FOUN 1101 by Lina Rosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays Caribbean Civilization- Reflective Journal en-us 2017-11-29 01:15:35 UTC 2023-04-29 17:44:48 UTC hello@padlet.com The Importance of Peace (2017, October 9) linarosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/201532297 To be independent and free define people’s future, and to understand one part of the colonial powers impact on the Caribbean freedom, a comparison to Sweden, as inheriting a history of liberty, exemplifies how peace and independence could affect development and freedom of a nation or a region. 

Firstly, Sweden avoided war for more than 200 years (The Local). Further on, it never fought for independence and stayed out of WW1 and WW2 (Erixson 1996). Those conditions are essential when it comes to how it developed. Many other countries, especially former colonies had to, during the post-war time, seek for their independence. The Caribbean islands were fortune though because of their size; it made them stay out of the war. Instead, they received their independence. Crucial facts that could be a reason for not developing civil war, which has been a consequence in many African countries after freedom. However, the Caribbean was still colonial, so when they finally were free and could establish a political system, Sweden had spent 25 years of developing in technology, industries, and political systems. An advantage that is still shown in contemporary societies and especially in economics. 

Secondly, being a former colony has affected relations between other countries. Swedish people have access without significant difficulties to travel and get visa easily. However, for citizens of the Caribbean entering, for example, the U.S. a visit to the Embassy in Barbados is needed. Instead, Europeans can make a fast online application (US Embassy Barbados, 2017). Additionally, the price is unfair. The Caribbean's pay 160 USD compared to Europeans who pay 15 USD for a VISA into the U.S. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2017); it limits the ability to travel and explore.

In summary, these two examples show the importance of peace and how it could affect contemporary societies. 

Cited Works
Erixson, Lennart.”The Golden Age of the Swedish Model: The Coherence Between Capital Accumulation and Economic Policy in Sweden in the Early Postwar Period  Economic,1996. http://www2.ne.su.se/paper/lerixon.pdf. Accessed 27 Sep. 2017

"The Local" Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace 2014,  https://www.thelocal.se/20140815/sweden-celebrates-200-years-of-peace . Accessed 8 Oct. 2017.
 
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection” ESTA: Electronic System for Travel Authorization 2017,  https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. Accessed 27 Sep. 2017. 
 
“U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS.” Nonimmigrant Visas, 2017, https://bb.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ . Accessed 26 Sep. 2017.


]]> 2017-10-29 20:22:29 UTC https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/201532297 The Danger of A Single Story: Welcome to Caribbean linarosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/201775866 "Welcome to The Caribbean: white beaches, Bob Marley’s reggae, and marijuana. No laws and all you do is to chill or as the local people would say, lime. So grab a beer and enjoy the breeze!" 
 
It is what we know; this is the single story of the Caribbean trough media, news, Hollywood, and the video above is how I imagined it. All of it is true, but as  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian writer says in her Ted Talk, The Danger of a Single Story, "it is not complete." 
 
So ending up in Trinidad, the largest producer of natural gas in the Western Hemisphere and an island depending on oil was the opposite (GOV. TT). Also seeing an isle provide free education with a population literacy reaching 99% 2015 (Trinidad and Tobago Literacy), and moreover, an island where a female prime minister entered the stage 2010 for the first time challenged my perceptions of the Caribbean (The Guardian). There was not only music, beaches, and tropical fruits.
 
Although, all of this true, these things never reached out. It is not the version of the Caribbean that exist in my world. But by excluding these another part, we excluded people, and we dehumanize their values as human beings. By only showing magazines with honeymoon beaches we diminish this part of the world believing this is all they are capable of so the places, the people, the events become unilateral and skewed. Moreover, this is what Adichie feared in her speech, that people would stop believing in what others are or can do. That preconceived images prevent people from being given a chance and instead, they have to prove that this is not all. But to change a set mind, that is a challenge in itself. Therefore, Adichie's speech is crucial, not only in the Caribbean but all over the world. 
 
“Trinidad and Tobago Literacy.” Trinidad and Tobago Literacy - Demographics, 9 July 2017, www.indexmundi.com/trinidad_and_tobago/literacy.html. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.Web.
 
“Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago .” (GOV. TT). Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries: Oil and Gas Industry 26 Nov. 2017, www.energy.gov.tt/our-business/oil-and-gas-industry/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2017.Web.
 
“The Guardian.” Trinidad and Tobago elects first female prime minister, 25 May 2010, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/25/trinidad-tobago-female-prime-minister Accessed 27 Sep. 2017.Web.
  
]]> 2017-10-30 15:31:46 UTC https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/201775866 The Flag on Top for Haiti (2017, November 16) linarosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/208129224 The French flag raised during the 18th century, Haiti, the leading producer of coffee and sugar within the Caribbean (Encyclopædia Britannica). Following time, 1804, the Haitians' gains independence and rises another flag. However, the flag would stay, but the prosperity and ground would die as the picture shows.
 
 In 2010, after the earthquake, young Canadians came together performing a version of Wavin' Flag (Young Artists for Haiti). The song demonstrated the tragic outcome of the shock and encouraged people to help. In the end, they sang "We can be the reason they can see the flag rise again." A quotation that brought hope but where was this when all Haiti did was to call for their freedom but instead ended up in poverty, debts, no infrastructure, and violence? 
 
It is not bad luck that made Haiti one of the poorest countries sustaining on foreign aid, but the earthquake viewed as bad luck. But if Haiti’s’ independence would have accepted, and the colonial powers understood peoples request for freedom, the shock would probably not have had that tremendous impact making 55 000 people still living in camps 2017 (Cook). These consequences of the disasters have its beginning in the 18th century, Haiti becoming the first independent country, winning a war against the colonial powers. A war that not only gained freedom but the cost of lives, destroyed the land, and emptied the national budget. To make France leave and to achieve their recognition, Haiti had to pay an indemnity that lasted until 1947. At that point, the economy never recovered (Henley). And today, we see the price paid for the fight of freedom. People are living in poverty and crime, but also, in democracy. Although the cost was high, Haiti is independent, and today known for being the first out of slavery, to raise their flag on top, and for that, they should be pride. 
 
Cited Works

"Encyclopædia Britannica."  Haitian Revolution, 2016.   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Haitian-Revolution . Accessed 12 Nov. 2017. Web.

Cook, Jesselyn. "7 Years After Haiti's' Earthquake, Millions Still Need Aid." The Huffington Post 1 December 2017 . https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/haiti-earthquake-anniversary_us_5875108de4b02b5f858b3f9c 10 November 2017 Accessed. Web. 

Henley, Jon. (2010, January 14). "Haiti: a long descent to hell." The Guardian 14 January 2010.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/14/haiti-history-earthquake-disaster 12 November 2017 Accessed. Web.  

YoungArtistHaitiVEVO. 

"Young Artists For Haiti - Wavin' Flag." Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 9 March 2010. Web.  10 November 2017.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB7L1BIDELc

 
]]> 2017-11-17 14:51:42 UTC https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/208129224 Reflection (26 November, 2017) linarosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/208161804 2017-11-17 15:49:45 UTC https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/208161804 The Danger of a Single Story : Welcome To the Caribbean linarosenkvist https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/210551448 2017-11-27 17:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/linarosenkvist/3l97nwtdtays/wish/210551448