Mr. Posgais Biology Ii Class Lab Essays - Web Colors,

Mr. Posgai's Biology Ii Class Lab Abstract Mr. Posgai's Biology II class often pondered the thought of insects' attraction to certain colors on flowers. Well, on September 14, 1999, we decided to experiment and figure out which colors on flowers were more dominant over others. Our Biology class divided up into groups of two and three people. Each group took a different colored piece of poster board. One person in each group applied Tangle Trap to the twelve by nine inch area and stapled each board to a piece of lattice. We then took the lattice outside, about fifty feet from the school building and left it outdoors for about forty-eight hours. When we retrieved our lattice, we counted the number of insects on each board and proved our hypothesis, that insects prefer yellow flowers and white flowers over the other colors, to be true. Introduction During the week of September 13, through September 17, Mr. Posgai's Biology II class carried out an interesting experiment involving insects and their color attractions. Pollination is vital to insect and flower reproduction. Birds and insects drift from flower to flower, selecting the appropriate ?flavor? of their choice to carry on their necessary task of nature. With the way nature works, this process sounds to be simple; however, it is much more complicated and in a sense, more unbelievable than you could ever imagine. A bird or insect flies or walks up into the flower to reach the pollen. As time moves o, that same bird and/or insect will move on to something else and carry the pollen with it. The pollen being transferred like this is a major factor in the flower reproduction system. My class came up with the hypothesis that the insects would be most attracted to the colors of yellow and white. Our hypothesis was proved to be true when we brought in the lattice containing all of the individual colored poster board pieces. The results were not surprising to us, as white had gathered eighty three insects and yellow gathering eighty. These colors together almost are more than the rest of the colors' insect amount combined. Materials and Methods -9 Different color poster boards: red, blue, yellow, white, purple, green, black, orange, and hot pink -Tangle Trap -Putty knife -Pencil -Ruler -Lattice -2 sticks Everyone in the class first divided up into groups of three and four people. Each group chose a 14? by 11? piece of poster board of a different color. They took the ruler and marked off with the pencil, approximately a one inch border for handling. With the putty knife at hand, they applied the Tangle Trap to the middle of the board, being careful not to let it get on their hands or clothing. Handling the piece of poster board by the one inch border on the sides, each group carefully took their board and stapled it to the lattice. The lattice was then placed outside (being held up by the two sticks) with all nine different colored poster boards stapled on it, with each piece having a 12? by 9? available trapping space. After about forty-eight hours, they retrieved the lattice and each group took back their assigned color and counted the number of insects on it. Discussion/Conclusion After retrieving our lattice board from outside, and carefully counting over and over, for reassurance, the total amount of insects on each piece of poster board, and the different types, our class came to the final conclusion that yellow, white, and red were the more dominant colors in this particular experiment. Although, this did not exactly match our hypothesis, the results were close. Also, you must take in to consideration when reading this conclusion that we only made one trial. During a normal experiment, there should be more than one test. Afterall, if is hard to determine the facts of nature with multiple experiments, let alone just one. There could also be many other factors which affected our results. An example would be that not everyone calculated exactly a one inch border from the sides of their poster board. Some people may have put the Tangle Trap on their board thicker than others, which would lead to more or less insects sticking to their particular poster board. Another factor may be that the group who was in charge of the purple poster board had to color a plain white piece. Meaning that the board may not be completely purple, and the insects may be attracted to the white spots showing through the colored board.

The Dynamics Of Managing Diversity Essays

The Dynamics Of Managing Diversity Essays The Dynamics Of Managing Diversity Essay The Dynamics Of Managing Diversity Essay Work is a major determiner of mental wellness and societal integrating and that unfortunately favoritism can take to societal exclusion, unemployment and under-employment. This paper foremost identifies the beginnings of the Glass Ceiling and so defines it in relation to handicapped people. It goes on to place grounds for the being of the Glass Ceiling and the Glass Cliff for people with mental wellness troubles. It concludes with steps that could be put into topographic point to guarantee a flat playing field within the workplace and evaluates those steps. Taneja et Al ( 2009 ) supply inside informations in their paper, Empowerment from the Gender Perspective, as to who foremost coined the term glass ceiling and keep it was Katherine Lawrence and Marianne Schreiber of Hewlett Packard in 1979 who described how at that place appeared to be an obvious class of publicity within administrations, but in world adult females seemed to make a point where they were no longer able to progress. Harmonizing to Falk A ; Grizard ( 2005 ) the first mention to the glass ceiling in the printed imperativeness may hold been in a 1984 article in Adweek. The article written by Frenkiel ( 1984 ) profiled Gay Bryant, the so editor of Working Woman, as an of import, advanced businesswoman and quoted her as stating: Womans have reached a certain point. I call it the glass ceiling. They re in the top of in-between direction and they re halting and acquiring stuck. There is nt adequate room for all those adult females at the top. Some are traveling into concern for themselves. Others are traveling out and raising households. Taken from Frenkiel ( 1984 ) It was Hymowitz A ; Schellhardt ( 1986 ) nevertheless ; who ensured the term glass ceiling became a lasting component of the American linguistic communication with an article in the Wall Street Journal that described corporate traditions, patterns and biass that hindered or even prevented the patterned advance of adult females in administrations. As a consequence the U.S. Department of Labor set up a Glass Ceiling Commission in order to level the playing. In 1991 they issued a definition of it, saying that: The glass ceiling is a construct that betrays America s most precious rules. It is the unobserved, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps minorities and adult females from lifting to the upper rounds of the corporate ladder, irrespective of their makings or accomplishments. Glass Ceiling Commission ( 1995 ) Although the term ab initio referred to adult females in administrations who were unable to progress through publicity, in an article taken from Docstock.com, it extends the intension of the term and provinces that in economic sciences, it refers to situations where the promotion of a qualified individual within an organisation is halted at the lower places because of some signifier of favoritism, most normally sexism or racism, but besides describes the limited promotion of the handicapped, and aged. In an interview for Personnel Today, Millar ( 2004 ) discussed Civil Service statistics with Tim Loughton, Shadow Health and Children s Minister that identified an norm of merely 3.6 per cent of junior civil retainers were disabled with the figure dropping to 1.7 per cent for more senior places. Loughton ( 2004 ) stated that there was a glass ceiling in topographic point in the Civil Service for people with disablements and accused the Government of tokenism when it came to implementi ng handicapped enlisting policies. Tal et Al ( 2009 ) suggest that many persons with psychiatric disablements are unemployed or under-employed, with damaging effects for their lives and mental wellness. Although anterior research that stigmatization and favoritism contribute to this result, the exact extent of such employer behavior has remained mostly undetermined. Thorneycroft ( 2006 ) suggests the job can be broken down into three parts, ignorance, pigeonholing and favoritism. Ignorance Cultural beliefs about mental unwellness plus derogative images and contemptuous linguistic communication in the media, ensures society perceives mental unwellness as being an untreatable lunacy ( Allen 2010 ) . There is, hence, the demand to supply work co-workers with the cognition and apprehension of, the troubles and barriers people face in their workplace in relation to non merely mental illhealth, but for all disablements to guarantee ignorance is removed. Employers have antecedently been shown to keep negative attitudes toward mental unwellness ( Nicholas 1998 and Stuart 2006 ) maintain that holding a psychiatric diagnosing can besides earnestly limit calling promotion as employers are less likely to engage people with mental upsets into executive places. Research undertaken by Rosenheck et Al ( 2006 ) shows that people with psychiatric diagnosing are likely to be underemployed, in lower paying humble occupations or in occupations that are incommensurate with their accomplishm ents and involvements: Before I had bipolar upset, I was an electrical applied scientist. Manic depression did non take that off from me, I still have that cognition, those accomplishments and experience . Anon ( 1996 ) Mental unwellnesss can take many signifiers, merely as physical unwellnesss do. Mental unwellnesss are still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fright will vanish as people learn more about them. Lai et Al ( 2001 ) states that one fundamental job is that disablement so frequently overshadows personal individuality. The individual who has an damage is lost to awareness and merely the damage itself is seen. There are many myths about mental unwellness and some of the common myths and truths are identified in Table No. 1 below: Table No. 1: Myths and Truths of Mental Illness Myth Truth Peoples with mental unwellness are violent and unsafe. The truth is that, as a group, mentally sick people are no more violent than any other group. In fact, they are far more likely to be the victims of force than to be violent themselves. Peoples with mental unwellness are hapless and/or less intelligent. Many surveies show that most mentally sick people have mean or above-average intelligence. Mental unwellness, like physical unwellness, can impact anyone regardless of intelligence, societal category or income degree. Mental unwellness is caused by a personal failing. A mental unwellness is non a character defect. It is an unwellness, and it has nil to make with being weak or missing will-power. Although people with mental unwellness can play a large portion in their ain recovery, they did non take to go sick, and they are non lazy because they can non merely snap out of it. Mental unwellness is a individual, rare upset. Mental unwellness is non a individual disease but a wide categorization for many upsets. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenic disorder, personality upsets, eating upsets and organic encephalon upsets. Taken From: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cmha.ca When a individual is promoted into a place that is hazardous, hard with high degrees of duty where the likeliness of success is slender this is said to be the Glass Cliff . Ryan et Al ( 2007 ) from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, suggests that although there have been legion literature undertaken in relation to publicity ( Greenwood, Schriner and Johnson, 1991 ) it has non paid much attending to what happens to professionals once they are beyond the glass ceiling. When set abouting interviews with high ranking professionals Ryan et Al ( 2007 ) found that those with a disablement found their occupations to be hazardous and unstable through a deficiency of support, and an overall deficiency of co-worker cognition in covering with people with disablements. Lai et Al ( 2001 ) undertook research into the stigma of mental wellness and identified that a demand for an addition in public consciousness and the demand for a alteration of focal point within the media industry was required. Consequences from Lai et Al ( 2001 ) shown below at Table No. 2, illustrates the negative position the media has on those with a mental wellness unwellness. Table No. 2: Perceived Contribution by Mass Media to Mental Illness Stigma Lai et Al ( 2001 ) Pigeonholing Rimmer ( 2010 ) explains that pigeonholing reduces people to belonging to a group which is identified by peculiar features. These features are seen to be fixed by nature for illustration, dyslexic people are stupid and those with a mental wellness unwellness are huffy, unsafe, scaring. Rimmer ( 2010 ) besides imparts that people are classified harmonizing to the norm and established system, those who do non suit go other Foucault ( op. cit. Oskala, 2005 ) characterized his work as a history of the different manners by which, in our civilization, human existences are made topics and identified 3 manners of objectification, spliting patterns, scientific categorization and Subjectification Research by Goffman ( 1963 ) into the societal brushs between normal and handicapped people shows that normal people frequently feel uncomfortable and unsure when interacting with individual who are disabled. Goffman ( 1963 ) contends that normals experience ambivalent feelings towards stigmatized persons and seek to avoid holding stigma spread to them by avoiding close association with a handicapped individual confirming Foulcault s Dividing Practices manner of objectification. Scheff ( 1966 ) applied the term mentally badly, to Labeling Theory and challenged common sentiment of mental unwellness by declaring that it is manifested entirely as a consequence of social influence. He argued that society positions certain actions as pervert and, in order to come to footings with and understand these actions, frequently places the label of mental unwellness on those who exhibit them. As mentioned earlier, due to a deficiency of cognition and the impact of stereotypes in the media, people are persuaded to judge those with a mental wellness trouble, peculiarly those with schizophrenic disorder, as unsafe and powerless to believe rationally ( Rethink 2010 ) . Peoples who suffer from a mental wellness trouble do non hold a positive ego image and endure from low ego regard. If a individual is told frequently plenty that they are non good, non lending or eldritch so it is possible they will get down to believe it, which implies that they are so active in the procedure of exteriorizing themselves. Directors need to get the better of a tabu over mental wellness issues. When asked what per centum of employees they thought might hold a mental wellness trouble in their on the job life, 71 per cent idea it would be less than 1 in 20 and 45 per cent said none at all. The existent figure is one in four in general and one in six in the workplace ( Rethink 2010 ) Discrimination The authorities s study of mental wellness and societal exclusion published by the societal exclusion unit in 2004, identified stigma and favoritism experienced by people with mental wellness jobs as the biggest barrier to societal inclusion doing it hard for people to work, entree wellness services, take part in their communities and bask household life: 83 % identified stigma as a cardinal issue, 55 % identified stigma as a barrier to employment and 52 % mentioned negative attitudes towards mental wellness in the community ( Rethink, 2010 ) Given the high degree of societal stigma attached to mental unwellness, it is non surprising so that people with disenabling mental upsets experience favoritism within the workplace. Much research ( Manning, 1996, Diksa, 1995, Nicholas 1998, Stuart 2006 ) has been undertaken that identifies employers have more negative attitudes about engaging workers with psychiatric disablements than approximately about any other group. Baldwin and Johnson ( 1998 ) studied disability-related employment favoritism by analyzing net incomes disparities. After they accounted for productiveness derived functions related to functional restrictions and other productivity-related single features, such as instruction, business, and parttime employment, big unexplained discrepancy in pay derived functions between people with and without disablements remained. Despite the increased Numberss of adult females both take parting in the workplace and accomplishing direction places the grounds is that, for the bulk, promotion to the really highest degrees is rare and that the glass ceiling still exists ( Meyerson A ; Fletcher 2000 ) . In relation to mental wellness troubles, many surveies have suggested that adult females are diagnosed with depression at twice the rate of work forces ( MIND 2005 ) and it is suggested this could be because adult females are more able to inquire for aid. Disclosure is debatable for workers with psychiatric disablements because of the hazard of favoritism. In a national study undertaken by Wahl ( 1999 ) of more than 1,300 persons with disenabling mental upsets, about a 3rd reported that after unwraping a mental unwellness they were turned down for a occupation for which they felt qualified. It is likely that many workers with psychiatric disablements fear that revelation will cut down their occupation chances and as mentioned earlier, holding a psychiatric diagnosing can earnestly restrict calling promotion. Although revelation is an issue, if more adult females are able to inquire for aid and therefore are unwraping their mental wellness troubles more so than work forces, this may be one of the many ground less adult females are in senior places, after all 11.2 % of the female population are sing mental wellness troubles at any one clip ( Cochrane 2010 ) . Non-disclosure could make an unanticipated Glass Cliff in that a individual with a mental wellness trouble is placed into a function that increases emphasis and hence the opportunities of failure are high. One piece of statute law that aims to forestall occupation favoritism is the Disability Discrimination Act ( DDA ) . Taken from www.direct.gov.uk, the ( DDA ) defines a individual as handicapped if they have a physical or mental damage that has a significant and long-run inauspicious consequence on a individual s ability to transport out normal daily activities. Normal daily agencies things that people do on a regular or day-to-day footing, such as reading, composing, utilizing the telephone, holding a conversation and traveling by public conveyance. Long-term normally means the damage should hold lasted or be expected to last at least a twelvemonth. Significant means non minor or fiddling. Direct favoritism happens when a handicapped individual is treated less favorably than a non-disabled individual whose relevant fortunes are the same or non materially different. For case, an employer turns down an applier for a occupation who has a mental wellness trouble. This is because of negative stereotyped, premises about the effects of the status without mention to the person concerned. Another illustration could be an employer holding a cover prohibition on using person with a peculiar disablement. Section 141 of the Mental Health Act forces MP s to give up their seats if they are sectioned for six months or more and the jurisprudence still prevents those with mental wellness troubles from functioning on a jury ( Allen 2010 ) . Employers are required to do sensible accommodations to workplaces and occupations for people with disablements to guarantee they have equal chances ; failure to set about sensible accommodations is prejudiced. Some of those sensible accommodations could be altering working hours, for illustration presenting flexi-time or leting clip off for intervention. Research undertaken by Greenwood et Al ( 1991 ) identified the per centum of employers who rated certain groups either inferior to or slightly below norm and they are shown below at Table No. 3. The consequences epitomises the social attitudes in relation to ignorance, pigeonholing and favoritism: Table No. 3: Research Consequences Percentage Group 96 % Serious emotional upset 87 % Blindness 84 % Cerebral paralysis 81 % Mental Health 81 % Quadriplegia 69 % Deafness 68 % Learning troubles 64 % Back complaint 62 % Epilepsy 59 % Paraplegia 56 % Mild emotional upset 36 % Amputation of one leg 15 % Diabetess 7 % Peptic ulcer Taken signifier: Greenwood et Al ( 1991 ) The roots of modern antidiscrimination statute law are in a societal theoretical account of disablement that views disablement as the consequence of society s attitudinal and inhospitable structural barriers, instead than the consequence of that individual s physical or mental damage. Employment policies that have implemented a societal theoretical account of disablement in the chief should place the demand to take the favoritism of handicapped workers in enlisting, keeping and publicity and guarantee employers make sensible accommodations to help handicapped employees. Measures to Make a Level Playing Field Diversity preparation for all staff is aimed at supplying consciousness of single differences. For a company to hold competitory advantage it is indispensable all members of staff be allowed to accomplish their full potency. Awareness based diverseness preparation is aimed at supplying directors and employees with the cognition of diverseness issues and allows them to analyze premises that could take to pigeonholing. The theoretical account is shown below at Figure No. 1. Figure No. 1: Awareness-based diversity-training theoretical account More effectual Improved morale Improved organizational Multicultural interaction Greater productiveness competitory place Increase cognition, Foster appropriate attitudes Eliminate stereotyping Awareness and sensitiveness and premises Information diversity- Training programmes Taken from: Carnevale, A. P. A ; Stone, S. C. ( 1994 ) Not merely must direction systems and calling development systems be adapted suitably, organizational civilization must besides be adapted. Awareness based diverseness preparation should be the starting point for the development of an administrations diverseness programme and should make effectual intercultural interaction. This in bend Fosters improved morale which in bend creates the result of an enhanced competitory place for the company. The theoretical account is non without unfavorable judgments ; Geber ( 1990 ) suggests the theoretical account does non supply the accomplishments to enable participants to move on the freshly acquired cognition. The accomplishments based diverseness developing theoretical account is chiefly used in concurrence with the cognition based theoretical account and ensures transverse cultural apprehension and identifies why co-workers from different civilizations act the manner they do and is shown at Figure No. 2 below: Figure No. 2: Skill-based Diversity-Training Model More effectual Improved morale Improved organizational Multicultural interaction Greater productiveness competitory place Increased creativeness Increase cognition, Build new diverseness Reinforce bing Inventory Awareness and sensitiveness related accomplishments diverseness related accomplishments skill edifice Foster appropriate attitudes methodological analysiss Skill orientated diverseness Training programmes Taken from: Carnevale, A. P. A ; Stone, S. C. ( 1994 ) Equal chances and diverseness direction attacks demonstrate different ways of accomplishing alteration. The equal chances approach focuses more on positive action, supervising the Numberss employed or so promoted in under-represented groups but topographic points less accent on cultural alteration and the demand to run into organizational aims. Legislation often influences administrations to develop equal chances policies which are disseminated by human resource sections. Diversity direction, nevertheless, emphasises an organizational civilization where everyone, and particularly directors, are responsible in gaining the potency of all employees. The issue with an Equal chances attack is that it presumes attitudes will alter one time a individual with a disablement, for illustration, has demonstrated that they are able to execute. Equal Opportunities does non take into consideration the aims and ends of the company. Diversity direction has its jobs besides, in that it is complicated. Lorbiecki and Jack ( 2000 ) remark on whether diverseness can be managed at all. Is one attack better than the other? Ford ( 1996 ) Argues that equal chances policy and diverseness options have to be mutualist if they are to recognize their possible as organisational development tools. Further differences in the two attacks can be seen at Table No. 4 below: Table 4: Diversity Management and Equal Opportunities: Different Approachs Diversity Management Equal Opportunities Ensures all employees maximize their possible and their part to the organisation Dressed ores on issues of favoritism Embraces a wide scope of people: no 1 is excluded Focuss chiefly on adult females, cultural minorities and people with disablements Dressed ores on issues of motion within an organisation, the civilization of the administration, and run intoing concern aims Topographic points less accent on cultural alteration and meeting concern aims Is the concern of all employees, particularly directors Concerns chiefly forces and human resource practicians Does non answer on positive / affirmatory action Relies on positive action Taken from: Carnevale, A. P. A ; Stone, S. C. ( 1994 ) The Two Ticks Disability Symbol is a authorities enterprise that employers can utilize to demo their committedness to using handicapped people. Those companies that use the symbol commit themselves to the following five confidences identified at Table No. 5 below: Table No. 5: Two Tick Guarantees A guaranteed occupation interview for handicapped appliers Regular audience with handicapped employees Retaining employees if they become handicapped during their employment Bettering cognition about disablement for cardinal employees Reviewing these committednesss and be aftering in front Taken from: Torrington et Al ( 2005 ) These warrants provide a big measure frontward for a flat playing field for those with a disablement but need to be monitored to guarantee work is come oning. Unfortunately at present as Dibben et Al ( 2001 ) note, the symbol appears to hold merely a limited consequence on support for handicapped employees or possible employees. Bettering cognition in relation to disablement is cardinal in taking stigma, pigeonholing and favoritism ; it has been the most highlighted cause of workplace favoritism throughout the research undertaken for this piece of work. The authorities has late introduce an amendment to the Equality Bill which should set a halt to prejudiced employment patterns which deter many people with mental wellness jobs from using for occupations. The measure stops employers from inquiring occupation campaigners about their wellness until after a occupation offer has been made ( Rethink 2010 ) Evans ( 2001 ) argues that it is possible to enroll the best individual for the occupation, provided that determinations are based, as they ever should be, on solid grounds of aptitude and ability. He goes on to province that sensible accommodations to workplaces and conditions of work to make a flat playing field rarely turn out hard or expensive to implement. Reasonable accommodations could include acquiring new or accommodating bing equipment such as desks and chairs, modifying instructions to larger print or holding hearable every bit good as ocular dismay systems. These are proactive attacks that would profit all non merely handicapped workers. To guarantee sensible accommodations can be provided it is indispensable that employers create a scene and civilization whereby workers feel able to uncover a disablement and guarantee that this confidential information is non divulged to unneeded individuals. Decision Diversity preparation is indispensable and in order to change organizational civilization and attitudes in relation to, non merely people with mental wellness troubles, but all employees the support from senior direction should be enlisted. Training should be compulsory and should non be avoided and hence should be introduced within the company s initiation procedure. Mentoring could besides be introduced but with cautiousness as without equal consciousness and preparation for staff, negative sentiments could originate. Most of all, whatever attack is adopted, effectual monitoring should be undertaken to guarantee advancement is being made. The one individual who is able to place whether their workplace has a flat playing field in relation to disablement is the handicapped individual and therefore communicating with handicapped people is required when policies are being drafted to seek to extinguish prejudiced actions.

The Impact of over population in third world countries Essay

The Impact of over population in third world countries - Essay Example The world population has crossed six billion figures, major part of which lives in developing countries in miserable condition and unable to meet their basic necessities (Bonar, 1966). Since 1950 there has been rapid decline in mortality in the developing countries. This happened due to advancements in science; and the United Nation initiative along with several states efforts; which has helped to stabilize the world population, still population bomb is ticking. Since 1960 fertility rates in many developing countries have increased, especially in the developing countries. Majority of the third world countries doubling time remained between 23 and 25 years, as a result in the last three decades, most of the third world countries have doubled their population. China has been successful in implementing one child policy to stabilize its population in late 1980s, yet its problems are not over. With a billion plus population, majority of Chinese population is still living in poverty, despite rapid economic progress, Similar patterns can be seen in other developing countries from Asia to Africa and Latin America, where over population is bringing a toll on health, food, environment and human life. This report will look at developing countries over- population problem, and it's impact on third world countries (Britannica, 2002). From a... Statement: Over population in third world countries is increasing poverty, unemployment and other social ills. POPULATION REVIEW From ancient times, the survival of the cities depended on population, tribes emphasized on maintaining high fertility due to higher mortality rate. Many of such polices were carried out by dutiful marriage incorporated into religion and mythology, such as bible injunction, "be fruitful and multiply", Hindu's Law of Manu. Other ancient prophets such as Zoroastrian also mentioned similar injection to sustain continuation of the nation and tribes. The arrival of modern technology changed the situation; it not only increased the health standards, but mortality rate has also fallen; the result is increased population with little resources in poor countries. The Western nations are able to stabilize their population, but developing nations are still struggling hard to meet the growing demands of the populations (Mbuya, 1997). According to UN (2005) population prediction by the middle of next century, the world population will stabilize at 14 billion people, if fertility rates were increased to 2.1 births per woman. The latest figure suggest that in 2004, 76 million people were added to the world total population, most of which took place in developing (poor) countries. Even though the world population is growing at the rate of 1.2 percent annually, yet it is adding up to the world total population. The world population in 2005 crossed 6.4 billion souls. This massive increase is taking place in six countries. Five of which are developing countries; India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and USA are increasing fifty percent of the world population. The figure below shows the population

Human rights abuses and violations of international law in Israel-Gaza Article

Human rights abuses and violations of international law in Israel-Gaza war - Article Example Israel is waging a war of self-defense against a â€Å"terrorist organization† (the Hamas authority) and, hence, is obligated to protect its security whilst meeting the â€Å"vital needs† of the civilian population of Gaza. Were these needs at odds with security, priority was to be given to security. Apparently, the Israeli Supreme Court resolved that the Gaza Strip was not occupied by Israel on the basis of the closure of Israeli military rule and the temporary existence of Israeli combatants in Gaza. Therefore, the court decided that, â€Å"Israel no longer has effective control over what takes place within the territory of the Gaza Strip† (Davis & Kirk 128) and, thus, â€Å"has no general obligation to care for the welfare of the residents of the Strip†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mukhimer 33). Basically, the court believed that the widening of the occupation to a certain territory necessitates the recognition of the right to ‘permanent presence’ of soldiers and hostile armed forces in that territory (Davis & Kirk 128-9). Such facts only show that the Israeli state is in clear violation of the legal rights of the Gaza Strip. Violation of the laws of war by the Israeli army involved drone-propelled missile assaults that took the life of several civilians. Hamas and other Palestinian militias encroached upon the laws of war through rocket-launched attacks intentionally or extensively to civilian territories in Israel (Garlasco 59). Furthermore, both Hamas and Israel keep on violating international humanitarian law. Palestinian armies have loosened up but did not cease their wholesale rocket attacks against Israel. Israel is seriously limiting the import of needed supplies for rebuilding into Gaza. After the hostilities, civilians in Gaza have been incapable of restoring their devastated houses and infrastructures. Insofar as right to self-defense is involved, the UN Charter stated that the right to self-defense is an â€Å"inherent right of [the] state† (Meloni & Tognoni

Identifying stakeholders and Interest Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Identifying stakeholders and Interest - Article Example Therefore, because of their contributions towards educational provisions in the district, parents will be involved in the formulation of this policy. It will directly affect them because it concerns the safety of their children. Meaning, their input will be required (May, S. & S. Aikman, 2003). Before making any final decision, the parents will have to be consulted, if they approve the new policy, it will be enforced. They know what is good for their children hence, they can not be overlooked. The police department will have to be incorporated as a party to this policy. Their contributions are important. As professional law enforcers, they have a wider knowledge on how the issue of pupil security can be tackled. Hence, it implies that they must be consulted anything is done. Meaning, their suggestions will be taken into account and given a lot of considerations. If they object to it, necessary amendments will be made in order to refine it and make it be up to the required standard. As community elected leaders, the politicians will have to be considered as part of the stakeholders. Both the local civic leaders, senators and the congressmen will have to be consulted. As opinion leaders, the politicians will be included because they are representatives and can speak on behalf of the larger community (Bruce S., 2007). In this regard, they will be urged to participate in the drafting of this new policy since it will have to affect them. As people’s representatives, it is their responsibility to support educational provisions in their areas of jurisdiction. However, everyone knows that such a goal can not be accomplished if there is no safety both within and out of schools. Before making such a new policy, the school management boards will have to be consulted. As school managers, they have a lot of say on whatever activity that happens in schools. They must be involved in the formulation of this new policy because it will affect the success of their schools. They

Corsi Block-tapping Task (CBT) Performance Experiment

Corsi Block-tapping Task (CBT) Performance Experiment Abstract The Corsi block-tapping task (CBT) is a widely used experimental tool for assessing visuo-spatial memory in both clinical and research contexts. However, whether information other than those spatial and visual (i.e., motor information) play also a role in CBT performance is still a matter of debate. Here, we investigated such issue through a crossed double dissociation design by observing how motor, visual, and spatial secondary tasks affect the performance on three versions of the CBT (standard, automatic and two-dimension). Results showed a double dissociation pattern, wherein two motor secondary tasks had larger effects when the CBT was administered by the examiner tapping on the blocks (standard version). A spatial secondary task had larger effects when the CBT was administered by automatically illuminating the blocks (automatic version). Finally, a visual secondary task had larger effects on a two-dimension, computerized version of the CBT. These findings suggest that memory for movements plays a relevant role in the CBT, and are especially relevant due to their implications for assessment of brain-damaged patients, besides providing further evidence of a fractionation of visuo-spatial memory into multiple sub-components. Keywords: Corsi block-tapping task, visuo-spatial memory, memory for movements. Acknowledgements: The study was supported by a MIUR grant C26F014219 to F.F. Introduction The Corsi Block Tapping test (Milner, 1971; Corsi, 1972) has been widely used in cognitive psychology and in clinical neuropsychology to measure visuo-spatial memory (e.g., Kessels, de Haan, Kappelle, Postma, 2003; Vandierendonck, Kemps, Fastame, Szmalec, 2004) usually within the framework provided by the working memory model (Baddeley Hitch, 1974). The standard apparatus consists of identical blocks irregularly arranged on a board. According to the standard administration procedure, but procedures vary widely among authors, the examiner taps on the blocks in randomized sequences of increasing length. The subject has to immediately reproduce each sequence, continuing until no longer accurate. Performance is measured as the longest sequence of blocks that is correctly reproduced. Notwithstanding Baddeley (2001) reported the CBT as the task that is most closely related to the visuo-spatial short term memory, it is still not clear what of the two components, visual or spatial, it actually measures (Berch, Krikorian, Huha, 1998; Quinn, 2008). This issue is relevant, since studies of both healthy individuals and brain-damaged patients demonstrated dissociable visual and spatial memory systems in humans (Klauer Zhao, 2004; Carlesimo, Perri, Turriziani, Tomaiuolo, Caltagirone, 2001). Such a fractionation of the visuo-spatial working memory is in fair agreement with evidence in primates of separate processing streams for visual and spatial features of objects (e.g., Goodale Milner, 1992). Indeed, it has been proposed in both primates and humans that the dorsal visual system supports spatial working memory functions, and that the ventral visual system supports visual working memory for features of objects (e.g., Goldman-Rakic, 1987). Evidences for a further fractionation of the visuo-spatial working memory were also reported, suggesting specific components of working memory for motor and kinesthetic information (Smyth, 1990). A close link between motor systems and visuo-spatial working memory was actually proposed since the very first studies about working memory (Baddeley, Grant, Wight, Thomson, 1975). However, Smyth and her co-workers (Smyth Pendleton, 1989) firstly suggested that a specific kinesthetic component of working memory might be responsible for the encoding and maintenance of remembered patterned movements (those aimed to bring the body parts into a specific configuration), whereas positional movements (movements targeted towards specific external spatial stimuli) appear to be encoded and maintained within the visuo-spatial sketchpad. Notwithstanding the evidence favorable to a fractionation of the visuo-spatial working memory into multiple components, not necessarily independent one of each other, their relationship with the CBT has been actually scarcely investigated in literature. Though, the complex administration procedure of the CBT makes a more detailed analysis of the processes underlying the CBT strongly needed (Berch, Krikorian, Huha, 1998). More interestingly, and maybe less obviously, the CBT might involve a memory for positional movements, because the administration procedure focuses on the movements of the examiner. However, the contribution of a memory for positional movements in the CBT task has never been investigated so far. It is also worth noting that computerized, two-dimension CBT versions have been frequently used (e.g., Vandierendonck, Kemps, Fastame, Szmalec, 2004), albeit it is not known whether the standard and the computerized versions of the task are equivalent. The present study aims at investigating the architecture of the visuo-spatial working memory as measured by the CBT, through a crossed double dissociation design (Dunn Kirsner, 1988). We followed a standard dual-task procedure, using four secondary tasks aimed at interfering with the spatial, visual, and motor components of visuo-spatial working memory. They were crossed with three versions of the CBT: a) a standard version, wherein the sequences were given by the experimenter tapping on the blocks; in this version of the CBT the supposed motor/positional component was fully present; b) an â€Å"automatic† version, wherein the sequences were given by the blocks being illuminated; in this version the motor/positional component was removed from the task, while the spatial component was unaffected; c) a two-dimension version, presented on a computer monitor, wherein the sequences were given by the squares on the monitor changing their color; in this version, the spatial componen t of the task was reduced, albeit obviously not eliminated, by requiring the task to be performed on a 2D plane instead than in a 3D space. Method Participants. Forty-eight healthy, right handed individuals (mean age 22.4 years) participated in the experiment. All the participants reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and were naà ¯ve as to the purposes of the experiment. Stimuli and apparatus. The apparatus was composed of eight translucent white 3 x 3 x 3 cm blocks, each one containing a red light emitting diode (LED). The blocks were fixed at random positions on a 23 x 30 cm translucent white board. Procedure. Three administration procedures were used. In the standard procedure participants observed the experimenter tapping on the blocks, with his/her index finger, at a rate of one block per s, lifting the hand straight up before moving it to the next block (Standard). In the second procedure the to-be-remembered sequence was presented by the computer turning on and off the red LEDs inside the blocks, at a rate of one block per s (Automatic). A third, two-dimension version of the CBT was also used, as it is frequently used in literature as a substitute of the standard version. It was composed of eight blue squares appearing on the computer screen at the same relative positions as the 3D version described above. On each trial, the to-be-remembered sequence was indicated by the blocks changing color from blue to red and again to blue, at a rate of one block per s. The CBT was administered to all the participants according to the three procedures described above, in random order. P articipants had to reproduce the sequence immediately after its administration, by tapping on the blocks using their index finger. Sequences from 3 to 9 blocks in length were presented in ascending order, with two trials per length. All the fourteen sequences were administered to each participant. For each subject, different sequences, equated for paths’ length, were randomly assigned to the three versions of the test. Each participant performed each version of the task both alone (single task condition), and along with one of four interference conditions (dual task condition), in random order: patterned-motor interference, motor interference, spatial interference and visual interference. In the patterned-motor interference condition, participants had to tap with their right index finger on the four corners of a mouse-pad, while the to-be-remembered sequence of blocks was administered. The movement had to be performed clockwise and continuously, at a rate of about one tap per s. Whereas this task is known to interfere with the CBT (Smyth Pelky, 1992), it has both spatial and motor features that makes it difficult to disentangle their contribution. Thus, to remove the spatial component from this task we added a motor interference condition, wherein participants had to snap fingers with their right hand, while the to-be-remembered sequence of blocks was administered. The movement had to be performed continuously, in a regular manner (one snap per s, approximately). The experimenter controlled for the movement being correctly executed. In the spatial interference condition, participants were required to say aloud the side of each of a series of 1000 Hz tones randomly presented to their left or right ear through headphones, at 30 Db Spl with a constant inter-stimulus interval of 2 s. This listening task is supposed to interfere with the spatial component of the visuo-spatial sketchpad [18]. Finally, in the visual interference condition, one of three LEDs placed at the center of the board (one of three colored circles in the Two-Dimension Version) were turned on and off at a rate of one per s. On half the trials the regular sequence was violated, by turning on a differently colored led (on the 3D versions) or displaying a different colored circle (on the 2D version). At the end of each trial, participants were required to say whether a violation occurred on that trial. Twelve participants were randomly assigned to the Patterned-motor, Motor, Spatial, and Visual Interference conditions, respectively. The participants’ performance was measured as the longest sequence that was correctly reproduced at least once (memory span). Performance data were analyzed in a 3x2x4 ANOVA mixed design, with Version (standard, automatic, and two-dimension, within subjects), Condition (single task, dual task, within subjects), and Interference (patterned-motor, motor, spatial, and visual interference, between subjects) as factors. Results One participant in the Spatial Interference condition and two participants in the Visual Interference condition have been excluded from the following analyses because of the relatively large number of errors committed on the interference tasks. The remaining participants performed all the interference tasks at optimal levels, committing less than 3% of errors across visual and spatial interference tasks, and maintaining a regular mean rate of finger snapping and spatial tapping of about 1.2 per s. Figure 1 and Table 1 show the mean memory span length for each version of the CBT and for each interference condition. A preliminary sphericity test failed to show any significant violation of the assumptions underlying the Version and the Version by Condition interference effects (p>.05 in all cases). The analysis of performance data showed significant main effects of Condition (F1,41=139.93, MSE=.42, p2,82=4.24, MSE=.63, p6,82=3.61, MSE=.63, p6,82=4.33, MSE=.63, p.05 in all cases). This finding ensures that the administration procedure did not affect the difficulty of the task. However, the effects of the four kinds of interference upon the three versions of the CBT were very specific. Indeed, the patterned-motor and the motor interference tasks affected negatively the standard version of the test (p.5 in both cases). The spatial interference task affected negatively the participants’ performance at the automatic version of the test (p.05 in both cases). The visual interference task affected negatively the participant’s performance at the two-dimension version of the test (p.05 in both cases). Importantly, such finding cannot be ascribed to the three interfering tasks being not equivalent with respect to each other, because of the triple dissociation procedure we em ployed. Discussion Results of the present experiment suggest that a component of working memory that deals with motor information has the major role in the standard version of the CBT. Indeed, the effects of both the motor and patterned-motor interference tasks were notably larger than those of the spatial and visual interference tasks in the standard version of the CBT. The crossed double dissociation general pattern of results strongly supports this interpretation. Indeed, the spatial interference task was more effective than both the motor interference tasks in the â€Å"automatic† version of the CBT, whereas only the visual interference task was effective in the two-dimension version of the CBT. Such result does not depend on confounding due to the three versions of the CBT being not equated in terms of difficulty, because in the single task condition the performance of the participants was the same in the three versions of the test. Also, it does not depend on the spatial interference task involving a verbal coding of the spatial locations where the tones came from, as the phonological loop has been shown to be not involved in the CBT (e.g., Vandierendonck, Kemps, Fastame, Szmalec, 2004). The finding that the performance on the standard version of the CBT largely depends on individuals coding the movements of the examiner is in fair agreement with the hypothesis that a component of working memory that deals with motor information actually exists, and is independent of the component of working memory that deals with spatial information (e.g., Smyth Pendleton, 1990). It is also in fair agreement with the growing body of neurophysiological and psychological studies that suggest a close link between observing and performing an action (e.g., Rizzolatti, Fadiga, Gallese, Fogassi, 1996). Interestingly, van Asselen and coworkers (van Asselen, Kessels, Sebastiaan, Neggers, Kappelle, Frijns, et al. 2006) have recently interpreted results of a study on stroke patients as suggesting that the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) are involved in keeping spatial information in memory over a short time period, as was assessed wi th the CBT. While the involvement of both the DLPFC and the PPC in spatial memory tasks is not new (e.g., Walter, Bretschneider, Groen, Zurowski, Wunderlich, Tomczak, et al. 2003), it is worth noting that this is not at variance with the hypothesis that a specific component of working memory for positional movements is involved in the CBT. For instance, lesion and physiological studies have shown that the DLPFC has a crucial role in visuospatial control of actions and visuomotor transformations (e.g., Curtis D’Esposito, 2004). Indeed, Hoshi (Hoshi, 2006) in a recent review suggested that the dorsal part of the DLPFC is involved in representing processed motor information, such as arm use or target location, and in integrating multiple classes of information for planning action. Similarly, the PPC is involved in visuomotor transformation, and is thought to serve as a sensorymotor interface for visually guided eye and limb movements (Buneo Andersen, 2006). Moreover, evidence has been recently provided that, within the fronto-parietal network of brain regions involved in learning spatial sequences, two partially segregated neural systems are involved in processing spatial sequences in reaching and navigational space (Nemmi, Boccia, Piccardi, Galati Guariglia, 2013), supporting the idea of a further fractionation of visuo-spatial memory into multiple sub-components. Though, more research is needed in order to specify the relationship between the complex functional architecture of the DLPFC – PPC system and the specific features of the working memory components, including those measured by the CBT. Finally, it is worth noting that the motor and spatial interference tasks affected only marginally the performance on the two-dimension version of the CBT. Such a result suggests that the two-dimension and the standard versions of the CBT cannot be considered as equivalent. This finding is especially relevant because recently two-dimensions, computerized versions of the CBT have been used rather frequently in clinical and experimental settings (Vandierendonck, Kemps, Fastame, Szmalec, 2004; Joyce, Robbins, 1991). In conclusion, the present study shows that the performance on the Corsi block-tapping task  depends largely on a component of working memory specifically dealing with motor information and that this component is independent of that component of working memory that deals with spatial information. Beside providing further evidence of a fractionation of visuo-spatial memory into multiple sub-components, present findings have important implications for clinical assessment of brain-damaged patients and should be taken into account when interpreting the performance on the CBT for neuropsychological rehabilitation treatments in clinical settings.

Hamlet as a Tragic Hero :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet as a Tragic Hero William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright of the English language, wrote a total of 37 plays in his lifetime, all of which can be categorized under tragedy, comedy, or history. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare's most popular and greatest tragedy, displays his genius as a playwright, as literary critics and academic commentators have found an unusual number of themes and literary techniques present in Hamlet. Hamlet concerns the murder of the king of Denmark and the murdered king's son's quest for revenge. Its main character, Hamlet, possesses a tragic flaw which obstructs his desire for revenge and ultimately brings about his death. This tragic flaw makes him a tragic hero, a character who is destroyed because of a major weakness, as his death at the end could possibly have been avoided were it not for his tragic flaw. Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. First, Hamlet's flaw of irresolution is shown when he sees a play and the passion one particular actor had. A group of players has arrived and Hamlet arranges a personal viewing of The Murder of Gonzago with a small portion of his own lines inserted. Hamlet then observes one portion of the play in which one of the players put on a great display of emotion. Hamlet, besieged by guilt and self-contempt, remarks in his second soliloquy of Hamlet of the emotion this player showed despite the fact that the player had nothing to be emotional about. Hamlet observed that he himself had all the reason in the world to react with great emotion and sorrow, yet he failed to show any that could compare with the act of the player. Hamlet calls himself a "rogue and peasant slave" and a "dull and muddy-mettled rascal" who, like a "John-a-dreams", can take no action. Hamlet continues his fiery speech by degrading himself and resoluting to take some sort of action to revenge his father's death. Next, Hamlet's flaw of irresolution is shown after his third soliloquy, the famed "To be or not to be†¦" lines. Hamlet directly identifies his own tragic flaw, remarking of his own inability to act. Hamlet, unsure whether or not the his uncle Claudius was responsible for his father's murder, schemes to have The Murder of Gonzago presented to the royal court, with a few minor changes, so its

Middle East case studies: Elixir Technology

1.  Ã‚  Entering the Middle East market through Malaysia is the best alternative at this time. Malaysia has a market not dissimilar with that of the Middle East. Entering Middle East via this option gives the Company an opportunity to partner with a company which has insights on working in a Muslim country. This way, Elixir is not starting with zero knowledge since this entry strategy is a duplication of what it did in Japan. 2.  Ã‚  Elixir develops and sells computer software which includes the stand-alone and the server-side versions of the Elixir Report. These two versions provide business an enterprise-class reporting solution. ER â€Å"was designed for high-performance operation, capable of handling large report generation† (O’Neil, 2004, p. 4). As such, Elixir Report is â€Å"able to accommodate multiple input data source types and provide reports in multiple output formats† (O’Neil, 2004, p. 4). Aside from these benefits, ER can support multilingual reporting and platform independence, and can support mobile devices. The core competencies of Elixir for its ER are: Speed in adopting changes in the environment and technologies into ER’s programs and applications. As a matter of Elixir claims that flexibility is built in into the Company’s spirit   (O’Neil, 2004, p. 8). Network with technology vendors. This relationship enables Elixir to rapidly fit its ER into a client’s information system which was sourced from a particular vendor or several vendors. Capacity and capability to localize the Elixir Report into specific customer requirements. This capacity and capability is a result of the unique design of ER which enables Elixir for â€Å"easy modification for accommodating local cultural needs† (O’Neil, 2004, p. 8). 3.  As the Company recognized the positive relationship between its understanding of it’s customers’ technology vendors and the efficiency of the sales process, Elixir made developing partnerships with other technology vendors the basis of its â€Å"marketing, sales and distribution strategy† ((O’Neil, 2004, p. 6). Another component of its marketing strategy is stressing that other technology companies translate their products instead of localizing them as what Elixir does (O’Neil, 2004, p. 8). Also, the Company provided for a free trial of the software which can be downloaded from the Company’s Web site (O’Neil, 2004, p. 9). By scaling the software into different versions and selling licensing agreements, Elixir is able to sell ER at a price 50 percent lower than its competitors. This scalability, however, is not a liability in terms of software performance. 4.  Ã‚  Elixir, as to its plan and strategy to expand outside Singapore, has been averagely successful. For example, in its entry into Japan, the Company’s initial marketing strategy – advertising in international magazines – generated low response from Japanese customers. However, this was remedied with the Company’s partnership with GrapeCity which enabled Elixir to bridge cultural gap and language barriers. This same strategy can be used in entering the Middle east market. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yes, based on the facts presented, it is financially beneficial for Lau Shih Hor to take Elixir into the Middle East. I suggest that Lau pursues a distribution partnership with a Malaysian-based company. This company has a better understanding of the Middle East market than Lau which will allow the Company to better localize ER which is one of the product’s competitive advantages. References O’Neil, E. (2004). Elixir Technology – Entry into the Middle East. Ivey Management Services, pp. 1-24.

Internet Communication essays

Internet Communication essays Interest in communication has been stimulated by advances in science and technology, which, by their nature, have called attention to man as a communicating creature. Among the first and most dramatic examples of the inventions resulting from technological ingenuity were the telegraph and telephone, followed by others like wireless radio and telephoto devices. The development of popular newspapers and periodicals, broadcasting, motion pictures, and television led to institutional and cultural innovations that permitted efficient and rapid communication between a few individuals and large populations; these media have been responsible for the rise and social power of the new phenomenon of mass communication. There are five revolutionary mass communication mediums that were characterized by Al Reis in his most recent book, 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding. The first mass communication vehicle was the book, where it served as a channel to distribute information in an organized and orderly fashion. The book was the dynamic mechanism behind the spread of technology, which made it easier for past generation to gather and collect information to be distributed on a wider scale that was not possible without the help of the book. The second medium of mass communication was the introduction of the newspaper, which was an easy and affordable way to share information and made news available to people on a daily bases. Then came the radio, where it introduced the power of the human voice including the emotions that accompany it. The radio served as a mass communication medium in two aspects, it delivered the intended news and information to a larger audience instantly, and it made the message behind the broadcast more believable for the mere fact it was produced by a human, who manipulated the presentation by embedding his emotions to serve his/her purpose. The television then appeared to sweep the world off of its feet...

Lincoln Thematic Essay essays

Lincoln Thematic Essay essays Abraham Lincoln was the president responsible for the end of slavery following the Civil War. At first though, it was kind of unclear how he stood on the issue. In some cases it seemed as he wanted nothing more than to preserve the union and had no feelings toward the freeing of slaves. In other cases, it seemed as if he wanted to free the slaves and wanted equal rights for all Americans. The Emancipation Proclamation and a quote Lincoln said in 1958 seem to be contradictory, but they are actually alike. In both of these articles, he says that he never wanted to make the rights equal. The Emancipation Proclamation is a document released in 1862 stating that all slaves in the Southern states, except the boarder states were free. Lincoln made this speech for three reasons. One of these reasons was to keep the boarder states from rebelling. If Lincoln had made slavery illegal in all states, then the boarder states would have rebelled and seceded as well and then the South would be more powerful in the war. A second reason that Lincoln gave this speech was so there was a moral purpose for the war. Giving this speech showed the people in the North that Lincoln had tried to free the slaves and now that for moral purposes we had to go to war. A third reason for this speech was to prevent England from seeing the South as a separate, independent country. If England were to see them as a separate country, they could eventually go to war against the North. Also, the speech showed England that there was going to be a civil war and for the time being, stated that America was not two separate countries. In a quote made by Abraham Lincoln he says I am not, nor ever been, in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black values. This quote never says that he does not want to free the slaves, only that he isnt aiming for equal rights. He may want all slaves to be freedm ...

Comparing and Contrasting the legislative, executive, and judicial Essay

Comparing and Contrasting the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the American government and the government of Kuwait - Essay Example In this paper we are going to compare and contrast the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the American government and Kuwait government. The constitution of the United States government is aimed at ensuring a strong and fair national government while at the same time ensuring the freedoms of individuals are protected from abuse by the government. America is a presidential system of government with three branches; the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Each arm of the government has its own function but its powers are checked by the other arms of government. For example, the legislature makes laws while the judiciary ensures the laws are in line with the constitution. The executive arm of government is headed by the president who is democratically elected by the entire country. The president serves for a term of four years whereby fresh elections are held to elect a new president. The president is the head of state and government and is also the commander in chief of the armed forces. He/she is also entrusted with the duty of negotiating treaties on behalf of the government. The president has the power to appoi nt or remove cabinet ministers, Supreme Court judges and other government officials. The executive also comprises of the vice president and cabinet ministers who are nominated by the president. The cabinet consists of fifteen members who represent the government departments. The role of the executive is to enforce laws which are formulated by the legislature. The president signs bills into law making the laws official and enforceable (USA.gov). Unlike the American government, the executive branch of Kuwait government is headed by a constitutional hereditary emirate. The Amir is the head of state while the prime minister is the head of government. The Amir is not elected by the entire nation but inherits the position from the Al Sabah family. Kuwait does not have a

Significance of Anishinaabe Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Significance of Anishinaabe Literature - Essay Example No matter what the content is, any piece of literature can only survive the test of time, and gradually transforms into a legend, if it fulfills the criteria of relevancy and righteousness. A fable, poem, play, or an anecdote, will have a continuing impact if it contains a moral lesson, which not only relates to the readers’ life, but also fills them with a sense of hope, and acts as a guide during tough patches of life. This is the reason Anishinaabe, also referred as Ojibwe, folklore, especially the short stories, had been, and is still famous among the Native American and general population. Long before Ojibwe had a written language, storytellers kept ‘Books’ of the tales, where few raconteurs were responsible for compiling the historical incidents, another group of narrators accumulated cultural myths, and the last group gathered religious traditions (Dunn, 20). Majority of these stories were transferred orally from an older generation to a younger generation, to convey the underlying moral messages, and to teach the wisdom within. Anishinaabe literature plays a crucial role in the life of indigenous people, as it richly portrays their dynamic history, guides their troubled and disillusioned younger generation, and serves as a moral support during turbulent times; whilst constantly depicting their abounding values, and their interconnected world of man and nature.Their accepted wisdom, regarding the initial development of life, is clearly delineated in the ‘stories of creation.... Historically it is believed that the process of creation took place in four sequences; first of all the physical world came into being, followed by the plant, and animal worlds, and lastly human race was formed (Johnston, 21). Johnston further describes that traditionally in Anishinaabe historical stories, the ‘Kitche Manitou’, the Great Spirit, and their equivalent of Christian God, had a vision of the world as it is today, and proceeded to create all four types of life, out of nothing. Kitche Manitou also bestowed special and distinct powers to each living being, for example, the sun was given the power of ‘light and heat’, the earth was bestowed with ‘growth and healing’ capacities, so that they all can effectively carry out their functions of life in this world, and also live in harmony with other creatures (12). An important fact here is that, in Anishinaabe historical accounts, the human race was created at the end, and is considered the w eakest of all types of living beings. It can also be said that this belief was meant to keep the mankind, known for his arrogance, and pride, humble and considerate of those around him. Bird quotes an Anishinaabe elder claiming that â€Å"If the waters stop flowing, there will be no life; if the plants die, there will be no life; if all the animals die, there will be no life; if, however, humanity ceased, life will flourish† (4). This statement eloquently captures the perceived interdependence of human race on other forms of life, and again strengthens the initial argument that to realize one’s rightful position in the world, one needs to recognize the value of other beings, and be grateful of what is