...Guerrilla Gardening Guerrilla Gardening, what exactly is that? To those who don’t know what it is. Guerrilla gardening refers to planting and looking after plants on land not owned by the gardeners. What trouble can it cause? Landowners are not big fan of the guerrilla gardeners. They see them as lawbreakers using property, which isn’t their own, and there are often conflicts between them. An other thing the landowners isn’t happy about is the fact that the guerrilla gardeners plant fruit and vegetables, which people can eat from, and that’s of course a threat to the landowners. But it isn’t everybody who thinks guerrilla gardening is a bad thing. Some authorities will sometimes see that a guerilla garden is a good initiative and make it an official garden for the use of the community. Personally I see why the landowners get upset and how it can be a threat to them but I think they’re overreacting. I think guerrilla gardening is a good initiative and guerilla gardeners don’t do it because they want to irritate people. Guerrilla gardeners for example often wish to make a dreary area look better by turning it into a place with greenery and colorful flowers, and by introducing plants they also improve the quality of air, because plants lower the CO2 content. That to me is a great initiative and I see it as a very positive trend in a society. Though sometimes I think guerrilla gardeners should think about where they plant. For instance they shouldn’t plant at places, which...
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...self-preservation. This often results in the suffering of those carrying out their quest for justice. This idea, and the concept that the miscarriage of justice can have long lasting and far reaching effects which can never be fully redressed are thoroughly explored in both the film The Constant Gardener and Ian McEwan’s Atonement, through a range of literary devices and film techniques we can fully understand the impacts of miscarriage of justice. When those that are intent on preventing the course of justice to further themselves, whether financially or otherwise, they may become unrestrained by moral boundaries, which may allow them the mental capability to disregard the wellbeing of other humans. This disregard for welfare of such a vast number of individuals is explored through both texts allowing us to see the way in which the attainment of justice goes hand in hand with human suffering and sacrifice, as those that are determined to subvert justice can be unscrupulous in their attempts so as to further themselves, or to remove themselves from suspicion for their misdeeds. This can lead to extreme maltreatment of individuals that are trying to uphold justice. In the film The Constant Gardener we can see how those attempting to subvert justice can resort to mass manipulation, and violence against those standing in their way. The manipulation, forcing...
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...The film ‘The Constant Gardener’ directed by Fernando Meirelles, I agree, is used as a means to critique our society. The character of Justin Quayle, a British High Commission Diplomat, is used by the director to reflect society. We see this in the beginning of the film where his ignorance leads to a false perception of reality, which highlights the 2 major themes in the film of Truth and Perception and Guilt and Atonement. Justin uses gardening as a means to feed this ignorance, just as society itself uses work, family and other matters to hide from the harsh reality. But as his wife Tessa dies under unusual circumstances it leads Justin into the real world, where the truth can no longer be covered up and he must follow the road to atonement. In an early scene of the film, Justin, like society is consciously removed from reality. Before this scene we are shown wide and establishing shots of Lake Tuitakana in Africa where we see mars-like images of the red sands and bright blue water streaked across the landscape. This scene then fades into the British High Commission Embassy, where there is a complete contrast in colours. We instead get a Wide Shot of the building with dull colours of grey and dark greens and blues. This shot also shows Justin “skiving” as he waters his plants. Although he is in charge of Aid distribution in Kenya, he is choosing to remain in his own perfect world “a world with no weeds”, where he stays in the office and has never once gone outside of the British...
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...The fragmented style of "The Constant Gardener" is the best way to tell this story. It is not a story told where the beginning starts with a mystery and ending at truth, but a circling around an elusive conspiracy. In a remote area of Northern Kenya, the passionate Tessa Quayle, played by Rachel Weisz, has been found brutally murdered. Tessa's travelling companion, a local doctor, appears to have fled the scene and the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members of the British High Commission assume that Tessa's widowed husband, Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), will leave the matter to their discretion. Determined to clear his wife's name and "finish what she started", Justin embarks on a crash course to learn about the pharmaceutical industry, whose crimes Tessa was on the verge of uncovering. The film involves drug companies who test their products on the poor of the Third World and are willing to accept the deaths that may occur because, after all, those people don't count. Why not you might ask, no one is there to count them. Film editing could be called 'film construction' and has been regarded by many as the 'invisible' art behind some of the greatest motion picture sequences of all time. Film editing is a skilled art - the selection and integration of a sequence of shots taken from thousands of feet of film to establish a structure, tempo, mood, or style. Editing a films emotional intention of a scene is not realized: you don't laugh at what was intended to be funny...
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...The Constant Gardener INTRODUCTION Why Fernando Meirelles? Fernando Meirelles’ film is one of a recent batch of Hollywood films dealing with serious issues. In this case the film is a conspiracy thriller, which looks at the involvement of a large pharmaceutical company in testing drugs in Africa. That said, the film is much more, combining a love story, a quest for revenge and expressing real anger about the West’s apparently unchecked exploitation of ordinary African people. The Constant Gardener is an adaptation of a novel by the British writer John le Carré, best known for his tales of spies and Cold War intrigue. Fernando Meirelles seemed an odd choice for director, because of his Brazilian background and the seemingly huge difference between this film and his first feature, the explosive story of a Rio favela, City of God (2003). www.filmeducation.org 1 Mike Newell was the first choice for director, but had already committed himself to the new Harry Potter film, but Meirelles was very interested in the project. He told The Independent, ‘The chance to take on the pharmaceutical industry was one of the three elements that made me want to direct The Constant Gardener, as was the chance to shoot in Kenya. Also, it’s a very original love story about a man who marries a much younger woman who is very different from him, and it’s only after she dies that he truly falls in love with her.’ Meirelles’ Brazilian background gave him a source of empathy with the poverty in...
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...Michael Collins: Terrorist or Patriot? By Carlos E. Ayub Excelsior College CJ350 Kevin Henry Michael Collins: Terrorist or Patriot? Michael Collins was a revolutionary Irishman, a patriot and a dissident, a man whose actions are considered by some to be bravely heroic and others as unsettlingly terrorist. Collins orchestrated much of the political and militaristic provocation that led to the violent escalation of the Anglo-Irish war for independence, and eventually was one of the principal supporters and signers of the treaty that lead to the establishment of the Irish Free State and de-escalation of violence in the region. The widespread characterization of Collins as terrorist is principally derived of his actions and association with the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) which later became the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Sinn Fein. Collins significant political and demonstrative participation in the battle for Irish independence began with the former group when he participated as a volunteer during the Easter Uprising, an action planned to foster support for the Irish cause. These actions comprised the first portion of Collins’ life as a dissident and insurgent. It would be his subsequent involvement in Sinn Fein that would characterize him as a terrorist. Collins participated financially and by procuring weapons to help the organization’s efforts at rebellion. Though these actions alone are not enough to characterize...
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...Brian Scarpaci Hius 308 Final Essay Essay Question Do you believe it is correct to describe an American way of war? If so, has it existed consistently throughout the period covered or has it evolved? If you say it has not existed throughout why not? Before I go into why or why not, it is best to describe the American Way of War? I must first get some definitions and history behind an American Way of War. First off There aren’t no authoritative listing that describe the Way of War.? But there are different perspectives on the American Way of War. One will define it as two major parts tactical way of battle and a strategic way of War. The tactical way of battle is an aggressive style were Us Military uses force to overwhelm the enemy forces, while using quick and decisive victories with minimal causalities. They are well trained in military that uses maneuvers, speed, flexibility, and the element of surprise, which relies upon fire-power and technology as their main. On the Strategic way of war, America seeks more of an independent strategic policy success. “ The strategic way of war also includes alternative national strategies such as deterrence and a war of limited aims.” (keravouri) Weigley who was the pioneer in the book American Way of War in 1973. Described it as “Consisted of a unique American methodology: One of attrition and annihilation.” (Weigley) Also Brian Mcallister Linn describes it one step further with the attrition and annihilation. In the book the...
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...early Europeans as being more of playful in warfare rather than bloody and costly. The Europeans on first sight of a Native battle observed that the Natives would fire their arrows and then look and observe on where it would land. Depending on ideas and conditions, the Native wars among different tribes would at times would consist of low intensity raids, some plunder a few captives and other more less intensive fighting. Some of these low intensity fighting methods among the Native Indian tribes were more of acts of revenge against two rivalry tribes. The Native Indians showed skills in being tactical, strategic, and stealthy. The Europeans were skilled more in battlefield tactics, traditions, and customs rather than the stealthier guerrilla tactics of the Native Indians. Where Europeans relied more on structured tactics as a group or a whole, as in a division, the Native Indians would work more in smaller groups or pacts. Europeans would also shoot mass volleys are what some may say would shoot in the general direction of their enemy while Native Indians were more precise in singling out one target. While the battlefield tactics of the Europeans worked well on a plain battlefield, in a wooded area or an area that had limited space, the Native Indian was more tactical in their skills. Upon the European observation of Native Indians, they soon learned that they were out skilled being that they were in a different territory with different terrain than Europe. Rather than fighting...
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...James C Vincent II Mr. Purkiss English Comp II 6 March 2012 Dulce et Decorum Est is a war poem written by Wilfred Owen. Dulce et Decorum Est means it is sweet and right. Dulce et Decorum Est addressed the issue of how war really is. The poem is known for its horrifying imagery. The song that is similar to this poem is an anti-war song called “War” performed by Edwin Starr. In the 1980s this song explained how some people of the United States felt about the War in Vietnam. The song is now known for the movie Rush Hour. Both of the poem and song address an important issue that many people did not pay attention to. Dulce et Decorum est and the song “War” by Edwin Starr are similar by addressing the stress of the War. The similar elements that they share are the tone, situation and metaphors. Dulce et Decorum Est and the song “War” both have a horrific tone. The tone is used to express a lot of the horrifying situations. In dulce et decorum Est, the line “In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, and drowning” (p4 line2) is explaining what happened after the mustard gas was used in the combat zone. He explains how the person he witnesses is suffering from the gas attack. In the song “War” the tone is used to express his feelings on how the war has affected other people. In the line”War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes when their sons go to fight and lose their lives” (p4 line1) The Vietnam war deployed many solders mostly in...
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...Revolutionary War The Revolutionary War was won by Americans because of their political ties with France due to the British being a common enemy. The 13 original colonies formed a parliament which convened the opinion of each colony on the basis of all issues concerning war, the precedence of leadership and self-governance. Lastly, citizens were motivated to fight against Great Britain on the simple basis of ‘loyalty to the land, not the crown.” Americans had the military leadership of General Washington (a courageous and intellectually advanced individual in warfare tactics) In the New World every colony was separate, each concerned with self-governance, and lacked motivation to unite under a single government. As events began to erupt across the colonies due to rises in taxes and the implementation of the “Stamp Act” infuriated colonists to the point of public protests. Which resulted in the “Boston Massacre” where Redcoats opened fired on a civilian crowd. As tensions began to rise Great Britain sent more troops to New York in order to take control of the general population and force British laws on all New World born citizens. Colonists were stripped of all civil rights. Which banded them together to form a parliament which was in charge of making decisions such as; revolting against Great Britain; The decision to draft a constitution; pass laws; etc. As the colonies raged war against Great Britain political ties were formed with France. As Benjamin Franklin was familiar...
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...Pablo C. Avila ENG101.2651 Dr. J. Elizabeth Clark 18 October 2007 First essay on The Things They Carried The Vietnam War was the longest military conflict in the U.S. history, from 1959 to 1975[1]. Many soldiers who fought there have written books about their experiences, however, Tim O’Brien, an American writer and soldier at Vietnam, has written the best story telling about what the war was; The Things They Carried. In this, his last novel, he recalls and tells all his experiences in detail about the war; as well as stories about his friends, and makes a reflection about them. He shows his feelings through stories that are difficult to clearly identify as “true.” This book shows us situations of hurt, friendship, and even love that soldiers experienced in war and how they have affected them even nowadays. One major point about Tim O'Brien’s work is how many situations hurt the soldiers’ lives. From the beginning, O'Brien starts his work by numbering the many things soldiers have to carry; C rations, knives, some photographs, and even some relatives’ distrust are some of the things they have to take every day in war. Little by little, O'Brien demonstrates how hurt invaded each soldier, how difficult it was to get used to a difficult and different environment, as he says; “Jimmy Cross did not want the responsibility of leading these men. He had never wanted it.” (167). In this extract, O'Brien shows how complicated it was for Lieutenant Jimmy to have this responsibility...
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... The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, is about American soldiers in Vietnam war. In this novel, narrator tells his own story, and his own experience in war, how this war changes him and other soldiers and how unfair it is for a young ,educated person, to go to the war which has no purpose. In this novel, narrator manages to write down a story which makes him feel embarrassed, and story that he has never told to anyone. He mentions that, everyone believes that in moral emergency they will all behave like heroes of their youth, brave, without thought of any personal loss. In June of 1968, when narrator is twenty-one years old he is drafted to fight a war, and he has hard time making a decision. One thing that makes him go to the war is shame, because he is afraid of exile, afraid of losing respect of his parents, and he could no risk the embarrassment. Shame is like motivation for the narrator to go to the war. Decision making is one of the hardest things for person to do, especially when a young, innocent boy has to go to the war which has no purpose, and kill people without a purpose. " I feared the war, yes but I also feared exile. I feared losing the respect of my parents" (45) The thing that the narrator is afraid, is shame and embarrassment he feels, if he does not go to war. The idea of war drives the narrator insane because he is above the war, he is educated person, and he knows that nothing is done without purpose. In the end he calls himself a coward...
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...“They shared the weight of memory, They took up what others could no longer bear.” Tim O’Brien in his book, “The Things They Carried,” portrays the theme of the story through the painful memory of himself as well as his fellow comrades; before, in, and after the Vietnam war. “He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead.” Here, through this memory of Jimmy Cross that he took along with him to the war, the theme [Guilt and Shame] that basically gives the story more than half of its meaning as a whole was portrayed. He blamed himself for the death of Lavender; he thought that him just loving Martha causes his distraction which causes Lavender’s death, which to me , is a partial truth. Now, he would have to carry the guilt “like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war,” and probably for the test of his life. Another theme portrayed in this story is ‘Respect and Reputation.’ The soldiers at war are not there because they want to, but “rather, they were too frightened to be cowards”[pg 77]. Sometimes, the soldiers have to do things they will normally not do because they do not want to be seen as being weak by their friends and family and particularly by themselves. Such is the case of Tim in the chapter “The man I killed” where ha had to kill because he does not want his other comrades to see him as being weak. According to him, “Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to”...
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...Tim O'Brien, author and veteran, covers several multiple in his novel The Things They Carried. The book bases itself on the psychological strain caused by the stress and conflicting interests in the war. O'Brien wants us to see what he's afraid to look back at. Story truth is his way of facing the confronting the past and admitting his responsibility in it. O'Brien tells his stories from a constant gush of memories. Emotions and morals are among the more evident themes covered in the novel. Pain, embarrassment, love, hate, loneliness, frustration, isolation, bravery, and struggles with morality. All of these, and combinations of these are religiously covered in the book. Though people not involved in a war could never even begin to understand,...
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...In the short story taken from the novel, The Things They Carried, Tim O’ Brien narrates a chilling excerpt taken from his past during the Vietnam War. Each soldier carries a mental and physical emotional burden as they struggle through the march. The main protagonist, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, has to lead his men through a gruesome war and is forced to transition from his unrestricted past to a life as a soldier. O’Brien reinforces the destruction of young male innocence—especially in the case of Jimmy Cross, who blames himself for the death of his soldiers. Through the use of tone and writing style consistency, diction, and symbolism, the influences of the war cause the soldiers to see war is actually hell. Jimmy Cross is forced to take the role of the Alpha Company leader at only twenty-two years old. As he leads his men through the jungle, he carries “love” letters from a young women named Martha. From the beginning of the paragraph, his obsession with Martha becomes obvious when the narrator says “[Jimmy] would sometimes taste the envelope flaps, knowing her tongue had been there.” He constantly moves through the march, “slowly, a bit distracted,” thinking of Martha, “wonder[ing] if [she] was a virgin.” His constant daydreaming of sexual fantasies represents his youth and longing for an ordinary life. War wasn’t ordinary, and it certainly wasn’t meant for children. The straight-forward tone of the beginning passage conveys Jimmy’s immaturity and distractions that eventually...
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