The Justice Project
Overview
The Justice Project was a near-semester-long unit that highlighted the injustices of society and the history of societal justice across the world- particularly in America. We began our research with philosophies of justice formulated by thinkers hundreds of years ago, and how they evolved into modern philosophies. Such concepts include Utilitarianism and Libertarianism- idealized and designed as ways of thinking- ways to perceive "justice". We then took these 2 and several other philosophies and researched how they are presented in society in respect to certain societal issues, such as environmental ethics. We finally looked at examples of activists who are attempting to assert their philosophies in regard to the social and environmental "injustices", and then began our own activism plots.
We started our journey of activism by writing a monologue to present to our fellow classmates asking the question "What is the definition of "justice"? The monologue was meant to express the writer's belief on what the true definition of justice was. We then wrote a second monologue following closely behind the first. The second one was meant to answer the question "What is the most just way to balance our energy and economic needs, human and environmental health and protection of sacred lands?". Each writer had to express their beliefs on the what the best solution for solving the crisis of Power, Ecological, and Sacred Value misbalance. Once complete, we began our ultimate project in the Justice project- which was to answer the essential question: "What is the most just course of action to resolve an issue of injustice about which you are passionate?" This project was completely sandbox-style, and each person could do whatever thy wanted in respect to addressing a societal issue.
We started our journey of activism by writing a monologue to present to our fellow classmates asking the question "What is the definition of "justice"? The monologue was meant to express the writer's belief on what the true definition of justice was. We then wrote a second monologue following closely behind the first. The second one was meant to answer the question "What is the most just way to balance our energy and economic needs, human and environmental health and protection of sacred lands?". Each writer had to express their beliefs on the what the best solution for solving the crisis of Power, Ecological, and Sacred Value misbalance. Once complete, we began our ultimate project in the Justice project- which was to answer the essential question: "What is the most just course of action to resolve an issue of injustice about which you are passionate?" This project was completely sandbox-style, and each person could do whatever thy wanted in respect to addressing a societal issue.
Justice Monologue #1
The Code of Hammurabi was possibly the oldest written legal code in human history. It was proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Hammurabi greatly expanded the city of Babylon along the Euphrates River with intention to unite all of southern Mesopotamia. This was the first known law. Law has had almost 4,000 years to evolve, and has mathematically increased over the years in respect to logistical order, but one fraction has been left out and entangled over these millennia, the piece of the puzzle that has been given many meanings, none of which are moral to all peoples.
The concept of Justice is mathematically described as a system where all parts of the equation balance out and equate, if the sides are unbalanced, they are unjustified. The “what”, or the intention, is set in stone, but the “how it gets there” is left up to debate. Justice in modern society is predominantly perceived as an unachieved goal, there are subjects unaccounted for, including people. Justice means different things for different people with different philosophies of lifestyle, for instance, as long as a Utilitarian is paid all the money he worked for, and knows his taxes aren’t going to assist the homeless, thy feels justified. In other views, if a Libertarian sees a homeless person, thy believes that the homeless individual deserves compensation for their suffering. Both sides would argue that each other’s situation is unjust. So justice may have one goal in mathematical terms, but in societal terms, the equation is spinning out of control.
Hammurabi wrote his code which for some people may have been for the wrong reasons, even though he had the best intentions. This may sound like a Jurassic Park scenario, but it’s reality, as time ticks on, people think differently. Now, the world is almost indescribable in regard to wrong reason over best intention. I believe that mathematical justice as a goal for society is impossible, but with this continuation of entangled societal justice, one that hasn’t seemed to alter for 500 years… What can we do to achieve a level seesaw? Sacrifices are going to have to be made, I fear that climate change will come in second, and entangled societal justice will cause a deadlock beyond imagination- civil war… worldwide collapse due to difference of opinion.
Justice is a concept where an individual believes the environment and civilization they reside in is balanced, injustice… is simply the perspective of the opposing side.
The concept of Justice is mathematically described as a system where all parts of the equation balance out and equate, if the sides are unbalanced, they are unjustified. The “what”, or the intention, is set in stone, but the “how it gets there” is left up to debate. Justice in modern society is predominantly perceived as an unachieved goal, there are subjects unaccounted for, including people. Justice means different things for different people with different philosophies of lifestyle, for instance, as long as a Utilitarian is paid all the money he worked for, and knows his taxes aren’t going to assist the homeless, thy feels justified. In other views, if a Libertarian sees a homeless person, thy believes that the homeless individual deserves compensation for their suffering. Both sides would argue that each other’s situation is unjust. So justice may have one goal in mathematical terms, but in societal terms, the equation is spinning out of control.
Hammurabi wrote his code which for some people may have been for the wrong reasons, even though he had the best intentions. This may sound like a Jurassic Park scenario, but it’s reality, as time ticks on, people think differently. Now, the world is almost indescribable in regard to wrong reason over best intention. I believe that mathematical justice as a goal for society is impossible, but with this continuation of entangled societal justice, one that hasn’t seemed to alter for 500 years… What can we do to achieve a level seesaw? Sacrifices are going to have to be made, I fear that climate change will come in second, and entangled societal justice will cause a deadlock beyond imagination- civil war… worldwide collapse due to difference of opinion.
Justice is a concept where an individual believes the environment and civilization they reside in is balanced, injustice… is simply the perspective of the opposing side.
Justice Monologue #2
17 environmental justice principles were drafted in 1991 and suggest the best outcomes for utilization of all resources and the aftermath of their processing. In my opinion, a good conclusion is the best factor. #17 basically states: We must not overuse resources and must produce even less waste, for the sake of the safeguarded future of our planet and our children.
Part 1- “Do we consider 17?”
Coal and oil are stifling elements that are proven to kill us, but new light has shed in my eyes… wind. Wind power is meant to be the light at the end of the tunnel in power generation. But, the light at the end of that tunnel… is a forest BURNING TO THE GROUND! Wind will kill us faster than coal to the power of 3. For some perspective, the material for an average (5-MegaWatt) wind turbine takes 900 metric tons of coal to produce- about 2 million pounds. It takes approximately 38 hundred of those turbines to stably power only the city of New York City, of which habits approximately 9 million people, that’s about …0.0115% of the world population, so if we multiply those original 3800 turbines by the inverse of 0.0115%, which is about 867, and by 2 million- to power the entire world with wind, we will need to burn 6 and a half trillion tons of coal. Here’s the thing, there is not 6 and a half trillion tons of coal left on Earth, not even close. Wonderful. Not to mention that the average lifespan of these turbines is only 10-15 years.
Perspective conveyed.
Part 2- “Debt Forever Ignored”
Americans owe Natives the entirety of their existence, from 600 years ago to only 1 or 200, we stole all of their land, nearly brought them to extinction, slaughtered their morals and butchered their beliefs, much all for a little “black gold”. And now, we continue to show our discrimination by inserting dangerous coal and oil plants in the only land they have left. I had recently read a story presented by “The Faces of Chaco Canyon” by an Native man named Daniel. He lives in the path of smog and desolation caused by the nearby oil plants. He is very philosophical, and is very certain that the greed of drillers will come back to bite them very soon. As am I. This land that Daniel once lived on was taken from him and his ancestors for a bit of profit, a truly immoral action. People have rights to share land, but when killed for and taken, that land is then forever bound to the victims whose blood now spread deep into the soil.
So, to preserve the economy, our sources of power, the healthy-ish state of the atmosphere, and the blessed lands of good people, coal, oil, and wind - as long term sources of power - must be forever taken out of the picture. To offer a possible solution, Nuclear plants are evolving to break down the waste using fungi and store and recycle the ineffective matter. Less drilling, less pollution, more efficiency. Nonetheless, we need a plan, we need it soon, but most of all, we need NEVER escort Death Itself toward good people ever again.
God save the human race.
Part 1- “Do we consider 17?”
Coal and oil are stifling elements that are proven to kill us, but new light has shed in my eyes… wind. Wind power is meant to be the light at the end of the tunnel in power generation. But, the light at the end of that tunnel… is a forest BURNING TO THE GROUND! Wind will kill us faster than coal to the power of 3. For some perspective, the material for an average (5-MegaWatt) wind turbine takes 900 metric tons of coal to produce- about 2 million pounds. It takes approximately 38 hundred of those turbines to stably power only the city of New York City, of which habits approximately 9 million people, that’s about …0.0115% of the world population, so if we multiply those original 3800 turbines by the inverse of 0.0115%, which is about 867, and by 2 million- to power the entire world with wind, we will need to burn 6 and a half trillion tons of coal. Here’s the thing, there is not 6 and a half trillion tons of coal left on Earth, not even close. Wonderful. Not to mention that the average lifespan of these turbines is only 10-15 years.
Perspective conveyed.
Part 2- “Debt Forever Ignored”
Americans owe Natives the entirety of their existence, from 600 years ago to only 1 or 200, we stole all of their land, nearly brought them to extinction, slaughtered their morals and butchered their beliefs, much all for a little “black gold”. And now, we continue to show our discrimination by inserting dangerous coal and oil plants in the only land they have left. I had recently read a story presented by “The Faces of Chaco Canyon” by an Native man named Daniel. He lives in the path of smog and desolation caused by the nearby oil plants. He is very philosophical, and is very certain that the greed of drillers will come back to bite them very soon. As am I. This land that Daniel once lived on was taken from him and his ancestors for a bit of profit, a truly immoral action. People have rights to share land, but when killed for and taken, that land is then forever bound to the victims whose blood now spread deep into the soil.
So, to preserve the economy, our sources of power, the healthy-ish state of the atmosphere, and the blessed lands of good people, coal, oil, and wind - as long term sources of power - must be forever taken out of the picture. To offer a possible solution, Nuclear plants are evolving to break down the waste using fungi and store and recycle the ineffective matter. Less drilling, less pollution, more efficiency. Nonetheless, we need a plan, we need it soon, but most of all, we need NEVER escort Death Itself toward good people ever again.
God save the human race.
Final Justice Project Product
The product includes far too many words to be scribed, so to view the final product, visit the Greyband Tab above to view the screenplay pdf file and the research and reasoning for the project.
The screenplay PDF is also available below.
The screenplay PDF is also available below.
greyband.pdf | |
File Size: | 491 kb |
File Type: |
Project Defense
I have found 7 key elements in storytelling that are incorporated for emphasis, yet some people find them as obscene or offensive. To attempt to mediate out the controversy and find what people really find so terrible, I wrote an immense screenplay that incorporates all 7 significant elements to a moderate degree. In summary, the screenplay involves segments that highlight war, blood, swearing, sexism, racism, sex, and drugs. I have done a second experiment where I have recorded the usage of these elements in film from 1896 to the present, and researched what ways the amount of them increases or decreases.
*Evidence available under Greyband tab*
The process of writing this film started when I was watching a murder case TV show, and I wished death upon the killer. I thought to myself in that moment of fury, “what if this is an actual person”? I wanted to write a story about a young man who strongly believes in Eye for eye, and recognizing the present controversy, I knew it would be the optimal way to describe the reasoning for writing stories with elements like such. My own philosophy is very similar to the main character of the screenplay- an eye for an eye is mathematically just and even responsible. Then for the 7 factors, I believe that at least one is essential for whatever kind of genre of movie there is. For instance, you wouldn’t expect to see an action movie without war and destruction, you wouldn’t see a romance without intimacy, or a comedy without swearing. I believe that a story shouldn’t be limited on what it can consist of because of “obscenity” or “offensiveness”, because nobody will ever limit the world itself on who can swear, who can have rec-sex, who can use drugs, and, though they think, the world will always be racist and sexist. A movie is a genuine story that should have near-full protection by the 1st Amendment- nothing will be more offensive in a movie than in reality.
This project was certainly a powerful way to address injustice, and though it did not work to a solution, it definitely shined a light on a topic covered in cobwebs. My derived philosophy overall- Let the story be told!
I can also say that I have done more than sufficient work to address this problem well. Not to brag, but 41,000 words speaks heavy volumes. The story is perfectly illustrated in regard to the 7 controversial elements, and the historical values and data is telling and genuine.
*Evidence available under Greyband tab*
The process of writing this film started when I was watching a murder case TV show, and I wished death upon the killer. I thought to myself in that moment of fury, “what if this is an actual person”? I wanted to write a story about a young man who strongly believes in Eye for eye, and recognizing the present controversy, I knew it would be the optimal way to describe the reasoning for writing stories with elements like such. My own philosophy is very similar to the main character of the screenplay- an eye for an eye is mathematically just and even responsible. Then for the 7 factors, I believe that at least one is essential for whatever kind of genre of movie there is. For instance, you wouldn’t expect to see an action movie without war and destruction, you wouldn’t see a romance without intimacy, or a comedy without swearing. I believe that a story shouldn’t be limited on what it can consist of because of “obscenity” or “offensiveness”, because nobody will ever limit the world itself on who can swear, who can have rec-sex, who can use drugs, and, though they think, the world will always be racist and sexist. A movie is a genuine story that should have near-full protection by the 1st Amendment- nothing will be more offensive in a movie than in reality.
This project was certainly a powerful way to address injustice, and though it did not work to a solution, it definitely shined a light on a topic covered in cobwebs. My derived philosophy overall- Let the story be told!
I can also say that I have done more than sufficient work to address this problem well. Not to brag, but 41,000 words speaks heavy volumes. The story is perfectly illustrated in regard to the 7 controversial elements, and the historical values and data is telling and genuine.
Project Reflection
I met all the goals I set for myself, plus a second round of goals I formulated along the way. I successfully wrote the entire screenplay- and refined it, and did all of the research I planned. Then, a few days in, I realized I could tie in the 7 controversial elements and increase the “compellance” factor. My success was fed by several sources that tried to give me new ideas, and then I found a way to tie them into my current idea. I produced an excellent product, along with many new ideas that I was given along the way to support and defend it.
On the other hand, the mass of ideas I was given caused me to question the practicality of this project. The screenplay was a very motivating idea, and I knew I would finish it, but I seem to have been blind-sided to the need for factors that support the idea. Failures were really just lacks of evidence, and though pulled through with them, it was my over-motivation on a single asset in the project, that I nearly missed an essential piece.
I can say that I certainly was “present” for the project, I worked every class non-stop, and for 3 hours or so almost every night after. I produced an extraordinary manuscript over the course of 2 ½ weeks, and gathered plentiful evidence over the remainder of the last week. I hung posters allowing the whole school to read the story, and secured a bounty of research about the history of censorship.
In preparation for senior project, I can say that the Justice project certainly assisted me with learning how to utilize the process of design- where your first idea is often absolute *insert non-Christian word here*! I am confident that I will be able to come up with many ideas and sub-ideas for the project, and can find the better ones and thereafter find the best order. I have also learned about the importance of scheduling, as I had put off most of the research to the end in higher respect to my script. This project will be founded upon a small concrete slab I call my Justice project, and I shall build a mansion atop of it- that of which I call my senior project.
On the other hand, the mass of ideas I was given caused me to question the practicality of this project. The screenplay was a very motivating idea, and I knew I would finish it, but I seem to have been blind-sided to the need for factors that support the idea. Failures were really just lacks of evidence, and though pulled through with them, it was my over-motivation on a single asset in the project, that I nearly missed an essential piece.
I can say that I certainly was “present” for the project, I worked every class non-stop, and for 3 hours or so almost every night after. I produced an extraordinary manuscript over the course of 2 ½ weeks, and gathered plentiful evidence over the remainder of the last week. I hung posters allowing the whole school to read the story, and secured a bounty of research about the history of censorship.
In preparation for senior project, I can say that the Justice project certainly assisted me with learning how to utilize the process of design- where your first idea is often absolute *insert non-Christian word here*! I am confident that I will be able to come up with many ideas and sub-ideas for the project, and can find the better ones and thereafter find the best order. I have also learned about the importance of scheduling, as I had put off most of the research to the end in higher respect to my script. This project will be founded upon a small concrete slab I call my Justice project, and I shall build a mansion atop of it- that of which I call my senior project.