Ancient Africa and the Present Slavery Essay Example for Free

Ancient Africa and the Present Slavery Essay The book â€Å"Segu† is a novel written by Maryse Conde. Set in 1797, the novel a story of the Africans during that era. Interestingly, Conde was able to create a novel that makes the lives of her characters as the most evident proof of the life experienced by people who lived in Mali during the ancient times. Clearly, the issue of religion, norms, and traditions are depicted as important aspects of society that affected the people of Old Mali. Due to the astounding narration of Conde, I was attracted to the characters as well as the history of Mali. I specifically became interested in the detailed narration of the African culture as well as the slavery experienced by the black Africans at the hands of the colonizers. It is interesting to note that, although the Africans were subjected to slavery over 300 years ago, the controversies and issues surrounding slavery still persist. It seems like the wounds caused by slavery are still engraved in the minds and personal history of every individual. Hence, I can only assume that there is still inequality happening not only in Africa but also in the world. Noting that the current African nations are one of the poorest in the world, I have come to conclude that Africans are still subjected to slavery today; only this time, they are now slaves of the current world, as most of the resources mined or produced within the African nations are not utilized and enjoyed by the Africans themselves but acquired by foreigners to serve their own self-interests. Hence, Africans are not given what they deserve to attain and enjoy. It is saddening that after more than 300 years, the African nations in general are still experiencing various conflicts in terms of religion, norms, and traditions. During an era of globalization and international cooperation, one must bear in mind that there is a need for change and development not just in the economic or political aspects but also in the social and cultural outlook. Work Cited Conde, Maryse. Segu. New York: Viking Penguin Inc. , 1987.

Robert Jordans Wheel of Time :: Robert Jordan Wheel of Time

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time â€Å"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.† (Jordan, 1). In the world of Robert Jordan’s bestselling fantasy series, "The Wheel of Time", the life of the ordinary people has been undergoing some extraordinary changes. The legendary Dragon has been Reborn, and the Last Battle to decide the fate of humanity draws nigh. Meanwhile, outside of this world sit millions of readers, from all reaches of life, waiting anxiously for the next chapter in the story to be told. They debate what has happened, what it means in the context of the story, what it means for the future of the Wheel, as well as how it impacts their lives’. The Wheel of Time is a world where absolute good battles absolute evil, and yet shades of grey cloud the landscape. A world of hope and despair, a world of peace and war. From this world a following has grown. People from different cultures, different languages, and different political ideologies gravitate together forming a cohesive group that helps to spread the word about the work of Robert Jordan. In much the same manner that J.R.R. Tolkien created a myth for the modern ages with his saga "The Lord of the Rings" and George Lucas has done with his "Star Wars" series of movies, so has Robert Jordan entered into the realm of mythology with his work "The Wheel of Time". And this myth, like those which have come recently, and those from antiquity, has created a community of followers around it. They are drawn together initially because of a personal interest, and they stay not only for that interest, but because of the community that grows as a result of engaging themselves with this story. The world of the Wheel is one that is beginning to see turmoil when it is first introduced to the readers. Winter is holding on much longer than it should, and there is fear in the air (Jordan Eye 11). Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time :: Robert Jordan Wheel of Time Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time â€Å"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.† (Jordan, 1). In the world of Robert Jordan’s bestselling fantasy series, "The Wheel of Time", the life of the ordinary people has been undergoing some extraordinary changes. The legendary Dragon has been Reborn, and the Last Battle to decide the fate of humanity draws nigh. Meanwhile, outside of this world sit millions of readers, from all reaches of life, waiting anxiously for the next chapter in the story to be told. They debate what has happened, what it means in the context of the story, what it means for the future of the Wheel, as well as how it impacts their lives’. The Wheel of Time is a world where absolute good battles absolute evil, and yet shades of grey cloud the landscape. A world of hope and despair, a world of peace and war. From this world a following has grown. People from different cultures, different languages, and different political ideologies gravitate together forming a cohesive group that helps to spread the word about the work of Robert Jordan. In much the same manner that J.R.R. Tolkien created a myth for the modern ages with his saga "The Lord of the Rings" and George Lucas has done with his "Star Wars" series of movies, so has Robert Jordan entered into the realm of mythology with his work "The Wheel of Time". And this myth, like those which have come recently, and those from antiquity, has created a community of followers around it. They are drawn together initially because of a personal interest, and they stay not only for that interest, but because of the community that grows as a result of engaging themselves with this story. The world of the Wheel is one that is beginning to see turmoil when it is first introduced to the readers. Winter is holding on much longer than it should, and there is fear in the air (Jordan Eye 11).

Pine Beetle

Mountain pine beetles (MPB) are the most important insect pest of Colorado's pine forests. MPB often kill large numbers of trees annually during outbreaks. Trees that are not growing vigorously due to old age, crowding, poor growing conditions, drought, fire or mechanical damage, root disease and other causes are most likely to be attacked. For a long-term remedy, thin susceptible stands. Leave well-spaced, healthy trees. For short-term controls, spray, cover, burn or peel attacked trees to kill the beetles. Preventive sprays can protect green, unattacked trees. [pic] |[pic] | |Figure 1: Adult Dendroctonus (left) versus Ips (right). Note gradually curved wing of | |Dendroctonus. Actual size of Dendroctonus from 1/8 to 1/3 inch, Ips 1/3 to 1/4 inch. | Mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, is native to the forests of western North America. Periodic outbreaks of the insect, previously called the Black Hills beetle or Rocky Mountain pine beetle, can result in losses of mi llions of trees.Outbreaks develop irrespective of property lines, being equally evident in wilderness areas, mountain subdivisions and back yards. Even windbreak or landscape pines many miles from the mountains can succumb to beetles imported in infested firewood. Mountain pine beetles develop in pines, particularly ponderosa, lodgepole, Scotch and limber pine. Bristlecone and pinyon pine are less commonly attacked. During early stages of an outbreak, attacks are limited largely to trees under stress from injury, poor site conditions, fire damage, overcrowding, root disease or old age.However, as beetle populations increase, MPB attacks may involve most large trees in the outbreak area. A related insect, the Douglas-fir beetle (D. pseudotsugae), occasionally damages Douglas-fir. Most often, outbreaks are associated with previous injury by fire or western spruce budworm. (See fact sheet 5. 543, Western Spruce Budworms). Spruce beetle (D. rufipennis) is a pest of Engelmann and Colorad o blue spruce in Colorado. Injured pines also can be attacked by the red turpentine beetle (D. valens).Mountain pine beetles and related bark beetles in the genus Dendroctonus can be distinguished from other large bark beetles in pines by the shape of the hind wing cover (Figure 1, top). In side view, it is gradually curved. The wing cover of Ips or engraver beetles, another common group of bark beetles attacking conifers, is sharply spined (Figure 1, bottom). Signs and Symptoms of MPB Attack Popcorn-shaped masses of resin, called â€Å"pitch tubes,† on the trunk where beetle tunneling begins. Pitch tubes may be brown, pink or white (Figures 2 and 6).Boring dust in bark crevices and on the ground immediately adjacent to the tree base. Evidence of woodpecker feeding on trunk. Patches of bark are removed and bark flakes lie on the ground or snow below tree. Foliage turning yellowish to reddish throughout the entire tree crown. This usually occurs eight to 10 months after a succ essful MPB attack. Presence of live MPB (eggs, larvae, pupae and/or adults) as well as galleries under bark. This is the most certain indicator of infestation. A hatchet for removal of bark is needed to check trees correctly (Figures 3, 5 and 8). Bluestained sapwood (Figure 9).Check at more than one point around the tree's circumference. |[pic] | |Figure 10: Large, uninfested pine being preventively sprayed. This | |protects high-value trees and should be done annually between April 1 | |and July 1. | Natural controls of mountain pine beetle include woodpeckers and insects such as clerid beetles that feed on adults and larvae under the bark. However, during outbreaks these natural controls often fail to prevent additional attacks. Extreme cold temperatures also can reduce MPB populations.For winter mortality to be a significant factor, a severe freeze is necessary while the insect is in its most vulnerable stage; i. e. , in the fall before the larvae have metabolized glycerols, or in late spring when the insect is molting into the pupal stage. For freezing temperatures to affect a large number of larvae during the middle of winter, temperatures of at least 30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) must be sustained for at least five days. Logs infested with MPB can be treated in various ways to kill developing beetles before they emerge as adults in summer.One very effective way to kill larvae developing under the bark (though very labor intensive) is by peeling away the bark, either by hand or mechanically; this exposes the larvae to unfavorable conditions — the larvae will dehydrate, starve and eventually die. Logs my also be burned or scorched in a pile — preferably when there is snow on the ground (contact your local forester for assistance). They can also be buried under at least eight inches of soil, or chipped. Following beetle emergence, wood can be used without threat to other trees.Chemical control options for MPB larvae have been greatly lim ited in recent years. At present, there are no labeled pesticides for use on MPB. Solar treatments may be appropriate in some areas of Colorado to reduce beetle populations in infested trees. For the treatment to be effective, the temperature under the bark much reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Such treatments can be performed with or without plastic. This method is also labor intensive; contact your local forester for more details on solar treatments. Prevention An important method of prevention involves forest management.In general, MPB prefers forests that are old and dense. Managing the forest by creating diversity in age and structure with result in a healthy forest that will be more resilient and, thus, less vulnerable to MPB. Most mature Colorado forests have about twice as many trees per acre as those forests which are more resistent to MPB. Contact your local forester for more information on forest management practices. Certain formulations of carbaryl (Sevin and other s) permethrin (Astro, Dragnet and others), and bifenthrin (Onyx) are registered for use to prevent attacks on individual trees.These sprays are applied to living green trees in early summer to kill or deter attacking beetles. This preventive spray is generally quite effective through one MPB flight (one year). |[pic] | |Figure 11: The appearance of a forest thinned to help prevent MPB. This| |can also improve mountain views and reduce fire hazard. | During epidemic conditions, the pressure from beetle populations may result in less satisfactory results due to several factors:

Problemas en las aduanas al entrar a Estados Unidos

Entrar en Estados Unidos no siempre es posible, aunque se tengan todos los documentos en regla. Y es que cuando un extranjero se presenta en las aduanas puede suceder que no se le permita entrar, por considerarlo inadmisible. Esto puede suceder no sà ³lo con extranjeros que intentan llegar al paà ­s usando pasaportes o visas falsas, sino tambià ©n con aquellos que cuentan con una visa và ¡lida sin expirar, o que viajan sin visa porque pertenecen a un paà ­s acogido al Programa de Exencià ³n de Visas. Esto ocurre porque el oficial de Proteccià ³n de Aduanas y Fronteras (CBP, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) tiene la à ºltima palabra para decidir quià ©n entra a Estados Unidos y quià ©n no. Causas por las que se prohà ­be entrar en Estados Unidos Las causas son variadà ­simas y pueden ir desde que se ha intentado utilizar un pasaporte o una visa falsa a alegar ser ciudadano americano cuando no es verdad. O haber tenido una presencia ilegal con anterioridad, haber cometido delitos agravados o inmorales o ser un peligro para la seguridad del paà ­s. Incluso posesià ³n de marihuana por mà ¡s de 30 gramos para consumo personal. Tambià ©n es posible que la visa està © cancelada o revocada aunque su titular no lo sepa. Si sospecha que ese puede ser su caso, es recomendable obtener un rà ©cord de inmigracià ³n o si no tiene ni idea de cuà ¡l puede el problema. Y por supuesto que puede suceder que se niegue el ingreso a Estados Unidos porque el extranjero no està ¡ utilizando la visa correcta. Por ejemplo, pretende entrar con visa de turista para casarse. O quiere estudiar en el high school o en la universidad o en academia de inglà ©s pero pero llega sin visado si es de un paà ­s como Chile o Espaà ±a o tiene uno de turista.   Incluso circunstancias como ser una amenaza a la salud pà ºblica por padecer ciertas enfermedades o generar la sospecha en el oficial de la CBP de que se tiene la intencià ³n de violar la visa y quedarse en el paà ­s por mà ¡s tiempo del autorizado.   Para evaluar si existe un problema que convierte a una persona en inelegible para la visa que trae o en inadmisible para ingresar a Estados Unidos, el oficial migratorio realiza, como mà ­nimo una pregunta. Estos son 7 ejemplos tà ­picos. Y a continuacià ³n puede decidir permitir el ingreso, enviar a la persona a una segunda inspeccià ³n (el famoso cuartito) o decidir regresarlo. Quà © sucede cuando la CBP no permite la entrada Pueden ocurrir los siguientes escenarios: El extranjero es objeto de una expulsià ³n inmediata. Es lo que se conoce en inglà ©s como expedited removal. Sà ³lo en el caso de que se tenga una visa và ¡lida puede suceder que el oficial de aduanas prefiera que la decisià ³n final la tome un juez de inmigracià ³n. En este caso se entregarà ¡ una citacià ³n en una corte con jurisdiccià ³n en el lugar de destino final del extranjero. O tambià ©n puede suceder que se le conceda la oportunidad de retirar su peticià ³n para entrar a Estados Unidos. Es lo que se conocen inglà ©s como permission to withdraw his/her application for admission. Esta opcià ³n es mà ¡s ventajosa que la de la expulsià ³n inmediata. Hay que entender que retirar la peticià ³n para entrar no es un derecho, sino que es un privilegio que concede a su discrecià ³n el oficial de la CBP a cargo. Para concederla tendrà ¡ en cuenta distintos factores como que el extranjero no tiene intencià ³n de violar la ley, que la causa por la que es inadmisible es leve y puede ser subsanada y tambià ©n circunstancias humanitarias como su edad y salud. Si decide darle la oportunidad de retirar la peticià ³n para entrar en Estados Unidos entonces el oficial de inmigracià ³n completarà ¡ la forma I-275, que cancela la visa, y en la que se especifica claramente la causa de la inadmisibilidad. A esta forma se adjuntarà ¡ una declaracià ³n jurada del extranjero. Ademà ¡s se le explicarà ¡ quà © debe hacer para corregir el problema que en esa ocasià ³n ha impedido que pudiese entrar a Estados Unidos. Por ejemplo, si la razà ³n es que fue condenado por un delito inmoral, se le dirà ¡ que debe rellenar la planilla  I-192 para subsanar este problema. Consecuencias de problemas graves en el control migratorio La persona que es objeto de una expulsià ³n inmediata no podrà ¡ regresar al paà ­s por un periodo de cinco aà ±os. Si desea regresar antes deberà ¡ pedir un perdà ³n o waiver que se concede en casos muy especà ­ficos. Por el contrario, el extranjero al que se le permite retirar su peticià ³n de entrada al paà ­s no se le prohibe regresar por ningà ºn periodo de tiempo ni tiene que pedir permiso previo para volver a intentar entrar. Lo que sà ­ es muy aconsejable es que analice la forma I-275 donde se especifica la causa de inadmisibilidad y que solucione ese problema antes de ponerse de nuevo en marcha hacia Estados Unidos.Y pedir una visa nueva, porque precisamente ese formulario cancelà ³ la que se tenà ­a. A tener en cuenta para los residentes permanentes Los residentes permanentes legales que pasen en el extranjero mà ¡s de un aà ±o sin contar con el debido permiso y luego intentan regresar al paà ­s usando su green card se encontrarà ¡n con que la CBP considerarà ¡ que han perdido su estatus de residentes. En estos se les permitirà ¡ abandonar voluntariamente su condicià ³n de titulares de una tarjeta de residencia legal rellenando el formulario I-407. Si asà ­ lo hacen, pierden la residencia. Si se oponen a ello, les serà ¡ entregada una nota para comparecer ante un juez de inmigracià ³n, que serà ¡ quien decida si pueden conservar su estatus o si lo han perdido definitivamente. Informacià ³n que puede interesar En la frontera o aeropuerto se puede solicitar asilo pero en la realidad està ¡ habiendo muchos problemas en los puntos de control migratorio en la frontera con Mà ©xico. Recordar que hay dos controles: el de inmigracià ³n y el de aduanas. No se debe  traer productos prohibidos y conviene estar enterado de regulaciones como la que gobierna cuà ¡nto alcohol se puede  llevar  y de cuà ¡nto dinero se puede  ingresar a Estados Unidos sin declarar. Test de respuestas mà ºltiples para despejar dudas Es altamente recomendable tomar este  quiz, trivial o test sobre visas  para asegurarte  de que sabes lo fundamental para obtener y conservar los visados. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.