Should overseas aid be used for climate change adaptation Essay

Should overseas aid be used for climate change adaptation - Essay Example Hence successful adaptation is often executed with the help of overseas aid. This paper aims to critically analyze this subject while identifying that either overseas aid should be used for climate change adaptation of not. Description In order to study the relationship between overseas aid and climate change adaptation it is important to first analyze various factors associated with general foreign aid. The concept of overseas aid revolves around the basis principle of helping poor nations and the under developed countries. For instance, Australia is one of the major contributors of overseas aid. It mostly sends monetary help to Indonesia and some parts of South Asia and Middle East (Overseas Aid, 2013). United Kingdom is also working to increase the climate adaptability through undertaking significant measures in the developing countries (Impact of UK Overseas Aid on Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, 2011). In addition to this one of the United States’ overseas aid programs is particularly associated with climate change adaptation. This program critically assesses the climate change taking place all over the world including the increasing risks, susceptibility and various opportunities for improvements (Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan, 2013). Research indicates that the climate changes occur as per the regional conditions. Therefore with time the rise in sea level will impact the populated coastal areas while turning them in to uninhabitable place. Today very few people are affected by the floods, heat waves, storms, etc. but in future millions of people are expected to get influenced by these natural disasters. Moreover, the agricultural productivity will decrease while on the other hand sea food would also be destroyed due to increased acidification by 2050 (Climate Change and Development, 2012). Following figure further explains this situation: These climate changes will also influence the developed countri es including USA, Australia, etc. but the most severe impacts are expected to be seen in the developing countries. This will subsequently affect the global political, social and economic conditions. Moreover, food would not be available for poor while rich will have to avail it against huge cost (Climate Change and Development, 2012). If no action is taken to control climate change then the greenhouse gases are expected to continuously weaken the natural environment (Mendelsohn, 2000, p.583). This signifies that an extensive climate change adaptation plan is required so as to meet the future challenges. However, the adaptation plan cannot be made successful with national or even regional resources and therefore overseas aid has become a necessary element in this regard (Climate Change and Development, 2012). Overseas aid should be used for climate change adaptation due to the following reasons (Climate Change and Development, 2012): Foreign investments will reduce the negative impac ts of climate change will increasing the resources necessary for life. Countries which are still going through the process of developing transportation and energy infrastructures can actually use overseas aid to accelerate their development procedure. Speedy development will subsequently increase employment opportunities while giving way to tackle the drastic climate changes. Climate risk reduction programming could be initiated in poor countries. Significant anticipations can be made regarding draught

Genting Group PEST Analysis

Genting Group PEST Analysis Genting Group is a subsidiary and affiliates operating under the Genting name and is recognize as one of the Asias leading and best manage multinationals company. There are currently 5 public companies and 3 jurisdictions in the group which is also operate under the name of Genting with a combined market capitalization of over RM131 Billion (US$41 billion) as at 30 November 2010 (Genting Group, 2010). The 5 public companies in the Genting Group which is including Genting Berhad, Genting Malaysia Berhad, Genting Plantations Berhad, Genting Singapore PLC, which is also the subsidiary company and Genting Hong Kong Limited is an affiliates company (Genting Group, 2010). These public companies and their subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in different businesses, including leisure hospitality, power generation, oil palm plantation, property development, biotechnology and oil gas. In this group, they have over 58,000 employees, 4,500 hectares of prime resort land and about 133,000 hectares of plantation land. Gentings well-known consumer brands in the leisure hospitality sector such as Resorts World, Maxims, Crockfords, Awana, Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line (Genting Group, 2010). Genting Berhad is an investment holding and management company of Genting Group. The founder of the Genting Group Tan Sri (Dr.) Lim Goh Tong by the late in 1965, when he start the opening development works of constructing a 20 kilometre private access road, across rough mountainous terrains from the foothills to the top of Mount Ulu Kali which is located at 2,000 metres above sea level (Genting Group, 2010). On 30 July 1968 the company was set under the Companies Act 1965 in Malaysia under the original name of Genting Highlands Hotel Sdn Bhd to operate a hotel and casino, and to develop an integrated tourist complex in Genting Highlands. Gentings company registration number is 7916-A and the company changed its name to Genting Highlands Hotel Berhad and its switch into a public company on 24 July 1970. It believed its current name of Genting Berhad on 9 June 1978 (Genting Group, 2010). Genting Berhad 39.5% is owned by Kien Huat Realty Sdn Bhd, a private company controlled by the late Tan Sri (Dr.) Lim Goh Tongs family. Genting Malaysia Berhad also known as Genting Malaysia which is a private limited company on 7 May 1980 in Malaysia by shares under the name of Resorts World Sdn. Bhd. and the company was under the Companies Act of 1965 in Malaysia. The registration of the company is 58019-U and on 14 July 1989 the company changed its name to Resorts World Bhd and also change into a public company (Genting Berhad, 2010). On 30 August 1989, Genting Berhad and Genting Malaysia start a restructuring work, which resulted in Genting Malaysias control from Genting Berhad its whole gaming, hotel and resort operations including of goodwill and other related assets. Since 22 December 1989 Genting Malaysias shares have been listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (Genting Berhad, 2010). Genting Malaysia is mostly running in the hospitality and leisure business and the activities include theme parks, gaming, hotels, seaside resorts and entertainment. The most important place is Resorts World Genting which is included family leisure and entertainment resort at the peak of Genting Highlands successfully attracted 19.5 million visitors in 2009 (Genting Berhad, 2010). Known as Resorts World Genting, the resort include six hotels with 10 thousand rooms, over sixty fun rides, hundred seventy restaurant dining and some shopping outlets. Besides that there is also mega shows theatre, business convention facilities and endless entertainment in the resort (Genting Berhad, 2010). The six hotels at Resorts World Genting are Maxims Genting, Highlands Hotel, Theme Park Hotel, Resort Hotel, Awana Genting Highlands, Golf Country Resort and First World Hotel which is the worlds largest hotel with 6,118 rooms as acknowledged by the Guinness World Records and Ripleys Believe It or Not. Resorts World Genting was voted the Worlds Leading Casino Resort in the year of 2005, and 2007 to   2009 and Asias Leading Casino Resort from 2005 to 2009 by World Travel Awards (Genting Berhad, 2010). Apart from the Genting highland resort, Genting Malaysia also owns and operates two beautiful seaside properties name Awana Kijal Golf, Beach Spa Resort in Terengganu and Awana Porto Malai in Langkawi (Genting Berhad, 2010). The macro environment analysis of the company What is the PEST about? It is very important that an organization considers its environment before beginning the marketing process. In fact, environmental analysis should be continuous and feed all aspects of planning. In the macro environment PEST is mean that the P stand for Political factors, E stand for Economic factors, S stand for sociocultural factors, and T stand for technological factors (MarketingTeacher, 2010). The political arena has a huge influence upon the regulation of businesses, and the spending power of consumers and other businesses. Economic factors which are the marketers need to consider the state of a trading economy in the short and long-terms. This is especially true when planning for international marketing. Sociocultural factors are mean that the social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. A technological factor is vital for competitive advantage, and is a major driver of g lobalization (MarketingTeacher, 2010). PEST analysis of Genting Malaysia. (P)olitical: In Malaysia, gambling legalization still faces cultural, religious and political opposition. However, politicians as policy-makers obviously support the conduct of Casino de Genting. On the other hand, other political issues that may be ignored that the casino is owned and operated by a powerful and influential group with high political connections. The money generated in such casino could be used in accessing political parties and contributing to campaign efforts or other political-related activities  (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). Because the Malaysian government experienced difficulties in stamping out horse-race betting as well as numbers games after independence was attained in 1957, the government officials set regulate gaming and privatising state-run lotteries and also taxing the trade. However, ethnic Malays are barred by law from casinos lone casino, the Casino de Genting which located 35 miles outside of Kuala Lumpur. Their ethnic Chinese countrymen, nevertheless, are free to mingle with the foreigners at the tables and slot machines. An idea to tap foreigners for gambling revenues, Malaysia becomes a home base for companies that operate only in other countries aside from the domestically operated Casino de Genting (Genting Group, 2010). (E)conomic: In spite of prohibiting Muslims and local citizens from playing, Casino de Genting is prosperous, and is expected to continue to do so. The casino has provided a major number of jobs as well as revenue for the government. The economic power of the country lies in the fact that Casino de Genting is a part of an important tourist destination. Casino de Genting is under the service industry which also provides profitability to other industries and sectors in Malaysia such as hospitality, transportation, retail and food and beverage. Casinos are also important venue where the interplay of goods and services takes place as well as the transfer of ownership, making it a productive sector (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). The continued support of the government to promote tourism in Malaysia proved to be significant in the success of Casino de Genting. The Visit Malaysia 2007 tourism programme was deemed successful, not to mention the lower currency rate in the country. Malaysian tourism strategy could highlight the superb gambling experience Casino de Genting could offer in their future tourism programmes. Major Asian cities with wealthier populations and foreign nationals access would be also an opportunity for Casino de Genting to exploit. As the only way forward, the growing consumer demand and market outlooks are forecasted to continually grow in scale and scope (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). (S)ocial: Social problems associated with casinos make governments hesitant in pushing gambling efforts. Even so, there are governments which chose to lessen the negative social impact by means of restricting the access of some or all locals or by building casinos in remote areas. The social problems that casinos cultivate include surging of mafia gangs, money-laundering, prostitution and other drug-related crime, and these social dilemmas are regarded to produce high social costs. Casino de Genting is not an exemption, like any other casinos in Asia and all over the world, casinos are perceived to be breeding grounds of high profile crimes and organised crimes (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). Besides that, there is a various training and conferences and team-building events were held in 2009, including GENMs 21st Senior Managers Conference at Sentosa Resort Spa in Singapore with the theme Branding and Leadership in a New Competitive Environment and GENMs 16th Human Resources Conference 2009 themed Championing HR Fundamentals held at Awana Genting Highlands. Team building workshops, annual family day events, Employees Appreciation Night and Genting Employees Carnival were also held by the business divisions of the Group to foster team spirit amongst executives and staff (Genting Group, 2010). (T)echnological: Casino de Genting combines the appeal of fast paced technology and the cyberworld. This slot machine haven is equipped with a wide selection of state-of-the-art electronic table games and cashless gaming systems for its machines, with neo-coloured lights and rich graphics, which aims at providing the customers with the ultimate gaming experience. Casino de Genting also makes use of eSourcing through Group Centralised Procurement (GCP). As such, requests for quotations/ proposal/ information will be conducted online and only online registered suppliers will be invited to undergo the selection process. Further, the casino also invests in SAS software to better understand the customers and extract from the informations gathered the most suitable strategies in dealing with them (Resorts World, 2010).   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   2: The international consideration In the year of 1993, Genting expanded its leisure and hospitality businesses into cruise line operations by establishing Star Cruises Limited. Star Cruises was listed in the Singapore Stock Exchange in April 1998 and in the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in November 2000. In 1998, Genting Malaysia undertook an equity investment in Genting Hong Kong Ltd (formerly known as Star Cruises Limited), the leading cruise operator in the Asia Pacific. Genting Malaysia currently owns about 18.4% of Genting Hong Kong Ltd (ICMR, 2004). After all a while, Genting Singapore PLC (Genting Singapore) is a leading integrated resorts development specialist with over 20 years of international gaming expertise and global experience in developing, operating and marketing internationally acclaimed casinos and integrated resorts in different parts of the world, including Australia, the Americas, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom (Genting Singapore PLC, 2010). It is a subsidiary of Genting Berhad and was incorporated in 1984 to invest in leisure and gaming-related businesses outside Malaysia. Genting Group is a collective name for Genting Berhad and its subsidiaries and associates. Genting Group is one of Asias leading and best managed multinationals. The Group is renowned for its strong management leadership, financial prudence and sound investment discipline (Genting Singapore PLC, 2010). Genting Singapore is listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (Singapore Exchange). Genting Singapore has an experienced management team that is focused on and committed to growing its business globally. The Group is the largest casino operator in the UK and is developing a world-class integrated family resort in Singapore. Genting Singapore is continuously reviewing new opportunities in the gaming, leisure and hospitality businesses (Genting Singapore PLC, 2010). On 15 October 2010, Genting Malaysia completed its proposed achievement of casino businesses in the United Kingdom, Genting UK from Genting Singapore PLC. Genting UK is the largest casino operator in the UK and a leading innovator in the provision of high quality, customer focused gaming. Genting UK operates 5 casinos in London under renown brands including Crockfords, Maxims Casino Club, The Colony Club, The Palm Beach and London Mint; and a further 41 casinos located within the UK provinces under 3 key brands, namely Circus, Maxims and Mint. These casinos offer visitors a memorable experience with its various slots and table games in addition to restaurants, bars and other entertainments (Genting UK, 2010). On 13 September 2010, Genting New York LLC an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Malaysia was selected as the developer and operator of a video lottery facility at the Aqueduct Racetrack in the City of New York, United States of America. The facility, set upon an area of 413,000 square feet will be known as Resorts World New York. Features of the facility includes approximately 4,500 video lottery terminals, 7,000 car parking lots, a 450-seat 2-storey fast food promenade, 2 high-end restaurants with 200-person capacity, a sports bar restaurant and lounge. Phase 1 is expected to contain approximately 1,600 VLTs to be completed by late spring 2011 and be fully operational by the end of 2011 (Lovett, 2010). 3: The growth of business Ansoffs product market matrix is a well known marketing tool was first published in the Harvard business review 1957 in an article called strategies for diversification. It is used by marketers who have objectives for growth. Ansoffs matrix offers strategic choice to achieve the objectives. There are four categories for selection which is Market Penetration, Market Development, Product Development and Diversification (MarketingTeacher, 2010). In the Genting Berhad, the corporation is targeting the new market in New York City, United States. So the company is using the market development section because Genting Berhad is selling the Casino and Hotel Product, so with the existing product range in the new market. This means that the product remains the same but it is marketed to the new audience (MarketingTeacher, 2010). Organization introduces their new products to the new market such as new countries in order to gain more customers and profit (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2009). In this New York gambling project, Genting Berhad spends $1.3 Billion according to its proposal submitted to state authorities. Genting New York will pay a licensing fee of $380 million, above the minimum $300 million required by the state. Genting New York intends to spend up to another $350 million to develop the facility, which upon full completion will span 413,000 square feet and contain more than 4,500 video lottery terminals, or electronic slot machines (Low, 2010). Dubbed Resorts World New York, the proposed three-storey facility will also contain several restaurants, water features, an outdoor terrace connected to the Aqueduct racetrack which will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 people and a 2,200-bay car park. Genting New York said it aims to complete the entire development of Resorts World New York within 12 months from the date it obtains formal approval from the state to proceed. As part of a wider development plan, Genting New York is also proposing to build three hotels of differing standards, shopping, recreation, spa and other resort facilities at a total cost of $650 million, and the whole project would take 1.3 Billion (Low, 2010). 4: New venture The Porters 5 Forces tool is a simple but powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation. This is useful, because it helps corporation understand both the strength of the current competitive position, and the strength of a position corporation considering moving into. With a clear understanding of where power lies, corporation can take fair advantage of a situation of strength, improve a situation of weakness, and avoid taking wrong steps. This makes it an important part of corporation planning toolkit. Conventionally, the tool is used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations too (MindTool, 2010). The Five Forces Analysis assumes that there are five important forces that determine competitive power in a business situation. These are Supplier Power, Buyer Power, Competitive Rivalry, Threat of Substitution, and Threat of New Entry (MindTool, 2010). Threats of New Entrants Apart from the existing regional competitors, there are no major domestic competitors for Casino de Genting. There are rumours of potential new entrant of Genting Berhad will go into Macau (Ang, 2009). Malaysian analysts had said that the investments could pave the way for Genting to acquire a stake in MGM or to take over the US casino operators investment in MGM Grand Macau (Reuters, 2009). Substitute Products Domestically, there are no substitute products and services being offered by Casino de Genting. However, if we are going to look at the regional schema, China would be the greatest rival. There are at least four major gaming establishments in China as spread in Beijing, Hong Kong and notably, Macau (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010) In terms of differentiation, Casino de Genting is strategically located complementary to other tourist destinations such as resort and hotels and theme park. Casino de Genting has a distinctive competency of the mixture of Monte Carlo and Las Vegas gaming environment and experience (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010)    Bargaining Powers of Supplier Casino de Genting has a more advantageous position that its supplier. This is because the Genting Group has the sole autonomy on the gaming products and services, and that suppliers could be easily changes once the group becomes unsatisfied of a certain product or service. Gaming products and services that Casino de Genting considers are audio or visual, electrical and signage, chips and cards and game equipments as well as gaming development, cash handling and facility design and construction (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010).    Bargaining Power of Buyers Based on the responses, the bargaining power of buyer is definitely weak due to the monopoly in Genting Highlands Resort. As a world-class gaming entertainment area, Casino de Genting has standards suitable for international clientele. If the group desires to monopolised the prices of the products and services, it will have the freedom to do so, which leave the buyers at a disadvantaged position (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010).    Competitive Rivalry As already mentioned, Casino de Genting has no domestic rival to date, only regional rivals. The strong leadership position of Casino de Genting, however, would not be easy to defeat (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). Conclusion The overall appeal and demand of the gaming hospitality experience depends not on a single element. However, the casino brand design must put at the core a distinct defining factor for example the customers, it is also not enough that a casino collates extreme responses because strategic business decisions would not be met if feedbacks are either too good or too bad. Important to have for every casino is an ongoing talk to real casino customers in order to put real meaning to the figures in reports. The best customers also are perceived to be the most honest customers in the pool. They will say what they want, what they need and what is lacking about the brand and how it could be improved (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010). Genting Group and the Casino de Genting must always bear in mind that customer is now a priority. All the decisions, whether top down or bottom line, shall put the interests of the customers. Several casino properties until now operate in line with the built it and they will come concept. But such stance is now an old mindset. What came to be as important as the corporate image or brand is the maximisation of the role of the customers in optimising the casino operation and the gambling industry as a whole. Competitive advantage is not enough but Casino de Genting must always strive for sustainable competitive advantage. It is recommended that Casino de Genting shall invest more on customer research and in those managers who will advocate customer knowledge management. Nevertheless, Casino de Genting must consider separately internal and external customers. There must be a 360-degree view of the customer by which the modern service standards must be based (ThinkingMadeEasy, 2010).

Seven Years War Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Seven Years’ War The first true World War. †¦Cause and effects!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What would the state of the free world be today if the alliance of the war of the Austrian Succession had not reversed in the Seven Years’ War? Would we speak French, still be â€Å"New England†, or perhaps New Spain? The fact is that while we may not know for certain that today’s world would be different, you can rest assured that the Seven Years’ War set the tone in Europe, and more importantly in North America for the next half century. The history of the 18th century in Europe was always uncertain. In fact, the history of Europe will show that the fate of the continent, perhaps even the world, was always on the brink. Nations constantly were maneuvering for the upper hand looking to the highest bidder to choose sides with. The war of the Spanish Succession and the war of the Austrian Succession will show us that this new â€Å"world war† would be no different. The degree of uncertainty on the continent in 1755 is unparalleled. Russia, Bohemia, and even France and England could have swung in either direction. In fact France and England did change â€Å"loyalties† if you will between the Treaty of Aix-la-chapelle and Frederick’s invasion of Bohemia in 1756. Maria Theresa, although agreed to the aforementioned treaty to end the war of her accession, would always seek revenge on Frederick for the humiliation he had inflicted on her. If these loyalties or interests I should say hadn’t changed, what would the effect on the world be today? Would you or I be speaking some other language? French perhaps? The Enlightened Despots, Frederick? Was he? Maria Theresa? Hardly, Catherine had absolutely no impact whatsoever, and William Pitt, while he was an effective military strategist, was no despot, and surely not enlightened. Louis the XV, who was led around by the nose by Mme de Pompadour, was as ineffective as all the Kings of France would be after his grandfather. Britain obtained Prussia as her ally, but you might ask, why? Surely you can’t fuel Frederick’s massive army any more? Pitt the Elder argued though that while true... ... have none of that. The war would lead Prussia to the forefront on the European continent, however Britain clearly gained much more than any other did. France would not recover, and Louis knew all too well what lay in store when he said â€Å" After me, the deluge.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anderson, Fred â€Å"Crucible of War†, The Seven Years’ War and the fate of Empire in British North America. Random House: New York, NY 2000 2. Durant, Will and Ariel â€Å"Rousseau and Revolution† The Story of Civilization. Simon and Schuster: New York, NY 1967 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kennedy, Paul â€Å"The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers† Random House: New York, NY 1987 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leckie, Robert â€Å"A Few Acres of Snow†, The Saga of the French and Indian Wars. John Wiley & Sons: New York, NY 1999 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Margiotta, Franklin D., Ed. â€Å"Brassey’s Encyclopedia of Military History and Biography†, Washington: Brassey’s, Inc. 1994

My intercultural communication at school Essay

My ESL classes at Heald College took six months and these were necessary requirements so that I could pursue major courses in Architecture. There were other students like me from other countries and it felt good to belong to a group that was being taught the American way of life and culture. It felt good because it gave me the feeling that I was not alone in my hardships. It did not feel so bad and odd being with a group struggling with nuances of the English language and pronunciation and the idiosyncrasies of American culture. While I considered myself an out-group when I was with natural-born Americans, I felt like a member of an in-group when I was with the foreign students. Probably, this feeling springs from the fact that one naturally feels out of place when all others behave and talk in a different way. There is some comfort gained from knowing that one is just like the others. My struggle to fit in was at times frustrating, as I could not be properly understood by the teacher on account of misplaced accents or outright mispronunciations. At first I really felt stupid when the teacher would rephrase my statement and ask if it was what I meant. When I would say it was not what I meant, another classmate would butt in with a genuine intention to help me out but I would end up all the more confused and misunderstood. Realizing the setbacks of my lack of facility with the language, I resolved more than ever to master the English language. My Intercultural Communication at Work Working as a busboy and later, as a waiter in a restaurant gave me the chance to encounter more people and gain more facility with the English language. Finding work was quite an exhilarating experience for me. I felt that I could already communicate my ideas clearly and so I gained more confidence. Of course, there were still some instances when some patrons would fail to understand how I pronounce my words but whenever such a thing happened, I would remember the word and practice saying it correctly when I got home. I had discarded my Dari-English dictionary and I could already carry on a conversation with a native speaker of American English without fumbling for the right word or halting. I once attempted to be friendly with other waiters hoping to generate deeper camaraderie while we were up and about with our tasks. To my horror, I found that Americans seem to be single-minded and so focused when they go about their work that banter is misconstrued as not being serious about work. From then on, I learned to be very business-like while doing my work, bearing in mind that I was not working in an Afghan setting Conclusion This profound reflection on my sojourn in America has made me realize a lot of things that I once took for granted. First, I realized that I possess the resilience and tenacity that is a hallmark of a true Afghan. I used to take for granted the lore and history that due to the Afghan experience of a succession of foreign invasions, Afghans are by nature strong in spirit and character. Indeed, it is no easy task for an 18-year-old boy to force himself to become an adult almost overnight due to peculiar personal circumstances. I realized too that exposure to another culture widens ones horizons and makes one more tolerant of other people. Assimilation into another culture truly begins and is facilitated by an earnest desire to learn the language to a level that one speaks it like one born into the language itself. Together with this is a keen sense of awareness of the seemingly insignificant cultural differences between one’s culture of origin and the host culture. Cultural sensitivity, if I may use the term, enables one to steer clear of problematic situations. Indeed, it is not always wise to act and behave according to one’s cultural orientation when one is in another cultural setting. My intercultural communication with the Peterson family was at first regulated by cues from the reactions of Mr. Peterson. I came to know what he disliked by observing how he reacted. Yet, the sincere sharing of cultural traditions was the factor that truly made our relationship rise up to a higher level. Mutual respect and understanding resulted from the open sharing and this could not have happened by merely observing each other’s reactions. Truly, if one wants to have a meaningful intercultural communication, it must begin with an honest sharing of culture and traditions. It makes it possible to view the other person from their own cultural perspective. The moment I stopped my automatic comparison of Afghan and American values whenever I encountered an unfamiliar cultural practice, I became more accepting of American culture. As Holliday, Hyde and Kullman advise, â€Å"Put aside simplistic notions about what is real and unreal in your perception of another culture, and appreciate that every society is as complex and culturally varied as your own†. (10) The moment I began to have this attitude in my attempt to fully integrate myself into American society, I may have taken the first step towards â€Å"intercultural competence†. Alred and Byram (2002) define intercultural competence as â€Å"the ability to behave appropriately in intercultural situations†¦. the ability to stabilize one’s self-identity while mediating between cultures† (340). I may have taken the first step but I still have a long way to go. All people regardless of culture have the innate need to feel a sense of belongingness. I am sure this is the reason why I felt at ease with my fellow Afghans as I did with other foreign students who were struggling to deal with language difficulties. Yet, once a genuine intercultural communication is initiated, it leads one to learn and marvel at the diversity and richness of all cultures around the world. Works Cited Alred, Geof and Mike Byram. â€Å"Becoming an Intercultural Mediator: A Longitudinal Study of Residence Abroad. † Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 23. 5 (2002). Retrieved from http://www. multilingual-matters. net/jmmd/023/jmmd0230339.htm on April 25, 2007. Holliday, Adrian, Martin Hyde, and John Kullman. Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book. New York: Routledge, 2004. Questia. 25 Apr. 2007 . Robson, Barbara, Juliene Lipson with Farid Younos and Mariam Mehdi. â€Å"Afghans Their History and Culture, Cross-Cultural and Adjustment Challenges, published by the Center of Applied Linguistics, The Cultural Orientation Resource Center last updated 6/30/02. Retrieved from http://www. cal. org/co/afghan/acult. html on April 25, 2007.

Be Able to Support Individuals to Use the Toilet

3. Be able to support individuals to use the toilet 3. 1 Provide support for the individual to use toilet facilities in ways that respect dignity 1. Offer the individual a help. 2. If the individual is not able to transfer by itself help him/her to transfer however encourage using their own strength as much as he/she is able in order to promote their independency. 3. When the individual is sitting on the toilet cover his/her private area with for example towel to respect their dignity. 4.Ask if they the individual needs some privacy, if it is save to live the individual by him/herself on the toilet inform that you are going to wait outside the toilet and when finish he/she can call you. In the situation when it is not safe to live the individual on the toilet, you can respect their privacy by turning around. 5. Do not make any comments which would make them feel uncomfortable. 3. 2 Support individual to make themselves clean and tidy after using toilet facilities Most of the service users at my work place require full support after using a toilet. However, we remained them to wash their hand after using the toilet.Those service users who are not able to wash their hands by themselves are supported by staff members. The service users who do not need a support with using the toilet are remanded to use it and to remember to wash their hands. 6. Be able to monitor and report on support for personal care 6. 1 Seek feedback from the individual and others on how well support for personal care meets the individual’s needs and preferences 1. Read Care Plans. 2. Ask the individual if the currently used methods meet their preferences. 3. Ask the individual if they would like to make any changes which would make their personal care more convenient, comfortable or njoyable. 4. Discuss with staff members how they can improve the support of the individual in order to meet their needs and preferences. 5. Upgrade Care Plans on the regular basis. 2. 2 Be able to contribut e to establishing the nature of specific communication needs of individuals and ways to address them Establishing the nature of specific communication: 1. Talk to family members to find the way how the individual used to communicate with them. 2. If the individual hasn’t got any family members read the care plan if any exists. 3. Observe the individual. 4. If the individual is verbal just talk to them.The ways to address: 1. Talk to them. 2. Give them choice. 3. Ask them showing the pictures. 4. Learn non verbal language (makaton) 5. Communication passport (for example a picture of service user when is happy, angry or sad). 6. Showing the trust by seeking the contact with support members (for example grabbing the hand, not ignoring when being asked). 2. 3 Explain how and when to access information and support about identifying and addressing specific communication needs When: 1. When the individual is new at the house. 2. When the individuals condition is getting worse How: 1 .Care Plan 2. Communication Passport 3. Family 4. Speech and Language Therapist 5. Basic information tables placed in each room 6. Know how to support the use of communication technology and aids 3. Explain the importance of ensuring that communication equipment is correctly set up and working properly This is important because it is necessary to know how to communicate with service users in order to meet their needs. It prevents unnecessary misunderstanding and follows it anxiety and irritation of service users. As such it decreases the possibility of provoking a challenging behaviour.

Student Relationship Essays

Teacher/Student Relationship Essays Teacher/Student Relationship Essay Teacher/Student Relationship Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Teacher/Student Relationship Education has always been considered as the key to success. It is however becoming more evident that the education system is increasingly becoming irrelevant. The irrelevance of the system is because of the pedagogical approaches that are aimed at forcing information on students in a manner that undermines the process of education. The banking concept of education by Paulo Freire depicts education as one that is keen on enhancing memorization rather than enhancing understanding. This system is teacher centered as opposed to learner centered. Many have agreed with this analysis and have advocated for a complete overhaul of the education system to one that takes into account students passions and interests to make learning a fulfilling experience. The movie â€Å"School of Rock† is an American musical comedy that depicts the kind f pedagogical experience that Paolo Freire is proposing where the teacher and the learner share a bond in the learning process that translates into tr ue knowledge. Freire contends that students and teachers have to become partners in the learning process. Dewey Finn is a struggling rock artist who has taken up a job as a teacher (Rudin). However, his teaching methods are not effective (Rudin). His teaching skills at this point are determined by his ability to deliver content. This depicts the traditional methods of education where the teacher is expected to act as a narrator (Freire 71). The concept o the narrator by Paolo Freire proposes that a teacher is the sole holder of information and that the students are expected to listen to what he teacher is saying without question. The teacher is deemed as being superior and that students have knowledge gaps that only the teacher can fill. In this sense, students’ brains are receptacles waiting to be filled. This in turn undermines critical thinking by learners where they are allowed to analyze and review the content being taught by the teacher (Freire 73). The situation Dewey Finn is faced with clearly illustrates the problem with the education system. The problem is that if the teacher is limited in their ability to be a ‘narrator’ then learning cannot take place. The education system as stipulated by Freire is one that requires the teacher to be versed with vast amount of knowledge, without which, the learning process stalls. The process of education according to Freire should be one that enhances communication between the teacher and the student. Freire argues that goals outlined in traditional or banking educational systems must be done away with and should be replaced â€Å"with the posing of the problems of human beings in their relations with the world† (Freire 75). Traditional teaching methods are better when they are used together with active teaching-learning strategies. Dewey Finn in teaching his class employs the use of traditional teaching methods while at the same time actively involving the class in the learning process. Dewey Finn, the substitute teacher realizes that his class is interested in music, especially pop and hip-hop (Rudin). He dedicates his time to improve his learners’ skills and assisting them to get ready for a competition dubbed â€Å"battle of the bans†. In the process, he reveals t his class the development of rock through history so that they can understand what it is they are learning. This is an aspect of traditional teaching process where teacher assumes the role of knowledge bearer. However, Dewey Finn as a teacher allows the class to practice music allowing them to be creative and produce their own material. Here, an integration of the traditional teaching approach and encouraging learner participa tion allows the student to develop a better appreciation of course content. In essence, this approach reduces learners need to memorize while at the same time improves the relationship between the learner and tutor. Problem posing education is a concept that focuses on practical or realistic application of concepts and theories that have been learned through education (Freire 81). The problem posing approach is effective in situation where learners need to use their cognitive ability and become creative during the learning process. In this sense, children must understand that what they learn in the classroom can help in shaping the world in which hey live. Freire proposes that when students are presented with problems rather than just information, then the education process is less alienated and becomes more practical. The teacher in this sense is â€Å"always cognitive† (Freire 80). The teacher engages the students in dialogue and conducts project that enhance the learners critical thinking. The movie shows that Dewey Finn is thinking critically when teaching his students. He is aware of his students’ musical interests in pop and hip-hop. He ensures that he is able to integrate all these interest into creating a class rock band. Music in itself is a process of critical thinking. Musical compositions require the composer to analyze musical choices to ensure that a composition constitutes harmony. Dewey Finn in the movie â€Å"School of Rock† in which his students were to perform during the battle of the bands competition. One important aspect of Dewey Finn as a teacher is that he is motivated to make his learners share the same passion he has for music. There is evidence in the movie that the learners are thinking critically. Music is inherently a creative process where critical thinking is vital. While the Dewey Finn was teaching his class a song for them to perform for the battle of the bands, the class finally performs a song â€Å"School of Rock† a song that as written by their lead guitarist Zack Mooneyham (Rudin). This is the embodiment of Freire’s position when he says that he teachers thought process achieves authenticity by the authenticity of his student’s thinking (Freire 77). In this sense, Dewey Finn managed to develop Zack Mooneyham’s ability to be creative without his help thus, qualifying Dewey Finns’ teaching methods. Oppression through education is the process through which the teacher inhibits the learner’s ability to think critically by using teaching methods that aim to store information in the learner’s brain rather than enhancing understanding. In this regard, the movie exhibits how Dewey Finn exercised educational freedom where learners have the ability to express opinions and ideas creating an interactive learning process and improving the teacher-learner relationship. The freedom of education has been expressed through the ability of students to come up with heir own musical compositions. The teacher in this sense does not oppress the learner’s creative mind by insisting on his knowledge. It is evident that the movie â€Å"School of Rock† ensures that learners enjoy the ability to explore their critical thinking capabilities. The movie has revealed that traditional teaching methods enhanced by banking of information are not effective in the learning process. The movie shows that traditional teaching methods make learning seem useless. This can be seen in when Dewey Finn is forced tom teach the actual content of the class assigned to him. The class is not as lively as when they are discussing music. In the music class, the students are lively and it is evident that the students are eager to learn since they ask questions and give opinions about what the teacher is saying. This is evidence that the class is actually thinking about what is taught during the lesson. This process allows the teacher and his students to cooperate in the learning process as partners (Freire 80). Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York: Continuum, 1992. Print. Rudin, Scott, Mike White, Richard Linklater, Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Sarah Silverman, Lee Wilkof, Kate McGregor-Stewart, Adam Pascal, Suzzanne Douglass, Joey Gaydos, Miranda Cosgrove, Kevin Clark, Robert Tsai, Maryam Hassan, Rebecca Brown, Caitlin Hale, Rogier Stoffers, Sandra Adair, Craig Wedren, and Karen Patch. The School of Rock. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount, 2003.

The eNotes Blog Scholarship Spotlight December2015

Scholarship Spotlight December2015 Every month, we  select some of the best scholarships around and post them here on our blog. When you are ready to apply,  check out our tips on  How to Write a Scholarship Essay. Visit   Essay Lab if youre looking for a writing expert  to review and provide feedback your scholarship or college application essays! Lance Surety Scholarship Amount: $1,500 Eligibility: Available to all  undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at an accredited university, college or trade school in the U.S. We accept only one submission per person. Requirements: An essay of minimum 500 words on one of the following topics: Topic: What would be your motivation to start a small business, if you could launch it right now? Topic: How does the U.S. economy benefit from surety bonds? Write an essay on a topic of your choice about one of the following businesses (Please, make sure the topic you select covers a major aspect of the industry such as starting a business, the current state of the field, the perks of the job,etc.): Auto Dealership Freight Brokerage Construction Mortgage Brokerage Due Date: December 15, 2015 To read more information directly,  click here! #FortOnFleek Challenge Amount: $1,000 Eligibility: To be eligible, the entrant must post a photo on Instagram, tag @DormBedding, and include the hashtag #fortonfleek or post a photo on Facebook, tag DormBedding (https://www.facebook.com/DormBedding), and include the hashtag #fortonfleek. The entrant must also be a current follower of @DormBedding on Instagram at the end of the entry period. Entrant agrees that the photo can be posted on the DormBedding Instagram account, website, blog, social media and other promotional purposes. Applicant must be a legal resident of the United States. International students with valid visas are also eligible. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 supported by school transcripts. Requirements:  The winner will be chosen based on the quality of the photo/fort as judged by the DormBedding team. The winner will be contacted directly via Instagram and announced on our Instagram account and Facebook page in December 2015. Any photo submitted before 11:59 on December 1, 2015 will be eligible for the contest. Due Date: December 1, 2015 To read more information directly,  click here! Savvy Saver Scholarship Amount: $2,500 Eligibility:  US Citizen or Permanent Resident, at least 18 years old attending college at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university in the United States.  One entry per applicant. Requirements:  Savvy Saver Scholarship 2015 Topic: Tweet @Offers the best way to save money as a college student, followed by a short essay (400-600 words) explaining your tweet. Be sure to include your tweet (or a link to it) along with your essay.  Essays will be judged by our staff based on overall quality, originality, creativity, and grammar. Due Date: December 13, 2015 11:59 p.m. CST To read more information directly,  click here! QuickshipToner.com Student Scholarship Amount: $1,500 Eligibility:  Any student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Fall 2015 or Spring 2016 at any accredited American college, university or trade school. Must be a U.S. Resident. Requirements:  Applicants must submit an essay of 1,000 words minimum.  Submit your essay, 1,000-word minimum, on the topic below: Considering the Need for Printed Material, What are the most environmentally friendly ways to responsibly use ink toner cartridges? Email Essays to school@quikshiptoner.com Please include your contact phone number. Due Date: December 15, 2015 To read more information directly,  click here!

An Explanation of Wechsler Intelligence Tests

An Explanation of Wechsler Intelligence Tests The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is an intelligence test which determines an individual childs  IQ, or intelligence quotient. It was developed by Dr. David Wechsler (1896-1981), who was the chief psychologist of New York Citys Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. The test that is typically administered today is the 2014 revision of the test that was originally devised in 1949. It is known as WISC-V. Over the years, the WISC test has been updated several times, each time changing the name to represent the proper edition of the test. At times, some institutions will still utilize older versions of the test. In the latest WISC-V, there are new and separate Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning index scores, as well as  new measures of the following skills: Visual spatial abilityQuantitative fluid reasoningVisual working memoryRapid automatized naming/naming facilityVisual-verbal associative memory Dr. Wechsler developed two other commonly used intelligence tests: the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). WPPSI is designed to assess children aged 3 to 7 years and 3 months. The WISC essentially outlines  students intellectual strengths and weaknesses and provides insight into their overall cognitive abilities and potential. The test also compares children to peers of a similar age. In the most general terms, the goal is to determine the potential for a child to grasp new information. While this assessment can be a great predictor of potential, the IQ level is, by no means, a guarantee of success or failure.   Where the Wechsler Test Is Used Private schools serving children in 4th through 9th grades often use WISC-V as part of their admissions testing procedures, which may be in place of, or in addition to, other admission testing like the SSAT. Those private schools that use it do so to determine both a childs intelligence and his or her performance in school relative to that intelligence level. What the Test Determines WISC determines a childs intellectual capabilities. It is frequently used to diagnose learning difference, such as  ADD or ADHD. The test also helps to assess strengths in order to determine  gifted children. The WISC test indices are verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. The subtests allow precise modeling of a childs intellectual abilities and readiness for learning. Interpreting the Test Data Pearson Education, a company that sells the Wechsler testing products, also scores the tests. The clinical data that the tests provide helps the admissions staff develop a complete understanding of your childs intellectual strengths and weaknesses. However, the wide range of assessment scores can be daunting for many and difficult to understand. Not only do school officials, like teachers and admission representatives, need to understand these reports and what the scores mean, but also the parents.   According to the Pearson Education Website, there are options for the type of score reporting available for the WISC-V, which will provide a narrative explanation of the scores including (the following bullet points are quoted from the website): Narrative summary of the child’s background, history, and test behaviorsInterpretation of the Full Scale IQ and all primary, ancillary, and complementary index scoresIntegration of the reason for referral in test score interpretationRecommendations based on WISC–V performanceOptional Parent Summary Report Preparing for the Test Your child cannot prepare for WISC-V or other IQ tests by studying or reading. These tests are not designed to test what you know or how much you know, but rather, they are designed to determine the test-takers capacity to learn. Typically tests like the WISC consist of tasks that assess various measures of intelligence, including spatial recognition, analytical thinking, mathematical ability, and even short-term memory. As such, just make sure that your child gets plenty of rest and relaxation before the test. The school is accustomed to administering these tests and will instruct your child what to do at the appropriate time.

UnitedHealthcare Group Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

UnitedHealthcare Group - Assignment Example The purpose of the essay is to measure the readiness of the organization and to observe the strategic plans that would be required to be incorporated by the organization for satisfying the healthcare requirements of the citizens in the next decade. The citizens of next decade will have several additional healthcare requirements in comparison to people of present generation. As a consequence, the staffing requirement for specialized workers in several medical occupations (such as nurse) will also rise in the next decade. In present days, people largely neglect the personal healthcare aspects such as diet, exercise and sleeping requirements and significantly engage in several unhealthy activities such as smoking and drinking among others. Besides, increasing level of stress and obesity issues has also become prevalent for people. Several studies depicted that in the United States (US), 50% of deaths are attributed to preventable actions and negligence of people to several manageable as pects. Thus, in the next decade there will be requirement for better health programs along with providing awareness education which can lead to change in behavior of people. Furthermore, in the next decade, citizens are expected to gradually undertake higher responsibilities for healthcare. This, in turn it will increase the requirement of tailored healthcare delivery in terms of better healthcare products and services. As citizens would require bearing the financial stress of handling healthcare issues, they will require effective direction through better healthcare plans. For instance, according to the statistics of ‘America’s Health Insurance Plans’ in 2007, almost 4.5 million Americans were covered with effective healthcare plans.

Indigenous land claims Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Indigenous land claims - Essay Example In fact, even after gaining independence and sovereignty, the colonial masters have always been reluctant to hand over indigenous land to the indigenous people. Landlessness is one of the significant indicators of extreme poverty levels across the globe. Actually, poor citizens mostly live in rural areas, rely on agriculture, and agricultural labor to survive. However, they do not own these pieces of land (Landesa, 2012, p.1). In the modern times, all land belongs to the government with the citizens exercising use and care over land. Through various government land commissions, the government issues ownership certificates to qualified individuals, regulates and controls use of all land in a given state. Possession, use, registration, or even land claims are important yet very difficult procedures in matters relating to land. It is usually very difficult for the government to honor indigenous land rights and land claims have always resulted to violence and court cases.  However, the re have been various claims over land all over the world by the indigenous people in specific nations from the government, colonial masters, or caretakers. A land claim is a formal statement submitted to the federal and/or provincial government by an Aboriginal community asserting violation to commitments or obligations relating to Aboriginal land rights (Darling, 2012, p.1). While it is much easier to launch a land claim against a registered land, it is much difficult to claim a right over unregistered land. This paper will address the content and significance of the central land rights claims made by indigenous people, mostly indigenous people in Australia. Like other traditional inhabitants, the indigenous people of Australia have been in existence, occupying, and using indigenous land for more than 60 000 years. Although they have greatly evolved with time just like the uses of land, the significance of land in sustaining

Country report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Country report - Research Paper Example Then we’ll also look at the government structure of UAE and how they encourage foreign policies. The trade index of UAE and their financial standings will also be looked at in this report. Furthermore their GDP of 23% and growth rate will be discussed to see exactly how stable the economy of UAE is. It was seen that the abundance of crude oil and natural gas reserves, their free port zones and the sudden construction boom in UAE are the main reasons for their economic progress and financial growth. We will also look at the imports and exports of UAE and discuss how they’ve been encouraging foreign direct investments. With GDP of $54,607 / capita at minimum as per IMF, UAE is among the top 20 growing economies in the world. As per the estimate of 2009, UAE has the population of around 6 million which makes it the 120th largest country by population and its area is 32,278 sq mile which makes it 116th largest country by area. The population can be further discussed by the following chart UAE is an Arab country with the national language as Arabic, currency as Dirham, National animal is Arabian horse, National flower is Tribulus Omanese, National Bird is Peregrine Falcon, National tree is Ghaf Trees, Sport is Camel Race Drink is Camel Milk, and national Dress is Khandura United Arab Emirates has a history from 5500 BC from the times of Neolithic. In 630 the arrivals of Islamic envoys started and Ridda war was fought here when the Non-Muslims were defeated and this area went under Muslim rule. UAE went in Portuguese control in the 16th century when Portuguese started their expansion in the Indian Ocean and they ruled this area for about 150 years. Later this area got famous with the name of â€Å"Pirate Coast† from the 17th to 19th Century as it was under Ottoman Empire. British started their expeditions in order to protect their trade of India from the raiders at Ras Al-Khaimah. That further led to British taking

Article Review 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article Review 2 - Essay Example Summary It is asserted that divorce in the later life would decrease parental attachment to adult children. The study conducted by the National Survey of Families and Household focuses on the quality of relationship each divorced parent has for their adult children and found out that the degrees vary according to sex and custody. Although the study may have been limited, and not stating the exact time of which the parents had divorce, there are still important implications to the psychological behavior of children in the later life and their relationship with both parents. However, the result of the study indicates that relationship gaps between parents and adult children are most likely to occur to father and child rather than mother and child. This is due to the custody of the mothers to their children, especially if financial support was not met by the father. On the other hand, widowhood does not impact much the children since they are concentrated with the grief of the other spo use, and would be busy giving emotional support. Analysis The article is about the impact of divorce in the later life into parents-children relationship. The topic somehow is widely vulnerable to varying cases since there is no exact pattern for parental relationships, with or without divorce; although experts say that the bond is more apparent with mothers to their children.

The impact of intelligence on foreign policy Essay

The impact of intelligence on foreign policy - Essay Example It is a rationally accepted fact that no subject in the world is as complex as foreign affairs and hence to devise a foreign policy. The reason lays with the fact that in foreign policy making decisions, the policy makers have to deal not just with natural facts such as natural disasters and disease but also with social facts such as human beings, who change their minds and behave intuitively and creatively. Natural facts behave according to some well defined natural phenomenon or law and they always obey the same course of action while human behaviors and interests are the most unpredictable. Further, social facts are embedded in different cultures. People from different cultures interpret the same facts differently. Individual human beings and diverse cultures create multiple meanings from the same set of facts. Given this enormous complexity, how does an individual make any sense at all out of international affairs? Hence intuitively even a common observer of international events can guess that a foreign policy decisions are not only the result of multiple considerations and interests but also significantly manipulated by these considerations and interests. Substantial recent progress has been made towards understanding foreign policy making decisions. International relations theory has long refused to consider the complexity of international phenomena and it has attempted to simplify the foreign policy process in order to build an elegant causal theory. ... timely analysis needed to devise their policy options, to reach critical decisions and to implement the final policy mandates. Unless this process is well dealt with, the other moves made by intelligence to collect and analyze information might well be wasted. Since the role and impact of intelligence materials are very difficult to analyze, because of both confidentiality and intangible or definitional problems hence the key question rises how closely intelligence producers' work influences the policymakers to maintain and achieve their objective. A simple guideline and insight was given by Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of state. According to him the role of intelligence in foreign policy is only to pave a way in making national policy. "Anyone concerned with national policy must have a profound understanding interest in making sure that intelligence guides and does not follow national policy2". Foreign policy is considered as the result of a struggle among the decision- makers' goals and constraints. The decision maker's capacity to further his objectives will be dependent on the means at his disposal and the constraints he faces - such as the relative strength of other political actors trying to influence foreign policy. If a decision- maker is constrained by the demands of political stability, foreign policy will be more reactive rather than proactive, in the sense that it will seek to satisfy the demands of governance rather than state power. The collapse of the Soviet Union and hence the end of cold war totally changed the geopolitical environment in which the intelligence community operates. Although nuclear forces in the former Soviet Union

The Movie Fight Club Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Fight Club - Movie Review Example Although one can argue that the narrator makes more use of his mental capacity as evidenced by his imagining Tyler to the point that he thinks Durden is a real person, in the Narrator’s mind it is still the use of the body thru fighting and having sex which is dominant. Furthermore, this also serves as proof to the disorganized thoughts of the person.An important matter that faces us now is how to make sense of the narrator’s creation of Tyler. Was he trying to project himself as a hero? Deep inside, was he actually a person fond of out-of-the-norm sexual practices? These are questions that must be addressed because these characteristics are for an Eros person and not for Thanatos.For sure, the Narrator made Tyler as a hero who gave meaning to the life of other persons. We argue that this is not the case. Tyler is a separate entity and not the narrator himself. It is not the Narrator consciously projecting himself as the hero. What the Narrator is actually committing wa s an act of transference where he transfers his reason or ‘consciousness’ to Tyler. Due to his desperation because of the flaws in his character, he tries to endow another person his consciousness and make that individual make the world know of his angst. Since Tyler was only a product of the subconscious and is therefore unreal and since the dominant behavior of the person is as the Narrator in real, conscious life, we can, therefore, say it was Tyler who was an Eros while the Narrator was a Thanatos.... Was he trying to project himself as a hero Deep inside, was he actually a person fond of out-of-the-norm sexual practices These are questions that must be addressed because these characteristics are for an Eros person and not for Thanatos. For sure, the Narrator made Tyler as a hero who gave meaning to the life of other persons. But the question is, was Tyler essentially the Narrator We argue that this is not the case. Tyler is a separate entity and not the narrator himself. It is not the Narrator consciously projecting himself as the hero. What the Narrator is actually committing was an act of transference where he transfers his reason or 'consciousness' to Tyler. Due to his desperation because of the flaws in his character, he tries to endow another person his consciousness and make that individual make the world know of his angst. Since Tyler was only a product of the subconscious and is therefore unreal and since the dominant behavior of the person is as the Narrator in real, conscious life, we can therefore say it was Tyler who was an Eros while the Narrator was a Thanatos. Having an Eros mentality leads to many worries and frustrations while having a Thanatos character results to a life devoid of meaning. Being a rebellion can be fulfilling but only for a short time. In the end it leads to regret and what-could-have-been statements. What then could lead to a happy life There many ways in which people can be happy. Some achieve it by adding zeroes to their bank account while some consider the lack of conflict in interpersonal - especially marital- relationships as a happy life. Whatever form it may assume, happiness can be achieved if a person is successful in his endeavor - whether

The impact of intelligence on foreign policy Essay

The impact of intelligence on foreign policy - Essay Example It is a rationally accepted fact that no subject in the world is as complex as foreign affairs and hence to devise a foreign policy. The reason lays with the fact that in foreign policy making decisions, the policy makers have to deal not just with natural facts such as natural disasters and disease but also with social facts such as human beings, who change their minds and behave intuitively and creatively. Natural facts behave according to some well defined natural phenomenon or law and they always obey the same course of action while human behaviors and interests are the most unpredictable. Further, social facts are embedded in different cultures. People from different cultures interpret the same facts differently. Individual human beings and diverse cultures create multiple meanings from the same set of facts. Given this enormous complexity, how does an individual make any sense at all out of international affairs? Hence intuitively even a common observer of international events can guess that a foreign policy decisions are not only the result of multiple considerations and interests but also significantly manipulated by these considerations and interests. Substantial recent progress has been made towards understanding foreign policy making decisions. International relations theory has long refused to consider the complexity of international phenomena and it has attempted to simplify the foreign policy process in order to build an elegant causal theory. ... timely analysis needed to devise their policy options, to reach critical decisions and to implement the final policy mandates. Unless this process is well dealt with, the other moves made by intelligence to collect and analyze information might well be wasted. Since the role and impact of intelligence materials are very difficult to analyze, because of both confidentiality and intangible or definitional problems hence the key question rises how closely intelligence producers' work influences the policymakers to maintain and achieve their objective. A simple guideline and insight was given by Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of state. According to him the role of intelligence in foreign policy is only to pave a way in making national policy. "Anyone concerned with national policy must have a profound understanding interest in making sure that intelligence guides and does not follow national policy2". Foreign policy is considered as the result of a struggle among the decision- makers' goals and constraints. The decision maker's capacity to further his objectives will be dependent on the means at his disposal and the constraints he faces - such as the relative strength of other political actors trying to influence foreign policy. If a decision- maker is constrained by the demands of political stability, foreign policy will be more reactive rather than proactive, in the sense that it will seek to satisfy the demands of governance rather than state power. The collapse of the Soviet Union and hence the end of cold war totally changed the geopolitical environment in which the intelligence community operates. Although nuclear forces in the former Soviet Union

Obesity Trends in the United States Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obesity Trends in the United States - Case Study Example At the same time, there was no reduction of the obese American’s percentage in any State of the country. According to the statistics given in the mentioned above report, there are more than 30 % of children in the United States that are overweight. The same report warned that the countrywide obesity leads to an increase in various chronic diseases among the population. The latter, in turn, stimulates the growth of budget expenditures on health care. For the fifth year in succession the statistics shows that the highest percentage of obese adults is in Mississippi. It is almost 35% of the total population. In addition, in Mississippi is the highest number of obese children between 10 and 17 years (44.4%). Since 1980’s, the percentage of obese children in the United States has tripled. According to the recent analysis by the Trust for America’s Health, Obesity could contribute to millions of cases diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, and cancer in the next two decades (TFAH & RWJF, 2012).   What is the reason for the rise of the American gluttony in the last 30 years? Many theories have been put forward. Some researchers see economic reason for the obesity: fatty food is cheaper that the other. Some blame the manufacturers who modified products so that consumers turn into food addicts, eating more high-calorie sweet specialties. The researches at Princeton University found that fast food products can be as addictive as heroin (BBC, 2003). Sweet desserts and beverages account 25% of all calories consumed by Americans, 5% make salty snacks, and 10% percent make vegetables and fruits. Among favorite dishes traditionally are burgers, pizza, and potato chips. The increase in the number of obese people in the United States is, inherently, due to the expanding number of fast foods and increase of the portions produced. The size of the first McDonald’s burgers has significantly increased up till now, as well as the volume

Vernacular And Contemporary Use Of Bamboo Environmental Sciences Essay

Vernacular And Contemporary Use Of Bamboo Environmental Sciences Essay Bamboo is one of the oldest known and used materials by mankind. Due to the rise in the environmental concerns, wood has become a critical resource. Bamboo is also very effective in sequestering carbon and helps in reducing the green house emissions. Bamboo is one of the few materials which have an enormous range of uses. It can be used as a construction material, for interiors, in furniture design, as a decorative plant and it is also a delicacy in the culinary world. Bamboo has a substantial history of application in construction due to its structurally desirable properties. Since bamboo is light weight, it is used in other industries like construction of boats and as structural members in kites and planes since primitive times. Bamboo has been used in China to make paper, cloth and Rayon. The tensile strength of bamboo makes it a crucial factor in construction of the bridges across rivers in India and China. The use of bamboo in various industrial processes has shown a great potential for the production of composite materials and components which can be effectively used in the structural and non-structural applications in building construction. Most importantly, bamboo is a renewable raw material. Bamboo is a group of giant and fast growing perennial grass. It is native to the tropical, sub tropical and temperate areas of all the continents other than Europe. Bamboo can be found in a wide range of climates, like the cold areas of the Indian Himalayas to the hot tropical areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Vernacular and contemporary use of bamboo: The native people of Asia, Africa Central and South America used bamboo for housing purposes. This architecture was categorised as vernacular, because it used the locally available resources and traditions to address to the local issues and climatic conditions, without an architect intervening. The vernacular architecture of any place is the reflection of the environmental, social and historical context in which it exists. It is basically the architecture that has been carried on since the old times or the native traditional architecture of a place. In many countries, the poor people in rural areas used bamboo to build their houses. This bamboo was obtained after its use as scaffolding in building construction. Since the primitive people used bamboo for building their houses, and the bamboo that they used, was the used bamboo from the construction industry, it came to be known as the poor mans timber. A shift from the use of bamboo as a building material occurred only after the adven t of modern materials like concrete, brick, steel etc. The use of these materials changed the mind set of people and their use became a status symbol, because they were stronger and more durable than bamboo. Bamboo is adaptable to most climates, and is found in large numbers in the Asian sub-continent; many areas in these regions have adopted the use of bamboo as a building material, and created their own vocabulary for designing with bamboo. After harvesting and treatment against insects, local materials and techniques can easily be adapted with bamboo for building construction. Availability of bamboo: Bamboo is mainly found in the chain islands of Oceania (Thailand, Singapore, islands surrounding Philippines and Micronesia), warm areas of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Columbia), Central America (Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and Honduras), Africa (Madagascar, Nicaragua, South Africa, democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya), North America and Asia (China, India, Japan, North and South Korea and Bangladesh). Out of all the bamboo species available, roughly 300-500 species are found in China alone. In all, Asia contains 64% of the worlds bamboo diversity. Most of the developing countries of the world are located along the equator. These countries have a fast growing population and have an ever increasing need for housing. These areas have climate that is conducive for bamboo growth. The use of bamboo as a construction material in these areas is suitable, because it is a fast growing, inexpensive and locally available resource and has excellent construction qualities. Bamboo can be found in areas at the sea level as well as at altitudes of about 3800m. Majority of the bamboo species grow at temperatures from 25-50 degrees Celsius. Sandy loams to loamy clay soils are suitable for bamboo growth. Bamboo cannot thrive in saline soil. CHARACTERISTICS OF BAMBOO: The biological classification of bamboo is as follows: Kingdom : Plantae   Phylum ( Division) : Magnoliophyta   Class: Liliopsida   Subclass: Commelinidae   Order: Cyperales   Family: Gramineae (Poaceae)   Subfamily: Bambusoideae   Tribe: Bambuseae   Subtribe: Bambusinae There are two types of bamboos, the running type (herbaceous) and the clumping type (woody). Of these two, the running type is mostly found in the temperate climates or in the high mountainous regions of the tropics and they produce both, a culm and rhizomes. A culm is the above ground vertical shoot and rhizomes are the long underground shoots. Generally, the bamboos found in the tropical regions are the clumping type. The clumping type has a tendency to produce large diameter and thicker walled culms, but has very short rhizomes. Bamboo which is three to six years old is suitable for the purpose of construction. Herbaceous bamboos sprout from the same main root and grow in dense clumps. They have thin culms and many leaves. In the woody bamboo, many culms sprout from the same stem since it grows horizontally beneath the soil. The characteristic of woody bamboo is that it grows thick and tall. The straight culms are most suitable as a building material. Most of the woody bamboos can grow in temperatures of up to -17 degrees Celsius. The herbaceous type of bamboo cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. Since bamboo belongs to the grass family, it grows by stretching upwards and not in concentric rings like trees. Most of the species of bamboo grow hollow and have varying thickness of the outer wall. Diaphragms or nodes divide the central chamber of the stalk into sections at regular intervals. This gives bamboo its stiffness. The shape of bamboo, its hollow and brittle nature all these together pose several challenges while designing with bamboo. Also, the areas in which bamboo is usually found have a temperate or tropical climate and hence rainfall is ample in these areas. The bamboo that is used in these areas which are humid must be protected from moisture otherwise it may rot and fail. Similarly, when exposed to severe sunlight, bamboo expands and contracts due to the heat and this can result into the bamboo splitting and cracking. In such cases, the bamboo must be protected from sunlight. As a building material, bamboo has many advantages owing to its lightweight, hollow and versatile nature. Bamboo can be used to design buildings that allow natural ventilation by creating breathable walls, floor and roof structure. The shape and size of bamboo also provides for versatility in design. This type of construction is suitable in areas like the tropics which tend to have a humid and hot climate. Properties of bamboo: Tensile properties: Bamboo has a tensile strength equal to that of steel owing to the strong fibres within its shoot. This strength is greater parallel to the shoots as compared to the strength perpendicular to the grain direction. This is an important consideration while designing connections for load transfer. Compressive properties: The compressive strength of bamboo is due to the hollow cylindrical shape of the culm, where the strongest fibres are along the outer edge and stiff nodes at equal intervals along the length which act as diaphragms. The bamboo shoot would possess a relatively high compressive strength axially if it were to grow in a perfectly straight manner. Bending strength: The fibres that run along the length of the bamboo make it most vulnerable to excessive bending, which causes the bamboo shoot to lose its circular form and hence its strength. There are numerous parameters like age, position of the culm, moisture content, skin surface and distribution node which greatly affect the bending strength of the bamboo shoot. Shear strength: One of the most important drawbacks of bamboo in terms of its material properties is its low shear strength. The walls of the shoot are relatively thin, and contribute significantly to the cracking and splitting of the culm. Buckling failures: Owing to its slender nature, the bucking strength of bamboo is an important factor that needs to be taken into consideration while designing. Density: After conducting various studies, it has been found that some species of bamboo that grow in the Asian and American continents have a density greater than that of timber. The average density is 700-800kg/meter cube; however this value varies with each individual species. Seismic resistance: Bamboo shoots have a low modulus of elasticity and a high strength to weight ratio of the culm and hence, bamboo structures react well to earthquakes. Since bamboo structures are light weight as compared to concrete or steel, they cause relatively small inertial forces from earthquakes. Bamboo also has a reduced response to ground movements owing to its flexible nature. CONTEMPORARY USE OF BAMBOO IN BUILDING DESIGN: Owing to its structural properties and versatility, bamboo has manifold uses in the construction industry. It can be used for making walls, both interior and exterior, for making roofs, as scaffolding, for flooring, for making partitions etc. Bamboo has been used by man in the construction of temporary structures, huts, mud houses etc. since a long time. Over the years, the methods of construction used since the primitive times, have evolved and adapted themselves. Even though there have been advances in the techniques used in bamboo construction, the basic principles from the age- old methods have remained the same. Case studies: The Green School, Bali, Indonesia: Architect: PT Bambu / Aldo Landwehr, John Hardy. The campus of the Green School is sustainable and is beautifully designed along both the sides of river Ayung in Sibang Kaja, Bali. It is situated in a jungle with a variety of native trees and plants and organic sustainable gardens. The campus of the Green School is powered using a number of alternative energy sources like bamboo sawdust hot water and cooking system and a hydro -powered vortex generator and solar panels. The campus has spaces like classrooms, gyms, assembly areas, offices, cafes, faculty housing etc. Bamboo is the locally available and sustainable material which has been used so as to exploit its maximum potential. Bali is located along the equator and has a tropical climate. This climate is suitable for bamboo construction. The Green School understands and respects the vernacular architecture of the region and goes a step further than just creating modern spaces using traditional materials. The Inspiration Office, Kochi, Kerala, India: Architect: Prasad Jonathan. D. W. The premises of the Inspiration office in Kerela, India cover an area of about 2750 sq.ft. It is the first building of its kind. It is an experimental design, which has attempted to develop a new technology (bamboo reinforced plaster). They have then used this plaster in walls, floors and roofs. RCC columns, ferro-cement beams and very little reinforced plaster have been used along with bamboo to achieve the beautiful design of this building. One of the remarkable characteristic of the building is that out of the total bamboo used, 25% was from areas in the vicinity of the site. The concept of the design is based on an open plan. This helps in allowing the communication flow, but keeps the privacy intact. The office is divided into public spaces, semi- private spaces, private spaces and executive spaces. Micro-steel reinforced mortar bamboo composite is used for infill floors, walls and roof of the building. There is a difference of about 4-5 degrees between the interior and exterior temperature on an average. BAMBOO as a low impact construction material: Bamboo is a giant grass and can grow up to 4 feet in a day. The shoot of bamboo can be cut like grass and the roots inside the earth will grow a new shoot, this makes it a highly renewable resource. Bamboo has been used in building construction since the ancient times. It is a traditional building material which is available at a much lower price than other traditional building materials. It also has advantages in terms to sustainability, flexibility and growth time as compared to the other traditional materials. The characteristic of bamboo that makes it a sustainable material is that some varieties of bamboo can grow up to 4.3 inches a day. Bamboo can be harvested in three to five years. In the first 180 days of its growth, bamboo will reach nearly 100 feet. Bamboo is instrumental in carbon sequestration because it grows in a greater density and faster than a forest with trees. In comparison to other wood products, bamboo requires little energy for curing after it is cut. On an average, the medium size culms require about four months to dry up completely. Harsh chemicals are not necessary to preserve bamboo; it can be preserved using natural substances and non- toxic chemicals. Simple techniques like keeping it off the ground and keeping it dry will increase the life of bamboo as a building material. Concrete can be reinforced with bamboo instead of steel. This would reduce the impact on the environment, as the production of steel is more energy consuming and steel has more embodied energy as compared to bamboo. Bamboo is a very good example of sustainability, in terms of it being a plant as well as a building material. Numerous tests have been conducted to evaluate the performance of bamboo for compressive and tensile strengths as compared to traditional wood species. Due to its light weight, bamboo performs better in shear than materials like concrete which have greater mass. The bamboo which is suitable for building construction can grow in poor soils since it requires very little nutrients. The woody bamboo which is suitable for construction purpose reproduces asexually by spreading and this continues during the growing season. This growing season varies according to the climate, but it normally lasts for about four to six months of a year, generally when the temperatures are warm and rainfall is regular. This means, that no special care needs to be taken for growing bamboo, and hence as a result, . Using bamboo that is grown locally as a building material would help in saving the shipping cost and consume less fossil fuel. Preferably, bamboo that is grown within a radius of 150-200kms from where it needed should be used for construction because it has low embodied energy and hence it is more environmentally friendly. CONCLUSIONS: Bamboo is typically found in the tropical and temperate regions of the world. In most of the areas where bamboo is found, the native species, that are readily available, are used for construction. Bamboo is also used for various other purposes like furniture design, textile making, as food, for making instruments etc. Bamboo is rapidly renewable as a building material and it can be harvested almost every 5 years, which means that one can grow his own house! Even though controlling the growth and spread of bamboo is a difficult task, bamboo growth is advantageous because it converts carbon dioxide into oxygen more effectively than trees. The physical properties of bamboo allow it to be bent into various shapes whenever required, when heat is applied. Since the use of bamboo as a building material has not gained as much popularity as a few other materials, there is a lack of construction systems which are needed to work with bamboo. Similarly, standardisation of bamboo construction techniques is also necessary. While there are many individual species of bamboo that are on the verge of extinction, the cultivation of bamboo as a building material is harmless. The use of bamboo as a building material has more advantages than disadvantages. If properly cultivated and harvested, bamboo can be grown and used as a building material where it is necessary in the highly populated areas of the world. Bamboo as a building material is inexpensive, lightweight, regenerative and sustainable and it needs to be explored to its full potential. Bamboo needs to be mainstreamed in regions where it is available in plenty and easily and needs to be used in modern architecture. Abstract: This essay discusses the probable use of bamboo as a low impact building material in tropical, sub- tropical and temperate regions of the world, where it is found in abundance. Bamboo belongs to the grass family, it is evergreen and perennial; it is thus becoming an increasingly popular building material. Bamboo owes this to its credentials; it grows very fast, it is easy and cheap to cultivate and it is extremely strong. We live an age, where the construction industry is ranked as one of the least sustainable industries and it eats up most of the non-renewable resources available globally. The choice of a building material is generally made after considering the technical, functional, financial and design requirements. However, in the last few decades, sustainability has become a huge problem and hence, the environmental impact of a building material is now becoming the prime criterion. Thus the qualities of bamboo are very appealing as a low impact building material. Today, we need to emphasise on finding innovative solutions for building materials which impact the environment to the minimum. Bamboo is a potential sustainable alternative to the conventional structural materials like concrete, steel and timber in the regions where it is grown in plenty, and the climate is suitable for bamboo construction.

As I Lay Dying :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi where he became a high school drop out and was forced to work with grandfather at a bank. In 1925 Faulkner moved to New Orleans and worked as a journalist, here he met the American Sherwood Andersen, a famous short-story writer. Anderson convinced Faulkner that writing about the people and places he could identify with would improve his career as a writer. After a trip to Europe, Faulkner began to write of the fictitious Yoknapatawpha County, which was representative of Lafayette County, Mississippi. Often in this series of novels one could read of characters who were based on Faulkner’s ancestors, African Americans, Native Americans, hermits, and poor whites. At some point in this period of writing, around 1930, William Faulkner wrote the novel As I Lay Dying.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this book, and others of this series, it was commonplace to find sentences that stretched on for a page in order to create mood, multiple narrators, or short stories complicated with a stream-of-consciousness blather that was hard to understand. Therefore, readers had difficulty following these novels, and Faulkner’s popularity soon dwindled, that is until Malcolm Cowley wrote The Portable Faulkner, which contained excerpts from the Yoknapatawpha series, and made Faulkner’s genius evident to his readers. Shortly thereafter, many of Faulkner’s works were reissued and he became a literary giant, and was even awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949. Until death, Faulkner continued to create works of literature, including both short stories and novels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bundren family has recently suffered the loss of their most beloved mother, Addie. When Addie was young and fresh out of labor with her second of five children, she made her husband promise that when she died he would burry her in Jefferson, the town where Addie’s family lived. Generally Jefferson was a one or two day trip, but when a rain spell floods the river and destroys both bridges and washes out the direct road to Jefferson, Anse, Addie’s husband has to ford the river and take a much longer route to get to Jefferson. While crossing the river, a large log flowing downstream starts a chain reaction that results in a badly battered wagon, the death of a team of mules, a broken leg for the oldest of the five children, and a one-day delay in the journey. Many other troubles follow this family and the short trip to bury their mother becomes a nine-day journey with a dead body that is beginning to rot in the back of the wagon.

Discuss how the historical, political and social setting of Harper Lees :: English Literature

Discuss how the historical, political and social setting of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird contributes to the fears that are present in Maycomb County. "Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself." (Scout Finch, Chapter 1, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'). 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is set in a small town in Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, which was a dark period in time for America as it had been hit by the Depression. Up until 1929, America had been doing very well, becoming a much richer country. However in 1929 when stocks had soared to an all time high, in September they plummeted. This day in history is known as Black Thursday and is remembered as the Wall Street Crash of '29. The crash hit people's interests hard and Americans all over lost a lot of money. Banks had to spend all of the money they had on regaining the economy, and agricultural needs were ignored, and didn't seem as important as other things like industry. Landowners had let out land to farmers to grow crops in, and when the Wall Street Crash hit them, they wanted to regain their land, as it was all they had. Therefore, the crash hit farmers the most and the Deep South was hit very badly because so many people were farmers by trade. There were many black people in the South of America, especially Alabama, and there was great racial hatred between them and the white communities. The Civil War from 1861-1865 between the North of America who wanted the abolition of slavery, and the South who wanted to keep slavery resulted in victory by the North, and slavery was later abolished. The South had lost its pride, and this was the reason for the racial hatred. Black people were thought to be inferior to white people and in the 1960s when the novel was written, black communities were rioting and causing disturbances to get across the point that they were not inferior to white people. After Abolition Black people were terrorised by the Ku Klux Klan, who would burn them, rape the women, and torture the children and the reader is shown an example of this in Chapter 15 where a group of white people, go to the county jail to terrorise Tom Robinson. Maybe this hatred for the Negroes wasn't hatred after all, but brought about by fear. As slavery had been abolished, black people were entitled to the same rights as white people, however they were still ostracised by white people because of their colour.

Hinduism and Buddhism Essay

In recent years, numerous Eastern philosophical thoughts have influenced the contemporary world in more ways than one. Eastern philosophy serves as the foundation of discipline and way of life for most Asians and even several individuals from the west . The significance of eastern influences not only incline on the purpose of commemoration of historical people but on the scrutiny of principles and doctrines that contribute to growth as well. In a strict sense, eastern philosophies have connections in one way or another and such connections are often found in the beliefs and practices of such schools of thought. Hinduism and Buddhism for instance are regarded as two of the oldest systems of discipline both in doctrine and practice (Moore & Bruder, 2005). These philosophies are two of the oldest in the Dharmic tradition, hence it is plausible for Buddhism and Hinduism to be the subject of comparison. Hinduism is the oldest major religion still practiced today, it traces its roots from unrecorded history. The doctrines of Hinduism are as diverse as its number of interpretations, as such, Hinduism per se is more of a spiritual attitude that spawns an array of religious and philosophicl beliefs and traditions (Moore & Bruder, 2005). The diversities come in different forms such as worship of elements in the form of any living entities up to cultured metaphysical theories (Moore & Bruder, 2005). The diversities of hinduism, conversely, are bound by the Vedic scriptures’ authority, these scriptures are the basis of understanding for the discreet natural state of things (Moore & Bruder, 2005). Buddhism on the other hand is a system of beliefs, originally from Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), that responds to the supposed predicaments brought about by suffering which extends its arm to the feelings of sorrow, dissapointment, frustration, discontent, disaffection, pessimism and unfulfillment (Moore & Bruder, 2005). Buddha narrows the resolution to suffering in the context of his four noble truths: There is Suffering, Suffering has its causes, suffering has an end and there is a way to end suffering in the eight-fold path (Moore & Bruder, 2005). Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in the cause and effect principles of Karma. Karma’s is encompassed on the idea that intentions are the measuring factors of a person’s deeds. In Karma, these deeds will be carried over for several lifespans through an individual’s incarnations depending if a deed is morally good or morally bad (Moore & Bruder, 2005). Another element similar to Buddhism and Hinduism as the principles is Nirvana, though defferences are evident in the ways and means, the two are both directed to the attainment of the latter. Nirvana is a sanskrit word that literally means extinction and is applied in Buddhism and Hinduism as freedom from the cycle of life, death and reincarnation (Moore & Bruder, 2005). Personally, I concur to the system of beliefs suggested by Buddhism, primarily because it provides an easy, step-by-step guide to the achievement of the goal, nirvana. Gautama’s teachings, though hard and require discipline is the perfect path to enlightenment given that he primarily insinuates worldly desires and other emotions that hinder an individual from discovering the true self. Moreover, Buddha implies simplicity of Buddhist practices in the sense that he himself noted that anyone can achieve the insights that he had via focus, sincere meditation, continuous elimination of worldly desires and freedom from egoistic thoughts, fear and anxiety.