Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Economic Growth And Economic Development - 917 Words

Economic growth refers to an increase in the capacity for an economy to produce goods and services as compared from one period of time to another. It can be measured either in nominal terms which include inflation, or in real terms that are adjusted for inflation. It is mainly influenced by unemployment, inflation, technology levels, rate of investment, population growth rate, among other factors. These factors are used further to explain the differences in the varying level of output per capita between and among countries, and explain why some countries are economically growing faster than others. These factors are best represented in both the theoretical and empirical forms through the neoclassical endogenous growth models (Steil, 2013, n.p.). Economic growth revolves around business cycle which include the following phases; depression, growth or expansion, boom and recession. During economic downfalls such as recession and depression phases, it is evident that aggregate demand for both goods and services might be insufficient thus leading to unnecessarily high unemployment rates, low investments and potential losses of economic output. At this phase the economy of a country goes down as some of the investments and savings are used to cater for other basic necessities. Inflation also pins down the growth further as the purchasing power of the current level of income is greatly reduced. As explained by the IS/LM model in the general theory by John Hicks, there are someShow MoreRelatedEconomic Development And Economic Growth915 Words   |  4 Pagesagenda? High and sustainable economic growth is the main condition for the sustainability of economic development and increase prosperity. As the population increases each year, the consumption is also increasing. Further more, demand, supply and population growth also require employment growth as a new source of income, because if not so then economic growth will lead to poverty. Many economics literatures review the correlation between income inequality and economic growth and the results show thatRead MoreEconomic Growth And Economic Development1177 Words   |  5 PagesEconomic growth and Economic Development is of the highest priority in regards to a well-functioning sovereign state. Economic growth powers an economy through the stability ensured by equilibrium in the circular flow of money accompanied by: growing international competitiveness in a globalised market, increase in real GDP through the appropriate allocation of resources most suited to the expansion of the economy, increa se in aggregate demand and increased efficiency in the economy. Stagnation orRead MoreEconomic Development And Economic Growth1664 Words   |  7 PagesEconomic development has the potential to transform regions as it creates an enabling environment for economic growth. Economic development is also associated with expanding the capacity of individuals and communities to maximize the use of their available resources. The extent of economic growth depends on the type of the additional products that the economy produces from its investment projects. It has been an instrumental aspect in the growth of Cincinnati. Cincinnati is comprised of a diverseRead MoreEconomic Growth And Economic Development915 Words   |  4 PagesEconomic development is the development of economic wealth of countries, regions or communities for the well-being of their inhabitants. From a policy perspective, economic development can be defined as efforts that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs and supporting or growing incomes and the tax base. Overview There are significant differences between economic growth and economic development. The term economic growth refersRead MoreEconomic Growth And Economic Development2287 Words   |  10 PagesIn Asia, the economic growth has been phenomenal and the deepening of economic integration and larger trade volumes have led to both developed and developing nations to experience steady economic growth, especially at 10.1% in 2007 (ADB, 2015). Nevertheless, especially with China’s economic slowdown, the Asian region is facing problems such as decrease in labor force, labor productivity, and overall trade growth (ADB Report, 2015). In order to consolidate economic integration of the region, the ASEANRead MoreEconomic Growth And Economic Development1328 Words   |  6 PagesEconomic growth is an economic term to describe an increase in a country’s national earnings of wealth, or the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Swanenberg,2005). The measurement of economic growth is poss ible that the change in national income in comparison to the numbers held by the year before. In the world today, economic growth is one of the ways to determine how successful is the country’s economic activity (Swanenberg, 2005). This is explained by the fact that economic growth reflectsRead MoreEconomic Growth and Development1547 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH Economic development and growth may not be the same thing depending on how growth rate is affecting the countrys socio-economic development. However important and well known theories of macro-economic suggest that if markets are left on their own, people will improve their socio-economic wellbeing automatically as the result of better economic growth rate of the country. In other words, financial liberalization automatically leads to socio-economic uplift as suggestedRead MoreEconomic Growth and Development2951 Words   |  12 Pagescountry? Surveys are made and reports being churned out that state the economic growth of a nation. Does the rate of this economic growth a true indicator in this regard? If that is true why is it then that even in the 21st century decades after the industrialization and years after globalization the proportion of developed countries to under-developed countries is still wide enough? The answer lies in the economic development of these countries. If the gross domestic product or national incomeRead MoreEconomic Growth and Development1990 Words   |  8 PagesECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Introduction Economies grow and develop, they expand and advance, and they progress and prosper. There are phases when they decline too, and there are economies that experience continuous decay. If one considers long stretches of human history, one knows that economies (civilizations) disappeared altogether. We will not take into account such long stretches of time. We shall not consider too distant a past either. We will leave them to historians, may be, economicRead MoreThe Economic Growth And Development864 Words   |  4 PagesCurrently, the economic growth and development is improving the performance of the New Zealanders that has over the past 30 years made them part of the global market. This requires that Lush improve its performance in relation to standardisation. This demands that it balances its character of its products to maintain a local and international consumer appeal. This is important based on evidence from firms selling luxuries in the Chinese market where maintaining brand c onsistency has been core (Liu

Monday, December 16, 2019

London †Stan Marshal Free Essays

The city of Lonetown, now in its 21st century, is one of the most popular, urbanised capitals of the world. It is a place of opportunity, commotion and great excitement, bringing the public together from all four corners of the world. The towering landscape and the everlasting history not only anthropomorphises the exciting and unique British quality of life but also the many doubts that are brought about by such a popular city overall. We will write a custom essay sample on London – Stan Marshal or any similar topic only for you Order Now The barriers that block such this metropolis from the exceptional and idealistic world that we exceptionally want to live in, strangely enough relegate Lonetown to the abysmal and diabolical mess that many people could say was beyond the bounds of possibility. Every insignificant feature that we see in daily British society has some kind of improbable flaw in it, for example; the car that an ordinary person drives brings a source of freedom, fun and, worst of all, road tax. It would be such a disappointment to ruin such an enormously popular city like Lonetown through problems that appear from certain individuals from the depths in society. Nevertheless, we could say that Lonetown is climbing the stairway that leads to the turbulent, hellish point in civilisation rather than the divine utopian society that we all long for, where the devil himself is omnipresent and wicked. What is strange is that few people perceive, let alone care. The drinking, drugs and explicit language set bad examples to the new and forthcoming generations of citizens, yet this is so widespread that society altogether is worsening. Stan Marshal and Louise Clark are two characteristic examples of different people with separate philosophies, who expose the detrimental aspects of society in a battle between what is right and what is wrong. Stan Marshal, a person at the peak of his career and preparing for his spectacular fifth concert. The fans loved him but their parents ostracised him. It was not surprising since he had the looks and the style to be the talented hip-hop rap singer that he is. The teenagers loved his down-to-earth attitude of drinking and drugs, and the shocking language in his songs. On the other hand, Louise Clark, an upbeat single mother, was forced to take her son to the concert promised to be incredible and breathtaking. She was obviously against this and the influence this particular rap singer had on her children. After all, a single mother taking care of three children was a strenuous job and she had passed the last few years without her husband by her side. Everyday was like dija-vu, waking up at six o’clock in the morning and spending the day vacuuming, washing, cleaning and feeding her children. Living in the dilapidated side of Lonetown, she had to handle everything there was- alcohol, drugs abuse and unemployment. Her only hope and motivation now was for her children not to grow up to be the failure that she now is, however this seemed rather bleak considering her eldest child, Michael, seemed obsessed and somewhat manipulated by Stan and his hip-hop music. It is astonishing what a little public acclaim can do. Stan’s uprising popularity was not only because of his distinct music to the younger generation but also his momentous yet obscene lifestyle. His consistent intake of alcoholic drinks, smoking cannabis and injecting heroin was not really surprising. It was by this process that made him into such an unusual person, which accordingly made him attract attention easily. Some would say he lived life on the edge, taking extraordinary risks quite recently and eventually ending up in the middle of a clash between two gangs. Parents believed that wherever he walked, he carried trouble along with him, which is why they tried to prevent their children from coming into contact with him in any way. However, every crime that a teenager does at some point in their life is influenced either by peer pressure or by a person similar to Stan’s character. This is the reason why Louise felt the need to take a stand. Not only was she apprehensive by the fact that her son was listening to his music, but also the way it may affect her two daughters- Lisa and Rachael and whether they would be manipulated by Stan’s crude temperament. With the concert finished, Stan’s follower waited for him to leave. They were so devoted to his brilliance in hip-hop music that they were inclined to wait a day if they needed to for his autograph. Michael and his mother were amongst the multitude of people, who fortunately had a clear view of the Limousine and the door Stan was supposed to depart from. Louise was astonished to notice that she was probably the only parent to come to the concert, and worst of all she did not like it. It started with the foul words, as he appeared on the stage with his trademark item- the chainsaw. It ended yet again with the offensive words and to top it all off, some drinking and drugs. Louise wanted to carry Michael away as quickly as she could straight from the moment Stan’s obnoxious figure appeared on the stage. Nonetheless she couldn’t firstly, because it was Michael’s birthday and secondly, because she was interested in the impact Stan made on these pitiful teenagers. Finally, twenty minutes or so after the concert, Stan appeared, cameras flashed and girls screamed. It was quite a spectacle, however it took little time for Stan to walk to his car without somehow caring about the people who surrounded him. He was in the music business for his image, popularity and money and cared little about the assembly of people surrounding him. This is why Louise really felt the need to do something and to make at least one ignorant child in the swarm aware of the kind of character Stan was. She felt the urge of inflicting some kind of damage to his dim-witted character, yet it seemed unwise considering he carried a chainsaw with him. At least she tried to make herself prominent in the mass crowd. Although there were policemen in the way of both Stan and Louise from confronting each other, they still exchanged looks, both realising that they were the opposition’s antagonist. Stan made little response in the presence of Louise, however he had a feeling of scepticism and doubt. Louise, on the other hand, felt even more displeasure by looking at his face. She expected a grin from him, almost a smirk of triumph because of his ascendancy and his organisation of loyal fans. She felt the need to retaliate with vengeance or retribution because the way he, like other artists, made a disgrace of society and musical culture overall. So what was her course of action now- to bring to an end his vulgar music and his influence to the teenagers or to leave him with his mass popularity. The answer was easy: to overthrow Stan. To diminish his popularity. To topple his image. How to cite London – Stan Marshal, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Usage of ICT in business operation of travel agencyâ€Free Samples

Question: Discuss About The Usage ICT In Business Operation Of Agency? Answer: Introduction ICT application in travel agency bolsters the effective working of enterprises since it accelerates administration techniques and updates both effectiveness and nature of monetary operations performed in an enterprise. The presentation of information technology advances taking a better favourable position of the resources at the disposition of a travel agency, when in fact their quick improvement forces the requirement for revamping enterprises and making expenses. This report will feature the utilization and estimation of ICT in business operations of a travel agency. The usage and value of information and communication technology in the business operation of a travel agency More productivity: The report highlights that ICT has opened new routes for connections between the individuals from the marketing channels, and newly management solutions that improve these connections (Bern, et al., 2015). The report also highlights the intensity of data trade among organizations working in a similar distribution channel has prompted more prominent productivity, as expanded data trade features shared interests and shared objectives, which thusly encourage cooperation (Spralls et al., 2012). Fulfill customer needs: The report likewise grandstands that ICT offers simple access, continuously, to information and data let to expedient recognizing evidence of purchase needs and in accomplishing potential clients with expensive, altered and exceptional information (WTO, 2015). The report also showcases how ICT fosters better approaches to fulfill shopper needs, as it takes into account an "informatization" of the whole travel and tourism value chain bringing about various value-added procedures, such: value extraction, value expansion, value catch, and value creation (Werthner Ricci, 2014), perhaps attributable to the Dynamic Packaging Tool, which stretches out customization ICT makes chances to outline new traveler services and items addressing individual needs. Providing advanced customer service: The report additionally includes that ICT empowers value co-creation as the 'joint making of significant value by the organization and client', ICT makes travellers more educated, requesting, engaged and dynamic part in arranging, outlining and detailing of services and items, travel agencies can utilize customer learning to make their offers from one perspective and shouldn't disregard travellers as a critical piece of traveler value chain on the other side. Giving the huge scope of data in brief time ICTs contribute the higher visitor fulfillment and enhance the tourist benefit execution and quality (Ashari et al., 2014). Enhance Better coordination with customers: According to the author, it encourages visitor organizations to increase upper hand inferable from: an entrance to solid and exact data or to extensive size and worldwide market, the bigger piece of the overall industry, the building nearer associations with providers and clients, the keeping up cost initiative in the market or/and the separating and enhancing their items (Buhalis, 2013). ICT empowers advancement and dispersion traveler items direct to the consumers, lessening reliance on the intermediaries and sales commission paid for go-betweens and coordinate and almost for nothing out of pocket access to data, ICTs reduce exchange costs and making higher incomes possible. Conclusion The directed research shows the distinctions in the watched points of interest and boundaries for ICT usage by tourism ventures, which may speak to the impact of both the particular idea of performed exercises and the offered item. In the opinion of the authors, the recognized hindrances can be balanced in different ways. One of them is starting local participation of travel agencies following the equation of a tourism group. Cooperation in such group permits lessening the hazard and cutting the expenses of ICT execution by many accomplices participating in it. References Ashari, H.A., Heidari, M. Parvaresh, S. (2014). Improving SMTEs business performance through strategic use of information communication technology: ICT and tourism challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 4 (3): 120. Bern, C., Garca-Gonzlez, M., Garca-Ucedac, M.E. Mgica, J.M. (2015). The effect of ICT on relationship enhancement and performance in tourism channels. Tourism Management, 48 (June): 188198. Buhalis, D. (2013). e-Tourism: Information technology for strategic tourism management. London: Pearson. Spralls, S.A., Hunt, S.D. Wilcox, J.B. (2012). Extranet use and building relationship capital in inter-firm distribution networks: the role of extranet capability. Journal of Retailing, 87 (1): 5974. Werthner, H. Ricci, F. (2014). E-commerce and tourism. Communications of the ACM, 47 (12): 101105. WTO (2015). Guidelines for the transfer of new technologies in the field of tourism, Madrid: World Tourism Organisation.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Story Of An Hour Essays (703 words) - The Story Of An Hour

Story Of An Hour In The story of an Hour, Kate Chopin reveals the complex character, Mrs. Mallard, In a most unusual manner. THe reader is led to believe that her husband has been killed in a railway accident. The other characters in the story are worried about how to break the news to her; they know whe suffers from a heart condition, and they fear for her health. On the surface, the story appears to be about how Mrs. Mallard deals with the news of the death of her husband. On a deeper level, however, the story is about the feeling of intense joy that Mrs. Mallard experiences when she realizes that she is free from the influences of her husband and the consequences of finding out that her new-found freedom is not to be. At First, Mrs. Mallard seems to be genuinely affected by her grief: She wept ar once, with sudden, wild abandonment....When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. SHe would have no one follow her(14). At this point in the story, the reader is able to loo k into the mind of Mrs. Mallard; she now noticed, as she looked from her window, the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the distant song(15). She noticed the there were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds(15). The other characters in the story have one impression of Mrs. Mallard; she seems to have reacted to the terrible news as one would expect, but the reader is aware that a distinct change has come over her. The story unviels its theme at this point: Mrs. Mallard, for the first time in her life, experiences a new-found freedom. Instead of dreading the future without her husband, she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely(15. She could now live her life and be absolutely free of the imposing will of her husband: There would be no one to live for her during the coming years; she would live for herself. There would be now powerful will bending hers in the blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature.(15) Mrs. Mallard had, in that brief moment of illumination(15), stumbled upon a truth: she was now her own person, free from the confines of her husband. She had loved her husband, sometimes(15), but that didn't matter: What could love ....count for in the face of theis possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!(15). THE theme of the story unfolds at this point: Mrs. Mallard, through the death of her husband, is able to experience the joy of the realization that she is in control of her own destiny. She is now free, free, free!(15. Mrs. Mallard's new-found freedon is not to be, however, as the story takes an ironic, fatal, twist. On the surface, this story appears to be about how Mrs. Mallard accepts the news of the death of her husband; on a deeper level, however, this story examines how Mrs Mallard accepts the possession of her own being which she recognizes as the strongest impulse of her being(15). As she looked out of her window, she was looking at life as she had never seen it before: she was looking drinking in the very elixer of life(16). SHe had never before looked to the future with any optimisim, only dread. She could hardly live with this new-found joy that she had discovered within herself, and ironically, she would not live with new discovery for long. As the story takes an ironic twist, Mr. Mallard turns the latchkey and walks into the room: he had been nowhere near the scene of the accident. THe realization that her new-found joy was not to be was too much for Mrs. Mallard's weak heart to take, but she had at least lived for a few, brief, shinning momnents in the realization of her new-found f reedom English Essays

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

7 Similar but Distinct Word Pairs

7 Similar but Distinct Word Pairs 7 Similar but Distinct Word Pairs 7 Similar but Distinct Word Pairs By Mark Nichol Look-alike, sound-alike words can cause confusion. Note the distinctions between each pair of terms listed below: 1. Abjure and Adjure Abjure, from Latin by way of French, means â€Å"to deny† or â€Å"to renounce,† or â€Å"to avoid.† Adjure, which took the same route to English, means â€Å"to confirm† or â€Å"to command,† or â€Å"to advise or urge.† In some senses, therefore, they are near antonyms. (That’s logical: Ab- means â€Å"from† and ad- means â€Å"to.†) However, they do share a root syllable, the same one that is the basis of jury, jurisprudence, just, justice, and other terms from the realm of law. 2. Chafe and Chaff Chafe, ultimately derived from the Latin term calefacere, â€Å"to make warm or hot,† originally meant just that, but then, from the added sense of â€Å"rubbing to make warm,† it acquired the negative connotations of â€Å"make sore by rubbing† and then, by association, â€Å"irritate.† Chaff, an unrelated word, comes from Old English and refers to seed husks and, by extension, anything discarded as worthless. By association with the cloud of husks and other debris produced during threshing of grain, bursts of tiny scraps of metal ejected from aircraft to interfere with enemy radar is called chaff. 3. Discomfort and Discomfit These similar-looking words have similar meanings, but it was not always so. Discomfort is the antonym of the word ultimately stemming from the Latin term confortare, meaning â€Å"to strengthen.† (Fort is also the root of, well, fort, as well as fortitude.) Discomfit, from the French word desconfit, meaning â€Å"defeated† (its Latin root means â€Å"to make†), was weakened by false association with discomfort to mean â€Å"frustrate† or â€Å"perplex.† Unlike the antonym for discomfort, comfit (â€Å"to make†) is not an antonym; it refers to candied fruit. Comfiture, however, is a rare synonym meaning â€Å"an act of support.† 4. Perspicacious and Perspicuous Both words stem from the Latin term perspicere, meaning â€Å"looking through,† which is also the source of perspective. (The element spic, from specare, meaning â€Å"look at,† is also the root of spectacle and speculation.) However, the meanings are distinct: A perspicacious person is one who is astute or mentally alert; the quality so demonstrated is perspicacity. A perspicuous argument is one that is plainly clear and precise. 5. Practicable and Practical Something practicable is usable or feasible, while something practical is useful a slight but significant distinction. Practicable is used to refer to something that is or could be done (â€Å"a practicable policy†), while practical is associated with action or use: A practical umbrella is one that keeps rain from falling on you in the rain; an impractical one is decorative but not sturdy or waterproof enough for practical use. 6. Turbid and Turgid Turbid refers to a sate of cloudiness, opacity, or obscurity; its Latin source is turba, meaning â€Å"confusion.† Turgid, from the Latin term turgidus, meaning â€Å"swollen,† means just that or, by extension, â€Å"embellished† or â€Å"pompous,† in that a turgid speech, for example, is delivered by a person swollen with self-importance. 7. Waiver and Waver Waiver, referring to abandonment or relinquishment, is from an Anglo-French word meaning â€Å"to abandon.† Waver, likely from the Old English term waefre, which means â€Å"restless,† means â€Å"to act indecisively.† The latter term is therefore probably related to the verb wave, meaning â€Å"to move back and forth,† and the same word as a noun, referring to the act of waving or to something that moves back and forth, like an ocean wave or a radio wave. You’ll find discussions of many other easily confused words by searching on this site for the words â€Å"commonly confused† or for the specific words. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Exquisite Adjectives50 Idioms About Meat and Dairy ProductsIs Your Novel "Mystery," "Thriller," or "Suspense"?

Friday, November 22, 2019

The Effects of War on the Environment

The Effects of War on the Environment The natural environment has been a strategic element of war since the first rock was thrown by the first cave dweller. The armies of ancient Rome and Assyria, to ensure the total capitulation of their enemies, reportedly sowed salt into the cropland of their foes, making the soil useless for farming- an early use of military herbicide, and one of the most devastating environmental effects of war. But history also provides lessons in eco-sensitive warfare. The Bible, in Deuteronomy 20:19, stays the hand of the warrior to minimize wars impact on nature and men alike: When you besiege a city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you? War and the Environment: Weve Been Lucky so Far War is waged differently today, of course, and has widespread environmental impacts that last far longer. The technology has changed, and the potential effects of the technology are very different, says Carl Bruch, co-director of international programs at the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C. Bruch, who is also the co-author of The Environmental Consequences of War: Legal, Economic, and Scientific Perspectives, notes that modern chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare has the potential to wreak unprecedented environmental havoc that, fortunately, we havent seen- yet. This is a great threat, Bruch says. But in some cases, precision weapons and other technological advances can shield the environment by targeting key facilities, leaving other areas relatively unscathed. You could make the argument that these weapons have the ability to minimize collateral damage, says Geoffrey Dabelko, director of the Environmental Change and Security Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Its Local: the Impact of War Today Warfare today also occurs infrequently between independent nations; more often, armed conflict breaks out between rival factions within a nation. These localized civil wars, according to Bruch, are usually beyond the reach of international treaties and bodies of law. Internal conflict is viewed as a matter of sovereignty- an internal matter, he says. As a result, environmental damage, like human rights violations, occurs unchecked by outside organizations. Though skirmishes, armed conflicts, and open warfare vary tremendously by region and by weapons used, the effects of war on the environment usually involve the following broad categories. Habitat Destruction and Refugees Perhaps the most famous example of habitat devastation occurred during the Vietnam War  when U.S. forces sprayed herbicides like Agent Orange on the forests and mangrove swamps that provided cover to guerrilla soldiers. An estimated 20 million gallons of herbicide were used, decimating about 4.5 million acres in the countryside. Some regions are not expected to recover for several decades. Additionally, when warfare causes the mass movement of people, the resulting impacts on the environment can be catastrophic. Widespread deforestation, unchecked hunting, soil erosion, and contamination of land and water by human waste occur when thousands of humans are forced to settle in a new area. During the Rwandan conflict in 1994, much of that countrys Akagera National Park was opened to refugees; as a result, local populations of animals like the roan antelope and the eland became extinct. Invasive Species Military ships, cargo airplanes, and trucks often carry more than soldiers and munitions; non-native plants and animals can also ride along, invading new areas and wiping out native species in the process. Laysan Island in the Pacific Ocean was once home to a number of rare plants and animals, but troop movements during and after World War II introduced rats that nearly wiped out the Laysan finch and the Laysan rail, as well as bringing in sandbur, an invasive plant that crowds out the native bunchgrass that local birds depend on for habitat. Infrastructure Collapse Among the first and most vulnerable targets of attack in a military campaign are the enemys roads, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure. While these dont form part of the natural environment, the destruction of wastewater treatment plants, for example, severely degrades regional water quality. During the 1990s fighting in Croatia, chemical manufacturing plants were bombed; because treatment facilities for chemical spills werent functioning, toxins flowed downstream unchecked until the conflict ended. Increased Production Even in regions not directly affected by warfare, increased production in manufacturing, agriculture and other industries that support a war effort can wreak havoc on the natural environment. During World War I, former wilderness areas of the United States came under cultivation for wheat, cotton, and other crops, while vast stands of timber were clear-cut to meet wartime demand for wood products. Timber in Liberia, oil in Sudan, and diamonds in Sierra Leone are all exploited by military factions. These provide a revenue stream that is used to buy weapons, says Bruch. Scorched Earth Practices, Hunting, and Poaching The destruction of your own homeland is a time-honored, albeit tragic, wartime custom. The term scorched earth originally applied to the burning of crops and buildings that might feed and shelter the enemy, but its now applied to any environmentally destructive strategy. To thwart invading Japanese troops during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Chinese authorities dynamited a dike on the Yellow River, drowning thousands of Japanese soldiers- and thousands of Chinese peasants- while also flooding millions of square miles of land. Similarly, if an army crawls on its stomach, as is often says, then feeding an army often requires hunting local animals, especially larger mammals that often have lower rates of reproduction. In the ongoing war in Sudan, poachers seeking meat for soldiers and civilians have had a tragic effect on bush animal populations in Garamba National Park, just across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At one point, the number of elephants shrunk from 22,000 to 5,000, and there were only 15 white rhinos left alive. Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear Weapons The production, testing, transport and use of these advanced weapons is perhaps the single most destructive effects of war on the environment. Though their use has been strictly limited since the bombing of Japan by the U.S. military at the end of World War II, military analysts have grave concerns about the proliferation of nuclear material and chemical and biological weaponry. Weve been very fortunate that we have not seen the devastation that we might see, says Bruch. Researchers point to the use of depleted uranium (DU) as one particularly dangerous military trend. DU is a byproduct of the uranium-enrichment process. Almost twice as dense as lead, its valued in weapons for its ability to penetrate tank armor and other defenses. An estimated 320 tons of DU were used in the Gulf War in 1991; in addition to soil contamination, experts are concerned that soldiers and civilians may have been exposed to dangerous levels of the compound. How Environmental Problems Lead to War While the effects of war on the environment may be obvious, whats less clear are the ways that environmental damage itself leads to conflict. Factions in resource-poor countries like those in Africa, the Mideast, and Southeast Asia have historically used military force for material gain; they have few other options. Bruch explains that once armed conflict begins, soldiers and populations under siege must find immediate sources of food, water, and shelter, so theyre forced to adapt their thinking to short-term solutions, not long-term sustainability. This short-term desperation leads to a vicious cycle of conflict, followed by people who meet their immediate needs in unsustainable ways, bringing deprivation and disillusionment, which then leads to more conflict. One of the chief challenges is to break that cycle, Bruch says. Can Warfare Protect Nature? It seems counterintuitive, but some have argued that military conflicts often end up preserving the natural environment. Its one of the findings thats utterly contrary to expectations, says Jurgen Brauer, Ph.D., professor of economics at Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga. The most preserved area in all of Korea is the demilitarized zone because you have the exclusion of human activity, he says. Other researchers have noted that despite the massive amounts of herbicide use during the Vietnam War, more forests have been lost in that country since the war ended than during it, due to peacetime commerce and Vietnams quest for prosperity. The coal-black skies caused by the Kuwaiti oil fires in 1991 provided dramatic visual evidence of war-related environmental damage. However, these oil fires burned in one month roughly the amount of oil burned by the United States in a single day. Peace can be damaging, too, says Dabelko. You have some of these ironic twists. But experts are quick to emphasize that this is not an argument in favor of armed conflict. War is not good for the environment, adds Brauer, who is also an author of War and Nature: The Environmental Consequences of War in a Globalized World. And Bruch notes that warfare only delays the environmental damage of peaceful human activity and commerce. It may provide a respite, but the long-term effects of war arent that different from what happens under commercial development, he says. Winning the Peace As military planning evolves, it becomes apparent that the environment now plays a greater role in successful combat, especially after an armed conflict ends. At the end of the day, if youre trying to occupy an area, you have a strong incentive not to ruin it, Dabelko says. The aforementioned biblical quote from Deuteronomy about preserving trees is, perhaps, good advice for the ages. And some warriors are learning that theres more to be gained from preserving the environment than in destroying it. In war-torn Mozambique, former military combatants have been hired to work together as park rangers protecting the wildlife and natural habitats that they once sought to destroy. That built bridges between the military and the park service. It has worked, Bruch says. Natural resources can be very important in providing jobs and opportunities in post-conflict societies.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

DEFRA (Department of the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs) Essay

DEFRA (Department of the Environment, Food and Regional Affairs) - Essay Example Defra works in control and management of air quality across the United Kingdom. On 17 July 2007 the UK Government and local administrations published the latest Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This made it possible to move forward on air quality standards and the objectives that need to be achieved, including new policy framework for tracking fine particles and identifying new national policy measure for air quality in the UK and improved health for its citizens. Recently in August 2008 a Consultation on the UK report regarding plans for the country to comply with the European Union(EU) standards. Plans were submitted for meeting the EU ambient air quality limit values. The Air Quality Framework directive(1996/62/EC), where limit values plus a margin tolerance are exceeded, member states must produce plans and programs to show compliance within a required timescale, no later than two years after the end of the end of the year that the exceeded values were observed. The consultation document concerned exceeded values for nitrogen dioxide in certain areas of the UK for the calendar year of 2006. Local authorities have statutory duties for local air quality management(LAQM) under the environment act of 1995. They are required to carry out review and assessments of air quality according to the standards and objectives in the national Air Quality Strategy. Regulations for monitoring air quality have been established with, The Air Quality Standards Resolution 2007 No.64, The Air Quality Limit Values (Amendment) Regulations 2004-2000. Pollutants monitored and regulated include, Benzene,1,3-Butadiene, Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10, Sulphur Dioxide. Besides local regulating bodies many consulting groups providing guidance on the protection of Air Quality, these include the Air Quality Expert Group, Air Quality Forum, Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Educational use of Information Technologies Essay

Educational use of Information Technologies - Essay Example The advent of computers has brought sweeping changes to the way children nationwide are learning. In classrooms across the country, todays first-graders do their addition problems behind a computer screen and middle-school students conduct research via the Internet, rather than the local libraries. The addition of technology in the classroom exposes children to computers and gives them a basic understanding of their use, but few teachers use technology to its full potential, leaving students and society at a disadvantage. Although technological advances make teaching and learning easier, a greater effort needs to be made to prepare youths for the intellectually-driven jobs of the future. Job availability in the information services sector is expected to grow by 11.6 percent by 2014, creating an estimated 364,000 jobs for those well-trained in the field of technology (U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook, 2003, paragraph 22). As well, the nation is expected to see growth in the "soft skills" job sector, such as customer service positions, which requires a workforce with good math, written communication and problem-solving skills (U.S. Department of Labor 21st Century Workforce Initiative, 2004, paragraph 3). Just as the characteristics of the American classroom have evolved over the past few decades, the American workforce is also seeing a shift from manual, factory jobs to intellectually-driven service jobs. As technology continues to change and improve lives in todays global community, it is crucial that the American educational system keep pace by implementing technological advances in the classroom to improve the academic performance of students and ensu re that our nations youths are prepared when they enter the ever-evolving and expanding U.S. job market. In response to growing concern nationwide about the poor academic performance of the countrys schoolchildren, President George

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Cellular Processes Essay Example for Free

Cellular Processes Essay When molecules move from a high to low concentration it is called moving DOWN the concentration gradient. †¨When molecules move from a low to high concentration it is called moving AGAINST the concentration gradient. †¨When the concentration of a solute is the same throughout a system, the system is at EQUILIBRIUM.†¨What kind of transport DOES NOT require energy? PASSIVEWhat kind of transport requires energy? ACTIVE†¨Which CELL PART provides the energy for active transport? MITOCHONDRIA†¨Which MOLECULE is produced by mitochondria and provides energy for transport? ATP †¨Movement of molecules FROM a region of HIGH concentration TO a region of LOW concentration = DIFFUSION †¨The movement of molecules FROM a region of HIGH concentration TO a region of LOW concentration with the HELP of carrier proteins or channels = FACILITATED DIFFUSION Membrane proteins that move molecules across membranes by attaching, changing shape, and flipping to the other side like a revolving door = CARRIER PROTEINS Membrane proteins that help molecules across membranes by providing a tunnel = PROTEIN CHANNELS†¨The movement of WATER molecules from HIGH concentration to LOW concentration across a cell membrane = OSMOSIS Stage 3 Stages 1 2Which kinds of transport use VESICLES to help molecules across membranes? ENDOCYTOSIS (PHAGOCYTOSIS PINOCYTOSIS EXOCYTOSIS Photosynthesis Chemical Reaction for photosynthesis: Water + Carbon dioxide à   Glucose + Oxygen 6H2O + 6CO2 ïÆ'   C6H12O6 + 6O2 Process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches Chloroplast- site of photosynthesis Cellular Respiration- process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen; Aerobic means with oxygen (O2); Anaerobic means without oxygen (O2) -Glycolysis- Means the splitting of glucose; Occurs in the cytoplasm of all cells in every organism; It does NOT require oxygen; A net of 2 ATP is made during glycolysis. -Fermentation – Anaerobic Pathway-There are 2 types of fermentation: Alcoholic Fermentation-Occurs in yeasts and bacteria, CO2 and ethyl alcohol are produced (bread dough rising); Lactic Acid Fermentation-Occurs during strenuous exercise (burning fatigue in muscles) -Cellular Respiration Totals: Energy produced per glucose molecule; -Glycolysis = Net of 2 ATP; Kreb’s Cycle = 2 ATP; Electron Transport Chain (ETC) = 32 ATP; Total = 36 ATP per glucose molecule Mitochondria â€Å"powerhouse†- site of cellular respiration= MAKING ENERGY! Manages the process by which energy stored in food molecules is transformed into usable energy for the cell. Other cell organelles: Vacuole- stores water, waster, enzymes and other materials (like a water tower) Golgi body- sorts and packages proteins (think of UPS) Nucleus- brain/control center of the cell; instructions for making proteins Lysosome- digests worn out organelles, food particles, and engulfed bacteria viruses (like a janitor/clean up crew) Ribosome- site of protein synthesis (think of meat-has protein in it) Cell membrane- controls what enter and leaves the cell, â€Å"semi or selectively permeable† (like a bouncer) Mitosis: produces 2 genetically identical, diploid body (somatic) cellsDiploid: full set of chromosomes Meiosis: produces 4 genetically different, haploid sex (gametes) cellsHaploid: chromosome # is half Practice Questions: Cell organelles carry out specific metabolic processes. 1. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which proteins are sorted and packaged to be sent where they are needed? a. ribosomesb. lysosomesc. Golgi bodiesd. vacuoles 2. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle is responsible for storing  enzymes and other materials needed by the cell? a. ribosomesb. vacuolesc. mitochondriad. lysosomes 3. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which proteins are assembled based on DNA instructions? a. mitochondriab. lysosomesc. ribosomesd. vacuoles 4. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which energy stored in food molecules is transformed into usable energy for the cell? a. lysosomesb. golgi bodiesc. mitochondriad. ribosomes 5. Study the statement above. Which cell organelle manages the process by which worn out organelles, food particles, and engulfed viruses or bacteria are digested? a. ribosomesb. lysosomesc. vacuolesd. golgi bodies 6. Which of these is not an advantage gained by organisms which reproduce sexually? a. Genetic recombination created genetic diversity within a species. b. Some percentage of organisms within a species will be likely to survive and reproduce despite harsh environmental conditions. c. Genetic diversity reduces the risk of species extinction caused by hard environmental conditions. d. Genetic diversity weakens a species’ overall ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. 7. A fertilized egg created through sexual reproduction- a. has a combination of genetic material that is unique in the species b. is genetically identical to other eggs of the same parents c. is genetically identical to the parents d. contains genetic material from only one parent 8. Organisms reproduce asexually in a variety of ways. A bacterium reproduces by making a copy of its chromosome, growing larger, then dividing into two separate, genetically identical cells. This process is called- a. regenerationb. binary fissionc. vegetative reproductiond. budding 9. Which of the following statements about sexual reproduction is false? a. Organisms that reproduce sexually produce sex cells called gametes. b. Fertilization is part of the sexual reproduction process. c. In sexual reproduction, a single parent produces identical offspring. d. A zygote is produced through sexual reproduction. 10. Study the chemical reactions below. Photosynthesis: Cellular respiration: Plants produce more oxygen during photosynthesis than they use in cellular respiration. What happens to the excess oxygen produced during photosynthesis? a. It is used as an energy source by plant cells. b. It is released into the air and is used by other organisms for respiration. c. It is converted into heat energy. d. It is a waste product which is never reused. 11. Which of these is inhaled by animals, then used in respiration? a. carbonb. oxygenc. nitrogend. water 12. One of the products of photosynthesis is glucose (C6H12O6). Which of the following statements about the production and use of this molecule is false? a. Plants use the energy from glucose to convert nutrients to body tissues and grow larger. b. Glucose that is not immediately used by the plant is stored for later use. c. Plants use the energy from glucose to manufacture a variety of plant products. d. Glucose that is not immediately used by the plant is lost as waste material. 13. Tigers, goldfish, peacocks, and humans all reproduce sexually. Which statement is true about sexual reproduction? a. It is not a factor scientists use to define different species. b. It involves the joining of an egg and sperm into one cell. c. The offspring are genetically the same as their parents. d. Sexual reproduction can only take place by internal fertilization. 14. Jackson is growing a bean plant in a pot. One day Jackson notices that the plant is wilting. He waters the bean plant and within a few minutes the plant begins to perk up. This is because the plant has taken up water by osmosis. At what structural level does osmosis occur? a. organs b. tissues c. cells d. organ systems Organisms as different as bacteria, mushrooms, algae, oak trees, and human beings are all made of cells. 15. Read the information above. Which statement is true for all cells? a. All cells have the same shape. b. All cells need energy to survive. c. All cells are surrounded by a rigid wall. d. All cells belong to organ systems. Michelle is looking through a microscope at a cell from an onion root. She sees a cell that is in the process of dividing to make a new cell. This is what Michelle sees: 16. Study the diagram and the description above. If Michelle were able to find an onion cell that had completed division, what products of cell division would she see? a. four different cellsb. only one cellc. two identical cellsd. four identical cells 17. Study the diagram and the statement above. Michelle is observing cell division in an onion cell, but this type of cell division also occurs in the human body. Which statement is not true about this type of cell division in humans? a. This type of cell division is humans produces sex cells as well as body cells. b. This type of cell division in humans occurs while bones are forming during development. c. This type of cell division in humans can be affected by viruses. d. This type of cell division in humans is necessary to heal cuts and wounds 18. Study the diagram and the description above. What is the name for the process Michelle is observing? a. mutationb. meiosisc. mitosisd. metamorphosis 19. Study the diagram and the information above. Which of these statements about cell division is true? a. A newly formed daughter cell has less DNA than its parent cell. b. Cells divide at random times. c. New cells formed by cell division can replace dying cells in an organism. d. The phases of cell division can occur in any order. 20. A special type of cell division, called meiosis, is used to form sex cells or gametes. Which statement is true above this type of cell division? a. The products of meiosis are two identical cells. b. DNA is not copied at all during meiosis. c. The new cells have half the DNA of the parent cell. d. Meiosis is complete after only one round of cell division. 21. A person with swollen gums rinses his mouth with warm salt water, and the swelling decreases. Which has occurred? a. The swollen gums have absorbed the saltwater solution. b. The saltwater solution lowers the temperature of the water in the gums. c. The salt in the solution has moved against the concentration gradient. d. The water in the gums has moved from a high to a low concentration of water. 22. What advantage do sexually reproducing organisms have over asexually reproducing organisms? a. genetic variationb. genetic stabilityc. increased fertilization rated. increased reproductive rate 23. What is the most likely function of a group of cells that contain a high number of chloroplasts? a. respirationb. transpirationc. fermentationd. photosynthesis 24. In humans, glucose is kept in balance in the bloodstream by insulin. Which concept does this best illustrate? a. adaptationb. homeostasisc. metabolismd. organization 25. In which way are photosynthesis and cellular respiration different? a. Cellular respiration stores ATP, while photosynthesis releases ATP. b. Cellular respiration produces oxygen, while photosynthesis uses oxygen. c. Photosynthesis releases energy, while cellular respiration stores energy. d. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, while cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide. 26. Which statement best distinguishes aerobic from anaerobic respiration? a. Only aerobic respiration involves fermentation. b. Only anaerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria. c. Only aerobic respiration requires oxygen. d. Only anaerobic respiration produces carbon dioxide. 27. Which most accurately describes the difference in ATP production between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration? a. Aerobic respiration produces more ATP than anaerobic respiration. b. Anaerobic respiration produces more ATP than aerobic respiration. c. Only anaerobic respiration produces measurable amounts of ATP. d. Anaerobic and aerobic respiration produce the same amount of ATP. 28. A human skin cell contains 46 chromosomes. How many chromosomes are present in a human sperm cell? a. 23b. 46c. 92d. 138 29. What is homeostasis? a. the ability of an organism to maintain a relatively stable internal environment b. the production of a hormone by an endocrine gland that works on another endocrine gland c. a series of events that monitor how hormones work in the body d. a process in which a change in the environment causes a response that returns conditions to their original status 30. If the body stopped producing new Beta cells, what would the expected outcome be? The pancreas would no longer release glucagon High blood glucose levels would continue to become normal Insulin would no longer be released Alpha cells would become beta cells 31. You just ran a marathon (26.2 miles) and your body is trying to reach homeostasis. Which of the following statements is true? Your blood vessels will constrict to conserve heat Your blood vessels will dilate to release body heat Your body’s control center will shut down Your brain will tell your body not to sweat

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Huck Finn Essays -- essays papers

Huck Finn I recently read the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. This story deals Mainly with a lost boy escaping his harsh existence, and a slave trying to reach freedom. During the course of this book, the slave Jim, and the Boy Huck Bond with each other. I enjoyed this book immensely for a couple different reasons. While I liked the story, and the plot kept me interested, the real reason I found myself enjoying this book so much, was Mark Twain’s use of the underlying theme of racism. In this story, I found myself admiring Huck’s innocent approach to slavery, and the treatment of slaves. Is Huck Finn a racist? Now this is a tough question. I would be tempted to say no. He always treats his run away slave-partner Jim equally. Never in this book once did he treat a black any different then he would have treated any white in the same situation. Whether or not Huck was intending to be racist, the fact still remains that he did not think of blacks as equal. In the time period Huck Finn was written white children grew up with the mentality that they were a higher social class then the blacks. . I think Huck was subconsciously racist, but too innocent to understand it’s meaning, or even come to a conclusion about whether slavery was right or wrong. All his life Huck had lived in an environment in which slavery and racism were perfectly normal. To him questioning the morality of slavery would be like us questioning whether it’s morally right to keep house pets. Huck acquired his racism from his parental figures. When Huck was living with the widow, she had slaves around. Huck became used to slaves tending to his needs. For a short period in the book, Huck went to live with his dad. His dad frequentl... ...s the Phelps. Huck was a racist throughout the book, but as he would say, he don’t mean nothn by it. I think Huck’s racism in this book was a pretty evident underlying theme. Throughout the book, Mark Twain portrayed Huck as a racist, yet kind to blacks. Huck’s innocence in this book allowed him to be kind to blacks and yet still look at whites in a superior way. Even at the end of the book when Huck decided that he was going to do what he thought was the wrong thing and free Jim, he never came to the conclusion that slavery and racism might be wrong, and he might be on the right track. Twain’s use of racism in a child as an underlying theme intrigued me. I believe in order to get a full idea of what I am talking about, you should read this book. I would highly recommend Huckleberry Finn to any college student looking for a good story with a lot of depth.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Bread & Roses Essay

â€Å"It is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too. † This quote, originally in a poem written by a man named James Oppenheim, embraced a fierce social movement created by large number distraught textile workers who eventually created what we now know as the â€Å"Bread & Roses Strike†. This strike proudly showed the lengths one working under such unruly conditions would go in order to achieve respect, better working conditions, and enough food to feed their families. The book, â€Å"Bread and Roses†, written by Bruce Watson, is a novel concerning textile workers living in Lawrence, Massachusetts in the year 1912. Potential workers flocked to the city of Lawrence to better their lives, many of which soon realized posters and advertisements beckoning them to join in and share the city’s wealth did not prove to be as true as they claimed. Bruce Watson illustrates the working conditions of textile workers during this time period and proves as a reminder that during times of struggle, you gain your rights. Effective January 1, 1912, a new law was passed reducing the numbers of hours one could work. The workers wouldn’t have had a problem with this reduction if there was no cut in pay, but there was. That seemingly small pay cut, for multiple families, proved to become a financial splinter in their lives as they struggled day after day to keep food and warmth circulating throughout their already-small homes.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Thorn Queen Chapter Twenty-Three

There is no real way to describe rape. Sex with Kiyo or Dorian, the men I loved†¦well, I could have described that for hours in exquisite detail. I could have elaborated on the way they stroked my hair or the way their lips touched my skin. Even with Dean-my cheating bastard ex-sex had still had its share of affection and joy, back when things had been good between us. There was none of that with Leith. Well, not on my part, at least. And I think that's what made it especially bad. For him, with his crazy infatuation, it really was an act of love. He visited me often over the next few days, and each time he took me against my will, he'd tell me he loved me and attempt some sort of gentleness and affection. The horrible part was, I couldn't even resist that. It barely required any force on his part to make me submit. Honestly, I wished it had been violent. I wished he'd been cruel and brutal. I'd spent my life in fights, dealing with pain and blows. There would have been something comfortingly familiar about that, like it was just another battle for me. The twisted love he showed for me during each act of rape, however†¦well, that made it harder to bear. In that time, I only saw Art once. Abigail checked on me a number of times, and I learned that it was she who mixed the nightshade, though Leith had taught her the recipe. Cariena was the one I saw the most. She seemed to have been installed as the live-in maid and occasional sex toy for visiting guys. When I arrived, there had been three other gentry girls, but Isanna-the one I'd heard mentioned that first day-left shortly. She was very pretty, and Abigail seemed particularly happy at the price she'd gotten for her. The other two were stunning as well, and they seemed to glumly accept that their time would come. They faced it without much emotion or protest, like condemned criminals going to the gallows. Mostly, their faces were like pieces of a dream. I was kept so heavily drugged that my moments of clarity were few-though the drugs never made me forget what Leith did. None of the other girls had to be drugged; the iron was enough for them. Cariena told me, however, that when other women had required the nightshade, they hadn't taken nearly as much as me. Art and Abigail were too afraid of me getting loose, so they gave it to me more frequently than usual. â€Å"When will you know?† Leith demanded one day. He had just arrived and stood outside my room, arguing with Abigail. The door was ajar. â€Å"I thought you people had the ability to tell this kind of thing.† â€Å"We can,† snapped Abigail. â€Å"But not this soon. You've probably got to wait at least two weeks. Besides, you don't seem to mind passing the time that much.† The sneer in her voice came through loud and clear. I made a mental note to choke the life out of that bitch. Leith, however, didn't sound so happy. â€Å"Two weeks is a long time. I need to bring her back pregnant before anyone finds her! They're looking for her. She has powerful allies. Her people are loyal, and both the Oak King and the Willow Queen have taken up the search.† Dorian's dedication didn't surprise me, and knowing he was working to find me gave me the first hope I'd had in a while. But Maiwenn, too? Had that been Kiyo's doing? Or truly her own kindness? â€Å"I don't care about your tree-based monarchs,† said Abigail impatiently. â€Å"Nobody would think to look for her here.† â€Å"She suspected before. She told others. Someone could scry for her.† â€Å"They won't find her. Scrying won't work. Not with the wards here. Now why don't you stop whining and just get in there and do your business so this won't be a problem. She's almost due for her next dose.† I decided wringing her neck wasn't slow and painful enough. Yet, their words had given me a lot to think about. There was a search on, enough of one that Leith feared discovery. Her mentioning the wards had reminded me of when I'd sent Volusian here. Volusian†¦there was an option I hadn't considered yet. I could summon Volusian to me and have him warn the others. The wards were a problem. He couldn't break them on his own, but if I was calling him, the ties that bound us would be enough to pull him through. If I could muster the energy to do it. The iron and nightshade affected the gentry part of my magic. My shamanic powers, the ones I'd used for years, were tied into my strength and will-which I didn't have a lot of lately. That being said, I felt more coherent now than I had in a while-which was still pretty addled. Abigail had said it was almost time for my next dose. I had to imagine the further from the dose I got, the more its effects would dim. Cariena had said most people didn't take as much, which probably meant the nightshade would still stay in my system awhile. But if I could reach a point when its effects were lessened†¦ My brainstorming was halted as Leith entered. Consternation from his argument with Abigail showed on his face, but it soon transformed to a smile when he saw me. â€Å"Eugenie†¦you look so pretty today.† Yes, yes, I'd heard it all before. I was so beautiful, so amazing, a jewel among women that he loved so much. His words irritated me as much as insults would have. I'd been put in an ivory damask dress today, which gave me sickening bridal associations. He looked me over, and his admiration again changed to a frown. I was lying on the bed, one hand cuffed to the headboard. â€Å"What's this?† he asked. â€Å"Why did they do that?† â€Å"I was a smartass to Abigail. This was her punishment.† His face darkened further as he sat on the bed. â€Å"I don't like that†¦don't like her doing that. But, Eugenie, you have to admit you bring it on yourself†¦.† Oh, Leith. He was so lucky I could barely lift my free arm, or I would have punched that pretty face of his. He peered at me intently. â€Å"You have to get pregnant soon.† â€Å"It's not something I can really control,† I said. Well, I could have controlled not getting pregnant if I was still on the pill. I hadn't taken it in†¦how many days? Three? Four? I wasn't sure how long I'd been here. I knew all the stats, though, about women who'd gotten pregnant from just missing one pill†¦. He sighed and began unlacing the bodice of my dress. â€Å"We'll just have to keep trying then. If we just wait a little while afterward, I can do it twice today.† Oh, how fucking lovely. I wanted to explain that it wouldn't matter how many times he did it, not if I wasn't ovulating. That kind of science was lost on him, I knew, alleged genius or no. As far as most gentry were concerned, sex equaled babies, end of story. â€Å"Once it's done, we can go home. We'll get married, and you won't have to be restrained like this anymore. You can move freely and use your magic.† I decided not to mention that if we did that, the first thing I'd do with my magic was make sure I was a widow. â€Å"Things'll be good then,† he said, moving his body over mine. â€Å"I promise. I love you so much†¦.† I didn't need any nightshade to make me feel numb after Leith left. He'd held good to his word to have sex twice, and I was slowly reaching that point where it just didn't matter. I couldn't feel anything. My body wasn't even attached to my consciousness. It was like my mind existed elsewhere, dreaming or, occasionally, plotting my revenge through the drugged haze. I thought of anything I could-anything that wasn't the violation of my body-while he was on top of me. Usually, I imagined it was happening to someone else and not me. That made it easier to bear until after he left, when the ache inside reminded me that it had indeed been me. Cariena and another girl arrived shortly thereafter to give me my next dose of nightshade. I couldn't recall the other girl's name, though not for lack of caring. It was just the way my brain worked lately. She was extremely pretty, with curly black hair and sky blue eyes that reminded me of Ysabel's. Abigail occasionally let the girls administer the nightshade, confident enough in her hold over them to do it. And her confidence was well-founded. I'd tried before to talk them out of it, but their fear of her was too great. This time, I merely attempted a delay. â€Å"Wait,† I said, as they leaned over. It looked like the black-haired girl was going to hold me down while Cariena poured. â€Å"Let me just talk to you for a minute.† Cariena immediately grew nervous. â€Å"Your majesty, we can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sometimes I found her use of my title endearing. Other times, I thought it was a joke, considering my present situation. â€Å"Just a minute. That's all.† â€Å"Let her,† said the other girl. I flashed her a grateful smile. â€Å"What's your name again?† â€Å"Markelle.† It sounded familiar. Markelle. I would remember this time. I wanted to treat her as a person, not an object. â€Å"Look, I just want to know about the nightshade. How often do I take it?† â€Å"Every six hours,† said Cariena, still clearly worried about this delay. â€Å"That's twice as often as they usually give it,† added Markelle. And with those words, I saw the slightest flash of bitterness in her eyes, the first I'd seen in any girl. I wondered then if she was one of the other â€Å"difficult† ones that Cariena had described, one who had to be drugged as well and eventually subdued. â€Å"Is there any way†¦is there any way you guys could, like, dilute it?† There it was, the big question. Cariena gasped, but Markelle readily answered. â€Å"No, your majesty. Abigail makes it herself and makes sure we come straight here. There's no opportunity.† â€Å"Where? Where does she make it?† â€Å"In the kitchen. She has the ingredients set aside and makes a fresh batch every day.† â€Å"What else is in it? Aside from the nightshade?† Markelle looked at Cariena expectantly. Cariena gulped, and it took her several seconds to answer. She rattled off a list of herbs, some of which I knew, some of which were unfamiliar. They probably had different names in the Otherworld. â€Å"Do Abigail and Art ever eat here? Like, do they cook? Is their kitchen stocked?† Markelle nodded. â€Å"But we never prepare the food-it's always them.† She was quick-minded; she'd probably thought I was going to suggest poison. Not a bad idea, really. â€Å"Are there any ingredients in the nightshade mix that look like other herbs they might have in the kitchen?† Both girls looked confused. â€Å"I've seen no other herbs,† said Cariena. â€Å"You have freedom of the house.† I knew most girls stayed in the basement, though. â€Å"The next time they're not around, go through the cupboards. If their kitchen's stocked, they must have a spice rack.† A knock sounded at the door. â€Å"What's taking so long?† Abigail called. â€Å"See if any spices look like the ones in the potion,† I hissed as the doorknob turned. â€Å"Swap them.† Abigail entered just as Markelle held me down. Cariena poured while Abigail watched with a critical eye. â€Å"You're too slow,† snapped the shaman. â€Å"She needs this regularly.† Both girls groveled, bowing their heads deferentially. â€Å"Forgive us,† said Cariena. I knew her contrition wasn't faked. â€Å"It won't happen again.† Abigail rolled her eyes. â€Å"Stupid girls. I'll have to do it myself next time.† The instant effect that damned potion always had began to run through me. The familiar blackness swept over me, and I slept. Another day went by. Leith â€Å"visited,† and the girls apparently hadn't taken my advice on the nightshade because my six-hour cycle repeated as usual. Abigail usually came with one of the girls now, apparently not trusting them anymore. Art came once as well, and a few caustic comments from me earned me another cuffed hand. I began to understand the roles they played. Both participated in the brokering and sale of the girls. Art helped Leith's men catch the girls and offered his home-the one I'd once thought too large for a guy like him-as their prison. Abigail seemed to handle the day-to-day affairs of taking care of the girls, and it occurred to me one day that those handcuffs at her place hadn't been part of anything kinky. They'd been part of her arsenal for this hellhole, and I suspected the trip to see her â€Å"sister† that day had probably been to deliver some poor girl to her new owner. I cringed at what that car ride must have been like. For a gentry to be surrounded in all that metal and technology†¦it would have been awful for her. Leith was getting dressed after one of his conjugal visits one day. I was close enough to my next nightshade dose that I was able to shoot him looks of contempt-ones he didn't notice. He seemed particularly excited. â€Å"It's been a week,† he said. â€Å"One more week, and Abigail says we can test to see if you're carrying my child.† He pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"I can feel it, Eugenie. I know we've done it.† There was no â€Å"we† in sexual assault, but again, I found it easier just to remain silent lately. It usually made him leave that much more quickly, which then left me alone with my thoughts and my aching body. Sometimes after he visited, my body would feel so violated and dirty that I'd hate it. Then I'd remember that none of this was the fault of my body or me. It was Leith. Shortly after his departure that day, Abigail and Markelle came in with my next dose. I'd heard talk that Markelle had a buyer. Her days really were numbered now, and I felt bad for her, this girl who'd once fought back against her captors. I was so used to the nightshade by now that they almost didn't need to hold me down anymore to force me to take it. It was a bit disheartening that I felt that way now and wondered if I too was on my way to that sad resignation everyone else had. The two of them left, and I lay there, waiting for the unconsciousness that always followed. It usually lasted an hour or so before I came to and lived in my fuzzy state until the next dose. Sure enough, I started to feel a little tingly†¦but no sleepiness followed. I lay there, scarcely daring to breathe. After falling drearily into a strict regimen, any sort of change was a shock to my system. I waited and waited. No unconsciousness. My blurry, addled state didn't disappear, but it didn't get any worse than when I was due for my next dose. Holy shit. One of them had done it. One of those girls had swapped out the nightshade tincture's ingredients. Who? I would have wagered money on Markelle over timid Cariena. Markelle occasionally had that rebellious spark in her eyes, despite her docile behavior, and her impending sale would be serious motivation. She was from the Thorn Land too-my subject. Sometimes I got the feeling that she truly believed her queen could get her out of this. But did I? I still didn't know if I could get myself out of this. My weapons were long since gone, and I didn't think I had the strength to launch a physical attack on Abigail or Art. My door was kept locked, so there was no prowling for me. Gingerly, I sat up. The world shifted as usual, but again, not like it normally would have post-potion. What to do with this freedom? I had no guarantees my next dose wouldn't be the usual stuff. That gave me six hours, and the further that time progressed, the better shape I'd be in. I would have given anything for a clock or even a glimpse of the sun. I needed to track the time, waiting until the last possible moment for my strength to be at its peak. It looked like I'd have to wing it and hope my guess was right. For a moment, panic washed over me. There seemed no obvious options, and I didn't know how fast the potion would let up. Anyone could walk right in at any time. Leith could come in. Leith†¦With some of that fuzziness gone from my head, the memories of what he'd done to me came through more sharply, and my fear grew- No! I swiftly ordered myself not to think about any of that. Not Leith. Not overwhelming odds. I needed to think only of escape, and for that, I needed to start with small details. I'd been good today-no bindings. And with the nightshade, no one felt the need to give me iron bracelets like the girls. That meant no blocking of my magic, short of the potion. Somehow, I doubted I'd have the power in six hours to blow this place up with a mini-hurricane. What did that leave me? Hopefully physical stamina†¦and with it†¦my shamanic powers? Now the countdown began. The minutes were agony, particularly since I had no way to count them. At first, I just attempted general counting in my head, but that grew tedious. I had nothing to do but wait and gauge my own body's recovery. And recover it did. Oh, I was a long way from being able to kick anyone's ass, but my wits grew a little clearer. Standing and moving didn't hurt much either. Finally, I decided it was now or never. I had to take my gamble. Maybe it was well before the six hours, but I couldn't risk going over. It would have been easier with my wand, candles, and other accoutrements. What I had to do wasn't impossible, though. I turned off the lights, plunging me into darkness, and sat on the bed cross-legged. â€Å"Volusian,† I said softly. â€Å"By the ties that bind, I summon you to come to me and obey my commands.† Weak as I was, I felt my will go out, stretching beyond the worlds to my minion. At first, I thought it was useless-then, I felt it. The slightest twitching of our bond. I gritted my teeth, drawing all the strength I could. â€Å"I summon you,† I growled. â€Å"Obey me and come.† For a moment, I thought I'd failed. Then, a coldness filled the room, and red eyes burned before me. Seeing them in the blackness was too scary, and I stumbled up to turn the lights back on. â€Å"My mistress returns,† he said. â€Å"Or rather, I return to my mistress.† I didn't need to see the slight curling of the spirit's lips to know my hold on him was tenuous. It was like a fragile string of silk, ready to snap at any moment. Bringing him here, through those worlds, had sapped more of me than I thought imaginable. I still held him, but for the first time in the years I'd enslaved him, the full realization of just how powerful-and dangerous-he was hit me. â€Å"I have tasks for you,† I said sternly. I could show no weakness. He took a few steps toward me. â€Å"My mistress is bold to say so. You can barely maintain the bond between us as it is.† â€Å"I can hold this bond until the end of time. Now, you will obey me.† And almost before I saw what was happening, his clawed hands were around my neck-cold, cold. So cold that they burned. â€Å"I have waited for this for so long,† he hissed. â€Å"So long for you to weaken so that I may finally kill you and make you suffer the way you have tormented me these years, enslaving me and sending me to do your menial errands.† I couldn't even manage a scream, not with the way his hands were cutting off my air. I could only manage something that was half-grunt and half-gasp. Desperately, desperately, I fought him mentally. I was one of the most powerful shamans in the world. I could control wayward spirits. I could enslave them easily. I'd once had a host of them. I could fight this. â€Å"You will feel pain like you have never dreamed possible,† he continued. â€Å"You will beg for death, beg for dismemberment†¦for even that would be easier than the agony I will inflict on you.† Everyone had warned me so many times about keeping Volusian. What if your control slips? they had all asked. Dorian had even offered to help banish him to the Underworld for good. I had laughed the worries off. I was strong. Even after a battle like I'd had with the fire demons, maintaining that link to Volusian was practically subconscious. But now†¦now, this was different. â€Å"You are losing it-the bonds are nearly broken. In a few heartbeats, your control will be gone†¦.† No! I couldn't speak a response, but the words in my mind burned. I would not lose this. I would not lose control of him. Wrenching up the last scraps of my strength was like ripping my own heart out. You will obey me! Back off! The world started to sparkle as my air grew less and less, and then-he did back off. His eyes blazed with malice. He'd been so, so close, and we both knew it. My control now was still a tenuous thing, and I had to hope I would recover my strength soon and solidify my grasp. â€Å"You will obey me,† I said in a thin voice. â€Å"You will not harm me.† â€Å"As my mistress commands.† But I could tell from his voice that he didn't believe this would last, that he was biding his time. Meanwhile, I was running out of time to decide what to do, not only because I didn't know if he'd break free again but also because Abigail could be here at any moment. My initial instinct was to tell him to simply get me out of here. But if that command took the last of my strength, he could easily kill me once we were out. And even if I made it out, what about the girls? I couldn't rescue them on my own. How long until Markelle disappeared? No, I needed to kick Volusian out of the house. If I didn't summon him back, those wards would keep me safe. I needed to send him for help, and that choice had to be a wise one. â€Å"Leave this house. Go to Dorian,† I said. I drew upon that fleeting strength of mine to enforce the order. â€Å"I command you. Go to Dorian and tell him where I'm at. Exactly where I'm at.† I could have sent him to Kiyo. Kiyo knew where this house was. But if the effort of these commands was enough to finally shatter my hold on Volusian, Dorian might be able to bind him back. It would be better than Volusian running loose. That, of course, depended on whether my order was strong enough to even get Volusian to Dorian to deliver the message. My first command had been to get Volusian out of the house and keep me behind the wards. If that was all I could manage, Volusian would no longer be bound to obey. He has to, I thought desperately. He has to get to Dorian†¦. â€Å"Go!† I ordered harshly. â€Å"As you command.† Volusian vanished, eyes narrowed, confident our bond was about to break. As soon as he was gone, I fell onto the bed, nearly ready to pass out. Would it work? Or had I just broken the last fragments of our bond? I was too afraid to reach out and test the link. I didn't have the strength. The door suddenly unlocked. Nightshade time. With a sickening thought, I realized that if it was the original kind, I would almost certainly lose that control of Volusian. If it was Markelle's decoy, I could hold onto my strength. Abigail entered, a cup in hand and Markelle in her wake. The gentry girl's eyes were down, her whole posture meek. I bit my lip at their approach, waiting to see what my future held.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Mairine Organism DNA essays

Mairine Organism DNA essays The Ocean Genome Legacy (OGL) is a not-for-profit organization set up in 2001 by New England Biolabs. The goals of OGL are to assemble a team of scientists dedicated to: The long-term preservation of marine organism DNA The development of tissue culture techniques for marine invertebrate cells The construction of genome libraries and their distribution for research purposes Studies of evolutionary genomics, with an initial focus on marine transition organisms Much of the worlds biodiversity is in the oceans and provides an important resource for mankind. Equally much of this diversity is endangered and OGL aims to help in the global effort to preserve and study the organisms of the ocean. Initially, OGL will focus on endangered marine organisms especially those that represent important evolutionary transitions. Oversight for OGL is provided by a Board of Trustees including Dr. John Benzie, Dr. Sydney Brenner, Dr. Donald Comb, Mr. Douglas Foy, Dr. Richard Roberts and Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer. Isolated from a recombinant source Description: Taq DNA Polymerase is a thermostable DNA polymerase that possesses a non-processive 5 -> 3 polymerase activity and a double-strand specific 5 -> 3 exonuclease activity. Source: An E. coli strain that carries the Taq DNA Polymerase gene from Thermus aquaticus YTI. Reaction Buffer: 1X ThermoPol Reaction Buffer 10 mM KCl, 10 mM (NH4)2S04, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 2 mM MgS04, 0.1% Triton X-100, pH 8.8 @ 25C. Quality Assurance: Purified free of contaminating endonucleases and exonucleases. Unit Definition: One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme that will incorporate 10 nmol of dNTP into acid-insoluble material in 30 minutes at 75C. Unit Assay Conditions: 1X ThermoPol Reaction Buffer, 200 Â µM each dNTP including [3H]-dTTP and 200 Â µg/ml ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Assignment #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

#2 - Assignment Example In addition, they structure human perception in a religious, political and personal level. Advancements in technology and globalization in the present century have intensified the changes in public viewpoints. In the main, matters pertaining to facts, uprightness, and even holiness are argued out based on conflicting religious, chauvinistic, cultural and ideological narrations. Barry Levinsons â€Å"Wag the Dog† is a petrifying political satire that is both worryingly conceivable and swift, side-splitting and endearingly mouth-watering. There is a media bombardment that accompanies any present-day international predicament. In the movie, it is clearly evidenced how easy it is to concoct public agitation and the dubiousness that accompanies the intentions. Levinsons movie is a satire of how reality can be altered to serve certain interest and produce a public perception. Stories are created and some cooked up with an aim of deceiving the press and influencing human reasoning. For instance, a representation of a smart bomb disintegrating into an Iraqi smokestack imprisons the nations imaginings to a point that their opinion on the government or the Iraq inhabitants changes. After watching the movie, one finds it hard to trust any information from any media outlet. The story evidences that human opinion is undeniably controlled by the office-bearers fo r their own personal interests. Joan Didion’s â€Å"Fixed Ideas† explores the government’s efforts to construct an imperial America based on the 9/11 assaults by extremists. This has largely created a disconnection among Americans who now hold varied opinions. As a result, the society demonizes personalities who do not uphold their standpoint or present dissimilar viewpoints. Didion prods into the logic and hidden agendas of the policymakers on matters concerning warfare. The narrative ideology is evident in the way the State House presents

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Resource Management are the following: Compensation, hiring, management performance, development of the organization, overall wellness, and benefits; motivation of people, good communication, good administration, and training (Heathfield â€Å"date unknown†). Overhauling Mattel was not an easy task for Eckert, but it was a fruitful endeavor for Mattel’s CEO. Question 1: Identify the key elements of Mattel`s HRM Strategy. Critically evaluate the HRM strategy in relation to relevant theories and models and the current external environment. What potential issues does the company face in balancing the organizational HRM strategy with divisional personalization of it (as discussed on page 9of the case study) The key elements of Mattel’s HRM strategy are workforce development, and the standardizing people development1. Workforce development could mean a lot of things, for there seem to be no single meaning to describe the term. However, workforce development has become a term to illustrate any one of a comparatively broad range of national and international strategies and programs associated with learning for work (Jacobs & Hawley â€Å"date unknown†). Many scholars in this particular field use the term national workforce development to mean the articulation between the private-sector and government programs (McLean 2003). According to Jacob and Hawley (date unknown) â€Å"Emergence of Workforce Development: Definition, Conceptual Boundaries, and Implications† there are five reasons for the coming out of this particular phenomenon in the field of industry. To be precise, these are globalization, technology, new economy, political change, and demographic shifts. These five factors are all connected to each other and have become a great challenge especially for adults (Jacobs & Hawley â€Å"date unknown†). Globalization opened the door for the free flow of market among nations.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Case study peer reveiw 3 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case study peer reveiw 3 - Coursework Example On the contrary, my argument and Doug’s differ at a reasonable scale provided the perspectives each of us has taken to respond to Shania’s situation. In my case, I think Shania should establish a sole proprietorship so that she can meet her goals of serving only Christian patrons and maintaining a focused approach without having to consult with another party. On the aspect of whether Shania should involve other parties in her business, I recommended that she adapts a sole proprietorship model from a business perspective. However, Doug advises Shania to open an LLC from a biblical perspective. The contrast between Doug’s argument and mine is that each of us emphasizes on the merits of the provided perspective. Through religious reasoning, Doug thinks an LLC will be the best choice. Through business analysis, I find sole proprietorship much reasonable for the coffeehouse. The Colorado Legal Services (2014) states that Chapter 9 of the Labor Law protects individuals from discrimination at the workplace and provides guidance to employees on the courses of action they should take if discriminated. Mathew 7:12 states that â€Å"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets† (Open Bible, 2014). With reference to the labor law, discrimination is disallowed therefore Shania cannot discriminate the other employees for not being ethnic minorities. This is not a shared qualification that all employees can support. Religiously, the bible reference shows that Shania should take the best course of action that would is inclusive of all. Finally, the Herzberg Two-Factor Theory indicates that motivated employees perform better than unmotivated employees. Promoting one individual based on his/her ethnic status is a way of demotivating the rest of the employees who feel equally or better

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Field Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Field Research - Essay Example First, the resin is melted ( bead-like ) and Repro. The Stards are used to melt the Repro. Then, they are blown up into cylinders until they bubble up to the top of the machine. Once they are on the top, they are flattened using various rollers. After which, when everything has been flattened, these are rolled around a roll of cardboard on a metal rod. Finally, the bar is taken off a plug is placed on one end. The plastic would be now wrapped and multiple rolls would be placed standing right up on a skid. Again, they would be wrapped in plastic and properly labeled, then placed in a box. They would then be sent to the warehouse for shipping and classified as finished goods. It is also important to note that the colors are melted one at a time during the beginning of the process. This goes on daily because operations is 24/7. Over-all, there are 32 machines that produce the rolls. The maintenance for the machinery is done annually where the machines are cleaned thoroughly. The machine s are really big so cleaning them for a day would not suffice. The cleaning of these machines are scheduled on holidays so operations would not be affected. Demand for BEMIS products are high so the company cannot afford to lose productive time. I also observed that one roll can be easily made in as short as half an hour or more. Bigger rolls, however, need more time and can take as much as four to five hours. On the average, the machines produce 40† rolls in 40 hours. In a daily basis, the rolls produced equals to 540-550 pounds. To be able to achieve this high level of productivity, BEMIS operates for 24 hours. There are 100 employees distributed to work on four different shifts. Indeed, one can’t help admiring the whole process of production as everything is synchronized to meet the buyer’s demands or specifications. Come to think of it, the products of BEMIS are very many so efficiency is very important. BEMIS can meet all these challenges because it continue s to innovate itself and prioritize product research. The second part of this paper deals with the logistics of the products. Due to the high-volume of products produced in a daily basis, the logistics section is very busy. There are also times when companies would require extra orders during peak seasons which makes logistics very challenging. The pallets are often termed units for shipping purposes. A single pallet weighs 800 to 1,000 pounds. On a very busy day, there are one million pounds shipped to different buyers. A truck can carry as much as 40,000 pounds worth of pallets. Friday is considered the busiest day of the week so 18 trucks (scheduled and unscheduled ) are available for use on this day. It if it’s just an average day, only 600,00-700,000 pounds are shipped by BEMIS to its buyers. Normally, it takes 30-40 minutes to load the products on a truck. Safety measures are put in place to avoid any accidents. These are the procedures in loading a truck: 1. Get releas e. It is important for processors to know the pertinent details of the shipment. They must declare truthfully the type of products loaded on the truck which would be declared as soon as the buyers receive them. Details such as time of shipping, weight, quantity and other special instructions are contained in the documents like the Bill of Lading. 2. The next step involves pulling or staging pallets to the shipping area. The men driving the forklift and

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Analysing The Significance Of The Treaty Of Westphalia Politics Essay

Analysing The Significance Of The Treaty Of Westphalia Politics Essay The 350th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia in 1998 was marked by a flurry of conferences and publications by historians, but it was largely ignored in the discipline of international relations (IR). This oversight is odd because in IR the end of the Thirty Years War is regarded as the beginning of the international system with which the discipline has traditionally dealt. Indeed, the international system has been named for the 1648 peace. Firstly, for some time now, this Westphalian system, along with the concept of sovereignty at its core, has been a subject of debate: Are the pillars of the Westphalian temple decaying? or Are we moving beyond Westphalia?  [1]   In this debate, Westphalia constitutes the taken-for-granted template against which current change should be judged.  [2]  We contend, however, that the discipline theorizes against the backdrop of a past that is largely imaginary. We show here that the accepted IR narrative about Westphalia is a myth. Then we cover the introduction, theoretical aspects of the Westphalia states, the arguments if the elites actually enjoy substantial autonomy in both domestic and foreign affairs of third world countries or not,( it effects) how it is misleading and then the conclusion. Introduction Westphalia is a term used in international relations, supposedly arising from the Treaties of Westphalia 1648 which ended the Thirty Years War. It is generally held to mean a system of states or international society comprising sovereign state entities possessing the monopoly of force within their mutually recognized territories. Relations between states are conducted by means of formal diplomatic ties between heads of state and governments, and international law consists of treaties made (and broken) by those sovereign entities.  [3]   The term implies a separation of the domestic and international spheres, such that states may not legitimately intervene in the domestic affairs of another, whether in the pursuit of self-interest or by appeal to a higher notion of sovereignty, be it religion, ideology, or other supranational ideal. In this sense the term differentiates the modern state system from earlier models, such as the Holy Roman Empire or the Ottoman Empire.  [4]  We define both domestic and foreign affairs because these are key words to understanding our question and why these two key words are important to third world countries and their elites as below: Domestic policy, also known as public policy, presents decisions, laws, and programs made by the government which are directly related to issues in the country.  [5]  It is a set of laws and regulations that a government establishes within a nations borders. It covers a wide range of areas, including business, education, energy, health care, law enforcement, money and taxes, natural resources, social welfare, and personal rights and freedoms.  [6]   Domestic policy decisions usually reflect a nations history and experience, its social and economic conditions, the needs and priorities of its people, and the nature of its government. Domestic policy is a frequent source of disagreement among people of different backgrounds and philosophies. People who hold conservative beliefs, for instance, will likely stress order, security, and traditional values in domestic policy. People who hold more liberal beliefs, on the other hand, will likely emphasize equality and government efforts to help the needy, and many broad domestic policy issues are similar for nearly all countries of the world. For example, all governments are expected to provide education, law and order, and other basic services for their citizens. However, the specific goals and objectives of domestic policy vary depending on each nations needs and capabilities. Most wealthy democracies, for instance, spend substantial sums of money on domestic programs. Many poorer countr ies have difficulty devoting resources to such essential areas as education and health care. A nations form of government largely determines how its domestic policy is formed and implemented. Under authoritarian governments, a ruling group may pursue its domestic policy goals without the input or consent of the people being governed. But in democratic societies, the will of the people has a much greater influence. However, a countrys foreign policy, also called the international relations policy, is strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals in international relations. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries. In the recent time, due to the deepening level of globalization and transnational activities, the states will also have to interact with non-state actors. The aforementioned interaction is evaluated and monitored in attempts to maximize benefits of multilateral international cooperation. Since the national interests are paramount, foreign policies are designed by the government through high-level decision making processes. National interests accomplishment can occur as a result of peaceful cooperation with other nations, or through exploitation. Usually, creating foreign policy is the job of the head of government and the foreign minister (or equivalent). In some countries the legislature also has consider able over sigh.  [7]   The Theoretical Approach to theWestphalia State System. Does a discussion of the Treaty of Westphalia, promulgated in 1648, rightfully fall under the parvenu of a social science journal? The question arises because of the rather uneasy relationship between historians and social scientists. If one were to search the various history departments across the United States, for example, some are organized under colleges of social science and others under humanities. This ambiguity stems from the belief that there are fundamental assumptions in the modern practice of history that are largely incompatible with the tenets of social science but historians are certainly not adverse to borrowing liberally from their theories and practices, and vice versa. (1) Nearly despite themselves, however, historians have much to offer current debates about the future of the modern state system and its alleged origins in the Treaty of Westphalia.  [8]   The Treaty of Westphalia is used by social scientists as the foundation of several theoretical schools. Both realist and neo-liberal theories of international relations use the Westphalia state system as one of their most fundamental assumptions (though, of course, with different intentions). (2) Theorists of nationalism also consider the settlement of some significance. By linking religious identity to state identity, they argue, Westphalia was part of a long-term process that led to the ideology of nationalism in the nineteenth century and the primary identification of most ordinary Europeans with their nation-states. (3) The term has been used so often that most introductory political science texts treat its use as axiomatic. (4) The historical origins and context of the term, on the other hand, are generally not deemed of sufficient import to convey.  [9]   Historians view Westphalia quite differently. The Treaty of Westphalia itself was not the only agreement concluded at the peace negotiations held in the town of Muenster in 1648. In addition, the Treaty of Muenster, recognizing the independence of the United Provinces of the Netherlands and ceding territory to France, and the Treaty of Osnabruck, granting Sweden its spoils of victory, also came out of what is more properly called the Settlement of Westphalia. Many of the precepts ascribed to Westphalia, such as state sovereignty and enforcement and regulation of international law, come from these two treaties rather than the Treaty of Westphalia itself. (5) The treaty ended the Thirty Years War, which had physically devastated much of the Holy Roman Empire, and marked the twilight of the power of the Holy Roman Emperor and the rise of powers such as France, the Netherlands, and, briefly, Sweden in the latter part à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã‚  [10]   Arguments that state elite of third world countries enjoy substantial autonomy in both domestic and foreign affairs are misleading are below: Land is one of the most fundamental components of agriculture, urban and industrial development. In sub-Sahara Africa just like the rest of the third world, ambitious land reforms have become commonplace over the past three decades as one government over the other have sought to free up land resources to meet national priorities. Whatever form it has taken, land reform often signifies only a single element in a large trend involving the expansion of the state at the expense of others, oftentimes competing of social authority.  [11]  State intervention in policy arena like land tenure is just one aspect of a large trend involving the wholesale expansion of the state in Africa. In past research, attempts have been made to connect this development to a coherent class or bureaucratic authoritarian strategy, with a primary focus on emergency of an autonomous. However, most evidence seems to confirm that the extension of the public sector has consisted of patchwork on initiatives desig ned primarily to satisfy the desperate interests of well placed individuals, called the state elites, their families and other favored groups. There has been little coordination, accounting, or planned use of resources and the state has been described as predatory rather than productive.  [12]  For example, the land question and Zimbabwes current crisis of governance appear to be intimately related. However, an extensive survey of the population in the mid-1990s ranked land access very low on the list of priorities when compared to employment creation.  [13]  Please show how the African elite are limited in implementing land policies that are their own by giving examples of Zimbabwe, where land reforms aimed at indigenous Zimbabweans also owning land was met with resistance and blackmail from UK etc. In south Africa big chunks of land still owned by white minority while the Black are crowded in Soweto slums. In Kenya the ahigh lands most fertile for commercial agric owned by the white settlers. In Uganda the land tenure system inherited from the British colonialists still pose a night mare, big chunks of land to the few royals (mailo akenda) 900,000 sq miles to the king and a few royals, the lost counties land of Banyoro being freely given to Buganda as reward for cooperation and punishment to Bunyoro etc. Collecting taxes, policing and administering justice are among the most basic functions of government and its elites. Historically, states were in large part formed around interactions between government agencies and subjects/citizens over these issues.  [14]  It is around the same issues that public officials have the greatest license to exercise coercion against citizens. There are powerful sensitivities about the character of the agencies that perform these functions, and strong reactions against any hint of commercialism in their governing principles. Tax-farmer, like mercenary, has long been a term of disparagement.  [15]  It is then no surprise that suspicion has attended the rapid spread of (semi-) autonomous revenue agencies (ARAs) in Latin America and in Anglophone Africa over the past two decades.  [16]   The task of collecting taxes has been taken from ministries of finance and given to revenue agencies that have some autonomy from central executive power and from rules governing public service recruitment, remuneration and procedures. In consequence, tax collectors, who are anyway often perceived as corrupt and privileged, generally have achieved very substantial increases in their formal salaries. Popular reaction has sometimes been adverse. President Museveni was probably speaking for many Ugandans when, in 2000, he described the Uganda Revenue Authority as a den of thieves.  [17]   However, in the eyes of a few academics and external observers, the introduction of revenue agencies has been seen as a step on the road to privatization of the revenue collection process. The establishment of an autonomous revenue authority, with staff paid at rates similar to those in comparable private sector jobs, does indeed seem to parallel the process of putting state agencies on a commercial footing as a prelude to privatization. In Anglophone Africa, and most third worlds, revenue raising will remain a core state function, controlled by the top political leadership. The creation of ARAs has improved relationships between tax authorities and larger corporate taxpayers, and increased, at least marginally, the capacity of governments to raise revenue.  [18]   Several African states have implemented democratic and liberal constitutional reforms during the last two decades. Regime change, the ending of decades of autocratic rule, and the emergence of independent courts are among the important changes produced by these reforms. Yet Africas constitutional moment has not received the scholarly attention it deserves. With the notable exception of South Africa, African nations continue to lie largely outside the mainstream of contemporary comparative constitutional discourse.  [19]  In Uganda for example, the first constitution of Uganda was abrogated in the year 1966 by state elites just after the independence of the country. In 1995 the Republic of Uganda promulgated a new constitution. The powers of the president which were initially limited are further increased by these amendments. The constitution of this African country declares Uganda as a Presidential Republic. A number of National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy are included in the constitution of Uganda. The constitution is the ultimate rulebook for all operations of the State and its various agencies. The president in directly answerable to the parliament that is indirectly responsible to the people.  [20]   Domestically, there are threats from the state, institutional bureaucrats and academics themselves to academic freedom and to the institutional autonomy of universities in most Third world countries especially in South Africa. The situation is more complex than is often perceived. The generally disappointing post-independence history of academic freedom and autonomy in Sub-Saharan Africa is drawn upon to illustrate the perils that may accompany too eager an embrace of the state by intellectuals in South Africa in confronting persisting racial inequities in institutions of higher learning.  [21]  We must say here that these are purely domestic policies enjoyed by state elites autonomously. A case study of Tsinghua University, one of Chinas most influential universities, which has special national significance and strong political ties to the state. Recalling three chapters in the past century of Tsinghuas history, gives an interpretive understanding of how the intertwined relationship between academia and officialdom has acted as a double-edged sword in shaping the Universitys autonomy. It shows an interesting interplay between the university and the state, revealing the mechanisms of the states control over the university, and the strategies adopted by the university to gain relative freedom. In the context of China, an individual university can contend with the states power to strive for its own autonomy.  [22]   To bring understanding closer, the intertwining of academia and officialdom is often perceived as a threat to university autonomy. In the modern Western university system, the concept of university autonomy emphasizes the power of a university or college to govern itself without outside controls.  [23]  Autonomy, along with academic freedom, is defined as intrinsic to the nature of the university, and a precondition if a university is to best fulfill its role and responsibilities toward society.  [24]  The intertwining of academia and officialdom, however, implies external political influence being brought to bear on education. A great deal of research has addressed diverse aspects of the relationship between academia and officialdom, including, for example, the use of the educational system as a channel for the socialization and circulation of elites. The development of school networks by political elites for recruitment purposes, the involvement of political forces in the a ppointment and promotion of professors, and the political alliance between the university leadership and government officials, including alumni in powerful governmental positions.  [25]  Hence this clearly shows that state elites enjoy autonomy of their domestic policy in Third World Countries. Poor leadership of state elites and bad knowledge generation are behind the illusion that African developmental challenges are exotic and difficult to resolve, an illusion exploited by paternalistic outsiders who talk about us as if we were infantile and incapable of the simplest tasks of self-government.   The default cry of Africas political, intellectual and business elite is to assert that when faced with the complexity of achieving social, economic and political transformation is to call for a continental government to rule all of Africa, a so-called United States of Africa.   It is the religion of the African intelligentsia, the rainbow-over-the-horizon promise of the politicians. Uganda, the third big East African partner, has been an autocracy since independence; the voices of Obote, Amin and Museveni have displaced the voice of the Ugandan people.   They purport to act in the name of the people, but no one can know what the policy leanings of the people are, because th ey have never had a chance to express their thoughts through politics. Something is broken in Africa, something that has been broken for a long time now, something we need to fix, something our elite are avoiding by misdirecting our attention to the daydream of a single continental government.   We will not get to our dream Africa by creating a continental platform for the relentless rent-seeking that hobbles us in our local and national communities.   We need to unleash the entrepreneurial energies, political and economic, of the varied peoples of Africa.   We cannot continue this way, not if we want to actualize all of our aspirations and our domestic policies. Industrialization by state elites in Third World Countries domestic policy is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from a pre-industrial society into an industrial one. It is a part of a wider modernization process, where social change and economic development are closely related with technological innovation, particularly with the development of large-scale energy and metallurgy production. It is the extensive organization of an economy for the purpose of manufacturing. Countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean in the late 20th century found that high levels of structural differentiation, functional specialization, and autonomy of economic systems from government were likely to contribute greatly to industrial-commercial growth and prosperity. Amongst other things, relatively open trading systems with zero or low duties on goods imports tended to stimulate industrial cost-efficiency and innovation across the bo ard. Free and flexible labor and other markets also helped raise general business-economic performance levels, as did rapid popular learning capabilities. Positive work ethics in populations at large combined with skills in quickly utilizing new technologies and scientific discoveries were likely to boost production and income levels and as the latter rose, markets for consumer goods and services of all kinds tended to expand and provide a further stimulus to industrial investment and economic growth. By the end of the century, East Asia was one of the most economically successful regions of the world with free market countries such as Hong Kong being widely seen as models for other, less developed countries around the world to emulate. A similar state-led developing programme was pursued in virtually all the Third World countries during the Cold War, including the socialist ones, but especially in Sub-Saharan Africa after the decolonization period. The primary scope of those projects was to achieve self-sufficiency through the local production of previously imported goods, the mechanization of agriculture and the spread of education and health care. However, all those experiences failed bitterly due to a lack of realism: most countries didnt have a pre-industrial bourgeoisie able to carry on a capitalistic development or even a stable and peaceful state. Those aborted experiences left huge debts toward western countries and fuelled public corruption. However, in this discussion, we still hold the view that the elites in third world countries do not enjoy their full state autonomy to make independent domestic policies and are misleading. Developed or powerful countries of the world like America, Britain, France among others who were at times colonial powers, continued to influence both the domestic and foreign policies of third world countries because they are poor, dependants, weak, underdeveloped among others. In this view, matters of trade, finance, investment, foreign aid among others have been shaped by developed countries making it worse for less developed countries in the face of the current globalization and the evil empires (Multinational) which are normally stronger than third world countries, international organizations, global institutions of the IMF, World Bank and the IMF. Globalization concerns have taken a far more positive path since the 1999 Seattle protests. Activists have begun to realize that it is the world governments who are the backbone of international organizations such as the G8, the World Bank, and the IMF and that efforts must be directed toward both the organizations and the member governments in order to achieve policy objectives. In July 2005, on the eve of an important G8 summit in Scotland, a massive music festival was organized to express public support for issues such as debt relief, aid for Africa and cooperation on cutting greenhouse emissions. Almost as if in response, the G8 heads of state announced important initiatives in these areas.  [26]   With respect to trade issues, many of the third world countries have created the greatest recent resistance to the global pressure to reduce trade barriers through World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. The main problem relates to agricultural products. Many of these countries have experienced a severe downturn in their domestic agricultural acreage because local producers cannot compete with agricultural exports from major countries such as the United States. They have persuasively argued that it is not a fair playing field because in Europe, Japan and the United States, agriculture receives sizeable government subsidies. Third world countries cannot afford to similarly subsidize their own domestic agricultural industries.  [27]  The matter came into focus at the WTO summit in Cancun, Mexico in September 2003. Mid-level developing countries such as Brazil, South Africa, India and China objected to any progress on reducing tariff barriers in general until the agricultural pro blem was resolved and the talks collapsed. At the subsequent WTO summit in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2004, a breakthrough was reached. The deal, approved by all 147 members, will cut rich countries farm subsidies in return for developing countries opening markets for manufactured goods. The implementation of the agreement presents obvious internal political challenges in the developed countries.  [28]   In matters of loans, the World Bank is an organization affiliated with the United Nations for the purpose of making loans to developing countries which are guaranteed. The bank is self-sustaining and has maintained a profit on its lending activities. The bank is owned by the member nations which include virtually all nations with the exception of Cuba and North Korea. Voting on bank policy is based on capital subscription. Seven countries, United States, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Canada, Italy and France, have 45% of the voting power. The United States is a 17% shareholder. Many loans now issued by the World Bank involve structural adjustment conditions which generally require countries to devalue their currencies against the dollar; lift import and export restrictions; balance their budgets and not overspend; and remove price controls and state subsidies.  [29]   International Monetary Fund (IMF), The IMF is closely affiliated with the World Bank. It is also owned by virtually the same member nations as the World Bank and has a similar shareholder and voting arrangement based on the size of each members economy. The IMFs primary responsibility has been to maintain stable currency exchange rates between countries. The IMF also issues loans designed to help countries restructure their economies to increase exports and draw foreign investment. Countries that take out such structural adjustment loans give the IMF influence over their economic policies and foreign affairs as well.  [30]   Structural Adjustment Policies are economic policies which countries must follow in order to qualify for new World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and help them make debt repayments on the older debts owed to commercial banks, governments and the World Bank. Although SAPs are designed for individual countries but have common guiding principles and features which include export-led growth; privatization and liberalization; and the efficiency of the free market.  [31]   SAPs generally require countries to devalue their currencies against the dollar; lift import and export restrictions; balance their budgets and not overspend; and remove price controls and state subsidies. However, anyone must remember that evaluation makes their goods cheaper for foreigners to buy and theoretically makes foreign imports more expensive. In principle it should make the country wary of buying expensive foreign equipment. In practice, however, the IMF actually disrupts this by rewarding the country with a large foreign currency loan that encourages it to purchase imports.  [32]   Balancing national budgets can be done by raising taxes, which the IMF frowns upon, or by cutting government spending, which it definitely recommends. As a result, SAPs often result in deep cuts in programmes like education, health and social care, and the removal of subsidies designed to control the price of basics such as food and milk. So SAPs hurt the poor most, because they depend heavily on these services and subsidies. SAPs encourage countries to focus on the production and export of primary commodities such as cocoa and coffee to earn foreign exchange. But these commodities have notoriously erratic prices subject to the whims of global markets which can depress prices just when countries have invested in these so-called cash crops.  [33]   The term Structural Adjustment Program has gained such a negative connotation that the World Bank and IMF launched a new initiative, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Initiative, and makes countries develop Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). While the name has changed, with PRSPs, the World Bank is still forcing countries to adopt the same types of policies as SAPs. SAPs has caused a lot of protests and strikes around the world for example in December 1990 students at Makerere University protest cutting of stationery and travel allowances arising from a World Bank-imposed SAP. Police fire into a crowd of protesting students, killing two. Other countries are Sudan, Benin, Jamaica, Trinidad, Venezuela,Russia, Nigeria, Niger, Mexico, Jordan, Zaire, Zambia among others.  [34]   Globalization and Competitive Markets in Third World Countries. Nowadays, globalization is playing an important role in the worlds economy. There are many viewpoints involving the concept of globalization but a common one is that globalization is the integration of national markets through international trade an