Pending Title...yet again?

For not the first time now i am having second thoughts about a project title.


I was quite set on the title 'Is torture justifiable at Guantanamo Bay'. However, when conducting my research i have found that each of my research-finding documents concludes to or mentions: 'the war on terror'. My original question tends to dodge this specific topic area and i am now feeling that this is possibly a mistake.
I asked myself 'why i would I miss out a core element that is constantly being addressed and instead go for a question area that would involve interpreting the information i have gathered into a different response?'.


Therefore, I have come up with a number of possible questions, which still keep the 'justifiable' part of the question but either focus or address the 'war on terror'. Such are listed below:


1. How effective is the war on terror?
2. Can the use of torture be validated for the war on terror?
3. Can the western world validate torture for the war on terror?
4. Does torture combat the war on terror?


However, i do understand that such questions leave a wide range of possible answers and angles to be looked at. Therefore, i still want to condense it to the subject of Guantanamo Bay. Therefore, i would amend my questions to focus on Guantanamo.


1. How effective is Guantanamo Bay on the war on terror?
2. Can the use of torture, at Guantanamo Bay, be validated for the war on terror?
3. Can the Western World validate torture for the war on terror? With reference to Guantanamo Bay.
4. Does torture, at Guantanamo Bay, combat the war on terror?


I am going to meet with my supervisor to discuss this and possibly ask a range of other people, as the sooner the question is sorted the sooner i can focus my research on it and start my essay.

Thank you BBC!

Over the past month the BBC has produced a number of articles regarding Torture and its use. 


This has been of huge help because the majority of my research has been on past work, whereas this is current and more reliable. This allows me to keep up to date with the current mood in the media and the people's views, as both will play a part in my project.


Furthermore, the BBC is supposed to present a impartial view and thus this is extremely useful when analysing my research as the majority of my sources voice a certain side/view. This gives me a greater understanding and allows me to come to my own conclusion.  


Such articles have now been added to my research file!

Back To Work

As I have returned from my holiday for the summer I am rearing to start my project.


I have exhausted the many sources on the internet that offer me information which is relevant to my topic area.I wanted to add a new dimension to my research by not just looking at books and memoirs but also the world of video. In order to explore this is I have studied many documentaries which featured ex-inmates or ex-military personnel who have chosen to speak on their time at Guantanamo. This proved to be interesting but I had to be careful not to become too sidetracked with other irrelevant but fascinating information.


Also, upon the recommendation of a friend, I have recently bought the film 'Rendition', as I was advised it focused on the topic of torture and was rather compelling. Although not a reliable source of information, because of being produced in 'Hollywood', I thought it would still allow me to see the subject from a different perspective. Furthermore, which such little information out there, due to the high secrecy and confidentiality of the subject matter, all possible leads and information would be useful - even if I just use it as a reference point. 


After completing alot of research, I still await a very important and exciting source. This is in the form of an interview with a world-leading journalist, whom I managed to contact and agreed to help me. 
This will allow me to focus my research directly on my question rather than seeking out general information and trying to focus it myself.
This interview will take place over the coming weeks.


Until then I will continue to gather and condense the research I do have and any new information I may come across.

The Library = Information

After visiting Manchester University Library today I have come home comforted with the fact that I have found much more information that I expected to find.

I photocopied 60 pages from a range of different books, all of which have considerable content.
The books I looked at were:

• 'Counter-terrorism and the post-democratic state'
• I photocopied the article 'Military Justice: David Hicks and Guantanamo Bay' which was written by a QC
• I also photocopied "The long road to Guantanamo Bay' which gives an insight into abuse and the camps

• 'Chain Command'
• The section I copied was 'Torture at Abu Ghraib' which talks about the Guantanamo problem 

• 'From Washington D.C., back to Cape God'

The action I plan on taking now is analysing all the information and sources I have gathered and start collecting relevant information, as some but not all the information is directly relevant to my question.

I am excited to put my highlighter to the paper!

First Meeting with Advisor

Yesterday I had my first meeting with my advisor. We discussed my question area, the next steps i am to take and the ways in which i can conduct my research.

Firstly, we discussed the possible areas i was going to focus on which were Human Rights, Guantanamo bay and Torture. Each topic mentioned is interlinked in some way, for example: there is evidence that Guantanamo Bay conducts torture which has implications on Human Rights. However, we recognised that my question would need to be much more focused otherwise there would be too much to cover and it would not all fit in.

For the majority of the meeting we focused on narrowing my question down.
For torture examples of questions were:

1. How effective is torture for the war on terror?
2. Can the use of torture be validated for the war on terror?
3. Can the western world validate torture for the war on terror?
4. Is torture viable when saving the fundamental human right to live? 
5. Can torture ever be justified?

The Guantanamo Bay related questions incorporate the torture question examples, they are just obviously more focused. Examples are:

1. Is torture at Guantanamo Bay effective?
2. Can torture at Guantanamo Bay be justified?

This discussion definitely gave me food for thought.  Thinking of a suitable question is my main priority.

We also discussed research. With my topic being such a controversial issue and being 'Top Secret' and 'Confidential' upon issues such as Guantanamo Bay, we both agreed that getting information on these topics would be difficult and mainly web-based.

My topic choices propose difficulties as the American Government try to disclose as much information as possible. The  'behind the scenes' workings of Guantanamo Bay are very questionable in the eyes of the public and therefore the information I find is objective and based on a opinion or as a result of the media which ultimately is a game of Chinese whispers. 

My information would be primarily web based. This is due to the fact that it is a current topic therefore there is new media always appearing. Also, many ex-detainees have been interviewed which has been posted online or through a documentary. 

There are also many groups that dedicate a lot of their work to Human rights such as: Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, both of which provide views on my topic areas. 

We also agreed that correspondence with journalists, writers or professionals will also be of great help as it would give a different dimension to my presentation rather than just focusing on newspaper articles and debates. 

My biggest challenge with research is the analysing of the sources that i will have to carry out, as the majority of sources are bound to be based on opinion and/or have some element of exaggeration through the media.

Lastly, we discussed that my next step would be writing a plan on my course of action which would allow me to work efficiently and set deadlines for my work which will make sure I am on top of my work load.   

Decided

Finally, after much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to centre my topic around Torture and Guantanamo Bay.

Which angle I am going to take and how I am going to narrow my context down to come up with a focused question is the next part.

Do I concentrate on torture and its effectiveness or if it can be justified?
Do I concentrate on Guantanamo Bay and its effect and whether it is right?
Do I concentrate on Human rights and whether every person has the fundamental right to life?

Each topic area can be looked at from many angles/perspectives and I can incorporate lots of information, however my main fear is how general I am being.
I feel I need to be much more focused but deciding what to focus on is the bit I am most dreading.

Decisions have without a doubt been my toughest struggle yet.

     

Guantanamo Bay (Ariel View)                               Detainees

Undecided

I am still in an undedecided position and wavering between the two topics. Although I am fascinated with the topic of 9/11, already have lots of knowledge on it and have spoken to people directly involved, I feel my new topic on Guantanamo bay is more current, as it is in motion to this day, the news reflects the workings of it regularly, for example the recent news on Osama Bin Laden's catch is supposed to have come from a tip in Guantanamo and lastly, everybody has a view on torture, wether it is right, wrong, feasible, justified, effective compared to 9/11 were many simply brush off conspiracy theorises therefore I think this will make my presentation more appealing and the audience will have more of a view.

So as this post is titled, i am still undecided on the topic i am to choose.

Method of Research: Non-Participant Observation

Non-Participant Observation

Non-participant observation is a research technique where data is collected by observing behaviour in group functions and recording observations without interacting with the participants.

Advantages

• Gives access to natural settings.
• Good to observe small group or individual interaction
• Can observe ‘natural behaviour’

Disadvantages:

• Being observed may lead people to behave differently, thus invalidating the data obtained
• Time consuming
• Cost can be prohibitive
• Can be difficult to quantify and theorise results, eg data can become descriptive
• Researchers can influence results – researcher’s presence is automatically a source of bias

Topic: 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

What topic are you planning on researching?

I am planning on researching the event of 9/11 and the conspiracy theories that surround it. My main research point is identifying the major conspiracy theories out there and what views and doubts caused them to arise.

Why are you interested in this project?

I am interested in this topic because when I went to Ground Zero in New York I was able to meet some firemen who were in the towers just before they fell down. Each individual’s story was very touching and deep and provoked an interest in me to find out more. However, there were also people at the towers blaming the Government and private sector companies for the destruction of the towers. I was intrigued to understand how a group of people could protest outside a graveyard and fire station about how their government had turned against them as well as the many documentaries were scientists have taken their time to pursuit and persuade people about the false interpretation of 9/11 being a terrorist attack. This is why I chose to study 9/11 conspiracy theories.

What are you aiming to find out?

I am aiming to find out about the different conspiracy theories that have been released and caused much controversy, the views surrounding the conspiracy theories, statements made from the US government and terrorist groups as well as views from leading scientists in this topic area.  

I want to know what causes a person or group of people to be so judgemental of facts, that they creatively structure a theory which defends a terrorist group – whom have already admitted to such an attack.

What are you planning on producing i.e. what is your final product?

I am planning on producing an essay outlining and evaluating different conspiracy theories, eventually coming to a judgement on how reliable the theories are and whether it is reasonable to take them into consideration or whether they are merely out there to cause media attention.

Within the essay, I would also like to include an eye witness’s/survivors account of the day to further shape my argument.

How will you go about doing this?

Firstly I would carry out secondary research by searching the internet and reading books. I would research the different statements released by the Government and terrorist groups regarding the day as well as the conclusions reached by opposing scientists.

Secondly, I would watch documentaries regarding both sides as well as reading the many witness accounts produced.

I have already conducted my primary research as I have been to New York and spoke first hand to a fireman that was involved in the rescue operation of the South Tower. Furthermore, I have visited the ground zero museum and gathered a range of data surrounding the event.

All the information and accounts I research will go towards the objective of my essay – to inform others- as well as forming my own concluding judgement.

First Blog...

As instructed my first EPQ blog is about... the Golden Rules!!

DO's

Have FUN

Stay organised

See Miss L or Supervisor if I get stuck

Use a broad research base

Record all actions and thoughts...regarding EPQ!!

DON'T

Focus too much or get distracted from revising for AS exams

STRESS

I kind of like this system...!!

Livvy