Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Essay Example For Students

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Essay Class: ESL 097 Date: 4/20/2004 Sentence combining exercise We will write a custom essay on Vietnam Veterans Memorial specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The memorial which is a wide V-shaped wall lies in Constitution Gardens. The wall which seems to rise from the earth and to recede into it is made of black granite. Entering the memorial which is inscribed with over 58,000 names that refers to an American manor woman who was lost in Vietnam is a moving experience. One sees line after line of American names which for 250 feet in two directions of the nations loss becomes clear. The average age which was for soldiers killed in Vietnam was nineteen, and Marines suffered a casualty rate which was for Marines killed or wounded of 24 percent. The wall where people come to acknowledge sacrifice, to remember a young face and express private grief is a place of quiet commemoration. And it would not exist except for one man that was a Vietnam veteran named Jan Scruggs who saw half of his company killed or wounded and barely escape with his life. Scruggs, who wanted the Nation that had been bitter, divided over the Vietnam war to honor their commitment, want to remember his comrades. In 1979, he became obsessed with the project that worked to establish a Memorial Fund and worked to secure congressional approval which was for the concept of a memorial. President Carter signed a bill which authorized the Memorial and provided a site for it in July 1980, and Scruggs campaign which was to raise private funds moved into high gear . Vietnam Veterans Memorial Essay Example For Students Vietnam Veterans Memorial Essay Class: ESL 097 Date: 4/20/2004 Sentence combining exercise The memorial which is a wide V-shaped wall lies in Constitution Gardens. The wall which seems to rise from the earth and to recede into it is made of black granite. Entering the memorial which is inscribed with over 58,000 names that refers to an American manor woman who was lost in Vietnam is a moving experience. One sees line after line of American names which for 250 feet in two directions of the nations loss becomes clear. The average age which was for soldiers killed in Vietnam was nineteen, and Marines suffered a casualty rate which was for Marines killed or wounded of 24 percent. We will write a custom essay on Vietnam Veterans Memorial specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The wall where people come to acknowledge sacrifice, to remember a young face and express private grief is a place of quiet commemoration. And it would not exist except for one man that was a Vietnam veteran named Jan Scruggs who saw half of his company killed or wounded and barely escape with his life. Scruggs, who wanted the Nation that had been bitter, divided over the Vietnam war to honor their commitment, want to remember his comrades. In 1979, he became obsessed with the project that worked to establish a Memorial Fund and worked to secure congressional approval which was for the concept of a memorial. President Carter signed a bill which authorized the Memorial and provided a site for it in July 1980, and Scruggs campaign which was to raise private funds moved into high gear .

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Roe V Wade Essays - Sexual Revolution, United States Law

Roe V Wade Essays - Sexual Revolution, United States Law Roe V Wade Daniel DellaCroce Law and the Legal System Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 The case of Roe v. Wade started back in the state of Texas. This was where a single pregnant woman brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of the Texas abortion laws. This is where in Texas it is a criminal offense to have an abortion. The case got to the Supreme Court by way of the district court by the state of Texas appealing to the Supreme Court to over turn the ruling of the district court. The district court found that Roe did have grounds to file the suit against the state of Texas. This was on the grounds that the abortion laws in Texas infringed on the ninth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. The case was brought to the Supreme Court based on a woman who had sought to get an abortion in the state of Texas. She sought out a doctor named Hallford, who had done many other abortions in other states. Hallford subsequently at the time of the trial was pending two other abortion prosecutions against him. The main theory that Roe argued before the Supreme Court was the fact that outlawing abortion was infringing on a womans right to privacy. These rights are covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. Roe questioned on whether or not the state of Texas could pass a law that infringed on these rights, if abortion was covered under these rights at all. Texas had stated that an abortion was only legal when the mothers life was threatened. The case was brought before the Supreme Court because it handled a law that could be unconstitutional. The mail issue before the Supreme Court was on whether or not a womans right to an abortion was covered under the constitution. Does the Constitution embrace the right of a woman to obtain an abortion, nullifying the Texas prohibition? If it were covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments then it would be affecting the whole country. The Supreme Court in a decision five to four held that abortion was covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments. The Supreme Court held that a woman's right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy (recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision gave a woman a right to abortion during the entirety of the pregnancy and defined different levels of state interest for regulating abortion in the second and third trimesters.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Importance of Process Recording in Nursing Case Study

Importance of Process Recording in Nursing - Case Study Example The parts of the conversation that went well were in the therapeutic practices of silence, clarification, and reflection. She was allowed to be in control so she could direct the conversation, the silence allowing for her to expand upon her thoughts about her feelings of anger and regret. As a listener, it was important to reflect back to her what she was saying, helping her to clarify her thoughts and paraphrasing when necessary in order to fully explore the topic and allow her room to discuss her feelings. In repeating what she said back to her, it allowed her to hear her own words and to help find interpretations about what she was trying to convey during the interview. Paraphrasing is feedback that will allow the patient to know that the listener is hearing what is being said, as well as acknowledging the beliefs and feelings of the patient (Basavanthappa, 2004).  The parts of the conversation that went well were in the therapeutic practices of silence, clarification, and refle ction. She was allowed to be in control so she could direct the conversation, the silence allowing for her to expand upon her thoughts about her feelings of anger and regret. As a listener, it was important to reflect back to her what she was saying, helping her to clarify her thoughts and paraphrasing when necessary in order to fully explore the topic and allow her room to discuss her feelings. In repeating what she said back to her, it allowed her to hear her own words and to help find interpretations about what she was trying to convey during the interview. Paraphrasing is feedback that will allow the patient to know that the listener is hearing what is being said, as well as acknowledging the beliefs and feelings of the patient (Basavanthappa, 2004).   A big mistake at the end of the interview was in giving my opinion on what she could consider when thinking about the past. Giving an opinion, according to Basavanthappa (2004), is one way in which to interrupt the work that a p atient is doing about a topic. Opinions are not a good way to work with people when in a therapeutic session. As well, I found that my own feelings about the topic were impeding my listening capabilities. I do not know why portions of her conversation made me feel annoyed and almost angry, but what she said was affecting my own feelings. I did not find her annoying, or her topic to be annoying, but for some reason, I felt annoyed about something she was saying. It may be that I was reflecting her feelings through my own, adopting what she was feeling into my own emotions. I was frustrated for her and felt her grief at not accomplishing what she desires to accomplish.   At one point I felt superior during the conversation as if I understood her completely and could keep her on point. This was a mistake as I worked towards getting to the root of the issue. I led her, to an extent, and this is not always the way to provide therapeutic support. It is possible that when I inserted the idea of teaching about life into the conversation, I took too much control. As I reflect on the conversation, it seems as soon as I said what she may have been angry about; her ability to communicate about it was stalled. I may have put up a communication barrier, stopping her from being able to express her own feelings and in the process of trying to focus the conversation, it may have been stunted from my making assumptions.   This conversation was an interesting experience in trying to keep a focused conversation while maintaining objectivity about the experience. In reflecting on my own behaviors, it is clear that I inserted too much of my own beliefs into the topic. At the time it seemed that the conversation was client directed, but it might be that I directed too much of the direction of the talk. In looking back on how the interview was conducted, it might be said that I was not focused on the patient, but on my own capacity to understand the ideas she was presenting. I fi nd that the process of working on this type of communications is necessary as I see that it is not as easy to accomplish as it might appear.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 187

Assignment Example ssue of female genital mutilation, around which Arab feminists today organize, including the insurance of fair divorce laws, proper health care f or women, family planning education and others. The veil which was also symbolic of Arab women’s meekness was symbolically thrown by Sharawi into the sea as a symbolic protest of how women are treated. To date, there are women NGOs who are taking on increasingly important responsibilities in the context of state withdrawal from the provision of social services and in the context of a global trend in the expansion of civil society. I was surprised to realize that there was and still is a feminist movement in the Middle East and started as early as 1800s. What is more surprising is that its feminist movement father Qasim Amin is actually a man. It is like Abe Lincoln who is a Caucasian and abrogated the slavery against the Negroes. I was also surprised that the veil’s interpretation vary and is not accepted by all Arab women. 3. What role did the non-aligned and secular movements play in the Middle East- how did the West influence on one hand, and fail the secular movement on the other hand? Why has secularism in the region, with the exception of Turkey, failed in the region? The non-aligned and secular movements in the Middle East played a crucial role today in promoting women issues such as passage and enforcement of fair divorce laws, proper health care for women, family planning education and others. It is important to note that the key figures of Middle East feminist movement are educated and well travelled in the West who saw the disparity between the Western woman and a Middle Eastern woman who are secondary to the preferential treatment of men and thus asserted that women should have greater participation and rights in

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Education of the Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

Education of the Middle Ages Essay Education, as we know it today, did not exist in the Middle Ages. Illiteracy was dominant among the population. Scribes were the exception to the rule. Churches were the main source of knowledge and schooling. Real interest in learning grew along with the development of towns. The towns officials needed to be educated. At the same time a need for legal institutions was created and so started the university phenomenon. Modern education was on its way. There were few schools in the Middle ages, so everyone had limited education. Even the Lord of the Manor was often unable to read or write. Some of the first schools were Cathedral schools. As well as Parish, Monastic, and Palace schools. Here people learned a particular role in society. Naturally the primary job was training the clergy in their professional duties as priests of the Christian people. The bishop was the head of the complex and he had a staff of priest to help him with the several of the diocese. These skills that were taught here were reading, singing of hymns, church law, writing of documents and the performing of Church duties and sacraments. An example of educating for a specific role in life were the Knights who had learn how to fight with various weapons so that they could fight for their king. The common people, however, had no way of being educated other than going a monastic school. However, if they did this, they had to donate their property to the church. The people who went to this school later become monks or nuns. They had to follow three important laws: chastity, obedience, and the law or the lord if not followed they would be thrown out of the monastery. Most monasteries had a rule of silence: monks could not talk which other except for a short period of time. During meals one monk might read passages from the bible while the others mediated. Even though monks lives seem to be so hard it was the best place to go for a good education for anybody from a king to a beggar (Monasteries 488-499). Women took part in monastic life by living in a convent under a direction of an abbess. Known as nuns, they wore simple clothes and wrapped a white cloth called a wimple around their face and neck. They alternated prayer with spinning, weaving, and embroiling items such as tapestries and banners. They also taught needlework and the medicinal use of herbs to daughters of nobles (Couglin A6). Although monks and nuns lived apart from society, they were not completely isolated. Indeed, they played a crucial role in medieval intellectual and social life. Since few people could read or write, the regular clergy preserved ancient and the classical writings. Scribes copied all the books by hand working in a small drafty room with one candle or a small window for light. Illuminated manuscripts decorated with rich colors and intricate pictures indicate that, although the task was done with hard work, it was also lovingly done (Monastaries 499-501). Monasteries and convents provided not only schools for young people, but hospitals for the sick, food for the needy, and a home for travelers who need a place to stay (Monasteries 499-501). Cathedral schools were there to train higher-member of the Church in their professional duties as ministers of the Christian people. The bishop in whose Cathedral complex the school was located needed a group of trained priests to administer the various needs dioceses. The Cathedral school largely emphasized practical skills, effective reading, singing, and knowledge of Church Law, public speaking and the administration of the holy sacraments (Corbishely 28). At first the university was not so much a place as it was a group of scholars organized like a guild for the purpose of learning. Classes were held in rented rooms or churches even in the open air. Books were scarce. In most classes teacher read the text and discussed it, while students took notes on slates or memorized as much information as possible. Classes did, however meet regularly schedule. University rules established the obligations of the students and the teachers toward each other. To qualify as a teacher students had to pass an exam leading to a degree, or a certificate of completion (Cantor 58). By the end of the 1200s universities had spread throughout Europe. Most southern European universities were modeled after the law school at Bologna, Italy, and specialized in law and medicine. Universities in Northern Europe on the contrary, specialized in liberal arts in Theology. These were generally modeled after the University of Paris (Bailey 89). At medieval universities, scholars studied Latin classics and Roman law in depth. They also acquired knowledge from the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle and from the Islamic scholarship in the sciences. This interest in the physical world eventually led a rise of western science (Schools 291-292). Many church leaders opposed the study of Aristotles works, fearing that his ideas feared the Christian teachings. In contrast some scholars thought that new knowledge could be used ideas. The applied Aristotle philosophy to theological questions and developed a system of thought called scholasticism. This new type of learning emphasized reason as well as the faith in the interpretations of Christian doctrine. Scholastic sought to bring back classical philosophy along side with the teachings of the Church. They believed that knowledge could be integrated into a coherent whole (Schools 295). One scholastic teacher, Peter Aberlard taught theology in Paris during the early 1100s. In his book Sic et Non, he collected statements from the bible writings of early Christian leaders that showed both sides of controversial questions. Abearld then had his students reconcile the difference though logic. In the 1200s the most important scholastic thinker was Thomas Aquinas a brilliant theologian and philosopher who taught philosophy in Naples and France. In his work Summa Theolgica Aquinas claimed that reason was a gift from god that could provide answers to basic philosophical questions. The catholic later accepted and promoted Aquinass way of teaching and thinking (Schools 310). The education of a knight proceeded in a way similar to that of many medieval occupations. At an early age the prospective knight was apprenticed to serve as a page, or attendant, in a knights household. In his teens the page graduated to the status of a squire and received more responsibilities. As a squire the boy tended his knights horses and armor, but he also gained his first battle experience. Several squires were usually apprenticed to a knight at the same time and on the battlefield they might fight as a small band of infantry around their master. Here they acquired the many skills in arms necessary for their profession. To graduate to the status of a knight, a squire usually performed some heroic deed in battle. The squire was welcomed into the order of knights by being dubbed with a sword or slapped in the face by his lord. Afterwards the new knight would receive his fief, or gift of land. As the cult of chivalry developed in the 12th and 13th centuries, knighting ceremonies became more involved. Often they occurred at court, and a knights dubbing might be preceded by a religious vigil in which the knight vowed to uphold Christian and chivalric principles (Davies 12-13). Finally the Renaissance, or rebirth of learning, began in Europe in the 14th century and reached its height in the 15th century. Scholars became more interested in the humanist features that is, the secular or worldly rather than the religious aspects of the Greek and Latin classics. Humanist educators found their models of literary style in the classics. The Renaissance was a particularly powerful force in Italy, most notably in art, literature, and architecture. In literature, the works of such Italian writers as Dante Aleghieri, Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio became especially important (Renaissance 228-229). Humanist educators designed teaching methods to prepare well-rounded, liberally educated persons. Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus was particularly influential. Erasmus believed that understanding and conversing about the meaning of literature was more important than memorizing it, as had been required at many of the medieval religious schools. He advised teachers to study such fields as archeology, astronomy, mythology, history, and Scripture (Renaissance 220). The invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century made books more widely available and increased literacy rates. But school attendance did not increase greatly during the Renaissance. Elementary schools educated middle-class children while lower-class children received little, if any, formal schooling. Children of the nobility and upper classes attended humanist secondary schools (Bailey 112). Educational opportunities for women improved slightly during the Renaissance, especially for the upper classes. Some girls from wealthy families attended schools of the royal court or received private lessons at home. The curriculum studied by young women was still based on the belief that only certain subjects, such as art, music, needlework, dancing, and poetry, were suited for females. For working-class girls, especially rural peasants, education was still limited to training in household duties such as cooking and sewing (Couglin, A8). As it shows education the Middle Ages seems to be so diverse and a starting point for modern education. But the reader must always keep in mind only about five percent of the whole population did all of these educational activities.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The background and role of inventory in accounting

The background and role of inventory in accounting Introduction International accounting standard No.2 (IAS2) Inventory gives the rules which should be followed during the recording and presentation of inventory. Inventory refers to goods which are held by a firm for sale, are in the production process or are materials which will be consumed in the production process or in giving out of services. This standard does not apply to financial instruments and it gives out a guideline on how to measure an asset which is categorized as an inventory, which concept constitute of the cost and at what time an expense occurs and the information that should be disclosed while preparing the financial statements (International Accounting Standards Board, 2008, p.977). History In the year 1974 during the draft of standard, the name was changed to inventories from valuation and presentation of Inventories in the Context of the Historical Cost System the first draft was affected on 1st of January in the year 1995 and this was 21 years after the first draft exposure. On 18th of December 2003, the standard was revised and took effect as from the strart of January 2005. In the year 2003, there was a revised IAS 2 whereby different cost formulas for inventories were incorporated into the standard. These were superseded from SIC 1 on consistency. On December 1997, SIC 1 was issued and was effective as from 1st January 1999. sic 1 required that that the same cost formula was to be used for inventories with the same characteristics under IAS 2.21 AND IAS 2.23. in that case, different methods may be used where inventory items were different from other groups (International Accounting Standards Board, 2008, p.978). SIC stands for Standing International Committee (SIC), and it was renamed to International Financial Reporting Issues Committee (IFRIC). some of the issues in SIC were not added in IFRICs Agenda. This are as follows: IAS 2 Cash Discounts The question was whether cash discounts received should be subtracted from the cost of goods purchased. A decision was made in august of the year t 2002 that they should not be added. The reason given by IFRIC was that paragraph 8 of IAS 2 provided enough guidance and thus it was not necessary to publish on the interpretation on the issue. IAS 2 Consumption of inventories by service organizations The problem was on how to treat net realizable value when the inventory is consumed as part of the service rendered. A decision was made in the march of 2004 that it should not be added. It was noted that it existed for commercial bodies. It was thus concluded that the matter involved the recoverability of an asset which did not have a direct cash flow. IAS 2 Discounts and rebates In this part, three questions were considered, first, should the discount received for prompt payment of invoice be reduced from the cost of the inventories or seen as financing income? Second, should all other rebates be reduced from the cost of inventories or treat some of them as revenue or reduction in promotional expenses, lastly, if volume rebates should be given a recognition only when threshold volumes are achieved. The decision arrived at on November 2004 was not to add. Objective of IAS 2 IAS 2 has the objective of of prescribing how inventories should be treated in accounting. It provides a guideline on how to look for the cost of inventories and how to recognize an expense including any depreciation to net realizable value. It provides the formulas that should be used to assign costs to inventories. The conclusion is that, inventories should be measured at the lower between net realizable value and cost (Nikolai, Bazley, And Jones, 2009, p.80). Net realizable value refers to the estimated selling price in the course of normal business less the costs estimate for completing and the estimated costs required to finish the selling activity. The cost of inventory on the other hand shall comprise of all the costs of purchase, conversion in addition to other costs which are incurred in making the conditions to be in their present condition and into their present location. The standards require that the first in first out method is used in assigning the cost of inventories or the weighted average method. The same cost formula should be used by a firm for all similar stock and stock that has the same use to the firm. Where the inventories might have different use or are of different nature, different cost formulas can be used (Nikolai, Bazley, And Jones, 2009, p.80). Where inventory is sold, the expenses incurred during the sale of the inventory shall be seen as an expense in that period when the expense occurred. Amount realized from any reversal of a write-down in inventories coming up from a rise in net realizable value shall be treated as a reduction in amount of inventories recognized as an expense in the time or period when that reversal took place. Rationale The rationale for IAS 2 is to ensure that accounting for inventories is done in a manner which leads to the representation of the true value of the available inventory. It ensures that frequent research is done on how to present inventory in the financial statements. Measurement, presentation and disclosure details There are several items which need to be disclosed in the financial statements concerning inventory. One of the items that need to be disclosed includes the accounting policies that were adopted while giving value to the inventories. This includes the formula used to value the stock. In other words, the financial report should state whether first-in, first-out method was used or weighted average method was used. Secondly, the reports should show the total carrying amount for the inventories and they should be put into a classification which the entity feels fit. Thirdly, the carrying amount for the inventories that may be accounted for basing on their reasonable value minus the sale costs should also be clearly shown by the financial statement. The fourth thing that should be disclosed is the level of inventories recognized as an expense in that certain period. Following this, the level of inventory write-downs which might have been seen as an expense in the financial period should be shown. After this, the level of reversals for the previous value write-downs which may have been achieved as a reduction in the amount of the expense on account of the periods inventories. The activities which led to reversal should also be listed and finally, the carrying amount of inventories used as security for debt payment should also be shown (Barry and Eva, 2008, p.27). Comparison with US GAAP (inventory) As mentioned, IAS is an initioal for International Accounting Standards and it represents a set of accounting standards which are set by the international Accounting standards committee (IASC) which is in London, England. IASC has several bodies with the main one being the international Accounting Standards Board (IASB). IASB is responsible for setting standards for IASC. On the other hand, GAAP is an acronomy for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. IASC is not responsible for setting GAAP and it thus does not have any legal authority over it. IASC can be thus be seen as an influential body which makes accounting rules. Many people listen to what IASB and IASC say on accounting matters (Barry, Nach, and Bragg, 2009, p.1337). When an accounting rule is set by IASB, several countries consider the rule and adopt it into its accounting system. The rules thus will eventually influence of what each country adopts as its GAAP. To understand what GAAP is better, we can say that it is a set of rules which accountants follow in their countries as each country has its own GAAP. There are however not much differences in GAAP between countries although their interpretations may vary between different countries. In the United States, there is the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and this make up the rules which eventually become GAAP for the country. Example from annual reports An example of an annual report which shows the usage of IAS 2 inventory is shown in the appendix. The report shows the consolidated financial statements for Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. which is a distributor and marketer of brand name through the counter drug, personal and household products which are sold through Canada, U.S. and other international markets. Discussion In the consolidated financial statements for the mentioned company, the first requirement for the IAS 2 has been met whereby the accounting policy that was used has been mentioned The reports states that the inventories have been stated at the lower of between the fair value and cost. The report has gone further to mention that the first-in, first-out method was used in valuing the inventory. The reports have explained that the company provides allowance for the goods which are slow moving and inventory which has become obsolete through the reduction of inventory for fall in value due to the obsolescence of products, damage and any other issues which might be affecting the marketability, equal to the difference that might exists between the cost of the inventory and its market value. Another thing that the report discloses is the factors which have been utilized in the determination of estimated market value and they include; current sales data and historical return rates, the estimates for demand in future, the competitive pricing pressures, introduction of new production, expiration dates of products and obsolescence of components and packaging.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

International Politics Essay

The ongoing violence between the indigenous communities of Peru on the one hand and the government on the other has been cited as the one of the country’s worst political crises. For a considerable period, the communities have not only expressed their opposition against the government, but have also engaged in acts of civil disobedience in the recent past. In June this year, confrontations between indigenous protestors and the state police left nearly a hundred people dead and hundreds injured, the majority of the casualties and fatalities being civilians (Romero, 2009). This followed a government decision to end the massive demonstrations by launching an aggressive military campaign against those protesting on the country’s roads. In essence, the communities’ initiative of holding peaceful demonstration so as to protest against the exploitation of the Amazon rain forest, and the deliberate government efforts to counter such protests can be described as a global crisis precipitated by the unprecedented struggle to exploit the few natural resources available in the environment. Though the conflict is occurring at the national level, its effects will inevitably be felt at the international front, considering the central position of the Amazon as a focal biodiversity epicenter. Globalization has been defined as the process of blending or homogenization by which individuals and organizations of the world are unified into one society and work together without restrictions, through a combination of economical, technological, socio-cultural and political forces. It also entails the reduction or elimination of enforced restrictions of countries on international exchanges hence increasing integrated and complex global system of production and exchange (Christian, 2002). Indeed, globalization has served to shape the world economy. Individual economies which were originally isolated from each other are currently being influenced by the each other’s actions, as well as policies and circumstances in the global markets, which in turn assist them to devise their own policy measures. One of the characterizing attributes of globalization is the process of merging and integrating the economies of world economies. Over the past half century, the western countries, and particularly United States and Europe have been vocal in the establishment of a global market economy characterized by the free flow of people and capital, and free trade. However, a skeptical view depicts global integration as only beneficial to the developed world, but harmful to poor nations, the environment as well as native populations. In the face of many, the process is increasingly worsening the global environmental crisis that has prevailed with the intensification of industrialization (Christian, 2002). From a practical point of view, this appears to be the case in Amazon basin of Peru. In April 2006, the United States and Peruvian governments signed a Free Trade Agreement intended to foster bilateral trade between the two countries. Even at its outset, the agreement was heavily criticized by environmental organizations, citing potential environmental and labor concerns. The FTA became effective in February this year, and precipitated a number changes in Peru’s law so as to facilitate increased access to the Amazon forest (Cabello, 2009). Although the Peruvian Congress approved the initiation of such legislative changes, the indigenous people living in the expansive Amazon region were not consulted, thus contravening the 169th convention of the International Labor Organization. Describing the regulations as a deliberate move to invite foreign companies to exploit the natural resources within the forest zones, the native communities held massive protests in August 2008. Subsequently, the Congress was forced to repeal two of the laws, and additionally pledged to reexamine the others. The apparent failure to abide by the promise eventually led to an eruption of renewed protests starting April 2009. Since then, they have been remained persistent in advancing their cause: that the legislative provisions which inevitably undermine their land and water rights have to be abolished (Romero, 2009). Central in the current conflict between the indigenous people and the Peruvian government is the controversy surrounding the idea of allowing multinational oil corporations, particularly those of American origin, to explore as well as mine oil and other mineral resources in the Amazon under the 2006 agreement (Romero, 2009). From a basic point of view, the physical clashes represent the conflicting interests between these two parties. On the one hand, the government led by President Garcia purports to exploit the natural resources in the Amazon in order to bring economic wealth for all citizens. Notably, the potential geographical zones to be explored for their oil and gas deposits cover about seventy two percent of the country’s rain forests (Chauvin, 2009). Similarly, the government also intends to open up the water resources and forest lands to other economic activities such as large-scale farming and extensive mining explorations. From the side of the incumbency, such a move should not elicit any local opposition, considering that the government’s ownership of all subsoil rights. The exploration of these vast lands by multinational corporations would definitely accrue immense economic wealth. On the other hand, the indigenous people see the move as a threat to their ancestral land, their own security, and the environment in general. This is so considering the fact that the mineral exploration initiatives could end up affecting more than thirty thousand natives spread across six of Peru’s provinces (Chauvin, 2009). An estimated 50 percent of Peru is covered by the Amazon rain forest, which houses more than sixty ethnic groups. In the recent past however, the Amazon region has attracted numerous oil, gas, and other mining corporations with the objective of exploring the natural resources found within the forest. Since 2005 for instance, the regions selected for gas and oil concessions have significantly increased (from an estimated fifteen to seventy percent) (Cabello, 2009). Early this year, the country’s oil licensing organization signed contracts with several multinational oil corporations, permitting them to explore natural resources in the Amazon. Although such initiatives will promote economic growth in the country, a critical observation reveals the activities of these international companies jeopardize the very existence of the Amazon, which is widely recognized as an important center of biodiversity, even at the global front. Indeed, the Amazon Basin is an extremely important resource especially when we consider international issues such as the realities of environmental pollution and global warming. Generating close to twenty percent of the earth’s fresh water, the basin is home to numerous indigenous Peruvian communities. Despite their continued habitation of the forest regions for many years, the natural resources have been well-preserved, thus promoting environmental sustainability. Additionally, the Amazon has been cited as vital in the regulation of atmospheric emissions, particularly carbon dioxide responsible for environmental pollution, besides stabilizing rainfall and guarding against desertification (Chauvin, 2009). Seen in this sense, Amazon has served to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change that are often associated with global warming. Recent government reports highlight continued overlap between the concession lands (those designated for hydrocarbon extraction) and the natural protected areas occupied by the indigenous population (Chauvin, 2009). United States’ oil companies such as Burlington and Hunt Oil are currently mining fossil fuels in areas that were traditionally reserved as natural lands. With no hope of a possible retreat of the current trends, the indigenous Peruvians continue to face numerous environmental problems including soil and water pollution, which in turn impacts negatively on their health. In essence, continued investment in the Amazon rainforest appears to contradict what world nations, including the U. S. nd Peru postulate as viable strategies of mitigating the currently witnessed global climate change. It is apparent that the continued extraction and transportation of fossil fuels will lead to an unprecedented release of toxic materials into the soil and increasing the percentage of greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere. Additionally, these multinational companies are also contributing to deforestation via the establishment of infrastructures such as roads and oil pipelines. It is indeed ironical that bilateral and international agreements such as the one between the U. S. nd Peru could actually end up fueling the global climate crisis and threatening the very livelihoods of indigenous populations, rather than initiating measures towards its alleviation and encouraging sustainable development. It is questionable that the Peruvian government should take advantage of the natives who lack title deeds and therefore direct claims to the land they have lived in for many years. Instead of focusing on the immediate economic benefits, the government ought to consider the potential harm to the Amazon Basin, as well as the life it has supported for a prolonged duration.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

My Favourite Book Essay

Recently I`ve read a very interesting book that impressed me greatly. It was the novel by Vera Kryzhanovskaya â€Å"Hellish charms†. Russian writer and spiritualist Vera Kryzhanovskaya was the first woman writer of science fiction in the world, and the first professional science fiction writer in Russia. She was born June 2, 1857 .Her Father was from an old noble family of the Tambov Province. In the 1880s and 90s she lived in Western Europe. Since childhood Kryzhanovskaya was interested in ancient history and the occult, she even performed as a medium at sessions. Kryzhanovskaya`s Husband was a well known spiritualist S.V. Semenov. Following the spiritualists` tradition, Kryzhanovskaya stated that her novels had been dictated by the spirit of English poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester , who believed that a soul stayed on earth even after death . She wrote in French and then her works were translated into Russian. The main theme of her novels is the struggle of the divine and satanic forces, the dependence of man`s hidden forces and the forces of universe, the secrets of the primordial matter †¦ Reincarnation`s consciousness` and soul`s secrets , the writer has already disclosed in the historical novels (â€Å"The Queen Hatasu†, for example). â€Å"Hellish charms† is one of the novels, where the ritual of bewitching is described. The headline reveals the main theme and idea of the novel. The story is about a girl who wanted to marry the man with good fortune and because of it she had to resort to black magic.It`s about love, sins and mistakes, about forgiveness. The book electrifies the reader, mystical experiences and psychology do not give an opportunity to relax. The moral of the story is represented very clearly: you can not  build your happiness on the misfortune of others, regardless of other people’s desires. Each undertaken sin may be the first step on way to hell, and not everybody can turn away from that road. The book is written in a very simple way, the sentences are mostly short, without large clauses and nominative constructions. The author worries about every character and describes all their sufferings and other feelings very brightly. The main characters are: Kira Nagorskaya, a pretty blond girl of twenty with a good figure , large dark eyes with long thick eyelashes and wonderful complexion; Alexey Basargin – a wealthy young man, who took a fancy to Kira especially her coquetry and beauty. He became a frequent guest in Kira`s place. Kira considered him to be a wonderful match. Maleynen – an old witch, who helped Kira to bewitch Alexey and made him to fall in love with her. She was a skinny tall woman with deep hollow eyes that strangely sparkled. Marquise Kervadek – Alexey`s best friend, a tall, slender young man with black curly hair and pointed beard. He is a very passionate character and didn`t hide his admiration from Kira. Shepsu – an unusual character, Circassian, who lived alone in a mountain hut. The only man, who was able to save Kira from her curse. The story took place in Russia in the 18th century. A young woman Kira Nagorskaya who got used to luxury, after running through her father`s fortune, decided to marry someone didn`t matter young or old , beautiful or ugly, tall or short, someone who was able to give her a social status and wealth. But one day in a house of one of her old friends she got acquainted with Alexey Basargin a young man ,who has already worked in Ministry. She liked him and even thought not to cheat on him, at least for a while, when they would marry. Alexey became a frequent guest in Kira`s place and she was ready to celebrate the victory but suddenly he disappeared. There were rumors that he was going to marry another girl, Kira felt miserable and angry. She couldn`t believe it. Than she got to know about an old woman, a witch called Maleynen, and decided to ask her for help. But this decision  took an unexpected turn for her. Basargin made her a proposal and she married him. In the course of time she began to feel disgust and irritation to him. She also fell in love with Alexey`s best friend Marquise Kervadek but tried to hidÃ'Æ' her feelings. She knew that if she would like to divorce with Basargin, the charms would make him kill her. She couldn`t fight against her feelings and went to Maleynen again to ruin the first spell. But it has worked strangely and Alexey perished and his spirit began to pursue Kira. Kervadek and Kira try to find the solution, Marquise takes Kira away to Germany, Italy, France but the ghost chases them. At least they find the man called Shepsu, the only one who can save her. He was a young Circassian, who lived alone in a mountain hut in the Caucasus. Having held all the rituals Shepsu was able to conquer the evil spirit of Basargin. At last the curse was ruined. In conclusion, I personally would like to advise this novel and not just this one but the others too. In my opinion it was one of the best books I`ve ever read, it`s plot has swallowed me completely. Most of all I liked it`s moral : Love can neither be bought nor sold.

Friday, November 8, 2019

A Timeline of the Agricultural Revolution

A Timeline of the Agricultural Revolution Between the eighth century and the eighteenth, the tools of farming basically stayed the same and few advancements in technology were made. This meant that the farmers of George Washingtons day had no better tools than the farmers of Julius Caesars day.  In fact, early Roman plows were superior to those in general use in America eighteen centuries later. All that changed in the 18th century with the agricultural revolution, a period of agricultural development that  saw a massive and rapid increase in agricultural productivity and vast improvements in farm technology. Listed below are many of the inventions that were created or greatly improved during the agricultural revolution. Plow and Moldboard By definition, a plow (also spelled plough) is a farm tool with one or more heavy blades that breaks the soil and cut a furrow or small ditch for sowing seeds. A moldboard is a wedge formed by the curved part of a steel plow blade that turns the furrow. Seed Drills Before drills were invented, seeding was done by hand. The basic idea of drills for seeding small grains was successfully developed in Great Britain, and many British drills were sold in the United States before one was manufactured in the States. American manufacture of these drills began about 1840. Seed planters for corn came somewhat later, as machines to plant wheat successfully were unsuited for corn planting. In 1701, Jethro Tull invented his seed drill and is perhaps the best-known inventor of a mechanical planter. Machines That Harvest By definition, a sickle is a curved, hand-held agricultural tool used for harvesting grain crops. Horse-drawn mechanical reapers later replaced sickles for harvesting grains. Reapers  were then replaced by the reaper-binder (cuts the grain and binds it in sheaves) and in turn, was replaced by the swather before being replaced by the combine harvester. A combine harvester is a machine that heads, threshes and cleans grain while moving across the field. The Rise of the Textile Industry The  cotton gin  had turned the whole South toward the cultivation of cotton. While the South was not manufacturing any considerable proportion of the cotton it grew, the textile industry was flourishing in the North. A whole series of machines similar to those used in Great Britain had been invented in America and mills paid higher wages than in Britain. Production was also far ahead of the British mills  in proportion to hands employed, which meant the U.S. was ahead of the rest of the world. Wages in America Take-home pay, measured by the world standard, was high. Additionally, there was a good supply of free land or land that was practically free. Wages were high enough that many could save enough to buy their own land. Workers in textile mills often worked only a few years to save money, buy a farm or to enter some business or profession. Advances in Transportation Lines The  steamboat and the  railroad  enabled transportation to the West. While steamboats traveled all the larger rivers and the lakes, the railroad was growing rapidly. Its lines had extended to more than 30 thousand miles. Construction also went on during the war, and the transcontinental railway was in sight. The locomotive had approached standardization and the American railway was now comfortable for passengers with the invention of  Pullman sleeping cars, the dining cars, and the automatic air brake developed by  George Westinghouse.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Definition and Examples of the Straw Man Fallacy

Definition and Examples of the Straw Man Fallacy The straw man is a  fallacy in which an opponents argument is overstated or misrepresented in order to be more easily attacked or refuted. The technique often takes quotes out of context or, more often, incorrectly paraphrases or summarizes an opponents position. Then after defeating the position, the attacker claims to have beaten the real thing. Although the term straw man is a recent coinage, the concept is ancient. In the Topics, Aristotle acknowledges that in argument it would be inappropriate to interpret as someones position an opinion that he did not express or is not committed to, in virtue of what he said (Douglas Walton, Methods of Argumentation). The name of the fallacy represents the idea that although a straw man may look like a human, it wont put up any resistance in a fight. The straw man fallacy also goes by the name Aunt Sally, particularly in Great Britain. Straw Man in Commercials Commercials make use of straw man fallacies. In the famous Wheres the beef? Wendys campaign, the commercials exaggerate the tiny amount of meat that other chains use in their burgers to show how much bigger and better its burgers are. Straw Man in Politics Straw man has always been the stock-in-trade of advertisers and political smear campaigns, illustrate authors Nancy Cavender and Howard Kahane in their book Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric. A group called Common Sense Issues made a million automated phone calls to voters in the 2008 South Carolina primaries claiming that John McCain has voted to use unborn babies in medical research. This was a gross distortion of his position to support research on stem cells gathered from embryos (12th ed. Wadsworth, 2014). During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump claimed that Hillary Clinton was for open borders. He took a comment out of context from a speech she gave to a Brazilian bank about trade and energy to twist it into a statement that preyed on some peoples fears of immigrants. He claimed she wanted people to be able to enter the border without going through any kind of process at all, which isnt true. His sound-byte distortion likely had an effect on voters, as immigration was a big issue in the campaign, and his repetition of the claim was easier to remember than her stances about nuances in the complex issue. Sometimes people morph the straw man into a warning about a slippery slope where allowing one side to win would put humanity on a course of destruction. Any time someone begins an attack with So youre saying we should all just... or Everyone knows..., you can bet a straw man is coming, wrote author David McRaney. Straw men can also be born out of ignorance. If someone says, Scientists tell us we all come from monkeys, and thats why I homeschool, this person is using a straw man, because science doesnt say we all come from monkeys. (You Are Not So Smart.  Penguin, 2011) Countering the Straw Man To refute a straw man attack during a debate, point out the fallacy and how it is incorrect. If you ignore it and the attacker keeps harping on it, the real issue could get buried in the straw. If you try and defend what the opponent said is your position, it gets increasingly difficult to show how the opponent distorted your views.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

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

Final Case Study - Essay Example For his first year at a preschool that uses reverse mainstreaming that will let Dennis interact and learn with typically developing children, the following IEP objectives and corresponding supports are proposed: Supports: As Dennis enters his preschool years, his PWS would be evident with apparent obesity if not controlled and monitored. It is therefore necessary that his nutritional and dietary needs be given attention. It must be noted that his entry into preschool was characterized by the absence of a comprehensive dietary and medical evaluation which should be produced if his IEP is to be a success. The parents, teachers and other school personnel (those who are in charge of preparation of snacks for example) must have this evaluation before he starts his school year. Calorie intake especially carbohydrates must be limited because those children with PWS need less than typically growing children. During snack times, the teacher in cooperation with the school dietitian should modify his food, allowing for prescribed caloric intake according to his nutritional evaluation. His physical development throughout the year should be monitored throughout the year, looking out for the proper balan ce between height and weight. Supports: It must be noted that Dennis from the 45-minute observation that he

Friday, November 1, 2019

Summarize three articles or Web resources from the surveying bodies Term Paper

Summarize three articles or Web resources from the surveying bodies resources, from the studies in this unit, that apply to your - Term Paper Example It was reauthorized in 2009 as Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). This will run through 2013 and is expected to cover even more uninsured children. This program also is jointly undertaken by the Federal and State governments (CHIPP Policy). A health care professional needs to have a fair knowledge of these three programs to ensure that no needy individual suffers without an appropriate health insurance plan. Department of Health and Human Services. As part of public health and medical services support, the Department of Health and Human Services has guidelines for the First Response in the event of a disaster. Disaster being always a local phenomenon, the local government agency services need to be prepared to respond immediately in the event of a disaster. The state and local authorities will have to coordinate with each other in providing rescue and medical emergency services. If the disaster is beyond the State’s control, the Governor o f the State may ask for support from the Federal Government. Financial and other assistance are provided under the Robert T.Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act).