How effectively do free elections, competition between political Essay

How effectively do free elections, competition between political parties and the activities of pressure groups, ensure that the - Essay Example Competition between rival political parties provides the ground for issue-based politics and thereby offering the people an opportunity to make informed choices between the different alternatives by electing leaders who best fit the job description and espouse the interests of the majority. Nevertheless, pressure groups also play a very profound role in global politics today because they put elected leaders to task, to deliver their election pledges to the people, as well as acting as the people’s watchdog, protecting and advocating for the interests of the electorates. In that case, free elections, competition between political parties and pressure groups have significant impacts on democracy, and in particular, with the pervasive increase in both the size and number of pressure groups in the world, debates have emerged regarding implications of these factors on democracy. For instance, questions have been raised concerning whether pressure groups promote democracy or whether they undermine it by impeding election of the right leadership; this paper will evaluate the effectiveness of free elections, competition between political parties, and the activities of pressure groups, in ensuring representation of the voters. Free elections are effective in ensuring the people are represented because they capture the true will and aspirations of a majority of people, which is the true essence of democracy in a free world, without undermining their voice through undercut means such as election rigging. Precursors to free elections include an impartial administration, that ensures enrolment is open to all eligible voters and casting of the vote is reasonably accessible to all, as well as, freedom from coercion, which ensures that the electorates are not compelled to make choices (Fletcher 2007, p.2). Additionally, a free electioneering process thrives on freedom of expression and association that allows all citizens to participate in the electoral debates, and tru thful election data systems that ensures that votes are counted fairly and accurately without falsifications whatsoever. In this regard, a free election is one that genuinely reflects the will of the people, and in which votes count equally, candidates campaign freely in a level playing field without restrictive infringements; allegations of dirty tricks coupled with unfair propaganda are some of the factors that undermine a free election. Leaderships who ascent to political offices through dirty tricks and unfair propaganda will hardly represent the electorates because they are a bunch of selfish self-serving individuals who owe no allegiance to the people thus they are accountable to no one in particular. Conversely, leaders who are put into office through fair elections are an embodiment of both the will and aspirations of the people thus will represent electorates effectively, because they are accountable to them. Free elections promote representation because they are the only s ource of political elites that can articulate the interests of the people through governance and democracy, unlike in dictatorships, where leadership is imposed upon the people regardless of whether it has the support of the majority of the people or whether it serves their interests. Competition between

Social Media Essay Example for Free

Social Media Essay What is social media? To many, social media is a tool to communicate with friends, or even friends of friends in a neutral environment talking about any topic, events or news freely (Lipscomb 2010). Social media today, not only serve as a tool for individual to communicate, it also became a platform for companies or individuals to capitalize on it to drive monetary income from it. Social media are platforms that can enable free communication and sharing of information online (Elmore March 2010). Few of the social media platforms are, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Blogs or even web forums that can be used to share information, opinions online. Social media today are very powerful tool to an individual, company, and even a country. Facebook, being the number one top traffic social media site, is tracking around one trillion page views per month globally (Double Click Ad Planner by Google 2011), and tracking 615 million page views per month in Singapore (comScore, Inc 2013). With a total of 2. million unique visitors, it is reaching out to 65% of Singapore’s internet population and hence, if done correctly, social media platforms can be an empowering tool to enhance a small business network’s knowledge sharing, build social capital, support innovation and aid in problem solving and drive more earnings and income. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, are moving towards more than a social media platform. Employers are using more social media tools like Link edIn to look for potential jobseekers. LinkedIn is a more corporate social media platform, showing not only profiles and hobbies, but also previous job experience and endorsements from peers and colleagues. Job portals like JobStreet are facing more and more competition from social media as job portals normally only shows the jobseeker’s resume and pass employments. LinkedIn shows the employer the social side of the jobseeker, personal skills they have, and positive endorsements from people. Improving Knowledge Sharing Knowledge is more than just information, it is compile of both know-how (tacit knowledge) and know-why (explicit knowledge). In today knowledge-based economy, knowledge has been defined to be one of the key assets for organizations to sustain and success (Jashapara 2011). In our society today, more people are sharing knowledge and information on social media platform more than talking face to face. News reports, articles, along with personal opinions can be easily shared through social media platforms. Knowledge sharing becomes easier and faster with the help of social media. It is essential to understand how knowledge is gained and the methods of how an individual learn. Social learning theory proposes that individual learning happens when individuals are interacting with cognitive, behavioral and environmental factors; primarily with other individuals (Jashapara 2011). Due to the engaging interaction and heavy usage of social media, it can be a great avenue to encourage knowledge creation and sharing. As a study done by Neilson Inc, it encourages employees to share knowledge using social media platforms to better cultivate knowledge sharing (Dina Adamovic 2012). Social media not only aid in knowledge sharing in within the organization, It can be also used to educate its business partners (Evolution1 Utilizes Social Media to Share Knowledge 2012). By using social media, Evolution1 can greatly reduce the actually human labour that is needed in support and educational roles. This has let Evolution1 to remain competitive in our fast pace economy today. Building Social Capital The concept of social capital and human capital is both closely related, they arrive from the valuable assets of an organization, which are the resources that employees acquire (Jashapara 2011). There are intrinsically three dimension to social capital: Structural dimension showing the linkages and connections between factors such as density and hierarchy of networks; Relational dimension that provides the history of interactions between individuals resulting in certain level of trust, norms and expectations; Cognitive dimension that leads to shared meanings, interpretations, mental models and alignment of views. With the help of social media, social capital of the organization can be build up in a faster and easier way. Having to develop better relationships with clients, partners, and also within their employees. It is mentioned that knowledge has been an important factor for an organization’s sustainability and success, therefore essential to develop a knowledge-sharing culture especially with small medium companies. Social media which has been a platform to communicate in our daily life is a fast and easy way to communicate as ideas can be shared and strategic plans can be discussed with a faster response time and even on the go. The online marketing campaign from Ngee Ann Polytechnic has demonstrated how social media applications can be used as communication mediums for idea sharing. The online marketing campaign Ngee Ann Polytechnic uses, â€Å"Tweet about your favorite Ngee Ann Poly Courses†, is using an online advertisement to feature this display banner. On the banner, viewers can tweet real time and the tweets will show up on the banner stating your choice of course. The campaign was a success, driving more than twenty-three million viewers to the ad banner, it also drives more than fifteen thousand viewers to engage and tweet on their twitter page (SG 2012). With the support from the case of Ngee Ann Polytechnic utilizing social media as an idea sharing medium, it has encouraged intensive consumer engagement which in turns achieved premium brand awareness where it can be a competitive advantage over it competitors. In addition, it has achieved in transiting into a successful knowledge-based organization with integrating social media as a communication tool. Innovation For an organization, innovation is very essential, the creation and fostering of new and better ideas keeps an organization to stay ahead of its competitors. Having knowledge workers to constantly having innovative knowledge is an important aspect of an organization’s knowledge management strategy (Jashapara 2011). In today’s fast paced, ever-changing environment, organization is facing the need to constantly innovate new and better ideas. Using social media as a tool, organization can collate and compile innovative ideas from its employees, partners, and even direct consumers. In this manner, organization can better understand what its product is lacking of and what improvements can it make. Aid Problem Solving Social media is being built in a way that it is meant for fast and speedy response. Using social media as a platform, organization will be able to provide real-time response and will have significant impact on problem solving as knowledge can be transmitted faster. Furthermore, an open social network will improves communication level within the organization internally and also externally with its vendors and consumers (Murray 2012). In 2010, Grocer Supervalu realize that it has grown to a big company perating in 44 states with 135,000 employees and 10 distinct store brands from Albertsons to Jewel-Osco to Shaws, it had good people with plenty of ideas but no way to share them. Hence, a sprawling, disconnected workforce was hurting business. But Grocer has soon to adopt an internal social media tools in hopes of fostering cooperation and collaboration amongst its employees across the country. In return, Grocer implementation of social media to solve its disconnected workforce saw a increase in sales figures (Ferris 2012). Benefits There is a huge spectrum of benefits for using social media, it is free marketing for your company, for instance you can place your marketing promotions and products on your Facebook page, have constant updates on events on your Twitter account, look for potential employees on Linkedin with their pass work experience for free and most of all its free and you can build on your company’s branding and awareness through it (Culley 2011). As mentioned earlier, the extensive reach of social media to our population is really big (comScore, Inc 2013), and also it is also very measurable comparing to traditional media like television, radio or out of home media in terms of awareness, consideration, favorability and purchase intend (Feather 2010). Hence fore, companies are moving towards social media then traditional media due to its free, fast and measurable. Risks With much benefit of social media in hand, it is surely good to introduce social media to any organization way of knowledge sharing and also marketing strategies. However, there are also several risks that come with the technology that organisations need to be cautious of. Risks like identity frauds, viruses, potential risk of negative remarks and information leakage. Companies that use social media are easily exposed to them (Esola 2010). The risk of identity fraud will pose a great threat to the organization as you are not aware if the receiver that you are sharing information with is the actual person when communicating over social media. For example that the receiver is impersonating the actual person, important information of the organization may be leaked to them. It is therefore a must for organization to establish and manages policies on the type of information can be addressed when using social media. In addition, when sharing information with social media, the organization may employ methods such as providing details for verification purposes. Potential risks of negative remarks and comments will also be another key factor organizations should take note of. Because of social media, a negative remark will go viral overnight and tarnish the company’s reputation. Just like the recent saga of Miss Amy Cheong, she casually tweet on her twitter account on how weddings of a particular is being carry out. Soon, her comment went viral and the next day her service with NTUC as an Assistant Director in the partnership alliance section (Holdings 2012). Paid, Owned, Earned Media Social media can be further segmented into Paid, Owned, and Earned media. Due to the current marketing trend of using social media to improve knowledge sharing, build social capital, create innovation and aid in problem solving, social media have evolve into these three segments (Silk 2012). Paid media means good, old-fashioned advertising, the buying of airtime or space on someone else’s TV channel, website, printed page, supermarket shelf or out of home bus shelter. Owned media on the other hand is personal or corporate websites, blogs, that showcases the individual’s or company’s profile and information. Earn media are websites or even blogs, Facebook pages that necessary work to earn coverage of their issue or battle are the ones who will get their story out to the public (Sunshine 2011). Over the years, the media landscape has been ever changing, altering the way how organizations and individuals share knowledge and market themselves. Owned media can be easily shifted to earned media when it is being effectively managed. Earned media also provide another avenue of income to the organization and also benefits the organization in better measuring of popularity, awareness, consideration and favorability of the organization. Conclusion In conclusion, social media has a lot of beneficial aspects which organization can used to share knowledge, build social capital, foster innovation, aid in problem solving and the best will be to be used as a sustainable competitive advantage over competitors. Using social media to better communication amongst employees, it can bring individual employees closer and better facilitate cooperation and collaboration, leading to more effective knowledge sharing and generating of innovative ideas that is beneficial to the organization. Having a knowledge organization with intangible assets will be one of the key aspects to maintain successful in our current fast paced and ever-changing environment. With all the infinite benefits that social media can bring to the organization, it also comes along with great risks and threats that cannot be overlook. Viruses and malwares in our computer systems can greatly affect the day to day operations of the organization and the information that is being processed. Furthermore with the risk of consumers or employees using social media to create negative publicity for the organization, it is sure that organization needs to be cautious in handling social media as a tool. For small to medium companies that will like to integrate social media into their whole organization structure, it is the upmost important task to establish policies and develop strategy plans to efficiently manage the risks and threats that the organization may be exposed to. Planning ahead and risk forecast is needed to be done in order to gain more benefits from the implementation of social media. Effective marketing opportunities can also be gain from social media when used correctly. Using social media as an owned and earned media, organization not only can capitalize on business relations development, but can also aid in generating another avenue of income for the organization.

Suicide as the Best Option in Kate Chopins AwakeningSuicide as the Bes

Suicide as the Best Option in Kate Chopin's Awakening The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, was considered controversial at the time it was first published in 1892 because of its intense sexual context. In fact, the critics of that era wrote in newspapers and magazines about the novel "it’s not a healthy book," "sex fiction," "we are well satisfied when Ms. Pontellier deliberately swims to her death," "an essential vulgar story," and "unhealthy introspective and morbid" (Wyatt). Edna, the main character, engages in sexual relationships outside of marriage. These encounters reveal true sexual passion to Edna, which she did not receive at home with her husband. As a result of these experiences Edna’s ability to continue living in a loveless marriage dwindles, and she eventually commits suicide. Although Edna had other options such as divorce, remaining in a loveless marriage, or simply deserting her family, suicide is most viable. One alternative, a separation, could have been hard to accomplish for Edna because of the male-dominated society that she lived in. However, it was a possibility. In fact, an author by the name of Charlotte Perkins Gilman received a divorce from her husband, Walter Stetson, prior to the creation of The Awakening. Through serious bouts with depression Gilman’s marriage to Stetson became a struggle, and her divorce was granted in 1894. Stetson received custody of their daughter Katherine. Similarly, Edna would have probably lost custody of her children, but she said it herself that she is not a mother woman ("About Charlotte Gilman"). Gilman eventually moved on and remarried in June 1900. Edna’s aspirations of marrying Robert could have possibly come true. With this possibility in mind, suici... ...escaping. What made matters worse was that Edna found a real lover that would not accept being known as the man who stole Mr. Pontellier’s wife. Edna was obviously placed in situation where she was left with all but one choice. Works Cited "About Mary Cassatt." 1999. http://www.boston.com/mfa/cassat/aboutmc.htm (4 April 2000). "About the Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman." 1998. http://www.Trenton.edu/~verasteg/aboutcp.htm. (20 March 2000). Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. 1892. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. "Louisiana Civil Law: Differences Fading Over Time." 1999. http://www.theadvocate.com/help/welcome/laws.asp (18 March 2000). "The Woman’s Rights Movement." 1999. http://www.lyno.com.edu/~tlkinnon/Women’s%Rights.htm (3, March 2000). Wyatt, Neal. "Times of Kate Chopin." 1995. http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/kate.htm (21 March 2000).

The Philippine Local Fiscal Administration in a Decentralized Setup

Decentralization in the Philippines took three forms- devolution, deconcentration and delegation. As Carino affirms, the framers of the 1987 Constitution institutionalized decentralization with the end-view of realizing democracy and development especially at the grassroots level. Devolution paved way for the transfer of political power from the central government to the local government units.This transfer of power and functions was accompanied by the provision of a higher Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), broader tax base and a just share in the national wealth to finance devolved responsibilities and provision of various goods and services. This was accompanied by deconcentration which is the transfer of administrative powers and functions from central offices of government agencies to the field offices at the regional, provincial, and municipal/city level.In consonance with the concept that local government units are more responsive to the needs of their communities, deconcentrat ion was institutionalized vis-a- vis devolution as a means for national government agencies (NGAs) to provide assistance to LGUs by setting standards in the implementation of various programs and monitor the operation and services of the LGUs along the different socio-economic and political dimensions.Contrary to the past practices wherein the central government through the national government agencies (NGAs) exercises a degree of control in the implementation of programs at the LGU level, deconcentration aims to lessen, if not remove, the control from the national government and replace it with supervisory functions. Ideally, through deconcentration, NGAs set standards and supervise LGU’s provision of various services to the community (i. e. DOH and LGU health services).Decentralization in the Philippines also took the form of delegation, or what other author calls as â€Å"debureaucratization†. This was the result of the surmounting clamor for participatory governanc e and active citizenship during the ouster of the late President Ferdinand Marcos through the People’s Power Revolution and even prior to and after the said historic event. The author of the Consitution saw it fit, as a response to the call of the times, to put greater emphasis on the involvement of non- government organizations, people’s organizations, and the private sector in governance.In this way, democracy and development was believed to be realized when the voices of the marginalized, poor and other people aggrupations are heard and considered in decision-making at the different government level. In contrast to the experience of other countries, decentralization in the Philippines took a complete form. This may be attributed to the political atmosphere in the 1980’s- 1900’s conducive to decentralization and democratic form of government. Colombia deconcentrated its state services but placed a limit in the delegation and devolution of powers.Same ca n be said with the experiences of Mexico and Togo. The Philippines also has a legal framework conducive to democratic decentralization. Decentralization throbs in the Article X of the 1987 Constitution where the Congress is mandated to enact a Local Government Code which â€Å"shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization†. Countries like Spain and China lack this legal framework despite substantial decentralization.This means that decentralization in the Philippines possesses a degree of â€Å"permanency† that would ensure the continuity in LGUs’ exercise of devolved powers and functions. In the words of Katorobo, decentralization in the Philippines has a â€Å"more stable environment† (Katorobo, 2004). The system of decentralization in the country is also more responsive to the needs of the local community. Unlike the experiences of India, China and Russia where powers and functions were only devolved at the state and regional levels, decentralization in the Philippines reaches down to the basic unit of government, the barangays.Due to our country’s bent towards democracy, the Philippines has a â€Å"higher form of decentralization† as compared to other countries (Ibid. ). The central government has transferred more powers and functions to the local governments and has provided more avenues for civil society engagement in local governance. Role of Local Fiscal Administration in a Decentralized Setup The transfer of powers and functions to local government units (LGUs) necessitates the transfer and redistribution of financial resources. LGUs need sources and means to finance devolved services.Thus, the Local Government Code of 1991 provided LGUs with an increase in the IRA share, broader tax base, and a just share in the national wealth. The redistribution of financial resources is essential for LGUs to realize local development as more r esponsive services are provided to the community. Local fiscal administration plays an important role in the attainment of local development as well as in the attainment of national goals. LGUs have to maximize powers and functions particularly their taxing powers and other functions in line with revenue generation and resource allocation to hasten development at the local level.A good local fiscal administration is needed to realize inclusive growth and poverty reduction as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2011- 2016. Improvements in the different aspects of local fiscal administration- systems, structures, processes, officials and personnel, and policy environment- is a means for the local government to obtain higher income levels to finance local government operations and services intended to uplift living conditions in the communities.As stated in the Handbook of Local Fiscal Administration in the Philippines by Celestino, et. al. , these improvements may come in the form of new technology, good staffing patterns, adequate skills of personnel, heightened awareness of LGUs of available credit facilities, enhanced capacity of LGU for development planning, and the presence of political will among others.These contribute to increased LGU revenues and improved delivery of services to the community. Ultimately, poor living conditions and issues on human development (i. e.  health diseases, malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment, environmental degradation, etc. ) are addressed when LGUs are able to provide more than adequate services. Improvements along these areas have an intrinsic value to the society. A healthier and educated population is a way of eradicating poverty. Same is true with the provision and generation of jobs at the local level. Same can be said with efforts to protect and preserve ecological balance in any given community. These contribute to the achievement of inclusive growth and eradication of poverty.Local Fisca l Administration 20 Years after the Code’s Enactment A closer look at the 20- year Philippine experience of decentralization,however, shows that the country has succeeded only to a certain extent in its decentralization efforts. Llanto, in his discussion paper, â€Å"The Assignment of Functions and Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations in the Philippines Twenty Years after Decentralization†, has observed that expenditure responsibilities with benefits confined within the territorial jurisdiction of local governments were correctly assigned to LGUs.By these, he means that the Code correctly devolved functions and responsibilities on social demands and concerns that LGUs are in the best positions to respond to. He also mentioned that the Code ensured a clear tax- expenditure assignment. Nonetheless, despite success stories on decentralization particularly on local fiscal autonomy, Llanto observed pressing issues that need to be addressed if the country has to succeed in its decentralization efforts. These issues are: 1. The conduct of regular local public expenditure review 2. The use of poverty index, human development index, or resource indicator instead of the equal sharing criteria. 3. The improvement of local tax administration. 4. The review and updating of local tax codes. 5. The institutionalization of a monitoring and reward system to recognize good local government performance in fiscal administration. 6. The avoidance of the imposition of unfunded mandates by the identification of source of funding apart from the coffers of the local government units 7. The alliance building/ resource pooling among LGUs for activities and services with inter-jurisdictional spillovers.There is still a lot of work to be done in our pursuit of successful decentralization and the attainment of local development. Legislators and other policy makers have to pause and seriously consider the issues which surfaced in our first 20 years of decentralization. I believe that if we are to make any progress, incremental steps have to be taken towards countering these issues and challenges. And there is no importune time than the present to start providing interventions to the multiple concerns that confront the Philippine decentralization system.

Breath Right Essay

â€Å"When we first began marketing this product, what was so gratifying, particularly as a physician were the literally thousands of letters and phone calls we would receive talking about how much better people slept at night. Almost all the letters began with â€Å"thank you, thank you, thank you!† Just three thank you’s. It was, I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep like this in 10 years.† What is Dr. Dan Cohen, CEO of CNS, Inc., talking about? Its Breathe Right ® nasal strips, the innovative adhesive pad with a small spring inside that, when attached to the nose, pulls the nasal passages open and makes it easier to breathe. Since its introduction in the United States, Breathe Right strips have been coveted by athletes hoping to improve their performance through increased oxygen flow, snorers (and more often, snorers’ spouses) hoping for a sound night’s sleep, and allergy and cold sufferers looking for relief for their stuffed noses. The Breathe Right ® strip was invented by Bruce Johnson, who suffered from chronic nasal congestion. At times he would put straws or paper clips up his nose at night to keep his nasal passages open. After tinkering in his workshop for years, he came up with a prototype design for the Breath Right ® strip. He brought the prototype to CNS, which was in the sleep disorders diagnostic equipment business at the time. Dr. Cohen knew instantly the market for the strips would be huge. After the products received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and became successful in the market CNS divested its other interests and went to work marketing the strips full time. Being a small company, CNS did not have the budget to launch a large-scale marketing campaign. But it got the break it needed when Jerry Rice, the wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers won the 1995 Superbowl. The entire nation became aware of the product overnight, and demand for the strips increased dramatically. An indication of this national awareness was discussion on TV talk shows and even appearances of the strip in cartoons. The problems that the Breath Right ® strip solves – snoring, congestion – are not unique to the US population. Also, with the media being so global today, people around the world were seeing US athletes wearing the strip and wondering how they could get their noses on some. CNS decided to take Breath Right ® international. But because it was still a relatively small company and had no experience in the global market place, it opted to take on a distribution partner that had extensive global outlets already in place as well as the ability to market the product abroad. 3M, makers of such products as Post-It notes and the leader in stick-to-skin products around the world became the international distributor for Breath Right ® strips. David Reynolds-Gooch, International Business Manager at 3M, explains that the strips fit in well with 3M’s existing adhesive line of first-aid products and are sold in channels with which 3M has extensive leverage: pharmacies, hypermarkets and food markets. 3M agreed to take control of all the marketing and communication responsibilities in addition to the distribution in return for a percentage of the sales revenue of the strips. The strips are â€Å"co-branded† in the international markets. The packages say both Breath Right ® and 3M. 3M introduced the Breath Right ® strip in Japan, and then it was rolled out in Europe, and now can be found in more than 40 countries from Australia to South America. 3M used a similar approach to that used by CNS in the US. Create awareness during the introduction phase through public relations – sports related and otherwise. â€Å"The first year we had incredible PR success† remembers Reynolds-Gooch. â€Å"We believe we got about $14 million worth of free TV, radio, and print time around the world.† This was done through such tactics as having the South African rugby team wear the strips while it won the World Cup of rugby and having pulmonologists and breathing experts describe the benefits of the product on talk shows in Japan, Australia, Europe and Latin America. CNS quickly discovered some major differences in marketing the product here and abroad. For instance, as Gary Tschautscher, Vice President of International Marketing at CNS explains. â€Å"In the US, we positioned and distributed the strips as part of the cough/cold category of products. As we rolled it out internationally, suddenly we realized in some countries that section in the store doesn’t even exist. So where do you position your product?† Additionally, says Reynolds-Gooch. â€Å"There really aren’t many large drug chains or pharmacy chains. The stores are independent in most countries by law. So what that means is you have to go through multiple layers of distribution and ultimately we were able to influence the pharmacist because of the other products 3M distributes in the stores. Finally, there is no couponing in most countries in the world. That vehicle for inducing trial of a new product is not available, and hence a lot more in-store sampling is nee ded. Both CNS and 3M face some issues for the future as Breathe Right strips gain in popularity around the globe. While the athletic segment of the market gets most of the publicity, the snorers are the bulk of the market for the strips internationally. Reynolds-Gooch has identified creating heavy users – those who use the strip every night – as the most important marketing point for the future, ahead of people with seasonal colds or allergies. Also, many of the markets that have been identified as â€Å"hot† new markets throughout the business community may not be appropriate of the Breath Right ® strip. For example, Latin America and Asia (especially China) are emerging markets with steadily increasing income levels and large populations, but the average age in these countries is under 30, and people under 30 typically do not have snoring problems with the frequency that older people do.

Sympathy in Film essays

Sympathy in Film essays Creating sympathy is a very delicate and skilled task to perform in a motion picture. Filmmakers have to take factors in to account in order to get their message across. There are many techniques, ranging from an actors or actresses clothes and possessions to the environment in which the movie takes place in, to the set lighting, camera angle, and sound. Although, none of which is as near as important as the acting; how the star portrays his or her character. We have to believe the actor is really that person on the screen, if we are to feel emotions towards that character during a dramatic scene. A film that demonstrates this to the tee, with brilliant acting, visual effects, and sound is Braveheart. The leading/main character, William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson gives his audience a emotionally charged experience viewing this film. Without words, every look, every expression, we know exactly how he is feeling and sympathize with his pain. His first real traumatic experience comes when his newly wed wife is killed. Her throat is slit and she is tied to a pole for the town to see as an example. Meanwhile William is waiting for her at a meeting spot. We, the audience already know that shes dead, but distressfully watch as Wallace slowly becomes terrified of what could have happened, as he looks round and round for her. He soon gives up, and decides to return to the town hed last seen her. Finding her slain body tied up to the post, he falls to his knees, speechless, and we see the utter horror in his eyes, as Wallace realizes he has nothing else to live for. Looking at a proud man suddenly broken, the audience feels utter sympathy towards him and what he has lost. Mel Gibson directed in and stared in this film, which let him play the role of William Wallace in the manner he wished. The film was produced in Scotland, and was made to take place around the end of the 13th century. The s ...

Timeline of Major US Public Land Laws and Acts

Timeline of Major US Public Land Laws and Acts Beginning with the Congressional Act of 16 September 1776 and the Land Ordinance of 1785, a wide variety of Congressional acts governed the distribution of federal land in the thirty public land states. Various acts opened up new territories, established the practice of offering land as compensation for military service, and extended preemption rights to squatters. These acts each resulted in the first transfer of land from the federal government to individuals. This list is not exhaustive, and does not include acts that temporarily extended the provisions of earlier acts, or private acts that were passed for the benefit of individuals. Timeline of U.S. Public Land Acts 16 September 1776: This Congressional Act established guidelines for granting lands of 100 to 500 acres, termed bounty land, for those who enlisted in the Continental Army to fight in the American Revolution. That Congress make provision for granting lands, in the following proportions: to the officers and soldiers who shall so engage in the service, and continue therein to the close of the war, or until discharged by Congress, and to the representatives of such officers and soldiers as shall be slain by the enemy: To a colonel, 500 acres; to a lieutenant colonel, 450; to a major, 400; to a captain, 300; to a lieutenant, 200; to an ensign, 150; each non-commissioned officer and soldier, 100... 20 May 1785: Congress enacted the first law to manage the Public Lands that resulted from the thirteen newly independent states agreeing to relinquish their western land claims and allow the land to become the joint property of all citizens of the new nation. The 1785 Ordinance for the public lands northwest of the Ohio provided for their survey and sale in tracts of no less than 640 acres. This began the cash-entry system for federal lands. Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, that the territory ceded by individual States to the United States, which has been purchased of the Indian inhabitants, shall be disposed of in the following manner... 10 May 1800: The Land Act of 1800, also known as the Harrison Land Act for its author William Henry Harrison, reduced the minimum purchasable unit of land to 320 acres, and also introduced the option of credit sales to encourage land sales. Land purchased under the Harrison Land Act of 1820 could be payed for in four designated payments over a period of four years. The government ultimately ended up expelling thousands of individuals who could not make the repayment of their loans within the set time, and some of this land ended up being resold by the federal government several times before defaults were rescinded by the Land Act of 1820. An act providing for the sale of the land of the United States, in the territory north-west of the Ohio, and above the mouth of the Kentucky river. 3 March 1801: Passage of the 1801 Act was the first of many laws passed by Congress giving preemption or preference rights to settlers in the Northwest Territory who had purchased lands from John Cleves Symmes, a judge of the Territory whose own claims to the lands had been nullified. An Act giving a right of pre-emption to certain persons to certain persons who have contracted with John Cleves Symmes, or his associates, for lands lying between the Miami rivers, in the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio. 3 March 1807: Congress passed a law granting preemption rights to certain settlers in Michigan Territory, where a number of grants had been made under both prior French and British rule. ...to every person or persons in actual possession, occupancy, and improvement, of any tract or parcel of land in his, her, or their own right, at the time of the passing of this act, within that part of the Territory of Michigan, to which the Indian title has been extinguished, and which said tract or parcel of land was settled, occupied, and improved, by him, her, or them, prior to and on the first day of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety six...the said tract or parcel of land thus possessed, occupied, and improved, shall be granted, and such occupant or occupants shall be confirmed in the title to the same, as an estate of inheritance, in fee simple... 3 March 1807: The Intrusion Act of 1807 attempted to discourage squatters, or settlements being made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law. The act also authorized the government to forcibly remove squatters from privately-owned land if the owners petitioned the government. Existing squatters on unoccupied land were allowed to claim as tenants of will up to 320 acres if they registered with the local land office by the end of 1807. They also agreed to give quiet possession or abandon the land when the government disposed of it to others. That any person or persons who, before the passing of this act, had taken possession of, occupied, or made a settlement on any lands ceded or secured to the United States...and who at the time of passing this act does or do actually inhabit and reside on such lands, may, at any time prior to the first day of January next, apply to the proper register or recorder...such applicant or applicants to remin on such tract or tracts of land, not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres for each applicant, as tenants at will, on such terms and conditions as shall prevent any waste or damages on such lands... 5 February 1813: The Illinois Preemption Act of 5 February 1813 granted preemption rights to all actual settlers in Illinois. This was the first law enacted by Congress which conveyed blanket preemption rights to all squatters in a speciï ¬ ed region and not simply to certain categories of claimants, taking the unusual step of going against the recommendation of the House Committee on Public Lands, which strongly opposed granting blanket preemption rights on the grounds that doing so would encourage future squatting.1 That every person, or legal representative of every person, who has actually inhabited and cultivated a tract of land lying in either of the districts established for the sale of public lands, in the Illinois territory, which tract is not rightfully claimed by any other person and who shall not have removed from said territory; every such person and his legal representatives shall be entitled to a preference in becoming the purchaser from the United States of such tract of land at private sale... 24 April 1820: The Land Act of 1820, also referred to as the 1820 Sale Act, reduced the price of federal land (at the time this applied to land in the Northwest Territory and Missouri Territory) to $1.25 acre, with a minimum purchase of 80 acres and a down payment of only $100. Further, the act gave squatters the right to preempt these conditions and purchase the land even more cheaply if they had made improvements to the land such as the building of homes, fences, or mills. This act eliminated the practice of credit sales, or the purchase of public land in the United States on credit. That from and after the first day of July next [1820] , all the public lands of the United States, the sale of which is, or may be authorized by law, shall when offered at public sale, to the highest bidder, be offered in half quarter sections [80 acres] ; and when offered at private sale, may be purchased, at the option of the purchaser, either in entire sections [640 acres] , half sections [320 acres] , quarter sections [160 acres] , or half quarter sections [80 acres] ... 4 September 1841: Following several early preemption acts, a permanent preemption law went into effect with the passage of the Preemption Act of 1841. This legislation (see Sections 9–10) permitted an individual to settle and cultivate up to 160 acres of land and to then purchase that land within a specified time after either survey or settlement at $1.25 per acre. This preemption act was repealed in 1891. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this act, every person being the head of a family, or widow, or single man, over the age of twenty-one years, and being a citizen of the United States, or having filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen as required by the naturalization laws, who since the first day of June A.D. eighteen hundred and forty, has made or shall hereafter make a settlement in person on the public lands...is hereby, authorized to enter with the register of the land office for the district in which such land may lie, by legal subdivisions, any number of acres not exceeding one hundred and sixty, or a quarter section of land, to include the residence of such claimant, upon paying to the United States the minimum price of such land... 27 September 1850: The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850, also called the Donation Land Act, provided free land to all white or mixed-blood Native American settlers who arrived in Oregon Territory (the present-day states of Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and part of Wyoming) before December 1, 1855, based on four years of residence and cultivation of the land. The law, which granted 320 acres to unmarried male citizens eighteen or older, and 640 acres to married couples, split equally between them, was one of the first that allowed married women in the United States to hold land under their own name. That there shall be, and hereby is, granted to every white settler or occupant of the public lands, American half-breed Indians included, above the age of eighteen years, being a citizen of the United States....the quantity of one half section, or three hundred and twenty acres of land, if a single man, and if a married man, or if he shall become married within one year from the first day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty, the quantity of one section, or six hundred and forty acres, one half to himself and the other half to his wife, to be held by her in her own right... 3 March 1855: – The Bounty Land Act of 1855 entitled U.S. military veterans or their survivors to receive a warrant or certificate which could then be redeemed in person at any federal land office for 160 acres of federally owned land. This act extended the benefits. The warrant could also be sold or transferred to another individual who could then obtain the land under the same conditions. This act extended the conditions of several smaller bounty land acts passed between 1847 and 1854 to cover more soldiers and sailors, and provide additional acreage. That each of the surviving commissioned and non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, whether of regulars, volunteers, rangers, or militia, who were regularly mustered into the service of the United States, and every officer, commissioned and non-commissioned seaman, ordinary seaman, flotilla-man, marine, clerk, and landsman in the navy, in any of the wars in which this country has been engaged since seventeen hundred and ninety, and each of the survivors of the militia, or volunteers, or State troops of any State or Territory, called into military service, and regularly mustered therein, and whose services have been paid by the United States, shall be entitled to receive a certificate or warrant from the Department of the Interior for one hundred and sixty acres of land... 20 May 1862: Probably the best recognized of all land acts in the United States, the Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on 20 May 1862. Taking effect on 1 January 1863, the Homestead Act made it possible for any adult male U.S. citizen, or intended citizen, who had never taken up arms against the United States, to gain title to 160 acres of undeveloped land by living on it five years and paying eighteen dollars in fees. Female heads of household were also eligible. African-Americans later become eligible when the 14th Amendment granted them citizenship in 1868. Specific requirements for ownership included building a home, making improvements, and farming the land before they could own it outright. Alternatively, the homesteader could purchase the land for $1.25 per acre after having lived on the land for at least six months. Several previous homestead acts introduced in 1852, 1853, and 1860, failed to be passed into law. That any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, as required by the naturalization laws of the United States, and who has never borne arms against the United States Government or given aid or comfort to its enemies, shall, from and after the first January, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, be entitled to enter one quarter section [160 acres] or a less quantity of unappropriated public lands...

The Battle of Yellow Tavern - Civil War

The Battle of Yellow Tavern - Civil War The Battle of Yellow Tavern was fought May 11, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). In March 1864, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Major General Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general and gave him overall command of Union forces. Coming east, he took the field with Major General George G. Meades Army of the Potomac and commenced planning a campaign to destroy General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia. Working with Meade to reorganize the Army of the Potomac, Grant brought Major General Philip H. Sheridan east to head the armys Cavalry Corps. Though short in stature, Sheridan was known as a skilled and aggressive commander. Moving south in early May, Grant engaged Lee at the Battle of the Wilderness. Inconclusive, Grant shifted south and continued the fight at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. During the early days of the campaign, Sheridans troopers were largely employed in the traditional cavalry roles of screening and reconnaissance. Frustrated by these limited uses, Sheridan bickered with Meade and argued to be allowed to mount a large-scale raid against the enemy rear and Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuarts cavalry. Pressing his case with Grant, Sheridan received permission to take his corps south despite some misgivings from Meade. Departing on May 9, Sheridan moved south with orders to defeat Stuart, disrupt Lees supply lines, and threaten Richmond. The largest cavalry force assembled in the East, his command numbered around 10,000 and was supported by 32 guns. Reaching the Confederate supply base at Beaver Dam Station that evening, Sheridans men found that the much of the material there had been destroyed or evacuated. Paused overnight, they commenced disabling parts of the Virginia Central Railroad and freeing 400 Union prisoners before pressing south. Armies Commanders: Union Major General Philip H. Sheridan10,000 men Confederate Major General J.E.B. Stuart4,500 men Stuart Responds Alerted to the Union movements, Stuart detached Major General Fitzhugh Lees cavalry division from Lees army at Spotsylvania and led it south to hamper Sheridans movements. Arriving near Beaver Dam Station too late to take action, he pushed his tired men through the night of May 10/11 to reach the intersection of Telegraph and Mountain Roads near an abandoned inn known as Yellow Tavern. Possessing around 4,500 men, he established a defensive position with Brigadier General Williams Wickhams brigade on the right west of the Telegraph Road facing south and Brigadier General Lunsford Lomaxs brigade on the left parallel to the road and facing west. Around 11:00 AM, less than an hour after establishing these lines, the lead elements of Sheridans corps appeared (Map). A Desperate Defense Led by Brigadier General Wesley Merritt, these forces quickly formed to strike Stuarts left. Consisting of the brigades of Brigadier General George A. Custer and Colonels Thomas Devin and Alfred Gibbs, Merritts division quickly advanced and engaged Lomaxs men. Pressing forward, troopers on the Union left suffered from flanking fire from Wickhams brigade. As the fighting increased in intensity, Merritts men began to slip around Lomaxs left flank. With his position in jeopardy, Lomax ordered his men to retreat north. Met by Stuart, the brigade was reformed on Wickhams left and extended the Confederate line east by 2:00 PM. A two-hour lull in the fighting ensued as Sheridan brought up reinforcements and reconnoitered the new Confederate position. Spying artillery in Stuarts lines, Sheridan directed Custer to attack and seize the guns. To accomplish this, Custer dismounted half of his men for an assault and ordered the remainder to conduct a wide sweep to the right in support. These efforts would be aided by the rest of Sheridans command. Moving forward, Custers men came under fire from Stuarts guns but continued their advance. Breaking through Lomaxs lines, Custers troopers drove on the Confederate left. With the situation desperate, Stuart pulled the 1st Virginia Cavalry from Wickhams lines and charged forward to counterattack. Blunting Custers assault, he then pushed the Union troopers back. As Union forces withdrew, former sharpshooter Private John A. Huff of the 5th Michigan Cavalry fired his pistol at Stuart. Hitting the Stuart in the side, the Confederate leader slumped in his saddle as his famous plumed hat fell to the ground. Taken to the rear, command on the field passed to Fitzhugh Lee. As the wounded Stuart departed the field, Lee attempted to restore order to the Confederate lines. Outnumbered and overpowered, he briefly held back Sheridans men before retreating from the field. Taken to the Richmond home of his brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Brewer, Stuart received a visit from President Jefferson Davis before slipping into a delirium and dying the next day. The loss of the flamboyant Stuart caused great sadness in the Confederacy and greatly pained Robert E. Lee. Aftermath: of the Battle In the fighting at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, Sheridan sustained 625 casualties while Confederate losses are estimated at around 175 as well as 300 captured. Having upheld his pledge to defeat Stuart, Sheridan continued south after the battle and reached the northern defenses of Richmond that evening. Assessing the weakness of the lines around the Confederate capital, he concluded that though he could probably take the city, he lacked the resources to hold it. Instead, Sheridan wheeled his command east and crossed the Chickahominy River before proceeding to unite with Major General Benjamin Butlers forces at Haxalls Landing. Resting and refitting for four days, the Union cavalry then rode north to rejoin the Army of the Potomac. Sources Encyclopedia Virginia: Battle of Yellow TavernCWSAC: Battle of Yellow TavernHistoryNet: Battle of Yellow Tavern

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Case Study Example The proposed change of strategy has the following consequences: the fixed costs will increase to (1,053,000 + 585,000) = $ 1,638,000. Second, the new average contribution margin = (0.25*0.5) + (0.25*0.1) + (0.1 * 0.5) + (0.4 * 0.8) = 0.52. Therefore, the total restaurant sales to achieve the desired net income = (1,053,000 + 585,000 + 117,000) /0.52 = $ 3,375,000. Sales for each product lines are as follows: appetizers = (3,375,000 * 0.25) = $ 843,750; Main entrees = (3,375,000 * 0.25) = $ 843,750; Desserts = (3,375,000 * 0.1) = $ 337,500; and Beverages = (3,375,000 * 0.4) = $ 1,350,000 (DuBrin 208-212). The fixed cost will be $ 1,638,000. However, the new contribution margin = (0.15 * 0.5) + (0.5 * 0.1) + (0.1 * 0.5) + (0.25 *0. 8) = 0.375. The sales level to achieve the desired net income = (1,053,000 + 585,000 + 117,000) /0.375 = $ 4,680,000. Sales for each product lines are as follows: appetizers = (4,680,000 * 0.15) = $ 702,000; Main entrees = (4,680,000 * 0.5) = $ 2,340,000; Desserts = (4,680,000 * 0.1) = $ 468,000; and Beverages = (4,680,000 * 0.25) = $ 1,170,000 (DuBrin 208-212). This strategy increases the level of sales to achieve the desired net income of $ 117,000. A potential risk to this strategy is the failure to meet the sales level ($ 4,680,000). On the other hand, the strategy has an advantage of increasing the restaurants revenues. A company that uses manual labor in the production system experiences the following cost pool: wages to part-time and full-time employee, the contribution to a pension plan, employee recruitment costs, and moral hazard cost. On the other hand, the automated equipment system bears the following cost pools: machine acquisition costs, equipment maintenance costs, salary to IT technician, machine replacement and depreciation costs. Changing from manual labor production system to an automated equipment system changes the cost above named

Write a response to the article Modern Stone Age Humans incorporating Essay - 1

Write a response to the article Modern Stone Age Humans incorporating one quotation from artcile - Essay Example Of all the different sorts of theories that I have read explaining the possible reasons or meanings of these paintings, one that I find the most interesting and believable is â€Å"boot-camp training prior to full-fledged military service and training camp prior to sports season†. I think that these paintings might be used by trained and experienced hunters to train the children and young and inexperienced hunters. Many of these paintings show the different sorts of livestock and cattle with spears. I particularly think so because there is a painting of a black deer that is being targeted and shot at by three hunters from different positions. Another significance of these paintings could be material for teaching. It is mentioned in the reading that â€Å"some of the animals in the cave murals are pregnant, and some are copulating† As some of these paintings also show the animals procreating, the paintings might be used as images for teaching how different species

Concussions - How Many Concussions Are Too Many Essay

Concussions - How Many Concussions Are Too Many - Essay Example Are athletes and coaches not properly informed to deal with concussions, as far as their symptoms, how to manage and identify them, and when is it safe to return to the game etc are concerned? This paper briefly analyses concussions and tries to find answers to all the questions mentioned above. â€Å"Concussion is a form of head injury that occurs immediately after a blunt force strikes the head causing the brain to move within the confines of the skull. The Latin word ‘‘concussus,’’ from which the word concussion is derived, means to shake violently† (Cobb & Battin, 2004, p.262). â€Å"Sixty-one per cent of British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) players surveyed had already experienced at least one concussion. The concussion is defined as a loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes, post-traumatic amnesia lasting less than 24 hours† (Kent, 1999). â€Å"The study, conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers and colleagues, found that retired National Football League players faced a 37 per cent higher risk of Alzheimer’s than other U. S. males of the same age. When considering the prevalence of previous concussions, 1,513, or 60.8 per cent, of the retired players reported having sustained at lea st one concussion during their professional playing career, and 597, or 24 per cent, reported sustaining three or more concussions. Among retired players who sustained a concussion during their professional careers, more than half reported experiencing loss of consciousness or memory loss from at least one of their concussions (ScienceDaily, Oct. 11, 2005). A concussion is a common injury suffered by the athletes and sports personalities. Players of games like Football, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, Boxing etc are more volatile to concussion problems. It is not necessary that a person experiences the effect of a concussion immediately after he suffered it.  Ã‚  

Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Industry Analysis - Essay Example and retail companies from the US, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Cold Stone Creamery, and WokNRoll so it is clear that Kuwait accepts US retail experiences with open arms. A one area lacking in the Kuwaiti food industry is a specialty grocery sector. The good news for Whole Foods is that the food labeling standards are more relaxed in Kuwait than in the US. Moreover, many cultural events in Kuwait involve food at any social occasion, and this could be the reason obesity is increasing rapidly in the country. Introducing Whole Foods in their diet will minimize fast foods that lead to obesity. In Kuwait, cupcakes are sugary foodstuffs that most young adults make, sell, and start a business from, which contributes to the high obesity in Kuwait. People of Kuwait treasure good health that is why they seek solutions like therapists and exercise to avert the obesity conditions. This will offer the organic food a chance in the market since it is inherently healthy without obesity effects. Globalization is taking place in many different areas; the growth and spread of information media are seen to be part of the culture of globalization. Despite the growth of globalization, the Kuwaiti national identity remains

Discrimination in the work place. Workplace Safety Research Paper

Discrimination in the work place. Workplace Safety - Research Paper Example There are high numbers of employees who lose their lives while others become physically or mentally incapacitated by the kind of work they engage in. ( cited in work place safety ) This research focuses on area of discrimination of single women in the work place. The research begins on the hypothesis that ‘Single women are discriminated in the work place’. The research will be looking at different methods of data collection in order to establish whether the hypothesis is valid or null. The research will be looking at whether single women get promoted in their places of work as compared to their married counterparts, do they receive pay rises at the same rate as their married counterparts, does the work place treat them more harshly as compared to their married counterparts?, these are some of the questions that the hypothesis will be trying to answer. The Research Process The research process is divided into various processes that may at times overlap but largely work in dependent of each other. The research process will entail doing research in a number of work places specialised in different fields of profession. It will be a sampling process that will see us sample the population size to a sample size of only 15 single mothers. The process is as follows. 1. Defining the area of research specifically; our area of research will be conducted in eight major companies whereby we will be seeking to conduct a research on the single mothers in these companies. The four companies are ‘ABC Forex’, Savannah Coffee Lounge, Barclays Bank, Mayfair Casino, Deloitte, TNT, Securex, Westgate. All the eight areas have people specialised in different fields major companies whereby 2. Developing an overview of the area of study or what we intend to achieve. This is one of the most important parts of this research. In the research, we will be seeking to find out whether the single and married women in the work place face any kind of discrimination as comp ared to the male and married counterparts. Here we will be expecting answers either in the positive or in the negative with reasons to support these answers. 3. Determine methods of data collection. In our research various methods will be used. However, sampling will be the major method of research. The research method will be supplemented by other methods such as interviews, questionnaires, observation, focus groups, and mail surveys. This methods will be necessary in coming up with all the data required in a very efficient and effective manner. 4. Determining information requirements. This is where we have to make a choice on whether we may need to adopt and survey other reports on research done by others I this area of discrimination among single women in the workplace. 5. Organization of the information. This is where we will need to organize the information collected in the study. The information will have to be organized in a systematic manner in different sections each showin g how we have been conducting the process right from the beginning of the process to the ultimate end of it. 6. Analysis and evaluation of the information. This is where we will be analysing and giving critical inferences about our research process. We will be seeking to either support or dismiss the hypothesis based on our research. This is one crucial part as it forms the main reason as to why the research was conducted in the first place.(Research Methods) The Research Process As stated earlier, the research involved a study conducted among people working in different areas of specialisation. All the women involved were single some mothers, others widowed and others still had just cleared from school and had just begun working. The research was as

Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Industry Analysis - Essay Example and retail companies from the US, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Cold Stone Creamery, and WokNRoll so it is clear that Kuwait accepts US retail experiences with open arms. A one area lacking in the Kuwaiti food industry is a specialty grocery sector. The good news for Whole Foods is that the food labeling standards are more relaxed in Kuwait than in the US. Moreover, many cultural events in Kuwait involve food at any social occasion, and this could be the reason obesity is increasing rapidly in the country. Introducing Whole Foods in their diet will minimize fast foods that lead to obesity. In Kuwait, cupcakes are sugary foodstuffs that most young adults make, sell, and start a business from, which contributes to the high obesity in Kuwait. People of Kuwait treasure good health that is why they seek solutions like therapists and exercise to avert the obesity conditions. This will offer the organic food a chance in the market since it is inherently healthy without obesity effects. Globalization is taking place in many different areas; the growth and spread of information media are seen to be part of the culture of globalization. Despite the growth of globalization, the Kuwaiti national identity remains

Contextual studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contextual studies - Essay Example Human skill, mindset and imagination, are critical variables in the defining works of human creation, inclusive of the aspect of ornamentation. Trilling (1991), provides an impressive variety of ornament (artwork), defining human history; from the Paleolithic era, to the present; thus enabling human appreciation. The reader or audience is thus appreciative of both the historical importance, and the inherent aesthetic value of human architecture and ornament (85). Although the prevailing modernist emphasis, on the unadorned art form, pushed art ornamentation to the very margins of the West’s taste and preference during the 20th Century, a revival of the same is underway. This may be informed by the essence of human appreciation for art in terms of aesthetic beauty, ornament, heritage and functionality (Trilling, 1991:88). The selected authors are critical to the evaluation and understanding of ornament utility (ornamentation), concerning architecture and design. Their relevance is derived from accomplished work, data collection and research carried out. These select authors include James Trilling, Pevsner, Read and Worringer, amongst others. There will be a development of the thesis, formulated around the argument that ornament use is a right, and not a crime. This will entail a discussion of the pros and cons of the argument, through the thesis statement, which will be criticized in the form of an antithesis. Following will be a synthesis of findings, to be conclusively ended in a reflective way. A bibliography, will round up the work, basing it on the right of ornament use in architecture, and human design. A debate exists, as to whether ornament is a right, or a crime. It is the intention of this paper, to further provide proof, of ornament as a right; concerning architecture and design. This is from the past eras to the present, displaying various examples

The advantages of farming over hunting and gathering Essay Example for Free

The advantages of farming over hunting and gathering Essay Even thought farming is harder than hunting and gathering, there are many advantages in farming. Farmers can produce more food then hunters and gatherers can gather. Farming lets people have a steady food supply all year long. Farmers usually have surplus, so they can have bigger families then the hunters and gatherers. Farmers dont have to travel like the hunters and gatherers; they have a settled life, they dont have to travel, and they take up less space. Farmers can live almost anyplace where the soil is fertilized. Farmers dont have to farm all day; they can work as something else (such as a craftsperson). Farmers can produce a lot of food. They have a surplus so they can have a steady balance of food. Hunters and gatherers cant have a surplus so they dont always have a steady food supply all year. Farmers can have many children because they have a surplus of food. Even if hunters and gatherers wanted to have many children they wouldnt be able to because they wouldnt be able to feed them. Because farmers produce their food they dont have to move. Farmers dont have to move so they take up less space. Hunters and gatherers who hunt for their food have to move when food gets scarce. Hunters and gatherers have to hunt for food so they have to work all day. The farmers can spend some their time farming and use the rest of their time to become a toolmaker, a builder, a fisher, a craftsperson, a priest, leader, etc. These four ways prove that between farming and hunting gathering farming has an advantage.

Benefits of Police Body Cameras

Benefits of Police Body Cameras As with any new technology, police body-worn cameras are becoming the new trend in the law enforcement community. While camera and surveillance systems have been around for a quite a while, body-worn cameras have seen increase popularity as several high profile cases have brought this technology to the forefront. As agencies proceed forward with pilot programs to evaluate its usefulness, they must decide if the perceived benefits justify the cost and expense to implement such a program. From the general public perspective, the use of body worn cameras represents police accountability and transparency. By their use alone studies have shown they improve officer professionalism and behavior. As agencies implement body worn cameras, officers will be more aware of their actions and interactions with the general public and less likely to cross the line between use of force necessary to apprehend suspects and blatant over use of force. That same perspective is also true from the law enforcement community. Studies have shown from many different sources that when individuals are being recorded or that they are aware their actions are being recorded, their behavior will change. They are more aware of their behavior and will potentially alter their interactions with the person who is recording. â€Å"Accumulated evidence further suggests that individuals who are aware that they being-observed often embrace submissive or commonly-accepted behavior, particularly when the observer is a rule-enforcing entity.† (Self-Awareness to being watched and Socially-Desirable Behavior, 2013, p. 2). There are many times in an officer’s career when the person they arrest and the behavior they display on scene is quite the stark contrast when both meet in the courtroom for trial. The professionally dressed defendant who speaks intelligently is much different than the drunken patron that was involved in a fight and arrested for battery. Had camera footage been available, the impression would be quite different when presented to a judge. If the defendant was aware that he was being recorded, his behavior would most likely be different. â€Å"It can be incredibly frustrating to arrive in court to find a defendant dressed professionally in a suit with an angelic demeanor that’s completely opposite of the person who was arrested. Using cameras to capture that person’s true character and behavior can be very beneficial when it comes to prosecution.† (McFarlin, 2015, para. 4). Along with possible behavior modifications, other perceived benefits of body-worn cameras for agencies are reduced citizen complaints and officer use of force incidents. In 2012, the City of Rialto Police Department, in conjunction with the University of Cambridge (UK), conducted a yearlong study on the effects and impacts of police worn body cameras. Over the course of a year period, different patrol shifts were given cameras while others were not. The study was a random sample of different shifts at different times over the course of the study. After the yearlong pilot, the results were amazing. The groups that were assigned body cameras had a reduction of use-of-force incidents by 60% from the previous year. The study also concluded that citizen complaints for that same group were reduced by 88% over the previous year’s findings. The Rialto Police Chief stated,† Whether the reduced number of complaints was because of the officers behaving better or the citizens behavi ng better—well, it was probably a little bit of both.† (Police Executive Research Forum [PERF], 2014, p. 5). In another study on how body cameras reduce citizen complaints, the Mesa Police Department conducted a yearlong study specifically focusing on reducing complaints. The pilot program consisted of two groups; 50 patrol officers with assigned body cameras and 50 without body cameras. Both of the groups were similar in demographics and assigned patrol duties. The study, conducted in conjunction with the University of Arizona, concluded that the patrol officers without body cameras had three times more citizen complaints. In addition, the study also concluded that the patrol officers that had been wearing the body-worn cameras had a 40% reduction in citizen’s complaints and 75% reduction in use of force complaints from the previous year in which the body cameras were not used. In both studies, the overwhelming results state that body-worn cameras reduced citizen complaints. This is due in part to behavior on both sides from the awareness of having the incident being recorded. Greensboro’s Police Chief Ken Miller states, â€Å"We actually encourage our officers to let people know that they are recording. â€Å"Why? Because we think that it elevates behavior on both sides of the camera.† (PERF, 2014, p. 6). Video footage from officer’s using the body-worn cameras can also be used to correct internal agency problems and well as a useful training tool. In a recent survey from Police Chiefs around the country on the use of body camera video, 94% of the respondents stated that they use it as a training tool or for review by administrators to correct officer behavior. (PERF, 2014, p. 7). Body camera video has a multitude of training examples. While reviewing footage, administrators can evaluate current policies and determine if revisions need to be made based on actual officer encounters. The training department can create very specific scenarios to train their officers based on actual calls in the field. Additionally, officer training can now be specific to the individual agency or internal department. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits to law enforcement will be capturing and documenting evidence for criminal investigations. Again, it’s just another tool that can aid in the successful prosecution of criminals. When officers respond to a major crime scene, most of their focus and first priority is securing the scene and aiding victims with first aid measures. As they start their interviews and try to put together what happened, it is difficult to remember all the details. By using a body-worn camera, the officer is able to capture the scene and many of the small details that would have been missed. As they are walking around the crime scene, they are actually recorded it as it was upon initial response. This tool can provide a wealth of information to detectives that usually arrive well after the fact when it is calm and not hurried. Police Chief Parker of Dalton, Georgia states, â€Å"Unlike in-car cameras, body-worn cameras capture everything that happens as officersâ₠¬â„¢ travel around the scene and interview multiple people. The body-worn cameras have been incredibly useful in accurately preserving information.† (PERF, 2014, p. 9). Local prosecutors are also encouraged and actively engaging agencies to adopt this technology. Having a video record to present in court is usually hard to defend. In Kentucky, a local defense attorney commented on the use of providing body-worn camera video. â€Å"It makes it much easier for them to understand a guilty plea is probably going to be in their best interest, because you dont want a jury to see this†. (Mateescu, Rosenblat, Boyd, 2015, p. 27). This is particularly true for domestic violence case when the video evidence is provided in court. Many times, especially if there is a pattern of abuse and the victims are afraid, they do not want to press charges. Gathering evidence is difficult at best. Coupled with uncooperative victims and prosecution is almost nearly impossible. By providing prosecutors with video evidence upon arriving on scene, it will capture the demeanor of the victims and suspects as well as any injuries sustained. Providing this information to pr osecutors, they can build a case even if the victim refuses to press charges or declines to provide a statement. Chief Miller of Topeka stated, â€Å"When we show suspects in domestic violence cases footage from the body-worn cameras, often they plead guilty without even having to go to trial.† (PERF, 2014, p. 9). References Mateescu, A., Rosenblat, A., Boyd, D. (2015). Police Body-Worn Cameras. Retrieved from http://www.datasociety.net McFarlin, C. (2015, January 7, 2015). Body-Worn Cameras: Benefits and Best Practices [Article]. InPublicSafety. Retrieved from http://inpublicsafety.com Police Executive Research Forum. (2014). Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/472014912134715246869.pdf Self-Awareness to being watched and Socially-Desirable Behavior: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-of-Force [Special section]. (2013). Police Foundation, 1 14. Retrieved from www.policefoundation.org

Personal Narrative: Why I Chose the Legal Studies Major :: essays research papers

Selecting a major has been the most difficult challenge I have faced as a student at UC Merced. While many students select their major based upon statistics and ideals, I base my decision primary on my strong commitment and my passion. Furthermore, while maturing the last two years, I have learned that a major should encompass your love, talents, and desire for success in that subject. As stated in my application, my first job was tending to young children in an after-camp day care environment held at my community camp during the summer time, which had led to my interest in psychology and human development. I have worked there on and off now for several years. It seemed that as each year progressed, I realized my love for working with kids and for adults had increased as well. I even pursued this into UC Merced where I joined the UCM Mentor Program supplied by the Police Department because I liked having the responsibility of helping the children with their studies and problems, giving advice and support to the parents and adults, and even interacting with students from my university. At first, I thought I was made for being a child psychologist but I realized my love was to improve the lives of the people, bring morality and peace to the environment around them. So I realized psychology wouldn't utilize all of my talents and complete my yearning for success, altho ugh it would fulfill a love in the subject of bettering others' lives. I wanted more and my next step was discovering a different occupation, or major besides human development. This awareness came to me while talking to my role model, my uncle. My uncle had spent all of his life as a detective in Russia and when he visited me several years ago he gave me good advice about my future plans. He encouraged me to look into a couple areas of the law enforcement field and I immediately fell in love with the idea. After doing some research, I set my goals on becoming a distinguished lawyer, one that could help people in need of legal advice, fight for them legal battles and maybe even save their futures. I believe this noble goal is worth any hardship and I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.

Iran Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra scandal had a big effect on the United States but it had a huge effect on Nicaragua. Through out 1985-86, the Reagan administration was selling weapons to Iran illegally in order to encourage Iran to free hostages in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Reagan administration wanted to support the Contras in Nicaragua, a rebel group fighting to overthrow the Sandinista government. The administration decided to use the money made from selling arms to Iran, and had it sent to the Contras without passing through the United States. Walsh, p2. ) In this paper, I am going to provide the background of the situation. I will explain how the money from the missile sales was used to support the Contras. I will also tell how everything became public, the end of United States support for the Contras and about then investigations and public hearings in the United States. But finally this paper is about the significance, or impact, of the Iran-Contra affair. The Sandinista National Libera tion Front was founded in 1963.Named after Augusto Ceser Sandino, it was an extreme leftist organization â€Å"of Castroite and Maoist direction. † There were only about 150 members as of 1975, but sympathy was growing. (Times, 1/3/75) By August 1975, the SNLF had â€Å"begun to gain strength as discontent with the Somoza regime [had] spread through the middle classes. † (Times, 8/6/75) By August 1977 according to The New York Times, Amnesty International said that â€Å"there had been widespread abduction, torture and killing of peasants by the National Guard† during the previous year. 8/16/77) The strength of the SNLF continued to grow. In October 1977, the SNLF, for the first time, was â€Å"joined by non-Marxist opponents of the regime† including some conservatives. (Times, 10/20/77) By May 1978 opposition groups, including the SNLF, were proposing a coalition government that would exclude Somoza. (Times, 5/1/78) By November 1978, the Carter Administr ation was trying to push Somoza â€Å"into a compromise with his opponents. † (Times, 11/21/78) After 4 years of growing violence, including street fighting in the capitol, Somoza finally resigned. 9/17/79) After the Sandinistas took power in 1979, the remnants of Somoza’s National Guard scattered. As Kornbluh and Byrne describes The Iran Contra Scandal, they were reduced to small bands of some 250 men, hiding in Honduras and Guatemala, where they resorted to random violence and stealing to survive. The CIA brought these small groups together. After the Contras started receiving money from the CIA, the number of attacks on the Sandinistas increased a lot. Attacks during this period included, sabotage of highway bridges, sniper fire on small military patrols, the burning of customs warehouses and crops, and ‘the assassination of minor government officials’†( Kornbluh, p. 2; they are quoting from a document in the National Security Archives). On Decemb er 1, 1981, President Ronald Reagan signed a finding allowing our government to help the Contras. Beginning in March 1982, the whole thing became public as articles in the Nation, the New York Times, the Washington Post and Newsweek reported on CIA aid to the Contras.Congress reacted to this by passing the Boland Amendment, which read: None of the funds in this Act may be used by the Central Intelligence Agency of or the Department of Defense to furnish military equipment, military training or advice, or other support for military activities, to any group or individual, not part of a country’s armed forces, for the purpose of overthrowing the government of Nicaragua or provoking a military exchange between Nicaragua and Honduras. (Kornbluh, p. ) In spite of this, the Reagan Administration continued to aid the Contras, all the time denying that they were doing so. Among the aid they sent was the Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare training manual, referred to by thos e who knew about it as the â€Å"murder manual. † (Kornbluh, p. 2) The Reagan administration later on came up with a new strategy, to portray the Contras as freedom fighters and the Sandinistas as oppressors. In 1984, the CIA sowed mines in a major port in Nicaragua causing a severe amount of damage. The Contras took credit for this.But a few weeks later the press exposed the CIA involvement. In response, Congress passed a second Boland Amendment, which said that neither the CIA nor the Defense Department could fund the Contras, either directly or indirectly. From then on the administration worked through the National Security Council, and NSC staff member Oliver North. NSC William Clark established Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean (housed in State Department but reported to the NSC), Oliver North attended the meetings: responsible for all Contra affairs.Because the CIA was prohibited from operating inside the United States, Director William Case y had senior propaganda specialist Walter Raymond transferred to the NSC. As Raymond declared, his job was to â€Å"concentrate on gluing black hats on Sandinistas and white hats on Contras. † (Kornbluh, p. 5) All this time, CIA intelligence analysts were saying that the Contras couldn’t win, even with American support. Robert Owen, Oliver North’s personal intermediary with the Contras is quoted as saying they were simply â€Å"profiteers. 1 Meanwhile, during 1985-86, as mentioned earlier, the Reagan administration was selling weapons to Iran illegally in order to encourage Iran to free hostages in the Middle East. After the 1979 hostage situation at the United States Embassy in Tehran, Carter had imposed an embargo on selling weapons to Iran. When Reagan came to power in 1981, the Embassy hostages were freed, but Reagan continued the embargo policy. In 1983, the administration strengthened it through operation STAUNCH, a worldwide voluntary arms embargo agains t Tehran. But for several reasons, some people in the administration supported softening the stance toward Iran.The idea that selling weapons would help win the release of hostages encouraged them to act. The way the United States diverted the funds is complex. Basically, the United States sold arms to Iran, hoping to get hostages freed, then used the money they got to arm and support the Contras. All of this was done secretly. On October 5th, 1986, an American plane was shot down by Sandinistas over southern Nicaragua. The two pilots were killed, but the â€Å"cargo kicker,† Eugene Hasenfus, parachuted out and was captured by Sandinista soldiers. He told the Sandinistas everything he know about United States involvement with the contras.The next day, the story was on the front page of every major United States newspaper. Then, on November 3rd, 1986, a Lebanese paper published a story that revealed the United States trading of arms for hostages. (historycommons. org, p. 1) Ha ving these two pieces of the puzzle soon led to people discovering the connections between the arms-for-hostages deals and secret aid for the Contras. Once the Iran-Contra connection had become public, Reagan appointed John Tower, Edmund Muskie and Brent Scowcroft to a President's Special Review Board charged with investigating the affair.People expected the Tower Commission to be a whitewash, but its report brought to light many of the details of what had happened. On November 26, 1986, Attorney General Edwin Meese ordered the FBI to begin an investigation of the Iran-Contra episode. December 19, 1986, Lawrence E. Walsh was named to the Office of Independent Counsel to take over that investigation. The Tower Commission, congressional investigations and the work of the Independent Counsel led to indictments of Oliver North and John Poindexter on March 16, 1988.North was convicted on charges of obstruction of justice, misleading Congress, and accepting an illegal gratuity, but an app eals court overturned the verdict because testimony to Congress given under immunity might have affected his trial. Poindexter was also convicted and his convictions overturned on appeal. (Kornbluh, p. xxviii) In 1992, George H. W. Bush pardoned six others who had been indicted or convicted of crimes in the affair. The Iran-Contra affair made the United States look untrustworthy internationally, as well as causing people to distrust their government.The United States government depends on a system of checks and balances among the congress, executive and judicial branches. If the executive branch does whatever it wants and hides its actions from the congress, then the people are no longer in charge of their government. This is a genuine threat to democracy. When Somoza resigned in 1979, the Sandinistas and others who had opposed Somoza formed a junta to govern until there were elections. The country was a mess. There was poverty, malnutrition, disease, pollution from pesticides, fact ory runoff and raw sewage into Lake Managua.The Sandinistas tried to address these problems and might have succeeded if the Contras had not undermined a lot of what they did. Money from Cuba and Eastern Europe was spent on building up an army to combat the Contras instead of being used for other important needs. The Sandinistas won an election in 1984 with 67% of the vote; most international observers deemed the elections fair. Exhaustion on both sides, fear of losing to the Contras, and mediation by other governments in the area led to the â€Å"Sapoa ceasefire† between the Sandinistas and the Contras on March 23, 1988.In the elections that followed in February 1991, the Sandinistas, who were expected to win, were soundly defeated. The new President was Violeta Chamorro, widow of a prize winning newspaper editor who had struggled against Somoza. When the Chamorro government took power, the situation of the country was even more desperate than in 1979. 2 All in all, the Contr as and the United States support for them were disastrous for Nicaragua. Notes 1 This paragraph is based on information from Kornbluh. 2 This paragraph is based on information from Britanica.Works Cited Britinaca. com. http://www. britinica. com/EBchecked/topic/413855/Nicaragua . â€Å"Iran-Contra and Arms-for-Hostages Scandals: Eugene Hasenfus† http://www. historycommons. org/jsp? irancontraaffair_key_figures . Kornbluh, Peter, and Malcom Byrne. The Iran-Contra Scandal: The Declassified History. New York: The New Press, 1993. The New York Times, January 3, 1975-September 17, 1979. Walsh, Lawrence E. Independent Counsel Report. â€Å"Executive Summary,† p. 2. http://www. fas. org/irp/offdocs/walsh/execsum. htm .

Beautiful Boy and Tweak Essay

Reading two different accounts of the story of a drug addict allows much room for comparison between the two. In the case of David and Nic Sheff’s books, I was surprised at how much similarity there was between the two; they agreed on most points and there was no striking discontinuity in their stories. There is, however, a significant difference in the perspectives from which the two are told. Naturally, Nic, as the addict son, takes on a more self-centered view. In David’s book it is clear that Nic’s addiction is the one central driving force in their family life, especially in David’s daily life. In Nic’s book, however, his relationship with his father and the rest of his family is only one of the several focal points of the book; Nic is also preoccupied with girlfriends, friends, and his sponsor. David Sheff’s book is a very self-reflecting account. He is constantly analyzing the past, the decisions he’s made with Nic, and putting it all together in a desperate attempt to find answers to his son’s downfall. He struggles with a constant mental conflict: â€Å"What did I do wrong?† His preoccupation with Nic became an addiction in itself, and the obsessive worry and stress took a tremendous toll, to the point where he suffered from a massive hemorrhage. David’s view of the progression of Nic’s addiction reflects the Social Learning Theories and Psychoanalytical explanations of American drug use. At first, David views the onset of Nic’s addiction as a cause of some childhood lifestyle factors he lived through (such as the divorce). Later on, however, David realizes that there are thousands of teenagers who are reeled into the dark world of drugs and do not necessarily come from traumatic backgrounds; that these two things are not always directly linked. They are simply reinforced by others, usually drug-using friends, regardless of how they were raised. Ronald Akers built on this idea of operant conditioning by pointing out that drug-using behavior is reinforced socially more than physiologically. This is exactly what happened to Nic as he surrounded himself more and more with friends and girlfriends who induced his addiction. As evident as it may have seemed, it took David a while to shift his focus from reflecting on the past to what was quickly making Nic’s situation worse. Nic, on the other hand, is not very psychoanalytic about his addiction.  David has hope for his son, while Nic has very little hope for himself. While telling his story, David is trying to discover and unveil what led to all of this misery in his family. He longs to find answers and causations for all of it. Nic, on the other hand, doesn’t focus on the â€Å"why.† Although he has moments where he confesses he never thought he would turn out this way, he doesn’t spend much time dwelling on what led him to his addiction. Instead, Nic just tells his story and focuses on the very near future. This is typical of an addict’s mentality. Each day is so unsure and unstable that they can’t manage to plan more than one or two days ahead. The deeper he sinks into his addiction, the more surprised he is to find that he wakes up alive each day. Rather than fight it, Nic accepts the fact that he is a hardcore addict and that his life will never be the same. It took his father a much longer time to realize this and fully accept it. I was genuinely shocked at how honest Nic is throughout the whole book while telling his story. He admits that his parents are forcing him to go into a treatment center and that he has â€Å"fucked everything up beyond repair.† Most addicts make themselves seem like the victim and leave out a lot of information about their bad habits. Nic openly shares everything, even his darkest moments of intoxication and suicidal depression. He looks for ways to support the high demands of his druggie lifestyle and makes the necessary amends, even if it means stealing from his own family while they are desperately trying to help him. Nic’s selfishness, however, turns into feelings of deep guilt toward the end on the book when he is on the road to recovery and with his two parents. When his mind clears up, he realizes how badly he has torn everyone apart, especially his mom and dad. These emotional realizations are part of his recovery. David, however, experiences the exact opposite. At the early stages of his son’s addiction, he dedicated all his time and energy to the matter, to the point where he forgot about his own health and happiness. As Nic’s addiction progressed, David shifted focus to himself and stopped obsessing over everything that had to do with his son’s addiction. David’s road to recovery meant almost the exact opposite of Nic’s: dedicating more time and energy to himself rather than taking others into primary  consideration. David Sheff tells his family’s story from the very early happy days and takes his readers all the way through Nic’s descent into his darkest moments, while Tweak begins with Nic already deep into his addiction. Nic Sheff’s Tweak is the dark counterpoint to Beautiful Boy. The elder writer’s grief-filled memoir glows dimly like a distant planet of despair, while the son’s account of the same events burns like an angry Mars.

Plannng an expedition to an extreme environment

The place that our expedition is going to take is in the region of Norway called Svalbard. To get there we have to take a boat from Norway port and bring our equipments ready for the cold environment. The average temperature is around 5à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and -12à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C in winter. Equipments I need to bring on the expedition are: A parka is essential in cold weather. It insulates the heat even at a -47 degree Celsius. It is waterproof so the melted snow couldn't get in to your body. Insulator trousers are used to keep our legs warm. It is water proof with fleece lining to keep the heat in because the temperature is really low there. Fleece jumper is essential in this harsh weather condition. It keeps our body temperature in which is great. A woolly jumper is also good to keep heat in. I use this jumper as a spare in case the fleece gets dirty. A long sleeve shirt is to be worn before the jumper to keep me extra warm. Tracksuit bottoms with fleece lining are ideal to put on first before the thermal trousers. It will keep me extra warm. These are essential accessories for parts of our body like hands, neck and head. This faux fur hat keeps most of my body temperature in because the heat is loss through our head. Earmuffs are good to keep my ears warm; scarf is great to prevent coldness to enter my body. Waterproof gloves are used to keep my hands warm and prevent melted ice to get through the material. Thermal socks are there to keep my feet warm and these water proof boots are useful to walk through snow and uneven land. They have thick rubber soles to prevent slipping and provide good friction. Map and compasses are the must have. They will help me to find my way back if I get lost. Water is good because it stop me from being dehydrated. Dry food is ideal in this weather as it is easy to cook and quick. Swiss knives are useful because you never know when you need it. I will need it to open a can or defend myself when I get attacked by a bear. Task 2: Glacier retreat project A: Find maps and photographs of Glaciers on Spitsbergen 1: Label the features you can see 2: How did glacier form and move? 1. Snow is collected over millions of years. The snow flake compressed and fused together, squeezing air and moistures out to create one solid ice block. With the pressure of more snow the firn will eventually over years become glacier ice. 2. Glacier is like a mighty river of ice. It is capable of doing what a river can do such as flow and change in flow rate. In ice, the flow rate is faster in the centre than at the edges and quicker on the surface than at the bottom because the gravity pulls the weigh there greater. That is why some glacier surge forwards than the other. 3. When ice moves it picks up rocks on the way therefore the rock make good cutting tools such as erosion. Erosion by plucking and abrasion make the hollow deeper and bigger. * Plucking is when rocks and stones froze to the bottom of the glacier and being plucked up by the movements of the glacier. * Abrasion happens when the materials rubbed against the bedrock at the bottom and sides of the glacier. They were being pulled down by gravity. This also causes wearing to the landscape. Fine grained debris polishes the bedrock called glacial polish. 4. Some of this debris is deposited at the edge of the corrie, as a moraine, building up the lip. This combined process creates a rounded shape, with a steep back wall, and an armchair shape characteristic of a corrie. 5. When the ice melts, a lake is left in the corrie. This is called a tarn. 3: Why do you think that many people might find them both interesting and enjoyable to look at? I think people find it interesting to look at the glacier because they can find answers to their wonders of how landscape form. It is amazing to see the nature is so powerful which can move and change the land. They can also do some sporting activities such as camping and sledge riding. Furthermore they can compare the difference between places which are affected by glacier retreated and see how much ice have melted. They might find it interesting because they can see how the climate is changing and some responsibilities are down to human. B: Look at the map on page 11 and other evidence that shows how glaciers have retreated on Spitsbergen 1: Using the picture above, the time scale that retreating of glacier has been measured is 103 years. Since 1900 and up until 2003, the resources tell me that the glacier has moved 3 miles from 1983 to 2003. I measure the scale and worked out that 3mile is equivalent to 1 cm. Therefore I can say that from 1900 to 2003, the glacier has moved 16 miles and in the present time, there is a great possibility of it moving further than 16 miles. 2: The ice moves at the rate of 241 metres every year from 1983 to 2003. The map shows the glacier melted the most in 1983 to 2003, the gap between 1900 to 1916 is smaller therefore I can say that less ice receded then. The amount of precipitation on this island is very little; causing ice on Svalbard accumulates snow very slowly. This affects the way the ice movements. 3: The evidence of glacier retreating appears to match with the theory of global warming because the ice is melting very fast as the year goes on. It is because the Earth is affecting by the green house effect. This means that heat and CO2 gas are being trapped in the atmosphere instead of leaving the Earth. They insulate the heat which causing ice to melt. The pollution is increasing which makes the ice melt faster as well. The â€Å"albedo effect† has an important role in climate change. It is used to describe what material can reflect sunlight. The higher the albedo the greater it can reflects the sunlight. The higher the Earth's albedo, the more solar radiation will reflect and the Earth will heat up less. White is a good colour which doesn't absorb the heat. If the ice melts, there will be more heat being trapped and will lead to more global warming because dark colour material tends to absorb heat than the lighter colour. 4: What the likely effects on melting glaciers in the sea around Svalbard Islands? Think about salinity, exposure to erosion and changes in the land/sea level. Salinity: amount of salt dissolved in water. Melting glaciers in the sea around Svalbard Islands effects on a lot of things such as the Thermohaline, living things like polar bear and climate not only on the island but also UK and other countries. Ocean water never rest which means it moves constantly. The complicated patterns are influence by wind, the water's salinity and heat content, bottom of the ocean's structure and the Earth's rotation. One of the biggest oceans current is the Gulf Stream. It transports 150 millions cubic metres per second of warm water from the Gulf of North Mexico across the Atlantic to Svalbard. On the way it mixes with water from other current, exchanging qualities of salinity, temperature, plants and animal. When warm Gulf Stream collides with the cold Atlantic current, it causes the seawater to become extremely dense. It is because warm water has higher mass due to the heat and salty water is heavier than fresh water. The warm water sinks and exporting towards south but some will continue towards Svalbard. When it reaches South Atlantic, it moves east to join the current flows to Indian Ocean and the rest move to Pacific Ocean. There it will heat up and repeat the same cycle. If the ice in Svalbard melts even more, there will be an increase in sea level as well as more fresh water will be added in to the ocean. This fresh water will move down south and affect the Gulf Stream because it will get colder and less salty; this also upset the process of Thermohaline. If the Gulf Stream slow down or shut down completely the climate in Britain would be colder. It would be like Moscow which is on the same latitude. This is called Rapid Climate Change. Britain is warmer than Moscow due to the warm current. If the ice in Svalbard melts even more polar bear will have no where to live and reproduce because these bears rely on ice. They can not swim well enough to catch seals or fish. It will results in shortage of food and could lead to distinction. If the ice in Svalbard melts even more the land will expose more because the glacier would disappear. This will have an impact on people and tourism on this island. The unique site and land on this island will change dramatically. C. Read the Glacial meltdown information sheet. 1: The problem in suggest the reason why the glacier melts because of global warming is that it is not the only reason why. They blame it on human because we consume a lot of fossil fuel can produce toxic gas that harms the environment. Yes they are right partly, but even before we begin to us fossil foil, glacier already started to retreat. This is normal for them. They have different opinions and views but they need to know both side of the evidence. Furthermore, global warming doesn't occur in a short amount of time. It is measured over a long period and find out the changes in pattern of the temperature, ocean life, etc†¦ 2: It is important to know who produce and interpret the evidence of global warming because they could be bias and have different views of the global warming. Some time they can exaggerate. It is good to know all the evidence that global warming caused by human and nature. This statement from Greenpeace is saying that the cause of global warming that makes ice melt is due to human activity such as burning fossil fuels in cars, aeroplane, bus, etc†¦They exaggerated it even though parts of it is down to human activity. The climate change is measured over many years, decades even centuries. Climate change doesn't happen that quickly. This evidence suggests that one of the reasons why glacier retreated faster is because some ice surges forward than the other. This is normal and is due to nature and not human activities. Task 3: Climate change and effects on the food chain A: Find out about phytoplankton that grows in Arctic waters. Phytoplankton – Microscopic plants and plant-like organisms found in massive quantities in the sea. They are known as ‘the ocean's grass'. Algae bloom – A plankton bloom also known as algal bloom, is simply an area where phytoplankton (algae) reproduce very fast that you may find many thousand plant cells per litre of water. The chlorophyll in these plants colour the water green. Zooplankton – Microscopic animals and animal-like organisms found in the sea. 1: Just like any normal plant, phytoplankton needs light, warmth, nutrients, carbon dioxide and water in order to grow and reproduce. The condition and environment around it has to achieve some of the requirements for algae to grow. 2: The Ocean's bottom contains decaying plants and animals which carry nutrients; they are being brought to the surface by currents. Algae bloom occurs when the Sun comes out like in spring because plants need sunlight to develop healthily and gives it the colour green. The phytoplanktons also use the nutrients to produce; this leads to algae bloom as well as the bloom of zooplankton because they have more food to eat. The light and warmth control the multiplication of algae. In winter it is harder for this specie to grow. 3: The growth of phytoplankton is very important to the Arctic food chain because they are the producer. They are food to zooplanktons which they are eaten by fish. Small fishes like Arctic cod are eaten by other predators such as polar bears, whales, seabirds and other fish. If there are less of them then the population of other consumers and predator can decreased. B: Look at page 12 in the High Arctic book. Look at the maps and other information about the growing conditions for plants on land in the Svalbard Islands and the Arctic in general. CAFF stands for The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna. 1:  Land surface: the Arctic tundra made of flat and low land surface. The further north you go the higher the land due to some mountains. The further up north, the land is usually covers in snow and only a few plants can survive, like in Spitsbergen. Plants on land only cover just over 5% of the surface and home to 165 species of plants on Svalbard. Low land and mountain tundra's vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sledges and grasses, mosses and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra. The ecological boundary region between the tundra and the forest is known as the tree line. There are likely no trees and no bushes. Taiga is described to be home to many living organism. Boreal forest refers to the southern part of this biomass. Northern taiga has small-leaves trees like birch, alder, willow and aspen. Nearly all the trees in this kind of forest are fir trees. They grow for just a few weeks and have tough leaves to survive frost, wind and snow. Whereas in southern also known as middle boreal. Trees grow bigger and home to many animals like red squirrel. The further south you go the more trees will grow and more living things are able to survive. Soil: mountain tundra has permanent frozen soil. But judging in the pictures the soil is quite fertile as there are living things growing on it. Snow buttercups, lichens etc†¦ are able to grow and reproduce on this soil. It is moist from the melted snow. Plants can not grow on the glacier because it is too cold to it to survive. Temperature: plants on Spitsbergen can grow at temperature as low as -5à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Plants like dwarf shrubs, sledges and grasses, mosses and lichens can survive at this temperature. The temperature increases as you go further south because it is nearer to the sun. the temperature raises after the snow melts so the plants can start growing. Precipitation: the mountain tundra gets less rain than the other part of this Arctic because it is colder and dryer. Places like the taiga have more precipitation because the trees need rain in order to grow big. There are more moisture in the air there than the area around glacier. Growing season: The map shows the length of time that plants need to grow. So in spring, the mountain tundra will have 80 days to grow. These plants are short whereas the middle boreal will have 160 days of growing season because the plants are tall and have loads of leaves. The further south you go the longer the growing season. Colourful wildflowers bloom from the end of June to the end of July. They have to adapt to this every short season. 2. Describe the main characteristics of plants that are found on the land. It is hard for plants to grow in the Arctic. Once the snow melts, the growing season is going to be short. Despite getting the most sunshine in summer, but the harsh weather condition have made the plants adapted to their environment such as Arctic tundra. They have distinctive characteristics such as being small, grow close together and close to the ground. This protects them from the cold temperatures and the strong winds. Some flowering plants covered in fine hair like the Arctic crocus to provide protection from the wind. Flowering plants use all the sunlight they can to produce flowers at very fast speed because they knew growing season is very short. Some plants have cup shaped flowers that face up to the sun, so they can get the sunlight shines directly at the centre of the flower that's why they are so bright. However, other plants have dark colour because they can absorb more heat. Some plants have small roots because only the top layer of the soil thaw and they have small leaves to retain moisture. Because of the short growing season, most tundra plants are perennials and they do not die in the winter. Other living organisms like lichens and mosses can survive on bare rock. They are very short. 3: Plants can be said to be part of a â€Å"fragile† environment is because they can be easily damaged. For example, tracks from a passing vehicle will tear up the fragile insulating tundra, allowing the soil to thaw into scars that may remain for hundreds of years therefore the surface layer is vulnerable to environmental damage. There are also other factors that could stop plants from growing such as colder temperature and shorter growing season. Plants there have already adapted to that low temperature, if it gets any lower there is a likely chance they will not survive. Furthermore, if the sun is not giving them enough sunlight, they wouldn't be able to grow healthily. C: Look at the Arctic food chain on page 13 in the High Arctic book. 1: The Arctic food chain consists of many animals, sea animals, land and sky. The most important producers start in the sea like the phytoplankton. They are food to the zooplankton and from that fishes consume them. Fishes are important because many animals rely and live on them such as seals, killer whales, birds, polar bear etc†¦ Birds like the kittiwake fed on fishes and they are food to Arctic foxes. If it wasn't for the sea animals, the land animals wouldn't be able to survive because they have nothing to eat. The sea environment keeps the food chain balance by providing the right amount food at the right time. Like when a female polar bear gave birth to her cub in December, the algae would bloom after December and make food for the polar bear. Numbers of birds are more than number of fishes. If the fishes do not multiply then it could cause a fall in number of animals. Numbers of whales are shortening due to whale hunting by human and animals. The food chain has interlinking which means a specie consumes more than one type of food. This increases the chance of getting something to eat than some other living organisms. 2: If the ice melts, the number of seals will decrease because they will have no where to mate and rest which will lead to the falling in polar bear's population. However, the number of fishes will increase and population of birds and foxes. It is because they will have fewer predators and more food to eat. Killer whales will be relying on squids and other fishes instead having them as well as seals. Their population will decrease but not greatly. In the future, seals might be hunted for their skin or their fat or it could be the melting of ice which will leave them homeless. 4: After the coal mining industry closed in the 1980s the future of Longyearbyen, a city in Svalbard seems to have no hope. The economy went down hill because there was not enough income and the population was decreasing. The Norwegian government decided that it would create new business opportunities on Svalbard. One of the main activities to be developed was tourism. Svalbard is a very beautiful wilderness, with many rare living organisms, and it's also a part of the Arctic that is easily accessible by plane. Because of the Gulf Stream, the temperature is not as cold compared to other places on the same Northern latitude. Longyearbyen received 25,000 tourists every year and they arrive by plane and another 25,000 visit on a cruise ship. They bring a lot of income to the town by using the facilities such as hotels, going on excursions, buying souvenirs, etc†¦. It's important that the government carefully manage the wilderness so that tourists can still enjoy coming here in the future because the view and places here are exclusive to Svalbard. It is advised not to use modern transport to go around on this island. Tourists can take the aeroplane or cruise ships but if they want to explore this land more it is best to only go with dogs, or on foot, or by skiing. One of the reasons they believe using those environmental friendly transport is because tourist come here from big city to find peace and quite. Silence is a valuable commodity today. If they raced around on snowmobiles, then people wouldn't want to come as much. In addition, motorised vehicles cause damage to the environment. They produce more C02 and destroy landscape. The Government of Norway has set a goal of trying to make Svalbard one of the best managed wildernesses in the world. To achieve this they have put a lot of regulations into force, including the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. The purpose of this Act is to preserve a virtually untouched environment in Svalbard. Littering is forbidden, you can not pick a flower or even move a stone on the beach.