Abstract In this article, the writer studies the environmental and demographic history of EasterIsland. The writer maintains that basically EasterIsland was very isolated. The writer points out that the human population grew quickly. Further, the writer notes that eventually most of the resources were depleted and the civilization collapsed.
From the Paper "Easter Island is one of the most unusual places on the planet. It is one of the most isolated places occupied by humans. In 'A Green History of the World' Clive Ponting notes, Easter Island is one of the most remote, inhabited places on earth. Only some 150 square miles in area, it lies in the Pacific Ocean, 2,000 miles off the west coast of South America and 1,250 miles from the nearest inhabitable land of Pitcairn Island. The extreme isolation of Easter Island or Rapa Nui is not the islands most distinguishing feature."
A review of Miki Makihara's article, "Linguistic Syncretism and Language Ideologies: Transforming Sociolinguistic Hierarchy on Rapa Nui (EasterIsland)."
Abstract This paper discusses Miki Makihara's in-depth case study of the way in which diglossia has operated with respect to the Rapa Nui language on EasterIsland. It discusses the content of the article, "Linguistic Syncretism and Language Ideologies: Transforming Sociolinguistic Hierarchy on Rapa Nui (EasterIsland)" and its importance. The paper then compares Makihara's article alongside Charles Ferguson's original article on diglossia, "Sociolinguistic Perspectives: Papers on Language in Society."
From the Paper "Makihara's article is, of course, very interesting alongside Charles Ferguson's original article on diglossia (Ferguson, 1996). In particular, Makihara's expansion on Ferguson's conceptualization of diglossia is instructive. Ferguson's concept showed how one language can co-exist with another in situations where, typically, one is resigned to being a more casual, personal and devalued one, while another is typically valued as being more beautiful, spiritual, intellectual etc. Although Ferguson showed that this situation does not necessarily result in the prior or devalued language facing extinction, Makihara shows how two languages can be diglossic together in one syncretic language, used across contexts, functions and speakers and can actually, and most importantly, serve to uphold and preserve the original language against the odds."
Abstract This paper examines the connection between a civilization's destruction of the environment and the collapse of that civilization. The author analyzes the decline of civilizations by tracing the inhabitants' negative interactions with the environment, focusing on three examples: civilizations from EasterIsland, the Maya in Central America and the ancient Sumarian societies of Mesopotamia.
From the Paper "There is a matrix of interrelated factors that influence the rise and fall of civilizations and the ecosystems they exist in. Mankind does not exist in a vacuum nor are all ecosystems the same. Some physical environments are more resilient to manmade stresses than others. In many cases, man has greatly impacted the environment yet society has sustained minimal lasting effects. In other ecosystems, even a minute amount of interference permanently alters the balance of nature. In the modern era, man has resorted to artificial means (i.e., fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides) to combat environmental damage that in previous ages would have been detrimental to society. Every civilization, past and present, has impacted the environment to varying degrees. Will future archeologists stand puzzled over our ruins and ponder the civilization that once ruled? Or will we learn from the past, tread lightly, and try to become more attune to our surroundings? Only time will tell."
Tags: Maya, Easter, Island, Sumaria, Mesopotamia, Central, America, ecosystems
Abstract This paper describes the nuclear explosions conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense on the Marshall Islands from June 30, 1946 until August 18, 1958. The paper looks at the damage caused by the testing, the media's involvement in exposing the damage and how the U.S. responded to legal actions brought against the U.S. government by Marshallese living on the islands at the time of the nuclear explosions.
From the Paper "From June 30, 1946 until August 18, 1958, the United States Government conducted a total of 67 nuclear explosions off the Marshall Islands, "all of which were considered atmospheric" (Republic of the Marshall Islands 1). The most horrific of these blasts was the 'Bravo Shot,' conducted in the Bikini Atoll on March, 1954. This blast was as powerful as 1000 hydrogen bombs (1) and much more devastating than the 1945 Hiroshima blast. However, the full extent of the destruction was clouded by governmental reticence for years, due to Cold War defense secrecy."
Abstract This paper presents an exploration of the Three Mile Island meltdown of 1979. The writer examines the events leading to and during the accident, and discusses President Jimmy Carter's role in the investigation that followed. The paper argues that what happened at Three Mile Island could easily happen anywhere, and the time has come to rethink where power plants are built.
Outline:
Introduction
History
The Fallout
Investigation
Conclusion
From the Paper "Before one can begin to understand the importance of examining future power plant construction one must have an understanding of the history of the accident.Nuclear accidents are one of the nation's biggest fears. Movies are made that depict what might happen if a meltdown occurs, and few can forget the horror of Chernobyl when the accident occurred(Fact Sheet on the Accident at Three Mile Island
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html). "
Tags: Nuclear, power, plants, Three, Mile, Island, meltdown
Abstract This research paper assesses the impact of introduced disease on Pacific Island communities such as Polynesia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Philippines in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, analyzes how the epidemics spread, and what methods of missionary medicine were available to the victims.
Abstract This paper discusses Jared Diamond's article relating the decline and fall of the EasterIsland Polynesians, "Easter's End." The paper examines Diamond's use of the EasterIsland example as a moral illustration for contemporary society and what will happen if it persists in its unmitigated consumptive habits. It discusses the points that Diamond makes and the lessons that he attempts to teach his readers.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Overview
Point and Hypothesis
Hypothesis and Theory
Evidence
Validity of Assumptions
Policy Recommendations
Conclusions
From the Paper "This is a different perspective then. Where Diamond is accusatory of the state and its economic model as being implicitly responsible for the environmental destruction of Easter Island, other researchers view the state and the political apparatus as an integral part of the solution. That is, where human kind and human nature deserve at least as much of the responsibility for the environmental destruction as the economic model. The primary recommendation is that economic policies founded in the principles of sustainable development should aligned with the political apparatus which governs the broader society."
Abstract The Easter Rising of 1916 became the catalyst in Irish history that would lead to the establishment of an independent Irish state.
The paper shows that the events leading up to the Easter Rising stem from many years of turmoil and frustration suffered by the island of Ireland. The paper explains how Ireland's struggle with Britain for independence has been one that has lingered over centuries. The struggle has been increasingly difficult due to the simple fact of proximity, further complicated by the issue that Ireland itself was divided by Protestant and Catholic lines. Such inner turmoil has made any revolution almost impossible. The paper shows that the history of Ireland, however, is much more complicated than that. By encapsulating past events is to do an injustice to the Irish cause. The paper therefore takes a deeper look into the issues surrounding the Easter Rising and helps bring understanding to a complicated issue.
From the Paper "The Irish Republican Army was, at the very best, a bit uneasy about this treaty. Led by DeValera, the IRA objected to the treaty because it divided Ireland "and was not sufficiently humiliating enough for Great Britain" (Wells 945). DeValera incited his followers to revolt against the Free State and a civil war between the Republicans and the Free State began. 945 This split the Irish Republican Army members into the pro-treaty and anti-treaty members. Collins had many followers, acknowledging that the treaty paved the way to freedom. These loyalists were transformed into the Free State Army and the anti-treaty forces became known as the Irregulars."
Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of the Easter Rising in 1916 on the Irish Republic. The paper discusses the history behind the rebellion and gives a time-line of events leading up to it. It then discusses the implications of the Easter Rising on Irish independence from Great Britain and suggests that the effects of the rebellion are still being felt on Irish nationalism, today.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Implications of the Easter Rising on Irish Independence from Great Britain
Conclusion
From the Paper "The actual uprising was short-lived but its impact on Irish nationalism continues to be felt today. According to Kautt, "The Rising began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, a bank holiday throughout Great Britain. By Saturday the 29th, it was over. During that week the course of Irish history changed, or the destiny of the Irish people was realized, depending on one's outlook." Although the rebels had surrendered after the rising, the British authorities could not allow such unbridled temerity to go unpunished and set out to make an example of the perpetrators. As a result of their actions, Pearse and the other leaders of the rebellion were subsequently court-martialed and executed by the British authorities in the following weeks; although the insurrection was not particularly well received by the majority of the Irish people at the time, the executions of the rebel leaders transformed them into martyrs and served as the catalyst for future efforts to oust the British from Ireland. During the 6 years that followed, there was no Irish government per se and the British governed the nation until the creation of the Irish Free State on December 6, 1921. According to these historians, "The Easter Rising heralded the end of British power in Ireland. Eamon De Valera, because he was the senior survivor of the rising, dated much of his personal popularity with the Irish people from the time of that event.""
Explains that the German-American migration brought several aspects of today's culture with it. Many holidays and holiday traditions can be traced back to Germany, including Easter and Christmas.
Abstract This paper discusses the traditions of Easter and Christmas, and the traditions that were brought from Germany: the Easter bunny, the Christmas tree, and even holiday sweets, all come from Germany. The history of the holidays and specific traditions are all examined, as well as people, places, and dates.
From the Paper "German beliefs and customs have an undisputed impact on American life. Millions of immigrants emigrated from Germany into the United States since the founding of America. German Americans played an instrumental role in the success of life on the new continent. It was only natural that the early settlers retained their German customs. These customs have become integral into American life, and now shape many special events American celebrate. Many German beliefs have assimilated into mainstream culture, and are rarely seen in everyday society. Holidays in particular are important holdouts of a?"Old Worlda"? customs, because they are religiously preformed, and passed down from generation to generation. Can you imagine a Christmas without a Christmas tree? Can you think of Easter without the Easter Bunny? Easter and Christmas are just two examples of the many holidays that German Americans have played an important role in forming."
Abstract This paper examines the poem "Easter Rising 1916" by William Butler Yeats and explains that the struggle for Irish independence is the central theme of the poem. The paper looks at how we can conclude from reading Yeats' poem that Yeats considered the efforts towards independence prior to the Easter Rising was too politicized and did not have enough social relevance. The paper points out that Yeats cites the apathy displayed by the public due to years of complacency as an issue that was not addressed effectively. The paper further points out that for Yeats, although the leaders of the rebellion may have had noble intentions, their actions lacked foresight which resulted to violence and the loss of lives including their own. The paper concludes that, for Yeats, independence can only be realized if there is a full understanding of its cost and when society is willing to practice libertarian ideas and not just talk about it.
From the Paper "Yeats counts himself among the people in society that practice the exchange of "Polite meaningless words" without having any real interests in other people in Ireland, as suggested by the line "lived where motley is worn" (Yeats line 8, 14). This view of society reflects Yeats' view that the Irish people have become used to their society and have become apathetic and uninterested with the concerns of their countrymen. He illustrates that social exchanges have become ritualized that neither affords the discussion of real issues whose sole purpose is for entertainment, to "please a companion", or to impress others (line 11)."
Abstract A look at the writings of William Butler Yeats and Sean O?Casey, contemporaries of the Easter Rising leaders in Ireland and literary figures. The author analyzes the two writers perspectives of the event.
From the Paper ?After the rising, nothing in Ireland was ever the same. Easter week became the central point of modern Irish history, and events were dated according to whether they had happened before or after that event,? says Michael Costigan in A History of Modern Ireland (Costigan 333). Two of Ireland's most significant literary figures, William Butler Yeats and Sean O?Casey who were both contemporaries of the Easter Rising's leaders, treat the subject differently in their writings both before and after the event, but there is no doubt they were both powerfully affected by it."
Tags: uprising, war, religion, tradition, culture, history, leaders, society
Abstract This paper describes the origins of the rituals practiced on the Christian holy days of Good Friday and Easter, explaining, that more than any other rituals of the Christian Church, these are the most holiest of all. The paper goes on to explain what these holy days celebrate and mean to Christianity and why they are sacred to that religion.
From the Paper "The importance of these days, culminating in Easter are the basis for the Christian beliefs in Christ as the Son of God, and the Resurrection is not just the proof thereof, but the foundation for the involvement of all Christian religions in the expectations that all deserving faithful will find an entrance into Heaven, by following the words and expectations of Jesus. Death and Resurrection are what this "weekend" is all about: the despair of death on the cross, and the joy at the resurrection. Modern theologians may consider the resurrection of the soul, rather than mortal remains, as proof that the Christian faithful will be rewarded for having led a good life on earth. If nothing else, the Good Friday ritual enables the faithful Christian to "enter into Jesus' death with the confidence that we will be raised with Christ.""
A look into the role of the Coney Island area and attractions from its beginnings as a retreat for New Yorkers in the late 1800s to a thriving amusement park that peaked in the mid 1900s.
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of the Coney Island area historically and as a symbol of New York City. The first section deals with the rich history of Coney Island, beginning as a hotel resort for New Yorkers to visit during vacations. Coney Island landmarks, such as the Coney Island Elephant Hotel and The Iron Tower are discussed with their individual history given. The competition among New York businessmen to develop the area is also investigated, showing how rivals would fight each other viciously over the prime real estate. The paper then talks about the amusement park era and how Coney Island began to transform itself into a nationally recognized location. A section of the paper is also dedicated to the famous Coney Island Freak Show. Finally, the historical section of the paper ends with the lag in business that hit the area after World War II and how Coney Island exists in modernity as a throwback to past generations. The second section of the paper deals with how Coney Island has become a center of cultural pride for New Yorkers.
From the Paper "Coney Island represented a shift from the old Victorian mentality that many New Yorkers felt during most of the 1800s and into a new outlook of association that contained all citizens of New York City, not just the rich. The privilege of enjoyment was no longer reserved for those with money, but the low prices and massive amount of commercialism that Coney Island would become famous for would aid in the evolution of the city into becoming the representation of all that is America. In light of this optimism, Coney Island also had a darker side. Despite the cultural diversity and economic success the amusement center produced, the achievements concealed the exploitation of certain groups and the corruption that went along with the construction of such a major center of entertainment."
Abstract When one talks about the most beautiful, exotic, and diverse places on earth, the Galapagos Islands are bound to come up. This archipelago is home to countless species of animals that are totally unique to the islands. The paper shows that preservation and conservation of the Galapagos Islands is of world concern, and many groups are taking part, as well as the government that owns the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Although these players are not perfect, they are trying to do the best they can in order to save this pristine environment for future generations to enjoy, study, and learn.
Paper Outline:
Brief History of the Islands Brief History of Conservation Efforts
Efforts by the Ecuadorian Government
Why Should the Islands Be Conserved?
Conclusion
From the Paper "The conservation movement in the Gal"pagos Islands really began in earnest in 1936. It was at this time that various scientific expeditions at the beginning of this century sounded the alarm of the killing of the giant tortoises and of the danger of their eventual extinction. It was at this time that the government of Ecuador took measures for the conservation of the animals. In 1936, the islands were declared a National Reserve with stricter regulations. In 1954 a movement was started to protect the species of the Gal"pagos and to found a center for scientific investigation on the islands."
