Climate Change and the Experience of Poverty Essay

Climate Change and the Experience of Poverty - Essay Example Mitigation encompasses reducing the impact that one has on the environment through reduction of one’s carbon footprint among other activities. Conversely, adaptation involves dealing with consequences of climate change by say, establishing methods of coping with regular floods. A gap exists in current literature on the relationship between climate change and poverty. Several analysts tend to focus on mitigation at the community level. Institutions have been formed to minimise energy use through transport. Others have addressed housing and urban development (Berrang-Ford et. al., 2011). While these efforts may contribute to long term solutions for the country in general, they do not address the direct challenges that disadvantaged community members face when dealing with extreme weather events. ... It is imperative for stakeholders at the national, corporate and local levels to target this group when creating interventions. Extreme weather events (Such as floods, storms, and cyclones) are a manifestation of climate change and have adverse effects on disadvantaged communities. Poor people live in less-robust settlements that often leave them defenceless against these situations. Furthermore, they lack information of how to protect themselves during such events. Demetriades and Esplen (2008) note that actions are necessary in order to strengthen the resilience of the vulnerable during extreme weather events. Stakeholders may empower the disadvantaged through information dissemination, infrastructural preparedness, housing tenure agreements, among others (McCright, 2010. One of the ways in which these changes are manifested is through community projects. Nongovernmental organizations and special interest groups may carry out community projects to build resilience among disadvantag ed communities. It is imperative to understand why such groups are performing this role, and whether their activities arose from gaps in policy interventions from the national and local governments. Community projects are insufficient as a coping strategy for disadvantaged communities (Zsamboky et. al., 2011). However, they represent an attempt by non-state actors to participate in an issue of grave national consequences. Their presence in deprived areas indicates that policy-makers may not be doing enough to prepare these communities for extreme weather conditions. Runhaar et. al. (2012) carried out a study in the Netherlands to assess the stimuli and barriers to climate change adaptations in urban areas. They found that a gap

The Arbitration Provisions Introduced by the United Nations Research Paper

The Arbitration Provisions Introduced by the United Nations Conventions for Contracts of Carriage by Sea - Research Paper Example The Rotterdam Rules on arbitration emphasizes the right of disputants to choose an arbitration forum that is more convenient to them. At the same time, volume contracts limit these choices and also bind third parties to arbitration agreements between the disputants.3 It therefore appears that the Rotterdam Rules’ arbitration provision contain a number of problems that can be counterproductive to the goal of harmonisation of the international rules applicable to contracts for the carriage of goods by sea. In addition to conflicts contained within the provisions and definition complications, there is also the possibility that arbitration on a single dispute can take place in several places. It is also possible that states adopting the arbitration provisions may not have the maritime expertise to properly resolve maritime disputes or may lack a litigation system capable of supporting arbitration proceedings. This is particularly so since the Rotterdam Rules can apply to contracts for the carriage of goods by means other than by sea, at least partially.4 This research study provides a critical analysis of the arbitration provisions of the Rotterdam Rules and identifies the intended goals of these provisions and the extent to which the Rotterdam Rules have the potential to achieve these goals. Table of Contents Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Research Questions 7 Primary Research Question 8 Secondary Research Questions 8 Statement of the Problem 8 Significance of the Study 9 Delimitation of the Study 10 Research Methodology 10 Overview: International Arbitration of Maritime Contracts 11 The Arbitration Provisions of the Rotterdam Rules 14 Scope and Application of the Rotterdam Rules 14 Arbitration Agreements 17 Volume Contracts 21 Non-Liner Transport 27 The Opt-In Provision 29 Conflict with Other International Instruments 32 Conclusion and Recommendations 34 Conclusion 34 Recommendations 36 Bibligraphy 39 Introduction The Rotterdam Rules introduces into the interna tional regulatory framework a method for regulating â€Å"multimodal transport†.5 In this regard, multimodal transport not only refers to transport by virtue of sea, but also contemplates various other modes of transportation.6 In drafting the Rotterdam Rules the United Nations came to the conclusion that the more than 90 year old Hague Convention was inadequate for responding to the modern intricacies of international cargo transport particularly since today’s transport frequently involves several different modes of transportation. The use of different conventions only created difficulties and conflicts in establishing liability since different rules apply to different transport modes.7 Regardless, the main premise of the Rotterdam Rules is maritime transport and thus, the Rules may be properly defined as a â€Å"maritime plus convention.†8 The Rotterdam Rules introduce arbitration provisions for resolving disputes in specific contracts for carriage by sea situ ations.9 The

Strategic Planning And Development Of Addidas Marketing Essay

Strategic Planning And Development Of Addidas Marketing Essay According to Data monitor Adidas is among the leading players in the global sporting goods industry. The group is the leading sporting goods group in Germany, France and Japan, the most important markets outside the US. Adidas, through Reebok, has also a strong position in the US. The acquisition of Reebok has helped Adidas gain a 20% share of the US athletic footwear market. However leading market position help Adidas gain competitive advantage in market and brand loyal customers and Adidass high brand equity enables it to attract more customers. The 2010 FIFA World Cup was a big success for Adidas. The company had a supreme presence at the event with twelve teams including the host nation in the finals, combined with its status as official sponsor, supplier and licensee. The event had a great effect on the Adidas brand overall due to its unprecedented scale of media coverage. As of June 21, 2010 (almost ten days after the competition began), the company achieved record breaking sales, predicting sales of soccer-related merchandise at least $2.2 billion, surpassing the $1.9 billion obtained in football sales in 2008. Adidas markets its products through an extensive marketing infrastructure. The group offers its products through its own retail stores and franchised stores. However extensive marketing infrastructure helps Adidas to reach a wide range of customers and eventually expand its size of the market. According to Data monitor the group has geographically-diversified operations. It operates in Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America. Moreover, the group has balanced revenue mix in terms of revenue generated from various geographical locations. However this means Adidas can acquire greater economies of scale with its geographically diversified operations. Adidas has sponsorship agreements for major sports events across the globe. The company has a sponsorship agreement with the Japan Football Association until March 2015 and with the Australian Olympic Committee until 2016. It also secured sponsorship rights to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, in 2009, Adidas extended its partnership with UEFA for the UEFA EURO 2012 and UEFA EURO 2016 football championships, as well as for the UEFA Champions League. The company has also signed an 11-year global merchandising partnership agreement (beginning with the 2006-2007 season) with the National Basketball Association (NBA). This deal makes Adidas the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, the Womens National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League. Additionally, Adidas is also the Official Sportswear Partner to 2012 Olympics in London. Sponsorship of major sports events would help the company to strengthen its profitability and enhance its brand recall among consu mers. Government and other organisations are highly promoting active lifestyle to fight obesity and various diseases. According to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), more than 600 million adults were considered obese in 2010. An additional 1.0 billion were estimated to be overweight. This development has serious health consequences and a dramatic effect on health care expenditures. So this issue might bring new opportunity for Adidas. 3. Women Segment Offers Long Term Potential: Till date most of the Adidas revenue comes from the men segment. But in the upcoming days the women segment is showing more potential for Adidas. Adidas should focus on this segment by creating new products and design for womens. 4. Growing global footwear market: According to Data Monitor the global footwear market has shown positive growth in recent years. The global footwear market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4% in the six-year period 2005-2011 to reach $202.3 billion in 2011. So this is a major opportunity for Adidas to explore itself globally which will result in increase sales and revenues and ultimately gives the group chance to catch the global market. Threats: 1. Macroeconomic Risks: Growth in the sporting goods industry is highly dependent on consumer spending and consumer confidence. Economic downturns, socio-political factors such as civil unrest, nationalisation, in particular in regions where the Group is highly represented, therefore cause a significant short-term risk to sales development. 2. Consumer Demand Risk: Nowadays consumers are more choosy and its quiet difficult to predict their demand. So therefore it is essential to maintain a balance between the supply and demand. Failure to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer demand for sporting goods products is one of the most serious threats for Adidas. 3. Customer Bargaining Power: Nowadays markets are more buyers dominated. The bargaining power of customer is rising rapidly because of intense competition between the suppliers. This issue can harm on Adidas overall business operations. 4. Intense Competition: The athletic footwear, apparel and equipment industry is highly competitive. Adidas group competes with players such as Nike, Callaway Golf Company, New Balance Athletic Shoe, and PUMA AG Rudolf Dazzler Sport. High level of competition in the market place could negatively impact the market share of the group. (Data monitor, 2010). 6. Adidas AG: Strategy Adidas has `diversified its strategy in three dimensions. They are: 1. Group Strategy. 2. Global Brands Strategy. 3. Global Sales Strategy. 1. Group Strategy: 1.1 Creating Shareholder Value: Adidas is trying to create more value for its shareholders through generation of cash flow. Therefore, Adidas AG is focused on carefully managing those factors under its control, making strategic choices that will drive sustainable revenue and earnings growth, and ultimately cash flow. 1.2 Multi Brand Strategies: To maximise customer reach with variety of choice Adidas has adapted multi brand strategy. 1.3 Investments focused on highest potential markets and channels: Adidas has prioritised its investments based on those markets which offer the best medium to long-term growth and profitability opportunities. In this respect, we continue to place a considerable emphasis on expanding our activities in the emerging markets, particularly China and Russia. 2. Global Brand Strategy: 2.1 Driving the long-term development of Adidas and Reebok: To secure long-term sustainable growth for the Group, Global Brands is focused on driving the development of the Adidas and Reebok brands. The overall strategic goal is to achieve qualitative, sustainable growth by building desirable brands in consumers and customers perception. 2.2 Brand architecture and differentiation: Adidas multi-brand structure gives them an important competitive advantage. Through its brand architecture, It seamlessly cover the consumer segments they have defined, catering to more consumer needs, while at the same time keeping clarity of brand message and values. 3. Global Sales Strategy: The global sales function is responsible for the commercial activities of Adidas. The functions is categorised in three distinctive channel retail, wholesale and e-commerce. 3.1 Focus on Controlled Space To make its products more competitive Adidas has adapted several techniques. As a result they are refining their distribution channel with stronger focus on controlled space which includes e-commerce, own retail store, mono branded franchise stores, partnership with retail stores etc. Focusing on Three Attack Markets: As a part of strategic business plan route 2015 the global sales function has identified North America, Russia, UK, Latin America, Greater China, Japan and India as key growth markets. Among them North America, China and Russia are anticipated to contribute over 50% of total sales. To ensure the efficiency of these markets they directly report to the group CEO. 7. Concluding Thoughts Based on the above information this assignment would conclude that Adidas is one of the largest companies in the sporting goods industry. The group operates through more than 150 subsidiaries in Europe, the US and Asia, each focusing on a particular market or part of the manufacturing process. To be concluded Adidas has a priorities SWOT analysis with leading market position as its biggest strength and Geographically-diversified operations enable Adidas to take advantage of a range of market opportunities

Bloody Thursday and Paint on the Sidewalk :: American History Depression Essays

Bloody Thursday and Paint on the Sidewalk On the edge of North Beach, across the street from where the myriad of little shops in the wharf which sell Alcatraz t-shirts and miniature Cable Cars begin, two human outlines made of white paint adorn the ground in front of a union hall. These are passed by hundreds of tourists daily, as well as many residents, yet few stop to ponder the curious shapes or the crude text painted in red: â€Å"SHOT BY POLICE JULY 5, 1934.† Though this spot does not mark where the original incident occurred, for the men died in front of the original Longshoremen’s Hall on the corner of Mission and Steuart streets, when the new hall opened here on the edge of North Beach these outlines were placed to remember the event. That event, â€Å"Bloody Thursday,† became the climax of the waterfront strike in 1934 and a turning point for Employer and Union relations in San Francisco—and the rest of the nation. ILA DEMANDS By the end of 1933, the effects of the Great Depression began to shift public opinion toward the rights of workers, and enlivened the efforts of unions working for collective action to ensure those rights. As a report before Congress in 1942 explained, Legislation such as the National Industrial Recovery Act emboldened these unions to explore the â€Å"potentialities of a protected right to bargain collectively† and, in the context of this potential, the â€Å"all but defunct† International Longshoremen’s Association renewed their activity and â€Å"met with immediate success.† On the West coast, the ILA gained scores of new members and even extended membership to include â€Å"checkers, seniors, weighers, lumber handlers, grainmen, and warehousemen employed on the waterfront.†[1] In December, the San Francisco local voted on a resolution to participate in a coast-wide strike to demand a six day, thirty hour work week with minimum pay of $1 per hour. Acting on the instigation of the local, a convention of members from all West Coast ports met in San Francisco in February 1934, deciding to strike â€Å"unless the wage-and-hour demands† were accepted. The Waterfront Employers Union, an association of ship owners which controlled most of the dock labor, refused to even meet with the ILA until they filed a complaint with the National Recovery Administration’s Regional Labor Board.

Physics LabShc of Water

The result I will get as the SSH of water will not be exactly the same as the literature value, but ill be a very close figure to the literature value of the SSH of water as there will be some limitations to our experiment. The experimental result I acquired was 4119. 54 Jag-1 K-1, lower than I expected, while the literature value is 4200 Jag-K-1 this shows that the experiment was carried out correctly, but not perfectly. There is a 2% error in my result when compared to the literature value. The errors can be due to the fact that the experiment wasn't orchestrated under professional conditions in a top-notch lab. Thus, one can without a doubt conclude by saying that the experiment faced mom errors while it was being conducted, but still arrived at the area of the expected result.Evaluation The experiment was conducted well, despite the random and systematic errors that I came across. The main errors I identified were the following: When transferring the iron block into the calorimet er some heat was lost to the surroundings as the block was out in the open. The simple calorimeter we used was made from a copper can, and when the water and iron block were boiling the can was nearby, and since it's a metal and metals are conductors of heat it possibly has gained heat from the Bunsen burner. Therefore, the temperature difference of the mixture, as a result, could have been made smaller by reason of heat being gained by the calorimeter.The cover of the calorimeter wasn't fully closed, leaving the water inside exposed and vulnerable to evaporation, which could lead to the loss of mass of the water and also cause the water to lose or gain heat from the surroundings, which could have been the reason I got results lower than what I expected, even though it would result in a very minute difference Suggestions for Improvements Weakness – Improvement Calorimeter gaining heat from the Bunsen burner close by because of the material it's made from Introduce a calorimet er that is made from a substance that doesn't let outside intrusions affect it. The cover of the calorimeter not fully closing Use a lid that fits the copper can so that the water inside of it isn't exposed to outside air Heat lost to surroundings when transferring ten test material (metal Deadlock) Into ten calorimeter Put forward a scheme whereby less heat is lost to the surroundings or use a metal that has some characteristics of an insulator as the test material (metal block)

A Comparison Of A Clockwork Orange And 1984 Essay

A Comparison of A Clockwork Orange and 1984 In futuristic literature one often encounters political systems that dominate and oppress. In George Orwell’s 1984 and Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange, government control uses various methods to force the citizens to conform. Brain washing was used for a common purpose in both stories, to forget and change the characters past actions. In A Clockwork Orange, brain washing was used after Alex had committed all his crimes, as a method of treatment for his violent tendencies. When Alex would cry for them to stop the horrible films, that he was forced to watch, Br. Brodsky said â€Å"We have to be hard on you, you have to be cured.† (Burgess,86) This experimental treatment was being used full force, Alex being the gini pig. The Charlie warned Alex before singing him up that â€Å"It’s only in the experimental stage at the moment. It’s very simple but very drastic.†(Burgess, 67) Alex’s treatment turned out to be â€Å"successful† in the doctors eye’s. He was cured of all his violence, left to the brutality of society that he could no longer deal with. In 1984 brain washing was a non-stop method of control used 24 hours everywhere Winston would go. He and Alex were lead to a similar fate. Although the constant attempt by Big Brother to have total control over all citizens of Ociania by propaganda and telescreens did not work on Winston, the torture and room 101 let him understand â€Å"double think† and learn to love Big Brother. Big Brother could make him believe anything, â€Å"Then almost without a pause he wrote: two and two make five.†(Orwell,239) A the end of 1984 Winston believed â€Å"He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.†(Orwell,256) Propaganda and brain washing can have positive and negative results on a society, both are presented in these novels. No matter what the result on society, the outcome on the person is always harmful. In 1984 Winston became compliant to the government and the rest of society. Any rebellion or self-control that Winston had was forced out of him by the brain washing and propaganda. Winston and Julia always said, â€Å"What you say or do doesn’t matter: only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you- that would be real betrayal.† (Orwell, 136) They went in to room 101 knowing they would confess  but saying they would never stop loving each other, â€Å"They can’t get inside you.† (Orwell, 136) They were wrong. After the government was done with them they had no love for anything but Big Brother. By the government achieving this, they eliminated any chance of Winston or Julia rebelling against them. This therefore diminished the hope that any rebellion would occur to save the disciplined society. The opposite was true in A Clockworks Orange Alex had love like he had never experienced before. Alex had become so desensitized as a child that he could commit horrible crimes with no remorse what so ever. â€Å"That was disgusting so we have him the boot, one go each, and then it was blood, not song nor vomit, that came out of his filthy old rot. Then we went on our way.† (Burgess,15) In fact Alex found enjoyment in others pain caused by himself. His treatment therefore made him fit societies standards in a positive way, whereas Winston fit society in a negative way because they took something away that could have helped society. In both books drugs were used by the government to control people and patients. The citizens of Ociania were drugged constantly. Every thing they put in their mouth was controlled by the government. To eat anything else was against the law. Each social class had their own food and drink they could consume. Winston was not an important person in the governments eyes so he did not get high quality possessions. â€Å"He took a cigarette form a crumpled packet marked VICTORY CIGARETTES and incautiously held it upright, whereupon the tobacco fell out on to the floor.†(Orwell,10) The important government officials not only had the power to turn off their telescreens, which were a constant source of brainwashing, but they could also eat and drink high quality, normal food. â€Å"It’s Inner Party coffee. It’s all Inner Party stuff. There’s nothing those swine don’t have, nothing.†(Orwell,125) Once arrested Winston was drugged by O’Brien so as to be more susceptible to ideas. â€Å"Winston could not remember whether it was in drugged sleep, or in normal sleep a voice murmured in his ear: Don’t worry I shall save you, I shall make you perfect.†(Orwell, 210) Drugs were used in the same manner in A Clockwork Orange before being taken  to watch the horrible films he would be shot with drugs so that the film would affect him faster. â€Å"After every meal we shall be giving you a shot in the arm.†(Burgess,78) â€Å"Now all the time I was watching this I was beginning to get very aware of a like not feeling all that well, and this I put down to the under-nourishment and my stomach not quite ready for the rich pishcha and vitamins I was getting here.†(Burgess,82) Drugs caused both these cha racters to be manipulated at the hands of their oppressors to mold them to fit their totalitarian ways. These two pieces of literature are perfect examples of political systems that dominate and oppress. Both use various forms of brain washing to create a certain type of person that will conform to the society they have created. The novels also show the impact that brain washing and propaganda have on the society and what it takes away from the individual. Although these stories are not mirror images of our civilization in this day and time, it is not difficult to associate some of the ideas presented in these two book to what we have, and to what is to come.

Plant Binomial System essays

Plant Binomial System essays Our planet has an unknown number of different plants living on it, which means that unless there is a way of providing each different plant with a unique name the potential for confusion and mistakes is huge. The common name of a plant may seem the most obvious name to apply to a plant however the common name can refer to several different plants depending on your location. As an example in the UK the woodbine is the common name for honeysuckle, whilst in the United States this common name refers to clematis, a completely different plant. This type of confusion does not only occur from one country to another but can occur between different regions of the same country. The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus gave classification of animals, minerals and plants consistency and precision when he developed his binomial nomenclature system in 1753. The use of Latinised names in the binomial system was initially a result of Latin being a widely used written language amongst the educated people of the time. In modern times Latin is no longer a language in common use which has aided the worldwide use of the system as well as eradicating misinterpretation. The system that Carl Linnaeus began has undergone changes since its initial development as our understanding of how to differentiate one plant from another has grown. We now have the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, which provides us with a universally acceptable system. The binomial system is so called because it consists of two words: the genus and species. When used together they create a unique name for the plant. The genus is the grouping of plants according to common characteristics and each genus can contain several species. The species refers to individual plants within the same genus that are capable of interbreeding. The binomial name for the potato is Solanum tuberos ...

Job design in an Organization

Job design in an Organization Job design in an organization is crucial from various perspectives as it deals with work rearrangement aimed at overcoming any employee dissatisfaction. In respect to this, there is always renewed hope and strength for employee to perform his or her duty successfully (Robertson Smith, 1985).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Job design in an Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Applying this to any customer service professional, the company will be able to reflect a good picture generally of the whole business system, because when the customers are served with enthusiasm, they are able to develop a unique liking of the company. For this case, considering improvement of working conditions for customer service professional in the credit card company, various ways of restructuring and reorganizing the working system are necessary in order to improve working conditions and also enable good reputation because the customer care provides a link between the customers and the company. As always expected, there must be rewards through better pay package. The incentives that should be offered to the customer care would include getting offered credit cards with low interest rates, a periodic reward of points to the employee when it is revealed that the employee is very much committed to the company’s work. There must also be granting of leave for the employee to refresh, especially from a period of a tiresome work session. In addition, there would also be on job training in order to acquire more skills in the credit card business process. The knowledge on the credit card business helps customer care make informed decisions when advising the customers, which may include marketing strategies. There must also be an innovative working environment which is admirable for the employee to work in the company effectively (Parker Wall, 1998). In enhancing job design for the customer service in the cr edit card company, both scientific and management practices ought to be practiced. This ensures that both analytic and objective approaches to solving issues in the organization are crucial. The customer care should know exactly his or her role and what is expected from him/her in the job. This enables the creation of clear objectives for the work so that the credit card business is kept operational in a successful way. The customer care must know the set out roles which enhance motivation in whatever is required at all the times.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Incorporating the job characteristic model, the customer care is to know exact identity of the task. This calls for the need to know the exact responsibility that he or she has in the marketing and creation of good relations of the company with the customers. The customer care should also have autonomy. Thi s determines the schedule of the work plan at all given times that should be decided solely by the employee. The skills of performing the work are also very important as a contributing factor for the process of motivating the customer care. The significance of the task allocated is important too because the company knows exactly the expected outcome of the process. Through this, providing positive feedback to the customer care for any good performance is necessary as this is an inspiring factor coming from best job design. The design model should also include room for self expression of the customer care. Through this, all the views are incorporated for the best benefit of the company so as to enable more allocation of credit cards to the customers (Parker Wall, 1998). Finally, improvement of customer care’s job conditions will enable good performance and develop cordial relations with other customers. Consequently, this reflects good image of the company and more customers in need of credit card will register for the services. Through the job design, motivation of the employees is observed because from the school of human relations, a business is taken as a social systems whereby productivity is heavily influenced by emotional and psychological factors of the employees (Parker Wall, 1998). This will finally promote good business. References Parker, S. Wall, D. (1998). Job and work design, organizing work to promote well- being and effectiveness. California: Sage publications. Robertson, I. T. Smith M. (1985). Motivation and Job Design: Theory, research and practice. New York: Hyperion Books.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Job design in an Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Idioms About Distance

Idioms About Distance Idioms About Distance Idioms About Distance By Mark Nichol The English language, rich with idiom, is replete with colorful words and phrases about measurement of distance. Here is a look at some of those expressions, roughly in order of the magnitude of the length being referred to. Colloquial phrases about distances include hairbreadth, referring, as the word indicates, to the thickness of a hair with the connotation of coming within an infinitesimal distance of doing something. The closing of this compound word, first known to have been used in the early 1600s, is unusual, as is the insertion of the plural s in the middle of the plural form: hairsbreadth. Similarly, one can refer to doing something â€Å"by a whisker.† One can also say that that a room or other place is so small, one could not swing a cat in the confined space. Two idioms that do not refer to literal distance but include figurative references to distance follow: To express that someone is not trustworthy, one can write or say, â€Å"I don’t trust [someone] any farther than I can throw him† (or her). To indicate that one does not want to get close to an object or a subject, one can refer to not wanting to touch something or someone with a ten-foot pole- or, rarely, a barge pole (referring to a long pole used to propel a barge, a long, flat boat used for hauling freight or debris, by pushing the pole’s end against the shallow bottom of the waterway). A small but more extensive distance might be described as a hop, skip, and a jump or spitting distance (not to be confused with the much more intimate striking distance, denoting sufficient proximity to hit someone or something), though these expressions refer to more than the literal distance, likely even more than â€Å"a stone’s throw†- literally, the distance one can throw a rock of indeterminate size. Meanwhile, something right in one’s backyard is no great distance. Many people are familiar with the expression â€Å"Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes,† attributed to various American officers during the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War. This admonition to withhold musket fire until the targeted enemy is close enough for a sure shot that justifies the use of precious ammunition had been used repeatedly in various forms for several decades before that conflict, however, and originated with a Swedish king in the early 1600s. It never achieved popular usage, though, even as a figurative expression. An expression from the American South refers to how many looks away a destination is; this term denotes how many landmarks one must look for before arriving. (â€Å"Turn right at the church, then, when you come to a big stump right next to the road, take the next left turn, and it’s right past the creek crossing† represents three or four looks, depending on whether the left turn after the stump counts as a look.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of Humor15 Types of DocumentsWhat the Heck are "Peeps"?

Police Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Police Report - Assignment Example But instead of lining up, they went to an alley right in the middle of the line and went inside it. There was a stair leading below and opened a steel door casually. The man was greeted with a guard who was dressed in a suit. The wall had a green floral design and they were greeted cordially by the guard in suit whom the man responded by giving him a tip and greeting him â€Å"how are you doing†. They seem to know each other and the man seem to be a frequent customer of the area. The place is dimly lit and looks reddish where they were met by another guard in suit who was eating a burger. The man gave him another tip and they get inside another door. They were met by a man who appears to be a waiter in red suit. They proceeded in the alley where there were scores of men who were dressed like waiters. The man again greeted them cordially and gave pleasantries indicating familiarity of the place. The man opened another door which appears to be a kitchen of a restaurant or club. Again the man seems to be familiar with the people inside who this time were cooks and chef. Until finally, they came in a place which appears to be a club. The man was eagerly met by somebody important in the club and he was called â€Å"Anthony, nice to see you while shaking his hand†. The person who received them called the waiters who quickly assembled table for them. Anthony talked to the people around shaking hands with them and exchanging pleasantries. The woman looked amu sed. He finally sat and the woman was amused that they gave them a suit. The pleasantries continued because another group of men who appears to be important greeted him across the table and raised their glass. The woman who was the date of the man asked â€Å"what do you do?† Anthony replied† I am in construction†. Anthony replied â€Å"You don’t look like you are in construction†. Their conversation was interrupted by the drum

The Neurophysiology of Peripheral Neurogenic Pain Essay - 1

The Neurophysiology of Peripheral Neurogenic Pain - Essay Example This study focused on the aspects of peripheral neurogenic pain with regard to its neurophysiology. According to Hecke et al., epidemiology of pain involves the investigation of the distribution, as well as, the causes of pain and ill health and also how this information can be integrated into managing these predicaments. The epidemiology of pain can be addressed through paying much attention onto the widespread and intermittent pain disorders that are commonly experienced by persons in their daily lives. In focusing on the epidemiology of pain, the core question that might arise would be in relation whether the persistence of pain is a result of unremitting or never-ending ailment. The term scale in this aspect denotes that pain may either be bodily, emotional, or mental. Subsequently, individual views or opinions regarding pain also differs (Simpson et al. 90-95). Stewart, in a study to determine the difference in the pain levels between the two genders and based on their ages, conducted a study that recorded a higher frequency of felt pain among women who rated higher levels of painful feelings as compared to men. This factor is attributed to genetic differences between male and female, as well as, the variations in responsibilities that are bestowed upon each gender by the society. The following graph illustrates the differences on frequency or commonness of pain between men and women Seattle Washington. The results as shown are in percentages. In the graph above, the values on the y-axis represent the percentages of age-sex frequency as was conducted between males and females, while the x-axis represents the ages in groups spanning from 18 to over 65 years of age of the respondents. According to Hecke et al., the medical records in that are found in health institutions have shown a higher proportion of women seeking treatment for pain related problems more than males do. The difference in the

Why are there so many nursing organizations Is the large number of Essay

Why are there so many nursing organizations Is the large number of nursing assocations a value or a hindrance to the Profession - Essay Example Previous years have attested that there were increased global demand for nurses with vast opportunities in terms of financial remuneration and career opportunities. The lucrative prospects given to nursing graduates and immediate placement in hospitals and health care institutions all over the world invited more students to pursue the nursing career. With various international hospitals requiring nursing staff from various cultural orientations, the nursing associations flourished to give nurses the options to choose based on nurse values and principles. These associations professionalize the standards expected of nursing and regulate the quality of health care to be adhered to under ethical and moral codes. When the number of positions was ultimately filled globally, nursing institutions and associations continue to accept applications for nurses without enough local, state or federal jurisdictions to monitor and control the supply. The effect was oversupply of nurses that could not be employed. Further, young graduates fresh from nursing associations were deemed lacking in health care experience and in the required high quality of patient care. Without enough hospitals or health care institutions to accept these young nurses to further their exposure, actual training and experience in health care, problems with employment currently arise.

Article response about architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Article response about architecture - Essay Example ansion and growth of American commercial life encouraged broader spectrum of American people to relocate into suburban cities or communities after the bloody world war. From 1949 to 19955, the American suburban societies grew by forty percent in contrast to general population growth of 10%. At an amazing pace, the futuristic mass built and highways and well-equipped home appliances that had been dreamt of during the New York Global Fair in 1940 had become a real (Cohen 1055). The topic focused on the transformation and reconstruction of American suburban life after the war from 1947 to 19991. In addition, it presents a clear picture of how American suburban population grew after some families opted to move out of town and start new life in suburban communities. The restructuring and reconfiguration of consumer marketplace led to transformation of suburban residential places. The article asserts that during the 1920, merchandisers and business people in America had desired to live in a motorized and developed society. After the war, this dream was changing into realty in the sense that as consumers became autonomous, they encountered new problems that one had predicted. For instance, every American used to drive a situation that caused traffic snarl up since developing towns had little pace to accommodate the increasing population (Cohen 1059). 20. Most Interesting Passage (single quotation of 100-300 words, plus page citation—or series of up to three shorter quotations, same aggregate word-count, plus page citation) plus a brief comment as to why this passage(s) is interesting to you It was interesting to learn that when planner and town developers dreamt to construct a consumer oriented center in 19950, they aimed to perfect the idea of downtown despite the fact that their project challenged the feasibility of existing commercial towns such as Hackensack in Bergen County (Cohen 1061). I found it interesting because it is not easy to imagine that during the

Discussion question Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion question - Personal Statement Example The movement became popular in 1965, and peaked in the year 1968, and it managed to unite a large percentage of the Americans to protest against President Kennedy’s role in Vietnam. The unity in protesting against the war was depicted on October 1965, where there was thousands of debate on the morality of the war. This day was termed as the Vietnam Day (Hampton et al, 1990). This war also led to the emergence and recognition of student organizations as a force capable of promoting civil rights of people. For instance, in 1964, there emerged the students movement termed as the Freedom Summer, under the leadership of Mario Savio. The movement main objective was to protest against the war, and it did this by cooperating with other human rights organizations, and organizing mass movements to sensitize the government of their displeasure (Hampton et al, 1990). In 1966, the University students formed the Under Ground Press Syndicate, whose objective was to share intelligence information concerning the war with various civil rights movements. Freedom Summer Movement also formed the Liberation News Channel, which managed to mobilize more than a thousand seminarians who wrote protest letters to the secretary of defense. In conclusion, this conflict should not be seen as promoting civil rights, and this is because many people died and property destroyed. The speech by Martin Luther managed to accelerate the progress of the civil right movement in United States of America. Due to the speech, and his actions, the United States Legislature managed to pass a bill termed as the Civil Rights Act, 1968. The act protected a person against discrimination due to his race, religion or national origin, when such a person was involved in transactions related to housing projects (Hampton et al, 1990). This speech by Martin Junior King precipitated the emergence of more civil rights groups to fight for equality among

(industry FIVE FORCES analysis chapter) in my dissertation Essay

(industry FIVE FORCES analysis chapter) in my dissertation - Essay Example Bargaining Power of Suppliers Major suppliers of chemical manufacturers include: oil and gas companies (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 13, 16). Even though oil and gas products are homogenous or undifferentiated by nature, we should keep in mind these materials are non-renewable items. As a common knowledge, there is no other product substitute for oil and gas products. Considering the fact that there are only a few numbers of large-scale companies that could supply oil and gas to chemical manufacturers, the bargaining power of suppliers is considered high. Therefore, chemical manufacturers do not have the power to control the market prices of oil and gas products. Due to the fact the number of oil and gas suppliers is relatively few as compared to the number of chemical manufacturers around the world; the cost of switching from one supplier to another and suppliers’ dispensability is moderate (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 16). Bargaining Power of Buyers Large multinational companies that u sually purchase chemicals on a daily basis include manufacturing companies that manufacture the following items: plastic, perfume, pharmaceutical products, soap and detergents, shampoo, and people who are involved in agricultural businesses among others (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 13, 15). ... By nature, chemicals are undifferentiated products. For this reason, the buyers’ cost of switching from one chemical manufacturer to another and product dispensability is low (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 15). Even though establishing a strong business relationship with chemical manufacturers increase customer loyalty, the fact that the cost of switching is low makes the buyers’ tendency to switch from one chemical manufacturer to another moderate. In most cases, potential buyers are sensitive to price. Therefore, the only way for chemical manufacturers to persuade potential buyers to purchase their products is for them to be able to manufacture their products at a lower price. Rivalry among Existing Firms Competitors within the chemical manufacturing industry includes chemical manufacturers of basic chemicals (i.e. petrochemicals and plastic resins), specialty or fine chemicals (i.e. additives, paints, coating, fragrances, soaps, and detergents), pharmaceutical products (i.e . medicinal active ingredients and formulations), fertilizer and agrochemicals (i.e. chemical fertilizers and herbicides, insecticides) (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 7). Because of the continuously increasing number of chemical manufacturers in the global markets, the market competition within the chemical manufacturing industry is intensely competitive. In fact, there are quite a lot of local and international companies that are continuously competing for the same group of customers. Upon analyzing the chemical manufacturing industry, it is clear that the rivalry among the manufacturers of chemicals is very intense due to the fact that these companies are

Discussion question Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion question - Personal Statement Example The movement became popular in 1965, and peaked in the year 1968, and it managed to unite a large percentage of the Americans to protest against President Kennedy’s role in Vietnam. The unity in protesting against the war was depicted on October 1965, where there was thousands of debate on the morality of the war. This day was termed as the Vietnam Day (Hampton et al, 1990). This war also led to the emergence and recognition of student organizations as a force capable of promoting civil rights of people. For instance, in 1964, there emerged the students movement termed as the Freedom Summer, under the leadership of Mario Savio. The movement main objective was to protest against the war, and it did this by cooperating with other human rights organizations, and organizing mass movements to sensitize the government of their displeasure (Hampton et al, 1990). In 1966, the University students formed the Under Ground Press Syndicate, whose objective was to share intelligence information concerning the war with various civil rights movements. Freedom Summer Movement also formed the Liberation News Channel, which managed to mobilize more than a thousand seminarians who wrote protest letters to the secretary of defense. In conclusion, this conflict should not be seen as promoting civil rights, and this is because many people died and property destroyed. The speech by Martin Luther managed to accelerate the progress of the civil right movement in United States of America. Due to the speech, and his actions, the United States Legislature managed to pass a bill termed as the Civil Rights Act, 1968. The act protected a person against discrimination due to his race, religion or national origin, when such a person was involved in transactions related to housing projects (Hampton et al, 1990). This speech by Martin Junior King precipitated the emergence of more civil rights groups to fight for equality among

Of Mice and Men - Discuss the themes in the play Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Discuss the themes in the play Essay By themes, I mean the ideas, which the author is trying to give us. Most authors do not write just for fun, but to show us that there is a message that they would like us to learn behind the plot. Usually the ideas are ones that the author believes in deeply. The themes are under the following headings: * Loneliness Loneliness affects many of the characters, and Steinbeck seems to show that it is a natural result of the kind of life they are forced to lead. The workers are caught in a trap of loneliness they never stay in one place long enough to form long lasting relationships. Even if the relationships existed, they would probably be destroyed by the demands of their life. Candy is lonely because he is old, and is different from the other hands. His only comfort is his old dog, which keeps him company and reminds him of days when he was young and whole. He has no relatives, and once his dog is killed he is totally alone. He eagerly grasps at the idea of buying a farm with George and Lennie, but of course this all comes to nothing. Candys disappointment is shown in the bitter words he utters to the body of Curleys wife, who he blames for spoiling his dream. George is also caught in the trap of loneliness. Just as Candy has his dog for company, George has Lennie (who is often described in animal-like terms). George too is left completely alone when Lennie is killed. The dream farm is his idea, and he says Wed belong there no more runnin around the country Another lonely character is Curleys wife. Newly married and in a strange place, she is forbidden by Curley to talk to anyone but him. She constantly approaches the ranch hands on the excuse of looking for Curley. The only result is that the men regard her as a slut, and Curley becomes even more intensely jealous. Finally, her loneliness leads to her death as she makes the mistake of trying to defeat it by playing with Lennie. Curley himself is lonely. His new wife hates him, as do all the ranch hands who dislike him for his cowardice. He has married, to try and escape his loneliness, but has chosen a wife totally inappropriate for the kind of life he desires. His feelings are all of aggressive behaviour, which places his wife further away from him and leads to the incident with Lennie where his hand is crushed. Crooks is another who is isolated because he is different. He copes with it by keeping a distance between himself and the other hands. When he does allow himself to be drawn into the dream of working on George and Lennies dream farm, he is immediately shut out by Georges anger. * Violence The story has many examples of a kind of needless violence. For example, Candy relates how the boss gave them whisky and allowed a fight to take place in the bunkhouse. Curley is the most obvious violent character, and whenever he appears there is a feeling of tension. He causes George to remarkwhat the hells he got on his shoulder. Candy explains that Curley often picks on big guys (a sure sign of trouble for Lennie). We are prepared for Curleys later anger, which adds up at the end in his wish to shoot him in the guts. Carlson is another character associated with violence. He is unconcerned about killing Candys dog (and in fact cleans the gun in Candys presence). He goes to watch the fun when Curley thinks Slim may be with his wife, and later threatens Curley more, saying kick your head off. Later he is very keen to get his gun to join in the hunt for Lennie. The last words in the book belong to Carlson, and it is little surprise that they reveal his complete inability to understand Georges feelings about the death of Lennie. Compared to the other characters, Lennie reveals an unintentional violence. He does not even think to fight back when Curley attacks him, but when he does, it is with immense and uncontrollable power. He has so little control over his own strength that he accidentally kills his puppy, and then minutes later snuffs out the life of Curleys wife. His actions on these occasions are compared to those of an animal, powerful but thoughtless. Curleys wife is attracted to him because of the violence he had shown in crushing her husbands hand. It is the threat of violence to be used against Lennie that causes George to take the final step of killing his friend. * Dreams Dreams are one of the ways in which the characters fight the loneliness and hopelessness of their day to day lives. The most obvious example is the dream farm, a dream shared at first only by George and Lennie, but which later spreads to include Candy and Crooks. Crooks reveals that it is the favourite dream of the ranchers: Seems like ever guy got land in his head. It is a powerful dream, and even Crooks falls under its spell for a short time. To Lennie, the dream is a cure to disappointment and loneliness, and he often asks George to say the description of the farm to him again. Curleys wife is another who has dreams, her fantasies of a part in the movies and a life of luxury. Part of her sadness with her life is that it can never measure up to her dreams. But, none of the characters ever achieve their dreams. * Nature Steinbeck shows that nature is a beautiful and peaceful place, but threatened by the actions of men. The beginning of the story sets this pattern, as the creatures at the pool are disturbed by George and Lennies approach. The ranch and its buildings, being created by men, are in contrast with the natural world. For example the bunkhouse is quite bare and stark. Even more unnatural is that Candy and Crooks are either deformed in appearance. Contrasted to these two characters is Lennie, who almost seems a part of the natural world as he is described in animal terms. In fact, one of Lennies dreams is to go and live by himself in a cave. Maybe this would be the only way in which the natural world of Lennie would not come into conflict with the world of men.. Steinbeck referred to this story as a play/novel, and we are shown how closely it does resemble a play. Each section or chapter is set in a clearly defined place like a scene in a play. The beginning of each section contains detailed description, like stage directions in a play, while the rest of each section is mostly dialogue. This may seem like a rather unreal way to write a novel, but Steinbeck does it so well that we do not notice. A noticeable feature of the language of the novel is what a critic might call economy. One result of this is that almost every sentence is important in one way or another, either in developing a character, moving the plot forward or hinting at action still to come. Steinbeck has skilfully created a number of parallel events into the story. Candy and his dog provide a parallel to George and Lennie. And also, when Lennie kills Curleys wife, it echoes his earlier killing of the puppy. There are many such echoes and parallels in the book. Steinbeck has also shown us the way in which capturing the spoken language of the characters gives a better feel to the story. Most of them are uneducated, and this shows through in their use of broken and slang language. Even their uneducated pronunciation has been shown Steinbeck also uses colours and sounds to great effect. For example, Curleys wife is associated with red, symbolic of danger or passion perhaps. A further strong association is that of Lennie with animals. At various times he is described as a bull, a bear and a dog. Even when not directly compared with an animal, he is described in animal terms. For example, his hand is a paw. This is particularly appropriate for Lennie, as he usually acts in the simple, natural way of an animal. Soledad is a real place in California and its name can mean loneliness or a lonely place. A cue to one of the major themes of the novel right at the beginning.

The Socio Economic Network In Zambia Sociology Essay

The Socio Economic Network In Zambia Sociology Essay To set the platform of discussion, it is significant to define the concept of the family and other related notions. Giddens (2006:206) defines the family as a group of persons directly linked by kin connections, the adult members of which assume responsibility of caring for children. A family may either be a nuclear or extended family. A nuclear family comprises of two adults living together in a household with their own or adopted children. On the other hand an extended family is a group consisting of close relatives extending beyond couple and their children living together with the same household or in a close and continuous relationship with one another. In addition, the family is one of the basic units of society whose function and contribution to society cannot be over emphasized. For instance, for a society to survive over time, certain basic needs must be met. New members must be added to the population to replace those members who have died or moved away. People must be clothed, sheltered and fed. Goods and services must be produced and made available to those who need and desire them. The young must be socialised into society. The elderly and the sick must receive care. Order must be maintained and power must be distributed among the members of society (Thomas 1995: 294). However, despite the significant role played by the family in society since its existence, it has not been spared from the changes affecting society. The process of social change has affected the traditional family patterns. Some of these changes have been gradual while some have been radical. On the other hand these changes have either been qualitative or quantitative in nature. The changes have either brought positive or negative effects to the family. Among the significant changes that have markedly influenced the traditional family patterns are those associated with westernisation and modernisation which are closely linked? The process of industrialisation has also been critical to the primary function of the family both in the modern and pre- industrial societies. According to Akuffo (2005:18), he stated that the pre-industrial family consisted of the couple their children, a line of descendants, blood relations is taken seriously, the lived closely and cooperatively and were organized for mutual support and performed economic functions. Thus, the pre-industrial societies system is based on kinship relations for social organisation. The family members had specific roles and responsibilities based on gender and age. For instance the parents played a critical role for the survival of its members. The main economic activity characterized by the traditional family was agriculture. As the name suggests (pre-industrial societies) the tools used for production were very simple. Besides the production of food for the family members, it was the sole responsibility of the parents to educate its members with skills for their survival. The parents also provided the emotional security and protection to the individual members of the family. In short, the fa mily in the pre-industrial societies was for the individuals safety. The family perpetuated the values, norms and beliefs of society through the educating the members within the custody members. On the other hand, the changes that were precipitated by industrialisation had an impact on the traditional family system. Industrialisation can be traced as far back as eighteenth and nineteenth centuries during the industrial revolution that took place in Europe and later spread to America. Giddens (2006:39) observes that industrialisation refers to the emergences of machine production, based on the use of inanimate power resources (like steam or electricity). Significant changes were witnessed during this period that affected human society. Furthermore, Industrialisation created changes in the roles of the family in society. For example in pre-industrial society, the family is the primary social institution. Production and education are the responsibility of the family. The shift of roles from the family threatened the power and control of the parents on the family members. The role of education was assumed by the government. This created high demand for literacy among the population. The individuals were socialised on how they could adapt in the changing society. The change in the education system had both positive and negative influence on the traditional family system. For example, the positive influence, in the industrial society was that it allowed the individuals movement in a social structure. Education provided for the upward social mobility. There was freedom of competition for social position. On the contrary, in pre-industrial societies most statuses are ascribed. This makes it difficult for the individual to work their way up the social ladder. The new education system also undermined some of the values, norms and beliefs of the traditional societies that in themselves contributed to the stability and continuity of society. The other significant changes resulting from industrialisation was the nature of work. In pre-industrial societies, people were not specialised. They are characterized by low levels of division of labour. They conducted similar economic tasks for food production. According to Durkheim, he argued that, traditional cultures, with a low division of labour are characterised by mechanical solidarity. Because most of the members of society are involved in similar occupations, are bound together by common experience and shared beliefs. The forces of industrialisation and urbanisation however, led to a growing division o labour that contributed to the breakdown of this solidarity. (Giddens 2006:14).This development saw a significant change in the production of goods and services. Industrialisation also changes the location of work activities. In pre-industrial societies, most of the economic activities are carried out within the family setting. With the coming of machines, however, productio n moves from the home to factories. This in turn encourages modernisation. This entails that people now moves off the farms and go to cities to be near the major sources of employment. (Thomas 1995:78). Apparently, the change of location of work created a totally different environment for the individual. In the extended family pattern the nature of interaction among members was primary. The members were closely related to each other through kinship relations. This interaction supported the individuals emotional security, protection and other physical and social needs. This change threatened the physiological and social needs enjoyed by the individual within the traditional family setting which increased vulnerability in this new environment. The individual developed new relationships through the neighbours, friends and workmates. The individual depended upon this new system of interaction for support. As a result of industrialization, the social structure and beliefs of society have changed drastically. This is understood that modernization describes the process of change from a traditional, Agrarian Society to a modern Industrial Society. According to Haviland in Abrahim et al (unknown), Modernization defined as an all-encompassing global process of cultural and socio-economic changes, whereby the developing societies seek to acquire some of the characteristics common to industrial Societies. Modernization is the process by which cultures are force to accept traits from outside, and change their original shape. In the course of modernisation, traditional knowledge and techniques give way to the application of scientific knowledge borrowed mainly from the West. Modernisation creates the change in traditions and values due to modern technology. People have to accept this change because the progress is both necessary and beneficial to society and the individual. However, under the impact of modernization today, people almost everywhere are witnessing the breakdown of the traditional extended family into nuclear families. This is not to say that the traditional larger kin groupings have vanished and families function is changed and its a negative impact on family. Every culture has its own family set-up. And modernization is also has an effect on family system and its traditions. Extended families traditions have changed due to modernization. Giddens (2006:905) observes that men often go to work in towns or cities, leaving their family members in the home villages. Alternatively a nuclear family group will move as a unit to the city. In cases, traditional family forms and kinship system may become weakened. This is true in the sense that in the pre-industrial societies roles were shared according to gender and age. For example, grandparents in this situation no longer played their role of providing care to the grand children as they were now separated. On other matters such as marriages, initiation ceremonies and other important rituals which were the sole responsibility of elderly people. All these values and beliefs were affected with these changes. For instance, in the pre-industrial societies, arranged marriages were preferred. The choice of ones life partner rested in the parents and not the individual. This was viewed as one way of strengthening cultural values and norms of particular culture. Therefore, with the development of towns and cities there has been a great shift in the way marriages are conducted and celebrated. This time an individual has the freedom to choose his/her life time partner irrespective of ones cultural background. Today a Lozi can marry a Bemba; a Tonga also may decide to marry an Indian. Marriages are celebrated with modernity as opposed to the traditional way they used to be celebrated. Dalouw Edwards (1997:499) states that among African families in South Africa, traditional values and customs which provided a basis for family structure have been eroded by rapid urbanisation and westernization. The problem has been made worse by the socio-economic hardship and low levels of education.According to the National Child Policy of 2004, there are over 75,000 street children in Zambia, while Child headed households account for an estimated 1-2 percent (about 20,000) of all households in the country. The extreme poverty and vulnerability in Zambia affecting the communities, households and individuals to a greater extent has been due to modernisation resulting in the disintegration and weakening of the extended family system a typical feature of pre-industrial societies. On the other hand, modernisation created employment opportunities for women as well. The idea of women being associated with domestic chores has changed. In the recent years (decades) the idea of the male breadwinner heading the family is being increasingly challenged, an increasing number of women enter the workplaces and family structures continue to diversify. (Giddens 2006:209).This has not just increased the income levels among the households, but it has also undermined the authority and control of the parents over the members of the family. They spend most of the time at work than at home which in itself has a negative effect on the development their childrens personality development Westernisation is also a change that has taken place in disrupting the extended family. The historical context of Westernization in Africa is the encounter with Europe, under the specific conditions of the Atlantic slave trade and the European colonial adventure. Westernisation follows the adoption of different life styles, cultural ways, working styles, organising styles and even behavioural patterns of the western countries particularly (Moonlight, 2009). People will take on the pattern and ways of the western countries and follow them in their working, thinking and living. Majority have keen interest in western styles (dressing, housing, outing and partying etc) and attitudes (professionalism and individualism). Consequently, westernisation in our African societies has an impact to the socio-economic activities. A Zambian family, like families elsewhere, can be thought of as a group which is responsible to reproduce, nurture, and educate the young to become productive members of the family and the society at large. Children are later taken to schools where traditional values and norms are eroded by new values of the west. The new fashions and styles have replaced the traditional aspect of dressing where one imitates what she/he sees or hear on the media. Some of the existing social problems experienced in our societies are as a result of new value. In conclusion, it can be said that industrialisation, westernisation and modernisation had significant influence on the traditional family life patterns. In pre-industrial societies, the main economic activity was agriculture and the family was responsible for the provision of the basic needs to its members. The main concern of the pre-industrial societies was the maintenance of group stability and consensus. This was accomplished through their division of labour.

Ancient Greece :: Ancient Greece Essays

Ancient Greece Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Greek peninsula has been culturally linked with the Aegean Islands, and the west coast of Asia Minor since the Neolithic Age. The numerous natural harbors and close-lying islands lead to a unified, maritime civilization. However cultural unity did not produce political unity. Mountain ranges and deep valleys separated the peninsula into small economic and political units. Constant feuding between cities and surrounding empires for political power made Greece the sight of many battles. Prehistoric Period   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Archeological evidence shows that a primitive Mediterranean people, closely related to races of northern Africa, lived in the southern Aegean area as far back as the Neolithic Age. A cultural progression from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age started about 3000 BC. This civilization, during the Bronze Age was divided into two main cultures. One on these, called Cretan or Minoan was centered on the island of Crete. The other culture, Helladic (who became Mycenaean) populated mainland Greece. The Minoan culture dominated trade until 1500 BC when the Mycenaeans took control.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the third millennium BC a series of invasions from the north began. The most prominent of the early invaders, who were called the Achaeans, had, in all probability, been forced to migrate by other invaders. They overran southern Greece and established themselves on the Peloponnesus. Many other, vaguely defined tribes, were assimilated in the Helladic culture. Ancient Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gradually, in the last period of Bronze Age Greece, the Minoan civilization fused with the mainland. By 1400 BC the Achaeans were in possession of the island itself, and soon afterward gained control of the mainland. The Trojan War, described by Homer in the Iliad, began about 1200 BC and was probably one of a series of wars waged during the 12th and 13th centuries BC. It may have been connected with the last and most important of the invasions which happened at about the same time and brought the Iron Age to Greece. The Dorians left the mountains of Epirus and pushed their way down to Peloponnesus and Crete, using iron weapons to conquer the people of those regions. The Invading Dorians overthrew Achaean kings and settled in the southern and eastern part of the peninsula. The Hellenic Period   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the great migrations in the Aegean, the Greek developed a proud racial consciousness. They Called themselves Hellenes. The term Greeks, used by foreign peoples, was derived from Graecia, the Latin for a small Hellenic tribe of Epirus, the first Hellenes that the Romans had dealings with. Out of the mythology that became the basis of an intricate religion, the Hellenes developed a genealogy that traced their ancestry to semidivine heroes. Ancient Greece :: Ancient Greece Essays Ancient Greece Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Greek peninsula has been culturally linked with the Aegean Islands, and the west coast of Asia Minor since the Neolithic Age. The numerous natural harbors and close-lying islands lead to a unified, maritime civilization. However cultural unity did not produce political unity. Mountain ranges and deep valleys separated the peninsula into small economic and political units. Constant feuding between cities and surrounding empires for political power made Greece the sight of many battles. Prehistoric Period   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Archeological evidence shows that a primitive Mediterranean people, closely related to races of northern Africa, lived in the southern Aegean area as far back as the Neolithic Age. A cultural progression from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age started about 3000 BC. This civilization, during the Bronze Age was divided into two main cultures. One on these, called Cretan or Minoan was centered on the island of Crete. The other culture, Helladic (who became Mycenaean) populated mainland Greece. The Minoan culture dominated trade until 1500 BC when the Mycenaeans took control.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the third millennium BC a series of invasions from the north began. The most prominent of the early invaders, who were called the Achaeans, had, in all probability, been forced to migrate by other invaders. They overran southern Greece and established themselves on the Peloponnesus. Many other, vaguely defined tribes, were assimilated in the Helladic culture. Ancient Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gradually, in the last period of Bronze Age Greece, the Minoan civilization fused with the mainland. By 1400 BC the Achaeans were in possession of the island itself, and soon afterward gained control of the mainland. The Trojan War, described by Homer in the Iliad, began about 1200 BC and was probably one of a series of wars waged during the 12th and 13th centuries BC. It may have been connected with the last and most important of the invasions which happened at about the same time and brought the Iron Age to Greece. The Dorians left the mountains of Epirus and pushed their way down to Peloponnesus and Crete, using iron weapons to conquer the people of those regions. The Invading Dorians overthrew Achaean kings and settled in the southern and eastern part of the peninsula. The Hellenic Period   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the great migrations in the Aegean, the Greek developed a proud racial consciousness. They Called themselves Hellenes. The term Greeks, used by foreign peoples, was derived from Graecia, the Latin for a small Hellenic tribe of Epirus, the first Hellenes that the Romans had dealings with. Out of the mythology that became the basis of an intricate religion, the Hellenes developed a genealogy that traced their ancestry to semidivine heroes.

extinction of great apes :: essays research papers

The great apes are humankind’s closest relatives. Great apes include gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos, which are also known as pygmy chimps. At the turn of the century, there were approximately one million chimpanzees in Africa. This number has declined down to 150,000. Mountain gorillas have halved in size over the last ten years, leaving only 320 to roam the trees of their homeland. Some say these great apes will face extinction within a decade. Why is this the case and should we let this happen? These apes lose areas of habitat on a daily basis. They are also constantly slaughtered for meat and body parts. These two enormous contributors of great ape depletion are just unnecessary additional threats to the existence of our relatives. We must not forget that there is also disease and environmental catastrophes that kill off these intelligent human-like primates. Humans share up to 98% of their DNA. This makes the great apes a very valuable and important subject for study. There is a lot we can learn from them. Because we are so closely related, this may also be a link to global extinction. Perhaps a more thorough evaluation of each of the factors which contribute to the depletion of the four great apes may help to understand how damaging and unnecessary this depletion has become for them, as well as for us. Loss of Habitat   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most influential causes for the mass decline in great apes is due to habitat loss. Habitat loss includes the clearing out of forests for agriculture, timber extraction, and fuel wood. The orangutan may be in the most trouble because of this. The last large groups of these primates are located in the large rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia. These forests are currently being destroyed by illegal loggers, planters, and also by forest fires. Many of these fires seem to be started by plantation owners. The act of logging is not just about taking down a few large trees. It is about stealing all of their resources. Great apes use their environment to build tools and to eat. If we continue to take away their primary food source, they are sure to die off. In addition to destroying their food resources, logging creates islands of rainforest. Cutting down trees, leaves gaps of open area. This causes an isolation of the great ape population.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The gap caused by logging also is a common cause of these rainforest fires.

Critical Discussion on Watson’s and Skinner’s Versions of Behaviourism Essay

Behaviourism concept emerged at a period when the societal disarticulation as a result of speedy industrialization of American society needed novel approaches of social organization. This was to act as a replacement to Victorian mores of minute-town rural lifestyle (Wightman & Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). At this time, positivists like Walter Lippmann invited psychologists to assist devise approaches, and the lately recognized science of psychology, enthusiastic to signify its position as an autonomous discipline, responded by assertively endorsing itself in terms of societal utility (Wightman & Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). That said, behaviourism premise emanated from the work of an American psychologist John B. Watson. He did assert that psychology as a discipline was never concerned with human mind or consciousness, but rather concerned with just behaviour. This way, Watson claimed that humans could be examined, studied or evaluated impartially just like apes and rats (Cohen 1987, p. 71). Behaviourism according to Watson’s version was a stab to shun the complexities of trying to study human consciousness by limiting scientific attention to evident, overt or blatant behaviour. This version was coupled with a pivotal ambition to put in place much more thorough ways or methods to experimental research as well as report writing. Thus, the key task of psychology was none other than recognition of laws governing the link between behavioural responses and environmental stimuli, and psychology was cast as an attachment to physiology (Richards 2009, p. 35). In this way, Watson believed that psychology would provide knowledge that could be utilized to the prediction as well as control of behaviour. Therefore, his version of classical behaviourism did possess several distinct characteristics, such as: †¢ It was tremendously environmentalist †¢ Its practical vocabulary was mainly limited to not many non-mentalistic terms †¢ Its explanations were exceedingly reductionist, and †¢ The version was majorly concerned with investigational methodology (Richards 2009, p. 35). In the early 1920s, Watson assimilated the concepts of Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist and included Pavlov’s ideas of reinforcement and conditioning as key theoretical notions to his classical behaviourism version. Pavlov had done a number of studies on the animal’s responses to environmental conditioning. In his best triumphant experiment, he did ring a bell as he took a number of meals to some dogs. In doing so, each and every time dogs did hear the bell ringing they knew pretty well that a meal was ready, and would start salivating (DeMar 1989, p. 1). On one instance, Pavlov did ring the bell devoid of taking food, but the dogs continued salivating since they had been habituated, conditioned or trained to salivate each time they hear a bell ringing. Watson asserted in his behaviourism version that humans responded to environmental stimuli just in the similar way (DeMar 1989, p. 1). However, Watson’s classical behaviourism was regarded too crude, he himself did refrain from academia after a divorce scandal. In his wake, several neo-behaviourists, including B. F. Skinner, Clark L. Hull and Ernest R. Hilgard took over the doctrine in an array of directions. On a different perspective, the well-known architect of a radical or less mechanistic behaviourism version was B. F. Skinner, whose premises of operant conditioning did attest potent enough to be utilized in a number of settings (Wightman & Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). At times grounded in stylish mathematical learning theories, but much more frequently established on instinctive rules of thumb, behavioural techniques were used in psychotherapy, medicine, education, advertising, business and management of mental hospitals and prisons. Given its predictable comparing of lower animals to humans, together with its firm permeation into such conventionally humanist territories as the curative education and art, it’s doubtless that Skinner’s version of radical behaviourism has long provoked controversy (Wightman & Kloppenberg 1995, p. 68). What’s more, today’s behaviourism is associated with B. F. Skinner, who attained his reputation as a radical behaviourist by experimenting Watson’s assertions in the laboratory. His laboratory experiments coupled with a number of researches led him to snub Watson’s exclusive allegations on conditioning and reflexes. Skinner avowed that humans not only respond to their surroundings, but operate on their surroundings to give rise to explicit consequences (Skinner, Catania & Harnad 1988, p. 3). Furthermore, Skinner came up with the ‘operant conditioning’ theory, the notion that human behave the way they do as this sort of behaviour has had explicit effects long-ago. For instance, if a boy kisses a girl when she gives him flowers, then the girl will be expected to come with flowers when she wants a kiss from him. Thus, the girl will be acting in anticipation of specific reward. Contrary to Watson, Skinner rejected the idea that feelings or the human mind play a part in determining behaviour. He instead insisted that an individual experience of reinforcements determines his or her behaviour (Skinner, Catania & Harnad 1988, p. 10). Therefore, according to radical behaviourism version, one of Skinner’s objective was to shape humans’ behaviour in away to respond in a much more socially tolerable way. In his operant conditioning theory he was absolutely clear that his theory ought to be applied to guide human behaviour (Shaffer 2005, p. 45). Moreover, Skinner’s experimental analysis of human or general behaviour has resulted in an effectual, effective and efficient technology, pertinent to psychotherapy, education, as well as the design of cultural practices generally (Shaffer 2005, p. 46). In conclusion, the ethical effects of both Watson’s and Skinner’s versions of behaviourism are immense. An individual is stripped off his or her freedom, dignity, responsibility and reduced to a merely natal being, to be ‘shaped’ by behaviourists who encompass the ability to apply the tools of behaviourism efficiently. Bibliography Cohen, D. (1987). Behaviorism, Oxford Companion to Mind, Richard, L. , ed. NY; Oxford University Press. DeMar, G. (1989). Behaviorism. [Online] available < http://www. forerunner. com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_-_Behaviorism. html> Richards, G. (2009). Psychology, key concepts. Milton Park; Routledge. Shaffer, D. (2005). Social & personality development. Belmont; Walworth. Skinner, B. , Catania, C. , & Harnad, S. (1988). Selection of behaviour, operant behaviourism of Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Melbourne; Cambridge Syndicate Press. Wightman, R. , & Kloppenberg, J. (1995). A companion to American thought. Massachusetts; Blackwell.

Interest to UC Berkeley MBA program

Interest to UC Berkeley MBA program is out of careful evaluation of MBA program in different colleges. I have had a personal experience at Berkeley campus in 2003 when I tried to find out the location of the campus. I happened to meet some MBA students who told me a lot about the program at Berkeley. It was a very joyful and the good impression of Berkeley attracted me most from the Business weekly journal I happened have a view of the programs on offer and I happened to compare the various Berkeley MBA degree programs.From Berkeley’s website, the MBA program will give me innovation skills and enhance entrepreneur spirits. This will greatly improve my professional growth and development. I need to work on my knowledge of Accounts in junior high school and improve my ability to be a qualified graduate accountant. The Taiwan MBA forum I happened to develop a powerful feeling and realized that Berkeley MBA program will be a right fit for my career advancement. One of the Berkeley old students introduced the program to me and made me realize how much I could gain from schooling at Berkeley.The field experience given to MBA students international will provide me with necessary skills for my effectiveness and efficiency in production. I also have a number of relatives schooling at Berkeley society community. These are people who are used to the environment and know the place better. In conclusion, Berkeley MBA program will enhance my career, provide one with innovative, entrepreneur skills, give me a global exposure in business skills and is located at a good environment with good weather. I therefore don’t regret applying for Berkeley MBA. Conant E (2004)

Nick’s Development in “The Great Gatsby” Essay

Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, reminiscences of the summer he met Gatsby. He had just returned to America from WWI, where he had glimpsed everything from freedom to death. His horizons had been broadened significantly, so when he returned after the war, he felt stifled in the Midwest; thus his longing for the decadent and fantastic lifestyle of New York, but the problem with the fantastic is that it rarely has anything to offer beneath the surface. When he first arrives in New York, Nick is fascinated by the lives of the wealthy and the freedom they embody. However, as the novel progresses, he sees the impact of this behavior on the lives of others; he recognizes the atrocities that the elite of society commit toward those they consider beneath them. Daisy and Tom are too superficial and absorbed in living in wealth and Gatsby set himself a dream as a young child and has stuck to that throughout his life. Nick sees so many corrupt acts around him that he first tries to block them out, by acting artifical to fit in. However, once he realises that the people he is surrounding themselves with are liars and frauds, he begins to distance himself from them. The first obvious instance of this is when Gatsby is ‘watching over’ Daisy, and Nick narrates that â€Å"He [Gatsby] was clutching at some last hope and I couldn’t bare to shake him free. † This quote displays how Nick has given up on Gatsby and society’s superficiality and corrupt doings. This is one of the major instances of change in Nick’s life. By his thirtieth birthday, Nick realizes that this crazy, superficial lifestyle is not what he desires at all, and that he misses the wholesomeness of the Midwest. In this sense, Nick becomes rather representative of the 1920s: the turmoil and free living of the early part of the decade leading into the conservative 1930s. After witnessing the unraveling of Gatsby’s dream and presiding over the appalling spectacle of Gatsby’s funeral, Nick realizes that the fast life of revelry on the East Coast is a cover for the terrifying moral emptiness that the valley of ashes symbolizes. Having gained the maturity that this insight demonstrates, he returns to Minnesota in search of a quieter life structured by more traditional moral values.

Have three scholars interpreted the role of slavery during the Essay

Have three scholars interpreted the role of slavery during the revolutionary ear, 1765-1787 - Essay Example To understand the reason behind the continued slavery during the revolutionary era, three main scholars have interpreted the role of slavery during the Revolutionary era. Slaves were used by the Americans to buy their independence. According to Morgan, the Americans needed assistance from other nations, and they needed independence. Tobacco was the only the only product that was of value and hence feasible as a tool of assistance purchase. The production of tobacco was labor intensive and thus the reliance on slavery for production. The product was then used to shape the foreign relation of America and other states, especially France. In fact, the support granted by France to America is referred to as â€Å"King Tobacco Diplomacy† by historians, so as to act as a reminder of the role of slavery, through the production of tobacco, in the acquisition of American Independence during the revolutionary era2. From this interpretation, it can be coined that slavery was a necessary evil that the Americans used to gain their independence despite having the theme of the Revolution as equality and liberty. In a much direct manner, the slaves enhanced the acquisition of American independence by serving in the Continental army. According to Spalding, prior to the American Founding, there were over 500,000 slaves, who were mainly concentrated in the five southern states, making up 40 percent of the entire population. The major American founders, such as George Washington, were slave owners. During the era of the Revolution, there was an inadequately trained army and hence the slaves were inducted into the army so as to help in fighting for the independence of America. This happened immediately after Washington started commanding the Continental army in 1775. Together with Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s plan was to use this induction as a way to grant the slaves their freedom in the long

The role of play in the curriculm for young children with special Term Paper

The role of play in the curriculm for young children with special needs - Term Paper Example It is believed that such pedagogy enables young children to begin the process of early learning (Open University, 2009). During play, â€Å"children demonstrate improved verbal communications, high levels of social and interaction skills, creative use of play materials, imaginative and divergent thinking skills and problem-solving capabilities† (Wood, 2004, p. 21). Play offers many benefits. It engages the mind to actively imagine various scenarios for fun or for problem-solving. Babies and toddlers display play in motion and we observe that they do it to get to know their world – how things work, how people react, etc. They get to explore and discover things that otherwise they will not learn about if they do not actively engage in play. Free exploration is considered Heuristic play by Holland (2003). It is encouraged without adult intervention. Adults simply provide simple materials and allow the child to just be and let his imagination take off . â€Å"The child lea rns from observing directly what these objects will ‘do’ or ‘not do’, in sharp contrast to much of the ‘educational’ equipment which has a result predetermined by the design which has been devised by the adult maker (Holland, 2003, p. 142). Heuristic play will not only stimulate a child’s thinking, but it also develops his creativity as he will see in his mind endless possibilities in imaginatively transforming ordinary objects into various things with various functions. Play has value in all the developmental areas of children (Macintyre, 2003). Unwittingly, children delight in games that stimulate thinking. Such cognitive benefits extend to their real lives as they make decisions, compare and contrast things, use their imaginations and thinking critically and creatively. Play also engages the body. Certain games involve gross and fine motor coordination. It also helps to expend the stored energy within them, willing to be set free. Run ning around, jumping, tumbling and other physical activities help them be physically fit as well as release tension. Active play develops their muscles, agility, flexibility and endurance. It is the foundation of one’s potential for certain sports. Socially, play coaxes a shy child outside his shell. Play fosters the development of friendships. As children play with other children or adults, they get to know about how other people behave, think and feel. They also get to learn socially acceptable behavior like not hurting others and playing fair. Most importantly, they get to know themselves better- how they react to certain situations in the play setting. Vygotsky (1978) believed that children’s intellectual development is influenced more by social context than by individual experiences. His theory places a great deal of emphasis on effective social interaction. Bingham (2008) cites Vygotsky (1978) as he writes: â€Å"Play creates a zone of proximal development of th e child. In play the child always behaves beyond his average age, above his daily behavior; in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself." He defined the ZPD as the distance between a child’s independent problem-solving level and that obtained under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers (Wertsch, 1985). A young learner’s exposure to peers, teachers and other adults and learning materials greatly influences his development. â€Å"Such cognitive apprenticeships are, of course, inherently reliant on a

Strategic Management Analysis. Thomas Cook Group plc Assignment

Strategic Management Analysis. Thomas Cook Group plc - Assignment Example Thereafter, using appropriate analytical tools, the resource capability of Thomas Cook will be evaluated by highlighting its threshold and unique resources, and its core competences. Eventually, the strategic fit of Thomas Cook will be evaluated in the light of its strengths and weaknesses. Thomas Cook Group plc, which was established in 1841, is amongst the world's top leisure travel groups with sales exceeding  £10 billion and over 22.5 million customers. The company operates in six geographic segments in 21 countries and leads in its portfolio of travel brands. It has a flexible asset light business model with an experienced management team that believes in the strategy of delivering top line margin growths. The package holiday industry is a sector that has been fulfilling people’s aspirations in meeting their travel and tourism needs. Companies in the industry are adept in bundling different elements of a holiday into a convenient package whereby charter flights, accommodation, meals and transfers are taken care of at the given price per package. The package holiday industry is large and highly competitive and fragmented because of which companies in the sector have to be very professional and organized in providing the best prices and services. The industry can be segmented into transportation, destination, accommodation, customer management, activities, duration, price and quality. 1.4 Why have you cho

Biomedical Informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biomedical Informatics - Essay Example Historians have found evidence of the disease as far back as 5000 B.C. It was first described as "the shaking palsy" in 1817 by British doctor James Parkinson. Because of Parkinson's early work in identifying symptoms, the disease came to bear his name. In the normal brain, some nerve cells produce the chemical dopamine, which transmits signals within the brain to produce smooth movement of muscles. In Parkinson's patients, 80 percent or more of these dopamine-producing cells are damaged, dead, or otherwise degenerated. This causes the nerve cells to fire wildly, leaving patients unable to control their movements. Symptoms usually show up in one or more of four ways: This diagram of the brain shows several structures related to Parkinson's disease. Basal ganglia affect normal movement and walking; substantia nigra are types of basal ganglia that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, which sends messages that control muscles. The globus pallidus is part of a larger structure connected to the substantia nigra affecting movement, balance and walking. The thalamus serves as a relay station for brain impulses, and the cerebellum affects muscle coordination. Though full-blown Parkinson's can be crippling or disabling, experts say early symptoms of the disease may be so subtle and gradual that patients sometimes ignore them or attribute them to the effects of aging. At first, patients may feel overly tired, "down in the dumps," or a little shaky. Their speech may become soft and they may become irritable for no reason. Movements may be stiff, unsteady, or unusually slow. Ref : www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/498_pd.html - Basic PD research over the last several decades, including genetics, molecular and cellular biology, characterization of neural circuitry, brain anatomy, and neurochemistry, has formed the basis of therapeutic research being currently pursued for PD. While the causes of PD are still not fully understood, the most prevalent theories suggest that toxic accumulation of protein in cells, dysfunctional protein clearance, and oxidative stress that leads to cell death are primary causal pathways. There is now genetic evidence for each of these pathways, and a prevailing research strategy is to identify points in these pathways that could be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Today's basic science research continues to span a diverse array of fields, from genes and molecules, through cells and physiological systems, to the role of the environment and its interaction with genetic susceptibility. It is expected that these studies will continue to inform preventive strategies and better treatments for PD in the future. The Genetics and Cell Biology of Parkinson's disease One of the most remarkable transformations in PD research over the last decade was the identification of the first gene to be associated with PD, -synuclein. The discovery that genetic mutations could cause PD brought a sea change to a field that had previously focused only on environmental causes of the disease. Since the discovery of alpha synuclein in