ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Deforestation is the cutting down of trees for the purpose of converting the land to none forest use. Deforestation involves cutting down trees and stumps completely or partially for a variety of reasons. The major reason why people cut down trees is for fuel use whereby the cut down trees are used as a source of energy, a phenomenon that is very common in most developing countries. Deforestation is carried out for agricultural purposes in that the deforested land is used for planting agricultural products or grazing. In this case, the cut down trees are burnt down which leads to the depreciation of the soil nutrients (Margulis, 2004). Extraction of natural resources and construction of public amenities is another major reason as to why deforestation takes place. Large tracts of forest land are deforested to pave way for the extraction of mineral resources such as limestone, diamond, gold and all other sorts of minerals. Construction of roads, railway lines, buildings and dams are other reasons for deforestation. Commercial logging is also another major cause for deforestation. In this case, the trees cut down are sawed into timber and pulp for various commercial uses ranging from construction to other industrial uses like raw material of making plain papers. Deforestation has continued rapidly throughout the world regardless of the grave effects of this practice. Forests initially covered a quarter of the earth planet, but the encroachment of human activities leaving bare fields has continued to be a major threat to forests and has led to drastic reduction of the percentage of earth covered by forests. According to Spilsbury, (2011), the percentage of land covered by forests has reduced drastically over a period of time. A good case study of this is Brazil where large tracks of Amazon rain forest have been destroyed due to logging. In most developing countries, over 80% of the wood harvested is used for fuel purposes. Most of deforestation done for the purpose of fuel is done in dry forests where else deforestation for commercial reason is done in tropical rain forests. Wood fuel is preferred by rural and urban populations in developing countries because of its affordability and availability. Most of the rural poor population residing near forests normally uses only wood fuel due to its proximity. In this case, the popul
Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America guarantees the equal protection of laws to every citizen. Therefore, everyone has the right to a fair trial and to be treated equally. Nevertheless, the idea of this amendment was compromised on multiple occasions due to American courts’ homophobic decisions. The situation changed in 2003 when the case of Lawrence v. Texas ended up in the Supreme Court. In September 1998, police arrived at Lawrence’s house, following a report from a citizen, who, allegedly, had seen an unstable man with a gun. When inspecting the house, the officers caught Lawrence engaged in a consensual sexual act with Tyron Garner. The two men were arrested and later found guilty of violating the Texas “Homosexual Conduct”. This paper aims to demonstrate that John Lawrence and Tyron Garner were wrongfully convicted, which violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Such “sodomy laws” deprive members of the LGBTQ community of their fundamental rights. As it turned out, the call to the police was made by Lawrence’s jealous ex-lover, who lied about the man with a gun and knew the police would catch Lawrence and Garner in the middle of an act. The defense insisted that the conviction was based on homophobic principles, as the Texas law does not prohibit the same sexual acts between men and women (Pierceson, 2019). Subsequently, having had a series of appeals denied by local courts, Lawrence addressed the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case. The decision was six-to-three, presented by Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Court based its ruling on the fact that the sexual act in question happened between two consenting adults and there was no third-party hurt by their actions. As Pierceson (2019) says, the Court invalidated sodomy laws in the USA and ruled that “the choice of LGBTQ adults to choose a partner of the same sex is constitutionally protected” (p. 259). Therefore, Lawrence and Garner were wrongfully convicted, as they were both adults engaged in a consensual sexual act. In general, “anti-sodomy” laws were common in the United States since the formation of the country. Pierceson (2019) defines sodomy as “non-procreative sexual activity” (p.258). At the same time, penalties for such activity went down for opposite-sex couples, while the term itself became associated with gay relationships (Pierceson, 2019). It was believed that the public needs to be protected from sodomy and public sexual acts. Strader and Hay (2019) note that such wrongful convictions often begin with a call from a concerned citizen. Alarmed by a report of public sexual activity, the police arrive at the spot and place suspects under arrest with a subsequent wrongful conviction, as was the ca
The speech given by the US senator Robert Byrd on March 19, 2003, was addressed towards all Americans, in search of support and truth. The purpose was to convince the people of the United States that the war in Iraq is a mistake and should not be proceeded with. He wanted to show how US intrudes into the lives of other people by waging wars on their country. Senator Byrd brought forward an argument that the United States was always seen as a democratic country, respecting the views of the people in the world and its allies but now the war is started by choice, there is no real evidence in support of the reasons for it and that in the present time United States “demand obedience or threaten recrimination, instead of reasoning”, with other countries and governments. Senator uses Ethos method to appeal to the people. As he is the senator of the United States he is very closely involved in everything that goes on in the country politically, as well as having knowledge about the other countries in the world. It is his direct duty to be well informed and examine the issues that might influence the reputation of America. He is very much appealing to people’s understanding, ethics and kindness in resolving this matter. Robert Byrd is directly interested in finding a mutually beneficial solution, as he is a member of the governing body of the world’s superpower and anything that United States’ government decides to do worldwide, will influence him personally. He also uses the method of pathos directing his speech to the emotionality of the people. He says how proud he is of his country, its constitution and people but today is saddened by the fact that a wrong decision is being made and that people must use their kindness and reason to think clearly. He mentioned the opposing side by saying how America is disregarding the view of UN. That the US government is looking for immediate retaliation to the 9/11 attacks and because of the inability to strike at the Al-Qaeda terrorists who are scattered all over the world, it has chosen to direct its anger towards a visible enemy, which is easy to detect. He states that America’s power “lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire”. The fact that United States has enormous military strength does not mean that it must be used. And he is very distraught by the fact that while the soldiers, American citizens are fighting in Iraq, the administration is not doing its part by debating the issue and coming up with a tangible solution. Robert Byrd uses Toulmin method in his argument
Introduction “Children of the Dust” is a book written by Ali Eteraz about his journey of self-discovery as a Pakistani living in the United States. His life is full of transformative moments that provide a very insightful look into his struggle of coming to terms with his religion in some of the most difficult times for Islam. The book is written in a very charismatic fashion which makes its events relatable even to people with no connection to the Islamic faith. This paper will provide a review of some of its elements as well as the moment that personally touched me. The Journey Motif The motif of the journey is perfectly portrayed in this story. In the beginning, he explains how his father made a pact with Allah through prayer by saying that if his wife gives him a son, he will become a great leader of Islam. While his family provides him with a happy childhood, his experience of being beaten at school begins his doubts about Islam (Eteraz 107). Throughout the journey, he matures in a variety of ways. After moving to America, he begins to discover himself through interaction with students at school but eventually begins to feel like he is losing his connection to Islam (Eteraz 190). During that time he grows physically, gains a better understanding of the opposite sex, and eventually starts to work on his spiritual maturation. These elements continue to be present in the book as each new section brings a new challenge and moment of growth for him as a person. His journey, however, ends in a similar state to one he began it in, on which his mother remarks “you grew up all these years, just to become innocent again” (Eteraz 557). Family Experience The experience of Eteraz’s family is one of the most intriguing elements of the story. While it is mostly on the periphery of Eteraz’s story, there is a very important moment in how their experience changes between sections. Before leaving for America, his family lived a relatively stable life with no major incidents. They were able to provide for Eteraz and did not experience any major issues. However, after Eteraz comes back from the United States to find a wife that would share his religious beliefs, the experience of his family changes dramatically. After an incident with extremist Muslims, he and his family are forced to flee the countr
Oprah Winfrey This paper discusses the transformational leadership attributes of Oprah Winfrey because of her tremendous accomplishments in life. She encountered many challenges while growing up but remained committed throughout her life. She made critical decisions about her education and excelled at all levels. The obstacles she faced in life did not slow her down but they were an inspiration to her. The video illustrates Oprah’s leadership qualities which prove that she is a truly transformational leader. Throughout her career, Oprah has used television as a platform to enrich the lives of other people. Through her television show “Oprah Winfrey Show”, it is possible to comprehend her transformational leadership attributes. Oprah is a charismatic leader who has kept her personality over the years. She recognizes her social responsibility to society and supports girls’ education and leadership programs. As a transformation leader, she has a vision for the girls. She has also inspired and motivated the girls she supports. Oprah’s obligation for intellectual stimulation has enabled her to support girl’s education in Africa. Oprah is influential and has high integrity. Her followers positively acknowledged her participation in American politics during the Barrack Obama presidential campaign where she made massive contributions. Oprah has been able to focus on individuals in her programs. This is a leadership attribute that encourages individual considerations. Oprah has also been able to take an individualized approach to empower people. The people she has helped in her programs eventually live better lives and are able to overcome challenges. Her transformational leadership attributes also emerge from her ability to mentor others in life. She is also an enabler who facilitates people to gain emotional strength and vision to pursue their interests. Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi is an incredible leader who made massive contributions to the achievement of freedom in India. He had a difficult life from childhood but never gave up. Gandhi studied law to become a successful lawyer. He employed non-violent methods and worked with other Indians to resist the British military operations in India. The scholar’s efforts were helpful for the transformation of India. Mahatma Gandhi exhibited some transformational leadership attributes in the way he conducted himself. Gandhi was influential and managed to work with his followers to change the state of affairs in India. As a transformational leader, Gandhi helped his followers to make greater contributions towards the achievement of freedom in India. Gandhi had a strong discipline and believed that Indians needed to participate in everything that was necessary to set them free from oppression. Gandhi had the leadership abilities for engaging masses and was able to develop an individual connection with every person within the crowd. He managed to work with his followers without discrimination. Gandhi offered to die as a ma
Racism has always been a hot topic of numerous debates and conversations across the United States of America for decades. The issue of racism and discrimination is deeply rooted in the history and development of the United States due to its origins. However, the American education system is making effective attempts towards addressing the problem of segregation. Many young students getting rid of the main cultural prejudices because American universities are implementing programs and discussions to allow the exchange of ideas (Warikoo & Novais, 2015). Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey are among pioneer professors who are trying to generate a platform for free conversation and cultural introduction. Conversations from Penn State gives an opportunity to take a glimpse at their ambitious and scrupulous work. Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey, who happen to be married, are the educators at Penn State University. They form a group of multicultural students who are willing to openly and honestly discuss and explore the complex and personal topics related to ethnicity and race. The key message of their approach is that every member of the discussion is both a student and a teacher. Starting a genuine conversation about race and racism has always been a difficult task to do due to a high risk of misunderstanding and offense. The possibility of failure is present at both sides of the ethnic majority and minority. The problem lies in the lack of an agenda and encouragement of an open discussion. This is especially true regarding the White people of the United States because many of them are taught to avoid the given topic of race (Rissing, 2017). For example, in my case, I do find it challenging to freely talk about the race, simply because I feel highly uncomfortable bringing up the subject. In addition, there is always a chance to get labeled a racist or bigot, therefore I prefer putting the subject aside. On numerous occasions, I have found myself having trouble delivering my opinion to people of other ethnic backgrounds. It has always seemed inappropriate to express my view on the subject and that it did not worth the risk of being named racist. Although I realize that avoiding the given issue is not a solution, it keeps people from many possible problems and failures. Throughout my life, I have observed the problem of White people expressing their opinion about race and its consequences. The key underlying issue is an environment of upbringing and nurture because most White people are brought up and told to avoid the topic of racism. Whereas Black people directly experience discrimination throughout their life, thus allowing them to speak up about the problem naturally and freely. Although I possess a more reserved personality and avoid many controversial subjects, my friends and classmates have been a clear example of seeing the difference in attitude towards the topic of racism. White friends of mine are always careful and polite with other ethnicities, and they usually keep the conversation flowing on highly common and frivolous issues. On the other hand, Black friends of mine
The Technical Constraints of Sur-Subtitling There are several technical constraints encountered while subtitling and the major ones are discussed in this paper. Subtitlers cannot omit, add, explain or change too much thus providing them with limited time and space to convey the required messages meaningfully. In contrast text translators have more leverage since they are not required to count the characters as compared to subtitlers who have to rectify immediately if the words exceed the given limits which are invariably always very less. They have to exert their minds in finding synonyms for lengthy sentences or group of words. Viewers must understand the given subtitles within a few seconds that the subtitles appear on the screen, hence subtitlers have to work under immense time pressure. The scripts to be covered for subtitling are always not correct and cannot be trusted as being the final version since they are often changed while the film is being made and are not a correct portrayal of what the character in the film is actually saying. Hence a subtitler is required to have well sharpened ears to write the subtitles effectively and meaningfully. It often becomes difficult for subtitle writers to hear exactly what is being said in the film since it is often combined with background music which considerably reduces the impact of the words being spoken in the film. Normally films are full of errors in that facts that are represented wrongly have to be also subtitled in the same way thus creating confusion for those relying on the subtitles to understand the film. Word plays and ambiguous words cause big problems while writing subtitles since it is difficult to always find the exact wordings for what the dialogues convey. Song lyrics to cause problems because although they can be translated both in films and texts, while writing subtitles, lyrics have to be written so that they are in rhythm with the melody in order to enable viewers to sing the song that they hear. An added constraint is the fact that different varieties of English are spoken in films as compared to the written language. Words may be spelt in the same way but they are invariably pronounced differently thus proving to be stumbling blocks for those writing subtitles. However the biggest technical challenge to subtitlers pertains to the fact that people process information that is spoken much faster than what is written. Essentially subtitles have to follow the pace of the spoken language by reducing the amount of text used so that the sped with which viewers read matches with the tempo of the conversation. In this context it becomes a challenge for the writer of the subtitles to reduce the number of words if the character is speaking very fast. Training of sur-subtitlers Training for those who wish to become skilled in writing subtitles effectively and meaningfully entails undergoing training in the different aspects of subtitling. Mastery in writing subtitles is attained by imbibing a number of skills such as very good knowledge of the language and the ability to use the tools available to make the writte
The word terrorism is one word that has received as many definitions as ever realized by any other word. The extend has gone to as far as different arms of the United Nations giving different definitions. Apart from the UN, the United States also experiences a diversity of definitions within different departments of the government. Analysts and scholars have not been left behind in the attempt to define this elusive word. It is due to these different definitions that at some point, Nelson Mandela was refered to as a terrorist while Chile’s Pinochet was referred to as a Statesman before tables were turned. But as Abdeljaber puts it, the broadness of the definition and exaggerated reactions by the military contributes highly in the encouraging of terrorist activities (Wells, 2009). It is therefore important that a clear and exclusive definition is designed so as to enact a clear way forward on the issue of terrorism. Different definitions The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines terrorism as the perpetration of violence and force unlawfully against people or property with a sole aim of intimidating or coercing the government or the targeted population or any other segment of the society in order to further social or political interests (Terrorism Awareness, 2009). Department of justice defines terrorism as “a premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience (Terrorism Awareness, 2009). The United Nations defines terrorism as an act whose aim is to cause death or inflict serious bodily harm to a civilian, or any other individual who has no active role in the hostilities in the armed conflict situation with the main aim of the act being intimidation to the population or compelling the government or an International body to act or not to act in a given manner (Terrorism Awareness, 2009). There are many other definitions of this word that can even fill ten pages of this size but all in all their central idea seems to rotate around the same concept. There is need to identify a clear definition because it is through this that counter measures can be appropriately outlined. With a clear understanding of the difference between terrorism and religious, political and ideological definitions, a good definition will assist in saving innocent civilians from being involved into the mix with radical groups and thus save them in the instances of discrimination and stereo typical beliefs. In addition, this will assist the concerned parties to put up appropriate measures to catch and bring to book p
The hospitality industry is highly competitive with new players coming up and old ones developing new working strategies or approaches; to be competitive in the industry mostly in an international market, then there is need to have strategic decisions and ensure that scientific methods of decision-making are adopted [1] . Latin American countries are offering a good market for the hospitality industry thus Burswood Entertainment Company, an Australian base entertainment company wishes to venture in the country: Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and offers low barriers to entry. Despite the favourable entry environment in the country; a market entry strategy need to be developed; an effective entry strategy assists a company tap the new market potential successfully. When developing an internal marketing entry strategy, a company need to undertake an external environment analysis using situational analysis tools like P.E.T.L.E. and an internal analysis using analysis tools like S.W.O.T. This paper undertakes a P.E.S.T.L.E. analysis of Brazilian market and S.W.O.T. analysis of Burswood Entertainment for the purposes of the company’s expansion. Burswood Entertainment Company Burswood Entertainment is an Australian based entertainment industry that has various entertainment industry modern facilities, they include Casinos, Sauna, massage parlours, restaurants, Gyms, bars, hotel, golf course, day spa, night clubs among others; it is situated in Swan River near the city of Perth, Western Australia . The company has a strong brand name