Biography Of Charles Edouard Jeanneret Gris - 1489 Words

The architectural world in the 20th century regards him as a pseudonym, a man whose systematic expressions of design shaped the physical structures of society in addition to the ideas of those who worked in his field alongside him. Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris was the target of global frustration, for his enlightened views on a new age of architecture were not ones that the early 20th century was willing to embrace. However, there were several voices that spanned from the decades of his life to the present day today, who uncovered the man, the artist, the human being underneath the pseudonym of ‘Le Corbuiser’. Evidently, the voices that uncovered the workings of Le Corbuiser chose not to portray him as a one dimensional, systematic architect who followed five simple points and cried out his opinions for the world to dissect. On the contrary, they all established that Le Corbuiser used the six decades of his life and career to impact 20th century society in various ways: politically, artistically, and literarily. The following texts are written by the voices who reiterated this knowledge—that Le Corbuiser was a man of many faces; the world only seemed to grasp one. One of these voices introduced Le Corbuiser: Elements of a Synthesis, a thorough critique published shortly after the death of the architect, by author and professor Stanislaus von Moos. The critique was revised and republished in 2009 for a plethora of architecture students to use as a primary handbook inShow MoreRelatedUnitÃÆ' © DHabitation, Marseille, France by Le Corbusier.1434 Words   |  6 PagesCorbusiers theories, to a scale that would lead to Modulor. Table of Contents: 1. Biography 2. Introduction 3. Concept ï‚ § Site Plan ï‚ § Spaces ï‚ § Structure ï‚ § Plan ï‚ § Elevation ï‚ § Section ï‚ § Roof 4. Materials Used 5. Interior and 3d views Biography: ï‚â€" Le Corbusier was born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris in Switzerland on October 6, 1887. In 1917, he moved to Paris and assumed the pseudonym Le Corbusier. ï‚â€" In his architecture

Building Defects Free Essays

Introduction: Decay and deterioration can happen in a building for any number of reasons. The first being poor repair and maintenance of the building over its life by users or those responsible for its maintenance such as a landlord etc. It can also mean that there were original problems with the building that impair its ability to function as intended, these may not have been uncovered during the snagging process at the end of the construction stage. We will write a custom essay sample on Building Defects or any similar topic only for you Order Now These building problems are referred to as defects, depending on the type of contact most contracts have a 12 month defect period, this enables the users (and funders) to live in the building through the different seasons and see if any problems occur. A latent defect is after the 12 month defect period has lapsed and the new building shows signs of problems that are so significant that they can stop its functionality (a latent defect period can last up to 12 years on some contracts). Please find below some common reasons for defects: * Design Issues Design professionals (such as architects or engineers) could perhaps specify material or equipment that cannot perform as intended. For example: a geological survey that does not cover enough areas on a site could mean that the subsoil is not consistent across the site and therefore could eventually cause subsidence in the building. The architect’s motivation for the design may be with the building form, function or aesthetics but the completed design could result as a defect as any cost considerations or value engineering if not well planned, managed and coordinated could result in a defects. The use of inferior building materials can cause problems such as windows that leak or fail to perform and function adequately, even when properly installed. Leaking windows are a common defect and prevention requires good workmanship. * Site supervision during construction period Poor supervision during the construction period can result in poor quality and sub standard workmanship. For example: this can often manifest in water infiltration through some portion of the building structure (cracks in oundations, floor slabs, walls, dry rotting of wood or other building materials), electrical and mechanical problems, plumbing leaks and back-ups, lack of appropriate sound insulation and fire-resistive construction between adjacent housing units, etc. The above can prevented with a good Quality Assurance process in place that ensures that all trades are well supervised on site, accurate records are kept on workmanship (this can include pictorial evidence) and guidance is given to all staf f on the quality expectations that have to be achieved on site. The traditional role of Clerk of Works should also be used to ensure that all measures are met on site level. * Maintenance No building lasts forever. Day to day planned maintenance of a building is required to ensure that it prevents any problems in the future. Poor planned maintence can cause defects to occur in buildings that would have performed well had they been cared for properly. For example: a master plan for the buildings mechanical and electrical (Mamp;E) equipment to be replaced (such as Boiler replacements, lighting upgrades, ICT Category cabling upgrades etc. also phased window or roof replacement schedule to ensure that all that entire building envelope is protected to protect from the elements. If maintenance of buildings are not kept up to date then in some contracts ‘latent defects’ would not be honoured as the users have not maintained the works that were carried out in line with the contract therefore the contractors would not be obligated to rectify any defective works. * Service installation Some equipment requires regular servicing under the terms of its guarantee. For example: If a boiler that has been installed with a 10 year warranty is not annually serviced then the manufacture can advise that the user did not meet their obligations and therefore any replacement in the 10 year period would fall to the user to fund. Common Defects found in Low-Rise Housing: Please see below mock defects sheets in relation to the defects outlined in ‘Common Defects in Low-Rise Housing’. These outline the defect, the cause of the defect, the remedy required to rectify the defect and finally any supporting building regulations/guidelines that support this process. STAGE:A| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 6| LOCATION:South Wall| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet 116| DEFECT: Insufficient wall ties below Damp-proof Level | CAUSE: Poor design and specification | FUNCTION:A wall tie is a small piece of metal generally made of steel that is installed between a cavity wall void or between two adjoining walls. The purpose of this is to keep both walls together at all times. A wall tie allows slight movement for expansion but if correctly fitted stops each wall acting independently of one another so therefore keeps the building strong and stable. | DEFECTIVE AREA: * Corroded and show signs of de-laminating (this is when the metal starts to peel and splinter) * Corroded due to water egress (decaying of the tie means loss of strength) * Corroded show signs of ferrous oxide (this is when the metal bubbles and expands) this can cause lifting and cracking the brickwork * Cavity walling that is blocked with decayed mortar that bridged the DPC. Poorly fitted wall ties (this means that it does not function as originally intended) * Incorrect wall ties used (there are 4 different types of wall ties – each tie has its own best area for use)| DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * Ties should be placed at 900mm centres horizontally and 450mm vertically * Sufficient lap of Damp proof course is required all round * Wall ties to be of a minimum size 5/m2 * Ensure tha t ties are as specified and are of the correct type * Use BS or BBA Certificated ties of length and type suitable for cavity width and purpose * Space ties in accordance with BS 5628: Pt 3: 2001. For example: the cavity width should be 50 to 300mm, number of ties 2. 5 per m2, 900 mm horizontally 450mm vertically and provide extra ties adjacent to openings * Check that there is a row of ties at every sixth course of bricks * Ties should be staggered and evenly distributed * Check that the horizontal spacing’s have the correct number of specified ties per m2 * Check that ties are at every block course within 225mm of opening | RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * BS:5628 Pt 3. 2001 | | | | | STAGE:A| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 1| LOCATION:Rear externals| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet 96| DEFECT: Mature trees too close | CAUSE: Poor design and specification | FUNCTION:Movement where a building is in close proximity of a mature trees. This is a common problem found generally in the following species Oak, Poplar, Ash, Plane, Willow and Elm although any very large mature tree close to a building can spell disaster. These trees require a considerable amount of water to grow much of this is taken up by their root system. For example: a mature poplar can take up to 50,000 litres of water from the sub-soil each year. The more mature the tree the greater amount of water it requires. The outcome of the site survey and soil investigation should inform the decision on the type of substructure to be used for the proposed buildings in relation to soil type, saturation levels and lay of land e. g. sloping etc. It is recommended that buildings be built at least a distance equivalent to the tree’s height away from that tree to protect both the tree and the building although in some cases of Willow, Poplar and Elm the root radius can be twice that of the tree height. DEFECTIVE AREA: * The trees potential root radius has not been calculated correctly * Poor choice of substructure for the new building| DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * Repair works require the retrospective installation of a root barrier (see attached diagram). This means detailed surveys are required to identify were the tree roots are. If the tree has a Tree preservation order (TPO) on it then any damage to its roots could mean an ap pearance in Majesties court and a fine up to ? 20,000| RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * BS:5837 * Approved Document A amp; C * Tree Preservation Orders: A Guide to the Law and Good Practice 2000| STAGE:A| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 22| LOCATION:Flank wall| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet | DEFECT: Poor Mortars, Bricks, Blocks in sub-structure| CAUSE: Poor design and specification Poor site supervision| FUNCTION:Mortar is used a bonding agent to secure brick and block work. These three elements used together ensure that the building is sound, secure and water tight. | DEFECTIVE AREA: * Poor specification of an inferior brick and blocks that are engineered to support the loadings of the finished building is poor design planning. A poorly specified mortar could also be the reason that water could ingress the building this could lead to significant problems later for the building. * Poor site supervision of this area could mean that the mortar is poorly laid or not given enough time to set, or could even have been laid in the wrong temperatures such as Frosty weather. | DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * The building may require additional support. For example: underpinning externally could support the substructure sufficiently enough to take the load away from the problem areas. The best method in this case is to pile and beam. This method stabilises the existing substructure by using piles installed either side of  an existing wall. A small excavation is made below the ground level and a reinforced concrete needle beam is used to connect the piles and support the wall. * Reducing the distance between needle beams can accommodate very high loads. | RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * | STAGE:D| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 24| LOCATION:Internal/External various locations| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet | DEFECT: Notches and holes for services mis-positioned and oversized| CAUSE: Poor design Poor site supervision| FUNCTION:The location of holes and notches for services is very important in relation to the functionality and quality of finish to the end building. A misplaced large hole could lead incorrectly fitted lighting, heaters, light switches etc. | DEFECTIVE AREA: * Poor design drawings that are sent to site with the wrong measurements could mean that the location and shape of the holes for services are installed as per the drawing. It is more lightly that this defect would be down to poor site supervision. This could mean that the inappropriate person has been tasked to carry out this work such as a labourer that does not have the skill to read drawings but was asked to install holes for services rather than an electrician or electrician’s mate (i. e. being supervised by the trade lead at all times)| DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * If caught early e nough this should not be a great problem to resolve on site. However, if this was left to practical completion were the building is being handed over to the user/occupier then the works to rectify could be much greater and could include the following: * Re-routing electrics and mechanical pipe works to suit correct dimensions * Repositioning of all electrical and mechanical equipment * No direct connection to main sewer therefore re routing all connections to bathrooms, kitchens and any sinks etc| RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * | STAGE:D| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 30| LOCATION:Door No. GF32| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet | DEFECT: Lintels in external walls: missing, damaged, bedding, insulation| CAUSE: Poor design and specificationPoor site supervision| FUNCTION:A Lintel is a piece of steel or concrete that is used as a support in walls. These are generally used above openings (such as windows or doors) in the wall to support the load above. Lintels are usually supplied with load bearing at each end for 100mm openings up to/including 1000mm, 150mm for openings up to/including 3000mm and 200mm for openings over 3000mm. For spans in excess of 1200mm, it is good practice to provide temporary support such as an Acro at every 1200mm point. DEFECTIVE AREA: * Poor design could mean that the location window or door opening is in a difficult position to properly fit the correct size lintel * Poor specification could mean that a concrete lintel is specified when the location requires a small and compact steel lintel * Poor site supervision could mean that the area were the lintel is to be i nstalled in not supported prior to installation and therefore the floor above is already sagging with the load. Also installation of the wring lintel in time will show on the exterior and interior of the building. DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * Lintels should be carefully bedded on a full mortar joint * Wall ties should be positioned in accordance with current building regulations * A damp proof course should be used for all lintels in external walls, and must be fixed in accordance with building regulations * In cavity construction, it is recommended that both internal and external leaves are taken up uniformly * It is good building practice to insert a flexible joint between the lintel and the top of the frame| RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * BS:12 * BS:882| STAGE:E| WORKS/JOB SHEET NO. 20| LOCATION:| DATE:26th May 2010| BRE REF NO. Defect Action Sheet 73 amp; 74| DEFECT: Floor joist quality and installation: not graded or marked, bowing and twisting, high moisture content and wet rot| CAUSE: Poor specification Poor site supervision| FUNCTION:A floor joist is a beam of wood that stretches from one side of the sub-floor to the other bridging the floor load bearers. They are the essential component to the foundation of each floor level and floor boards are laid onto of them to give a foundation to any floor covering. Wood should be marked Top/Bottom, be graded (for the load) and have a kite mark or brand number referring to BS: EN 14250. | DEFECTIVE AREA: * Poor specification of a floor joist can mean that the wood used is not the correct grading to support the load. This can mean that the floor in time will show effects of overload bowing and twisting are one of the signs. * Poor site supervision of this area could mean that the wood has not been stored correctly on site meaning that it is now warped and twisted and has high water content. If wet rot occurs it is generally at the bearings of timber joists in external walls. For example: the sole or head plates rather than in the studs. | DEFECTIVE CORRECTION REQUIRED: * An assessment on if there is any ‘dead air’ within the cavity between the joists and the floor board. If so, then air bricks (to BS:493) can be installed into the external walls to allow air flow. If wet rot is localised in small area then minor repairs can be made * If poor ungraded wood has been installed then the floor will have to be taken up and reinstalled with the correct graded wood to ensure it complies with current building regulations. | RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARD:| * BS:EN 14250 * BS:493| Area H: Defect| Drains below foundations| Reason for Defect:| * Broken or damaged pipes * Failure to washout subsoil leading to foundation settlement; * Lack of clearance to debris or materials * Lack of flexible joints. * Non compliance with Approved Document H * Non compliance with the Public Health Act revised 1985 * Non compliance with Building regulations C part 2 * Incorrect type and size of pipe used for subsoil drainage * Drainage not laid to correct gradient| Specification Issue:| * Possible poor quality drainage pipes specified| Design Issue: | No| Site Supervision Issue:| * Compliance with Approved Doc H * Compliance with Public Health Act 1985 * Compliance with Building regulations C part 2 * Correct size and type of pipe use for each type of drainage identified e. g. foul, rainwater, soil type. * Ensure movement joints are in place * Ensure drainage meets the required gradient * Ensure pipes are clear from obstructions * Check pipes are not broken or damaged prior to installation. | Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce| Image:| Ref: Image taken from NHBC Good Craftsmanship Guide for Drainage| Area H: Defect| Installation of DPC and DPM| Reason for Defect:| * DPC pointed or rendered over * DPCs bridged by mortar droppings * DPM punctured * DPCs and DPMs not lapped * Fill and paving not kept at least 150mm below DPC * DPM should comply with BS CP 102, Section 3, and Building Regulations Approved Document C. | Specification Issue:| No| Design Issue: | No| Site Supervision Issue: | * Check that edging of DPM projects enough to lap later with the DPC * Sheet should be sealed with adhesive tape and any punctures patched with an overlap of no less than 150mm * Use polyethylene sheet not less than 500 gauge and should carry a BBA certificate or is to the PIFA standard| Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce| Image: | Ref: Image taken from http://www. bricksandbrass. co. uk/images/walls/damp. gif| Area H: Defect| Damp walls | Reason for Defect:| * No DPC installation in walls * Poorly installation of DPC in walls| Specification Issue:| No| Design Issue: | No| Site Supervision Issue:| * A responsible contractor should understand the importance of DPC within the external walls * If just poorly installed retrospective DPC injections can be used to back fill in areas that require additional waterproofing * If no damp proof course is in place then Electro Osmosis method can be used this is when a low voltage steel stake is placed intermediately around the external walls as long as the unit is on it will keep the damp at bay | Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce| Image: | Ref: Image taken from www. petercox. co. uk/prevent| Area J: Defect| No lintel above the window and doors | Reason for Defect:| * No installation of lintel above window and door openings| Specification Issues:| * Possible incorrect lintel specified * | Design Issue: | * For an architect to exclude lintels from the design, it means that they have not complied with building regulations. This is not only a design floor but a dangerous and hazardous way to leave the building| Site Supervision Issue: | No| Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor design management by the design team and should have been picked up by various professionals along the process including Building Control| Image: | Ref: Image taken from http://www. bancroftcentre. org/images/eco/insulation. bmp| Area J: Defect| Plaster break up on internal walls and ceilings| Reason for Defect:| * Bond failure between plasterwork and plasterboard due to ‘watering down’ of bonding agent * Plaster itself poor quality or poorly mixed together (plasterer should have a mate to mix for them as plaster can ‘go off’ quickly) * Cracking due to movement * Drying out period hurried and room artificially heated to increase drying time| Specification Issue:| * Poor quality bond or plaster | Design Issue: | No| Site Supervision Issue: | * Remove poor quality plaster, apply a thick oat of Unibond allow to dry and then re-applying a suitably mixed plaster (plasterer should have a mate to mix for them as plaster can ‘go off’ quickly) * Ventilate and allow to naturally dry out| Maintenance:| * Poor maintenance of internal finishing can make plaster work decay and break up * Poor ventilation or extreme weather (if no heating) then plaster can become brittle and break up| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce and/or poor maintenance by the occupier/users| Image:| Ref: Images taken from Google images ‘plaster work’| Area J: Defect| Shrinkage to wooden floor joists| Reason for Defect:| * Temperature to install to extreme * Stored poorly on site allowing water to penetrate – Part C of the Building Regulations â€Å"Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture† * Area needs better ventilation| Specification Issue:| No| Design Issue: | No| Site Supervision Issue:| * A responsible contractor should have the knowledge and experience to know at what temperatures they can have to install after the installation * Air bricks may need to be installed in the external walls tp improve under floor ventilation * All materials should be stored off the ground and well covered in accordance with building regulations| Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce| Image:| Ref: Image taken from Google images ‘defective timber joists’| Area K: Defect| External wall movement| Reason for Defect:| * Incorrect substructure * Restraints missing from wall to floor| Specification Issue:| No| Design Issue: | * Substructure must be designed following an accurate soil survey, bore holes are taken from the proposed site and are inspected in laboratory condition. * The soil samples are tested and categorised in accordance with their load value * Then detailed calculations are erformed by structural engineers to establish the most suitable substructure for the proposed building * Below a ‘tell tale’ is a measuring device that can check how much a crack is moving over a period of time| Site Supervision Issue: | No| Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor design management by the design team and should have been picked up by various professionals along the process including Building Control| Image:| Ref: Image of a ‘tell-tale’ taken from Google images| Area K: Defect| External wall movement| Reason for Defect:| * No cavity tray installed to discharge water outwards * No weep hole specified in brickwork at lowest tray * No flashing identified, Lead or a suitable substitute should be installed in accordance with BS 1178 * All roof tiles to Part C of the Building Regulations â€Å"Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture†| Specification Issue:| No| Design Issue: | No| Site Installation amp; Supervision Issue | * A responsible contractor should install cavity tray to ensure water is discharged correctly * Ensure appropriate weep hole is installed in the brickwork at the lowest tray level * Install appropriate flashings where required * Ensure tiles and drainage is compliant with Building Regulations Part C| Maintenance:| No| Responsible area:| The above defect is due to poor management on site on manual labour workforce| Image:| How to cite Building Defects, Papers

Cry the Beloved Country free essay sample

Cry the Beloved Country When the earth’s humans were endowed with that spark of life, that intelligence that enabled them to plan ahead for the future generations of all of the creatures inhabiting the earth, and indeed even the very earth itself, only a few took up the challenge—they have since the â€Å"beginning† been the â€Å"People of the Earth†. Cry the Beloved Country is the story of some of those people who found themselves born to Africa. Alan Paton became their spokesperson the minute he wrote these words: Cry the beloved country, for the unborn child who is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, not stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much. Cry the Beloved Country , page 8 This book touched me deeply for two reasons: Paton’s mastery of the beauty of the written word and because my grandmother was a â€Å"Person of the Earth†. She was born on a different continent to a different piece of earth, but no less a part of the earth. She often quoted her own grandmother who first settled the little farm my grandparents bought when my grandfather came home from WWII, â€Å"This 62 acres is too much to starve on and not enough to make a living. † Yet five generations have persisted, careful stewards of this little piece of earth—our little piece of earth—and its many inhabitants: the little brown earthworms in the soil, the ancient pear tree, the owl nesting in the pine tree†¦. They say that my grandmother was afraid to die, but I knew her to be incredibly emotionally and physically brave. Now I think I know the origin of her fear. She loved the earth too deeply to leave it to the stewardship of others. She said to me as I was pushing her wheelchair on a particularly lovely spring afternoon outside the Alzheimer’s unit to which she had been forcibly assigned, â€Å"I am too sad I will never be a farmer again. † She simply did not want to leave her earth. Paton’s story takes place in South Africa in the 1940s against a backdrop of racial tension stemming from economic and political inequality that has a history dating back to the mid-1600s when the first Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa. Before this time southern Africa was populated only by various African tribal groups. The story of South Africa’s colonization is not so different from the colonization of the Americas. At first the Dutch only wanted to set up bases for trade, not to colonize the country, and they met with little resistance from the original inhabitants. But as more and more Dutch people were born â€Å"to the African earth†, they renamed themselves the Boers, developed the Afrikaans language, and by the mid-1700s were settling deeper and deeper into the native Africans’ country taking over their land. Just like the Native Americans, the African tribes were forced off of their traditional lands, decimated by disease and starvation, and defeated in battle by the much better armed Boers. Arriving in 1795, the British aimed to make South Africa a full-fledged colony. For the next hundred years there followed a series of bloody battles involving the British and the Boers and the Zulus, the Zulus led by the famous warrior-leader Shaka. The next two hundred years were not kind to â€Å"The People of the Earth† on either continent. In the end the British were victorious in South Africa and in 1910 they established the Union of South Africa. Just as in Ireland, India, and throughout the British Empire, colonial rule was brutal and oppressive. In 1913 the Native Lands Act limited the amount of land that black South Africans were permitted to own. As Arthur Jarvis stated in the novel, â€Å"†¦just one-tenth of the land was set aside for four-fifths of the country’s people. † Cry the Beloved Country, page 179. Years of drought, overcrowding on the land, poor farming practices, and the practice of turning a blind eye to their black neighbors’ plight—indeed the failure to even recognize them as fellow humans—forced many black South Africans to migrate to Johannesburg to work in the mines and to find whatever work they could find just to eat. It is into this maelstrom of racial and social upheaval immediately before the 1948 implementation of apartheid when one of the novel’s protagonists, Stephen Kumalo, finds himself forced to travel to Johannesburg to find his son and his sister. A Zulu priest, Kumalo is a quiet, humble, gentle man who has a strong moral value and an abiding faith in God. He is sorely tested when he enters the big city of Johannesburg after living his entire life in his little village of Ndotsheni in the Natal province of eastern South Africa. Those in power, I am sure we would recognize them today, those for whom too much of everything is not enough, were welcoming the huge influx of cheap black labor to keep their gold mines going and the gold prices high. Not being â€Å"People of the Earth†, it never occurred to them to provide adequate housing or indeed any sort of services to villagers flooding into Johannesburg. Naive, hungry, confused village people easily fell prey to the big city â€Å"snake people†. Just like little mice they were taken by the vipers who had been patiently waiting. The â€Å"snake people† always know just which paths their victims will be taking. Sustenance for the body and the soul drives the newcomers to liquor, drugs, sex and finally crime. And even though the white man did not provide other services, they did provide themselves with diligent â€Å"officers of the law†. This was the unfortunate path of Absalom Kumalo, as his father was to learn, who because of his fear and naivete, found himself a prisoner of those officers of the law. A young black priest, Msimangu, who befriended Kumalo upon his arrival in Johannesburg explained to Kumalo the horrible tragedy of Johannesburg (that is Johannesburg even today) very succinctly when he said, â€Å"It suited the white man to break the tribe†¦. But it has not suited him to build something in the place of what is broken. † Msimangu went on to say, â€Å"There are some white men who give their lives to build up what is broken. But they are not enough†¦They are afraid, that is the truth. It is fear that rules this land. Cry the Beloved Country, page 56 As human history goes, not so many years later Robert F. Kennedy would say: â€Å"Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change (Ken nedy). † On the eve of apartheid, debilitated by fear, South Africa’s people found themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of inequality and injustice. I have a pin that reads: If you want peace, work for justice (Paul IV). Sadly, precious little understanding that might lead to peace talks was to be found on either side, and it seemed that the cycle of inequality and injustice would go on forever. Paton could not have known in 1946 when he wrote this book that all men would not be paralyzed by fear, but that courageous men by the name of Mandela, Tutu and others would be born, â€Å"People of the Land†, guardians of their earth, to courageously continue the fight for their beloved country. One cannot examine a peoples’ struggles without examining their belief system, what the white men call religion. The two overriding themes of Cry the Beloved Country are the vicious cycle of inequality and injustice and the role Christianity plays in this injustice. Throughout history Christianity has been a source of comfort for the oppressed, as well as tool for resisting oppressive authority. Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu has played a major role on the worldwide stage in gaining social justice for South Africa’s people. He first gained worldwide attention in 1976 during the Soweto Riots against the government’s use of Afrikaans as â€Å"a compulsory medium of instruction in black school (Miller). † The Soweto protest movement became a massive uprising against apartheid. Many African people have always believed that religion is the only common meeting ground that can prevent a racial explosion of South Africa’s racial tensions. Religion has a dark side. As Arthur Jarvis observed, â€Å"The truth is that our Christian civilization is riddled through and through with dilemma. Cry the Beloved Country, page 187. The history of Christianity is riddled with corruption and instances of blatant social injustice. John Kumalo points out to his brother in Cry the Beloved Country that black priests are paid less than white priests. Paton writes how each day Stephen Kumalo and the other priests staying at the mission house in Johannesburg sit down to ample meals in a nice, clean, well-furnis hed home when just outside their door their people are living in squalor, forced to steal and prostitute themselves for a bite of food and a bit of shelter. Just outside their door their people are desperately trying to numb their consciences and hold back their fear with liquor, drugs, and sex. Through his character, Arthur Jarvis, Alan Paton reveals a universal truth about all â€Å"religion† no less true today than it was in 1946 when he penned the words: We believe in the brotherhood of man, but we do not want it in South Africa. We believe that God endows men with diverse gifts, and that human life depends for its fullness on their employment and enjoyment, but we are afraid to explore his belief too deeply. We believe in help for the underdog, but we want him to stay under. And we are therefore compelled, in order to preserve our belief that we are Christian, to ascribe to Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, our own human intentions, and to say that because He created black and white, He gives the Divine Approval to any human action that is designed to keep black men from advancement. Cry the Beloved Country, page 187 I have always believed that all people are born with a â€Å"God† center—an instinct telling us what is good and what is right. Cry the Beloved Country has made such an impact since it was written because those reading it instinctively recognize that Paton’s words are true and rightwords written for all of earth’s inhabitants no matter their â€Å"religion†. We can deny the truth of Arthur Jarvis’s words, but we cannot ignore them. They tell us the universal truth of human existence on this earth. To quote Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, scene 2 â€Å"Truth will out. † The truth is that our civilization is not Christian (or Muslim or Hindu†¦); it is a tragic compound of great ideal and fearful practice, of high assurance and desperate anxiety, of loving charity and fearful clutching of possessions. Cry the Beloved Country, page 188 Bibliography Callan, Edward. Cry, the Beloved Country: A Novel of South Africa : [a Study]. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1991. Giliomee Et. all. The Dutch Settlement. The Dutch Settlement. Accessed March 13, 2013. http://www. sahistory. org. za/print/cape-town/dutch-settlement. Lampure, Kelly. History of Johannesburg. Wikipedia. July 03, 2013. Accessed March 13, 2013. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_Johannesburg. Miller, Lindsay. DesmondTutu. Wikipedia. November 03, 2013. Accessed March 12, 2013. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/DesmondTutu. Shakespear, William. Shakespeare Quotes. Enotes. com. 2013. Accessed March 13, 2013. http://www. enotes. com/shakespeare-quotes. Shillington, Kevin. Timeline of Land Dispossession and Segregation in South Africa 1800-1899 | South African History Online. Timeline of Land Dispossession and Segregation in South Africa 1800-1899 | South African History Online. Accessed March 13, 2013. http://www. sahistory. org. za/topic/timeline-land-dispossession-and-segregation-south-africa-1800-1899.

The effectiveness of situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society Essay Example

The effectiveness of situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society Essay The government are using situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society. I am going to examine the effectiveness of SCP. Situational Crime Prevention departs from mainstream criminology in that it focuses on the importance of the opportunity for crime to occur, the settings for crime, rather than upon those committing the crimes, preventing the occurrence of crime, rather than on detecting and punishing offenders. According to Item A, situational crime prevention involves in the immediate situation in which crime takes place to reduce its likelihood or seriousness. This involves coming up with theories that could be put into practice to reduce the attractiveness of a particular crime, for example using more CCTV and security guards in shops, have anti climbing paint on walls, have a neighbourhood watch areas etc. One of the main crime in society today is shop lifting, situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact on society today use blue inked tagged on clothes stores, this tags are put on clothes and when some one is trying to come out the shop without paying normally it will make a noise that way the shop assistants will know that the person hasnt paid, or if the do try to come out of the shop there is a tag that is difficult to take off, even the person does manage to take of the tag it will leave a blue stain on the piece of clothing. We will write a custom essay sample on The effectiveness of situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The effectiveness of situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The effectiveness of situational crime prevention as a means of reducing the impact of crime on society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This has helped this type of crime reduce however there are still shops lifting going on and there are devises that people can have in order to take of the tag without any problems. Most shops now have guards standing at the door to check for any mysterious behaviour in people, which they have the right to stop any one if they think they could have shop lifted. Burglary in ones house is another form of crime and it is still common now, even celebrities get burgled, situational crime prevention have thought of having neighbour watch areas, where people in the neighbour hood sign up to watch over their area to make sure that there is nothing suspicious is going on, and anything does go on gets reported, having the sign neighbour watch area has reduced burglary as well as other crimes such as littering and fights on the street however this still goes on. As many neighbours fail to report such crime due to the fact that they are afraid or never look out for any suspicions because they are not aware of the environment as they have other issues to worry about. Also most burglars rob houses in the middle of the night when the neighbours are a sleep. We know by law prostitution is illegal and is classed as a criminal if convicted. Making it illegal is one way of preventing such crime however people are still doing this in most parts of the country. Situational crime prevention have also allocated red areas so at times polices will patrol in these areas which they think prostitution is common. On the other hand people say that they are nit the suspect instead they are the victim. And should not be fined or jailed for being the victim, as most women or men get caught into this act because of money or family problems, there should be support for these people and more education. In conclusion, situational crime prevention, has helped reduce crime and made areas less attractive for the suspect, however this does not stop crime altogether. The best crime prevention that most people agree with is CCTV cameras, as being caught on camera is solid evidence in court and suspects are less likely to do crime when there is a camera in view. However, having CCTV camera violates peoples privacy and their freedom. The question of having CCTV cameras everywhere is up to debate. There are many situational crime prevention that have worked but as everything else there are also down points.