Monday, December 30, 2019

The History and Effects of Slavery on the South Essay

You would think that a society which takes up an institution as immoral and barbaric as slavery would benefit from it on the whole, but that is not the case with the American South. The only people who benefited from slavery were the top 3% of Southern society. For the rest of the people the institution of slavery would prevent them from gaining an education, proper literacy, wealth, and movement up the social ladder. If viewed as an independent nation the South was a socially stagnant aristocracy, extremely dependant on foreign trade , had fairly weak industry, and finally had a small population compared to the North. Perhaps the greatest tragedy was that all those confederate soldiers died for a cause that kept them poor. This is not†¦show more content†¦This cant be explained away with population differences due to the North only having 2 times as many white people in it than the South.(helper 144) . In conclusion education was much worse in the South than in the North. Of the 6,184,477 whites in the South in 1859(Helper 144) there are about 186,551 slave holders (according to De Bow) which equates to a aristocratic elite of the top 3% of Southern Society.(Helper 148) This aristocracy could pay for the best schools, had their own private libraries, and extravagant houses: all possible from the sweat of their slaves, and the backs of the poor whites who were tenants of the slaveocrats and social outcasts as much as the slaves were(Hinton 151); yet because of slavery ,and its accompanying racial superiority, these poor whites still felt they were better than the blacks and thus did not rise up in rebellion. In truth Many of the poorer whites were hardly better off economically than the slaves. (Bailey 366) The South severely lacked in industrial capacity and innovation/invention. During the year of 1856 256 inventions were patented in the South as opposed to the Norths 1,929.(Helper,294) In 1850 the value of all manufactured products in the South was $165,413,027 in contrast to the Norths $842,586,058. (Helper 284) Even if the South had a strong industrial base it only had 6,859 miles of railroad track, and this was built byShow MoreRelatedThe South : America With A Difference1697 Words   |  7 PagesScholars have referred to the South as â€Å"America with a difference†. This difference has tried to be defined by different historians, and it has produced various strains of the American South history. Therefore, the south has drawn various historians, novelists, and poets in the quest to define the central theme of the southern history. This has largely interested many scholars as the south was known to be settled by a different Englishman, its experience of poverty since it was a nation that onlyRead More Understanding the Importance of the American Civil War Essays1516 Words   |  7 Pagesheated and highly debated pieces of history in not only the United States, but also the entire modern world. It remains so not only in its origins, but in the goals of each side, and the effects it had on American culture. The effects, as I will demonstrate much later, were not limited exclusively to the United States, and extended to many foreign ideals and practices as well. This demonstrates the importance of this war politically and socially to modern history. In order to completely understandRead MoreThe Election Of 1860, The North And Southern States Of America1191 Words   |  5 Pagesthe future of slavery in America and whether it should be allowed in new territories. Following closely on the heels of many of these divisive problems was the Election of 1860, in which Abraham Lincoln won without carrying a single Southern state. Although it was not his intention, Lincoln’s victory in the Election of 1860 proved to be the final straw for the South, and quickly caused the secession of seven Southern states, ultimately leading to the deadliest war in American history, and the endRead MoreWhat Caused The American Civil War1634 Words   |  7 Pageshas been several different debates and disputes about the causes of the American Civil War. Historians have stated slavery was the primary cause of the American Civil War, while other historians have argued there were other causes and effects in conjunction with slavery. Research has sh own all historians did agree upon the division between the North, known as the Union, and the South, known as the Confederacy, battled on the soil of the United States of America (Stampp, 1965). This battle betweenRead MorePrimary Causes Of The Civil War820 Words   |  4 PagesCivil War started over uncompromisable differences between free Southern states and pro-slavery Northern states and their controversy over government power and slave laws. Fought during April of 1861 to 1865, the Civil War had divided the country into a frenzy against each other. In fact, a devastating 620,000 soldiers had died from accident, combat, starvation and disease, the deadliest war in American history. To add to the already horrible circumstances, medicine was not advanced, rations wereRead MoreThe American Abolitionists Book Review Essay1214 Words   |  5 Pagesbook that scrutinizes the movement of abolishing slavery in the United States. It examines the movement from its origin in the 18centu ry in the course of the Civil War and the elimination of slavery in 1856. American Abolitionists book focuses on the American Abolitionists who struggled to end slavery and advocated for equal rights for all African Americans in the United States. Harrold mainly focuses his book on the abolitionist movement and the effect of slaves on its expansion. The book uncoversRead MoreThe War Between The United States944 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States’ history was the war between states or more commonly referred as the Civil War. This war leads to much unnecessary violence ridden battles that were precluded by many cases. The Civil War had many profound effects on how the United States ran as a country, and the civil war was caused by the differing idea of slavery, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the southern states seceding from the United States. Southern and Northern States had issues on how slavery was handled ever sinceRead MoreThe Road Of The United States937 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States’ history was the war between states or more commonly referred as the Civil War. This war leads to much unnecessary violence ridden battles that were preluded by many causes. The Civil War had many profound effects on how the United States ran as a country, and the civil war was caused by the differing idea of slavery, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the southern states seceding from the United States. Southern and Northern States had issues on how slavery was handled ever sinceRead MoreThe American Civil War1296 Words   |  6 Pages The American Civil War, also known as the State’s War, was a conflict that arose mostly from the issue of slavery, but deep down was due to economic differences between the North and the South. The South seceded from the North and created their own self-government due to their belief in the lack of state’s rights versus the federal government and what they saw as a weakness in the Articles of Confederation. While the Confederacy of the United States depended on slave labor for their economy in regardsRead MoreThe Civil War Of The United States1605 Words   |  7 Pagesin the history of our country. The Civil War shaped our nation and how we think of liberty in general. Such a big event in our antiquity must have been caused by a series of dominant events. However, a War of this size has many effects to go along with it. The most commo n effect thought of is the freedom of slaves, however, the Civil War was not just a war fought for freedom. One major cause of the Civil War was the issue of slavery in America. While the North had gotten rid of slavery within the

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Essay on British Literature Lesson Reflection - 1376 Words

I Introduction Since my subject is British Literature, there has been a lot of thought regarding the priorities of the course. On one hand, my main aim is to help learners enjoy the artistic part of written language. On the other hand, I have been tempted by the idea of using my time to give a more language oriented lesson. The session used to write this essay is one of my first attempts to pursuit the second. When choosing the materials, I picked a short comedy written on the fifties (Pinter 2006, 1254-1259) basically because I thought It could be appealing to my teenager group. After that, the main objective of the session was designed. I understand that the process should be the other way around: first the aim, then the materials†¦show more content†¦Designing and implementation of tasks and activities â€Å"A well-balanced lesson will contain some activities which are designed to encourage the students to talk and express themselves†¦ to communicate.† (Holden and Rogers 1998, 15) In this sense, I found that the planning of activities was very adequate. Learners had the opportunity to read, find and identify lexis. When that was solved, exposing their ideas to the rest of the class provided them with time to communicate. II.b Aspects which contributed to the success of the lesson In terms of classroom management, an active monitoring of the pair, individual and group work helped the environment of the class. Often, I had to encourage students to speak English among themselves. This helped the class to keep on producing language, because the topic of discussion â€Å"The emptiness of life† was motivating enough for the learners to keep on trying to convey their thoughts. In order to increase STT, I took into consideration Scrivener’s advice: â€Å"Encourage a friendly, relaxed learning environment. If there is a trusting, positive, supportive rapport amongst learners and between learners and you, then there is a much better chance of useful interaction happening.† (Scrivener 2005, 86) However, I had not constructed that rapport in my previous lessons, so it was hard for my students to trust that their commonly evil teacher was now a patient and tolerant facilitator. I have already stated that I chose the material (SeeShow MoreRelatedArticle, Critical Literacy in the Classroom by Ann S. Beck Shows the Need for Critical Thinking594 Words   |  3 Pageswritten by Ann S. Beck, an English teacher at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This article explains that it is imperative for teachers to understand the concepts of critical literacy as well as to achieve a critical teaching approach. The author’s main focus was to address and define the importance of teaching critical literacy as an educational practice by approaching dialogue (social act), reflection (critical literacy), and textual critique in the classroom. In brief, theseRead More Reflection on My Portfolio Essay1110 Words   |  5 PagesReflection on My Portfolio Literature has fascinated me from an early age. I was always an extremely active child, yet all I needed to settle down was a good book. The worlds created from the page within my mind were wondrous and amazing. However, I never imagined that I would become an English Literature major in college. Like many others before me, I wasn’t sure what you could do with an English major but teach or write, neither of which I planned on doing. A business or management majorRead MorePlanning, Tracking, And Maintaining The Individual Evaluation Plan874 Words   |  4 PagesHigh School afforded me the opportunity to interview her for this assignment. I have come to know Ms. Varela during the planning period in the teacher’s lounge. Most times when I see Ms Varela, she is often busy preparing materials and organizing lesson plans. Ms. Varela has a warm disposition and speaks of the students in a respectful manner and has a genuine concern for the education. The day before the i nterview, I reviewed the questions with Ms. Varela to give her the opportunity to think aboutRead MoreGraduation Speech : Training Sessions Or Mentoring Program832 Words   |  4 PagesStrength-based mentoring in pre-service teacher education: a literature review (2009), the strength-based mentoring model follows 6 D’s stages to provide an effective training. The six stages are: †¢ Disarm- cultivating an open relationship. †¢ Discover – finding assets and strengths †¢ Dream – setting ‘we’ goals. †¢ Design – selecting mentoring methods to form ideal mentoring relationships. †¢ Deliver – enhancing learning to teach through reflection †¢ Don’t settle – challenging each other in collaborativeRead MoreGrowing Gender Imbalance Observed Within The Subjects Of Ict And Computing980 Words   |  4 PagesThis research will explore the factors that contribute to the growing gender imbalance observed within the subjects of ICT and Computing. After reviewing relevant literature, exploring existing explanations for the imbalance, I aim to analyse the interest of girls in the subject area within my current placement school. For this research project, a case study is the most appropriate methodology in order to achieve, and attempt to answer, the research questions outlined within the introduction; IRead MoreThe Mystery Of The Vampire1583 Words   |  7 Pagesthinking of people in different period of time will effect to the symbol of vampire. The research will explain the transformation of vampire by diving to three main topics: the vampire in the historical and religion thinking; the charging of vampire in literature and movie; the symbol of vampire in modern people thinking. Although three main topics seem separately, these connect and develop other idea like cause and effect. Depend on the information of history, the image of vampire in novel become realityRead MoreAnalysis Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare1466 Words   |  6 Pagesbreathing monster. It is a story of fearlessness, force and what it intends to be a decent King as sigemund was and what it intends to be an awful King, for example, He remond. The introduced stories in Beowulf fills a few needs, one is a lesson in courage, a lesson in great legislation, to prepare for the ill-use of force and that war can t be settled by intermarriage. One such story of great influence is that of Sigemund. Sigemund epitomizes the gallant code of honor. Sigemund was a monsterRead MoreThe Author who Is Frances Hodgson Burnett Essay893 Words   |  4 Pagespart of a new era. Writers across the globe were adopting the roman writing style, which erupted and transformed into the Romantic Period. Great writers of the period included William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Edgar Allan Poe (English Literature). â€Å"At first, people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago†(The Secret Garden 353)Read More The Rise of a Native American Balladry Essay1466 Words   |  6 Pagesof a Native American Balladry First, it will be necessary to review some important points. In the early days (1600-1770s), importation/adaptation was the dominant process. British songs and ballads were adapted to the frontier experience, Victorian morality and Puritan ethics. Songs which contained subject matter which was completely irrelevant to the frontier or unacceptable to moral and ethical standards were eitherRead MoreDickens Hard Times1535 Words   |  7 Pagesare the historical backgrounds, the facts about this novel and my critical reflections. To gain the comprehensive perspective of the story, we need to look back on historical backgrounds of the age that this novel took place which can be seen in three ways that are the economy, the social class and the education. Victorian Age is the period of economic progress that Industrial Revolution played important part in the British society. As a result, there were many factories located in town and it is

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Yellow Wallpaper Free Essays

Professor: S. roper Date: March 2, 2010 Class: English 125 The Yellow Wallpaper depicts a relationship that is failing for one reason or another. Compare the roles played by the man and woman and the way those roles relate to the failure or the relationship. We will write a custom essay sample on The Yellow Wallpaper or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte p. Gilman In marriage and any relationship communication is an important point, is able to freely express thoughts, concerns, problems, doubts with simplicity and honesty.In â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, an example the communications is a reason that could lead to relationship failure. In the 1800 women had not rights in the marriage, the relationships the man was the head of the family gave orders for this reason his wife and his children had to obey woven and children would agree or not. In this case the women or John’s wife had to do anything where he wants. John is a physician† (Gilman 313) † If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression–a slight hysterical tendency– what is one to do? † (Gilman 313). John is convinced that her wife is suffering from neurasthenia, and he decided to temporarily move the house with his family, as part the cure treatment for his wife, but he never told his wife before and he did not want any family to go to visit them.John’s wife did not feel comfortable at home, she feel bored, she said â€Å"John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious† (Gilman 315), she did not like that John was not to stay with her at home, the babysitter and her children was there, but she think is not the same that her husband. She really wanted to do was writing, but she could not say anything by John (her husband) because he did not listening her, and he just said that this will be best for her. He did know that her wife.It really is so much humiliation and domination of man over woman of that time, she had to put everything I felt inside, she suffered too much and she could not tell her husband, because that was something fun for him. John believed that taking his wife to a better place without communication with her family, she could regain her mental state, but never thought it was imposing his orders leading to the final and in addition the madness did not give his support. Name: Sandra Rojas Professor: S. oper Date: March 18, 2010 Class: English 125 In relation of the regents given in New York, in which the students have to pass according to the studies of Math and History, which they need in order to graduate. I disagree that the board of education stops regents from being taken in New York. The Students body needs something to encourage them to secede in their studies. In my opinion I think that most of the student body is taking education as a joke getting educated is more a job for their age.Passing the regents is like getting a bonus and in order to get that bonus, you would have to work hear for it, in which in theior propective it would mean to study as much as they can. Students need to take regents so they can be more inspired to study so they can achieve more in life. En conclusion, I think, passing and getting a high grade on regent gives excellent college an opportunity to see their ability to succeed in life. Therefore my question is Why take something that can encourage and help a students in their future away How to cite The Yellow Wallpaper, Papers The Yellow Wallpaper Free Essays The Yellow Wallpaper is a novella written by Charlotte Perkins Gliman. It talks about a woman who is oppressed by her husband. She is going through a temporary depression. We will write a custom essay sample on The Yellow Wallpaper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Her husband who is her doctor is trying to treat her, so he decides to take her to a new house and prevent her from contacting people and even from thinking and writing. He thinks he is helping her this way. The narrator then tries to get out her feeling and thoughts through writing although she is forbidden to. She hides her diary and writes what happens with her everyday and what she thinks about.She is sick from her husband’s worries and oppression. Then she identifies herself with a woman whom she imagines is creeping and trying to escape from the cage in the yellow wallpaper in her room. The narrator is also trying to escape then she succeeds to by escaping to insanity. She succeeds in escaping from the reality that she was suffering from. For she couldn’t bear being oppressed by her husband. Also, according to Freud, the famous psychoanalyst, the author of the story is trying to reveal her thought through writing. A work of literature, he believes, is the external expression o the author’s unconscious mind.Accordingly, the literary work must then be treated like a dream. Applying psychoanalytic techniques to the text to uncover the author’s hidden motivations, repressed desires, and wishes. According to what Freud claimed, Gliman is trying to reveal her repressed desires to escape from such a society and life and her wishes to prove that such a treatment will never help but in stead it makes everything worse. The author herself went through mental breakdowns and depressions and was advised to be sent to Weir Mitchell who leads her to her breakdown. She mentions his name in her novella.In applying Freud’s theory, Gilman has repressed anger which she can’t reveal except through writing. This process works unconsciously because according to Freud these repressed feelings are stored in the unconscious in a way or another. These suppressed feelings are being redirected and reshaped into acceptable social activities and are presented in the form of images or symbols such as the women who are creeping in the yellow wallpaper. This signifies that the narrator and the author herself are trying to creep and escape from their own reality and life.All those strangled heads and bulbous eyes and waddling fungus growths just shriek with derision! This line shows that she thinks (the narrator) that she succeeds in freeing all women from other’s control, and so she wants. so that I had to creep over him every time! This line shows that the author wants to really creep over her husband and to be out of his control. I’ve got a rope up here that even Jennie did not find. If that woman does get out, and tries to get away, I can tie her. In this line she thinks she is not under their control any more. She also thinks that she is going to control that woman in the wallpaper. How to cite The Yellow Wallpaper, Papers The Yellow Wallpaper Free Essays The narrator in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a young wife and mother who has recently began to suffer symptoms of depression and anxiety. She does not believe that anything is wrong with her but, John, her husband who is a physician, diagnoses her with neurasthenia and prescribes several months of â€Å"rest cure. † She is confined to the nursery in their rented summer home, the narrator is not allowed to write or engage in anything happening out of the house. We will write a custom essay sample on The Yellow Wallpaper or any similar topic only for you Order Now She secretly writes in her journal and finds discomfort in the hideous wallpaper that covers the walls of the room. As a result of the narrators â€Å"temporary nervous depression† (221), her husband takes her to a secluded estate that is away from the road and the nearest town. In his efforts to help her, he decided that it would be best to keep her locked upstairs in a room that is called a nursery, although it resembles a room for an insane person that was perhaps kept there once before. And although she disagreed with his ideas and believed that â€Å"congenial work, with excitement and change, would do her good† (223), there was not much she could say to him directly. He â€Å"assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing wrong† (222) and manipulates the situation by making it seem that she is the one that is control, when really he is the character in the story who is making uncalled for actions. When the narrator talks about the house, she describes it as â€Å"the most beautiful place† (222) although she hates her room. She elaborates about the wallpaper, which later becomes another character in the story, perhaps her personality that has been split two ways. She describes the wallpaper as â€Å"one of those sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin† (225) making it appears unattractive for a beautiful mansion and letting us know that she is rational at this time. She goes on to say that â€Å"it is dull enough to confuse the eye,† (225) â€Å"constantly to irritate and provoke study,† implying one could not help to look at it and wonder why would someone have picked such a color or design for a nursery. Although she would have preferred the room downstairs â€Å"that opened into the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings. John would not hear of it,† (224) creating the effect that John is the one making the decisions and she will do as he says. This is indicating that he treats her more like a patient than his wife. We learn that he forbids her to write when she says talks about how writing made her irritated â€Å"having to be so sly about it, or else met with heavy opposition†(223), signaling that she hid her writings from her husband. He laughs at her about the wallpaper, discounts her thoughts of renovating and refuses to make any changes she would like to make to her room, because it would be allowing her to make decisions and according to him she is in no position to make decisions. The narrator has become ill for the main reason of not being able to see her baby. She states â€Å"And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous† (226), representing that she is being kept away from her baby. She is controlled by John in everything that she does. For example, her diet and the â€Å"cod liver oil and lots of tonics and things† she is supposed to take, John also tells her when to sleep, when to exercise and mentally abuses her by convincing her that she is well and that it’s all in her mind. John even goes to extremes by humiliating her when he refers to her as a â€Å"blessed little goose† and â€Å"little girl† (226) as if she were useless to make any decisions on her own. The woman in the story crosses into insanity when she starts to describe the wallpaper pattern in more human terms, by giving it human characteristics such as committing suicide in some places, â€Å"plunge off at outrageous angles, destroying themselves in unheard-of-contradictions,† â€Å"broken necks,† and â€Å"bulbous eyes† (226). She is becoming delusional, because of her husband’s imprisonment, when she mentions the â€Å"eyes† all over the pattern of wallpaper. How they stare at her without blinking, perhaps she feels this way since she is constantly being watched and controlled by John. She begins to obsess about the wallpaper more at night because of her lack of sleep. She notices different layers of the wallpaper and labels them â€Å"front† and â€Å"back† (228) and sees a woman in the sub-pattern, possibly a reference to herself and how she’s feeling at this time. She decides that the front pattern is the one that moves because â€Å"the woman behind shakes it† as if it were her shaking the bars on her window in her room to be able to get out of her husband’s prison. She is now thinking of suicide in order to escape her husband and his dominance over her. The narrator in this story is very descriptive of everything she comes in contact with. She see things differently then other people might see things. She saw the women in the wallpaper and figured that she might have something to do with her life and that all the women are trapped inside of the wallpaper, trying to get out. She smells the â€Å"peculiar odor† found in the house. She â€Å"spent hours in trying got analyze it† (226). She is observant of everything that is in the room. The narrator begins to think there may be some hope that she can gain some control, but it is pointed out â€Å"she herself is a mystery: to her husband and to herself† (229). John thinks of her as a mystery that he is unable to solve. So instead of confessing this inability, he hides his wife in the room. He thinks he is solving the mystery but in reality he is giving his wife a chance to solve it on her own. She does so by beginning to take control of her own life and refusing to be a â€Å"little goose† any longer. These feelings of freedom build when she tears all the yellow wallpaper off the walls. She is sure that John will have something to say about this, but she is not bothered. She wants control of something even if it is the â€Å"odious wallpaper. † That was just the first step. Her life is now in her own hands. It is no longer in the hands of a male. She has locked the door to the room and grown mentally as a woman. Her final and ultimate feeling of control comes when John finds out what she has done. She no longer worries about what John thinks and is not deterred by his fainting. She is on a mission to get all the wallpaper off the walls, and she will stop at nothing to accomplish this. She has come to a point where she has had enough and takes matters into her own hands. She is determined to pursue everything that she is thinking. The husband and the wallpaper are similar, both the husband and the paper dominate the narrator. But in the end John no longer directs her every move. John no longer inhibits her inner thoughts. And the wallpaper no longer oppresses her. As time goes on, she gains confidence and control over both and ultimately dominates them. How to cite The Yellow Wallpaper, Essay examples The Yellow Wallpaper Free Essays string(141) " one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings! â€Å"\(p490\)\." In the story the Yellow Wall Paper, the narrator is making a statement which is saying that if you are locked up in a house or â€Å"prison† you are not being allowed to be put to your full potential with society. She is using the narrator’s point of view to show how mental issues start to occur when you are confined to one place and have no actual view of the outside world. That statement also includes the effects of your mind when you can only think to yourself and imagine. We will write a custom essay sample on The Yellow Wallpaper or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main character’s mind starts to go insane when thinking too much into things. Throughout the story the main character looks into every little detail of the room and analyzes it. This is the effect of having too much time on her hands and not having anything better to do. The story is about a woman who’s husband sent her away to this house to get mentally better and starts to see this wallpaper. She has very strict rules such as not being able to read or write so she starts looking at this wallpaper. While she’s looking at this wallpaper she starts to interpret it in many different ways throughout the story. She’s irked by the bright yellow outline that is has, which then turns into her seeing heads being hanged. As the story goes on her views of the room get even worse and it doesn’t help that her husband John is treating her like a little girl. Her husband has a wrong view of what is going on in her head. She gets annoyed by the fact that she can’t even talk to him about the situation she’s in. The story goes on to her doing many irrational behaviors in the room and her anxiety gets worse and worse while getting fed up with everything little thing she notices in the room and about the wallpaper. She is also also a Mother that isn’t aloud to be near her baby which adds to her anxiety. Charlotte Perkins Gilman shows a first person point of view with the narrator about how she is feeling â€Å"So I take phosphate or phosphites- whichever it is , and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to â€Å"work† until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good†(p490). She is able to capture how the narrator is really feeling. The narrator is a housewife that doesn’t have a real job. She wants more out of life; she really wants to be able to read and write so that she can put her thoughts to good use and vent. When her husband took her books away from her, she started to read the wallpaper because she likes to read and analyze and is very good at it by the way she describes the room and the wallpaper. She also didn’t put up a fight when she was sent away. She develops a mental illness by being a housewife and not being able to go out. When she is put in this psychiatry room, she starts to get worse. She thinks she’s getting better later on in the story because her husband tells her that she can have her life back if she gets better. The narrator is disgusted with the room she’s in but tries to make the best of it. She really enjoys and desires human interaction. Charlotte Perkins Gilman shows the narrator’s loneliness â€Å"When I get really well, John says we will ask Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillowcase as to let me have those stimulating people about now†(p. 491). This really shows how she’s looking forward to seeing her family to be able to talk about her work. John is her husband who’s making all the decisions and holding her back like a child. He doesn’t show her much attention because he is always with other patients and often comes to visit her at night. At one point in the story he carried her from one room to another like a baby. That doesn’t do her any good because she knows that she’s a grown up person and is capable of doing more. By him treating her like a baby makes her feel like a baby, and then continues to more mental issues. John should’ve treated her like an adult so that she would act more like an adult. Charlotte made him into a controlling character â€Å"He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction†(p490). This shows how he’s controlling the way she does things yet still loves her. She needs more freedom which he doesn’t want to give her. He thinks that by putting her in that room she will learn a lesson like a little child and teach herself how to get better. What she really needs is to be able to go out and enjoy what society has to offer her. The room she’s in shows what it’s like to be deprived by society; the room is like her own little society. She’s trying to make the best of it by looking into every little detail of it from the bed to the wallpaper. She wasn’t allowed to go out of her house or do anything because John wanted her to be a housewife which is why she started having all of these mental issues. She had to fulfill the duties that John wanted her to do which got boring to a certain point. She is a people’s person. Every time that the nurses would come in she always talked to them as if she really knew them. Charlotte Perkins Gilman captures the narrator’s thoughts â€Å"I don’t like our room a bit. I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings! â€Å"(p490). You read "The Yellow Wallpaper" in category "Papers" She really doesn’t like anything about the room she’s in. When she looks out her window she sees a lovely country like village full of people which she wishes she could go out and have fun there. Being trapped in a house is the worst thing that is happening to her. She tries to make the best of the situation she’s in by thinking into every little thing that annoys her. The room is a symbol of a door that is closed to society. The wallpaper is the main symbol in this story. The narrator starts to see heads that have been hanged which is obvious signs that she is starting to become delusional or insane. The color starts to change from yellow to brown after days of just staring at it. She then starts to see bars on the wallpaper which is representing herself. She feels like she’s in a jail cell locked up and is not allowed to have fun or do anything except what John wants her to do. Throughout the story she feels as that it’s better for her to be in this room of misery with her baby, so that the baby doesn’t have to stare at it all day. She doesn’t want her baby â€Å"living in a room full of worlds† which almost signifies the day dreaming that goes on in there. After awhile she starts to look at the positive side of being locked up in that room. The wallpaper whether it was yellow or not, was the main controlling mechanism of the character’s mood for story. Her mood no matter day or night was based on the wallpaper she was looking at. The narrator actually asked John during the beginning of her stay to take down the wallpaper since it was causing more nervous trouble, but he didn’t. He thought that she was letting it get to her and wanted her to deal with it which is funny because she ended up writing an entire short story about it. The narrator could also be feeling a sense of yellow on the inside. In our world we look as yellow as happy but maybe not as fully. Colors like orange or green are a lot happier. At one point she has a view of a garden which is where she could be picking up some yellow. She even thought there was a yellow smell. The wallpaper effects her so much she feels as if it’s getting into her hair. Charlotte Perkins Gilman shows a very good depiction to help create a mental picture of what is going on in the room: â€Å"The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight(p. 490)†. She shows great use of vocabulary with words such as repellent and revolting along with imagery which catches her reader’s eyes. The title is an example of how the narrator can show her intellectual ability and desire of how she feels like she’s in prison. The narrator’s ability to interpret the wallpaper and every little detail in the room is unique even though it is a psychiatry case. Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses the narrator’s point of view to really capture how she feels towards the wallpaper which in her mind is disgusting and not her type. Almost every paragraph is about something bad pertaining to the wallpaper. Her intellectual ability is to see and analyze things which may be why she gets along with so many people. Charlotte Perkins Gilman gives a great view saying â€Å"He says that with my imaginative power and habit of story making, a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies, and that I ought to use my will and good sense to check the tendency†(p. 91). She clearly has a wild imagination that John is trying to cut down. She might be more of a hands on person. Therefore, the wallpaper brings a very different type of analytical approach. Her husband locked her up in this house so she wasn’t being put to her full potential. Instead she started looking at the small things in her house while John just wa nted her to sit at home and it turned into a mental illness. Towards the end of the story the narrator really started to go crazy walking around the room. She couldn’t stand the fact that her bed was nailed to the floor. She ripped off all the wallpaper when nobody was around. She threw the key out of the room so that nobody can come in or out until John arrives. She even found a rope incase Jennie got in she was going to tie her which is a little crazy. The narrator realizes that if she jumps out the window that people will think she’s crazy more than she already is. She’s a frustrated psychiatric patient just trying to feel better. She’s been in there for about a couple weeks. The wallpaper messes with her head a lot. She can’t wait to leave the place she’s in. She has everything planned out even taking a boat back to town. Her husband comes back for what she thinks is her last day in the psychiatric room. She rips down all of the wallpaper which showed a lot of courage since her nervousness wasn’t letting her do anything til she’s satisfied. She then takes the key locks the door and throws it out the window so that when John comes in he looks at her and faints. She does nothing but step over him. Charlotte Perkins Gilman shows what is really going on â€Å"I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder†(p500). I think she just about had enough with staying in that room and may have even been feeling better since she worked up the courage to do all that and even walk over her own husband. Charlotte Perkins Gilman used a very easy to read type of style which was helpful in figuring out the plot and building a mental image of what was going on. † I have found out another funny thing, but I shan’t tell it this time! I mean to try it, little by little. â€Å"(p498). She has a very broad use of vocabulary but not hard enough to need a dictionary to figure things out. It’s interesting that she breaks the story into different parts or chapters. The narrator’s character changed in each part, mostly because of the other characters or the wallpaper. Her writing style is also modern compared to other stories in this book. This type of writing style is nice. She uses a character with a mental disorientation and captures what is really going through her mind. Her writing flows just like any other short story but even better. She doesn’t make it hard to figure the details out. She is very straight forward with the way she words her sentences. I’m wondering if the author wrote this short story to show another person, or if the author herself was the main character in the story. This seem like it could be a realistic story. In this century there are many mentally ill people ranging from anxiety issues to disorders. This could be a true story. The sentences are short and clear but not at all long enough to get lost in them. The story was literally written as the main character was seeing things. It was even broken up from the start of her being in the psychiatric ward included with a two week break from writing for when John kept visiting her in the beginning. Every thought and movement was written down. How to cite The Yellow Wallpaper, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Hitle The Man Behind the Hate Essay Example For Students

Hitle The Man Behind the Hate Essay One word. One word that is more powerful than any weapon. One word that can spread fear through everyone. One word powerful enough to control a man. One man powerful enough to control millions. Adolph Hitler did not have hate in his heart all of his life, but when he was exposed to it, he gained it fast and furiously and eleven million dead bodies is what he had to April 20, 1889 was the day in which Adolph Hitler was born. On this day, a seed was planted, a seed of hate. The seed by itself was harmless, but it was up to Hitler from this day on if he would let this seed grow. As a boy, Adolph went to church often and sang in the choir. One day he carved a symbol very similar to a swastika in one of the benches at his church. (htcl. org) Who would know that this boys carving in a bench would some day represent the ultimate hate. During elementary school, Adolph got very good grades and showed the signs of being a very intelligent individual. However, he got poor grades in high school and this made his easily-tempered father, Alois Hitler, very angry. Alois wanted his son to be a civil servant, but Adolph did not want this. He wanted to be an artist. Alois Hitler died in 1903. Two and a half years after his fathers death, Adolph dropped out of high school. At this time he was sixteen. His mother drew a widows pension and owned some property. Because of this, Adolph did not have to work. Instead, he spent his time reading books, drawing To fulfill his dream of becoming an artist, he moved to Vienna, Austria where the Academy of Arts was located. In 1906 he tried out for the Academy and failed. He tried out again a year later, really thinking that he would make it. To his surprise, he failed again. The dean of the academy even told Hitler right to his face that he would never make it as an artist. This crushed him and left him at a dead end. Because he had no high school iploma, there were no real jobs for him. He survived by selling pictures he had drawn of famous landmarks and selling them as postcards. (Granger, p. 45) Just imagine, if Hitler had a little bit more talent, eleven million lives From what I have told you so far, you are probably thinking that this is a pretty normal guy. But you have to remember, Hitlers seed of hate has yet to have been exposed to the things that will make it grow. Well it is now where society helps Hitlers seed grow. Just as Hitler influenced society while he was in power, society influenced him before he was in power. The only thing that influenced society was ignorance. Therefore we can say that Hitler, himself, was influenced by ignorance. And when a man as powerul as Hitler was gains a thing like ignorance, it can only cause destruction. Hitler was now starting to read a publication which claimed that the Aryan race was superior and that the Jews and communists were the causers of all problems. How convenient. He now had someone to blame for all of his misfortunes. It was the Jews fault he did not make it to the Art Academy. It was the Jews fault he was poor. He was Aryan, therefor he was superior. What facts or logic did this publication have? None. All it brought was hate. Hate that was fueled by ignorance. Hate that made some of the Aryans feel better, one of those Aryans being Adolph Hitler. In 1913, he moved to Munich, Germany. He was now starting to show a lot of loyalty to Germany and the Aryan race. For all of the loyalty he showed to the German/Aryan race, or in Hitlers eyes the superior race, he showed even more disloyalty to anything that was not German/Aryan. In 1914, World War I broke out. Hitler saw this as a great opportunity to show his loyalty towards his country, the fatherland. Hitler was a good soldier and received two awards of bravery. (htcl. org) However, in 1918, Germany urrendered. Hitler was very upset about the loss and believed that it was the Jews and the communists who betrayed the fatherland. .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .postImageUrl , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:hover , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:visited , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:active { border:0!important; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:active , .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61 .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0e0b2c9a6edd8cc6d20a0e6bb35f1b61:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Chapters 1-4 EssayWe now see Hitler blaming others not only for his mistakes, but a whole countrys. You can see that his hate is now on a whole new level. Because there were not many employment opportunities, Hitler stayed in the army. He was assigned the job of going to meetings of groups that sprang up and report on them. Hitler was not really excited about the assignment, but on September 12, 1919, he was sent to investigate a small group which called themselves the German Workers Party. The group mainly talked about the countrys problems and how the Jews, communists, and others were threatening the master race, the Aryan race. A man then claimed that Bavaria should separate from Germany. Hitler immediately stood up and argued that Germany and Germans must unite to survive. His natural ability to speak impressed the leader of the group. (Granger, p. 80) Hitler joined the group and quickly became its leader. The name of the group became the Nazis and they quickly began to gain members. He was now spreading his hate through other people. Hitler also organized a private army alled the storm troopers who used the swastika as their symbol. (Hoffmann, P. 254) On November 8, 1923, Hitler and the Storm Troopers tried to take over the Bavarian government but they were stopped and Hitler was sent to While in prison, he wrote his book called Mein Kampf (My Struggle). The book spoke of how the Aryans must stay pure and not marry Jews or Slavs and other prejudice ideas. Many people bought the book. Many people When Hitler got out of prison, he quickly started to get the Nazi party back together. In 1932, the worldwide Great Depression was hitting Germany and its leaders struggled to give the nation political stability. Since the country was in chaos after the war, and was forced to pay billions in damages, the Germans saw hope in Adolf Hitler. In that years elections, the Nazis were the strongest party. Hitler told the people what they wanted to hear. Only a few people could see through his elaborate speeches and his big blue eyes. Those few were not enough. On January 30, 1933, Hitler Hitler in his speeches blamed the Jews and Communists for their misfortunes and many listed. Unemployment was very high at that time standing at about 25%. Hitler also spoke out against the unfairness of the Versailles treaty. Germany lost a lot of its territory. The Empire was no more. He believed the pure Aryan race is destined to rule the world and wanted to build an Empire that would last a 1000 years. He preached that all Germans must unite in order for this goal to succeed. After he came into power, the Nazi party took control over every aspect of every day life. Hitler ordered the creation of a special police force to make sure that all opponents would be elimanted, the Gestapo. He also gave orders to set up a special force which would be used to transport and take care of all political prisioners and people thought to be inferior. The name of the force was the feared SS. Mass propaganda was used to persuade the German people that the Fuhrer would make the country strong and powerful again. They also used propaganda against the Jews and other minority groups which were considered enemies. Teachers had to belong to the Nazi party, and children were taught that Jews very the source of all their On February 27, 1933, Hindenburg, the president of Germany, signed a document which gave the government almost unlimited powers. Hitler now took over the press and a law was made that allowed people only to be Nazis. .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .postImageUrl , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:hover , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:visited , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:active { border:0!important; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:active , .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u92dd2be112e38e4bd7833c844a6fefaf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Battle for Net Neutrality EssayAnother words, a law was made that forced people to hate Jews, communists, and others. The Nazis used the press as a complete tool for propaganda. They were brainwashing the German people. In 1935, German Jews were declared citizens of lesser rights. He also set up the Hitler Youth which taught kids from the age of six to hate and they did. These kids were not bad for they did not know any better. They had just fallen to Hitlers devious plan of November 9, 1938 is said to have been the first day of the holocaust. (Aroneanu, p. 13) The word Holocaust means widespread destruction and that is exactly what it was. Eleven million men, woman, children, and infants were killed in the holocaust, every single one of them in cold blooded genocide. Six million of these people were Jewish. The rest of the five million people were from assorted groups of people including Communists, Gypsies, and homosexuals. What makes me so upset is that if the president were killed today, it would probably be more noticed in the media than those eleven million people dying. We see people being put on death row for murdering one person and we wonder how someone could ever kill someone. We see a serial killer kill sixteen people and wonder how a person could be so sick. How are we supposed to react to someone who killed eleven million people? People just dont realize how horrible the holocaust was. Imagine losing a loved one. Now imagine feeling that pain eleven million times. On April 30, 1945, Hitler killed his last person, himself. The hate inside of a man had finally died, but the hate he spread onto others is still seen today. The scar of Hitlers hate is still seen today. But if the world were to look at each of those eleven million as people and not as numbers, the scar would be so much deeper. However, to society, if you kill one man it is a tragedy, but if you kill a million men its just a statistic.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Universe And Solar System Essay Example For Students

Universe And Solar System Essay The two most common beliefs of the formation of the Universe and Solar Systemare The Expanding Universe Theory and The Big Bang. There are some comparisonsbetween the two and some contrasts. Almost all astronomers believe that theuniverse is expanding although they may have different theories on how this ishappening. The Expanding Universe Theory is based on the Doppler Effect, theredshift of different galaxies and the assumption of the Hubble Law. The Dopplereffect occurs when a wave-emmitting object moves toward or away from an observerand the sound has a change in pitch as the object continues to move. For examplethe sound a police car siren when it comes from behind and passes you. Theredshift of different galaxies is the change or shift in the light radiated byan object such as a star of galaxy that indicates the objects motion. We will write a custom essay on Universe And Solar System specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Scientistshave used redshifts to measure the speed and direction of distant galaxies. TheHubble law showed that the further away the galaxies were the higher theredshift was, that means the more distant galaxies were moving away at a muchfaster velocity than those closer to us. The Expanding Universe theory is merelyan assumption by astronomers that all the galaxies in the universe are movingaway from the earth. The more distant the galaxy the faster its moving awayfrom us. According to the Big Bang theory a gigantic explosion created theuniverse billions of years ago. It appeared that the universe we now see couldbe the remnants of an enormous explosion of the distant past.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Environment Impact Assessment Process in India and the Drawbacks Essay Example

Environment Impact Assessment Process in India and the Drawbacks Essay Example Environment Impact Assessment Process in India and the Drawbacks Essay Environment Impact Assessment Process in India and the Drawbacks Essay ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS IN INDIA AND THE DRAWBACKS Prepared by – Environment Conservation Team (Aruna Murthy, Himansu Sekhar Patra) September 2005 Vasundhara, 15, Sahid Nagar Bhubaneshwar – 751 007 1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS IN INDIA AND THE DRAW BACKS INTRODUCTION EIA is an exercise to be carried out before any project or major activity is undertaken to ensure that it will not in any way harm the environment on a short term or long term basis. Any developmental endeavor requires not only the analysis of the need of such a project, the monetary costs and benefits involved but most important, it requires a consideration and detailed assessment of the effect of a proposed development on the environment. The environment impact process was introduced with the purpose of identifying /evaluating the potential beneficial and adverse impacts of development projects on the environment, taking in to account environmental, social, cultural and aesthetic considerations. All of these considerations are critical to determine the viability of a project and to decide if a project should be granted environmental clearance. An EIA concentrate on problems, conflicts and natural resource constraints which might affect the viability of a project. It also predicts how the project could harm to people, their homeland, their livelihoods, and the other nearby developmental activities. After predicting potential impacts, the EIA identifies measures to minimize the impacts and suggests ways to improve the project viability. The aim of an EIA is to ensure that potential impacts are identified and addressed at an early stage in the projects planning and design. To achieve this aim, the assessment finding are communicated to all the relevant groups who will make decisions about the proposed projects, the project developers and their investors as well as regulators , planners and the politicians. Having read the conclusions of an environmental impact assessment, project planners and engineers can shape the project so that its benefits can be achieved and sustained with out causing adverse impacts. In recent years, major projects have encountered serious difficulties because insufficient account has been taken of their relationship with the surrounding environment. Some projects have been found to be unsustainable because of resource depletion. Others have been abandoned because of public opposition, financially encumbered by unforeseen costs, held liable for damages to natural resources and even been the cause of disastrous accidents. Given this experience, it is very risky to undertake finance, or approve a major project without first taking in to account its environmental consequences and then siting and designing the project so as to minimize adverse impacts. Due to public pressure on the government to accept accountability for the activities of its agencies the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was formed in USA during 1970. This was the basis for the development of a mechanism which came to be known as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). THE EIA PROCESS IN INDIA The role for EIA was formally recognized at the earth summit held at Rio conference in 1992. Principle 17 of the Rio declaration states that – â€Å"EIA as a national instrument shall be undertaken for the proposed activities that are likely to have significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority†. In India many of the developmental projects till as recently as the 1 980s were implemented with very little or no environmental concerns. The environmental issues began receiving attention when a national committee on environmental planning and coordination was set up under the 4th five year plan (19691978). Till 1980, the subjects of environment and forests were the concern of the Dept of Science and Technology and Ministry of Agriculture respectively. Later, the issues were formally attended by the Dept of Environment which was established in 1980. This was then upgraded to the Ministry of Environment Forest in 1985. In 1980, clearance of large projects from the environmental angle became an administrative requirement to the extent that the planning commission and the central investment board sought proof of such clearance before according financial sanction. Five year later, the Dept of Environment and Forests, Government of India, issued guidelines for Environmental Assessment of river valley projects. These guidelines require various studies such as impacts on forests and wild life in the submergence zone, water logging potential, upstream and down stream aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water related diseases, climatic changes and sesmicity. A major legislative measures for the purpose of environmental clearance was in 1994 when specific notification was issued under section 3 and rule 5 of the environment protection Act , 1986 called the â€Å"Environment impact Assessment Notification 1994†. The first step in seeking environmental clearance for a development project is to determine what statutory legislations apply to the particular project. The MOEF has brought out several notifications restricting the development of industries in specified ecologically sensitive areas. In addition there are also draft rules framed for the siting of industries. Environmental clearance for development projects can be obtained either at the state level or at the central level depending on certain criteria concerning the characteristics of the project. However (regardless of where the final environmental clearance is obtained from), for most projects the consent must first be taken from the state pollution control board or pollution control committees in the case of union territories. 3 RESPONSIBILITY OF PREPARATION OF EIA STATEMENT The project proponent is responsible for the preparation of the EIA statement, with the help of external consultant or institution. THE IMPACT ASSESSEMENT AGENCY The MOEF is the agency for environmental clearance. If necessary, it may consult a committee of experts with a composition specified in schedule III of notification. TIMING OF EIA Ideally EIA should provide information to decision makers at early stage of the project planning cycle. It should be initiated as early as possible before the commencement of projects. If the projects secure approval, EIA should include a provision to cover the audit of the project. COST The amount allocated and spent for preparation of EIA by the project proponents are usually abysmally low compared to the overall project costs (often less than 1% of over all projects). 4 LIST OF PROJECTS REQUIRING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 1. Nuclear Power and related projects such as Heavy Water Plants, nuclear fuel complex, Rare Earths. 2. River Valley projects including hydel power, major Irrigation their combination including flood control. . Ports, Harbours, Airports (except minor ports and harbours). 4. Petroleum Refineries including crude and product pipelines. 5. Chemical Fertilizers (Nitrogenous and Phosphatic other than single superphosphate). 6. Pesticides (Technical). 7. Petrochemical complexes (Both Olefinic and Aromatic) and Petro-chemical intermediates such as DMT, Caprolactam, LAB etc. and production of basic plastics such as LLDPE, HDPE , PP, PVC. 8. Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals. 9. Exploration for oil and gas and their production, transportation and storage. 10. Synthetic Rubber. 11. Asbestos and Asbestos products. 12. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives. 13 (a) Primary metallurgical industries (such as production of Iron and Steel, Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, Lead and Ferro Alloys). (b) Electric arc furnaces (Mini Steel Plants). 14. Chlor alkali industry. 15. Integrated paint complex including manufacture of resins and basic raw materials required in the manufacture of paints. 16. Viscose Staple fibre and filament yarn. 17. Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of lead and lead antimony alloys. 18. All tourism projects between 200m- 500 metres of High Water Line and at locations with an elevation of more than 1000 metres with investment of more than Rs. 5 crores. 19. Thermal Power Plants. 20. Mining projects *(major minerals)* with leases more than 5 hectares. 21. Highway Projects **except projects relating to improvement work including widening and strengthening of roads with marginal land acquisition along the existing alignments provided it does not pass through ecologically sensitive areas such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves, Reserve Forests** 22. Tarred Roads in the Himalayas and or Forest areas. 23. Distilleries. 24. Raw Skins and Hides 25. Pulp, paper and newsprint. 26. Dyes. 27. Cement. 28. Foundries (individual) 29. Electroplating 30. Meta amino phenol 5 PROCESS There are two ‘tiers’ of assessment which should be applied to the project before proceeding with a full scale EIA, Screening and preliminary assessment. Where these first tiers of assessment are a regulatory requirement, the developer normally does the work and submits the results to the regulatory agency. The agency may then decide that either there is nothing to be concerned about or the evaluation should proceed to the next tier. The most important step in the process of obtaining environmental clearance under the EIA notification is for the project proponent to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the project. For this purpose the project proponent engages an environmental consultant to prepare an EIA report. The EIA report must be prepared by incorporation of data during all the four seasons of the year. Such an EIA is termed a â€Å"comprehensive EIA†. How ever, there is provision for a single season collection of data, but this should not be done during the monsoon season. Such an EIA reports is termed a â€Å"Rapid EIA†. There are two tiers of assessment which should be applied to the project before proceeding with a full scale EIA – Screening and Preliminary Assessment. Wherever these first tiers of assessment are a regulatory requirement, the developer normally does the work and submits the results to the regulatory agency. The agency may then decide whether there is anything to be concerned about or whether the evaluation should proceed to the next tier. BEFORE STARTING THE EIA SCREENING: The screening is the first and simplest tier in project evaluation. Screening helps to clear those types of projects, which from past experience are not likely to cause significant environmental problems. The activity may take one of the following several forms: 1- Measurements using simple criteria such as size or location. 2- Comparing the proposal with list of projects rarely needing an EIA (e. g. chools) or definitely needing one (e. g. coal mines). 3- Estimating general impacts (e. g. increased in infrastructure needed) and comparing these impacts against set thresholds. 4- Doing complex analyses, but using readily available data. Draw back in the Indian system: 1- Even though some of the industrial set ups do not require EIA as per the statutory norms, they might involve certain technological processes which cou ld be harmful to the environment, as a result of which such enlisted industries could have potential impacts on the environment and on public health. Exempting industries from the EIA requirements based on the investment value of specific projects is not acceptable. There are no specific studies conducted till now which demonstrate that environmental impacts are always inconsequential for projects under a given value. It is a well established fact that the small scale industries are contributing more pollution with respect to the major industry. 6 PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT: If screening does not clear a project, the developer may be required to undertake a preliminary Assessment. This involves sufficient research, review of available data and expert advice in order to identify the key impacts of the project on the local environment, predict the extent of the impacts and briefly evaluate their importance to decision makers. The preliminary assessment can be used to assist early project planning (for instance, to narrow the discussion of possible sites) and it can serve as an early warning to the serious environmental problems that the project may cause. It is in the developer’s interest to do a preliminary assessment since, in practice, this step can clear projects of the need for a full EIA. If after reviewing a preliminary assessment the competent authority deems that a full EIA is needed, the next step for the project developer is the preparation of the EIA report. This entails 1- Commissioning and briefing an independent co-coordinator and expert study team. 2- Identifying the key decision makers who will plan, finance, permit and control the proposed project, so as to characterize the audience for the EIA. 3- Researching laws and regulations that will affect these decisions. 4- Making contact with each of various decision makers. Determining how and when the EIAs finding will be communicated. Draw back in the Indian system: It is being found that the team formed for conducting EIA studies is lacking the expertise in various fields such as Anthropologists and Social Scientists (to study the social impact of the project) or even wild life experts. FORMATION OF AN EIA TEAM: SCOPING: The first task of the EIA study team is scoping the EIA. The aim of scoping is to ensur e that the study address all the issues of importance to the decision makers. First of all the team’s outlook is broadened by the discussions (with the project proponents , decision makers, the regulatory agency, scientific institutions , local community representative and others) to include all the possible issues and concerns raises by various groups. Then the study team selects primary impacts for the EIA to focus upon depending on the basis of magnitude, geographical extent, significance to decision makers or because the area is special locally (e. g. soil erosion, the presence of an endangered species, or a near by historical sites) or is an eco-sensitive area. Draw back in the Indian system: 1- There is a lack of exhaustive ecological and socio-economic indicators for impact assessment. 2- Public comments are not taken into account at the early stage, which often leads to conflict at the later stage of project clearance. 7 MAIN EIA: After â€Å"scoping† the main EIA begins. The EIA attempts to answer five questions basically: 1- What will happen as a result of the project? 2- What will be the extent of the changes? 3- Do the changes matter? 4- What can be done about them? 5- How can decision makers be informed of what needs to be done? The EIA becomes a cyclic process of asking and further asking the first four questions until decision makers can be offered workable solutions. IDENTIFICATION: Identification means the answer to the first question, i. e. â€Å"what will happen as result of the project? † If a preliminary assessment has been done it will have broadly reviewed the projects effect, also scoping will have focused the study on the most important issues for decision makers. Taking these findings in to account the full EIA study now formally identifies those impacts which should be assessed in detail. This identification phase of the study may use these or other methods 1- Compile a list of key impacts (e. g. changes in air quality, noise levels, wild life habitats, species diversity, landscape views, social and cultural systems, settlement patterns and employment levels from other EIA s for similar projects) 2- Name all the projects sources of impacts (e. g. smoke emissions, water consumption, construction jobs) using checklists of questionnaires, then list possible receptors in the environment (e. g. rops, communities using same water for drinking, migrant of labour) by surveying the existing environment and consulting with interested parties. 3- Identify impacts themselves through the use of checklist, matrices, networks, overlays, models and simulations. Draw back in the Indian system: 1- There is always a lack of reliable data sources. 2- The secondary data is also not reliable. 3- The data collectors do not pay respect to the indigenous knowledge of local people. 4- The cred ibility of the primary data collected by the data collectors is doubtful. The next step called predictions answers the EIA’s second question: â€Å"what will be the extent of the changes†. As far as is practicable, prediction scientifically characterizes the impacts causes and effects and its secondary and synergetic consequences for the environment and the local community. Prediction follows an impact within a single environmental parameter (e. g. toxic liquid effluents) in to its subsequent effects in many disciplines (e. g. reduced water quality, adverse impacts on fisheries, economic effects on fishing villages, and resulting socio-cultural changes). Prediction draws on physical, biological, socioeconomic and anthropological data techniques . In quantifying impacts, it may employ mathematical models, physical models, socio cultural models, economic models, experiments or expert judgments. PREDICTION: 8 All prediction techniques by their nature involve some degree of uncertainty. So along with each attempt to quantify an impact, the study team should also quantify the predictions uncertainty in terms of probabilities or margins of error. Draw back in the Indian system: 1- The detail method used for the prediction and evaluation of the project is not mentioned in the report. Limited explanations are given both to quantitative estimation of magnitude of impact and to the assumptions and judgments used in the evaluation of impacts. 2- The limited coverage of scoping is confined mainly to direct impacts. The third question addressed by the EIA – do the changes matter is answered in the next step. Evaluation is so called because it evaluates the predicated adverse impacts to determine whether they are significant enough to warrant mitigation. Thus judgment of significance can be based on one or more of the followings. 1234Comparison with laws, regulations or accepted standards. Consultation with the relevant decision makers. Reference to pre set criteria such as protected sites features of species. Acceptability to the local community or the general public. EVALUATION: MITIGATION: In this phase the study team formally analyses mitigation. A wide range of measures are proposed to prevent, reduce, remedy or compensate for each of the adverse impacts evaluated as significant. Possible mitigation measures include: 1- Changing project sites, routes, processes, raw materials, operating methods, disposal methods, disposal routes or locations, timing or engineering designs. Introducing pollution controls, waste treatment monitoring, phased implementation, landscaping, personal training, special social services or public education. 3- Offering (as compensation) restoration of damaged resources, money to affected persons , concessions on other issues, or off site programmes to enhance some other aspects of the environment or quality of life for the community. All mi tigation measures cost something and this cost must be quantified too. These various measures are then compared, trade-offs between alternative measures are weighed, and the EIA study team proposes one or more action plans, usually combining a number of measures. The action plan may include technical control measures, an integrated management scheme (for a major project) monitoring, contingency plans, operating practices, project scheduling, or even joint management (with affected groups). The study team should explicitly analyze the implications of adopting different alternatives, to help make the choices clearer for the decision makers. Several analytical techniques are available for this purpose as given below: 1- Cost benefit analysis in which all quantifiable factors are converted to monetary values , and actions are assessed for their effect on project costs and benefits 2- Explaining what course of action would follow from various broad ‘value judgments’(e. g. that social impacts are more important than resources) 3- A simple matrix of environmental parameters versus mitigation measures, contain brief description of the effects of each measure. Pair wise comparisons, whereby the effects of an action are briefly compared with the effects of each of the alternative actions are briefly compared with the effects of each of the alternative actions, one pair at a time. Draw back in the Indian system: 1- Details regarding the effectiveness and implementation of mitigation measures are often not provided. 2- Often, and more so for strategic industries such as nuclear energy projected, the EMP s are kept confidential for political and administrative reasons 3- Emergency preparedness plans are not discussed in sufficient details and the information not disseminated to the communities. DOCUMENTATION: The last step in the EIA process, which answers the question – how decision makers be informed of what needs to be done? In documenting an EIA, this means identifying the key decisions makers, perceiving the question they will be asking and providing them with straight forward answers formatted for easy interpretation in relation to their decision making (e. g. tables, graphs, summary, points). Successful EIA documentation is more readily produced if the audience and their needs are established at the start of the EIA, and then made to affect how the research is focused and reported. It is the job of the study team’s communications expert to make this happen. An EIA report should contains: 1234An executive summary of the EIA findings. A description of the proposed development projects. The major environmental and natural resource issues that needed clarification and elaboration. The projects impacts on the environment (in comparison with a base line were identified and predicated. ). 5- A discussion of options for mitigating adverse impacts and for shaping the project to suit its proposed environment, and an analysis of the trade offs involved in choosing between alternative actions. An over view of gaps or uncertainties in the information. 7- A summary of the EIA for the general public. 10 Once the EIA reports has been completed, the project proponent needs to submit 20 copies of the copy of executive summary of the proposed proposal containing the salient features of the project, the form XII prescribed under water rules, 1975, form I prescribed under A ir rules,1983 and other information or documents to the SPCB for getting the non clearance certificate(NOC). On receiving the required documents from the project proponents it is the responsibility of the SPCB to conduct the public hearing. After completion of the public hearing the project proponents has to submit to the secretary of MOEF for the environmental clearance Draw back in the Indian system: One of the biggest concerns with the environmental clearance process is related to the quality of EIA report that are being carried out. The reports are generally incomplete and provided with false data. EIA reports ignore several aspects while carrying out assessments and significant information is found to omitted. Many EIA report are based on single season data and are not adequate to determine whether environmental clearance should be granted. All this makes the entire exercise contrary to its very intent. As things stand today, it is the responsibility of the project proponent to commission the preparation of the EIA for its project. The EIA is actually funded by an agency or individual whose primary interest is to procure clearance for the project proposed. There is little chance that the final assessment presented is un biased, even if the consultant may provide an unbiased assessment that is critical of the proposed project. Some times it is found that a consultancy which is working in the project area has no specialization in the concerned subject. For example for the preparation of EIA report of the proposed oil exploration in coast of Orissa by the reliance group has been given to the life science Dept of Berhampur university which has no expertise on the study of turtles and its life cycle. The EIA document in itself is so bulky and technical, which makes it very difficult to decipher so as to aid in the decision making process. There are so many cases of fraudulent EIA studies where erroneous data has been used, same facts used for two totally different places etc. This is due to the lack of a centralized baseline data bank, where such data can be crosschecked. There is no accreditation of EIA consultants, therefore any such consultant with a track record of fraudulent cases cannot be held liable for discrepancies. It is hard to imagine any consultant after being paid lakh of rupees, preparing a report for the project proponents, indicating that the project is not viable. In nearly every case, the consultants try to interpret and tailor the information looking for ways and means to provide their clients with a report that gives them their moneys worth. ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL PROCEDURE The MOEF is the nodal agency for environmental clearance. The environmental division plays a key role, but the forest and wild life divisions are consulted when projects involve diversion of forestland or the alignment of roads and highways along or within the wild life areas. The project proponents of new projects must submit an application to the secretary, ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi in the standard Performa specified in the EIA notification. The application should be accompanied by a feasibility/ project report, including: 11 Environmental Appraisal questionnaire developed by MOEF. 2 Environment Impact Assessment Report. 3 Environment Management Plan and disaster Management plan 4 Details of public Hearing as in schedule IV of the notification (where ever necessary) 5 Rehabilitation plans (where ever necessary) 6 Forest clearance certificate (where ever necessary) 7 NOC from the state pollution control board (SPCB) The applicat ion is evaluated and assessed by the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA). The IAA may consult a committee of experts constituted by it or other body authorized by it in this regard, if necessary. The composition of the expert team is described in the box no-2 The committee has full right of entry and inspection of the site or factory premises prior to, during or after the commencement of the project . The IAA prepares a set of recommendations based on technical assessment of documents and data , furnished by the project authorities or collected during visits to sites or factories and details of public hearing. The assessment shall be completed with in 90 days from receipt of documents and data from the project authorities and completion of public hearing and decision conveyed within 30 days there after. If granted the clearance shall be valid for a period of five years for commencement of the construction or operation of the project. Draw back in the Indian system: There are several concerns with reference to the granting of environmental clearance of projects. Firstly, for projects that require site clearance it is often assumed by project proponents that once site clearance is granted, environmental clearance will follow. As a result, many project proponents begin construction of the project components (like housing colonies, roads), even before the environmental clearance is granted. This is despite the fact that it has been specified in the EIA notification that this should not be done. At another level, when environmental clearance is granted despite public objection / rejection , the reasons for the same are not conveyed to all those who have sent in written objections and/or attended the public hearing. There are very few ways to get information regarding project clearances. For those with access to the internet, the MOEF website seems to be of some help. However, very often the information on the website is updated much after the decision is taken. 12 For citizens and communities who do not have access to the internet, this information is not available. The availability of this information immediately after a decision on the clearance is taken is of crucial importance, in case it needs to be challenged before the National Environment Appellate Authority. The environmental clearance process after the public hearing appears to be a closed door secretive process as far as the public is concerned. In cases of environmental clearance being granted, the public have no access to the rational behind which the clearance was given. All that emits from the ministry are the conditions and recommendations based on which clearance is granted which often does not address the whole gamut of concerns and issues raised during public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS IN INDIA A fully informed public participation has been recognized as an essential element in EIA. However, it was noted that public participation was a difficult exercise particularly if it led to a conflict between government policies and the public. Public hearing is not just an administrative exercise wherein a hearing is conducted to meet the requirements of the legislations. It is a measure to disclose all the relevant information regarding a developmental project to various sections of society, which are either affected by its implementation or have interests in project. In India public hearing of development projects has been made mandatory for environmental clearance by the Amendment to the EIA Notification of April 10, 1997 (Box no-3). The salient features of the public hearings notification are as follows: Notice for public hearing: The SPCB must issue notice for environmental public hearing by publishing it in at least two newspapers circulated in the region around the project. One of the publications must be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned. The date, time and place of public hearing should be mentioned in the newspaper article. The notice must be given at least 30 days prior to the public hearing. Involvement of the public: Written suggestions, views, comments and objection by the public can be handed over to the SPCB within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice. Oral /written suggestions can be made to the SPCB during the public hearing. Who can participate? All the affected person, including residents residing in and around the project site or the site of displacement or site of alleged adverse environmental impact. It also includes environmental groups and any association of persons whether incorporated or not, likely to be affected by the project and/or functioning in the field of environment. Persons who own or have control over the project can also participate. Access to the documents: The public are entitled to have access to the executive summary containing the salient features of the project, both in English as well as the local language. They 13 are also entitled to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. These documents can be obtained from the following places: Office of the district collector, District industry centre. Office of the zila parisad CEO of municipal corporation commissioner /local body. SPCB head office and its concerned regional office. State government department dealing with environment. Public hearing panel and its members: panel for the public hearing: The following persons may include in the SPCB representative. District collector/ nominee. State government representative dealing with the project. Representative of concerned department of the state government. Not more than 3 representative of the local bodies like panchayat/ municipality. Not more than 3 senior citizens of the area nominated by the district collector. Note: According to a Gujarat high court judgment 15 the quorum for a public hearing should be at least half of the member specified i. e. three members. Also, at least the following members should present viz. The officer from the pollution control board. The officer from the Department of Environment and Forest of the state government. One of three citizens nominated by the collector. Projects exempted from public hearing Public hearing is not required for the following projects: Small scale industrial undertakings located in a) Notified or designed industrial areas/ industrial estates. b) Areas marked for industries under the jurisdiction of industrial development authorities. Widening and strengthening of highways Mining projects (major minerals) with lease areas upto 25 hectares 14 Units located in export processing zones and special economic zones and Modernization of existing irrigation projects. Note: off sore exploration activities beyond 10 km from the nearest inhabited village boundaries, Gothans , and ecologically sensitive areas, such as mangroves ( minimum of 1000sq. m. ), corals, coral reefs , national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests and breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life have been proposed by the MOEF to be exempted from the public hearing ) Draw back in the Indian system: A number of projects with significant environmental and social impacts have been excluded from the mandatory public hearing process. There are also concerns on how much value is given to opinions expressed during the public hearing. Most projects are located in the resource rich tribal and rural areas. Due to the inherent social conditions in such areas, such as lack of literacy and the simple nature of Tribals, people are easily convinced and lured by the prospect of money and jobs. The local environmental and social groups face a uphill task educating the people about the true nature and impacts of the project and getting them to forcefully raise objections and issues of concern. Similarly the affected peoples are informed just few days before the stipulated date of public hearing. In many cases it is found out that the owners of the project employs antisocial peoples to suppress the voices of people during the public hearing. The local administration also supports the projects owner. The SPCB which are responsible for conducting the public hearings are not equipped in terms of manpower or infrastructure. The notification does not prescribe clear and well defined guidelines for conducting the public hearing. The bearing of the expenses involved in conducting the public hearing are not dealt with by the notification. This is another problem with no clear answers. The documents which the public are entitled to are seldom available on time. The notification prescribes a number of places where one can access these documents , but does not stipulated who is responsible for ensuring that the documents are made available at these locations. The mentioned websites are not updated. The result is that one seldom finds the documents available at the designed locations. In many cases minutes of public hearing or recommendations of the public hearing panels do not reflect the actual proceedings and objections raised. Further the recommendations of the public hearing panel are only advisory and it is not mandatory for the impact assessment agency to even consider these while granting environmental clearance to projects. 15 SOME OTHER DRAW BACKS IN THE INDIAN SYSTEM A-APPLICABILITY OF THE EIA NOTIFICATION: As it stands today, there are several projects with significant environmental impacts that are exempted from the notification either because they are not listed in schedule1, or their investments are less than what is provided for in the notification. Importantly, several projects located in zones covered by other notifications such as CRZ notification are exempted from the provisions of the EIA notification. Other projects such as defence-related road construction and railway projects are explicitly exempted from the EIA notification altogether. The amendment in EIA notification, 1994 made on 4th July 2005 in gazette no. s. o. 942(E) has provision that any expansion or modernization project of item 1,2,3,19,20,- nuclear, river valley, ports and harbors, thermal power plant and mining projects may obtain temporary working permission of max two years till it gets environmental condition. Box no-4 shows the details of the 12 amendments that has been brought up in last 11 years to dilute the EIA notification. B- MONITORING, COMPLIANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. Projects are granted clearances based on certain conditions, which the project authorities need to comply with. These are both related to the construction phase and post construction phase of a project. For instance, conditions may be imposed on muck disposal of effluent discharge to be confined to certain areas and within specified limits. The regional offices of the MOEF are to monitor the compliance of these conditions and prepare the reports. However the local population does not even know of these conditions and are not a part of its monitoring. It is not known if project authorities reflect the true status of compliance in their reports to the MOEF. Access to these compliance reports is only subject to public interest. The lack of access to compliance reports has severe repercussions on the rights of people who were opposed to the project and for whose benefits some conditions may have been laid out for the project to follow. While monitoring compliance with conditions imposed for environmental clearance, it is found that pollution control boards have their own standards, whereas the standards under the EPA, which the MOEF and the regional offices follow, are quite different. Another problem in monitoring is the location of the regional offices and their large jurisdictions, which make it difficult for them to discharge their functions effectively. While the increased threat to the environment is matched by the enactment of an increasing amount of legislation, the responsibilities and capacities of the various agencies, including the regional offices of the MOEF, to monitor compliance has not been appropriately defined and strengthened. C- CAPACITY BUILDING: There is an urgent need to build capacities of government agencies, communities, NGOs and the judiciary with regard to the implementation of the existing EIA notification. Even in the instances where the provisions allow for peoples participation or monitoring, the lack of information and capacity are great hindrances in implementation. For instances, the public hearing panel often has no clue on the scope of 16 their role in environmental clearance process. Judiciary, which is involved in the redressal , is comprised of judges who may not be clued into the environmental issues and their interface with laws. No matter how good the provisions of the law are, their implementation hinges on the capacities of official who are meant to do it. D- REDRESSAL: The present redressal mechanism meant exclusively for the challenging environmental clearance is extremely weak and limited in its scope. The National Environmental Appellate Authority has heard only 15 cases in the last eight years. The process of seeking redressal from courts requires a fair amount of energy and financial allocation. It is not possible for all those with grievances to take on legal battles against large and powerful project proponents. RECOMMENDATIONS Independent EIA Authority: Civil society groups have suggested the need for an independent Environmental Impact Assessment authority headed by a udicial officer and comprising of representatives from communities, peoples group, scientists, sociologists and environmentalists. Such body would be independent of the ministry of environment and forests. The decision of this authority would be binding on the MOEF. Sector wide EIA s needed: There is a need to conduct policy-level and sector-wide EIAs in the for m of strategic impact assessments ( for various sectors including mining , power and so on). This is critical to judge the impacts of macro- economic, developmental and other policies, schemes and programmes. Conduct options Assessment: EIA s should follow only after an options assessment and a least cost plan for a project is done by the state or central government. For this the following steps are of relevance for both public and private sector projects: aIn case of projects proposed by PSU s and the state/central governments, the options assessment preceding the EIA should provide information on the best strategies to meet the need of the region, be it power , irrigation , employment or some other stated benefit. In case of private sector projects, the project proponents project justification statement should be accompanied by a mandatory project justification report prepared by the state or central governments. This project justification report would provide information assessing the need for the project and the benefits accruing from it for the state / nation and the people of the area. The options Assessment or project justification reports should also state how the proposed project fixes in to the existing developmental plans of the state or the state or the region. c- 17 d- e- The information should be included in a computation of environmental and social costs, apart from the other projects costs such as technical and financial costs. Based on this, a set of options should be put forth from which the least expensive and least damaging option is selected. The EIA for the projects should follow only after this options is decided. Creation of an information desk: An information disseminat ion desk may be assigned within the MOEF which anyone can write to regarding the status of clearance of projects. This desk should be mandated to respond within a maximum of ten days by post/ courier and a maximum of two days by email, to the contact information that has been furnished by the person seeking the information. Since all meetings and discussion are documented as electronic data, the officers should furnish this information regarding the status of clearance, with a record of the discussions in the Expert committee on the projects. Environmental Risk Assessment: New approaches such as Environmental Risk Assessment which enable more flexible and dynamic assessments of direct and indirect impacts must be explored. As part of this process, recognized Safety and Environmental Auditors must compulsorily meet local populations and submit a detailed report of potential risks due to the project. Issue a complete notification: The MOEF must issue and maintain on its website at all times a consolidated notification incorporating all the amendments till date. As of now what is available on the MOEF website is the notification updated up to 2003 and copies of subsequent amendments, which are not incorporated within the main text of the notification. In the absence of this critical document, it is difficult for implementing agencies and stakeholders in general to understand the position of the law. Following is a set of recommendations towards ensuring applicability of the environmental clearance process to all categories of projects. It can be described in different chapter wise as follows: Applicability of EIA notification: The provisions of the EIA notification, including public hearings should be applicable to all hitherto exempt categories of projects ( including large scale agriculture/ monoculture plantation projects) which have environmental impacts. As an immediate measure, it needs to be ensured that all those projects where there is likely to be a significant alternation of ecosystems like rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests , grasslands ,coastal and marine ecosystems, need to go through the process of environmental clearance, without exception. This should apply if they are likely to reduce the biodiversity of the region( both wild and cultivated) , if they are likely to affect regions that have not been 18 studied adequately for flora, fauna, or socially/ culturally fragile human communities, of if they are likely to displace people or disrupt live hoods , temporarily or permanently. No industrial or large scale developmental activity should be permitted in ecologically sensitive areas. Only developmental activities / processes which do not alter the basic ecological characteristics of such an area or do not cause destruction of the fragile ecosystems should be allowed. Separate and specific notifications issued for each of these clearly listing would help in effective implementation of this clause. Quality of EIA reports : preparation and content The focus of EIA needs to shift from utilization and exploitation of natural resources to conservation of natural resources. Many EIA reports tend to justify the need for the project, shifting the focus of the EIA from a process that provides insights in to the viability and desirability of the project, to one that finds justification for the projects and on rare occasions one that offers simplistic solutions on minimizing impacts of projects already declared important. At present EIA reports are extremely weak when it comes to assessment of biological diversity of a project area and the consequent impacts on it. This is particularly so when it comes to domesticated ( both live stock and agricultural ) biodiversity, aquatic biodiversity other than commercial fish lesser or non endangered plants and animals ( i. e. those other than mega fauna like tigers and elephant of charismatic plants like orchid species) , ecosystem benefits and services ( including supporting live hood needs of communities , essential hydrological functions , soil conservation etc), and flora- fauna inter relationships. This gap needs to be plugged through a specific guidelines and if necessary through amendments to the EIA notification. The checklist needs to include impacts on agricultural biodiversity, biodiversity related traditional knowledge and live hoods . Further, cumulative impacts of projects that are technically linked or located in the same ecological region, and impacts of the eventual closure of the project or components of the project should also be incorporated in to the checklist. Finally the list should contain details on a full exploration of alternatives , especially decentralized alternatives, to mega projects . the checklist also needs to cover various kinds of impacts resulting from a particular activity. Comprehensive EIA s needs to be undertaken for industries and operations working in clusters such as in zones identified for chemical industries or export oriented units. For instance, the present EIA notification states that assessments do not need to be conducted for mining up to 5 hectares, and do not need to hold public hearings for mining up to 25 hectares. How ever , it is recognized that many mining activities take place in clusters (several leases for small mining projects allowed in close proximity to each other in one geographical area) and that EIA s need to assess their cumulative impacts on the environment and biodiversity. 9 All EIA reports should clearly state what are the adverse impacts that a proposed projects will have. This should be a separate chapter and not hidden within technical details. Based upon this the EMP plan should be also be drawn which should integrate a specific set of measures , which are to identified to mitigate these impacts with costs and time frame included . EIA should contain details of the assessment process as annexure such as 1- Full information regarding all the parties involved in assessments including sub consultants so that there is no scope for anonymity and parties can be held accountable for their findings and recommendations. 2- The terms of reference of every group/ individual involved in any aspect of the assessment process. 3- Full reference of all information sourced from secondary sources so that they can be independently verified by any one interested in doing so. Details of the time spent and activities, number of days spent in each area, names of villages , name of interviewers should be mentioned. 5- Details of expenses incurred for various activities for preparing the EIA report, including who was paid and for what activities. The sub components or subsidiary reports of EIA reports ( e. g. Assessments of Biodiversity impacts done by a sub consultant) should be made publicly accessible as stand alone reports with th e EIA. This should be available on the websites of the MOEF. EIA s should be based on full studies carried out over at least one year. Single season data on environmental parameters like biodiversity, as is being done for several rapid assessments is not adequate to gain understanding of the full impact of the proposed project. It is critical that the preparation of an EIA is completely independent of the project proponent. One option for this could be the creation of a central fund for the EIA s which contains fees deposited by project proponents while seeking that an EIA be done for their proposed project. State and central governments should maintain a list of credible, independent and competent agencies that can carry out EIA s. imilarly the EIA consultant those are making false reports should be black listed. A national level accreditation to environment consultancy should be adopted. Public hearings: The public hearing should be held for all projects which are likely to have environmental and social impacts. This should be strictly implemented. The scope of the public hearings needs to be widened to at least t hose projects which require forest clearance under the forest conservation act,1980. Public hearing should be done in at least three phases or stages. 20 The preliminary hearing may be required to explain the process of conducting the assessment so that the scope of the assessment is decided with the participation of the public. The local level NGO can also participate in this. 2- The second can be with a purpose of presenting and discussing all aspects of the assessments findings, with the help of booklets presentation in local languages. Some of the aspects can also include environmental impacts, costs and benefit of the project, displacement and rehabilitation aspects. 3- The third hearing can be held after a week but no later than a month following the second meetings. This period being intended to give people a chance to analyze the information and points they have at the earlier hearing. This can be primarily to record the views and objections of the people. It needs to be ensured that full information related to the EIA is provided to all the concerned citizens. For this it is critical to provide translation of the EIA and relevant documents in the local languages, to conduct the hearing process in local language and to proactively advertise the public hearing to as many people as possible. The gram panchayat office can be used for these purposes. A video recording of the proceedings could be made mandatory and the local activist should be allowed for video recording. Accountability should be built in to the public hearing procedure. The minutes of the public hearing should be compulsorily available at designed places to be specified in schedule 1 of the EIA notification. The project proponents should be asked to explain during and after the hearing as to how they propose to deal with the concerns raised at the public hearings. It should be ensured that the three representatives of the local people should have demonstrated commitment towards social and environmental concerns. The local communities, NGO s and civil society groups must be allowed a chance to place their opinions and concerns directly to the expert committee and the MOEF. Although this is partly possible since anyone is allowed to write to the MOEF after the public hearing is announced , an opportunity to make a presentation before the MOEF and the expert committee should be given to these constituencies just as it is given to project proponents and consultants . This would also help the MOEF and expert committees to understand the concerns directly from these parties rather than indirectly from the minutes of a public hearing or from a letter. MOEF should incorporate the above points and any others in to asset of guidelines on conducting public hearings to be issued to all state governments, district collectors, and other relevant agencies. 21 Grant of clearance: The notification needs to make it clear that the provision for site clearance does not imply any commitment on the part of the impact Assessment agency to grant full environmental clearance. The prior informed consent of local communities and urban wards or residents association needs to be made mandatory before the grant of environmental clearance. The consent should be from the full general body, not from the Sarpanch or the head. Minutes of the experts committees meeting and other related documents indicating the rationale for grant of clearance must be made available on request to civil society, at the concerned district head quarters and at the concerned sub divisional head quarters. The language used for specifying conditions of clearance must be clear and specific. Composition of expert committees: The present executive committees should be replaced by experts people from various stakeholder groups , who are reputed in environmental and other relevant fields. The process of selection of those committees should be open and transparent , the minutes of the committee meetings , decisions and advice by these committee should be open to public. Monitoring, compliance and institutional arrangements: The EIA notification needs to build within it an automatic withdrawal of clearance if the conditions of clearance are being violated, and introduce more stringent punishment for noncompliance. At present the EIA notification limits itself to the stage when environmental clearance is granted. The MOEF should set up more regional offices, each with smaller areas of jurisdiction, to effectively monitor the compliance of clearance conditions. It would be useful to have advisory Expert committees at the MOEF regional offices, comprising of ecologists, sociologists, local community members, government officials and representative of local institutions to help with the clearance of projects at the regional levels and monitoring of compliance of conditions. A robust monitoring mechanism should be established by the state department where the central projects involving forest clearance is given out. Such a monitoring body should be given powers to address compliance of both sets of clearance conditions together and to take punitive action against the project proponent in case of non compliance of any of the conditions. Local communities should be brought in to the formal monitoring and reporting process of the compliance of conditions presently done by the regional offices of the MOEF. This would help 22 the regional office as well since the geographical areas and number of project that comes under each office is vast which affects the efficiency and regularity of the monitoring process. Redressal: The scope of the National Environment Appellate Authority ( NEAA) needs to be expanded to deal with more than just challenging environmental clearance of projects. Citizen should be able to access the authority for redressal of all violation of the EIA notification as well as issues relating to non-compliance. The composition of the NEAA needs to be changed to include more NGO and civil society representatives as well as as professionals from the field of environment. It may thus be necessary to increase the number of representatives that is presently allowed for the authority. The duration of the authority can be three years, after which it can be reconstituted. Capacity building: NGO s, civil society groups and local communities need to build their capacities to use the EIA notification towards better decision making on projects that can impact their local environments and live hoods. Capacities can be built to proactively and effectively use the notification rather than respond in a manner that is seen as negative or unproductive. 23 Box no -1 Acts, Rules and Notifications referred while granting clearance Water The water ( prevention and control of pollution) Act,1974, The water ( prevention and control of pollution) Rules,1975 Air The Air (prevention and control of pollution) act 1981 The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Rules,1982 The Air (prevention and control of pollution) (union territories) Rules, 1983 Environmental protection The Environment ( protection) Act,1986, The Environment ( protection) Rules,1986, Environment ( siting for industrial projects) Rules,1999 Coastal stretches Declaration of coastal stretches as coastal Regulation zone (CRZ) Hazardous process and organisms The rules for the manufacture , use , import, export and storage of Hazardous micro organisims genetically engineered organisms or cells1989 The manufacture , storage and import of Hazardous chemical rules,1989 The Hazardous wastes ( management and handling)rules,1989 Dumping and disposal of fly ash discharged from coal of lignite ba sed thermal power plants on land,1999. Noise pollution The noise pollution ( Regulation and control) ( Amendment) Rules, Noise pollution (Regulation and control ) Rules,2000 Wild life and forests The Indian wildlife ( protection) acts,1972 The wildlife( protection) rules,1995 Forest ( conservation),acts,1980 The Indian forest act,1927 Guidelines for diversion of forests lands for non forest purposes under the forest (conservation) act,1980 Ecologically sensitive zones Prohibiting industries in Murud- Janjra area of Raigadh district of Maharashtra, 1989. Restricting location of industries, mining and other activities in Doon valley, 1989. Dhaanu Taluka , district Thane to declare as ecologically fragile area, amended 1999 Restricting certain activities causing environmental degradation at Aravallli Range,1992. No development zone at Numalilgarh , East of Kaziranga,1996 Order constituting the Taj Trapezium zone pollution( prevention and control) authority 1998 Pachmarhi Region as an eco sensitive zone, 1998 Mahabaleswar panchgani region as an ecological sensitive region. 2001 Matheran and surrounding region as an eco sensitive zone,2003 24 Box no-2 COMPOSITION OF THE EXPERT COMMITTEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 1. *The Committees will consist of experts in the following disciplines:* (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) 2. Eco-system Management Air/Water Pollution Control Water Resource Management Flora/Fauna conservation and management Land Use Planning Social Sciences/Rehabilitation Project Appraisal Ecology Environmental Health Subject Area Specialists Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned with environmental issues. The Chairman will be an outstanding and experienced ecologist or environmentalist or technical professional with wide managerial experience in the relevant development sector. The representative of Impact Assessment Agency will act as a Member-Secretary. Chairman and Members will serve in their individual capacities except those specifically nominated as representatives. The Membership of a Committee shall not exceed 15. 3. 4. 5. 25 Box No – 3 SCHEDULE-IV (1)Process of Public Hearing: Whoever apply for environmental clearance of projects, shall submit to the concerned State Pollution Control Board twenty sets of the following documents namely: (i) An executive summary containing the salient features of the project both in English as well as local language. (ii)Form XIII prescribed under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975 where discharge of sewage, trade effluents, treatment of water in any form, is required. (iii)Form I prescribed under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Under Territory Rules, 1983 where discharge of emissions are involved in any process, operation or industry. (iv)Any other information or document, which is necessary in the opinion of the Board for their final disposal of the application. 2)Notice of Public Hearing: (i) The State Pollution Control Board shall cause a notice for environmental public hearing which shall be published in at least two newspapers widely circulated in the region around the project, one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned. State Pollution Control B oard shall mention the date, time and place of public hearing. Suggestions, views, comments and objections of the public shall be invited within thirty days from the date of publication of the notification. (ii)All persons including bona fide residents, environmental groups and others located at the project site/sites of displacement/sites likely to be affected can participate in the public hearing. They can also make oral/written suggestions to the State Pollution Control Board. Explanation: For the purpose of the paragraph person means: (a) Any person who is likely to be affected by the grant of environmental clearance; (b) Any person who owns or has control over the project with respect to which an application has been submitted for environmental clearance; (c) Any association of persons whether incorporated or not like to be affected by the project and/or functioning in the filed of environment; (d) Any local authority within any part of whose local limits is within the neighbourhood, wherein the project is proposed to be located. (3)Composition of public hearing panel: The composition of Public Hearing Panel may consist of the following, namely: (i) Representative of State Pollution Control Board; (ii)District Collector or his nominee; (iii)Representative of State Government dealing with the subject; (iv)Representative of Department of the State Government d