Terrorism

Terrorism is violence or other harmful acts committed against civilians for political or other ideological reasons. Acts of terrorism include threats of terrorism, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, bombings, cyber attacks (computer-based) and the use of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological weapons. Psychological factors relating to terrorism are of particular interest to psychologists, political scientists, and government officials, who would like to be able to predict and prevent the emergence of terrorist groups.
Individuals who become terrorists often are unemployed, socially alienated individuals who have dropped out of society. Those with little education, such as youths in Algerian ghettos or the Gaza Strip, may try to join a terrorist group out of boredom and a desire to have an action adventure in pursuit of a cause they regard. The more educated youths may be motivated more by genuine political or religious convictions. Terrorists tend to be of medium height and build to blend easily into crowds. Their dress and hair styles are inconspicuous. In addition to their normal appearance, they talk and behave like normal people. They may even be well dressed if, for example, they need to be in the first-class section of a plane targeted for hijacking.

Self-Assessment of online listening to podcasts

The first podcast which I have listened to is named "Long-Weekend Fun". It lasted almost 16 minutes and was fot a intermediate speaker. The podcast was a dialogue between two people about their three day weekend. I listened to it only once, it wasn't difficult. The speakers were talking at an average speed and I couldn't feel strong accent in their talk, so it was quite easy to understand.
The second podcast I have listened to is named "Leaving a voicemail message". It lasts 13 minutes and a half. It's also for intermediate speaker. The speaker gives a piece of good advice how to leave a polite and professional voicemail message. The podcast wasn't difficult to listen. The speaking speed was average and there were only a few unknown words, but it was easy to understand them from the context.
I think listening to podcasts and similar tasks help to improve listening skills. I liked this task.

Racism

Racism is believing that members of one race are intrinsically superior or inferior to members of other races. With expanding globalization and migration, racism more and more often is under disscusion and is becoming a really big problem. So, how it comes out and what could we do to solve this problem?

Racism can be directed against any race, color or ethnicity. Unfortunately, it can exist all over the world. Racism takes many different forms. These can include :

• Personal attacks of any kind, including violence


• Written or verbal threats or insults


• Damage to property, including graffiti
  
  

Other forms of racism are not obvious, such as discrimination in hiring and apartment rentals, or policies that disadvantage members of certain races, whether intentionally or not. Racism can also exist at 3 levels: individual, institutional and cultural. One person can act in a racist way or a
group of people or a whole community of people can be racist. Racism is against the law and should not be accepted under any circumstances, because no one deserves racism.

We should take actions to stop or at least soften racism. Here are the possible ways of doing it :

• Speak out against racism, otherwise silence may be interpreted as an approval of discrimination


• Join organizations dealing with issues of racism and human rights


• Explore ways in which community organizations can work together to promote positive race relations


• Object to racist jokes and insults


• Organize an inter-cultural music or film festival
  

Racism is an attack on the very notion of human rights. It systematically denies certain people their full human rights just because of their race, colour, or ethnicity. It is an assault on the fundamental principle underlying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - that human rights are everyone's birthright and apply to all without distinction. To sum up, race is not a valid way to classify people.