Egans Law :: essays papers

Egans Law The purpose of Megans Law is to let the public know when a convicted sex offender is released into their community. Mr. Michael Chertoff, a former U.S. attorney has a curious question for our states corrections department. â€Å"How can members of the public be informed when dangerous predators have been released into their community, if the prosecutors, who are supposed to notify the public, have not been told either?† Mr. Chertoff did investigate this and found out that this isn’t just a small problem anymore. Take the Alves case for example. Raymond Alves, a convicted rapist was in jail for twenty-three years and was let out unannounced. Prosecutors were told days after the fact and were not ale to find him because he gave out false information about where he was living. Megans Law requires prosecutors to be notified thirty days or more ahead of time so they have sufficient time to file a challenge, or to see if he’s a threat to society. At a senate hearing, Jack Terhune, a corrections commissioner said he has not found any other case besides the Alves case where the prosecutors were not properly notified ahead of time. Meanwhile, they were getting a whole different story from Mr. Chertoff, who asked twenty one county prosecutors if they have been getting their proper Megans Law notifications on time. The prosecutors answer was between January 1, 1999 and March 1, 2000, they have received one hundred and fifty Megans Law notifications less than thirty days prior to an inmate being let out. More than ninety of those came less than seven days before the release or after. Chris Carden, a spokesperson for the corrections department made a comment that the numbers did not match up and said â€Å" that’s a far cry from saying there have been no other cases of improper notification. In the stir of the Alves mess, Mr. Terhune did take action and fired eight of his employees for errors, including two psychologists. Terhune is also making new rules like better training for all employees that come in so that this problem will not happen again. They also have a new web page up for the prosecutors to find out when any sex offenders are released in the area so that there is no question in anyone’s mind. In my opinion I believe in Megans Law 100%.

Matrix 1 v.s. Matrix 3 :: essays research papers

After watching â€Å"Matrix Revolutions,† I was disapointed. The movie lost its confusing yet interesting story line that the first one did very well, and there were so many characters that a lot of them got lost in the story and they wasted many good actors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When they return to the real world and the battle of the machines starts, it just goes on and on and on while Neo and Trinity disapear for a long time. The fight scenes just never cut away for such a long time that in the end it became anoying to watch. When the human base was under attack by the machines, there was no dialogue for such a long time. The effects were really good but they didn't cut away from this specific scene for what seems to be half the movie. The visual effects were just as good as the first movie but the fight scenes didn't match the originals. It isn't a really bad thing to take out the fight scenes, it's just the fact that the first movie was based solely on those fight scenes and it wasn't smart for them to take so much of them out. There were only a few good fight scenes and the biggest one dealt with flying and it was sort of overkill by the end. I think that one big thing that made â€Å"Revolutions† worse than the first movie wa s that everyone seemed to be in love with eachother. After watching the first one I was expecting more fighting but instead they turned it into romance and it was drawn out way too long. It seemed that in â€Å"Matrix Revolutions,† they had too many plot points that I've seen in other movies before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The whole movie is full of little errors like this. For example, the machines make a deal in the end with Neo to defeat the agent Smith, and after he does, the machines are supposed to not continue attacking humans and growing them in their fields after years of doing so, just because of a promise. It doesn't make much sense. Neo comes in and saves the day at the end, but the movie doesn't really even explain how it works. Neo's about to lose and die and then magically he wins. I didn't think it was a very good ending, they should have finished the series at the end of the second movie.

Divine Comedy †Pagans in Paradise Essay -- Divine Comedy

Divine Comedy – Pagans in Paradise In the beginning when God created humanity, it was said that He created all humans in His image of goodness (Genesis 1:27). Dante then adds in his Divine Comedy that God has instilled a certain predetermined capacity of goodness in each human being as He wills, which should be utilized fully during life (Paradise 3:84). It would then be assumed, in Dantean thought, that all humans have the choice to live fully to this capacity and assume a place in heaven upon death, to fail to utilize this capacity and suffer in Hell for eternity, or to sin and seek repentance at some point in their lives, allowing them to enter Purgatory. Yet, this statement seems to have certain restrictions when we first look at Dante’s Divine Comedy. Dante’s Inferno shows virtuous pagans in the first circle of Hell and has the reader believe that one must be a Christian to enter Heaven, or Purgatory. As the reader continues into Paradise, he discovers that there are indeed some pagans who have rise n to Heaven, but only because they were allowed the mercy to be baptized after death. This idea seems unjust to those who have lived sinless lives without being given the choice to embrace Christ. It is understood that direct refusal of Christianity would result in an eternity in Hell, but for those sinless and virtuous people who lived before Christ or beyond the reaches of Christian teachings, it seems absurd to deny them entrance into Heaven. With careful examination of the Divine Comedy, it can be understood that the actual act of baptism and the embracing of Jesus Christ symbolize the ideas and significance each act represents and are not intended for the reader to take these acts for their literal meanings. The presence ... ...l salvation. Throughout the entire work of Dante’s Divine Comedy, pagans play an integral role. Pagans are present in each of the three parts of Dante’s afterlife and a pagan is even chosen to be Dante’s guide. The prevalence of these individuals suggests the idea that God loves all people and rewards those who have embraced the ideas and morals of the Christian religion and lived virtuously and without sin. Dante’s Divine Comedy provides enough basis to form the argument that one does not necessarily have to be Christian to enter Heaven, but only needs to embrace the ideals that Christ and baptism represent. Also, through using Emperor Trajan as an example of a virtuous pagan’s successful entrance to Heaven, it is seen that possession of these ideals along with the virtue of humility is what allowed certain pagans into Paradise and excluded others for eternity.

Morality and People Essay

Due to recent occurrences in history, the U. S. has found itself in various situations where serious questions have arisen about the way that we treat our prisoners of war. The question has been posed: should we torture someone if it means that we will gain information that will protect a large number of people? A person with a utilitarian view might suggest that because the torture would bring about the right information that would save many people, it would be ok to torture someone. This view holds that any action is good if it is beneficial to the majority of the people involved in the question. Furthermore, a person who believes in Kantian duty-based ethics might say that the torturing of any individual would be wrong in any circumstance. A person with this type of view would answer this way because they believe that the result of the information being gathered from the torture would not justify the wrong act of torturing someone and that the act of torture is wrong because of the motive of the torturer. This is because a person who believes in Kantian duty-based ethics contends that right and wrong is not based upon the actions of the one performing the torture but rather the motive behind the action, which would appear to be good but in reality would be wrong because of the desire to hurt another person. In addition, a person who believes in virtue ethics would question the character of the people performing the torture and determine whither the action is right or wrong based on if the person had right or wrong motives. Lastly, a person who believes in Christian-principle based ethics would argue that it is always wrong to torture people in any situation. I believe that this theory is the strongest and most appropriate. Even thought the act of torturing someone in some cases could potentially help to protect a large number of people, the fact is its wrong. I don’t believe that we should fight evil with evil. Rather, I believe that there are many other options that we can take up in the fight against terror and evil that don’t involve compromising on our values.

Ias 11

IAS 11 International Accounting Standard 11 Construction Contracts In April 2001 the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) adopted IAS 11 Construction Contracts, which had originally been issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee in December 1993. IAS 11 Construction Contracts replaced parts of IAS 11 Accounting for Construction Contracts (issued in March 1979). Other IFRSs have made minor consequential amendments to IAS 11. They include IAS 23 Borrowing Costs (as revised in March 2007) and IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (as revised in September 2007). IFRS Foundation A613 IAS 11 CONTENTS from paragraph INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD 11 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS OBJECTIVE SCOPE DEFINITIONS COMBINING AND SEGMENTING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS CONTRACT REVENUE CONTRACT COSTS RECOGNITION OF CONTRACT REVENUE AND EXPENSES RECOGNITION OF EXPECTED LOSSES CHANGES IN ESTIMATES DISCLOSURE EFFECTIVE DATE 1 3 7 11 16 22 36 38 39 46 FOR THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS LISTED BELOW, SEE PART B OF THIS EDITION ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES Disclosure of accounting policies The determination of contract revenue and expenses Contract disclosures A614 Â ©IFRS Foundation IAS 11 International Accounting Standard 11 Construction Contracts (IAS 11) is set out in paragraphs 1–46. All the paragraphs have equal authority but retain the IASC format of the Standard when it was adopted by the IASB. IAS 11 should be read in the context of its objective, the Preface to International Financial Reporting Standards and the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors provides a basis for selecting and applying accounting policies in the absence of explicit guidance. IFRS Foundation A615 IAS 11 International Accounting Standard 11 Construction Contracts Objective The objective of this Standard is to prescribe the accounting treatment of revenue and costs associated with construction contracts. Be cause of the nature of the activity undertaken in construction contracts, the date at which the contract activity is entered into and the date when the activity is completed usually fall into different accounting periods.Therefore, the primary issue in accounting for construction contracts is the allocation of contract revenue and contract costs to the accounting periods in which construction work is performed. This Standard uses the recognition criteria established in the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements1 to determine when contract revenue and contract costs should be recognised as revenue and expenses in the statement of comprehensive income. It also provides practical guidance on the application of these criteria. Scope This Standard shall be applied in accounting for construction contracts in the financial statements of contractors. 2 This Standard supersedes IAS 11 Accounting for Construction Contracts approved in 1978. Definitions 3 The fo llowing terms are used in this Standard with the meanings specified: A construction contract is a contract specifically negotiated for the construction of an asset or a combination of assets that are closely interrelated or interdependent in terms of their design, technology and function or their ultimate purpose or use.A fixed price contract is a construction contract in which the contractor agrees to a fixed contract price, or a fixed rate per unit of output, which in some cases is subject to cost escalation clauses. A cost plus contract is a construction contract in which the contractor is reimbursed for allowable or otherwise defined costs, plus a percentage of these costs or a fixed fee. 4 A construction contract may be negotiated for the construction of a single asset such as a bridge, building, dam, pipeline, road, ship or tunnel.A construction contract may also deal with the construction of a number of assets which are closely interrelated or interdependent in terms of their design, technology and function or their ultimate purpose or use; examples of such contracts include those for the construction of refineries and other complex pieces of plant or equipment. 1 IASC’s Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements was adopted by the IASB in 2001.In September 2010 the IASB replaced the Framework with the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. A616 Â © IFRS Foundation IAS 11 5 For the purposes of this Standard, construction contracts include: (a) contracts for the rendering of services which are directly related to the construction of the asset, for example, those for the services of project managers and architects; and contracts for the destruction or restoration of assets, and the restoration of the environment following the demolition of assets. (b) 6Construction contracts are formulated in a number of ways which, for the purposes of this Standard, are classified as fixed price contracts and cost plus contracts . Some construction contracts may contain characteristics of both a fixed price contract and a cost plus contract, for example in the case of a cost plus contract with an agreed maximum price. In such circumstances, a contractor needs to consider all the conditions in paragraphs 23 and 24 in order to determine when to recognise contract revenue and expenses.Combining and segmenting construction contracts 7 The requirements of this Standard are usually applied separately to each construction contract. However, in certain circumstances, it is necessary to apply the Standard to the separately identifiable components of a single contract or to a group of contracts together in order to reflect the substance of a contract or a group of contracts.When a contract covers a number of assets, the construction of each asset shall be treated as a separate construction contract when: (a) (b) separate proposals have been submitted for each asset; each asset has been subject to separate negotiation and the contractor and customer have been able to accept or reject that part of the contract relating to each asset; and the costs and revenues of each asset can be identified. (c) 9 A group of contracts, whether with a single customer or with several customers, shall be treated as a single construction contract when: (a) (b) the group of contracts is negotiated as a single package; the contracts are so closely interrelated that they are, in effect, part of a single project with an overall profit margin; and the contracts are performed concurrently or in a continuous sequence. (c) 10A contract may provide for the construction of an additional asset at the option of the customer or may be amended to include the construction of an additional asset. The construction of the additional asset shall be treated as a separate construction contract when: (a) the asset differs significantly in design, technology or function from the asset or assets covered by the original contract; or the pri ce of the asset is negotiated without regard to the original contract price. b) Â © IFRS Foundation A617 IAS 11 Contract revenue 11 Contract revenue shall comprise: (a) (b) the initial amount of revenue agreed in the contract; and variations in contract work, claims and incentive payments: (i) (ii) to the extent that it is probable that they will result in revenue; and they are capable of being reliably measured. 12Contract revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. The measurement of contract revenue is affected by a variety of uncertainties that depend on the outcome of future events. The estimates often need to be revised as events occur and uncertainties are resolved. Therefore, the amount of contract revenue may increase or decrease from one period to the next.For example: (a) a contractor and a customer may agree variations or claims that increase or decrease contract revenue in a period subsequent to that in which the contract was init ially agreed; the amount of revenue agreed in a fixed price contract may increase as a result of cost escalation clauses; the amount of contract revenue may decrease as a result of penalties arising from delays caused by the contractor in the completion of the contract; or when a fixed price contract involves a fixed price per unit of output, contract revenue increases as the number of units is increased. b) (c) (d) 13 A variation is an instruction by the customer for a change in the scope of the work to be performed under the contract. A variation may lead to an increase or a decrease in contract revenue. Examples of variations are changes in the specifications or design of the asset and changes in the duration of the contract. A variation is included in contract revenue when: (a) (b) it is probable that the customer will approve the variation and the amount of revenue arising from the variation; and the amount of revenue can be reliably measured. 4 A claim is an amount that the co ntractor seeks to collect from the customer or another party as reimbursement for costs not included in the contract price. A claim may arise from, for example, customer caused delays, errors in specifications or design, and disputed variations in contract work. The measurement of the amounts of revenue arising from claims is subject to a high level of uncertainty and often depends on the outcome of negotiations.Therefore, claims are included in contract revenue only when: (a) (b) negotiations have reached an advanced stage such that it is probable that the customer will accept the claim; and the amount that it is probable will be accepted by the customer can be measured reliably. A618 Â © IFRS Foundation IAS 11 15 Incentive payments are additional amounts paid to the contractor if specified performance standards are met or exceeded. For example, a contract may allow for an incentive payment to the contractor for early completion of the contract.Incentive payments are included in c ontract revenue when: (a) (b) the contract is sufficiently advanced that it is probable that the specified performance standards will be met or exceeded; and the amount of the incentive payment can be measured reliably. Contract costs 16 Contract costs shall comprise: (a) (b) costs that relate directly to the specific contract; costs that are attributable to contract activity in general and can be allocated to the contract; and such other costs as are specifically chargeable to the customer under the terms of the contract. c) 17 Costs that relate directly to a specific contract include: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) site labour costs, including site supervision; costs of materials used in construction; depreciation of plant and equipment used on the contract; costs of moving plant, equipment and materials to and from the contract site; costs of hiring plant and equipment; costs of design and technical assistance that is directly related to the contract; the estimated costs of rect ification and guarantee work, including expected warranty costs; and claims from third parties.These costs may be reduced by any incidental income that is not included in contract revenue, for example income from the sale of surplus materials and the disposal of plant and equipment at the end of the contract. 18 Costs that may be attributable to contract activity in general and can be allocated to specific contracts include: (a) (b) (c) insurance; costs of design and technical assistance that are not directly related to a specific contract; and construction overheads. Â ©IFRS Foundation A619 IAS 11 Such costs are allocated using methods that are systematic and rational and are applied consistently to all costs having similar characteristics. The allocation is based on the normal level of construction activity. Construction overheads include costs such as the preparation and processing of construction personnel payroll. Costs that may be attributable to contract activity in general and can be allocated to specific contracts also include borrowing costs. 9 Costs that are specifically chargeable to the customer under the terms of the contract may include some general administration costs and development costs for which reimbursement is specified in the terms of the contract. Costs that cannot be attributed to contract activity or cannot be allocated to a contract are excluded from the costs of a construction contract.Such costs include: (a) (b) (c) (d) 21 general administration costs for which reimbursement is not specified in the contract; selling costs; research and development costs for which reimbursement is not specified in the contract; and depreciation of idle plant and equipment that is not used on a particular contract. 20 Contract costs include the costs attributable to a contract for the period from the date of securing the contract to the final completion of the contract.However, costs that relate directly to a contract and are incurred in securing t he contract are also included as part of the contract costs if they can be separately identified and measured reliably and it is probable that the contract will be obtained. When costs incurred in securing a contract are recognised as an expense in the period in which they are incurred, they are not included in contract costs when the contract is obtained in a subsequent period.Recognition of contract revenue and expenses 22 When the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably, contract revenue and contract costs associated with the construction contract shall be recognised as revenue and expenses respectively by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the end of the reporting period. An expected loss on the construction contract shall be recognised as an expense immediately in accordance with paragraph 36.In the case of a fixed price contract, the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably when all the following conditions are satisfied: (a) (b) total contract revenue can be measured reliably; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the contract will flow to the entity; both the contract costs to complete the contract and the stage of contract completion at the end of the reporting period can be measured reliably; and 23 (c) A620 Â © IFRS Foundation IAS 11 (d) he contract costs attributable to the contract can be clearly identified and measured reliably so that actual contract costs incurred can be compared with prior estimates. 24 In the case of a cost plus contract, the outcome of a construction contract can be estimated reliably when all the following conditions are satisfied: (a) it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the contract will flow to the entity; and the contract costs attributable to the contract, whether or not specifically reimbursable, can be clearly identified and measured reliably. b) 25 The recognition of revenue and expenses by reference to t he stage of completion of a contract is often referred to as the percentage of completion method. Under this method, contract revenue is matched with the contract costs incurred in reaching the stage of completion, resulting in the reporting of revenue, expenses and profit which can be attributed to the proportion of work completed. This method provides useful information on the extent of contract activity and performance during a period.Under the percentage of completion method, contract revenue is recognised as revenue in profit or loss in the accounting periods in which the work is performed. Contract costs are usually recognised as an expense in profit or loss in the accounting periods in which the work to which they relate is performed. However, any expected excess of total contract costs over total contract revenue for the contract is recognised as an expense immediately in accordance with paragraph 36.A contractor may have incurred contract costs that relate to future activit y on the contract. Such contract costs are recognised as an asset provided it is probable that they will be recovered. Such costs represent an amount due from the customer and are often classified as contract work in progress. The outcome of a construction contract can only be estimated reliably when it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the contract will flow to the entity.However, when an uncertainty arises about the collectibility of an amount already included in contract revenue, and already recognised in profit or loss, the uncollectible amount or the amount in respect of which recovery has ceased to be probable is recognised as an expense rather than as an adjustment of the amount of contract revenue. An entity is generally able to make reliable estimates after it has agreed to a contract which establishes: (a) (b) (c) each party’s enforceable rights regarding the asset to be constructed; the consideration to be exchanged; and the manner and terms of settlement. 6 27 28 29 It is also usually necessary for the entity to have an effective internal financial budgeting and reporting system. The entity reviews and, when necessary, revises the estimates of contract revenue and contract costs as the contract progresses. The need for such revisions does not necessarily indicate that the outcome of the contract cannot be estimated reliably. Â © IFRS Foundation A621 IAS 11 30 The stage of completion of a contract may be determined in a variety of ways. The entity uses the method that measures reliably the work performed.Depending on the nature of the contract, the methods may include: (a) (b) (c) the proportion that contract costs incurred for work performed to date bear to the estimated total contract costs; surveys of work performed; or completion of a physical proportion of the contract work. Progress payments and advances received from customers often do not reflect the work performed. 31 When the stage of completion is determined b y reference to the contract costs incurred to date, only those contract costs that reflect work performed are included in costs incurred to date.Examples of contract costs which are excluded are: (a) contract costs that relate to future activity on the contract, such as costs of materials that have been delivered to a contract site or set aside for use in a contract but not yet installed, used or applied during contract performance, unless the materials have been made specially for the contract; and payments made to subcontractors in advance of work performed under the subcontract. (b) 32When the outcome of a construction contract cannot be estimated reliably: (a) revenue shall be recognised only to the extent of contract costs incurred that it is probable will be recoverable; and contract costs shall be recognised as an expense in the period in which they are incurred. (b) An expected loss on the construction contract shall be recognised as an expense immediately in accordance with paragraph 36. 33 During the early stages of a contract it is often the case that the outcome of the contract cannot be estimated reliably.Nevertheless, it may be probable that the entity will recover the contract costs incurred. Therefore, contract revenue is recognised only to the extent of costs incurred that are expected to be recoverable. As the outcome of the contract cannot be estimated reliably, no profit is recognised. However, even though the outcome of the contract cannot be estimated reliably, it may be probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract revenues.In such cases, any expected excess of total contract costs over total contract revenue for the contract is recognised as an expense immediately in accordance with paragraph 36. Contract costs that are not probable of being recovered are recognised as an expense immediately. Examples of circumstances in which the recoverability of contract costs incurred may not be probable and in which contract costs m ay need to be recognised as an expense immediately include contracts: (a) that are not fully enforceable, ie their validity is seriously in question; 34 A622 Â © IFRS Foundation IAS 11 (b) (c) (d) (e) 5 the completion of which is subject to the outcome of pending litigation or legislation; relating to properties that are likely to be condemned or expropriated; where the customer is unable to meet its obligations; or where the contractor is unable to complete the contract or otherwise meet its obligations under the contract. When the uncertainties that prevented the outcome of the contract being estimated reliably no longer exist, revenue and expenses associated with the construction contract shall be recognised in accordance with paragraph 22 rather than in accordance with paragraph 32.Recognition of expected losses 36 When it is probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract revenue, the expected loss shall be recognised as an expense immediately. 37 The amount of s uch a loss is determined irrespective of: (a) (b) (c) whether work has commenced on the contract; the stage of completion of contract activity; or the amount of profits expected to arise on other contracts which are not treated as a single construction contract in accordance with paragraph 9. Changes in estimates 8 The percentage of completion method is applied on a cumulative basis in each accounting period to the current estimates of contract revenue and contract costs. Therefore, the effect of a change in the estimate of contract revenue or contract costs, or the effect of a change in the estimate of the outcome of a contract, is accounted for as a change in accounting estimate (see IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors). The changed estimates are used in the determination of the amount of revenue and expenses recognised in profit or loss in the period in which the change is made and in subsequent periods.Disclosure 39 An entity shall disclose: (a) (b) the amount of contract revenue recognised as revenue in the period; the methods used to determine the contract revenue recognised in the period; and the methods used to determine the stage of completion of contracts in progress. (c) Â © IFRS Foundation A623 IAS 11 40 An entity shall disclose each of the following for contracts in progress at the end of the reporting period: (a) the aggregate amount of costs incurred and recognised profits (less recognised losses) to date; the amount of advances received; and the amount of retentions. b) (c) 41 Retentions are amounts of progress billings that are not paid until the satisfaction of conditions specified in the contract for the payment of such amounts or until defects have been rectified. Progress billings are amounts billed for work performed on a contract whether or not they have been paid by the customer. Advances are amounts received by the contractor before the related work is performed. An entity shall present: (a) (b) the g ross amount due from customers for contract work as an asset; and the gross amount due to customers for contract work as a liability. 2 43 The gross amount due from customers for contract work is the net amount of: (a) (b) costs incurred plus recognised profits; less the sum of recognised losses and progress billings for all contracts in progress for which costs incurred plus recognised profits (less recognised losses) exceeds progress billings. 44 The gross amount due to customers for contract work is the net amount of: (a) (b) costs incurred plus recognised profits; less the sum of recognised losses and progress billings or all contracts in progress for which progress billings exceed costs incurred plus recognised profits (less recognised losses). 45 An entity discloses any contingent liabilities and contingent assets in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. Contingent liabilities and contingent assets may arise from such items as warrant y costs, claims, penalties or possible losses. Effective date 46 This Standard becomes operative for financial statements covering periods beginning on or after 1 January 1995. A624 Â © IFRS Foundation

Beware the Cat Essay

In Beware the Cat, William Baldwin’s immediate target is Catholicism. This book is one of many anti-catholic satires that appeared during Edward VI’s Protestant reign. In this story Baldwin goes beyond putting down the practices of the Church of Rome and exposes some of its foundational problems. He portrays, satirically, how knowledge is obtained and passed down in the church. At this time the culture was going through a transition from a largely oral and visual way of communicating to one based on text. The whole idea of Protestantism is about having a personal relationship with God and not relying on someone else to read the Bible for you. But what about those that didn’t have access to a Bible? Again, people were left to rely on the church and the traditions that were being passed down. The trouble with traditions is that after so long, one can’t be certain of their origin. We see a debate being set up in the story about where true authoritative knowledge comes from. From the Protestant view, the trouble with that is these traditions and stories can and do mislead the devout christian. In the beginning of the book in The Argument, Streamer disagrees with the author on what makes up knowledge; whether it is gained by experiences or authors (the reading of textual evidence). In Streamer’s Oration we see that he gets off track a number of times as he tries to begin his story. We find him wandering from gate to gate, talking about about how the gates got their names. It is evident that he doesn’t quite know where or how to begin his story. The use of the word gate is exceptional because Streamer is truly searching for an entrance for his story line. Because he can’t seem to find it, it foreshadows the fact that Streamer’s knowledge, as we come to find out, really has no origin of its own. Baldwin uses another play on words with the word Criplegate and cripple, foreshadowing again that Streamer’s kind of reasoning has crippled him. We read that Streamer’s experience with cats is based on other people’s stories about cats, and that their stories are based on yet another series of stories. Here Baldwin is demonstrating how Catholicism has passed down tories and oral traditions over time and we never really know the origin of these stories and traditions well enough to prove them. It also shows the reader that these kinds of stories simply lead to more stories and it ends up being uncontrolled and unmonitored. He then questions if having this experience based knowledge is truly having knowledge at all. Baldwin is building the story up in a rational way, for example, suggesting that the cats use human transportation and by suggesting that they revenge the death of Grimalkin, forming a close knit society, again alluding to the Catholic church. What we read about in Part I sort of comes to life in Part III as the animals take over the narration of the story. They begin to tell tales of their vast experiences with humans. They show us a world where humans are an easy mark (where the wife believes that the cat is old woman’s daughter) and preposterous (where the sound of Mouse-Slayer’s feet brings panic to a town). In Part I we read about preying animals and Part III is then dealing with preying humans. The old woman takes advantage of the young men, then they take advantage of others in order to keep paying the old woman, in order to spend time with the girls. This vicious cycle is representative of the Roman Church because she (the old woman), like the church, prospers from deceiving people and enticing them to do harmful acts in order to get her money. She is also making the young men psychologically dependent on her in a way, again, not unlike the church. In this work we’re able to see what happens in a religion and in a culture where written text plays a minor role and also when oral communication (traditions, passed down stories) is left uncontrolled by any textual authority.

Human Rights Violation – Child Soldier

Human Rights Violation (Child Soldier) What do you think of when you hear the term â€Å"Child Soldier†? You probably think of a normal child who has been trained to become an armed soldier from his early childhood. No, the reality is that child soldiers still do exist in many parts of the world. First of all, what do you mean by child soldiers? Child soldiers are any children under 18 years of age who is a member of the armed forces or an armed group. Today, child soldier has been one of the major issues in the economy of human civilization. It has fore mostly impacted many countries from developing and moving a step forwards in their humanitarian activities. So, as a relation of us towards the development of humanity and human civilization, every individual in this world should try their best to erase this particular violation or term â€Å"Child Soldier† from history. As briefly discussing about this particular human right violation, this violation has been one of the major issues in Canada and many other countries. As concisely defining this topic, a child soldier is any children under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity. The definition also includes girls recruited for sexual purposes and for forced marriage. It does not, therefore, only refer to a child who is carrying or has carried arms. Children are more likely to become child soldiers if they are displaced from their homes, separated from their families, living in combat zones or have limited access to education. Children may join armed groups as the only way to guarantee daily food and survival. In some situations, children may ‘voluntarily’ take part in warfare, not realizing the dangers and abuses they will be subjected to. Most likely these children are responding to economic, cultural, social and political pressures. As discussing different facts about Child Labour in Canada and worldwide, the major fact has been estimated that over 300,000 children – boys and girls under the age of 18 – are today involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide. Children are used as combatants, messengers, porters and cooks and for forced sexual services. Some are abducted or are recruited by force. Others are motivated to join by poverty, abuse and discrimination, or to take revenge for violence endorsed against them or their families. These children are subjected to unimaginable violence and torture by serving in both government armies and rebel groups. Commanders often hassle them with drugs and alcohol. These children are repeatedly abused, and disposed of when they are supposed useless or ineffective. Close to 2 million children have been killed in conflict in the case of child soldier since 1996. Children are the rising stars of our nation and humanity. One should try to protect and educate good things to them rather than conflicting these silly behaviours to those little blameless souls. According to Canada’s law, a person caught doing this crime is heavily punished and penalized against the community. Back in 2002, Canada signed on to an international treaty aimed at rehabilitating child soldiers. In fact Canada was the first nation to ratify the child soldier – optional protocol to the convention on the rights of a child. Since then, many different rules and laws have been made in order to stop child soldier in the nation. As of all these facts and discussion on this particular human violation, these violations is still a problem in the world and in Canada and researchers are busy, laws are being made and punishments are ready for those criminals. As the children are the future developers of our world and community, they should not be treated in this way. In fact, they should be cared and loved as they are the ones who are going to get rid of all the crimes in the world and make this congested world a peaceful world. So child soldier should be stopped, if still seen, all the population should be united and raise a voice against the government to be strict in this particular violation and give hard punishments to the criminals and bring peace in the world.