John Maynard Keynes was a British Economist born on the 5th of June in 1883. His ideas on the Economy would revolutionize the way nations did their Finances. He led his own successful career as a Independant Investor. He also had striking personal life outside the world of economics. He died on the 21st of April in 1946.
John Keynes made his living working for Alfred Marshall when he was appointed to the royal commission on Indian finances, this was his first job. He was later appointed to the British finance department during world war one. He gained quite a reputation when he told the allies that they were making the Germans pay to much and this would cause the German economy to collapse. Which it nearly did during the hyperinflation of 1923. Germany would go on to pay only a fraction of what was asked of them. For the next decade or so Keynes would go on to make a fortune as a private investor, he lost his fortune during the crash of 1929 but regained it shortly thereafter. In 1942 Keynes was admitted to the house of Lords of Baron Keynes. This would be the peak of his Economic career.
John Keynes also led a interesting Life outside of Economics. For the Majority of his life, all his romantic relationships were with other men. His lovers included Duncan Grant a famous artist, and Lytton Starchey a writer. But in 1921 he fell deeply in love with a woman, Lydia Lopokova a Russian ballerina, they were married in 1925 but they would never have children. Keynes was also very intelligent in general, few who argued against him left without changing their minds about that particular subject. This gave him great respect amongst his fellow peers. He attended church during his teens but would turn away from religion when he went to university and it would stay that way until his death.
John Keynes made remarkable changes to the economics of his time. He had the idea that Economies should be treated on a National level instead of just case by case for each Corporation. He also pushed governments to spend money they didnt have, creating credit in order to accomplish important tasks, such as fighting world war two. After the war ended Keynes helped push for a single International currency, but unfortunately he would pass away before he could even hope that any of these things have come to pass. There is some speculation that if Keynes had continued to live that perhaps we would be using one currency around the world today.
Throughout his life John Maynerd Keynes did many things, he changed the way we looked at our economies, he made a fortune, lost it and then regained it again. This took a great deal of intelligence. He did all this while keeping what could have been called a "scandalous"personnal life under wrap. He even became a member of the house of lords, quite an accomplishment in his time where depression and war were the main happenings. He did many things and we probably will never see a man like him again in history.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Oka Crisis
In 1717 The Governor of New France, granted some land that included an old Mohawk cemetery to a Catholic Seminary, this is where the Oka crisis began. The Mohawk believed that the catholics were only going to hold the lands for a short time before turning them back over to them. This never occurred and in 1868, one year after confederation the leader of the Mohawk condemned the seminary for holding the land illegally even though they had every legal right to hold that land. The Mohawk proceeded to attempt to seize the seminary by armed force, local authorities dealt with the problem. I believe this shows one of the key points about the crisis, the land didn't actually belong to the Mohawk. Other important parts about this are the lives that were lost and the fact that the people who killed them never faced charges. Also, why did the Mohawks believe that they had the right to commit acts of terrorism?
Firstly this Crisis should never had occurred, the Mohawk had no rights to the land anymore, nor did they ever really. They did have the right to protest yes, but building a barricade and having armed men guard it is absolutely unacceptable. They had even tried to make a claim on the land multiple times, every time their case was dismissed. This shows that they were really the only ones who thought that the land was theirs. The response by the Mohawk in my opinion is childish at best.
Corporal Marcel Lemay, a police officer was killed during the short burst of fighting that this Crisis created. We don't know who killed him, but considering the tactics used by the Canadian Armed Forces, one could accurately guess that he was killed by the "Protesters" in the confusion created by the Concussion (Flash Bang) grenades. Why wasn't this case ever investigated and the perpetrator brought to justice? What was so special about this situation that made it ok for an officer to be killed? there is no logical answer to these questions, someone is being allowed to avoid paying for his acts and this is nothing short of disgusting.
Why oh why were the Mohawks allowed to commit terrorist acts and get away with it? This is a flaw in the way our government deals with Aboriginal issues. What honestly makes them think that they can do these kinds of things? If it had been any other kind of group doing these protest they would have all been severely prosecuted and convicted of acts of terrorism. But somehow they are simply allowed to return to their reservations and continue collecting money from the government. How much longer are we going to take this? The Mohawks decided that the land was theirs, no one agrees with them and instead of doing what everyone else has to and just adapting to the change, they think that if they just get louder and whine more that people will give them their way, and we did. What are we, Spineless?
In conclusion, all this Crisis has shown is that we are a far weaker nation than we think, we need to start dealing with our own problems within our borders before going ashore, like Afganistan.
Firstly this Crisis should never had occurred, the Mohawk had no rights to the land anymore, nor did they ever really. They did have the right to protest yes, but building a barricade and having armed men guard it is absolutely unacceptable. They had even tried to make a claim on the land multiple times, every time their case was dismissed. This shows that they were really the only ones who thought that the land was theirs. The response by the Mohawk in my opinion is childish at best.
Corporal Marcel Lemay, a police officer was killed during the short burst of fighting that this Crisis created. We don't know who killed him, but considering the tactics used by the Canadian Armed Forces, one could accurately guess that he was killed by the "Protesters" in the confusion created by the Concussion (Flash Bang) grenades. Why wasn't this case ever investigated and the perpetrator brought to justice? What was so special about this situation that made it ok for an officer to be killed? there is no logical answer to these questions, someone is being allowed to avoid paying for his acts and this is nothing short of disgusting.
Why oh why were the Mohawks allowed to commit terrorist acts and get away with it? This is a flaw in the way our government deals with Aboriginal issues. What honestly makes them think that they can do these kinds of things? If it had been any other kind of group doing these protest they would have all been severely prosecuted and convicted of acts of terrorism. But somehow they are simply allowed to return to their reservations and continue collecting money from the government. How much longer are we going to take this? The Mohawks decided that the land was theirs, no one agrees with them and instead of doing what everyone else has to and just adapting to the change, they think that if they just get louder and whine more that people will give them their way, and we did. What are we, Spineless?
In conclusion, all this Crisis has shown is that we are a far weaker nation than we think, we need to start dealing with our own problems within our borders before going ashore, like Afganistan.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Red River emerangy workers
Although there are many dangers to working in emergancy situations, I believe the risk to be worth what can be saved, lives. There is no greater way to die than to die for another person in my opinion. Another benifit to working in these situations would be that you know that your job isnt boring. Its fast paced, exciting and requires an alert mind. Sounds like a grand way to live if you ask me.
Friday, May 1, 2009
1. North Korea should be allowed to develop their own space program as supervised by another country ( The US most likely ) But they should not be allowed to develop nuclear technologies because of the constant threats they make with what technology they have now.
2. A) The Name of the Tetonic plate off the North American Coast is the Jaun de fuca.
B) The ways that tetonic plates move are Extensional, Compressional, Tranform.
Red River
3.
A) 1997
B) 163,000 cubit feet per second
C)125,000
D)38,000 cubit feet per second
2. A) The Name of the Tetonic plate off the North American Coast is the Jaun de fuca.
B) The ways that tetonic plates move are Extensional, Compressional, Tranform.
Red River
3.
A) 1997
B) 163,000 cubit feet per second
C)125,000
D)38,000 cubit feet per second
Friday, April 24, 2009
UNPFII
The UNPFII ( United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) is an organization based out of the UN to target issues specific to Indigenous peoples. Many members of this organization are indigenous people themselves and unfortunately they spend most of their time talking about the issues instead of just dealing with them within their own nations. I do not get why Canada has anything to do with this program. The creation of this organization is only going to make the difference between indigenous peoples and other people in the country larger by make them more distinctly different. indigenous peoples should learn to adapt to their changing world instead of holding on to the past.
The UNPFII meets for two weeks out of the year, what are they doing with the rest of the year? not much obviously because the "Issues" only seem to get worse and worse according to them. It would seem pretty stupid that any government is paying people to discuss issues for a tiny fraction of the year and then do nothing about it. This money could be far better used to just solve the issues that are obvious. Canada has some grasp over this idea because they voted against the declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples.
It seems to me that the entire point of the UNPFII is to try and make indigenous peoples look better somehow and convince governments that they deserve special treatment somehow. This is ridiculous as all peoples should be treated equally. The indigenous people of many countries are simply not willing to change with the rest of the world believing that they don't need to change, and they don't really. If the whine enough about their problems governments will just give them what they want so they'll shut up. This is how it works in Canada at least.
Change is the word of our times, everything around us is changing at such a alarming rate that it's hard to keep up with it all. Many indigenous peoples are not used to this state of constant change and simply cannot keep up, this isn't their faults entirely. By putting them on reserves we've basically put them aside to fend for themselves, and that was just peachy 100 years ago, but now it is simply impossible for indigenous people to live the same lives they have been living in todays world, so they are expected to make 100 years of change up instantly. It cant be done, plain and simple. This is partly governments fault for in a way, holding indigenous cultures back by not allowing them to merge with other societies and cultures. It is also the peoples fault for not pushing for this until now, they've waited until it was to late to try and make nessacary changes and they expect it (the catch-up process) to be easy and pain-free because they want others to do it for them.
In summary the UNPFII isnt really doing anything for the world, I could not find one thing on their website that actually changed something in a nation or raised awareness, I hadnt even heard of the UNPFII until today.
The UNPFII meets for two weeks out of the year, what are they doing with the rest of the year? not much obviously because the "Issues" only seem to get worse and worse according to them. It would seem pretty stupid that any government is paying people to discuss issues for a tiny fraction of the year and then do nothing about it. This money could be far better used to just solve the issues that are obvious. Canada has some grasp over this idea because they voted against the declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples.
It seems to me that the entire point of the UNPFII is to try and make indigenous peoples look better somehow and convince governments that they deserve special treatment somehow. This is ridiculous as all peoples should be treated equally. The indigenous people of many countries are simply not willing to change with the rest of the world believing that they don't need to change, and they don't really. If the whine enough about their problems governments will just give them what they want so they'll shut up. This is how it works in Canada at least.
Change is the word of our times, everything around us is changing at such a alarming rate that it's hard to keep up with it all. Many indigenous peoples are not used to this state of constant change and simply cannot keep up, this isn't their faults entirely. By putting them on reserves we've basically put them aside to fend for themselves, and that was just peachy 100 years ago, but now it is simply impossible for indigenous people to live the same lives they have been living in todays world, so they are expected to make 100 years of change up instantly. It cant be done, plain and simple. This is partly governments fault for in a way, holding indigenous cultures back by not allowing them to merge with other societies and cultures. It is also the peoples fault for not pushing for this until now, they've waited until it was to late to try and make nessacary changes and they expect it (the catch-up process) to be easy and pain-free because they want others to do it for them.
In summary the UNPFII isnt really doing anything for the world, I could not find one thing on their website that actually changed something in a nation or raised awareness, I hadnt even heard of the UNPFII until today.
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Silk Road
The Silk Road had a massive impact on the development of Europe, ranging from the Romans to the Renaissance. Culture and vital technology were shared by these routes that without, we may still have been living in a feudal society. Many goods were also traded obviously that enhanced the lives of both the Europeans and those they traded with. But with the sharing of these cultures and religions came conflict with led to wars such as the crusades.
While traders traversed the silk road (although very few went from one end to another) they passed by and stayed amongst cultures that were far different from their own, many of these traders that experienced these different traditions and ideas brought them back home with them. For example the Chinese were the first to effectively use gunpowder, and without the silk road this incredible advancement in warfare would have not been available to Europeans for hundreds of years. The printing press which allowed thinkers to get their radical new ideas about freedom and rebellion against the Catholic church was also first developed in Asia. The people of Europe took the idea and applied it to their own lives. Without either of these things, Europe could have very well been the same old society we read about in history books still.
Silk was not the only thing that was traded on the Silk Road. Many other valuable products made their way across the Route for the gain of all who were involved, although most of the benefit does go to Europe. Spices that allowed food that had been salted in order to preserve it to still have some taste to it, a big plus to the lives of those who could afford to have spices shipped half way around the world. Medicines were also traded which have very obvious value in that they extended the lives of those who could get a hold of them. Pottery was also traded by those in the middle east for products that both the Europeans and the Asians had, this allowed middle eastern nations to develop along side their neighbours and remain in control of their lands.
While some traders brought back the ideas and traditions that they had learned on the Silk Road, some opposed them and tried to force their ideas upon the natives of the land. This resulted in Major conflicts. Through the Silk Road, leaders of the Christians in Europe learned that the "Holy Land" or Israel was under control of the Arabs, They couldn't just let that sit could they? So they sent their great armies to go and reclaim it and thus the crusades began. If the silk road had not existed, how would they have learned of these things? Also, how did these armies get to the Holy Land? Most likely through the trade routes of the Silk Road. Even today, these same conflicts still exist, and it all started on the Silk Road.
As you can see The Silk Road has played not just any ordinary role in the development of Europe from its medieval Society to the modern place it is today, but a lead role that we couldn't have lived without. Now we have many other ways of transporting goods such as air travel and new sea routes, but we also have the ways needed to transport ideas across the land through the media. The effects of the Silk Road are still in effect today, the middle east is in chaos because some are still trying to force those same ideals upon the people, and the people will still not accept them.
While traders traversed the silk road (although very few went from one end to another) they passed by and stayed amongst cultures that were far different from their own, many of these traders that experienced these different traditions and ideas brought them back home with them. For example the Chinese were the first to effectively use gunpowder, and without the silk road this incredible advancement in warfare would have not been available to Europeans for hundreds of years. The printing press which allowed thinkers to get their radical new ideas about freedom and rebellion against the Catholic church was also first developed in Asia. The people of Europe took the idea and applied it to their own lives. Without either of these things, Europe could have very well been the same old society we read about in history books still.
Silk was not the only thing that was traded on the Silk Road. Many other valuable products made their way across the Route for the gain of all who were involved, although most of the benefit does go to Europe. Spices that allowed food that had been salted in order to preserve it to still have some taste to it, a big plus to the lives of those who could afford to have spices shipped half way around the world. Medicines were also traded which have very obvious value in that they extended the lives of those who could get a hold of them. Pottery was also traded by those in the middle east for products that both the Europeans and the Asians had, this allowed middle eastern nations to develop along side their neighbours and remain in control of their lands.
While some traders brought back the ideas and traditions that they had learned on the Silk Road, some opposed them and tried to force their ideas upon the natives of the land. This resulted in Major conflicts. Through the Silk Road, leaders of the Christians in Europe learned that the "Holy Land" or Israel was under control of the Arabs, They couldn't just let that sit could they? So they sent their great armies to go and reclaim it and thus the crusades began. If the silk road had not existed, how would they have learned of these things? Also, how did these armies get to the Holy Land? Most likely through the trade routes of the Silk Road. Even today, these same conflicts still exist, and it all started on the Silk Road.
As you can see The Silk Road has played not just any ordinary role in the development of Europe from its medieval Society to the modern place it is today, but a lead role that we couldn't have lived without. Now we have many other ways of transporting goods such as air travel and new sea routes, but we also have the ways needed to transport ideas across the land through the media. The effects of the Silk Road are still in effect today, the middle east is in chaos because some are still trying to force those same ideals upon the people, and the people will still not accept them.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sudan
How does colonialism apply to Sudan today? to understand this question we must first figure out what happened in Sudan and how Great Britain and Egypt have made their impacts on this country. Back in the 1880's the area known today as Sudan was colonized and ruled by Britain. Almost twenty years later Egypt entered the scene when Britain and Egypt decided to rule Sudan jointly and things stayed that way until the "Closed door" policy to separate the Arab peoples in the Northern parts of Sudan and those of African descent and this worked fairly well until 1956 when Sudan earned their Independence from both ruling nations. Sounds great right? not really, the people were still extremely divided from all those years of living the "Closed door" policies so two major groups emerged, the Africans in the south and the Arabs in the north. Now the two groups could have just split off into two separate nations at this point and everything would've been just peachy. Things don't work that way though instead the stronger of the two halves (Arab groups in the North) took control of the entire country and began to force their beliefs and traditions upon the African groups of the south. All other ideals, traditions and beliefs were suppressed and people were punished if they openly supported them. The Africans weren't going down without a fight though, and this has resulted in civil war throughout Sudan.
The best Solution to this problem in my opinion would be a strong, but peaceful intervention by stronger nations like the US, Britain, or Canada. They could bring some sort equality to all the people. Easy to say though, those countries have their own problems that need dealing with let alone taking the problems of other nations upon their shoulders, and even if they were to step in reversing the damage would take many many years.
Overall Colonialism has had a very interesting and negative effect upon Sudan. But I believe the real mistake here was splitting the two cultures up and having the "Closed door" policy in the first place, the people should have been forced to learn to live with each other and accept their differences long before gaining Independence.
The best Solution to this problem in my opinion would be a strong, but peaceful intervention by stronger nations like the US, Britain, or Canada. They could bring some sort equality to all the people. Easy to say though, those countries have their own problems that need dealing with let alone taking the problems of other nations upon their shoulders, and even if they were to step in reversing the damage would take many many years.
Overall Colonialism has had a very interesting and negative effect upon Sudan. But I believe the real mistake here was splitting the two cultures up and having the "Closed door" policy in the first place, the people should have been forced to learn to live with each other and accept their differences long before gaining Independence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
