I am debating whether I should compare the Bible to the Qur'an or the Archetypes in the Bible to the Archetypes in Star Wars.
What do you guys think?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Essay Draft
Despite the existence of over 1 billion squatters in the world, squatting is an issue which stays largely under the radar, regardless of the country. (Neuwirth, ted.com) A squatter is defined as “one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent.”(Merriam Webster) Squatters can be broken down into two major groups, urban squatters, those who squat in cities usually in preexisting housing, or land occupation squatters, those who squat on land they do not own and build their own housing. (lipmagazine) What truly distinguishes these groups is land occupation squatters are mainly driven by poverty and the for affordable housing; whereas, urban squatter (while some certainly are driven by poverty) tend to squat as more of a political act. (lipmagazine) Some people, especially in Europe, squat because they believe housing should be a right instead of a means of real estate investment. (lipmagazine) Considering 1 in 6 people on earth squat, aspects of domestic, international and third world squatting need to be made aware to people across the world. (ted.com)
Although the United States has few national laws against squatting, squatting is rarely tolerated. (tripatlas.com) Most states have individualized laws against squatting that prevent it from happening. However, there are organizations that exist which help all those willing to squat find homes, buildings and land to squat. (takebacktheland.org) Take Back the Land and Home Not Jails are two of these organizations that epitomize the typical American squatter view.(lipmagazine.com) These organizations see property and housing as a right and strive to provide as many people as possible homes by means of squatting. Many Americans squat as a protest to proves this point, however, others squat just to have a shelter to sleep in. (lipmagazine) After the 2008 financial crisis organizations like these helped many homeless and jobless people find places to stay. Many of these “places” being foreclosed houses. Police have been too busy with various other crimes to evict squatters, making foreclosed housing perfect for squatting. (nytimes.com)
Europeans have a similar view towards squatting, however, Europeans tend to be much more politically active about it. Many people from around the world travel to Amsterdam to take part in it’s infamous squatting scene. (lipmagazine) In Berlin, Germany Squ@t!net (an international squatting magazine) holds an annual squatting festival which acts as a socialist demonstration for squatting rights. (squat.net) However, the biggest difference between squatting in America and squatting in Europe is Europeans dislike “Wild Squatters”, squatters who squat separated from the squatting “scene” (largely because European squatters tend to be much more political). (lipmagazine) Despite the fact that squatting is almost always illegal there are some right that squatters do have. In England a squatter can legally aquire a property after 12 years of squatting. (timesonline.co.uk) Still most squatting does require breaking and entering, as well as trespassing; so, somewhere in the squatting process a law is usually broken.
However, the most prominent issue within squatting exists in the third world. Because of the large amount of extreme poverty in third world nations, squatting differs greatly in the third world from any where else. Squatting in third world nations is characterized by the establishment of squatting “settlements” more commonly known as “shanty towns” or “slums.” (ted.com) In these slums often do not have water or sewage, the housing is well below what most societies deem as the minimum standard for living, and electricity is a rare commodity. (gdrc.com) Though the settlements are rarely built on “desirable” land, most always the land is illegally settled, even if the land is public property. (gdrc.com) Unfortunately the problem is not getting any better. Between (approximately) 30 - 35 percent of the urban population of the Third World reside in squatting settlements. (sciencedirect.com) This number is only growing. About 130 people every minute are driven into a squatting community. It is estimated that by the year 2030 1 in every 4 people on the planet will be driven to squatting; that is approximately 2 billion squatters. (ted.com)
Strangely, squatting is one of the few things that exists in every culture. Consequently it is an issue around the globe, for better or for worse. It is something that effects everyone regardless of where one lives. Because the squatting population is increasing so rapidly awareness for this subject needs to be raised.
Although the United States has few national laws against squatting, squatting is rarely tolerated. (tripatlas.com) Most states have individualized laws against squatting that prevent it from happening. However, there are organizations that exist which help all those willing to squat find homes, buildings and land to squat. (takebacktheland.org) Take Back the Land and Home Not Jails are two of these organizations that epitomize the typical American squatter view.(lipmagazine.com) These organizations see property and housing as a right and strive to provide as many people as possible homes by means of squatting. Many Americans squat as a protest to proves this point, however, others squat just to have a shelter to sleep in. (lipmagazine) After the 2008 financial crisis organizations like these helped many homeless and jobless people find places to stay. Many of these “places” being foreclosed houses. Police have been too busy with various other crimes to evict squatters, making foreclosed housing perfect for squatting. (nytimes.com)
Europeans have a similar view towards squatting, however, Europeans tend to be much more politically active about it. Many people from around the world travel to Amsterdam to take part in it’s infamous squatting scene. (lipmagazine) In Berlin, Germany Squ@t!net (an international squatting magazine) holds an annual squatting festival which acts as a socialist demonstration for squatting rights. (squat.net) However, the biggest difference between squatting in America and squatting in Europe is Europeans dislike “Wild Squatters”, squatters who squat separated from the squatting “scene” (largely because European squatters tend to be much more political). (lipmagazine) Despite the fact that squatting is almost always illegal there are some right that squatters do have. In England a squatter can legally aquire a property after 12 years of squatting. (timesonline.co.uk) Still most squatting does require breaking and entering, as well as trespassing; so, somewhere in the squatting process a law is usually broken.
However, the most prominent issue within squatting exists in the third world. Because of the large amount of extreme poverty in third world nations, squatting differs greatly in the third world from any where else. Squatting in third world nations is characterized by the establishment of squatting “settlements” more commonly known as “shanty towns” or “slums.” (ted.com) In these slums often do not have water or sewage, the housing is well below what most societies deem as the minimum standard for living, and electricity is a rare commodity. (gdrc.com) Though the settlements are rarely built on “desirable” land, most always the land is illegally settled, even if the land is public property. (gdrc.com) Unfortunately the problem is not getting any better. Between (approximately) 30 - 35 percent of the urban population of the Third World reside in squatting settlements. (sciencedirect.com) This number is only growing. About 130 people every minute are driven into a squatting community. It is estimated that by the year 2030 1 in every 4 people on the planet will be driven to squatting; that is approximately 2 billion squatters. (ted.com)
Strangely, squatting is one of the few things that exists in every culture. Consequently it is an issue around the globe, for better or for worse. It is something that effects everyone regardless of where one lives. Because the squatting population is increasing so rapidly awareness for this subject needs to be raised.
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