Contemporary Issues in business and management Essay

Contemporary Issues in business and management - Essay Example Sustainability refers to the voluntary activities of the company, which show that it is committed to environmental and social concerns, according to the ways it administers its operations and in its dealings with its stakeholders (Van Marrewjk & Verre, 2003). This paper will discuss the challenges encountered by the leaders of the organization, in their attempts to incorporate CSR, and particularly that related to the impacts of their business activities, in the light of the models, theory and the analytical tools related to CSR, change and innovation management and leadership. Further, the paper will evaluate the ways in which companies are going green, giving some examples. The era for applauding the economic prosperity of corporations as a stand-alone area has ended, as corporations, societies, governments and agencies are questioning the impacts of corporate activities and actions (Orlitzky, Schmidt and Rynes, 2003). This change of outlook requires firms to redirect and split their attention towards increasing its economic performance, while at the same time filling the position of good corporate citizen. Filling these positions requires companies to keep in touch with global trends on maintaining commitment to the two major goal areas; meeting private and public needs (Henderson, 2007). These new demands have forced corporations to review their rules, frameworks, and business models. Among the most responsible companies, it is a daily practice to review short and long-term plans, so as to stay safe and at the front line in the rapidly changing world. There has been a change in the way that companies consider their place, paying reference to local an d global stakeholders (Holcomb, Upchurch and Okumus, 2007). There has also been a change in the management of the relationships maintained between companies and its stakeholders, particularly with customers, suppliers, investors,

Comparing Roman Empire and Han Dynasty Essay Example for Free

Comparing Roman Empire and Han Dynasty Essay Roman Empire and Han Dynasty had many things in common and uncommon.During their falling era they were experiencing facts which were really similar to each other therefore emphasizing on them will make the topic.And also their characterstics were similar in their way of ruling and living so also they will be included. Firstly,to talk about their characteristics we can see that they both had well organized bureaucracy the only difference was , Han’s bureaucracy was based on Confucian ideas whereas Romans’ bureaucracy was based on their own law and classic learning. Another common characteristic about them was their emphasis on family.Han Dynasty’s were patriarchial and Romans’ were pater families.They both attached importance on engineering and made great accomplishments such as, roads,cannals,the great wall by Han Dynasty and aqueducts,domes,sewage systems,central heating by the Romans. To talk about their similarities during their fall we can say that they were affected deeply by the Germanic Invasions factor which caused both of them to loose power.They were both abrogated by the same conflicts since Germans had a great military power to constantly oppose to them.They had the same problem that caused them not to be able to protect themselves.It was their monetary problem that made them defenseless to Germans. Another problem they were both facing was they problem of not electing a new ruler that will reconstruct them and unify them. They were in total decline in morals and values.Their public health was jeopardized so they needed to find a way out to the political corruption however seeing that these empires fell it means that these needs were not provided and they could not be unified which was their common problem. To conclude , we discussed their common qualities and problems from their characteristics to their fall.It was obvious that they had many things common so this was the reason why they both fell.If they had been able to find a way out to their common problem they would have remained.

Health Essays Caffeine Health Effects

Health Essays Caffeine Health Effects Caffeine Health Effects Abstract Caffeine is the most commonly consumed ‘drug’ in the world that is said to have been discovered in the Paleolithic Period. It is found in basically everything that people consume including all types of food, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, and chocolate. The purpose of caffeine is to help strengthen attentiveness and diminish exhaustion. Taking too much or abusing the use of caffeine, can cause side effects, but can all be avoided if taken in reasonable amounts. So many beneficial effects come with consuming this drug from helping people in sports, to losing weight, to increasing alertness, and repelling things such as snails and slugs. Testing is done often to find more ways that caffeine is useful in individual’s lives. In the author’s opinion it is believed that caffeine has many more positive effects that overcome the negative effects. Introduction and History Caffeine has been around for many years and is having an impact on more and more people everyday. A great deal of evidence denotes that the consumption of caffeine goes all the way back to the Paleolithic Period (Magkos Kavouras, 2005). Some may think that caffeine is bad for the body and does no good, however many Americans consume caffeine everyday in their diet. Although caffeine has both positive and negative effects, there are much more positive effects if taken responsibly. Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, which causes high alertness. Taking too much of any drug is going to lead to the chances of having side effects. The side effects can be prevented by decreasing the amount of caffeine that is taken into the body. Thus, from increasing alertness, mood, psychomotor performance, to helping as a dietary aid and extending exercise in people suffering from heart failure, to being used as a repellent for mollusks, caffeine is used in many ways and has many positive effects that go along with it. People need to have a better understanding of caffeine before making judgments. Consumption The main source of caffeine consumption comes from soft drinks. Caffeine is an additive used in such drinks to sweeten the taste. It can show no flavor depending on the amount taken, but the positive effects that come with it are an increased attention rate and better mood. Because of these effects, more people thrive off caffeinated drinks. Looking around, there are soft drink machines everywhere giving more people access to this stimulant. Yet, many people believe that they should not be in schools or places where it is efficient for kids because they say it is so unhealthy for them (Keast Riddell, 2006). Others will argue this in saying that caffeine is good for the body as long as it’s not abused. This is a true statement, and as a result educating more people on the effects of caffeine would be very helpful to everyone. Besides soda and other soft drinks, caffeine is also found in coffee. Coffee has many positive effects to it, such that coffee stimulates the brain and increases energy and mood, and can help in preventing diseases such as skin, liver, and colon cancer, and some others. Both the combination of daily exercise and a cup of coffee are said by scientists to help in the prevention of skin cancer. This has been tested and proven on hairless mice, which have extremely sensitive skin to the sun. Stated from The Times of India, one group was given caffeinated water to drink, another group exercised on a running wheel at its own convenience, while the third group both drank caffeine and exercised on the wheel, and the control group neither drank nor exercised. All of the mice were exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which the results in comparing all the groups to the control group showed that the caffeine drinkers showed an increase of 95% in ultraviolet radiation stimulating apoptosis. Apoptosis is the process where cells with damaged DNA are destroyed against illness. The second group showed a 120% increase, while the mice that both consumed caffeine and exercised showed close to a 400% increase (â€Å"Coffee May Prevent,† 2007). A study was also developed to research the effects of caffeine on liver cancer. More than 90,000 Japanese were used in a study and it was found that people that drank coffee daily or close to every day had reduced the risk of liver cancer by nearly half compared to those who never drank coffee. â€Å"The American Cancer Society estimates that 18,920 cases of liver cancer were diagnosed in the United States last year and some 14,270 people died of the illness† (â€Å"Coffee May Help,† 2008). As a result, it is well stated that caffeine can reduce the chances of liver cancer. According to many scientists, there is a highly antioxidant compound that is found in coffee that reduces the chances of colon cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This compound found in coffee is called methylpyridinium, however is not found in raw coffee beans but is created during the roasting process. Tests were brought out to scrutinize this compound even more, so specially equipped extracts of the coffee were exposed to certain lab situations of human intestinal cells for three days and were compared to cells that were not exposed to coffee. In the experiment, coffee extracts were found to have increased the activity levels of phase II enzymes. Then, to determine whether it had the same effect in living systems, a group of twenty-four rats was evenly divided into three groups. Each group was fed different diets, either a normal diet, a diet mixed with coffee extract, or a normal diet containing pure methylpyridinium. The tests showed that rats that were fed the coffee extract had a 24-40% increase in phase II enzymes and the group with the pure methylpyridinium showed an increase in the enzyme activity levels (â€Å"Highly Active,† 2003). Results show that coffee is proven to fight cancer in living systems. Caffeine can help in such diseases as cancer in which caffeine and another substance called theophylline are found in many products like coffee, chocolate, and many soft drinks. It is said that they can block enzymes that are crucial for cell growth, which means that one day it could be used to stop cell growth all together and avoid blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes (â€Å"Caffeine Boost,† 2002). It is not just coffee that prevents cancer, it is the caffeine in coffee that is preventing this disease. As most know, there is no cure for cancer, although the tests above show the many ways in which caffeine can help prevent one of the leading causes of deaths. Despite the positive effects of consuming coffee, here in the United States, drinking coffee is consumed most by adults. However, in Guatemala, it is very common among children. It is one of the first liquids given to babies after milk in Guatemala, even though it may affect the cognitive function by damaging iron levels. It is also known to hinder with the iron absorption and iron status of pregnant women and their babies, which is why it is said that pregnant woman should give up coffee during the term of pregnancy because it could cause miscarriages (Engle Vasdias et al, 1999). Nonetheless, not consuming coffee while pregnant and not giving coffee to such young children can avoid these negative effects. Sports and Diet Caffeine is known as one of the most widely used pick-me-ups in sports because of it’s ability to increase alertness and mood. Many athletes depend on this stimulant to help them carry on with their game if they are feeling a little drowsy or incapable to perform in an expected manner. Using caffeine is often used to improve physical and mental performance. It improves physical performance by causing alertness and giving the athlete energy to perform and improves mental performance by stimulating the central nervous system. This helps the athletes have higher levels of concentration (Magkos Kavouras, 2005). Using caffeine instead of other types of steroids and drugs is much cheaper and has less health effects. It also has less ineligibility cases compared to many other drugs. Being cut from a team is not the only consequence if caught using steroids or drugs, but it is also considered a felony. Therefore, many athletes should take caffeine over steroids to increase energy (Magkos Kavouras, 2005). Unless caffeine is taken in substantial amounts, some side effects may occur. Taking in massive quantities of caffeine may trigger dehydration that could affect functioning. It may also cause gastrointestinal pain and other side effects, such that caffeine is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and spread throughout the tissues of the body. Athletes that are abusing the use of caffeine may notice an occurrence in nervousness or an increase in heart rate and may even lead up to seizures or a coma. Caffeine has to be taken with some caution, because of the possible negative side effects that could take place, but remembering to take in only what is needed will help bring out only the positive effects (Magkos Kavouras, 2005). Since caffeine is found in so many foods and over the counter medications, it is becoming to show an increase in all diets around the world. Many people that are trying to lose weight take caffeine pills or eat a diet that is high in caffeine for the energy, similar to those as athletes that use it to enhance performance. Though caffeine pills should not be taken everyday and should be taken early in the day to reduce the chances of losing sleep at night. They help in increasing energy levels and suppressing hunger. This is very helpful for people who do not have the energy to get up and exercise. Some people may need that extra boost to get them started (Striegel-Moore Franko et al, 2006). On the other hand, it is not a fundamental nutrient, nor good for the health if taken too often. Too much can become addictive and cause problems like eating disorders, which is very common among young adults. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia are found more common among girls than in boys. Many girls in their teens have more pressure on themselves and feel the need to lose extra weight. Consuming large amounts of caffeine will enhance their energy and suppress the need for food, or hunger. Even though they may already be thin, they will continue starving themselves because they believe they are fat. It’s a constant battle that never ends and it is a very difficult disease to fight. Effects on Sleep When caffeine is consumed in reasonable amounts, everyday consumption of it can be helpful and have many beneficial effects on human behavior and sleep showing more people with enhanced mental functioning. Imagine truck drivers who drive such long distances day and night, consuming caffeine can help stay alert and focused on the road. Many accidents occur in a year because of people falling asleep at the wheel. Taking caffeine for better functioning reasons while driving or other reasons can be very beneficial. Regardless of the positive effects of reducing fatigue and better functioning, there are the downfalls of consuming too much caffeine. Too much caffeine has a big effect on your sleeping ability. Sleep disorders are becoming more and more known to many children and adults because of the amount of caffeine they are taking in. Large amounts of caffeine taken at night will make it much harder to fall asleep. People face more problems like feeling tired when they wake up or waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep. Although, the majority of people are very good at the amount of caffeine they take in to get the most out of the positive effects (Orbeta Overpeck et al, 2005). Effects on Human Behavior Rather than better mental functioning purposes and an increase in alertness, caffeine is also shown to improve many effects on human behavior. For instance, psychomotor performance is enhanced with caffeine intake. A psychomotor skill deals with being able to make movements that are essential to complete a task, however they are skills that are performed often without even thinking how they are done. Handwriting is an example of a very difficult psychomotor skill where as people have their own unique way of writing, some using the wrist more, or maybe the elbow, or moving the whole arm as they write. Caffeine consumption can improve handwriting and reveal a much larger improvement in handwriting skills if taken in moderate quantities (Tucha Walitza et al, 2006). When caffeine is consumed in so many different amounts in many types of foods, it will improve people’s talent to perform certain responsibilities requiring a lot of attention. Also, when dispensed in the same amount, caffeine increases alertness and reduces fatigue. The opposing effects take place when caffeine is consumed in unbearable amounts or by people who are overly sensitive to the drug (Smith, 2002). As a result, caffeine is very helpful in which it can improve vigilance tasks and help people become more focused, so multitasking can be done. Use as a Repellent Caffeine is also used a repellent in which many people probably didn’t know. Many products for the use of mollusk control include metaldehyde or methiocarb for the main ingredients. However, both of these ingredients are highly poisonous by inhalation and to all animals. Caffeine is an all-natural product that is categorized as a generally recognized as safe (GRAF) product by the United States FDA. There have been many tests to support that caffeine is a well-proven repellent as well (Hollingsworth, Armstrong, Campbell, 2002). According to Hollingsworth, Armstrong, and Campbell (2002) spray applications containing one to two percent of caffeine have been reported to kill slugs during a test that experienced caffeine as a toxicant against frog pests. Another test (Figure 1) took action upon orchid snails where as they were put into Petri dishes with caffeine while the heart rates were taken under a microscope. Snails with caffeine concentrations of .1% or more had vulnerable and uneven heartbeats after a 24-hour period. The snails with higher caffeine concentrations were dead after 96 hours, or four days. As a result, caffeine has been proven to kill off mollusks and would be a much safer alternative for food crops. Taking caffeine on an everyday basis will cause the body to become addicted to the substance and cause withdrawals if missing a day. Withdrawals may include headaches or may cause a change in mood. When the amount of caffeine that is taken in is reduced, the body will become very responsive to adenosine. The responsiveness will cause blood pressure to drop, causing an overload of blood to rush to the head, which leads to a headache. Headaches can last between one to five days and aside from such painful headaches, restlessness, irritability, and constant fatigue may occur (Smith, 2002). All of the negative effects come from consuming too much caffeine. For that reason, if caffeine were used correctly and more sensibly, the negative effects would not take place. Negative effects on any drug can be avoided by following simple directions of not overdosing and if sensitive to the drug, don’t take at all. There are so many people that abuse it and take it for all of the wrong reasons. If they took caffeine for the right reasons, they would begin to see positive effects. Conclusion In conclusion, researchers are constantly exploring the many ways that caffeine is beneficial and has proven these effects in many cases. The main source of caffeine comes from soft drinks, in which it is an additive used to sweeten the taste. It is also very popular in coffee where it helps prevent against some diseases and has the effect of an increased attention rate and better mood. In sports, athletes thrive off caffeine to enhance performance because it is much cheaper and has less health effects than any other drug or steroid. Becoming an increase in all foods, caffeine is also used in many diets to help increase energy. The biggest factor in using caffeine is sleep. Sleep is unwanted in many situations such as driving and other vigilance tasks. Taking caffeine helps sleep by increasing alertness and mental functioning, while reducing fatigue. Other than increasing alertness and mental functioning, so many other effects take place in the behavior of individuals. Effects on human behavior include improving multitasking and developing psychomotor performance, such as improving handwriting skills. Another assured effect that caffeine takes part in is repelling things such as snails and slugs. It is proven much safer than other products and has been tested in many different experiments. Caffeine has much more positive effects that overcome the negative effects. The negative effects of caffeine all come from being abused or taken in too large of quantities, meaning that more people need to understand all of the effects. From athletes trying to enhance performance, people dieting, better functioning, an increase in alertness, to repelling things such as snails and slugs. Caffeine has many effects on the body to help improve behavior. Looking back at all of the beneficial ways in which caffeine helps, provides all the more reasons why it is used so often. References American Chemical Society (2003, October 15). Highly Active Compound Found in Coffee May Prevent Colon Cancer. Science Daily. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031015031251.htm Caffeine boost in cancer battle. (2002, August 22). Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/08/21/cancer.research/ Coffee may help prevent liver cancer. (2005, February 15). USA Today. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-02-15-coffee-liver_x.htm Coffee may prevent skin cancer. (2007, July 31). The Times of India. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Coffee_may_prevent_skin_cancer_/articleshow/2246470.cms Engle, P.L., Vasdias, T., et al. (1999). Effects of discontinuing coffee intake on iron deficient Guatemalan toddlers’ cognitive development and sleep. Early Human Development, 53, 251-269. Hollingsworth, R.G., Armstrong, J.W., Campbell, E. (2002). Caffeine as a repellent for slugs and snails. Nature, 417, 915. Keast, R.S.J., Riddell, L.J. (2007). Caffeine as a flavor additive in soft-drinks. Appetite, 49, 255-259. Magkos, F., Kavouras, S.T. (2005). Caffeine use in sports, pharmacokinetics in man, and cellular mechanisms of action. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 45, 535-562. Orbeta, R.L., Overpeck, M.D., et al. (2005). High caffeine intake in adolescents: associations with difficult sleeping and feeling tired in the morning. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 451-453. Smith, A. (2002). Effects of caffeine on human behavior. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40, 1243-1255. Striegel-Moore, R.H., Franko, D.L., et al. (2006). Caffeine Intake in Eating Disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 39:2, 162-165. Tucha, O., Walitza, S. et al. (2006). The effect of caffeine on handwriting movements in skilled writers. Human Movement Science, 25, 523-535.

Home â€Schooled or Not to Be? Essay -- essays papers

Home –Schooled or Not to Be? Most parents hear the word â€Å"home-school† and conjure up many assumptions that are either false or overlooked at. The technology provided, as well as the teaching quality spent on home-schooled children requires a lot of time and effort from the parents; it is an act of dedication and total commitment. According to the Robinson Curriculum, the parents have â€Å"little personal time or time alone. If care is not taken to set aside time for yourself, it is easy to never have time alone. They are basically with their [children] 24/7† (The Robinson Curriculum). There are many positives as well as the negatives outlooks pertaining to â€Å"sheltering† kids from attending private or public schools. Many adults are supportive of home-schooling because they feel a sense of corruptness in the school’s institution, and therefore want to instill their own morals into their kids. As for the parents who are against home-schooling, they state that the lack o f skills to socialize is a draw-back from letting their children grow as individuals, and feel tat it will conflict with how they mingle in society in their near future. What does home-schooling a child mean? Home-schooling means educating a child with the necessary equipments to knowledge the kid with factual school-related information. These information usually parallels that of which many other public and private schools also teach. The only big difference is that the child is being educated at home in the surroundings of his/her comfort and where a parent plays the role of a teacher. There is no right or wrong way to be home-schooled. Each â€Å"parent will discover his/her teaching style and their children’s learning style† (Perrault) through the proces... ...t/USAtodayTechnology.asp 5.Perrault, M. (2003, December). Advantages for homeschooling. Retrieved September 26, 2004, from http://www.angelfire.com/pa/sergeman.issues/education/find.html 6.Shimshock, K. (2003, February). The impact of Technology on a Home Schooled Education. Retrieved September 26, 2004 7.The Robinson Curriculum (2004). Home-schooling Problems/Needs. 31(56) Retrieved October 3, 2004 from http://www.robinsoncurriculm.com/view/rc/s31p.56.htm 8.The Learning Center (2003) Reading and Learning- The Benefits for Home- schooling. Retrieved October 3, 2004 from, http://www.homeschool.com/articles/computers 9.The Journal of Education (1999). Retrieved October 8, 2004. pp. 350-351 10. Williams, L. (1996-1998). Homeschooling and Computers. Retrieved September 26, 2004, from http://www.oakmeadow.com/resources.articles.HSComputers.htm

Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Suicide Essay

There are over thirty-thousand suicides a year in the United States alone. Whether or not suicide is acceptable is a moral issue. Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative can be applied to this moral issue. Kant strongly disagreed with suicide, because it was not a morally responsible decision; I will give a summary of the Categorical imperative, and use this information to develop an argument that Kant or a Kantian would use to argue against suicide. Kant’s Categorical imperative argued that an action or rule is moral if it is universally good. If everyone sees an action as good and can perform the action than it is moral. The categorical imperative applies to all rational beings regardless of one’s personal motives and desires. Kant believed that we those actions that if you would want an action performed on you than it are moral. â€Å"Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law (309). † Based on the categorical imperative, Suicide is immoral because it is our purpose to acquire happiness. If we all committed suicide as we pleased, then we would seize to exist, which is unethical. Because suicide prevents us being happy, it is not morally permissible under Kant’s categorical imperative. Humans should be thought of as a means not an ends. If we committed suicide than we are not achieving our potential to be happy, which is unmoral. To Kant suicide was â€Å"in no circumstance permissible. † Kant believed that any man, who would survive a suicide attempt, had now discarded his humanity and was lower than a beast. Suicide degrades our humanity, because it takes away our basic purpose. One could argue that Kant biased to a religious view of suicide being immoral. Kant believes that our lives belong to God and are not ours to end. It is also questionable to categorize our lives as a thing, and debase his humanity over a decision that they have made. Suicide is immoral because it does not bring happiness, and is not universally acceptable. Because we can no longer make moral decisions Kant argues that suicide is not morally acceptable. Kant states that â€Å"It cannot be moral to root out the existence of morality in the world. † Suicide prevents you from performing anymore acts of morality. According to the Categorical imperative, if we can perform a good deed we should, regardless of whether there is anything to be gained. We are bound by a set of universal laws that all should follow unconditionally. We should not commit suicide because; we have an obligation to perform good deeds in the world. Our purpose as humans is to perform good actions in the world, but we cannot do this if we are dead. Committing suicide prevents us from performing actions and is an irrational decision to make, which violates the Categorical Imperative. If one wants to commit suicide they should think of all of the actions that they would no longer be able to perform in death. One should strive to perform moral actions in life and to continue living as long as possible. We are each unique, and have actions that only we can complete. Works Cited Cahn, Steven M. , and Peter J. Markie. Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Democracy And Human Rights Essays

Democracy And Human Rights Essays Democracy And Human Rights Paper Democracy And Human Rights Paper Democracy and Human Rights Democracy and human rights are clearly different notions; they are distinct enough for them to be viewed as discreet and differentiated political concepts. Whereas democracy aims to empower the people collectively, human rights aims to empower individuals. Similarly, human rights is directly associated with the how of ruling, and not just the who, which may be the case in an electoral democracy, though not in a substantive democracy. Thus, democracies exist that do not necessarily protect human rights, while some on-democratic states are able to ensure some, though not all, human rights. On another level, the international acceptance, institutionalizing, and legal aspects of human rights mentioned above do not apply to democracy. These distinctions have influenced the traditional separation of the theories and fields Of human rights and democracy. From the human rights perspective, many have adhered to the separation theory, which argues that democracy is not immediately needed for the observation of human rights and that the maintenance of an essential link between human rights and necromancy may well have the effect of delaying the implementation of human rights norms in various states. A recent corollary of the separation theory is the democracy as neo-imperialism notion that charges that democracy is a Western-centric approach to government that is not found indigenously in all societies and is not desirable for all peoples. These arguments are subject to several key counter arguments that illustrate the interdependence of human rights and democracy. First, in terms of the neo- imperialist argument, it is certainly true that Western superpowers should not impose their particular forms of democracy on other societies and expect them to be accepted and sustainable, as noted above. However, it is equally culturally insensiti ve to claim that democracy is only an option in the West, or that it is incompatible with other cultures. Secondly, in reference to the separation theory, while it would be unwise to wait for democracy to start promoting human rights, it must also be recognized that some human rights are intrinsically linked with institutions and principles of democracy. Furthermore, separating human rights from democracy undermines opportunities for implementation, in that it reduces human rights to standards or norms; as Longish states, human rights amount to little more than charity if they are not functioning in a democratic framework. Essentially, the inclination to separate human rights from democracy is rooted in the acceptance of their traditional definitions. An electoral democracy that lacks the other institutions and principles of a substantive democracy can function without necessarily guaranteeing human rights, just as some narrowly defined human rights can still be realized in the absence Of democracy. However, the re-conceptualization Of democracy as substantive, and of human rights as bei ng more far-reaching and inclusive, underscores the necessity of linking the two. This interdependence occurs on the levels of principle, enforcement, and specific rights. On the conceptual level, as Longish notes, both contemporary liberal democracy and human rights are derived from and express the assumptions of liberalism, which include individualism, egalitarianism, and universalism. Furthermore, both democracy and human rights pursue a common agenda, and it is only within democracy [that] human rights standards or norms [are] transcended such that the values articulated by these norms or standards are genuine rights. In addition, it is only in a well-functioning democracy that individual citizens have access to mechanisms to ensure the implementation of their rights. The relationship between human rights and democracy is perhaps most clear through an examination of civil and political rights, especially those articulated in Article 21 of the UDDER and Article 25 of the CIVIC, both of which ensure citizen participation in government through free and fair elect ions and through direct service and participation. These rights are related to the rights of expression, association, assembly, and movement, which are also interdependent with democracy, as well as the rights to liberty, security of person, and the guarantee of due process of the law. Economic, social, and cultural rights are also being increasingly recognized as being mutually dependent, if not integral, with democracy. As Gusto writes, the pursuit of the right to development and socio-economic rights is strongly associated with the social democracy vision of poverty eradication and the equitable distribution of ownership, control, and the benefits of wealth. Indeed, political and civil rights can best (and perhaps only) be realized by citizens who meet a basic level of physical security in terms of access to shelter, water, sanitation, and food, as well as education, healthcare, and employment or income. Socially, democracy is interrelated with rights to equality and non-discrimination, especially for marginalia groups including w omen and minorities. Culturally, the respect for diversity and pluralism inherent to democracy is linked to the protection of rights related to engage, religion, or ethnicity. It is thus clear that human rights and democracy are interdependent, especially when defined in the broader conceptualizations of democracy as substantive democracy, and human rights as civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. These different kinds of rights cannot be realized in a non-democratic system, and likewise, no democracy is sustainable without the presence of these rights. While this relationship is evident in theory, it is perhaps more useful to consider the interdependence of human rights and democracy through the case study of an emerging democracy.

Narziss And Goldmund Essays - Narcissus And Goldmund, Literature

Narziss And Goldmund Essays - Narcissus And Goldmund, Literature Narziss And Goldmund Humans are one of the only species that are expected to meet someone, fall in love, and mate for life. It is socially engraved in us that we are to marry for life, and to be completely faithful to that one person. Given a person of Goldmund's free spirit and constant need for change, and to experience the new, puts one giant obstacle in his path. He cannot settle down, however much he craves everlasting love. His one love and possible life long companion, need not be a 'wife', simply a person to share his soul with. That person is Narziss. There is, however, one flaw in the equation. Goldmund craves physical love as well as mental stimulation. Whatever possible mate meets his physical requirements in a lover, does not stand up to the standards created by Goldmund's relationship with Narziss. Goldmund is destined to wander, unhappy, searching for something, though he knows not what he is looking for. His many relationships with women, and his tremendous commitment to his art prove tha t all he ever wanted was for something to totally ensconce him, to totally envelop him, to fill the emptiness in his heart left by the mother who deserted him. Goldmund longs for something that can be attained by him at any given point in time, but the fact is, he longs for something that he doesn't want. Security. This novel contains a distinct cyclical structure. This structure is contributed to through characters, themes, ideas, times, and places. Each of these elements facilitate the development of an organized, creative work, delving deep into the human psyche to reveal that both Narziss and Goldmund are players in the same game. There are three separate cycles present in the novel. The first cycle occurs during the first year or two after Goldmund has left Mariabronn. It concludes with Goldmund witnessing a woman giving birth. He sees in her face the face of all of the women he has ever been with, and this connection between love and birth purges him of the sterile passion he felt for Lydia. Characters in this cycle, almost exclusively women, are seen as objects. They are erotic, sensual, and physical, but nothing else. They have no dimension beyond that of a sexual outlet for Goldmund's blind passions. There is an impression of transience present in the mother-world, manifested in Goldmund's many relationships. This is demonstrated most clearly through Lise, when, after she and Goldmund make love together, returns to her home for the night. This happens with other characters as well, most of them having husbands to return to, and Goldmund feels pain because of this knowledge. All of the meetings between Gol dmund and his lovers occur at night, and bears a strong relationship with nature, specifically, animals, trees, and plants. As the cycle continues, Goldmund experiences death as well as life, demonstrated by his killing Victor over a gold coin. Ideas presented within this cycle include the need for commitment. As Goldmund was before a spring lover, he is now a hunted murderer, but he does not at this point in the novel, realize that death, equated with the season of winter, are elements of the mother world. The second cycle beings after Goldmund witnesses the woman giving birth. In this cycle, Goldmund sees death, decay, and the beauty present in each. From Nicholas' statue, Goldmund begins to see the blending of beauty and pain, and he decides to pursue the world of art, under Nicholas. Goldmund sees in art a blending of the mother and father world. The characters Goldmund comes in contact in this cycle give a definite image of pain and death. This is exemplified in the plague scene, wherein Goldmund comes to terms with death, and understands how it transcends, as art does, the mother and father worlds. Ideas presented in this cycle concern the Eve-mother, whose face represents all of the women Goldmund has ever known, and the principle, which unites them all together. There is a complete range of characteristics in this cycle, including moth love, bliss and birth as well as cruelty, decay, and death. Time and place play an important role in this scene, especially

Effective Cooperative Learning Strategies

Effective Cooperative Learning Strategies Cooperative learning is an effective way for students to learn and process information quickly with the help of others. The goal of using this strategy is for students to work together to achieve a common goal. It is essential that each student understands their cooperative learning group role. Here we will take a brief look at a few specific roles, expected behavior within that role, as well as how to the monitor groups. Assign Individual Roles to Help Students Stay on Task Assign each student a specific role within their group, this will help each student stay on task and help the overall group work more cohesively. Here are a few suggested roles: Task Master/Team LeaderThis role entails the student to make sure his/her group stays on task. Sample statements: Have we read the paragraph on George Washington yet? We need to move on, we only have ten minutes left.CheckerThe checkers role is to make sure that everyone agrees with an answer. A Sample statement may be, Does everyone agree with Jens answer on the year Washington was born?RecorderThe role of the recorder is to write down everyone in the groups responses once they have all agreed to them.EditorThe editor is responsible for correcting all of the grammatical errors and to check for neatness.GatekeeperThe role of this person can be described as the peacemaker. He/she must make sure that everyone is participating and getting along. Sample statement: Lets here from Brady now.PraiserThis role entails a student to encourage other students to share their ideas and to work hard. A sample statement may be, Great idea Reesa, but lets keep trying, we can do this. Responsibilities and Expected Behaviors in Groups An essential element of cooperative learning is for students to use their interpersonal skills in a group setting. In order for students to accomplish their task, each individual must communicate and work collectively (use the  talking chips strategy to control noise).  Here are a few of the expected behaviors and duties each student is responsible for: Expected behaviors within the group: Everyone must contribute to the taskEveryone must listen to others within the groupEveryone must encourage group members to participatePraise good ideasAsk for help when neededCheck for understandingStay on task Responsibilities for each individual: To tryTo askTo helpTo be politeTo praiseTo listenTo be present 4 Things to Do When Monitoring Groups In order to ensure that groups are working effectively and together to complete the task, the teachers role is to observe and monitor each group. Here are four specific things that you can do while circulating around the classroom. Give Feedback:  If the group is unsure on a specific task and needs help, give your immediate feedback and examples that will help reinforce their learning.Encourage and Praise:  When circulating the room, take the time to encourage and praise groups for their group skills.Reteach Skills:  If you notice that any group does not understand a particular concept, use this as an opportunity to reteach that skill.Learn About the Students:  Use this time to learn about your students. You may find that one role works for one student and not another. Record this information for future group work.

Ethics and Morals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics and Morals - Essay Example It is regarded by society, religion culture and family setting. On the other hand, ethics is about the decisions which we make. When an individual takes an action with conforms to the societal beliefs and standards, that action are regarded to be ethical. Morals and ethics are guiding principles which assist in giving directions to a person’s conduct. Many at times, people tend to make conclusions that will be of favour to them (Nietzsche, 4). It is essential for a person to act and make ethical decision at all times, even when experiencing a difficult moment. It is also important to choose for a resolution which will be fair to everyone since we will be liable to our actions and deeds whether good or bad. The ultimate goal of these societal values is to make the world a better place. The evaluation of the good and the bad of a deed are based on a couple of issues which pertains to the values of morality in the society (Nietzsche & Arendt). The presumption of an issue by the e ntire community is a worrying trend. A person can be timid about reprimanding a certain perpetual societal evils, if the society approves it. It is argued individual absent at the instance of an occurrence should not be allowed to deliberate on the issue. No legal proceedings in court would be a success if we allow ourselves to be deceived by this notion. Substantive measures must be enforced to ensure obedience of the law to the letter. A person can use his capacity to ascertain the truth of the matter without necessarily being a witness to an action when it occurred. A verdict is not passed based on hints at that point in time. A good judge should gather effective and concrete evidence that will help him doubt an eyewitness submission or to disregard inappropriate judgements made by those who witnessed a happening of an event. Passing out judgement without ones presence might be considered to be an element of arrogance. In a moral and ethical perspective, it is basically pointing out what is right or wrong and is totally acceptable since it conforms to codes of ethics. Our society is engulfed in fear of judgement that has been confused by a biblical point of view. â€Å"Never judge and you will not be judged†. This approach is intertwined with throwing the fast stone. Reluctance to judge the right and wrong prowls that there is no voluntariness to an agent. Anyone is accountable and answerable to their deeds. Rising up of the issues of morality even as a by the way, is accompanied by confrontations to the persons who instigated them. Many people tend to keep quiet due to fear as a result of inadequate self-consciousness, confidence and being ego centric. The modesty attitude of saying a person is not worth to judge is also an impediment to the conformity to morals and ethics. This reflects the resemblance in people’s attitude and mentality. Those who make an effort to uphold to decency are considered to be hypocrites or consecrated therefore, t hey are marginalized. Thus, the immense outrage and the uproar in the attempt to correct particular blame on an individual, rather than rebuking all actions or historical tendencies. One can get an insight by recalling on what Hitler did to Plato, Nihilism, Giacchino da Fiore, the French revolution. Hitler was a considered to be murderer, politically powerful and strong. His historical traits and background cannot explain exactly who he really was and his general exercise of authority towards people’

Auteur Director Tim Burton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Auteur Director Tim Burton - Essay Example rnered for himself â€Å"an international audience of fans and influencing a generation of young artists working in film, video, and graphics.† (â€Å"Tim Burton†, 2010). Among the many successful and critically acclaimed films of his, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice are two of the prominent ones. In line with his unique filmmaking genre, both the films had a mix of fantasy as well as gothic elements, but still had certain distinct aspects, which has enabled us to study the films in comparative way. Thus, by focusing on the films, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice, the common themes, recurring motifs and filming practices in the films will be compared. In Edward Scissorhands (1990), Burton ‘told’ the story of an ‘artificial’ man named Edward, who is an unfinished creation, and so had scissors instead of normal hands. When Edward was taken in by a suburban family from his isolated existence in a dark mansion for many years, he fits in well initially, only to be manipulated and made as an outcast. On the other hand, in Beetlejuice (1988), Burton ‘revolves’ the plot around a recently dead young couple, who transform into ghosts and continue to haunt their former home. However, with the entry of new ‘normal’ inhabitants, Deetzes family, the couple gets threatened, seeking the services of an abhorrent and scheming exorcist named Beetlejuice, leading to repercussions. The common themes that are visible in the films, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice are appearance and the related issues with acceptance. The theme of acceptance is shown through how the characters accept or find it difficult to accept other characters, who may be â€Å"different† from the majority. That is, when an individual is different from the majority of the people, in the physical sense, he/she would not be welcomed nor accepted. Although, few characters would accept, certain other characters may not accept, causing problems to many of the characters involved. In Edward

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 57

Journal - Essay Example Sheehan terms the advertisement as a perfect example of social responsible advertisement (243). The author further points out that the form of marketing increases the corporate value of an organization (Sheehan 243). However, the Benetton’s Death Row Campaign is my most detestable advertisement. The advertisement has an objective of creating a human feeling on the people who are convicted with death rows. The execution of the advertisement was also poor. The advertisement used picture insertions of people who are on the death rows across the United States. The advertisement is not social responsible. It creates a negative perception of the people against the justice system. Any corporate advertisement should show support of state institutions or not portray them in a negative image. In addition, Sheehan cites that an organization should not put itself in a position whereby they would gain from the miseries of the society (257). The author is also of the assumption that this is an opportunistic strategy (Sheehan

National Park Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

National Park - Assignment Example To that effect, the paper will discuss the geologic details of the location of the Great Basin. Pizarro (115) shares the evidence that the Great Basin National Park is the only national park in the entire state of Nevada and does not charge entrance fees. However, the tours in the caves can cost up to $10 for every individual. The Great Basin National Park also includes the Mojave Desert together with the Death Valley. The Great Basin National Park is often accessed via the Nevada State Route 488 that is connected to the U.S Routes 6 as well as 50. The park gets its name from dry along with mountainous region between the Wasatch Mountains and Sierra Nevada. The park covers a total of 31,230 hectares (Baker 14) Topography is the first indicator of geology (Decelles 106). The Great Basin National Park has been inhabited by humans for a very long time. The Great Basin is among the most geologically young and tectonically active areas in North America. The generally rugged and mountainous landscape of this region provides evidence continuing mountain-building. The interplay between tectonics and topography is shown in the evolution of the Great Basin (Jones, Farmer, and Unruh, 1409). Oligocene-ash flow tuffs erupted from the calderas and flowed westward and form what is now the Great Basin (Faulds, Henry, Hinz, 505-6). Most of the rocks at the Great Basin were formed during the Cambrian, when the area was situated at the edge of the continental landmass known as the Laurentia. Collette, Gass, and Hagadorn (442) argue that the Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era. It lasted from 540 to about 485 million years. The period is associated with a high amount of lagerstatte sedimentary deposits. The rocks at Great Basin National Park include the Cambrian strata. As the Paleozoic era progressed, various

Leading Employees and Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors Essay

Leading Employees and Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors - Essay Example Moreover, I do my best to influence the outcomes of the events in my workplace through my almost perfect work. My almost perfect work makes me to have the magnetism to attract people in the workplace. I also enjoy consulting on the workplace concerning complex issues and problems, which faces the managers. However, I also enjoy planning, directing, and controlling the staff of a department to ensure the company obtains the highest profit margins. I also consult with business groups and companies to improve effectiveness. To achieve this, I deal with level upon level of bureaucratic red tapes and pressure to improve the performance. I wake up early in the morning before sunrise and continue into late night during my job. I also get concerned on how well others do their work. I am a self-starter and full of enthusiasms about everything I do. I strive to do the best, and get involved in all competitive activities including sports. I have won several awards for outstanding performances. I also ensure that before doing a certain task, I have completed the previous one. I have an inner drive, which motivates me to accomplish something that had never been done before. In doing this, I maintain a sense of purpose and direction which is larger than I am. I would enjoy being in a job that requires hard and fast decisions. I also prefer being free and independent at work and a high salary and job security. I firmly believe that those who take the most risks with their own savings should receive the greatest financial rewards. This characteristic enables me to believe that I am courageous, energetic, and optimistic. I am also good at appraising others in the work place and I give credit readily where it is due. Instead of arguing with people, I give a benefit of doubt although very rarely. To achieve this, I am mostly honest and ruthless if others play the devious rules (Rue & Byars, 2006, p.256). A Comprehensive Best Practices Manual for New Supervisors This manual will h elp guide the supervisors to attain the best practices in this company. It contains important parts that makeup good supervisory skills that will guide supervisors throughout their supervisory level. Several elements are contained in this manual as follows. Demonstrating Communication Skills This is very important to supervisors. The employees will respond well to supervisors that communicate well and are comfortable taking instructions from them. The two best approaches in communication will involve listening and speaking. During communication, the supervisor ought to listen more while the rest of the time will be used in speaking and directing. Listening helps the supervisors gain knowledge of the people that the supervisor is responsible. It also helps the supervisor gain an insight on the weakness of the employees, their skills, complaints, and the ideas. It also involves active listening, which allows the supervisor to comprehend what the speaker is saying, and helps solve the problems. The second element involved in communication is speaking. This constitutes of a small percentage. It involves giving instructions and solutions to employees’ problems. Determining effective orientation and training methods for employee training A vital key to training employees is to ensure that they have the required information to do the job before they start the job. It is important to ensure that the employees feel as if they are embarking on an

Tabloid, Celebrity Internet Assignment Research Paper

Tabloid, Celebrity Internet Assignment - Research Paper Example He suggested four categories for the purveyors of news, namely: elite, prestige, popular, and tabloid (Sparks and Tulloch, 2000, 292). It follows a hierarchical classification where the best is the elite and the tabloid - at the bottom rung - is typified by poor quality in terms of structure and content. The differences demonstrate a reverse progression of content standards - from objective stories that are factual and substantial, the additional use of images, the emphasis on drama, action, entertainment, simplicity and immediacy, to the pure sensationalized content that focus on scandals, celebrity and crime. It is interesting to note that Paletz, identified TV shows such as American Journal, A Current Affair, Hard Copy and Inside Edition in addition to supermarket tabloids in the category of tabloid news (Sparks and Tulloch, 293). Rainwater supported this stratified characteristics when he explained the hierarchy and characteristics of taste and cultures are similar to the hierarc hy and characteristics of the U.S. class structure, pointing out that the taste that a person develops can largely depend on his or her class origins, particularly the quality of education. The idea is that tabloid media must cater to the low taste culture of a segment of the population that are not exposed to higher cultural origin - those that prefer â€Å"greater literalness† and the emphasis on action, as found in adventure stories, melodrama and violent sports (Rainwater, 2009, 356). Rainwater stressed that â€Å"taste culture often express the class concerns of their public† (356). This aspect highlights the cultural and social dimension to tabloid programming. The public reception to the Bonnie and Clyde movie demonstrate this position. It was positively received by the audience across various class groupings. But the appreciation came from diverging perspectives. The elite saw the material as a critique to the American society whereas lower class public saw it as a crime thriller, one that shocks and entertains. A comparison to history or historical documentary/narrative is an excellent approach to highlight the nature of tabloid media. According to Glynn (2000), history â€Å"depicts the current regime as the inevitable expression of an unbroken continuity rooted in human nature and a presumptively teleological social evolution† (138). The opposing approach is identified as genealogy, which focuses on discontinuity into our very being in an attempt to explore possibilities of the past and the future. As Glynn pointed out, the origin of tabloid media is aligned with its modalities since genealogy is all about depicting history â€Å"in the form of a concerted carnival† (138). What makes it appealing is the fact that it supposedly provokes laughter and entertainment as opposed to the sobriety and solemnity of pure truth. These points of view highlight the perception that tabloid media public tends to be drawn to fantastical m aterials that show extremely distorted truth in order to satisfy a thirst for entertainment. Also, media today - through technological advancement - has become a public forum where producers of content sets the stage and the millions of spectators can access or watch at the same time, regardless of geographical distance and time. There are authors who consider the media and the entertainment industry as a battleground wherein important messages, images, issues and constructs

National Park Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

National Park - Assignment Example To that effect, the paper will discuss the geologic details of the location of the Great Basin. Pizarro (115) shares the evidence that the Great Basin National Park is the only national park in the entire state of Nevada and does not charge entrance fees. However, the tours in the caves can cost up to $10 for every individual. The Great Basin National Park also includes the Mojave Desert together with the Death Valley. The Great Basin National Park is often accessed via the Nevada State Route 488 that is connected to the U.S Routes 6 as well as 50. The park gets its name from dry along with mountainous region between the Wasatch Mountains and Sierra Nevada. The park covers a total of 31,230 hectares (Baker 14) Topography is the first indicator of geology (Decelles 106). The Great Basin National Park has been inhabited by humans for a very long time. The Great Basin is among the most geologically young and tectonically active areas in North America. The generally rugged and mountainous landscape of this region provides evidence continuing mountain-building. The interplay between tectonics and topography is shown in the evolution of the Great Basin (Jones, Farmer, and Unruh, 1409). Oligocene-ash flow tuffs erupted from the calderas and flowed westward and form what is now the Great Basin (Faulds, Henry, Hinz, 505-6). Most of the rocks at the Great Basin were formed during the Cambrian, when the area was situated at the edge of the continental landmass known as the Laurentia. Collette, Gass, and Hagadorn (442) argue that the Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era. It lasted from 540 to about 485 million years. The period is associated with a high amount of lagerstatte sedimentary deposits. The rocks at Great Basin National Park include the Cambrian strata. As the Paleozoic era progressed, various

Tabloid, Celebrity Internet Assignment Research Paper

Tabloid, Celebrity Internet Assignment - Research Paper Example He suggested four categories for the purveyors of news, namely: elite, prestige, popular, and tabloid (Sparks and Tulloch, 2000, 292). It follows a hierarchical classification where the best is the elite and the tabloid - at the bottom rung - is typified by poor quality in terms of structure and content. The differences demonstrate a reverse progression of content standards - from objective stories that are factual and substantial, the additional use of images, the emphasis on drama, action, entertainment, simplicity and immediacy, to the pure sensationalized content that focus on scandals, celebrity and crime. It is interesting to note that Paletz, identified TV shows such as American Journal, A Current Affair, Hard Copy and Inside Edition in addition to supermarket tabloids in the category of tabloid news (Sparks and Tulloch, 293). Rainwater supported this stratified characteristics when he explained the hierarchy and characteristics of taste and cultures are similar to the hierarc hy and characteristics of the U.S. class structure, pointing out that the taste that a person develops can largely depend on his or her class origins, particularly the quality of education. The idea is that tabloid media must cater to the low taste culture of a segment of the population that are not exposed to higher cultural origin - those that prefer â€Å"greater literalness† and the emphasis on action, as found in adventure stories, melodrama and violent sports (Rainwater, 2009, 356). Rainwater stressed that â€Å"taste culture often express the class concerns of their public† (356). This aspect highlights the cultural and social dimension to tabloid programming. The public reception to the Bonnie and Clyde movie demonstrate this position. It was positively received by the audience across various class groupings. But the appreciation came from diverging perspectives. The elite saw the material as a critique to the American society whereas lower class public saw it as a crime thriller, one that shocks and entertains. A comparison to history or historical documentary/narrative is an excellent approach to highlight the nature of tabloid media. According to Glynn (2000), history â€Å"depicts the current regime as the inevitable expression of an unbroken continuity rooted in human nature and a presumptively teleological social evolution† (138). The opposing approach is identified as genealogy, which focuses on discontinuity into our very being in an attempt to explore possibilities of the past and the future. As Glynn pointed out, the origin of tabloid media is aligned with its modalities since genealogy is all about depicting history â€Å"in the form of a concerted carnival† (138). What makes it appealing is the fact that it supposedly provokes laughter and entertainment as opposed to the sobriety and solemnity of pure truth. These points of view highlight the perception that tabloid media public tends to be drawn to fantastical m aterials that show extremely distorted truth in order to satisfy a thirst for entertainment. Also, media today - through technological advancement - has become a public forum where producers of content sets the stage and the millions of spectators can access or watch at the same time, regardless of geographical distance and time. There are authors who consider the media and the entertainment industry as a battleground wherein important messages, images, issues and constructs

Snakes and People Are One Essay Example for Free

Snakes and People Are One Essay In the Bible, it is written Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds. † Furthermore it is said that These [including the snake] are to you the unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they [the ‘swarming things’] are dead becomes unclean until evening (Leviticus 11:29 and 31). Thus many, across cultures and different religions, have equated the snake as well, with sin, pestilence and devils and demons. No wonder many of us fear the snake. Indeed the snake is fearsome for its lethal capacity given its venom and all. But how fair is it to say ‘Just be gone with this creature’? How many of us have taken this beautiful creature for granted? Or better yet, see how many of us will respond to the presence of a snake the way the young man in the following story reacted: (www. australianexplorer. com) Quite some years ago I was visiting friends in a lovely seaside spot (well very near the sea) called Pottsville in New South Wales. An appropriate name it seemed at the time. My friends had an English friend staying with them also. His name was Nigel. My friends house was a rather dilapidated old weatherboard house with natural air-conditioning, i. e. , lots of holes. Nigel decided to have a bath in the rather primitive and holey bathroom. We could hear him singing happily away. Next minute there was a shriek ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! We heard the bathroom door slam and saw Nigel making for the woodheap, nude. He went behind the woodheap and next thing we heard was thump, thump, thump coming from the bathroom along with cries of I got you, you b I got you We all thought it might be a good idea to go and see what was bothering Nigel. Imagine our horror to see Nigel, axe in hand, standing triumphantly astraddle a very large snake cut into several large pieces. We were horrified because the snake was Bob, our friends pet ratter, a rather sweet and lugubrious carpet python of nearly 2 meters in length who had a penchant for curling up at the bottom of my friends bed. Nigel explained, somewhat incoherently, that the snake had fallen out of the roof into the bath with him. What would you have done? he asked us. Yes, what would you have done in such a situation? We reckon that many would not pity the snake in this story and would quickly empathize with the man. If that is so, then there is a need to take a better look at the serpent, this reptilian that forsook its legs. If you said yes, consider the brief points raised here. We do not only have life in this small planet, but a web of life. That web wobbles and stretches in space-time as the existence of millions and millions of species hang in a precarious balance, all nurtured by one resource: the planet Earth. Various flora (that’s plant life), mammals (that’s includes us humans), birds, fishes, insects and, of course, snakes and reptiles — all life — are interconnected. That is why scientists have raised the specter of extinction of many species of flora and fauna. If we wipe out other species, like that of the snake, we will create a significant imbalance in the ecology and create a whole in the so-called web of life that could eventually destroy it, decimating us, humans, as well. Snakes and the other so-called â€Å"ugly creatures† have become a worldwide concern especially in congested habitats where human and snake populations overlap in certain territories (Firth, Sheikh-Miller, and Woodcock, 2001). Exploitation of natural snake habitats are further forcing the two species to live together and now with the human population expected to double within the next 40 years, both snakes and humans will greatly be affected as human needs world grow exponentially as well (Ricciuti, 2001). . Well, humans and snakes can live well together. There is no doubt. Early societies have shown this. For instance, there is evidence that the early North American people have manipulated their surroundings in such a way that snake and human habitats overlap. Eyewitness accounts from the early European explorers, trappers, soldiers and missionaries affirmed that prior to their settlement in the wilderness native Indians even consume some snake species (Nagda, 2002). This is not unique to the Americas and the relationship is not only about one serving as gastronomical delight for the other. Around the world, nature has provided humans with all the resources needed in order for both humans and snakes to survive. In this arrangement throughout history, the snake has been a food source, habitat balancer (being a natural predator of smaller animals), source of unique proteins for medical use, as pets (as in our story here), as symbols for religious practice, as source of sophisticated raw materials for clothing, footwear and accessories, and then, of course, snakes are also popular subjects for art and photography. (Firth et al. , 2001) Given all these, unfortunately, snake hunting, poaching, and especially indiscriminate killing continues (Mattison, 1992). Humans, why kill wantonly? Why be unduly afraid? References Graham, B. (2008). Murder by serpents. The mystery quilt, p. 439. Mattison, C. (1992). A-Z of snake keeping, p. 143; (1992) Keeping and breeding snakes. p. 132 and 183. Nagda, A. W. (2002). Snake charmer, Vol. 1. Ricciuti, E. R. (2001). The snake almanac, 192: 116. Sheikh-Miller, J. , Woodcock, J. (2001). Snakes. Usborne discovery, p. 63. Travel stories. Retrieved 10 May 2008, from http://www. australianexplorer. com/ forum/stories/128. htm

Teaching Essays Curriculum Development Learning Styles

Teaching Essays Curriculum Development Learning Styles Focus on Curriculum Development Learning Styles Introduction: There are different learning styles that have developed with accompanying tests that helps individuals to understand their learning styles. A learning style is a method that is used to educate which is particular to a specific individual and which is assumed that if used by that individual, it will help them to learn their best. It has been described as that particular style that helps individuals to process the stimuli of their mind which helps them to understand what they are being taught. Though the concept of learning style is relatively young having gained ground in the 1970s, it has become an important process in the modern education especially on matters concerning how teachers use it in the curriculum and how it is used in the development of the curriculum. It has been found out that if teachers understand the learning styles of their pupil, they can help their students to adapt to the needs of their classroom work and hence make the process of learning interesting to them. Therefore it has been found quite important to integrate the various learning styles of students in the curriculum in order to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the various students who are taught using the same curriculum. (Wang and Nagy, 2007) This paper looks at different learning styles that have been identified. It will try to relate the learning styles with how they are being in the curriculum. Hence the focus will be on the learning styles and how the curriculum has been developed to cater for the needs of different learning styles. But first let us look at learning styles. Models and theories of learning styles There are more that 80 learning styles that have been proposed but all of them consist of some basic styles. There are three basic learning models that have been identified and that are used by learners. Let us look at these models. Visual learners This is a model where student learn through seeing. It is a method in which ideas, concepts, and other information are closely associated with the images that are represented in a graphical manner. The learner just need to see the body language of the teacher and the facial expression that the teacher in order to understand what they are teaching. This method is mostly used by those students who are able to concentrate for a long time and who prefer to sit in front of their classrooms in order to avoid any distraction to their visual aids. These students may think in pictures and at the same time learn form the visual displays like diagrams, overhead transparencies, videos, flip charts, and other materials which use visual aids to communicate. The learners are usually very much attentive during the classroom lessons and they take notes in order to absorb most of the information that is being given by the teacher. (Lawrence, 1999) Researches have found out that visual learning theory helps students to improve in many education areas including critical thinking where they are likely to link graphics with verbal and visual information and draw understanding from such a relationship, retention where these students are likely to remember most of the information which was visually or verbally represented, comprehension where student can understand new ideas and connect then to their previous experience or knowledge, and organization where the students can actually use diagrams in order to organize large amount of data in a way that it can be easily understood. The base of this learn style lies in the way a student can visualize the data and later interpret it and build literacy along that data. (Sather, 2007) Auditory Learning Style This is a style where students learn through listening. In this style, students learn through verbal lectures which include a variety of discussions, talking and listening. The student who uses this style may not strive to be in front of the classroom but they like staying at a distance where they can get most of what is happening. They are able to interpret the meaning of a speech through interpreting the underlying tone of teacher voice, pitch, speed and other nuances of speech. They may not concentrate on writing what is being said but they are very keen on listening what is being said. They don’t rush to take notes but they take time to write their notes. The learners also can benefit a lot from reading aloud texts and also use a tape recorder. This style is used by about 20 percent of the population. In most instances, when these students are learning, the read but they cannot understand if there is no sound in the background. Therefore most to them will be reading and at the same time listening to music or any other background noise. Some of the students have been found to read when there is noise in the background. These learners focus more on the sound that they are hearing that what they are learning. When they are spelling, they usually use sounds. In case they meet with individuals, they are likely to forget their faces but remember their names. These students also like to talk a lot. (Kolb, 2003) Tactile or Kinesthetic Learners These can be described as learners who learn by moving, doing or touching. They have been descried as learning best through a hands approach in which they actively explore the physical world around them. Although they may appear like restless students how finds it hard to sit still for long period, they use their restlessness in moving and touching to learns. In this regard, this learning style is said to take place when student carry out the physical learning activity instead of taking their time to listen or watch the demonstration of a learning activity. Student who use this learning styles have been said to the some of the natural discoverers learners as they are able to achieve most of their learning through practical applicability of the theories unlike having thought over something for along time and then initiating the concept. However there is not evidence that has been shown to support the efficacy of the kinesthetic theory of learning. Going by the above learning theories, the visual learners makes up to 30 percent of the population while the auditory learners are around 20 to 25 percent. There fore kinesthetic learners could make up majority of the population in this regard making up to about 45 percent of learners. Kinesthetic learners have been found to be more efficient in the other physical activities at school and in other areas of application. This analysis gives us the three major types of learning styles that are used. This shows diversity that exists in the student population and therefore there is need to understand this diversity in order to be an effective curriculum instructor. This indicates that though a teacher may be having student in the same class, they m ay be having diverse needs than the physical needs that the teacher can actually see in the students. Therefore as was said in the introduction, there is need for the teacher to have full knowledge of the diverse learning styles of each and every student in order to cater for their needs. Without such and understand of the learning styles of students, it would be hard for a teacher to identify students and classify them into their respective learning styles. This would help the teacher to serve them well. Let us now look at how the curriculum is developed in order to cater for the needs of these students. (Fang, 2002) Curriculum Development and Learning Styles Curriculum is used to support the effort of the teacher in education. A curriculum is just a set of program that gives detail on how students should be taught. It acts as guideline that is systematically made to allow learner to understand concepts it stages. It is an important tool not only to the teacher but also to the learners. Educators place so much emphasize on the design of the curriculum since it has impacts on the education of the students. Curriculum and instruction are some of the most important sectors in education. Hence we can say the curriculum is the base of any education process. (McCarthy, 2004) As we have said learning theories are very imprint in the education process. This is because they have an impact on the design of not only the curriculum but also instruction and assessment. Learning theories are considered when coming up with the process since they are important in supporting the education process. Learning theories are important in the curriculum since educator place a lot of emphases on the intuition, feeing, sensing, imagination and other aspects that are important in helping the student understand what they are being taught. In the curriculum learning styles are also important in analyze, reason and the problem solving process. In the instruction, learning theories have an impact in that teachers should come up with their own instruction methods which will help the students understand what they are being taught. Teachers should come up with instruction methods that caters for the needs of the students using the above four learning styles. This means that it will first take the teacher time to understand the kind of learners who are in the class and try to address their needs in the process of teaching. A teacher will use various experiences that have been gained over time. In addition a teacher will be expect to use reflections, conceptualization and experimentations in coming up with the best teaching method that will help the students understand. As instructors of the curriculum, teachers can introduce variety of experiment elements in the classrooms like sound, music, visuals, body movement, verbal lecturing and other methods which will cater for the needs of the students. For a teacher to know whether they are giving needed curriculum and instruction to the student, they are likely to assess the students. This is a part of the curriculum which shows the effective of the design and implementation of the curriculum. In this regard, teachers must understanding the needs and learning styles of different students in order to come up the proper assessment techniques. Because teachers cannot give different assessment tests to different students according to their learning style, they should therefore employ various techniques in the assessment that will help them to develop all the brains in their classroom. In their regard, the assessment tests should be balance such that it addresses all the needs of students without giving undue advantage to others. The curriculum is made up of the above mentioned three aspects. That means that there is the curriculum content, there must be defined was in which the curriculum shall be instructed to the students, and it must provide means of assessment for the contents of the curriculum. Therefore the provision of the curriculum must be based on the learning style as had been illustrate above. Consideration of the learning styles is very crucial in the learning environment since it dictates the way the curriculum is developed. In developing the curriculum, there must be effort to address the needs of each and every student. As we have seen from our analysis, the biggest percentage among the student population perhaps the kinesthetic learner who constitute about 45 percent of the population. Therefore the curriculum must take into consideration this proportion of the population in order to have relevant and effective contents. The content of the curriculum must give specific details which ensure that the deliver of the contents will have more practical work than theoretic work. This is in order to work with the percentage of the population that is high in the population. Unfortunately many curriculums that have been designed have not kept to the issue of learning theories in the population. This makes many of the curriculums unable to meet their expectation. The expectation of any curriculum is to impart knowledge to the students in the simplest manner possible. This will help them to gain knowledge easily. Therefore if the curriculum is to meet its goals, it must be designed in a way that it addressed the needs of each and every learner in the population. In this regard the curriculum may be having the contents that take care of the learners but the instructors may fail to implement these provisions. This makes learning ineffective and student underperforms. Conclusion As we have seen there are various learning styles that are used by students. These learning styles are important since they help each and every student to understand the contents of the curriculum in the simplest way possible. Teachers as the instructors of the curriculum must understand the learning style of their students in order to give them the best instructions that they need in their learning process. The design of the curriculum must also take care of the needs of each and every student. Therefore the curriculum should be developed in a way that its content, instruction and the assessment guides must give each and every student an advantage. This means that teachers as the instructors of the curriculum have a role to play to ensure that the needs of each and every student is met. Reference Fang, A. (2002). Utilization of learning styles in curriculum development. New York State Kolb, D. (2003). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. New York: Wiley Lawrence, G. (1999). Practical Guide to Learning Styles; Oxford University McCarthy, B. (2004). Teaching to Learning Styles; London: Routledge Sather, A. (2007). The benefit of principals and teaching of supporting youth engagement in school; NASSP Bulletin December 2007 Wang, N. Nagy, J. (2007): The alternate route teacher transition to the class. NASSP Bulletin, March 2007

Loss of Innocence in Hamlet Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework

Loss of Innocence in Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is a character that we love to read about and analyze. His character is so realistic, and he is so romantic and idealistic that it is hard not to like him. He is the typical young scholar facing the harsh reality of the real world. In this play, Hamlet has come to a time in his life where he has to see things as they really are. Hamlet is an initiation story. Mordecai Marcus states "some initiations take their protagonists across a threshold of maturity and understanding but leave them enmeshed in a struggle for certainty"(234).   And this is what happens to Hamlet.    Although Hamlet is a little old to have this experience of coming to be a man, we have to realize that his circumstances are not typical. He has lived as the son of a king. He is a scholar who has spent his life studying. He has lived in a world that is not the typical world. And the extraordinary and horrible circumstances that lead him to his manhood break his will and his spirit and eventually cause him to lose his life. Hamlet has experienced a significant change of knowledge and this change does lead him into an adult world, although this is a world that Hamlet cannot live in. Hamlet, through the relationships with his mother, father, and Ophelia, does become a man. But Hamlet's disposition is so fragile, and he is so idealistic that this new world that he faces is not a world that he would ever be comfortable in, and it is not a world that he can live in.    In the beginning of the play, Hamlet's father comes to him as a ghost from the grave. He tells Hamlet of his uncle's betrayal of him and tells Hamlet that he must kill Claudius to set things right. Through this event, Hamlet... ...became a man, he is still left with uncertainty that ultimately results in his death. Unfortunately, this uncertainty of Hamlet's is one that cannot be overcome. Hamlet is a story of realizing that the world is not what we thought it was, that everything is not good, and that there are bad people in the world. It is a story about searching for the meaning behind it all and about trying to figure out how to make a decision. It is a story about becoming a man and Hamlet is the kind of character that keeps us enthralled until the very end.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Works Cited Berman, Allison. "We Only Find Ourselves." Hamlet reaction papers. Wynnewood: FCS, 2000. Lugo, Michael. "Thus Conscience Does Make Cowards of Us All." Hamlet reaction papers. Wynnewood: FCS, 2000. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. 1600? Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet Classic, 1998   

Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Friend On November 16th each of the individuals on this altar were to take part in what would have been the most special day in Michael’s life†¦ the day he would have taken Stephanie’s hand in marriage. Instead we stand before you today and attempt to eulogize a great friend and beloved brother. Though our hearts are filled with much sadness on this day, our message is not one of despair, but one of hope, love, and celebration. Anyone who had the good fortune of spending time with Mike can attest to the wit and good humor, which he embodied. He loved to laugh and more importantly he loved to make others laugh†¦a job he always seemed to accomplish with ease. He was the type of person who lived his life to the fullest, and took advantage of each and every minute. These were central traits that dominated Mike’s personality. While we mourn the loss of such a great person, we should not lose sight of these ideals which Mike found so important. He would want us to continue living our lives in the same manner he did. He would want us to laugh again. Rather than mourn his death, he would want us to celebrate his life.   In keeping with that spirit, we thought about the many things that Mike did to make us laugh. We remember the time he worked for Menna's meats as a delivery boy. Even while at work he would make us laugh. He would drive by the silver beach parking lot, while we were playing football, in a huge cream colored thunderbird doing his deliveries. As he would pull around the turn we knew it was Mike. As he passed by he would be wearing a huge orange colored crash helmet while giving us the thumbs up, man we would laugh hysterically.    We also remember Mike and his Fantasy Football team. He and Benny would pick the worst team every year. We would all make fun of him for listening to Benny. He would just laugh along with us and watch his team come in last place †¦.. year after year after year. I’m sure he’s laughing at us now because his team is a contender this year.   We also reflected back to the last week of Mike’s life. It was a typical week for Mike. Tuesday, fantasy football night (which Eulogy for Friend :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Friend On November 16th each of the individuals on this altar were to take part in what would have been the most special day in Michael’s life†¦ the day he would have taken Stephanie’s hand in marriage. Instead we stand before you today and attempt to eulogize a great friend and beloved brother. Though our hearts are filled with much sadness on this day, our message is not one of despair, but one of hope, love, and celebration. Anyone who had the good fortune of spending time with Mike can attest to the wit and good humor, which he embodied. He loved to laugh and more importantly he loved to make others laugh†¦a job he always seemed to accomplish with ease. He was the type of person who lived his life to the fullest, and took advantage of each and every minute. These were central traits that dominated Mike’s personality. While we mourn the loss of such a great person, we should not lose sight of these ideals which Mike found so important. He would want us to continue living our lives in the same manner he did. He would want us to laugh again. Rather than mourn his death, he would want us to celebrate his life.   In keeping with that spirit, we thought about the many things that Mike did to make us laugh. We remember the time he worked for Menna's meats as a delivery boy. Even while at work he would make us laugh. He would drive by the silver beach parking lot, while we were playing football, in a huge cream colored thunderbird doing his deliveries. As he would pull around the turn we knew it was Mike. As he passed by he would be wearing a huge orange colored crash helmet while giving us the thumbs up, man we would laugh hysterically.    We also remember Mike and his Fantasy Football team. He and Benny would pick the worst team every year. We would all make fun of him for listening to Benny. He would just laugh along with us and watch his team come in last place †¦.. year after year after year. I’m sure he’s laughing at us now because his team is a contender this year.   We also reflected back to the last week of Mike’s life. It was a typical week for Mike. Tuesday, fantasy football night (which

Retailing businesses Essay

Different retailing businesses have very different distribution methods based on the types of product that they sell, some arguably more effectively than others. As mentioned in an earlier assignment, there are three main types of distribution channels. The first is the channel that goes from the producer, then to the wholesaler, then to the retailer or sells to the consumer. The second channel starts with the producer who sells straight to the retailer, who then sells to the consumer. The third channel goes directly from the producer to the consumer. Channels one and two are classed as indirect marketing channels, whereas channel three is a direct marketing channel as it goes straight from producer to consumer. All of the distribution channels start with a producer who will create the products, for example the person that milks the cows to get milk. For the first channel, the producer makes the product and then sells it to a wholesaler, such as Costsco who will purchase a huge quantity of products from them. They would do this to make sure that they have enough to sell onto retailers. They would keep a large amount of the product, for example some kind of confectionary, in there warehouse so they’re in a suitable environment to be kept until they’re sold on. Next, the retailer, who could be a small store or a larger store, who would want to purchase a specific amount of products from the wholesalers, not in as bulk form as the wholesaler would have purchased them in. This method would typically be used by used by smaller, more personal stores, that don’t need to buy in such bulk. This channel is effective for confectionary products for example, as Costco can get sweets such as Dairy Milk bars, or Skittles, at an incredibly low price for huge boxes. It is good because it means that the businesses further down the chain will have confidence that they will be able to get the products that they want because the wholesaler gets the items I such bulk and if they sell all of their products, they can replenish easily. For the second channel, the retailer can give their consumers a guarantee that the product is fresher than if they used channel one, as they are getting the product directly from the producer before selling it to the consumer. This is because companies get the products directly from producers so they can guarantee the quality, unlike the first channel where the products go through two separate distributors which could contaminate the product or  raise the risk of it being damaged. An example of this would be the electronics company Sony. Due to the fact that Sony produces their own products and then sells them onto other electronic stores such as Currys/PC World who will then sell the products onto the consumers. The third Channel will typically deal with the consumer directly rather than using a middleman. This means that the customer will get the product or service at that moment on purchase. An example of this could be seen with Gregg’s Bakery. Due to the fact they will have their products made on site and would be able to sell their customers everything they have produced in store without using other stores ford or bringing in any assistance. By doing this it gives Greggs a better look by being able to say that they produce all of their products on site and they can also guarantee that the products are fresh. Different sectors of business will use different techniques when going through the distribution stage differently. This can be from the difference of storing products whilst distributing them and how they actually transport the product to the next person in the channel. For example, how a food retailer and gets their products distributed will be different to how a clothing sto re gets theirs. For a restaurant they use a wide variety of produces such as local farmers and local fishermen, depending on the type of restaurant that they own. They could have very specific producers, for example if they were a halal based restaurant they would have to be very specific about their supplier. Then they will have to either make a deal with the producer/supplier so they can collect produce direct from them. Then they will prepare the food ready to cook it and will store the prepared ingredients safely at the correct temperature. They will then wait for the person at the end of the chain – the consumer – to come to the restaurant to cook it for them. This is good for the producer because money will track back to them through the restaurant gaining the money from selling the meals. The money goes into the restaurant from customers pockets, and then the restaurant will use a portion of this money to re-purchase some supplies from the producer. This is when a good working relationship will develop between them as they will gain more sales and earn more money back. Continuing with a food retailer, Greggs or a restaurant will want to get fresher ingredients than other retailers so that they can make sure they produce all of their products to be as fresh as can be. This  can be done for example by Gregg’s own in-store bakeries having their ingredients delivered in the morning and then they bake them the same morning to make sure they are as fresh as possible. When they order the ingredients from the producers they will have to check that the supplier is storing the produce correctly before purchasing, otherwise they may purchase products that could be unsuitable for them to use and if they did use them, could create problems for them in the future. A good example of this could be seen with restaurants purchasing fish. A lot of the time they would send an employee to get it directly after it has been caught on the boat . They do this so that there are no issues with how the fish is stored, as if it is stored incorrectly whilst distributed it will cause severe food poisoning and could lead to the restaurant getting sued or shut down. A clothing retailer will start the process from the producer then they will involve the their designers and then they would create the products. If the retailer manufactures their own brand clothing for example Primark the producers send the finished garments directly to their warehouses fir distribution into their stores. If it is a clothing retailer that buys garments from fashion houses or via intermediaries then the finished items would go to their wholesalers and then potentially go to retailers depending on what business it is and then finally, they would be bought by the consumers. They would start the process by collecting the cotton from the cotton farmers then they would be shipped off to the factories where weavers and designers will create the fabrics, the fabric factories will then sell them to clothing manufacturing companies who will create something that retailers can sell on to make a profit from the whole process. When they have been created they will choose either to sell them onto a wholesaler or to only sell it in their particular stores. With some businesses having stores in other countries it means they have to have all of their products send to one area then they will have to have those products sent to other stores across to other countries, extending the distribution channels. A retail business such as House of Fraser will be using the second channel. This means that they will get their clothing material/parts sent to them and then thy will create their products, and then send them to their retail stores. Because they have a large area inside their stores to store and display their stock it means they can have a large amount of one clothing item on sale at once. Because  House of Fraser is a bigger company than Greggs they will be using more trucks to get their products to them. Another difference between the two would be that House of Fraser will be able to store their products for a longer period of time due to them selling the non-perishable products unlike Greggs, who make the majority of their products on a daily basis and at the end of the day would have to throw those products away otherwise they would go off. In terms of cost, a restaurant will be willing to spend money in order to get products distributed to them in a safe and hygienic way, as long as they know the full process that the products take. For other businesses, such as Primark, the aim is to get them distributed to them at a very low cost, as long as the products aren’t damaged. This is because the products aren’t perishable and there is no need to store them in any specific way to keep them secure.