Russia And The Cis Essays - International Relations,

Russia And The Cis When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, due to many pressures both internal and external, the ex-soviet satellites were given their independence, much to Russia's dismay. A new trend towards sovereignty made it difficult for the largest country in the world to deny it's former members the right to separate. However, even with the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Russia is still heavily involved with the matters of its former soviet members. This then leaves the question, are those former states truly sovereign? In the following pages we will examine the many reasons as to why this question is currently being posed. Firstly, we will look at Russia's history on the international scene and how they have not really changed their agenda throughout the last century, up into the present. Along with the brief history, we shall elaborate on the reasons why the CIS was founded. Furthermore, modern day Russia seems to feel the need to impose itself upon these new sovereign states for various reasons that we will elaborate upon. Lastly, the members of the CIS see Russia as both a friend and foe to the organisation, which will be shown by looking at their interests and why they have divided views. However, to fully understand the complexities that are the Russian Empire, let us take a step back in time to when Peter the Great was building a country of grandeur. In the early 18th century, Peter the Great continued the expansion set forth by his predecessors, and fought a long war against the seasoned Swedish army. With the final defeat of their army, Peter gained control of several small countries, Latvia, Lithuania, Ingria and Estonia. Upon his return from the war the Russian senate voted that he bear the title of the Great and Emperor, his acceptance of the last title marked the official inauguration of the Russian Empire. Peter the Great continued to fight wars in hopes of expanding Russia's borders and its economy, regardless of cost, which eventually led to mistrust within the empire. Russia was indeed a world power, influencing and controlling its neighbours. Having built such a vast empire was only part of Peter's public appeal, he was a very ruthless but enlightened leader, the kind that appealed to the Russian people. In one of the bloodier cases, he had 1000 members of a coup d'?tat assassinated, a punishment that he himself helped administer. Upon his death, many school children were then raised to see Peter as a hero, and a model leader. Perhaps then it is not so surprising that in the decades to follow, his accepted ruthlessness would be passed down into the next generations of leaders, this time having stricter doctrines within the regimes. As Karl Marx's ideas of socialism spread across a desperate nation several men stepped forward to end the oppression and starvation of their beloved country. The Russian revolution in 1917 seemed to be a refreshing change compared to the imperialism of the old regime and so countries such as Ukraine, Poland and Belarus joined willingly, hoping to find guidance for their country. Regardless of the many positive changes in the late 1920's, Joseph Stalin gained sole control of the Soviet Union and was more or less as ruthless as Peter the great himself. He began expanding and militarising the union, putting the state above each and every man. In the Ukraine, profitable farms were condensed into collective farms hoping to support industrialisation, and as a result there was a great famine and an estimated 5 to 7 million Ukrainians died. Even in Ukraine's darker period, because of their many natural resources, they were still considered very important to the Soviet Empire, almost its back bone. The Ukraine was not the only country to be used by the Soviets. Since the USSR spanned eight time zones, the land occupied was enormous; in fact it was the largest in the world. With such diverse landscapes there came many different natural resources which were used to feed and house the population of the Soviet Union as well as push the economy forward with its exports. The trees blanketing one-third of the Soviet Union constituted more than one-quarter of the

Difference between communism and socialism essays

Difference between communism and socialism essays The history of Communism started with one man Vladimir Ilich Lenin. Communism is a system of government in which resources and production facilities are the property of the entire society rather than individuals. In a communist society, Labor is shared equally and the benefits of labor are distributed according to need. Under such a System, All people would be equal, without class. Although the basic idea of communism has existed since the time of Plato, modern communism is identified with the system of government described by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels in the "Communist Manifest". They believe that capitalistic systems, in which the rich upper class prospered through the exploitation of the powerless lower class, were bound to destroy themselves. At this point, the poor would rebel against their former oppressors and form classless society. Russian Revolution of 1917, series of events in imperial Russia that culminated in 1917 with the establishment of the Soviet state that becam e known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The two successful revolutions of 1917 are referred to collectively as the Russian Revolution. The first revolution overthrew the autocratic imperial monarchy. It began with a revolt on February 23 to 27, 1917, The second revolution, which opened with the armed insurrection of October 24 and 25, organized by the Bolshevik Party against the Provisional Government, effected a change in all economic, political, and social relationships in Russian society; it is often designated the Bolshevik, or October, Revolution. The causes of the Russian Revolution are rooted deep in Russia's history. For centuries, autocratic and repressive czarist regimes ruled the country and most of the population lived under severe economic and social conditions. During the 19th century and early 20th century various movements aimed at overthrowing the oppressive government were staged at different times by students, w...

Habits and Traits of Stoneflies, Order Plecoptera

Habits and Traits of Stoneflies, Order Plecoptera Aquatic stonefly nymphs live only in cool, clean streams, and are an important bioindicator of good water quality. Stoneflies belong to the order Plecoptera, which comes from the Greek for twisted wings. Description Adult stoneflies are fairly drab insects, with flattened, soft bodies. They hold their wings flat over the bodies when at rest. Stonefly adults have long, threadlike antennae, and a pair of cerci extends from the abdomen. Stoneflies have two compound eyes and three simple eyes and chewing mouthparts, though not all species feed as adults. Stoneflies fly poorly, so they dont stray far from the stream where they lived as nymphs. Adults are short-lived. Stoneflies exhibit unusual courtship behavior. The males drum their abdomens on a substrate to send an acoustic signal to potential female mates. A receptive female drums her response. The pair will continue to drum to each other, gradually moving closer and closer until they meet, and mate. After mating, females deposit their eggs in the water. Stonefly nymphs develop slowly, taking 1 to 3 years to molt repeatedly before emerging as adults. Stoneflies are so named because the nymphs often live under stones in streams or rivers. They feed on a variety of plant and animal matter, both dead and living, depending on the species and age of the nymph. Habitat and Distribution As nymphs, stoneflies inhabit cold, fast-flowing streams in pristine condition. Adult stoneflies are terrestrial but tend to stay close to the streams from which they emerge. Worldwide, entomologists identify about 2,000 stonefly species, about a third of which live in the U.S. and Canada. Major Families in the Order Family Perlidae - common stonefliesFamily Leuctridae - rolled-winged stonefliesFamily Taeniopterygidae - winter stonefliesFamily Nemouridae - spring stoneflies Families and Genera of Interest Adult stoneflies in the subfamily Isoperlinae appear to be pollen feeders.Female Pteronarcys dorsata stoneflies measure as much as 55 cm in length.Nymphs of the family Peltoperlidae resemble cockroaches.The Lake Tahoe benthic stonefly, Capnia lacustra, spends its entire life cycle (even as an adult) deep within Lake Tahoe. It is an endemic species to Lake Tahoe. Sources Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th Edition, Charles A. Triplehorn, and Norman F. Johnson.Order Plecoptera - Stoneflies, Bugguide.net. Accessed online February 15, 2011.Guide to Aquatic Insects and Crustaceans, Izaak Walton League of America.

Long-Term Isolation in Prison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Long-Term Isolation in Prison - Essay Example In fact, because those who impose the torture, prison officials, correction officers, and the lawyers who defend them in court, do not discuss it in any meaningful way. They do not release statistics about how many prisoners are kept isolated from the rest of the prison population, and they appeal any verdicts that say that solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment. Yet, how something that can cause the same amount of physical damage as being hit in the head hard enough to change one’s brain function, like as little as two weeks of solitary confinement does, can be called anything but torture is beyond reason to most people. This widespread and uniquely cruel form of torture goes by several different names. Among them are solitary confinement, segregation or â€Å"SAMs† (i.e. Special Administrative Measures) established â€Å"in 1996 for gang leaders and other crime bosses with demonstrated reach in cases of ‘substantial risk that an inmate's communica tion or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury to persons’" (Theoharis). Perhaps no one speaks of solitary confinement in terms of inhumane torture because they believe it is used just for the worst of the worst, the gang leaders and crime bosses, and since September 11, 2001, terrorists. Cool Hand Luke was thrown in â€Å"the hole† for defying the prison camp’s rules, and most people’s concept of solitary confinement matches what was portrayed in that movie and others like it. Most people believe solitary confinement is a place for inmates who violate prison rules. And, to be fair, it is. There are not a lot of freedoms to restrict or privileges to take away from a prisoner who has already had most of his/her rights removed through incarceration. Maybe though it is just easier not to think of such things. After all, if one is not a criminal, one never has to worry about spending 23 hours a day in a cinder block cell with no television, radio, or newspapers. Not even a deck of playing cards are allowed. Books are and usually, inmates in solitary confinement can write letters to one family member once a week, although the rules on that vary. Some inmates in segregated units—another more sterile name for solitary confinement—can have visitors; some cannot. They can leave their cell for one hour a day to exercise or shower, and all that activity is watched by guards via monitoring devices. These are not conditions most people see as humane even for criminals convicted of heinous crimes, but what should be done with prisoners who cannot get along with other prisoners, who incite violence or are caught with contraband in their cells? Solitary confinement seems like the only alternative. That is why it is surprising to some to learn that many prisoners kept in segregation are not violent, have not broken any rules, and are not being punished per se. Miki Ann DiMarco, a transsexual female incarce rated before the transformational surgeries were completed spent fourteen months in protective segregation in Wyoming Women’s Center. Because DiMarco still had some male genitalia, prison officials thought it best to keep her out of the general prison population for fear that she would be harassed.

Explain the role of the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause Essay

Explain the role of the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause regarding confessions - Essay Example A house refers to any structure that an individual’s uses as their residence. It may on a long-term basis such as a residential home or on a short-term basis such as a hotel. Other structures that are connected to a house such as a garage and a store also fall under this category in the Fourth Amendment but an open field that surrounds the house is out of this scope. Papers refer to an individual’s personal documents such as business records, diaries, letters, and certificates. On the other hand, effects refer to the other items that are not persons, houses, or papers. This may include weapons, contraband goods, clothing, and luggage. Almost all items fall under the Fourth Amendment but what is essential is the determination of whether their search or seizure is reasonable. In analyzing the role of the Fourth Amendment, it is critical to determine the police activities that trigger the protection of the Fourth Amendment. It is also essential to justify the reasons behind the police officers engaging in these activities. A search is referred to as an activity that is conducted with the intention of finding evidence to be used for criminal prosecution. When conducting a search, there should be concern whether the search is a product of a government action. There should also be concerns whether it violates the reasonable expectation of a person’s right to privacy. The term seizure usually refers to the keeping of custody of a property to be used as evidence in a criminal procedure. It commonly occurs because of a search. The Fourth Amendment focuses on the reasonableness of the search and seizures. It determines if the police were working along with its requirements. According to the Fourth Amendment, not every action of looking for evidence is referred to as a search. A search depends on who is looking for the evidence as well as where it occurs. Therefore, a

Mirrors Don’t Lie in Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.s The Lie Essay -- Kurt Vonne

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s The Lie - Mirrors Don’t Lie In The Lie by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Eli Remenzel is a thirteen-year-old boy on his way to The Whitehill Preparatory School with his parents.   Little do they know that Eli is keeping a big secret from them: he didn’t get accepted to the school.   As the story unfolds Eli finally cracks under the pressure of the lie as the headmaster informs his parents that he wasn’t accepted at Whitehill.   What happens next is a disaster.   As I was reading the story I noticed a lot of qualities in the different characters that are traits I see in myself.   Eli, his mother Sylvia, and his father Doctor Remenzel all have different characteristics that reflect me.   These characteristics are what blend together to make me a unique individual. First I’ll focus on the similarities between Eli and myself. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. writes, â€Å"Eli sat up again, but began to slump almost immediately (†¦) hoping to die or disappear.†Ã‚   This was written while Eli kept the secret from his parents. As I reread the passage I disliked the way Eli decided to handle his secret. Instead of coming right out and telling his parents what the problem was, he ignored it, and every mile they drove it became bigger and harder to hold in. Notice the word slump in the above passage from the story.   This was the first thing to pop out at me indicating our similarity, because the word creates a vivid picture of myself when I am in similar situations. I felt Eli’s frustration building, and I realized I handle problems with my family in the same way.   My parents never have the same reaction to a problem, so I’m always scared that they’ll be angry or disappointed in me. This causes me to do exact... ...tor Rememzel, I accomplished nothing embarrassed myself, yet the next time I was unhappy I would repeat my actions over again. I no longer throw temper tantrums, but I do speak before I think and often say and do things that I do not mean. Unlike the other previously mentioned faults, I am quite aware of this one, and I recognized the similarities between Doctor Remenzel and myself right away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, I disliked The Lie, because the characters in it exemplify the worst qualities in myself.   Whether it’s not being honest with my family, being self-absorbed, or my uncontrollable temper, I cannot like characters that possess these traits because I hate these traits within myself. Reading about the characters is like looking into a mirror, and like the title says, mirrors don’t lie.   

Transforming the Influence of the Media on our Lives

Our goal in this publication is to help our readers lay a foundation for transforming the influence of the media on their lives. It is in all of our interests to critically assess, rather than mindlessly accept, news media pronouncements. Our hope is that we can aid readers to become more independent, insightful, and critical in responding to the content of news media messages and storiesIf objectivity or fairness in the construction of news stories is thought of as equivalent to presenting all the facts and only the facts (â€Å"All the news that’s fit to print†), objectivity and fairness is an illusion.No human knows more than a small percentage of the facts and it is not possible to present all the facts (even if one did know them). It isn’t even possible to present all the important facts, for many criteria compete for determining what is â€Å"impor- tant. †We must therefore always ask,â€Å"What has been left out of this article? †Ã¢â‚¬Å"What would I think if different facts had been highlighted here? †Ã¢â‚¬Å"What if this article had been written by those who hold a point of view opposite to the one embedded in the story as told?†For example, people commonly consider facts to be important to the extent that they have significant implications for them personally: Is any given event going to affect what they want, how much is it going to cost them, how is it going to influence their income, their living conditions, their leisure, their convenience? How some given event is going to affect others, especially others far away and out of sight, is quite another matter. There is therefore a large divergence among the news media of the world as to what is presented as â€Å"significant† in the world.