Apartheid is an Afrikaans word that, when translated into English literally means ‘apart-hood.’ In South Africa Apartheid was a political policy that separated the development of the races. However racial segregation has been a constant part of South Africa’s past since the late 1600s. The Dutch were the first Europeans to see the importance of South Africa’s cape on the way to India; and built their colonies on the principles of slave labor. These principles were brought into the newly colonized area not because of necessity, but rather because it served to please the Dutch people. The natives of South Africa were the first people to experience racial discrimination. They were sold in slave trades and, if they were ‘unfit’ for slavery, they were sent to the least livable area of the country. Slaves became, in a short period of time, a labor force that transformed a small cluster of immigrants into a prosperous colony. On paper, they had no existence. They were essentially a group of citizens who couldn’t own property, couldn’t marry, and weren’t recognized as South African people. As time passed, the living conditions of the native people of the land continued to deteriorate. In 1910 a series of laws were passed that expanded racial segregation. The laws granted white, privileged people the right to expropriate land from African farmers. This removed the last bit of ownership a black or colored African had. It wasn’t long after these laws before South Africa experienced a dramatic change; the majority of economic success shifted from agriculture, to industrial. The new industries spiked urban growth bringing white, colored, and black workers into closer contact.

The boost in urbanization and industrialization posed a great threat to the racial segregation the white population of South Africa had worked so hard to maintain. In 1948, the nationalist party, led by Daniel Francis Malan, initiated a policy of apartheid. Elected by a tiny margin, the party wasted no time putting multiple laws in place to prevent the party’s upheaval. Early in 1949, the party began to implement its apartheid program. The policy was presented to the white Afrikaans population as the political move that had the potential to solve all of the country’s racial problems, when in actuality the objectives of the policy were simply white supremacy within South Africa. The document stated that, “Whites, Africans (blacks), coloreds and Asians shall be totally separated from each other and each race shall be able to develop along its own lines in it’s own [geographical] area.” On paper, it was almost justifiable. Many of the political problems the country had faced in the past resulted from the friction between races. Tribal and civil warfare had resulted in the death of millions of South Africans, and slavery still left a sour taste in many blacks’ mouths.

The laws were presented to the white population, as ‘gods will.’ Malan, playing off the Afrikaans’ resentment and fear of “black menace” said that God “had first created all men as a single race. At the time of the tower of Babel, he divided them and scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” He implanted the idea into the heads of the Afrikaners that God had set boundaries between the races at the ‘tower of Babel,’ and that by determining where the blacks could live, Malan was really following God’s will. Apartheid became a religious duty for the Afrikaans people. It was undoubtedly morally and spiritually correct- if God believed in racial separation so should they.

The actions of the government, however, told a different tale than their words. In practice, rather than furthering the development of the races, Apartheid led to the collapse of many tribes and cultures. ‘Undesirable’ blacks were removed from their homes and placed on reserves. In the Cape Province, rigid racial separation was enforced in all forms of public transportation, offices, libraries, movies and restaurants. The laws were very similar to the American segregation acts, however they were much more intense. Each race was to be entirely separate. This included separate homes, jobs, and churches. The laws dissolved any representation blacks had in city and town councils, and put in place a tribal council where they could ‘discuss their problems.’ The government failed to recognize the different tribes and the language barriers each tribe might face. There was a set prohibition of mixed marriages, and an immorality act was placed in the constitution that “outlawed sexual relations between all blacks and whites.”All of South Africa separated, including notably, education. At the end of Apartheid, the white population was highly educated, with over 98% of the country completely literate; contrast to this, only 50% of the black population were literate. Education of the non-white citizens was government controlled and the amount of information presented to the blacks was extremely limited. The Apartheid regime created an element of control over the blacks by restricting their knowledge. Much like American slavery, the government believed that limiting the amount of information available to the ‘undesirables’ would decrease the chance of a revolution. Blacks were not permitted to attend university, and were subjected to horrible conditions and inadequate materials.

In the late 1960s, a law was passed called the Population Registration Act. The Registration Act was a law that defined who was of which ‘race.’ The act, in essence decided which race you belonged to based on your physical appearance. To determine what race you belonged to, authorities would place a pencil in your hair, and if it remained in your hair you were marked as black. Decisions were also made on complete whim, based on hair color, eye color and whether or not the authorities ‘liked the look of you.’ Wrong decisions were often made, and families were torn apart. If declared ‘black’ you were made to carry an identification card (much like the star of David in the second world war). Documentation put regulations on who was permitted where, where colored and blacks travelled, and how they conducted themselves. Speaking out against the government would end in either a life sentence at Robben Island Prison, or banishment to a township. Many of the men sent to Robben Island Prison ended up passing before they left the prison, due to horrible working conditions, insufficient food, and insufferable living conditions. Men were made to work in a limestone quarry with no protection for 12 hours a day, and were fed nothing more than bread and water for weeks at a time. Political Prisoners were allowed to receive one piece of mail every six months, and wardens monitored their visits.

Blacks in South Africa outnumber whites in a ratio of 4 to 1. Apartheid’s laws only provided 13% of the land to the blacks. In the first 20 years of Apartheid, 3,5 million people were uprooted from their homes and sent to townships, which were little more than informal settlements.

Townships were, and still continue to be, segregated ghettos where many blacks were sent during Apartheid. Also called Shantytowns, the townships were located outside every city, town, and village, and were first built to provide temporary dwellings for blacks that worked in the neighboring cities. The men who lived in these dwellings did not own the land, and were given no control over their living conditions. The largest township, Soweto, housed 150,000 blacks, and is one of South Africa’s largest cities. Until the middle of the 1980s there was no electricity, and the habitants were confined to homes that were 7.3m x 7.6 m in groups of as many as 12 residents. Many South African blacks still reside in the townships, and are still segregated today. The separation of races has become a permanent fixture. The black unrest in these townships has left the country being one of the most dangerous in the world–with over 1000 murders a year.

In retrospect, South Africa’s lack of humanity is utterly disgusting. There was a lack of fundamental compassion for differences that left the country in shambles. Whites were given an ideal world, wealth and prosperity surrounded them; however the rest of the country suffered in Shantytowns and ‘homelands.’ Apartheid yielded to world pressure and domestic revolt in 1990 by repealing most of the Apartheid laws. In the next few years a new constitution was formed giving the right to vote to people of all races. Equality was finally reached in 1990.

“We are convinced that the risen masses must stand at the heart and in the vanguard of the great historic process to eradicate the legacy of slavery, colonialism, apartheid and neo-colonialism.”-Thabo Mvuyelwa MbekiBibliography:Books:Bell, Paul and others, Illustrated History of South Africa: The Real Story, Readers Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, New York 1988Di Kiewiet, C.W., A History of South Africa: Social and Economic, Oxford University Press, 1957Pascoe, Elaine, South Africa: Troubled Land, Franklin Watts, Ontario, 1987Lawson, Don, South Africa, Franklin Watts, Toronto, 1986Websites:South Africa under Apartheid: The politics of race. ProQuest. History Study Center. ProQuest LLC. 6 Oct. 2008 .

Author Unknown,”South Africa under Apartheid: the politics of race.” Study Unit. History Study Center. ProQuest LLC. 6 Oct. 2008 .

Newspaper Articles:Darnton, John. “Apartheid, as Real and Painful as Ever.” ProQuest Historical Newspapers: New York Times 30 Oct. 1977. 166. History Study Center. ProQuest LLC. 6 Oct. 2008 .

The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America is known as the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. They have worked in Africa since 1946. The Maryknoll Missioners are Catholic Priests and Brothers from the U.S. Maryknolls workers devote themselves in hospital ministry, university and seminary education. They have committed themselves to a lifelong service to mission outside of their home in the U.S. At first it was directed to share the Good News of the Lord with people in Tanzania and Kenya. But now they help seven other African countries as well. They believe that every human being in any culture has the right to hear the Good News of the Lord in people’s acts and in their words. Through the ministries of their words and actions, Maryknoll in Africa shares the message of God’s Love with all people.

The Government in Kenya is set us as a Republic Party. Their Independence was declaired on December 12, 1963, and their constitution was written in 1963. Their government is set up in three branches they are Executive, Legeslative, and Judicial. In their executive branch they have their president who is the chief of state, head of government, and the commander in chief of the armed forces. In the Legeslative branch are the uncameral National Assembly(parliament). And in the Judicial branch is the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the other various lower courts. In the Administrative subdivision there are 63 districts, joined t oform seven rural provences. The Nairobi area has a special status. Their political parties consist of forty-one registered political parties. The Ruling Party, and the kenya Africa National Union.

Their political conditions right now are all right. Since their independence, Kenya has maintained remarkable stability despite the changes in its political system and crises in neighboring countries. Kenyans enjoy an increased degree of freedom. Kenya now focuses on the succession of President Moi, whose current term expires in December 2002. The government has restricted opposition party activities as the 2002 elections draw near.

Despite internal tensions in Sudan and Ethiopia, Kenya has maintained good relations with its northern neighbors. Recent relations with Uganda and Tanzania have improved as the three countries work for mutual economic benefit. Kenya serves as the major host for refugees from turmoil in Somalia. Kenya maintains a moderate profile in Third World politics. Kenya’s relations with Western countries are generally friendly, although current political and economic instabilities are often blamed on Western pressures.

The United States and Kenya have enjoyed pleasant relations since Kenya’s independence. More than 7,000 U.S. citizens live in Kenya, and as many as 25,000 Americans visit Kenya annually. About two-thirds of the resident Americans are missionaries and their families. U.S. assistance to Kenya promotes broad-based economic development as the basis for continued progress in political, social, and related areas of national life. U.S. aid strategy is designed to achieve four major objectives–health care, including family planning and AIDS prevention; increasing rural incomes by assisting small enterprises and boosting agricultural productivity; sustainable use of natural resources; and strengthening democratic institutions. The U.S. also is helping the Kenyan victims of the August 7, 1998 bombing of the American Embassy to recover and rebuild.

The population of Kenya consists of 30,765,916 people. The GDP’s real growth rate is 0.4%. The population of people is below the poverty line at 42%. The multitude of Ethnic groups in Kenya consist of: African–Kikuyu 21%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 5%. Non-African–Asian, European, Arab 1%. There are a few different types of religions in Kenya but the major religions are Catholicism and Protistant. They are alowed to freely express their religion, they all don’t just have to be one same religion. In Kenya they speak English, Swahili, and there are more than 40 local ethnic languages. Kenya’s Natural resources include wildlife, and land. They have many agricultural products which include: tea, coffee, sugarcane, horticultural products, corn, wheat, rice, sisal, pineapples, pyrethrum, dairy products, meat and meat products, hides, and skins. The Kenyans export 1.8 billion dollars worth of merchandise. What the export includes: tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products, cement, pyrethrum, soda ash, sisal, hides and skins, and fluorspar. A majority of their natural resources, imports, and exports to countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Egypt, South Africa, and United States. The Kenyans Import $3.3 billion worth of: machinery, vehicles, crude petroleum, iron and steel, resins and plastic materials, refined petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, paper and paper products, fertilizers, and wheat.

Hugo Chavez nacio el 28 de Julio 1954 en Sabaneta en el estado de Barinas. Chavez fue hijo de profesores de prepa. Chavez desde nino estubo muy interesado en el militar, entonces decidio atender ena Academia militar en cual se graduo con un diploma de Ingenieria en el ano 1975. Chavez desde nino jugaba beisbol, le fascina, y la verdad dicen que es muy bueno. Cuando se graduo de la Universidad Chavez se inscribio en el militar. Chavez fue un soldado muy interesante, el fue un paracaidista (paratrooper) que fue muy bueno.

Despues de tiempo Chavez se convirtio en coronel y fue muy respetado por los otros soldados. Chavez empezo a tener interes en la politica y sonaba en ser el Presidente de Venezuela y cambiar el gobierno de el pais por la gente que esta en la burocracia, esa gente que no tenian mucho poder. La mata de Chavez era no tener ricos y porbres pero tener a gente Venezolana. Un dicho que dijo fue “Lo que mis rivales no entienden… es que Hugo Chavez no es Chavez. Pero la gente de Venezuela.”

Chavez es un admirador de Fidel Castro el Presidente de Cuba. Chavez asistio en Guatemala un Curso Internacional de guerras politicas y entre 1989 y 1990 realizo un master en ciensias politicas en la Universidad Simon Bolivar en Caracas. En 1980 fue commisionado en la Academia militar en la cual el studio donde hasta 1984 sirvio como jefe del departamento de Educacion Fisica, Jefe del Departamento de Cultura y comandante de la compania Jose Antonio Paez.

En 1985 comenzo la comandencia de callbaeria Francisco Farfan en Elorza. En 1986 tomo la comandancia del Nuevo Civico- Militar del desarollo Fronterizo. En 1988 fue el jefe de Auxiliares del consejo Nacional de Seguridad y defense en el palacia de Miraflores. La popularidad de Chavez dentro de unos anos callo de 80% a 30%. Chavez tiene el poder de todo el petroleo de Venezuela. Chavez tiene cinco hijos, tres ninas, y dos ninos. Chavez entro a poder en el ano 1999.

El presidente Chavez aprecia mucho la ante y la cultura. Que no se te olvide que es fanatico del beisbol, poemas, historias muy interesantes y intimas pero al mismo tiempo de aventura. Chavez tambien es considerado un pintor, por que el a pintado pinturas de algo de valor. Chavez fue elegido por la gente Venezolana para ser el ultimo presidente del ultimo milenio y el primero del Nuevo milenio. De 1999 – 2994

Chavez en mi opinion no has ido el major presidente posible para Venezuela. Esta persona es famosa porque es el Presidente de Venezuela y a perdido la fe y compassion de su gente por mas de la mitad. Hugo Chavez es del tipo de gobierno zurdo o en otra forma de dictador. Chavez le dio felicidad a la gente pobre pero intelicidad a los Venezolanos con dinero. Con tiempo Chavez ojala que podra hacer cambios positivos para Venezuela

The symbolism through imagery proves how Alex’s ability to choose between good and evil is his ascendancy over the innocent and the weak. The first symbol is the music to which he listens and loves. It is the only thing in Alex’s life that he truly cares for. This music represents the element of his choice and free will. When his ability of choice is robbed in an attempt to better him, he loses his love for music in which he exclaims, ‘And all the time the music got more and more gromky, like it was all a deliberate torture, O my brothers . . . then I jumped’(131). The music that represents his freedom to choose is now gone. He is left without any reason to live. When he realizes that he is no longer a man because of his absence of choice, Alex decides to end his life. The author illustrates through Alex’s violent actions, how they represent his abuse of power through his freedom of choice. Alex consistently chooses evil as a means to display his power over the innocent and the good. While beating and raping a young girl, he states with pride, ‘So he did the strong-man on the devotchka, who was still creeching away . . . in very horrorshow groodies’(22). This proves that he feels he must display his power through his abuse of choice. His love for violence symbolises his abuse of power as an evil trait, but his love for music symbolises his human side. In the end of the story Alex decides that he is ready to become a man. During this rapid evolution from adolescence to manhood, Alex chooses a wife, a family, a life, and in essence he chooses good for the first time in the story. ‘There was your humble narrator . . . I knew what was happening, O my brothers. I was growing up’(147). Alex realizes that he may choose good and still maintain a strong element of choice. He becomes stronger because he now has a broader selection to choose from. He sees that the abuse of the ability of choice is not what makes Man powerful. It is instead, the realization that the choice between good and evil, no matter what decision, is the power within Man.

Using the characterization of Alex, it effectively illustrates how the element of choice is linked to the power within man. The author uses violence to represent the abuse of power when the right of free will is controlled. Alex believes that his decision towards evil proves his freedom of choice; subsequently it also proves his abuse of the power within him. The violent acts described are graphic and are intended to shock the reader. They also show that the suppression of others is wrong, because it is destructive to the natural rights of man. He consistently chooses evil and violence to show his power of choice, ‘And now I was ready for a bit of twenty-to-one . . . then I cracked this veck’(7). Alex beats, rapes, robs and pillages the weak and innocent to prove domination and control, thus proving his choice towards evil. In a society that ‘lets the young get on to the old . . . there’s no law nor order no more’(14). He takes on a role of authority in a society of anarchy, and uses violence to portray his abuse of this ascendancy over the weak. Although he is impervious to the choice of good, Alex does not remain ignorant to this choice throughout the entire novel. In the beginning, he believes that violence is the only way to prove his control. This then leads to his loss of control through the loss of his ability of choice. Only in the very end does Alex finally evolve and become a well-rounded character. He realizes that he does not have to choose evil and abuse his position to prove his right of choice. Proven is his freedom to decide between good and evil. ‘But where I itty now, O my brothers, is all on my oddy knocky, where you cannot go. Tomorrow is all like sweet flowers’(148). Alex now knows that his future is open for his choices to lead him. For good or for evil, it is his right to decide, and this is what truly proves his power. Through these thoughts narrated by Alex, he illustrates how horrible it is to be powerless and how it proves through characterization that man develops power through the element of choice.

These thoughts and feelings prove that through a first person narrative point of view, the author is able to effectively demonstrate how the element of choice is essential to man. Throughout the story, Alex is the narrator for the reader. The only feelings and insight originate from Alex’s point of view. This view is very biased and one sided, thus evoking a sense of sympathy and compassion from the reader. Even though he commits horrible, senseless acts of violence, they are lightened by his narrated thoughts to prove his control. Alternatively, any attempt to control Alex is shown as a horrendous attack and abuse of power. When the ability to choose independently between good and evil is stripped from Alex, he realises the importance of choice to his rights as an individual. ‘I was not your handsome young narrator any longer, but a real strack of a sight’(55). Alex has lost all of his rights and control of himself, which leads to his loss of self respect. He has now lost what gave him ascendancy over the weak, his free will and ability of choice. As stated in the story, ‘goodness is chosen from within’(67). When choice is forced, man no longer has any power within himself. He is told from the prison warden, ‘When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man’(67). After being told, Alex is still able to sign over his rights as an individual. In each stage, his point of view proves how he loses his natural power as he loses his choice. When Alex regains his ability to decide between good and evil, he narrates, ‘And there was the slow movement and the lovely last singing . . . I was cured all right’(139). Through this thought, he proves power through the ability of choice. He once again decides upon evil to display his power through violence. This thought is crucial to the reader’s understanding of how close the ability of choice is related to individual power. The demonstration of his free will and his loss of power through the absence of choice is effectively accomplished through the use of first person narration.

Throughout this story, choice has proven many aspects of power and it’s abuse. Through strong symbols in imagery, Alex’s characterization, and his point of view, the absence of choice is proven as the most debilitating and most overlooked depravation of man’s individual power. In everyone’s life, the struggle for power exists in all situations. The decision between good and evil is the power that anyone must have as an individual. The choice of which path to take is dependant on the person and the situation, but the realization that both exist is a power unto itself.

The Rhine is only 775 miles long but it’s a major artery in Europe. It flows through six countries on its way from its source in Switzerland, to the North Sea. It is heavily populated with 50 million people live along its banks in a number of major cities.

The Rhineland supports a great deal of industrial plants, and is responsible for 10% of the world’s chemical production, as well as a variety of other industries including refineries, metal works, plastic and textile manufacturers.

No other waterway in the world carries as much traffic as the Rhine. Every year the river transports 40 million tons of cargo by barge and ocean-going vessels. It’s navigable by pleasure boats right up to Rhinefelden in Switzerland.

The Rhine is under pressure from a variety of sources. Find out what these sources are and how they affect the river environment in the ‘areas of pressure’ section.

There is a number of ways the river environment is protected. Government and local and national bodies all have strategies for looking after the Rhine. The ‘strategies and success’ section outlines some of these strategies and explains how successful they’ve been.

50 million people live in the Rhine basin, most in one of the many major cities situated directly on the river or on one of its major tributaries. These cities have grown around the Rhine because of its mass of even flow water, a result of winter and spring precipitation and summer melt water. The river supports highly developed industry, trade, agriculture and transport.

Now humans use 80% of the former floodplain of the river. Roads and railways cross the areas behind the protective dykes. Urban growth has spread to the fertile river plains. The river has also been deepened in parts and meanders have been cut off in order to keep the river navigable.

The 50 million people who live in the river basin produce a lot of waste. Even when waste is not dumped directly into the river, rainwater can still wash toxic chemicals out of landfill sites and into the river. And 18 million people, from Rheinfelden to the estuary, depend on the Rhine for drinking water.

Consequences

♦ Building on the floodplains means they are no longer able to cope with the spring snow melts, and flooding occurs in the lower reaches of the river

♦ Cutting off meanders and deepening the channel also reduces storage areas upstream and contributes to the flooding problem.

♦ Millions of people can produce a great deal of sewage and large quantities of this were dumped into the river untreated.

The demand for clean drinking water means that money has to be invested in water treatment plants, and water quality monitored

Solutions

♦ Waste water treatment guidelines have been produced by the EU, which they’re able to enforce by the rule of law.

♦ The members of the ICPR made laws forcing local authorities to improve their sewers and build more sewerage plants.

♦ Acceptable levels of pollution were agreed and deadlines and targets set. For example, by the year 2000 90% of sewage had to be treated before entering the river.

♦ The ministers of the Rhine have agreed on an Action Plan on Flood Defence. This commits 12billion (euro) over the next twenty years to reducing the frequency and severity of flooding in the lower reaches of the river.

The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest group of coral reefs in the world.

It stretches along the coast on the north-east part of Australia. It is called the Great Barrier Reef because it creates a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the coast.

The Great Barrier Reef is a scattering of thousands of individual reefs. The reefs is on the World Heritage List made by UNESCO, because of its size and its many different plants and fishes. The reef lies in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the world’s largest marine park. It has an area of nearly 350 000 square kilometres. The reef region is 260 000 square kilometres. The reef region is a popular tourist attraction because of its warm climate, sandy beaches, colourful wildlife, tropical islands and ideal conditions for water sports.

Location and size

The Great Barrier Reef stretches north and north-west from Gladstone, Queensland, to a point in the Gulf of Papua. The Great Barrier Reef is longer than 2000 kilometres and consists of nearly 3000 different reefs. An average reef is about 110 square kilometres in area. The area that The Great Barrier Reef lies in has relatively shallow waters of about 40 metres deep.

Marine Life

The Great Barrier Reef consists of billions of smal animals called coral polyps and plants called coralline algae. The coral reef is built up by dead corals, with a thin outside of living corals. A coral reef includes many species of corals, such as staghorn coral, brain coral, honeycomb coral and mound coral. Almost 1500 of 3000 kinds of fish known to live in the seas around Australia are found in the reef region. Angelfish, cod, manta rays, mackerel, butterfly fish and surgeon fish all live in reef waters. Other animals that live in the reef waters include crabs, shrimps, crayfish, sea urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers, soft corals, sea fans, sponges, sea anemones and worms.

Physical features

Experts think that parts of the Great Barrier Reef could be as much as 18 million years old. But the most of it have developed over the last 2 million years. The reefs on the top are only a few thousands years old, but most of these reefs are built upon a foundation of older reefs.

Sea level was more than 130 metres below today’s level about 20 000 years ago. The existing reefs were at this time limestone hills rising from the plain. The sea level started to raise about 18 000 years ago, and the hills were covered with water. Corals began to grow again. The old reefs often provided the most suitable foundations for this new growth. When the land was covered by the rising sea, a number of mountain ranges were cut of from the main land to become continental islands. There are 616 islands in the reef region.

Climate

The climate of the Great Barrier Reef varies. In the north there is tropical conditions and high humidity and a wet season around January. In the south it is cooler, subtropical to temperate conditions. The water temperature in the south seldom falls below 20 C.

Most people in Hungary would agree on the fact that the dark or tanned skin indicates good health, fastidiousness and maybe even welfare. However, these markings would immediately change if it would be indicated that this skin is possessed by a Roma person. Unfortunately, prejudice and discrimination are realities that virtually all Gypsies must learn to face-and live with in Hungary. According to modern liberal perception, everyone has the right to form an opinion of issues dealing with the race problem and ethnic questions. However, this personal right continuously raises the problem of discrimination, and there is a lack of effort made to end prejudice and racism.

The negative discrimination of the Roma people living in Hungary does not derive directly from the skin color as the example shows it in the introduction. Darker skin is only a characteristic of this ethnic group’s physical appearance. The reasons for discriminating Romas arises from more complex roots. One of the main sources of anti-Gypsy attitudes is the lack of knowledge and the misunderstanding of Romas. One of the main fuels of discrimination against Gypsies in Hungary is provided by the media. It requires very little effort on the part of those writing for the popular press to consult the existing sources and come up with material of their own without ever approaching Gypsy agencies or people for information. Most of those who write about Gypsies base their creations on the works of other non-Gypsies without ever checking the real facts. Despite the great responsibility that journalists have in transmitting information to the public, with very few exceptions the media continues to misinterpret Gypsies and perpetuates negative false stereotypes. Negative images about the Gypsies are shown by the media everyday. Unfortunately, not until recently the Gypsies were lacking an access to lawyers, and other institutions, and therefore were not able to make the first step towards challenging media misrepresentation.

Attitudes towards the Gypsies today are mixed; while negative characteristics as beggar or theft are the most widely known stereotypes, some positive images also occur, such as the romantic idea about unfettered, nomadic Gypsy life. Where does their persecution derive from? Some say that it is a matter of ethnic prejudice, similar to that experienced by the blacks, or Mexican-Americans in the United States. Others, however, simply feel that the Romas are perceived as non-productive trouble makers. Discrimination towards Gypsies occurs in their employment, education and the housing policies alike. They are most socially disadvantaged group in Hungary. It is a well known fact that most businesses and companies do not hire Gypsy workers, because of their labeling. Only 1% of the Roma students finish their high school studies, and only 0.3% of them achieve a college diploma. There are many ways of discriminating Roma students as well. For instance, there are complete schools that practice the idea of segregation by setting up “only-Roma” classes. It should also be mentioned that the average age at death is 10-15 years less in the Roma community than in the non-Roma. These facts all proofs for the segregation of this ethnic group from the rest of the society. Another form of discrimination, which is less known by people, is the discrimination of the law enforcements towards Gypsies. Romas are often taken in to the police station for no reason, because of racial profiling.

It is doubtful whether Gypsies spend much time thinking about the causes of discrimination. Being realist, they expect it. And being Gypsies, they learn to,live with it. In fact, they learn to live with a great many things they do not like or agree with. This indeed is the Gypsies’ trademark: adaptability. However, discrimination should not be overlooked by those who can do something against it. Such patron of this group is the United Nations. Each year they publish a document about the situation of Gypsies in Hungary, which then they introduce to the government. Due to these reports on the situation, there were few big steps made towards desegregating the Hungarian society. Laws were passed, and different projects were put together funded by the government. However, these steps were only successful to a certain extent, because the origin of discrimination is in the mind of people.

Attitudes towards Gypsies can only be changed if those stereotypes and labels that they are associated with no longer exist. This however can only happen if both sides work hard to erase discrimination. Gypsies should stand up for their rights every time discrimination occurs to them. They should also prove that those negative stereotypes that they are associated with are wrong, and that they can not only be active participants of society, but they can bring and extra color to the Hungarian culture. On the other hand other people should also work hard to get rid of all the prejudicial thoughts about Gypsies. Altogether, some changes can be perceptible in the attitudes towards Romas, but there is still a long road to look forward to.

St. Augustine, North America’s oldest city, rests on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Northeast Florida. This historic landmark lies with in close proximity to three of Florida’s main cities. Jacksonville is a short thirty minute drive to the north, Daytona is a one hour drive to the south and a two hour drive to the southwest will put you in or around the Orlando area. Approximately two and one half miles off of St. Augustine’s coast there is a large ocean current, the Gulf Stream, that played an important part in the settlement of the area. As a member of Florida’s First Coast, St. Augustine has twenty four miles of beautiful beaches that offer a plethora of recreational activities. This aspect is a perfect complement to any town involved in the tourism industry.

The topography of the area is consistent with the associations of any coastal town in Northeast Florida. The city is bound by three different waterways. To the west of the city lies the St. Johns River, while to the east is the Intercoastal Waterway which empties into the Atlantic Ocean providing a natural inlet and bay for passing boats. Off shooting the rivers and waterways there are vast rich wetlands, estuaries and tidal marshes. Indigenous to the area, large moss draped oaks provide a shaded canopy that is a perfect place to picnic, play or just sit and relax. Just over the Intercoastal and the famous Bridge of Lions, is Anastasia Island and the beaches of St. Augustine. Thick hammocks of palmetto, sea oaks, sable palms and sea oats grow wild along the seemingly never-ending coastline, while twenty foot dunes protect the island from extensive erosion damage. The hard packed sand beaches are blanketed with an endless supply of seashells such as sand dollars, moon snails, and angel wings. At the southern tip of the island the beach is encrusted with patches of coquina reef that provides protection for nesting sea turtles. If one is lucky he or she might witness an act of God as baby sea turtles emerge from their burrow and make way to their new home in the ocean.

With a semi-tropical environment, St. Augustine is conducive to tourism year round. With an average annual temperature of 70 degrees the snow bound travelers of the north find it easy to escape the bitter cold winters in this sun drenched paradise.

As North America’s oldest city, St. Augustine has managed to protect and preserve more than five centuries of history and culture. This coastal colonial village is like a time capsule with one hundred and forty-four blocks of homes on the National Register of Historical Places. The city has a certain mystic created by, “a contradiction of Old and New World influences jumbled into a refreshing mixture of antiquated romance, youthful vibrant and southern sweetness.”

The area was first discovered by Ponce de Leon on his life quest to find the Fountain of Youth. The permanent settlement was founded on September 8, 1565, by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in the name of his king, Philip II of Spain. After fifty years of Spanish failure to colonize the area, a city in Florida finally appeared. With the French starting a settlement to the north, in Jacksonville at the mouth of the St. Johns, St. Augustine became a strategic fortification. The king of Spain gave orders for the construction of a military fort, the Castillo de San Marcos, for the purpose of protecting the Spanish treasure fleets as they road the Gulf Stream back to the European Continent and for organizing troops to oust the French from the extensive Spanish Territory. After a storm forced the majority of the French fleet ashore somewhere near Cape Canaveral, the survivors marched north in hopes of reaching Fort Caroline, the French fortification in Jacksonville. Hearing of their misfortune, Menendez and his men intercepted the French troops at Matanzas Inlet, “the river of blood. ” It was there that he negotiated their surrender and then be

headed all but a few Catholics. This is the site of Fort Matanzas, a small outpost used as a lookout point for the southern frontier. During the end of the sixteenth century Spain suffered many losses in Florida leaving them with little more than a seaport city on the northeast coast of the peninsula. It was attacks such as Drakes Raid and uprisings of the native Indians that left the town in so much a weakened state. Spanish officials considered the possibility of closing the colony, however, St. Augustine survived and its people preserved through all the difficulties of frontier life.

In the seventeenth century Christianity was wide spread as the Franciscan Mission System dotted the east coast and created a pathway westward to the Mississippi. This was also the time period in which the Castillo de San Marcos was converted to a stone fortification. After nine wooden forts were previously built and burned, the stone Castillo, strongly armed with cannons, defended the port and the city.

The next century would be a time of conflict and international exchanges of the colony. For the remainder of the first Spanish period (1565-1763) British excursions and Indian uprisings made life in St. Augustine extremely difficult. In 1763 the British finally occupied the city, not by force but through a peace treaty at the end of the Seven Years war. During the American Revolution, St. Augustine observed a great influx of immigration. As a result the city became a multi-cultural and multi-national community. Religion also witnessed a change of hands as English Protestantism was dominant to the small number of missions who continued practicing Catholicism.

From 1784-1821 the second Spanish period came about as a result of Spain’s involvement in the Revolutionary War. The Spanish tried to reinstate Catholicism as the dominant religion but failed as the multi-cultural community continued to practice their own religions. Consequent to the emergence of a new population of Americans, Minorcans, British loyalist and subjects, accompanied by a new plantation economy, Spain would never really regain control of the colony. Sick of it all, Spain relinquished Florida to the United States in 1819, along with five million dollars of Spanish debt.

After the American acquisition of Florida, land speculators moved in

from the north and started large commercial plantations. During the first century of American control the Castillo de San Marcos played a part in both the Seminole and Civil Wars. Soon after the Civil War, rich tourist from the north started to spend their time in Florida. The first Florida guide book , A Winter in Florida, was followed by , Tourist, Invalids and Settlers, twelve years later. The two books offered readers an abundance of information about St. Augustine which was recommended for its, “quaint, romantic character, historic structure, and healthfulness. ” Several years later Henry Flaglar made a dream come true as he built an empire of railroads and hotels extending from St. Augustine to Key West known as, “the American Riviera.” Florida became the new retreat for the wealthy and the famous. It saw the likes of visitors such as John Jacob Astor, Warren G. Harding, John D. Rockefeller, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt. In less than a decade St, Augustine exploded with churches, winter homes and huge hotels with the majority of structures following the fashion of the Spanish Renaissance architectural style. A prime example of the buildings of this time period is the Ponce de Leon Hotel now known as Flaglar College.

As Flaglar had foreseen, thousands of wealthy tourists were traveling to Florida and St. Augustine to enjoy the magnificent resorts of Flaglar and his competitors. In time many of these visitors purchased property and settled here, some seasonally and some permanently. After the first World War, many middle classfamilies began to vacation and move to the Sunshine State. Strangers visiting the many historic sites and interesting attractions would be a common site during the prime seasons. In 1965 on the city’s four hundredth birthday, St. Augustine was well known for its age, historical significance, unusual architecture, and scenic beauty.

Today, St. Augustine stands as a tribute to the past, “a living history.” This preserved history of the city, not to mention the changes and growth in the twentieth century is simply outstanding. The story of this quaint seaport city is the story of the discovery and settlement of North America. The multi-cultural and multi-ethnic population that existed more than 500 years ago is still present today. The economy follows the vision of Henry Flaglar and caters to tourists world wide. The majority of the economy is tourism related or supported with an abundance of accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and special events.

Attractions and Special Events

There are over 60 attractions to be seen in St. Augustine area. A few of the cities more popular attractions are Ponce de Leon’s legendary Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, scenes of architectural magnificence, the St. George ST shopping district with restaurants, boutiques, galleries and the Living Museum exhibit, glimpses of history in the many Spanish houses and centuries old forts and museums, traces of yesteryear depicted through reenactment, the ever famous Alligator Farm and Marineland, and no visit would be complete without taking a trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. St. Augustine also has numerous natural attractions such as Guana River State Reserve, Washington Oaks Garden State Park, and the beautiful coastline of Anastasia Island.

St. Augustine holds over 45 festivals and special events each year. “Whimsical and beachside spectacles vary from a spring parade with horses donning Easter bonnets to beach paddle tennis tourneys and festivals of cabbage and potatoes.” Most of these events deal with heritage and heroism from the colonial period. Also many of these events involve reenactments in which many local people take pride in participating. These festivals and events help to make St. Augustine such a special place.

Museums and Historical Sites

Everything seems to be a museum or a historical site. This is what makes this town so unique. St. Augustine has so much culture and heritage that is preserved through the many museums and historic homes. For example, one might visit the Lightner Museum where they might observe works of art or the art work found in the cafeteria of the Flaglar College, the world’s largest collection of Tiffany glass.

Main Lure of Tourism and the Tourist Profile

Tourists main attraction to St. Augustine is centered around the historical significance of the city. St. Augustine is North Americas oldest city and therefore a unique tourist destination. Accompanying the many historical attractions are the beautiful beaches adorning St. Augustine’s coastline which offer numerous recreational possibilities.

Developing a tourist profile for St. Augustine is difficult due to the wide variety of visitors. One million seven hundred and thirty thousand travelers from all walks of life come each year to get a taste of the way life was in the early beginnings of this continent (Pasquale & Courtenay; at-a-glance, 1995). However, St. Augustine has a well defined target market. The target audience under demographics falls primary and secondary. Adults 25-49, married, with college education, employed full-time, having a household income of 30k plus make up the primary group. The secondary group includes adults 50 plus, with college education, having a household income of 25k plus.

The geographic target audience is separated by domestic and international. Domestic includes travelers destined to Florida from the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. Also pertinent and extremely important is the market located with in a 500 mile radius, many of Florida’s schools use the destination as a learning tool for getting a closer look at history. International markets are showing an increased pre-disposition for travel to Florida, specifically targeted are the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.

Chamber of Commerce tourism director, Tica Walley, said that the city has never taken a survey to determine exactly how much revenue has been generated by tourism. The chamber uses the figures from the Bed Taxes as an indication of how much money tourism brings into the community. The Bed Taxes collected in 93/94 were $2,019,899 and in 94/95 they were $2,138,776. After twelve months of tracking, the taxes were up by 5.9%, $118,876,000 from the previous year’s figures (St. Johns County TDC, 1995/1996).

Restaurant and Hospitality

St. Augustine has more than 150 restaurants to experience (Pasquale & Courtenany; at-a-glance, 1995). the style of the establishments range from elegant five star restaurants to popular local fish camps for the city is well known for its fresh seafood that comes straight from the docks. St. Augustine has a lot of the restaurants associated with a well developed city however some of the better meals are had at the locally owned and operated establishments. Practically every day during the busy season one could stroll into any random pub or bar and be guaranteed to enjoy some sort of live music, whether it be a band or a street-side minstrel.

St. Augustine has more than more 7000 guests rooms, suites, and villas which accomodate all visitors to the area. The different types of accommodations include hotels, resorts, bed & breakfast inns, RV parks and campgrounds. hotels are located throughout the city and the adjoining beach area. Hotel rooms make up the majority of the 7000 rooms available. The Ponce de Leon Golf and Conference Resort has 193 rooms and the largest clover leaf swimming pool in the state of Florida. The resort also has six tennis courts, a golf course, a restaurant, and a lounge. St. Augustine has 24 bed & breakfast inns that enable visitors to relive the past. The best way to experience the ambiance of the oldest city in America is to stay in one of the historical homes. The oldest establishment is the St. Francis Inn and has been in operation since 1791. For the past fifteen years my father has owned and operated the Casa de Solana a historical home dating back to 1786. The outdoor adventurer can fancy one of thirteen RV parks or campgrounds on the beaches and outskirts of the city. the RV parks can provide the simple pleasures of travel without the expense of hotels and resorts (Pasquale & Courtenay; accommodations, 1995).

Transportation

There are a number of different transportation methods that will get you to St. Augustine. The long distance traveler may arrive via train, airplane, car, or boat. If arriving by plane, the closest airports are the Jacksonville International and the Daytona Beach Regional. Each one is located approximately one hour away from downtown St. Augustine. There is also a local landing area called Areo sport, for those who fly small private planes into the city. There is an Amtrak station located in Jacksonville for those who prefer to ride the rails. Downtown St. Augustine also has a greyhound bus station with in walking distance to the historical sites. If traveling by car there are two main routes. For the more direct route one can travel Interstate 95 to exit 95 and head west to US1. For the scenic route A1A would be the appropriate road to travel.

The main source of transportation to and from the local attractions are guided tours. Narrated sightseeing tours ranging from horse-drawn Carriages, to open air trolleys and antique trains are available throughout the town. There is also a scenic cruise ship that runs up and down Matanzas Bay. Everything in the downtown area is within walking distance which makes it convenient for the adventurous pedestrian.

Tourism Information

There is a Visitor Information Center located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine Florida, 32084. Visitors may stop by any time during the day to gather information about different landmarks, hotels, and tours. The out-of-town traveler may wish to call the St. Augustine Chamber of Commerce at (904) 829-5681, in order to plan a more organized trip to the area.

My Expert Opinion

St. Augustine is famous for its historical landmarks and beautiful beaches. As it stands the city is already crowded with buildings, resedents, and tourists. In order to maintain and preserve that quaint mystic image I would not suggest any further development for the downtown area, instead I support continuos restoration of the historic district. For example, many tourist come to St. Augustine to experience a part of history in the modern world, however, the visitors image or perception might be cluttered with new construction, and over crowded streets. I say St. Augustine has a good thing going and why fix something that isn’t broken. I think the city of St. Augustine should leave tourism development to areas surrounding the town.

References

Pasquale, Lynne & Courtenay, Danielle. (1995). St. Augustine and the Beaches of Anastasia Island at-a-glance. Tallahassee, FL.

The Zimmerman Agency. (1996, January 26). The St. Johns County TDC Advertising and Relations Plan FY 1995-1996. Tallahassee, FL.

Walley, Tica. St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce tourism director.

Most Chinese people lived in country villages. Peasants going to town to sell their goods at market looked in awe at the town houses with their tiled roofs, and the busy teahouses (Williams, B., 1996, pg.27). For the people who lived in the countryside, their lives were ruled by family, the seasons, and the crops. In some areas the sound of a drum called the workers together and beat out a work rhythm. The drum could be heard from sunrise until dusk (Millar, H., 1996, pg.19). Poor people’s houses were made of mud and straw, while rich houses were wood and tiled (Kids Discover, April 1997, pg.7).

The center of a city found was roughly rectangular. An earth wall surrounded the city. The houses were laid out in parallel streets. Some of the important buildings, like temples and palaces, were on raised platforms (Caselli, G., 1995, pg.38). Towns and cities were built on a grid system and divided into sections called wards. Every ward was surrounded by walls and gates that were locked each evening. Usually wealthy people and government officials lived at one end of the town and poor lived at the other end (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.40).

Every member of a peasant family had to work hard on the farm, especially at harvest time. Many peasant farmers had to give a large share of their harvest to a wealthy landlord, as well as pay tax to the emperor. If crops failed, the family was in danger of falling into debt and losing its land (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.35). Peasant farmers provided the Shang with a constant food supply to support their armies (Williams, B., 1996, pg11). Poor people spend most of their time growing and preparing food, or doing heavy work, such as digging and carrying loads (Williams, B., 1996, pg.28). Horses and oxen were rare and expensive, so people often pulled the plows. Even a good harvest barely supplied basic needs (Millar, H., 1996, pg.19).

Most people of China were peasant farmers. Farmers were at the mercy of the weather because draught could plunge thousands into starvation (Williams, B., 1996, pg.10).

The family held Chines society together. Families in China usually included many generations living together—often under the same roof. Children were taught to respect their elders (Williams, B., 1996, pg.20).

Most farming villages had a simple, communal burial ground, where graves of ancestors were set out in neat rows. The Chinese honored their ancestors with many rituals and ceremonies (Williams, B., 1996, pg.11).

The Chinese took baths often. Common people paid a small fee to use a public bathhouse, while the rich had private bathrooms. They used hot water, which was sold on the streets. They were much more sanitary then other ancient civilizations. They also used toilet paper, which was not common in other cultures (Williams, B., 1996, pg.29).

In the beginning of the Shang Dynasty they used the shells of snails for money. But as the dynasty progressed, they started using bronze coins know as Knife money (www.penncharter.com/Student/China). Early Chinese coins had holes drilled in them so that they could be hung on strings. Before round or oval shaped coins came into use, the Chinese used coins shaped as knives or spades (Williams, B., 1996, pg.17).

Men were seen as superior to women. Parents believed they would become gods after they died if they had a son. They rejoiced when a son was born, but might kill a newborn female (Williams, B., 1996, pg. 21).

Upper-class women followed the painful custom of foot binding. Cloth strips were wrapped around a girl’s feet to bend her toes all the way under the arches, making her foot appear tiny. Over time, binding deformed the feet, and made it very difficult to walk. Small feet were considered delicate and feminine, and were thought to make a woman more eligible for marriage (Williams, B., 1996, pg. 21). Farm girls escaped the torture of foot binding because they were needed in the fields. The custom of foot binding died out in the early 1900s (Kids discover, April 1997, pg.6).

Ancient Chinese society was like a stepladder. On the top were the royal family and emperor. Just below were the civil servants. Then were peasants and craft people. Peasants were poor, but they were depended on to feed China. Next down were the merchants. Even thought they were rich, they made their money off others. On the very bottom were entertainers, soldiers, and servants. People on the bottom of the social ladder had a very slim chance to rise up (Kids discover, April 1997, pg.4).

One way you could tell social levels in Ancient China was clothing. Rich wore silk, and peasants would commonly wear a loose robe from a plant fiber called hemp (www.penncharter.com/Student/China).

Although fashions in men and women’s clothing changed over time, the fabric they were made of did not. The rich wore silk. It was a status symbol and in some dynasties, only the rich were allowed to wear it (Kids discover, April 1997, pg.6).

During some dynasties, strict rules governed what materials could be used for jewelry. Royals, the wealthy and civil servants could wear gold, silver, and jade. Those below on the social ladder had to be satisfied with copper and iron (Kids discover, April 1997, pg.6).

Belt hooks and plagues were the most important item of jewelry for men, while women decorated their elaborate hairstyles with beautiful hairpins or combs (Cotterell, A., 1994).

At a Chinese funeral, people wore white, The color of mourning. Children showed respect for their dead parents by fasting and wearing thick clothing. The dead were buried with food and drink to take to the next world to enjoy (Williams, B., 1996, pg.21).

When burying in Shang China, the tombs were shaped like crosses, and many humans and animals were sacrificed. Jewels and treasures were also buried (Williams, B., 1996, pg.8).

About 20 different kinds of sacrificial vessels were used by the Shang for ancestor worship. One of the most striking was a cup known as a jue. Wine was from its beak-like spout to honor the ancestral spirits (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.11).

The Tang Chinese saw gods everywhere. Gods were part of the world, not outside or above. Tang people didn’t pour out their feelings in prayer to one all-powerful god (Millar, H., 1996, pg.30).

The Chinese had many gods, each which was in charge of a specific thing. Here is a small sample. Cai-Shen is the god of prosperity. Jian-Lao is the god of Earth and permanence. Lei-Zi is the goddess of thunder. Niu Wang is the guardian of cattle. Tai-Sui-Xing is the sea god and the god of ocean winds. Pa is the god of drought. Sun-Pi is the god of cobblers (www.penncharter.com/Student/China).

The Chines made the Yin-Yang because they believed that the world was controlled by two forces, which they named Yin and Yang. These two forces came together in the Yin-Yang sign, and made a whole circle. This represents all aspects in life (www.penncharter.com/Student/China). In nature the two forces of Yin and Yang existed in a delicate state of balance. The Chinese believed that the disruption of this balance by humans caused natural disasters like floods (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.38).

In Imperial China, religious beliefs were divided into the three ways of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Though its history, China has been tolerant of all religions; few people were persecuted for their beliefs (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.26).

By the Tang dynasty, most of Chinese society had incorporated the ideas of Confucius—the importance of virtue, loyalty, and rules of behavior. Children understood these concepts when they were barely old enough to talk (Millar, H., 1996, pg.48).

The Shang people, especially the emperor, relied on their oracles for advice on building, warfare, planting crops, and even favorable times to hunt. The cracked bones had a “code” with a message (Williams, B., 1996, pg.6-7).

It was perfectly normal to think that the emperor could control the weather and make crops grow. To the Chinese, their ruler wasn’t exactly a god, but was something more than a human. He and his government formed a bridge between heaven and earth (Millar, H., 1996, pg.19).

The emperor was a remote figure, for officials and generals always surrounded him, in his walled capital city. In the royal court, he was treated with god-like reverence (Williams, B., 1996, pg.34).

Words had a central place in this culture, much as the emperor did in the government. The Chinese don’t use letters to form words. They write with symbols, we call them characters, but the Chinese called them zi. Many of the characters now started out as pictures thousands of years ago (Millar, H., 1996, pg.21).

In China, writing started during the Shang period. It took the form of ideograms. The first inscriptions were made on the shoulder blades of pigs and oxen, or on shells or tortoises (Caselli, G., 1995, pg.38).

The first Chinese books made of paper were rolled into long scrolls. They were usually handwritten by scholars. As in modern China, the text was written in vertical columns and read from right to left (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.25).

Calligraphy, poetry, and painting were known as the “three perfections”. The combination of these arts was considered the height of artistic expression (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.30).

A major factor in Shang economy was Bronze. After Shang craft workers found that mixing tin and copper made this precious metal, China was never the same. They used it to trade only in China’s boundaries because mountains made borders that prevented realization of other civilizations (www.penncharter.com/Student/China).

For the Chinese, art could be enjoyed in private or as part of a public ritual. They loved poetry, pictures, folktales, music, and dance. Everyday objects of clay, metal, and jade were shaped with great care. Artists painted many animals, including humans (Williams, B., 1996, pg.22).

Chinese music used a 5-tone scale instead of an 8-tone scale. Music was played at court and in city streets. Drums, gongs, and pipes were common instruments (Williams, B., 1996, pg. 23).

Both rich and poor people flavored their food with a wide variety of herbs and spices. To save fuel, food was chopped into small pieces and cooked quickly in an iron frying pan called a wok for a few minutes only. Many foods were also steamed and stewed (Cotterell, A., 1994, pg.44).

For poor people, daily meals were simple. The main foods were rice, millet, vegetables, and beans. If they ate meat, it was probably a chicken or a wild bird. Wealthy people had a wider choice of foods, with many kinds of meat such as pork, lamb, venison, duck, goose, pigeon, and dogs. Rich people also had vegetables, fruits, rice, and noodles on their plates often (Williams, B., 1996, pg.23).

People usually drank tea, and seldom drank water without boiling it. Another popular drink was rice wine (Williams, B., 1996, pg.24).

The Chinese believed that their diet should be linked to how they felt. A cook might change the menu depending on the family’s health, or even if the weather changed (Williams, B., 1996, pg.23).

There was not enough good pasture to keep cows, so milk products like butter, were sparse (Williams, B., 1996, pg.10).

The Chinese calendar was based on the moon, and divided years into groups of twelve, each named after an animal. The most important festival each year was the Chinese New Year, a spring festival during which offerings were made to the spirits (Williams, B., 1996, pg.21).

Chinese New Year was a time of excitement for the Chinese people. Although the famed Dragon Dance did not come around until the Song dynasty, the Chinese had many unique ways of celebrating the festival. The Lion dance is a toned down version of the Tiger Dance, but it is still a beautiful sight (www.penncharter.com/Student/China).

Ancient China’s culture was very interesting, yet it was sure to be a very harsh lifestyle for most people. In Ancient China, many new ideas came up, especially in the areas of the arts and in religion. Development in these areas led to many fascinating customs and a unique way of life.

Bibliography

Ancient China (April 1997). Kids Discover Magazine.

Ancient China 6th grade project [Online].

Available http://www.penncharter.com/Student/China/

Caselli, G. (1995). The First Civilizations. New York: Peter Bedrich Books.

Cotterell, A. (1994). Ancient China. New York: Alfred A. Knoff, Inc.

Millar, H. (1996). China’s Tang Dynasty. New York: Benchmark Books.

Williams, B. (1996). Ancient China. New York: Penguin Group.

As a country, Latvia appeared only in the early 20th century, precisely, on the 18th of November 1918. A year earlier Latgale made the decision to join it. Although it is considered as a part of Latvia, it had a very different history. Together with Kurzeme (together with Zemgale) and Vidzeme it duly belonged to Holy Roman Empire, Poland- Lithuania, Russia. While ruled by Russian empire- there was a very important difference- Kurzeme and Vidzeme together with Estonia was the Baltic province while Latgale was a part of another Russian province and with this did not have the priorities the Baltic province had. For example- bondage was abolished in 1817 in Kurzeme, in 1819 in Vidzeme and only in 1861 together with the whole Russian empire in Latgale. As seen- Kurzeme and Vidzeme was economically more developed and Riga was the 3rd biggest industrial city in Russian Empire. Latgale had its misfortune in 1863 again as the Latin alphabet was forbidden. With this the use of Y could be explained because Cyrillic has such letter. Probably the next main difference is religion. While the main confessions in Latvia are Roman Catholic and Lutheran, in Latgale it is Orthodoxy.

Speaking historically its background is very different. Not only that- in Latgale Latvians are the minority and perceptually there is the biggest number of foreigners. So it is no great wonder that Latgalian is different from Latvian. Yet- as known- the first resident of Latvia arrived 9,000 BC, Finno-Ugric tribes arrived 3,000 BC and finally Baltic tribes- only 2,000 BC. As a result of such wandering there are many dialects and almost in every of the biggest cities there is a different one. With that- I claim to say that Latgalian is only a dialect derived from Latgale?s different history.

Latgalian is very similar to Latvian and Lithuanian while Liv language is not. And, as Latvian is the official language, all Latgalians should know it. As well, there is no great point of teaching it at school because it is not being used anywhere else than in Latgale. Another problem would be Latgalian grammar for just speaking is not enough. It is better for the children studying in Latvian too because they will find Latvian easier to use later in their lives. But the main point is that Latvia is a very multinational country and it is very hard to find something common so a good option would be Latvian language. As well, the first Latvian linguists considered Latgalian as a dialect and allowed students to use it only informally. I am not Latvian myself, yet I consider that it is my obligation to understand and use Latvian language in public.

Still, you should not be ashamed to admit that you know Latgalian as I am not ashamed of Lithuanian. Language is a gif meant to make our lives easier and allow us to understand each other. And apart from being able to speak, humans have the ability to learn many different languages. Language should be a gift not a punishment!