Guyana-Land of Many Waters Essay Example for Free

Guyana-Land of Many Waters Essay Guyana (guy-anna),[6] officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,[1] is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America. Culturally Guyana is part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana is one of the few Caribbean countries that is not an island. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Guyana is a member, has its secretariats headquarters in Guyanas capital, Georgetown. Guyana was originally colonized by the Netherlands. Later, it became a British colony and remained so for over 200 years until it achieved independence on 26 May 1966 from the United Kingdom. On 23 February 1970, Guyana officially became a republic. In 2008, the country joined the Union of South American Nations as a founding member. Guyana, a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations, is the only South American nation whose official language is English. Historically, the region known as Guiana or Guyana comprised the large shield landmass north of the Amazon River and east of the Orinoco River known as the Land of many waters. Historical Guyana consists of three Dutch colonies: Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. Modern Guyana is bordered by Suriname to the east; by Brazil to the south and southwest; by Venezuela to the west; and by the Atlantic Ocean to the north. At 215,000 square kilometres (83,000 sq mi), Guyana is the third-smallest independent state on the mainland of South America after Uruguay and Suriname. Its population is approximately 770,000. The name Guyana is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that now includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name comes from an Amerindian word meaning land of many waters. here are nine Native American tribes residing in Guyana: the Wai Wai, Machushi, Patamona, Arawak, Carib, Wapishana, Arecuna, Akawaio, and Warrau. Historically the Arawak and Carib tribes dominated Guyana. Although Christopher Columbus sighted Guyana during his third voyage (in 1498), the Dutch were the first to establish colonies: Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). After the British assumed control in the late 18th century, the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. In 1831 the three separate colonies became a single British colony known as British Guiana. A map of Dutch Guiana 1667–1814. Since Independence in 1824, Venezuela has claimed the area of land to the west of the Essequibo River. Simon Bolivar wrote to the British government warning against the Berbice and Demerara settlers settling on land which the Venezuelans claimed was theirs. In 1899 an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to Great Britain. Map of British Guiana. Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966 and became a republic on 23 February 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth. The US State Department and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), along with the British government, played a strong role in influencing political control in Guyana during this time. The American government supported Forbes Burnham during the early years of independence because Cheddi Jagan was identified as a Marxist. They provided secret financial support and political campaign advice to Burnhams Peoples National Congress, to the detriment of the Jagan-led Peoples Progressive Party, which was mostly supported by Native American Guyanese. In 1978, Guyana received international notice when 918 members of the American cult, Peoples Temple, died in a mass murder/suicide. Most of the suicides were American and more than 300 children were killed; the people were members of a group led by Jim Jones in Jonestown, the settlement which they had created. Jim Jones bodyguards had earlier attacked people landing at a small remote airstrip close to Jonestown, killing five people, including Leo Ryan, the only congressman ever murdered in the line of duty in US history. In May 2008, President Bharrat Jagdeo was a signatory to the UNASUR Constitutive Treaty of the Union of South American Nations. Guyana has ratified the treaty.

Sociological Theory Essay -- Sociology Papers

Sociological Theory To be able to evaluate Functionalism, Marxism and Interactionism we must first look at the strengths and weaknesses in each. There are many variations and interpretations of each of these theories, therefore for the sake of simplicity only the key ideals will be discussed. Functionalism looks at society as an organized structure of inter-related institutions; and the various ways these institutions interact together within a social structure. Examples of these 'institutions' are the family, work, education and religion. The Functionalist perspective is best understood using an organismic analogy: 'Societies are comparable to living organisms (for example, a human being). Each part of the human body is linked, in some way, to all other parts. Individual organs combine to create something that is greater than the sum total of their individual parts.' In social terms, these 'organs' equate to the aforementioned institutions. Each of these institutions has its' separate role, and in order for society to to function effectively, these institutions must work in harmony with each other. It is also said that all parts of society have a purpose and also certain needs. The 'purpose' of the work institution, for example, is to create wealth and in order to achieve this it 'needs' people with a certain level of education. This example demonstrates the harmony required between two institutions in order to achieve a goal. Without education, the work institution would collapse due to lack of skilled workers, therefore having a diverse effect on society and all the institutions within that society. This view recognise... ...n those classes. Economic rule, however does still play a prominent part in certain societies today, and will continue to do so for years to come. Interactionism looks at the individual and there influence and understanding of other social groups. This approach has allowed us to understand small social groups, which in turn allows us to gradually understand social groups in certain areas. However, none of the above theories will ever give us a true insight into how all societies work together. By taking parts of each and combining them to make a new theory is the only way that we may truly understand the social structure of the world around us. Bibliography ============ Sociology In Focus - Paul Taylor et al- Ormskirk - 1995 www.sociologyonline.co.uk www.sociology.org.uk www.s-cool.co.uk

Adrian Crump Essay

Manslaughter is a crime that is unjustified, inexcusable, and the intentional killing of a human being, whether it be involuntary or voluntary. This is the criminal charge that Adrian Crump from Jacksonville, Florida had to face. He shot a 15-year-old boy, around 2 in the morning, who was driving around shooting rocks from a slingshot. Adrian heard a noise in his home and thought it was a gunshot. He got up and checked it out, then went back inside and grabbed his gun as well as getting dressed. He then got in his car and pulled up behind the offender’s car, and shot the boy because he put his hands down, and he said he thought the kid was reaching for a gun. During the trial the prosecutor and defense team brought up the two sides of the story. We were asked how we felt about the trial and how we would find him. I took into consideration Adrian’s motivation or intention, self-defense, the witness’ statements, and crimes going on around the city. In the courthouse Adrian wore his navy uniform, even though at the time he was living as a civilian. I looked at his appearance because it showed his personality. For me it conveyed, a respectable and responsible citizen, which was a good move on the defense team. Along with his family, 4 kids and a wife, it would make it hard for a jury to convict him as a criminal. Since all those factors were in his favor, it is hard to see that man as a criminal. During the trial, the prosecutor asked some witnesses to come take the stand. First was a young boy that was in the car with Danny, and he was asked if Danny’s hands were down? The witness answered no. Then the defense asked the witness if they were paying attention to Adrian, he answered yes. That was very hypocritical of the witness, because you can’t watch the man with a gun and your friend at the same time. Even if this  child did it would be hard for him to remember exact details because of the traumatic event. Next the prosecutor brought up the medical examiner, who testified that the autopsy was inclusive. Which did not favor the state’s position. These witnesses did not help provide the state with a case. This also made it hard for me to find someone guilty when we don’t have many facts on the board. I know that Adrian made a big choice by getting off his property and chasing down someone, but it is not illegal for someone to do that in Florida. This means he broke no laws when he made that choice. I also think he was not just doing it for himself but his neighbor, who had been a victim of vandalism a couple days prior to this. The neighbor along with Adrian and his family are black Americans, who lived in a white dominated neighborhood; I think he was trying to protect all his neighbors. I look at the position of Danny’s hand as a crucial point for the case. According to Adrian, Danny had put his hands down. With the circumstances of â€Å"hearing a gun shot,† and then having someone reach down, I do believe that he thought Danny had a gun. I know I would have shot first, especially if it was my life or someone else’s. I am going to save mine before anything else. Now I probably could not have killed him but that is because I have no experience with a gun, while Adrian has military experience and has been taught to kill. I think that self-defense is a big part in this case for me. Some times it is hard to believe but I just put myself in his shoes and it was easy for me to decide, especially along with the circumstances. Right now it is easy to say I would shoot someone in self-defense, especially if it was a kid, but kids think they are older then they really are, and are capable of a lot more. I cherish my life so I would try and keep it. Also Adrian pointed out if he had acted out of anger he would have used all 6 rounds in his gun. He also could have shot him multiple times but shot him only once. He even called 9-1-1 after he shot the kid, to get him help. This helped me decide what his intention was when he went out there. Continuing on with evidence, I looked at the fact there was an increase in crime among the youths in Jacksonville. Danny’s mom had a suspicion of what her son was of participating in. He had been suspended from school, and burglarized several homes including getting caught by the police. Then her car keys go missing that night, I would suspect that he may take part in some illegal late night activities, even if it was just late night joy riding. I am not a mother yet but if I was his mother, even though it would be hard I would have to take some responsibility for his actions, since I didn’t question or look harder for my keys that night. With that idea I think I would maybe even blame myself a little for my child’s death. I know that I might act differently if I am put in that situation but there is so much against her son. As a citizen of the city of Jacksonville, Florida I would take into consideration the crimes that are occurring around me. This poor guy was a victim of a crime, and even though it was not a serious crime, it was a crime and he was a victim. The kids that are part-taking in crimes of vandalism and other more serious crimes are also running the risk of being victims themselves. Other people may try to protect their property too, and someone else may be hurt. That is the risk criminals’ take. With the evidence that was presented at the trial, and the circumstances that I discovered within the film, I came to the verdict of innocent for Adrian. I believe he did not intend to hurt the child, just scare him, but when he thought his life was threatened he reacted. I also think he is also the kind of man that is going to live with the guilt of killing that child for the rest of his life.

Predient Obama Destroying the Middle Class - 931 Words

President Barack Obama has been written into the history books for becoming the first African American president of the United States. The president plans on changing history again by bringing universal health care into the United States, which has won him much popularity among Democratic voters. His fans adore his speeches but raise many red flags for the majority of America. Major concerns Americans have with President Obama’s two proposed health-care bills are that health-care options will no longer be available along with the real cost of Obamacare, and small businesses. As many Americans believe Presidents Obama’s health-care plan is what the United States has needed for decades, considering he did get elected, his polices will prove to be a nuisance for the United States. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the â€Å"Affordable Care Act† into law. Under this law all Americans have access to quality affordable health care. The main concern for many Americans about the Obama’s Health-Care plan is the fact that they will lose the freedom to choose. Choosing health-care benefits, doctors, and high deductible coverage is important to every insured American citizen, so why would Obama change that? In his speeches, Obama has promised Americans that they will be able to keep their existing health-care coverage but the proposed bills tell a different story. Both bills require that Americans buy approved plans that have a number of universal benefits or face penalties.