Speech Class Topic Proposal

Informative Speech Outline 1. Intro 2. 1 Attention Step: Wouldn’t it be cool to know how to do some stunts in Tekken? 2. 2 Involvement Step: The video game Tekken consists of many martial art disciplines like jeet kune do, street fighting, taekwondo, ninjitsu, sumo wrestling, aikido, judo, karate, and many more. These are the most common martial art disciplines people would think about when you say the word Tekken. But why don’t we focus on 2 certain characters namely Eddy Gordo and Christie Monteiro. These 2 characters are doing some martial art discipline that looks a lot like they are dancing it rather than martial arts.So did you know that the martial art disciplines Christie and Eddy are doing is called Capoeira. 2. 3 Indication Step (thesis statement): Capoeira is considered as a martial art discipline because it used for fighting, acrobatics, dancing, playing, and tradition. 2. Body 3. 4 Major point 1: Fighting, dancing, and tradition 3. 5. 1 Supporting detail: I t is considered one of the most comprehensive forms of physical conditioning and is an integrated balance of mind, strength, rhythm, poetry, agility, and harmony (Escola Brasileira de Capoeira Philippines, 2012). 3. 5. Supporting detail: It is the maximum expression of liberty and keeps the art of the ancestors alive, being part of Brazilian and now, world history (Escola Brasileira de Capoeira Philippines, 2012). 3. 5 Major point 2: Acrobatics, and playing 3. 6. 3 Supporting detail: The roda is the center of Capoeira (Rensselaer, n. d. ). Being the center of Capoeira, the roda has always been considered as the playing grounds of the Capoeiristas. It is where they practice their moves, styles, and forms. While two Capoeiristas play in the middle of a roda, everyone else watching them play is making music.Some will be in-charge of playing the instruments, while the rest will enjoy singing until it’s their turn. 3. 6. 4 Supporting detail: Capoeira is kind of similar to acrobati cs because of the movements involved in the martial art. Au de Cabeca  movement is essentially a cartwheel done on your head. We recommend you are comfortable with queda de rins and au before you try au de cabeca. Learning au de cabeca will be easier and quicker to learn and you will be equipped with the right skills needed in perfecting this specific au (Capoeira Universe, 2011). 3.Conclusion Capoeira is like any other recreational sports that help build our bodies and keep us healthy. So why not give it a try? References Capoeira Universe. (2011, June 11). Basic Capoeira Moves List. Retrieved from Capoeira Universe: http://capoeirauniverse. com/capoeira-moves/basic-capoeira-moves-list/ Escola Brasileira de Capoeira Philippines. (2012). Capoeira. Retrieved from EBC Philippines: http://www. ebcphilippines. com/index. php/capoeira/ Rensselaer. (n. d. ). The Roda. Retrieved from Rensselaer: http://capoeira. union. rpi. edu/roda. php

Psycho Analysis

ysisPsycho Final Analysis Joel Schain Film and Literature Period 3 10/2/12 Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho has been ranked as one of the top 10 best horror/suspense films of all time because of his unique way of filmmaking. Some of the many significant cinematic elements uses include internal diegetic sound, and dissolving. Internal diegetic sound was used throughout Hitchcock’s Psycho to create the illusion that Norman Bate’s mother was still alive. Only at the very end of the film do you find out what really happened to Norman’s mother, and throughout the film the audience is wondering when they will get to match the voice with her face.The internal diegetic sound appears to be Norman’s mother talking to him, when really it’s just him talking to himself. This effect leads the viewer to think that Norman’s mother is this unstable, controlling, psycho murderer when really it’s Norman all along and he just can’t accept the fact that she’s really gone. In the last scene Norman is asked a question in his prison cell and the voice of his mother replies, indicating that the mother part of him has consumed his personality.Another important cinematic element used in Psycho is the dissolve editing technique. At the very end of the film when Norman Bates is sitting in his prison cell, he slowing lifts up his head and grins, then it slowly dissolves into the face of his dead mother’s corpse, showing the viewers that they are now one. The question you find yourself asking throughout the film is, â€Å"Who is the murderer? † That question is answered at the very end when Norman and his mother dissolve into one face, proving that Norman was the crazy one all along. Psycho Analysis The Shower Scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is a crucial scene in the plot of the film. The scene itself shows the death of the main Protagonist, Marion. In this essay I am going to explore the Shower Scene in detail and show how Alfred Hitchcock created the excitement present in the scene as much by Technique as by Action and I will show how the scene is so important to Psycho as a whole. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of Psycho is the score to the Shower Scene. The composer accountable for it is Bernard Herrmann. The Action of the scene is very fast-paced and the Music present in the scene is a direct reflection of this. The instruments present all belong to the String family; Cello, Violin, Viola and the Double Bass are all present in the Scene. This creates a very peculiar sound, no Brass instruments to create the usual ‘Noise’ affiliated with action and no Woodwind to soften the sound and calm things down. The sound is very rough, the high, screeching Violins create excitement as the action becomes more frenzied, so do the Violins. Each knife blow is accompanied by ‘screams’ by the high violins. This goes on for the duration of the attack, there is no relent until Marion is dead. This leaves the Audience lost, confused as to what exactly is going on in front of their eyes. The screaming emitted from Marion and the Violins is almost in-sync. The excitement is carried very well, the Strings are consistently battering the Audience’s eardrums with incredibly high notes, and the Strings come in fast with the knife strokes allowing no rest by the Audience. As the attacker departs and Marion slowly slides down the wall and into the bath in her dying moments, heavy Cello and Double Bass movements seem to drag her body down. The serene sound of a Shower opens and closes the Scene. This makes the Audience uneasy. It makes the Audience realise that all of this action is taking place in the most normal of places, the Bathroom. The drain gurgles at the end of the Scene; Marion’s life is effectively â€Å"going down the drain†. This is one factor of how the Excitement of the Shower Scene is created as much by Technique as by Action or Dialogue. Another Technique used to create Excitement in the Shower Scene is the way the Scene itself was Edited. The Scene is very, very fast-paced. Action is rife and the editing of the Scene carries this. The Shots quickly snap between the knife, Marion and her attacker, Mrs. Bates. This is very skilful editing as over 75 shots are used in the Scene, all skilfully snapping into the next. The fast snapping of the Shots helps the Actors in their quest to convey extreme violence on-screen. The Shots themselves seem to be frenzied, bloodthirsty in their constant snapping. The Audience is bombarded by various different images, this makes them very confused. This is what Hitchcock envisaged. The Audience cannot focus clearly on anything in the screen as nothing appears long enough to become an ‘anchor’ of sorts. The Audience are left confused, afraid of what’s actually happening. Even when the attacker departs, we do not focus on Marion long enough to take in the damage she has most certainly suffered at the hands of Mrs. Bates. The shots continually snap to various objects of interest around the room, eventually panning slowly around and into her room. The money is very clearly focused on at the very end of the Scene. We know that the money has not been touched; this throws the Audience even more. They are now deeply afraid as this was, clearly, not a murder to get the money. The Audience are left to try and figure the motive out on their own. This Scene lasts for around 45 seconds, but contains over 75 Shots. This is very skilful editing. This clever editing is another way Alfred Hitchcock conveys the Excitement in the Shower Scene as much by Technique as by Action or Dialogue. A very peculiar aspect of this Scene is the Setting. Hitchcock cleverly used the seemingly ordinary bathroom as the place of the brutal murder of the Audience’s ‘anchor’ to the plot of Psycho. Before Psycho was released, no Film Audience had seen a Bathroom, in full, in a Film. Psycho changed all that. Hitchcock used the ordinaries of the Bathroom to cause massive unease in his Audience. To the people of the 1960’s, a Bathroom was a Sanctuary. It was a place you could go to be your most vulnerable, a very private space. While in the Bathroom you are very vulnerable, but most people do not think of that when inside. When showering, you are naked. You are as vulnerable as the day you were born, no clothing to hide or protect you from the outside world. You are defenceless whilst showering and to a 1960’s Audience, to show a Bathroom on screen would be the height of disgust. For Alfred Hitchcock to use a Bathroom as the sight of a brutal murder was completely unexpected. Never before had a toilet been shown in a film, never mind a woman being murdered in her Shower. This caused huge controversy in the Public, just as Hitchcock had intended. People were left unsettled to see a woman at her most vulnerable being killed. This was the biggest intrusion on someone’s personal and private spaces ever shown in front of an Audience. This use of Setting to unsettle greatly enhanced the excitement in the Shower Scene by creating fear. This is another method used by Hitchcock to create Excitement in the Shower Scene as much by Technique as by Action or Dialogue. The Shower Scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is important to the film as a whole due to the main protagonist, Marion being murdered. This leaves the Audience without an ‘anchor’ in the Plot and we’re forced to search for another to see where the story will lead us next. We’re later introduced to Norman Bates’ point of view in the story and he replaces Marion as our ‘anchor’ in Psycho. However, the Audience remains suspicious of Norman so he does not take on the role of protagonist like Marion. In this essay I have explored the Shower Scene in detail and shown how Alfred Hitchcock created the excitement present in the Scene as much by Techniques, such as Editing and Music, as by Action and Dialogue. I have also, in my opinion, shown how important the Scene is to the film as a whole.

Healthy lifestyle Essay

A persons health is measured in various methods and achievements, whether it is measured by weight, levels of stress, or just overall quality of life. People are relentlessly searching for the most efficient way to be more physically, nutritionally, and emotionally fit. On this quest for superior health there are four habits that need to be recognized to reach this goal, and they are smoking, drinking, overeating, and exercising. (Berger, 502). Cigarette smoking is a common, unhealthy habit among American adults. With 20.8% of all adults smoking, its the most preventable cause of death in the US, making up one in every five deaths this year. (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, n.d.). It not only significantly increases your chance at getting lung cancer; it also increases the rate for getting cancer of the bladder, kidneys, mouth and stomach. (Berger, 503). These deaths are preventable by people quitting smoking. There are over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, as well as just cold turkey to quit smoking. Alcohol is another drug that can lead to bad health. Alcohol can produce significant problems with the lever, heart, stomach and increases the likelihood of getting cancer. (Berger, 504). With this danger, groups have been founded to help stop using alcohol. The most familiar group is Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935, has no affiliation to any company, government, or private enterprise, and only requires the members to have the want to stop drinking. (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 2008). Overeating and obesity is a common health problem among Americans today. We live in a very hectic world with just as frantic schedules. With the onset of the technological world and hectic schedules, fast food restaurants have found their ideal target. With consumers not having to even get out of their cars to super-size their double quarter-pounder has made us obese. There is a solution to this problem though. Through a reasonable amount of caloric intake of the right foods and a moderate, convenient exercise plan American can win the battle of the bulgeExercise is a very proactive way of increasing ones health. Many people exercise to lose weight, but the  benefits of exercise is vast. Regular physical activity can reduce your risk for several diseases and conditions and improve your overall quality of life. Regular physical activity can help protect you from the following health problems: hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. (Berger, 507). References Berger, K. S. (2005). The Developing Person: Through the Life Span. (Sixth Ed.). New York, New York: Worth Publishers. Center for Disease Control & Prevention. (n.d.). Adult Cigarette Smoking in the United States:Current Estimates. Retrieved on July 13, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/Factsheets/adult_cig_smoking.htm. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. (2008). A.A. Fact File. Retrieved on July 13, 2008, from http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_pdfs/m-24_aafactfile.pdf.

The Opium Wars Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Opium Wars - Research Paper Example However, when it did develop, it proliferated rapidly. By 1729 Chinese imperial authorities were very worried at the increasing cases of opium abuse and the harmful consequences for the users, that they forbid opium lairs and banned the sale of opium. Selling opium-laced cigarettes became a crime and it carried a punishment of deportation or death. Yet, the risk of such severe punishment did not dissuade the British opium merchants. In the latter part of the 18th century, the British began to seize China’s opium trade from Holland and Portugal. This was facilitated by the fact that almost all of the opium traded in China was produced in India, which was a colony of Britain at the time. During this time, the Indian metropolis of Patna was the center of both Dutch and English opium factories. There were rumors that the huge opium factories in Patna generated massive quantities of opium that can supply the whole of India. The opium cultivated in other regions of India raised huge revenues for the British East India Company. Although the Chinese government was implementing more rigid regulations to stop opium misuse and trade, the British were exerting their best effort to boost the sale of opium in China. With this objective in mind, the British East India Company launched three wars against China to acquire the privilege to trade opium in China. The first drug war in human history is the First Opium War. The only reason for the opium war was to gain access to the Chinese market in order for the East India Company to carry on with their selling of addictive, destructive drugs in China.5 The opium trade was very profitable for Britain, but it ruined the lives of a large number of Chinese people. The sale of opium increased steadily in China. Yet, when the British gained control they further boost opium sales. There was firm certainty about the solidity and strength of the opium trade in China. The British governor-general of India even declared in 1830, â€Å"We are taking measures for extending the cul tivation of the poppy, with a view to a large increase in the supply of opium†.6 In 1839, the First Opium War broke out when Chinese imperial authorities blocked foreign trading vessels and instructed the British to hand over their illicit load of opium. The imperial authorities then instructed the burning of the sequestered boxes of opium. When the officer of the British armada was informed of the instruction to destroy British goods, he commanded India’s governor-general to dispatch all the available ships to China to protect British wealth. The fleet was directed to Hong Kong, where they defended the opium-loaded British trading ships.7 The Chinese emperor deployed Chinese junks to hold off the British armada, but they were not able to fight off the strong British warships. These wars brought about countless casualties; the British extinguished, plundered, and pillaged communities along the Chinese coast.8 The remaining vestiges of humanity had been wiped out to enab le the continuous unlimited stream of massive profits from the opium trade. The British journal—the India Gazette— reported about the destruction of Chusan during the First Opium War. The journal stated that all houses were robbed and sacked, and that the pillaging continued until there were no more to loot or extinguish. The First Opium War culminated on the 29th of August 1842, and the Treaty of Nanking

The new age religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The new age religion - Essay Example People feel more comfortable and more willing to do something if there is scientific evidence to back up the results. Scientology, crossing the boundaries of religion and science, offers both religious experience and scientific results. Science and religion are two vastly different concepts. Science is based primarily on fact and thoughts and ideas that can be proven with concrete evidence. In science, something is not real unless there is definite, unchangeable evidence. Concepts start as theories, but then they are agreed upon once they have been proven without a doubt. On the other hand, religion is entirely based on faith. Regardless of whether or not something can be proven, people are liable to believe certain concepts when they trust their intuition. Though many people can argue that there is no proof for the existence of God, those that believe in Him claim that proof is not needed when faith is present. Globalization is the process by which cultures and societies become integrated though communication. Though globalization is more commonly connected with economics and politics, religion is not exempt from the process. Atheism, for example, has been spread throughout the world due to globalization. As a belief that there is no higher deity, atheism has become a welcome theory to people that do not want to mess with the concepts of gods and organized religions or otherwise do not believe in them. Atheism originated in France, but, due to globalization, has made its way to the belief systems of many Americans, as well as hundreds of thousands throughout the rest of the world. Secularism is the belief that the government, or the state, should be separate from religion. For example, the United States is a country that believes and practices the separation of state from religion. Church has no place in public and government locations, such as schools or courthouses. It is better that states are

Conflicting Situation at Work Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Conflicting Situation at Work - Term Paper Example The need is to understand where it has crept up from and what related measures could be taken to avoid it in the first place (Boles, 2011). One such conflicting situation came about when recently one of the employees had a rift with his boss. This problem caused the entire department to lose focus for quite a while. Indeed this was getting into something big until the top management realized the gravity of the situation and intervened to bring to an end the entire issue. The amicable solution was found through understanding and logic which prevailed in entirety. The need was to discern where the two employees were doing just too much pushing and pulling, which was unthinkable on the part of the other employees and the management in essence. There was an air of suspicion which existed within the realms of these two employees who were not even on the same level. The conflicting situation came about when the boss ordered his subordinate to comply with his orders time and again. The subo rdinate did not agree with what the boss had to suggest and carried on with his own undertakings and tasks in the office. The result was very serious as it turned out to be. The two of them got into an argument and started to abuse one another for doing nothing all day long. The boss was surprised that the subordinate had the guts in him to get up to him and speak out loud and that too in front of just about everyone in the office. The actions that the management took under such settings were of dire consequence as it had to intercept within this quagmire which had developed with the passage of time. The senior bosses called these two employees who were essentially boss and subordinate, and thus worked in the same department. They were asked to give their side of the story and thus tell who of the two was wrong amongst them. It was obvious that both of them hurled claims on the other party to be labeled as the guilty one. This ended up in stalemate and both were ordered to leave the office within the shortest time since they were sentenced to two weeks suspensions. The problem was made bigger than it was in the beginning. The subordinate was very abusive and used to hurl slang language and jokes on the boss and the boss had found this out through other employees. The boss was also adamant that since he was senior to the subordinate, his say should have been more important. My perception was that this situation was not handled properly right from the onset. It meant that the employees were not being managed adequately well by the management domains. The need of the hour was such that the employees should have been apprised of the consequences before they indulged into one such rift. Their attitudes would have been better had they known what was in store for them and how they had to handle things in a proper manner. Sadly, this did not come about as such and there were problems for both of them as well as the employees who worked with them or around them in one or the other capacity. I believe that the boss would have let the human resource management department handle things on their own since this would have been the better thing to do in such a scenario. It would have served the cause of the two and taken into consideration the abuse factor which was raised by the subordinate that was simply unwanted and uncalled for (Harrison, 2006).  

The universal Declaration of Human Rights and Teaching Essay

The universal Declaration of Human Rights and Teaching - Essay Example Victory for the allied forces precipitated the formation of a new body with world unity and respect for human rights as parts of its primary objectives. it was cardinal to this new world organization for there to be a "universal respect of human rights, sovereignty of the state in all other matters notwithstanding. 'Universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedom for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."(article 55,United Nations Charter) depicts the importance attached to the human rights issue by the U.N. Consequently a commission on human rights was set up in 1946 to look into the various aspects of human rights. The product of the commissions work are the 30 articles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.The first two articles focus on the equality of all humans in dignity and rights with entitlements to all rights and freedom contained in the declaration irrespective of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property ,birth or other status. Following suit from articles 3-21 are the civil and political rights also seen as fundamental rights of every human. A summary of articles 22-27 of the same document declares the economic, social and cultural rights of all human beings w herever they are found. Entitlement of all humans to social and international order with the motive of being recognized and respected as well as freedom of others and knowledge of an individuals civic obligations are spelt out in the last three articles of the document. U.D.H.R: Why Teachers should be familiar with its content The fact that adoption of the universal declaration of human rights was a major breakthrough in the issue of human rights cannot be overemphasized more so when you consider the fact that it is the foundation upon which all other documents and declarations are rooted. An in-depth knowledge of its content by teachers would inch England closer to the ultimate quest of universal for respect for human rights. As instructors in their various schools teachers in England are in daily contact with the people of diverse cultural and racial heritage that make up present day England. The intentions of the declaration was and still is to correct the societal ills of the Pre-UN era. This noble intention can be achieved by effective awareness and promotion campaigns with the vital tools of information and education highlighting the pivotal role teachers in England. When for instance racism is taken as a case study and making an assumption that given the literacy level in England, everybody has pas sed /is passing through one form of schooling or the other ,it would be right then to submit that teachers are capable of inculcating the values in the document condemning racist tendencies in their pupils/students and by extension tomorrows leaders, if and when they themselves are familiar with its content. It should also be remembered that England was a major constituent of the allied forces that brought the Nazi

Excel Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Excel Project - Essay Example In the graph provided below, it illustrates that the sales trend of the company is increasing. The trend in the sales growth of the company is rising from the August 2004 and dips down on March, April and July 2005. The sales peaked at $115,000 in the May 2006. Please note that the data for June 2006 is incomplete where it comprises only of three days data and it shall be disregarded. This is the reason for the sales decrease in June 2006. The sales strategies employed for 2006 is effective as illustrated by the big increase in sales from January 2006. The strategies utilized, such as discount levels, must remain consistent in order to assure the growth in sales performance of the company. It is recommended that the company consider developments in new product lines and/or expansion in the global market in order to further increase revenues. The highest performing country is USA where it generated 19% of the total net revenues of the company. This is followed by Germany at 18%, Austria at 10% and Brazil at 8%. The rest of the countries comprise less than 50% of the total net revenues of the company. The lowest performing country is Poland and Norway which generated less than 1% of the total revenues of the company. The company might consider focusing on the top 10 performing countries in order to exploit the buying power of the consumers. Focusing on lesser number of locations would create a more effective and efficient organization. It would minimize operations and logistics costs while increasing the marketing and distribution allocations. The countries with minimal growth shall be given up in order to free up the company’s resources. The top performing product category for the company is the beverage product. It has performed better from other categories for the year 2004 and 2006 while it is second category for 2005. The other performing products are dairy products followed by

Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Employee Relations - Essay Example In order to support the topic a case study pertaining to the UK retail catering sector has been provided. The report is concluded through personal views and ideas that had been generated during the course of the research. 3 This report is intended to evaluate the extent to which the National Minimum Wage has been successful in bridging the gap between male and female workers in the retail catering sector of the UK. While undertaking extensive literature review and drawing ideas from relevant sources, the report has discussed the employment conditions prevalent in the nation and has also tried to throw light upon the element of equal employment opportunities. It has further analysed the British workforce, and while evaluating the provisions for equitable payment of wages has discussed the role that the National Minimum Wage. In order to support the topic a case study pertaining to the UK retail catering sector has been provided. The report is concluded through personal views and ideas that had been generated during the course of the research. Gender discrimination in workforce in UK has been in existence for many decades. Women workforce was primarily found in low paid, part-time and low status jobs. There were relatively less number of women working in managerial, higher levels of judiciary and politics and senior level jobs. The reason behind such low concentration of women was the fact that women were assumed to have a different role in the society. They are traditionally known to look after the family and rise up the child (Goldsmith & Nickson, 1997). However the numbers has changed drastically in the 21st and more and more women are joining the workforce which is a consequence of an increasing number of women pursuing higher education. In 2005 number of working women in UK was 70%. Work can be categorized as Part time and Full time. Women mainly undertake part time work. In UK the percentage of women and men

Antebellum Period Essay Example for Free

Antebellum Period Essay During the time period between 1825-1850, known as the Antebellum Period, the series of reform movements that emerged sought to democratic ideals of equality, liberty, the right to vote, and a more centralized government. The Second Great Awakening, one of many religious reforms, expanded equality through the belief that everyone could attain salvation through hard work and faith. The Second Great Awakening was the spark for many of the other reform movements, such as Temperance, Womens Rights, and Abolition. These movements along with reforms of prisons and mental facilities, and education attempted to craft America into a more utopian society. The Second Great Awakening had started after the Revolutionary War, gained momentum around the turn of the century, and was at its strongest during the Antebellum Period. It was driven by the idea that everyone could be saved through revivals. Revivals were especially prevalent in upstate New York, which was nicknamed the â€Å"burned-over district† by Charles Finney, a prominent Presbyterian leader of The Second Great Awakening. Because there were so many revivals there, it seemed like there couldnt possibly be anyone left to convert. Social activism became the main method of revival in the North. Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist denominations made huge gains in membership in the South and on the frontier were â€Å"camp meeting† revivals took place. As in Document B where Finney said the reforms awakened and converted even the â€Å"most abandoned profligates†, the protestant ministers in the South preached to people of all classes and races, including free blacks, slaves, and slaveholders. Free blacks began to start their own churches on the belief that everyone needed to hear messages of salvation and personal freedom. Due to prejudices against them, many free blacks separated from the Methodist church. One such man named Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. Blacks had more freedom within the Baptist church, as they could become ministers, and many black Baptist congregations were formed. Also during this time, groups such as the Mormons, Shakers and Baptists deve loped due to desires to restore primitive forms of Christianity, known as the Restoration Movement. In the late 1820s, Joseph Smith claimed to receive visions of a new sacred text/supplement to the Bible, the Book of Mormon. He founded a primitivist church called the Church of Christ on the teachings of this book and other revelations. Mormons established their first community in western New York. They then moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where Mormons faced persecution and Joseph Smith was assassinated. The first split in the church came surrounding the question of the next leader, but most Mormons migrated to Utah, spreading their message and gaining followers on the way, under the leadership of Brigham Young. Other popular groups that rose were the Unitarians and Universalists. Unitarianism is named for its understanding of God as one person, unlike the traditional Christian doctrine of Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) coexisting as one in being. It teaches that Jesus was a prophet and in some sense the â€Å"son† of God, but not God himself. Universalists believe that all humans either may or will be saved through Jesus Christ and eventually go to heaven. Teachings of the Second Great Awakening endorsed a strong work ethic, frugality and temperance within the expanding middle class. The Temperance Movement sprung from the social activism of the Second Great Awakening. Alcoholism was a growing problem in the United States: spousal abuse, family neglect and chronic unemployment were on the rise, issues which are shown in The Drunkards Progress (Document H). It was an area that social activists felt needed addressing. Lyman Beecher, a leading Presbyterian minister of the Second Great Awakening, lectured against the use of alcohol and co-founded the American Temperance Society, the first U.S. social movement organization to mobilize massive and national support for a specific reform cause. Within 12 years, it claimed more than 8000 local groups and 1,500,000 members. Many other Temperance societies popped up, such as the American Temperance Union and the States Delevan Union Temperance Society of Colored People, a temperance society headed by free blacks. The Temperance Movement first saw statewide success in Maine, where a total ban was placed on the manufacturing and sale of liquor. The Maine Law, as it became known as, was the work of Portland mayor Neal Dow, who gained the nicknames the â€Å"Father of Prohibition† and the â€Å"Napoleon of Temperance†. Dow was very involved in the temperance movement, having traveled much of the northeastern United States and parts of Canada speaking against intemperance. His Maine Law spawned other prohibition laws in the country. The Temperance Movement expanded democratic ideals by asking the government to govern the sale of alcohol, making the government more centralized. The Second Great Awakenings emphasis on t he ability of individuals to amend their lives caused many reform movements aimed at redressing injustice and alleviating suffering in society—a democratizing effect. Abolitionism was one such movement, and it to was led in part by leaders of the Second Great Awakening. It called the immediate ending of slavery, as opposed to the other anti-slavery positions of the time, Gradualism; which called for an end to slavery over time; and colonization; which relied on the manumission of slaves who would then be taken back to Africa. Lyman Beecher was also an Abolitionist, and more importantly the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Toms Cabin. The novel was the most influential piece of abolitionist literature and spread the Abolitionist message to millions of Americans. Charles Finney often spoke out against slavery from the pulpit and was involved in the abolitionist movement. Neal Dow was also a known abolitionist, his house was a stop on The Underground Railroad. Just like with the Temperance Movement, many Abolitionist societies formed, the most prominent being the American Anti-Slavery Society (AAS). The AAS was founded by William Lloyd Garrison, the editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator. Garrison was in support of immediate emancipation of the slaves and their integration into American society. He also believed that slave owners should not be reimbursed for their â€Å"lost property†. Wendell Phillips became a frequent speaker at AAS conventions after witnessing the attempted lynching of Garrison by a pro-slavery mob in 1835. He went on to write many pamphlets and essays against slavery. Sisters Angelina and Sarah Grimke became well known anti-slavery speakers and writers. They came from a slave-owning white family in the South and spoke from experience on the evils of slavery. Angelina married fellow abolitionist and mentor Theodore Weld. Weld spoke out against slavery until he lost his voice in 1837. He then focused on writing for the AAS. In 1839, he and the Grimkà © sisters co-wrote the pivotal book American Slavery As It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witn esses. Many historians regard Weld as the most important figure in the abolitionist movement. Escaped slave Frederick Douglass went around the country speaking at AASS conventions and at other events about the things he personally experienced as a slave. He published the North Star, an aboltionist newspaper that got its name from the North Star which guided slaves to freedom in the North. Escaped slaves Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth also became speakers and leaders in the Abolitionist Movement. Tubman helped over 300 slaves escape from the South on the Underground Railroad and became friends with Douglass. Truth also became friends with Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. The abolitionist movement promoted democratic ideals as it tried expand freedom and equality to the slaves. Women were heavily involved with the Temperance and Abolitionist movements, and many of them went on to work with the Womens Rights Movement. For many women, and as shown in Document C, the two causes were intertwined because they work for their own liberty as well. The role of women in the household had begun to change with the ongoing Industrial Revolution. A group of young single women known as Lowell girls worked in factories. In the middle and upper classes, women became the moral and spiritual leaders of their households, known as the Cult of Domesticity. Along with speaking on temperance and abolition, some women began speaking on womens rights at conventions. One such woman was Lucretia Mott. She was focused mostly on womens rights, publishing her influential Discourse on Woman and founding Swarthmore College. She became a Quaker minister, and was noted for her speaking ability. She advocated the boycotting the products of slave labor. She was an early supporter of William Lloyd Garrison and the American Anti-Slavery Society. She worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the two women organized the first womens rights convention which was held in Seneca Falls, New York. At the convention, Stanton stated that they were assembled to â€Å"declare our right to be free as man is free† (Document I) and presented the Declaration of Sentiments, a document written by Stanton and based on the form of the Declaration of Independence. It declared that men and women were equal and that women had no representation since they couldnt vote. Frederick Douglass, who was in attendance at the convention and helped pass the resolutions in the Declaration of Sentiments called the document the â€Å"grand basis for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women†. The Grimke sisters, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth were also suffragists. The Womens Rights Movement expanded democratic ideals because it pushed for equality and the right to vote for women. Another reform started during this period was an education reform. The education reform was pushed by increasing interest in public education because the growing number of voters and immigrants and a desire to maintain social order. It was largely the works of Massachusetts School Board Secretary Horace Mann. Most states adopted one version or another of the system he established in Massachusetts, especially the program for normal schools to train professional teachers. He pushed for more public support of public schools arguing that universal public education was the best way to turn the nations unruly children into disciplined, judicious republican citizens. He has been called the â€Å"Father of the Common School Movement and the â€Å"Father of American Public Education†. His schools and other schools around the country used McGuffey Readers; document e is a selection from one; as textbooks. There were different books for each learning level.

The Way We See And Understand Things Essay

The Way We See And Understand Things Essay This is a famous quote and it is really significant in our world and in our lives in the recent time. First of all we need to look at the two most important two words see and understand in the quote. The see word correspond to perceive with eyes  [1]  while the understand world correspond to perceive the meaning of something  [2]  . As we can see according these definitions we can only reach the complete knowledge if we not only see things but we need to understand them at the same time. This claim shows a great influence of our beliefs and experiences on our view of the world. This is because our beliefs and experiences, the things that make us who we are, are an influence on our ways of knowing. Since our ways of knowing are the ways that we form our views and understanding. Emotion and Sense perception, in particular, are greatly affected. This quote brings up many questions like: Can you say that the human mind shapes the world according to its knowledge requests? Does culture, our believes limit the way we see and understand? Do we experience the same reality? In this essay I am going to analyse this quote according to in the relation of emotion and sense of perception and reasonsing , and trying to find the answers to the question what are stated above through couple of examples. The sense of perception according to the general definition is the physical response of our senses to stimuli. I have often wondered how we can perceive the same things differently, then I realised as the animals perceive things in dissimilar ways the individual human perception varies from individual to individual. It is an extreme thing, but a couple of people suffer in the world from synaesthesia, it means they can smell colours instead of seeing them and perceiving with their eyes or they can feel tastes, or some people in the world have sixth sense, they can feel danger forward, but in usual people experience the same things but the sense of perception has another element, it is the interpretation. What we sense (smell, sight, sound), we usually interrupt in different ways, that is why we each have a unique view of the world. If you look at this picture what do you see? I asked 3 people and all of them came up with a different answer for this question. The answers were: The grey figure is swimming for his life. The black figure is sticking up his arms. They could also both be swimming. The black figure would then be breast-swimming. It could also be the grey figure waving in greeting towards friends, and the black figure raising his arms in victory. Through this example we can see how people see the same picture but understand and interrupt so differently. The reasons for that are the usual perceptual learning does not work in such a situation like this picture. Perceptual learning is the increase in ability to absorb information of one type of information from the environment as a result of experience or practice  [4]  . In such a situation our brain does not have answer for it, because it has never experienced or practiced these kind of pictures, that is why usually people see and then understand, interrupt the same picture differently. The other scientific reasons for the question are we all have different education level, different attitudes, even particular moon could affect our perception and interruption and yes our believes and culture limits our perception, and the culture could change our conception, perception of something. For example in the Western culture the dog is pictured as beloved pet, the best friend of m an while a guard dog is treated as a working animal or in the Muslim culture the dog is the symbol of the an unclean animal, it should be kept of a home or Chinese people like it as a delicious dish. I have a personal experience how people feel so different about the dog, me and one my friend from Malaysia went down the seafront, we found a dog down there, and I went there stroke the dog while my friend just run away, that is the story how I learned the dog is not loved in the Muslim culture. As I stated above even the emotions affect how we perceive things, therefore it affects what we see and our understanding. Emotion as a way of knowing is integral with human awareness and is instinctive. How does the emotion linked to the perception? We cannot perceive someone elses emotional state, but our senses give clues how the others fell or what mood they are in. When people communicate, observers gain information from seeing their actions, during these actions observers see the same things, but these actions could mean more for one of the observer, because he or she can read body language. For example the head resting in the hands and eyes downcast means for an experienced body language reader his or her partner is bored, while to others it does not mean anything. Furthermore obviously if were feeling a certain way well react to things very differently than when we are in a different emotional stage. People often say the love is blind, and it is really true. When we are at th is emotional stage we are blinded by love, we can not see the mistakes and disadvantages of the other person, who is in love does not see and understand the other person as the outsiders. She or he just sees the good things, is shaded by a cloud, by his or her emotions so therefore she or he does not experience the same reality as the surrounding people. People usually have different emotions towards the same things, these emotions could affect their seeing and understanding, because of their economical status, culture or even the particular situation, our gender, our culture. If you see somebody get mugged by someone I think you would feel sad towards the one, but actually you do not really care while who got mugged probably fell horrified, feared. We can see from this example how our emotion changes according to the particular situation. We cannot see and understand the same thing in the same way, because every single unique people have touched differently emotionally. We feel differently towards the same ethical problems, dilemmas, situations, but I think often our emotions are socially and culturally constructed. If we think about at a funeral, people have to feel sad, they need to cry. Are they true feelings? Often people have to have the same emotions, but I think these emotions are not true or real. Our culture, our outside world limits our emotions, therefore as it is one of the ways of knowing, it limits our seeing and understanding. The emotions can greatly affect our perception, so it is sometimes not reliable. We often feel emotionally strong t owards which is not true, or we do not it is true or not. That is why often call the reasoning as help. Reason is basically logic leading us to find the truth. We use past experiences to work out what has happened in situations, for instance, if it is wet on a pavement in the morning, due to past experience, you rationalize that it has rained the night before . Scientists apparently see and understand the same reality. They use different methods reach the same reality, they can use the deductive reasoning or inductive method. They experiment on it to produce data to prove or disprove their theories about the world. They use different methods, but at the end they get the same understanding of an experiment. The scientists think the past is fixed, is it? The things that have happened are a constant, so to speak. Then how is it that historians see and understand those events differently? I think our perception of the history is greatly affected by our culture or our believes. Finally I think we do not access to the reality as it is in and of itself, and that our perceptions of it is coloured by the way our mind shapes it. So, it turns out that the way we see the world tells us more about ourselves than it tells us about the world as such. Modern rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, and, arguably, Kant) all hold (in some form) that the way we see the world is really just a function of how the mind works. For Descartes, there is an act of intellection in every perception, and for Kant the pure Concepts of the Understanding determine how we see the world. I think world is too complex, and we watch the world through different glasses, some of the glasses are shiner or darker than the others, it affects our ways of knowing, and we are determined by our ways of knowing, that why it affects our seeing and understanding. Therefore we should reverse the claim: what we see and understand is limited by the world outside the very things that we see shape our understandi ng.

Role of micro finance in natural disasters

Role of micro finance in natural disasters The impacts of natural disasters are mainly faced by the poor community people in every country. It is very much tough for the poor people to cope with the impacts of natural disasters. Micro-finance has not only generated enormous hope for the poor people in many developing countries but also played a vital role in natural disasters affected areas. In this paper, the roles of micro-finance in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters are illustrated. It has been seen that micro-finance institutions provide support on poor community people prepare for the onslaughts or rehabilitation needs of the disaster victims, show coping mechanism during a disaster hits and how people can wake of a post natural disaster both at the personal level and generally. Key words: Role of Micro-finance, impacts of natural disasters, poor, support, coping, developing countries. Introduction: Over the years, natural disasters seem to have become more frequent across the world, resulting in enormous human and economic losses. Natural disasters take many forms like earthquakes, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, tornados and droughts, which threaten the very existence of the local communities. Further, it has been observed that the effects of natural disasters are more acute in developing countries than in developed ones. Natural disasters have had devastating dev ·as ·tate  Ã‚   tr.v. dev ·as ·tat ·ed, dev ·as ·tat ·ing, dev ·as ·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. .. Click the link for more information.  effects on the poor. For example, in 1998, Bangladesh experienced the flood of the century. Households exposed to flooding had major crop failure, suffered various water-borne diseases, lost shelter, assets and the ability to meet basic needs. Results show that the burden of medical expenditures due to flood-related sicknesses is significantly higher for poorer households, and for households more exposed to flooding. More positively, econometric results indicate that social cohesion built on group-based micro-finance programs provide an informal social insurance that reduces sickness shocks. The strength of group-based micro-credit in coping with natural disasters is yet to be fully explored. Micro-credit may not be effective in the case of a large-scale natural disaster that creates a covariate shock. However, even in the case of a large-scale natural disaster (e.g. 1998 flooding), social capital developed through micro-credit programs is s hown to play a positive role in reducing the burden of sickness shocks. Micro-finance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. At the end of 2009, 1,084 MFIs that were serving 74 million borrowers ($38 billion in outstanding loans) and 67 million savers ($23 billion in deposits). For example, In Indonesian context, micro-financial savings and lending institutions support families to ensure consumption against illness shocks. Micro-finance actually helps the poor and vulnerable poor people. So, micro finance reduces vulnerability and increases coping against socio-economic shocks, including Natural disasters. At the same time, microfinance can provide relief in direct response to disasters. Thus it is possible to make micro finance tools a part of diverse disaster relief programs or response. Objective of the study: Disaster mitigation practices needs to be tied up throughout the life cycle of micro-finance tools in order to make poor community people sustainable and minimize non-financial losses. As just mentioned, the roles of micro-finance in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters are the purpose of this study. This study is prepared based on the following questions: What are the roles of micro-finance in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters, coping mechanism during or after disaster period? What are the main lessons and challenges of micro-finance to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters in poor community? Microfinance and Disaster Mitigation: Some Conceptual Issues The attributes of microfinance, which are applied in reducing household level risks, are relevant for reducing disaster risks too. Microfinance instruments help poor households diversify their income by source and season. They also diversify income by earner as it provides opportunities to women to earn. Multiplicity of income-earning opportunities and asset building through microfinance help poor households in dealing with disasters better. Microfinance also provides explicit and implicit insurance to the households. There is growing interest and constant experimentation in using microfinance in disaster management. The role of microfinance and microfinance institutions in disaster situations, however, is to be clearly analyzed here. Microfinance deals with the poor who are vulnerable to various types of risks. The poor are more likely to be hard-hit hard-hit adj. Badly or adversely affected: Official rescue and recovery efforts were just getting underway in this ravaged port city and more than a dozen other hard-hit towns  R. .. Click the link for more information.  by disasters like drought drought,  abnormally long period of insufficient rainfall. Drought cannot be defined in terms of inches of rainfall or number of days without rain, since it is determined by such variable factors as the distribution in time and area of precipitation during and before .. Click the link for more information., floods, cyclones, and earthquakes. Disasters normally give rise to two kinds of needs, namely relief and rehabilitation. What is required immediately after a disaster is relief to take care of food, shelter, medicine and other immediate needs of the victims. Through its long term impacts of reducing poverty and supporting sustainable development, microfinance reduces the vulnerability of the poor to disasters. Microfinance cannot, however, provide standalone protection against disasters. It must be part of a greater strategy of disaster risk reduction. MFIs must be prepared for disasters by developing disaster management plans that ensure the survival of the MFI and sustainable delivery of its services. Education on microfinance and disaster mitigation is needed for both successful poverty reduction and disaster impact reduction. Microfinance must be linked to disaster mitigation, especially during rehabilitation when the links between recover y and preparedness are clearly evident. MFIs like BRAC, ASA, Grameen Bank, Shakti etc. are working to reducing vulnerability during natural disaster by providingClint-responsive loans, housing improvement loans, adaptation of current lending, emergency reconstruction loans etc. They help to so compulsory savings, voluntary savings, adaptation of forced loans etc. MFIs suggest people for doing Insurance (best established before disaster). MFIs provide money transfer services (remittances likely to increase), Grants and donations (for increasing power and building financial discipline), Livelihood relief (no payment) to the poor community people. Microfinance Institutions also provide non-financial services like training, information dissemination, distribution of supplies etc. In the aftermath of a disaster, microfinance can quickly provide relief, and then support sustainable recovery and rehabilitation. Microfinance institutions can additionally provide post-disaster communication and coordination through their established community networks. Microfinance requires a degree of self-management by clients and is normally community based, thus fostering recovery ownership, dignity and community cohesion during traumatic and unstable times. Microfinance can reduce the cost of post-disaster recovery financing, while reducing aid dependency. At the same time, however, post- disaster aid can distort markets, adversely affecting microfinance performance. Post-disaster activities must be carefully considered to prevent negative long-term impacts on local markets and MFIs. To best reduce disaster impacts on a community, MFIs should offer a suite of flexible products to adapt to specific needs and situations. Links and/or partnerships with the formal financial secto r are needed to enhance liquidity and support institutional and managerial capacity. IV.Cases (Disaster management of Micro-finance programmes): Flood in Bangladesh (1998): Bangladesh is largely a flat deltaic country formed by the confluence of great river systems of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. These river systems annually drain a vast basin about 12 times its own size. Apart from this, hilly regions experiences flash flood after heavy rainfall and due to frequent depressions in the Bay, Bangladesh experiences regular threats of cyclonic storms, often catastrophic. The role of microfinance services in responding to disaster risks was demonstrated first during the 1998 flood. Bangladesh experienced the worst floods in its history from July to September 1998. The damages to standing crops, livestock and houses were overwhelming. The income generating activities of rural landless people were almost suspended. There had been a huge loss of property and human and animal lives during the SIDR attack in 2007 in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, nearly 4 millions affected, and more than six thousand people died, thous ands of livestock perished, and 0.9 million homes fully or partially damaged. All the MFIs in Bangladesh responded to the unprecedented situation of floods and SIDR. During the floods and cyclones, MFI workers even went on boats to ensure that weekly contacts with all members were maintained. Workers carried money with them and provided immediate interest-free consumption loans so that the members would not go hungry. the MFIs allowed the members to withdraw their savings. Grameen Bank, BRAC, ASA, Proshika, TMSS, CODEC, GUK and many other small MFIs despite a very serious financial consequence for their liquidity, opened access to compulsory savings account in an attempt to reduce the precipitous decline many households experienced in their incomes. In non-disaster times, members of these institutions did not have access to these funds unless they had fully repaid any outstanding loans and decided to leave the MFI. BRAC also operated disaster-related deposits, which allowed members to keep their assets safe from loss or damage due to the floods. A number of MFIs such as ASA and others provided voluntary savings facilities to their members. These facilities provided the members more assistance in disasters than compulsory or disaster-related savings with less negative financial consequences for the MFI. Tsunami -Micro Finance in Sri Lanka(2004): The December 2004 tsunami is one of the worst natural disasters experienced by Sri Lanka in recorded history. With over 35,000 dead and over 800,000 displaced it is a disaster of a magnitude that the country was ill equipped to deal with. Thirteen of the countrys twenty five districts were affected with the North and East provinces accounting for over two thirds of deaths and nearly 60% of the displaced. Sri Lanka (RADA) estimates that about 150,000 people lost livelihoods about 80 per cent of the affected lost their main source of income; 90 per cent lost their productive assets including the abodes. There were several issues facing the micro finance sector even pre-tsunami. The micro finance market has been pluralistic with high penetration by many different types of institutions, employing a wide range of micro finance models and methods. Bulk of micro credit is funded through Government banks and programmes, through subsidized credit, w hich is not sustainable. Agro Micro-Finance, BRAC, Arthacharya Foundation were working in Sri Lanka during tsunami. While these MFIs might be fulfilling their social mission, they were not charging interest rates that would achieve cost recovery. Capacity building of these institutions was a priority. Agro Micro-Finance was operating in eight districts in Sri Lanka, many of which were affected by the tsunami. Arthacharya Foundation is a national not-for-profit NGO functioning in seven districts. This organization is working with a large number of donors in promoting micro enterprises through savings and credit, and also working in health and sanitation. BRAC set up operations in Sri Lanka for undertaking post-tsunami rehabilitation activities. BRAC has quickly expanded the outreach as well as loans since establishing operations in Sri Lanka. Within a year of operation the number of clients reached has touched 26,373 making it one of the larger MFIs in Sri Lanka. Well established man agement practices and systems have enabled the MFI to quickly scale up. Though the initial operations were through grant funds from BRAC and Oxfam NOVIB, BRAC has recently approached commercial banks for loans for expanding its loan portfolio. Pre-tsunami, voluntary savings was offered by four MFIs and compulsory savings by ten MFIs. Overall, there have been several positive developments due to post-tsunami funding by donors. Lessons and challenges of micro-finance: As we look broadly at micro-finance as an industry, and at specific experiences in the natural disaster context, it is possible to draw several broad lessons: Microfinance cannot be a financial safety net to an entire affected community, but can play an increasingly constructive role in disaster preparedness and response as it expands its range of products and services. Establishment of long-term relationships between individuals and MFIs allow poor households access to existing MFI products that can help reduce some of the hardships caused by natural disasters. Preparedness of the MFIs staff and systems is the key to providing timely response to clients. Timing of MFI services matters to clients: emergency loans must be available quickly after disaster strikes, while reconstruction support is useful once the household has fully passed the emergency stage. Along with these broad lessons, there are also clear bottlenecks that limit the role MFIs currently play in natural disaster response and mitigation: Most MFIs do not have the liquidity position (or access to a Disaster Loan Fund) to respond quickly or fully in a disaster context. MFIs-from management, to field staff, to reserves, to information and communication systems-are not currently prepared to either weather or respond to a natural disaster situation. MFIs have not considered client needs from an emergency perspective; rather products and services are primarily geared to day-to-day business or household concerns. Demand for special services may be small, yet may require significant institutional investment. Therefore, individual MFIs are unlikely to invest in developing or maintaining these services. Regulatory restrictions and limits to institutional capacity will keep most MFIs from mobilizing voluntary savings for the foreseeable future. Findings of the study: Although the concept of using microfinance for disaster mitigation is a novel idea, the relevance of microfinance under disaster conditions especially for the poor is yet to be fully established. Microfinance even under normal circumstances faces quite a few limitations in bringing about improvement in livelihood. While microfinance can ensure livelihood protection by reducing various shocks and vulnerability, it cannot lead to livelihood promotion unless it is accompanied by other equally important measures like training, market linkages and technology development. As micro-finance institutions involved in livelihood restoration interventions, they are aimed at establishing funds that could be used in normal situations and during times of disaster. Their main aim during normal times was disaster preparedness. By taking up various activities aimed at disaster preparedness, they secured livelihoods and resources, improved the lives of the communities, made them less vulnerable and bet ter equipped to face disaster. In case of an emergency, the projects assisted the communities in mitigating mit ·i ·gate  Ã‚   v. mit ·i ·gat ·ed, mit ·i ·gat ·ing, mit ·i ·gates v.tr. To moderate (a quality or condition) in force or intensity; alleviate. See Synonyms at relieve. v.intr. To become milder. .. Click the link for more information.  the effects through loans reserved for the purpose. Insurance could be a useful instrument of risk mitigation for the poor especially under disaster situation Micro-insurance can take up under MFIs to provide protection to the women against loss of life, accidents, prolonged pro ·long  Ã‚   tr.v. pro ·longed, pro ·long ·ing, pro ·longs 1. To lengthen in duration; protract. 2. To lengthen in extent. .. Click the link for more information.  illness and hospitalization, and damage or destruction of houses and household assets. Thus, both during normal and disaster times, the MFIs funds were used mainly through loans. The core objective of the MFIs is to reach out to the most vulnerable among the target groups. As observed in the study, the members would like to depend upon MFIs for their social, economic and emotional security. For protection and improvement of their livelihood, they need diverse financial services. Many of them would like to take up income generating activities to strengthen their economic base. Moreover, no significant attempt is made by these interventions to adopt an integrated approach required for improving the livelihood of the disaster-affected households. Given the fact that the members of the poor households in the study area are faced with many social and economic constraints like illiteracy, severe caste and gender discrimination, and landlessness, m ere introduction of microfinance may not help them in bringing about any significant improvement in the livelihood. VI. Methodology: The study mainly uses secondary sources. Secondary data on Flood in Bangladesh (1998) was colleted from Bangladesh Country Report by Sirajul Islam (INAFI Asia Bangladesh) and Tsunami Micro Finance in Sri Lanka (2004) was collect from Review of Post-Tsunami Micro Finance in Sri Lanka by Girija Srinivasan. Moreover, I have taken help from different websites and books. VII. Conclusion: Reducing the Poors vulnerabilities to disasters and emergency situations is the role of micro-finance in disaster risk mitigation. It can immediately relieve financial burdens caused by the on set of calamities, especially if savings and micro-insurance is included in the package of services. It can further support consequent initiatives for sustainable disaster recovery and rehabilitation. Since, MFI is private in nature; it has great potential to provide financial and non-financial services in all stages-relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development. However, micro-finance services alone cannot immediately translate into a stand-alone successful disaster recovery enterprise but needs to form part of an over-arching disaster risk mitigation strategy. The success of the microfinance industry in various disasters is indicative of future accomplishments in exploiting microfinance for pre- and post-disaster mechanisms. While micro-finance can be an entry-point for the delivery of sustained services in disaster situation, it still needs the prompt provision of services from the government, like installation of damaged infrastructure and other rehabilitation interventions and active participation of other civil society groups for training, counseling and organizing. A more thorough understanding of microfinance and disaster mitigation is needed for poverty reduction and disaster impact reduction. Finally, it can be said that micro-finance institutions can be an entry point or a point of convergence of poverty alleviation and disaster mi tigation programs.

China-ASEAN Relations Essay -- Foreign Policy

Despite its traditional mistrust of security regimes, China became one of the founding members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 – the first region-wide multilateral discussion of peace and security issues in Asia-Pacific. Besides, Beijing established military links with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Malaysia. This extends not only to military aid and loans, bilateral talks on military issues, and signing of defense memoranda of understanding, but also includes joint production of military equipment and joint training exercises. During the 12th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the ARF in 2005, Chinese Ambassador Liu Yongxing stated that deepening mutual trust, respecting diversity, handling relations with other institutions properly, maintaining vitality of the Forum and achieving continuous development should be the main goals of ARF looking forward. In 2006, China also signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), i n which China promised not to threaten the security of other signatory states (ASEAN), to express China’s intention of establishing a strategic partnership with ASEAN for peace and prosperity. China is also willing to support ASEAN’s declaration of Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapons-free zone. With continuing norm convergence and growing trust, ASEAN may be persuaded that the region’s strategic future could be codetermined with China. The China-ASEAN strategic relationship, however, is not always a bed of roses. There remain serious issues between China and Southeast Asia which affected their relationship in the 1990s and will continue to complicate their relationship. The most prominent of all is the South China Sea dispute. Beijing has maintained that it has f... ... Shishi chubanshe, 2003). â€Å"ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations†. David Arase, â€Å"Non-Traditional Security in China-ASEAN Cooperation: The Institutionalization of Regional Security Cooperation and the Evolution of East Asian Regionalism†, Asian Survey, Vol. 50, No. 4 (July/August 2010) (pp. 808-833), http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2010.50.4.808, accessed March 22nd, 2012. China’s Foreign Affairs 2006 published by the Department of Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC (World Affairs Press, 2006), p.413-416. â€Å"Vietnam: Better Defense Cooperation to Help Build ASEAN Community,† Thai Press Reports, (April 30th 2010). â€Å"China’s National Defense in 2008†, Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, (Beijing, January 20th 2009) http://www.china.org.cn/government/whitepaper/node_7060059.htm, accessed March 22nd 2012.

Lord of the Flies :: essays papers

Lord of the Flies Golding uses many symbols in the novel, Lord of the Flies, to represent good and evil in society. He uses Simon to represent the peacefulness of life and the kindness of a good heart, while Piggy represents the civilization on the island and the adult viewpoint of the children. The conch symbolizes order and also adult behavior. It is a symbol of strength and knowledge as well, as the evil of the beast represents the fear in the boys. All of these symbols change as the story goes on, some changes are less obvious and are the result of the readers new perspective while others undergo dramatic, and quite obvious, change. Simon is a symbol of peace who sees only good in the world. The name Simon itself means, listener, and depicts Simon's character well as he always listens instead of giving an alternative opinion. Although at times his opinion differs from the others, he never complains. Simon's great sacrifice for the boys, dying for their sin, is a trait of a martyr. Simon's death results in a change of his affect on the boys and on the reader. Because he is killed by the other boys, he begins to represent the evil that has dominated over the good on the island. Piggy is another symbol for goodness, however his goodness is not the same as Simons. Piggy represents the goodness that comes from adults and order. Piggy's inability to see well makes him a perfect symbol for that of blind justice. Piggy not only thinks like an adult, but also is constantly worried about how adults would view the society on the island, showing he is concerned with the order and justice of things and want to be civilized. Piggy is picked on a lot by the other boys because of his weight and sight hindrance, but nonetheless he does not give up his share of the authority. Piggy is constantly saying, "I've got the conch," ( a sign of authority and a sign that all should listen to the person with the conch. Piggy's death symbolizes the destruction of society and civilization on the island, and the rise of savage behavior. It also shows the demise of order and the rise of the devil.

The Simple Gift and A Child Called IT

The desire to belong to people or a place is important to individuals as it helps them develop a sense of security and identity. This statement can be seen throughout various texts but is undoubtedly shown through the texts ‘The Simple Gift’ and ‘A Child Called IT’. The free verse novel ‘The Simple Gift’ is about Billy Luckett, a sixteen-year-old boy who decides to leave home, as he felt he was isolated from everyone else. Billy finds his security, peace and identity in the natural environment but is also shown throughout the novel that he does not give up to be a part of something or someone as he continues to strive to see the good side to others. In the novel Herrick constantly uses a various array of techniques such as symbolism, flashback and first person to portray the character’s feelings. Billy â€Å"praying for morning and sunshine† gives a sign to the reader that he desires a new life, and the symbolism of the morning and sunshine signify a new day. The wind and the rain â€Å"hitting Billy in the face with the force of a father’s punch† also help to expose the mistreatment that his father had given him whilst being at home. Through these quotes it is patent that Herrick employs the techniques symbolism and flash back to show how he is not accepted by his father. When Billy finally finds his place he can call home, Bendarat, here he also discovers his first real companionship from Old Bill, the â€Å"saddest man in the world†, and Caitlin, a girl he meets at McDonald’s who is from a wealthy family. To begin Billy is presented to the, at times, judgmental Caitlin as a bum but by displaying his compassion and not only being a homeless boy on the street he changes her perspective on himself, Old Bill and people like him. When we first see Caitlin, Herrick employs first person and the change in perspective to show Caitlin’s first reaction to Billy eating scraps at McDonalds – â€Å"put that back. † However, Caitlin avoids this, and instead says, â€Å"I hate mopping† to show Billy’s already changing influence on Caitlin. Billy, ironically, acts as a role model for Old Bill, as he transforms him by giving him â€Å"simple gifts† such as coffee, breakfast and the cigarettes. Here is shown once again the compassion given off by Billy as he does not give up on a person who tells him to â€Å"piss off son†. In becoming closer with Old Bill we are aware why he is such an old bitter man: the loss of his wife and his â€Å"darling Jessie†. It is also seen how Billy influences Old Bill to change his ways; prompting him to shave, this symbolises his own personal growth. In return Old Bill repays Billy by giving him his old house to live in. The use of first person in these quotes give a deeper explanation on to how one character has ended up where he is. All these examples illustrate how Billy’s desire to belong to a place or people helped him find that security and identity. As Old Bill presents him the gift of the key to his home this gives the sense of protection as he now has his own place to live and be himself with no violence from his father. His relationship with Caitlin also shows how she has accepted him for who he is and provides each of them with a sense of identity. The text ‘A Child Called IT’ also connects and relates to the previous text. This is portrayed through the main character, David. The first chapter ironically begins with the ending to give emphasis to the reader and demonstrate the importance of the ending for the child. Various techniques are used within the text such as first person narration and personification. As the novel is spoken in first person, its effectiveness is shown as it highlights to the reader that the story is from the child’s perspective, which is also shown in ‘The Simple Gift’ with the difference that it comes from more than one characters’ standpoint. It symbolizes that the author is directly addressing the reader to have a greater impact and engages them to continue reading. Throughout his childhood David becomes an isolated victim of his mother’s violence in comparison to how Billy is a victim to his fathers violence, which in turn makes him abandon his home and run away. David is rejected by his family members and is represented as the household slave as well as being his mothers outlet for anger. The idea of isolation is conveyed throughout the novel and it becomes evident that, not only at home, but also at school David is removed from normal relationships. The entire room lets out a howl at me – the reject of the fifth grade†, this example uses the mentioned technique of personification to emphasise to the reader that David is completely segregated, lost and alone. He does not belong at home with his own family, nor does he at school among his peers. Disconnection and alienation is presented throughout the novel, while David has accepted the fact that he does not belong to anyone or anything he still desires that someday he will be capable to connect with something or someone. This is evident in the line, â€Å"I would give anything to have been there in class when they found out I’m not so bad†. The quote has impact on the reader as it identifies that, although his peers have seemed nothing but uninterested in becoming friend with him, he still longs and strives to be accepted so that he may have that sense of belonging to a place or to people. Therefore, through these examples, it can be said that the text ‘A Child Called IT’ helps develop our understanding of the fundamental human need to belong by intensely drawing the reader’s attention to a deep sense of not belonging ad also how important it is to develop a connection with people or a place.

Do we have global culture? Essay

There are significant resonances here with academic depictions of globalization. I have argued elsewhere that an ‘economic-homogenization’ model of globalization is becoming increasingly dominant, in both academic and popular usage, which focuses attention on the improved combination of the global economy and its homogenizing effects on state policy and culture (Eschle 2004). Such a model is prevalent in International Relation (IR). It is characteristic of liberal IR approaches that support globalization, skeptical refutations of globalization as exaggerated and ideological, and critical IR theories that condemn globalization as profoundly damaging. It is with this last, critical, approach in IR that we find the strongest resonance with activist discourses. Both activist and academic critics share the assumption that globalization equates with the neo-liberal economic developments described above. Then, in an extremely significant move, these developments might be linked to the underlying structures of the economy and globalization reinterpreted as the latest stage of capitalism. According to Klein, ‘the critique of â€Å"capitalism† just saw a comeback of Santana-like proportions’ (2002:12). The global culture is usually used in contemporary academic discourse to distinguish the experience of everyday life in specific, exclusive localities. It reflects ordinary peoples’ feelings of suitability, comfort, and precision attributes that define personal preferences and rapidly varying tastes. In this framework, it is hard to argue that an overarching, global culture in fact exists. Jet-setting sophisticates can feel comfortable operating in a global network severed from specific localities, but the numbers involved are, as yet, insufficient to comprise a rational cultural system. For the majority people, place and locality still matter. Even the diasporic discussed by Appadurai are entrenched in local communities (sometimes several) tied together by universal perceptions of what constitutes a proper and fulfilling lifestyle. Many software engineers and Internet entrepreneurs who live and work in Silicon Valley, California, maintain homes (and strong social ties) in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Punjab. Rather than searching for substantiation that a world culture already exists, a more productive approach is to focus on features of life that are affected by the globalizing process. Modern research by anthropologists and media specialists makes obvious that globalism is not an invincible, unidirectional force that levels everything in its path. David and Anthony McGrew have depicted recent debates over globalization as divided among three general positions: the hyperglobalist, the skeptic, and the transformationalist. Briefly, the hyperglobalist understands contemporary globalization as heralding a new epoch of human history driven by the free movement of global capital and characterized by the inevitable rise of a world civilization that will result in the end of the nation-state. The skeptic, on the other hand, argues that this understanding of globalization is greatly exaggerated. Focusing on economic factors, the skeptic argues that there is nothing unprecedented about current levels of national interdependence, and that nation-states continue to be and will remain the primary political and economic actors in international affairs for the foreseeable future. In contrast, the transformationalist understands the current epoch as one of unprecedented change. But unlike the hyperglobalist, the transformationalist argues that the direction of this process remains uncertain and in contest. The transformationalist disputes the claim that the sovereign state is a thing of the past, but also challenges the claim that states remain as strong as ever. He argues rather that globalization transforms the relationship between states, markets, sovereignty, and the transnational sphere. It challenges the governing and legitimating capacities of old political arrangements, domestically and internationally. And it thus adds new incentives to the search for political innovation. (David and Anthony McGrew, 2002) To understand cultural changes one must draw a feature between form and content. Outward appearance and first impressions are approximately always deceptive; what matters most is the inner meaning that people consign to a cultural innovation. numerous theorists, including both opponents and proponents of globalism, task their own attitudes onto the people they assert to represent assuming that all humans see the world in the similar way. The perceived â€Å"sameness† of global culture often reveals the expectations of the analysts, relatively than the perceptions of those who are the subjects of analysis. Misunderstandings of this nature thrive in the literature devoted to globalism.

Gender Inequalities in the Workplace Essay

The issue of gender inequality has been in the eyes of the public and been in awareness of society for decades. The problem of inequality in employment is one of the most vital issues in today’s society. In order to understand this situation one must try to get to the root of the problem and must understand the factors that cause the female sex to have a much more difficult time in getting the same benefits, wages, and job opportunities as the male sex. The society in which we live has been shaped historically by men. â€Å"A woman’s primary attachment is to the family role; women are therefore less intrinsically committed to work than men and less likely to maintain a high level of specialized knowledge† (Oakley, 1974, p. 28)President Clinton proclaimed April 11, 1996, as the â€Å"National Pay Inequality Awareness Day. In the year 1972, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act was established; the goal of the government was to change and eliminate the discrimination in the workplace. The major aim of these two acts is to protect individual rights and promotes employment opportunities and fairness for everyone within the workplace. We accept that the government is aware of the inequality between men and women in work place, and they are trying every way they can to prevent and discontinue the inequality; so the question is what are the reasons why women are still being treated unfairly at work?Work plays an important role in helping individuals find their true identity as well as helpi ng one builds their self-esteem. However, in the past women were not encouraged to work â€Å"real jobs†, instead they often stayed at home and are often labeled as housewives. The truth is women do work, they always have worked, but the work that they do are often unpaid labor work. Before men assumed that women didn’t really want to work; they didn’t need the money; and that they have different interests. (Kimmel, 2000, p.175) So it was assumed that women either couldn’t do a job, or, if they could, they would neither want to nor need to do it. Now in the twenty-first century things have changed dramatically, more women are educated, and more determined to search for their identity. In order for them to do that, they often time seek employment. Women’s participation in the labor force has grown to such an extent that society can no longer ignore and view women as unimportant. Women face many obstacles when seeking out jobs, and even more obstacles when they are working with men. Sex discrimination and gender inequality have always existed in society, but when does it actually start? The answer is ever since the minute they were born. In 1995 Wall Street Journal report observed that elementary school girls receive smaller allowances and are asked to do more chores than boys. (Kimmel, 2000, p.174) When a woman grows up and enters womanhood, if she wishes to work, she would have to face many irrelevant tribulations. Sex â€Å"discrimination occurs when we treat people unequally because of personal characteristics that are not related to the job. Discrimination can be when we treat people who are similar in different ways, or when we treat people who are different in similar ways.† (Kimmel, 2000) We often discriminate the people we meet because of our past experiences, from what we have learned, and through stereotyping. Stereotyping is the process of judging someone on the basis of our perception of the group to which he or she belongs. (Robbins, 2003) Stereotypes exist because of the differences among individuals. Since it is almost impossible for human brains to process such large degree of differences quickly, people simplify these differences and make generalizations without even noticing doing so. While these generalizations has originally begun with observed differences among people and have a shred of truth to them, most of these generalization have been so largely exaggerated over time that they no longer serve their original purpose of describing people accurately. The way that people make these generalizations are greatly dependent on their ability, background and culture. These characteristics influence how individuals perceive the world around them and their expectations toward others. Socialization and information overload also play a big role in gender stereotyping. Individuals begin learning stereotypes as early as in their infancy. According to The Reproduction Mothering theory by Nancy Chodorow (1978), infants learn expected gender behaviors and stereotypes from their mothers. The girls remain attached to their mothers to learn about emotionally intimacy, while boys are forced to separate from their mothers to be strong and independent. Then from media, school, peers and religion institution, children gradually learned what is to be expected from people who are different from themselves in ethnicity and gender, for instance. The  large amount of information readily available to us today also increases stereotyping. Since it is impossible to take in all the information, individuals have to cope with information overload by simplifying what is around them. Stereotyping generally prevents people from recognizing who an individual really is. When a person believes certain stereotypes to be true, his or her perception of a group will most probably be limited by these stereotypes and are unlikely to change. These groundless generalizations can often delay effective communications as a person assumes things about another. In the workplace, this can lead to not recognizing individual achievements and unfriendly relationships between groups, which reduces employee morale and productivity. It is important to recognize stereotypes in the workplace because of the diverse workforce today. Globalization and feminist movement have greatly increased the diversity in the work force. However, stereotypes delay management from recognizing the value of diversity and reinforce conformity in the workplace, thus limiting the organization’s potential to grow. For instance, managements can miss out good potential employees who can do good. Stereotypes are also â€Å"noises† in communications. (Robbins, 2003) In today’s organizations where communications are essential to success, stereotypes can create misunderstandings and harmfully affect day-to-day operations. Therefore, it is important that people should understand the harmful impact of stereotypes. It is also important to mention that even though occupational sex segregation started to decrease in the 1970’s and in the 1980’s, it still exists in today’s workforce. Such discrimination is operated through interviewing techniques and the stereotypes of the initial recruiter. A recruiter may believe, for example, that a managerial position is a â€Å"man’s job.† He or she may believe that a woman’s nature does not allow her to be a good manager because women are seen to â€Å"lack† leadership, managerial and technical skills. Recruiters should avoid stereotyping and realize that women are ready to join the work force in any type of job. (Robbins, 2003)Men and  women differ in their experiences with both paid and unpaid work. In comparison to men, for example women do a disproportionate share of unpaid – and usually less valued – work. Discrimination at work often leads to income gap, for doing the same job as the men, women get less pay. One of the reasons for the inequality wage gap is the assumption that when a man enters a labor force, he enters for good, while for a woman the assumption is that when she enters will eventually take time out for childbearing and parental leave. This too greatly affects women’s wages; women who drop out of the labor force have lower real wages when they come back to work than they had when they left. Jobs held by mostly females are considered unimportant and lower skilled as compared to male jobs. The other obstacle that women face in workplace is the glass ceiling and the sticky floor; these two elements are barriers preventing women from succeeding and raising their status at work. The glass ceiling is an expression used to describe the inequalities of men and women within the workforce. It seems that women can become employed but then run into an invisible barrier when they try to move up the ladder of hierarchy within the organization (McGuire, 2000, p. 3). Employers should pay close attention to gender stereotyping which exists within a workplace. If they avoid doing so they may lose an opportunity to hire or promote a good employee. In order to avoid gender stereotyping it would be of use to mention the stereotypes that exist today. Some common masculine behavior include: independence, superiority, status, competition and aggression. In contrast, the feminine behaviors are consensus, inferiority, harmony, and gentleness. (Kimmel, 2000) David Geary, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri, Columbia, concluded that such qualities of men and women are generally true. He states that these stereotypical behaviors are strongly influenced by nature. He also mentions that â€Å"Over the course of evolution, these stereotypes have resulted due to strategies used by males and females to attract mates. Men and women use certain sexual strategies in order to reproduce, and they are essential to our mating patterns.† These sexual strategies are the cause of the male and female differences of today including physical attributes, social behavior,  parental interests, and motivational and emotional patterns. However, as an employer, it is important to realize that these are generalities, and that one person can express both masculine and feminine behaviors. People should not be labeled, but instead they should be judged as individuals. Men believe that it is easier to work with men and that men do a better job and therefore deserve more money. Their pride and egos tell them that women cannot do the job as well as they can. These personal beliefs must be changed. Pairing men and women together on teams will expand the male mindset and hopefully help them realize that females and minorities are as equally qualified. Valuing the differences of all employees can make an organization stronger. Society requires that men and women work together and this is not going to change. What has to change is the way we work together. Communication is the key. If we do not communicate effectively, then the best intentions of both genders will fail (Heim, 1995, p.3). â€Å"Society influences what we are taught as children in regards to roles of females and males overflow into the workplace (Hale, 1999, p.14) â€Å"In sum, it is the relationship between social roles, interests, intergroup relationships and organizational culture norms and values that set the conditions that perpetuate unequal employment opportunities and outcomes (Hale, 1999, p.13). It is impossible to change people overnight; especially what they have been taught and what they have always have confidence in generation after generation. The managers of today grew up in families where their mothers stayed at home, kept house, and took care of children. They have been taught at home that men should be the bread winner; the leader of the house, and women should only be housewives and take care of the house. They are also taught that men are stronger and should be the leader of the household and therefore these behaviors flow into the work setting. Even the Bible states that a woman should not be over a man. These beliefs are taught generation after generation. Despite the awareness of gender inequality, there are still arguments about gender difference and assumptions that women and men are from different planets; women and men are still treated distinguishably in society. The  workplace still remains an unequal arena, plague by persistent sex segregation, wage inequality, sex discrimination, and sexual harassment. Women and men work because they want to and because they have to. Employers should not judge women as being non-dependable. Family structure has changed dramatically over the years. Fathers and mothers today now share family responsibilities. To compensate for this change, businesses have introduced flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, on-site child care and parental leave. (Kimmel, 2000) Employers should accommodate a woman’s needs and expand the gender diversity of their company. There was a time where the balance of respect and roles never existed between the two, but today, men and women are truly redefining themse lves and their relationships with each other. Most importantly, women have broken from the bondage of dependence on men. Women no longer have to submit themselves to one main role in family life as the mother. Along with being the mother, women have become the educated breadwinners. As for men, the need for dominancy has changed dramatically because today, men have been found to be the nurturing stay-at-home fathers of their family. Male and female relation is not entirely a dispute on inequality that women received from society, although that is what propels finding equality between the two genders. Besides, men today also require such needs and hiring based on gender is no longer relevant. Rather, male and female relation resolute this emergent society to work together as a unit. References Oakley, Ann. (1974) The Sociology of Housework New York: Pantheon BooksStromberg, Ann H. & Harkess, Shirley. (1978) Women Working: Theories and Facts inPerspective. California: Mayfield Publishing CompanyRobbins, Stephen P. (2003) Organizational Behavior. New Jersey: Prentice HallMcGuire, Gail M. (2000) Gender, Race, Ethnicity, & Networks [Electronic version]. Work &Occupations, 27(4), 500-523. Hale, Mary. (1999) He Says, She Says: Gender and Worklife. Public Administration Review,59(5). Retrieved March 4, 2009, from www.questia.comKimmel, Michael S. (2000) The Gendered Society. New York: Oxford University Press