Monday, September 30, 2019

Factor Which Influence the Decisions of News Editors Essay

Upgrading the news become a popular habit for not only young people but also old people. All the bad or good information on TV and newspaper will be decided by the new editors. There are two factors which influence on this decision are the kind of customers and attraction of news. Obviously, the sort of people who read news is the most important factor because before launching a new, the authors always think about who will read or watch it. It depends on the age, the hobbies and the characters of audiences or readers. In fact, teenagers and elders keen on different news. The old people like knowing about the politic, the murder and so on whereas teenagers find it so appealing to all about the well-known actors, actress or singers. Another factor is whether the readers or audiences will be interested in the news or not. It relies on the reality and the famous level of people whose news is on TV or newspapers. Moreover, the editors have to update faster what is happening around the world every day, even an hour ago, they can catch attention of readers and audiences better. In practical, although many people critic the bad news, it attract them rather than the good news. Then, becoming used to bad news is a common thing because everybody have a sense of curiosity of bad news. Some editors take this advantage to make more money of course. Fortunately, it would be better if more good news is reported to avoid the overabundance of bad news. By the aid of the editors, bad news result in the negative effects to not only the well-know people but also the readers, audiences, especially the young people. The reason for that is with the developing psycho, bad news influence them in a bad way. Thus, good news will help them to perfect their characters and their thought. To sum up, two main factor which influence the decisions of news editors are the types of customer and the appealability of the news. However, people should distinguish between good news and bad news to choose the most appropriate information.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Artificial Birth Control Essay

Artificial birth control methods have been used for thousands of years. The hieroglyphics of ancient Egyptians show a figure of an Egyptian male wearing a device around the penis to help prevent pregnancy during intercourse. And there are other cultures which use condoms made of linen or animal intestines. Until now, historians and researchers are still debating on whether the condoms are for ritual purposes or not. â€Å"Artificial Birth Control† is most commonly heard in relation to religious teachings on family planning. Many sectors especially religion encourage the use of natural family planning as opposed to artificial birth control because they believe that using artificial contraception is opposite to God’s will. But there are also non-religious people who preferred not to use artificial birth control for personal, ethical or medical reasons. Artificial birth control can be defined as any product, procedure or practice that uses artificial or unnatural means to prevent pregnancy. Barrier methods such as condoms, Intra uterine Devices (copper), diaphragms, cervical cap, and sponge, hormonal methods such as the pill, IUDs (hormonal), and emergency contraception. There are also injections, spermicides, and surgical sterilization procedures such as tubal ligation and vasectomy which are all considered to be artificial birth control methods. This paper includes the different types and examples of artificial birth control and their advantages and disadvantages. Condoms A condom is a device made of fine rubber (latex). It avoids unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including AIDS and HIV. The use of condoms is one of the easiest, most reliable and effective methods. But one should take few precautionary measures before using it; they must ensure that it is not torn or ruptured and that they are using it before the expiry date. For a male condom, the man covers his penis with a condom during sexual intercourse in order to prevent the sperm from entering the vagina. A female condom is also made if fine rubber (latex) that when used it must be entirely aligned to vagina. The two types of female condom are the FC or FC2 female condom and the VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine. The FC female condom is a 17 cm (6.5 inches) in length. There is a flexible ring at each end. At the closed end of the sheath, the flexible ring is inserted into the vagina to anchor the condom in place. While at the open end, the ring stays outside the vulva at the entrance to the vagina. The VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine when not stretched is around 9 cm (3.5 inches) – though it is very elastic. It has a rounded triangular frame at the open end and a sponge inside the closed end, which helps to hold the condom inside the vagina. Condoms are easily obtained, cheap, very effective, it protects against sexually transmitted disease, and it possibly reduces risk of cervical cancer. But it interrupts the foreplay, it reduces sensitivity for both or either partner, it requires great care, and it sometimes causes allergy. Intra uterine Devices (IUD) – Copper IUD is a birth control device made of soft plastic and has the shape of the English letter T and is placed in the uterus. It is a long-term method that prevents pregnancy for 3-5 years. Copper is wound on the lower part and on the tip of the T are the two threads. With the help of the threads, women can check if it is inserted properly. Copper T does not create any problems during copulation and it can be used immediately after childbirth. But unlike condoms, it does not protect the user from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Diaphragm Diaphragm is a thin rubber dome with an elastic and flexible rim. It is inserted into the vagina and fits over the cervix that is hold in place by vaginal muscles. The diaphragm holds spermicide in place over the cervix; spermicide kills sperm and prevents fertilization. Diaphragms are 86-94% effective as birth control. It is cheap, the female partner is the one that takes the responsibility, there is no interruption during intercourse, there is no loss of sensation for either partner, it reduces of bacteria related STDs, couples may feel less inhibited when the woman is menstruating, and pre – malignancy and cervical malignancy are reduced. But it is uncomfortable to insert and remove from vagina, it requires a doctor to fit and check it, it requires preparation, some male partners are aware of the cap and may not like it, there is no protection against viral conditions such as herpes simplex or HIV, it sometimes cause allergy, and it cannot be fitted before first intercourse, if there is a vaginal septum or utero-vaginal prolapsed. Cervical Cap Cervical cap is a device inserted into the vagina that fits over the cervix to blocked the sperm from entering the uterus and prevents fertilization. After intercourse, it should be left in place for 8 hours. Cervical covers are 84-91% effective at preventing pregnancy for women who have never given birth and 68-74% effective for women who have given birth. Cervical cap can be inserted many hours before sexual intercourse, it is easy to carry around, it is comfortable to use, it does not alter menstrual cycle and affect future fertility, and it may help the user to better know her body. But cervical cap does not protect against HIV or AIDS, it requires a fitting in a clinic, it is difficult to insert or remove, it can be dislodged during sexual intercourse, and there can be possible allergic reactions. Birth Control Sponge The birth control sponge is made of plastic foam that contains spermicide. It is soft, round, and about two (2) inches in diameter. It has a nylon loop attached to the bottom for removal and it is inserted deep into the vagina before sexual intercourse. The sponge avoids pregnancy by keeping sperm from joining with an egg. The sponge may cover the cervix and blocks the sperm from entering the uterus or it can continuously release a spermicide that keeps the sperm from moving. The birth control sponge can be carried in pocket or purse, it can’t be felt by either partner, it has no effect on a woman’s natural hormones, it does not interrupt sex play, and it can be used during breastfeeding. But it may be difficult for some women to insert or remove the sponge, it may cause vaginal irritation, and it may make sex too messy or too dry because sponge requires too much liquid. Contraceptive Pills Most hormonal birth control methods contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, although some contain progestin only. Hormonal contraceptive pills work by preventing females from ovulating or releasing eggs from their ovaries each month, and by thinning the lining of the uterus to keep a pregnancy from implanting. Without an egg to be fertilized by sperm, pregnancy cannot occur. Contraceptive pill is a very effective birth control but there are also side effects like significant mood swings and decreased libido. Intra uterine Devices (IUD) – Hormonal Hormonal uterine devices sometimes called Intra Uterine Systems were first introduced in 1990. It releases levonorgestrel, a progestogen, and may be used for five years. Hormonal Intra Uterine Devices do not increase bleeding as inert and copper-containing IUDs do. Rather, they reduce menstrual bleeding or prevent menstruation altogether, and can be used as a treatment for menorrhagia (heavy periods). The use of Intra Uterine Systems results in much lower systemic progestogen levels than other very-low-dose progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives; they might possibly have some of the same side effects like loss of libido, possible cervical cancer, vaginal infection, anxiety and nervousness, and pain in lower abdominals. Emergency Contraception The emergency contraception is also known as the morning-after pill. It is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It can be started up to five days or 120 hours after unprotected intercourse. The hormone in the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy by thickening a woman’s cervical mucus and by thinning the lining of the uterus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg which could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Injections Injections are 99% effective that is scheduled every 3 months. Depo-Provera ®, one of the two types that are now available, contains progesterone that is similar to what the body produces. It prevents release of the egg from the ovary and causes changes in cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus. The second one is the Lunelle ® which contains two hormones like the pill, so it has the same side effects as the pill. Spermicides Spermicides can come in different form like cream, gel, foam, film, and suppositories. Most spermicides contain nonoxynol-9 which is a chemical that kills sperm. Spermicides immobilize and kill the sperm before they are able to swim into the uterus. To be effective, the spermicide must be placed deep in the vagina, close to the cervix. Creams, gels, and foams are squirted into the vagina using an applicator. But spermicides are more effective when used with another method of birth control, such as a condom or diaphragm. Spermicides are only effective for an hour, not all women can use it and some have an allergic reaction to the substances. Sterilization Sterilization is a form of birth control and all the procedures are meant to be permanent. For females (Tubal Ligation), a minor operation that blocks a woman’s fallopian tubes, the tubes that carry the egg to the uterus; female sterilization works by blocking the egg from reaching sperm. For males (Vasectomy), requires minor surgery on the scrotum to cut the vasa deferentia, the tubes that carry sperm. This operation keeps sperm from mixing into the semen when men ejaculate. Without sperm, fertilization of an egg cannot occur and pregnancy is prevented. Sterilization provides permanent birth control, allows sexual spontaneity, requires no daily attention, does not affect pleasure, and it is also not messy. But it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, it is not immediately effective, it requires minor surgery in a clinic and a possible regret if the couple wish to have one or more child. References: http://www.avert.org/female-condom.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrauterine_device http://www.tarahaat.com/health_ABC.aspx http://www.livestrong.com/article/201512-types-of-artificial-methods-for-family-planning/ http://www.modernmom.com/article/what-is-the-meaning-of-artificial-birth-control http://www.ehow.com/facts_5004780_what-meaning-artificial-birth-control.html http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/diaphram.htm

Friday, September 27, 2019

Friedrich Nietzeche Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Friedrich Nietzeche - Assignment Example On the other hand, slave morality embraces the standards of what is beneficial to the powerless. The morality holds that the independent and strong people possess evil attributes (211). In effect, the slave morality advances virtues such as humility, sympathy, and kindness. Thus, the two types of morality have remarkable differences. The master morality gives the masters a sense of fullness, including ability, wealth, and power. In this respect, the noble people perceive themselves as the originators of value, and can decide on what is good or bad. Such masters do not need the outside force to affirm their goodness because they believe devotion for greatness is in them (212). Thus, Nietzsche thinks that master morality is superior because it emphasizes strength, freedom, power, and egoism, and concern less with the externals. The morality evokes fear, inflicts suffering, and exploits the people in the lower order. In essence, the masters consider the non-masters in the society contemptible. To them, the non-masters are secondary and insignificant. Nietzsche thinks that religion and democracy fall under slave morality because the two tend to ease the suffering of the people. The expression of the slave morality adheres to the moral standards inherent in religion and democracy. Hence, the religion and democracy exemplify the same ideology as in slave morality. In effect, the religion and democracy exhibit the ideology of herd, majority, and convention contained in the slave morality. Similarly, religion and democracy embrace values such equality, pity, and humility that typify slave morality. Thus, Nietzsche uses the values to classify religion and democracy under the slave morality. In my opinion, relativistic morality cannot be defended. The relativistic morality tends to exaggerate the extent of diversity among cultures. Notably, the superficial differences among the cultures mask the underlying shared agreement. I

Minimum Legal Drinking Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Minimum Legal Drinking Age - Essay Example The MLDA has proponents and opponents, who hold fast to their respective positions in this debate (American Medical Association, n.d.). Morris E. Chafetz, in â€Å"The 21-Year-Old Drinking Age: I Voted for it; It Doesn't Work,† and Toben F. Nelson, and Traci L. Toomey, in â€Å"The Drinking Age of 21 Saves Lives,† adopt opposing views on this issue. Chafetz argues that the MLDA of 21 â€Å"has not worked,† and is not linked to reduced drunk-driving fatalities (7). He holds that enforcing a minimum legal age for drinking does not take into consideration the deaths caused by alcohol off the highways, and drives teenagers to binge drinking in unsupervised surroundings. On the other hand, Nelson and Toomey take the position that the MLDA of 21 has reduced drinking-related deaths, and decreased binge-drinking in underage college students. Although both authors have credibility and are knowledgeable and logical about the subject, and Chafetz is more accommodating of op posing viewpoints, Nelson and Toomey make a more convincing argument as their stand is supported by extensive references to research studies. Both the essays are authored by writers with impeccable credentials. Chafetz is a credible speaker in the MLDA debate, as he is the founder of the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse and The Health Education Foundation in Washington. His reputation is further bolstered by the fact that he was a member of the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, Director and Executive Member of the National Commission Against Drunk Driving and the Presidential appointee at The White House Conference for a Drug-Free America. He is also a Doctor of Psychiatry, with a long history of association with social issues, such as alcoholism and drug abuse. Chafetz’s credentials are more than matched by Nelson and Toomey, who belong to the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Their argument is further supported by a group of academicians and researchers. The reputation of the writers contributes to the trustworthiness of the essays and makes them both credible. Sim ilarly, both the essays are written by knowledgeable authors who make their respective positions clear through unambiguous declarations. Chafetz emphatically states that â€Å"Prohibition – is not working among 18-20 year-olds now† (8). On the other hand, Nelson and Toomey are equally firm in their conviction that â€Å"A drinking age of 21 has led to less drinking, fewer injuries and fewer deaths† (9). There is no room for ambiguity in either essays and the authors’ tones convey their absolute belief in the correctness of their respective positions. Similarly, both the authors display knowledge about the issue being debated. As the founder of The National Institute for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Chafetz is obviously conversant with the issue of alcohol consumption and quotes statistics from his institute â€Å"that 5,000 lives are lost to alcohol each year by those under 21† (Chafetz 7). As a Doctor of Psychiatry, Chafetz also demonstrates know ledge about brain impairment and alcohol dependency, in line with his profession as a medical doctor. Nelson and Toomey are significantly knowledgeable about the effects of alcohol on college students – this is in keeping with their University background.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Common Assessment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Common Assessment - Research Paper Example The company has been a subject of criticism for its products mainly due to the fact that they are causing high levels of obesity to the customers. In an effort to curb this recent challenge that it has been subject to mainly in the western countries, McDonald’s Corporation has introduced healthier items in its menu which are inclusive of: fruits, salads and wraps. The fast food restaurant as has already been preempted has operations in markets globally hence it is fairly distributed in very many countries. In regard to this paper though, the main attention will be placed in India, France, England and China as a critical analysis and comparison is carried out on the marketing mix that the company employs mainly in the identified countries. McDonald’s Corporation’s 4P’s Marketing Mix McDonald’s forms part of the brands that are best known worldwide hence its main aim in marketing is to continue building stronger its brand in international markets by b eing a perfect listener of its customers. It is important though to take note of the fact that McDonald’s faces stiff competition from other fast food restaurants hence the need for a very competitive and effective marketing mix so s to continue emerging as the best in the diverse markets. Having identified the target customers that it is dealing with, McDonald’s comes out strongly to create a marketing mix that optimally appeals specifically to the target group (Kurtz 2010). The four main tools of marketing that are used in marketing mix are: product, price, promotion and place. In order to come up with the perfect marketing mix that optimally works for the benefit of the company basic questions are answered by the marketing department at McDonald’s. The questions whose answers determine the type of marketing mix to be used are: which products are well received in the market; what prices are the consumers willing to pay for the desired products; what television programs, newspapers are and advertising journals are mostly red and viewed by the consumers and which restaurants are mostly visited. This then offers the basis for identification of specific marketing goals of the company. With the marketing goals available, then the marketing mix (which is the focal interest point of this paper) can then be formed. Just as it is the case in other companies, the marketing mix of McDonald’s involves the four Ps which are exclusively analyzed in the following part in reference to McDonald’s. In regard to the ‘Product’ McDonald’s places more emphasis on efforts targeted at developing a menu which has what the customers do want. This is determined in McDonald’s using market research which is a very active department in the company given the fact that the requirements of the customers do change over time very rapidly. The fashionable foods today may be highly disregarded by the customers the next day (Kurtz 201 0). In an effort to keep up with the pressure that is created by the ever changing wants of the customers, McDonald’s has literally changed the old products with new products and it is still continuing to do so as to remain competitive in the market. In regard to its products, McDonald’s is very keen in knowing the fact that during the life cycle of a product in the market, changes do occur. Investment is therefore injected in the product depending on the stage at which it is in the market. It is due to this approach that at a given time, McDonald’

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Review paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Review paper - Essay Example Their shape varies from simple helical and icosahedral (polyhedral or near-spherical) forms, to more complex structures with tails or an envelope. Viruses infect cellular forms of life and are grouped into animal, plant and bacterial viruses. There always been a discussion whether viruses are living organisms. Some consider them non-living as they do not meet the criteria of the definition of life. For example, unlike most organisms, viruses do not have cells. However, viruses have genes and evolve by natural selection. The viruses mutate and compete. They have been described as organisms at the edge of life. The main feature of virus is that it usually destroys or modifies the cell it infects , thus exist as a potential agent that could afflict mankind and cause numerous dieseases as ranging from common cold, rabies, small pox, mumps, polio ,chicken pox , measles, rubella, hemorrhagic fevers to the Acquired Immuno Deficiency syndrome. Viral infections in human as well as animal hosts usually result in an immune response and disease. Often, a virus is completely eliminated by the immune system. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, but antiviral drugs have been developed to treat life-threatening infections. Vaccines th at produce lifelong immunity can prevent virus infections. The main area still now developed in antiviral therapy to stop the viral replication is targeted either on viral replication or the process of polyprotein clevage. Over a long period of known human history terrible epidemics involved humanity. The flu, smallpox, and plague killed millions of people. The epidemics of â€Å"Black Death† in the 14th century killed almost one third of Europe’s population. These terrible epidemics left traces in the genome of populations. There appeared a probability to resist diseases. Scientists find new surprising abilities of immunity to resist viral attacks. In this paper I would like to discuss some of the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Tourism Industry in India Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tourism Industry in India - Research Paper Example Segments such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, shipping etc., are significant contributors to this revenue. With lot of imagination and ideas the Indian tourism sector is gathering momentum and is set to have not only large numbers of foreign tourists but also make a big share in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Theodore Koumelis, in his article on Indian tourism and recent statistics, suggests that the performance of the Indian tourism industry has been very encouraging and has registered an 11% increase in foreign tourist arrivals during 2006. According to Starbucks annual CSR of 2006, Starbucks had then planned to enter the Indian market through a joint venture with an Indian partner RPG Enterprises so as to expand its business. Although many foreign companies see huge potential in Indian market due to huge middle class population, entering into it may not be that lucrative at time due to strict governmental economic policies. Therefore, certain country risks are involved. Almost entire South Asian region has faced severe political instability crisis for many decades with variable consequences. India, by far has been an example not only for South Asian countries but for many developed nations as well. Known as the largest democracy in the world, India has enjoyed continuous trends in its political and economical policies while directly resulting in greater political stability. Thus, tourism and hospitality industry in India has greatly benefited. However, greater stability of such magnitude has resulted in slower shifts and transitions in policy making processes, while negatively affecting the emergence of Indian tourism market for becoming a regional market. Perhaps, this has been the reason why multinational companies did not want to come to India in the earlier stages. Although there is opportunity for domestic and foreign business to grow, there are certain obstacles to these expansions. One of the major obstacles is the entry barriers abound and restrictions imposed on foreign direct investments. The government currently permits on an automatic basis with the exception that they do not already have an existing venture in India in the same field and proposals that may fall outside notified sectional policy/caps. The risk for these new businesses is that regulations are poorly enforced and the restrictions imposed on each zoning and tenancy laws make property ownership among the most expensive in the world. Therefore, the government has ownership of most of the businesses and this lowers the economic growth, making it expensive for other businesses to gain ownership. For Starbucks in India, political and legal risks can include threats to the profitability. These threats derive from the government action or inaction by economic conditions in the marketplace. The threats are included in the action or inaction by political authorities or their agents, rather than changes in supply and demand of goods and services. Therefore, Starbucks is required to open a bank account with an authorized dealer for designated foreign currency. A Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) account is to be established while converting the foreign exchange to Indian Rupees (Indian Liaison, 2007). India has a tax structure that is well developed to levy taxes divided between

Monday, September 23, 2019

Sunset Boulevard by(Billy Wilder, 1950) and Northwest by( Alfred Essay

Sunset Boulevard by(Billy Wilder, 1950) and Northwest by( Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) - Essay Example The 1920s were known as the Jazz Age and Americans prospered due to the zooming of stock markets and the flourishing of the arts. At the turn of the decade, the Great Depression set in, precipitated by the biggest crash in Wall Street history. The country went into a period of great introspection. As politicians and economists were grappling with finding solutions to pull through the economic depression, similar efforts are being made to improve the standards of the film industry. The Hays Code, introduced in 1934 was one such outcome. Although the United States Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 came ahead of Hays Code, it was not taken seriously by filmmakers, making it necessary for government authorities to introduce and implement a more comprehensive set of guidelines (Friedrich, 1997). The agency given the responsibility of enforcing the code is commonly referred to as the Breen Office (after administrator Joseph Breen). In this context, it is interesting to see how the content of popular movies such as Sunset Boulevard (1951) and North by Northwest (1959) were possibly influenced by the code. Both the movies were produced years after the introduction of the code. Hence by the time the movies were conceived and written, the story writer, screenplay writer and the director would have inherently known what is acceptable and what is unacceptable with respect to the Hays Code. There is also documented evidence that the first scripts of the two movie submitted to the Breen Office were not approved immediately. The production team had to modify a few dialogues and change certain aspects of the film that were deemed to violate the code (Harris, 2008). To take the case of Sunset Boulevard, the story depicts an unusual relationship between a fading Hollywood writer and a former Hollywood leading lady. As the fortunes of both the former stars are fading away, they happen to develop an opportunistic

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Soil and Water Protection Essay Example for Free

Soil and Water Protection Essay Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene and benzo (a) pyrene), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals. Contamination is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical usage. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapors from the contaminants, and from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. The main threats to soils are: extension of urbanization, acidification, accumulation of pollutants, nitrate in groundwater, loss of organic matter and deteriorating soil structure, soil compaction, and erosion. The latter is especially important in southern EC countries. Differences in the approaches adopted by different countries reflect differences in the nature and perceived seriousness of soil problems and the nature of the legislatory system. In particular, differences in the approaches of the Netherlands and the UK are discussed. The concept of ‘soil quality’ is discussed in relation to these two approaches. Suggestions are given for an ecologically based soil protection policy. This paper discusses current soil protection policies and their development in the EC, and the evolution of the associated concept of ‘soil quality’. It does not deal in any detail with the restoration of soils which have been degraded by the inadequacy of past policies or their implementation. Emphasis is given to northern EC countries because they have been especially active in the development of policies which protect land and soils. Some soil degradation processes are natural phenomena but they are exacerbated by all kinds of unsustainable human uses. Let us consider the main soil degradation processes in the European Union. Erosion: Water erosion affects 115 million hectares (ha) of soil, and wind erosion 42 million ha. The Mediterranean region is the most affected, but there is clear evidence that other parts of the 25 Member States (EU-25) also suffer significantly from this phenomenon. It is made worse by inappropriate farming techniques. Organic matter decline: Some 45% of soils in Europe have low or very low organic matter content. This is the case in particular in the South of Europe, but also in parts of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden. Organic matter is both an important soil constituent and the main source of food and energy for soil organisms. It is therefore of the basis for soil fertility. It also plays a crucial role in the structure of soil. Soil organisms feed on organic matter. Organic matter decline therefore leads to loss of soil biodiversity. Again, inappropriate agricultural practices accelerate this decline. Compaction: This is deterioration of the soil structure by mechanical pressure. It is made worse by excessive stocking rates (the density of animals grazing in a given surface) and the inappropriate use of heavy machinery. Salinisation: There is build-up of salt in some 3. 8 million ha of Europe’s soils. The regions most affected are Campania in Italy, the Ebro Valley in Spain, and the Great Alfold in Hungary. Stalinization is made worse by inappropriate irrigation and changes in vegetation. Landslides: Landslides occur most frequently in areas with highly erodible soils, clayey sub-soil, steep slopes, intense and abundant precipitation and land abandonment, such as in the Alpine and Mediterranean regions. To date, there is no data on the total area affected in the EU. Although they are natural phenomena, they are made worse by certain human activities. Landslides represent an increasing threat due to population growth, summer and winter tourism, and intensive land use. Contamination: Earlier industrialization and poor management practices have left a legacy of thousands of contaminated sites in Europe. There are an estimated 3. 5 million potentially contaminated sites in the whole of the Union, of which about 0. 5 million are expected to be actually contaminated and in need of remediation. Contaminants may accumulate to such an extent that they hamper soil functions. They may pollute groundwater and surface water and thus threaten drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems. Sealing: The permanent covering of soil (e. g. with roads or concrete) is the only intentional threat to soil. It affects 9% of the area of the EU and is made worse by urban and industrial sprawl and transport networks. It disrupts gas, water and energy flows and leads to irreversible loss of fertile soil. Several of these threats are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which causes increases in temperature and extreme weather events. If some of these threats are combined, they may ultimately lead to desertification, which is mainly the result of different soil degradation processes partially associated with arid or sub-arid climatic conditions. The costs of soil degradation in the European Union are estimated at some â‚ ¬38 billion each year.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Sufi Dervish Whirling Analysis Essay Example for Free

Sufi Dervish Whirling Analysis Essay Sufi whirling is a form of Sama which originated among Sufis. It is a worship ceremony in which performers spin their bodies while listening to music, in an aim to focus on God. This essay will state the inner meaning, which is focusing on God, of the Sufi whirling through analyzing the ritual’s movement, symbols and mood. Sufi whirling is a ritual performed by dervishes, as it is originated among Sufis. They are usually performed inside or outside temples. Performers wear semazen’s camels hair hat(sikke), a white shirt and skirt. The skirt is made of billowing material that flows out and around the dancer as they spin. Movement refers to the performers’ body movements, as well as their body gestures. Performers’ movement enables audiences to know about an inner emotive state or feeling of the performers. In the Sufi whirling ritual, the woman spins outside a temple while listening to music during daytime. Her spinning is stable and smooth, as her arms reach out to balance herself. It shows that she only concentrates on the spinning, as well as the God. As planets and stars circle the sun, and they are created by God, she turns counterclockwise around herself, to show her beliefs in God. The performers movement shows the inner meaning of the performance, which is focusing on and believing in God. (Mevlevi Order of America, 2009) Mood refers to atmosphere created by the performers, and also the feeling of both performers and audiences. Getting the mood of the performance is helpful to get to know the meaning of the performance. In the Sufi whirling ritual, the woman is spinning outside a temple during daytime, trying to focus on God. She is calm and relaxed, which shows the meditation and connection to God. The audiences do not applaud during the show, but watching the performance in silence with faith. The atmosphere, as well as the mood of the performers and audiences, shows that the Sufi whirling ritual is a spiritual act in which its only aim is abandon the ones nafs, egos or personal desires, and focus on God. The connection between God and the performers which is shown in the ritual shows that the performers perform the ritual to show their appreciation and beliefs in God. (Sufism and Dervishes) Symbolism refers to anything that has significant meaning in the performance. Understanding what a symbol represents helps us get to know the whole meaning of the performance. In the Sufi whirling ritual performance, a woman spins outside a temple, with her left hand down and right hand up, during the daytime. Her right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive the God’s beneficence, while her left hand upon which her eyes are fastened , is turned toward the Earth. This gestures show the respect and beliefs of the dervishes to God and their appreciation to the planet, which is also created by God. The symbolism shown in the Sufi whirling ritual shows the performers are focusing on God and abandon their egos, nafs and personal desires through spinning their bodies. In conclusion, the movement shows that the dervishes are focusing on and believing in God through performing the ritual. Moreover, through analyzing the mood and atmosphere of the performance, we can see that both the performers and audiences are faithful in God, and the ritual is a spiritual act in which the performers and audiences are trying to connect to God. On the other hand, through studying the symbolism in the Sufi whirling ritual, we get to know that performers are performing the ritual to foucus on God and abandon their egos and personal desires. All in all, the aim of performing the ritual is to abandon ones nafs, egos or personal desires and focus on God, by listening to the music and spinning one’s body. References Mevlevi Order of America (2009) The Sema of the Mevlevi. http://www.hayatidede.org/popups/about_sema.htm Sufism and Dervishes http://www.whirlingdervishes.org/whirlingdervishes.htm

Friday, September 20, 2019

JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theory

JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theory The events that occurred on November 22, 1963 have invoked more intrigue than any other assassination of the twentieth century. Fortunately, because of the advances in technology, the assassination of President Kennedy was recorded in film both with motion and still photography. These graphic souvenirs have been the subject of much research and inquiry. More time has gone into investigating the two minutes surrounding the firing of the fatal shots than any other time period (Arnold, 1997). The assassination of arguably one of the greatest presidents of the United States was seen by hundreds of eyewitness spectators who all qualified as first-person witnesses. The debate that encompasses the assassination includes the dispute whether President Kennedy was the victim of an assassination conspiracy. As one examines the contradictions, eyewitness accounts, and support evidence, various the conclusions may be reached, the main notion that Lee Harvey Oswald may have not been solely respons ible for the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but acted simultaneously with other unknown conspirators. On Nov. 22, 1963 President Kennedy and his wife were in Dallas, Texas trying to strengthen his political campaign for his upcoming election. While in his motorcade, President Kennedy was fatally shot from a sixth floor warehouse window. As the shots were being fired, a member of the Secret Service jumped on the back of the car and dove  on top of the president, shielding him (Groden, 1993). During the shooting, Governor Connally suffered injuries to his right side. Although the Governor was badly wounded,  he survived. At 1:00 p.m. President Kennedy was pronounced dead at the Parkland Hospital. Later that afternoon aboard Air Force One, Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President of the United States of America (Groden, 1993). As President Kennedys motorcade turned left onto Elm Street a series of gunshots rang out. Kennedy was struck twice and Governor Connally was struck once. The public was outraged that President Kennedy was murdered and wanted an explanation. President Lyndon B. Johnson set up the Warren Commission, lead by Earl Warren, to head investigation. The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin in the murder of John F. Kennedy. According to the official report from the Warren Commission all three shots came from the sixth story of the Texas School Book Depository (Kallen, 2003). Thus, the Commission surmised that Oswald had been completely responsible. Lee Harvey Oswald was claimed as the sole assassin of President Kennedy. Oswald had been very disgruntled with the government ever since he had been discharged from the United States Marine Corps. Following his discharge, he moved to the Soviet Union attempting to acquire citizenship and after being denied citizenship, he returned to the United States (Newman, 1995). The year Oswald shot and killed President  Kennedy, he moved to Dallas, Texas where he plotted the assassination of the president with numerous co-conspirators (Newman, 1995). The angle of the bullets caused a lot of controversy. After the assassination, the first official autopsy on the human body took place on President Kennedy. There were two autopsies on President Kennedy, one in Bethesda Naval Hospital, and another in Parkland Hospital in Dallas. In Bethesda, the doctors said that the bullets had entered President Kennedys body in this upper portion of the neck, and emerged out of the neck about 2 centimeters above his bow tie (Kallen, 2003). However, the doctors at Parkland Hospital said that the back wounds were lower, and had different modes of entry. Parkland doctors found that the bullets entered about 2 centimeters above the Presidents bow tie, and emerged out of his lower back, about 14 centimeters below the entering wound (Kallen, 2003). With that trajectory, the gunman would have to have been situated well above the President, an impossible shot. The Warren Commission completely ignored these findings and did not make mention of them in the official report (Kallen, 2003). The Warren Commission also ignored the opinions of experts as well as eyewitness accounts and the sounds coming from police radios. The latter of these proofs were the recordings captured on the radio traffic of the Dallas Police Department. These radios were in the possession of police officers who were positioned close to the motorcade and adjacent to a railroad yard and a grassy knoll. The first two gunshots could be heard faintly in the distance while the third was noticeably louder and presumably fired closer to where the officers were stationed (Prouty, 1992). The recordings were analyzed by experts and a joint conclusion was made. In December of 1963, two of the expert investigators, Mark Weiss and Ernest Aschkenasy, testified before the House Assassination Committee. In their conclusion Professor Weiss stated that with the probability of ninety-five percent or better the third shot came from the grassy knoll (Arnold, 1997). Furthermore, several innocent bystanders also confirmed that gunfire came from the grassy knoll. These witnesses included six railroad workers who confirmed reports of smoke being seen in the area surrounding the grassy knoll immediately after the shooting stopped (Prouty, 1992). Additionally, several onlookers heard the sharp crack of a rifle report behind them as they observed the Presidents motorcade (Prouty, 1992). Perhaps the most compelling account is the description given by Senator Ralph Yarborough who  rode in the motorcade a few cars behind President Kennedys limousine. The Senator stated that after driving by the grassy knoll you could smell [gun] powder on our car nearly all the way to Parkland Hospital (Prouty, 1992). The common link between the assassination of President Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald was Jack Ruby, the man who killed Oswald in the basement of the Dallas Police Department Headquarters. Many people questioned why Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. Was this a cover up to keep him from talking about his part in this tragedy? Ruby was a nightclub owner and a local strongman with strong ties to organized crime (Lindopy, 1992). His associates included Joseph Campisi, a top-ranked  Dallas Mafia member and Carlos Marcello, the head of the New Orleans crime family (Arnold, 1997). According to eyewitness accounts and swore affidavits, Ruby met with these men and other Mafia members in several meetings in the period of time leading up to the assassination of President Kennedy (Arnold, 1997). Also, numerous phone calls  including long-distance calls were placed between Ruby and his Mafia associates before the assassination (Arnold, 1997). In fact Ruby was so involved with organized crime t hat he was referred to as one of our boys by the Mafia leadership (Prouty, 1992). When the United States House of Representatives issued their final report in the spring of 1964, they reported that the logical and probable inference of the assassination of President Kennedy was that the President was killed as the result of a conspiracy (Prouty, 1992). This conclusion was in direct disagreement with the Warren  Commissions presumption of Oswald as the lone gunman. There is strong evidence to suggest that the Mafia ordered the death of President Kennedy as a penalty for meddling with the affairs of organized crime. Jack Ruby was simply used as a pawn by murdering the only suspect. By 1963, the Kennedy administration had become much evolved and somewhat successful in its attempts to prosecute the Mafia. This was evident though the Justice Departments triumph in sending several Mafia leaders to prison and dismantling its control over some parts of its realm including illegal gambling and loan sharking (Lindopy, 1992). President Kennedys brother, Robert Bobby Kennedy, was the Attorney General of the United States and largely responsible for these Federal indictments and prosecutions. Bobby Kennedy could have overlooked the destruction of organized crime but instead chose to target the Mafia from the highest levels of its organization (Lindopy, 1992). Additionally, the Mafia had set a precedent of killing or removing from power those opposed to their agenda. Examples of this treachery include the assassination of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, United Auto Workers President Walter Reuther and UAW-AFL President John Kilpatrick (Lindopy, 1992). Each of these men was murdered for opposing the Mafias plans or speaking out against them. Thus the stage may have been set for the assassination of President Kennedy. The second major theory surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy involves the United States primary spy network, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During the Second World War the Central Intelligence Agency possessed much power. Their policy and decision making affected nearly every aspect of the war from key military offences to the decree to drop the atomic bomb on Japan (Newman, 1995). After the War, the CIA continued planning governmental strategies and exercised great power until the failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castros Cuban government at the Bay of Pigs. Deeply angered by this CIA disaster, President Kennedy and his advisors decided that Allen Dulles, the Director of the CIA, and other top level staff must go (Prouty, 1992). In  fact, President Kennedy was so angered by the botched maneuver that he vowed to shatter the CIA into a thousand pieces (Prouty, 1992). In November of 1961, President  Kennedy fired Director Dulles and his top aides throwing the CIA into a state of semi-disarray (Prouty, 1992). Furthermore, President Kennedy was determined to remove all United States military personnel from Vietnam, effectively ending U.S. involvement in Asia. This move worried the CIA in addition to several large companies providing armaments for the war effort (Newman, 1995). The CIA felt that while the ending of the war may have economic implications, the main fault of this idea was that it would leave American interests vulnerable having no visible military presence in the Far East (Prouty, 1992). The CIA was resolute to reverse the Presidents plan no matter what the cost (Newman, 1995). In August through October of 1962, the CIA met with the President and his advisors to attempt to change his intentions in Vietnam. When President Kennedy refused to negotiate with the intelligence community the stage was set for his assassination (Newman, 1992). After Kennedys assassination and despite the overwhelming evidence of multiple shooters, the news reports spoke only of Oswald as the lone assassin. This lack of information to the public was the brainchild of the CIA in its attempt to cover-up the facts (Newman, 1992). This craftily constructed plot was carefully monitored by skilled agents who could control certain key facets of the bureaucracy, the Warren Commission and the news media (Prouty, 1992). This activity caused J. Lee Rankin, the commissions general counsel to say, Part of our difficulty in regard to the assassination in that they  have decided that it is Oswald who committed the assassination.  They have decided that no one else was involved (Prouty, 1992). Perhaps the most compelling evidence for the CIAs involvement in the assassination of President Kennedy was the quick reversal of Kennedys policies by Lyndon B. Johnson, the man who followed John F. Kennedy in the Presidency. Whether for political reasons or for self-preservation, President Johnson both supported the Warren Commissions findings and reversed the course of Kennedys Vietnam policy (Newman, 1005). Perhaps Johnson too, feared for his life and would not oppose the effective power of the CIA (Prouty, 1992). In any case, a strong argument exists to support the theory that the CIA was involved in the assassination of President Kennedy. There is no serious question that Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy and Governor Connally. Oswald took a rifle to work, claiming the long package contained curtain rods (Semple, 2003). There was no eyewitness to him shooting the rifle from inside the building, though a witness saw him from the street and gave a rough description to the police. The rifle was found hidden on the sixth floor. It was the same gun Oswald had ordered through the mail and it had Oswalds fingerprints on it (Kallen, 2003). The bullets causing the wound to President Kennedy and Governor Connally were matched to this gun. Boxes used to make the snipers lair had Oswalds prints on them as well (Aynesworth, 2003). Oswald fled the scene and later shot a police officer who had stopped him for routine questioning. While in detention, he told numerous easily-discoverable lies to police interrogators (Aynesworth, 2003). For many countries around the world, November 22, 1963 is just another date on the calendar. But for America, it represents one of the darkest days in the history of this still very young nation. It represented the end of Americas innocence. It forced America to wake up, rub its virgin eyes and experience the world for what it really is: a cold, harsh reality that we were not ready to deal with. There is no question that Lee Harvey Oswald was directly involved in the shootings of President Kennedy and Governor Connally. But  overwhelming evidence and contradictions support the theory that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was much more then just a lone attack, giving way to one of the greatest conspiracies ever imagined and changing America forever.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Cannibalism Essay example -- Religion Violence Cannibal Essays

Cannibalism Cannibalism has been around since the beginning of time. Mainly as an act of defense or as an alternate, last resort, for food. Cannibalism is also used as an act of violence among animals to preserve their genetics. Human cannibalism however, was not used as an act of violence to cause pain and anguish amongst other human beings. Cannibalism within the human race is widely known throughout the world, though you may not know it. From New Guinea to the high deserts of Arizona the practice of cannibalism has been used. Why cannibalism was practiced is still a mystery to many. Some think it actually was an act of violence, to torture the souls of others as revenge for invading the other person’s territory. Cannibalism, however, has much more meaning than most people actually think. As a religious practice cannibalism is very important to many tribes around the world. Great consequences await those who do not cannibalize their dead. As a source of food, the people who resorted to this were in situations of life or death. They did not kill people around them to survive, but ate the already deceased. However, there are some cases of cannibalism that are not necessary, and have yet to be determined what would provoke someone to eat another person just because they wanted too. For the most part though, cannibalism throughout the world has been questioned but none have really ventured out to find the true answers to it. A very curious subject indeed, cannibalism is not as grim a subject as most people have thought it to be. Although cannibalism is thought to be heatless and cruel, under dire circumstances and for religious purposes, it is not an act of malice. Like many things cannibalism has differe... ... very universal. Cannibalism is not an act of malice to cause pain and anguish to those being cannibalized, for many it is for the better of their people. For survival means, had those people lost not cannibalized the deceased members of their party, no one would have survived. While there are still some cases of cannibalism that are not justified the ones that are recorded are few and far between. Cannibalism is a way of life for some people, why should which be looked down upon and grimaced at? Cannibals are human just like anyone else, with different beliefs and ways of life. It is not cruel to release a loved ones soul into the afterlife, or to make use of a friend that would probably want you to live through something that they happened not to live through. They are not cruel, they cannibalize because it is part of them, in order to live their life.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Economic Structure Of The Mafia :: essays research papers

The Mafia is viewed by many people as a bunch of gangsters like those that they might see on movies such as Goodfellas, The Godfather, or Donnie Brascoe. In all actuality the Mafia represents much more than that, it is an entity within itself. The original Sicilian Mafia was just a group of families controlling certain territories in which they each laid claim to. These families were headed by a dominant male and were usually in competition with other families. The members of these families would engage into various "illegal and legal businesses with each other and outsiders" (Fiorienti and Peltzman 38). In the introduction to The Economics of Organized Crime, Fiorentini and Peltzman claim that between the years of 1860and maybe ranging all the way to 1957, the "Mafia was not a membership organization but a natural outgrowth of culture, politics and law enforcement" (Peltzman 38). Many have tried to eliminate the Mafia from its’ "control" of the underworld and its’ stranglehold on politicians and government. Under the fascist movement in the late 20’s and 30’s of Cesare Mori, Mori tried to eliminate the Mafia in any way in which he could. This attempt at elimination was quite unsuccessful since the Mafia’s base was so far ranging. ""Arlachhi (1986 44-5) concluded in 1983 "there does not exist a centralized criminal organized called the Mafia… The cosca mafiosa is a simple organism but a solid one, without formalism or bureaucracy. Within it are neither statutory ordinances, initiation rites nor courts of judgment"" (Fiorienti and Peltzman 38). This is in contrast as to what others recognize as organized crime. In direct retrospect to his earlier writings, Arlacchi claims that, through interviews with Mafia members, there is a more formal organization within the Mafia and that the Mafia does have initiations. The United States Mafia definitely was different than the Sicilian Mafia when trying to generalize them. The American Mafia consisted of only around 24 families whereas the Sicilian Mafia consisted of hundreds of families. These families were much larger than their Sicilian counterparts and that the families were most definitely organized and formal. " A detailed case-study of one of these families and its legal and illegal activities as of 1970 (Anderson, 1979) found that the Mafia family itself was not a firm; rather, its members entered into various businesses on their own account" (Fiorentini and Peltzman 39).

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Outline on the Effects of Reality Tv

Outline: Research Paper: Reality TV and its influence on the younger generation I. Introduction A. Media has a huge impact on how people truly see themselves, particularly in women and young female teens. Reality television has made the standards of beauty quite high these days and there is a definite change in society’s view on what is truly beautiful. Turning off the TV has simply become too hard when it comes to reality TV shows 1. Turning into their favorite movie star is becoming more normal than ever.Skipping meals to look like the girl on the cover of the magazine keeps many people wandering what other lengths girls will go to to look like someone else. 2. These reality TV shows are gruesome and harmful to one when they say, â€Å"Reality television is a relatively new fad in America that is sweeping the networks’ ratings and redefining programming altogether. Viewers cannot seem to get enough of the torture, embarrassment, temptation, and above all, drama of ot her regular, everyday people being placed in unrealistic settings and manipulated for the world to see†(Pontius).Leaving an everlasting affect, these shows do a lot of damage. B. Children consider makeup a necessity at a younger age. Reality TV has caused an obsession that is unavoidable. It is a crude form of entertainment, but so many people watch it and it becomes hard to turn it off. But why are people so interested? Somebody else’s lives and somebody else’s problems. 1. Women fighting over ‘their man’ 2. People trying to survive in the dessert 3. People suffering from drug addictions C. But they give off the wrong message to young girls.Though some TV programs support healthy lifestyle choices, viewers do not realize that these shows can easily damage one’s self-esteem and body image. The female audience needs to recognize the false reality of television and realize that the women on reality TV are in fact, nothing close to real. 1. Reali ty TV is powerful and influential D. Reality TV is the main source for eating disorders. Media exposes girls to anorexia and eating disorders. Girls see themselves as overweight when some are not even close to being overweight. 1. Bulimia is regurgitating food after overeating to rid them of the food. . Anorexia is not eating at all or eating very small amounts such as a small pile of lettuce. They are starving themselves to lose weight II. Eliminating reality TV shows will keep children from partaking in unprotected sex. A. Since 2005 teenage pregnancy rates have increased significantly 3. 5 percent. 1. Shows such as â€Å"Teen Mom† were created to show the hardships of teenage pregnancy and deteriorate children from wanting to have kids. Instead it has showed them having children is not the worst thing to happen to a girl. Having a kid ensure your boyfriend stays with you. . While teen pregnancy would have been a major issue 20 or more years ago, in today’s day and a ge it has become more common. â€Å"The MTV show 16 and Pregnant and its spin-off Teen Mom have fetishized teenage motherhood and, bizarrely, made it glamorous. 16 and Pregnant, a reality series that began last year, purported to show the hardships endured by teen mothers but somehow evolved into a soap opera in which the central figures, with badass boyfriends and bewildered parents, became intriguing figures – even figures to be emulated† (Want be American R3).Glamorizing pregnancy only intrigues young girls and makes it seem like something fun when it can change their life. B. Children are learning from what happens on TV. They learning it is okay to get pregnant before you complete high school 1. Kids learn from what they see when people say; â€Å"Therefore, the study of television fiction products specifically targeted at young audiences can contribute knowledge on what kind of images and portrayals of teenagers they will consume†(Munoz Fedele 133). When k ids see something happens on TV they are most likely to reenact what they saw in their everyday lives.C. As teens and young adults continue to feast their eyes upon these â€Å"real† teen pregnancy shows, the more the teen pregnancy rates increase. Kids also have mistaken this show for an excuse to experiment with sexual desires. While high school students are taught to abstain from sex in numerous health classes, they learn from MTV that a lot of teenagers participate in sexual intercourse. This gives them the idea that sex is normal for young teens and that they should join the bandwagon too III. Kids experiment with drugs and alcohol when they see other kids their age on TV doing the same thingsIV. Young girl’s self-images are influenced by the reality TV shows they watch. A. Girls especially are influenced by what they see on TV. 1. Most girls will do whatever it takes to be skinny and look like the stars that weigh 100 pounds â€Å"†¦ the media influence on the cultural phenomenon of dieting and the perfect body. â€Å"Commercials and reality TV shows make you feel bad about yourself so you buy into the fad,† Cohn said. The diet industry earns $50 billion each year on diet pills, and $8. 4 billion is spent every year on cosmetic surgery.Women — and men, Cohn stressed — want to be thin, because large men and women are ridiculed† (Demmel). Eating disorders continues to be problem among young girls because of their role models. Girls on reality TV shows have that ‘perfect' body and girls what to be everything like them. B. Influences girls to want to alter their bodies through plastic surgery 1. Plastic Surgery has expanded to more people than ever. Most of the people watch reality TV and strive to be like the person they see on TV. Plastic surgeon John Persing and his colleagues found that 57 percent of patients, whose average age was 36, regularly watched one or more reality shows† (Boodman E4). Si nce more people are watching Reality TV shows and the number of plastic surgery’s has increased, one can assume the people watching the shows are the people who are getting plastic surgery so they can look similar to people on TV. 2. Every little girl dreams of being a star and by watching these shows, most of them think they can only be one if they look like the girl on TV when said, â€Å"But in 2010, when Heidi Montag's bloated lips plaster every agazine in town, when little girls lust after an airbrushed, unattainable body ideal, there's a growing bundle of research to show that our bias against the unattractive–our â€Å"beauty bias,† as a new book calls it–is more pervasive than ever† (Bennett 46). Persuading little girls to want plastic surgery. C. Shows girls they can’t be comfortable in their own body’s unless they have a certain body type that is skinny 1. Many women don’t feel comfortable in their own bodies because of what they see on reality TV.They see thin girls on TV and assume they have to fit the same stereotype to be liked when said â€Å"Girls and women in our culture are bombarded with so many messages about being thin and perfect that it can be really, really hard to truly believe we are beautiful just the way we are. That doesn't mean that we're failures in any way; it's really the culture that has failed us†(Help yourself other) some women find it so hard to believe they can be happy if they aren’t as thin as that girl they saw on Jersey Shore or The Hills. V.Watching reality TV affects the way children deal with conflict or crude situations in school and out of school A. Aggressive B. drama VI. Reality TV shows affect the way girls perceive the world. A. What girls see on TV is what they expect to happen to them. 1. Affecting everyday actions, reality TV has a big impact on individuals. When said, reality TV tends to be the center of all problems in our culture. It c reates a memory that affects the way one thinks and acts (Course Examines How). It can persuade someone to act a different way than normal.According to how they saw someone on a show act, they feel the need to act or try in act in the same way. B. Watching reality TV makes it difficult to distinguish between reality and non-fiction 1. When people see something on TV, they assume it’s something that will happen to them. They assume the things on TV are real life situations when practically they could be impossible. They still focus on it when said, â€Å"This type of show that largely impacts on young people and generations, do not reflect the style of life in our society† (TV Values Destructive).With this motto in mind, it can affect the way young people live their lives. 2. Watching reality TV allows a child to believe what happens on TV is only what can happen to them. It has been proven that; â€Å"The mere fact that it is called reality is misleading in itself and I think it is giving them a very limited view of what is possible,† she said, adding that many young viewers were unaware that reality shows were heavily manipulated, edited and commercially driven† (Hazelhurst qtd. in Edwards). Many children don’t know the extent behind reality TV shows. . Many agree that often times things come a lot easier on TV or are made a lot simpler when said, â€Å"On the screen, any major life problem is portrayed as simple, or at the very least, not as complicated as in real life. On television, any time a woman unexpectedly gets pregnant, she debates whether she should have an abortion, but coincidentally has a miscarriage right before she has to decide† (Pritchard). When kids see something bad happen then automatically something well then more times than not they will do something that will result in something worse.When that good thing doesn’t come to save them, they feel lost. VII. Conclusion A. Drilling into kids hea d that being skinny or looking the best or being the best is important, Reality TV shows have mislead the way children see things. If something isn’t done to stop what’s being shown on TV, kids will continue to starve themselves to be the skinniest, abuse drugs and alcohol, and teen pregnancy rates will continue to increase. Not all of these cases are a result of media and reality TV, but it plays a big contribution. . Most people agree children would be much better if reality TV was no longer available when they say, â€Å"I confess I find TV such a corrupting phenomenon that I believe the best solution to combat the damage it causes would be to do away with it entirely† (Gatto 45). Without reality TV, kids would be able to focus on more important things 2. Reality TV shapes the way kids think when researchers say; â€Å"Especially with young, impressionable minds out there, more honest portrayals need to circulate.The real world is meaningful and exciting in its own right, so why not represent it at least somewhat accurately on screen† (Pritchard). Their minds are shapeable and reality TV shapes them into believing the wrong things about life. 3. B. Reality TV shows that were created to show teenagers the hardships of life and is actually glamorizing the worst of the worst to make kids want to experiment, should be forced to bring to a halt any new recordings of the ones already recorded should be removed from TV. 1. The Federal Communications Commission’s is in charge of regulating what’s on TV.By persuading the lawmakers to pass a law that dismisses any sort of crude reality TV shows from being aired, children can learn to behave and act in a way accepted in society. C. Bridalplasty was a show that aired that showed 12 brides competing in order to get the grand prize, plastic surgery of their choice for their wedding. Young girls are growing up with the mentality that they won’t be perfect unless they have s ome kind of plastic surgery and it’s no wonder they think this with the kind of shows on TV.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Medias role in religous conflicts

Media plays a vital role in our daily lives as it influences the way we view certain situations that are taking place in the world. Media can be used as a powerful weapon for propagation to the masses or as an essential tool to help us understand. It also helps us to objectively view a current situation. We also need to remember that most media coverage is meant to inform us about current situations while still being objective.This is to avoid offending anybody which is a good thing but we need o be cautious as this could also mean that the media is with-holding vital Information that could give us a greater understanding of the situation. I have chosen the Issue of the massacre of the Rollway Muslims by the Manner Buddhists in Burma. The conflict started when three Muslim men allegedly raped and murdered a Buddhist girl. 3 days later a mob set upon a bus riding through western Manner and ten Muslim victims were beaten In a frenzy and then urinated upon before the bus was set ablaze .Even though the accused rapists were already sentenced to jail. Now that we understand what happened, the reasoned It happened, and how it happened we automatically feel an Instinct to choose a side. This Is a sign of our dependence on the media. After reading various articles on the matter, the newspaper headlines alone tell me a great deal about the way the article has been written. From world Silent as Muslim Massacre Goes on In Manner† â€Å"We should either kill all the Salary in Burma or banish them otherwise Buddhism will cease to exist†.So the headlines we read are all sculptured by the author's views and so our views re also sculptured. For example I am going to explain two ways in which we can be manipulated by the media with reference to my topic Use of words In the last title you see the use of the word â€Å"salary† this word Is a racial slur used to slander the Raying Muslims. It is used openly in many forms of media and by predominant leaders in M anner. This shows us that there has previously been heightened levels of resentment towards the presence of Muslims in Manner society on a much wider scale.We need to understand the reasons for this resentment if we wish to be objective. Also, the use of adjectives in the source will give you a hint that the author of the source is being biased. This means that the author is being personal and if you are trying to be objective you cannot base your views on the views of others you need facts. An example of this is newspaper articles, magazines. Radio talk shows or government owned news coverage these are all forms of personal and biased people's views.The Information Given 1 OFF sentence highlighted in yellow and did not include the sentence highlighted in green or red. Your view on the situation would have been completely different. That is not just a magic trick that I'm showing you for your amusement. This is exactly how the media controls the way we think, they with-hold informat ion to insure a certain reaction from the masses. For example the Raying Muslims are refugees placed in Manner by the I-JNI. What does this tell you?The Manner Buddhists could've been xenophobic due to the fact that they are afraid of losing their religious heritage and ethnic culture. Also the government would have to now fund the inhabitance of the effuses so the Buddhist would have to pay more taxes. This also shows us that the Muslims were discriminated against for various reasons before the massacre took place, various forms such as racial and religious discrimination. They were also victims of countless attempts of ethnic cleansing by the MILITARY, so it was approved by government, meaning that discrimination against Muslims is an open thing in Manner.The information highlighted in red makes it very clear that there was a great deal of miscommunication, which is another form of media as word of out is also a form of media so we need to understand that yes the raping of the lit tle girl would cause a stir in any society BUT it was clearly not known that the rapists were already persecuted therefore causing the Buddhist to attack the Muslims. My conclusion I am not defending the Buddhists either as they attacked a bus full of innocent bystanders so in no way are they innocent. This shows us how important it is to be an independent thinker and how easy it is to become a victim of propaganda.Choosing a side makes us blind and ignorant to the errors committed by the ones we whose to follow. The media produced by the Burmese government was very much manipulated in order to protect the integrity of their politicians and the worlds view of Burma . The UN has stated before that the Muslims in Manner are one of the most oppressed ethnic groups in the world at that time yet it still insisted on sending refugees to that country The Muslim men who raped that girl should be sentenced to death by public execution as there is no excuse for such an act. These are my opini ons regarding the matter that I have researched

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Rhbill

lhe  Reproductive Health Bill, informally known as the  RH Bill, are  proposed laws  in theRepublic of the Philippines  aiming to guarantee universal access to methods oncontraception,  abortion, fertility control,  sexual education, and maternal care. [1] There are presently two bills with the same intended goals: House  Bill # 4244 –  An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and For Other Purposes * Senate  Bill # 2378 –  An Act Providing For a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Philippine government and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as  condoms,birth control pills  (BCPs) and  IUDs, as the government continues to disseminat e information on their use through all health care centers.On October 2012, a revised version of the same bill was presently re-named to  Responsible Parenthood Act  and was filed in the  House of Representatives  as a result of re-introducing the bill under a different impression after overwhelming opposition in the country, especially from the  Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines[2][3]. The bill is highly divisive, with experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures supporting and opposing it, often criticizing the government and each other in the process. Debates and rallies proposing and opposing the bills, with tens of thousands of opposition particularly those endorsed by the  bishops  of the  Roman Catholic Church  and various other conservative groups, have been happening nationwide. Stated purposeOne of the main concerns of the bill, according to the Explanatory Note, is that the population of the Philippines makes it à ¢â‚¬Å"the 12th most populous nation in the world today†, that the Filipino women’s fertility rate is â€Å"at the upper bracket of 206 countries. † It states that studies and surveys â€Å"show that the Filipinos are responsive to having smaller-sized families through free choice of family planning methods. † It also refers to studies which â€Å"show that rapid population growth exacerbates poverty while poverty spawns rapid population growth. † And so it aims for improved quality of life through a â€Å"consistent and coherent national population policy. [4] As policy it states that the State â€Å"guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable, effective and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information and education thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors. â€Å"[4] Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 20:18:00 08/1 6/2008 Filed Under:  Family,  Family planning,  Laws IN THE INTEREST OF FAIR PLAY, WE ARE RUNNING TWO ARTICLES THAT HOLD views opposite of the proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008. The articles featured today are in response to the two articles written by Albay Rep.Edcel Lagman, principal author of the reproductive health bill, and printed in this section on Aug. 3. Lagman? s first article highlighted the main features of the measure, while his second noted the campaign to discredit it. He claimed that the bill was not anti-life and that it would not interfere with family life, legalize abortion, promote contraceptive mentality and impose a two-child policy. Lagman also claimed that Humanae Vitae was not an infallible doctrine. Besides the articles of the head of the Legal Office of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines and of a former senator, Talk of the Town received responses from Catholic groups and individuals countering Lagma n? s views. The responses came from Fr.Virgilio Delfin of the Diocese of Malaybalay, Pet Palma Dureza of Quezon City, Maria Concepcion S. Noche of the Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Jose Fernandez of the Family Life Apostolate of St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal, and Minyong Ordonez, a retired chair of the Paris-based Publicis Communications Group. Talk of the Town also received an e-mail from Felix Libreto, a professor at the UP Open University, and a position paper of 26 economists from the University of the Philippines supporting the bill. Because of limited space, this section cannot print all the reactions to Lagman? s articles. * * * Reckless and irresponsible By Jo Imbong REP.EDCEL LAGMAN, THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 asserts, among others, that the bill is neither antilife nor antifamily, that contraceptives are not life-threatening and that the bill does not impose a two-child po licy. Prolife? To value human life is to respect and protect life in all its seasons. ?Human life begins at fertilization.? (Records of the Constitutional Commission, Vol. IV, Sept. 18, 1986, pp. 761, 801) hence, ? the State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.? (Constitution, Article II, Section 12). Lagman said in a House hearing that the bill would protect human life ? from implantation.? By that token, the zygote not yet in the mother? s womb is not protected. Pills and the IUD hinder implantation of the embryo in the uterus, thereby precipitating the embryo? s destruction. That is abortion.And yet, ? every child †¦ needs appropriate legal protection before as well as after birth (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). Not life-threatening? Records are rife of perforation of the uterus and serious pelvic infections in women with IUDs that public midwives have refused to extract. The Mayo Foundation found that oral cont raceptives are associated with an increase risk of breast cancer. DepoProvera increases a woman? s risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Oral contraceptives containing cyproterone increase risk of deep venous blood clots. Levonorgestrel is banned in this country as the Bureau of Food and Drugs found it to be abortifacient.Life-threatening ectopic pregnancies occur in mothers long after undergoing tubal ligation, particularly those sterilized before age 30. Contraceptives as essential medicines? Contraceptives do not treat any medical condition. Fertility is not a disease. It attests to health! The bill targets ? the poor, needy and marginalized.? This is most unkind to them whose real needs are jobs, skills, education, lucrative opportunities, nutrition, and essential medicines for anemia, tuberculosis, infections and childhood diseases. Remember, every citizen has the right to health (Art. II, Sec. 15), hence, the State has a duty to protect the citizens against dangerous substances (C onstitution, Art. XVI, Sec. 9), and protect women in their maternal function (Art. XIII,Sec. 4). Family friendly? The ? encouragement? to have two children is manipulation both brazen and subtle. It can set the stage for a stronger application of the recommendation through legislative amendments. Spouses have a basic, original, intrinsic and inviolable right ? to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood? (Art. XV, Sec. 3 [1]). This includes their right to progeny. The bill mocks parents with fine and imprisonment in refusing to expose their children to mandatory ? age-appropriate? reproductive health education starting Grade 5 outside the loving confines of home and family.Vulnerable and malleable, our children will be taught ? adolescent reproductive health? and ? the full range of information on family planning methods, services and facilities? for six years. This is child abuse of the highest order. And yet, ? every c hild has the right to be brought up in an atmosphere of morality and rectitude for the enrichment and strengthening of his character.? (Child and Youth Welfare Code) The †¦ care and nurtur[ance] of the child reside first in the parents (Article II, Sec. 12, Constitution), whose primary function and freedom include preparation for obligations the state can neither supply nor hinder. (Brantley v. Surles, 718 F. 2d. 354,1358-59) The State did not create the family, and ? the child is not a creature of the State.? (Pierce vs. Society of Sisters, 268, U. S. 510, 535. ) That is the law of nature, and no human institution has authority to amend it. Quality of life? The bill wants to ? uplift the quality of life of the people.? Population control started in 1976 ? to increase the share of each Filipino in the fruits of economic progress.? In other words — to eliminate poverty. Has it? The General Appropriations Act of 2008 earmarks an enormous amount for ? family planning and re productive health services,? including contraceptives. For the Department of Health it is P3. 19 billion; for Popcom — P386. million, quite apart from funds for other agencies of government and local government units for the same programs. Add $2. 4 million from the United Nations Population Fund for population and development and reproductive health for 2008, plus $2. 2 million for 2009. Today? s average family has three children compared with seven in the ? 70s. But the billions of pesos spent have not reduced poverty or benefited the poor. If Congress passes this bill, it wagers the future of the country. Citizens have a right to resist misplaced and irresponsible exercise of authority because the good of the people is the supreme law. Salus populi est suprema lex.The path of irresponsible legislation is a dreadful path: If an act is made legal, it will be perceived as moral. If an act is perceived as moral, it will become a norm. If it is observed by all as a norm, then i t is too late. By then, you will have changed the culture. That is not simply reckless. It is the ultimate breach of public trust. (Jo Imbong, a lawyer, is the executive secretary of the Legal office of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines and consultant to the CBCP Episcoal Commission on Family and Life. ) * * * No place for the RH bill in our law By Francisco S. Tatad THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH bill in the House of Representatives is being presented as a health bill and an antipoverty bill at the same time. It is neither.It is not what its authors say it is; it is everything they say it is not. It is an ideological attack on human life, the family, and our social and cultural values. The bill rests on a flawed premise; it is unnecessary, unconstitutional, oppressive of religious belief and destructive of public morals and family values. Its enactment into law will only deepen the already frightening ignorance about the real issues. It should be rejected. 1. Flawed prem ise Our population growth rate (National Statistics Office) is 2. 04 percent, total fertility rate (TFR) is 3. 02. The CIA World Factbook has lower figures — growth rate, 1. 728 percent; TFR, 3. 00. Our population density is 277 per square km.GDP per capita (PPP) is $3,400. Fifty other countries have a much lower density, yet their per capita is also much lower. Thirty-six countries are more densely populated, yet their GDP per capita is also much higher. Are the few then always richer, the many always poorer? Not at all. Our median age is 23 years. In 139 other countries it is as high as 45. 5 years (Monaco). This means a Filipino has more productive years ahead of him than his counterpart in the rich countries where the graying and dying population is no longer being replaced because of negative birth rates. Our long-term future is bright, because of a vibrant and dynamic population. 2. UnnecessaryWomen who say they should be free to contracept (regardless of what the moral law or science says) are not being prevented from doing so, as witness the 50-percent contraceptive prevalence rate. It is a free market. But as we are not a welfare state, taxpayers have no duty to provide the contraceptives to try and cure pregnancy, which is not a disease. The State? s duty is to protect women from real diseases. At least 80 women die every day from heart diseases, 63 from vascular diseases, 51 from cancer, 45 from pneumonia, 23 from tuberculosis, 22 from diabetes; 16 from lower chronic respiratory diseases. Why are our lawmakers not demanding free medicines and services for all those afflicted?Indeed, maternal death could be brought down to zero just by providing adequate basic and emergency obstetrics-care facilities and skilled medical services to women. The local officials of Gattaran, Cagayan and Sorsogon City have shown this. Why do our lawmakers insist on stuffing our women with contraceptives and abortifacients instead? In 2005, the cancer research arm o f the World Health Organization concluded that oral contraceptives cause breast, liver and cervical cancer. Shouldn? t our lawmakers demand that contraceptives be banned or at least labeled as ? cancer-causing,? or ? dangerous to women? s health Why do they want them classified as ? essential medicines? instead? 3. Unconstitutional a. ) The Philippines is a democratic and republican State.Yet the bill seems to assume we are a centrally planned economy or a totalitarian State, which controls the private lives of its citizens. Truth is, there are certain activities of man as man where the individual is completely autonomous from the State. Just as the State may not tell a politician or a journalist how or when to think, write or speak, it may not enter the bedroom and tell married couples how or when to practice marital love. b. ) Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution says: ? The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic a utonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.? The use of ? sanctity? makes State obedience to God? s laws not only a solemn teaching of the Church, but also an express constitutional mandate. Now, when the State binds itself to ? equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception,? it necessarily binds itself not to do anything to prevent even one married woman from conceiving. A state-funded contraceptive program is an abomination. 4. Oppressive of religious belief The bill seeks to tell the Catholic majority not to listen to the Church and to listen to anti-Catholic politicians instead.It seeks to establish a program which Catholic taxpayers will fund in order to attack a doctrine of their faith. Is there a worse despotism? Would the same people do the same thing to the followers of Islam or some politically active religious pressure group? The pro-RH lobby claims surveys have shown that most Catholic women want to use contraception, regardless of what the Church says about it. It is a desperate attempt to show that right or wrong can now be reduced to what you like or dislike. The truth is never the result of surveys. Contraception is wrong not because the Church has banned it; the Church has banned it because it is wrong. No amount of surveys can change that. 5. Destructive of public moralsThe bill seeks to impose a hedonistic sex-oriented lifestyle that aims to reduce the conjugal act to a mere exchange of physical sensations between two individuals and marriage to a purely contraceptive partnership. Not only is it hedonistic, it is above all eugenicist. It seeks to eliminate the poor and the ? socially unfit.? While it neither mandates a two-child family nor legalizes a bortion, it prepares the ground for both. In 1974, the US National Security Study Memorandum 200, titled ? Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for US Security and Overseas Interests,? launched the two-child family as a global population policy to be achieved by 2000.But ? no country has reduced its population growth without resorting to abortion,? said that document. Now you know what? s next, and where it? s all coming from. MANILA, Philippines—Hundreds of people, some arriving in private vehicles and others on foot, gathered outside the Edsa Shrine at a usually suburban Manila intersection Saturday for what church leaders had described as a massive prayer rally to show Congress most Filipinos were against the reproductive health bill pending in legislature for years. Many of the faithful, who braved intermittent rains and occasional winds, stood under umbrellas as they waited for the rally to get underway.Bishop Gabriel Reyes, chair of the Episcopal Commission on Fa mily and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, was spotted in the area. So was Father Melvin Castro, the commission’s executive secretary. Maribel Descallar, operations director of the commission, said the program was to start at 1:00 p. m. Senior Superintendent Antonio Gumiran, deputy district director for operations, told the Inquirer they expected a crowd of at least 3,000 people. Organizers said Friday they were expecting up to 50,000 people at the rally. Gumiran refused to say how many policemen were deployed in the area but only a few were visible to an inquirer reporter toward noon Saturday.The Catholic Church has started to bring out the big guns in its campaign against the reproductive health (RH) bill. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle on Thursday issued a circular urging the faithful to converge at the Edsa Shrine on Saturday for a Mass and rally against the bill. â€Å"Relying on the power of prayer and the necessity of informed a wareness, we will gather together to be informed, enlightened and emboldened once more. We also wish to express why we believe the reproductive health bill is not the solution to our many problems as individuals and as a country as it will even give rise to many other problems more pernicious and pervasive than the ones we face in the present,† Tagle said. I enjoin all parish priests and leaders of communities and lay movements to rally their members and endorse participation in this important gathering aimed at communicating a strong and sincere appeal to the goodwill of our legislators,† Tagle said in his letter. The prayer rally will be a show of force for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) after President Benigno Aquino in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) last week urged the swift passage of the bill, which would provide universal access and information on natural and modern family methods and reduce the number of mothers and babi es dying during childbirth. On August 7, the House will vote on whether to wrap up debate and move the bill forward. CBCP officials said they would have a vigil at the House on the eve of the vote and that mass actions would also be held in other dioceses. Time for a votePresident Aquino said Thursday it was time to put the bill to a vote. â€Å"I hope that the point when we need to vote comes. Otherwise, Congress may have already adjourned and we’re still in the period of debate; so we won’t know what the people want. Perhaps the debate should be wrapped up, and we should make a decision on this so-called responsible parenthood bill once and for all,† Mr. Aquino told reporters in an ambush interview. On the anti-RH rally, Mr. Aquino said: â€Å"We’re all prolife, aren’t we? We want an improved quality of life for our countrymen. So that is their right and I’m sure they will not endeavor to do anything against the law. So we will secure thi s rally if it pushes through. Malacanang on Thursday also shrugged off an announcement that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now a Pampanga representative, will vote against the measure and that seven of her allies had withdrawn sponsorship of the measure. Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said that Arroyo and Catholic bishops have been vocal about their opposition to the bill. He said the Church’s invitation to her to join the anti-RH rally should not be given political meaning. Arroyo was freed last week from eight months of hospital arrest after posting bail on election sabotage charges against her. â€Å"I would not want to speak on behalf of the bishops about whether or not this is leading to some kind of support for the former President.This is a measure that should not be viewed in stark political terms because it actually got societal implications,† he said in a briefing. Not Aquino-Arroyo showdown A vote on the bill should not be seen as a showdown between Mr. Aquino, the bill’s chief campaigner, and Arroyo, Carandang said. â€Å"It’s an important measure and we’re not viewing it in terms of partisan politics. It’s something that we feel is long overdue. It needs to be done, and we’re doing it in that context. I understand that there are observers who are viewing this (showdown) in that way, but we’re simply looking at it right now as a measure that has oppositors, that needs to go through the process and we’ll leave it at that,† he said.Carandang said Malacanang respected the withdrawal of support by some lawmakers, but did not view the entire anti-RH bill campaign as â€Å"Arroyo’s effort. † â€Å"We respect the democratic space in which the debate is being undertaken. At the same time, we hope that our friends in Congress will see the wisdom of this measure,† he added. While Catholic bishops have counted 140 lawmakers as opposed to the measure based on survey and public consultations, Carandang said it was too early to tell whether the administration had the numbers to defeat them. â€Å"You can never tell until the vote is there. But we are confident that we have support,† he said. â€Å"We’re hoping that those of us who are on the administration’s side will continue to support this effort. †

Saturday, September 14, 2019

A Literature Review of Transformational Leadership “Organization Climate †Employee Performance” Essay

Abstract The literature review attempts to examine transformational leadership impact addressing organizational change and performance. Based on the concept and theory do the attributes and skills provide the tools for leaders to motivate and influence follower’s verses the traditional leading through power and authority. The history of transformational leadership style has now been tested and defined for over thirty years. The literature review sampling crosses many organizations from the non for profit, governmental, private business, paramilitary, corporations and healthcare. Furthermore, the difference in style from transactional leadership (situational leading) to transformational leadership, along with addressing the cultural and climate of the organizations which challenge leaders to find a method to motivate and inspire their followers. As the leaders navigate the changing landscape within the organization what characteristics and traits are parts of the make-up a good and effe ctive leader. The paper will conclude that the research and review of the literature supports transformational leadership will motivate, inspire and create an innovative environment to meet today’s organization and employee trust to follow their leader. As the topic of leadership begins with many studies and opinions on what type of leadership motivates and inspires an organization and its employees working towards a common goal for the betterment of each other which generally points to transformational leadership. Therefore, the search and review of numerous articles and studies confirms that transformational leadership has an edge as a successful leadership style and concept to meet the challenges addressing morale and performance. Furthermore, transactional leadership has a psychological component through its approach developing relationships as a key factor instead of leading by authority and power  while responding to the situation. Before moving on to the literature review and findings I found an interesting article titled â€Å"Traits of leadership† (Jerabek, S., & Day, J., Danny. (2009) to focus on what is a good leader and â€Å"For this article, the authors qualify a good leader as one who can effectively lead a group of individuals with a specific goal. The personality of the leader, coupled with an ability to accomplish the mission, prove critical for success of the organization. Leaders also have personality characteristics that promote and develop others, such as overall awareness, empowerment of others, and personal integrity. The lack or overabundance of a leader’s characteristics can affect any organization. Leaders exhibit various styles of leadership that mature and change throughout their careers.† ( FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 78(11), pg.20.) As the review approaches to address the question many organizations do not understand management verses leadership I thought this article provided a good foundation on what is a good leader which assisted with focusing on the topic of transformational leadership. So what is transformational leadership which began as transforming leadership within the political area in 1978 by James Macgregor Burns through his research on political leaders? â€Å"The initial concept of transformational leadership was provided by Burns in his research about political leaders. According to Burns, transformational leadership is a process in which leaders and followers promote each other to higher levels of morality and motivation. Transformational leaders help their followers to look at old problems via a new perspective. They stimulate their followers to attempt higher than usual levels. Transformational leaders inspire their followers to think more than their own aims and interests and to focus on greater team, organizational, national and global objectives. By providing future perspective, such leaders influence over their followers in a manner that they assume that perspective as their own aim and show high efforts to achieve it. These leaders are able to move the organization toward the ideal perspective by coordinating the employees and integrating all system components [1].† (Jandaghi, G., Matin, H. Z., & Farjami, A.) (2009). The research began in 1978 and in 1985 Bernard M. Bass extended Burns work  and focused on the psychological aspect of transformational leadership as it inspire and motivated followers. As the researched evolved into the nineties the impact on organizational culture and innovation was being examined. Since this type of leadership concept was more people oriented and relationship building within the organization the question about performance and success was beginning to be studies in the 2000’s. Furthermore, what is the impact to the changing culture within organizations relating to innovation and the rapid changes in technology, globalization and the high demand for new products and services? â€Å"As it is obvious from the term associated with this type of leadership, transformational leaders, look doe transforming and changing, which is necessary for innovation. Although leadership is an important factor in the life of every organization, â€Å"yet few studies have empirically examined the link between this factor and innovation at the organizational level (Jung et al., 2003:p.525)†. (Mokhber, M., Ismail, W. K. b. W., & Vakilbashi, A.) (2011) Australian Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, 5(6), p.504). Does this type of leadership style favor any gender type since the concept has more of the softer approach to leadership verses the hard line authoritarian and power type approach? There was one reference in the research which referred to a phenomenon termed the glass cliff where the woman’s attributes are a better fit during an organizational crisis such as poor performance. So a lesson learned as part of this research about gender still focuses on characteristics, attributes and corporate stereotyping type of bias. However, if this information is carried forward beyond the stereotype corporate male dominate leaders these research findings could validate why transformational leadership style works best during a crisis because of the female attribute of relationship building. As part of this review it is important to look at this type of research of gender differences and their psychological phenomenon of transformational leadership. There is something to learn from the glass cliff research of (Bruckmà ¼ller, S., & Branscombe, N. R.) (2010) as stated, â€Å"If men have maneuvered the organization into trouble, appointing a female leader will appear as one way to achieve the transformation needed to turn things around (see Ryan & Haslam, 2007 for a related discussion). (British Journal of  Social Psychology, 49(3), p. 435). One word of importance within the above sentence which is transformation indicates the value of glass cliff research not because of the bias or gender issue but the attributes to be successful during an organizational crisis which mirrors one of the attributes needed to be an effective transformational leader†¦a small validation. The review discussed many issues as they relate to organizational challenges and the impact of leadership styles when motivating and inspiring followers to perform, become innovative and improve climate within the organization or group. As discussed during the research from 1978 to 2012 the change in the workplace and employee expectations from their employer or the leaders. How transformation is delivered was addressed and the factors which are identified with lower morale and reduce performance. (Bunker, K., Wakefield, M., Jaehnigen, O., & Stefl, B.) (2006). â€Å"Change initiatives typically derail because the ball is dropped on the people side. Perfectly good strategies and change initiatives stall or fail when employees become stuck in some phase of the emotional transition. Leaders who fail to connect around these natural emotions generally struggle to gain sufficient buy-in from employees and thereby undermine their progress toward new goals. Instead of a loyal, productive, a nd enthusiastic workforce, executives and managers end up leading employees who are insecure, fearful, and skeptical. (Transformation delivered. T+d, 60(3), p.26.) The movement within organizational change to recruit and retain good talent was and added benefit identified with effective leaders and as stated to be an effective leader your followers need to be motivated and inspired. So this was another positive component the research found why transformational leadership is part of performance of an organization and its employees. (Bunker, k. et al.) â€Å"For leaders to effectively harness and maintain the talent and commitment needed to benefit from organizational change, they must: Examine their behaviors and emotions tied to change and transition. This begins the process of operating from a place of authenticity as a leader. Establish and protect trust. Without trust and honesty, authenticity and credibility suffer, which undermines solid change initiatives or management decisions. Find a balance between structural leadership and  people leadership. By learning the important competencies for leading in times of change and transition, lea ders have a new perspective from which to operate. (Transformation delivered. T+d, 60(3), p. 30). This article is an overview of the transition plan to transform the United States Postal Service which began in 2002. Each study relating to organizational change and leadership concept supports the transformational leadership style. As stated within this article transformational leadership. .(Jandaghi, G., Matin, H. Z., & Farjami, A.) (2009). â€Å"The effective role of managers and leaders in radical changes and transformations is unavoidable in the organizations. Leadership and management are not identical. To influence over others, management is depended on formal power while leadership is resulted from a social influence process. Leaders make cultures and their fundamental role is affecting others. In other words, transformational leaders try to make changes that increase organizational efficacy and performance. These are changes that cause higher aim and expectations to the organization. (Comparing transformational leadership in successful and unsuccessful companies. International Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), p. 212). Furthermore, does this concept and theory carry over to multi-agency and crisis management which is more traditionally authoritative management style however, there is a movement of change in leadership style called Interwoven Leadership which combines features such as task skills, interpersonal skills, stakeholder awareness and personal qualities of commanders and their teams. This type of leadership has some of the same attributes as transformational leadership when referring to interpersonal skills. (Borodzicz, E & Devitt, K) â€Å"For an interwoven method to be embedded effectively, it must be supported by the wider organizational culture in normality and incorporated into organizational training at many levels. This may raise challenges of ethos as well as practicality. As with all cultural shifts, these value changes take a long time to truly embed within an organization, and some Gold leaders may continue to be wedded to the ‘hard skill’ approaches that may have served them well in their careers. (Interwoven leadership: The missing link in multi-agency major incident  response. Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management, 16(4), p. 214) In addition, the following comment supports the research defining leadership moving towards the need for interpersonal skills to be an effective leader. (Jandaghi, G., et. al.) (2009) â€Å"The effective role of managers and leaders in radical changes and transformations is unavoidable in the organizations. Leadership and management are not identical. To influence over others, management is depended on formal power while leadership is resulted from a social influence process. Leaders make cultures and their fundamental role is affecting others. In other words, transformational leaders try to make changes that increase organizational efficacy and performance. These are changes that cause higher aim and expectations to the organization. (International Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), p. 211) Now another factor was discovered in the research of the literature which one was the impact of the baby-boomer retirement phase which might leave a deficiency in the leadership roles. However, the research showed more optimism to this concern and myth. (Johnson, J.) (Spring 2009) â€Å"Among the concerns over baby boom retirements is that of a workforce leadership drain. The age demographics of CEOs presented here, based on census data, suggest that a leadership deï ¬ cit in the nonproï ¬ t sector may not be as imminent as in the government sector but that it looms closer than in the for-proï ¬ t sector. (Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 19(3), p. 300) Wisdom is an unique attribute identified in the review of literature titled Developing You. (McCullough, C.) (2007). â€Å"Wisdom. As Jim Collins’s research demonstrates, Level 5 leaders have this very deep inner perspective. Wisdom is not developed via a checklist. It is developed over the reflective journey of a lifetime. (Developing You, p. 67) This supports the research which highlights most transformational leaders have more experience to truly be effective and develop trust from the follower’s overtime. The research did address the difference of transactional leaders and transformational leaders and the discussion was obvious in today’s challenging times the transformational leader is the right fit â€Å"According to Fulwiler, there are transactional leaders and transformational leaders. Transactional leaders  operate in command-and-control mode. They focus on costs and financial goals, and have a quid pro quo relationship with workers. â€Å"This will get you average,† Fulwiler added. On the other hand, transformational leaders operate in a collaborative mode. They lead by example, encourage employee involvement and team building, and genuinely care about worker Wellness. â€Å"This is the key to productivity and high-performance work systems,† Fulwiler said. â€Å"This leads to above-average outcomes.† (The Power of Transformational Leadership) (2013), Professional Safety, 58(1), 19-19.) Another factor addressed in the literature was the relationship of training and development to transformational leadership and the research displayed a positive outcome as stated, â€Å"The results have important implications for those aiming to implement organizational-level interventions to improve employee well-being. Although cross-sectional, our study raises the possibility that training leaders to exhibit certain behaviors might also change working conditions of subordinates. Rather than implementing wide-ranging organizational changes for a large number of employees, these results suggest that training their superiors might have a similar impact (e.g. training managers in transformational leadership behaviors might bring about involved followers who perceive their jobs as meaningful and experience high levels of inï ¬â€šuence). Training staff at managerial levels might prove to be both more cost-effective and easy to control than implementing wide-ranging organizational changes. (Nielson, et al., Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63(5), p. 473 ) Another viewpoint which supports training transformational leaders will improve performance as stated,. â€Å"Speciï ¬ cally, the ï ¬ nding that transformational leadership was positively associated with relational identiï ¬ cation with the supervisor, which, in turn, was related to self-efï ¬ cacy, and consequently performance, suggests training leaders to be more transformational may provide important and useful returns on investment in terms of follower development. Such training initiatives have been shown to be related to increased levels of commitment, motivation, satisfaction, and performance among followers (Barling, Weber, & Kelloway, 1996; Dvir et al., 2002). (Walumbwa, F.O. & Hartwell, C. A., Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology, 84(1), p. 167) Furthermore, this research which was stated in the above article confirmed  the research relating to the 1985 (Bass) theory that transformational leadership does have an impact on performance. Moreover, it is supported by the following information and research. (Zhu, W., Sosik, J. J., Riggio, R. E., & Yang, B). (2012). â€Å"As indicated by several researchers (e.g., Bass & Riggio, 2006; Sosik & Jung, 2010), empowerment is a crucial process that defines transformational leadership and illustrates why it is effective in building follower organizational identification and performance. Followers’ identification with the organization may be extremely important for their work attitudes, such as organizational commitment, and for other work performance measures, associated with excellence in the contemporary global marketplace. (Journal of Behavioral & Applied Management, 13(3), p. 208) Conclusion: Supported by research, theory and sampling of managers, leaders, employees and stakeholders relating to organizational change, performance and leadership the conclusion is transformational leadership style or concept has the skills and attributes to motivate and inspire followers. Therefore, the organizational climate is conducive to innovation and healthy work environment to address the ever changing workplace while improving organization’s capacities to compete in the challenging business environment. References Bruckmà ¼ller, S., & Branscombe, N. R. (2010). The glass cliff: When and why women are selected as leaders in crisis contexts. British Journal of Social Psychology, 49(3), 433-451. doi: 10. 1348/0 14466609X466594 Bunker, K., Wakefield, M., Jaehnigen, O., & Stefl, B. (2006). Transformation delivered. T+d, 60(3), 26-30. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lewisu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=20607564&site=ehost-live&scope=site Devitt, K. R., & Borodzicz, E. P. (2008). Interwoven leadership: The missing link in multi-agency major incident response. Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management, 16(4), 208-216. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-5973.2008.00551.x Jandaghi, G., Matin, H. Z., & Farjami, A. (2009). Comparing transformational leadership in successful and unsuccessful companies. International Journal