Friday, December 27, 2019

The Force of Technology - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2139 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Technology Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Section I- Globalization Force: Technology The force of technology has had unprecedented impact on globalization over the years is certainly technology and being protected under intellectual property rights, the developing countries like India have focussed a great deal on becoming the technical experts of the world (Matyjewicz). Though there is still a need for aligning the goals of global business strategy with the use of technology. The business today is tough and increasingly complex, thus the organizations are embracing Information technology (IT) as a tool to manage the complexity in business operations in the most effective and efficient manner to achieve sustainable competitive spot in the international market. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Force of Technology" essay for you Create order Globalization and technology have reinforced each other and grown together over the years. The technologies have evolved along with the process of globalization of companies and this has occurred through the following three categories of technology activities, which are ?technological exploitation?, ?technological generation? and ?technological collaboration?. MNCs try to enhance their profitability by exploiting technological processes and transferring them to international markets. Examples are: International trade, Intra-firm trade, technology trade, wholesale trade, extending patents to other countries. Often it happens that an MNC starts the innovation process in its host country by means such as FDI and setting up of RD facilities there. Examples are: FDI in wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, internationalization of RD and patents generated in foreign subsidiaries. The most striking feature linking technology and globalization is that only few firms are capable of innovation on their own, thus they need to collaborate with other organizations. Examples are: Strategic alliances, JVs, research pacts, joint development agreements, technology exchange agreements and building strong supplier-producer relationships across geographical boundaries. The World Information Technology and Services Alliance in a study in 2006 estimated the global investment on IT and communications in 2006 to be approximately $3 trillion which was expected to exceed ?4 trillion by 2009 whereas the growth is primarily spurred by the software with annual growth rate of above 9.9% (WITSA, 2006). There are two distinct aspects of IT. They are IT as ?embedded factor of production? and IT as ?driver of organizational change?. The former defines IT as an inherent factor that needs to be combined with other factors of production to enhance economic growth and the latter views IT as the factor responsible for levelling of the organizations. IT has enabled building trusted business relationships which can be digitally facilitated by the global enterprises. One of the revolutionary technologies in use is Virtual Meetings over digital platform such as video conferencing and human conferencing. The interdependence between the ability to employ IT and abilit y to implement corporate strategies is growing in the context of international business environment. It is helping MNEs to improve the efficiency and productivity. The multinational organizations essentially need robust telecommunication system (Elliot, 2004). There are a lot of opportunities in the technological sector, for example in the transportation sector the global market for supply chain management (SCM) software is expected to reach $8.3 billion in 2010 which was $5.5 billion and in the urban planning sector also the building management systems investment is estimated to be over $67 trillion. The global firms must recognise the swiftness and measure of transformation as the international business landscape of this decade will be governed by new evolving global rules and uncertainty and the business leaders who will provide strategic precision by implementing IT in their operations will excel on international level. Section II: WEF and Annual Meeting 2010 at Davos World Economic forum in a non-profitable foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland and it is the leading global community that brings together the leaders and most erudite people from the backgrounds of business, politics and society on a common sharing platform to formulate and work on policies to improve the lives of people around the world (WEF). The founder of WEF, Klaus Martin Schwab developed the ?Stakeholder? management approach the objective of which was to draw the attention of corporate leaders on the broader aspects of the firm?s operations and their impacts on the communities in which they operate and the associated governments. WEF discusses the most challenging issues facing the world and to make the countries accountable for their contribution to the problems and propose solutions and implement them (WEF). The purpose of the Davos 2010 annual meeting of WEF is to improve the current situation by improving cooperation at a global level, addressing present challenges and dealing with the potential future risks. The 40th 2010 annual meeting?s theme is a call to action, ?Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign and Rebuild?. The areas being most emphasised are climate, crisis and technology. Section III: The theme of ?Technology? at Davos 2010 Technology was one of the important themes of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. The globalization is leading to the emergence of newer markets with more potential for growth and productivity. It is evident that globalization and technological innovations reinforce each other. The digital ecosystem will continue to evolve in the coming years and hence global firms must be prepared to deal with uncertainties. Technological innovations have helped reduce the operating costs while maximizing the operational efficiency. Technologies such as cloud computing and semantic search which are behind social networking applications are being used for benefitting the sectors such as education and healthcare. Our own Blackboard application at Bangor University is a good example. Another example is Chile where new software supports agriculture ministry to gather and broadcast critical information about weather and climate to the farmers thus assists them in pr oper decision making regarding agriculture. WEF every year selects companies for their innovations in the areas of clean technology, information technologies, etc. which are known as Technology Pioneers. The ones selected this year include: Aura Biosciences (developing a viral-like system of drug delivery for cancer patients), BioFuelBox (operates chemical less waste treatment plant. Its separation process is patented), Obopay (a low cost mobile payment service uses mobile phones for services such as banking. It is serving 6 million people in US, India and Kenya), Dithium (mobile video infrastructure solutions), Nivio (fully functional Windows desktop environment accessible via a Web browser). Davos 2010 strengthened the importance of technology to the process of globalization. One of the discussions in WEF annual meeting emphasized on the growing importance of information technology and how new consumers use it. It described the consumers as restless and all-powerful and how they are responsible for driving the costs down and increasing quality of products and services. The consumer demand is transforming the global business backdrop. Global enterprises will require being vigilant to the revolutionary ways in which consumer decision making and purchase behaviour is being influenced by the technological innovations. Women have become a major stakeholder in defining the business in today?s time. Women make 85% of all purchases. Technology has empowered women in major areas such as education, mobility and self-employment tools. WEF realised the importance of developing countries like India which is a global leader in the information technology sector. International business leaders should be aware of the markets like India which are unsaturated and full of growth and development opportunities. Technological innovations such as cloud computing and mobile computing are believed to decide the ways in which firms will operate and collaborate in future wh ile also creating opportunities for new business avenues. IT sector is estimated to have contributed 2% of the world?s carbon emissions and Davos 2010 focussed on how the technology sector companies can grab the real business opportunity of helping the other 98% companies to go green. The Smart 2020 Report appointed by the Global e-Sustainability Initiative estimates that tech-sector can help reducing around 15% of all the global emissions and create new business lines which will be worth trillions of dollars. Section IV: IB Recommendations to Governments Companies The companies should forge ahead to embrace technological innovations for achieving growth and productivity on a global level as customers of the present time decide what to buy and how. MNCs must invest in the technologies that improve the logistics and distribution systems as it influences the global pricing. It may include setting up of production centers in the host countries. It is critical for the international businesses to recognize the role of laws and regulations of different countries and eliminate the potential trade barriers. Global firms must invest in developing countries through means such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to develop infrastructure that will help grow all the stakeholders. The governments should be receptive to dynamic changes brought by interplay of technology and globalization and countries should encourage strategic alliances between domestic and foreign companies. The government must act as facilitators and mediators in matters related to international business so that it becomes easier to conduct business across borders more effectively and efficiently. They should also capture the opportunities of national and global investment in the businesses. Various global economies should strive to build better and long standing business and social relationships to foster the pace of globalization of trade. Governments should come together on the international level and discuss and debate the challenging issues facing them in the meetings such as World Economic Forum and collaborate to develop solutions to the pressing problems. Conclusion Globalization and technology are inseparable as both gain and build on each other. Newer international trade connections have become possible due to improvements in transportation and communication as they help the companies to reach to areas which were earlier inaccessible. The impetus of barrier-free trade and communication has been backed by agreements such as International Telecommunications Agreement (ITA). The global technology networks and platforms will keep bringing the economies of the world together to compete on an international level. Global firms will need to keep investing in IT to leverage its full potential to minimize costs and maximize productivity and effectiveness. The digitalization of business has helped the global companies to adapt themselves to the changing needs of the customers in efficient ways. Technology has created the perfect platform for sharing knowledge within and between the companies hence providing the foundations for better collaboration betw een various stakeholders in the realm of internationalization of businesses across the globe. Information technology will also contribute to greater diversification, integration and standardization of global companies of the world. Technology will significantly be a major determinant in the world?s environmental issues as more and more technology will turn green to support not only digital ecosystem but biological ecosystem as well. References Bhatt et al. (2010) Who Is the New Consumer? Davos 2010 annual meeting. World Economic Forum (WEF). Held on 27th January. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30096?url=/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30096 (Accessed on 16 Feb 2010). Bruderle et al. (2010) Technology for Society. Davos 2010 annual meeting. World Economic Forum (WEF). Held on 29th January. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30438?url=/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30438 (Accessed on 16 Feb 2010). Elliot, G. (2004) Global business information technology: an integrated systems approach, 1st ed., England: Pearson Education Ltd, pp. 411. Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild. World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010. Executive Summary. Davos-Klosters, Switzerland 27-31 January 2010. Madapusi, A D?Souza, D. (2008) Aligning Information Technology with International Business Practices of Small Firms: Exploring theory and practice. Proceedings of the USASBE held in San Antonio, Jan 13-18 2008. Available from: https://usasbe.org/knowledge/proceedings/proceedingsDocs/2008/PaperID135.pdf (Accessed on 11 Feb 2010). Matyjewicz, G. Understanding the issues needed to compete in today?s global economy: International Business Today. Available from: https://www.gapent.com/global/International_Business-Report.pdf (Accessed on 11 Feb 2010). Rycroft, R. (2002) Technology-Based Globalization Indicators: The Centrality of Innovation Network Data. Occasional Paper Series, GW Center for the Study of Globalization. Available from: https://gstudynet.org/publications/OPS/papers/CSGOP-02-09.pdf (Accessed on: 10 Feb 2010). Schenker, Jennifer L. (2010) Message to Tech Leaders In Davos: There Are Big Profits In Helping The World Go Green. Available from: https://informilo.com/20100128/message-tech-leaders-davos-there-are-big-profits-helping-world-go-green-235 (Accessed on: 12 Feb 2010). Spelman, M. (2010) Davos 2010: Business leaders need to learn new skills. Available from: https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8476023.stm (Accessed on 12 Feb 2010). Weaver, T.J. (2010) Redesigning with Technology Pioneers. Davos 2010 annual meeting. World Economic Forum (WEF). Held on 28th January. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30053?url=/en/knowledge/Industries/InformationTechnologies/KN_SESS_SUMM_30053 (Accessed on 16 Feb 2010). WEF (2007) Digital Ecosystem Convergence between IT, Telecoms, Media and Entertainment: Scenarios to 2015. Executive Summary, Available from: https://www.weforum.org/pdf/scenarios/de_executive_summary.pdf (Accessed on11 Feb 2010). Wilson III, Ernest J. (1998) Globalization, Information Technology, and Conflict in the Second and Third Worlds: A Critical Review of the Literature. Available from: https://www.rbf.org/usr_doc/Globalization,_Information_Technology,_and_Conflict.pdf (Accessed on 11 Feb 2010). WITSA (2006). The Digital Planet 2006. World Information Technology and Services Alliance.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Bilingual Language Learners ( Ell ), And Students

A. Introduction There are so many diverse student groups in the United States. Two that are really of interest to me are English language learners (ELL), and students in foster care. Though they have many similarities, they are also vastly different. A.1. Definition and Demographics ELL students are either students whose first language is not English or who were raised speaking another language in their home. ELL students made up about 9% of public school students in the United States during the 2014/2015 school year, which equals out to about 4.5 million students! Spanish is the number one first language of ELL students, making up about 77%. Arabic and Chinese are the next two most popular languages ELL students speak, but only†¦show more content†¦This all falls under linguicism. This discrimination based on language is not only a severe challenge for ELL students, but also incredibly unfair. As people who speak English as our first language it s easy to take advantage of that privilege, but we need to give those who do not speak English as their first language the same respect that we would want if we were learning another language in a surrounding that was foreign to us. A.3.a. Strategy for ELL Students Growing up in an incredibly diverse area, I completely overestimate the availability of ESL (English as a second language) and ELL teachers. Because all ELL students do not have access to such help, educators can do well to make a personal effort to reach out to their ELL students. By making a personal effort to connect with ELL students, educators can better understand how to help them get the most out of their education. Giving them special attention will not only help them succeed but also make them feel more comfortable and welcome. Educators could go above and beyond by making special copies of homework assignments for students that feature both English and the students first language. This way they will no doubt understand what is being asked of them, but also learn new words at the same time! Another way educators could show a personal effort could be by making time to work with the students outside of classroom time, further explaining anything that was taughtShow MoreRelate dBilingual Education Is Effective Teaching Strategies For English Language Learners1265 Words   |  6 Pages Now, let us tackle into what an experienced bilingual afterschool program coordinator and a nonprofit organization, the National Association for Bilingual Education, have to say regarding the filed of English Language Learning. To gain more insight from a professional standpoint, I have had the honor to interview the coordinator of an afterschool program for immigrant children and families, where I have been doing my service learning for the past two years. The program coordinator’s beliefs areRead MoreParental Involvement Of The Bilingual School1307 Words   |  6 Pageschallenges are facing English language learners and their parents; students have difficulties communicating effectively, and having to do math and reading tests in English when they are not proficient in the adoptive language. While, their parents may have limited proficiency in English and may also have a different schooling history. Therefore, the responsibility of educating ELLs must include parents. According to Panferov, â€Å"As educators, understanding the challenges that ELL parents may face is criticalRead MoreEssay on Chapter One Summary623 Words   |  3 PagesChapter One Summary Kelsey February 18, 2013 Chapter One Summary According to Moughamian (2009), English language learners (ELLs), represent one of the fastest growing groups among the school-aged population in the U.S.† (para. 1). By the year 2015, English language learners will make up 30% of the schools population in the U.S. (Moughamian, 2009). English language learners, as well as native English speakers, are required to be successful in school and succeed as productive members ofRead MoreEducation of the English Language Learner1476 Words   |  6 Pagespaper is to compare two different approaches in the education of English Language Learner (ELL) students, Structured English Immersion, and Two-Way Immersion programs. The focus of this paper is to identify (1) the language ideologies behind both approaches, and each program’s purpose and components. This article also looks at the academic achievement of ELLs, the achievement gap between general education students and ELLs, and the programs’ approach to different variab les such as parental involvementRead MoreTransitional Bilingual Education Program Design1411 Words   |  6 Pages Transitional Bilingual Education Program Design Sierra Chandler Joel Knoblock Tammy Leigh Sofia Mills Kristen Pavlak Elizabeth Peterson LTIC 535 Dr. Samantha Morley December 8, 2015 Transitional Bilingual Education Program Design PROGRAM NAME GOAL/VISION The primary goal of any school district’s English Language Learner policy should be to ensure that all students receive equitable access to the curriculum. The Office of Civil Rights memorandum (May 25, 1970) requiresRead MoreEssay on English Language Learners and Education951 Words   |  4 Pagesfamilies have to find a common ground to ensure that English Language Learners are academically successful. All stakeholders must carefully consider the social cultural impact on an ELL education. The process of raising bilingual learners take more than a language a school and a language learned at home. The transition must have a purpose and a goal. Collaborative Practices of English Language Learners and Schools Educating a student takes a massive amount of collaboration between schools,Read MoreBilingual Education Persuasive Essay991 Words   |  4 Pages Over the last decade or so, important legislation has been implemented to positively ensure fair and equal access to a quality education for English Language Learners (ELL). Change did not happen without there being obstacles to overcome. There were many overturned cases that initially sought to strip English Language Learners of their basic rights to an education. Yet, there would eventually be legislation instituted to help alter the course. Early court cases, provide examples of abject inconsiderationRead More Bilingual Education Essay examples1194 Words   |  5 PagesBilingual education is any school program which utilizes two languages. An example of legal rationale in regarding bilingual education is English being the only language approach that is taught to English language learners in the United States in school districts according to No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB). However, historical rationale concerning bilingual education is the history of events that occurred due to bilingual education not being taught in a school district. An example is MeyerRead MoreVoter Initiatives Affecting Ell1184 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish Language Learners Jennifer Milam Grand Canyon University: ESL-523N January 30, 2013 State Voter Initiatives Affecting the Education of English Language Learners It is no secret that the debate over what is the best course of action to educate our non-native English language students across the country is a highly charged topic that runs from the classroom to Capitol Hill. There have been many shifts in direction and focus of educational programs for English Language Learning (ELL) studentsRead MorePolitics and Policies Influencing America’s Education of Bilingual Students1202 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasing number of English language learners. Some research indicates that by the year 2030, over 40% of elementary and secondary students served by schools in the United States will come from homes where a language other than English is spoken (Thomas Collier, 2001). In an effort to accommodate these students, the United States has adopted policies at both the federal and state levels. Generally, the direction taken to meet the needs of English language learners has depended on the climate

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Climate change (term paper) Essay Example For Students

Climate change (term paper) Essay Summary: This paper looks at the controversial issue of climatic change. In particular, it develops the question of if and why earths climate is changing? The roles of man, naturally occurring trends, and earths cycles are considered, and an outlook for what can be expected in the near and distant future is given. The uneasiness of modern man arises from a rupture between himself and nature that leaves him homeless within the universe We will write a custom essay on Climate change (term paper) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now William Barrett Introduction Over the past years most individuals have become acutely aware that the intensity of human and economic development enjoyed over the 20th century cannot be sustained. Material consumption and ever increasing populations are already stressing the earths ecosystems. How much more the earth can take remains a very heated issue. Here a look at the facts sheds some very dark light. In 1950, there were 2.5 billion people, while today there are 5. 8 billion. There may well be 10 billion people on earth before the middle of the next century. Even more significant, on an ecological level, is the rise in per capita energy and material consumption which, in the last 40 years, has soared faster than the human population. An irresistible economy seems to be on a collision course with an immovable ecosphere. Based on these facts alone, there is grave reason for concern. Taken further, it is even more frightening to note that, while man has affected the environment throughout his stay on earth, the impact has been most intense in the relatively short industrial era. Since the industrial revolution, and over the past century in particular, mans ecological footprint on the earth has quickly grown from that of a child to one of a giant. True, this period is heralded as an economic success story, which it certainly has been. However, many argue that it seems increasingly likely that the path to mans success will soon slope downward to his demise. The climate is changing, and so must we. This paper will look at the coin of climate change, where on the one side the human impact on the earth will be shown, and on the other, the impact of earth on man. Such a study is inevitably somewhat polemical, as it is still open to debate what the precise effects of man have and will be on climate change, and also what climate change will mean to man. It will also be quite general in analysis, as a paper of this scope can allow no more. What will be made clear, nevertheless, is that the relationship between man and earth is clearly changing. More specifically, man is outgrowing the earth. If the relationship is to continueindeed prosperthen a new balance needs to be found. The issue of climate change holds one important key to this balance. Man and the Environment Thomas Malthus is well remembered for his position as a doomsayer. When looking at the rates of population growth in Victorian England, he saw unchecked growth as leading to a rapid decline in the living standards of man. He blamed this decline on three main factors: the overproduction of offspring; the inability of natural resources to sustain rising human population; and the irresponsibility of the lower classes to prevent their overpopulation. Very generally, Malthus suggested that this trend could be controlled only if the family size of the lower classes was regulated so that poor families would not produce more children than they could support. He predicted that the demand for food would inevitably become far greater than the available supply of it. This prediction was rooted in the thought that population, when unchecked, increased geometrically; i.e. .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .postImageUrl , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:hover , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:visited , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:active { border:0!important; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:active , .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5 .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3c66b416fc86eecd7a11eaa6f2450cc5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mutations Essay, 2,4,8,16,32 while food products, or as he called it subsistence, only grew at an arithmetic rate; i.e, 1,2,3,4,5,.. . He provided only a basic economic reason for this however, and generally attributed famine, poverty and other catastrophic occurrences to divine intervention (he was a very religious man, a clergyman, in fact). He believed that such natural outcomes were essentially Gods way of preventing man from being lazy. The point here is not to provide an evaluation of Malthus, and one might well argue that he was wrong in many of his . Climate Change (term Paper) Essay Example For Students Climate Change (term Paper) Essay Summary: This paper looks at the controversial issue of climatic change. In particular, it develops the question of if and why earths climate is changing? The roles of man, naturally occurring trends, and earths cycles are considered, and an outlook for what can be expected in the near and distant future is given. The uneasiness of modern man arises from a rupture between himself and nature that leaves him homeless within the universe We will write a custom essay on Climate Change (term Paper) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now William Barrett Introduction Over the past years most individuals have become acutely aware that the intensity of human and economic development enjoyed over the 20th century cannot be sustained. Material consumption and ever increasing populations are already stressing the earths ecosystems. How much more the earth can take remains a very heated issue. Here a look at the facts sheds some very dark light. In 1950, there were 2.5 billion people, while today there are 5. 8 billion. There may well be 10 billion people on earth before the middle of the next century. Even more significant, on an ecological level, is the rise in per capita energy and material consumption which, in the last 40 years, has soared faster than the human population. An irresistible economy seems to be on a collision course with an immovable ecosphere. Based on these facts alone, there is grave reason for concern. Taken further, it is even more frightening to note that, while man has affected the environment throughout his stay on earth, the impact has been most intense in the relatively short industrial era. Since the industrial revolution, and over the past century in particular, mans ecological footprint on the earth has quickly grown from that of a child to one of a giant. True, this period is heralded as an economic success story, which it certainly has been. However, many argue that it seems increasingly likely that the path to mans success will soon slope downward to his demise. The climate is changing, and so must we. This paper will look at the coin of climate change, where on the one side the human impact on the earth will be shown, and on the other, the impact of earth on man. Such a study is inevitably somewhat polemical, as it is still open to debate what the precise effects of man have and will be on climate change, and also what climate change will mean to man. It will also be quite general in analysis, as a paper of this scope can allow no more. What will be made clear, nevertheless, is that the relationship between man and earth is clearly changing. More specifically, man is outgrowing the earth. If the relationship is to continueindeed prosperthen a new balance needs to be found. The issue of climate change holds one important key to this balance. Man and the Environment Thomas Malthus is well remembered for his position as a doomsayer. When looking at the rates of population growth in Victorian England, he saw unchecked growth as leading to a rapid decline in the living standards of man. He blamed this decline on three main factors: the overproduction of offspring; the inability of natural resources to sustain rising human population; and the irresponsibility of the lower classes to prevent their overpopulation. Very generally, Malthus suggested that this trend could be controlled only if the family size of the lower classes was regulated so that poor families would not produce more children than they could support. He predicted that the demand for food would inevitably become far greater than the available supply of it. This prediction was rooted in the thought that population, when unchecked, increased geometrically; i.e. .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .postImageUrl , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:hover , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:visited , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:active { border:0!important; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:active , .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18 .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5b1f3e4d6da0c556530c55a6113c1b18:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: James Dickey Essay, 2,4,8,16,32 while food products, or as he called it subsistence, only grew at an arithmetic rate; i.e, 1,2,3,4,5,.. . He provided only a basic economic reason for this however, and generally attributed famine, poverty and other catastrophic occurrences to divine intervention (he was a very religious man, a clergyman, in fact). He believed that such natural outcomes were essentially Gods way of preventing man from being lazy. The point here is not to provide an evaluation of Malthus, and one might well argue that he was wrong in many of his predictions; but rather to highlight the posit that . Climate change (term paper) Essay Example For Students Climate change (term paper) Essay Summary: This paper looks at the controversial issue of climatic change. In particular, it develops the question of if and why earths climate is changing? The roles of man, naturally occurring trends, and earths cycles are considered, and an outlook for what can be expected in the near and distant future is given. The uneasiness of modern man arises from a rupture between himself and nature that leaves him homeless within the universe We will write a custom essay on Climate change (term paper) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now William Barrett Introduction Over the past years most individuals have become acutely aware that the intensity of human and economic development enjoyed over the 20th century cannot be sustained. Material consumption and ever increasing populations are already stressing the earths ecosystems. How much more the earth can take remains a very heated issue. Here a look at the facts sheds some very dark light. In 1950, there were 2.5 billion people, while today there are 5. 8 billion. There may well be 10 billion people on earth before the middle of the next century. Even more significant, on an ecological level, is the rise in per capita energy and material consumption which, in the last 40 years, has soared faster than the human population. An irresistible economy seems to be on a collision course with an immovable ecosphere. Based on these facts alone, there is grave reason for concern. Taken further, it is even more frightening to note that, while man has affected the environment throughout his stay on earth, the impact has been most intense in the relatively short industrial era. Since the industrial revolution, and over the past century in particular, mans ecological footprint on the earth has quickly grown from that of a child to one of a giant. True, this period is heralded as an economic success story, which it certainly has been. However, many argue that it seems increasingly likely that the path to mans success will soon slope downward to his demise. The climate is changing, and so must we. This paper will look at the coin of climate change, where on the one side the human impact on the earth will be shown, and on the other, the impact of earth on man. Such a study is inevitably somewhat polemical, as it is still open to debate what the precise effects of man have and will be on climate change, and also what climate change will mean to man. It will also be quite general in analysis, as a paper of this scope can allow no more. What will be made clear, nevertheless, is that the relationship between man and earth is clearly changing. More specifically, man is outgrowing the earth. If the relationship is to continueindeed prosperthen a new balance needs to be found. The issue of climate change holds one important key to this balance. Man and the Environment Thomas Malthus is well remembered for his position as a doomsayer. When looking at the rates of population growth in Victorian England, he saw unchecked growth as leading to a rapid decline in the living standards of man. He blamed this decline on three main factors: the overproduction of offspring; the inability of natural resources to sustain rising human population; and the irresponsibility of the lower classes to prevent their overpopulation. Very generally, Malthus suggested that this trend could be controlled only if the family size of the lower classes was regulated so that poor families would not produce more children than they could support. He predicted that the demand for food would inevitably become far greater than the available supply of it. This prediction was rooted in the thought that population, when unchecked, increased geometrically; i.e. .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .postImageUrl , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:hover , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:visited , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:active { border:0!important; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:active , .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ude059be86fa2182347d3d57952dc23dc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Survivors Tale And Spiegelman Essay, 2,4,8,16,32 while food products, or as he called it subsistence, only grew at an arithmetic rate; i.e, 1,2,3,4,5,.. . He provided only a basic economic reason for this however, and generally attributed famine, poverty and other catastrophic occurrences to divine intervention (he was a very religious man, a clergyman, in fact). He believed that such natural outcomes were essentially Gods way of preventing man from being lazy. The point here is not to provide an evaluation of Malthus, and one might well argue that he was wrong in many of his predictions; .

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Plato’s Meno Essay Example

Plato’s Meno Paper Socrates, in his discussion with Meno in â€Å"Plato’s Meno† gave us in heritage what is actually a Virtue. Meno said, â€Å"Well then, Socrates, virtue, as I take it, is when he, who desire the honorable, is able to provide it for himself; so the poet says, and I say too-â€Å", (Plato, Meno), but after prolonged discussion, Socrates explains to Meno, â€Å" Then, Meno, the conclusion is that virtue comes to the virtuous by the gift of God. But we shall never know the certain truth until, before asking how virtue is given, we enquire into the actual nature. † (Dialogue, Plato, Meno). Hereby it is quite true that virtuous person is not the person who has the quality of being good as is propounded to be but virtue cannot be defined, it is an essence of goodness in souls that makes a person virtuous. Hereby in the Western Civilization we say he is virtuous because he has done some noble acts. What lies in shore of men is bound to happen like Aeneas, the hero of the Aeneid, says, â€Å" sing of arms and of a man: his fate had made him fugitive. †(Virg. , Aen. 1. 1-7) Aeneid reflects live experience as though it were an object in a mirror. â€Å"There are two gates of Sleep, one said to be of horn, whereby the true shades pass with ease, the other all white ivory agleam without a flaw, and yet false dreams are sent through this one by the ghost to the upper world. Anchises now, his last instructions given, took son and Sibyl and let them go by the Ivory Gate. †(Virgil, Aeneid, Book VI, Lines 893-899). We will write a custom essay sample on Plato’s Meno specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Plato’s Meno specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Plato’s Meno specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Aeneas left Hades to go back up to the mortal world through the gates of lies, and suggests for the rest of the world, that all of his actions are false. Indeed, it means that the entire world since the founding of Rome is but a lie. From our inner self we are different but we have put the mask of selfishness and absurdity. Humans like Dante in Divine Comedy are all lost in the woods; Midway along the journey of life I woke to find myself in the dark wood, For I have wondered from the straight path (Dante Alighieri, Canto 1, 3. Divine Comedy). We are all in this Western Civilization and at one point of time are asailed by beasts a lion, a leopard, and a she-wolf; allegory of temptations towards sin and once fallen into it are unable to then find ourselves towrds â€Å"diritta via† ie salvation. Though Dante realized that he is ruining himself, and is falling into a deep place, but he is not able to come out of the situation himself and he is taken out of it by Vigil who took him towards the pilgrim from Inferno means Hell, To purogato and finally to Paradiso where his Journey ends ie he meet divinity. â€Å"so I searched that strange sight: I wished to see the way in which our human effigy suited the circle and found place in it†-(Dante, Paradiso 33, Divine Comedy). Western Civilization also believes in the choice to live full to his capacity and assume a place in heaven upon death, but when they are fallen to temptation, they suffer in Hell for eternity, but they do get a chance for repentance, allowing them to enter Purgatory, and finally witness God. This gives man inspiration, insight, imagination and abilities to understand or to grasp the realities (actualities/potentialities) around him. Gilgamesh had both the divine as well as devilish qualities that what humans of Western Civilizations are. In the quest to fulfill our materialistic and sexual desires we are moving away from attaining the mutual satisfaction, thus according to me the Epic Gilgamesh is mirror to the Western Civilizations, whereby with the Scientific and Technological advancements we are moving in the pursuit of attaining the immortality but it is the immortality we cannot attain because death is destiny we all have to lead ourselves too. The death is glorified even in Illiad and Aenies. BIBILOGRAPHY The Epic of Gilgamesh, The earliest Sumerian versions dated s early as the Third dynasty of Ur ie 2100 BC-2000 BC). Homer, probably 8th century BC Illiad Virgil, 19th B. C. E, Aeneid The Meno, 380, B. C. E, Plato Dante Alighieri, 1308-1321, The Divine Comedy

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Women’s Power Essays

Women’s Power Essays Women’s Power Essay Women’s Power Essay Simone De Beauvoir is regarded to be rationalistic and Eurocentric. Furthermore, the contemporary feminist theorists think of her to be male-biased and opinions on Beauvoir’s works to be simply valued for historical reasons. It was also told that her ideas were generally outdated. These opinions had been spreading in the 1999 during the Fiftieth Anniversary of â€Å"The Second Sex† conference in Paris (Wyatt, 2007). Upon reading Simone De Beauvoir’s essays, it can be noted, though not obviously or greatly evident that Beauvoir’s philosophy includes a lot of very important insights for feminism, both contemporary and future feminism. Simone de Beauvoir believes that the existence precedes essence (Blunden, 1997). In this sense, Beauvoir greatly believes that an individual was not born as a woman. As such, an individual only becomes a woman if she becomes one. Beauvoir also believes that women, as placed in the context of being the â€Å"other†, are in a situation wherein men put a certain â€Å"mystery† around them. Men try to stereotype women in order to gain or have an excuse to create a society where men would dominate or thus obtain a patriarchy within the society. Women’s roles are shrouded with this false â€Å"mystery† that men place unto them. As such, oppression of women is often present in a patriarchal society, where men tend to tell everything that they need to do. There is a certain hierarchy placed in the society, where men are above, and the women below or under them. This certain mystery also occurs on other things, which may include religion, class or even in races. Regarding the slogan, â€Å"Come along way† (baby)? , in the point of view of Simone de Beauvoir, women may not have arrived because of men’s oppression or their â€Å"mysterious† state because of men. For Beauvoir, if feminism is still not present up to this day, then it did not exist even before. Though, women did come along way or need to travel a long way in order to reach or arrive in a situation where the society is no longer patriarchal. Women can only be said to have arrived if there is equality among the sexes and that women is treated as a human being, not just as the other. On the other hand, if feminism is indeed present or achieved today, then we can say that women had already arrived. In the society, man dictates the definition of women. She is characterized in relation to man; to him and not to herself. Furthermore, man can still think of himself even if woman is not present. Unlike the man, being the â€Å"other†, a woman is not able or cannot think of her self without the presence of man. Arriving at the end of woman’s journey would be difficult. In this sense, woman would need more effort for they lack the concrete means of organizing themselves. They do not have the enough capabilities to be united and stand against the other and they continue to be overshadowed by the other sex’s power. According to Beauvoir, woman has no past, no religion of their own and has no history and that she is generally dependent on man (Blunden, 1997). Throughout the course of time, as society evolves, feminism continues to live in struggle in a patriarchal society. The classes, races, religion, science and even in economics, throughout the history of humans, women are always undermined by man, though her situation is changing from one point of time to the other. They are some points in history where the battle of the sexes, the equality of men and women, had been going on and in some point, stops. But one thing is for sure, man dread feminine competition. This is probably why woman would have a hard time arriving at a place that they want to be. Estelle B. Freedman is a U. S. historian and she is well-versed in the field of feminist studies and is a co-founder of a program regarding feminist studies (Freedman, 2007). Her specialization is women’s history and social reform. She had already been recognized for her works and exemplary essays. For Freedman, feminism does not fully exist, rather it is unwell and is still being reassessed and restored to its strength with great importance and vitality. Despite the fact that she also believes that feminism has a very good future and has exceptional and unparalleled history. Freedman also believes that it requires great effort and so much work to do for women to attain the true equality and obtain real power that is parallel to that of which men have.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The Time Traveller is a man impossible to sympathise with Essay Example

The Time Traveller is a man impossible to sympathise with Essay Example The Time Traveller is a man impossible to sympathise with Paper The Time Traveller is a man impossible to sympathise with Paper despite the fact that the Eloi are teaching him their language. This is also an example of irony, as they are teaching him, not him teaching them. However, the Time Travellers feeling of superiority fails to make him realise the ironic side of what he thinks. The Time Traveller feels that he is more intelligent and knowledgeable than his guests. In discussions with his guests he oozes confidence, helping him to put points forward, and speaks adding emphasis to certain phrases, by pausing, for example. An example of this is: ` Scientific People, proceeded the Time Traveller, after the pause required for the proper assimilation of this In the meetings between him and his guests, he is always the person always putting the points forward and deciding where the conversation goes: ` Can an instantaneous cube exist? Also, the Time Traveller always makes his guests subservient in the arguments, which again aids him in putting his points forward. Whenever one of his guests tries to challenge his dominance, the Time Traveller says something to put them back into their more subsidiary position in the discussion. An example of this is: ` said the Medical Man May I have them? (referring to flowers). `The Time Traveller hesitated. Then suddenly: Certainly not. This again reminds us of his confidence and attitude towards his guests. On several occasions the Time Traveller sees examples of the Morlocks ntelligence (their machinery, their attempts to trap him in both the forest and the pedestal) but does not take it in, because of his arrogance. Therefore, he never learns from his mistakes, and so repeats them. For example, when he goes into the dark wood inadequately armed, and nearly gets killed, he does not learn from this. Therefore, when he goes into the pedestal, a perfect place to become trapped in, and he only has a couple of matches, and nothing with which to light them. I was in the dark trapped. So the Morlocks thought. At that I chuckled gleefully But I had overlooked ne thing. The matches were of the abominable kind that only light on the box. On that occasion, it is also ironic that the Time Traveller ` could not help but laugh bitterly at (his) confidence. On the following page he becomes over-confident once more. In several places in the book, the Time Traveller is over-confident and under-pr epared, not just with the Morlocks. He never properly thought through what it would be like if the Time Machine worked. Despite the fact that he is meant to be an intelligent and logically thinking scientist, he never even considered what he should bring to e prepared for example, if the machine were to work. Therefore, it is ironic when he wishes that he had brought a camera with him, when he has travelled into the future. When he is ready to go, he has panicky, second thoughts ` I suppose a suicide who holds a pistol to his skull feels pretty much the same wonder at what will come next So for all his intelligence, confidence and knowledge, the Time Traveller lacks much common sense. He is therefore arrogant, over-confident and under-prepared going into new situations. This makes it difficult to sympathise with him when things start to go wrong. It is easy to see that the Time Traveller is intelligent, but he can become irritatingly smart. For example: ` I had a score of noun substantives at least at my command; and then I got onto demonstrative pronouns, and even the verb `to eat. ` My museum hypothesis was confirmed. This is pretentious; and it is probable that the reader is led to dislike the Time Traveller; so that when he gets into tricky situations, the reader is not meant to feel too much towards him. It is only halfway through he book that the reader can start sympathising with the Time Traveller. This is when more of his haracter is revealed; underneath the confidence and arrogance is a more agreeable side. Here he admits that he feels for Weena; and when she is gone, he is depressed. However, despite the fact that he likes her; she is described by him as physically `frail and `like a child. Also, intellectually, he treats her with disdain, and talks of her in a condescending manner, saying things such as ` I thought, rather foolishly that Weena might help me to interpret this. Although Wells has cleverly brought in the caring side of the Time Travellers character gradually, he has made the Time Traveller rrogant, over-confident and egotistical throughout the book. One of the best examples of this, after the other caring side of his character has properly been introduced, is when he goes into the wood. He believed at the time, that building a fire was ` n ingenious move for covering (his) retreat. Relying upon being able to light a fire is not the best protection, especially as several hundred Morlocks surrounded them at the time. It is also ironic when the Time Traveller laughs at the fire he has made, and walks away further into the wood, and further away from the little protection that he has. These examples show us that despite more of his character being revealed so that the reader can sympathise with him, he is still arrogant and over-confident, not realising what dangerous positions he is in. When Weena `dies the Time Traveller realises he likes her, and his affection for her is more openly indicated. For example: ` (her death) seemed an overwhelming calamity. His relationship with her previously had grown very gradually. When he saved her from drowning, in his usual condescending and intransigent way, he assumed that was it, and that there would be no proper friendship. Treating he Eloi race with his normal disdain, the Time Traveller expected that he would never be thanked for saving her, as he says: ` I had got to such a low estimation of her kind that I did not expect any gratitude from her. This reminds us again of his arrogance. The last example in the book of his affection for her is: ` But my story slips away from me as I speak of her. This shows, in a comment to his guests, that he is still thinking of her in an affectionate manner when she is gone. The two examples of his thoughts on their friendship (one at the beginning, one after Weena has gone), shows how much the friendship ad developed. Despite the two very different sides of his character, there are events that occur to link them. When the Time Traveller fights the Morlocks in the forest, and they are ` blinded by the raging fire, he is clearly enjoying the ` succulent giving of flesh under (his) blows, while in ` a frenzy of fear. The Time Traveller might want revenge for whatever has happened to Weena, but still lacks common sense, and ` not realising their blindness, he ` struck furiously at them. Although he instantly regrets this, which is, again, quite ironic. Furthermore, the different sides of his haracter can be linked when he is in the Palace of Green Porcelain. There he describes Weena as quite unintelligent, but two pages later, he almost praises her for making him realise that the floor sloped down underground towards the Morlocks. Here the Time Traveller treats the Elois intelligence with his usual disdain and condescension, but praises Weena, an Eloi, indicating that he likes her. The Time Traveller is not a very sympathetic character, but it is possible to sympathise with him. I believe it is definitely Wells intention to make the reader change his or her view about the Time Traveller, and to become more sympathetic towards him. Throughout the book, the Time Traveller is arrogant, over-confident and lacks common sense. Until his relationship with Weena begins, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to gain the readers sympathy. There are some subtle remarks made by the Time Traveller about his relationship with her, but he does not consciously realise that he likes her until her disappearance. Only then he actually realises her affection for her. Due to his continued arrogance, however, it is not possible to sympathise a great deal with him.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Conflict of Interest between Owners and Operators Essay

Conflict of Interest between Owners and Operators - Essay Example This paper examines the nature of the duty to avoid a conflict of interest on the part of owners and operators in company law. This research, however, is industry based and focuses on the nature of that duty in the gas and oil industry. In this regard, the nature and legal consequences of oil and gas agreements are examined. Once the various methods for engaging oil and gas contracts are explained, this research then turns its attention to the law relative to the corporate duty to avoid a conflict of interest and how that duty is interpreted and applied by the courts. The duty is then tied together with the owner and operator of the oil and gas industries. It is a common principle of company law that directors are required to put the interest of the company first and to avoid situations in which there is not only a conflict of interest but that there is a possibility of a conflict of interest. This rule is generally treated by the courts as entirely inflexible. As such it places upon the operator in an oil and gas agreement an onerous and quite often insurmountable burden as these persons are almost always involved in situations where there is a possibility of a conflict of interest. However, some court judgments such as Bray and Ford have relaxed the inflexible rule, holding that not all transactions are necessarily improper or illegal. This ruling could ease the unrealistic burden on operators who quite often come into contact with persons and entities that might have an interest that calls upon the operator to exercise a duty that might conflict with the oil and gas company whom he/she represents and serves.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Critically disscuss the principles underpinning the doctrine of Essay

Critically disscuss the principles underpinning the doctrine of consideration and its necessity in english contract law - Essay Example This exchange is that exchange of consideration. Thus, if no consideration exists it holds that there is nothing on which to create or found liability. Reciprocal undertakings between the contracting parties have to be there. Promises by either of the parties have to be fulfilled. Therefore, if neither of the contracting parties promises or gives anything, there exists no consideration for the second party to promise or act. In the past, when contracts were entirely verbal, the English Common law never wanted to enforce any offers that were gratuitous, (that is, offers without anything in exchange). Thus, the criterion of consideration was added to the Common law. Judge Wilmot stated in his verdict in a 1765 case of Pillans vs Mierop, that consideration came in the times of verbal contracts and to such, the law required something to make agreements formal. This was to let the court determine at what point a deliberate undertaking took place to obligate oneself. Any contract which doe s not have consideration is called a nudum pactum. (duhaime.org, 2011) The doctrine of consideration attaches to itself several principles according to Ramsey and Thomas Telford limited in their book. These are very essential as per the book and they determine sufficiency and adequacy. These include the facts that consideration has to be sufficient or real, it has to be something besides the existing obligation to the contracting parties, it must not be a consideration for past contracts, it has to be given as a return to a prior promise, it must be economically valuable and it has to emanate from the party making a promise. (Ramsey and Thomas Telford Ltd, 2007 p 253) The study will narrow down on the principles, though. Focus will be on the main requirements for a contract to be considered valid. To this, four main principles will be put into consideration. Four main principles have to exist in a contract so as consideration to uphold or to be valid. These include the fact that con sideration has to be sufficient but not necessarily adequate, it is a must it be valuable, consideration has to come from the promisee to the promisor and it maybe executed or executor, though. Past consideration is not enough to and a promise. This, study is going to consider the four principles or requirements in detail and also in pursuit of understanding further the doctrine. The requirements are going to be tackled in the order in which they are stated. (Lisa, 2002) The major rule under consideration as Fisher and Greenwood state in their book is that it is a must consideration be sufficient be sufficient it is not a must it be adequate, though. To the adequacy issue, the book says that there is nothing amiss in purchasing a valuable item like a painting for an amount of USD 10. Fundamentally, consideration is just token showing a party’s intent in making a legal contract unlike a social non-biding agreement. This stated token involves the giving of a thing that is of va lue in line with the requirements of law. Consideration, thus, is no prove of fairness or equity in a contract, but it is just an evidence that there exists a legal and enforceable contractual agreement between the involved parties. This is in opposition to any social arrangement with no intent of a legal contract. Note that, the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Mohammed Morsi Essay Example for Free

Mohammed Morsi Essay The Muslim Brotherhoods Mohammed Morsi has become Egypts first freely elected president after a delayed announcement of the results of last weekends runoff. He beat former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq by more than almost 900,000 votes. Morsi secured 51.7% of the vote, compared to 48% for Shafiq. Mohammed Morsi heads the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm. Mubarak appointed Shafik as prime minister in response to the protests against his regime. Shafik resigned a little more than a month later amid protests decrying him as a holdover from a discredited, ousted regime. Supports the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF): â€Å"SCAF is serious about power handover and is seeking to achieve the goals of the revolution. SCAF stands at an equal distance from all political and religious powers.† Parliamentary elections: the Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice party seems set to emerge as the biggest winner, with some analysts estimating it will capture about 40% of seats in the new legislature. Al-Nour, a more conservative Salafist party, looks likely to secure second place. The Muslim Brotherhood (known in Arabic as al-Ikhwan al-Muslimeen) is Egypts oldest and largest Islamist organization. As the most organized opposition group following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the Brotherhood became the countrys dominant political force, winning a near majority of seats in the post-revolution parliament, and its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, winning the presidency. Some Egyptians are concerned over the groups aim to establish a state ruled by sharia, or Islamic law, and ambiguity over its respect for human rights. Such concerns intensified after Morsi announced new sweeping powers for the presidency in late 2012 and a draft of theproposed constitution was published. The domestic political challenges also provide a difficult road for U.S.-Egypt relations, especially with regards to foreign aid. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political party of the Muslim Brotherhood, could not have come into being without the 25 January revolution. Up to that time, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Egypt’s most powerful Islamist organization, was not only denied the right to form parties, but also barred – at least legally – from political life. As a result, the group had to pay a heavy price in detentions and repression to practice politics under the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. The group had been trying to get a foothold in the country’s political arena for decades but was met with entrenched opposition by the Mubarak regime, which tended to accommodate the Brotherhood, but only within strict limits. Now, after the 25 January uprising, the group’s political ambitions have resurged on an unprecedented scale. Officially founded in May 2011, the FJP says that it is committed to a modern state, democracy, women’s rights, and national unity. The FJP’s initial membership of nearly nine thousand included one thousand women and one hundred Copts. New members are subject to a probationary period of six months after which, and based on their performance record, they become eligible for permanent membership. The FJP—along with the Salafist Al-Nour—is among a very few Egyptian political parties that issue probationary membership Formed alliance with name of Democratic Alliance (Freedom and Justice) Al-Nour Party Established in the wake of the 25 January uprising, Al-Nour (â€Å"The Light†) Party is the largest of Egypt’s three licensed Salafist parties (the other two being Al-Asala and Al-Fadila Parties). It was established by Al-Da‘wa Al-Salafiyya (â€Å"The Salafist Call†), Egypt’s largest Salafist group, commonly known as Al-Daawa Movement. Al-Daawa started in Alexandria where it now enjoys a considerable following. Al-Nour Party was officially licensed in June 2011. Official registration is of paramount importance in Egypt at the present time, as the current election law limits the right to contest two-thirds of the seats of the upcoming parliament to a limited number of officially registered parties, including Al-Nour. Under the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak, the state generally did not allow for the formation of Islamist parties, but after the revolution many Islamist groups managed  to obtain official political party license. The Islamist Bloc is an electoral coalition formed by three Islamist political parties with the aim to integrate their efforts in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Islamist Bloc is comprised of the Salafist Al-Nour and Al-Asala Parties, as well as the Building and Development Party, the latter of which was founded by the Islamic Group (Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya). Wafad party: Wafd Party is one of Egypt’s oldest liberal parties and is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming elections. With deposed President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling party officially disbanded, Wafd has emerged as an influential player in the political arena. The party commands the largest network that any political party in Egypt possesses today, covering major cities in twenty-four out of twenty-six Egyptian governorates. With a distinguished group of top Egyptian businessmen on its membership list, Al-Wafd stands out as one of the few established parties that do not face the same financial constraints that have historically challenged many of the country’s political parties. The party also enjoys a very strong presence in the media, thanks to its famous daily newspaper, its Internet portal, and a professional, well-equipped media department. Additionally, Wafd’s current leader Al-Sayed Al-Badawi is owner of Al-Hayat, one of Egypt’s top five television channels. Such are luxuries that very few Egyptian parties possess. Wafd’s history dates back to the beginning of party life under the monarchy, making it the oldest among existing Egyptian political parties. The name of the party is Arabic for â€Å"The Delegation,† and it references Saad Zaghloul’s attempt in 1919 to lead a popular delegation to the post-World War I Paris Peace Conference to demand independence for Egypt against the will of British occupation authorities. Threatened by the immense popular support that Zaghloul was able to garner for his mission, British authorities exiled the Egyptian nationalist leader along with members of the prospective delegation to Malta. This move instigated a mass uprising, which led to the 1919 Revolution. The Egyptian Bloc: The Egyptian Bloc consists of the Free Egyptians Party, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and Al-Tagammu Party. The Bloc is often portrayed as a â€Å"secular-leaning† alliance that seeks to counterbalance the influence of the Muslim Brotherhoodin the upcoming elections, specifically the Brotherhood led Democratic Alliance’s electoral coalition. Members of the Bloc announced in early November that their partnership is not simply a short-term electoral coalition, but encompasses a long-term political alliance aimed at turning Egypt into a civil democratic state. Magdi Abdelhad:iMiddle East analyst The Islamists rise to power in Egypt will send shockwaves through the courts and palaces of conservative Arab kings and presidents who have tried for decades to put the lid on political Islam. But foremost among Egypts neighbours who watched the brotherhoods success with increasing alarm is Israel. Cairo was the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel and the brotherhood has traditionally been vehemently opposed to that. But its opposition has softened over the years at least publicly. It is widely believed that the Muslim Brotherhood have reassured Washington that an Islamist government in Egypt would respect the peace deal with Israel. Given also that the ruling military council will continue to have the final say on matters of war and peace, it is unlikely that the brotherhood can put that peace at risk. It is also more likely that Mr Mursis immediate priority will be to concentrate on Egypts many daunting domestic problems including rampant poverty and unemployment. Debating leaders: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/opinion/21iht-edzewail21.html?pagewanted=all From the time of Ramses II, the strong pharaoh who ruled Egypt thousands of years ago, until last year when Hosni Mubarak’s reign ended, Egyptians were never able to witness a debate over who should take over the democratic reins in the highest office of the land. Our new culture of debate, together with the election of the Parliament last December, are milestones in the history of the nation, paving a new, but rocky, path toward democracy. The open debate between the secular and religious orientations of politics was  unthinkable over the past 60 years. This new openness means the Egyptian body politic is maturing. In the end, Egyptians know that, for the first time, they can choose their future. It won’t be dictated or imposed by anyone. Army protected revo: Unlike in nearby Syria or earlier in Libya, the Egyptian Army has taken the high road and protected the revolution in its infancy. And it has been the guardian of these unprecedented transparent elections. Problems: Among the most serious problems are economic hardship, the uncertainty of the political climate and the deterioration of security — a feature that Egyptian society faces anew. These problems have been compounded over the past 15 months as each of the three main constituencies involved in the revolution — the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which is in charge of the transition period; the politically liberal as well as Islamic-oriented parties; and the youth who triggered the uprising — have stumbled in one way or another. Little bloodshed: It is a hopeful sign indeed that we Egyptians are still marching forward toward democracy with relatively little bloodshed. All signs indicate that a counterrevolution is not in store for Egypt. We will not turn back to a totalitarian governing system. Perhaps the most encouraging of all is the confidence of Egyptians in their future. In Egypt, a Victory for Democracy but Fear for the Future: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-25/in-egypt-a-victory-for-democracy-but-fear-for-the-future â€Å"So many questions remain unanswered that what can best be said is that either SCAF and the Brotherhood have worked out a deal of some sort or the political jousting has only just begun,† wrote Issandr El Amrani, a popular blogger on Egyptian politics. â€Å"Both the Brothers and  SCAF have positioned themselves in a manner in which backing down from their respective positions on the question of parliament and the Supplemental Constitutional Declaration would be a loss of face.† Tensions ran high for two weeks, when the SCAF assumed legislative responsibilities after shutting down the Islamist-controlled Parliament, announced a Supplemental Constitutional Declaration that drastically reduced presidential powers, and gave themselves the ability to veto articles of drafts of Egypt’s new constitution. They also reintroduced martial law, allowing soldiers to arrest civilians. Critics called their actions a soft coup. The Muslim Brotherhood, the most powerful political player in Egypt, has on the surface refused to accept any of these decisions, staging a sit-in in Tahrir Square and issuing aggressive statements to the media, all the while vowing to pressure the military government to rescind their declarations. It was a rare move, as the pragmatic group is more generally known for cutting deals with the regime rather than going toe-to-toe. Last week, with the possibility of a victory by Ahmed Shafiq, the other candidate in the run-off election who is widely viewed as aligned with the military, the Brotherhood showed a willingness to work with the revolutionary groups it had mostly ignored since the uprising against Mubarak. Morsi pledged to form a national salvation government to include secular politicians, Christians, and women. â€Å"The big question is: Can they build a broader, more inclusive front that can effectively challenge SCAF’s grip on power?† asks Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center. â€Å"Now that fear [of Shafiq’s victory] has passed, is there still enough that binds [the opposition groups] together? I do think the Brotherhood has at least implicitly acknowledged the mistakes of recent months and they have tried to strike a more conciliatory tone, and the recognition that they can’t do this alone because they are fighting a very challenging adversary: SCAF and the old regime.† To add to the challenges of running a country with a crumbling economy, President Morsi won with a narrow margin, garnering 51.7 percent of the vote. He had promised to be the president of all Egyptians during his first address to the nation Sunday night . â€Å"The game was being played almost like a game of poker on both sides,† says Hani Shukrallah, managing editor of the English-language online version of the Al Ahramnewspaper. â€Å"If we have reached a compromise, that’s a bit helpful for healing the deep schisms  [within] society. We have a society that’s been split down the middle, with enormous polarization. Most of the people who voted for Morsi did so out of dread [of] Shafiq.† On a side street leading to Tahrir Square on Sunday night, Ehab El Shawi led his three children to the epicenter of the celebration in the birthplace of Egypt’s uprising. Like many, he was caught between rejoicing at the idea of a new president and the reality of the office’s lack of power. â€Å"This is the first time all Egyptian people made a choice in 7,000 years to elect a normal Egyptian citizen. This is the first time we have freedom in more than 60 years,† El Shawi said happily of the first non-military president in Egypt’s history. â€Å"But we have to change all the decisions taken during the presidential elections and force the powers to ensure Dr.Morsi will have all the power to make Egypt a modern country,† he added. â€Å"We still need to take Egypt back from the old regime. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Timeline: Anti-Mubarak protests 2010 February Former UN nuclear chief Mohammed ElBaradei returns to Egypt and, together with opposition figures and activists, forms a coalition for political change. ElBaradei says he might run in presidential election scheduled for 2011. 2010 March President Mubarak undergoes gall-bladder surgery in Germany, returning to Egypt three weeks later. 2010 June Muslim Brotherhood fails to win any seats in elections to the Shura consultative upper house of parliament; alleges vote was rigged. 2010 November Coptic Christians clash with police in Giza over construction of church. Parliamentary polls, followed by protests against alleged vote rigging. Muslim Brotherhood fails to win a single seat, though it held a fifth of the places in the last parliament. 2011 January 21 killed in bomb at church in Alexandria where Christians had gathered to mark the New Year. Anti-government demonstrations, apparently encouraged by Tunisian street protests which prompted sudden departure of President Ben Ali. President Mubarak reshuffles his cabinet but fails to placate demonstrators, whose calls for his resignation grow louder. Days later he promises to step down in September. 2011 February President Mubarak steps down and hands power  to the army council. 2011 March Egyptians approve package of constitutional reforms aimed at paving the way for new elections. 2011 April Former President Mubarak and his sons, Ala and Gamal, are arrested on suspicion of corruption. 2011 April-August Protests continue in Cairos Tahrir Square over slow pace of political change. Islamist groups come to the fore. Army finally disperses protestors in August. 2011 August Former President Mubarak goes on trial in Cairo, charged with ordering the killing of demonstrators earlier in the year. 2011 October Clashes between Coptic Christians and security forces kill 24 people. Egypt and Israel swap 25 Egyptians in Israeli custody for a US-Israeli citizen accused of spying. 2011 November Violence in Cairos Tahrir square as security forces clash with protesters accusing the military of trying to keep their grip on power. Prime Minister EssamSharaf resigns in response to the unrest. Start of parliamentary elections. 2011 December National unity government headed by new Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri takes office. 2012 January Islamist parties emerge as victors of drawn-out parliamentary elections. 2012 March Pope Shenouda III, the veteran head of the Coptic Church, dies. 2012 April Crisis in relations with Saudi Arabia over the Saudi detention of an Egyptian lawyer briefly threatens the substantial aid that the Saudis provide Egypt. First free presidential poll 2012 May Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi tops the first round of voting in first free presidential elections, narrowly ahead of Mubarak-era prime minister Ahmed Shafiq. Official media put turnout at a low 43%. Military leaders announce the end of the state of emergency in place since Anwar al-Sadats assassination in 1981, as its last renewal expires. 2012 June Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi narrowly wins presidential election.Armyvs civilian rule Court sentences ex-President Mubarak to life in prison for complicity in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising. 2012 July President Mursi submits to a Supreme Court ruling that the parliamentary elections were invalid, after initially ordering parliament to meet in defiance of a military decree dissolving it in June. 2012 August New prime ministerHishamQandil appoints a cabinet dominated by figures from the outgoing government, technocrats and Islamists, to the exclusion of secular parties. Islamist fighters attack an  army outpost in Sinai, killing 16 soldiers, and mount a brief incursion into Israel, highlighting the tenuousness of government control over the largely-lawless area. President Mursi dismisses Defence Minister Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Annan and strips military of say in legislation and drafting the new constitution. 2012 September Egypt kills 32 militants and destroys 31 smuggling tunnels to Gaza in an offensive against militants who attacked troops in Sinai in August. 2012 November Bishop Tawadros is chosen as the new pope of Egypts Coptic Christians. President Mursi issues a decree giving himself extensive new powers. The decree sparks angry demonstrations and is condemned by Egypts top judges, who accuse him of undermining the independence of the judiciary. The Islamist-dominated constituent assembly tasked with writing a new constitution approves all 234 articles of the draft constitution, which boosts the role of Islam in Egypts system of government. The assembly session is boycotted by liberal, left-wing and Christian members. The vote is held earlier than originally scheduled, after Egypts constitutional court threatened to dissolve the constituent assembly. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13315719 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2012/01/23-egypt-indyk Prospects for Democracy in Egypt: Theres a conventional wisdom in the United States that Arabs are incapable of sustaining a true Western-style, liberal democracy. It will take them hundreds of years to acquire a democratic culture, the argument goes. And in the meantime new authoritarian regimes either Islamist or military will replace the ones that have been overthrown in the past year and give us all a lesson in Arab democracy. Advocates of this view were the first to announce, with all-knowing smiles, that the Arab Spring had become an Arab Winter. When Islamist parties won free and mostly fair elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco in recent months, the proponents of this view had an I told you so moment and they were quick to denounce anybody who said otherwise as hopelessly naive. After a prolonged hibernation, politics has broken out in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Awakenings. For the first time in six decades people are acquiring a taste for freedom and, yes, Western-style democratic politics. The issues they debate so vigorously are critical to the shape of Egypts democratic future: What will be the residual powers of the Egyptian military? Whats the best model for dividing powers between the Presidency and the Parliament? What revisions should be made to the Constitution to ensure democratic rule? At the same time, the newly-elected parties are busy engaging in the horse-trading necessary to coalition politics, since no one party gained a majority (the Muslim Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice Party won around 47 percent of the vote; the Salafi Al-Nour Party won 25 percent, and a variety of liberal parties won the rest.). We were treated to an amazing sight: Salafi religious purists attempting to negotiate an alliance with liberal secularists. How did they justify such a pragmatic deal? The enemy of my enemy is my friend, one of them explained to us. They can both agree on a short-term political agenda: countering the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and getting the army out of politics. And what about the imposition of Sharia law? The leader of the Salafi Al-Nour Party noted that his party is comfortable with the conservative nature of Egyptian society so a campaign to impose sharia law is unnecessary. They can be satisfied (at least for the time being) with the existing language of Article 2 of the Constitution which states that the principles of Islamic shariah will guide the state. This kind of pragmatic politics is deeply disturbing to the Costa Salafis a young generation of Salafis whose makeshift headquarters is in a Costa cafe. They denounce their elders not so much for being willing to compromise, which they readily accept as part of the new politics, but of failing to articulate through fatwas the religious basis for those compromises. Its as if the Salafi leadership, propelled onto the political stage for the first time, has become unplugged and feels able to do whatever is necessary in the political realm to protect its community of social  conservatives. They reminded me of the religious parties in Israel! Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood is busy making its own compromises with the military and with other liberal parties that would enable its Freedom and Justice Party to build a governing and empowered coalition (at the moment, they can control the parliament but until its powers are defined in the constitution and the military hands over power, they cannot control the government). Whereas the Salafis are looking to constrain the Muslim Brotherhood, the MB is focused on how to ease fears of its intentions. After operating for eighty years in the political wilderness, the MB has learned just how fragile this moment could turn out to be. Thats why its leadership is more willing to compromise with the military than the other parties to its left and right. Consequently, the other parties fear that the MB will sell them out to the military in some sweetheart deal that compromises the revolution and their abilities to use democratic rules of the game to constrain the MB and hold the military accountable. This tension will likely manifest itself in the massive demonstrations that are expected on January 25 in Tahrir Square to commemorate the first anniversary of the Revolution. The military and the MB have called for a celebration, complete with party balloons and patriotic songs. Youth activists and some liberal parties, particularly exercised by the eighty some demonstrators who were killed by the police and the army in crackdowns in November and December last year, are calling for a demonstration against military rule. Some of the far-left revolutionary youth are calling for a campaign of violence. The way the January 25 demonstrations play out will be only one of the ways in which square politics and party politics interact in Egypts newly dynamic democracy. All the parties feel that they can claim legitimacy from the peoples mandates that they have received in the elections. This empowers them to stand up to the military in demanding that it leave the political arena promptly and allow Egyptian democracy to have its day. If the military focuses only on protecting its narrow interests (e.g., retaining its business interests, claiming immunity from prosecution for  past actions, demanding only responsibility for protecting the states borders), then a reasonable compromise can be fashioned. However, if the military insists on specifying reserve powers in the constitution and protecting its budget from civilian oversight, then the people know the way back to Tahrir Square. As one newly-elected parliamentarian put it: We are legitimate now; the army is not. And what about the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty? We didnt raise the issue they did. It came up in most conversations in the following way: We have been elected by the people. Were responsible to them. The people want stability, above all. They want the police back in the streets and calm and predictability restored to their daily lives. We dont like the way Israel treats the Palestinians. We dont like the price that Israel pays for Egyptian gas. But were not going to mess with the peace treaty. That sentiment is so widely shared that one of the heads of the Muslim Brotherhood could declare to the New York Times last week that the peace treaty is a commitment of the state, and therefore will be respected. The sense of responsibility that rests on the shoulders of those who would govern 87 million people is palpable. They know the severe economic straits that they will have to confront. They know that neither tourists nor foreign investment will return to Egypt unless there is a clear commitment to stability. And they know the people will not forgive them if they fail to address their basic needs for order, jobs and housing. In short, newly-elected Egyptian politicians the Muslim Brotherhood first and foremost understand that they have to make a choice between feeding the people and fighting Israel, and for the time being they have made a conscious choice of bread over bombs. The fact that Palestine is not a priority for the Egyptian people has been manifest since the early days of the revolution. It was underscored for me during a lecture I gave at the American University in Cairo, just off Tahrir Square. A Palestinian student, draped in a Palestinian flag, stood with a makeshift banner in silent protest at the front of the hall. Despite this prominent reminder, during the ensuing ninety-minute QA session with  students and journalists no-one asked a question about Palestine. To be sure, theres always the risk that populist politicians will outbid each other in their demagoguery on the Palestinian issue, especially if Israeli-Palestinian violence flares. But Israel is particularly sensitive to this possibility and the Muslim Brotherhood is apparently signaling its Hamas branch to keep things quiet too. (With 350 trucks a day passing from Israel into Gaza, and smuggling of weapons through the tunnels continuing apace, Hamas has its own reasons for maintaining the current de facto ceasefire with Israel.) What was perhaps most striking to me, however, was the attitude of the new political class to the United States. I had expected to encounter hostility after all the United States had been Mubaraks staunch ally through the three decades of his Pharaohnic rule. I had assumed that the Islamist politicians in particular would be antagonistic towards American influence in post-revolutionary Egypt, just as the Iranian clerics have manifested intense antagonism towards the United States since their revolution. Yet Egypts Islamists all seemed keen to engage with the United States government. The Muslim Brotherhood was trying to understand President Obamas intentions in demanding that the military hand over power to civilian (i.e. Muslim Brotherhood) rule, expeditiously. They werent sure how to deal with the fact that Bill Burns, the Deputy Secretary of State, had just met with their leadership. But one thing they were very certain about they need U.S. economic assistance and U.S. help in mobilizing international assistance. They were therefore quite anxious to know how Congress would treat them. Because of this new U.S. Government engagement with their arch-rivals, the Salafis too are seeking American recognition. Their leaders are keen to come to Washington to explain their intentions. They even appear willing to engage with Israel to establish their bona fides one of their leaders recently gave an interview to Israeli Army Radio.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Creationism in Public Education Essay -- Religion

A hotly debated topic these past few years centers on the origin of life. Now more than ever, science and religion are butting heads trying to come up with a conclusion, and one that public schools would teach to their students. Alex Rainert, meanwhile, reasons that both â€Å"science and religion are engaged in the same project, to discover the origin of life† (141). In short, one could better describe the debate as a crusade between evolutionists and creationists. Both sides have their well-founded arguments, but when one looks at the decisions of the courts, clearly only one side may win the battle when deciding biology curriculum in schools. Despite the overwhelming number of people in favor of teaching creationism in public schools, it may be better to leave science classes free from matters of religious belief. In 2004, Sharpes and Peramas report that â€Å"nearly two-thirds of all Americans surveyed favored teaching creationism together with evolution in schools,† according to a poll organized by CBS Broadcasting (qtd. in Costley and Killins). Thus, it seems as if the public has bought into the fair play argument proposed by creationists. After all, why not have a place to teach equally credible theories of the origin of life in schools? (Eldredge 634). Chet Raymo, a noted science professor of physics and astronomy at Stonehill College, rejects this notion, stating, â€Å"one might as well give equal billing to those who believe the Earth is flat† since creationism stands on little factual ground (156). At any rate, the U.S. Supreme Court illustrates that teaching creationism puts pressure on minorities to conform to the obviously favored religion when the power of the government backs up the theory (qtd. in Anti-Defamation League ... ...ligion Will Transform Your Life and Our World. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. Print. Eldredge, Niles. â€Å"Creationism Isn’t Science.† The Conscious Reader. 6th ed. Ed. D. Anthony English and Eben Ludlow. Needham Heights: Simon & Schuster, 1995. 633-638. Print. Hickman, Cleveland Pendleton. Integrated Principles of Zoology, sixth edition. St. Louis: The C. V. Mosby Company, 1979. Print. "Of Darwin, Dover and (un)intelligent design: scholar says the future of science— and Church-State separation--are at stake in the creationism/evolution conflict." Church & State 62.2 (2009): 10+. General OneFile. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. Rainert, Alex. â€Å"Creationism V. Evolutionism in America’s Public Schools.† Cooke 138- 41. Print. Raymo, Chet. Skeptics and True Believers: The Exhilarating Connection Between Science and Religion. Walker Publishing Company, Inc., 1998. Print.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Analysis And Interpretation Of Henry

Over time he becomes more and ore jealous, since his wife appreciates the doll more than him and therefore he decides to get rid of the doll. There are many themes in the story, such as marriage, jealousy and childish behavior. The genre is very comical as there is an exaggeration of the turmoil that can OCCUr in a marriage. It can be seen that it is a short Story by: There are few persons It is a sudden beginning/ in medias rest It is a short story It has an open ending, because it leaves the reader in uncertainty.Living with his wife and the doll Henry, the narrator becomes more and more jealous and starts hating both of them, especially Henry with his well-bred smile. He is very aware of the fact that his wife loves and appreciates Henry the doll more than him and that Henry is better looking than him, which he himself says, â€Å"In our tiny kitchen he towered above my puny height of five foot nothing. He looked handsome and smart with his green vinyl suit and firm jaw† (I I. 13-14 p. 2). You can tell by her tone when she speaks with her husband that she does not love and appreciate her husband as much as she loves and appreciates Henry.This is also seen in the quote â€Å"HERE, LET ME DO IT. You're 3 p. 2)†. She says that he is useless, which she also mentions several times through the story. The following quote shows that the wife appreciate Henry more because she buys better gifts to the doll Henry compared to what she buys to her husband: â€Å"At Christmas, my wife bought me a set of kitchen skewers and a potato-peeler. Henry got a checked cap, a long tartan scarf and a smart pair of driving gloves† (II. 3-4 p. 3). By this you can see how much more the wife appreciate the doll rather than her husband.In this short story, there is an omniscient first-person narrator, as the narrator acts as a first-person narrator and because he knows about his fife's feelings, this can be seen in the following quote â€Å"My wife screamed with hatr ed†(al. 10 p. 3). In this quote it can be seen that he describes the way and the feeling his wife had when she screamed. It can also be seen in the quote â€Å"She gazed with admiration as the figure slowly grew to full size† (II. 12 p. 2). In this quote he knows about her feelings, as he describes how she gazed as the figure slowly grew to full size.The narrator seems to be mentally unstable, because he has a childish behavior. This can be seen in the quote â€Å"He had a triumphant smile upon his lips† (II. 21 p. 4). He attaches the doll human-like behavior, when he mentions the triumphant smile, which he does several times. This makes him very depressive, because he has a negative view on life, which can be seen by all the many negative adjectives he assigns his wife. He is afraid of being alone and abandoned; therefore he does not leave her in the beginning, even though she treats him badly.The narrator has a subjective interpretation of reality, because ther e is an exaggeration of the turmoil that can occur in the marriage. The main purpose of buying Henry is to use it to frighten off muggers- the wife mentions. It is going to sit beside the wife when she is driving, but Henry has gained more importance, since the wife acts like Henry is her new husband. At some point it becomes too much for her husband and that is why he wants to get rid of Henry. Eventually when his wife sees what he has done, she begins crying.At some point he hears her crying and then he repairs Henry, â€Å"Moved by her hysterical cries, I ran for my puncture kit and made a hasty repair. After much huffing and puffing at the pump, Henry was restored to his full 13-14 p. 3). The author has a humorous style of writing, which makes the text entertaining. An example might be the episode where the wife explains that she bought Henry to frighten off muggers, when she is driving. Here occurs a humorous comment from her husband â€Å"l smiled. My wife frighten off mugge rs without the help of a dummy† (II. 7 p. 2). The use of humor is also a way of distancing oneself from painful experiences. His own wife frightens the narrator; â€Å"l decided to wander round for a bit. Didn't want to be there when she discovered that he was missing. I smirked to myself. She was crazy about Henry. She would kill me if she knew what I had done† (II. 5-7 p. 4). The atmosphere in the couple's house, is unstable and filled with jealousy, because it seems like they are getting divorced. You would also expect that they would be getting a divorce in any moment. At Christmas, my wife cap, a long tartan scarf and a smart pair of driving gloves† (II. 34 p. 3) â€Å"He deserves them,' she said, ‘you're just useless! † (II. 5 p. 3) â€Å"A great surge of anger rose up in me. How I hated them both† (II. 6 p. 3) From the quotes above, it can be seen that the mood in the house is hateful. The reason they are together is not because they lov e each other, but because their title as a aired couple. Their relationship becomes more and more hateful when the man makes it worse by adding Henry human characteristics.