Public Meeting Paper Essay Example for Free

Public Meeting Paper Essay The public meeting I went to was at the City Hall chambers building located in downtown El Paso at two civic center plaza drive. It was a regular City Hall Council meeting where voting sessions were conducted. City Council members and mayors of El Paso do these meetings to resolve problems and improve their city through funding, spreading awareness, and implementing laws. City Hall Council meetings are from Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. City Hall Council meetings allow and encourage public attendance and participation. The City Hall Council meeting I went to was Tuesday March 15th. It was three hours long, but I attended the first hour of the meeting from 8:30am to 9:30 am. At the beginning of the meeting there was a Spanish interpreter provided for Spanish speaking El Pasoans. There was also a sign language interpreter provided for people with special needs. Then there was a prayer thanking God’s grace for safety and prosperity and mentioning the devastating natural disaster in Japan, and asking God to have mercy on Japan and protect the U.S. from similar disasters. After that people were asked to stand in respect for the Pledge of Allegiance which was read by City Council members. Mayor Ann Morgan Lilly announced Mayor’s proclamations. First guest was Miss Shanaya Fastje Day who is an 11 year old girl. She spoke to kids about bullying and its impact and effect on kids. She discussed ways to prevent or at least reduce the cases of bullying. She also mentioned the ways on how kids should deal with bullying and who to reach to incase of such incidents. Mayors thanked her efforts especially Mayor Beto O’Rouke. Her father spoke about his daughter’s efforts and asked the city of El Paso to assist and help her to make her cause and efforts influential and effective. Mayor Pro Tempore Emma Acosta thanked her and asked to applause her. The second mayor proclamation was Franklin Mountain Poppies Preservation Day. Jody spoke about it and asked people to attend a celebration in the Northeast area of El Paso. The celebration was open to the public and is done every year near the Museum of Archaeology of El Paso. From what I understood it’s to preserve and breed poppies. Then a group kids identified as girl scouts but had no recognition. They greeted the City Council members as everyone does. The reason they came is in the hope to be inspired and to become City Council members or mayors themselves one day. Kids identified themselves by saying their names and then were thanked and left. Mayor’s proclamations continued and the following was National Brain Injury Awareness Month. This awareness month was March 2011 as approved by Mayor John Cook. The speaker was Nancy Peters who is the director of marketing for Mentis Neuro Rehab center for Brain Injury, and she is also the facilitator of El Paso Brain Injury Support Group. She spoke in general about brain injuries and mentioned statistics and the common ages for brain injuries which were kids from birth to four and from nine to fifteen. Then she allowed some of their patients to share their stories and testimonies. Most of the survivors stories were soldiers of Fort Bliss and veterans of the Iraq war and one of them was a victim of a car accident. They shared their stories and thanked Mentis for their efforts and help for them. Afterwards there was a call to the public where six members signed to talk. Their names are William Hart, Jerry Fade, Lisa Turner, Jorge Artalejo, Lynn Fitzgerald, and Manny Hinojosa. First was William Hart who spoke about anti immigration laws and how unjust they are. He compared anti immigration laws to slavery and segregation laws who were unjust, cruel, and inhumane. He also mentioned that being laws doesn’t make them good, because there are unjust laws being supported by lobbyists who pay money to law makers in the United States. He asked to get rid of such laws and to emphasize justice and compassion. He also mentioned that the United States is an immigrant country and that the founding fathers had values of freedom, equality, and justice. Also mentioned that most the immigrants come at a young age and know nothing and love nothing but the United States. The next speaker Jerry Fade was absent, so the third speaker was called. The third speaker was Lisa Turner who spoke about rolling blackouts of electricity and water. She blamed El Paso Electric Company and PSP. She said that they failed to do their jobs and that there was no excuse not to operate in cold weather as the generators and machines are made to operate in all climates. She complained about them not paying attention to their equipment and generators that are supposed to pump water and air to generate electricity. She questioned them spending enough money on maintenance and renewing their equipment and generators. She also said that an Ice storm in New Mexico affects El Paso because of no generator capacity. The fourth speaker was Jorge Artalejo and his topic was â€Å"the wind of change blows through the desert of El Paso†. He spoke about utilities are supposed to operate in different conditions. He also spoke about the city of El Paso elections. The fifth speaker was Lynn Fitzgerald and his topic was â€Å"Frank Buckles buried in Arlington National Semetary†. He complained about not having enough memorials in the United States to honor World War 1 veterans. He asked for a memorial in El Paso for all female soldiers who fought in The United States wars. He thanked all service men who fought for the United States and asked to honor them. Before he left he wanted to a share with everybody a picture that depicted the disastrous effect of the natural disaster in Japan. Final speaker was Manny Hinojosa and his topic was â€Å"Transparency†. He requested more transparency from the city of El Paso in matters such as money spending, electric company to be accountable, city’s help for the elderly, and computers ships planted in trash cans and their cost and benefit. He also asked them to improve their web site to be ahead of newspapers on what’s going on in El Paso. He also asked them to answer their emails, be clear or transparent, and to post issues or news on their web site as soon as possible. After the call to the public ended, there was the Consent Agenda where members of the audience can vote, and items that are not called are approved. Representative Robertson corrected things and asked questions. He also asked to delete incorrect postings and postpone discussions. Introductions for voting sessions began with item numbers and codes about specific cases. Most of the motions passed unanimously, some of which were about city elections, construction, and health. This was my first City Hall public meeting and it was a new experience to me. I liked the fact that I had the chance to witness how governments operate even if it was on a small scale such as cities. I think that the meeting was productive and positive and continued as expected without disturbances or shortcomings. The most important issue to be questioned during this meeting was about questioning El Paso Electric Company reliability and professionalism. I was there for the first hour of the three hours meeting, which I think is enough time to discuss and get things done.

Fight to Maintain Freedom of Speech on the Internet :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Fight to Maintain Freedom of Speech on the Internet       Imagine yourself trapped inside another world, a world where your essence is made entirely of words that can say whatever you desire. You could be young or old, male or female or neither, you are only as limited as your imagination. Now Imagine that someone wants to have a say in what can be said, seen, and done in this brave new world, what would this change, and more importantly who decides what's 'good' and what's 'bad'?    In the ordinary and mundane world of real life people have always fought for the pursuit of happiness, free speech, etc. They are subjects which have always shouted in the hearts of our nations heroes, and rightfully so. What would our world be like if the government controlled what we were allowed to see and to say? It seems that George Orwell described it best in his book 1984 when he gave the scenario of a society in which people who committed the heinous act of thoughtcrime, the act of thinking something that goes against the party line, mysteriously disappeared into the night never to be seen again. Thankfully, the hordes of would be 'thought police' members have been staved off throughout history and we have achieved a relatively liberal society where people are, for the most part, able to speak their minds openly. Well, even in today's world there are still people who get pissed off when they think that free speech goes to far and they say something about it. This brings me to my main point.    The Internet. A land made possible in 1968 by the Dept. of Defense with the idea that if all other lines of communications were destroyed in the advent of war then at least we'd have computers, (I don't know, maybe they thought the electricity might magically produce itself after the bombing stopped). Any ways, thankfully the Internet has evolved beyond that into something which encompasses just about every possible human interest out there. A hodgepodge of political ideals ranging from big business capitalism to the gender erasing equality of the socialist mindset make the Internet a place where conflicts of interest often arise.

Advantage of science Essay

Science gives us safe food, free from harmful bacteria, in clean containers or hygienic tins. It also teaches us to eat properly, indicating a diet balanced in protein and carbohydrate and containing vitamins. The results is freedom from disease and prolonged life. In pre-scientific days, food was monotonous and sometimes dangerous; today it is safe and varied. It is varied because through improved sea, land and air transport food can now be freely imported and exported. Science has also improved clothing and made it more appropriate for climatic and working conditions. Man-made fibers and versatile spinning machines, today enable us to dress in clothes both comfortable and smart without being expensive. Home, school and office all bear witness to the progress and application of science. Nowadays, most homes possess electric lighting and cooking, but many also have washing machines, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances, all designed to increase comfort and cleanliness and reduce dr udgery. Science produces the fan which cools the air, the machinery which makes the furniture and fabrics, and hundred and one other features for good living. The books and papers are at school, and again everything from the piece of chalk to the closed-circuit television of instruction are the direct or indirect results of scientific progress. Learning is therefore easier. And clerical work is made far more speedy and efficient by the office typewriter, quite apart from the hundreds of different machines which relieve the manual worker of so much slow and monotonous toil in the factories. The first and the major advantage is that medical science is very progressive and vastly available. Without the needed technology a lot of people would struggle with their health. More complicated treatments are being carried out successfully, by means of science and technology. These include surgeries, heart and kidney transplant, artificial inseminations and many others. These treatments are saving many innocent lives. The point is to spread it, and reach with medicine help to the poor nations of the Third World. Again, advanced technology improves industry by making it more effective and, what is vital today, safer for environment. Modern technology has introduced various sophisticated machines into our industries which is increasing productivity at a very fast rate. Work that required technological advancements have made the world a smaller place to live in Dissemination : whether spreading  information, broadcasting news, or sharing knowledge, technology has made it faster, easier, and smarter. Education Disadvantage  with the new science and technology developments most people underestimate the damage it gives us. First of all, I would like to say, that with these new science and technical appliances people became to be lazy. They rarely go out to work on foot or by a bicycle. Now there are a lot of modern cars in the cities, which are said to be emitting less gas. But still their emitted gasses damage the environment, so to my mind, that is why pollution of our environment is increasing. Secondly, it seems to me, that technologies are throwing away our free time. For example, these new laptop computer or those touch-screen devices are full of entertaining programs, which are attracting people effectively. Then people forget how to communicate with others in real life, not through international communication systems like â€Å"Skype† or â€Å"Facebook†.

The British Empire A Successful And Powerful Country

Great Britain is a very successful and powerful country. The country has had a long history of domination over other countries. The British Empire used to be referred to as the empire in which the sun never set. Although it isn t as powerful as it used to be, it still left a large influence on most of the world. Unlike The Spanish Empire which failed to maintain its control the English empire managed to keep control of the globe. By 1921 The English Empire managed to have a total population of 470-570 million people under its empire. The British Empire has been tracked back to originate in the middle Ages. The empire made its first conquest in 1172 in an attempt to conquer Ireland and France during the Hundred Years War (Atlas of British Empire). Great Britain set on a conquest to discover most of the world to claim the land as their own. The British Empire, at its peak, was a golden age of its own due to the mass exploration they set out. The British Empire set out after the remains of the Spanish empire, which before the English, was the most powerful empire in the world. The English Empire at its birth was under the rule of King Henry VIII. King Henry made and integrated the new and Improved English navy. Although his father, who was also King prior to Henry, set out plans for a navy long before Henry. Henry took the plans and modernized them to fit in with the times of weapons and armor. Henry made the super vessel which contained long range guns, new docks, andShow MoreRelatedMughal Empire1191 Words   |  5 Pagesbuilding an empire or a kingdom but it takes rulers and followers to up keep the regulations and tradition in order for it to flourish. Without the work of battles, political advancements and forming connections with other countries a nation cannot survive on its own which eventually leads to its downfall. According to the reading of Talbot and Asher it is clear to see why they concluded the late seventeenth century as a time to prove a â€Å"high tide mark from which the fortunes of the Mughal Empire quicklyRead MoreThe British East In dia Company1565 Words   |  7 PagesLooking back in history, it is quite noticeable that trade and politics has always been associated with one another. Simply saying, the more trade one country made with its trading partner, it is likely the the more political influence one country has. So, to have more control over the profit a company gain, it is easier if the company control the trading market. This is why during the 16th century, the period when independency of a nation was fragile, chartered trading companies such as the EastRead MoreThomas Paine And The Age Of Revolution1423 Words   |  6 PagesBenjamin Franklin once said, â€Å"Where liberty dwells, there is my country†. What did he mean by this statement? It’s a way of saying that where he lives, America, there is liberty. To claim the location of liberty to be one’s country, is to say that the location of one’s loyalty is dependent on the location of liberty. The location of liberty was cruc ial to Franklin, to colonists. In the Colonial Period, colonists arrived from Europe in search for religious freedom, land, and the chance for wealthRead MoreThe Remarkable British Empire1429 Words   |  6 PagesOver a number of centuries, The British Empire colonized or invaded all but 22 countries in the world. This is an astonishing feat that would make ancient empire leaders such as Remesses II or Genghis Khan bow down to the power of the British. Since the Middle Ages, The Royal Class in England desired a wide variety of exotic spices. The merchants were under so much pressure to try to satisfy the high demand, that they resorted to committing criminal acts such as piracy in order to fulfill the demandRead MoreEffects Of Decolonization727 Words   |  3 Pagesdecolonization in many countries. For many people, this was a positive thing as they were to obtain independence from colonies and empires. Decolonization was a long process to begin with, it took almost thirty years af ter World War II for some places. With colonial powers getting weaker, that was great chance for independence for Africa and Asia. Not only Africa and Asia were part of this movement, nations such as the Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese British, and French, empires also developed new nationsRead MoreFor Queen and Country: The British East India Company Essay967 Words   |  4 PagesWhen most people think of the British East India Company, they think of tea, but the English trading group was so much more. The state-backed company used game-changing policies in their business with India and other countries that interacted with Great Britain. While the Company was wildly successful in many of those ventures, they were also involved in many important political events of their time. The British East India Company’s innovative policies and practices, such as their achievements inRead MoreThe Legacy Of The New World1639 Words   |  7 PagesIn the early 1600s, the greatest empire of that time, the British empire, demonstrated one more time its immense level of power by conquering the New World. The Jamestown settlement, also known as the beginning of America, was occupied by a group of British conquerors willing to impose their traditions, culture, and language on the natives of Jamestown. Many historians, politicians, and influential people, as the Queen of England, have claimed that the first British settlement in America was foundedRead MoreThe Common Sense By Thomas Paine951 Words   |  4 Pagesvolume titled Common Sense advocated a revolution in emphatic yet simple language intended for all levels of Colonial society. Paine was highly successful in appealing to the every man, and Common Sense spread quickly across the country. It was so influential and widely read that it is commonly credited by modern historians as being one of the single most powerful catalysts of the American Revolution, a publication so incendiary that John Adams remarked â€Å"wit hout the pen of the author of Common Sense theRead MoreThe Foundation Of Modern Ghana1579 Words   |  7 Pagesgained its independence, Nkrumah’s rule was not necessarily successful and lead to a weak economy. Ghana was originally called to Gold Coast for its abundant amount of gold. â€Å"The West African republic was named the Gold Coast when it was a British colony, as it possesses one of the world’s largest reserves of gold. The many European forts that dot Ghana’s coastline attest to a past where foreign traders settled in the one-great Ashanti Empire, seeking its gold, ivory, and slaves. A significant numberRead MoreBritish East Indi A Period Of Political Stability1457 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 1700’s the British started to gain economic relationships with India. The British East India Company set up a massive trading network and thrived off of an abundance of resources and highly demanded goods that they found in India. Indian cotton, silk, peppers, spices, and indigo were extremely successful in European trading markets. This success in the trading markets fueled English interest in India and led to expansion into mainland India. Weak Mughal rule allowed for the British East India company