Neighborhood walk report and ecological analysis using your six senses Case Study

Neighborhood walk report and ecological analysis using your six senses - Case Study Example For that reason, walking in our neighborhood at around 6 PM, on a Saturday afternoon, when people are out for fun with families, the environment is still very serene and quite peaceful; regardless of the fact that Brooklyn is merely one borough of one of the largest metropolitan areas within the United States. We live in an area that has three residential blocks closely built next to one another; with some other blocks built close by. They blocks are of the typical brick red color; with small balconies opening at the front. The windows have black square frames. All the blocks have around three floors and are well equipped with both stairs and lifts. There occasionally are dresses hanging in the balconies, or even at times, brooms or dusters hanging down the railing. The face of the last block in the row is somewhat decayed because of frequent rain; probably combining the affects of not having been painted with the long term impact of acid rain. At around this time, people are moving in and out of their blocks. There are very few cars in the front area since the parking lot is built towards the back of the building. Children are coming off the blocks, returning to their homes for dinner. Some small boys are sitting in the block entrances fixing their helmets, putting on their knee pads; one was even seen fixing his hair in the motorbike side mirror. Some grownups, mostly dressed up casually are seen heading towards the beach for walk. As we walk out of the block, the serenity seems to slowly and gradually disappear from the surroundings. The mental tranquility and environmental serenity often gets interrupted as the cars move closer to our blocks. The most cited traffic nuisance is normally created by a garbage truck driver; who visits our neighborhood around this part of the day. He oftentimes appears to me as if he is an angry and frustrated man; seemingly suffering from some type of internal depression. At the same time, people in cars and cabs are seen looki ng occasionally to their watches. They must be getting late for home or other plans they must have sequenced for Saturday evening. If we walk closer to the cars with their glasses drawn downwards, we hear people in different languages; mostly in a thick accent of one form or another cursing the other drivers. The cab passengers are seen with equally aggressive and frustrated expressions. Sometimes they are even cursing their driver or quarrelling to drive faster. Some people reach for cell phones or quickly glance at the screen; as if reading the text or punching a rapid succession of buttons on the screen in order to type an urgent message to someone. Certain of them make calls and talk loudly, sounding as if they are explaining or apologizing for being late. In this busy hassle, some people are at times seen very calm. In fact, there seems to be an occasional dating couple. The men usually sit calmly on the driving seat, with shades on and smiles, along with a lady, sitting adjace nt generally as equally happy. The Three Blocks in a Row Some Local Eastern Residents The Famous Neighborhood Gang The library Close to our Blocks 2. Analytical Report of Neighborhood The people in the neighboring areas are very busy with their own lives. In the past 10 years or so, many different cultures have arrived in this area. New York has always been a melting pot of different religions, races, and ethnicities;

By close reference to the Lumber Room Essay Example for Free

By close reference to the Lumber Room Essay By Close Reference to The Lumber Room and The Destructors examine the behaviour of Nicholas and Trevor and stay how far you feel that actions are understandable and justified The two boys, Trevor and Nicholas have a very different behaviour but they have the same reason to perform their actions on their enemies. This reason is revenge. Although, the action they take to gain revenge are very different. Trevor carries out his revenge on society by destroying Mr Thomass or Old Miserys house whereas Nicholas takes his vengeance on his sio-distant aunt by spoiling her image as an adult. Trevor plans to destroy the house when Mr Thomas will be away all tomorrow and Bank Holiday, and after he becomes the leader of the Wormsley Common Gang. This gives him more confidence and power to plan the tactics, and more respect from the gang. Trevor does this by going to see the interior design and structure of the house. As Trevor said to Blackie; He showed it to me, proves this. He is determined to demolish the house with the help and support of the gang. As Blackie said to the gang; Its proposed that to-morrow and Monday we destroy Old Miserys house, shows this. He orders them to perform different jobs using different tools such as nails, chisels, saws, and hammers to carry out the operation. As Trevor orders Blackie; When youve finished in here crack the plaster in the passage up with you sledge-hammer, illustrates an idea of this. To completely tear down the house they attach a piece of rope from the house to a lorry and wait for the lorry driver to start the vehicle. However, Nicholas prepares to ruin his sio-called aunts image as an adult. When Nicholas is not given a special meal he puts the frog in his milk to prove to the adults that they can be wrong at certain times and that they dont listen to him. This causes his aunt to make him stay at home after annoying them. Nicholas goes into the lumber room to trick her into thinking that he has entered the gooseberry garden when he is not suppose to. As the aunt remarked to herself; Only because I have told him he is not to, proves this. She tries to catch him into doing something wrong by entering the garden but slips into the rain-water tank. Nicholas then hears her calling him and reaches the front of the garden. He informs her that he is not allowed to enter the garden and accuses her of being the Evil One as she lied to him. As Nicholas shouts to his aunt; Now I know that you are the Evil One and not aunt, illustrates this. Nicholas finally punishes his aunt by not rescuing her out of the tank. His behaviour is excessive and unnatural as a young child. Trevors action is understandable because the house was constructed and designed by Christopher Wren and not by his father, it contained panellings and stairs, its survived in the Blitz, and its state was still looking beautiful. Trevor also did this as his family had dropped down their position in society. This was that his father had lost his high position job as an architect and had to apply for a low position job as a clerk. As Trevor said to the gang; Wren built that house, father says, proves this. All of these factors make Trevor jealous as he does not have these things now, and so this causes him to destroy the house to take his revenge on society. Although, Nicholass action is understandable because he tries to prove to the adults that they can be wrong at certain occasions and that they dont listen to him when he mentions something important. As Nicholas repeated to them; You said there couldnt possibly be a frog in my bread-and-milk; there was a frog in my bread-and-milk, proves this. This causes him to stay at home as a punishment from his aunt. All of these aspects cause Nicholas to take his revenge on his soi-distant aunt by spoiling her image as an adult. Trevors action is not justified because he is taking his revenge on the wrong sector of society. This is futile as it does not affect the people who made Trevors family descend down in society but Mr Thomas, an innocent and old person who lived in the beautiful house all alone, and did not cause any of this to them. I also feel that Trevor does not have the right to destroy the house because it is not his property but Mr Thomass. Nevertheless, Nicholass action is justified because he was debarred to go to Jagborough sands with the other children by his soi-distant aunt, and so had to stay at home as a form of punishment from her. Therefore, my opinion on this is beneficial because Nicholas feels that his aunt should not have punished him in trying to prove the characteristics of the adults. I also approve of his action because I feel that adults should admit their mistakes, listen to what children say, and not disregard their views.

Shakespeares Hamlet - The Melancholy Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Melancholy Hamlet      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Shakespeare’s tragic drama, Hamlet, the multi-faceted character of the hero is so complex that this essay will enlighten the reader on only one aspect of his personality – his melancholy dimension.    A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy presents convincing evidence regarding the true extent and depth of the hero’s melancholy sentiment:    But there is a more formidable difficulty, which seems to have escaped notice. Horatio certainly came from Wittenberg to the funeral. And observe how he and Hamlet meet (I.ii.160). . . . Is not this passing strange? Hamlet and Horatio are supposed to be fellow-students at Wittenberg, and to have left it for Elsinore less than two months ago. Yet Hamlet hardly recognizes Horatio at first, and speaks as if he himself lived at Elsinore (I refer to his bitter jest, ‘We’ll teach you to drink deep ere you depart’). Who would dream that Hamlet had himself f just come from Wittenberg, if it were not for the previous words about his going back there? How can this be explained on the usual view? Only, I presume, by supposing that Hamlet is so sunk in melancholy that he really does almost ‘forget himself’ and forgets everything else, so that he actually is in doubt who Horatio is. (370)    It is obvious that from the very outset of this tragedy there is a melancholic protagonist. And the depressing aspect of the initial imagery of the drama tend to underline and reinforce Hamlet’s melancholy. Marchette Chute in â€Å"The Story Told in Hamlet† describes some of this imagery of the opening scene:    The story opens in the cold and dark of a winter night in Denmark, while the guard is being changed on the battlements of the royal castle of Elsinore. For two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead king of Denmark, Hamlet’s father. (35)    Horatio and Marcellus exit the ghost-ridden ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet. The prince is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† of his mother to his uncle less than two months after the funeral of Hamlet’s father (Gordon 128). There is a post-coronation social gathering of the court, where Claudius insincerely pays tribute to the memory of his deceased brother.

The Psychology of Serial Killers Essay -- Psychological Murder murdere

The Psychology of Serial Killers Many things today confuse, yet enthrall the masses. War, murder, medical science, incredible rescues, all things you would see on The History Channel. There is another topic that is also made into documentaries however, serial killers. Dark twisted people that commit multiple murders are of interest to the population, but what caused them to be this way. What horrible tragic set of events could twist a man to murder one or many people. Could Schizophrenia, psychopathy, or sociopathy? Many people have researched this topic and believe that childhood trauma, heavy drugs during the growing phase of life, as well as many other things have twisted the minds of men such as Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz. Many say that their actions were preventable but many other believe that the warning signs were present and that their behavior could have been modified long before the murders began.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The triad is the name given to the set of characteristic that serials killers are evident of in their youth. The ?typical? serial killer is a sociopath or psychopath that during childhood was subject to three diagnoses: fire starting (pyromania), prolonged bed-wetting, and animal torture. All of these things correlate to a phase in life in which the young person is curious of certain things new to them. Most children grow out of their interest in fire starting when they first get burnt and bed-wetting when they progress out of the same phase. Animal torture is slightly different. Many children enjoy pulling the wings off a fly, or the legs off of other insects however grow up into quite productive members of society. Some children are enthused by larger animals. Jeffrey Dahmer was enthused originally by fish. He would gut them and inspect their organs to examined how they worked. Curiosity being the main reason for his actions, he would also nail frogs to trees an d collect animals that had been run over by cars. Dahmer was less than characteristic in his choice of animals, the most popular victim being cats. Be it throwing felines from high elevations to watch them ?splat? as explained by Ian Brady the Moors Murderer, gutting them and watching how far they can run after, or burying them alive cats have become the general choice among serial killers-to-be. The A to Z encyclopedia of Serial Killers men... ...for these people should be higher. If that cannot be done then in modern day with all the screening at schools for eye sight problems and back problems could psychological tests also be run to screen for the triad or other such symptoms that lead to murder. Can serial killers be medicated and dissuaded from their future murders before they occur? What can be done in order to dissuade murder in modern society? That is what the world needs now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000. Schechter, Harold, and David Everitt. The A to Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. New York: Pocket Books, 1997. Douglas, John, and Mark Olshaker; Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit. New York, Pocket Books, 1997.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What Makes Serial Killers Tick?. Shirley Lynn Scott. From http://www.crimelibrary.com/about/authors/scott/index.html?sect=1 Angels of Mercy; The Dark Side. Rick Hampton Dec. 2003 Antisocial Personality Disorder: Treatment. Phillip W. Long M.D. Jan 1990. Psychopathic Sexual Sadists The Psychology and Psychodynamics of Serial Killers. Vernon J. Gerberth. April 1995.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Declaration of Independence and the Constitution Essay

Declaration of Independence and the Constitution Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are two major documents that changed the history of the United States of America, from that of a colonized nation to that of an impendent nation that would have its government. The Declaration of Independence was a document that was written specifically to the government of Great Britainin 1176, July 4th as a notification to the monarchy that America was a free state and no longer a colony of the British. The United States became a country on its own and had its government. The Declaration of Independence provided several reasons that had made the USA to reach a decision of not having a relationship with Britain and its rule. On the other hand, the constitution which was signed in the year 1878 provided an outline the laws, the rights as well as creation of a government that was centralized in the United States. The approval of the constitution by the states led to the formation of feder al governments, which provided the right for each state to practice its own rule under the US Constitution. The existing government of the United States was established as a result of the US constitution. The grievances as raised in the Declaration of Independence were fully addressed by the US Constitution through Bill of Rights, The US Government structure and Laws on trade in the United States. Therefore,without the constitution, the present United States would have not been in existence and the strength of the US government would have been without effect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Declaration of Independence outlined several grievances which the United States people had concerning the rule of the British during colonial time. From the Declaration of Independence, some of the grievances which were noted include: The British had cut out any trade relations between the United States and the outside world, something that affected the economy of the United State. Upon the enactment of the constitution, free trade was allowed whereby the Americans could trade with any country or states that they preferred without interference from the British, â€Å"For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.†(Archives.gov, n.p). The British did not allow the Americans to trade beyond their borders and most of the trade was for the benefit of the British. The Constitution solved this issue of trade by opening up the borders of the United States to the outside world for trade and movement of people. Therefore, without the constitution, the present United States would have still remained economically undermined and unstable as a result of the restrictions on trade.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The other grievances which were raised on the Declaration of Independence include the imposing of taxes on the people of America without gaining their consent, â€Å"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.†(Archives.gov, n.p). Under the British colonial rule, the citizens of the United States were required to pay taxes without their consent at a rate that was decided by the British. The enactment of the constitution however resolved this issue of taxes by enacting the right of people to pay taxes while at the same time enjoy the benefits of the taxes which they pay. The constitution gives the people the right to question why they pay taxes and how much they are supposed to pay, something that did not happen during the colonial time of the British in the United States of America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, from the Declaration of Independence, the grievance raised by the Americans includes the deprivation of many cases such as the right to a trial by jury, â€Å"For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury.† (Archives.gov, n.p). The British colonial masters in the United States never allowed the citizen of the United States to face trial under a jury, hence promoted injustices and lack of equity within the judicial system. The enactment of the constitution resolved this injustice of being tried without a jury by making a provision in the constitution. It is provided in the constitution that every individual has the right to a trial by jury as stipulated under the constitution (Declaration of Independence ; Constitution of the United States of America ; Bill of Rights ; Constitutional Amendments, 2-10). The constitution declared that all Americans were to be accorded fair and just trial involving the ju ry and that no one should be subjected to a trial without a jury.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, still on matters of justice and trial of people in the United States, under the Declaration of Independence, another grievance that was raised was the issue of being tried in another territory away from where one had committed an alleged offense, â€Å"For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences.†(Archives.gov, n.p). The British Colonial masters never bothered to seek for evidence or make investigations before subjecting an individual to trial in their courts way from the place where one was alleged to have committed an offense. However, this was resolved by the constitution through the enactment of law that says no one should be put to trial without sufficient investigations and evidence gathered on the matter of concern(Declaration of Independence ; Constitution of the United States of America ; Bill of Rights ; Constitutional Amendments, 2-10). Therefore, it can be observed that without the con stitution of the United States, injustices and unfairness would have continued in the current United States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to the above mentioned grievances, the other grievance raised as per the Declaration of Independence was that on suspension of the American Legislature an instead taking of all power by the British and becoming the sole legislature, â€Å"For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.†(Archives.gov, n.p). This action by the British meant that no laws would be passed without the British having been the bones to do it. In other words, all laws in America were to be formulated and enacted according to the system of the British rule and by the British(Declaration of Independence ; Constitution of the United States of America ; Bill of Rights ; Constitutional Amendments, 2-10). To address and resolve this issue, the constitution of the United States outlined the various arms of government and ensured that every arm of government, including the leg islature had its role clearly outlined.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Last but not least, the other grievances that were raised in the Declaration of Independence by the United States to the Crown of Britain included the talking away of the charters of the United States as well as the abolishment of the valuable laws of the US, â€Å"For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.†(Archives.gov, n.p). Furthermore, the alteration of the form of government of the United States was also part of the grievances raised in the Declaration of Independence(Declaration of Independence ; Constitution of the United States of America ; Bill of Rights ; Constitutional Amendments, 2-10). Under the US Constitution, these grievances were addressed through the provisions in the constitution which outline how the US government structure should look like and the way all arms of government should operate. Furthermore, the constitution bestowed the r ight to elect leaders on the citizens hence addressing the issue of charters that were taken away by the British. References Archives.gov, The Declaration of Independence: A Transcriptionviewed from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html on 15th October 2014 Declaration of Independence ; Constitution of the United States of America ; Bill of Rights ; Constitutional Amendments. S.l.: Filiquarian Pub, 2007. Print. P.2-10 Source document

Trumam on the Korean War essays

Trumam on the Korean War essays Thoughout Truman's narration of his actions and decisions in regarding the Korean conflict, he strongly emphasizes that his first priority is to prevent a third world war. He addresses that the public has questioned his actions as to why he doesnt bomb the aggressors (line 5), but he assures that that would only instigate a major war, not help prevent one. Another major complication that would go hand in hand with bombing the aggressors would be that it would entangle America in Asian politics, and America's influence worldwide could possibly weaken due resources focused on another Truman continues to state, once again, that America will have no part in prolonging this war or extending it to new frontiers. However, Truman shows concern that the communists will widen the hostilities beyond Korea if they soon do not realize that America isn't a force to be reckoned with (line 16). Therefore, Truman implies that it would only be "foolhardy" for the Koreans to make such an attempt (line 19). Here Truman is providing confidence to the American people while at the same time, attempting to strike fear into the enemy. Fittingly, at the end of his intimidation segment, he offers a chance for North Korea and the communists to opt for a peace agreement. Though he briskly notes that any peace deal reached must not compromise the principles of the United Nations. It appears to the reader, with Truman constantly stating that he wants the war done with, that it is he who is actually scared and concerned with the threat the communists hold with their large and re-enforcing numbers (line 36). Truman once again elaborates on his decision of not bombing the aggressors with again stating that he is trying to prevent World War Three. But now he is also adding that ...

SAT Prep Tips for Last Minute Studying and Cramming

SAT Prep Tips for Last Minute Studying and Cramming SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips CRAMMING FOR THE SAT - WEEKS, DAYS, OR HOURS LEFT TO STUDY. WHAT TO DO? So the SAT's coming up, and you need to cram for the test. You might have a few weeks, or even a few days left. You might be able to spend just 10 or fewer hours studying. If you're wondering how to best make use of your time before the test, this article's for you. First of all,consider delaying the test.If you've spent fewer than 40 hours studying for the SAT up to this point, it's very unlikely that you'll get the highest score possible on your upcoming SAT test. Instead, consider delaying your SAT to a later date and committing to studying early for the SAT in the meantime. This is especially true if you're a junior in high school or below - you'll have many more chances to take the SAT, and you want to put in a serious effort before your SAT so you can get the highest score possible. This isn't so that you minimize the tests that you take (schools don't really care how many times you took the SAT), but rather so that you don't waste time waiting for your score to arrive, hoping it'll be good enough. Instead you should put that time toward serious preparation. Note that this doesn't apply if this is the last time you can take the SAT - you might be a senior with this test as your last chance, or you might need it in time for a scholarship. If you're still committed to taking the test, here are ourtop two tips for doing as well as you can: #1: Take a Practice Test It's vital that you get comfortable with the format of the SAT, the way it asks questions, and its length. This is especially true if you've never taken a full-length SAT, or if your last test was over two months ago. The College Board has a free SAT practice test with answer explanations. Here's how to make the most of this practice test: Print out the testso you can practice writing on paper. Follow the timingstrictly.You need to get used to two things - the 4-hour length of the test, and the time given for each section. The SAT will cut you off when the section ends, with no allowances. Grade your test and calculate your SAT score. If you followed the test conditions strictly, your score on the real test is going to be pretty close to this score. Again, use this to help decide whether you want to delay your test. Review each section in detail and figure out why you missed each question. This is the most important part of taking this practice test. The SAT practice test (link again) contains answer explanations for each question. Your goal is to figure out why you missed the question, and how you won't miss it again in the future. All of the above should take at least 6 hours - around 3 hours to take the practice test, and 3 hours to review the test. #2: Guess Strategically If you're scoring below 600 on a section, here's a simple strategy that can potentially earn you a lot of points:skip the most difficult questions. To score a 500, you should skip 1/3 of all questions. To score a 600, you should skip 1/5 of all questions. This might seem crazy. Aren't you leaving points on the table if you don't try to answer all of the questions?Since there's no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT, you shouldput something down for every question, but that doesn't mean you need to spend time thinking about the answer. If you're scoring around a 600 when trying every question, it's unlikely that you'll be getting the most difficult questions correct. These questions also take the most amount of time since you'll spend minutes trying to make sense of what the question is asking. By skipping the hardest questions, you'll be able to spend more time on the easier questions that you're more likely to get right. As a rule of thumb, if you're spending more than 30 seconds on a question while making zero progress, make a guess and move on to the next one. You should take one to two hours to learn this strategy and make sure you're comfortable applying it. What Now? If you follow the two steps above, within 10 hours you'll be far ahead of where you started out. You probably won't get the best score you possibly can, but you might do well enough. What if you want to take the test again?Here at PrepScholarwe recommend that you put inat least 40 hours of dedicated SAT prep. You also need tostudy in the right wayso that you don't waste your time. PrepScholar is an online test prep program that creates a customized study program that's unique to you. It learns your personal strengths and weaknesses and creates a complete, comprehensive study plan that will give you exactly what you need to study to earn the most points. Behind the program is our team of dedicated education professionals who are committed to helping you solve your problems, whether it has to do with not knowing what to study, not being motivated to study, or having problems fitting prep into your schedule. Learn more about PrepScholar. Like this article? Get our free Ebook Guide to the SAT!

Pedophilia Research Paper †Psychology (400 Level Course)

Pedophilia Research Paper – Psychology (400 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Pedophilia Research Paper Psychology (400 Level Course) Abstract Pedophilia is characterized as a long-term disorder that most commonly occurs in males. A pedophile is portrayed as an individual who has sexual urges and fantasies of a child who is 13 or younger. They usually engage in sexual acts such as undressing the child, masturbation, and also fondling and caressing the child. The best way to examine pedophilia is to look at the general information, characteristics, causes, diagnostic, and also the treatment that goes along with the disorder. Pedophilia Research Paper I will always be a pedophile. I like adult women, and am even attracted to them sexually all the time but I am a real pedophile at heart that likes little girls. I also prefer their company much of the time if and wherever possible. To me, I become most aroused sexually with young girls 8-12 years old. They make me the most erect, and I tend to masturbate with them in mind instead of women. I cannot entirely explain it, but I am no worse a person than you! I simply desire them and want to make love with them and feel their bodies (The Pedophilia / Pedophile Education Mirror-Myth #7). This quote is coined from an anonymous man that enjoys expressing his view on pedophilia. Not only is he okay with the idea of pedophilia, he also views it as being a freedom of choice. His twisted and demented vision of pedophilia is so distorted that he goes on to compare it with any other sexual freedom such as homosexuality (The Pedophilia/Pedophile Education Mirror-Myth # 7). This anonymous example is usually what is running through a pedophile’s thoughts. They are most often in denial and will claim that the children are being educated for their own good and have received pleasure from the activities that took place. Pedophiles lack compassion for their victims and express no remorse. They even will accuse their victims of â€Å"coming on to them†, by saying they were tempted or sometimes even trapped. Unfortunately there is no proof as to whether this particular pedophile was sexually abused as a child. However, the majority of paraphilias are in fact sexually abused during their childhood and are usually drawn to adults of the opposite sex. (Pedophilia: The Human Sexuality WEB, 2005). A paraphilia is a person that has had repeated and intense sexual urges or fantasies about watching, touching, or engaging in sexual acts with prepubescent children, and may carry out these urges or fantasies (Comer, 2004). Nine out of ten pedophiles are male and are usually fascinated with females who are in their preteens. Also, it is not uncommon for the sex offender to become intrigued with teenage males. They usually start out as â€Å"normal† people and are extremely shocked and distressed to discover their illicit sexual preference for the prepubertal (Vaknin, 2005). To thoroughly understand pedophilia, one must examine the characteristics, causes, diagnosis, treatments, and therapy that are offered for the sex offender. (Medical Library: Fact Sheet, 1997 APA) The characteristics of a pedophile are very hard to notice but if one were to examine it closely it is evident that they are not your average Joe. Personality characteristics vary amongst pedophiles but usually seem to be very similar once they are directly analyzed. Pedophiles usually display unusual interest in children along with a failed marriage due to dissimilar sexual interest with their spouse. (Medical Library: Fact Sheet, 1997 APA). Their hobbies and interest sometimes include collecting any kinds of items that revolve around children such as models of cars and airplanes. Even a pedophile’s room decorations frequently resemble that of a child (Pedophiles and Child Molesters-The Slaughter of Innocence-Online). Additional characteristics of this particular type of sex offender are that he has few if any friends his own age, thirty or over in age, and usually is single. Pedophiles are not interested in people of their own age. They are so intrigued with childlike obsessions that they forget about reality versus fantasy. What a smart pedophile does to have access with children is to seek employment to where he is forced to be with kids consistently. You can even find them being very involved with volunteering in the community with children related events (Pedophiles and Chile Molesters-The Slaughter of Innocence-Online). Employment usually consists of school teachers, bus drivers, photographers, and even athletic coaches. (Pedophilia, 2004) There seems to be a number of characteristics for pedophilia, however, it is very different when it comes to the causes and reasons why pedophilia occurs. The causes of pedophilia are not very clear, yet personality problems throughout childhood and adolescent years are very evident. Some evidence shows that pedophilia may be genetic or a learned behavior effect (Sexual Health Center, 1991). People have hypothesized but never proven the belief of abnormalities in male-sexual hormones or the brain-chemical serotonin in being a factor of pedophilia. (Pedophilia Associations, 2005) There is always the possibility that the sex offender was molested himself throughout his childhood, therefore, thinking it is okay to do the same to others. When a child is sexually molested, there can be a much distorted view of love and intimacy. There are usually issues that arise later on down the road into their adult life. (The Problem of Pedophilia, 2004) To be diagnosed with pedophilia, the sex offender has to meet certain criteria and actually have had a sexual encounter with a child. The three symptoms that are listed in the DSM-IV are: â€Å"Has the person had repeated fantasies or urges about engaging in sexual activity with a child generally 13 years of younger, or has he actually had sexual encounters with a child, A person who is preoccupied with sexual urges and fantasies that disturb his functioning (that is, negatively affect his relations with others or impair his ability to work effectively), even without ever engaging in a sex act with a child, The fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. These three criteria have to exist in pedophiles and are the most important for a person to be diagnosed. (Medical Library: Fact Sheet, 1997 APA) Finally, pedophilia is usually treated with cognitive-behavioral therapies. The two most popular approaches are the behavioral self-control training and the relapse-prevention training. Generally the individuals diagnosed with pedophilia can go through the cognitive-behavioral therapy alone or with the medications prescribed to them. (Pedophilia, 2004) To help treat or control pedophilia one needs to take the following medications: Anti-androgens reduce male sex hormones levels and medications that increase serotonin such as Prozac. The two medications have been somewhat successful but with mixed results. (All Psych Online, 1999) The example in the book is mainly talking about these theories in relation to alcohol; however it can be applied to pedophilia. Behavioral self-control training consists of the person keeping track of their urges and keeping up with places that will tempt them the most. They are encouraged to keep a writing journal so that they can place their thoughts on paper and express and recognize that it is wrong. The relapse-prevention training is very similar with the behavioral self-control training in that it is therapy that helps the person realize they need to keep track of when they are around kids and also how much is too much (Comer, 2004). Unfortunately, even after certain treatments, the disorder is sometimes hard to cure. It is chronic and most people who suffer with it will suffer with it for the rest of their lives. Pedophilia is not only a disorder; it can be permanent in the people that are diagnosed with this disorder. The characteristics, causes, diagnosis, treatments, and therapy help for a better understanding of the illness. The disorder is a scary reality because this is something that happens all of the time. One may find it hard to swallow especially having to grasp the feeling that it could be their own child being the victim of these sick people. Pedophilia: The Human Sexuality WEB www.umkc.edu/sites/hsw/issues/pedophil.html Pedophilia www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/pedophilia.htm Narth The Problem of Pedophilia www.narth.com/docs/pedophNEW.html Medical Library: Fact Sheet., 1997 APA www.medem.com/medLB/article_detailb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZUZRUZGLCsub_cat=355 Sexual Health Center Pedophilia. 1991-2005 Sussex pulishers. http://health.yahoo.com/health/centers/sexual_health/96409442 Comer, R.J. (2002). Abnormal Psychology (5th Edition). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. The Roots of Pedophile. Dr. Sam Vaknin. http://samvak.tripod.com/pedopha.html The Pedophilia/Pedophilie Education Website Mirror. http://lege.cz/win.en/archiv/pedo/.htm All Psych Online: allpsych.com/disorders/paraphilias/pedophilia.html Pedophilia, Absolute Astronomy. www.absoluteastonomy.com/encyclopedia/p/pe/pedophilia.htm Research Papers on Pedophilia Research Paper - Psychology (400 Level Course)Trailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseHip-Hop is Art19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraCapital PunishmentThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

Concepts of Federalism in Public Policy Making Essay

Concepts of Federalism in Public Policy Making - Essay Example From the concept of federalism have come various other schools of thought, which have culminated into sub concepts in their own right. One of these is the concept of dual federalism according to which the best option before any government or nation is to organize itself into separate yet equal branches of government so as to divide the state and national government in various spheres of functioning and significance. According to this, the state government may exercise sovereignty within its own boundaries while the national level authorities will be slated to have exclusive and enumerated powers. Another concept that has branched out from federalism is that of cooperative federalism. According to this school of thought, the best course of action is to establish a strong network of consumer cooperative societies through which cooperative wholesale societies will be formed in order to undertake the purchase of farms and factories. According to federal cooperatives, the proceeds and profits thereof would be paid as dividends to the member cooperatives instead of the workers. Having studied the various aspects of federalism, it would be imperative to state that the public policy making process is greatly influenced by the concept of federalism.

Role of high frequency trading in modern financial markets Essay

Role of high frequency trading in modern financial markets - Essay Example High Frequency Trading or HFT used propriety trading strategies which allow traders and firms to conclude transactions within the micro-seconds. With the help of sophisticated computer algorithms as well as other tools positions can be easily taken and closed within seconds or less than a second to take advantage of the smallest movements in the prices of the securities. HFT firms are not only market makers but they offer critical liquidity to the market also. In 2000, the overall volume of HFT was relatively low however, during the recent years, it witnessed an explosive growth. Firms are increasingly relying on HFT to gain required advantage as well as to remain ahead of the competition. The closely guarded algorithms process large volume of data at really rapid speed and offer cost advantage while having smaller portfolio holding periods. Though the overall number of firms using HFT is relatively low however, the overall volume of trade showed erratic trends with rapid increase as well as decrease in the overall trading activity. This paper will discuss and describe what High Frequency Trading is and will further elaborate on the role of HFT in modern financial markets. Modern financial Markets Financial Markets are still under the stress of financial meltdown which started during 2007-2008. With massive breakdown of banks and other financial institutions, the crisis exposed the overall vulnerable nature of the modern financial markets and created an uncertainty over the ability of modern markets to function properly and effectively. Though the major impact of the financial crisis is over however, financial markets are still under the stress. In such an environment, regulatory bodies have developed rules and regulations which did not allow firms to take on the speculative positions and implement proper risk management systems in place. The importance of new parameters of risk became significant specially in the wake of the recent financial crisis wherein reg ulatory bodies became relatively more conscious in terms of erratic behavior of financial services firms. (Aldridge, 24) It is also critical to note that the financial markets have grown more complicated over the period of time. The sheer size and volume of the transactions, the use of information technology as well as development of sophisticated trading and valuation models added more complexity to the overall markets. Despite the fact that the markets operate on the basis of the perfect market hypothesis and all the subsequent theory has been developed on this promise, it is still important to note that many imperfections exist in markets allowing market makers and investors to take advantage of such opportunities. There has been a relentless improvement and development of modern technology which will continue to dominate the present and future of the financial markets at the global level. The development of new technologies has actually created new opportunities which human trad ers may not be able to spot as well as execute. As such, modern financial institutions tend to focus on combining the power of human insight with the speed and efficiency of the modern

Strategy of international business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategy of international business - Essay Example Centralization happens when a company focuses the centralization of authority from the whole towards a particular group, which usually happens to be the top management since top management assumes the decision making authority. On the other hand, decision-making authority in a decentralized organization is passed over to the lower tiers that may be the organization’s branches, subsidiaries, or divisions. Advantages of centralization include uniformity of standards, reduction in the cost of operation, and increased profitability of business while disadvantages of centralization include conflict between the internal organizational culture and external culture, and the need of a very efficient IT-based system. Advantages of decentralization include increased competition whereas the disadvantages of decentralization include increased need of training and customization of employees’ skills. One advantage of centralization is uniformity of standards. Since the company has a centralized system, the product or service generated by the company has the same quality wherever it is made in the world. Another advantage of a centralized organizational structure of an international company is that it reduces the cost of operation in three fundamental ways. Firstly, the company is able to exploit the economies of scale. The international company can benefit from its products’ or services’ special pricing in numerous ways that include but are not limited to bulk pricing, single orders or multiple orders, and volume discounts. Secondly, in a centralized system, an international company escapes the need to duplicate the procedures or efforts to address the needs of branches in different parts of the world. Thirdly, centralization of the system reduces the regulatory costs. In addition to that, centralization promotes a culture of more consistency and accountability

Sources of Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sources of Power - Essay Example According to Fields (2010), the Courts have superior power over the enacted regulations in some instances. This enables the gun to continue prevailing irrespective of the stringent gun laws. For instance, the Gun Owners Association rejoiced when the Supreme Court of the United States made ruling that was against the city of Chicago and in favor of Otis McDonald. By doing so, the Court maintained that the Fourteenth Amendment is applicable to the right to keep and bear firearms to all the fifty-states. As a consequence, in numerous cases, the state firearms laws have been reported to be less restrictive that the federal firearms laws. This decision by the Supreme Court may have significant effects on the restrictive gun regulations in New York, Louisiana, California and elsewhere. In 2008, the right wing group went to the Supreme Court and decided to leave the centuries of jurisprudence and extend the Second Amendment as an individual protection for the owner of a gun to bear arms. The gun laws in the United States are often rife with enough loopholes to make them ineffective. For instance, the local and state police departments are not legally responsible for putting into effect the federal gun law as per the Supreme Court of the United States ruling in the Printz vs. United States. The gun industry also continues to prevail due to some amendments by influential people such as Congressman Todd Tiahrt. Since its passage, the law an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act in 2003, the Tiahrt Amendment forbids the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from disseminating information from its database for tracing firearms to anyone who is not a law enforcement agent or a prosecutor who is linked to a particular criminal investigation. In that perspective, the Amendment asserts that any

Prokaryotuc and eukarytotic cell & endocrine and exocine glands Essay

Prokaryotuc and eukarytotic cell & endocrine and exocine glands - Essay Example Prokaryotic organisms like bacteria have cell walls that have peptidoglycan. Bacteria are unique organisms that have this material inside their cell walls and no any other organism has this material. Some of the eukaryotic cells have cell walls for example eukaryotic animal cells do not have cell walls while eukaryotic plant cells as well as fungi have cell walls that consist of cellulose and chitin (Black 93). Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus but there is a central nuclear region. In addition, prokaryotes also have a single molecule of DNA that is circular in shape. Nucleus is the most important and unique part of eukaryotic cells and maximum DNA of the cell is present in the nucleus and multiple molecules are present (Campbell and Farrell 16). In prokaryotes, DNA is located in the nuclear region that does not have any membrane while in eukaryotes DNA is enclosed in Nucleus covered by nuclear envelope (Black 80). Eukaryotic organisms are bigger in size as compared to prokaryotic org anisms for example eukaryotic organisms consist of size from1 micrometer to 1 millimeter while prokaryotic organism consists of size from 1 to 10 micrometers. Eukaryotic animals have centrioles and centrosome while eukaryotic plants, fungi, algae and prokaryotic organisms do not have centrioles and centrosome. ... example, all eukaryotic cells have mitochondria except oddball parasites and all eukaryotic plants have chloroplasts that help in the food making process with the help of photosynthesis (Campbell and Farrell 19). Binary fission is the cell division process in prokaryotes while in eukaryotes, cells divide through mitosis and meiosis. Prokaryotic cells divide by asexual reproduction but eukaryotes divide by asexual as well as sexual reproduction (Black 80). Prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes can be autotrophic (generating food themselves) as well as heterotrophic (getting food from other sources). Examples of prokaryotes are bacteria while plants and animals can be taken as examples of eukaryotes. Autotrophic prokaryotes are photosynthetic (who make organic food using energy from sunlight) as well as chemosynthetic (who make organic food using energy from inorganic chemicals) while eukaryotes are photosynthetic but not chemosynthetic (Black 81). Difference between Endocrine and Exocrine Glands Human body consists of two types of glands that are endocrine and exocrine. Endocrine system contains glands that are responsible for discharging their secretions. Endocrine glands are responsible for discharging their secretions within the body while exocrine glands secrete on the body surface. The secretions that are secreted by the glands are the hormones (Clark 229). There are number of hormones that move from here to there in the body in the flow of blood. Level of hormones is influenced due to minerals in the blood, stress, infection in the body and misbalance in the fluid. Both exocrine glands and endocrine glands are formed from epithelial tissue (Clark 229). Exocrine glands secrete with the support of ducts while in endocrine glands, no distinct ducts are present for

Sources of Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sources of Power - Essay Example According to Fields (2010), the Courts have superior power over the enacted regulations in some instances. This enables the gun to continue prevailing irrespective of the stringent gun laws. For instance, the Gun Owners Association rejoiced when the Supreme Court of the United States made ruling that was against the city of Chicago and in favor of Otis McDonald. By doing so, the Court maintained that the Fourteenth Amendment is applicable to the right to keep and bear firearms to all the fifty-states. As a consequence, in numerous cases, the state firearms laws have been reported to be less restrictive that the federal firearms laws. This decision by the Supreme Court may have significant effects on the restrictive gun regulations in New York, Louisiana, California and elsewhere. In 2008, the right wing group went to the Supreme Court and decided to leave the centuries of jurisprudence and extend the Second Amendment as an individual protection for the owner of a gun to bear arms. The gun laws in the United States are often rife with enough loopholes to make them ineffective. For instance, the local and state police departments are not legally responsible for putting into effect the federal gun law as per the Supreme Court of the United States ruling in the Printz vs. United States. The gun industry also continues to prevail due to some amendments by influential people such as Congressman Todd Tiahrt. Since its passage, the law an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act in 2003, the Tiahrt Amendment forbids the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from disseminating information from its database for tracing firearms to anyone who is not a law enforcement agent or a prosecutor who is linked to a particular criminal investigation. In that perspective, the Amendment asserts that any

Comparative Analysis of The Cut-glass bowl and Benediction by F.Scott Essay

Comparative Analysis of The Cut-glass bowl and Benediction by F.Scott Fitzgerald - Essay Example Cut-glass Bowl is a story about Evelyn Piper, a housewife in New York society who a superficial and pretty woman. Evelyn had been cheating on her husband of seven years for six months, and the affair was the talk of the town until the husband found out. The bowl in question is the center of this story because it disintegrates with Evelyn’s life to bring about several tragedies, and eventually finishes her. In the two stories, Fitzgerald uses the major characters to explore the issues of morality vs. secular, reality vs. illusion and the wistful sadness of romance, which is the focus of this comparison. The Benediction story presents a conflict between morality and secular. This is noticed when Lois asks his brother and friends at the seminary why they joined the brotherhood while still young. She believes that they should explore the other side of the world (secular) before they join the seminary studies and commit to celibacy. She questions whether the decision to celibate be fore experiencing the pleasures of the world is good or not. This presents indecision that some people who strongly wish to join seminary may have. For instance, some young Catholics are held back by the desire to got out and experience the world before committing to celibacy. As a result, the decision to hold back on joining seminary at a young age might bar some people from entering the studies and thus, living a secular life. This might also raise the question of what the society thinks about celibacy, is it morally good?. Nevertheless, Keith and his friends are satisfied with their lives at the seminary, and from them we learn that celibacy at a young age is not a bad idea. Similarly, the issue of morality in the society presents itself through the actions of Evelyn in Cut-glass Bowl. Evelyn is unfaithful to her husband as she has been seeing Gedney for a period of six months until her husband found out, and that is when she decided to end. This portrays what happens in this New York society. Housewives become too lonely until they decide to seek affection from somewhere else since the husbands are too busy to give them attention. Though this is immoral behavior, they believe that it is the right way to relieve their loneliness and frustrations experienced in marriage. Evelyn is also described as a heartbreaker defining her character before she got married. What is more fascinating in the story is that divorce is not an option for Evelyn and her husband because it is considered immoral in the society. Therefore, this implies that having an affair is not considered wrong, but divorce is, which is supported by Evelyn’s husband who acknowledges that the affair was just a mistake. Reality vs. illusion is also a concept widely explored by Fitzgerald in the two stories. For instance, in Benediction, Lois cannot separate what is reality and what is an illusion. This is revealed on her visit to her brother’s school where he is learning to become a Je suit priest. First, she wants to end her relationship with Harold, but she does not have a reason to for this. She gets the illusion that things will never work between them. She is confused about the true meaning or religion and Catholicism, in which she shows indifference towards it. However, something magical happens to her during the Benediction service whereby she experiences genuine righteousness (Brye 38). Her conversion reveals the underlying reality or ultimate truth that is

A comparison between these two extracts Essay Example for Free

A comparison between these two extracts Essay Make relevant references to your wider reading in drama Both Pinter and Shakespeare display their thoughts and ideas through the main connection of family, this is also similar to Williams’s â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire†. Through this connection Both extracts feature sexual elements but at different intensities; they show elements of a flirtatious nature despite the circumstances in which the drama set up. Anne is conversing with a man who is responsible for the death of her husband and father in law in the war of the roses. Initially, she withstands his attempts to seduce her with her use of fiery language, â€Å"Out of my sight. Thou dost infect mine eyes†. The insulting language displays Anne’s initial disgust with the mere sight of Richard. The use of the word â€Å"infect† highlights the genuine hate she originally had for him and also produces an image of disease that is associated with him. However with the use poetic language and sensual imagery of â€Å"kissing†, Richard is able to manipulate her and convince her into not only forgiving him but accepting his ring as well. Richard manages to ameliorate the sense of her words by claiming that her eyes â€Å"have infected† his with love. This is shown similarly in Tennessee’s â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire† with Stanley’s constant sexual attraction towards Blanche, his sister in law shown through the implications of language he uses and also with his actions towards the end of the drama. In Scene 2, where Stanley is interrogating Blanche about where she gets her â€Å"costume jewellery† ;â€Å"if I didn’t know you was my wifes sister I’d get ideas about you. Stanley observes the taboo about relations with his wifes sister; he reminds Blanche that she should not be flirting with him. Nevertheless, Stanley, later on, sexually assaults Blanche in Scene 10, â€Å"Come to think of it – maybe you wouldn’t be bad to – interfere with † As Stanley reaches for the right word, we are left to wonder whether this is the first time he has thought about assaulting her, whether he has always desired her but has channelled this into hostility. Also too in Pinter’s â€Å"The Homecoming†, although the suggestive language appears towards the end of the extract with Ruth’s surprisingly confident, â€Å"Have a sip. Go on. Have a sip from my glass.† The sudden enticing behaviour almost replicates the Stanley and his immediate sexual attraction to Blanche.

Business Model For Ebay Marketing Essay

Business Model For Ebay Marketing Essay Innovation is not a single but a total process of interrelated sub processes. It is not just the conception of a new idea, nor the invention of a new device, nor the development of a new market but all of these things acting in an integrated fashion (Myers and Marquis, 1969). Innovation can as well be explained with the following equation: Innovation = theoretical conception + technical invention + commercial exploitation. EBay is the online trading community between person-to-person and is one of the few profitable internet companies. EBay effectively created a new business model never before possible with efficient one-to-one trading in an auction format. Individuals use 4,300 categories in eBay to buy and sell items of wide range, from collectibles and antiques to electronics and toys. Sellers pay a nominal fee for placing an item up for sale, and eBay receives a transaction fee ranging from 1.25% to 5% of the final sale price on any item sold. The buyer and the seller work out the logistics of the transport (e.g. shipping, payment) between themselves, and eBay never takes possession of the item being sold, or the payment for the item removing the need for inventory, transportation and other overhead costs. Business Model Business model defines how a firm will define and promote its brand (plans to operate), produce and distribute its product (generate revenue) and build or attract its market (compete). The success of business depends on selecting the appropriate business model. Business models convert new technologies to economic value. For some start-ups, familiar business models are not always applicable so a new model must be devised. In some cases, the importance of business model far exceeds the innovation of the product or service itself. Role of the Business Model Technical Inputs Business Model Economic Outputs A business model bases on a multitude of business subjects including economics, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. The business model itself is an important determinant of profits to be made from an innovation. A mediocre innovation with a great business model may be more profitable than a great innovation with a mediocre business model. EBays business model was based on creating and maintaining a person-to-person trading community, providing millions of auctions, and hundreds of thousands of new items every day from which bidders may choose. After implementing their model, EBay has been able to build strategic partnerships, continue making innovative changes and progressions, and supervise its internal and external environments for possible future opportunities which have made them the worlds largest online auction company. Since the site provides plenty of reasons to stay for longer period of time and revisit on a regular basis, eBay has become hugely successful. The longer they stay on eBay, there is more chance to complete a transaction and generate revenue for eBay. The other reason for eBays success is their highest bidder wins style auction mechanism as a means of earning profit from charging a premium for mediating between buyers and sellers as a third party. In using this mechanism, a history of prices exist s (price points), creating increased inter-play between competitors in the marketplace. EBays business model recognizes these specific elements as a key to its success. They are (as given in the case study): It is the largest online trading forum with a huge mass of buyers and sellers, and varied range of items listed for sale Its compelling and entertaining environment with strong values and established rules hence facilitating communication between buyers and sellers. It has programs such as Safe harbor to aid in disputes and to punish users who violate eBay Cost effective and convenient trading Strong community affinity An intuitive user interface that was easy to understand, arranged by topics, and fully automated The founder of eBays vision was to create the environment and provide users ways to interact. Rather than finding various ways of making money, eBay has focused on creating a community of users by which they ended up making lots of money. According to a survey, the average eBay user spends an average of one hour, 26 minutes and eight seconds on eBay (http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/ebay-aol-benefit-from-increased-us-web-usage-12765/). In contrast, visitors to catalogue stores and other commercial websites might spend only ten or twenty minutes there. EBay is maintaining their position since they are continuously improving to become better. When compared to amazon.com and other sites, eBay turned out to be far better since their expenses are low and doesnt hold any stocks like the others do. Creating New Markets Through Service Innovation For decades, since the evolution of internet, the importance of services has grown steadily to the global economy whereas the importance of goods has declined. Naturally, companies are constantly seeking to provide better services, regardless of whether they are in a pure service business or in a manufacturing industry that must increasingly rely on its service operations for continued profitability. However, most improvements to service activities are incremental. Stores stay open longer; producers establish websites with e-commerce functions; airlines, casinos and supermarket chains introduce loyalty card programs. These improvements are useful and indeed necessary, but their returns are somewhat limited. Only rarely does a company develop a service that creates an entirely new market reshaping the market providing company with unforeseen profits for a longer period of time. EBay is one of these rare companies. It has created new markets through its unique model of innovation. For example, in the online auction concept, eBay was not the first but it gradually became the dominant player. In the early 1980s, CompuServe (nee MicroNET) and The Source were sponsoring auctions. Specifically, Comp-U-Card Online/Comp-U-Store held weekly auctions for consumer goods like the brand-new Sony Walkman in 1983, and CompuServes first eBay-style automated online auctions were held in 1982. Due to limited use of the internet technologies and lack of awareness, these companies were not much success. Later when the trend changed, new technologies developed, and online business grew, eBay introduced its business totally focussed on service which led them to create successful new markets domestically and globally. Ansoffs growth matrix identifying opportunities for growth for eBay Current Products/ servicesNewProducts/ servicesCurrentMarketsNewMarkets 1. Market penetration strategy Attempt to get existing users to spend more 3. Product development strategy Wireless Develop sectors such as introduce car sales, boat, sales etc. Fixed-price shops Paypal: payment system Providing commission on sales 2. Market development strategy Attract new vendors such as large corporations Develop international sites in significant markets such as Germany, Japan 4. Diversification strategy Skype: VOIP Enabling communication among community EBay is one of the most successful e-commerce website in the World Wide Web. The strategic direction of the company is market penetration. The main aim of a market penetration strategy is to increase the market share by using the current products within the existing markets. This involved the actions and programs to be done in order to enhance the current core competencies or build a new one. In the case of e-Bay, the company focuses on improving the quality of their service in order to improve the reputation of the company compared to its direct and indirect competitors. EBay is focusing on the improvement of its service by using updated and high-tech Information System, which will help to improve the visitor log, improve the quality of service and the security and safety of its online users. Beside that EBay has continued to innovate and connect people. The most important points in their innovation are acquisitions of PayPal in 2002 an online financial service, and Skype in 2005 an internet communication company. With these acquisitions, EBay provides customers with the most convenient methods so that buyers can make low cost contact with sellers easily and make all transaction swiftly. Although there are several disputes that EBay is doing a real value chain, its characterization proofs that EBay performs a virtual value chain. It provides platform for trading on the internet in virtual market where it operates and the value of goods sold in this site is determined by auctioning of buyers. It performs as a self-regulating global economy. Lesson to a new internet business from eBay Figure from www.ebay.com On a normal e-commerce site, customer does some shopping, picks out one or more items, and heads to the checkout area as quickly as possible. But in eBay, members can do other thing than just buy or sell. They can Post feedback: In business, feedbacks are crucial and help the company to improve their mistakes. Here, both consumers and sellers can post their feedbacks in the forum describing their deal of the product. Communicate with others in message boards: Consumers such as Antique hunters, collectors, and bargain hunters like talking about their common interests. This leads them to meet and greet each other in the same spots on eBay, either in a weekly or prearranged chat, just to say hello and share opinions. Post secondary information: eBay sellers and buyers can create About Me pages to inform people about themselves. Sellers can open eBay Stores. This gets them personally involved with the sales they open this site not only for business but it has become part of their daily lives. In other words, loyalty, the desire of finding a bargain, and the love of making some extra money are what keep eBay users returning on a regular basis, which makes eBay a lovely and a successful venue. Its the human touch that means so much on the auction site. By implementing their business model, eBay employed three main tactics. First, they looked to build strategic partnerships. Second, they looked for customer feedback to constantly make changes and improvements. Finally, they monitored its internal and external environments for possible opportunities. By doing all of these sorts of things, eBay is being able to adapt to the changing ways and keeping their customers satisfied. To be successful eBay continue to mould and change their business model to satisfy its customers and keep the level of quality they employ to the highest degree as possible. eBay has created a one-stop-shopping experience that is appealing to large corporations, independent entrepreneurs, and individual buyers and sellers. They have created value through many facets of their business that appeal to their customers and differentiate them from the competition. The main ways that eBay differentiates themselves is through: Variety of products offered When customers visit eBay they can search for virtually any product. EBay boasts a category variety not matched by any competitor with over 27,000. The eBay Community EBay wants their customers to feel like they are a part of a community. This community feel gives customers the sense that they are branch of something and cared about. By showing the customers that their feedback, opinions, and feelings are important eBay has gained tremendous ground with their customers. The eBay Website EBay has created an auction and retail website that is unique and interesting. This creative site sets them apart from their competitors. The site is set up with many facets that reach a broad span of visiting buyers and sellers. The site is also entertaining and easy to use making it very appealing for online shopping and trading. The eBay Brand Name EBay was the creator of the online auction industry. When customers think of online buying the immediately think of eBay. This has given them a competitive advantage that sets them apart from other online auctions. eBays Global Reach The global reach of eBay is not achieved by any other online auction site. For large corporations international selling and buying is done everyday. Even for an individual buyer or seller, having the option of searching throughout 150 countries with a span of 94.9 million users is very appealing. Conclusion eBays compelling value proposition, their ability to create a new market using Internet technology, and their first-mover advantage, have been key factors that have contributed to the success of the brand, however, their ability to cultivate a distinct sense of community has been the defining characteristic which differentiates them from other online auctions. As a result, eBay attracts a broader selection of buyers, which in turn attracts more sellers the ultimate network effect contributing to its strong lead and competitive advantage. Their focus on heavy users and targeted promotions, have been instrumental in building a quality customer base, which has established eBay above other online auction communities. eBay has also faced difficult challenges in scaling the organisation fast enough, as they could not opt for a go slow strategy.

Volunteering: Contribution to the Community Essay -- Community Service

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead Volunteerism, in its conceptual form, includes the individual or collective efforts of willing individuals, known as volunteers, to act in ways which work toward the betterment of oneself, other individuals, communities, and/or society. This definition remains subjective in its ambiguity regarding the meaning of betterment, as well as in the sense that the means to bettering oneself may be in direct opposition to the means necessary to better another individual or society. Despite the subjectivity of this definition, this general description of volunteerism is necessary for communication within the same framework and reference in this discussion. In our Christian language, we may prefer to call volunteering, serving. Service moves from mere physical motions to human action (Wuthnow 1991: 45). Service incorporates all aspects of our humanity, instead of just the physical need at hand. Love, justice, compassion, action, presence, and understanding embody the cultural framework of Christian service, to which this human action refers. Service goes a step further than volunteering one's free afternoon to dish out food at a local soup kitchen; it sits down and eats with the homeless and shares in their experiences. The general volunteer trend in the United States is one in which an individual volunteers his/her time, services, or funds. As Newsweek's article "Powell's New War" demonstrates, most Americans perceive volunteering as: an act in which one must do something and nice gesture which has benefits. Though this observation is a generalization, rarely do Americans view voluntee... ...l as in the method to accomplish it. One connection however, is their similar quest for creating a framework of support in which persons can feel valued and needed. The idea of accompaniment reflects a similar notion of the mentoring relationship found in Powell's model of volunteerism. The difference, however is that mentors take on a parental role, while the goal of accompaniment is to stay away from any sign of paternalism. Works Cited Aaker, Jerry. Partners With The Poor, New York: Friendship Press, 1993. Alter, Jonathan. "Powell's New War." Newsweek 28 April 1997: 27­37. Chambers, Robert. Rural Development: Putting the Last First. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1983. Ohrt, Wallace. Accidental Missionaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1991. Wuthnow, Robert. Acts of Compassion. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991.

Amathophobia :: Eliot Wasteland Maddy Future Present Past Essays

Amathophobia Death is the great equalizer. We all have unique experiences in life, but we each succumb to the same final fate. Rich or poor, strong or weak, exalted or scorned; everyone is humbled when faced with his own mortality. Death does not play favorites, and Death will find everyone. Though often frightening, some argue that the thought of death also heightens appreciation of life. British novelist EM Forster wrote, "Death destroys a man, the idea of Death saves him." Indeed, knowing that time on earth is limited can motivate people to take risks. The term "carpe diem" implies that life is short, and every moment must be captured before it expires. The urgency of this phrase stems from the common fear of leaving things unfinished or unattempted. Fear is a powerful motivator, and death is the ultimate fear. Death is the primary theme in TS Eliot’s The Wasteland. Written just four years after the conclusion of World War I, The Wasteland mirrors the despair felt by much of the post-war generation. The poem begins with a section titled "Burial of the Dead." In this section Eliot deems April "the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain." With these lines, Eliot suggests that springtime’s regeneration of life only causes people to remember what was lost in the past. Eliot again addresses death in the very next stanza: What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, You cannot say, or guess, for you know only A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief, And the dry stone no sound of water. Only There is shadow under this red rock, (Come in under the shadow of this red rock), And I will show you something different from either Your shadow at morning striding behind you Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you; I will show you fear in a handful of dust. This stanza is teeming with biblical allusions. The speaker is talking to Jesus, "the Son of man," about a "dead tree [that] gives no shelter," thereby hinting that Christ’s death on the cross (or "dead tree") yields little comfort. Eliot also mentions a "dry stone" with "no sound of water." In John 4:7-26, Jesus tells a Samaritan woman that whomever drinks the living water he provides will never thirst again.

Culture and Religion

MODULE 10: CULTURE & RELIGION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INTRODUCTION Culture shapes the way we see the world. It therefore has the capacity to bring about the change of attitudes needed to ensure peace and sustainable development which, we know, form the only possible way forward for life on planet Earth. Today, that goal is still a long way off. A global crisis faces humanity at the dawn of the 21st century, marked by increasing poverty in our asymmetrical world, environmental degradation and short-sightedness in policy-making. Culture is a crucial key to solving this crisis.Source: Preface, World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1999. Our cultural values, which often include particular religious beliefs, shape our way of living and acting in the world. Module 11 on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability explores the importance of indigenous values and spirituality in providing guidance for sustainable living. Such principles and values encourage a spirit of harmony between people, their natural environments and their spiritual identities. The principles for living sustainably that flow from these and other cultural and religious beliefs vary between groups and countries.They have also changed over time as circumstances demand. Despite this diversity, many principles for living sustainably are shared, not only among indigenous peoples, but also between different religious traditions. This module explores the role of culture and religion in providing guidance on ways of living sustainably. It also provides activities which analyse the place of these themes in the school curriculum. OBJECTIVES †¢ To develop an understanding of the relationship between culture, religion and sustainable living; †¢ To explore the principles for sustainable living encouraged in a chosen religion and in a case study from Nepal; To analyse the relevance and applicability of principles of sustainable living in the Nepal case study; and †¢ To encourage reflection on the contribution of religious education in Education for Sustainable Development. ACTIVITIES 1. Defining religion and culture 2. Values and principles 3. A case study: Annapurna, Nepal 4. Culture and development 5. Reflection REFERENCES Bassett, L. (ed) (2000) Earth and Faith: A Book of Reflection for Action, UNEP. Gardner, G. (2002) Invoking the Spirit: Religion and Spirituality in the Quest for a Sustainable World, Worldwatch Paper No. 164, Worldwatch Institute. Robinson, M. nd Picard, D. (2006) Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development, Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO. Schech, S. and Haggis, J. (2000) Culture and development: a critical introduction, Wiley-Blackwell. Throsby, D. (2008) Culture in Sustainable Development: Insights for the future implementation of Article 13 (Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diveristy of Cultural Expressions), UNESCO. UNESCO (2000) World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris. UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing.World Commission on Culture and Development (1995) Our Creative Diversity, UNESCO Publishing, Paris. World Religions and Ecology Series by Harvard University Press. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, series editors. †¢ Buddhism – Tucker, M. E. and Williams, D. R. (eds) (1997) †¢ Christianity – Hessel, D. and Ruether, R. R. (eds) (2000) †¢ Confucianism – Tucker, M. E. and Berthrong, J. (eds) (1998) †¢ Daoism – Girardot, N. J. , Xiaogan, L. and Miller, J. (eds) (2001) †¢ Hinduism – Chapple, C. K. and Tucker, M. E. (eds) (2000) †¢ Indigenous Traditions – Grim, J. (ed) (2001) †¢ Islam – Foltz, R. , Denny, F. and Baharuddin, A. eds) (2003) †¢ Jainism – Chapple, C. K. (ed) (2002) †¢ Judaism – Tirosh-Samuelson, H. (ed) (2002) †¢ Shinto – Bernard, R. (ed) (2004) CREDITS Thi s module was written for UNESCO by John Fien using materials and activities developed by Hilary Macleod and Hum Gurung in Teaching for a Sustainable World (UNESCO – UNEP International Environmental Education Programme). ACTIVITY 1: DEFINING RELIGION AND CULTURE RELIGION, VALUES, CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The World Commission on Culture and Development defined culture as ‘ways of living together’ and argued that this made culture a core element of sustainable development.Almost all of the grave threats confronting human and planetary survival originate in human actions. However, much narrow thinking on sustainable development has focused almost exclusively on the relationships of people to the natural environment – without considering the people-to-people relationships that lie at the core of a sustainable society. Fulfilling today’s human needs while preserving and protecting the natural environment for future generations requires equitabl e and harmonious interactions between individuals and communities.Developing cultural values that support these people-to-people and people-to-nature values has traditionally been the role of religion in most societies. Religion is a major influence in the world today. It seems that people in all cultures have a set of beliefs that go beyond both the self and the natural world. We use these beliefs to help explain reasons for human existence and to guide personal relationships and behaviour. Part of the great diversity of humankind is the many different religions and belief systems we have developed – Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Taoism, and many more.Religious beliefs have a strong influence on the culture of a community. Indeed, for many people around the world, religious beliefs are central to their culture and provide the moral codes by which they live. Even where people in the contemporary world believe that the traditional beliefs of their parents and societies are not so relevant to their everyday lives, underlying religious beliefs about human worth and how to relate to other people and the Earth are still important parts of their lives. HOW DOES CULTURE INFLUENCE OUR LIVES? Many definitions of culture refer to particular values and beliefs.Other meanings refer to the everyday life and behaviour of people that flow from these beliefs. Others are more general and refer to works of art. Culture is, therefore, an inextricable part of the complex notion of sustainability. It can be seen as an arbiter in the difficult trade-offs between conflicting ends with regard to development goals. As pointed out in the report of the World Commission on Culture and Development set up jointly by UNESCO and the United Nations, culture is not only the â€Å"servant of ends but (†¦) the social basis of the ends themselves†, a factor of development but also the â€Å"fountain of our progress and creativity†.Source: UNE SCO (1997) Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted Action, paragraph 112. All these meanings or aspects of culture influence our worldviews and the ways in which we view our relationships with the Earth and each other. As a result, these aspects of culture affect different meanings of what it might mean to live sustainably. Culture is an important concept in Education for Sustainable Development.This is because the common cultural models in many societies often do not encourage sustainable development – and what is needed are new, or re-discovered, norms and values that can guide our actions towards sustainable ways of caring for other people and the natural world. Achieving sustainability †¦ will need to be motivated by a shift in values †¦ Without change of this kind, even the most enlightened legislation, the cleanest technology, the most sophisticated research will not succeed in steering society towards the long-term goal of sustainability.Education in the broadest sense will by necessity play a pivotal role in bringing about the deep change required in both tangible and non-tangible ways. Source: UNESCO (1997) Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted Action, paragraph 103. ACTIVITY 2: VALUES AND PRINCIPLES Despite the variety of religions and cultures around the world, all share common beliefs about the need to care for other people and the natural environment. Such beliefs are essential to a sustainable future.The world’s three major conservation groups – the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) – have identified a range of cross-cultural values that could underlie an ‘ethic for sustainable living’. These values provide principles that can guide human relationships with each other (social equity, peace and democracy) and with nature (conservation and appropriate development), and include: |Social Justice Values: |Conservation Values: | |PEOPLE AND PEOPLE PEOPLE AND NATURE | |Meeting basic human needs |Respecting the interdependence of all things | |Ensuring intergenerational equity |Conserving biodiversity | |Respecting human rights |Living lightly on the Earth | |Practising democracy |Respecting interspecies equity | Identify the values or meanings underlying these principles.These values are similar to the principles and ethics in the Earth Charter analysed in Module 2. These principles reflect values that are common in many religions and cultures. However, it is not the only possible one. For example, the people in The Monk’s Story in Module 21 planned the development of their village in south-west Sri Lanka around six principles for living sustainably that are consistent with their Buddhist religion and their culture. These six principles are: †¢ Harmony with nature †¢ Variety and diversity †¢ Quality of life †¢ Small is beautiful †¢ Self-reliance †¢ Co-operation and peacePeople of other cultures emphasise different principles. For example, the Garifuni people in Belize in Central America are guided by the following five principles for living sustainably: Unity All people are connected to the Earth in a common and interdependent whole. Reciprocity Every human being has a number of rights, but also mutual obligations and responsibilities. Co-operation Related to reciprocity, each individual has responsibilities for his/her brother or sister, just as each brother or sister has responsibilities for him/her. The importance of Mother Earth The land is sacred and can not be sold or bought.Respect for others People should be tolerant of the views, aspirations, values and beliefs of others. This includes respect for the rights of all species and for the spirit of life. RELIGION, CULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY It is not possible to provide information on the beliefs and practi ces of all the religions and cultures in the world and the ways in which they support principles of living sustainably. However, the Internet is a wonderful archive of this information. This activity invites you to search the Internet to find out about the link between a religion of your choice and living sustainably. Choose a religion that you would like to explore. †¢ Identify three questions about the links between religion, religious beliefs, cultural values and ways of living sustainably that you would like to find out about this religion. †¢ Identify key words in your questions to use in an Internet search. †¢ Open an Internet search engine of your choice. Type the name of your religion plus (+) some of the key words from your questions in the ‘SEARCH’ space, e. g. , â€Å"islam+ecology†, or â€Å"christianity+social justice†, or â€Å"hinduism+peace†, or â€Å"buddhism+economics†, etc. Then click ‘SEARCH’ an d visit the listed sites. Continue this process until you are satisfied with the answers you have to your three questions. †¢ Keep these written answers beside you as they will be used in the next activity. ACTIVITY 3: A CASE STUDY: ANNAPURNA, NEPAL Begin by opening your learning journal for this activity. THE ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT This activity provides a case study of the influence of culture and religion in a successful sustainable development project, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Nepal. Q1: Use the following three questions to guide your analysis of cultural and nvironmental issues in the Annapurna region of Nepal. †¢ What are the main cultural and environmental issues facing Nepal and the Annapurna region? †¢ What is the difference between the philosophy of the establishment of the Annapurna Conservation Area and other National Parks? †¢ Why was the Annapurna region selected for the conservation programme known as ACAP? Q2: Use the following three questions to guide your analysis of the objectives and principles of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. †¢ What is ACAP’s relationship with tourism? †¢ Why is the concept of ‘lami’ so important to ACAP? Why does Prince Gyandra Bir Bakran Shah say that conservation is for the people? Q3: Identify how the key activities conducted by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project contribute to a sustainable future in the region. †¢ Resource conservation †¢ Tourism management †¢ Community development †¢ Conservation education and extension INTERVIEWS WITH ACAP COMMUNITY LEADERS Read the transcripts of interviews with two community leaders in the Annapurna region. As you read the interviews make a note of the principles of sustainable living the two people describe.This information will be used in the next part of this activity. †¢ Min Bahadur Gurung, Chair of the ACAP Conservation and Development Committee â € ¢ Om Bahadur Gurung, Buddhist monk from a village within the Annapurna Conservation Area Use your knowledge of this region, and ACAP principles and strategies to identify nine principles for sustainable living that are embedded in the religion and culture of the people of the Annapurna region. In the Internet search, in Activity 2, you investigated three questions about the relationship between beliefs and principles of sustainable living in a religion of your choice.Use your knowledge of this religion and the Annapurna case study to examine how relevant the nine Annapurna principles for sustainable living are to the religion you investigated in Activity 2. ACTIVITY 4: CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT Cultural diversity has emerged as a key concern at the turn of a new century. Some predict that globalisation and the liberalisation of the goods and services market will lead to cultural standardisation, reinforcing existing imbalances between cultures.Others claim that the end of the bipo lar world of the Cold War and the eclipse of political ideologies will result in new religious, cultural and even ethnic fault lines, preluding a possible ‘clash of civilizations’. Scientists warn of the threats to the Earth’s environment posed by human activity, drawing parallels between the erosion of biodiversity and the disappearance of traditional modes of life as a result of a scarcity of resources and the spread of modern lifestyles. Source: Introduction, UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing.While cultural issues are gaining in public attention everywhere, they often have low priority in the development policies of many countries. Stressing the importance of considering culture in development projects, James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, stated: In this time of globalisation †¦ the poor are the most vulnerable to having their traditions, relationships, and know ledge and skills ignored and denigrated †¦ Their culture †¦ can be among their most potent assets, and among the most ignored and devastated by development programmes.Source: Culture Counts, Conference on Financing, Resources and the Economics of Culture in Sustainable Development, Florence, Italy, 4-7 October, 1999. Culture is important in the processes of social and economic development. Socially, it provides for the continuity of ways of life that people in a region or country see as significant to personal and group identity. Economically, various forms of cultural expression such as music, dance, literature, sport and theatre provide employment as well as enjoyment for many people. These contribute increasingly large amounts of money to the economies of most countries every year.Employment is also generated through the restoration and presentation of cultural heritage centres and sites – both for education and tourism. OUR CREATIVE DIVERSITY An independent Worl d Commission on Culture and Development (WCCD) was established jointly by UNESCO and the United Nations in December 1992 to report on the interactions between culture and development. Chaired by Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar, Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1982 to 1991, the Commission, presented its report, Our Creative Diversity, in 1995.Our Creative Diversity highlighted culture as the ‘last frontier’ of development. Development not only involves improved access to goods and services, but also provides â€Å"the opportunity for people to choose a full, satisfying, valuable and valued way of living together, thus encouraging the flourishing of human existence in all its forms and as a whole†. Read a summary of Our Creative Diversity. One of the recommendations of Our Creative Diversity to UNESCO was to publish regular reports on culture and development.The first World Culture Report (1998) described culture as â€Å"both the context for development a s well as the missing factor in policies for development†. It also questioned many of the cultural assumptions in the development models being used to guide economic, social, political and conservation policies worldwide . It asked the question, â€Å"Can we say that the range of development models has progressively narrowed over time? †, and concluded that: †¢ Western cultures have customarily been employed as the basis of thinking about development: â€Å"Western culture has held an iron grip on development thinking and practice†. This model equates development with modernisation and modernisation with Westernisation, and this is a cause of great concern in many countries. †¢ Increasingly, it is being recognised that there are several alternative strategies of development. †¢ A paradox of globalisation is that local cultures are being stressed more than before, at least in ways that reflect local cultural interpretations of the diverse cultural a nd economic processes that are part of globalisation. While cultural pluralism is increasingly becoming a eature of most societies, people are turning more and more to culture as a means of self-definition and mobilisation. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Cultural diversity is an important human right. It is a cornerstone of citizenship in any society. However, historical pressures and domestic political trends have limited the right to cultural autonomy and expression of some citizens. As a result, many minority peoples have been marginalised from the development processes in their own countries.This is tragic both for the marginalised groups and for development trajectory of the wider society. As a result, the 1998 World Cultural Report stated that: †¦ considerable imagination is needed to build the participatory institutional spaces where diverse voices can express themselves, whether in the management of local environmental issues, the organization of local urban life, or the operation of political institutions of functioning democracies. Source: World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1998. The same principle holds at the global scale.More and more, countries (especially in the South) are arguing that societies differ in their particular paths of development; that each society has its own history, political and social structures and cultural values; that development policies should respond to the needs and requirements of each society; and therefore that what is appropriate to one society may not be appropriate to another. Just as no development strategy can be said to be culturally neutral, a culturally sensitive approach to development is the key to addressing the interlinked social, economic and environmental problems confronting the planet as a whole.Cultural diversity — which emphasizes the dynamic interactions between cultures and sensitivity to cultural contexts — thus becomes a key lever for ensuring sustainable, holistic development strategies. Source: Chapter 7, UNESCO (2009) UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, UNESCO Publishing. This issue has been a major concern of the UNESCO African Itinerant College for Culture and Development (AICDD). AICDD is a regional coordinating body for discussion and debate on the cultural dimensions of development.Research by AICDD indicates that development efforts in Africa have not yielded the expected results, and argues that there are three culturally-related reasons for this: †¢ The unsuitability to the African context of development models and methods taken from industrial societies. †¢ The institutional, geographic, social and cultural gap between people living and working locally and government decision-makers and authorities. †¢ A lack of the institutional knowledge and skills to plan development policies and projects that are consistent with the cultural context.Consequently, there are increasing challenges to the dominant western approach to economic development and modernisation – not only from the South but in the North as well. The demonstrations each year in major cities every time meetings are held by the World Trade Organisation and other international political and financial institutions (that are perceived as promoting a uniform model of development) are evidence of this. Finding space for these alternative models of development will not be an easy task – this is the downside of globalisation and the domination of the world economic system by major transnational corporations.As a result, discussions about culture and development tend to be framed in terms of several key issues that relate to the social, economic, political and conservation dimensions of sustainable development, including: †¢ Culture and economic development †¢ Cultural diversity, conflict and pluralism †¢ Cultural rights and indigenous peoples †¢ Globalisation and cultural di versity †¢ Culture and sustainability †¢ Culture and poverty †¢ Culture and democracy †¢ The economics of cultural heritage †¢ Culture, freedom and independence †¢ Heritage conservation and values †¢ Global creativity and the arts. Indicators of culture and development. Research these issues in the UNESCO World Report 2: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue. ACTIVITY 5: REFLECTION Begin by opening your learning journal for this activity. Completing the module: Look back through the activities and tasks to check that you have done them all and to change any that you think you can improve now that you have come to the end of the module. Q4: How important is religious education to the curriculum in your school? Q5: To what extent are students encouraged to relate religious education lessons to principles for living sustainably?Q6: Are there ways in which the Annapurna case study could be integrated into religious education lesson s or other subjects in your school curriculum? Definitions of Religion A religion is a set of spiritual beliefs about two key aspects of life: concern with the ultimate meaning of human existence; and an identification with a supernatural power beyond the limits of the human and natural worlds. The many different religions have different beliefs about these two aspects of life. However, religions generally have the following characteristics in common: †¢ A belief in supernatural beings, or gods; A code of morality believed to be sanctioned by the gods; †¢ Ceremonial and ritual acts which focus on sacred objects and symbols; †¢ Communication, notably through prayer, with the supernatural; †¢ Particular religious feelings, such as a sense of mystery, awe, adoration and reverence, that tend to be aroused in the presence of sacred objects or symbols, and during ceremonies and rituals associated with the supernatural; †¢ A particular world view, or a general unde rstanding of the world and the individual’s place in the universe, that shapes the religion’s overall organisation and style of life; and A social group expressing the above features with and to which the individual identifies and contributes. Source: Adapted from Bell, R. and Hall, R. (1991) Impacts: Contemporary Issues and Global Problems, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane. The Annapurna Region of Nepal Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal, with an area of 147,181km? , is a land of ecological contrasts. Within a short span of 200km, the altitude varies from less than 100m to 8850m. This is Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), the highest peak in the world. The tropical monsoon forests, temperate evergreen forests and arid steppes of the Tibetan plateau are a result of these changes.For centuries the landscape has also been carved by large numbers of Indo-Aryan and Mongoloid people representing more than 45 ethnic and tribal groups. This peaceful land of unexcelled beauty and cultural heritage, ge nerally known as ‘Shangri-La’, is also one of the least developed countries in the world. More than 90% of the population are subsistence farmers and more than 40% live below the poverty line. These people depend on depleted forests for fuel, fodder and timber. Currently more than 87% of the entire country’s energy requirement comes from fuelwood.The dependence on firewood as a source of energy in rural areas is more than 93%. Forests are being destroyed at a rate of nearly 3% annually. This loss of forests, combined with overgrazing by livestock and cultivation of crops on marginal land, has triggered processes of soil erosion and landslides during the monsoon season. Annapurna Ecological and cultural issues in the Annapurna Region are not too different from those in other Himalayan regions – except that they are greater in magnitude. Within a short distance of about 120km, the altitude varies from less than 100m to 8091m at Annapurna 1, the eighth highes t peak in the world.Due to its geographic features and terrain, it provides many micro-climates supporting sub-tropical lowlands and forests in the plains and the valleys, lush rhododendron and temperate evergreen forests in the South of the Annapurna, and alpine steppe and arid environments to the North of the Annapurna region. This area contains over 100 species of orchids and many of Nepal’s 700 medicinal plants. The region also serves as excellent habitats for rare and endangered species such as the snow-leopard, the musk deer and the blue sheep. It is also the habitat of five of the six species of pheasants found in Nepal.The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) encircles the major peaks of the Annapurna Himal with an area of 2600km?. Catchments of three major river systems are roughly bordered by the major trekking route. It is also home to over 40,000 people of different ethnic and tribal backgrounds with various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon Po, Shamanism and Animism represented. Gurung, Magar, Thakali and Manangi are the dominant groups. Generally, these people are subsistence farmers who depend on the forests for fuel, fodder and timber.The Annapurna Conservation Area The Annapurna region is by far the most popular trekking destination in Nepal attracting over 60% of the total overseas trekkers in Nepal. The natural environment, resources and cultural integrity of this region are deteriorating due to over-grazing, intensive agriculture, poverty and a high population growth rate, and the influx of this large number of trekkers. Rational forest management for a sustainable yield of timber is not common. These factors mean that the cultural and natural environments of the region are in jeopardy.In view of this environmental deterioration in one of the most spectacular regions of Nepal, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal issued directives in the Spring of 1985 to investigate the possibility of giving protected status t o the Annapurna region. The directive required a management plan that would help to strike a balance between the basic needs of the local inhabitants, tourism development and nature conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) began in 1986 to address the problem of maintaining a crucial link between economic development and environmental conservation.It recognises that protection of critical habitats and maintenance of species diversity cannot be achieved without improving the economic conditions of poor villagers who inhabit the mountains. Unlike national parks and wildlife reserves, it regards humans, and not any particular species of wild animals or plants, as the focal point of every conservation effort. Source: Adapted from Gurung, C. P. (1990) People’s participation in conservation: Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Proceedings of the International Conference on Tropical Biodiversity, Kuala Lumpar, pp. 74-85. The Annapurna Conservation Area ProjectBa ckground What is conservation – if not for the people? It must be viewed only as a means, the end being the improvement of the quality of our very existence. His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikran Shah, Chair of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) operates under the guidance of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal’s leading non-profit, non-governmental environmental organisation. It is self-funded by entry user fees but receives additional support from the Worldwide Fund for Nature (USA) and the German Alpine Club.The project was set up in 1986 and has undertaken an innovative and successful approach to natural resource and tourism management in the Annapurna region. ACAP practices a multiple land use method of resource management, combining environmental protection with sustainable community development and tourism management. Income from tourism is used to integrate traditional subs istence activities into the framework of resource management and to develop small-scale conservation and alternative energy projects in order to raise the living standards of the local people.ACAP has a grassroots philosophy and approach that involves local communities in all aspects of the conservation and development process. ACAP’s role is that of ‘lami’, or ‘matchmaker’, between local communities and sources of appropriate skills, knowledge and technical and financial assistance which enables these communities to improve the quality of their lives. Recognising that the breakdown of social structures contributes to environmental degradation, ACAP also strives to strengthen the cultural integrity of the area. At the heart of ACAP’s program is conservation education.ACAP believes that without increasing the level of awareness of both villagers and visitors, lasting environmental protection and cultural diversity cannot be achieved. Objectives The objectives of the project are to conserve both natural and cultural resources for the benefit of the local people of both present and future generations by implementing rational management policies and programs. ACAP’s long term objective is to benefit the 40,000 inhabitants living in the 2600km? Annapurna Conservation Area by providing a viable means to help them maintain control over their environment. Principles ACAP bases its activities on three principles:People’s participation In order to have long lasting efforts in conservation in the Annapurna region, it was recognised that the interests of the local people and their needs must be considered first. Unless these people really felt that the fruits of conservation could be harvested by themselves and that the resources belonged to them, the support of the local people could not be obtained. Thus, the project considers the local people as the main beneficiaries and includes them in the planning, decision-maki ng and implementing processes, and delegates more responsibilities for the management of the conservation area to them.Thus, various management committees (forest management committee, kerosene depot management committee, health centre management committee), selected and nominated by the local people, are formed in order to manage the various ACAP activities. Most of the community development projects undertaken by ACAP are carried out with 50% local contribution either in cash or kind. Thus, the project is administered by only a few staff, most of them hired locally. Catalytic role His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and various other national and international agencies have implemented a number of development and conservation projects in the region.It is not the aim of ACAP to duplicate or take over these projects but to work with them in order to improve the quality of life of the people. ACAP uses grassroots methods to help the villagers maintain control over their local re sources as well as help them to identify their immediate needs and priorities. As a result, ACAP considers itself a ‘lami’ (matchmaker) that will bring together resources from outside in order to meet the needs of the local people. Sustainability One of the most important characteristics of the project is sustainability.Many of the foreign aided development projects in developing countries fail because they do not have any provision for sustaining them once the donor agency leaves. These projects once completed can neither be maintained and managed by the local people nor by the government – creating a great loss of time, energy and resources. ACAP has to be financially self-reliant once the funding from WWF-USA and other donor agencies is exhausted. Hence, an entry user’s fee of about US$7 is levied on all the international trekkers visiting the Annapurna region.His Majesty’s Government of Nepal allows ACAP to collect the fee and deposit it in its own account. Thus, there will not be any financial burden, either to King Mahendra Trust and and His Majesty’s Government or to the local people once funding from the donors is terminated. A similar approach is also maintained among community development projects where the local people are either trained or provisions made for the projects to continue. As an example, a community health centre in Ghandruk was founded by a ? 300,000 Endowment Fund to which ? 100,000 (US$3500) and ? 00,000 (US$7000) were contributed by the local people. Source: His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikran Shah, Chair of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. An interview with Min Bahadur Gurung Respected local elder from Ghandruk and Chairman of the region’s Conservation and Development Committee Interviewer You have been involved for many years in the indigenous management of your region’s forests and other natural resources. Has culture or religion influenced your man agement of these areas? Min Bahadur Gurung Of course. In our village we practice Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism.Our ancestors or forefathers managed their forest resources by themselves without the help of outsiders. They set aside a forest area for fuelwood and harvested it on a rotational basis. Interviewer Would you think there is a negative impact on the forest when you harvest for fuelwood? Min Bahadur Gurung When you harvest the selected old trees of a particular area, and for a certain period of time, there will be no adverse impact on the environment. Our traditional rotational system makes the forest harvesting sustainable in the long run. We also feel very familiar with our forest.We know what species of trees to harvest, when, where and for how long. Interviewer It seems that you and your people have a close relationship with the natural environment. How do you link culture, religion and environment? Min Bahadur Gurung Our culture and religion provide education for nature conservation. In every village we have a forest sanctuary where we worship our forest god. The forest is prohibited from any use and is thus a home for many birds, deer, insects and other living forms. We believe that if we cut such sacred forest we will be sick.The forest’s resources, especially traditional medicinal plants, are also important. We use them to treat many common diseases. Our sacred forests are set aside above our village. We feel safe from landslides and our water source is kept in good condition. It also keeps our village green thus providing a high aesthetic value. Our forests shape our lifestyles and behaviours. Interviewer The way you protect your forest has high ecological value. Would you believe this system to be sustainable? Min Bahadur Gurung The way we protect and conserve our forest is for our benefit.We harvest the fruits of our conservation efforts. Since our forefathers, we have followed this culture and religion. Thus, sustainable management a nd use of the forest resources is our way of life. We are not relying on outsiders to manage our forest and wildlife and our conservation practices don’t rely on money for its success. Everyone in the village looks after their forest. Our communal management system is working. Our children are also growing into this system, so I hope they learn the way we are managing our resources.Additionally, the arrival of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was a blessing for us. Interviewer How is ACAP working in the village? Min Bahadur Gurung We support ACAP’s integrated conservation and development program through people’s participation. It has helped us to strengthen our traditional institution with the formation of the Conservation and Development Committees. ACAP emphasises traditional resource management practices. This has allowed us to continue our traditional systems of fuelwood collection and rotational grazing in our alpine pastures. ACAP didnâ€℠¢t drive the local people from the villages.Other protected areas such as national parks in the Himalayas have excluded local people totally which has created conflict between parks and people. ACAP has also enabled us to implement small-scale community development projects such as drinking water supply, medical facilities, irrigation, bridges and trail construction and repair. Additionally, we also now have a forest nursery. Interviewer What do you think about sustainable living and how do you inter-relate your development works? Min Bahadur Gurung We believe development should not be an agent for destruction to our environment.It rather should aim to meet the basic needs of the people, for example provide food, cotton and shelter. Most importantly, we are protecting our environment. If you have fresh air to breathe, fresh food to eat and a safe shelter in which to sleep, then you live in a sustaining society. Our lifestyles will be more sustainable if we learn to live in harmony w ith our environment. If we neglect the environment that is sustaining our lifestyle, then we will be destroying our future. An interview with Om Bahadur Gurung Buddhist Monk and Lama (Priest) from the Village of Ghandruk, Nepal InterviewerAs a Buddhist monk, how does religion play a part in your daily life? Om Bahadur Gurung Culture and religion are an important part of all of our lives. We have been practising them since our childhoods. Our parents have taught us the good things and to follow the Ramro Bato (Good Path). I have inherited my culture and religion from my father. I have learnt compassion, happiness and to the value the good things in my life. Thus, we respect our culture and religion. Interviewer It sounds like following the Ramro Bato has taught you a great deal of good things in your life. Could you please elaborate a bit more?Om Bahadur Gurung Well, in our society, people do all sorts of things, both good and bad. I learnt that if you do a bad thing, you will have t o face disastrous consequences, ‘pap’, after your death. Cleanliness is important in our religion. Our three hundred years old monastery is in the forest, away from the dirty village. We respect the forest because it is the home of our god. We protect the forest and tell other villagers to do so. The forest provides valuable medicinal herbs which are important in our lives. Our mantra (prayers) and traditional medicinal herbs save the lives of our people when they are sick.We tell people not to cut down trees and not to kill animals. Interviewer Oh! Why do you tell this message to others? Om Bahadur Gurung The answer is simple. Do you kill your children? No, you do not. You love your children, don’t you? All creatures have life and they are born freely on the planet Earth. I believe they have the right to survive. As a human being, we should take care of all the living creatures and live in harmony with their environment without oppressing them. Interviewer It so unds good. How does your culture and religion reflect the notion of sustainable living?Om Bahadur Gurung All living creatures live and die. As for human beings, we believe they do not die, but change their spirit and form another life. We Lamas perform ‘arghau’, for example, within 49 days of a person’s death because that spirit will be in a hard life. We pray to our god to send them into heaven and to change their life into another living creature. That is our interpretation of sustainable living. Life is a cycle. If we don’t do our ‘karma’, the cycle will be broken. Interviewer Finally, do you have any message to educators? Om Bahadur GurungI have learnt many lessons from my Guru (mentor) over the years. To prove my worthiness as a Lama, I spent three years, three months and three days in a hostile place to learn the ways of the Buddhist culture and religion. When I went to the city to observe other monasteries and meet other monks, I learnt that I still have to learn more. I hope educators have more access to learn about our culture and religion. From my experience, I would say that the Buddhist philosophy of culture and religion provides the wisdom to protect our environment and sustain our lifestyles.