China: Detained Activist, Journalist Denied Needed Health Care

This piece of news was published in Human Rights Watch on the 6th May of 2016. 

The news is about the negligence of political prisoners' health in China. Guo Feixiong and Gao Yu's are feared to be sick and with really poor medical conditions. Authorities know about this but still they let them unattended, even when China is a party in the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Sophie Richardson, China's director, informs against the cruelty and the human right's violation that prisoners are suffering in Chinese prisons, reporting that they let them get sick and some of them even die in without appropiate health care.

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Guo Feixiong (whose real name is Yang Maodong) was accused for gathering crowds against social order, as the article reads, because he took part in more than one demonstration standing up for freedom of speech. He is serving a six-year penalty and when his sister Yang Maoping, a doctor herself, went to visit him, he noticed he was sick. Even if both Guo and her sister asked the officers for a medical check for Guo, they refused.

Guo Feixiong

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On the other hand, Gao Yu is a 72-year-old woman who's a journalist and has been imprisoned more than once for leaking risky documents that compromised the government and, specially, the Chinese Communist Party. Gao suffers from many illneses and has had a turbulent medical health that has only been aggravated by the restrictive control of the Chinese authorities, even if she's in medical parole in her house.

Gao Yu

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The news also reports another case, Cao Shunli's, a grass roots activist that died of a coma after telling her lawyer that officers wouldn't grant her medical treatment even when it was possible that she had tuberculosis and liver disease.

Also, monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died in prison in 2015 after being there for 13 years with reported bad health conditions and torture.

China has been criticized in the Convention Against Torture because of this matter. Letting prisoners die of medical negligence violates the rule 24 of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, so their actions are against human rights.

Personally, I think that it's awful that Chinese authorities send anyone who speaks against them to prison, but what is worse is that they purposely let them die in prison. I find it such a lack of humanity to have signed in favor of the defense of human rights while still allowing a torture like this. It's really disappointing and we shouldn't let this happen, anywhere in the world.

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VOCABULARY

parole: the release of a person from prison before the end of the sentence imposed, with a promise or condition that no more crimes will be commited.

grass roots: the common or ordinary people, as constrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc.

lymph: a clear, yellowish fluid in the blood that contains special blood cells that fight infection.

Scenography

When going to the cinema or watching a movie at home, we mostly think of how great the story was, or how good was the actors performance. For the past two years, though, I discovered a hidden passion that I didn't knew I had, but that had always been there, and that is scenography and production design in general.

Did you see how great did the place look? Oh, the costumes, how beautiful! Always the same, binge watching the "behind the scenes" part of my DVDs at home. In my opinion, a movie without a good production design behind, specially those who need to show an original setting, can't be a good movie. The atmosphere and the aesthetics of the film have to work well together. That also applies to the period of time that we decide to set the stoy in. For example, you can't make a good film settled in the city of Paris in the 18th century if you don't know 1) how the place was back then, and 2) how society was back then. You can't let those things slip, you have to master them, because they give the film its true essence.

The Panthom of the Opera was great

Without a good setting, there's no way a good story can develop. In fact, there are films whose camera cuts revolve around the will to show things that tell us more about the story than just the plot itself. Details can speak of many things, things that are left unsaid in movies, but that can tell us a parallel story of how that world is. This concept that relates space and time with the story that is being told is called chronotope, and I actually used it a lot when I was doing my research paper about the fantasy worlds in young adult literature (if you notice, I chose this because, in a way, it had to do with scenography).

This one had a really interesting

production design

Now I'll show you some examples of movie sets that I really like and that have a lot of hard work and art behind.

Let's start with Crimson Peak!

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And then we have Anna Karenina! In this film, the majority of the set is a theatre, to represent that the lives of the Russian aristocracy are just like performing on a stage for each other!

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There are many films whose scenography is great and I could talk about them for hours but these are the two that I came up with! 

Personally, I think that scenography is a great art that combines a lot of things, while allowing to narrate different stories all at once. It's beautiful the way that we can craft stories to real life by giving them a space to really expand and show their true essence.

Prisoners Review

Prisoners (2013) is a movie directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello and Viola Davis. This film is a thriller that follows the investigation of the abduction of two little girls in a small town. Keller Dover is one of the little girls' father, and he will do anything to get her back. This is a great film that left me speechless. It's actually one of my favourite films and the best thriller that I've seen so far of this kind.

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On Thanksgiving, two families meet to celebrate together as usual. Everything is fine until the two little girls go outside to play and they don't come back. When the evidence that they are, indeed, gone kicks in, one of the girls' father, Keller Dover, feels angry and helpless towards the police investigation. Detective Loki, who's in charge of the case, will have to keep an eye on every clue, on every suspect, as the girls' lives is more threatened each minute, if they're still alive. When Keller Dover, however, desperately decides to carry out his own investigation on his daughter's abduction.

Personally, this film really striked me as one of the best thrillers I've seen. Sure there are many great thrillers out there, but I think that what makes this one so special is, particularly, Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal's performance. You can see raw emotion in Jackman's desperation, and condused helplessness in Gyllenhaal's detective Loki. On the other hand, another great performance in this film is Paul Dano's. I think he plays a difficult character, that has to transmit a lot of things with a condensed expression. The setting of the film, a quiet village with a cold weather, where no one sees anything, seems just like the best place for this movie. The feeling of uneasement was heartreding.

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To sum up, I really reccommend this film, if you're into this kind of story. My opinion is that, regardless of your preferences, it will, for sure, not leave you without thoughts on it.

Here's the trailer!

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Money, money, money

Recently I saw a lottery advertisement on the TV. The slogan of the campaign was: "National Lottery. Because our dreams aren't cheap". I found it funny, because it's actually true. Many of us dream of expensive things that we think we'll never have or achieve. But what if we won the lottery today and had enough money to live out our days without a worry? And lottery is about that: we buy a ticket hoping to make those "what ifs" come true. So, with no further introduction, here's what I'd do if I was a millionaire (billionaire would be better, though).

This would be me.

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First of all, I'd help my family and friends to make their lives better. Being able to help the people you love is probably one of the most rewarding things in life. Also, I'd give money to charities, of course, because they need all the help they can get.

After helping others, I'd grant myself a wish and I'd travel all around the world. And when I say all of it, I mean all of it. I'd take my time to experience everything that the world has to offer, without worries and without hurries. Travelling is one of the things that I like the most, if only I could do it more often. The first place I'd go would probably be Prague, because I've always thought that it looks like a really beautiful city. Another place on my list is Thailand.

Beautiful Prague

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Afterwards, I'd do something that I've always had in mind when daydreaming about being a billionaire (yes, billionare, dream big or go home). This dream of mine would be to produce as many films and TV series as possible. But it wouldn't be any film, it would have to be good films and series. I'd have a cinema at home, as well because... why not? Isn't that everyone's goal? So that's it: film and Tv series producer.

To sum up, there are many things that I would do if I had a lot of money, but then again it's unlikely that I ever get the chance to win the lottery. It's all about keep trying, anyways, so let's just not lose our faith just yet, shall we?

And then one day...

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Home / alone

Summer is coming (no, not winter this time, sorry Game of Thrones) and I'm sure that most of us are more than willing to end with the torture that we call exams and selectivitat. Not to annoy anyone, but I'd like to talk about what comes next, after two months of procastrination and sunny beaches with transparent water. As Green Day said, we'll all be asking our parents: "wake me up when september ends". 

But not everything about starting again is bad, right? Independence? Now that is what I'm talking about. The real question here is: are we going to take a step forward and leave to live on our own  or are we going to stay home while we are at university or studying something else? Now that we're becoming adults with 18 years of experience, we can decide on this matter.

First of all, technically, living in an apartment with your friends at your first day let's just say, for example, at university is not "complete independence". The majority of us will still depend on our parents for economic support and, in some cases (not mine, though), one tupper of food or two every once in a while. However, learning to manage housekeeping and taking responsability on your schedules is a part to develop of your new-found freedom. But one thing that some people consider good about leaving home is that you learn more about yourself. That's because you find yourself in situations that you are not familiar with and, if you live with friends, then you learn how to get along better with the person you live with.

When you keep going back home even

when you're not supposed to

On the whole, I think that it's better to live on your own (I mean without your parents, not completely alone). Sure living at home with your parents has a lot of advantages, but fleeing the nest will allow you to experience more of life than if you don't. So when September comes I'll leave home, but knowing how homesick I always get, my parents won't have to worry so much about me disappearing from their lives, because I'm sure that I'll visit every weekend (we'll see, though).

First day alone in an apartment and

your parents decide to visit.

Sherlock Holmes Review

Sherlock Holmes (2009), starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, is a film that was directed by Guy Rithchie. It's an action movie that follows the most famous detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes, and his friend, John Watson, through the investigation of a series of crimes that are commited in the city of London. With hints of humour and an interesting plot, you will see as Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous hero makes a jump to the big screen with a great result.

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Sherlock Holmes has just closed his latest case, with the help of Dr. Watson, his friend and flatmate. Blackwood, the criminal, is now in prison and about to be executed. Even though the fatality of this man's crimes seems over, strange things begin to happen after he apparently comes back from the grave, to start a dangerous game that seems to be mixed with dark magic. Sherlock Holmes will have to use all his skills to get pass the occultism and resolve the case before it's too late. Also, with the sudden appearance of Irene Adler, the woman he loved, the shadow of a new danger will cast over the detective's brilliant mind.

Sherlock (left) and Watson (right)

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Personally, I really enjoyed this film, mainly because I love the way Sherlock Holmes' mind works when it comes to giving an answer to everything from the tiniest details that no one else would notice. His wit combined with Dr. Watson's aim to keep his friend sane and alive is what really lights up this movie. In addition, it keeps you wondering how Blackwood's actions develop, because it all seems like a timed bomb, "impossible to resolve" with all those sectarian symbols. On the other hand, I loved the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. I think it's brilliant and it definetly finishes up the movie for me. Furthermore, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are great in these roles and I don't think that anyone would've done it better in this movie.

How will he solve this riddle?

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I can't think of one thing I didn't like about this movie. It's not a masterpiece, that much I can say, but it really is a great movie that has lots of nice details.

As a conclusion, I can say that I really think that this is a movie anyone can enjoy. If you love action movies and playing a guessing game to resolve a crime with the greatest detective of all time, then watch this film. All I can say is that the second movie was good too so that is a good sign.

Here's the trailer!

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Bukowski

"Some lose all mind and become soul, insane.

Some lose all soul and become mind, intellectual.

Some lose both and become accepted."

- Charles Bukowski -

As much as you may like or dislike this quote, it is bound to be interesting, isn't it? The first time I came across these few words from Charles Bukowski (poet and writer) was when I was reading Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and they striked me a little bit. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but as I've grown older (now I'm speaking as if I was some 107-year-old woman) I think it has acquired a different meaning for me. The more I think about it, the more realistic these words become to me, or at least that's what I feel when I look around. Now I'll try to explain my view a little bit.

Some lose all mind and become soul, insane.

Let's start from here, shall we? This part makes me think of those who allow themselves to drift away, to dive into a sea of emotions without a worry about what the world may think. There's no rational space for this kind of person, there's only the thrill of their feelings. They will express themselves openly, and it won't matter if they're the happiest they've ever been or they're at their worst. But feeling in such a strong way, with such passion, can be both rewarding and damaging, and that's why, in the end, these souls have no control over their emotions, hanging by a thread. I think this is why Bukowski says that they're insane, because society sees them as someone who can't restrain themselves, who can't control what they do because they're driven by emotions.

Too dramatic?

Some lose all soul and become mind, intellectual.

On the other hand, there are those who shut their hearts out, who forget about emotions and throw themselves into a will of knowing. They are content when they can expand their minds. They tend to rationalize everything, because it's safe and true, because it's how things should be. There's no point in worrying about feelings or emotions, because they're only as important as you want them to be. This, too, can be both rewarding and damaging. It's obvious why Bukowski says that they're intellectual, because they're centered in what will the most efficient ways be, what will the most rational answers be. And for this, society sees them as someone insensitive, someone that is hard to communicate with.

Not bothered by a storm of feelings

Some lose both and become accepted.

Now this is the point where I wanted to get to. It doesn't matter what you are: a soul, an intellectual or something else. Society will always find a way to label you even in your most personal space. Too expressive? Bad thing. Too rational? Bad thing. But if you learn to restrain both your feelings and your thoughts in order to please those around you, then you're good to go. It's like we are kept on a tight leash. But the truth is that in the end it doesn't matter at all. It matters as much as we want it to.

To sum up, I think that society is always judging and we are too prone to care about it. If we lose both our soul and our mind, what else is left of us? We become something else that society is fine with but we should not. And what is that? A bad thing.

When you stop worrying so much