Thursday, October 31, 2019
Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 14
Human Resource Management - Essay Example Curran (1990) reported on the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This was the first time that OSHA developed a policy that would "assure as far as possible safe and healthful working conditions for every woman and man in the nation" (p. 1010). The reason this act was created was because of a Supreme Court decision that workers had a right to refuse to follow a direct order from their employer if this order would put them into "imminent danger of lose of life or serious physical injury and not to suffer discriminatory action due to such refusal" (p. 1010). Today, these laws assist people in the workplace especially where there are dangerous chemicals or other dangerous materials. This was one example of protecting employees and to initiate something like this, the people involved would have to go through Human Resources to file their complaints. Another example of the need for safety is that of conflict in the workplace. There are always employees who do not get along well with each other and there needs to be a policy for conflict resolution. Weitzman and Weitzman (2006) take into consideration that "younger and middle-aged adults" have many "interpersonal challenges at work" (p. 45). They created a training to help in these situations. There are many different ways that employees can have conflict in the workplace and most have difficulty understanding what to do when they have these conflicts. What needs to happen in these researchers view is that they would need to understand and use interpersonal communication. They suggest that in order to do well with conflict, people must learn how to actively listen to others, change their perspectives in the situation in working with others. The researchers also suggest that when employees learn about conflict and they understand how the workplace works, they are able to better
Monday, October 28, 2019
Master Degree program Essay Example for Free
Master Degree program Essay Education is a key to individual development. It is imperative that one should not to cease learning new things in life, whether within the confines of the classroom or on the outside world. A teacher having a Masterââ¬â¢s degree provides additional opportunity for students to widen their perspective and understanding of different academic fields, from economics, politics to the sciences, which will later on contribute to their success. One can easily distinguish a difference in the mode of teaching between a teacher with a Masterââ¬â¢s degree and one who has not. The former enables him/her to elaborate topics and lessons into its specifics, not just general ones, thus enabling the students a clearer grasp of the lesson. One must not rely only to theories specified in the textbooks and lecture notes. Hence, a teacher with a graduate degree has the advantage of experience over a holder of Bachelor degree only. Making research papers, dissertations and projects are expertise of a Masterââ¬â¢s degree holder, thus it enables him/her to teach what he/she has learned to his students. In addition to these, a Master Degree program hones the skills and capabilities of teachers taking up the degree making him/her more aware of the different areas needed to be developed relative to student learning in the classroom. The fact is that it is not only the students that benefit from having a teacher with a Masterââ¬â¢s Degree but the teacher him/herself. Individual earnings and productivity are related to educational attainment, thus one having this degree feels more accomplished and secure in terms of intellect, financial security, as well as emotionally. Education is indispensable to oneââ¬â¢s character and intellectual development.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Sustainability in Project Management
Sustainability in Project Management This review discusses the journal Sustainable Project Life Cycle Management: the need to integrate life cycles in the manufacturing sector (2005) authored by Labuschagne and Brent. The theme of this paper is that incorporating the current project management methodologies with the principles of sustainable development requires comprehensive understanding and integration of different life cycles.[1] This journal provides a good introduction of life cycle management; however, the authors do not make holistic perspective on the aspects of sustainability in project management. At the outset of the paper, the authors note that the social, economic, and environmental impacts of a project long after its completion have required increasing attention; the project life cycle management principles thus require revision. However, reasons for the consideration to life cycles when aligning sustainability with project management has not been specified. According to Azapagic (2004), people may unintentionally aggravate the impacts when trying to alleviate them. Therefore, protecting the environment without increasing burdens can only be assured by adopting a systems approach based on life cycle thinking which takes the whole life cycle of an activity into account.[2][3] Labuschagne and Brent (2005) have focused on defining various life cycles, yet the descriptions of the proposed impact assessment indicators on the three main sustainability dimensions are only briefly stated which causes the concept rather vague. In 2005, Brent and Visser demonstrated an environmental performance resource impact indicator (EPRII) calculation procedure by introducing the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) framework for comparing burdens at operational level.[4] The approach evaluated impacts in four different resource groups including water, air, land, and mined abiotic resources[5] based on three process parameters comprising water and energy usage, and waste produced.[4] Research regarding the social sustainability dimension has also been executed subsequently. All the social criteria and its sub-criteria were verified with respect to project management and business[6][7], but particular impacts were found to be more significant in certain appraised asset or techn ology life cycle phases. The EPRII approach was used as a basis to calculate the social impact indicators; however, results appeared to be unreliable and the method was hence concluded to be not applicable for decision-making purposes at the moment due to the lack of social project and footprint information (Labuschagne and Brent, 2008; Labuschagne and Brent, 2006).[7][8] Despite its defect, this paper is a well structured piece of work which utilizes a large number of diagrams and tables. Koedinger (1992) explained that diagrammatic representation outperforms sentential expression due to its use of location to group information which facilitates search and avoids the need of symbolic labels and also encourages perceptual inferences.[9] This consequently enables readers to have a better understanding of the concept. In conclusion, although this journal does not provide a holistic overview of sustainability in project management, its detailed descriptions of various life cycles and their interactions in projects have provided an explicit concept of project life cycle management. Moreover, a considerable amount of literature review has been carried out in this article; it therefore deserves to be widely read. References Labuschagne, C. and Brent, A.C. (2005), Sustainable Project Life Cycle Management: the need to integrate life cycles in the manufacturing sector, International Journal of Project Management, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 159-168, Azapagic, A. (2004), Appendix: Life Cycle Thinking and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), in Azapagic, A., Perdan, S., and Clift, R. (ed.), Sustainable development in practice: case studies for engineers and scientists, John Wiley and Sons, pp. 426-437. Azapagic, A., Millington, A., and Collett, A. (2006), A Methodology for Integrating Sustainability Considerations into Process Design, Chemical Engineering Research and Design,vol. 84, no. 6,pp. 439-452. Brent, A.C. and Visser, J.K. (2005), An environmental performance resource impact indicator for life cycle management in the manufacturing industry, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 557-565. Brent, A.C. (2004), A life cycle impact assessment procedure with resource groups as areas of protection, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 9, no. 3,pp. 172-179. Labuschagne, C., Brent, A.C., and van Erck, R.P.G. (2005), Assessing the sustainability performances of industries, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 373-385. Labuschagne, C. and Brent, A.C. (2008), An industry perspective of the completeness and relevance of a social assessment framework for project and technology management in the manufacturing sector, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 253-262. Labuschagne, C. and Brent, A.C. (2006), Social Indicators for Sustainable Project and Technology Life Cycle Management in the Process Industry, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 3-15. Koedinger, K.R. (1992), Emergent Properties and Structural Constraints: Advantages Diagrammatic Representations for Reasoning and Learning, SS-92-02, AAAI Technical Report, viewed 21 March 2010,
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Tribulations Of The Self (sociology) Essay -- Sociology Essays
What constitutes the 'tribulations of the self' in contemporary society, according to Anthony Giddens? Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.This essay will seek an explanation of what constitutes the 'tribulations of the self' according to Anthony Giddens (1991). In the first part of this paper, I discuss some central ways language has been viewed focusing the review on social constructivist writings as well as those stemming from the study of human development. In the second part of this paper, I discuss data that leads to the reconsideration of aspects of the language - selfhood interface. I conclude by suggesting some future avenues of research.First the essay will outline the various tribulations that Giddens describes in 'Modernity and Self-identity' (1991).A tribulation of the self is a test or trial for the self, that involves some degree of severity. Many of these tribulations that Giddens outlines are to do with the anxieties brought about by different aspects of life and how the individual deals with them.The first tribulation that Giddens examines is the influence of risk and doubt. Feelings of anxiety arise when the individual doubts or takes risks. Such anxieties may be reduced by adhering to a faith or religion. Often these will dictate a certain lifestyle that either reduces doubt and risk or allows the individual to think about them less (Giddens, 1991). This was certainly the case in pre-modernity. Today more anxiety arises with the awareness that there are several possibilities and choices to do with decisions about life. Anxieties caused by risk may be more often caused by the risk calculations than the risks them selves (Giddens, 1991). Risk taking is an important part of life, people take risks every day and some become so much part of a routine that they appear no longer to be a risk. There are certain risks that are beyond our immediate control. Such as 'ecological disaster, nuclear war or the ravaging of humainity by as yet unanticipated scourges' (Giddens, 1991. p 183). Those who spend all their time worrying about such things are not considered normal yet they are sources of anxiety (Giddens, 1991). Among other things there is awarness of high consequence risks and the notion that 'things go wrong' (Giddens, 1991. P182) are going to cause anxiety in every day life. The next tribulation Giddens examines is 'ontological... ...or town. Through mediation we are informed of day to day events across the other side of the globe. According to Giddens (1991, p 188):'the appropriation of mediated information follows pre-established habits and obeys the principle of the avoidance of cognitive dissonance.' Most of the mediated information is accepted without question. In avoiding this questioning of the information one is remaining protected from the outside world and thus maintaining ontological security (Giddens, 1991). In this world we live in Giddens makes some direct comaprisons which are the root of tensions. The first dilemna is 'unification versus fragmentation'. Modernity fragments as well as unifying. In traditional society fragemntation was not seen as such a problem. Fragmentation of the self is the division of the self into several selves. This may come from different presentations of the self that may be used upon meeting with different people. Part of the problem that causes tension and anxiety is that a person maybe more aware of 'the debate over global warming that with why the tap in the kitchen leaks.' (Giddens, 1991, p189). Tasks at hand may be more obscure than large scale global events.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Reading Important Essay
1. Reading is fundamental to function in todayââ¬â¢s society. There are many adults who cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle. That is a scary thought especially for their children. Filling out applications becomes impossible without help. Reading road or warning signs is difficult. Even following a map becomes a chore. 2. Reading is a vital skill in finding a good job. 3. Reading develops the mind. 4. Reading is how we discover new things. 5. Reading develops the imagination. 6. Reading develops the creative side of people. 7. Reading is key in developing a good self image. Non-readers or poor readers often have low opinions of themselves and their abilities. 8. Good reading skills improve spelling. 9. Ideas written down have changed the destiny of men and nations. 10. The power of written ideas communicated through reading is a foundational reason why some governments oppose free and honest communication. Illiterate people are easier to control and manipulate. They cannot do their own research and thinking. They must rely on what they are told. Words are the building blocks of life. You are, right now, the result of words that you have heard or read and believed. What you become in the future will depend on the words you believe about yourself now. People, families, relationships, and even nations are built from words. Think about it. Why is Writing Important? It seems like a silly question, but it is very important to be able to express yourself well. Our writings precede us, or introduce us. For example, when we apply for a job or to enroll in a school, we need to submit a resume and sometimes a cover letter, or when sending e-mails to someone we donââ¬â¢t actually know well or havenââ¬â¢t met yet (work partners, customers, or even responding on behalf of the company you work for). If we make a bad (or illegible) impression, the outcome for us may not be favorable. Poor writing may cost a lot; it may lead to misunderstanding and misconstruing due to sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling problems. We need to write well for the following reasons: To translate, communicate, and materialize our ideas and thoughts into accessible documents that are useful to ourselves and others ââ¬â To report our work in informative, concise, and professional formats Another important reason is that when writing, we are sending a message to our readers about who we are. Therefore, we need to be clear, focused, and accurate so as not to be misunderstood, underestimated, or ignored.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Sons and Lovers Narrative Essays
Sons and Lovers Narrative Essays Sons and Lovers Narrative Paper Sons and Lovers Narrative Paper The appeal of the novel hinges primarily on its narrative structure, Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement. Narrative structure of a novel is primarily responsible for appeal of novel for reader. Essentially narrative structure encompasses the themes and the plot of the story. Prose writers feel strongly about issues that they want to sensitizes the reader to. However appeal of a novel requires use of narrative techniques not only structure such as style, setting and characterization. In D. H Lawrence novel, Sons and Lovers, his semi auto- biographic work, he bring across to readers his negative feeling towards his father and his feeling towards his over bearing mother. Lawrence narrative is designed for readers to interpret characters and events and draw own conclusions based on how he presents them. Lawrence characters plays a major role in bringing across his different perspective of themes to readers. As said by Haircut (2012), the main force of D. H. Lawrence novels is always located in characters. Lawrence uses narrative structure to portray to readers effectively background and circumstances which Paul grew up in whilst at same time alluding to themes of novel. Lawrence decides to break up the novel into two parts in order for the reader to understand the environment in which Paul grows up in. The first part effectively brings across to us a dysfunctional family with an array of problems including an overbearing mother, a deadbeat father and also creation of strong matriarchal influence on the children. The second part wows us Paul as a young adult and the challenges he faces. The main issue presents to reader the detrimental effect of Gertrude smothering ways, have in preventing Paul from forming long lasting relationships with Marina and Clara. Lawrence narrative structure pivots characterization of characters as an essential part of readers interpretation of the themes in the novel. Two themes presented to readers in the novel are masculinity and social class structure. In my interpretation of the novel Lawrence allows to juxtapose different prospects of what a man is. Mrs.. Morel idea of what a man is or rather her viewpoint of masculinity stems from her father of being able to provide for family, intellectual and well mannered. Mr.. Morel on the other hand provides us with a different viewpoint of masculinity of simplicity, great physical presence, natural warmth and lack of education. Additionally the disunity that arises between Gertrude and Walter must be seen as a union doomed to fail because of differences in social class. The incompatibility and separation of their viewpoint of Gertrude and Walter is best shown by this nine said by Gertrude, The estrangement between them caused him knowingly or unknowingly grossly to offend her where he would have not have done. Lawrence effectively displays a viewpoint that people of different classes are unable to coexist. Lawrence narrative technique may not be explicit In saying openly his feeling as plot unfolds however his style is effective in creating appeal and intrigue for the reader. The plot unfold with great detail placed also on explanation of setting particularly the Burrows. The use of setting by Lawrence to allow readers to be able to clearly identify environment and what social class of society, the people of Burrows represent. Lawrence style in terms of language of characters in the play emphasize difference in society with elite speaking with fluency and using proper English whilst most denizens of mining town speaking rough and dialectal variation. Novels require prose writes to use more than narrative structure to create appeal for readers. Writers must use narrative techniques to express and bring across their viewpoint, their narrative structure.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Telnet Protocol essays
Telnet Protocol essays Telnet Protocol is a method of providing a standard way of communication between computer terminals. Through Telnet Protocol, computers are able to communicate in a bi-directional and eight-bit oriented method. It is generally used to allow standard terminal interfacing as well as standard The original purpose of a Telnet Protocol is to allow a user login to a remote terminal and have communication access to other terminals through a telnet server program. This telnet server program handles and processes all data passed by every connected terminals. Connection of terminals in a telnet protocol is established using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the transmitter of data. Basically, there are three concepts that make telnet protocol an important Network Virtual Terminal Network Virtual Terminal or NVT is an imaginary device that facilitates communication between terminals without the need for terminals to remember each other's characteristics. This is done through mapping of each terminal's characteristics and conventions that make it seem like the there is a virtual terminal that provides similar mapping for all connected terminals. NVT defines the data sent between terminals. An NVT has a printer incoming data, and a keyboard that produces outgoing data. It uses character sets known as the NVT ASCII. All incoming NVT codes are converted into actual codes by a client's telnet program. Such codes include those needed to operate the user's devices such as the display and keyboard. Examples of which are LF or decimal 10 for Line Feed, CR or decimal 13 for Carriage Return, BS or decimal 8 for Backspace, Concept of Negotiations Terminals in a Telnet connection are different from each other. Aside from the NVT conventions that they comply with during...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Legal Citation â⬠Citing Cases with The Bluebook
Legal Citation ââ¬â Citing Cases with The Bluebook Legal Citation ââ¬â Citing Cases with The Bluebook The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a well-known legal citation style guide in the US. Other systems have been introduced in recent years, challenging the dominance of The Bluebook, but if youââ¬â¢re a law student youââ¬â¢ll almost certainly encounter Bluebook-style citations at some point. In this post, we provide an ââ¬Å"anatomyâ⬠of a Bluebook case citation to make sure you can reference legal sources clearly and correctly in your written work. Basic Citation Format The basic citation format for a legal case in Bluebook referencing includes four elements: the partiesââ¬â¢ names, the case citation, the court, and the year of the ruling. This is presented with the following format: Partiesââ¬â¢ Names Case Citation Court Year of Decision DeBoer v. Snyder, 973 F. Supp. 2d 757 (E.D. Mich 2014). You will then give citations in the main body of your text or in a footnote immediately following the relevant passage (accompanied by a signal). In the rest of this post, weââ¬â¢ll look more closely at each of the above elements. Partiesââ¬â¢ Names The partiesââ¬â¢ names are the title of the case, so you should italicize them and separate them from the rest of the citation with a comma. The case name should also be shortened using approved abbreviations. Case Citation The case citation usually includes a volume number for where the case was published, the abbreviated reporter identification, and the first page of the case. In DeBoer v. Snyder, the case citation can be broken down as follows: Volume Number Reporter Page Number 973 F. Supp. 2d 757 This indicates that the case is reported in volume 973 of the Federal Supplement, Second Series, starting on page 757. Alternatively, if available, you can give a medium-neutral citation instead. Court and Year The ruling court and year of decision should be included in parentheses after the case citation. The name of the court is abbreviated here (e.g., ââ¬Å"Eastern District Michiganâ⬠becomes just ââ¬Å"E.D. Michâ⬠). If youââ¬â¢re using a medium-neutral citation or a case citation that already mentions the ruling court and/or year of decision, you dont have to to duplicate it here. Parentheticals Further to the above, Bluebook referencing allows for inclusion of a second set of parentheticals after the court/year for additional information. Usually, this is either substantive information or detail regarding the weight of the authority: 1. Substantive Information This is information provided to clarify the relevance of a citation, either via a direct quotation of the passage in question or a brief explanation. Explanatory phrases should begin with an ââ¬Å"-ingâ⬠verb. 2. Weight of Authority This concerns the precedential value of the cited case, including factors such as the relevance of the authority (e.g., whether the ruling was en banc, per curiam, etc.) or other cases cited to support the decision.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
David's the Death of Socrates and Baxandall The period eye Essay
David's the Death of Socrates and Baxandall The period eye - Essay Example The essay "David's the Death of Socrates and Baxandall The period eye" discovers David's painting called The Death of Socrates and the article of Baxandall called The period eye. In the middle of a group there is a man emotionally telling something to them. His right arm is raised in an argumentative gesture. His left arm is leisurely reaching for a golden cup, held by a young man in red. What is happening in the picture? Is this man telling them about the death of Socrates, which makes them mourn so much? Or is it Socrates himself? Then why is he still alive? People acquainted with Socratesââ¬â¢ story understand that the scene takes place in a prison and that Socrates, sentenced to death, is to drink a cup of hemlock. The philosopher is sitting on the couch in the middle of the canvass surrounded by his friends and disciplines, all of them crying and grieving. Loyal to his ideas of the immortality of human soul, Socrates has decisively and calmly chosen death. He continues teachi ng his disciplines till his last breath. At the moment he is pronouncing his final words, reaching for a cup without looking at it, as if death is a casual and trivial event in his life. This interpretation can be done only by people, who have heard of Socrates story. However, there are still many questions to be answered. Why did the painter choose this plot for his work? What was his message? Why did he depict the scene in exactly this way? There is only one thing we may say for sure: the picture must have expressed.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Spss work and analysis Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Spss work and analysis - Coursework Example The complete data is fed through MS Excel and converted to SPSS 16.0. Suitable tables are presented depicting the influence of each variable on unemployment. Regression Analysis: The regression is measure of functional relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variable(s). Here in this study, we consider the unemployment as dependent variable and the other variables such as real GDP, Net Export, investment and consumption as independent variables individually since the unemployment depends on all the other influencing and independent variables. The data is analyzed through SPSS 16.0 package and the procedure adopted is linear regression with all the independent variables taken individually. The real values are itself considered instead of log or ln of the variables since they showed more significant correlations better than that of log or ln of the variables and also many values are missing for log or ln of the variable Net Export since the original values are negative. The data is secondary data collected through internet from the year 1995 to year 2010 for 16 years for each quarter (totally 64 values). Table 1: Table representing the descriptive statistics of the variables under study Descriptive Statistics Variable Descriptives Value Std. Error unemployment Mean 1810.4688 45.87412 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound 1718.7966 Upper Bound 1902.1409 Median 1675.5000 Variance 134683.840 Std. Deviation 366.99297 Minimum 1392.00 Maximum 2485.00 Range 1093.00 Skewness 0.748 0.299 Kurtosis -0.953 0.590 real GDP Mean 298521.3906 4084.62665 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound 290358.9156 Upper Bound 306683.8657 Median 302297.0000 Variance 1067787189.480 Std. Deviation 32677.01317 Minimum 238611.00 Maximum 344809.00 Range 106198.00 Skewness -0.350 0.299 Kurtosis -1.189 0.590 Net Export Mean -5819.9062 657.69968 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound -7134.2142 Upper Bound -4505.5983 Median -7470.0000 Variance 2768440 7.991 Std. Deviation 5261.59748 Minimum -13985.00 Maximum 4492.00 Range 18477.00 Skewness 0.596 0.299 Kurtosis -0.925 0.590 Investment Mean 28364.5781 665.84459 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound 27033.9939 Upper Bound 29695.1624 Median 28858.0000 Variance 28374337.486 Std. Deviation 5326.75675 Minimum 17033.00 Maximum 45721.00 Range 28688.00 Skewness 0.090 0.299 Kurtosis 1.095 0.590 Consumption Mean 182284.2812 2985.04017 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Lower Bound 176319.1545 Upper Bound 188249.4080 Median 187349.5000 Variance 570269748.809 Std. Deviation 23880.32137 Minimum 137588.00 Maximum 213214.00 Range 75626.00 Skewness -0.468 0.299 Kurtosis -1.208 0.590 Table 2: Table representing regression analysis Independent variables real GDP Net Export Investment Consumption R 0.306 0.493 0.515 0.306 R2 0.094 0.243 0.265 0.093 Adj R2 0.079 0.231 0.253 0.079 Standard Error of the estimate 352.16 321.89 317.11 352.24 F 6.42* 19.89** 22.381** 6.39 Significance of F 0.014* 0.00 0** 0.000 0.014* Constant 2837.493** 2010.53** 2816.90** 2666.74** Regression coefficient -0.03* 0.034** -0.035** -0.005* Interpretation: From the above regression output, it is concluded that real GDP has a significant influence on unemployment (with probability
Health Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Health Law - Essay Example These errors usually occur due to the fact that nothing was done to prevent their occurrences or there was an omission or mere negligence. Nonetheless, these medical malpractices are usually punishable by medical malpractice laws. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing the application of these laws including how and where they have been applied. Finally, the essay will analyze the challenges that hinder effective application of the medical malpractice laws. The main intent of the application of the medical malpractice laws is to ensure that the patient in question is compensated following the ordeals of the medical practices. However, it is worth noting these laws and their applications usually differ significantly. Different countries and states usually apply these laws differently. Therefore, it worth for the medical practitioners to understand the kinds of laws they are liable to in cases they commit atrocities to their patients. Nonetheless, it should also be noted that doctors and or hospitals as well as health care professional are usually never liable to all harms that a patient may suffer while undertaking medical treatment. The only cases when the hospitals and medical practitioners are liable to malpractice laws are when the healthcare provided to a patient is substance. Therefore, these laws tend to determine the competence of doctors and practices they might have not taken not to harm the patient. Medical malpractices are usually expensive to the medical professions and medical institutions. Additionally, most of the time medical malpractices lead to time wastage especially during legal battle between the patient and the medical practitioner or the institution (Johnson, Sloan, and Kimbrough, 2009). The malpractices are expensive in the sense that whenever a patient win such cases, the medical institutions are often required to compensate the customer dearly of all the damaged as determine and spelled by the court. Add2itionally, the malpractices ar e expensive on all the involved parties since it will involvement of medical laws to help in determining or defending the involved accusations. On the other hand, the medical malpractices are time consuming particularly on the medical practitionersââ¬â¢ time since they the law requires them to be present at the court to answer to the accusation of the patient. Other than laws of determining the malpractices within the health care systems, there are malpractices reforms laws that have been proposed by the policy makers to reduce occurrences of malpractices within the medical institution. The implementation or the need of implementation of these reforms has increased in the insurance rates. This is because the policy implementer will be sourced outside the medical sectors and they need to be budgeted for. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the medical practitioners to provide their patients with required quality Medicare among other health care management requirements. It shoul d be noted that despite the positive intension of the proper and accurate of medical services and management to the patients, the availability and applications as well as the adjustment of medical malpractices laws and reforms have since attracted mixed reactions among nearly all the medical stakeholders. Some medical stakeholders think that application of the malpractice laws and
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Johnson & Johnson as a Model for Corporate Social Responsibility Research Paper
Johnson & Johnson as a Model for Corporate Social Responsibility - Research Paper Example Three responsibility-related dimensions are taken into account to calculate the combined effect on reputation of social programs, management practices, and employee relations. These include corporate citizenship, governance and workplace practices. An organizationââ¬â¢s reputation is closely linked to the public perception of its Corporate Responsibility. Public perception includes dimensions such as trust, admiration and esteem. J&J makes certain claims in its annual reports and other official publications. However, an examination of their activities disproves the hypothesis that Johnson & Johnson is a model for Corporate Social Responsibility. 2. Companyââ¬â¢s CREDO The company ââ¬â J&J follows a definite CSR strategy outlined in OUR CREDO which was initiated 60 years ago by the founder. The Credo describes of the organizationââ¬â¢s responsibility towards its customers, employers, communities and shareholders (Fact Book, 2007). Their first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, and all others who use their products and services. This includes product quality, product prices, prompt service, and a fair opportunity to the suppliers and distributors to make profits. Toward the employees their responsibility lies in providing job security, respecting individual dignity, and also helping employees fulfill their responsibilities towards their families (CSR Globe, n.d.). ... Their first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, and all others who use their products and services. This includes product quality, product prices, prompt service, and a fair opportunity to the suppliers and distributors to make profits. Toward the employees their responsibility lies in providing job security, respecting individual dignity, and also helping employees fulfill their responsibilities towards their families (CSR Globe, n.d.). They claim to be equal opportunity employers and hence provide development and advancement for all those qualified. Towards the communities they feel responsible in supporting charities and encouraging civic improvements including better health and education. Protection of environment and natural resources is a part of their responsibility towards the society and communities. They have a worldwide Tobacco-Free Work Place policy which has helped improve the health and work environment for the employees. For the employees they have o ther programs such as the Employee Assistance program and the Occupational Health Program which influences the employeesââ¬â¢ ability to work safely and effectively keeping in mind the laws and regulations. The company asserts that if it has taken care of the first three - customers, employers, communities - the responsibility to the stakeholders is automatically assured. The Credo is the central document that ties many operating companies together. The positive effect of all its CSR strategy is that the company practices decentralization across J&J group of companies. Their focus areas are health, education, environment, art & culture, and disaster relief. They align their corporate
Internship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Internship - Essay Example A spouse in a junior position, for instance, may expect leniency and favors from the partner in a senior position. I feel that workplace romance may be an unfortunate thing since it is highly likely to compromise on my career growth. Problems that we experience in a relationship may extend to the workplace. In addition, issues of promotion and demotion may severely affect our relationship since it initiates competition in the relationship. Besides, I may easily feel jealous if I watch a workmate becoming close to my spouse. Managing workplace romance as an employer is a difficult task because a love relationship is an intensely emotional issue. To begin with, I would not make any policy of stopping workplace romance since such a subject resides within individual liberties. This suggests that employees would be unrestricted to either date or not date at the workplace. I would make a policy, which informs romantic partners that the organization would not participate in oneââ¬â¢s private affairs. A couple, therefore, has to ensure that relationship issues do not infiltrate into the work
Political Instability in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Political Instability in Egypt - Essay Example Mubarak has been oppressing the rise of rebellion for many months in order to keep the centralized power. This clearly relates to Millââ¬â¢s On Liberty, as the dictator is trying to maintain harmony and status quo. He clearly uses this to for explaining the necessity of a political sovereign state (Mill). Furthermore, he insists on a sovereign leader with absolute power that would bring security and calmness to people. In addition, he himself insists on this fact, since he witnessed a civil war that tore his country. The evil that lurks in unlimited power is the focal point of Millââ¬â¢s argument. Undoubtedly, Millââ¬â¢s argument for absolutism is due to the fact that the state of nature is indeed war (Mill). Millââ¬â¢s main agenda is to show that, rationally, men will seek peace against the state of nature of conflict behavior. Millââ¬â¢s bold attempt to convince the fact that men are creatures of peace in a state of nature is, nonetheless, a difficult thing to prove since mankind is struggling in constant warfare (Mill). Thus, Millââ¬â¢s explanation of conflict is complex and hard to comprehend since, even in perfect conditions, certain man will rise to occasion to challenge authority (Mill). Itââ¬â¢s human nature to seek pride, glory and fame; without doubt, humanity will continue to be engrossed in these acts because it can never be satisfied. Clearly, the authorââ¬â¢s task is to show that the nature of men is complex. Millââ¬â¢s theory elaborates that men are instrumentally designed to seek rationality in all instances for their best self-interest (Mill). Thus, this is the reason for the general tendency of mankind to desire power after power until death strikes them. The competition does not rise from the general scarcity of resources but Mill does not imply that. He implies that when distributed equally, even if insufficient for fulfillment of community needs, resources will never be sufficient for the satisfaction of certain p eopleââ¬â¢s quest to obtain more power (Mill). People in their state of nature tend to have mistrust and compete for natural competition of power. Thus, the people of Egypt have revolted because of lack of free elections, high unemployment, corruption that plagues the country, and restriction of free speech. Egypt was less than a month away from holding parliamentary elections after Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power earlier this year. The natural competition for men to elect a leader that can protect their interest is crucial for Egypt (Brennan). Mill states that if the leader under power cannot provide his people with sustenance, a rebellion can threaten to change the status quo (Brennan). Clearly, Mubarak failed to give his people the free democratic elections he promised earlier. For many decades, the mass majority of the populous was surprised to see Mubarakââ¬â¢s party known as the National Democratic Party win by huge margins (Jensen, 2010). Many began to question the true cause of these results and accusations of vote rigging, fraud and bribery have been the focal point against Mubarakââ¬â¢s campaign. Hence, according to Mill, a revolution is almost guaranteed when individuals have little or no impact in the politics that govern themselves (Mill). Another key element Mill discusses in his work is brilliantly illustrated in this particular scenario. It is the fact that individuals are likely to rebel if unemployment plagues the region. This scene can be brilliantly depicted
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 40
Personal statement - Essay Example A Masterââ¬â¢s Degree in Cass business school for Supply Chain Management or Investment Management will not only widen my professional horizon but will also increase my change for professional advancement by being more effective in the business organization. My name is Talal Alajou and I graduated with honors from University of Westminster with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management. The key areas of study in the University of Westminster involved International Business, Entrepreneurship Theory to Practice, Marketing Management, Operation and Project Management among others. I also took International Foundation Programme in Humanities and Social Science in Kings College where I polished my academic English and engaged myself with international culture. My preparatory high school was spent in Saudi Arabia where I graduated valedictorian at The Kingdom Schools, Riyadh with an almost perfect grade of 98.30% or 3.93 GPA. In addition to my academic undertakings, I also enjoy doing volunteer work. Back home in Saudi Arabia, I am heavily engaged with charity work that looks after the orphans and I intend to continue this fulfilling undertaking for as long as I can do it. I am also culturally agile and bilingual. I have an international background and took formal study about culture at Kings College and this unique background put me in a better situation to easily understand and adjust to different kind of people coming. I believe this is an essential skill in a globalized working place where we have to work with people from different cultural and social background. I chose to pursue my graduate school in UK because of its welcoming attitude towards diversity. UK might have a deep European history but its inclusive environment welcomes people from different nationality particularly those students with Middle Eastern background. I chose to pursue my Masterââ¬â¢s Degree in Cass business school in
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Political Instability in Egypt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Political Instability in Egypt - Essay Example Mubarak has been oppressing the rise of rebellion for many months in order to keep the centralized power. This clearly relates to Millââ¬â¢s On Liberty, as the dictator is trying to maintain harmony and status quo. He clearly uses this to for explaining the necessity of a political sovereign state (Mill). Furthermore, he insists on a sovereign leader with absolute power that would bring security and calmness to people. In addition, he himself insists on this fact, since he witnessed a civil war that tore his country. The evil that lurks in unlimited power is the focal point of Millââ¬â¢s argument. Undoubtedly, Millââ¬â¢s argument for absolutism is due to the fact that the state of nature is indeed war (Mill). Millââ¬â¢s main agenda is to show that, rationally, men will seek peace against the state of nature of conflict behavior. Millââ¬â¢s bold attempt to convince the fact that men are creatures of peace in a state of nature is, nonetheless, a difficult thing to prove since mankind is struggling in constant warfare (Mill). Thus, Millââ¬â¢s explanation of conflict is complex and hard to comprehend since, even in perfect conditions, certain man will rise to occasion to challenge authority (Mill). Itââ¬â¢s human nature to seek pride, glory and fame; without doubt, humanity will continue to be engrossed in these acts because it can never be satisfied. Clearly, the authorââ¬â¢s task is to show that the nature of men is complex. Millââ¬â¢s theory elaborates that men are instrumentally designed to seek rationality in all instances for their best self-interest (Mill). Thus, this is the reason for the general tendency of mankind to desire power after power until death strikes them. The competition does not rise from the general scarcity of resources but Mill does not imply that. He implies that when distributed equally, even if insufficient for fulfillment of community needs, resources will never be sufficient for the satisfaction of certain p eopleââ¬â¢s quest to obtain more power (Mill). People in their state of nature tend to have mistrust and compete for natural competition of power. Thus, the people of Egypt have revolted because of lack of free elections, high unemployment, corruption that plagues the country, and restriction of free speech. Egypt was less than a month away from holding parliamentary elections after Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power earlier this year. The natural competition for men to elect a leader that can protect their interest is crucial for Egypt (Brennan). Mill states that if the leader under power cannot provide his people with sustenance, a rebellion can threaten to change the status quo (Brennan). Clearly, Mubarak failed to give his people the free democratic elections he promised earlier. For many decades, the mass majority of the populous was surprised to see Mubarakââ¬â¢s party known as the National Democratic Party win by huge margins (Jensen, 2010). Many began to question the true cause of these results and accusations of vote rigging, fraud and bribery have been the focal point against Mubarakââ¬â¢s campaign. Hence, according to Mill, a revolution is almost guaranteed when individuals have little or no impact in the politics that govern themselves (Mill). Another key element Mill discusses in his work is brilliantly illustrated in this particular scenario. It is the fact that individuals are likely to rebel if unemployment plagues the region. This scene can be brilliantly depicted
Analysis of Hp Financial Statement Essay Example for Free
Analysis of Hp Financial Statement Essay Kenneth Lay formed Enron in 1985, when InterNorth acquired Houston Natural Gas. It was once the seventh largest company the United States of America. Enron branched into many non-energy-related fields over the next several years, including such areas as Internet bandwidth, risk management, and weather derivatives (a type of weather insurance for seasonal businesses). Although their core business remained in the transmission and distribution of power, their phenomenal growth was occurring through their other interests. Fortune Magazine selected Enron as Americas most innovative company for six straight years from 1996 to 2001. Then came the investigations into their complex network of offshore partnerships and accounting practices. The Enron scandal was revealed in October 2001 that eventually led to the bankruptcy of the Enron Corporation and the de facto dissolution of Arthur Andersen, which was one of the five largest audit and accountancy partnerships in the world. In addition to being the largest bankruptcy reorganization in American history at that time, Enron was attributed as the biggest audit failure. Several years after it inception when, in 1992, Jeffrey Skilling was hired as the President of the company, he developed a staff of executives that, by the use of accounting loopholes, special purpose entities, and poor financial reporting, were able to hide billions of dollars in debt from failed deals and projects. Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow and other executives not only misled Enrons board of directors and audit committee on high-risk accounting practices, but also pressured Andersen to ignore the issues. From the early 1990s until 1998, the stock prices of Enron rose by 311%, only slightly higher than the rate of growth in the Standard Poorââ¬â¢s 500. But, after which the stocks shot up. They increased by 56% in 1999 and another 87% in 2000, compared to a 20 percent increase and a 10 percent decline for the index during the same years. As on December 31, 2000, Enronââ¬â¢s stock was priced at $83.13, with market capitalization exceeded $60 billion, that was 70 times earnings and six times book value, an indication of the stock marketââ¬â¢s high expectations about its future prospects. Enron was rated the most innovative large company in America in Fortune magazineââ¬â¢s survey of Most Admired Companies. Despite of which within a year, Enronââ¬â¢s image was in tatters and its stock price had tanked nearly to zero. The Enron Scandal was a legend of document shredding, restatements of earnings, regulatory investigations, an unsuccessful merger and Enron filling for bankruptcy. Notwithstanding an elaborate corporate governance network, Enron was able to magnetize large sums of capital to source a moot business model, masking its actual performance through a series of accounting and financing ploys, and increasing its stock prices to unmaintainable levels. Shareholders lost nearly $11 billion when Enrons stock price plummeted to less than $1 per share, by the end of November 2001, from a high of US$90 per share during mid-2000. As the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated an investigation, rival Houston competitor Dynegy bid to purchase the company at a very low price. The deal failed, and on December 2, 2001, Enron filed for bankruptcy, with $63.4 billion in assets made it the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history. How it happened? Enron had a rather complicated business model, stretching across many products, incorporating physical assets and trading operations, and crossing national borders. This element stretched the limits of accounting. Enron took full advantage of accounting limitations in managing its earnings and balance sheet to portray a rosy picture of its performance. The trading business of Enron involved complex long-term contracts. The accounting rules then, used the present value framework to record these transactions, requiring management to make forecasts of future earnings. This approach, known as mark-to-market accounting, was significant to Enronââ¬â¢s income recognition and resulted in its management making forecasts of energy prices and interest rates well into the future. Enron relied expansively on structured finance transactions that involved setting up special purpose entities. These transactions shared ownership of specific cash flows and risks with outside investors and lenders. Traditional accounting that focuses on arms-length transactions between independent entities faces challenges in dealing with such transactions. Unconscious resolutions were used to record these transactions, creating a discrepancy between economic realities and accounting numbers. (Healy Palepu, 2003) Financial Reporting Issues Trading Business and Mark to Marketing Definitions: * A measure of the fair value of accounts that can change over time, such as assets and liabilities. Mark to market aims to provide a realistic appraisal of an institutions or companys current financial situation. (Investopedia) * The accounting act of recording the price or value of a security, portfolio or account to reflect its current market value rather than its book value. (Investopedia) In Enronââ¬â¢s original natural gas business, the accounting had been fairly straightforward: in each time period, the company listed actual costs of supplying the gas and actual revenues received from selling it. However, Enronââ¬â¢s trading business adopted mark-to-market accounting, which meant that once a long-term contract was signed, the present value of the stream of future in flows under the contract was recognized as revenues and the present value of the expected costs of fulfilling the contract were expensed. Unrealized gains and losses in the market value of long-term contracts (that were not hedged) were then required to be reported later as part of annual earnings when they occurred. Enronââ¬â¢s primary challenge in using mark-to-market accounting was estimating the market value of the contracts, which in some cases ran as long as 20 years. Income was estimated as the present value of net future cash flows, even though in some cases there were serious questions about the viability of these contracts and their associated costs. ââ¬Å"Mark to marketâ⬠was a plan that Jeffrey Skilling and Andrew Fastow proposed to pump the stock price, cover the loss and attract more investment. But it is impossible to gain in a long-term operation in this way, and so it is clearly immoral and illegal. However, it was reported that the then US Security and Exchange Commission allowed them to use ââ¬Å"mark to marketâ⬠accounting method. The ignorance of the drawbacks of this accounting method by SEC also caused the final scandal. Thus, an accounting system, which can disclose more financial information, should be created as soon as possible. Reporting Issues for Special Purpose Entities The accounting rule, then, allowed a company to exclude a special purpose entity (SPE) from its own financial statements if an independent party has control of the SPE, and if this independent party owns at least 3% of the SPE. Enron need to find a way to hide the debt since high debt levels would lower the investment grade and trigger banks to recall money. Using the Enronââ¬â¢s stock as collateral, the SPE, which was headed by the CFO, Fastow, borrowed large sums of money. And this money was used to balance Enronââ¬â¢s overvalued contracts. Thus, the SPE enable the Enron to convert loans and assets burdened with debt obligations into income. In addition, the taking over by the SPE made Enron transferred more stock to SPE. However, the debt and assets purchased by the SPE, which was actually burdened with large amount of debts, were not reported on Enronââ¬â¢s financial report. The shareholders were then misled that debt was not increasing and the revenue was even increasing. (Li, 2010) Enron had used hundreds of special purpose entities by 2001. Many of these were used to fund the purchase of forward contracts with gas producers to supply gas to utilities under long-term fixed contracts. Other Accounting Problems Enronââ¬â¢s accounting problems in late 2001 were compounded by its recognition that several new businesses were not performing as well as expected. In October 2001, the company announced a series of asset write-downs, including after tax charges of $287 million for Azurix, the water business acquired in 1998, $180 million for broadband investments and $544 million for other investments. Enronââ¬â¢s gas trading idea was probably a reasonable response to the opportunities arising out of deregulation. Conversely, extensions of this idea into other markets and international expansion were unsuccessful. Accounting games allowed the company to hide this reality for several years. The capital markets largely ignored red flags associated with Enronââ¬â¢s spectacular reported performance and aided the companyââ¬â¢s pursuit of a flawed expansion strategy by providing capital at a remarkably low cost. Investors seemed willing to assume that Enronââ¬â¢s reported growth and profitability would be sustained far into future, despite little economic basis for such a projection. Governance and Intermediation Failures at Enron Most of the blame for failing to recognize Enronââ¬â¢s problems has been assigned to the firmââ¬â¢s auditors, Arthur Andersen, and to the analysts who work for brokerage, investment banking and research firms, and sell or make their research available to retail and professional investors. Role of Top Management Compensation As in most other U.S. companies, Enronââ¬â¢s management was heavily compensated using stock options. Heavy use of stock option awards linked to short-term stock price may explain the focus of Enronââ¬â¢s management on creating expectations of rapid growth and its efforts to puff up reported earnings to meet Wall Streetââ¬â¢s expectations. Role of Audit Committees Corporate audit committees usually meet just a few times during the year, and their members typically have only a modest background in accounting and finance. As outside directors, they rely extensively on information from management as well as internal and external auditors. If management is fraudulent or the auditors fail, the audit committee probably wonââ¬â¢t be able to detect the problem fast enough. Enronââ¬â¢s audit committee had more expertise than many. But Enronââ¬â¢s audit committee seemed to share the common pattern of a few short meetings that covered huge amounts of ground. Enronââ¬â¢s Audit Committee was in no position to second-guess the auditors on technical accounting questions related to the special purpose entities. Nor was it in a position to second-guess the validity of top management representations. However, the Audit Committee did not challenge several important transactions that were primarily motivated by accounting goals, was not skeptical about potential conflicts in related party transactions and did not require full disclosure of these transactions. (Healy Palepu, 2003) Role of External Auditors Enronââ¬â¢s auditor, Arthur Andersen, had been accused of applying lax standards in their audits because of a conflict of interest over the significant consulting fees generated by Enron. In 2000, Arthur Andersen earned $25 million in audit fees and $27 million in consulting fees. It is difficult to determine whether Andersenââ¬â¢s audit problems at Enron arose from the financial incentives to retain the company as a consulting client, as an audit client or both. However, the size of the audit fee alone is likely to have had an important impact on local partners in their negotiations with Enronââ¬â¢s management. Enronââ¬â¢s audit fees accounted for roughly 27% of the audit fees of public clients for Arthur Andersenââ¬â¢s Houston office. When the credit risks at the special purpose entities became clear, the auditors apparently succumbed to pressure from Enronââ¬â¢s management and permitted the company to defer recognizing the charges. Two major changes in the 1970s in the legal system, created substantial pressure for audit firms to cut costs and seek alternative revenue sources. In response to the changes, the audit firms lobbied for mechanical accounting and auditing standards and developed standard operating procedures to reduce the variability in audits. This approach reduced the cost of audits and provided a defense in the case of litigation. But it also meant that auditors were more likely to view their job narrowly, rather than as matters of broader business judgment. Furthermore, while mechanical standards make auditing easier, they do not necessarily increase corporate transparency. Role of Fund Managers Investment fund managers failed to recognize or act on Enronââ¬â¢s risks because they had only modest incentives to demand and act on high-quality, long-term company analysis. These managers are typically rewarded on the basis of their relative performance. Flows into and out of a fund each quarter are driven by its performance relative to comparable funds or indices. If the manager reduces the fundââ¬â¢s holdings of Enron and the stock falls in the next quarter, the fund will show superior relative portfolio performance and will attract new capital. However, if Enron continues to perform well in the next few quarters, the fund manager will underperform the benchmark and capital will flow to other funds. In contrast, a risk-averse manager who simply follows the crowd will not be rewarded for foreseeing the problems at Enron, but neither will this manager be blamed for a poor investment decision when the stock ultimately crashes, since other funds made the same mistake. Role of Accounting Regulations Many U.S. accounting standards tend to be mechanical and in flexible. Clear-cut rules have some advantages, but the downside is that this approach motivates financial engineering designed specifically to circumvent these knife-edge rules, as is well understood in the tax literature. In accounting for some of its special purpose entities, Enron was able to design transactions that satisfied the letter of the law, but violated its intent such that the companyââ¬â¢s balance sheet did not reflect its financial risks. The Sarbanes Oxley Act In 2002, President Bush passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act into law to re-establish investor confidence in the integrity of corporate disclosures and financial reporting. The act was brought in as a result of the large number of corporate financial fraud cases (such as those of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Adelphia, AOL, and others) and by the end of the boom years for the stock market. The Act requires all public companies to submit both quarterly and annual assessments of the effectiveness of their internal financial auditing controls to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each companys external auditors must also audit and report on the internal control reports of management and any other areas that may affect internal controls. The companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer must personally certify that the financial reports are true and that everything has been disclosed. Many of the Acts provisions apply to all companies, United States and foreign. However, some provisions apply only to companies that have equity securities listed on an exchange or NASDAQ. While refocusing public company management on shareholder interests was the central purpose of the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate governance reform law, years later there are sharp disagreements on both sides as to whether the effort has been a success. Did it help? Considering foreign firms that listed on either New York or London exchanges in addition to their home markets between 1990 and 2006, the researchers found that those firms were six percent less likely to choose New York over London after Sarbanes-Oxley was implemented. This suggests that foreign executives, accustomed to laxer regulatory environments at home, were convinced that the actââ¬â¢s deterrents against self-dealing and fraudulent accounting were serious. Those who criticize the Act claim that the Act is unnecessary and too expensive to implement. The most ardent criticizers of the bill claim that not only has Sarbanes ââ¬â Oxley failed in its mission to ensure honest financial recordkeeping and disclosure but that it has also stifled new business development in the United States. Some criticizers point to the Madoff scandal as an example of the failure of the Sarbanes ââ¬â Oxley Act. Yet, not all analysts share in this type of criticism. Many analysts believe that more precise financial statements are now being prepared for public companies and that shareholders have greater confidence in their investments as a result of Sarbanes ââ¬â Oxley. In order for these benefits to be realized, however, the S.E.C. must ensure that all of the requirements of the Act are carefully and universally followed and that exceptions, such as those for certain accounting firms, are not permitted. Bibliography * Wikipedia. (2012, December 18). Enron Scandal. Retrieved December 26, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal * Obringer, L. A. (n.d.). How cooking the books works? Retrieved December 26, 2012, from How Stuff Works?: http://money.howstuffworks.com/cooking-books7.htm * Healy, P. M., Palepu, K. G. (2003). The Fall Of Enron. Journal Of Economic Persepectives , 9. * Investopedia. (n.d.). Mark to Market MTM. Retrieved December 26, 2012, from Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marktomarket.asp#axzz2G9qt6COE * Li, Y. (2010). The Case Analysis of the Scandal of Enron. International Journal of Business and Management , 37-41.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Colonialism in Ireland and Australia
Colonialism in Ireland and Australia A CRITICAL COMPARISON OF THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHIES OF COLONIALISM IN IRELAND AND AUSTRALIA Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Background Historical Geography Colonialism Post-Colonialism and Saidââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËOrientalismââ¬â¢ Similarities between Australia and Ireland Differences between Australia and Ireland The notion of ââ¬Ëdiscoveryââ¬â¢ Conclusion Works Cited Introduction This essay will compare the historical geographies of colonialism in Ireland and Australia. First, it defines what we mean by ââ¬Ëhistorical geographyââ¬â¢ as this is fundamental to how this analysis will be made. Second, it discusses what we mean by colonization and why it plays such a central role in historical geography. Third, it discusses the work of Edward Said, and in particular Orientalism. It compares and contrasts the colonial experiences of Australia and Ireland within this context. Fourth, it explores the notions of ââ¬Ëexplorationââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëconqueringââ¬â¢ using early maps of Australia and Ireland. Ireland and Australia are both post-colonial nations and there is a multitude of similarities in their historical geographies. Yet Ireland and Australia were fundamentally different places in the pre-colonialism era and remain so in the era of post-colonialism. This essay will compare and contrast the similarities and differences of their colonial histories. Background Historical Geography For the purposes of this essay, ââ¬Ëhistorical geographyââ¬â¢ is defined as a division of geography that concerns itself with ââ¬Å"how cultural features of the multifarious societies across the planet evolved and came into beingâ⬠(Wikipedia, 2006b). The discipline has traditionally considered the ââ¬Å"spatial- and place- focused orientation of geography, contrasting and combining the spatial interests of geography with the temporal interests of history, creating a field concerned with changing spatial patterns and landscapesâ⬠(Guelke, 1997: 191). As Donald Meinig, one of the most influential American historical geographers once stated: ââ¬Å"I have long insisted that by their very nature geography and history are analogous and interdependent fieldsâ⬠(1989: 79). Colonialism Any discussion of colonialism also requires a definition of what we mean by the term. Colonialism is one of the most important features of ââ¬Ëmodernââ¬â¢ history and, some might argue, the undertaking that led to the birth of ââ¬Ëgeographyââ¬â¢ in the first place. To define colonialism we must first define two other key terms in history: empire and imperialism. The historian Michael Doyle defines empire as ââ¬Å"a relationship, formal or informal, in which one state controls the effective political sovereignty of another political society. It can be achieved by force, by political collaboration, economic, social, or cultural dependenceâ⬠(in Said, 1993). Imperialism is broadly the practice, the theory and the way of thinking of a dominating centre that controls a far-off land (Said, 1993); as Doyle states, ââ¬Å"imperialism is simply the process or policy of establishing or maintaining empireâ⬠(in Said, 1993). Within this context, colonialism can be defined as the ââ¬Å"implanting of settlements on distant territoryâ⬠and is virtually always a result of imperialism (Said, 1993). To analyse and contrast colonial experience, as well as to understand why colonialism figures so prominently in the discourse of historical geography, one must try to understand the sheer scale of colonial expansion. As Said (1993: 1) explains: Western power allowed the imperial and metropolitan centres at the end of the nineteenth century to acquire and accumulate territory and subjects on a truly astonishing scale. Consider that in 1800, Western powers claimed fifty-five percent, but actually held approximately thirty-five percent, of the earthââ¬â¢s surface. But by 1878, the percentage was sixty-seven percent of the world held by Western powers, which is a rate of increase of 83,000 square miles per year. By 1914, the annual rate by which the Western empires acquired territory has risen to an astonishing 247,000 square miles per year. And Europe held a grand total of roughly eighty-five percent of the earth as colonies, protectorates, dependencies, dominions and Commonwealth â⬠¦ No other associated set of colonies in history were as large, none so totally dominated, none so unequal in power to the Western metropolisâ⬠¦ The scale of British colonialism in 1897 is visible in Map 1, marked in pink. Map 1. The British Empire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire Map 2 shows all territories ruled by the British Empire (1762-1984) and England (1066-1707) ââ¬â Ireland and Australia are coloured orange to signify that they were ââ¬ËDominionsââ¬â¢ of the British Empire. Map 2. All territories ruled by England and the British Empire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire Post-Colonialism and Saidââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËOrientalismââ¬â¢ One of the most influential texts on post-colonialism discourse is undoubtedly Edward Saidââ¬â¢s book Orientalism, originally published in 1978. ââ¬ËOrientalismââ¬â¢ is, in essence, the ââ¬Ëstudy of Near and Far Eastern societies and cultures by Westernersââ¬â¢ (Wikipedia, 2006c). Since the publication of Saidââ¬â¢s book, the term became (rightly) laden with negative connotations; Saidââ¬â¢s book was at heart a critique of Orientalism as ââ¬Å"fundamentally a political doctrine that willed over the Orient because the Orient was weaker than the West, which elided the Orientââ¬â¢s difference with its weaknessâ⬠¦As a cultural apparatus Orientalism is all aggression, activity, judgment, will-to-truth, and knowledgeâ⬠. The book serves as the basis for one of the primary dichotomies in the study of human geography: ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëotherââ¬â¢ (or the ââ¬ËOrientââ¬â¢/ââ¬ËOccidentââ¬â¢ distinction). Similarities between Australia and Ireland It is in this context that we can identify the primary similarity between the historical geographies of Ireland and Australia. If within this context we are meant to define the ââ¬Ëcolonisersââ¬â¢ as ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ (i.e., those involved in Western geographical discourse) and the ââ¬Ëcolonisedââ¬â¢ as ââ¬Ëthemââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëotherââ¬â¢, we reach a crucial problematic area with regards to the two nations at hand. Ireland and Australia are both nations left out of the post-colonial dialogue even though they are undeniably post-colonial. However, discussing these two nations within the dialogue of post-colonialism would ignore the fact that they are both relatively wealthy nations, members of the First World, with few similarities to the nations that are generally being discussed within the sphere. Yet, within the framework of ââ¬Ëotherââ¬â¢, they do share many similarities mainly because they are both peripheral from a Euro-centric viewpoint (Litvack, 2006: 2) ââ¬â though this, economically at least, is increasingly untrue concerning Ireland. Macintyre (1999: 24) writes with regard to Australia: The Orient came to stand for a whole way of life that was inferior to that of the West: indolent, irrational, despotic, and decayed. Such typification of the alien and other, which the critic Edward Said characterizes as Orientalism, had a peculiar meaning in colonial Australia where geography contradicted history. Fascination and fear mingled in the colonistsââ¬â¢ apprehension of the zone that lay between them and the metropole. As a British dependency, Australia adopted the terminology that referred to the Near, Middle and Far East until, under threat of Japanese invasion in 1940, its prime minister suddenly recognized that ââ¬Å"What Great Britain call the Far East is to us the Near Northâ⬠. Slemon has argued for a discussion within post-colonial discourse of a ââ¬Å"Second Worldâ⬠to accommodate those nations that cannot place themselves ââ¬Å"neatly on one side or the other of the ââ¬Ëcolonizer/colonizedââ¬â¢ binaryâ⬠(Kroeker, 2001: 11). After all, both nations could be considered not just ââ¬Ëvictimââ¬â¢ but also ââ¬Ëaccompliceââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëbeneficiaryââ¬â¢ of colonialism (Litvack, 2006). Slemonââ¬â¢s idea is helpful in creating an alternative for the ââ¬Å"difficult examples of post-colonial, white, settler culturesâ⬠like that of Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Though Ireland is different, one could easily argue that the ââ¬ËSecond Worldââ¬â¢ is a better fit than the ââ¬ËThirdââ¬â¢. In short, Ireland and Australiaââ¬â¢s position in between these two very separate worlds of ââ¬Ëcolonizerââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëcolonizedââ¬â¢ is an underlying similarity in their historical geographies of colonialism. Differences between Australia and Ireland There is an important discrepancy within the context of ââ¬ËOrientalismââ¬â¢ between Australia and Ireland. Abiding by the rules of historical geography, just as humans make their cultures and ethnic identities we also make our own histories. More often than not, memory is matched to history but as Collingwood (1970 in McCarthy, no date: 13) states ââ¬Å"memory is not history, because history is a certain kind of organized or inferential knowledge, and memory is not organized, not inferential at allâ⬠. Though undoubtedly ââ¬Ëmemoryââ¬â¢ impinges on Irish history the same as any other, Irish history at least seems to have some type of consensus. On the other hand, there are two distinct versions of Australian history: one that begins when the British landed in Botany Bay in 1788, and one that begins at least 40,000 (and possibly 120,000) years before that. Conventional Australian history to this day remains the version that begins with the arrival of the British â⠬â as the old African proverb goes: only when lions have historians will the hunters cease to be heroes. Key to the differences between Australia and Ireland in this context are issues of ââ¬Ëdominationââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëraceââ¬â¢. The underlying argument here is that whilst the Irish were undoubtedly oppressed by British rule, it was a fundamentally different kind of oppression than that faced by Australiaââ¬â¢s Aboriginals. The domination and repression of the Irish during British colonial rule was done in the context of engagement. The ââ¬Ënativeââ¬â¢ Irish were certainly disadvantaged by the British, and this was a typical feature of colonialism ââ¬â Meinig has long drawn attention, within his geographical analysis of imperial expansion, to the employment of supreme political authority by the invaders over the invaded (Meinig, 1989). The relationship between the British and the Irish fits very neatly into Meinigââ¬â¢s theories of subjugation. One of his arguments is that the goal of imperial expansion was to extract wealth and in doing so to forge new economic relationships to reach these ends. The political authority of the British (invaders) over the Irish (invaded) is illustrated by the manipulation of ethnic and religious identities that occurred ââ¬Å"in order to keep the subject population from uniting against the occupying powerâ⬠(Wikipedia, 2006a). Economic exploitation und er British rule had an ââ¬Å"ethnic (and latently nationalist) dimension because it was expressed through religious discriminationâ⬠(Komito, 1985: 3). The legacy of this ââ¬Ëdivide and ruleââ¬â¢ strategy (as well as the link between religion and nationalism) remains in Ireland today. The Great Irish Famine remains, to this day, ââ¬Å"the defining moment in Irishâ⬠¦historyâ⬠(Kenny, 2001). Between 1840 and 1850, the Irish population was reduced from 8.2 million to 4.1 million ââ¬â including out-migration as well as deaths from starvation (Guinnane, 1998). Irish land was by and large owned by English landlords and worked by Irish tenants; at the time of the famine, these peasants had to choose between paying the rent for the land with their other crops (and possibly starving), or eating their rent and being liable to eviction. The British government first ignored the famine and when relief effort was made it was erratic and unreliable. ââ¬Å"Many had died from starvation; those who emigrated, and those who survived in Ireland, remembered the inadequate and uncaring response of Britain. More than any other single event in history, the Famine came to epitomize, for many Irish people, the quintessential example of British attitudes to its neighbourâ⬠(Komito, 2006: 3). On the other hand, the policy of the British towards the Aboriginals in Australia was not one of subjugation but extermination. Whereas most of the Irish in Ireland (as well as the estimated 80 million Irish that live abroad) proudly claim Celtic ancestry, the natives in Australia suffered a dramatic decline with European settlement, brought on by the ââ¬Å"impact of new diseases, repressive and often brutal treatment, dispossession, and social and cultural disruption and disintegrationâ⬠(Year Book Australia, 1994). Conservative estimates of the Aboriginal population pre-1788 place the figure at somewhere around 300,000, though many anthropologists now believe there were probably closer to one million Aboriginals in 1788. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that in 1966 (approaching the ââ¬Ëbicentennialââ¬â¢ of the ââ¬Ëfoundingââ¬â¢ of Australia that was so widely ââ¬â and rightly ââ¬â protested by the Aboriginal population) there were onl y 80,207 ââ¬Ëindigenousââ¬â¢ members of the population. Even if one assumes (or accepts) a figure of zero population growth, this figure is still only about 26 percent of the original population. Whilst the Aboriginal population continued to expand at the end of the 20th century ââ¬â an ââ¬Ëestimated resident Indigenous populationââ¬â¢ of 469,000 is projected for this year ââ¬â it is clear to see that it came close to being exterminated. This increasing number of indigenous people still represents only about 2.4 percent of the total Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). And so comes the issue of race. Much of Saidââ¬â¢s work, for example, deals with the ââ¬Ëwhiteââ¬â¢ manââ¬â¢s oppression of the ââ¬Ëbrownââ¬â¢. Whereas the Irish were certainly subjugated, they were viewed simply as inferior. The Aboriginals, in contrast, were viewed as subhuman, ââ¬Å"and as animals they possessed no rights, nor any claim to moralityâ⬠(Pilger, 1989: 27). Australia, here, seems to have more in common with the ââ¬ËDark Continentââ¬â¢ than with any imperialism within Europe. Some colonial nations, often referred to as ââ¬Ësettler countriesââ¬â¢, had the same attitude towards the natives as that in Australia. In Canada, New Zealand, and even Latin American settler countriesââ¬â¢ Argentina and Uruguay, little effort was made by the colonist to maintain the existing order, to establish commercial (or other) relations with the inhabitants, or even to recruit them as labour. Instead of involving themselves with the native populations, these lands were simply cleared and settled as ââ¬Å"fresh field of European endeavourâ⬠(Macintyre, 1999: 20). Again, this is not to argue that the Irish were not oppressed during English dominion but simply to state that they were at least acknowledged in a way that the Aboriginals were not. One might even venture to argue that the treatment of the Aboriginals in Australia was so horrific that it has led to their virtual writing out of traditional Australian memory and consequently history. In The Fatal Shore, Robert Hughesââ¬â¢ describes what he calls ââ¬Ëa national pact of silence (Pilger, 1989) over the Aboriginal issue. There is no topic more sensitive in Australia than that of the Aboriginals. This aspect of the British colonial legacy has certainly constructed a version of history that, as many Australians say, is ââ¬Å"missing somethingâ⬠(Pilger, 1989). Burgmann and Lee make clear at the beginning of their book, A Peopleââ¬â¢s History of Australia, th at their aim is ââ¬Ënot merely to compensate for past neglect, but to assert that we can only understand Australiaââ¬â¢s history by analysing the lives of the oppressedââ¬â¢ (in Pilger, 1989: 3). After all, ââ¬Å"a nation founded on bloodshed and suffering of others eventually must make peace with that one historical truthâ⬠(Pilger, 1989: 3). In short, the history of the colonizer and the colonized in Australia and Ireland is enormously different. Australia has, for the last few decades, seemingly been coming to terms with their national past and incorporating the near total-destruction of Aboriginal life and culture into their accepted version of history. Ireland, of course, maintains a history as ââ¬Ëconstructedââ¬â¢ as any other nationââ¬â¢s ââ¬â theirs, unlike that of the Australians, does not seem to be ââ¬Ësilencingââ¬â¢ any important truths. The notion of ââ¬Ëdiscoveryââ¬â¢ In the early nineteenth century, the primary aims and concerns of Geography were: to collect and publish new facts and discoveries, to develop instruments of use to travellers, and to accumulate geographical texts, in particular maps. Geography was, in many ways, an instrument of the empire, an impression that is illustrated well by the number of military men that were members of the Royal Geographic Society in the early nineteenth century. Topography and mapping by and large went hand in hand with notions of colonialism and expansion. Wood wrote that maps ââ¬Ëworkââ¬â¢ because they ââ¬Å"give us reality, a reality that exceeds our vision, our reach, the span of our days, a reality we achieve no other wayâ⬠(1993: 4-5). In short, maps ââ¬Å"manage to pass off for evident truth what is hard won, culturally acquired knowledge about the world we inhabit; a reality unverifiable by the naked eyeâ⬠(Klein, 1998: 1). This section will argue that early colonial maps of both Ireland and Australia used cartography to meet their colonial desires. The key difference was that early maps of Australia displayed a land ââ¬Ëunconqueredââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëuninhabitedââ¬â¢ whereas colonial maps of Ireland represented a land very much ââ¬Ëconqueredââ¬â¢. Early maps of colonial Australia and Ireland also illustrate another key difference: the British believed they had discovered Australia, whilst they never assumed to have discovered the Emerald Isle. In reality, they had not ââ¬Ëdiscoveredââ¬â¢ Australia either ââ¬â ââ¬Å"the very fact that Cook discovered Australia strikes many today as false as the British claim to sovereignty over itâ⬠(Macintyre, 1999: 25). After all, ââ¬Å"how can you find something that is already known?â⬠(Macintyre, 1999: 25). The conception of ââ¬Ëunconqueredââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëvacantââ¬â¢ land figures very prominently in the geography of discovery and colonialism. The sheer size of Australia allowed its settlers to believe they had found a previously unconquered, uninhabited landmass. Clearly, there is an element of sheer size. The Australian continent has an astronomical area of 7,682,300 square kilometres, compared to Irelandââ¬â¢s 70,300. Early maps of Australia often displ ay an indeterminate continent, and ââ¬Å"decorated it with lush vegetation and barbarous splendourâ⬠(Macintyre, 1999: 25). Other maps often neglected the south coast entirely, and left a vacant (or unexplored and therefore non-existent?) centre, as seen in Map 3, which is believed to date from the 1800s. Part and parcel of colonial imagination has been to make out no territorial limits in its desire for the unknown and the unconquered. Map 3. Early Map of Australia Source: MSN Encarta. Map 4. Early Map of Australia Source: http://www.chr.org.au/earlymapsofaustralia/Images/Map%20before%20captain%20cook%201753%20Jacques%20Nicolas.jpg Map 4 further emphasizes the unconquered aspect ââ¬â by leaving great tracts of the continent blank on maps it was easier to believe that those very tracts were untouched and uninhabited. The vast emptiness of early Australian maps can also be viewed as a reactionary defensive mechanism. Numerically, the colonizers in Australia were (initially) a minority. In colonial theory in general, this was problematic because minorities were established as ââ¬Ëoutsidersââ¬â¢ in society. It was doubly problematic in Australia because of its role as the ââ¬Ëdumping-ground for convictsââ¬â¢ (Macintyre, 1999: 18) in its early English settlement. To conceptualise and construct a large vacant space allowed for the idea of an uninhabited continent to flourish, and allowed the early colonizers to reject the idea of being a minority. In contrast, early maps of Ireland try to conceptualise a country that is controlled and conquered. In a study of the English construction of Irish space in a series of Elizabethan and Jacobean maps, Klein (1998: 4) found that most ââ¬Å"do little to hide their involvement in the colonial politics of their historical moment. In gradually redefining the ââ¬Ësavageââ¬â¢ Irish wasteland as a territorial extension of the national sphere, they are quite openly engaged in negotiating the political accommodation of Irish cultural difference into a British frameworkâ⬠. Baptista Boazioââ¬â¢s Irlande (Map 5) is believed to be the first map of Ireland, dating from 1559. Today, this map does not meet with much approval ââ¬â ââ¬Å"the lavish ornamental flourish, the purely fictional character of some of the mapââ¬â¢s topographical details and â⬠¦ the extravagant use of colour are all features that suggest that precise geographical information was not the mapââ¬â¢s principal objectiveâ⬠(Klein, 1998: 15). Map 5. Boazioââ¬â¢s Irlande Source: Klein, 1998. The Kingdome of Ireland (Map 6) was the standard representation of Ireland for the first half of the 17th century. This map portrays a ââ¬Å"neat and perfectly controlled area; a peaceful and quiet expanseâ⬠. The ââ¬Å"pictorial surface of the map achieves both homogeneity and balance, suggesting a spatial harmony devoid of conflictâ⬠(Klein, 1998: 17). Moreover, the ââ¬Ëwild men and womenââ¬â¢ of Ireland depicted on the map seem to register a cartographic ââ¬Å"transfer of political authority in Ireland from native Irish to English colonizersâ⬠(Klein, 1998: 17). Map 6. Speedââ¬â¢s Kingdome of Ireland Source: Klein, 1998. In short, early maps of Ireland and Australia made great attempts to represent (and reaffirm) colonial ââ¬Ëtruthsââ¬â¢. As Klein (1998: 1) states, ââ¬Å"it should be noted that some eyes are as blind as others are observant, and contemporaries also recognized that the abstraction of geometric scale may quietly conceal rather than openly disclose geographical informationâ⬠. Representation of these two nations were different in that Australia was represented as unconquered and ready for the taking, whereas Ireland was represented very much as ââ¬Ëconqueredââ¬â¢. This had to do with both the differences in size of the two nations at hand, as well as with their proximity to England. Conclusion This essay has attempted to analyse the historical geographies of colonialism in Australia and Ireland. It has shown that though the two nations share some overriding similarities (many simply attributed to being post-colonial), there are also a multitude of differences in their historical geographies. The comparison was made in two basic contexts. First, the analysis was made within Saidââ¬â¢s Orientalism. It argued that both Ireland and Australia were stuck between the binary of ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëotherââ¬â¢, between the First and Third Worlds. However, it argued that due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, race, proximity, and area, their experience of ââ¬ËOrientalismââ¬â¢ was fundamentally different. The second sections analysed the representation of colonialism in early maps of Australia and Ireland. Here the countries again displayed significant difference: Australia was depicted as a land waiting to be conquered, and Ireland as ââ¬Ëneatââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëcontrolledââ¬â¢. A further general note can be made in that this essay demonstrated the power of memory and history on geography, and vice versa. Having analysed the historical geographies of Australia and Ireland, one would certainly agree that geography and history are ââ¬Å"analogous and interdependent fieldsâ⬠. Works Cited Australian Bureau of Statistics (2004) Yearbook Australia: Population ââ¬â Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population, available from: www.abs.gov.au Guelke, L. (1997) ââ¬ËThe Relations Between Geography and History Reconsideredââ¬â¢, History and Theory, 36 (2), pp. 191-234. Hughes, R. (1986) The Fatal Shore: The epic of Australiaââ¬â¢s founding, New York: Vintage Books. Klein, B. (1998) ââ¬ËPartial Views: Shakespeare and the Map of Irelandââ¬â¢, Early Modern Literary Studies, Special Issue 3, 1-20. Kroeker, A. ââ¬Å"Separation from the World: Post-colonial aspects of Mennonite/s wiring in Western Canadaâ⬠, Winnipeg, Manitoba: University of Manitoba. Litvack, L. (2006) Theories of Post-Coloniality: Edward W. Said and W.B. Yeats, available from: www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/ireland/saidyeat.htm Macintyre, S. (1999) A Concise History of Australia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. McCarthy, M. (no date) ââ¬ËHistorico-Geographical Explorations of Irelandââ¬â¢s Heritages: Toward a Critical Understanding of the Nature of Memory and Identityââ¬â¢, available from: http://www.ashgate.com/subject_area/downloads/sample_chapters/IrelandsHeritagesCh1.pdf McCarthy, M. (2003), ââ¬ËHistorical geographies of a colonized world: the renegotiation of New English colonialism in early modern urban Ireland, c. 1600-10, Irish Geography, 36(1), 59-76. Meinig, D. W. (1982) ââ¬ËGeographical analysis of imperial expansionââ¬â¢, in Baker, A. R. H. and Billinge, M. (eds.) Period and place: Research methods in historical geography, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Meinig, D. W. (1989) ââ¬ËThe Historical Geography of Imperativeââ¬â¢, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 79, 79-87. Pilger, J. (1989) A Secret Country, Sydney: Random House. Said, E. (1979) Orientalism, New York: Vintage Books. Said, E. (1993) Culture and Imperialism, lecture given at York University, Toronto, Canada, 10 February 1993. Wikipedia (2006a) British Empire, available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire Wikipedia (2006b) Geography, available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography Wikipedia (2006c) Orientalism, available from: http://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/Orientalism Wood, D. (1993) The Power of Maps, London: Routledge
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Slavery - A Respectable Trade? :: Film Capitalism Britain Essays
Slavery. - A ââ¬Å"Respectableâ⬠Trade? A Respectable Trade is quite an ironic title for such an enterprise as slavery. In the 1700s Britain, and France, traded cheap manufactured goods for slaves. 1788 was the beginning of the abolition movement, yet slave trade was still booming. Frances Scott, the protagonist of the movie, was thrust into the horrors of slavery when she decided to marry Josiah Cole. This marriage was an economic contract benefiting Josiah much more than Francis. Francis was a widow, she lived with her uncle, but she didnââ¬â¢t have many choices being a single woman of those times. She could have become a governess, but she wasnââ¬â¢t too good at that as we see at the beginning of the movie when her pupil hits her and runs out. Having a husband gives her economic security, or so she thought because sheââ¬â¢d get an annual allowance. In turn, Josiah receives an educated woman, a woman of higher status with connections with the elite, and a schoolteacher for his slaves. Educated slaves in the hous e serving field are worth more than field slaves because they can speak English, they are supposedly more civilized because they learn the bible and can speak English so it is easier to give them orders. Frances didnââ¬â¢t really know what she was getting into at all when she accepted Josiahââ¬â¢s proposal. On her wedding night Josiah went to a bar to get drunk and brag of his socially high wife. When he returned home he knelt down next to his bed to pray, yet the only thing he prayed for were his two slave ships, the Rose and the Daisy. He prays to God to let his ships, packed with extremely abused, horrified, mentally tortured, dehumanized people, come back to him in one piece with all these people decent enough to sell. This perhaps illustrates that Josiah thinks that slavery is moral, he has no hesitancy in destroying African peopleââ¬â¢s lives and selling them so he can buy a bigger house (and hideous blue dragon things). When Frances goes back to Josiahââ¬â¢s house, by the navy yard, itââ¬â¢s like she has entered an entirely different world. She sees that her new husband is severely financially inferior to her uncle. All of his income derives from his two ships g oing to Africa, capturing slaves and taking them to plantation owners in Jamaica in exchange for rum and sugar.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Killing is Easy, Living is Hard :: Personal Narrative, Autobiographical Essay
Killing is Easy, Living is Hard I did my best to kill Bobby Ackerman late one April night when we were both seventeen. We were speeding down a two-lane highway, a narrow trail of asphalt that sailed off a ridge and down into a long, sweeping right-hand turn and then rushed past a white stucco house with a tile roof, a house that crowned the hill beyond a quaint covered bridge over a dry creek bed running parallel to the road. We were descending toward a little town named Crane, and we were flying. "Geez, man," Bobby said. I looked toward the passenger seat as the Plymouth dug into the arc of the curve. Bobbyââ¬â¢s eyes were wide. "Slow down, slow down." Bobby grasped the armrest with one hand and braced his left leg against the hump in the floorboard. I could smell the beer on his breath as he fought to stay in the seat. The old sedan wallowed back toward the right lane. It was the first time I'd driven his car. But it wasn't Bobby's car, really. It was his dad's. His dad was a railroad engineer, complete with the traditional bib overalls and cloth cap. Bobby was my friend, trapped like me in the last year of high school. But he was different. I was secretive, sullen, and sarcastic, but Bobby was outgoing, with an ever-present desire to please sometimes amplified by a brittle manic energy. I liked beer, the drug of choice for our generation, but Bobby liked beer too much. That night he needed someone to drive him home. Now I had the old car racing down the road and off the ridge at something close to 80 mph simply because that was all the speed I could wring out of it. I'd made one turn, but there was one more ahead before we entered the valley and the town that lay astraddle a creek. The next turn was a sharp, banking left-hander, edged by a dozen or so white posts laced together by steel cables, and oncoming traffic was obscured by a little hill. I caught a glimpse of a yellow sign ahead, one marked with a black arrow curving around the words 35 mph, but I didn't lift my foot from the accelerator. My hands chased the steering wheel, persuading, begging the car to stay off the limestone bluff to the right, and the old sedan was reluctant, never steady, demanding one correction after another.
Friday, October 11, 2019
ââ¬ÅFarm Girlââ¬Â by Jessica Hemauer Essay
ââ¬Å"Farm Girlâ⬠, is an essay by Jessica Hemauer, who is trying to fit in with other kids at her school. She lives on a farm where she has her responsibilities before school and after school, and she is not able to participate in school functions or other activities that the other kids get to do. Her dream is to join basketball and other clubs because she feels that is the only way she will fit in with everyone else at school. Jessica wakes up at 5 with her sisters, Angie and Melissa and her brother, Nick so they can help their father with the morning chores on the farm. It does not matter what else is going on with the family they have to get up every morning and help with the chores. After they get up they have a routine of getting dressed and head down to the basement, where they keep their outside clothes, so they do not stick up the house. They put on their barn clothes and head out to the barn to help their father. Jessica has her chores and so does her brother and siste rs. Jessica has to help her sisters with sanitizing the milk machines, prepare the milk equipment and set up the station with towels and charts the cows that need medication. The other thing Jessica does, which is her favorite thing to do, is feed the newborn calves. She loves doing this job because she finally gets to take care of something that is not taking care of her. After she was done with that, all the kids help and clean out the pens and lay fresh straw down. Jessica does not like this job too much because it is the dirtiest job they have to do. She gets done with her morning chores about 7:30 and head back to the house to get ready for school. Once back in the basement they hang their farm clothes over a folding chair near the washing machine. As they head up the stairs, to get showers and get ready for school they can smell smoked bacon and cheese omelets being cooked. As she is running out the door yelling at the bus,â⬠Wait!â⬠she grabbed herself a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. In school, the other kids are just rolling out of bed, and I have been up for hours. While other classmates are thinking of what shows to watch on TV, Jessica is thinking about all the chores she has to do when she gets home from school. Jessica has no social life except in school. Jessica would love to join a team or club after school, but with her chores she is not be able to go to practice like the other teammates. Being raised on a farm makes her feel difference from the other kids in her grade. Jessica feels left out and depressed because she cannot join in on conversations about what the kids are doing in school. ââ¬Å"Hey, Carrie, how was basketball practice last night?â⬠Susan asked. ââ¬Å"It was terrible! Coach was in such a bad mood!â⬠Carrie replied. ââ¬Å"He made us run sprints for every shot we missed. Kelly was missing all her shots last night. I am so sore today.â⬠(Roen/Glau/Maid 2011 pg 85) Jessica would sit in silence, eating French fries, listening to her friends talking and laughing and waiting for the lunch period to end. In eighth grade, she wanted to play basketball, she pleaded with her parents and they finally gave in and said she could play. One of the conditions was that after practice, she had to come home and do all her chores and homework, and she agreed. She became a starting point guard. She finally starts to feel like part of a group. She never tells friends or teachers that she goes home every night and does chores on the farm because she did not want them to know she was different. In High School Jessica, is more involved with school. The farm has grown to two hundred cows. In ninth grade, she continued to play basketball, and she kept up with her chores before and after school. After her ninth grade year, her father called a family meeting to inform them that he would like the farm to keep growing and that he needs more help than the family can provide. He told them that they no longer had to work on the farm anymore unless they wanted to. He wants his children more involved in school and to go off to college. So after that meeting, she joined homecoming club, auditions for musicals and plays and serves as president of student council and the class president. Since now, she is not working on the farm she goes and gets a waitressing job. Friends came up to her and asked her all the time how she manages her time so well. When at work she is always on time, never sick and does what she is told to do. One night she sat down and started thinking about her life. She thought that joining clubs and doing activities would make her fit it, but it had not, she still felt left out. From an early age, she was taught how to manage her time wisely with school and chores. She then learned how to manage it with basketball involved. Working on the farm gave her a high tolerance for work. Her boss is always asking her for more hard working people like her. She simply tells him. â⬠Try hiring some farm girls.â⬠(Roan/Glau/Maid 2011 Pg 86) Jessica learned at a very young age that working hard was not a bad thing. Yes she wanted to do more in school besides get an education. Her father also noticed that his children were suffering in the end with the expansion he was planning on doing. She was glad to have had the experience that her father gave her so when she got a job she knew how to work hard. References Writing for college, Writing for life, 2011, A writerââ¬â¢s share her experiences: Jessica Hemauer: Farm Girl Pages 83-87.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)