A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Example for Free

A Report on Tsings Friction Essay Anna Lowenhaupt Tsings book Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection begins with a rough overview of the global patterns and schemes in communication through a critical exploration of the more general premise of global connections present everywhere. As the author claims that the book is not a history of philosophy but rather an ethnography of global connection (Tsing, 2004, p. 1), there appears a strong concern for the presumably existing ties between the minor and major aspects of the society. As Thomas Yarrow notes, the books main concern is to capture the dynamic through which different kinds of knowledge and culture come into contact with one another (Yarrow, 2006, p. 291) which is a logical and obvious contention behind the book. The first part of Tsings book delves into the concept of prosperity by looking into the various sides of capitalism and an exploration of its causes and effects from a larger perspective. As the first part lays down the vital notions needed to better understand the foundations and contemporary manifestations of capitalism, it also raises several issues revolving around the intricate connections around the world. It opens up the entry point upon which the author will weave continuously the discussion surrounding the global environment of politics that surround the rest of Indonesia as well as the local communities residing in the country. Considering the fact that Indonesias population grew significantly from 1980 to 2001to a little less than 50% (Indonesia: Environmental Issues, 2004), the book makes it clear that the rise in the population has conversely resulted to a sharp imbalance in the environment. The book makes it a point that capitalism has also shared a huge role in this imbalance, heightened in no small way by the population boom in the past as well as in the present times. As Tsing notes, proliferation, too, is a key principle of capitalist expansion (Tsing, 2004, p. 27) which brings the idea that the population expansion with the combination of capitalist expansion are evidences of proliferation. And this proliferation in turn creates the environment of frontiers which are not just edges but particular kinds of edges where the expansive nature of extraction comes into its own (Tsing, 2004, p. 27). In essence, the opening parts of the book, including the first chapter, are primarily divided into two sections. While the first section deals with the concept of frontier and the resources which comprise it founded on the ethnographic observations during the middle parts of the 1990s, the second section deals with aftermath of the crisis during 1997 when frontier-making spiraled out of control (Tsing, 2004, p. 28). The second chapter of the book delves into the concept of Natural Universals in the global context. For establishing the connection between God and Nature, the book inevitably draws the parallels between universality of a supreme being which is God and the universality of nature through the environment. While the chapter probes into the universality of capital-N Nature which is the awe-inspiring, lawlike systematicity of the cosmos of and of life on earth (Tsing, 2004, p. 88), the book also inevitably draws the essential link between Nature and the rest of the world. Further, the second chapter attempts to establish the presumption that through the realization of an existing generality among things can one begin to act on the idea of thinking globally. That is, the realization of the commonality among the various elements and entities in the world through their predominant generalities helps us overcome the barriers that hinder us from thinking on a large scale and attain the end of global connections. Tsing firmly makes this point by stating that as long as facts are apples and oranges, one cannot generalize across them; one must first see them as fruit to make general claims (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This makes the book even more mind rousing as it nears its middle part. While it exposes certain critical observations such as the inability or failure of individuals to realize the common general thread which holds people together as one, the book in turn brings into consciousness the probable ways in which to achieve the challenge of realizing the more general claims. The book also observes that generalization is where small details support great visions and the universal is discovered in particularities (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). This presupposes the notion that generalization to the universal requires a large space of compatibility among disparate particular facts and observations (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). It also translates into the idea that tentative and contingent collaborations among incongruent seekers of knowledge as well as their incongruent forms of knowledge can create compatible facts and observations from incongruent ones (Tsing, 2004, p. 89). These observations discussed in the book brings us face to face with the core of what the author is presupposing: the idea that mere generalizations are just as they are without getting hold of the particulars that comprise them. And these particularities, when tied altogether, comprise the larger whole where the rest of Nature and of the world operate as a single entity. Further, the book reminds us that cultural analysis thrives on the description of specificity since it is the best method upon which we are able to acquire a critical distance from the common-sense platitudes and everyday assumptions of our lives and the powerful ideologies that keep us in their thrall (Tsing, 2004, p. 122). It reaffirms the claim that missing the knowledge about the particulars disarms one with the capacity to approach and comprehend the more obvious reality behind our common-sense understanding of the world. The section of the book entitled Nature Loving further concretizes and reinforces the belief that the various interactions involving various types of knowledge and culture are solid approaches in studying universal claims. Taking the rainforests of Indonesia as a concrete illustration, the book reiterates the belief that people have always been in contact with nature. One example to this is the fact that there are nature lovers who are devoted to outdoor activities such as camping, mountain climbing, rafting, and scuba diving (Tsing, 2004, p. 122) and that these people only comprise a small portion of the larger population whose daily lives involve contact with Nature such as those people living in Indonesia. In essence, the book also attempts to bring into light the observation that Nature and the cultural processes have been commonly attributed with various disjunctions and differences as well as with the heterogeneous factors which intertwine along the way. The book reveals these things as part of what people commonly refer to as globalization. The book further concretizes this observation in the chapter A History of Weediness where the author explores the interdependence of species by reflecting on the beasts and flowers, not just as symbols and resources, but as co-residents and collaborators (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). It entails the belief that there should be respect with the way in which people treat the environment. There appears to be a hint of the presumption that the patterns upon which the societies have changed over time have also led to the significant alteration in Nature. The book penetrates deep into the analysis by juxtaposing the observations of the poet Kristiandi Tanumihardja into the observations of people from the scientific community to the masses of the society. In particular, the cornerstone of these observations from the book relates the idea that nature has its own way of communication which is evidently unique in its own mysterious ways. While the book discusses the human attempts to unveil the mysteries behind the way Nature communicates not only by the scientific community but also by the world of literature, it also hopes that even with such limited understanding the attempts might bring us closer to knowing how to live in a multispecies world (Tsing, 2004, p. 172). The last chapter of the book entitled Freedom begins with the idea that travel changes the way we imagine our home places (Tsing, 2004, p. 213). This brings the reader to the presumption that there ought to be movement in order to arrive at a better and more fulfilling comprehension and appreciation of ones own environment. Only through such movement can there be a broader understanding of the global connections existing. And these movements can be further juxtaposed with the various social movements and upheavals in the past, including the social movements not only confined within the community of civilians but also with the environment. In The Forest of Collaborations which is the last chapter of the book, the author expounds on the subject of the types of collaborations where political gains and compromises can be assessed through constant attention to these kinds of collaborations and their effects (Tsing, 2004, p. 268). It sums up the general contention of the book in studying global interconnections and the many particularities involved in comprising the larger whole. With a special emphasis on the environmental status of Indonesia, the book reports facts about the predominant themes in analyzing the ethnography of global connections as well as the discoveries in previous years and contemporary times which establish what one can perceive as the indicators of globalization. References Indonesia: Environmental Issues. (2004). Retrieved November 2, 2007, from http://www. eia. doe. gov/emeu/cabs/indoe. html Tsing, A. L. (2004). Friction: An Ethnography of Global Connection. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Yarrow, T. (2006). Book Review: riction: An Ethnography of Global Connection By Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. Political and Legal Anthropology Review, 29(2), 291-296.

Differentiation: What is it? Essay -- essays papers

Differentiation: What is it? Today in education different abilities are being acknowledged on a regular basis. So a common description being used for the â€Å"perfect† classroom which accounts for the variety of instruction and activities is a differentiated classroom. This phrase is thrown around and many teachers may not understand how a differentiated classroom works. â€Å"In a differentiated classroom, the teacher assumes that learners have differing needs. Therefore the teacher proactively plans a variety of ways to ‘get at’ and express learning† (Tomlinson, 2001, p. 3). Planning for a variety of teaching strategies does not mean giving more work to the smart children. Instead the teacher must assess who understands the material, who is struggling, who needs to be challenged and decide what or how to teach the students from there (Tomlinson, 2001). Differentiation should occur naturally and involve individual, class and group work to allow for the differences in all students and all subjects of study (Tomlinson, 2001). Probably the most important aspect of differentiation is the idea of challenging all learners at their level instead of giving extra work to those students whom learn the concepts quickly. Differentiation in Classrooms A struggle for many teachers could be the idea of implementing differentiation in their classrooms. Making twenty-four lesson plans for the twenty-four children in a class is not practical or appropriate. Children should all be learning the same basic ideas in differentiated lessons but how much as well as how a child learns is what will vary (Tomlinson, 2001). Tomlinson describes three major ways in which the content that children are learning can be differentiated: readiness, inte... ...cle describes how teachers normal integrate differentiation into a classroom. Smith, M. K., (2002). Howard Gardner, multiple intelligences and education. Retrieved February 10, 2005, from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm. This article describes Howard Gardner’s developed his ideas about multiple intelligences. Theroux, P., (2004, June 20). Differentiated instruction. Retrieved April 20, 2005, from http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.html. This article is written by a teacher and describes ways in which differentiated instruction can be implemented. Academically Gifted (2005). Retrieved April 27, 2005 from EBSCO/ERIC The website provided definitions for words from a thersaurus. Special Needs Students. (2005). Retrieved April 27, 2005 from EBSCO/ERIC The website provided definitions for words from a thesaurus.

Marine Mammals Essay

SeaWorld gives you the opportunity to feed and swim with dolphins, watch jaw-dropping whale and seal shows, pet stingrays, see all types of sharks, exotic fish, and so much more! But my views have recently changed after I saw the tragic death of a Sea World trainer on the news; the cause of death being one of the parks very own orca whales. This horrific news brought me to research why the whale turned on its trainer and the information I found made me change my outlook on animal captivity completely. In the ethical debate over marine mammals in captivity there are many conflicting views. The public theme park industries advocate that marine mammal exhibits provide an important role in educating, entertaining, and conservation; they see nothing wrong with captivity. An increasing number of scientists counter this view and believe that animals should flourish naturally and are too intelligent to be held captive. Animal protection groups also have taken notice that these mammals in cap tivity develop severe health issues and should be in the wild. There are other organizations that believe in absolute welfare of these animals, whether it is best  suited in confinement or in the wild. Lastly there are associations that agree with captivity for some cases, just not when animals are exploited. Above all I agree that the more knowledge we have about marine mammals, the more mankind can do to help find the most beneficial option for specific marine animals. When thinking about aquatic parks one in particular comes to mind for most people, Sea World. According to its website, â€Å"SeaWorld has a world-wide reputation for providing unique, up-close animal encounters designed to bring more than 20 million guests each year closer to wildlife and the world we share† (â€Å"Sea World†). Parks like this also affirm that one of their main goals is to educate people through seeing live animals in person such as dolphins, whales, seals, and penguins. Marine parks around the world, including Sea World, also claim that they serve as a rescue and a preservation center for stranded, sick, orphaned or injured animals. This is in fact true; many animal lives have been saved due to the help of aquatic parks (SeaworldParks.com). But some still question if it’s justifiable to keep animals in captivity if they are capable to live naturally in the wild after being rehabilitated. It’s evident that SeaWorld and other captivity par ks have not only contributed tremendously with saving countless marine  mammals lives, but have also entertained and educated thousands of people on marine life. Yet with all of this in mind it’s hard for me to fully agree that captivity is always the best option for these animals’ welfare. It’s tough to deny that the entertainment and profit aspect from the â€Å"yearly 20 million guests† may be intervening with the wellbeing of the animals, which should always be the main focus. On the other side of the spectrum when dealing with the issue of marine mammals in captivity, are animal rights activists. â€Å"There are better and more humane ways of providing entertainment and education to the public without sacrificing the welfare of animals† states Grace Ge Gabriel, the head force behind the Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The IFAW is a well-known organization that advocates saving animal populations from cruelty and depletion. An example of their support is their campaign to end commercial whaling and seal hunts. She and many others speak out against marine mammals held in captivity (Gabriel). These activists express that the lives of captive marine mammals are impoverished, people do not receive an accurate picture of a species from imprisoned environments, and the traffic in live marine mammals causes harmful impacts on populations and the animals’ health. A prime example is the abuse whales endure when their family and pod members are separat ed from each other to be put into captivity. Once removed from their natural environment, the whales are then transported to small enclosures that lack not only their families and social groups but which also are only a fraction of the size of their natural home range (â€Å"PETA†). If life for captive orcas and dolphins were as peaceful as marine parks would have us believe, the animals would live longer than their wild counterparts. While captive marine mammals are not subject to predators or ocean pollution, their captivity is nevertheless a death sentence. These caged mammals develop severe health issues from being confined to small tanks where they are forced to perform unnecessary tricks for â€Å"entertainment.† According to PETA’s website, â€Å"Wild orcas can also live for decades—some have been documented to be more than 90 years old—but those at Sea World and other marine parks rarely survive for more than 10 years† (peta.org). An imals imprisoned die prematurely from stress and other captivity-related causes; which is seen as the  main cause for the deaths of animal trainers at aquatic parks, like the attack mentioned before from Sea World. The question of whether marine mammals should be held captive is even weighed in by scientists. There have been countless experiments and portrayals of cetaceans, or aquatic mammals such as whales and dolphins, displaying intelligent behavior. Experts in philosophy, conservation, and animal behavior recognize that dolphins and whales are adequately intelligent to justify the same ethical considerations as humans. According to the BBC News World website, â€Å"The move was made at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Vancouver, Canada, the world’s biggest science conference. It is based on years of research that has shown dolphins and whales have large, complex brains and a human-like level of self-awareness† (http://www.bbc.co.uk). This has led the experts to conclude that by recognizing these animals’ rights would serve as a catalyst to ending whaling and captivity of these self-aware creatures. Unlike the views of animal display industries who endorse captivity, or animal rights activists and scientists whom advocate against it, there are some associations that seem more neutral towards animal confinement. These organizations act as a middle ground, where their pure intent is to promote animal wellbeing; whether that may be in captivity or in their natural environment. These groups look at specific cases of different marine mammal species individually and decide where that animal is more likely to thrive. The Seal Conservation Society (SCS) is a terrific illustration of a society who is neutral to the thought of captivity; their main focus being on conservation and welfare. They view both sides of captivity on their website. At first questioning captivity they inquire, â€Å"Do the benefits to humans from the animalndisplay industry justify the animals’ confinement and stress associated with the unnatural environment? The question remains for all marine mammals whet her captivity is justified for entertainment, educational or conservation purposes.† Then countering those thoughts according to the website, â€Å"A further justification for captive pinnipeds to be considered is the research value of captive studies where the research clearly increases  our understanding and appreciation of pinniped species, this benefit must be considered in the context of the welfare and well-being of the animals involved. Our society would tend to support those facilities where the animals’ long-term and welfare is a priority† (pinnipeds.org). These impartial organizations appear exceptionally more helpful than the other radical view points; instead of supporting what they believe in they can focus more on the specific animal and not their cause. In correspondence to the previous organizations mentioned, there are similar associations that promote animal well-being but also support captivity if it’s necessary. These groups are marin e mammal rescue centers that endorse captivity along with non-performance opportunities. The Marine Mammal Center is an organization that believes animals shouldn’t be abused in captivity by being forced to perform unnatural tricks, but believe captivity should be allowed if the animal cannot survive on its own in the wild (â€Å"Marine Mammal Center†). These institutions don’t see captivity as the enemy, but rather view aquatic theme parks and entertainment business that confine animals for the wrong reasons to be immoral. Their website won me over when it stated, â€Å"What we do is more than kind-hearted consideration for the well-being of other living creatures. We recognize the fundamental relationship that binds humans, animals, and the ocean† (â€Å"Marine Mammal Center†). The question if marine mammals should be kept in captivity is tough to answer. Personally, I believe that in our present society there are more urgent matters than amusing audiences by exploiting such intelligent and defenseless animals. We have an ethical and imperative responsibility to think about species that may be negatively impacted by our actions. This includes a lot of species, and cetaceans are no exception. These marine mammals should remain where they evolved and thrived and we should make sure that their rights are protected so that they can go on living there.

The Once and Future King Guenever Essay - 892 Words

The Once and Future King Description of Guenever nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Guenever is one whose personality and appearance fluctuates often during the course of her life. The facts that she fell in love with someone other than her husband and that she never bore a child contributes greatly to these abrupt and drastic changes. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The description of Guenever as a young wife is one with deep, clear blue eyes, which almost beheld a sort of fearlessness which was startling, as was her black hair. Although Gwen was quite fond of her husband, she found herself taken a fancy to the young knight, Lancelot. She admired his broken face and found herself falling in love. She loved both Lance and Arthur. She felt†¦show more content†¦Such as when Guenever discovered that Lancelot was the father of Elaines baby, she did not believe his explanation and became furious. She claims that Lance betrayed her, that she was the victim of Elaines cunning and that shed never be able to trust Lancelot again. Perhaps in her heart she was jealous of the baby that was not born to her. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As Guenever began to age, she became restless, more unreasonable and much more cruel, similar to the personality of Lance. Her three virtues were that of Courage, Generosity, and Honesty, which remained with her through her life time. When Lance was gone, she became wretched. At 40, Gwen was a splendid figure, yet only two years later, she begins to badly apply unneeded makeup and to over dress. Lance still saw her as the passionate spirit of innocent youth, who was now beleaguered by old age. In his eyes, she was still his Jenny. Guenever had lost her rattled look. For more than a year the Queen was petulant, cruel, contradictory and miserable. Now she was pleased with anything and did not hurt the servants. Gwen seemed to be one of those selfish women who insisted on ruling everything. As Gwen grew older and older, she became more beautiful, sanguine, hot tempered, demanding, impulsive, acquisitive, and charming-she portrayed all of the qualities of a man e ating lioncelle;, but she wasnt promiscuous. There was never anyoneShow MoreRelatedThe Once And Future King s Lasting Lessons Essay2364 Words   |  10 Pages Period 5 28 September 2016 The Once and Future King’s Lasting Lessons In times of crisis, people must rely on their morals and wisdom to come to a solution. Often times, people do not have enough knowledge stored in their minds to make a wise decision. However, if people would read between the lines of books, they would come to the realization that there are many life lessons to learn from the wise words of authors. Throughout the novel The Once and Future King, three major themes are presentedRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And King Arthur901 Words   |  4 Pagesheroes possess influence their own lives and those of the people around them, specifically like the heroes in the epic â€Å"Beowulf† and the novel The Once and Future King. Each trait that Arthur and Beowulf possessed impacted major events in their lives, such as defeating Grendel in â€Å"Beowulf† or removing Excalibur from the stone in The Once and Future King. In both literary pieces, Arthur and Beowulf embark on quests in order to save their people. For both heroes, the effects of their actions differedRead More The Once And Future King - Mig Essay1084 Words   |  5 Pages The Once and Future King The legend of King Arthur is a tale as timeless as any other found in literature today. Introduced to us by Sir Thomas Malory during the fifteenth century in Morte d Arthur, it was the first complete tale of Arthurs life. Countless portrayals followed for any reader interested in the tale of the boy who was destined to become King. The Once and Future King by T.H. White is certainly the most popular representation of the immortal legend of King Arthur. It is similar toRead MoreJustice Is Unfair Or Unjust?1189 Words   |  5 Pagesexample of this would include King Arthur in the novel, The Once and Future King, by T.H. White. In the novel, the king’s son, Mordred brings him evidence that Queen Guenever was having an affair with Sir Lancelot, the King’s best knight and friend. The King wanted to abide by the new law that he created but if he did that he would have to execute his wife by burning her at the stake. Arthur concluded that, â€Å"Far from being willing to exe cute his enemies, a real king must be willing to execute his