Does Restorative Justice Prevent Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Does Restorative Justice Prevent Crime - Essay Example Researchers and authors have critically argued that although significant number of attempts has been made by advocates of Restorative Justice in contrasting this model with various other approaches of justice, this model has suffered from several pitfalls. One of the most important pitfalls has been that those attempts have raised different meanings. These meanings have been attributed to different retribution and to rehabilitation (Mantle et al., 2005: p.2). Principles and practices incorporate a view of crime in terms of a conflict between individuals, instead of conflicts between the state and the offender. The aspect which is closely associated with this view tells that the governments’ responsibility with respect to providing security to individuals, crimes and conditions of disorder need to be shared â€Å"among all the members of the community†. This justice approach has been considered as a humanitarian approach which â€Å"brings to the foreground ambitions of forgiveness, healing, reparation and reintegration† (Mantle et al., 2005:p.3). Hence, this approach includes the offender as well as the victim, their families, friends and community representatives. This urges offenders and the victim to make face-to-face contacts with each other. These aspects of mutual interaction have been used to mark voices of both victim and the offender with regard to their experiences as well as understanding of the crime. These interactions have been introduced in this approach for the purpose of reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the problem (Mantle et al., 2005:p.3). Advocates of this unique approach of justice argue that mental lockdown of the crime is not required in the modern world and society; rather what is required is the justice policy which will repair the damage caused by the crime. Due to this reason, in the restorative justice all parties associated with the crime are incorporated into the justice procedure. The level of confli ct, generated by the system or procedure of criminal justice, has been reduced by the restorative justice. These conflicts arise when harsh punishments are provided to people who belong to the powerless social outcasts of nation. According to the advocates of Restorative Justice, old or traditional modes of justice and methods of punishment have failed considerably to provide a significant system of justice for offenders, victims and others (Siegel, 2011:p.285). However, restorative justice has been praised by various researchers with respect to the fact that it helps in the process of increasing the likelihood of the victim of reporting the crime and also provides different alternative punishments to sanction which ‘get tough’ on these offenders from their respective communities (Sullivan and Tifft, 2006:p.490). Restorative justice has widely been used by NGOs across the globe for providing proper and effective justice to women and children (mainly). Various rights in regard to society, such as rights to work, rights to speech etc., have been developed with greater use of Restorative Justice. Greater use of restorative justice has made the criminal justice system more effective in terms of reducing the level of occurrence of crimes in the society. For instance, in the United States of America, greater use of

Endangered Species Should Be Prioritized Essay Example for Free

Endangered Species Should Be Prioritized Essay Endangered species are native species that faces a risk of extinction in the future. For example, animals that are already extinct like the dodo birds, platypuses that are going to be extinct and many more. These animals are endangered due to climate changes and habitat destruction. The term endangered species can be used in a legal or general context. In a general context, it means species that are facing extinction but it is not protected by the law. When used in a legal context, it refers to a species that is protected by the law (Klappenbach 2013). According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are 801 animals that are already extinct and 3,789 number of animals that are critically endangered. Although it is believed that we should leave nature to take its own course in determining the fate of these species, we need to start prioritizing these species because if the endangered species go extinct, it will cause the imbalance to the ecosystem, preservation of the endangered animals can bring huge benefits to mankind and wild animals represent the Earth. We should protect these endangered species because if these species go extinct, it can imbalance the ecosystem. Firstly, the ecosystem imbalance can be a threat to the human health. It can prevent diseases and it can also sustain good health for the humans. The ecosystem supplies the humans with shelter, clothing, food and a stable climate. The forests provide the mankind oxygen. If humans keep chopping down all the forests, humans will not have enough oxygen and by the end of the day, humans too will be extinct. Moreover, every single animal is important for the balance of the ecosystem. If one animal has been wiped out, it can ruin the chain life. For example, if algae in the pond is destroyed then the tadpoles that feasts on algae will no longer have food. The tadpoles will die of hunger which will mean, there will be few frogs left. The lizards outside of the pond which rely on the frogs for food will have nothing to eat and the lizards will eventually die. Then the birds that rely on the lizards will die and the food chain goes on and on. As you can see, killing one little life can be abig effect to the food chain. Humans are constantly coming in contact with the endangered species that they have become extinct. Most of the animals and plants are destroyed by illegal logging. According to WWF, 73% of timber production in Indonesia is believed to come from illegal logging, 25% of Russia’s timber exports originate from illegal logging and 70% of the harvested timber in Gabon is considered illegal. Imagine how many species the humans killed from the statistic. It is important to preserve the endangered species for our future children. Endangered species should be our priority because we should also preserve the endangered species in order to cure sickness. Animals and plants can bring us a lot of benefits like medicine benefits. About forty percent of the medicine these days come from the natural compounds of different species. These species can be very helpful and also a life saver (Kurpis 2002). We may never know that in some forests there are plants that can cure AIDS or cancer. If we keep clearing forests, we destroy plants that can save the lives of many people. There are some exotic plants like the Calendula flower. The Calendula flower is use to heal treatments for irritations such as eczema (Hughes 2013). The Ginseng plant can be use internally, it stimulates the immune system, lowers high blood pressure and it has the ability to handle stress. Another reason why we should preserve the endangered species is so that our children in the future can see the animals we have now. Animals like the Orangutans are endangered now. Due to deforestation and hunting, the Orangutans are at risk of being extinct. Our children may see the Orangutans now but if they go extinct, they cannot see the Orangutans anymore. Preserving species can also increase the ecotourism in our country. Tourists from all over the world can visit our country and admire the beautiful nature that we have in our country. It will also increase our economy. Places like Bako National Park attracts foreign tourists to visit and see the unique plants and animals we have. Tourists will be amazed with the beauty of our forests and maybe they will come back again. Protecting these endangered animals is very important for us humans because these animals represent our Earth. Without them, we will not be living on the earth till this day. It is the humans’ fault that the animals are endangered. Humans do illegal logging, poaching and hunting. Many species are destroyed by these human activities. Therefore, it is the most responsible thing to do to protect the endangered species. It is the least we can do to make up what we have done to these poor animals and species. Put yourself in their shoes. What if our home has been blown up and we have nowhere else to go. That is how the animals feel. We should feel some empathy for these animals. This is because, if the animals go extinct, it will disrupt the circle of life and also the food chain. We have more knowledge than the animals. As humans with more education, we know what is best for the animals. We should provide them with good shelter. We also have the money to do so. Animals do not work for a living and get paid. We should use what we have to protect the species. Even though most animal activists believe that we should protect these animals, we can understand that we should let nature takes its own course. Animals die due to environmental change. For example, global warming. Due to global warming, it will cause a draught. The species would not have water to drink and eventually they will die. That is how nature works. We cannot fight the nature. However this argument is weak because we are the one who have caused this change in nature. Humans cause global warming. Humans do activities like open burning, illegal logging, harmful smokes from factories and many more. Due to massive illegal hunting, animals are not reproducing. If humans are always hunting and killing animals, it will be hard for the animals to mate and therefore they cannot reproduce more and the animals are at risk of extinction due to these cruel human activities. It is very important to prioritize the endangered species because if they are not protected, our ecosystem will be imbalance, they provide us with medicinal benefits and they represent our Earth. There are many ways to protect the endangered species. If we cannot donate any money to protect them, we can also protect them by doing little things at home. For example, we can learn about endangered species in our area. We should teach our friends and family about the wildlife that live near us. The first step isto know how important it is to protect the endangered species. The natural world provides us with sources like clean water, food and medicinal sources. We should also use less pesticides on our plants. It is hazardous and it can affect the wildlife at many levels. We should report any shooting of animals to the authorities. Harassing wildlife is illegal. Conserving the habitats is one of the most important ways to protect plants and animals that are at risk of being extinct by protecting their habitats in national parks. However they cannot live with too much interference from humans so we should protect habitats outside reserves such as farms and along the roadsides. We can also plant native plants around our housing area. It will attract birds, butterflies and maybe even some threatened species. This is why we should protect the endangered species and not leave them to die. (1,332 words) References 10 Easy things you can do at home to protect endangered species, viewed 30 June 2013, http://www.stopextinction.org/10athome.html. Endangered Species Statistics, viewed 30 June 2013 http://www.statisticbrain.com/endangered-species-statistics/. Illegal Logging, viewed 30 June 2013 http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_forests/deforestation/forest_illegal_logging/. Lauren Kurpis, 2013, Why Save the Endangered Species?, viewed 18 June 2013 http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Why_Save_.htm. Lauren Kurpis 2013, Ways you can help endangered species, viewed 18 June 2013 http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htm. Tim Bowen, Ecosystem is a threat to human health, viewed 18 June 2013, http://www.medicinalnewstoday.com/releases/34791.php. Why Every Animal is so Important for Keeping Earth’s Ecosystem Healthy, viewed 17 June 2013, http://earth.com/why-every-animal-is-so-important-for-keeping-earth%E2%80%99s-ecosystem-healthy-by-admin-on-june-12,2010.

Hamlet :: essays research papers

From reading the play Hamlet it gave me such a well rounded interpretation of a family crisis that ended up affecting an entire country. Throughout the play the main character Hamlet set the tone for many of the acts. His characteristics were so in depth, that his emotional state was never settle. His emotional state constantly changed, sometimes you wouldn’t know what to expect from young Hamlet. Near the beginning of the play Hamlet’s emotional state was very uneasy. His father had just died so, he was living in denial; but to top it all off his â€Å"so called mother† married his uncle Claudius. By his mother marrying his uncle he felt betrayed. Not just because his mother re-married and his father hadn’t been dead for a whole month. The reason why he felt betrayed is that his mother got married in such little time and to his uncle. This situation brought Hamlet to an even more uneasy emotional state. When hamlet was around Ophelia his emotional state was very virtuous. Hamlet was secretly in love with Ophelia and Ophelia loved Hamlet as well. Hamlet was to shy to tell Ophelia what his true feelings were for her; until it was too late. Hamlet’s emotional state when he’s around Claudius is very blunt. You could tell that Hamlet doesn’t really care for him. Since he became his uncle/Step-father. Hamlet loathes Claudius even more after he found out that he was the one responsible for his father’s death. When Hamlet’s around Polonius he tends to mock him. Even though he is the father of his love; he senses that he has a sneaky and cunning side to him. Shortly after Hamlet’s two friend’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrived from England and mysteriously started hanging around him. Hamlet knew that something wasn’t right. Which it really wasn’t; Claudius and Gertrude sent for the two to keep an eye on Hamlet. Hamlet received a bad vibe from them. His impression of them was as being two snakes so; he didn’t want to spend much time with them.

Good Health Essay

â€Å"‘Good health implies the achievement of a dynamic balance between individuals or groups and their environment.'† (Better Health Commission 1986, cited in Carey, D., Perraton, G.; Weston, K. 2000: 3). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ‘health’ can be defined as the absence of illnesses and a state of mental and social well-being (Carey et al. 2000:3). In other words, in order to maintain optimal health, it is imperative to have a well-balanced lifestyle which would include a nutritious diet as well as mental and social well-being. This essay shows that food is one of the many important factors amongst others when striving to maintain good health. This will be demonstrated by examining the three main aspects affecting an individual’s health, in the following order: diet, lifestyle and social fabric of family and society. Diet is considered as one of the most crucial factors contributing to an individual’s health. However, being aware of what constitutes a good diet as opposed to a poor diet is significant in maintaining optimal health in an individual. A diet that is well-balanced includes more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and less fatty, salty or sugary foods. This would mean avoiding processed meals from takeaways and eating less refined foods. Several main reasons are commonly given for this. The first of this is a poor diet which has been noted to be a major cause of obesity. Obesity appears to be a major risk factor in many diseases such as colorectal cancer and coronary heart disease. In addition, in recent years the number of diet-related diseases has increased proportionately, and is now one of the major causes of death in most western countries including Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (1987 cited in Australian Consumers’ Association 1991: 6), the most significant causes of mortality in 1986 were cancer and heart disease. An explanation for this could be the steady rise in obesity levels within Australia, with many people eating highly processed foods which are laden with calories (Australian Consumers’ Association 1991: 13). It is therefore critical to eat a nutritively healthy diet, in order to successfully maintain good health and weight. Furthermore, an example supporting the above contention is a study conducted by the Willcox team (2004: 2), which reveals that the Okinawans have one of  the highest rates of longevity and have considerably lower risk towards most diet-related diseases which tend to be more prevalent in the ‘affluent countries’ of the West. The most notable difference in the lifestyle of the Okinawans and the Australians is their food consumption, which is low in calories and rich in fibrous foods such as grains, vegetables and soy. The study also states that such a diet has allowed the Okinawans to refrain from extensive free-radical damage to their body, allowing them to live longer and healthier. This reinforces the idea that nutriment consisting of a variety of wholesome meals rather than processed foods is extremely essential in maintaining health that has a lower predisposition to diseases associated with diet. Another vital factor for maintaining optimal health is lifestyle. Grundy (n.d. cited in Cadzow 1996: 32) states that the continuing trend of deteriorating physical conditions is due to the sedentary lifestyles people tend to keep nowadays. It seems that in several modern cities like Australia, people often succumb to a physically inactive way of life because of the presence of numerous technological devices such as television for entertainment and elevators for convenience. For instance, it is quite common to find staff members in many workplaces choosing to send an e-mail to another office that could be just next door, then actually going down personally (Cadzow 1996:32). As a consequence, many people are not able to burn the amount of kilojoules they consume and are therefore rapidly gaining weight and becoming vulnerable to diet-related diseases, which can radically hinder their health. Comparatively, the centenarians of Okinawa have been noted to keep a particularly active lifestyle, even as they grow older, frequently taking part in strenuous activities such as fishing and farming as evidenced by research conducted by the Willcox team (n.d. cited in King Murdoch 2005: 24). As a result of their late retirements and continuous physical activities, the Okinawans seem to enjoy high rates of longevity and good health as compared to the populations of other countries (Mc Devitt 1999: 59). A further critical element characteristic of a healthy lifestyle is to refrain from smoking and limiting alcohol intake to a minimum to enhance  physical well-being (Melton 2001: 32). Hence, it is evident that staying healthy means keeping active. Various simple activities such as dancing, gardening, or brisk walking help to burn kilojoules whilst at the same time providing enjoyment. Such activities can easily be done by everyone to keep healthy. Finally, social development also plays a fundamental role in promoting and maintaining good health. Perry (1997: 26) notes that the elderly that live with their children and grandchildren gain several positive impacts on their social and mental well-being. These benefits include emotional and physical support from their children along with a close-knit social network, both of which are significant to maintaining good social condition as evidenced by World Health Organisation’s definition of ‘health’. Conversely, the elderly are able to give emotional support to their family members, as well as recommend healthy dietary choices in order to encourage better health which provides mutual benefits to all members of the family, and allows for a dynamic state of wellbeing. Another example highlighting the importance of culture in the maintenance of health is the Okinawan approach to life, which is full or enthusiasm and positive outlooks, which enables strong ‘social integration’. Further evidence in support of this contention includes studies conducted by several researchers in the West, which have revealed that easy going people with optimistic attitudes generally tend to outlive the pessimistic (Melton 2001: 32). In addition to keeping a positive outlook, coping with stress effectively is another important aspect in relation to mental condition. Meditation and spirituality, helps to reinforce the mental as well as social aspect of healthiness, thus increasing the ‘psychospiritual health’. It can therefore be summarised that being cheerful and engaging in social activities promotes better health. In conclusion, it is evident that maintaining optimal health requires consideration of a variety of factors including the type of food consumed, the sort of lifestyle maintained and the existence of an interactive environment. Since all these factors affect the balance of an individual’s health, it is very difficult to say which particular one is more essential than another. Rather, it is the combination of all three dynamic features  that enables the sustainment of a healthy life, without the incidence of diseases because health is a continual journey and the successful blend of physical, mental and social equilibrium is of utmost importance. As summarised by the Wilcox team, â€Å"[T]he issue is not how long we live, it is how well we live.

Deception Point Page 48

The ax. In her fear, she had entirely forgotten the ice ax attached to the rip cord on her belt. The lightweight aluminum tool was bouncing along beside her leg. She looked up at the payload cable on the balloon. Thick, heavy-duty braided nylon. Reaching down, she fumbled for the bouncing ax. She grasped the handle and pulled it toward her, stretching the elastic rip cord. Still on her side, Rachel struggled to raise her arms over her head, placing the ax's serrated edge against the thick cord. Awkwardly, she began sawing the taut cable. â€Å"Yes!† Tolland yelled, fumbling now for his own ax. Sliding on her side, Rachel was stretched out, her arms above her, sawing at the taut cable. The line was strong, and the individual nylon strands were fraying slowly. Tolland gripped his own ax, twisted, raised his arms over his head, and tried to saw from underneath in the same spot. Their banana blades clicked together as they worked in tandem like lumberjacks. The rope began fraying on both sides now. We're going to do it, Rachel thought. This thing is going to break! Suddenly, the silver bubble of Mylar before them swooped upward as if it had hit an updraft. Rachel realized to her horror that it was simply following the contour of the land. They had arrived. The berms. The wall of white loomed only an instant before they were on it. The blow to Rachel's side as they hit the incline drove the wind from her lungs and wrenched the ax from her hand. Like a tangled water-skier being dragged up over a jump, Rachel felt her body dragged up the face of the berm and launched. She and Tolland were suddenly catapulted in a dizzying upward snarl. The trough between the berms spread out far beneath them, but the frayed payload cable held fast, lifting their accelerated bodies upward, carrying them clear out over the first trough. For an instant, she glimpsed what lay ahead. Two more berms-a short plateau-and then the drop-off to the sea. As if to give a voice to Rachel's own dumbstruck terror, the high-pitched scream of Corky Marlinson cut through the air. Somewhere behind them, he sailed up over the first berm. All three of them went airborne, the balloon clawing upward like a wild animal trying to break its captor's chains. Suddenly, like a gunshot in the night, a sudden snap echoed overhead. The frayed rope gave way, and the tattered end recoiled in Rachel's face. Instantly, they were falling. Somewhere overhead the Mylar balloon billowed out of control†¦ spiraling out to sea. Tangled in carabiners and harnesses, Rachel and Tolland tumbled back toward earth. As the white mound of the second berm rose up toward them, Rachel braced for impact. Barely clearing the top of the second berm, they crashed down the far side, the blow partially cushioned by their suits and the descending contour of the berm. As the world around her turned into a blur of arms and legs and ice, Rachel felt herself rocketing down the incline out onto the central ice trough. Instinctively she spread her arms and legs, trying to slow down before they hit the next berm. She felt them slowing, but only slightly, and it seemed only seconds before she and Tolland were sliding back up an incline. At the top, there was another instant of weightlessness as they cleared the crest. Then, filled with terror, Rachel felt them begin their dead slide down the other side and out onto the final plateau†¦ the last eighty feet of the Milne Glacier. As they skidded toward the cliff, Rachel could feel the drag of Corky on the tether, and she knew they were all slowing down. She knew it was too little too late. The end of the glacier raced toward them, and Rachel let out a helpless scream. Then it happened. The edge of the ice slid out from underneath them. The last thing Rachel remembered was falling. 54 The Westbrooke Place Apartments are located at 2201 N Street NW and promote themselves as one of the few unquestionably correct addresses in Washington. Gabrielle hurried through the gilded revolving door into the marble lobby, where a deafening waterfall reverberated. The doorman at the front desk looked surprised to see her. â€Å"Ms. Ashe? I didn't know you were stopping by tonight.† â€Å"I'm running late.† Gabrielle quickly signed in. The clock overhead read 6:22 P.M. The doorman scratched his head. â€Å"The senator gave me a list, but you weren't-â€Å" â€Å"They always forget the people who help them most.† She gave a harried smile and strode past him toward the elevator. Now the doorman looked uneasy. â€Å"I better call up.† â€Å"Thanks,† Gabrielle said, as she boarded the elevator and headed up. The senator's phone is off the hook. Riding the elevator to the ninth floor, Gabrielle exited and made her way down the elegant hallway. At the end, outside Sexton's doorway, she could see one of his bulky personal safety escorts-glorified bodyguards-sitting in the hall. He looked bored. Gabrielle was surprised to see security on duty, although apparently not as surprised as the guard was to see her. He jumped to his feet as she approached. â€Å"I know,† Gabrielle called out, still halfway down the hall. â€Å"It's a P.E. night. He doesn't want to be disturbed.† The guard nodded emphatically. â€Å"He gave me very strict orders that no visitors-â€Å" â€Å"It's an emergency.† The guard physically blocked the doorway. â€Å"He's in a private meeting.† â€Å"Really?† Gabrielle pulled the red envelope from under her arm. She flashed the White House seal in the man's face. â€Å"I was just in the Oval Office. I need to give the senator this information. Whatever old pals he's schmoozing tonight are going to have to do without him for a few minutes. Now, let me in.† The guard withered slightly at the sight of the White House seal on the envelope. Don't make me open this, Gabrielle thought. â€Å"Leave the folder,† he said. â€Å"I'll take it into him.† â€Å"The hell you will. I have direct orders from the White House to hand-deliver this. If I don't talk to him immediately, we can all start looking for jobs tomorrow morning. Do you understand?† The guard looked deeply conflicted, and Gabrielle sensed the senator had indeed been unusually adamant tonight about having no visitors. She moved in for the kill. Holding the White House envelope directly in his face, Gabrielle lowered her voice to a whisper and uttered the six words all Washington security personnel feared most. â€Å"You do not understand the situation.† Security personnel for politicians never understood the situation, and they hated that fact. They were hired guns, kept in the dark, never sure whether to stand firm in their orders or risk losing their jobs by mule-headedly ignoring some obvious crisis. The guard swallowed hard, eyeing the White House envelope again. â€Å"Okay, but I'm telling the senator you demanded to be let in.† He unlocked the door, and Gabrielle pushed past him before he changed his mind. She entered the apartment and quietly closed the door behind her, relocking it. Now inside the foyer, Gabrielle could hear muffled voices in Sexton's den down the hall-men's voices. Tonight's P.E. was obviously not the private meeting implied by Sexton's earlier call. As Gabrielle moved down the hall toward the den, she passed an open closet where a half dozen expensive men's coats hung inside-distinctive wool and tweed. Several briefcases sat on the floor. Apparently work stayed in the hall tonight. Gabrielle would have walked right past the cases except that one of the briefcases caught her eye. The nameplate bore a distinctive company logo. A bright red rocket. She paused, kneeling down to read it: SPACE AMERICA, INC. Puzzled, she examined the other briefcases. BEAL AEROSPACE. MICROCOSM, INC. ROTARY ROCKET COMPANY. KISTLER AEROSPACE.