The causes and effects of the American financial crisis.
The free market is a fluid concept that in every way revolves around the human lust for excess. Through history with the help of trial and error the free market has evolved into an equilibrium of greed used as a tool in the progression of modern society. In the 1980's under the administration of Ronald Reagan the united states started experimenting with an unregulated free market for the first time since the great depression of the 1930's. Alan Greenspan who was chair of the central bank of the United States during the time leading up to the financial crisis was a champion of deregulation and was able to influence congress and public opinion to deregulate the financial sector. This deregulation compounded with the booming housing market as a result of Greenspan's manipulation of the nation interest rates created a fertile environment for the largest finical crisis since the great depression.
William Greenwald
Wall Street
Why Photograph War?
Photojournalism has played an important role in maintaining the human history. However all these violent and grim images we use as evidence to analyse our history were taken by embedded journalist, and because they have been extremely involved in these conflicts, they sometimes develop some psychological trauma. In my research I was able to understand that these researches made by psychologist were only conducted recently, and the photojournalism has been introduced since the 1950's, so decades have gone by with all their psychological issues being ignored. Study shows how different events have different levels of trauma, to prove this statement I went through 13 influential journalists from different time lines, and the events they have covered, alongside how they continued on with their lives. I was able to analyse that alcohol abuse increases, as well as depression, and in some cases suicide. This idea of people risking themselves mentally, emotionally, and occasionally physically just to capture an image that may or may not be an iconic photo of history. I try to understand each photojournalist life style, as well as how they approach the subject of their photography, that also contributes to their mental instability.
You before the Beauty Industry !
I have explored and discussed the relevance of The Dove Campaign "Talk to your Daughter before the Beauty Industry does" in my ISP, which was specifically setup to reclassify the routes in which a general public's perspectives on beauty were /are influencing a number of young women. The Campaign stresses on how each individual must focus on their unique self. My Independent Study Project aims to focus on the detrimental issues which are being faced by many young women in today's world. The essay also entitles society to step up and not bound beauty. Likewise, the Dove campaign which serves to push to start the societal change.
Gurbaz Tamber
Another Massacre after 1989?
The Umbrella Revolution that happened in 2014 showed a lot of resemblance of the Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989. Both being the most influential protest of the largest scale in contemporary Hong Kong and Chinese history, they started with students movements and by the words-of-mouth the ideas were spread across citizens then evolving into the above protests. Both protests occupied the business and political center of the cities for prolonged period of time, The similarities between the two protests have stunned the Hong Kong even foreign public with the fear of ending up as a massacre that happened in the Tiananmen Square three decades ago, with regard to the fact that Hong Kong is under the Chines totalitarian sovereign. Although peripheral evidences showed the similarities between the Umbrella Revolution and the Tiananmen Square Incident, those are superficial and outcome of the two protests were of distinct differences. But how different are they in nature? This will be found out in my Independent Study Project.
Cathy Tong
Nasser: The Founder of Modern Egypt
Gamal Abdel Nasser was the second president of The Arab Republic of Egypt from 1956 to 1970 after he led the free officers in overthrowing the British influenced monarchy in 1952 (History, 2016). He had significant political, economic and social impacts that made him a great leader at the time and that shaped the future of Egypt and the Arab world. While Nasser is seen as an oppressive dictator by the West domestically he was seen as the president of the people, “What separated Nasser from Arab leaders of his time is still with us today. The others depended on Western support and ignored their people” (Aburish, 2004 p.1). This question is important as it assesses the impacts of one of the most influential figures in the Arab world, trying to repeat his successes while trying to avoid his mistakes. Moreover, assessing the way his impacts affected the region on the long run as understanding the where the problems came from will help finding the proper solutions. Nasser was one of the most influential leaders with huge impacts that shaped the future of Egypt and the Middle East.
Seif Mohy
Atomic bombs on Japan: Was it necessary? Or was it diplomatic
The topic of atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan during the Second World War has long since been a hot topic for debates. The topic of debate range from ethics to morals, and war crimes to necessity. The debate on the necessity of the bomb has been the most interesting and at the same time the most important topic as nuclear deterrence has been relevant ever since the cold war which were arguably caused by the decision to drop the two atomic bombs.
Argument on either side of the arguments, supporting or rejecting the decision to drop the bomb as a necessity, has been arguing for years as new evidences arises as we look back on 70+ years of its history. Upon researching the evidence and arguments, in addition to the time line of events, a question or a conclusion arises: 'Was the decision to use the atomic bomb out of necessity, or America's way of creating a leverage on Soviet's in their strained diplomatic relations?
Eisuke Ishizuka
The downfall of Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has long been considered one of the leading cities in the world in terms of its economy and its status as an international finance centre. They have many strengths and advantages which have put them in such a position. Their close proximity with China has been one of the keys to their success with Chinese companies utilising Hong Kong as a gateway to go global and vice versa. The rapid development of Hong Kong sees them just behind London and New York as the world's third highest rated financial centre in the world.
However, Hong Kong's primary strength is also its very weakness. Its status as an international financial centre is being undermined by its relationship with the Mainland. The fundamentals that have made Hong Kong an attractive place to do business is currently being undermined by China's continuous interference with Hong Kong's governance. The more that these fundamentals are marginalised, the less of a role Hong Kong will play within Asia and even China.
Goffy So
Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The creation of a nation ~ Singapore
Alessandro Vasconi:
In the 1950's, Singapore was only a trading post, under the control of a British institution named East India Company. Today, Singapore is ranked third in the top richest countries in the world, counting for a GDP per capital of 70,589 US Dollars, only behind Luxembourg and Qatar. In my Independent Study Project, I have tried to identify and assess the factors that contributed to Singapore becoming a financial and economical powerhouse since its independence in 1965.
The Father of Pakistan
I have chosen Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was the founding father of Pakistan, to be the subject of my ISP. The first half of the twentieth century saw tensions rise between the Hindus and the Muslims in India, and the country was on the brink of a civil war by the 1940's. Muhammad Ali Jinnah actively advocated the need for an independent Muslim state, and became successful on the 14th of August in 1947 when the state of Pakistan gained its independence.
However, many critics have characterized Jinnah as egotistical, arrogant, and full of pride. Some critics ask whether he created Pakistan to fulfil his own ego or whether it was actually necessary since millions of people died in what became the largest migration ever recorded in human history, an event which is known as Partition. Muhammad Ali Jinnah is perceived as a visionary and a great leader by many within Pakistan, and my ISP will aim to determine whether that reputation is justified or not.
The reason I have chosen this topic for my ISP is because, being Pakistani myself, I have only heard one side of the story, that being that Jinnah was a great leader, and I am intrigued to find out the other side since I firmly believe that there are two sides to every story.
- Sikander Hayat Khan
Money (1965) - Possibly the Most Unethical Study in Psychological History
In 1965, two healthy twin boys by the names of Brian and Bruce Reimer were born. Whilst undergoing a laser circumcision procedure, Bruce's penis was tragically burnt off due to an equipment malfunction. Dr. John Money, a prominent psychologist at the time, advised the twins' parents that Bruce could successfully be raised as a girl and would never have to know of the fact that he was born as a boy. Bruce's name was changed to Brenda and for the first twelve years of his life, he was raised as a girl. In 1973, Money published his findings and claimed that his study had been successful and that, in terms of gender identity, nurture is stronger than nature.
In 2000, however, Brenda, who had by then discovered his actual gender and changed his name to David, shared his story with the world - a story that was very different from that told by Money in his 1973 publication. David's account of the events that took place during the study included a number of instances where Money had resorted to incredibly unethical methods in attempts to prove his theory of nurture being stronger than nature.
The purpose of this essay is to look into the events that took place during this study, analyse it in terms of its accordance with the accepted ethical guidelines for psychological studies.
Sachin Wijesinghe