Cultural Assimilation Essay

America is one of the countries that have rich culture. Being a large country, many people are living in it from different origins. Some migrated to this place for work or for other reasons, to experience green pastures. Since America is also in line with the latest fashion, many investors are placing their businesses in this place just to try if they can be successful with their field in this country. America is said to have all sorts of people from all over the world. Europeans, Asians, Russians and other native people are going to America for different reasons. There is a question that arises with the largeness of population of America and the variety of the people there. Is America more of a melting pot or a salad bowl? Melting point, as defined in the scientific manner is the temperature when a substance melts at a certain period of time. In the question given in this assignment, maybe the question is up to the way cultures are being transformed into something new after their migration to the state of America. And the questioning about the salad bowl might ask for the variety of the culture and kinds of people in America. To make the questions easier or in layman’s term, in what I understood about the statement, it asks if America is a place for the transformation of culture or is it a place that consists of variety of things? The site of America, in the viewpoint of other countries, is grand. Since many famous personalities came from this country, I guess it contributes with the fame of the country plus the famous infrastructures and the countries it has given influences. When people learned that life in America is great, that life here is too independent and fresh, green money could be earned, they emerged into going here for the sake of work. Maybe as time passes by, the country has become populated of people from different countries. In m opinion, America is more of a salad bowl since the culture and ideas of the people going here is not melted that nothing will be left. I guess the variety of the culture contributes in making it a salad bowl. As we all know, salad bowls are composed of different foods, fruits or vegetables, plus emulsifying agents like mayonnaise and some extenders. If people reached America, I think it will change the personalities of the people but not enabling them to lose their identities. The other culture of other people will just make it juicier but not change the composition of the culture or personality. It’s like changing a chocolate in syrup for a chocolate cake. We can see that the chocolate already mixed with the cake and it will be difficult for us to distinguish what or where the chocolate is located. Being a salad bowl, the mixture of the cultures and people in America is heterogeneous by which we can still distinguish one identity from the other, unlike with the mixture of powdered coffee and creamer where we will find difficulty of separating the two substances, a homogeneous mixture. My point here is that America really is a more of a salad bowl than a melting pot. In the set up, I guess nothing is lost. There is gain in the mixing of cultures in America since there are many things learned as cultures are being mixed. This is an advantage of it that people might learn the tastes of others and the crafts they are into. All in all, even if their journey or their stay in America changes the people a little, it is still for their better thus making them moving and motile. The personalities will not become stagnant. They will still develop into something new. White privilege might mean something that concerns the power of the white people since if we can look back in our history, white people have conquered a lot of countries in the world and this makes them as a powerful state. People see Americans or white people of high class compared to those with dark or darker skin tones. According from the article I have read, there could be culture cultivation by the time that people step in the land of America, that they will be able to penetrate, learn and apply the things that they will learn from that country thus growth will be evident. The process of cultivation is also the process of acceptance of the new resident in America. He/she should be able to learn to cope with the changes so as to live happily in America. References Cultural Assimilation And Consumption Behaviors: A Methodological Investigation. 2000. Retrieved 11 December 2007 from http://www. entrepreneur. com/tradejournals/article/68876925_3. html

Inventory Management Essay

Inventory is the quantity or total amount of goods and materials in a store or factory for some immediate or some future use. The reasons for holding more than adequate stocks of inventory would be 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to keep business operations running and to meet current orders 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to meet unforeseen demand and to effectively meet customer orders 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to take care of the lead time , ie , the time gap between ordering the stores and   receiving them and place orders accordingly 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to use as a hedge against price increases and inflation and control losses 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to even out erratic demand requirements. Inventory control or inventory management is an attempt to maintain an adequate supply of goods while minimizing inventory costs resulting from obtaining and holding inventory with the purpose of providing information to â€Å"efficiently manage the flow of materials, effectively utilize people and equipment, coordinate internal activities and communicate with the customers.†Ã‚   .   Some of the terminologies related to inventory management are EOQ-Economic Order Quantity   – or how much to order SAFETY STOCKS- how much inventory to hold on hand REORDER LEVEL – the minimum levels of stocks at which new order for stocks is to be placed. Visual control –enables the manager to examine the inventory visually and determine if more inventory is required. Tickler control -enables the manager to physically count a small portion of the inventory each day so as to cover the entire range of inventory regularly over several days. Click sheet control is a method whereby the manager records the item as it is used on a sheet of paper. This information is used while determining the reorder levels.   Stub control (used by retailers) enables the manager to retain a portion of the price ticket when the item is sold. The manager can then use the stub to record the item. Point-of-sale terminals relay information on each item used or sold. The manager receives information printouts at regular intervals for review and action. Off-line point-of-sale terminals relay information directly to the supplier’s computer who uses the information to ship additional items automatically to the buyer/inventory manager. The final method for inventory control is done by an outside agency. A manufacturer’s representative visits the large retailer on a scheduled basis, takes the stock count and writes the reorder. Unwanted merchandise is removed from stock and returned to the manufacturer through a predetermined, authorized procedure.

Hypertext and information design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hypertext and information design - Essay Example far as hypermedia is concerned, hypermedia can be described as the documents that have the ability information associated to several media, due to which, the information is allowed to be linked by the help of associations. Hypermedia files can be called as multimedia files with hypertext links (Farkas 2004a). Hypermedia has various layers of information. Hypertext is a useful approach as there are many merits attached to it. Hypertext facilitates us with nodes, links and navigation due to which, we do not face the problem of being lost. We can revert to our position if we go wrong with the help of links and navigations (Conklin 1987). The nodes are small chunks of information. The information that is widespread is divided into nodes and those nodes are linked through links and to go from one link to another, navigations are employed. The hypertext documents can exist into two categories: static and dynamic. Static documents cannot be changed but only be read and viewed while dynamic documents can be changed according to the users’ needs. Due to hypertext, the users are helped with user interface due to which, they have a friendly view for information retrieval. Information design is a not an easy task and the designers and developers are required to arrange the nodes of information in a sequential and logical manner (Farkas 2004a). In hypertext, the user uses the tools due to which, he/she is facilitated with an efficient way to deal with information. Information design is facilitated because of hypertexts. Hypertext theory and concepts are useful to the theory and practice of information design. The information that is designed with the help of hypertext is in non-linear format (Conklin 1987). Also information that is designed is in dynamic style as well in static. The static hypertext documents show information design in a format that does not allow the user to input his/her requirements or criteria in the web page. The dynamic hypertext documents show

An evaluation of the child protection frame work in England and Wales Essay

An evaluation of the child protection frame work in England and Wales from 2000 2014 - Essay Example This essay discusses that various developments have been achieved with regards to the child protection in England and Wales, a factor that has been attributed to the increased scrutiny of the child protection systems after the incident of Victoria Climbie, Baby P namely Peter Connelly and Daniel Pelka. Developments that have been undertaken regarding child protection in England and Wales include the 2010 initiative, in which the Secretary of State for Education in England asked Professor Eileen Munro to undertake an objective and independent review regarding the state of child protection in England. The Social Work Task force preceded the Munro review, which was mandated with the task of advising the Government on the best strategies that could be adopted in order to effectively reform the entire social work profession in England. The Munro review concluded that the child protection system in England was characterized with high levels of direction and bureaucracy and that there was a dire need to create a balance between professional judgment and prescription. Moreover, the report findings were biased towards the development of framework that could enable professionals working with children protection to remain focussed. The above analysis portrays a major gap and shortcomings regarding the various problems that needed to be addressed in order to enhance effective child protection framework. The limitations depicted in child protection range from inadequacies in legal policies to protect children as well as the policy regulation on how Child Professional, Doctors and Parents can help reduce the level of child abuse and deaths in England and Wales.

Agglomeration Economies and Equilbrium Location of Firms Term Paper

Agglomeration Economies and Equilbrium Location of Firms - Term Paper Example gglomeration is widely practiced by the urban metropolis to ensure good supply channels, trained workers, and infrastructure that will be in compliance with the nature of the industry. Owing to agglomeration economies, people and firms give attention to a particular region of operation or a specific geographical region. The basic perception of agglomeration economies is facilitation of production when economic activity is clustered and such notions are developed to suffice the ultimate end of forming and developing a city. Multiple factors like types of economies formed, network connections, and the advantages and disadvantages that may result in the growth of cities.  Two distinct types of agglomeration economies are operating in the global economic domain: urbanization economies and localization economies. An urbanization economy is related to citys population and level of employment along with the multiplicity of its productive constitution. On the contrary, a localization economy is associated with a citys specialization in one specific segment. According to Sassen producer services, unlike other types of services are mostly not as reliant on the proximity of the buyers as consumer services. Thus, concentration of production in suitable locations and export, both regionally and internationally are feasible. Production of these services benefits from the nearness to other services, especially when array of specialized firms are available. These firms obtain agglomeration economies when they settle in the vicinity of the others that are sellers of key inputs necessary for combined production of certain service offerings. This is a valid reason for New Yorks losing of corporate headquarters for the past few decades and the number and employment of firms which were servicing such headquarters went on increasing rapidly. Sassen also highlighted another kind of agglomeration economy which comprises amenities and lifestyles which large urban centers can offer to

Significant Aspect in the Painting Three Studies for Figures at the Essay

Significant Aspect in the Painting Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944) - Essay Example One of his highly influential works was the ‘Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion’ that he did in 1944. This essay will focus on the style of triptych and distorted images that are evident in the painting, making it an outstanding piece, whose relevance has surpassed the passing of time. From the onset of his career, Bacon exhibited an addiction to the Crucifixion as a subject in many of his artistic works. This does not imply that he depicted a salient attachment to religion. He highlighted that the crucifixion represented a unique subject that he could use to express a range of human feelings successfully.2 From the years when he started painting, he demonstrated immense interest in depicting images that he associates closely with the crucifixion. Prior to painting this piece of work in 1944, he had painted other images that revealed his unique style of depicting strange objects. For Bacon, the ‘Three Figures’ marked the beginning of his career because he made claims that he had not taken art as a serious career in the previous years. Apparently, he had painted other pieces of work before this influential piece, but he attributed this to his immature style, judging from the increased criticism he had received from his counterparts and himself.3 According to him, the Three Figures’ served as his debut into painting, and it depicted his mature style. Judging from the uniqueness of the painting, it is evident that he exerted himself and expressed himself in an outstanding manner. Through the use of strange images, he managed to bring out the format of the triptych, a style of painting that redefined his painting experience because he painted many other art pieces using this unique style.4 ‘Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion’ Description The painting has three images that exhibited differences.5 A glance at the images reveals that they are not the usual image that the human eye is familiar with, a factor that makes an art analyst realize that such strangeness is one of the unique aspects of the painting. Whereas many artists depict normal objects that the audience are familiar with in conformity with the realism art ideology, Bacon depicts surrealism in this piece of art.6 Artists belonging to the surrealist school of thought defied the norm and highlighted that art was a form of expression that allowed each individual to express even things that did not exist in nature. This is the ideology that motivated Bacon because the objects depicted in his painting do not exist in real life. From one perspective, the objectives resemble birds while a closer analysis of the depicted torso resembles the body of a woman. This strangeness of the objects reflects surrealism at its best. First Panel on the left In the image on the left side of the painting, the object appears as the torso of a woman, finding support on another object that resembles a table.7 The position t hat the woman’s torso occupies on the table-like structure creates a resemblance to flowers resting on a table. The torsoappearsto have a head that exhibits wrapping using a cloth. The shoulders on the torso resemble reduced wings, giving the viewer a new idea idea that probably the torso is but a chicken after some plucking of its wings and feathers. The head depicts a downward stretch, with a triangle-like picture forming in the view of the observer. The torso seems to have a mouth-like structure resembling the beak of a bird. Further analysis also presents the idea of an animal in its efforts to snarl. Image in the Second Panel The image at the center is different and exhibits multiple contours and a

Negative effects of technology in education Research Paper

Negative effects of technology in education - Research Paper Example One of the most fundamental golden rules that have to be observed when using technology in education is that moderation is everything and this is because of the fact that technology can easily be overused within the classroom, and this can cause a negative effect on the entire learning experience. It is true that some of these effects are already being seen from student texting and internet usage during class and there are also increased prevalence of plagiarism for coursework and general deficiency of respect for accurate language usage particularly when writing essays. This is a clear indicator of the consequences that technology usually has on the intellectual abilities of the current generation and is a display of the overall power of the internet. According to David Gelernter, â€Å"computers are our worst educational nightmares come true.† While it is a fact that independent thought has greatly been encouraged through the reading of books and has ensured the development of new ideas, this ability would be immensely diminished if there were no books in the world because it is only through the study of old ideas that new ideas are developed. Technology that is used in education, such as the internet will inevitably lead to the extinction of books from the education system because it is the source of plenty of information. However, despite the large reserves of information within this technology, the internet does not have the qualities which books have because most of the information gotten from it is often instant and shallow. The internet does not allow individuals to contemplate on the information which they have just received, as books do and the lack of independent thought because of the absence of books is likely to put the human race into a dark age of intellectual stagnation. The ability to think through the study of the previous work of scholars is what has helped the academic advancement of many children in the past and the inability to thi nk and the reliance on shallow sources of information such as the internet is likely to see the end of the academic system as we know it. Students are able to learn about their past from books and with this knowledge, the take action to avoid the mistakes of their past. The use of technology in education has to be moderated because it is a fact that books have been and still are the most credible source of academic information for centuries, and without books, one would conclude that there can be no history. Gelenter further states that â€Å"teaching children to understand the orderly unfolding of a plot or argument is a critical part of education and this is why the study of stories and arguments is only possible through books and because of the developing lack of interest in them, slowly but surely, students are likely to end up without a culture of analyzing their environment. This can clearly be seen when most of the children today prefer watching television, playing video gam es and even social networking on the internet to having intellectual discussions. The power of the media has become so great that many students in the education system do not have the will, or the inclination, to live a different sort of life. When individual students are asked what they learned

Project Quantitative Method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Quantitative Method - Essay Example Five hospitals will be selected from each of the county and the selection will be done by picking the hospitals at an interval of two on a list. After every two hospitals on the list the next will be the one to be studied. The sample size will consist of 100 hospitals which are expected to be studied in this research. The bigger the sample sizes the better because errors will be minimized and the results of the study could be a clear representation of the actual state on the ground and could also be used in other studies. However a bigger sample size means a bigger budget and more time to carry out the study. In protecting research participants, a number of things are going to be considered. Protecting them will begin from the time the sample will be selected, to collection and use of the information gathered. In selecting the participants, reasons will be given why they should be included in the study, how they were brought into the study in order to avoid coercion, they will be required to give consent before participating in the study, they will also be told of the research procedure and any risks they may face together with the benefits that they will get for participating in the study. In the use of the data gathered anonymity will be ensured and no names will be mentioned in the study. This is aimed at protecting the participant’s identities and thus confidentiality will be maintained from collection, to storage and disposal of the data gathered. The study plans on using structured questionnaires that will be used to gather data on the hospitals selected. This method has been selected because it will be easy to administer the questionnaires. The data gathered will be reliable as they will only be given to five people who manage the hospital to increase validity and objectivity. Everything will be done by the researcher as he will be there to ensure that the questionnaire is filled appropriately by clarifying details that may not be understood. The

Events in U.S.A History in 1799 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Events in U.S.A History in 1799 - Research Paper Example Major amendments to the American constitution took place during his reign (Henriques 148). Largely, the American society recorded great changes in its political history following the ascension and death of President George Washington. Many historical facts in American society developed from contribution of renowned personalities in the society. Politics and war are inseparable, in many cases, they would influence the out come of events in the society. The political system adopted by the society in a particular period would influence the outcome of events in the society. For instance, the quest for independence by the American late president George Washington changed the political history of the nation. Social lifestyle of people in the society would change when different politicians ascend to power. Social changes brought by a politician in office would influence the lives of the people in the society. This paper intends to explore the effects of death president George Washington in 1799. Many historical publications through books and articles provide information regarding many reputed political figures that brought social or economic changes in the society. Demise of such political personalities may lead the country into instability. The death of President George Washington brought many changes to the political and social systems in America. Death of George Washington influenced the political system of United States of America. Although he was thought to achieve amicably in many of his policies, some of the changes instigated by his successors impacted political state of the country positively. For instance, Washington did not like formation of many political parties and promoted federal ideology while he was a live (McMaster 326). His death was a blessing to the Militia Legion, which was against his federal system of governance. The Militia Legion believed that, the presence of George Washington promoted federal policies. History records that the Militia Legi on honored a partisan governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas McKean (Koschnik 237). Militia Legion acted contrary to the expectation of many people. The Republican wing followed national mourning script. Another notable event that took place when George Washington died is joint mourning program that was led by Republican militia companies. His death led to the abortion of slavery as he had started in his will. The will indicated the intention of George Washington to abolish slavery and promote equality among the American people. Historian believes that the death of George Washington influenced the reaction of United States to Quasi War. The decision made by United States to engage in Quasi War was contrary to the wishes of President George Washington. George Washington influenced the neutral position that American took in handling the issues European conflicts (Grizzard 111). It is important to note that the European conflict had an impact to United States politically and economically. Th e economical ties between United States of America and the western countries relied on peaceful coexistence among the countries. This major factor influenced the decision of President George Washington. Political events, which took place after his death, respected many political decisions that he made while he was a live. For instance, federal governance system did not collapse. This led to disagreement between the two warring faction which later jeopardized the unity of United States of America. Unity of the nation was very crucial because it marked the end of tyrannical British regime. Another crucial area that is worth noting is role of unity in passing of the sedition act.

Using relevant theories and examples, explain what the Hawthore Essay

Using relevant theories and examples, explain what the Hawthore Experiments demonstrated in relation to Group Norms, Motivations and Leadership - Essay Example Mayo found a general increase in production and in productivity per worker as well as of the group in general, completely independent of any of the changes he made in the experiments. His findings were not in accordance with the then prevalent theory of the worker as being motivated solely by self-interest. It did not make sense that productivity would continue to rise even when he cut out breaks and returned the workers to longer working hours. The segment of the Hawthorne experiments that emphasised the positive effects of benign supervision and concern for workers that made them feel like part of a team became known as the ‘Hawthorne Effect’. The studies were instrumental for the emergence of the human relations school of management and motivational and related theories of worker-behaviour, of participatory management, team building, etc. However, in a true sense the Hawthorne Effect is not just about "positive outcomes†, it is about the absence of any definite correlation (positive or negative) between productivity and the independent variables used in the experiments such as monetary incentive, rest pauses, etc While analyzing the â€Å"amazing† findings of his experiments, Mayo realised that the workers had exercised a freedom they did not have on the factory floor and which had created a social ambience that included the ‘supervisor’ also who tracked their productivity. ‘The talked, they joked, they began to meet socially outside of work’ It is as if Mayo had discovered a fundamental ‘fact’ that seems obvious today, that workplaces are ‘social environments’ and people there are motivated by much more than mere economic self-interest. He concluded that all features of that work environment had social value. This may be characterised as the ‘group dynamics’ of the experiment. When some workers were singled out from the rest of the factory workers, it raised their self-esteem; when they had a friendly

Models of Mental Illness Essay Example for Free

Models of Mental Illness Essay According to authors Robert Perrucci and Steven Wallach, the three models of mental illness are the medical, the behavioral and the societal reaction models. (271). The medical model of mental illness focuses on the structural or physical abnormalities in a patient’s brain which trigger the mental illness. It is concerned with the treatment of the illness and prevention thereof. Thus, this model requires that sufficient psychiatric care with appropriate medication by competent physicians and treatment teams be provided to the patients. It involves paying attention to the biological issues of patients through medical procedures such as the careful monitoring of intended effects and side effects of the treatment, the identification of new problems pertaining to the physical, mental and emotional problems of the patients as they occur, the detection of both acute and residual symptoms as they emerge, the elimination from the entire treatment of toxic chemicals and unnecessary drugs, and the administration of a balanced nutritional diet, an adequate rest and sleep schedule and a regular aerobic exercise program for the patients. (cited in University of South Carolina School of Medicine Psychiatric Rehabilitation) The behavioral model of mental illness, on the other hand, focuses on the series of maladaptive behaviors demonstrated by the patient as a result of his irrational pattern of thinking and perceiving. This model requires the therapeutic alliance of the patient with a person who gives him encouragement, respect and a reality orientation, and then motivates and leads him to be busy with productive activities that are comfortable and useful. It further involves providing the patient ample support and assistance in dealing with how people would normally react to his illness, in developing a balance between over- and under-stimulation, in establishing a relaxed atmosphere and a regular daily routine, in gently encouraging the substitution of inappropriate behaviors with responsible adult behaviors, and in asserting the patient’s â€Å"competence† identity as opposed to an unwholesome and ill identity which only leads him to alienation and self-pity. (cited in University of South Carolina School of Medicine Psychiatric Rehabilitation) Meanwhile, the societal reaction model of mental illness focuses on how the patients are treated by other people. It explores whether each particular patient is perceived by society as a disturbance, given the behavior that he exhibits as a consequence of his mental illness. Moreover, it examines the degree or extent of illness or abnormality that a patient is considered to have in the context of the varying norms of groups and societies. After all, every individual is subject to a set of rules and norms that define what is acceptable and not, what is right and wrong, and what is good and bad. These rules vary as to situations, locations and cultures. This model of mental illness focuses on a patient’s inability to find for himself a sense of purpose, peace, harmony, and health in the family or community he belongs to, as would have been necessary for him to attain personal and social success. Furthermore, this model requires that the patient be taught and guided to develop and maintain the skills and abilities necessary for becoming a healthy and normal member of the society. It also emphasizes the need for the patients to be assisted in learning survival skills including psychosocial and occupational rehabilitation, in developing communication and problem-solving skills and in establishing a social network that would be supportive of them. (cited in University of South Carolina School of Medicine Psychiatric Rehabilitation)

Theories Of Leadership And Trait Theory

Theories Of Leadership And Trait Theory INTRODUCTION: The question Are Leaders Born or Made? has been the most discussed topic in leadership studies. There has been research related to the proposing inherited traits of leadership such as Kilpatrick and Locke (1991). However, later in the century, theories surfaced regarding behavioral approaches to leadership. Blake and Mouton (1964) and Northouse (1997) focused on leadership behavior which contradicted the theory establishing that leadership is just for the chosen few, not accessible to all people. Firstly, we will discuss what leadership means, then explore research and theories and its relationship with the concept of employee motivation. LEADERSHIP DEFINITION A LEADERSHIP is a social process in which one individual has the power to affects the group of others without the use of threat or violence THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP There are 4 basic theories of leadership. Given and described below: TRAIT THEORY Peoples are born with inherited personal qualities know as traits. Some traits are particularly suited to leadership. People with having good leaders qualities have sufficient combination of traits. This theory was basically a Psychology one. In which individuals are given importance on their natural or personal characteristics or traits. Importance was given to enhance and discovering those traits in individuals, often by studying successful leaders. But with the underlying assumption was if those qualities are to be found in other peoples as well then they, too, could have the talent to become great leaders. Some of the traits and skill to become great leader is given below in the chart. Stogdill (1974) identified the following traits and skills as critical to leaders McCall and Lombardo (1983) researched both success and failure identified four primary traits by which leaders could succeed or derail: Emotional stability and composure: Calm, confident and predictable, particularly when under stress. Admitting error: Owning up to mistakes, rather than putting energy into covering up. Good interpersonal skills: Able to communicate and persuade others without resort to negative or coercive tactics. Intellectual breadth: Able to understand a wide range of areas, rather than having a narrow (and narrow-minded) area of expertise. Many years back these inherited traits were being sidelined as learned and situational factors are being given due importance and are considered as far more realistic as reason for people in acquiring leader positions. But now they are being given importance as no individual can become leader if he has not acquired the leadership qualities personally or have learned from experience. SITUATIONAL THEORY The brilliant reaction of the leader shows in the situational factor. When the decision is needed the leader here does not just go into the single preferred style such as transactional or transformational because to them things are not as simple as they seem. The factor that can affect this kind of theory is the motivation and capability of the followers towards the leader. As the relationship between a leader and the followers is another thing in this regard depending on each others behavior among the leader and the followers. Perception of the leader is also very important in this regard towards his followers because if he has good perception about his followers than he ill deal calmly otherwise he will threaten his followers to follow him. Yukl (1989) seeks to combine other approaches and identifies six variables: Subordinate effort: the motivation and actual effort expended. Subordinate ability and role clarity: followers knowing what to do and how to do it. Organization of the work: the structure of the work and utilization of resources. Cooperation and cohesiveness: of the group in working together. Resources and support: the availability of tools, materials, people, etc. External coordination: the need to collaborate with other groups. Leaders here work on such factors as external relationships, acquisition of resources, managing demands on the group and managing the structures and culture of the group. Tannenbaum and Schmidt (1958) identified three situations affecting leaders action. The forces in the situation; the forces in the followers and the forces in leader. This recognizes that the leaders style is really variable and even such distant that a family dispute can also affects his perception and working with his followers and can create aggression as well among them. Maier (1963) noted that leaders not only consider the likelihood of a follower accepting a suggestion, but also the overall importance of getting things done. Thus in critical situations, a leader is more likely to be directive in style simply because of the implications of failure. ECLECTIC THEORY This theory goes with the combination of the above two theories namely THE TRAIT THEORY and THE SITUATIONAL THEORY. This deals in having the factor of both the above discussed theories of leadership. To have a successful and friendly environment between the leader and the followers. STYLE THEORY This theory deals with the behavior of leader himself with his employees or the followers. If the behavior will be good the affect of the good relation of both will portrays on the situation or problem which is considered to be solved. EXECUTIVE THEORY In this theory the manager or the leader has both a high task orientation and a high relationship orientation. COMPROMISING THEORY In this theory the leader is Poor at making and sticking to decisions BENEVOLENT AUTOCRAT THEORY In this theory leader has some trust and regard for his team so is more effective in doing any work. AUTOCRAT THEORY In this theory the leader has no confidence in others and is unpleasant, overbearing and less effective. DEVELOPER THEORY In this theory the leader builds trust on the team implicitly and wants to develop them as people. MISSIONARY INTERESTED THEORY In this theory the leader mainly focussed on harmony and cooperation so not as effective DESERTER THEORY In this theory the leader is someone who is uninvolved and withdrawn in or from the working or dealing. BEAURAUCRAT THEORY Its basically about the Conscientious of the leader himself that how much loyal is he to himself and others. CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY: Leader should have the feeling to accept his responsibility. SELF CONFIDENCE: Leader should have the self confidence container to avoid confusions and hesitations during his work. GENERAL CONFIDENCE: Must have the ability to have confidence on plotting or presenting general views on any thing and issues regarding matter. INTEGRITY: He must be the strong holder of integrity or honesty to present himself well. INTELLIGENCE: Leader must have the intelligence on and in his work of any type. This would avoid arguments and confusions with his work and employees. SKILLS OF THE LEADERSHIP There are several characteristics of leadership which are required to become a good leader. ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY: Person must have the ability to organize things and people according to their capability in doing any work. ACCEPTANCE BY PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS: Leader must have the ability to influence all peoples idea towards his own and the ability to accept him as their leader. ENERGY: Must have the energy or power to deal with any situation with his followers or employees. ENCOURAGING INITIATIVE IN OTHERS: Leader must have the ability to take proper and appropriate actions in different situations without any confusion or hesitation. DELEGATION: Must have the input to make delegations and impress others as well. TACT: Should have ability to care and sill in ones behavior to people, to avoid hurting or offending them. SELF-DISCIPLINE: Must be disciplined as well for setting an example for his people and to look after them. PROBLEM SOLVING: Leader should be able to solve any kind of problem arise during working to set up a leader impression and to be out of mistakes. OLD EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION In this qualitative study, the 1950s-1970s work of Frederick Herzberg, the father of work motivational research, was compared, and contrasted with current data study about management effectiveness to explore how employee motivation may have changed. Staff members and managers (N=38), primarily form healthcare settings, but also from academic, public, and private sector businesses were interviewed. Interpersonal relations now rank first as a motivating factor in this study. Recognition, the work itself, and responsibility are still ranked as critical motivating factors. These are important to understand as work is redesigned. Supporting positive interpersonal relations among subordinates, supervisors, and peers can be viewed as an effective management strategy to facilitate employee motivation. For employees, developing positive interpersonal relations with co-workers can enhance individual motivation and may improve job satisfaction. CRITICISIM ON THE NOTION OF LEADERSHIP AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONCEPT OF OLD EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION The concept of old employee motivation and its relation with the notion of leadership shall be criticized on the base that in early time people were given important on their realistic things and truths they dont have to learned any thing to acquire leadership, but now a days people have to be more sophisticated thinker and broadminded to take good decision and sometimes have to be more biased to give their company profit and make their company reach to highest peak. People now criticize the thing that old employee motivation was better as compared to now because now managers or we can say leaders are only thinking of themselves while the whole work is done by the employers as well. But employers are not given due importance in this regard now a day. So the mind set of leadership is creating bad affect in companies now because everyone is equally important in the team work including the manager himself. Peoples or the employees need satisfaction from their managers to get encouraged in their work and so can do much more better work in organization. Today as the advancement is increasing the organizations are creating partitions or fields for different work which cause lack of communication between the employees and the manager. Instead of this the new employees that come in organizations by recruitment feel really difficult to understand the whole process of the vast organizational functions. This will make them unable to flow proper with the organization. They want to get introduced first to the system before coming its part and this will be very difficult for them if company or organization have many departments in itself. This will create a big gap between the new employees and the old existing staff as well. Which later shows disputes between the staff members and the new employees as well. In fact the old concept was to make an organization really family like structure that can be understand by any one whether new or old all should get into the flow of system its basic aim was also to take the whole team together with courage, equality and power so that the organization can get good output results and which boost up the profit of the company or organization. Communication between the manager and the employees creates a friendly environment in which everyone should love to exchange views and share companies problem to get the best possible solution for their company. This was also due to the reason that the employees and manager get in touch more and discuss problems with full swing which is not the part of today occurring management systems. Thus this was a basic weak point of present organizations which is affecting the countrys economy as well CONCLUSION Leadership is elusive but momentous, passionate but single minded a matter of patience but sudden opportunity, a great struggle for victory and finally creating a leader to replace you. As shown in the figure 0.15. http://www.uptecnet.com/rel2/tv/download/TV010407/images/fig15.gif Nowadays, most scholars in the field have come to conclude that leaders are both born and made. Many leaders are born with qualities and attributes that assist them in leadership effectiveness. While at the same time development in their childhood and adolescence, education and later work experiences encourage and cultivate leadership abilities. (Bass, 1990; and Conger, 1992)

US Negotiations with Iran

US Negotiations with Iran The United States should negotiate with Iran The subject of US involvement in Iranian affairs is something which has been in existence for quite a while now. The intriguing thing is that in as much as this is a topic I discussed so much, very little is known about the very facts that come into perspective when looking at this issue (Parsi, 25). In as much as the United States is one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world, there are some aspects that are associated with Iran which cannot just be overlooked. The following are some of the issues which are pointed out by the US Department of State: The Iranian Nuclear Challenge The nuclear activities which are associated with Iran are some of the things which have become significant concerns which the world is having to face in the modern age. At the moment, the country is capable of producing nuclear weapons. This is something very dangerous considering over the past the nation has been having very rogue leaders. Some of the activities associated with these leaders can lead to the emergence of an arms race in a region which is already lit up with violence. At the same time, there is unrivalled hatred between Iran and Israel, one of the United States’ greatest allies. Having the leaders of such nation have such weapons at their disposal could spell doom in the region (Bahgat, 150). Time and time again it has always been the policy of the United States to ensure that Iran does not come to be in possession of nuclear weapons. In this same regard, the United States is willing to do anything within its power for the purpose of ensuring that indeed Iran does not own nuclear weapons. There are several reason why this is the case. However, the one which stands out significantly is the fact that Iran tends to keep its nuclear activities so secret (Parsi, 67). The country has become so secretive to the extent that it has even concealed these happenings from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The ultimatums which have been given to Iran by the US seem not to be having any impact on the position which the country takes with regard to its nuclear activities. The main idea in this case was to compel Iran to own up to its nuclear responsibilities and become a full member of countries associated with nuclear activities or risk being further isolated or having sanctions imposed against it. It has become rather clear that the country has opted for isolation. Supporting Terrorism-related activities Away from the nuclear activities in Iraq, it has also become rather clear that Iran is in support of Bashad Asad of Syria. In this same regard it should be understood that it is Asad who has been responsible for some of the destabilizing activities which have been witnessed in the Middle East. Some of these activities have led to widespread suffering of many innocent civilians in the world. These Iranian terrorism-related activities are not only seen with the Iranian government. There are some other instances where the citizens of the country come into view. For example, in the year 2012, there are Kenyan authorities who arrested Iranian nationals who had explosives and they were targeting the Western and Israeli spots. In this same regard, the Iranian government continues to fund terrorist groups both in and around Iran. Outreach to the Iranian People It is without a doubt that the Iranian people are indeed suffering. This is majorly because of the regime which is in their country. In this same regard, there are various ways which the United States seeks to communicate to the Iranian citizens in a bid to keep them informed and empowered. These are through online platforms and even social media. There is one outstanding feedback which comes out from these interactions. The people of the country are going through significant detriment as a result of misplaced priorities by the government, corruption and mismanagement. The leadership of the country has opted to spend huge sums of money in arming its terrorist and military proxies all over the world at the expense of local development in the country (Bahgat, 145). It is of importance to let these citizens know of the many opportuinities which they have outside their entrapments. At the same time, they should be made aware of the significant potential which they have. There are very many examples of Iranian Americans who have made very significant developments in the country. Need for Negotiation From the discussions, it can be seen that Iran is indeed a nation that has a lot of potential which when not well handled, there may be a lot of repercussions not only on the United States but all over the world. Some of the influence which this country has is already being felt in the country itself and also in regions where affiliates of Iran operate, more specifically ISIS. Most of the dealings with the country has been to do with the rule of thumb. So far, these have proved not to work as the country has proved not to be shaken. It would be advisable to try and look at aspects to do with negotiation. This is an option which has not been tried and it is actually unknown whether the results may be any different if indeed this option gets to be considered (Parsi, 23). One of the probable reasons why the Iranian authorities have become so defiant is because they have been isolated by a significant section of the world. For this reason, they may be of the opinion that proving defiant may be a way of showing these other nations that indeed the Iranians can take care of themselves. However, this action is something that may boost the egos of the leaders but will have severe repercussions for the people of the country. It is also on such grounds that indeed there is need for negotiations. The reason for this is because the hardliner stand which the United States may be taking may be for the purpose of punishing the leaders or sending some kind of message but ultimately the people who end up suffering are the citizens of the country. The United Nations has for a long time been a nation that influences almost all the activities that go on in the world. It will indeed be in order if the country can also be on the forefront of championing for the liberatio n of the people of Iran. In as much as there may be involvement of Iranian nationals on some terrorist activities, it should be understood that these opinions shared by these individuals do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire population of the people in the country. In this same regard, it should be noted that the cooperation of the country itself when it comes to matters to do with negotiation will mean that the neighboring allies of the United States will have peace and tranquility. The United States will also not incur expenses for the purpose of ensuring that the region is stable. These expenses majorly come about as a result of military deployment in the area not forgetting matters to do with humanitarian aid. Works Cited A Single Roll of the Dice Obamas Diplomacy with Iran. Yale UP, 2012. Print. Bahgat, Gawdat. Iran and the United States: Reconcilable Differences? Iranian Studies: 139-54. Print. Parsi, Trita. Treacherous Alliance the Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States. New Haven: Yale UP, 2007. Print. Bahgat, Gawdat. Iran And The United States: Reconcilable Differences?. Iranian Studies 41.2 (2008): 139-154. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2015. SASLEY, BRENT E. A Single Roll Of The Dice: Obamas Diplomacy With Iran. Political Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell) 128.1 (2013): 175-176. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2015.

What do you understand by the own-price elasticity of demand for a good

What do you understand by the own-price elasticity of demand for a good? 1. (a) What do you understand by the own-price elasticity of demand for a good? (b) Will a linear (straight line) demand curve have a constant own-price elasticity of demand? Explain your answer. (c) Following the terrorists attacks in the USA on 11 September, there was a marked fall in business travel. In respomse, many hotels cut their prices to business travellers; for example the Hyatt Hotel group offered discounts of up to 50 per cent off regular room rates. Under what circumstances would this lead to increased revenue for these hotels? Before we define the meaning of the own-price elasticity for a good we must understand elasticity and its concept in general. Elasticity is basically a comparison between the sizes of change in the quantity demanded, in the case of the own-price elasticity, of a certain good and in the variable that caused this change. According to Mankiwelasticity is a measure of the responsiveness of quantity demanded or quantity supplied to one of its determinants. The law of demand implies that an increase in a price of a good will subsequently lead to a fall in the quantity demanded for that good. The formulae which calculates this amount is the division of the percentage of change in quantity demanded by the percentage of change in price. The sign of price elasticity of demand, and elasticity as well, is always going to be negative due to the fact that quantity and price demanded are usually in opposite directions. Elasticity is going to be negative as well since neither the percentage change in price nor the the percentage change in quantity ar... ...sequent repurcusion this had in economy as a whole brought a downfall in business travelling. The hotels in order to manage this crisis effectively reduced their prices and offered discounts in order to increase the quantity of customers visiting them. If we consider the law of demand in this case, hotel reservations should increase in this period as well as the total revenue of the business but this would happen when the price elasticity of demand is elastic. This happens when the percentage change in quantity is larger than the percentage change in price. Concluding, we would easily say that it is assume that the hotels would increase their total revenue with discounts and better prices but this is not always the case. There are other factors influencing customer behaviour after these terrorist attacks that would not be easily predicted or affluenced.

Philosophy of Education :: essays research papers

My Philosophy of Education   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that every child has the ability to learn, but it takes a good teacher to be able to bring this ability out. This is a role I would like to take. I believe the purposes of education are necessary for the child to live a successful life. In my opinion, the school’s goals should begin with providing students the necessary knowledge and experiences to help contribute to our society. And it will be a very important goal for me to help my students succeed any where they go.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being a teacher is something that I've thought about since the first grade. The desire to be a teacher is a different story. It is almost a powerful feeling knowing that I can change the lives of so many students. A child will learn as it grows up, that is a given. But will it learn properly is another story. I have not yet determined how I have learned because I am not yet grown up, but I believe there is a lot for me to learn, but I do know that I have a strong will to be an educator, and be remembered as some one who had an influence in a child’s life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Everything taught in school will someday benefit the child whether he holds a job in that field, or has to figure out a real life problem that can be solved by using what he learned in school. I believe that children learn best when they are taught under certain conditions and in certain ways. Some of these are having children experiment with examples of the topic being taught. Many children learn by doing, so the child has a better understanding of what is being taught. Another way that children may learn best is working in a small group with other children. The task can be done faster and more thought out, and there is less stress on the child. By working in a small group, the children can come up with different ideas and strategies on how to solve a problem. This benefits the child because he learns to help others, as well as having others help him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Numerous extracurricular activities should be provided so that the student’s can get involved with their school in many different ways. Somehow, the school needs to become a place that kids look forward to coming to every day, not a place they dread and don’t want to be at.

Exploring To Kill a Mocking Bird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Exploring the American Novel To Kill a Mocking Bird Good Morning I have been given the task of speaking to you about American literature and the impact that specific books may have on Australian readers. In particular my main focus today will concentrate on the issue of racial prejudice. One of my favourite books comes to mind when discussing this topic because it effectively argues for multi-ethnicity from different vantage points. â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird† is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, based on the defence of an obviously innocent African-American man, charged with raping a young white girl. One of the books important themes involves the threat that hatred, prejudice and ignorance poses to the innocent. Though society has changed greatly since the release of this book, the strength of the issues relayed in classics such as this one will never lose their appeal. While reading the American novel â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird†, it was obvious to me that this book was an example of one instance when right does not triumph. As uncertain as the political climate may be in parts of the world today, it was extremely more volatile in the 30’s, which was when To Kill a Mocking Bird was set. The book takes place in a small Alabama town, where racial equality was non-existent. The novel begins with Scout Finch, who is now an adult remembering the summer when her brother, Jem broke his arm and recalling the incidents that led to this event. She introduces her hometown Maycomb Alabama, her father Atticus Finch, attorney, Calpurnia their â€Å"Negro† cook and housekeeper, Dill and various neighbours. Despite the fact that Calpurnia was a Negro she was very influential in the character building of the two children. She was like a mother figure to them and taught them tolerance that took them beyond the prejudices of Maycomb society. She treated the children as her equal, rather than a black or white person. Calpurnia wanted the children to experience a different attitude towards race and prejudice. Therefore she took them to her church where and they sang and prayed. They felt welcomed by the black community and knew that this acceptance was probably due to the fact the their father, Atticus had supported Tom and believed in his innocence. While there are plenty of civil rights injustices to be found in the news headlines today, our attitude towards race relations has changed dramatically. The book however, reveals that to live in the 1930’s and be black meant living a life as an inferior being. The attitude of the townsfolk in this book was to let things stay as they had

Breaking Binaries in The Odyssey: An Exploration The New Woman in The Penelopiad Essay

In the Homeric Epic, women are cast into one of two dichotomous roles: that of the wise and faithful or that of the foolish and disloyal. However in Atwood’s The Penelopiad these roles are deconstructed such that they become fluid as opposed to concrete—such that the women do not wholly occupy one role or the other but rather move on a balance beam between the two, sometimes leaning nearer to one lateral or the other but never resting on the end points of either side. In the unfettered world of The Penelopiad, woman are granted the voices that they are denied in The Odyssey; they are free to weave their own epic stories of cunning, captivity, danger, victory, and failure. The Penelopiad therefore gives rise to a â€Å"new† woman who is not bound by Homeric conventions that confine reader to a singular understanding of The Odyssey and its characters; rather Atwood unveils a myriad of possibilities, explanations, and motivations behind the events of The Odyssey as they are imagined by Homer. Our minds are opened to realities and potentials either unconsidered, or considered but immediately abandoned for lack of emphasis, by the readers. We are made to ponder what seem to be obscurities and minor inconsistencies in The Odyssey that upon deeper exploration and analysis serve to completely revolutionize the conventional reading of The Odyssey in terms of the female characters. Atwood accomplishes this impressive feat by exploring the â€Å"dark alleyways† that lead us to alternate, but plausible, conclusions as evidenced by the expressions of the muted cast of The Odyssey—Penelope and the twelve hanged maids. The Odyssey presents Penelope as being wholly wise. She is the appropriate counterpart for the wise and cunning Odysseus. She is revered by the other characters for her wisdom. She is not made to appear foolish because one cannot be both wise and unwise in a dichotomy. In The Penelopiad she exhibits an even more fierce display of her wisdom, but also admits her foolishness and poor decisions. For example, she tells us that she knew Odysseus was still alive because he had not yet appeared to her in a dream, and admits that she had recognized Odysseus upon his arrival but placed the bow to be sure. She tells also that she had asked the prettiest and most faithful of her maids to entice the suitors and learn of their plots by any means necessary. Yet she fails to consider what Odysseus would think after returning home and hearing, or worse observing, the behavior of the maids. Moreover, when she knows that he has returned she sets her mind to proving her wisdom and faith by telling â€Å"the beggar† of her woes she had suffered in his absence and of the shroud. She also pranks him by setting Eurycleia to wash his feet knowing that she would recognize the scar and laughing to herself at how they tried to cover it up, and she tests him with the bow. But not once did she consider her maids. Nor did she think that she to tell Eurycleia of her activities with the maids knowing how faithful she was to Odysseus and how he would trust her judgment. Nor did she consider the possibility of their being raped or seduced when she set them upon the suitors to be her spies. Such folly and unwise decisions conflict with the Penelope we come to know in The Odyssey, but all is revealed in The Penelopiad. Coral Howells notes, in her piece â€Å"Five Ways of Looking at The Penelopiad,† that, â€Å"Penelope’s is not the only voice here; her tale is frequently interrupted by the voices of her twelve hanged maids, those nameless slave girls who have nothing to say in The Odyssey† (Howells 5-6). Similar to Penelope’s plight in The Odyssey, the maids are cast in a dichotomous role—that of the whore and disloyal servant. They are painted as scandalous, ungrateful, spiteful woman who abuse the household of their master Odysseus with their disrespect for the queen and her son, as well as their interactions with the suitors. Eurycleia is all too willing to, â€Å"report in full on the women†¦who are disloyal†¦who are guiltless† (Homer 406). And despite Odysseus dismissal, she was in fact later called upon to expose the disloyal servants for the whores that they were, according to The Odyssey that is. The possibilities are opened in The Penelopiad. For example, the women are condemned in the Odyssey for having sexual relations with the suitors. This behavior is attributed to their role as whores and unfaithful servitude without any consideration of other possibilities or circumstances. In The Penelopiad, they maids speak of being, â€Å"dirty girls† by occupation. They say, â€Å"If our owners or the sons of our owners or a visiting nobleman or the sons of a visiting nobleman wanted to sleep with us, we could not refuse. It did us no good to weep, it did us no good to say we were in pain† (Atwood 13-14). In a later chapter Penelope remarks, â€Å"It is not unusual for guests in a large household or palace to sleep with the maids†¦but it was irregular for servants to be used in this way without the permission of the master of the house†¦However there was no master of the house. So the suitors helped themselves to the maids in the same way they helped themselves to the sheep† (Atwood 116). Therefore, their behavior should have been considered in the same way that Penelope’s was: dutiful and loyal to their master. Penelope tells the reader that giving visitors to pick of their servant girls was a part of good hospitality—a very important convention in the Homeric epic—and the master of the house happily obliges them in their choice (Atwood 116). Considering this, by sleeping with the suitors, the girls were continuing in the same behavior that would have been promoted and even expected if Odysseus were home. Despite this reality the maids are placed in the category of the whore, therefore their actions must be presented as indicative of their role. The dichotomous classifications of women in The Odyssey would not allow them to be both promiscuous and faithful. They are limited to obscurity, being minor characters, â€Å"neglected to the margins of the narrative;† they serve no other purpose than to fulfill their role in the epic convention and suffer what most readers of The Odyssey would consider a much deserved fate (Howells 6). However in The Penelopiad the maids become the majority, holding the voice of commendation or condemnation, a voice previously denied to them in the epic. Mihoko Suzuki finds that Atwood uses parody and burlesque to expose the Odyssey’s unfair representation of women and their lack of complexity due to the placed upon them by the epic. She argues that Atwood uses her modern examining of the Penelope and her maids to, â€Å"allow agency, intelligence, and voice to female protagonists who may not be equivocally amiable.† (Suzuki 270). She goes on to argue that that, â€Å"through their debunking, light-hearted burlesque Atwood makes a more serious point; the maids function as a tragic chorus, commenting on the actions of the hero, Odysseus (and in a later chorus, Penelope)† (Suzuki 272). Atwood allows the women to occupy identities other than that of the dichotomous prudent and honorable wife and foolish dishonorable harlot. Howells argues that Atwood’s project in The Penelopiad, â€Å"Atwood’s project is to retell The Odyssey as herstory† (Howells 8). And in doing so, Atwood addresses many of the unanswered questions in The Odyssey by allowing. In her re-envisioning of The Odyssey she takes the poem out of the context of the Homeric Epic to speak plainly and bluntly about the true events of The Odyssey, or at least some quite plausible possibilities. Shannon Collins notes that The Odyssey is, â€Å"A recitation of a blind poet, who recounts the stories told by a famous liar and adventurer, the poem contains narrative nested within narrative† (Collins 57). Likewise, Howell mentions that, â€Å"It seems that Atwood is using Penelope to tell another story within it: the story of the hanged maids† (Howells 6). The stories have in common therefore that they are both metafictional, true to Homeric epic convention, however as Collins says, â€Å"In the Greek epics, women do not star in their own tales so much as play supporting roles in the adventures of others† (Collins 57). Therefore, casting Penelope as the narrator is essential to Atwood’s formation of the ‘new’ woman we find in The Penelopiad. We find in Homers interpretation that the women are described only by other characters but not given the opportunity to speak about themselves. This can have a profound effect on the facts of the story—on what is deemed important therefore which facts are told and untold—and also on how those facts are communicated. The values, beliefs, frustrations, and insights of a person or group often influence not only the tone and mood of the story—that is to say what is impressed upon the reader—but also the details of the major events as well. For example, Homer paints Odyssus as a cunning, brave, and well deserving hero with amazing exploits while Penelope paints him as a boastful, short-legged, tricky liar with amazing stories. Collins argues therefore that, â€Å"each of the women characters also has a story to tell, though their versions may be different from the official one. Our own stories are by necessity different than the stories told about us by others. The story- tellers may claim to tell an objective truth, but who can know the truths of our own individual stories† (Collins 57)? Although Atwood explains that, â€Å"Writing The Penelopiad allowed me not only to revisit an ancient and powerful tale, but to explore a few dark alleyways in the story that have always intrigued me,† she ultimately leaves the reader in the same predicament as the Odyssey; true to the epic, we are left with many questions (Atwood 58). Who’s telling the truth about the shroud, the suitors, and the slaughter: Penelope or the maids? Was it Eurycleia who perpetrated the slaughter of the maids on her own accord out of jealousy? If Penelope was so wise and indeed recognized Odysseus as she says, why didn’t she tell him the ‘spies’ at the same time she told him about the shroud? Unlike Homer however, she also opens our minds to new possibilities—perhaps Odysseus’ exploits were over-exaggerated fables adaptations of the truth in which battles with Cyclops were merely bar fights and goddesses were merely high-priced whores. Atwood’s widely imaginative, but strongly conceivable, answers to the unanswered questions of The Odyssey are some of the reasons I and many other readers fall so deeply in love with The Penelopiad. The means by which she develops these new possibilities give voices, first-hand interaction, and real humanity to the women of the Odyssey. They become real people—real women with real emotions, desires, grievances, and pain—as opposed to the simple manifestation of the roles that they play in The Odyssey: the faithful wife, the disloyal servant. Of course they serve a specific purpose to the plot and themes of The Penelopiad ad they do in Homer, they are not locked into being the muted puzzle pieces that they are in Homer. Atwood, Margaret. â€Å"The Myth Series and Me.† Publishers Weekly 252.47 (2005): 58. Academic Search Alumni Edition. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. . In this brief articles, referenced quite frequently in literary criticism and examination of The Penelopiad, Atwood divulges her motivations behind the creation of the The Penelopiad and her thoughts about the re-telling of classic myths. Particularly, she admits that one of her intentions in The Penelopiad is to respond to, or provide answers to, some of the mysteries of The Odyssey. Atwood, Margaret. The Penelopiad. New York: Canongate, 2005. Print. Collins, Shannon C. â€Å"Setting the Stories Straight: A Reading of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad.† Carson-Newman Studies 11.No. 1 (2006): 57-66. Library.cn.edu/. Carson-Newman College. Web. Collins comments on the art of storytelling as depicted in The Odyssey and The Penelopiad. She evaluates the stories told by Penelope, Odyseus (in the Odyssey which are commented upon, or rather revised by Penelope in The Penelopiad), and the maids. Her arguments provide support for the voices of the women of The Penelopiad existing only outside the confines of the Homeric Epic as women, namely the maids, are not given the opportunity to weave their own stories in The Odyssey but are endowed with voices in The Penelopiad to do just that—to tell give an â€Å"herstorical† account of The Odyssey. Mihoko, Suzuki. â€Å"Rewriting the Odyssey in the Twenty-First Century: Mary Zimmerman’s Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad.† Approaches to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. By Kostas Myrsiades. New York: Peter Lang, 2010. 239-54. Analyzing Atwood’s works from a feminist perspective, Suzuki offers valuable insight to the critical nature of The Penelopiad. Particularly interesting are her comments on the voices of the women in The Penelopiad that we do not hear in the Homer’s The Odyssey.

Compare and contrast the Lady of Shalott with In Westminster Abby Essay

Consider * The context * The depiction of the women * Form * The poets’ use of language * Your response Both of the poems are about a woman. From the outset the two women appear very different, but when you study them more closely and we can begin to discover similarities. I think that both the woman in The Lady of Shalott and the women in West Minister Abbey are prisoners in some way or form. It is maybe more obvious in The Lady of Shalott where she is actually imprisoned inside a tower which is on an island and more than that she is also imprisoned by a curse which is upon her. The woman in Westminster Abbey is imprisoned by her lack of connection with reality and is so out of touch with the real world that I would say she is a prisoner within her self. The main difference between the two women is that one of them knows she is a prisoner and eventually in the end breaks away (even though it kills her) yet the other is blaitinly unaware. The tradition is which they are written is very different. The Lady of Shalott tells a story therefore it is a Narrative poem. In Westminster is about self-revelation so it is a dramatic monologue. The Lady of Shalott is set in the era of King Author and the Knights of the Round Table. The poem features Sir Lancelot (one of the greatest of the Knights) who is a key character. I think he symbolizes the male system that was very dominant back in the Victorian times. In short Lancelot represents to her all that she can’t have and accepting death is better than being locked up. The poem is split into four parts, which build a kind of chapter formation. Part one gives us a bit of insight to what her surroundings are like and the fact she lives in a tower and that no one really knows very much about her. â€Å"Down to tower’d Camelot: And by the moon the reaper weary, Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers † ‘Tis the fairy Lady of Shalott.† This quote from the poem (which is the last four lines of part 1) tells us that she is perceived almost like some kind of super natural being. In part two the lady of Shalott never stops working. She is weaving a picture of the things she sees reflected by a mirror so what she sees is 2-d and fickle. (Notice the contrast, her surroundings are drab yet her tapestry is colourful) â€Å"A funeral, with plumes and lights and music, went to Camelot: Or when the moon was overhead, Came two young lovers lately wed† The above statement connects the funeral with a wedding like both are equal and that love is equivalent to death. The lady then realizes that there is something unsubstantial about her life and proclaims â€Å"I’m half sick of shadows† In Part three Lancelot appears and she sees his attractive reflection in the mirror, it appeals to her so much that she stops her work and looks out through the window at him. SHOCK the mirror breaks and the curse has come upon her. We can see how the lady almost becomes a mirror in herself with the glassy expression on her face. In this ‘chapter’ the rhyming pattern changes when Lancelot appears, usually every verse ends with the word Shalott but one of the verses ends with Camelot instead. This is symbolic of how much devastation he actually causes, the whole form of the poem alters when he appears. In part four she wonders from the tower down to Camelot. And down the river’s dim expanse — Like some bold seer in a trance, Seeing all his own mischance — With a glassy countenance†¦. These lines tell of the lady’s trance like gaze possibly cause by thoughts of passion and desire (Lancelot). This could indicate that she is not responsible for her own actions. The changes of weather in the ‘chapter’ indicate the change in mood. She comes down to Camelot and finds a boat that is her final resting-place. She does not kill her self, nor is she evil because her last song is said to be mournful and holy. All the people gather round her and in the crowd, totally oblivious to the fact he caused her death Lancelot proclaims that god has mercy on her as she has a lovely face. In Westminster Abbey is set during a war against Germany in the church in Westminster abbey. A woman is talking the whole time, which makes this, distinctly different from the last. In fact she is doing more than talking, she is praying. Once we discover that the audience is God we become very shocked by the things she is coming out with, especially when she says if he makes a mistake she will forgive him! She is being incredibly selfish and asking for special treatment i.e. that she should be protected more than anyone else. The woman is being greedy and praying for silly things like that her shares down go down and such like. In one of the verses she is talking about why England should win. There is great juxtaposition in the list that she gives placing things like democracy and class distinction together and then bringing in the fact they have proper drains, which just shows her snobbery. In other parts she is racist telling god to protect the blacks but to protect the whites more, which is saying that whites are more important just because they are more sophisticated and probably more civilized that the blacks she was talking about. The last verse gives us real insight into her character. She asks God for what she wants and expects to have her prayers answered in return for doing things she should have been doing any way. I.e. helping the war effort and going to church ‘when ever she got the time’. The poem ends with her having to leave for a social occasion- â€Å"A now dear lord I cannot wait, Because I have a luncheon date† She is a snob and she thinks God is one too, instead of praying to him in her local church she comes all the was to Westminster because she thinks God will view her prayer as more important. The end line of every verse deflates to what she has said (exposes the selfishness). The poet uses irony to show her up so you can’t help laughing because you become almost astonished by the things that she says. The woman’s actions don’t co-inside with her words and the language doesn’t fit. This makes her seem like a walking contradiction. I think there is great contrast in both the context and styles of these poems but there still are similarities. They are both poems with a message; the message in The Lady of Shalott is that if you strive for more freedom you might end up dead. The message in the second poem is that we aren’t always aware of our faults etc. but they are always there.

Environmental Issues Associated with Paints and Varnishes Essay

The paint and coatings manufacturing industry is one of the major chemical processing industries. The major environmental impacts of paints and varnishes are concerning their content of solvents and other chemicals. There is a need to encourage manufacturers to use less of these substances, and to ensure proper environmental management throughout the manufacturing process. Procurement of paints and varnishes is classified as having a high environmental profile and some risk of developing world supply chains. Summary of Life Cycle Record Raw MaterialUse †¢Raw materials include solvents, pigments, dyes, and other chemicals. In addition, other raw materials are used to thin oil-based paints and stains or to clean up the residues left behind, such as turpentine and mineral spirits. †¢Some paints contain petroleum-based by products of the oil industry†¢The main uses of paints and varnishes are for architectural use (e.g. DIY), industrial use and automotive use. †¢VOCs may be released during use. †¢Some paints can emit noxious gases such as toluene and xylene, which are known carcinogens. ManufactureWaste Management/Disposal †¢The main components of the manufacture process are synthesis in a reactor, filtration, blending with other additives and packagingPaint related waste is often categorised as hazardous (special waste) due to its chemical content. Waste Management/Disposal options include: †¢Recycling †¢Incineration Key Impacts and Priority Mitigation Measures The key impacts in relation to paints and varnishes are: †¢Raw materials are often non-renewable and can be based on oil solvents †¢Solvent release, more specifically releases of VOCs to the atmosphere, which contribute to ground-level ozone, global warming and some have specific health effects. (There are more VOCs in gloss than emulsion) †¢Dyes and other chemicals used can also be harmful to health and the environment. †¢Wastewater and other solutions from washing of brushes and other application devices might contain these pollutants. †¢Energy is used during the processing stages. †¢Packaging materials are likely to contain traces of product / solvent residues, which can lead to direct release to the environment through evaporation. †¢Some paints can emit noxious gases such as toluene and xylene, which are known carcinogens. In 1989 the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer found that professional painters and decorators face a 40% increased chance of contracting cancer. †¢Paint waste at end of life is classed as a hazardous (special) waste. Control Measures – Raw Materials and Manufacture: †¢Implement a structured and independently verified Environmental Management System (EMS) such as ISO 14001 or EMAS. This will help the company use resources efficiently and prevent or minimise pollution. †¢Ensure systems are in place to control loss and wastage of toxic ingredients, in particular solvent management plans. †¢Avoidance of the use of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, mercury and arsenic; and other substances where possible. †¢Where possible replace toxic and persistent ingredients such as oil, solvents, chemicals and other hazardous substances with less toxic and more degradable ones. Particularly focus on lower solvent alternatives where possible. Control Measures – Procurement Action: †¢Ensure suppliers selected have a high awareness of the potential environmental impacts and are taking the appropriate mitigation measures. †¢Encourage suppliers to develop environmentally â€Å"safer† products and in particular minimise the use of solvents and other chemicals and minimise waste during processing. †¢Avoid oil or solvent based paints where feasible. †¢Be aware that some water thinnable paints contain more chemicals than the oil-based paints they are intended to replace. †¢Select suppliers that can provide more information regarding the specific raw materials they use, and also provide guidance on environmentally safe use and disposal (including packaging). †¢To avoid wasteful use of paints and varnishes ensure the purchase of only the amount required for the job. †¢Where feasible, select a supplier that will allow the return of toxic material packaging for reuse. Control Measures –Use and Waste Management/Disposal: †¢Ensure employees are trained in actions to be taken in relation to waste minimisation, waste management and health and safety †¢Ensure proper labelling and storage of toxic and hazardous materials in secure, bunded areas. †¢Ensure user is trained in instructions for use including wearing of protective equipment such as facemasks, storage conditions (e.g. placing lids on containers when not in use) and cleaning of tools. †¢Ensure adequate ventilation during application. Disclaimer: This document is based on publicly available information and provides details of the environmental impacts associated with paints and varnishes. It contains a description of most commonly used raw materials and the environmental impacts and by-products released. It should be noted that there might be some other commodity types and manufacturing processes not covered within this document.

Digital Fortress Chapter 23

Susan sat alone in the plush surroundings of Node 3. She nursed a lemon mist herb tea and awaited the return of her tracer. As senior cryptographer, Susan enjoyed the terminal with the best view. It was on the back side of the ring of computers and faced the Crypto floor. From this spot, Susan could oversee all of Node 3. She could also see, on the other side of the one-way glass, TRANSLTR standing dead-center of the Crypto floor. Susan checked the clock. She had been waiting almost an hour. American Remailers Anonymous was apparently taking their time forwarding North Dakota's mail. She sighed heavily. Despite her efforts to forget her morning conversation with David, the words played over and over in her head. She knew she'd been hard on him. She prayed he was okay in Spain. Her thoughts were jarred by the loud hiss of the glass doors. She looked up and groaned. Cryptographer Greg Hale stood in the opening. Greg Hale was tall and muscular with thick blond hair and a deep cleft chin. He was loud, thick-fleshed, and perpetually overdressed. His fellow cryptographers had nicknamed him â€Å"Halite†-after the mineral. Hale had always assumed it referred to some rare gem-paralleling his unrivaled intellect and rock-hard physique. Had his ego permitted him to consult an encyclopedia, he would have discovered it was nothing more than the salty residue left behind when oceans dried up. Like all NSA cryptographers, Hale made a solid salary. However, he had a hard time keeping that fact to himself. He drove a white Lotus with a moon roof and a deafening subwoofer system. He was a gadget junkie, and his car was his showpiece; he'd installed a global positioning computer system, voice-activated door locks, a five-point radar jammer, and a cellular fax/phone so he'd never be out of touch with his message services. His vanity plate read megabyte and was framed in violet neon. Greg Hale had been rescued from a childhood of petty crime by the U.S. Marine Corps. It was there that he'd learned about computers. He was one of the best programmers the Marines had ever seen, well on his way to a distinguished military career. But two days before the completion of his third tour of duty, his future suddenly changed. Hale accidentally killed a fellow Marine in a drunken brawl. The Korean art of self-defense, Tae kwon do, proved more deadly than defensive. He was promptly relieved of his duty. After serving a brief prison term, Halite began looking for work in the private sector as a programmer. He was always up front about the incident in the marines, and he courted prospective employers by offering a month's work without pay to prove his worth. He had no shortage of takers, and once they found out what he could do with a computer, they never wanted to let him go. As his computer expertise grew, Hale began making Internet connections all over the world. He was one of the new breed of cyberfreaks with E-mail friends in every nation, moving in and out of seedy electronic bulletin boards and European chat groups. He'd been fired by two different employers for using their business accounts to upload pornographic photos to some of his friends. â€Å"What are you doing here?† Hale demanded, stopping in the doorway and staring at Susan. He'd obviously expected to have Node 3 to himself today. Susan forced herself to stay cool. â€Å"It's Saturday, Greg. I could ask you the same question.† But Susan knew what Hale was doing there. He was the consummate computer addict. Despite the Saturday rule, he often slipped into Crypto on weekends to use the NSA's unrivalled computing power to run new programs he was working on. â€Å"Just wanted to re-tweak a few lines and check my E-mail,† Hale said. He eyed her curiously. â€Å"What was it you said you're doing here?† â€Å"I didn't,† Susan replied. Hale arched a surprised eyebrow. â€Å"No reason to be coy. We have no secrets here in Node 3, remember? All for one and one for all.† Susan sipped her lemon mist and ignored him. Hale shrugged and strode toward the Node 3 pantry. The pantry was always his first stop. As Hale crossed the room, he sighed heavily and made a point of ogling Susan's legs stretched out beneath her terminal. Susan, without looking up, retracted her legs and kept working. Hale smirked. Susan had gotten used to Hale hitting on her. His favorite line was something about interfacing to check the compatibility of their hardware. It turned Susan's stomach. She was too proud to complain to Strathmore about Hale; it was far easier just to ignore him. Hale approached the Node 3 pantry and pulled open the lattice doors like a bull. He slid a Tupperware container of tofu out of the fridge and popped a few pieces of the gelatinous white substance in his mouth. Then he leaned on the stove and smoothed his gray Bellvienne slacks and well-starched shirt. â€Å"You gonna be here long?† â€Å"All night,† Susan said flatly. â€Å"Hmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Halite cooed with his mouth full. â€Å"A cozy Saturday in the Playpen, just the two of us.† â€Å"Just the three of us,† Susan interjected. â€Å"Commander Strathmore's upstairs. You might want to disappear before he sees you.† Hale shrugged. â€Å"He doesn't seem to mind you here. He must really enjoy your company.† Susan forced herself to keep silent. Hale chuckled to himself and put away his tofu. Then he grabbed a quart of virgin olive oil and took a few swigs. He was a health fiend and claimed olive oil cleaned out his lower intestine. When he wasn't pushing carrot juice on the rest of the staff, he was preaching the virtues of high colonics. Hale replaced the olive oil and went to down his computer directly opposite Susan. Even across the wide ring of terminals, Susan could smell his cologne. She crinkled her nose. â€Å"Nice cologne, Greg. Use the entire bottle? Hale flicked on his terminal. â€Å"Only for you, dear.† As he sat there waiting for his terminal to warm up, Susan had a sudden unsettling thought. What if Hale accessed TRANSLTR's Run-Monitor? There was no logical reason why he would, but nonetheless Susan knew he would never fall for some half-baked story about a diagnostic that stumped TRANSLTR for sixteen hours. Hale would demand to know the truth. The truth was something Susan had no intention of telling him. She did not trust Greg Hale. He was not NSA material. Susan had been against hiring him in the first place, but the NSA had had no choice. Hale had been the product of damage control. The Skipjack fiasco. Four years ago, in an effort to create a single, public-key encryption standard, Congress charged the nation's best mathematicians, those at the NSA, to write a new super algorithm. The plan was for Congress to pass legislation that made the new algorithm the nation's standard, thus alleviating the incompatibilities now suffered by corporations that used different algorithms. Of course, asking the NSA to lend a hand in improving public-key encryption was somewhat akin to asking a condemned man to build his own coffin. TRANSLTR had not yet been conceived, and an encryption standard would only help to proliferate the use of code-writing and make the NSA's already difficult job that much harder. The EFF understood this conflict of interest and lobbied vehemently that the NSA might create an algorithm of poor quality-something it could break. To appease these fears, Congress announced that when the NSA's algorithm was finished, the formula would be published for examination by the world's mathematicians to ensure its quality. Reluctantly, the NSA's Crypto team, led by Commander Strathmore, created an algorithm they christened Skipjack. Skipjack was presented to Congress for their approval. Mathematicians from all over the world tested Skipjack and were unanimously impressed. They reported that it was a strong, untainted algorithm and would make a superb encryption standard. But three days before Congress was to vote their certain approval of Skipjack, a young programmer from Bell Laboratories, Greg Hale, shocked the world by announcing he'd found a back door hidden in the algorithm. The back door consisted of a few lines of cunning programming that Commander Strathmore had inserted into the algorithm. It had been added in so shrewd a way that nobody, except Greg Hale, had seen it. Strathmore's covert addition, in effect, meant that any code written by Skipjack could be decrypted via a secret password known only to the NSA. Strathmore had come within inches of turning the nation's proposed encryption standard into the biggest intelligence coup the NSA had ever seen; the NSA would have held the master key to every code written in America. The computer-savvy public was outraged. The EFF descended on the scandal like vultures, ripping Congress to shreds for their naivete and proclaiming the NSA the biggest threat to the free world since Hitler. The encryption standard was dead. It had come as little surprise when the NSA hired Greg Hale two days later. Strathmore felt it was better to have him on the inside working for the NSA than on the outside working against it. Strathmore faced the Skipjack scandal head-on. He defended his actions vehemently to Congress. He argued that the public's craving for privacy would come back to haunt them. He insisted the public needed someone to watch over them; the public needed the NSA to break codes in order to keep the peace. Groups like the EFF felt differently. And they'd been fighting him ever since.

Effects of The Electoral College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effects of The Electoral College - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that some elements undeniably expose the undemocratic nature of the constitution such as the election of the president which is Article II section I that empowers the application of Electoral College process. This part of the constitution gives every state a figure of electors relative to its representation in Congress to determine who the president is without using the popular vote. In the 2000 general elections, the Judiciary helped in making one of the difficult decisions by declaring George Bush the winner of the closely contested election. After carefully considering the interpretation of the law on representation, the justices decided that Bush would be president of the USA. According to the constitution, the candidate who wins the 270 of the Electoral College votes becomes the president. The rule of law protects the peace and freedom of the USA citizens. Americans and the world at large were desperately waiting to know the next man w ho would occupy the white house. After Americans voted wisely and peacefully, they still waited for more days to know who their president would be. The delay of the results was not voters’ problem but the systems put in place. Most Americans went to sleep knowing that Al Gore had won the presidency on the night of November 7, 2000. Although Americans vote, the popularity of their vote may not be reflected in the outcome of who becomes the president and the vice president of the USA.... This case was later taken to the Florida court, which ordered a recount, but there was a problem on the method to be used in recounting. However, the case was later taken to the US Supreme Court, which nullified the recount process and later made unsatisfactory decision the ultimate winner was George W. Bush. Considering that even the US Supreme Court justices were divided on this matter, it is unclear whether the decision made was political or was strictly based on judicial grounds. Thanks to Al Gore who conceded defeat having realized that based on the Supreme Court decision, he only managed 266 electoral votes against Bush’s 271. The Electoral College system is believed to be catering for the minority and special group interests. A candidate must consider these groups since their votes may be a determinant in winning a particular state’s popular votes hence college electoral votes. In addition, the college electoral votes promotes political stability by allowing only two major parties to exist and suppressing the emergence of other small parties that may hinder quick decision making by the voters. Moreover, the college electoral vote system ensures that the president enjoys sufficient and well-distributed support in governance. The college electoral vote system reduces the chances of election conflict between the two major parties hence ease decision-making process (Keyssar Web). However, the college electoral vote system is undemocratic since the majority decision is not taken into consideration. Most states have their clear favorites such as the blue states and the red states hence less attention paid to such states. A candidate only concentrates their campaigns on undecided

Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease Article

Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease - Article Example They can cause several diseases including diabetes and CHD. Analysis of evidence derived from dietary trials, experimental research studies, and prospective observational researches leads to the conclusion that trans fatty acids consumed when they are obtained from partially hydrogenated oils yield no nutritional benefits but are harmful for health. Eliminating the use of partially hydrogenated oils from the food products is not easy for the food manufacturers in America, though other countries provide examples of successful replacement of the use of trans fatty acids in partially hydrogenated oils with the use of cis unsaturated fats because this helps the food manufacturers make foods healthier without bearing more cost or compromising upon the quality or quantity of the food products. Health care providers should advocate limiting of the use of trans fats. Reduced intake of trans fat would bring many health benefits for the society and reduce heart diseases in the

The United Nations Role in World Wide Disasters Research Paper

The United Nations Role in World Wide Disasters - Research Paper Example The gradual technological improvements, though useful, have more than detached man from nature and doubled the vulnerability of the entire human population on the planet earth. The modern era disaster occurrences have only become more frequent and hazardous with partly irreparable consequences. The frequent reports by the United Nations showing a steady increase of disasters across the globe only serve to confirm the magnitude of suffering at hand (UN/ISDR, 2013a). Founded in 1945 after the catastrophic World War II as a replacement to the hitherto redundant League of Nations, The United Nations serves a fundamental purpose in ensuring that the humanitarian suffering caused by the natural as well as man-made disasters are not only prevented, but firmly brought under control when they occur. According to the UN reports, approximately 80 percent of the countries affected mostly by disasters are predominantly in the developing world (Alexander, 1991). Such areas rank low in terms of hum an development as indicative by their income per capita that ranges in the near survival levels. Disaster occurrences in such countries often leave behind a trail of high numbers of human casualties, sweeping away almost the entire property that suspends such livelihoods. The deadly tsunami that struck Asia in December 2004, for instance, left approximately 200,000 people dead, scores of hundreds missing and property worth millions of dollars in damages (UN/ISDR, 2006). Losses of such magnitude partly result from unsustainable development practices that do stand the tests of time (Mileti, et al., 1995). To be sure, proper land use planning is often non-existent. Even with the perennial environmental degradation that continues to bite hard into the daily livelihoods of the population, disaster preparedness is often relegated into the periphery (Aleskerov et al., 2005). Owing to the limited capacity to tackle major disasters, the United Nations roles out numerous initiatives and progr ams annually in a bid to ensure that efficient proactive planning approaches goes into helping those in vulnerable conditions. Disasters disrupt not only the livelihoods of those affected but also hinder national as well as international efforts in advancing development agendas aimed at eradicating poverty among the most vulnerable. The United Nations views disaster reduction strategies as an integral component of reducing world poverty and inculcating sustainable development practices. Through the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations works across the globe with ultimate goal of â€Å"enabling societies to become aware of the dangers posed by the possible natural hazards as well as those related technological advancements within their surroundings with the view of minimizing any possible human, economic and social damages† (UN/ISDR, 2013c). To meet this objective, the office of United Nations via numerous agencies under its operational management provides proactive financial support to international disaster risk reduction actors to facilitate early warning activities and mitigation measures as recommended by the Hyogo Framework (UN/ISDR,