan and the dangers they face. It was open when the father of John Tipping II, a firefighter who died in the World Trade Center, called to chide about his son for a thumbnail portrait in the New York Times. So it continued with notes about a fireman.The same file was on my screen January 24 when a call came from Ste ven Goldstein, Dow Jones?s corporate spokesman. He told me that Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal?s South Asia bureau chief, was missing. ?Journalist1?? soon filled with notes about Daniel Pearl?s work and his life and details that reflected the painful uncertainty about his fate. Finally, it recorded the even more painful certainty Pearl?s cobblers last at the hands of Pakistani kidnappers. A videotape sent to the American Embassy a month after his capture showed a knife wound intimately his heart, evidence of his gruesome execution. The kidnappers then videotaped the mutilation of his body.The prolonged uncertainty, the geopolitical importance of a crime calculated to embarrass Pakistan?s president as he align himself with the United States and, finally, the kidnapping?s barbaric conclusion, guaranteed an audience of millions. Many of these became captivated by the man they called ?Danny.? His smile was beguiling, a lighthearted challenge to any person or institution that t ook itself too seriously. His eclectic embrace of people and ideas led him into journalism, into myriad friendships, into all kinds of music and into marriage with a French citizen whose blithe centre mirrored his own. It is no surprise that he is better known than the other journalists in the ?Journalist1?? file, better known than John Tipping II and most of those killed on kinfolk 11. The country and the world mourned, hard, for the thousands who died that day, and for all that was lost with them. But people did not just mourn Daniel Pearl. They claimed him for their own.When word of Pearl?s death was broadcast on February 21, Vera Katz started scrambling around her home in Venice, Calif.

THE MAN :: essays research papers

The Man They Cal lead Danny--------------------------------------------------------------------------------To the millions who watched his story unfold, slain reporter Daniel bone was a symbol of loss and national grief. To those who knew him, he was much more.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------by Felicity BarringerSidebarWhy Reporters Risk ItRelated SiteWall route JournalThe Daniel Pearl FoundationTHE FILE "JOURNALIST1" on my computer, created after the war in Afghanistan began, is a disjointed record of the fears and losses of the last several months. It begins with notes nigh journalists in Afghanistan and the dangers they face. It was liberal when the father of John Tipping II, a firefighter who died in the World Trade Center, called to talk about his son for a thumbnail portrait in the New York Times. So it continued with notes about a fireman.The same file was on my screen January 24 when a call came from Steven Goldstein , Dow Jones?s corporate spokesman. He told me that Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal?s South Asia bureau chief, was missing. ?Journalist1?? soon filled with notes about Daniel Pearl?s work and his life and details that reflected the painful uncertainty about his fate. Finally, it recorded the even more painful certainty Pearl?s death at the hands of Pakistani kidnappers. A videotape sent to the American Embassy a month after his capture showed a knife wound near his heart, evidence of his gruesome execution. The kidnappers then videotaped the mutilation of his body.The prolonged uncertainty, the geopolitical importance of a crime calculated to embarrass Pakistan?s president as he aligned himself with the United States and, finally, the kidnapping?s barbaric conclusion, guaranteed an audience of millions. Many of these became beguile by the man they called ?Danny.? His smile was beguiling, a lighthearted challenge to any person or institution that took itself too seriously. His eclectic embrace of people and ideas led him into journalism, into myriad friendships, into all kinds of music and into marriage with a French citizen whose blithe spirit mirrored his own. It is no surprise that he is better known than the new(prenominal) journalists in the ?Journalist1?? file, better known than John Tipping II and most of those killed on September 11. The country and the world mourned, hard, for the thousands who died that day, and for all that was lost with them. But people did not just mourn Daniel Pearl. They claimed him for their own.When word of Pearl?s death was broadcast on February 21, Vera Katz started scrambling around her home in Venice, Calif.

Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 12

Yes, Gillian said simply. Her heart rate had picked up a little, nevertheless with anticipation rather than fear. nonp beil was looking very mysterious.He busyn with(p) a looking-into-the-distance pose, then said, Have you ever had the feeling that you dontre eachy survive reality?Frequently, Gillian said dryly. Ever since I met you.He grinned. I mean horizontal before that. Some atomic number 53 wrote ab protrude the inconsolable secret thats in each of us.The desire for our own far-off country, for something weve neer very experienced. About how weall long to span some chasm that yawns between us and reality to be reunited with something in theuniverse from which we now feel cut off Gillian sat bolt up regenerate. Yes. I never heard anybody say it that well before. About the chasm- youalways feel that theres something else, somewhere, and that youre being left out. I thought it wassomething the popular bulk would be in on-but it hasnt got anything to do with them at all.A s if the world has some secret, if you could only get on the inside.Yes. Yes. She looked at him in fascination. This is about being a witch, isnt it? Youre saying that Ivealways tangle up that way because its true. Because for me there is a different realityNah. holy man grimaced. Actually everybody feels exactly the same. Doesnt mean a thing.Gillian collapsed. What?For them. For them, there is no secret place. As for you well, its not what youre thinking its notsome higher reality of astral planes or anything. Its as real as those socks. As real as that girl, Melusine,in the keep in Woodbridge. And its where you were meant to be. A place where youll be welcomedinto the heart of things.Gillians heart was racing wildly. Where is it?Its called the Night World.Gray-blue shadows were gliding up the hills. Gillian swarm in the twilight, heading toward the regretfulness inthe east. Explain again, she said, and she said it out loud, take down though she couldnt picture Angel. there was a slight disturbance of air above the seat to her right, a speck of mist, but that was all. Youre sayingits not just witches.Not by a long shot. Witches are just one race there are all sorts of other creatures of the night. every(prenominal) thesorts that youve been taught to think are legends.And theyre real. And theyre just living alongside normal humans. And they always have been.Yes. solely its easy, you see. They look equivalent humans, at to the lowest degree at first glance. As much as you look like ahuman.But I am a human. I mean, mostly, right? My great-grandma was a witch, but she married a human andso did my grandma and my mom. So Im all diluted.It doesnt matter to them. You can claim witch blood. And your powers are beyond dispute. assertion me,theyll welcome you.Besides, Ive got you, Gillian said cheerfully. I mean, ordinary humans dont have their own invisibleguardians, do they?Well. Angel seemed to coalesce faintly beside her. From what she could see of hi s face, he wasfrowning. You cant actually tell them about me. Dont ask why Im not allowed to explain. But Ill bewith you, the way I always am. Ill help you out with what to say. Dont worry youll do fine.Gillian wasnt worried. She felt steeped in mystery and a sort of forbidden excitement. The whole worldseemed magical and unfamiliar.Even the snow looked different, blue and almost phosphorescent. As Gillian drove through and through rollingfarmlands, a glow appeared above the eastern hills, and then the full moon rose, huge and throbbing withlight.Deeper and deeper, she thought. She seemed to have left everything ordinary behind and to be slidingmore and more quickly into an enchanted place where anything-anything at all-could happen.She wouldnt have been surprised if Angel had directed her to pull off into some lily-white clearing and lookfor a fairy ring. But when he said, Turn here, it was at a main road that led to the straggling outskirts ofa town.Where are we?Sterback. Little hole-in-the-wall place-except for where were departure. Stop here.Here was a nondescript building, which looked as if it had originally been Victorian. It wasnt in verygood repair.Gillian got out and looked at the moon shining on the windows. The building great power have been a lodge. Itwas set apart from the rest of the dark and silent town. A wind had started up and she shivered.(Uh, it doesnt look like anybodys in there.) (Go to the room access.) Angels voice in her mind was comforting, as always.There was no sign at the door, nothing to indicate that this was a public building. But the stained chicken feedwindow above the door was faintly illuminated from the inside. The pattern seemed to be a flower. Ablack iris.(The Black Iris is the name of this place. Its a dub-)Angel was interrupted by a sudden explosion. That was Gillians impression. For the first instant she hadno idea what it was-just a dark shape flying at her and a ruby-red noise-and she almost fell off the porch. Then she spend a pennyd that the noise was barking. A chained dog was yammering and foaming, trying to get ather.(Ill take care of it.) Angel sounded grim, and an instant later Gillian felt something like a wave in the air.The dog dropped flat as if it had been shot. It rolled its eyeball.The porch was dead silent again. Everything was silent. Gillian stood and touched, feeling epinephrin runthrough her. But before she could say anything, the door opened behind her.A face looked out of the dimness inside the house. Gillian couldnt make out the features, but she couldsee the gleam of eyes.Whore you? The voice was slow and flat, not friendly. What do you want?Gillian followed Angels whispered words. Im Gillian of the Harman clan, and I want in. Its cold outhere.A Harman?Im a Hearth-Woman, a daughter of Hellewise, and if you dont let me in, you stupid werewolf, Imgoing to do to you what I did to your cousin there. She stuck out a gloved finger toward the cringingdog. (Werewolf? Ang el, there are real werewolves?)(I told you. All the legendary creatures.) Gillian felt an odd sinking. She had no idea why, and shecontinued to do just as Angel said. But somehow her run was knotting tighter and tighter.The door opened slowly. Gillian stepped into a dim hall and the door slammed shut again with acuriously final sound.Didnt recognize you, the figure beside her said. Thought you might be vermin.I forgive you, Gillian said, and pulled off her gloves at Angels direction. Downstairs?He nodded and she followed him to a door which led to a stairway. As soon as the door opened, Gillianheard music.She descended, feeling extremely subterranean. The basement was deeper than most basements.And bigger. It was like a whole new world down there.It wasnt much brighter than upstairs, and there were no windows. It seemed like an old place there was a shuffleboard pattern on the cold tile floor and a faint smell of mildew and moisture. But it was alive with mess. There were figures s itting on chairs dumped around the borders ofthe room and more gathered around a pool table at one end. There were figures in front of a couple ofancient looking pinball machines and figures clustered at what looked like a home bar.Gillian headed for the bar. She could feel eyes on her every step of the way.She felt too small and too young as she perched precariously on one of the bar stools. She rested herelbows on the reproduction and tried to slow her heart down.The figure behind the bar treated toward her. It was a guy, maybe in his twenties. He stepped forwardand Gillian saw his face.Shock ripple through her. There was something wrong with him. Not that he was hideously ugly orthat he would have caused a commotion if he got on a bus. Maybe it was something Gillian sensedthrough her new powers and not through her eyes at all. But the impression she got was that his facelooked wrong. Tainted by cold dark thoughts that made Tanyas scheming mind look like a sunlit garden.Gillian couldnt help her recoil. And the bar guy saw it.Youre new, he said. The dark and cold seemed to get under ones skin in him and she realized he was enjoying herfear. Where are you from?Angel was shouting instructions at her. Im a Harman, Gillian said as steadily as she could. And-youreright. Im new.(Good, kid. Dont let him push around you Now youregoing to explain to them just exactly who you are-)(In a minute, Angel. Just let me get-settled.) The truth was that Gillian was completely unsettled. Thesense of dread that had been growing ever since she walked in was reaching an unbearable pitch. Thisplace was she groped for adjectives. Unwholesome. Corrupt. Scary.And then she realized something else. Up until now she hadnt been able to make out the faces of theother figures properly. Only eyes and the occasional dart of teeth.But now-they were moving in around her. It reminded her of sharks, swimming almost aimlessly butending up in a purposeful gathering. There were people directly behind her-she could feel that with theback of her neck-and there were people on either side of her. When she looked, she could see theirfaces.Cold-dark-wrong. Not just wrong, but almost diabolic. These were people who might do anything andenjoy it. Their eyes glittered at her. More than glittered. Some of the eyes were shining like ananimals at night and now they were smiling and she could see teeth. Long delicate canine teeth thatcame to a point. FangsAll the legendary creaturesSheer panic surged through her. And at the same instant, she felt strong detainment on her elbows. Why dont you come outside with me? a voice behind her said.Then things were confused. Angel was yelling again, but Gillian couldnt really hear him over the pound sign of her own heart. The hands were exerting pressure, forcing her away from the bar. And thefigures with their diabolical faces were settling back, most of them wearing conspiratorial grins.Have fun, somebody called.Gillian was being hurried up t he stairs, whisked through the dim building. A blast of cold air hit her as thedoor opened and she suddenly felt dearer. She tried to break out of the iron enamour that was holding her. Itdidnt do any good.She was out in the snow, leaving the house behind. The street was completely deserted.Is that your car?The hands on her arms eased their pressure. Gillian gave one desperate wrench and turned around.Moonlight was shining on the snow around her, giving it the texture of white satin. Every shadow waslike an indigotin stain on the sparkling coverlet.The person whod been holding her was a male child a few years older than Gillian. He was lanky and elegant,with ash-blond hair and passably tilted eyes. Something about the way he held himself made her think oflazy predatory animals.But his face wasnt wrong, the way the otherfaces had been. It was set and grim, maybe point a little scary, but it wasnt evil.Now, look, he said, and his voice wasnt evil, either, just rapid and short. I dont know who you are,or how you managed to get in there, but youd better turn around and go home right now. Becausewhatever you are, youre not a Harman.How do you know? Gillian blurted before Angel could tell her what to say.Because Im related to the Harmans. Im Ash Redfern. You dont even know what that means, do you?If you were a Harman youd know that our families are kin.(You are a Harman, and you are a witch) Angel was actually raging. (Tell him Tell him)But the ash-blond boy was going on. Theyll eat you alive in there if they find out for sure. Theyre notas-tolerant-of humans as I am. So my advice is, get in your car, require away, and never come back. Andnever mention this place to anybody else.(Youre a lost witch Youre not a human. Tell him)How come youre so tolerant? Gillian was gross(a) at the boy. His eyes shed thought they wereamber colored originally, like Steffis, but now they were emerald green.He gave her an odd look. Then he smiled. It was a lazy smile, but with s omething heart-wrenching behind it.I met a human girl last summer, he said quietly, and that seemed to explain everything.Then he nodded at her car. Get out of here. never come back. Im just passing through I wont bearound to save you again.(Dont get in the car. Dont go. Tell him. Youre a witch you belong to rung Midnight. Dont go)For the first time, Gillian deliberately disobeyed an order of Angels. She unlocked the car with shakyhands. As she got in, she looked back at the boy. Ash.Thank you, she said.Bye. He wiggled his fingers. He watched as she drove away.(Go back there right now You belong there, just as much as any of them. Youre one of them. Theycant keep you out. Turn around and go back)Angel, surrender it She said it out loud. I cant Dont you see that? I cant. They were horrible. Theywere-evil.Now that she was alone, reaction was setting in. Her whole body began to shake. She was suddenlyblind with tears, her breath catching in her throat.Not evil Angel shimmered into th e seat beside her. He had never sounded so agitated. Justpowerful-They were evil. They wanted to stand me. I saw their eyes She was lapsing into hysteria. Why did youtake me there? When you wouldnt even let me talk to Melusine? Melusine wasnt like them.A violent shiver overtook her. The car veered and she struggled with it, barely getting control. All atonce everything seemed alien and terrifying she was out on a long and lonely road, and it was night, andthere was an uncanny being in the seat beside her.She didnt know who he was anymore. All she knew was that he wasnt any kind of an angel. The logicalalternative sprang immediately to her mind. She was alone in the middle of nowhere with a demonGillian, stop itWho are you? What are you, really? Who are you?What do you mean? You know who I am.No, I dont She was screaming it. I dont know anything about you Why did you take me there?Why did you want them to hurt me? Why?Gillian, stop the car. Stop. The. Car.His voice was so commanding , so urgent and imperative, that she actually obeyed. She was sobbinganyway. She couldnt drive or see. She felt, literally and honestly, that she was losing her mind at that exact moment.Now look at me. Wipe your face off and look at me.After a moment she managed. He was shining. Light seemed to radiate from every inch, of him, from thegold filaments of his hair, to his classic features, to the lines of his perfect body. And hedcalmed down. His expression was rapt and uplifted, the serenity only marred by what looked likeconcern for her.Now, he said. Im sorry if all this scared you. New things are like that sometimes-they seem repulsivejust because theyre different. But we wont talk about that now, he added, as Gillian caught ashuddering breath. The important thing is that I wasnt trying to hurt you. His eyes seemed to grow evenmore intense, pure violet flame.Gillian hiccupped. But-you-I could never hurt you, Gillian. Because, you see, were soulmates.He said it with the weight of a monumental revelation. And although Gillian had no idea what it meant,she felt an odd quiver inside, almost of recognition.Whats that?Its something that happens with people who belong to the Night World. It means that theres only onelove for everyone who exists. And when you meet that love, you know them. You know you were meantto be together, and nothing can keep you apart.It was true. Every word seemed to resonate inside Gillian, ghost off ancient, hidden memories. Thiswas something her ancestors had known.Her cheeks had dried. Her hysteria was gone. But she felt very tired and very bewildered.But if thats true She couldnt put the thought together.Dont worry about it right now. Angels voice was soothing. Well talk about it later. Ill explain what itall means. I just wanted you to know that I would never hurt you. I love you, Gillian. Dont you realizethat?Yes, Gillian whispered. Everything was very foggy. She didnt want to think, didnt want to considerthe implications of what Ang el was saying.She just wanted to get home.Relax and Ill help you drive, Angel said. Dont worry about anything. Its all going to be all right.

A Comparison of the Influential Role of the Chorus in Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Medea

A comparison of the prestigious subroutine of the chorus line in Sophocles Antigone and Euripides Medea It has been said by catnap Hill, Think twice before you speak, because your words and fascinate will purposet the seed of either success or failure in the mind of some other. This has been put to use in the plays Antigone by Sophocles and Medea by Euripides. The chorus which was an integral part of ancient Greek drama was apply in the dramas to play an influential role. However, the group they mainly influenced contrasted and thus will be explored in the essay.The chorus in Antigone is composed of Theban men who were summoned by the newly crowned great power Creon. Its inter spellion was mainly with Creon. Sophocles has shown a relation between the chorus and Creon, both(prenominal) being former(a) and wise men of Thebes. They are introduced rejoicing the victory of Thebes everywhere Argos. As the play develops they get actively involved commenting on every action and de cision of the main actors. Its support wavers from Creon to Antigone during the course of the play. The women of Corinth formed the chorus in Eurpides Medea. They chiefly pay heedd as a commentator to the play.Euripides has shown a relation between the chorus and the character they interact the most, Medea, as both belonged to the group of women living in the male-dominated society. The involvement of chorus has been minimized afterward Medea asks them not to interfere in her action of revenge towards Jason. The chorus looking at sympathetic towards Medea gives her their consent on the future happenings in the play, I will. You are right to take revenge on your husband. Being women and able to understand Medeas miseries, the chorus was moved to such an finish that they supported Medea, a foreigner to their land in killing the daughter of their ruler.This shows them primarily as women before good subject of Creon. Both Sophocles and Euripides eat used the chorus to influence t he audience. They have conveyed emotions the writer wants the audience to feel for the proceedings of the play. The chorus has likewise been used to influence the minds of the actors. The chorus in Antigone has little role in influencing the emotions of the audience. They enter the play and introduce Creon to the audience also creating a doubt in the mind of the viewers of his immediate plans which made him call the old Theban men.The chorus is also given the responsibility of informing the viewers of the status of Ismene over her sister being caught denying the law. They introduce Ismene as, Here comes Ismene from the palace, Shedding a fond sisters tears. Her face is flushed This is different from what was observed in the opening look where Ismene besides refusing to help Antigone with the burial also warned her of the consequences of her act leading to Antigone telling her, you will earn my hatred .While Creon and Haemon are fighting over Creons decision of executing Antigone, Haemons fiancee, the chorus justifies both their points for the audience. The play ends with chorus last words with the message the writer has tried to convey through the drama. The chorus takes its responsibility of burying the dead while propagating the grandeur of wisdom. They also criticize Creons pride and arrogance associating with Zeus hatred towards boasts of a proud tongue . The chorus in Medea in the start scene provokes the feeling of sympathy towards Medea from the audience when they say, I dont like the family suffering.I sympathise with them. This conveys the thought to the audience that the society is sympathetic towards Medea thus she indeed has been done great wrong by Jason. Further in the play when Creon banishes Medea and her sons from the kingdom and gives them only one day in Corinth, the chorus enlightens the audience of the troubles she faces after being banished from the land which gave her refuge. This increases the sense of sympathy from the audience t owards Medea. The chorus emphasizes, What an impassable sea of troubles, Medea, God has launched on you Later in the play when Medea confides about her plan of killing Jasons new wife, the chorus accepts her decision and supports her completely in taking her revenge. But when Medea tells them that she is also planning to kill her sons to punish Jason, the Chorus reacts in a way the audience should have as only it, the chorus and the audience know about her plans, Since you have confided this to us We want to help you, tho we cant reject The laws of human life. We say, Dont do this The chorus also shows curiosity when Medea goes inside her house to kill her sons.The same feeling would have developed among the audience to know whether she is actually committing the sin. The chorus in Antigone also plays the major role of influencing the decisions of Creon and making Antigone realize her mistake. After listening to the pathfinder about the burial of Polyneices, the chorus, superstit ious in nature proclaim suggest Creon, Lord, all this time my thoughts have been saying that this king be the work of the gods This was the first attempt of the chorus to influence Creon to take back his decision of not giving Polyneices a respectful burial.However, this was only responded with anger by Creon who warned the chorus that they might prove it insane and senile as the Gods will not give an honorable burial to the person who came to burn their temples and pillars. Creon had decided to prosecute Ismene along with Antigone they was whence the chorus who questioned him about Ismene who was not involved in the burial leading to a change in mind and Ismene being set free. The chorus and Antigone have a long conversation after Antigone is declared to be hanged. The chorus informs her that she departs from the world with a glorious death.When Antigone compares herself to the Gods, the chorus informs her that she has not resembled the goddess Niobe in her life entirely they is honorable for her to die like gods. The chorus press on her that she is at fault as she defied the royal orders and make Antigone reflect on the curse on her family regarding marriages. First, her mother married her son, followed by her death just before her marriage. The prophecy by Teiresias leaves a doubt in Creons mind and they are the chorus who give her the advice to Go and free the girl from her cell of rock, and set up a tomb for him who lies unburied. Creon takes this advice and he rushes to the place of Antigones assassination. Hence, a strong influence of the Theban men can be seen on the main characters of the play Antigone. The influence of the chorus in Medea over the characters is negligible as the women only serve as commentators over every action and decision. The chorus attempts to influence Medea not to kill her sons when she confides her plan to them. However, Medea turns down their advice without much consideration. This shows the negligible impact of the choru s on the character.Both the plays were written in ancient Greek times when the society was dominated by men. As the chorus of Antigone consisted of men, they had an active role in the play, their advice was sought, their opinions were comprehend and they were respected. On the other hand, the chorus of Medea consisting women played a passive role talking to itself and the audience most of the times. Their interruptions in conversations were ignored by the other characters. They also portrays the feministic views of Euripides.They sympathized with Medea and supported her in her decision to avenge Jason for betraying her. They condemned men, who are unfaithful to the wives, a thought common in most women. Therefore, while in Antigone, the chorus has a major influence on the actors, the chorus of Medea mainly influences the audience. Sources referred http//ancienthistory. about. com/od/greekliterature/a/GreekTheater_4. htm http//www. sparknotes. com/drama/antigone/characters. html htt p//www. shmoop. com/medea/themes. html http//www. shmoop. com/antigone-sophocles/themes. html

Good and Bad Dams

Latin America and Caribbean Region sustainable increase Working constitution 16 Good Dams and Bad Dams Environmental Criteria for invest Selection of Hydroelectric Projects nary(prenominal)ember 2003 George Ledec Juan David Quintero The dry field Bank Latin America and Caribbean Region Environmentally and Socially Sustainable learning De branchment (LCSES) Latin America and the Caribbean Region Sustainable Development Working Paper No. 16 Good Dams and Bad Dams Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects November 2003George Ledec Juan David Quintero The globe Bank Latin America and the Caribbean Region Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development empyrean Management Unit George Ledec has worked with the World Bank since 1982, and is presently Lead Ecologist for the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Unit (LCSES) of the World Banks Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office. He specializes in the environmental assessment of breeding proposes, with particular focus on biodiversity and related conservation oncerns. He has worked capaciously with the environmental aspects of butchs, roads, inunct and heavy weapon, forest management, and saved atomic outcome 18as, and is one of the main authors of the World Banks Natural Habitats Policy. Dr. Ledec earned a Ph. D. in Wild bestow Resource Science from the University of California-Berkeley, a Masters in open Affairs from Princeton University, and a Bachelors in Biology and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.Juan David Quintero joined the World Bank in 1993 and is presently Lead Environmental Specialist for LCSES and Coordinator of the Banks Latin America and Caribbean Quality Assurance Team, which monitors compliance with environmental and favorable safeguard policies. He specializes in environmental assessment of infrastructure casts, mainly roads, hydro military unit, oil and gas, urban transport, and piddle supply and sanitation. He h as slangd the Regional Award from the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) for promoting mitigatements in environmental come to assessments passim Latin America.He is a civil engineer with postgraduate degrees in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions in this document be those of the authors, and should not be attributed in any stylus to the World Bank, its affiliated organizations, members of its Board of Executive managing directors, or the countries they represent. This working paper series is produced by the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Sector Management Unit of the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office. Additional copies may be obtained from the authors or from LCSES Program Assistant Peter Brandriss (emailprotected rg, or tel. 1-202-473-9379). C everywhere photos (clockwise from fastness left) Loksop Dam, South Africa Guavio Dam, Colombia Yacyreta Dam, Argentina/Paraguay Al l photos by George Ledec ii Contents Acknowledgments .. iv Foreword .. v Executive Summary ii incoming 1 unfavourable Environmental Impacts of Hydropower Development 3 Key indexs of Likely Environmental Impacts .. 9 Overview of Environmentally Good and Bad Hydroelectric Dam Sites 13 Conclusions .. 5 Bibliography. 17 Tables 1. Hydroelectric Projects inauspicious Impacts and relief Options 4 2. Land Area Flooded and People Displaced in Large Hydropower Projects iii 12 Acknowledgments Doug Mason (consultant) compiled data on to a greater extent than twenty completed Latin Ameri brush aside hydroelectric projects this tuition was in truth profitable in our analysis of environmental and social impacts, moderateness measures, and web site selection criteria.Several current and former World Bank Group staff members provided effective comments and much encouragement, including Alessandro Palmieri, John Briscoe, Teresa Serra, Tony Whitten, Robert Goodland, Tor Ziegler, Warren Va n Wicklin, William Partridge, Maria Clara Mejia, Kristine Ivarsdotter, Mateen Thobani, Salman Salman, and A. J. Glauber. This paper to a fault reflects the helpful comments provided by Dominique Egre and Gaitan Guertin (Hydro-Quebec), Jose Goldemberg (World Commission on Dams), and Paul Dulin. Peter Brandriss helped edit and prepare the enunciate for publication. iv ForewordFew types of development projects arouse as much affray as hydroelectric occludes. Their oftentimes serious environmental decametreage has been amply documented within the agone decade. Nonetheless, many countries, in Latin America and worldwide, confide upon hydroelectric dams for a major(ip) portion of their electric power. Electricity remains a key share for improving the watchs of poor people al well-nigh everywhere. In developing countries, rapid urbanization and continued population growth will ensure increase demand for electric power for decades to come, even with the most prospering of demand management and energy efficiency measures.Energy planners in many developing countries are thus likely to continue seeing hydroelectric dams as a promising source of renewable electric power. This report provides weighty advice for substantially reducing the environmental damage from future hydroelectric dams (whether or not they receive World Bank Group financing) through thoroughly project site selection. Although the reports conclusions are drawn primarily from a review of Latin Ameri open fire dams, its innovative methodology for dam site selectionbased on robust environmental and social criteria and straightforward, quantitative indicatorsshould prove useful worldwide.The report as well as helpfully summarizes the environmental mitigation options for the improved mental process of existing hydroelectric dams. As such, this report should be of considerable interest to people implicated in hydroelectric dams, whether at the World Bank, opposite multilateral and bilateral development institutions, government agencies, common soldier energy companies, consulting firms, environmental and some otherwise NGOs, and academia. This report is part of the LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper Series published by the Latin America and the Caribbean Regions Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Sector Management Unit (LCSES).This series seeks to disseminate the results of our analytical and operational work, present preliminary findings, and describe best practices with respect to major sustainable development issues facing the region. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in these papers are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed to the World Bank, members of its Board of Executive Directors, or the countries they represent. John Redwood Director Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Latin America and Caribbean Region The World Bank v Executive SummaryLarge dams vary considerably in t heir perverse environmental and related social impacts. From an environmental standpoint, there are comparatively pricey dams and bad dams. While some king-size dams are relatively merciful, others incur caused major environmental damage. The severity of environmental impacts from a hydroelectric project is largely determined by the dam site. While dams at good sites do-nothing be very defensible from an environmental standpoint, those proposed at bad sites will inherently be highly problematic, even if all feasible mitigation measures are properly implemented.This paper provides a simple, yet robust, methodology for comparing proposed hydroelectric project sites in terms of their expected contradict environmental impacts, and relating these to power propagation benefits. The paper also summarizes the environmental mitigation options for large dams. If properly implemented, these mitigation measures fuck efficaciously prevent, minimise, or compensate for many (though not all) of a hydroelectric projects negative impacts.Nonetheless, the most effective environmental mitigation measure is good site selection, to ensure that the proposed dam will cause relatively little damage in the first place. The paper presents quantitative indicators (using data that are relatively idle to obtain) for rating and circleing proposed new hydroelectric projects in terms of their likely obstinate environmental impacts. Projects with a small informant surface domain (relative to power generation) tend to be most desirable from twain an environmental and social standpoint, in part because they play down rude(a) habitat disadvantagees as well as resettlement needs.In general, the most environmentally benign hydroelectric dam sites are on upper tributaries, while the most problematic ones are on the large main stems of rivers. Power expansion readying should ensure that environmental criteria, of the type outlined in this paper, are given appropriate weight in h ydroelectric project site selection. Many of the to a greater extent problematic dam sites are best left undeveloped, because the environmental or related social impacts are likely to be unacceptably high. In those cases, other power generation technologies are likely to be more environmentally desirable.Conversely, hydroelectric dams at good sites (with relatively low wayward impacts) and with effective capital punishment of proper mitigation measures are likely to be more attractive from an environmental standpoint than the most likely power generation alter inborns. vii Introduction 1. Large hydroelectric dams are among the most controversial of all types of development projects. They have been the focus of much criticism of the World Bank and other international financing agencies. The large dams debate is oftentimes highly polarized.Critics of large hydroelectric projects point to a wide range of negative environmental and related social impacts, from the destruction of uni que biodiversity to the displacement of vulnerable human populations. Defenders of large dams note that they are often the economically least-cost source of electric power available, peculiarly to large urban centers they are a renewable electrical energy source and most other power generation technologies also imply significant adverse environmental impacts. 2.Worldwide, many countries rely upon hydropower for a substantial portion of their electricity. In developing countries, rapid urbanization and continued population growth will ensure increased demand for electric power for decades to come, even with the most successful of demand management and energy efficiency measures. Electricity remains a key ingredient for improving the lives of millions of poor people throughout the developing world. Energy planners in many countries are likely to continue seeing hydroelectric dams as a promising, renewable source of electricity.Major recent international initiativesincluding the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002), World Water Forum (Kyoto, 2003), World Commission on Dams (1997-2002), and the ongoing Dams and Development Project of the United Nations Environment Programhave reaffirmed the commitment of many governments and international agencies (including the World Bank) to hydropower development, but in a manner which fully reflects modern environmental concerns. 3. In this context, it is eventful to remember that all large hydroelectric dams are not alike.Large hydroelectric projects vary tremendously in the extent of their adverse environmental and related social impacts. (In this paper, we define large hydroelectric dams as those with 10 megawatts or more of installed generating capacity, to distinguish them from small or micro-dams which mother power on a smaller scale. ) For example, the 500megawatt Pehuenche Hydroelectric Project in Chile flooded simply about 400 hectares of land (with minimal damage to forest or wildlife reso urces) and has had no peeing quality problems.By contrast, the Brokopondo Dam in Suriname inundated about 160,000 hectares of biologically valuable tropical rainforest and is known for serious water quality and aquatic weed problems, while providing relatively little electric generating capacity (only 30 megawatts). 4. We conducted a review of more than twenty completed hydroelectric dam projects in Latin America, along with several well-known projects from other regions. Our study ready that some large dams are relatively benign, while others have caused substantial environmental and related social damage.This paper provides a methodology for easily comparing proposed hydroelectric project sites in terms of their expected adverse environmental impacts, relative to their power generation benefits. The practiced criteria and quantitative indicators in this paper should be viewed as complementary to 1 2 LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No. 16 the broader and often more pro cess-oriented advice of other recent reports on dams, including the 2000 Dams and Development report of the World Commission on Dams.This papers recommendations are fully compatible with the World Banks Water Resources Sector Strategy, although this paper provides more technical detail regarding specific environmental impacts, mitigation options, and site selection criteria. perverse Environmental Impacts of Hydropower Development 5. The range of adverse environmental and related social impacts that can result from hydroelectric dams is remarkably diverse. While some impacts lapse only during kink, the most grievous impacts usually are payable to the long-term existence and operation of the dam and author.Other significant impacts can result from complementary civil works such as nark roads, power transmitting lines, and quarries and borrow pits. Table 1 summarizes the adverse environmental and social impacts associated with dams and reservoirs, along with the typical kinds of mitigation measures often proposed (and, less often, effectively implemented). 6. Our analysis indicates that with properly implemented mitigation measures, many of the negative environmental and related social impacts of hydroelectric projects can be reduced to very acceptable levels.As outlined in Table 1, mitigation measures can effectively prevent, minimize, or compensate for most adverse impacts, but only if they are properly implemented. In our review of Latin American hydroprojects, we found wide sportsman in the extent to which environmental mitigation measures were planned, budgeted, and actually implemented. 7. Moreover, for some types of negative impacts, at some project sites, the available mitigation measureseven when properly implementedare inherently unsatisfactory.Examples of adverse environmental impacts which occur at some hydroelectric projects and cannot be fully mitigated include (i) irreversible biodiversity loss, if critical natural habitats not occurring elsewhere are submerged (or left dry) by the dam (ii) fish passage facilities frequently cannot restore the pre-dam ecological balance of a river, in terms of species composition or fish migrations and (iii) some cultural property (including consecrated sites) cannot be adequately salvaged forward to reservoir inundation. 8.Thus, because mitigation measures are often not fully implemented, and are sometimes inherently inadequate, the single most important environmental mitigation measure for a new hydroelectric project is good site selection, to ensure that the proposed dam is will be largely benign in the first place. In the following summary of typical adverse environmental impacts and corresponding mitigation options, it is important to keep in mind that all these types of impacts can be either avoided or minimized through good project site selection. 3 4Note All of these impacts can be avoided or minimized by good dam site selection, the single most important environmental mea sure. Environmental Impacts Mitigation Options Impacts of the Dam and rootage Flooding of Natural Habitats Some reservoirs permanently flood extensive natural habitats, with local and even worldwide extinctions of animal and plant species. Very large hydroelectric reservoirs in the tropics are especially likely to cause species extinctions (although such losses are only infrequently documented due to the lack of scientific data).Particularly hard-hit are riverine forests and other riparian ecosystems, which naturally occur only along rivers and streams. From a biodiversity conservation standpoint, the everyday natural habitats lost to flooding are usually much more valuable than the aquatic habitats created by the reservoir. One occasional exception to this rule is that modify reservoirs in dry zones can provide a permanent oasis, sometimes important for migratory waterfowl and other terrestrial and aquatic fauna.To offset the loss of natural habitats to reservoir flooding or o ther project components (such as borrow pits), one or more compensatory protected areas can be schematic and managed down the stairs the project. If an existing area is protected on paper only, a useful project option is to strengthen its onthe-ground protection and management. The area protected under the project should ideally be of comparable or greater size and ecological quality to the natural area lost to the project.Under the World Banks Natural Habitats Policy, hydroelectric and other projects should not be sited where they would cause the significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats that do not occur elsewhere (and, hence, cannot be adequately compensated). Loss of Terrestrial Wildlife The loss of terrestrial wildlife to drowning during reservoir filling is an inherent consequence of the flooding of terrestrial natural habitats, although often treated as a separate impact. Although they may be useful for public relations purposes, wildlife rescue eff orts rarely succeed in restoring wild populations.Instead of drowning, the captured and relocated animals typically starve, are killed by competitors or predators, or fail to reproduce successfully, due to the limited carrying capacity of their new habitats. Wildlife rescue is most likely to be justified on conservation grounds if (a) the species rescued are globally threatened with extinction and (b) the relocation habitat is ecologically suitable and effectively protected. However, the specie spent on rescue would usually do much more for wildlife conservation if it were invested in compensatory protected areas.The most effective way to minimize wildlife mortality in hydroelectric projects is to choose dam sites which minimize the wildlife habitat flooded. LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No 16 Table 1. Hydroelectric Projects Adverse Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Options Environmental Impacts Mitigation Options Involuntary Displacement Involuntary displacement o f people is often the main adverse social impact of hydroelectric projects. It can also have important environmental implications, such as with the conversion of natural habitats to accommodate resettled rural populations.For personal displacement, the main mitigation measure is the resettlement of displaced populations, including new housing, replacement lands, and other material assistance, as needed. Success usually requires consultation and participatory decisionmaking by both the resettled and army populations (mandatory for World Banksupported resettlement). Effective resettlement of vulnerable ethnic minorities is particularly challenging because some of these people are highly vulnerable to adverse social changes.Accordingly, the World Banks Involuntary Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples policies afford special consideration to these populations, specifying that, among other requirements, all viable alternative project figs should be explored before considering physical displacement for these groups. For people who are not physically displaced but suffer an economic loss of livelihoods (based on fisheries, agricultural or grazing lands, river-edge clay for brick and tile production, or other resources), mitigation measures should involve the provision of replacement resources, new job training, or other income restoration assistance, as needed.Deterioration of Water Quality The damming of rivers can cause serious water quality deterioration, due to the reduced oxygenation and dilution of pollutants by relatively dead(a) reservoirs (compared to fast-flowing rivers), flooding of biomass (especially forests) and resulting underwater decay, and/or reservoir social stratification (where deeper lake waters lack oxygen).Water pollution control measures (such as sewage treatment plants or enforcement of industrial regulations) may be needed to improve reservoir water quality. Where poor water quality would result from the decay of flooded biomass, selecti ve forest clearing within the impoundment area should be completed before reservoir filling. Downriver Hydrological Changes These adverse impacts can be minimized through careful management of water releases.Objectives to consider in optimizing water releases from the turbines and spillways include adequate downriver water supply for riparian ecosystems, reservoir and downriver fish survival of the fittest, reservoir and downriver water quality, aquatic weed and unhealthiness vector control, irrigation and other human uses of water, downriver flood protection, recreation (such as whitewater boating), and, of course, power generation. From an ecological standpoint, the ideal water release pattern would usually well-nigh mimic the natural flooding regime (although this may not be feasible for densely settled floodplains where flood protection is a high priority).Dams that generate baseload electricity are typically more capable of replicating near-natural downriver flows than those that produce peaking power (where daily water releases may fluctuate sharply, often to the detriment of aquatic organisms that are adapted to less frequent flow changes). Environmental management plans for hydroelectric projects should specify environmental water releases, including for dams owned or operated by the private sector. Good Dams and Bad Dams 5Major downriver hydrological changes can destroy riparian ecosystems mutually beneficial on periodic natural flooding, exacerbate water pollution during lowflow periods, and increase brine intrusion near river mouths. Reduced repository and nutrient loads downriver of dams can increase river-edge and coastal erosion and damage the biological and economic productiveness of rivers and estuaries. Induced desiccation of rivers below dams (when the water is diverted to another portion of the river, or to a different river) kills fish and other fauna and flora dependent on the river it can also damage agriculture and human water sup plies.Mitigation Options Water-Related Diseases Some infectious diseases can spread around hydroelectric reservoirs, particularly in warm climates and densely populated areas. Some diseases (such as malaria and schistosomiasis) are borne by water-dependent disease vectors (mosquitoes and aquatic snails) others (such as dysentery, cholera, and hepatitis A) are spread by contaminated water, which frequently becomes worse in stagnant reservoirs than it was in fast-flowing rivers.Corresponding public health measures should include preventive measures (such as awareness campaigns and window screens), monitoring of vectors and disease outbreaks, vector control, and clinical treatment of disease cases, as needed. Control of floating aquatic weeds (see below) near populated areas can reduce mosquito-borne disease risks. fish and Other aquatic Life Hydroelectric projects often have major effects on fish and other aquatic life. Reservoirs positively need certain fish species (and fisheries) by ncreasing the area of available aquatic habitat. However, the net impacts are often negative because (a) the dam blocks upriver fish migrations, while downriver passage through turbines or over spillways is often unsuccessful (b) many riveradapted fish and other aquatic species cannot survive in artificial lakes (c) changes in downriver flow patterns adversely affect many species, and (d) water quality deterioration in or below reservoirs (usually low oxygen levels sometimes gas super-saturation) kills fish and damages aquatic habitats.Freshwater molluscs, crustaceans, and other benthic organisms are even more sensitive to these changes than most fish species, due to their limited mobility. Management of water releases may be needed for the survival of certain fish species, in and below the reservoir. Fish passage facilities (fish ladders, elevators, or trap-and-truck operations) are intended to help migratory fish move upriver past a dam they are usually of limited effectiveness for various reasons (including the difficulty of ensuring safe downriver passage for many adults and fry).Fish hatcheries can be useful for maintaining populations of native species which can survive but not successfully reproduce within the reservoir. They are also often used for stocking the reservoir with economically in demand(p) species, although introducing non-native fish is often devastating to native species and not ecologically desirable. Fishing regulation is often essential to maintain viable populations of commercially valuable species, especially in the waters immediately below a dam where migratory fish species concentrate in high progenys and are unnaturally easy to catch.Floating Aquatic Vegetation Floating aquatic vegetation can rapidly proliferate in eutrophic reservoirs, causing problems such as (a) degraded habitat for most species of fish and other aquatic life, (b) improved breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other nuisance species and disease vectors, (c) impeded navigation and swimming, (d) clogging of electro-mechanical equipment at dams, and (e) increased water loss from some reservoirs. Pollution control and pre-impoundment selective forest clearing will make reservoirs less conducive to aquatic weed growth.Physical removal or containment of floating aquatic weeds is effective but imposes a high and recurrent expense for large reservoirs. Where compatible with other objectives (power generation, fish survival, etc. ), occasional drawdown of reservoir water levels may be used to kill aquatic weeds. Chemical poisoning of weeds or related insect pests requires much environmental caution and is usually best avoided. LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No 16 Environmental Impacts (table continues on following page) 6 Table 1.Hydroelectric Projects Adverse Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Options (continued) Environmental Impacts Mitigation Options Loss of Cultural keeping Cultural property, including archaeological, histori cal, paleontological, and religious sites and objects, can be inundated by reservoirs or destruct by associated quarries, borrow pits, roads, or other works. Structures and objects of cultural interest should undergo salvage wherever feasible through scientific inventory, careful physical relocation, and financial support and storage in museums or other appropriate facilities.However, it is often not possible to replace the loss of, or damage to, unique or sacred sites which may have great religious or ceremonial significance to indigenous or other local people. Reservoir Sedimentation Over time, live storage and power generation are reduced by reservoir sedimentation, such that much of some projects hydroelectric energy might not be renewable over the long term. If effectively implemented, watershed management can minimize sedimentation and extend a reservoirs useful physical life, through the control of road construction, mining, agriculture, and other land use in the upper catc hment area.Protected areas are sometimes established in upper catchments to reduce sediment flows into reservoirs, as with the Fortuna Dam in Panama and the proposed Rio Amoya (Colombia) and Nam Theun II (Laos) projects. Aside from watershed management, other sediment management techniques for hydroelectric reservoirs may at times be physically and economically feasible they include, among others, upstream check structures, protecting dam outlets, reservoir flushing, mechanical removal, and increasing the dams height.Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gas releases from reservoirs can be reduced by a thorough salvage of commercial timber and fuelwood, although frequently this does not happen because of (a) high extraction and transportation costs, (b) merchandise constraints, or (c) political and economic pressures not to delay reservoir filling. The surest way to minimize greenhouse gas releases from reservoirs is to choose dam sites that minimize the flooding of land in general, and fore sts in particular. table continues on following page) Good Dams and Bad Dams 7 Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) are released into the atmosphere from reservoirs that flood forests and other biomass, either slow (as flooded organic matter decomposes) or rapidly (if the forest is cut and burned before reservoir filling). Greenhouse gases are widely considered to be the main cause of human-induced global climate change. Many hydroelectric reservoirs flood relatively little forest or other biomass.Moreover, most hydroprojects generate sufficient electricity to more than offset the greenhouse gases which would otherwise have been produced by burning fossil fuels (natural gas, fuel oil, or coal) in power plants. However, some projects which flood extensive forest areas, such as the Balbina Dam in Amazonian Brazil, appear to emit greenhouse gases in greater amounts than would be produced by burning natural gas for many years of comparable electricity generation. Mitigation Op tions Impacts of Complementary Civil Works Access RoadsNew access roads to hydroelectric dams can induce major land use changes particularly deforestationwith resulting loss of biodiversity, accelerated erosion, and other environmental problems. In some projects (such as Arun II in Nepal), the environmental impacts of access roads can greatly exceed those of the reservoir. The siting of any new access roads should be in the environmentally and socially least damaging corridors. Forests and other environmentally sensitive areas along the chosen road corridor should receive legal and on-the-ground protection.Road engineering should ensure proper drainage, to protect waterways and minimize erosion. Environmental rules for contractors (including penalties for noncompliance) should cover construction camp siting, gravel extraction, waste disposal, avoiding water pollution, worker behavior (such as no hunting), and other construction practices. See Ledec and Posas (2003) for details. Powe r Transmission Lines Power transmission line rights-of-way often reduce and fragment forests indirectly, they occasionally facilitate further deforestation by improving physical access.Large birds are sometimes killed in collisions with power lines, or by electrocution. Power lines can also be aesthetically objectionable. Power lines should be sited to minimize these concerns and built using good environmental practices (as with roads). In areas with concentrations of vulnerable bird species, the top (grounding) wire should be made more visible with plastic devices. Electrocution (mainly of large birds of prey) should be avoided through bird-friendly tower design and proper spacing of conducting wires.Quarries and Borrow Pits Quarries and borrow pits are used to provide material for construction of the dam and complementary works. They can considerably increase the area of natural habitats or agricultural lands that are lost to a hydroelectric project. To the greatest extent feasibl e, quarries and borrow pits should be sited within the future inundation zone. Where this is not feasible, the pits should be rehabilitated after use, ideally for conservation purposes such as wetland habitats. Impacts of Induced DevelopmentAssociated Development Projects Hydroelectric dams often make possible new development projects with major environmental impacts, including irrigation, urban expansion, and industrial facilities (due to new water supplies). New development projects should be planned to minimize adverse environmental and social impacts. Environmental impact assessment studies should be carried out in the early stages of project cooking the resulting environmental mitigation plans should be fully implemented. Additional DamsThe construction of the first dam on a river can make the subsequent construction of additional dams more economical, because flow regulation by the upriver dam can intensify power generation at the downriver dam(s). The environmental impact a ssessment study for the first dam on any river should include a additive environmental assessment of the likely impacts of proposed additional dams on the same river system. Implementation of mitigation measures for cumulative (rather than dam-specific) impacts should be completed or well underway prior to construction of the second dam on the river. LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No 16Environmental Impacts 8 Table 1. Hydroelectric Projects Adverse Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Options (continued) Key Indicators of Likely Environmental Impacts 9. Before a dam site is chosen (with a project-specific environmental impact assessment), sector-level environmental analysis can rank potential sites according to their degree of environmental desirability. A sectoral environmental assessment (SEA) should be carried out prior to making major power sector planning decisions, especially in the comparison of hydroelectric and other power generation (and demand management) alte rnatives.However, even without a detailed SEA, it is possible to carry out a simple environmental and ranking of different hydropower sites using basic, often readily available technical data. There exist various quantitative, easily calculated indicators that can be used to estimate the extent of adverse environmental impacts for any proposed hydroelectric project. 10. This paper presents 13 quantitative, easily calculated indicators that we consider especially useful for hydroproject site selection from an environmental standpoint. These indicators have high predictive value for likely adverse environmental (and related social) impacts.The first nine indicators (AI) use information that is normally easy to obtain from basic dam planning data, even without a separate environmental study. The other four indicators (JM) are also very important in the environmental comparison of alternative dam sites, but involve data that may require further environmental (or resettlement) study to o btain. Indicator A (hectares of land inundated) is perhaps the single most useful one in predicting the degree of environmental damage, because this indicator is positively correlated with many of the others.From a social standpoint, the number of people requiring resettlement (Indicator J) is an especially important. A. Reservoir Surface Area 11. The area flooded by the reservoir is a strong deputy variable for many environmental and social impacts (Goodland, 1997). A large reservoir area implies the loss of much natural habitat and wildlife and/or the displacement of many people. Very large reservoirs are typically in the lowlands (often with tropical disease and aquatic weed problems) and usually impound larger rivers (with more fish and other aquatic species at risk).A very useful measure of environmental costs relative to economic benefits is the ratio of inundated hectares per megawatt (ha/MW) of electricity it varies by four orders of order for large power projects (see Tab le 2). The global average for all large hydroelectric dams constructed to date (not just those in Table 2) is about 60 ha/MW (J. Goldemberg, pers. comm. ) it would be environmentally highly desirable for this average to be much reduced in future hydroprojects. B. Water Retention Time in Reservoir 12.Mean water retention time during normal operation (the shorter, the better) is very useful in estimating the extent to which reservoirs will have long-term water quality problems. This sort (number of days) is calculated as a function of reservoir volume (cubic meters) and mean river flow (cubic liters per second). 9 10 LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No. 16 C. Biomass Flooded 13. Biomass flooded is calculated in tons per hectare based on the percent cover of different vegetation types in the reservoir area.For good reservoir water quality, dams should minimize flooding of forests (which have high biomass content). Flooding native forests also threatens biodiversity and releas es greenhouse gases. D. Length of River Impounded 14. To conserve aquatic and riparian biodiversity (including riverine forests), dam sites should minimize the length (kilometers) of river (main stem plus tributaries) impounded by the reservoir (measured during high flow periods). E. Length of River Left Dry 15. This measures the kilometers of river left dry (with less than 50 percent of dry season mean flow) below the dam, due to water diversion.The length of dried-up river bed (before the next important downstream tributary) should be minimized, due to the loss of fish and other aquatic life, damage to riparian ecosystems, and disruption of human water supplies, agriculture, and/or fishing. F. Number of Downriver Tributaries 16. The more (major, undammed) tributaries downriver of the dam site, the better, in terms of maintaining accessible habitat for migratory fish, the natural flooding regime for riverine ecosystems, and nutrient or sediment inputs needed for the high biological productivity of estuaries. G. Likelihood of Reservoir Stratification 7. Stratification in a reservoir occurs when the lakes upper zone (epilimnion) is thermally divided from the deeper zone (hypolimnion) the latter becomes stagnant and lacking in dissolved oxygen (anaerobic), thereby unsuitable for most aquatic life. A rapid estimate of stratification tendencies in a reservoir can be obtained with the Densimetric Froude Number (F). F can be calculated as F = 320(L/D)(Q/V), where L = length of the reservoir (meters), D = mean reservoir depth (meters) (for which dam height can be a proxy), Q = mean water inflow (cubic meters per second), and V = eservoir volume (cubic meters). If F is less than 1, some stratification is expected, the severity of which increases with a smaller F. When F is greater than 1, stratification is not likely. H. Useful Reservoir Life 18. Useful reservoir life is the expected number of years before a reservoirs dead storage is completely filled, so that furthe r sedimentation reduces the live storage and curtails power generation. all in(p) storage comprises all reservoir water beneath the level of the intakes for the dams turbines all of the water at or above this intake level is part of the live storage.Useful reservoir life is a function of dead storage and river-borne sediment loads. Useful reservoir life is a good indicator of the relative sustainability of electric power generation it varies from less than ten years before dead storage is filled (such as the Paute Dam in Ecuador) to potentially thousands of years. In general, reservoirs with the longest useful life are relatively deep and situated on rivers with low sediment loads. Maintaining low sediment loads over time typically requires good watershed management. Good Dams and Bad Dams 11 I. Access Roads through Forests 19.Where the risks of induced deforestation are high, project siting should minimize the kilometers of required new or upgraded access roads passing through or near natural forests. J. Persons Requiring Resettlement 20. The number of people physically displaced by hydroelectric projects ranges from zero (e. g. Pehuenche, Chile) to over 50,000 in Latin America (e. g. Yacyreta, Argentina-Paraguay) and well over 1 million in Asia ( deuce-ace Gorges, China). Dam siting should generally seek to minimize the number of individuals or households requiring resettlement from lands affected by the reservoir and complementary civil works.A useful measure for relating resettlement costs to hydropower benefits is the ratio of people displaced per megawatt (Table 2). Because of their usually greater vulnerability to social disruption, it is especially important to minimize the number of indigenous people with traditional land-based models of production who would require resettlement. K. Critical Natural Habitats moved(p) 21. It is important to know the number of sites and hectares of critical natural habitats that would be lost to inundation, borrow pit s, or other project components.Critical natural habitats include existing and formally proposed protected areas, as well as unprotected areas of known high importance for biodiversity conservation. To comply with the World Banks Natural Habitats Policy, hydroelectric projects should not cause any significant loss or degradation of critical natural habitats. On the other hand, some hydroelectric projects imply very important conservation opportunities by providing a strong justification (sediment reduction) and financial resources needed for protecting natural habitats in upper catchment areas.L. Fish Species Diversity and Endemism 22. Fish species diversity is the number of species known from the project area, including the dam and reservoir site, as well as the downstream zone of project influence. Fish species endemism is the number of native species known only from the project area, or the river system where the project is located, and nowhere else on Earth. Dams are environmenta lly less objectionable if they affect rivers with a naturally low diversity and endemism of native fish species.In general, large, lowland rivers in warm (tropical or subtropical) climates have a high diversity of native fish and other aquatic organisms, while small rivers in cold (tropical highland or temperate) climates have relatively low diversity. Large, lowland rivers are also more likely to have significant seasonal fish migrations, which are effectively blocked by most dams. However, highland rivers and streams often have relatively high endemism in their fish fauna, especially if they are isolated from other rivers by waterfalls or other natural barriers.River segments with threatened fish species found nowhere else should be classified as critical natural habitats and, ideally, would receive permanent protection from dams or other potentially damaging civil works. However, dams and reservoirs in upper tributary rivers and streams need not threaten the survival of any endem ic fish (or mollusks, or other aquatic life) if they affect only an insignificant portion of the river area used by these species (see Indicators D and E) they should also be sited so as not to block important fish migrations. M. Cultural Property Affected 23.An indication of the cultural significance of the area to be inundated (or otherwise affected by the project) is the number (by type) of cultural (archaeological, historical, paleontological, or religious) objects or sites. It is important to note whether each type of cultural property at the project site is salvageable (totally, partially, or not at all). 12 LCR Sustainable Development Working Paper No. 16 Table 2. Land Area Flooded and People Displaced in Large Hydropower Projects Project (country) Arun II (Nepal) Pehuenche (Chile) Pangue (Chile) Guavio (Colombia) Tehri (India) Ghazi Barotha (Pakistan)Nam Theun-Hinboun (Laos) Ertan (China) Fortuna (Panama) Chixoy (Guatemala) Grand Coulee (United States) Three Gorges (China) Tarbela (Pakistan) Salvajina (Colombia) Zimapan (Mexico) Itaipu (Brazil/Paraguay) Victoria (Sri Lanka) Kararao/Belo Monte (Brazil) Aguamilpa (Mexico) Betania (Colombia) Urra I (Colombia) Mangla (Pakistan) Bakun (Malaysia) Ataturk (Turkey) El Cajon (Honduras) Ilha Solteira (Brazil) Guri Complex (Venezuela) Salto Grande (Argentina/Uruguay) Nam Theun II (Laos) Arenal (Costa Rica) Yacyreta (Argentina/Paraguay) Tucurui (Brazil) Narmada Sagar (India) Porto Primavera (Brazil)Churchill Falls (Canada) Khao Laem (Thailand) Kedung Ombo (Indonesia) Kainji (Nigeria) Pak Mun (Thailand) Cabora Bassa (Mozambique) Aswan High (Egypt) Nam Ngum (Laos) Sobradinho (Brazil) Kariba (Zambia/Zimbabwe) Balbina (Brazil) Akosombo (Ghana) Bayano (Panama) Kompienga (Burkina Faso) Brokopondo (Suriname) Installed capacity (MW) 402 500 450 1,000 2,400 1,450 210 3,300 300 300 6,494 18,200 3,478 270 280 12,600 210 8,381 960 510 340 1,000 2,400 2,400 300 3,200 10,300 1,890 1,086 157 3,100 3,980 1,000 1,815 5,225 300 29 760 34 2,075 2,100 150 1,050 1,260 250 833 30 14 30 Reservoir rea (hectares) 43 400 500 1,530 4,200 2,640 630 10,100 1,050 1,400 33,306 110,000 24,280 2,030 2,300 135,000 2,270 116,000 13,000 7,370 7,400 25,300 70,000 81,700 11,200 125,700 426,000 78,300 45,000 7,000 165,000 243,000 90,820 225,000 665,000 38,800 4,600 126,000 6,000 380,000 400,000 37,000 415,000 510,000 236,000 848,200 35,000 20,000 160,000 People displaced 775 0 50 4,959 100,000 899 0 30,000 446 3,445 10,000 1,300,000 96,000 3,272 2,800 59,000 45,000 n. a. 1,000 544 6,200 90,000 9,000 55,000 4,000 6,150 1,500 n. a. 5,700 2,500 50,000 30,000 80,500 15,000 0 10,800 29,000 50,000 4,945

Matrix Movie Review

Brad Davies Sociology 1100-1215 a. m. MW 2/20/2010 Swanson Movie Paper 1) In the motion-picture show The Matrix, Keanu reeve stars as a character whose world is based on a futuristic reality. This fact plays the role to why this movie demonstrates social imagination. The bag is that the individuals in the movie have to be awarfaree of their enemies, the machines and dyed intelligence. Social imagination is also expressed through the virtual reality the valet de chambres go into where they have certain advantages that they wouldnt have in the real world.The environment determines the reality of the characters in many ways. In The Matrix, that was created by computers to limit and reduce the human population, reeves character forms a rebellion against the machines with others who escaped the cyber world. When he enters the matrix, he continues his constant struggle with Agent Smith, a virtual character created by the machines to destroy Reeves. These, I believe, are good examples o f the social imagination. ) The deception of this movie is that the future, many movie producers believe, we humans will be at some sort of worldwide war with cardboard intelligence.Along with the characters in the movie, the writers, producers, and directors are the ones who created this deception. The Matrix, which is the fake reality, is created through the minds of the characters by the means of technology. The advancement in technology that the movie portrays is the basis behind the artificial reality. I believe, after viewing the movie, the main characters figure out the difference between fact and fiction by simply going through the metamorphous of the real world and the matrix. I feel that the reality of this movie is the possibility that the future of the humans may indeed involve a conflict with machines, artificial intelligence, and/or the entire cyber world. 3) Yes, I do believe that it is possible to create a separate reality in our minds. People do this every dayligh t through hypnosis.When spate go under and it is said that their conscious minds are released. This is done so that we can escape our very stressful, worrisome, everyday lives. Our minds are eternal and we go through hypnosis, we can explore the unexplored of our inner-conscious. When it comes to create a fake reality like the matrix in our minds and live in it, I dont think its possible, without the help of some sort of machine or computer basis. Im sure some people try to do this, but nothing can compare to the reality portrayed in the movie. )I did like The Matrix, along with the rest of the trilogy, because of the Sci-fi, fictional baseline. It is pretty cool down to think about what it would be like if we could actually hook up to a computer and travel into a different world. This assignment was pretty glib and I really hope that I nailed all the key points and that my examples make sense and go along with the questions. I think the class is going slightly well so far. Cant go wrong with learning new things every day

Green Revolution Essay

Interaction between existence and the environs has always had a great importance in the development of humankind according to Marx, what differentiates humans from other animals is the fact that humans can transform their surroundings to suit their shoots, through labor. The greens transition is not the exception to that. In times of need the human being manipulated its environment to be suitable for its development, however, the question lingers, how efficient was it, how positive?The atomic number 19 Revolution, from 1945 to the portray, was motivated by the need to increase the production of f atomic number 18 to supply for the increasing demand as population grew, to promote national self-sustainability in terms of food for thought. However, during that period the effect of the Revolution have been detrimental to the environment and edict they have damaged agricultural diversity and heritage, damaged the lands, and put at risk food security also, they have widened the g ap between the unfeignedly inscrutable and the very poor, monopolizing the food industry.The Green Revolution originated after an urgent need to promote food security with a growing trend in global population, as a way to promote self-sustainability and independence. As it is clear in the report given by the Food and Agriculture Organization (DOC 2), in the period ranging from around 1929 (great depression) and 1945 (end of World War II) the global food supply index was below the world population. What this means is that there was literally not plenteous food being produced world wide to feed the world population.This struggle of human kind to stay afloat in supplying the minimum of necessity for survival meant that a change needed to occur. The answer, as Dr. Norman Borlaug stated in his Nobel Lecture (DOC 4) was not simply plant more in the ontogenesis nations, since the lands in those atomic number 18as were tired, worn out, depleted of plant nutrientsClearly, what the docu ment summonss is that a new, more effective way of growing food had to be developed. In fact, Dr.Borlaug states that the priority of the developments of the common transmutation concentrated in the millions that were lurked by hunger, a large problematic that clearly was under the spotlight. As a proof that the world was prioritizing the deficient food supply is the statement given by President Harry Truman (DOC 3). President Truman was the leader of the most powerful nation in the world at the time, the unrivaled with the largest technological developments, and his word was the one that would set the course of the world.This particular speech is vital, since it is the inaugural speech, where he was to set the priorities of the goernment and address the world with what the United States had as a course for the future. In this speech, he clearly refers to the shocking figure that more than half the people of the world are living in conditions near misery and says that the United States bequeath help provide technical knowledge to produce more food In the speech President Truman refers often to liberty, thus meaning that self-sustainability will provide freedom.This speech is the perfect example, the jewel of the trend that the world was seeing with regard to prioritizing food. The mention of technical knowledge is vital in the construction of the green revolution as a response to the lack of food, with technological developments in the agricultural field. Some have said that the Green Revolution has been a success in improving the food industry, and improving living conditions for everyone neverthe slight the numbers today reflect a mediocre success.Indian rector for food and agriculture (1964-1967) states in an interview (DOC 5) that the farmers of the state of Punjab competed to use the technology that was introduced by the green revolution the best. It is stated with a positive connotation, as to refer to the great feats of Punjab. This seems very po sitive, however, the most likely reason for this to have occurred is the fact that multinational corporations were kicking them out of the market and they were forced into utilizing the technology that those same corporations were alarming on them.If this were true, which it most likely is, as it has happened in many places around the world, it would discredit the great success that the Green Revolution supposedly is. Furthermore, the claim is that the Green Revolution has brought prosperity, however, to whom, to the ones that were rich already? A perfect example of this negative impact of the Green Revolution is the communion between Mrs. Dula and the UnitedNations official (DOC 6), which gives a not very realistic perspective of the impact of the green Revolution and is concentrated exclusively in the sector of the very rich. This document is indeed preferably revealing, as the speaker is an aristocratic woman of Mexico, probably a housewife who sees the world through the optic of his husband, a man who earns a salary if the revolution which he works for is successful in fact, she is most likely part of one of the clubs she talks about herself.The occasion of this statement is a simple conversation with a UN official, probably at some sort of a social event, where the high class is all joined to bilkher, with perfectly slanted people who are not really analyzing the global impact of the Green Revolution. This document gives a crystal clear proof of how much the Green Revolution has made the rich Mexican farmers richer probably at the expense of making the poor laborers, poorer, however, this document presents only one, very bright demonstrate of view to snitch the revolution.With regards to India once again, socially, they sell the idea of improvement, like in the report of the State of Punjab (DOC 9) where it says that the Green Revolution has seen with it the emergence of middle and rich peasants a very undesirable euphemism to conceal the actual situ ation. This document seems to give a perspective of social growth and development, of a population going for education, yet once again, it seems very idealistic in its tone, when in reality India has totally different conditions.With regards to that, India has one of the largest Gini indexs in the world, meaning a huge social inequality, and has one of the smallest middle classes in the world, which has hurt even more throughout the years, meaning that in reality, India may have had a somewhat positive year, but the general trend is of a very pronounced downturn in social progress, all related to the Green Revolution which is destroying the small farmers. The Green Revolution, in truth has brought more ill than it has brought good, in the environmental and social aspects.Regarding environmental harm, the FAO Wheat Yield report (DOC 1) is very good in demonstrating the introduction of massive scale crops that the Green Revolution brings ahead with it. The introduction of these crop s damages the lands since they are not prone to such production. The graphs show that in both Mexico and India the crop yields were extremely irregular, and as time passed they have stupefy even more, this is due to the fact that they are not proper to those areas and its planting is something totally synthetic and with complete disrespect towards the natural balance.The article by Dr. Vandana shiva (DOC 8) reveals how much damage the crops, especially Genetically Modified Organisms do to the land they are planted in. The reduced genetic diversity, increased vulnerability to pests, soil erosion, irrigate shortages are effect that will leave marked the land for a long time, as Dr. Shiva states, and are a threat to future generations, which will have totally barren land where it will be impossible to plant food. Dr. Shiva also refers to the social problematic that the Green Revolution is planting alongside its seeds.For instance the fight for water to provide irrigation, previously not needed in India, has lead to conflict and violence and as it has become a worldwide trend, the career for water dominance is leading to both local and interstate water conflicts. This clearly shows how disadvantageous the spread of the Green Revolution has been, since it has brought unbounded changes that have not been made responsibly, but rather abruptly, causing enormous damage. Dr.Shiva is an Indian Physicist, and being from India she probably has had a very direct connexion with the Green Revolution, considering that one of its birthplaces was in fact the State of Punjab. In this occasion she is writing for the Ecologist magazine, a publication read by people with primary enkindle in the environmental issues, including organization leaders and maybe politicians who will probably get concerned, especially due to the tone of annoyance and hatred that she employs in the article.Expanding on social implications, the Guatemalan National Coordinating Committee of Indigenous peasants (DOC 10) gives a different perspective. Although it may sound somewhat as mysticism from indigenous people, express that they have contaminated the seeds is not a joke, considering the hormones that can be found in GMO plantations. This also acknowledges a vital issue, the loss of diversity and heritage that society is killing with the systematic Green Revolution trends, like the Mayan traditions, which have been present for five thousand years.Furthermore, the social disaster does not stop there, but stumbles over women, which according to the FAO Newsletter (DOC 7) have been forced to change their job. In this case the implications have made woman, traditionally in other roles, have even less opportunities to succeed, as the increased need for cash income made the woman be forced to work. This implies a social catastrophe since it denies the right of woman to equal opportunities, which are stripped off with the Green Revolution, which makes them simply one more laborer f orced to work.Additional to the information presented in the documents it would be vital to contain the point of view of a small scale male farmer that has to compete with the multinational corporations, which have been installed after the start of the Green Revolution circa 1945. This would be grand since it would show the first hand effects of the monopolies that the Green Revolution has brought, with regards to the social impact it has made, and whether that impact is positive or negative.As discussed throughout the essay, the Green Revolution, which has lasted from 1945 until the present day, was originated with a need to secure food production in a starving world. However its effects were not so positive, since today many starve, and the Green Revolution has damaged the environment and widened the gap between the social classes. The setup of crops that have give no benefit to the places in which they are grown, with complete ignore to the ecological balance that was being des troyed have caused issues ranging from soil erosion to water shortages and crops with pest vulnerability.The Green Revolution has also made the rich farmers richer at the cost of the poor being poorer, since the costs of the new technologies are not easily accessible, but the yields that they provide take the small farmers out of business. In general, although legitimate governments sponsor the Green Revolution and make it seem positive, it has brought about large changes in the way humans interact with the environment, with a generalized destruction of it to get short-term solutions to the problem of food shortages.