China's Qing Dynasty and its Collapse Research Paper

China's Qing Dynasty and its Collapse - Research Paper Example The Qing dynasty was started by a Manchu tribe, the Jurchen Aisin Gioro clan, from northeast of China (â€Å"Qing Dynasty†). The first three rulers had peaceful and prosperous reign and the administrative system used by the Qing rulers had mostly been inherited from the Ming dynasty with minor modifications. The military setup under the Qing was noteworthy. The army which was owned by the ruler was divided into separate units that had individual banners and troops. The civil servants were sometimes chosen from the banner men.The Qing dynasty was able to preserve its identity although it reigned over the Chinese. The rulers would go back to Manchuria during summertime and would speak their language. They even prohibited inter-marriages between Manchus and Chinese. The Manchu troops and Chinese troops were delegated with duties separately. Several other changes in social behavior such as men shaving heads and wearing queues were initiated. However, the peace during the early par t of their rule allowed for growth and development in all areas such as public works. The taxation structure was light, and the benevolent rulers would even reduce taxes during famine. This led to a spurt in the growth of trade and commerce. Art and learning were patronized. Porcelain painting was revived with new shades of colors, and European influence could be observed in the samples of that era.Under Qianlong’s rule, China had the largest territory ever. Signs of internal disturbances were becoming evident.... The impoverished masses rose in the form of popular uprisings, and though they were effectively handled, the causes for the uprisings remained unresolved. Some of these reasons were to provide the fuel for future uprisings such as that of the Taiping rebellion in the 1850s and 1860s, which would prove to be a big blow to the Qing dynasty. However, the disintegration of the empire did not seem evident till the mid nineteenth century. The major reasons for the decline of the Qing dynasty can be put under several heads. 1 - Backward Imperialism The last few rulers of the Qing dynasty were trapped in backward traditions and did not keep up with technological advancements of other nations in the contemporary context. They thought of themselves as divine rulers of a grand nation and looked at European inventions such as canons and artillery with suspicion. Hence, they failed to upgrade their war equipment and lacked modern infrastructure as well. In comparison to the Self Strengthening Mov ement in China (1861-1895), the Meiji Restoration in Japan was very successful and this gave the Japanese the role of a formidable opponent during the late nineteenth century. This even resulted in losing the First Sino-Japanese war in 1894-95. 2 - Foreign invasion Another reason why the Qing dynasty began to fail was that of the strong European colonial influences. Britain was interested in trade with China for tea and silk. However, with nothing else to import the British started opium trade with the Chinese. This proved to be a disaster for the people of China since many got addicted to opium and began producing it in land plots meant for food grains. Also, the high exchange rates of opium put a

Current Environmental Laws In The Philippines

Current Environmental Laws In The Philippines Our environmental laws are very important to us. It is very important beacause we all know that some are still depending to our natural environment for a living like those who are belong to a community located to mountaneous areas and also for us living in a rural areas or urban areas. By the implementation of these environmental laws, we are all gaining informations and knowledges about the proper protection of our environment. For me, the summarization of all the current environmental laws and policies are mainly composed of the proper ulitization and management of all the aspects of our natural environment. Below are some of the most important environmental laws of our country. The Philippine Environmental Policy Governs the general policies on the pursuits of a better quality of life for the present and future generations and mandates undertaking the environmental impact assessments for all projects, which may significantly affect the environment. (P.D 1151) Defines the objectives and the strategies for the various aspects of environmental management, such as air and water quality management, natural source development, land management, and waste management. It launches a comprehensive national program of environmental protection and management, with reference to policies and standards of noise, air quality, classification of water and waste management. (P.D 1152) The Philippine environmental policy is really very important because it promotes the protection of our natural resources and our natural environments. We all know that our country is very famous around the world by having the most wonderful and aesthetic natural resources thats why we really need to preserve this resources in order to sustain that title and also for us to be still benifited with these natural and environmental resources. The Forestry Reform Code P. D. 389 (P.D. 705) Codifies, updates and raises forestry laws in the country. It emphasizes the sustainable utilization of forest resources. The law which concerns about our forest are very important to sustain our flora and fauna which are living in our forest and also to help sustain those endangered species. The banning of illegal cutting of trees is very important because when trees are all gone, it can cause soil erosion and can harm us by causing great flood just like what happened this past few years. Illegal logging can also contributes in the loss of our ecosystem which can cause distress not only for those flora and fauna but also to us.It also governs the preseravation and otimimum productivity of fishery resources through conservation and protection. Water Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1067) Adopts adequate measures to conserve and regulate the use of water in commercial, industrial and residentail areas. It also provides other policy guidelines in water quality and management of water resources. This protects our water system especially for those who depends their business in the water. They imposed this law to govern those who are being unaware to the posibilities of damaging our water resources through improper disposal of garbages and ineffecient use of waters. Other laws under the environmental laws are Pollution Control Law, Sanitation Code, Control of Pesticides, Local Government Code of 1991, Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act, The Fisheries Code of the Philippines and The Solid Waste Management Act of 2001. These environmental laws are really needed in order for us to protect our natural environment through good management of these resources and these laws is a eye opener for us to see the posible effects of the improper usage of our natural resources. Through good governance, we will be able to help each others to protect and sustain our natural environment for the next generation to come. We need to comply to these laws in order for us to have the limits in which we can use these resources and be able to preserve and protect such very imporatnat element of our life, the natural resources and our natural environment. Source of the three environmental laws that I discussed: http://bio427.blogspot.com/2010/10/environmental-laws-of-philippines.html How Hospitality and Tourism Management is affected by the current environmental laws? The Hospitality and Tourism Management is affected by the current environmental laws in a very positive ways. It is very beneficial for them because they will be able to know the guidelines in protecting our environment which this Hospitality and Tourism Management is very dependent. We all know that under Hospitality and Tourism Management is the tourism industry which really relying on our environment with their businesses. For they are the most dependent to our natural environment, they must be the one who needs to protect it and also to sustain it. Another positive effect of these environmental laws to Hospitality and Tourism Management is that tourism industry will be boost knowing that they have the ability to protect, sustain and improve our natural environment which can help to promote our country. The tourism industry is really obliged to protect our environment to sustain the tourists that they have and they will have. When the tourist see that they are helping our governme nt in managing our environment, they will be glad to still go back to our country not only for a good service nor good employees but merely by the fact that our environment is still in good conditions and still improving which this guests and tourists are visiting for and which they can also enjoy. When we look to the other side which this tourism industry is not complying and not implementing these environmental laws, it will greatly contributes in damaging our environment and might causes negative impacts not only to our natural environment but also to the species of animals, plants, fishes and also to us humans. All other industry must be in accordance to our environmental laws because they are interrelated to each other. For example, a mining industry which disposes their toxic wastes directy to the sea or ocean can affect the businesses which are relying on the sea or located beside the shoreline because this toxic wastes can cause deseases and can cause damages on the corals, fishes and other living organism in the sea. They are co-related to each other thats why they need to act as one for them to show also that they respect each others. The Hospitality and Tourism Management which is the mother of all indutries specifically the tourism industry must know the proper usage of our environment and the proper management of our natural resources because we all know that this industry is the most income generating to our country and it produces works for our local employees and we all know that a lot of employees are all depending to this industry. If we will not be able to protect and sustain this natural environment, a lot also of negetaive effects will come out and one of the most dangerous effect is that when our environment is greatly damaged, a lot of workers will be dismiss to their work and what will now happen to them? Unemployment rate level will increase and a lot of local people will experienced poverty. As a tourism student, we are very much thankful because we are able to know the positive and negative impacts of the misgovernance of our environment. We are also able to know the environmental laws which our g overnment has imposed and it is very important for us because at young age, we are in the capacity of opening our minds in protecting and in helping in sustaining our environment which in the near future, we will be also be dependent on it. We should act as one and we need to focus in protecting the natural environments that we have. 3.) How Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) businesses can help improve the current environmental laws? Hospitalty and Tourism Management businesses can really help to improve and sustain the current environmental laws of our country by basically complying to these laws. By showing that they are implementing and they are abiding to these environmental laws, they are greatly contributing in promoting the need to act in the way that is legally pursuits. These businesses are the ones who much need to follow these laws because they are more benefited. We all know that the tourism industry is depending to our natural environment. And if we are not able to protect our environment, the tourism industry will really fluctuate. And as you can see, some whos under the tourism industry are not complying to our environmental laws and greatly causing damages to our environment. For example, some resort owners are not following the rules and regulations of our environmental laws just like the proper measurement of the establishment, the proper disposal of their garbages and many more. These careless actions are greatly causing damages, and if these actions are continuosly happening, for sure our environment will be highly damage. Our environmental laws are really important for us to help preserve the natural resources and the natural environment that we have. As you can obeserved, laws makes us more be practically be knowldegeable about the dos and donts regarding to the implementation and usage of our natural environment. The businesses which are under the tourism industy must know the proper environmental management, waste management, land management, and natural source development in order for them to help in improving our environmental laws as well as our natural environments. They are really can promote in preserving and sustaining our environment which is the environmental laws is protecting. Another example of improving the environmental laws by the hostipitality and tourism manangement businesses is that if a specific establishment which are under this industry are very competitive to others, they are much more well appreciated and much more advantageous knowing that they have all the necessary papers like permits and other legal documents that they need to accomplish which our goverment are imposing and their guests will be more knowledgeable about helping in protecting our environment by simply knowing the proper disposal of their own garbages. Environmental laws are providing the necessary information that a single business must know and the ordinances that they need to comply with. Basically, if all the businesses are do have a great information and they are all aware to these environmental laws, we are greatly a means of instrument in helping in preserving our natural environments. As we all know, the tourism industry which is under the Hostpitality and Tourism Management is the fastest income generating out of all the industries that we have and our tourism industry are really helping in uplifting our economy. These tourism businesses are also generating jobs and employment to a lot of workers. By means of protecting our environment, they are also helping in sustaining these businesses which is really important to our country. The proper utilization of these natural environment and natural resources,will not only benefits ourselvelves but also we are also ganing respects from others. As a tourism student and in the near future my future work will be also depending on the natural environment that we have, I need also to contributes my effort in helping to promote the good usage of our environment by merely knowing the implemented laws regarding in protecting our natural resources and our environments just like the very simple way, throwing my garbages on proper and also by merely helping and joining to tree planting activities of our school, our barangay and also of our municipality. At young age, we need to be knowledgeable to what we need to do and what we need to act in order for us to know the implications of being aware to the current situation of our environment.

The Effect of Slavery on the Identity of Cuba Essay examples -- Slaver

The Effect of Slavery on the Identity of Cuba The Caribbean is a diverse region with a unique history. The progress and advancement of each island complied with the European country in control of it at the time. The Caribbean was conquered and colonized soon after Columbus’ discovery in 1492. A similar aspect of the heterogeneous region has been its plantations. The plantations were an important aspect of the cultural history of the Caribbean. Mintz believed that the plantations tied the colonies in the Caribbean to the European country that was colonizing it. He states: "the plantation system was an agricultural design for the production of export commodities for foreign markets- a means for introducing agricultural capitalism to subtropical colonial areas, and for integrating those areas with the expanding European economy"(Mintz 26). The plantations of the Caribbean are also useful tools in learning more about the history of the island who once inhabited the island, as Benitez-Rojo states in his essay, From Plantation to Plantation, "the plantations serve as a telescope for observing the changes and the continuities of the Caribbean galaxy through the lenses of multifold disciplines, namely economics, history, sociology, political science, anthropology, ethnology, demography, as well as through innumerable practices, which range from the commercial to the military, from the religious literary"(Benitez-Rojo 38). The plantations in the Caribbean played a significant role in shaping each colony in the development from colonialism to the modern society. In the other readings in class, we learned that Michelle Cliff (Abeng) despised the plantation systems because the Europeans profited from the sugar plantations, whic... ...combination. The blending of the Spanish guitar and the African drum gives Cuban music its distinctive form, the rumba and son are good examples. Today Cubans are peoples of all different colors. The islands complicated history is evident in its inhabitants. WORKS CITED Beckles, Hilary& Shepard, Verene. Caribbean Slave Society & Economy, New York, 1991. Cliff, Michelle. Abeng. Penguin Group, 1984. Knight, Franklin. The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism. New York, 1990. Paquette, Robert. Sugar is Made with Blood. Middletown, CT, 1988. Perez, Louis. Slaves, Sugar & Colonial Society, Wilmington, Delaware, 1992. Benitez-Rojo, Antonio. The Repeating Island, Duke University, Durham & London, 1992. Mintz, Sidney W. The Caribbean as a Socio-Cultural Area, Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean, Garden City, New Jersey, 1971.

Black Swan Evaluation

Destiny palmer Professor Vicki Schwab 10/26/2012 English 101 Evaluation Essay The Black Swan Evaluation Essay Perfection is a dream chased by many, but only a few ever achieve it. More often than not, reaching that level of flawlessness requires great sacrifice. â€Å"The Black Swan†, directed by Darren Aronfsky, is a captivating psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet. The Movie received high ratings and Natalie Portman, who played the lead role of Nina, received praise for performing a majority of the dance scenes herself without much help from a stunt double.The real controversy comes a week after the movie is available on DVD when Portman’s stunt double, Sarah Lane, claims that it was actually she who did the majority of the dancing. According to Lane, Portman’s dramatic transformation into a ballerina – a story firmly at the center of her successful Oscar campaign- was not as impressive as the public was led to believe. â€Å" I mean, from a professional dancer’s standpoint, she doesn’t look like a professional ballet dancer at all and she can’t dance in pointe shoe. And she cannot move her body; she’s very stiff,† says Lane. Katrandjian) She claims that they [the directors and producers] only wanted for Portman to win an Oscar, and that’s their reason for falsely claiming that Portman danced. Otherwise it would not have been that effective of a movie. Others claim that it is not the dancing that won Portman an Oscar, but the way she portrayed an innocent, fragile, and sheltered adult-child who morphs into something perfect and unrecognizable at a fatale expense. â€Å"Black Swan† stars Natalie Portman as Nina Seyers, a featured dancer who is casted as the Swan Queen in the production â€Å"Swan Lake†.Nina is a quiet girl with an innocent demeanor, but also has hallucinations which are why her mother keeps her confined. She strives for perfection, but in order to get the part as the swan queen, she must show herself capable of playing the black swan. The black swan part requires her to not only â€Å"losing herself† but to be â€Å"seductive† in the dance. The audience is able to see the transformation of Nina throughout the movie. Nina’s life is a parallel to the production in which she is dancing. She is pure like the white swan, but later transforms into the polar opposite.She becomes the black swan towards the end of the movie and achieves perfection but only in death. Nina has a thirst for perfection, and it is this thirst that takes her to the edge and ultimately out of her innocence and into adulthood. Jen Chaney, a publisher for the Washington Post, noted â€Å"What impressed me the most about Portman’s work in â€Å"Black Swan†- and, I, suspect, most critics and Oscar voters- was the way she convincingly portrayed a fragile young woman descending into madness. The dance part of it nev er factored into my assessment of her performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chaney).Elizabeth Vargas, an anchor on Good Morning America, hosted an interview with Sarah Lane and others concerning the controversy. Vargas asked Jess Cagle, managing editor of entertainment weekly, â€Å"Do you think that any of the people that voted for Natalie for best actor for the Oscars would not have voted for her had they known that she didn’t do all the dancing for the movie? † Cagle replied â€Å"I can guarantee that it would definitely hurt Natalie Portman, and there was a lot of great dancing that Sarah Lane did that enhanced this performance and helped Portman win an Oscar. (Natalie). The way that a stunt double works is that the director would cast someone of similar height and weight and they would dance in that scene, and later they would digitally graft the face of the actor/actress onto the body. Portman’s face was superimposed onto Lanes body through special effects called â €Å"face replacement† in crucial dance scenes to make it appear as if it were Portman performing the sophisticated moves. The stunt double signs a contract that explains that she might not be featured in the credits. I am unable to say if Lane completely understood the contract.It is possible that lane is unfamiliar with the film industry but slandering the film and actors in it could prevent her from ever being casted as a stunt double in any future major films. It was unprofessional and Lane was told when casted that she wouldn’t receive out right credit. Others feel differently, they feel that Lane should defend the honor and hard work that dancers put into their line of work. Nikol Klein, a professional Ballet dancer, coach, and blogger wrote on her website â€Å"Whoever did the dancing in the movie is not the reason it won anOscar. I understand {as a dancer] that some in the dance community feel that Natalie Portman won the Oscar for her â€Å"Upper Body† portrayal of a dancer, but if you truly watch the film you will see that it is far more than that. Natalie Portman received a much deserved Oscar for her work as an Actress, not as a dancer. In fact, if you watch the movie again you will see that there really isn’t much dancing in the movie at all. Has Lane seen the movie? So why the controversy? One thing that we dancers have is pride.Our profession feeds off of acknowledgement and acceptance. † A lot of what Lane is upset about is how she feels that Portman is claiming that you can become a ballerina in a year in a half. Although this is untrue and was never stated by Portman, actors and actresses do go through intense training for their part. For example, the movie â€Å"Walk the Line†, a film about the life and career about Johnny Cash, Reese Witherspoon actually had to learn to sing like June Carter Cash. Oscars like these are often handed out for full artist transformations.It is part of what acting involve s, which is why the audience saw Reese Witherspoon win an Oscar for â€Å"Walk the Line†. Anytime an actor can mold them into something they’re not, real talent is shown and Oscars are given. It’s been done time and time again. It has been said repeatedly that if Natalie had been honest about her lack of actual dancing, she probably would not have won. When did she ever lie though? In countless interviews I watched, Natalie has always acknowledged the fact that there was indeed a stunt double; they all had one. Needless to say, it was about the transformation that took place.Portman spent year and a half training for this part and had lost a significant amount of weight in order to show the actuality of a ballerina. Lanes statement were followed by a rebuttal in a March 23 2011 L. A Times article in which Portman’s then fiance (now husband), and Black Swan dance choreographer, Benjamin Millepied said Lane’s work in the film was far less significant . â€Å"There are articles now talking about her dance double that are making it sound like [lane] did a lot of the work, but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouett? , and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio,† he said, â€Å"honestly, 85% of that movie is Natalie. † â€Å"Black Swan† editor Andy Weisblum agreed to take a closer look for â€Å"20/20. † â€Å"There are about 35 shots that are full body shots in the movie. Of those 35 shots, 12 are Natalie, and then the rest are Sarah,† Weisblum said. â€Å"But over the overall film, Natalie did a lot more than that. I mean, she did most of the other shots. It was sometimes hard for me to tell the difference as the editor, it was so close. † (Zakarin).As I researched the background history, I came across this statement from Darren Aronofsky, â€Å"Here is the reality; I had my editor count the shots. There are 139 dance shots in the film – 111 are Natalie Portman untouched,â €  he said â€Å"28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math, that’s 80% Natalie Portman. † (Zakarin). The point is this movie is one hour and 48 minutes long. Regardless of how many shots were of Lane or Portman, we all know for a fact that 100% of the acting was Portman which Is what makes â€Å"Black Swan† an Oscar winner.

Organ Donating… Good or Bad?

Organ Donation What is going to happen to your body when you die? Will you be buried, cremated, or will you use it for the benefit of others? Organ donations can save lives and be used for research. Organ donation is not solely restricted to people who have passed. Donating is also possible when you are alive. Every American needs to become an organ donor because millions of lives could be saved. Saving lives after death is one of the major motivating factors for organ donations. One organ can save up to eight lives (â€Å"Organ Donation Facts†).There are over 114,000 people waiting for organ transplants (â€Å"Organ Donation Facts†). There was a case of a woman’s husband dying from a car crash and he donated his organs. A few months after his death she got letters in the mail that his organs saved the lives of five people, one of which was a single mother of two small children. On average, eighteen people die a day from being on the waiting list for organ transp lants (â€Å"Organ Donations†). Every ten minutes someone is added to the waiting list (â€Å"The Need Is Real†). These tragic facts are just some of the reasons why people need to become organ donors.It is also possible to donate certain organs while still being alive. While this is more difficult, there is an excellent success rate for the surgeries (CNN Health). Most of these situations involve donating to a family member, saving the life of someone cared for by the donator. Also, by donating to a family member it makes you closer to that person. After you donate you will be contacted by the person that got your donated organ, in case you want to talk to them ( Living Donors Online). In 2010 more than eighteen thousand kidneys were donated by live donors (â€Å"Save A Life†).If a person needs a new kidney they are on dialysis, but if you would donate a kidney to them it would double there life span (â€Å"Benefits Of Living Donation†). Donating an orga n while being alive is an incredibly generous thing to do and every American should consider. Yet another option is whole body donations for science and research. There is a significant shortage of human tissue, the tissue that they have are being used to find cures for cancer and neurological disorders (Fox News). Tissue is also needed to give surgeons operating experience (Fox News).If surgeons do not get the experience they need then when they go into surgery on someone they are not prepared and are more likely to make a mistake. Also firefighters and EMT's need experience with tissue because of burns and emergency medical treatment (Iiam). Also when you donate your entire body it can be used in museums for educational purposes. This educates people on how the body works and why we should be organ donors (Iiam). Donating for science is a very useful way to donate organs after you die. While donating your body and organs is obviously a selfless and beneficial act, there are some p eople who are opposed to organ donation.There are some who argue that if one is in a situation that requires serious medical attention, doctors will not try as hard to save you because you are a donor and could save others. However, doctors will put just as much effort into saving you because only the transplant team knows if you are an organ donor. Some also believe that old people cannot donate organs, making it impossible for people who die of natural causes to donate. There is no defined age limit for a donor; organs have been successfully transplanted from people in their seventies and eighties.Every American needs to become an organ donor to save and help many lives. Your body has no use to you after you have died. Also you could save up to eight peoples lives. Donating organs while you are alive is also an option when donating and it could save the life of someone very important to you. Research is a very important part of organ donating because it trains medical personnel to be better prepared so that they can save lives when they are working. When you get your license or renew your license, be sure to answer yes to being an organ donor.

Wonderful Guide to Rewriting Top Tips

Wonderful Guide to Rewriting Top Tips Top Tips on Rewriting The first thing to know about rewriting is that it is not especially easy. If you have ever rewritten and/ revised any rewritten texts you will know it is difficult. Sometimes, it can go very well, but at other times, you may find there are many things to learn. However, with practice and experience, you should acquire some valuable rewriting skills that serve you well. We would like to share the following tips, which we trust you will find helpful. The suggestions outlined below are a few things that should help if you get stuck. This is not a definitive list, and it is recommended you use only those techniques that work for you and discard the rest. However, remember, you have goals to achieve and these are well worth working for. Put your draft in your filing system and begin again This is a piece of advice that always appears in relation to rewriting. It is good advice and well worth noting. There is nothing shameful about putting a text aside and starting anew. Do not think of it as a loss. Whenever you begin the process of revision, save your previous draft, file it, and begin a fresh document. If there are any aspects of your previous draft you want to keep any language or good ideas paste these into your new document. However, in most cases, it is best to write from scratch. You should find this next version begins to flow more quickly and more cohesively. Any characters you have created will start to come to life, and any boring or irrelevant parts will remain filed away in your first draft. Some experts suggest the theory for this is that a writers brain is at first working overtime trying to figure out their script, develop their characters, and create the plot. Of course, all this work is interspersed with flashes of energy, inspiration, and enlightenment. However, these flashbulb moments can get lost in the very real task of developing the text you are working on in a manner your readers and yourself will be able to understand. Then, when you get to the next or second draft, these rules will have been ingrained in you so you can write more freely about the things that are now clearer to you. All this, of course, is time consuming, but very worthwhile. Doubt yourself by all means but trust in your goals A lot of writers really believe there are two elements within an unfinished written piece. These are:The goals to be achieved The writers own egoThe process of rewriting is about figuring out what is what and then discarding the egotistical elements. Everyone gets attached to the flowery descriptions they write, the parts of a plot that they manage to rework back into their text, and the cool words they have carried with them for many years. The fact is, however, that no matter how clever, descriptive and creative one might be, it does not matter if it does not achieve the end objectives. And that is what matters. Things to bear in mindTry not to put too much faith in adverbs and adjectives. Most characters soon start speaking in a unique manner and, usually, none of their voices sound identical. It is normal to have some doubts about various aspects of your work e.g. about whether you should add something new, change the gender of a character, and so on. The best answer here is to say try it. Then decide what you think about it. Do not hesitate to cut. Keep only what is vital. No one wants to get stuck in a time or situation that has already passed.Collaboration really helps One final thing worth mentioning about rewriting is that there should be more of it. People usually write alone so this activity is a solitary one. People also read and revise alone. When the work is done, it is handed in and the writer hopes it will bring the desired results. However, there is another option! This involves collaborating with others who can bring new angles and dimensions to your work. These people include tutors, friends, publishers, designers and directors. We are surrounded by such people. A piece of written work is often richer where there is collaboration. So, wherever possible, seek the input of those who can make your work better!

Fatwa Islam and Political Islam Essay

Fatwa Islam and Political Islam Essay Fatwa: Islam and Political Islam Essay Colvin Greenberg Book response Pià ±ar, Section AB May 30, 2015 Fatwas aren’t political! From a young age us â€Å"westerners† have been ingrained with perceptions about the Muslim world, due to the politics of the Muslim majority countries and the media representation of said countries. All to often the US media focuses on Huntington’s clash of civilizations, an argument that the world is involved in a war between religions, and all Islamic followers are opponents to the secular west. This is evident in their sole publication of stories relating to political Islam and the terrorist activities that often arise from this political Islam. In Karima Bennoune’s book, â€Å"Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here† we see a different perspective on both political Islam and the actual Islamic religion. This book has a number of anecdotes describing the Islamic struggle between religious followers of Islam, and the Islamic fundamentalists, who use Islam as a political tool rather than a religious ideology. By seeing this struggle between the true tenants of Is lam and the Islamism political followers we can divert from Huntington’s clash of civilizations theory and begin to understand possible solutions to the political Islam problem. In her book, Bennoune describes how these Islamist fundamentalists use the fatwas of Islam â€Å"in the context of globalization in order to manipulate religion and achieve their political aims (14)†. This book focuses on how to combat fundamentalism in a number of ways by rejecting the clash of civilizations theory that misinterprets Islam and focusing on fundamental Islam as the main issue. In a modern context we need to focus on secularity, feminism, education reform and media reform in order to curb post-colonial fueled fundamental Islam. In Bennounes book, she describes possible solutions to Islamic fundamentalists through a series of anecdotes. In one of these anecdotes, Bennoune explains the cause of fundamentalist support from the west, â€Å"In someplace, the failure to solve basic problems of â€Å"economic justice, democracy, human dignity, and legitimate grievances like past colonialism and current military occupation, contributed to creating fertile ground for its project to gain adherents.( Bennoune 25)† . This shows a justification for fundamentalism, which she uses to dissect and evaluate the problem .By analyzing the root cause for the fundamentalists occupation she can find the solution to the fundamentalist problems within the Middle East. Due to the political context of fundamentalist Islam, Bennoune describes one of the political problems that is a result of fundamentalism â€Å"secularism has been rubbed out by terrorizing dissenters†(Bennoune 91). She uses this diction â€Å"terroriz ing dissenters† to describe fundamentalist who according to Bennoune are going against the true tenants of Islam. Additionally the political context of the word secularity and its description in her book highlights the necessity of re-secularization to destroy fundamentalism. The main stereotypes of Islam are due to political Islam frequently a result of the subjugation of women in Islamist societies in accordance with some Sharia law. Bennoune stresses the importance of women within the movement to curb fundamental Islam and it’s marginalization of women. â€Å"Women of Muslim heritage are under pressure to cover more and more of their skin, their hair, their very beings. To disappear.(Benoune 8)†. This description could be described as orientalist due to the fact many women wear the hijab with pride, but in the context of political Islam it is very true. Bennoune looks at the oppression of women as one of the roots to the fundamentalist problem and again a hint to a solution. In addition she stresses the need for increased education in both the school systems and media outlets of these fundamentalist regimes. â€Å"Misinformed children grow up to be misinformed adults (Bennoune 84)† , this statement highlights the need for revised curriculum and accurate

Five Terms Related to Submitting a Manuscript

Five Terms Related to Submitting a Manuscript Five Terms Related to Submitting a Manuscript Five Terms Related to Submitting a Manuscript By Maeve Maddox A reader asks about some terms: I’m confused: Whats the difference between Submissions and Query Letters and Cover Letters and Biographies and Resumà ©s? As these terms are often used interchangeably on writing sites, the reader’s confusion is understandable. Perhaps the following explanations can help. 1. Query Letter A query letter is a one-page letter intended to interest an editor in something a writer has written or intends to write. It should address the editor by name (spelled correctly) and begin with a hook: a strong statement that piques the editor’s interest. If the query is about a magazine article, the hook might be the first paragraph of the article. The query should give the editor an idea of the structure and content of the piece being offered. If the offered work is a novel, the letter should include a description of the main theme and story line, including conflict and resolution (how it ends). A query letter should tell why the author is qualified to write the article or book and end with a direct request for the desired magazine assignment or for permission to send a manuscript. 2. Cover Letter When the editor asks to see a manuscript or sample pages, the writer includes a cover letter with the submission: a brief letter to accompany the manuscript or sample. Editors receive hundreds of queries. The cover letter is a practical and courteous way to remind the editor of the particulars of your initial query. Keep it short and don’t try to do any additional selling. It’s enough to say something like this: â€Å"Here’s the short story I queried you about on March 20, 2016. I look forward to hearing from you.† 3. Author’s Bio The shortening bio for biography is the norm in the context of marketing written material. The bio focuses on the writer’s credentials. Publishers want to know if the writer has published before and is qualified to write about the material being offered. They do not want to know about the writer’s dogs, cats, children, hobbies, or any other irrelevancies. 4. Resumà © A resumà © is a brief account of ones education and professional experience. Some of the same information that belongs in a resumà © can also have a place in an author’s bio, but a resumà © will be more comprehensive regarding past employment. A writer who is applying for a job as an editor or a blogger will certainly offer a resumà © to the potential employer. Note: Although the French original is spelled with two accent marks (rà ©Ã‚ ·su ·mà ©) American spelling recognizes both resume and resumà ©. I favor a single accent for two reasons: the first accent is meaningless to most English speakers, but the final accent mark distinguishes the noun and its pronunciation from the verb resume.   For example: â€Å"I started writing my resumà © today, but was interrupted. I’ll resume work on it in the morning.† 5. Submission When an editor asks to see a partial or completed manuscript, the writer prepares a submission that includes a manuscript (partial or complete) and whatever additional material has been requested by an editor or publisher. Before preparing a submission, the writer will consult the publisher’s guidelines to see how the manuscript should be formatted, how it should be sent (by mail or electronically), and what additional enclosures are wanted. The manuscript included in a submission should be as complete and as correct as the writer can make it. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Program vs. ProgrammeEnglish Grammar 101: Verb MoodEspecially vs. Specially

Service Learning Assigment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Service Learning Assigment - Essay Example The labor involved is what really opens up the mind and heart so the true meaning of stewardship can be revealed. The Arlington Chinese Church is a Christian organization that serves the spiritual needs of the Chinese community in Arlington and beyond. In addition to these spiritual needs, the Arlington Chinese Church works to provide cultural understanding, educational opportunity for Mandarin speakers and childcare services. The organization of the church centers on Pastor Leung and his wife Grace. Assisting them in their work is Brenda Bateman, Jason Tsai and Grace Lau. This core group of staff works together to meet the missions of the church. Most members of the church are Mandarin Chinese immigrants that have converted to Christianity. They are adjusting to their place in American society as immigrants and adjusting to the teachings of a new religion. The Arlington Chinese Church is a missionary minded organization. They take the mandate given to disciples to go into the entire world to spread the Gospel very seriously. The have a number of outreach programs to the Chinese community in and around Arlington as well as missions they support in several countries. All of this results in an influx of new immigrants and Christians into the church on a regular basis. New converts need to have the gospel shared with them in a simple, straightforward manner. Their spiritual needs must be met with exceedingly great compassion because there is much for them to learn about their new country and their new religion. After meeting with Reverend Leung and Brenda Bateman, the staff felt that I could best help meet the needs of the church in two areas. One area was working with the children in the daycare center. Another area was in the food service for some of our cultural meetings. Serving in these two areas helped me to more fully understand the true meaning of selfless service and

Madison Environmental Justice Organization Essay

Madison Environmental Justice Organization - Essay Example The Madison environmental justice organization is located at Madison in the United States of America. The broader Madison area covers Dane County which has four freshwater lakes in Dane County called the Yahara Lakes. Madison lakes are used for the purpose fishing in large scale by ‘thousands of recreational, subsistence, and ice anglers’ from Madison and surrounding areas (About MEJO). The Madison environmental justice program creates awareness within the community about issues regarding environmental justice, guides in facilitating the abilities of communities to publicize these issues, and provides support to the cause of environmental justice for well-being of the general public. The Madison environmental justice organization has been working with people of color and low-income residents for more than two years, discussing and addressing issues regarding toxins in locally caught fish, and learning about the cultural practices regarding fishing and preparing and eating fish. The local air and water pollution has a disproportionate impact on the people belonging to poor and minor communities. This issue is not being addressed by the institutions or the community as a whole. Madison environment justice organization aims to change this (About MEJO). The Madison environmental justice organization was founded in the year 2006. The prime objective and mission of the organization is to educate the community regarding the issues of environmental justice, engage in work to address the critical issues of environmental justice.... The Madison environmental justice organization has been working with people of color and low-income residents for more than two years, discussing and addressing issues regarding toxins in locally caught fish, and learning about the cultural practices regarding fishing and preparing and eating fish. The local air and water pollution has a disproportionate impact on the people belonging to poor and minor communities. This issue is not being addressed by the institutions or the community as a whole. Madison environment justice organization aims to change this (About MEJO). Organization’s history and mission The Madison environmental justice organization was founded in the year 2006. The prime objective and mission of the organization is to educate the community regarding the issues of environmental justice, engage in work to address the critical issues of environmental justice, and support the cause for the benefit of the common people. The organization has been working with peop le of color and low-income people for more than two years, regarding the issue of high toxic level in the fishes that are caught in the local lakes by the members of the community (Powell and Powell, 1). The programs that the organization is currently working on The Madison environmental justice organization has its prime focus presently on the rising toxic levels at the waters of Madison’s north side. It is entrusted with the duty to control the spreading of the toxins, and to spread awareness amongst the local people of the community, as they are engrossed in fishing activities and their diet also includes fishes obtained from the local water. The main purpose of the project is to engage in work activity with minority people and the subsistence anglers to gain knowledge about fishing

A Rose for Emily- William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Rose for Emily- William Faulkner - Essay Example The town people felt sorry for her and left her alone other than their speculations about her which could not be confirmed until they entered her house after her death. After her funeral, they went to inspect the upstairs of her house and found the male maid there, but he was dead in bed and he had piece of her hair on a pillow found beside him. They were both shocked and amazed that she was an eccentric as they had believed adding validity to the gossip. The fast paced story telling emphasizes the gossipy and uncertain nature if her life’s story. When Emily was alive, it was almost a past time of the town as a topic of gossip and speculation, but after her death she became almost a famous legend of the town and the story would continue to be told now as truth rather than gossip. The story ends with the town unsure of what to do or believe ending almost as mysteriously as it began. This perspective epitomizes the sense of small town gossip giving a feel for the town she lived in with the ironic twist that these busybodies were right about her the entire time and yet she was able to commit the perfect murder right under their watch. Works Cited Booth, Alison, J. Paul, and Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Print.

Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy - Essay Example Mostly the leader is on a self-satisfaction role. Second, an oligarchy which is a form of rule whereby authority is vested to individuals of the same family on the grounds of economic or financial might. Under modern classification there exist a number of different types of regimes as suggested by Tilly (2007). These are: First dictatorship which is a regime under the principle, one country, one state, one ruler. A single individual has all the powers with no other individual or body to challenge his powers. There exists a single political party under such leadership. The merit of such leadership is that decision making process is fast because the stage of consulting is not there or is minimal. The disadvantage is the oppression of people’s opinions and misuse of power by the dictator. Dictatorship is mostly encouraged when there is obsequiousness by the public on a certain leader or ignorance on the part of the electorate on another form of leadership. The electorate should b e sensitized on different leadership styles and many parties should be given a platform for their formation so as to give the public diverse ideologies to choose from. Second, democracy is basically ruled by the people, by the people and for the people. The advantages of such rule are that priority is given to the needs of the people. Leaders are chosen by the people and work on their demands. Many political parties with divergent ideologies strengthen democracy whilst one party system weakens it. The existence of many political parties increases the cost of selling the party's ideology to the people and the election process. Federalism This is basically the principle of giving powers to diverse bodies and such like institutions. These bodies have the capacity to govern independently. The central government strictly deals with authority in security as well as alien policy though these bodies can have worldwide responsibilities. Federalism emerged due to the desire to avoid centraliz ed rule. The scholars associated with federalism pushed for autonomy and diversity in administration, policy making and resource use. They disagreed on the arrangement of having a single unit possessing all this authority. Federalism thus takes away excess powers from a single unit to avoid misuse and inefficiency and distributes it to other units. In most cases this encourages growth. Federalism should be more encouraged especially in states where power seems to be given to a single institution or ruler. Such a situation has made it very easy for there to be a misuse of authority or oppression of the minorities. One of the institutions that could be easily used to allocate powers to different institutions and check these powers is the judiciary. It translates according to the constitution what powers each and every body should posses thus promoting federalism. In most instances parliaments, if given too much power, discourages federalism. This is when it makes bills and without muc h consideration to what the public desires passes this bill into law. Equal Opportunity Equal opportunity means the scraping off of those legislations that would probably bring about discriminations. These might be in the political field, economic or social. In the past political undertakings were strictly reserved for men. They occupied policy-making offices as well as implementation and administration. Women never got the chance to have a say. In a society that has equal chance ideologies; several factors must be visible in the guidelines guiding such equal chance policy. First there must be the range into which policies made pertain to. Second the deeds to be explored must be laid out. Third ways of putting into operation the guidelines as well as those in charge Last

Reflective Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Reflective Journal - Essay Example There were people shouting and one particular voice caught my attention. This was a man’s voice and what caught my attention was the way he was shouting incoherently. I could not understand a word he said and immediately I knew that he had some form of mental illness. Getting closer, I saw that there seemed to have been some form of tag of war between the shopkeeper and the man shouting. The man was pulling a bag of oranges that the shopkeeper was holding, shouting that it was his. Those gathered were busy trying to help the shopkeeper get back his merchandise when the man pulled out a dirty broken bottle with what appeared to be mud inside. It took the intervention of the police and the ill man was bundled into the police car without â€Å"his† bag of oranges and taken away presumably to be locked up. I felt like helping the helpless man, as it seemed no one wanted to listen to his side of the story. Later when he brought out the dirty bottle, I felt that he was not to blame, but I was at the same time angry with him for disturbing the peace. His aggressive action and reaction to this situation angered me as I felt that had he sought professional help, this whole incident would have been avoided. This was an avoidable situation. Mental illness had predisposed this man to acting in an irrational manner. The shopkeeper and the public failed in their part when they resolved to take sides against this sick man. The situation should have been handled better. The shopkeeper and the man should have been allowed to resolve the issue. However, given the physical state of the ill man, it was understandable that the onlookers, me included, would have reacted as they did. This experience did not go as it should have and the manner in which the ill man was dealt with was somewhat unfair. The reaction of the onlookers was not appropriate and they should have tried to resolve the issue in a calm manner and not presume the ill

Underground Railroad and a Life of Freedom Research Paper

Underground Railroad and a Life of Freedom - Research Paper Example The Underground Railroad solely existed owing to the existence of the institution of slavery in the United States of America. It intended to help and aid many people who wanted to escape a life of slavery and was run by people who were willing to help the escaping slaves. The life of the slaves happened to be very unhappy that involved much harassment, torture, pain, suffering and danger. Thereby it was but natural that many slaves wanted to run away from a life of misery and pain. There were many people during the days of slavery who believed that slavery was wrong and cruel. Thereby they were willing to put their lives at risk to help and aid the escaping slaves. The Underground Railroad was run and aided by varied kind of people and individuals. These included both blacks and whites and people hailing from both the Slave States and the Free States. Many free black people, white people and even slaves served as engineers and conductors whose life purpose was to help people caught i n a life of slavery (Calarco 287). The large free black populace residing in Baltimore and free blacks located in other places willingly provided help and assistance to the slaves escaping from the Southern States (Calarco 307). Many Quakers, abolitionists and other white people helped the railroad because irrespective of being white, they regarded slavery to be an unethical, immoral and cruel practice (Calarco 54). Associating with the Underground Railroad was indeed fraught with much risk and danger.

Reflective Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Reflective Journal - Essay Example There were people shouting and one particular voice caught my attention. This was a man’s voice and what caught my attention was the way he was shouting incoherently. I could not understand a word he said and immediately I knew that he had some form of mental illness. Getting closer, I saw that there seemed to have been some form of tag of war between the shopkeeper and the man shouting. The man was pulling a bag of oranges that the shopkeeper was holding, shouting that it was his. Those gathered were busy trying to help the shopkeeper get back his merchandise when the man pulled out a dirty broken bottle with what appeared to be mud inside. It took the intervention of the police and the ill man was bundled into the police car without â€Å"his† bag of oranges and taken away presumably to be locked up. I felt like helping the helpless man, as it seemed no one wanted to listen to his side of the story. Later when he brought out the dirty bottle, I felt that he was not to blame, but I was at the same time angry with him for disturbing the peace. His aggressive action and reaction to this situation angered me as I felt that had he sought professional help, this whole incident would have been avoided. This was an avoidable situation. Mental illness had predisposed this man to acting in an irrational manner. The shopkeeper and the public failed in their part when they resolved to take sides against this sick man. The situation should have been handled better. The shopkeeper and the man should have been allowed to resolve the issue. However, given the physical state of the ill man, it was understandable that the onlookers, me included, would have reacted as they did. This experience did not go as it should have and the manner in which the ill man was dealt with was somewhat unfair. The reaction of the onlookers was not appropriate and they should have tried to resolve the issue in a calm manner and not presume the ill

Are patents good or bad for Economics Term Paper

Are patents good or bad for Economics - Term Paper Example ‘Patent’ is the rights approved by the government that is bestowed to the inventor or patentee for special use of the invention for a restricted time period in the country or region, subjected to the prevailing law of that country or region. The duration for protection is generally 14 to 20 years including possible extension of 7 years (Bardowell, â€Å"Patent System†). The policy of patenting is an important part of the economy as it helps in the process of innovation and invention to the country. The paper aims to substantiate the importance of patents for an economy. For the society, the benefits are achieved when the invention moves into the public realm after a certain period of time after the invention. Also the invention is revealed to the society with the expectation that there will be improvement in the invention. The patentee holds no such intention of keeping it as a trade secret. The granting of patent may sometimes become risky for the government. The term for which duration of patents are restricted (20 years) is very elongated. For such approach, innovation or improvement on the invention might get hold for a long period of time. But granting patents always keep the government on the safe side with because they can control the innovation and invention, be it good or bad. The historical data shows that patents have always produced good results for the economy. In this section of the paper, an article from the magazine â€Å"The Economist† has been cited and analyzed. The article named ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’ has explained the traits of urge towards innovation in Britain. The objective of the article was to rate Britain as a knowledge based powerhouse among the world countries. The article establishes that for upgrading the economic growth, governments provide good reason to promote innovation. As patent is the heart of invention through innovation in the field of R&D, governments take initiatives in

The Impact Of Social Divisions Social Work Essay

The Impact Of Social Divisions Social Work Essay Social Workers work with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Society, those who have been possibly subjected to oppression in their daily lives. Most would agree that Social Work is a diverse and shifting activity (Jones 200241) in response to the situations presented within society. The society that we live in can be seen as one with many divisions, due to individual difference, people are categorised in due to these differences such as gender, race, class, age and disability. These Social Divisions can result in certain groups being oppressed. Barker (2003306-307) defines oppression as The social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual, group or institution. Typically a government or political organisation that is in power places these restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so that they may be exploited and less able to compete with other social groups, the oppressed are devalued exploited and deprived of privileges by the individual or group that has more power. Oppression can be fully understood through attention to race, gender, class, disability, sexuality and age. Society can attribute to these differences by defining people and their roles based on their different experiences in relation to the power, status and opportunities in society. Northern Ireland is seen as a multi-cultural society with inhabitants from many different backgrounds and cultures. The roles and expectations that society assumes for different group of people is immersed on a cultural level, thus creating common values about what is normal which creates perceptions of social norms. Through these perceptions of social norms oppression comes to the forefront. Recurring discrimination leads to oppression. Thompson (199810) says this is: inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups; hardship and injustice brought about by the dominance of one group over another, the negative and demanding exercise of power. Oppression often involves disregarding the rights of an individual or group and is a denial of citizenship. It is important that it is recognise that oppression is not intended solely to refer to situations where a powerful person or group exerts tyranny over others it also refers to the structural injustices that can arise from often unintentional oppressive assumptions and interactions which occur as a result of institutional and social customs, economic practices and rules. (Clifford and Burke 2009) For the purpose of this assignment I am going to focus on racism and the oppression faced by Travellers as an ethnic minority group. Travellers are an indigenous minority in Ireland and enjoy a distinctive culture, value system and common language. (OConnell, 2006:4) Travellers nomadic lifestyle follows a routine based on economic practices and religion. According to the Government, Travellers have shared histories, a nomadic way of life and distinct cultural identity (Department of Justice 2005; Cited by OConnell 20064) One notable feature about the discourse of Travellers is the tendency to associate traveller oppression with the terms discrimination and prejudice and not racism, a tendency which is reflective of a broader resistance among some members of the Irish public and some policymakers and politicians to naming the treatment of travellers as racist. (Exchange House Travellers Service, 2005, www.exchangehouse.ie) (accessed 14/10/10) The failure to acknowledge traveller oppression as racism may be stemming from failure to acknowledge travellers as a distinct ethnic group. While travellers are visually racialised in society by their normandism, they were also marked through their physical, not structural whiteness. This failure to associate the marginalisation of travellers in Irish Society with racism supports a false understanding of racism as pertaining exclusively or primarily to people of colour (Downes Gilligan 2007249) despite definitions such as Burke and Harrisons (2000 283) who believe: racism is a multidimensional and complex system of power and powerlessness, a process in which powerful groups are able to dominate, which can be seen in the differential outcomes for less powerful groups in accessing services in the health and welfare, education, housing and the legal and criminal justice systems. This notion of power can demonstrate the segregations in society, and can heighten the oppression faced by those of ethnic minority groups. The development of racial ideology does not reflect the state of knowledge about racial differences but an aspect of social conflict.'(Ely and Denny 19874) Racism is a negative term with negative connotations and can be seen as a socially constructed ideology rather than a biological entity. (Thompson 2006) The impact of racism on ethnic minority groups can be detrimental, it can place many restraint on the lives of the individuals such as being restricted in what services they can avail of, the lack of knowledge about the provisions and opportunities available to them. Racism damages those it oppresses socially, economically and politically. (Dominelli 200865) Thompson (1993, p19) states that: P refers to the personal or psychological; it is the individual level thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions. It also refers to practice, individual workers interacting with individual clients, and prejudice, the inflexibility of mind, which stands in the way of fair and non judgmental practice. C refers to the cultural level of shared ways of seeing, thinking and doing. It relates to the commonalities, values and patterns of thought and behaviour, an assumed consensus about what is right and what is normal; It produces conformity to social norms, and comic humour acts as a vehicle for transmitting and reinforcing this culture. S refers to the structural level, the network of social divisions; it relates to the ways in which oppression and discrimination are institutionalised and thus sewn in to the fabric of society. It denotes the wider level of social forces, the socio-political dimension of interlocking patterns of power and influence. At the Personal Level Travellers can be seen to be oppressed in many ways, the impressions that Travellers are dirty, criminal As a minority group, Travellers suffer discrimination and oppression; they are marginalised and excluded by people of the settled community. Poverty is seen to be part of daily living within the travelling community and many of the settled community feel that it is due to their Normandic way of life and that it could be solved by settling down and getting a job. (De Burca Jeffers 1999; Cited in Downes Gilligan, 2007:249) Rather than offering a structural explanation for traveller poverty, or an understanding of these experiences from the travellers point of view, the views and interpretations of the dominant cultural group are usually imposed on travellers. (Downes Gilligan 2007) However the oppression faced by travellers cannot be seen just from a personal point of view, it needs to be viewed in a broader context. Racism manifests itself in many different ways in society. Thompsons (2006) PCS model provides an understanding to how racism des so; it can be seen to operate at three different levels, the personal, cultural and structural. Clifford and Burke (200918) believe that Oppression operates at both structural and personal levels at the same time. Since the formation of the Welfare State many changes have come about which have resulted in positive actions in attempting to challenge racism and the oppression faced by people in Society. Social Policy plays an important part in promoting integration in society. One of the functions of the Welfare provision in general, is to promote the integration of individuals in society. (Oliver 199678) These policies may be interpreted as responses to perceived social needs. The policies evolve within an environment where problems come to the forefronts that are seen to require political solutions and pressures occur for new political responses. (Hill 2009) Social Work practice is transforming through the creation of social relations, fostering equality and justice in moving toward an anti- racist approach, a political stance against racism is adopted on the personal, institutional and cultural levels within policies, practice, education and Social Work organisations. (Dominelli, 2008) OConnell (20065) states that Travellers have been victims of violence and intimidation and have been subject to exclusion from services, giving rise to many cases under the Equal Status Act. This Act covers discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, age, marital status, family status, religion, sexual orientation, disability and membership of the Traveller Community. Deconstructing power relations and privileging within professional relationships can begin the processes of changing professional and organisational structures. Dominelli (2008:77) The Traveller Education strategy (2006) seeks an end to separate Traveller provision in education to be replaced by inclusive provision in main stream services. The need to respect Travellers rights is a logical element of the new human rights and equality architecture established since 1998: the creation of an Equality Authority to promote equality, an Equality Tribunal to hear discrimination cases, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) to give expert advice on these issues, and the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) to promote human rights. Ireland has adopted new anti-discrimination legislation (1998 Employment Equality Act and 2000 Equal Status Act), and most recently the State has announced a National Action Plan against Racism (Department of Justice 2005). Anti-racist initiatives are reflected in Social Work education and practice, many Social work organisations engaged with what is known as Race Awareness Training. These initiative target Social Work education as well as service delivery. CCETSW implemented an anti racist policy which was aimed at looking at ways to educate student and practitioners of anti-racist practices. (Llewellyn 2008)

Merchant of Venice Essay: Universal Elements -- Merchant Venice Essays

The Universal Elements of Merchant of Venice  Ã‚      Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice contains many themes and elements that are considered timeless or universal. Samuel Taylor Coleridge defines a timeless or universal element as a â€Å"representation of men in all ages and all times.†Ã‚   A universal element is relevant to the life of every human being – it is universal. The first major theme that plays an important role in the play is the Christians’ prejudice against the Jews. A second important theme is the attitude toward money.   Perhaps the most important theme of the play is the love between people. This love can occur between the same sex, or the opposite sex, platonic or romantic.   In Merchant of Venice, the three timeless elements are prejudice, money, and love.    The first theme is that religious intolerance and prejudice play destructive roles in the book. Even to this day, there is racism and prejudice in schools about race and religion. Antonio, as a true Christian, has often condemned moneylenders. He knows that since the early twelfth century, Christians are forbidden by the Church to lend money for profit. Shylock, as a Jew, does not consider his money-lending and overwhelming interest to be a sin in any manner. In fact, he considers his earnings through money lending as the gift of God. He appeals to and quotes the Scriptures in defense of his profession. Shylock and the other Jewish moneylenders are essential to the prosperity of the merchant community, but they are also outcasts as human beings and as Jews.   Shylock often shows his dislike to the Christians; â€Å"I hate him for he is a Christian†, (Act I, Sc. III, L. 38). The Christians ridicule and hate the Jewish moneylende... ...o, who she cares about for the sake of Bassanio. Jessica gives up her family ties to marry Lorenzo. Even Gratiano and Nerissa are devoted to one another. The play is truly about the happiness that true love brings.    In this play, three timeless elements that are very relevant today and throughout history are prejudice, money, and love. Shakespeare included many examples of all these themes in his play. Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, Lorenzo, Portia, and Shylock are the main representatives of these themes. You could take anyone in history and compare him or her to anyone in this play. An example of this would be the prejudice and mean spirit that both Shylock and Hitler share. Shakespeare did a very good job showing these elements in real life scenarios. Samuel Taylor Coleridge put it perfectly; this play is a â€Å"representation of men in all ages and all times.†

St. Augustin Essay -- essays research papers

From the analysis of St. Augustine Confessions and Beowulf, it is clear that the two authors, St. Augustine and the poet respectively, differ on their views of death, which helps to paint a better picture of the world that each writer lived in. In Augustine's writings, death plays a major role in life; it serves as the stepping stone to a greater existence in heaven. In Augustine's world, Christianity and God both play an important role in how death is viewed. In the poets writings we see a different perspective, one in which the time you spend on earth is of great importance; very little thought is given to life after death. Although God is mentioned and discussed throughout the writing, it is a very different perspective than the one shown by Augustine. In the writing of St. Augustine, the reader gets a small glimpse of what life was like in the Roman Empire in the forth century, and more particularly how death was viewed during this period. According to the Confessions, life, though valued, was just a time spent before God chose to bring your soul to heaven; contingent of course on the fact that you were a Christian. 'Yet in a moment, before we had reached the end of the first year of a friendship….you took him from this world (Confessions, 75).'; 'When all hope of saving him was lost, he was baptized as he lay unconscious (Confessions, 75).'; This passage about St. Augustine's friend helps to illustrate that as death drew near in Augustine's time, thoughts went to the after life in heaven. This hypothesis is furthered when Augustine writes about the death of his mother. 'And so on the ninth day of her illness, when she was fifty-six and I was thirty-three, her pious and devoted soul was set free from the body (Confessions, 2 00).'; Some might argue that the sorrow that Augustine describes at both the deaths of his friend and mother illustrates that death was not looked on as a passage to life in heaven, but as a very sorrowful and deplorable event. Though Augustine admits to feeling great sorrow at the death of those close to him, he goes on to point out that these feelings are merely of the imperfect body. When one lets go and listens to his soul he will see that all things begin and end with God. 'For the senses of the body are sluggish, because they are senses of flesh and blood…They are limited by their own nature (Confessions, ... ...n a rich shroud or embalmed with spices, nor did she wish to have a special monument or a grave in her own country…All she wanted was that we should remember her at your altar, (Confessions, 204).'; This is a very strong example of how different the worlds of St. Augustine and the poet were. From the limited view of the life presented by the authors of the Confessions and Beowulf, it is easy to see that the worlds in which they lived were very different. The world of St. Augustine seems well ordered and compact with cities and government officials. It seems to be a highly intellectual culture strongly influenced by religion and God. The world of the poet seems much different in nature than that of St. Augustine. The poet's world seems to be much less organized and vast, with various kings as opposed to government officials. It seems to be populated with many roaming bands, and the people seem to be much less intellectually and religiously motivated. It seems they lived simple lives in a constant search for glory and notoriety. With such different cultures it is not difficult to concede that their respective views on death would be as diverse as the cultures themselves.

Islamic Civilazation

Islamic civilization (Midterm) Before 610 (AD or CE): pre Islamic Period Landscape Desert: Arid landscape What made life possible: Camels (endurance and several images in the Qur’an), horses Nomadic way of life: from the highland and to lowland (movement): looking for water and pastures the camel made life in the arabian peninsula possible: he made the mvt & trade possible Transhumance: mvt from high to lowl depending on the season fetching for water & grazing. this mvt was made possible thanks to humans & animals pockets of sedentary life in 2 main cities:YATHRIB: Oasis: water makes life possible: many palm trees MECCA: it is where the Ka'ba is located (hajj) + trade because when people come to worship their gods, they bring goods to exchange†¦ (religion + trade) Customary laws: â€Å"3orf† transmitted orally from generation to generation: each tribe respect each tribe’s land Social organization Smallest unit in Arab society: Nuclear family (parents + child ren + concubines) lives in BAYT Polygamy is lawful from a religious point of view (4 wives) Before 610, women had so status & were considered as property that you own.Female infanticide (bury the female babies because the families want male heirs) Patriarchy: male dominate the state (society) Extended family: several tents close to each other: â€Å"Dar† Several extended families: Clan (Hashim: clan of the prophet) Several Clans: tribe (Quraysh: tribe of the prophet) Several tribes: confederacies: union (Qahtan & Adnan) â€Å"Asabiyya†: group solidarity: defend the members of your group against violence or aggression. Retaliation: â€Å"eye for an eye† the system of justice that was based on the concept of ‘asabiyya. Belief system – Monotheists: Jews, Christianity and Islam Polytheism: believe in many gods – Paganism: believe in animate (cow) and inanimate (rock) – Atheism: believe in any God – Idolatry: Form of polytheism: beli eve in idols (statues) Life in Makkah – HUB: meeting place – KA’BA: market place and shrine (360 idols) – Habitants: oral society – Mu’allaqat: put famous poems on the KA’BA (platform for poets to come & talk about their tribes: self-promotion) – Bibliography of the prophet: â€Å"Sira†. He was orphan: impact on his life in Sira -Life of the prophet – 570: the year of the elephant and birth of the prophet in the tribe of Quraysh.During that year, Abraha, the king of Yemen marched on Mecca with his large army and elephants in order to destroy the Ka'ba but his elephant(s) stopped at the boundary of Mecca and refused to enter. – His parents: Amina and Abdullah: his father died before he was born and his mother when he was 6 -Orphan: starting at disadvantage, he was from the Quraysh tribe raised by his grand parents (Abd al Mutalib and Fatima) – He was sent to the desert: healthy physical and psychologi cal conditions to raise children – Hamza: his uncle played a mentor role He was being prepared for something big, kind of divine protection even before receiving the message – He was know for his honesty, generosity and anti-corruption – Nickname: Al Amine, the trustworthy in Mecca – His inheritance: a slave â€Å"Baraka†, who was a little older than him – His spent most of his time in the cave of Hira thinking and wondering about the meaning of life – He was against polytheism – He is the seal of the prophets (last one) – 2 major stories: The night journey (621): Muhammad’s travel: The Isra and Mi'raj: Muhammad travels on the steed Buraq to â€Å"the farthest mosque† where he leads other prophets in prayer.He then ascends to heaven where he speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayer. The story of the black stone: before Islam, the Ka’b a was restored many times and Muhammad had the honor to put the stone inside the Ka’ba. all clans wanted to have the honor to put the stone in the Ka'ba and they were ready to fight for the privilege but then, Muhammad advised them to put the stone in a cloth and have a member of each clan pick up a corner of the cloth and take it to its place when Muhammad took it and placed it. He married Khadija in 595, first wife and only wife until her death. She was successful and from the clan Assad. She was a business woman and impressed by his integrity – He spent most of his life as a shepherd – He lost his wife and uncle: 3am al Houzn or the year of grief – House of the prophet: wife + 4 daughters (Fatima, Zaynab, Ruqaya, Umkaltoum) + cousin (Ali) / he also had 2 sons who died in infancy – Abu Talib (uncle): never converted to Islam but still protected his nephew (the prophet) General dates 10 – 632: Revelation of the Quran. Muhammad receives call to prophethood through first revelation of the Qur'an, continues to receive prophecies for 22 years. Khadija is the first to believe in Muhammad's prophethood, becoming first convert to Islam. 611 – 613: the message was kept secret 614: First Hijra of 83 families (early muslim community) to Aksum (Abyssinia) because the king Negus Armah was tolerant and just. He welcomed the muslims and protected them (the prophet wasn't part of the journey).Purpose: survival of islam. Reaction of Meccan society to call to prophethood: the polytheists were very resistant because islam means no more poly + all idols have to be destroyed = people would stop coming to Mecca = no trade Abolishm't of usury (RIBA: loan by excessive interest) while they are benefiting from it Some Meccan clans didn't want the Hashim clan to gain power and rise Islam was revolutionary for another category of people since the religion promotes equality: : poor, women, slaves, orphans†¦ 19: deaths of Muhammad's w ife (Khadija) and uncle (Abu Talib), leaving Muhammad without a protector; he tries to leave Mecca 622: Second Hijra of early muslims to Medina. The city welcomed him because of his good reputation: trustworthy arbitrator, wise, charismatic†¦ (between 614 & 622, the msg was growing & the power of the prophet as well. The other clans of mecca decided to boycott the Hashim clan: no trade, marriages†¦); 1st year of islamic calendar. 632: Death of the prophet The clans of medina: Aws + Khazraj = the helpers/Ansar ; the migrants ; jewish clansProphet at war A chapter came in the Qur'an giving permission to Muslims to fight back because they were oppressed only because they believed in Allah. Jihad: â€Å"strive, effort, struggle† to follow Islam; can include defense of the faith, armed struggle, holy war.  °The lesser Jihad: outer: defend yourself against aggression  °The greater Jihad: inner: the one all muslims are required to perform on a daily basis (how to becom e a better muslim and person) AND °Jihad as ind duty: prayer  °Collective duty: prayer for the dead 624: BadrAttack on Meccan people (caravans). muslims were outnumbered but victorious 625: Uhud It was almost a defeat. Muhammad was almost killed. In fact, the Meccans decided to withdraw believing that he was dead. Death of Hamza (prophet's uncle) 2 Jewish clans of Medina have been expelled because they were communicating secretly with the Meccans 627: Ditch = Khandaq Muslims victorious over meccans and bedouin mercenaries; Muhammed consolidates leadership in medina; Aisha accused of adultery in â€Å"Affair of Necklace†, but exonerated by Qur'anic revelation 28: Truce of faith Hudaybiyya Treaty of Hudaybiyya: Muslims are allowed to come to Mecca to perform pilgrimage (Hajj). The war stopped for 10 years 630: Opening of Mecca – Opening of Makkah. Became Muslim city: all this idols were destroyed. It was opened because someone broke the truce and attacked a muslim. T hey didn't kill the enemies & didn't burn the city. The 5 pillars of Islam: 1. Profession of faith 2. Prayer 5 times a day 3. Zakat (2. 5% of your assets) 4. Fasting during Ramadan 5. Hajj Rightly guided Caliphates Abu Bakr: 632 – 634 32: death of the prophet who didn't explicitly name his successor. He gave signals: Abu Bakr he used to lead the prayer when the prophet was sick + was the head of the delegation of the Hajj: when the prophet had health issues + another problem was that the revelation stopped so from that point on, there was human elaboration of shari'a During his period: wars of Apostasy = â€Å"Ridda â€Å" Many people (Bedouins) stopped paying â€Å"Zakat† when the prophet died. He became firm toward these people because he was worried the situation would end up becoming mass defection.The whole establishment of Islam could collapse. One of the figures of the Wars of Apostasy was â€Å"Musaylima†. He was killed during the battle of â€Å"Al-Y amama†: which put an end to the Wars of Apostasy† (633) Proselytizing: illegal for a non-Muslim to influence people to convert to another religion â€Å"Sabiqqa†: He was one of the first men to convert to Islam Known for his piety and generosity Father in law of the prophet He chose the name â€Å"Khalifa† when he became caliph He nominated Umar as the following Caliph on his death bedUmar: 634 – 644 – Commander of the Faithful: â€Å"Amir Al Mu’minin† – Charismatic and known for being impulsive + always available & approachable – Military guide, actively involved in Futuh (openings) – Cities conquered by Islam during the caliphate period of Umar: Damascus (636) and Jerusalem (638) – Dhimma: non-muslims have the right to live in Dar Al Islam in return they need to pay Jizya & they are exempted from Jihad (freedom of worship, freedom of movement, freedom of ownership) In 644, Umar was faithly injured so he appointed the comity to elect the next caliph: ‘Uthman Accomplishment of Umar Muslim troops: Egypt / Iran Initiation of a taxation system and establishment of treasury Creation of a welfare system (assistance social) The recording of the beneficiaries Institution of the judicial system: appointed the 1st judge Adopted the Muslim calendar (622 = First year) Uthman: 644 – 656 He got the idea of gathering the Qur’an Wealthy Meccan person He is from the Umayya clan Know for his piety but lack of charisma.He was old when he became caliph Easily manipulated by the leading members of the clan of Umayya He appointed members of his clan in key positions, which made the Meccan population very angry especially the early converted. It was a turning point: a group of rebels from Egypt came to his house and killed him in 656. Beginning of FITNA = Civil War Official copy of the Qur’an: All Qurans available in the world today are exactly identical to the Uthmani versi on Ali: 656 – 661 Cousin and son in law of the prophet. His sons: Hassan and Husayn Sabiqa: 1st teenager to convert to IslamHe faced 2 opponents 1: There was animosity and bitterness between Aisha and Ali. Aisha went to Basra in Irak and tried to steer the population against Ali. But she failed and her movement was crashed during the battle of the camel. 2: Umayyad movement under the leadership of Mu’awiyya. He was a key figure in Umayya clan. He made Uthman appoint him as the governor of Sirya Mu’awiyya: he wanted to become a caliph. According to him, Ali didn't deserve to become caliph because he failed to arrest and prosecute the killers of Uthman. Mu'awiyya had people joining his cause & supporting him.The 2 armies (Ali and Mu’awiyya) met in Siffin (name of the battle and the place). Both parties decided to ceasefire and tried to negotiate but the problem was that 12000 members of Ali’s army defected and attacked him because they didn’t agree with his decision. They were called the Kharijites (seceders) Arbitration: Tahkim 657-661: false peace between both armies. The battle of Nahrawan: opposed Ali with his men and the Kharijites. They wanted to kill Ali and Mu'awiyya but Mu'awiyya was always protected and Ali didn’t take the appropriate measures and was killed in 661.Muawiya declared himself Caliph and instituted the dynastic caliphate. The death of Ali marked the end of the rightly guided caliphate PERIOD Ali had two sons: Hassan (who renounced everything in exchange of a secured retirement) and Husayn (when Al Yazid took over, he fought him with a small army but was killed in 680 during the Battle of Karbala) Caliphate: Khilafa Mutawakil: Al Mou3tazila: doctrine that he applied in the whole empire – Medina, Kufa and Damascus – Medina: under the rightly guided Caliphate (the 1st 3 and the prophet) – Kufa: Ali Damascus: When Mu'awiyya declared himself caliph Islam is against any sort o f division. Ideally, the muslim community should remain as one block. Muslims: ?Sunni (majority of Muslims: 93%) ?Shi'ite (7%) ?Kharijites (less than 1%) The institutions of the Caliphates I – Rightly guided Caliphates 632 – 661 II – Umayyads 661 – 750 III – Abbasids 750 – 1258 I: The powers of Caliphs: 2 main powers: – expansion of Islam (fighting apostasy / Jihad (Futuh) – Implementation of Shari’a (Islamic law) II & III – Growth of the empire and creation of the organization (6 powers)To guard religion against innovation (Bid’a) in religious matters To participate in formulation of doctrine but not in the formulation of law (judges are in charge of that) To lead the Friday prayer in the greatest mosque of the city (but with growth of empire, beginning of delegation) To lead military campaigns (Futuh) to defend the empire (also delegation to high officers, military leaders†¦) To ensure the normal fun ctioning of the Judiciary system with the nomination of judges To ensure the well-being of the state through tax collection and expenditure of this tax on garden, monuments, helping the poor, etc†¦ Qur’an – Actual word of God – Revelation: Wahy – from 610 to 632: This word of God is revealed to the prophet. – The revelation was depending on circumstances & it was not chronological – God does not speak directly to mortals. There is always some sort of intermediary. – Prophet had scribes (secretaries) and was involved in the classification and the arrangement of the Qur’an – Abrogation: Naskh – word translated and sometimes changed. E. g. the term â€Å"Khamr† is sometimes

Energy drinks research paper Essay

Modern life has become fast-paced and the multitudes of work to be done require plenty of effort now more than before. Be it in school or in the office, many people have turned to energy drinks as a source of boost for their inadequate physical endurance and mental strength in addressing the demands of modern living. As the name itself easily suggests, ‘energy drinks’ are supposed to supplement people with the energy they need. Since they contain a combination of vitamins and plenty of caffeine, energy drinks have become a popular alternative to coffee and other caffeinated beverages. It is not surprising, therefore, if there are people who have developed a form of dependency on energy drinks after consuming them regularly for a certain period. However, there are also those who see energy drinks not as a boom but as a bane to the health of individuals. While these drinks may provide people with additional energy, it is often stated that they also have negative effects on the human body especially if they are taken habitually and in amounts that exceed safe limits. There are reasons why certain people support the consumption of energy drinks. On the other hand, there are also reasons why some others oppose the same, to the point that attempts have been made to ban the production, distribution and sale of energy drinks in some areas. This paper seeks to explore those reasons by surveying past and recent literature with respect to the effects of energy drinks on the human body. After an assessment on whether energy drinks can potentially endanger the lives of people, this paper will suggest ways on how to increase the awareness of the people on what these drinks have to offer, whether good or bad. This paper will also try to explore the possible measures which can be adopted in order to properly regulate the production, distribution and actual selling of energy drinks to the larger public. Energy drinks: the good side There are several reasons why people buy energy drinks. Today, it may be said that even age and status in life no longer pose rigid limitations as to who exactly can take advantage of what energy drinks have to offer. Some individuals can consume a certain dose of energy drinks for no strong reason except that they simply want to quench their thirst. The most apparent effect of energy drinks is that they boost a person’s energy. This is due to the ingredients contained in most energy drinks. For instance, energy drinks contain caffeine, sugar, B vitamins and certain kinds of herbs. The combination of these ingredients is said to help increase a person’s physical, mental and cognitive performances. For this reason, it is not surprising that people have patronized energy drinks. In fact, there are numerous brands of energy drinks out in the market, each one purporting to cater to specific preferences and conditions of the consumers. Some brands are labeled as an excellent source of energy for athletes while some other brands are tagged as powerful mental boosters for office workers and students. At any rate, it may be said that the fast-paced modern world requires from every person quick and efficient responses—and energy drinks are there to help them achieve that daily routine. Aside from caffeine, there are at least other common ingredients of most energy drinks: taurine and glucuronolactone. Both are produced naturally by the human body. Energy drinks can replace both glucuronolactone and taurine that the body loses during stressful situations and high physical activity (Olson). Both are important to the human body as they naturally cleanse the body from harmful toxins and provide natural energy boost. People who work overtime or who labor intensely are part of the large numbers of those who consume energy drinks. Even students who are prompted by long hours of studying and doing schoolwork have the similar disposition to use these drinks as a source of the energy they need in order to complete their tasks over extended durations. In a way, it can be seen that energy drinks may be responsible for motivating people to continue with their tasks. On a larger scale, a workforce able to perform better and produce more output within a constrained period will certainly yield positive results. Although energy drinks may not be solely responsible for such consequence, it may nevertheless be safely assumed that it has its share. The history of the energy drink is replete with indicators that it was initially produced to aid the physical well-being of individuals. As early as the second half of the twentieth century, energy drinks were already being produced in Japan with the same modern tagline as increasing an individual’s physical energy levels. Without doubt, early energy drinks were particularly formulated for people engaged in intense labor or those involving protracted hours of work that require physical endurance. Through the years, the benefits of energy drinks were later seen as applicable to athletes. Today, athletes and even people who are active in sports rely on energy drinks in order to supplement or quickly replenish their stock of energy. Similarly, energy drinks are oftentimes labeled as drinks that promote wakefulness. Apparently, those who stand to benefit from the mental alertness induced by energy drinks are the people who are in a desperate need to stay fully awake due to particular circumstances. Students who need to study overnight or to be awake in class after still feeling sluggish belong to this group. In particular, employees who need to beat deadlines the following morning and who are barely able to stay awake for the rest of the night also fall to this classification. Some employees working in graveyard shifts also consume energy drinks. For example, nurses and doctors who spend late hours in the hospital may rely on energy drinks from time to time in order to help them keep awake and alert for the rest of the evening. The same may also be said about corporate employees in outsourcing companies that serve clients from other time zones. At the most, energy drinks are perceived as useful aid for those who need to stay awake for different reasons. Without doubt, there is a different side to energy drinks. There are concerned groups who express their opposition to the consumption of energy drinks especially on regular intervals. At the heart of the sharp criticism against energy drinks is that they are said to contain chemicals and other substances that may endanger the health of individuals. While it may be conceded that energy drinks have short term benefits, it is likewise urged that they also have negative consequences in the long run. Thus, instead of promoting a person’s health, energy drinks may actually harm a person. Energy drinks: the bad side. Monster Energy is one of the more popular energy drinks available in almost every store in America. Interestingly, the product contains double the worth of strong coffee’s caffeine for every single serving of sixteen ounces (Laitner). It may be admitted that there is nothing inherently wrong with drinking caffeinated beverages like Monster Energy. In fact, medical experts may even suggest some of their patients experiencing sluggishness to consume a certain dosage of energy drinks every once in a while. However, it is the dosage and frequency of consumption that is crucial. Like other beverages sold in the market, energy drinks should be consumed only in moderation. Stated otherwise, people should not consume energy drinks more than what is actually needed by their body. As of the first quarter of 2011, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has already logged at least three hundred and forty incidents of adverse health effects as a result of consuming energy drinks with high caffeine levels, and that most of the data gathered revealed that many young people are part of the statistics (Laitner). The numbers may be insignificant on the whole scale but they tell one thing: the risks are real. More importantly, even young people who are presumed to be at a better health condition than most adults are not immune from the risks. That being said, the effects of energy drinks potentially cut across the age borders. There are also alcoholic energy drinks being sold in other parts of the world. In Australia, medical authorities have warned about the negative effects of these drinks to young people (Collier). What is more interesting is that these drinks are being consumed by teenagers aged between twelve and seventeen (Collier). At a very young age, these individuals are already exposed to the harms brought about not only by energy drinks but their combination with alcohol. Apparently, the effect on the body of these alcoholic energy drinks is a combination of a feeling of being simultaneously ‘alert’ and ‘drowsy’. The Australian Drug Foundation has already warned about the negative effects of these drinks and the research recently conducted confirms these effects (Collier). One of the more serious consequences of consuming energy drinks on a regular basis and beyond the required amounts is that it can cause health problems to a person’s cardiovascular, central nervous, musculoskeletal and renal systems (Babu). These risks are not to be taken lightly since they comprise the critical parts of the human body. Impairments in any one of these system of organs can greatly weaken a person and affect one’s daily routines. Apparently, these effects may come in the long term. This is probably the tricky part. Since these effects begin to be felt only after a certain period, a person may initially think that his consumption of energy drinks has not been affecting his health. However, once the effects have already begun to set in, it might be too late and the person may require hospitalization and complicated medical treatment. A harmless start may soon turn into a physically daunting end. Energy drinks contain plenty of sugar and the sugar contained in them are known to cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal pains which, in any case, will never improve the performance of any office employee, student or athlete (Miller). The effects become more pronounced if a person consumes energy drinks on a regular basis. Without doubt, a person may thereafter suffer from regular stomach upsets and diarrhea. Instead of actually helping an individual perform better at his or her tasks, the contrary is more likely to happen. It has been noted that the American diet is already filled with B-vitamins and, consequently, energy drinks which are most of the time likewise filled with B-vitamins do not really help the body. On the contrary, energy drinks can only potentially yield to an overload of B-vitamins in the human body (Brody). In effect, the body may not be able to absorb the overload of B-vitamins thereby resulting to certain bodily reactions. Vitamins should still be taken in moderation only as they can also adversely affect the body when taken in uncontrolled amounts. Even the term ‘energy drink’ is highly ambiguous. For the most part, the term itself is neither approved nor created by the FDA and the USDA; the manufacturers themselves coined the label (Babu). While these drinks are not being pulled out of the shelves for using a label that is not sanctioned by the FDA and the USDA, they continue to play on the sensibilities of the public. It is a fact that energy can be taken from any food. Most of them come in the form of calories. To say that a certain beverage is an ‘energy drink’ is to create the impression that it gives energy more than what one could normally derive from the average daily meals and snacks. It may be true that these energy drinks can provide people with energy but it is another matter altogether to claim that they can radically increase the energy levels of an individual. It may even be pointed out that a person may opt to eat fruits and vegetables several hours before a physically and mentally grueling task instead of consuming a can of energy drink before performing the task. It is a healthier approach with more benefits for the human body without the aid of artificial ingredients and chemicals. Identifying the problem and providing solutions It may be said that a person has the freedom to choose whatever he wants to consume. The basis for saying this is that a person has full autonomy over his own body. Thus, no one can be prevented from purchasing what is openly available in stores. This proposition is crucial since it establishes the idea that the main concern should naturally be focused on the individual. However, this does not relieve the manufacturers of energy drinks from any responsibility. On the contrary, the imperative to pay attention to the consumers necessitates that manufacturers have a big role to fill. It has been observed that there is little scientific research available and government regulation with respect to energy drinks (Seifert, et al.). This is worrisome since energy drinks have been manufactured and sold throughout the world for at least two decades. It may be one of the significant reasons why there are only very few available comprehensive information about the negative effects of energy drinks on the human body. In this day and age where more and more energy drink products are being produced—an indicator that there is a growing market for energy drinks—it is indeed imperative that more information about energy drinks should be made available to the public. It is important to inform and educate consumers about the effects of energy drinks on the human body. One way to achieve this is to provide the right information on the labels of products. Instead of purely flaunting catchphrases that tease the sensibilities of consumers, products should contain labels that clearly warn consumers of the negative effects of energy drinks if and when they are consumed in high quantities and in regular intervals. It is safe to say that a serving of Monster Energy once every week, for example, does not necessarily endanger a person’s health. However, regular consumption of the product—akin to an addiction—will certainly take its toll on the body. For this reason, products should contain warnings about the regular consumption of energy drinks. The warning should be visible enough and should not be placed in an obscure part of the product. This is a direct approach in informing the general public about energy drinks without the intervention of the government. Manufacturers should be responsible enough to take the initiative. Schools can also take part in informing young students about the energy drinks. Forums and symposiums may be conducted within school premises. Medical practitioners and representatives from the FDA and USDA can be invited as guest speakers. Students should be encouraged to give frank questions about energy drinks in order to remove any lingering doubts about their effects. Teachers may also include in their discussions on biochemistry or on human anatomy the benefits and harms of energy drinks. Documentaries about the effects of energy drinks may also be presented before classes of students. All of these suggestions can easily be done and require very minimal resources on the part of the school. Moreover, they immediately address the need to inform the younger population. The government should regulate energy drinks more stringently. The legislature should come-up with laws that will put a limit on how much caffeine, for instance, can be included in energy drinks. The same should also apply to other chemicals in these drinks. This approach has been done in other consumable products and should likewise be applied in the case of energy drinks since even teenagers today are getting hooked on the product. Needless to say, it is the duty of the government not only to make sure that the products available in the market are safe for human consumption but also to provide guidelines on product manufacturers so that no harm will be made. The FDA and the USDA should also do its role in making detailed analyses on every energy drink sold in the market and in crafting a comprehensive assessment on whether or not each of these products is safe for human consumption. The reports may also serve as the basis for the legislature to impose certain limits on the amount of chemicals that can be put into the products. These agencies have the expertise and skills to make conclusive and, in some cases, binding reports that cannot be dismissed easily by product manufacturers. The government can also carefully scrutinize the published and broadcasted advertisements of energy drink manufacturers in order to determine whether these manufacturers are making any unfounded claims which can gravely confuse the consumers. False advertising can certainly fool consumers into thinking that what the product professes to offer when in fact such is not the case. In order to clear any misinformation, the advertisers themselves should have the moral impulse to avoid making false claims just to make a sale. Needless to say, any false advertising can backfire on the advertiser, especially if the negative consequences of it have begun to take shape and an increasing number of consumers have likewise begun to air their grievances. Before it is too late, advertisers should take the initiative. Doing so can save them time from long years of litigation and money. A more radical suggestion is to impose an absolute ban on all energy drinks. Unfortunately, this suggestion will not hold water. Although it is admitted that energy drinks can potentially endanger the health of the people, imposing a full ban will likewise affect those who consume energy drinks within prescribed safety limits, especially those who need these drinks at the most important moments in their lives. Even the federal government can also face losses in the form of revenue taxes if and when the production of energy drinks is finally banned throughout America. Given the reports earlier mentioned that children nowadays are more and more becoming immersed in the consumption of energy drinks, it is also important to address this vital concern. The first step is that local grocery stores should see to it that they do not sell energy drinks to children especially those below seventeen years of age. This is a measure that can easily be done. However, it may be admitted that it has certain limitations. For instance, children can consume energy drinks at home if their parents stock a certain supply of this beverage. Still, something can be done. Parents should see to it that their children do not have access to energy drinks at home. This is where responsible parenting is of full use. Older siblings can also prevent their younger siblings from getting their hands on energy drinks whether at home or in the public. Efforts will have to come from the entire family. Teaching children at a young age to refrain from consuming energy drinks at their stage is crucial. It will help reinforce the idea in the child’s mind that there are consumable products that are not yet fit for their health. In the long run, children who will grow-up in an environment where they are taught to refrain from consuming energy drinks may soon minimize their consumption of such products when they have already grown. Independent research organizations should further engage themselves in the current efforts to comprehensively study and assess the consequences of energy drinks on the human body, from children to adults. Since more energy drink brands are being manufactured and sold, it is admitted that any attempt to make a comprehensive research can take a long while. Apart from time, more financial resources will also be needed in order to carryout a comprehensive study. Nevertheless, civic organizations can provide research grants. The government should likewise tap the private sector actively engaged in doing research by providing similar research grants. People and energy drinks: the future America is teeming with activity around the clock. Many people living in cities that never sleep, so to speak, are oftentimes predisposed to take full advantage of every waking hour of their lives. They work for protracted hours in order to get a bigger pay. Students do their school tasks over long hours. Young people party from dusk until dawn. On the other hand, many athletes and individuals with very active lifestyles maintain their physical routines almost every day. It is not surprising, therefore, if energy drinks have become an integral part of the American lifestyle. By themselves, energy drinks can help an individual, especially if these drinks are consumed in moderate amounts. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There is an imminent danger: as the world becomes more fast-paced, people may fall into the temptation to consume energy drinks to the point that they will become dependent on these beverages in order for them to perform their daily routines. If the government fails to step-in and regulate energy drinks, and if very little research is done in the coming years, there may come a point when energy drinks will eventually become an indispensable part of the American culture. People may no longer begin to express their concern over the consequences of energy drinks since there is no comprehensive and conclusive basis to back-up their concerns in the first place. This can only push manufacturers to further develop their products, which translates to energy drinks with other chemicals that replaces caffeine, for instance, but with twice the effect. In general, energy drinks if left thoroughly unchecked can only grow into an even bigger social bane. In the end, nothing can replace a healthy lifestyle—not even energy drinks. A healthy body and a healthy mind need not depend on energy drinks in order to properly function even under stress. Proper diet, regular exercise and a lifestyle free from any form of vice are still the best solutions for any person who expects to face tight deadlines and activities at work or in school. 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