Critical Disagreement Essay

Few modern writers reveal a more consistent intellectual development than Ernest Hemingway. In both his themes and the meaning he has found in them he has moved steadily and even logically from the earliest work of In Our Time to the significant orientation of The Fifth Column. The logic of this development has for the most part remained unnoticed by critics who have failed to realize that Hemingway, far from being a child of nature, is in fact an intellectual. They have presented him, consequently, as a sort of savage endowed with style, gifted but brainless. A Farewell to Arms ( 1929) takes us to the Italian front and includes a vivid account of the terrible retreat from Caporetto. An American lieutenant in the Italian Red Cross falls in love with an English nurse and she with him. Both have previously suffered more attrition than human nerves can stand, and in their passionate attachment they find a psychological refuge from the incessant horror of war. They escape to brief happiness in Switzerland, but in giving birth to a child the girl dies. The ending is far from inevitable. It is a comment on the looseness of Hemingway’s artistry that the moving picture version of this novel was equipped with alternative sad and happy conclusions. In A Farewell to Arms it is society as a whole that is rejected, social responsibility, social concern. Lieutenant Henry is in the War, but his attitude toward it is purely that of a spectator, refusing to be involved. He is leading a private life as an isolated individual. Even personal relations, of any depth or intimacy, he avoids; he drinks with the officers and talks with the priest and visits the officers’ brothel, but all contacts he keeps, deliberately, on a superficial level. He has rejected the world. Such an attitude is possible only to a sensitive and reflective person. Henry is no naive barbarian. He was studying architecture in Italy when the War began; he makes ironical remarks about sculptures and bronzes; his reflections and conversation contain allusions to Samuel Johnson, Saint Paul, Andrew Marvell, and Sir Thomas Wyatt. His flight from responsibility is the ultimate of the flight that Jake and Brett and Mike were trying to effect with drink and bullfights and sex. He is evading responsibility and emotion, taking refuge in simple primary sensations. Successfully, so far as the War is concerned: â€Å"I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious and sacrifice and the expression in vain . . . Abstract words, such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the number of roads, the names of rivers, the numbers of regiments and the dates. † Characterization Hemingway’s greatness lies not in the range of his characterization or the suppleness of his style but in the astonishing perfection of these limited objectives. As Wilhelm points out, â€Å"the oppressive weight of death and anxiety in this object composition, subtly framed for the reader’s perusal, undercuts the scene’s â€Å"mask of well-being†Ã¢â‚¬â€œtwo wartime colleagues bonding rather sophomorically in their desire for women. Henry imbues the elements of this expansive still life with symbolic import, foreshadowing events to come. Because objects are frequently used for characterization, Henry’s possessions provide visual clues to the reader, but only as fragments in the larger narrative that withhold their essential meaning until the text’s conclusion†. (Wilhelm) The very intensity of Hemingway’s â€Å"nihilism† in his first stories and novels proved, however, that his need for an ideal expression in art was the mark of a passionate romanticist who had been profoundly disappointed. The anguish of his characters was too dramatic, too flawless; it was too transparent an inversion. The symbols Hemingway employed to convey his sense of the world’s futility and horror were always more significant than the characters who personified emotions, and the characters were so often felt as personified emotions that the emotions became sentimental. The gallery of expatriates in The Sun Also Rises were always subsidiary to the theme that the period itself was lost; the lovers in A Farewell to Arms were, as Edmund Wilson has said, the abstractions of a lyric emotion. Hemingway had created a world of his own socially more brilliant than life, but he was not writing about people living in a world; he was dealing in stock values again, driving his characters between the two poles of a tremulous inner exaltation and an absolute frustration. What he liked best was to invoke the specter of damnation. But A Farewell to Arms is a tragedy, and the lovers are shown as innocent victims with no relation to the forces that torment them. They themselves are not tormented within by that dissonance between personal satisfaction and the suffering one shares with others which it has been Hemingway’s triumph to handle. A Farewell to Arms, as the author once said, is a Romeo and Juliet. And when Catherine and her lover emerge from the stream of action–the account of the Caporetto retreat is Hemingway’s best sustained piece of narrative–when they escape from the alien necessities of which their romance has been merely an accident, which have been writing their story for them, then we see that they are not in themselves convincing as human personalities. And we are confronted with the paradox that Hemingway, who possesses so remarkable a mimetic gift in catching the tone of social and national types and in making his people talk appropriately, has not shown any very solid sense of character, or indeed, any real interest in it. The people in his short stories are satisfactory because he has only to hit them off: the point of the story does not lie in personalities, but in the emotion to which a situation gives rise. This is true even in The Sun Also Rises, where the characters are sketched with wonderful cleverness. But in A Farewell to Arms, as soon as we are brought into real intimacy with the lovers, as soon as the author is obliged to see them through a searching personal experience, we find merely an idealized relationship, the abstractions of a lyric emotion. Against the gaiety, the warmth of ‘A Farewell to Arms,’ Hemingway portrays, of course, the cumulative degeneration of the human temperament under the conditions of war. The novel is a series of human defeats within one continuous and terrible sequence: the rains, the cholera, the soldiers who mutilate themselves rather than go on fighting, the growing weariness of the Italian army which led up to Caporetto, the degeneration of Rinaldi himself who is symptomatic of the novel’s pattern, and at its start is so quick and alive. Contrasted against this in turn, in the love of Lieutenant Henry and Catherine Barkley we have another antithesis of increasing joy. The love and the despair are constantly related, intensely intertwined, and in the end almost gain the feeling of life and death themselves: the death preying upon the living organism of the lovers’ hope, eating into the flesh and destroying the form from page to page. Yet each change of form, each advance of destruction makes the life of the novel more vital, the life we know must yield, but in the manner of its yielding asserting itself beyond its destruction. A Farewell to Arms in this sense lies quite outside of the pattern of Hemingway’s development which we have been showing. For the feeling of tragedy in the novel comes precisely from the struggle to participate in life despite all the odds, from the efforts of the lovers to fulfill themselves in a sterile world, from the exact impact of the human will which Hemingway has negated. Yet even here we must notice that Lieutenant Henry turns his back upon our society after Caporetto. Following his personal objectives he abandons his friends, his responsibilities as an officer, the entire complex of organized social life represented by the army and the war. This farewell to arms is accomplished without request or permission. Lieutenant Henry, in fact, deserts, and his action is prophetic of his author’s own future movement. ‘You and me,’ says Nick to the Rinaldi of ‘In Our Time,’ ‘we’ve made a separate peace. ‘ And Hemingway’s separate peace was to embrace the woods of Michigan as well as Caporetto, the activities of normal times as well as war, and even at last the ordinary purposes of the individual’s life within his society, as well as the collective purposes of society as a whole. Conclusion A Farewell to Arms is even more strictly the story of one man; here, even more than in The Sun Also Rises, the reader feels the cleft between the primary and secondary figures. Both books have the foreshortening of time which is more properly the privilege of the drama than of the traditional novel a technique toward which, since Hemingway demonstrated its immense value, American fiction has been striving with remarkable persistence. Back in the nineteenth century, when people like Henry James and Paul Bourget were taking such distinctions seriously, books like these would have been classified as novelas. I have some difficulty in feeling any wide gap between books in which Hemingway is reporting upon young men who are in character-tastes, occupations, age very much like himself, and books in which he drops the pretense of fiction in order to discuss the same materials in definite reference to himself. And why, to come directly to the main question, do we have to consider Death in the Afternoon and Green Hills of Africa such failures, anyway? One may not be particularly interested in bullfighting and still find that the considered statement, by an accomplished artist, regarding the effect on his own personality of the study of the world’s most stylized form of violence is a document of extraordinary interest, particularly if the artist is making a special effort to see himself clearly at the time. We can also agree with Edmund Wilson that as a book about animals Green Hills of Africa is dull, as we can agree with Max Eastman that as a manual of tauromachy Death in the Afternoon is silly, and still be passionately interested in Hemingway’s report on himself as a killer. I imagine the answer is that we were concerned by the apparent disappearance of a novelist who seemed to be losing his grip. Hemingway himself was aware of the danger and discoursed upon it for the benefit of the German traveler in the beginning of Green Hills of Africa. He also seemed to feel the danger of losing his memory for sharply characterized sensations, so essential to his kind of writing. In the books after 1930 he seems disproportionately intent on catching things before he forgets them. Works Cited Balbert, Peter. â€Å"Courage at the Border-Line: Balder, Hemingway, and Lawrence’s the Captain’s Doll. † Papers on Language & Literature 42. 3 (2006) Bloom, Harold, ed. Ernest Hemingway†s a Farewell to Arms. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Giles, Todd. â€Å"Simon and Schuster’s Hemingway Audio Collection. † The Hemingway Review 26. 1 (2006) Onderdonk, Todd. â€Å"†Bitched†: Feminization, Identity, and the Hemingwayesque in the Sun Also Rises. † Twentieth Century Literature 52. 1 (2006) Trodd, Zoe. â€Å"Hemingway’s Camera Eye: The Problem of Language and an Interwar Politics of Form. † The Hemingway Review 26. 2 (2007) Wagner-Martin, Linda, ed. Seven Decades of Criticism Seven Decades of Criticism. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press, 1998. Whitlow, Roger. Cassandra’s Daughters: The Women in Hemingway. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1984. Wilhelm, Randall S. â€Å"Objects on the Table: Anxiety and Still Life in Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. † The Hemingway Review 26. 1 (2006)

Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for all of the aspects of the implementation process. This is includes but not limited to the responsibilities of task assignments, resource availability, maintenance, project documentation, budget and timeline oversight, and communication among all of the project team members. A company may run into several errors before, during, and after a system is implemented it is critical for a plan to be formed and followed to try to reduce the amount of errors. To begin the process of implementing a system the project needs three major components completed in the establishing plans and controls phase.These three components are the breakdown of the project into various phases, specific budgets applicable to each phase, and specific timetables applicable to each project phase. For a project to be managed effectively the project needs to be broken up into multiple phases to try to prevent as many bugs as possible. If a project is broken up it becomes easier to m anage and precede smoother. Because a project of implementing a new system has multiple people involved it becomes unrealistic for there to be a standard method for breaking down the task.This is because there are several different opinions and requirements for each phase. To the extent possible, tasks should be broken down to a level where task definition is sufficiently clear to enable individual personnel to be assigned to specific tasks. Making an accurate timeline is difficult to do since there are regular setbacks when implementing a system. The timeliness will depend on the project manager and whether or not the manager has had previous experience with the company. The previous experience will help with estimating the amount of time given to each task based on the previous project.The time estimate will involve the four basic steps of work measurement: identify the task to be estimated, for each task estimate the total size or volume of the task, convert the size or volume es timate into a time estimate by multiplying the estimated processing rate, and adjust the estimated processing rate to include circumstantial considerations such as idleness or complexity. Executing Implementation activities is the next critical phase when implementing an accounting system. This involves the actual finishing the design plan.This includes activities such as employee training, acquiring and installing new computer equipment, detailed systems designs, documenting the new system, file conversion, and test operations. Not all of these activities may be applicable depending on the software being implemented. Employee training is critical because the employees are who is going to be using the system. This will help with making the transition into the new software smoother. Some additional design work will be completed during the detailed systems design activity.This is the activity that might reveal that some of the design plan will be unworkable, and plans may need to be c hanged at this point. Documentation is one of the most important activities when implementing a new system. The documenting can be used to help with training employees, provide programmers with useful information for the future, information for auditors, and assist with design expectations. The implementation plan will allow adequate time for data screening since errors occur during the file conversion.File conversion can be one of the most time consuming activities, and will be provided a lengthy timeline. For testing operations the parallel approach will be used despite the expenses. If the direct approach was used the errors from the system failing could equal the expenses that could be spent in the parallels approach to ensure system effectiveness. The final step in the planning process is the evaluation of the new system after it has been implemented. The new system will still need to be monitored and changes may be needed to the system afterwards.This will help ensure that the system is running appropriately according the original plan that the company decided on. Feedback will be imperative from the employees who are actually using the new system daily. The monitoring will be done through observations and questionnaires. References Bodnar, G. , & Hopwood, W. Accounting information systems . (Eleventh ed. ). Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Hoyt, J. (2009). 5 steps to a successful implementation of your new accounting system. ERP Software, Retrieved from http://www. erpsoftwareblog. com/2009/11/5-steps-to-a-successful-implemention-of-your-new-accounting-system/ Project Manager A project manager is responsible for all of the aspects of the implementation process. This is includes but not limited to the responsibilities of task assignments, resource availability, maintenance, project documentation, budget and timeline oversight, and communication among all of the project team members. A company may run into several errors before, during, and after a system is implemented it is critical for a plan to be formed and followed to try to reduce the amount of errors. To begin the process of implementing a system the project needs three major components completed in the establishing plans and controls phase.These three components are the breakdown of the project into various phases, specific budgets applicable to each phase, and specific timetables applicable to each project phase. For a project to be managed effectively the project needs to be broken up into multiple phases to try to prevent as many bugs as possible. If a project is broken up it becomes easier to m anage and precede smoother. Because a project of implementing a new system has multiple people involved it becomes unrealistic for there to be a standard method for breaking down the task.This is because there are several different opinions and requirements for each phase. To the extent possible, tasks should be broken down to a level where task definition is sufficiently clear to enable individual personnel to be assigned to specific tasks. Making an accurate timeline is difficult to do since there are regular setbacks when implementing a system. The timeliness will depend on the project manager and whether or not the manager has had previous experience with the company. The previous experience will help with estimating the amount of time given to each task based on the previous project.The time estimate will involve the four basic steps of work measurement: identify the task to be estimated, for each task estimate the total size or volume of the task, convert the size or volume es timate into a time estimate by multiplying the estimated processing rate, and adjust the estimated processing rate to include circumstantial considerations such as idleness or complexity. Executing Implementation activities is the next critical phase when implementing an accounting system. This involves the actual finishing the design plan.This includes activities such as employee training, acquiring and installing new computer equipment, detailed systems designs, documenting the new system, file conversion, and test operations. Not all of these activities may be applicable depending on the software being implemented. Employee training is critical because the employees are who is going to be using the system. This will help with making the transition into the new software smoother. Some additional design work will be completed during the detailed systems design activity.This is the activity that might reveal that some of the design plan will be unworkable, and plans may need to be c hanged at this point. Documentation is one of the most important activities when implementing a new system. The documenting can be used to help with training employees, provide programmers with useful information for the future, information for auditors, and assist with design expectations. The implementation plan will allow adequate time for data screening since errors occur during the file conversion.File conversion can be one of the most time consuming activities, and will be provided a lengthy timeline. For testing operations the parallel approach will be used despite the expenses. If the direct approach was used the errors from the system failing could equal the expenses that could be spent in the parallels approach to ensure system effectiveness. The final step in the planning process is the evaluation of the new system after it has been implemented. The new system will still need to be monitored and changes may be needed to the system afterwards.This will help ensure that the system is running appropriately according the original plan that the company decided on. Feedback will be imperative from the employees who are actually using the new system daily. The monitoring will be done through observations and questionnaires. References Bodnar, G. , & Hopwood, W. Accounting information systems . (Eleventh ed. ). Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Hoyt, J. (2009). 5 steps to a successful implementation of your new accounting system. ERP Software, Retrieved from http://www. erpsoftwareblog. com/2009/11/5-steps-to-a-successful-implemention-of-your-new-accounting-system/

Hans Hofmann in the Abstract and Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Hans Hofmann in the Abstract and Nature - Essay Example The main concept behind abstract art is based on the idea that art is not static, but rather interactive with its audience and the political and social ideas of the audience's present as well as the symbols inherent in the particular forms used within the artwork. By reducing the recognizable forms, therefore, it becomes possible for the artist to attain a more pure expression in his or her creation. Jean-Francois Lyotard argues that avant-garde art uses experimental innovations in technique and structure to attempt "to make visible that there is something which can be conceived and which can neither be seen nor made visible" (Lyotard, 1997: 78). As an abstract artist, Hofmann was known as a synthesist because he brought together traditional methods and avant-garde concepts concerning the nature of painting, largely based on the works of Modern painters Cezanne, Kandinsky and Picasso's Synthetic Cubism. Because teaching dominated much of his creative life, his art was often critically measured against his theories. With his European sensibilities and his newly adopted American spirit, it needs to be remembered that Hofmann's work exemplifies a fusion of multiple aspects of 20th century art. A look into his biography reveals the development of his ideas regarding nature and abstraction while a glimpse into his career reveals how his teaching reflected this conceptual development. Biography Hans Hofmann was born in 1880 near Munich, Germany in a small city called Weissenburg, Bavaria. Growing up, he was surrounded by images of the past as his city still retained many remains of its ancient Roman past and of the countryside, with the closest large city being Ingolstadt more than 30 miles away. While this doesn't seem that far away to a modern audience accustomed to the use of cars to drive to the city every day from far off suburbs, Hoffman grew up in a time when the automobile was just springing to life. The first practical working horseless carriage was created in 1889 in Germany by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, when Hofmann was already 9 years old (Ament, 2005). It is possible that Hofmann had a chance to experience some of the technologies that were being developed in association with the automobile, however, because his father moved the family to Munich when Hofmann was just 6 when he took a job working for the government. "Hofmann developed an interest in m athematics, science, music and art at a very early age. When he was sixteen, his father helped him obtain a job with the Bavarian government as the assistant to the director of public works. During this time, Hofmann further developed his technical knowledge of mathematics, even inventing and patenting an electromagnetic comptometer" ("Hans Hofmann", 2007). Despite this, Hofmann's interest in art was superior to his interest in mathematics and, when his father died in the late 1800s, Hofmann decided to pursue this interest in greater detail. By 1898, Hofmann was studying art at the Mortiz Heymann's art school in Munich, where he came into contact with

Michael Phelps Bong Incident Personal Statement

Michael Phelps Bong Incident - Personal Statement Example This is what I enjoyed the most about David Harsanyi's article - that it offers a broad view on both the Michael Phelps scandal and the contemporary repression of Cannabis. In my reply to the article, I aimed to express my opinion concerning the real issues that oftentimes get concealed behind the shiny, hyped up issues the mass media seem to consistently adopt. I very much agree with the author's overall opinion on the subject matter, so essentially this letter was written as an elaboration of the theme of stupidity: that expressed by Phelps himself, and that which sometimes looks inextricable in our modern society. After reading on "Michael Phelps' public stoning", I was compelled to express how I wholeheartedly agree with your central point: Phelps is an idiot; but then again, so is the war on cannabis. It's discomforting to realize how in full on XXI century, our society is still so easily deceived into supporting the enforcement of such blatant and outrageous witch hunts. In this day and age we're living, one might have supposed that the news a 14-times gold medalist is also a pot smoker could help people realize how the rumors concerning the dangers of marijuana might have been grossly exaggerated; but no, as it turns out all that conservative people focused on was how Michael Phelps no longer had a place among the pantheon of positive role models their children should strive towards. Just goes to show how our opinions are so heavily influenced, and our perspectives so easily shifted. I think you said it best when you stated how "In reality, the most startling aspect of the Michael Phelps incident is that we produced an Olympic superstar dumb enough to place his gargantuan paws around a bong in full view of dozens of partygoers equipped with cell phone cameras." Granted, most pot smokers understand the aggressive prejudice they're still subject to in our society, and some of them choose to keep their smoking habits in private. But not many of them have such high stakes as Phelps, and still he went ahead and exposed himself like that. He should have known better, and he should have thought before grabbing a bong in a college party (where someone was bound to snap a picture), but then - well, then he got high... and the rest is history. In my opinion, Phelps committed two coarse errors: the first one was getting caught in public with a bong, and the second (possibly worse) was making a public statement telling how much he was sorry for his reckless, juvenile behavior. As you've written in the final portion of your article, most Americans who have smoked marijuana are unlikely to feel regrets about doing so - and Phelps himself, there's a good chance he's actually sorry only of getting caught. His judgment failed, all right: not necessarily by smoking pot, but absolutely by doing so in a scenario that would be likely to bring about repercussions that might compromise his career. All in all, it goes without saying: Michael Phelps is an idiot. But all the while, he's also a prodigious swimmer who has consistently displayed off-the-charts skill and capacity. So what if he smokes pot If nothing else, that just goes to show that pot smokers can become something other than slackers and parasites, as maintained by our dearly uptight cultural stereotypes. Regardless (and as far as I'm aware)- marijuana isn't

ASEAN Free Trade Area Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ASEAN Free Trade Area - Essay Example The AFTA agreement aims at promoting free trade in the region by bringing down the tax barriers and making the trade related policy framework to be more encouraging. The agreement can be understood as a kind of regional liberalization of trade policies that are favorable for boosting regional trade. Further the article focuses to find out whether if formation of this agreement has created trade creation or trade diversion. Trade creation can be considered as a development whereas trade diversion from the non member nations to the member nations can not be considered as a positive development. An important instrument for applying the trade agreement in the total region is the Common Effective Preferential Tariff scheme that requires the tariff of certain commodity to fall below zero to five percent. These commodities include capital and non capital as well as manufactured goods. This process of liberalization and eliminating the identified commodities from taxable commodities has been phased out in for phases. This has been done in order to prevent any instantaneous impact over the respective national economies of the member countries. A gradual tariff reduction would assure that the change shall be absorbed over a period of years and thus promote trade. After fifteen years of the agreement, it can be observed that the countries have largely succeeded in achieving the goals.

Implementation Barriers and Policy Design Deficiencies Research Paper

Implementation Barriers and Policy Design Deficiencies - Research Paper Example t the idea of prison privatization would assist the federal government to cut down its prison management costs and improve the efficiency of prison management. On the other hand, private firms perceived this policy as an opportunity for further business expansion and therefore they involved in simple contracting services for the complete management of prisons. However, the proposed policy could not meet its aimed objectives due to a number of reasons. This paper will critically analyze the prison privatization policy and assess the degree and scope of its deficiencies using the evaluative and explanatory reasoning approach. The US federal government has been experimenting with prison privatization for over 30 years. As McDonald, Fournier, Russell-Einhourn, and Crawford (1998) point out, privatization of prisons was publicly established in the United States in 1984 when the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) was contracted for the entire management and control of a prison facility at Hamilton County in Tennessee. As McDonald et al (1998) point out, it was the first time a government in the United States offered a compete takeover of a prison to a private operator; and subsequently in 1985, the CCA was further offered a contract to take over the Tennessee’s complete state prison system for $200 million. It was a marked event in the US prison privatization history as this contracting declaration influenced other US states to research more on this practice. However, the Tennessee’s proposal was defeated by the skepticism of regulators and public employees’ strong opposition. Desp ite those initial struggles, since then CCA has well expanded its business in for-profit prison. Official data indicate that US private sector operates ‘153 correctional facilities including jails, prisons, and detention centers with a capacity of more than 119,000 as of December 2000’ (cited in Miller, 2010). ‘Evaluative and explanatory reasoning’ is a general policy

Roma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Roma - Essay Example Early Rome was a monarchy, ruled by Etruscans kings, but after only seven of them had ruled, the Latins took power over their own city and transformed Rome into a republic. As a republic, the Rome was ruled by a group of leading citizens who began to take control of all Italy. Gradually, the Latins constructed a political organization (Senate) and designed the Roman constitution. Under the Roman constitution, the senate appointed a consul, who ruled Rome like a king, but only for a year, hence adopting notions of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. Between 500 and 300 B.C. two social groups, patricians (nobles) and plebeians (commen men), evolved from the citizenry. The "Struggle of the Orders" – a struggle of legality between patricians and plebeians led to modifications of Roman constitution (History Guide). Owing to the Roman penchant for power and control, Rome was at war during most of the years as a Republic especially the three Punic Wars (264-146BC), in which Rome conquered Carthage (North Africa), Spain, France and other parts of Europe. Julius Caesur was one of the most famous citizens of Roman Empire for his rule and military campaigns (Roman Empire). Upon his death, the Roman world was divided between Marc Anthony, Octavian and Lepidus starting off a number of battles. With the battle of Actium, the Roman Republic transitioned itself into the Roman Empire ruled by Octavian. The Roman Empire was a much prosperous regime than the Roman republic with even more territorial expansion towards Western Europe and Middle East. At the peak of its power, around AD 150, Rome commanded the supreme realm ever seen in Europe at that time. Unlike the Greek empire under Alexandre, the captured nations profited from Roman rule as the Latin way of life and infrastructure building was inflicted u pon conquered societies such as Roman public baths, roads, water supplies, housing etc. Education (creation of

Politicts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Politicts - Essay Example The house votes for the Bill after having debated it satisfactorily, where finally the governor can enact or reject it. The Bill once presented to the governor and 45 days elapses without signing; becomes a law (Lurie, 2005). Legislative office formulates and prepares it technically prior its presentation in other preceding steps. This office is non-partisan since it operates according to its given mandates, hence cannot be influenced (Lurie, 2005). The committee discusses the Bill openly in public where it may make some amendments and present to the house as is or offer a substitute Bill (Lurie, 2005). Suppose there is no consideration of the Bill or fails to report it, remains in the committee. Third Reading is a step considered by the president or the chair where the house discusses the Bill effectively. Second and Third Reading may not be in one day except when it was urgent and agreed by 75% of the house. This encompasses 34 votes from the senates and 60 from the Assembly. The House votes to endorse the Bill as per the majority, where there must be 21 senate and 41 Assembly votes to enable it pass to the Second House (Lurie, 2005). Suppose the closing poll fails, the house may consider the Bill in another or return it to the committee. The Bill undergoes via similar process as in the original House. If it makes any alterations, it sends the Bill to the First House for support concerning the changes. Primarily, a Bill gets ultimate legislative when it goes via the two houses without any alterations. The Governor signs the Bill to enact it. Alternatively, it is an Act if after 45 days has passed devoid of any action undertaken concerning the endorsement. Suppose the origin house is in recess, there is a deliberation of extending the 45Th day to date, which it will reconvene. Besides, a rejected Bill may be a law in the occasion where the legislature dominates the refusal by 2/3 poll. Law starts

Trip itinerary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Trip itinerary - Assignment Example In this ethnically diverse category, most of the people have attained college education level and are professionals who are urbanized. The average age of people in this category is less than 55 years and families may or may not have children. In terms of lifestyle, people in the American Dreams Segment like to visit zoos, watch entertainment TV and read Tribune. In addition, people in this category shop at Kaiser Pharmacy and are able to afford vehicles such as Volkswagen Tiguan signifying their income levels. The itinerary summary involves a planned tour to Oklahoma from Houston by road. In Oklahoma, the family, which consists of two parents with an average age of 48 and 50 years and two children, aged 18 and 20 years will visit several places including zoo parks. The family will also look for an accommodation in Candlewood Suites where they will be retiring for the three nights of their tour in Oklahoma. In addition, the family will also have a chance to carry out shopping activities in Outlet Shoppes and visit Yellow Rose Theatre for entertainment. This itinerary is relevant for this segment because there is enough time to drive from Houston to Oklahoma City considering that the family has a compact Volkswagen Tiguan SUV that is able to carry enough luggages for the four members and can withstand the long journey of about 1500kms to and from Oklahoma from Houston. In addition, travelling to the museums, theatres and shopping in areas around Oklahoma City is within the family level of i ncome. The family will organize necessary luggage including clothes and essential utilities for use in Oklahoma. The family will make sure to have enough money to cater for all the expenses including motor vehicle gasoline since the journey to and from Oklahoma is by road. After being prepared for the trip, the family will start the journey at 0700Hrs from Houston using their Volkswagen Tiguan SUV. The journey from Houston

Feedback Loops Essay Example for Free

Feedback Loops Essay DMSS processing will produce a variety of evaluation-specific outputs. A main document will be synthesized with the forecasts and reports regarding the DMSS effectiveness. The following will be enumerated in this document. (i) Organization performance, as well as, maturity assessments of the decision maker will be decomposed by the outcome projections. (ii) Phase and step ratings will be the separated form of the process projections, as well as, productivity appraisals and personal efficiency. (iii) The usage of the evaluated DMSS will determine the overall decision value. (iv) Further processing will be done by the advice and recommendation of the logic leading. The detailed documentation will be provided by such an enumeration, by which, the evaluation will be justified properly. The user will be available with several output options. The desired section of the main output will be displayed by the users on the monitor, and display will be able to print by the users. Alternatively, the entire document could be saved by the user into a file, and a hard copy could be printed for the display of the results. Point-and-click operations will allow the selection of all these options, which will allow the transparency of the processing to the user. Database entries can be updated or revised, specific knowledge can be evaluated, and evaluation model can be operational by the use of feedback from the actions of the evaluator, as signified by the input loop. The original analyses and evaluations can be modified, extended, and guided by the use of output feedback, as shown by the bottom loop. What-if-type sensitivity analyses have been included in the important further evaluations. In these analyses, specified changes in the outcome or process measures and their reactions on the DMSS effectiveness can be determined by the evaluator. (Dean 2006) Reliability of CBTIs (Customized Business Technical Information) Many computer-based systems for test interpretation also include options for computerized test administration and scoring. In most (but not all) cases, CBTIs have been constructed for instruments originally developed as non-computerized measures, raising issues regarding the equivalence of computerized and non-computerized administration formats. Concluded that by and large, computer-administered tests are essentially equivalent to booklet-administered tests. However, findings reported in that article and elsewhere suggest that conclusions regarding equivalence are more ambiguous than this. Scholar argued that equivalence between testing formats should be evaluated along both psychometric dimensions and experiential ones (eg, perceptual and attitudinal processes). They concluded that most studies have not addressed all the criteria for equivalence and have usually ignored possible differences in variances and criterion validity between computerized and traditional procedures. Although the strongest evidence for psychometric equivalence has been obtained for computerized adaptations of paper-and-pencil measures of personality, even here the data are mixed. For example, Honaker and Fowler cited four studies between 1974 and 1987 comparing computerized and booklet MMPI administration formats in which significant mean score differences were found on one or more scales. They noted that the status of the MMPI equivalency research is somewhat discouraging because the number of studies on the MMPI far exceeds that done for any other assessment instrument. A significant potential advantage of automated administration of psychological tests lies in computerized adaptive testing (CAT) in which only a subset of the complete item pool is presented, based on known item-response properties and idiographic response patterns of the respondent. Items lying outside the floor and ceiling of the individuals response pattern (i. e. , having either very high or very low probabilities of being answered in a particular direction) are omitted, thus providing greater efficiency of testing. Moreover, because CAT tailors the test to each individual, and each person responds to different subsets of items, anyone can be measured with the same degree of precision (i. e. , the same standard error), facilitating both accuracy and potential validity in predicting non-test criteria.

Increase In Natural Disasters Health And Social Care Essay

Increase In Natural Disasters Health And Social Care Essay Extreme weather temperatures and increase in natural disasters in recent years have finally made the policy makers think earnestly about Climate change and Natural disasters. The stern review and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes fourth (revised) assessment report in 2008  [A]  had clearly stated that increase in natural disasters due to climate change will have adverse affects on social and economic sectors. The report which had declared that climate change will cause increase in natural disasters in coming years, has lived up to its prediction. According to UNISDR from year 2008-2011 natural disasters have been responsible for economic damages worth 730 Billion USD, have adversely affected 843 million people and killed about 598,000 people around the world. There has been an increase of more than 50% in the number of floods in the last decade in comparison to the 1990s and similarly the occurrence of total natural disasters has also increased over the last decade. [Error: Reference source not found] The increase in both the intensity and frequency of floods over the last decade has raised concerns within development agencies, governments and regional co-operations; natural disaster management has gained priority among all stakeholders. In 2005 U.N created The Hyogo Framework for Action  [B]  ; a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts with a ten-year plan, the framework was adopted in January 2005 by 168 governments at the U.N World Conference on Disaster Reduction. [2]Although all 168 countries did accept the framework in principle, however there has been little done to reduce greenhouse emissions or adapt disaster risk reduction strategies across the board. Similarly in response to the December 2004 tsunami and the earthquake of December 2005 in South Asia, a Special Session of the SAARC Environment Ministers (Malà ©, 25 June 2005) adopted the Malà © Declaration on a collective response to large scale natural disasters. A SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SD MC) was established in New Delhi in October 2006, the SDMC was created to provide policy advice and facilitate capacity building including strategic learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management. [3] Policy making has also been activated at the state level, for example the government of Queensland in Australia has taken initiative on a state level of creating a policy framework to reduce and tackle natural disasters. The framework called the Disaster Management Strategy Policy framework includes Research, Policy and Governance, Risk Assessment, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Relief and Recovery, Post-Disaster Assessment. [4] One might be of the opinion that disaster events are probabilistic events and their occurrence can only be calculated on a probability basis and there is no escape from their destruction. However it is important to understand the consequences of the occurrence and what can be done to help the affected populace overcome the calamity natural disasters cause. Research has shown despite the scale of the disaster, a combination of national and international policy can help ward off disease and death in countries with functioning governments. This literature review investigates previous studies conducted on the socio economic impact of floods in context to Gender. The 2010 floods in Pakistan The geological department of the Australian government defines floods as the covering of normally dry land by water that has escaped or been released from the normal confines of: any lake, or any river, creek or other natural watercourse, whether or not altered or modified; or any reservoir, canal, or dam. [4]Floods primarily impact the human community either directly through contact with the water or indirectly through the damage the water does to the natural and human built environment. [5] Localized floods can have a significant impact on peoples physical and mental health. [6] The 2010 monsoon floods were one of the largest floods in the history of Pakistan causing unprecedented damage and killing more than 1,700 people. The floods affected over, 20 million people, inundated almost one fifth of the countrys land and caused loss of billions of dollars through damages to infrastructure, housing, agriculture and livestock, and other family assets. [8]The World Bank and Asian Development Bank estimated that the flooding had caused the economy $9.7 billion in losses. [9] Cases of malnutrition, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, skin infections, cholera, typhoid, malaria, and hepatitis were reported. Food prices dramatically increased after the flooding, putting an economic strain on the entire population. The southern province of Sindh was hit quite heavily by the floods, it was reported that nearly Seven million people were affected by floods in the province; thousands were trapped by flood waters and had been in need of assistance. Our study region the southern district of Thatta was affected in a catastrophic manner by the floods, as the flow of the flood waters touched 9,50,000 cusecs the feeble dykes built to protect the districts populace overflowed causing both banks of the Indus River to flood causing enormous amount of destruction. At the time of flooding the state machinery which included both the provincial and federal government along with many international and national NGOs led the relief efforts and was able to avoid the occurrence of any larger catastrophe such as far spread hunger or famine. However in recent years continuous acts of terrorism have kept the government preoccupied with matters of public safety and security, this has diverted the governments attention from institutional reform to matters of ad-hoc nature. The presence of situational challenges has reduced state capacity to productively provide basic services for which resources had already been deficient. This has limited governments response to natural disasters mostly to needs assessment and immediate relief operations. The assessments have typically focused on direct damages of capital assets which includes number of deaths and injuries, damages to buildings and public infrastructure, loss of crop and livestock. Assessments of disaster impacts on social sectors such as health and education are also limited to the measurement of damages to school and hospital buildings, the assessments tend to ignore the long term affects on the health and education levels of the affected populace. Long term assessments of social sectors is critical even more so for a country like Pakistan as it already struggles with low social development indicators, ranking 145 out of 187  [C]  countries in the Human Development Index and a Gender Development Index (GDI) ranking of 120 out of 146  [D]  countries. Approaches to measure impact of natural disasters Researchers across the world have used diverse approaches to determine the impact of floods. In Pakistan the EU has previously employed the EMMA (Emergency Market Mapping and Analysis), which is a rapid market analysis designed to be used in the short term aftermath of a sudden-onset crisis. A better understanding of the most critical markets in an emergency situation enables decision makers (donors, NGOs, government, other humanitarian actors) to consider a broader range of responses. The aim of the approach is to gauge and understand the structure and functioning of key markets in the short term so that immediate recovery programs are in consistent to the on the ground situation. Although the research is useful in providing immediate relief, however the approach does not take into consideration the long term effects of the disaster. [10] Likewise another approach which can help donors target their recuperation efforts is ECLAC, ECLACs methodology is related to post disaster evaluation; it focuses on rehabilitation and recuperation. It advocates using a dynamic and sectoral perspective that enables the researchers to calculate future losses derived by the destruction of productive structures and forfeitures of business opportunities and its middle/long term effects in different terms. The methodology aims to enable its users to try to define if and which type of international cooperation the community affected needs. Although precise knowledge of various sectoral damages and losses, present and future, suffered by the communities enables the disaster relief agencies to execute more specific rehabilitation projects, however usage of a macro-perspective to gauge the damages and provides losses in monetary terms leaves out the impact on social sectors and chiefly focuses on economic costs. [11] In a Flood-site project report on the Mulde River in Germany the researchers have taken the bottom up perspective to analyze social vulnerability posed by floods. The methodology seeks to categorize the circumstances that make an individual or a community vulnerable and investigate how some groups in these circumstances might be more vulnerable than others. The researchers who define social vulnerability as the characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impact of a natural hazard primarily focus on how communities and social groups are able to deal with the impacts of a natural hazard. The approach provides valuable insight into the dynamics of social capital, but lacks detail of sectoral assessments. [12] Along with well targeted programs it is important that recovery programs are sustainable. In Sudan, AIACC has employed a research method based upon the sustainable livelihood conceptual framework; the research method aims to evaluate the performance of sustainable livelihood and environmental management measures. International Institute for Sustainable Development defines sustainable livelihoods as being concerned with peoples capacities to generate and maintain their means of living, enhance their well-being, and that of future generations. Sustainable livelihood assessment is intended to generate an understanding of the role and impact of a project on enhancing and securing local peoples livelihoods. It primarily relies on a range of data collection methods, a combination of qualitative and quantitative data indicators and, to varying degrees, application of a sustainable livelihoods framework. The model focuses on five types of capital namely; natural, physical human, social and f inancial. The framework employs the Livelihood Assessment Tracking (LAST) System to measure changes in coping and adaptive capacity. Quantitative and qualitative indicators are combined with the LAST system for its use; the LAST system is developed through creation of development indicators by the help of the local community. [13] All the above mentioned frameworks, even with their short-comings provide valuable inputs into the assessment methods of disaster impacts. However, the above discussed frameworks which focus on immediate needs assessment, macro-economic impacts, social capital, and sustainable livelihoods do not seem to be gender sensitive and lack concentration on social sectors in a gender sensitive manner. It has been time and again noted that women are most adversely affected by natural disasters. Sara-Bradshaw in her paper socio-economic impacts of natural disasters advocates the use of a gender approach; the paper states that the first step to ensuring that the specific basic needs of women are addressed over the short and long term is to collect data broken by sex and age segments immediately after the occurrence of a disaster. This is important because breaking up of data helps realize the affects of the flood on women in particular and assists in highlighting the specific requirements of the gender. For example in many cases in a Muslim country women might opt not to visit a male doctor, hence if the researchers have the number of women who need medical attention they can arrange female doctors accordingly. [14] Gender Aspects of Natural Disasters International Enarson et al 1998, Fordham 1998, Morrow 1999 and Tapsell et al 2000 are of the view that floods and other disasters can impact upon men and women in different and distinct ways. Similarly It is believed that men and women will be faced with different vulnerabilities to climate change impacts due to existing inequalities such as, their role and position in society, access to resources and power relations that may affect the ability to respond to the effects of climate change (WEDO 2007; Commission on the Status of Women 2008; Carvajal et al 2008; Bridge, 2008). [15][16] [17] [18] [19] It is a basic fact that majority of the women in developing countries and particularly in the South Asian region are at a disadvantage when compared to their male counterparts. International Literature such as Tapsell et al 2003 illustrates that women suffer markedly more than men at the worst time of flooding. Research has shown that due to socially constructed roles and responsibilities, women seem to bear the most burdens resulting from climate variability impacts. Due to the traditional gender roles in many developing countries, it is seen that women are in charge of the house and responsible for household needs such as cooking, washing, hygiene, children and raising small livestock. Children, in particular girls share these responsibilities. In Africa, women do 90% of the work of collecting water and wood, for the household and food preparation. It is noted that women have to work extra workloads when faced with natural catastrophes as they try to manage their everyday tasks during an emergency situation. [20] [21] Qualitative research suggests that this is because women have the main responsibility for, and probably, a greater emotional investment in the home than men. They also usually have the key responsibility for the care of children and the elderly in the home, for example even in a post flood situation it is the central responsibility of the woman for getting the home back to normal after the flood. [22] In many developing countries and especially in the south Asian region, food hierarchies favor male nutritional requirements and often women nutrition and health requirements are ignored. In Bangladesh it has been reported that Given the already precarious nutritional state of large numbers of girls and women in Bangladeshà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦any further increase in discrimination would have serious consequences. In poor households, throughout the world, women go without food for the benefit of their children or male family members. [30][31] Moreover an ADB report in 2001 found that in Bangladesh of the 20-30% female headed households, 95% are living below poverty line. Even in developed countries such as the U.K, lone parent and single pensioner households-the majority of which are female headed are most likely to be living in poverty. It is noted that in some instances pressure on families has been so severe that there have been reports of children being offered for domestic employment, a nd of female children being sold. The evidence informs us that women headed households already tend to have limited economic resources and hence a natural disaster can have a greater impact on their livelihoods in comparison to others. Other than the over-all poverty rates, health and education are two sectors where women in the region still lag behind men. The poor nutritional status of women makes them more susceptible to disease infection, particularly in developing countries where there is little social provision and limited or no access to proper medical care. Poor nutrition also makes women more vulnerable to disasters, and makes the physically strenuous tasks of water and fuel collection more difficult. Research in India has found that girls nutrition suffers most during periods of low consumption and rising food prices , which is common during disaster situations [36][37]. Fewtrell and Kay (2006) provide evidence of floods causing Bacterial, fungal, respiratory disease, and gastrointestinal infection along with earache and skin rashes among others. It is widely acknowledged in health research that some groups, such as women (especially pregnant women), the young, the elderly and immune compromised people are more vulnerable to health impacts (especially infection) than other people (e.g. Flynn and Nelson, 1998; White et al., 2002; WHO 2004). [28] Moreover floods can also have an impact on the mental health of the affectees. It has been suggested that women may suffer more mental strain in certain situations, due to cultural norms. Women in poor health prior to the flood are more likely to experience the flooding as traumatic. When whole families move to urban slums or relief camps the women face challenges adapting to the new environment. Problems include harassment, lack of security, unreliable water supplies which increases their workload, and gender insensitive conditions such as lack of privacy also have a tolling effect. Long journeys to the relief camps can cause both physical and mental stresses when coupled with experiences of sexual harassment on these journeys. Womens dramatically expanded care giving roles following a disaster, and putting family needs before their own, may explain overall decline in emotional well being. [29] Gender Aspects of Natural Disasters Pakistan The international literature on women in relation to climate change clearly highlights the severe vulnerability and adverse exposure natural disasters pose to women in particular. Similarly research studies have been conducted by different development organizations to gauge the impact of the severe floods that hit Pakistan recently. The research results are in line with international research literature. As Pakistani women particularly tend to mainly have reproductive and domestic roles in the households and are barely visible in the public spheres, particularly in rural areas, these characteristics make way for a greater impact on their socio-economic conditions from natural disasters. The existing situation of women in Pakistan cannot be fully valued without an understanding of the ways in which religion, culture and traditions have organized social relations and fractured society along class, racial, ethnic and gender lines. Pakistan therefore, presents a distinctive situation fro m a socio-economic perspective. In Pakistan Men and boys are given more weightage over the family resources in comparison to women and girls. A survey conducted by OCHA as a Needs Assessment study on the 2011 floods in Sindh found that 37% of households had reduced or skipped food intake; practice adopted by women and girls in the household to meet the ration requirements, which is similar to findings mentioned earlier from Bangladesh. [32] Nazish brohi et al have analyzed emerging trends and data, relying primarily on the Gender Needs Assessment (GNA), the Multià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ cluster Rapid Assessment Mechanism (McRAM), case studies and emerging secondary information. Their study includes case studies based on the various experiences of women to floods. The women respondents in the study have insisted that they had no prior information about the floods and many were taken back by surprise. The unexpectedness of the floods magnified its impact and also increased the exposure of the flood victims. The study present insights into the experiences of women through case studies, for example in Mianwali, a thirty year old woman, Jawwahi, rushed out with her family in waist high water and saw her house crumble before her; in Charsadda, women awoke to cries and found water rushing into their houses. Similarly the study also illustrates how women hygiene had been affected due to floods. For example in Kalabagh district, Baghat Bi bi, a sixty year old woman with her three daughters and three daughters in law visited the river every few days and submerged themselves in the water to clean themselves and their clothes, and then dry themselves while wearing the same clothes it is reported that the they had been doing it for over three weeks. As women in rural areas are not used to moving about in public spaces other than their villages; girls and women are often embarrassed to be seen accessing lavatories and hence do so during nightfall or early morning. Such overwhelming circumstances coupled with cases of harassment can have profound impacts on mental health. [35] The Preliminary Gender Needs Assessment report by UNIFEM  [E]  reports that the women were under severe stress as the devastation caused by the floods destroyed their limited assets, worsened their personal security situation, and changed their responsibilities as they were forced to respond to emergency conditions. The report stresses upon the fact that even though womens health is vital to the well-being of their families, after disasters, traditionally as caregivers, they tend to place their needs last. It also affirms that in certain provinces, cultural norms such as purdah limit women from being able to express their needs, additionally women also tend to have a chance of going unnoticed in the compensation process as their economic contributions are usually unseen. Similarly the women interviewed by IDMC in Sindh alleged that access to income-earning opportunities has been their biggest challenge and a major concern for women heads of household. The slow pace of recovery from the extensive damage the floods caused to the agricultural sector was expected to have a major impact on womens employment. Women also lacked the documentation to prove their property rights. As a result, widows and women heads of household interviewed by IDMC reported great difficulty in claiming inheritances, land and possessions left at home when they fled. [23] A March 2011 report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) found that internally displaced women and girls across the country could not venture out to receive emergency food aid without being threatened for violating purdah. [24] Women complained that most health services available in the aftermath of the floods concentrated on primary health care with little specialized focus on reproductive health for women. [25] A 2010 assessment by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) quoted women as reporting sexual harassment in flood displacement camps where different tribes, families and villages were placed together. [26] Hence it is essential that researchers while assessing the effects of flood take both long term and short term health impacts into account. It is important for the research study to describe the characteristic impacts of floods on health outcomes, describe the factors that influence human health as a result of floods, describe the direct health impacts of floods and develop a conceptual framework to aid in the management and evaluation of flood related health management. The literacy rates of women in developing countries are much lower than their male counterparts. A study by UNICEF in the aftermath of the 2010 floods showed that there are gender disparities in supply side factors in Sindh including availability of schools for girls and boys. Pre flood institution break up by gender, level and sector shows that at the primary level there are 60% mixed schools in the public sector and 42% mixed schools at the middle level. At the primary level parents are more comfortable with sending their girl child to mix school; however there is reluctance when it comes to middle school when the girl attains puberty, the dropout rates are also highest at that point and majority of the dropouts occur when girls move from primary to middle level. Similarly the study provides evidence of gender disparities existing in Thatta; the study demonstrates the trends in pre and post flood situations in primary enrollment. [38] Lack of access to education isnt always related to scarcity of schools however the unavailability of this supply side factor can play a major role in decreasing access to education along with the unavailability of female teachers as well. Economic costs, social traditions, and religious and cultural beliefs also limit girls educational opportunities particularly when it comes to middle and high level schooling. As these social development indicators become worse due to the affects of climate change it is important for the authorities to not only measure them but also address them with sustainable development programs. Given that men and women in the study area are poverty-stricken with dependency on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods, natural disasters pose a high risk for them. As evident by the literature reviewed vulnerability seems to be higher for women as they do not have alternative means of employment and most of all employed women in the study area are employed by the agriculture sector. More and more researchers have concluded that it is important to opt for a gendered analysis when researching on flood impacts, Sarah Bradshaw in her study Socio-economic impacts of natural disasters: a gender analysis states The first step towards ensuring that the specific basic needs of women are addressed over the short and long term is to collect data broken down by sex and age segment immediately after a disaster. The breaking up of data helps researchers understand women specific needs better, which in turn can help policy makers design and implement women specific strategies a nd programs. [27] Even though the evidence provided above from both international and local research literature clearly advocates the case for greater vulnerability of women from natural disasters; not much has been done to assess the post disaster impact of floods on women. Research studies have remained limited to rapid assessments or need assessments, post disaster impact have not been concentrated upon. In order to design long term sustainable gender sensitive recovery programs it is crucial to understand the post disaster impact of floods on women, keeping this in mind the present study Social-Economic Impact of Flood in District Thatta: A Gendered Analysis is a pioneering work in Pakistan in which SPDCs researchers have gone a step ahead from other studies and have tried to assess the post disaster impact of one of the worst floods of the century. Furthermore, research has shown that despite obstacles faced by women, they are already developing effective coping strategies which include adapting their farming practices. Literature such as (WEDO, 2003; Gurung et al., 2006; Mitchell et al., 2007) pointed out that women are very knowledgeable and experienced with regards to coping with climate related impacts. They are aware of their needs and are very innovative in the face of change. Communities on the frontline in adapting to the effects of natural disasters need but so far often lack, adequate information about climate change and adaptation strategies. Due to the womens lower literacy levels in many regions, and other barriers to accessing information, such as culture, it is vital that womens needs are addressed in efforts to provide necessary information. [43] Ariyabandu and Wickramasighe (2005:26) suggest that although women are often more vulnerable to disasters than men (owing to conventional gender responsibilities and relations) however they are not just helpless victims as often represented. Women have valuable knowledge and experience in coping with disasters. Yet these strengths and capabilities of women are often ignored in policy decisions and in mitigation, thereby, allowing these valuable resources to go to waste and sometimes creating dependency situations. Ignorance of gender differences in the past has led to insensitive and ineffective relief operations that have not been able to target womens needs and their potential to assist in mitigation and relief work. [44] Hence this research is also important because not all is gloomy, as international research has suggested that in developing countries already experiencing negative effects of climate change, women have been identified as particularly adaptive and innovative, there fore the current research study shall play a valuable role in making policy makers better understand the long term issues of Pakistani women in particular and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Taking the above into consideration, SPDC has designed a gender sensitive research study to determine the impact of the 2010 flood of Thatta. A gender sensitive primary survey is vital in helping identify Gender gaps, hence SPDC researchers created separate questionnaires for men and women. The study helps understand the differences in the socio-economic impact of the flood on women, men, girls and boys. This includes gathering gender sensitive data on the sectors of education, health, economic, flood coping capability and the overall impact of the flood. In order to assess and evaluate the effect of flood on the household welfare and behavior, the study collects individual and household information from both male and female respondents separately, making use of gender sensitive approaches which in the past have been limited to needs assessments or rapid assessment studies.

Environmental Economics Essay -- Environment, Renewable Energy

Introduction With the rampant deterioration of the environment taking place, panic striking and scandalizing environmental issues like global warming and greenhouse effect making banner headlines in our news papers and bulletins. Entire world is busy in devising energy reforms that can save the planet from plunging deep into the pit of destruction and catastrophe. In order to counter the looming energy crisis that is engulfing the world, research scientists all over the world are busy brainstorming their ageing heads in order to devise reliable energy systems, which can prove effective in resolving environmental disasters. (Costanza, 1991) In order to achieve this objective, substantial progress has been made in the form of accentuating greater usage for energy production and consumption by making use of renewable energy resources which do not undergo exhaustion unlike conventional resources of energy such as coal, oil and natural gas. Another reason due to which the significance of renewable resources has reached unprecedented levels is the economic feasibility involved and it is due to this importance a new discipline of environmental economics has invaded the ecological mainstream this century. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research the environmental economics is the science of empirical and theoretical studies which studies the effect of ‘national or local environmental policies around the world’ it further deals with the economic aspects of environmental policies through cost benefit analysis and ways to counter the rising threat of air pollution, global warming and water quality. As said earlier, progress on the development and the subsequent extraction of energy benefits from such resources is in pro... ...ncy than gasoline. (Sorenson 2005) References Kosltad D. Charles ‘Environmental Economics’ Second Edition, 2010 Vegiroglu T. Nejat, Schur, Dmitry ‘Hydrogen Material Science and Carbon Nanomaterials’ Kluwer Academic 2004 Freudenberger, Richard ‘Alcohol: A guide to making Ethanol a Renewable Fuel’ Aztext Press 2009 Sorenson, Bent ‘Hydroegn and Fuel Cells: Emerging Technologies and Applications’ Academic Press 2005 Costanza, Robert ‘Ecological Economies: the Science and Management of Sustainability’ Columbia University Press 1991 Olah A. George, Goeppert Alain, Surya.G.K ‘Beyond Oil and Gas: the Methanol Economy’ Wiley-VCH 2009 Mathew, Sathyajit ‘Wind Energy: Fundamentals, resource analysis and economics’ Birkhauser 2006 Beene, John ‘Nickel Beta decay as driver for LENR’ 8 June 2010 http://www.mail-archive.com/vortex-l@eskimo.com/msg39328.html

Essay --

Research Paper: Role of Women in Greek Mythology In my readings I have discovered that women in ancient Greece played a big role in society. Unlike many other societies, women were able to play an important role in things like religion and politics and were viewed as valued members of society. This is something that’s very uncommon in early Western civilization, as women were mainly oppressed throughout most of our history. As I continued my research on the role of women in Ancient Greek civilization, I found that many of their predominant mythological figures are also strong women. Women played a big role in Greek religion and they were worshiped no less than male figures. Many of the Greek goddesses are depicted as strong, powerful and yet still feminine figures. A few examples of their strength and intelligence are depicted in the stories of Hera, Athena, and more. Each of these female goddesses are considered key parts of Greek mythology and have clearly made an impact on how Greeks view women in their society. I believe that it is particularly because of how important the goddesses were to Greek mythology that women were able to be such key parts of Greek society as a whole. According to Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity by Sarah B. Pomeroy girls in ancient Greece were taught to be physically strong. They took part in many physical activities like sports along with boys. Pomeroy also states that women played a big role in religious festivals (Pomeroy). â€Å"Spartan women were put through physical training†¦ They could own their own land (as much as 40% of Spartan land in the fourth century BC was owned by women). Sayings of Spartan women were collected and became the essence of the Sp... ... fully naked statue of the goddess Aphrodite was created at the very beginning of the Hellenistic age- and, increasingly, rulers in their won right† (Scott). The Greek goddesses and their portrayal in Greek mythology set a standard in which Greek women followed, to do their best to be equals to men and now allow themselves to feel oppressed. In conclusion, religion played a very prominent role in the empowerment of women in Ancient Greece. Thanks to the beautiful portrayal of women in Greek mythology, the women of Greece were respected and had the ability to affect change in their society. The stories of Hera, Athena Odysseus, and Circe have all helped shape the structure of women in Greek society. Each of story showing a different face of women, all of them playing just as important parts in Greek worship and daily Greek life as their male counterparts.

President Bill Clinton :: William Jefferson Clinton Essays

Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in the small town of Hope, Arkansas. He was named after his father, William Jefferson Blythe II, who had been killed in a car accident just three months before his son's birth. Needing a way to support herself and her new child, Bill Clinton's mother, Virginia Cassidy Blythe, moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, to study nursing. Bill Clinton stayed with his mother's parents in Hope. There his grandparents, Eldrigde and Edith Cassidy, taught him strong values and beliefs such as "equality among all and discrimination to none". This was a lesson Bill never forgot. His mother returned from New Orleans with a nursing degree in 1950, when her son was four year old. Later that same year, she married an automobile salesman named Roger Clinton. When Bill was seven years old, the family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas for it offered a better employment opportunities. Roger received a higher paying job as a service ma nager for his brother's car dealer-ship and Virginia discovered a job as a nurse anesthetist. In 1956, Bill Clinton's half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., was born. When his brother was old enough to enter school, young Bill had his last name legally altered from Blythe to Clinton. Clinton's life continued and during his High school years he was awestruck by two successful leaders, John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was inspired by them so much that thrived on fulfilling their dreams. He raised money and organized charity events, but most of all he learned how to work with people and the concept of being a good citizen. In his spare time, he endulged himself in literature and played a saxophone. He loved music, and each summer he would attend a band camp in the Ozark Mountains. His hard work paid off when he became top saxophone player at his school and won first chair in state band. Bill Clinton recognized that although college would be expensive, it would give him the education he needed to accomplish his goals. His hard work in school, combined with his music ability, earned him many academic and music scholarships. With the aid of those scholarships and loans from the government, he was able to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He chose George town because it had an excellent foreign service program and it was located in the nations capital.

Education For Life Essay

Education For LifeThe basic purpose of a liberal arts education is to liberate the human being to exercise his or her potential to the fullest. Liberal arts plays an important role in developing individuals and the world. When students attend liberal art colleges, they will understand the essence of humanity and will learn to shape and develop personal values. For a person to develop, he needs to understand the essence of humanity. When you attend college, your view on the meaning of life changes. You live for your minds and spirits and not just for the security of material wealth (Urbanek). You start to do things related to your work as this is your interest. This will make you care less about material wealth and you will focus more on the benefit of the world than the benefit of yourself. Liberal arts means arts of freedom. People learn about things that interest them. This makes the experience of learning better. Students will recognize the value of material things for what they are (Urbanek). They will start challenging tasks of design where they would learn how to translate ideas into actions. They will get to know the depth, flexibility and openness of their thinking and will also be able to recognize the importance of their thinking. Taking these ideas into consideration, I can say that liberal arts teaches people global responsibility, social awareness and self development, which is the essence of humanity. Thus, when the essence of humanity is known, then only a person will be able to acquire personal values. The value of liberal arts was appreciated by the students in older times but contemporary students do not share the same sentiment. In 1900, 70 percent of college students in US attended liberal arts colleges but today fewer that 5 percent do. The idea has taken hold by educators that todays youth are more materialistic, less idealistic and more self interested than their predecessors (Richard). In 1997, Yankelovitch survey focused on high school students and their parents, found that 85 percent of the high school students and 74 percent of their parents stated that the goal of college is to get a practical education and to secure a job. Furthermore, only 14 percent of the students and 27percent of their parents were even familiar with what a liberal art education is. Todays students tend to be career oriented, impatient and focused in material rewards (Kahn). People do not know that liberal arts can offer a clearer understanding that work embodies the values of courage, honour and responsibility. Liberal art colleges expose you to a variety of academic disciplines and an excellent background for future work. The education gives you the ability to adapt to a changing environment, communicate effectively, think critically and solve complex problems, which can prove very useful in everyday lives. As you acquire personal values throughout your college years, it is important to learn how to shape these values. I believe that the central purpose of liberal arts education is to shape the values of people. The impact of liberal arts education on student value change is conclusive in determining whether higher education is effective in achieving this central purpose. According to a survey conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles, 8 out of 10 academics said they were spiritual, and 64 percent called themselves religious. More than half of the faculty members said that it was important to enhance undergraduates’ self-understanding and to develop their moral character and values. I think liberal arts is a great way to teach people their spiritual and moral responsibilities towards the community and world itself. Humanitarian values are defined by acceptance of value equivalency between ones own loyalties and those of all other individuals and groups, as well as respecting the rights of others to freely express similar claims and loyalties without infringement (Hollway). Values serve as guiding principles in the life of a person or other social entity and thus, it is important for people to learn how to shape these values. Values are described as serving the interests of some social entity, motivating action, giving direction, and having emotional intensity (Hollway). Therefore, these values are needed for the development of individuals. When individuals possess these values, they will be able to use them in their society. Employers around the world are looking for people who possess these values and have the ability to use them. Hence, liberal arts students will satisfy these employers. These students will also find opportunities to learn more as their primary goal is not material wealth. This will help countries to better their economy. These values will benefit the students themselves as well as the world. Once a person understands the essence of humanity and learns to shape and develop values, he will be able to make changes to the world. Liberal arts students have the skills to become valuable community members. They make decisions, solve problems and communicate the solutions to others. Liberal arts prepares these students to be successful throughout their life. WORKS CITEDUrbanek, Jennifer. The EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Kahn, Beverly. Co-opting The Market Place. Journal of Higher Education: p. 19. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Richard, M. The Practical Path, Too, Can Be High-Minded. Chronicle of Higher Education: p. 11. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007 Hollway, Michael. A Comparison of the Impact of 2 Liberal Arts. Journal of General Education: p. 237. EBSCOhost. 28 Oct. 2007.

Brand Case Study Essay

1. After having read the formal definition of customer-based-brand-equity (p. 41) and the ensuing chapter discussion, think of a product category offering that you are familiar with. How do consumers make decisions whether or not to buy the product, and how do they arrive at their final brand decision? Do you agree with the three â€Å"ingredients† that are the basis for the definition of C.B.B.E? What are the implications for brand equity management for the brands in the category? For me, the most familiar brand is Nike. I think the consumers will consider the price of the products and they will consider the product is fit for them or not when they buy the products. Mostly, the consumers will choose the brand which they used before because they used this brand before, they know this brand and they will have more trust for this brand. Sometime, the consumers could choose the brand which they knew or heard before when they buy some new products because the famous brand product can bring more trust for the consumers. I agree with these three ingredients. In fact, I believe most customers, include me, follow these three key ingredients when we choose the brand. I think better brand equity management can improve the brand value and image. It can also better promote the brand and let more customers know your brand. This can help your brand stay in the top area of the congeneric products. 2.Take the coffee product category basically dominated by the two main brands Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. Evaluate the positioning of each brand in terms of the four components of brand positioning. Who are their target markets? What are their main points-of-parity and points-of-difference? Have they defined their positioning correctly and effectively? How might their positioning be improved? I think the major target markets of Starbucks are the collage students, the white collar employees. For Dunkin’ Donuts, the target markets consumers are the customers who just want to drink coffee and these customers want to take away their coffee immediately and do not want to cost much money on coffee. The main points of parity for Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are that the product of them is coffee and both of them also sell some fast food. The main points of difference for them are the price and store layout. I think they define their positioning correctly and effectively. For Starbucks, they define their brand as a high-end coffee brand. Now, this brand is famous around the world. For Dunkin’ Donuts, they define thier brand as a quickly service coffee. Now, they are also success. I think the positioning of Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are correctly. Both of them choose to focus and develop on one area. This can help they have enough competitiveness and help them improve their brand value. 3. Upon reading the chapter discussion of points-of-parity vs. and points-of-difference an you think of any negatively correlated attributes and benefits other than those listed in Figure 2-6 at the bottom of p. 56.? Can you think of any other strategies to deal with negatively correlated attributes and benefits? For example, in the product of shampoo field, anti-dandruff shampoo vs. Hair care shampoo. I think we can create some sub-brand to avoid these negatively. For example, the shampoo product, we can produce two kinds of shampoo, anti-dandruff shampoo and hair care shampoo to reduce the negatively correlated attributes and benefits. This strategy will give the option to the customers. They will choose any product of our brand and we will avoid the negatively correlated attributes and benefits. 4.After finishing the chapter take a few minutes and review the following youtube.com video titled â€Å"No Logo: Brands, Globalization & Resistance.† http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI0itS3gQFU What do you think of Naomi Klein’s positions as espoused in (her book) No Logos? How would you respond to her propositions? Do you agree or disagree about her beliefs on the growth of corporate power and why? I think no logo is amazing. Brand help the customer choose the products quickly. Especially now, most people do not too much time to choose the products one by one. They like choose products from the brand which they know. If no logo and no brand, I think most customer will be in confusion when they buy somethings. In addition, I think globalization is the trend. I don’t think no logo can prevent the existence of the exploitation. However, I agree with her beliefs on the growth of corporate power. Because most global corporate are worthy. Sometime they can impact the policies of the government, especially in those underdeveloped nations.

Business Law, the Laws Applied in This Case Study Essay

Introduction Funster had suffered three forms of losses in this factual matrix, namely the broken ribs, the damaged iPhone and the torn T-shirt. Prima facie, Magic Studios is liable for the negligent damage caused to Funster. Therefore, whether Magic Studios should bear liability for the damage hinges upon whether they can successfully rely upon the exclusion clause set out in the ticket. The approach taken by the courts on determining the applicability of the exclusion clause is neatly set out in Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712. A court will first determine whether the clause is successfully incorporated, before applying the common law principles of construction to determine if it can be enforced. Following that, it will then apply the Unfair Contract Terms Act [UCTA] to determine if the clause can indeed be struck out by statute. Each point of law will be discussed in turn. Incorporation Two issues regarding the incorporation of a term arise in this case. The first is whether the term has been incorporated before the formation of the contract, and the second is whether there has been reasonable notice on Monster Studio’s part. Both issues will be discussed consecutively. On the first issue of incorporation before formation of the contract, the law is clear that terms should be incorporated into the contract before formation (Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163) [Thornton]. The terms and conditions of a contract should be well known to both parties before they are made to bear legal responsibilities under the contract. Therefore, the notice of a ticket must come before its formation. Elsewise, it will not be enforceable. In this case, it is likely that a court will decide that the term has been incorporated before offer and acceptance. This is because Magic Studios has clearly placed a sign above the ticket booth that certain terms and conditions will apply. Funster thus entered into the contract knowing that certain terms will apply to the transaction. In conclusion, the term would thus be properly incorporated into the contract. On the second issue of reasonable notice, the applicable law is clearly set out in the landmark English case of Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 [Parker] that the recipient of a ticket is bound if â€Å"he had reasonable notice that the document contains terms†, even if he remains ignorant of the terms. This means that the term can be incorporated into the contract only if it is reasonable that an ordinary person would have noticed the existence of such a term. The law in Parker was further clarified in Thornton that where the court held that if the party seeks to enforce an onerous term, it must take additional steps to bring its presence to the other party’s notice. In this case, it is clear that Magic Studios should be deemed as having successfully incorporated the exclusion clause. By using an obvious red font, it had clearly brought to any customer’s attention that there are underlying terms and conditions on the ticket. In any case, Funster had consulted an attendant about the exclusion clause and cannot claim that he does not know of such an underlying term. In conclusion, by applying the clear rules set out in Parker and Thornton, the exclusion clause should be successfully incorporated. Common law principles of construction Following the successful incorporation of the exclusion clause, the next issue is whether the clause can be enforceable by applying the common law principles of construction. As held clearly in Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268, the rule of construction approach will be taken in Singapore where exclusion clauses are concerned. Following the landmark decision in The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361, the court will determine, through a fair construction of the contract, if the parties have intended for such an exclusion clause to be enforced. Courts have traditionally taken a strict approach towards enforcing exclusion clauses purporting to exempt total negligence (Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192, but following the enactment of UCTA, such a requirement has been visibly relaxed or non-existent [Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149) [Jiang Ou]. Applying the law to the relevant facts, it should be clear that the common law requirement of construction should be fulfilled. Both Funster and Monster Studios can be said to have reached an agreement as to the enforcement of this clause since Funster had only bought the ticket after seeing the large sign containing â€Å"terms and conditions apply† above the counter. Funster must thus have entered into the contract knowing that certain terms and conditions may apply. Moreever, as seen in Emjay, the court is reluctant to reject any claims at this stage of the inquiry, preferring to use UCTA to weed out unmeritorious exclusion clauses. In conclusion, the clause can thus be successfully enforced, pending passing the requirements in UCTA. Unfair Contract Terms Act As mentioned earlier, Funster had suffered three types of damages – personal injury, damage to iPhone and damage to T-shirt. Each of the damage will be discussed in turn using the appropriate provision in UCTA. Broken Ribs Section 2(1) of the UCTA clearly states that a person cannot â€Å"exclude or restrict his liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence†. This clearly shows that parties are not allowed, under the law, to exclude liability for personal injury or death. Such a provision was written into law in order to protect parties, especially vulnerable ones such as customers to theme parks who might not have equal bargaining power, in cases whereby one party’s negligence have caused serious injuries or even death. Applying the s.2(1) to the facts, it is clear that Funster can claim for negligence with regards to the broken ribs he has suffered. Broken ribs belong to the category of â€Å"personal injury† in s.2(1), and a party clearly cannot exclude liability for such personal injury. As Monster Studios is already prima facie negligent, whether Funster can claim damages for his broken ribs hinges solely upon the application of s.2(1) of the UCTA. Applying the strict requirement in s.2(1), it is clear that Monster Studio cannot exempt liability for the personal injury that Funster has suffered. In conclusion, Monster Studios cannot rely on the exemption clause to exempt liability for Funster’s broken ribs. Damaged iPhone and Torn T-shirt Both the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirts may be classified under other forms of damage, applicable under â€Å"other losses and damage† under s.2(2) of UCTA. It is thus important to look at the relevant provision, which states that Monster Studio’s liability cannot be excluded except where it is reasonable to do so. While s.2(2) does not state what the term â€Å"reasonable† means, this is clarified in s.11 that a reasonable term is one which is â€Å"known or in the contemplation of the parties when the contract was made†. Typically, courts will consider several factors in determining whether a particular exclusion clause is reasonable. They include whether the relative bargaining powers of respective parties (Jiang Ou), whether there are any protests by the claimant (Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583) and if there are any reasonable alternatives (Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747). As mentioned in Jiang Ou, the ultimate consideration by the court is whether it is against public policy to allow the enforcement of the particular exclusion clause, and such an inquiry is based on the particular facts of the case. In this case, there are two claims which arise with regards to s.2(2) of UCTA, namely the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirt. For both items, Funster should be allowed to claim for the relevant damages. Applying the several factors set out above, it is clear that Funster had little bargaining power over the inclusion of the exclusion clause and cannot be said to have any other alternatives but to accept the clause if he wishes to take the roller coaster. As discussed in Jiang Ou, it is against public policy if amusement parks such as Monster Studios are allowed to escape with their own negligence by drafting an exclusion clause. The UCTA was specifically drafted to protect consumers such as Funster from being denied legal recourse when faced with a negligent organisation such as Monster Studios. In conclusion, a court is unlikely to deny Funster the claims for his iPhone and the T-shirt. Conclusion In conclusion, Funster should be allowed to claim for his personal injuries, the broken iPhone and the torn T-shirt. While the exclusion clause drafted by Magic Studios can pass the requirements of incorporation and common law construction, it is unlikely to pass the stringent standards set by UCTA. REFERENCES Cases 1.Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192 2.Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268 3.Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149 4.Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583 5.Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 6.Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712 7.The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361 8.Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163 9.Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747 Books Ewan Mckendrick, Contract Law (8th Edition), Palgrave Macmillan Law Masters (2009) Websites Singapore Academy of Law. Singapore Contract Law (accessed on 3rd May 2012). URL: http://www.singaporelaw.sg/content/ContractLaw.html Stamford Law Legal Updates, Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG (accessed on 3rd May 2012) URL: http://www.stamfordlaw.com.sg/legal.php?id=241

Free Market and Market Character Essay

The main difficulty in tackling this question is squaring moral means with moral ends, (Wilkinson, 2008). Moral character, or virtue, is a means to achieving moral ends. As the socioeconomic structure changes so do the means of achieving moral ends. Free markets flourishes along fast socioeconomic change, and therefore market cultures are most likely to see a mismatch between the traits of moral character valued by the culture and the traits of character actually effective as means within the existing structure for achieving moral ends. Due to the indifference of each individual, perspectives vary according to the superannuated standards of our lagging moral culture while the system simultaneously delivers moral goods more effectively than at any time in human history. So, the correct answer to the question is: Yes, market societies corrode traditional moral norms, although this corrosion is an integral part of moral progress. John gray in his view of the effect of free market on market character suggests comparison of realistic alternatives and understanding how different systems promote divergent types of human character. His definition of a free market sidelines the view that free markets emerge spontaneously when state interference in the economy is removed, or simply free markets the ‘absence of government’. Instead markets in his view depend on systems of law to decide what can be traded as a commodity and what cannot. Therefore, free markets not only contain some moral restraints which are policed by the government, but also rely on property rights mostly created and enforced by the government. The free market as in the past mid-Victorian England came about not because the state withdrew from the economy, but rather because state power was used to privatize land that had been under various forms of common ownership, or not owned at all. Historically, it is evident that economic systems are living things, and rarely do free markets operate according to the established economic models; except in economics textbooks where markets are self-regulating. On the contrary, the relation between economics and ethics can be seen more clearly in the light that traits of character most rewarded by free markets are entrepreneurial boldness, the willingness to speculate and gamble, and the ability to seize new opportunities. In order to survive and prosper in free market economies one has to embrace such skills and risk-taking actions as retooling one’s skills, relocating and switching careers. According to Adam Smith, one of the originators of free-market economics, markets cannot be confined to the marketplace because free markets demand a high degree of mobility and an ingrained readiness to exit from relationships that are no longer profitable; a direct reflection of the humanity in our lives. Adam’s fear and Gray’s perception matter the least when it has been proved that though free markets reward some moral traits, they also undermine others. The moral hazards of free markets do not mean that other economic systems are any better. Therefore, no economic system can fully attend to every aspect of moral character; instead all rely on motives that are morally questionable. A sensible combination cannot be achieved by applying an ideal model of how the economy should work. Different mixes will be best in different historical contexts. But one thing is clear: a modern market economy cannot do without a measure of moral corrosion. Tyler (2008) is of the opinion that free markets operate like amplifiers; the abundance placed in our disposal tends to boost and accentuate whatever character tendencies we already possess. He believes that other features of the free market also encourage the better angels of our nature and discourage our destructive impulses; thus allowing people to realize a range of good intentions. Market-friendly societies are attractive to immigrants. Transparency International annually issues an index of the most corrupt places in the world to do business. The countries topping last year’s list were Iraq, Myanmar, and Somalia, while the least corrupt countries were Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, all of which have active market economies. In relation to such a report, it is obvious that the rise of markets and the decline of corruption are part of a common and consistent thread of progress. Markets purpose to create a consensus around certain moral expectations: that agreements should be binding, that honesty is expected in transactions, and that economic actors are held accountable for broken promises. However not all markets are ‘free’ because ‘corrupt’ markets do not meet the above standards, as a similarly in a variety of other human imperfections. By making more social activity of every kind possible, the market creates greater scope for these vices. As observers of economic life, many of us focus too often on these sorts of negative examples. But we need to take a wider view of human progress. In the midst of our own long era of economic growth and expansion, it is obvious that the positive features of markets decisively outweigh their negative features. This is true not only because of the practical and material benefits of wealth creation but because of its beneficial effect on personal morality as well. Irrespective of the side taken by each market analyst, a common ground runs through in the aspects of moral and social issues. In his judgment, Globalization, leads not only to the creation and spread of wealth but to ethical outcomes and to better moral character among its participants. In contrast Hymowitz believes that market economies weaken the cultural conspiracy in three powerful ways. First, they introduce novelty, which tests established cultural habits and moral verities. Second, they provoke individual desire in ways that can easily weaken the self-discipline and moral obligations that make free markets flourish. And lastly, as they advance, market economies become more likely to treat the yet-to-be-socialized child as an autonomous, adult-like actor rather than as an undeveloped dependent. On the hand, subscribes to the liberal school of thought as pioneered by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. According to this school of thought, freedom of the individual is the highest aim, and the ultimate test of a one’s character is his ability to pursue his own chosen goals in life without infringing upon the freedom of others pursuit of their own goals. From this perspective, free economic activity among individuals, corporations, and nations boosts such desirable qualities as trust, honesty, and hard work. Other panelists on the same big question, has each faithfully attested to his or her view but at one point came to the conclusion that the answer to this question depends on how one conceives the good life; prescribing that at all times we should ensure to take a wider view of human progress. ? References Jagdish, Bhagwati. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character? London. 2008 December 3, 2008. 3 March 2009 < http://www. templeton. org/market/PDF/Cowen. pdf> Tyler, Cowen. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character? London. 2008 December 3, 2008. 3 March 2009 < http://www. templeton. org/market/PDF/ Bhagwati. pdf> Will, Wilkinson. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character, London. 2008 October 6, 2008. 3 March 2009 < http://www. willwilkinson. net/flybottle/2008/10/06/does-the-free- market-corrode-moral-character/> John, Templeton Foundation. â€Å"Supporting Science-Investing in the Big Questions: An interview with leading scientists, scholars, and public figures,† Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character. 3 December 2008. 3 March 2009 < http://www. templeton. org/market/> Lockwood, Anne Turnbaugh. â€Å"Community Collaboration and Social Capital: An Interview with Gary G. Wehlage. † Leaders for Tomorrow’s Schools. 2 May 2001. 19 July 2001 http://www. ncrel. org/cscd/pubs/lead21/2-1m. htm>.