The Lord Of The Rings Series - 845 Words

In The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkien, heroism is a prominent theme throughout. There is not one sole hero. Tolkien doesn’t present the books with just one hero, but a combined effort of many different heroes. He could have easily made the story just about Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, or Sam A hero is a person who overcomes adversity to achieve a quest that changes his society for good in the dramatic way. In classic literature a hero is usually portrayed as an epic hero. The epic hero is usually male, royal, starts at a position of calm stasis, in thrust into a quest. He overcomes obstacles, enemies, suffering, completes the quest and returns home to change himself and his place. He usually has some sort of skill. The men in the story embody this kind of hero, mostly Aragorn. In â€Å"Splintered Heroes- Heroic Variety and its Functions in The Lord of the Rings,† Thomas Honegger implies: that The Lord of the Rings could be easily be (re)written as the tale of t he epic hero of Aragorn.† Aragorn is a â€Å"larger than life† and embodies the â€Å"King-Who-Returns† archetype (Lakowski 5). He of course isn’t the only hero and is accompanied by a different kind of hero or the â€Å"common man hero† ( Flieger 1). The story could have made the story about Aragorn but Tolkien centered the book on hobbits—a very unlikely hero. In â€Å"Frodo and Aragorn: The Concept of the Hero† Verlyn Flieger argues that Tolkien uses both kind of heroes: The conventional medieval story, whether epic, romance,Show MoreRelatedThe Lord of the Rings Trilogy Movies896 Words   |  4 Pages The Lord of the Rings trilogy, spanned from 2001-2003, is a series of dramatic mythical movies based on the fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Peter Jackson’s attention to detail and graphic design enhance d the film and produced the mythical fantasies and wonders displayed in the book series. His choice of music added dramatic effect that added intensity. The Lord of the RingsRead More Elements of The Lord of the Rings in Final Fantasy VIII Essay1730 Words   |  7 PagesElements of The Lord of the Rings in Final Fantasy VIII      Ã‚  Ã‚   J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings trilogy is arguably the most influential work of fantasy literature in modern times. Its epic tale of good against evil and its surreal world of magical and unusual characters and places have captured and enchanted readers since its publication half a century ago. The story of the struggle to destroy the One Ring still influences numerous tales of adventure in literature, film, and role-playingRead MoreAnalysis Of Peter Jackson s The Lord Of The Rings 1426 Words   |  6 Pagesdeliberately archaic epic a fresh, bracing revel† (Alleva). In his article, Richard Alleva praises Jackson for his great achievements. Taking on the task of adapting Tolkien’s cherished series to the screen sets Jackson apart as a courageous and dedicated artist who will be remembered. Through his adaptation of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Jackson’s genius overwhelmed the fantasy genre of film. His innovative use of techn ology, enormous accomplishments, creation of a mythical world, and respectRead MoreThe Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson Essay927 Words   |  4 PagesThe Art and the Business of My Inspirational Film A cultural product that inspires me is the film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, which was directed by Peter Jackson. This movie gave me inspiration because of how beautiful and well put together the film was. It made me want to be involved with the process of how great films are made. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"Jackson knew he wanted to bring the movie to the big screen, and was curious to why nobody decided to do so.† He wanted to take advantage ofRead MoreOn Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings1250 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Final Paper- Evaluation Argument A Paper on the Complete Awesomeness of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien A good book according to Jim Menick, a writer for Reader Digest, must have believable and lovable characters, narrative drive, and stories that are entertaining rather than disturbing (Menick). A story’s characters must have depth, and feel real to the reader. If a character seems false, the whole book will. A book has to have a captivating storyline or readers will lose interestRead MoreComparison Between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter1155 Words   |  5 PagesIn the previous century there have been two major series of fantasy novels; Lord of the Rings and more recently Harry Potter. The genre, fantasy, is very broad, but generally contains one main character, the protagonist, who is fighting for, or against something, often against evil. In both these novels the main protagonist is fighting against evil and endures a kind of adventure and personal growth. As in most fantasy novels, the main characters are in an ulterior world, which is comparableRead MoreHarry Potter And The Lord Of The Rings1449 Words   |  6 Pagesjust works of ‘fantasy’, they are an imaginary world that represents a far greater meaning. Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings are dark stories that have a similar concept: save the good from evil. The Lord of the Rings was accepted in the Christian community, unlike the Harry Potter series, undoubtedly because Tolkien publicly claimed Catholicism as a religion. The Lord of the Rings has a more masked Christian allegory, whereas Harry Potter demonstrates similar aspects, but has more Wiccan thanRead MoreThe And Of The Tolkien s Magnum Opus 1584 Words   |  7 PagesRowling has written one of the most recognizable and iconic pieces of literature. Harry Potter series differs from the works of Lewis and Tolkien. Yet they still have the same impact on the readers. In this essay I will evaluate Rowling’s magnum opus in order to compare her implementations of the gospel to that of Tolkien and Lewis and to determ ine whether or not her work is worthy of pertaining to the western canon. Also, I will describe the implications of her novels on the platonic worldview accordingRead MoreEssay On Ratatouille1402 Words   |  6 Pagesget the supplies for the ship. In the game, you can search the planets as a side mission. You can go to the different systems and search the planets for deposits or satellites In the Mass Effect games like in every game there is a campaign that is a series of mane missions. In Mass Effect one of the missions is to find a planet to live on the earth is to foul of people. In Mass Effect one other main mission is to find the alien structures that are polluting the air on the planet. In Mass Effect oneRead MoreThe Movie The Frighteners Way Before I Knew Who He 1545 Words   |  7 PagesJackson and Fran Walsh conceived the idea for The Frighteners during the script-writing phase of Heavenly Creatures. The Frighteners was a spin-off film of to the television series, Tales from the Crypt. But after Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh s first draft it was agreed that the script would be better of as a movie than a tv series The visual effects were created by Jackson s Weta Digital, which had only been in existence for three years. And the fact that The Frighteners required more digital effects

Case Analysis Corruption in China - 1824 Words

Case: Coping with Corruption in Trading with China. Corporations across the globe deal in international business practices every day. When a company must to do business in countries with a high level of corruption, a company should have a plan that helps to maintain control over a key piece of intellectual property or some production process component that allows company to maintain power in the relationship. Most of these processes and practices are legal and ethical, following the laws and regulations of various international governments. Some of these practices are just the opposite, illegal in eye of American company but viewed acceptable in other cultures. Many countries are involved in bribery which makes many American companies†¦show more content†¦In this category all the Requests of Chinese trading officials fall into this category Allocating money for CIB inspector trip that are not required by law that inspection must be made in person and I believe this could be a violation of a subornation. All other examples of briberies and purchasing a certificate on a black market are examples of subornation. Elimination competition by paying money to the government so the other company would not enter the market is also a great example of subornation Which of the payments, favors or bribes are illegal under the FCPA? Anyone found guilty of knowingly participating in or authorizing the payment of a bribe can be high penalized under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. United States publicly traded companies have been liable to the FCPA since 1977. The anti-bribery provision of the act makes it unlawful to bribe even a penny because the act focuses on the intent to bribe, rather than the materiality of it ‘’the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA make it unlawful for a U.S. person, and certain foreign issuers of securities, to make a payment to a foreign official for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any person. Since 1998, they also apply to foreign firms and persons who take any act in furtherance of such a corrupt payment while in the United States† From the research I conducted, many executives in the United States feel that the stipulations within theShow MoreRelatedThe Politics Of Mexico And China1737 Words   |  7 PagesM exico’s move towards democracy. Similarly, China, a fractured authoritarian state, has been showing increasing signs of democracy. Due to its economic and political trends, many argue that China is well on its way towards becoming a democracy. However, despite these trends, there is a problem in that the politics in both Mexico and China remain riddled with corruption. This complex issue raises the question of why corruption persists in both Mexico and China despite their movements towards democracyRead MoreCorruption in China1319 Words   |  6 PagesWhile corruption is said to generate inefficiency and retard growth in a country (Ackerman, 1997), China manages to deliver astronomical economic growth amidst rampant corruption (Li, Peng, 2001). To explain China’s puzzle, the essay first focuses on the causes of corruption and why it has yet to be eradicated, and then analyzes its economic impact in the short and long run. The rise of corruption in China can be attributed to the structure of its economic institutions. Starting off with a unifiedRead MoreAssignment : Managing International Companies1262 Words   |  6 PagesOnline â€Æ' I have always been fascinated with developing countries, especially in Africa. I first passion was learning about the culture and various religions in central African and other regions on that continent. When it comes to risk factor, China and African has a lot going and against it due to the develop pollution that settles on this vast land. Risk is the ability to gain or lose something that has value. Ideally it is the intentional interaction with uncertainty which is an uncontrollableRead MoreRisk Analysis820 Words   |  4 Pagesspecifically China. The next step is to perform a risk assessment on the BRIC countries to confirm where GM should target its foreign direct investment. In addition, we will offer GM a recommendation on how to enter the foreign market, be it joint venture or acquisition. The following sections will reveal the results of our team’s Political, Economical, Sociocultural, and Technological (PEST) Risk Assessment, as well as offer a recommendation based on our quantitative and qualitative analysis. Brazil’sRead MoreGenicon Case758 Words   |  4 PagesGENICON CASE 1.Evaluate GENICON international expansion so far. What are the main reasons it has been successful? GENICON international expansion has been successful because the international markets were expected to grow much faster than USA. This fact may seem unusual as the USA market of this kind of products is the largest all over the world. Another reason of the success of this firm was the transition of the European market for medical devices. These changes where produced because of the entranceRead MoreImpact Of Human Decisions On The Social Responsibility899 Words   |  4 Pagestheir customers and partners eventually abandon them in preference to the more trustworthy partner. It is therefore in the interest of the egoist to treat their customers and partners in a meaningful way so as to constantly benefit from them. In the case of utilitarianism, an action is only considered morally right if the consequences of the actions results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people who are affected by the action. This theory is usually based on the underlyingRead MoreAnti Corruption Law1649 Words   |  7 PagesBribery Law acts effectively in anti-corruption compared to the mainland bribery law, there are still some loopholes, especially when compared to the UK Bribery Act and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Similar to the effectives of the Bribery Law, the defects of the HK bribery law also covers equality, enforceability, recourse efficiency and law as a reflection of community standards and expectation four aspects, and each will be discussed with relevant cases. 1. Equality 2.1 ForeignRead MorePetrochina Case Analysis1116 Words   |  5 PagesPetroChina Case Analysis The article â€Å"PetroChina: International Corporate Governance with Chinese Characteristics† describes the major concerns about PetroChina’s corporate governance when and after it was listed on NYSE and HKSE, which was the first Chinese state-owned enterprise launched IPO overseas. This paper is based on the information provided by the article and will discuss in three aspects: Firstly, why corporate governance was important for China’s SOEs? Secondly, what were the specialRead MorePetrochina Case Analysis1110 Words   |  5 PagesPetroChina Case Analysis The article â€Å"PetroChina: International Corporate Governance with Chinese Characteristics† describes the major concerns about PetroChina’s corporate governance when and after it was listed on NYSE and HKSE, which was the first Chinese state-owned enterprise launched IPO overseas. This paper is based on the information provided by the article and will discuss in three aspects: Firstly, why corporate governance was important for China’s SOEs? Secondly, what were the specialRead MoreThe Impact Of Internet On Traditional Media1652 Words   |  7 Pagesnews). It will look at the current situation of the usage of traditional media news as well as Internet. Analysis of the causes of the current situation will also include in this essay. In addition, providing the viable alleviation strategies, which focus on how traditional media news promote the usage will be provided. The evaluations of strategies are the last part of the main content. Case studies are also provi ded to assist the research in this essay. ï  ¬ The Decline of Usage of Traditional Media

External Administrator and Fundraising-Free-Samples-Myassignment

Questions: 1.Advise Bob, Brad and Mary as to their options under the external administration procedures under the Corporations Act. 2.Advise United Industries Ltd on the legal issues arising out of these facts, citing ful l authority for your answer. Answers: 1.External Administration 1.The provision of the External Administration is an important term in the Corporation Act. Sometimes it has been observed that the company has failed to pay the money to the shareholders or unable to meet the debts. This position can be described as the financial difficulties. This situation will lead the company towards insolvency or liquidation. External administrators are appointed to assess the assets of the company. The Corporation Act 2001 regulates the provision of the external administration. External administration can be divided into three parts- administration, receivership and liquidation. Creditors are getting involved in case of external administration. There are two types of external administration such as the voluntary administration and the involuntary administration. Voluntary administration takes place when the director of the company by himself opted for appointed administrator. When the other authority appoints administrator, it will be treated as involuntary administrators. External administrators are appointed when a company become insolvent or failed to pay the debt to its shareholders. The main objective of this mechanism is to trade the company out of the trouble. However, if the administrators could not remove the trouble, the administrator regarding the immediate liquidation will make an attempt. In the present case, it has been observed that the company named Coco Pty Ltd had failed to repay all the debts and it has been observed that the company had failed to pay the bills also. The cash flows of the company have also compelled to increase due to the non-payment of the money. Another problem regarding the company has been cropped up when the employees of the company has been started agitation for the hike of payment. It has also been observed that East bank Ltd had threatened to appoint receiver to tackle the problem if the company continues to non-repayment of debts and the monthly interest of the bank. According to section 435A of the Corporation Act, the process of external administration helps the company to pay the debts without winding up the company. however, if there is no other choice except liquidation, following process will follow the provision of section 461 (1) (k) of the Corporation Act 2001. Considering the facts of the case, it can be stated that the managing directors of the company can opted for the appointment of voluntary administrators in this case. The main reason of the same is that the financial condition of the company is not good. It has been observed that the company has failed to meet the minimum economic requirements and the employees of the company are not getting their remuneration in time. The cash flows of the company have also been increased as the company had regularly failed to pay the debts in time. The administrator will assess the debts requirement of the company and then sell or liquidate the debts and pay the debts. The aftermath effect of the liquidation is the wind up. However, it can be stated that deregistration is not the only solution in this case. The company can improve its condition if negotiation can be developed in between the directors and the creditors. 2.Fundraising: In this case, it has been observed that the United Industries Corporation Ltd has issued certain shares for the development of their hotel business and it has been observed that they had made certain promises to the shareholders and obtained money from Bob Broke. On the subsequent event, it has been observed that the accountant of the hotel company has given inaccurate information and overstated the assets of the company. it has also been found that the Liquor licence of the hotel is also pending before the State Licensing Board. Therefore, they had unable to serve liquor to the customer and failed to gain profit. In this way, many investors had lost their money. Certain legal issues are cropped up in this case. Chapter 6D of the Corporation Act deals with the securities chapter and includes shares and debentures. The promise made by the company to the investors is not complete in nature. Much information have been hidden and false declaration has been given to the investors. This ac t attracts the provision of section 267 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth). It has been observed that the managing director of the company had offered to buy the share of his company to Bob under section 700 (2) and Bob had accepted the offer. Therefore, it can be said that contract has been made in between the them. Therefore, if any of the statement of the contract held false, the other party has full right to cancel or terminate the terms of the contract. Besides that, the defective documents of the Hotel Company had attracted the provision of section 728 of the Corporation Act. Bob can make complaint before the Australian Security and Investments Commission. He may ask for disclosing the document and make an application under section 718 of the Corporation Act 2001.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Table of Contents Introduction Pathogen involved The defense-host disease Infection and transmission Clinical manifestations Diagnosis and control References Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a communicable disease that is caused by the virus SARS corona virus (SARS-CoV) (Coronavirus Research and SARS, 2004) The disease started in South China in early 2002. During the outbreak, mortality was highly dependent on age. Older people succumbed to the disease more than younger people did. The disease has not yet been eliminated from the human population. Scientists claim that it exists in natural reservoirs and may return to the human population any time.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pathogen involved SARS is caused by a virus in the coronavirus family known as SARS corona virus (SARS-CoV) (Coronavirus Research and SARS, 2004). The defense-host disease Both adaptive and innate immune responses are involved in SARS infections. However, adaptive responses are more involved because replication of the virus outpaces innate immune responses (Overview of the SARS, 2004). Both responses are involved because their interaction is very important. Adaptive responses cannot be elicited without innate responses. After infection, the immune system uses nonspecific immune defenses to contain the spread of the virus in the body. In addition, it uses antigen specific immune responses to fight the virus. The main aim of these immune responses is to eradicate both host cells and virus particles involved. Infection and transmission SARS is transmitted through person-to person contact (Overview of the SARS, 2004). Transmission involves exposure of individuals to infectious droplets from infected people. In addition, it is transmitted through direct physical contact with body fluids of infected individuals (â⠂¬ËœOverview of the SARS Epidemic’, 2004). Infectious agents are transmitted when the mucous membrane of the nose, eyes or mouth comes into direct contact with infected respiratory droplets or fomites. Particles of the virus contained in transmitted respiratory droplets are the main cause of the disease. The particles attack epithelial cells and the lining of the mucosal membrane (‘The public health response to SARS’ 2004). With the aid of the synthetic mechanisms of host cells, the virus cells replicate and release new virus particles that attack other cells. Clinical manifestations The disease manifests itself through symptoms and signs that are typical to flu-like infections. These symptoms include chills, muscle and body aches, fever, and in some cases, diarrhea (The public health response to SARS 2004). After a week of infection, symptoms include dry cough, fever of 38 degree Celsius, and shortness of breath. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated early enough, it may progress to pneumonia or respiratory failure. In severe cases, it progresses to death.Advertising Looking for assessment on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Diagnosis and control Diagnosis of SARS involves different types of tests. These tests include blood clotting tests, complete blood count (CBC), chest X-ray or chest CT scan, and blood chemistry tests (Denison, 2004). These tests take time to give results. However, health professionals use other tests that give quick results. These tests include antibody tests, direct isolation of the virus, and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the virus (Coronavirus Research and SARS, 2004). These tests have limitations because they cannot identify the virus during the first week of infection when the disease is most critical. Control of SARS involves avoiding contact with infected people, avoiding travel to areas with outbreaks, and cleaning hand s with alcohol-based disinfectants (Denison, 2004). In addition, avoiding sharing things such as utensils and food, wearing masks and goggles are also effective control methods (‘The public health response to SARS’ 2004). It is also advisable to close one’s mouth and nose when sneezing to avoid transmitting the virus to others in case one is infected. References ‘Coronavirus Research and SARS‘ 2004, in S Knobler, A Mahmoud, S Lemon, A Mack, L Sivitz, and K  Oberholtzer (eds.), Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak, National Academies Press, Washington, pp. 19-22. Web. Denison, M 2004, ‘Coronavirus Research: Keys to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of SARS‘, in S Knobler, A Mahmoud, S Lemon, A Mack, L Sivitz, and K  Oberholtzer (eds.), Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak, National Academies Press, Washington, pp. 149 – 157. Web. ‘Overview of the SARS Epidemic‘, 2004, i n S Knobler, A Mahmoud, S Lemon, A Mack, L Sivitz, and K  Oberholtzer (eds.), Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak, National Academies Press, Washington, pp. 2-13. Web. ‘The public health response to SARS‘ 2004, in S Knobler, A Mahmoud, S Lemon, A Mack, L Sivitz, and K  Oberholtzer (eds.), Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak, National Academies Press, Washington, pp. 13-19. Web.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This assessment on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was written and submitted by user Darryl S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Compensation and Benefits Plan for SMC †Business Research Paper (300 Level Course)

Compensation and Benefits Plan for SMC – Business Research Paper (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Compensation and Benefits Plan for SMC Business Research Paper(300 Level Course) SMC is a locally owned and operated company that currently employees 89 employees. Due to a shrinking labor market and increasing turnover within the SMC Company, I have decided to propose a comprehensive, progressive compensation and benefits plan in hopes of decreasing the amount of turnover and increasing the stability of the work force. A recent Ernst Young survey calculated that the cost of replacing a high-level employee may be as much as 150 percent of that departing employees salary. Obviously cost is also factor in deciding what benefits we can offer our employees. There are a host of free and low-cost benefits we can offer that will greatly increase job satisfaction among our work force while costing SMC little to no money. The first option is negotiating special discounts for employees at local stores and restaurants. Hotels, service providers and amusement parks are usually willing to give discounts to team members as long as a small amount of advertising is provided by the company in areas such as break rooms and company memos. Another fantastic idea is to offer free seminars at lunch for employees who would like to attend. Health-care workers, financial planners, safety experts, attorneys and other professionals will often offer their speaking services at no charge. Education is beneficial for both your employees and our business. We can offer a credit union membership. One of the most appreciated, but most overlooked, benefits is membership in a credit union. There are some 6,000 well-established, state-chartered credit unions throughout the United States and Canada that accept start-up businesses as members at no charge. The benefits to our employees are threefold: most likely theyll increase their savings rates (especially if you offer automatic payroll deduction), have access to lower loan rates, and pay lower feesif anyfor services. One last free option we should instate is to offer supplemental health insurance that is paid for by the employees through payroll deductions. Many health care providers will offer discounts for employees who are subjected to this type of health insurance plan. This way, it does not cost SMC any money, and it gives a discount to our employees for personal and family coverage. A good insurance plan for employees will decrease sick days for employees and dramatically increase workers satisfaction. As stated above, cost was a major factor in coming up with an effective benefits package for our employees. All the above options proposed will not cost SMC any money whatsoever. It is proposed that with these implements employee job satisfaction will increase up to 20% which should increase our bargaining power in hiring new team members as well as decrease turnover of our current team members. Research Papers on Compensation and Benefits Plan for SMC - Business Research Paper (300 Level Course)Twilight of the UAWMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaResearch Process Part OneNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Vocabulary Quiz #1

Vocabulary Quiz #1 Vocabulary Quiz #1 Vocabulary Quiz #1 By Mark Nichol In each sentence, choose the correct word from the pair of similar terms. (If both words possibly can be correct, choose the more plausible one.) 1. He was __________ about whether the change was a good idea. a) ambivalent b) ambiguous 2. Her score on the test was _______________. a) exceptionable b) exceptional 3. His ________ companion became even more obnoxious as the night wore on. a) arrant b) errant 4. I asked them to ___________ my latest short story. a) criticize b) critique 5. She delivered the ____________ at her father’s memorial service. a) elegy b) eulogy Solutions 1. He was ambivalent about whether the change was a good idea. Ambivalent means contradictory or unsure. Ambiguous, on the other hand, involves something that can be understood in two or more possible ways. 2. Her score on the test was exceptional. Exceptional is the right word in this context. Exceptionable means being likely to cause objection. 3. His arrant companion became even more obnoxious as the night wore on. Arrant means without moderation, while errant means traveling or given to traveling. 4. I asked them to critique my latest short story. Critique means to evaluate both the merits and demerits, while criticize usually means to find faults on something. 5. She delivered the eulogy at her father’s memorial service. Eulogy is a a commendatory oration or writing, while elegy refers to a poem or song. Give a thumbs up to our latest YouTube video: 30 Baseball Idioms Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Quizzes category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of PhrasesThe Difference Between "will" and "shall"5 Tips to Understand Hyphenated Words

Toni Morrison Sula and Mahasweta Devi Breast Giver Essay

Toni Morrison Sula and Mahasweta Devi Breast Giver - Essay Example For a book of this stature, most readers wanted a heroine they could identify with- someone who was basically good despite her minor flaws and few blunders- someone like Nel. But that is not to be. Sula is the protagonist of the novel and she is by no means a traditional heroine. In fact for many, she is an evil woman who refuses to conform to societal expectations of her and does some truly inexcusable things such as sleeping with her best friend's husband. Sula presents a different, unique but definitely negative image of a woman. But it was not done to highlight the evil side of women instead it was done more with the purpose of asserting women rights and independence. Women rights and their position in the society is also the topic of controversial story Breast Giver by Indian author Mahasweta Devi. The story revolves around a woman Joshuda who considers her breasts her chief possession since they bring food for her family. She is hired as a professional mother for several children in a high class Brahmin family referred to as the big house in the story. The story deals with the subject of unpaid labor and a woman's reproductive capabilities going unwaged. Joshuda's low caste body that goes from being the most fruitful to decayed and diseased is used as an allegory and thus the entire plot can be considered allegorical. For many in the west, this story may appear too fictitious to ever be true but we must not forget that this is about an Indian woman in a small town of India where breast feeding children of wealthy families had been a custom for a very long time. The author chooses to highlight the social divide as well the collapse of Mother Ind ia myth. She uses Joshuda's body as a representation of third world countries while the big house represents the capitalist bourgeois in the developed world. While the capitalist powers have always been a source of contention in India, the author explains that by creating such vast social divisions, we are actually fostering the very capitalist forces that we otherwise vehemently oppose. Spivak in her analysis of the story thus asserts that the fictional character Jashoda 'calls into question that aspect of Western Marxist feminism which, from the point of view of work, trivializes the theory of value and, from the point of view of mothering as work, ignores the mother as subject' (Spivak 1987:258). 'Breast Giver', further argues that in this story 'we see cancer rather than the clitoral orgasm as the excess of the woman's body' (Spivak 1993:90). Breast giver highlights in almost dramatic fashion the exploitation of a woman's body in much the same way as colonies of imperial powers had once been exploited. The gruesome death of Jashoda from breast cancer is another important highlight of this work as Spivak notices the importance of the phrase, 'The sores on her breast kept mocking her with a hundred mouths, a hundred eyes' (Spivak 1987:260). Sula is the story of two black women coming of age in Ohio sometime during the two world wars. Sula is wild and aggressive woman with an individualistic streak and a strong desire to break free of tradition and rules. Nel on the other hand is the compassionate gentle figure that can best be described as a 'nice' person. But Sula is not interested in being the conformist. She is an independent woman whose personality is largely shaped by the place she lived in- Bottom. Bottom was not even half as good as it was made out

Return on Financial Assets Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Return on Financial Assets - Math Problem Example tainty (low risk). In other words, invested money can earn higher profits only if there is a possibility of it being lost. Likewise, a corporate bond has several risks attached to it such as term to maturity risk, degree of liquidity risk and its credit rating. Each bond is discussed below with regard to the risk attached to it. I. Bond X will earn the highest return because of low credit rating which means that agencies regard this firm as highly risky. Moreover, it also involves maturity risk and degree of liquidity risk which is assumed as it is not stated. II. Bond W will earn a lower return in comparison to X but higher than Y and Z, as it is rated better by the rating agency which denotes low risk in terms of business operation. However maturity and liquidity risk exists which makes investor hesitant to take it unless it offers required return for it. III. Bond Y will yield more than Z but less than W and X because of its high credit rating, low term to maturity risk which is e vident from the fact that investor will get his principal amount back before investor of bond W and X. But still it contains liquidity risk which will result in paying a higher return than bond Z. IV. Lastly, bond Z will yield the least amount of return as it does not have liquidity risk, maturity risk and neither low credit rating. Investors won’t demand high return as their investment is relatively safe. 2. Explain how an economist could use the slope of the yield curve to analyze the probability that a recession will occur and why the spread may matter.   Answer: Yield curve shows a relationship between yield and maturity of a debt instrument. Its slope has always been a good indicator of economic movements, as it can indicate where investor sentiments are heading. It indicates investors’ expectation of economy and interest rate. A sharply upward sloping, or steep yield curve, has often been an indication of an economic shift. Yield curve can indicate upcoming rec ession when it starts to invert. It occurs when long-term yields fall below short-term yields (Besley and Brigham, 2000). Under anomalies, if investors think that economy will slow down or decline in the future they will be satisfied with lower yield. Inverted yield curves also suggest that the market is expecting inflation to remain low. This is because, even if there is a recession, a low bond yield will still be offset by low inflation. 3. One year ago, you bought a bond for $10,000. You received interest of $400 at the end of the year, as well as your $10,000 principal. If the inflation rate over the last year was five percent, calculate the real return. Show your work.   Answer: Real return of a security is calculated by discounting the interest earned and principal invested to (t=0) i.e. today and then finding percentage return of the investment. For the above given question, firstly, principal amount and interest earned is added to get $10,400 and then discounted at a rate of 5%

Hiding from Reality Essay Example for Free

Hiding from Reality Essay The American Dream is exactly what it says, a dream. When people describe what they think the American Dream is, it is a utopia where there is no wrong in the world. Reality check, nothing or no one is perfect, this country will always have its faults but it’s the citizens job to make their country the best it can possibly be. Bob Herbert, a columnist for the New York Times, believes that no matter what we do this country will forever be in a sad shape, and unfortunately I agree. There are too many negatives than positives in this country and until we can switch that the United States will continue to live in distress. Major issues like the economy, budget deficits and warfare over seas are keeping the country in a constant panic, and until these are resolved the American Dream will only be a fantasy. Studies show that the economy has improved ever since the Great Recession of 2009, but it seems as if we’re at a standstill and have been for a long time now. Thousands of jobs are being created in power plants, yet some school districts just let go of half of their teaching staff for budget purposes. Information from the Pew Hispanic Center tell us that, â€Å"Foreign-born workers in the U.S. gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost 1.2 million. But even as the hiring of immigrants picked up during that period, those same workers ‘experienced a sharp decline in earnings.’† The Pew Hispanic Center’s point is that the U.S. should never discriminate against the foreign-born workers, but with these statistics our country should develop an economy where anyone who wants to work can and be able to live a standard life with their families. Along with the economy, budget deficits are greatly impacting the nation. The wreckage from the recession and the new crash programs are doing nothing to help get us out of the hole we’re in today. The U.S. believes that we can continue to spend trillions of dollars on overseas warfare and somehow that money will find its way back into our economy and everything will be fine. Wrong, because of the amounts of money spent on warfare, state and local governments are challenged with having to reduce services. Examples are: cutting their work forces, hacking away at health and pension benefits, and raising taxes and fees. These services that are reduced for everyone are leaving some of the most vulnerable people- the children, the sick, the elderly and disabled- disadvantaged and incapable of living a standard life. Until we start focusing solely on America and getting back to the way it was before, we may never come out of this recession. In the end there is no such thing as a perfect society, or utopia. But that does not mean that we shouldn’t try to make improvements to help rebuild our country. Bob Herbert is right when he says this country will always be in a sad shape, that’s because as of right now there is little to no effort in rejuvenating our nation. There will always be unemployment and inflation, that’s inevitable, but things we can stop are warfare overseas and budget deficits. Reform is possible, we just have to focus solely on our nation and our nation only

E. M. Forster :: essays research papers

Many aspects of writing catch a reader's attention and keep one interested in a book. E. M. Forster put many of these aspects in his books making them well written and quite interesting. He combined great characters, a decent story line, and his prolific knowledge of writing to make his books readable and enjoyable. E. M. Forster was born on January 1, 1879, in London, England. After an education at Tonbridge School and King's College, Cambridge, he spent a year traveling in Europe. On his return, he taught at the Working Men's College and established the Independent Review, a journal that supported the progressive wing of the Liberal Party. Forster later became a member of the Bloomsbury Group that discussed literary and artistic issues. He published his first novel, Where Angels Fear to Trend, in 1905. He wrote many other novels including Longest Journey, Howard's End, and A Room with a View. As a pacifist Forster wouldn't fight in the First World War, instead he worked for the International Red Cross. Two years later Forster moved to India where he worked as a personal secretary for Mahaharajah of Dewas. This resulted in his novel, A Passage to India. When he returned to England he wrote many critiques and articles but never wrote any more novels. E. M. Forster died on June 7, 1970. Many critics are split on E. M. Forster's writings, although most things written are positive and they all seem to agree on the same things. His use of characters and their development and his story lines all seem to be the same and have the same theme. All the characters in his books seem to contain the same elements. They are exempt from poverty, hunger, lust, and hate. They seem to have almost perfect characteristics and are never poor. None of his characters are portrayed in a relation to society; and all must choose between good and evil. ( XXXXX, #2). These characters seem less significant in themselves and more in an allegorical aspect that varies in complexity. XXXXX says, A fascination exerted by characters who grip our minds; a wit and beauty present in an always limped style; a passionate involvement with life in all its variety; a view of existence alive to its comic incongruities and to it's tragic implications; and a steady adherence to human values which compel administration... such are leading aspects of Forster's work that continually line up.

Chinese philosophy Essay

The pair lived in a time of immense social disorder and religious skepticism. They developed the notion of the Dao (way, or path) as the origin of all creation and the force (unknowable in its essence but observable in its manifestations) that lies behind the functions and changes of the natural world. Daoism Chinese religion â€Å"mirrors the social landscape of its adherents. There are as many meanings as there are vantage points.† This can be very confusing to outsiders†¦ Daoism and Confucianism existed together. At various points in one life, you might follow either. (There are many who only practice one) Due to the social disorder of the time, the question was: what is the basis of a stable, unified, and enduring social order? Their answer was the Dao. Nature, after all, was much more stable than anything humans can create. Healthy human life could flourish only in accordance with Dao. Nature, simplicity, a free-and-easy approach to life. Daoism  To be skillful and creative, they had to have inner spiritual concentration and put aside concern with externals, such as monetary rewards, fame, and praise. Artisans were typically very good at this idea. When stressed, or seeking an escape, the Daoist might retire to the countryside, or mountains and write a poem or paint a picture. This was an attempt to capture the simplicity of nature in their own lives. Daoism In Chinese society, Daoism created the Chinese love of nature It also inspired an intense affirmation of life: physical life: health, well-being, vitality, longevity, and even immortality. Some Chinese sought the fountain of youth, or herbs and plants that would extend life. This lead to the wealth of knowledge in Chinese medicine. Daoism There were kind of gods†¦ The gods and Jade Emperor could be seen as the supreme rulers. Obeying the rulers on earth would prepare you to follow him later on. The demons and ghosts of hell acted like and were treated like the bullies, outlaws, and strangers in the real world. All things were the manifestation of the one Dao.

Discuss the social problems that result from the widespread availability of cheap alcohol Essay

The drinking of alcohol is completely acceptable in many if not most parts of society and, in the UK, it is legal to be bought by anyone over the age of 181. This is a well-known fact but a lesser known one is that in the UK, alcohol can be legally drunk on private premises by anyone over the age of 52 and youths aged 16 and over may drink alcohol3 in restaurants from the age of 16 if with an adult4. Apart from religious reasons, most people do not see a problem with a temperance attitude towards the consumption of alcohol, indeed research suggests that the occasional and moderate consumption of alcohol may have benefits to health. The problems arise when a culture adopts a heavy or binge drinking culture. Such a culture is encouraged and, in a lot of cases, made possible by the availability of cheap alcohol. Just looking at the website for Tesco today5 shows advertisements for discounted beer, for example 12 x 440ml cans of Fosters for ? 9 or a saving of ? 3 for 24 cans at only ? 15. That is beer at only 62p each for a large can, something which would cost a person approx. ?3 – 3. 50 each in a public house. It is not just supermarkets which offer cheap deals on alcohol, in my city tonight there will be countless bars offering ‘2 for 1’ deals and half price drinks during their ‘happy hours’ which normally last from 6pm until 9pm. This short time period when drinks are 50% cheaper leads to people being tempted to drink a lot of alcohol during the ‘happy hour’ period to take advantage of cheap drinks when they are available. Happy hours have become so popular that there are ‘Happy Hour Guides’ online so people know where to go for cheap alcohol6 . Although it may appear, on the surface, that the availability of cheap alcohol is harmless, unfortunately, a number of social problems have arisen as a result of it. These problems have reached such a crisis that for the past 3 years, the government has been attempting to address the availability of cheap alcohol from both shops and licensed premises and the length of opening hours in those licensed premises. The social problems that have arisen are widely publicised by the media by showing town and city centres on a Friday or Saturday night, awash with drunken teenagers and those in their 20s having partied on ‘cheap’ alcohol. This invariably leads to public order offences in the centres, a higher rate of sexual offences and, at the bottom end of the scale, centres left at the end of the night covered in broken bottles and kebab wrappers. Another lesser known fact is the binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to drive while impaired compared to people who drink sensible amounts†7. Slightly further behind the scenes, but also quite well publicised are the results seen at the A&E departments following binge drinking at a weekend when such departments are run off their feet trying to deal with genuine serious cases whilst, at the same time having to attend to a steady stream of drunk with alcohol related injuries. Such problems are quite well publicised and the public at large are well aware of these results of freely available cheap alcohol being abused. There are, however, more problems below the surface. In 2010, Sir John Stoddart, Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary spoke to Channel 4 about the affects cheap alcohol was having within his jurisdiction. He claimed that the problem is far larger than binge-fuelled bad behaviour and that his men and women on the beat saw a range of alcohol-related crime and social breakdown. In 2009, his constabulary and two neighbouring forces tackled nearly 6,500 incidents of domestic violence where alcohol played a part. The Chief Constable was quoted as saying that he was in no doubt that it was the cut prices and easy availability of alcohol that were to blame. 8 Other social problems that arise from freely available cheap alcohol include a general rise in crime, in fact, almost half of all victims of violence report that perpetrators were under the influence9. Also, the general health of those who abuse alcohol declines and it often leads to an early death. One reason for bad health from alcohol is chronic liver disease. From 1970 – 2000, deaths in the UK from cirrhosis increased by 900%. The primary cause of cirrhosis is drinking too much alcohol. In conclusion, there are numerous social problems which result from freely available cheap alcohol. These problems include health issues, domestic problems, a rise in crime and a general degradation of our town and city centres. II. Expand on the other issues that have made alcohol a significant social problem In the answer above, as well as the main, obvious social issues I did touch on the problem of health and crime resulting from the consumption (or rather, over consumption) of alcohol. I will now expand on these issues in more detail. During a time of austerity institutions such as the NHS are extremely hard pressed to provide an adequate service to the population. The NHS in England currently has to make ? 20bn of efficiency savings (between 2011 and 2015). These savings of 4% a year are needed if the NHS is to meet rising demands and maintain quality, with funding effectively frozen in real terms during the current spending review period. The last thing it needs is for a social issue to increase the number of patients that it has. In 2010, the NHS published a report on the cost of binge drinking, ‘Too much of the hard stuff: what alcohol costs the NHS’. It cited that consumption of alcohol in the UK had increased by 19 per cent over the previous three decades and that reports indicated that 10. 5 million adults in England drink alcohol above sensible limits and around 1. 1 million have a level of alcohol addiction. It also confirmed that alcohol was the third leading cause of disease burden in developed countries and, as a result, the cost of providing alcohol-related services was escalating. It emphasised that over a quarter of the population in England was drinking at hazardous levels and that treating alcohol-related conditions cost the NHS approximately ? 2. 7 billion in 2006/07, almost double the 2001 cost. Furthermore, the pressure to react to drinkers’ urgent and increasing health needs made it difficult for preventative measures to keep pace. Alcohol has always been an issue in relation to reported crime. According to the Home Office, the incidence of crimes committed under the influence of alcohol is rising steadily. During 2011, in England, almost half of all violent crimes were thought to have involved alcohol. Additionally, just under 40% of all domestic violence was attributed to drunkenness. Additionally, research by the British Medical Association suggests that between 60 – 70% of all murders were committed by those under the influence of alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has always been linked to crime levels and the reason for this is the fact that alcohol is classed as a ‘disinhibitor’. A disinhibitor is a drug that tends to remove a person’s inhibitions. In essence, alcohol can literally give people the â€Å"courage† to do things they might not otherwise do. So what makes people drink to excess? There are many factors attributed to heavy drinking of alcohol, these include the fact that those from families with a history of drinking are more likely to drink to excess, as are people with a history of abuse. Also cited as a blame for heavy drinking is peer pressure. Another factor, all the more relevant in a time of high unemployment and austerity is the fact that stress both at home and at work and unemployment are known factors to increase the consumption of alcohol. As with the NHS above, during these times of austerity, policing the population is strained almost to breaking point. Recent cuts on the budget for forces have led to a 17% cut in police staff with 13,500 fewer police officers and nearly 3,000 fewer PCSOs. During the period 2011 – 2015, UK police forces have to make a saving of ? 2. 7bn. In 2012, Her Majesties Inspector of Constabularies confirmed that as many as three different forces within in the UK were failing due to spending cuts and that others may fail in the near future. With such facts and figures, then with an increase of alcohol abuse, then there is likely to be an increase in reported crime. In such a climate, the last thing that UK forces need are high levels of alcohol related reported crimes. III. Why is cocaine considered the main drug of choice for the wealthy? The history of cocaine goes back many hundreds of years. Indeed, over 1000 years ago, indigenous South American people used to chew the leaves of cocoa plants for its nutrients. It has been known to the Western world since the mid-16th Century, since which it was been used as a drug of leisure and as a medicinal compound. For the majority of this time, the use of cocaine was legal, indeed during the early 20th-century, cocaine was being sold in US drugstores, costing 5c – 10c for a small boxful. It was commonly used by ‘stevedores’ along the Mississippi River, who used the drug as a stimulant. During the same period, again in the US, white employers encouraged its use by black labourers in order to increase their work rate. Even as recently as 1916, Harrods were selling a kit described as â€Å"A Welcome Present for Friends at the Front† containing cocaine, morphine, syringes and needles. However, later that year cocaine was made illegal following reports of ‘drug crazed soldiers’. It is currently a class A controlled drug listed on Schedule II of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. During modern times, traditionally, cocaine was always the drug of the rich. This was purely due to its price being relatively high in comparison to other controlled drugs. Indeed, during the 1990s when I was working undercover in the drug scene, cocaine was rarely encountered on the street due to its high prices. Other, cheaper drugs such as LSD, Ecstasy and Amphetamine Sulphate (speed) were far more easily available and much cheaper. More recently, due to a higher supply of the drug, in accordance with the age old adage of ‘supply and demand’, the price of cocaine has dropped drastically. To illustrate this, in 1999 a gram of cocaine would cost in the region of ? 70. By the mid-2000s, that same gram would only cost about ? 35. It suddenly became affordable and therefore its usage increased. In 2007, the UN claimed that 2. 4% of adults in England and Wales use cocaine10. IV. What are the attractions of readily available recreational drugs? Recreational drugs are used by people to either create or improve a recreational situation rather than for medical or spiritual purposes. Recreational drugs include alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, together with a number of commonly used controlled drugs and, lately, a ‘group’ of what have been referred to as ‘legal highs’. The attractions of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, together with legal highs11, such as ‘gocaine’, ‘ching’ and ‘AMT’ to name but a few include the fact that they are legal, easily obtained, relatively cheap, all are quite sociable drugs and, to differing degrees, all of them ‘lift’ a person’s spirits. Controlled (illegal) drugs are also regularly used recreationally. The most common types of recreational drug includes cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine. As above, the main attractions of recreational drugs are that they are relatively cheap, especially if compared to the price of alcohol, in particular if one wants a similar level of effect. They are a sociable pastime with very few recreational drug users using them in isolation and the majority (with the exception of cannabis) are designed to lift a person’s spirits and energy levels. Cannabis on the other hand has the opposite effect allowing a person to relax and it is often used by recreational drug users to help them ‘come down’ after an episode of using an ‘upper’. The fact that such drugs are illegal and even the mere possession of them could lead to a person receiving a criminal record is very little deterrent to those who wish to use recreational drugs. V. Explore the range of options for resolving the problem of frequent use of recreational drugs The options for resolving recreational drug use vary depending upon the drug in question. There is no control over the use of a drug such as caffeine, a child of any age can walk into any shop in the UK and purchase a jar of coffee, caffeine laced sweets or can of coke. This is because of the perception that caffeine is harmless and it is socially acceptable to be consumed, normally in a drink such as coffee or coke. Despite the public perception of it, however, caffeine is not quite as harmless as people believe. For example, just today it was reported that a 40 year old man died of an overdose of caffeine after eating too many mints with caffeine in them12. Having said that, in the majority of cases, caffeine does not cause any major adverse reaction to its consumption and it is not considered to be a recreational drug which requires resolving. Nicotine on the other hand has slipped out of popularity due to its most popular form of consumption being by smoking tobacco. Smoking was once popular and acceptable in the majority of places and situations, however, in the UK this has changed as a result of the health issues associated to it. The method used to resolve the recreational use of nicotine in the form of smoking tobacco has been to heavily tax it in order to make it unaffordable to the majority and to ban its use in public places. Alcohol is another recreational drug which has recently fallen foul of those in authority and its use is currently seen as something which requires resolving. This has resulted from an increase in ill health of drinkers, huge media interest in what they describe as ‘binge drinking’ and statistics which show that the UK is very high on international statistics as far as alcohol related crime is concerned. This is being done by good education programs regarding the ill effects of alcohol, overt advertising on the ill effects of alcohol use, heavy taxation and overt, strong policing of areas when alcohol is used recreationally. In addition, the government is exploring licensing hours with a view to reducing them in order to make alcohol less accessible and to introduce a minimum price per unit for alcohol in order to make it less affordable. The recreational use of legal highs are slightly harder to resolve. Although such drugs have been available for some time, it is only recently that their use, and indeed the sometimes fatal consequences of such use, has been advertised widely. Such drugs are frequently used by young people who either do not want to break the law and purchase illegal drugs, or by those who cannot afford controlled drugs (which invariably are more expensive). It is very difficult to resolve the use of recreational drugs that are freely available via hundreds of internet sites and shops around the UK. Most of the legal highs are basically vitamin pills laced with high levels of caffeine or herbs containing the (legal) chemical ephedrine. With their popularity, designers have started to produce a new generation of legal highs, many with effects more closely associated with stronger drugs like cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, some even contain the amphetamine-like drug BZP, an artificial chemical originally used as worming tablet for cows. It is very hard to control such sales as, in a similar manner to designer drugs such as those originating from the original MDMA, as soon as a drug is made illegal, the designers just change its chemical make-up so it remains legal. Although this is easier to control with the UK drug laws than in countries such as the USA, it is still very difficult which is why in the UK, specific legal highs are not made illegal much sooner. The way to resolve the frequent use of such legal ‘drugs’ is to publicise the ill effect of using them, to investigate their make up and ban those containing dangerous or illegal ingredients. Education beginning early in life is another way to attempt to curg the use of such recreational drugs. I have left to last the ways to resolve the frequent use of controlled recreational drugs. My reason for this is because I do not think that there is a method which will be successful. Firstly, we made the drugs illegal so that no-one would use them. This did not work. We have had a no tolerance policy on drug offenders which also did not work. We have had extensive multi-media drug education programs made in an attempt to show people the ill effects of such drugs but this has not worked. Some employers have introduced compulsory drug testing in order to identify drug users to make the workplace a safer place. People are still caught regularly which again shows that this does not work. We spend literally ? billions around the world, destroying crops of illegal drugs, funding international drug enforcement initiatives and strengthening our borders but still, the demand is so high that such drugs still manage to make their way into our country. As I said above, I do not think we can prevent such drug use, however, the methods described above will hopefully at least control the use of illegal recreational drugs, if not eradicate it.

How to Build Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills in College

How to Build Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills in College College is an excellent setting for students to hone their communication skills. Becoming a responsible communicator is a coveted skill with high value to prospective employers. It’s also a sign of maturity, humanity and leadership. Whether practice a sport or belong to any groups or clubs, your ability to communicate effectively is key to your success and depending on the role you hold, the success of the group. It can also help you make and keep friends and ensure a , not to mention help you develop positive relationships with your professors. Here are some ways to practice effective communication while in college: Learn to Listen One of the most underrated and yet most important communication skills is listening. Instructions The ability to listen to and recall information comes in very handy when someone is giving you instructions. Always keep in mind: what is the goal of this exercise? If the goal is to demonstrate teamwork in a sporting exercise, then the focus will be different than if the goal were to merely demonstrate physical ability. Make sure you pay attention to both the small details and the big picture. Empathizing If someone comes to you to vent their frustration about something, try to remain empathetic but neutral. Don’t stoke the flames of their frustration nor ask them to calm down. Rather just try to listen to their perspective and put yourself in their shoes. The ability to be a good listener is also usually a sign of good leadership. Feedback When a teacher, coach or other student is giving you corrective feedback, try to understand their point of view and don’t ever take anything personally. Be flexible in your thinking so you can be open to new ideas and perspectives. Accepting the fact that you’re not always right about everything will make it easier for you to work with people and will also enhance your learning skills. Standing Your Ground However, sometimes there are situations where you’ll have to stick up for yourself. If you were given an unfair grade or were unduly punished or were accused of something you didn’t do by a friend or classmate, then it’s important you voice your opinion. In these cases, you want to avoid either of these conflict types: The fighter Having an emotional reaction, demonstrating anger or offense will only aggravate the situation. The avoider However, running away from conflict and letting the injustice slide will not serve you in this situation or in the future. Try this: Diplomacy Instead, try to arrange a meeting in a neutral setting and come prepared with valid points on why the person was mistaken. Use neutral language and be diplomatic. Don’t raise your voice or display anger, but do sit up tall, look the person in the eye and speak with confidence. Learning How to Give Feedback If you’re in a leadership role such as the captain of a team or the editor of the school newspaper, you’ll have to learn how to give feedback: Don’t give immediate feedback if it’s negative If an incident just happened, it’s best to wait a while before approaching the person about it. If you give immediate feedback, it can come across as irritation or anger. When the situation cools down, then you can approach them. Be specific Don’t say things like â€Å"You didn’t do a good job.† That’s too general and not helpful. Instead, let them know specifically where they failed: â€Å"The formatting for this month’s newspaper was off and had to be corrected at the last minute at the printer’s.† Give helpful suggestions and guidance Using the example above, you could suggest the following: â€Å"Let’s go over the formatting together this month in order to make sure everything’s okay before going to print.† Learning how to express thoughts and opinions, how to de-escalate conflict, how to empathize and offer feedback and guidance to others are all skills that can be practiced in college and which will serve you in professional and personal relationships afterwards.

The Descent of Hag

The Descent of Hag The Descent of Hag The Descent of Hag By Mark Nichol The headline of this post uses descent in two senses: This post discusses the etymological origin of hag, but it also points out how the connotation of the term has plummeted in status. The contemporary connotation of hag is â€Å"old woman,† with additional senses of a careless, ugly, or evil appearance; the offensive term â€Å"fag hag† refers to a straight woman who associates with gay men. In the Middle Ages, the term referred to a female demon or an evil spirit, but it was originally associated with highly respected oracles, or soothsayers. Hag is the truncated version of the Old English term hagetes (also spelled hagtesse), meaning â€Å"witch† or â€Å"sorceress.† The second syllable, later misidentified as a mere suffix, was lopped off, but that’s the essential element; it’s probably related to words in other languages referring to demons or spirits, while hag is likely cognate with hedge. The significance of that term is that hedges were considered the boundary between civilization and the wild, and witches- and reclusive women with mysterious healing abilities who were sometimes accused of being witches- straddled both worlds. A term with a loose association, hagridden, refers to sleep paralysis, because of the belief that one’s sense of being immobilized while lying in bed was caused by a spirit bearing down on the sufferer; by extension, the term also means â€Å"tormented,† and the verb hagride means â€Å"torment.† Similarly, the rare adjective hagged originally meant â€Å"bewitched† and later acquired the sense of â€Å"gaunt,† due to the belief that such an appearance was the result of bewitchment. Haggard, originally meaning â€Å"unruly† or â€Å"wild,† is not directly related- it comes from the Old French phrase faulcon hagard (â€Å"wild falcon†)- but it’s a distant relation that acquired the sense of â€Å"worn† by association with hag. Other related words include the archaic noun haw, meaning â€Å"enclosure† (the first syllable of hawthorn), and hex, which originally referred to a witch but later came to apply to a witch’s spell. (Haggle has a separate derivation; it’s related to hack.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withWriting the Century25 Idioms with Clean

The Black Hawk War in Utah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Black Hawk War in Utah - Essay Example Lyman states that the relationship between the Indians and the white settlers who were mostly Mormons was quite rough (12). Some of the southern Paiutes even converted to Mormonism. However, the Ute Indians had general hostilities with the Mormons and the settlers. During the Black Hawk War, Navajo Indians increased the hostilities by attacking Dixie ranches. Many Mormons and white settlers were killed in inhumane manner. The Indians were ruthless in their attacks. Winkler states that most of the white settlers armed themselves against the Indians and carried out revenge attacks without involving the US government. Indian villages were raided and razed down by church militias. The farms belonging to the Ute Indians were razed down leading to many deaths due to famine between 1866 and 1869. Winkler states that on 18 July 1865, Mormon militias killed tens of Native Americans including women and children (13). Furthermore, the Indians that were captured during cattle raids were exposed to extreme torture methods in order to reveal the place where other tribes were hiding. Lyman further states that Indian warriors captured white traders en route to parts of southern Utah killing them (7). The major causes of the black hawk war were pressure on Indian settlement populations, destruction of ecosystem and Indian subsistence leading to starvation. This was due to white Settlement expansion and latter day saints in open war with Native Americans. Peterson asserts that the major cause of the war was the pressure on Indian tribes in Utah (14). Since 1837, white settlers had been pushing native Indians from their homeland in the native reserve. South Utah was one of the major areas that were affected. The Ute and Navajo who used to plant corn for food were hugely affected as they lost their land to Mormon ranches. The Ute led by a young chief called black Hawk started to carry out attacks on the Mormon settlements in order to steal cattle for their food. Lyman, on the othe r hand states that Mormon militia due to suspicion attacked some Indian tribes that were seen to be friendly to the Mormons in central Utah (19). These include the Koosharen who were commonly known as the horseless Ute. During the black hawk war, there was an emergence of what was commonly referred to as the Frontier justice for those who were thought to have committed crimes, witch-hunts. Lack of federal soldier’s aid to help end the war was due to the inability to differentiate between friendly and enemy Indians. Reeve states that the system of justice in Utah was crucial as a cause of war. Reeve states that the white’s had formed a militia in order to protect their interests and deal with conduct amongst themselves administered the system. The justice system during the black hawk war led to white settlers to engage in excess in legal constraints. Indian women and children were also killed after being caught as captives. In addition to this, the legal authority was a ccused of excesses. However, the legal system would let these blatant forms of murder and human rights abuses unpunished. Winkler states that Indians chiefs had their own system of justice. In the case of Joseph and Robert Perry’s murder, Indian chiefs prosecuted the Navajos who had participated in the murder by punishing them (6). However, Winkler states th

How did Industrialization change America between 1860 and 1900 Essay - 1

How did Industrialization change America between 1860 and 1900 - Essay Example Among the greatest changes that took place in the United States with regard to industrialization is improved living standards. Industrialization brought with it numerous issues and one of the positive issues is that it created employment opportunities. With the increase in industries, there was a basic requirement of workers and these people came from the surrounding areas. These people worked tirelessly with the aim of achieving the most for their industries. The consequent result of this is that people gained more income from the industries and improved their living standards (Meyer 74). Another change that took place is an increase in population. Two major factors that led to this and it is important to review both of them. One of the reasons as to why population increased is because people got comfortable with their lives and decided to multiply. Another reason is the fact that the United States became attractive to many outsiders and thus many immigrants came in from different regions. The reason as to why they came into the country is to look for employment in the upcoming industries at the time. The transport system is another that faced many changes during that period. This happened because people required an elaborate transport system through which they would get to work. Another reason as to why the transport system improved is that entrepreneurs required a fast method through which they would transport their products. With the advent of industries, the food production increased and thus the market widened (Meyer 106). One of the political changes witnessed because of industrialization is the rise of taxation. Prior to industrialization, the concept of taxation was rare but with the increase in goods doing rounds in the market the government found a loophole. The government decided to start taxing traders and this would lead to its accumulation of funds. Thinking in the economic line,

Compare role science & technology play in Lunar Men & Heart of Essay

Compare role science & technology play in Lunar Men & Heart of Darkness. How have attitudes & uses of them changed - Essay Example le genius and ability to make new things, gain a deep understanding of the world both philosophically and physically—their inventions too are used to allow other people to more profoundly understand the physical world. In Heart of Darkness, it is the West’s ability to harness technology that makes the minerals and rubber of the Congo valuable and that makes it important to extract such products. But the novel also shows the limits to human’s knowledge—even using technology and science humans cannot know everything. When they think the do, trouble occurs. These aspects of the roles of science and technology will be looked at in this essay. One of the main points of the book Lunar Men is the sheer joy of the intellectual curiosity Uglow’s heroes possess and show. They want to find out about the world, they want to learn new things. It is this sense of adventure and exploration that drives them, even though they don’t really leave their hometown—they just meet in person. The adventure is what they learn about the world through their scientific experiments and from sharing information and curiosity with one another. It isn’t a physical journey across the world. Indeed, they don’t need to take such a journey because they can bring the world to themselves through their experiments and discoveries. Boulton, for example, when he is starting out feels an air of energy surrounding him and feels the time is ripe for â€Å"adventure,† but he doesn’t get on a merchant ship. Instead: â€Å"Armed with the security of Anne’s money and his own inheritance from his father, Boulton made plans. The workshop and warehouse on Snow Hill were too small and he dreamed of a site big enough to have stores of raw materials, drawing and design rooms, workshops for all stages and products, and a warehouse for finished goods. He also wanted a mill to drive machines . . .† (65) The latest technologies let him stay at home. For other men, like Robinson, for example, worldly

The History Of Parenting Programmes Children And Young People Essay

The History Of Parenting Programmes Children And Young People Essay Education is a giant step forward to achieving sustainability. Education for sustainable development encompasses the three areas: the environment, society and the economy (Pace, 2010). ESD is meant to inculcate ideals and values about key sustainable issues such as poverty reduction, environment protection, human rights, democracy, and so on. The basic concept of ESD entails helping people to develop the right attitude and knowledge to facilitate decision-making and create a better future for themselves and others (UNESCO, 2011). In this regard, Parenting Programmes might help to orient both parents and children towards this new mind set. Contrary to popular belief, education begins at home. This is why parents should be the primary targets. Parsons (1959), states that the family is bounded by two irreducible functions which are the primary socialization of children and stabilization of adult personalities (Haralambos and Holborn, 2007). The quality of education a child receives will therefore be a determining factor to the type of adult he will develop into (Morawska et al, 2011). Dealing with a child is no easy task. However, very often parents tend to forget that the parent-child relationship is a two-way street. As a matter of fact, many parents lack the proper coping and communication skills to deal with conflict situations. There are several organizations, also known as Parenting Programmes, to assist parents to cope with emotional, behavioural and social problems in their children (Morawska et al, 2011). Research has indicated that children are very likely to face impaired educational development, adult mental health problems and even entry to crime, due to long-term consequences of these problems (Lindsay et al, 2008). Evidence indicates that Parenting Programmes have indeed contributed towards helping adults to better integrate their roles as parents. Some examples of these parenting programmes are the Incredible Years, Triple P and Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities among others. The Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinder (PEIP) has shown great interest in the matter and funded 150 local authorities in England to deliver Parenting Programmes (Lindsay et al, 2008). The Incredible Years Programme in the USA dealt mostly with parents with children having conduct problems. The Triple P in Australia was based on a five-level intervention basis and was more beneficial for parents having mental health problems and relationship problems, therefore with children at risk. Home interventions were frequently required. Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities was mainly designed for minority ethnic groups. Consequently, evidence indicated an increase in the level of activity, decrease in negative discipline and enhanced communication between parents and children (Lindsay et al, 2008). Education for Sustainable Development aims at creating better citizens of tomorrow. Parents, therefore, as primary agents of socialization should be able to grasp the concept of ESD, so that they can in turn pass it on to their children. However, this would be more effective if children were taught to adopt sustainable lifestyle since birth itself. Problem Statement Parenting programmes, termed as Ecoles des Parents in Mauritius, is a rather new concept. However, there are many existing policies and laws put into place by the Government to provide security and welfare for the children, and also Ministries such as The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare and The Ministry of Education and Human Resources. There are many alarming issues that led to considering the need for such a programme. Firstly, the family, as an institution, doesnt stand as firmly as it did before, and with the increase in divorce rates, children often find themselves being brought up in broken homes. Moreover, degradation of family values has accentuated, and that adults are lesser involved in family activities but instead focus more on themselves. Juvenile Delinquency is yet another serious problem which is on the rise. This ranges from thefts, physical violence, and drug addiction to even rape. It is very common in households today, to see both parents working, sometimes even doing extra hours hence leaving a minimum amount of time to carry out family activities or simply have a conversation with the kids. Youngsters are nowadays lost in a virtual world, where social networks are the only means to communicate with what they call friends. Eventually, social life suffers and teenagers become virtual beings where face-to-face interactions are becoming more and more scarce. It is very important for parents to foster good relationships with their children. But parents cannot hope to do this when the child has already reached 16. This process starts right when the child is born. With so many problems on the rise, namely anti-social behaviour, juvenile delinquency, crime rate, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, we cant help but wonder: Have parents somehow failed to fulfill their roles? A pilot project was set up at La Valette, Bambous, which is actually a reconstituted village. Parents who attended the program were from poor regions of the island. The project Ecole des Parents was launched in October 2010 under the supervision of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family (Anon, 2010), and is focused towards helping parents to develop the necessary coping and communication skills to deal with their children and also to encourage group discussion between parents. Since the program has been introduced only recently, it is very difficult to get proper feedback about its effectiveness. Aims and Objectives Aims The aim of this study is to assess how the programme Ecole des Parents enhances the lifestyle of its participants and promotes sustainable development within the locality through education. Objectives The objectives of the study are listed below: To produce a comprehensive literature Review To assess how government promotes sustainable development through education To determine the need for parenting programmes To assess how Ecole des Parents has changed the lives of the participants To evaluate how Ecole des Parents eventually benefits the community To recommend measures which could improved the sustainability of the programme Research questions: What are the measures taken by the government to inculcate a sustainable lifestyle? Are parents failing to fulfil their roles? How far has the programme influenced family lives? What are the impacts of such programmes in the area where it has been implemented? What are the limitations of the programme and how we can tackle them? Flow of dissertation: Chapter 2: Literature Review In chapter 2, we will firstly be reviewing sociological perspectives on parenting support and education; we will then move on to an overview about existing parenting programmes and its effectiveness. We will then look at sustainable development and the importance given to education in achieving sustainability. Finally we will look at the Mauritian context, how and why Ecole des Parents was introduced. Chapter 3: Methodology In this chapter, we will identify what method can be best used to conduct our study, what are the variables which need to be taken into account while designing our questionnaire. We will elaborate about our sampling method and how data will be collected. Chapter 4: Results Discussion This chapter will include the analysis of our findings and a comprehensive discussion about the results obtained. Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations Finally, we will conclude by summarising our findings and provide recommendations on how the programme can be improved. 2.0 Literature Review Sociological perspectives In order to explain the parent-child relationship, various theories have been used. Research has been conducted by dominant perspectives like social learning theory, attachment theory and parenting styles to understand parenting and the parent-child relationship (OConnor and Scott, 2007). The social learning theory is one of the most important models of the relationship between parents and children. Many theorists have used the social learning model in the way social conditions of parents may lead to poor child rearing. Robert Wahler (1965) conducted a programme which took into consideration the specific needs of lone mothers; he concluded that these mothers were more unpleasant with their children when others rejected them. A childs experience shapes his behaviour directly or indirectly. If the child is getting reward for his action, such as parental attention, he is most likely to repeat the behaviour while if the child is being punished, he is less likely to do the behaviour again. Attachment theorists have established parenting relationships according to ethology, cognitive psychology and control systems. John Bowlby was interested on detecting the nature, impact and function of the childs affiliation to his parent. This theory also focuses on important issues such as how far the relationship protects the child against harm and provides an emotional security. Baumrind studied four typologies linked with the outcome of children: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful. Authoritative parents have children who were more decent and clever; those parents who were authoritarian, permissive and disengaged had lower results while authoritarian parents had the worst outcomes of the four child rearing types. As such, having an insight of what have been said by sociologists and psychologists about the influence of parental support on the education of their children will enable us to analyse how parenting programmes really enhance relationship between parents and children; family life; education success or failure and also their influence on society. In the next part we will be discussing about parenting programmes and its various aspects. Parenting Programmes Parenting is not a new concept, as many might believe. Society has had concerns about family life and childrens upbringing for very long. Unfortunately the realities of life at home, between parents and children, are not quite how we expect them to be. Parenting is undeniably an asset to shaping tomorrows adults, and through school the child is expected to grasp the concept of parenting and thus become model parents of the next generation (Jenkinson, 1995). The idea of School Parenting or Parenting Programs as it is known worldwide, might be the answer to the chaotic situation between parents and children. We should firstly circle the facts that led to considering the need for such a program. The generation gap has been increasing due to several factors over the years. To start with, the family, as an institution, doesnt stand as firmly as it did before. With the increase in divorce rates, children often find themselves being brought up in broken homes (Smith, 1970 1990). Moreover, U.S. Census data, shows that degradation of family values have accentuated since 1960, and that adults are lesser involved in family activities but instead focus more on themselves, leaving children to fend for themselves (Popenoe, 1993). Another serious issue to be considered is that of Juvenile Delinquency. Due to weak social relations, youngsters nowadays are more vulnerable to temptation. Statistical analysis reveals that the rate of crime among youngsters has increased ranging from theft, drug addiction to physical violence. However, sociologists believe that, these form part of the process of growing up and that such behaviours fade when adulthood is reached, for most. More importantly, it should be noted that, children who have received appropriate parental guidance, are less prone to engaging in such damaging activities (World Youth Report, 2003). With the advent of industrialization, both mothers and fathers have rushed to the big cities for jobs, supposedly for the betterment of the family and to secure the childrens future. Consequently, squeezing in between jobs and spending quality time with the kids have become a major challenge (Moen, 1989). The number of internet users, as at December 2011, was estimated to be 2, 267, 233, 742 (Internet World Stats, 2011). The internet, however, not only brought about positive changes to our lives, but also threats to our well-being. One such target nowadays is teenagers, who seem to associate more importance to virtual life than real life itself. Social networking sites are a means for youngsters to re-invent themselves by broadening their contacts. On the hand, research indicated narcissistic tendencies, health problems such as anxiety and depression, and alienation from social life through overuse of social networks. Parents are therefore advised to engage in as much social activities as possible with their children. They need to encourage dialogue and also monitor the teenagers ventures on social networking sites, so as not to create virtual teenagers (Rosen, 2011). A Childs socialization is crucial to determining what kind of individual he/she will eventually develop into. The socialization process is a means for the child to internalize appropriate norms, values and behaviours inculcated by the agents of socialization, namely the parents (Haralambos and Holborn, 2007). Therefore, parents as key agents should be given some kind of training so as to better understand what is really in the childs interest. After all, the relationship goes both ways, where mutual understanding is the core to establishing fruitful interactions for both parties. Types of parenting programmes Parenting Programs are one such incentive, where the central aim is to help parents gain insight to potential behavioural and emotional difficulties that children encounter (Morawska, et al, 2010). The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is one such program, which starts with providing relevant information about parenting to parents, who are willing to cooperate. The Triple P-Positive Program operates on a five level basis, and comprises of parents of new born babies to 16 year old teens. Level 1 consists of helping parents to detect minor behavioural problems, and is directed towards promoting the childs development. Level 2 is mostly for parents with specific concerns about their child and they usually seek advice on how to tackle the problem. Level 3, is no different from level 2, but simply incorporates practice and self-evaluation sessions to deal with the problem in a more effective way. Level 4, however, gather parents whose children have more severe behaviour issues and may require health professionals. And finally level 5 includes home visits and intensive family interventions which are specific depending on the situation, for e.g. conflict between parents themselves, involving cases of depression (Sanders, et al, 2003). The Triple P-Positive Program also demands that parents abide by a set of principles. To start with, children need to feel safe and free to explore, experiment and play. Under no circumstance should parents hamper the healthy, natural development of a child. As primary agents of socialization, parents should educate their children and also be open for questions and dialogue. Discipline is important and punishment should have a limit. Parents should establish rules but should also consider childrens opinion. Parents should allow children the freedom to choose their own path to fulfil their dreams, rather than imposing their desires and expectations. Finally parents should respect themselves, and foster good communication with one another, so as to create a stable and healthy home (Sanders, et al, 2003). Other types of Parenting Programs include the Incredible Years and the Strengthening families strengthening communities Programs. The Incredible Years Program comprises of parents with children from 0 to 8 years. Like the Triple P program, Incredible Years help parents to gain better understanding of childrens behavioural problems. However, this program tackles the situation by encouraging parents to foster good relationships with one another, and by dealing with their own issues (Geoff Lindsay et al, 2011). The Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities (SFSC), most particularly deals with small ethnic groups, but still the primary concern being helping parents develop effective coping skills. However, the program also covers the cultural and spiritual aspects of society, for example engaging in community activities, following traditions, etc (Geoff Lindsay et al, 2011). Parenting Programs are alternatives geared towards helping parents develop effective coping and communication skills. Parents are also more aware of childrens side of the story, and thus can look for collective solutions to misunderstandings through dialogue. These may seem to be quite simple, but the truth is many adults do not know their roles as parents, and how to tackle conflicts. This is where Parenting Programs come into the picture. Thus, having proved the importance of such programmes to family, children and society, we will now look at the role the state plays in promoting parenting programs. The role of the state One of the main aims of the government is undoubtedly the safety of the citizens. The state should cater for the physical safety of children and social crime prevention, i.e. ways to promote adequate child rearing and decrease the risk delinquency in children. It may be considered right to link it to aspects of communitarians as a reinforced community and family relations help to form a safety network that a society deprived of its ties cannot offer. Safety of the citizens is probably the governments most important responsibility; however an economically stable and balanced community is also of high importance. Here providing education and welfare benefits, easing work and acting to support the family unit as an economic system are involved. Leaving the protective measures behind, other impacts on our expectations of the role of government should be taken into consideration. One of the most important is the Christohumanistic tradition that has guided the state and welfare organizations since years. Societies depend on shared values. Shared values are passed on through children. Values wont be passed on from one generation to the next unless they are reinforced by the parent child relationship. So parenting is a public as well as intensely private act. Hence societys interest is in the parent-child relationship. Families are crucial to the survival and development of shared values. (Straw, 2000) The governments contribution to supporting a rights perspective is obvious in its introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. There has been an effort to attain sexual parity at work furthermore there has been the promotion of a childs perspective by setting up the Children and Young Peoples Unit and effort to improve children participation in the service development. Societal trends have shifted the state beyond preserving physical and financial safety to human centred, charitable caring and most importantly an increasingly modified and rights orientated relationship with families. Nowadays both parents and government are facing problems of having to regulate morality while having to abide an era of democratized relationships. Review of parenting programmes According to a study, by Roger Grimshaw and Christine McGuire (1998), group-based parenting programmes had a low public profile. Many parents found it interesting however they found it difficult to attend. Some thought that attending such a programme would mean being a bad parent. Those who were willing participate wished to go on a programme before their child turned 3 years old (Grimshaw and McGuire, 1998). Around half of the parents who attended rated the advice helpful while the rest found it less interesting and an eighth found that it was not a good thing. Those parents who attended the parenting schooling were quite happy with it. Concerning the style of the programme, parents found it important that the leader should be a parent. Instead of being told about what to do, they wanted to have options from which they could choose. Both parents and organizations thought that programmes should lead to: benefits arising from group support, for instance a supportive network of friends; a better relationship with the children; greater information on issues such as child health and development; and emotional benefits. The managers who set up the programmes and the coordinator had some common aims. However, managers were more prone to distinguish strategic objectives for the courses, for instance community development. Coordinators were more likely to get involved in the aims that had impacts on individual participants, like a rise in confidence. Children who were interviewed had lucid perception of the responsibilities that parents had in protecting, guiding and instilling discipline in them. Effectiveness of parenting programmes Parent education helps to improve caring and positive child rearing which is crucial in creating a good atmosphere for children. The risk of child abuse is more when parents do not possess the necessary abilities, back up and knowledge of child development. School parenting helps to increase the knowledge of parents on the development of children, to guide them in developing parenting abilities and make them familiar with the difficulties involved with child rearing. Parenting programmes takes place at different levels. For instance, community awareness strategies operate at the primary level; group training sessions and one-on-one programmes such as the triple P-Positive Parenting Programme operate at the secondary or tertiary level. However, all parenting programmes serve to increase parental knowledge and decrease stress. Parental schooling helps to reach these results by training parents behavioural management skills, ways to solve problems, and personal adaptation abilities. Parenting programmes are important aspects of dealing with families which are at risk. Recent audits evaluated that progress has been made in areas like preventing child maltreatment. Factors limiting the effectiveness of parent education There are various factors that can limit the effectiveness of parenting programmes. Parenting beliefs often unconscious are difficult to change; parents may make us of same ways of parenting even if they have come across new skills. Furthermore, courses which are not intensive do not have the desired impact on both children and parents. Parents who have psychological problems or a drug or alcohol addiction may have difficulties to grasp new skills and build better relationships; the parents own development needs may be an obstacle in being able to participate fully in the programme (Holzer et al., 2006). Cultural values, negative experiences with social service providers, language barriers, time commitment, scheduling issues, travel, and general lack of interest may reduce participation in parent education programs. Parental depression, drug or alcohol addiction, low level of education, domestic violence, marital conflict, remarriage, harsh punishment on children may decrease the effectiveness of parenting programmes. Moreover, parents with low education and low income are less likely to believe that the can control their childrens development. Also, parents that are hassled about their environment, for example violent neighbours may be less prone to gain from parent schooling (Solutions for America, n.d.). Limitations of parenting programmes Although parenting programmes have proved to be an effective measure to help adults become better parents and ensure a better inclusion of children in society, they have several limitations. One of the major disadvantages of parenting programmes is that it is discriminating in nature, for instance for a programme which is aiming at ensuring the welfare of the family, the children and society in general; research have shown that while delivering the course to families in risky groups the programmes are excluding families from other background who are facing difficult issues with their children (Lindsay et al., 2011). The second drawback, concerns ethnicity, some researches conducted in the United Kingdom have shown that attendance to parenting programmes vary greatly depending on the ethnicity of the parents (Patel et al., 2011). For example, the study conducted by Patel et al (2002) showed that out of eighty participants, 37.5% were white British, 18.8% were Pakistani, Asian and black British accounted each for 10% and other minority groups accounted for less than 10% each. Thirdly, the high level of drop out from the programmes is another limitation. According to Lindsay et al. (2011), there are 17%-19% of participants who quit the programme due to socioeconomic issue or other problems. Therefore, the programmes need to take into account motivational factors which will stimulate candidate to pursue the course till the end. Parenting programmes and sustainable development All parenting programs do one thing in common, that is, improving the lifestyle of its citizens by providing the right skills to the people in order to shapes the future of the youths and improves their quality of life. From this perspective, we can clearly see that the aim of parenting programmes is closely linked to the four pillars of sustainable development. For instance, by providing parents the required tools to become better guides for their children and improving their relationship, such programs are ensuring that the latter will become good citizens for the welfare of society. Secondly, parenting programmes enables the moulding of future wealth producers by ensuring that future generations have the required environment to grow up as respectable and responsible adults. Thirdly, through such programmes both children and parents learn to respect people different from them that is, from other culture, religion and so on; they also learn to be respectful towards their environment and manage resources accordingly for a better lifestyle. Sustainable development Sustainable development is a concept which has become popular during the 1970s and has been defined in various ways but the most recognised definition is from the Brundtland Report, (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) stating Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.. This definition highlights that when setting up new policies, governments need to take into account features such as, resources available, respect them and work towards protecting them so as to ensure that future generations could also benefit from them. The terms sustainability and sustainable development is sometimes used interchangeably and although they seem vague in nature, they in fact consist of three main components, namely economic prosperity, social justice and environmental protection (GoodPlanet.info, 2008). The economics aspect involves the creation of employment, increasing production, income and wealth for everyone; and using new technologies to attain these objectives. The social component means that everyone should have access to justice, healthcare, participation in social activities, education and so on. Finally, the environmental component comprises good resource management and conservation (The Encyclopedia of Earth, 2011). Since the year 2000s, culture has been added as a fourth pillar to sustainability. With globalisation, the world has become a global village, as such for development to occur; governments need to take into consideration cultural diversity. In addition, cultural sustainability also implies the protection of cultural values, arts and heritage (Nurse, 2006). Below is a picture illustrating the four pillars of sustainable development and what are their aims (Just Focus, 2009). Source: Just Focus, 2010, available at http://www.justfocus.org.nz/tag/education-and-training/ The concern about sustainable development started in 1962 with the publication of the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson which provided an insight of the relationships between the environment, the economy and the social well-being of people (International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2002). However, sustainable development is said to have started with the declaration of human right in 1948 as it promoted universal rights for freedom of speech, belief and movement (Pesqueux, 2009). In addition, it is only in the 1970s that the concept gain popularity, with the focus being mainly on the environmental component due to the increase awareness about the depletion of our resources due to the growth of human population. This lead the creation of several movements such as Green Peace or Chipko movement in India; it lead to the organisation of several major conferences such as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, also known as the E arth Summit or the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 (Sustainable Development in Government, 2011). Several agreements were reached during the Earth Summit, under the Agenda 21, pertaining to programmes leading to sustainable development in the twenty-first century (One World, 2012). Since then, awareness about our resources has been on the rise resulting in the emergence of new managerial concepts and responsible business practices, for example Corporate Social Responsibility which was adopted by business after the Enron case but also with changes in legislation. Furthermore, in line with the Rio summit, the Millennium Summit in 2000 lead leaders around the world to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration which consist of eight diverse goals, including eradication of poverty; universal primary education; combat HIV/AIDS among others, to be achieved by 2015 (The Encyclopedia of Earth, 2011). Therefore, it can be seen that sustainability can achieved through better health, alleviation of poverty or access to education; this leads us to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development which was proclaimed in 2002 as a programme which promote education as an indispensable element for achieving sustainable development (DESD, 2002). Education for sustainable development As said above, the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014 was launched in 2002 by the United Nations. It is a programme which is under the supervision of the UNESCO and whose target is to provide quality education for all, inculcate values, beliefs and behaviour for a better and sustainable future (DESD, n.d). However, the concept of using education to achieve sustainability was introduced much before, for instance as Pace (2010) mentioned, during the Tbilisi Conference in 1977, environmental education was proposed as a framework for sustainability. Both frameworks are quite similar except that the environmental education was more focus on the preservation of our resources whereas the DESD is a global approach aiming at achieving various issues such as alleviating poverty or disaster risk reduction (UNESCO, n.d.). At the Rio