Category: Economic Problem

One of Sicily’s prominent filmmakers, Giuseppe Tornatore, transcended the Italian film industry by breaking the conventional, stereotypical and ordinary. On the 17th of November 1988, Cinema Paradiso was released and it is a product of his creativity that helped the Italian cinema to its peak. The film follows the life story of a notable film director Salvatore di Vita who received news of the unfortunate demise of someone close to him. It takes the audience back to his childhood in Giancaldo where he developed a deep friendship with a film projectionist of a local cinema called Alfredo. Growing up without a father, Salvatore nicknamed “Toto”, looked upon Alfredo as his father figure and a mentor. Through Alfredo’s guidance, Toto fell in love with movies which forged a path to where he currently stands; however, his passion for films affected his relationship with those around him such as his mother and girlfriend, Elena. Because of his failure to pursue Elena, he was advised by Alfredo to leave town to chase his dreams and vow to never come back. In the present day, it is revealed that the person who met his demise is indeed Alfredo. Because of the nostalgia that Toto felt upon hearing Alfredo’s death, he defies Alfredo’s wish and went back to Giancaldo to attend the funeral. The past caught up with him consequent in his return to where it all started. Cinema Paradiso is remarkable in many aspects but specifically, the impact of passion and nostalgia shown in the film, the visualization of the subject matter, and how cinema becomes a part of one’s culture.

Cinema Paradiso was set in a fictitious Sicilian village of Giancaldo around the late 1940s just after World War Two. The social realism genre of this film deals with the realistic point-of-view of Sicilian society. It represents how Sicily dealt with the aftermath of war and emphasizes its rapid changes. During that time, television was not as rampant as it is today. People from Sicily heavily relied on the cinema to watch a film. One scene depicts how Sicilians were frustrated that the cinema would not let them in even after waiting several hours outside; however, because of the kindhearted duo, Toto and Alfredo, the Sicilians were given a chance to watch the film outside the cinema whilst being projected from within. It was indeed a time when cinema left a huge impact on the people of Sicily both culturally and socially despite being isolated from mainland Italy. The journey of Salvatore spans a 30-year period which documents the changes in society and even the history of film itself. The lives of the Sicilians reformed significantly on the grounds of the expeditious change that helped their way of life.

The film features Sicilian architecture which can be seen in the early parts of the film such as the church and even the cinema itself. Its mise-en-scene was carefully thought of to be relevant to the time period; the cinema resembles a church which is not common today. Moreover, in the latter part of the film, one can observe the contemporary progress of society. The structure of the new cinema diverges from its old look with the addition of new things such as the neon signs; it mirrors that society is evolving. The lighting persistently changed throughout the film. As most scenes that involve Toto and Alfredo are shot in the tight space of the projection room, it is usually gloomy and shadowy; however, the scenes started to be more bright when Toto took over the job of Alfredo. Scenes that are shot from the past are much darker than the ones in the present which distinguishes the time period; a scene that stands out and gives a clear time jump is when the blind Alfredo touches the young Toto’s face where after the former gave advice, it jumps back to a now teenager Toto. Additionally, the costumes and makeup of the characters helped the flow of time. During the early years up to his teenage years, Toto wore what an average Italian child would wear; whereas, when he became an adult, he wears formal clothes which makes his success conspicuous. The implication of class hierarchy through clothing is also visible. Those of the higher class are often seen with extravagant clothing in contrast to those of the middle to lower class who wore ordinary but decent clothing. The aging of the characters was perceptible through the power of makeup. First, Alfredo is shown to have fewer wrinkles when he was younger. Secondly, after the burning incident, scars on Alfredo’s face are noticeable. Thirdly, other characters who were shown at the beginning of the film until the end clearly aged with an obvious addition of wrinkles and white hair; the part at the end where the present-day Toto looks back and sees familiar faces from the past who played integral part when he was just a young boy.

The camera shots and angles also helped the audience to feel the ambiance of the film. Within the cinema, the frequent usage of wide-angle shots and panning is evident; it is to establish the space. Dolly’s ins and outs were also often used in the film, especially among the outdoor scenes, such as the church bells that overlook the town, the streets and alleys where young Toto can sometimes be seen, and even the ones where Alfredo gives love advice to teen Toto both inside the projection room and outside a building.

Cinema Paradiso harbors an exceptional music score composed by the brilliant Ennio Morricone—also responsible for the music scores of the untouchables and the hateful eight among others—who created an atmosphere of emotions through sound which is the goal of its director. During emotional moments such as when Toto left Giancaldo played Soft and mellow music to emphasize what the characters feel. It is also noticeable that whenever a flashback sequence is shown, a chime of a bell can be heard as if it announces the past; an interesting use of sound that associates with time. The speed of music adds a thrilling sensation to the audience as it emits the energy of the character on the scene; a scene where Toto runs from one village to another radiates active, spirited energy from the speed of both the character and the music. Nonetheless, the silence in the film is just as powerful as its counterpart. It usually symbolizes that something compelling is about to happen, such as: when Salvatore’s mother attempts to contact him at the beginning of the film, and in the end, the funeral scene was dramatically silent.

The characters in the entirety of the film spoke in the Sicilian dialect which is already challenging for mainland Italian audiences let alone non-Italian speakers; therefore, the beauty of language has strayed away for the people who watch the film with English subtitles to conform to its lingua franca. Nonetheless, the power of tenderness and various expressions of the actors made the film more stupendous and engaging.

The symbols in the film are also essential for the audience to interpret. For instance,     

Employer-employee relationships are controlled by a number of rules known as employment legislation. Discrimination, legal working ages, and safe working conditions are some of the issues covered by employment legislation. Employment code violations are typically treated as legal matters and are resolved by civil courts or disciplinary proceedings. Many complications and disputes could occur in an employer-employee relationship if there were no regulations. Workers are the ones that are most likely to be handled in an illegal or unfair way. Many countries have laws dictating the fundamental elements of the working relationship in order to prevent this.

The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 establishes a legally binding minimum wage rate to ensure that employers are paying fairly. It was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1999, and it is currently enforced in more than 90% of the world’s nations. This legislation applies to businesses of all sizes and nearly all forms of jobs, and any organization found to be paying less than the minimum wage will face serious consequences. To keep wages in step with inflation, the national minimum wage is raised on a regular basis. The National Minimum Wage Act was increased by 50p in 2016 and called the national living wage; however, the national living wage is not the same as the Living Wage Foundation’s living wage. In contrast to the national minimum wage, the measured living wage is entirely up to employers. While an increase in the national minimum wage is a massive boost to employees, it is more than keeping employees satisfied with their pay; it is ensuring employees are paid equally and receive what they deserve; it is about ensuring employees are able to put food on the table and have a roof above their heads, all of which are basic human rights! Raising the minimum wage is risky since many businesses could actually decrease their employees to cover the cost. As a result, unemployment could spike. Employers could be forced to increase their goods or services in order to cover the compensation for these pay increases, in addition to workers losing hours or losing their jobs.

The Equality Act 2010 aim is to eliminate employment discrimination. It is illegal to discriminate against workers, by referencing what is now known as ‘protected characteristics,’ the Act covers the same categories of persons that were protected by prior equality laws which are disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual identity. Because of this law, policies, and procedures do not disadvantage vulnerable persons. That also requires that employers, businesses, and service providers must make fair accommodations to ensure that disabled persons are not excluded. Employers are being urged to put a stronger focus on gender equality. Large companies must also report the gender pay difference on an annual basis as well. It is possible to recognize inequities and take steps to address them by making the numbers accessible and educating the public about them. The act prevents businesses, healthcare providers, and staff from discriminating against trans individuals. While transgender people continue to be stigmatized and discriminated against, this Act has helped to improve their legal rights. The Equality Act is essential for every organization, every employee, and every single citizen. It not only instills trust in staff but also in the general public.

Poverty refers to shortages of basic things like food, shelter, housing, and health facilities. Although the UN defines poverty as when a household earns less than 1 dollar per day, poverty goes beyond this. Poverty is a result of poor politics, harsh climatic conditions, and unequal social and economic welfare.

Various measures can alleviate poverty. Firstly, through the provision of quality education. Embarking on free education to poor people through the building of classes and provision of teachers, since teachers may face numerous challenges like coming to terms with children lacking home support, such teacher needs more motivation from the government; it is prudent to note that apart from resources, teachers contribute much to the success of learning. Resources like reading materials, exercise books, desks, clothes, and enough classes to be provided. Priority should be given to quality education, especially life skill and technical education. Equipping people with education on innovative ways for agriculture would go a long way increasing food production, thereby providing enough and a good diet, not to mention the surplus will be sold, bringing more funds to the family. Education on the basic way to prevent diseases like observing hygiene will reduce minor ailments and save time spent in the hospital. Technical education like building and cloth making will see many youths absorbed in the local job market and reduce the search for collar jobs, which makes youth migrate to urban areas and many end up jobless.

Good health facilities are another way to reduce poverty. It is not uncommon to find one small health center serving thousands of homesteads in poor areas. Government not only increases health centers but to provide facilities, including ambulances and enough qualified medical personnel. The time spent looking for better health facilities in town consumes both money and time, rendering many families desperate.

Bad politics is accompanied by corruption and unequal distribution of resources. The rule of law is to be followed where each citizen’s voice is given consideration and representation. People should be protected from corrupt middlemen who benefit more since they have to say over the policies pertaining to social, and economic matters.

The good road opens the area and networks it to the rest of the world. Good roads make transportation of major things like agricultural products easy to reach the market opening room for investors and thereby increasing job markets. School becomes accessible for both learners and provisions of material. Good means of communication through provisions of telephones boasters and various public baraza should be emphasized.

And the last way to alleviate poverty is the management of climatic and environmental crises. It is quite unfortunate that poor people are found in places with harsh climatic conditions and localities. Crises management practices should be the government’s priority to disperse experts to such areas. In places with rain shortages, farmers should be guided on the best time to plant, the best bleed of seeds, as well as digging boreholes and assisting in the establishment of irrigations. The swampy area should be reclaimed and better used made of it like growing vegetables. Human settlement in the lowlands area is to be assisted with the building of dikes to prevent being washed away during rainy seasons, and those living in the sloppy areas are shown the planting of trees to minimize landslides.

In conclusion, with the right attitude, the government can reduce the poverty level of its citizen. The various methods that can be used require an interdisciplinary approach and a period of time. Improving people’s standard of living not only borne a healthy nation but lead to them loyal to their country by showing love to themselves and the world at large.

The average price of gas has been constantly inflating our economy. Of many countries, the US is one of the few places where a household commonly owns more than one automobile. Due to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, gas prices have skyrocketed. Russia ended up pulling the plug on the gas and oil supply. Tesla, an electric car manufacturer, has been a market leader with long-term benefits due to the zero need for gas. This leaves V8s and heavy trucks in the dust when it comes to the cost of gas. Gas prices have reached an all-time high, it’s an unbearable condition that can be resolved by eco-friendly vehicles, a cheaper oil supplier, and public transportation.

Electric and hybrid cars are eco-friendly and good for the environment, and may also be a solution to the crisis. According to the Department of Energy, “Electric and hybrid vehicles can have significant emission benefits over conventional vehicles. All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions…”. On a bigger topic of global warming, encouraging more people to convert to eco-friendly vehicles may result in healthier ozone due to the decrease of emissions that have resulted in damaging effects. According to Electek, an electric vehicle enthusiast informant, “Driving an electric vehicle is dramatically cheaper per mile than driving a gas-powered vehicle. Nationally, electric vehicles are three to five times cheaper to drive per mile than gas-powered vehicles”. It is cheaper and more cost-effective for both the consumer and producer, which does not only solve problems with the price of gas but includes the salvation of the ripping gap in our economy from this problem. Consumer Report suggests, “Most companies like BMW, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, and Ford with its upcoming electric Ford F-150 truck, are sprinkling in electric and hybrid options alongside their usual gas vehicle lineups, but others are attempting to go full Tesla and convert long time internal combustion engine factories to EV production only”. The electric vehicle change has already settled in the automobile industry and is taking over a lot of companies, some even fully converting their whole manufacturing process to electric.

To add to that, the US must find a cheaper oil supply chain around the world in order to keep up with the demand for gas. There is limited intel on the foreign relationships the US has with other countries when it comes to gas. However, “…for gas to be substantially cheaper over the long term, according to analysts, the world will need to drill more oil — or rely on it less” (Ivanova, CBS). The current situation is a clear sign that the US needs to tap into its Federal Reserve funds in order to afford the oil from other countries. Then, the people turn to the president and question his response to all this. “In late March, Biden announced he was releasing a million barrels of oil a day from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next six months. According to the White House, the unprecedented withdrawal could lower gasoline prices between 10 to 35 cents a gallon” (Avery, CNET). Biden has thought of some plans to save the US economy from gas scarcity. Although, the way the economy works suggests that it will only increase the demand, but it will not help the cost of living in the long run. Additionally, the White House continues to pressure US oil companies to increase drilling and production. The government definitely feels on edge and wants to acknowledge the needs of people and the gas prices in our economy, but has clear trouble doing so while following a timed process.

Despite stigmas, public transportation has been the most reliable and updated service in the United States that serves as a solution. “Every vehicle on the road releases an average of one pound of CO2 per mile driven. Compared with driving alone, taking public transportation reduces CO2 emissions by 45%, decreasing pollutants in the atmosphere and improving air quality” (Pei, UCLA). Taking public transportation or carpooling has significantly increased the quality of the world around us, and has also saved money and gas usage. The good times with friends on the car ride don’t only end there but improve the air quality when you step out of the vehicle. “Public transportation can convey many more people in much less space than individual automobiles, which helps to keep traffic congestion lower, which in turn reduces air pollution from idling vehicles, and helps riders avoid the stress that comes from daily driving in highly congested areas” (National Express Transit). Besides its environmental benefits, public transportation also avoids population pollution, especially in cities like New York City where transportation is so heavily required. There are transits underground because the city is not big enough to build it overhead. Additionally, a study claims that Americans living in areas with public transportation save 850 million hours of travel time each year. Overall, taking public transportation can save you money in the US as opposed to buying a vehicle. Besides maintenance and gas money, it can give a lot more freedom and time while on the trip itself, allowing for more routine in one’s life if needed.

Of course, there are car collectors and traditional car enthusiasts that may enjoy an 80’s whip, but a lot of the newer generation knows how bad the climate is and will easily combat this if given a clean sports vehicle. Unfortunately, classic cars will only take gas to function. Though, China themselves knows how difficult the gas economy is and has begun to create a cheap electric vehicle similar to the Chevy Spark that is going to release in the US in a few years and might just take over the market. Furthermore, individuals in busy cities might find it really difficult to enjoy a ride using public transportation. However, during Covid, it has been one of the most advanced and regulated choices of mobility, next to Uber, for those who do not drive.

The gas inflation conflict is something that will constantly go up like it always has, yet it only reached its highest point fastest now due to our current withstanding of foreign rivalry. However, it is not too late to combat this by finding electric alternatives to vehicles, increasing our supply here in the US, and carpooling or taking transit. Gas prices are not the end of the world. Certainly not when you have options and services available. There are also reliable apps to show you where to get gas the cheapest, such as GasBuddy. Regardless, this change must be implemented so it’s possible to save the people’s pockets as well as resolved a part of the US economy.