Does It Matter If You Get Bad Grades

Grades matter when it comes to meeting future education goals, but goals and weighted GPAs are very different from one student to the next. For most students, the two biggest factors when it comes to grades are potential for scholarship awards and potential for college acceptance. Middle School Grades   Frankly, the most important goal for middle school students is to learn. Students must establish a solid foundation in the middle grades to be successful in high school. But dont stress: there is some good news here if youve already earned bad grades in middle school. Sometimes students can learn what they need to learn in middle school, but still, receive a bad report card because of poor attendance from illness or because of a bad experience. If your grades are bad in middle school, it probably wont hurt your chances of getting into your college of choice, or even receiving scholarship offers for college, as long as you have learned what you need to learn for high school! And if you havent learned what you need to in class, you can review on your own. A possible exception to this is receiving a bad grade in an honors class (usually in eighth grade) that counts as high school credit. The bad grade may be included in your high school GPA. Even so, you can recover from this, and most colleges will consider the situation and/or allow you to explain. High School Grades High school grades do matter when it comes to earning scholarships for college and being accepted into your college of choice. If your dreams are lofty and you have your heart set on one specific college, then you must take your grades seriously. You should avoid grade problems ahead of time if you become ill and have to miss class, or if you have a serious situation in your life that might impact your grades. You can sometimes avoid bad grades by simply communicating with your teacher. But just for the record, it is usually not a good idea to pin your hopes and dreams on a single college. This can cause stress and pressure, and that can do even more harm. In the event that you are already stuck with a bad grade point average in high school and you really want to go to college — you dont have to despair, really. You just have to be flexible about the type of college you are willing to attend, and you may have to prepare to pay your way through college with your family funds or through financial aid. Public colleges may have a rigid minimum GPA requirement, and they may not have the flexibility to consider each situation individually. If you find that you do not meet a minimum GPA requirement for universities in your state, you may have a few options. Many universities have set up alternative paths or plans for students who dont meet minimum entrance requirements. This type of program might involve an intense, challenging (and expensive) summer program that students must complete for fall acceptance, or it might involve a transfer program that requires that students start at a local community college and earn enough credits to allow them to transfer into the university of choice. College Grades Once students make it to college, they might think its okay to relax when it comes to grades. That can be dangerous! College grades matter when it comes to staying in college, receiving and keeping financial aid, and getting into a graduate school, if that is a goal. College grades can also matter when it comes to getting a good job. First, it is important to know that your first semester of college can be the most critical one when it comes to finishing college and keeping your financial aid. If you have too much fun and earn bad grades in your first semester, you can lose your financial aid - and earn a ticket home. This happens to thousands of college students every year, so beware this nightmare scenario. Secondly, your grades matter when it comes to getting accepted into certain majors, and students who mess up in the first semester can also sabotage their own future plans with bad grades, by locking themselves out of a major with a single failing grade. For example, it is not unusual for a specific degree program to have a C or Better policy in science courses. If you take a lab science in your first semester and earn a D, that can lock you out of several degree programs. Another reason to keep your college grades up is for graduate school acceptance. Many careers require advanced degrees — so you may have to go through a second college search once youve earned your first college degree. Your GPA is a critical factor for this. Finally, it might surprise you to know that some employers ask for college transcripts. A few bad grades might not hurt in this instance, but your overall performance will be a factor for some potential employers.

Reasons For Pro Capital Punishment - 1874 Words

Cultural Relativist states that morality is created collectively by groups of humans and differs from society to society. Each type of society has its own moral norms which are binding on the people who belong to that type of society. Each type of society defines who is and who is not a member of the moral community. When it comes to capital punishment, you could use Cultural Relativist as a tool or guide. There are many people who fall into different types of groups when talking about capital punishment, there are some people who are pro-capital punishment and there are others who are against it. Capital punishment is defined as: the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. There are many reasons to be pro-capital punishment for example; Safety is the first thing that comes to my mind, you have one less person to worry about ever going to cause harm or pain in the world ever again. The second is the cost of prison time, sending people away to prison is a lot more expensive today than it was years ago. This is where capital punishment comes into place. It is a lot cheaper to just execute someone then just send them to jail. When it comes to being against capital punishment this is where certain types of religions come into place, others may not believe in executing someone because their religion does not approve of that type of treatment. In other words, God simply would not support the idea of execution. Another example would be morality, theShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment Essay667 Words   |  3 PagesAdvent Catholic Encyclopedia, Capital Punishment is the infliction by due legal process of the penalty of death as a punishment for crime. Capital Punishment, also known as, the Death Penalty has been around for centuries. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes (www.deathpenaltyinfo.org) . Not only is Capital Punishment ancient, it is highly controversialRead MoreBureau Of Justice Statistics : The United States Primary Source For Criminal Justice1439 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). U.S. Department of Justice. 25 Nov. 2014. Web. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. Bureau of Justice Statistics is the United States primary source for criminal justice statistics. The website has published information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. According to Bureau of Justice Statistics, â€Å"The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is a component of the OfficeRead More The Benefits of Capital Punishment Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesBenefits of Capital Punishment Justice is about enforcing consequences for one’s own actions to endorse personal responsibility and the notion of capital punishment does just that. Capital punishment is an effective and efficient method of deterring would be criminals and preventing criminals to commit more crimes. It is by far the oldest form of punishment in the world and remains in effect in many nations. Through discussing many arguments in support of capital punishment it is obviousRead MoreThree Arguments For The Continuance of Capital Punishment Essay1740 Words   |  7 Pagesstudent in Sociology, I humbly impart my standpoint to the Justice System regarding the case on whether or not to abolish capital punishment. There is indeed a present case as of today that one US state had declared their petition on permanently removing death penalty in the entire United States. I believe that this is a very callous appeal – one main reason we have capital punishment is to develop a sense of moralit y as well as protection within the whole society, not to put such great emphasis on theRead MoreEssay on Capital Punishment720 Words   |  3 PagesCapital Punishment The definition of capital punishment is the legal punishment of death for violating criminal law. The person who gets capital punishment is the ones who committed serious crimes. Methods of capital punishment throughout the world are by stoning, beheading, hanging, electrocution, lethal injection and shooting. The two most common methods capital punishment use in the United States are lethal injection and electrocution. The lethal injection is the most used form of capitalRead More Pro Death Penalty Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishment and the practice of the death penalty is an issue that is passionately debated in the United States. Opponents of the death penalty claim that capital punishment is unnecessary since a life sentence accomplishes the same objective. What death penalty opponents neglect to tell you is that convicted murders and child rapists escape from prison every year(List of prison escapes, 2015). As I write this essay, police are searching for two convicted murders who escaped from the ClintonRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty1482 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. McElmoyl 12/12/14 Capital Punishment As stated by former governor of New York, Mario M. Cuomo, Always I have concluded the death penalty is wrong because it lowers us all; it is a surrender to the worst that is in us; it uses a power- the official power to kill by execution- that has never brought back a life, need inspired anything but hate. (Cuomo 1) This is one of the main arguments against capital punishment (also known as the death sentence.) Capital punishment is the ability for a governmentRead MoreShould Capital Punishment Still be Used in the American System1260 Words   |  6 PagesCapital punishment, also known as the death penalty, â€Å"is the pre-meditated and planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person† (usliberals.about.com). â€Å"Most death penalty cases involve the execution of murderers.† Capital punishment can also be â€Å"applied for treason, espionage, and other crimes† (ProCon.org Death Penalty ProCon.org ). The death penalty is done â€Å"primarily by means of lethal injection† (ProCon.org Death Penalty ProConRead MoreCapital Punishment Of The United States1152 Words   |  5 PagesRogerian Essay: Capital Punishment   Ã‚  Ã‚   There has been about 15,760 executions in the United States since 1700, (http://time.com/deathpenalty/), but that is counting all types of executions, for example: burning, firing squad, hanging, gas, electrocution, injection, and others. Now looking from when the capital punishment was approved in 1976 (Death penalty Information Center), only 1,448 executions have been made. The capital punishment was made for â€Å"retribution, theory which demand for ‘tooth forRead More Capital Punishment Essays1530 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Capital Punishment He is escorted down to a room with handcuffs on both arms and feet. The tension in the room causes nervousness and a stirring in his stomach, which entombs his dinner from the night before. He is told to take a seat. Still in doubt of his fate he notices the witnesses and their various expressions. His family is grief-stricken, a sharp contrast to the family of the brutally murdered, for which he was found guilty of

Dementia Brain and Self Care Activities free essay sample

Alzheimers disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. In Alzheimers disease, the connections between brain cells and the brain cells themselves degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function. The disease was first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician, in 1906. Its the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that results in the loss of intellectual and social skills. These changes are severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life. Definition Alzheimers disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brains nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. Epidemiology An estimated 5% of people older than age 65 have a severe form of this disease, and 12% suffer from mild to moderate dementia. Because this is a primary progressive dementia, the prognosis for a patient with this disease is poor. Causes †¢Unknown †¢Neurochemical factors, such as deficiencies of the neurotransmitters, acetylcholine, somatostatin, norepinephrine. †¢Viral factors such as CNS factors. †¢Genetic immunological factors †¢Trauma †¢Environmental factors, such as aluminium and manganese Risk factors Age Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimers. Alzheimers is not a part of normal aging, but the risk increases greatly after the person reach age 65. Nearly half of those older than age 85 have Alzheimers. Family history and genetics The risk of developing Alzheimers appears to be somewhat higher if a first-degree relative — if the person’s parent or sibling — has the disease. If there is changes (mutations) in three genes that virtually guarantee a person who inherits them will develop Alzheimers. But these mutations account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimers disease. Sex Women may be more likely than are men to develop Alzheimers disease, in part because they live longer. Mild cognitive impairment People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have memory problems or other symptoms of cognitive decline that are worse than might be expected for their age, but not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia. Those with MCI have an increased risk — but not a certainty — of later developing dementia. Past head trauma People whove had a severe head trauma or repeated head trauma appear to have a greater risk of Alzheimers disease. Lifestyle and heart health Lack of physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social engagement and a healthy diet. Others Lack of exercise Smoking High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Poorly controlled diabetes A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables Lack of social engagement Stages and Symptoms Alzheimer’s disease progresses in three stages: a)Mild or Early Stage Functions Symptoms Language Anomia, empty speech Memory Defective Visuospatial skills Impaired Calculation Impaired Personality Indifferent, occasionally irritable, sad or depressed Motor system Normal EEG Normal CT/MRI scan Normal b)Moderate or Middle Stage Functions Symptoms Language Fluent aphasia Memory Severely impaired Visuospatial skills Severely impaired Personality Indifferent, irritable, suspicious and angry Motor system Restless, pacing EEG Slowing of background rhythms CT scan/ MRI Atrophy c)Severe or Late Stage Functions Symptoms Intellectual function Severely impaired Language Palilalia, echolalia or mutism Motor system Limb rigidity Sphincter control Incontinence EEG Diffuse slowing CT scan/ MRI Diffuse atrophy Tests and Diagnosis †¢History taking of the patient with his/her near family members, relatives and friends. †¢Physical and neurological exam Reflexes Muscle tone and strength Ability to get up from a chair and walk across t the room Sense of sight and hearing Coordination Balance †¢Lab tests Blood tests may help to rule out other potential causes of memory loss and confusion, such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies. †¢Mental status testing A brief mental status test is done to assess the memory and other thinking skills. Short forms of mental status testing is done which takes about 10 minutes. †¢Neuropsychological testing consists of a battery of tests designed to assess cognitive ability and reasoning. These tests can help differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from other types of dementia. †¢Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis may help determine if the patient’s signs and symptoms stem from a chronic neurologic infection. Cerebral blood flow studies may detect abnormalities in blood flow to the brain. †¢EEG Allows evaluation of the brain’s electrical activity and may show slowing of the brain waves in the late stages of the disease. This diagnostic test also helps identify tumors, abscesses, and other intracranial lesions that might cause the patient’s symptoms. †¢Brain imaging Images of the brain are now used chiefly to pinpoint visible abnormalities related to conditions other than Alzheimers disease — such as strokes, trauma or tumors — that may cause cognitive change. Brain-imaging technologies include: Computerized tomography (CT) In some patients shows progressive brain atrophy in excess of that which occurs in normal aging. -Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Magnetic resonance imaging may permit evaluation of the condition of the brain and rule out intracranial lesions as the source of dementia. -Positron emission tomography (PET) Measures the metabolic activity of the cerebral cortex and may help confirm early diagnosis. Treatments and drugs †¢No cure or definitive treatment exists for Alzheimer’s Disease. Treatment focuses on attempting to slow disease progression, managing behavioral problems, implementing modifications of the home environment, and eliciting family support. †¢However some medications have proven helpful. Cholinesterase inhibitors ?These drugs work by boosting levels of a cell-to-cell communication chemical depleted in the brain by Alzheimers disease. Less than half of those taking these drugs can expect to have any improvement in their memory function. ?Commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors include donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Razadyne) and rivastigmine (Exelon). The main side effects of these drugs include diarrhea, nausea and sleep disturbances. Memantine (Namenda) ?This drug works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms with moderate to severe Alzheimers disease. Its sometimes used in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Prevention †¢Many of the same factors that increase the risk of heart disease can also increase the risk of Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia. Important factors that may be involved include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, excess weight and diabetes. Therefore considerations should be made for reducing the risks related to the disease. †¢Physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social engagement and a healthy diet may be helpful. These activities also help in memory compensation strategies that help optimize daily function even if brain changes progress. †¢Keeping active — physically, mentally and socially — may make life more enjoyable and may also help reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease. †¢Regular exercise has known benefits for heart health and may also help prevent cognitive decline. Exercise may also help improve mood. †¢A diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is another heart-healthy choice that also may help protect cognitive health. †¢Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are good for the heart and can boost on cognitive health. †¢Social engagement and intellectual stimulation may make life more satisfying and help preserve mental function. Nursing Management Assessment History Taking Mental Status Examination Physical Examination Reviewing Symptoms Nursing Diagnosis ? Impaired thought process related to declining cognitive function ? Risk for injury related to decline in cognitive function ? Anxiety related to confused thought processes ? Imbalanced nutrition less than body requiremente related to cognitive decline ? Activity intolerance related to imbalance in activity/rest pattern ? Deficient self care, bathing/hygiene, feeding, toileting related to cognitive decline ? Impaired social interaction related to cognitive decline ? Deficient knowledge of family/caregiver related to care for patient as cognitive function declines Planning and Goal Supporting cognitive function Promoting physical safety Reducing anxiety Maintaining adequate nutrition Improving activity tolerance Promoting independent in self care activities Meeting socialization needs Improve education for caring the patient at home Nursing Intervention ?Supporting cognitive function Provide a calm, predictable environment to minimize confusion and disorientation. Help patient feel a sense of security with a quiet, pleasant manner, clear, simple explanation and use of memory aids and cues. ?Promoting physical safety Provide a safe environment to allow patient to move about as freely as possible and relieve family’s worry about safety. Prevent falls and other accidents by removing obvious hazards and providing adequate lighting. Monitor intake of medication and food. Supervise all activities outside the home to protect patient. Avoid restraints, because they may increase agitation. ?Reducing anxiety and agitation Give emotional support to support a positive self image. When skill losses occur, adjust goals to fit patient’s declining ability and structure activities to help prevent agitation. Keep the environment simple, familiar, and noise free; limit changes. Remain calm and unhurried. Use easy to understand sentence to convey messages. ?Promoting adequate nutrition Keep mealtimes simple and calm. Cut food into small pieces to prevent choking and convert liquids to gelatin to ease swallowing. Offer one dish at a time. Prevent burns by serving typically hot food and beverages warm. ?Balancing activity and rest Help patient to relax to sleep with music, warm milk or a back rub. To enhance night time sleep, provide sufficient opportunities for day time exercise. Discourage long periods of day time sleeping. ?Promoting independence in self care activities Simplify daily activities into short achievable steps so that the patient feels sense of accomplishments. Maintain patient’s personal dignity and autonomy. Encourage patient to make choices when appropriate and to participate self care activities as much as possible. ?Meeting socialization needs Encourage visits, letters and phone calls. (visits should be brief and nonstressful; with one or two visitors at a time). ?Family Teaching Advise family member to provide patients with exercise. Suggest physical activities, such as walking or light house work, that occupy and satisfy the patient. Tell them about the importance of diet. The patient becomes forgetful especially of recent events. Aware of his function, he may compensate by relinquishing tasks that might reveal his forgetfulness.

Tobacco Litigation and the Youth Essay Example For Students

Tobacco Litigation and the Youth Essay Tobacco Litigation and the YouthAbstractOver the yearsthe tobacco industry has faced a number of controversies. Even though it hasbeen accused of everything short of murder it has managed to survive andthrive. Yet, the trend is changing the consumers are no longer to sit back andsign their death warrants and those of their children as they inhale the deadlysmoke that emerges from the manufacturer product. They are fighting back andthe law is backing them all the way. (Pierce JP et al 1991)Introduction. The business ofmaking tobacco products has come into the limelight as the conspiracy theoriesof the industry are being revealed. Through the litigation being carried outagainst them, it has been seen that the industry players are an oligopoly in afree market and are against the consumer. They have no values for the rights ofthe consumers and are working for sheer profit. They have together created thetrend of suppressing the development of less hazardous cigarettes so that thereare no ways for comparison against the more harmful cigarettes. The reason forthis is simple. The industry is one that is dependent on its product. If onecompany accuses another of making a product that is harmful or addictive theother companies will follow suit and if this happens the consumer would have tosit up and listen. They would then realize that all is not rosy and the messagebeing given to them that smoking is something done by successful, healthy,young, smiling people with very white teeth is wrong. (Herbert B. 1998)False AdvertisingThe tobaccoindustry is facing charges of false advertising. For years the firms havetargeted the audience making false claimsin spite of knowing the harm thatthe product causes. With the emergence of the global market the consumers havegotten smarter and realize that the tobacco companies have been giving them thewrong information regarding the marketing of their product. (New York Times;October 11, 1998.)Consider thestatements being made by the representatives of the tobacco companies thatsmoking is harmless. In 1994, the CEOs of seven tobacco companies testified,under oath, that nicotine is not addictive. And yet, the tobacco companies havelong known that nicotine is addictive. One industry document from 1963 says, . . . nicotine is addictive. We are . . . in the business of selling nicotine,an addictive drug. (http://www.womenof.com/Articles/le030298.asp)Similarly thetobacco industry has known that smoking causes cancer and yet, they have madepu blic claims that have stated that they do not have conclusive proof of thefact. We will write a custom essay on Tobacco Litigation and the Youth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Yet, in theirown files, the tobacco companies had plenty of proof that smoking cigarettesdoes cause cancer. A 1961 confidential memorandum, for example, describescigarette tobacco as:1. Cancercausing; 2. Cancerpromoting; 3. Poisonous;and 4. Stimulating,pleasurable, and flavorful. Adolescent SmokingWhat has reallycreated the fervor against the tobacco industry is the realization that theyare targeting our future and crippling it. It is targeting the youth. Accordingto a U.S. Surgeon Generals Report, every day 3,000 children become smokers. Ofthose 3,000 kids, 1,000 will die prematurely because of their tobacco habit. Tobacco use among minors has risen dramatically in recent years, despite thefact that it remains illegal for minors to purchase tobacco. Every year,425,000 Americans die from smokinga habit most of them began as teenagers. Toput that number in perspective, think about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Thats seven times the number of names on the Vietnam wall. (http://www.womenof.com/Articles/le030298.asp)The fact is thatsmoking for youth fewer than eighteen years of age is considered illegal andyet, companies still cater to the kids breaking the lawtime and time again. Joe Camel is although its not the only one is one of advertising aimeddirectly, and successfully, at kids. According tofiles from the tobacco industry polls were analyzed regarding the best mannerin which to sell cigarettes to kids from the age of 14-18. Kids were encouragedto shoplift to get cigarettes so that in the future they would become goodcustomers. Philip MorrissMarlboro, became the dominant brand by the early 1970s on the strength of itsappeal to young baby boomers. Documents show that every manufacturer sought toreplicate that success. Todays teenager is tomorrows potential regularcustomer, and the overwhelming majority of smokers first begin to smoke whilein their teens, noted a 1981 Philip Morris corporate memo. At leastpart of the success of Marlboro Red during its most rapid growth period wasbecause it became the brand of choice among teenagers who then stuck with it asthey grew older. The document defined teenagers as those 12 to 19 yearsold. (Fromson 1998)Litigation CausesIn lieu of thefacts that have been realized through some of the litigation cases the Congressbegan to consider forming a National Legislation that would allow all tobaccolawsuits to be settled. The reason for the legislation would be simple. Whilethe tobacco companies right to sell to adults would be predeterminedit wouldnot have the right to market to the youth. This would be done through providingthe public accurate information and considering the adults as having the rightto make an informed choice. The nationallegislation would then be in a position to make an effort so that thegovernment would make youth stop smoking. The national legislation would allow the nation to realizethe effects of tobacco on the children and be more appropriate than the statestrying to fight against the uncertain suits arising throughout its tenure. Thenational legislation would balance regulatory power between the states andfederal agencies. (Skretny MT, et al 1990)State of Colorado vs. the Tobacco Companies 1997The State ofColorado filed suit against tobacco companies because the industry over theyears has targeted youth with their products and has discounted the notion thattobacco was addictive. As a result, state Medicaid funds have been consumed atan alarming rate to address the health problems incurred by those who smoke. This settlement holds the tobacco industry liable for smoking-related illnessesand awards damages accordingly. The settlementreached between the five largest tobacco companies and attorneys general from46 states, four territories and the District of Columbia will total $206billion over 25 years. Colorado will receive nearly $2.7 billion over thatperiod. Colorados initial share is expected to be almost $33 million, with thestate receiving roughly $100 million per year under the terms of thesettlement. However, the final amount is based on several factors of whichinflation and tobacco consumption are major variables. .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .postImageUrl , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:hover , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:visited , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:active { border:0!important; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:active , .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u597d9d7539598c9c68d69c65f4c9931d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Things They Carried By Tim O`Brien EssayA studyconducted by the University of California at Berkeley found that medical billsfrom tobacco-related illnesses total a staggering $72 billion in the U.S. eachyear. These expenses are truly outrageous and Colorado should use its share ofthe tobacco settlement to improve the health of Coloradans and prevent the highmedical bills associated with this deadly habit. Gale Norton StatementI am a proponent of personal responsibility forones actions. The history of the war on drugs demonstrates the difficulty ofregulating Americans use of substances. With 48 million Americans addicted tonicotine, I believe there is little chance of developing a public consensus atleast in the next 10- 15 years favoring tobacco prohibition, much lessovercoming the practical problems of administering a worthwhile enforcementprogram. Given these views, I was a tough sell on the idea that litigationagainst the tobacco industry was justified. However, as part of my duties to the Peopleof Colorado, my staff and I reviewed thousands of pages of documents revealingthe behaviors of the tobacco industry over several decades. After careful andthoughtful analysis, I concluded that the behaviors of the industry inmarketing to and encouraging the use of tobacco products by kids,misrepresenting the health effects of their products, and conspiring to keepsafer products off the mark et were illegal under well-established Colorado law. Given these violations of Colorado law, I filed suit. We sought civilpenalties, treble damages, and disgorgement of illegal profits, as well asinjunctions against future illegal conduct. I believe that Colorado has a solid case,and we are prepared to litigate. Nevertheless, I strongly support thesettlement agreement because I believe it provides a means to establish aconsistent and orderly resolution of the tobacco industry issues for the entirenation. It is clearly preferable to lengthy and uncertain litigation which mayresult in different results and regulation in each of the states. Thisagreement represents a compromise, which though not perfect, achieves as muchor more than litigation ever could, and provides a balance of regulatory powerbetween the states and federal agencies. Criticism of the settlement has tended tofocus on whether it went far enough in punishing the tobacco companies. Whilethe settlement reflects a hard-fought compromise, some of the public debatereflects the best in Monday-morning quarterbacking. For example, if youthsmoking reduction goals are not met, the settlement would impose the largestpenalty ever paid by any industry. This penalty accomplishes the objective ofreorienting the incentives for the industry: giving them a financial stake inpreventing underage smoking. This allows us to work with the industry to combatteen smoking. It allows us to use the manufacturers influence over theirdistributors and retailers to create a true change in industry mindset. (Norton Congressional Testimony 1997)Texas vs. Tobacco firms The tobaccoindustry agreed to pay a record $14.5billion to settle a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas, representing thelatest in a series of concessions by the beleaguered industry. (Torri andConnolly 1998)Under the termsof the settlement, private lawyers representing the state will walk with nearly$2.2 billion. The Texas lawsuit was one of 41 filed by state attorneys generalseeking billions of dollars to compensate states for the costs of treating sicksmokers through Medicaid programs. Under thepotential agreement, the state would receive an up-front payment of more than$1 billion and the remainder over 25 years. The industry would also fund amultimillion-dollar campaign aimed at stopping underage smoking, according to asource familiar with the talks. Along with a banon tobacco billboards, provisions of the Texas settlement include eliminationof cigarette vending machines from any place accessible to teenagers and theremoval of tobacco advertising from sports arenas, buses and trains, accordingto the Los Angeles Times. AnalysisSince the hugesettlement against the tobacco countries and the states in 1998 it would behoped that the incidence of youth smoking would be reduced. But such is not thecase. According to studies being conducted there are a large number ofadvertising magazines that are being read by teenagers that feature cigaretteads and actually since 1998, when they agreed in a court settlement they wouldnot target youths in their ads, the tobacco industries have actually increasedtargeting youth! (King C. 1998)State officialswho participated in the $206 billion settlement said the findings show tobaccocompanies may be violating settlement terms. Attorneys general from around thecountry are now in the discovery phase of an investigation into cigaretteadvertising placements, according to Washington Attorney General ChristineGregoire. Cigarette makers said the studies were misleading. One of the studieswas by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the American LegacyFoundation, a nonprofit group funded by the settlement, completed the other. Theresnothing that a tobacco company can do that wont receive criticism from thespecial interest groups that have their own political agenda, said MarkSmith, a spokesman for the Kentucky-based Brown and Williamson TobaccoCorporation. The 1998agreement settled lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers brought by 46 statesto recover the costs of treating sick smokers. One section of the settlementforbids tobacco companies from targeting people younger than 18 in theiradvertising, marketing and promotions. The Massachusetts study comparedcigarette advertising expenditures in magazines before and after thesettlement, focusing on 19 popular magazines with more than 15 percent of theirreadership between the ages of 12 and 17. Fifteen percent was the level used bythe Food and Drug Administration in its efforts to regulate tobacco. Magazinesin that category include Rolling Stone, Glamour and Sports Illustrated. In thefirst nine months of 1999, cigarette makers spent $119.9 million advertising,much of it on brands most popular with young smokers, in magazines with asignificant percentage of teen readers, the study found. That is almost $30million more than was spent in the same magazines in the corresponding periodbefore the settlement, the study said. Thus, the stateattorneys general have begun to conduct investigations to find wheater thetobacco companies have violated the 1998 national settlement by advertising toyoung people. Based on language in the settlement prohibiting tobacco companypractices that target youth, the tobacco enforcement committee ofthe National Association of Attorneys General is collecting evidence about whatcigarette companies are advertising, and where they are advertising it. Attorney GeneralChristine Gregoire of Washington state, an author of the 46-state tobaccoagreement, said the four-month-old investigation could trigger lawsuits againstthe industry if the group determines the tobacco ads are designed to lureteenagers.We have tried to reach an agreement with the industry on thisissue but have been unable to, Gregoire said. PresidentClinton had urged the attorneys general to take immediate and appropriateenforcement action to stop these practices. Yet, its been two years sinceand little headway has been made. .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .postImageUrl , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:hover , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:visited , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:active { border:0!important; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:active , .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0 .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3ffdb88b8515bce19d43ed96585689b0:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: ETHICAL DECISION MAKING EssayIndustryofficials say they are abiding by the agreement and have discontinuedadvertising in magazines they believe appeal to young people. But there isdisagreement over how to determine exactly which magazines meet that criterion. A spokesman for Philip Morris Cos. said that his company will propose thatan independent, accurate third-party methodology be established fordetermining youth readership of magazines and be used as a standard for tobaccoadvertising. As part of the 1998 tobacco settlement, tobacco companies agreedto stop advertising on billboards and to avoid the Joe Camel typeof ads that many believed appealed primarily to young people. In addition, muchof the industry pledged to follow proposed Food and Drug Administrationguidelines that placed magazines with youth readership of more than 15 percentoff limits to cigarette ads. (Pierce JP 1998)When todays tobacco executives ask the public tobelieve that they are no longer targeting our children, they deserve the sametrust as their predecessors when they swore under oath before Congress thattheir products are not addictive, said Matthew Myers, president of theCampaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, after the studies were released. Tobaccocompanies increased m agazine advertising after their use of billboards wasprohibited. The companies also had to defend their markets in the face of sharpcigarette price increases that were imposed to cover the costs of their $206billion national settlement with the states. (Adelson A. 1997)ArgumentThe litigation against the tobacco countries has beenfocusing on the youth and yet, it has managed to increase the sales. The reasonfor this lies in human psychology. Over the years the tobacco industries havetargeted the youth but all the time sent the message that smoking is a maturething that is done by the adults. It is like dangling a carrot in front of thekids. (Washington Post news service November 9, 1997.)The youth in their attempt to compete against the adultshave begun to go for the forbidden fruit. By stating that cigarettes are anadults choice they are forcing the adolescents to rebel and show those aroundthem that they too are adults and have the right to make their own choices. Thus, the case is playing right into the hands of the tobacco companies andhanding them on a silver platter what they have been for years striving toattain. As Goodman(1996) wrote in her article The youth turf is in fact the tobacco companiesbriar patch. They love it there. In mid-May, when Philip Morris tried its endrun around government proposals on marketing to kids, a spokesman said with astraight face, `The time has come to address the issue of underage use oftobacco. That was just the latest in a long line of helpful hints on`underage smoking. Since 1979, the tobacco folks have recycled wholeseries of `tobacco education messages that describe smoking as `one ofthe many activities some people choose to do as adults, such as `voting,driving a car, drinking alcoholic beverages, marriage and havingchildren. There you go. Linkingcigarettes with driving, drinking and sex. What a turnoff!Thefact is that the only way to prevent the youth from smoking is by banning it tothe whole societ y. At the moment the youth are merely being tempted to do whathas been forbidden and the increase in smoking statistics is proving the fact. Adolescent smoking is not the result of youthful experimentation with aforbidden fruit, but has become in actuality the result of a deliberatepsychological assault by the tobacco industry and in order to counter thestrategy it must be fully comprehendedand combated. ConclusionInvestor Thomas A. Russo, a partner at Gardner Investmentsin Lancaster, Pa., who holds shares in Philip Morris for clients, said,What makes Marlboro such a remarkable consumer product is that its marketshare among 20-year-olds is as high as its share among 40-year-olds and60-year-olds.Today,Marlboro accounts for 75 percent of Philip Morriss domestic tobacco profits,according to analyst Black, and has nearly half of the U.S. market forfull-price cigarettes, which also explains why the companys profit margins arethe highest in the business. (Boston Globe October 13, 1998.)Thelitigation cases rampant around the nation are witness to the fact that theconsumers have finally become educated to the fact that smoking is injurious tohealthnot only as a label but as a fact. However, the tactic the states haveadapted to fight against the industries is wrong. The youth are increasinglyfavoring tobacco in different forms and the litigation cases banning youthsmoking are to vague to actu ally succeed. The case in advertisingwhere thetobacco companies still advertises is magazines is a fact to the case. Thus,unless tobacco industries are completely banned youth smoking willincreasesteadily and fatally. (Center for Substance Abuse PreventionJanuary/February 1995, p38-41.)References1. The Future of Tobacco Litigation and Policy by GaleNorton, Attorney General of Colorado available at http://www.womenof.com/Articles/le030298.asp2. TOBACCOSETTLEMENT:GALE A. NORTON (Congressional Testimony); 11-13-1997 STATE OFCOLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LAW OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HOUSE COMMERCECOMMITTEE GALE A. NORTON ATTORNEY GENERAL OF COLORADO November 13, 19973. EllenGoodman / Boston Globe, Youth anti-smoking campaign is tobacco firms briarpatch. , The Dallas Morning News, 06-09-1996, pp 7J. 4. Centerfor Substance Abuse Prevention. Growing Up Tobacco Free.Prevention Pipeline,Center for Substance Abuse Prevention January/February 1995, p38-41. 5. Editorial. The surge in teen smoking. New York Times; October 11, 1998. 6. Editorial. Joe Camels children Boston Globe October 13, 1998. 7. HerbertB. Pursuing children. OpED New YorkTimes; May 3, 1998. 8. PierceJP et al Does tobacco advertising target young people to start smoking?Evidence from California . JAMA 1991;266:3154-3158. 9. KingC. et al Adolescent exposure to cigarette advertising in magazines JAMA1998;279:516-522010. PierceJP et al Tobacco industry promotion of cigarettes and adolescent smoking JAMA 1998;279:511-515. 11. HoppockKC, Houston TP. Availability of tobacco products to minors. J Fam Pract. 1990;30:174-176. 12. SkretnyMT, Cummings M, Sciandra R, Marshall J. An intervention to reduce the sale ofcigarettes to minors. N Y State J Med. 1990; 90:54-55. 13. AdelsonA. Is anybody getting the picture: despite ads, teen-age smoking is unabatedNew York Times July 17, 1997. 14. Mixedresults seen in costly efforts on youth tobacco use Washington Post newsservice November 9, 1997. 15. Slugfest in the Smoke Ring By Brett D. FromsonWashington Post Staff Writer Sunday, March 1, 1998; Page H01 available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/tobacco/stories/slugfest.htm16. TobaccoFirms Set to Pay Texas $14.5 Billion By Saundra Torry and Ceci ConnollyWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, January 16, 1998; Page A01 available athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/tobacco/stories/texas.htm

Hamlet And Ophelia Essays (608 words) - Characters In Hamlet

Hamlet And Ophelia Ophelia is a beautiful and simple-minded woman, easily molded by the more powerful opinions and desires of others. The thoughts of her father and her brother influenced her the most. The love letters from Hamlet also swayed her opinions and confused her mind. Ophelia wasn't able to realize herself because of all the pressures exerted on her to be something she's not. That weakness of mind and will, which permitted her obedience to her father and thus destroyed her hope for Hamlet's love, finally resulted in her insanity and death. When her father had challenged the honor of Hamlet's intentions, Ophelia could only reply "I do not know, my lord, what I should think" (III, iii). Used to relying upon her father's direction and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her father's belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamlet's "holy vows" of love were simply designed for her seduction. She was to obey her father's orders not to permit Hamlet to see her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlet's madness to the king. He used Ophelia as bait so he and the king could listen to Hamlet's words. Ophelia willingly obliged to her father's desires. By not thinking for herself and only doing as her father wished, she ruined her chances of love with Hamlet. Hamlet put pressure on Ophelia by expecting her to surpass his mother's shortcomings and be an epitome of womankind. He searched her innocent face for some sign of loving truth that might restore his faith in her. He took her mute terror for a sign of her guilt and found her to be a false person, like his mother. In his letter to her, he addressed the letter to "the most beautified Ophelia" and he terminated the letter with "I love thee best, O most best, believe it" (II, ii). He used the word "beautified" to display a sincere tribute, and it is apparent he still loves her. His attempts to win her affection are not triumphant. Ophelia is still too much under the influence of her father to question his wisdom or authority, and she has no mind of her own to understand how much she has made her lover suffer. No matter how much it pained her to not see Hamlet, all she could see in his present behavior is the madness that terrified her. Ophelia's insanity was a mixture of love and hate caused by her father and Hamlet. An example of hate is when she sings about a "baker's daughter"(IV, v). Ophelia is referring to the way her father used to treat her before the tragic incident of his death. The love within her madness is when she speaks about the events on "Valentine's Day"(IV, v). When Ophelia speaks about Valentines Day she is referring to the events of romance that she was denied. Ophelia's madness is brought on by her lack of being able to demonstrate any maturity in trying to cope with her losses and in return can only inflict her madness on the court. Abused by her lover, and bereft of her father's protection she loses control of her mind. In her insane state she came to believe that the seduction her family tried so hard to protect her from has passed. Her father's admission of error might have embittered a more independent Ophelia. This explains Hamlets rejection of her. Being tormented of scenes of death and the burial, she reaches out to the beauty of hanging flowers in a willow tree and somehow drowns. Ophelia was never able to understand exactly what Hamlet was suffering from, and in a way he created a situation for her to relate; death of a father and betrayal by a loved one. Hamlet managed to rise above insanity and feelings of suicide, but her weaker spirit could not hold the burden.

Explore the outsider in Silas Marner Essay Example

Explore the outsider in Silas Marner Essay Example Explore the outsider in Silas Marner Essay Explore the outsider in Silas Marner Essay Essay Topic: Literature The novel Silas Marner is a story set in the nineteenth century and for this reason people act differently towards strangers, this is because communities were a lot closer than the average town or city at the present day. These reasons meant that new comers were alienated from the rest of the community. This is obviously pointed out in the first page when in the book it is said, how was a man to be explained unless you at least knew their father and mother. In my essay I will explore how Silas Marner is exposed to a community in which the worst is thought of strangers and how this leads to an unholy figure being created due to superstition. The book opens with Silas being compared to a dead man with comments made about his appearance. For example on page six Silas is described as having large brown protuberant eyes in Silass pale face. Also it is stated on page eight that the women of the town would never marry a dead man come to life and Jem Rodney says, Marners eyes were set like a dead mans. This simply shows that purely from Silas physical appearance he had already been separated from the rest of the community and it didnt help that superstition clung easily round every person or thing that was at all unwanted. The book compares Silas to a spider. This increases villagers suspicions, because spiders are creatures feared and not often seen, just like Silas. The book does this by making Silas seem as if he was hiding in Raveol. This is just like a spider hides in a house and this image is created on page fifteen it says set within sight of the widespread hillsides, than this low, wooded region, where he felt hidden from even the heavens by the screening trees. It continues to pursue the relationship between Silas Marner and a spider by saying that Silas would make children take to their legs and run in terror which is traditionally the reaction associated with spiders. However the obvious feature strengthening the bond between Silas and a spider is his weaving because of a spider and the complex web it often weaves. However the weaving meant more than just his career, the loom symbolised Silass life constantly moving but not going anywhere and on a literal level the loom was Silass way of making money. The money itself replaced contact with people however when his money is stolen Silas becomes upset, as if he had lost his friends. However when Eppie arrived she took the moneys place and Silas mistakes her golden curls for his money and consequently comes to love Eppie more than his gold. This symbolism is all based around his loom and ironically the structure of the play is based on a simple woven item. The first threads are woven loosely and as time progresses vital threads are added and the whole piece comes together. Silas was the loose threads, Eppie was the vital threads and the finished product was the reunited village. The village is a very close community, everything is discused in the local pub and everyone is so close due to them all being a purely bred part of the village. On page eight it backs this idea up and says that linen-weavers-emigrants from the town into the country werent born and bred locally. The book shows how close the people are and how they trust each other but not anyone outside of their community. They do this by wrongly accusing Silas of theft, who was outside of their community and then finding the peddler guilty, and although the peddler was actually guilty the author made it so that it was obvious that it had to be the stranger. This is displayed when a man thinks of the obvious option, the peddler. This was displayed in the book when it states a man accustomed to putting two and two together this just shows that these people live in a box, where only strangers do wrong and that they never think outside the box. Its just ironic that the clue to who committed the crime was a tinderbox. On page sixty it shows they took this as a strong lead to who committed the robbery when it is written that the inference generally accepted was, that the tinder-box found in the ditch was somehow connected with the robbery. Silas is helped more by Dolly Winthrop than anyone else. She plays a dominant role in the later stages of the book by acting like a mother to Eppie and a tutor to Silas. On page one hundred and twenty she tutors Silas by teaching him that buying clothes is expensive because they grow so fast, its ill spending the money on them baby-clothes, for the children ull grow like grass she says. However its on the same page that Dolly shows how she will help him when ever possible and to the best standard she can, meaning that she is a friend. She does this by saying Ive got the little petticoats as Aaron wore five years ago. Then she plays a mother role to Eppie and offers Silas reassurance in the upbringing of Eppie, she says youd like to see her taken care of by those who can leave her well off an make a lady of her. The village needed a stranger to show them that there was an imperfect world outside of Ravelo and things like fathers leaving their families is just one example. Silas needed the village of Ravelo to fulfil his life with the things he didnt have such as a community to befriend him.

Self evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Self evaluation - Essay Example My voice tone also reflected various points that were being passed during the speech. To emphasize a point I made sure my tone had a sense of finality unlike at times when I was just stating basic points when my tone was relaxed. As I was preparing for my speech I practiced several times before the mirror to ensure that my body language added credibility to my talk. To make it more effective I made sure there were slight pauses as I gave my talk to ensure the listeners had a few seconds to deliberate over what I just said. I also made use of notes that carried the major points that I covered in my talk. In this way I could just take a glance at them and I could recall the whole point. The introduction is clearly outlined in the first paragraph and does its role of introducing the subject matter. It informs us about Facebook and gives a brief description and background information about the social site. The body contains discussions on the social network site and this is done in detail, starting from more information about the site to the various topics in regards to the site: such as the criticisms to the site and the media impact that the site has on the general population. The conclusion part of my essay was not clearly laid out. This is because after the last discussion point my talk ended. There should be a discussion that summarizes all the points that have been discussed and lets my listeners know my stand in relation to Facebook. Before my next presentation there are several things that I will ensure I do. One of these is practice the speech in front of a mock crowd. This is important as I will be able to evaluate whether all the relevant points were covered and if my presentation was clear as expected. Another thing that I can do to increase the effectiveness of my presentation is to include examples and exact statistics. For example when I write that Facebook has led

Religious ideology and the power of the state in African past Essay

Religious ideology and the power of the state in African past - Essay Example mid Caliphate came to existence in 909 AD; the Fatimids ruled following the Berber revolt, and later on, attempted to acquire morocco and Egypt as well from the Mamluks who were in control (Islam in North Africa, N.d, slide 7). The Arab leadership was evident, which subjected people to pay taxes and conversion to Islam, failure to which they would be killed. With time, Arabic became the main language, which displaced other languages, and as a result, by the 14century, Christianity had been reduced to the ration of 1 in 10 Egyptians. Islam also spread among the Berber community, mainly through army membership; the Berber captives were converted to Islam once recruited to the army (Islam in North Africa, N.d, slide 12). Despite the Berbers’ resistance, when the Muslim army conquered Morocco and Algeria, the Berbers had to convert to Islam. Arabs had succeeded in conquering the Berber territories, forcing the Berbers to be slaves. This Arab rule introduced multi–cropping, aimed at increasing the state revenue. However, the severe famine of 1062-73 influenced the decline of Fatimid rule, which was overthrown later on by the Mamluk troops, and thereafter, Mamluks took over leadership in Egypt. It is rather evident that the Arab leadership influenced the spread of Islam all over North Africa. The Ptolemaic rule existed between 332-30BC; Ptolemaists succeeded Alexander the great. They focused on advancing Egypt, with port of Alexandria being their main achievement. As a result, Alexandria became the biggest city in Egypt, therefore attracting many people from different races (Greek conquest, N.d, slide 3). The Ptolemaists aimed at expanding trade from Europe to red sea and Indian Ocean, with the Greeks introducing camels. Aksum was one of the regions involved in trade; it was ruled by king Zoscales who was of Greek origin. In 146 BC, Rome had conquered Carthage, creating a new province, Ifrikiya. As a result, Rome exploited the agriculture sector in North Africa,

Analysis Strategy of an Organization from Strategic Intent and Stretch Essay

Analysis Strategy of an Organization from Strategic Intent and Stretch Perspective - Essay Example The present discussion revolves around, the IT giant, Accenture’s strategy and its execution. Porter’s studies and contribution towards gaining an understanding and insight into strategy is regarded as highly valuable in contemporary management, and have paved way to the emergence of many businesses that have reached their pinnacle and have managed to stay there; one of them being Accenture. Porter’s studies have identified five main forces of industry competition, which can be used as the core guide to business management. Porter (2008) ascertains that the industry structure drives competition and profitability irrespective of the age of the business, policies or technology used. This, in other words, accounts for strategy adopted by the industry or business to enter the market, grow and sustain its position. Precisely, strategies help organisations to be focused towards their goals. Accenture is a global organisation that deals with and provides services in con sulting, technology and outsourcing, with about 246,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Its strategy is to become the world’s leading company in the field of consulting, technology and outsourcing by delivering high performance.... they claim, is more often achieved by imitating or copying competitors’ practices and also sometimes partnering with competitors in some way or other to share the profits. They also identified that many businesses actually adopted practices that were beyond mere replication of existing strategies and such businesses not only succeeded but also reached far fledged horizons. A good lesson for most of the businesses worldwide, this approach has indeed opened up new ways of looking at business and management. Hamel and Prahalad (1989) refer to this approach or attitude as the ‘strategic intent,’ which also indicates a specific approach to all strategy formulation and implementation that will help in treading ahead in the chosen field of industry. Accenture’s mission to become the world’s leading company by delivering high performance can be considered as its strategic intent. Harfield’s (1998) study challenged Porter’s approach to strategy and strategic management claiming the latter’s concept to be more of a myth. His study on strategic management based on the linear, adaptive and interpretative approaches provides multidimensional view to strategic management. Overall, this extensive study credits Porter for his contribution and on the other hand also claims strategic management to be much more complicated as well as resourceful, which modern management specialists can use for further construction. This anticipated potential gives rise to the concept of strategic intent, which is realized by leaders that really wish to align the actions and beliefs of all employees of an organisation towards one common challenging goal; Smith (1994, p.66) refers to such leadership attitude as the ‘Merlin Factor.’ Strategic intent is a by-product of strategic

European Studies Essays Frank Underdevelopment Dependency

European Studies Essays Frank Underdevelopment Dependency Frank Underdevelopment Dependency 1.0 Introduction This project report looks to the theories, concepts and studies of the well-known German prolific and controversial development Economist and Sociologist of post-war era, ‘Andre Gunder Frank’. Frank was best known as an early exponent and founder of the dependency theory, which maintained that rich, developed countries gained from poor, under-developed countries; so long as they remained in the international capitalist system (Economy Professor, 2006). This report will concentrate mainly on the understanding and analysis of the most significant concepts and theories of Frank on Underdevelopment; thereafter his concepts will be applied to countries of Latin America and Asia, which were the most affected from the plague of Underdevelopment. Get help with your essay from our expert essay writers 2.0 Preface of Andre G Frank theories Frank is considered to be one of the major founders of the world system theory along with Immanuel Wallerstein, Samir Amin and Giovanni Arrighi. He is the author of many works in world system and world accumulation. Andre Gunder Frank was interested in the processes of capital accumulation in Latin America and other regions, such as Asia. These regions were analyzed by Frank within the world context. The name of Frank is closely connected with the development and dependency theories. He is the author of very interesting publications and books devoted to the connection between economically developed countries and underdeveloped countries. When Andre Gunder Frank wrote his Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America and The Development of Underdevelopment he was influenced by the revolutionary ideas in Latin America and some other countries at that period. Being a social scientist, Andre Gunder Frank was interested in multiple subjects, events, topics, but he is considered to be one of the major contributors to the topic ‘development of underdevelopment’ and world system theory. His analysis of contemporary position of some countries has influenced the sociology science. He was one of the researchers who furthered the development and dependency theories. In his book Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America Andre Frank has shown his radical position towards development and underdevelopment. He wrote that the world and national capitalism has generated underdevelopment in the past, and still produces underdevelopment at present. (Frank, 1967a) Andre Gunder Frank has expressed an opinion that the economically developed countries were undeveloped but not underdeveloped. He believed that the present underdevelopment of a country is the outcome of its historical development in the past and at present, and the result of its relations with metropolitan countries (Frank 1966, pp. 17-31). Frank was the first scientist who realized the significance of the world economy. He understood that there is the possibility of autonomous development among the countries in the South: ‘The importance of the central theme of the world economy and of its interdependence †¦ has become ever stronger. What has changed is my belief, which was largely implicit in the idea of dependence, that a state of independence, or at least non-dependence, could be achieved through de-linking from the world economy through concerted political actions in the Third World countries or regions. On this last issue, I suppose I have changed the most, especially since the coup in Chile. Experience has shown it to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for voluntarist political action to de-link particular countries from world economy’ (Kay 1989, p.1181). 2.1 Development and Dependency theories The development theory unites several theories, which state that some beneficial changes in a particular society are to be achieved for the common benefit. These theories (Modernization theory, Dependency theory, World Systems theory, and State theory) are based on a variety of social scientific approaches and disciplines. Frank criticized the modernization theory, which was the key perspective in sociology at that period of time. He called in question the major premises of the modernization thesis elaborated by Talcott Parsons, Bert Hoselitz, Wilbert Moore, Everret Hagen, Daniel Lerner, David McClelland and Walt Whitman Rostow. Moreover, Frank criticized the thesis which stated that ‘the underdeveloped countries with their traditional societies would gradually become developed and modern countries by engaging with the developed capitalist economies and modern societies’ (Frank, 1967b, pp. 20–73). Therefore, he has presented the new analysis of the relationships between economically developed and underdeveloped countries. Dependency theory is a part of the development theory, which was elaborated after the modernization theory. The dependency theory is based on the idea that the consequences of colonialism on undeveloped countries must be taken into consideration when further development is expected to take place. Dependency theory is tightly connected with Latin America. Scientists have recognized Frank’s contribution to dependency theory. Andre Gunder Frank was a scholar who developed and enriched the research of this theory. He stressed that the modernization theory was a process via which developing countries became more dependent upon economically developed countries. Moreover, the dependency theory divided all countries into several categories according to their level of development. This theory examines countries by dividing them into periphery and centre states: the centre consists of the already developed and colonizing countries, whereas the periphery consists of the developing and co lonized countries. Dependency theory became a tool for political commentary and a framework of explanations. Frank was a scientist who has found the basic concepts for the dependency theory. His innovation to the world system theory and to the development theory was based on the incorporation and the connection between economically developed and underdeveloped countries with the help of the notion of capitalism and all the economic, political, social and cultural changes which became the consequences of the appearance of capitalism relations. 2.2 The Development of Underdevelopment Theory In his book The Development of Underdevelopment (Development Studies, 1966, p. 27) Frank stated: â€Å"Since the historical experience of the colonial and underdeveloped countries has demonstrably been quite different, available theory therefore fails to reflect the past of the underdeveloped part of the world entirely, and reflects the past of the world as a whole only in part. More important, our ignorance of the history of these underdeveloped countries leads us to assume that their past and indeed their present resemble earlier stages of the history of the now economically developed countries. More studies of development and underdevelopment fail to take account of the economic and other relations between the metropolis and its economic colonies throughout the history of the mercantilist and capitalist system.† Frank gave emphasis to the fact that, in his belief every country passes through all the stages of development, and every stage of this process will vary in time, depending on the position of the country. Besides, he stressed that there is no concept of ‘an underdeveloped country’ if we talk about the economically developed countries – these are countries which were at one point merely undeveloped, but not underdeveloped: â€Å"†¦ economic development occurs in a succession of capitalist stages and †¦ today’s underdeveloped countries are still in a stage †¦ of history through which the now developed countries passed long ago. †¦ underdevelopment is not original or traditional and that neither the past nor the present of the underdeveloped countries resembles in any important respect the past of the now developed countries. The now developed countries were never underdeveloped, though they may have been undeveloped† (Development St udies p. 28). The notion of ‘the development of underdevelopment’ which he has elaborated during the research is the main concept in the development theory (Kay, 1989, p. 1180). Frank pointed out that the contemporary underdevelopment position of a country is the result of its economic, cultural, political and social characteristic features. Moreover, the underdevelopment as the result of past and present relations is an integral part of the world structure: â€Å"†¦ present underdevelopment of Latin America is the result of its centuries-long participation in the process of world capitalist development†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Development Studies, p. 30). He pointed out that the capitalist system has developed rapidly during the last centuries and its effect has reached the most isolated parts of the underdeveloped world. Moreover, the metropolis-satellite relations have been spread in the Latin American colonies and countries, having structured the economic, political, and social life of these countries. Frank has come to a very interesting conclusion that underdevelopment is generated by the historical process which has generated economic development and the development of capitalism. â€Å"The other kind of isolation which tends to confirm the second hypothesis is the geographic and economic isolation of regions which at one time were relatively weakly tied to and poorly integrated into the mercantilist and capitalist system† (Development Studies, p. 31-33). Therefore, the two types of countries are connected with each other through exploitation and colonization. Frank has found the connection between the development of the centre and the periphery countries. Besides this, Andre Gunder Frank explained in his book The Development of Underdevelopment, that Latin America and other similar countries are underdeveloped countries owing to the foreign competition, and the introduction of free trade, which is in the interest of the ruling groups of the economically developed countries: â€Å"†¦ in Latin America it was these regions, which initiated and experienced the most promising self-generating economic development of the classical industrial capitalist type. The most important regional cases probably are Tucuman and Asuncion, as well as †¦ Mendoza and Rosario†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Development Studies, p. 33). The now underdeveloped countries have not had the opportunity to continue developing in the conditions of growing capitalism. Consequently, the development of these countries has had to be sacrificed for that of others. Therefore, the contemporary underdevelopment of certain countries is connected with their close ties with now econ omically developed countries, which have become economically developed owing to these underdeveloped countries in the past, and which have abandoned them when the wealth of their mines, raw materials and natural resources disappeared. 3.0 Frank’s Underdevelopment Theories with Relation to Latin America and Asia 3.1 Introduction The concepts of Frank’s studies on Development of Underdevelopment and mainly his Dependency Theory are known for the way Frank applied them to Latin American countries, with relation to Western European Countries and the United States. 3.2 Latin America Frank (1966) believed Latin America to be a victim of capitalism; having been integrated into the world capitalist system since the beginning of the sixteenth century. Although Sao Paolo has established the largest in Latin America, this has not helped the rest of Brazil to develop, but has deepened their underdevelopment. Furthermore, Frank maintained that although the development and industrialisation of Sao Paolo may have been carried out independently in the beginning, it is increasingly beginning to come in the clasp of the world capitalist system, which is posing a rising number of restrictions for possibilities of further development of the city. When writing about Latin America, Frank (1969, p. 432) made reference to a â€Å"metropolis-satellite† structure. This, he believed, is what the world market for goods, capital, and the international division of labour, have produced. This description portrays Frank’s belief that the developed, metropolitan countries take, or â€Å"suck† all of the capital or economic surplus from the other countries, or ‘satellites,’ in order to â€Å"feed† and increase their own development, but push the development of these other countries further down, eventually into an underdeveloped state. Although these countries may only have been undeveloped to begin with, the interference of the more developed countries has proved to be further detrimental than had they not interfered, or ‘helped,’ at all. There are several reasons for which the countries of Latin America are being exploited by developed countries. This exploitation began in the 18th century, and some of the reasons for exploitation included their natural resources; gold and silver, from Mexico, Peru, and Brazil; and the sugar and coffee also produced in Brazil. The sugar production by slaves in Brazil benefited Europe both at home, and when in competition with others abroad, such as Asia. During the 19th century, particularly towards the end of it, Brazil continued to increasingly export sugar and coffee, while Mexico, Peru, and Chile resumed mining, and Argentina exported wheat and meat for Britain and Europe (Frank, 1992). With so many raw materials and produced goods to offer, such an underdeveloped country is susceptible to being taken advantage of by those countries which need them, and have the money and power to exploit whoever or whatever gets in the way of them obtaining what they want or need. The underdevelopment of Latin America can also be seen to benefit developed countries in the form of labour; this includes labour which has been brought to the developed countries, as well as labour in the underdeveloped country. Specifically Latapi and Martin (no date) mentioned Mexican immigrants attempting to escape their world of underdevelopment by migrating to the United States, but being used by the United States for cheap labour. These high numbers of immigrants lead to an increase in the United States’ productivity, and also the net benefit received due to higher numbers of immigrants lowering the wages of other immigrant workers. 3.3 Asia As well as Latin America, the underdevelopment of countries in central Asia had also been the subject of much of Frank’s theories on underdevelopment. One such country specifically was China, which was believed to be one of the leading economically developed countries between 1400 and 1800 (Frank, 2005). Since its decolonisation and liberation in 1949, China has been predicted to regain its high position in the world economy, and this is the reason behind Frank’s book ‘ReOrient: Global Economy in the Asian Age.’ In the book, Frank draws upon the words of Smith (1776); â€Å"China is a much richer country than any part of Europe† (Frank, 1998, p. 13). As Frank believed that Asia, and in particular China, is beginning to reclaim its place amongst the top players of the economically developed world; he also believed that the history of Asia should also be correctly portrayed, hence the above book was written. Frank was outspoken in that his thoughts of world history, in particular concerning Asia, were that they have been incorrectly portrayed by Europe. The alleged history of economic development is believed to be a Eurocentric portrayal which Frank claimed denies the real history of the world and neglects most of human reality; as well as altering the perception of Europe’s history. That is to say, history has been portrayed in such a way so as to focus on the people and culture of Europe, making it appear almost superior to others, including that of Asia. China’s drop from its high rates of development, to its current undeveloped situation, is seen to be the result of exploitation on behalf of already developed countries, such as those of Europe (Frank, 2005). Furthermore, Frank stated that â€Å"underdevelopment is not traditional†¦ it is the result of dependent capitalist development of underdevelopment† (Frank, 2005). Frank’s belief again stems from the arguments and evidence which imply that China was no more traditional than Europe between its period of peak economy (from 1400 to 1800), and that it was in fact greater, and more developed than Europe. The above quote could be interpreted to mean that underdevelopment is not the result of a lack of development of certain countries; but the result of the interference of developed countries which are dependent on undeveloped countries. These developed countries can only remain so if the undeveloped countries remain undeveloped; therefore they encourage the development of their undevelopment. This consequently causes the undeveloped countries to become classed as underdeveloped countries, as their efforts to become developed are actually hindered by developed countries, diminishing any hope they may have had of becoming modern. At the same time, Frank (2005) argued to the effect that capitalism does not in fact have any actual existence in the world, but is just an ideology. Although this contradicts his earlier work, he now states that the ideology of capitalism was simply created in order to make unclear world economical history, and it continues to do so for modern-day world economics. Frank shared in the views of Samir Amin, in that they both believed the way for China, as well as any other country, to be released from all forms of dependence, was to break all links and connections from the external world capitalist economy, and to break free from the internal socialism which were believed to be the root causes of dependence. This theory however was only possible, so to speak, in theory. Frank continued to reflect on his own beliefs by claiming that to the present day no country has managed to become fully free from dependence, only the South East Asian Tigers had managed to do so partially, and even they were still subject to financial problems. Frank concluded that there has not been a definite and clear answer given as to what to do if and when freedom from dependence would ever occur. Moreover, Frank highlighted his criticism of the Modernisation Theory, which stated that any country could become modernised with the help of those countries which are already modernised. He quoted; â€Å"The Europeans did not do anything – let alone ‘modernize’ – by themselves† (Frank, 2005). Using Europe as an example, he argued that the modernisation theory only applies to certain countries; shown by the fact that although Europe was receiving very cheap money in the form of dollars from America, this type of help was not made available to Asia. He continued to enforce the Dependency Theory which states that developed countries have become so, by depending on underdeveloped countries; as Europe has come to depend on the cheap labour it uses from Asia. Frank’s emphasis was that Europe uses underdeveloped countries like China as a step ladder in order to gain, and maintain, a good foot-hold in the modern world (Frank, 2005). The exploitation of China by developed countries can also be seen by looking at the United States. An example given by The National Labor Committee (2006) is the findings of an investigation of 16 factories in China, producing a large number of different items, such as car stereos, TVs, bikes, shoes, sneakers, clothing, hats, and bags, for some of the largest companies in the United States, namely Wal-Mart, Nike, Huffy, and others. The findings highlight the appalling conditions under which some people have to work, such as one factory where workers forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, with only one day off a month, at an average wage of 3 cents an hour. The low wages did not give workers any benefit, as they still ended up in debt to the company. Workers were fed two meals a day, and 16 workers were housed in one small dorm. Some workers could not even afford the bus fare to leave the factory in order to look for another job, and in the past any protest about the work ing conditions has led to 800 workers losing their jobs. This is a prime example of what Frank has referred to as the exploitation of underdeveloped countries by developed countries. Without this type of exploitation, countries like those of the United States would not be able to increase their profit margins and become as rich as they are. Another example in Asia is Japan, which is believed a rapidly modernising country, particularly towards the end of the 19th century. This was done particularly with the use of â€Å"technical and scientific training and research,† and this type of education is what is believed to be an essential factor for developing countries. The effects of this can be seen by the South East Asian Tigers, as mentioned by Frank, who are increasing in levels of modernisation and economic development due to this type of training and education. Australia, as a developed country, has been thought to have benefit by providing some of this training for countries like Japan, as well as others. However, it has been argued that unless Australia improves its infrastructure, countries in Asia will rightly decide that they no longer need the help of developed countries like Australia, and can do a better job themselves. In relation to Frank’s theories, this can be seen support to his views of the Dependency Theory. Blakey (1997) stated that Australia is benefiting from the underdeveloped countries; but as these underdeveloped countries are becoming more and more independent and modernised, they may no longer need the so-called ‘help’ of these countries. Blakey (1997) also claims that Great Britain’s industrial society is no longer as advanced as it used to be; manufacturing and science are now believed to be in decline. This could be said to be the result of underdeveloping countries becoming more independent; the consequence of which is the economy of the developed countries falling to those levels which the underdeveloped countries have had to deal with for years. Another social theorist who agrees with Frank is Glyn who, as highlighted in an interview by Hoveman (2006), claims that Japan’s lack of economic improvement in the last 15 years has been welcomed by Europe and the US. In addition, Glyn states that China’s dramatic rise in economic development could prove to be dangerous for already developed countries, such as the United States, due to the fact that the Chinese monetary authorities buy large amounts of dollars. Should they ever stop, the value of the dollar would fall dramatically; this would result in the United States having to increase interest rates to prevent inflation rates from rising dramatically. This could then in turn lead to, at the very least, the danger of rising economic development coming to an abrupt halt for the United States; the threat of ‘stagnation. 4.0 Conclusion / Discussion On the whole, what is made evident in this report is that in Andre Gunder Franks thesis, the development of the centre not only involves, but requires the underdevelopment of the previously undeveloped periphery. This is because development has depended upon resources which are stolen from the periphery, and resources which are exploited; as well as people which are exploited. At the same time the periphery becomes increasingly dependent upon the centre for certain crucial modern resources, including technology and knowledge (Bronferbenner, 1972). Franks early speculation on The Development of Underdevelopment was brilliant and crucial for the emergence of both the dependency theory and the world-system paradigm. His efforts at systematically linking the external economic behaviour of the socialist alliance to the larger capitalist division of labour, has been instrumental in our understanding of not only the nature and role of existing socialisms, but the overall dynamics of the wor ld economy (Bergesen, 1982). In his view, Asia and Latin America have actually developed underdevelopment; whereas Europe, North America, and Australia have accumulated capital at the expense of the periphery. This accumulation of capital has been made possible through the process of unequal exchange between regions, and the transformation internally of regions at the productive, social, and political levels. Frank applied his theories of development to various countries affected by underdevelopment; specifically those of Latin America and Asia. These however are just to name a few; his theories could be applied to many other underdeveloped countries. Frank viewed the present world as a manifestation of the dominance the centre metropolis has over the dependent periphery; involving unequal exchange and exploitation. The exploitation of the people, and of the natural resources and raw materials of these countries, is what Frank believed to be the key behind his Dependency Theory. He asserted that developed countries such as Britain, Australia, have only received the labels of being ‘developed countries’ because of their dependence on these underdeveloped countries. The low wages given to workers of these underdeveloped countries, together with the natural resources and raw material which are either stolen or bought at extortionately low prices, are all a combination of what allow the developed countries to have such large margins of profit. These high amounts of profit can then be reinvested in order to increase the riches of the countries further; all at the expense of underdeveloped countries. That is to say, if developed countries did not exploit underdeveloped countries, then in Frank’s views they would not be such a thing as an ‘underdeveloped county;’ all countries which have not become economically developed, would simply be undeveloped. The term undeveloped at least allows a country the opportunity to become developed; whereas underdeveloped implies it can never become developed due to the continuing exploitation of these developed countries. References Bergesen, A. (1982) Reviewed Work: ‘Crisis: In the World Economy,’ by Andre Gunder Frank. Contemporary Sociology. 11 (1), pp. 55-56. Blakey, L. (1997) ‘The Death of Australian Science and Technology,’ ABC Radio National [online]. Available at: http://abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/1997/22.htm (Accessed 27 April 2007). Bronfenbrenner, M. (1979) World Accumulation, 1492-1789. By Andre Gunder Frank. Journal of Economic Literature. 17 (4), pp. 1460-1461. Development Studies: Thinking about Development, reprinted in full from Monthly Review September (1966), pp. 27-37. Economy Professor (2006) Andre Gunder Frank. Available at: http://www.economyprofessor.com/theorists/andregunderfrank.php (Accessed 17 April 2007). Frank, A. G. (1966) The Development of Underdevelopment. Monthly Review 18(4), pp. 17–37. Frank, A.G. (1967a) Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America: Historical Studies of Chile and Brazil, New York, Monthly Review Press. Frank, A.G. (1967b) Sociology of Development and Underdevelopment of Sociology, Catalyst 3: pp. 20–73. Frank, A. G. (1969) ‘Latin America: Underdevelopment or Revolution,’ The Economic Journal, 81 (322), pp. 432-434. Frank, A.G. (1992) ‘Latin America at the Margin of World System History,’ The Andre Gunder Frank Official Website. Available at: http://www.rrojasdatabank.org/agfrank/latin_margin.html (Accessed 29 April 2007). Frank, A. G. (1998) ReOrient: Global Economy in the Asian Age. Berkeley, University of California Press. Frank, A. G. (2005) ‘Personal Research Interests for Public Policy Practice,’ The Andre Gunder Frank Official Website. Available at: http://www.rrojasdatabank.org/agfrank/research.html (Accessed 26 March 2007). Hoveman, R. (2006) The Socialist Review. Available at: http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=9792 (Accessed 27 April 2007). Kay, C. (1989) ‘Andre Gunder Frank: From the ‘Development of Underdevelopment’ to the ‘World System.’ ’ Development and Change, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 1177-1183 Blackwell Synergy [Online]. Available at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.0012-155X.2005.00455.x (Accessed 14th April 2007). Latapi, A. E. and Martin, S. (no date) Mexico – U.S. Migration Management A Binational Approach. Available at: http://www.hewlett.org/NR/rdonlyres/E7D5BD75-AB6E-4780-A354-EB4D4BBA9779/0/USMexicoMigration.pdf (Accessed 29 April). The National Labor Committee (2006) The Role of US Companies in Denying Human and Worker Rights. Available at: http://www.nlcnet.org/campaigns/archive/chinareport/introduction.shtml (Accessed 30 April).

The Feudal System :: Medieval Civilization, The Middle Ages, Feudalism

The greater part of medieval civilization was a time of simplicity and little cultural development. Feudalism was the structure that governed medieval society and came to represent this time period. The church became the universal symbol of medieval unity. Toward the end of the medieval period, however, town life and large-scale trade and commerce were revived. Great changes took place in the church fostering a new era and change. Feudalism was a system of government that provided the structure for the political, social, and economic aspects of medieval civilization. It consisted of contracts between members of the nobility and less powerful nobles who served as their vassals. Economically it was a contract between the serfs who farmed that land and the nobles who owned it. Feudalism was very complex and confusing in some ways, but it could also be looked at as very simple. It was constructed in a pyramid or chess board-like form. Kings were at the top although they did not have much power, lords and vassals followed the king and had control of the lesser nobles. The serfs were at the base of the pyramid. A manor, otherwise known as the lord’s estate, was where everyone lived and worked. In exchange for a place to live, food, and mainly protection, the serfs farmed the land. Agriculture was the foundation of feudalism, where land and food was used to barter for other items. There were different taxes an d positions of distinct people on the manor. This illustrates the complexity of feudal life during the medieval ages. If you look at it as what the duties were of each specific class you see the simplicity of feudalism. Each member of medieval society had its own particular tasks to perform. The serfs preformed the most labor-intensive tasks and often did the same thing everyday. The knights protected the manor and the lords were responsible for taking care of everyone on their manor. The feudal system could be compared to a modern corporation. The serfs could be looked at as the workers, the lords as management, the knights to the security, and the king would be the CEO of the company. Feudalism was complex in its organization and simple it its implementation. During most of the medieval time period the church was the center of society and was the law of the land. The church regulated business practices, had the power to tax, controlled all people through the power of excommunication and had influence on the aesthetic aspects of life.

Edward II Essay

Throughout Edward II, Marlowe uses a variety of stimulating techniques to present the drama as a history play. Marlowe manages to use the tradition of the chronicle or history play and develop it further producing an extremely compelling, unique piece of work. It is a play which on one hand shows structural affinities with the chronicle plays, in that it has a stirring plot with a rapid flow of incident and plenty of variety while on the other hand it has points of contact with tragedy in its attempts to show on stage heart-rending scenes filled with passionate utterances, deep pathos and high tragic dignity. This can be seen in Act four, scene two where the pace quickens as Marlowe deviates between countries. We see Edward receiving the news that Isabella, Mortimer, Kent and the young prince Edward are collecting an army in Hainault to attack on King Edward: ‘Ah villains, hath that Mortimer escaped? With him is Edmund gone associate? And will sir John of Hainault lead the round? Marlowe therefore states historical moments, which did actually occur, but real, human, affectionate feelings are also shown from Edward, which makes the drama so much more intriguing. Also, in this scene the importance of Prince Edward continues to grow in a carefully controlled way. In the midst of Edward’s anger and warlike preparations, Marlowe now has him spare a moment to think kindly of his son, whom he describes as a ‘little boy’: ‘Ah, nothing grieves me but my little boy If thus misled to countenance their ills. ‘ Here, Marlowe shows the sentimental, humane feelings of Edward, human emotions we usually do not experience in history plays. In Edward II it is therefore made clear that the characters not only sustain its plot but also carry the emotional burden of the play. He has struck a balance between a plot whose events are directed by its hero and one, which develops independently of him and reacts upon him. The historical evidence is presented in a form that is dramatic and vivid in our minds therefore producing a thought-provoking, emotional drama.