Season by Wole Soyinka Essay -- English Literature

Season by Wole Soyinka There seems to be a strange contrast between his choice of the word â€Å"decay†, which suggests things going to ruin and the final sentiment where the word â€Å"promise† indicates hope. I get the sense that Soyinka’s poem is contrived. He feels the urge to speak lyrically about this subject but does not seem to have found his authentic voice, or perhaps the theme is too complex for him to address in a sixteen line poem. This is reflected in lines such as â€Å"Pollen is mating time† which not only fails to make sense but is also rather clumsy. This poem begs comparison with Achebe’s â€Å"Refugee Mother and Child† that redefines aesthetics through comparison with traditional Western sensibilities. He shows the harsh reality of humans on the brink of starvation whilst Soyinka shows humans dependent on, yet in harmony with, nature. Soyinka too redefines some words through context but his spin on the relationship between humans and nature is a more hopeful one. The word â€Å"loved† is in the past tense thus indicating a time gone by. This suggests that the firs...

Night World : The Chosen Chapter 16

A fighter knows instinctively when there's no chance. But Rashel planned to fight anyway. And then she noticed something wrong. The vampires should have caught it first. Then-senses were sharper. But their senses were turned inward, focused on the victims in front of them. Rashel was the only one whose senses were turned outward, alert to everything but focused on nothing. There was a smell that was wrong and a sound. The smell was sharp, stinging, and close by. The sound was soft, distant, but recognizable. Gasoline. She could smell gasoline. And she could hear a faint dull roar that sounded like the fireplace in the gathering room-but was coming from somewhere else in the house. It didn't make sense. She didn't understand. But she believed it. â€Å"Quinn, get ready to run,† she said, a gasp on a soft breath. Something was about to happen. No, we have to fight- His thought to her broke off. Rashel turned to look at the doorway. Hunter Redfern had moved into the gathering room-but there was someone in the hall. Then the someone stepped forward and Rashel could see her face. Nyala was smiling brilliantly. Her small queenly head was high and her dark eyes were flashing. She was holding a red gasoline can in one hand and a liter of grapefruit juice in the other. The bottle was almost full of liquid and had a burning rag stuffed in the top. Gas. Gas from the pump on the wharf, Rashel thought. A Generation-X Molotov cocktail. â€Å"It's all over the house,† Nyala said, and her voice was lilting. â€Å"Gallons and gallons. All over the rooms and the doors.† But she shouldn't be hanging on to it, Rashel thought. That bottle is going to explode. â€Å"You see, I am a real vampire hunter, Rashel. I figure this way, we get rid of them all at once.† And the house is already burning†¦. Behind the carved screen on the right side of the room, ruddy light was flickering, growing. The faint roar that had disturbed Rashel was louder now. Closer. And everything's wood, Rashel thought. Wood paneling, wood floors. Frame house. A deathtrap for vampires. â€Å"Get her,† Hunter Redfern said. But none of the vampires charged toward Nyala with her about-to-explode bottle of death and her can of fire accelerant. In fact, they were backing away, moving to the perimeter of the room. Hunter spun to face Nyala directly. You need to put that down, he began in telepathic tones of absolute authority-at the same time Rashel shouted, â€Å"Nyala, no-â€Å" The sound of telepathy seemed to set something off in Nyala. Flashing a dazzling savage smile, she smashed the grapefruit juice bottle at his feet. With almost the same motion, she threw the gasoline can, too. It was flying in a graceful arc toward the fireplace, spinning, spilling liquid, and vampires were scattering to try to get out of the way. And then everything was exploding-or maybe erupting was a better word. It was as if a dragon had breathed suddenly into the room, sending a roaring gale of fire through it. But Rashel didn't have time to watch-she and Quinn were both diving. Quinn was diving for the floor past Nyala, trying to drag Rashel with him. Rashel was diving for Timmy. She didn't know why. She didn't think about it consciously. She simply had to do it. She hit Timmy with the entire force of her body and knocked him to the floor. She covered him as the fire erupted behind her. Then she scrambled to her knees, her arm locked around his chest. Everything was noise and heat and confusion. Vampires were yelling at each other, running, shoving each other. The ones who'd been splattered with gas were on fire, trying to put it out, getting in one another's way. â€Å"Come on!† Quinn said, pulling Rashel up. â€Å"I know a way outside.† Rashel looked for Nyala. She didn't see her. As Quinn dragged her into the hall, she saw dark smoke come billowing from the dining-room area. The hall was bathed in reddish light. â€Å"Come on!† Quinn was pulling her across the hall, through the smoke. Into a room that was full of orange flames. â€Å"Quinn-â€Å" Timmy was kicking and struggling in Rashel's arms. Yelling at her. She kept her grip on him. And she went with Quinn. She had to trust him. He knew the house. She hadn't realized how frightening fire was, though. It was like a beast with hot shriveling breath. It seemed alive and it seemed to want to get her, roaring out at her from unexpected places. And it spread so fast. Rashel would never have believed it could move so quickly through a house, even a house soaked with gasoline. In a matter of minutes the building had become an inferno. Everywhere she looked, there was fire, smoke, and a horrifying reflection of flames. They were on the other side of the room now, and Quinn was kicking at a door. His sleeve was on fire. Rashel twisted her hand out of his and beat at it to put it out. She almost lost hold of Timmy. Then the door was swinging outward and cool air was rushing in and the fire was roaring like a crazy thing to meet it. She was simply running, in panic, her only thought to hold on to Timmy and to stay with Quinn. They were out. But she smelled burning. And now Quinn was grabbing her, rolling her over and over on the sandy unpaved road. Rashel realized, dimly, that her clothes were on fire in back. Quinn stopped rolling her. Rashel sat up, tried to glance at her own back, then looked for Timmy. He was crouched on the road, staring at the house. Rashel could see flames coming out of the windows. Smoke was pouring upward and everything seemed as bright as daylight beneath it. â€Å"Are you all right?† Quinn said urgently. He was looking her over. Rashel's whole body was washed with adrenaline and her heart was pounding insanely. But she couldn't take her eyes off the house. She stumbled to her feet. â€Å"Nyala's in there! I have to get her.† Quinn looked at her as if she were raving. Rashel just shook her head and started helplessly toward the house. She didn't want to go anywhere near it. She knew the fire wanted her dead. But she couldn't leave Nyala in there to burn. Then Quinn was shoving her roughly back. â€Å"You stay here. I'll get her.† â€Å"No! I have to-â€Å" â€Å"You have to watch Timmy! Look, he's getting away!† Rashel whirled. She didn't have any clear idea of where Timmy might be getting away to-but he was on his feet and moving. Toward the house, then away from it. She grabbed for him again. When she turned back toward Quinn, Quinn was gone. No-there he was, darting into the house. Timmy was screaming again, kicking in her arms. â€Å"I hate you!† he shouted. â€Å"Let go of me! Why did you take me out?† Rashel stared at the house. Quinn was inside now. In that holocaust of flame. And he'd gone because of her, to save her from going herself. Please, she thought suddenly and distinctly. Please don't let him die. The flames were roaring higher. The night was brilliant with them. Fire was raining in little burning bits from the sky, and Rashel's nose and eyes stung. She knew she should get farther back, but she couldn't. She had to watch for Quinn. â€Å"Why? I hate you! Why did you take me out?† Rashel looked at the strange little creature in her arms, the one that was biting and kicking as if it wanted to go back into the burning house. She didn't know what Timmy had become-some weird combination of child, adult, and animal, apparently. And she didn't know what kind of future he could possibly have. But she did know, now, why she'd brought him out. She looked at the childish face, the angry eyes full of hate. â€Å"Because my mom told me to take care of you,† she whispered. And then she was crying. She was holding him and sobbing. Timmy didn't try to hold her back, but he didn't bite her anymore either. Still sobbing, Rashel looked over his head toward the house. Everything was burning. And Quinn was still inside†¦. Then she saw a figure silhouetted against the flames. Two figures. One holding the other, half carrying it. â€Å"Quinn!† He was running toward her, supporting Nyala. They were both covered with soot. Nyala was swaying, laughing, her eyes huge and distant. Rashel threw her arms around both of them. The relief that washed over her was almost more painful than the fear. Her legs literally felt as if they had no bones-she was going to collapse at any second. She was tottering. â€Å"You're alive,† she whispered into Quinn's charred collar. â€Å"And you got her.† She could feel Quinn's arm around her, holding hard. Nothing else seemed to matter. But now Quinn was taking his arm away, pushing her along the road. â€Å"Come on! We've got to get to the wharf before they do.† In a flash, Rashel understood. She got a new grip on Timmy and turned to run toward the hiking path. Her knees were shaking, but she found she could make them move. They lurched down the path in the wild grass, Quinn supporting Nyala, she carrying Timmy. Rashel didn't know how many vampires had made it out of the burning house-she hadn't seen any- but she knew that any who did would head for the dock. Where she and Annelise had disabled the boats. But as the wharf came into view, Rashel saw something that hadn't been there when she left it. There was a yacht in the harbor, swinging at anchor. â€Å"It's Hunter's,† Quinn said. â€Å"Hurry!† They were flying down the hill, staggering onto the wharf. Rashel saw no sign of the werewolf she'd tied up earlier, but she saw something else new. An inflatable red dinghy was tied to the pier. â€Å"Quick! You get in first.† Rashel put Timmy down and got in. Quinn lifted Timmy into her arms, then put Nyala in. Nyala was staring around her now, laughing in spurts, then stopping to breathe hard. Rashel put her free arm around her as Quinn climbed in the dinghy. Every second, Rashel was expecting to see Hunter Redfern appear, blackened and smoldering, with his arms outstretched like some vengeful demon. And then the tiny motor was purring and they were moving away from the wharf. They were leaving it behind. They were on the ocean, the cool dark ocean, freeing themselves from land and danger. Rashel watched as the yacht got bigger and bigger. They were close to it now. They were there. â€Å"Come on. We can climb up the swimming ladder. Come on, fast,† Quinn said. He was reaching for her, his face unfamiliar in a mask of soot, his eyes intense. Absolutely focused, absolutely determined. Thank God he knows what to do on a boat. I wouldn't. She let Quinn help her up the ladder, then helped Timmy and Nyala. Nyala had stopped laughing entirely now. She was simply gasping, looking bewildered. â€Å"What happened? What-?† She stared toward the cliffs where orange flame was shooting into the sky. â€Å"I did that. Did I do that?† Quinn had pulled up the anchor. He was heading for the cockpit. Timmy was crying. Kneeling on the deck, Rashel held Nyala. Nyala's eyelashes were burned to crisp curls. There was white ash on the ends. Her mouth was trembling and her body shook as if she were having convulsions. â€Å"I had to do it,† she got out in a thick voice. â€Å"You know I had to, Rashel.† Timmy sobbed on. A motor roared to life. All at once they were moving swiftly and the island with its burning torch was falling behind. â€Å"I had to,† Nyala said in a choked voice. â€Å"I had to. I had to.† Rashel leaned to rest her head on Nyala's hair. Wind was whipping around her as they raced away. She held the tiny vampire in one arm and the trembling human girl in the other. And she watched the fire get smaller and smaller until it looked like a star on the ocean.

Balancing The Protection Of Refugees With National Security A Critical Analysis Of The Kenya Refugee Act - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2616 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Topics: Refugees Essay Did you like this example? ABSTRACT. It has become a reality that most refugee situations are found in the worlds most hostile environs. This is due to the continuing violence and persecution of refugees and thus they cannot return to their countries. For over twenty years Kenya has been receiving a large refugee population. The perception of refugee issues has taken a different stance from being a humanitarian issue to a security threat in return this has made the government of Kenya to take the wrong course in seeking to deal with security issues. The analysis of the relationship between the refugee influx in Kenya and insecurity brings out a different perception. The research seek to analyse the role of the government in handling refugee issues versus security concerns, this translates to the aspect of human rights when handling refugee issues. This research used concepts from these theories such as societal security to contribute to knowledge and understanding of the nexus of refugee issues and insecurity. Secondary data was obtained from published scholarly materials, government reports, journals, newsletters and newspapers. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Balancing The Protection Of Refugees With National Security: A Critical Analysis Of The Kenya Refugee Act" essay for you Create order It is established that criminal groups from the neighbouring countries are responsible for the increase of insecurity in Kenya. They use the large refugee influxes to their advantage, to engage in illegal activities such as trafficking illegal firearms through the porous borders particularly the North of Kenya, which then, are used to commit crime in the country. Refugees, being a vulnerable group, and most of them from Somali, a country that has had conflicts for many years, are blamed for the insecurity. In consideration of all circumstances notwithstanding, Kenya has a mandate: to respect and improve the international refugee instruments of protection while at the same time ensuring security for its citizens. The Government of Kenya has been accused of breaching the human rights of the refugees through its various responses such as the encampment policy, Operation Linda Nchi, forced repatriations, police operations and harassments on the urban refugees, and also the reaction on th e closure of Dadaab camp following a terrorist attack on Garissa University. The Kenyan Government has cited protection of its citizens in the pursuit of its national interests as the basis for its actions and responses. There is therefore the need to strike a balance between obeying international obligations and that of protecting national interests. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS IRIN Integrated Information Regional Networks UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee OAU Organization of African Unity UN United Nations GoK Government of Kenya CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY The first thing that comes into ones mind when national security is mentioned is the safety of the states citizens if they are not secure then definitely thats an insecure country. On the background I will discuss the status of refugees in Kenya. Describe who a refugee is and the security issues related to refugees in Kenya. Buzan finds human security concept a problematic concept in international security, because to him, human race levels are difficult to construct as referent objects for security. On the other hand, his argument is centred in international state-centric perspective and therefore logically cannot endorse another view of security. Sean Kay defines security as the absence of a threat to the stability of the international system, to countries or to individuals. According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees under Article 1 (2), refugees are defined as individuals who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. Towards the end of 1980s, Kenya was reported to be among the leading host of East African origin refugees as a result of an influx of Somali refugees. Since then, Kenya has hosted thousands of refugees from East and Horn of Africa including Southern Sudan, Uganda (during the autocratic rule of Iddi Amin) and Somalia refugees fleeing clashes and subsequent civil wars after the ousting of Said Barre in January 1991 among others. Due to the political instability experienced in her neighboring countries such as Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea, Kenya has become a destination to most of the refugees fleeing their nations. With insurgency of the militant group, Al-Shabaab, in Somalia, Kenya has been hosting refugees of both genders and age in the camps as they escape unrelenting war in their country. Although the aim of welcoming them was to offer them humanitarian services, security issues have been raised as the authorities think that the camps may harbor those insurgents. Kenya has experienced a spate of attacks believed to have been planned by the terrorist who reside in these camps. Section 14 of the Refugees Act enacted in the year 2006 spelled out the rights of the refugees staying in Kenya. They were needed to enjoy the rights to education, settle anywhere within the borders of Kenya, and the right to seek and work in Kenya. In the 90s many countries experienced political instability, Somalia being a hotbed of terror.This led to migration of refugees, most of them from Somalia into Kenya through the borders. With the large numbers of Somali refugees arriving daily, the Government of Kenya (GoK) could barely provide Water, sanitation, food, and healthcare, which contributed to infants death and increased malnutrition rates. As a result, the Gok could no longer provide humanitarian assistance to the refugees. The early 90s also marked the migration of refugees who came to seek refugee from neighbouring countries such as Sudan . Dadaab is the worlds largest refugee camp and is located in Garissa County, it houses 355,709 registered refugees, 95% of whom are Somalis who fled the country due to conflicts and drought. The number of refugees is, however, thought to be around 500,000. The refugees had to be settled in camps so as to make humanitarian assistance simpler in administering and monitoring them and also likely to lower their chances of threats. Some of them were able to settle in Mombasa, those who had capital started businesses whilst others dealt in black markets that led to sale of counterfeit and illegal goods. There was a policy that exempted the Barawan refugee camps from any form of taxation. Any form of business established and run by these Somalia refugees in these camps thrived as they managed to sell their items at lower prices attracting more buyers. However, most of the locals who had their business and were paying taxes developed resentment toward these Somali refugees The pressure from the local business people was so much that the Gok had to listen to their concerns. A policy was implemented in 1997 that saw the closure of the camps and all the refugees relocated to Dadaab and Kakuma. Some refugees felt it was unfair and they opted to go back to their country regardless of the tension and uncertainty. Until recently a majority of Kenyans had no knowledge that a refugee camp like Dadaab existed. More than 600 refugees originating from Somalia, all residents of East Leigh, were arrested in connection with various attacks. Another search for terrorists happened in 2002 and following that, more than one thousand migrants without permit got arrested . Despite paying a heavy price for standing by the people of Somali, the returns for Kenya have always been bitter. Every time Kenya has toyed with closing the refugee camps in its North Eastern region, the strongest opposition has come from international agencies. There has been a distrust among Kenyans to the Somali refugee as a result of the repetitive attacks, which continues to blossom up to today. Countless number of persons over the years have continued to emigrate against their will because of persecutions by governments and Islamic groups. The government of Kenya has implemented a number of policies including closer the border between Kenya and Somalia in 2001 and the recent intent close of the dadaab camp. Amnesty International has joined the UN and others in urging Kenya to halt its plans to close the worlds largest refugee complex, arguing that forcing the 350,000 Somalis in Dadaab to return home would put their lives at risk and breach international law. Kenya ordered the closure of the camp after members of the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab attacked Garissa University College on 2 April, killing 148 people. Many of us believe that refugees from Somalia are to blame for the current insecurity in Kenya. As such, the government of Kenya is in a dilemma whether to continue hosting the refugees at the expense of the security of the residents or to withdraw their support. Besides, Kenya has to choose between playing the important humanitarian role of hosting those who flee their countries as result insecurity required internationally and ensuring there are no security threats. However, the main concern is whether the refugees are a threat to the Kenyan national security. This document aims to establish the effect of the Kenyas policy to relax the laws that requires close scrutiny of the migrants to Kenya especially those that come from Somalia on the national security. Also, the aim is to explore the impact of the implementation of stringent domestic and international laws on the Kenyan national security. STATEMENT PROBEM. Terrorist attacks are one of the major problems facing Kenya today. A series of terrorist incidents have occurred in Kenya since august 1998 resulting to a number of deaths. The most recent being that on Garissa university where at least 147 people died following an attack by al-Shabaab militants. When Kenya closed her Somali border in December 2006 as a security concern following the Islamic insurgency and Al Shabaab threats, the then U.S.A Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Rannerberger had this to say: The United States appreciates Kenyas efforts to care for the refugees in Dadaab. The U.S. government also understands that Kenya needs to ensure the security of citizens of North Eastern Province (now County) and control its borders. As a contracting party to the 1969 OAU convention on Refugees however, Kenya is obliged to allow Somalis to cross the border to seek asylum. The 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees sets no specific requirements for national refugee status determination procedures . Therefore, it is left to each contracting State to establish the procedure that it considers most appropriate and in conformity with its particular constitutional and administrative structure. It is therefore clear that government officials in Africa are caught between their genuine concern for the refugees and their wish to honor international agreements to provide asylum, and the increasingly hostile grassroots response from their own impoverished people in refugee affected areas. It is on this basis that Kenya has set out its national status determination procedures in the Refugee Act 2006. However, the international scope of the 1951 Convention calls for certain common basic requirements which should be met by the determination procedure in each C ontracting State. Most camps are located in hostile areas such as the northern part of Kenya. Refugees are not able to enjoy most of their fundamental rights such as freedom of movement. Kenyan immigration laws prevent them from moving out of their camps and thus they end up being susceptible to police harassment, detention and being charged with unlawful entry if found outside the camps. The refugee situation threatens their self-sufficiency as a result of having left behind most of their assets as they ran away from home. The change of location makes it difficult for them to regain their economic security. However, international humanitarian agencies have over the years been active in providing assistance to refugees. Kenya has experienced a high magnitude of refugees into Kenya as they escape crashes from the countries from her neighbors mostly Somalia after the fall of the government of Somalia in 1991. Various organizations and bodies offer their assistance to the refugees from these camps although they are faced with various challenges in their effort to offer support. Kenya has to agree to host refugees as required by the Refugee convention of 1951 and the OAU convention of 1969 on refugees. Despite the efforts to accord the refugees their right as required by the law, the government has enacted other internal measures to ensure that the migrants do not enjoy right not stipulated in the signed agreement. A perfect example is the policy demanding all refuges to settle in certain designated areas set aside for that purpose. These camps are expected to meet the international refugee camp standards. Most of these refugee camps are located in semi-arid areas with a hot dry climate, without surface water and attractive natural resources to enhance UNHCRs efforts of building self-sufficiency. This situation makes refugees, permanent dependants on UNHCR relief and a constant drain to host countrys resources. Although the government of Kenya recognizes the need to host refugees by signing laws meant to protect them, managing the refugee remains a head ache. In April 2001, thousands of refugees fled to Kenya. The Somalis, the Sudanese and Ethiopian refugees have stayed in Kenya long, due to prolonged conflicts in their home countries. Insecurity in Kenya has been rising since refugees started streaming in, in large numbers. This situation has heightened the refugee burden and caused a lot of concerns in the government institutions mandated with handling security in Kenya. The borders have become extremely insecure. Weiner, observes that, refugees can be a threat to the regime of their home country, to host country, can also pose cultural, social or economic threat and can be used as an instrument to threaten the host or country of origin. Perceived threats have a more significant impact on a states actions than the real threats.The relationship between international refugee flows and national security can be understood as a social construct whereby discourses and practices have shifted refugee flows from a humanitarian idea to a security-oriented idea. The current rise in terrorist activities has been associated with the increasing number of refugees in Kenya. Kenyan anti-terrorist operations have targeted aliens including refugees especially from Somalia Kenya, seen as the source of terrorists it faces. The Governments concerns are that terrorists can camouflage as refugees to enter the country and cover their activities including recruiting from the refugee population. Some groups such as the al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, al-Itihaad which have links with al-Qaeda, were carrying out humanitarian work in Somali refugee camps where they have established close links. Besides AI-Shabaab threats, the other security threat troubling Kenya and linked to Somalia is the piracy threat. This new tactic of hijacking ships and other sea vessels is threatening business and general voyage particularly in the Indian Ocean. Kenya has continued to have a shift in its security policies based on its core national interest being national security and this has been greatly influenced by the influx of refugees and mainly Somali refugees and the insecurity in the country. This study seeks to analyze Kenyas response to the refugee influx and insecurity in the face of its national interests and international legal obligations relating to the protection of refugees. OBJECTIVES. The overall aim of this study is to analyze Kenyas response to the Somali refugee influx based on its national interests and international obligations on the refugees. The specific objectives include: 1. Critically analyse the role of the Government of Kenya in handling refugee issues vs. security concerns. This part is an introduction of how refugees are being perceived by the Kenyan government. In this matter, due to historical and political context, the Somali community plays a significant