Ph Balance in Human Body

As we all know every solution is either acid or alkaline. Alkaline is often called base. These solutions can be anything from body fluids, to fruits, vegetables, seawater, beverages you name it. Acid and alkaline is measured in pH. It starts as low as zero being very acidic and works its way up to fourteen being the most basic. The pH of our stomach is 2, obviously to digest food, wine is 3. 5,water is 7(neutral), arterial blood is 7. , and seawater is 8. 5. Baking soda is 12. Virtually all-degenerative disease including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney and gall stones and tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body. The amazing self-healing body will always work to neutralize the pH in the body by withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from other locations including bones, soft tissues. The pH of saliva offers a window through which you can see the overall pH balance in your body.Acid rain, which is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic and can destroy an entire forest, so you can only imagine how much acid solution can destroy our delicate internal organs of the muscles and tissues. When we drink and eat alkalized foods we are making deposits in our bodies that work as antioxidants. When we eat or drink acidic food we are making withdrawals from the body. The goal is to eat 80% alkalized foods verse 20% acidic food, which is the reverse of the standard American today.Point being you can see where the problem lies here in our country. It’s become a lifestyle to eat highly fat, high sugar diet, also including unlimited amounts of prescription and non prescription drugs which are one of the most highly toxic substances you can put in your system. Another one of the leading causes to acidity in the body is emotional stress. Negative emotions cause so much acid in the body that its one of the leading causes to illness.Not to mention all sorts of meats that are highly processed with growth hormo nes and antibiotics, to milk that is pasteurized and homogenized being extremely acidic causing inflammation in the colon to not enough exercise, to not getting the proper amount of daily sunlight that provides you with the highest level of necessary vitamin D. The list can go on forever. What is the only food that has the ability to absorb light and energy from the sun and transmit this energy to our bodies?If you were to observe the molecular structure of the human blood and chlorophyll you would see that they are almost exactly the same, just the chlorophyll has magnesium in the center, and the hemoglobin is iron. When the sun hits the plants, the energy is captured into the chlorophyll in to green food energy. That brings us to natures simple formula, when we eat green food and drink green drinks; this becomes a part of our blood. Its so out of our habit to go and eat the necessary amounts of fruits and vegetables today due to how convenient fast food has become for us.Its more difficult to eat healthier now, and that’s why when you see people around the world who come to America instantly start to gain weight, even though they were eating the exact same diet back in their home country. My goal is to try and influence as many people as I can to try and take care of their bodies, for that’s our way of showing thanks to our existence to this beautiful life we have. To be able to live life in freedom of health to have the ability to experience the wide rage of opportunities that is out there for us.

What is a Cultural Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology is a term that is in everyday lives and topics. When one thinks of anthropology they think of the study of old remnants commonly referred to as archaeology. This, however, is not the only form of anthropology. There are four types of anthropology and they are archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. However, Cultural anthropologists are every where and study people of all walks of life. One can find a topic and find some type of study that an anthropologist has conducted on the matter. The following are five articles that explain how anthropologists are every where. Chapter: Corporate Anthropologists, page 24 The article talked about how anthropologists play an important role in the corporate environment. Anthropologists have been working with businesses since the 1930†³s, however in the 1980†³s this field experienced significant growth. This was due to the â€Å"globalization of business activity and the increased awareness of the importance of culture for business,† (Laabs 24). Cultural anthropology is the study of existing people and corporations find this information useful in trying to understand human behavior within their own organization. Business anthropologists have been studying the corporate world for years, on such varied topics as how to encourage more creativity or how best to integrate multicultural learning techniques into an organization†s training program,† (Laabs 25). Most anthropologists who work in the corporate environment do not use the title of anthropologist. There are currently over 200 anthropologists working in this field. The article then gave an account of one anthropologist†s experience in the corporate environment. The article concludes by saying what corporations think of the value that anthropologists add to the companies and that the role will continue to grow. The anthropologist that contributed to this article was Lorna M. McDougall. She works at Arthur Andersen†s Center for Professional Education, which is located in St. Charles, Illinois. McDougall is â€Å"studying why people from some cultures learn best from lectures, although others learn best through interactive learning,† (Laabs 25). McDougall has played a large part in developing Arthur Andersen†s Business English Language Immersion Training (ELIT) program. This program builds a language skill that allows for communication between two parties where English may be a second language. This program also provides an awareness of each culture†s business ethics. â€Å"The results of her work have helped instructors, who train Andersen consultants working in 66 countries, be better teachers,† (Laabs 25). McDougall is the first onsite anthropologist employed by Arthur Andersen and continues to be a great resource for the corporation. McDougall used an â€Å"anthropological methodology† by listening in on classroom sessions and conducting interviews. From the information that she gathered she noticed that â€Å"people from certain cultures are used to two-way communication in the classroom, although others just sit quietly while the ‘professor lectures†,† (Laabs 26). McDougall also teaches some of the management development classes and also contributes to the training classes. Her main areas of concentration for anthropological study include a technique where sometimes a management team proposes an idea and at other times she will propose an idea. She has also studied the meaning of gestures and colors for different cultures. She discovered that white in some cultures means marriage and in others, white means death. All her anthropological work has played a major part in Arthur Andersen†s company. I did my presentation on anthropologists and the role that they play in corporations. Until recently I was aware that culture played a defining role in companies that participated in globalization. I did not however know the role that anthropologists contributed to this topic. I recently worked a Technological Symposium for my company and this was a huge event where people from all parts of the world attended. It was at this convention that I learned that other cultures do business differently than Americans. It is not just a language barrier but a culture barrier. I am also aware of the work that anthropologists contribute to the development of web sites that are viewed worldwide. The anthropologist†s experience and mine are vastly different. She is quite a bit more experienced in the topic of corporate anthropologists. However, she and I both realized that language is not the only barrier that corporations face when expanding the operation globally. As the awareness of this field becomes known it will continue to grow. Chapter: Culture and the Evolution of Obesity, page 92 The article provides â€Å"a cross-cultural and evolutionary analysis of how both biological and cultural factors in obesity evolved. This analysis explains the sociological distribution of obesity today. It also emphasizes that peripheral body fat (characteristic of women) is a small health hazard compared to abdominal fat (characteristic of men),† (Brown 92). Peter Brown, the anthropologist who wrote the article, gave his perception on obesity. He believes that â€Å"an anthropological model of culture has significant advantages over the commonly used undifferentiated concept of ‘environment† for generating hypotheses about behavioral causes of obesity,† (Brown 93). Brown states that the problem of obesity and overweight is that today†s industry thrives on the culture belief about having the perfect body and sexual attractiveness rather on the medical perspective. Obesity and being overweight is not just a psychological issue but a serious health issue. Brown claims that there are four facts about the social distribution of society that must be addressed. They are: â€Å"1) The gender difference in the total percent and site distribution of body fat, as well as the prevalence of obesity; 2) the concentration of obesity in certain ethnic groups; 3) the increase in obesity associated with economic modernization; and 4) the powerful and complex relationship between social class and obesity,† (Brown 94). He goes on to further state that â€Å"human biology and behavior can be understood in the context of two distinct processes of evolution,† (Brown 96). The two processes are natural selection and historical changes in the structure of cultural systems. Furthermore, Brown states â€Å"Because the concept of culture is rarely considered in medical research on obesity, and because I am suggesting that this concept has advantages over the more common and undifferentiated term environment, it is necessary to review some basic aspects of this anthropological term,† (Brown 97). He provides a diagram that explains culture in relation to obesity. He concludes that fatness is â€Å"symbolically linked to psychological dimensions, such as self-worth and sexuality,† (Brown 99) but continues to state that this is not a consistent symbol. In some cultures fatness symbolizes wealth and health. Lastly he concludes that culture and its relation to obesity can be concluded practically and theoretically. â€Å"First, recognition of cultural variation in beliefs and behaviors related to obesity needs to be incorporated into health programs aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity. The second conclusion regards the need for more research on the role of culture, as it interacts with genes, on the etiology of obesity,† (Brown 101). As a woman in today†s American society I am very aware of the problems and hype about obesity and overweight. I am constantly trying to lose weight or maintain it. I am never satisfied with the way I look. Every where we look thin women are displayed on pedestals and obese and overweight people are shunned. I personally consider somebody who is overweight lacking in sexual appeal and self-confidence. The thinner that I am the more desirable I feel. I know that other cultures do not view obesity in this manner. For example I am sure that a person in South Africa who is overweight is considered to be of great status. I just hope that one day nobody will be looked at or judged on their weight. I really enjoyed the anthropologist†s point of view on the obesity issue. The only thing that I disagree with is that such important issues such as bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders were not addressed. In an article in which weight is discussed these issues go hand in hand. For every person who is obese there are three that are fighting an eating disorder, and this is prevalent in all cultures. Peter Brown only once touched basis on the dieting craze that floods the world and this was very brief. Then he states that it is only wealthy women who are obsessed with dieting and this is incredibly false. Chapter: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, page 134 The article begins by the anthropologist explaining that men have privilege over women. â€Å"Denials which amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages which men gain from women†s disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened or ended,† (McIntosh 135). Then the article proceeds to discuss how whites, whether they realize it or not, have a considerable advantage over other races. She lists twenty-six ways that whites have the upper hand. She then concludes with her personal analysis her experiences. McIntosh explains that as a white person she had been sheltered from the privileges that she had. â€Å"I think whites are taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege,† (McIntosh 135). She compiled a list of things that she encounters daily that are a privilege to white people that may not come so easily to a person of a different race. For example one item states that she â€Å"can turn on the television or open the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented,† (McIntosh 135). She then claims that if all these items are true that we are not living in a free country and that certain opportunities are available to whites. She concludes by stating that she hopes that social systems need to be redesigned. I am a white female so I was able to place myself in the anthropologist†s shoes. I grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood went to private school and I was still taught all about the different races. There is an entire month dedicated to Black History in schools. Thus, I experienced reverse discrimination, not a privilege for being white. When applying for scholarships upon entering college I was repeatedly turned down only to see a fellow student of a different race, with lower grades, less academic activities, and lower rank receive the scholarship because of their race. Affirmative action allows for a less qualified candidate to receive the job so that the company can have a certain number of ethnic people employed. There is a black Ms. America and a Black Ms. America, yet the former Ms. America was black. There are sororities that are specifically for particular races yet regular sororities can not discriminate on race but the race specific ones can. The anthropologist and I have very different opinions on being white. She claims that it is a privilege and that other races suffer, I strongly disagree with her. Where was her research done? Did she not look into such issues as reverse discrimination, affirmative action, and the privileges that are granted to others based on their race? The article was completely absurd. What was her basis for such an article? White people have to prove themselves where as others have doors opened for them because of the way our ancestors treated them. McIntosh needs to do a lot more exploration into the topic. â€Å"Lee Cronk discusses possible cultural misunderstandings that were involved in the creation of the unfortunate (and racist) term Indian giver. These misunderstandings were offensive to both Native Americans and whites. Europeans thought that gifts should be freely given and that the gift is less valued when there are strings attached,† (Cronk 143). Due to the before mentioned when anthropologists study gift giving rituals they are more interested in the relationship between the giver and the receiver than the actual item being given. The article makes several references to past situations and gives several examples of anthropologist†s point of view. The anthropologist†s experiences came from first hand knowledge when trying to give gifts to the people that they were studying. One anthropologist by the name of Richard Lee, from the University of Toronto, had an experience with the ! Kung hunter-gatherers. He gave the tribe an ox as a token of good will but all the ! Kung did was complain about how scrawny the ox was. â€Å"Only later did Lee learn, with relief, that the ! Kung belittle all gifts,† (Cronk 144). According to the ! Kung ridiculing gifts â€Å"is their way of diminishing the expected return and of enforcing humility on those who would use gifts to raise their own status within the group,† (Cronk 144). Another example from an anthropologist was by Rada Dyson-Hudson, from Cornell University. Dyson-Hudson gave the Turkana†s of Kenya pots, maize meal, tobacco, and other items. Much to her dismay it was less than appreciated. â€Å"A typical response to a gift of a pot, for example, might be, ‘Where is the maize meal to go in this pot? † or, ‘Don†t you have a bigger one to give me? † To the Turkana, these are legitimate and expected questions,† (Cronk 144). As a child and as an adult the whole gift giving process is different. I can remember getting a gift and never thinking anything of it. As an adult if I get a gift that is quite elaborate I always want to return a gift even better the giver. It is as if I want to one up the giver, as if it is going to make me a better person to give the better gift. As a child I remember receiving items from childhood friends and when a fight would occur the friend wanting the gift back, and this was referred to as Indian giving. Now as I get even older gift giving rituals such as Christmas has become consumer warfare. I think that gift giving is a touchy topic in all cultures. The similarities between the anthropologist†s experience and mine are amazing. It just goes to show that gift giving is a process that will never be fully grasped no matter how much research is done on the topic. Chapter: society and Sex Roles, page 159 Ernestine Friedl (Human Nature, 1978) The article begins with the anthropologist giving two contrasting examples of the roles men and women play in different cultures. Following this introduction the thesis is given that the roles will never be clearly defined as long as examples from other cultures are used in the argument. The article continues to site examples about how men are the dominant sex because they are the hunter†s and provide the resources. Several examples of tribes are given to support his hypothesis that as long as men provide the resources than they will have the upper hand. He concludes by stating that as women continue to gain positions in roles that allow them to provide the resources than they will be able to make demands to change the sex roles. Friedl makes the argument that to understand society and its sex roles one must not â€Å"toss examples from the world†s cultures at each other like intellectual stones,† (Friedl 160). He states that the differences, biologically speaking, can be â€Å"clarified by looking at known examples of the earliest forms of human society and examining the relationship between the technology, social organization, environment, and sex roles,† (Friedl 160). Friedl claims that the factors in a society that cause male dominance need to be researched because once these factors are understood than one can apply this knowledge to the constant changes in the sex roles due to the modern society. Through Friedl†s observations he learned that â€Å"The male monopoly on hunting unites men in a system of exchange and gives them power,† (Friedl 161). â€Å"Women do not hunt, I believe, because of four interrelated factors: variability in the supply of game; the different skills required fore hunting and gathering; the incompatibility between carrying burdens and hunting; and the small size of seminomadic foraging populations,† (Friedl 161). He also believes that another reason are not the dominant sex is because it is difficult to provide resources when one is pregnant. I grew up in school learning about how women†s roles in society have evolved over time. I realize that women were not and still are not the dominant sex. This is partly because it is still difficult for women to be in positions of power. I once tried for a position in a spirit organization at Texas Tech University. It was a male organization thus I was declined membership. Even in dating the men pay, open the doors for the women, and play the dominant role. I agree with Friedl in that the dominant sex is the one that provides the resources. His research was done by past observations and my experience came from personal experience in such areas as dating, work, and school. The times that I was unable to provide resources I was not dominant, but the times that I did provide the resources I had the upper hand. As we continue to grow as a society than women will be in such positions of power and than maybe an equality between the sexes can exist. My favorite article was the article titled â€Å"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack†. This was because it is such a controversial topic that gets a rise out of me and makes my temper flare. I would really like to argue my point of view with the anthropologist that wrote the article. It is a topic that is extremely controversial and will be around as long as there are people and different races. In conclusion, I now realize all the studies and broad range of topics that are discussed by cultural anthropologists. They play an important role in every day activities that I take for granted. As long as there are people and at the rate the world changes there will always be a need for cultural anthropologists.

Land Acquisition in Zambia

Due to the effects of food price crisis of 2007-2008, there was growing concern among the nations about the food security. There was surge in demand for food products by the food importing countries and subsequently food-producing countries imposed some restrictions on the food exports of food grains. In order to meet the growing demand of food and face increasing pressures on natural resources and water scarcity, the countries with land and water constraints needed an alternative means of producing food. Acquisition of farmland in the developing countries by these countries seeks to ensure food security. More on the land acquisition drive) These investments are not driven by the notion of comparative advantage in the large-scale production of indigenous crop (Mann and Smaller; 1; January 2010). The higher oil prices in 2007-2008 were another driver, which triggered interest of developed countries to acquire land for energy crops. Global financial crisis also encouraged investors to invest in foreign lands. The value of both food and fertile land was set to increase, making them an attractive new investment. Budgetary resources in developing countries may not be enough to meet infrastructural investment required to use the land to its potential. Some developing countries are seeking foreign investment to exploit their surplus land which is currently unused or under-utilized. This may lead to creation of jobs in rural areas and there may also be investment in health and education sector. Technology transfer by the investor countries may lead to increase in farm productivity. However these investments are not without trade offs. There are concerns about the impact on local poor people, who lack access to and control over land on which they depend. There can be local unemployment because of projects with imported workforce and high degree of mechanization. It will also lead to increase in regional land prices through soaring competition with regard to acreage and resources, and thus less access of land to poor people. Foreign investors can also emerge as strong competitors to local producers, especially small households. There is also risk of land conflicts in territories without well defined land titles (Bicker and Breuer; 37; April 2009). In some cases, the land leases are justified on the basis that the land being acquired by the foreign investor is â€Å"unproductive† or â€Å"underutilized. † However, there may be that the land is being used by poor for purposes such as grazing animals and gathering fuel wood or medicinal plants. These uses tend to be undervalued in official assessments because they are not marketed, but they can provide valuable livelihood sources to the poor. †(Von Braun and Meinzen-Dick; 2; April 2009) Large-scale land acquisitions may further jeopardize the welfare of the poor by depriving them of the safety-net function of this type. There can be misappropriation of arable land, displacement of indigenous people without compensation and migration to cities. So it is crucial to ensure that these land deals, and the environment within which they take place, are designed in a ways that will reduce the threats and facilitate the â€Å"win-win† situation for all the parties involved. According to Sustainable development innovation briefs (January 2010), â€Å"There are three sources of law governing foreign investment in agricultural land. 1) Domestic law 2) International investment contract 3) International investment agreements (IIAs) According to Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives of Republic of Zambia, Zambia has the best surface and underground water resources in Africa, with many rivers, lakes and dams. Sharing borders with eight countries, Zambia is centrally situated as a gateway to both southern and central Africa. This location is strategically advantageous by placing Zambia in a position to exploit the growing regional markets of SADC and COMESA, and be an active participant in regional and international agriculture trade initiatives (Source: The best of Zambia). Even with resource endowment for development of a wide range crops, livestock, and fish given the diversity of its agro-ecological zones, there was lack of cultivation because initially labour was forced toward mining sector. Urbanization kept the people to cities only. There was lack of infrastructure and utilities in rural areas which imposes a higher social cost in moving towards agriculture sector. The policies which took place were directed towards the development of mining sector, neglecting agriculture. It is generally seen that the developed countries are mainly with expanding industrial sector. These developed countries have initially accumulated the surplus in agriculture sector and then invested that surplus for expansion of industrial sector. So there is need to develop agriculture initially. Zambia is rich in mineral resources. To explore the potential there is need to develop agriculture sector. In Zambia, most farmers are insecure in the ownership of the land they work in. Less than 5% of them have leasehold title for their land. Most farmers pay rent to titleholders or have some kind of sharecropping arrangement with the title owners. Others depend on land owned either by the government or private owners, or on council or forestry land for their living. Those living in areas of customary land use do not need to be consulted before mining operations are allowed, and are usually not even aware of the possibility of placing land disputes before the Lands Tribunal (MacCuish and Frankel on behalf of Halifax Initiative Coalition). The efforts of the Agriculture Department to mark off ownership and use of agricultural areas were hindered by the lack of information about who owned the land. According to report of Global Times ( 9 September 2009), The Zambian government is to devise measures that would smoothen and quicken the acquisition of title deeds by prospective land owners, this was done in a bid to empower the less privileged people to own land in the country. The poor people can use land as collateral for them to access loans for land development. According to Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Zambia (26 January 2010), â€Å"Out of 75 million hectares land of Zambia, 43 million hectares (53%) is classified as medium to high potential for agriculture production. So far only 6. 02 (14%) of agricultural land is currently utilized. Irrigation total potential is 2. 7 million hectares out of which about 156000 hectares is under irrigation†. Framers are given a good price for grain but due to lack of market access the move is outweighed by poor infrastructure. Zambia endowed with rich natural resources needs investment by foreign investors to strengthen Zambia’s economic muscle (Zambia Mail dated May 11, 2010) Acquisition of land by the foreign investors is controversial and carriers many risks. Foreign investment can also be made through contract farming and out-growers scheme or joint venture or provision of infrastructure by the investor country. (David Hallam; 6; December, 2009) According to FAO (2001), â€Å"Contract farming can be defined as an agreement between farmers and processing/marketing firms for the production and supply of agriculture products under forward agreement, frequently at predetermined prices. The arrangements also invariably involve the purchaser in providing a degree of production support through, for example, the supply of inputs and provision of technical advice. The basis of such arrangements is a commitment on the part of the farmer to provide a specific commodity in quantities and at quality standards determined by the purchaser and a commitment on the part of the company to support the farmer’s production and to purchase the commodity†. In contract farming, farmers have to loose some freedom over the choice of crops they want to grow. The main commodities produced by small-scale farmers in Zambia under contract farming arrangements are cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugar, paprika and fresh vegetables. Of late honey, livestock (pigs and dairy cattle) and organic products are also coming up. Likilunga; 3; December 2005) Nevertheless, joint ventures between foreign investors and local producers or their associations as partners might offer more spillover benefits for the host country. Mixed models are also possible with investments in a large-scale core enterprise at the centre but also involving outgrowers under contracts to supplement core production. Some governments have been active in encouraging foreign involvement in such enterprises, as in the Tanzanian sugar sector or the so-called â€Å"Farm Blocks† in Zambia (David Hallam; 6; December, 2009). Zambian government has embarked on a programme to open up viable farm blocks in various parts of country to be involved in primary production and value addition. In Farm Block Development, Government has to provide basic infrastructure such as road, bridges and electrification. The design of Farm block is as follow. There is one core venture of 10,000 Hectares with commercial farms of 1000-5000 Hectares and small holdings of 30-300 Hectares. (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Zambia; 26 January 2010). The type of business model to be adopted depends on certain characteristics of the economy i. e. olitical and social conditions, specific circumstances, the commodity concerned etc. Land acquisition and commercialization of agriculture is favorable, when economies of scale are important or there is need for investment in infrastructure. Contract farming or outgrower scheme is desirable when there in need to involve small landholders, but in contract farming care should be taken that contracts are properly implemented and there is no exploitation of smallholders by the big firms. The litigation process in Zambia takes too long and therefore enforceability through litigation process is costly and therefore not resorted to. There is weakness of enforceability when contract is breached. Donor funding forms a big part of Zambia’s spending plan (The Africa report; October 2009). China, India, South-Korea and oil-rich gulf countries with land and water constraints are turning to Africa as food security blanket. Saudi Arabia is interested in area of agriculture in Zambia. China is proposing to acquire 5 million acres of land to grow jatropha. Jatropha is a perennial plant, which can be used as biofuel. Plantation have yield after 2-3 years. In the short run there will be loss but in long run there will be gains. Income generated from plantation will vary from year to year. Growing Jatropha needs long term investment, which is vulnerable to risk due to uncertainty in price, yield, labour cost and rate of interest. Biofuel can provide hedge against climate change. Jatropha can also be used as a substitute for expensive kerosene, fertilizer and diesel. It needs less water so there is no need of major irrigation facilities. Jatropha can be planted during spare time in idle or fallow land, for which lot of officially unused land and degraded bush land seems available. Cultivation of Jatropha on abandoned agricultural, deforested or degraded land has the potential to improve the nutrient content of the soil and reduce erosion. Thus, this may improve the value of the land. However, the expanding use of land for the Jatropha production, even though it is marginal land, could mean that people living in the area would have to find other places for collecting firewood, herbs and fields for pasture land etc. So the selection of land for production should be done very carefully. Land grab in Africa mainly for biofuels has serious implications for food security. This however but it depend on the ownership of the land and how much space the production of Jatropha takes up. Biodiesel is mainly used by developed countries. If the price of food grains increases, then the people in developing country will suffer. Food security could even decrease where land and water resources are commandeered by the international investment project at the expense of domestic smallholders or where foreign investments push up land values. There can also be worst case scenario that there is production of 100 unit’s energy biodiesel from the inputs of 127 unit’s energy. The advertising that agro-fuels will assist farmers is based on the notion that the decisions about the use of the land remain decentralized within the country. Farmers should be given free will to decide how to plant Jatropha to produce oil for lamps or sop or bio-diesel for their vehicles. But the scenario set up by the large corporations is not what is desirable. There is usurpation of huge tracts of African land for overseas consumption and if they ruin the ecosystem, they conveniently make a move to other areas (MS Zambia Newsletter August 2009). Production of Jatropha is mainly done by the Out grower schemes. It is found that mostly there were no formal contracts for production. Even if contracts exist, there was no enforcement. Even farmers are not satisfied with Outgrowing system. Firms promise to endow the farmers with technology but fail to turn up again to provide information on technical issues. Production is targeted toward export and fails to benefit Zambian people. This can be confirmed by the fact that there exist no refineries in Zambia. There is need to set up a monitoring committee which can observe that all the contracts taking place are implemented. Strict actions should be taken if contracts are not enforced. The land grabbing has become very sophisticated and the poor are bound to suffer. There is need to lobby government for some policy changes. Civil societies should come up for the benefit of small holders and there is need to sensitize and assist the poor access and legally own land. Building the capacity of small scale farmers and their organizations to be part of the new agribusiness dispensation through direct investments as well as in partnership with foreign investors is desirable. There is need to empower the rural communities’ access and communally own land through ‘Community land titles’ to protect them in the future land concessions. (MS Zambia Newsletter August 2009). There is need by government to put more conducive environment by setting up â€Å"small claims courts’. There is need for further training of small-scale farmers so that they can develop skills in negotiating for good prices for their commodities. (Likilunga; 12; December 2005) â€Å"Extensive control of land by other countries can also raise questions of political interference and influence. (David Hallam; December 2009). Government maintains secrecy in the deals involving foreign investors. This lack in transparency undermines government accountability and gives an opportunity for corruption. Some recently reported land deals were associated with allegations that investors had paid cash or in-kind contributions to business or other activities run by high government officials or even the president in a personal capacity (e. g. Hervieu, 2009), even where private ownership is formally recognized most of the land is controlled by state (Cotula, Vermulen, Leonard and Keeley; 69; 2009). It has been seen that incomes are very unevenly distributed in Zambia. â€Å"Bottom 80% of populations in terms of earning are reported to have acquired only 31. 3% of total income, while the top 20% of population claimed 68. 87% of total income†. (Zambian Economist, 31 May, 2008). Non availability of written agreement on land acquisition has created disputes in some settlement area. A vigorous consultative process on land acquisition has to be adopted o minimize these land disputes. It is required to have all the deals in the written form. Appropriate Resettlement policy should be in place and adequate compensation should be give to the displaced farmers. Farmers generally practice subsistence farming and the land of cultivation is scattered. Most of the rural population keeps on migrating within the country. The liberalization of the agriculture sector and other reforms in Zambia, were accompanied by the decline in cultivated land and maize production. The proportion of households selling to the market and concentration of serves in central areas was also reduced. (Sangrario Floro and Schaefer: 84; fall 1998). With privatization, subsistence farmers have to move out. Before the reforms, Government bore all the transportation expenses both within and between regions and gave huge fertilizer subsidy so the prices of food grain as same for all producers. After reforms of 1990s, it was found that the cost of production has increased drastically because of high transportation costs and removal of subsidies for fertilizer, forcing farmers to sell at farm gate only. Thus the supply to market was nil. Evidence can be taken from the copper mines in Zambia, which was privatized in 1991. Large tract of land was required for development of new mines. There was often negotiation with local chiefs for land. Local people were persuaded on the trust that they will be relocated to other areas. Most often interest of local people was in variance with that of investors. Sometimes the local chiefs enter into secret deals with investors and accepted bribes as an inducement to persuade their subjects to acquiesce to investors’ demands. Impact of large scale mining on local community has been negative. There were social conflicts, destruction of livelihood, dislocation and displacement of local communities and environment degradation (Simutanya, ISS paper 165; July 2008). In case of foreign investments, it is noticed that Zambians were not given many job opportunities and people were placed from permanent to rolling contracts leading to casualization of labour. If agriculture land is given in foreign hands, it can lead to similar consequences. Foreign investors are driven by profit motive. They generally us capital intensive techniques driving labour out of work force. They also try to minimize wages to capture more profits in their hands. Profit, rather than having any impact on Zambia economy, is placed in banks or re-invested in companies outside the country. But it is also seen that with privatization, all workers came as a union, there was increase in the minimum wages. It can also be expected from agriculture sector. If all agricultural workers work in a huge tract of land then even they can coordinate themselves and demand for better wages and better working conditions. ). The economical benefits were also marginal, leading to large inequalities. In 2009, more than 80% of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings and 15. 9% of GDP came from copper mining. (iol. co. a: Zambia copper mines: More local benefits urged; April 2010). In 2006, the contribution of mining to PAYE[1] was 54%, to VAT[2] was 45% and to employment generation was 58%. (Source: Zambia Development Authority). But Zambia fails to influence World market prices. (Source: www1. america. edu) Fluctuations in copper prices can impact the whole economy. So there is need to develop agriculture sector also as a safety net. But in which direction policy should be made is yet to be decided. The policy recommendations should be such that it should not affect the social and environmental climate of the country.

How much of Levi-Strauss structuralism would you say was left in Essay

How much of Levi-Strauss structuralism would you say was left in post-structuralist theory - Essay Example egan as an attempt by Levi-Strauss in his work The Savage Mind to force Jean-Paul Sarte, the leading French philosopher during that period, into an argument concerning his stance on language which the latter did not reply. It made intellects in the country come to believe that Sarte could not reply and they essentially moved to Levi-Strauss’ position that would develop into structuralism. Therefore, through the influence of Levi-Strauss, structuralism developed in such a manner that it became popular beyond his native France and this movement in turn came to produce post-structuralism which was favoured by such intellects as Derrida. In order to answer the question concerning whether language was a means of developing meaning, Levi-Strauss made an attempt to study it in its form (Levi-Strauss 1966, p.112). This was done with stress being put on its being studied scientifically and it ensured that not only was language studied in its form, but also in its original meaning. Through the influence of Levi-Strauss, language came to be thought of as a type of science so that it was considered to be a collection of units that by themselves had no meaning unless they were articulated in a developed system. This way, language came to be considered as units whose articulation relied on the differences that had been developed within larger linguistic and social contexts that ensured that they provided meaning to the users. Furthermore, literary works, as one of the primary concerns of structuralists, came to be considered, not according to the meanings that were developed by present readers, but according to those who read them when the works were developed. It is through the influence of structuralists that language came to have a higher meaning, not just as a means of communication, but also as a basic component of developing meaning. The language system was a means through which different units of language, which were essentially arbitrary in nature and did not have any

The Punjab Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Punjab Conflict - Essay Example These have a history of resisting central control, and with historical ties to the territories, they occupy (Chenoweth and Lawrence 222). The problems experienced in Punjab mainly root from aspects that are associated with religion in the area. These attempted to separate the Shikhs from other ethnic communities in the area, for political gain. In the 20th Century, conflicts erupted when various new ideologies were developed among the Sikhs. These therefore, had required that the central government meets their demands, which were both religious and political. When the central government failed to meet their demands, tension built up in the 1980’s among Sikhs in Punjab and those in New Delhi. The Shikhs had sought a greater autonomy; for fear that, they were being assimilated into the greater cultural Indian and Hindu (Chenoweth and Lawrence 226). This led to massive violence, with detention of some Shikh leaders, as well as hundreds of the Sikhs. More than 3,000 civilians were killed, including troops, priests, and pilgrims. Sacred buildings were destroyed and political assassinations increased. The killing of Indira Gandhi by the Shikhs led to massive killings in New Delhi, claiming more than 2,000 lives. However, in 1985, a peace agreement was reached between the Indian government and the Shikhs. There followed a dismissal of the state government, and Punjab was put under president’s rule, which lasted up to 1992, when Beant Singh won the elections (Chenoweth and Lawrence 230). The Punjab violence of the 1990’s began when approximately 80 people were killed in two incidences of train bombings in 1991. In addition, the assassination of Beant Singh, the senior... This paper stresses that in the 1990’s during the new governance, the level of participation in conventional politics increased remarkably. The voter turnout for the municipal elections in September 1992 increased by 50 percent. In addition, voter turnout also was also high for gram panchayats in January 1993, and exceeded 70 percent. Generally, violence in Punjab declined during the years that followed. This report makes a conclusion that the government plays a critical role in different types of violence in a country. The involvement of the government in a conflict might result in either positive or negative consequences. The outcome of government intervention can only be positive, if it aims at ensuring fairness and equality of the involved parties. If fairness and justice is denied to either party, it is probable that the violence will escalate. In the case of Punjab conflict, there are two instances, where the government intervened differently. In the 1980’s conflict, violence was high because the central government denied the Sikhs their political rights. The government then resorted to an inappropriate way of solving the issue by killing the Sikhs, with some of their leaders. This led to increased violence. However, in the 1990’s when a new government took office, people were allowed to vote, unlike the 1980’s. In addition, the political participation of p eople was increased in various ways. Although elements of unfairness toward the Sikhs were still present, this could not compare to the 1980’s. Therefore, this quite fair involvement by the central government in the 1990’s led the level of violence to decrease in Punjab.

'Give an account of the main mosques of Samarra' and al-Fustat in the Essay

'Give an account of the main mosques of Samarra' and al-Fustat in the early 'Abbasid period.' - Essay Example Through a discussion that begins with first developing a basic understanding of the function and form of Mosques from the medieval period, then moving through a discussion of specific structures, an exploration of the Mosques from the Abbasid period can be made in order to better understand the importance of these great structures. Function In attempting to study the architecture of the Islamic world, Hillenbrand suggests that one of the primary difficulties lies in the terminology that is used. This is due to the multiplicity of purposes that each building would serve as a function within the culture. He states â€Å"Small wonder that one and the same building could be designated by a string of descriptive terms if each did in truth refer to some aspect of its regular function†.1 In examining the ways in which the buildings of the Islamic middle ages were used it is clear that that mosques were not only used for worship, madrasas were not only used for education, and neither were mausolea used just for burial. The many needs of the culture were fit into the buildings through multiple functionalities, thus the first understanding of such buildings must be made through the idea of function. In discussing function, the first problem that can be seen in studying Islamic buildings is that there is little in the way of written information on the building of these structures. Technical renderings and information about the circumstances of how these buildings came into being are few and far between, allowing for only the buildings themselves to serve as objects of study on their construction.2 Although there is suspicion that the Islamic religious aesthetics influenced the building of Mosques during the medieval period, there is no explicit reference known or accessible to Western cultures that suggest that this is the case. Therefore, in studying the function of such buildings, one must look at the building itself to try and access this aspect and the culture in order to understand the development of needs for which the building served as a solution for cultural needs. According to Meri and Bacharach, however, most Mosques of the medieval period were designed after the creation of house that was build for Mohamed in Medina, which is located in Saudi Arabia. Literary evidence of the form of this house is more relevant than the archaeological as it is described as having a â€Å"large walled courtyard with entrances on three sides and two covered porticos, the larger of which functions as a sanctuary for the faithful where they may find shelter from the sun during prayer†.3 The original orientation of the qibla wall, the wall of the larger portico, was originally facing towards Jerusalem, and then later towards Mecca, thus providing for the importance of orientation when building a Mosque. The small portico was used as a place of shelter for those who were poor, thus setting up the division of classes within the Mosque cultural usag e. The three basic elements developed from this original structure were the courtyard for the gathering of the followers of Islam, the sanctuary for prayer, and the qibla wall.4 Form Hillenbrand lists three distinct areas in which form can be discussed. The first is in hierarchy, the second is in

Easy A Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Easy A - Essay Example The next Monday, the two goes to the bathroom, and Rhiannon asks about Olive’s encounter with the college student. Olive lies that she lost her virginity with the fictitious boyfriend on the same weekend. Marianne (Amanda Bynes) overheard the conversation. She then proceeded to spread the rumor about Olive’s promiscuity (Devine, Easy A). Marianne, the religious fanatic, and the school’s chastity queen, blames Olive unexpectedly about her promiscuity. Olive wears a cloth of a notorious student. During the English class, she identifies herself as Hester Prynne, the woman condemned by her neighbors in the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Devine, Easy A). Olive confides the truth to her bullied gay friend, Brandon, suggesting to her to lie that he had slept with a girl. Brandon asks for help from Olive, and the two pretends to have had sex in a party. Olive’s reputation degrades. Outcast boys offer to pay Olive so as to improve their image too (Devine, Easy A). Her new power even worked for adults. The teacher Mr. Griffith, and his estranged wife, the guidance counselor who ends up entangled in embarrassments. She finally lost control of the situation and had to take an attitude to revert it. The main female character is Olive Penderghast. The real name of the actor is Emma Stones. In the film, she makes an innocent lie to avoid camping with her best friend, Rhiannon, together with her weird parents. She claims she had gone on a date while she had spent the weekend doing tedious things like singing alone in the room, painting her nails and the nails of her dog (Devine, Easy A). Another female character is Marianne, Amanda Bynes. She is the righteous religious girl in the film. She lights the fuse on olive’s lie and goes ahead in spreading it. Rhiannon, Aly Michalka, is also a female character in the film. She sets peak in the play (Devine, Easy A). Olive Penderghast, the virgin high school girl, never wanted to

Moral Views on Plastic Surgery Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Moral Views on Plastic Surgery - Assignment Example Second will be the evident willingness of surgical operators to offer layaway surgery plans that are arguably meant to help patients afford surgery while at the same time carry out illegal plastic surgery operations. Finally, this essay will explore the question of how the American pop culture as well as the different media channels have influenced personal awareness for millions of people, making them indulge into the modern ideals of attractiveness and, as a result, driving them towards having unnecessary plastic surgery. Sociocultural and religious aspects will also be explored. John Stuart Mill’s ethical theory of utilitarianism this suggests that the basis of morality is the action that one chooses to take. The ethical decision made in this regard should be focused on maximizing utility or pleasure. He states that people generally focus on the achievement of pleasure, meaning that they should engage in making decisions that are confined within the premise of utilitarianism (HAUSKELLER, 2011). In what he refers to as the greatest happiness principle, he adds that one’s action should be judged on its extent to rightness or wrongness based on the extent of pleasure or pain that it causes for the highest number of people. However, it has been argued that there are two different kinds of pleasure, which include bodily pleasure and intellectual pleasure. Intellectual pleasure should take precedence, owing to the fact that it stimulates the mind and amounts to more benefits for more people. For instance, a person that composes a good song creates p leasure for millions of people while one who listens to music creates pleasure for himself. As such, composing his of higher pleasure than listening, just like having sex to have a child than doing it for pleasure. Having discussed the ethical insights presented by Mill, a look at the

Price elacity and discremination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Price elacity and discremination - Essay Example In a market where travelers faces a highly inelastic demand, it implies for business, travelers are willing part with higher airfare price. Airline firm who can set elevated prices for these travelers can definitely increase their profits and revenue. However, other passengers will be highly sensitive to prices as they may face elastic demand. Therefore, this sort of passages will respond to special price discounts and offers. The airline firms can benefit if they can separate these different sorts of consumers and therefore decrease their consumer surplus. Price discrimination is common to most industries and that the price difference can never be explained by the products` cost differences. It is a common knowledge that the airline industry has ever practiced price discrimination for several years. We all realize that on every flight the passengers do pay different prices, and also that in certain cases we observe that the maximum price is at times five times the lowest price. How do airline businesses practice price discrimination? Still remains unknown to many. The airline market can easily allow price discrimination to prevail. Barriers to entry emerging from scale economies, sunk costs as well as hub-and-spoke systems offer carriers the necessary market power even on fairly competitive routes. Airlines distinguish among themselves through occupying various slots in flight schedules, and also by offering various route networks. For instance, a carrier with a broad number of connections to the West Coast distinguishes itself from another carrier flying only along the East Coast, despite both of them selling tickets for Boston-Miami route. A market of that kind is therefore monopolistically competitive. Moreover, airline passages differ since they have unstable price elasticities of demand. Even though it`s possible to do a resale of airline tickets, it entails high search costs and also it does not get rid of restrictions, for example blackout days or even time-of-day constraints. So as to price discriminate, airline firms require being able to take apart consumer groups having different demand elasticities. The airline firm can do it by attaching different restrictions to cheaper tickets, therefore making them less attractive to airline passages with high valuation of time or even convenience as well as low price elasticity. As a loophole to exercising price discrimination, the time of buying air ticket functions best. There is no fast and hard rule, but if one buys an air ticket many months in advance it appear to be cheaper. For example, for business travelers, the Virgin Blue demands a full charge of $249 one way. For the next- day travel during the peak, it`s possible to get a restricted discount of about $149 and its present advertised best fare is about $59. This forces the question of how far out does one need to book it? And the answer is at least two months. However, if price matters, then Jetstar is definitely the leading c hoice available to consumer as one can travel to Sydney from Avalon next-day flight for just $79 one-way though on restricted discount. A month earlier, one can find a $69 fare, however, you need to book at least six weeks up to two months earlier so as to get $59 special offer. If the demand for a particular flight is far above normal, then the airline firms starts raising the price of that particular flight. It implies that

Juvenile Probation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Juvenile Probation - Essay Example Additionally, probation officers ensure that juveniles who are placed on probation abide by their probation rules, receive appropriate Court related services, are referred to other community services when necessary and coordinate with schools, agencies, employment/training programs and other services within the community". (2006a) "The Juvenile probation officer supervises and reports on the conduct of youth offenders committed to the state's custody as ordered by the judge. He also assess the youth's needs, develop and coordinate case plans in the community or correctional setting, arrange for and coordinate community services that support the youth's plan, monitor the youth's behavior to make certain he or she follows the provisions of the parole or probation agreement, and enforce court orders". (2006c) The foremost responsibility of the probation officer is to conduct regular meetings with youth in order to establish a healthy relationship and support just after the release from state care and custody. The probation officer is responsible for attending case review of youth, research youth's background, family situation, school record and past criminal behavior; formulate and present recommendations to the court, correctional professionals and service providers regarding the suitability of youth offenders for release under probation. ... d and past criminal behavior; formulate and present recommendations to the court, correctional professionals and service providers regarding the suitability of youth offenders for release under probation. Probation officer also checks the availability of community resources to support the youth and families when released. He takes care of the family by collaborating with other professionals who can help the family and youth in providing support services like educational or job training, drug or alcohol treatment, and other court ordered actions such as payment of restitution or community volunteer work. Probation officer also plans objectives and court orders. (2006c) In order to bring about an improvement in environmental conditions, the probation officer uses three types of treatment: (1) removal of the child, where the home is hopelessly inadequate; (2) transplanting the home into another neighborhood, where the influence of the family itself is good, but not strong enough to counteract the bad influences of the neighborhood; (3) case work on the family, where the physical surroundings of the home and neighborhood are adequate but where personal relationships are not conducive to harmony and happiness. Case Management Monitoring: Probation officer is liable to monitor youth's adjustment to placement environments and conduct regular meetings with youth to encourage and monitor the youth's progress. Visiting: "He visits youth at approved placement, schools and places of employment to monitor juvenile's performance. Often the probation officers investigate alleged probation violations by searching for evidence". (2006c) Responding: "Probation officer responds to emergency situations and diffuses aggressive behavior of youth by taking him into custody. Arrange

Experiencing Flow Essay Example for Free

Experiencing Flow Essay There are a number of characteristics in Christy’s basketball playing that defines her flow. First of all, he feels that she is â€Å"in the zone† when she is playing. Basically, this reflects to a state of mind. She worked in all aspects of the game and she did it effortlessly. Her responses were automatic and all the shots she took got in. Christy seems to be in a state of â€Å"optimal experience† as stated by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the book entitled, â€Å"FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience†. Christy feels a sense of exhilaration and enjoyment in what she does. She is able to anticipate the movement of her adversaries and she knows the court very well. Moreover, in all of these tasks, she is calm, and focused even under pressure. There are strategies that would help Christy experience flow more. Csikszentmihalyi describes the feeling as autoletic. It elevates life to a different level (2008). Basically, one needs to build inner harmony. This is done by how one interprets everyday experiences. This promotes happiness and an ability to control forces existing in the universe. Firstly, in order to achieve flow, one should take control of his body. Everything that the body does can be potentially enjoyable. The key to achieving flow is the enjoyment of doing. The important part of achieving flow is not the task in itself but how the task is being done. A person can achieve enjoyment by learning to impose order on one’s sensations. Christy needs to fully feel each sensation her body is experiencing. She must always determine her goals and break them into parts. These parts should be challenging in themselves so that she may sustain enjoyment. There are also ways of experiencing flow more often and longer. One way is to try new things that eventually lead to development of new skill. More enjoyment will be experienced with more skills developed. It is important that progress in these activities is monitored so that the flow can be experienced longer. It is also good to increase the difficulty of a challenge. Mastery of a particular skill may make one bored thus, a person such as Christy should try to find more challenges that she believes she can attain. Christy should also find more activities that she believes she can get flow from. It is essential that one needs to find many flow experiences as possible. Her coach plays a vital role in helping her experience flow more often. The coach can get her practicing with two opponents or shoot from the center of the court. This will not only avoid boredom but could increase her level of skill. Christy should also try to always get feedback from people on what she is doing. Thus, it is important for the coach to always monitor her performance and tell her about it. The coach should also make sure that the team is practicing in a place where there are little distractions. The coach should avoid making Christy do multitasking. He should develop a lot of activities during practice that will make her stay focused. Lapses in time during practices may destroy the momentum of the players and lessen the chances of achieving flow. All these strategies are important in order to achieve flow. Flow is essential for every experience because is promotes focus and total control of situations. It enables people to concentrate more effectively in their tasks. Understanding how to acquire it helps people to focus their attention at their will, without having others to get their attention. It also promotes happiness and enjoyment in all activities. Moreover, understanding flow can lead to understanding why people procrastinate on certain issues. References Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Chicago, IL: Harper Perennial.

BMG entertainment Essay Example for Free

BMG entertainment Essay Strengths: *First major record label to create websites branded towards different music genres. First major record label to use downloading technology to promote sales of CDs and cassettes. *Merged with AOLAOL has the largest internet service provider in the industry. *BMG was the largest music club in the world, and arguably the leader of the five major labels. *BMG set up a series of websites dedicated to specific genres of music. These sites linked fans to the artists websites, where they could download or purchase CDs. (Another innovative move from BMG) Weaknesses: * Through sites like CDNow and Amazon.com customers had the option of having CDs or cassettes mailed to them. Consumers may not want to deal with downloading music from the net. They may just stick with what they have. Many sites had illegal downloads, so the conventional consumer may not want to bother with this new type of technology. * Although BMG was the first company to create branded websites for specific music genres, they only focused on promotional aspects here, rather than focusing on selling music and in turn making money. Opportunities: * The innovativeness and newness of the digital era could spark a surge of  consumer interest in the music industry. For instance, the CD had a big impact on industry revenue; owners of tapes simply replaced their collections with CDs. * ;BMG is arguably the leader in the music industry, and consequently has the influence to take its existing customers with them into the digital mp3 era. * BMG had close relationships with all the players involved in setting tech standards for downloadable music. This could give BMG the heads up on newest technology, and an advantage for market entry. * If BMG begins to sell music on the internet, they can reduce their costs greatly by doing away with distribution and manufacturing expenses. Threats: * -In 1929 the new technology of radio posed a serious threat to the music industry. Could a similar event take place with Digital music, where BMG loses a lot of money due to a decrease in CD and cassette sales? * -Time Warner had one of the most advanced cable systems in the US. They were experimenting with services such as video on demand and HD TV so the possibility of digital music was definitely there for TW, and they had the internet resources to distribute it too. * -Would conventional music buyers want to go through the hassle of joining a website, installing a media player, and then buying additional software to play the music at their convenience? * -With a 56K modem (one that many still used 7 years ago), a song took roughly 7 minutes to download. Ten songs can take 70 minutes, and that is not appealing or convincing enough for conventional consumers to switch over to mp3s usage. * -Sonys Kiosks in retail music stores posed a threat for BMG. These kiosks  allowed customers to choose from a variety of over 4,000 songs, and create their own CD within 15 minutes. Attacking Piracy at the Source- the CDs In order to attack piracy, record labels must start at the source. Nearly all of the music traded on the Internet originally comes from CDs, which can be easily copied, or ripped, onto any computer as MP3 digital audio files. Most analysts point to CDs as the biggest hole in the music industrys strategy for aiding online piracy. The recording industry wants to make it harder for consumers to directly copy CDs, but it faces enormous hurdles. First, any barriers to copying must be backwards compatiblemeaning the new technologies would have to work on old CD players that dont screen for pirated material, and vice versa. Eventually, the group SDMI was formed, consisting of all the major players involved in setting the technological standards for downloading music.(ATT, Microsoft, Liquid Audio, IBM, etc) SDMIs efforts have focused on installing digital watermarks on CD tracks that would enable copyright holders to trace illegal copies and to create devices that would refuse to play copied tracks. In its first phase, SDMI selected a watermark system created by Verance Technologies as the global standard. Future record releases for BMG- Copy Management. It is the Record labels responsibility to protect the work of their artists. Copy management technology is one of several responses to illegal file sharing and mass copying, which has had a detrimental effect on the music industry (unit shipments have fallen 26% from 1.16 billion units in 1999 to 860 million units last year). There are a few features that are new to this type of technology: Device playability- These discs play just like an enhanced CD. Certain products recently tested had playability issues with DVD players, car  stereos and game consoles, yet these discs play on nearly all DVD players, car stereos, etc. Anywhere an enhanced CD will play, these discs will play. Mac playability The discs can now be played on a Mac like any other CD. Voluntary Collective Licensing- Music Industry and the Internet Many Record Labels have spent countless amounts of time evaluating alternatives that would pay artists while making file sharing legal. One solution that has emerged as the favorite is voluntary collective licensing. The concept is simple: the music industry forms a collecting society which then offers file-sharing music fans the opportunity to get legit in exchange for a reasonable regular payment, for example $5 per month. So long as they pay, the fans are free to keep doing what they are going to do anywayshare the music they love using whatever software they like on whatever computer platform they preferwithout fear of lawsuits. The money collected gets divided among rights-holders based on the popularity of their music. In exchange, file-sharing music fans would be free to download whatever they like using whatever software works best for them. The more people share, the more money goes to rights-holders.

Human Rights And Freedom In Modern Society

Human Rights And Freedom In Modern Society The question of human rights is not a new phenomenon in modern societies. It has always dominated the foundations of modern democracy since 17th century. The discovery of the concept of human rights has contributed to formation of many social and political movements. Many social philosophers have grappled with and discussed the meaning, scope and general application of human rights. Thomas Paine is one of those philosophers, who discussed the rights of human beings in defending the principles of French revolutions (Fink 41). This concept was further developed by Locke, who was preoccupied with the idea of liberalism, following the introduction of English revolutions (Fink 43). As described by Fink, Locke was of the opinion that all human beings have a right to life and ownership of property, an argument that led to introduction and implementation of liberalism political system that left a great human impact in North American and French political revolutions (46). Fink further explain s that the liberalism continued to expand with the social and scientific developments in Europe and North America (Fink 69). China is dominated by authoritarian governance that is characterized by dictatorship and abuse of human rights (Yang 18). The country does not hold elections for national leaders and it lacks freedom of worship. In addition, the country lacks freedom of the press, whereby the media and the internet are heavily censored (Yang 21). Furthermore, the government does not tolerate any form of opposition and criticism towards the leadership (Sen 21). On one hand, power can be used negatively by leaders to opress, manipulate and control people under their leadership, while on the other hand, it can used constructively to foster democracy and countrys socio- economic empowerment (Panu, SY309, 2011). Power has been used to create social identities and political movements, whereby a great number of political philosophies are based theoretical and practical frameworks of human rights, freedom of the press and freedom of religion (Panu, SY309, 2011). In addition, power and knowledge are two inseparable concepts because power is a useful tool in the understanding and application of knowledge (Panu, SY309, 2011). President Obamas observations about China clearly show the lack of freedom and the domineering political oppression faced by the people of China as a result of the authoritarian governance, despite the countrys economic growth. He points out that Chinas authoritarian governance contradicts values of the basic human rights and reiterates the need for Chinese government to promote the ideals of democracy based on the values of Western liberalism. Western liberalism system of governance allows the citizens to engage freely on issues affecting them in relation to governance. Its main strategy is not simply to repress dissent, desire or behavior but to promote the citizens engagement with social, political and democratization process (Panu, SY309, 2011). According to Merton, Western Liberalism is based on capitalist values originating from the American culture that promotes individualism, universalism, materialism and achievement (38). Chinas explosive economic growth has been attributed to introduction of capitalism in 1978, whereby the government aimed at eradicating poverty by abolishing communalism and embracing Western culture and modernization for the citizens to work hard in the belief that getting rich is glorious. However, the Chinas governing authorities have refused to embrace Western form of governance by holding on to power and denying citizens their human rights and freedom of expression (Yang 28). Stepan observes that the concept of freedom has been used both negatively and positively; arguing that in the positive sense, freedom is characterized by absence of coercion or unconstrained decisions (34). Furthermore, freedom should involve making decisions without being controlled by any form of external power or authority (Panu, SY309, 2011). Freedom in a liberal government is where citizens are allowed to make their decisions about normal conducts without being coerced by governing authorities. This disqualifies China from the list of liberal governments because decisions are made by government for citizens to implement without questioning (Panu, SY309, 2011). Furthermore, anyone opposing government policies in China is severely punished. By and large, the theoretical applications of power relations imply that power can be contested and resisted. Resistance of power is based on peoples perception and reactions to different rules, whereby in liberal societies like the U.S, public demonstrations, political activism and political struggles are allowed and accepted within the law (Stepan 34 ).Resistance to power in such countries can be done through the media discourses, public debates and political representations (Panu, SY309, 2011). Nevertheless, in countries characterized by authoritarian governance like China, resistance to power is viewed as a crime and it is totally unacceptable (Yang 28). Sen argues that democracy is a universal value but a contested concept, applied differently in various contexts (Sen 17). For a country like China to become democratic, it needs to undergo radical social transformation and reforms. Conclusion In conclusion, democracy is based on respect for human rights, freedom of press and access to information. In the U.S, it is based on liberalism, allowing the citizens to make decisions without the interference of state or authority figures. Liberal democracies embrace press release, public discourse and political struggle as a way of contesting power for their citizens. On the contrary, non-liberal countries like China view any attempt to resist power as a crime that is punishable by law. This calls for need for human rights activists and international organizations that embrace democracy to seek the way forward in creation of democratic governance for countries dominated by authoritarian leadership like China.

Powerful Images in The Grapes of Wrath Essay -- Grapes Wrath essays

     Ã‚   The Grapes of Wrath is an important commentary on society and humanity, and is intended to evoke intense feelings from readers.   John Steinbeck, the author, attempts to create many true emotions about the book and the reality that it was based on.   Steinbeck uses images that are very effective and have a large impact on how the characters are perceived.   Some of the images show the dismal abyss that the Joad family survived in, and others show hope, endurance, and strength.   Some of the most effective images are those of sadness, failure, and devastation, which cause the connection between the unforgiving and tormented land and the anguish and persecution which the resolute Joads must face constantly throughout their lives and the many obstacles they must face over time.  Ã‚      The beginning of the book is full of damage to the earth, and how the connection between man and earth causes the characters to reflect the images of the world around them.   The men have become part of the land, which they gain their livelihood from, and it is important that the men are strong and sure, even though Mother Nature is fickle and is devastating them.   The dust storm had not even become to slow, and the farmers were unsure and waiting, "the dawn came, but no day" (2). The men were afraid, even though they could never say that they were, yet their strength was as sure as the storm which surrounded them.   "In the morning the dust hung like fog and the sun was as red as ripe new blood" (3), the strength of the characters is understood as they come out of their houses and quietly survey the damage of the storm.   No words are needed, and survival is the prevailing goal, the strength of the men, and of their women, ... ...en she gives the sick man milk from her breast; she redeems herself and the other characters.   "She looked up and across the barn, and her lips came together and smiled mysteriously.    The images of the earth, and how devastated it was, affected the characters significantly; the Joad family proved, throughout the novel, that they were a passionate and intense family.   They were willing to go against the precedents and expectations that were set before them in order to achieve their dreams and to fill their hearts with kindness and set an amazing example for humanity.   The characters show that strength comes from inside, and that faith and patience are some of the most important components of survival.    Work Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. Web. 25 September 2014.   

Abortions and Mens Rights Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Men Essay

Abortions and Men's Rights Are you a man? Have you ever dealt with the issue of losing or being in the process of losing a child in which you took part in making? It’s difficult to truthfully answer these questions if you’re not a man and if you haven’t experienced abortion first hand. January 22, 1973 marked the beginning of a moral and political revolution in this country that would forever change many lives 1. The landmark decision ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court to legalize abortion with unrestricted procedures would profoundly affect women and men’s lives. But the American society forgot half of the population that would be traumatized by this experience, just because they were men. Throughout the limited information available on this topic it was clearly evident that men do suffer both emotional and physical symptoms due to a personal abortion. Abortion is considered an inhuman procedure according to pro-life activists, but if it’s the only option a female is willing to take to correct a mistake then it’s a decision that needs to involve both sides that created the â€Å"problem.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the decision comes down to abortion, where are the rights of the father? The way the law functions is that the father has no legal say in what happens to his unborn child. He is denied any rights to defend his child he cannot say one word about the continued existence of his child in the womb. The Supreme Court’s decision literally stripped the father of all his parental rights regarding his own flesh and blood during the first nine months of his son or daughter’s life. Only at birth can he engage in the child’s life and have full rights along with obligations granted to him. How is it that the courts paved the way for women to dispose of a fetus if they want to with nothing stopping them because it’s their body? Yet the men that helped create this new being has no say in what could or should happen with the life of the unborn! As many as 600,000 males annually, from all walks of life â€Å"do time† in the waiting rooms of t he nation’s five hundred or so abortion clinics 2. They are expected to sit and wait until it’s okay to visit their significant other in the recovery room or time to leave. And no one ever thinks ‘how does he feel about the abortion’?’ or ‘was there a factor that motivated him to take part in this decision?’   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How does that waiting... ... be debilitating his life. Many men return to, or discovered his religious faith. Allowing him to bring a sense of joy and knowing he has complete, divine forgiveness. Whatever positive approach the male takes to curing his broken heart it will make a difference in the years to come.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Abortion is a far greater dilemma for men than researchers, counselors- and women- have even begun to realize. Men of all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and socioeconomic levels have trouble dealing with abortion- and sometimes more trouble than women have. Unable to bear children themselves and powerless to prevent their partners from terminating a pregnancy, men who care are the silent sufferers, bewildered and frustrated by their emotional responses†¦9.† The whole process that takes place in order to abort a baby is life changing and should be dealt with honest and intelligent feelings. A women and man should communicate on the matter and decide what is best for the both of them. It took to conceive it should take two to decide the future of the unborn and that of the adults involved. â€Å"A fertile women can decide to have a baby almost anytime she wants. A man cannot 10.† He needs to be involved.

In Great Expectations, Is Miss Havisham crazy and/or evil? Essay

In Great Expectations, Is Miss Havisham crazy and/or evil? The mad,eccentric and incredibly peculiar Miss Havisham,a wealthy dowager who lives in an old, rotting mansion secluded from the outside world is certainly one of the most memorable creations in the book Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens. From the first introductory scene on encountering Miss Havisham’s character it is immediately clear that she is supposed to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Dickens uses a vast variety of imagery and word choice to describe the appearance of the house in which Miss Havisham lives . Satis house,as it was called, emits an ominous presence with its old brick walled up windows and many iron bars.This gives the sense that outsiders where not entirely welcome and rarely visited. The room in which she sat was vividly described as dark with â€Å"no glimpse of daylight.. to be seen† and furnished with many old and unrecognisable objects .The vivid setting is emphasised by the young boy,Pip, who narrates this entire experience and describes Miss Havisham at first as â€Å"the strangest lady I have ever seen or shall ever see.†. The cause or her peculiarity? A single, tragic event which was to take over Miss Havishams life for ever.Her life is defined by the jilting of her fiancà ©e and lover Compeyson and from that moment forth her world has been one based around heartbreak and betrayel thus, casting herself away from the realms of reality. From the exact moment in time when she first learnt Compeyson was gone, the old woman stopped all the clocks from ticking and fixed them at twenty minutes to nine. This links into her somewhat dishevelled appearance at a first glance for only one shoe was upon her f... ...her parting from her†. In conclusion Miss Havisham was neither crazy, nor was she evil. She was mentally ill, driven to insanity with love and pain, with nobody to care for her. She was a confused lady, with nowhere to turn; therefore, she created her own fictional world where nothing changed and her own experience of emotional betrayal cast a prolonging shadow over her entire life. Dickens illustrates the fact that interpersonal and family relationships are forever changing, as remaining still only leads to tragedy. Her character draws in the reader as her peculiarity is mysterious, interesting and somewhat chilling as she is just that little bit different. Charles Dickens uses an exceptionally vast amount of word choice and word imagery to give us this unforgettable impression of one of the most memorable characters ever created in English literature.

Environmental scanning Essay

International Players Cement and Lafarge Birla Cement, the Indian cement industry is broadly home-grown. Ultratech Cement, the country’s largest firm in terms of cement capacity, holds around 22% of the domestic market, with ACC (50%-owned by Holcim) and Ambuja (50%-owned by Holcim) having 15% and 13% shares respectively. †¢Many of the remaining dozen top players are Indian and are (in order of diminishing market share); Jaiprakash Associates (10%), The India Cements Ltd (7%), Shree Cements (6%), Century Textiles and Industries (5%), Madras Cements (5%), Lafarge (5%), Birla Cement (4%) and Binani Cement (4%). †¢ Between them the top 12 cement firms have around 70% of the domestic market. Around 100 smaller players produce and grind cement on a wide range of scales but are often confined to small areas Economic Environment’s Impact  on Cement Industry †¢ Currently, the industry is on the boom, with a lot of government infrastructure and housing projects under construction. In spite of seeing a fall during 2008-09, the export segment of the industry is expected to grow again on account of various infrastructure projects that are being taken up all over the world and numerous outstanding cement plants coming up in near future in the country. †¢ Over time more sophisticated and refined methodologies in connection with longer time series were employed to study productivity change. The contribution of total factor productivity to output  growth was of primary interest to explain the continuously low economic development. †¢ During that time, labor productivity as well as capital availability and use increased considerably, while the overall growth rate of the economy stagnated at low levels †¢ Concerned about the efficiency of resource use researchers started investigating productivity growth and input factor substitutions for aggregate manufacturing as well as various industries Ambuja Cement’s ECONOMIC CONDITION †¢ Its financial statements i.e balance sheet and profit and loss, profits are increasing every year and its share price is also high as compared to other cement industries and its assets are also  increased. It means that its financial position is very strong as compared to others. †¢ From here we can analyse that its profits are increasing year by year and it means that they are providing more to GPI,with this our NPI will also be increase and overall position of country will be better. †¢ From here we can analyse that if industry position is strong then our country’s position will also be strong. †¢ It means it is beneficial for the people and country. Social Environment’s impact  on industry †¢ Usually, the cement industry in India consists of both the organized sector and the unorganized sector. †¢ Organized sector comprises of the well-known cement manufacturing companies while the main players of the unorganized sector are the regional and local cement-producing units in various states across the state. †¢ Indian consumers prefer buying branded cement like ULTRATECH, JAYPEE CEMENT, LAFARGE CEMENT etc. †¢ It has been seen in the past, as well, that mini cement plants with low  brand value and image are not able to survive against the cement giants. †¢ With a population of more than 100 billion people, it is expected that cement industry will create another 25 lakhs jobs in the next 4-5 years. Ambuja Cements’ Social Impact †¢ This particular company is totally different from. On this case they really helped by doing lot of social work like they putt off various health centres for the poor people and provide Monetary help also to some reason. †¢ They also helped by providing education facilities to poor people like books etc. †¢ Not only this they are also providing good quality products that doesn’t harm any kind of injuries to the people while they are using it. †¢ The Company strives to provide a safe and healthy work environment for its employees and to avoid adverse impact and injury to the environment and communities in which the company conducts its business. The commitment is reflected in the number of awards the Company has received including National Award for outstanding pollution control. †¢ The awareness and training programme on health and safety related issues should be conducted regularly. All the employees, and directors shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to health and safety so as to ensure healthy and safe work environment. Using or being under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job is absolutely prohibited. POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY †¢ The price of cement is primarily controlled by the coal rates, power tariffs, railway tariffs, freight, royalty and cess on limestone. Interestingly, government controls all of these prices. †¢ Government is also one of the biggest consumers of the cement in the country. †¢ Govt. of India plans to increase its investment in infrastructure to US $ 1 trillion in the TwelfthFive Year Plan (2012-17) will lead to increase in the demand of cement. †¢ Infrastructure projects such as the dedicated freight corridors, upgraded new airports and ports are expected to enhance the scale of  economic activity, leading to a substantial increase in cement demand furthermore. †¢ Most state governments, in order to attract investments in their respective states, offer Fiscal incentives in the form of sales tax exemptions/deferrals. States like Haryana offer a freeze on power tariff for 5 years, while Gujarat offers exemption from electric duty. †¢ Strict law & order conditions and political will of the leader of any state enhance theconfidence of people living in the states as well as corporate to invest in that particular state. †¢ The total Government levies and taxes , which include Royalty on Limestone, Royalty on Coal,Electricity Duty, VAT/Sales Tax etc.,on cement constitute about 60% or more of the exfactoryprice of cement. Political Environment for Ambuja Cements Its political environmental is totally different from others because they never put any kind of political pressure on any other whether it is against or in favor for them. They always try to follow the proper rules and regulations that are made by the central government. †¢ But still they have to change their strategies as per change in the political environment. †¢ This policy applies solely to the Company and is not intended to discourage or prevent individual Director or Employee from making political contributions or engaging in political activities on their own behalf. †¢ No personal political contribution is reimbursed by the Company. No personal political activities should interfere with duties to be discharged with the Company in line with this Code of Conduct. LEGAL ENVIRONMENT †¢ Ambuja cements is most recognized unit in India and they always they are following proper rules and regulations that are made by central government and also follows that are mentioned in the Company’s ACT 1947 regarding Safety, Health and Social needs. †¢ They should Endeavour to keep abreast of the developments in laws and regulations and comply with the same. If any one gets to know of any non compliance of any of the laws in his or her colleagues area of operation in the company the same is brought to his/her immediate notice as well to the notice of his/her Head of the Department. †¢ All Directors and Employees of the Company conduct business affairs with honesty and integrity and in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and shall not commit any illegal or unethical act or instruct others to do so, for any reason. Technological Factors affecting the Cement Industry †¢ From mining to production the entire process depends on technology. †¢ The Government of India plans to study and possibly acquire new technologies from the cement industry of Japan. †¢ The government is discussing technology transfer in the field of energy conservation and environment protection to help improve efficiency of the Indian cement industry. †¢ At present 93% of the total capacity in the industry is based on modern and environment-friendly dry process technology. †¢ There is tremendous scope for waste heat recovery in cement plants and thereby reduction in emission level. †¢ One project for co-generation of power utilizing waste heat in an Indian cement plant is being implemented with Japanese assistance under Green Aid Plan. †¢ The induction of advanced technology has helped the industry immensely to conserve energy and fuel and to save materials substantially. †¢ Also, some cement plants have set up dedicated jetties for promoting bulk transportation and export. Technological environment for Ambuja Cements Ltd. †¢ It is one of the most important factor as compared to  others. In this particular we are going to discuss that  what type of technology they are using and how much  beneficial for them as well as for the people who are  using this particular product. †¢ Ambuja cements industry is having good quality  machines to make their products and also they are using  latest technology machines. And their technology is very  effective that is implemented and they also implanted  modern technology like Inventory Control system etc INTERNATIONAL Factors affecting Cement  Industry †¢ With the rapid growth rate of the Indian economy after the 1990s, the infrastructural developments within the country has been tremendous. †¢ The increase in the construction activities has led to the increase in the demand for updated quality building materials and other allied products. †¢ Cement being one of the major elements in the construction work, there is a growth in the cement industry in India. The consumption of cement has increased in India by nearly 7.5%. †¢ With the globalization of Indian cement industry many foreign cement manufacturers are engaging themselves in agreements and deals with their India counter parts to have a share of the growth. †¢ Large cement players in India will use the acquisition route to enhance capacity and market share. It is clear that smaller plants will not survive in the long term. The top five players will hold 70-80 % of capacities and market in the next decade. †¢ There is an expectation that more global players would come into India as they would like to get a foothold in the market as the demand will propel in the emerging economies. †¢ Acquisition appears a good route primarily because a Greenfield cement plant takes 3-4 years to build and another 3-4 years to break even at an operating level of even 70-75 %. E.g.:- The acquisition of the Larsen & Toubro cement (ULTRATECH CEMENT LIMITED) business by Grasim Industries Limited in 2003-04 is a case in point.

16 Questions to be Graded Essay

1. The researchers analyzed the data they collected as though it were at what level of measurement? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval/ratio d. Experimental 2. What was the mean posttest empowerment score for the control group? 97.12 3. Compare the mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the experimental group. Was this an expected finding? Provide a rationale for your answer. The mean baseline for depression 14.00 and the post-test for depression was 13.36. The post-test score is 0.64 lower than the baseline score which is what the study hypothesized. The study results state â€Å"This study found that there were significant differences in improvement of empowerment, self-care self-efficacy, and depression in patients who were in the intervention group using empowerment strategies than with the control group patients† (Grove, 2007). 4. Compare the mean baseline and posttest depression scores of the control group. Do these scores strengthen or weaken the validity of the research results? Provide a rationale for your answer. The mean baseline and post-test depression score was 10.40. These scores strengthen the validity of the research results because it shows that depression did not improve for the patients within the control group but the scores did change for the patients in the experimental group. 5. Which group’s test scores had the least amount of variability or dispersion? Provide a rationale for your answer. The control group had the least amount of variability with the depression  score which stayed with a SD of 10.4. 6. Did the empowerment variable or self-care self-efficacy variable demonstrate the greatest amount of dispersion? Provide a rationale for your answer. The empowerment variable demonstrated the greatest amount of dispersion because the mean not only went up by 6.64 the SD also went down by 1.91 suggesting the scores are also closer to accurate. 7. The mean () is a measure of __central__ __tendency__ of a distribution while the SD is a measure of __dispersion_____ of its scores. Both and SD are ____descriptive_____ statistics. 8. What was the mean severity for renal disease for the research subjects? What was the dispersion or variability of the renal disease severity scores? Did the severity scores vary significantly between the control and the experimental groups? Is this important? Provide a rationale for your answer. The mean severity for renal disease for the research subjects was moderately severe with a mean of 6.74, SD of 2.97, from a range of 0-10. The severity scores did not vary significantly and it is important to have the same severity of disease across the board so the outcomes can be true. 9. Which variable was least affected by the empowerment program? Provide a rationale for your answer. The mean for the control group was least affected by the empowerment program only rising 0.4. 10. Was it important for the researchers to include the total means and SDs for the study variables in Table 2 to promote the readers’ understanding of the study results? Provide a rationale for your answer. Yes it was important to include the totals so at a glance anyone can see that even when the experimental and control groups are combined the results still show an improvement in all three categories. References Grove, S. K. (2007). Statistics for Health Care Research: A Practical Workbook. [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://pageburstls.elsevier.com/books/978-1-4160-0226-0/outline/16The citation provided is a guideline, please check each citation for accuracy before use.