Bretagne France Essay Example for Free

Bretagne France Essay Bretagne is found along Frances northern shore. Bretagne is also called Brittany and sometimes referred to as little Britain. It is a land of enchantment and wonders. It features rugged coastlines with some of the worlds most breathtaking views. It features more than 4,000 castles and medieval homes. Its an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts, lovers of fine cuisine and seafood, and anyone fascinated by legends and history. The attractions, weather and scenery, and the festivals are what attract people the most. This region is full of numerous world-class museums and historic attractions. One of the best places to visit while in Brittany is Oceanopolis. It features 50 aquariums from tropical and polar species. The cathedral of St. Pierre and St. Paul is one of the last Gothic French cathedrals. The chateau de Combourg is a beautiful castle surrounded by greenery and water. The Grand Phare or Great Lighthouse is also a great place to visit, being 300 feet high. And finally the musee de la Faience is devoted to the famous pottery. Other fun things to do are outdoor water sports, including sailing, kayaking, surfing and scuba diving. Spa seawater treatments are also available for relaxing purposes. Being close to the ocean, the weather is fairly nice and warm year round. Rain occurs regularly which keeps the countryside green and wooded. Although it rains often, cloudless days are common and sunny in Brittany. In Brittany a common expression and response to people complaining about the rain is En Bretagne, il ne pleut que sur les cons, which literally translates as In Brittany, it only rains on the idiots. This means that if you don’t like Brittany, you should leave. Brittany has many festivals and events. They reflect Brittany’s culture and energetic music and dance. Some cultural festivals include the festival de Cornouaille, which is a festival that displays Brittany’s cultural diversity. Les Filets Bleus celebrates fishing traditions and the Festival du Film Britanniqu previews British films in France. Music festivals are also popular in France. Astropolis is a techno music themed festival celebrated in July. La Route du Rock plays pop and rock music. Les Transmusicales is known for showing brand new acts for undiscovered bands. They also have a festival all about activities dealing with the sea. The Fetes Maritimes de Brest is a sailing event that takes place every four years. The next race happens in July of 2012. La Route du Rhum is a transatlantic yacht race which also takes place every four years. The next race will be in November of 2014. Bretagne is a beautiful, fascinating mix of spectacular coastlines, ancient towns, magical islands and inland woods. With so many attractions and activities you will never get bored. The scenery and weather is unforgettably amazing. The festivals attract many tourists and French people to the area.

The Themes of Euripides Medea :: Euripides Medea Essays

The Themes of Medea    Medea, a play by the Greek playwright Euripides, explores the Greek-barbarian dichotomy through the character of Medea, a princess from the "barbarian", or non-Greek, land of Colchis.   Throughout the play, it becomes evident to the reader that Medea is no ordinary woman by Greek standards.   Central to the whole plot is Medea's barbarian origins and how they are related to her actions.   In this paper, I am attempting to answer questions such as how Medea behaves like a female, how she acts heroically from a male point of view, why she killed her children, if she could have achieved her goal without killing them, if the murder was motivated by her barbarian origins, and how she deals with the pain of killing her children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As an introduction to the play, the status of women in Greek society should be briefly discussed.   In general, women had very few rights.   In the eyes of men, the main purposes of women in Greek society were to do housework such as cooking and cleaning, and bear children.   They could not vote, own property, or choose a husband, and had to be represented by men in all legal proceedings.   In some ways, these Greek women were almost like slaves.   There is a definite relationship between this subordination of women and what transpires in the play.   Jason decides that he wants to divorce Medea and marry the princess of Corinth, casting Medea aside as if they had never been married.   This sort of activity was acceptable by Greek standards, and shows the subordinate status of the woman, who had no say in any matter like this.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even though some of Medea's actions were not typical of the average Greek woman, she still had attitudes and emotions common among women. For instance, Medea speaks out against women's status in society, proclaiming that they have no choice of whom to marry, and that a man can rid themselves of a woman to get another whenever he wants, but a woman always has to "keep [her] eyes on one alone." (231-247)   Though it is improbable that women went around openly saying things of this nature, it is likely that this attitude was shared by most or all Greek women.   Later in the play, Medea debates with herself over whether or not to kill her children: "Poor heart, let them go, have pity upon the

Economies Of The Middle East. Essay

According to the CIA world Fact Book Bahrain is located in the Middle East on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia. Bahrain’s climate is arid though characterized by hot and humid summers while the winters are pleasant. (CIA,2008). According to the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, Bahrain is an archipelago which is comprised of 33 islands and is sandwiched between the east coast of Saudi Arabia and the Qatar peninsula. Bahrain has an advantage in as far as tourism is concerned given her richness in geographical features like the sandy beaches as well as the coral reefs. It also has various museums, archeological sites and traditional markets which are all a plus to her competitiveness. Bahrain is also well known for her liberalistic tendencies in the Middle East region. (Council for International Exchange of Scholars). Being an Arab country, Islam is the most practiced religion although other religions which form less than 25% of the total population are allowed to take place. They include Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism as well as Judaism. In such a set up, where 85% of the total population is Muslim it is only natural that Arabic is the official language. However, English is used in the learning institutions as well as when conducting business. This paper will give an in depth analysis of Bahrain. The US department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs pointed out that in 2007 the population of Bahrain was 708,535 out of which a tune of 32% comprised of non nationals. Statistics of the same year also indicated that annual population growth rate was at 1. 39%. In accessing the composition of the Bahrain population by ethnic background it was established that Bahrainis recorded the largest proportion at 63%, Asians were next with 19% while the Arabs and Iranians were 10% and 8% respectively. The US department of State estimated that Islam is the religion observed by approximately 98% of the total population. It also estimated that other languages used in addition to English and Arabic included Farsi and Urdu. A unique characteristic of the education system in Bahrain is the fact that although it is not compulsory, it is offered for free at all levels. Estimates taken in the period 1991 to 2001 indicated that there was a high rate of school attendance at 84%. In the year 2003 it was established that the overall adult literacy levels for those aged 15 years and above stood at 89. 1% while the rate differed across the genders. (Bureau of Public Affairs, 2007). Males had a higher rate at 91. 9% while females registered a lower rate at 85%. Bahrain finances her citizen’s educational needs from incomes attained from her generous investment in oil reserves. The importance of the year 1920 in as far as the education of Bahrain cannot be underscored as it was at this time that the first public school which served both sexes was introduced. There are 2 universities or high learning institutions where people are able to improve their credibility levels in the job market. To cater for the health needs of her population there is a health science college which offers specified skills in the various medical fields like nursing, pharmacy. According to the 2007 statistics the infant mortality rate was at 16. 18 deaths/1000 live births while the life expectancy for males was 5 years lower than that of the females which was 77 years. Statistics from 2006 estimated that approximately 352,000 people formed the Bahrain labor or work force out of which a tune of 44% was foreigners. The US department of State also estimates that Bahrain is among the highly dense populated states and most of her population settled in the capital city Manama. A considerable percentage of Bahrain’s workforce is comprised of foreigners due to the ‘foreigner – friendly’ policies by the government. Although the naturalization process evokes contrasting views among the Bahraini’s it has seen approximately 10% of the total populations attain Bahraini nationality. Critics argue that the procedures or rather criteria applied could jeopardize the country’s security especially when foreigners previously working with sensitive departments like security are naturalized. There are 2 types of Muslims in the Bahrain state. About 2/3 of the people from the indigenous group are shi’a Muslims while prominent people in the society like the ruling family, numerous members of the government and the military as well as leaders in the state form the Sunni Muslim. (Bureau of Public Affairs, 2007). According to the CIA world fact book, the birth rate using 2008 estimates was 17. 26/1000 population while the death rate at the same year was at 4. 29deaths/1000 population. The rate of net migration was estimated to be 0. 4 migrants/1000 population. CIA also estimated that the sex ratios for the total population stood at 1. 25 males/females in 2008. 2008 estimates also had it that the total infant mortality rate was at 15. 64 deaths/1000 live births while that of females was at 12. 93 deaths/1000 live births. In 2006, the school life expectancy of both primary levels to tertiary education was 15 years though it varied across the genders with males recording a lower expectancy at 14 years while females lagged behind at 16 years. 2001 statistics indicated that approximately 86. 5% of the total population could read and write with males recording a higher rate at 88. 6% and females at 83. 6%. In 1991 the government spent approximately 3. 9% of the GDP to finance the education sector. (CIA,2008). The government in Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy with 5 administrative divisions namely Asamah, Janilyah, Muharraq, shamliyah and wasat. She attained her independence on the 15th of August 1971from the UK. In 2002, on the 14th of February she adopted a constitution that was to be followed. The laws consist of the English law but blended with the Islam laws. The universal suffrage is at 20 years meaning any one above that age has the right to vote. There are three branches of government, the executive, legislative as well as the judiciary. The executive is comprised of the King Hamad bin Isa al- Khalifa who took over in March 1999. the king is the chief of the Bahrain state. The Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa is the head of government and he has held this position since 1971. The monarchy has the responsibility of appointing the cabinet and the prime minister too but the monarchy is hereditary. (CIA,2008). King Hamad Isa al- Khalifa succeeded his father who died in 1999 after being in power for approximately 38 years. King Hamad can be commended for various reforms in Bahrain especially his zest to introduce democracy by changing the current system that was purely a ‘hereditary emirate’ to a ‘constitutional monarchy’. (CIA,2008). His efforts precipitated to a referendum in 2001 for the National Action Charter which approximately 94. 8% of the Bahrain voters endorsed. Another significant act by King Hamad was setting free of most political detainees and prisoner most of whom had been exiled, detained or imprisoned from as early as in the 1970’s for posing ‘security threats’ to Bahrain. Kind Hamad did away with the state security law and court which made it possible to detain people for up to 3 years without trial. The constitutional reforms Hamad introduced saw to it that a bicameral parliament which had a representative from the lower house was operational. Another aspect different from what was initially the trend was the creation of an independent body which was to act as ‘watchdog’ over corruption allegations such as the embezzlement of public funds. This was a way of increasing accountability and transparency in the region. (Bureau of Public Affairs, 2007). Hamad’s efforts were however not without challenges as for instance there were protests against the provisions he enacted on the constitution from members of the Shi’a community. The 2002 election made a mark in the political history of Bahrain as it was at this time when the first woman was elected in parliament. The legislature branch comprises of the 40 member consultative council and the 40 member chamber of deputies. The election of the two councils is different in the sense that the former is elected by the kind while the latter is determined through a direct election. Elections are held after 4 years with the last one in 2006. The judicial system of Bahrain is comprised of a combination of courts adhering to the English laws as well as the Islamic laws or religious and tribal laws. Hamad also made significant reforms in the judiciary when he set a separate branch to over see it. The king’s son or crown prince is the head of the commander in chief of the state’s defense force and the king’s successor. (Bureau of Public Affairs, 2007). Democracy in Bahrain, however is limited to the fact that political parties are discouraged and this had been the case for many decades but with the rise of Hamad to power political societies were allowed to operate (CIA) According to the CIA world fact book Bahrain attracts foreign direct investment a factor that has made various multinational companies settle there and carry out business. This is to the country’s advantage economically. Similar to other gulf countries the role of petroleum in stirring economic growth and development cannot be underscored. It is estimated that petroleum products attribute to over 60% of her total exports which contribute to a tune of 70% of the total government revenues. The petroleum industries directly contribute to approximately 11% of the country’s GDP. Bahrain is also rich in aluminum which is the second largest export. (CIA, 2008). The US department of state noted that other natural resources in Bahrain included textiles, natural gas, fish and pearls. (Bureau of Public Affairs, 2007).

Maternal Bond in Toni Morrisons Beloved Essay - 1595 Words

Maternal Bond in Toni Morrisons Beloved The maternal bond between mother and kin is valued and important in all cultures. Mothers and children are linked together and joined: physically, by womb and breast; and emotionally, by a sense of self and possession. Once that bond is established, a mother will do anything for her child. In the novel Beloved, the author, Toni Morrison, describes a woman, Sethe, whos bond is so strong she goes to great lengths to keep her children safe and protected from the evil that she knows. She gave them the gift of life, then, adding to that, the joy of freedom. Determined to shield them from the hell of slavery, she took drastic measures to keep them from that life. But, in doing so, the†¦show more content†¦Knowing the value of this rarity, Sethe was extremely attached to her children, and refused to lose them, lest she lose herself. The link between mother and child, then, is an important underlying theme throughout Beloved, and one with which Sethe became obsessed. Sethe learned the value of motherhood from an early age. Not wanting the children of the white men that raped her, Sethe?s mother, Ma?am (as she is called in the book), threw all the unwanted children away. But, Sethe?s father was a black man whom Ma?am loved, and so she kept Sethe. Recalling the story, Sethe thinks back on what Nan (the woman who knew Sethe?s mother and raised Sethe, herself) said, ?She threw them all away but you. The one from the crew she threw away on the island. The others from more whites she also threw away. Without names, she threw them. You she gave the name of the black man? (Morrison, 62). Thus having an identity because of her mother, ?Sethe learns Ma?am?s history and grounds her personality in motherly-love? (Kubitcheck 123). Kubitcheck also says, ?mother-love offers the strongest defense against slavery. When Nan tells Sethe that her Ma?am chose to conceive and bear her, Sethe acquires the base on which to build feelings of self-worth? (135). She could also identify with her mother by the mark branded below Ma?am?sShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Toni Morrison s Beloved 1310 Words   |  6 Pages Mommy Issues: A â€Å"Beloved† Response Essay Late in 1987, after being inspired by a fellow story of a female fugitive slave, Toni Morrison pens a novel about a runaway slave and her children. Although Morrison’s â€Å"Beloved† quickly became a best-seller, and even has a movie adaption, it still left the audience with many unanswered questions. 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Love can drive people to numerous mad things with it dangerously so full of craze and passion. In Toni Morrisons Beloved, there were many different love filled and driven relationships. There are family relationships between siblings, and relationships between mother and children. There are relationships between two different adults in various sorts. TheRead Moreâ€Å"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers† so goes the old saying. Giving birth,1600 Words   |  7 Pagesbirth, breastfeeding, protecting and nurturing are all gifts and duties bestowed on mothers. A mother-child bond is regarded the world over as the most perfect and intimate of unions. This is because maternal love is often viewed as a reflection of God’s love towards his creation. However In Beloved, Morrison presents maternal love that is dangerous, devouring , and destructive. Morrison’s Beloved is a story of an African-American woman, Sethe, who escapes slavery with her children because she is determinedRead MoreToni Morrison and Beloved Essay2616 Words   |  11 Pages Toni Morrison was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved, a novel whose popularity and worth earned her the Nobel Prize in literature the first ever awarded to a black female author.   Born in the small town of Larain, Ohio, in 1931, to George and Ramah Willis Wofford, Morrisons birth name is Chloe Anthony Wofford (Gates and Appiah   ix).   Morrison describes the actions of her central character in Beloved, as:   the ultimate love of a mother; the outrageous claim of a slave.   InRead MoreThe Fate Of Twisted Love1604 Words   |  7 Pages Mr. Levy English III 16 November 2016 The Fate of Twisted Love Toni Morrison uses the theme twisted love in Beloved to show symbolism on her past versus her in the present. I. Beloved A. Some believe that she was Sethe dead daughter 1. â€Å" †¦as she sees the actual flesh of Beloved Sethe disappears into the bond with Beloved†¦ Denver sees that something must be done.† (Demetrakopulos 75) 2. â€Å"†¦ Beloved was the reincarnation of the daughter she lost initially fils her with joy andRead MoreThe Dynamics Of Love : Toni Morrison s Beloved2402 Words   |  10 PagesGwonSeob Cha Paper Topic The Dynamics of Love In Toni Morrison’s Beloved â€Å"The need of a love-relationship is the fundamental thing [in life].† (Guntrip 45) Love - possibly one of the most universally known yet personally exclusive emotion felt by man. In merely one word, â€Å"love† is used to express the love between a person and an object, a parental figure and his/her dependent, two people in a platonic relationship, and even the bond between two lovers. Love can also come in a variety of shapes