The Prometheus League
Breaking News and Updates
- Abolition Of Work
- Ai
- Alt-right
- Alternative Medicine
- Antifa
- Artificial General Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence
- Artificial Super Intelligence
- Ascension
- Astronomy
- Atheism
- Atheist
- Atlas Shrugged
- Automation
- Ayn Rand
- Bahamas
- Bankruptcy
- Basic Income Guarantee
- Big Tech
- Bitcoin
- Black Lives Matter
- Blackjack
- Boca Chica Texas
- Brexit
- Caribbean
- Casino
- Casino Affiliate
- Cbd Oil
- Censorship
- Cf
- Chess Engines
- Childfree
- Cloning
- Cloud Computing
- Conscious Evolution
- Corona Virus
- Cosmic Heaven
- Covid-19
- Cryonics
- Cryptocurrency
- Cyberpunk
- Darwinism
- Democrat
- Designer Babies
- DNA
- Donald Trump
- Eczema
- Elon Musk
- Entheogens
- Ethical Egoism
- Eugenic Concepts
- Eugenics
- Euthanasia
- Evolution
- Extropian
- Extropianism
- Extropy
- Fake News
- Federalism
- Federalist
- Fifth Amendment
- Fifth Amendment
- Financial Independence
- First Amendment
- Fiscal Freedom
- Food Supplements
- Fourth Amendment
- Fourth Amendment
- Free Speech
- Freedom
- Freedom of Speech
- Futurism
- Futurist
- Gambling
- Gene Medicine
- Genetic Engineering
- Genome
- Germ Warfare
- Golden Rule
- Government Oppression
- Hedonism
- High Seas
- History
- Hubble Telescope
- Human Genetic Engineering
- Human Genetics
- Human Immortality
- Human Longevity
- Illuminati
- Immortality
- Immortality Medicine
- Intentional Communities
- Jacinda Ardern
- Jitsi
- Jordan Peterson
- Las Vegas
- Liberal
- Libertarian
- Libertarianism
- Liberty
- Life Extension
- Macau
- Marie Byrd Land
- Mars
- Mars Colonization
- Mars Colony
- Memetics
- Micronations
- Mind Uploading
- Minerva Reefs
- Modern Satanism
- Moon Colonization
- Nanotech
- National Vanguard
- NATO
- Neo-eugenics
- Neurohacking
- Neurotechnology
- New Utopia
- New Zealand
- Nihilism
- Nootropics
- NSA
- Oceania
- Offshore
- Olympics
- Online Casino
- Online Gambling
- Pantheism
- Personal Empowerment
- Poker
- Political Correctness
- Politically Incorrect
- Polygamy
- Populism
- Post Human
- Post Humanism
- Posthuman
- Posthumanism
- Private Islands
- Progress
- Proud Boys
- Psoriasis
- Psychedelics
- Putin
- Quantum Computing
- Quantum Physics
- Rationalism
- Republican
- Resource Based Economy
- Robotics
- Rockall
- Ron Paul
- Roulette
- Russia
- Sealand
- Seasteading
- Second Amendment
- Second Amendment
- Seychelles
- Singularitarianism
- Singularity
- Socio-economic Collapse
- Space Exploration
- Space Station
- Space Travel
- Spacex
- Sports Betting
- Sportsbook
- Superintelligence
- Survivalism
- Talmud
- Technology
- Teilhard De Charden
- Terraforming Mars
- The Singularity
- Tms
- Tor Browser
- Trance
- Transhuman
- Transhuman News
- Transhumanism
- Transhumanist
- Transtopian
- Transtopianism
- Ukraine
- Uncategorized
- Vaping
- Victimless Crimes
- Virtual Reality
- Wage Slavery
- War On Drugs
- Waveland
- Ww3
- Yahoo
- Zeitgeist Movement
-
Prometheism
-
Forbidden Fruit
-
The Evolutionary Perspective
Daily Archives: June 18, 2017
Artificial Intelligence can predict whether someone will attempt suicide two years later: Study – Hindustan Times
Posted: June 18, 2017 at 11:11 am
Your next doctor could very well be a bot. And bots, or automated programs, are likely to play a key role in finding cures for some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions.
Consider these examples:
-California researchers detected cardiac arrhythmia with 97 percent accuracy on wearers of an Apple Watch with the AI-based Cariogram application, opening up early treatment options to avert strokes.
-Scientists from Harvard and the University of Vermont developed a machine learning tool - a type of AI that enables computers to learn without being explicitly programmed - to better identify depression by studying Instagram posts, suggesting new avenues for early screening and detection of mental illness.
- Researchers from Britains University of Nottingham created an algorithm that predicted heart attacks better than doctors using conventional guidelines.
While technology has always played a role in medical care, a wave of investment from Silicon Valley and a flood of data from connected devices appear to be spurring innovation. I think a tipping point was when Apple released its Research Kit, said Forrester Research analyst Kate McCarthy, referring to a program letting Apple users enable data from their daily activities to be used in medical studies. McCarthy said advances in artificial intelligence has opened up new possibilities for personalized medicine adapted to individual genetics. We now have an environment where people can weave through clinical research at a speed you could never do before, she said.
Shutterstock (Shutterstock)
- Predictive analytics -
AI is better known in the tech field for uses such as autonomous driving. But it can also be used to glean new insights from existing data such as electronic health records and lab tests, says Narges Razavian, a professor at New York Universitys Langone School of Medicine who led a research project on predictive analytics for more than 100 medical conditions. Our work is looking at trends and trying to predict (disease) six months into the future, to be able to act before things get worse, Razavian said.
- NYU researchers analysed medical and lab records to accurately predict the onset of dozens of diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart or kidney failure and stroke. The project developed software now used at NYU which may be deployed at other medical facilities.
- Googles DeepMind division is using artificial intelligence to help doctors analyse tissue samples to determine the likelihood that breast and other cancers will spread, and develop the best radiotherapy treatments.
- Microsoft, Intel and other tech giants are also working with researchers to sort through data with AI to better understand and treat lung, breast and other types of cancer.
- Google parent Alphabets life sciences unit Verily has joined Apple in releasing a smartwatch for studies including one to identify patterns in the progression of Parkinsons disease. Amazon meanwhile offers medical advice through applications on its voice-activated artificial assistant Alexa.
- Finding depression -
Artificial intelligence is also increasingly seen as a means for detecting depression and other mental illnesses, by spotting patterns that may not be obvious, even to professionals. A research paper by Florida State Universitys Jessica Ribeiro found it can predict with 80 to 90 percent accuracy whether someone will attempt suicide as far off as two years into the future. Facebook uses AI as part of a test project to prevent suicides by analysing social network posts. And San Franciscos Woebot Labs this month debuted on Facebook Messenger what it dubs the first chatbot offering cognitive behavioural therapy online - partly as a way to reach people wary of the social stigma of seeking mental health care.
New technologies are also offering hope for rare diseases. Boston-based startup FDNA uses facial recognition technology matched against a database associated with over 8,000 rare diseases and genetic disorders, sharing data and insights with medical centers in 129 countries via its Face2Gene application.
- Cautious optimism -
Lynda Chin, vice chancellor and chief innovation officer at the University of Texas System, said she sees a lot of excitement around these tools but that technology alone is unlikely to translate into wide-scale health benefits. One problem, Chin said, is that data from sources as disparate as medical records and Fitbits is difficult to access due to privacy and other regulations. More important, she said, is integrating data in health care delivery where doctors may be unaware of whats available or how to use new tools. Just having the analytics and data get you to step one, said Chin. Its not just about putting an app on the app store.
Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
See the original post:
Posted in Artificial Intelligence
Comments Off on Artificial Intelligence can predict whether someone will attempt suicide two years later: Study – Hindustan Times
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Thyroid Disease …
Posted: at 11:10 am
WHAT IS COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM)?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined as a medical system, practice or product that is not usually thought of as standard care. Standard medical care is care that is based on scientific evidence. For thyroid cancer, standard care includes surgery, radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone suppression therapy. For patients with other thyroid diseases, standard care may include thyroid hormone suppression or supplementation.
The National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH NCCAM) defines complementary medicine as being used along with standard medical treatments, and alternative medicine as being used in place of standard medical treatments. Integrative medicine is a comprehensive approach to care that includes a patients mind body and spirit; this combines standard medicine with CAM practices.
The NIH NCCAM uses five categories to describe the different types of CAM. It would be difficult to create a comprehensive list, but some examples are described below:
These are based on a belief that the mind is able to affect your body. Examples include:
These include things most often found in nature, and includes dietary supplements and herbal products. Examples include:
A note about Biologically-Based Practices. Its common for patients with thyroid cancer or thyroid disease to be recommended to practice a special diet that avoids foods that contain iodine. In fact, use of iodine either in liquid form or as a supplement is not recommended. Its also common for patients to be told to take Vitamin D or calcium supplementation. In one sense, physicians who treat patients with thyroid disease are therefore recommending a few highly selected biologically based practices. While these practices can be helpful, its important to note that there is no one special diet or vitamin that has been proven to eliminate cancer or remove thyroid disease. Because of these special reasons, its important to talk with the doctor managing your treatment about any special diets or supplements you are thinking about using.
These are based on working with the body and are thought to have underlying benefits for the mind as well. Examples include:
Energy medicine invokes the belief that the body has energy fields that can be manipulated for healing and wellness. Examples include:
These systems include beliefs and approaches to healing and wellness that come from all of the world and from many cultures. Examples include:
There are few studies that have looked at why patients with thyroid disease choose CAM. Some of the reasons they state are to:
A diagnosis of thyroid cancer or thyroid disease can be stressful or worrisome. Some patients who are newly diagnosed may want to add to their physicians recommendations or even avoid allopathic treatment entirely. Its natural to want to be well and to think about what else you can do to improve your health. There is a lot of information available, and new approaches for treating thyroid cancer and thyroid disease are always being tested. It can be hard to tell the difference between what is standard care and what is complementary and alternative medicine. This brochure is intended to help you understand what to consider as you make these choices. The most important message is to talk with your doctor about what you are already using and before you try anything new.
Some patients are afraid their doctor wont understand or approve of the use of CAM; some physicians may not understand or approve of this in their patients. But physicians know that their patients want to take an active role in their treatment. We want the best for our patients and would prefer an open line of communication. Talking with your physician about CAM is particularly important because we want to ensure that your treatment works well, and some CAM that may seem safe could potentially interfere with your treatment.
Do you know what types of CAM might help me deal with the side effects of treatment?
Will CAM interfere with my treatment or medicines?
Can you help me understand what I have read/ heard about CAM?
Supplements do not have to be approved by the federal government before being sold to the public, and a prescription is not needed to buy them. The same is true for most CAM practices. There are ads and claims that a certain product has been used for years, or that they are effective in fighting cancer; these claims do not prove that these approaches are safe or effective. Some of these therapies can cost thousands of dollars. Its important for you as a consumer to decide what is best for you, but you should be careful. Tell your physician if you are using any form of CAM, no matter how safe you think it is. Here are some facts about biological products you may find surprising:
CAM practitioners are people who should have training and experience in CAM treatment. You should choose one as carefully and thoughtfully as you choose your physician. Be careful of products advertised that claim they have a cure but do not give specific information about how well their product works or claim they have only positive results without side effects. Here are some approaches to remember when finding a practitioner:
There is a lot of information about CAM and its difficult to know who to trust. Good places to start are listed to the right. Here are some key questions to ask as you evaluate CAM information:
Continued here:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Thyroid Disease ...
Posted in Alternative Medicine
Comments Off on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Thyroid Disease …
Y-Speak: Herbal medicine vs. synthetic drugs: What’s better? | SunStar – Sun.Star
Posted: at 11:10 am
EVER since the start of the Modern Age, it has always been a debate whether whats the better treatment: herbal medicine or synthetic drugs.
When you ask your mothers and grandmothers, theyll tell you that the natural way is the right way in treatment. But, when asking the more modern-minded people, theyll pick the scientific drugs over any alternative medicine. So, whats the real deal?
According to a World Health Organization, there are 250,000 practitioners of traditional medicine in the Philippines. Natural medicine users have been growing ever since the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 (or Tama) was implemented. Because of this, the country has been majorly supporting the use of alternative medicine, and is more inclined towards it over the latter years.
There are a lot of advantages to herbal medicine, according to Health Guidance. Its a lot less cheap than most synthetic medicine and its also very easily attainable. Most, if not all, herbal medicines are mostly considered over-the-counter medicine, which do not need any doctors prescription to buy it. These alternative medicines also dont really have serious side-effects and are mainly promoting general wellness.
But, they have disadvantages as well. Its ineffective against very serious conditions. You cant really fix a broken arm with herbal medicine, can you? It may also trigger allergies, if youre not careful.
Steven Salzberg, a prominent biology researcher at University of Maryland, calls alternative medicine as cleverly marketed, dangerous quackery.
He even said that the more time they spend getting fraudulent treatments, the less time theyll spend getting treatments that work and that could save their lives.
This brings us to the advantages of modern medicine.
According to Elizabeth Blackburn, a biologist at the University of California at San Francisco and a Nobel laureate, modern medicine was formed around success in fighting infectious diseases. This means that while alternative medicine promotes the general well-being of a person, modern medicine aims to attack a specific disease.
The biggest advantage of modern medicine is actually the biggest disadvantage of alternative medicine its effective on more serious conditions.
Imagine breaking a leg. Would you consider going to an herbalist instead of a doctor whose expertise are more inclined towards your injury?
In the Philippine Health System Review for 2011, it is said that in the 2006 FIES, the average Filipino household spends about P4,000 per year on medical care. Drugs account for almost 70 percent of total household out-of-pocket (OOP) payments while less than 10 percent of total OOP is spent on professional fees. Especially in the world today, most people opt to go to modern medicine.
But, it has its disadvantages as well. Modern medicine is more expensive when it comes to the more serious diseases. There are other cases where the chemicals are too strong for some bodies to handle.
So, with the advantages and disadvantages of both interchanging, which really is the better one?
"For as long as BFAD approved, okay lang man yan (Herbal medicine is okay. Meron yang (It has) scientific basis na pwede siya for consumption. Pero, hindi parin (But it is not) priority ang non-medicinal [Herbal] over medicinal [Synthetic] because there are illnesses or medical conditions that cannot be treated or managed using non-medicinal or herbal regimens, Mari Pearl Agawin, an obstetrician/gynecologist, shared.
Dr. Agawin also added that there are no scientific bases that the synthetic medicine is proven more effective if not any, over the herbal medicine. With this, as long as your illness gets cured, the opinion of the more effective treatment depends on you.
Whether human-made or natural, the most important criteria for a medicines use is safety, effectiveness and quality: identity, purity, potency and stability, Joe Albers, Pharmacist, Pharm.D., Ph.D., said. (Fhrea Zenntine Malinit)
See the original post here:
Y-Speak: Herbal medicine vs. synthetic drugs: What's better? | SunStar - Sun.Star
Posted in Alternative Medicine
Comments Off on Y-Speak: Herbal medicine vs. synthetic drugs: What’s better? | SunStar – Sun.Star
GARDENING: High humidity, poor airflow could rot your tomatoes – Odessa American
Posted: at 11:08 am
Floyd is a horticulturist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service. He can be reached at 498-4071 in Ector County or 686-4700 in Midland County or by email at Jeff.Floyd@ag.tamu.edu
Floyd is an Agri-Life Extension agent for Ector and Midland counties. To learn more, call the Ector County Extension office at 432-498-4072, or the Midland County Extension office at 432-686-4700, or email jeff.floyd@ag.tamu.edu.
Posted: Sunday, June 18, 2017 3:00 am
GARDENING: High humidity, poor airflow could rot your tomatoes By Jeff Floyd Odessa American
One problem with growing tomatoes in heat like ours is a strong desire to give the plant a drink, even though it may have plenty of water available in the soil.
When overwatering overlaps with poor airflow, tomato plants may develop a fungal disease called leaf mold.
Leaf mold fungus (Cladosporium fulvum) usually appears as blotches on the lower leaves where air movement is low and humidity is high.
At first, the upper surfaces of older leaves display a diffuse mottling followed by a fast spreading network of patches that eventually turn yellow and develop a felt-like covering of grayish spores. Warm temperatures and foliage that remains wet for a long time increase the likelihood of leaf mold. Once spores develop, the disease rapidly worsens with the fruit and stems potentially affected as well.
Although the disease favors warm weather, temperatures above ninety-five coupled with low humidity will reduce its prevalence. Increasing the airflow within the canopy will help reduce the humidity within the canopy of the tomato plant and help dry out the fungus. Airflow can be improved by avoiding planting tomatoes too close to one another.
Purchasing healthy transplants at the nursery is the first step in having a good tomato harvest. Sprayed weekly or every ten days, fungicides labeled for leaf mold may help reduce the spread but will not eliminate the disease. Crop rotation also reduces the likelihood of tomatoes getting leaf mold. Rotating crops in a way that ensures no single family of vegetables is planted in the same location more often than every third year effectively solves several garden problems.
To learn more about having a successful tomato harvest this year, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at 498-4071 or email jeff.floyd@ag.tamu.edu.
Posted in Gardening on Sunday, June 18, 2017 3:00 am. | Tags: Texas A&m Agrilife Extension Office, Jeff Floyd, Pecans, Pruning, Prune, Soft Landscape Materials, Landscape, Gardening, Gardener, Food, Integra, Repeat Applications, West Texas
View original post here:
GARDENING: High humidity, poor airflow could rot your tomatoes - Odessa American
Posted in Life Extension
Comments Off on GARDENING: High humidity, poor airflow could rot your tomatoes – Odessa American
Guyana’s development will stay choked unless we remove the human resources bottleneck – Stabroek News
Posted: at 11:07 am
Dear Editor,
Minister Jordans comments to Demerara Waves on June 5th touch on two critical and interlocking issues I had previously raised in the letters column. The first issue involves the suggestion that the country should capitalize on its future oil revenues now through pre-production borrowing on global financial markets (Guyana should go the route of resource-based borrowing SN, January 15, 2017). The second issue involves my warning that the oil finds may have produced a mindset which misguidedly assumes that the countrys training priorities must of necessity be focused mainly on oil and not also on the range of other skills an expanding government expenditure will demand (Skills that an economy fuelled by oil revenues will demand KN, May 7, 2017).
On the first issue, the Demerara Waves reports Mr Jordan as stating that taking advances from oil revenues to help stimulate the economy makes no sense in a country where there is already sufficient money in the treasury but limited human resources to spend it. On the second issue, the Minister is reported as saying that part of the solution to fix the human resource deficit is to focus on personnel expansion and reallocation in the key government ministries.
In starker terms than before, we are being told that behind the exciting prospect of multi-billion dollar oil payments lurks the reality that Guyanas development will remain choked unless we remove the human resources bottleneck. Worded differently, if the economy continues to depend on government spending as a main driver of economic growth, and if the government is unable to spend even the current budget, oil revenues will create only pipe dreams. And, as I asserted in the May 7th letter, this incapacity cannot be fixed by the narrow focus on establishing oil schools and programmes.
The situation amounts to a national crisis and we must urgently look for fixes. A worthwhile consideration is to set up a high-level task force with enough ministerial involvement and technical experts to quickly put together a plan of action and, essentially, to oversee its implementation. Among other ideas, we should (i) undertake a short-to-medium term analysis of skill needs, (ii) reorient and streamline our technical and tertiary institutions to respond to these needs with speed, flexibility, and quality, (iii) modernize our public procurement system, (iv) incentivize the entry of more firms into the local contracting industry for goods, services and works, (iv) find ways to attract foreign firms and overseas-based Guyanese talent, and (v) work with the private sector to improve the supply chain for such critical imports as construction material.
Minister Jordan is best positioned to understand the full scope of the crisis. He must take the lead.
Yours faithfully,
Sherwood Lowe
Read more:
Posted in Resource Based Economy
Comments Off on Guyana’s development will stay choked unless we remove the human resources bottleneck – Stabroek News
The Rise of the Machines Why Automation is Different …
Posted: at 11:06 am
Automation in the Information Age is different.
Books we used for this video:
The Rise of the Robots: http://amzn.to/2sFQTed
The Second Machine Age: http://amzn.to/2szATee
Support us on Patreon so we can make more videos (and get cool stuff in return): https://www.patreon.com/Kurzgesagt?ty=h
Robot Poster & Kurzgesagt merch here: http://bit.ly/1P1hQIH
The music of the video here:
Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2sfwlJf Bandcamp: http://bit.ly/2r17DNc Facebook: http://bit.ly/2qW6bY4
Study about job automation in the next two decades: http://bit.ly/1mj2qSJ
THANKS A LOT TO OUR LOVELY PATRONS FOR SUPPORTING US:
Brandon Eversole, Andrew Anglehart, Christian Ahlin, Kathleen Woolum, Estel Anahmias, Adam Schlender, Mike Luque, Encyclo, Stevie Taylor, Brent Yoder, Invisibleman, Jeff Lam, Christopher Hayes, Oliver Walker, gwendolyn bellermann, Matt Logan, Philip Chou, Brandon Young, Arlo Stewart, Thomas Hodnemyr, Viachaslau Hurmanau, Sam Cousins, Robin Hultgren, Jose Schroeder, Ched, Claustrophobya, Charles Wang, Dolan Dark, Casaro, Donglin Li, Sarah Thompson, Pamela Palmer, Fergal Harrington, Jonas Erath, Spencer, Zsuzsi Balai, Tyler Roberts, Allyssa Blalock, Robert Bishop, Carl-Johan Linde, Thomas Nielsen, Heather Pray, Marco Boneberger, Mehsotopes, Joe Johnston, ugo dubois, Keagan Boys, Miles Gard, Frantisek Sumsala, Scott, Tobias Theobald, Solar3ty Games, Nicholas Carr, K41N_of_2358, Daniel Rodrguez, Pixlpit, Gytis Kirvela, Thomas Flanigan, Dwagon, Costin Graur, Mavis Everett, Kwiatkowski Robert, Huo Benpeng, Dan Gretton, Joshua Davison, Bryce Comp, Andrey Lipattsev, DEFECT DAVIS, Gurleen Saini, Andrew "FastLizard4" Adams, Isak Hietala, Leon Han, Sarah Johnson, Kieran Chakravorty, Hanna Khoury, Kimberly Martin, Jon Glass, Julius Wroblewski, Ben Zautner, Kester Falge, Juan Florez, Tad Moore
Help us caption & translate this video!
http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_p...
The Rise of the Machines Why Automation is Different This time
Here is the original post:
Posted in Automation
Comments Off on The Rise of the Machines Why Automation is Different …
Free Slavery Essays and Papers
Posted: at 11:06 am
Title Length Color Rating Slavery and the Anti-slavery Movement - Anytime we hear the word slavery, we tend to think of the Southern United States during the Pre-Civil War era. What many people dont know, is that this horrible act has occurred worldwide. The term slavery has many different definitions, and has occurred all throughout our world history. It wasnt until the early 18th century that the thought of anti-slavery came about. Many economic, social, and technological forces have played a part in the decline of slavery around the globe. The first definition that comes to mind when we hear this term, is the act of being a slave or a person who does not own their own labor.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 11 Works Cited 1030 words (2.9 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Analysis of Arguments for the Slavery Institution - Analysis of Arguments for the Slavery Institution The foundation of this paper will highlight the following questions: How might southern apologists for slavery have used the northern wage slave discussed in the last chapter to justify slavery. To what extent do you agree with this argument. How did slaves use religious belief and kinship to temper their plight. Did this strategy play into the hands of slaveholders. How were non-slaveholding whites and free people of color affected by the institution of slavery.... [tags: Slavery] 513 words (1.5 pages) Good Essays [preview] Enormity of Slavery - In the 1800s, many slave owners thought it fair for Africans to work without pay, because they believed that this particular group of people were made by God for this sort of work, and that slave owners were ever caring and conscientious of their slaves anyway, making slavery an easy life; truthfully, however, as both Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs experienced in being slaves most of their lives, and then showed in their narratives, this cruel and unusual practice was the epitome of iniquity- notwithstanding the fact that they were created equal to their malefactors.... [tags: Slavery] 1612 words (4.6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] 18th Centry Slavery In North America - People crying for freedom and liberty from tyranny built a nation out of greed and unethical acts. The rapacious desires of a nation to gain wealth and possessions lead to the emotional and psychological trauma of West Africans and African Americans. In spite of being taken from Africa, the sweat and blood of these Africans contributed to the birth of the beautiful nation that would eventually recognize their descendants as equals. The Exploration Age commenced in the fifteenth century when European nations decided to expand their power for technological, demographic, and economic reasons.... [tags: Slavery] :: 5 Works Cited 917 words (2.6 pages) Good Essays [preview] An End To Slavery - The society that became known as the United States had its beginnings when the first English settlers set foot on North American soil. Whether that settler landed in Massachusetts or Virginia, their beginnings on this continent were all influenced by the society that they had left behind. These included many aspects of England's society, culture, economy, and politics. Those societal, cultural, economic and political beginnings can be traced throughout our history in the mindset that both the North and South represented.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1394 words (4 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The Origins of Chattel Slavery in Colonial North America - The Origins of Chattel Slavery in Colonial North America There have been many illuminating studies in the field of the origins of chattel slavery in Colonial North America. Alpert, 1970; Edmondson, 1976; Jordan, 1962: Ruchames, 1967; Starr, 1973, wrote seminal studies that did much to bring insight to the subject. Goetz, 2009; Mason, 2006; Smaje, 2002; Neeganagwedgin, 2012, presented evidence that have either reexamined old questions or used new methods and approaches to ask news questions to add insight to this topic.... [tags: Slavery] :: 13 Works Cited 1586 words (4.5 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The Consequences of Slavery - Abstract Slavery, like many ill-fated and evil inventions reached epidemic levels in early Europe and the American colonies. The history of slavery is documented most acutely during the period when slaves first arrived to the new land and when the colonies had first developed into the fledging United States of America. This would lead us to believe that slavery had not existed before this period or that the consequences and relevance of it had little historical, social, or economical importance.... [tags: Slavery, history, informative] :: 6 Works Cited 2031 words (5.8 pages) Better Essays [preview] Slavery and Abolition - The term slave is defined as a person held in servitude as the chattel of another, or one that is completely passive to a dominating influence. The most well known cases of slavery occurred during the settling of the United States of America. From 1619 until July 1st 1928 slavery was allowed within our country. Slavery abolitionists attempted to end slavery, which at some point; they were successful at doing so. This paper will take the reader a lot of different directions, it will look at slavery in a legal aspect along the lines of the constitution and the thirteenth amendment, and it will also discuss how abolitionists tried to end slavery.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 4 Works Cited 1581 words (4.5 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Colors of Slavery - When Americans think about slavery, they tend to think about "Africans" being brought to the New World against their will. Which upon their arrival were sold, the same as livestock, as permanent property to the white landowners. They may visualize in their minds a person of color shackled, chained, beaten, and forced to labor under the control of their white master. Their picture is that of chattel slavery; black and white. Americans have come to the assumption that slavery was imposed on people of one color or race.... [tags: History Slavery] :: 3 Works Cited 1795 words (5.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Evolution of Slavery - A person who is the property of and wholly subject to another; this is the definition of a slave. Over a span of 400 years 12 million Africans were captured, brought to the New World by approximately 40,000 ships and then enslaved. Thats 80 or more slaves per day. The perspective of white Southerners, Northerners and persons of color has evolved and are different. The slave trade into the United States began in 1620 with the sale of nineteen Africans to a colony called Virginia. These slaves were brought to America on a Dutch ship and were sold as indentured slaves.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 4 Works Cited 1044 words (3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] The History of Slavery in the United States - Following the success of Christopher Columbus voyage to the Americas in the early16th century, the Spaniards, French and Europeans alike made it their number one priority to sail the open seas of the Atlantic with hopes of catching a glimpse of the new territory. Once there, they immediately fell in love the land, the Americas would be the one place in the world where a poor man would be able to come and create a wealthy living for himself despite his upbringing. Its rich grounds were perfect for farming popular crops such as tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 3 Works Cited 1435 words (4.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery in the American South - Slavery is a form of forced free labor in which one human being is the property of another. Close to two million slaves were brought to the American South from African and the West Indies during the Atlantic slave trade. The American South accounted for over 20% African Americans. As late as 1900, 9 out of every 10 African Americans lived in the South. Slavery supported the economic structure for the planter aristocracy. In 1850 only 1,773 families owned more than 100 slaves each, and this group provided the political and social leadership of the section and nation.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 612 words (1.7 pages) Better Essays [preview] The Cotton Gin and Slavery - ... There were many arguments both for and against but this paragraph will focus only on the pro slavery arguments. Many people used the Bible and religion as support; they would cite passages where 'the good servant obeyed his master'. And even though most priests were initially against slavery many of them, especially in the south, changed after they saw how much wealth could be made with cotton; slavery actually benefited slaves because ' it made them part of a prosperous Christian empire'. Others simply stated that blacks were a lesser race and needed to be ruled over as they were not capable of ruling themselves.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1160 words (3.3 pages) Good Essays [preview] Slavery in the English Colonies - Although, Slavery had existed for centuries as a lowest social status in different parts of the world like Africa, Roman Empire, Middle East and etc., in English colonies slavery gained an importance, because of increasing demand for labor force and becoming relationship legitimated by law. Therefore, Englishmen were the reason of slavery in the colonies and its consequences. In the beginning of 17 century a group of merchants established first permanent English colonies in North America at Jamestown, Virginia.... [tags: slavery, USA, ] 829 words (2.4 pages) Better Essays [preview] History of Slavery in America - Working long hours, whipped to death, starved, and broken spirits all describe a slave. Its not something you hear every day. Its not something anyone ever wants to hear. Just because we dont hear it every day doesnt mean it doesnt exist. I decided to do Slave Rights to remind people that there is still slavery in the world today. If people are educated about the past then they may not make the same mistakes in the future. It has been postulated that ancient civilizations would not have developed had it not been for slavery.... [tags: American Slavery] :: 15 Works Cited 1738 words (5 pages) Better Essays [preview] Slavery in the American Colonies - 1. In the American colonies, Virginians switched from indentured servants to slaves for their labor needs for many reasons. A major reason was the shift in the relative supply of indentured servants and slaves. While the colonial demand for labor was increasing, a sharp decrease occurred in the number of English migrants arriving in America under indenture. Slaves were permanent property and female slaves passed their status on to their children. Slaves also seemed to be a better investment than indentured servants.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 954 words (2.7 pages) Better Essays [preview] Abraham Lincoln Supported Slavery - The Presidents Day holiday is celebrated in the cold month of February; children in classrooms across the United States are given a litany of the Presidents and their most famous accomplishments: George Washington, who could not tell a lie is the father of our country; John Kennedy, the dashing young man who asked, not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, was assassinated in a mystery that still remains unsolved, and Honest Abe Lincoln, the Great Emancipator who authored the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves, is credited with beginning the long road in the fight for equality for blacks.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 10 Works Cited 1620 words (4.6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Religion's Influence on the Slavery Debates - Slavery was a dominant part of the political and social arenas of 1800s America. However, it was not homogenous as it divided America into two distinct groups: those who supported it and those who did not. Traditionally, the states in the north had been anti-slavery while the states in the south had been pro-slavery. Southern life and economy depended on slavery and therefore staunchly supported the continued legal status of slavery. The northern states on the other hand recognized the inhumane nature of slavery and campaigned to establish equality for all citizens.... [tags: anti-slavery, pro-slavery, theology, equality] :: 1 Works Cited 1362 words (3.9 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Political Debate of Slavery - During the Antebellum period, the issue of slavery affected many religious and political debates. This was seen in the Lincoln Douglass debates, legislation, and the evolution of political parties. The political debates that fueled the slavery controversy were derived from legislation. The first legislation passed was the three-fifths compromise. Naturally, southern states wanted slaves to be counted as a whole person because the slave population in the south was larger. The northern states opposed this.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 2 Works Cited 1195 words (3.4 pages) Better Essays [preview] Thomas Jefferson and Slavery - Thomas Jefferson is a man who really needs no introduction. He was recognized as a luminous writer who was appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. Congress formally approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Jefferson owned many slaves that worked for him. He would often even sell his slaves to buy others. Why then would he write in the Declaration of Independence, all men are created equal. Is it possible that Thomas Jefferson was a hypocrite and only wrote what the population wanted to see.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 4 Works Cited 991 words (2.8 pages) Strong Essays [preview] The Abolition of Slavery and the American Constitution - In 1688 the first American movement was the one to abolish slavery when the German and Quakers decent in Pennsylvania. The Quakers establishment had no immediate action for the Quaker Petition against slavery. The first American abolition society was the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully by the Quakers that had strong religious objections of slavery. In 1756 John Woolman gave up his business to campaign against slavery along with other Quakers. Thomas Paine was the first to write an article about the United States abolition of slavery and it was titled African Slavery in America.... [tags: american history, slavery] 726 words (2.1 pages) Better Essays [preview] Lincoln's view on Slavery and How it Evolved - Lincolns View on Slavery.And How It Evolved Abraham Lincoln spent most of his political career as a member of the Whig party endorsing policies that aided economic development, supported free soil and opposed the expansion of slavery. Lincoln was instrumental in creating the voice of the Republican Party and during that process his own views on slavery were shaped. He played the middle ground and therefore appealed to both former conservative northern Whigs, and radical Republicans. The Civil War proved to be a turning point in Lincolns view of slavery and the extent he would go to abolish it.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 2 Works Cited 1675 words (4.8 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The Sex Trade: Slavery and Prostitution - Individuals around the world are faced with inhumane treatments and conditions daily. Traffickers use force, fraud or coercion, including techniques such as containment, beatings, rape, confiscation of documents, debt bondage, false owners of employment, and threats of harm in order to maintain control over their slaves (Potocky, 2010). Sex trade is a global problem presently and will increase throughout the world if nothing is done to prevent and eliminate it. Sex slavery is a type of prostitution in which the traffickers make an increased profit through the solicitation of slaves.... [tags: legal issues, slavery, prostitution] :: 8 Works Cited 1384 words (4 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Comparing Slavery of the South and North - ... In addition, the Africans had vast knowledge about farming having worked in farms in their native lands. By the 1700s, slavery was widely practiced in the Americas. Similarity of South and North towards Slavery Agricultural production in the United States depended on slaves. They were made to toil and moil in farms for long hours with overseers employed to watch over and direct the work of slaves. Slaves who were unable to execute their full share of work were whipped by the overseers. There were a few plantations owners who felt responsible for the welfare of their works and treated their slaves with respect.... [tags: slavery, african slaves] 1600 words (4.6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery: The Dividing of a Country - ... In Americas letter to the British the founding fathers mentioned inalienable rights, that all men were free; allowing slavery to continue in America made its citizens hypocrites. You boast of your love of liberty, your superior civilization, and your pure Christianity, while the whole political power of the nation (as embodied in the two great political parties), is solemnly pledged to support and perpetuate the enslavement of three millions of your countrymen. You hurl your anathemas at the crowned headed tyrants of Russia and Austria, and pride yourselves on your Democratic institutions, while you yourselves consent to be the mere tools and body-guards of the tyrants of Virginia and C... [tags: abolitionists, pro-slavery, society] :: 3 Works Cited 528 words (1.5 pages) Good Essays [preview] The Evolution of Slavery in Colonial America - ... They also corralled the Africans behavior and past from them every conceivable advantage of labor and creativity, often through unimaginable mental and physical cruelty. Slaveholding attracted the European colonists but target on realizing the dreams that brought them to America even when it subjected others to a fearful moment. Many indians remained free and resisted slavery but they escaped too easily into a countryside but they knew intimately in striking a difference to capture Africans, who found the countryside even more unfamiliar than the Europeans in America.... [tags: slavery, john butler, africans] 594 words (1.7 pages) Good Essays [preview] Slavery in American Society: Impact and Evolution - Slavery in American Society: Impact and evolution Slavery in American Society The controversies surrounding slavery have been established in many societies worldwide for centuries. In past generations, although slavery did exists and was tolerated, it was certainly very questionable, ethically. Today, the morality of such an act would not only be unimaginable, but would also be morally wrong. As things change over the course of history we seek to not only explain why things happen, but as well to understand why they do.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 8 Works Cited 1631 words (4.7 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The Bible in Relation to Slavery - The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and with good reason. For the stories written in it have changed the way many think and even believe when it comes to the power greater than this world. The Bible holds very specific opinions on things such as slavery, who humans should treat each other, and ultimately social justice. It has been one of the most important foundations for allowing social reform to occur in modern day history as well as the history of the whole world. However, it is forgotten in history class how prominent the ancient texts have changed the people.... [tags: Religion, History, Slavery] :: 3 Works Cited 1787 words (5.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] If Slavery were Considered Moral - Describe the differences of this time period if slavery was considered "right". ISSUES TO UNDERSTAND CH. 14 1) The Compromise of 1850 was a dispute on whether or not Mexico (gained by US) would become a slave or free state. The northerners didn't want the 36'30' line to be moved to the Pacific and the southerners didn't want "free soilism" which would make Mexico a free state. Northerners gained from the Compromise California as a free state, New Mexico and Utah as likely future slave states, a favorable settlement of the New Mexico-Texas boundary, and the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Colombia.... [tags: Slavery] 1110 words (3.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] The Real Heroes of Slavery in the United States - As a child in elementary and high school, I was taught that President Abraham Lincoln was the reason that African slaves were freed from slavery. My teachers did not provide much more information than that. For an African American student, I should have received further historical information than that about my ancestors. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity or desire to research slavery on my own until college. And with my eagerness and thirst for more answers concerning my African American history, I set out to console my spirit, knowledge, and self-awareness of my ancestors history.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1983 words (5.7 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The U.S. Constitution and Slavery - The US constitution was written with great vision to create strong nation. The bill of right were written, it provide all humans with rights. The writers of the constitution we hypocrites, they didnt abide by what they preached. Thomas Jefferson wrote himself all men are created equal but he owned slaves. The founding father didnt look or even think about slavery when they wrote the constitution. They were pre-occupied in getting the southern state to join the union and sign the new constitution.... [tags: USA, constitution, slavery, history, ] 408 words (1.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] From Slavery to Presidential Power - When people look at a persons appearance, no two people will ever look alike. When people look at a persons character, no two people will ever look alike. Color, being the only thing that was similar, caused people of white race to see themselves as superior to those of African-American race. Slavery, which first arrived in Virginia in 1619, was followed by a number of events; many laws and amendments were passed, like the Fugitive Slave Law. Slavery resulted in Civil War, later gaining rights for African-Americans.... [tags: Slavery / Civil Rights] :: 6 Works Cited 1274 words (3.6 pages) Strong Essays [preview] History of Slavery in America - Slavery in the United States Slavery in general term consist in the state of a person being a property of another person. It has appeared for thousands of years. From the old Roman emperor to nineteenth century. Regardless, it increased by the development of societies to make profit by cheap human labor. Slavery appeared in the United States in late of seventeen centuries as a result of the trade market. These slaves came from Africa to work in large plantations for free labor in America. Historians believe that the first ship of slaves to arrive in America was Dutch to the Virginia colony of Jamestown in 1619 with around 20 slaves.... [tags: American History, Africans, Slavery] :: 8 Works Cited 909 words (2.6 pages) Better Essays [preview] George Washington's Feelings About Slavery - An abundance of scholars and general public regard George Washington as a prime example of leadership, citizenship, and overall individual achievement, and with good reason. When first learning of about George Washington in grade school, I was only told of his great accomplishments. The following composition will challenge the readers perception of our Nations first President as well enlighten the reader to debatable evidence of a more selfish racist. Thus forth, the following will show several of his accomplishments and how they not only overshadow his more deplorable actions but place his character and honesty into question.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 5 Works Cited 1319 words (3.8 pages) Strong Essays [preview] American Slavery Vs. Russian Serfdom - ... Slaveholders would exercise full dominance over their slaves. The British, Spanish, and Portuguese colonies all used the raw materials they exported to monopolize the trading that occurred in their empires. All colonies used supply and demand principles to determine where they would make the most money from their materials and products. Between 1450 and 1750 two developments and shifts in thought in Europe were the Renaissance and the Reformation. The Renaissance and the Reformation were partially caused by the questioning of the church after the Black Plague.... [tags: Serfs, Slavery] 1876 words (5.4 pages) Better Essays [preview] Colonial American Slavery - The study of slavery in the development of early America is an extremely complex, yet vitally important part of American History. There are hundreds of thousands of documents, debates, and historical studies available today. According to Ms. Goetz, the assistant professor of history at Rice University, who states, in The Southern Journal of History, that in addition to geographic and chronological diversity in the Americas, assessment of experiences of colonial slaves is extremely complex, especially in the context of three European colonial powers, vigorous Indian groups, and free and enslaved blacks(Goetz, 599).... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 13 Works Cited 1467 words (4.2 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery is in the Past - Imagine being out in the fields hunting with your father. It has been a long day and a spitted warthog hangs between you. All of a sudden you are ambushed. An enemy tribe attacks you and your father. You fight using your makeshift spear but are overwhelmed by the number of tribesmen. You are hit in the head with a rock and fall unconscious. When you wake you are being loaded into a great wooden monster. You cringe in fear as you and your fellow captives are herded into this great wooden beast. You scream in protest at the white men who have chained you but they just beat you on the head with their rifles.... [tags: Slavery Argumentative] 1953 words (5.6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Historical Contridictions in Slavery - ... Also Zinn states that the growth of American capitalism, before and after the Civil War, whites as well as blacks were in some sense becoming slaves thus, Zinn believes that capitalism makes people slaves, whether citizens are entitled to a bill of rights or not (Zinn 193). Under a capitalistic system, with a bill of rights, this is a far leap to take, even for Howard Zinn to say that U.S citizens were living like slaves. Although the U.S government would eventually get rid of slavery Zinn is not satisfied with how this was achieved, apparently a national government would never accept an end to slavery by rebellion.... [tags: History of American Slavery, african americans] :: 3 Works Cited 1506 words (4.3 pages) Research Papers [preview] The Abolishment of Slavery - The Abolishment of Slavery Slavery was a disgraceful and disturbing phenomenon. It was abolished, as people gradually became aware of the conditions of the lives of the slaves. There were many courageous men and women who helped put an end to slavery, both black and white, and the large number of people in Britain in Britain and all over the world that opposed slavery were very important abolishment of slavery. Middle class whites had an important role in the abolishment of slavery.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 366 words (1 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery in the South - Slavery in the South A large majority of whites in the South supported slavery even though fewer of a quarter of them owned slaves because they felt that it was a necessary evil and that it was an important Southern institution. In 1800 the population of the United States included 893,602 slaves, of which only 36,505 were in the northern states. Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey provided for the emancipation of their slaves before 1804, most of them by gradual measures.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 683 words (2 pages) Good Essays [preview] The Cases Against Slavery - The two addresses by Abraham Lincoln Address at the Dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery and Second Inaugural address reflect the issues with slavery. The story, as framed by Abraham Lincoln, tells how colored soldiers and non colored soldiers have come together to fight the civil war to abolish slavery and preserve their rights their fore fathers have set up for them and how slavery goes against being a Christian. While the story line follows that of Harriet Beecher Stowe in her book Uncle Toms Cabin, where through a series of sketches she tells the stories of the human cruelty of slavery and enlightens the reader on how being a Christian and being for slavery is wrong.... [tags: Abraham Lincoln, slavery, Civil War] 1110 words (3.2 pages) Better Essays [preview] What is Wrong with Slavery?: Utilitarian Thought - In Philosophical Ethics, Utilitarianism is the doctrine that our actions are right if the outcome of our actions generate the greatest happiness amongst the majority. However, in What is Wrong with Slavery? some objectors of utilitarianism have tried to dismiss this moral reasoning as to having any importance by blaming the awful actions of slave traders and slave owners on utilitarianism. They attack this doctrine by saying that utilitarianism is a belief system that can either praise or condemn slavery, and utilitarianism easily commend slavery if a majority of the people visualize a slave-owning society as the most beneficial and generate greatest happiness.... [tags: utilitarianism, slavery, slave trade] 733 words (2.1 pages) Better Essays [preview] The Effect of the Industrial Revolution on Slavery - Slavery has always been a part of human history. Therefore on cannot talk about when slavery began in North America. Soon after the American colonies were established in North America, slaves were brought in to meet the growing labor need on plantations. Although the importation of slaves continued to grow as new plantations were developed, it was the industrial revolution that would have the most profound impact on the slave industry. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the effect of slavery in the 13 colonies due to the industrial revolution.... [tags: Slavery, North America, Industrial Revolution, his] 1161 words (3.3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery in the South - Slavery in the South Slavery of the Black man in America was the cruelest ever known to man. Europeans transported slaves from Africa as early as 1505. The African Slaves were first exploited on an island named Hispaniola, in the Caribbean by the Europeans to do labor work, before they were sent to the Americas. The women usually worked the interior cooking and cleaning while the men were sent out into the plantation fields to farm. These Africans were stripped of their homes, cultures, and languages.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 865 words (2.5 pages) Good Essays [preview] Slavery in the Caribbean - Slavery in the Caribbean Caribbean Slavery gave planters and elite in the Caribbean the right to abuse a human by requiring ridiculously long hours of work on the fields and not providing enough nutrition. The article by Kiple and Kiple reviews the state of malnutrition among the slaves and the findings are atrocious. Slaves were lacking basic nutrients such as calcium, fats, and various vitamins. Kiple and Kiple, regardless of these facts, state that according to 18 and 19th century standards, these diets were not poor.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 870 words (2.5 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery in the United States - A historian once wrote that the rise of liberty and equality in America was accompanied by slavery. There is truth in that statement to great effect. The rise of America in general was accompanied by slavery and the settlers learned early on that slavery would be an effective way to build a country and create free labor. There was a definite accompaniment of slavery with the rising of liberty and equality in America. In 1787, in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention, the structure of government wasnt the only thing being discussed.... [tags: Slavery, racial issues, equal rights, civil rights] :: 3 Works Cited 1042 words (3 pages) Better Essays [preview] The South and Slavery - The South and Slavery The Societies of the North and South were very different. They were two regions of the country that depended very heavily on each other but yet seemed so far apart. Disagreeing on almost every aspect of how to reside and especially on very specific issues like slavery and emancipation. The North was an industrious, moneymaking, region. They respected blacks and gave them more rights than in the South where they had none. They still were not given the same rights as whites.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 527 words (1.5 pages) Strong Essays [preview] The Longstanding Institution of Slavery in the United States - Slavery, as an institution, has existed since the dawn of civilization. However, by the fifteenth century, slavery in Northern Europe was almost nonexistent. Nevertheless, with the discovery of the New World, the English experienced a shortage of laborers to work the lands they claimed. The English tried to enslave the natives, but they resisted and were usually successful in escaping. Furthermore, with the decline of indentured servants, the Europeans looked elsewhere for laborers. It is then, within the British colonies, do the colonists turn to the enslavement of Africans.... [tags: USA, slavery, history] 658 words (1.9 pages) Better Essays [preview] Slavery and the Caribbean - Slavery and the Caribbean Europeans came into contact with the Caribbean after Columbus's momentous journeys in 1492, 1496 and 1498. The desire for expansion and trade led to the settlement of the colonies. The indigenous peoples, according to our sources mostly peaceful Tainos and warlike Caribs, proved to be unsuitable for slave labour in the newly formed plantations, and they were quickly and brutally decimated. The descendants of this once thriving community can now only be found in Guiana and Trinidad.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 767 words (2.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Chapter 19 Outline: Perceptions on Slavery - ... Yet again the citizens would vote to make Kansas either pro or free slave state. The Lecompton Constitution is made to control free-soilers and appeal to the pro-slavery southerners. The constitution caused problems because obviously northerners didnt agree with it. In the end the constitution was thrown off by free-soil voters. Kansas never becomes a state until southern states seceded from the Union. IV. Bully Brooks and His Bludgeon: a. Charles Sumner Senator of Massachusetts gives a speech and is afterward beaten by Preston Brook.... [tags: kansas, slavery, debate, union] 1219 words (3.5 pages) Strong Essays [preview] African American Issues: Slavery and Continuing Racism - There are many issues that African Americans face in todays society, many of which I had not realized until after taking Africana Studies. Some issues dwell on the horrific past of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, which not only is history, but also is part of African American heritage (Karenga, 2010). African Americans frequently experience many perilous problems, such as dire economic situations and feelings of hostility from the cultural mainstream in America (Kaufman, 1971). The cultural collision between African Americans and whites continues to create several problems in society.... [tags: Race, Slavery] :: 9 Works Cited 894 words (2.6 pages) Better Essays [preview] The Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Through the Eyes of Frederick Douglass - The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself is a powerful book in many respects. Douglass invites you to vicariously witness the monstrous atrocities he experienced during the antebellum period; a time when said atrocities were not only encouraged, but looked highly upon. Throughout his narrative, Douglass expresses his exponentially growing anger and fortitude. When the reader arrives at The Appendix, it soon becomes that much more apparent that the vice of slavery that is most troublesome to him, is the curtain of pseudo-Christianity surrounding it.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 3 Works Cited 1599 words (4.6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] slavery and the plantation - slavery and the plantation During the era of slavery in the United States, not all blacks were slaves. There were a many number of free blacks, consisting of those had been freed or those in fact that were never slave. Nor did all slave work on plantations. There were nearly five hundred thousand that worked in the cities as domestic, skilled artisans and factory hands (Green, 13). But they were exceptions to the general rule. Most blacks in America were slaves on plantation-sized units in the seven states of the South.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 6 Works Cited 2101 words (6 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery in the Bible - Slavery in the Bible The first mention of slavery in the Bible is found in Noah's declaration, "Cursed be Canaan. The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers" (Gen. 9:25). He said this after waking up from a naked, drunken stupor and learning that his son Ham had mocked him. Although Ham was the guilty party, Noah's statement was directed at Ham's youngest son Canaan. If he was involved with his father in this act of disrespect, the statement can be taken as the pronouncement of a curse, "Cursed be Canaan." It is possible, however, that Canaan did not join his father in making fun of Noah.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 780 words (2.2 pages) Good Essays [preview] Slavery Around the World - Throughout this course we have learned about slavery in many parts of the world. I have learned some new things about slavery that I had never been taught before. Slavery has been a major stab wound to the heart of the world ever since it first existed. Slavery has caused years of turmoil and depression to large ethnic groups of people who have done nothing to deserve what came to them. The sad part about the whole slavery situation is that, it was never completely abolished from the world. Maybe on paper slavery may have been abolished, but there are still forms of slavery that exists in the world today.... [tags: Slave, Mende Nazer, child slavery, Sudan] :: 3 Works Cited 1588 words (4.5 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The abolition of slavery in Africa and the Middle East - ... The Western civilizatory mission can not accept slave work in a world in which the progress and the 'humanity' it was characterized by freedom and wage labor.9 Actually, the end of slavery in Africa was one of the 'motivations' of the 'scramble of Africa'. Colonialism was a way to overcome the savagery and bring natives to progress and civilization through wage labor and production for the market.10 Once the colonial rule was established and slavery legally abolished, images of 'benign' slavery were a way to keep good relations with the local rulers.... [tags: British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society] 1001 words (2.9 pages) Better Essays [preview] Slavery, A World History - ... The author points out the plain fact of life, of which slavery was universally practiced. There were many slaves held in bondage through warfare, piracy, kidnapping and shipwreck. The idea that natural slavery was obviously absurd. Bondage was, therefore, not identified by color. Slavery at that time was seen to rest on nothing but preferred force. As a result, a significant aspect of slavery in ancient times was the absence of a color line. Even though most of the slaves were foreigners, there was no slave race or social class.... [tags: labor systems, laws don't abolish slavery ] :: 2 Works Cited 1098 words (3.1 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Racial Slavery and the Development of Our Nation - ... Confrontation between the Native Americans and settlers in western Virginia spearheaded an uprising that demanded Governor Berkeley to provide more land to the poor whites. Berkeley stood by his decision to maintain peaceful relations with the local Native American population, which sparked a series of uprisings and massacres that grew into full rebellion against Berkeley and his men. Berkeley fled when Nathaniel Bacon and his ranks burned Jamestown to the ground, which led to Bacons rule over Virginia for a short while until England sent warships to regain control.... [tags: united states, freedom, liberty, slavery] :: 1 Works Cited 1436 words (4.1 pages) Better Essays [preview] Interpretations of Slavery - Interpretations of Slavery INTRODUCTION Slavery is known to have existed as early as the 18th century B.C. during the Shang Dynasty of China. Slavery was widely practiced in many other countries, including, Korea, India, Greece, Mexico and Africa. (Britannica 288-89). When most people consider slavery, however, they think of Western slavery in North America because it is well documented and it was such a horrible institution. Even though there is no one definition of slavery, the people who study it (historians, anthropologists and sociologists) agree that certain characteristics are present in all forms of slavery.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 8 Works Cited 3740 words (10.7 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery in America - Slavery in America By 1850, ninety-two percent of all American blacks were concentrated in the South, and about 95 percent were slaves. Pre-civil war slaves in America went through a great deal of turmoil and discontent in the South. Slavery has had a huge effect on our country. Many slaves were beaten to death and some did not survive the ruff life of slavery. Slavery then went on to cause the War between the North and the South known as the Civil War. In 1916, a Dutch ship brought twenty enslaved Africans to a Virginia Colony at Jamestown.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 2 Works Cited 410 words (1.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery In 19c - Slavery in 19th Century A justified institution as the 19th century emerged; the infamous institution of slavery grew rapidly and produced some surprising controversy and rash justification. Proslavery, Southern whites used social, political, and economical justification in their arguments defining the institution as a source of positive good, a legal definition, and as an economic stabilizer. The proslavery supporters often used moral and biblical rationalization through a religious foundation in Christianity and supported philosophic ideals in Manifest Destiny to vindicated slavery as a profitable investment.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1159 words (3.3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery In America - Slavery in America Introduction There has been much debate on the topic of slavery in the early times, although most of the countries considered slavery as a criminal activity. Some countries such as Myanmar and Sudan do not abolish it. They even expedite the slavery system. It is no doubt that slavery violent the human rights. However, it was commonly spread in the early times from 17th to 19th century. In this research, I will talk about the origin of the slavery, the reasons for people to becoming slave and the life of the slave.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1493 words (4.3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery In Illinois - Slavery in Illinois This essay talks about the dated events that happened in Illinois, focusing on slavery, from the time it begun, whether it should be implemented or not, its abolishment, and up to the time it ended. The paper also contains a well-opinionated reaction about slavery, how it is different from today. The Civil War Period has always been the primary hub of teaching in any American History classes. The era between the American Revolution and the Civil War was of a great importance since it has been the best and worst part of the western civilization during those times.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 4 Works Cited 1565 words (4.5 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery in Literature - Slavery in Literature Frederick Douglass was born into the lifelong, evil, bondage of slavery. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself, depicts his accomplishments. The narrative, however, is not only the story of his success. It is not simply a tale of his miraculous escape from slavery. Frederick Douglass' narrative is, in fact, an account of his tremendous strides through literacy. He exemplifies a literate man who is able to use the psychological tools of thought to escape the intense bonds of slavery.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1499 words (4.3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery and Reparations - Slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism have caused inestimable damage to billions of people throughout the world. They have also formed the basis for the accumulation of immense wealth in the hands of a small elite The slave trade involved the brutal relocation of tens of millions of people in which families, communities and societies were destroyed and in which millions lost their lives in the most inhumane conditions. At the same time, slavery was a fundamental element of the strengthening of mercantile trade and the rapid accumulation of capital that formed the basis for the emergence of the capitalist system as we know it today.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 4382 words (12.5 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Defense Of Slavery - Throughout history many things have happened that were by many thought to be unconscionable. Yet, the people who were putting their mark of unacceptance upon those committing these thought to be deplorable acts, were unaware of the actual situations, and in many cases, committing the same acts themselves. This was true during the Holy Wars, the Crusades and similar events. People who were not involved, often thought these acts of inhumanity to be reprehensible, but the parties involved, in their minds, had just cause for what they were doing.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1105 words (3.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery In America - Slavery in America stems well back to when the new world was first discovered and was led by the country to start the African Slave Trade-Portugal. The African Slave Trade was first exploited for plantations in the Caribbean, and eventually reached the southern coasts of America. The African natives were of all ages and sexes. Women usually worked in the homes cooking and cleaning, while men were sent out into the plantations to farm. Young girls would usually help in the house also and young boys would help in the farm by bailing hay and loading wagons with crops.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1011 words (2.9 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Racism and Slavery - Did race prejudice cause slavery. Or was it the other way round. Winthrop D. Jordan, in his monumental study of white American attitudes to black people from 1550 to 1812, argues that prejudice and slavery may well have been equally cause and effect, 'dynamically joining hands to hustle the Negro down the road to complete degradation. But we must go deeper than that, if we are to understand the rise of English racism as an ideology, the various roles it has played in the past, and the role it is playing today.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1802 words (5.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Lydia Maria Child's Propositions Defining Slavery and Emancipation - There has been many debates about the righteousness of slavery in the United States. There were many supporters of slavery as well as people who opposed slavery. Slavery has concentrated on African slaves In the United States. Law and public opinion regarding slavery differed from state to state and from person to person. Slavery has brought about a lot of controversy and stirred emotions even in today's society which has left a big impact on the people. In the documents, Ads for Runaway Servants and Slaves (1733-72), Lydia Maria Child's Propositions Defining Slavery and Emancipation (1833) and Lydia Maria Child's Prejudices against people of color (1836), describes the life of slaves alon... [tags: slavery, african-american, servants] :: 9 Works Cited 1425 words (4.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery in Jamaica - Jamaica has been a land exploited and oppressed by white nations for much of its history. First colonized by the Spanish and then the British, it seems hard to imagine a time when it was just the native people living in peace and harmony with the land. Many years after the white man first jammed himself onto the beaches of Jamaica, reggae music was born. A continuing tradition, this easy-to-groove-to music style originated as a voice against this oppression; it was the peaceful islanders way of finally communicating their plighted history to all who would listen, or all who could appreciate a good beat.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 6 Works Cited 4438 words (12.7 pages) Strong Essays [preview] slavery in brasil - Because certain forms of slavery had existed for centuries on the continent of Africa, Brazilian historians used to say that blacks imported from across the Atlantic were docile and ready to accept their new status as slaves. This assertion is based on the unwarranted assumption that was true of a limited area of Africa was typical of the continent as a whole. All slavery in brazil was essentially the same depending on the task or the labor the slave had to preform. In many cases the slaves was there to perform labor that was deplorable to the nobility.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 743 words (2.1 pages) Good Essays [preview] Views On Slavery - There are many perceptions as to how people view slavery. When people talk about slavery, the first thing that comes to their mind will be African American Slaves in the United States. They will also think of how they were brought to the United States against their own will and unequally exploited. However, according to Stephen F. Austin, during the eighteen-twentys and thirtys Mexicans also had slaves. He compares American Slaves and Cruz Arocha as a Mexican Slave. Although there are many differences between Cruz Arocha and the American slaves, especially in the ways they are treated.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 761 words (2.2 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Women and Slavery - SLAVERY AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD The simple fact is that everybody has heard of the Underground Railroad, but not everyone knows just what it was. First of all, it wasn=t underground, and it wasn=t even a railroad. The term AUnderground Railroad,@ actually refers to a path along which escaping slaves were passed from farmhouse to storage sheds, from cellars to barns, until they reached safety in the North. One of the most widely known abolitionists in history is a slave by the name of Harriet Tubman.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 2 Works Cited 1466 words (4.2 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Slavery in America - For this assignment we were asked to read the book Modern Medea written Steven Weisenburger, which deals with slavery in the mid-nineteenth century. In my paper I will discuss how the book portrays the daily life as a slave, the issue of freedom, and the racial realities during this time. This particular book tells the story of a slave by the name of Margaret Garner, who one day escaped from her plantation in Covington, KY, and took along with her Robert which was her husband, her four children, and Robert's parents.... [tags: Slavery Essays] 1843 words (5.3 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Support of Slavery by the Christian Church - Support of Slavery by the Christian Church The belief in some higher presence, other than our own, has existed since man can recollect. Religion was established from this belief, and it can survive and flourish because of this belief. Christianity, one of several forms of religion that exist today, began sometime during the middle of the first century. Christians believe in a higher presence that they call "God." This belief in God is based on faith, not fact; faith is "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence." (Webster's New World College Dictionary, 1996, p.... [tags: Slavery Essays] :: 6 Works Cited 2850 words (8.1 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] The Contrasting Views of Pro-Slavery vs. Abolitionist - ... Samuel Cartwright was a physician and pro-slavery advocate during the 1800s and is well known for his diagnosis of drapetomania, a supposed disease that made slaves runaway. He concluded that the reason African slaves sought to escape was because they were treated inadequately by their masters. Delving deeper in his writings it is discovered he too, like George Fitzhugh, approved of enslavement. Both men advocated the issue and have similar analyzes on how slaves are or should be treated. Cartwright expresses to his audience that slaves will most likely run (drapetomania) if they are treated poorly by their master; according to my experience, the "genu flexit"--the awe and reverence, m... [tags: positions, goals, party, slavery] 1248 words (3.6 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Slavery in the Nineteenth Century: Viewpoint of the Antislavery and Abolotionist Movements - ... They were very well envisioned, however their efforts were only effective for so long due to the vast amounts of funding necessary for compensation of slave owners and shipment of freed slaves to their new settlements. There were far too many slaves and it was certain that the plan would never reach economic sufficiency to follow through with their project, as well as the fact that the growing cotton industry in the South called for much labor work and slaves were the easiest access of productive laborers.... [tags: homelands, slavery, influence, war] 751 words (2.1 pages) Better Essays [preview] A Study of the Healing Process from Slavery and Racism - A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it.-Frederick Douglass When you think of slavery, you may want to consider the effects of an earthquake because thats how powerful it was. Like many earthquakes, slavery produced various damaging ramifications to everything around it. This included devastation to family structures and in worst cases the loss of human life; and without doubt slavery claimed the lives of many just as Harriet Jacobs expressed I once saw a slave girl dying after the birth of a child nearly white.... [tags: Racial Relations, Slavery, Racism] 2560 words (7.3 pages) Powerful Essays [preview] Looking Poitively at the Effects of Slavery in the USA: Personal Narrative - A Blessing in Disguise Slavery and capitalism have an interesting relationship. Slavery has existed nearly everywhere in the world, under almost every political and economic system, and was in no way a stranger to capitalism or the United States. America experienced endless economic benefits from slavery, but it was simultaneously a despicable violation of human rights. Natives of Africa were not only captured, but transported to what is now the United States and forced to do work. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, European colonies heavily depended on the labor of the Africans for their economic survival.... [tags: economic systems, capitalism, slavery] :: 5 Works Cited 1012 words (2.9 pages) Strong Essays [preview] Wendell Phillips: A Leading Reformer for the Abolishment of Slavery - ... For the most part Phillips was a peaceful reformer but in the 1850s he became radical. During the 1840s, he regularly attended conventions such as the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London that advocated the freedom of slaves. In years foreshadowing the Civil War, he became more aggressive, with events like Harpers Ferry Raid that subsidized his presence as a radical leader. However, after the war, he returned to being a more passive reformer by serving as a lecturer and public speaker. He heavily advocated for the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which obliterated slavery and finally gave the right for African Americans to be citizens and permitted them to vote.... [tags: anti-slavery leaders] 727 words (2.1 pages) Better Essays [preview]
See original here:
Posted in Wage Slavery
Comments Off on Free Slavery Essays and Papers
Undocumented, domestic helps mired in low wages, exploitation – The Kathmandu Post
Posted: at 11:06 am
Jun 18, 2017-
Domestic workers, the most vulnerable unregistered workers of the labour community, who often work without clear terms of employment, are facing identity crisis and inferiority complex, stakeholders have said.
Domestic workers say their work is not considered decent and since they are undocumented, they face hassles on everyday basis.
We are often frownedupon and there is no way to address our woes, said Rama Pandey, 36, who has been working for several families in the metropolis for the last 15 years.
The Civil Code Amendment Bill and Labour Act Amendment Bill have incorporated some provisions to ensure the rights of domestic workers, but both are yet to be passed by Parliament.
The Labour Act-1992 does not define informal workers as labourers.
The Labour Act Amendment Bill, however, has a provision of one employer and one worker policy and seeks to bring domestic workers under formal working group.
But Clause 88 (3) allows the employer to deduct money from the total wage if the employer provides food and accommodation, forcing domestic helps into some sort of slavery.
On top of that, wages for domestic help are determined on the basis of mutual understanding between the employer and the employee, and in most of the cases, the former has the upper hand.
Keshav Duwadi, secretary at the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), said the organisation imparts special training to domestic workers on their wages and rights.
For eight hours of work, the minimum wage for domestic workers should be Rs9,700 per month.
There are approximately67 million domestic workers worldwide and 41 million of them are employed in Asian countries.
Nepal has around 200,000 domestic workers, according to GEFONT.
Nepal has ratified Domestic Workers Convention 189 of the International Labour Organization concerning decent work for the labourers.
A report published by the ILO in January 2016 about its programme entitled Decent Work Country Programme (2013-2017) says that in April 2015, the government had endorsed and implemented new guidelines on recruitment process of domestic workers in foreign employment.
Some employers even make us work for extended hours, but would not pay us accordingly, said Ganga Subedi, 24.
We have nowhere to go.
Unless a new law is introduced to protect the rightsof domestic workers, theywill be forced to wallow in self-pity, she said.
Published: 18-06-2017 07:59
See the original post:
Undocumented, domestic helps mired in low wages, exploitation - The Kathmandu Post
Posted in Wage Slavery
Comments Off on Undocumented, domestic helps mired in low wages, exploitation – The Kathmandu Post
Labour’s populism for the middle classes – New Statesman
Posted: at 11:05 am
This essay is based upon the One People Oration I delivered at Westminster Abbey in October 2014. I have made hundreds of speeches in the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament for 25 years, but this was the only one I had given in Westminster Abbey. In its early days, in the early1300s, Parliament actually sat there, in the Chapter House and then in the Refectory of the Abbey. So as an MP I felt very at home, but there were important differences.
The Commons is a scene of noisy disagreement, while in the Abbey we were surrounded by a thousand years of reflection and calm. In the Commons I would be cut off mid-flow if I went a minute over my allotted time, but in the Abbey I spoke for as long as I needed to and had some hope the audience might actually have been listening. When I spoke in the House of Commons I was just yards from where my hero William Pitt the Younger (Hague 2005) debated with Fox and Burke and Sheridan, but he was actually buried in the Abbey, with his father, in what I believe is the only grave in our country to contain two prime ministers.
People often comment that politicians are becoming younger, but Pitt was prime minister at the age of 24. There has never been a younger occupant of Number 10 before or since, and I doubt there will ever be one again or one as peculiarly gifted as a parliamentary orator. Pitt was prime minister for 18 years and 11 months, and for half that time Britain was at war with France and frequently at risk of invasion.
Another hero of mine, WilliamWilberforce(Hague 2008), is also buried in the Abbey, thanks to his family and friends countermanding his wish to be buried elsewhere. His house, Number 4 Palace Yard, stood just over the wall and was by every account a veritable pandemonium of books, pets, visitors and hapless servants he never had the heart to let go. From amid that ferment of ideas and activity he spent 20 years converting the people and entire political establishment of Britain to the cause of abolition. Year after year he moved motions in the House of Commons that were defeated. But in 1807, two decades after he began, he finally succeeded in turning our country from a slave-trading nation into one that bullied, harassed and bribed other countries into giving up their own detestable traffic in humans. And he did this without ever holding any office in any government.
Although I am not an intensely religious person, in writing my book onWilberforceI came to admire the unquenchable determination to succeed in a cause that religion in his case evangelical Christianity inspired in him. Because he believed he was accounting to God for how he spent his time, he actually recorded what he did with it. His papers include tables detailing each quarter hour of the day. One typical entry describes seven and a half hours of Commons business, eight and a quarter hours in bed, five and a half hours of requisite company &c visits &c, threequarters of an hour of serious reading and meditation, 15 minutes unaccounted for or dressing and one hour described as squandered.
While few in his age had his gift with words and his obsessive drive,Wilberforcewas not alone in being inspired by his faith. He was part of theClaphamsect, a small group of politicians, lawyers, merchants, churchmen and bankers based aroundClaphamCommon, who were responsible for one of the greatest varieties and volumes of charitable activity ever launched by any group of people in any age.
Their primary goal was the abolition of the slave trade and the founding of Sierra Leone, but on top of this they set up a staggering array of charitable causes: the London Missionary Society; the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor; the Church Missionary Society; the Religious Tract Society; the Society for Promoting the Religious Instruction of Youth; the Society for the Relief of the Industrious Poor; the British National Endeavour for the Orphans of Soldiers and Sailors; the Institution for the Protection of Young Girls; the Society for the Suppression of Vice; the Sunday School Union; the Society forSupercedingthe Necessity for Climbing Boys in Cleansing Chimneys; the British and Foreign Bible Society; and two with particularly wonderful names: The Asylum House of Refuge for the Reception of Orphaned Girls the Settlements of whose Parents Cannot be Found and, finally, the Friendly Female Society, for the Relief of Poor, Infirm, Aged Widows, and Single Women of Good Character, Who Have Seen Better Days. And we thinkwelive in an age of activism.
***
I know that for many people today religious faith of all kinds remains a great inspiration and channel for charity and altruism. And whatever faith or creed we live by, inherent in our democracy is the idea that our freedoms and rights are universal. Oppression or conflict or poverty or injustice anywhere in the world has stirred our consciences, as individuals and collectively, throughout our history. I want to argue that maintaining and building on that national tradition is absolutely vital in the twenty-first century, both as a moral obligation and in order to prevent wars at a time of growing international instability.
The year 2014, when I delivered my lecture in Westminster Abbey, saw us marking 100 years since the First World War, in which so many of our countrymen perished because conflict was not averted. Remembering that dreadful conflict should inspire us to maintain our restless conscience as a nation and be determined to do whatever we can to improve the condition of humanity. We should have faith in the broadest sense in our ideas and our ideals as a country, and in our ability to have a positive impact on the development of other nations and the future of our world.
One of the most moving sights I have seen in some time was the sea of poppies encircling the Tower of London, commemorating each and every British and Commonwealth military fatality in the First World War. It was a silent exhortation to remember, to be grateful for what we have and to learn the lessons of those times when peace had to be restored at so great a price to humanity. So too is the revered Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, buried among Kings, as his gravestone says, as one of the many who gave the most that man can give, life itself, for God, for King and Country, for Loved Ones and Empire, for the Sacred Cause of Justice and the Freedom of the World. The remains of 15 British soldiers from the War were reburied in Belgium in October 2014, 100 years after they were killed in battle, reminding us that we are still counting the cost of that terrible conflagration.
As Foreign Secretary, for four years I occupied the office used by Sir Edward Grey, with its windows overlookingHorseguardsand St Jamess Park. Standing at those windows, as he contemplated the catastrophe about to engulf the world, he famously said, the lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime. The failure of diplomacy on the eve of the War ushered in greater suffering than Grey and his contemporaries could ever have imagined: war on an industrial scale, the butchery of the unknown by the unseen, in the words of one war correspondent, in which 10 million soldiers died on all sides, 20 million were severely wounded and eight million were permanently disabled; in which appalling massacres, rapes and other atrocities were committed against thousands of civilians and millions of refugees were created; and which was all to be followed by the Second World War, the massacres in Poland, the gas chambers and extermination camps of the Holocaust, pogroms in the Soviet Union and the slaughter of war and revolution in China.
It is tempting to look back on the horrors and evils of the past and to think that these things could not happen again. It would be comforting to imagine that we have reached such a level of education and enlightenment that ideologies like Nazism, Fascism and Communism that led to mass slaughter, and the nationalism that leads states to attack theirneighboursor groups within states to massacre their fellow citizens, have all seen an end. Sadly, I believe this is an illusion.
There is an additional illusion that sometimes takes hold, as it did before the First World War, that a permanent peace has arrived. Then, Europe had enjoyed 99 years without widespread war. The Great Powers had found a way back from the brink of conflict several times, and Grey and his colleagues can be forgiven for thinking that crises would always be resolved by diplomacy, when in fact they were on the edge of the two greatest cataclysms in history.
History shows that while circumstances change, human nature is immutable. However educated, advanced or technologically skilled we become, we are still highly prone to errors ofjudgement, to greed and thus to conflict. There is no irreversible progress towards democracy, human rights and greater freedoms just as there is unlikely to be any such thing as a state of permanent peace. Unless each generation acts to preserve the gains it inherits and to build upon them for the future, then peace, democracy and freedom can easily be eroded, and conflict can readily break out.
***
It is true that there is more education, welfare, charitableendeavourand kindness in our world than ever before, that we have reached extraordinary diplomatic milestones like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that we have a United Nations (UN) system carrying out responsibilities from peacekeeping to the protection of our environment. We should never lose faith in the positive side of human nature and always retain our optimism and belief in our ability to shape our destiny. But my argument is that it is also true that the capacity of human beings to inflict unspeakable violence upon others, of ideologies that are pure evil to rise up or for states that are badly led to wade into new forms of conflict are all as present as ever.
We often read about massacres as if such barbaric things are only to be found in the pages of history. But the short span of our own lifetimes tells a different story, from Europe to the Middle East, to Africa and Asia. Only in 1995, in Europe, 8000 men and boys were massacred inSrebrenicain a single week. Over five million people have been killed in the Congo in the two decades up to 2014.
In April 2014, when I attended the20thanniversary of the Rwandan massacres, I and the other international representatives were standing where nearly a third of a million people are buried in a single grave, a third of the million women, men and children slain in cold blood within 100 days. Also in 2014, two of Pol Pots henchmen, part of the Khmer Rouge regime that killed more than a million people, were convicted and given life sentences. In Iraq and Syria, in a perversion of religion,ISIL(Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is currently terrorizing communities with beheadings and crucifixions. And think of the barrel bombs that have rained down on schools in Syria from theAssadregime and the pitiless desperation to hold on to power needed to produce such utter inhumanity.
Aggressive ideology, despotism and fanaticism live on, despite all our other advances and achievements. This is the human condition. Our optimism and faith in human nature will always have to contend with this harsh truth, at the same time as being essential to overcoming such evils. That is why it is so important for us to have a strong sense of history so that we never lose sight of how fragile peace and security can be. And so we understand that diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of conflicts is not an abstract concept but our greatest responsibility.
In our information-rich, media-saturated world, history can be caricatured as a luxury, not least for those who have their hands full running the country. But I could not imagine having been Foreign Secretary without drawing on the advice of the Foreign Office historians, who were able to offer historical precedents for every conceivable revolution, insurgency, treaty or crisis, and who produced maps and papers that shed light on the most intractable of modern problems. It is as important to consult the lessons of history in foreign policy as it is to seek the advice of our embassies, our intelligence agencies, our military and our allies. History is not set in stone and is open to endless reinterpretation. But the habit of deep and searching thought rooted in history must be cultivated: not toparalyseus or make us excessively pessimistic, but to help us make sound decisions and guide our actions.
It remains as true today as it was when Edmund Burke first expressed it that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. We cannot in our generation coast along or think it is not our responsibility or that it is too difficult to tackle conflict and injustice that bring misery to millions. However pressing the crises of the day, we have to address the fundamental conditions that lead to armed conflict and reduce the human suffering it causes. This means not only maintaining Britains global role living up to our responsibilities, protecting our interests internationally and being able to project military power where necessary but also consciously encouraging and developing the ideas, concepts and strategies needed to address poverty, conflict and injustice.
All our advances start with an idea. Powerful ideas can then become unstoppable movements as indeed the abolition of the slave trade did in the eighteenth century. For that to happen governments have to adopt the best of these ideas, and leaders have to be prepared to be open and radical.
***
The title of my essay is taken from a remark by Admiral John Fisher, First Sea Lord in the early nineteenth century and commander of the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War. In 1899, he was sent as Britains representative to the first Hague Peace Conference, called by Russia, to discuss the growing arms race and place curbs on the use of certain weapons in war. As these proposals were discussed at the negotiating table, he is said to have remarked with some passion that one could sooner talk of humanising hell than of humanising war. While he was, of course, right about the hell of war, in actual fact the traumatic experience of conflict and great idealism have often gone together. It has frequently been the very experience of war that has spurred mankinds greatest advances in international relations, based on ideas that were radical when first presented.
When HenryDunantobserved the agonizing deaths of thousands of injured men at the battle ofSolferinoin 1859, his outrage and activism led to the 1864 Geneva Convention, the founding text of contemporary international humanitarian law, which laid the foundation for the treatment of prisoners in war. After the First World War, there was a vast and intensive period of institution building, leading to the League of Nations, InternationalLabourOrganization, the prohibition on use of chemical weapons and the creation of the High Commissioner for Refugees to find a way of returning millions of European refugees to their homes, which supports over 50 million refugees and displaced people worldwide today.
While the Second World War was raging, Roosevelt and Churchill spent hours discussing the creation of a new international body to prevent conflict in the future, which led to the United Nations itself, the Security Council and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. More recently, in our lifetime, the outrage at atrocities in Cambodia, Rwanda, Liberia and Bosnia led to the creation of the International Criminal Court and the concept of the Responsibility to Protect. Since 1990 our country has played a leading role in securing international bans on the use of cluster munitions andlandmines, and I was proud to sign on Britains behalf the ratification of the International Arms Trade Treaty, the culmination of ten years of advocacy begun here in Britain.
The humanising of the hell of war is a continual process. While our goal must always be to avert conflict in the first place, except as a last resort as provided in the UN charter, it is also essential to establish norms ofbehaviourabout what is unacceptable even in times of war. This is vital so that if conflict breaks out despite our best efforts, governments feel restrained by the threat of accountability for any crimes that are committed, we have mechanisms to protect civilians and peace agreements take account of the need for reconciliation and the punishment of crimes against humanity. The crucial point is that while the international bodies we have are the result of diplomacy, they do not simply arise on their own. They are the product of ideas generated by individuals, groups or governments refusing to accept thestatus quo, such that then, with enough momentum, public support and political commitment became reality.
I think of this restless conscience, as I call it, as an enduring and admirable British characteristic. Our nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), lawyers, academics and Crown servants have had an extraordinary impact internationally. In my time in the Foreign Office I found our diplomats a powerful part of this tradition, from their work on the abolition of the death penalty, to improving the lot of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities worldwide, to helping negotiations as far away as the nowsuccessful Mindanao Peace Process in the Philippines. This is part of our countrys distinctive contribution to the world, and it involves the power of our ideas as much as the skill of our diplomats. We must always cherish and encourage that flow of ideas and idealism and those rivers of soft power and influence that form such a large part of our role in the world.
It is also true that diplomatic negotiations for peace do not simply arise automatically. They require extraordinary effort by individuals. US former Secretary of State, John Kerry, for example, deserves praise for his tireless work on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. He chose to devote weeks on end trying to restart and conclude those negotiations, rather than taking the easy route of not attempting such a difficult task. Individuals and the choices they make have an immense impact. Sometimes the individual is someone in high office, like William Pitt, who did his utmost in the early1790sto avoid war with France and whose State Paper of 1805 was the basis for European peace for most of the nineteenth century. Or it is someone likeWilberforce, who was never a government minister, but whose ideas and energy brought relief, an end of suffering and ultimately freedom for millions of people.
Choices are motivated differently. The coalition to end the British slave trade was driven not just by moral considerations, but also by political and economic factors. Adam Smith argued against slavery because he saw it as an inefficient allocation of resources. British naval supremacy in the world meant that in simple political terms, abolition was possible because we had the diplomatic and military muscle to enforce it. AndWilberforcewas outraged that slaves had no opportunity to embrace Christianity, so their souls were being lost. So his key argument against the trade was neither economic nor political, it was religious. It is inevitable that in this way governments, like individuals, are motivated by a number of different factors. But we must pursue the issues today that bring together the moral interest and the national interest, using the combination of powerful ideas, our strong institutions and our global role.
***
We should be proud that, so far, our country has kept its promise to spend 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on international development, not just because it is morally right, but also because it is profoundly in our national interest to help other nations lift their citizens out of poverty. We have to continue to lead global efforts to stop the illegal wildlife trade, which destroys the natural heritage of African nations, undermines economic development and creates instability. It is vital that we promote a rules-based international system, because it nourishes the commerce, trade and stability that are the lifeblood of our own economy as well as strengthening human rights internationally. And it is essential that we support political reform, civil society, womens rights and economic progress in the Middle East, because it is vital to our long-term security that that region becomes more free, more stable and more prosperous.
The pursuit of policies that bring stability in the world, and the moral authority for them, are inseparable. Any idea that we should retrench, withdraw or turn away from these issues is misguided and wrong for two reasons. First, the world is becoming systemically less stable. This is due to many different factors: the dispersal of power amongst a wider group of nations, many of whom do not fully share our values and our objectives in foreign policy; the diffusion of power away from governments, accelerated by technology; the globalization of ideas and ability of people to organize themselves into leaderless movements and spread ideas around the world within minutes; our interconnectedness, a boon for development but also a major vulnerability to threats, from terrorism and cyber crime to the spread of diseases like Ebola; the growing global middle class, which is driving demand for greater accountability and more freedom within states designed to suppress such instincts; and the rise of religious intolerance in the Middle East.
Global institutions are struggling to deal with these trends. It is not enough to ensure there is no conflict on our own continent, although sadly the crisis in Ukraine has shown, once again, that even Europe is not immune. Conflict anywhere in the world affects us through refugee flows, the crimes and terrorism that conflict fuels and the billions of pounds needed in humanitarian assistance, so we have to address these issues.
Second, the pursuit of sound development, inclusive politics and the rule of law are essential to our moral standing in the world, which is in turn an important factor in our international influence. As I pointed out in 2006, the US and UK suffered a loss of moral authority as a result of aspects of the War on Terror, which affected the standing of our foreign policy and the willingness of other countries to work with us, and which both President Obamas administration and our own government worked hard to address. We are strongest when we act with moral authority, and that means being the strongest champions of our values.
Thus, neither as a matter of wise policy nor as a matter of conscience can Britain ever afford to turn aside from a global role. We have to continue to be restless advocates for improving the condition of humanity. This means continuing to forge new alliances, reforming the UN and other global institutions and enforcing the rules that govern international relations. But that will never be enough by itself, so we also have to retain the ambition to influence not just the resolutions that are passed and the treaties that are signed up to, but also the beliefs in the world about what is acceptable and what is not.
A powerful example of an issue on which we need to apply such leadership is the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war. I have been surprised by how deeply engrained and passive attitudes to this subject often are. Because history is full of accounts of the mass abuse of women and captives, and because there is so much domestic violence in all societies, it is a widely held view that violence against women and girls is inevitable in peacetime and in conflict.
But when we seeISILforeign fighters in Iraq and Syria selling women as slaves and glorifying rape and sexual slavery; when we hear of refugees, who have already lost everything, being raped in camps for want of basic protections; when we see leaders exhorting their fighters to go out and rape their opponents, specifically to inflict terror, to make women pregnant, to force people to flee their homes and to destroy their families and communities; or peace agreements giving amnesty to men who have ordered and carried out rape or deliberately turned a blind eye to it; or soldiers and even peacekeepers committing rape due to lack of discipline, proper training, no accountability and a culture that treats women as the spoils of war, a commodity to be exploited with impunity, then we are clearly dealing with injustice on a scale that is simply intolerable, as well as damaging to the stability of those countries and the peace of the wider world.
It is often said to me that without war there would be nowarzonerape, as if that is the only way to address the problem. While of course our goal is always to prevent conflict, we cannot simply consign millions of women, men, girls and boys to the suffering of rape while we seek a way to put an end to all conflict, since, as I have argued, this goal is one we should always strive for but may often not attain.
***
We have shown that we can put restraints on the way war is conducted. We have put beyond the pale the use of poison gas or torture and devised the Arms Trade Treaty for the trade in illegal weapons. It is time to address this aspect of conflict and to treat sexual violence as an issue of global peace and security. The biggest obstacle we face in this campaign is the idea you cannot do anything about it that you cannot humanise hell, that there is nothing we can do to endwarzonerape. But there is hope, and we must dispel this pessimism. Over the last two years, working with NGOs, the UN and faith groups, we have brought the weight and influence of Britain to bear globally as no country ever has done before on this subject.
Over 150 countries have joined our campaign and endorsed a global declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict. We brought together over 120 governments and thousands of people at a Global Summit in London in June 2014, the first of its kind. And in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Colombia we are seeing signs of governments being prepared to address this issue by passing laws and reforming their militaries.
What would it say about our commitment to human rights in our own society if we knew about such abuses but did nothing about them? And how could we be at the forefront of preventing conflict in the world if we did not act to prevent something that causes conflict in the future? Sexual violence is often designed to make peace impossible to achieve and create the bitterness and incentive for future conflict. Dealing with it is not a luxury to be added on, it is an integral part of conflict prevention, a crucial part of breaking a cycle of war. And it has to go hand in hand with seeking the full political, social and economic empowerment of women everywhere, the greatest strategic prize of all for our century.
In 2014 we commemorated those who died in the First World War and their suffering. There is no more fitting thing we can do for the sake of that memory than to face up to the hell of conflict in our lifetimes. We have never had to mobilize our population to fight in the way their generation did, and so we have been spared their painful burdens. But how much more incumbent does that make it on all of us to fight with the peaceful tools at our disposal on behalf of those who are denied, through no fault of their own, the security we consider our birthright.
Just as inWilberforces day, it will always be necessary for Britain to be at the forefront of efforts to improve the condition of humanity. The search for peace and an end to conflict requires powerful ideas and the relentlessdefenceof our values, as much it does negotiations and summits between nations. We could be heading for such turbulent times that it will be easy for some people to say we should not bother with development or tackling sexual violence in conflict or other such issues. There will always be the pressing crisis of the day that risks drowning out such longterm causes. But, in fact, addressing these issues is crucial to overcoming crises now and in the future and it will be an increasingly important part of our moral authority and standing in the world that we are seen to do this.
Just because there are economic crises and major social changes does not mean we or our partners can squander any day or any year in producing the ideas as well as the laws that prevent conflict and deal with some of the greatest scourges of the twenty-first century, and we must do so with confidence: for it remains the case that free and democratic societies are the only places where the ideas and the moral force we need can be found. Our times call for a renewal of that effort for just and equitable solutions to conflict, the driving down of global inequalities and the confronting of injustices.
Every day we have to start again: there is not going to be a day in our lifetimes when we can wake up and say this work is complete. We have to overcome the sense of helplessness that says that vast problems cannot be tackled. We have to awaken the conscience of nations and stir the actions of governments. In an age of mass communication this is a task for every one of us. Whether we are in government, are diplomats, journalists, members of the armed forces, members of the public, students, faith groups or civil servants, every one of us is part of that effort.
In Britain, our restless conscience should never allow us to withdraw behind our fortifications and turn away from the world but should always inspire us to strive for peace and security, to maintain our responsibilities, seek new ways of addressing the worst aspects of humanbehaviourand live up to our greatest traditions.
This essay is taken from The Moral Heart of Public Service, edited by Claire Foster-Gilbert and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, priced 15.99, on 21 June 2017.
Read more:
Posted in Abolition Of Work
Comments Off on Labour’s populism for the middle classes – New Statesman
In Starks, Maine’s pot haven, passion doesn’t burn evenly – Press Herald
Posted: at 11:05 am
STARKS There was a moment in August 1994 when Don Christen realized his idea for a big outdoor party to celebrate marijuana was really catching on.
I woke up on Saturday and the field was just covered with blankets and tents from people who slept there overnight, said Christen, 64, recalling that years Hempstock festival in Starks. We recorded 12,500 people through our gates. The issue back then was so important to people that they just had to be there.
By drawing crowds of 10,000 or more pot smokers and activists, Hempstock helped this rural town of 640 people become known as an epicenter of marijuana advocacy in Maine. Though the names have changed and crowds have grown smaller over the years, cannabis-friendly festivals have been held on Harry Browns 70-acre farm every year since the first Hempstock in 1991. The next one, Harrys Hoe Down, takes place Friday through June 25.
So it may seem ironic that, with marijuana now legal in Maine, Starks voters approved an ordinance in March making their town one of only a handful of marijuana-dry towns in the state, banning any marijuana-related retail business by a vote of 61-39. A majority of Starks voters also opposed the new state law allowing marijuana use, when it was on the ballot in November, 185-167.
But people in Starks say the twist is not so surprising. Residents have long been split over the festivals, which are held on private land and have become tightly regulated by the town. Some residents support the festivals cause and say the area, where making a living isnt easy, has a history of people putting food on the table by growing and selling cannabis. But many didnt like the traffic jams, the noise and the headlines about drug arrests in their town. Many in Starks, founded in 1795, have come to resent the towns reputation as a pot haven.
From my perspective the festivals have had an overall negative impact on the town, and I think a lot of people in town feel that way. Thats why they voted the way they did when they got the chance to weigh in, said Paul Frederic, 74, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, whose family goes back more than 200 years in Starks. I know some people in town support (the festivals) but so many find it an irritant, to have this reputation, to have our town known as a hotbed of marijuana.
Hempstock security personnel read through a search warrant served by Maine State Police before a brief search of the festival site in Starks in this 2002 file photograph. Staff photo
SOMETIMES PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD
Christen and Brown, the two Starks residents most responsible for Hempstocks reputation and the towns notoriety, no longer work together. With Christen as the main organizer and Brown as the landowner and host, the two collaborated on festivals that were essentially rallies for marijuana-related causes for about 17 years. They parted ways in 2008 over money and the direction of the festival.
Both men have been jailed over the years for marijuana-related charges, and both say they are still committed to the cause of educating the public on cannabis products and broadening existing laws. But neither supported the successful campaign to legalize marijuana in Maine last fall. They both feel the state law doesnt go far enough and that personal possession should not be limited to 2 ounces.
It seems ironic to me that this was a bill to legalize marijuana, with some regulation, and that these guys couldnt support it. Sometimes perfect is the enemy of good, and from an activist standpoint this was a good initiative, said David Boyer, Maine political director of the Marijuana Policy Project, who managed the pro-legalization campaign. But I certainly respect what these guys have done over the years and the groundwork they laid. They helped change attitudes.
So the festivals in Starks, begun when marijuana was not legal in Maine, will continue even with the new law in effect. Harrys Hoe Down will be the first of three scheduled for this season in Starks. Browns farm also will host Green Love Renaissance Aug. 18-20 and Harvest Ball Oct. 6-9. Each festival includes a mix of bands, people speaking about marijuana laws and ongoing efforts to broaden them, as well as nonprofits giving out information on medical marijuana and cannabis-related businesses. Bands scheduled to perform this year include Max Creek, Bellas Bartok, Wobblesauce and Roots of Creation. No alcohol is sold.
Selling marijuana anywhere in Maine is not yet legal, as state lawmakers work to set up a regulatory system to oversee the industry.
Brown and other organizers say the Starks festivals are about peaceful social change of all kinds.
The reasons for celebrating our freedoms are more now, not less, said Brown, 68, standing on the porch of his small home. The law needs to be broader; there is still too much ignorance of the herb.
The Starks prohibition on marijuana sales, which both Christen and Brown opposed, was approved by town voters March 10. It bans retail marijuana establishments, which include stores, testing facilities, manufacturing facilities, social clubs and commercial growing operations.
The town ordinance did not address personal use of marijuana, though the state law allows people to grow six plants for that purpose. Since the state law went into effect in January, many towns have considered temporary moratoriums.
But only a handful, including Oakland, Skowehgan, Norway, York and Lebanon, have bans similar to the one in Starks, said Ted Kelleher, an attorney with Drummond Woodsum in Portland whose practice focuses on regulated substance issues. Others are considering bans and moratoriums. Kelleher said some town officials have considered bans because their voters strongly rejected the state legalization.
The ban on marijuana businesses was proposed by the town planning board. Board chairman Kerry Hebert declined to comment for this story. In a message to residents on the town website, board members said the ban was proposed partly because town voters rejected the state marijuana law and partly because voters at the 2016 town meeting had voted for a 180-day moratorium on marijuana businesses.
Shane Sours, 42, whose family once ran the only store in town, opposed the ban.
Were already known for marijuana, so what would it hurt if we had a dispensary or a business selling it? he said. It might bring jobs. I think the people who voted for (the ban) want to change this towns image.
Not everyone saw the vote as a referendum on the towns reputation. Ernest Hilton, a 66-year-old lawyer and member of the Board of Selectmen, said he voted for the ban because he could not see very much positive about allowing marijuana businesses in town. But he said he could have accepted a rejection of the ban as well.
It could have gone either way for me, Hilton said. It was not an issue that raised a huge emotional response with everyone.
The history of marijuana festivals in town wasnt a factor for him, he said: Those festivals will continue whether this ban was voted on or not, so to me theyre not related.
FROM ONE HEMPSTOCK COME MANY
Starks is about 20 miles east of Farmington, in rolling hills near the western mountains. It was named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. John Stark of New Hampshire and has a history of attracting independent-minded people.
Brown grew up in Connecticut and moved to Starks in the late 1970s for a freer lifestyle, closer to nature. He sells his artwork at a store in Farmington, H. Brown Fine Art, and has been involved in protests against war, nuclear power and Wall Street. As a user of marijuana, he has long found it a lot of nonsense that the federal government can classify it as a dangerous drug and incarcerate its citizens because of it.
Christen grew up in the nearby paper mill town of Madison and has been advocating for the abolition of legal restrictions on marijuana most of his adult life. His father was a health inspector and town official in Madison and Anson, and Christen has worked various skilled labor jobs, including in paper mills. He says he grew up with friends and neighbors who grew marijuana to make ends meet, to cobble together a living along with whatever else they could manage.
The reason I started doing this is because Ive never felt like I was a criminal for smoking pot and growing pot. There are so many people around here who have grown it for years, to put food on the table, said Christen. One day when I was young, I was sitting around with some friends at the kitchen table, complaining (about marijuana being illegal), my father said, Why dont you do something about it instead of just bitchin about it?
Christen started Maine Vocals, a group working to promote the legalization of marijuana and was looking for like-minded people to help when he met Brown. So when Christen wanted to start a festival to push his cause, he asked Brown for use of his 70-acre farm.
Out-of-work carpenters in the area helped quickly build a stage for the first festival, in 1991, Brown remembers. About 400 to 500 people showed up that year, and throughout the 1990s the festival grew markedly. Starks residents themselves helped promote the towns reputation as a center of cannabis advocacy in 1992 when they approved a resolution asking the state to legalize the growing of marijuana and possession of small amounts. The vote was 45-42, but the gesture, at a time when police helicopters were buzzing central Maine fields looking for marijuana farms, got national attention.
Harry Brown, whose 70-acre farm in Starks was the longtime site of the annual Hempstock, has parted ways with festival organizer Don Christen. But Brown still hosts music festivals that are about peaceful social change of all kinds. Staff photo by Ben McCanna
PARTNERSHIP ENDED IN 2008
There were sometimes arrests during festivals, including for people selling marijuana or paraphernalia. In June 2016, a New Hampshire man was arrested after leaving an event at Harry Browns Farm and charged with possession of hashish, a marijuana derivative, and refusing to submit to arrest. Police said they stopped him after he was seen speeding on Starks Road.
The partnership between Christen and Brown ended about 2008, around differences over the direction of the festival and financial matters. Christen says Brown and his family wanted more money than what he was willing to pay to rent the land. Brown said he didnt get paid for some years of the festival, that very little money was used to maintain the festival site, and that the crowds were getting edgier and drunker and more intoxicated as years went by. He says that in the years Christen organized Hempstock, letting the music get too loud upset townspeople.
Christen says he paid as much as $18,000 a year in rent for three festivals and that Brown wanted more. He called the festivals orderly, with less trouble than youd see in a bar in Waterville on a Friday night. Town officials did not agree, and shortly after the 1994 Hempstock they began crafting a 15-page mass gatherings ordinance that requires a public hearing to be held before each festival is approved, with very specific requirements about all facets of the festivals, from toilets and water supplies to the number of parking spaces and the location of all parking supervisors.
Over the years the crowds at Starks festivals have been much smaller, though Brown and the people who help him organize the festivals now say they dont keep an exact count.
Christen kept the Hempstock name and moved his festivals to a piece of land he owns in Harmony, another very rural town about 25 miles east. He holds about six a year, under various names, including Hempstock, Freedom Fest and Heads in Harmony. The three-day Freedom Fest was to be held this weekend and to wrap up Sunday. His next festival, Somerset County Jam Fest, is scheduled July 14-16. His festivals have bands, speakers and vendors, too, and attract a few hundred people, he said. No alcohol is sold.
Christen has been jailed in Maine three times, including stints in 2007 and 2008 that totaled about 10 months, after being charged with aggravated cultivating of marijuana.
Brown served more than four months in Maine jails after being arrested just a month after the first Hempstock and charged with drug trafficking. Police found 10 pounds of marijuana, which he says was not his, at his farm. Four other men were arrested as well, including two from Starks and one from Anson, one town over.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER?
The reasons Starks become known as a flash point in the fight to legalize marijuana go beyond Christen and Brown. The town, and the wider area of Somerset County near the western mountains, has long attracted back-to-the-landers and people seeking more personal freedom. The hardscrabble nature of getting by in such a rural area seems to make people a little more independent-minded, said Gerry Boyle, a former Maine newspaper reporter who based his 1997 novel Potshot loosely on Starks-area people and events.
When I was covering that area, it wasnt drug cartels up there. It was a lot of old bikers and old hippies and people growing marijuana on their farms, Boyle said. It was people who felt their rights were being trampled on.
Boyle covered marijuana-related issues in Maine in the 1980s and 1990s, around the time Hempstock started and police were targeting marijuana farming and retail operations in the area. He researched Potshot by talking to Brown and many others in the area. Those conversations inspired characters in the book, like a father who publicly stumps for marijuana so zealously that he embarrasses his children, Boyle said. But he says no one in the book is a real-life Starks resident.
He wanted to write the book because he was intrigued by the area, its people and their struggle as they saw it.
There is something otherworldly about their connection to the outside world, Boyle said. There are a lot of people who are tough, self-sufficient and want to be left alone.
Ray Routhier can be contacted at 210-1183 or at:
[emailprotected]
Twitter: RayRouthier
See the original post here:
In Starks, Maine's pot haven, passion doesn't burn evenly - Press Herald
Posted in Abolition Of Work
Comments Off on In Starks, Maine’s pot haven, passion doesn’t burn evenly – Press Herald