Virtue Versus Corruption - Literature Essay Samples

William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience exemplifies his ideas on the nature of creation. They demonstrate the innocent and bucolic world of childhood, versus an adult world of depravity and repression. Blake stands outside innocence and experience, in a place where he finds invalidity in both. The Songs of Innocence emphasize children’s’ naive hopes, fears, curiosities and their transformation to adulthood. They draw attention to the positive aspects of life before the distortion and corruption of experience. The Songs of Experience state the difficult experiences of adult life and how they destroy one’s innocence. Poem, â€Å"The Lamb†, represents fragility and virtue, whereas its’ twinned poem, â€Å"The Tyger†, displays the contrary: evil forces. Though Blake does not identify himself fully with either view, the poems investigate his opposing perspectives on the world, one through a lens of innocence and another through experience. The poem, â€Å"The Lamb† is in the form of a question and answer. The overall question, â€Å"who made thee?† at first, seems very simple, but the child is tapping into profound questions about the nature of his own creation. This poem contributes to the innocence of children, as the situation of a child talking to an animal is a rather realistic one. Yet, since the child ends up answering his own question, this counteracts with the original sense of the poem. The answer is provided as a riddle that the child is capable of answering himself. This shows an underlying or even unconscious knowledge within the child. The answer demonstrates the child’s confidence and acceptance in/of his faith. God is symbolized by a lamb, which Christians see as gentle and peaceful animals. Like many of the Songs and Innocence, this poem is what Blake saw as positive elements of the Christian belief. But it is not a complete teaching, as it does not mention the presence of grief an d evil in the world. With its’ twinned poem (found in Songs of Experience, â€Å"The Tyger†), together, they give a view on religion that includes both the positive and the negative. The poems compliment one another and produce more of a demonstration of innocence and experience than either offers independently. â€Å"The Tyger† focuses more on the negative aspects of the world. It begins with the question that the poem is based on: â€Å"What immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful symmetry?† The later stanzas further explore this idea. Throughout the poem, the question is asked in different forms (i.e. And what shoulder, and what art, could twist the sinews of thy heart?). Blake is trying to put across the idea that, much like a work of art, nature must have some reflection of its creator. With Blakes use of vivid imagery (such as, fire, hammer, furnace, chain, anvil, and spears and the use of severe action words such as, burnt, seize, twist, beat, grasp, clasp, and threw), this creates specific connotations. Though the tiger is a fine animal, it also has a strong capability for violence. Blake’s approach to this is: what kind of god would create such a horrifying beast? What does the indisputable existence of such evil and ferocity tell us about its’ crea tor? And what does this mean about our world; where beauty can contain such terror? Blake applies supernatural creation to the natural world with the blacksmith in the poem, who represents a traditional image of artistic design. The tiger first seems like a remarkable animal. However, as the poem continues, it takes on a symbolic form and embodies the problem that the poem explores: so beautiful, yet so pernicious. Blake’s tiger becomes the initial symbol for an exploration into the presence of evil in the world. The tigers’ nature dwells both in physical as well as moral conditions. Therefore, the speaker’s questions about its design must also include these two dimensions. The series of questions in this poem ask what the â€Å"fearful symmetry† of the tiger suggests, presuming that only a very powerful being could create such a species. The reference to the lamb in the second last stanza reminds the reader that the same God created both the tiger and the lamb. This demonstrates the contrast between the views of â€Å"innocence† and â€Å"experience† in both poems. Revolution is defined as â€Å"a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving†. These poems, written years apart, take on opposite views. â€Å"The Lamb† represents a bright and innocent world full of happiness, whereas â€Å"The Tyger† is the opposite: dark. Combined, the question that the two ask is one worth pondering: How could such good and such evil exist in the same world? Blake makes a complete turn around with the way he looks at the world. He leaves us wondering about the concept of creation, the strength of God’s power and what he chooses to do with it. The perspective of experience in â€Å"The Tyger† involves a refined recognition of what we cannot explain in the universe. The wonders and questions of â€Å"The Tyger† contrast with â€Å"The Lamb†, where a child has such innocent faith in a kind universe. Bibliography: Blake, William. Songs of Innocence and of Experience. New York: Oxford University Press, 1970. Print.

Ecotourism as a Form of Sustainable Tourism Assignment - 3025 Words

Ecotourism as a Form of Sustainable Tourism Assignment (Term Paper Sample) Content: Teresa MulomiTo: Mrs Rosemary KowourTRO: 456Ecotourism as a form of sustainable tourism: Theory and Practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Tourism kills tourism,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ is a statement that best captures the exploitative and destructive nature of tourism from loss of habitats to depletion and contamination of natural resources. Without necessary checks and balances to minimize these unfavorable impacts, tourism may endanger the very ecological assets on which they depend (Wood, 2002).The massive influx of tourist places enormous pressure on the environment. Stevens (2003) argues that the continued use of logs by camping groups and the cutting down of trees has led to thinning of vegetation in the Mt. Everest region. This increased loss of natural habitats heightens the vulnerability of endangered species (Munarura, Backman Sabuhuro, 2013). Tourism like any other industry is responsible for different kinds of pollutions from carbon emissions, solid waste and littering, sewage rele ase, noise and visual pollution (UNEP, 2001).In Mediterranean regions, demand of freshwater exceeds supply and this is further exacerbated by the massive flow of water to swimming pools and golf courses for use by tourists. In Thailand it is estimated that an average golf course uses as much water as 60,000 rural villagers while in Spain a tourist uses 440 litres a day compared to dwellers who use 250 litres a day, this number doubles if the tourist uses golf courses and swimming pools (Stephano, 2003; Barnett, 2011, Kotler, 2008)Growing concerns over environmental degradation and discontent with mass tourism led to the emergence of sustainable tourism as a plausible substitute to mass tourism. Sustainable tourism is defined as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"tourism that leads to the management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems (WTO, 2004).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Over the years sustainable tourism has grown into a large pool with multiple niches commonly referred to as alternative tourism. Nature, rural, community-based, green and life-seeing tourism are just some of the sustainable tourism approaches. Eco-tourism is one such alternative approach believed to be a subset of nature tourism.The term eco-tourism in itself has been subject to debate in both international and academic fora. However, there seems to be a consensus on the guiding principles of ecotourism. Eco-tourism entails three main components: the preservation of natural pristine ecosystems; the sensitization of both tourists and locals on the value of sustainability and profiting local people. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES, 2006) defines ecotourism as "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." In 2004 it was estimated that the eco-tourism sector was developing three times faster than other forms of tourism (WTO, 2004 cited in TIES 2006)MASS TOURISMJust like eco-tourism, mass tourism has no clear definitions and tends to be described in terms of its manifestation. Seasonal and climatic factors influence to a great extend the big inflow of tourist who flock tourist destination during summer months. Unlike alternative tourism that is characterized by small groups and year round activities aimed at generating average capacities, mass tourism is distinguished by an influx of tourists, high population movement and congestion (Hauser, 2009).Hauser (2009) highlights three approaches that can be used to describe mass tourism; the number of tourists; the magnitude of tourism impact to local conditions; the temporary or permanent nature of the resulting effects and impacts relates to the destination carrying capacities or limits. A common argument put forth is that mass tourism corrodes natural systems by exceeding the carrying capacity. However, establishing d efinite limits or measuring tourist impacts defies easy evaluation since there are no absolute indicators for measuring carrying capacities vis-ÃÆ'-vis impacts (Hauser, 2009)Mass tourism impact on the environment has been of particular concern. Housing land and natural habitats are taken up by hotels and villas. Hawaii, once a beautiful natural island is now barely unrecognizable with numerous skyscrapers, six lane highways and an influx of tourists (Goldsmith, 1974). The coral reefs of Barbados are being mutilated by the toppling and trampling of divers and the dropping and dragging of anchors by tourist divers (Responsible Travel, 2010). The excessive extraction of water to be used for golf courses has exacerbated the water scarcity problems in some regions like Goa and Benidorm. Air travel, the most common mean of transport used by most tourists continues to be the leading cause of global warming, not to mention the carbon emitted by tour carriers.Mass tourism has also been acc used of being insensitive to the local peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s need and culture. The economic benefits of tourism are sometimes not felt by the local people due to foreign exchange leakage and foreign ownership of tourist amenities. For example, the Dominican Republic a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean which reported high economic growth in the 1996-2000 had an estimated 90% of its population living in poverty. The lack of economic trickle down was attributed to the fact that most of the tourist amenities were owned by foreigners. Worse still, the cultural heritage of the local people is either ignored or corroded by mass tourist advocates who seek to "construct a superficial exoticism" (Responsible Travel, 2010).Mass tourism is a form of sun, sand, sea and sex wholesale tourism (Goldsmith, 1974). The objective for many mass tourism stakeholders is making money fast. As a result, mass tourism is insensitive to the environmental, cultural and social impacts presented by touri st activities.However mass tourism is not entirely a dooms package as the considerable expansion of infrastructure and revenue generated from tourist activities can go a long way in contributing towards a countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s economy and development. For instance, 20% of Jamaicaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s economy depends on tourism even though this over-reliance on tourism has also been questioned.Alternative tourism approaches were born out of a need to remedy mass tourism adverse effects. Sustainable tourism stresses the importance of preserving natural and cultural treasures and aims at boosting long-term socio-economic development of tourist destinations. However, if poorly implemented, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"sustainable tourismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ approaches may end up being as destructive as mass tourism.CHALLENGES OF ECO-TOURISMOver the years, ecotourism has emerged as a low impact, small scale approach to sustainable nature tourism. IUCN (1996) captures the whole essence of eco-tourism through this descrip tion:Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any cultural features) that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. (IUCN, 1996)The goal of ecotourism is to maintain the monetary and societal benefits of tourism growth while mitigating any unfavorable effects on the natural, cultural and historic setting. This is accomplished by matching touristsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ desires with the needs of the local area.Although eco-tourism is intended to be a form of sustainable tourism it is not automatically sustainable. In fact, cases have proved that depending on how it is implemented, ecotourism can be equally destructive as mass tourism.The lack of a clear-cut definition of ecotourism lends it to different interpretations and application. Weaver (2001) argues that the term ecotourism has been rendered meaningless due to the vagaries and ambiguities surrounding the term. The term is used arbitrarily to express anything related to nature or green tourism (Kurt Kay quoted in Honey 1999). Eco-tourism is equated with the many shades of green tourism such as nature, responsible, green, and sustainable tourism.Application of eco-tourism is further complicated by the fact that there are no clear indicators to measure for sustainable eco-tourism. Stem, Lassole, Lee and Deshler (2003) outline different levels of ecotourism, active vs. passive, hard vs. soft or deep vs. shallow. This lack of hard-lined positions has led to the green washing of ecotourism.Green sells and the prefix Eco is employed as marketing gimmick with the sole purpose of boosting sales. Ecotourism is being promoted by mass market companies who have no commitment to the environment, the local people or the culture. To some, ecotourism simply means visiting exotic natural destinations or any green activity. These misleading packages have rendered ecotourism meaningless given that the eco-claims are not enforced or demonstrated.Imposing limits in terms of the carrying capacities is a key principle of sustainable tourism. Carrying capacities operate as guidelines for determining the use and impact of tourist activities vis-ÃÆ'-vis the physical, biological, psychological and social resources of the tourist destination (Coccossis, 2004). The tourism industry has traditionally depended on high market demand and expansion and therefore imposing limits seems ludicrous. The problem is further compounded by the fact that the application of carrying capacities defies easy implementation due to the dearth of knowledge and lack of universally accepted indicators of carrying capacity (Hauser, 2009).The lack of understanding of what constitutes an ecotourism experience and the green washing of ecotourism have resulted in the poor unsustainab...