Monday, September 30, 2019

Edward and Adam role play Essay

The piece did not have a title. As it was an assignment we didn’t name our play. It is called Edward and Adam role play, because in this scenes we show when Edward has just been captured and he meets Adam for the first time. Edward is really confused, and when Adam try to calm him down, he thinks that Adam is an Arab who’s there to beat him up again.  AIM OF THE PIECE: I think that the main aim of the piece is to show how two men kept in captivity would react when they meet for the first time. Adam is an American doctor, while Edward is an Irish journalist. Edward, is steady and thoughtful. A hard-living, hard-driven man, he is tormented by the regret that he has pushed away his wife and not taken the time to know his children, and now never may. He is a complex, charismatic, charming and irritating man, whose best weapons against despair and self-pity are quick jokes, biting humor and a healthy awareness of his failings. When Edward is being taking into the cell he tries to fight back, by spitting at the Arabs. The reaction of the Arabs is shown with violence, and Edward get beaten up. When Adam sees what is happening he tries to help the new arrived, but he gets beaten up as well. When Edward wakes up, he ears the voice of a stranger, that stranger is Adam, who is trying to reassure him that everything is fine. Edward first response is trying to get away from the chains, and trying to find a way out of the jail. When he finally realises that he’s locked up with a stranger, he starts screaming that he’s Irish, and that he’s country is neutral. In all this time Adam is trying to interrupt him, but Edward completely ignores him, until then he starts asking questions. What he hears, he’s not what he expected. In fact he has been told that he would stay in the cell for an indeterminate time. In the scene there isn’t much movement as they are both suppose to be chained up. The only movement we get in the scene is when Adam starts exercising, and tell Edward that he should do something as well, to keep his mind full. Edward is still really confuse and want to know more about his new â€Å"friend†. He keeps on asking questions, and they start to know each other better. The scene finish up when Adam tells Edward that he’s not alone as he has got him to watch over him. We of course choose this ending by the title of the play. PRESENTATION: The piece has been presented well, and my partner and I have done a good job as the piece was understood by everyone in the audience. As we weren’t able to use the stage once more, we used another space in the room. We planned the scene carefully, and we decided to have Adam sitting down lining against the wall, reading the Koran. When Edward is coming in we have both of the characters trying to fight back the Arabs but as both get beaten up they faint. When Edward wakes up, he’s very scared as he founds out that he is chained. For a moment he thinks he’s dreaming, but when he realizes that that is reality, we can feel the stress and the fear coming out of his voice. Adam is tries his best to welcome him in the cell. But how can you make someone welcome when you are kept in chain? Edward is really stressed and keeps on asking more questions as he wants to know more about what it’s happening. After a while Adam start getting exercising, but this only makes Edward more confuse and makes him ask more questions. When the two men get to know each other more, Edward start to relax, and they start to talk normally and calmly, about everyday things, such as family, sports, jobs and so on.  For most of the scene the two men are sitting down lining on the wall, talking.  In this scene we had a big contrast between two different men, such as Adam and Edward.. Adam, is very calm, kind, and tries to reassure Edward. While Edward is very aggressive, as he’s just been captured, and in first place he thinks that Adam is an Arab, and he doesn’t trust him. STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES: The piece strength as weaknesses as well. Once again I think that my partner and I have done a good job, because we have done a original piece, which I think has impressed the audience, as we have explored the inner side two men who meets for the first time in a situation of hostages. We wrote a script of the piece so that we would have been able to remember the piece. I think that the main strength of this piece is that I had the opportunity to work with the same partner, and we put very good ideas together. Some of the weaknesses of this piece were that we couldn’t act the piece on the stage, I think that it would have been more effective as we would have had more space, and we could have used the lights as well.  PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED: The major problem in acting this piece was that I was suppose to calm down a man who has just been captured and thrown into a cell. I had to be very patient into the play as Edward kept on interrupting, and kept on asking questions.  Looking back at the play I think that I have done a good job into acting Adam, and I also enjoyed it.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

How Does Black History Month Relate to Education ?

The very essence and importance of Black History Month is to the whole world. It is of importance to educate the world and make sure that everyone is aware of the trials and hardships that we had to go through starting with slavery. There are various way that you can tie this significant month with education. Most Africans American do not realize how you need education to learn about these significant events that we lead up to today. Black History Month is celebrated during the month of February each year. Black History Month is not just a month but each day is a celebration for what our ancestors went through.During Black History Month, there days where we look at the things that all our ancestors and famous African Americans did for us like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr, and the Little Rock Nine. All of these people had a special affect on the lives of African Americans today. They all had one thing in common also which was standing up for what they believe in. Rosa Parks allow ed for us to sit in front of the bus, Martin Luther King Jr had a dream which we are still working on, and the Little Rock Nine allowed for the schools to become integrated.Schools, churches, and the community help with this celebration. Most schools celebrate Black History Month especially predominately African American schools because without the events that African Americans went through, there would be no integrated schools, teams, or even jobs. Some might think that we still would have been slaves, not have the ability to interact with other races, or even still living without freedom or respect. Some would also say that we as African Americans would still be treated disrespectfully or like an untamed animal.Not knowing about this month, would not allow for us to have freedom or even our rights. We as the a society need to make sure that we keep educating people especially African Americans on what we have been through and what we fought for especially with the people that foug ht for us including our ancestors. People take our rights and the freedom that we gained for granted. Without black history, we would not have a month, rights, freedom, or even equality.They all went through disrespectful trials to make sure African Americans now can have the comfort to live. These events led us up to today with African Americans having the ability to go to school and to gain an education. African Americans and other races need an education to take them to follow their dreams on what ever they want to do. Now we are at the year 2013, where there are many African Americans succeeding and taking over the world such as our President Barack Obama.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Crisis management and its increasing importance in international Literature review - 1

Crisis management and its increasing importance in international operations - Literature review Example Crisis can also be referred to as the critical phase of a situation. It is essentially a time of instability which is soon to see a decisive change that may result into a highly undesirable outcome or an extremely positive product. Executives that are able to estimate and plan for this change in the organization increases his/her tendency to capitalize on the opportunity hidden therein in comparison to the executives that allow the crisis to approach them unprepared. Thus in contrast to the conventional understanding of a crisis, it may be an opportunity rather than a threat. Nevertheless, a crisis is always characterized by a certain level of uncertainty and risk. Crisis management deals with minimization of risk in the uncertainty with a view to providing an individual or an organization with increased control over the circumstances and exercising the function of management leadership. According to Fink (1986), a crisis consists of four distinct stages namely, the stage of prodroma l crisis, the stage of acute crisis, the stage of chronic crisis, and the stage of crisis resolution. In the anatomy of crisis, these four stages are always existent and unchanged. A business manager who recognizes each of these stages gains the competency to address issues of huge organizational significance. In order to make a proactive approach towards intervention, a manager needs to recognize the prodrome. All crises may not necessarily comprise all four stages, though they are present in a vast majority of major crises. If there is a warning stage, that is essentially the prodromal stage of crisis. A prodrome may become hard to recognize at times and may be evident at other times, though if the required action is not taken in time, it may lead to the occurrence of an acute crisis. In a vast majority of cases, when no action is taken, it is a result of obsessive decision making or analysis paralysis within the company. It is the ease with which a crisis can be managed in the st age of prodrome that makes it very important. If the problem is taken care of before its conversion into acute, the process becomes more convenient and reliable. The whole West is a warren of interconnected transmission lines. The power grid in the West is the largest machine that man has ever made – stretching from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific Coast to the western front of the Rockies †¦ But like any machine, like your lawnmower or your computer or your car, it is susceptible to breakdown. (Hotz and Clifford cited in Mitroff and Anagnos, 2001, p. 12). There is no turning back at the acute stage of crisis in crisis management in many respects. As soon as the organization enters the stage of acute crisis from the prodromal stage and the warnings end up, the ground thus lost can almost never be recovered, though a firm can minimize additional damage by taking necessary actions in time. The key to success is controlling the crisis to the maximum extent. If it seems im possible to control the acute crisis, the management should then try to influence the origin, time, and way of eruption of the crisis. One of the most fundamental challenges that managers encounter while dealing with the crisis in the acute stage despite being ready for it is the intensity and enormity of speed that is often an essential characteristic of the acute stage of crisis. The kind of crisis determines the speed and the value of probable results determines the intensity of this stage.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Critical Incident Logistic Response Structure Essay

Critical Incident Logistic Response Structure - Essay Example Units are commonly used in incident Planning, Logistics, or Finance/Administration sections and can be used in operations for some applications. Units are also found in EOC organizations." (Incident Command System, 2004) The Chief of Operations will make sure that all tactical operations at the incident site are carried out efficiently. It will be done immediately after the crisis and will also include recovery. The recovery will include air, water and land if necessary. This unit has to be capable of improvising and functioning under adverse conditions. The tactical team has to be able to immobilize within 72 hours at the maximum and be ready to bear hazardous conditions, even biologically hazardous conditions. This entails total assessment of the situation. The officer in charge of this particular branch will have to appoint different officers responsible for units such as collection, evaluation and status of the resources. There should also be a situation assessment analyst who makes sure that the officer in charge of Planning and the chief of operations are constantly informed of any developments in the crisis. In collections the officer in charge of that particular sub-branch will have officers under him who will be collection data such as (if they play a role in the crisis) weather forecasts reports, casualty information, incident scene reports etc. In evaluations the officer in charge there will receive all this information from the collections branch and make use of it by piecing all the information together. The intelligence information it will develop will not only assist in contingency plans but may be of use for the operations unit in tactical operations. There will also be a unit accountable for resources. This particular unit will be in charge of regulating all resources including human resources. They will make sure that the resources are efficiently spent and properly regulated. The situation assessment analyst will keep regular track of all this information and will keep reporting it to the Emergency manager and the chief of operations. He will also be required to make sure that any situation does not spiral out of control. Table1. Planning Overview Logistics This section is going to be responsible for providing all kinds of facilities and services such as transportation, shelter, hygiene, food, medical facilities etc. It has to be ensured that there are enough facilities present not only for the victims but for the relief personnel too. The logistics' section will actually be divided

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Campaign finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Campaign finance - Essay Example Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney, forty-sixth vice president of the United States, has over three decades of experience in political service. Formerly a US representative and secretary of state, many saw Cheney as the ideal running mate for the relatively inexperienced George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 30, 1941, the son of Marjorie and Richard H. Cheney. He was raised in Casper, Wyoming, where the elder Cheney worked as a soil conservationist for the Department of Agriculture.After graduating from a local high school, Cheney earned a scholarship and traveled east to attend Yale University in Connecticut. He dropped out of school during his second year, due to his poor academic performance, and returned to Wyoming. Cheney went to work for a brief time before returning to school, first at Casper College and later at the University of Wyoming. In 1964, he married his high-school sweetheart, Lynn Anne Vincent. Cheney finally gradu ated two years later with a master's degree in political science.After graduation, Cheney received an educational deferment to avoid military service during the Vietnam War. He enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin, and launched his long political career in 1968, when he went to Washington DC to work for Representative William Steiger (R-Wisconsin) as a congressional fellow. Cheney was soon recruited by Representative Donald Rumsfeld, the head of President Richard Nixon's Office of Economic Opportunity, to work as his assistant. (Carney 82) Throughout the early 1970s, Cheney held a number of positions alongside Rumsfeld, who had become a mentor to the young political hopeful. He served as deputy White House counsel, assistant director of the Cost of Living Council, and deputy chief of staff for President Gerald Ford. To supplement his income, Cheney also served as vice president of investment group Bradley, Woods, & Co. Cheney's biggest break came in 1975, when he replaced his mentor as White House chief of staff after Rumsfeld was appointed as secretary of defense. At the age of 34, Cheney was among the youngest men ever to hold this position, which he held until 1976. During this time, he earned a reputation as a prominent player in the Republican Party. Washington Insider Beginning in 1979, Cheney served six terms in the House of Representatives, as a representative from Wyoming. Before his election to the House, he suffered a heart attack, the first of three coronary episodes he would endure before the age of 50. As chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee for most of his tenure, Cheney was known as a conservative, and voted strictly along party lines. When Republican Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, Cheney and his right-wing House colleagues were steadfast supporters of the new White House agenda. In addition to his vocal support for the "Star Wars" missile defense system, Cheney was in favor of military backing for the "Contra" rebels in Nicaragua, as well as for rebel fighters in Afghanistan and Angola. In the late 1980s, when he sat on the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Deals with Iran during the Iran-Contra scandal, Cheney defended the controversial actions of the Reagan administration and his fellow Republicans. On the domestic issue front, Cheney was opposed to gun control and abortion and in favor of prayer in public schools. He voted against the Equal Rights Amendment and re-funding the Clean Water Act. As a result of his loyalty to the party, Cheney became minority whip, the second-most influential position in the House, in 1988. His wife, meanwhile, served as the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 1986-1993. Under Reagan's successor, George Bush, Cheney served as secretary of defense, and played a key role in directing the nation's military during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The popular success of the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Discussion board 8 - international relation Essay

Discussion board 8 - international relation - Essay Example In the context of NEIO and CERDS, policies should be made that use an internationalist approach to economics, one that does not benefit rich countries at the expense of poor ones. According to activist Ward Morehouse (1998), CERDS must be supported by the economic policies of individual nations. CERDS makes it easier for nations to do things like impose tax penalties on foreign investment that does not help developing countries to protect and rediversify their local economies. Aid and trade rules should also be changed to ensure that this occurs. The taxes that are imposed should tax domestic and global foreign exchange speculation, as well as on stocks and bonds. Governments should also reassert control over fiscal policies such as tax and public expenditures by re-regulating finance and banking and reintroduce exchange controls. Morehouse states that these practices, supported by CERDS, allow states to change their tax systems to serve the needs of the community. 2. Regardless of o ne’s opinion regarding the Bush administration’s compliance (or lack of compliance) with the international provisions governing the use of force with respect to, among other things, the use of torture, any state that has signed agreements and treaties prohibiting them should adhere to them. If the United States or any other country that is a member of the UN that has signed these treaties violate them in any way, they should be held responsible. Of course, the controversy is if the Bush administration actually did that. Members of the U.S. government, especially in the Bush years, insist that they did not. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its 2006 Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld ruling, declared that military commissions for trying terrorist suspects violated both U.S. military law and the Geneva Convention (Brooks, 2006). The Bush administration held that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention did not apply to Al Qaeda combatants because its protections applied only to conflicts bet ween states. They reasoned that since Al Qaeda was not a state, the Geneva Convention did not apply to them. The Supreme Court disagreed, which potentially made high-ranking Bush administration officials subject to prosecution under the federal War Crimes Act, something that did not materialize. In 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder made noises to pursue indicting high-level officials such as Bush and his vice-president, Dick Cheney, for their part in torturing prisoners. At the time, Cheney shrugged it off, and any investigation was eventually dropped. Several countries and organizations have called for the indictment of members of the Bush administration for sanctioning torture, but it seems that the Obama administration has little political will to pursue it. Again, if any official, no matter how high-ranking, is guilty of breaking any laws, no matter what it is, they should be indicted for it. 3. The UN and Collective Use of Force When the UN charter was signed by 51 countries, including the U.S., in 1945, one of their goals was preserving peace among nations. The charter described a collective security system in which the Security Council (then made up of the UK, China, France, the U.S.S.R, and the U.S.) would be able to determine when a threat to or breach of international peace and

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Salary packaging and Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Salary packaging and Taxation - Essay Example Fringe benefits tax will apply to both Chris and his employer for this agreement during the FBT year that begins in 1st April 2011 up to 31st March 2012. Superannuation is money put in for a person's retirement. Strict government policy prevent untimely access to conserved benefits except in extremely limited and constrained circumstances, as well as severe financial adversity or on a compassionate basis, such as for medical cure not obtainable through Medicare. Usually, superannuation benefits are in three categories: conserved benefits; restricted non-conserved benefits; and unhindered non-preserved benefits. Mainly superannuation is concessionary taxed at a level charge of 15% at two key points: on contributions, and on salary. Capital Gain Tax inside the fund though is taxed at a charge of 10% if the properties held for longer than twelve months. Contributions whether in the type of employer superannuation, or associate salary sacrifice are levied at this rate. In the majority of the industry funds, the salary tax is paid prior to profits are disbursed to associates so it appears as a lesser level of interest on the worker’s statement. From the time when it was introduced, employers have been obligated to make compulsory contributions to superannuation in place of the majority of their workers. ... Superannuation contributions made by Chris are not treated as fringe benefits but as employer contributions. The initial contribution that Chris was making was $17,000. He however, decided to increase it by $15,000. This contribution has to meet three conditions, which are; it must be an arrangement before service there should be an agreement between West Gate Pty Ltd and Chris and Chris should not have an access to the sacrificed salary (Marsden, 2010). According to the Australian tax office ruling, the superannuation contributions are taxed in the superannuation funds such as 15% (Australian National Audit Office, 1999). West Gate Pty Ltd will therefore, pay the following amount in tax for contribution: 15/100 x $32,000 = $ 4,800 Chris has salary packaged other items apart from the superannuation contributions. The first item is a laptop that one of his children requires for school. It is worth $3,300. This is a fringe benefit for Chris. According to the Australian tax office rulin g S23, the tax is levied at 46.5% for the FBT year ending 31st March. West Gate Pty limited will pay the following amount for the benefit; 46.5% x $3,300 = $1,534.50 Under this, the income test will take into account the fringe benefit received. This fringe benefit is not included in the employee’s assessable income. The employer will be giving a benefit directly to a relative of the employee. Anything is accomplished by the employer in any agreement, arrangement or transaction so as to award any benefit upon any individual other than the member of staff, whether directly or obliquely. The benefit would have been taxed if it had been contracted to the employee. The next item that Chris has packaged is a new car. A taxable benefit is be

Monday, September 23, 2019

Examine the ways in which attempts are being made to address the Outline

Examine the ways in which attempts are being made to address the problem of cyber bullying in the criminal justice system of England and Wales - Outline Example I will begin by looking at the theories of criminology, the historical/social context of cyberbullying, and analysing the current situation and the possible reforms that will help curb cyberbullying, concluding that cyberbullying should be curbed using stringent measures by law. This essay seeks to examine the attempts that are being made to address the problem of cyber bullying in the criminal justice system of England and Wales. Understanding why an individual chooses to commit a crime can assist the authorities know how to assimilate the criminal.Other theories of criminology attribute crime to the criminal while others state that the community is to blame(WINFREE, &ABADINSKY, 2010). The choice theory, otherwise known as the rational choice theory, is the conviction that people decide to commit crime, considering the possible opportunities ahead, assessing the benefits vis-a vis the penalty and making a choice whether to go on or not to (TIBBETTS, 2012). The positivist theory acts on the proposal that the person committing crime cannot ethically understand how wrong his actions are (TIBBETTS, 2012). This person’s mind has been set in a way that the individual has no ability of making a sensible sane decision to conform to the law. This theory shows how the criminal’s mind works and the impact the thoughts have on the victims. With the massive growth of social media sites, children and the young people are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. With Facebook and Twitter as the most popular networking sites, about 35 million of Facebook and 15 million Twitter users are in the UK. This makes cyberbullying rampant in England and Wales. Cyberbullying in England and Wales is considered an offence under law. In relation to cyber bullying, the choice theory explains the way a criminal’s mind leads to a crime. The bully decides out of his own will to bully an online user to the point that the user,

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Essay Example for Free

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Essay Abstract The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a story of friends, family and culture includind history. The authors thought was fully placed in this novel thus, providing a vivid scenario of the story. It can also be felt by the heart as Amir tried to bury his past but found himself going back to that memore and not able to forgive himself because of his foolishness. The tragic end of Hassans life did not actually mean of sadness but it further insists the understanding of a new life and of a new beginning. The incorporation of both history and culture went along together forming a beautiful narrative and an admirable plot. The Kite Runner Chapter One   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The narrator, recalls his past he had until the winter of 1975. He mentioned that Rahim Khan, his friend called him   from Pakistan and asked him to go there and visit him. After he hung up, he went in a walk and watched a pair of kites dancing above the trees and floating in the air. Upon looking in the kites, he thought about Hassan, Baba, Ali and Kabul. Chapter Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The narrator recalls hi past with Hassan, a childhood friend with a cleft lip. He has been a loyal friend to Amir and kept of pleasing him. In this chapter, he also mentioned Hassans father whose name was Ali, a man whose lower facial muscles was paralyzed which prohibits him from showing emotion. Aside from being paralyzed, Ali also have a twisted right leg, a reason why he cant walk like the other people. Hassan and Ali lives in a mud shack on a property belonged to Amirs family. Hassans mother left left a week after he was born and choose to stay with the travelling dancers. Amir came from a well-off family. His father owns an estate in Northern Kabul and Amir calls his father Baba. Since Baba is a rich guy, he has many friends and Rahim Khan was his best friend. While Hassans mother left after his birth, Amirs mother died when he was born. Hassans family was a Hazara and a Shia Muslim while Amirs family were from Pashtun and belongs to the Sunni Muslime. The two children grew up togetehr thus, Amir believes was the start of the foundation of what had happened in the winter of 1975. Chapter Three In this chapter, Baba was further describe by the author. He was describe as an admirable man in business and stature. His child Amir, wants to be close with his father but then, deep inside him, he feels that his father was somehow distant to him because his wife, Amirs mother died of giving birth. Although they were not close, Baba was really a good man. He opened an orphanage which he designed himself and he have a restaurant and a carpet exporting business which makes him part of the richest merchants in Kabul. It was from Baba that he learned that theft is the only true sin and the rest, including murder was just a variant of theft. Baba believes that a murderer robs a wife or a child of a husband and a father. When Baba was young, his father was murdered. When Baba and his bestfriend Rahim Khan was having a conversation, Amir heared them and he found out that his father cant understand him why he cant stand up on his own and everytime he was being teased in the streets and being bullied too, he needs to be defended by Hassan and not by himself alone. He even said that if he wasnt able to see his birth, he would not believe that Amir was his son which Rahim Khan replied with some concer to Amir. Rahim said that the young boy simply lacks a mean streak but nevertheless, he understands him. The following day, because of jealousy, he wasnt able to be considerate with Hassan. Chapter Four   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Babas father adopted an orphan and was raised togetehr with him and this orphan was Ali. Like their fathers, Hassan and Amir were also raised together but Amir like his father does not refer to Hassan as his friend but rather as their servants. While Amir was studying, Hassan was not even given a chance to do the same thing and Amir reads to him until one time, he pretends to be reading but the truh was that he was making it up but Hassan liked his story and after he finished it, Hassan claps and said that it was the best story he was able to hear and said that he would love to hear something that goes like it again. That night, Air wrote his first story but Baba was not interested and it was Rahim Khan who read it and even encourage Amir to continue writing. He then wished that Rahim Khan could have been his father. He also shared his story with Hassan and the latter points out some problem in the introduction which angered Amir since Hassan was illiterate and how could he comment such things. Chapter Five   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An explosion and a gun fire cuts the conversation between Amir and Hassan. There was an on going attack and Ali hid with the boys. On that same day, Assef, a neighbor who kept on bullying Hassan because he was a Hazara stopped them. He kept on saying that their new president should be like Hitler and get rid of the Hazara. He holds a slingshot but decided to get them later and soon left. On hassans 12th birthday, hes cleft lip was repaired in courtesy of Baba. Chapter Six   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The schools of Kabul are closed during winter and the popular activity to do during those times was to fly a kite. This one is the only interest that shares both Baba and Amir. There was kite fighting in Kabul and it was greatley anticipated by the people and Baba decided to bring the kids to a man named Saifo, a shoe repairman who was considered as the greatest kite maker. The greatest kite runner turned out to be Hassan. Chapter Seven   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was Amir who won in the Annual kite as his Baba watches. He kept on wondering if Baba would be pleased and be proud of him or Hassan. Hassan at that time runs after the last kite which Amir cuts and plans to present it to Baba as a trophy. When he was looking for Hassan, he saw that he was cornered by Assef and his friends, since he was afraid, he hid while watching and saw that Hassan was raped by Assef. Assef insisted that Hassan was never Amirs friend but his servant. Amir later meets Hassan and pretended not to know what happened. Hassan on the other hand gave him the kite which he later on gave to Baba who was really proud of him. Chapter Eight   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Later, Hassan avoids every people including Amir and Ali asked Amir if he has any idea on what had happened after the kite fight but instead of answering, he snaps and commanded Ali to continue doing his work. This time, Baba showed interest for Amir and he even brought Amir to movies and in an outing, Amir was hoping that Baba and him can have a time of their but Baba invited three vans loaded with friends. Amir was not able to enjoy because of his guilt and later on resulted to being an insomaniac. On the other hand, Hassan tried to befriend Amir but the latter kept pushing him away and asked Baba if they can get new servants which Angered his father. Soon, their relationship worsen. He then start to have a fight with Hassan but the other would not fight back and he was even the one who hurt himself for Amir which shows his loyalty for his friend. On his 13th birthday, Assef gave Amir a book of Hitlers life while Rahim Khan gave hima blank book and told him that he can talk to him anytime. Chapter Nine   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir realized that living with Hassan was impossible and he lied to Baba by telling him that Hassan stole his birthday money including the watch that was given to him. Baba talked to Hassanas father and later confronted Hassan in front of Amir. Hassan admitted the crime in order to protect Amir and right there and then, Amir realized that all along, Hassan knows that he hid and did not helped him. While Baba decided to forgive Hassan, Ali revealed that they will leave even if Baba beg then to stay and it was the first time that Baba cried.   Chapter Ten   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1981, Amir and Baba left from Kabul while taking few personal items and have this idea in secret so that the Russian spies will not be aware of their plan. They will leave for Pakistan but they were stopped by the soldiers in the border and was asked to have hald hour with the young woman who was travelling with them. Baba did not allow it to happen and the young sldier pointed a gun on him but he did not care and the older officer came and stopped the young one and allowed them to pass the boarder. They were supposed to be transferred in another vehicle but the next truck to be used was broken fo a number of weeks already. When Baba realized that the man was only making a fool out of them, he nearly killed him and they had to wait until the truck was repaired. During their stay in the basement as they wait for the truck to be repaired, they met Kamal including his father and their friend. Amir learned that Kamal like Hassan was also raped and did not speak anymore after what happened. They were trasported using fuel trucks wherein Kamal died due to gas fumes and his father commit suicide thinking that he lost the a very valuable aspect in his life. Chapter Ten   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Fremont, California, Baba together with Amir stayed and Baba was not happy in working in a gas station. While Amir was burying his memories in America, his Baba kept on mourning. He graduated in highschool at the age of 20 in 1983. Baba told him that he will go to college but was angered when he chose English to be his major. In this chapter, he met Soraya, daughter of General Taheri, his fathers friend. Chapter Twelve   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir decided to court Soraya and she was kind enough to ask Amir to allow her to read his stories but Amir stopped courting her when Sorayas father saw the two talking alone in the market and he threw in the grabage the story he gave to Soraya. Baba was diagnosed of a incurable lung cancer but he does not want treatment and one day, he collapsed in a flea market. When Sorayas family visited them, the two were engaged. Soraya had a secret but was soon revealed and Amir envies her for that. Chapter Thirteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir and Soraya got married and she moves in the house of the two gentlemen because Baba was sick. She was the one who took care of Baba and reads Amirs stories. After a month, he died in his sleep. Amir was able to finish his first novel in 1988 and was released the following year and he remembered Hassans opinion in his writing ability. They were never able to have a child and considered adoption but ended up in adopting no one since General Taheri did not approve the idea. Chapter Fourteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir told Soraya that he has to go to Pakistan because Rahim Khan was sick. Amir thought that there is an unspoken secret between the two of them and that Rahim knows what happened to Hassan and what he did to get rid of him. Chapter Fifteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The protagonist went back to Pakistan to see Rahim Khan who was very ill. He told Amir the miserable life of Afghans under the ruling of the Talibans. He mentioned that he was happy when the Talibans defeated the Russians but he was wrong. Many people thought that the fighting would stop but it did not. Rahim told Amir that Hassan lived in Babas house togetehr with him in Kabul and he wanted to tell Amir what happened to Hassan. Chapter Sixteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1986, Rahim found Hassan and he was married already and his family was expecting for a child. Ali on the hand was killed by a land mine. Hassan being the loyal friend kept on asking about Amir and had always wanted to hear a letter from him. when he found out that Baba was already death, he wept. Hassan and his new family move with Rahim Khan to become servants s othat Amir will not be offended. Hassans child was born and later, his mother came and they nursed her from a knife attack. Just when Hassan was finally teaching his son of kite fighting, it was prohibited by the Talibans and many Hazaras were massacred. Chapter Seventeen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir asked were he can find Hassan but Rahim gave him a picture of Hassan with his son and with it was a letter stating the hard life under the Taliban rule. Hassan and his wife was shot dead when they refused to leave the house. Rahim ask Amir to get the 10 years old son of Hassan named Sohrab and revealed that Hassan was his brother. Chapter Eighteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir got mad upon realizing that his father was a thief ib the sense that he stole his brother and he at the same time dishonored Ali but in the long run, he did the same when he betrayed the person who would do anything for him and thought that Hassans life could have been better if he was with him in America. He tehn decided to go in Kabul. Chapter Nineteen   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In entering Afghanistan, a man named Farid helped him. The latter was at first dislikes the protagonist thinking that he will only sell property. They stayed in Wahids house and was served with dinner and Amir found the children looking at him. He revealed that his reason why he came back to Afghanistan was mainly to get his half brothers son. He overheard Wahid and his wife arguing because of the food but Wahid insisted that Amir should be given even if they dont have any because he is a guest. Amir and Farid left and gave the watch to the children but upon realizing that what they were looking at was the food, he placed money underneath the matress so that the kids can find it and they will be able to buy food. It was actually his second time to leave money but the first one was to set up Hassan. This actions only shows that he already grew up as a mature person. Chapter Twenty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Amir entered Kabul, he was shocked to find several children begging. Together with Farid, they tried to find the orphanage where Sohrab was living. Amir convinced the director to help them and when he finally let him in, he broke the news that a Talib official already bought Sohrab. Farid got mad and accussed the director of making money out of the children and started to strangle the director. Amir stopped him and the director explained himself. He stated that he had no choise but to sell the kids of elese, the Taliban will take many children ad added that he had spent all his savings for the orphanage and ordered the two to go in Ghazi stadium and find an official will black sunglasses. Chapter Twenty-One   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When Amir and Farid went to the formers childhood home, they found out that most rich Talibans are staying there and the following day, they went to the Ghazi stadium to find Sohrab or te person who bought him. They were watching a soccer game but during half time, a man and a woman were stoned to death because of adultery and finally, they saw a man with the black eyeglasses and immediately scheduled an appointment with him. Chapter Twenty-Two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir went alone to see the official and this official was living in a very huge house. He was unkind and abused him verbally until he ordered to bring Sohrab in the room. Upon seeing Sohrab, he thought he looked like Hassan but he was dressed like a court jester with make up. The child was forced in dancing everytime a music was played. The official asked where Hassan was and when he finally took off his glass, he realized that it was Assef. In order to have Sohrab, Amir had to deal with Assef. If Amir wins, he can have Sohrab. When Assef was beating him, he lauged hard feeling that it was so comfortable and it angered Assef more. It was Sohrab who pointed the slingshot to Assef and helped Amir and Farid drove the car. Chapter Twenty-Three   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amir collapsed and woke up after two days in the hospital with a broken jaw and several other injuries. At that time, Rahim already left and a letter was found saying that he should forgive himself and Baba. Amir needed to get out of Kabul soon because the Talibans were looking after him and he take Sohrab with him together with the money that Rahim left. Chapter Twenty-Four   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One night when Amir woke up, he noticed that Sohrab was gone and he found him in a mosque and the boy confessed that he does not fully remember what his parents look like and said that he was ashamed of what Assef did to him. Amir told him that they will go to America. He called his wife and told her that he wanted to adopt Sohrab but a man in the U.S. embassy said that it will be imposible to adopt Sohrab because theer is a need to present death certificates of the parents and a proof that Sohrab was his nephew. While Sohrab was staying in the orphanage, Soraya was busy arranging a humanitarian Visa. Sohrab became upset and when Amir found him in the bathroom, he was bleeding and his wrist was slit using a razor blade. Chapter Twenty-Five   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The boy tried committing suicide instead of staying in the orphanage. He was able to survive but wished of dying and it has been a year before the boy spoke again even when the two went back to America. In a party by the Afghan-American community, the two played kite fighting and it seems like Amir and Hassans early years. Amir was the kite runner and they won. For the first time, Sohrab smiled at him.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Social Networking Site Essay Example for Free

Social Networking Site Essay Social networking sites are popular amongst student recent years. Some of the popular social networking websites are Facebook, Twitter Google+. Almost all the students would definitely have a profile in those sites. These facebook like sites will be taken up by students as for fun but some may start using it as fun and gets addicted to it. This article shows you the advantages and disadvantages of social networking sites for students. Advantages: Here is a list of advantages of using the social networking websites: 1. The main advantage of social networking site is that it helps in establishing connection with people, friends and relatives. It helps in sharing one’s view, share pictures and lots of other stuffs. 2. It helps students in interacting with one another and share ideas. This helps in improving student’s creativity. 3. The social networking websites can be accessed from any part of the globe. This helps the students to establish communication with their teachers and friends through which they can improve their knowledge. 4. Social networking sites are not only used by the students for sharing pictures, videos or it is not only meant for fun and entertainment. Through social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn one can become a member and can also post relevant information about campus drive. 5. Through these sites the students can establish contact with entrepreneurs, corporate people and can gain valuable information from them. 6. Social networking sites have taken a new dimension called marketing. Certain websites offer advertisements to its subscribers. Disadvantages: Every coin has two sides. Whenever there comes the point of advantages, disadvantages also comes into picture obviously. So some of the disadvantages are: 1. One of the major disadvantages of using social networking websites are the students get addicted to it. They used to spend hours in those social networking sites which can obviously degrade the student’s academic performance. 2. Some students may tend to use to these social networking sites till mid night or even more which can obviously lead to health related problems. 3. Some students may spend time in Facebook through which they lack to spend time with their family members. This can also be a disadvantage also. 4. Some students may provide detailed

Friday, September 20, 2019

Analysing Levels Of European Integration In The 1970s Politics Essay

Analysing Levels Of European Integration In The 1970s Politics Essay How much, and for what reasons did the process of European integration slow down in the 1970s? The decade of 1970s is very often considered as the time of stagnation or slowing down in the process of European integration. Some analysts like Caporaso and Keeler call this period doldrums era of the Dark Ages for the Community,  [1]  or like Dinan characterises it a harmonization in European integration.  [2]  However, can we say that the phrase harmonization equals stagnation? The more adequate appears to be Andrew Moravcsik claiming, that the particular era can be considered twofold, from the federalist point of view it was the time of stagnation, but on the other hand, it was also a decade of both consolidation and innovation.  [3]  For the reason of such diverse outlooks towards that certain time of European integration, in order to testify and assess how much process of integration in European Community slowed down, important is to explore and explain the achievements a nd innovations that were implemented during the whole 1970s. Nevertheless, in order to obtain more objective picture crucial is to include in that considerations also all failures of the decade. Furthermore, with the intention to determine a reason for the lack of significant progress in 1970s, the domestic situation of member states and events that took place inside the Community will be studied in this essay, but also for the enhancement of the general conclusion, an overall condition of Europe and the world in that specific period of time. 1970s seems to be a phase of changes in directions of integration in Europe, therefore it is vital to found out why states are considered to act more separately than collectively in that time, and began to be, to a greater extent than in previous decades, concerned with their national interests. Next, another fundamental question emerges, i.e. why consensus and unanimity in decision-making became so difficult to achieve. In addition, it is esse ntial to mention, that the starting point for the decade was Hague summit, held in 1969, which prepared the ground for further advances,  [4]  in other words, during that summit aims were established to be attained during next few years. Consequently, it will be analysed whether and to what extent such goals has been realised during the decade. In order to make this essay clearer, in the first part will be analysed how much the process of European integration slowed down, and in the second will be provided reasons for such occurrence. In the conclusions the main points of the essay will be summarised and there will be created an overall picture of the decade. The attempt of assessing how much did the process of European integration slow down in the 1970s appears to be problematic, because this particular decade, as well as all previous periods beginning from the end of the Second World War, differ substantially in many scopes, consequently it is hard to compare them. All the most meaningful agreements and treaties for the establishment the European Community, and then finally European Union have been inaugurated in 1950s, namely Treaty of Paris launching ECSC, then establishment of WEU, as well as Treaty of Rome founding EEC and EURATOM. Also 1960s is important time, when EEC and Custom Unions were instituted, the European Community was formed, and the Hague summit took place determining strands and goals for the next decade. It can be argued that in that context 1970s are seen as quite poor period, because of the lack of any significant treaties or innovations, which would be meaningful from our perspective, over 30 years later. Neverthe less, during 1970s numerous important improvements were introduced, but in order to obtain more insightful and comprehensive image of the overall decade it is essential to revise not only all the most principal achievements of that time, but also all attempts and efforts that have been undertaken, even if they ended up unsuccessfully. After the Hague summit first meeting aiming to determine necessary task to fulfil in order to make a progress in functioning European Community was Paris summit, where has been agreed by the participants, to modify the present Community into more official form of political cooperation, namely European Union. Although Paris summit can be regarded as an attempt to develop European collaboration, its contribution into genuine integration is rather slight, some find it as the summit defining intention for further integration rather than producing any vital advancement. Nevertheless, Paris summit had an impact on few important innovations that have been achieved later. For instance, during that summit has been made significant effort to initiate collective environmental policy, Dinan claims Paris summit was the genesis of the ECs first Environmental Action Program.  [5]  Another successful outcome of Paris summit was the implementation of the European Social Fund in 1974 to improve th e quality of life of its citizens.  [6]   Next noteworthy achievement of the 1970s was the signing of the Lomà © Convention in 1975, the trade agreement between the EC and group of 46 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. That enhanced the meaning of the EC in the international arena. In the result, for the first time in history of the European Community, European Political Cooperation has been launched, granting the EC official significance as the unity in foreign policy. From that moment during numerous international meetings of states or institutions, the EC was capable to perform and participate as the single body of cohesive states, acting as a representation of all member states of the European Community. Furthermore, the Treaty of Luxembourg in 1970 extended the European Parliaments role in budgetary dispositions and regulations.  [7]  It was not, however, the only improvement affecting the functioning of the European Parliament during that certain decade. At the decay of the 1970s, after long lasting struggles, mainly because of the long process of legislative amendments in British Parliament,  [8]  in 1979 for the first time direct elections to European Parliament were held in all member states, which consolidated the EC democratically, and granted the EC more legitimate power. Nonetheless, European Parliaments innovation was not the only progress in context of institutional improvements that have been reached during 1970s. Even more important than Parliamentary elections emerges to be the creation of the European Council in 1974, as the body for the regular meetings of heads of all the member states to determine the direction for further progress. Some analysts call the decade of 1970s an era of summitry.  [9]  Nevertheless, the European Council was first authorised body of the EC, where political leaders of the member states were formally able to meet and discuss the future of the Community and the collective interests. Moreover, 1970s was a time of significant progress towards Monetary Union, which was not established eventually in that decade, and it is very often regarded as the main failure of that decade, but the reasons for that will be explained later in that essay. However, negotiations in that field have been inaugurated. The most successive achievements towards future European Monetary Union was in 1978 the decision to implement of the European Monetary System.  [10]   All the above programs and creations were of the significant importance primarily because they are concerned as the policy of deepening of integration. In spite of that, 1970s was the period of the first enlargement of the European Community, subsequently first step of the policy of widening. In 1973 three states, namely United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland joined to the six states that founded the community in 1957. Even if we say that all endeavours during the whole decade of 1970s aiming to deepen European integration was not very successful, we definitely cannot deny the significance of the first enlargements of the Community. Therefore, at least from that perspective, 1970s appears to be crucial period of time for the EUs future. Above examples prove that 1970s is not accurately regarded as the total stagnation in European integration, both in the scope of deepening as well as widening. Notwithstanding, the process of integration certainly slowed down to a significant exchange in that particular decade. In 1970s vital is the fact that the character of the European integration has diametrically changed in a comparison to previous periods. In further part of that essay the reasons for that phenomenon will be clarified, and the motives for difficulties with launching certain innovations, for instance European Monetary Union, will be explained. One of the arising questions whilst studying this period of time is why negotiations did last so long, and therefore impede implementation of any modernising treaties and resolutions. Crucial factor whilst considering the reasons for such slowing down is a historical context. Important here is the fact, that Europe, but also the whole world, was, we might say, in the middle of the Cold War. Started process of dà ©tente, literary divided Europe, and two ideological camps in the struggle for the influence in the world politics, also lasting Vietnam War, all of that factors had a significant impact on the domestic politics of the European Community. During Hague summit has been agreed to introduce European Monetary System, however the EC was already divided into two camps of opinions and perceptions about the future reforms. On the one side stand economists, namely group created by Germany, Netherlands and to a certain extent Italy; they opted for harmonisation of the economic policies in Europe in the first line. On the other side were situated France, backed by Belgium and Luxembourg, namely monetarist camp proposing the monetary cooperation first, and then economic collaboration. In the result Werner Report has been created calling for simultaneous and gradual implementation of both strategies in near future.  [11]  Subsequently, common currency and Central Bank as the controlling organ coordinating the financial and currency policy of the EC was decided to be introduced. However, future events of the decade undermined the whole process. One might ask why, for instance, Vietnam War had any impact on the domestic situation of the EC, but that together with another important event during that certain decade resulted in the economic instability, and in a consequence, major changes in world economic policies. More precisely, in 1971 Europe has been hit by the international monetary crisis, which began in US, country involved in ideological and military Cold War struggle for hegemonic power, and greatly weakened by military operations in Vietnam. Here can be seen how worldwide events directly affect the ECs domestic situation. Monetary crisis was furthermore enhanced by the huge American payment deficit, which also prominently destabilised European financial difficulties. The European Communitys member states struggled to find a suitable resolution of the monetary crisis; however the opinions how to face the problem were diverse. On the one hand, Germany proposed to join the ECs floating system; however, France opposed that solution and opted, on the other hand, for devaluation of dollar. In Council meet ing no agreement has been achieved, and finally Germany and Netherlands floated their currencies. In 1972 during Paris summit an agreement to a certain extent has been reached, and plan for the implementation of the European Monetary cooperation Fund was set up. Moreover, the EC states obliged themselves to reduce fluctuation and eventually launched the resolution called snake, in order to consolidate currency system among the ECs member states. Notwithstanding, snake failed later on as the result of the oil crisis, which occurred as the consequence of Yom Kippur war between Arab states and Israel in 1973. Oil crisis led to an occurrence called stagflation, and that affected the interior stability of the whole EC. The national bargaining between monetarists and economists demonstrates changes in the character of the process of European integration. The importance of effect in changing leading ideology of the integration was proclaimed in 2000 by Joschka Fischer, who said In the past, European integration was based on the Monnet method with its communitarization approach in European institutions and policy.  [12]  Founding fathers of the Community, Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet, advocated the communitarian vision of European unity, they believed in the possibility of creation of federation of European states, and supranational institutions as the leading and joining organs of the community. It is apparent in 1960s the existence in French foreign policy of the resistance to the supranationalism and federalism. It was particularly evident in de Gaulles vision of an intergovernmental Europe,  [13]  resulted in long opposition of an enlargement of the EC and protagonist policy protecting n ational interests. Changes of the leading figures of the member states lessened a little these national bargaining, and subsequently when Pompidou became the president of France, British membership was no longer resisted. Nevertheless, after final enlargement in 1973 there aroused another problem, namely Euroscepticism, mainly in UK and Denmark, what became another issue in decision-making process. The outcome of the intergovernmental atmosphere and changed attitudes of the member states, enhanced additionally by the economic crisis, were predominantly evident in the work of the European Council. Some analysts even claim that the European Council in 1970s was symbolic of a profoundly intergovernmental era in the history of the EU.  [14]  All of the above factors extremely weakened and undermined the decision-making process. Further aspect that caused the difficulty in the reaching an agreement was the 1973s enlargements. It was not only, as has been said above, due to the less pro-European policy in new members than among other ECs states, but mainly because the effect it had on the European institutions. It was the first enlargements in the history of EU, and institutions such as, for example, the Commission, faced the problem of the growing number of diplomats and bureaucrats. Another problem of the European Community, beside the insufficiency of the European institutions weakened by the enlargement, was the lack of the leadership. As Jean Monnet claimed in 1974: What is lacking more than anything in European affairs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is authority. Discussion is organised: decision is not. By themselves the existing Community institutions are not strong enough.  [15]   Moreover, substantial impact on the process of European integration in 1970s to a great extent had a domestic situation of the member states, in particular of Germany, France, and UK. The Western Europe in 1970s had to face numerous problems of the various natures, economic, social as well as political. Rising unemployment, high inflation, and decline of the domestic growth forced the members of the EC to secure their national interests rather than prioritise greater integration. As Urwin argued In the 1960s the average annual growth rate within the OECD countries had been 4.8 per cent; in the 1970s it sank to 3.4 per cent.  [16]  Another issue was the spread of the terrorist threat, as the outcome of movements of 1968 in Germany, namely RAF organisation, and in France as well. However, also the importance of the feminist notion cannot be omitted, as it has a great impact on the economic situation, mainly because larger amount of women were seeking for work. As long as feminist h as usually positive effect on the social progress of states, in that situation it exacerbated the scale of unemployment. Additionally, strikes in UK, and rising opposition in the political arena in Italy and Denmark, caused that member states governments focused more on the problems stroking their countries and autonomous solutions, rather than integration. Many of those problems aroused because of the financial crisis of 1970s, and affected the decision-making process in European institutions, what subsequently slowed down the negotiations, reaching of agreements, and finally integration per se. To summarise, the whole period since the 1969 Hague summit until, we may say 1979 wise mens report had been very unsuccessful period for the European integration. Three appointed experts characterised in their report in 1979 bad condition of the Community and had blamed for that substantive problems stemming from economic and political constraints.  [17]  On the one hand, there have been some substantive improvements achieved during 1970s, such as first enlargement, EPC, or implementation of the European Council, nevertheless although the long struggles and negotiations the European Monetary System has not been launched, and member states acted more separately than collectively, securing their national interests. Derek Urwin argues that the EC failed to develop a concerted economic or political response to the crisis, indicating perhaps how easily narrower national interests could uproot the common structure.  [18]  The main reasons for the slowing down in the integration app ear to be monetary and economic crisis, exacerbated by war in the Middle East; domestic problems of the member states, which enhanced the intergovernmental character of the European cooperation; and first enlargement, even if also seen as an achievement in a context of the widening, it had a great impact of the stability of the European institutions and decision-making process. We certainly can admit that to a significant extend process of European integration did slow down in 1970s, nevertheless that stagnation was a motivation for actions that have been undertaken in 1980s and further decades to recover a condition of the EC and improve the integration, which finally led to the signing of the Maastrich Treaty in 1992, establishing European Union. Bibiography: Bache I., S. George and S. Bulmer, Politics in the European Union, Third Edition, (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011), chapters: 10-11 Dinan D., Europe Recast, A History of European Union,(Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004), chapters: 4 5 European NAvigator, The authoritative multimedia reference on the History of Europe, Historical Events: 1969-1979 Crises and revival, http://www.ena.lu/? EUROPA, The EU at a glance > The history of the European Union > 1970-1979 A growing community, http://europa.eu/abc/history/1970-1979/index_en.htm modified 08 June 2010 Milward A.S., The European Rescue of the Nation-State, Second Edition, (London: Routledge, 2000), chapter 1 Moravcsik A., The Choice for Europe, Social Purpose State power from Messina to Maastricht, (Oxon: Routledge, 1999), chapters: 4 7 Nelsen B.R. and A.Stubb (eds.), The European Union, Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, Third Edition, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003), chapters: 6, 9 12 Urwin D.W., A political History of Western Europe since 1945, Fifth Edition, (London: Longman, 1997), chapters: 15-20 Urwin, D.W., The European Community: From 1945 to 1985, in M. Cini and N. Pà ©rez-Solà ³rzano Borragà ¡n (eds.), European Union Politics, Third Edition, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), pp. 15-31 Urwin D.W., The Community of Europe: A History of European Integration since 1945, Second Edition, (London: Longman, 1995), chapters: 10-15

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay --

The Armenian people are known to have begun around sixth century B.C. The Armenians are ancient people who speak an Indo-European language and have traditionally inhabited the border regions to Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Armenians lived in Anatolia and West Armenia for about 3,000 years until the 11th century when they were defeated by Central Asian tribal armies. Since then, the Armenians have lived as subjects to several Turkish dynasties (Centuries of Genocide). Armenia was the very first nation to accept Christianity as its state religion. Armenia was an independent kingdom before it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. The Ottomans created a huge empire going from Eastern Europe to Western Asia and North Africa. Armenians were Christians and Ottoman rulers were Muslim. The Armenian’s were a minority group under the Ottoman Empire and they were often treated unfairly. The Ottoman Empire deprived Armenians of their rights. Armenians had to pay higher taxes than Muslims, they had fewer legal rights and they were not allowed to vote. Even though they faced these challenges, the Armenian’s did very well under Ottoman rule. They were wealthier than the citizens of Turkey and they received a better education. It wasn’t long before Turks began to resent the Armenians. They did not trust them or their loyalty to other Christian governments. The Ottoman Empire began to fall apart in the 1800’s. As the empire disintegrated, Greeks, Serbs and Romanians achieved independence. Only the Armenians and the Arabs of the Middle East remained in the Ottoman Empire which was ruled by Sultan Abdul Hamid (unitedhumanrights.org). They Armenians demanded fairness from Sultan Hamid and wanted security from Kurd... ...problem is that Turkey is an ally to America and recognizing the Armenian genocide would harm relations between US and Turkey (Common Dreams). The United States needs Turkey for the war on terrorism because they have an airbase that the US forces use to get supplies to troops in Iraq. Several Resolutions have been presented to the US Congress over the years to recognize the Armenian Genocide. On May 20, 2013 HR Resolution 227 was introduced by the House of Representatives calling on the President â€Å"to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.† (H. Res. 227). The Bill is currently pending approval by US government.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Personal Narrative - Flying on the Wings of Love Essay -- Personal Nar

Flying on the Wings of Love The seat rumbled in the window seat of the plane. I looked out across the wing at the tiny men running frantically around in their orange vests. I started thinking about where I was about to go and my palms started to sweat. "Oh no" I thought to myself as I felt my body tensing. I was getting nervous although I had no clue about how my life was about to change. The plane began to move. We were taking off. With each minute, and each thought, I became more and more anxious. I looked out the window. The ground moved faster and faster, soon the gravel began to look like blurry streaks and suddenly the plane lifted. My mind cleared and I just watched... I looked down upon the tiny little towns, my nose pressed up against the cold, plastic window, and my imagination took over... I began to dream of living in foreign lands. A huge mansion on a vineyard property perhaps. The sunshine pouring through my window every morning. I then pictured myself getting up, putting on a silk robe and walking downstairs. The scent of grape blossoms ...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

How the American Revolution Got Started

The events that took place before the American Revolution affected history in such a way giving the British and colonists the need to have a Revolution. The French and Indian war is the name for the war that took place between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. The aftermath of this war was a big part leading up to the American Revolution. The war changed economic, political, and social relations between the three European powers (Britain, France, and Spain) their colonies and colonists, and the natives that occupied the territories they demanded. The war finally ended with the signing of the treaty of Paris in 1763. France and Britain suffered financially because of the war. The stamp act came along in 1765, this was a direct tax imposed by the British parliament on the colonies. The act required that almost all printed materials must be produced on stamped paper. This consisted of legal documents, magazines, newspapers etc. The purpose of this tax was to pay for troops stationed in North America after the British Victory in the seven years’ war. The stamp Act congress was a meeting of representatives from the thirteen colonies. They discussed and acted upon the stamp act that was passed by the governing parliament of Great Britain, and did not include any representatives from the colonies. The congress then put together the declaration of the stamp act congress, which was fourteen points of colonial protest. They issued it to the king and parliament in hopes of repealing the stamp act. The Townsend acts were a series of laws passed beginning in 1767 by the Great Britain parliament in relation to the British colonies in North America, The acts being named after Charles Townshend who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Overall this was an internal tax on economic activity within a single colony; Townsend wanted the external taxes which was an economic activity that goes through a colony and into other parts of the country. Such as paint, glass, tea etc. He thought we should use the money to pay the colonial governor, other parliaments and the king’s salaries. Another event was the Boston massacre, an incident that happened in March of 1770. It started out as a street fight, the civilians being mad at the British for taxing everything and ended in Britain redcoats killing five civilians. This caused a lot rebellion in the British American colonies leading us towards the American Revolution. Five years later Shots were heard around the world. Paul Revere on April 18th yelled out the British regulars are coming! The first shot was fired by the British in Lexington, and then they went to Concord. Then our militia stopped them and turned them back to Boston. This was the start of the revolution, minute men were ready to stand in a minutes warning. The colonists were not going to stand for the British taking over their land and taxing them on all of their goods, so they fought for their rights. US constitution There were proposals at the philadelphia constitution convention in 1787. These proposals were the virginia plan, and the new jersey plan that people did not like. The US contitution was ratified after the Great compromise came into effect. Otherwise known as the conneticut plan. This consisted of a strong national government (tax, raising an army, regulated trade, and supremed laws). Another was the seperation of powers between legislative and executive. Also there would be two houses of congress, the senate and the House of Representatives. The states would be able to choose their US senators. Lastly there was the slavery 3/5th compromise meaning a slave counts as 3/5 of a person. When the U. S. Constitution was presented to the states, many people chose to be either Federalists or Anti-Federalists. Virginia and many other states were against the Constitution because there was no bill of rights included in it. James Madison was known as the â€Å"Father of the Constitution†, and he and Alexander Hamilton were two Federalists who supported the Constitution and explicated it in the Federalist papers (1788). On the other side George Mason, an Anti-Federalist, opposed the Constitution. Federalist (James madison) wanted a stronger government and argued to ratify the constitution. The US constitution will control factions which is a group of people with a common interest and economic seek to control government for own benefit. 1. ) Also the bigger the better in a national government, multiple factions will cancel one another out. 2. ) WE will choose the best among us to govern for the common good (republicanism) Anti Federalists – opposed to ratifying the constitution Partrick henry thought things were okay before the philadalphia convention and we were at peace. He also thought a large government would have to resort to tyranny to control everything menaing a loss of individual rights. He thought we should have lumped the states into a consolidated government. Samuel bryan thought governing over such a large area would be unable to address local concerns. Richard henry lee didn’t know it would be such a huge change.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Great Divergence primary themes and main arguments by Timothy Noah Essay

Great Divergence: primary themes and main arguments by Timothy Noah Introduction            The most striking change in American society in the past generation roughly since Ronald Reagan was elected President has been the increase in the inequality of income and wealth. Timothy Noah’s â€Å"The Great Divergence: America’s Growing Inequality Crisis and What We Can Do About It†, a good general guide to the subject, tells us that in 1979 members of the much discussed â€Å"one per cent† got nine per cent of all personal income. Now they get a quarter of it. The gains have increased the farther up you go. The top tenth of one per cent get about ten per cent of income, and the top hundredth of one per cent about five per cent. While the Great Recession was felt most severely by those at the bottom, the recovery has hardly benefitted them. In 2010, ninety-three per cent of the year’s gains went to the top one per cent.            Since rich people are poorer in votes than they are in dollars, you’d think that, in an election year, the ninety-nine per cent would look to politics to get back some of what they’ve lost, and that inequality would be a big issue. So far, it hasn’t been. Occupy Wall Street and its companion movements briefly spurred President Obama to become more populist in his rhetoric, but there’s no sign that Occupy is going to turn into the kind of political force that the Tea Party movement has been. There was a period during the Republican primary campaign when Romney rivals like Newt Gingrich tried to take votes from the front-runner by bashing Wall Street and private equity, but that didn’t last long, either. Politics does feel sour and contentious in ways that seem to flow from the country’s economic distress. Yet much of the ambient discontent is directed toward government the government that kept the recession from turning into a depression. Why isn’t politics about what you’d expect it to be about?            Traditionally, class figured less in politics in America than in most other Western countries, supposedly because the United States, though more economically unequal, and rougher in tone, was more socially equal, more diverse, more democratic, and better at giving ordinary people the opportunity to rise. That’s what Alexis de Tocqueville found in the eighteen-thirties, and the argument has had staying power. It has also been wearing thin. During the five decades from 1930 to 1980, economic inequality decreased significantly, without imperiling â€Å"American exceptionalism.† So it’s especially hard to put a good face on the way inequality has soared in the decades since. Even if you think that all a good society requires is according to the debatable conservative mantra equal opportunity for every citizen, you ought to be a little shaken right now. Opportunity is increasingly tied to education, and educational performance is tied to income and wealth, when it comes to social mobility between generations, the United States ranks near the bottom of developed nations.            Noah writes from what might be called a neo-progressive standpoint. Like the original progressives, he seeks to blend an emotional and moral commitment to the causes of the left with the intellectual rigor of the best available economic and social science research. As in the case of the original progressives, the result is a powerful, if sometimes flawed, perspective that is likely to influence the course of American debates on issues of economic policy and justice. Noah’s central contention is that government policy can and should do more to reverse the trend toward greater income inequality that has developed in the United States since 1979. Some of his policy prescriptions, such as substituting carbon taxes and value-added taxes for the deeply regressive payroll tax, could win bipartisan support; others would have to await much larger Democratic majorities than currently exist in Congress. Still, although the analysis in this relatively short and very acc essible book is necessarily incomplete, and some of its contentions are more powerfully stated than convincingly argued, The Great Divergence is an excellent guide to the emerging center-left economic policy consensus likely to inform Democratic Party thinking and policymaking for some time to come.            In â€Å"The Great Divergence,† the journalist Timothy Noah gives us as fair and comprehensive a summary as we are likely to get of what economists have learned about our growing inequality. Noah is concerned about why inequality has widened so markedly over the last three to four decades, what it means for American society and what the country can and, he argues, urgently should do about it. As he makes clear, what has mostly grown is the gap between those at the top and those in the middle. The principal influences on inequality that Noah examines include the failure of America’s schools to keep pace with the step-up in skills that advancing technology demands from our labor force; America’s skewed immigration policy, which inadvertently brings in more unskilled than skilled immigrants and thereby subjects already lower-income workers to greater competition for jobs; rising competition with China, India and other low-wage countries, as changi ng technology enables Americans to buy ever more goods and even services produced overseas; the failure of the federally mandated minimum wage to keep up with inflation; the decline of labor unions, especially among employees of private-sector firms; and what he sees as an anti-worker and anti-poor attitude among American politicians in general and Republicans in particular. Along the way, he enlivens what might otherwise be a dry recounting of research findings with fast-paced historical vignettes featuring colorful characters like the novelist Horatio Alger, the labor leader Walter Reuther and the business lobbyist Bryce Harlow.            What’s to blame, then, for America’s widening inequality? Leaving aside the politicians, Noah reviews economic research supporting the familiar hypotheses. Indeed, each of them is probably part of the explanation. But the goal of research in a policy-oriented inquiry like this one is quantitative establishing just how much of the explanation to assign to separate influences one by one, even if all of them contribute to the story. We want not merely to portion out the blame but to know what to do, and different explanations call for different remedies. It would make little sense, for example, to invest huge sums in reforming K-12 education and reducing the cost of college if the mismatch between graduates’ skills and what the economy requires accounts for only a small part of the problem. By contrast, if my Harvard colleagues Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz are right that education is the core of the issue (Noah draws extensively on their recen t research, especially their aptly titled book â€Å"The Race Between Education and Technology†), then what and how we teach young Americans should be at the top of the agenda.            It is not Noah’s fault that economic research has yet to reach consensus on how much of the blame for inequality to place on which explanation, and it is to his credit that he does not try to portray a consensus that is not there. His summary of what we know from the relevant research is faithful to what the researchers have found. Part of the problem here, which â€Å"The Great Divergence† also accurately conveys, is the tension inherent in concentrating on the American facet of a worldwide phenomenon. As Noah makes clear, inequality is increasing almost everywhere in the industrialized and postindustrial world, even if the increase has been much greater in the United States. We need to know how much weight to give to America-centric explanations like the shortcomings of our schools or our immigration system or the demise of unions. But to understand a global trend, we would like a more universal explanation.            Noah’s own explanation is, in effect, â€Å"all of the above,† and his policy recommendation is therefore to take action on all fronts. His chief concern is the fear that ever widening inequality will undermine our democracy: â€Å"Americans believe fervently in the value of social equality, and social equality is at risk when incomes become too dramatically unequal growing income inequality makes it especially difficult to maintain any spirit of e pluribus unum.† He rightly emphasizes that while the potential for individuals to move up is essential to what makes inequality acceptable, at least to most Americans, economic mobility in the United States is now more limited than it appears to have been in earlier times and contrary to the popular image more limited than in many other countries. (It also matters that in America today incomes are becoming more unequal at the same time that most families’ incomes have been stagnant for more th an a decade after allowing for inflation a point that Noah notes but does not emphasize.)            How much inequality can the Republic stand before the social and political fabric frays? Noah does not answer the question, in part because he doesn’t know, but mostly because he feels he doesn’t need to. â€Å"You’d have to be blind,† he writes, â€Å"not to see that we are headed in the wrong direction, and we’ve been heading that way for too long. The worst thing we could do to the Great Divergence is get used to it.† What economics terms â€Å"the Great Divergence† has until now been treated as little more than a talking point, a club to be wielded in ideological battles. But it may be the most important change in this country during our lifetimes-a sharp, fundamental shift in the character of American society, and not at all for the better.            The income gap has been blamed on everything from computers to immigration, but its causes and consequences call for a patient, non-partisan exploration. In The Great Divergence, Timothy Noah delivers this urgently needed inquiry, ignoring political rhetoric and drawing on the best work of contemporary researchers to peer beyond conventional wisdom. Noah explains not only how the Great Divergence has come about, but why it threatens American democracy-and most important, how we can begin to reverse it.            Fortunately, however, we might comfort ourselves by knowing that the United States remains a land rich in opportunity much as it was in the past, unique among nations in its lack of a rigid class structure and its social mobility. But we’d be deceiving ourselves. In The Great Divergence, Timothy Noah of The New Republic posits that, since 1979, there has been a â€Å"particularly extreme† divergence in income inequality in the United States. Noah synthesizes the work of economists, political scientists, and sociologists to argue that income inequality has increased, and that this is not good for American society. In the book’s final chapter, he advocates specific actions and policies that he believes would help reverse this trend. His suggestions are largely politically progressive proposals, including increasing taxes on the super-rich, bolstering the federal workforce, and breaking up the too-large-to-fail banks. While there are likely some c onservative-libertarian policy wonks that would be amenable to his proposal to break up the large banks, few would likely support Noah’s proposal to revive organized labor.            The author takes the title of the work comes from a phrase used by Paul Krugman, an outspoken advocate for Keynesian stimulus, in his 2007 book, The Conscience of a Liberal. Noah defines the Great Divergence as a socio-economic phenomenon as one not primarily involving the poor. Rather, it â€Å"is about the difference between how people lived during the half century preceding 1979 and how they lived during the three decades after 1979.† The story he tells, however, is not just about income inequality; it is about diminishing access to the top. According to Noah, over the past several decades, opportunities for upward social mobility have not increased.            Unlike some pundits who rehash talking points, Noah commendably cites ample scholarship to support his claim. In The Great Divergence, the reader learns that the United States now offers its citizens less intergenerational economic mobility than northern and western European nations. (I would venture, however, that the United States still allows for greater social mobility for children of first-generation immigrants than do Scandinavian and other western European countries.) Noah also highlights an intriguing sociological finding which indicates that Americans tend to overestimate the degree to which American society fosters upward socio-economic mobility.            Notable within the pages of The Great Divergence then is the fact that Noah challenges Paul Ryan for an October 2011 speech in which the Wisconsin Congressman contrasted what he perceived to be American social mobility with a rigid European welfare state class structure. Ryan, according to Noah, â€Å"had it exactly backward.† In truth, European countries now offer more social mobility than the United States. While Noah penned his study of income inequality prior to Mitt Romney’s choosing Ryan as his running mate, The Great Divergence takes on a more salient political implication in this new found context.            So what caused the Great Divergence? According to Noah, the Great Divergence did not result from prejudice against African-Americans or women. The failure of the American educational system to meet the demand for higher skilled workers is part of the story, as is trade with low-wage nations such as China and the increase of business lobbying in Washington. The decline of organized labor also played a role. Noah also refers to the rise of extremely wealthy (â€Å"stinking rich,† in his parlance) as a â€Å"separate and distinct phenomenon† that can be thought of as â€Å"the Great Divergence, Part 2.† The last several decades have been witness to the emergence of what are, in essence, new social classes within the top 1%, namely the top 0.1% and the top 0.01%. Wall Street, according to Noah, played a substantial role in the emergence of these extremely wealthy individuals. Top income shares are rising faster in the United States than in other de veloped countries.            Overall, Noah may succeed in persuading the reader in that income inequality not only is on the rise and that it is problematic for society. He is less convincing in his policy proposals to remedy the situation. To be fair, he does rightly acknowledge that many of his proposals, many of which are further to the left than President Obama, are not â€Å"politically salable today.† Noah could have bolstered his work, and perhaps the reception to it, had he offered a list of concrete and specific policies that would both reverse income inequality and be palatable to a large slice of the American electorate. The work also suffers from the fact that it is largely a summary of other scholars’ work, much of it very technical; making it less accessible to a general audience that it deserves to be.            In conclusion, one can think of The Great Divergence as a plea to the American public to recognize that income inequality is a problem. It is also to acknowledge that social mobility is no longer operating the way in which it used to. I would contend that the frustration that many Americans feel with Washington in many ways reflects the fact that the system is not producing the same results as it did for people’s parents and grandparents. Income inequality currently is a topic of concern among the country’s economists, political activists, and pundits. Whether it will be a broadly discussed national concern remains to be seen. It would be heartening to see at least one moderator in the upcoming presidential debates ask each of the candidates where they stood on the topic of income inequality. References Noah, Timothy. The great divergence: America’s growing inequality crisis and what we can do about it. New York, NY: Bloomsbury, 2012. Print. Bottom of Form Source document

Sunday, September 15, 2019

How Does Media Affect My Life

How Does Media Affect My Life? The developing industry of media and technology has flourished into a revolution. A revolution in which has embarked on plenty of opportunities for media companies to expand and give people the ability to experience a new wave of media products and communications. The affects in which the author of the novel ‘The Shallows’, Nicholas Carr, discusses throughout his own personal experiences of how media has negatively affected his life and his mentality.From reading his novel and his insight on what the Internet is really doing to our brains, I was able to contrast what Carr had said to my own perspective and connect it to experience’s I have had similar to his. Through decades, the evolution of technology has cultivated media into something so easily accessible. Thus, creating those using this technology, to be unfocused in our generation and future generations, changing ones behaviour and creating habits due to neuroplasticity, and fi nally the crave for more technology to meet our generations enthusiastic needs.In this generation, the media has provided its audiences and purchasers with the opportunities and experiences to broaden their personal horizons. Companies and industries have provided societies and people globally with many chances to explore the World Wide Web. Carr explains his insights of the Internet thoroughly throughout his first chapter ‘Hal and Me’. He explains his involvement with his first ever purchased computer and how he fell in love with the capabilities the machine provided. Carr became so involved with the computer he invested into more computers when they were first released.Carr quickly realized what his machine and Internet was actually doing to his brain years later, making him completely unfocused. He noticed specifically when trying to read through a book, and he was not the only one. I think that the media and the Internet have taken away from the generation today, an d future generations to come. The Internet has made it impossible for people like myself, to stay focused for a long period of time while reading. There are easier ways to get a hold of readings from the Internet, with websites such as SparkNotes.Students like myself have used have used the significant source of Sparknotes to gather information about books and articles. The Internet provides a variety of sources and web blogs that help people gather information, and at the same time preventing them from reading an entire book, destroying their focus. It has become a norm today to hop on the Internet and type in a weblog, not providing one with full detail, and skimming through to gain their knowledge. The human brain allows you to discover new experiences and changes in your behaviour. Neuroplacity is responsible for providing us with neural pathways that lead to constant changes.It is neuroplacity that shapes the way we think on a daily basis. We are sucked into the media in the si mplest ways, and we do not realize the major effects that it causes to our mind. The more we involve ourselves with the media technology and Internet, we become more infatuated, as it locks our brains into a certain routine. Carr describes neuroplacity as the â€Å"ability in our brain that allows us to adapt to new situations, learn new stuff, and expand our horizons† (Carr, 34) but it is the constant desire to continue the repetition that makes neuroplacity negative aspect in the media spectrum .When our brain practices certain behaviors continuously, our circuits begin to crave it more. Habits develop such as entering a topic in a search engine on Google or Yahoo. We use search engines to view articles, and access social networks, as we depend on the Internets search engine for our daily dose of communication and media. Therefore, neuroplacity is creating habits that make one crave the Internet and media technology throughout the day in a way that destroys our brain. Enthu siasts celebrate new technology, and the thought of new media being released.They are people who believe that the Internet is only making our culture better in a positive way, indicating it is â€Å"a ‘democratization’ of culture† (Carr, 2). Globally our culture today has become full of enthusiasts, who crave the thought of new media and technology. It is common for people to be excited about the latest phones being released and new updates on websites. Our technology has changed drastically over decades, creating a more convenient way to communicate, share and receive information.Carr describes the extreme change in the way we now look at time. Clocks have become more accurate than ever before, as they were only put into places such as town halls, churches, and palaces (Carr, 43). Today, they are available for every home, hand held, and accessible through electronic devices. Carr describes the mechanical clock transformation as changing the way we see ourselves (Carr, 43). Today’s technology has helped people globally communicate with one another, shop online, search and share their own information.The media phenomenon has become so easily accessible that people now crave for more information, and want the latest technology. Skeptics predicted that this phenomenon would dumb down our culture globally. With the evidence supported by Carr, I do not believe that our culture is ‘dumb downed’ by the media, but it has provided us with more varieties of sources and technology to explore other possibilities. I do agree that the media has created a negative effect on how individuals perceive things now that media has taken over.Clocks went from only being in town halls, churches, and palaces. They are now easily accessible on a smart phone, because of the demand of new, and better technology. More technology and media are being produced today, to live up to our global expectations. The evolution of media has constructed humanâ⠂¬â„¢s thoughts in such a way that adapts to the current society of media. Current civilization has developed into such a technological state in which our society is dependent on. Human behaviors have taken a negative effect from the media in the sense that we are processing so much information.Carr allows us to observe the effects that the Internet and current media have on neuroplacity in the human mind. Media and technology industries are achieving success in the demands of new media products and sources. Global societies have depended on the Internet, and other convenient technologies to get by on a daily basis. Carr provides information that proves the Internet has stolen individual’s ability to focus. Our generation’s ability to concentrate will only worsen with the newly released sources and media products, because of the hunger for new information.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

The Subject Of General Science Education Essay

1. INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH:The usage of computing machine Technology in the schoolroom offers the pupils an sole and utile acquisition pattern. Technology usage helps instructors by making abstract constructs more concrete for the pupils. These yearss, teen-agers are larning to utilize engineering at younger ages really quickly every twenty-four hours. The pupils from in-between degree schools are able to utilize the engineering if they are given devices. Sooner or subsequently, the usage of computing machine engineering in schools is going a popular tendency. It will be interesting to see pupils taking a practical field trip on the cyberspace or with the aid of simulation package on a standalone computing machine to anywhere in the universe. Research in the past decennary has shown that computing machine engineering is an effectual agencies for distributing educational chances, but the job is that most of the instructors do non cognize the usage of computing machines in our schools as there is no computing machine related particular station at in-between degree. Therefore, they are unable to incorporate computing machine engineering into their course of study. Drenoyianni and Selwood ( 1998 ) stated that incorporating computing machines in schoolrooms can travel patterns of rote-memorization, stiff course of study, and teacher-centered direction into a more student-centered environment where scholars are able to pull off their ain acquisition. Edgar Dale ( 1946 ) developed ‘Cone of Experience ‘ to depict ocular effects for larning terminals. Dale ‘s Cone theory of larning bases that people recall 10 % of the information they read, 20 % they hear, 30 % they see, 50 % they hear and see, 70 % they say and write or portion with others, and 90 % they teach to others. In our school system in KPK Pakistan, General Science every bit good as other topics are offered to pupils in a traditional manner which depends on the talk method, in which the instructor does all or most of the activities. In the last few old ages, many functionaries and determination shapers in the field of instruction have called for new methods of learning. Computer-based direction is considered among the advanced methods that can ease more communicating between instructors and pupils and therefore decidedly influence pupils ‘ acquisition. The people learn better from existent experiences than from theoretical stated symbols. The usage of computing machine engineering invariably forces us to reconsider what we do and why we do it. As pedagogues, our duty is to do acquisition easier for our pupils. In sing the teaching method of instruction and acquisition, it is of import that we use engineering to better the acquisition of our pupils. If the usage of computing machine based instructions does non better the instruction larning procedure so there is no demand to utilize it. As instructors we need to incorporate engineering into the course of study we teach so that sound educational acquisition rules remain organized. Harmonizing to Knode ( 2008 ) , the use of engineering in the schoolroom is an explosive new manner. The sum of media that has been exposed to pupils in the schoolroom is immense in recent old ages. We must make up one's mind whether this transmutation is overall traveling to assist or upset schools. In the long tally, will these new signifiers of assisting information reach the multitudes become more of a distraction? The usage of computing machines, films, telecasting, wirelesss, and e-learning tools can be a immense support in assisting kids to understand subjects that were really hard earlier. We can hold ourselves a aureate age of chance in instruction with accurate application of engineering and the right sum of focal point from the pupils. Technology integrating is the term used by pedagogues to depict effectual utilizations of engineering by instructors and pupils in schoolrooms. Technology integrating has a positive consequence on pupils ‘ motive, involvement and battle in larning. Many pedagogues believe that the new computing machine -based engineerings have much to offer instruction and that intermixing of engineering into school scenes will convey utile alterations. In this survey the nature of engineering, learning and acquisition will be analysed to place the possible application of computer-based Instruction manuals to classroom acquisition. Different types of applications use in learning tilting procedure will be identified and analysed with their benefits and restrictions. The survey will place and analyze different positions on how alteration should be approached and implemented. Christian ( n.k, p. 6-7 ) lists assorted engineerings that are being used or presently being used in the schoolroom ( from older 1s to more recent 1s ) : pencils, pens and paper ; chalks and blackboards ; dry-erase markers and ( inactive whiteboards ) ; books ( foremost on paper, so via e-book formats ) ; overhead transparences ; projectors ; exposure ; instructional wireless ; instructional telecasting ; educational movies ; educational Television ; media projectors ; synergistic whiteboards and presentation engineerings ; computing machines and computer-related engineerings ( such as laptops, workstations, waiters ; PowerPoint, web logs ; wikis, societal bookmarking ; podcasts, multimedia-based acquisition objects, multimedia-based presentations, simulations, Internet-based applications and systems, office productiveness package ) ; network-based engineerings systems involved with presenting web-based learning/distance learning/online acquisition ; on-line library databases ; elect ronic mail ; unrecorded chat/text messaging ; treatment boards ; web-based videoconferencing ; etc. Most of the above listed engineerings are beyond believing to be used in authorities schools of Pakistan at present, as the authorities was barely able to carry through the free books box this twelvemonth ( 2012 ) in KPK. Even in more advanced states, the above new engineerings are used seldom at in-between degree. Computer-based direction is fast going an built-in portion of instruction. Much of the current research has found that computer-based direction is every bit effectual as other. It is important that pupils enrolled in computer-based direction perform every bit good as compared to their lecture-based opposite numbers. The intent of this survey is to compare the effects of technology-enhanced direction and traditional direction in footings of pupil academic accomplishment and pupil attitude towards engineering. In making this comparing, It is hoped to derive an apprehension of how engineering is being used in direction. This survey has been concentrated on comparing two methods of direction technology-enhanced direction and traditional directionPurpose of the survey:Computer-based direction is going an indispensable portion of instruction really quickly. Much of the current researches have proved that computer-based direction is every bit effectual as other instructional methods. The pu pils in a schoolroom of computer-based direction perform significantly good as compared to their other opposite numbers. The intent of this survey is to compare computer-based Instruction and traditional direction in footings of pupil academic accomplishment and pupil attitude towards computing machines. In this survey, the research worker is besides optimistic to derive an apprehension of how computing machines are being used in a General Science schoolroom environment. In this survey, the following two methods of instructions will be compared. ( 1 ) . Computer-Based direction ( 2 ) . Traditional instruction- The intent of the survey is: – To happen out the influence of computing machine based instructions on in-between degree pupils in the topic of General Science and to judge whether the utilizations of Computers enhance the public presentation of the pupils. To detect whether instructors available have equal consciousness and preparation of computing machine. To look into instructors and pupils ‘ attitudes towards computing machines and utilizations of computing machine for meaningful direction. To see whether the necessary substructure is available in the schools.2. Statement OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM:The survey is an experimental usage of computer-based Instruction manuals at 8th class center schools ‘ pupils, taken from three authorities Schools of Town IV Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is besides intended to do suggestions and recommendations to better the public presentation of the pupils in the acquisition procedure and the usage of engineering into the schoolroom posing. The research worker will seek to research to what extent in the bringing of the course of study, the usage of computer-based Instructions contribute to the academic public presentation and attitude of pupils in 8th class schoolrooms. This survey will detect whether the pupils experience interest/difficulty throughout the conventional/new methodological analysis? This survey will besides concentrate on the barriers instructors are confronting with when using the available engineering into their schoolroom instruction. The ultimate concern is, can the usage of computing machines, as a addendum to conventional direction motivate pupils and bring forth higher accomplishments in accomplishments development of the pupils?3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:The Aims of the survey are: – To happen out the impact of computer-based Instruction manuals on the public presentation of 8th grad pupils in the topic of General Science. To happen out the difference between â€Å" learning with engineering † and â€Å" learning without engineering † . ToA investigateA about the attitudesA of the pupils towards the usage of new learning method in the schoolroom. To mean the function of computing machines in the instruction larning procedure.4. RESEARCH Hypothesis:There is a important difference in the average tonss of the pupils taught with the aid of computing machines and those taught by traditional method. The integrating of computing machines in instructional procedure strengthens the terminal consequence. Technologies engage the pupils in the acquisition procedure.5. Significance OF THE RESEARCH:This survey is of import because it may convey visions into engineering influences upon instructors, instructional methodological analysis and school civilization that may be feasible and suited to other schools. As citizens and pedagogues express concerns over the benefits and costs of educational engineering, this survey may supply apprehensions into that argument by supplying informations on pupils ‘ usage of engineering. This survey will besides analyze and compare concerns by the instructors about the usage and proviso of engineering. The consequences of the survey will supply high benefits to the schools. The pupils may accomplish greater benefits by the usage of improved instruction methodological analysis and different educational package.6. REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE:Computer-based direction ( CBI ) was considered the technological phenomenon to revolutionise instruction a nd preparation. Today, the Internet and computing machine engineering are reported to hold significantly changed the instruction landscape ( Johnson & A ; Aragon, 2002 ) . The rapid progresss in engineering, the demand for womb-to-tomb acquisition, and the growing of non- traditional pupils have encouraged the usage of the computing machine as a method of instructional bringing. Measuring the effectivity of CBI as a whole engineering is really hard. The inability to mensurate effectivity is attributable in portion to the fact that CBI is non merely one constituent, but a complex scope of services and activities carried out for instructional and learning intents ( Gibbons & A ; Fairweather, 2000 ) . Some of the advantages for utilizing the computing machine as a method of instructional bringing are that it: provides consistence of content bringing ; provides preparation to remote locations ; eliminates cost associated with employees ‘ travel ; provides agencies of tracking scholar ‘s advancement ; provides standardised testing ; offers learner flexibleness in commanding and pacing acquisition ; provides for diverse acquisition demands ; prov ides chances for pattern through simulation ; provides greater keeping ; and reduces the instructional clip by about 30 per centum. Two decisions drawn from meta-studies on CBI are: ( 1 ) scholars by and large learn more utilizing CBI than they do with conventional ways of learning as measured by higher post-treatment trial tonss ( Fletcher, 1999 ; Kulik, 1994 ) , and ( 2 ) scholars utilizing CBI by and large do so in less clip than those utilizing traditional attacks ( Kulik & A ; Kulik, 1991 ; Orlansky & A ; String, l979 ) . When you look at all the advantages of computer- Pence ( 2009-2010 ) says that it has been over a decennary since the computing machine moved from being chiefly a computational and record maintaining device to its present province as a communications hub. Some, including this writer, have called the application of calculating engineering to classroom direction revolutionist. Is this claim justified? More significantly, how will societal networking affect the college schoolroom in the coming decennary? Will the twenty-first Century schoolroom truly be significantly different from that of the yesteryear? This article is an effort to reply these inquiries. Each twelvemonth, Technology is going more a ball of instruction Harmonizing to Jane Carlson-Pickering ( 1999 ) The pupils get a sense of duty with the aid of engineering that show the increased deepness of their cognition and capacity They can be more originative and more in control as they can now rewind, fast-forward, intermission, halt and reappraisal resources at their ain velocity. D'Angelo & A ; Woosley ( 2007, p. 462 ) province â€Å" Technology has evolved and become more cardinal to learning and larning. † They by mentioning the plants of assorted research workers, show that engineering is being used across subjects. Molebash ( 2000, p. 24-38 ) suggests that as engineering plays a larger function in instruction, any anticipations refering the hereafter of instruction must include an analysis of technological tendencies and Tendencies in engineering are making a hereafter that is geting faster than instruction is fixing for it. Turner ( 2006, p.1 ) says that the outgrowth of new engineerings is altering the whole scenario like societies, the manner of life, the manner we talk and do trade and besides the manner we learn. Our educational systems are confronting important force per unit area to alter in order to sufficiently fix pupils to populate, larn and work in a planetary digital age. As a consequence of this force per unit area, everyplace in the universe in many schools, engineering is going a tool for heightening instruction and acquisition procedures and fixing pupils for the new universe in which they live. Education throughout the universe is bit by bit sing a major paradigm alteration from traditional larning environments to new unfastened acquisition environments.Consider the following tabular array which defines that displacement. Traditional Learning Environments New Learning Environments O Teacher-centred direction a Learner-centred direction O Passive larning a Active acquisition O One primary media a Multimedia O Individual work a Collaborative work O Information bringing a Information exchange O Focus on facts and knowledge a Critical thought and job resolution O Isolated, unreal environment a Authentic, real-world environment O Assessment by proving a Authentic appraisal ( UNESCO Bangkok, 2005, P. IV. ) As a consequence of rapid development of engineering the course of study is going more dynamic and synergistic. The integrating of computing machines in schoolroom encourages pupils and engages in more independent, collaborative activities. Technology besides enables instructors to near the course of study from different positions, like multimedia applications, simulations, educational games, Drill and Practice package and many other ways of larning that have been ignored by traditional educational methods. The instructors must seek to modify their pedagogical abilities to incorporate the course of study content with new technological accomplishments that pupils are required to larn. However, harmonizing to Hill, Wiley, Nelson, & A ; Han, ( 2004 ) , â€Å" Theoretical foundations, including teaching methods, appear to hold non developed at the same gait as technological growing in the universe † Roblyer & A ; Doering, ( 2009 ) are of the position to place specific learning & A ; larning jobs which engineering can assist turn to and how it can make learning chances that did non be. D'Angelo & A ; Woosley ( 2007 ) , there is non understanding amongst those involved with instruction and larning sing the usage of engineering within the schoolroom. So they stress that it ‘s deserving reexamining the assorted positions involved. Integrating engineering is besides an of import subject because of how engineering acts as a alteration accelerator Christian, ( 2009 p.3-4 ) mentioning the work of Burbules and Callister ( 2000, p. 273 ) ask, â€Å" What happens to the establishments when new users and new communities expect and possibly demand entree to academic resources and privileges that have normally been rather limited, rare, and expensive? The effects of these displacements can non be overdramatized. † Technological alterations are act uponing and will go on to act upon this state of affairs. Effective instruction and acquisition is the support of establishments. So for these and other grounds, this subject is relevant and of import. Therefore, it ‘s indispensable to the hereafter of educational establishments to take stairss to supply expertness and resources to the schools particularly at simple degree as the pupils of this age group take more involvement in utilizing technological devices and its related plans.7. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:Type/ Nature of the ResearchThe method of research is an experimental 1. Students of in-between class will be introduced to experiment.Population & A ; range of the surveyThe survey consists of in-between degree pupils of urban countries of Town IV Peshawar, KPK.Beginnings and types of informationsTo research the attitudes, behaviors and experiences of the pupils under experiment a questionnaire will be developed which will cover all necessary information relevant to the subject under survey. Data will be collected through the questi onnaire from the instructors learning at in-between degree and pupils of in-between degree under survey. The questionnaire will assist to construe and better understand the complex world of the given state of affairs and experiment.Research ApproachTrial will be used as a research instrument to happen out the public presentation of the pupils before and after giving the intervention. On the footing of a pre-test, two every bit competent groups will be decided. This survey will be confined to four chapters/Ten Lesson plans in the said topic. Experiment 1 Experimental ControlTechnologyTraditionalGroup AGroup BAfter giving the intervention to both of the groups, i.e. ( learning with computer-based Instruction manuals and learning in traditional method ) a station trial of 100 Markss will be conducted to happen out if any difference exists in the public presentation of the pupils taught in different methods. After acquiring the consequences, the groups will be shuffled and this clip Group B will be treated with Computer-based Instruction manuals and Group A with traditional method in the same mode with the debut of new chapters. Experiment 2 Experimental ControlTechnologyTraditionalGroup BGroup ACourse Contentss for 1st Experiment.ContentssAnimals World Temperature and thermic enlargement Lenss Earth, stars and GalaxyCourse Contentss for 2nd Experiment.Plant Structure Transportation Nutrition and Respiration Sense Variety meats Earth and Space Time Table for my work in each of the schools one by one.Dayss12345678Mon8E8CTue8E8CMidweek8E8CThu8E8CFri8E8CSabbatum8E8CE= Experimental C= Controlled Group Experimental 1 Mean Control 1 Mean Experimental 2 Mean Control 2 MeanSchool NameAAAAGHS Gulshan Rehman GMS Landi Arbab GHS Deh Bahadur All Group Mean Score South dakota Mid Diff Thymine Phosphorus Experimental Group Control GroupSample Plan: Sample, sample size and sampling technique employed.Sample:Purposive sampling technique will be used for the choice of sample. Students of 8th categories of four authorities schools of Town IV Peshawar will be introduced to the experiment. On the footing of pre-test consequences, the pupils of each of the schools will be divided into two every bit competent groups individually. Half of them will be presented to the experiment while half of them will be treated in traditional method.Data aggregation techniquesIn the survey, to happen out if any difference exists in the public presentation of the pupils taught by the two different methods, the agencies of the tonss will be calculated. In add-on, a t-test statistical analysis will be employed to find if the difference in the average mark of each of the experimental and control groups is statistically important. Vii Tools for Data Analysiss Instruments: Pre-test, Post-test, QuestionnaireExperimental tool 1:Pre-tests Two trials of 50 Markss each will be used to happen out the bing cognitive degree of the pupils. The consequences of the pre-tests will be arranged harmonizing to their competency individually in each of the class. The pupils of each of the class will be divided into two equal halves based on the mean consequence of the two pre-tests in a mode that both of the groups ( Experimental/Controlled ) acquire every bit competent pupils.Experimental tool 2:Post-test After finishing my undertaking of learning to both of the groups individually, a Post-test of 100 Markss based on the taught Curriculum, will be conducted to happen out the consequences.Experimental tool 3:Questionnaires A short study will be conducted through questionnaire to happen out the impact of my work on pupils attitudes towards new attack of learning. A separate questionnaire will be used for instructors to happen out their capableness about the usage of computing machines into instructional procedures, barriers instructors are confronting with when using the available engineering into their schoolroom instruction and other troubles they are confronting like computing machine literacy and handiness of resources.Instrument proof:The content of the lessons and post-tests shall be examined and modified consequently by the topic expert to look into its cogency. Besides, a test-retest method will be applied to look into the dependability of the instrument.8. THEORETICAL FRAME WORK:Harmonizing to Adams ( 2006 ) , the constructivist theory provinces that pupils are given tools to build their ain cognition. Constructivist larning wants the pedagogues to follow the thought that each scholar will buil d, obtain and construe their ain cognition otherwise. Constructivism is an active procedure and allows the pupils to do sense of their universe. Therefore, the research worker will be guided largely by the constructivist attack. Most by and large ; we must separate who our scholars are, and what are their demands? The proviso of accurate acquisition state of affairss within a constructivist attack to larn should be considered when utilizing engineering.9. CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK:As entree to educational engineering has improved, a systematic agencies of altering the construction and bringing of the acquisition procedure has become a challenge for usage of educational engineering. Research indicates that factors of meaningful engineering usage in schools include engineering influences upon pupils, instructional methodological analysis and school civilization. These factors will be used as the footing for look intoing and depicting the meaningful integrating of engineering into a school course of study.10. LIMITATIONS & A ; DELIMITATIONS:Due to shortage of clip, lesser cognize how of computing machine use on the portion of pupils and unequal resources i.e. , ( equipment like figure of computing machines and specially the electricity as Pakistan is confronting energy crisis ) the survey may non bring forth comprehensive consequences, nevertheless as a consequence of this research, the research worker plans to go on readying and working with instructors collaboratively and offering preparation on the available engineering to both the pupils and the instructors once more in the hereafter. A longer period of survey is needed to find the long term impact of computer-based Instruction manuals and its interpolation in the schoolroom direction. This survey is delimited to: Teachers learning General Science at in-between degree. Male pupils of in-between degree Town IV of District Peshawar. Subject of General Science at in-between degree.