The Forest

The Forest

The sun fails to illuminate the dry

cracked earth through the haze

black swirling blankets the

membrane as it attempts to recover

the seared stems struggle through the ash

struggling to grow they crumple

exhausted and starved

praying to get a chance

gasping, asphyxiated from the lack of everything

the flicker of the blinding light

heats and melts anything in its path

leaving nothing but emptiness

the dust remains

coating the floor

blocking new life and

destroying the remains of living

night comes and brings the dew of the early morning

the forest awakens

the dust and grime that ices the ground

whisked away by the fresh dew of the calm sunrise

and the forest can grow again

Diamonds: A Warlord's Best Friend

Africa is known for two things in most parts of the world; unmatched bloodshed as a result of political instability, and diamonds. Most often than not, these diamonds are utilized to fund the conflicts in africa , resulting in more intense and violent engagements. Only recently have the effects of these blood diamonds been discussed, and people are debating what to do to curb their production.

It is estimated that about 8.5 billion dollars worth of diamonds come from African countries each year (Diamond Facts). Being such a profitable business, African militias and terror groups take advantage of the diamond trade and use it to fund their causes. The primary consumers of these diamonds are people living in places like the U.S and other first world countries.

The adverse effects of the Blood Diamond Industry result in the displacement and death of millions across the globe. The people most affected by this industry are the people living in such countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thousands of people living in these parts of Africa are being used as slaves by the terror groups to mine for these diamonds (Armstrong). In addition, the expanded cash flow to these groups, increases intensity and frequency of violence which in turn injures or kills more people. Recently, these repercussions have led to more and more being done to help quell the production of blood diamonds.

Only as of recently has the issue of blood diamonds been suppressed through countermeasures thoroughly enough for it to stop being a constant issue. One such countermeasure is diamond certification plan known as the Kimberley Process. A result of discussions on how to stop the mining of blood diamonds, the KP is an agreement by the United Nations, European Union, the governments of 74 other countries, as well as independent organizations. The KP requires suppliers of rough diamonds to provide sufficient evidence as well as a certificate with any shipment declaring the are non-conflict involved diamonds (Amnesty International). As a result this process has placed a chokehold on the production of blood diamonds, allowing for 99% of diamonds produced to be conflict free (Diamond Facts).

The deadly combination of war and greed was able to throw parts of Africa into bloody conflict and a battle for finances. Fortunately, due to acts like the Kimberley Project, the amount of people becoming injured or killed in connection to the blood diamond trade is dwindling significantly. In addition, the large effort to cooperate and discuss ways to limit blood diamonds as well as examine the effects has been instrumental to the end of the mining for blood diamonds. Without these countermeasures in place to stifle the production of blood diamonds, war-torn parts of Africa would most likely stay bloody and violent as they have been.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Paul. "What Are 'conflict Diamonds?' - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

"Blood Diamonds? Calls to Ban the Trade in Diamonds from Zimbabwe; Are Diamonds from Zimbabwe Tainted?" Global Issues in Context. Gale Group, 6 Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

"Brilliant Earth." Brilliant Earth. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

"Conflict Diamonds." Amnesty International USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

"Conflict Diamonds." Conflict Diamonds. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

"Diamondfacts.org." - Conflict Diamonds. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.

Cry Character Analysis - John Kumalo

Argumentative statement:

Fugard conveys through the character John Kumalo the idea that many villagers in South Africa are becoming unhappy with the traditional idea of their tribes. He is a representation of the other South African indigenous people who are going to Johannesburg and never coming back. It is clear that he has become corrupted by the greater sway he holds in the city and the power he has. Because he has power in Johannesburg, he does not want to write to or come home to his family and friends in the tribe and he will not embrace any aspect of the tribe, including the language of Zulu. He asks to speak in English when talking about his experience in Johannesburg to further emphasize that there is a huge disparity between the way of life in the tribe and his new way of life. When asked again to speak in Zulu he becomes enraged and only the peaceful efforts of Stephen calm him. His power and money in the city have changed him into a man who thinks he has it all but in reality has no family or friends to share his joy with besides a mistress who he is not even married to.

Quotes:

1. ¨You people in Ndotsheni do not understand the way life is in Johannesburg. I thought it better not to write¨ (35).
2. “Down in Ndotsheni I am nobody, even as you are nobody, my brother. I am subject to the chief, who is an ignorant man. I must salute him and bow to him, but he is an uneducated man” (35).
3. “‘Perhaps we should speak Zulu again,’ [Msimangu] said. The angry veins stood out on the great bull neck [of John], and who knows what angry words might have been spoken (37).

We chose this picture to represent John Kumalo’s state in life. The beautiful view from the high peak of a mountain represents his wealth and success, but like the man in the picture, he is alone and has no one to share it with. His wife left him, and he abandoned his family in order to earn more money and become more successful.

Unlocking the Deep Layers of Symbolism

Unlocking the Deep Layers of Symbolism

Suitcase symbolism:

Quotes:

“‘But I want to read all of them,’ Luo said resolutely. He shut the suitcase again and, resting one hand on the lid like a Christian taking a solemn oath, he declared: ‘With these books I shall transform the Little Seamstress. She’ll never be a simple mountain girl again.’” (100).

“‘It reminds me of a scene in a film,’ sand Luo. ‘You know, when a stolen suitcase turns out to be stuffed with money...’ ‘So, are you weeping tears of joy?’ I said. ‘No. All I feel is loathing.’ ‘Me too. Loathing for everyone who kept these books from us’”(99).

Dai Sijie uses the symbol of the suitcase to illustrate the oppression of the communists in China. They are a symbol of everything that has been censored from Luo and the narrator. The suitcase also represents change and hope in their lives. Once they know of it, they realize what joy and opportunity the suitcase can actually bring them. Their eyes have been opened to the Western world, and they start to mature.

Wyolin:

“He was inspecting my violin. Among the possessions brought to this mountain village by the two ‘city youths’ - which is how they saw Luo and me - it was the sole item that exuded an air of foreignness, of civilization, and therefore aroused suspicion” (3).

“A stupid toy”, a woman commented hoarsely.” “The village headman corrected her, “a bourgeois toy.” “I felt chilled to the 

bone despite the fire blazing in the center of the room.”(4)

The narrator views the violin as an important object that helps ground him to his normal life in the city. However the headsman only see the violin as a symbol of bourgeois oppression on the proletariat masses. Only until Luo comments on how it can be used to represent the revolution does the headman see that it is not just an oppressive toy.  

Light

 Drifting

 swirling

 sinking

Getting bright and

dark again

Bouncing

swerving 

jumping 

Showing itself

never to be seen

again

showing the way

your way

through

the tunnel

To the otherside.

The Snowball Effect of Memories