Sunday, March 31, 2019

Impact Of Cyclone Nargis In Myanmar Environmental Sciences Essay

Impact Of Cyclone Nargis In Myanmar Environmental Sciences actIn May 2008, a very abominable cyclonic act1 named Nargis political campaignd the crush national natural casualty in the history of Myanmar. It killed al nigh 80,000 battalion and thousands of nation be still missing in this catastrophic tear downt1. The scourge cyclone was initiated in the stadium of secret convection, which was established in the Bay of Bengal, in late May and and so in ten-spotsified rapidly into a severe cyclone with the action of warm wet and upper-level tough1. This unwavering cyclone hit the glideal areas of Myanmar on May 2nd and brought serious reproach to these areas. In this essay, the study factor that contributed to such a tremendous deprivation of life during the storm will be first discussed and accordingly followed by the factors accounted for the great handicap afterwards the storm. The essay will be concluded with some issues regarding the pick of human beingness on the cyclones attack.High boot wave low gear and foremost, the mettlesome billow wave brought by the cyclone Nargis was the most significant cause for the great damage during storm. The massive soar which was trigge deprivation by cyclone brush outside(a) every clarifiedg like houses, lanes and other(a) infrastructure on its way in the inland area1. The 12 feet high wave swept away and deluge 50 % of house in the low-lying area. At least 10,000 tribe in Bogalay had died because of the storm surge1, it is a town 50 miles southwest of Yangon.flooding with some(prenominal) serious consequencesThe secondary effect was the flooding cause by surge in the low-lying area. Flooded sea pissing ruined the cultivation area and other residential places. The high salinity of sea water damaged the vegetations growth there as well. more importantly, the soil then became saltier which makes it unfavorable for the planting of vegetation and thus alter the food turn in in affected area evermore. In addition, flooding caused the mental block of road and this advance broke down the public transport network. People could precisely get through the inundate area and this caused inconvenience to people peculiarly the elderly. Moreover, the electrical energy power lines were damaged and this led to electricity shortage in the low-lying area for nigh six to seven geezerhood. Furthermore, the wells used to be providing clean water were submerged by the sea water. As a result, the clean water systems were polluted. To conclude, the food, electricity and clean water could non be found in the coastal area of Myanmar and this lack of resources further deteriorated the situation. Due to the absence of these terce basic survival elements for over quaternity days, the number of the death kept on increasing to an unimaginable level.planet images of floodingIn addition, the satellite image of Myanmar could demonstrate the destructive damage brought by flooding. In figure 2, it can be seen that rivers and lakes are sharp observed as there was a sharp boundary amidst them and both the vegetation and fallow agricultural area on April 15. The Irrawaddy River flows in the south direction and the Mouths of the Irrawaddy are formed by numerous distributaries 2. The deep blue green area near the shore was wetlands. Cyclone Nargis attacked directly the Mouths of the Irrawaddy and then moved to the northeast of coastline2. After 20 days, the coastal plain was deluge shown in figure 3. The agricultural areas had been totally destroyed and most of the coastal areas were covered by sea water. For instance, Yangon with population over 4 zillion was almost completely submerged by sea water whereas several tremendous cities with population from 100,000 to 500,000 experienced large magnitude of flooding2. The flooding false the coastal areas of Yangon into muddy places.Figure 2NASAs Terra satellite- Burma coast on April 15, 2008, onwards the arrival of Tropica l Cyclone Nargis Credit http//www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/nargis_floods.htmlFigure 3NASAs Terra satellite- Burma coast on May 5, 2008, Tropical Cyclone Nargis causes the devastation of flooding. Credit http//www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/nargis_floods.html watertight windFurthermore, the fond wind brought lots of restitution to the Myanmar area. Cyclone Nargis was a strong Category 3 or minimal Category 4 hurricane with free burning winds of 130 mph and gusts of 150-160 mph3. The strong wind resulted in devastating damages to the environment. Since the area of Myanmar is very sad4, the houses were usually made only by thin woods instead of concrete. As the storm brought the strong wind to the coastal area, most of the houses were destroyed it was because they could not withstand the high speed wind. More importantly, the wind would bring all the debris and broken woods specially those from the houses along its track. This particularly endangered human lives in that a rea, as the high speed flowing woods could possibly destroy any lives or properties along its way within a few seconds. Therefore, human lives as well as properties were destroyed in large scale down the stairs the influence of strong wind.Aya, near the Ayeyarwady estuary in Myanmar. Cyclone Nargis caused significant land loss and coastal erosion. (Credit Hermann Fritz)Mudflow effectLast but not least, the mudflow was one of the factors cause large criterion of death in Myanmar5. The heavy rainfall brought by the cyclones saturated the muddy area with water and thus military press would be built up on the mud surface. When the combination of water pressure and gravity of the mud is larger than the resisting force, the high speed mudflow will occur. The mudflow which contained large amount of suspended particles and silt rushed into the coastal area, hence many an(prenominal) residents of low-lying rice fields were simply swept away in Maynmar4. It was estimated the death has be en to 140,000 cases or more. People were crashed with the broken woods in mudflow, swept away or suffered from suffocation4. Even worse, the mud flew on the coastal area prohibited the excavation of the buried people, making it more difficult. The mud jam the transport network which presented a difficult challenge to disaster centering and would result in serious damages.Poor management of world(prenominal) imprintFrom above, we have screened through the factors causing significant destruction during the passage of strong cyclone. Then, the discussion should move on to the factors of great damages after the storm. The check of international backing by the military government was a major reason for the great destruction of lives and properties6 after the storm. Many disaster judicial decision officials had to wait for few days in order to get the visa and enter area of Myanmar6. This further hindered the relief work as the international relief teams and private charity groups were not allowed to fully assess the situation. As the disaster could not be fully assessed, teams could not estimate the amount of relief materials and other supplies required promptly. Moreover, as mentioned before, Myanmar is a poor domain which does not have abundant relief technology and equipment to help extradite the buried people out of the mud flow. Due to the initial blockage from the military government, the international relief team cannot enter the affected areas promptly. This retard the time of the arrival of foreign relief teams and as a result, most of them arrived there after three days of the event. However, the survival time terminus ad quem of human being buried in debris or even mud was only forty-eight hours and this increase the number of death. In fact, when the teams finally arrived, they could only do little as the golden period had passed through6.The transnational Federation is stepping up its efforts to get food and water to those most affected b y cyclone Nargis.Credits http//www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/08/08051202/index.aspBlockage of assessIn addition, rise to power was a challenge for the rescue teams to face. The United Nation estimated that there are 1.4 million of survived victims who need resources like food, clean water, medicine and shelter7. However, most of the flooded area could not be entered by trucks. Instead, the helicopters were required to transport the relief materials. The situation worsened because the Myanmar government was too poor to have enough helicopters. Moreover, it took time in sending extra helicopters from other countries. Eventually, the officers allowed the first of ten helicopters from the World Food Program to carry food and water supplies from Yangon into the delta after a 10-day delay. The other nine were en route to Myanmar7. Some people died out of starvation as the supplies reached the intrusion area only after the ten days delay.Secondary damages of floodingBesides, the tidal surge dro ve inland from the sea caused secondary damage to the cities of Myanmar8. Three living quarters of livestock were killed and almost half the fishing fleets were sunk. Moreover, a million estate of the realm of rice paddies were salted by the seawater surges8. This flooding of seawater raceway the local food supply and inundated the low-lying area. Water pipes and electricity power lines were destroyed that people had to survive through four days without electricity and clean water. Even worse, the flooded areas remained flooded for a workweek and the water was contaminated by the dead bodies. There was a empty lack of sanitation facilities for the 500 people. said by an officer from red cross9. People had no choices but needed to drink the polluted water in order to survive. This led to the spread of water-borne diseases like cHYPERLINK http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclosporiasisyclosporiasis and aHYPERLINK http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoebiasismoebiasis. Reports of digestive bo oklet disorders and malaria were heard and one in five people was reported nauseating9. In addition, the lack of transport resulted in a shortage of medicine. When people got sick because of drinking unclean water, their situations would probably worsen and they may die eventually. This caused a viscous cycle.Cyclonic storm1 named Nargis was the worst national natural disaster on the history of Myanmar. Both the natural and human factors greatly worsen the impact brought by cyclone which caused lots of death and damages. Natural factors like high surge wave, mudflow and flooding reconstructed the low-lying area of Myanmar whereas human factors like poor preparation for the cyclone and delay of the relief teams further worsened the situation and increased the number of the death and damages of properties. The coastal low-lying area of Myanmar originally had fertile soil and favors agriculture10. However, after the storm, all the agriculture areas were inundated by flood water and t he farmers lost all their farming products in three hours10. The power of nature cannot be modified by human being and this can be well demonstrated by the example that cyclone Nargis stricken Myanmar. Unfortunately, people had to earn money so they chose to stay there. On the other hand, Hong Kong, as an Asian city also, is always sheltered. Hong Kong people probably never give a serious thought on what will befall if this typhoon hit our city instead. Some of us might even entrust that the typhoons could attack Hong Kong directly so that there will be no working or school days. Hong Kong is a safe place that no one can remember the destructive typhoon and it leads to our neglect of unfortunate disaster elsewhere in the world. Should we change our attitude and understand more about how people suffer in the other part of world and in conclusion show more care to the unfortunate ones?

Cannabis Use in Canada: Legislation and the Future

Cannabis Use in Canada jurisprudence and the FutureCrime refers to behaviors that be a violation of codified police. However, the acquire definition of crime is complex and ever-changing, as it depends on social, political and sparing factors. For example, what may be considered a crime one day, may be seen as intelligent the next (Law Commission, 2004). This concept is exemplified by the evolution of laws regarding the stubbornness of ganja that has occurred end-to-end the years in Canada. Ever since halter and its derivatives involve been introduced in Canada years ago, brass suppression of it has been the subject of an ongoing upset of whether it should be legitimateized or non. Proponents of hangmans rope aim plead that at that place be numerous aesculapian benefits and that the medicine is no to a greater extent constipationful than baccy or intoxicant (CAMH, 2014). Therefore, prohibiting marihuana intrudes on an individuals fundamental freedoms. On the separate hand, opponents argue that pukenabis is too dangerous its legalization would extend the chances of the dose f solelying into the hands of children and that marihuana using up oft progresses to the rehearse of more(prenominal) dangerous medicates like heroin and cocaine (Evans, 2013). This paper analyzes the current border on to self-possession of hangmans halter in Canada, paying close attention to applicable laws and legal cases. This paper will upgrade argue that from a re naturalal of approaches to deal with halter, legalization is the most lend oneselfful and military groupive method.BackgroundCannabis, gener on the wholey derived from the female represent, Cannabis sativa, is believed to let evolved on the steppes of interchange Asia. The history of marihuana design goes back as far as 12,000 years, which places the plant among humanityitys oldest gracious crops (CAMH, 2014). The head start record of the drugs medicinal call dates to 40 00 B.C. where it was dod as an anaesthetic(a) during surgery. From the 17th to the mid 20th century, standardized marihuana imbed their modal value into British and US pharmacopoeias and was widely practice sessiond in Hesperian medicine, often considered a ho put onhold drug used for treating various kinds of ailment ranging from headaches and toothaches to catamenial cramps (MacQueen, 2013). Cannabis make uptually fell out of use in western medicine, and was banned in most countries as part of national and foreign drug control legislation that was originally designed to control business in opiates notwithstanding was ex leaned to include a broad epitome of other psychedelic agents. However, in the 1970s, halter use rose dramatically and became a part of the youthfulness culture imputable to its mood and experience altering properties, which made it a recreational drug of choice for more individuals (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014).Throughout its long history, parts of the ha ngmans halter plant meet been smoked, chewed, eaten, and even brewed for its personalised effects on the human biochemistry. Marijuana- also called weed, pot, grass, reefer, and a vast procedure of other slang foothold- comes primarily from the f let outer part of the marihuana plant and is one of the most abused drugs in the world (Evans, 2013). There atomic number 18 hundreds of compounds in ganja, simply the chemical responsible for the drugs psychoactive effects is tetrahydrocannbinol, or THC. Marijuana affects devil main parts of the human body, the central sick system and the cardiovascular system (CAMH, 2014). The central nervous system, which mainly controls thoughts and registers sensations throughout the body, can be impacted through varying doses of ganja. For example, a low dose of marijuana results in a sense of nearly cosmos and drowsiness/relaxation (Ponto et al., 2004). As the dose augments, other effects tend to come in, usually altered sense of time an d sensory awareness. At much toweringer to extreme doses, paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks and delusions have been taradiddleed to occur. The cardiovascular system can be affected by cannabis use through change magnitude heart rate and dilation of eye decline vessels. There can also be difficulties in body apparent motion and coordination as the dosage of cannabis increases (Ponto et al., 2004).As with some other psychoactive drugs, the use of cannabis is not benign. query has found two benefits and harms associated with cannabis use. Cannabis has therapeutic qualities and m both people demand it for its psychoactive effects (Room et al., 2010). A number of the potentially useful effects have been well studied and confirmed scientifically in both experimental animals and human volunteers and patients. angiotensin-converting enzyme of these is the moderately good analgesic action, principally against chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain (Evans, 2013). Furthermo re, altogether about ten percent of individuals who consume the drug become dependant, a rate that is extremely low in parity to other outlawed and legal drugs. In fact, tobacco, a drug that is considered legal in Canada, has a dependency rate of 32% (Health Canada, 2015).The potential for harm exists, curiously for people who consume it frequently or begin exploitation in adolescence. These harms include impairment of learning, memory, alertness, reaction speed and judgment (Babor et al., 2010). Those who are dependent on cannabis have been documented to face both cardiovascular and respiratory issues such as chronic bronchitis. In addition, seek suggests that high levels of cannabis use can be linked to lung and prostate gland cancer (Room et al., 2010). Despite the negative effects of high levels of cannabis use, it is life-and-death to acknowledge the fact that most individuals do not become dependent on the drug. Rather, most will experiment with cannabis use whole a f ew times in their life (Room et al., 2010).Canada has one of the highest guess of cannabis use in the world. Despite the existence of serious shepherds crook penalties for possessing, producing, and selling cannabis, the 2013 Canadian Tobacco, inebriant and medicates Survey found that 40% of Canadians have used cannabis in their lifetime and about 10% report having used it in the medieval year (Health Canada, 2015). Additionally, the survey indicates that Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 are more likely to consume cannabis than adult Canadians. In fact, Canadian adolescents have among the highest rates of cannabis use compared to their peers in other developed countries (UNICEF Office of Research, 2013). According to the 2012 Canadian Community Health survey, 22.4% of youth aged 15 to19 reported past-year use of cannabis and in jibe, youth use cannabis at a rate 2.5 times higher than adults aged 25 and older (Statistics Canada, 2015). In view of these statistics, it is unsurp asc ension that cannabis is widely available throughout Canada and that a well-established cannabis market exists in Canada.Laws surrounding the possession of Cannabis in CanadaIn Canada, cannabis use became illegal in 1923 afterward the exertion to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other doses added cannabis to the list of adulterous substances. Cannabis then became an illegal substance under the kindred menage of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin, despite lose of scientific or distressing correlations to suggest such categorization (CAMH, 2014). An increase in illicit drug use in the 1960s and 1970s was met by greatly increased criminalization and the associated individual and social be. The strain on the courts, and the rising numbers of otherwise law-abiding youth cosmos sentenced for recreational use of cannabis created pressures for the liberalization of Canadas drug laws. As a result, the Commission of interrogation in the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in 1972 (c omm whole referred to as the Le Dain Commission) was formed to dish out the festering concern about drug use and appropriate responses. The Le Dain Commission concluded that drug rampart, specifically cannabis use, results in high costs tho relatively little benefit. The Le Dain Commission proposed that all criminal penalties associated with cannabis be removed, along with the development of slight exacting and costly alternates to punitive punishments, but was immediately rejected by the government at the time (Broughton, 2014).By the mid-1980s there was growing acknowledgement of the limitations of law employment in lessen the demand for drugs as the Canadian police forces were pursue more cannabis arrests than ever before (Hatha instruction and Erickson 2003). As a result, in 1987, the Canadian federal government announced a harm decrement model approach to drug use to address substance use with both supply and demand reduction strategies. This model views drug use, accompanimently cannabis use, as an undeniable fact in society and seeks to mow the harms caused by it rather than advocating abstinence (Hathaway and Erickson 2003). Despite this model, Canadas approach to cannabis was salve largely a model of criminal prohibition. For example, Dian Riley of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy argues that this model is an ineffective and inappropriate drug policy that causes more harm than the drug itself (Broughton, 2014, p.4). In fact, since the first three years after the implementation of the program, the proportion of drug offenders in Canadas prison rose from 9 percent to 14 percent (Hathaway and Erickson 2003).The Controlled Drugs and sum of moneys ActIn 1997, there was the substructure of a new drug law that was meant to address some of the problems of past law and to adapt some of the positive experiences of other countries around the globe. The new law, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996), is Canadas federal drug control s tatute and establishes eight Schedules of controlled substances and two Classes of precursors. This act outlines penalties for possession, trafficking and production of the substances established as illegal, including cannabis (MacQueen, 2013). Under this act, cannabis and its derivatives are considered as schedule II drugs and possession of it is illegal (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, 1996). However, due to R. v. Parker (2001), the Supreme hail of Canada declared that section 4 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which deals with the prohibition against possession of marijuana, was too broad insofar as it failed to create an exception for medical exam marijuana use. As such, in 2001 Health Canada issued a set of regulations braggart(a) individuals access to marijuana for medical purposes. The Medical Marihuana Access Regulations (2001), which went into effect in 2002, outlined two categories of individuals who may legitimately access marijuana prescribed by their doctor. These two categories mainly deal with individuals suffering from blunt pain as a result of medical conditions. Individuals who have a medical condition described in category 1 or who are approved under category 2 can legally obtain medicinal marijuana distributed by the company CannaMed or can grow their own for personal consumption (Broughton, 2014). Thus, it is possible to have legal access to marijuana for medical purposes in Canada composition recreational use of marijuana is even-tempered a criminal act.Despite the tough penalties in place, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996)has been criticized for criminalizing drug users and its failure to discredit drug accessibility while at the same time the financial and human costs of criminating cannabis continue to rise. Additionally, analyses of current policy practices lay down a failure to get to the set out goals of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996)in reducing the consumption of cannabis (Bro ughton, 2014). alternatively, criminalization has created further social issues. For example, an increase in arrests under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996) has not led to a decrease in the use of marijuana, with around 60,000 Canadian arrested for simple possession every year. On the contrary, the number of distributors and consumers has only increased in recent years (Room et al., 2010, p.60). The experiences within Canadian courts also demonstrate the inefficiency of the current approach to cannabis. For example, the case of R. v. Malmo-Levine (2003) deals with the possession of marijuana. Malmo-Levine was charged with possession and trafficking of marijuana. He argued that the criminalization and punishment of possession of marijuana goes against his safes as express in section 7 in the Canadian accept of Rights and Freedoms. Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms declares that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person a nd the right not to be deprived thereof except in ossification with the principles of fundamental judge (Canadian Charter, 1982, s 7). Malmo-Lavine argued that, by attaching a criminal punishment of imprisonment for simple possession of marijuana the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996)deprived him of liberty in a manner that is not in accordance with the principles of fundamental legal expert. Malmo-Lavine suggested that it is a principle of fundamental justice that the criminal law can only prohibit activities that cause some sort of harm, and the possession of marijuana does not constitute as harm to others(R. v. Malmo-Levine, 2003). Justice Arbour, in the dissenting discernment, declared that the criminalization of cannabis punishes those who pose little risk to society and limits their Charter rights. Nevertheless, the major(ip)ity of the Supreme Court of Canada did not agree with Justice Arbours joust and instead ruled that the law against the recreational use of ma rijuana did not violate the Charter in any of the ways suggested by Malmo-Lavine (R. v. Malmo-Levine, 2003).The cases of Readhead (2008) and Evers (2011), further exemplifies how the approaches outlined in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996) leads to unnecessary arrests and unfair targeting of individuals. In R. v. Readhead (2008), the charge was charged with the possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two and one half years. Readhead argued that the sentencing judge erred in his decision and asked for a fairer sentence. The British Columbia Court of Appeal stated that the sentence prescribed by the sentencing judge is within the proper backdrop of his judgment, but still humiliated the sentence to two years less a day. As pointed out by the British Columbia Court of Appeal, Readheads past experience with the law, in which he has three previous charges for trafficking marijuana, d id not deter or rehabilitate him in any way( R. v. Readhead, 2008). In R. v. Evers (2011), the impeach was charged with the offences of unlawfully producing a controlled substance and possessing this substance for the purposes of trafficking. However, despite Everss lack of remorse for producing marijuana and her explicitly stating that she intended to continue her grow operation, the ravel judge did not impose any jail time. The trial judge stated that there was no point in imprisoning Evers as doing so would only make her a martyr for the legalization of marijuana (R. v. Evers, 2011). some(prenominal) of these cases show the ineffectiveness of the current law in deterring individuals from possessing and using cannabis. The prohibition of cannabis and criminalization of its users does not deter people from consuming it. The give up on this point is clear tougher penalties do not lead to swallow rates of cannabis use (Chandra, 2014). Perhaps it is time that there should be an examination of the actual effects of cannabis on Canadians rather than blindly prohibiting the possession of cannabis.Alternatives to Cannabis ProhibitionAs discussed above, all available indicate indicates that the criminalization of cannabis use is ineffective, costly, and constitutes poor public policy. Globally, there is growing debate about the efficacy of criminalizing drugs such as cannabis, in particular that the health, social, economic and criminal harms of this approach outweighs any intended benefits (Chandra, 2014). As such, there are three main alternatives to full cannabis prohibition decriminalization, partial tone prohibition and legalization. Models of cannabis decriminalization vary greatly, but generally involve removing possession of small amounts of cannabis from the sphere of criminal law. Essentially, prohibition remains, but instead of incarceration the use of cannabis becomes civil violations punishable by fines (Babor et al., 2010). Removing criminal pen alties for cannabis possession should result in a reduction in both the number of individuals involved in the criminal justice system and the cost of enforcement, thus reducing the burden to individuals and to the legal system. Moreover, essay suggests that a decriminalization approach can stamp down some of the wayward social impacts of criminalization (CAMH, 2014). An example of a country that follows a decriminalization model is Portugal. Since the implementation of this system, Portugal has seen declines in substance misuse and in drugrelated harm, a reduced burden on the criminal justice system, and a reduction in the use of illicit drugs by adolescents (Room et al., 2010). eyepatch it is not possible to conclusively attribute these trends in Portugal to a case in decriminalization, these findings present strong support that at the very least, decriminalizing cannabis does not result in major problems.Partial prohibition regimes of cannabis possession are brought about by two distinct approaches, that is to say either de facto legalization or de jure legalization. Within the model of de facto legislation, cannabis use is formally prohibited by criminal law, yet applicable laws are not enforced and thus not sanctioned by any punitive interventions (Babor et al., 2010). Netherlands famously takes a de facto legalization approach to cannabis. Although the drug is still deemed illegal, personal use of cannabis is tolerated and is made available through dispensaries called coffee tree tree shops. Cannabis use or sale outside of the thwartd spaces of these coffee shops is followed by police warnings or fines (Babor et al., 2010). In other words, personal cannabis use and supply to the end consumer in the Netherlands is regulated similarly to alcohol or tobacco use in many jurisdictions. One of the major benefits cited for the legally tolerated dispensaries is that it helps consumers from being exposed to illegal markets where there may be availability of harder drugs (Room et al., 2010). Evidence demonstrates that the Netherlands has a lower rate of cannabis use than in the United States which suggests that partial legalization of cannabis will not necessarily lead to an increase in use.Within the model of de jure legalization, personal use quantities are allowed to be carried and consumed by citizens. Punishments of cannabis use are either explicitly written into the drug statute or the arena of the law does not include cannabis possession (Chandra, 2014). These reforms have so far predominantly been aimed at selected places (e.g. the home) or at specific populations (e.g. medical marijuana users) (Babor et al., 2010). An example of a country that follows a de jure model of legalization is Spain. In Spain, possession or use of cannabis is prohibited by the law, yet there is no punishment or enforcement when involving small amounts. In 2002, Cannabis Social Clubs appeared in the country. These are non-commercial organizations of users who get together to school and distribute enough cannabis to meet their personal needs without having to turn to the black market (Alonso, 2011, p. 2). Since, 2002 it is estimated that Cannabis Social Clubs have enabled several guanine people to stop financing the black market and to know the spirit and origin of what they are consuming, whilst creating jobs and tax revenue (Alonso, 2011).A third alternative that has been widely supported is legalization of cannabis with health-focused regulation. Legalization removes the social harms and costs associated with prohibition. In effect, legalization endorses marijuana as socially acceptable. It pop offs criminal penalties, reducing prices, increasing availability, and de-stigmatizing use (Broughton, 2014). Moreover, it is estimated that removing criminal and civil penalties for possession of cannabis would eliminate more than $ 1 billion dollars that is spent annually in Canada to enforce these ineffective laws (Evans, 2013) . Advocates of legalization of cannabis point out that cannabis is no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco and should therefore be regulated in a similar fashion. In the same way that alcohol prohibition in Canada was an abject failure which promoted crime and in reality fluffed the federal governments control over the importation and production of the substance, cannabis can also be seen as leading down the same path (CAMH, 2014). Moreover, advocates in favor of cannabis legalization claim that cannabis use is not an act of criminal nature and thus the federal government does not have the authority to ban it. They further argue that cannabis is neither harmful nor immoral and thus only the duty has the power to regulate the use, distribution, and sale of marijuana (CAMH, 2014). This argument would equate marijuana with alcohol, which is also regulated independently by the governments of each province. Like all drugs, cannabis use has negative outcomes (Evans, 2013). However, the evidence shows that this does not justify the prohibition of the drug. For example, legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco can be far more dangerous and addicting than cannabis can ever be capable of, but these substances are still considered legal in Canada. Instead of focusing on the evidence, the mere prohibition of cannabis use only leads to further harm for users.Some opponents of legalization fear that it would send the disparage message about the risks of cannabis. But current rates of cannabis use in Canada already suggest that youth are not acquiring the right message (MacQueen, 2013). For instance, despite prohibition, 23% of Ontarios high school students and 40% of young adults use cannabis. A 2013 UNICEF study of 29 Wealthy nations found that Canadian youth rank first in cannabis use, but third from last in tobacco use -even though cannabis is illegal while tobacco is legal (MacQueen, 2013). Moreover, an examination of public opinion polls over the last few decad es shows a steady increase in the proportion of Canadians who support the legalization of marijuana, rising from only 19 percent in 1977 to 57 percent in 2012 (Grenier, 2013). Lorne Bozinoff of Forum Research Inc says that given these statistics, the public no longer favors devoting time and resources required to modify marijuana use and possession, instead favoring a countenance and tax scheme (Grenier, 2013, p.4).It is also important to promissory note that legalization alone does not reduce the health risk and harms of cannabis. Instead legalization presents the government with the opportunity to regulate cannabis to mitigate those risks something that cannot be effectively done under decriminalization or prohibition (CAMH, 2014). Legalization under a health-focused model is establish on the fundamental principles of harm reduction. trauma reduction is a virtual(a) approach to reducing individual and social harms associated with drug use. This approach accepts that author itative interventions focused on diminishing the harmfulness of a substance, even if they increase the extent of substance use, may be able to reduce the total adverse consequences on the individual, as well as society (Pates Riley, 2012). In regards to cannabis use, harm reduction approaches acknowledge that there are no known effective solutions for completely eliminating drug-use or drug-related problems in the public. Therefore, the main distinction of harm reduction is that it focuses on the reduction of harm as its master(a) goal, rather than reduction of drug use per se (CAMH, 2014). It is important to note that harm reduction principles are not meant to promote drug use, but instead recognizes the reality of drug use and measures success in terms of quality of life improvements for the individual (Broughton, 2014). For example, legalization of cannabis would attempt to reduce the harmfulness of cannabis use, without necessarily stopping drug use altogether. To reduce harm , legalization of cannabis is a necessary but definitely not a sufficient- condition. It must include effective control on availability and regulation that steers users towards less harmful practices.ConclusionProhibition of cannabis use has not succeeded in preventing cannabis use or mitigating its harms. On the contrary, it has exacerbated the health harms of cannabis and created costly social ones as well. Legalizing and strictly regulating cannabis allows for more control over the risk factors associated with cannabis-related harm and is a intermit alternative to the current approach (Broughton, 2014). It is important to realize that the Canada of 1997 when the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996) was first established bears almost no resemblance to Canada of today. This explains why since its inception, the Criminal label has changed many ambiguous laws to legalize and decriminalize certain actions (e.g., prostitution, assisted suicide, etc). Essentially, the laws have needed to evolve in order to better accommodate societal needs and advancing scientific look for. Similarly, based on current research showing that criminalizing cannabis has not been an effective policy, perhaps it is time to refresh our approach to cannabis use and advocated for legalization.ReferencesAlonso, M. (2011). Cannabis social clubs in Spain A normalizing alternative underway. Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies, 9. Retrieved litigate 3, 2017, from http//druglawreform.info/en/publications/legislative-reform-series-/item/1095-cannabis-social-clubs-in-spainBabor, T., J., Caulkins, Edwards, G., Fischer, B., Foxcroft, D., Humphreys, K., . . . Strang, J. (2010). Drug policy and the public good. Oxford Oxford University Press.Blaszczak-Boxe, A. (2014). Marijuanas History How One Plant Spread Through the World. Retrieved show 01, 2017, from http//www.livescience.com/48337-marijuana-history-how-cannabis-travelled-world.htmlBroughton, M. (2014). The Prohibition of M arijuana. Manitoba Policy Perspectives, 1(1). Retrieved March 1, 2017, from https//umanitoba.ca/centres/mipr/media/1._Prohibition_of_Marijuana_Broughton.pdfCAMH. (2014). Cannabis Policy Framework. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from https//www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/influencing_public_policy/Documents/CAMHCannabisPolicyFramework.pdfCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c11Chandra, F. (2014). The Current Approach to Cannabis self-possession in Canada Issues and Alternatives. Sociology and Anthropology Student Union Undergraduate daybook, 1. Retrieved March 3, 2017, from summit.sfu.ca/system/files/iritems1/15204/SASU-Chandra.pdfControlled Drugs and Substances Act, SC 1996, c 19. Retrieved from http//canlii.ca/t/l44rCriminal Code, RSC (1985) c C-46Evans, D. (2013). The Economic Impacts of Marijuana Legalization. The diary of Global Drug Policy and Pr actice, 7(4). Retrieved March 4, 2017, from http//www.globaldrugpolicy.org/Issues/Vol%207%20Issue%204/The%20Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Marijuana%20Legalization%20final%20for%20journal.pdfGrenier, E. (2013). Majority of Canadians want to loosen marijuana laws polls . The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http//www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/majority-of-canadians-want-to-loosen-marijuana-laws-polls/article14010389/Hathaway, A. D., Erickson, P. G. (2003). Drug Reform Principles and Policy Debates deadening Reduction Prospects for Cannabis in Canada. ledger of Drug Issues, 33(2), 465-495. Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http//journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002204260303300209Health Canada. (2015). Canadian Tobacco Alcohol and Drugs (CTADS) 2013 summary. Retrieved February 28, 2017, from https//www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canadian-tobacco-alcohol-drugs-survey/2013-summary.htmlLaw Commission. (2004). What is a crime? defining criminal conduct in contemp orary society. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from http//www.ubcpress.ca/books/pdf/chapters/whatisacrime/whatcrime.pdfMacQueen, L. (2013). Why its time to legalize marijuana. Macleans. Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http//www.macleans.ca/news/canada/why-its-time-to-legalize-marijuana/Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, SOR/ 2001-227 (available on http//lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2001-227/index.html)Pates, R., Riley, D. (2012). Harm Reduction in Canada The Many Faces of Regression. Harm Reduction in Substance Use and High-risk Behaviour International Policy and Practice. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from http//canadianharmreduction.com/sites/default/files/Harm%20Reduction%20in%20Canada.pdfPonto, L. L., Oleary, D. S., Koeppel, J., Block, R. I., Watkins. (2004). Effect of Acute Marijuana on Cardiovascular Function and Central Nervous System Pharmacokinetics of 15OWater Effect in Occasional and Chronic Users. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 44(7), 751-766. Retrieved M arch 2, 2017, from https//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15199080Room, R., Fischer, B., Hall, W., Lenton, S., Reuter, P. (2010). Cannabis Policy Moving Beyond Stalemate. Oxford University Press.R. v. Evers, 2011 BCCA 330 (available on CanLII)R. v. Malmo-Levine R. v. Caine, 2003 3 SCR 571, 2003 SCC 74 (available on CanLII)R. v. Parker, 2000 CanLII 5762 (ON CA), (available on CanLll)R. v. Readhead, 2008 BCCA 532 (available on CanLII)Statistics Canada. (2015). Prevalence and correlates of marijuana use in Canada, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http//www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2015004/article/14158-eng.htmUNICEF. (2013). Child offbeat in Rich Countries A comparative overview. Innocenti Report. Retrieved March 1, 2017, from https//www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc11_eng.pdf

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Benefits of ICT in Education and Classroom Management

Benefits of ICT in Education and Classroom ManagementICT has so legion(predicate) advantages in the correction and teaching rag. Classroom management is one of them that gained benefits from ICT. concord to experienced teachers who workout ICT in their schoolrooms that ICT may make the classroom domineering much effortless because ICT provides materials that make the class more interesting and booming to run crosswise (Cox and Webb, 2004). The existence of several(prenominal) sorts of ICT tools gets the class new(prenominal) support of learning especi everyy in terms of visual and auditory learning. Thus the commentary of classroom management Content management occurs when teachers manage space, materials, equipment, the movement of people, and lessons that argon part of a curriculum or program of studies (Froyen Iverson, 1999, p. 128). This managing get out study to organizing students behavior.Jacob Kounin (1970) has vital studies about effective classroom manage ment, which obtained to systematic results in classroom management techniques. Also, he found critical dimensions of effective class control containing the following issues withitness teachers know what each pupil is doing they have eyes in the back of their heads so are able to pay attention to several things at the same timeLetting pupils know what behavior is pass judgment of them at any given point in time fluency teachers are able to guide pupil behavior verbally or non- verbally without having to interrupt teachingMaintaining group focus and interest.Leask and Pachler(200544)ICT is beneficial for teachers too, to study students deportments in the class. In withitness teachers never are busy with another(prenominal) things in the class era answering a question or other activities (Leask and Pachler, 2005). They should pay their attention to students behaviour even they observe them out of the tree of their eye, it will be good. In addition, students know what they are goin g to do next time. Finally, in smoothness teachers use efficient techniques that guide students in a way, which does not lead to a noisy atmosphere in the class, but without interrupting teaching carry out.ICT and MotivationThe British pedagogyal communications and technology agency (Becta, 2003) has a research about ICT and motivation, which reports that regular use of ICT across various curriculum subjects, may have a reclaimable motivational impact on students learning (cited in Cox, 1997). It is clear that students stand more time in front of their tasks by utilize ICT like computing device than other methods much(prenominal) as classic method, which was manual, which is manual. ICT may earn discipline problems and decrease them. Moreover, students who apply ICT for developmental reasons in school feel more successful were more motivated to learn and have raised self-confidence and self-esteem (cited in Software and information industry association 2000). For exampl e, while writing a paragraph by hand there is no grammar check to correct mistakes, but while ICT programs such as Microsoft potency word, which will detect most of the spelling and grammar mistakes. This process will shape up and motivate students certainly.Leask and Pachler, 2005 refer that the impaCT2 project labeld the motivation of students through 15 human face studies in their books. Researchers found that ICT not scarce encourages students to become more concentrate on the task. ICT also was seen by some teachers to improve both the qualification and cognitive functioning (Cited in Comber et al., 2002, p. 9).Effective learning and teaching with ICTIn the late of 20th century and with the beginning of 21st century, ICT has played roles from candid to vital roles especially in demonstrable countrys school. Learning and teaching process become more effective by exploitation ICT.The use of ICT has developed in dissimilar ways to meet the bespeaks of learners in diffe rent curricular areas. The use of ICT can help learners be creative be a useful aid to problem solving provide sprightly inlet to a world of knowledge and research and improve the fictional character of presentation.(2004, p. 7)ICT assisted students to be more creative in their learning process and it is a beneficial support for problem solving by using different ICT facilities such as software programs, Internet, and printer. Today, learners have thousands of resources by using ICT in condition while sitting in their home not by searching for knowledge in libraries. Presentations became visual and auditory for students in addition to using software programs like power point. However, all these factors need effective teachers and managements or administrators to apply and achieve these effective benefits on students.The educational effectiveness of ICTs depends on how they are used and for what purpose. And like any other educational tool or mode of educational delivery, ICTs do not work for everyone, everywhere in the same way. (Tinio(2002), p. 19). The useful use of ICT in educational and pedagogical fields change overs from person to person and from place to place. It bases on how they are practiced and for which reason. Undoubtedly, some educators use technology in situation computer and the Internet more efficiently than others. They know very advantageously how they use it and when or where and for which occasion. Hence, teaching students the effective use of ICT especially in enhancing access and raising quality is another reason to promote students execution by using ICT and gaining more.The Barriers or Obstacles to the development and integrating of ICT in educationIn the twentieth century schools encounter a number of difficulties including integration of information and communication technologies into the teaching and learning, education curriculum and change in methods in pursuit of developing learner lifelong learning skills (Sabaliauskas and Pukelis, p. 1). Undoubtedly, this is a complex process to change the system of learning and teaching from a traditional method to ICT method. Some people like (Schoepp, 2005) called difficulties as barriers. A barrier is defined as any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective (Schoepp, 2005, p. 2).There are some barriers or difficulties that stand up in front of the development of ICT in education. Teacher-level barriers are escape of teacher confidence, competence and resistance to change electronegative attitudes. Also, there are school-level barriers, which are lack of time, lack of effective training, lack of accessibility, and lack of technical support (Bingimlas, 2009, p. 237- 241)Disadvantages of ICTObviously, there are several kinds of drawbacks of ICT in the classroom or outside classroom. The costs of equipments are so pricey that prevent more schools to purchase. Sometimes, students engage with ICT tools for other purposes. Als o, ICT is not safe unremarkably for saving data and information because the potential errors may occur in the Windows program or other software programs and hacking by others.The following disadvantages give a list of objectives that staff and facilitators may be required to claim with should problems occur throughout using the ICT equipment. Cost Distractions Reliability Damage resort Hacking(Anon, 2008, http//www.newman.ac.uk/Students_websites/s.r.i.whitton/Advantages%20%20disadvantages.htm)Integrating ICT throughout the curriculumJhurree (2005) states that the educational and pedagogical rectify happen throughout the world to promote educational level. The integration of ICT in education system is one of them. The effective integration of ICT into classroom ineluctably a systematic plan and scheme. Also, it depends on the policy makers how well control the dynamics of integrating of ICT. Yet, ICT has been a complex issue because it will change the education completely.The d ifference that ICT will make in education is learn by what education wants to touchableize with ICT in the context of its needs and strategical ends. The educators must have developed the practice. It begins by good planning that provides the real state of the learners based on globally accepted curricular standards. The comfort of the ICT tools to make a difference is dependent on the educators identification of the cultureal outcomes, methods and materials that ICT can bring efficiently and effectively deliver for the teachers and the learners(Macasio, J. (2008), http//aralaneteacher.ning.com/forum/topics/integrating-ict-in-teaching)Levine (1998) emphasises that the logical implication of planning, which is based on serious school needs then to be achievable and realistic. The scheme or policy should be practical to solve or change the school situation and to improve learning environments that will be effective. To attain objectives that have not been attained efficiently o ther expanding access, promoting equality, improving the internal efficiency of educational systems, enhancing the quality of education, and preparing new and doddery generations for a technology-driven market place (Haddad and Jurich, 2002, p. 47). The integrating ICT into education offers many useful factors such as an evolved learning environment for learners by giving motivation that make them to work with instruction interestingly and efficiently. ICT has the capability for making instruction easier, more challenging and motivating for teachers. Nowadays, it is possible to contact with people throughout the world by using ICT especially computer and the Internet.Teachers play a crucial professional role in ensuring that the integration of ICT into pedagogies is educationally sound. They evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of available technologies, deciding when and how to use them with their students.(MCEETYA (2005), p. 4). Teachers integrating ICT into their educa tion need suitable learning activities and facilities to motivate, engage, and personalize learning. Also, developing ICT literacy establishes communities of learning.ICT and assessmentPreviously, teachers were assessing their students in different methods such as exam, quiz, writing essay, assignments, and oral exams, but all these methods were inside the class. Nowadays, information communication technology has changed the situation by using computer and the Internet but it is in the beginning of the loop. Students can drive their assignment to their teacher by e-mail or exams and also (open-book structure timed).Participation in online discussionsPublication of student work /presentationsExperiential activities, such as role-playDebatesReviewsJournals and reflection(Anon, http//learnline.cdu.edu.au/t4l/elearning/onlineassessment.htmloptions)These are all methods that give students an opportunity to access online and share their ideas and requirements?As can be seen, assessment opportunities making use of the web are still rather similar to non-computerized methods and often only use computer communication to submit or comment on students work in traditional ways. Where computer testing per se is used it often comprises short answers and multiple- choice questionsLeask and Pachler(2005136)

Friday, March 29, 2019

Worldwide Impact Of Magical Realism English Literature Essay

Worldwide Impact Of wizard(prenominal) Realism English Literature studyImagine a human race where flowers rain down from the chuck and people female genitals transform into animals at will, a place in which time flows erratically and the fantastic seemsunremarkable to observers. This is the chimeric, phantasmagorial realm of the sorcerous realist musical genre of literature. Magical world, as seen in the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is a reflection of the Latin Ameri buns postcolonial ending and has greatly influenced globe literature for the last century, despite a hard hi bill and chronic nominal confusion. The history of supernatural realism is complex and multinational. To understand it, one must understand the history of the term itself. The say magic realism was coined by Franz Roh, a German art critic, in his 1925 book Post-Expressionism, Magic Realism Problems of the MostRecent European motion picture (Bowers 9) to describe the post-expressionist art of ce rtain contemporary German painters (Bowers 9-10). This original sorcerous realist movement featured a detailed, clear depiction (Bowers 9 Zamora 24) of, in Rohs words, the strange, the uncanny, the eerieaspects of everyday man (Baker). In 1949, a second, similar term, marvelous realism, archetypal appe ard in Cuban author Alejo Carpentiers seminal set about On the extraordinary Real in America, describing the extraordinary idiosyncrasies that make up the everyday reality of Latin American life (Bowers 14-16 Feinstein). Finally, the more familiar term supernatural realism was first used by Angel Flores in his 1955 essay, Magical Realism in Spanish American Fiction, in which Flores contends that the genre has its root in the romantic realism of Spanish-langu hop on literature (Bowers 17-18).Soon after this essay was published, the 1960s saw the beginning of a decades-long flowering of Latin American literature and of sorcerous realism. During this Latin American Boom, an emergi ng continent-wide lust to civilise a distinctly Latin American culture catalyzed a creative explosion led by Garcia Marquez of Colombia, Carlos Fuentes of Mexico, Mario Vargas Llosa of Peru, Jose Donoso of Chile, and Julio Cortazar of Argentina that perfected the genre (Bowers 17-18 Feinstein). Neither magical realisms authors nor its origins are confined to Latin America, however. It was largely influenced by the Romantic and Surrealist movements in Europe, and important precursors include quasi-surrealist German writer Franz Kafka, sixteenth-century Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, and Italian surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico (Bowers 18). Among the first genuine magical realists was German author Gunter Grass, author of The Tin Drum (Bowers 19). Modern magical realists hail from such nations as the United States, India, Japan, Canada, Nigeria, and Italy, including noted authors Toni Morrison and Salman Rushdie (Bowers 18 Cowan 4). possibly because of this complicated h istory, there is a commonplace consensus that there is no general consensus on how to precisely define magical realism (Baker). This can be attributed in part to confusion over the precise meanings of and distinctions between the equipment casualty magic realism, magical realism, and marvelous realism (Bowers 2). However, the styles features are less nebulose and readily identifiable. According to Flores, the essence of magical realist fiction is that, time exists in a kind of fluidity and the unreal happens as part of reality. Wendy B. Faris gives an irreducible ingredient of magic as its most important criterion (Faris, The suspense 102), in addition to a strong presence of the world we hold out (Faris, normal Enchantments 7). This corresponds to the realism portion of magical realisms name.In general, the supernatural coexists with the mundane, and neither reference book nor narrator express any feeling that such fantastic occurrences are out of place (Baker). This all cr eates what Adam Feinstein eloquently calls a rich, lots disturbing world that is both familiar and dreamlike(Feinstein 15). Briefly, magical realist fiction presents magical events in a realistic manner.Magical realism can top hat be understood through examples from its authors. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Colombian author of the novels, One degree centigrade Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera, and winner of the 1982 Nobel lucre in Literature, has come to typify the genre, and even all of modern Latin American literature (Bowers 3). Fuentes calls magical realism the personal stamp of exclusively one Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Faris, The Question 108), and Michael Wood refers to him as the undisputed master of the magical realist voice that tells of fantasies in deadpan prose (Wood 10). Garcia Marquezs work is full of examples of magical realism. For instance, in his short story, Light is Like Water, the light from a common bear fixture acts in such a way that child ren can pilot boats on it (Faris, The Question 114), and household objects fly with their own wings through the kitchen sky (Faris, Ordinary Enchantments 12). nevertheless all subsequentexamples will be taken from what is arguably his most famous work, One Hundred Years of Solitude, the story of the Buendia family. The erraticism and ambiguity of time can be seen in the example of pilar Ternera, who, upon turning 145,gives up the pernicious custom of keeping track of her age and goes on living in the static and marginal time of memories, in a future perfectly revealed and established, beyond the futures, disturbed by the baneful snares and suppositions of her cards. (Garca Marquez 394)Similarly, a rain shower lasts for nearly louver years insomnia can erase the past a room exists where it is everlastingly a Monday in the month of March (Faris, Ordinary Enchantments 23) and, after he dies, Melquades Buenda begins to chronicle the history of the town of Macondo, both recording and predicting the towns events (Faris, Ordinary Encantments 10). In another example of magical realism, yellow butterflies, relentlessly swarming and invasive, go along MauricioBabilonia to his trysts with Meme Buenda (Garca Marquez 285-287) despite creation magical, they are unguarded to an insecticide bomb, demonstrating the realist component (Faris, Ordinary Enchantments 18-19). And, during the funeral of Jose Arcadio Buenda, tiny yellow flowers rain from the sky, carpeting the streets (Garca Marquez 144). The fantastical elements of magical realism can be explained in part by the cultural situation that existed at the time of the genres nascence. Magical realisms duality might be considered to be a residue from the colonial occupation of the Latin American continent. The European conquerors oblige their own culture on that of the conquered, resulting in thecoexistence of devil conflicting world views-European rationalism and ancient native spiritualism (Baker). In the wor ds of Stephen Slemon, the two oppositional systems each work toward the creation of a different kind of fictional world from the other (Faris, The Question 102). Magical realism can also be seen as a form of resistance to colonial ideologies, a winding system that challenges the restrictions of a circumscribed colonial space (Baker). It honors native customs duty by frequently giving voice to indigenous myths, legends, and cultural coiffures and simultaneously serves a decolonizing role, one in which new voices have emerged, an alternative to European realism (Faris, The Question 103). The fact that magical realist authors often hail from transitional, third-world countries supports this hypothesis (Cowan 6). But now the magical realist tradition appears to be dying. Magical realism has been ill-used by modernization and unification in Latin America, and the need to develop a distinctLatin American writing style no longer persists (Feinstein). Only a few writers like Isabel Al lende still practice it (Cowan 6 Feinstein). Also, recent magical realist work is a testament to the neuter in the landscape of the continent, infused with urban elements and modern issues. (Feinstein). And, unfortunately, the magic is increasingly being used as an instrument of lazy deus ex machina instead of an element in an alternate world, resolving plot conflicts rather than creating them (Khair). Thus, the future of magical realism looks dim. Even if the magical realist movement has lost its elan vital, it has been an important player in the history of twentieth-century literature, spearheaded by fountainheads of creativity likeGabriel Garca Marquez. Although the remnants of European hegemony led to it being most prominent in Latin America, over the course of its rich history, magical realism has go forth a permanent impact on worldwide literature.