Poor decision making Essay

Poor decision making problem is not confined at the individual level alone but is manifesting itself more and more in organizations. Employees have become more vociferous in their demands for a better deal. Various departments in an organization face a situation full of problems due to a number of reasons like goal diversity, scarcity of resources or task interdependence etc. Management today is faced with the awesome responsibility of ensuring optimum levels of growth and productivity in an environment that is full of conflicting situations. Modern manager spends over 20% of his time handling one form of problem or the other. DIFFERENT FACTORS It is not at all good to have any conflict and the role of a manager starts once it arises. These are very important points which one tend to answer in one way or the other depending upon the views he  Ã‚   hold about   problems. Environment Factor The behaviouralists maintained that since an organization was composed of individual- and they had different perceptions of goals and differing values, problem was bound to arise in the organization. Managers of various departments had separate priorities and conflicting ideas about resource allocation. Hence conflict was the unavoidable outcome. Subordinates may clash with the manager over whether the work can be accomplished in the given period of time or not. Social Factor The thinking currently prevalent about conflict has been labelled as the interactionist view. In contrast to the behaviouralist view which merely accepts conflict as inevitable, the integrationists not only accept conflict but also encourage it. However, they maintain that conflict must he regulated so that it does not get out of control producing dysfunctional consequences. ECONOMIC FACTOR   A large number of potential sources of conflict exist in organizational life as antecedent conditions and realistic basis for some conflicts. Any group exists for the purpose of attaining some goals with the help of available resources. These resources may be tangible like men, materials, and money or intangible like power, status or the manager’s time. No organization is capable of providing all the resources demanded by various units. Resources are limited and different groups have to compete for these scarce resources and many conflicts arise from this source. TECHNICAL FACTOR Groups in organization have different functions to perform and as such they develop their own norms and goals. Theoretically the achievement of these goals should achieve overall organizational goals but, often, in real life the reverse is true. Goals of one group are incompatible to the goals of another group. For example, a company which manufactures electric fans has a seasonal demand. Three departments marketing, production and finance—are involved. Since the demand for the product is seasonal, the marketing manager would like to have sufficient stock during the season. References Beaumont,P.B., Applied Microeconomics for Decision Making, Sage Publications, London,1993 Kaplan , P.L., Human Resources and Personnel Management, McGraw-Hill, New York,1997 Feldman, D.C., 1985 A taxonomy of intergroup conflict-resolution strategies University Associates:San Diego Taylor Sims, J. Robert Foster, ArchG. Woodside,(1997) Marketing Channels: Systems and Strategies Harper and Row: New York.

We Simply Cannot Wait

I was near the emergency ward of a hospital to claim my laboratory results when an ambulance came rushing in, carrying two victims of a vehicular accident, both of them seriously wounded and unconscious. From there I thought, should these things happen, who will the hospital attendants respond to, if both patients are in danger, both in need of immediate care, and both cannot wait, does the hospital have enough resources and capability to respond to such situations? Such reflections immediately come to mind when I read about Dr. Martin Luther King’s idea on the myth of time. Undoubtedly, he is right when he says, We Can’t Wait (2000) when dealing with problems in our country. . The attitude of waiting for time to come when all things will be good and beautiful is basically an old Christian tradition. Priests in the earlier times usually advise people to beg for God’s mercy and wait for His providence. In contrast, King tells us that while hunger and suffering per sist in the land, we cannot just wait until someone, like the government, finally decides to help us alleviate our sufferings. Applying this in broader terms, we realize that given the everyday struggle that Somali children face each day, we simply cannot wait for when donors will schedule sending relief goods. We need to act right away. Similarly, when we see people lying cold on the streets, we do not think of rallying in front of the senate the next morning to fight for their equal rights, we do not go to the social welfare to refer these people for help. While these actions could help the majority of the needy in the long run, these would take too much time, and before the government agency responds, the person would already be ill or dead. The challenge that Dr. King imposes in his article is timeless. It is addressed not only to the government, to civil rights organizations, or to wealthy businessmen. Rather, it is addressed to everyone, to all of us, regardless of race, gender, age, religion or economic status. This challenge requires only one thing, that is, to respond to the problem at hand, right away, right on time. Responding to this challenge, we give immediate help to those in need. To those feeling cold on the streets, we give out our jacket, old sheets, shirt, etc. Likewise, to those who are hungry, we provide some food and water. These things are not difficult, especially since we do not consume everything we have on our plate. When we eat, we always have some leftovers which we put inside the refrigerator, and most often, we forget about them so they still end up in the trash bin the next day. Moreover, reflecting on this challenge in the education area, teachers cannot take too much time before they respond to the needs of their students. In the classroom setting, they take responsibility over the needs of their students, and not wait for the school’s recommendations. Likewise, on a personal level, students extend help to others who are in need, and avoid feeling indifferent to the needs of their schoolmates. In sum, the challenge that Dr. King imposes on each of us requires our efforts to lift a finger and be good Samaritans to others. In addition, it also asks us not to discriminate, but rather help those in need regardless of their culture or origins. If we can exercise this in our everyday life, there will be less suffering. Therefore, the next time we encounter people needing our help, we should bear in mind the words of Dr. King, â€Å"We (simply) can’t wait. †

How to Study and Discuss Cases

The case study is a powerful learning tool for a business major student. We may find interpreting and writing about cases mystifying, challenging, or downright frustrating. First of all, we should have good attitude, such as personal initiative, self-reliance, curiosity, taking risk and patience.. We should be initiative to study, and to have confidence in ourselves, but also to think independently and find the solutions. Curiosity is necessary to mobilize us to observe and discover all stuff that related to the cases. Dare to take risks, because failure is the mother of success. To have enough patience to think about the case solution. Second, good infrastructure is also important to our case study. The infrastructure includes study environment, tool, other relative context for business case study. Studying in the right place is necessary to us to ensure the quality of learning and thinking because noisy environment diverse out attention from the cases. We also need enough time to read and analyze a case, and spend at least 90 minutes there for each case study. Business dictionary is an important tool for us to analysis cases because many people are not English speaker, and business dictionary helps those people understand all the terms in cases; it is a prerequisite for understanding the case. Expanding the amount of reading is another tool to understand and solve cases, especially business newspaper, magazine, and business-news Web site on the Internet. Those business reading materials not only help us build a context for the case study you are trying to solve at the moment and make connections between the case study and current events, but also helps us know recent market dynamics. Learning to use software such as Microsoft Excel to analyze the data in the case. We should form a study group and meets frequently because we will learn more and perform better in class participation by discussing the cases together in a learning team. We also need to know out professor because the professor is part of the learning infrastructure. Finally, we should keep good execution as well. Read the cases really quickly in the first reading, but do not take notes on the first reading, and read the first few paragraphs that usually say a well-constructed about the problem. Then, go through the exhibits and the data to analysis them. Focus on some basis questions, such as † Who are the protagonists in the case? â€Å", â€Å"Who must take action on the problem? † and so on. Getting answers for those basis questions is the first step of understand entire cases. Finally, we should define the problem based on the concepts, principal and theorem. After defining, we need to think about the solution of the case. When we make solution decision, we keep self-confidence and trust ourselves. In conclusion, analysis business case study is a comprehensive progress. Because there is no right answer to these cases. When we are in the class, we participate actively in support of our conclusions, but still be open to new insights since there is no an exact solution to such cases. Business case studying is a good way of thinking about business situation that we can carry from one job to the future. It is also to lead us to win in the future.

Policy Paper(Financial Aid and Affordability of Higher Education) Research Paper

Policy (Financial Aid and Affordability of Higher Education) - Research Paper Example Million students around the world who have desire to learn and gain higher education leave their dreams because of the factor of affordability. As at times they have to face a situation where they have no option but to quit studies because their financial standings does not allow them to pursue their degrees, however in order to ameliorate and come out from this catastrophic situations some students rely on loan and grants that are available for them in the shape of public, private and other sectors. Meanwhile the main reasons behind this affordability issue is because of continuous inflation in tuition fees, and also the poor economic conditions of the country which one way or other is directly or indirectly responsible for increasing the cost of running for institutions. As a consequence families, students, taxpayers, lawmakers (and institutions itself) all are affected. Since many American understands the value of degree (higher education) and the possible fruits and outcomes that are likely to come if one is successful in attaining or achieving the degree, or in other words they have clear understandings that higher education is prerequisite for employment these days and is necessary in so many different regards (AASCU, 2011). However in pursuing the degree often students at times have to face a situation where they have to leave or quit a degree because of affordability, some go for financial aid in order to come out from this situation as they believe this is a solution, while others are lost in translation and this financial aid systems and procedures turns out to be a nightmare for them. Moreover Heller & Marin (2002) highlighted very important phenomenon in this regard, they believe that since financial aid is awarded considering merit, competence and ability rather than considering need therefore, majority of students who are not very much blessed with extra ordinary talent or they have some lacking in terms of potential are persistently avoided. As a result their dreams and desires of going into a college is completely wiped off because they cannot afford tuition fees and are not able to acquire financial aid because of merit (Heller & Marin, 2002). Meanwhile this paper is an attempt to explore and highlight the issues and concerns related to affordability factor in order to achieve higher education, furthermore possible remedies and solutions will also be engrave in this paper pertaining the context of ambiance of higher education. Moreover American Association of States Colleges and Universities (AASCU) public policy agenda will also be explored in this paper as this has mainly to deal with ensuring the goals of higher education are met in perpetuity. Similarly role of Federal government and AASCU in terms of ensuring higher education considering the affordability factor will also be scrutinized and the role of Ohio State (Ohio Board of Regents) in making ways and successfully achieving goals and initiating new plans in this regard will also be the part of this paper. HISTORY: Initially higher education institutions in the United States were only focusing on providing services to elites and to those who were willing to join the Christian religious groups (clergy) (Thelin, 2004). However this perception of people has undergone a change because of the continuous evolution in purpose of higher educat

Leadership Self-Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership Self-Assessment - Essay Example Of importance to me has been to find time after reading for reflection. This way, I am able to gain insights and understanding to what I have read. However, I still face limitations in certain crucial areas. I seem to be more focused on developing relationships; seeking to please my followers at the expense of exuding the legitimate power and authority of being a leader. My leadership style would best fit the style approach of the 1940s as documented by Buchbinder and Shanks (2012). Therefore, I would have to work on the use of leadership legitimate power to influence action on my followers. This would be crucial for leading followers to delivering organisational goals without being compromised. Different situations would call for different strategies. This, perhaps, follows the situational theory documented by Rubino et al. (2014) which postulates that leaders adopt different styles for different situations. I do not evade from responsibility and would accept the consequences of my action. Where I lack knowledge, I always consult other sources, accepting ideas from others. In case of undesirable situations, my guide would be to seek the necessary change to realize the desired outcomes. However, there are crucial circumstances when I seek to hide behind vocabularies. Such are the times when I am faced with a need to immediately respond to certain concerns whereas I do not have ready response. By using complex vocabularies, I leave my audience perplexed and get away with the issue. Just as in other organisations, conflicts are also bound to occur in healthcare. As a leader, it would be important to appreciate the argument by Rigolosi (2013) that conflict resolution has no single static approach. Even so, I appreciate that as a leader, I am compromising, accommodating and avoiding, key aspects of conflict resolution cited by the scholar. I take responsibility for my actions and would always be open to ideas from other people.

Why were coffee houses so popular in the late seventeeth century and Essay

Why were coffee houses so popular in the late seventeeth century and early eighteenth century in london - Essay Example Coffee first became popular in the Ottoman Empire during the sixteenth century, and in one report, we find the well-known Ottoman chronicler  Ibrahim Pecevi  chronicling the opening of the first coffeehouses in the Ottoman Empire (in Istanbul) in the sixteenth century. Here he states, â€Å"Until the year 962 [1555], in the High, God-Guarded city of Constantinople, as well as in Ottoman lands generally, coffee and coffee-houses did not exist. About that year, a fellow called Hakam from Aleppo and a wag called Shams from Damascus came to the city; they each opened a large shop in the district called Tahtakale, and began to purvey coffee† (cited in Bernard, 1989, 132). It was in the 17th century that coffee  spread to  Europe  from the  Ottoman Empire (via Hungary), and soon coffeehouses became a part of the popular western culture (Wild, 2005). English coffeehouses first came into existence during the mid-seventeenth century when in  Oxford  in 1652 in a buildin g that is now better known as "The Grand Cafe" (ibid). Pasqua Rosee, who was a  servant in the service of a merchant named Daniel Edwards, opened the first coffeehouse in  London  in 1652, in St Michael's Alley in Cornhill, and soon they became extremely popular as social meeting places, and by 1675 England had more than 3,000 coffeehouses (Weinberg, and Bealer, 2002, 152). Discussion English coffee houses: The  English  coffeehouses,  during the early modernism of the 17th and 18th centuries, are often referred to as public social houses where the people from different social walks of life, would gather for drinking the new beverage while socially interacting. These coffeehouses also served chocolate and tea along with coffee, and these places soon acquired a very distinct character that distinguished it from another popular establishment of the era, the taverns. The taverns were legally obliged to keep provisions for drinks, food, and lodging for the passing traveller; and formed centres of hard drinking and gambling. Coffeehouses, served non-alcoholic drinks allow any form of gambling and alcohol consumption, and were known as ‘genteel’ places for sober social interactions, unlike other public social houses of that time (Hewitt, 1872). Cowan in his book describes a typical 17th-18th century English coffeehouse as "places where people gathered to drink coffee, learn the news of the day, and perhaps to meet with other local residents and discuss matters of mutual concern† (Cowan, 2005, 79). Right from the time of initiation, the English coffeehouses formed a dominion for intellectual gatherings, while political groups also frequented the various English coffeehouses for conducting meetings (ibid). There a diverse range of patrons that were seen in the English coffeehouses, and represented a wide range of the divergent English social classes, and there was a sense of equality amongst these customers where one could freely take pa rt in any ongoing conversation irrespective of one’s social rank or political beliefs. Topics deliberated on in these coffeehouses were mainly related to philosophical debates, politics, society gossip, current events,  and natural sciences. It is often for this reason that the 17th and 18th century English coffeehouses were referred by the historians to be the epicentres of the Enlightenment era that brought in cultural and intellectual reawakening, widely seen at this time (Cowan, 2005). English coffeehous

Nursing Practice Act Requirements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing Practice Act Requirements - Essay Example On joining the profession, Nurses should perform their duties with due diligence and care. Every action of a nurse should point to the well being of a patient. For instance, a nurse may deceive patients about improvement of their health to avoid unnecessary fear.A code of ethics guides the nurses to act professionally, honestly, and with integrity. This calls for a nurse to be knowledgeable of their work, compassionate, flexible, patient centred, have people skills, and think critically. Unlike in the nursing profession where every nurse owes a duty of care to patients entrusted to them, celebrities do not owe a duty of care to their fans. They give their views in songs, poems, and speeches and expect their fans to make good judgements and pick what concerns them. Most of celebrity’s profession have no code of ethics and thus they operate on good morals.In conclusion, even after due care is taken in selecting persons to join nursing profession where proper education is given, some nurses still practise in the dark side. According to Attewill and Snow as quoted in Medsurg journal, there is need to acknowledge that incompetent nurses continue to practise, avoidance, and intentional acts against patient still take place, which calls for the need for further study (Wolf, 2012). the entry into nursing is the first filter of characters that join this profession. After entry by academic qualification, assessing personal characteristics of applicants to eliminate unsuitable applicants is necessary.

The relationship between Human and Nature Dissertation

The relationship between Human and Nature - Dissertation Example The Eastern and Western architecture are largely influenced by the religions dominant in both regions. Western religions, which include Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, as well as Greek and Roman Empire influences, apply their beliefs based on congregated prayer where the community usually participates in praise and other religious rituals (Cooler, n.d). Such practice often calls for space where a congregation can gather and listen to teachings from religious leaders. In effect, a speaker would have to face the followers in order to be seen and heard. The speaker would therefore have to be situated at the front of a space, not at its centre because those behind may not be able to hear him and may not be able to participate fully in the religious activity (Cooler, n.d). A rectangular space with a podium at one end may therefore serve better purposes for worship within the western religious setting. While the circular forms of worship sites as in the formations seen at the Stonehenge, these sites did not last as a main forms of worship sites (Cooler, n.d). Japanese architecture The impact of Japanese architecture to architecture in general is very much significant. It includes both religious and non-religious tones and themes. For a long time, Japanese architecture has mostly been based on Chinese influence (World Translation Center, 2014). However, differences between their styles have been noted throughout the years, with a significant difference being that in Japanese architecture, people usually sat on the floor, with Chinese architecture including chairs to sit on.

The Present Situations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Present Situations - Essay Example In the ethics of alternatives, there are three theoretical alternatives according to which the existing situation can be resolved. The first one is Utilitarianism in which the main emphasis is on the greatest good for the greatest number. According to this approach, if an act proves to be beneficial for more people than those who are not benefitting from it then that act is moral. In the present situation, it is to be decided that which of the decided alternative promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of the stakeholders. In order to decide which of the alternative provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people, the amount of benefit has to be measured. The benefit would be measured for all the alternatives and then the alternative which maximizes the ratio of benefit to harm to the various stakeholders by the decision would be selected to resolve the problem. If Steffan proceeds with the present situation then there is a great benefit for both Neerson and J ames Monroe. While the respondents and Lauren would be hurt. Furthermore, the amount of worth and value to be placed on covering the cost for future community services at the expense of the ethics of market research also needs to be investigated. Another factor that needs to be analyzed is that which of the alternative will allow the company to maintain its reputation as an ethical marketing research firm. Furthermore, the utility in endangering the personal information of the respondents for future benefit has to be kept in mind.

How Society Is Affected by Gov Policies Essay Example for Free

How Society Is Affected by Gov Policies Essay How society is affected by goverment policies, civil disobedience, This is the deliberate and planned breach of policy or law by an individual or group of people. It is usually done peacefully to highlight how inappropriate a law is and promote the need for a change in the law. Civil disobedience was a common tool in the black civil rights movement in the USA in the 1960s. Black people would deliberately break the racial segregation laws to show how deeply unfair they were and how much the law needed to change. A good example of this is the case of Rosa Parks, who in December 1955 refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man when asked to do so. She was arrested and her arrest sparked a chain of events which led to the US Supreme Court decision in 1956 that racial segregation on transportation was illegal. Demonstration and meetings, Meetings to discuss problems with government policy are very common. They are a way for like-minded individuals to air their concerns. Meeting can be held outside and include a march or demonstration to show the government or local authority the depth of public feeling against decision. A good example of this would be the rallies and protests organised by the Countryside Alliance since the UK government placed a ban on foxhunting. Terrorism, Terrorism is an extreme response to public policy. It involves an individual or group using violence or the threat of violence against civilian and military targets in order to force the government to change its policy.

Whole Grain Consumption as a Target for Obesity Intervention

Whole Grain Consumption as a Target for Obesity Intervention Policy Options for Increasing Whole Grain Consumption as a Target for Obesity Intervention Tamar Roomian Executive Summary This policy brief will focus on whole-grain consumption in the United States population as a target for obesity intervention. Over one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and can contribute to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The estimated annual cost of obesity was $147 billion (in 2008 dollars) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Recent scientific evidence has associated refined grain consumption and lack of whole grain consumption with obesity and its complications. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a majority of adults are deficient in whole grains and fiber. Given the widespread scope of the obesity epidemic, this is problematic, as it has been demonstrated by epidemiological evidence that whole grain consumption is inversely associated with abdominal fat and weight gain. Currently, there are no policies regarding whole grain consumption beyond Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for labeli ng number of whole grain grams per serving. Therefore, a policy to increase population-wide whole grain consumption may reduce population-wide weight gain, associated health outcomes, and economic impact. This policy brief will discuss three policy options. The first option is to impose a labeling requirement for manufactured products to report percentage whole grain, in conjunction with dietary guidelines to limit refined grain consumption, in order to encourage food manufacturers to voluntarily reformulate their products consistent with consumer demand. The second option is to require that whole grains be the default option at restaurants by taking advantage of the â€Å"default effect,† or the phenomenon that individuals tend to stick with the default choice. However, testing would be required to ensure that the nudge is indeed effective. The third option is to impose a refined grain tax to disincentivize purchase. A tax would generate government revenue, but would meet heavy resistance from the food manufacturing industry. Context and Importance of Problem According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and can contribute to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The CDC estimates that the annual cost of obesity was $147 billion in 2008 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Obesity is a complex problem requiring many solutions at multiple levels. Recent scientific evidence has associated refined grain consumption and lack of whole grain consumption with obesity and its complications. This policy brief will therefore focus on whole-grain consumption in the United States population. Whole grains are defined as â€Å"grains that still have the endosperm, germ, and bran present in the same proportion of the intact grain.† The outer bran and inner germ are a source of dietary fiber, b-vitamins, iron, magnesium, vitamin E, as well as other potential unmeasured nutrients that are lost in processing when manufactured as refined grains (McKeown, Troy, Jacques, Hoffmann, ODonnell, Fox, 2010). Processing whole grain to white flour increases caloric density by 10% and decreases fiber content by 80% (Gross, Li, Ford, Liu, 2004). Gross et al. examined trends in refined grain consumption over the twentieth century using the National Nutrient Data Bank to obtain nutrient content of the U.S. food supply, and food availability data from the Economic Research Service and Nutrient Data Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service. They concluded that since 1963, consumption for carbohydrates increased from 374 g/day to 500 g/day, but fiber intake did not increase proportionally, indicating that refined-grain consumption increased (Gross et al., 2004). According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a dataset from a nationally represented nutrition questionnaire, only 4.9% of adults 19-50 years of age and 6.6% of adults 51 years and over consume the government recommended three or more whole grain servings. Approximately 72% of adults 19-50 and 66% of adults 51 and over consumed less than .6 servings of whole grains. Mean dietary fiber intake was 16.1 grams, below the government recommended 25-30 grams per day (O’Neil, Zanovec, Cho, Nicklas, 2010). This is problematic, as whole grain and fiber consumption is associated with lower body weight in the NHANES (O’Neil et al., 2010). Moreover, in a study using the Framingham Heart Study cohort, whole grain consumption was inversely associated with waist circumference and abdominal fat after controlling for confounders. Abdominal fat is strongly associated to metabolic risk factors including glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance (McKeown et al., 2010). Using the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a very large longitudinal cohort of female nurses and male health professionals, whole grain consumption was inversely associated with long-term weight gain, while consumption of refined grains was positively associated with weight gain, after controlling for physical activity, television use, alcohol use, sleep duration, smoking and diet. The authors suggest that increased consumption of whole grains is therefore ass ociated with a greater reduction of intake of other foods, because fiber slows digestion and increases satiety. (Mozaffarian, Hao, Rimm, Willett, Hu, 2011). Policy Options Therefore, based on the above scientific evidence, the goal of policy is to increase consumption of whole grains while decreasing consumption of refined grains. Even if the reduction to the individual is small, because most Americans are exposed (i. e. consumers of refined grains), a modest reduction in the entire population could therefore make a large impact (Rose, 2008). While whole grain requirements have already been added to the national school lunch program, this does not address the majority of U.S. adults, as they do not attend public school (Grain requirements for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, 2012). Evidence for policy options can be derived from previous policy regarding trans fat, sodium, and sugar-sweetened beverages, as there has been strong scientific evidence to associate their consumption with poorer health outcomes, and subsequent policies have followed. The first option is to institute a labeling requirement so that manufacturers must clearly label the percentage of whole grain in the product, as recommended by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Current FDA regulations only prohibit false or misleading labeling. However, according to the CSPI, even with FDA regulations, current whole-grain labeling by manufacturers based is still misleading, as items accurately labeled as ‘made with whole grains† can still be primarily comprised of refined grains (CSPI, 2012) Requiring labeling may cause manufacturers to change formulations on their own volition. For example, In the United States, mandatory trans fat labeling decreased trans fatty acid content in manufactured foods, even without substantially increasing saturated fat (Uauy et al., 2009). In a study of 5000 chip and cookie products before and after the mandatory labeling requirement, led to a reduction of 45% and 42% respectively (Van Camp, Hooker, Lin, 2012). Bakery products reduced their trans fat level by 73% after the labeling requirement (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2013). It is important to note that the labeling requirement was in conjunction with the USDA’s 2005 dietary recommendations to â€Å"limit trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible.† (USDA, 2008). In contrast, the current 2010 dietary recommendations for whole grains state that at least half of servings eaten each day should be whole, rather than an explicit limit on refined grains. Labeling and the USDA requirement would therefore need to be concurrent to be most effective. In addition, changes in labeling assumes consumers will be able to understand the new labels, and therefore influence their choice of item. If the labels indeed drive consumer demand, this can provide a motivating force for manufacturers to change formulations in conjunction with the labels. The advantage is minimal government intervention beyond dietary guidelines and labeling requirements. The manufacturers would voluntarily change their product formulations because of consumer demand. Consumers w ould still have autonomy over their choices. Consumers would likely support this policy as it could increase access to information and better inform consumer choice. Food manufacturers would likely oppose this policy, as it would require testing, new labeling, and possible product reformulations, which would increase costs, unless the food manufacturers are highly motivated by consumer demand for the reformulations. A second option is to require that whole grains be the â€Å"default† option at restaurants. The default effect is defined as â€Å"the tendency for decision makers to stick with the default or the option that takes effect if one does make an explicit choice.† (Li and Chapman, 2013). Previous evidence for the default effect is with regards to the McDonald’s Happy Meal, which changed to reduce the French fry serving size, include apples without caramel dipping sauce, and low fat or fat-free chocolate milk in place of soda. Analysis of item-level transaction data that included the children’s meals pre and post meal changes showed that the average meal after changes were initiated reduced calories by 18% (although it is worth noting that the study was partially funded by McDonald’s) (Wansink Hanks, 2014). However, despite success with the Happy Meal, â€Å"nudges† are not always successful, and testing should be conducted before any policy enac ting. The third option is to impose a tax on refined grain foods to discourage purchase. The government may benefit by using the revenue generated by the tax towards health prevention programs. Currently, taxes on harmful substances such as cigarettes can be more easily justified due to their addictive nature, strong evidence towards poorer health outcomes, and their lack of requirement for survival. However, taxes on food items can be unpopular and difficult to enact. Political climates may eventually change, easing passage of this type of policy. For example, New York City’s soda tax was unpopular at the time, but as evidence against sugar-sweetened beverages increased, the idea has become trendy and the political climate has changed. Mexico recently adopted a 10% soda tax which has resulted in a 5% decline in Coca Cola sales (Guthrie, 2014). San Francisco and Berkley, California, are now imposing a soda tax. Past efforts in United States cities have failed due to heavy lobbying b y the food manufacturing industry, as the PepsiCo Inc, Coca Cola Co., and the American Beverage Association have spent $70 million on lobbying and issue ads (Stanford, 2012). References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014f). Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Adult Obesity DNPAO CDC. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html Center for Science in the Public Interest (2012). Misleading whole grain claims rampant on store shelves. Retrieved from http://wholegrainscouncil.org/files/CSPI_wgclaimsPR.pdf. Gross, L. S., Li, L., Ford, E. S., Liu, S. (2004). Increased consumption of refined carbohydrates and the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the United States: an ecologic assessment. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79(5), 774–779. Guthrie, A. (2014, February 26). Mexico Soda Tax Dents Coke Bottler’s Sales. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303801304579407322914779400 Li, Meng, Chapman, G. B. (2013). Nudge to health: Harnessing decision research to promote healthy behavior. Social and Personality Psychology Compass 7(3), 187-198. Retrieved from http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/faculty/pylyshyn/Proseminar13/NudgeToHealth.pdf. McKeown, N. M., Troy, L. M., Jacques, P. F., Hoffmann, U., O’Donnell, C. J., Fox, C. S. (2010). Whole- and refined-grain intakes are differentially associated with abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adiposity in healthy adults: the Framingham Heart Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92(5), 1165–1171. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29106 Mozaffarian, D., Hao, T., Rimm, E. B., Willett, W. C., Hu, F. B. (2011). Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-Term Weight Gain in Women and Men. The New England Journal of Medicine, 364(25), 2392–2404. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1014296 O’Neil, C. E., Zanovec, M., Cho, S. S., Nicklas, T. A. (2010). Whole grain and fiber consumption are associated with lower body weight measures in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.), 30(12), 815–822. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2010.10.013 Rose, G. (2008). Rose’s Strategy of Preventive Medicine. Oxford University Press. Stanford, D. D. (2012, March 13). Anti-Obesity Soda Tax Fails as Lobbyists Spend Millions: Retail. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/anti-obesity-soda-tax-fails-as-lobbyists-spend-millions-retail.html Uauy, R., Aro, A., Clarke, R., L’Abbà ©, M. R., Mozaffarian, D., Skeaff, C. M., †¦ Tavella, M. (2009). WHO Scientific Update on trans fatty acids: summary and conclusions. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63, S68–S75. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.15 USDA. (2008) Chapter 6 Fats. In Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter6.htm. USDA. (2013). Food companies reduced trans fats in new products from 2005 to 2010. (2013.). Retrieved October 13, 2014, from http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/detail.aspx?chartId=40991#.VDwdDhbUKAc Van Camp, D., Hooker, N. H., Lin, C.-T. J. (2012). Changes in fat contents of US snack foods in response to mandatory trans fat labelling. Public Health Nutrition, 15(06), 1130–1137. doi:10.1017/S1368980012000079 Wansink, B., Hanks, A. S. (2014). Calorie reductions and within-meal calorie compensation in children’s meal combos. Obesity, 22(3), 630–632. doi:10.1002/oby.20668

Exploring Change in The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus :: Allegory Sisyphus

Exploring Change in The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus      Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus, are both attempts at explaining some aspect of the way people think or why humans do as observed. Both stories illustrate the same idea:   without necessary and proper exposure to change, thinking is limited and ignorance is the direct product.    The Allegory of the Cave is a parable that demonstrates how humans are afraid of change and what they do not know.   In this work, Plato suggests a situation in which men are living in an underground cave.   The one entrance is located near the top and there, a burning fire casts shadow.   The men of the cave are chained so that they can only see the wall and cannot turn around.   When objects pass by it creates a shadow on the wall.   The shadows are the only thing they can see and therefore is the only thing they know to exist (747).   Somehow one of them gets loose and wanders outside the cave (748).   When he gets out, he is astonished at what he finds.   He comes back in to tell the others about what he saw.   The other men think he is mad and plot to kill him (749).   This illustrates how fear, inherent in the primitive nature of man, only serves to promote his ignorance.   Today a leading cause of stress is change; a change in your job, lifestyle, or significant others can cause stress.   Many Americans are living longer and discovering, as a result, that the learning process can never really be allowed to stop.   To be successful or sometimes even just to maintain a comfortable existence, one must adapt to the rapidly changing order.   Acknowledging that there is more that needs knowing and embarking on new educational journeys requires courage and fortitude, due to man’s inherent nature of fear.   Persons of the best natures must be compelled to attain a more complete knowledge, and those of this more complete education must expose the others to the realities of â€Å" the beautiful, the just, and the good† (752).   Often the path of explanation and clarification is unsure, but confining thought to merely the realms of the known can only prove fatal.   Individuals who currently oppose technological advances and also oppose the furthering of research mirror the cave dwellers who, out of fear, ridicule the newly enlightened wanderer.

Bruce Springsteins I Aint Got No Home (In This World Anymore) and the G

Bruce Springsteins I Aint Got No Home (In This World Anymore) and the Great Depression The 1930s was the time of The Great Depression, which resulted in drastic changes. There were many people who starved trying to find employment, while many others did what was possible to survive a little longer. Everyone across the United Stated had tough times; especially families who tried to stick together to survive. American families were left out on the streets because they couldn’t pay their debts. Most had no other choice than to split up to find their own ways of surviving. The circumstances inspired many who wrote songs and poems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The song ‘I Aint Got No Home (In This World Anymore)’ by Bruce Spingsteen was originally written by Woody Guthrie during the times of the Great Depression. This song is about a man who is forced to become a migrant worker. He lost his farm because of the drought that got to his crops. He couldn’t come up with enough money to pay the bankers who showed up at his door. He has six children who are scattered around trying to survive and a wife who died. He is a man who works when he finds work traveling from town to town.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This song has many references to the conditions of many people during the Great Depression. The narrator is a migrant worker, like many others during that time. He was left with out a home because of the drought that took place during the 1930s’. He finds it amusing how the ones who are gambling are the rich, and the ones...

Rent Control: Pros And Cons :: Rent Control New York Argumentative Essays

Rent Control: Pros and Cons Rent control is the government imposition of price ceilings on rent for apartments in certain areas of a city. The goal is usually to protect the rights of the poor. Thus, in a rent controlled or rent stabilized building, the amount of rent will not increase as quickly as inflation. While the moral side of rent control may have some appeal, in the long run the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. Those who argue in favor of rent control say that it is the only way to protect lower-income tenants from landlords who overprice, and from being forced to move out of a neighborhood because they cannot afford the rent. Limiting the price that a landlord can demand helps maintain a city's ethnic diversity and prevents the creation of slums on the outskirts of the main city. Another thing that proponents say is that by linking rent prices to apartment maintenance and material improvements, rent control actually improves the state of housing. Overall, they argue that the goals of rent control can be reached if they are administered in a careful and just way. The opponents, though, have both theoretical and practical experience on their side. First, rent control creates a market that is unfair for everyone. Since the rent is set at a lower than normal level, an unsatisfied demand is created. This increase in demand leads to an increase in the cost of rents in the uncontrolled sector. Thus, two types of rents are created: those that are unfairly cheap, and those that are unfairly expensive. Another problem that is created is that landlords who own rent controlled apartments are often not able to earn enough money to adequately maintain buildings. This leads to run-down, poor quality housing. In many cases, landlords lose so much money that they are not able to even pay the debt on the properties, and they abandon them. Both of these effects have been documented in New York and elsewhere, and go against the goals of rent control. Finally, rent control has the bad side effect of turning away new construction. This is because even if rent controls don't include new constructions, owners are afraid to build any new buildings if in a few years those too will be taken over by rent control. Rent control thus leads to less construction and an even greater unsatisfied demand. This, in turn, increases the rents of uncontrolled apartments even more. New constructions are also avoided because banks and insurance companies don't want to invest in areas where rent control is in effect, because they know that it is likely that landlords will not be able to Rent Control: Pros And Cons :: Rent Control New York Argumentative Essays Rent Control: Pros and Cons Rent control is the government imposition of price ceilings on rent for apartments in certain areas of a city. The goal is usually to protect the rights of the poor. Thus, in a rent controlled or rent stabilized building, the amount of rent will not increase as quickly as inflation. While the moral side of rent control may have some appeal, in the long run the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. Those who argue in favor of rent control say that it is the only way to protect lower-income tenants from landlords who overprice, and from being forced to move out of a neighborhood because they cannot afford the rent. Limiting the price that a landlord can demand helps maintain a city's ethnic diversity and prevents the creation of slums on the outskirts of the main city. Another thing that proponents say is that by linking rent prices to apartment maintenance and material improvements, rent control actually improves the state of housing. Overall, they argue that the goals of rent control can be reached if they are administered in a careful and just way. The opponents, though, have both theoretical and practical experience on their side. First, rent control creates a market that is unfair for everyone. Since the rent is set at a lower than normal level, an unsatisfied demand is created. This increase in demand leads to an increase in the cost of rents in the uncontrolled sector. Thus, two types of rents are created: those that are unfairly cheap, and those that are unfairly expensive. Another problem that is created is that landlords who own rent controlled apartments are often not able to earn enough money to adequately maintain buildings. This leads to run-down, poor quality housing. In many cases, landlords lose so much money that they are not able to even pay the debt on the properties, and they abandon them. Both of these effects have been documented in New York and elsewhere, and go against the goals of rent control. Finally, rent control has the bad side effect of turning away new construction. This is because even if rent controls don't include new constructions, owners are afraid to build any new buildings if in a few years those too will be taken over by rent control. Rent control thus leads to less construction and an even greater unsatisfied demand. This, in turn, increases the rents of uncontrolled apartments even more. New constructions are also avoided because banks and insurance companies don't want to invest in areas where rent control is in effect, because they know that it is likely that landlords will not be able to

Adults Education Essay

Adult education is very important . adults must know the basic things of life. adult education is needed because it is an essential part of primary education. some people in their early age did not get chance to education because of some reasons but if they are old they can get education and discover their live in a new way. people who are not making effort for the success cant succeed in their lives . we can get education in any age . education helps us in many ways. such knowledge is necessary for every person living in a democratic country. Education is a important part of our life. education means knowledge and it is very important for us. in old times people do not send their girls to schools for education but now people want that there childern should be educated. if we are not educated we have to depend on others but if we are educated we do not have to depend on others. educated person can differentiate between good or bad. education increase our knowledge ways to implement it there is no age limit for education†¦.. We can implement it by making people people aware of it , starting campaigns and doing surveys . Adult education, extension of educational opportunities to those adults beyond the age of general public education who feel a need for further training of any sort, also known as continuing education. is it right? any mistakes? Adult education is needed because it is a powerful auxiliary and an essential incentive to primary education. No programme of compulsory universal education can bear fruit without the active support and co-operation of adults social educa? tion is needed in order to guide in spending their leisure in health? Ful recreations and useful activities. Lastly, illiteracy and ignorance is a sin; an illiterate adult is a burden on society. A The difficulties have to be overcome either by cleverness, or by fact or by compromise, or may be, by intentional avoidance. Only then we can hope to spread Adult Education. The purpose of all good teaching is to produce changes in human behavior. All adult education teacher must adopt a positive approach; adult education emancipates people from the tyranny of illiteracy. [1] Some people, in their early age, did not have the chance to get education for different reasons. When they are old if then, they get education and they can discover themselves in a new way. [2] Learning is a continuous process, and if adult persons have the continued relationship with knowledge is also important. {3] Some adult much time to take rest but if they are engaged in learning they can also have fun and friends. {4] If they are busy something creative jobs, they will never feel boring rather they will feel healthier and happier. We can implement it by making people people aware of it , starting campaigns and doing surveys . 1. in a complex modern democracy, citizens must be knowledgeable. 2. research shows that older people who keep their minds active suffer less dementia and other memory type diseases in old age. 3. in a complex modern economy, workers must be up-to-date on new techniques, and technologies Many people fail to understand that if they don ‘t make the extra effort, they ‘ll never be able to amount to much in life. Some however, after spending a lot of their time as kids fooling around, begin to make the effort to improve their status in life. So being well above thirty or even forty years doesn ‘t matter; anyone can still go back to school to study. It could be any degree that you want. Having missed out on education when you were yet young, still doing school might not look like a good option. However, there are so many adult education programs around, it woul.

Animal Farm/V for Vendetta Essay

In many great texts concerning the politics, it can be observed that the context in which the piece was created greatly influences the ways in which values and themes are presented and the form in which it is produced. Major ground shaking events have the power to transform paradigms of individuals and whole societies, and in turn morph and influence the themes a text created in the same time period implores. Warner Brother’s 2005 film â€Å"V for Vendetta† and George Orwell’s 1945 novelette â€Å"Animal Farm† both deal with concepts present in the political climates of their times and the problems associated with them; the cost of apathy towards injustice, propaganda and its influence, and the crippling aspect of fear. The representation of the themes present in the two texts contrast and compare in many ways due to the diversity in the contexts under which each was created and the universal continuity of the themes present. Read more: Us constitution tyranny essay Orwell’s 1945 text was created at the end of the Russian social revolution that left the once optimistic Russian people in tatters and under the boot of a brutal fascist regime, while the Hollywood movie was created post 9/11 in a time where people turned to their government for protection from unknown threats, willing to sacrifice their liberty for safety. It was situated in a future dystopia as opposed to Animal Farm’s historical setting and warned of what could be the outcome of choosing to blindly follow the neo-conservative politics of film’s time such as Bush’s and Thatcher’s parties. Both texts make political statements that are influenced by the historical and personal context of their creation and contrast and compare greatly in form and values. Primarily, the theme of apathy, and the cost of silence is explored similarly in the two cross-generational texts. Written after the solemn failure of socialism when applied to a practical setting, Orwell pessimistically recounts the outcome of the apathy that Russian citizens expressed in the face of blatant corruption in his fable, â€Å"Animal Farm†. Orwell’s novel is written in the form of an allegory, which recounts the events of the Russian revolution as though it took place on a British farm, and uses various types  of animals to symbolize the different classes of the soviet union (Molly the horse represents the bourgeoisie, Boxer, the proletariats). Animal farm sets out to become a utopia where â€Å"all animals are equal†; working together under the inspiration of a Marxist boar named major (who represents the revolutionary leader Lenin), the animals drive out their human oppressors in a violent rebellion. The pigs take power on the farm due to their à ¢â‚¬Å"superior knowledge† and leadership qualities. Though as the pigs become corrupted by their power, it soon becomes clear to the animals smart enough to comprehend the concept of corruption, that things aren’t as they should be. They become aware of the pig’s greed; they hoard food that should be shared evenly amongst all animals, they twist the truth to better suit their political motives, and they change the constitution of animal farm without public consent. Few animals possess the ability to comprehend that the pigs do not wish to help the public, and Benjamin the donkey comes to be the most prominent advocate for apathy in the novelette. He is one of the smartest animals on the farm and is not fooled for a second by any of the pig’s ruses that work so effectively on the others. He remains neutral to any conflict seen in animal farm; when the hens stage a coup to stand up against their oppression and are subsequently executed, not a word of protest is spoken, and when asked for his opinion on any debate only replies â€Å"donkeys live a long time† to cryptically cynical way of saying â€Å"it all ends up the same†. Benjamin is passive to any change whether it is good or bad; in the honeymoon phase of the revolution in which the pigs express plans for equality and freedom for all, he remains sceptical. He is cynical to any positive outcome as he has believes only that the cycle of power and corruption will repeat its elf, as it has in the past. His silence in the face of the pig’s corruption is broken only at the novel’s climax as his friend Boxer is driven off to the â€Å"knackers† in a truck the other animals believe to be transporting him to the vet. â€Å"Fools! Fools!† he shouts furiously, â€Å"Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?† The animals can’t read the writing of course, but Benjamin could all along, as he could read Animal Farm’s constitution being changed overnight. Benjamin saw the dark path that the revolution was taking and in its early phases had the ability to turn it around. But the apathy he showed landed all of animal farm manipulated and trapped in a position where resistance  was futile and the pigs could rule with an iron fist. Benjamin was cynical with his belief that â€Å"Life would go on as it had always gone on – that is, badly† but in the same way he was a realist, as in the end of animal farm things di d continue as they always had – badly. It is questionable whether Animal Farm’s revolution, and the revolution of its allegory counterpart would have reached a different outcome in Benjamin, and those smart enough to sense the corruption had discarded their apathy and made their awareness known. V for Vendetta similarly deals with the concept of public apathy in the face of social injustice. Set in a future dystopian England, where a totalitarian government has come to power and dominates all aspects of their citizen’s lives, the film’s protagonist â€Å"V† addresses the masses to stir guilt and inspiration in the hearts of the masses in a public service announcement. On a velvet backdrop to the sound of a nationalistic anthem, he speaks powerfully in a direct mid shot behind a podium to enforce the power of his speech. He outlines the myriad of problems plaguing England in an uncensored speech the likes of which many people in London hadn’t heard since the rise of the Norsefire party, and after asking the rhetorical question of â€Å"How did this happen?† answers â€Å"truth be told†¦if you’re looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror†. V blames the oppressed for letting themselves reach their situation with hopes for gaining order in a world of instability. V for Vendetta’s dystopian London fell to the control of the â€Å"Norsefire† dictatorship by letting itself sacrifice liberty in hopes of safety from unknown threats. The context in which V for Vendetta was created is reflected in the film; a wave of neo-conservative politics had embraced the U.S and Britain under the Bush and Thatcher governments, and it could be seen that post 9/11, xenophobia and prejudice had started to consume and fear monger in society. The film warns of the dark outcome that could eventuate if the populous chose to give in to their fear of the unknown and sacrifice free will for a stable yet domineering establishment. Although diverse in contexts, Animal Farm and V for Vendetta approach the issue of apathy and silence similarly. They both criticise the concept by the portrayal of extremely negative outcomes that lead to create oppressive  dystopias, devoid of free will and justice. Furthermore, Animal Farm and V for Vendetta both deal with the political concepts of propaganda and exploitation in similar ways although hailing from diverse time periods. Animal Farm sees the corruption of an idyllic utopia into and oppressive dictatorship, in which the animals are exploited by their pig oppressors, and influenced strongly by their convincing propaganda. The novel once again aligns itself with factual events that occurred in the midst of the Russian revolution and symbolises them respectively. In the novel, Squealer is â€Å"a brilliant talker† with â€Å"the ability to turn black into white†. The pigs utilize squealer’s persuasive talents to convince the rest of the animals of Napoleons benevolence, justify their monopolization of the farm, and turn Snowball into a public enemy that could be pinned with all of the farm’s failures. Squealer uses the memory and intelligence of the animals against them to exploit them by reinforcing a series of convincing lies, and instilling a powerful maxim; â€Å"four legs good, two legs bad†, in the minds of the less intelligent animals, that could be used as a chant to drown out any logical argument. Squealer’s character corresponds with the Russian newspaper, â€Å"Pravda† which at the time held the power to turn black into white the same way as the pig. George Orwell is making a statement on the power of language to exploit and manipulate the masses in the form of propaganda, and warns us to be critical of political media in light of the events from his life. Similarly, V for Vendetta comments on the media’s power to sway the opinions of the public, and the ways in which governments use it to influence citizens. V for Vendetta is based in a society where free speech is non-existent and censorship washes over all aspects of the media. The single minded force of the media, represented by the bold and domineering â€Å"Voice of London†, allows the government to impose only one â€Å"truth† on the public; only one perspective to any event so that it is the only one to believe. After V’s first November 5th bombing and hijacking of the television station in order to instil hope for a revolution in the populous, Sutler’s government begins to twist and re-fabricate the entire event to make it appear as though V were a terrorist meaning to harm the public. Using  emotive and connotative language; â€Å"A psychotic terrorist†, â€Å"Attacked unarmed civilians†, â€Å"to spread a message of hate†, to attach fear and stigma to the vigilante, whilst glorifying the police force; â€Å"during this heroic raid the terrorist was shot and killed† to inspire loyalty and pride in citizens. The propaganda aims to turn public the public opinion from anarchy to fear and in turn compliance. V for Vendetta was composed at a time in which xenophobia allowed politicians to blame many faults on â€Å"Terrorists† typically associated with people of Muslim belief. The labelling of someone that the government believes to be a social deviant as a â€Å"terrorist† was a solution to political issues, and this can be seen reflectively in V for Vendetta. Both texts, written in entirely different contexts, deal with the issue of propaganda and manipulation, and have been strongly influenced by historical examples of gov ernment use of these political tools. Both texts in their respective contexts suggest that fear incapacitates the masses from revolting against oppression. They suggest that fear cripples the hearts and wills of those it dominates, and convinces it’s victims that nothing is worth fighting for. Animal farm reflects the tyrannical reign of Joseph Stalin, Russia’s communist dictator that controlled his people through a network of fear tactics that among many things entailed the murder of millions of civilians he believed to be â€Å"enemies of the state†. In the Russian revolution, the oppressed became the oppressors; Stalin’s government rose to power on a just and fair cause, but sullied it by becoming an oppressive dictatorship, hardly different to the one that the people primarily fought to escape from. In Animal Farm, violence and the fear of violence bends the animals of the farm into submission; Napoleon orders the mass execution of those conspiring against him, and by its end â€Å"the ai r was heavy with the smell of blood, which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones†. It is ironic that things seem to be just as bad on animal farm as they were in the days of jones, yet Squealer’s propaganda still continues to loom the omnipresent fear of the farmer’s return over their heads as if to say; â€Å"No matter how bad things get, they could never be as bad as they were,† and continually states the rhetorical question â€Å"surely you wouldn’t want jones to come back?†. The Fear of Jones’s return keeps the animals of the farm in submission, and once discarded the animals become  capable of great deeds. Major’s speech inspires and motivates the animals to stand up to their oppressor, by morphing their fear into fury. He does this by declaring that once Benjamin becomes too old he will be sent to the â€Å"knackers†. Orwell criticises fear’s power to cripple and paralyse and suggests that once discarded, people become capable of great feats of justice. Animal Farm expresses the representation o f fear and its ability to cripple by aligning it with the contextual events of the Russian revolution. V for Vendetta addresses the concept of fear and violence in a very similar way in its representation of the totalitarian state of England under the â€Å"Norsefire† party. In light of recent events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the film details an alternate timeline in which the western world has let governments turn their fear of the unknown against them, and let them unwittingly sacrifice their liberty for promises of stability and freedom. The â€Å"Norsefire† government uses threats of terrorism and disease to reduce the populace into a state of fear, and convince them that they â€Å"need† the government in order to protect them from the outside world, when in fact all they want is absolute power. An example of the Norsefire government’s use of fear to manipulate the public is when they feel their power slipping away in favour of the masked revolutionary â€Å"V† High Chancellor Sutler says â€Å"what we need right now is a clear messag e to the people of this country this message must be read in every newpaper heard on every radio and seen on every television, I want everyone to realize how close we stand to the edge of oblivion. I want every man woman and child to know how close we are to chaos. I want everyone to remember why the need us!† The message resounds with a series of dreamatic television reports showing the chaos of the outside world, water shortage, civil war, disease. The reports however fail to influence public opinion, as they have already been convinced by V that the government will lie excessively to prove their points. V for Vendetta’s representation of the governments use of fear tactics to attempt to persuade public opinions and elude from real issues resonates with political ploys used to convince the public of the threat of terrorism in the early 2000’s by the Bush and Thatcher governments. When support from the public was needed to justify the invasion of Iraq, they used the media to fear monger and persuade the masses. The contexts of animal farm and V for Vendetta deal  similarly with the issue of fear and it’s use by governments to coerce the public.

Eco friendly theme parks Essay

Inquiring and analyzing Theme parks contribute to a number of environmental problems, one being air pollution. Theme parks require large amounts of energy; they need energy to power the rides, to keep the ac running, to light the park etc. Providing all this energy contributes to CO2 emissions. Not only does the park need huge amounts of energy, the transport to the theme park (e. g. cars, trains, buses etc. ) also emit CO2. Also there’s lots of excess waste produced due to the large crowds attracted to the theme park creating trash. Also, water parks use an excessive amount of water to run their water slides, this creates water wastage. Theme parks may also destroy animal and plant habitat in order for them to be built on the right location but this varies from different theme parks. Why do we need a solution? Global warming is one of the biggest issues that our generation faces, by contributing in this battle against global warming every bit helps. Creating a more ecofriendly form of entertainment can possibly help save our planet. By providing an eco friendly theme park we’re not only making teenagers more aware of our environment but we’re also saving our earth from large emissions of carbon dioxide. Theme parks are mainly here for people’s amusement and entertainment where people can relax and have fun. They’re socially beneficial to escape from one’s daily life and bond with others. Existing theme parks Theme Park Locatio n Type of Theme park Target Audienc e Are they eco friendl y? Type of polluti on caused Water/ener gy conservati on? Wastage minimizati on? Greenh ouse Gas emissio n? Ferrari World Yas. Island Amusem ent Park Families No Air Energy Yes Yes Wild Wadi Jumeir ah Water park Families No Water Water No No Disney World Americ a Amusem ent Park Families Yes Air Energy Yes Minimiz ed Six Flags Americ a Amusem ent park Teenage rs Adults No Air Energy No yes Moviepa rk Germa ny Amusem ent Families No Air Energy No Yes Identify and prioritize the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem Conducting an online Survey using survey monkey targeting teenagers. 1) Conducting how often teenagers visit theme parks and what types to find a suitable solution (ages 14-19) of 20 students. How often do you visit a theme park? Never Once a year Once every couple of months Every months Every week What irritates you the most? Crowded areas Trash Diluted Air What type of Theme park do you prefer Water Park Amusement Park What would you think is a suitable solution against global warming? Solar panels Wind mills Recycling Hydroelectricity http://www. ehow. com/info_8483212_environmental-come-making-theme-p ark. html http://science. howstuffworks. com/environmental/energy/solar-power-help- environment. htm.

The Gaze a Critical of the Female Figure in Art and Advertising

Ideas and Perspectives Module 2012/2013 Claire Hynds The Gaze A Critical of the Female Figure in Art and Advertising 22/01/2013 Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 Chapter 1: History of ‘The Nude’ within European oil Paintings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5-6 Chapter 2: Susanna and the Elders†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6-10 Chapter 3: The Vanity of Women†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 10-11 Chapter 4: Helene Fourment in a Fur Coat†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦11-12 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 13 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 14 List of Illustrations Peter Paul Rubens Susanna and the Elders (1636-40)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Artemisa Gentileschi Susanna and the Elders (1610)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Tintoretto Susanna and the Elders (1555-56)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 Rubens Helene Fourment in a Fur Coat (1577-1640)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 Introduction Women have often been observed in society as being different from a man. A man’s presence is seen as being a powerful force; whereas a woman’s presence has been depicted as being a physical emanation, a kind of heat. It has been said that from a young age a woman has been taught to constantly watch her every move, whether it be her walking across a room, or whilst weeping at the death of a loved one.To be born a woman was said to have been born within a confined space, or into the keeping of a man. Throughout history men have always surveyed a woman before they considered treating them. Consequently how a man treats a woman can be determined by many things, for instance if a woman is to throw a glass on the floor, this is how she expresses her anger towards a situation and how she would like it to be perceived by others, yet if a man was to do the same this would be read as an expression of his anger. As John Berger states in ‘Ways of Seeing’ (P. 47) Men act and wome n appear. Men look at women.Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women themselves. â€Å"The surveyor of women in herself is male: the surveyed is female. Thus she turns herself into an object and most particularly an object of vision: a sight† (John Berger ‘Ways of Seeing’ Page. 47) Chapter 1 History of ‘The Nude’ within European oil Paintings In the history of European oil painting it has been said that women were known for being the primary and ever-recurring subject. In the subject of women they were best known for being painted in the nude.It is said that the first nudes to have been depicted in the history of art was that of Adam and Eve. John Berger has stated (P. 47) that is was worth mentioning the story of Adam and Eve as told in Genesis: ‘And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons†¦.And the Lord God called unto the man and said unto him, â€Å"Where are thou? † And he said, â€Å"I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself†¦. Unto the woman God said, â€Å"I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee† What is found striking about this particular story is how Adam and Eve become aware of each other’s nakedness the exact moment they take a bite of the forbidden fruit, as a result of this they saw one another in a completely different way.Nakedness was created in the mind of the beholder. Wha t is also striking about this story is how the woman is blamed and made to suffer by being made to serve the man. As the traditions of paintings become more secular, other themes are offered up as an opportunity for painting nudes. But in all of them there remains the fact that the subject (a woman) is all too aware of being watched by the spectator. ‘She is not naked as she is. She is naked as the spectator sees her. ’ (John Berger ‘Ways of Seeing. Page. 50) Chapter 2 Susannah and the EldersSusanna and the Elders was one of the most popular images of the sixteenth century, these pieces were taken from the Old Testament story of Susanna and the Elders. The images that were done of Susanna and the Elders were depicted from specific passages from the 13th Chapter of the book of Daniel. Unlike most versions of Susanna and the Elders, the Schonborn painting presents the central confrontation between the main characters, the exact moment within the story when the Elder s return to the garden to seduce Susanna. Mary Garrard (â€Å"Artemisia and Susanna†, Feminism and Art History: Questioning the Litany, Norma Broude and Mary D.Garrard, eds. , pp. 146-171) had this to say on her account of these paintings: Few artistic themes have offered so satisfying an opportunity for legitimized voyeurism as Susanna and the Elders. The subject was taken up by relish by artists from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries as an opportunity to display the female nude, in much the same spirit that such themes as Danae or Lucretia were approached, but with the added advantage that the nude's erotic could be heightened by the presence of two lecherous old men, whose inclusion was both ichnographically justified and pornographically effective. The story of Susanna and the Elders is seen as a remarkable testament of the man’s ego, a biblical theme of the exemplum of a female’s chastity which shows the celebration of sexual opportunity. Or as Max Rooses enthusiastically described Ruben’s version of the story as a â€Å"gallant enterprise mounted by two adventures†. Peter Paul Rubens, Susanna and the Elders, 1636-40 Griselda Pollock (Differencing the Canon, p. 105) states the following on the subject of Susanna and the Elder’s. â€Å"The biblical story of Susanna and theElders tells of a young married Jewish woman living in Babylon during the first exile of the Jewish people (after 586 BCE. ). Susanna is bathing in her garden. She sends her two maids into the house to fetch oil and perfumes for her bath. Two lecherous elders of the community spy on her, conspiring to force her to submit to them sexually. They threaten her that, if she refuses, they will denounce her of adultery with another man, adultery being, according to ancient Jewish law, a capital crime for women.Susanna refuses, preferring the fate of death to the sin they propose. She is then falsely accused by the elders and condemned to death. Daniel, of leonine fame, vindicates Susanna by exposing the elders' mendacity. Interrogating them separately, he asks them under which tree Susanna committed adultery. Each names a different kind of tree. They are then executed for the crime of false witness. † This story is seen as a complex narrative of sexual desire and visual temptation.During the Renaissance the focus of the woman’s nakedness while bathing is exposed to a lecherous conspiracy which emphasized the sexual, voyeuristic and visually violating aspects of the theme, while at the same time providing a biblical and even a theological justification of the painting as an erotic female nude, a genre that was emerging in this period, shifting the focus of the female nude from its traditional association with truth towards a more modern signification of desire and its privileged visuality.Garrard and Pollock’s focus on the subject of Susanna and the Elders is of a painting based on the same subject by A rtemisia Gentileschi. Artemisa Gentileschi, Susanna and the Elders, 1610. In one of the many versions of Susanna and the Elders by Tintoretto, Susanna is seen looking at herself in the mirror. In turn she becomes the spectator herself. Tintoretto, Susanna and the Elders, 1555-56. Mary Garrard Mary Garrard (â€Å"Artemisia and Susanna†, Feminism and Art History: Questioning the Litany, Norma Broude and Mary D.Garrard, eds. , pp. 149-150) presented the following on Tintoretto’s painting of Susanna stating: â€Å"Tintoretto, whose adventurers stage their advance in a manner more sneaky than bold, nonetheless offers a representative depiction of the theme in his emphasis upon Susanna’s voluptuous body and upon the Elders’ ingenuity in getting a closer look at it. † Chapter 3 The Vanity of Women The Mirror was often used within paintings to show the vanity of women. The moralizing, however, was seen as being quite hypocritical. You painted a naked woman because you enjoy looking at her, you put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting ‘Vanity’, thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure†. (John Berger, ‘Ways of Seeing’, P. 51) The main function of the mirror was to make the woman notice herself and see what men see her as, a sight. It is a well-known fact that some paintings do include a male lover. However, the woman’s attention isn’t always directed straight at him.The woman is usually panting looking away from the man or she is seen looking out of the painting supposedly looking towards her true love, or in this case the spectator-owner. In one instance of this type of theme is that of Lely’s painting titled ‘Nell Gwynne’ at painting done especially for the king of that time. In this piece it is clear that the woman is looking passively out of the painting at the spectator, in this case the spectator turns out to be the king. However, Nell’s nakedness was not the expression of her own feelings, but instead was the sign of her submission to the king’s demands. Chapter 4 Helene Fourment in a Fur CoatOne painting that was found to be particularly fascinating was that of Ruben’s young second wife, who he had happily married even though he was, at the time, quite old. Rubens ‘Helene Fourment in a Fur Coat’ 1577-1640 In this piece we see Ruben’s wife in the mist of turning, as she does her fur coat begins to gradually slip off her shoulders. It is clear that if she continues with what she is doing she will not remain covered for very much longer. As her body faces us, even if it isn’t full frontal, it is shown as being a well experienced body. Her appearance has, in the eye of the painter, been altered bye his subjectivity.As John Berger (‘Ways of Seeing’, P. 61) describes ‘There is a displacement sideways of about nine inchesà ¢â‚¬â„¢. If looked at closely it is easy to work out that her thighs, where they are meant to join up with her hips, are seen to be at least a couple of inches apart from the left side of her body. Conclusion The ways of seeing a woman and the way they are presented within a painting have not changed. Women were depicted as being different from men, not because of the difference between feminism and masculinity, but because the spectator is often assumed to be a man and a painting of a naked woman were designed to flatter him. In the art-form of the European nude the painters and spectator-owners were usually men and the persons treated as objects, usually women. This unequal relationship is so deeply embedded in our culture that it still structures the consciousness of many women. They do to themselves what men do to them. They survey, like men, their own femininity†. (John Berger, ‘Ways of Seeing’, P. 63) In the end what was found was quite remarkable and found that women were often observed in society as being different from a man. It just goes to show that even in paintings women will always be seen as objects and nothing more.Bibliography Books: Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin Books. McMillan, K. Weyes, J. (2011) How to Write Essays & Assignments. 2nd ed. Ashford: Pearson Educations Limited. D’Alleva, A. (2010) How to Write Art History. 2nd ed. London: Laurence King Publishing. Broude, N. Garrard, M. D. (1982) Feminism and Art History: Questioning the Litany. 1st ed. New York: Harper & Row. Websites Tilt, S. (2011) Susanna and the Elders [Online]. Available at: http://employees. oneonta. edu/farberas/arth/arth200/women/susanna. html [Accessed: 14 January 2013]

Leadership style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership style - Essay Example The Jack Welsh and Russell Simmons are two important leaders whose leadership has significantly impacted business across the world. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, is renowned for his exemplary leadership quality and his innovative approach in the cutthroat business. He reinforces the concept of value based leadership that promotes and facilitates continuous learning and focuses on participative leadership style that encourages collective decision and mutual trust building to improve and improvise outcome (Welsh, 2005). Simmons on the other hand relies primarily on charismatic leadership that is focused on exploiting the potential of black youth through hip hop culture that may not be applicable for people across the board. His leadership style, is based on inflaming the emotions of the target audience and thereby influence their decision making. McShane defines a leader as ‘one who has vision, perseverance, and the capacity to inspire others’ (2003). Welsh’s leadership addresses organizational leadership and exhorts them to adopt dynamic strategies to meet the challenges of the changing times. The leadership is focused on knowledge and skills of the employees and exploits them to achieve organizational goals. Strong communication skill and intrinsic understanding of human nature become vital factors that inspire change towards the better. Cross cultural understanding and relationship building are strong ingredients of Welsh’s leadership. Simmons’ leadership has emerged from a sense or concept of inequity, racism and self empowerment of the African Americans. He has exploited the cultural dynamics of Hip Hop phenomenon of the black community to address their myriad problems. Welsh encourages creativity and innovative practices that give a unique perspective to participatory approach of management and students. The motivating factor of leadership facilitates adaptability to changing equations, which

COFFEE TRENDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Report on Religious Field Research Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Report on Religious Field Research - Term Paper Example (Jungman, 2012) During the first 280 years in Christian history, Christianity was ruled out in the Roman Empire and Christians were heavily persecuted. This arbitrary changed after the â€Å"conversion† of the Roman Emperor Constantine. He allowed Christians to worship and made Christianity legal with the Milan’s Edicit in A.D 313. In A.D 325, Constantine summoned the council of Nicaea in an attempt popularize Christianity. Constantine postulated that Christianity would unite the Roman Empire which at that time was fragmenting gradually. This generated positive results towards the development of Christianity at the time. (Jungman, 2012) However Constantine did not fully accept Christianity, instead he mixed some Roman pagan beliefs which are still intact up to date. The impetuous behind Constantine’s action of blending Christianity and Roman paganism was that Christian was a foreign religion and Romans could not have just left their religion and embrace a foreign one fully. Some of the Christianized beliefs include: (i) Cult of Isis was a mother –goddess from Egyptian religion. It was absorbed and harmonized with Christianity and it was replaced by the Virgin Mary. Many titles that were meant for Isis were attached to Mary, i.e., â€Å"Queen of Heaven†, â€Å"Mother of God†, theotokas (â€Å"God –bearer†) among other adoration names. Mary was given supreme positions as the roles far much ahead than the bible ascribes to her. This was done in order to attract the Isis worshippers to Christianity. Failure to do this, any efforts would lead to frustration. (George, 2009) (ii) Mithraism was a renowned religion in the Roman Empire which was practiced in the 5th century A.D .It was popular among the Roman soldiers sand also the Roman Emperors. Mithraism lacked the â€Å"official â€Å"status in the Roman Empire, it was accepted as the de facto official religion not until the Roman Emperors replaced Mithraism w ith Christianity. The key aspects of Mithraism was sacrificial meal (theophagy, eating ones god), sacraments among other conspicuous features. Constantine and the successors found it easy to substitute Mithraism with the Lords supper /Holy Communion which unfortunately prompted some early Christians to attach mysticism to the lords supper, rejecting the biblical idea of remembrance worship and meditation of Christ’s sacrificial death and the blood He shed. (Charles, 1982) (iii) Henoticism is a distinguishing feature of roman pagan religion. It involves believing in the existence of many gods but focuses primarily on one particular god which is considered to be the most superior god. For instance, Jupiter was the supreme Roman god. The Roman sailors normally worshipped Neptune, which was the god of the oceans. Christianization of Roman paganism involved the replacing of Roman gods with saints just as the Roman chain of gods had a god of love, god of peace, god of war, god of s trength among other gods which were claimed to exist(Charles, 1982.) The â€Å"Papacy† that exists in the hierarchy of Catholic Church is a continuation of what was created by the Roman Emperors,

The Historical Evolution of the European Union from Its Earliest Research Paper

The Historical Evolution of the European Union from Its Earliest Post-War Beginnings under the Schuman Plan and the European Coal & Steel Community - Research Paper Example Introduction European integration was initiated in 1950 through the Schumann Plan, which established The European Coal and Steel Community (EASC). The aim was to confront fears that the dominance of Germany’s coal and steel industries could be detrimental to European post war reconstruction efforts or be harnessed to build a war machine (Lipgens and Loth, 1988). At a personal level, the plan’s chief architect, jean Monnet, hoped that the project would shore up French reconstruction plans and capacity by Europeanizing the technical planning process. Most proponents of the project hoped that ECSC would pave way for integration beyond coal and steel, and induce a more profound relationship (Sloan, 2005). The Robert Schuman Speech Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister acting on advice from his adviser jean Monnet, made a historical speech on 9th may 1950. The speech addressed pertinent issues affecting Europe such as the just ended World War Two, economic situation in European states, the unfolding cold war between Soviet Union and the US, the plague coup that facilitated the communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, the Berlin blockade, the first soviet atomic bomb, and forces in the USA advocating for a German rearmament (Lipgens and Loth, 1988). ... A high authority, later named as European Coal and Steel Community, was to overlook the Franco-German coal and steel industry. The perceived fusion of economic interests would raise standards of living and inspire the formation of a European community. Decisions of the proposed High Authority were to be binding on member states while the high authority was to be independent and have equal representation. The founding partners had to invent a unique law and avoid the principle of unanimity. As a result, the law designed was neither national nor international, but transnational or supranational as such; the EU law was in violation of some national laws and required a high social competence to practice (Gerber, 1998). Initially, the EASC had six founding members who consisted of Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The 1957 Treaty of Rome created the European Common Community (ECC) or Common Market. The founding nations of the European Union sacrificed some of t heir sovereignty in favor of economic integration, supranational governance, and collective peace. The motive was to rise above nationalistic heroism that had dominated the early decades of the twentieth century, precipitating two world wars, loss of life, and economic destruction (Sloan, 2005). European political leaders wanted to end international strife, promote economic well being, foster social harmony, and build a better world free of rivalries and hatred. Therefore, the initial functions of the EU were to foster peace and prosperity (Sloan, 2005). There were two ideological approaches to European integration; the federalist approach advocated for local, national and regional authorities to cooperate and complement each other while the functionalist

Compare and Contrast Two of the Baptist Confessions Essay

Compare and Contrast Two of the Baptist Confessions - Essay Example Baptist confessions are within the grand framework of history and salvation. Hence the baptismal rule is not the rationale ‘after the fact’, but baptism’s innate basis (Garrett 2009: 64). It implies that the church practices baptism not on its own scheme and power, but in deference to its God. Nevertheless, the baptismal rule not merely establishes baptism but provides it its essence. Hence baptism on the authority of the Lord is not merely a procedure, similar to others for carrying out baptism; it is instead a confession of the internal content and theological and historical foundation of baptism (Garrett 2009). Furthermore it is the pledge and epiclesis of deliverance, not as sheer rite, and definitely not as a sacrament working supernaturally (Brackney 2004); but in the authority of this commanding pledge, baptism acquires its authority to bring about salvation. The baptismal sacrament was an essential foundation for the creation, and growth, of confession of the faith. Baptism was, similarly, connected to the ‘catechumenate’ as initiation into the life of the church and faith (Garrett 2009: 664). The churches emerging from the evangelist movement have relived this association; it has become meaningful for the European independent churches in distinct ways. Because of the separation of the culture from Western churches, the revival of the ‘catechumenate’ (Garrett 2009: 664) has presently turned out to be significant for the being and continued existence of the early churches. This paper discusses the similarities and differences between two Baptist confessions, namely, the First London Baptist Confession of 1644-1646 and the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. Comparing and Contrasting the First and Second London Baptist Confession In the analysis of the 1646 Westminster Confession and the 1689 Second London Confession, it can be discerned that there is an emphasis given to God’s law concisely inter preted in the Mosaic Law of Moses as a principle of life for the follower. In contrast, the emphasis of the 1644 First London Confession is on the rules of the New Covenant, or Christ’s commandments (n.a. 1981). Basically, even though these two confessions have crucial similarities with regard to the steadfast nature of the perpetual moral command of God, there is a different New Covenant focus regarding biblical rules in the two versions of the First London Confession (Long 2003), specifically, noticeably absent in the Old Covenant stress of the Second London Confessions. The aforementioned difference between the First and Second London Confession has significant theological repercussions in interpreting both the function of biblical commandments as the moral principle of God or commandment for the life of the follower within the New Covenant, and for interpreting the connection of God’s commandment to Christ’s gospel (Brackney 2004); hence, the current explana tion for the revision of the First London Confession. The issue suddenly comes out: the historical explanation for the adoption of the Second London Confession instead of the First by the Particular Baptist churches. If the First and Second London Confession are basically the same, then what is the purpose for the creation of the latter? The explanation rests in the events surrounding the collapse