Forces that Shaped Women Essay Example for Free

Forces that Shaped Women Essay Indeed, it can be said that what has become of the women of the present day is shaped by forces other than the history. It is easy to discern that the history has been filled with stories of great men and had been mostly the chronicles of the undertakings of the males. Thus, it has focused only on them and their recounting. Also, it could be noticed that even the history, whether it be local or in relation to the international arena, is divided according to the male dominants of that time. They become the stone that reminded everyone of that point in the history. Although, it is not to be taken in general but it is that which prevails. Therefore, with the foregoing statement, it could really be justified that there are forces that shaped women to what they have been now. These forces prove to be more important than the history, which is leaning towards the men, and has not relied solely on the importance of the history but rather, on the other driving forces. What the woman has achieved right now is to be credited to the Women’s Movement. It is the beginning of cooperative efforts that fought against the oppression and the inequality they feel when it comes to gender relations. It was not a bloody revolution as depicted in wars, but a revolution of nobility but still with hardships encountered. The women’s movement started with an afternoon of tea on July 13, 1848. As Elizabeth Cady Stanton was invited with four friends for a cup of tea in New York, their conversations fell into the situation of women with regards to rights and freedom, which sparked the initiative to start a revolution that would end the gender oppression (Eisenberg and Ruthsdotter). This same group of women also organized the convention they called â€Å"A Convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious conditions and rights of woman† (Eisenberg and Ruthsdotter). It was in this convention that the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted and approved by the women attendees, including the right to suffrage (Eisenberg and Ruthsdotter). From these situation, it could be said that legislation and advocacy shaped women. The laws that favored them and also those which oppressed them have contributed much to what they are right now in the society. It may be more or less good that resulted to either uplifting or further depression of the women in the society. Moreover, the women of today, given the right to an education, have the chance to gain knowledge and insights within the academe (Jackson and Jones, p. 4). The wave of feminism has gone over to the institutions to bring about the change needed and to heighten the awareness of the people regarding the state of women (Jackson and Jones, p. 4). Therefore, the academe served as an avenue for the exchange of ideas and the breeding ground for the empowerment of women and served as one of the contributory factors that shaped women to what it is today (Jackson and Jones, p. 4). It is, however, to be noted that the academe only gave the chance to the women who have the capacity and the ability to enter the institution and have formal education. This will narrow down the number of women who can have the chance to reap the fruits of the driving force of women empowerment in the academe. Still, this institution served the purpose of creating an impact to the women. Also, it can be said that the women were shaped by the literature written by the intellects and experts in the field of women studies (Jackson and Jones, p. 5). The ideas of these people have perpetuated the soul and are expected to have an impact on the way the woman are. The existing literature regarding the field in practice and in theory will add up to the knowledge and awareness of women about themselves. More specifically, these theories on feminism created are â€Å"women generating knowledge about women and gender for women† (italics supplied by author) (Jackson and Jones, p. 1). It will also make them more visible and will help in the mainstreaming of women in the different portions of the society. The more literature is written about the women, the greater are the chances, too, of making them more apparent in the society and will make the whole world know that there are actually changes that are happening with the women. Slowly, it will help perpetuate fields which were previously handled by men. In the history, especially with the philosophical thinkers, most of them were men and the ideas they convey are, of course, from the viewpoint of women. The slightest taint of women in their writings is visible, if there are even any. With the help of authors, both men and women, who write about the women, more and more is known and they become incorporated into the scene of the society. Lately, different fields, some are even unexpected, have been involving women and they even succeeded. These fields give women the chance to excel and realize their full potential. Also, the role of the media, through its different mediums, is of great importance to shaping women (Thornham, p. 231). It is the fastest way of communicating to people which made advocacy and exchange of ideas a lot easier and accessible to all. Also, it can highlight the success of women in the different fields and will give an update of how they are faring especially with the issues. However, it could also influence the mindset of the women when it comes to what is expected of them. The current trends in fashion, the role expected by them of the society, the behavior they have to manifest, the attitude, and others of the same kind are being given by media the emphasis it deserves to change the line of though of women. Still, the importance of the history of women can not be totally set aside. It gives out the chronicles of important facts and will serve as a reminder to the women of today. The historical accounts regarding women are, because of their great distinction from men, are being given special shelves in certain libraries. Some also have built their own website to serve as electronic references for greater accessibility. Others may have used other forms such as paintings and other forms of art. All of these are intended to keep the fire burning and to let the people know that there existed such a thing. The books that contained literature about women’s history proves that the women had experienced a colorful and distinct past, which are not included in most ordinary history books. Different fields have their own different history such as that in sports. They highlight how the women evolved to what it currently is. It deserves special attention since books can be found in any library and can easily be located anywhere. Also, not far from the books are those articles about women in the internet. These are made available for those who do not have access to libraries or would simply want to have a faster means of seeing the past of the women. However, it is to be noted that some electronic articles go unchecked before published so it is better to be careful about historical accounts they present. Art can also be used as a very convenient and convincing way of representing women. It can give a figurative representation of women that will most clearly capture the situation of the women in the past and can give a better picture and understanding to those who chose to see it today. Another form where women’s past is represented might be through the movies and documentaries that are being produced through films, nowadays. There is the fact that some people do not have the patience to go through long articles or to identify and capture the meaning of an art. The moving picture can easily and entertainingly give the audience the chance to have a background on what transpired in the past. The history of women should not be gone into oblivion. The entitlements and the benefits enjoyed by the present generation of women are things which should be thanked for and should not be treated as something that came as natural as being born. It is a claim that was made for a long span of time and still is in continuance. Works Cited Eisenberg, B. and Ruthsdotter, M. â€Å"History of the Movement. † Living the Legacy: The Women’s Rights Movement 1848-1998. 1998. National Women’s History Project. 26 September 2007 http://www. legacy98. org/move-hist. html. Jackson, S. and Jones, J. â€Å"Thinking for Ourselves: An Introduction to Feminist Theorising. † Contemporary Feminist Theories. Ed. Stevi Jackson and Jackie Jones. NY, USA: New York University Press, 1998. 1-5. Thornham, S. â€Å"Feminist Media and Film Theory. † Contemporary Feminist Theories. Ed. Stevi Jackson and Jackie Jones. NY, USA: New York University Press, 1998. 231.

OxyContin Essay Example for Free

OxyContin Essay 1. Article Summary: OxyContin and Prescription Drug Abuse The article â€Å"OxyContin and Prescription Drug Abuse† by Inciardi and Goode provides detailed overview of drug problem in the United States. In particular, the authors discuss OxyContin, its prescriptions, diversification and problems which may appear after its using. The authors argue that the patterns of drug abuse has been changed – drugs are emerging and disappearing from drug scene, and it is more difficult for scientists to analyze which drug may cause the most severe addiction. OxyContin was firstly introduced to American market in the very end of 20th century and it was used in pain management. OxyContin is claimed to be unique as it provides patients with long-term relief from heavy pains, especially it is useful for patients who have been suffering from chronic pains for many years. Nevertheless, in the recent years the attitude towards OxyContin has changed as researchers claim it has negative affect on patients’ health causing addiction and increasing abuse potential. However, medical effects are still appreciated. Oxycodone is an active component of OxyContin and it has been used for centuries in pain management. The authors define oxycodone as â€Å"a semi-synthetic narcotic analgesic most often prescribed for moderate to severe pain, chronic pain syndromes, and terminal cancers†. (Inciardi Goode, p.17) Oxycodone is very effective in management pain if it is supervised by physicians. The uniqueness of OxyContin is that it contains aspirin, whereas others oxycodone medications don’t. In such a way, OxyContin is able to lengthen and increase efficiency of oxycodone. Physicians say that OxyContin is able to ensure pain relief for about 12 hours, although it is argued that it may become alleged abuse. Clinical tests show that OxyContin is effective analgesic in patients with moderate and severe pains. Nevertheless, Food and Drug Administration stress that OxyContin carry high abuse risk as it acts similar to narcotic substances. Thus, use of OxyContin should be carefully managed, in particular in patients with higher risk of substance abuse. Additionally, OxyContin is claimed to carry a boxed warning known as ‘black box’. The authors admit that â€Å"although there are several sources of national data on drug abuse that have been operated for decades, the collection of specific data on OxyContin abuse is quite recent†. (Inciardi Goode, p.19) One of the government-sponsored studies shows that drug abuse is higher among high school students, adolescents and young adults. This report dates 1975, whereas OxyContin studies appeared only in 2002. According officially collected data of 2002, it is revealed that about 3-4% of 8th, 12th and 10th graders have used this medication at least one time during the year. One more interesting fact is that the use of Vicodin was significantly higher than that of OxyContin. Medical examination of deaths during the period of 2000-2001 showed that about 950 deaths were related to oxycodone use. Statistic is shocking and the question appears: how can oxycodone be effective and, at the same time, so fatal. About 49% out of 950 deaths were associated with OxyContin abuse – 146 deaths were ‘OxyContin verified’ and 318 deaths were ‘OxyContin likely’. Medical experts argue that the death â€Å"may be a result of overdose induced by a combination of substances, not just the oxycodone itself†. (Inciardi Goode, p.19) OxyContin abuse was firstly reported in rural Maine, and then in Appalachia and Ohio Village. These regions appeared to be at the highest risks as rural areas are more isolated and have less information about addiction effects of oxycondone. Summing up, the authors argue that OxyContin abuse is still on the rise. 2. Two Articles: Compare and Contrast Similar to the article â€Å"OxyContin and Prescription Drug Abuse† by Inciardi and Goode, the article â€Å"Misuse of Pharmaceuticals Linked to More ER Visits† by Donna Leinwand discusses the problem of substance abuse in the United States. Leinwand adds that the problem is worsening because of over-the-counter drugs: â€Å"Overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are sending more people than ever to emergency rooms†. (Leinwand, p.12) However, the primary difference in authors’ positions is that Leinwand defends position that the problem with drug abuse is attributed to pharmaceuticals, whereas Inciardi and Goode argue that people prefer overdosing themselves to manage pain. Leinwand stresses that, according official rates, there were more than 613,000 cases of overdosing cocaine and heroine, whereas the number of improper prescriptions is about 598,000. Inciardi and Goode say that OxyContin is very effective in pain management; although they stress that it is at risk to develop addiction. However, they still recommend OxyContin prescription if it is supervised by professional. In contrast, Leinward argues that it is necessary to prevent drug abuse even if it is effective in pain management by re-shaping and re-evaluating approaching to dealing addictions – firstly, by seeking for new medications with no addiction effects. Pharmaceuticals should be very careful with drug prescription as misuse may result in severe addiction. Both Leinwand and Inciardi and Goode consider hydrocodone and oxycodone as the most common drugs associated with overdose as they are narcotic painkillers. They argue that oxycodone abuse is still on the rise – up to 24% increase in overdose over the past years. Medical use of narcotic painkillers has grown and the authors recommend proper management and finding new effective painkillers with lower addiction risk as â€Å"these are beneficial drugs, and we want people to have access, but these are also substances that can be easily abused†. (Leinwand, p.12) Summing up, both articles are professional, well-developed and properly supported studies of the drug abuse problem in the United States. The authors provide theoretical and practical framework by offering official statistics, opinions of medical experts, etc. These articles set the background for further researches in drug abuse field.

The Social And Cultural Messages In Apocalypto Film Studies Essay

The Social And Cultural Messages In Apocalypto Film Studies Essay When one decides to put history on film, one must be prepared for substantial tradeoffs (Rosenstone 16). Films cannot convey historical events with pinpoint accuracy or with exact detail because films like this do not sell or are not financially practical. As a result, historical films are usually laden with historical inaccuracies that are on one hand emotionally and visually compelling and on the other hand, a distortion of a sense of history for many others. As historical films surrender accuracy for dramatic effect and brevity, historical truths become laced with political or cultural messages advertently or inadvertently placed by the producers of the movie (Christen and Haas viii). So what we have are exciting films backdropped against a real past but projecting a largely imagined one on the screen. Films such as Mel Gibsons Apocalyto have captured significant attention for being both a cultural success and failure at the same time (Grandia). A modern depiction of the great Mayan civilization, Gibson assimilated cinematographic elements to create a chase film that is not a historical document as he said, but a social critique of government tyranny and abuse. The cultural preoccupations reflected in the film was heightened with the Iraq War, which divided American public opinion into camps which supported the war in the name of civilizing Iraqis through the restoration of democracy and those that fought the war because it was an illegitimate war waged against a sovereign people. On a personal level, Gibson was conscious in the film being a critique of the Bush administrations megalomaniac tendencies. However, all throughout the film, Gibsons personal religious convictions and political persuasions were perhaps inadvertently reinforced, causing critics to accuse him of racism and bigotry (Grandia). For all its historical inaccuracies (which Gibson admitted), the film projects American social and cultural realities as it struggles internally to deal with migration, terrorism, and the economic crisis factors that threaten its status in the global hierarchy. Upon a closer look at the film, it is hypothesized that the film reflects Americas struggle with its own national identity in relation to its history of imperialism and militarist culture, race and multiculturalism, and conservative theological roots. This paper addresses how these social and cultural preoccupations are portrayed in the film. Synopsis The story is set at the peak of the Mayan civilization when the nation, suffering from drought and disease, pillaged the surrounding tribes in search of slaves and human sacrifices to the gods. The central character, Jaguar Paw, is a hunter and family man, who along with many others of his tribe were taken captive. He protects his family by hiding them deep in a secluded hole and is subsequently saved from having his heart removed by the coming of a solar eclipse. What further ensues is a dramatic chase for survival as Jaguar Paw and his fellow tribe members were hunted down. He succeeds in killing off his enemies and returns to save his wife and child. However, his survival comes at a time when his tribe is decimated and his life changed forever. Social and Cultural Messages in the Film As earlier hypothesized, while Gibson may not have intentionally done so, several social and cultural messages were reflected in his film. Justifying Colonialism Cultural sensitivity is not a strong feature in Apocalypto. As critics have noted, Apocalyptos inaccurate portrayal of ancient Mayan civilization justifies colonialism on two grounds 1) in order to subdue an extremely barbaric and inhumane culture that sacrifices its population en masse and 2) that the inherent barbarity of Mayan culture itself was enough to see to its destruction, making colonialism a benign historical contribution. Americas preoccupation with empire and national prestige is reflected in this film in strong and subtle terms. The strong reference toward imperialism is illustrated by the brutal subjugation of a peaceful tribe by the strong armed force of the Mayan political center. Jaguar Paws tribe, harmonious and self-sufficient, found its very survival threatened because of the imperialistic ambitions of a more powerful tribe. However, we see that this once-glorious civilization was eventually destroyed. Given Gibsons public declaration of opposition to the Iraq War and how he detested it, his own view may be that the film should embody how perilous the imperialistic ambitions of the U.S. are (Grandia). The eventual annihilation of the Mayan Civilization then was used as a testament and a reminder to Bush and to all of the dangers of bloodthirsty power. Colonialism in this movie was underscored with the arrival of Spanish missionaries off the coast toward the end of the film. The cultural messa ge that could be inferred from this scene is that it was Christianity that actually saved and civilized the bloodthirsty Mayan civilization. This is analogous with Americas own brutal history of subjugating the Native American Indian tribes who were the original settlers of the American continent. Other cultural and political analogies could also be inferred. For instance, Americas preoccupation with policing the whole world and teaching democracy to so-called rogue states to the extent of military occupation is one. Another is Americas preoccupation with exporting the free market ideology to the entire world as the only viable economic system at the expense of developing nations unable to compete with industrialized nations in the world market. The most recent analogy would be the Iraq War, a war not sanctioned by the United Nations but crucial in advancing Americas petroleum interests in the Middle East. Race and Multiculturalism Gibson originally hoped to address Americas insatiable hunger for power by using the downfall of the Mayan civilization as analogy. The problem with this decision is that it reinforced racist epithets and cultural insensitivity. Advocates of multiculturalism strongly disagreed with how racist the film was (Schmidt). When you view the film, with its compelling imagery and graphic detail, one may be bound to conclude that the ancient Mayans were an inherently savage population. Gibsons use of the Yucatec Maya language in telling his version of the demise of the Mayan civilization was effective in giving historical authenticity to the film. Gibsons version of ritual sacrifice in the Maya has been lambasted by more than one historian. The Mayan civilization did not practice mass human sacrifices and when they do practice single human sacrifice, it was not random killing as suggested by the film (Grandia). Hence, the theme that came out of the film was not the critique of empire as Gibson had envisioned, but the emphasis on the barbarity of others, and the need to homogenize culture to conform to a Eurocentric standard (emphasized in the film with the coming of European missionaries). Multiculturalism has taken a hit in the heart of America with the immigration debate. In a bid for greater profits, corporatist interests have banked on tapping cheap immigrant labor, to the discontent of many Americans. A growing number of Americans have protested against the rising tide of immigrants in the country who are out to take their jobs, depress their wages, and contribute to uncontrollable population growth. Greater border security and more stringent immigration regulations have been hotly debated (Honey and Bass 14). Gibsons purported anti-Semitism has made racism an immediate accusation in Apocalypto. He created uproar among the Jewish community in his critically-acclaimed film Passion of the Christ which portrayed graphically how the Jews were the persecutors of Jesus Christ. Having a father who denies the existence of the Holocaust did not help to ease racist accusations in Apocalyto as well. Unfortunately, racism is not only Gibsons cultural preoccupation, but Americas. Despite the triumphs gained by Americas civil rights movement, racism is still very existent today. The global war on terror has heightened racial tensions and fueled Islamophobia and intolerance for other cultures. The most notable public example is fundamentalist pastor Terry Jones who threatened to burn the Koran and proclaimed Islam and the devils religion, despite pressure from top officials and pleas from the White House (Stacy). Moreover, despite having elected the very first Black president in Barack Obama, racism is a ghost that America still confronts. There still remain a substantial number of racially-motivated white groups in America who opposed Obamas election because he is black and who protest against his policies not for their lack of soundness but because is black. Racist Americans are very active in lobbying against legislation promoting racial equality and are unforgiving in their position. Media is populated by right-wing advocates against multiculturalism who are against affirmative action and other civil rights laws (Wallis). Christian conservatism Prominent in the film is the glorification of Christianity at the end of the film. After the viewer undergoes almost two hours of violence and gore nonstop, Spanish missionaries miraculously appear during the last minutes as if to rescue Jaguar Paw and his unfortunate tribe. Although subtle and short in appearance, the message of these scenes is powerful and undeniable. After all, why waste a few minutes of a film on a visually unappealing scene if it does not strike a core message to viewers? The final scene depicts Spaniards aboard the galleons crossing the waters off the coast, bearing crosses. After being convinced of the savagery and barbarity of the Mayans and relishing on how Jaguar Paw saved his wife and child, the sight of Spanish Christian missionaries allow the audience to be relieved. The message is: At last, help has come. God-fearing Christians have come to us. Out of the chaos and destruction of the Mayan civilization, the European missionaries have somehow arrived to make things right and restore peace. That the film ends there does not account for the equally brutal nature of subjugation the Natives endured under colonial rule. Colonialism by the Europeans was portrayed as benign while the internal colonization within the Mayan colonization was tantamount to genocide. The fact that the Spanish decimated almost 95% of the Mayans during their rule was left out (Grandia). The Christian conservatism Gibson injected in the film embodies his own religious convictions. Being a professed devout Catholic, Gibsons view was that the Mayan civilization was annihilated because of their bloodthirstiness and ungodliness. Religion, particularly Christianity, serves as a check against the excesses of power and departure from is perilous. Essentially, Gibson tows the line of religious fundamentalists that all social ills of America today are because it has forgotten its core spirituality. Morality has faded and replacing it has been decadence and wickedness. The film aims to remind America that the social problems it faces now is intertwined with its spiritual and moral struggle. Conclusion Apocalypto aimed to remind that a civilization unable to preserve its long-held traditions, beliefs, and spirituality will face destruction. Gibson inadvertently or advertently drew in Americas issues related to national identity imperialism, race, and Christian morality to serve this purpose. As a historical document, Apocalypto does not meet the accepted standards of accuracy and verifiability (Rosenstone 7). However, it depicts social and cultural preoccupations that America is currently faced with and as a result, triumphs in being a film that inspires and cultivates debate and discussion.

Essay --

The Gettysburg Address In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln was asked to say a few words at the opening of a military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg stood as one of the bloodiest battles in America’s Civil War and the Governor felt that these fallen soldiers needed a better resting place. Lincoln had a problem with the people in his country that happened to be in war fighting against each other for the freedom of blacks, which they currently did not have. When Lincoln came to give his speech he had many people on the edge of their seats listening to him word for word. He takes his time in what he says and chooses his words precisely. Some may not apprehend what Lincoln was actually saying whether they were soldiers or people who were mourning the loss of their family members. He wanted to let the families and armed forces know that he's proud of what they have done; although, he may also be marginally disenchanted since his country is fighting against one another. He reveres the se people no matter what side they are on and hopes for the freedom of slaves whil...

Women and Education Essay -- Educating Female History Argumentative Es

Women and Education An education holds significance to many people for a variety of reasons. For some, it may be the route to a desired career or just the next step after high school. For others, attending a university is a way to increase their awareness of other viewpoints through the exposure to the diverse culture represented on a campus. In evaluating the value and significance of my own education, I reflected on the education of the women of the 19th century. Their outlook on education is somewhat different than ours today because of the fact that it was difficult and rare to be an educated woman during this period. Today we posses the freedom to pursue almost any field available. However, in some instances we face lower salaries and in some cases less respect than men with the same training. Only 16% of college and university presidents and 25% of chief academic officers are women. Chief business officers are 13% women. We must educate and prove ourselves so that our daughters experience greater opportunities than we do as we experienced more than our ancestors because of their hard work. The female gender throughout early history has been characterized as a homekeeper. They were not the bread bearers of the family partially because work was dominated by manual labor. Men were naturally more suited to these jobs due to their superior strength. As time progressed, business progressed. A successful business began to rely on brain power instead of muscle power. Women can participate in this type of work just as efficiently as men. Unfortunately, many of the men and women of this period were reluctant to change the long tradition of women remaining in the home. Therefore, the development of women’s le... ... with expressions of deference† while the â€Å"avenues to which stand ever wide open, yawning like the gates of hell.† To be forced into a day to day activity devoid of you interest is similar to a prison sentence. The frustration of possessing passion for something unreachable fueled the rebellion of the women insisting on making education available. Through my research into the history of developing education for women and making it acceptable, I have come to appreciate it on a different level. My education is not only a result of my hours of studying, but of the people throughout many decades who suffered without the same opportunities I have and faced constant criticisms to do what they choose. What I take away from this university is one of the only things you can count on, knowledge. Knowledge that allows me the freedom to do whatever I choose in life.

Terrorism Essay -- essays research papers

Terrorism and hostage taking may be as old as civilization itself. There are numerous references to abduction throughout Greek mythology. In midievil times hostages were taken for money or a guaranteed safe passage through a country. In the U.S., Indians on the western frontier terrorized settlers to frighten them away. Throughout the twentieth century, up until the 1970’s various terrorist acts were committed, yet it was not as big a problem as it is today. The new age of terrorism dawned at 4:30 in the morning of September 5, 1972. It was then that members of the Palestinian organization Black September attacked the Isreali Olympic team. Three men were killed on the spot and nine were taken captive. The terrorists demanded that 200 of their fellow Arabs be released from Isreali prisons. They also wanted Isreal disbanded and its territory returned to the Palestinian people. The results of the Munich attack were tragic. Following a gun battle between German sharpshooters and t he terrorists, which killed one German policeman, all nine hostages and five of the terrorists were killed by a hand grenade. The events at Munich proved that a single terrorist action, cleverly planned and daringly executed by a small band of people could accomplish as much as the movement of a large army. That is why the Munich attack was the dawn of a new age of terrorism. From the point of view of the terrorists, the main goal of the Munich attack was to draw attention to the Palestinian cause, a goal that was achieved through media coverage. This accomplishment was a lesson that terrorists everywhere were quick to learn. This is widely shown in that the number of terrorist acts has generally risen, with a trend toward bloodier incidents. The accumulation of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians has caused many changes around the world. There have been thousands of instances of terrorism. Just a few statistics can give one the idea of the seriousness of the problem. Robert Cla rke from the National Security Council put it perfectly when he said "organized crime groups now posses such significant resources that they can almost buy and sell governments" (Morrison 6). The Department of defense estimates that as many as 26 nations may posses chemical agents and or weapons and an additional twelve may be seeking to develop them. Between 1970 and 1977, terrorist movements thr... ...at the problem of terrorism. These new policies have clearly changed many routines and spending of money. Programs have been set up, thousands of people have been hired, and billions of dollars have been spent in order to reduce terrorism around the world. In the past decade, over 18,000 individuals in 50 nations gave been trained in counter terrorism. The U.S. alone gas trained more than 19,000 foreign law enforcement officials from more than 80 countries in such areas such as airport security, bomb detection, maritime security, VIP protection, hostage and rescue, and crisis management. The FBI is moving to reassign 500 of its agents to counter terrorism duty. It is also dramatically expanding its presence overseas. Along with hiring thousands of individuals to counter terrorism duty, governments have set up hundreds of programs to help gain intelligence. Anti-terrorism funding has been boosted by one billion dollars in over four years. In 1986, the Counter-Terrorism Center was set up to collect data about and coordinate strategies toward terrorist groups. In 1985, President Reagan set up a cabinet level commission, known as the Vice President’s Task Force on Combating Terrorism.

Fishing Industry

The world’s fisheries are a huge resource that our society has overused and therefore, has caused a decline in fish stocks, which has lead to a world fishery crisis. Fish have been a vital resource for many years and are essential to the lifestyles of many people. It is also a huge economic industry for many countries. Over the past decade, fish stocks have been exploited and we have witnessed a huge decline; fish farms were created as an alternative. The fishing industry is a multibillion-dollar industry and has now created empty nets due to years of overfishing, exploitation, and inhumane fishing techniques. Overfishing is a non-sustainable use of the oceans caused by a degradation of the system due to catching too many fish for the system to support. When too many fish are caught, they cannot sustain their population, which leads to there being no more fish to be caught. Overfishing is caused because of fishing fleets worldwide that are three times larger than needed to sustain our population. â€Å"Over 25% of all the world's fish stocks are either overexploited or depleted. Another 52% is fully exploited; these are in imminent danger of overexploitation (maximum sustainable production level) and collapse. Thus a total of almost 80% of the world's fisheries are fully exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse. Worldwide about 90% of the stocks of large predatory fish stocks are already gone. † (overfishing. org). An example of overfishing is the collapse of the cod fishing industry in Newfoundland in 1992, which collapsed due to the mismanagement of overfishing and fisheries. This lead to the loss of over 40,000 jobs and had a devastating effect on the economy. The cod fishing industry in Newfoundland is still recovering today and will probably never be the same as it once used to be. The reality of modern fishing is that the industry is dominated by fishing vessels that far out-match nature's ability to replenish fish. Giant ships using state-of-the-art fish-finding sonar can pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately. The ships are fitted out like giant floating factories – containing fish processing and packing plants, huge freezing systems, and powerful engine s to drag enormous fishing gear through the ocean. Put simply: the fish don't stand a chance. † (greenpeace. org). Overfishing must be stopped because if it is not, the fish stocks around the world will collapse and the fish that we are used to eating such as Tuna, Cod, Halibut, Swordfish, and Salmon will no longer be available to us and alternatives will have to be sought after. Bottom trawling is a common practice used by most fishing vessels and it is very destructive to the ocean and all of its inhabitants. Bottom trawling is when huge nets are dragged along the ocean floor. These nets have large metal plates to keep the bottom down and have wheels attached to them, crushing almost anything that crosses their path. Bottom trawlers have no care for the environment and destroy deep-sea life forms that take years to recover. Since these nets are dragged along the sea floor, it is hard to manage what is caught. Many unwanted mammals are caught in these nets, which are referred to as bycatch. â€Å"It has been estimated that a staggering 100 million sharks and rays are caught and discarded each year. Tuna fisheries, which in the past had high dolphin bycatch levels, are still responsible for the death of many sharks. An estimated 300,000 cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) also die as bycatch each year, because they are unable to escape when caught in nets. † (greenpeace. org). â€Å"Shrimp trawlers capture the most bycatch, between 2 and 10 pounds of sea life for every one pound of shrimp. All seven species of marine turtle are endangered because each year about 12,000 die as bycatch. † (Desonie 135) Overfishing is terrible for our oceans and for us as humans. Much of the fish caught goes to waste and wasting a valuable resource is extremely dangerous. If overfishing doesn’t stop, fish stocks will become depleted and at the rate we exploit the fish stocks, there is not much time. Marine protected areas or marine reserves have been implemented in some areas to stop fishing when a species becomes endangered. â€Å"Large-scale marine reserves are areas that are closed to all extractive uses, such as fishing and mining, as well as disposal activities. Within these areas there may be core zones where no human activities are allowed, for instance areas that act as scientific reference areas or areas where there are particularly sensitive habitats or species. † (greenpeace. org). These marine reserves are not put in place just to stop overfishing, they are also put in place to protect certain species from water pollution. Marine reserves are very effective and highly significant because they allow the endangered species to start recovery and to try to get back to the stage it was once at. Industrial fishing is not allowed in a marine protected area, and in some, no recreation at all is allowed. The crisis of empty nets that the world; a fishing industry is facing is the fishing industries own doing. Years of uncontrolled and unmonitored fishing have lead to the depletion of many fish stocks around the world. The fishing industry is vital to many people around the world and is a way of life for many and it would be detrimental to the global economy if fish stocks around the world were to collapse. This will happen soon if we don’t stop. Governments need to put more set of laws on fishing to try and stop the overfishing. However, it is hard to stop because most of it occurs in international waters. This is where the United Nations needs to step in and help out. Fishing is great for the economy but the way that the fishing industry operates will only destroy it and turn it into something negative in the end.