Two Works of Art from Ancient Time and From 1000 B.C.E OR 1000 B.C Assignment

Two Works of Art from Ancient Time and From 1000 B.C.E OR 1000 B.C - Assignment Example This can be seen in the museums as they are able to collects different types of arts like in The Grande Gallerie, Louvre of France and Free Gallery of Art. They are many artists known worldwide for their intellectual artistic way of delivering message like Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, and Alexander J. Davis who are known for their contribution in Art. Introduction Agostino Centobelli is a known sculpture in the past decade and in this context we are going to see the differences from his sculpture and Venus De Milo sculpture from Louvre gallery. They are both renowned artists in ancient craft (Tanner, 2006). Agostino was known from the cameo collection which was mainly used for jewelry which were common in Asia and Japan. It was known in the 15000bc which were used to tell manners, customs and traditions (Tanner, 2006). The sculpture of Venus De Milo which portrayed beauty and also goddess of love in the ancient period Comparison between Agostino’s and Venus de Milo’s Scu lpture The two art pieces were sculpted in ancient times from 1000b.c to 2000 B.C each using the natural color instead of using different colors. They both try to convey message to a given audience representing the culture, beliefs and traditions delivering to a bigger audience. There arts were both unique attracting people’s attention to date cutting across the world. The artists were mainly inspired by their environment and also we can see that the art are sculpted from stone. Each art has a unique message Agostino’s portraying the religion of Indians using jewelry while De Milo conveying the woman’s beauty. They both are from two different artists and were sculpted with different views in mind (Frank, 2011). Agostino’s art is more of complex comprising of different images unlike De Vinci’s which a single portrait of a lady is with cut hand. Part Two 1. The two arts use the form of sculpture as they are they are curved to bring out the different shapes. 2. They can both be seen created in the three dimensional structure as can be seen from the length, width and height used in the sculpture. We are able to see to the portrait in all dimension, front view, side view and back view. 3. Agostino’s art was with the use of stone (that is soap stone) or shells while De Milo sculpture used marble in creating. 4. From both of the art pieces we are able to see the curves used in order to bring out the figure as of De Milo and the one in cameo. They are smoothly shaped to bring out the quality of the portrait. 5. The colors used in the pieces of arts were natural colors of the materials as they only concentrated on curving and also to make it simple. In the era color was not the main reason of art but they tried to put across message to the different types of audience. 6. The curves are smooth and flowing with use of natural color. The three dimensional structure clearly tells the use of line to bring out the shape and concentra ted on making them perfect that’s why we can see its value till date. The simplicity also made the curvy areas or the portrait develop in the different decade of time (Frank, 2011) 7. They both have a subject matter as they try to give some information. This can be seen from the materials used, the portraits or rather the arts developed. 8. The subject of Agostino’s sculpture is jewelry while that of De Milo is lady’

Genesis World View Essay Essay Example for Free

Genesis World View Essay Essay What does Genesis, chapters one through eleven in particular, teach pertaining to the world? Specifically speaking in regards to the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization. In accordance with all that, how then could this affect your worldview today? What exactly does the bible say? How exactly can it shape the way we see life and are these conclusions about the world we live in today parallel with what the bible states as truth? First of all, when referring to the natural world itself, we’re specifically talking about its fallen state. The world as we know it and as the bible states, â€Å"The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time† (Gen 6:5), is wicked. See, when I look at the world I see exactly what Genesis 1-3 describes as truth. I see a perfect world that has gone bad. I see the beauty of the formation of this world, the gloriousness of the trees swaying in the wind, the mountain tops overlooking the plains, the waters brushing up against the sand, and the wind whispering across the ground. But then I also see the fallen state of mankind. I not only see it with my eyes, but I experience it too. With my eyes, hands, mind, heart. I’m a result of that fallen sin. I AM that fallen sin. My viewpoint is the same as any reader of Genesis 3 would picture the text in their mind. I see Satan everyday crawling about and tempting me to eat of the forbidden tree. I know what is right and I know what is wrong, but even with that for-knowledge of good and evil, I am a sinner and therefore I eat of that forbidden tree time and time again. â€Å"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them† (Gen. 1:27). The Lord created us in His image, and in His likeness. Therefore we were without fault, without wickedness, without sin. Genesis describes the mighty power of God, His love and sovereignty, His grace and mercy. In other words, we’re shown the importance and value of the Lord Himself. Therefore, if we are made in the image of this almighty, all loving, omnipotent Creator, then we too must be of great value and worth. That being said, this shapes my world view towards many different things, one of those in particular being abortion. If we are of such grand qualities, then we must protect and cherish every single image bearer. Having accounted for all that Genesis 1 describes, I’d venture to say that abortion is a smack in the face to God Himself. How dare we take it upon ourselves to decide which image bearers of the Lord live and which die. Though once again, this is yet another result of how we allow that serpent to persuade us to eat of the tree that leads to death. Now, we must look at where and how human relationships ti e in. We’ve talked an awful lot about man. What if we bring woman into the picture? How exactly do they fit together? Well first of all when we look at scripture we see that it is written, â€Å"Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man† (Gen. 2:22). This conveys a few truths. First of all, woman was taken from the side of man. This would mean, A, she is to be equal to and treated as so for she was taken from man’s side. B, she was taken from man to be his helper. And C, she was to be his wife and as it is stated soon after, â€Å"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh† (Gen. 2:24). Why was woman taken from man’s rib? I believe that nothing in scripture is random, and so therefore I believe that it is to indeed signify that she was to be considered â€Å"next to† man in every aspect of life such as marriage, parenti ng, and as a helper. That being said, she was in fact as scripture states to be a helper. Also, as it is strongly influenced throughout scripture, she was to be his wife, and he her husband, and the two would once again become â€Å"one flesh†. How about civilization? What does Genesis say about the human development? Our advancement as a species? Well, Genesis has very much to say about our growth as a whole. In fact in Genesis 11 the Lord says â€Å"Come let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other† (Gen. 11:7). And so after He had done this, He scattered them among the earth and spread them out far and wide. This causes me to believe and understand several truths yet again. First of all, I believe that at this separating of the people at the Tower of Babel, is how we came to know different ethnicities such as Asians, Africans, Spanish, English, etcetera. I also believe that after the flood the atmosphere and climate were much different. Which would also compensate for certain physical aspects of the different ethnicities as well, having been spread to different climatic areas of the world. And also, with the human existence in general, I believe that we started with Adam and Eve, and given thousands of years, we’ve thus reached our current population. Given the previous truths of scripture, as well as the current world standings, I’d say these truths represent a very high understanding of our world. God has blessed us, we have fallen. God has made us in His image, we have taken it upon ourselves to depict the value of that image. God has given us relationships to glorify Himself through us, we have created our own mindset to decide for ourselves who is equal and who is not. Last, but not least, we have grown immensely over time. Starting with two, and reaching over 7 billion.

The Notebook critique Essay -- essays research papers

The Notebook By Nicholas Sparks â€Å"I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life... but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough. -Noah Calhoun   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we were assinged to do a book critique, I knew right away I was going to do a Nicholas Sparks novel. I have read all of his books, cried many tears and felt many emotions as I pictured the people falling in love, people doing heroic events and people living their normal life. I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to do, but I had to go with the book that affected me the most, The Notebook. The Notebook was the first novel written by Sparks and personally it is my favorite. He is a wonderful author who possesses the ability to have that deep heart felt emotion and love that many women search for in life. He wrote the book in such a way, that I as a female related to. I have felt the emotions Allie felt, I have been through the heart break, so relating and picturing events from The Notebook was never an issue for me, or maybe any other woman either.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Notebook is a book written about a forbidden love from the south in the 1940's. The main characters, Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton come from two very different backgrounds. Noah is a poor boy who works hard for everything he has, and Allie is a rich girl who is determined to go to a great co...

Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground Essay

The utopian society has a long tradition in both philosophical and literary works. The image of a perfect state ruled exclusively by principles of good and righteousness has spurred the imagination of thinkers and writers over the centuries. Perfect harmony and sublime harmony and understanding dominate this state of things where evil is no longer known. In his famous satirical work, Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift identifies and censures the flaws inherent in human nature and the general interests, prejudices and impulses that govern the human society. Although the traveler explores unknown and fantastical lands, the various societies he encounters are only different versions of the same human geography governed by reason but also by vice. The last visit however takes Gulliver to the land of the Houyhnhnms, a utopian society that lives in absolute harmony and that does not even comprehend the notion of evil or deceit. It is not by accident that this ideal state is inhabited and ruled by horses endowed with the power of reason while man, or the Yahoo, is a base animal that serves the Houyhnhnms. Swift shows through this utopian representation that, however miraculous the power of reason and creativity in man, it will always corrupted by vice. Human nature is and will always be paradoxical: while reason has the ability to reveal the truth and weigh good and evil, man’s passions and instincts often prevent him from choosing good over evil. In a very different way, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground delivers a similar message regarding the possibility of a utopian human society. The â€Å"crystal palace† that the underground man speaks of is a symbol for the impossible, unreachable and vain ideal that the humanity chases. Paradoxically, the same humanity despises this lofty dream because it cannot laugh at it as it would. Moreover, Dostoevsky emphasizes that humanity is not satisfied with perfect harmony and happiness, although it covets impossible dreams. Sufferance is essential to the structure of the individual and, in Dostoevsky’s view, a secret wish of man. Therefore, both Swift and Dostoevsky give similar views of mankind and the impossibility of utopian states. Reason, which gives man the ability to see the truth and distinguish between good and evil, will always be blinded by passion and impulses. Man is a complex and paradoxical being, endowed with a superior spirit but also with a passionate nature apt to lead him into temptations. Lemuel Gulliver travels through the world and lands on peculiar lands where the inhabitants only appear to be fantastical creatures. In fact, all of them prove to be wonderful mirroring of Swift’s British contemporary society. Every state that the traveler encounters is governed by people who are the prey of numberless human impulses such as greed, prejudice, egotism, stubbornness, misconception, deceitfulness and violence. The dwarfs in Lilliput and the giants in Brobdingnag are only two representations of humanity at a different scale. Through these two representations, Swift unmasks human vanity and malice. In both of these countries human reason is paired with cunning and vice. The absurd academies of Laputa mock the vain enterprises of the human reason to conquer nature and reality. Their complicated systems of thought and their absurd inventions and devices only serve to root them strongly in blindness and lies, keeping them farther away from the truth. At the end of the journey, the last of the stops is a utopian land that is antithetical to all the other societies the narrator has lived in. The simplicity of the Houyhnhnms’ society and customs contrasts sharply with the complexity of the human civilization. On the one hand, man is a noble being but also a vicious one. Man is haunted by passions and prone to subjective interpretation of life. Because of this, absolute harmony can never govern a human society.

Representation of Women in Action Movies

If a man can fight, he’s a hero. If a woman can fight, she’s a b**ch! Representation of women in action films The film industry never seems to lack action films and there always plenty for the market to choose from however how many of those have women in a leading role? A handful. There aren’t that many films that feature women in lead roles within action films. But the question is why? Why haven’t a majority of these women been given a chance? Are actresses like Uma Thurman and Angelina Jolie one-woman-wonders or have they just been given a lucky break?I’ll be exploring the representation of women in action films through a semiotic analysis. David Gauntlett argues that â€Å"in contemporary society, gender roles are more complex and the media reflects this. The female roles today are often glamorous as well as successful in a way that they were previously not. Much of this is due to the rise of ‘girl power’ in the media, through ident ities constructed by music artists and contemporary actresses, for example, who are demanding less passive roles† which explains how films like Charlie’s Angels have made it to the forefront.Unfortunately, women have repeatedly suffered from a narrow set of representations in the media. They are regularly linked to the domestic situation i. e. housewives, or as sexual objects represented to entertain men. Furthermore, â€Å"the number of roles for leading women is far below that of men. † Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle is the film I’ve chosen explore and there several reasons behind this. I’ve chosen this text because it portrays women within dominant roles. Furthermore, the concept behind it breaks the pre-existing norm of women being the sexual object that entertains the male hero/spy.This isn’t the case in this film, they’re heroes fighting crime and saving the day. Not only are they stunning and beautiful but they also poss ess skills that crush and challenge existing stereotypes about women which is exactly why I chose this film. Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle is an action comedy film that was released on the 27 June 2003. The film was directed by McG and produced on a budget of $120 million. It was the sequel to the 2000’s Charlie’s Angels and it was number one at the box office for its opening weekend and produced a worldwide gross of $259. 2 million. The film was a success.It stars an ensemble cast including Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. It also features notable actors and actresses such as Demi Moore, Shia LaBeouf and Matt LeBlanc. Diaz, Barrymore and Liu or the â€Å"Angels†, are three extremely talented, strong, sexy women who work as private investigators for unseen millionaire named Charlie. Prior to this film, they had starred in more passive roles in the romantic comedy genre. In most action films, â€Å"men were more likely to be adventurous, activ e and vicarious, whereas women were more frequently shown as weak, ineffectual, victimised, supportive, laughable or ‘merely token females† (Gunter, 1995).A film such as this allowed their fans to view them in a more dominant, powerful light. This immediately challenges the pre-existing stereotype of women because they are illustrated as superior to their male counterpart. The angels are independent women who aren’t tied down or held back by men. On-the-other-hand, the fact that they work for a male, wealthy character who controls their every move is ironic because in reality, many women are in similar situations and living in a patriarchal society. The opening scene of the film is a brilliant example of the female representation shown throughout the plot.It’s set in a filthy, hostile bar in the Himalayas in Mongolia. The bar is packed with lots of men drinking and jeering. The use of an establishing long shot works well to familiarise the audience with the initial setting and atmosphere. I believe the director did this in order to show the contrast between all of the men and the Angels. A dolly shot is used to track two men carrying a box so the audience become intrigued to learn the contents as they descend into the basement. To the surprise of the audience, Alex Munday (Lucy Liu) was inside the box; contortioned and tucked away.A high angle shot is used and the camera tilts in order to display the actresses’ flexibility. As she rises out of the box the camera zooms into a close up of Liu as she does a symbolic swipe of her long, dark hair; an iconic move for any female superpower. She’s dressed in a black leather ensemble which connotes mystery and obscurity. Perhaps out of the three angels, Liu is the dark horse. As she stands against the wall, a medium shot is used cleverly because not only can we see Liu against the wall but we can also see the hostage and his capturers in the room behind the actress.The connotatio n is accurate as she then saves the hostage by taking out the guards with some impressive combat. Her character is almost portrayed to be a female equivalent to Jet Li; she appears to be unstoppable and fierce. As she drags the hostage up the stairs, the lighting changes dramatically. The basement was very dark and low-key lighting was used which made the action stealthy and hostile. Whereas, the lighting used in the bar is high-key; very bright and there are few shadows.This is symbolic because it’s as if Alex has taken the hostage from hell (dark, unpleasant) and to heaven (bright, hope) which is essentially the purpose of an angel both contexts. Meanwhile upstairs, the atmosphere is volatile as a new character emerges dressed in a red, sleek kimono. Her costume connotes love, passion and warmth however in this scenario it connotes danger, sin and aggression. This is the 2nd angel; Dylan Saunders. The camera tilts over her shoulder and shows the male opponent smirking at he r and then it pans around the table to eventually show her face.As she throws back a shot of alcohol, she comes across as the bad angel, the bad girl of the trio. The use of red with Dylan in this scene is symbolic because it displays a wide contrast between her and Alex. She’s more masculine in her body language but the director has tried to mask this behind the sexy outfit and red lipstick. As she walks away she clasps one of the guards by the waist, grabs his keys and tucks them away subtly. The focus then turns to the doors of the bar and the audience anticipates the worst. As the doors fling open, a medium shot shows a tanned, petite and blonde angelic woman.This is the third and final angel, Natalie Cook. She’s dressed in a white, fluffy coat and a revealing white mini skirt. This connotes purity, happiness and honesty which would be fitting for a normal angel. However, Natalie is no ordinary angel. As she stands at the door, she looks lost and dazed and a close- up of her face supports this further. As the men stare at her beauty in awe, she jeers at them and they erupt with excitement. The men are so amazed they form a guard of honour for Natalie as she walks over to the mechanical bull.Whereas, when Dylan wanted to move through the men they simply didn’t move and didn’t even know she was there. The use of white dumbs the men and amplifies Natalie’s angelic nature. Furthermore, her body language also plays a part in stunning the men. She giggles excessively and winks at a few of the men. Also, Diaz flicks her pigtails every two seconds and is also chewing gum. She hardly challenges the existing stereotype of blonde women but adds fuel to the fire. This is supported further by the fact that her skirt is so short, the audience can see clearly underneath it.Perhaps Natalie is the ‘bimbo’ of the group. The director has clearly added to the stereotype of blonde’s being stupid through Natalie’s cha racter however this could be challenged throughout the plot. I believe this opening scene and in fact the entire plot supports Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory. It states that â€Å"media texts are created through the eyes of a heterosexual male and that women are viewed for the pleasure of men. † (Smith, 2009) She also claimed that â€Å"women are turned into sex objects through how they are shot in the media (Cinematography). (Smith, 2009) Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle demonstrates this. The plot should challenge the norm and allow women to break free however the body language and costumes used throughout diverges the male audience from the plot and to the women being sexualised. In a review by the BBC, Nev Pierce argued â€Å"some call it girl power, others demeaning. † Furthermore, â€Å"When female protagonists, for example, have to function as law enforcers and confront criminal behaviour – both associated with male authority and action – gendered conflict inevitably follows. † (Hall, 1997, p. 364)However, this film could mislead women into thinking they have to become successful and independent by wearing tight, revealing clothes and caking up their faces with make-up but of course this isn’t true. â€Å"It really makes me more and more angry. The aim is to rake in money, loads of money and people try to do that by all means of all these things – sex, beautiful people, wealth and you always have people who fall for it. † (Ang, 1997, p. 347) This opening scene shows three very different women with different talents however what they all have in common is their characters have been onstructed to appeal to different types of men but collectively appeal to all men. Although this action film had 3 women in lead roles, it failed to truly challenge the existing stereotypes of women having to be objects and requiring sex appeal to become successful. In reality, â€Å"a woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view. † References Websites Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle blog (non-official) http://c-angels. blogspot. co. uk/ Pierce, Nev. (2003). BBC film review. http://www. bbc. co. uk/films/2003/06/27/charlies_angels_full_throttle_2003_review. shtml Smith, Mr (2009). Representation Theory – http://www. slideshare. net/fleckneymike/representation-theory-2458490 Smcmediastudies, (2011). The Representation of Women in the Media http://www. slideshare. net/smcmediastudies/the-representation-of-women-in-the-media Books Ang, Ien. (2006). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, in association with Sage. Ang, I. (1985) Watching Dallas: soap opera and the melodramatic imagination, New York, Methuen. Ibsen, Henrik (1917). Ibsen’s Workshop.

The Early Marriage in Asian Countries Essay

The Early Marriage in Asian Countries Essay Child Marriage in Yemen and Pakistan Sociology Essay Sample Child Marriage in Yemen and Pakistan Sociology Essay Sample Child marriage, as awful as it may seem to the larger part of the world, is a common practice in many Islamic countries. Statistical records show that 51 million of girls between the age of 15 and 19 are married. The real number of early marriages is higher, as girls married under 15 were not taken into account (Khalife, 2011). Moreover, according to the 2006 Demographic Health Survey, â€Å"one in seven girls worldwide would marry before her 15th birthday† (as cited in Khalife, 2011, p. 15). UNICEF states that 10 million girls marry before the age of 18 every year (Raj, McDougal, Silverman, Rusch, 2014) The practice of child marriage is widely spread in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where the economic state of population is low and religion rules everyday life. Child marriage is a rude violation of children’s and women’s rights. It commonly results in sexual abuse, cessation of education, confinement of girls to their husbands’ home s, and absolute dependence upon the husband. Moreover, reproductive health disorders and high rate of maternal deaths are the frequent consequences of early marriage. This paper will consider this social problem of early marriage in two Asian countries, Yemen and Pakistan. These countries have much in common, namely low GNI per capita, low literacy level of the population, and a common religion, Islam. Both in Yemen and in Pakistan, Sharia, Islamic law, regulates everyday life issues of the citizens. However, the countries are geographically remote, with Yemen located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, and Pakistan in the South Asia. The comparison will discover the degree of pervasiveness of child marriage in both countries, the structural factors that account for this problem, the public opinion, and the steps taken in these countries to stop the abusive practice. Early Marriage Problem Both countries, Yemen and Pakistan, have high rates of child marriage, although the numbers are different. A survey conducted in 2006 jointly by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and Yemeni government revealed astonishing data: â€Å"14 percent of girls in Yemen are married before reaching age 15, and 52 percent are married before 18† (as cited in Khalife, 2011). In some rural areas, child marriage is practiced even with 8-year-olg girls. The situation with child marriage in Pakistan is not much better than in Yemen. A survey of female population in the city of Lahore discovered that â€Å"61% of women aged ≠¥15 years are married in the city† (Nasrullah et al., 2014). The 2006-2007 data cited by Raj et al. (2014) show that only 50% of all women that were ever married entered marriage at the age of 18 or older. 26% of women got married at 16-17 years, 18% at 14-15, and 5% became wives under 14 years of age (Raj et al., 2014). In 19% of cases, the age gap between the spouses exceeded 10 years (Raj et al., 2014). Problems Evoked by Child Marriage Early marriage robs girls of childhood and adolescence; they are burdened with family duties and childbearing, while they are children themselves. They are often locked at home to ensure that they are virgins before marriage (Ouis, 2009). After marriage, girls still have less freedom. They are confined to the home, which makes them lose contact with their friends and not have any outside activity without their husbands’ permission (Khalife, 2011; Nasrullah et al., 2014). Being too young, girls are mentally not prepared to handling family life and building right relations with their husbands. The experience of marital duties can be very traumatic. Usually, girls enter marriage with little or no knowledge about family planning. They get pregnant soon after marriage and cannot control the time and the number of pregnancies. Moreover, they are not ready physically either. The course of pregnancy is more problematic in adolescent than in adult women, and obstructed labor due to the small size of pelvises causes life-threatening situations during delivery (Khalife, 2011). Survey participants in Pakistan recognized that they had more health problems, such as menstrual cycle disturbances, pains, miscarriage and physical weakness, than their peers married after 20 did (Nasrullah et al., 2014). Girls who give birth at the age of 10-14 have a five times higher maternal mortality level than young women of 20-24 (Khalife, 2011). In Yemen, for women of all ages, for every 100,000 live births, 210 death cases are registered (Khalife, 2011). Most deaths occur in rural areas where the age of marriage is lower and medical assistance is not available. Statistic records show that 64% of maternal deaths happen while delivering babies at home, which is practiced by the larger part of Yemeni women. In addition, early married women run a twice higher risk of miscarriage and four times higher risk of fetus and infant mortality (Khalife, 2011). In child marriage, girls often become victims of domestic violence, verbal and sexual abuse, and marital rape. According to 2002 domestic violence survey in Yemen, â€Å"17.3 percent of respondents had experienced sexual violence, 54 percent suffered physical abuse, and 50 percent verbal threats† (Khalife, 2011). Low social status limits the possibilities to protest or to get protection. Factors Engendering the Problem The analysis of the problem suggests several structural factors that account for the problem, namely poor economy, religious norms, patriarchy, and illiteracy. These factors are strikingly similar in both countries under discussion. Patriarchy In patriarchal societies, women are not considered equal to men; they are limited in rights and usually depend upon their parent, husband, or guardian. In some cases, children and women are viewed and treated as property. In Pakistan, such practices as â€Å"Watta Satta (bartering bride for bride), Pait Likkhi (marrying children before they are born or are still very young), Addo Baddo (marriage among tribes), and Swara / Khoon-Baha / Vani / Sakh (girls given in marriage as a form of dispute resolution)† are considered traditionally acceptable (Nasrullah et al., 2014). Thus, child marriage is often practiced for social purposes: research estimates approximately equal occurrence of child marriage across all society layers (Raj et al., 2014). Patriarchal societies often have honor ideology, as in the case of Pakistan and Yemen. In patriarchal families, the bride’s virginity is a merit; losing it means damaging the family honor. The honor of the family dictates the parents’ duty to confine a young girl to home in order to protect her from the evil influence of the world and to marry the girl out as soon as she reaches puberty. Therefore, early marriage is one of the ways to keep daughters from pre-marital sex and to secure the good name of the family (Khalife, 2011; Ouis, 2009). If girls happen to lose virginity before marriage or commits adultery, some families refer to honor murder. The cases of honor murders are seldom reported to police and usually concealed within a family (Ouis, 2009). Women’s education is believed to be unnecessary because the role of women is to serve her husband. In Yemen, parents often take young girls from school in order to prepare them for the future marriage, and few of them continue education after marriage. Economic factor In the counties with low income, where social and religious norms allow, marriage is also a form of trade. For low-income families, daughters are burden, as they cannot contribute to the family financially. Marriage is a way to reduce the burden as early as possible. On the other hand, daughters are an asset, because a would-be husband should give dowry in the form of money or presents. Dowry is the bride’s possession; however, the law leaves the time of payment to the guardian’s discretion (Khalife, 2011). Usually, the younger the girl is and the older the bridegroom, the bigger the dowry is. Sometimes, marrying a daughter out to a richer man seems a way to provide for the future of the family and the girls. Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East with high unemployment rate. 80% of Yemeni population live in rural areas and can hardly earn their living by working heavily on farms (Khalife, 2011). Child marriage both in Yemen and Pakistan often serves to relieve the financial state of poor families. Religion In Islam, a man may marry up to four women on condition that he is able to provide for them equally, and this right is widely practiced in Yemen. Additionally, Quran regards women as the men’s lower, and grants them few rights. A man, for example, can divorce his wife by pronouncing his repudiation three times (Khalife, 2011). For a woman, there are only a few conditions for divorce, connected with financial support or abandonment. If there are other reasons, a woman can apply for Khul’a or no-fault divorce, but, as it is connected with repayment of dowry and claims for maintenance, not many women can afford them (Khalife, 2011). The case of Reem, where an 11-year-old Yemeni girl married a 21-year-older man, shows that for a child, it is almost impossible to fight out divorce even if marital abuse and rape are proven (Khalife, 2011). Opponents of marriage age in Yemen ground their arguments on Quran and Sharia. Yemeni Sheikh Al-Zindani, one of the founders of Islah, a fundamentalist political party in opposition to the government, and the leader of Faith Institute, criticized the law banning child marriage as â€Å"un-Islamic and a threat to the culture and society of Yemen† (Khalife, 2011). In Pakistan, even the women who themselves suffered from early marriage believe that the parents’ duty stipulated by Quran is to marry their daughters out as soon as possible after they reach puberty. Of the 19 participants of the survey, only four women expressed the wish not to marry their daughters out before they can receive education and reach a better social status (Nasrullah et al., 2014). Illiteracy Yemen has one of the lowest literacy rates. UNESCO survey conducted in 2007 revealed that â€Å"the adult literacy rate for Yemenis aged 15 and over was 59 percent: 77 percent for males and 40 percent for females† (Khalife, 2011). Literacy rate among young people (between 15 and 24) is 80%; however, the gap between males and females is still significant (93% for males and 67% for females). Illiterate parents often do not value education for girls, as there are few possibilities for women’s employment, and women are confined to their families. Sometimes, parents take girls from school to look after the youngsters and to help with household, or to prepare them for marriage. Besides, in many rural areas female teachers for girls are simply unavailable. Most girls in Yemen do not finish secondary education (Khalife, 2011). In Pakistan, only 25% of all girls finish primary education compared with almost a half of all boys (Nasrullah et al., 2014). Illiteracy and lack of skills bring girls in absolute dependence from their husbands. They are unable to provide for their lives in case of divorce, which makes them endure all hardships that come with marriage. Efforts to Reduce or Eliminate the Problem of Child Marriage The majority of countries in Asia and North Africa confess Islam. In some of them courts and legislation are secular, but most abide by Sharia as the main law. In the majority of Muslim countries, legislation sets the minimum age for marriage; in Egypt, for instance, it is 18 for both boys and girls, as well as in Iraq (Khalife, 2011). In Yemen, the minimum marriage age does not exist currently. In Pakistan, although established by legislative documents, the law is not observed in practice, with marriage being interpreted as a family matter. Yemen. In the case of Yemen, it is different. Despite the fact that Yemen is a signatory to many international documents that clearly state the rights of children and women, such as the Convention on the Rights of Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and others, Yemeni legislation fails to grant them legal protection. First, the legislation lacks a clear and unambiguous definition of a child, so it is difficult to protect children by international law. Second, Sharia defines the women as â€Å"sisters of a men† (as cited in Khalife, 2011), with duties and rights assigned by Sharia and law, which shrink those rights and fail to protect them. Since the war of 1994, Sharia has become the official law, refuting many provisions of earlier Constitution as non-Islamic. Before 1999, the minimum marriage age was set at 15; now, there is none. In 2009, parliamentary majority voted for establishing a minimum marriage age at 17. However, a smaller but more powerful opposition stifled the draft by sending it to the Sharia Legislative Committee for revision. A religious fatwa proclaimed by some Muslim clerics in March 2010 declared establishing marriage age un-Islamic and â€Å"contrary to Sharia† (Khalife, 2011). Besides, parliamentarians could not find agreement about the second part of the draft imposing penalties and imprisonment on husbands who marry girls before puberty and guardians who let it happen (Khalife, 2011). The present political situation in Yemen paralyzed all legislative activity in the country, including this law. In 1999, a provision was added to Personal Status Law to protect young girls against premature sex. The amendment forbids sexual intercourse until the wife reaches puberty. However, there are no appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure functioning of this regulation. In practice 11-12-year-old Yemeni girls are often married immediately after they reach puberty, and in some cases before (Khalife, 2011). Another provision of 1999 allowed child divorce in case of forcible child marriage, but repealed their right to maintenance (Khalife, 2011). In Yemen, the activity of non-governmental organizations against the practice of child marriage is remarkable. Yemeni NGOs collaborate with international organizations for human, women’s and children’s rights, such as the Human Rights Watch. They conduct surveys and register cases of violation of human rights in Yemen. Due to the NGOs, child marriage became an issue of public concern in Yemen rising acute political discussion and popular opinion against the tradition that mutilates the lives of young girls. In 2011, a Yemeni woman journalist and activist for women’s rights Tawakkol Karman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with two activists from Liberia (Khalife, 2011). Karman is an active proponent of setting a minimum marriage age. Karman’s activities and awarding attracted attention of the world community to the violation of women’s rights and the problem of child marriage in particular. Pakistan. There are visible efforts to eliminate child marriage in the Pakistani law. The Child Marriage Age restraint of 1929 clearly bans marriage of girls under 16 and boys under 18 (Nasrullah et al., 2014). The child Marriages Restraint Bill of 2009 and the Charter of Child Rights Bill of the same year attempted to raise the minimum marriage age for girls to 18 (Nasrullah et al., 2014). However, in a tribal society like Pakistan, traditional practices prevail even if contrary to the legislation. The traditions of Addo Baddo, Pait Likkhi, Watta Satta, and Swara / Khoon-Baha / Vani / Sakh are applied widely in rural areas and in big city slums (Nasrullah et al., 2014). For the moment, the work of non-governmental organizations fails to embrace all population layers. NGO activists participate in surveys and opinion polls, try to raise awareness of the negative outcomes of child marriage among the population, and attempt to promote sound legislation. Prospects of Elimination of Child Marriage in Yemen and Pakistan In tribal societies, like Yemen and Pakistan, that are ruled by Sharia and live according to honor principles, the improvement of the situation will take a long time. Child marriage is deeply rooted in people’s consciousness and practice; it finds justification with some Islamic clerics and tribal elders who condemn the attempts to protect girls form early marriage as contradictory to Islam and undermining moral principles of the society and their authority. However, it is obvious that under condition of limited literacy of the population, the initiative should be taken by the governments of both countries. What is particularly striking, even among women there is no unanimous opinion about the harm inflicted by child marriage to girls’ health and social status. Pakistani random survey shows that the large majority of the respondents (13 women of 19) who were married between 11 and 17 years are satisfied with their roles, 10 of them find the practice of child marriage appropriate for religious and moral reasons, and 13 would marry out their daughters as children, too (Nasrullah et al., 2014). Most of those women link their reproductive health problems to medical conditions and not to the early sexual life and childbearing. Only 6 of the 19 respondents resolutely condemned the practice of child marriage, and only 4 of them were in favor of education for girls as means to be self-supporting (Nasrullah et al., 2014). At the same time, the data presented by Nadia Khalife (2011) show greater dissatisfaction of Yemeni women with the state of things, and the society shows greater concern . However, parallels with Pakistan and public protests with participation of women against the law banning child marriage in Yemen (Khalife, 2011) suggest the existence of women who are not only content with the practice but also would defend it for religious reasons and honor principles. While people live on the verge of extreme poverty, as it is in Yemen, and have scarce education, employment and medical assistance opportunities, the balance is not likely to break. Political turmoil stifles all legislative activity, and the influence of fundamentalist Islamic confessions and parties impedes the struggle for human rights. Unless the situation stabilizes within the following years, it is difficult to predict significant improvement. Even if new political leaders come to power and pass new laws to set the minimum marriage age and protect children’s and women’s rights, they will have to create enforcement mechanisms that were unavailable in the old system. The situation in Pakistan does not show great signs of improvement as well, with fundamentalist parties being at power. Besides, Pakistani women show lower awareness of the harm inflicted by child marriage and lower readiness to change and to fight for changes than Yemeni women do. Unless the government implements strict responsibility for violation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, traditional practices of child marriage will continue. For both countries, the improvement depends to a great extent upon spreading awareness among the population about the consequences of child marriage, â€Å"promoting civil, sexual and reproductive health rights for women, and provision of economic opportunities for girls and their families such as microfinance schemes† (Nasrullah et al., 2014). It is a vast field for NGOs and governmental organizations. International human rights organizations should also play their parts to raise worldwide awareness of the problem and advise the governments. The results of research of child marriage in Pakistan and Yemen show how common this problem is across the Asian continent. It also reveals that the constituent factors that account for the problem are the same independent of the country. These factors are religious obscurantism, patriarchal culture with honor ideology and historically rooted tradition, poor economic situation, lack of appropriate legislative and enforcement base, and illiteracy of the population. Each factor taken separately does not account for the problem of child marriage in the modern world, but their combination makes it extremely difficult to eliminate or at least alleviate the situation. The problem of child marriage in Yemen, Pakistan and other countries where it exists can be solved only through joint efforts of the local governments, local and international NGOs, and wide involvement of the local and world communities.

British Taxation essays

British Taxation essays British taxes in the Americas began in 1651 starting with the Navigation Acts. Most of the taxation started because of the war debts of England and the colonists revolts against the king. The taxes were a way to collect money of goods traded in the Americas from other countries. Their were several acts passed by the British Parliament to impose taxes. These acts made colonists angry and caused many disputes. One famous is the Boston Tea Party incident in Boston Harbor. There many pounds of taxed tea were tossed into the bay. This was the start of many revolts of colonists against the British. At first colonists just responded with mixed feelings toward the taxation of goods coming in to the Americas. Many felt that there should be no taxation without representation. The colonists wanted to have a vote in the British Parliament if they were to be taxed for their goods. This caused bitterness between the colonists and Great Britain. As result of these tensions rebellions broke out and their were some fatalities. British Parliament and the king started to worry about a war so they sent more troops to enforce the taxes and hold back rebellions. This caused more tension and eventually The first of these Acts passed by Parliament and enforced by the King was the Navigation Acts of 1651. These Acts stated that: 1. No countries were allowed to trade with the colonies unless the goods were shipped by colonial or British ships. This was because this offered more jobs for sailors and made sure the profits went to England. 2. All ships had to have crews that were at least three-quarters English or colonial. This ensured Britain was keeping the money and that if there were disputes between countries at that time no one aboard would rebel against the captain. 3. The colonies had to export certain goods to England only. These goods were: tobacco and sugar and la...

Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese

Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese Measure words are very important in Chinese grammar as they are needed before every noun. There are more than a hundred Mandarin Chinese measure words, and the only way to learn them is by memorizing them. Whenever you learn a new noun, you should also learn its measure word. Here is a list of the most commonly used measure words in Chinese to kick start your growing vocabulary. What Is a Measure Word? Measure words are familiar to English-speakers as a way to classify the type of object being discussed. For example, you would say a â€Å"loaf† of bread or a â€Å"stick† of gum. Mandarin Chinese also uses measure words for types of objects, but there are many more measure in Chinese. Measure words in Chinese can refer to the shape of the object, the type of container it comes in, or are simply arbitrary. The main difference between English (and other Western languages) and Mandarin Chinese is that Mandarin Chinese requires a measure word for every noun. In English we can say, â€Å"three cars,† but in Mandarin Chinese, we need to say â€Å"three (measure word) cars.† For example, the measure word for car is  Ã¨ ¼â€º (traditional form) / è ¾â€  (simplified form) and the character for ​car is è »Å  / è ½ ¦. Thus, you would say  Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¦Å"‰ä ¸â€°Ã¨ ¼â€ºÃ¨ »Å  / 我æÅ"‰ä ¸â€°Ã¨ ¾â€ Ã¨ ½ ¦, which translates to I have three cars. Generic Measure Word There is one â€Å"generic† measure word which can be used when the actual measure word is not known. The measure word 個 / ä ¸ ª (gà ¨) is a measure word for people, but it is frequently used for many types of things. The generic measure word can be used when referring to items like apples, bread, and light bulbs even when there are other, more appropriate measure words for these objects. Common Measure Words Here are some of the most common measure words encountered by students of Mandarin Chinese. Class Measure Word (pinyin) Measure word (traditional Chinese Characters) Measure word (simplified Chinese Characters) People g or wi or or Books bn Vehicles ling Portions fn flat objects (tables, paper) zhng Long round objects (pens, pencils) zh Letters and Mail fng Rooms jin Clothing Jin or to or or Written Sentences j Trees k Bottles png periodicals q Doors and windows shn Buildings dng Heavy objects (machines and appliances) ti

Just 3 questions for Organizational Behavior class Essay

Just 3 questions for Organizational Behavior class - Essay Example I will be able to understand the behavior of my employees, and its impact on my organization’s performance. I will be in a better position to handle areas such as absenteeism, employment turnover, productivity, and performance at my workplace. As, a manager in the near future, I will be responsible for managing and leading a team. With learning from this class, I will be able to understand my team member’s attitude, behavior, and motivate them. I will be able to create a sense of higher job satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior. This in turn will help me to get low turnover and absenteeism, higher productivity. Answer2.) Performance is a function of three variables: Ability; Effort and Opportunity to Perform. In order to boost performance, it is necessary to make sure that all three factors are adequately present. Ability can be defined as an individual’s capacity to performance various tasks in a job (Robbins and Judge, 44). Ability affects the performance through the ability-job fit. The first step to be improving the fit will be to have in a place an effective selection process. A thorough job analysis will enable the employees to understand the abilities that are needed to perform that job. Applicants shall be tested, and evaluated on the degree that they posses the necessary abilities to perform the tasks of the job. The ability-job fit can be improved by making minor modifications to the job to match the abilities of the employees. The tasks of the job can be modified in such a way that it is suited to the specific talents of an employee. For example, the tasks may be changed from manual to a computer system for an employee who is efficient in using computers. The ability of an employee may also be increased by training him to the tasks, tools, and techniques of the job that he is doing. Mentoring within the organization can have a large influence on the ability of an employee to work on a job. Answer3.) In today’s

Modern Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Modern Architecture - Essay Example One of the latest styles of architecture that emerged in the 20th century is Modern architecture. Modern architecture can be best described as a style which believes that "Less is more". The major proponent of this style is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe which thought of the "Less is more" theme for modern architecture. Modern architecture is known for its rejection of the classical styles (historicism) and believes that the materials and functions of the objects used in the structure is the end all and be all of the structure. It also firmly applies the principle of industrial aesthetic and the concept of functionality over being ornamental. Unnecessary details are removed and all design aspects are streamlined ("Modern Architecture", 006a). "Less is more" emphasises that every part of the structure must have a purpose other than being ornate and that every part must compliment each other in terms of function. In modern architectural design, the overall from and aesthetic value of a structure is determined by its function and the materials it is made from. This should be done without reverting to classical design concepts. A structure, commonly a building is envisioned as a wide governing space that rests on delicate foundations and surrounded by walls and ceilings complementing the foundations rather than a chunk of rock and other materials. Modern architectural design is mostly based on industrial concepts and by modern art styles such as abstract and impressionism. Le Corbusier's book entitled Vers une architecture (1923, tr. 1927) is a very good source of inspiration for modern architectural styles as well as the writings of Dutch architect J. J. P. Oud and German architect Walter Gropius, who handled the design of the Bauhaus in Dessau. Other early proponents of the modern movement include: German architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, Ernst May along with Americ an architects Raymond Hood, Albert Kahn, Richard J. Neutra, William Lescaze, and George Howe ("Form and Materials." 2006).Modern architectural style is also known as 'International style', 'Neue Sachlichkeit', and 'functionalism' and has been around after the end of World War II. Modern architecture relies on modern materials, the principles of functionality and the rejection of historicism and everything that is purely ornamental ("Modern architecture." 2006b). early forms of modern architecture were seen in the 1900's, but modern architecture was not formalised yet. Those times saw the advent of simplified and functional structures that eventually became the signature of modern architecture. By the 1940's the characteristics of this style were identified and given the name 'International Style' which became the trend for most building styles in the twentieth century. Some historians think that modern architecture is a response of the society to 'Modernity' and further in to the so -called 'Enlightenment'. They view it as a result of all the social and political turmoil that happened during that period. Critics and architectural experts however view modern architecture as the natural path of architecture fuelled by the latest advancements in structural technology and development in engineering. Also the availability of modern materials such as Plexiglas, metal alloys concrete etc. drove

In what ways did industrialization create new opportunities for women Essay - 1

In what ways did industrialization create new opportunities for women How and why were these opportunities limited - Essay Example portunities increased for women in terms of domestic manufacturing, employment opportunities for women started to decline from the 1880s until after the Second World War as the employment opportunities became related to the stagnating textile industry. Agriculture, domestic services, and manufacturing had started to contract in this phase. Change of the industry’s structure toward such heavy industries as metallurgy, machines, and mining signified a decrease in the work for married women workers. Although the government was not controlled by socialism until the 1917 Russian revolution, yet many governments were forced to target the industrial society’s abuses, as a result of which the parliament prohibited women’s underground employment e.g. â€Å"many women had worked in coal mines as "drawers" in which they pulled carts of coal from the mines with straps attached to their shoulders† (â€Å"The Industrial Revolution†). By 1914, certain new protest outlets including feminism and new work roles emerged for women. New standards and ideas brought important changes in the home (Stearns et

Morality Plays and their influence on Shakespeare Research Paper

Morality Plays and their influence on Shakespeare - Research Paper Example Depiction of medieval morality traditions is the hallmark of most of the Shakespearean traditions, whether tragedy or comedy. Morality is the dominant trait of the heroes in the works of Shakespeare, like Macbeth, Hamlet, Tempest, Twelfth Night, etc. The final outcomes/conclusion- of his dramas highlight a significant moral choice. With hard options left to the characters as for the moral order, the plots of his dramas attains new dimensions. How is the theme of morality explored in Shakespearean dramas and what techniques are used to show this? Some of his works are examined in this paper. Macbeth: Macbeth, a tragedy by Shakespeare (1992), has several violent incidents, with a strong undercurrent of morality relating to Macbeth’s violation of ethical norms prevailing in that era. Macbeth’s violation of the moral order with his pre-planned murder of Duncan indicates Shakespeare’s intricate representation of evil and the reaction to such deeds. Christian morality is put to severe test in this drama. In the initial stages of the drama, Macbeth is an honorable, brave soldier. But his encounters with witches cause a dent in his moral standards. It kindles the fire of ambition in him. His action of murder of King Duncan in order to enthrone himself as the King is a mean, evil action by moral standards. His loyalty is proved dubious. Initially he had set the highest standards of morality for him and his abidance in religious principles is total. One needs to read his soliloquy (I, IV, 12-28) to understand his clear-cut stand as to why he should not kill Duncan on three counts. He is "his kinsman," "his subject" and "his host." He pays highest tributes to his angelic qualities, which again indicates his inner moral inclinations. But the evil in Lady Macbeth intervenes to ill-advise Macbeth. She ridicules him that he is a coward, if he decides not to kill Macbeth. Macbeth is in a dilemma. As a soldier and as husband he does not desire to be labeled as a coward. His virtue and moral standards stand subjugated by his self-image and ambition. The moral dilemma doesn’t end with the murder of Duncan, but intensifies. He totally surrenders to the evil by challenging Fate and he kills Banquo and his descendants. One evil deed follows the other and he loses his power of discrimination and is engulfed in desire for power. His convictions are now â€Å"foul is fair and fair is foul," and thus he has become a morally bankrupt individual. In the end he pays the consequences for his immorality. Hamlet: The corrupted moralities in Hamlet’s moral choices have far-reaching consequences and ultimately lead to the devastation of the royal house of Denmark. The moral rule will not continue indefinitely, evil results follow in a time-bound manner. Every individual has to suffer the consequences in proportion to the intensity of such deeds. The negative vibrations generated by bad action will not go unpunished. The concept of reven ge is a pagan act that goes against the morality of Christianity. The approach of revenge with Hamlet’s order to kill Claudius by his father’s ghost is one such act. To commit this act, Hamlet goes through one of the worst moral dilemmas, and his fears about going to hell are genuine. Finally, Hamlet achieves his moral goal by exposing the guilt of Claudius

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations Coursework

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations - Coursework Example Some of the marketing techniques employed by Tesco Company include branding, relationship marketing, growth and survival strategies and brand building and positioning. The company creates a unique name and image for its products it is connected with strap lines; logos brand promise, colors and related benefits. Tesco has chosen various brands such as Tesco finest, Tesco value, Tesco organic, Tesco standard and Tesco Whole foods. Tesco is trying to ensure that they make profits in all aspects of their branding. On the other hand, Apple brand is leading in the computer industry with its Macintosh computers and the consumer electronics industry. It has built its brand and positioning through advertising campaigns through promotions such as event sponsorships. Apple Company has a brand personality that emphasizes in making people’s lives much easier by making its products readily accessible to customers. Both companies utilize the use of relationship marketing to build a relationship with their clients, encourage and reward those who are loyal, as they convince them to buy more products. When it comes to market penetration, product development, and diversification, Tesco has increased its sale in the existing markets, launched its product as Tesco Everyday Value and modified its existing products to appeal the existing market. The company has diversified into other services such as home insurance, mortgages, car insurance and other services. Marketers are faced with various challenges while doing their marketing activities. For instance, they are confronted with legal constraints. This means that the marketers have to comply with the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which empowers the consumer to claim back the money if they find a product to be faulty. The marketers are, therefore, tasked with the challenge of meeting the standards of their goods sold as prescribed by the sale of Goods Act. This  Act requires that a trader has to sell goods of good quality and as they are described.

Racism in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Racism in America - Essay Example Therefore, racism respites on a pedestal of discrepancy worth of human beings and the authenticity of imbalanced behavior in accordance to supposed dominance and lowliness. (Johnson) America's Viewpoint towards Racism The issue of "Racism" is a threat which has weighed down USA all through its subsistence as a supreme country. (Johnson) In years subsequent the zenith of the "Civil Rights movement" of the 60's this threat has both augmented and retreated. (Johnson) In the United States of America, race beliefs commenced budding in the late 17th century, in combination with the lawful establishment of slavery for Africans and in the 18th century it eventuated in 3 main groups that were approximately definite and categorized i.e. "European Whites, Native Americans [Indians], and "Negroes" from Africa." (Ma) Regardless of lawful and societal endeavors to ban intermarriage or inter-mating, a number of genetic mixture still transpires. In retort, the United States resorted to a law to aid conserve the uniqueness of the "White/Black racial" as well as societal dichotomy. (Johnson) North Americans characterize anybody as "Black" who comprises African ancestors, an observable fact identified and introduced by historians over half a century back as the "one drop rule". (Ma) There is no communally endorsed in-between cataloging, albeit the census of 2000-01 allowed individuals to recognize two or more racial heritages. In the year 1940, the South Africa due to its chronological causes formed an outsized middle group of class so that basically three more or less elite races were recognized in law and every year, a governmental board was set to assess racial personalities and... This essay not only discusses the present situation with racism in the U.S., but also tries to develop the successful strategy for prevention of racism. These issues by the majority of close â€Å"black-white† acquaintances indicates that the sore and explosive severance have continued to persist among black and white Americans. The fact that this essay presents of both these authenticities highlights the requirement to publicly converse about the racism and its affects, rather than to overlook them. The essay also highlights the fundamental relationship among racial fascination and color-blindness. As a substitute of representing a turn down in the significance of race, the color-blind philosophy concurrently obfuscates and supports the American obsession on race. It is an undeniable fact that racism still exists in the United States of America. Over the centuries, the viewpoint of American whites for diversified races had not changed, making it difficult to fill the gaps bet ween populace. American people’s obsession with ethnic classifications is a consequence of that differentiation and not an origin of it. There is an intense need to raise the level of awareness and stop discriminating people on behalf of their culture and race. However, the last presidential elections were won by the â€Å"Barack Hussein Obama,† a black man, lighting the torch of hope that the ice of hatred between white and blacks have started to melt and in modern America the people are judged by their qualifications and talents and not by their race.

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations Coursework

Marketing Techniques and Market Products in two Organizations - Coursework Example Some of the marketing techniques employed by Tesco Company include branding, relationship marketing, growth and survival strategies and brand building and positioning. The company creates a unique name and image for its products it is connected with strap lines; logos brand promise, colors and related benefits. Tesco has chosen various brands such as Tesco finest, Tesco value, Tesco organic, Tesco standard and Tesco Whole foods. Tesco is trying to ensure that they make profits in all aspects of their branding. On the other hand, Apple brand is leading in the computer industry with its Macintosh computers and the consumer electronics industry. It has built its brand and positioning through advertising campaigns through promotions such as event sponsorships. Apple Company has a brand personality that emphasizes in making people’s lives much easier by making its products readily accessible to customers. Both companies utilize the use of relationship marketing to build a relationship with their clients, encourage and reward those who are loyal, as they convince them to buy more products. When it comes to market penetration, product development, and diversification, Tesco has increased its sale in the existing markets, launched its product as Tesco Everyday Value and modified its existing products to appeal the existing market. The company has diversified into other services such as home insurance, mortgages, car insurance and other services. Marketers are faced with various challenges while doing their marketing activities. For instance, they are confronted with legal constraints. This means that the marketers have to comply with the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which empowers the consumer to claim back the money if they find a product to be faulty. The marketers are, therefore, tasked with the challenge of meeting the standards of their goods sold as prescribed by the sale of Goods Act. This  Act requires that a trader has to sell goods of good quality and as they are described.

Consider the Consequences of Reducing a Balance of Payments Deficit Essay

Consider the Consequences of Reducing a Balance of Payments Deficit - Essay Example So as the consequences are the results of relative actions/measures, it makes sense to review the measures of reducing the BOP deficit and consider the impact of each measure on economics. Definition of balance of payments and balance of payments deficit Pippenger (1973, p.6) defines balance of payments as a record of the value of all transactions between foreign and domestic residents over a certain period of time, usually one year; the balance of payments is based on the principle of double entry bookkeeping where the dollar value of every transaction is recorded as both a debit and a credit (Pippenger, 1973). Debit or minus entry in the balance of payments reflects the purchase or import of anything from a foreign partner, while a credit or plus item in the balance of payments reflects the sale or export of anything to a foreign partner (Pippenger, 1973). Applying double entry bookkeeping, the payments received for exports are recorded as debit and the payments made on imports are recorded as a credit (Pippenger, 1973). Balance of payments deficit is an imbalance in a nation’s balance of payments in which payments received by the country are less than the payments made by the country (Economic Glossary, n.d.). This term is also known as unfavorable balance of payments because less currency is flowing in to the country than is flowing out (Economic Glossary, n.d.). Thus, balance of payments deficit causes unequal flow of currency and results in reducing the supply of money in nation, imposing negative implications for unemployment, inflation, production, and other aspects of import-prevailing economy (Economic Glossary, n.d.). In order to minimize these implications it is necessary to understand better how balance of payments deficit can be reduced and what are the consequences of possible measures of reducing BOP? Measures of reducing BOP deficit and its consequences There exist different measures aimed at reducing balance of payments deficits; these measures are divided into two groups: automatic correction and deliberate correction of BOP disequilibrium. In this paper, we will review only deliberate measures as tools for reducing the deficit in BOP. Deliberate measures, broadly applied in different economics of the world, are differentiated by three main categories, including monetary measures, trade measures, and miscellaneous measures. Monetary measures – monetary contraction Monetary contraction or money supply allows a country to influence its level of aggregate domestic demand, demand for exports and imports, and price level of domestic production (Cherunilam, 2008). Contraction of money supply results is applied in order to reduce the purchasing power and consequently, aggregate demand of nation (Cherunilam, 2008). By adopting monetary contraction in the country, domestic output decreases, while domestic real interest increases. Increase of the rate of interest is caused in result of decrease in money supply (Dwiv edi, 2010). Increase in interest rate leads to reduction of domestic investment, and fall of investment leads to reduction of income levels of population (Dwivedi, 2010). Additionally, increase in the interest rate leads to the inflow of foreign capital, which reduces deficits in capital account of BOP (Dwivedi, 2010). In result, demand for imports is reduced because of the fall in domestic prices and domestic aggregate demand, while demand for

Four Theoretical Approaches to Metaphysics Essay Example for Free

Four Theoretical Approaches to Metaphysics Essay There are four theoretical approaches to the metaphysics and they include Dualism and the theory that what exists on can do so on two levels the physical or the mental. The next approach is Materialism which theorizes that everything exists on a physical level. Then there is the Idealism approach which states that everything that exists is mental or spiritual. Finally, there is Alternative Views which theorizes that what exists in neither mental nor spiritual but believed that what exists is both, which means that what exists is neutral. In the Materialism theory of metaphysics it is said that everything is made of some kind of structure that are now called atoms. These atoms are governed entirely by physical laws and are thought to make up everything that we know and see. There were and are still many men in the scientific community that feel this way, but the most pronounced one was named Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes implied â€Å"clearly that all things are made of material particles and that all change reduces to motion. † (cite) His theory states that everything is matter in motion to include an individual’s thought process. Hobbes goes into detail about how this process works and called it perception or sense. His way of describing it is the fact that things have different properties and that the properties do not really exist. The properties of an object are based on what we perceive them to be. We perceive a rose to be beautiful, smell nice, and have red pedals. Those properties according to Hobbes are all based on perception and the rose does not actually have any of these traits. â€Å"The things that really are in the world outside us are those motions by which these seemings are caused. † (cite) Hobbes describes perception as motion from the outside effects the motion of the inside of a person. The motion on the outside affected the motion on the inside and leaves a lasting effect after the motion is complete or dispersed then the motion that remains behind on the inside is left as a memory. The motion that is still on the inside is a perception and in turn is the root cause for thinking, imagination, and memory. As humans we describe this reaction by assigning words to these perceptions and Hobbes labeled that as reasoning. The way that people reason is nothing sort of â€Å"adding and subtracting of the consequences of general names. † (cite) The easiest way that this can be explained would be to refer it to a computer. The hard drive is considered as the movement on the inside and the keyboard and mouse as the outside. The hard drive is made up of a disk and magnet and works by taking the disc and spinning is around at a rapid pace. Next the magnet is moved around to encode the data to the hard drive. This whole process is done through movement and if stationary there is nothing that can be done to retrieve or store information. First to store or retrieve information an external source of movement needs to happen. Movement from the outside was represented as a keyboard and mouse. The keyboard and mouse which is movement from the outside affects the hard drive which is the movement from the inside and vice versa. Now that movement has been represented the reasoning of information needs to be considered. Now we understand what movement effect movement means we can now address the fact of reasoning and perception. All of the information that the computer takes in needs to go somewhere and needs to be retrieved again. The computer makes sense of all the data by assigning numbers to all of the data so that it can be retrieved again. This aspect would be considered our perception which is reasoning which as Hobbes stated before is our thinking, memory, and imagination. Now some people would argue that Hobbes theory does not take into accounts decision making and other voluntary actions, but he does go into detail about how that process works. Hobbes addresses the finer points of the decision process by stating that every decision or movement starts of as an â€Å"endeavor† which was caused by perception. He then breaks it down even into two groups consisting of desire and aversion. When the endeavor is toward something then it is considered a desire and when it is away it is considered an aversion. We associate desire and aversion with words like love and hate or good and bad. So according to Hobbes the basic principle of our decision making is like a magnet. Let’s look at the magnet that is in the computer and affects the hard drive. Sometimes data can be corrupted and the information will not take to the hard drive. The process of corrupt data being entered from the outside can be considered as an aversion. Now any information that the system lets in can be considers as desire. If that did not make sense then lets look at a magnet in general. A magnet has a positive and a negative side. Anything that is attracted to the positive side can be considered a desire and anything that is repelled by the negative side can be considered an aversion. In the recent years there has been some advancements in technology that allows us to uncover the mysteries of the universe. Scientists have found matter that is smaller than atoms and they are calling them subatomic particles. It has been discovered that these particles make up every aspect of the universe and are comprised of some type of energy that is connected with everything else. After this discovery a lot of scientists are rattled about their theory and if Materialism is really the right type of metaphysical theory to go with. However, this does not completely rule this theory out it just seems like that needs to some changes or tweaks to the way that we think about Materialism.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Treaty of Versailles

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Treaty of Versailles On the 28th June 1919, Germany resentfully signed the most famous treaty ever, Versailles. Although years of readjusting the treaty followed, this essay will focus mainly on the strengths and weaknesses of the 440 articles in 1919. The Treaty followed a massive war, with huge human sacrifice. It was supposed to be the Treaty to end all wars and give security to the countries involved. The overwhelming task that laid ahead for Woodrow Wilson (America), Lloyd George (Great Britain), Clemenceau (France) and Orlando (Italy) was on a bigger scale than any previous delegates had had to deal with. One of the biggest interpreted weaknesses was the economics and reparations. Firstly, it highlighted the weaknesses of the delegates forming the Treaty, as they had to listen to public demand which had been exaggerated due to the scale and length of the war. An example was Lloyd George who was pressured from conservatives for harsh reparations, Geddes, a conservative politician hailed the words we shall squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak.  [1]  Packer declared Lloyd George did not believe in harsh reparations  [2]  , but George added extras to the original reparations such as war pensions to please the conservatives because the original amount based on war damage gave Britain a very little. Kitchen showed and I agree that there was little Lloyd George could do about the situation as no politician would have survived if he had suggested that Germany should be forgiven.  [3]  However, Lentin disagreed, thinking that public opinion created pressure but had no imp act on the Treaty. He later contradicted himself by proclaiming that the one of the causes of the delay in announcing reparations because the delegates believed that the public would never be satisfied with the guaranteed amount.  [4]  Therefore, public opinion had to be acknowledged and satisfied to a certain extent. This meant the Treaty did not always accomplish what was needed such as lower reparations. The biggest weakness with the reparations was the total amount ( £600 million) Germany had to pay. Keynes, who scathingly criticised the Treaty of Versailles, heavily condemned the reparations as Britain depended on the revival of trade, especially with Germany,  [5]  but Germany needed to increase their exports and decrease their imports. This would decrease trade with Britain and lose Britain money. Feldman, although I disagree, supported Keynes believing that the economic and financial settlements were horrendous failures.  [6]  This was an extreme view and seemed to ignore the circumstances the delegates were dealing with. There were poor decisions but Feldman over-exaggerated. Nicolson argued that it was not excessively harsh economically to Germany.  [7]  However, although it was not excessively harsh, I believe it was too harsh for Germany to even begin to comprehend, especially when territory and economics are combined. Germany lost 13.5% of their territory incl uding 8% of German coal production. Germany lost 10% of her population as well as 1.7 million people in the war. Population creates manpower for industry. This might not seem a lot however, when you add  £600 million in reparations, the loss can seem great and perhaps the Treaty harsh. This shows another weakness of the Versailles Treaty, as no suitable amount for Germany to pay was reached discrediting the treaty. However it could be deemed an unavoidable weakness as the reparations were decreased in the 1920s but the Germans still felt it was unfair. Another weakness of the Treaty of Versailles was the disarmament hypocrisy. The League of Nations articles asserted that any discrepancies would be sorted through the League and not by war. Therefore there was no need for any country to have large armies; however Germany was forced to disarm to a 200,000 volunteer army, showing how the points were used selectively. During the revisionist period Germany complained about the unjust nature of disarmament. Therefore disarmament can be viewed as a weakness as it highlights the unjust part of the Treaty but it shows that Germany was always going to come back with revenge. Germany was unified in its pride in its military. Carr argued that Germanys rise in 1920s was inevitable as it was unreasonable to impose a position of permanent inferiority on a great power.  [8]  This was true, but unavoidable; France wanted to know that Germany could not attack them. However, if the hypocrisy previously mentioned did not exist, and everyone had dis armed, then the situation could have been different. Isolating Germany in disarmament and the League of Nations was a bad idea, as they used it as an excuse to break the Treaty later, which was one of the causes of the Second World War. The Treaty had the aim of prolonged peace, and the isolation through disarmament was one of the reasons it did not fulfil its aim. The failure of the League of Nations was a huge weakness; it failed because America, Russia and Germany were omitted. The League could not make decisions about the world without three of the most influential countries. The League was bypassed when Italy seized Corfu, causing embarrassment for the League as it showed a lack of power. The League might not have been certain to succeed, but if the League had put its countries beliefs behind, and the worldwide affairs first, it would not be deemed such a weakness. The League of Nations had strengths too, it was the first time the idea have been put into practise trying some ideologically and practically new to keep the peace worldwide. The League introduced medical measures that had not been in states before 1914. This was a very credible strength from the Treaty of Versailles. It really was evidence of the Versailles Treaty trying to keep prolonged peace. The compromises in the Treaty created strengths and weaknesses. These compromises had left historians to debate as to whether the Treaty would have been stronger if it had been harsher or softer. Marks perfectly described the Treaty as too soft to restrain Germanyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ yet too severe to be acceptable toGermans.  [9]  It was viewed too harsh in terms of reparations, disarmament and territory. The consequence of this was Germany convincing others it was too harsh bringing the revisionism viewpoint of the 1920s which had been adopted by Britain. Revisionism allowed the Germans to undo some of the Treatys main clauses such as self-determination, reparations and disarmament. Revisionism has been linked to the rise of Nazism and also the Second World War. The Versailles Treaty aimed to keep prolonged peace, the weakness of the compromise shows a failure of the Treaty. A soft treaty would have been impossible, the after war feeling was to enforce a vindictive peace to help res tore some of the hurt caused during the war that Germany was blamed for starting. However , it seemed that no matter how soft the Treaty would have been Germany would have wanted to change it. I agree with Kitchen that ultimately no amount of revision would have satisfied the Germans.  [10]   The strength of the Versailles Treaty compromises was that most of the clauses were very just, especially considering the circumstances. An example of this would be the Rhineland, France wanted to occupy it, however the other delegates knew that it would only cause outrage in Germany, and would strike revenge, therefore they created a compromise where the Rhineland would remain unoccupied and demilitarized. Another way to view the compromises as strength is looking at Germanys Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, an obviously overly harsh Treaty imposed on Russia after they withdrew from the war. This strength does not disregard mistakes in the compromises and in the Treaty; however it highlights that within the circumstances it was a commendable agreement. However, the strengths and weaknesses could be argued to be unavoidable. The Treaty regardless of its content was never going to last. Mattrl pointed out the undeniable point that before the ink had dried on the Treaty of Versailles, the move ment to destroy ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦had begun.  [11]  Therefore the weaknesses mentioned would not have been weaknesses had German accepted losing the war and the terms. The Treaty would not have been so heavily criticised and littered with failures if it had been enforced. The Treaty could have been successful but once the Treaty had been signed; the alliance had crumbled, worsened by different ideas on how to enforce the Treaty. France wanted to make sure the clauses were imposed on Germany as harsh as possible; however Britain began to revise the Treaty. Germany complained about the Treaty, believing it was unjust, when in reality it was mainly fair. For example, if disarmament had been enforced, Germany would not have been able to annex Czechoslovakia, which was a cause of the Second World War. Germany was also left to decide about whether they could afford the reparations, and obviously, as they did not want to have this article imposed on them, they often escaped doing it, to a standard that could easily create weaknesses in the Versailles Treaty. Marks correctly explained that the delegates erroneously believed that Germany would abide by thei r decisions,  [12]  this highlighted one of the many reasons why enforcement of the Treaty failed. Another reason for the lack of enforcement was that the allies were not loyal to each other; they just won the same war that they fought for different reasons. Therefore, the Treaty could be argued to have exposed weaknesses due to the lack of enforcement as opposed to the original articles. It can be argued that there are less strengths than weaknesses in the Treaty of Versailles but it is often forgotten that the biggest strength is far more significant than most of the weaknesses. The momentous task that lied ahead of the delegates was incomprehensible; 10 million people lost their lives alongside the new style of warfare. The war came to an abrupt end and there were complex issues alongside contradicting viewpoints. The short amount of time they had, and the amount they had to handle creates the strength as they were able to form a Treaty which although has been criticised with many weaknesses, also has commendable articles and decisions. It must never be forgotten that the Treaty was produced attempting long-term peace whilst punishing the losers of the war, as most Treaties do. If the Treaty had been accepted by the Germans, it could have been an established peace settlement. In conclusion, there are many strengths and weaknesses of the Treaty of Versailles, from the ideological revolution in the League of Nations, to the lack of considered economics in the reparations and loss of territories. However, the Treaty should be commended as one of its own time, that regardless of its contents would have been changed and adjusted as no Treaty had ever involved so many world and European powers. Marks convincingly summed up the Treaty by rightly claiming that the Treaty was a product of its time representing the feelings of the time; therefore its duration was limited seeing as the reality of the feelings of 1919 was limited.  [13]  

Book Review Freakonomics Essay -- Steven Levitt

"Anybody living in the United States in the early 1990s and paying even a whisper of attention to the nightly news or a daily paper could be forgiven for having been scared out of his skin... The culprit was crime. It had been rising relentlessly - a graph plotting the crime rate in any American city over recent decades looked like a ski slope in profile... Death by gunfire, intentional and otherwise, had become commonplace, So too had carjacking and crack dealing, robbery, and rape. Violent crime was a gruesome and constant companion... The culprit was the so-called superpredator. For a time, he was everywhere. Glowering from the cover of newsweeklies. Swaggering his way through foot-thick government reports. He was a scrawny, big-city teenager with a cheap gun in his hand and nothing in his heart but ruthlessness. There were thousands out there just like him we were told, a generation of killers about to hurl the country into deepest chaos... Criminologist James Alan Fox predicted two outcomes. The optimistic: that the rate of teen homicides would rise another fifteen percent over the next decade. The pessimistic: that it would more than double... Then all of a sudden, instead of going up and up and up, the crime rate began to fall. And fall and fall and fall some more. The crime drop was startling in several respects. It was ubiquitous, with every category of crime in every part of the country. It was persistent, with incremental decreases year after year. And it was entirely unanticipated, especially because the public had been anticipating the opposite... Even though the experts had failed to anticipate the crime drop, which was in fact well under way even as they made their horrifying predictions, they now hurried to... ...age. Levitt explores this passage with the same approach that he uses to explore the hidden side of many other such examples in society that have been overlooked and accepted as conventional wisdom for far too long. Take the parents who feel confident that they have made the right decision to forbid their child to play at a friend?s house whose family owns a gun, but allows their child to play at a friend?s house that has a pool. Levitt shows that the child is about ten thousand times more likely to drown in the swimming pool than in a gun accident, but that the violent conventional mindset associated with guns wrongly portrays their potential of causing death. Through these examples, Levitt establishes Freakonomics as a way by which the reader should live their life, never totally accepting something until every stone has been upturned, eventually exposing its hidden

Posadas

Did you know that a posada is one of the biggest celebrations that takes place in Mexico? A posada is a celebration that has been going on for years. I am going to talk to you about 3 main things about posadas. First of all I am going to talk to you about what a posada is. Secondly I am going to talk about when and where the posadas are celebrated. And thirdly about the importance of this topic. First of all im going to talk about what a posada is. A posada is a Traditional party that is held each night in a neighborhood home.According to Steven Hicks in the article Celebrate the posada in mexico It is a reenactment of the journey Joseph and Mary took to find shelter before the birth of their child, Jesus. At night people gather outside the house with children dressed as shepherds, angels and most importantly, Mary and Joseph. After the people divide into two groups known as the â€Å"pilgrims† and the â€Å"Hosts†. The â€Å"pilgrims† sing a song asking for shel ter, and the hosts sing a reply denying them shelter, at the end the hosts open the doors to the guests and offer them hot ponche, fried rosette cookies known as bunuelos, tamales and other foods.At the end the party ends with a pinata in the shape of the Christmas star. Secondly I am going to talk about when and where the posadas are celebrated. The posadas are mainly celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Central America. Such as: El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras. To this day Las posadas is a tradition that still continue. They are celebrated 9 days before christmas from December the 16th to December the 24th.According to Dale Hoyt in the article Las posadas the posadas are also known as a novenario — nine days of religious observance based on the nine months that Maria carried Jesus in her womb. According to the article The significance And origin of the posadas there has been research that leads to the possibility that the posadas originated from san Agust in Acolman Mexico near the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Thirdly I am going to talk about why I chose this topic. I chose this topic because tradition is a very important thing to me it represents the values that we have as a country.It’s something that our ancestors have passed on to us for hundreds of years. I think it is essential for us to follow those traditions and pass them on to our younger generations. A posada is not just about throwing a party, it’s about celebrating god, spending time with our family and knowing the importance of traditions. In conclusion, In my essay I talked about three main things about posadas. First of all I talkes to you about what a posada is. Secondly I talked about when and where the posadas are celebrated. And thirdly about the importance of this topic.

How to Protect the Environment Essay

Character is a pattern of behavior, thoughts and feelings based on universal principles, moral strength, and integrity – plus the guts to live by those principles every day. Character is evidenced by your life’s virtues and the â€Å"line you never cross.† Character is the most valuable thing you have, and nobody can ever take it away. Why Character is Important Character in life is what makes people believe in you and is essential both for individual success and for our society to function successfully. Each individual must do his or her part every day by living a life of integrity. Integrity is adhering to a moral code of honesty, courage, strength and truthfulness – being true to your word. When you don’t exhibit integrity, other people get hurt. But you hurt yourself even more. When you cheat, your â€Å"success† is false. When you break a promise, you are showing that your word is meaningless. When you lie, you deceive others and lose their respect. All of those examples destroy your reputation and break the trust others have in you. Without your good reputation and trustworthiness, your relationships fail. Relationships and Success Relationships are the foundation for success in life. For example, when you destroy the relationships with your friends, you will have no friends. You will be isolated and alone. If a student promises not to cheat, but does, he is taking unfair advantage to put himself ahead of others without deserving it. He can ruin his reputation, his academic record and his job prospects forever. When a businessman makes a promise to customers and doesn’t deliver, he destroys his relationships with his customers. His customers go elsewhere and his business fails. By breaking your relationships, you break the foundation for success in your life. What is true success? For example, who is more successful? Someone who is famous and makes a great deal of money, or someone who has no fame, makes little money, but is a great parent? Today, in school, is too much emphasis being placed on â€Å"good grades† and â€Å"high test scores† – so much so that are these things, rather than good character, how we define success? Conclusion Your good character is the most important asset you have. It takes a lifetime to build but can be lost in an instant. Once lost, it is difficult to regain. Your true character is revealed when no one else is looking. Often, people decide to act based on short term gain, or an easy fix to a problem and end up doing the wrong thing. The old adage â€Å"you are what you do† is true. Failure to consider the long term consequences of your acts can be disastrous. By study and focusing on the importance of character, you will be guided by principles, moral strength, and integrity to do the right thing. Nothing is more important for true success in your life.

How HIPAA Violations Affect the Medical Billing Process Essay

When you hear HIV you always think of Aids are they the same or is there a difference. HIPAA Privacy Rule: HIPAA is a federal law that: †¢Protects the patients’ privacy with their medical records and other health information provided to health plans, hospital, doctors and all other health care providers. †¢Allows the patient access to their medical records. †¢It gives the patient rights to how their personal information is used and exposed. HIPAA has proven to be very successful in stopping discrimination against the people diagnosed with HIV and Aids by preventing anyone from knowing about their HIV and Aids status. In the year 2000 laboratories and doctors are required by law to report to their State Health Department all cases of HIV and Aids. They are reported to better measure the HIV and Aids epidemic, and how it is changing and to create programs for HIV and Aids prevention and offer medical which best serve affected people and their communities. All this information is protected by confidentiality laws. Under this law identifying information regarding who has HIV and Aids can only be used to help the State Health Department track the epidemic and for partner notification this information cannot be shared with immigration and naturalization Service (INS), police, welfare agencies, landlords, employers and insurance companies. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues guidelines influencing states to collect and report the data on HIV and Aids so they can track the epidemic on a national basis. The state health department will then remove all the personal information (name, address, etc.) from your test results and send the information to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the next several years HIV and Aids data will become the basis for funding formulas which will allocate federal money for care & treatment under The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act.  This is the largest federally funded program in the United States for people living with HIV and AIDS. This act reaches hundreds of thousands of people every year with medical care, drugs, and support services. The program requires that health departments receiving money from the Ryan White program show â€Å"good faith† efforts to notify the marriage partners of a patient with HIV and AIDS. (www.Aids.gov) HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the T-cells in the immune system. This illness changes their immune system making people very vulnerable to diseases and infections. This condition worsens as it progresses corresponding to research the origins to this disease dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century in Western Central Africa. In 2008 worldwide there were †¢33.4 million People living with HIV and AIDS. †¢2.7 new HIV infections †¢2 million deaths from AIDS The disease was identified in the 1980s, and there is now known cure, but treatments and medicine can slow the course of the disease. The newest drug combination drug therapy can cost up to $20,000 in U.S. dollars a year. HIV is found in body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast mild. And can be passed through blood-to-blood and also sexual contact. Women can pass this to their babies through pregnancy, childbirth, and through breast milk. AIDS is (acquired immune deficiency syndrome or immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the disease caused by the HIV virus AIDS is the syndrome that appear in the advance stages of HIV infection, AIDS is a medical condition derived from HIV. HIV and AIDS are the same AIDS is the outdated name and HIV is the correct name. There are three recognized ethical principles that apply to clinical and research ethics: †¢Respect refers to respecting the decisions of autonomous people and protecting the ones who lack decision making capacity and therefore are not autonomous and imposes a positive obligation to treat people with respect by keeping this information confident and keeping promises. †¢Beneficence imposes a positive obligation of the best interest of the patient. †¢Justice requires people to be treated fairly and often requires that benefits and burdens to be distributed fairly within society. Privacy is critical  when it comes to HIV and AIDS, because of the sensitivity of HIV related information most patients don’t want to share this private and personal aspect of their life because it involves their sexual behavior or substance abuse. This information can lead to stigmatization this can cause patients to worry about their privacy being protected, and they may be hesitant to see a doctor or remain in the care of a physician. It is vital to have health care providers express that they are committed to securing patient privacy. The law gives certain protection to or conditions. Electronic systems need to be able to identify and manage this data appropriately. HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are a whole different category with special privacy concerns. When releasing HIV and AIDS records for other purposes it is necessary to identify testing and treatment for these conditions through the use of red flags or warning messages. The electronic system simplifies exclusion or segregation of HIV test results to protect against release without patients proper consent from the patient. Preferably a system will also flag treatment of HIV and Aids when producing copies of records. EHR systems must provide mechanisms that enable facilities that extra layer of protection for this information required under 42 CFR, Part 2 requires patient consent for disclosures of protected health information even for the purpose of treatment this consent must be in writing. When a health care provider providers care to an HIV and AIDS patient they seem to be walking and ethical tightrope even when they are aware of protocol about disclosing HIV status simple assumptions and carelessness can lead to devastating consequences for the patient and also legal ramifications. There are some things a health care worker can do on their own to protect private information while at work. †¢Turn off your computer when you walk away or not in use. †¢Set your computer with passwords to get access to confidential files. †¢Use a system that will trace who accesses confidential informatio n. †¢Become familiar with the law train employees in proper disclosure protocol. †¢Never discusses a patients HIV and AIDS status. Social ramifications exist if HIV and AIDS information is announced improperly. If a patients friends discover he or she has HIV and AIDS they won’t want to be around them due to the fear of catching the disease people  will start to gossip spreading this private information destructing the life of the infected person. They will undoubtedly be treated differently. He or she could have difficulty finding employment if the employer finds out about the disease because of inappropriate disclosure of medical information. If a person is living with HIV and Aids you are protected against discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Under these laws, discrimination means that you are not allowed to participate in a service that is offered to others or you are denied a benefit, because of your HIV disease. ( http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/your-legal-rights/civil-rights/index.html ) HIV and AIDS in the workplace gets larger each year, because it affects people between ages 25 – 44 and they make up 50% of our 121% million workers. There are laws to protect people with HIV and AIDS in the workplace. †¢Americans with Disabilities act of 1990 (ADA) does not allow employment discrimination because of disability and covers businesses with 15 or more employees. †¢Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Federal and state governments work with more than 100 million working men and women and 6.5 million employers. †¢The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) this act to the private-sector of employers of 50 or more employees and within a 75 mile radius of their worksite. A person is entitled to a total of 12 weeks of job protected unpaid leave in a 12 month period. †¢The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Addresses obstacles to healthcare you can face if you are HIV and AIDs positive. Protecting you discriminatory treatment from your insurance company, and also protects your privacy rights. †¢The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1986 (COBRA). This law allows employees the option to keep their health insurance at their own expense after getting laid off, fired from a job. Allowing them to purchase health insurance for a period up to 36 months. HIV and AIDS not only hurt people with the disease but also their families and families. According to the International Labor Organization believes that by the year 2020 HIV and AIDS will lower the workforce by 24 million people. This will cost the workforce higher costs of medical insurance as well as work absences related to health, hiring and costs of retraining.