The Ethics of War and the Influence of Modern Refugees

Human beings have been fighting each other since prehistoric times, but it is still questionable to define if waging war is right or wrong. Although people have established some ethics of war to make it become a lesser evil, the irrefutable fact is that war involves deliberately killing or injuring people and even makes people become refugees. For example, the "Just War" Theory, has been established thousand years ago, attempts "to conceive of how the use of arms might be restrained, made more humane, and ultimately directed towards the aim of establishing lasting peace and justice". It has two sets of criteria which are "jus ad bellum", the right to go to war; and "jus in bello", the right conduct within war. Nevertheless, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced the latest figures of the number of refugees is 10.5 millions at the beginning of 2011 which means lots of refugees out there are still living in hardship, such as facing the problems of repatriation; local integration or resettlement.

Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. In this decade, however, it is often violent, compelled, and premature. Repatriation has become a battleground. UNHCR deemed that the search for durable solutions to refugee problems has undergone a transformation from a "reactive, exile-oriented and refugee specific approach" to a "proactive, homeland-oriented and holistic approach". For example, Rwandan refugees who were been denied a durable solution in exile formed an army in order to fight their way home. They militarized their camps and violently prevented voluntary repatriation of those they held hostage in Zaire and Tanzania.

Local integration is a complex and gradual process which helps refugees to integrate into the local community in order to offer them the opportunity of starting a new life. It is related to legal, economic, social and cultural dimensions and imposes considerable demands on both the individual and the receiving society. Brazil signed an agreement with Ecuador in 2010, it pledged to actively support the integration of the estimated 15,000 Colombian refugees in Sucumbios and to help their needy Ecuadorean neighbors. The Brazilian government is funding projects in the areas of education, sexual and gender-based violence, and water and sanitation infrastructure.

Resettlement is another durable solution for refugees to move from one location to another, usually with the intention that this move is permanent. Although it involves a number of difficulties, such as cultural transition, language barriers and discrimination, it provides refugees with legal and physical protection, including access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals. It allows them to become naturalized citizens. Today, the United States is the world's top resettlement country as it allows for up to 70,000 – 91,000 refugees to enter for the past decade. Moreover, many refugee service programs focus on helping refugees find employment so that they can become self-sufficient.

Even though we do not have a huge world war nowadays, there are many so-called "conflicts" every year that lead to large amount of people who have to flee and become refugees. The durable solutions, such as repatriation; local integration or resettlement, can prevent them from being uprooted from their homes due to conflict or persecution anymore. Those solutions help them to have a new life in other countries.

Another Country You Would Choose to Come From - Holland

Holland refers to the whole of the Netherlands which located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is a parliamentary democracy organised as a unitary state. Total population is over 16.5 millions. The country capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government is The Hague. The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its twelve provinces.

1) Main Cities and Industries:
Main cities - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.

Industries - Three quarters of the professional population work in the tertiary sector, one quarter in the industrial sector and only 4 percent in agriculture. Despite these figure, the Netherlands are a big exporter of agricultural and horticultural products. Some big Dutch companies are: Shell, Unilever, Akzo Nobel, Philips, Aegon, ING Group, Rabobank, Heineken, TNT and Randstad.

2) Main Tourist attractions:
i. Canals of Amsterdam – the most beautiful and magnificent stretch of canal houses of Amsterdam; See 15 bridges in one canal trip
ii. The Mills of Kinderdijk - The 19 windmills are lined up in two opposite rows and form a spectacular sight
iii. Madurodam - Holland at its smallest - Madurodam is a park that resembles Holland in miniature size
iv. The Efteling – It has been World of Wonders for almost 60 years. The theme park started in 1952, with the opening of the Fairytale Forest.
v. The Heineken Experience - The former Heineken brewery is equipped with the latest multimedia to make you see, hear, smell, taste and enjoy Heineken.

3) Historical figures:
- Anna Frank, Jewish diarist during World War II 

- Vincent Van Gogh, (1853-1890), painter 

4) Main dish:
The Dutch don’t have a specific cuisine. You can find a regular meal of potatoes, vegetables and meat.

Typical dishes:
Stamppot: another winter dish with vegetables, potatoes and meat mashed together in one stew. There are varieties with kale, sauerkraut, onions, carrots, sausages and bacon. The final touch is an indentation in the middle of the stew that is filled with gravy.

Snert: pea soup with sausages; a winter dish to help you reenergize.

Poffertjes: a kind of mini pancakes, but thicker and sweeter. Often served with sugar and butter. This dish is especially popular with children.

5) Economy
The Netherlands is known as a politically stable country with a sound financial policy. The Netherlands is one of the most open economies in the world and is one of the world’s top 5 biggest exporters.

6) How are women treated?
There are less than 10 percent of women who are employed full-time. 62 percent of women working part time job that they don't have young children in the house.

7) Immigration policy
The Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst implements immigration policy including applications for residence permits, Dutch citizenship, visas and asylum requests. The official policy line is "strict but fair" and efforts are being made to speed up the processes involved. The website has extensive information in English, a Residence Wizard for checking specific circumstances and downloadable brochures and forms. You need to make an appointment and visit an IND desk personally to be interviewed or have a sticker put in your passport. If you have applied for a highly skilled migrant residence permit, this is not necessary but voluntary. To collect a permit you need to visit an IND desk in person.

8) Netherlands’ National Anthem
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe, usually known just as the Wilhelmus (English translation: the William), is the national anthem of the Netherlands and is the oldest national anthem in the world, though the words of the Japanese national anthem (not the music) date back to the ninth century. Although it was not recognized as the official national anthem until 1932, it has always been popular with parts of the Dutch population.

The Wilhelmus originated in the nation's struggle to achieve independence. It tells of Willem van Oranje (William of Orange), his life and why he is fighting against the King of Spain. As a result, the anthem is written in a first person perspective, as if it were sung by William himself.

The melody of the Wilhelmus originates from a French catholic soldiers' song titled "Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé" (English: "Another song about the city of Chartres under siege by the Prince de Condé"). This song dates to the Protestant siege of Chartres in 1568 during the French Wars of Religion.

The origins of the lyrics are uncertain. Soon after the anthem was finished it was said that either Philips van Marnix, a writer, statesman and former mayor of Antwerp, or Dirck Coornhert, a politician and theologian, wrote the lyrics. However, this is disputed as both Marnix and Coornhert never mentioned that they wrote the lyrics.

English translation of the original Dutch version. (non-melodious)

William of Nassau
am I, of Dutch blood.
Loyal to the fatherland
I will remain until I die.
A prince of Orange
am I, free and fearless.
The king of Spain
I have always honoured.

To live in fear of God
I have always attempted.
Because of this I was ousted
bereft of my land and my people.
But God will direct me
like a good instrument.
So that I may return
to my domain.

Hold on my subjects,
who are honest by nature.
God will not abandon you
even though you now are in despair.
He who tries to live piously,
must pray to God day and night,
that He will give me strength
that I may help you.

My life and fortune altogether
I have not spared you.
My brothers high in rank
have shown you this as well:
Count Adolf died
in battle in Frisia
His soul in eternal life
awaits the final judgement.

Noble and high-born,
of imperial descent,
Chosen a prince of the empire,
Like a pious Christian,
for the honoured word of God,
I have without hesitation
like a fearless hero,
ventured my own noble blood.


My shield and reliance
are you, o God my Lord.
It is you on whom I want to rely,
never leave me again.
[Grant] that I may remain brave,
your servant for always,
and [may] defeat the tyranny,
which pierces my heart.

From all those that burden me
and are my pursuers,
my God, do save
your loyal servant.
That they may not surprise me
with their wicked plans
nor wash their hands
in my innocent blood.

Like David, who was forced to flee
from Saul, the tyrant.
I had to sigh,
as did many other nobles.
But God raised him,
relieving him of despair,
and gave him a kingdom
very great in Israel.

After this sourness I will receive
from God my Lord the sweetness
For that longs so much
my noble mind
which is that I may die
with honour in the fields,
and gain an eternal realm
as a faithful hero.

Nothing makes me pity so much
in my adversity,
then that are seen to be impoverishing
the good lands of the King
That you are molested by the Spaniards,
O Noble Netherlands sweet,
when I think of that,
my noble heart bleeds.

Seated [on horseback] like a prince,
with my armed forces,
Defied by the tyrant,
I awaited the battle.
Those dugin at Maastricht
were afraid of my might
People saw my horsemen ride
bravely through the fields.

If it had been the Lord's will,
at the time,
I would have gladly relieved
you of this heavy tempest.
But the Lord above,
who rules all,
He who we should always praise,
did not desire so.

By a Christian mood was driven
My princely heart
Steadfast remained
my heart in adversity
To the Lord I prayed,
from the bottom of my heart,
that He may save my cause,
and proclaim my innocence.

Farewell, my poor sheep,
who are in deep despair.
Your shepherd will not sleep,
even though you are now dispersed.
Turn to God,
accept his curing word.
Live as a good Christian;
soon, it will be finished here .

I want to confess to God,
and to his great power
that I have never
despised the King.
except that to God the Lord,
the highest Majesty
I've been obedient
in justice.

Why is the Writing the Most Significant Human Invention in History?

We can know things that happened in every corner of the world because they were all recorded by writing, photographs and videos. Writing is the most important way to share ideas and to pass on important knowledge that people have learned. Now imagine if there had been no writing ever appearing in the world, what would have happened? There is a likelihood that people still have not civilized yet. By capturing ideas in physical form, writing allows us to travel across space and time without distortion.

According to the earliest writing evidence, Mesopotamia is the lead to invent writing and dates back to about 3300 BC. The picture on the top is the piece of clay contains some of the earliest writing in the world. The writing is in cuneiform like signs or symbols, but it records the daily beer rations for workers. It gives us a hint that the stuff of early writing is about money, laws, trade, employment. Moreover, people in Mesopotamia city were discovering how to use written records for all kinds of day-to-day administration, keeping large temples running or tracking the movement and storage of goods.

Writing is a great invention in history that helps preserving information into the future. As there is a limit to what you can do with the spoken word, writing plays a crucial role to express the complex thoughts, such as higher mathematics or philosophical argument. Meanwhile, it also creates new entities, such as money, corporations, governments and complex forms of society.

An Inconvenient Truth

Global Warming has been a hot issue for the past few decades. However, how many people have ever taken it serious or looked closely at it? Global warming is not only a political issue, but also is a moral issue. If we allow it to happen, it is deeply unethical.

The Arctic is one of the canaries in the coal mine because it is one part of the world that is experiencing faster impact from global warming. The amount and extent and thickness of the Arctic ice cap have continuously declined. It has diminished by 40 percent in 40 years. It is a serious problem because ice can help to bounces off the sun's ray right back into space like a mirror. However, if the sun's ray hits the ocean, more than 90 percent will be absorbed. As the surrounding water gets warmer, it speeds up the melting of the ice so as to increase the temperature on our planet. Melting ice cap contributes to rising sea levels and threatening low-lying areas. Many of these areas will be immersed, such as Greenland, Netherlands, Beijing, Shanghai and Lower Manhattan.

It is never too late to slow down global warming. If everyone is willing to change and actually does something, we can address this problem effectively, such as using more efficient electrical appliances, other transport efficiency, renewable technology and carbon capture sequestration. They all add up and pretty soon we are below our 1970 emission. Moreover, if all countries ratify Kyoto Treaty, it can help to achieve the goal of stabilisation of greenhouse gas.

Imagination of Witnessing A Volcano Eruption

Mount Vesuvius, which is located in Italy, is one the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and it is also the most densely populated volcanic region in the world as there are 3 millions people living nearby. This volcano became famous thanks to the eruption in 79 AD. I was there and witnessed the shocking moment that I will never forget.

I heard a roaring sound and then there was a tremendous cloud appearing above the volcano. It looked like a huge pine tree. It spread sideways bit by bit. Some of the cloud was white, in other parts there were dark patches of dirt and ash. It seemed the sun was blocked by the thundercloud and the sky became darker and darker gradually. The visibility was decreasing and everything looked so foggy. Some buildings were damaged by the shower of the rock. The ashes and dust made everything become white. Many people died because their breathing was obstructed by the dust-laden air. Fortunately, I was capable to leave the town in time. I knew this disaster led to the burying and destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum where were never rebuilt. There were about 16,000 people living in the vicinities at the time and they all perished due to the temperatures up to 700 °C.

Representation Art Vs. Non-representational Art

Art has been seen as a form of expression and communication of emotion since roughly 40,000 years ago. Britannica Online defines art as "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others." It can refer to painting, film, photography and sculpture. There are two types of art - representational art and non-representational art. Each of them has thoroughly different styles of artwork and can be easily distinguished.

Representational Art is the type of art that we see the most. It is the use of signs that stand in for and take the place of something else. Representational means descriptive, figurative and symbolized. Briefly, it depicts something easily recognized by most people. For example, the painting below is called Thunder Magic by Marcia Baldwin. People can generally recognize it as a horse without doubt. Although the using of colour may not be realistic, it represents an actual subject from reality.


Non-representational Art is also called Abstract Art. The aim is to take subjects from reality but present them in way that is different from the way they are viewed in our reality. Sometimes it does not even represent or depict a being, a place or a thing in a natural world. The artistic content depends on internal form rather than pictorial representation. For example, the painting below is The Persistence Of Memory by a famous artist, Salvador Dali. The most eye-catching things in the painting are the three soft melting pocket watches. According to some studies, the soft watches may be a visual depiction of the idea behind the Einstein's theory of relativity. The figure in the middle of the picture has one closed eye with several eyelashes, it is possibly suggesting the irrelevance of time during sleep. However, the perception of this picture may have somewhat difference between people.


In short, representational art can describe a physical object clearly and the expression of artists can be easily got by people. Non-representational art is abstract that the artists view the subjects in a non-traditional manner.The meaning behind the picture is not obvious and may not be perceived by all people consistently. Nevertheless, the sake of both types of art is the same - express the thoughts or emotion of artists.

Exploration of New Zealand

 New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. There are two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. New Zealand is an uncrowded country. It has a diverse multi-cultural population of just 4 million people and a rich history. Maori were NZ’s first settlers and arrived there about 1,000 years ago. They are the largest minority in NZ today.

The climate in NZ is always warm during the whole year, so it is suitable for outdoor exploration, such as walking, jogging, biking or horse trekking on the forest trails.

NZ developed a distinctive biodiversity of both animal and plant life. Most notable are the large number of unique bird species, such as kiwi birds.


NZ is surrounded by beaches and there are so many ways to enjoy the beautiful coasts.
 You can meet the local marine mammals by marine adventure, such as swimming with dolphins. You can also go fishing, diving, and kayaking. Surfing is another popular sport in NZ as there are plenty of exciting waves.

Moreover, there are lots of volcanoes in North Island. For example, Rotorua’s unique location in a geothermal area is home to geysers, hot pools and steam vents.

 It is exciting to go mountain biking and hiking on an active volcano. If you just want to relax, massages therapy and spa are definitely cannot be missed out.  

There are many national parks in NZ. The scenery is splendid. Various tours are available to take you to explore the glaciers, waterfalls, rainforest, peaks and wildlife. 

 

Wellington is a cosmopolitan capital city with spectacular views. There are many things to do and see.

You can ride the historic Wellington cable car to the Botanic Garden and enjoy animal antics at Wellington Zoo. You can also have a fine dinner at Wellington as there are four restaurants having won NZ’s Best Restaurant in the last five years. If you like shopping, Cuba Street is a good choice as there are lots of boutiques.You can also find a slice of Bohemia and some of the best coffee in town there.

What are you waiting for? Just come to New Zealand to relax and enjoy your vacation here.