Food Security Essay

As the effort to alleviate poverty and increase food security takes on new dimensions on the backdrop of increasing challenges, asset-based community development has become a key strategy. There has been a shift of focus to individual, communal and institutional asset and the capacity or potential they have in building the capacity of achieving locally defined development (Social Design, 2010). The asset-based community development strategy is based on the principle that including as many people as is possible in a development project increases the probability of the project remaining sustainable even after the experts implementing it leave it under the management of the community. The asset-based community development strategy begins by first acknowledging that the existent poverty and insufficiency in a community cannot be solved by the human, physical and intellectual assets at the disposal of the community (Social Design, 2010). It involves the mobilization of members of the community so that these assets, coupled with external investment, can be effectively utilized to improve the community’s capacity of meeting the developmental challenges that face it. In addition, there needs to be creation of awareness about alternative means of acquiring additional assets and resources. Secondly, asset-based community development should be viewed as complementary to developmental work already in progress within the community; and must be based on the traditions rooted within the community with regard to organization, community development and developmental planning (Social Design, 2010). It should be noted that not a single entity (government, the business community, civil society and the community itself) can bring meaningful development on its own, so the essence of asset-based community is to forge a working partnership between all the stakeholders to bring about improvement in sufficiency, democracy and respect to human rights (Social Design, 2010). The process must therefore be based on transparency and accountability, justice and participation. Having established this operational framework, attention is shifted on ways of mobilizing the community and the assets it has towards a clearly defined vision. The first step is mapping all the assets within the community and its local institutions (Social Design, 2010). Full mobilization in this context is only achieved after the community can address its agenda and challenges with an awareness of the resources that it has to counter the developmental challenges it faces. Second, elaborate plans should be put in place to build strong relationships within the community so that these resources can be aggregated and given a common focus towards progress. Strength and self-reliance are attributes bolstered when all members of the community are linked and actively involved in finding solutions to the challenges that face them (Social Design, 2010). The community realizes that it has a great potential than it had realized and there is a rejuvenation of hope, motivation and renewal. After relationships have been established, the assets owned within the community are mobilized towards economic development and for the purpose of sharing information. This includes the assets relegated due to lack of information on how to harness them or lack of the applicable technology. The community is then convened as a unit to participate in the development of a vision and the plan to achieve it. As said earlier, the assets and resources within poor communities are not sufficient. Asset-based development strategies need therefore to leverage outside resources to support them; and after all these steps have been taken, the community is on its way to self-sufficiency (Social Design, 2010). Sustainable livelihoods frameworks (SLF) Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks provide a basis for poverty analysis so that policies, programs and projects designed to reduce poverty can be specifically tailored to meet developmental challenges facing a community (Ludy & Slater, 2008). Through SLFs, a coherent approach to the analysis of economic challenges can be performed, leading to the identification of suitable intervention and the timetable for these interventions. SLF implementation are founded on analyzing livelihoods, risks and vulnerabilities of individuals, households and the community so that key drivers of poverty and their remedies can be established (Ludy & Slater, 2008). Sustainable livelihoods frameworks are centered on people and their capacity to mobilize the natural, human, social and financial assets at their disposal in response to opportunities and risks so that the quality of life can be improved. An emphasis is laid on strengths rather than weaknesses, and the strategy is to make targeted people have the awareness that they have the assets and the potential to utilize them in pursuit of livelihood goals (Ludy & Slater, 2008). SLF implementation is multidimensional and aims at first identifying the constrictions standing in the way of individuals and households and analyzing the same to yield the opportunities that may arise therein; developing specific but diverse strategies to empower the people to pursue paths towards securing their livelihoods. SLFs focus on each target’s individual strategy for socio-economic development and therefore favor full participation and multidisciplinary approach at different levels (Ludy & Slater, 2008). They thus are flexible to organizations planning specific interventions to poverty and allow focus to be on the elements within a society most likely to face developmental challenges. Entrepreneurial ideology in rural project Entrepreneurship has been identified as a very strategic intervention for accelerating development in rural areas. It creates employment, prevents rural unrest and leads to the creation of wealth at the local level reducing dependency especially for women and other marginalized people (FAO, 1997). There is acceptance that entrepreneurship in rural areas by itself cannot achieve development; so the emphasis of this ideology is the creation of an environment that makes entrepreneurship in rural areas a viable venture. The premise of the rural entrepreneurship ideology is that diversification from subsistence agriculture holds the key to economic development (FAO, 1997). Attention is therefore paid to alternatives like the promotion of tourism and other trades like carpentry, training, retailing and sports. The genesis of rural entrepreneurship is the creation of a supporting environment through policies that establish macro-economic stability, property rights and an international outlook (FAO, 1997). The necessary inputs to the entrepreneurship process like capital, infrastructure and management training can therefore be dispatched to the rural areas as a base for establishing a vibrant economy, consequently increasing sufficiency and reducing dependency. ? References Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO. (1997). â€Å"Rural development through entrepreneurship† Retrieved on 20/5/2010 from http://www. fao. org/docrep/W6882E/w6882e02. htm#P359_61606 Ludy, E. & Slater, R. (2008). Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to understand and tackle poverty. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Social Design. â€Å"Asset-Based Community Development† Retrieved on 19/05/2010 from http://www. socialdesign. org/assets/development. html

The Return: Midnight Chapter 22

â€Å"Ma ma said not in Fel ‘s Church,†Mrs. Flowers repeated to Stefan. â€Å"And that means not the thicket.† â€Å"All right,†Stefan said. â€Å"If he's not there, then where else?† â€Å"Well,†Elena said slowly, â€Å"it's the police, isn't it? They've caught him.†Her heart felt as if it were in her stomach. Mrs. Flowers sighed. â€Å"I suppose so. Ma ma should have told me that, but the atmosphere is ful of strange influences.† â€Å"But the sheriff's department is in Fel ‘s Church. What there is of it,†Elena objected. â€Å"Then,†Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"what about the police in another city close by? The ones who came looking for him before – â€Å" â€Å"Ridgemont,†Elena said heavily. â€Å"That's where those police that searched the boardinghouse were from. That's where that Mossberg guy came from, Meredith said.†She looked at Meredith, who didn't even murmur. â€Å"That's where Caroline's dad has al his big-shot friends – and Tyler Smal wood's dad does too. They belong to al those no-women clubs with does too. They belong to al those no-women clubs with secret handshakes and stuff.† â€Å"And do we have anything like a plan for when we get there?†Stefan asked. â€Å"I have a sort of Plan A,†Elena admitted. â€Å"But I don't know that it wil work – you may know better than I do.† â€Å"Tell me.† Elena told him. Stefan listened and had to stifle a laugh. â€Å"I think,†he said soberly afterward, â€Å"that it just might work.† Elena immediately began to think about Plans B and C so that they wouldn't be stuck if Plan A should fail. They had to drive through Fel ‘s Church to get to Ridgemont. Elena saw the burnt-out houses and the blackened trees through tears. This was her town, the town which, as a spirit, she had watched over and protected. How could it have come to this? And, worse, how could it ever possibly be put back together again? Elena began to shiver uncontrol ably. Matt sat grimly in the jury conference room. He had explored it long ago, and had found that the windows were boarded over from the outside. He wasn't surprised, as al the windows he knew back in Fel ‘s Church were boarded up, and besides, he had tried these boards and knew that he could break out if he cared to. He didn't care to. It was time to face his personal crisis. He would have faced it back before Damon had taken the three girls to the Dark Dimension, but Meredith had talked him out of it. Matt knew that Mr. Forbes, Caroline's father, had al his cronies in the police and legal system here. And so did Mr. Smal wood, the father of the real culprit. They were unlikely to give him a fair trial. But in any kind of trial, at some point they would at least have to listen to him. And what they would hear was the plain truth. They might not believe it now. But later, when Caroline's twins had as little control as werewolf babies were reputed to have over their shapes – Well, then they'd think of Matt, and what he'd said. He was doing the right thing, he assured himself. Even if, right now, his insides felt as if they were made of lead. What's the worst they can do to me? he wondered, and was unhappy to hear the echo of Meredith's voice come back. â€Å"They can put you in jail, Matt. Real jail; you're over eighteen. And while that may be good news for some genuine, vicious, tough old felons with homemade tattoos and biceps like tree branches, it is not going to be good news for you.† And then after a session on the Internet, â€Å"Matt, in Virginia, it can be for life. And the minimum is five years. Matt, please; I beg you, don't let them do this to you! Sometimes it's true that discretion is the better part of valor. They hold all the cards and we're walking blindfolded in the dark†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She had gotten surprisingly worked up about it, mixing her metaphors and al , Matt thought dejectedly. But it's not exactly as if I volunteered for this. And I bet they know those boards are pretty flimsy and if I break out, I'l be chased from here to who-knows-where. And if I stay put at least I'l get to tel the truth. For a very long time nothing happened. Matt could tel from the sun through the cracks in the boards that it was afternoon. A man came in and offered a visit to the bathroom and a Coke. Matt accepted both, but also demanded an attorney and his phone cal . â€Å"You'l have an attorney,†the man grumbled at him as Matt came out of the bathroom. â€Å"One'l be appointed for you.† â€Å"I don't want that. I want a real attorney. One that I pick.† The man looked disgusted. â€Å"Kid like you can't have any money. You'l take the attorney appointed to you.† â€Å"My mom has money. She'd want me to have the attorney we hire, not some kid out of law school.† â€Å"Aw,†the man said, â€Å"how sweet. You want Mommy to take care of you. And her al the way out in Clydesdale by now, I bet, with the black lady doctor.† Matt froze. Shut back in the jury room he tried frantical y to think. How did they know where his mom and Dr. Alpert had gone? He tried the sound of â€Å"black lady doctor† on his tongue and found it tasted bad, sort of old-time-ish and just plain bad. If the doctor had been Caucasian and male, it would've sounded sil y to say â€Å"†¦gone with the white man doctor.† Sort of like an old Tarzan film. A great anger was rising in Matt. And along with it a great fear. Words slithered around his mind: surveillance and spying and conspiracy and cover-up. And outwitted. He guessed it was after five o'clock, after everybody who normal y worked at court had left, that they took him to the interrogation room. They were just playing, he figured, the two officers who tried to talk to him in a cramped little room with a video camera in one corner of the wal , perfectly obvious even though it was smal . They took turns, one yel ing at him that he might as well confess everything, the other acting sympathetic and saying things like, â€Å"Things just got out of hand, right? We have a picture of the hickey she gave you. She was hot stuff, right?†Wink, wink. â€Å"I understand. But then she started to give you mixed signals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Matt reached his snapping point. â€Å"No, we were not on a date, no, she did not give me a hickey, and when I tel Mr. Forbes you cal ed Caroline hot stuff, winkey winkey, he's gonna get you fired, mister. And I've heard of mixed signals, but I've never seen them. I can hear ‘no'as well as you can, and I figure one ‘no'means ‘no'!† After that they beat him up a little bit. Matt was surprised, but considering the way he had just threatened and sassed them, not too surprised. And then they seemed to give up on him, leaving him alone in the interrogation room, which, unlike the jury room, had no windows. Matt said over and over, for the benefit of the video camera, â€Å"I'm innocent and I'm being denied my phone cal and my attorney. I'm innocent†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At last they came and got him. He was hustled between the good and bad cops into a completely empty courtroom. No, not empty, he realized. In the first row were a few reporters, one or two with sketchbooks ready. When Matt saw that, just like a real trial, and imagined the pictures they'd sketch – just like he'd seen on TV, the lead in his stomach turned into a fluttering feeling of panic. But this was what he wanted, wasn't it, to get the story out? He was led to an empty table. There was another table, with several well-dressed men, al with piles of papers in front of them. But the thing that held Matt's attention at that table was Caroline. He didn't recognize her at first. She was wearing a dove gray cotton dress. Gray! With no jewelry on at all, and subtle makeup. The only color was in her hair – a brazen auburn. It looked like her old hair, not the brindled color it had been when she was starting to become a werewolf. Had she learned to control her form at last? That was bad news. Very bad. And final y, with an air of walking on eggshel s, in came the jury. They had to know how irregular this was, but they kept coming in, just twelve of them, just enough to fil the jury seats. Matt suddenly realized that there was a judge sitting at the desk high above him. Had he been there al along? No†¦ â€Å"Al rise for Justice Thomas Hol oway,†boomed a bailiff. Matt stood and wondered if the trial was real y going to start without his lawyer. But before everyone could sit, there was a crash of opening doors, and a tal bundle of papers on legs hurried into the courtroom, became a woman in her early twenties, and dumped the papers on the table beside him. â€Å"Gwen Sawicki here – present,†the young woman gasped. Judge Hol oway's neck shot out like a tortoise's, to bring her into his realm of sight. â€Å"You have been appointed on behalf of the defense?† â€Å"If it pleases Your Honor, yes, Your Honor – al of thirty minutes ago. I had no idea we had gone to night sessions, Your Honor.† â€Å"Don't you be pert with me!†Judge Hol oway snapped. As he went on to al ow the prosecution attorneys to introduce themselves, Matt pondered on the word â€Å"pert.†It was another of those words, he thought, that was never used toward males. A pert man was a joke. While a pert girl or woman sounded just fine. But why? â€Å"Cal me Gwen,†a voice whispered beside him, and Matt looked to see a girl with brown eyes and brown hair back in a ponytail. She wasn't exactly pretty, but she looked honest and straightforward, which made her the prettiest thing in the room. â€Å"I'm Matt – Well, obviously,†Matt said. â€Å"Is this your girl, Carolyn?†Gwen was whispering, showing a picture of the old Caroline at some dance, wearing stilts, and with tanned legs that went up and up to almost meet before a miniskirt took over, black and lacy. She had on a white blouse so tight at the bust that it hardly seemed able to contain her natural assets. Her makeup was exactly the opposite of subtle. â€Å"Her name's Caroline and she's never been my girl, but that's her – the real her,†Matt whispered. â€Å"Before Klaus came and did something to her boyfriend, Tyler Smal wood. But I have to tel you what happened when she found out she was pregnant – â€Å" She'd gone nuts, was what had happened. No one knew where Tyler was – dead after the final fight against Klaus, turned into a ful wolf in hiding; whatever. So Caroline had tried to pin it on Matt – until Shinichi appeared and became her boyfriend. But Shinichi and Misao were playing a cruel joke on her, pretending that Shinichi would marry her. It was after she realized that Shinichi didn't care at allthat Caroline had gone total y bal istic, and had real y tried to make Matt fit the gaping hole in her life. Matt did his best to explain this to Gwen so she could explain it to the jury, until the judge's voice interrupted him. â€Å"We wil dispense with opening arguments,†said Judge Hol oway, â€Å"since the hour is so late. Wil the prosecution cal its first witness?† â€Å"Wait! Objection!†Matt shouted, ignoring Gwen's tugging at his arm and her hissing: â€Å"You can't object to the judge's rulings!† â€Å"And the judge can't do this to me,†Matt said, twitching his T-shirt back from between her fingers. â€Å"I haven't even had a chance to meet with my public defender yet!† â€Å"Maybe you should have accepted a public defender earlier,†replied the judge, sipping from a glass of water. He suddenly thrust his head at Matt and snapped, â€Å"Eh?† â€Å"That's ridiculous,†cried Matt. â€Å"You wouldn't give me my phone cal to get a lawyer!† â€Å"Did he ever ask for a phone cal ?†Judge Hol oway snapped, his eyes traveling around the room. The two officers who had beat Matt up solemnly shook their heads. At this, the bailiff, whom Matt suddenly recognized as the guy who'd kept him in the jury room for around four hours, began wagging his head back and forth in the negative. They al three wagged, almost in unison. â€Å"Then you forfeited that right by not asking for it,†the judge snapped. It seemed to be his only way of speaking. â€Å"You can't demand it in the middle of a trial. Now, as I was saying – â€Å" â€Å"I object!† Matt shouted even louder. â€Å"They're al lying! Look at your own tapes of them interrogating me. Al I kept saying – â€Å" â€Å"Counselor,†the judge snarled at Gwen, â€Å"control your client or you wil be held in contempt of court!† â€Å"You have to shut up,†Gwen hissed at Matt. â€Å"You can't make me shut up! You can't have this trial while you're breaking al the rules!† â€Å"Shut your trap!† The judge belted out the words at a surprising volume. He then added, â€Å"The next person to make a remark without my express permission shal be held in contempt of court to the tune of a night in jail and five hundred dol ars.† He paused to look around to see if this had sunk in. â€Å"Now,†he said. â€Å"Prosecution, cal your first witness.† â€Å"We cal Caroline Beulah Forbes to the stand.† Caroline's figure had changed. Her stomach was sort of upside-down-avocado-shaped now. Matt heard murmurs. â€Å"Caroline Beula Forbes, do you swear that the testimony you shal give wil be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?† Somewhere deep inside, Matt was shaking. He didn't know if it was mostly anger or mostly fear or an equal combination of both. But he felt like a geyser ready to blow – not necessarily because he wanted to, but because forces beyond his control were taking hold of him. Gentle Matt, Quiet Matt, Obedient Matt – he had left al those behind somewhere. Raging Matt, Rampaging Matt, that was about al he could be. From a dim outside world, voices came filtering into his reverie. And one voice pricked and stung like a nettle. â€Å"Do you recognize the boy you have named as your former boyfriend Matthew Jeffrey Honeycutt here in this room?† â€Å"Yes,†the prickly nettle voice said softly. â€Å"He's sitting at the defense table, in the gray T-shirt.† Matt's head flew up. He looked Caroline straight in the eye. â€Å"You know that's a lie,†he said. â€Å"We never went on one date together. Ever.† The judge, who had seemed to be asleep, now woke up. â€Å"Bailiff!†he snapped. â€Å"Restrain the defendant immediately.† Matt tensed. As Gwen Sawicki moaned, Matt suddenly found himself being held while duct tape was wrapped round and round his mouth. He fought. He tried to get up. So they duct-taped him around his waist to the chair. As they final y left him alone, the judge said, â€Å"If he runs off with that chair, you wil pay it out of your own salary, Miz Sawicki.† Matt could feel Gwen Sawicki trembling beside him. Not with fear. He could recognize the about-to-explode expression and realized that she was going to be next. And then the judge would hold her in contempt and who would speak up for him? He met her eyes and shook his head firmly at her. But he also shook his head at every lie Caroline came up with. â€Å"We had to keep it a secret, our relationship,†Caroline was saying demurely, straightening the gray dress. â€Å"Because Tyler Smal wood, my previous boyfriend, might have found out. Then he would have – I mean, I didn't want any trouble between them.† Yeah, Matt thought bitterly: you'd better walk careful y – because Tyler's dad probably has as many good friends in here as yours does. More. Matt tuned out until he heard the prosecutor say, â€Å"And did anything unusual happen on the night in question?† â€Å"Well, we went out together in his car. We went over near the boardinghouse†¦no one would see us there†¦Yes, I – I'm afraid I did give him a†¦a love-bite. But after that I wanted to leave, but he didn't stop. I had to try to fight him off. I scratched him with my nails – â€Å" â€Å"The prosecution offers Peoples'Exhibit 2 – a picture of the deep fingernail scores on the defendant's arm – â€Å" Gwen's eyes, meeting Matt's, looked dul . Beaten. She showed Matt a picture of what he remembered: the deep marks made by the huge malach's teeth when he had pul ed his arm out of its mouth. â€Å"The defense wil stipulate†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"So admitted.† â€Å"But no matter how I screamed and fought†¦Well, he was too strong, and I – I couldn't – â€Å"Caroline tossed her head in agony of remembered shame. Tears flooded from her eyes. â€Å"Your Honor, perhaps the defendant needs a break to freshen her makeup,†Gwen suggested bitterly. â€Å"Young lady, you are getting on my nerves. The prosecution can care for its own clients – I mean witnesses – â€Å" â€Å"Your witness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – from the prosecution. Matt had scribbled as much of the real story as he could onto a blank sheet of paper while Caroline's theatrics had gone on. Gwen was now reading this. â€Å"So,†she said, â€Å"your ex, Tyler Smal wood, is not and has never been a† – she swal owed – â€Å"a werewolf.† Through her tears of shame Caroline laughed lightly. â€Å"Of course not. Werewolves aren't real.† â€Å"Like vampires.† â€Å"Vampires aren't real either, if that's what you mean. How could they be?†Caroline was looking into every shadow of the room as she said this. Gwen was doing a good job, Matt realized. Caroline's demure patina was beginning to chip. â€Å"And people never come back from the dead – in these modern times, I mean,†Gwen said. â€Å"Well, as to that† – malice had crept into Caroline's voice – â€Å"if you just go to the boardinghouse in Fel ‘s Church, you can see that there's a girl cal ed Elena Gilbert, who was supposed to have drowned last year. On Founder's Day, after the parade. She was Miss Fel ‘s Church, of course.† There was a murmur among the reporters. Supernatural stuff sold better than anything else, especial y if a pretty girl was involved. Matt could see a smirk making the rounds. â€Å"Order! Miz Sawicki, you wil keep to the facts in this case!† â€Å"Yes, Your Honor.†Gwen looked thwarted. â€Å"Okay, Caroline, let's go back to the day of the al eged assault. After the events you have narrated, did you cal the police at once?† â€Å"I was†¦too ashamed. But then I realized I might be pregnant or have some horrid disease, and I knew I had to tel .† â€Å"But that horrid disease wasn't lycanthropy – being a werewolf, right? Because that couldn't be true.† Gwen looked anxiously down at Matt and Matt looked bleakly up at her. He'd hoped that if Caroline were forced to keep talking about werewolves she would eventual y start to twitch. But she seemed to have complete control over herself now. The judge seemed furious. â€Å"Young lady, I won't have my court made a joke with any more supernatural nonsense!† Matt stared at the ceiling. He was going to jail. For a long time. For something he hadn't done. For something he would never do. And besides, now, there might be reporters going over to the boardinghouse to bother Elena and Stefan. Damn! Caroline had managed to get that in despite the blood oath she'd made never to give their secret away. Damon had signed that oath as well. For a moment Matt wished that Damon were back and right here, to take revenge on her. Matt didn't care how many times he got cal ed â€Å"Mutt†if Damon would just appear. But Damon didn't. Matt realized that the duct tape around his middle was low enough that he could slam his head against the defense table. He did this, making a smal boom. â€Å"If your client wishes to be completely immobilized, Miz Sawicki, it can be – â€Å" But then they al heard it. Like an echo, but delayed. And much louder than the sound of a head striking a table. BOOM! And again. BOOM! And then the distant, disturbing sound of doors slamming open as if they had been hit by a battering ram. At this point the people in the courtroom Stillcould have scattered. But where was there to go? BOOM! Another, closer door slamming open. â€Å"Order! Order in the courtroom!† Footsteps sounded down the wooden floor of the corridor. â€Å"Order! Order!† But no one, not even a judge, could stop this many people from muttering. And late in the evening, in a locked courthouse, after al that talk of vampires and werewolves†¦ Footsteps coming closer. A door, quite near, crashing and creaking. A ripple of†¦something†¦went through the courtroom. Caroline gasped, clutching at her bulging stomach. â€Å"Bar those doors! Bailiff! Lock them!† â€Å"Bar them how, Your Honor? And they only lock from the outside!† Whatever it was, it was very close – The doors to the courtroom opened, creaking. Matt put a calming hand on Gwen's wrist, twisting his neck to see behind him. Standing in the doorway was Saber, looking, as always, as big as a smal pony. Mrs. Flowers walked beside him; Stefan and Elena drew up the rear. Heavy clicking footsteps as Saber, alone, went up to Caroline, who was gasping and quivering. Utter silence as everyone took in the sight of the giant beast, his coat ebony black, his eyes dark and moist as he took a leisurely look around the courtroom. Then, deep in his chest, Saber went hmmf. Around Matt people were gasping and writhing, as if they itched al over. He stared and saw Gwen staring along with him as the gasping became a panting. Final y Saber tilted his nose to the ceiling and howled. What happened after that wasn't pretty from Matt's point of view. Not seeing Caroline's nose and mouth jut out to make a muzzle. Not seeing her eyes recede into smal , deep, fur-lined holes. And her hands, fingers shrinking into helplessly waving paws, widespread, with black claws. That wasn't pretty. But the animal at the end was beautiful. Matt didn't know if she'd absorbed her gray dress or shucked it off or what. He did know that a handsome gray wolf leaped from the defendant's chair to lick up at Saber's chops, rol ing al the way on the floor to frolic around the huge animal, who was so obviously the alpha wolf. Saber made another deep hmmf sound. The wolf that had been Caroline rubbed her snout lovingly against his neck. And it was happening in other places in the room. Both of the prosecutors, three of the jurors†¦the judge himself†¦ They were al changing, not to attack, but to forge their social bonds with this huge wolf, an alpha if ever there was one. â€Å"We talked to him al the way,†Elena explained in between cursing the duct tape in Matt's hair. â€Å"About not being aggressive and snapping off heads – Damon told me he did that once.† â€Å"We didn't want a bunch of murders,†Stefan agreed. â€Å"And we knew no animal would be as big as he was. So we concentrated on bringing out al the wolf in him we could – wait, Elena – I've got the tape on this side. Sorry about this, Matt.† A sting as tape ripped free – and Matt put a hand to his mouth. Mrs. Flowers was snipping the duct tape that held him to the chair. Suddenly he was entirely free and he felt like shouting. He hugged Stefan, Elena, and Mrs. Flowers, saying, â€Å"Thank you!† Gwen, unfortunately, was being sick in a trash can. Actual y, Matt thought, she was lucky in having secured one. A juror was being sick over the railing. â€Å"This is Ms. Sawicki,†Matt said proudly. â€Å"She came in after the trial had begun, and did a real y good job for me.† â€Å"He said ‘Elena,'†Gwen whispered when she could speak. She was staring at a smal wolf, with patches of thinning hair, that came limping down from the judge's chair to cavort around Saber, who was accepting al such gestures with dignity. â€Å"I'm Elena,†said Elena, in between giving Matt mighty hugs. â€Å"The one who's†¦supposed to be dead?† Elena took a moment out to hug Gwen. â€Å"Do I feel dead?† â€Å"I – I don't know. No. But – â€Å" â€Å"But I have a pretty little headstone in the Fel ‘s Church cemetery,†Elena assured her – then suddenly, with a change in countenance, â€Å"Did Caroline tel you that?† â€Å"She told the whole room that. Especial y the reporters.† Stefan looked at Matt and smiled wryly. â€Å"You may just live to have your revenge on Caroline.† â€Å"I don't want revenge anymore. I just want to go home. I mean – â€Å"He looked at Mrs. Flowers in consternation. â€Å"If you can think of my house as ‘home'while your dear mother is away, I am very happy,†said Mrs. Flowers. â€Å"Thank you,†Matt said quietly. â€Å"I real y mean that. But Stefan†¦what are the reporters going to write?† â€Å"If they're smart, they won't write anything at all.†

Poopp

â€Å"Should he order this devastating bomb to be dropped on Japan, a nation so close to defeat? ‘ (Stein 40). Perhaps this was President Trauma's most agonizing and most difficult decision of his life. Japan s plans to expand, led it to attack Pearl Harbor in December 1941 (US History World War II). This invasion made World War II an unavoidable event for the United States. The surprise offense on Hawaii made this country aware of the strength and power that Japan held.Ironically, a fair number of people urged President Truman not to employ the weapon because of the possible civilian deaths it could cause. These people were unaware of the three-million man army and a civilian population determined to fight until death that Japan had (Stein 40), without a doubt not a â€Å"nation so close to defeat†. Those who criticized the bomb had very little understanding of the type of war that America was brought Into. Numerous strategies on how to convince Japan to surrender were considered. In July, 1945, the atomic bomb became available.After a great amount of time contemplating, President Truman eventually decided to command the use of the atomic bombs. The explosives were dropped on two cities of military significance, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The first city to be attacked was Hiroshima, on August 4th, 1945. This area of land is located in Japan's Inland Sea, on the main island, Honshu. This target for the first atomic weapon to be used was where the second general army was headquartered. Three days following the first drop of explosives, there was still no reply from Japan.On August 9th, America decided to repeat the process. The second primary target was a city with the name of Koura, which held a huge army arsenal (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). Thick clouds prevented the bombing on Koura, so the American navy resorted to their second choice of area, Nagasaki. This city Is located on Shush, an Island In Japan, and Included a port with naval installati ons. Despite arguments that still go on today, one can discover by research that the use of the explosives was undoubtedly appropriate and the most promising method to end the war.Japan is known for having much strength when it comes to war effort. With this, one can better understand why the bomb was needed to prevent the cost of American lives. Though there was much concern about the Japanese casualties, the dropping of the atomic bombs can be seen as a reasonable act of revenge on account of previous occurrences with Japan. The Japanese military was indispensably strict. Indubitably, victory was extremely substantial. But more than victory was the religious nature of Japanese war effort.Relatives, ancestors, and the emperor of the land were to be highly respected, much more respect than the typical American expresses towards his or her family. Every Japanese soldier Is, If anything, expected to die with honor. Any man who surrenders on the battlefield Is en as a pessimist by show ing disrespect to his country, family, and ruler. A very surrender. It is known that there have been frequent mass suicides among Japanese troops that occurred during and after losing battles. Japanese soldiers who were seized were usually approached poorly.Captured men were accounted as animals and not treated like humans. Numerous of Japanese have died or committed suicide in past losing battles, but that does not mean that they failed to try. Unquestionably, Japan consistently striver for victory, gave all their strength, and was over prepared for many battles. The country fought until the last man. Even the wounded were supplied with two hand grenades. â€Å"One was to kill an enemy soldier, including enemy medical staff, who approached them, and the other was to kill themselves rather than endure the shame of being captured alive† (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable).This act demonstrates how the Japan military was overenthusiastic and brutal. These would have been the troops America would have faced if President Truman had opposed the atomic bombs and decided to side with a Japan land invasion. Ultimately, the United States sufficiently weakened the Japanese promise of â€Å"fighting o the last man† when they surrendered. Destroying the country's words was Just one method to demolish Japan's power to make war and another reason why showing America's technological power by dropping two atomic bombs was appropriate.The decision to elect the explosives was extremely logical when thinking about the prevented American lives. President Harry Truman contemplated on an abundance of strategies to convince Japan to surrender. His first option was to continue what was previously ordered in Japan. Heavy bombing on Japan cities already existed, but the explosives would be intensified. Also, the Soviet Union, an ally in defeating Germany, was supposedly Joining the war with Japan. The president considered anticipating until the Soviet Union got involved, and p ossibly Japan would surrender without a catastrophe.Next, Truman thought it was worth a try bargaining Japan's surrender and allowing them to keep their emperor, Horopito, on his throne. The last method was a land invasion. According to the president, â€Å"each posed serious military, political, and diplomatic risks†(Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate). Certainly, the forth option would have been intensely unfortunate for the United States of America. â€Å"An invasion of Japan's home islands would risk one-million American battle casualties† (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). In July, 1945, the atomic bomb became available.This seemed to be the most assuring way the war would end, but at the same time, President Truman was in a predicament because of such world controversy over whether the explosive was suitable. In the end, the president's decision showed that â€Å"the bombing was necessary to accomplish Trauma's objectives of forcing a prompt Japanese surrender and savi ng perhaps thousands of Americans' lives† (Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate). Though this was not the purpose of dropping the bombs, the atomic explosives scattered over Japan can rationally be seen as an act of revenge.The Japanese was the reason behind America being brought into World War II, simply because of their attack on Pearl Harbor. The offense was without warning and a great amount of Americans died, including civilians. The number of American causalities from the attack was extremely ignominious compared to the insignificant amount of Japanese deaths. For those who side with the atomic bombs, the Pearl Harbor attack was another reason they believed the Orrville actions the Japanese have done to hurt the United of America.In a radio broadcast, following the dropping of the atomic bombs, Truman mentioned a few of Japan's negative efforts. Speaking about the explosive, President Truman said, â€Å"We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Ha rbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, and against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare† (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). Perhaps after the bombs were dropped, Truman felt a bit regretful of his commands.After attaining and stating those words, it is obvious that the president felt that he had decided on the correct choice. One can only believe that he pondered on the fact that he once had difficulty on deciding something that was so obvious when he recalled past issues with Japan. American considered plenty of ways for Japan to surrender. American even offered a few of these ways as choices to Japan. One would think that any alternative would be chosen over war, but this was irrelevant to Japan. As mentioned before, the Japanese belief was to â€Å"fight to the last man†, and that is what the country had planned to do.Others believe Japan was waiting in hopes of securing better su rrender terms (Scholastic Upfront Bomb Debate), but on July 28th, 1945, the Prime Minister of Japan, Suzuki, ignored the Potsdam Declaration. The Potsdam Declaration gave Japan an opportunity to surrender without war (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). â€Å"President Truman warned Japanese leaders that they must surrender or, ‘†¦ They may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth† (Stein 41). This was the president's method of getting Japan to understand that if there was no surrender, then there will be war, there will be revenge.In conclusion, Japan did surrender eventually, on August 14th. In the city of Hiroshima, an estimated amount of 60,000 people were killed. Over in Nagasaki, approximately 40,000 lives were taken, and relatively 60,000 injured. The bomb radiation would result in leaving many survivors with possible cancer, cataracts, genetic, life-shortening, and fertility effects. Perhaps these results were an ex tra force for Japan's surrender, along with the entry of the Soviet Union. Regardless of deaths, effects, and injuries done to Japan, the atomic weapons were unquestionably required to end World War II.The Japanese have plenty courage and strength in their war effort that it was certain that they weren't going to surrender. During the time of refusing and ignoring America's quest to compromise and perhaps arrange some sort of deal for the country to surrender, Japan was undoubtedly preparing for a fight to the death as a nation (Pacific War Bomb Justifiable). With this in mind, the bombs were a fortunate thing when the possible amount of American deaths resulting from a land invasion is apprehended. If the explosives weren't dropped, Japan would have control of the war.

Torts law problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Torts law problem - Essay Example Based on this certificate, Rhett purchased the land. Later on when Rhett submitted his plans for construction of a residential subdivision, the Council rejected the proposal, on account of flood risk. Due to the refusal, and no other recourse left with Rhett, he had to sell his land to a local farmer at a substantial loss. Now from the facts above, it is quite clear that, there was injustice meted out to Rhett. Now, the problem that Rhett is facing has a solution in Law of Torts. Law of Torts is the field of law which deals civil harms that may be caused to a person. The concept of negligence is integral to the Law of Torts. The definition of negligence under tort law states that, â€Å"the breach of a legal duty to take care, resulting in damage to the claimant which was not desired by the defendant† [L.B. Curzon, Dictionary of Law]. Another popular definition states that, â€Å"Negligence is the omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided upon those consideratio ns which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do, or doing something which a prudent and reasonable man would not do.† [Per Alderson B., Blyth v Birmingham Waterworks Co. (1856)]. From Lord Curzon’s definition, we understand that there are three important aspects to prove negligence, one being ‘legal duty to take care’, ‘breach of duty of care’ and the third one being ‘damages’. We will first understand the three ingredients of negligence, and then go on to observe whether the problem at hand actually amounts to negligence, and if so, what the recourse that Rhett has is in this given scenario. Now the duty of care essentially means that, every person owes a duty not to harm their neighbour, and reasonably foresee, whether there action may cause to the person. This principle was laid down in the landmark judgement of Donahue v Stevenson. Further in Capro v. Dickman, their primary components of Duty of Care were la id down. The judgement said that Harm must be (1) reasonably foreseeable (2) there must be a relationship of proximity between the plaintiff and defendant and (3) it must be 'fair, just and reasonable' to impose liability. Now as goes for the ‘first component’, we have to determine whether the Council clerk could reasonably foresee the harm he was about to cause Rhett. In this scenario, it can be reasonably assumed that the clerk knew that the whole and sole responsibility of running the background check on the said property was on him. He was also aware that, if there was any irregularity in the records, it was his duty to point out the Scarlette. Failure to do so, would result in great harm to the buyer of the land, as the buyer was solely depending upon the background check of the Council. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that, the clerk was in a position to ascertain the kind of harm he would cause if he did not take the proper steps to give the proper backgrou nd check on the aforesaid land. So we are sure, that the first ground of Duty of Care exists. Moving on to the ‘second component’, i.e. the relationship of proximity between the plaintiff and the defendant. There was a definite relationship between Rhett and the Council clerk. Rhett had approached the Council clerk, to provide him with the background check on the said land. Therefore, Rhett was expecting the clerk to carry out his duties rightfully and perform the check for him. It was the clerk’

Select one speaker's topic and add information from a second source Essay

Select one speaker's topic and add information from a second source (journal article, industry website, book, etc.). Discuss the topic and offer your opinion. Cite your source - Essay Example Teamwork, I believe it contributes largely towards my success in capstone course. This is because it increases competitiveness and productivity by resulting to superior work and goal (Reynolds, 1994). Teamwork further takes advantage of opportunities offered by technological advances (Hills, 2001). Working together for success improves individual commitment and motivation. To succeed and remain competitive, teams need to utilize each other fully and the available materials and equipment optimally. Education and learning, such as the capstone course adoption of teamwork as a strategy of effective learning is important (Levin, 2002). Designs for learning need to include student-centered team based studying and learning such as case based, problem based, and inquiry based and project based scenarios. Teamwork and teams assist in promoting deep learning, which occurs through interaction, dialogue, collaboration, cooperation, and problem solving. Members of a team should be flexible enough (Hills, 2001). There are several attributes for a successful teamwork. First, there is commitment to team success and shared goals for the project. Successful teams are engaged, aim to achieve results, and are motivated. Second, there is interdependence; members of team create an environment where together they contribute much more as compared to individuals (Reynolds, 1994). Positive interdependence brings out the best of each individual enabling the team to achieve even far more as expected. Individual members encourage and promote fellow members to achieve, learn, and contribute. Third, there are the interpersonal skills, which include the capability to discuss issues in open with other team members, be trustworthy, supportive, and honest, and show commitment and respect to individual member and the team at large. Forth there is open

Promoting Unity in the Family Unit in the twenty First century Essay

Promoting Unity in the Family Unit in the twenty First century - Essay Example   Accepting the changes in the family unit that have occurred during the twentieth century can be one of the best methods of achieving harmony in the family. An acceptance on the part of the parents of the changed social codes regarding the manner in which men and women are to conduct themselves in society, an help bridge distances between the two parents in case any clash happens. On many occasions, conflicts arise as a result of the inability on the part of either parent to accept that the gender roles that the other is supposed to adhere to have changed from previous generations. Parents who have grown up seeing earlier models of manhood and womanhood may not be able to adjust to modern lifestyles that demand different definitions of either category of genders. During the twentieth century, the notions of differences between sex and gender that came about primarily due to feminist movements have also caused changes in the structure of the family. The establishment of the differe nces in the sexual and gender roles, that a person is supposed to perform, was explained at length by the French feminist, Simone De Beauvoir in her book, The Second Sex (Beauvoir). A redistribution of jobs within the family may enable different members, whichever sex they are, to feel themselves more a part of the family. This would follow from the fact that they would be able to see themselves not just as members of a family as a result of their crudely reproductive functions but also because of the characteristics as individuals.      Contrary to popular perception gay and lesbian families can actually strengthen family structures since the reproductive aspect of relations that is present in heterosexual families is less a part of homosexual families. The structuring of such families can function as models for units that are distinct from conventional standards of the family. Such standards may enable people of any orientation to bring in more of their individuality into family units as a positive change. To be a part of a united group of individuals that form a unit within a society, one needs to feel accepted within that group. Unconventional models can be the next step in the evolution of the family unit in the twenty first century. Such a process of evolution may lead to models of the family that are stronger and more united than those which were a feature of the past. Strict patriarchal authority that was the driving force of earlier models of

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

Osha - Assignment Example It is also charged with the provision of training, relevant education, outreach, and assistance to the work force. All employers, as well as their employees, are covered with the OSHA Act. This coverage may be directly as enshrined in the federal OSHA or through a state program approved by OSHA. Any program rolled out by the state is required to be up to par with the standards stipulated by the federal OSHA in as far health and workplace safety is concerned. The OSHA website stipulates that any individual or groups that represent employees or even the employees they are in a position to lodge a complaint that calls for an inspection by OSHA of their areas of work if they have sufficient reasons to believe that such areas pose great health or safety hazards to them. It also gives directions on how such a complaint may be filed. The OSHA website also has additional information such as their contact information, various statistics and data regarding safety in the workplace, their cooperative programs, their schedule of event, types of hazards as well as the various rights any worker is

Media, Identity and the Popular Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Media, Identity and the Popular - Essay Example Given the power, extent, and outreach of popular media – including films and television, the social construction of characters belonging to racial and ethnic minorities are bound to have a significant impact on the wider audience (Downing & Husband, 2005). Signorielli (2001) described television as "the nation’s primary story-teller" (p. 36) engaged in the role of continuously 'feeding' its audience with healthy doses of what can be construed as 'mainstream' views (Gerbner et al., 2002). The representation of racial and ethnic minorities in films and television, hence, is a critical subject of analysis and needs to be explored because the sheer extent of media outreach and the number of ardent viewers these forms of popular media attract almost ensure a greater social impact over a period of time (Mastro & Greenberg, 2000). This essay aims to highlight, explore, and analyse the manner in which these popular mediums of communication particularly films and television port ray racially and ethnically diverse characters; the gradual shift in such portrayals over time; followed by the influence and impact of the same supported by theoretical implications of such representation. The examples discussed as a part of the study include popular films and television shows from the UK, U.S., and Canada. Media representation of racial / ethnic minorities: An Overview Hall (1981) stated that media as a key tool of propagating ideologies often uses the platform to generate representations of the socio-cultural environment around us by way of images and characters. These characters in turn accentuate the understanding of its audience with regard to the manner in which the world around is and influence them to interpret the messages coded therein with regard to the members of the racial and ethnic minorities. The persistent portrayal of such images leads such characters and / or images to become naturalized enabling the viewers to understand these images and charact ers in the way they are portrayed (p. 11). Cultural theorists focused on investigating cultural and racial representations in popular media have identified the portrayal of 'whiteness' as the dominant theme and as a strategic rhetoric. The images and characters associated with the dominant white population are often indicative of their privileged status in both films as well as on prime time television shows and /or soap operas. It is also often argued that 'whiteness' is often the most dominant and overarching norm against which all other races are measured and compared (Ott, 2010: p. 139). African-Americans have consistently been under-represented as compared to their white counterparts in films and television programs in the United States (Wilson, 1996; Dixon & Rosenbaum, 2004). Although there has been a commendable and dramatic change in trend with regard to portrayal of racial and ethnic minorities on television shows and films over the years, the blacks continue to be either u nder-represented or portrayed in characters / roles that tend to perpetuate and even increase stereotyping (Dill, 2013: p. 253). Most of the popular television shows aired during the previous decade often included Caucasians as key protagonists with supporting

International Money and Finance (Final stage 3) Essay - 2

International Money and Finance (Final stage 3) - Essay Example The company’s annual report 2010 provides clues on the exchange rate risks. Operating Statistics Number of rental stores Staff numbers 31 October 30 April 31 October 30 April 2010 2009 2010 2010 2009 2010 Sunbelt Rentals 346 397 393 5,373 5,733 5,334 A-Plant 104 111 105 1,876 1,944 1,872 Corporate office - - - 11 12 12 Group 450 508 498 7,260 7,689 7,218 The operating statistics on the number of rental stores and staff strength provide a comparative view of the performance of the Ashtead Group in the years 2009 and 2010 respectively in Sunbelt Rentals and A-Plant (Ashtead Group Press Release, 2011). Exchange Rate Risk Ashtead Group is exposed to exchange rate risk developed from translation risk emerging from most of the company assets, liabilities, income and costs written in the US dollars. The changes in the comparative value of Pound Sterling and the US dollar can impact on the financial strength and functioning of the company. All debt of the company is shown in the US do llars to secure to a certain extent the revenue stream, hedging against the translation effects erupting from the shift in the dollar exchange rate. The company pays dollar interest on its debts to reduce the impact of any shift in the dollar exchange rate on its income (Ashtead Group Annual Report Accounts, 2010). Movements in the rate of the US dollar with respect to Pound Sterling has been having and crucial impact on our financial position and outcomes of operations as registered in pounds are because most of the company assets, liabilities, income and costs are represented in US dollars. Movement in the exposure of the firm against Pound Sterling or other currencies however, can create significant transaction exposure for the firm. Higher level of exposure can affect the firm’s short term cash flows and therefore may force the firm to borrow to meet its short term cash requirements. (Moffett, Stonehill, & Eiteman,2009). Till 31 October 2010 all company debts shown in the US dollar were nearly 80% of the value of net assets shown in dollar. It proved out to be robust hedge against currency fluctuations. It reduces the impact of exchange rate fluctuations as interest is paid through dollar as well, thus, reducing the effect on pre-tax profits and income. Based on the latest currency mix of Ashtead Group’s profits and on dollar debt levels, interest and exchange rates at 31 October 2010, a 1% change in the US dollar exchange rate would impact pre-tax profit by ?40,000 (Ashtead Group Press Release, 2011). The company has been benefitting from the strong dollar in the past, as is evident from the results of Sunbelt from stronger dollar in the year 2009 when revenues in dollar were short by 21% across the year to US$1450 million but in reality increased by 7% when shown in UK sterling (International Rental News, 2009). Ashtead's Sunbelt results were boosted by the stronger dollar. Sunbelt's revenues in dollars fell by 21% over the year to US$1450 million, although actually grew by 7% when expressed in UK sterling. A-Plant's sales for the year fell by 2% to 208.0 [pounds sterling] million. Dollar exchange rate hedging worked well for the company in the year 2009 amidst reducing sales for both the companies of the group in the final quarter with 28% cut in income by A-Plant and 24% reduction in the income of Senbelt in local

Taking a Community Sociolgical Inventory Coursework

Taking a Community Sociolgical Inventory - Coursework Example I would therefore like to seek your opinion regarding it. Kindly let me know what you think of the contributions of individuals, federal and the Arizona state governments on the educational provisions by the Liberty Elementary School and the Paradise Valley Unified School District at large (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). As a course mentor, I would like to seek your opinion regarding my list of social inventory. Having conducted an extensive on the educational climate of Liberty Elementary School, I came up with the following list (in order of priority): This paper is mainly based on the research conducted about Liberty Elementary School and its immediate surrounding. As a matter of fact, the prosperity of education in a school relies on both internal and external factors. A part from the school set up, the immediate community in which it is located, great determine its success. Liberty Elementary School is located within Paradise Valley Unified School District, Arizona State (Button, H. Warren & Provenzo, E.F., Jr., 2009). The 1977 established institution offers preschool through sixth grade. Currently, it has a total population of 600 pupils. Evidently, Liberty Elementary School was founded in 1877. As an institution, it has undergone a lot of changes in its growth. Initially, it had a total population of 30 learners (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). This number significantly increased as it expanded and grew over the years. According to the latest school records, it currently has a total population of 600 pupils. This number has been steadily increasing over the years. By 2004, it had only 390 pupils. This increased to 500 in 2008 before increasing to 520, 550, 570, 580, and 600 in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively (U.S, Census Bureau data, 2013). According to the school administration, it is a policy to provide quality education to the learners. This has been accomplished through

Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing Change - Essay Example With the countless number of organizations worldwide, companies continue to invest on research and development for their organizations to change their perspective and obtain their goals. It is true that the only eminent thing in this world is change. People adapt, submit or contradict with change. There are many implications that we encounter when change occurs; management must view matters seriously and make critical decisions for the organization’s sustainability. The objectives of this paper is to thoroughly look into Theory E and Theory O in terms of managing change, to provide a bird’s eye view of the differences and other key notable details that help organizations transition smoothly (Johnson, pp. 39-44, 2002). It will also discuss how Theory E and Theory O can aid top management at making critical decisions and providing a detailed analysis of these two approaches to change. The scope of this paper will be focus on the experience of organizations that fostered these two approaches, how have companies and organizations come to employ either or both theories but not only limited to these. The flow of the paper will start with a brief description of each theory including its characteristics and the key differences of both theories in the field of management. Based on a new research, Theory E and O were relatively new findings as researchers (Cummings, pp. 23-25, 2008) have observed various companies practicing either Theory E or O or both of them. There are many approaches used in managing change; however, ‘Michael Beer’ and ‘Nitin Nohria’ are two researchers who have successfully identified two types of change theories that may have geared management in change initiative (Hoelbeche, pp. 151-154, 2006). As recent studies showed, researchers have identified two types of approaches commonly used by management in initiating change. The first approach is Theory E, referred to as

Causes of Tension Between Cuba and the United States Essay Example for Free

Causes of Tension Between Cuba and the United States Essay On January 9, 1959, following their successful overthrow of the oppressive Batista regime, a band of freedom fighters, anchored by Fidel Castro, marched through the Cuban capital city of Havana. Upon his arrival, Castro immediately seized control of the Cuban government and declared himself the highest executive of the island nation, Premier of Cuba. In April of 1959, Castro visited the United States in order to gain support for his policies in leading Cuba. The majority of Americans warmly embraced Castro, assuming that this charismatic leader would guide Cuba to democracy (Cuba). Some Americans remained cautious in accepting Castro, however, primarily disturbed by his previously demonstrated socialist sympathies. In the following month, Americans were given reasons to become anti-Castro as the Premier took hold American owned sugar plantations, Cubas multi-national companies, and the nations petroleum holdings (Cuba). By the end of 1959, the nation began to show signs of Communist involvement. Communist affiliated groups took control of the nations military, bureaucracy, and labor movement, and Soviet interest in the island increased. In February of 1960, Anastas Mikoyan, vice-prime minister of the Soviet Union, came to Cuba. . . . A major topic [of the meeting] was the Soviet Unions purchase of Cuban sugar and [the Cuban] purchase of Russian oil (Franqui 66). Following the meeting, the Soviet Union entered into a trade agreement with the USSR, causing the United States to drastically limit the import of Cuban sugar into the nation. In response, Cuba nationalized all remaining American properties and negotiated an expanded trade agreement and loans with the Soviets, causing the United States to break all diplomatic relations with the country (Cuba). Before the end of 1960, the USSR had begun sending military aid to the Cubans. (Cuba) The U. S. government was by now convinced that Cuba had become a Communist state (Dolan 92-93). The falling of Cuba into a Communist regime proved extremely important to the U. S., primarily due to Cubas proximity to the United States, only 90 miles. In addition, there were reports that the Soviet Union intended to make a staging base out of Cuba for the  communization of the other Latin-American countries and rumors that construction projects inside Cuba appeared to be designed for launching missiles (Rivero 170). To stop the spread of Communism in the Western Hemisphere, Americans felt that the islands government had to be toppled (Dolan 93). Upon hearing from Cuban exiles that a great deal of unrest had been present on the island, Washington saw the time as ripe for an invasion attempt (Rivero 183). The U.S. government put the Central Intelligence Agency in charge of plotting the attempt, along with officers from the Pentagon. The goal of the CIA-planned attempt would be to mask American involvement in the coup, so that the United States could not encounter accusations of illegally endangering the sovereignty of an established foreign government (Dolan 93). The plan entailed using Cuban exiles to carry out an uprising, seemingly attempting to liberate their country. Following the planning of the invasion, the CIA utilized their Guatemalan bases in training 1,300 exiles (Dolan 93). News of the supposedly secret plan leaked to Castro, who accused Washington of planning the worst sort of intervention in the islands affairs and damned the United States for dropping the attitude of neutrality it had long professed in regard to Cuba (93). The Premier put the islands defense forces on alert and ordered them to prepare and be ready for an attack. On March 29, 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave the CIA permission to proceed with the launch the Cuban invasion. Changes were made to the plan however, the most important being the ban of U.S. air support of the campaign, excluding air attacks on three Cuban air bases (Rivero 184). Along with the ban came the necessity of a simultaneous mass uprising by the Cuban people (184); without mass popular support, the invasion was doomed to failure. Two days prior to the invasion, B-26 bombers attacked three crucial Cuban air bases, San Antonio, Cubas main base, Camp Liberty in Havana, Castros main headquarters, and the military airport at Santiago de Cuba (Rivero 184). A second wave of B-26 strikes was planned as well, but was called off by President Kennedy, who was suspected to have felt that strong U.S. participation would threaten a war with Russia (Dolan 95). The cancellation of the second group of air strikes left Castro with one-third of his air  force and the goal of destroying the entire air force unfulfilled. Two days after the air strikes took place, approximately 1,500 CIA-supported Cuban exiles landed near the Bay of Pigs. The men were accompanied by old, unmarked American B-26 bombers that dropped leaflets urging the Cuban people to rise against Castro and join the attack force (Dolan 93). The invaders assumed that the leaflets would draw the widespread support of Cubans unhappy with their government. In the three days in which the people would supposedly aid in holding off Castros forces, the invaders were to set up a provisional government and appeal for American help. From there, the United States would recognize the provisional government and intervene in overthrowing the Castro regime (93). The CIA plan assumed excessively, mostly due to the optimism derived from the agencys previous successes in staging coups in Guatemala and Iran, and all of the invasion plans resulted in complete failure: The expected assistance did not come from the islands dissidents. On being hit by Castros air force, the attackers asked that U.S. Navy jets be sent to help them. The planes, however, never appeared, due to the Kennedy-issued ban on U.S. air involvement (Dolan 95). After two days, Castros forces had thoroughly suppressed the attack, killing 150 of the men, and capturing approximately 1,200 of the attackers (95). According to the authors of Cuba and the United States: Troubled Neighbors, Kennedy had never liked the idea (Dolan 95) of an American-sponsored invasion of Cuba, mostly due to his belief that it would undoubtedly fail. The plan had been created under the Eisenhower administration, and Kennedy had little input in its creation. Nevertheless, the President allowed the invasion to occur, and despite his opposition to the whole affair, he accepter full responsibility for its failure because he was in office at the time it was staged (95). While Kennedy had been assured that the plan he approved would be both secret and successful, he discovered too late that it was too large to remain secret and too small to succeed (Wyden 310). Kennedy was greatly upset by the failure of the invasion, and he held himself personally responsible, for both the lives of the men who died as well as for the 1,200 men whom his government had helped send to their imprisonment (qtd. in 310). Kennedy viewed the failure as the ultimate  failure of his career (310), and from the defeat, his prestige suffered a severe blow (Dolan 96). About a year and a half later, however, he was to regain that lost prestige (96), in his impressive handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Works Consulted Cuba Exhibit History. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. 2001 . Dolan, Edward E., and Margaret M. Scariano. Cuba and the United States: Troubled Neighbors. New York: Franklin Watts, 1987. Franqui, Carlos. Family Portrait with Fidel. New York: Random House, 1984. Rivero, Nicholas. Castros Cuba: An American Dilemma. New York: Van Rees P, 1962. Sierra, J.A.. Timetable History of Cuba: After the Revolution. 27 Aug. 2001 www.historyofcuba.com/history/timetbl4.htm Wyden, Peter. Bay of Pigs: The Untold Story. New York: Simon, 1979.

Threats To Coral Reefs Environmental Sciences Essay

Threats To Coral Reefs Environmental Sciences Essay Coral reefs deal with many threats, from both nature and man. Coral reefs have become the home for over twenty five percent of the marine life in the ocean and theyre the largest living structures on earth (Coral Reefs and CO2). Also, reefs provide food for about 500 million people around the world (Connor). Coral reefs require balanced water chemistry for growth as well as balanced light, temperature, and nutrient levels. Any changes to these can affect the survival of the coral and potentially kill them (Sandhyarani). Ten percent of the tropical reefs in the world have already been lost and the reefs that remain show signs of deterioration and possible loss (Coral Reefs and CO2). Twenty percent of the worlds reefs have been destroyed and show no immediate prospects of recovery, Clive Wilkinson, World Wildlife Fund. The two main threats that reefs deal with come from humans (anthropogenic) and natural events. Consequently, global warming may now have the most devastating affect on coral reefs from humans. Global warming can be caused by the release of CO2 into the atmosphere as a result of the burning of fossil fuels (Coral Reefs in Danger). An increase in ocean temperature is a direct affect of global warming and extremely dangerous to corals and the organisms that call the coral home. The warming can cause coral bleaching, when coral polyps drop the algae that live on them leaving behind the bright white color of the corals skeleton (Thompson). This algae provides the coral with eighty percent of its energy, making the algae critical to the corals existence (Threats). Coral life depends on algae, but too much can also have a negative effect. Pollution has become one of the leading human threats to coral, resulting from runoff, sewage, oils, chemicals, fertilizers, and radioactive wastes getting into the ocean (Kaku). These chemicals can increase the nutrient levels in the ocean waters a nd cause algae blooms and growth of other marine organisms that can compete with coral for space. Pollution can also lead to light deprivation and will ultimately starve a coral, which depends upon its symbiotic algae to produce food photosynthetically (NOAA CoRIS). Pollution can be linked to coral diseases as well; due to the poor water quality that pollution produces. If an oil spill occurs coral spawning, the oil can destroy the egg and sperm of the coral polyp as it floats near the surface before it can ever fertilize and settle (NOAA). Destructive fishing methods are another human related threat to coral reefs. Blast fishing, the most destructive to reefs, kills not only the objective fish but also reef animals and the reefs themselves (Thompson). Cyanide fishing, which involves the release of cyanide into the ocean to stun fish, can kill the coral polyps and corrupt the entire reef (NOAA). Coral mining can also be extremely devastating for corals, the coral is mainly used for construction purposes and can be obtained fifty percent cheaper than rock from a quarry (NOAA). Furthermore, natural threats are also dangerous the coral reefs. Coral diseases are the most common natural threat. Diseases can be caused by humans but they mainly derive from natural biological stresses such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They can also occur as a result of non-biological stresses such as increased sea surface temperature or ultraviolet radiation (NOAA). Nevertheless, they have the same impact no matter the cause and the main diseases include black band disease, white band disease, white plague, and white pox. Slowly over time, these progress to expand across the coral eating away at the corals tissue and leaving behind its white skeleton unprotected (NOAA). The waves that result from hurricanes and cyclones can break apart branches of coral and coral heads, scattering the fragments and leaving no chance for the coral to recover (McGinley). Tidal emersions, which leave corals exposed for long periods of time during low tide, can cause the coral to overheat and dry out the essential coral tissues (NOAA). Predation from fish, marine worms, barnacles, crabs, snails, and starfish can destroy reefs in some cases by eating the soft tissues of coral polyps (NOAA). Humans remain the largest threat to coral survival but natural events can still be devastative. Pollution, overfishing, and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk. Their disappearance would destroy the habitat of countless species. It would unravel the web of marine life that holds the potential for new chemicals, new medicines, unlocking new mysteries. It would have a devastating effect on the coastal communities from Cairns to Key West, Florida communities whose livelihood depends upon the reefs.President Bill Clinton

Reliance Steel Aluminum Co

Reliance Steel Aluminum Co Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. is one of the largest metals service center companies in the United States. Through a network of more than 180 locations in 37 states, Belgium, Canada, China, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the Company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of more than 100,000 metal products. These products include galvanized, hot-rolled and cold-finished steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, titanium and alloy steel sold to more than 125,000 customers in a broad range of industries. Some of these metals service centers provide processing services for specialty metals only. The Companys primary business strategy is to enhance its operating results through strategic acquisitions and expansion of its existing operations. This strategy is driven in part by the continued growth and consolidation of the metals service center industry. The Company seeks businesses that are strategically positioned to diversify or enhance its customer base, product breadth and geographic coverage. The Company has successfully completed over 40 acquisitions since its 1994 IPO. Reliance is also expanding its facilities and product offerings in several of its existing geographic locations while penetrating new markets for its products. Corporate History: Reliance was founded in 1939 in Los Angeles, California and began as a fabricator of steel reinforcing bar. In subsequent years, the Company developed into a full-line distributor of steel and aluminum operating through a single metals service center located in Los Angeles. Through the 1960s, the Company expanded its operations via several acquisitions and the establishment of additional service centers. In the mid-1970s, the Company began to establish specialty metals centers stocked with inventories of selected metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, brass and copper, and equipped with automated materials handling and precision cutting equipment. Beginning in the early 1990s, owners of successful service center companies started to sell these companies as they were reaching retirement age. Reliance saw this as an opportunity to expand nationally in a more profitable manner than by expanding with Greenfield operations. This led Reliance to complete an IPO in 1994 to raise the funds to allow for that growth. Reliance has grown significantly through such acquisitions. The Company has completed more than 40 acquisitions since Reliances initial public offering in 1994 and will continue to be an aggressive acquirer of companies. Vision Mission: Reliance serves mission is to provide its customers primarily by providing quick delivery, metals processing and inventory management services. The Company purchases large quantities of metals from primary producers and sells these inventories in smaller quantities. The Companys primary business strategy is to enhance its operating results through strategic acquisitions and expansion of its existing operations. This strategy is driven in part by the continued growth and consolidation of the metals service center industry. The Company seeks businesses that are strategically positioned to diversify or enhance its customer base, product breadth and geographic coverage. Forbes Rankings: Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. 237th on the Forbes Executive Pay in 2008 Reliance Steel Forbes 400 Best Big Companies in 2008 Reliance Steel 13rd on the The 100 Best Mid-Caps in America in 2008 Reliance Steel 1,463rd on the Forbes Global 2000 in 2008 Reliance Steel 1,555th on the Forbes Global 2000 in 2007 Strategy: To become globally competitive: Reduce costs improve operational efficiency. Create economies of scale. Leverage existing assets for future growth: Concentrate on value added differentiated products especially cold rolled segment. Optimize financial structure through debt restructuring including reduction. Diversify market mix through exports to countries like China, Hong Kong and Eastern Europe. Corporate Office: 350, South Grand Avenue, Suite 5100, Los Angeles, California 90071 Phone (213)687-7700 Fax (213)687-8792 Areas of Working: The Company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of more than 100,000 metal products. These products include galvanized, hot-rolled and cold-finished steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, titanium and alloy steel sold to more than 125,000 customers in a broad range of industries. Some of these metals service centers provide processing services for specialty metals only. Major products are: Carbon steel plate, Carbon steel bar, Carbon steel tubing, Carbon steel structural, Galvanized steel sheet coil, Hot rolled steel sheet coil, Cold rolled steel sheet coil, Aluminum bar tube,ÂÂ   Heat treated aluminum plate, Common alloy aluminum sheet coil, Common alloy aluminum plate, Heat treated aluminum sheet coil, Stainless steel bar tube, Stainless steel sheet coil, Stainless steel plate,ÂÂ   Electro polished stainless steel tubing fittings, Alloy bar, rod tube, Alloy, plate sheet coil, Miscellaneous, including brass, copper titanium Toll processing of aluminum, carbon and stainless steel Executive Management: 56 Years Old David H. Hannah, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Effective October 17, 2007, David H. Hannah, currently Chief Executive Officer was elected to the additional role of Chairman of the Board. Mr. Hannah, 56, became Chief Executive Officer of Reliance in January 1999. He served as President from November 1995 to January 2002. Prior to that, he was appointed a Director in 1992 and had served as an Executive Vice President and as Chief Financial Officer since he joined Reliance in May 1981. David H. Hannah, Chief Executive Officer, relinquished the title of President in January 2002. He became Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January 1999, in addition to being named President of the Company in November 1995. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1992 to 1995, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1990 to 1992 and Vice President and Division Manager of the Los Angeles Reliance Steel Company division of the Company from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1990. From January 1, 1987 to July 1, 1989, Mr. Hannah was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and from 1981 to 1987, was Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hannah became a director of the Company in 1992. For eight years before joining the Company in 1981, Mr. Hannah, a certified public accountant, was employed by Ernst Whinney in various professional staff positions. Directors: Gregg J. Mollins, President Chief Operating Officer Thomas W. Gimbel Douglas M. Hayes Franklin R. Johnson, Former partner Mark V. Kaminski, Former Chief Executive Officer Andrew G. Sharkey, President and Former Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Slater, Chairman Leslie A. Waite, Managing Director Impact of Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. on Indian Industry With the governments focus on the infrastructure and electrical sector along with Indias growing importance as a global manufacturing hub for automobiles, infrastructure steel aluminum domestic consumption is expected to grow by 9-10% in 2009-2010. With 10% of the worlds total Steel Aluminum resources India is self sufficient in steel aluminum, combined with low power costs it has a competitive export market. So, till today Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. have not much scope in Indian market because of robust growth in the Asian region, led by China has continued to drive the demand for steel aluminum from Indian market. Demand from East Europe, South Asia and Africa has also contributed to a significant growth in demand of 7%. Growth in power, construction, automotive and telecommunication sectors is expected to increase demand for steel aluminum by 4-5% over the next couple of years. With low demand and high power costs in South America and Europe, copper miners are looking at India. The proximity to a high demand region and the low smelting costs has made India and other South East Asian counties increasingly attractive locations. With its primary use in the galvanizing of steel, the major users of zinc are the automobile and construction industries. India is presently a minor exporter of Steel Aluminum, but with the expansion of new production capacity India is well on its way in becoming self sufficient and will take a much larger role in international markets. Indias have potential in the global base Steel Aluminum market and also its growing appeal to international investors. Often compared to the dynamic growth rates in China, India has promised but failed to deliver the same. This conference will critically examine if Indias recent developments will finally allow that promise to be successfully met. So, it is cleared from the above mentioned facts that till today, India is self sufficient in steel Aluminum, combined with low power costs it has a competitive export market Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. have not much scope in Indian market because of robust growth in Indian Steel Aluminum market, but it have opportunities in future because of continuity in demand for steel aluminum, because of robust growth in power, construction, automotive and telecommunication sectors in India. SWOT Analysis: SWOT Analysis, is a strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information into two main categories: Internal factors The strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization External factors The opportunities and threats presented by the external environment The internal factors may be viewed as strengths or weaknesses depending upon their impact on the organizations objectives. What may represent strengths with respect to one objective may be weaknesses for another objective. SWOT Analysis of Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. Strengths to Build Upon Largest Integrated Aluminum Stainless Steel player in US Cost Efficiencies arising out of : Captive power generation. In house manufacture of HCFC. Economies of scale due to melting capacity. Capacity of 250,000 tones. v Restructuring would enable focus on core strengths / core competencies. v The Company has a very diligent and disciplined acquisition strategy (growth segment) v Has cold rolling capacities which result in : Value added products. Production of international grade Stainless Steel facilitating exports Has diversified into many different areas of the Steel Aluminum industry and has many strong brands under its main umbrella group. Specialized equipment used to process the metals requires high-volume production to be cost effective. Reliance expects to continue to be at the forefront of consolidation in the large and still fragmented Steel Aluminum service center industry, even during poor economic periods when local or regional metals service centers may lack the access to capital required to compete effectively. Weaknesses to Overcome Inappropriate handling of the environmental interest groups is a very big weakness of the organization and can be detrimental to it in the future. High Gearing Capital blocked in group company investments. Opportunities to Exploit Opportunity In the developing Indian market, which is one of the largest consumer of Steel Aluminum. Operations and could greatly enhance its suite. Value added products. Present import duty structure allows protection. Growth opportunities in domestic as well as world market. Leaves scope for volume growth. Export substitution for wide width thin gauge. Cold Roll Stainless Steel (CRSS). Threats to Overcome Entry by global players and dumping by Asian countries. Operations sensitive to global prices of Nickel and stainless steel. Change in govt. policy on duty protection for. CRSS will have adverse impact on pricing. Reasons for Growth of Reliance Steel Aluminum Co.: Diverse, talented and dedicated workforce High degree of stock integration Low-cost producer in many operations Leadership positions in process and product technology Organization structure geared to effective global management Mix of businesses capable of delivering superior financial performance over the business cycle Balanced geographic spread with major investments underway in growth regions. Favorable effect for Reliance Steel Aluminum Co.: The organization has a global presence and thus has access to a wider customer base and a larger market than other Steel Aluminum companies. Reliance expects to continue to be at the forefront of consolidation in the large and still fragmented metals service center industry, even during poor economic periods when local or regional metals service centers may lack the access to capital required to compete effectively. Network of more than 180 locations in 37 states, Belgium, Canada, China, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the Company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of more than 100,000 metal products. Reliance is also expanding its facilities and product offerings in several of its existing geographic locations while penetrating new markets for its products. Harm full effect for Reliance Steel Aluminum Co.: Investors hammered Steel and Aluminum stocks on renewed fears a global recession would further slash demand for commodities. India is self sufficient in aluminum; combined with low power costs it has a competitive export market. Conclusion: Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. is one of the largest metals service center companies in the United States. Through a network of more than 180 locations in 37 states and Belgium, Canada, China, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the Company provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full line of over 100,000 metal products. The Company has a very diligent and disciplined acquisition strategy seeking immediately accretive acquisitions with a minimum return on investment, but if Reliance Steel Aluminum Co. wants to operate in India, it has to compete with local robust players, which are not only fulfilling local Steel Aluminum needs but also have potential to set them in Global Steel Aluminum market with their techniques cost efficiencies. Bibliography: www.rsac.com www.magnesium.com www.google.com/finance www.world-aluminium-market.com Reliance Steel Aluminum

The American Dream: Success, Happiness, And Money :: American Dream Essays

I believe that the American Dream today is based on success, happiness, and money. The reason i think this is because the reason people go through all those years of schooling is to become succufal, in return for being successful you make money, and because of money you can get and do the things you want, which in return makes you happy. Happiness is not all money, it also has to do with love. Lets first start off talking aboutnthe success, and money part. American children start school at the tender age of four. In pre school you are taught to get along with other kids, and to share, and color in the lines. In Kindergarten You first get an intro. to reading and write-in, and in some schools a little simple addition, and subtreacing. Then from there you move on to grade school, first grade through fifth grade. These years you are taught lot of math, reading, writing, and also penmanship in script. You also get a taste of history. When you get to middle school you learn more in depth about everything you learned in earlier years. Finally in High School, everything you have learned is intensified, and you get prepared for collage, and learn more of everything. Then you have to make a decision, If you want to be Successful and make Lot of MONEY you have to go to collage, for a nether four years, at the end of that ordeal you can settle in with Bachelors degree, or a nether one or two for a masters. This will bring a decent income. But if you want the really good jobs you need nether three or four years to get a doctorate degree, or a law degree. What I have just described is what a modern American kid has to go through to be considered suscefull and to have money, I mean we are talking about 22 tears of different types of school. this almost thirty percent of your life spent in school so the rest of your years can be good ones. Lastly I will discuss happiness. Many people think haplessness revolves around money, and many people don't. I personally think it does to a certain degree. I think you don't need to be rich or successful to be loved and have a nice family.

Raves :: essays research papers fc

Social Problems of Ecstasy and Raves Throughout American history drugs have posed a problem to society and lawmakers. Many attempts have transpired to try to prevent future problems associated with drugs. Many of the drugs threatening America were originally designed toward the improvement of human health. The most recent epidemic of recreational drug use is ecstasy. Ecstasy’s popularity is particularly in the possession of the nations youth. The institute of use is at all-night clubs and bars within many large cities. Recent research has been completed about the problems and long term effects of the drug. Does the new era of rave clubs and club drugs such as ecstasy pose a great threat to society? Before analyzing the societal problems associated with ecstasy it is important to understand what it is and its background. Ecstasy or MDMA (methylenedioxmethamphetamine) first originated in 1914 and was used as an appetite suppressant; it was not heavily used again until the 1970â €™s and was used to treat psychological disorders. Finally in the 1980’s the drug administration banned any open use of ecstasy because of recent test results proving it causes health problems. Recently the drug has become very popular and the rising popularity is from the influence of the rave movement. Boom, Boom, Boom. The sound of the new innovative music, responsible for cultivating and transforming society erupts from the speakers of a rave. Codes of conduct at raves are nonexistent. With out rules the crowds are encouraged to participate in whatever they find pleasing. People attend the raves to dance, but in actuality the ravers seek thrill through clandestine actions. Raves usually are praised for creating peaceful and positive vibes, but in spite of the fun and happiness created, raves also have many downfalls. Raving is an all-night activity. Large quantities of "rave kids" use mind and body altering drugs enabling them to indulge in a night of dancin g and immoral behavior. Ecstasy is a quintessential part of entertainment at the rave scene. The drug enhances the scene and the raver does not fully appreciate the moment unless in an altered state of mind. Kids who use ecstasy roam around the scene lost, and not in touch with reality. The ravers are experiencing the moment, but to others it sounds as if they are experiencing mass confusion. Some "ravers" consider alcohol to be a â€Å"square† drug, and therefore seek an alternate source of synthetic energy, such as ecstasy.

The Toughest Decision of My Life Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

The Toughest Decision of My Life People are often asked the question, â€Å"If I could go back in time, what would I change?† But have you ever really thought about the answer to that question? What would you change or what would you keep the same? Accius, a character from Medea, said, â€Å"Change rules all things.† (II 118) I never realized how true this would be. When I look back in life, there are many things that I would change, but there is one decision that I am very thankful that I made. That was the decision to continue living with my grandparents and not to move in with my mother. It was a normal afternoon after school when I returned to my house after a busy day in sixth grade. My grandfather was busy preparing dinner in anticipation of my grandmother coming home from work. Soon my real mom came by to â€Å"have a serious discussion† about something. I had no idea that this â€Å"something† would be one of the hardest decisions I would ever have to make in my life. My real mom had just gotten a new apartment that had enough bedrooms that I could live there. It had never crossed my mind that moving in with her was the question with which she was going to confront me. Soon the topic came out when Mom said, â€Å"Sade, how would you like to come and live with me from now on?† This remark was the beginning of one of the hardest times in my life. I knew I had to make the right decision as Sophocles says, â€Å"Decide not rashly. The decision made, can never be recalled.† (Oedipus Rex 314) I was faced with the first choice of staying with my mother in her new home. Her home was in a location outside the limits of my school zone so I would have to start attending a different school... ...that I ever made. In the years that followed, my mom continued moving around and having off and on jobs. I would have never had a stable home and would be who knows where by now. I am now seventeen years old and don’t regret a single day spent in my grandparents’ house. They have cared for me like no one else could and I am very thankful for that. My mother and I have become closer than ever and we have a very happy relationship with each other. As Thomas Adams said, â€Å"What we obtain cheaply we esteem too lightly; it is dearness which gives everything its value.† (Sermons 14) Works Cited Adams, Thomas. Sermons. From the McMillan book of Quotes, Maxims, and Famous Phrases, 1948. Euripides, the Medea. Trans Philip Vellacott, London: Penguin Books, 1977. Sophocles, Oedipus Rex. Logan, Iowa: The Perfection Form Company. NDP.

Commanding Heights Essay

In the first episode of Commanding Heights, it begins by showing the world with a global economy that is tremendously suffering by the World War 1 events. After World War I, two extremely cerebral economists tried to solve the world’s economic troubles, John Meynard Keynes and Friederich Hayek. Keynes had the belief that a government in times of economic despair should spend money and go into a deficit in order to build the economy back up and then when the economy is stable again, should then grow a surplus. On the other hand, Hayek believed that for an economy to survive the free market must be allowed to have the power to decide. Just as the textbook states, Hayek believed that markets arose naturally. He believed that while at times unemployment would be high, government should not step in with more regulations. Hayek thought that government regulation on the market would lead to too much government control and would damage the economy. Both economists demonstrated the economic way of thinking as discussed in chapter 1 of the Macroeconomics textbook. They had to use assumptions to simplify things, and they most definitely had to think at the margin. Many governments followed Keynes theory after World War 1. During the Great depression, Roosevelt decided to use Keynes economic theory by spending lots of money, also known as the new deal. Roosevelt had the hoover damn built, interstate systems; he created new government agencies to put the unemployed to work. This economic system sure paid off for the United States. This theory is still pretty much used as we speak. The government continues to build recreational parks, museums, repairing the interstate systems, just spending money. Of course that money is not always spent wisely. I believe that Keynes theory will always be in effect for some time to come. After World War 2, a good portion of the world had adopted John Keynes economic theory. In many of those countries the result was not so promising. Socialism was born and economic problems became even worse. The Unites States on the other hand, continued to prosper following the Keynes theory. Hayek’s beliefs were pretty much over shadowed and unaccepted. The United Kingdom was also a follower of the Keynesian economics. Winston Churchill tried to put a halt to the way they were running their economy, but the labour party prevailed. After around 30 years of following Keynesian economics, both the U. S and the U. K ran in to trouble. Stagflation was brought upon both economies. Inflation rates grew and economic growth rate slowed drastically. Then Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher came in to the picture. Both of these leaders were more on the side of Hayek’s beliefs. They wanted to cut government regulation and cut government spending, they believed that would save their economies. The U.  S and Britain had finally found a way out of the Keynesian practices. The Stagflation was over. After watching episode one of the Commanding Heights series, I have learned a lot about the old economic theories and how their still used today. Two creative young men had the ability to get half of the world to follow their ideas. It seems to me that economics is not just about technological advancements or scientific methods, but it is more about the generating of ideas. Economics comes from dedicated people using their creativity and critical thinking to make ideas turn into theories. I believe one of the main questions to be answered is what should be the balance of power? Should the market have more power to decide? Or should the government be more controlling? After Learning about these economic system theories, I believe the President should favor Hayek’s theory slightly over Keynes. It would be best to have mixture of both economic systems equally, almost as we do now. Too much government control is still a concern in my opinion. The government is making it harder and harder for people to make good money anymore.