JAPANESE GARDENS: NON COMMON GARDENS

When you imagine a garden, you think in flowers, many colors, artificial stuff and other complex elements. However, Japanese gardens are a very simple kind of garden in their appearance but with a big meaning. Consequently, these gardens are made of few natural elements that produce calm feelings. Therefore, the basic elements of Japanese Gardens are: water, materials like stones and wood, and trees.

Among the three components mentioned above, water is a key element. Water is related to the cycle of life, fish (carp), oceans, lakes, and rivers. Consequently, the Japanese gardens are tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stress of daily life; these gardens are designed for a variety of purposes. For example, the cycle of life promotes the flow of the positive energy. The fish represents longevity and strength. Water is often seen flowing down the garden’s waterfalls representing the Yin and Yang, which describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world. Thus, energy, sense, love to nature, peace and relaxation are important benefits found in Japanese gardens.

The basic materials used in Japanese gardens are rocks which are the bones of the gardens. There are different types of stones, such as volcanic, steep, and irregular stones. The sight and sound of water combined with stones produces harmonic sounds helping to fight the stress.  Having a real island and bridge in this area is another important element as well as having a designated place for tea. The elements of Japanese gardens are very natural to relax and have peace.

Japanese Gardens must have a lot of green trees and vegetation. Green color inspires eternity, equilibrium, harmony, and stability. The main purpose of the green color is to produce calmness and relaxation; it connects people to nature. The combination of water with green vegetation evoke two of the most important elements of nature, and one of the principles of Japanese gardens is that nature is part of humanity. If you do not know about a near Japanese Garden, but you need some peace, try to find any green area preferably near a river to feel and enjoy nature.

Due to the few natural elements that Japanese gardens have, they are perfect places to be relaxed. Water is essential because it is one of the basic elements of nature, and it inspires the flow of our daily lives. Elements like stones, bridges, and real islands provide different visual perceptions. All those components reflected in a green landscape create a perfect picture of nature. Building a Japanese garden helps to preserve nature and to have balance in our lives.

Recycling Program Proposal

A recycling program is a very important plan today because of the growing consciousness that the world population has taken. Garbage and waste are no longer just that; they have become part of our lives. It is important that both, individuals and companies, primarily, practice recycling to reduce the waste impact to obtain, if possible, benefits from them. Because of that, we will propose the creation of a recycling program at Hospital Clínica Santa Rita where the recycling practices are minimal; waste generated is very different and require different treatments. For this reason, in order to achieve the implementation of our proposal, we have designed it in 3 main stages such as: completing resources, meeting expectations campaign, and implementing efforts & culture.

In stage 1, it will be created a Committee Appointment that is a group integrated by people who link us up with the environmental and recycling culture. Waste Management Company, Properly Recycling Container, and Environment Friendly Bags Selection will be supervised by an Environmental Manager who has the expertise on this topic. He will be working together with the committee mentioned above. In addition, advertising material will be posted by the committee in order to show the correct recycling procedure. This stage will be the platforms for the rest of our proposal due to the importance of having key people in charge of the recycling program. These people need to be very identified with the big importance of recycling, and they have to transmit that feeling to others.

Stage 2 tries to define the expectations from people mentioned in stage 1. The program needs good and constant communication that will be in charge of the committee by using e-mail, board information, and brochures in order to magnetize the employees’ attention. During this stage, the committee will locate the recycling resources (container, bag, ads). On the other hand, an official program launch will be led by the general manager and department chiefs in order to engage the employees’ commitment. If all these expectations are fulfilled, we could say that the program will be successful and will be conducted in the best way.

Finally, stage 3 looks for putting in action the program and controlling its progress using a near measurement and monitoring by specific committee members who will be in charge of evaluating the recycling quantities. A recycling materials picking will be made by specific committee members who need to control the recycling material picking and sale selected by the company. In connection with the communication matter, a web site improvement will be necessary; the recycling program results will be integrated in the Hospital’s web site in order to demonstrate the culture change. Also, a community outreach will help to show the recycling culture change to others with the employees’ participation. If we want to get better results in something, what we do is more important than what we say.

Our recycling program wants to create, in 3 simple but important stages, a Hospital that is successful in establishing groups of people aware of the importance of recycling, that achieves the minimum expectations of an appropriate recycling program, and that establishes and practices a pervasive culture of recycling. While there may be companies where the amount of waste is incredibly higher than the Hospital’s, small places are better to start. Raising awareness in each person in the company and sharing their commitment to acquaintances can generate a positive chain of involving more and more companies in recycling programs. A vital aspect is to promote in media such as website, recycling practices of the company since sharing something that benefits all of us is very useful. Recycling is caring for one another in this world, but sometimes we do not realize that this world is our home.

Troy Davis: Guilty or Not Guilty…?

Troy Anthony Davis was an American man convicted of having murdered the police officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia in 1989. Many people and organizations believed Troy Davis was not guilty because of the lack of the gun used to kill the police officer. On the other hand, there are evidence and factors that provide reasonable certainty of Mr. Davis`s guilt. In connection with this, a video shows how prosecutor says he has no doubt about Troy Davis' guilt. Three of the most important reasons to believe that Troy Davis is guilty are witnesses, bullets recovered and Troy Davis`s past.

Seven witnesses testified they had seen Davis shoot MacPhail, and two others testified that Mr. Davis had confessed the murder to them. In a trial about homicide, testimonies like these are very heavy and definitively give a strong argument to be considered. Moreover, there were 6 other witnesses who testified in defense of Mr. Davis claiming for its innocence, one of these 6 witnesses were just Mr. Davis. Although there were “six” witnesses in favor of Mr. Davis, the other nine witnesses gave important arguments and opinions that supported the Mr. Davis`s culpability.

The murder weapon was not recovered but ballistic evidence presented at trial linked bullets recovered at or near the scene to those of another shooting in which Mr. Davis was also charged. He was convicted of murder and various lesser charges, including an earlier shooting. In July 1988, Mr. Davis pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon; he was fined $250 as part of a plea agreement in which a charge of possession of a gun with altered serial numbers was dropped. Davis maintained his innocence until his execution. In the 20 years between his conviction and execution, Davis and his defenders secured support from the public, celebrities, and human rights groups. Nevertheless, this past of shootings and trouble with the law did not help Mr. Davis  very much.

Mr. Davis had not only past problems with law; he also had problems in his normal life. Mr. Davis was the oldest child of a Korean War veteran Joseph Davis, and a hospital worker, Virginia Davis.  The couple divorced when Mr. Davis was very young.  Davis obtained his high-school equivalency diploma from Richard Arnold Education Center in 1987. A teacher noted that he attended school regularly but seemed to lack discipline. Davis's nickname at the time was "Rah," or "Rough as Hell" that is a very illustrative nickname about the kind of personality he had.

 

Due to factors like witnesses’ testimonies, ballistic evidence and Mr. Davis`s past, he was convicted to lethal injection. Witnesses identified Troy Davis as the person who killed the police in a parking lot. Also, recovered bullets were consistent with those of other shootings in which Mr. Davis was involved. Finally, Troy's past behavior was easily relatable to a potential murderer. All these reasons confirm that Troy Davis was guilty and needed to be punished for his crime.