Terrorism

1.Terrorism in the modern sense is violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians for political or other ideological goals
2.Many opinions exist concerning the causes of terrorism. They range from demographic to socioeconomic to political factors. Demographic factors may include for example high growth rates. Socioeconomic factors may include poverty, unemployment, Political factors may include ethnic conflict, religious conflict, territorial conflict.
Factors that May Contribute to Terrorism
High population growth rates (so-called “youth bulges”)
High Unemployment
Lagging (nesutapimas)economies
Political disenfranchisement
Extremism
Ethnic conflict
Religious conflict
Territorial conflict
3. 22-25 years of age
80% male, with women in support roles
75-80% single
66% middle or upper class background
66% some college or graduate work
42% previous participation in working class advocacy groups
17% unemployed
18% strong religious beliefs
prejudice toward out-groups
authoritarianism
an unwillingness to compromise
a disdain for other alternative views
a tendency to see things in black and white
a rigidity of belief
a perception of the world that reflects a closed mind
4.1. The immediate crisis must be handled.2. Postcrisis victim needs must be met.3. Victims’ rights and services must be provided during any criminal justice process.4. Long-term victim needs must be recognized and provided for as they emerge over time
5. As far as we know, most terrorists feel that they are doing nothing wrong when they kill and injure people, or damage property. Most seem to share a feature of a psychological condition known as anti-social personality disorder or psychopathic personality disorder, which is an absence of empathy for the suffering of others - they don’t feel other people’s pain. However, they do not appear unstable or mentally ill.
One of the most prominent aspect of the their personality is their denial of death. The biological instinct to survive, for the individual and society, is the overriding principle that fights against the acceptance of death. People most normally try to escape from death using every available means. But many terrorists have a specific attitude, defined as “the delusion of immortality,” through which they feel they live day by day as if death either did not exist or did not concern them. This defense mechanism is a denial of reality. Death cannot be accepted at the experiential level and must therefore be rationalized, attributed to immortality. Thus, death is made into a symbol of an exceptional event, or denied and lived simply as a religious transition from life on earth to eternal life.
6. Responses to terrorism are broad in scope. They can include re-alignments(islyg) of the political spectrum and reassessments of fundamental values. Specific types of responses include:
Targeted(nukreipti) laws, criminal procedures, deportations, and enhanced police powers
Target hardening, such as locking doors or adding traffic barriers
reactive military action
Increased intelligence and surveillance (sekimas)activities
Pre-emptive humanitarian activities
More permissive interrogation and detention policies
Official acceptance of torture as a valid tool

Self – assessment of online listening to podcasts

I was listening two podcasts, named “The Lipstick Blondes“ and „Taking art to the streets of London“.They are published in the Internet, bbclearningenglish.com.
Firstly, I want to comment this website. I think that this website is very useful for students, who need learn English, also for tourists, becouse there are lessons what and how to say in typical or not so typical situations in life. For example there was a lesson about French food - how reasonably to say that this food is not acceptable for you or maybe it is acceptable... Personaly I found there many useful, interesting things. I believe that podcasts must be useful – they must enrich your vocabulary. They shouldn‘t be so complicated, that you won‘t understand what is saying. On the other hand, you must wrestle with this problem, buti n many cases, it isn‘t very useful.
It is very good, that there are two levels of English in my podasts. One is intermediate – when a speaker, which introduces to topic, explain concepts or expressions of other speaker, who talks in upper-intermediate level of English. It was very useful for me. The first speaker introduces, then say what things I must notice in the talko f other speaker. Then I concentrate my attention to exceptional expressions or words. Thus, I have learned interesting expressions. If you don‘t catch them at first time, the introducer may repeat it.
Becouse of being two speakers, the rate of speaking also were two. The first speaker spoke average and other fast.The average speaking was useful to understand better.
I think that both speakers had the British accent. They spoke fluently enough.
I have listened twice times for the complete understanding. I dind‘t look to a transcript – becouse it is the easest way. I was listening to speakers. I think that I did my best, focus on essence.
I can assess my ability to undesrstand authentic speech as good. Becouse of my visual memory, sometimes I found it difficult to remember and also to understand information in audio. I should listen more times.
I also agree that training is the best way to improve my capability. Maybe today i am not well prepared to my exam listening paper, but I hope after practise I will. And this practise can be English films and podcasts.

Lithuanian racism

In today’s society cases of intolerance towards other people on the basis of their beliefs, racial or ethnic origin still occur. In the history of Lithuania one could find great examples of tolerance, but deeply rooted prejudices and newly formed ethnical stereotypes, fear of immigration and a sense of an insecure future stimulate unfounded opinions and behaviour, which often violate a person’s dignity. In order to ensure equal opportunities for all irrespective of their ethnic origin, such inappropriate behaviour must be recognized and changed.
The definition ‘“racism’“ involves not only discrimination on the basis of the colour of one’s skin, but has a much broader meaning, encompass­ing ethnicity, nationality or religion. Racism may appear in different forms, starting from personal attitude and verbal abuse to discrimina­tive acts and even violence or well-organised extreme right outbursts.
Roma people, refugees or foreigners sometimes become direct vic­tims of unfavourable provisions, discrimination or violence. Dispar­aging and unfounded generalisations occasionally appear in public speeches. Food for racism and anti-Semitism is given by the media, which is often guided by stereotypes. Additionally, fascist elements seeking attention may encourage racism. An intolerant and fearful so­ciety can be easily manipulated.
In Lithuania various persons belonging to different national, ethnic or reli­gious groups face unfavourable treatment. In 2005 the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman received 15 complaints concerning discrimina­tion based on ethnicity.
According to the data provided by the Centre for Ethnic Studies, Roma people, Chechens, refugees and Muslims are regarded with disfavour most of all in Lithuania. The (Council of Europe) European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has expressed its concern about the com­plicated situation of refugees and Lithuanian Roma people. Public institu­tions are incapable of taking effective measures to help socially excluded groups to integrate, while society often tends to condemn them. Careless and unfounded generalisations, such as ‘“they are all like that’“ often harm innocent people, belonging to “disliked“ national or religious groups
Although extreme rightist parties are not in large in numbers in Lithuania, they maintain hatred and popularise ideas of placing people in unequal categories. For this reason, not all members of society can feel safe.
Lithuanian Jewish cemeteries and commemorative Holocaust places fre­quently suffer from acts of vandalism. Anti-Semite essays occasionally appear in national newspapers.
Foreigners suffer from disadvantageous provisions and violence as well. Due to economic growth and shortages in the labour force the number of foreign workers will definitely increase. These people often are not familiar with the local context and consequently are more vulnerable, not knowing where to apply for help or not daring to search for assistance.

Everything depends on us. Do you want to be a racist?

Literature : http://www.libertysecurity.org/article838.html

www.enar-eu.org/en/publication/national_leaflets/Lithuania_EN.pdf