Othello Appeal To A Twenty First Century Audience

In my opinion Othello appeals to a twenty-first century audience due to his themes such as jealousy, deception, racism, manipulation, love and corrupt civilisation which is still relevant in today’s society. These themes are themes that are timeless which explore human nature which is unchanging which still develop and evolve around us. The twenty first century audience would find Othello appealing as the main themes such as racism, jealousy and manipulation are still very prevalent in today’s society.The main theme in the poem which we can still relate to century’s later is the theme of love, which is very prominent in Othello. Love makes the play ageless; as long as there are people on the earth love will always be surrounding us. Othello and Desdemona surrendered everything they had to be together. This resembles they modern day romance novel, play or movie. They did this even though they were aware it might result in serious conflict. Othello bids â€Å"fare well the plumed troops and the big wars that make ambition virtue!O, Farwell, Farwell the neighing steed and shrill trump, the spirit stirring drum, their piercing fife, the royal banner, and all quality, pride, pomp, and circumstances of glorious war! † He tells us he won Desdemona not by magic but by telling her of his battles. Therefore Othello affirms his triumphant success on love by his successful career as a soldier. In today’s society men look for success in a career and for a loving wife and this is what Othello achieves with Desdemona. A theme which is also very relevant in today’s society is one of racism.Othello suffered from this greatly in the play. Just as Othello suffered from this it has carried on through the years, up until 1968 when the black community were finally given rights. Othello was constantly referred to as â€Å"the moor† and â€Å"thick lips†. As this happens it shows a hypocritical society as they would have them prot ect their country but would find it shameful that he married Desdemona. Many felt this way when the first black president of the United States was elected. Iago supposedly Othello’s close friend tells brabantio that â€Å"’you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse†.He then paints Othello as a crude and animalistic being and insinuates that he is sexually corrupting his daughter the innocent Desdemona. As the play goes on iago continues to go on about the unnatural nature of the relationship between Desdemona and Othello. He tells roderigo the lust between them will not last long â€Å"It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the moor – put money in thy purse- nor he his to her†. This is a recurring situation today. Our two races are being separated by what each fears of the other.

Quality of Care in Health Care Settings Essay

Questions Answered: What is the problems with quality care today? Why is quality of care lacking in areas? Quality of care plays an important role in assuring the standards of nursing performance. By providing specific performance requirements, standards of nursing performance can improve and provide quality of nursing care in health care settings (Scope & Standards, pg 33). Quality care is one of the most significant nursing standards of modern time. This particular standard must be implemented by nurse’s everyday. One of the main concerns in nursing practice today, is quality of care in the health care setting (iom.edu). Recent reports from the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Institute of Medicine’s Quality Initiative (IMQI) brought immediate attention to the public on the collapse of quality of care. The reports focused on the need to recognize, develop, evaluate, and ensure the quality of health care in the United States (nursing world.org). Both the ANA and IMQI represent a systematic effort to advance health care quality and patient safety concerns. Many other institutions have felt the need for further disciplinary actions to improve quality of care in healthcare settings. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have also recommended that the healthcare system launch a systemic proposal to increase the quality of care. The American Heart Association has made the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group (QCOR IWG) to provide quality care to heart patients (americanheart.org). The QCOR IWG is a multidisciplinary group committed to making a significant contribution to improving patient outcomes and healthcare quality. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality developed a National Healthcare Quality Report to facilitate the needs of patients around the United States. By doing so, they are raising awareness to healthcare institutions for the improvement of quality of care (ahrq.gov). Private groups such as the National Quality Forum (NQF), Leapfrog group, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)  made recommendations and efforts to ensure healthcare quality. All of the organizations are trying to make an attempt to lower client dissatisfaction, identify specific quality indicators, and increase the quality of care in every health care institution in the United States (ahrq.gov). A 2004 study, done by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, concluded that 45.1 percent of people were not receiving the care they needed (ahrg.gov). Healthcare systems are now aiming at quality improvement, education, and implementation of quality care (ahrq.gov). The ANA gives reasons for the lack of quality care in institutions today. One of these reasons is the lack of professional care. The registered nurse (RN) has one of the lowest censuses of the healthcare professionals and highest in demand. RN’s are now faced with an enormous amount of patients, little time to care for their individual needs, and long strenuous work hours. Longer hours from the nursing shortage lead to RN burn-out. This burn-out creates decreased quality of care, medications errors, and an increase of patient safety risks (nursingworld.org). A nurse, D. Thomas, from the local Nursing Home discussed her time of burn-out. She states,One day, I had thirty patients to care for all by myself. I had two nursing aides that did everything except medications. The whole day I passed out dozens of meds. They didn’t have anyone for the next shift and my manager asked if I could work some over time. I worked sixteen hours that day. I made three medication errors and two patients had new pressure ulcers, but there was no one else to care for these individuals. The bad thing was, I didn’t even care for them, I just handed them their meds. The aides did all of the work because I was so pressured for time. That’s the way it is now, more nursing aides and less nurses. No one wants a nurse’s job because it is not what it seems (D. Thomas, personal interview, October 31, 2007). Some healthcare facilities have instituted more unlicensed personnel to take place of the professional nurse. This is thought to be a way of quickly saving money for the institution. Staff substitutions have become major  issues for patients today. In 1996, the ANA conducted a survey examining the concern of the quality of care in health systems. Out of all the adult clients polled, three-fourths indicated a serious concern that good quality of care is harder and harder to find. Thy also concluded that substitutions can be a â€Å"quick fix† to save money, but in the long run, they will minimize the quality of care for the patient (nursingworld.org). Another major issue that limits quality of care is insurers. Insurers are tearing down refund rates and decreasing the number of services covered (Scope & Standards, pg 18). I found this statement to be true when I interviewed a patient, C. Erlain, who is a Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan member. He states,My insurance does not cover all of my procedures and tests. I am mad because I pay a lot of money each month to have good coverage and I don’t get the care that I need. One time I was at the doctors and he said that he could only spend fifteen minutes with me because my insurance does not allow me to go over that amount of time. I was so frustrated. How would I get the care I needed? Even if I got another plan, they would also have restrictions, so I don’t get the care that I want or need. If I could say anything to those insurance people, it would be why am I paying for something that doesn’t care about my health? Those people only care about the money, not the people. It’s unfortunate (C. Erlain, personal interview, November 2, 2007). From my own experience in home healthcare, I was only allowed a limited amount of time to spend with the patient depending on their insurance. It was either fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, or one hour. Sadly, this was no always the best scenario for the patient. Although the patient was getting care, it wasn’t the care that they would have liked. One patient said to me, â€Å"Do you have to go already?† I was so busy that I could not stay and I knew no one could cover for me, so I left. It saddened me to feel that I hadn’t done my job to its full capacity. I had too many patients and too little time. An insurer made my patient visits more of a â€Å"hello† and â€Å"goodbye.†Americans are limited when it comes to healthcare benefits and insurers are escalating insurance premiums (Scope & Standards, pg 18). The estimation of uninsured individuals in the U.S. reached forty-five million  in 2002 according to the American Hospital Association. Forty-five million Americans will not even have the opportunity to receive any healthcare, let alone have quality healthcare (aha.org). To expand the seriousness of the recommendation for quality of care, quality initiatives are going to large and small institutions to implement these suggestions. The government had made the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to bring about issues in the quality of care in healthcare settings (ahrq.gov). Implementing this task force helps to improve the quality of healthcare. It also better insures the health client that they will be provided with adequate care for their healthcare needs. Improving quality of care is a team effort. The government bureau, healthcare agencies, and many other organizations are working vigorously to take an active role to enhancing the quality of care in healthcare settings. By doing so, this team effort will reach its goal to help patients to receive the quality of care they deserve. Reference List Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2007). Guide to Healthcare Quality. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.ahrq.gov/American Heart Association. (2007). Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group. Retrieved October 29, 2007, from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3016540/American Hospital Association. (2002). Medical Liability: A Looming Crisis? Part I& II. Retrieved November 2, 2007 from http://www.aha.org/aha/research-and-trends/AHA-policy-research/2003-or-earlier.htmlAmerican Nurses Association. (2007). ANA’s Safety and Quality Initiative. Retrieved October 28, 2007, from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/PatientSafetyQuality/NDNQI/Research/QIforAcuteCareSettings.aspxAmerican Nurses Association. (2004). Scope and Standards of Practice. Silver Spring, MD: ANA. Institute of Medicine’s Quality Initiative. (2007). Health Care and Quality. Retrieved November 2, 2007 from http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3718.aspx

Arizona State Museum building located in the University of Arizona Essay

Arizona State Museum building located in the University of Arizona - Essay Example This will take into consideration of the context, audience and the visual impact. I hope to comprehend and convey to the reader how this type of building is designed and the type of collections of the building employ the use ethos, pathos, and ethos. Audience : My audience will be the teacher of my English class. He has in depth comprehension of rhetorical appeals, in this regard I must present my argument using the accurate knowledge of rhetoric. I am obliged to avoid advocating and generalizing. Context: My paper will be one of the papers that my teacher will read this assignment, so I have to be insightful and creative in my analysis. I have to make arguments in order to grab his attention. Outline Introduction: I plan on using my introduction to establish my own ethos as well as describe the the structure and design of the building that is being analyzed. I will describe my experience in and outside of the Arizona State Museum building which will help the reader to understand tha t I had the opportunity to analyze the building at is significance in the University of Arizona. ... Introduction When we think about teaching rhetoric and critiquing rhetorical acts, we base out thoughts on text and artifacts that are primarily oral or written. Nonetheless, our day to day experiences are saturated with the rhetorical invocation that move beyond the written word to visual. The objective of this essay is to explore the multi – modality of the rhetoric and illustrates how we think about the rhetoric on a wider perspective. The arguments regarding architecture particularly invoke this focus that deals with the nature objects, spaces and artifacts (Rosteck 45). This case study looks at one specific building known as Arizona State Museum building in order to show how this type of rhetoric takes place. Despite the distinct content of the building, the visual, textual and experimental are all used mimetically. This means that multi- model rhetoric on this site imitates the form a function of a natural history museum in order to persuade its visitors of its legitimac y. The Arizona State Museum building is the oldest and the largest anthropology museum located in the southwest region of the campus was established in 1893 by the Arizona Territorial Legislature. This building is the state’s official permitting agency for archeology and paleontologist projects. This is one of the oldest research units at the University of Arizona. It is known for hosting numerous researchers around the world and allow them to use the collection to expand their frontier of their knowledge in enthology, ethnohistory and archeology. The museum resides among several buildings. Most of these buildings look similar as they are made of stone colored concrete slabs and reflective

My Trip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My Trip - Essay Example When I was 16 years old and in the summer session of (year) I went on a world tour and the regions that I visited includes: Malaysia, Egypt, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. This paper will focus on one best place that I recommend everybody to visit if the visit any of these places in their lives. The best tourist attraction of Malaysia for me was Langkawi, this place happened to amuse me the most in Malaysia because it consisted of lush white beaches along with hills that were covered with jungles and being a 16 year old I loved swimming in these beaches and exploring the hills (TripAdvisor, 2013). The most exciting place for me in Egypt was the Dreamland park of Egypt, the park excited me the most because it was an open air park and it had rides for people of all ages and as a kid who was 16 years old, I was stunned by its bumper boats and rollercoaster which were scary as hell (Dreampark, 2013). If someone really wants to know what living like a lively person is like, then he/she should visit the Bazaar of Chiang Mai located in Thailand (Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information, 2013). I was a great experience to visit this bazaar as the bazaar had a lot to offer. Huge number of people and goods to purchase is the main reason I recommend a visit to this bazaar. UAE which is well-known for being the heaven of petroleum was one of the most adventurous places to visit. If you want to really experience adventure, then an experience of the desert safari of Dubai is a must.

Difficulties in cross cultural communication Case Study

Difficulties in cross cultural communication - Case Study Example 2001). As such, this paper is mainly concerned with analysing a case study that is related to difficulties experienced in a situation that deals with cross cultural communication. The paper starts by analysing the case and this will be followed by problem identification and presentation. The main part of the paper will analyse the measures that can be implemented in order to deal with the problem in an amicable way that is not likely to create more problems. A summary of the major points discussed will be drawn at the end of the paper. Case analysis Leary is the manager of a thriving financial company, Merrill Lynch, and she uses people oriented strategies to manage the company. She prefers to engage the employees in their work so as to try to get the best out of them. She also closely monitors the performance of the employees so as to be in a position to effectively manage them so that the goals of the organization can be achieved. There are about 45 financial consultants who carry out the work in the company. Of notable concern is the fact that the company has an employee, Ted Chung whose primary origin is Taiwan. Chung is specifically meant to target Taiwanese people since this segment is comprised of affluent people who can bring meaningful business to the company. Indeed, Chung brought a whopping account worth $6 million, one of the highest in the history of the company. Chung states that he has to use the Taiwanese tradition in order to attract these targeted people and there is no other financial consultant with the exquisite skills to perform this particular task. Problem identification For quite some time, Leary has noticed certain behaviour in Chung which she thinks is a cause for concern. For instance, Chung is a self centred person and he does not like to interact with others. He does not want to share his things with others and he is also short tempered. All these factors worry Leary. The other problem is that Chung has requested a private office b ut regardless of the fact that he brought one of the largest accounts to the company and he is performing well, he is still too junior to get a private office. Of the 45 financial consultants, only eight have private offices. Therefore, the problem in this case is twofold: if Leary gives in and try to appease Chung, this is likely to attract the wrath of other senior financial consultants who can also demand the same favour. This will certainly impact on the morale of other employees as well as their performance. It can also be seen that the problem is culture based. By virtue of being Taiwanese, Chung thinks that he deserves special treatment since he is dealing with a niche group of customers that has potential to bring a lot of business to the company. As such, a holistic approach ought to be taken when dealing with this case since it can negatively affect the whole organization if care is not taken. Measures that can be taken to resolve the problem identified According to Korac- Kakabadse et al (2001), the difficulties that arise in cross-cultural face-to-face encounters may be addressed with a better understanding of communication styles utilised by different cultures. In this case, it is imperative for Leary to understand the culture of Chung before taking a decisive step. People who come from different cultural backgrounds have different communication skills and this fact impacts on the way they interact with others. It can be noted that Chung is a sort of withdrawn person but this may not be his fault as may be thought by other people within the company. A closer reading of the case study shows that

Write a research paper dealing with the issue of retention and the

Write a dealing with the issue of retention and the cost of education in colleges and universities in U.S.A. and try to ansver.the following question - Research Paper Example In addition the government owned universities and colleges are cheaper than the private owned. The average fees required for tuition in the private universities in a year is $20,000. In a 4 year term, that would total to $80,000. While in the private institutions is more than $40,000 per year. The wide fee difference between the two sector universities has resulted to increased undergraduate intake in the public universities. The government run colleges and universities have enrolled 70% of the total undergraduate intake a year, with the colleges enrolling half of the country’s full time undergraduates. But not all the public colleges charge minimal amount, colleges such California, fee rate is the same as top end private universities. The rate of graduation in public colleges and universities has fluctuated from 70% to 60% in the past ten years. This is due to the low availability of resources in the public universities as compared to public. The graduation rate in the privat e universities and the top universities has increased from to 50% to 80% this due to the high level of education offered as well as the selective nature of the private universities however, the number of graduates in public universities and colleges is still high when compared to the private owned. The difference in the fees rate charged in the two sectors means that some education accessories are only available in the high end universities and vice versa. In today, only time will tell whether the two education sectors will reach a point and charge tuition fee regardless of access and

Alexander and Diogenes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alexander and Diogenes - Essay Example Alexander was greeted by everyone when he met Diogenes, except Diogenes himself, who spoke to Alexander rudely when the former asked the latter if he could do anything for him. Highet (10) writes that Diogenese said, â€Å"Stand to one side. You’re blocking the sunlight†. Although the crowd awaited Alexander’s reaction to this rude remark, they were amazed to hear him say that he preferred being Diogenes if he were not Alexander. â€Å"If I were not Alexander, I should be Diogenes† (Highet 10). This meant that he considered Diogenes as a free person, unafraid and bold, not thinking about what effect his saying would have on the listener. He, sort of, saw his own image in the beggar’s style and pride. He came to know that, on earth, it was either Alexander, the King, or Diogenes, the beggar, who were free and independent in their choice of speech and action. Highet made this historical story even more compelling, by giving it the form of an essay. The message that can be extracted through this is that the real human being is one who is bold enough to use his free will. When we say that a person is free, we mean that he lives by his own value system, which is so strong that he is not afraid of whether the people around him approve of or disapprove his speech and actions. The main theme is about simplicity. One must not get indulge in the complexities of life. Simplicity is what makes life beautiful, and also makes one understand his true self, because it is in simplicity that one collides with nature and recognizes his worth. â€Å"He knew that of all men then alive in the world only Alexander the conqueror and Diogenes the beggar were truly free† (Highet, 10), means that even Kings realize the importance of those people whom they consider as inferior, just because of strong values and confidence. It also means that even beggars a re considered as inspirational, if they are free and

Managing Entrepreneur Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managing Entrepreneur Growth - Essay Example The interviewed entrepreneur, Raif, gave confident opinions and answers in order to confirm the theory. According to the theory of entrepreneurial growth, he gave the idea of being a good entrepreneur and a democratic leader. This has been indicated in the interview by the fact that he runs the family business by involving everyone into it and obtaining the clients’ feedback. He encourages his stakeholders to participate in the decision-making process of the company, as a result of which, the customers, along with providing the feedbacks, also give their suggestions as to what the new product should be like. This helps the entrepreneur manage the creativity and innovation in the product and services being provided. This also confirms to the theory of entrepreneur being creative which has been discussed above. Moreover, Raif also says that his business is trying to compete with the rivals and bringing a new product every year and considers baklava to be more profitable and call s it ‘gold line’. Thus, he is fully aware of the strengths of his business and is a challenging risk taker, ready to take a risk in the form of new product every year. The entrepreneur of the Swan Sweets has also confirmed to the theory of being proactive and promoting expansion. He intends to go international and expand his business geographically to as far as Singapore, Malaysia, WA. But this planning for expansion has been done very carefully and he is well aware of all the places around the world which contain his target markets and potential customers.

Post Confederation Canada Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Post Confederation Canada - Research Paper Example Although Canada was already an independent colony, British felt that there were internal political obstacles that she needed to solve. Consequently, the two conflicting parties, the Tories and the Clear Grits, came to unite in 18672. Nevertheless, this essay will describe Quasi-Federalism (and the subsequent types of federalisms) an aspect of Post Confederation Canada. To begin with, activities surrounding the Post Confederation Canada shaped Canadian history in many ways. One of the aspects of Post Confederation Canada that contributes to the shape of this country is the quasi federalism. Quasi federalism occurs when a state appears as if is divided into jurisdictions however is in fact a unitary state without any divided authority. Quasi federalism features involved contrasts between federalism and conservatism. For instance, immediately after confederation in Canada, the emerging partisan politics claimed that the strongest support for decentralization actually came from Ontario n ot Quebec or the Maritimes. In this instance, Canadian authority appeared as divided but in real sense, it was a pattern of rights between centralist’s supporters and conservatism, but whose view was same3. Quasi federalism in Post Confederation Canada produced another feature of partisan politics whereby the patterns of governance portrayed dominance in different levels of administration. In Post Confederation, features of political atmosphere dominance in Canada were prevalent. In this case, one political dominated the provincial level whereas opposition affirmed control at the federal level. Quasi federalism comprised of such features whereby, of the thirty years following Confederation in Canada, the Conservatives reigned in power for twenty-six years. A political scientist, Russell, argues that, in the case of contemporary politics Canada has experienced the same pattern of federal Conservative control even after the Mulroney Conservatives4. The major purpose of Russellà ¢â‚¬â„¢s point of this observation is to assert that provincial politics transcend significantly into federal politics. It is worthwhile to note that, quasi federalism in Post Confederation Canada was different from the American state governance. While American state governors faced restriction via series of strict checks and balances, it was ultimately different from quasi federalism state governance by which the main restrictive force found within the Canadian case was the continued rivalry found among regional interests5. However, even though quasi federalism led to economic transformation, however, dominated by the elites who did little to appeal to the wider public was constructive and contributed to a significant and essential period of nation building directly after the confederation. Cognitively, this economic growth in Post Confederation Canada helped shape the overall structure of the nation and the living standards of the fortunate. The evolution process of quasi federali sm in Post Confederation Canada is one of the most important features shaping the structure and functions of state governance. Throughout quasi federalism evolution, people could consider it hierarchical since its structural composition had central authority and regional subordinates. Instead, people considered quasi federalism as a system

The depth of time Essay Example for Free

The depth of time Essay We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up. We all wonder what life is. After much contemplation, I have found that life just boils down to a moment, more specifically the present moment. The past and the future exist only in our imagination. Real life and the world exist only in the present moment. How do we get a hold of or point at this moment exactly? Time is like a strong wind. You cannot reach out and grab it. In most cases you cannot slow it down or speed it up.

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction Today, as people in developed countries generally enjoy a high standard of living, at the other end of the spectrum, the poor in developing countries are struggling to make ends meet. 22% of the population in developing countries live on less than $1.25 daily and 75% of these people live in rural areas (The World Bank, 2012). This group of rural poor are the greatest victims of environment degradation. In this essay, by looking at the case study of Bangladesh, we will get a deeper insight into why the poor puts great pressure on the environment. In turn, we will uncover why environmental degradation affects the poor most severely resulting in the reinforcement of environmental degradation. Thereafter, we will explore some possible measures to help developing counties like Bangladesh to break out from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. Environmental consequences of poverty Although majority of researchers have attributed poverty as a key factor for causing environmental degradation, we have to note that other factors such as profit motives, and institutional failures are also responsible for environmental degradation. Nevertheless unlike other factors, poverty and environmental degradation shares a unique relationship that causes them to reinforce each other in a vicious cycle. We would first look at how poverty causes environmental degradation. In Bangladesh more than 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line and are vulnerable to food insecurity and natural disaster (Aid Effectiveness, 2009). 85% belong to the rural poor (Drakenberg, 2006). Bangladesh faces a series of environmental problems including deforestation, land degradation, air pollution, water shortage and contamination, as well as loss of biodiversity. The poor play a vital role in influencing these aspects of environmental degradation. Firstly, poverty leads to deforestation. The existing natural forests in Bangladesh are decreasing at a rate varying from 2.1% /year to 3.3% /year (Rahman, 2012). This is due to exploitation of forest resources for commercial logging, fuel wood collection as well as agricultural land expansion. Commercial logging provides a viable income for the poor as the timber logs could be sold for cash. This monetary benefit could encourage more trees to be felled resulting in unsustainable deforestation. Bangladesh has a high fertility rate, due to desire for more children to help in the fields and for social support in old age. The growing population requires more trees would have to be felled to provide fuel for their cooking needs. There will also be a need to increase food production for the larger population causing large tracts of forest to be cleared and converted into agricultural land for growing of crops. Deforestation, with loss of forest cover is responsible for soil erosion and lo ss of fertile top soil decreases agricultural productivity. Secondly, poverty contributes to land degradation. Land degradation arises due to soil exhaustion, salinization and desertification. Similarly, due to population growth with poverty, multiple cropping with a shorter fallow period was done to increase food supply. To increase land productivity, farmers use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides heavily. These methods of intensive land use may be effective in increasing agricultural output in the short term. However in the long run the soil would gradually lose its nutrients, land is degraded and desertification creeps in. Though irrigation is helpful in ensuring stable water supply for crops all year round, mismanaged irrigation due to lack of knowledge of rural farmers could result in reverse osmosis and accumulation of salt (Duraiappah, 1996). This causes a backlash and soil productivity drops. Thirdly, poverty affects water resource. Irrigation reduces ground water which may result in a water shortage if there is insufficient water for the large rural population. In the north-western part of Bangladesh, aquifer level of ground water was lowered when extraction of ground water for irrigation is not adequately recharged and coupled with high rate of evaporation (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Furthermore, Bangladesh faces problem of water contamination due to fertilizers and pesticide run-off from the farmlands. In 2002, more than the 65% of the countrys population were at risk of arsenic poisoning. 61 of the 64 districts had arsenic levels which were found to be above the national accepted standard of 0.05 mg/litre (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Lastly, poverty contributes to air pollution. The poor depend on biomass and firewood for fuel. The burning of these fuels degrades the air quality and can cause respiratory problems. Although there are substitute fuels which are less harmful to the environment, the poor have yet to gain access to them and may not be able to afford. Moreover, due to a lack of education, the rural poor may not have the knowledge on how to protect their living environment. They extract more resources from the forest to meet the needs of the growing population, not taking into consideration the externality cost of resource loss since access to the forest is free and unrestricted. To them, the immediate needs are of priority and they dont tend to plan far for the future due to the uncertainties of life. As a result, the poor have no qualms about the unsustainable land use practices and lack vision for long-term optimal resource management. This mindset is detrimental to the long term sustainability of environmental resources and unplanned use of resources is likely to result in environment degradation. The mindset of the poor has led to loss of biodiversity where flora and fauna as well as wetlands are overexploitation. In Bangladesh, inland and coastal capture fisheries have declined and about 30% of inland fish species have become endangered (Drakenberg, 2006). Environmental degradation reinforce poverty Firstly, the rural poor are most vulnerable to environmental degradation because they rely heavily on the fragile natural resources for their daily living. 55% of rural women work as farmers in the field, and they rely on the environment for fuel wood, food and water. Desertification is detrimental to the poor as it affects their supply of basic needs from forest resources. Over extraction of water for irrigation leads to lowering of ground water level and water becomes salinized, causing a severe shortage of drinking water.In Bangladesh, rural women are responsible for collecting fuel wood, water and food for family consumption from forest. Deforestation and water shortage causes shrink in food and water availability and women have to work harder and travel further to search for resources. This enduring task is demanding on their health and scarcity of food could lead to malnutrition (Jahan, 2008). The poor being reliant on natural resources for basic needs and agricultural land for food, is offered hardly any food security due to the fragile nature of the natural environment. When their agricultural land becomes less fertile due unattainable land use practices, the familys income is drastically reduced; the poor remain in their vicious cycle of poverty and their basic needs and nutrition could be compromised. Likewise near the coastal areas, the poor rely on wetlands for capture fishery as their main source of food and income. With the destruction of wetlands for conversion to shrimp cultivation area, it drastically reduces the vulnerable food supply of the poor and increased salinity over coastal land endangers their health. Secondly, environmental degradation affects the poor most severely as they are the group that continues to live in places facing land degradation as these polluted areas are cheaper to live in. Being unable to afford to move to a better land, the poor are exposed to Arsenic pollution from contaminated water sources (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that, 37 million people in developing countries suffer chronic poisoning due to exposure to toxic pesticides from working in fields that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides extensively (Jahan, 2008). The poor also have to make do with cheaper source of fuel for cooking and heating. Burning fuel wood and dung causes respiratory infections affecting women and children, causing child mortality. Vicious cycle of poverty and environment degradation Source: Poverty and environment, 2000, Figure 9.2 Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Environment Degradation in Developing Countries, pp. 201. As seen in the context of Bangladesh, farmers hard-pressed by population growth and increasing poverty overexploit natural resources and extend cropping onto fragile marginal lands which results in a loss of sustainability and environmental degradation. Decline in agricultural productivity on degraded lands then triggers poverty which in turn forced many farmers to continue degrading their land further to extract subsistence output (Duraiappah, 1996). Overtime, this phenomenon creates the vicious circle between poverty and environmental degradation as seen in the diagram above. Urbanisation further aggregate environmental degradation and worsen life of the rural poor. Government may allocate more funds to support the growing industry of engineering, electronics and information technology which would generate more income for the economy (United Nations ESCAP, 2010). Conversely, the agriculture sector would receive less funds and manpower is reduced with young men moving to work in urban areas. This leaves behind the elderly and women to manage the marginal agricultural lands. Urbanisation causes air pollution from vehicular and industrial emissions, loss of biodiversity from human interference to natural habitats and deforestation which contributes to global warming. The poor at the receiving end become victims to these problems. In many developing countries, governments generally do not address the sustainability issues if there is little public pressure and they find no political rewards in enhancing environmental quality. Nevertheless for developing countries to achieve environmental sustainability, support from the government is definitely essential. As highlighted, the poor are the biggest victims of environmental degradation; conversely poverty can exacerbate ecological problems. To ensure long term environmental sustainability, possible measures needs to target poverty alleviation and environmental management. Possible measures to achieve sustainable development Source: National sustainable development strategy, 2008, Figure 3.1 schematic representation of the vision, strategic priority areas and cross-cutting areas, pp. 6. In 2008, Bangladeshs government came out with a national sustainable development strategy (NSDS) to guide the country towards alleviating poverty and environmental problems. As shown in the table above, the strategy aims to achieve sustainable development by ensuring sustainable economic growth, agricultural and rural development, social security and environment management (DOE, 2008). Having sustainable economic growth means to accelerate growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. Bangladesh strives to ensure economic growth with higher private investment, increased inflow of FDIs and effective trade policies (DOE, 2008). It includes the agricultural sectors in the economic progress by providing them with electricity, roads, and telecommunications to improve connectivity with urban areas. One possible direction for sustainable economic growth is to promote investment in renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity. Bangladesh has abundant sunlight year round, wind and high energy waves; this can generate profits and reduce air pollution from fuel burning (M. S. Islam, 2011). Agricultural and rural development measures ensure food security for the growing population without causing environment degradation. Crop productivity can be increase with agriculture diversification and improved technologies. To reduce reliance on irrigation and lower risk of salinization, storage of surface water is enhanced and rainwater harnessed. To prevent deletion of marine fisheries resource, fishing is regulated avoid over exploitation. To enhance forest biodiversity, forest protected area could be extended and rural folks could be educated with knowledge on sustainable resource use (DOE, 2008). Social security is achieved with sanitation, shelter and empowerment through education. It involves provision of housing facilities, clean drinking water, electricity, medical services and ensuring food security for all (DOE, 2008). Additionally, primary and secondary education is made available and compulsory for all, enabling empowerment of the poor. Environment management protects the environment and its resources. To manage water shortage and contamination, water conservation is encouraged and pollution sources are identified and managed. Loss of biodiversity is addressed by monitoring unsustainable consumption of biological resources. Also, scientific and traditional knowledge are to be integrated to effectively conserve the ecosystem. Most importantly, environmental sustainability considerations need to be integrated in policies concerning forest, water, land, agriculture, industry and energy (DOE, 2008). Conclusion As discussed, poverty and environmental degradation has close interlinks and reinforce each other. Poverty is a key contributing factor to various environmental problems of deforestation, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Consequently, environmental degradation has the greatest impact on the poor, causing them to be ever more vulnerable and having to further degrade the environment to meet their basic needs and ensure survival. To achieve sustainable development in developing countries like Bangladesh, possible measures would have to target both poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. Likewise these measures would work best if backed by strong government support and properly planed and organized. Bangladeshs elaborated NSDS shows a strong commitment to solve environmental issues and ensure a better standard of living for current and future generation. Nevertheless, it is still too early to determine the effectiveness of the strategies; time will tell if Bangladesh is able to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.

Louis XIV: The Greatest Leader of France :: Biography Biographies Essays

Louis XIV: The Greatest Leader of France The Days of Elegance The term "splendid" is one that most English speaking people are familiar with. To most of those people it has a meaning related to the overall appearance or feeling of what ever is being described. Webster's dictionary defines the term as: 1. magnificent and sumptuous. 2. distinguished or glorious. Splendor is more that that. It is an adjective that could be used to describe something so great and breath taking that one is left awed. The word splendid is often associated with the palace of Versailles, which was built Louis XIV. In the production of this grand structure there was no cost spared. It became a symbol of France, and a model by which all other palaces would be judged. Louis XIV received a great deal of criticism from onlookers as he used the French equivalent to millions of dollars to built this outstanding structure. There is still some speculation as to whether or not this was a good investment. It has been argued that the money could have gone to the poor or needy. The palace of Versailles was controversial, but in high insight, it is clear that Louis XIV made a sound decision in its erection. As Louis XIV took the throne, he was faced with several problems. He knew that he did not want to reside and rule in Paris, so against the will of his advisors he chose a hunting chateau as the site of his new palace. He also knew from history that the nobles of his domain had in the past and would continue to cause trouble in the form of uprisings and other conflicts. Louis XIV sought absolute power, and he knew that he would not be able to obtain this if preoccupied by civil conflicts. His solution to this problem was building Versailles and inviting all of the nobles to reside there. This was a brilliant scheme to keep the nobles out of the politics of the country. He preoccupied them with tasked normally associated with chamber maids, thus allowing him to rule as an absolute monarch. The splendor of the palace was a key factor in this plan because with out it, the nobles would not have a willing to leave their homes and move to Versailles. The historical account, The Splendid Century , written by W.H. Lewis is a very useful tool in understanding the life of Louis XIV. It tells of his life, his goals, his motives, and the means by which he achieved those

Martial Arts :: essays research papers

Martial Arts To follow is my report on martial arts in Asia. This a very interesting subject, and a very good report. It will describe martial arts and some types of martial arts. It will also say where they originated from. The term "martial arts" is a general term used to describe general types of fighting. Most martial arts practised today came from China, Japan, and Korea. There are hundreds of types of martial arts, each divided into specific styles or systems. Technically, martial arts fall into two categories: percussive, and non-percussive. In percussive martial arts such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Kung-Fu, people strike with their hands, feed, elbows, and head. This type of martial arts is very aggressive. On the other hand, in non-percussive martial arts, such as Judo, involve throwing, locking, and neutralising the opponent. They are far less aggressive. Kung-Fu is an interesting type of martial art, the origins of which are unknown. Some historians believe it started as early as 1500 BC There are two major types of Japanese martial arts. They are Bujitsu, and Budo. The bujitsu martial art is a relatively new one. It emphasises combat and willingness to face death as a matter of honour. Budo, which was started during the late 1800's, focuses on developing moral and aesthetic developments. Karate-do and Judo are forms of Budo. People who learn budo learn it to use it only as a last resort. Another martial art that developed in Japan is ninjitsu, which means "the art of stealing in!" People who practice ninjitsu are called ninjas. Ninjitsu was developed in the late 1200's.

Jamess Pragmatism and Platos Sophistes Essay -- Pragmatism Sophistes

James's Pragmatism and Plato's Sophistes ABSTRACT: In the first chapter of Pragmatism, William James outlines two philosophical temperaments. He argues that though one's temperament modifies one's way of philosophizing, its presence is seldom recognized. This statement by James led me to Plato's Sophistes, especially the relationship between temperament and being. Although Plato describes certain temperaments, I hold that the main topic is being. The ancients restricted All to real being, e.g., the tangible or the immovable. This reading of the Sophistes puts a different face on the first chapter of Pragmatism. However, if we allow James to speak to present-day philosophers as well as his turn of the century audience, then this reading of the Sophistes will clarify the current philosophical temperament. Neither James nor the contemporary philosopher is satisfied with any restriction on All; for this reason, both lack interest in being. Being, once the richest word, no longer satisfies the philosopher's greedy temperament. Introduction In the first chapter of Pragmatism (2) William James speaks about a rather unusual aspect of philosophy. He gives an outline of two prevailing temperaments in philosophy. 'Temperament', he argues, '...is no conventionally recognized reason [in philosophy]... Yet [a professional philosopher's] temperament really gives him a stronger bias than any of his more strictly premises. ... Yet in the forum he can make no claim, on the bare ground of his temperament, to superior discernment or authority.' (3) James argues that, although one's temperament modifies one's way of philosophizing, its presence is seldom recognized. This statement by James prompted me to the reading of part of Pl... ... 1979) (5) The Greek words on and ousia are both translated as real, real being or reality. (6) Not surprisingly, in the Sophistes as in Pragmatism the fight between the temperaments is claimed to be of all times. (7) His name is not mentioned in the dialogue. (8) Cf. Apology 23c, Theaetetus 168a. (9) Cf. 216a-c, 224e-226a, 233a, 249cd, 253a-254b, 259d. (10) Cf. ai)sxu/vh 230d, ai)sxu/nein (247bc) (11) J. Souilhà ©, Étude sur le terme ΔÎ ¥ÃŽ ÃŽâ€˜ÃŽÅ"IÃŽ £ dans les dialogues de Platon (Paris: Librairie Fà ©lix Alcon, 1919) cf. p. 36, 112, 154 ff.. (12) `Real being ... is always in the same unchanging state ....' (248a) (13) Cf. 258c-259b. (14) W. James, Some Problems of Philosophy: A beginning of an Introduction to Philosophy (New York: Longmans, Green adn Co., 1924) (15) James (1924), p. 37 (16) James (1924), p. 46

What Are the Main Aims and Objectives of Sentencing Within England and Wales? Should Any One Theory Dominate?

What are the main aims and objectives of sentencing within England and Wales? Should any one theory dominate? What are the main aims and objectives of sentencing within England and Wales? Should any one theory dominate? In the criminal justice system, there are many different sentences that can be given to an offender. According to the sentencing statistics in England and Wales (2009) the highest sentence being given is financial penalties with 67. 3% of convicted offenders being given a fine, 14% received community service and 7. 2% of offenders were sentenced to prison.The type and length of a sentence largely depends upon the seriousness of the committed offence and the offender behind it. This essay will look at the main aims and objectives of sentencing, as well as the different theories used within sentencing. Within this essay the question of whether or not a sentence should aim to prevent further crimes or punish offenders as they deserve, will too be discussed. A further fac tor of this essay will look at influential factors within sentencing and the complications that would arise if the system was to be dominated by one theory.To conclude it has been found that one theory simply cannot dominate sentencing within England and Wales as the majority of sentences are tailored around each individual offence and offender, therefore there cannot be a set sentence for a set crime. According to the Criminal Justice Act (2003) there are five main purposes of sentencing an offender. The first is to punish the offender; also known as denunciation. This is the acknowledgement that the behaviour of the offender is not acceptable within society and ensures a consequent punishment.This can be seen as a form of paying back the wrong doing or understanding of what is right and wrong. However Ashworth (2005) arises the underlying question on how this does so and why punishment is seen as an appropriate response to criminal behaviour. The second is to reduce crime this inc ludes its reduction by deterrence. Ashworth (1999) claimed that deterrence aimed to prevent crime by future offenders and the offender in question, by not committing an offence due to fearing the consequent punishment.This can take the form of individual or general deterrence. The next purpose of sentencing is to reform and rehabilitate the offender, this is achieved through many different methods such as; counseling or group therapy. The purpose of this is to change the offenders’ attitudes and behaviours so they desist from crime. (Ashworth 1999) Rehabilitation may also address prior reasons as to why the offender may of committed the offence in the first place and teach the offender to deal with these in an acceptable way.The fourth aim of sentencing is to protect the public from both the offender and further crimes. This is known as incapacitation, the idea of removing the ability from the offender to commit a crime for a length of time, for example; being in prison or un der house arrest. Finally the last purpose of sentencing is for the offender to make amends to the persons affected by their actions. This idea can also be known as restorative. This aims to give an appropriate sentence to the offender, whilst ensuring a balance with the appeasement of the victim.This can be in the form of the offender having to give some sort of financial compensation to the victim or affected persons. When deciding on an appropriate sentence for an offender there are two main theories that dominate. These theories individually question whether or not it is best to punish the offender or treat the offender. Retributivism is the first, otherwise known as backward looking, and secondly is Reductivism, know as forward looking. Retributivism is the idea that an offenders’ punishment should fit the crime that was committed.Otherwise referred to as ‘an eye for an eye’ approach. Proportionality is the essence of the retributivist theory. Von Hirsch (19 81) quoted that ‘the severity of the punishment should be commensurate with the seriousness of the wrong’ he also stated that there were two types of proportionality. The first being Ordinal, this is how offences are ranked in accordance to their seriousness, and the offence ranked at the top will in turn receive the highest punishment. The second type of proportionality is Cardinal, this is how punishments are ranked in accordance to seriousness.This idea has set sentences for set crimes therefore ignoring the offenders circumstances. Reductivism aims to prevent future offences with the main aim of creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Reductivism consists of three main ideas; deterrence, rehabilitation and incapacitation. Ashworth (1998. 44) quoted that; ‘Deterrence seeks to further the aim of crime prevention by setting the sentence so that it is sufficient to deter the convicted offender. ’ This idea is known as individual deterrence, general eterrence differs from this, as instead of focusing on preventing the offender in question from offending again, general deterrence focuses on preventing potential offenders from committing a crime due to them being fearful of the crimes consequential punishment. Incapacitation is the idea of preventing an offender from committing a future crime by making it impossible for them to do so. For example; being in prison prevents the offender from being able to commit another crime.This idea is used for offenders who are not deemed as ‘curable’. This goes against the retributivist idea that punishments should follow a committed offence by punishing a person in order to prevent an offence. The third aim of reductivism, is rehabilitation. This is the idea that the offenders behaviours can be altered through methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and family intervention. Rehabilitation in practise can be seen in the case of Venables and Thompson.The Times report ed that ‘One of the most comprehensive care plans was drawn up for young offenders by the Department of Health which aimed to rehabilitate the boys and prevent them becoming institutionalised’. This plan included rehabilitation techniques such as counselling and learning techniques to control their behaviour. As both young offenders were released just 8 years after the murder this would prove the technique some what successful. However this can not be generalised to adult offenders.An important factor that influences sentencing in England and Wales is the offenders’ age. In 2009 5. 8% of offences were committed by under 18s. (Sentencing Statistics). According to Gordon (1999. 92-93) when sentencing a juvenile the courts aims of the sentence should also take the following into account; whether or not the juvenile is young and possibly immature, if they are socially or educationally disadvantaged and finally, if they are at a critical stage in their personal develo pment.When sentencing a juvenile both theories are applied however in some cases the reductivist approach seems to dominate. The Detention and Training order is the main custodial sentence for offenders ages 12-17, this aims to split the sentence to include both a custodial part and part served under the supervision in a community, with the primary concern on rehabilitating the offender therefore being dominated by the reductivist approach.After discussing the aims and objectives of sentencing and the theories based on the aims, it is clear that one theory simply cannot dominant sentences as there are too many influential factors, and one theory working could not be generalised to work on all offenders due to the level of differences between offenders and offences. Some influential factors include; previous convictions, whether or not the offender shows any remorse, the plea and various others. Furthermore to this, a system would not work based on one theory.For example if the syste m was based on deterrence, the courts would need information on each individuals circumstances and character in order to sentence accordingly, persistent offenders would have increased punishments therefore meaning the sentencing system would have no consistency as each sentence would be based on the offender in question. (Ashworth 1998. 45). In Conclusion, after reviewing the two main theories of sentencing in terms of the main aims objectives set by the Criminal Justice Act, it is clear that each one takes some of the aims and objectives into account.However neither has a proposed way of dealing with offenders that addresses all the aims and objectives. Before it is possible for one theory of sentencing to be established as a dominant theory, the question of; whether or not sentencing should primarily punish or treat the offender needs to be answered. However there cannot be a general answer to this, as it will always be a debateable topic, as each sentence depends on each individ ual offender and the individual offence, therefore making a categorisation of whether or not specific crimes should be treated based on the retributivism theory or the reductivism theory cannot be done.A combination of both theories, aiming to punish and treat the offender in order to prevent further offences would seem the best solution, however in some cases this would not be the best solution. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ashworth A, Von Hirsch A, 2005,Proportionate Sentencing, Exploring the principles , Oxford, Oxford University Press Ashworth A, Von Hirsch A, 1998, Principled Sentencing, Readings on Theory and Policy, Hart Publishing Cavadino M, Dignan J, 2006, Penal Systems, A comparative Approach London, Sage Publications Criminal Justice Act 2003Gordan W, Cuddy P, Black J, 1999, Introduction to Youth Justice, Incorporating Introduction to the Youth Court, Winchester, Waterside Press Gross H, Von Hirsch A, 1981 , Sentencing , Oxford, Oxford University Press http://www. justice. gov. uk/sente ncingannual. htm (Sentencing Statistics England and Wales 2009) http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7054623. ece

Social Exclusion and Discrimination

Do we, as citizens, have the ability to be included, to function and to participate fully in the varied aspects of today’s society? This essay will look at defining the terms described in the title by exploring research and theories that measure these problems. The essay will identify a group of people who experience one of these struggles, citing evidence to confirm this. The essay will also look at what can be done to prevent people being excluded, oppressed and co.uk/our-changing-society/">discriminated against.Sociology is the study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the backgrounds, groups, establishments, and development of human society, and some theories help to decide why and how to choose between alternative distinctions (Payne 2005). Theories are statements of ideas, and Fook (2002) states that putting names to things help provide explanations and understanding of practice. Payne (2005, p6) stated that â€Å" Because social work is a practical actio n in a complex world, a theory must offer a model of explicit guidance. † There are different sociological theories on social influences, and these are interesting in their comparisons. Emile Durkheim was a structural functionalist. He was also a positivist, believing that society conforms to unwavering laws and that there is an objective reality(Giddens 2001). He operated within a framework that sees society as a complex structure or system in which the parts work together to promote cohesion and stability (Dubois & Prade 1990). Structure in this context refers to any stable pattern of social behaviour; the function aspect is the examination of the consequences of individual actions for the operation of society as a whole. This perspective basically perceives all different parts of a society come together and work as one whole part, in which power is underplayed. This could mean that if an individual or group does not work with the rest of society then they may be excluded. Howe (2002) explains that sociology would be the backbone of the structural perspective within social work and would look at the political, economic and material environment in which people find themselves. He goes on to say that this theory encompasses an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory perspective and that poverty, inequality and lack of social justice can seriously disadvantage some people and that these disadvantages can contribute to poor social functioning. Structural theorists maintain that these people are not a problem to society but that society has become a problem for them. However, functionalism is often criticized for not adequately explaining change, and placing too much order on order and stability. (Haralambos et al 2004) The conflict theorists view the society from an objective and hierarchical point of view. In this perspective some individuals are inferior to society. The basis of social order is power or intimidation and the only way to change within the society is through a power struggle in which there is a lot of competition. Social class is extremely important in this perspective for it defines an individual’s place in the pyramid of power. Karl Marx was the originator of the conflict theory and described societies like Britain as capitalist systems whereby rich employers and business owners with capital set up businesses which exploit working classes to generate maximum profits (Macionis & Plummer 2008). Therefore, according to this theory, the working classes could be discriminated against. Social exclusion is a multidimensional, dynamic concept which emphasises the processes of change through which individuals or groups are excluded from the mainstream of society and their life chances reduced. (Philip & Shucksmith 1999. ) There is no agreed definition of social exclusion, but there are considered to be conditions that many agree are contributing factors. Shaw et al (2006) described social exclusion as affecting individuals or areas that suffer from linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, bad health, high crime and family breakdowns. So it has been found that living in a deprived area can drive a person into extreme poverty and/or social exclusion. (Haan et al. 1987, p 989). Therefore, we can conclude that social exclusion is mainly associated with the above circumstances but it is also linked to a lack of social support, social position and empowerment. White (1998) describes the processes leading to social exclusion – including economic change, demographic change, changes to welfare systems and processes of segregation and separation of certain minority groups. Social exclusion is not just about individuals, it can refer to whole communities within which everyone can be affected. For example, areas with high levels of unemployment and deprivation. Sooman & Macintyre (1995) reported that studies in Glasgow showed differences in self-reported health between local areas, with more advantaged areas showing fewer health problems. In the mid 1990’s, this country was distinguished by high levels of social exclusion, with the highest rates in Europe of jobless households and teenage pregnancies (www. socialexclusionunit. gov. uk). Many of these figures worsened during the 1990’s and crime, poverty, exclusion from school and drug/alcohol dependency became significant problems. Nowadays, the concept of social exclusion is taking over from poverty. It does not just mean poor income, it suggests something more than social inequality and so it carries the risk of a multi-tier society or the relegation to the status of the welfare dependent. Robbins, cited in Alcock, 1997). We could, of course, ask the question why is social exclusion a problem? Why should we care about someone who does not participate in key activities of the society in which he or she lives? (Burchardt et al, 2002). After all, not everybody chooses to conform to social norms. So, what if an individual has used their personal autonomy to deliberately exclude themselves from society? A recluse who prefers solitude to company, a youth who chooses to join a criminal gang rather than pursue a career, or the rich people who lock themselves away at the other end of the social scale? Do all these people constitute a social problem, and if so, is it the same kind of problem as those who are socially excluded for reasons beyond their control? (British Journal of Psychiatry 2007. 191). There is, in society, an expectation that people conform to social norms, and if someone behaves or looks differently from what is expected then they could be subject to discrimination, whether their lifestyle is their own choice or has been forced upon them. To discriminate, briefly defined, means to victimize or favour a group or individual because of social, economic, race, gender or religious reasons. The law in Britain recognises two kinds of discrimination; direct and indirect. Direct discrimination occurs when, as defined above, a group or individual is targeted for specific reasons. Indirect discrimination can happen when there are rules or regulations set in place which could exclude certain people. For instance, an employer may state that no hats or headwear are to be worn in the workplace. This could indirectly discriminate against people of certain ethnicity whose religion states that they cover their heads. Discrimination and social exclusion have certain similarities and can be compared by drawing attention to the different types of social discrimination experienced by people. Discriminatory behaviours take many forms but they all involve some sort of exclusion or rejection. These behaviours can be looked at in different ways – for example, anthropologically. Anthropology as a discipline gives powerful insight to personal views and asks the fundamental question, how and why do human beings behave the way they do (Bronowski 1952) and compares the historical development of human society. This can be used in social work by enabling workers to understand different human behaviours and why they may be a product of society. As stated above, discrimination and social exclusion can have similar aspects but a key difference between them are the consequences that can come from discrimination, such as the policies put in place to ensure fair practice for those people who could be discriminated against by illness, age or gender. The core examples of these are the Disability, Age and Sex Discrimination policies now in place. These policies ensure that, legally, people can no longer be discriminated against for having a disability, being too old or too young or because of their gender. The social composition of a population affects the ways in which social discrimination is exercised. In a society with people of multiple identities, for example ethnicity and religion, individuals or groups are likely to face discriminatory problems in multiple ways. The extent and types of discrimination will depend on peoples’ status in the population. Similarly, oppression is also multifaceted and can be caused by fear of someone different, or someone who does not conform to what is thought to be the norm in social standing. It is important to recognise the common themes across the areas of exclusion, discrimination and oppression. Thompson (2006, p40) stated that: â€Å"Oppression can be defined as inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups; hardship and injustice brought about by the dominance of one group over another. There are many parallels between the experiences of people with disabilities, gender issues, homosexuals and ethnic minorities but oppression and discrimination cannot be explained merely by peoples’ personal prejudices. Oppression does not derive simply from individual actions, it can be built into structural and institutional patterns and organisational policies. (Thompson 2001) The fact that we live in a highly stratified society means that inequalities are part of the social order and there are inevitably winners and losers. (Thompson 2001) Rooney (1987) gives an example of this. He describes how a local authority used a word of mouth process to recruit home-help staff. When there were vacancies for these jobs, the existing predominantly white employees would be asked to pass on information of the vacancies to friends and/or family. This meant that knowledge of the posts would only be passed on to a predominantly white group of people, some of whom would be interviewed and consequently employed. Because of this, black and ethnic minorities were systematically excluded, even though it may have been unintentional. There are many authorities and organisations that can be seen as being guilty of this kind of institutional oppression, with the ideas of powerful groups becoming dominant over the minority as quoted by Marx in 1845 â€Å"The ideas of the ruling class are, in every age, the ruling ideas. † Whilst anyone can experience social exclusion, discrimination or oppression, it has been found that certain groups are more vulnerable to them and that they are all linked to a certain degree. It is usually a combination of factors that contribute to social exclusion, thus making it a multidimensional process and not caused by a single unique factor. Madanipour et al 1998, cited in Byrne 2005). One group in particular that experience social exclusion are people that suffer from mental illness. It could be that the majority of negative attitudes towards mental illness are simply a reflection of the lack of understanding of various mental health conditions, and this could have a bearing on any initiative to combat such prejudice in the future. Link et al (1999) reported that though there has been some improvement of general understanding, the public, largely, does wish to maintain social distance from the mentally ill. Hocking (2003) found that people with schizophrenia, specifically, were subject to discrimination in housing, education and employment. Although the public perception of mental illness has been studied vastly, there are few studies to date that concentrate on how the public perceive mental illness within the workplace. Williams and Wilkins (1998) reported that when human resources officers were given vignettes of job applications where the applicants had very similar skills and qualifications, applicants who described themselves as having depression significantly reduced their chance of employment compared to that of applicants with diabetes. Baldwin and Johnson (2004) stated that workers with mental health problems were subject to a greater discrimination and suffered a lower employability ranking than workers suffering from a physical illness. Research also acknowledges that mental illness receives a greater amount of negativity than that of a physical illness. Britt (2000) reported that among military service members there was a strong belief that admitting to psychological or mental health problems at work would make them more discriminated against than admitting to physical problems. Over half of the participants of the report believed that a military service member’s career would be negatively affected by admitting a psychological problem and just under half actually admitted that they would maintain a distance from a co-worker has he or she disclosed a psychological problem. Rush et al (2005) identified 3 known misconceptions linked to people with mental illness: i)They are homicidal maniacs that should be avoided ii) They are rebellious free spirits iii) They have childlike perceptions of the world The most measurable of these is the first one – which could explain some of the exclusion, discrimination and oppression suffered by people with mental health problems. The government has encouraged action in the employment of people with mental illness through its action plan on social exclusion (Social Exclusion Task Force 2006), but levels of unemployment are still significantly high for sufferers even though most of them want to, and are able to work. They usually end up on long term benefit and suffer social exclusion in the form of deprivation, isolation and physical, as well as mental, ill health. Social support is of crucial importance to individuals and groups with mental health problems, and, maybe if there was more trust between people, along with more community cohesion and empowerment, there might be a greater understanding of the difficulties encountered by people with mental health problems and society would discriminate less. In conclusion then, it would seem that there are many similarities between social exclusion, discrimination and oppression. All of these subjects evoke a strong, emotive response from those affected by them. In the UK alone, there are still thousands of people who are in poverty, homeless or have mental health problems and who are consequently excluded from aspects of society or discriminated against. This is despite interventions from health and social care workers from all sectors, the government and educational facilities. PCTs and providers are working hard and making significant progress in improving the accessibility and quality of primary health care in order to keep people healthier for longer and reduce health inequalities (www. wdc. org. uk). Community social work, which was used at the introduction of the welfare state, is going through a regeneration period and the introduction of Sure Start and Family Centres on what the government describes as ‘Sink Estates’ enables the socially excluded to access services and skills to enable them to feel part of society. As with all government initiatives, people regard services with suspicion but social workers are in a position to build trusting and therapeutic relationships within the community. Therefore, although progress is slow, it is not unattainable. There is now evidence, however, which demonstrates that we need to go further to improve the way we meet the primary health care needs of the most socially excluded people within our society, as socially excluded clients often do not show up on needs assessments. The ‘Inclusion Health study (www. swdc. org. uk) has also produced an excellent supporting evidence pack which commissioners can use to help build the case for improvement. There is a clear need for people who work with socially excluded people to stay within a framework of guidelines. For example, social workers need to develop an understanding of the problems that can occur within people’s lives and employ anti-oppressive practice in all aspects of care. It is possible that socially excluded groups feel disempowered and unable to do anything to help themselves and it is the duty of the social worker to hand back power to the service user whilst recognising the personal, cultural and social factors affecting the individual or family in question. There needs to be adequate assessments linked to helping people to solve problems and a sound knowledge of what can cause exclusion or discrimination by using research based evidence. Howe (1993) emphasized the importance of process in evaluation and there are several ways to implement this; for example through personal perceptions, evidence from service users, colleagues and supervisors and advice from other professionals or individuals involved. In short however, the only way to eliminate exclusion of any sort is to raise awareness in the shortfalls of society and eradicate prejudice, bigotry and ignorance.

Born This Way

Okonkwo was a hero in Ibo society, initially, because of his devotion to tradition and religion. He was a hero, also, because of his unbreakable resolve, his ambition to be great, and his hard work ethic. Okonkwo’s fall from hero status is a microcosm of the Ibo society’s lost of values which made it an esteemed society. Both Okonkwo and the Ibo society itself abandoned their traditions, religious beliefs, and lost their positions of strength. Okonkwo was a hero in the Ibo society because; he was devoted to tradition, religion, and the rules. Okonkwo stood firm against the religious and political orders that the Europeans brought to Umofia. Even though Okonkwo said that he was doing what was best for his society, he also was fearful of the change to a new culture and a new tradition that would change his high stature in the society, â€Å"[a]n abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse gods of his fathers and his ancestors, like a hunter’s dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. I fear for you; I fear for you the clan† (Achebe 124). This was problematic for Okonkwo because his sense of his own worth was dependent upon how the society judged him. Okonkwo was a hero because of his unbreakable resolve, his ambition to be great and his hard work ethic, â€Å"[h]e had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists had no patience with unsuccessful men. † (Achebe 5). Okonkwo’s behavior was the result of having a father who was poor, soft, and did not claim any title in his life time. Okonkwo struggled not to become a weak and lazy man like his father. He believed that he had to be strong, hard working, and become well respected by his village but, he was afraid of failure. Okonkwo took on opposite beliefs such as being wealthy, brave and anything else that would not make him look like an agabla, or feminine. Okonkwo’s life began to fall apart after three incidents; first when he killed Ikemefuma, who was someone who lived with him and was like a son to him but he did it because he wanted to appear to be brave. Next, he was exiled from the clan for seven years. Okonkwo knew that he lost his standing in the Ibo society because of his exile. Okonkwo’s awareness of his lost of stature in the Ibo society was conveyed by the narrator when he said, â€Å"he had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion, which, he was told, had gained ground. [h]e had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the land† (Achebe 121). His ambitions of being rich and powerful became obsolete, because of his exile. His final downfall was when Nwoye, his oldest and favorite son, converted to Christianity. This deeply depressed Okonkwo because he had not only high hopes for Nwoye, but he was his heir. Being robbed of a position of strength and not being able to resist change was the downfall of the Ibo culture. As soon as the white people came to Umofia everything that the tribe had once stood for was slowly becoming obsolete, â€Å"Now he has won out brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart† (Achebe 125). Okonkwo felt betrayed by the members of the tribe whom he had once seen as great warrior like men. Okonkwo believed that if he had not been exiled he would have prevented people from converting to Christianity. He was also disappointed in the behavior of his clan members. â€Å"Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had unaccountably become soft like women† (Achebe 129). The clan members that he knew and remembered would have driven out the white men long ago. Okonkwo’s feelings of disappointment of the new society that had taken over Umofia, lost of esteem, lost of cultural identity, guilt and disappointment in his clan members led him to commit suicide. Okonkwo started out with everything he wanted, barns filled with yams, wives, children, being a warrior, and a well-respected, hardworking member of the society. He had a plan for his life but the plan fell apart. He lost the traditions that he loved and cherished. He viewed the white missionaries as a threat to the way he wanted his life to be in his society. He was not flexible and did not want to change. Despite his self assessment, Okonkwo actually does adhere to his values. The Ibo culture has changed; but Okonkwo, while he was exiled (or maybe because he was exiled) does not take on the culture values of European society. He could have only become accepted in the changed culture if he, himself, had accepted the new culture, and changed himself. This change was not a change that Okonkwo wanted to evolve into. He believed that he was born that way and could not and would not change his beliefs. He did it the way he wanted to and ended his life.