Film Comparative Analysis

Film Comparative Analysis â€Å"The general response following the screening was a distinct realization that nobody is above the law, and that the stereotypes associated with the â€Å"cono† nearly left Larranaga guilty as mistakenly charged. † (Syjuco, 2012) There is no justice, when innocent men are in jail; this is the main idea that the two films have in common. With this, let us ask ourselves, â€Å"Is there really something wrong with the Philippine and Texas justice system? Are we to admit that it is a corrupt system that we have? These two films will leave our eyes wide opened to the truth or if not, to the flaws and corruptions in the justice system, not only of our own country, but also that of the others. I. Background Give Up Tomorrow The documentary film is about a Filipino-Spanish student named Paco Larranaga, who was sentenced to death in 2004 for the double murder and rape of Chiong sisters (Marijoy and Jacqueline) in 1997. This is the story of what we now know as the Chiong Murder Case, a cebu scandal of the century.Two Chiong sisters go missing on July 16, 1997. Larranaga was one, along with six other suspects who was pinpointed by the state witness, David Rusia. David Rusia is a convicted felon and was sentenced to prison twice in the United States for other crimes. As claimed by Rusia, he was with Larranaga in Ayala Center, Cebu early in the evening of July 16, that evening Larranaga says that he was at R&R Restaurant in Quezon City with his friends; such fact was proven by photographs and the testimonies of his friends.The defense presented thirty-five witnesses, including Larranaga’s teachers and classmates at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) in Quezon City, who all testified under oath that Larranaga was in Quezon City, when the crime is said to have taken place in Cebu. The trial court considered these testimonies irrelevant, rejecting these as coming from â€Å"friends of the accused,† and were not admitte d. The following are also evidences presented by the defense during trial — a)Larranaga, at that time was at a party at the R&R Restaurant along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, and stayed there until early morning the following day. )After the party, the logbook of the security guard at Larranaga's condominium indicates that Larranaga returned to his Quezon City condominium at 2:45 a. m. c)Rowena Bautista, an instructor and chef at the culinary center, said Larranaga was in school from 8 a. m. to 11:30 a. m. and saw him again at about 6:30 p. m on July 16. d)The school’s registrar, Caroline Calleja, said she proctored a two-hour exam where Larranaga was present from 1:30 p. m. Larranaga attended his second round of midterm exams on July 17 commencing at 8 a. m. Only then did Larranaga leave for Cebu in the late afternoon of July 17, 1997. )Airline and airport personnel also came to court with their flight records, indicating that Larranaga did not take any flight on Jul y 16, 1997, nor was he on board any chartered aircraft that landed in or departed from Cebu during the relevant dates, except the 5 p. m. PAL flight on July 17, 1997 from Manila to Cebu The aforementioned evidences did not prevent the conviction of Larranaga along with his six co-accused. The trial court judge, after rendering judgment against them, was found dead in a hotel in Cebu, and allegedly committed suicide.This unexpected event during the Chiong murder case was proven in the film to be part of the whole scheme of putting the blame on Larranaga, and concealing the truth of the facts with regard to the murder and rape of the Chion sisters. Larranaga, along with the other co-accused were sentenced to death, and appealed later on, but all of them were denied. Considering the Filipino-Spanish nationality of Larranaga, his family asked for help from the Spanish government. In September 2009, the Department of Justice approved Larranaga's transfer to a Spanish prison.Thelma Chiong , the mother of the victims, expressed shock over the decision, saying that, despite Larranaga's Spanish citizenship, â€Å"If you committed a crime in the Philippines, you are jailed in the Philippines,† despite the fact that this would constitute a breach of the treaty and thus of international law. Larranaga, escorted by two Spanish Interpol agents, left for Spain on October 6, 2009. His good behavior at the New Bilibid Prison was taken into consideration, and he will serve the rest of his sentence at the Madrid Central Penitentiary at Soto del Real. The Thin Blue LineThe film is an investigation into the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. Harris testified that Adams had shot and killed Wood after their car had been pulled over on their way home from a movie. Adams claimed to know nothing of the murder, insisting that Harris had dropped him at his home two hours before it occurred. Local authorities believed Harris, and witnesses corroborated his story, lead ing to Adams’ conviction and a death sentence, (which was later on changed). Randall Adams recalls the events in detail: after running out of gas, he had been picked up by Harris in a stolen car.The two had gone to a movie where they drank beer and smoked marijuana, and this was the extent of their relationship. David Harris, on the other hand, also recalls the events of the evening in detail, but creates a much different impression. Adam’s defense attorneys thought that Harris was the killer, pointing to his past criminal record and other crimes committed the night of the murder. The film presents a series of interviews about the investigation and reenactments of the shooting, based on the testimony and recollections of Adams, Harris, and various witnesses and detectives. Two attorneys who epresented Adams at the trial where he was convicted of capital murder also appear: they suggest that Adams was charged with the crime despite the better evidence against Harris bec ause, as Harris was a juvenile, Adams alone of the two could be sentenced to death under Texas law. II. Similarities and Differences The two films both dealt on the fact that there is a corrupt justice system. That even an innocent man can be put into jail all for the sake of concealing the truth. This idea is very obvious in the films presented, that even a man of little knowledge with the law will doubt the guilt of both, Larranaga and Adams.The idea brought up by the filmmakers of both was a frame up or cover up which lead to the conviction of innocent people. The very controlling authorities in both were the police officers, the judge, and other executive officers of the government and to add, the media, influencing the course of the trial and the impression of the masses on the suspects. In both, police authorities were overwhelmed with the idea of having someone to put the blame for the murder of the victims. They were like heroes of the public for having solved the case and f ound a suspect. In which, it is very obvious that it was politically motivated.As one of the differences between the case of Larranaga and Adams, is that of having exhausted all administrative remedies. Larranaga, after being convicted in the trial court, appealed to the Supreme Court, but was not able to attain a favourable judgment. After such, taking into consideration of the dual citizenship of Larranaga, they asked for the help of Spanish government so that the death penalty be withdrawn and let him be transferred in Spain where he will serve his sentence. This however paved the way for the abolishment of death penalty by former Pres.Gloria Arroyo and the approval of Larranaga’s transfer. The cases of Larranaga and Adams both involved rights which were violated. As declared under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the following are those evidently violated in the course of the whole trial of the case, (a) Article 11, par. 1, (b) Article 9 and (c) Article 1 0. †¢Article 11, par. 1 Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.In light of this article which pertains to the right of an accused to be presumed innocent, Larranaga was outrightly charged as a criminal in the minds of the people, especially those of the Cebuanos, even before a trial was held. Aggravating this situation was the participation of the media from the start up to the end of the case, tagged as the â€Å"trial of the decade†. The impressions that were made by the police authorities and the media, contributed to the image of Larranaga as guilty of the crime charged.His identity was corroborated as a rich bad boy/gangster from a prominent family, in which the people presumed that they will make use of their resources to pay for witnesses and manipulate the whole case and avoid prosecution. As to the case of A dams, he was made fit to the image of a cop-killer as compared to Harris. The prosecution relied on the testimony of Harris that it was Adams who killed Wood, even before the start of the case, they knew already who to convict. The fact that Harris was a juvenile that time, made it more likely for Adams to commit the crime thus moving away from the presumption of his innocence. Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. The course of Larranaga’s arrest came swift and unexpected and appeared to him as kidnapping. The people who arrested him were all in civilian clothes, though they looked like policemen. They did not identify themselves when they arrested Larranaga, until they were asked by Larranaga’s sister. They unlawfully arrested Larranaga due to absence of warrant of arrest, in defense, they said that he committed a continuing crime.As to Adams’ case, he was taken into the custody of the police few days after the commission of the crime. He was forced to sign a document containing an admission that he was the one who murdered Wood. The policeman even threatened him with a pistol if he will not sign it. There is no sufficient cause for his guilt. †¢Article 10 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.The right to a fair and speedy trial was not accorded to Larranaga, first, the media had participated a lot in drawing the image of Larranaga as the criminal. The judge also showed his impartiality which was really unexplainable. After having refused to accept the testimonies of witnesses of Larranaga, preventing him to take the witness stand and rendered a judgment of double life imprisonment, the judge was found in a hotel dead. Through the series of events that had transpired, the fairness and impartiality of the trial cannot be said to be pres ent.As in the case of Adams, it cannot be said to have been a fair trial for him because the prosecution presented fake witnesses, in which the conviction was based. There is a biased judgment and inconsideration on the merits of the case. Adams was not able to defend himself, such conviction of him was predicated on the failure of his defense lawyer to clearly establish his innocence albeit all the frame-ups that had transpired. References: http://www. centerforsocialmedia. org/sites/default/files/documents/pages/interview_transciption_giveuptomorrow. pdf http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Thin_Blue_Line_(film)

Ogre to Slay, Outsource It to Chinese Essay

David Barbosas brilliantly engages his audience with a catchy title that urges the reader to complete the piece to understand what it is that he is discussing. â€Å"Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese† is eye-catching and its content and is very thought-provoking and well researched. His preparation for the article includes him finding sources in China, who are engaged in illegal outsourcing of computer game players and contributing to what the Chinese government are attempting to halt, what they call â€Å"internet addiction†. Not only does Barbosas find these valuable sources for information and quote them, he also cites workers in these gaming factories. The effort of his research and concise conclusions to an interesting technological issue makes this piece very well put together and easily readable and understandable to a diverse audience. Barbosas says that this is an issue that spans from â€Å"Seoul to San Francisco† and he is very eloquent in his comparison between the affluent gamers, who are willing to pay Chinese workers to complete initial rounds of computer games and the gamers, themselves, who work 12 hour days, 7 days a week for a mere $250 a month. He does well, also, in showing the change of contrast from what has in history been a clear line between fantasy and reality to illustrate how these lines have blurred. He makes the point of outlining the beginning of the changes in the virtual world of gaming, when gamers began playing others worldwide a few years ago and then when they began becoming so enmeshed with their avatars (or characters that they create), that they pay others to essentially baby-sit them, as the Chinese do or use virtual currency to buy components, such as weapons to help their avatars. Barbosas does well in explaining the complex and intricate world of virtual gaming to even readers, who have no familiarity of the subject. He simultaneously delves into explaining this strange new world while vividly describing the Chinese workers behind the scenes or, more accurately, behind the screens. He paints an interesting picture of what he refers to as, â€Å"virtual sweatshops†. There gamers are playing in dark basements, surrounding by posters of the games they play. These Chinese farmers make up an estimated 40-50% of the gamers involved worldwide in these popular games and it is believed that 1 in 4 internet users in China use their online connection for gaming. In addition to the other staggering statistics Barbosas integrates into his commentary, he integrates what those involved in gaming have to say and what experts share on this issue. One conclusion by an American professor is that this illustrates how the time of Americans is valued more over the time of persons in countries, such as China. In contrast, one owner of a â€Å"sweatshop† believes that if these gamers were not working for him that they would be going back to hard farm work with smaller wages or on the streets. In conclusion, Barbosas shows his journalistic talent in this piece. His research, illustrated by interview citations and statistics, demonstrate his expertise in this strange, technological world. He presents many trends in the world of gaming, in reality versus fantasy, and in the currency involved in these questionable online enterprises. His work is easily readable by a wide audience and his lead-in to the article with it’s catchy title definitely lives up to the interest that title holds.

Nursing as Discipline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Nursing as Discipline - Essay Example The United States is fairly regarded as the pioneer in nursing profession and science – the creation of the Associate Degree nursing programs in the U.S. marked a new stage in the evolution of nursing as discipline (Northrup et al 2004). Today, nursing is well-recognized as a discipline and profession (Tzeng & Yin 2007). University education is the basic prerequisite for preparing professional nurses, who are able to make wise professional judgments, pursue continuous education, and use their knowledge to expand the boundaries of the nursing profession. So, what is nursing discipline? A discipline is usually defined as â€Å"a community of interest that is organized around the accumulated knowledge of an academic or professional group† (Monti & Tingen 1999, p.64). The discipline of nursing is complex, and it describes and explores the complexity of the human caring paradigms and successfully balances the art and science of nursing (Monti & Tingen 1999). Within the nursi ng discipline, art helps to answer questions related directly to the profession, whereas science is expected to add to the body of academic knowledge related to human caring (Monti & Tingen 1999). The metaparadigm is a unique aspect of the nursing discipline, which describes concepts and themes that are directly related to the nursing profession and different nursing from other professions and disciplines (Monti & Tingen 1999). The metaparadigm also promotes, reflects, and describes â€Å"the shared beliefs and values of the nursing discipline† (Monti & Tingen 1999). These may include but are not limited to caring and respect, autonomy and beneficence, health promotion and ethical conduct (Monti &... This paper approves that the postmodern research paradigm can provide successful explanations and recommendations to the multiple realities in nursing. Postmodernism helps to revalue patient and nurses’ experiences and insights. Postmodernism allows demystifying the existing nursing practice discourse and rejects the established universals, opening new research and scientific frontiers. This report makes a conclusion that the past decades were marked with the emergence of new, complex research paradigms that â€Å"contribute to the development of nursing as an academic discipline and knowledge†. In the nursing discipline, knowing manifests in three different forms: personal reflection, technical understanding, and a cognitive process. Simply stated, knowing in nursing is a unique combination of objective, scientific and personal features. Given that knowing in nursing is all about personal transformation, reflection, and experience, no single research paradigm can help to develop a sound system of academic and practical knowledge in nursing. Personal reflection is unique; and so is nursing knowledge. Simultaneously, science and discipline is always objectives and unbiased. This gap between experience and science is not easy to close, but nursing is a discipline of multiple perspectives. Reductionism and CST, feminism and postmodernism are just some of many research paradigms that can contribute to nursing knowledge.

Tourism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tourism - Assignment Example There are greater challenges to the ecology and environment of the tourism destination with increased tourist activities in developing nations. Climate change, and global warming create potential long term consequences on tourism. Conservation and protection of natural resources and wildlife habitats form an important part of the agenda. Similarly, sustainable solutions have to be undertaken to reduce the increased environmental pollution caused by growing tourist traffic. Bhatia (2006) reiterates that it is vital for authorities at the local and national levels to carry out destination planning, management, and marketing strategies, and ensure international cooperation. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to consider the main issues affecting the international tourism sector, and examine how these have challenged conventional forms of tourist activity. Tourism in Kenya will be investigated as a case study, to assess the implications of a responsible tourism agenda, and it s implementation. Case Study: Kenya as an International Tourism Destination Issues and Challenges According to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), tourism is â€Å"a vehicle for economic development and poverty alleviation (EDPA) in developing countries† (Manyara, Jones and Botterill, 2006, p.19). The strategies for economic development and poverty alleviation include small enterprise development, with the help of governmental support. In examining Kenya as a case study for international tourism development, it is primarily important to note that tourism in Kenya is foreign-owned, hence economic benefits are channelled out of the local economy. The industry focuses on safaris and coastal products, and â€Å"exploits the southern and coastal regions in an anachronistic and colonial model of tourism development† (Manyara et al, 2006, p.19). Ondicho (2000) states that the introduction of international tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a recent development. In Kenya , the tourism industry is considered as a successful domain, in relation to the large numbers of visitors, and the country’s capacity to accommodate them. At the same time, although there has been considerable progress in this respect in recent years, the international tourism sector in Kenya has been limited by particular internal and external factors leading to troubles in development, and setbacks to the growth of the industry (Ondicho, 2000). To modernise conventional forms of tourism in Kenya, a new postcolonial model of tourism development â€Å"involving small indigenous enterprises, and promoting cultural products to new markets† (Manyara et al, 2006, p.19) is expected to support economic development and help in the alleviation of poverty in Kenya. The authors examined the promotion of indigenous enterprises, and the obstacles confronting tourism entrepreneurship in Kenya, utilizing for the study 12 indigenously owned Kenyan tourism enterprises and six support organisations (Manyara et al, 2006). The 12 enterprises are divided into two categories: community-based enterprises (CBEs), and formal as well as informal individually owned enterprises

Merit Award Application Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Merit Award Application - Scholarship Essay Example The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is the only honor’s society in the U.S. that recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first and second year students (Illinoisstate). The NSCS can serve as a launching point for a student’s future academic career by providing a wide array of opportunities for campus student involvement, community service and encouraging student members to become involved in their communities and become leaders in their communities. By becoming a member of the NSCS it demonstrates an individual’s drive for outstanding achievement and personal excellence. Being an active member provides the opportunity learn and grow professionally and personally by being able to share concepts, ideas and visions on how to improve our communities future through community involvement and developing our community and local economy. The scholarship opportunities are an additional benefit of joining the NSCS.

Advantages Of A Collaborative Role Among Organizations Essay

Advantages Of A Collaborative Role Among Organizations - Essay Example Collaboration is beneficial among organizations due to the results it yields for both organizations and their clients. Collaboration refers to the relationship between independent organizations that involves coming together to share in either resources or ideas. It often occurs when organizations believe they can accomplish more when together than when they are independent entities. Once organizations come together and work as one, they pose a threat to their competition. This is because; they work as one towards a common goal and do not have to compete against each other. It also increases the rate and speed of innovation for organizations that collaborate, as they share information and ideas openly. Collaboration, also, brings together organizations with different capabilities in regard to the resources they can access. Therefore, upon forming a cooperative relationship, they tend to advance their abilities and skills. From this, their competitiveness improves and so does their sur vival in the market. This is particularly so for organizations with fewer resources, but have immense potential to be successful once they work together with those who have resources. Collaborative roles among and between organizations are beneficial to all firms involved as they come together to lessen the risk incurred to any of them when working alone. Collaboration creates a safety net for all involved, as they can contribute to bailing each other out. Clients enjoy increased reliability from all organizations involved in the collaboration.

Managing Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managing Information Systems - Essay Example Identifying and handling key issues in the management of IS is essential for executives to support and run their organizations efficiently and effectively. The investigation of these key issues by researchers serves to enhance the understanding of the concerns of executives and suggest relevant areas of investigation by management researchers. There have been some key issues studies which have involved data collection from non-IS executives as well as IS executives, but these have reported only aggregated results without specifically addressing the views of the respondent CEOs and other non-IS executives. There may be many different IS management issues. While most researchers accept that organizations must handle many technology management issues, there is a growing acceptance that there are many strategic management issues which are equally if not more important. Other issues can be classified as either systems development and data management issues and people and support managemen t issues.

English Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English Legal System - Essay Example This discussion highlights that the Court of Appeal declared that the admission policy of JFS was erroneous and highly discriminatory in nature and procedure followed in case of admission of M is highly objectionable. The governing body of JFS and United Synagogue appealed the decision of Court of Appeal in Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that the policy adopted by the governing body in deciding the admission of M was against the natural justice and highly discriminatory in nature. It further held that the decision of JFS in denying the admission to M also violates the basic provisions of Section 1(1) (a) of Race Relations Act 1976. The United Synagogue was ordered to pay 20% of the costs incurred by R in Court of Appeal. However, the United Synagogue was told no to pay the 20%of the costs incurred in High Court which would be paid by JFS.According to the research findings  the Supreme Court strongly felt that the admission procedure for admission of children in United Kingdo m should not be directly discriminatory in nature and hence the justification for the support given to R was proper. The discrimination of people on grounds of ethnicity and racism was also objected by the House of Lords in cases like Mandla v Dowell-Lee (1983).  It also felt that the admission procedure of JFS was not questioned or criticized directly, but the students should not be treated with disadvantage on the grounds of ethnic origin.      

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters Research Paper

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters - Research Paper Example It cast an influence on the voters which was sufficient to bring the intended result. Key words: Negative ad campaigns, Politics, election, affect on voters, beneficial, harmful. Introduction The minds always active in the towers of politics have gained the knowledge of the powers of the media and its overwhelming effects over the minds of the populace. They have realized that media can be utilized as the biggest medium of propagation. The exploitation of media in one’s purpose has become a norm of today’s political sociality. The rule is practiced in the political campaigns of the entire world but in the United States of America, the ratio is relatively the bigger. In fact media is one of the only tools the candidates for presidency in the United States of America use to attract the masses towards their will. In the course, no hesitation is felt to highlight the negative aspects of the opponent’s life. Such ads in which the opponent’s image is presented a s unfavorable are called negative ads and hence the negative ad campaigns (Kamber, 1997). Negative ads work to exploit the sentiments and emotions of the society. Negative ads work because humans are emotional and psychologically they are impressed by appeals. Though the overall turnout is not necessarily affected by the negative ad campaigns, it however helps in turning one’s already developed point of view. â€Å"Advertising matters at the margins. ... One unconsciously processes the ads though he claims to have his mind not affected by the ads. About the undecided voters, â€Å"Drew Western† found them completely overwhelmed by the negative political ads. The reason behind is just simple: humans are curious for harms. We always stop to the wreck of a car but never to the flowers all around the roads (Sohn, 2012). Statement of Problem 47% Video is an ad in which Romney spoke at a fundraiser in the words: â€Å"there are 47% who are with Obama, who are dependent on government, who believe they are victims, and who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them† (Newport, 2012). The video entangled Mitt Romney as he had talked abusingly of the American people. Obama and company exploited the video against Romney. They told the people that Romney did not deserve to be their President as he had talked about them scornfully. The ad affected the overall political scenario of the United States of America. The s trength of negativity lies in its pulling of the people to search for more information about the candidates. For instance, the 47% video of Romney leaked in the recent elections. He was talking to some confidante in a closed room and at a suitable time, the conversation recorded was made open to the whole nation. The video compelled a large number of people to rethink of their favor for Romney. Many were heard to say that after watching the said advertisement, they were of the view that Romney was narrow-minded and such a person could not lead the nation among huge crisis. This is now to evaluate the statement that negative ads definitely work. The results of the 2012 Presidential Elections reveal that both the candidates fought with each