Charles Dickens’ Diary for Writing Great Expectations Essay

I cannot but thoroughly criticize the lackadaisical social and moral abuses in this country. The will to take action has urged me to write Great Expectations in order to assail the abominable conditions that exist in England. In this novel, my dear characters are idealized in order to heavily contrast with the ugly social truths that I reveal. For it is fully my intent to raise the awareness of these corrupting and unjust conditions that we so nonchalantly live with. Oh what a pity! A grief indeed, that the once innocuous and simple Pip may be transformed into the snobbish and opinionated character he becomes. For what was the reason for Pip’s unexpected transformation? Of course, it is naught but the social-class division that feeds the desire of selfish ambition. Here in England, the social-class determines how a person is treated and his access to education. This most discriminatory attitude is displayed when the otherwise indifferent tailor servilely attends to Pip after hearing of his fortune despite turning a cold shoulder to him earlier. Is money enough to turn a man into a mouse? Why is it that charisma does not command respect but pounds and shillings? After attaining a vast amount of wealth, Pip even begins to treat his closest friend and protector, Joe, with a superior air. Was Joe not plenty a’ gentle and fair to Pip? Had Joe been an inadequate friend? Absolutely not, twas’ being Pip now belonged to a higher social class. Not only does social standing determine how one was treated daily, but also played an unfair and villainous part in court reasoning in our society. In the case of the two convicts, the main perpetrator, a gentlemen, stated in his defense speech â€Å"†..here you has afore you, side by side, two persons as your eyes can separate wide; one, the younger, well brought up†¦ one; the elder, ill brought up†¦ which is the worst one?† The most incredulous and vile aspect is not the use of an ad hominem, but the court promptly basing the entire decision of the trial strictly on this statement regarding social appearance. I assure you, this is not uncommon at all in this country. Trials and disputes are unfairly biased and integrity comes arm in arm with class and money rather than logic and proof. Ah! Though it is true that social class plays an enormous role in everyone’s lives, it all but affects one’s character. One’s character is still left intact despite the obstructive society divide. An honest but poor man today shall unquestionably hold more truth than a sly rich man. Alas’, sadly this is far from the case today. The secondary reason that had prompted me to write this novel was the physical condition of London. Being a local resident of London, I bore firsthand witness to the effects of industrialization. At the cost of clean air and green living space, London transformed into a merchant city full of jobs and people. O how I do miss the crisp clean fields of the countryside. This sentimentality was the reason that provoked me to write about the descriptive settings and bustling activities within the city. Not to mention the crowded condition people lived in, primitive sewage and poor working conditions. As a result, I am not particularly fond of aristocrats and express this through my characters. Through them, I expose the malignant social norms such as Magistrates courts and the social divide. As well, my reminiscent memories of familiar settings and my want to explore the conditions in the city have compelled me to write this novel. The end product cannot help but evoke a sense of awareness and social conscientiousness from the reader.

Prom Nights from Hell Chapter Seven

â€Å"He didn't even know you were there,† Sibby said. â€Å"He never even knew who hit him.† â€Å"That was the idea.† They were parked next to an abandoned Amtrak maintenance building on an old part of the train tracks that was completely hidden from the street. It was the place Miranda had started coming seven months earlier to work out all her new crazy energy and try things she couldn't practice anywhere else-Roller Derby was great for speed, balance, gymnastics, and shoving moves, but you weren't supposed to use advanced judo. Or weapons. She could make out marks from her last crossbow exercise on the side of the building, and the piece of railroad track she'd tied in a knot the day after Will rejected her was still lying on the ground. She'd never seen anyone else here, and she was sure she and Sibby would be pretty much invisible as long as they stayed parked. â€Å"Where did you learn to knock people out like that?† Sibby asked, sprawled out over the backseat. â€Å"Can you teach me?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not? Just one move?† â€Å"Absolutely not.† â€Å"Why did you say you were sorry after you hit him?† Miranda swiveled to face her. â€Å"It's my turn to ask questions. Who wants to kill you and why?† â€Å"Gods, I don't know. It could be a ton of people. It's not like that, how you think it is.† â€Å"What's it like then?† â€Å"It's complicated. But if we can just hang out until four in the morning, there's a place I can go.† â€Å"That's six hours from now.† â€Å"That'll give me time for at least ten more kisses.† â€Å"Well, of course. What else would you do while someone is trying to kill you besides go out and tongue tango with as many strangers as possible?† â€Å"They weren't trying to kill me, they were trying to abduct me. It's totally different. Come on, I want to do something fun. Something with boys.† â€Å"Or we could not do that.† â€Å"Look, just because you are a founding member of Down with Fun Inc. doesn't mean that the rest of us want to sign up.† â€Å"I am not a founding member of Down with Fun Inc. I like fun. But-â€Å" â€Å"Funkiller.† † – somehow the idea of wandering around while ‘a ton of people' are trying to kidnap you, doesn't sound fun to me. It sounds like a good way to get into the Guinness Book of World Records under ‘Plan, comma, World's Most Stupid. Plus innocent bystanders could get caught in the middle when the ton of people find you.† â€Å"‘If, not ‘when. And they don't care about anyone but me.† Miranda rolled her eyes and turned back around. â€Å"That's why they're called innocent bystanders. Because they were standing by you and accidentally got hurt.† â€Å"Then you should definitely get away from me. Seriously, although there's nothing I'd rather do than sit parked in a homeless person's bathroom for six hours with only you for company, I think it would be safer for both of us if I take my chances elsewhere. Like at that ice cream place we passed on the way here. Did you see the lips on the guy behind the counter? They were mythic. Drop me there and I'll be all set.† â€Å"You're so not going anywhere.† â€Å"Really? Because that sound you hear? Is me reaching for the door handle.† â€Å"Really? Because that sound you hear? Is me engaging the child lock.† In the rearview mirror, Miranda saw Sibby's eyes blaze. â€Å"You're really mean,† Sibby said. â€Å"Something horrible must have happened to you to make you so mean.† â€Å"I'm not mean. I'm just trying to keep you safe.† â€Å"Are you sure it's me you're thinking about? Not some skeleton in your closet? Like the time you-â€Å" Miranda turned up the radio. â€Å"Turn that down! I was talking and I'm the customer.† â€Å"Not anymore.† Sibby yelled really loud, â€Å"What happened to your sister?† â€Å"I don't know what you are talking about,† Miranda yelled back. â€Å"That's a lie.† Miranda didn't say anything. â€Å"I asked you before if you had a sister and you got all teary,† Sibby shouted in her ear. â€Å"Why won't you tell me?† Miranda turned down the radio. â€Å"Can you give me three good reasons why I should?† â€Å"It might make you feel better. It would give us something to talk about while we sit here. And if you don't tell me, I'm going to start guessing.† Miranda leaned her head back, checked her watch, and turned to stare out the window. â€Å"Be my guest.† â€Å"You bugged her so much she left? You bored her so much she left? Or did you drive her away with the huge stick you keep up your butt?† â€Å"Stop being tender with my feelings. Go on, tell me what you really think.† From the backseat Sibby said, â€Å"That might have been too mean. Sorry.† Miranda didn't say anything. â€Å"You don't really have a stick in your butt. You couldn't drive then, right? Ha-ha?† Silence. â€Å"But I mean, you started it. With the child-lock thing. I'm not a child. I'm fourteen.† More silence. â€Å"I said I was sorry.† In the backseat Sibby slumped, sighed. â€Å"Fine. Be that way.† Silence. Until, for no reason she could explain, Miranda said, â€Å"They died.† Sibby sat up quick now, leaning toward the front seat. â€Å"Who? Your sisters?† â€Å"Everyone. My whole family.† â€Å"Was it because of something you did?† â€Å"Yes. And because of something I didn't do. I think.† â€Å"Um, Grandma Grim, that doesn't make any sense. How can not doing something-wait, you think?. Don't you know what happened?† â€Å"I can't really remember anything from that part of my life.† â€Å"You mean from that day?† â€Å"No. From that year. And the year after. Anything pretty much from when I was ten until when I turned twelve. And there are a few other holes, too.† â€Å"You mean that stuff is just too painful to remember?† â€Å"No, it's just†¦ gone. All I have are impressions.† And the dreams. Really really bad dreams. â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"Like that I wasn't where I should have been and something happened and I let everyone down†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped, waved a hand in the air. â€Å"Wait, you actually think you could have stopped whatever happened to them? By yourself? When you were four years younger than me?† Miranda's throat felt like it was closing up. She'd never told anyone even that much of her real history before, never talked about it, not even with Kenzi. Ever. She swallowed hard. â€Å"I could have tried. I could have been there and tried.† â€Å"Oh my gods, now this is some kind of pity party. Yawn. Wake me when you're done.† Miranda gaped at her in the mirror. â€Å"I told you I didn't want to talk about it but you kept bugging me and now you turn into the mayor of TellItLikeItIsVille?† Swallowing again. â€Å"You little-â€Å" â€Å"You don't even know what happened! How can you feel so bad about it? Plus, I don't see how that can be your fault. You weren't even there and you were only ten. I think you should stop obsessing about some mystery thing that is ancient history and live in the mo.† â€Å"I'm sorry, did you just tell me to ‘live in the mo'?† â€Å"Yes. You know, ditch the past and try focusing on what's going on in the present. Like that the song on the radio right now? Sucks. And that there is a whole city of cute boys out there I am not kissing.† Miranda took a deep breath, but before she could say anything, Sibby went on. â€Å"I know, I know you say you're sorry to the people you knock out because you never got to say sorry to your family, and you have to keep me safe because you couldn't keep them safe. I get it now.† â€Å"That is not what's going on. I-â€Å" â€Å"Blah blah blah, insert denials here. Anyway, why does ‘safe' have to mean sitting in this car with you all night? Isn't there somewhere we could blend in? Instead of hiding? I'm good at blending. I'm like butter.† â€Å"Oh yeah, you're totally like butter. In fact, in your Madonna-called-and-she-wants-her-costume-from-the-‘Borderline'-video-back outfit, you're practically invisible.† â€Å"Good one, Funkiller. Come on, let's go somewhere.† Miranda turned all the way around in her seat and said, â€Å"Let me sound it out for you. Someone. Is. Trying. To. Kill. You.† â€Å"No. They. Are. Not. You keep saying that, but I've told you. They can't kill me. You should really work on this obsession you have with people getting killed. And I have to be honest with you, I'm getting bored. What do you have the radio set to, K-CRAP? There is no way we are staying in this car for six hours.† Miranda had to agree with her. Because if they did, it was now clear she'd kill Sibby herself. That's when she thought of the perfect place for them to go. â€Å"You want to blend in?† she asked. â€Å"Yes. With boys.† â€Å"Guys,† Miranda said. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Normal American girls from this century call them guys, not boys. If you want to blend in.† For a second, Sibby looked shocked. Then she gave a little smile. â€Å"Oh. Yes. Guys.† â€Å"‘Yeah, not ‘yes. Unless you're talking to a grown-up.† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"And it's ‘Oh my God' or ‘God, not ‘gods. â€Å" â€Å"Did I-?† â€Å"Yeah. And no one ever has or ever will say, ‘live in the mo. â€Å" â€Å"Just wait.† â€Å"No. Never. Oh, and no paying guys for kisses. You don't need to. They should feel lucky to kiss you.† Sibby frowned. â€Å"Why are you being so nice to me and helping me? You don't even like me.† â€Å"Because I know what it's like to be far from home, alone, trying to fit in. And to never be able to tell anyone the truth about who you are.† After they'd been driving in silence for a few minutes, Sibby said, â€Å"Have you ever killed someone with your bare hands?† Miranda looked at her in the rearview. â€Å"Not yet.† â€Å"Ha-ha.†

Key System Applications for the Digital Age and E-Commerce Case Study

Key System Applications for the Digital Age and E-Commerce - Case Study Example Now the BSE decided to customize the SAP slowly and systematically by applying the best practices for wholesale distribution. Moreover, the BSE replaced the self developed software modules with SAP software for the provision of integrated services. The BSE did not face as much problems because of minimum customization strategy and by doing this; the system was put into use within specified date as well as costs were 14 percent below budget. The BSE got the advantage of standardization by providing the readily available information to the management through SAP. When BSE acquired a large company that added 19 new branches, the new users were able to run BSE’s SAP software within a day after the acquisition had been completed. The case study is about the E-Commerce models including business-to-business (BtoB) and business-to-customer (BtoC). Both models have been implemented by the Amazon, as they retailers as well as they offered many dealers to sell their products by using the Amazon’s platform. Moreover, the case study explains the value chain model that helps to determine how systems can progress and improve their functional competence to get more loyal customers and supplier relationship. The model has been employed by the Wal-Mart as well as the Amazon in their businesses. In the North America, Wal-Mart is one of the success stories of e-business. The main factors of their success can be a connection of the e-business and e-procurement and customization and standardization of internal and business processes. The Wal-Mart employed the supply chain management where the suppliers are managed according to the demands of the customers. Initially, the Amazon was an online store that mainly dealt with books and music. They long-drawn-out themselves quickly and introduced many more products in every segment. Additionally, the Amazon developed a strategy to deal not only (customers) Business to Consumer but also Business

Case 3 Exposing workers to Plutonium-Case Study

3 Exposing workers to Plutonium- - Case Study Example Under their circumstances, they are not justified in denying some races employment opportunities based on their color (Connolly, 2009). They should equally employ their workers from all races based on their qualifications for them to be termed as just (Pojman, 2010). No, the Kaiser Aluminum does not have a justified policy. Kaiser insists on giving preferential treatment to their employees who are of black origin by providing them with more employment opportunities until the time their total equals their percentage in the area’s workforce. This is not good because it will tend to limit the chances of other races who may have a more capable and willing workforce that requires employment. Their selection processes were also biased since they did not consider the qualifications of most employees as witnessed in the recruitment of two blacks who had inferior qualifications when compared to some white applicants who had been turned away (Connolly, 2009). Their policy should be revised to state that, â€Å"Kaiser Aluminum will employ people from all races on the basis of their qualifications and their numbers in the areas population†. Kaiser’s policy leads to the reverse discrimination that Weber encounters during their recruitment processes. Weber is denied selection despite the fact that he has more seniority that many of the blacks who had been selected. He files a lawsuit of racial discrimination against Kaiser though the courts rule that he is not a victim. Weber fails to be selected since the company had agreed to give preferential treatment to the black population in an effort to end the previous racial injustices that existed (Connolly, 2009). The denial of an employment opportunity to Weber is not justified since he had qualified better than some of the selected recruits but has been denied due to his color which is not his choice to. Kaiser should have considered the victims seniority before dismissing him

Compare, contrast and summarize the information from 3 article Essay

Compare, contrast and summarize the information from 3 article together - Essay Example Short term use of stimulants known to be an effective intervention strategy, Corkum and associates (2010) investigate the long term impacts of methylphenidate (MPH). 85 children with ADHD were initially assessed with Wide range achievement test-revised (WRAT-R), parent and teacher rating, estimated intellectual ability, OCHS academic and psychosocial ratings, duration of medication and academic support. Children were randomly assigned to MPH treatment and placebo group in a double blind trial, with former administered a gradually rising dose of 5mg/administration to reach a target dose of 0.7mg/Kg body weight. 12 months later baseline assessments were repeated and using regression analysis academic performance was estimated, one for each subset of WRAT-R and for parent and teacher ratings with baseline covariates, and total treatments as variables. The results indicated that both medication and academic interventions were insignificant in academic improvement. II. Clarfield and Stone r (2005), explored the efficacy of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on ADHD. The study specifically explored the role of headsprout reading basics; an internet based reading program as a CAI tool in improving the reading and task engagement. 3 children, selected using BASC (behavior assessment system for children), ADHD ratings; and parent, teacher & psychologist interview; received Reading Recovery instruction as part of their curriculum, along with two of them receiving stimulants and one consulting psychologist as part of prior interventions. The frequency of sessions (20-30 minute) was thrice a week with participants completing 27, 24 and 21 sessions. They were assessed using DIEBELS (Dynamic indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) oral reading fluency (DORF) and BOSS (Behaviour observation of students in schools). An improvement in reading fluency was observed in all three students, along with reduction in off task behaviour. III. Shalev et al (2007) tested that a systema tic individualized computerized progressive attentional training (CPAT) can at least partially overcome the lack of attention characteristic of ADHD. CPAT was designed to train each of the four attentional networks, i.e. sustained, selective, orienting, and executive attentions. A double blind randomized control trial (RCT) involving 20 children in treatment and 16 in control group, with baseline similarities in age and intelligence and meeting the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD was conducted. The training schedule was two one hour sessions per week continuing for eight weeks. Pre and post assessments tests relevant to the grade of the child assessing reading, writing, mathematical skills and parental ratings were used for evaluating results. The results specifically showed improvements in all the above fields within two weeks of initiation of CPAT. Critical Evaluation I. 1. What claims are being made? Lack of long term and cumulative impact of MPH on ADHD related academic underperformanc e. 2. What evidence has been provided to support the claims (research study, expert opinion...) The evidences include research study with exhaustive assessments and naturalistic trials. 3. Is the evidence credible (are the tests relevant, can they be repeated, examine validity and reliability)? Assessments are subjective as well as objective enabling repeatability, reliability and validity.

Design your process for becoming a world-class engineering student Essay

Design your process for becoming a world-class engineering student - Essay Example Admittedly, I am not yet that confident if I will realize my goal after graduating my course because I am still having challenges with my study. I have a clear understanding of what is engineering, computer science or engineering technology. I am also aware of its achievements and opportunities. I am not sure however of its future directions because it changes so fast that it is hard to predict. The world class student in engineering and computer science does not only have a clear understanding of the subject but also have an idea of the future directions of the industry due to their engagement in the subject. At present, there are still aspects of my study that needs to be improved. First, I need to improve my grades to make it impressive when I present them as qualification to my prospective employers after graduation. I will also develop my other non-academic qualifications such as joining extra-curricular activities that will develop my other skills such as leadership. I will also improve my study habit because it will carried on to my professional life as a work habit so I have to make it ideal while I am still studying. To work on these areas of improvement, I will instill a good study habit within me to avoid cramming and get good grades. This could be done by allocating an hour or two every day to review my lectures so that I am always prepared for class. If there are school and/or research works that needs to be done, I will do it in advance so that I will have ample time to do it and produce a quality research and/or school work. I will make quality school paper by dividing portions of it in advance and then research and write portions of it until it is done ahead of time allowing me an allowance to review it and do some corrections and improvement. I believe this how world class students in engineering and computer science do their school work. They do not just study because there is an exam but are always studying to be

Stem Cell Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stem Cell Research - Assignment Example The fact that stem cells are undifferentiated makes it easy to program them into any cell of the body or protein. This creates hope for the people with terminal and previously incurable diseases for example diabetes. Stem cells are pluripotent cells, which are not specialized. In embryos, the stem cells differentiate into the different organs of the body. In adults, stem cells are important in the repair mechanism, which replaces the damaged cells of the various organs and tissues of the body (National Institutes of Health, 2009). Stem cells divide continuously as long as a person is alive. The number of stem cells decreases with age. In this case, embryos have many stem cells, children lower stem cells but higher than the number in adults. Reduction in number of stem cells with progression in age is due to the specialization of the cells by forming tissues and organs. It is no wonder research focuses more on the embryonic stem cells. They are easy to obtain and easy to work with as many researchers confirm. The controversy of obtaining stem cells from embryos made scientists to focus on obtaining these important cells from the Umbilical cord with the authorization of parents to the child born ( Bethesda, 2013). . Stem cells have two unique properties. One, they are not differentiated and can renew themselves even after a long period of inactivity. Second, stem cells can form any protein or organs of the body when induced under specific conditions (National Institutes of Health, 2009). Scientific research implies that different organs of the body develop at varying conditions. It is also possible to induce to perform certain functions of the body organs. Stem cells are readily available in embryos especially in the 5th to 8th day after fertilization of the ova and subsequent formation of the zygote (Cox, 2012). In adults however, stem cells are restricted to the bone marrow and certain

Corrections Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Corrections - Research Paper Example 17 states are in the spotlight where the population of prisoners is higher than the capacity of the prison cells to hold them, which not only causes problems for the prison policies but also shows that the facilities designed for the captives are lacking. It was observed that at the end of 2013, Illinois alone housed 48,653 prisoners while, the prisons are modeled only to hold 32,075 prisoners. This meant that the prison system is operating at 151 percent of its actual capacity. North Dakota accordingly has been housing 150 percent of its prison capacity capacity(Wilson). Prisons in all the states in America are facing the issue of overcrowding and inmates tend to take advantage of it. If prison budgets are not increased, then there will be no facilities for inmates to get back on track which means the cycle of crime is to continue without an out. As the prisoner influx increases, the number of prison guards is seen to be decreasing. In 2005, the government reduced the number of guards which means that the imbalance of ratio not only proves hazardous to life inside the prison but might impact the life outside the prison walls as well (McLaughlin). There are many ways by which the problem of overcrowding can be overcome which includes updating laws and reviewing the prison state conditions. Tackling prison overcrowding is an important issue that needs to be dealt with. If the budget of the prisons is not increased to sustain prisoner influx, then it is deemed that it might promote the states to have an early release option for prisoners. California is one such example where the overcrowding situation led the Supreme Court to order to reduce the population of its prisoners by 30,000 on the base facts that it was against the constitution (McLaughlin). In conclusion, serious efforts need to be made to reduce the inmate population and control the influx while sustaining a population that is not

The Impact of Web Based Cancer Information on Patient Outcomes Article

The Impact of Web Based Cancer Information on Patient Outcomes - Article Example There is a plethora of information available online on almost every known cancerous condition and the patients are aware about the treatment modalities available both in the modern western system of medicine as well in alternate systems of therapy. Self-help groups, blogs, renowned hospitals, pharmaceutical and disease-specific organizations besides the government healthcare departments and international healthcare authorities like the WHO (World Health Organization) offer the latest information on their websites which is accessible to the patient at all times. The latest research and development (R&D) findings are continuously updated to keep the data current. Due to this information and communication explosion, the patient has become more enlightened and is now fully aware of the implications of compliance with the recommended healthcare guidelines. Patient outcomes, therefore, stand to improve tremendously in the coming years as more progress is made in this direction. Studies on the impact that ICT has made on patient outcomes have been vigorously pursued in the recent past and research and analysis show that it has had a deep and permanent effect on the practice of modern medicine. The growth of the evidence-based practice, immaculate record keeping and vigorous follow-ups after treatment have improved the administration of healthcare protocols and yielded better results in patients. Increased use of patient interactive software has allowed the physicians to identify and know their patients in a better manner and this has resulted in ensuring better patient compliance. The overall effects have been positive in nature and the level of satisfaction has increased for both the patient as well as the healthcare professional.

Gentrification and Class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gentrification and Class - Essay Example In these circumstances, two sides to the debate exist that include the non-gentrification residents and the gentrified residents. However, the upgrade tends to come with a price attached in which the resident that were pre-gentrified may not afford the new pay rates or property taxes. Driving out those cannot afford to pay the new rent rates and property taxes may be the most acceptable practice as the argument is that they could decrease revenues. In many cases, the transformation may include the conversion of old buildings to developed shops and areas of living, which translates to increased rents. However, John Arena negated this process in his book Driven from New Orleans in which African-Americans had to pave the way for the advancement of New Orleans after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. After Katrina, the African Americans that were of local income levels did not receive financing to build and repair their homes, but instead demolitions took place (Arena 87). In his book, John Arena argues that the plan to demolish the old buildings in New Orleans began in the 1980s, long before the Hurricane hit the area meaning that the White Republicans conceived the gentrification plan before. Reasons why Arena says that the battle for public housing in New Orleans was a long struggle As the local community had named it, â€Å"the Negro removal† began in the 1960s in which the elite in New Orleans sought to upgrade the public houses at the cost of the low-income earners residing there (Arena 37). In essence, this neo-liberal economic activity is of the view that the low-income earners lived in impoverished states and it was their duty to help them. However, the residents of New Orleans viewed this to be a federal disaster as the hatching of this plan was national, but the implementation had to be at the federal level. Ideally, New Orleans became a city with the African American population being the highest in the late 1970s because of agricultura l mechanization through those that were on their way route to Crescent City. From that time, New Orleans became significant in the fight against racial inequalities and protecting the rights of the poor hence making the demotions on the public houses to be a vital setback to the advancements that this population had managed to achieve. The white and the black elites saw the move to demolish the old buildings in New Orleans as the only way to eradicating poverty, but the African American population did not share the same views. The impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans city leaders’ desires to progress private development According to Arena, the African American elite and the leadership failed the residents of the New Orleans as they were not vocal enough to reverse the decision to demolish the old buildings that belonged to the people. The arena’s argument is that the non-governmental organizations, the elected officials from the African-American community, an d other foundations had a hand in displacing the African American population of New Orleans. Many lost their homes because of the devastating Hurricane, but this did not deter the white Republicans from bringing down these structures in an attempt to establish modern day complexes. The arena’s view is that the demolition of the old buildings in New Orleans did not intend to benefit lower income earning African Americans from its onset, but it was rather immoral (Card & Raphael 112). The low income earners

Asylum Seekers - a Contemporary Social Issues in Australian Society Essay Example for Free

Asylum Seekers a Contemporary Social Issues in Australian Society Essay The Oxford English Dictionary defines asylum as the shelter afforded by a country to someone who has had to leave their country of origin due to danger from political or other reasons (Oxford English Dictionary 2012). Structuralism, according to Babbie (2006), is a theory supporting the establishment of communities of different cultures. This paper will discuss the concept of asylum seekers in Australia as part of multiculturalism within the global population flow and critically examine the roles and values of the Australian people towards â€Å"uninvited immigrants† and the policies in relation to the recent influx of asylum seekers. Specifically, this paper will first give an overview of Australians and asylum seekers, then discuss the history of asylum seekers coming to Australia and review the effectiveness of current policies in addressing the issues surrounding admission of asylum seekers. The paper will also examine the arguments and issues surrounding the policies for, and attitudes towards asylum seekers, as viewed through the lens of structural functionalism. Finally the paper will conclude with an overview of Australia’s current multicultural strategy for asylum seekers and what the future holds as globalisation increases. As the complex issues surrounding asylum seekers in Australia are increasingly challenged, constant changes due to globalisation and population flow affect Australia’s political, economical and social stance towards those seeking asylum (Jupp, 2007). The broader field of population flows and multiculturalism is the topic within which the issue of asylum seekers looking for entry into a multicultural Australia is contextualised. The Settlement Council of Australia (SOCA) is the main organisation nationally representing the settlement service division and has a close working relationship with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. SOCA states that a refugee is a victim of oppression who fits the description of a refugee as set out in the 1951 agreement concerning the Status of Refugees, of which Australia is a participant, whereas an asylum seeker has already sought protection from the government under international law and is awaiting a decision on their status. (SOCA, 2012). The current view of multiculturalism, and the approach to asylum seekers amongst Australians today, is still mixed (McMaster, 2001). It is difficult for some to accept what they perceive as outsiders queue jumping in to the system to obtain status. Multiculturalism is a vital element of the settlement procedure, assisting in establishing the best environment for settlement to occur (SOCA, 2012). To understand the desperation faced by asylum seekers is hard, and we can only draw from media coverage or second-hand knowledge, if not personally experienced (Suter, 2001). Most will have fled from their homeland due to tyranny, warfare, or horrendous abuses of their human rights. As argued by Suter (2001), Australia has reacted with obstinacy over recent years with the growing arrival of asylum seekers from countries, such as Afghanistan in 2001, where the refugees were refused entry to Australia forced to relocate to Indonesia as the boat had initially foundered in Indonesian waters. International condemnation did nothing to soften the government’s stance and interestingly, most Australians, according to surveys at the time, supported the government’s hard line. The fear of invasion still seems pervasive amongst many (Suter 2001). The humanitarian element of protection is superseded by a fact that another person is attempting to get into the country and must be assessed. As SOCA states, the reinstatement of processing migrants off-shore will have a large impact psychologically on people who are vulnerable with a bleak and uncertain outlook surrounding their status in Australia. For those arriving by boat separation from their families is traumatic and the restoration of devastated families is a main element in settling successfully. Asylum seekers will need continued support from the community during difficult times of change while establishing a safer and more protected life (SOCA, 2012). It is significant that multiculturalism is a policy that recognises, and endorses, cultural diversity, not non-racism (Van Krieken, Habibis, Smith, Hutchins, Haralambos, Holborn 2006). Australia has received immigrants for many years, as Jupp (2007) discusses, emigrants from Europe arrived in 1788, opening the way for 160,000 convicts. The Immigration Restriction Act, introduced in 1901 named the ‘White Australia Policy’, was to prevent the admission of non- Europeans into Australia. As the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship state, Australia assesses claims made by asylum seekers under the Migrations Act 1988 and Migration Regulations 1994. There is also an independent review process for people who arrive by sea know as â€Å"irregular maritime arrivals† and asylum is granted on individual circumstances after thorough background checks, which in some cases take years. Whilst waiting for their status to be recognised, asylum seekers are required to remain in detention centres (Commonwealth, 2012). The statistics published by the Department of Immigration show that when the Refugees Convention was set up in 1951 around 1. 5 million immigrants existed worldwide. Towards the close of 2010 that figure had risen to 43. 7 million, comprising many refugees, some 15 million with over 838,000 seekers of asylum and 27million relocated from their country of origin (Commonwealth, 2012). Whilst it is difficult to account for exactly why people are displaced, a large number may be foreign students and people looking for changes in lifestyle, due to globalisation and easier forms of transport (Xu, 2007). There are still many people from war torn countries escaping from oppressive and deadly regimes looking for an improved lifestyle for their relatives and loved ones. (Lusher Haslam, 2007). Australia is a socially diverse country, which has grown to accept and embrace differing cultures. Race and racism were a fundamental part of the national Australian community, as in the case of the Aboriginal Australians, to be rid of those considered racially disagreeable, those who were not white. As Lusher and Haslam (2007) discuss, historically up to the First World War, the admission of Europeans to Australia was virtually unobstructed, so there was no motive to assess immigrants entering due to persecution in their country of origin. The Second World War saw the admission of many Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany with Australia assisting in an international aid scheme. Following on from the ever-increasing influx of refugees, Australia was one of the first to sign the United Nations document on the Status of Refugees in 1951 (Jupp, 2007). From then on, Australia accepted some refugees, and rejected others. Australia’s policy on refugees has consistently formed part of its immigration policy. The first major modern controversy, which sets the scene for today’s issues, was in 1977 when a boat carrying Vietnamese refugees arrived off the coast of Darwin. The media then used labels, such as â€Å"queue jumpers† and â€Å"Boat people†, names that hold to this day (Jupp, 2007). Historical incidents such as this give a background to the treatment of asylum seekers today and what some might see as Australia’s contemptuous and cold-hearted management towards them. The numbers of refugees and asylum seekers is growing annually, as statistics from the Refugee Council of Australia show: five people arrived by boat during 1975 to 1976 compared to 4,730 on 89 boats during 2010 to 2011 (Refugee Council, 2012). Yon (2000) asserts that many Australians of â€Å"old† or white descent still do not identify with the multiculturalisms view of the â€Å"new† Australia. These fundamental ideas not only marginalise ethnic cultures, but also are destructive as they produce a situation whereby â€Å"old† Australians position themselves as being on the outside of a multicultural Australia. To assert that the legitimacy of the current Australian policy on asylum seekers is being questioned is understandable when viewed from a structural functionalism perspective. People with different cultural beliefs and values come together, particularly in the strained circumstances of asylum seeking; one party running for fear of their lives and Australian Immigration viewing this flight as another invasion (McMaster, 2001). Many, according to Tepperman and Blain (2006), believe that Australia’s multicultural policy should be restructured to accommodate the rapid advances in globalisation bringing together more ethnic cultures and be in line with assimilation of ethnic cultures whilst working towards a common goal. Current policies in Australia to assist asylum seekers are not effective in this age of globalisation, and should be focused on as a matter of urgency (Lusher Haslam 2007). On July 21, 2012 in The Australian, Cameron Stewart discusses that the government’s current policy on refugees and asylum seekers which has, until recently, been the one of the basic key stones of Australia’s commitment to human rights and is now in danger of collapse. The ineffectiveness of the current policy is highlighted by the inability of the government to prevent people smugglers bringing more boats to Australian shores, hence more and more people are arriving. But, the government continued to maintain a policy, initiated in 1996 by the Howard government, which set a cap on the intake allowed each year and which is currently much lower than the influx of new refugees to these shores (Stewart, 2012). The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (Article 13) declares people should be able to leave their place of origin with a right to decent health care, food, housing and a right to the safekeeping in areas of welfare such as unemployment, illness of death of a family member (Article 25). The UDHR also states (Article 2) that no one should be discriminated against based on of his or her viewpoint politically, or his or her status internationally (UDHR 2012, cited Xu, Q 2007). The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) advised Australia in April 2010 to seek out better options than the detention of asylum seekers who arrive by boat. The UNHRC is still in discussion with the Australian government on the best way to reduce the deferment of the mounting claims for asylum and compulsory detention, whilst concentrating on the wellbeing and health of asylum seekers in Australia (UNHRC, 2012). The theory of structural functionalism, argues that each of us is born, into set communal structures that have fixed behavioural expectations, which people generally do not contravene (Van Krieken et al, 2006). Social issues are approached scientifically assessing changes in urban growth, population flow to explain the structures underpinning society. As Bessant and Watts (2007) assert, structural functionalists focus on statistics of given situations, which are then used to describe the progress of and structure of social development and may help to create the basis of a policy on multiculturalism. Babbie (2010) posits that it is pertinent to understand how a person who once fitted in to a different society with different roles and functions may have difficulties initially, or if ever, adapting to the structure and function which makes up Australian contemporary society. It is therefore useful using the structural perspective, to assess the asylum seekers who may appear disruptive when placed for months in detention centres, as people who are displaced from their â€Å"norm† and are reacting against that displacement. Structural functionalism would be looking to understand why problems are occurring and what could be done to effectively integrate the asylum seekers into the Australian larger society, taking into account the adjustments that would be needed for those people to assimilate (Babbie 2010). According to Xu (2007), using the welfare benefit system is crucial for helping the acculturation and settlement of all immigrants. Yet as Xu (2007) notes, resentment amongst many Australian citizens is building towards asylum seekers as they often take low-paid jobs, out of necessity, which contributes to employment issues and a sense of insecurity for many indigenous and natural born workers. As a result, over the last 20 years Australia has moved its policy on immigration to focus more on assimilating asylum seekers and refugees with discussions about multiculturalism, and how that affects the native Australians, and less on the welfare of the immigrants arriving, sometimes under dire circumstances (Xu, 2007). In conclusion the analysis in this paper of the social issue of asylum seekers admitted into Australia suggest that many factors may disrupt feelings amongst native Australians, and unless handled sensitively the deep rooted fear of invasion, which still endures for many, will not go away (Jupp, 2007). Multiculturalism does not have the legitimacy it was trying to assume and marginalisation of asylum seekers still exists. As Bessant and Watts (2007) show when viewed through the paradigm of the structural functionalism theory, the current Australian policies on the treatment of asylum seekers create maladaptation and malignancies. An irrefutable fact exists, asserts Jupp (2007), which is globalisation. More people daily are coming to and from Australia and continually communicating with other countries and cultures. The frenetic pace of globalisation and the ensuing and inevitable cultural change in the form of assimilation is inevitable (Xu, 2007). The emphasis, according to Xu (2007) should be on a tactical approach that creates a long-term solution to prioritise the management and protection of asylum seekers across Australia, and adapting current policies on immigration to ensure that migrants skirting around current arrangements make no gain. The focus therefore should be on Australian observance of its international responsibilities concentrating on an improved policy for immigration, encouraging a reasonable and managed humanitarian programme which minimises fear and anxiety across all sectors yet creates an adhesive force for change.

The Factors That Influence Travel Decision Making Tourism Essay

The Factors That Influence Travel Decision Making Tourism Essay This chapter consists of three parts. First is introduction, next is literature reviews that review the critical points of previous researches including substantive finding as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to this similar topic. Lastly, a conclusion to this chapter. Research in the area of travel motives is important in understanding and predicting the factors that influence travel decision-making (Cha, S., McCleary, K.W. and Uysal, M., 1995). Motivation is theoretically viewed as a state of need, a condition that serves as a driving force to display different kinds of behavior toward certain types of activities, developing preferences, arriving at some expected satisfactory outcome. (Backman, K.F. Backman, S.J., Uysal, M. and Sunshine, K.M.,1995) In particular, an understanding of motivation assist marketers efforts to achieve and satisfy individuals diverse desires and needs, key elements that influence the process of travelers decision-making (Crompton,J.L. and McKay S.L.,1997). Studies of motivation thus provide to predict travelers personal needs, expectations, achievements, or benefits sought (Formica,S. and Uysal, M.,1998). A brief review of travel motivation research (Table 1) published in three major tourism journals Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, and Journal of Travel Research revealed that existing studies have covered a wide range of the spectrum, there are included the sociology of travel motivation as a stimulator of actual behavior (Dann 1977; Mansfeld 1992); travel motivation of different niche markets (Clift and Forrest 1999; Dunn Ross and Iso-Ahola 1991; Hsu, Cai, and Wong 2007; Maoz 2007; Qu and Ping 1999; Rittichainuwat 2008); the development or empirical test of travel motivation measurements (Crompton 1979; Dann 1981; Fodness 1994; Ryan and Glendon 1998); differences in motivation among tourists with varied nationality and cultural backgrounds (Kim and Prideaux 2005; Maoz 2007), number of visits (Lau and McKercher 2004), destinations and origins (Kozak 2002), sociodemographic characteristic (Jang and Wu 2006; Fleischer and Pizam 2002), or environmental attitude (Luo and Deng 2008). Authors Study Dann 1977 A sociological study of travel motivation, with a focus on the push dimension of motivation. Crompton 1979 The motivation for pleasure vacation. Seven motivation factors were identified through interviews. Dann 1981 Based on a literature review on travel motivation, seven approaches of motivation study were identified. The utilization of different terminologies was also discussed Dunn Ross and Iso-Ahola 1991 Motivation of sightseeing tourists in relation to their satisfaction Mansfeld 1992 The role of motivation in travel behavior and its complex nature Paul 1992 Travel motivation of Canadian ecotourists Parrinello 1993 Relationship between anticipation and motivation in postindustrial societies in the context of Western Europe Fodness 1994 A measurement scale was developed for leisure travel with 20 items. Lieux, weaver; and McCleary 1994 Benefit segmentation of senior tourists from the United States Gnoth 1997 Development of theoretical model on motivation and expectation formation Formica and Uysal 1998 Benefit segmentation of visitors to a cultural-historical event in Italy Ryan and Glendon 1998 The Leisure Motivation Scale was applied to tourism with British holidaymakers. An abbreviated version of holiday motivation scale with 14 items was developed. Waller and Lea 1998 Relationship between authenticity seeking and enjoyment. The knowledge dimension of motivation was found to mediate this relationship. Clift and Forrest 1999 The motivation of gay men in relation to the type of destinations they preferred in the context of the United Kingdom Qu and Ping 1999 Motivation of cruise selection in the context of Hong Kong Goossens 2000 The role of emotional component of travel motivation in stimulating actual travel behavior Fleischer and Pizam 2002 Relationship between motivation and Israeli senior travelers income and health Kozak 2002 Differences of motivation among tourists visiting different destinations and tourist from different countries visiting same destination with respondents from the United Kingdom and Germany Sirakaya, Uysal, and Yoshioka 2003 Benefits segmentation of Japanese tourists to Turkey Lau and McKercher Differences of travel motivation between first-time and repeat visitors to Hong Kong Kim and Prideaux 2005 A cross-cultural analysis on travel motivation to South Korea among five national tourist groups Pearce and Lee 2005 Further development of the Travel Career Ladder by introducing Travel Career Pattern (TCP). The relationship between previous experience and motivation was explored by TCP. Yoon and Uysal 2005 Causal relationship between push-pull motivations, satisfaction, and destination loyalty. Pull factors were found to negatively influence satisfaction. Jang and Wu 2006 Influences of sociodemographic factors, economic status, health status, and positive and negative effects on travel motivation among Taiwanese seniors Chang, wall, and Chu 2006 Benefits segmentation using the novelty seeking scale in the context of Taiwanese tourists to aboriginal attractions Nicolau and Mas 2006 Influences of travel distance and price on destination selection, with travel motivation as a moderator in the context of Spain Poria, Reichel, and Biran 2006 Relationship between perception of heritage as it is related to the tourists own heritage and motivation explored before the trip Snerpenger et al. 2006 Tourists and recreationist were comparing using Iso-Aholas motivation theory. The relationship between motivation and previous vacations was investigated. Swanson and Horridge 2006 Causal relationship between souvenir shopping and four motivational factors in the context of Southwestern United States Beh and Bruyere 2007 Benefits segmentation in the context of Kenya Hsu, Cai, and Wong 2007 A theoretical model of senior travel motivation in the context of China Maoz 2007 Travel motivation of Israeli backpackers, investigated in relation to national and cultural characteristics Luo and Deng 2008 Relationship between environmental attitude and nature-based tourism motivation Rittichainuwat 2008 Travel motivation to a tourism destination, using the disaster-hit beach resort in Phuket as an example. Comparison was made between domestic and inbound tourists, and between tourists of different ages and genders. Park and Yoon 2009 Benefit segmentation of rural tourism in the context of South Korea Table1. Brief Summary of Studies on Travel Motivation (Adopted from Cathy H.C. Hsu, Liping A. Cai and Mimi Li, 2009) Many researchers from different fields such as from sociology, anthropology, and psychology have investigated travel motivation since many years ago (Cohen, 1972; Dann, 1977; Crompton, 1979; Gnoth, 1997). Maslows hierarchical theory of motivation was one of the most applied in tourism literature (1970) and it was model as a pyramid whose base consists of the physiological needs, followed by higher levels of psychological needs and the need for self-actualization. Numerous tourism scholars have attempted to modify the model empirically, with the notable success by Pearce (1982), who projected a tourism motivation model that mirrors the model of Maslow, but free of prepotency assumption. Fulfilling Prestige Push Seeking Relaxation Factors Sightseeing Variety Gaining Knowledge Events and Activities Pull Adventure Factors History and Culture Easy Access and Affordable A review of past researches on tourist motivation indicates that the analysis of motivations based on the two dimensions of push and pull factors have been generally accepted (Yuan McDonald, 1990; Uysal Hagan, 1993). The concept behind push and pull dimension is that people travel because they are pushed by their own inner forces and pulled by the outer forces of destination attributes. Most of the push factors that are origin-related are intangible or intrinsic desires of the individual travelers. Pull factors, vice versa, are those that emerge because of the attractiveness of that particular destination, as the travelers perceive it. They include tangible resources and travelers perception and expectation such as benefit expectation, novelty and marketed image of the destination. A research model is then developing based on this theory at below diagram (adapted from Baloglu Uysal, 1996). Travel Motivation Crompton (1979) first sought to draw seven socio-psychological, or push motives such as escape, self-exploratory, relaxation, prestige, regression, kinship-enhancement, and social interaction) and two cultural, or pull motives that are novelty and education. The conceptual framework that he developed would giving impact the selection of a destination, and this approach implies that the destination can have some degree of influence on vacation behavior in meeting an aroused need. As Cromptons initial empirical effort, many studies have attempted to recognize push and pull motivational factors in different settings such as nationalities, destinations and events (Jang and Wu, 2006). Example incorporated Yuan and McDonalds (1990) study on motivations for overseas travel from four countries: Japan, France, West Germany and UK. While Uysal and Jurowski (1993) studied, the nature and extent of the reciprocal relationship between push and pull factors of motivations for pleasure travel with using data from the Canadian Tourism Attribute and Motivation Survey. Another study in Australia examined the nature and usefulness of the relationship between these two factors of motivation by utilizing canonical correlation analysis (Oh, H., M., Uysal, P. Weaver, 1995). Baloglu and Uysal (1996) claimed that the concept of product bundles is used to refer to the perceived significance of the interaction between push and pull items of motivation. This implies that certain reasons for travel may correspond to certain benefits that are to be valued and obtained at the destination spot. Based on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, as discussed above, the individual tourist builds their perceptions, and the perceptions can be differ from the true attributes of the product depending on how the individual receives and process information (Gartner, 1993; Dann, 1996; Baloglu and Brinberg, 1997). A general conclusion can be drawn that the personal motives or called push motives and the view of the characteristics of the tourism destination (pull motives) determine perceptions. These motives interact in dynamic and evolving context (Correia, 2000), and the tourist motivation is seen as a multidimensional concept that indicates tourist decision (McCabe, 200 0). As tourism paradigm is related to human beings and human nature, it is always a complex proposition to study why people travel and what they want to enjoy (Yoon and Uysal, 2005). In most studies, it is generally accepted that push and pull motivations have been primarily utilized in studies of tourist behavior. The discoveries and issues undoubtedly play a use role in attempting to understand a wide different of needs and wants that can drive and influence tourist behavior. Nevertheless, Yoon and Uysal (2005) said that the results and effects of the motivation studies of tourist behavior need more than an understanding of their needs and wants. In tourism destination management, it was generally agree that maximizing travel satisfaction is crucial for a successful business. The evaluation of the physical products of destination as well as the psychological interpretation of a destination product are important for human actions (Swan and Comb, 1976; Uysal and Noe, 2003), which could be further represented as a travel satisfaction and destination faithfulness. Both concepts can be examined within the context of a tourism system representing two major components of the market place, namely, demand (tourist) and supply (tourism attractions) which demand refers to motives (push factors) that sustain tourists desire while supple relates to destinations characteristics (pull factors) (Jurowski et al., 1996). Push and pull factors have generally been characterized to two separate decisions made at two separate period in time one focusing on whether to go, the other on where to go. For instance, Dann (1981) noted that once the trip has been decided upon, where to go, what to see or what to do (relating to the specific destinations) can be tackled and this make a conclude that, analytically, both logically and temporally, push factors precede pull factor. Although these two factors has been viewed as relating to two distinct decisions, several researchers have distinguished that they should not be viewed as operating entirely independent of each others. For example, it has suggested that people travel because they are pushed by their own intrinsic forces and simultaneously pulled by the extrinsic forces such as the destination and its attributes (Cha, McCleary, and Uysal 1995; Uysal and Jurowskil, 1994). However, Crompton (1979) argued, push factors may be useful not only in explaining the initial arousal, energizing, or push; to take a vacation, but may also have directive potential to direct the tourist toward a particular destination (p.412). Several empirical examinations of push and pull factors had been reported in the travel and tourism literature. Of the prior research that examined the students and/or spring break travel market (Butts, F.B., J. Salazar, K. Sapio, and D. Thomas, 1996; Field, 1999; Hobson and Josiam, 1992,1996; Hsu and Sung, 1996,1997; Sirakaya and McLellan, 1997), there have been no investigations of push forces and only a handful of attempts to study the pull factors influencing students destination choice decision. In another study, conducted by Hobson and Josiam (1992), students were asked to list their primary reason for choosing a spring break destination and most responses referred to the influence of friends and/or family living near or going to the destination, other reasons referred to destination-related attributes such as the destination having s spring break party reputation, warm weather, affordable pricing, quiet environment, good skiing, or good beaches.

A New Beauty Plastic Surgery Media Essay

A New Beauty Plastic Surgery Media Essay The human desire to appear attractive has been universal ever since mankind can remember. People have been looking for the secret of beauty and youth throughout history and in all parts of the world. Both men and women went through many things to perfect their beauty. Many people consider the desire to be beautiful as a universal issue, but what is often overlooked is that the definition of beauty is always different. Beauty in a way depends on where and when a person is. Since beauty is only a matter of what is beautiful in the eye of the beholder, it depends on one s culture and socialization. The progress in plastic surgery, like in most of the medical discoveries, has grown enormously for hundreds of years. It was not until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that the specialty forged ahead scientifically. Because of the awful injuries it often inflicted on its participants, war was the driving force behind most plastic surgery developments during the late 1800s and early 1900 s. In fact it was the war that catapulted plastic surgery into a new and higher realm. Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed in order to change one s appearance and opinions and ideas of it have never stopped growing as well. Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. For some, it may mean redesigning the body s contour and shape, the elimination of wrinkles, or eliminating balding areas.. While famous for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgery also includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns. The word plastic derives from the Greek plastikos meaning to mould or to shape; not because of its use of plastic in any way. Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct functional impairments caused by burns; traumatic injuries, such as facial bone fractures; congenital abnormalities; developmental abnormalities; infection and disease; and cancer or tumors. Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed to improve function, but it may be done to approximate a normal appearance. The most common reconstructive procedures are tumor removal, laceration repair, scar repair, hand surgery, and breast reduction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of reconstructive breast reductions for women increased in 2007 by 2 percent from the year before. Breast reduction in men also increased in 2007 by 7 percent. Some other common reconstructive surgical procedures include breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, cleft lip and palate surgery, contracture surgery for burn survivors, and creating a new outer ear when one is congenitally absent. Plastic surgeons use microsurgery to transfer tissue for coverage of a defect when no local tissue is available. Free flaps of skin, muscle, bone, fat, or a combination may be removed from the body, moved to another site on the body, and reconnected to a blood supply by suturing arteries and veins as small as 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. Aesthetic plastic surgery involves techniques intended for the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques, and is specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward some aesthetic ideal. In 2006, nearly 11 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States alone. The number of cosmetic procedures performed in the United States has increased over 50 percent since the start of the century. Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. The increased use of cosmetic procedures crosses racial and ethnic lines in the U.S., with increases seen among African-Americans and Hispanic Americans as well as Caucasian Americans. In Europe, the second largest market for cosmetic procedures, cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.[7] Because human beings have always sought out self-fulfillment through self-improvement, plastic surgery may be one of the world s best solution for this universal problem. According to the Plastic Surgery Information Service, there is written medical evidence that cites medical treatment for facial injuries for over 4000 years. Physicians, in ancient India, were utilizing skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as 800 BC. Furthermore, the driving force behind most plastic surgery development was to repair awful and quite serious war injuries in the 1900 s. There were shattered jaws and blown off noses which required innovative restorative procedures. There was much good news to report to the American people in the post war days of the 1950. As with other areas of science and medicine, plastic surgery discoveries were happening at break-neck speeds, often derived from innovations tested in hospitals of Korea. Cosmetic surgery took off here after South Korea s spectacular recovery from its currency crisis a few decades ago. Rising living standards allowed ever-growing numbers of men and women to get the wider eyes, whiter skin and higher nose bridges that define beauty for many here. Improved looks were even seen as providing an edge in this high-pressure society s intense competition for jobs, education and marriage partners. But turmoil coursing through the financial world and then into the global economy has hit South Korea hard, as it has many middle-income countries. The downturn drove down the stock market and the currency by a third or more last year, and the resulting anxiety forced many South Koreans to change their habits. In hard times, people always cut back on luxuries like eating out, jewelry and plastic sur gery, said one plastic surgeon, Park Hyun, who has seen the number of his patients drop sharply. If this is a normal recession, then these desires will eventually get reignited, and our patients will come back. It is hard to measure the exact size of the industry here or the extent of the current downturn because no one keeps exact figures. From a luxury limited to the wealthy a decade ago plastic surgery has become so common that an estimated 30 percent of Korean women aged 20 to 50, or some 2.4 million women, had surgical or nonsurgical cosmetic procedures last year, with many having more than one procedure. That compares with 11.7 million cosmetic procedures performed last year in the United States, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, meaning that the number of procedures in America is 4.9 times the number in South Korea, though the United States population is more than six times larger. As the 1960 s began, plastic surgery became even more prominent in the minds of the American public as the scope of procedures performed by surgeons increased, along with many scientific developments. A new substance, silicone, began to emerge as an important tool for doctors. Silicone was initially used to treat skin imperfections and is now overly used as a breast implant device. All parts of the human body, it seemed, could benefit from the skill of the plastic surgeon to perfect the body. Liposuction and breast augmentation are the two most frequently requested cosmetic surgery procedures. Liposuction is a process where fat is sucked out of the body while doctors insert large amounts of salt water, lidocaine, and epinephrine into tissue. These drugs reduce blood loss and provide an anestheis. Various cosmetic surgeries including the facelift, necklift, tummy tuck, and arm and thigh lift surgeries require liposuction. Plastic surgeons say that liposuction is quite safe. But resear chers write that liposuction can be fatal, perhaps in part because of lidocaine toxicity of lidocaine-related drug infections. But, there are more risks associated with this operation due to the fact that the fat and its surrounding tissues become dead tissue. If the fat become necrotic from the lack of blood supply the fat tends to turn orange in color and drain from the incision. If this is to occur, the patient must have the tissue removed immediately before an infection spreads. Many doctors agree that liposuction is not the way to loose weight. In actuality not much fat-weight is removed within a single procedure, nor is it safe to do. This operation is meant for people who have serious weight-related heath problems and not just to lose those few last pounds. There was a time when only Hollywood stars had their own plastic surgeon. There was also a time when own a big screen TV or belonging to a health club was an impressive status symbol. But this is a new century, and these d ays, it is not unnatural for many people to visit a plastic surgeon on occasion. As medical technologies have boomed over the past two decades, plastic surgery has made incredible advantages in both reconstructing accidental injuries and congenital deformities and in helping erase the marks, wrinkles and sags of encroaching age. Whether it is fixing a portion of the body to make it look normal or improving the normal features of the body to make it look even more aesthetically pleasing, the goal of the plastic surgeon is to help the patients to look and feel good about him or herself. It has seen an amazing growth in popularity in recent years. These days men and women discuss having nose jobs, facelifts, and tummy tucks as if it was normal everyday activity. More importantly there is a rather disturbing underlying issue among us: Why is our society conducting such surgery in the first place? It seems now as we turn through an issue of almost every magazine we see beautiful men and women all with perfect bodies and flawless faces. The issue over Americas poor sel f esteem and body image explains why so many people are having such cosmetic surgeries; they simple do not live up to society s so-called standards. According to an article published by Today, as any good plastic surgeon will stress, plastic surgery shouldn t be done to impress others but to make you feel good about yourself. More and more people are using cosmetic surgery to improve their self-image rather that other more healthy methods to improve body image or lose weight. Instead of advertising cosmetic surgery as the simple and practical way to become beautiful, our society needs to focus on reality. Todays advertisements constantly remind us that wrinkles are now not only unacceptable signs of aging, but are rather simple manifestations that can be prevented and corrected. It seems that this millenniums fountain of youth is technological and restores youthful appearance with scientific and medical know-how. Statistics show that use of such age-defying measures is growing each year among women and men. Over the course of the twentieth century, improvements in sanitation, healthcare, and nutrition dramatically increased the average lifespan in the United States. At present, it is for the most part taken for granted that an average American will live beyond the middle years. Americans no longer focus simply on living longer; we want to live better, look better as we age. Science, medicine, and other fields aim to make this goal possible by slowing our biological clocks, fighting the diseases of age, and restoring our sense of youth. Many gerontologists and related practitioners now focus on positive aging rather than ugly concept emphasizing the problems of aging, with the goal of providing alternative representations of later life and challenging against stereotypes. Indeed, many forces are currently working to alter the experience and image of aging in order to improve what aging feels like as well as what aging looks like. Plastic surgery possesses a longer history than nonsurgical anti-aging procedures, dating back to the Renaissance at least. Initial increases in plastic surgery were primarily due to the epidemic of syphilis that occurred in Europe in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. In twentieth-century America, wartime doctors used cosmetic surgery to remove the marks of battle and allow veterans to pass as the everyday citizens they had been. This practice provided legitimacy to and invoked widespread interest in the benefits of cosmetic surgery. What began as a situational medical procedure has since become a mass marketed, profit-driven industry. Todays recipients of plastic surgery undergo the procedures to pass as more sexy, fit, and desirable. In the case of and-aging surgeries, however, individuals alter their appearance to pass as younger than they are, though of course they can never actually become younger or effect a reversal of the calendar. Many critics argue that recipients of and-aging surgery rarely succeed in passing anyway?they wind up looking weird rather than young. Still, statistics show that reducing the signs of aging through cosmetic surgery has become an increasingly popular and profitable. Americans spend near $12.5 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2004 (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2004). Of these procedures, two of the top five surgeries in each gender group specifically targeted signs of aging: eyelid surgery and facelift for women, eyelid surgery and hair transplantation for men. People ages 35-50 underwent 45 percent of total procedures, those 51-64 underwent 25 percent (ASAPS, 2004). It seems that many aging Americans believe that looking younger is looking better, and they hope to improve their self-image and enjoy more favorable social outcomes through surg ical alteration. Here, surgery passes for self improvement and a viable step in the American pursuit of happiness. Why do so many Americans feel the need to retain youthful appearances? Changes in economicand employment patterns, the rise of image-based media (TV, film, ads), and the growing significance of consumer identities each contributes to a cultural desire for youth and to negative feelings toward old age. In a capitalist culture, reflecting a youthful, vital appearance may enable workers to be identified as desirable employees and to retain their corporate value (and jobs) a little longer. Images in the media compound this perceived need to reflect youth. In the case of women, it does not require deep analysis to notice that young models and actresses outnumber middle-aged and older models and actresses in popular media. Television and film content is filled with women in their 20s and 30s blessed with beauty and romantic opportunities. Representations in lifestyle and beauty advertisements also could lead one to believe that women over the age of 40 have less of a social and romantic life and are not a part of the definition of beauty. In the past few years, talk of plastic surgery has left the privacy of the physicians office and entered the public domain. Celebrities now openly discuss procedures they have undergone. Entire television series exist around the subject of aesthetic procedures including ABCS Extreme Makeover and FiCs Nip/Tuck. Popular networks FOX, Vhi, E!, TLC, and MTV also air programs dedicated to the subject. So-called reality-based programs attempt to provide viewers with a glimpse of real people like themselves undergoing plastic surgery and suggest that anyone can do it. With increased representations of aesthetic enh ancements and new images of aging, the cultural climate has changed. Looking young is looking good, and technologically or surgically achieving a younger look is socially acceptable. Under such cultural conditions, who would want to look old, and why should one not use the technologies available to enhance his or her aging appearance? Americans do not always trust the messages of the media, but they do trust the opinions and recommendations of their healthcare providers. Physicians could tell older people that they look just fine, that a change in appearance with aging is normal and acceptable and to go home. But if they do, they may disappoint their patients or, more personally, sacrifice profit from out-of-pocket procedures and product sales. Some physicians contend that if they can help a patient feel better through aesthetic changes, it is just cause and falls within their job description. In this view, feeling better about aging is indeed aging positively, and this is the ultimate goal?even if it means changing what aging looks like. Plastic surgery has been, and always will continue to be, a controversial subject in many ways. Plastic surgery has become increasingly common today for a variety of reasons, and countless individuals are consulting cosmetic surgeons with the hopes of looking the way they have always dreamed of looking. Reconstructive surgery is a wonderful gift to those born with birth defects, or those scarred or maimed by an accident of some sort. Today however, the increasing trend of plastic surgery is leaning toward the cosmetic factor. Plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries all have an important psychological dimension in the U.S. Many people in Western societies place a great deal of importance on physical importance. Plastic surgery can effect an individual s emotional state tremendously. It is easy to have the breasts you want, to have smoother skin, to have extra fat removed from your stomach and thighs, and to have numerous other body parts augmented or amended. The physical effec ts of plastic surgery are truly amazing. Many people claim that their lives have changed for the better because of cosmetic surgical enhancements. These enhancements have restored their confidence and created a brand new self-image for them. They actually feel better, and doesn t that make it worth it? There are drawbacks, however. While reconstructive surgery gives people the chance to look what is deemed normal again, doesn t cosmetic surgery teach us that, for the most part, looks are the most important physical aspect in our society? From this aspect, the emotional effects of plastic surgery on society can be harrowing. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see yourself or do you see the results of modern day surgery? Plastic surgery has given people the opportunity to change their entire appearance, and has taken the word makeover to a whole new height. It seems that everywhere you go people are using plastic surgery to change their physical appearance. Although t his may sound great, the truth behind all the hype isnt so wonderful. Many of the unfortunate few that see the downsides of plastic surgery can not do anything to fix their situation. Besides looking at the defects that plastic surgery can cause physically, you must also examine the defects of it from a moral aspect. Do you believe that it is morally right to change the body that God gave you, and to transform that into something youre not? One of the great things about the human race is that there is no one person exactly like yourself, so why do you want to throw away your ability to be who you are, to be someone your not? Finally, the most common reason to go through with this procedure is to make yourself look good, and to try to make others like you. The truth of the matter, however, is that if someone only likes you because of you bought appearance then they dont actually like you, they merely like the results of present day plastic surgery. Instead of worrying about your outside appearance you should concern yourself more with what you are like on the inside rather than what you are like on the outside. Even though plastic surgery may make you look good phy sically, you cant put a price on true beauty, the beauty that comes from within.

Advertising Education or Condemnation :: essays papers

Advertising Education or Condemnation Lets talk about images for example, most advertisements for clothing (i.e. bathing suits etc), show shapely thin women and men. This has led our country to think that fat is demeaning and not socially accepted. This type of advertising has caused everyone to want to look like the people in the ads. Diets of all sorts have been developed to try to meet these expectations. But when their goals are not reached it causes depression, low self-esteem that in turn causes a poor image is developed. In my opinion these advertisements have a negative outreach. Who is to say only thin people look great? Advertisements do! These ads also have created anorexic teenagers, which has lead to serious health problems and even death. Advertisements often do not explicitly urge the consumer to buy a given product; rather they promise that the products will enhance a person^s life. Opening a whole range of desiderata including youthfulness, attractiveness, social grace, security, success, c! onviviality, sex, romance and the admiration of others. (Parenti page 204) Advertising can also be educational and rewarding with regards to prices and who offers the best deal. One such publication that informs consumers of the best-tested and best-priced items is Consumers Magazine. This magazine has a test facility that tests various items of same kind without bias and reports to the consumer via there magazine. Advertising is not created and used just to provide a smug example of public morality, advertising is honest because it has to be. (Wood page 225). What I mean by honesty is the product information is not all ways how it is displayed. Lets address the issues of ^What we care about^, the way we raise our children, our ideas of right and wrong conduct, these in my view are all together. Let^s take a look at liquor and tobacco advertising. The image of the Marlboro Man is one example. This type of advertisement depicts a buff, handsome, cool man smoking a cigarette. What message is this conveying to our young people? That it is cool to smoke. We all know it has been proven that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer. I would now like to address all the violence, sex and bad language that is seen and heard on television and radio (i.e. talk shows, MTV, etc.). This type of media attracts all various kinds of Advertising Education or Condemnation :: essays papers Advertising Education or Condemnation Lets talk about images for example, most advertisements for clothing (i.e. bathing suits etc), show shapely thin women and men. This has led our country to think that fat is demeaning and not socially accepted. This type of advertising has caused everyone to want to look like the people in the ads. Diets of all sorts have been developed to try to meet these expectations. But when their goals are not reached it causes depression, low self-esteem that in turn causes a poor image is developed. In my opinion these advertisements have a negative outreach. Who is to say only thin people look great? Advertisements do! These ads also have created anorexic teenagers, which has lead to serious health problems and even death. Advertisements often do not explicitly urge the consumer to buy a given product; rather they promise that the products will enhance a person^s life. Opening a whole range of desiderata including youthfulness, attractiveness, social grace, security, success, c! onviviality, sex, romance and the admiration of others. (Parenti page 204) Advertising can also be educational and rewarding with regards to prices and who offers the best deal. One such publication that informs consumers of the best-tested and best-priced items is Consumers Magazine. This magazine has a test facility that tests various items of same kind without bias and reports to the consumer via there magazine. Advertising is not created and used just to provide a smug example of public morality, advertising is honest because it has to be. (Wood page 225). What I mean by honesty is the product information is not all ways how it is displayed. Lets address the issues of ^What we care about^, the way we raise our children, our ideas of right and wrong conduct, these in my view are all together. Let^s take a look at liquor and tobacco advertising. The image of the Marlboro Man is one example. This type of advertisement depicts a buff, handsome, cool man smoking a cigarette. What message is this conveying to our young people? That it is cool to smoke. We all know it has been proven that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer. I would now like to address all the violence, sex and bad language that is seen and heard on television and radio (i.e. talk shows, MTV, etc.). This type of media attracts all various kinds of

The Ghost Story of Haunted Roads :: Ghost Stories Urban Legends

The Ghost Story of Haunted Roads The story of a haunted road in comes from a resident of the city. He is an Asian, male University sophomore. He told me the story in March at a very late hour. Among friends discussing plans to one day explore some supposedly haunted areas of the state, the storyteller spoke of a â€Å"rumor† he had heard from one of his college friends. The â€Å"late hour† previously mentioned is noteworthy since it affected the way the urban legend was told. There were four of us in a diner, eating at a time when most restaurants had been closed for hours already. Thus, we were all a bit tired, including the storyteller, who blamed the combination of hunger and the time of day for his lack of presentation skills. For example, he would eat and talk and restate certain parts. He started by describing that the haunted road was â€Å"somewhere in the city, I think it was Marriott Road. Like the hotel, ya know?† He claimed that the road was close by because his friend said so. Later, we looked online and found a nearby street named Marriottsville Road. The storyteller continued by saying that the road is haunted because when you drive there at night, when the sun has completely set, the area seems to be pitch black. Even with headlights, it is supposedly unsafe due to the darkness that shrouds the pavement. He said that the trees there are so tall and the vegetation so thick that they â€Å"practically cover the road and form a tunnel around it† to block any light from entering. Not only is the road a dark one, but there are two more supernatural elements to it. The first is a barn off the side of the road. The storyteller said that noises have been heard from the barn. When people go to investigate the noise, they eventually get close enough to hear whimpering animals. The sounds get louder until, as the storyteller claimed, â€Å"They sound more like screaming than whimpering.† At this point, any would-be investigators run away from the site of the barn. Furthermore, there is an even more terrifying aspect of the road. As already described, it is hard to drive there. The darkness is just part of the difficulty. The road also has many turns and curves along with steep hills. At this point of the story, the teller used lots of hand gestures to help us visualize the severity of the road’s twists.

Social Responsibility in Akira Kurosawa’s Movie, Seven Samurai :: Movie Film Essays

Social Responsibility in Akira Kurosawa’s Movie, Seven Samurai It is truly a corrupt time when keepers of the peace must create unrest in order to survive. In sixteenth century Sengoku jidai Japan, it is survival of the fittest; a major part of this survival is what class one has been born into. Organized politics have been said to be a luxury of developed civilizations. Given that a poor farming village in sixteenth century Japan is hardly developed, the harsh rules of nature are ascribed to instead. Weakened by a continuing drought topped with unrelenting bandit raids, they must appeal to those who are stronger for help. However, in this land where the strong are successful, this will mean anyone who comes to the aid of these farmers will be stooping to work for their social inferiors. It is understood that violence has a starring role in samurai movies. In recent markets, a movie with as much blood as dialogue, though harshly criticized, will do decently in the box office. For the most part, Western cinema has been blamed as the cheapener of something that once was art. However, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai approaches mortal combat from a different perspective. The scavenging bandits kill indiscriminately, taking what they want and destroying the rest. The honorable samurai, on the other hand, use their sword sparingly. The movie’s first killing is given to Kambei, who draws his sword on a kidnapping robber only to save another life. Credit is due to Kurosawa who takes care not to make light of death. In a particularly haunting scene, a bandit lays impaled on a villagers spear. This portrayal of the impact taking a life can have is something often overlooked a genre that usually glorifies the act. Kurosawa’s greatest achievement with Samurai is his statement on social responsibility. Kambei and his team of samurai choose to help the villagers despite the lack of a reward or even glory. By helping those less fortunate to achieve a semblance of at least a productive way of life and exterminating those who are willing to exploit others for personal gain, a nation can be at peace and therefore prosperous.

Native American Treaties

America requested that the Nation cede certain races of land, beneficial to the US, and with the agreement that the United States could establish garrisons where they desired In order to protect the frontiers. In exchange for the considerations and the permanent relinquishment of those lands and claims, the United States agreed to pay the nation several types of compensation. First was an annual monetary sum of $3000. 00 every year indefinitely to the Creek Nation, with an additional $1000. 00 per year to the chiefs who administer the governmental services to the tribe.Also provided In the treaty was the sum of $25,000. 00, to be distributed in parts as merchandise and goods, the distraction of debts the Nation owed, and the satisfaction of individual loss of property claims against the tribe by citizens of the united States. In addition, the united States agreed to furnish two sets of Blacksmiths tools and the men to work them for a period of three years. K State Creek 1802 1 felt a s though, while I still disagree with the idea that these â€Å"treaty agreements† were in any way fair or a true â€Å"option† to the tribes on these lands, this particular treaty wasn't any crueler than other treaties.The land descriptions of what was to be ceded to the united States Is official for me to comprehend in any Value' aspect. I am not certain of the acreage, nor would I begin to know the land value. Secondly, only part of that value was direct compensation. I find the breakdown of the larger compensation package suspect, since It virtually â€Å"forgives† â€Å"debts† that the United States government purports the Creek Indians acquired and/or for acts the government purports the Creek Indians committed against the citizens of America.If the land, property, or other purported to have been taken was in actuality the Creek Indian's to begin with, then it would be unfair to use land compensation as â€Å"payment of a debt† that never occ urred. The second treaty I chose was signed August 9, 1814, (also called the Treaty of Ft. Jackson) following the events surrounding the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson was both the 1 OFF the Creek Indian tribes that culminated with the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama on March 27, 1814, and killed 800 Indian warriors and imprisoned over 500 women and children in the Ft Aims Massacre. Britannica – Creek Indian War) The agreement was in response to â€Å"†¦ Unprovoked, inhuman, and sanguinary war, waged y the hostile Creeks against us† and for basically violating the 1790 treaty, â€Å"disregarding the previous genuine spirit of existing treaties†. (K State Creek 1814) This treaty had many more provisions, and heavily favored the United States, while laying blame to the Creek Indians for the events that lead to the massacre, and hence, this â€Å"treaty' which reads more as a list of spoils.The United States demanded the equivalent to all expenses for seeing out the entirety of the war to its end. Not being specifically written, I can only assume that they â€Å"entirety' included the Creek Indian War AND the majority of the War of 1812. The United States was penalizing the Creek Indians for affording assistance and aid to the British during the War of 1812. This equated to over 23,000,000 acres of land, minus a few â€Å"reservations† of 1 mile tracts per person who had remained friendly to the United States during the conflict.The US also demanded that the Creeks abandon all communications and relations with the British and the Spanish, the rights to establish military posts and trading houses on roads in territories still occupied by the Indian tribe, the right to completely free navigation of all waters, the surrender of al persons or property gained by the Creeks during the conflicts, the capture and surrender of all instigators, and permanent peace between the Creek Indians and the United States, as well as among the Cree k Indians and the Cherokee, Chickasaws, and Choctaw Indian tribes.In â€Å"return† for the demands, the Americans guaranteed the integrity of the Northern and North eastern aspects of their territory, as well as a â€Å"Humanitarian† gesture of continuing to â€Å"furnish the necessaries of life†¦ Until crops are competent to yield; and will establish trading houses in the Nation to enable the Nation to procure clothes†¦ By industry or economy'. (K State Creek 1814) The benefit of this treaty was quite obviously in favor of the United States. There was little concession to the Indians for what amounts to half of the state of Alabama and the entire South portion of Georgia in land mass. Britannica – Creek Indian War) While the wording tends to validate the demands of the US, it does not address that the War of 1812 was an occurrence during the intertribal wars that were going on at the time. Some tribes saw an opportunity to show a loyalty to the US, w hich further incited the opposing tribes who felt that the intrusion of the US was not permissible to act against the US, but supporting the opposition in the war, or actually attacking American citizens themselves. Encore of Alabama) The actions of the tribes had not started as actions against the United States for the sake of war against America. Had this been the case, Jackson's generalization of â€Å"unprovoked, inhuman war† might be more accurate. However, at a time in history where the United States was systematically striping land, rights, and humanity from the indigenous people who ere in actual possession of it upon the American's arrival is hypocritical at best.The drastic change between the style and manner of the treaties of 1802 and 1814 show the turn America took from being a participant in a mutual, albeit selfish, exchange to a punishing political power using treaties and government backed Americans was, ironically, to become President and initiate Indian Rem oval as formal policy. With the â€Å"concession as a gesture of humanity' America made the Creek Tribe both more dependent on the US government for necessities they could not themselves generate – now for lack of the territory they once had to farm, herd, and ark on – but also began a culture of resentment with the tribe.I am not convinced this wasn't the exact objective of the ‘humanitarian help' written into the agreement. It is clear to see that while in the beginning, there was a more conservative tactic with the treaties to maintain a certain amount of control over the native tribes, there was a more concerted effort as time passed and the United States desired to take more and give less. The power differential is shown most vividly in the sheer volume of land taken in the 1814 treaty as â€Å"equivalent to expenses†.

Analysis Is Euro Zone An Optimal Currency Area Economics Essay

Does euro zone tantrum what is described in the literature as an Optimum Currency Area. An Optimum Currency Area theory was for the first clip developed by Robert Mundell, in â€Å" A Theory of Optimum Currency Areas † ( September, 1961 ) . The chief thought was to specify until what extent some states ( EZ states, for case ) should give up from their independent pecuniary policy, in order to derive from micro and macroeconomics benefits of a shared currency. These benefits can be briefly referred as â€Å" decreased dealing costs, riddance of currency hazard, greater transparence and perchance greater competition because monetary values are easier to compare †[ 1 ]. Still, the chief issue is a pure inequation which tries to mensurate if the positive side of a common currency in EU is higher than the negative 1. In this reappraisal I will non concentrate merely in a remarkable parametric quantity of this equation because so it would connote a loss of the nucleus significance of the different beginnings. I will alternatively analyse the overall sentiment of different beginnings and refer to specific standards when it seems plausible.2. Critically annotated literature huntBeginning 1: Francesco Paolo Mongelli, Senior Advisor for Monetary Policy, European Central Bank ( ECB ) , â€Å" † New † positions on the optimal currency country theory: What is EMU stating us? â€Å" , Working Paper No. 138, April 2002 Francesco Mongelli has followed the euro advancement over the old ages and he strongly contributed to different analysis published under ECB cast. In his reappraisal he does non clearly take a place about the euro country. However, he seems to be more positive about the conditions of Europe for a common currency. Particularly after the euro acceptance, he states that â€Å" the members of the European Union that have removed all trade and fiscal barriers among each other and portion a individual market † due to the common currency enjoyed a steady addition in â€Å" mutual trade † which allows them to see stable growing. He does non disregard the alleged â€Å" † Krugman specialization hypothesis † † , which implies that the acceptance of euro will take member states to fall in an utmost specialised degree, taking to farther deficiency of variegation and it will go forth these states would be worse off. However, he clearly emphasizes that this is â€Å" a paradox as this is non what is observed in world † ( mentioning to Frankel, 1999 ) . With this debate Mongelli puts the euro country in the same side of the US States in the OCA graph sing two chief issues which for him are decisive ( see Graph 1 ) . This means, even though non every bit much as US States, the EZ states â€Å" draw net benefits from ( aˆÂ ¦ ) the euro † When confronting the critics from the general literature to the optimum conditions for a common currency in EU, Mongelli supports the other side of the literature stating these reappraisals might be biased since â€Å" they are chiefly rearward looking † . As he states: â€Å" Some writers believe alternatively that the OCA trial could be satisfied antique station even if it is non to the full satisfied ex ante † . In amount, this ECB adviser seems to back up the thought that â€Å" for the group of states now organizing the euro country this has brought considerable benefits but has besides required a long period, although some states that joined the procedure subsequently than the others caught up really quickly with the remainder. † This led him to believe the euro country might be suited for a common currency because, even though there are some structural differences among states, they can be managed overtime and optimum conditions can be achieved. Further analyses besides reported by Francesco Mongelli[ 2 ]on the Eve of the planetary fiscal crisis refer that in the last old ages at that place was a clear betterment of the euro country members or even its campaigners. He points out as chief betterment signals: â€Å" no ever-rising rising prices derived functions and inflationary outlooks † , â€Å" alterations in fight within the euro country are happening at a sustained gait † , and that â€Å" the hazard of pro-cyclicality of financial policies is under control † . Once once more, he stills believe that â€Å" all in all the balance seems positive: the benefits outweigh the costs † . Still, his chief point continues to be based on future outlooks and non truly on discernible facts. Beginning 2: Paul Krugman, â€Å" Retaliation of the Optimum Currency Area † , The New York Times, June 24, 2012 Many tried to analyse if dazes were symmetric or asymmetric in the interim of euro currency execution, although there is likely another ground which led to dazes ‘ dissymmetry. Despite the fact that European states could be already in an asymmetric place when following the euro, Krugman emphasizes that this dissymmetry tends to increase over the old ages among EZ states. He argues that most of the political power around EZ â€Å" chose to believe that asymmetric dazes would be a comparatively minor job † . Therefore Krugman identified another daze which is every bit of import as the others that existed earlier. This daze was, â€Å" in a acrimonious sarcasm, caused by the creative activity of the euro itself. † â€Å" In kernel, the creative activity of the euro led to a perceptual experience on the portion of many investors that the large hazards associated with cross-border investing within Europe had been eliminated. In the 1990s, despite the absence of formal capital controls, capital motions and therefore current-account instabilities within Europe were limited. After the creative activity of the euro, nevertheless, there was monolithic capital motion from Europe ‘s nucleus – chiefly Germany, but besides the Netherlands – to its fringe, taking to an economic roar in the fringe and significantly higher rising prices rates in Spain, Greece, etc. than in Germany. † In Krugman ‘s sentiment this deficiency of loads among euro country states led to the creative activity of more asymmetric dazes which states were non able to pull off. Especially states in the fringe, since they abdicated from their independent pecuniary policy, they could non utilize unfastened market operations to cover with such jobs like higher rising prices. Even though those states could do force per unit area on taking establishments in order to accommodate their policy to those state of affairss, they would confront opposition by â€Å" EuropeA?s nucleus † states. Therefore, this force per unit area would non be turned into any positive result for the fringe. Beginning 3: Martin Feldstein, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, â€Å" Optimum Currency Areas † , Cambridge, MA, 2008 Surely we can non avoid the economic differences among European states, although we might non merely concentrate on economic issues. Feldstein credited portion of the euro related jobs to political issues, alternatively of simply economic jobs such as daze dissymmetries. Feldstein has a broad background as academic and political associate in US, this allows him to hold an external position of the euro state of affairs and the single force per unit areas exercised by single states. The political result identified by Martin Feldstein, as described below, could be straight related with the dazes created by euro execution program as argued by Krugman ( see Source 2 ) . â€Å" Not all EMU states will be affected every bit by the development of the European economic system or by the policies of the ECB. ( aˆÂ ¦ ) Because of a limited willingness to do forfeits for the benefit of other EMU states or for the EMU as a system, some of those authoritiess or politicians may seek to go out the EMU or may endanger that they will make so unless policies are changed. † This position shows another attack on the OCA issue which might be against the thought that there are optimal conditions in the EU for a common currency, nevertheless non for the most frequent grounds referred in the literature. We can state that Martin Feldstein is chiefly presenting a political dimension into treatment, which sometimes can be the most decisive 1. Beginning 4: Huseyin Mualla Yuceol, â€Å" Why European Union is non an optimum currency country: The bounds of integrating † , Ege Academic Review, Mersin University, 2006 Besides mentioning many of the points that are mentioned in the literature back uping Krugman ‘s position ( see Source 2 ) , in which, he is chiefly placing that â€Å" there is a widespread incredulity environing the long-term practicality of the EMU. † This well-known Turkish faculty member besides refers another of import issue related with the OCA argument that sometimes is forgotten. Harmonizing to him, even though the European Commission was cognizant of macroeconomic disagreements, there was a clear deficiency of enforcement in order to cut down these existent dissymmetries. â€Å" Therefore, the so called EMU â€Å" convergence standards † are more concerned with analyzing ephemeral cyclical motions in fiscal indexs, instead than concentrating upon cardinal convergence in existent economic system. However, analyzing the extent to which EU member provinces have really met the MCC since 1990s, a period including both a recession and roar, makes dissatisfactory reading for protagonists of European pecuniary integrating. † The grounds shows that the deficiency of enforcement of the â€Å" convergence standards † led to an unsustainable macroeconomic state of affairs in the EZ. This unsustainable state of affairs implies that the EZ is non an optimum currency country and it besides means it is more hard to accomplish these conditions. â€Å" This is because, the accomplishment of convergence depends on peculiarly certain institutional and structural characteristics and the grade of development of market mechanisms. † Yuceol besides refers that there are likely two different groups among euro country states. One that would most likely tantrum in a common currency and the fringe which will confront strong barriers to maintain at the same gait without the pecuniary tools lost for the pecuniary brotherhood. â€Å" Therefore, EMU will split Europe because no mechanism exists for accomplishing existent convergence between national economic systems. †3. Tentative decisionsFrom the parts of the literature referred in this reappraisal it is easy to understand that both places in favour or against the OCA conditions in the euro zone can be argued. It is of import to underscore that most of the surveies on this affair are really concentrating in the same vectors, as mentioned before. However, they come up with rather different consequences. It is non straightforward which side is deducing misdirecting decisions. We can chiefly place two different political orientations: the one shared by the European Commission and other European establishments ( e.g. : ECB ) and the resistance which is chiefly referred in the literature as the Krugman ‘s position. From reading the different beginnings we can briefly province that the EC defends that higher integrating among states would increase the chance of the OCA standards being satisfied, while the other position provinces that higher integrating would take to a over specialisation job which would go a negative daze itself. Therefore, my probationary decision would be that the statements against the optimum conditions for a common currency in the euro zone are stronger than the others. The chief ground to indicate this out would be that most portion of the statements in favour of OCA conditions in EZ are based in frontward looking outlooks. Therefore I should hold that one of the chief jobs with the euro country was that it was established under future outlooks. This premise led states, like the 1s from the fringe, to be integrated in the EMU and they really did non hold conditions to make so. The demands established by the theory, such as the symmetricalness of dazes, labour market flexibleness and so on, are right so. I would state the misleading job was non a theoretical job. It was alternatively an out of clip phasing-in procedure carried out by the EMU which is non over yet.4. AnnexsGraph 1 – Two Key Optimum Currency Area Properties Beginning: Francesco Paolo Mongelli, † † New † positions on the optimal currency country theory: What is EMU stating us? â€Å" , European Central Bank ( ECB ) , Working Paper No. 138, April 2002