#refuse to use and build on old EU planet names

[thegirlwholied]

retcons. they're a writing tool. they're not fundamentally a bad tool. though I greet them more often with an "ugh, retcon" than a "nice, retcon"-

and that's often because they're overwrites. sometimes carelessly so, the 'didn't pay enough attention to what came before'/'guess I changed it' route. And sometimes retcons are the 'that's not the story I want to tell now or I can do better than that' route.

Andor is doing the second type of retcon, and interestingly so, because there wasn't a whole lot there to retcon *and yet* they are managing to do that.

When Rogue One came out, Disney dropped a bunch of expanded universe material. The NEW expanded universe, because they'd already ditched the old one, to avoid conflicts; this new one could be consistent (ha, ha, ha).

In those 2016 detail books we got the facts on Cassian Andor's backstory: from the planet Fest (clearly carefully chosen for its old EU history), father killed during a protest against militarization on Imperial Academy planet Carida (another world with EU history), involved with a Separatist cell from age 6 on...

Anddd anyone who'd read those extended materials knew Andor the show was ditching that backstory within seconds of him dropping the name 'Kenari' in context that was immediately clear it was his home planet. I appreciated at least getting a nod to the backstory we had since 2016 with dropping that his 'cover story' planet was Fest. They definitely were aware and chose not to go that route. And that's OK! they have a story they want to tell, they're digging into some interesting themes and meanings and...

Well. Either way it's a retcon. A minor one that 97% of the audience will never notice or care about. And yes they're still keeping to the spirit of that key line in Rogue One-

"I've been in this fight since I was six years old"

- clearly the mining disaster on Kenari presumably happened when Cassian was six years old. So his childhood was ruined by the Empire then and he's been resisting them ever since, it's not that it renders it untrue it's just-

it's just that he's pulling a moral high ground with that line over Jyn whose life was also ruined by the Empire at eight years old and was raised as a child soldier by Saw Gerrera, a character whose very name is designed to evoke guerilla warfare...?

I mean a Cassian who's already been in prison and is scrapping by and sticking it to the Imperials all he can, drawing those character parallels between them even closer then are we, but the whole crux of that (excellently written & filmed I'm still not over it) argument hinges on Cassian's relationship with/committment to the Rebellion above all else. The show's retcon has just... shortened that relationship. By quite quite a bit.

And there is now some unintentional irony, from this retcon, if Jyn was actually (via Saw's cell) part of the Rebellion longer than Cassian.

...it's fine, it's fine, tbh watch them retcon Jyn's backstory soon enough, it's a very minor retcon and maybe future episodes will reveal Cassian has been doing more actual rebelling than it seems and... nonetheless. Ugh retcon.

[grim-on-the-darkside]

The Latest Information on Lucas’s Sequel Trilogy he wrote in 2011. Also some information from  Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III: 1999–2005, author Paul Duncan interviewed George Lucas his ideas of a Sequel Trilogy.

Firstly, some of the things Pablo Hidalgo has stated about Lucas’s sequel trilogy that he has access to and spoke to Lucas directly about.

We know Lucas never considered the EU canon or a part of his Star Wars universe so it is not surprising his Sequel Trilogy was of his own creation.

........

"Fast forward to 2012, when we hear George is looking to make SW movies again, I though I thought 'I wonder what next Mon Calamari's gonna be. And it turns out, the Mon Calamari this time was huge swaths of the EU. There was no Jacen, no Jaina. No new Jedi Order. Chewie lived. Not surprising, but there it was."

~ Pablo Hidalgo, 2016               

https://ibb.co/nmjWcBM

..

[Regarding Lucas Sequel Trilogy Treatments he wrote in 2011 and sold to Disney]

Comment - "What are you talking about? J.J. threw out His story treatments and he [George Lucas] has no imput at all anymore."

Pablo Hidalgo Response - "Not entirely true. But the treatments as they were pretty much disregarded the EU, which was to be expected.”

~ 2018

https://ibb.co/Dz7qhTB

........

Commentor - 'Thank You for the clarification, might I ask if you ever recieved any direction that George Lucas with the number of children the Solos had as depicted in the EU?'

Pablo Hidalgo - "All I meant is his starting point for this Trilogy didn't have Jacen, Jaina, and/or Anakin."

Commentor - 'Was there Ben Skywalker?'

Pablo Hidalgo - "There was not."

https://ibb.co/JH2Y8tg

.................

Question -  "My question is, *what did George's treatments for 7 look like? I would love to see if they fit the EU."

Answer [Pablo Hidalgo]- "They did not. For instance, there was no Jaina, Jacen, or Anakin."  ~ 2017                                                                       

https://ibb.co/N7HKCsF

................

Pablo Hidalgo - "Jacen and Jaina never existed in George's storytelling, even in treatment form."

Comment Response - "And about Mara Jade?"

Pablo Hidalgo - "No. George never thought of Mara as being part of his universe either."

~ 2016 https://ibb.co/YLHk6Ft

.......

From Star Wars Insider

..

"There was no Ben Skywalker in George's Universe. He came from the NJO team." ~ Pablo Hidalgo 2016

https://ibb.co/HDtXh6D

................

"Question from Today, but I thought this was pretty well known. George Lucas never considered Jacen, Jaina, or Mara Jade as part of his universe."

~ Pablo Hidalgo May 2016 https://ibb.co/VDX2qvY

....

"But anyway Luke in exile predates TLJ by a long time and came from someone who can very happily and rightly supersede anyone's feedback :)"

~ Pablo Hidalgo https://ibb.co/sKZnWKk

[Luke was in something of a self imposed exile on an Island in Lucas Sequel Trilogy which is something that Disney ripped off from Lucas’s Sequel Trilogy. Pablo is referring to Lucas in this quote.]

..

"Luke was training a new generation of Jedi, it all went wrong because of 1 boy, and he's the 'Jedi killer' - that's the source.”

~ Pablo Hidalgo, 2016 https://ibb.co/JjYtGtf

[The source being George Lucas sequel trilogy treatments he made in 2011 and ended up selling to Disney later. Something else Disney ripped off from Lucas’s Sequel trilogy.] ..

Pablo Hidalgo -   "George's starting point for 7 had no Jaina, Jacen, Anakin and Chewie never died. So yeah."

[Reply] - "Could we please send this to every EU purist we know?"

[Other replyer] "They wont care."

[First Replyer] "They will after what Hidalgo just said after this."

[Pablo Hidalgo] - "No, they won't. You can't correct the internet.The info's out there. They've made up their minds."

https://ibb.co/mXGX0Qn

..

Pablo Hidalgo - "But there was no sequel trilogy at that time."

Commenter 1 -

'Also, Lucas' Treatment of EP VII did not have the twins born in the Thrawn Trilogy'.

Pablo Hidalgo - "It didn't have twins."

Commenter 2 -

'You're referring to the treatment Lucas sold Disney in 2012. I guess plans changed.'

Pablo Hidalgo - "Or were defined. Jacen and Jaina were never part of George's story. They were Tim's [Zahn] invention."

~ Pablo Hidalgo Q&A

https://ibb.co/VQ5Zrr0

..

Here’s what George said about them during an interview with James Cameron for his The Story of Science Fiction project.

“Back in the day, I used to say ultimately what this means is we’re just cars, vehicles, for the Whills to travel around in…. We’re vessels for them. And the conduit is the midi-chlorians. The midi-chlorians are the ones that communicate with the Whills. The Whills, in a general sense, they are the Force.

All the way back to — with the Jedi and the Force and everything — the whole concept of how things happen was laid out completely from [the beginning] to the end. But I never got to finish. I never got to tell people about it.

If I’d held onto the company I could have done it, and then it would have been done. Of course, a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did Phantom Menace and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told.”

~ George Lucas

https://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/george-lucas-episode-vii-episode-ix-1201974276/

..

As part of the book Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III: 1999–2005, author Paul Duncan interviewed George Lucas. During this interview, George talked more about his plans for the sequel trilogy.

Paul Duncan: What about the stormtroopers? They look robotic, but they’re not.

George Lucas: How do you know what they are?

Paul Duncan: Did you have a different idea of what they were?

George Lucas: Yeah, they started out as clones. Once all the clones were killed, the Empire picked up recruits, like militia. They fought, but they weren’t very good at what they did.

Paul Duncan: That’s why they kept missing.

George Lucas: That’s why they kept missing. Then after the Rebels won, there were no more stormtroopers in my version of the third trilogy.

I had planned for the first trilogy to be about the father, the second trilogy to be about the son, and the third trilogy to be about the daughter and the grandchildren. [There was only one, Ben Solo, another Disney rip off.]

Episode VII, VIII, and IX would take ideas from what happened after the Iraq War. “Okay, you fought the war, you killed everybody, now what are you going to do?” Rebuilding afterwards is harder than starting a rebellion or fighting the war. When you win the war and you disband the opposing army, what do they do? The stormtroopers would be like Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist fighters that joined ISIS and kept on fighting. The stormtroopers refuse to give up when the Republic win.

They want to be stormtroopers forever, so they go to a far corner of the galaxy, start their own country and their own rebellion.

There’s a power vacuum so gangsters, like the Hutts, are taking advantage of the situation, and there is chaos. The key person is Darth Maul, who had been resurrected in The Clone Wars cartoons — he brings all the gangs together.

Paul Duncan: Was Darth Maul the main villain?

George Lucas: Yeah, but he’s very old, and we have two versions of him. One is with a set of cybernetic legs like a spider, and then later on he has metal legs and he was a little bit bigger, more of a superhero. We did all this in the animated series, he was in a bunch of episodes.

Darth Maul trained a girl, Darth Talon [The only thing from the EU in Lucas’s Trilogy, but it wasn’t even really her, just had the same look and name, completely different background. She wasn’t even born yet at that time frame in the comics]., who was in the comic books as his apprentice. She was the new Darth Vader, and most of the action was with her. So these were the two main villains of the trilogy. Maul eventually becomes the godfather of crime in the universe because, as the Empire falls, he takes over.

The movies are about how Leia — I mean, who else is going to be the leader? — is trying to build the Republic. They still have the apparatus of the Republic but they have to get it under control from the gangsters. That was the main story.

It starts out a few years after Return of the Jedi and we establish pretty quickly that there’s this underworld, there are these offshoot stormtroopers who started their own planets, and that Luke is trying to restart the Jedi. He puts the word out, so out of 100,000 Jedi, maybe 50 or 100 are left. The Jedi have to grow again from scratch, so Luke has to find two- and three-year-olds, and train them. It’ll be 20 years before you have a new generation of Jedi.

By the end of the trilogy Luke would have rebuilt much of the Jedi, and we would have the renewal of the New Republic, with Leia, Senator Organa, becoming the Supreme Chancellor in charge of everything. So she ended up being the Chosen One.”

George also expanded on Midi-chlorians:

“This is the cosmology. The Force is the energy, the fuel, and without it everything would fall apart. The Force is a metaphor for God, and God is essentially unknowable. But behind it is another metaphor, which fits so well into the movie that I couldn’t resist it.

Midi-chlorians are the equivalent of mitochondria in living organisms and photosynthesis in plants — I simply combined them for easier consumption by the viewer. Mitochondria create the chemical energy that turns one cell into two cells.

I like to think that there is a unified reality to life and that it exists everywhere in the universe and that it controls things, but you can also control it. That’s why I split it into the Personal Force and the Cosmic Force. The Personal Force is the energy field created by our cells interacting and doing things while we are alive. When we die, we lose our persona and our energy is assimilated into the Cosmic Force.

If we have enough Midi-chlorians in our body, we can have a certain amount of control over our Personal Force and learn how to use it, like the Buddhist practive of being able to walk on hot coals.”

And the Whills:

“The Whills are a microscopic, single-celled lifeform like amoeba, fungi, and bacteria. There’s something like 100,000 times more Whills than there are Midi-chlorians, and there are about 10,000 times more Midi-chlorians than there are human cells.

The only microscopic entities that can go into the human cells are the Midi-chlorians. They are born in the cells. The Midi-chlorians provide the energy for human cells to split and create life. The Whills are single-celled animals that feed on the Force. The more of the Force there is, the better off they are. So they have a very intense symbiotic relationship with the Midi-chlorians and the Midi-chlorians effectively work for the Whills.

It is estimated that we have 100 trillion microbes in our body and we are made up of about 90% bacteria and 10% human cells. So who is in service to whom? I know this is the kind of thing that fans just go berserk over because they say, “We want it to be mysterious and magical”, and “You’re just doing science.” Well, this isn’t science.

This is just as mythological as anything else in Star Wars. It sounds more scientific, but it’s a fiction.

It’s saying there is a big symbiotic relationship to create life, and to create the Force, but if you look at all the life-forms in the universe, most of them are one-celled organisms. I think of one-celled organisms as an advanced form of life because they’ve been able to travel through the universe. They have their own spaceships — those meteorites that we get every once in a while. They’ve been living on those things for thousands of years, they’ve been frozen, unfrozen, and can survive almost anything.

The one-celled organisms have to have a balance. You have to have good ones and bad ones otherwise it would extinguish life. And if they go out of balance, the dark side takes over.”

..................................................................................................................

Obviously there is the older information that’s already been out there, I just wanted to share some of the newer information that has come to light. I’m sure in time we will learn more.

[opedguy]

Biden’s Threats to Putin Have Backfired

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 27, 2022.--Threatening 69-year-old Russian President Vladmir Putin with personal economic sanctions, 79-year-old President Joe Biden has gone over the deep end, making Putin’s military build up in Ukraine a personal vendetta.  European Union [EU} leaders don’t know how to react to Biden, whose belligerent approach to Russia has raised the specter of war on the European Continent.  Europeans had enough of the Continent used as a battlefield in WW I and WW II, causing the deaths of over 100 million soldiers and civilians.  So when Biden continues to provoke Putin, he’s not thinking about the consequences to war on Europeans.  Biden wants to lead a coalition of the willing against Putin but Brussels isn’t sure whether they’ll go along with the U.S. overly aggressive approach.  Biden has treated Putin as if he’s already invaded Ukraine, like he did seizing Crimea in 2014.    

         Biden tells Putin and the world yesterday under interrogation from the press that he will not put any U.S. or NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine.  So Putin already knows that the Ukraine mess, won’t deteriorate into a shooting war, no matter how much provocation.  Biden continues to warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “imminent.”  Ukrainian officials don’t see it that way, saying they don’t fear an imminent Russian invasion.  “Yes, I would see that,” Biden said, when asked whether Putin should be targeted himself for personal sanctions.  All the talk from the White House is about imposing crippling economic sanctions all related to a new Russian invasion.  Putin has zero reason to invade Ukraine, not like the situation Feb. 22, 2014 when a CIA-backed coup toppled Ukraine’s Kremlin-backed government.  Putin seized Crimea March 1, 2014 to protect his Sevastopol navy base.  

           Biden pretends he has the full backing of the EU, when French President Emmanuel Macron faces a bitter election fight with National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen and must be seen now as stepping up in the name of diplomacy.  Macron has not bought into Biden’s fighting words, preferring to continue to work on diplomacy to defuse any remaining tensions.  Biden can’t stop his “gunboat diplomacy,” threatening Putin with destroying Russian economy with draconic economic sanctions.  Biden proposed that the Russian Federation be cut off from the global SWIFT banking system, handling bank wire transfers around the planet.  Macron isn’t inclined to go along with Biden’s threat of extreme economic sanctions.  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also signaled he’s no jumping on the arm-Ukraine bandwagon, refusing to supply Kiev with offensive or defensive weapons.  

           Kiev Major Vitali Klitschko, 50, said he was “speechless” when Germany offered to supply Ukraine with 5,000 helmets but no offensive or defensive weapons.  Klitschko  found it a colossal “joke” that Germany wasn’t prepared to jump on the arm-Ukraine bandwagon.  Whatever differences between Ukraine and Russia’s military, it’s not the U.S. or EU’s responsibility to bring Ukraine up to speed militarily with Russia.  U.S. officials warn Putin that any invasion of Ukraine, not matter how small, would be met with dire economic consequences.  “What we’re talking about are sophisticated technologies that we design and produce,” said an unnamed White House source.  Cutting Putin off from quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence [AI], high-tech equipment, etc would damage the Russian economy.  But all of Biden’s plans could trigger a military response from Putin.  

           Members of the White House and Congress want Germany to halt the $12 billion  Nord Stream 2 pipeline set to supply Germany with Russian natural gas for the foreseeable future.  Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was committed to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, bypassing Ukraine to bring affordable natural gas to Germany.  All the talk of crippling economic sanctions would be seen by the Kremlin as an act of war.  Instead to going to the bargaining table, Biden has preferred to threaten Putin and Kremlin with crippling sanctions.  “If Russia decides to weaponize its supply of natural ga or crude oil, it wouldn’t be without consequences to the Russian economy,” said an unnamed U.S. official, continuing the gunboat diplomacy.  Threatening a sovereign state is not way to get both parties back to table to work out whatever remaining differences exist between Moscow and the Washington.  

           If there’s any rationale for a new Ukraine invasion, it isn’t about Putin seeking to consolidate Russian-speaking territory in the Donbass regions of Eastern Ukraine.  Macron, who plans to meet with Putin by telephone Friday, wants a diplomatic resolution, something Biden has made practically impossible.  Biden’s belligerent attitude toward Putin, not his desire to invade Ukrainian territory, could trigger an altercation in Ukraine.  Biden thinks that threatening Putin has given the Russian leader reason to pause but it’s just the opposite.  All of Biden’s talk of crippling economic sanctions is seen as an act of war by the Kremlin.  European Commissions President Ursuala von der Leyen wants to give diplomacy a chance, agreeing with Germany that supplying Ukraine arms only makes matters worse.  Von der Leyen wants Macron to succeed in opening a constructive dialogue with Putin.

 About the Author 

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.  

[top40gordy]

This is a great article! Here’s an excerpt: Even a schmuck like me is familiar with some of the evidence Bendell sets out to prove his point. You only needed to step outside during the record-breaking heatwave last year to acknowledge that 17 of the 18 hottest years on the planet have occurred since 2000. Scientists already believe we are soon on course for an ice-free Arctic, which will only accelerate global warming. Back in 2017, even Fox News reported scientists' warnings that the Earth's sixth mass extinction was underway. Here’s the whole article, if the reader cares to read all the way through.  There is also a link to the original academic paper: 

Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy https://jembendell.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-study-on-collapse-they-thought-you-should-not-read-yet/

The author with the "Deep Adaptation" paper. Photo by VICE

 What if I told you there was a paper on climate change that was so uniquely catastrophic, so perspective-altering, and so absolutely depressing that it's sent people to support groups and encouraged them to quit their jobs and move to the countryside?

 Good news: there is. It's called "Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy." I was introduced to it via an unlikely source—a guy formerly in advertising who had left his job to become a full-time environmental campaigner. "We're fucked," he told me. "Climate change is going to fuck us over. I remember thinking, Should I just accept the deep adaptation paper and move to the Scottish countryside and wait out the apocalypse?"

 "Deep Adaptation" is quite unlike any other academic paper. There's the language ("we are about to play Russian Roulette with the entire human race with already two bullets loaded"). There's the flashes of dark humor ("I was only partly joking earlier when I questioned why I was even writing this paper"). But most of all, there's the stark conclusions that it draws about the future. Chiefly, that it's too late to stop climate change from devastating our world—and that "climate-induced societal collapse is now inevitable in the near term."

 How near? About a decade.

 Professor Jem Bendell, a sustainability academic at the University of Cumbria, wrote the paper after taking a sabbatical at the end of 2017 to review and understand the latest climate science "properly—not sitting on the fence anymore," as he puts it on the phone to me.

 What he found terrified him. "The evidence before us suggests that we are set for disruptive and uncontrollable levels of climate change, bringing starvation, destruction, migration, disease, and war," he writes in the paper. "Our norms of behavior—that we call our 'civilization'—may also degrade."

 "It is time," he adds, "we consider the implications of it being too late to avert a global environmental catastrophe in the lifetimes of people alive today."

 Even a schmuck like me is familiar with some of the evidence Bendell sets out to prove his point. You only needed to step outside during the record-breaking heatwave last year to acknowledge that 17 of the 18 hottest years on the planet have occurred since 2000. Scientists already believe we are soon on course for an ice-free Arctic, which will only accelerate global warming. Back in 2017, even Fox News reported scientists' warnings that the Earth's sixth mass extinction was underway.

 Erik Buitenhuis, a senior researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, tells me that Bendell's conclusions may sound extreme, but he agrees with the report's overall assessment. "I think societal collapse is indeed inevitable," he says, though adds that "the process is likely to take decades to centuries."

 The important thing, Buitenhuis says, is to realize that the negative effects of climate change have already been with us for some time: "Further gradual deterioration looks much more likely to me than a disaster within the next ten years that will be big enough that, after that, everybody will agree the status quo is doomed."

 "Jem's paper is in the main well-researched and supported by relatively mainstream climate science," says Professor Rupert Read, chair of the Green House think-tank and a philosophy academic at the University of East Anglia. "That's why I'm with him on the fundamentals. And more and more people are."

 Read's key disagreement with Bendell is his belief that we still have time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, saying, "I think it's hubris to think that we know the future." But that doesn't mean Bendell's premise is wrong: "The way I see it, deep adaptation is insurance against the possibility—or rather, the probability—of some kind of collapse," says Read. "'Deep Adaptation' is saying, 'What do we need to do if collapse is something we need to realistically plan for?'"

 When I speak to Bendell, he tells me he thinks of "Deep Adaptation" as more of an ethical and philosophical framework, rather than a prophecy about the future of the planet. "The longer we refuse to talk about climate change as already here and screwing with our way of life—because we don't want to think like that because it's too frightening or will somehow demotivate people—the less time we have to reduce harm," he says with deliberation.

 What does he mean by harm? "Starvation is the first one," he answers, pointing to lowering harvests of grain in Europe in 2018 due to drought that saw the EU reap 6 million tons less wheat. "In the scientific community at the moment, the appropriate thing is to say that 2018 was an anomaly. However, if you look at what's been happening over the last few years, it isn't an anomaly. There's a possibility that 2018 is the new best case scenario."

 That means, in Bendell's view, that governments need to start planning emergency responses to climate change, including growing and stockpiling food.

 He minces his words even less in his paper: "When I say starvation, destruction, migration, disease, and war, I mean in your own life. With the power down, soon you won't have water coming out of your tap. You will depend on your neighbors for food and some warmth. You will become malnourished. You won't know whether to stay or go. You will fear being violently killed before starving to death."

 Should people start building bunkers and buying bulletproof vests? "There's no way of getting through this unless we try together," he says. "We need to help people stay fed and watered where they live already to reduce disruption and reduce civil unrest as much as we can." Of the Silicon Valley financiers prepping for the apocalypse in New Zealand, he says: "Once money doesn't matter anymore and the armed guards are trying to feed their starving children, what do you think they'll do? The billionaires doing that are just deluded."

  Bendell wasn't always this gloomy about the state of the world. He once worked for WWF, one of the biggest environmental charities in the world, and in 2012 founded the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria. The World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader for his work. So how did he end up writing a paper that determined that civilization—and environmental sustainability as we currently understand it—is doomed?

 "Since the age of 15, I've been an environmentalist," he tells me. "I've given my life professionally and personally. I'm a workaholic, and it was all about sustainability." Once he sat down with the data, however, he realized that his field was quickly becoming irrelevant in the face of oncoming climate catastrophe. "It would mean not getting super excited about the expansion of your recycling program in a major multinational," he says. "It's a completely different paradigm of what we should be looking at."

 What he didn’t expect was for the paper to take off online. "It was aimed at those people in my professional community and why we're in denial," he says. "When I put it out there, I didn’t expect 15-year-olds in schools in Indonesia to be reading it with their teachers." He says that "Deep Adaptation" has been downloaded over 110,000 times since it was released by IFLAS as an occasional paper. "Someone in the alternative economics and bitcoin crowd told me, 'Oh, everyone's talking about deep adaptation in London at all the dinner parties,'" he laughs.

 Researchers from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), an established progressive think-tank, consulted Bendell's paper in the process of writing its new report, "This is a crisis: Facing up to the age of environmental breakdown." Laurie Laybourn-Langton, its lead author, told me via email: "I appreciated the frankness of the report in facing up to issues that so many in research and policy communities seem unwilling to. We don't subscribe to the view that social collapse is inevitable, however."

 He explains: "This is partly because it's so hard to predict the outcomes of the complex and uncertain process of environmental shocks interacting with social and economic systems. We simply don't know. That said, they shouldn’t be disregarded as a potential outcome, and so we are calling for greater levels of preparedness to these shocks."

 The effect of drought on cows in Ethiopia. Photo: TheImage/Alamy Stock Photo

 Not everyone was so taken with the paper. Bendell submitted it to a well-respected academic journal for publication, with little success. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal (SAMPJ) told me that the paper was in need of "major revisions" before it would be ready for publication. Bendell ended up publishing it through IFLAS and his blog. "The academic process is such that I took that as an effective rejection," he explains, saying that the reviewers wanted him to fundamentally alter his conclusions. "I couldn't completely rewrite the paper to say that I don't think collapse is inevitable. It was asking for a different paper."

 Emerald, the scholarly publisher that owns SAMPJ, says it takes issue with how Bendell frames its reception of its paper on his blog: "the study on collapse they thought you should not read—yet." A spokesperson told me: "The decision was arrived at based on the merit of the submitted article and the double blind peer review process integral to academia and the advancement of knowledge. SAMPJ, and [editor Carol Adams] are proud members of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adhere to the highest ethical standards in publishing. We see no evidence that the decision of Major Revision was politically motivated.

 "Emerald requested the author correct their blog post to reflect the facts. This request was unfortunately ignored. The post continues to imply the paper was rejected because it was deemed too controversial. The paper was not rejected, and was given a Major Revision due to the rigorous standards of the scholarly output of the journal."

 Bendell says he did reply to Emerald's request to amend his blog post—but only if they would consider telling him the decisions of those who reviewed his paper. (Under the double blind peer review, reviewers' decisions are anonymous.) "That title can be read in a number of ways," he says. "It is a paper that the reviewers didn't want you to read. They didn't want it published."

 Climate gloom and doom is nothing new—doomsday preppers have been stockpiling their freeze-dried food rations for decades now. But Bendell's paper appears to have hit a unique nerve, especially given that the average scientific paper is estimated to be read by only three or so people. Rupert Read tells me that he was sent it simultaneously by three other academics when it was published. But it hasn’t trended on Twitter. It hasn't been pushed by a celebrity. It was briefly mentioned in a Bloomberg Businessweek article, but that's it.

 "Deep Adaptation" is that unique social phenomenon: an academic paper that has gone viral through word of mouth.

 Nathan Savelli, a 31-year-old high school life coach from Hamilton, Canada, was recommended the paper by a local environmental activist. Reading it sent him spiraling into depression. "I guess in some ways it felt like I was diagnosed with a terminal illness," he tells me. "If I'm being honest, it was a mix of heartbreaking sadness and extreme anger."

 Savelli felt so low that he sought help from a climate grief support group organized by 350.org, the global grassroots climate movement. "I had attended counseling in the past for other issues, but never a group session, and thought it might be something helpful for me," he tells me. Did it help? "I'm not sure I'd say it alleviated my grief, but it was definitely comforting to be around people who understood what I was feeling."

 And therein lies the problem with "Deep Adaptation:" if you accept that the paper is entirely correct in its prediction of collapse, how do you move on with your life? How do you even get out of bed in the morning?

 "I'm aware of what difficult emotions it triggers," Bendell acknowledges. "I do believe that if you’ve come across this [paper], then absolutely some grief and despair is very natural. Why isn't that OK? We all die in the end. Life is about impermanence." On his blog, he lists several sources for psychological support, including several groups on Facebook and LinkedIn that discuss collapse and offer help to those struggling to come to terms with the conclusions of his paper.

 But, Bendell adds, reading the paper has been "transformative" for some. "People find a new boldness about living life on their own terms—actually connecting to their heart's desire. How do they wish to live, and why don't they live that way now rather than postponing it?" In one case, it even helped prompt one high-ranking academic to quit her job and the city.

 In December of 2017, Dr. Alison Green left her post as the pro vice-chancellor of Arden University. She had read the IPCC report warning that the world is nowhere near averting global temperature increases, as well as the 1,656-page National Climate Assessment on how climate change is now dramatically affecting our lives—and then she read Bendell's paper.

 All three combined to put her on the road to a drastic life change. "My desire is to get out of academia and to get out of the city. I tell people I’m heading for the hills," she tells me over the phone. "My plan is to get a smallholding and live more closely to nature."

 Reading the paper, she says, helped to crystallize her increasing uneasiness about the pace and scale of climate change. "What was really striking about this paper is that a social scientist was saying—not just the wacky fringe, this is a professor at an established institution, with a track record—saying that he believed that collapse was inevitable."

 "That," she adds, "had a profound effect on me."

 She's not the only one. Bendell himself says that he is still working out how much he can reconcile his job as an academic with his newfound conclusions about the state of the future.

 "I think the reason why my framing and my paper took off is that it’s maybe the first time a social scientist was saying these things categorically," he says. "We are seemingly in denial. It's time to break that taboo and have serious conversations about what we do now."

 This article originally appeared on VICE UK.

 Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.

 Follow Zing Tsjeng on Twitter.

  Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy https://jembendell.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/the-study-on-collapse-they-thought-you-should-not-read-yet/

[newsnigeria]

Check out New Post published on Ọmọ Oòduà

New Post has been published on http://ooduarere.com/news-from-nigeria/world-news/trump-is-withdrawing-nato/

Trump Is Withdrawing From NATO “Under Putin’s Orders”

Trump Is Withdrawing From NATO “Under Putin’s Orders” by Ruslan Ostashko

Translated and captioned by Leo.

“Trump is discussing withdrawal from NATO,” says the frightening American headline in The New York Times. No, so far it didn’t say “from Putin’s orders”, but Russia, of course, is mentioned.It seems that the Democrats have invented a new horror story for the American electorate. This is exactly how it can be interpreted through a serious publication on the topic of how the US President is discussing the country’s withdrawal from the NATO bloc the US itself created. In the first sentence… not even the full sentence, but in the first ten words, if we count the beginning text of the publication, they mention… Putin.

I think you understand in which tone.

“There are few things that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia desires more than the weakening of NATO, the military alliance among the United States, Europe and Canada that has deterred Soviet and Russian aggression for 70 years. Last year, President Trump suggested a move tantamount to destroying NATO: the withdrawal of the United States.”

In this “insider”, the newspaper refers to unnamed “high-ranking officials of the administration”, who reported on several statements about the withdrawal from NATO made by Trump in private conversations in 2018.

After numerous references to the actions of the head of the United States, aimed at knocking out defense expenditures from European vassals, The New York Times bluntly writes:

“The president’s repeatedly stated desire to leave NATO is raising new worries among national security officials amid growing concern about Mr. Trump’s efforts to keep his meetings with Mr. Putin secret even from his own aides, and an FBI investigation into the administration’s Russia ties.”

Bingo, basically. Trump’s communication with the Kremlin can be considered proven.

In fact, of course, the actions of the head of the White House are fully explained by domestic political and psychological motives. My friend and colleague Ivan Danilov remarked on this issue that Trump behaves exactly the same as he did when concluding his business deals.

“The negotiating position of the American leader boils down to the following principle, which he honed since his work in the field of New York real estate: Trump has to receive all (that’s all) possible benefits, otherwise the transaction will not take place, despite all the likely losses for Trump himself. Such a cowboy approach can sometimes work in business, when you can again and again move away from deals, hoping to eventually find a weak partner, investor or client who can be bent to the fullest. In geopolitics, such an approach does not work – the planet is too small, and weak-minded fools among planetary and even regional politicians is very small. There exists a serious likelihood that such an uncompromising and, if you call things by their real name, this goon approach will ultimately lead to NATO’s actual collapse, from one side, Germany and France are working hard to create a “European army”, but the President of the United States may in actuality decide that the best way to solve a problem is to loudly slam the door.”

Yes, Trump’s psychology can’t be discounted. But the matter, I believe, is not only in it. It’s important to not forget what kind of power group represents the head of the USA. These are isolationists from among the tycoons attached to real production. They do not need all these American bases scattered around the planet. Because these bases are devouring resources and giving support to the opponents of isolationists – the globalists.

The best way to undermine the position of globalists is to deprive them of the opportunity to interfere in the affairs of other states. No, the isolationists themselves don’t mind robbing someone, but now they see that the USA has been weakened, and the robbery has ceased to succeed. And that means – they need to abandon it, at least for a while. Refuse it in order to save money and regain strength. That is, globalists want to play the old way, raising interest rates on borrowed money from the Federal Reserve System. The isolationists however understand that there is no place to inflate the stakes further – you can even lose everything.

This is where Trump’s tough position on the EU arises: either give billions to defense – that is, pay for the maintenance of NATO’s military machine in Europe, or walk into the forest. The European Union clearly demonstrates that it is not planning to pay. And that is why the US withdrawal from NATO is a very real perspective.

No, this is not “orders from Putin.” Yes, it is beneficial to Russia. But it is also beneficial to the USA themselves. But not for the fattened from two world wars, global America which as a result rattled the Middle East and overstrained itself. But the one inhabited by the notorious rednecks, residents of the American heartland. They don’t need these wars, because from there they send home coffins wrapped with stars and striped flags, as well as disabled people placed on painkillers. Basically, ready drug addicts. And they need them to work again in the factories of General Motors and Ford, so that American companies do not destroy jobs in the interests of global business and stuff like that.

That is, the interests of the isolationist Trump and his “support group” in this completely coincide with the interests of ordinary Republican voters. I suspect that they are not against putting up the “iron curtain” and building walls – and not only with Mexico, but also with Canada as well.

Do they need this NATO hanging weight on their leg? They don’t. But the blame on why America has screwed up in its aggressive foreign policy, is of course, as you know, because of Putin. For infantile people, there is always someone else who is guilty, but only not themselves.

[pakkiyick]

Trip to Denmark and Benelux (11th – 24th Sep, 2017)

Travel and Life

 According to the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, “To travel is to live”. If you agree “Life is a journey”, the only way to live your life is to travel. Life is a story of oneself. One’s story is the summary of every piece of experience that one has ever encountered since the very first breath of his or her life. Writers use their pens to write their fancy stories on a piece of paper. Travelers use their own feet to record their adventures on the trails they have been to. A novel is a book in which authors express their ideas. The world is an arena on which travelers build up their memories. Not everyone can become a novelist, but all of us can write our own life stories simply with a pair of feet.

 If the world is a storybook, your hometown is the first page of your story. Turn to page two after reading the first one. Going to another unfamiliar frontier and exploring a new world. Life is a continuing expedition. No matter where is your destination, just travel as far and as widely as you can. Don’t keep your imagination just on page one. Start moving to the next page and creating your own memories. Fill your life with memories and experiences instead of sorrows and regrets. Finish your story and complete your life with your own footprints.

 Life is full of unexpected events, so does your journey. Something unpredicted always comes up during your trip. Just take the challenge and face your fears. Those trials will become your unforgettable memories. Sometimes you are only able to learn something valuable when you leave your comfort zone behind. One’s hidden potential can only be revealed by getting uncomfortable. Therefore, traveling may be the best way to learn about your true character.

 Though Europe is the world’s smallest continent in terms of land surface area, European civilization is definitely utmost significant in human history. To a large extent, the modern western culture is somehow originated from the ancient European civilization. Today’s thousands of priceless historical and cultural heritages, including architectures, artworks and literature, can be dated back to the times of Renaissance. Nowadays leading political and economic ideologies such as democracy and capitalism were first proposed in the 19th century of Europe. No one can doubt the contribution of the European civilization to the world. European history is an inseparable part of world history.

 Traveling to a new place is just like reading a new book. If I got a book by the name of “World History”, I would assume the first chapter of that book should be about Europe. Supposing this very first chapter is divided into different sections and each section introduces a single European country, I have already read the first few sections. Having traveled to some major traditional European powers such as Britain, France and Germany; and some other middle strength countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal, I continued my journey to some small-size European nation-states in western Europe. Although these four low profile independence nations are relatively small in size, they have never been treated as second-class members in the European family. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are four key participants with the same importance as other European counterparts in European development and integration.

 Although these four tiny sovereign states have never had much political influences in world politics, their citizens enjoy quite a high standard of living with low Gini coefficient and long life expectancy with high happiness index. Just the same as the United Kingdom, all four western European nations are constitutional monarchies. Theoretically, the people who live in those countries are not the citizens of the public governments, but the subjects of the royal families. Kings, queens, princes, princesses and castles can all be found in this territory. With well-preserved historical and cultural heritages, traveling to this European wonderland is just like reading a fairy tale story.

 Denmark has been one of the members of the European Union (EU) for over 45 years. But having said that, Denmark has still refused to adopt euro as its currency. Just like the other northern European countries, such as Britain and Norway, Denmark has a long tradition of euroscepticism towards the European integration. Even though Denmark has never been regarded as a world super power, it was ranked the 11th best country out of 80, referring to the US News and World Report in 2018. Denmark is less than one-fourth the size of Guangdong province, but its GDP (nominal) per capita is nearly five times of Guangdong’s. It is not surprising that Danes enjoy a much higher quality of living compared to the Chinese.

 Benelux is a geopolitical expression of three neighbouring nation-states in western Europe, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Benelux Union is also known as the Low Countries since quite a portion of their territory are below sea level. Different from the Eurosceptic Denmark, Benelux countries have been the keen participants in European integration after World War Two. These three small nation states together with Germany, France and Italy are the founders of the modern European Union (EU). The total population of Benelux is five times more than that of Denmark. Since both the Low countries and Denmark share a similar level of GDP (PPP), it is believed that the living standards of their citizens are quite alike.

 In September 2017, a two-week excursion was planned to nine different cities in these four idiosyncratic nation-states. Besides their capital cities, some low profile historical towns should not be omitted from the to-visit list. Each destination has their own story to tell and every traveler has their own story to complete.

 Day One - Copenhagen: Den Bla Planet (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 Having been the national capital for more than half a millennium, Copenhagen has turned to be the biggest city in Demark. With over a million Danes reside in its urban area, Copenhagen is also the most populous city in the country. This time-honored city takes you back in time just by having you walk down any of its streets. Surrounded by characteristic brick buildings, a walk down the street can be quite exhilarating and mesmerizing. This is where childhood fairy tales blend with historical architecture and cultural inheritance. From royal castles to national museums, from century-old amusement park to modern aquarium, the beauty of Copenhagen can be seen just about anywhere. Enjoy relaxing yourself in a local café, reading your favorite Anderson’s novel with a cup of cappuccino in hand can just be the perfect thing to do.

 Since the urban area of this mini-capital city is less than one-fourth of Hong Kong, four days in Copenhagen is long enough to have a brief overview of its cultural and historical heritage. For those who want to immerse in the atmosphere of Middle Age Europe, there is no better place than visiting a castle. A myriad of medieval castles is scattered around the city. Kronborg Castle is a well-known Renaissance stronghold not because by its hundred years of Danish history, but because by a tragic drama of a celebrated British playwright. The fictional Danish prince, Hamlet, was created by William Shakespeare some four hundred years back. The tragedy of protagonist took place not in another place but in this castle. Stepping into Kronborg Castle, you can submerge yourself in the story of this tragic character and read this immortal novel by following the footsteps of Hamlet. The Casemate is another highlight of this bastion where you can find the statue of Denmark’s national hero, Holger Danske. Legend has it that, Holger is a legendary knight of Charlemagne who will wake up if Denmark is in mortal danger. With such mythological background, it is no wonder that Kronborg Castle is enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 Within walking distance from the Prince Hamlet’s Castle, there is a national maritime museum, M/S Museet for Søfart. Claiming fame to numerous international architectural awards, M/S Maritime Museum is a brand new dominant feature in the region which is built below ground level around a former dry dock. The museum tells hundreds of years of Danish maritime history in a modern way. Upon entering the elongated exhibition hall, you can explore a series of maritime stories and sailors’ adventures of all times. Model ships from old sailing vessels to modern ocean liners really showcase the Danish maritime development over time. It is a perfect place for those who are interested in maritime affairs.

 Not far away from the maritime museum, you will find a low-profile university-owned aquarium. Øresund Aquarium may be less well-known compared to some other national aquariums in Europe, but its educational functions are the same as the others. With detailed explanation from the researchers of the aquarium, visitors can learn some fascinating facts and intriguing stories about the sea animals found in the waters between Denmark and Sweden. Under the guidance of aquarium staff, visitors are welcome to touch different kinds of local Danish fish and marine invertebrates in the specially designed touch pools. Since this saltwater aquarium is not too big and its displays are well-organized, a half-an-hour tour is good enough to admire the amazing underwater world. Øresund Aquarium is far more than a local aquarium and acts as an educational centre for a family with all ages.

 Leaving the outskirts of the city, I hurried back to the urban area and looked for some exhibitions related to high technology. Tycho Brahe Planetarium is a state-of-the-art space museum located in the heart of the city dedicated to popularizing astronomy and promoting knowledge on space science. The exhibition hall depicts the development of cosmos exploration and space technology. The highlight of the Planetarium is surely the Dome Theatre. On a 1000-square-metre large domed projection screen, audiences can enjoy spectacular IMAX movies. Once you sit inside the Dome Theatre, you will just like voyaging into the infinite space. Losing yourself in a digital 3D universe, you can experience the cosmos like never before. There is no wonder why Planetarium is so popular from both local residents and far-traveling visitors.

 Den Bla Planet (Blue Planet) was my last stop before I called it a day. This national aquarium has been the largest of its kind in Northern Europe since its commencing in 2013. This newly built aquarium is a masterpiece of art itself. When looking from the sky, the whole structure is just like a giant whirlpool with five spiral arms that reach out to the ocean. But if you look from one side, you can just see a huge blue whale lying on the sea surface. The whole aquarium is divided into three main sections and features over thousands of marine animals and seven million litres of water. By walking through the water tunnels and fish tanks, one can truly appreciate how fantastic the marine world can be. Amongst all aquatic creatures, five cutest animals are highly recommended, including sea otters, hammerhead sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus, arapaima. In my opinion, sea otters should be the most popular sea animal among children. Sea otters are one of the few marine mammals that know how to use tools. In order to crack open shellfish or clams, sea otters hold rocks between their forepaws to pound their hard-shelled prey. It was a remarkable experience to watch the foraging behavior of this little sea creature up-close at the aquarium tank. This gigantic aquarium is a must-go spot when you come to Copenhagen.

 Day Two - Copenhagen: Frederiksborg Slot (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 Early in the morning of my second day in Copenhagen, I took an express train up north to Hillerød, a Danish town with a small population of around 30,000. The only reason for tourists to visit this remote suburb is to see an unrivalled fairy tale castle. Scenically situated in the middle of an extensive green lake found the largest Renaissance citadel in Scandinavia, Frederiksborg Castle. This imposing castle was first built in the early 17th century by the legendary Danish King Christian IV. The castle was built with red brick fortress walls and green copper tower roofs, making the whole architecture stand out from its idyllic scenery.

 The Museum of National History at the castle portrays five hundred years of Danish history with a significant collection of portraits, furniture and decorative art. A tour through the museum feels like going back to the Medieval Age of Denmark.

 Judging by the scale and historic importance, some may think that Frederiksborg is nothing more than an ordinary medieval castle. The true beauty of this castle cannot be only evaluated by its lavish decoration inside, but also the landscaped garden outside. The most eye-catching part of the garden is four meticulous royal monograms executed in boxwood, which located at the centre of the lower level of the garden. Strolling around this romantic garden, one could temporarily escape from the hustle and bustle city life, and admire the man-made nature in tranquility. This Baroque garden is built of four terraces cascading down the castle lake. One can climb up to high ground at the other end and then look back to the gorgeous garden with the magnificent castle as its backdrop. It is the reason why Frederiksborg Castle is often referred to as the Danish Versailles.

 Located in the heart of Copenhagen, Christiansborg Palace is the real jewel of the city. Not only is it the largest palace in Scandinavia, but it is also a multifunction government office with the National Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office and the Supreme Court. This palace is also the place where the queen entertains state guests and hosts New Year banquets.

On the site of Christiansborg today was originally a medieval castle which could be dated back to the mid-12th century. Suffered from two serious burndowns, the current palace was rebuilt in Neo-Baroque style in the early 19th century. With 17 colorful tapestries hung on the walls, depicting historical scenes of Denmark, the Queen’s Reception Rooms are the most remarkable part of the palace. It is used for receiving official guests and holding state dinners. The Royal Kitchen was the place where prepared royal banquets. Visitors can experience the history by touching the copper cookware found in the kitchen. The Royal Stable houses queen’s white horses together with a wide collection of royal carriages. The Ruins under the palace tell the story of Copenhagen over 800 years ago.

 Situated in the city centre, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is a medium-sized local museum with a main focus of arts and antiquities. This museum houses an extensive collection of antique sculpture from several ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean including Egypt, Greece and Rome. In addition to the ancient artworks, Danish and French paintings from the 19th century are also presented in the museum. Once stepping into the building, you will be astonished by a brilliant winter garden replete with palm trees reaching up high to the glass dome. The focal point of the museum may not be some century-old artifacts, but the sculpture Water Mother lies at the middle of the garden. The Water Mother depicts a young mother feeding a dozen of her cute babies above a fountain. Wrapped up in a peaceful surrounding and under gorgeous afternoon sunlight, you just like being in a lushness botanical garden instead of an art museum.

 Positioned right across the road from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Tivoli is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world and is the most visited theme park in Scandinavia. Walt Disney once praised this park as “Happy, with an unbuttoned air.” Unlike other theme parks, Tivoli is not decorated as a fairy tale wonderland with a lot of cartoon characters, but a nostalgic fairground with all the elements which a fun fair should have. Some classic old time carnival rides can be found in the park, such as bumper cars, Ferris wheel, music carousel and even a small aquarium. Inside the park, you can also find a number of exhilarating rides built over a hundred years ago, including one of the world's oldest wooden roller coasters, The Mountain Coaster. At night, Tivoli is ornamented with thousands of color lights that make the park even more romantic. During the Second World War, Tivoli was once burnt down by the Nazi, but fortunately it was quickly rebuilt and reopened to the public within a few weeks. It showed the bravery and intelligence of the Danes. Thus, Tivoli is more than just a fun fair amusement park, but also a historical gem of Copenhagen.

 Day Three - Copenhagen: Rosenborg (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 On the third day in Copenhagen, I continued my trip of cultural and historical sightseeing. Visiting a castle is a great way to learn about the life of a royal family.  Rosenborg was originally built as a summer hermitage in the early 17th century commissioned by the Danish King Christian IV. This elegant Renaissance castle had been served as a royal residence for over a hundred years. Today, this 400-year-old castle is open to public as a royal history museum for featuring artifacts spanning a breadth of royal Danish culture. Among all the rooms in the castle, the Great Hall is the main attraction. At one end of the hall, you can find three life-size silver lions guard the coronation chair of the Danish kings. Moreover, the treasury beneath the castle houses a large and exquisite collection of Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia. Through the exhibits of the royal family mentioned above, visitors can travel back in time and get a sense of everyday life of the kings and queens.

 Kongens Have (The King’s Garden) is a 12-hectare park beside Rosenborg. Under a bright blue endless sky, taking a leisurely stroll in this castle garden is quite a relaxing activity away from the hassle of the city. The gardens today are a popular retreat for the Danes and oversea visitors.

 In the same neighborhood of the Rosenborg Castle, there is another century-old Renaissance building which is served as a national gallery of Denmark. Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark), also known as SMK, is Denmark’s principal art museum, which contains a wide-ranging collection of western art from the period of Renaissance until the present day. Apart from thousands of paintings and artworks from the 19th-century Danish Golden Age, masterworks of international-known artists, such as Matisse and Picasso, can also be found in this gallery. Spending an hour or so is sufficient for taking a quick review of Danish and European art history of the past seven hundred years.

 Situated in the same locality, Statens Naturhistoriske Museum (Geologisk Museum) is a natural history museum of Denmark. By merging several science museums in 2004, this newly established museum contains a rich and varied selection of exhibits relating to geology, zoology and botanology. The collections of the museum include a variety of minerals, fossils and even meteorites. By the time I visited this museum, a special exhibition about insect was on display. Thirty huge high definition insect portraits were hung in the exhibition hall. With such a state-of-the-art photo-shooting technique, all the details of the insects are clearly shown in a poster-size photo. It was the first time I saw some beetles on such a big color picture. Furthermore, visitors were allowed to use a big LCD monitor to zoom in on details of an insect. No other museum can you get equally high definition insect photos.

 Nationalmuseet (National Museum of Denmark) is the biggest cultural history museum in Denmark with almost two hundred years of history. The museum preserves the most varied collection of exhibits from the earliest prehistoric period to the recent past of Denmark. Covering over 14,000 years of Danish history, the museum tells the stories of the Ice Age, the adventures of the Vikings, the artworks of the Renaissance and the modern daily life of the Danes. This museum is especially well-known for its comprehensive collection of ethnographic exhibits. Among the many prominent national treasures are some ancient artifacts, including 3000-year-old Egyptian mummies, 3500-year-old Sun Chariot and 4000-year-old Greek marble figurines. Placed inside the Nationalmuseet, Children's Museum is an area specially designed for the children who are under 12 years of age, where the young visitors are free to touch and examine the historical items in order to learn the history from the Viking Age to the Medieval period. It is quite a good museum for families with kids.

 Before coming back to my hotel, I visited a lesser known attraction where normal tourists seldom venture. Det Kongelige Bibliotek (Royal Danish Library) is the national library of Denmark and the largest libraries in the world. The library is home to an incredible collection of books including the first Danish book of the late 15th century. Most tourists came to visit this library was not because of its large collection of valuable paper documents, not because of its fascinating architectural design. The building was designed in a rectangular shape with shiny black glass-curtain wall. Looking from a distance, the structure of this national library is just like a gorgeous black diamond situated by the riverside.

Day Four - Copenhagen: Amalienborg Slot (Cabinn Metro, 2-star hotel)

 On the last day of my trip in Copenhagen, I headed out to the Danish royal residence, Amalienborg Slot (Amalienborg Palace). Since the old Christiansborg Palace was burnt down in 1794, the royal family moved to Amalienborg. Today, Amalienborg is the winter residence of the Danish royal family. According to size and splendor, this royal residence cannot be compared with other palaces in Europe. Nevertheless, the complex layout is still acknowledged to be one of the finest examples of Danish Rococo architecture in the city. The Amalienborg complex consists of four identical classical palaces which are built around an octagonal courtyard. At the centre of the courtyard stands the monumental equestrian statue of King Frederik V, the founder of Amalienborg Palace. Currently, among the four classical palaces, only the palace of Christian VIII is open to the public.

 Another reason to visit Amalienborg is to watch the Royal Guard changes. In addition to post replacement every two hours, the Changing the Guard ceremony takes place at the palace every day at noon. It is an unmissable highlight for a visit to the palace.

 My next destination was neither an opulent royal palace nor a colossal national museum, but it still draws millions of tourists all over the world every year. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, Little Mermaid is about one-metre high bronze sculpture displayed on a rock by the seaside. Since its unveiling in 1913, the Little Mermaid has been a major tourist attraction for over a hundred of years. It is said to be one of the most photographed statues in the world. Undoubtedly, the Little Mermaid is an unofficial mascot that symbolizes Copenhagen and a de facto symbol of Denmark. Unfortunately, the little statue has suffered from repeated vandalism since the mid-1960s for multiple reasons. To prevent from further damage, the Little Mermaid was moved onto a water-locked rock at Langelinie in the harbor of Copenhagen. Yet, in order to take a snapshot with this iconic statue, many visitors still take a risk to climb onto the dangerous slippery rock. As far as I had observed, most of those visitors were from Asia, especially from China.

 After having lunch in a Chinese restaurant near the Central Station, I came to another natural history museum which is located a little bit away from the city centre. With over a century and a half of history, the Zoological Museum is the world's oldest natural history museum. Compared with other science museums around Europe, this one is relatively small but still worth spending an hour or so exploring. The museum holds a unique scientific collection of rare prehistoric animals. Some of the fauna fossils and specimens can date back to twenty thousand years ago or even earlier. The precious exhibits found in the museum include the models of a sperm whale, a giant sloth, a glyptodon and much more. Some specimens are not easily found in other science museums, like the skull of a dodo and a full-scale specimen of whale heart. Visitors can also get pretty close to an array of stuffed animals, such as a giant mammoth. Certain exhibits are even allowed to be touched, for example, the skull of a T-Rex and the skeleton of a whale. Amongst all the exhibits, the newly discovered Diplodocus is undeniably the most prominent item found in the museum. With the nickname of “Misty”, this 17-metre-long herbivorous giant was a fantastic creature some 150 million years ago. The Zoological Museum is just like a living encyclopedia of ancient animals.

 Day Five - Amsterdam (Zaanse Schans): Zaans Museum (A&O Amsterdam Zuidoost Hotel, 2-star hotel)

 Located a little less than an hour and a half flight time from Denmark, I came to my next destination, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Some people, especially the Chinese, always refer the Netherlands as Holland. The Netherlands comprises 12 provinces. Strictly speaking, Holland only represents the two most powerful provinces which have the greatest economic contribution to the entire nation. Windmills, tulips and dairy products are probably the first few things which come to your mind when you think about the Netherlands. But people seldom ask why all those things are so famous worldwide. The Netherlands is known as a flat country since only around half of its land exceeding one metre above sea level. To prevent the damages caused by floods, windmills were invented to pump water out of areas below sea level. Additionally, with benign climate and gentle relief, market gardening has been well developed on extensive low-lying grasslands. This is the reason why beautiful flowers like tulips and high quality dairy products like cheese can be easily found in the Netherlands but not in other places.

 Besides the capital city, two more metropolises were visited during the four-day trip to the Netherlands. Each city has their own characteristics and worth to be deeply explored.

 Amsterdam is the very first place I visited in the Netherlands. It is the country's biggest city and what a million Dutch call home. Most people know that Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands. However, not everyone knows that the Dutch central government is located in The Hague instead of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is colloquially known as “Venice of the North” because of its arresting canals and compelling bridges weaving around the city, which bears a resemblance to the romantic Venice in many ways. With dozens of national museums and art galleries dotted around the city, Amsterdam feels like a pop-up history book. Wherever you go, layers of history will unfold before your eyes.

 Normally, city centre is a place where the main tourist attractions are located. Most tourists tend to spend countless hours walking around the urban area or simply taking a bus tour to get a brief overview of the city. However, if you would like to get an accurate impression of the traditional life of the Dutch, a heritage Dutch village is indisputably a great place to start with your historical sightseeing. Zaanse Schans, approximately 15 kilometres north of Amsterdam, is a serene Dutch village situated in a fairy-tale-like countryside. Having been meticulously restored to its former beauty, Zaanse Schans today serves as an open-air conservation zone with a number of museums displaying the traditional architecture of the Dutch.

 Zaans Museum is sited at the entrance of the windmill village and also the place where the visitors can buy their admission tickets. The museum tells the history of the windmills and provides all the necessary information about the village visiting. The Verkade Pavilion which houses inside the museum gives a historical overview of the chocolate and biscuit making in the village. Visitors can even taste the fresh cookies made in the pavilion. The Zaanse Time Museum is dedicated to illustrating the history of Dutch timepieces and uncovering the hidden secrets of engineering and design of clocks.

 As the icon of the Netherlands, the six well-preserved windmills are surely the focus in the village. Besides water pumping, a windmill is actually a kind of multi-purpose factory with the functions of wood cutting, oil refining, paint making and so on. Apart from the windmills, several traditional handicraft industries can be found in the village, including cheese making, cookies baking, cloth weaving, etc. Visitors can observe the whole process of wood sawing, clogs manufacturing and barrels making in different corresponding craftsman’s workshops.

 Arranging a pleasant day trip to this picturesque Dutch countryside is a great education experience for every tourist. On a bright sunny day, exploring the historic windmills one by one is quite a delightful thing to do.

 Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House) is the best-known biographical museum in Amsterdam and the third most visited museum in the Netherlands. Since it is considered one of the must-go tourist attractions, this historic house museum draws over a million visitors every year. Even though you are lucky enough to reserve an entry ticket through the Internet, you still need to line up a long queue at the main entrance for about half an hour to get in. In order to keep the artifacts intact and streamline the crowd control arrangements, no photo is allowed inside the museum. All the related historical documents, photographs, film images and even the original copy of Anne’s diary are shown in the museum.

 This 17th-century canal house was the place where Anne Frank and her family hidden from the Nazi. It was also the place where Anne kept her noteworthy diary. Anne had hidden in the secret annex behind a bookcase for more than two years before she was finally arrested by the Gestapo. Eventually, Anne was sent to the concentration camp and died afterwards. Although Anne Frank could not survive during the Holocaust of the Jewish, her wartime diary was published after the Second World War. Today, “The Diary of a Young Girl” has been translated into over 70 languages. It is one of the bestsellers and significant first-hand documents about the dark history of World War Two.

 The following museum may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is another tourist hotspot which attracts half of a million grown adults annually. Although this museum is only a five-minute walk from the Amsterdam Central Station, it can easily be overlooked in the busy streets of the Red Light District. Located in a 17th century-old multi-story building, the Venustempel (Temple of Venus) is the world's oldest sex museum with a considerable collection of erotic pictures, comics, photographs and even some life-sized sex mannequins. Some of the exhibits can be dated back to some 4000 years ago. Aside from some historical sexual artifacts, such as medieval chastity belts, the most eye-catching object should be the genital-themed furniture. Visitors are welcome to sit on that furniture and take photos with it. This museum is devoted to human sexuality rather than nudity and pornography. It is the very place for any adults who are interested in exploring the history and culture of sexuality.

 Day Six - Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum (A&O Amsterdam Zuidoost Hotel, 2-star hotel)

 Before I left Amsterdam, three more museums I would like to pay a visit. First and foremost, Van Gogh Museum is a national art museum dedicated to the artworks of Vincent Van Gogh, the best-renowned Post-Impressionist painter in the whole Netherlands. With the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings, this museum was claimed to be the most visited museum in the Netherlands in 2017. Millions of local and overseas art lovers make a pilgrimage to visit this museum each year. The museum is home to some masterworks of this genius artist, including Self-portrait, Sunflowers and Almond Blossoms. Aside from Van Gogh’s work, the museum also owns some masterpieces from Van Gogh’s contemporaries, such as Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet and Gauguin. Like the Anne Frank Huis, photography is not allowed inside the Van Gogh Museum because of the damage it may cause to the priceless paintings.

 Within the same proximity, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is the second most popular national museum in the Netherlands after the Van Gogh Museum. As the largest art museum in the country, it holds more than 8000 art pieces in 80 showrooms to illustrate over 800 years of Dutch history, from the Medieval Ages to present day. Amongst all the celebrated paintings, The Night Watch by Rembrandt and The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer are two of the finest examples of artworks from the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Another worth mentioning part of the museum is the Rijksmuseum Research Library. It is an exquisite and the biggest public art history research library in the Netherlands. No travelers should pass up on the Rijksmuseum when they have a chance to come to Amsterdam.

 My final destination before leaving Amsterdam is the Nemo Science Museum. It is a popular science and technology museum housed in a huge ship-shaped emerald edifice on the harbor which is hard to be unnoticed. It attracts over 600,000 visitors from every corner of the globe yearly. The target audiences of the museum are the youngsters from the age of 6 to 16, but adults who are young at heart are more than welcome. As the largest science centre in the Netherlands, it contains five floors of interactive science exhibitions in which visitors can get close to the daily science and technology. The most attention-grabbing science-themed exhibition must be the “The Machine” on the second floor. It shows the logistic process through a large-scale assembly line of transferring some color balls from one place to another. Even if you have no time to go through the entire museum, please spend some time going up to the rooftop terrace where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Day Seven - Den Haag: Mauritshuis (NH Den Haag Hotel, 4-star hotel)

After leaving the capital city, I headed to the next Dutch metropolitan, The Hague (Den Haag). With a population of around a million, The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It is called the country's administrative capital since it holds the seat of the central government, the parliament, the Supreme Court and even the residence of the royal family. This “Dual-Capital” political structure has its historical reason. Before 1806, The Hague was the state capital. During the Napoleonic rule, a puppet government was set up in Amsterdam by the French to govern the Kingdom of Holland. After the abdication of Napoleon I, the Dutch government was restored in The Hague, but the official capital remained in Amsterdam. Today, The Hague is no longer the state capital of the country, but it is crowned as the “Judicial Capital of the World” since over 150 international organizations are situated in this city, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Though Mauritshuis (Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery) is only a compact-size art museum, it has a truly exceptional collection of the best Dutch paintings from the Golden Age of the 17th century, including some world-known masterworks from the old Dutch art masters. The “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer is regarded to be the jewel of the museum. The image of this painting has been printed a million times on all sorts of souvenirs, such as mugs, T-shirts, posters, umbrella and so on. “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” by Rembrandt van Rijn is another highlight in the gallery which no one should miss. Mauritshuis is one of the few tourist attractions found in The Hague which I highly recommend visiting.

 A monumental architecture tells the thrilling story of crime and punishment in the Netherlands across the centuries. Museum de Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate Museum) was originally the main gate to the Court and a medieval prison where serious crime suspects were locked up awaiting interrogation and trial. The penalties could be as light as a small fine to as harsh as capital punishment. This building served as a prison for four hundred years until it was turned to a museum in the late 19th century. Under the guidance of the museum staff, visitors will learn all the fascinating history about the prison, the trials, the sentences and even some horrible tortures applied to the prisoners. Visitors are allowed to walk through the premises and exploring underground cells, interrogation rooms, judge rooms and torture chambers. What’s more, an intriguing service is only offered to young visitors. Children aged from 7 to 13 are welcome to hold a birthday party inside this prison. An official guide would take the children on a unique historical tour of discovery through the museum.

 Nearby the Prison Gate Museum, Galerij Prins Willem V (The Prince William V Gallery) is another hidden jewel in the heart of the city. It is an intimate art gallery built in the late 18th century. Among all the stunning paintings, I personally like the ones relating to Bible stories and Greek mythology, such as “The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man” by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Elder and “The feast of the gods at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis” by Abraham Bloemaert. Since it is not a big gallery, you can walk through the premises within half an hour.

 Due to a limited travel schedule, it is nearly impossible for most travelers to visit every single best-loved attraction in the Netherlands one by one. Madurodam (Little Netherlands) is the ultimate place to provide you an exceptional overall impression of the whole Netherlands within a short period of time. Madurodam is actually a miniature theme park featuring the most iconic landmarks found in the Netherlands on a mini-scale. Once you enter the park, you find yourself in a Lilliputian and everything surrounded you is re-modelled on a scale of 1:25, including windmills, canal houses, tulip fields, wooden shoes factories and many others. Every single model is recreated with incredible detail. The flower-bulb fields are made with real flowers at a quarter of real size. Ships, trains and airplanes are all mechanical objects controlled by computer. Although the size of the park is less than an acre, all major Dutch cities, public facilities and historical landmarks can all be found in such a small area.

 Not every part of the Madurodam is built in a miniature structure. “Nieuw Amsterdam” (New Amsterdam) and “Het Hof van Nederland” (The Court of the Netherlands) are two real life size interactive presentation rooms which take you back in time to experience the enthralling medieval history of the Dutch. In addition, two playgrounds are built on a man-made beach which offers a place for children to play. It is much more than an amusement park for a family to spend a lovely afternoon. Since Madurodam is in the top five of the most visited theme parks in the country, over half a million visitors rush into this miniature world every year.

 Day Eight - Rotterdam: Kinderdijk (Hotel Breitner, 3-star hotel)

 Rotterdam was the third and the last city I visited on a trip to the Netherlands. The city developed from a quiet fishing village in the 13th century to nowadays the busiest seaport in Europe and the second-largest metropolis in the Netherlands. With its strategic location by the North Sea, Rotterdam plays an important role as a major logistic and economic hub. As a commercial centre, one may think that this municipality has nothing much to offer their visitors. Yet, some captivating tourist attractions are still worth to mention, like the Cube Houses, De Markthal, MiniWorld Rotterdam and so forth. Because I could only afford to spend one day in this port city, I decided to make a good use of my time. Somewhere which can represent the rich culture and history of the city is the ideal place for me to explore.

 Located in a suburb of Rotterdam, Kinderdijk (Children Dike) is another impressive windmill village in the Netherlands. Although Kinderdijk is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site with the highest concentration of classical windmills, it is less crowded and more tranquilized when compared with Zaanse Schans of Amsterdam I mentioned before. Against the backdrop of the Dutch country landscape, an array of traditional windmills stands on the two sides of a river and welcomes every visitor come to the village. Regrettably, only two out of 19 windmills are now open to the public. Anyway, visiting an authentic windmill is a good chance to understand the daily life of the Dutch in their good old days. Visitors can also learn everything about the engineering of the windmill hydraulic system at the visitor centre. The Dutch windmills were originally built for regulating the water level to prevent inundation and keeping the lowlands dry. It also helped the development of agriculture and early settlements of the Dutch in the low-lying lands. Consequently, it can be regarded as the highest engineering achievement of the Middle Ages. Today, many windmills and pumping stations are rebuilt to be generated by electricity and controlled by computer, but the Kinderdijk is still well-preserved to be a traditional windmill village just like the one found in the 18th century. In a good weather day, taking a boat tour to go around the village is quite an enjoyable activity to do.

 Day Nine - Antwerp: Museum ann de Stroom/MAS (Century Hotel Antwerpen Centrum, 3-star hotel)

 As the neighbor country of Holland, Belgium was once a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands shortly after the Napoleonic Wars during the early 19th century. After the independence in 1830, Kingdom of Belgium has become a sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy. Having suffered from two world wars, Belgian have been continuously looking for peace and stability. Since the end of the Second World War, Belgium has made much efforts in European integration and international co-operation. Not only is Belgium a founding member of the European Union (EU) but also a founding member of the NATO. Just like the Netherlands, Belgian society is rather open-minded and respects individual human rights. The LGBT rights, same-sex marriage and even mercy killing are all legalized in this low-lying country. No wonder that Belgium ranks as one of the most peaceful countries in the world.

 In addition to the state capital city of Brussels, three more lesser-known cities were briefly explored during my five-day excursion to Belgium. A number of hidden cultural and historical heritages were uncovered in this small European nation.

Antwerp is my first stop after I entered Belgium. Since the 16th century, Antwerp has been one of the most prosperous financial centres of the world. At present, Antwerp is the second biggest city in Belgium behind Brussels. The port of Antwerp is ranking second in Europe after Rotterdam of the Netherlands. The city is so sparkling not because of its economic power in the country but because of its leading industry in the world. With its reputation as “Diamond Capital”, Antwerp is the world leader in diamond industry, accounting for over 70% of global diamond trade. Antwerp is a city with many faces. It is not only a major trading hub but also a cultural city with myriad heritage sites.

 Looking from a long distance away, one would find a huge red Lego-like brick floating on the water. With its idiosyncratic design and special building materials, no one could guess that it is a contemporary city museum. Situated in an old dock, Museum ann de Stroom (MAS) is the largest museum in the city and served as the landmark of Antwerp. Since its opening in 2011, this ten-storey-high postmodern building has been a custodian of an ever-growing collection of cultural and historical objects related to the city. Up to the present, the MAS houses nearly 500,000 museum pieces, including artworks, utensils, figurines, etc. Go up to the top floor, visitors can enjoy an unblocked panorama view overlooking the cityscape. It is a must-visit tourist spot for everyone who comes to Antwerp.

 Consecrated in the early 16th century, Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal (The Cathedral of Our Lady) is a fabulous Gothic cathedral with the highest church tower in the Benelux. Inside the cathedral, Bible stories are depicted on stained-glass windows. During the day time, the Bible characters come to life when the sunlight passing through the colorful stained-glass windows. Numerous religious masterpieces are also exhibited in the cathedral, including a series of centuries-old paintings by Flemish artists. Both “The Elevation of the Cross” and “The Descent from the Cross” by Peter Paul Rubens are two most reputable art pieces. This sacred place is unquestionably another iconic treasure of Antwerp.

 Museum Plantin-Moretus (Printing Museum) is a notable printing museum founded in the 16th century by Christophe Plantin. Though it has never been a national class museum since it opened to public in the late 19th century, its historical significance is recognized by the United Nations in 2005. It is the only museum inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. The museum boasts its incomparable collection of typographical objects, including the two oldest surviving printing presses in the world. Also, the museum library possesses a wide range of precious printing collections from the early Gutenberg Bible to the first Dutch dictionary, and many other invaluable treasures. The crown jewel inside the museum must be the Biblia Polyglotta (Pentaligual Bible). It is a Bible in five languages: Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek and Syriac-Aramaic. If you are interested in European printing history, it is the place where worth a visit.

 Day Ten - Brugge: Historium (Ibis budget Brugge Centrum Station, 1-star hotel)

 Brugge (Bruges in English) is located along the English Channel and is situated around 90 kilometres to the west of Antwerp. It takes less than 90 minutes to get to this Belgium town by express train from Antwerp. Though both Antwerp and Brugge are major seaport cities in Belgium, they are quite different in many aspects. Today Antwerp has developed to be a commercial centre with its geographical advantage and successful diamond industry, whereas Brugge has preserved to be a fairy-tale medieval town with its rich cultural and historical heritages. Just like the capital of the Netherlands, Brugge is also referred as the “Venice of the North” with its delightful cobblestone streets and dreamy canals. Similar to Venice of Italy, Brugge plays a role as a cultural city instead of an economic one. It is perhaps the reason why the city centre has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My trip to Brugge is not an average touristy sightseeing tour, but a chance to explore a historical old town.

 The following tourist spot I would like to introduce is neither the biggest nor the most famous in the city, but it must be the most favorable museum for every history lover, especially those interested in Renaissance Europe. In my opinion, Historium should be regarded as a new-style interactive movie theatre rather than an ordinary historical museum. Different from the traditional museum, the whole building was redecorated in the form of several medieval scenes from the Middle Ages to the city’s golden age. Visitors are guided to immerse themselves in the Medieval Ages of Brugge by entering seven different historical themed rooms. Each room was refurbished to recreate the cityscape of Brugge in 1435. With the help of the latest multimedia technology and spectacular sound effect, you are just like stepping back in time and experience the daily life of an ordinary Brugge citizen. Making use of the newly developed virtual reality technology, visitors can now explore the old city in the first-person perspective. This fantastic museum just gives every visitor an exhilarating historic experience.

 Some may think the following museum is quirky and chilling which may not be suitable for children and young adult. However, it is undoubtedly another paradise for history enthusiasts. Among all the torture museums of Europe, Torture Museum Oude Steen (Torture Museum of Brugge, the “Old Stone”) may not be the one with the biggest collection of related exhibits, but it may be the one which can recount the history of torture in the most detailed way. The premises was a former prison and later operated as a museum focusing on torture and punishment during Medieval times. As you walk through the museum you will be captivated by the bloodcurdling collection of torture devices and punishment methods. Over hundred horrifying torture instruments are on display, such as the thumbscrew, the chastity belt and the inquisition chair. Cruel punishment and execution scenes are recreated with the help of some lifelike wax mannequins playing the roles of prisoners. Visitors can feel the victims suffered atrocious pain when those harsh torture methods were applied to the human body. The Old Stone Museum tells the terrifying tale of crime and punishment a few hundred years before. The daunting torture tools and merciless punishment methods are the best silent witness of the gloomy history of the past judicial system. The museum provides you a unique learning experience and an insightful history lesson.

 Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (Saint-Salvator Cathedral) was merely a common parish church when it was erected at the heart of the city in the 10th century. Although the church eventually obtained its official status as a cathedral in the 19th century, it was still outshined by the nearby Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (The Church of Our Lady). As the highest structure in Brugge, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is indubitably the highlight of the city. The most eminent masterwork of the cathedral must be the “Madonna and Child”, a white marble sculpture made by Michelangelo in the early 16th century. This is a sacred place that entices tourists to stop by when they come to Brugge.

 Splendid palaces, far-famed museums, exuberant gardens are all popular attractions which fascinate tourists during their visit. But sometimes hidden treasures could only be discovered by accident and it is not easy to be found in some tourist hotspots. When I was about to leave Brugge after visiting the prevalent city’s attractions, I came across an exhibition centre which was exhibiting the artworks and inventions of a Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci. The Xpo Center Brugge is responsible to organize high-standard exhibitions about art, culture and science. During my visit to Brugge, a temporary exhibition about Da Vinci was on display. Over hundred models of Da Vinci’s inventions were showcased in different exhibition rooms. Visitors were even welcome to touch and operate some of the full-size models. It is no longer only an ordinary exhibition, but an interactive learning experience.

 Day Eleven - Gent: Gravensteen (Hotel Adoma, 3-star hotel)

 Gent (Ghent in English) is located about 50 kilometres southeast of Brugge, a train journey may take less than half an hour. Considering the scale of the city, today Gent can be no longer treated as a metropolis, but it has a glorious past during the Middle Ages. It was once one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. Though Gent is a thousand-year-old historic town, its population is quite young in comparison to other Belgian cities. Among 250,000 inhabitants, a quarter of population is students. With such a big portion of youngsters, it makes the city more vigorous and energetic. The city’s immense fortress and grandiose cathedrals are the best evidence of the triumphant past of Gent.

 The Gravensteen (Castle of the Count) is a medieval stone castle built in the late 12th century. It was once a courthouse, a prison and even a cotton mill. During the Middle Ages, this infamous castle was a symbol of power abuse and feudal repression. Today, this reputed citadel is now the single most significant landmark of the city. Visitors are allowed to explore almost every corner of the fortress, including the gatehouse, ramparts and count’s residence. The castle was meticulously restored and houses two historical museums.

 The Museum of Judicial Objects, also known as the Museum of Torture, illustrates the turbulent history of inhumane torture and punishment during medieval Europe. According to the criminal law of that time, punishment could only be applied after getting the confession from the accused. In order to get the confession, torturers would inflict severe pain on the prisoners by using various kinds of coercion devices, such as neck restraints, thumbs screws, leghold traps and many more. All the mentioned items together with a full-size guillotine model can be seen in the museum.

 The Arms Museum possesses an extensive range of collection of weapons, including pistols, crossbows, maces, daggers, rapiers and so on. Anyone who is interested in historical weapons should pay a visit to this museum.

 Sint-Baafekathedraal (St Bavo's Cathedral) is a majestic religious structure with a mixed architectural style of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque. The cathedral was first started to build in the mid-10th century and it was not completed until the 16th century. There is nothing special about the cathedral itself. The only thing deserved to be mentioned is the 15th-century polyptych altarpiece of the cathedral, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. It is a multi-paneled painting that is considered to be a magnum opus of European art by the Van Eyck brothers. It may be the reason why admission to the church itself is free of charge but charging four euros for seeing the masterpiece.

 Though the Sint-Niklaaskerk (St. Nicholas' Church) is less well-known compared with the Sint-Baafekathedraal, its particular Scheldt Gothic architecture standing out from the surrounding. Under extensive restoration programme, this religious edifice is now a striking blue-gray church and has long served as the icon of the city.

 Before leaving Gent, I came to another city attraction. STAM (Stadsmuseum Gent) is a newly established city museum commenced in 2010. The architectural design of the museum adopts the combination style of medieval red brick structure and modern glasshouse. Looking from the outside, it does not look like a cultural history museum at all. Different from the old-fashioned approach of traditional museums, STAM offers a brand-new museum visiting experience to every visitor. Once you step inside the museum, you are guided to enter a 300 square metre big multimedia exhibition room. The whole floor of that room is actually a gigantic aerial photo of Gent. Visitors are allowed to walk over it and see every detail of the map. No other museums I have visited use the same presentation method to show their city layouts. It is an exceptionally good idea of using innovative multimedia technology.

 Day Twelve - Brussels: Waterloo (Hotel Mirabeau, 2-star hotel)

 I spent the following two days staying in the capital city of Belgium. Brussels is a city that is crucially important not only because it is a state capital, but also because it is a “European Capital”. Although the European Union (EU) does not have an official capital, no one would deny that Brussels is de facto considered the capital of the EU since it hosts the official seats of major European institutions including the European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament. Internationally, Brussels is the headquarters for NATO, the most powerful intergovernmental military alliance in the world. Therefore, Brussels is a place where worth it to travel.

 On the first day in Brussels, I decided not to visit some tourist attractions in the city centre but went to someplace far away from the urban district. Anyone who is interested in European history would know the place called Waterloo. Waterloo is a place where Napoleon suffered his final defeat in 1815. For a history lover, a trip to Brussels would not be complete without a stop at Waterloo. Today, Waterloo has developed to be a tourist district with four historical museums related to this decisive battle which rewrote the modern European history. As it is only 15 kilometers away from the Brussels, a day trip to Waterloo is easy to be arranged.

 Wellington Museum was the headquarters of the Allied Forces and the place where Duke of Wellington finalized his strategic plan a night before the Battle of Waterloo. The museum contains a rich collection of period weapons, military uniforms, old drawings, etc. Some of the exhibits shown in the museum are the authentic items from the battle, such as maps, letters and even a wooden leg of a British army officer. The scene which Wellington wrote his victory announcement was recreated. This museum is a very good starting point for learning about the history of the battle.

 Memorial Museum 1815 is the biggest and the most captivating one among the four museums. Building on the historical site, this museum is the best place to retrace the history of the Battle of Waterloo. It is definitely an innovative museum which extensively utilizes the latest technology to reveal the turbulent history of the Battle. An impressive 4D movie let you immerse into the battlefield as if standing next to an artilleryman and hearing the cannon firing sound. The museum also has a comprehensive collection of full-size model soldiers and warhorses of the battle. As far as I am concerned, the highlight of the museum is not the multi-sensory experience which the state-of-the-art technology is offered, but the immerse panorama canvas which illustrates scenes from the battle of 1815. Further information and other reading materials related to the Battle of Waterloo can also be found inside the museum shop.

 Located four kilometres away from the Memorial Museum, the Napoleon Last Headquarters was the place where Napoleon drew up his military strategy a night before the Battle. The museum holds variety items, including weapons, paintings and even the Emperor’s camp bed.

 Leaving Waterloo before nightfall, I headed back to the city centre and visited my last stop before going back to the hotel. Manneken Pis, also known as Petit Julien, or little Julien, is a small bronze fountain statue. It is now the national symbol of Belgium and the best-known landmark of Brussels. There are multiple versions of the story of the Manneken Pis. Legend has it that a young boy called Julien peed on the burning fuse of the explosives and saved the city. Since then, the bronze statue has been erected and later became a must-see tourist hot spot in the city. Manneken Pis is not always naked. Sometimes the statue is dressed in different costumes.

 Day Thirteen - Brussels: Mini-Europe (Hotel Mirabeau, 2-star hotel)

 The following day I got up early to head to a temporary exhibition about dinosaurs, the Expo Dino World. It claimed that this dinosaur exhibition was the biggest exposition ever held on earth. The habitat of the Mesozoic era was recreated and over 60 animated lifelike dinosaurs were on display, including Triceratops, Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. The exhibition just took the visitors back to 65 million years ago when the daunting creatures were the rulers of the planet Earth. Most of the model dinosaurs were mechanized, so their heads and paws could move. Standing next to a Diplodocus, you would feel yourself really small in the presence of this sheer size animal. It was quite a good educational experience especially for the family with young children.

 In the same vicinity, a miniature world is found, the Mini-Europe. Very similar to the Madurodam of Den Haag, Mini-Europe is another miniature amusing park presenting the most eminent architectures found in Europe in a tiny-scale. All world-famed attractions, like the Big Ben of London and the Eiffel Tower of Paris, are on a scale of 1 to 25. All the memorial buildings have been replicated till the smallest detail. Visitors are free to take photos next to the mini-models. Within the park, there is a section called “Spirit of Europe”. It is just like an education centre where you can learn everything about the European Union. Mini-Europe is not only a wonderland for tourists but also for anyone who interested in European affairs.

 Museum Voor Natuurwetenschappen (Museum of Natural Sciences) is a natural history museum as well as a research centre of all living things on earth. The exhibition covers the complete evolution of animals and insects from millions of years ago until the present. It has the world’s largest dinosaur hall in which houses 30 completely assembled iguanodon skeletons unearthed in a coal mine in Belgium. Besides, an array of imposing dinosaur skeletons is on display, like stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus, triceratops and even mosasaurs. Aside from the prehistoric creatures, the museum also possesses variety kinds of modern animal specimens, such as giraffes, ostriches and whales. In the gallery of mankind, visitors can explore the evolution of human being and see some human organ models. This museum is a true treasure trove for anyone who is keen on natural sciences.

 Day Fourteen - Luxembourg: The Casemates (ibis Styles Luxembourg Centre Gare, 3-star hotel)

 The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked country surrounded by France, Germany and Belgium. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is my final destination of my trip to Benelux. Luxembourg is a fully sovereign state with a territory smaller than Hong Kong and a population size even smaller than Shatin, a district of Hong Kong. Although both the territorial and population sizes are small, Luxembourg is a developed country and an important financial centre. According to the IMF, Luxembourg has the world's highest GDP (nominal) per capita. The country is also keen on strengthening international co-operation with other European partners. Just like Belgium, Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union (EU) and NATO. The capital city even holds the seat of the European Court of Justice, the supreme court of the European Union. As a prolonged active member of the European family, Luxembourg has many cultural and historical heritages offer to the visitors all around the world.

 A trip to Luxembourg city is simply not complete without a visit to the world-known Casemates. A casemate is a type of firearm fortification with an immense underground military defense system. The very first mighty bastion was built in the mid-10th century by Count Sigefroy, and which provided a basis for the future development of Luxembourg city. In the following centuries, the casemates were strengthened and enlarged by different European rulers. Luxembourg city was gradually turned to a military stronghold and was famed as the “Gibraltar of the North”. After signing the Second Treaty of London in the mid-19th century, a large part of the fortified structure was demolished. The remaining part of the casemates is now a top tourist attraction of the city and which has been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO since 1994.

 Musee National d'Histoire et d'Art (National Museum of History and Art) offers an extensive exhibition space dedicated to archaeological, historical and art collections from all periods of Luxembourg. By the time I visited this museum, a marvelous temporary exhibition about the history of Portugal was on showcased. The museum also showed the daily life in the Ancient Times by remodeling the huts and tents found in that period. It is the exact place for anyone want to familiarize themselves with Luxembourg’s history through its public collections.

 Situated right in the heart of the old town, Musee d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg (Luxembourg City History Museum) is a glass structure embedded in a four-story historical building. It is a successful combination of medieval architecture with modern extension. The exhibition provides both local and foreign visitors with a thousand-year history of the city through original exhibits and topographical models. The permanent exhibition named “The Luxembourg Story” will give you a complete picture of the city's evolution from a socio-economical approach. While I was walking around the top floor of the museum, I unintentionally discovered a scale model called "Kueb". It was an architectural project called "European Hemicycle Project". A new premises was supposed to be built for the European Parliament, but the project had never been realized. It was quite a surprising discovery during the trip.

 Within the same neighborhood, I reached my final stop of my whole trip. Musee national d’histoire naturelle, natur musee (National Museum of Natural History) is a national science museum with a rich collection of botanical, zoological and paleontological specimens. The museum is focus on the small to medium size creatures from prehistoric period to contemporary world. Since the museum is not too big, no mega-sized prehistoric animals can be found in the exhibition hall. Besides the fossils like ammonites and dinosaur eggs are showcased, a wide range of life scale mammal models are recreated. There was a special exhibition themed on wild cats. Visitors could see a variety of wild cats, even some rare species. It is a place where natural science lovers can spend their afternoon.

 Traveling and Learning

 The trip to Denmark and Benelux were fruitful and memorable. During this half-month excursion, every single day was an exhilarating adventure and a treasure opportunity to learn something new. Reading and traveling are both good ways of learning as far as I am concerned. Reading a book about Europe may be the quickest way to learn what the continent is like, whereas traveling to Europe may be the best way to experience the spirit of European civilization. You can learn almost everything about this world from books with your logical mind, but you can only explore the unknown wonderland by traveling with your body and soul. You can learn someone’s valuable experience from a good book, while you can build up your own indelible experience from a great trip. I will continue my journey to Europe until I finish traveling every corner of this continent.

[fashionoutfit6]

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity would be the largest faith worldwide. You will definitely be amazed by the total number of its supporters: a couple of.1billion followers around the globe worship and place their Hope in Jesus. Christianity will depend on the instruction of Christ. This make any difference adds a change relating to this religious beliefs as well as other. If you are searching for an essay on the growth of Christian doctrine, or you desire tobuy some essay papers, you can actually structure it on our website. Creating a papers could very well be complex for you personally, make sure our freelance writers will help make thebest essay for your needs.

In advance of start up sharing Christianity as well as creation, please let a fully grasp who may be The lord and Christ. Christians assume that there is just one Lord who may have come up with world. He or she is long lasting, they have no close, in which he is a Almighty. This Lord forwarded his Daughter on this planet. His identify is Christ. Throughout him Lord managed to do marvels, signals, and delights. For that Holy bible states that the salvation is thru the Daughter. The lord built Christ each Lord and Christ. InJohn 8:12 Christ instructed, I am just the lighting all over the world. The person who comes after me will hardly ever walk around the block in darkness, and may have gentle of everyday life. Christians believe someone that retains phrases of Christ will rarely see fatality. The Holy bible educates folks who however the human body associated with a guy is old, the mindset is still living. Following a real passing away varieties heart and soul is utilized alternatively towards the paradise in order to the heck. Christ got to help save individuals with the heck. By way of his loss persons been given forgiveness from Our god, for Christ obtained not fully committed any sin and was resurrected by Our god. So, everybody who emphasizes in Christ and prevents Gods key phrases might be kept.Christ Christcompares a great guy by having a victor. With the guide of Revelation Christ states that someone that overcomes, will undoubtedly be dressed up in bright, and Christ will certainly not remove his brand name on the reserve of existence.

Christians trust the Trinity. That would be in Lord as Daddy, Boy, and Sacred Nature. Most people challenge across this, believe that that Christians rely on a few unique gods, that they can do not. Trinity ensures that the only one The lord will involve three or more co-prevailing men and women: the Dad is The lord, the Boy is Our god, additionally, the Sacred Style is Lord. But still one can find not a couple of gods only one The lord. He or she is not categorised. The Scripture states that Christ is incorporated in the Daddy as well as Daddy is inside the Kid. The Sacred Style is going forward coming from the Dad and from your Kid. Because of this, they include the only Our god.

The growth of Christianity begun very quickly when the loss of Jesus. It will be developed in the next section of Actions that many Christ disciples ended up together in one location at Pentecost. Out of the blue a coming good got their start in paradise and loaded the full household. And so, they had been loaded with the Sacred Style. Soon after on that day Peter withstood with the 11 and dealt with the group. He preached about Christ and salvation as a result of him. People who taken his sales message were definitely baptized, contributing to a couple of thousands of were being put onto their figure on that day. The followers ended up being in concert, and day to day to the variety ended up additional many men and women. Even though pretty much everything appears to be properly, there initially were several unfavorable components. Christianity joined the planet that has been not prepared to recognize their instruction. That has been a difficult time for followers and Christ fans. In spite of the wonders and marvels that was completed by Christ apostles and disciples, the persecution within the Christians was serious. Every one of the followers were being dotted all through Judea and Samaria. In conclusion, people preached message no matter where they proceeded to go. The Christianity was growing. Virtually every believer had been a vital tool in the creation of Christianity. Amongst the smartest was Paul. He continued numerous travels in the Roman Kingdom. Paul up and running church buildings and urged them by authoring words with additional recommendations. Up until the 3rd century Advertisement, Christians wanted to have trouble with persecution from the outside the chapel. In the event the Roman emperor Constantine turned Christ follower, an awesome switching in your past of Christianity arrived. The faith came to be legalised https://steepster.com/Valeri/followers, the persecution quit. In 1054 Advert the Christian Chapel is split into Western side and Eastern.

Despite the fact that to the initially 1000 a long time there initially were no Christian denominations, throughout the generations Christianity divided into countless limbs. Every one denomination possesses its own train, nonetheless they all fit in with Christianity simply because trust in the divinity of Jesus as well as simple truth on the Holy bible. About three key limbs of Christianity consist of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestant. Roman Catholicism is going because of the Pope. This Christian steady stream is a continuance for the chapel which was recognized in North western The european countries. Eastern Orthodoxy will be the continuation with the cathedral which had been in the past developed in Eastern The eu. It is different from Roman Catholicism. The Orthodoxy visitors reject the allegiance towards the Pope, use symbols, and honor Easter time a number of day time. From the sixteenth century within the Reformation Protestantism arose. Protestants rely on the salvation by religion by yourself, they certainly do not allow the expertise in the Pope, concentration the need for reading through Holy bible, and refuse a number of tradition and icons. Towards the Protestant part should be Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, Reformed Lutherans, and Pentecostals.

Christianity possesses its own fests and trips. Probably the most critical is Easter time. This is often a large misstep to take into account so that it is the main Christian holiday break. Easter time would not happen, whenever the childbirth of Christ failed to come up. Due to the fact that The holiday season and Easter time are deserving to get the best and also the most special Christian family vacations. Easter time will be the most ancient feast. The very first Christ followers emphasized the power of its observance. This vacation tells men and women crucial faith based issues. The Pentecost is not any a lot less critical event. It truly is discovered by the whole set of Christian denominations.

Christian techniques are typical totally different simply because of the numerous denominations. Also, it is defined via the Scripture just where is authored that we now have different types of program, yet the identical Lord. Regular factors of Christian exercise entail a Weekend worship provider, prayer, exploring of this Holy bible. Communion and baptism also transpire.

If you appreciate this report, but this is difficult while you imagine, if there issomeone who are able to do my essay, our company is below for helping. Feel safe, you will definitely get the very best essay.

The post Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas appeared first on Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion.

from Blog – Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion http://ift.tt/2Fwzzvt via IFTTT from Untitled http://ift.tt/2p2z0m5 via IFTTT from Ladiesfashion25 http://ift.tt/2tw7vqr via IFTTT

[itesfashion]

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity would be the largest faith worldwide. You will definitely be amazed by the total number of its supporters: a couple of.1billion followers around the globe worship and place their Hope in Jesus. Christianity will depend on the instruction of Christ. This make any difference adds a change relating to this religious beliefs as well as other. If you are searching for an essay on the growth of Christian doctrine, or you desire tobuy some essay papers, you can actually structure it on our website. Creating a papers could very well be complex for you personally, make sure our freelance writers will help make thebest essay for your needs.

In advance of start up sharing Christianity as well as creation, please let a fully grasp who may be The lord and Christ. Christians assume that there is just one Lord who may have come up with world. He or she is long lasting, they have no close, in which he is a Almighty. This Lord forwarded his Daughter on this planet. His identify is Christ. Throughout him Lord managed to do marvels, signals, and delights. For that Holy bible states that the salvation is thru the Daughter. The lord built Christ each Lord and Christ. InJohn 8:12 Christ instructed, I am just the lighting all over the world. The person who comes after me will hardly ever walk around the block in darkness, and may have gentle of everyday life. Christians believe someone that retains phrases of Christ will rarely see fatality. The Holy bible educates folks who however the human body associated with a guy is old, the mindset is still living. Following a real passing away varieties heart and soul is utilized alternatively towards the paradise in order to the heck. Christ got to help save individuals with the heck. By way of his loss persons been given forgiveness from Our god, for Christ obtained not fully committed any sin and was resurrected by Our god. So, everybody who emphasizes in Christ and prevents Gods key phrases might be kept.Christ Christcompares a great guy by having a victor. With the guide of Revelation Christ states that someone that overcomes, will undoubtedly be dressed up in bright, and Christ will certainly not remove his brand name on the reserve of existence.

Christians trust the Trinity. That would be in Lord as Daddy, Boy, and Sacred Nature. Most people challenge across this, believe that that Christians rely on a few unique gods, that they can do not. Trinity ensures that the only one The lord will involve three or more co-prevailing men and women: the Dad is The lord, the Boy is Our god, additionally, the Sacred Style is Lord. But still one can find not a couple of gods only one The lord. He or she is not categorised. The Scripture states that Christ is incorporated in the Daddy as well as Daddy is inside the Kid. The Sacred Style is going forward coming from the Dad and from your Kid. Because of this, they include the only Our god.

The growth of Christianity begun very quickly when the loss of Jesus. It will be developed in the next section of Actions that many Christ disciples ended up together in one location at Pentecost. Out of the blue a coming good got their start in paradise and loaded the full household. And so, they had been loaded with the Sacred Style. Soon after on that day Peter withstood with the 11 and dealt with the group. He preached about Christ and salvation as a result of him. People who taken his sales message were definitely baptized, contributing to a couple of thousands of were being put onto their figure on that day. The followers ended up being in concert, and day to day to the variety ended up additional many men and women. Even though pretty much everything appears to be properly, there initially were several unfavorable components. Christianity joined the planet that has been not prepared to recognize their instruction. That has been a difficult time for followers and Christ fans. In spite of the wonders and marvels that was completed by Christ apostles and disciples, the persecution within the Christians was serious. Every one of the followers were being dotted all through Judea and Samaria. In conclusion, people preached message no matter where they proceeded to go. The Christianity was growing. Virtually every believer had been a vital tool in the creation of Christianity. Amongst the smartest was Paul. He continued numerous travels in the Roman Kingdom. Paul up and running church buildings and urged them by authoring words with additional recommendations. Up until the 3rd century Advertisement, Christians wanted to have trouble with persecution from the outside the chapel. In the event the Roman emperor Constantine turned Christ follower, an awesome switching in your past of Christianity arrived. The faith came to be legalised https://steepster.com/Valeri/followers, the persecution quit. In 1054 Advert the Christian Chapel is split into Western side and Eastern.

Despite the fact that to the initially 1000 a long time there initially were no Christian denominations, throughout the generations Christianity divided into countless limbs. Every one denomination possesses its own train, nonetheless they all fit in with Christianity simply because trust in the divinity of Jesus as well as simple truth on the Holy bible. About three key limbs of Christianity consist of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestant. Roman Catholicism is going because of the Pope. This Christian steady stream is a continuance for the chapel which was recognized in North western The european countries. Eastern Orthodoxy will be the continuation with the cathedral which had been in the past developed in Eastern The eu. It is different from Roman Catholicism. The Orthodoxy visitors reject the allegiance towards the Pope, use symbols, and honor Easter time a number of day time. From the sixteenth century within the Reformation Protestantism arose. Protestants rely on the salvation by religion by yourself, they certainly do not allow the expertise in the Pope, concentration the need for reading through Holy bible, and refuse a number of tradition and icons. Towards the Protestant part should be Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, Reformed Lutherans, and Pentecostals.

Christianity possesses its own fests and trips. Probably the most critical is Easter time. This is often a large misstep to take into account so that it is the main Christian holiday break. Easter time would not happen, whenever the childbirth of Christ failed to come up. Due to the fact that The holiday season and Easter time are deserving to get the best and also the most special Christian family vacations. Easter time will be the most ancient feast. The very first Christ followers emphasized the power of its observance. This vacation tells men and women crucial faith based issues. The Pentecost is not any a lot less critical event. It truly is discovered by the whole set of Christian denominations.

Christian techniques are typical totally different simply because of the numerous denominations. Also, it is defined via the Scripture just where is authored that we now have different types of program, yet the identical Lord. Regular factors of Christian exercise entail a Weekend worship provider, prayer, exploring of this Holy bible. Communion and baptism also transpire.

If you appreciate this report, but this is difficult while you imagine, if there issomeone who are able to do my essay, our company is below for helping. Feel safe, you will definitely get the very best essay.

The post Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas appeared first on Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion.

from Blog – Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion http://ift.tt/2Fwzzvt via IFTTT from Untitled http://ift.tt/2p2z0m5 via IFTTT from Ladies Fashion http://ift.tt/2p4Q9vh via IFTTT

[ladiesfashion25]

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas

Christianity would be the largest faith worldwide. You will definitely be amazed by the total number of its supporters: a couple of.1billion followers around the globe worship and place their Hope in Jesus. Christianity will depend on the instruction of Christ. This make any difference adds a change relating to this religious beliefs as well as other. If you are searching for an essay on the growth of Christian doctrine, or you desire tobuy some essay papers, you can actually structure it on our website. Creating a papers could very well be complex for you personally, make sure our freelance writers will help make thebest essay for your needs.

In advance of start up sharing Christianity as well as creation, please let a fully grasp who may be The lord and Christ. Christians assume that there is just one Lord who may have come up with world. He or she is long lasting, they have no close, in which he is a Almighty. This Lord forwarded his Daughter on this planet. His identify is Christ. Throughout him Lord managed to do marvels, signals, and delights. For that Holy bible states that the salvation is thru the Daughter. The lord built Christ each Lord and Christ. InJohn 8:12 Christ instructed, I am just the lighting all over the world. The person who comes after me will hardly ever walk around the block in darkness, and may have gentle of everyday life. Christians believe someone that retains phrases of Christ will rarely see fatality. The Holy bible educates folks who however the human body associated with a guy is old, the mindset is still living. Following a real passing away varieties heart and soul is utilized alternatively towards the paradise in order to the heck. Christ got to help save individuals with the heck. By way of his loss persons been given forgiveness from Our god, for Christ obtained not fully committed any sin and was resurrected by Our god. So, everybody who emphasizes in Christ and prevents Gods key phrases might be kept.Christ Christcompares a great guy by having a victor. With the guide of Revelation Christ states that someone that overcomes, will undoubtedly be dressed up in bright, and Christ will certainly not remove his brand name on the reserve of existence.

Christians trust the Trinity. That would be in Lord as Daddy, Boy, and Sacred Nature. Most people challenge across this, believe that that Christians rely on a few unique gods, that they can do not. Trinity ensures that the only one The lord will involve three or more co-prevailing men and women: the Dad is The lord, the Boy is Our god, additionally, the Sacred Style is Lord. But still one can find not a couple of gods only one The lord. He or she is not categorised. The Scripture states that Christ is incorporated in the Daddy as well as Daddy is inside the Kid. The Sacred Style is going forward coming from the Dad and from your Kid. Because of this, they include the only Our god.

The growth of Christianity begun very quickly when the loss of Jesus. It will be developed in the next section of Actions that many Christ disciples ended up together in one location at Pentecost. Out of the blue a coming good got their start in paradise and loaded the full household. And so, they had been loaded with the Sacred Style. Soon after on that day Peter withstood with the 11 and dealt with the group. He preached about Christ and salvation as a result of him. People who taken his sales message were definitely baptized, contributing to a couple of thousands of were being put onto their figure on that day. The followers ended up being in concert, and day to day to the variety ended up additional many men and women. Even though pretty much everything appears to be properly, there initially were several unfavorable components. Christianity joined the planet that has been not prepared to recognize their instruction. That has been a difficult time for followers and Christ fans. In spite of the wonders and marvels that was completed by Christ apostles and disciples, the persecution within the Christians was serious. Every one of the followers were being dotted all through Judea and Samaria. In conclusion, people preached message no matter where they proceeded to go. The Christianity was growing. Virtually every believer had been a vital tool in the creation of Christianity. Amongst the smartest was Paul. He continued numerous travels in the Roman Kingdom. Paul up and running church buildings and urged them by authoring words with additional recommendations. Up until the 3rd century Advertisement, Christians wanted to have trouble with persecution from the outside the chapel. In the event the Roman emperor Constantine turned Christ follower, an awesome switching in your past of Christianity arrived. The faith came to be legalised https://steepster.com/Valeri/followers, the persecution quit. In 1054 Advert the Christian Chapel is split into Western side and Eastern.

Despite the fact that to the initially 1000 a long time there initially were no Christian denominations, throughout the generations Christianity divided into countless limbs. Every one denomination possesses its own train, nonetheless they all fit in with Christianity simply because trust in the divinity of Jesus as well as simple truth on the Holy bible. About three key limbs of Christianity consist of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestant. Roman Catholicism is going because of the Pope. This Christian steady stream is a continuance for the chapel which was recognized in North western The european countries. Eastern Orthodoxy will be the continuation with the cathedral which had been in the past developed in Eastern The eu. It is different from Roman Catholicism. The Orthodoxy visitors reject the allegiance towards the Pope, use symbols, and honor Easter time a number of day time. From the sixteenth century within the Reformation Protestantism arose. Protestants rely on the salvation by religion by yourself, they certainly do not allow the expertise in the Pope, concentration the need for reading through Holy bible, and refuse a number of tradition and icons. Towards the Protestant part should be Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, Reformed Lutherans, and Pentecostals.

Christianity possesses its own fests and trips. Probably the most critical is Easter time. This is often a large misstep to take into account so that it is the main Christian holiday break. Easter time would not happen, whenever the childbirth of Christ failed to come up. Due to the fact that The holiday season and Easter time are deserving to get the best and also the most special Christian family vacations. Easter time will be the most ancient feast. The very first Christ followers emphasized the power of its observance. This vacation tells men and women crucial faith based issues. The Pentecost is not any a lot less critical event. It truly is discovered by the whole set of Christian denominations.

Christian techniques are typical totally different simply because of the numerous denominations. Also, it is defined via the Scripture just where is authored that we now have different types of program, yet the identical Lord. Regular factors of Christian exercise entail a Weekend worship provider, prayer, exploring of this Holy bible. Communion and baptism also transpire.

If you appreciate this report, but this is difficult while you imagine, if there issomeone who are able to do my essay, our company is below for helping. Feel safe, you will definitely get the very best essay.

The post Christianity Essay: Christian Ideas appeared first on Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion.

from Blog – Guest Blogging Platform for Jewelry & Fashion http://ift.tt/2Fwzzvt via IFTTT from Untitled http://ift.tt/2p2z0m5 via IFTTT

[newstfionline]

The view of Brexit from a city that voted to ‘Leave’

Sara Miller Llana, CS Monitor, March 28, 2017

KINGSTON UPON HULL, ENGLAND--This city on the North Sea, which everyone knows simply as Hull, has borne its fair share of insults over the years. “Dull in Hull,” to name just one, sums up the kind of mood that foretold the British vote to leave the European Union, which nearly 68 percent of Hull did.

Except that Hull, which has long fixed its gaze on its days as a fishing powerhouse, is oozing with optimism today. “Change is happening” is the new byword, painted across the brick walls of the city’s former warehouses. It’s the UK City of Culture 2017, derelict buildings and dry docks are being refurbished, and a major wind turbine factory is on the rise. “The planets have never been more aligned,” says David Keel, chair of C4DI, a new incubator and co-working space in the waterside Fruit Market district.

Going against the dominant narrative that “Brexit” towns are depressed and in deep regret, Hull has turned toward a hopeful future--for some because of Brexit, for others despite it.

As Article 50 is triggered by British Prime Minister Theresa May on March 29, officially beginning Britain’s divorce from the EU, Britons and their EU counterparts are nervous about facing an unprecedented challenge with huge economic and political implications, including the integrity of the United Kingdom. But expectations in this city are bubbling.

To understand the optimism, Simon Lee, a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Hull who is writing a book called “The State of England: The Nation We’re In,” says it’s important to recognize the motivation behind Brexit here as the ultimate protest of a city forgotten and left to feed on its maritime past. And Hull’s experience is a lesson in the defeating power of nostalgia and how towns that have been left behind by the political and economic forces of the 21st century are struggling for economic and cultural redemption.

“Hull has not yet found a replacement identity,” says Professor Lee.

Now the question, he says, is whether the City of Culture designation, and some of Hull’s other signs of economic and cultural renewal, will engender a new identity for the city. Some say they believe the outcome of the EU referendum might have been different had regeneration come earlier.

In early January, a 75-meter (82-yard) wind turbine blade slashed Hull’s Queen Victoria Square in half. The “Blade” was one of the first art installations to kick off the UK City of Culture celebration, but it’s also a nod to what is equally significant for Hull: a £310 million ($385 million) Siemens turbine blade factory that’s created 1,000 jobs and could help position Hull’s offshore wind industry as a global player in renewable energy.

It’s one of several major investments to come to Hull in the past five years, and it marks a pivot for a city that was voted one of England’s “worst places to live” in 2003. In March, The Sunday Times named it one of the best places to live in the UK.

The turnabout has led to some head-scratching over why Hull voted to “Leave” the EU with one of the country’s highest percentages--as well as whether timing made a difference.

Immigration played its role here, as it did everywhere in Britain. Bypassed by some of the earlier post-colonial waves of migration, Hull saw its share of Eastern Europeans swell after the 2004 enlargement of the EU. And residents grumble about their fears that wages and the quality of education are going down because of it.

But a bigger factor was an anti-establishment protest in a place that saw its livelihood lost over the “Cod Wars” of the 1970s with Iceland. That killed off its deep-sea fishing industry in the North Sea, right as Britain joined the EU and became subject to the bloc’s common fisheries policy. For 40 years, the city has been managing a declining economy with the perception that neither Westminster nor Brussels cared.

Hull sits at the end of the train line. Poet Philip Larkin once said it was a place that only traveling salesmen or relatives would visit, recounts Russ Litten, a contemporary author and poet, during a walk around the marina on a recent day.

Coming from a family of fishermen who spent their lives on trawlers, Mr. Litten taps the psyche of the people in works like “My People Come From the Sea,” a poem set to electronic music. Hull is both a fiercely proud town--almost everyone tells visitors about its refusal to allow King Charles I through the city’s Beverley Gate in 1642, the starting point of the English civil war--and a forgotten place. It was one of the most bombed cities of World War II, but residents lament that hardly anyone knows that. It’s made them a stubborn and contrarian lot, says Litten. “If you give them a binary choice, Hull people will always vote no. They’ll say, ‘The answer is no; now what’s the question?’ “ he says.

Despite rejuvenation, both cultural and economic, official unemployment levels for Hull in September 2016 were nearly double those of Britain overall, while 12.5 percent of the population has no vocational or academic qualifications, compared with 8.6 percent for the national average. It also has fewer people with the highest qualifications: 22 percent compared with 37 percent nationally. “There is a disconnect between regenerating buildings and the regeneration of the population,” says Lee.

Such disparities are getting another look in the face of Brexit. New research that Annie Quick of the New Economics Foundation in London helped conduct on inequality and well-being shows that while average well-being within a community did not predict the number of people who voted to leave the EU, high well-being inequality did. Hull is on the top 10 list of well-being inequality.

Ms. Quick says that more analysis needs to be done to fully understand the data, but the findings might be telling policymakers about the sentiments of feeling “left behind” that have become so prominent since the vote. “The experience of really struggling with your life, and being [further] down on the well-being scale in a community in which other people have a higher well-being, can really exacerbate that feeling of being left behind,” she says.

A recent poll by Ipsos MORI indicates that 51 percent of Britons don’t have confidence in Ms. May’s ability to get a good deal for Britain in negotiations with Europe, compared with 44 percent who do.

Phil Fussey, who retired last year as a skipper on a crab and lobster boat, says he is in the latter group. He’s still so angry about the loss of the fishing industry that the return of control of British waters to him is worth the gamble. “I voted Leave on what they’ve done to our fishing industry. They sold us down the river from Day 1,” he says, standing at St. Andrew’s Dock, the old fishing quarter. He expects that with Brexit, Hull can start to rebuild some of the industry. “I’ll like to see waters from British fishermen coming back to the British fishermen,” he says.

He calls the triggering of Article 50 “party time.” James Chapman, a builder who chairs the UK Independence Party in Hull North, calls Brexit one of “the greatest experiences of my life.” “We fought the EU, the British government, and corporate business,” he says, “and we won.” He said he’d be going “right to the pub” upon the triggering of Article 50.