MARKETING JOURNAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MARKETING JOURNAL - Essay Example If there is no selling of the product, there would be no association of the need with the target audience and hence marketing might not be needed at all. Thus marketing looks to solve the problems in which the consumers are tied up and even when there is no problem at all – just to satisfy one’s desires – they are asked to purchase a product/service so as to have a better standing within a particular social circle or society. In other words, this encompasses the basis of self-esteem needs if not anything else. I believe that marketing employs a number of practices which are regarded as its sub-fields namely advertising, sales promotion activities, personal selling, public relations (or publicity) and direct mailing to name a few. With the passage of time, the definition of marketing has changed as it has included a pre-manufacture tilt to its basis with regards to a product and/or service. Selling gets differentiated from marketing in the fact that selling is only done when a product is made available on the shelf within a retail outlet while marketing starts even when there is an idea or concept of the related product and thus the whole game starts as a result of this hype within the relevant audiences. (Davidson, 1967) Now marketing aims to pinpoint the needs of the target consumers and addresses the same whilst meeting their very needs through the purchase of the product/service and its ultimate usage. Marketing in my opinion has both a positive as well as a negative impact on the individuals, the society at large and the economic settings of a country as well. What this means is the fact that marketing has targeted the different stakeholders with absolutely distinctive offers – and hence the fact that marketing looks glorious at the end of the day. Some individuals might view marketing as a very positive thing since it gives them the opportunity to analyze, judge and eventually understand the

Duke of Edinburg Adventurous Journey Report Essay Example for Free

Duke of Edinburg Adventurous Journey Report Essay The Duke of Edinburg Adventurous Journey Report It all started on the cool morning of July 31. After a delay of about 2 hrs, we finally got on the Volvo AC bus after having our modest breakfast in OIS. I felt great; the morning fresh air always suited me. The bus passed effortlessly through the jam less Dhaka streets. Once it got to Savar, I began to notice natural beauty of the highest quality. There were all kinds of plants and shrubs and delicately colored flowers. The green carpeted Savar Golf Course was the main attraction of our journey from Dhaka to Aricha. After an hours delay at the Aricha ferry ghat, it took us another hour to cross the river. The other half of our journey from ferry ghat to Khulna was torturous. Amid the sweltering heat of the shrouded sun, the AC of the AC bus kept breaking down and we were not in a position to actually appreciate the natural roadside beauty. Everyone was sweating and cursing inside the bus. And no one had the heart of taking pictures or tuning to a song. So the first emotion upon stepping out of the bus was one of relief; no one would want to repeat a bus journey like that! We reached the quarter where we would be saying for the better part of the next 2 days. Every one of us felt disappointed on seeing the small building surrounded by the wild. Compared to BARD, this place was like a jungle. We spent an hour for settling in our room and washing ourselves up. Then we took a 20 minute walk and our journey for the day was put to an end. The next day was full of adventures. We took a 2 hr walk before breakfast. The highlight of our adventurous journey came right after that. We took a bus to Bagerhat to visit the Sathgombhuj Mosque. The guide there told us some part of the history of the mosque and also gave us an insight on where the name of the mosque derived from. After a brief photo-session we went to Khan Jahan Ali Mazar; there we sat near the edge of the lake and took a little snack break of singara and Frutica. Some half an hour later another bus trip took us to Chadmahal. The place is a gem hidden deep in the heart of Bagerhat. It looked like a great place for family hangout. Apart from anything else there is a zoo, an astounding 3-storey marble-studded building and an underwater entrance to the building. After our short visit to Chandmahal, we took our survey of the local people, as instructed and then went back to our resting place. After a day full of work, it was a bliss to me to get a quick shower and nap before the grand camp fire. Although most of the awardees were reluctant, the campfire went fine. I was honored to be given the chance to light the fire. From there on, we sang and Akter sir danced and overall the camp-fire was a success. After that we went to sleep. The next day, everyone woke up early and prepared to leave. We loaded vans with our luggage and hurried to the train station. No sooner had we got on the train, it gave its final whistle and started to move. The train journey was itself an adventure with one of the bogies going off-track soon after we passed a small station. All in all the adventurous journey was a memorable one and a few glitches along the way will not make it any less enjoyable.

Software Engineering :: essays research papers

Project 5: Good Neighbors Campaign Project Description: Develop a database to keep track of 20 data points for each of USC’s 10,000 employees for the past 10 years (and years to come). This database would need to have the ability to generate reports based on various queries in order to answer questions about donation trends among the University employees. Team Members: David Stark David Jeng Steven Cao Jamal Madni Contact: Aggie Afarinesh Campaign Finance Manager/Program Specialist Office of External Relations University of Southern California (213) 740-7400 afarines@usc.edu CSCI 477—Project Deliverables Operational Concept Description 1.1 Summary The Good Neighbors Campaign (GNC) is an annual giving campaign for the staff and faculty of the University of Southern California. Funds raised by this campaign are granted to nonprofit community organizations located in the University Park and Health Sciences Campus neighborhoods. These funds go toward community development, economic development, health education and support, arts education, and after school programs for children. The University Of Southern California Office Of External Relations (USC OER) is looking for a database that can store all current and historic donations. They would also like a program or system that can streamline data collection as well as generate reports to track campaign effectiveness. Long-term goals include an easy user interface for the donation process. The system is being built because over the past ten years, the OER has collected a plethora of data and needs an efficient method of interacting and analyzing donation trends. They also would like to have this system implemented for the next campaign drive in fall 2005. At the moment, all data entry is done by hand by a single person. Also, the only way to interact with the database is through one administrator’s computer. The current process also poses a large potential of human error that could significantly compromise the database’s integrity. The new system will reduce the error and time of data entry. It will generate reports more easily and flexibly as well as inform department heads about the donation of their employees. It will also provide this functionality through a user friendly web interface. 1.1.1 Original Description from Client The OER is looking for a database that can integrate all of the donation history for the past ten years. This would include data points for each employee for each of the past ten years. All employee information must be accessed through the payroll department. 1.1.2 Organizational Goals Goal Identifier  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  OG-1 Organizational Goal  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Increase donations Measurable  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since donations are pledged annually, donations will be measured with respect to previous years.

Policing Levels, Roles, and Functions

As a Police Chief and seeing and experiencing a high degree of turnover in the department heads, and having to do a budget for the new fiscal year. This could be a trying time. Now the Mayor wants to hold a workshop with all the department heads and this is going to be tricky in getting everything done. The information that I will need to put together are:†¢Budget †¢Training †¢ManpowerIn addition, reports on crime and critical issues facing the city. Let us talk about the budget first! Here are the steps that I need to take: †¢I need to come up with a reasonable objective to the new fiscal year. As the Chief, I should have a preliminary figure and it should be realistic. I know that I can tweak it throughout the year. †¢I also know to consult other members of the department. For the reason that they know more about the day – to – day operation. †¢Ã¢â‚¬ Analyze inflow. Realistic expectations of income require analysis of the preceding budge ts. Before inputting preliminary numbers, compare month – to – month, quarter – to – quarter, and year – to – year figures from the previous year.†(n.d., Withrow)†¢Analyze outflow. Determine the unexpected expenses that might have an important factor on the budget. For instance, anyone retiring, any layoffs, possible hiring, training and any cost training and equipment for new employees. In addition, is any office equipment in need of updating? †¢Now to prepare the budget. Before I do the final draft, I should consult with other department managers. For the reason it could have an impact on the budget.Budgets need to be adjusting in order to have everything you need to run an operation. Now let us talk about training. As more and more higher-level officers are approaching retirement age and are retiring early, this is a problem for many police departments. Some will ignore the problem or would not think there is a crisis. Now I need to implement a Succession Planning Program to replace those that are leaving. For the most part, I do  have a plan to replace people leaving the department, but I do not have one for supervisors and managers. â€Å"The successor program I need to develop are more critical path in replacing investigators, specialists, supervisors, and managers,†(June 2006, Michaelson). Usually the human resource is responsible for developing future supervisors and managers programs. It is to my benefit to help the human resource office in developing a new program for future leaders.We could â€Å"develop the necessary skills or competencies based experiential set of scenarios, assignments, rotations, mentoring and coaching opportunities, and evaluations not only to provide the candidates with this experience but also to enable the agency to gain the benefit from this experience and information.†(June 2006, Michealson). I can assign young officers with veteran officers and give them opportunity to carry out a few tasks:†¢Ã¢â‚¬ Plan an event †¢Write a training bulletin †¢Review and make recommendations to improve or update department policies or procedures†¢Conduct training †¢Conduct research †¢Write a proposal †¢Write a grant †¢Write a newsletter article †¢Manage a committee write a report on the committee's actions and recommendations, evaluate the committee's success, and make a presentation on the committee's findings. †¢Assess equipment and supplies, research replacement costs and options, and recommend replacing or updating them †¢Counsel peers†¢Become mentor to young officers and college students †¢Make a presentation to a local community group †¢Conduct a program evaluation with recommendations †¢Write contingency plans†¢Write after – action plans †¢Work on unit effectiveness report, to include use of statistical analysis †¢Review the department's and the jurisdiction's master plan †¢Review staffing and budget requirements for the current and upcoming fiscal year †¢Determine how staffing and budget will affect the role of Sergeants and Lieutenants.† (June 2006,Michaelson).Even doing this I cannot forget the responsibilities of the â€Å"individual preparation for leadership, which requires:†¢Undertaking a formal academic course of study †¢Taking a team leadership role in department activities †¢Participating and leading in civil opportunities, such as parent – teacher associations and civic clubs †¢Networking with peers †¢Engaging in intellectual discussion groups†¢Attending voluntary conferences and training sessions †¢Reading the professional literature †¢Studying national and local reports and analyzing the reports results †¢Using the Web as a resource †¢Serving as a guest lecturer in college class or accepting other speaking engagement †¢Engaging i n research and reporting the findings.† (June 2006, Michaelson).In developing all of this, I still need to have all of it documented. This way I have the accomplishments and failures of them. Then I can advance them as needed. If my police department ends up becoming short of officers due to them leaving, retiring, etc. I could implement a program called Part-Time Reserve Police Officers. â€Å"Their responsibilities would consist of:†¢City hall security detail †¢Police department lobby entrance staffing to assist visitors †¢Increased law enforcement presence during special events †¢Prisoners transport and guarding for court appearances, medical care, and interjurisdictional transports †¢Uniform patrol augmental when staffing shortages occur as a result of long – term illnesses, injuries, workers' compensation leave, vacations, training, and so on †¢Supplemental resource for section commanders when incidents or details develop †¢Resou rce for disaster  incidents such as floods.† (January 2012, Williams, Crowe, and Lowe)â€Å"PTR police officers have reduced employment costs because part-time employees do ot earn vacation or sick time, holiday pay does not apply, and health care and retirement benefits are not available. These officers are issued department equipment and are covered by workers' compensation insurance for work-related medical incidents.† (January 2012, Williams, Crowe, Lowe)Now for crime report and critical issues, my sergeants and lieutenants could give me this information. Therefore, I would do these things as Chief of police. In which the budget, work force, training, crime report and the critical issue report, would be met for the fiscal year and for the workshop.

Increase in discretionary time Essay

Teleshopping offers the possibility of increasing discretionary time by eliminating travel time for traditional shopping trips, and by speeding routine purchases. Intelligent agents, or pieces of software that search computer networks, will reduce our need to comparison shop to obtain the best price. Using intelligent agents to automate routine shopping for groceries and staple goods may give households more time for other activities. (Kare-Silver, 1998) Increases in leisure activities may have far-reaching social and environmental effects. Previously mentioned reductions in activity space, combined with increases in pedestrian and bicycle travel may make neighbourhood attractions more popular. Family ties may regain importance and discretionary time will be spent at home. Either way, increases in discretionary time will likely boost the economy as spending on leisure activities increases (Markham, 1998). If families and individuals use their new free time to go for drives in the country, we may see a reverse congestion problem, where roads are clear during the week and crowded on the weekends. Overall, the effects of discretionary time changes are very difficult to predict. Such changes may not produce any noticeable changes in our society or environment for a very long time. A revolution in the shopping environment is about to take place. But it won’t affect all consumers and impact all retailers immediately. And it will not replace the traditional shopping completely, because there are still many traditional social shoppers. Such as women, to go window-shopping is one of their natural instincts. It is impossible for them to do shopping at home always. What they enjoyed most are the social atmospheres of the malls. They like to have a chat with the sales people, they like to try the clothes on and then do some compare. This is what Teleshopping can not satisfy them. However, the shopping scene is changing, retailers will need to develop. Standing still carries a high risk of being disintermediated, cut out of the supply chain as Teleshopping grows. As they move into the next century retailers will have a range of options. At one extreme they could transfer their business to become a full electronic home-delivery operation gradually moving out of their physical retail estate. And an alternative they could look to revitalise their physical presence and evolve the store proposition to meet some of the changing consumer demands. 1 Anon (1998a) UK retail sales 160 billion pounds sterling by year 2000. Searchbank 2 Gingh G et al The Information Age IM3007 Participants Pack (1999) p9

Endocrine System Case Study Essays

Endocrine System Case Study Essays Endocrine System Case Study Essay Endocrine System Case Study Essay Case Study 1. A 30-year-old woman has been trying to get pregnant for a year now. She’s always had irregular menstrual periods, but just recently her breasts starting secreting milk and she noticed that her sex drive was diminishing. She became so excited that she immediately took a pregnancy test, but the result was negative. She went to visit her doctor the following day to have her blood taken to confirm whether she managed to get a false negative on her pregnancy test. After her examination, it was determined that she definitely was not pregnant, but during her appointment, she also realized that she has had persistent headaches and fatigue for many months. 1. What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient? (1 mark) A possible diagnosis for this patient could be Hyperprolactinemia. 2. What hormone is creating havoc within this patient’s body? Explain how this hormone affects milk production in her breast. In a regular pregnancy, what stops milk from being ejected from the breast prematurely? 3 marks) The hormone prolactin is responsible for the patient’s symptoms. Prolactin stimulates the development of mammary gland tissue and milk production (lactogensis). During infant feeding, the never ending in the nipples becomes stimulated causing the release of prolactin-secreting hormones by the hypothalamus. This spinal reflex (neuroendocrine reflex) stimulates the production of prolactin. Before a woman gives birth the prolactin is inh ibited by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Additionally, the hormone progesterone inhibits milk secretion in the breasts. However, after delivery, progesterone levels drop and trigger Lactogenesis II. 3. Name 2 medical procedures that would confirm your diagnosis. Indicate what each of these tests will show to confirm your diagnosis. (4 marks) 4. Briefly describe 2 specific treatment options and state the possible side effects of these treatments. (4 marks) Case Study # 2 With summer approaching, a 38 year old man wanted to start exercising as he was starting to suddenly gain weight in his abdominal area and lose muscle mass in his arms and legs. He has always been a fit man, but lately with the huge stress of his work obligations over the past year, he has not focused on his health as much as he would like to. With the weight gain around his abdominal area, he also noticed that his skin was thinner and that he was starting to get stretch marks as well. While working out vigorously with weights, he even managed to fracture his right second metatarsal. He is currently taking no meds. When he visited his doctor a week later, his blood work revealed high blood sugar levels and normal blood ACTH levels. A CT scan revealed that his left adrenal gland was unusually larger than his right. 1. What pituitary hormone would you expect to be secreted in large amounts in his blood? How would you support your conclusion? (3 marks) I would expect cortisol to be secreted in large amounts in the man’s blood. Cortisol is a pituitary hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. During elevated stress, cortisol is released in a person’s body. Small increases of cortisol can be beneficial, but constant stress causes increased cortisol levels. Cortisol can counteract the body’s insulin, which is used to maintain blood sugar levels. With this interference, the man’s blood sugar becomes imbalanced, explaining his blood test. Increased cortisol also causes higher blood pressure as the vasculature becomes more sensitive to epinephrine and norepinephrine. (Wikipedia) Additionally, the omentum, which is located in the abdomen, takes in the excess cortisol and cause it store more fat. (

Martial Arts Essay

Martial Arts Essay Free Online Research Papers Martial artists excel in body dynamics beyond an â€Å"ordinary† person for several reasons. Karate-ka (karate students) study hand to hand combat in the same essence as a college student studies any degree major. Through years of study, a history student may be considered â€Å"advanced† in their knowledge of history; and an â€Å"ordinary† person could not begin to compare the world’s timeline with the history student. In karate, there is the same principle with a different field of expertise. Karate-ka becomes one with their mind, body, and spirit allowing them to use any part of their body as a â€Å"useful† weapon. This happens through endless hours of training and practicing hand to hand combat techniques. Throughout years of teaching passed down from the old master’s of karate, students have learned the dynamic body science of karate-do. M. Nakayama (1977) states: â€Å"If karate is practiced solely as a fighting technique, this cause for regret. The fundamental techniques have been developed and perfected through long years of study and practice, but to make effective use of these techniques, the spiritual aspect of this art of self-defense must be recognized and must play the predominate role† (p. 9). Because karate-ka inherits these teachings, they are no longer ordinary, but extraordinary. An â€Å"ordinary† person will not comprehend the importance of â€Å"correct form† while action occurs throughout a technique. M. Nakayama (1977) states â€Å"Prerequisites of correct form are good balance, a high degree of stability and the order of movements of each part of the body, since movements are made in quick succession in short period of time† (p. 48). Punching Basic principles of executing a technique, for example, block, strike or kick, are the order of action from start to finish. This is a vital part of generating the maximum amount of power the individual can generate. Understanding the source of power for the different techniques is essential, for example, the hips. An ordinary person would not think that hips would physically start the action. Rather, they may think the shoulders or upper body presents the first actions. An ordinary person, John Longendyke, Jr (2007, July 6th) explains that â€Å"his† body action for a punch would rotate backward first within the shoulders, then drive forward with his upper body into the target. Nakayama (1978) states that there is explosive hidden power in techniques; for punching, the upper body works in conjunction with the hips, not separate. Although, the first physical action starts with the action of the hips, following quickly by the upper body without â€Å"backward† or â€Å" loading† action. Edmond Otis and Randall G. Hassell (2002) state â€Å"A hand that is tightly clenched is called a fist. A hand that remains forever tightly clenched is called deformed. A balance between hard and soft determines usefulness† (p. 27). The proper production of a fist is a common error within most people. The first action of an â€Å"ordinary† person is to close their fist, tighten their entire body, and then pull back to swing for the fence. Karate-ka practice relaxation throughout the entire technique, until the moment of impact; creating smooth and fast fluidity of the body action. Otis and Hassell (2002) also state â€Å"Always move from the center of your body, where your major strength lies† (p. 34). Once again, this key fact comes into the â€Å"simple† act of executing a technique. As most people lean their head forward into the punch, karate-ka keeps their head over the hips; this allows the body to stay connected from the ground up. Hard and Soft Blocking Techniques Edmond Otis and Randall G. Hassell (2002) states â€Å"hard blocks are the blocks you use in these situations; you are caught by surprise, you can’t move to get out of the way and the attack is very strong and well-timed.† Hard blocks are precise and sharp. This type of block creates a direct impact to the limb that is striking to move the limb out of the way. Edmond Otis and Randall G. Hassell (2002) later state â€Å"soft blocks are smooth and flowing, often deflecting an opponent’s attack without them knowing it has missed, until it is too late† (p. 132). Generally, soft blocks are used in a more advanced skill level; performing soft blocks takes comfortability and confidence. Nick Debouno (2007, July 25th), states â€Å"I am not sure what I would do if someone tried to punch me, hopefully, move out of the way. I do not know the difference between a hard and soft block, and what they could do for me in a fight.† See graph below for the conducted experiment. The experiment was conducted for the following reasons. First, to see if an â€Å"ordinary person†, Nick Debouno, could block a punch thrown by surprise. Second, to see if a hard or soft block was performed. Third, to see if Nick was hit by the second attack. And fourth, to see if his block allowed him to counter strike the initial attack. Successful blocks made by surprise attack Hard or Soft block Hit by second attack Counter attack made Attack #1 No None Yes None Attack #2 Yes Hard Yes None Attack #3 Yes Hard No None Attack #4 No None Yes None Attack #5 No None Yes Yes (irritation) Attack #6 Yes Soft No Yes Attack #7 No None Yes None Attack #8 No None Yes None Attack #9 No None Yes None Attack #10 No None Yes None Hard and Soft blocks contribute to ones safety. As show in Attack #2 and #3, the two successful â€Å"Hard blocks† lead Nick to protect himself against the initial attack. Attack #2, Nick was hit by the second and following attack. Attack #3, Nick was able to protect himself against the primary and secondary attack. Attack #6 was a successful â€Å"soft block†. These actions lead Nick to counter correctly, not just out of irritation. The graph below is the same experiment held with Sam Jones (2007, July 24th), a three-year practitioner of Shotokan Karate. Successful blocks made by surprise attack Hard or Soft block Hit by second attack Counter attack made Attack #1 Yes Hard No Yes Attack #2 Yes Soft No Yes Attack #3 No None Yes Yes Attack #4 Yes Soft No Yes Attack #5 Yes Hard No Yes Attack #6 No None Yes No Attack #7 Yes Soft No Yes Attack #8 Yes Soft No Yes Attack #9 Yes Hard Yes None Attack #10 Yes Hard No Yes As this graph displays, every â€Å"soft block† was followed by a successful counter-attack. This allowed Sam Jones not to be struck by the second attack. Attack #3 and #6 were the only two attacks that penetrated 100% successfully. As a note: Neither participant was harmed during this experiment. Snapping and Locking Techniques Each area of the human body is made of a different structure; hard and soft, large and small. Snapping and locking techniques are designed to penetrate different areas of the human body. For example, snapping techniques were designed for smaller and hard surfaces; locking techniques were designed for larger, soft surfaces. Edmond Otis and Randall G. Hassell (2002) comment on snapping techniques, â€Å"As a general rule snap strikes are sharper and faster. This means that the moment of contact is very short and doesn’t leave a lot of time for the momentum of the technique, or the force, to transfer to the target.† As a reflection or counterpart to snapping techniques, locking techniques are used to strike ribs and solar plexus. Otis and Hassell later say: â€Å"Locking or sticking strikes, on the other hand, is heavier. They take a little more time to apply because you need to commit more of your body weight to the technique. It simply takes more time for all the energy in these techniques to leave your body and go into something (or someone) else.† This is evident that the ordinary person would not know the difference between these two types of techniques, or which areas would require a snapping or locking technique. Nick Debouno (2007, July 25th) says, when asked if he would strike different depending on the area of the body he was hitting: â€Å"I don’t see a difference, I would hit my attacker the same, whether it is to the body or face, punching is punching and kicking is kicking. I understand the head is harder than the body; that is why the head is more sensitive to impact, because of the direct contact to the bones and nerves. I feel that driving my punch or kick through the target would create more damage to a harder surface than a softer surface.† Timing and Distance Edmond Otis (2002) says â€Å"Karate is always about timing and distance. It is always about our relationship to our opponent. My view is that ultimately karate is about striving to be at our best, our most focused, our most balanced, our most dynamic precisely at the moment our opponent is at their weakest.† Proper timing and distance relate to the impact delivered to our opponent. If timing is too early for an attack, our opponent will have the time he or she needs to evade or block. If timing is too late for an attack, well it is too late. If our distance is too short, we do not reach our opponent with the technique. If our distance is too close our technique will be shortened and not fully dynamic. Timing and distance coincide with each other, working as one action; we can not have one without the other. Timing is the relationship between our opponent’s movement and the moment we will strike. Our objective is to strike when the attacker is at their weakest. Striking an opponent happens at three different levels of timing. One, after the attack, occurs; meaning the attacker will attempt a strike, the defendant will then time his or her dcounter-attack after the attacking actions are complete. Two, during the attack; meaning the defendant will counter attacker during the attacker’s action. Three; before the attack; meaning the defendant will strike the moment the attacker moves slightly, thus preventing an initial attack. Distance is the spatial relationship between two bodies. The range of any individual depends on how close or far they are from the other body. Proper distance varies per individual and pending on what type of technique is being used. This will allow proper room and distance to complete â€Å"said† technique. Nick Debouno (2007, July 25th), an â€Å"ordinary person† explained that if he was engaged in a â€Å"self-defense† situation, â€Å"I would much more comfortable being far away from the attacker; if I needed to punch him, I would move in close and swing.† Later Nick Debouno explains, â€Å"while I am punching, I would not wait for my attacker to move into me, I would move towards them; my elbow would be bent enough to drive through the face of my attacker!† This is an example of improper timing and distance; once again, martial artists will strike when their opponents are at their weakest. This means, strike while our opponents have either comp leted their action, during their action or just before their action. Conclusion Through experiments and interviews with â€Å"ordinary† people, it is found that they do not have the knowledge or physical skill set to excel in body dynamics. Punching, blocking, timing, and distance was found to be incorrect. Karate experts such as Nakayama, Otis, and Hassell have pointed the key elements and the essentials of these specific areas. This has been found by their expertise and countless hours of training, proving that martial artists excel in body dynamics in the context of self-defense. Subsequently, an ordinary person would be hurt or would hurt themselves if ever engaged in combat. Theoretically, an ordinary human being would injure themselves as a result of not having proper technique during their own attack, by not blocking properly or by not having the proper reaction, timing, and distance. In contrast, martial artist understands the basics of punching, blocking and proper reaction, timing, and distance. Martial artist use their own body as a weapon wit hout self-injury. Research Papers on Martial Arts EssayContrasting Berthe Morisot and Jan van EyckSociology is a ScienceDeontological Teleological TheoriesDistance Learning Survival GuideLife After Death Personal EssayChildhood Obesity EssayThe Gnostic JesusAlbatross and Rimm of the Ancient MarinerMRSA Staph BacteriaImpact of Breast Cancer

MLA Referencing †Citing a Website (Writing Tips from Proofed)

MLA Referencing – Citing a Website (Writing Tips from Proofed) MLA Referencing – Citing a Website Is there anything you can’t find online these days? If there is, we don’t want to know about it. Admittedly, though, the only thing we truly care about is that you cite online sources correctly! Here, then, is our guide on doing exactly that when citing a website with MLA referencing. In-Text Citations MLA typically uses an author–page number citation format. However, websites do not have page numbers, so you might not know what to include when you cite a website in a college paper. Thankfully, the solution to this is simple. All you need to do to cite a website in MLA referencing is include the first item of information that appears in the list. Usually, this will be the author’s surname, although you can use the title of the webpage if no author is named. If the author/webpage is named in the text, this is enough by itself. Otherwise, though, you would cite the source in brackets as follows: The Museum of Modern Art describes its mission as being to â€Å"present a dynamic and varied offering of some of the most thought-provoking art produced today† (â€Å"Who We Are†). We can examine whether it achieves this by collecting visitor data (McIntyre). Here, in the first citation, we’re citing the page titled â€Å"Who we are† from the MoMa website. The page does not name an author, so we use the title instead. In the second citation, we’re citing a different page from a different site and we give the author’s surname instead. List All websites cited in your work should appear in the list at the end of your document. The format here can vary a little, but you need to give enough information for your reader to find the website you’ve referenced. Typically, this will include: Author name(s) (if available) The name of the page cited The title of the overall website The date of publication or the date the page was last updated A URL (minus the â€Å"https://† bit) The date you accessed the page (if required by your school) For the pages cited in the example above, then, we’d list them as follows: McIntyre, Morris Hargreaves. â€Å"Visitor Behavior and Engagement in the Museums and Heritage Sector.† AMACultureHive, 18 Apr. 2013. www.culturehive.co.uk/resources/how-to-bridge-the-gap-between-data-and-insight-in-the-museums-and-heritage-sector/. Accessed 1 June 2018. â€Å"Who We Are.† MoMa, 2018. www.moma.org/about/who-we-are/. Accessed 14 June 2018. You may notice that, as well as the lack of an author, we don’t have a precise date for the â€Å"Who we are† page from the MoMa website. This is because the page does not have an upload date, so we have used the copyright date for the site as a whole instead. The most important factor is that we’ve given the exact URL of the webpage, which will allow the reader to find the source used.

Singapore's Unique Tripartite Model for Balancing Employers' Corporate Essay

Singapore's Unique Tripartite Model for Balancing Employers' Corporate Goals - Essay Example They are further capable of meeting the needs of the government to bring stability in the economy as well as prosperity. This is possible because of the five pillar approach followed by the firms in Singapore. The study tries to discuss the ways through which the National Trade Union Congress’ 5 Pillars is capable of addressing the issues faced by the firms. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction to Industrial Relation 4 Objective of the Paper 4 Industrial Relations in Singapore 4 Issues in Employee Relation in Singapore 6 The Tripartite Approach 7 Unique Tripartite Features of Singapore 10 Conclusion 11 References 12 Bibliography 14 Introduction to Industrial Relation Industrial relation has been categorized as one of the fragile as well as complex issues of contemporary industrial society. It is to be remembered that a business is considered to be successful if there is purposeful cooperation between the labor and the management. The main objective of the sound i ndustrial relations is not only finding the ways for resolving the conflicts but also to maintain cooperation among the employees within the industry. It is to be remembered that it is not at all an easy task to maintain good industrial relations. ... f the study is to identify the industrial relations of Singapore and to identify the ways through which the country has been capable of maintaining efficient industrial relations in the firms. Five Pillars approach will be studied in depth and the study will try to examine the issues that can be effectively solved by five pillar approach. Industrial Relations in Singapore ‘Industrial relations’ in Singapore has been modeled after the West Australian model, offering a system of collective bargaining along with conciliation and arbitration. The two significant pieces of legislation administered the industrial relations of Singapore. They are Trade Union Act, the key role of which has been to grant acknowledgement to the trade unions as well as employers who are registered. The other piece of legislation has been Industrial Relation Act whose principle activities have been the identification of the rules in order to carry out the negotiation and development of the Industria l Arbitration Court (IAC) for the purpose of investigating the disputes and certifying agreements. The system was being operated in a fair way. The bargaining demands made were fulfilled by the unions upon the employer in case the negotiation started. After the completion of the agreement successfully, the agreements were passed on the IAC for the purpose of selection and certification. In case the agreement was not realized, the matter was forwarded for the purpose of conciliation. If the conciliation was not effective enough, matter was referred to the IAC for the purpose of arbitration. Whatever decision the IAC would have arrived at, would be considered as final. The workers were paid with ex gratia bonuses by the employers. The bonus payments were quite unconditional and were rarely attached

Report 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Report 2 - Essay Example c Growth that significant developments in the trade across the Atlantic Ocean only acted as the catalyst for the strong rise of Western Europe after 1500. That is, European countries on the West side had number of ports along the Atlantic Ocean, and these ports facilitated substantial trade with the New World, Africa, and Asia. This trade aided the merchant groups and the monarchy to become strong forces, gaining not only financial resources but importantly political clout. As Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson (551) point out the trade opportunities made the monarchy to ally with the merchant groups, and both were the â€Å"main beneficiaries of the early profits from Atlantic trade and plunder,† and no anti-establishment groups favoring changes in political institutions could become powerful enough to challenge them. In addition, due to this heightened trade in the Atlantic Ocean, ports cities underwent urbanization, thereby even changing the ‘physical outlook’ (infrastructures) of Western Europe. Although, anti-establishment groups could not do anything, the merchant groups started becoming a strong force due to the economic clout they had, and even started dictating terms to the Monarchy. â€Å"Atlantic trade strengthened merchant groups by constraining the power of the monarchy, and helped merchants obtain changes in institutions to protect property rights.† (Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson 546). These changes mainly led to subsequent positive economic growth that was particularly witnessed in Western

Ipad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ipad - Essay Example Let us first look at the features of the iPad. â€Å"There’s more to it. And even less of it.† this is the new tagline of the Apple store for the newly released iPad. The newly released iPad has two cameras for FaceTime and HD video recording. There is a dual core A5 chip, which I don’t even know what it means. It sounds so technical that I can feel that my nose is starting to bleed. I’m just kidding. The battery life of the iPad is 10 hours. That sounds amazing right? All in thinner, lighter design, the new iPad is even more amazing and even less like anything else. Once you pick-up IPad, it would be hard to put down. The iPad and the latest iPad 2, is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter so it feels even more comfortable in your hands. There’s incredible technology under your fingers that makes surfing the web, checking the email, watching movies and reading books so natural. iPad has dual-core A5 chip. This technical term makes my head hurt. Kidding aside, the two powerful cores in one A5 chip mean iPad can do twice the work at once. You’ll know these changes when you surf the web, watch the movies, make FaceTime video calls and play games. Aren’t you excited to try the Facetime video calls? This will very useful to those who have their boyfriends or girlfriends. But it will be very scary to use this with our parents, right? I bet we’ll get the same lecture in life like we used to have when we are having dinner with our moms or dads perhaps. The two cameras on iPad, one on front and one on the back, may look tiny but they’re a big deal. The so-called Facetime video calling uses the two cameras so you can talk to your favourite people and see them smile and laugh back at you. For those game enthusiasts, we’ll this is good gadget for you. The graphic performance is nine times better which makes the gameplay on iPad even smoother and more realistic. The iPad also has the world†™s most advanced mobile operating system. iOS 4 lets you browse, read and see everything just by touching the screen. iPad also stays connected though wifi and 3G. Everything is at our fingertips. The multi-touch capability let us use our fingers to do everything. I hope you are all still ok listening to me. Am I boring you? Well, you have no choice, or else you’ll get detention. I’m just kidding. I don’t want to state all the features of the iPad because I believe my nose will bleed due to the technicalities. iPad may have a lot of features that can make us drool to buy one. But what is more important is to know what it can give us or its importance, right? Many new gadgets don't live up to the hype, but the iPad is one gadget that is as good as it looks. You could say that it’s somewhere in between a laptop computer and an iPhone, but really it’s more than that. If you're planning to get an iPad, then the first step should be to find out a bit more about what it can do. First, iPad is the best way to experience the web. iPad is used mainly to surf the internet. It is really convenient to surf the internet anywhere and anytime you want. Second, iPad is ideal for checking e-mail and sending short emails, especially when you’re on the go. iPad has a split-screen view and expansive onscreen keyboard where you can see and touch your email in ways you never could before. Third, iPad can be the world’s biggest cookbook. It is easier to cook having the recipe with you in the kitchen. There are great recipe websites

Kristin Decides to Try Her Hand at Investing Research Paper

Kristin Decides to Try Her Hand at Investing - Research Paper Example Younger persons also tend not to be responsible for dependents, large assets, and, in many cases of young professionals, their own health coverage. An older person, however, is by his or her nature more risk-adverse, since there is a more limited time span in which to make up potential losses due to investments. Consequently, investing is more confusing for the younger investor like, in this case, Kirstin who is a 26-year-old female potential manager. Although Kirstin has to build for the future by selecting more secure investment options, she should also try to maximize her gains by taking on more risk than the average investor did. This is not to say that Kirstin should become a gambler with her money on the stock market; rather, she should look to expand her capital in a safe, prudent manner. Regardless of an investor’s age or level of risk-aversion, one should always seek diversification as a first principle (Melicher & Norton, 2008, p. 8). Even though Kirstin does not hav e a large asset pool to pull from in terms of seeking out investments, she ought to seek out holdings in as many asset classes as she can. This means that spreading her assets between equities (blue chip and growth), bonds (corporate and municipal), cash equivalents, and commodities. Spreading assets around to the different classes means that Kirstin is hedging her risk against sharp declines in any of the specific categories, such that the other categories can support her portfolio in tough times. The majority of this portfolio must be concentrated in areas with highest growth potential, but diversifying between these instruments is a good strategy. If Kirsten decides to put most of her savings into blue chip or growth equities, she is likely to see a satisfactory return on her investment if the overall market is bullish or relatively stable. Depending on how long she expects to hold these investments, she may see a return on investment (ROI) at a percentage higher than any percent age offered by a corporate or municipal bond holder, or any cash equivalent offered by her local bank. Assuming that Kirsten’s idea of a â€Å"satisfactory return† is greater than the 3 percent interest paid by her bank for a Certificate of Deposit, then she is more likely to see desired returns if she invests in equities as opposed to other kinds of cash equivalents and bonds. Because Kirsten can be certain that her CD with her local bank is insured (that is, she cannot lose the principle amount, like she can with an equity or bond), she must be willing to accept only a return greater than 3 percent. Depending on the nature of the bonds Kirsten investigates, she is likely to find bonds that have greater than 3% interest. Especially corporate bonds of companies with lower credit ratings, which are consequently more risky, Kirsten could find rates of return nearing 10 percent. Kirsten’s decisions about where to put her money could be driven by any number of facto rs, including but not limited to tips from friends, independent research, consultations with financial planners, developments in the news, or developments in her own personal life (Lim, 2010, p. 19). Most likely, Kirsten will decide what to invest in based on her risk-aversion and the principles of good investing. As already discussed, the principle of diversification may draw her to look at both equities and bonds, in addition to the cash equivalent in which she plans to invest $3,000. In addition, Kirsten

Communication Styles in Different Cultures Essay

Communication Styles in Different Cultures - Essay Example One major difference between our cultures is knowing when handshaking is appropriate. In Australian culture, this is an acceptable way of greeting both males and females. However, in Saudi culture, there are many restrictions in greeting with regards to gender. Lewis noted this in his interactions with people in the Arab world and concluded that being respectful at all times towards male and female Arabs is the best form of communication ( 2001). Personally, I have been in many uncomfortable situations when I was offered a hand by a female friend and I was not completely certain what I was expected to do. In these situations, I was afraid to offend my close friends but was hesitant to do something that is so taboo in my native land. In Australia, handshaking seems to be appropriate between men and women but in Saudi culture, handshaking between different genders is prohibited from due to religious belief. My Australian friend advised me that if shaking a females hand makes me uncomfo rtable, then I should be open and honest about it. I was assured that this would be acceptable and would not be offensive to most Australians. One of the new things that I learned is how to make refusal in a suitable way. I didn't want to be rude with Jonathan but our cultures differ greatly in this respect. In Australian culture, disagreement can be done in a very direct way and can be confrontational. This is not considered rude. However, in Saudi culture, it is best done in an indirect way avoiding any confrontation because the concept of friendship in Arabic culture is different.

Strategic Hospitality Management - A Plan for the Expansion of Accor Essay

Strategic Hospitality Management - A Plan for the Expansion of Accor - Essay Example So Europe as a whole (including France) has a total of about 50% of Accor’s business, but the Asian market has only 9%. Considering the populations of Asia and their growing middle class, this seems a somewhat skewed proportion with ample room for improvement. The proportions hotel business are as follows: As the company has been successful within the Economy sector it seems logical to plan for the future using the paradigm that has succeeded thus far. GOALS The Accor Board is planning on continued expansion with 10,000 rooms per annum over 2007/2008. This represents a fairly modest 2.2% rise per annum. This growth is planned across both established markets, such as in Europe and North America, and emerging markets in the developing world, such as Latin American, the Middle East, and Asia. PROPOSAL Established Markets Country The country chosen for expansion in the established market is Switzerland. The brand that will be expanded is the budget ETAP band. Switzerland is a logi cal and promising choice for the following reasons. 1)The Swiss economy is one of the most advanced in the world and has a broad range of economic activity, with a main focus on the banking and tourism sectors: â€Å"Switzerland’s economy is based on a highly qualified labor force performing highly skilled work. The main areas include micro-technology, hi-tech, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, as well as banking and insurance know-how. Most of the people working in Switzerland are employed by small and medium-sized enterprises.†

Communication Styles in Different Cultures Essay

Communication Styles in Different Cultures - Essay Example One major difference between our cultures is knowing when handshaking is appropriate. In Australian culture, this is an acceptable way of greeting both males and females. However, in Saudi culture, there are many restrictions in greeting with regards to gender. Lewis noted this in his interactions with people in the Arab world and concluded that being respectful at all times towards male and female Arabs is the best form of communication ( 2001). Personally, I have been in many uncomfortable situations when I was offered a hand by a female friend and I was not completely certain what I was expected to do. In these situations, I was afraid to offend my close friends but was hesitant to do something that is so taboo in my native land. In Australia, handshaking seems to be appropriate between men and women but in Saudi culture, handshaking between different genders is prohibited from due to religious belief. My Australian friend advised me that if shaking a females hand makes me uncomfo rtable, then I should be open and honest about it. I was assured that this would be acceptable and would not be offensive to most Australians. One of the new things that I learned is how to make refusal in a suitable way. I didn't want to be rude with Jonathan but our cultures differ greatly in this respect. In Australian culture, disagreement can be done in a very direct way and can be confrontational. This is not considered rude. However, in Saudi culture, it is best done in an indirect way avoiding any confrontation because the concept of friendship in Arabic culture is different.

Fanatic perceptions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fanatic perceptions - Essay Example Fanatic perceptions Support is important in every area of life. The support is given to players from fans. The fans have different types of antics that are used to lift up the player’s spirits and encourage them to endure. It is true in the sense that this spirit lifting renders a subtle affect that helps the players get on with the game. Fans and spectators may differ on opinions of what they see and what they believe. It is this inner reaction that is produced by the fans that give off different emotions during the game. Some fans have so much energy built up for the game that they become fanatics. The fanatic can sometimes have violent outbursts while being so caught up in the game. These types of violent actions happens in more cases then are needed. Fans become so caught up in the game that excitement is quickly turned into anger and violence. This anger and violence can be dangerous to those nearby. A good example of how these fanatics lose their self control and cause violence is demonstra ted in an incident that recently happened. The incident happened at a game between the Boston Celtics and the Utah Jazz. Viewing this particular game can demonstrate how fans lose self control. The NBA game held between the two teams could have been prevented by self control. The game shows how spectators come from different walks of life. The spectators from the game have different opinions and feelings toward the game. Not everyone in the crowd will share the same beliefs. Some spectators are attending the game to experience a good time. This is proven by the many beer bottles and whistled that surround this type of spectators. Other spectator’s attend games because of the dedication they have to the home team. These spectators dress in colors of the team they adore. The spectators also may purchase season tickets so that no game is missed. Many bring cameras in hopes to catch that perfect shot which can be kept as a sacred memory. Whichever way the spectator has chosen to show his or her appreciation, it is easily shown. Regardless of the sport, each fan has their own motivation that persuades them to be a fan. These fans are what bring the spirit to the game. Alt hough each fan may have a different motive, the fan is there for one reason and that reason is to support the team. The way people of different walks of life are able to come together and cheer on a team shows dedication. Some fans are so caught up in the moment that they put all ethics aside and turn to violence. This is clearly reviled in an incident at an NBA game. A game between the Celtics and the Jazz left people injured and fans in an outrage. During the game, â€Å"the filmmaker was even struck blurring the camera from taking clear shots of the event†. (gazette.com) Incidents of violence happen quite often, and can often be prevented. The different ways that the fans link their personalities to support the same team are similar to the writings of Karl Marx. These incidents between the fans and the games follow them for the rest of their lives. This is also true with writing created by Karl Marx. KARL MARX People from all over the world have different perceptions on ev ents that happen around them. It is certain that each person in life will hold a different viewpoint then the person next to them. This is true for everything in life. The different perceptions that are shown from the players are similar to the

The Seven Design Elements of Customer Interface Essay Example for Free

The Seven Design Elements of Customer Interface Essay Our homepage is integrated of Aesthetically design and Functionally design. We emphasis on the look-and-feel of the site because hotel needs heavy visual element, so we use colorful and mostly green theme just like our hotel theme, it gives nature, warm, fun, and comfortable feelings like home (En Casa) and shows green hospitality that we practices. Moreover, our target market is more on leisure travelers, we showed pictures of our luxury resort. Beside the looks, we also emphasis the functionality, we use linking structure and navigation tools which facilitate the users moves through the sites. Like when people go to our website and click on â€Å"Our Global Home†, it will take them to the list of all En Casa Hotel and Resorts properties around the world, so they can easily access to there and have a look. Content The content of our homepage is offering mix dimension which means we include products, information, and services altogether. We show our rooms types, pictures and then we give information about the rates and facilities, we also put information about our restaurant outlets, spa facilities, meeting event and all services that we offers into the homepage so people who interested can easily look for our details. Community En Casa allows their customer to have a profile with them whereby they can put their information and their preferences when they stay at En Casa and to give a feeling of membership in our group. We also have Facebook and Twitter account whereby people can subscribe to us and have interaction between site users. Our homepage is following Non-interactive Communication type, our site presents static information and only allows unidirectional communication with them. Customization En casa has the ability to customize itself to each user. It has two dimension of customization, one is personalization, it means when a person come to En Casa webpage, he/she can choose his/her preference language, and next time he/she go to our webpage using same device, it will automatically set the language, he/she no need to change it again. The second dimension is tailoring by site, our software dynamically publishes unique versions of the site to address specific users interests, habits and needs more appropriately based on past user behaviour. For example when last time our guest already booked a suite room with a pick-up limousine from airport, when he is booking another room with us, we will ask whether they want a pick-up limousine again. Communication How our communication works is broadcast, which means one-way information exchange from organization to user. Broadcast communication can be in the form of mass mailing, FAQ, e-mail newsletters, content-update reminders and broadcast events. We applied One-to-Many, Non-Responding User, site messages are announcements that users receive without needing to respond. It is when we announce our upcoming events and promotions into our webpage. We also applied One-to-Many, Responding User, Site messages are invitations to users to submit their comments and responses. It is when our guests can give their feedbacks to our webpage or through TripAdvisor that linked to our webpage. Connection En Casa connection dimension is Pathway of Connection, which refers to the links to access additional information. And the type is Pathway-out-links cause the user to completely exit our website to go to another website but the content is still talk about our hotel. We applied this to Facebook page, Twitter page and also Trip Advisor. They can look for our information there, for Trip Advisor, they can book our room too. Commerce What we â€Å"sell† on our webpage is our En Casa Hotel Resort’s rooms, our facilities like FB outlets, spa, and also meeting rooms. For Commerce Archetypes, we applied Catalog Pricing, which means the price of goods and services are preset by us. Through our website, they can have reservation and do payment in advance because we provide payment facilities like credit card or debit card.

Causes of the Decline in Voter Turnout

Causes of the Decline in Voter Turnout â€Å"What explains the decline in voter turnout in most democracies in the last few decades? In your answer, consider one or two explanations that you consider most important and empirical evidence supporting or rejecting them†. According to Dalton (1988) â€Å"citizen involvement in the political process is essential for democracy to be viable and meaningful†. They suggest that â€Å"limited political involvement is a sign of weakness because it is only through dialogue and participation that societal goals are defined and achieved in a democracy. Voting, though it requires little initiative and cooperation with others, is the most visible and widespread form of citizen involvement†[1]. Over the past three decades, voter turnout in the UK and other democratic countries has decreased significantly, I will discuss what I consider to be two of the most important explanations for the decline in voter turnout across various democratic countries. These being political disengagement and dissatisfaction and the reduction in the value of voting. I have chosen these due to the fact there is significant empirical evidence supporting both explanations, as will be explored below. The first part of this ess ay will explain some statistics regarding the levels of voter turnout, following this, I will discuss the idea that political disengagement and dissatisfaction could be considered one of the most significant contributors to the decline in voter turnout and how the depleting value of the vote can cause people to refrain from voting altogether. A democratic country is defined as being a country in which â€Å"all eligible citizens have the right to participate in the political system, either directly or indirectly when it comes to making the decisions that will affect them†[2]. The decline in voter turnout throughout democratic countries in the last few decades is fast becoming a problem due to the fact democracy depends on voter participation. The decline in voter turnout can be noted in the UK where voter turnout reduced from 75.3% in 1987 to 68.7% in 2017, suffering substantial dips throughout this period, as was found in 2001 in which voter turnout dropped to 59.4%. Figure 1. A line graph showing the decline in general election turnout since 1945. Taken from: Ukpolitical.info. Voter turnout at UK general elections 1945 – 2017 | UK Political Info. [online] Available at: http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm. The same thing can be seen in other democratic countries. For example, voter turnout in the US during Mid-Term Elections has decreased from 60.89% of registered voters voting and 41.07% of voting age voters voting in 1986 to 54.16% of registered voters voting and 39.51% of voting age voters voting in 2014. The same cannot be said for Presidential elections, where we see an increase from 76.98%/56.28% voting in 1988 and 78.76%/60.52% voting in 2016. However, the most recent statistics do show a decline from 2004 onwards. One possible explanation for this could be the voters feel as though a Presidential election is more important, it gains more media coverage and affects the whole country. Therefore, it would be useful to consider some of the reasons for this selective decline in voter turnout. Figure 2: Levels of voter turnout in US midterm elections from 1982 to 2014. Taken from: Sos.wa.gov. [online] Available at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-participation.aspx Figure 3: Levels of voter turnout in US presidential elections from 1980 to 2016. Taken from: Sos.wa.gov. [online] Available at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-participation.aspx. The first of my proposed explanations for the decline in voter turnout is the public’s political disengagement and dissatisfaction. Before I continue, it is important to distinguish between voter apathy and voter alienation in order to determine whether there is a decline in voter turnout due to an increased laziness throughout the public or due to the public feeling as though they can no longer relate to their politicians, my first point of discussion focusses on the latter. Crewe et al (1992) suggested that apathy indicates a lack personal responsibility, a â€Å"passivity, and indifference for political affairs. It denotes the absence of a feeling of personal obligation to participate. However, voter alienation implies an active rejection of the political system†. The alienation the public are feeling when it comes to politics was found by Dr. Ruth Fox to stem from the fact that the parties we have to choose from are â€Å"all the same, the politicians are all the same, they are not like us†[3]. This could mean that the public can no longer identify with the candidates they are voting for. Politicians have become so detached from the average person, that the public cannot find any logical reason to want to vote them into power and consequently, do not vote at all. This could be considered one of the most crucial factors to contribute to a declining voter turnout because the aim of an elected Government is to represent the public’s views in Parliament to ensure that the decisions made, and laws created, benefit the country in the most inclusive way possible. Therefore, when the public feel as though they are not being accurately represented in Parliament they can feel alienated which in turn, promotes disinterest and a feeling of disengagement among the public with regard to politics. The British Academy stated that â€Å"British society has become, for the most part, disengaged with politics†¦In the case of British voters, it is important to understand the scale and depth of their disenchantment†. This can be considered important because if we can engage the public in politics through their MPs and other representatives, this would subsequently improve voter turnout. The second of my proposed explanations for declining levels of voter turnout is the idea that the public no longer places any value in voting, believing that their votes will not make a difference. The House of Commons Political and Constitutional Committee found this especially â€Å"when the member of the public lived in an area in which there was a safe seat, that is, where the party of the elected representative was unlikely to change[4]†. The value of voting can be considered an important explanation for the decline in voter turnout because if the public does not feel as if their vote will make a difference, or produce the outcome they prefer, they will be less inclined to even try. It was suggested by Ioannis Kolovos and Phil Harris that voters â€Å"weigh up the costs and benefits of their actions, meaning that the public will turn up to vote when they consider that the benefits of such an action outweigh the costs[5]†. An example of how the public have been made to feel disengaged with politics can be seen in the last election in which the Green Party and UKIP had significant support, resulting in a considerable number of votes. Under a different political system, these parties would have won 85 seats. Unfortunately, for the people that voted for them, the Green Party and UKIP only gained 1 seat each. Therefore, it appears that when people see that a significant percentage of the electorate are completely ignored due to the current political system, they give up on voting entirely due to the fact they think that their votes will not make a difference leading them to believe that the act of voting had little benefits. This could explain the decline in voter turnout in most democracies in the last few decades. There are many factors that can explain the decline in voter turnout in most democracies over the last few decades. In this essay, I have focused on and provided empirical evidence for what I believe to be two of the most important; political disengagement and dissatisfaction and the reduction in the value of voting. The need for politics to be more inclusive and for the public to feel as though they can relate to their representatives would considerably help the rates of voter turnout as they would feel as though their vote means something and would contribute to an outcome that would benefit themselves as well as others. They would also feel more involved in the political process which, in turn would allow them to restore the value of their vote because as the public begins to feel more engaged and satisfied with their representative in Parliament, they would place a value on their vote as they would know that it could potentially make a difference. REFERENCES: 1) Anon, (2018). [online] Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228215776_What_Affects_Voter_Turnout [Accessed 9 Jan. 2018]. 2) Crewe, I 1992, Changing votes and unchanging voters, Electoral Studies, 11, 4, p. 335-345, Scopus ®, EBSCOhost, viewed 12 January 2018 3) Dalton, Russell J., Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies, 5th edition (Washington DC: CQ Press, 2008), p. 37. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, â€Å"Voter Turnout Database†, International IDEA website. 4) E-International Relations. (2018). Why is Turnout at Elections Declining Across the Democratic World? [online] Available at http://www.e-ir.info/2012/09/27/why-is-turnout-at-elections-declining-across-the-democratic-world/ [Accessed 9 Jan. 2018]. 5) Hooghe, M, & Kern, A. 2017, The tipping point between stability and decline: Trends in voter turnout, 1950-1980-2012, European Political Science, 16, 4, p. 535-552, Scopus ®, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 December 2017. 6) Kolovos, I. and Harris, P. (n.d.). Voter Apathy in British Elections: Causes and Remedies. pp.2-3. 7) Kolovos, I. and Harris, P. (n.d.). Voter Apathy in British Elections: Causes and Remedies. Pp.3. 8) Lop.parl.ca. (2018). Democracy Defined | Our Country, Our Parliament. [online] Available at: https://lop.parl.ca/About/Parliament/Education/ourcountryourparliament/html_booklet/democracy-defined-e.html [Accessed 12 Jan. 2018]. 9) Publications.parliament.uk. (2014). [online] Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmpolcon/232/232.pdf [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018]. 10) Sos.wa.gov. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voter-participation.aspx [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018]. 11) Southwell, PL 2008, THE EFFECT OF POLITICAL ALIENATION ON VOTER TURNOUT, 1964-2000, Journal Of Political & Military Sociology, 36, 1, pp. 131-145, SocINDEX with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 11 January 2018. (http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=13872f22-38b9-460a-bd0c-4953cc4c2455%40pdc-v-sessmgr01) 12) Stuart, C. (2016). Why is the turnout for UK elections so low?. [online] Quora. Available at: https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-turnout-for-UK-elections-so-low [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018]. 13) Ukpolitical.info. (2018). Voter turnout at UK general elections 1945 – 2017 | UK Political Info. [online] Available at: http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018]. ONLINE SOURCES Reasons for low voter engagement: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmpolcon/232/23205.htm Written evidence submitted by Tim Knight (VUK 69) http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/voter-engagement-in-the-uk/written/8287.html Written evidence submitted by 38 Degrees (VUK 50) http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/voter-engagement-in-the-uk/written/7510.html Written evidence submitted by Ian Sheppard (VUK 51) http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/voter-engagement-in-the-uk/written/7575.html Written evidence submitted by Michael Yates (VUK 53): â€Å"Why does the UK experience low voter engagement† http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/voter-engagement-in-the-uk/written/7880.html Written evidence submitted by David H Smith (VUK 59): Reasons for and impact of low voter engagement. http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/voter-engagement-in-the-uk/written/7970.html [1] Voter Apathy in British elections: Causes and Remedies, pg2-3 [2] Democracy Defined | Our Country, Our Parliament. [3] House of Commons Political and Constitutional Committee: Voter engagement in the UK (2014-15) S3, Pg. 7 [4] Written evidence from 38 Degrees [VUK 50], Ian Sheppard [VUK 51], Michael Yates [VUK 53], David H Smith [VUK 59], Tim Knight [VUK 69], [5] Voter apathy in British elections: Causes and Remedies

health care disparities :: essays research papers

An informal network of providers allows access to a limited number of free or low-cost drugs, mammography, treatment and other services. This network includes volunteer physicians on both sides of the border, the local federally funded community health center, the local Catholic hospital on the US side, the Shriner’s Hospital in Phoenix, hospitals in Tucson, the Mexican public social security hospital in Sonora, and the Santa Cruz County health department. The promotoras support the Santa Cruz County health department, doing home visits and translation on its behalf. When the county identifies diabetics, follow-up management is often handled by the promotoras. The promotoras have also been involved in a number of community issues. When the controversial replacement of a local well was proposed, promotoras and Institute-organized volunteers headed the county steering committee and organized door-to-door activities to advertise public meetings on the issue. Given their cross-border environment, the Institute has also fostered close working relationships with Mexican consular officials and municipal officials in Nogales, Sonora. The Institute has assisted Plan Retornowith donated supplies and health education. Plan Retorno helps deported individuals who have been dropped off in Nogales, Sonora far from their towns and villages of origin. The Way of the Heart model is different from what is more commonly seen in other promotora initiatives: It is a freestanding entity that has built a set of collaborative relationships with clinical providers and social agencies. Most other promotora projects appear to be sponsored by existing clinics and hospitals that use them to augment their outreach and patient management efforts. Staff Recruitment, Training and Retention Promotoras are recruited mainly through word of mouth, postings in community agencies and sometimes through newspaper ads. In the future, promotoras may be recruited from the teen promotora program that has developed out of the Institute’s peer counseling work. The program explicitly seeks promotoras who reflect the culture, economics and demographics of the Nogales community. Persistence and resilience in navigating systems are the most sought after attributes. health care disparities :: essays research papers An informal network of providers allows access to a limited number of free or low-cost drugs, mammography, treatment and other services. This network includes volunteer physicians on both sides of the border, the local federally funded community health center, the local Catholic hospital on the US side, the Shriner’s Hospital in Phoenix, hospitals in Tucson, the Mexican public social security hospital in Sonora, and the Santa Cruz County health department. The promotoras support the Santa Cruz County health department, doing home visits and translation on its behalf. When the county identifies diabetics, follow-up management is often handled by the promotoras. The promotoras have also been involved in a number of community issues. When the controversial replacement of a local well was proposed, promotoras and Institute-organized volunteers headed the county steering committee and organized door-to-door activities to advertise public meetings on the issue. Given their cross-border environment, the Institute has also fostered close working relationships with Mexican consular officials and municipal officials in Nogales, Sonora. The Institute has assisted Plan Retornowith donated supplies and health education. Plan Retorno helps deported individuals who have been dropped off in Nogales, Sonora far from their towns and villages of origin. The Way of the Heart model is different from what is more commonly seen in other promotora initiatives: It is a freestanding entity that has built a set of collaborative relationships with clinical providers and social agencies. Most other promotora projects appear to be sponsored by existing clinics and hospitals that use them to augment their outreach and patient management efforts. Staff Recruitment, Training and Retention Promotoras are recruited mainly through word of mouth, postings in community agencies and sometimes through newspaper ads. In the future, promotoras may be recruited from the teen promotora program that has developed out of the Institute’s peer counseling work. The program explicitly seeks promotoras who reflect the culture, economics and demographics of the Nogales community. Persistence and resilience in navigating systems are the most sought after attributes.

America

Dry. Genera Bole As Americans we strongly believe in having the right to do what we please. After all, this is a free country. So if we want to smoke around our kids, build a fast food diet, or Just be plain lazy we can go right ahead and do it and who will tell us otherwise? No one. We can continue to slowly kill ourselves through all of our bad habits and ignorance in health and then pass on this gift onto our children. Something needs be done soon before it is too.Americans should take better care of their health by developing better eating habits, focusing on future health issues, and y not being so lazy. It is no secret that America is look at as a fat country. If other countries were to compare themselves with us they might represent the USA with a big McDonald's symbol or something similar. And for good reason. With fast food being so convenient and Just about anywhere it is so easy to a busy American to Just use that drive though and the Burger King and pick up some food.Ther e is no second guessing something easy that tastes good. Say an American doesn't eat so much fast food and shops for themselves. Just look at the prices of Junk or processed food in comparison to organic and healthier food. How can it be possible to sell something with added chemicals cheaper than something off the earth? According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (KIDDUSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States over the past 20 years .Similarly, in 1990, no state had obesity rates higher than 15%. By 2005, only 6 states had an obesity rate less than 20%. Obesity has been directly linked to hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and depression. Each year, over 300,000 adults in the U. S. Will die from obesity related causes. Minefield, Charles E, Peeved profile; Dotty, Nicole, MPH; Fletcher, Autumn, PhD, APRON, CUFF-BC. BAND Journal. 3 (Summer 2008): 83-8. Although It is understandable that lower income families don't have the funds to buy all the organic food.In 2011, the low-income threshold for a family of four with two children was $45,622. Between 2007 and 2011, the share of working families who are low income increased from 28 percent to 32. 1 percent (Annie e. Casey 2014). In 2011, the top 20 percent of working families received 10. 1 times the total income received by the bottom 20 percent of working families, up room 9. 5 in 2007. The same goes for busy families who are Just looking to eat whatever is easiest. Is America targeting certain families? Is there more money in junk than in organic food?Or is it Just the ignorance of a people not concerned about future health. Issues in health later on in the future seem to be at the bottom of the charts when it comes to what Americans worry about. It is all about the here and now that's important. That is until someone comes down with a life altering health issue. â€Å"We cannot treat our way out of the canc er problem,†. New cancer cases will rise from an estimated 14 million annually in 2012 to 22 million within two decades. Over the same period, cancer deaths are predicted to rise from 8. Million a year to 13 million â€Å"More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally. † By Tim Hum and Jean Christensen, CNN Feb. (2014). It seems as though the only time health is important is when life is at stake. The crazy thing is, life was at stake and being damaged from the day any harmful substance was consumed or a bad habit was formed. Today's youth has a mindset of live fast die young but it is not entirely their fault for having this thought process.It's the fault of the generation before them. Our youths parents or anyone who the they look up to is to blame because chances are that generation had bad health habits and passed it down whether they knew it o r not. Today's children have lost the ability to pretend and imagine. This is most definitely to no fault of their own. Children do not have to create their own fantasy worlds because they have an pad, a big screen TV or a WI to do it for them. Taylor Finn, Iowa State Daily (2014). What we do know will affect us later on in life and in some cases might even effect someone else.Forming unhealthy habits doesn't stop at diet choice, ignorance, or lack of caring. Finding an easier way for things causes a bigger issue. And that issue is Laziness. Too much of our lives too easy. In fact, everything is made to be easier or shrouded with the word â€Å"convenience†. Americans can Just go to a drive through for food or even order food and there is no need to even get out of the house. Media has taken over the life of Americans as well. Americans of all ages these days cannot stray too ar away from their home for fear of their smart phone dying or there not being any Wi-If.Youth spend their days behind tablets, televisions, and smart phones rather than using imagination outside or being active. Videotapes can be looked at as a way to pass the time but for our youth it could possibly be causing them to be desensitizing to the world and can hinder their ability to use their own imagination for entertainment. America is focused on the easy way out of things rather than taking the time out to educate themselves about lifestyle, diet, and exercise. If it squires activity outside of the normal sedentary house life it is almost shunned and thought of as nonsense.Without the will to understand and learn about what a good diet is, how to make changes to avoid future health issues, and how to get away from the normal lazy lifestyle America will continue its downward spiral in to cancers, a poisoned youth, and obesity. Simple things like looking at the ingredients of food normally consumed, or getting out once in while Just walk for a half hour can be enough to chance a lif estyle. We as Americans need to find a way for lower income families to be able to arches food healthier to themselves and more importantly their kids.Many families are very busy and have no time to think of the issues of grab and go foods and should consider creating a plan to eat better while on the move. Most important is America's youth. Higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased IBM and considered a contributing factor of childhood obesity. From 1989 to 2008, there has been a significant increase in total per capita consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, from 130 to 212 collieries (kcal) per day, in children 6- 1 years of age.Placing an emphasis on reducing the empty energy intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and increasing the intake of nutrient-dense beverages, such as low-fat milk, is an essential component to decreasing the prevalence of obesity in children. Higher levels of education and positive parental behaviors, such as parent support and limiting weekly fast-food intake, are associated with lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages. Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes and Obesity (2013) Why should our youth suffer from the actions of the current enervation when simple changes can make a difference In our future.

Effects of imperialism in Asia Essay

â€Å"What impact did Western imperialism and colonialism have on Asia† That Colonialism and imperialism played a significant role in shaping the modern world and particularly Asia is a prudent judgment. Colonialism is â€Å"a policy in which a country rules other nations and develops trade for its own benefit† and â€Å"the extension of power or authority over others in the interests of domination† (2004). ‘The West’, which refers to the societies of Europe and their genealogical, colonial, and philosophical descendants. Spain, France, Britain, Canada, and the United States of America are some examples of Western societies. These countries have spread their influence and hegemony over other nations for centuries; shaping today’s North America, Central-America, South America, Africa, Oceana, and Asia (Western Society, 2004). Indochina is a region that today we would consider as Southeast Asia, comprised of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (Indochina, 2001). Its most recent and most important contact with the West came from France and America. The West had a negative impact on Indochina because its influence damaged Southeast Asia’s system of government, destroyed and diluted the indigenous culture, caused many people to lose their lives and liberty, and set the course for future economic depressions and poverty. INDO-CHINESE GOVERNMENT. Under French colonisation, the Indochinese political structure went into shambles (Hammer, 1966). The puppet governments installed after French colonization were â€Å"repressive, totalitarian, and corrupt which meant that age old traditional and cultural monarchies were replaced by despots under French influence. In little time, each country lost its own unique identity; Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam disappeared off maps and were replaced simply by ‘French Indochina’ (Vietnam War, 2004). Only French-speaking or French-educated people were allowed to gain high positions in government, while others were treated as second-class citizens and toiled in the fields. Opposition to these policies was punishable by exile or imprisonment. This system of government ensured absolute French political control over Indochina’s administration and contributed to lost initiative among the working class people (Hammer, 1966). This system would dominate for about a  hundred years, suppressing regular riots and movements undertaken by the Indochinese people. As time went on, communism’s appeal grew stronger as the repressed saw a light in forms of promised equality, housing, education, money, and better jobs (Vietnam War, 2004). CULTURAL EFFECTS. Culture was also affected. Before French colonization, Vietnam was China’s ‘sphere of influence’. After French colonization, however, Vietnam was torn between two spheres of influence, Chinese and French. The French also imposed their influence on Laos and Cambodia. As a result, many Indochinese people became confused. They did not know whether they should embrace the new forceful French influence, or try to live their shattered pre-existing lifestyle in secrecy (Vietnam War, 2004). Hammer states, â€Å"the widely diffused Chinese educational system, teaching history and morality as well as language, which linked Vietnam with its past, was abolished.† (1966, p.63). The French did whatever they could to stuff their culture down the throats of the people of Indochina; one strategy was manipulating the education system. They implemented a policy where all public secondary education would be taught in French, not the native language of the people (Clayton, 2002). Since the beginning, France had plans to seed their culture in Indochina. Even before colonization of Indochina, French missionaries were sent around the world to spread the French culture through mission civilisatrice (civilizing mission). This policy affirmed that it was France’s â€Å"duty to spread the ways of the superior beings to inferior beings with inferior ways of living† (Ty, n.d., para.17). In addition to implementing new policies and changing existing ones, assimilation was another method of cultural dominance. The French were not hesitant to intermix with Indochinese women and assimilate them and their children to adhere to Western ways of life (Vietnam War, 2004). Everyday lifestyle changes were another method of ensuring cultural dominance. The French manipulated those who had power. A portion of the elite class in Indochina admired the French for their ‘prestigious’ lifestyle and converted to Catholicism, setting an example for the lower  classes (Vietnam War, 2004). Literature is an important part of culture, seeing that countries keep their records, history, and information in texts which would be stored for future generations. A French missionary named Alexander de Rhodes romanized the Vietnamese language, which used to utilize Chinese symbols. This new script, called ‘Quoc Ngu’, detracted Vietnam from its original culture and China’s sphere of influence. Quoc Ngu’s impact is so large, that it is the how the Vietnamese language is written and read today (Quoc Ngu, 2001). In the later 20th century, the Western urban youth’s rebellious lifestyle leaked its way to the Indochinese people. Many young Indochinese people embraced sexual freedom and the movies, clothing styles, and rock music from Western cultures became popular (Vietnam War, 2004). As well as corrupting the way of life for all of Indochinese people and destroying the cultural language of Vietnam, many important historical and cultural cities such as the ancient dynastic capital of Vietnam, Hue, were physically destroyed during the Vietnam War’s bombings (Vietnam War, 2004). As most people lost their government and culture, they became restless and weary of living their peasant lifestyle. Peasants struggled under heavy taxes and high rents. Workers in factories, in coal mines, and on rubber plantations labored in abysmal conditions for low wages. A growing nationalistic fervor was growing by shared feelings of anger, poverty, destitution, and lost liberty. This fervor contributed to the formation of many revolutionary movements. Many people died, became refugees, or became homeless while trying to overthrow foreign invaders out of their country to unify their people. The Vietnamese revolutionary group, the Viet Minh, had a prime objective to overthrow the oppressive governments and install a Communist regime to unify Vietnam. After the end World War II, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh, declared Vietnam’s independence from France (Vietnam War, 2004). Minh was prepared to go at great lengths and sacrifices to achieve his dream of a unified Vietnam. â€Å"You can kill 10 of my men for every one I kill of yours, yet even at those odds, you will lose and I will win.†, decreed Minh himself (Karnow, 1998, para.2). The French were unwilling to give up their colony, a symbol of their world power, so they opposed this informal declaration and attempted to reassert their power back into Indochina by militarist means. This resulted in the bloody Franco-Viet  Minh war where the French were defeated, but at a large human cost to the Vietnamese freedom fighters (Vietnam War, 2004). The victory for the Vietnamese in the eight-year-long Franco-Viet Minh war was supposed to end Indochina’s colonization, and end the bloodshed to unite their people. For nearly a hundred years the people of Southeast Asia resisted and rebelled to no avail, until this landmark victory. But the bloodshed did not stop. Minh’s declaration of independence and liberation would not happen for thirty more years of fighting. The second Indochinese War, The Vietnam War, had an even greater effect on Southeast Asians’ lives. American ‘Secret Bombing’ campaigns and countless napalm strikes lead to the destruction of many homes and at least 10 million people became homeless, and 800,000 became war orphans in South Vietnam alone at the end of the Vietnam War. Most crucially, most of these casualties were civilians. South Vietnamese civilians made up a significant portion of victims of the bombings, even though they were allied to the Americans. Entire cities, forests, mountains, and fields were laid to waste. One quarter of Laos’s population became refugees; which is approximately 500,000 people. In total, over 5 million Indochinese lives were lost fighting for their independence and freedom (Vietnam War, 2004). ECONOMICS. Indochina’s economic problems today can be traced back to colonial times. France’s mercantilist policy exploited the land, labour, and resources of Southeast Asian countries. Indochina was simply a large pool of natural resources for French industrialists. France would get the resources it needed from Indochina, manufacture them into goods, and sell them to her colonies at inflated prices. In addition, Indochina was not an autonomous colony, meaning it could not be self-sufficient. This was intentional because France wanted to have a monopoly on trade with her colonies (Hammer, 1966). France’s attempt to industrialize Indochina only ravaged the land. The sudden shift from calm subsistence farming to large plantations lead to a precariously unbalanced economy that was extremely dependent on agricultural exports; which would eventually be disastrous because of future  land degradation (State of the Environment Vietnam, 2002). A large decline in the number of farmers was not good for agriculture, either. During the time of European domination, productions of rice grew immensely. With this increase of production came an increase in quotas that impoverished peasants had to yield to their landlords, causing widespread famine (Hammer, 1966). Hammer states, â€Å"[Both areas referring to Vietnam] In the 1930’s, at a time when the Vietnamese people did not have enough to eat, Cochin China exported rice in considerable quantities, even Tonkin managed to export some.† (1966, p. 64). Adding to the famine was the insistence that nonfood crops like jute, oil seeds, and opium be grown in certain areas instead of rice (Hammer, 1966). Today, economic expansion is extremely difficult because of Indochina’s history. Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia rank as some of the most undeveloped and impoverished countries in the world. Strained foreign relations as a result of Indochina’s wars and its communist system of government have lead to significant decreases in foreign aid over the past decades (CIA World Factbook, 2003). Although agriculture makes up a significant portion of Indochina’s economy, Indochina cannot even rely on their agricultural economy because Vietnam’s fields, forests, and streams have been contaminated or destroyed by Agent Orange and napalm strikes. As well, Laos’s beautiful jungles consisting of exotic woods, timber, and stones are laden with millions of deadly, unexploded land ordnance, and Cambodia’s prolonged anarchy has proven fatal for any form of significant economic growth. The effect of Indochina’s hardships created by the West has even hindered i ts ability to pick up where it left off, before foreign influence (Vietnam War, 2004). Even decades after formal European military conquest and intervention, Indochina continues to feel the sting of the West’s influence. Today, Southeast Asia is among the poorest places in the world, where people enjoy very little personal freedom and opportunity. Indochina’s primitive infrastructure and poverty-stricken society is burdened by its history and injured foreign relations. The future for Southeast Asia in terms of political stability, human liberty, and economic growth looks unpleasant  because of on-going internal civil tensions caused by unresolved conflicts brought upon by Western imperialism and colonialism. The West truly had a detrimental impact on Indochina because it caused the collapse of Indochina’s traditional system of government, loss and weakening of its pre-existing culture, diminishment of its people’s prosperity and freedom, and destruction of its economy. Concisely, Indochina’s relationship with the West brought nothin g but bloodshed, tears, poverty, famine, and a legacy of economic and social problems that will continue to plague Southeast Asia for centuries to come.

Morality vs Duty Essay

When we hear stories about soldiers and about war, it’s usually about patriotism for one’s country, their duty, the bravery of the soldier who died in battle, and the pride at a soldier’s return. The story that is not typically heard is what it really feels like to put on a uniform, go to war, and come home. The psychological and emotional trauma these young men and women face in war is nothing short of moral anguish. This is evident in Haruki Murakami’s gruesome story, â€Å"Another Way to Die.† Here is a lieutenant struggling with the barbaric orders he was given to execute three prisoners with a bayonet and a fourth prisoner with a baseball bat. Throughout the story the lieutenant would often repeating his orders and muse over the senselessness of the act. In sum, he says, â€Å"What the hell good is it going to do to kill these guys? †¦adding a few bodies to the count isn’t going to make any difference. But orders are orders. I am a soldier and I have to follow orders† (1039). Ultimately, the lieutenant employs another soldier to execute the final prisoner with a baseball bat. Perhaps this is an example of the lieutenant’s inability to go against his moral fiber. He does his duty by making sure the order is carried out, but he cannot do it himself. As one can only imagine, it can be difficult to bludgeon someone to death. This soldier, ordered to carry out the task, had never even held a baseball bat before. Yet, they were all surprised when the prisoner, â€Å"with his last drop of life,† sat up, â€Å"as if he had fully come awake† and then grab on to the veterinarian standing nearby (1041). The lieutenant had to fire his gun for the first time ever at a human being. However, he chose not to think about it until after the war was over. How could he? Certainly he wouldn’t be able to do his duty if he let his morals get in the way. In Frank O’Connor’s story, â€Å"Guests of a Nation,† one can assume that duty would become obsolete-Especially since the prisoners and captors had become friends. The tone of this story seems hopeful. The scene is in a cozy little cottage run by an odd, but likable old woman. The characters are all cheerful and friendly towards each other. It is difficult to keep in mind that there is a war going on and that these four are enemies. Even the narrator, Bonaparte, has a hard time believing they are hostages and is surprised and saddened when he learns that he may have to shoot them (1024-1025). Hawkins, the more animated hostage, has a hard time believing it as well. It’s not until the very last moment that he realizes they’re earnest. He says to Donovan, â€Å"What have you against me, Jeremiah Donovan?† (1027). That he knows his full name and it comes naturally to say it aloud, should be enough proof that these men are not enemies. Hawkins asks if anyone thought he would shoot Noble if he had to and Donovan points out, â€Å"yes, you would†¦. Because you’d know that you would be shot for not doing it.† Regardless, Hawkins insists he would never shoot a pal. Hawkins contends that his morals are higher than his duty. But then again, he’s not the one holding the gun. Bonaparte, keenly aware of the gun in his pocket wishes they would attempt to run away, knowing he wouldn’t shoot at them if they did (1027). Donovan, their leader, never did get too close to the hostages and seemed to have no problem firing at them. His sense of duty was high. He asks Belcher if he understands that they are only doing their duty, to which Belcher remarks, â€Å"I never could make out what duty was myself. I think you’re all good lads, if that’s what you mean. I’m not complaining† (1029). I’m not actually that sure Belcher would have shot either of them if the roles were reversed. It is difficult enough to cope with the loss of a friend. One can only imagine if you were the one ordered to kill your friend. How does one come out of something like that? Noble turned to God. Bonaparte never feels the same about anything again. Surely this is not something that they will easily move past. Think about it; all our lives we’re taught what is right and what is wrong. Then, one day, you are ordered to torture or kill a stranger. Even when they’re interrogating a prisoner the right way-that is, not torturing them- they are gaining intimacy just so they can exploit them. At what point does duty beat morality? The truth is, for most soldiers, it doesn’t. Despite the task they are ordered to execute, virtually every soldier has an overwhelming sense of guilt and regret. Is a soldier’s guilt worth their sense of duty in the end? I highly doubt it. Perhaps, this is the reason those stories are often swept under the rug. The shame is too much to admit out loud.