Nutria Facts (Myocastor coypus)

The nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a large, semi-aquatic rodent. It resembles the beaver and muskrat, but a nutria has a rounded tail, while a beaver has a paddle-shaped tail and a muskrat has a flattened ribbon-like tail. Beavers and nutrias have webbed back feet, while muskrats lack webbed feet. While once raised for their fur, nutrias have become a problematic invasive species. Fast Facts: Nutria Scientific Name: Myocastor coypusCommon Names: Nutria, copyuBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 16-24 inch body; 12-18 inch tailWeight: 8-37 poundsLifespan: 1-3 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Native to South AmericaPopulation: DecreasingConservation Status: Least Concern Description The nutria looks like an unusually large rat. It has coarse brown outer fur and soft gray under fur, which is called nutria. It is distinguished from other species by webbed hind feet, a white muzzle, white whiskers, and large orange incisors. Female nutrias have nipples on their flanks so they can feed their young in the water. Adults range from 16 to 20 inches in body length, with 12 to 18 inch tails. The average adult weighs between 8 and 16 pounds, but some specimens weigh up to 37 pounds. A nutria has a white muzzle, white whiskers, and orange teeth. Patrick_Gijsbers / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Originally, the nutria was native to temperate and subtropical South America. It was hunted for food, but primarily for its fur. In the late 19th and early 20th century, numbers dwindled in the original habitat and fur ranchers brought the species to North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Accidentally or intentionally released nutrias rapidly adapted to new habitats and expanded their range. The range is limited by the mildness or severity of winters, as the nutria is susceptible to tail frostbite, which can lead to death. Nutrias always live close to water. Common habitats include river banks, lake shores, and other freshwater wetlands. Diet A nutria eats 25% of its body weight in food each day. For the most part, they dig out rhizomes and aquatic plant roots. They supplement their diet with small invertebrates, including mussels and snails. Behavior Nutrias are social animals that live in large colonies. They are excellent swimmers and can remain submerged up to five minutes. Nutrias are nocturnal; they forage at night and retire to burrows near the water to stay cool during the day. Reproduction and Offspring Because they live in warm climates, nutrias can reproduce year-round. Usually, a female has two or three litters per year. Nutrias line their nests with reeds and grasses. Gestation lasts 130 days, resulting in one to 13 offspring (usually five to seven). The young are born with fur and their eyes open. They nurse for seven to eight weeks, but also begin eating grass with their mother within a few hours after birth. Females can become pregnant again the day after they give birth. Females become sexually mature as early as 3 months of age, while males mature as early as 4 months of age. Only 20% of nutrias survive their first year, but they can live three years in the wild and up to six years in captivity. Baby nutrias are born with fur and open eyes. Voren1 / Getty Images Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the nutria conservation status as least concern. While nearly extinct and protected in its native habitat, the species is so invasive it is not considered to be at risk. Overall, the population size is decreasing due to eradication measures. Within its original habitat, the species is threatened by habitat degradation and persecution by ranchers. Nutrias and Humans Nutrias are kept for fur and meat and sometimes as pets. However, they are best known for the ecological threat they pose outside their natural range. They displace other species and cause significant erosion of wetland soil. Their feeding and burrowing opens wetlands to flooding, damages roads and bridges, and destroys crops. Since they are hunted as an invasive species, their fur is considered ethical and more sustainable than synthetic fur, while their meat is become increasingly popular. Sources Bertolino, S.; Perrone, A.; ;Gola, L. Effectiveness of coypu control in small Italian wetland areas. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33: 714-720, 2005.Carter, Jacoby and Billy P. Leonard: A Review of the Literature on the Worldwide Distribution, Spread of, and Efforts to Eradicate the Coypu (Myocastor coypus). Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Spring, 2002), pp.  162–175.Ford, Mark, and J. B. Grace. Effects of Vertebrate Herbivores on Soil Processes, Plant Biomass, Litter Accumulation and Soil Elevation Changes in a Coastal Marsh. Journal of Ecology 86(6): 974-982, 1998.Ojeda, R.; Bidau, C.; Emmons, L. Myocastor coypus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T14085A121734257. Errata version published in 2017.Woods, C. A.; Contreras, L.; Willner-Chapman, G.; Whidden, H.P. Mammalian Species: Myocastor coypus. American Society of Mammalogists, 398: 1-8, 1992.

The War Of American History - 847 Words

Throughout history, neighbor has been fighting neighbor over land. Some of these wars have gone down in history as the most violent or largest of all wars. The study of war must include all aspects of the struggle, including historical, financial, and political ramifications. Insight into the strategy used by military troops, the rational of the military leaders, how the economy was affected, provide an understanding of society during that time. Wars are studied for years after they cease. Studying the causes, results, the economics, the destruction and reconstruction, and other particulars of war offers insight and, hopefully, the wisdom to prevent future ones. The Civil War has been written about for decades. Even in the twenty first†¦show more content†¦While the Civil War officially ended with Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, this project will examine the battles for Fort Fisher and will show how the obstacles faced by the Confederacy without access to the Wilmingto n Port made the surrender at Appomattox Court House inevitable. Economically and strategically the battles for Fort Fisher were the most important battles of the final year of the war and ultimately resulted in the fall of the Confederate States of America (CSA). Wilmington, North Carolina was one of several major ports in the southeastern United States. Along with Wilmington, New Orleans, Charleston and Norfolk were major port cities used by Confederate troops. The ports were used to maneuver supplies to the troops. The Union Navy would attempt to blockade the ports. Blockade runners would evade the boats and deliver cargo. Wilmington was a major port and had first access to the goods coming off of the blockade runners. Research suggests that Wilmington may have experienced a slight economic escalation during this time. Although not considered the most important city in the state; Wilmington would become, as the war progressed, the main trade lifeline to the outside world and one of the most profitable Atlantic ports in the CSA. From December of 1861 to December of 1864, three hundred twelve blockade runners successfully reached Wilmington with full shipments from Europe, the Bahamas and several other places still willing to

Modernist Styles, Including Cubism, Orphism, and Futurism Free Essays

string(133) " concept that the dimensions of an object were absolute, by demonstrating that they depended on the relative position of the viewer\." Modernist styles, including Cubism, Orphism, and Futurism challenged the practices of traditional representational art. I will argue that modernist styles including Cubism, Orphism and Futurism did challenge the practices of traditional representational art. While some may argue that that the fact that modern styles were concerned with subject gives doubt to how challenging they really were to representational art I oppose this idea entirely. We will write a custom essay sample on Modernist Styles, Including Cubism, Orphism, and Futurism or any similar topic only for you Order Now All art is representational in some way. Rather than a dismissing the concept of representation in art the modernist styles challenged the validity of the external representation, which had previously en the foundation of art, by focusing on conceptual representation. Traditional representational art is based on the representation of an image as it is, at a fixed point in time, from a singular viewpoint. This type of art aimed to be entirely familiar to the viewer; the subjects involved easily recognizable and derived from sources of reality. Mel Gooding, in his book Abstract Art defines representational art as ‘any mode of representation in painting and sculpture that offers the eye the illusion of a perceived reality. ‘ I would expand on this definition to include art that aims to render n image realistically from a fixed viewpoint at a specific point in time. Based on these definitions, it is evident that Cubism, Orphism and Futurism rejected traditional concepts and conventions as these could not portray the conceptual representation modern art was concerned with. It is evident in the works produced by the artists associated with these movements that they made a conscious decision to expand what was acceptable in art by challenging the artistic techniques and practices of representational art that had been adhered to for hundreds of years. The introduction of new media, new concepts of space and form and new techniques tit light and color were all innovative and effective ways to display experiences of the world in ways that weren’t bound by traditional artistic conventions. These new conventions were only able to develop because modernist artists ‘consciously sought radically new ways to represent their experience of the world. ‘ Modern art at this time was all about stimulating the experience of a subject by portraying its essence through new artistic conventions. In this way these modern works challenged the more objective representational art by uncovering new concepts of reality that did not involve the burden of realism. The artist Delaney explained this as ‘historically there was a change of understanding, hence of techniques, of modes of seeing. In some ways these artists were set free from the burden of realism by the invention of the camera, which could render an image perfectly. They were given the freedom to portray their understanding of an image, not how it is observed. New modernist styles marked a change in the definition of what reality expressed through art really was, moving away from the traditional illusionistâ€⠄¢s visual mimicry to a more conceptual and internal representation. This idea was first formally established by Maurice Urinal an art critic and close friend of many of the artists involved in these modern movements. He stated that â€Å"if art is a meaner of augmenting knowledge, its function will only be served by painting forms as they are conceived in the mind. † I will argue that this conceptual form of art is more intellectually stimulating due to its complexity than the blatancy of figurative art. This is a sentiment that abstract artists wished to express and the reason they challenged the traditions of art at all. I will set out in my argument how the innovative use of artistic conventions by modernist artists proves that the practices of traditional representational art were rejected. It was only through this purposeful rejection of traditional representational art to a truer, more conceptual representation that the innovative concepts associated with these modernist styles were able to develop and this marks the development of modern art into abstraction. Space and form All three styles, Cubism, Orphism and Futurism show a pictorial space and form which would be unrecognizable to traditional representational art.. Although theses three modern styles varied, the works involved all occupied a new and more complex pace. Mel Gooding explains this as a trend in modern art away from the representation of recognizable objects in pictorial space and towards presentation of a painting or sculpture as a real object in real space. ‘ Up until this time the pictorial space created in the art work aimed to create the illusion of a real pictorial space for the spectator. The technique of one point perspective which was very much adhered to during the renaissance created a space in the picture which vanished into a single point in order to replicate the three dimensionality of our vision. This coupled with the use of shading and toning to accentuate the weight of form worked to create the illusion of looking into a realistic space. The use of formal conventions such as perspective and tone are illusionist’s and therefore they were abandoned by these modern artists who were inspired to achieve a more conceptual representation of space and form. For example, Baroque said of Cubism What most attracted me and what was the governing principle of Cubism, was the materialistic of this new space which I sensed. The art movement of Cubism was in fact sparked by the idea f exploring a new anti naturalistic space which can be seen to be developed and refined throughout the phases of cubism. The driving force behind the experimentations with form that developed cubism was the rejection of the deceptive singular viewpoint perspective which governed the illusionist of representational art. Initially the search for a new, more truthful pictorial space was found in the introdu ction of time, the fourth dimension, into space. Around this time in history the concept that space and time where interlinked was suggested by Einstein theory of relativity which destroyed the concept that the dimensions of an object were absolute, by demonstrating that they depended on the relative position of the viewer. You read "Modernist Styles, Including Cubism, Orphism, and Futurism" in category "Papers" This abstract concept was portrayed in Cubism through the use of synthesized impressions of an image or space. As you view an image or object, your impression is not static but a moving collection of impressions over time. The use of multiple viewpoints aimed to compress a multiplicity of information gathered from various experiences of an object into one image. This innovation off truer space is most evidently portrayed by the analytic phase of Cubism. Through the incorporation of the new artistic conventions the fragmentation of form was developed. The intention was to encompass the entire visual experience of an object into one image and through this idea an effective technique of breaking up form into planes and facets which each expressed a sample of visual information. The Cubist works now possessed a shallow pictorial space due to the abandonment of perspective on which these fragmented facets could be hung. This concept worked not to bring the viewer into an illusionist’s space like traditional representational works, but to accentuate the flatness of the picture plane in order to bring the space forward to the viewer for hem to experience its analysis of the image and to stimulate those sensations provided by the experience of the objects. In Futurism the concept of time in an image was portrayed by movement. This inclusion of time as a meaner of transforming the static imagery once associated with art into a capturing of movement created a new optical and temporal space. Futurists were also interested in the use of fragmentation of form to challenge the idea of a fixed viewpoint that was used in representational art. However, they developed this idea further and produced works which captured the idea of movement in a way that was not possible wrought traditional conventions. They achieved this through the use of rhythmic repetitions of space and form which is effective in evolving a static image into one which is in constant motion. Evidence of all of these ideas can be seen in artworks associated with all three of these modernist art styles. One of my favorite examples is Marcel Duchess’s Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2. This work portrays the mechanical movement of a nude figure as it moves down a staircase. The form is made up of the synthesis of various static positions of the nude as it is in motion and Leary expresses the idea of form changing over time. The form consists of layers of superimposed facets and angular planes which is evidence of cubist ideals of space and form. At the same time the still phases of the form placed in succession create the effect of a fluid movement, this is an illustration of the futurist need to recreate the visual experience of motion. These ideas coupled with the mechanized and almost robotic form of the image alludes to the Futurists focus on industrialization of the world. The painting was initially rejected by the hanging committee of the Salon des Independents exhibition in Paris. Their reasoning for this was ‘a nude never descends a staircase a nude always reclines. ‘ The fact that Decamp was not adhering to traditional conventions was not accepted at this time. Many found the painting unintelligible because they did not recognize the figure at face value. But this was Duchess’s intention to redefine representation in art. Today the art work is treasured as a symbol of the innovative practices associated with these modern styles. Light and color Traditionally light and color were artistic conventions used to create those optical delusions necessary to form a ‘realistic’ image. The light source in a representational work would be realistic and consistently come from one light source. Color was used only as a tool for portraying the effects of light on form through shade and tone. This toning gave form the weight and the illusion of three dimensions. However, in modern art the illusion of the description of form and the natural effect of light on an image was no longer a concern. Orphism changed how color was viewed as a tool for portrayal. This was a movement that found significance in the symphony of sensations that colors are able to stimulate when crafted together. Because modernist artists no longer wanted to be confined to naturalism they were free to experiment with the effect of the relationships of color. This involved the color theory of contrasting and complementary colors and the optimum placement of these colors together to enhance hues. Delaney, a key Orphism artist was able to develop these color techniques from his studies of a chemist, Michael-Eugene Chevron’s treatise, On the Law of the Simultaneous Contrast of Colors. This treatise dealt with the concept that a color is observed differently according to its surrounding colors. An example of a modern work based upon the use of the application of color techniques is Homage to Bibelot by Robert Delaney. This work contains various circular forms all made up of highly organized bright block colors. The colors of these circular forms, which are mostly primary, are surrounded by a background of opposing colors such as a yellow, green and red image surrounded by blue, red and green respectively. It is this complete contrast which illuminates the effect of the colors to a point where they are so much more successful in their specific function when Juxtaposed in this purposeful way. It is not only this illumination that the use of these color techniques create but a pictorial space. A depth is created by the advancing and receding of colors according to their characteristics. These techniques had not been used in traditional representational art and are another example of how these abstract artists redefined accepted artist conventions. Media The use of different media is also an example of the development of new practices in the art world which stemmed from the rejection of traditional practices. During the Cubist movement the introduction of new media was achieved through collage, eliding the purposeful rejection of the observed for the conceptual. Cubist artists began to incorporate new materials into their works such as strips of newspaper or wallpaper. This innovation was a monumental step away from traditional art. Picasso ‘Still Life with Chair Caning consists of sections of a kitchen scene, a knife, a lemon a glass. Within the painting Picasso has also incorporated a section of chair caning patterned oil cloth. Instead of portraying the image of a chair Picasso chose to use something that would stimulate the viewer’s experience of the object. The cloth as significance in the work because the viewer can relate it to the image of a chair without the image of a chair being displayed. Picasso is no longer concerned about displaying any illusionist’s craftsmanship; he found a material; that would evoke the image he wished to portray and chose to incorporate it into the work. As a result, the whole purpose of art was challenged; it was no longer to replicate an external observation ‘realistically but to portray the essence of an image through pictorial clues. The images in a work may have meaning but when a foreign material is introduced it has the ability to change those meanings. For example a glass cut from newspaper confusingly evokes two images in the mind. Picasso explains this example â€Å"If a newspaper can become a bottle, that gives us something to think about in connection with both newspapers and bottles, too. This displaced object has entered a universe for which it was not made and where it retains, in a measure, its strangeness. And this strangeness was what we wanted to make people think about because we were quite aware that our world was becoming very strange and not exactly reassuring. â€Å"This peculiarity activates the mind on a higher level. The evolution of art to involve new media is a natural progression by an art movement which aims to confront the conventions of representational art and to create works which stimulate a higher level of perception than ever before. Picasso also says in the same statement about the introduction of new media â€Å"We didn’t any longer want to fool the eye; we wanted to fool the mind. This idea pretty much sums up the whole purpose of these modern works. Subject Even the subject matter itself in these forms of art worked to separate itself from traditional subjects. Many works incorporated images that would activate memories f the more mundane, relatable experiences of life. It is evident that the artists involved in these styles were challenging the idea t hat art had to be a glorification of something, such as the biblical frescoes often associated with traditional art or a work that aimed to be ‘pretty. This introduction of everyday life into art effectively broadened the accessibility of art to everyday people. It was no longer a craft only obtainable by those with the ability to render the illusion of realism perfectly, it was open to anyone who wished to capture the conceptual essence of a subject through art. It is this idea which democratic art making. For cubists, subject was a platform onto which experiments with space and form could be conducted. This isn’t to say that subject wasn’t still taken into consideration. The easily relatable subject matter in these works was a purposeful decision in order to make the portrayal of the desired experiences easier. This was initially a playful experiment by the artists who developed these abstract artistic conventions due to the fact that they ‘enjoyed exploring the tension between apparent abstraction and suggested representation. ‘ Their new conceptual ideals had lead to the distortion and abstraction of the subject matter but they incorporated artistic clues to evoke the image of the object.. By viewing modern works associated with these styles and considering what they seek to express, it is apparent that unlike representational art which relies on observation, the subject is not fixed but is instead based on individual and unique encounters. The work Just has to present itself and the spectator becomes the decider of the meanings of the subject. In this sense the fact that a subject of a modern work could e open to interpretation and is not obvious, modernist art styles transcended the level of intellectuality that figurative art could produce. Modern works were free to move away for the burden of only being able to portray observable images. In terms of Orphism and Futurism these movements aspired to move away from the external manifestations of human life. ‘ While Futurism chose to focus on the force of a dynamic subject, Orphism broke subject down into the lyricism of color. These modern artists felt that they were able to employ the dynamic forces of life such as speed and movement as the subject of a work. The inspiration for this sort of subject matter was inspired by the new technology fuelled age which was more exciting and dynamic than ever before. Because of this changing world the artists were living in they felt the need to express their excitement about life through art. This meaner that the fixed images of settings, people or landscapes associated with representational art was abandoned. Many futurist works portrayed mechanized and robotic figures or symbols of industrialization and technology immersed in some sort of movement. In conclusion, modernist styles including Cubism, Orphism and Futurism challenged he practices of traditional representational art by creating art which was more conceptual and internally driven. This focus on conceptual representation of a subject lead to the development of new ideas about space, form, color, light, and media and how these conventions come together to portray a subject. This redefinition of representation is evident in the works produced by these modernist artists. In the search for the ability to portray more truthfully modern artists created an art form which was more intellectually intriguing than art the world had seen before By Yachtsmen And How to cite Modernist Styles, Including Cubism, Orphism, and Futurism, Papers

Oral Care free essay sample

In India, oral care market offers huge potential as penetration and per capita consumption of oral care products is very low. However, rising per capita income and increasing awareness is driving demand of oral care products. Consumers have started switching to value-added toothpastes like gels, mouth washes, and teeth whitening products. In rural areas, consumers are switching from toothpowders to toothpastes. A key industry trend is the move towards natural products comprising of herbs, vitamins and minerals. A serious challenge for the industry is the low dentist-population ratio, with just one dentist for 10,000 people in urban areas and about 0. 25 million people in rural areas. There is an urgent need of more dental health practitioners with relevant qualifications and training. Government has taken various initiatives like dental health camps to promote good oral care. Manufacturers have used advertising campaigns to promote higher consumption of toothpastes and toothbrushes. Colgate and HUL together account for over two-thirds of the organized toothpaste market. We will write a custom essay sample on Oral Care or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In toothpowder market, Colgate, HUL and Dabur are the major players. The report analyzes the oral care market in India. It also provides a brief overview of the world and US oral care market. The report also profiles the major companies, with a discussion of their key business strategies. It also analyzes the major drivers and issues in the oral care market.

Morbid Satisfaction Essays - British Films, English-language Films

Morbid Satisfaction Even in her first glimpse of Miles, the governess in Henry James's Turn of the Screw feels instant adoration and affection for the boy who she describes as innocent, at least by outward appearance. As she grows to know Miles, she develops not only an attachment towards him, but an obsession as well. The governess longs to protect Miles from "evil," to protect him from Peter Quint - a man whom she has not only never met, but who is also dead. The closing chapter of Turn of the Screw demonstrates clearly the governess' unordinary obsession to rescue Miles from what she has determined as evil. But, while the governess' supposed objective is protection, the novel ends with Miles dead in her hands. Furthermore, as she holds the child's lifeless body in her arms, the governess feels no signs of sadness or mourning but instead, mysterious content and satisfaction. The final episode of Turn of the Screw reveals that the governess' exterior and persistent desires to protect Miles conceals a more unspeakable sensual longing for the boy. Prior to her move to Bly, sexual exploration for the governess, "the youngest of seven daughters of a poor country parson," is nonexistent (295). Upon taking the new job, however, the governess - an unmarried and "anxious girl out of a Hampshire vicarage who, except in her fantasies, has never experienced intimate relationships with men - is free to immerse herself in all the opportunities for sexual experimentation available to her at Bly. The governess' desire to explore the masculine race is seen in the beginning of the novella in her eager decision to accept a job from the wealthy master, a man whose figure she becomes infatuated with and who "impressed her as vast and imposing - this prospective patron proved a gentlemen, a bachelor in the prime of life, such a figure as had never risen, save in a dream or an old novel, before a fluttered, anxious girl out of a Hampshire vicarage" (295). The development of her fixation to experience and engage in relationships with men is seen furthermore in the closing paragraphs of Chapter III when she daydreams of meeting a man while she takes a stroll, fantasizing that "it would be charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone. I only asked that he should know; and the only way to be sure he knew would be to see it, and the kind light of it, in his handsome face" (310). The governess' departure from the "Hampshire vicarage" brings her vast opportunities for sexual exploration. She experiences a sexual awakening, overwhelmed by opportunities for relations with member of the opposite sex. Miles becomes the governess' choice as her outlet for sexual experimentation. Since her move to Bly, she has encountered at least three potential men - the master, Quint and Miles. But, because Quint, who is dead, and the master, who resides in town, are both intangible, Miles, provides for her the best means to satisfy her sexual cravings. Since the beginning of the novella, visions of Quint have consistently emerged during times when the governess worries about her relationship with Miles. Quint appears initially in Chapter III just after the governess meets Miles for the first time, as she is contemplating the potential ramifications his dismissal from boarding school could have on their relationship. Later, in Chapter IV, the governess becomes troubled again while pondering Miles' alleged wrongs and sees Quint a second time. Quint's appearance serves as an instrument to measure the governess' confidence in her relationship with Miles. Visions of Quint emerge during times when the governess feels distant from Miles, at times when she fears she could be losing Miles in some way. Quint's appearance gives the governess a false sense of comfort that Miles' unwillingness to open up in their relationship is simply a result of the threat that Quint poses on it, not any fault of her own. Conversely, Quint's appearance is not evident during times when the governess is satisfied with her relationship with Miles. In the final episode of the novella, the governess, who is preoccupied by the anticipation of Miles' possible reaction to her abrupt and blunt questioning, sees Quint's

Free Essays on Ethical Warfare

â€Å"Ethical Warfare† President George Bush once put forth, â€Å"Using military force makes sense as a policy where the stakes warrant, where and when force can be effective, where its application can be limited in scope and time, and where the potential benefits justify the potential costs and sacrifice.† (President George Bush, p.423) This criterion as Bush describes is nothing new. It has been traditionally known as international law. They are also part of what is known as just war theory. Some people have preferred the use of the phrase â€Å"justified war† instead of â€Å"just war† because they believe that in just war theory there is a presumption against the use of military force that must be overcome or should it? Just war theory can be traced all the way back to 400 A.D. by the writings of St. Augustine. He was concerned about how to reconcile traditional Christian views of the immorality of violence with the necessity of defending the Roman Empire from invading forces. He asked â€Å"what one should do if one sees an individual attacking an innocent, defenseless victim? His response was that â€Å"one should intervene and do whatever is necessary to protect the victim, even up to the point of killing the aggressor.† (St. Augustine, p. 424) We know of this theory today by The Hague and Geneva conventions. Remember, also that human beings have been fighting each other since prehistoric times. But is war really bad? The ethics of war starts by assuming that yes, war is bad, and it should be avoided whenever possible, but it recognizes that there can be situations when war may be lesser evil of several bad choices. War itself is bad but when justified it serves a purpose to protect the life of human individuals. Although war itself can be backed by a number of ethical theories, ethical egoism sort of stands back and says, yeah if I was in charge on the United States, of course I am going to act the way I ought to ... Free Essays on Ethical Warfare Free Essays on Ethical Warfare â€Å"Ethical Warfare† President George Bush once put forth, â€Å"Using military force makes sense as a policy where the stakes warrant, where and when force can be effective, where its application can be limited in scope and time, and where the potential benefits justify the potential costs and sacrifice.† (President George Bush, p.423) This criterion as Bush describes is nothing new. It has been traditionally known as international law. They are also part of what is known as just war theory. Some people have preferred the use of the phrase â€Å"justified war† instead of â€Å"just war† because they believe that in just war theory there is a presumption against the use of military force that must be overcome or should it? Just war theory can be traced all the way back to 400 A.D. by the writings of St. Augustine. He was concerned about how to reconcile traditional Christian views of the immorality of violence with the necessity of defending the Roman Empire from invading forces. He asked â€Å"what one should do if one sees an individual attacking an innocent, defenseless victim? His response was that â€Å"one should intervene and do whatever is necessary to protect the victim, even up to the point of killing the aggressor.† (St. Augustine, p. 424) We know of this theory today by The Hague and Geneva conventions. Remember, also that human beings have been fighting each other since prehistoric times. But is war really bad? The ethics of war starts by assuming that yes, war is bad, and it should be avoided whenever possible, but it recognizes that there can be situations when war may be lesser evil of several bad choices. War itself is bad but when justified it serves a purpose to protect the life of human individuals. Although war itself can be backed by a number of ethical theories, ethical egoism sort of stands back and says, yeah if I was in charge on the United States, of course I am going to act the way I ought to ...

Why Should John Hopkins University Accept Me Essay - 6

Why Should John Hopkins University Accept Me - Essay Example I have attended numerous training courses and seminars which shows my passion for pursuing further knowledge regarding my field. I feel that I have enough knowledge and passion to show that I have a craze about going ahead in the geographic profession, and contribute to the valuable research. I keep myself updated with market requirement. I keep on reading related journals, books, and magazines and attend related seminars being held in my vicinity. I feel that I possess those special skills needed to fulfill the requirements for this course. I have always come up fresh, innovative and unique ideas. I have learned basic computer knowledge and software so as to equip myself with the latest technology, which may help me in excelling in this course. I also possess the ability to synchronize and connecting together the thoughts of the teacher and the student in a successful way. This enthusiasm is what pulls me to apply for this course. I also want to list here some of the leadership competencies that I possess, that I guess will be helpful to me in my field of interest. I believe in working collaboratively where everyone gets his share of profit through helping each other out. I believe in others’ competencies and know how to motivate them to make the best use of their capabilities. I can work individually as well as in teams. I always volunteer to support others morally and physically by whatever means I can, to improve the productivity of the task. I believe in fairness. I am proud of my capabilities as a leader and can prove to be an ethical leader in the field I pursue. These qualities will help me excel in my field, as I will be looking forward in managing work teams while doing research work, and be a part of a collaborative team where everybody shares his unique ideas. I am sure I will prove to be a transformational leader when it comes to managing teams.

Agenda - Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States Essay

Agenda - Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States - Essay Example On the other hand, the healthy foods are very expensive compared to the unhealthy ones leading people to opt for the cheaper food and especially in the hard economic times (Smith, et al. 2013). This disparity in access to healthy food in the nation needs to be addressed immediately if the mortality rates from unhealthy eating habits are to reduce. This issue is more important than other agendas as it is in regards to the survival of human beings. Humans need food in order to live, be healthy enough to work as well as to reproduce. Without the necessary balanced diet food for every individual in the nation, the productivity will reduce and mortality will increase as has been established above. A nation cannot be built when people are unhealthy and if this agenda is not taken seriously and overlooked, then the economy of the nation will start plummeting. The issue is not about food scarcity as per se but rather about healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables which are available in the grocery stores. The ones being sold in supermarkets are organic in nature and not many Americans can be able to afford them. When people fail to afford, it means their access is curtailed and the other option is to purchase the unhealthy food that is cheaper and accessible (Smith, et al. 2013). Support for the agenda is needed to not only reduce the disparity but the access to healthy food as well. The support can be structural or economic and can be offered by the government which has a lot of influence as well as work in conjunction with the private sector which has more resources. The support to reduce and completely eliminate the issue of disparity as well as access to healthy foods is a joint effort. The government alone cannot be able to support the issue on its own. Farmers need to be encouraged to grow more of these healthy foods to curb the demand (Larson, Story and Nelson, 2009). With the supply being in plenty,

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices - Essay Example This essay stresses that intense competition plays a crucial role in creation of sustainable development practices and enhancement of the quality of products and services. Corporate responsibility is regarded as the degree to which an organisation complies with the legal guidelines and looks after the welfare of the society. The contemporary business practices show significant levels of understanding between the responsible and good corporate practices. Stakeholders and shareholders have understood the value of CSR and are focused on integrating business activities with huge societal concerns that can lead to good management practices. CSR is regarded as a technique which helps the organisation in evaluation of the business activities and its impact on the society and environment through ethical and transparent decision making. This paper declares that the World Business Council for Sustainable Development states that the CSR approach is a ‘business contribution to the sustainable economic development’. CSR includes activities such as health and safety, corporate governance and ethics, environmental stewardship, human rights and sustainable development. It focuses on aspects such as community and societal involvement, development and investment, corporate philanthropy, employee volunteering, customer satisfaction, anti-bribery, anti-corruption measures and adherence to the principles of fair competition. Business activities play a pivotal role in wealth and job creation, but the central management concern of CSR would be efficient utilisation of natural capital. (Halal, 2000). CSR activities help in efficient utilisation of human resources and capital and increasing the employee retention rate. The brand image of the company is enhanced because of the CSR activities performed by the organisatio n. Companies which recycle their products can effectively lower their expenditure. Customers are attracted towards companies which perform CSR activities efficiently. Whether or not a company implements CSR tools and techniques, the way it performs its business activities signifies clear intentions of the company. According to Hopkins (1999 cited in Sen and Bhattacharya, 2001), business organisations need to perform commercial and non-commercial responsibilities with an equal amount of importance. The non-commercial responsibilities undertaken by the company should include the well-being of the society, community, environment, government etc. The stakeholder’

Sexual Health for Learning Disabilities

Sexual Health for Learning Disabilities Sexual Health For People With Learning Disabilities This leaflet is about people with learning disabilities and their sexual health. While there is considerable legislation concerned with disability from the 1970 Social Services Act to the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act and beyond, it is not always clear that the needs of this user group are being addressed in appropriate ways. This is because there is a lack of research into how this user group live their lives and how they feel about life and sexuality. Legislation and Anti-Oppressive Practice Under the terms of the NHS and Community Care Act of 1990 social services have a duty to make an assessment of need to any person in their area who may have need of their services. With regard to people with physical or learning disabilities the department also has a duty to find out about such people in their area and to offer an assessment of need even if that has not been requested. The social worker must take account of the 1998 Human Rights Act when dealing with anyone. It is illegal for social workers to discriminate against people or hinder their access to services on any basis. A social workers should act in the best interests of their clients, the service users, and engage in anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice. Anti-oppressive practice can involve the social worker attempting to take care over the way in which he/she uses language. In order to fully engage in such practice a social worker would need to take care that in dealing with service users who may have difficulty in communicating their needs the social worker does not end up imposing their own agenda on the service user. When it comes to people with learning disabilities here is a need for different models and levels of participation depending on the service user’s circumstances. Participation empowers some service users while others may not be able to be truly involved at any recognisable level without the intervention of a third person – an advocate. The agency for mental health MIND suggests that many people with learning or mental health difficulties should have an advocate who is impartial and who can inform them what is available in terms of services and support and who will promote their best interests as service users. Those who are able to engage with the process often go on to promote the rights of other service users. The service user movement has been a driving force in the struggle for people with mental health problems or learning difficulties’ entitlement to live as ordinary a way of life as they can (Carr, 2004). People with learning difficulties may have multiple and complex needs, nevertheless under the 1998 Human Rights Act, they are entitled to be treated with dignity and local authorities have a duty to abide by the requirements of this Act (Moore, 2002). Nevertheless there are areas where the Act is sometimes ignored and this is most apparent when it comes to the sexual health of people with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities and Sexual Health There has been very little research into the lives of people with learning disabilities. The first of its kind was a government survey of 2,898 people which was carried out between June 2003 and October 2004. The report dealt with people with learning disabilities (to what extent they were learning disabled is not always defined) between the ages of 16 and 91. The report found the following: 45% of the people interviewed were under the age of 30 6% were from minority ethnic communities. 92% of all people with learning difficulties who took part in the study were single and 7% of these had children but only half that number looked after their children themselves. 7% either lived alone or with a partner. There is an even greater dearth of information when it comes to the sexual health of people with learning difficulties. In fact media reports suggest that many people with learning difficulties are actively discouraged from engaging in what most people regard as a healthy sex life. There have even been instances where family members have tried to have girls with learning disabilities sterilised so that they could not bear children. A (2006) report from the University of Ulster Out of the Shadows, found that the sexual health of people with learning disabilities was all too often ignored. This is because family members and professionals do not want to acknowledge that this user group has such needs. The report found that: People with learning disabilities want to have relationships and express fears of being lonely. But the feel over-protected by professionals and family carers. Consequently there are few opportunities to develop relationships and meet new people. Some family carers want their child to have the same rights as everyone else. But they feel embarrassed to talk about sex with their children and are concerned for their safety. Feeling unsupported and isolated stops them from raising these issues in the home. Professionals and front line staff are aware that the issues around sex and sexuality are not being addressed. However they are inhibited by being under resourced, under trained, and at times restricted by a lack of clear guidelines and policies to support them (http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2006/2892.html). Clearly insufficient attention is being paid to what this group of service users actually want. People are embarrassed by the fact that people with learning difficulties may have the same hopes, fears, and aspirations as everyone else. Clearly there is a need for more research and for education so that a greater understanding of people with learning disabilities and their needs is actually met. Further information on people with learning disabilities and their needs can be found at the following websites: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/ihr/index.htm website concerned with the inclusion of adults and young people with learning disabilities in all areas of life. http://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/ website about community living, when it may be necessary and how it is meant to empower people. http://www.ndt.org.uk/ website that campaigns for inclusion of people with learning disabilities at all levels of ordinary life http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Surveys/Othersurveys/Generalsurveys/DH_4081207.Government survey Elder Abuse The agency called Age Concern is concerned that the rights of older people often get overlooked. This is particularly the case where the person is either unable or unwilling to speak for themselves. Thus Age Concern maintains that older people need advocates (a disinterested third party) to put their case when the rights of an older person are being ignored or overlooked. Since the publication of the National Service Framework for Older People in 2000 there has been a directive for more advocacy when it comes to addressing the needs of older people and this move that has been welcomed by Age Concern. Advocacy is about protecting the rights of people as human beings and making sure that their wishes are taken into account when decisions are being made that affect what may happen to them. Advocacy therefore, is meant to empower those people who may have the least power in society. There are those who maintain that there should be specialist advocacy with regard to the problems of age. Service user participation involves rights and responsibilities on behalf of both the service user and a service provider. When it comes to older people who may be confused about what is happening, or who refuse to become involved in the process then a definition of rights and responsibilities is problematic because without equal cooperation it is difficult to find a way of ensuring that these are fulfilled. At the very least it has to be acknowledged that everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and to be treated with respect. The aim of good advocacy is to ensure that older people are aware that the local authority has a duty of care with regard to their needs. Advocates also try to ensure that older people have an understanding of what to ask for and what to expect when it comes to support and services. When this is possible it enables older people to exercise their rights as citizens, however, some elderly people may have no idea what is going on and may be confused by the whole process. In cases like this an advocate would look at the older person’s circumstances and needs, as well as listening to the carer’s input, and would then put forward a case for their care and ask for an assessment. This is not, however, a guarantee that the person will receive residential care, however much a family might want it. A social worker would listen to what the family and perhaps the advocate had to say and would then ask what provisions were currently in place, whether these were provided by social services or by the family. Once they had assessed the situation the information would be given to a care manager who would decide what could be offered (Moore, 2002). In some cases this would be residential care. As people grow older they can develop fears that they did not have before. Many older people, for example, are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being attacked, and numbers of them are also afraid of being attacked in their own home. However, figures from the British Crime Survey 2001, tend to suggest that the likelihood of being a victim of crime decreases with age. Despite this, many elderly people live in fear of being burgled or attacked in their homes by a stranger. Yet the figures support the idea that this fear is largely unfounded the burglary figures for 2001 yield the following information: In 1000 households of people aged between 16 and 24 17.6% had been burgled In 1000 households with residents of 75 and over only 2% were burgled Despite these figures many elderly people are haunted by the fear that they are not safe on the streets and may not be safe in their own home. At the same time some media reports tend to suggest that older people are safer in their own homes than they might be if they went into residential care. Older people may not always be willing to go into residential care but an assessment may be asked for by other family members or by carers who are feeling the strain of looking after a demanding elderly relative. Some older people, however, may have become so frightened in their own homes that they want to go into residential care. Care and Abuse Despite the fact that some elderly people feel that they will be safer in residential accommodation there are factors which suggest this feeling may be misplaced. The marketisation of care, and the growth of private care homes means that there is some evidence which supports the view that the elderly may be more at risk of abuse of their rights and criminal assault in residential settings than in their own home (Ward et al, 1986). The 1990 NHS and Community Care Act, and the introduction of market forces into the care sector has meant that many former council run residences are now privately owned and run for a profit. This is the case even if the person does go into a council run home, they or their family members will be expected to make some contribution to the cost (Kerr et al, 2005).Even if people are in council run homes then they or their families are expected to make at least some contribution to the cost of their care. The shift to a mixed economy of care means that some car ers have little or no personal care about the job they are doing and this can lead to older people being at risk of neglect and abuse. There have been plenty of media reports of neglect and abuse in residential care where older people’s human rights go unacknowledged and mismanagement and a lack of proper supervision can lead to neglect and abuse (Smart, 1997). At a time when they should be receiving more care and attention some older people are being abused by the very people who are meant to be looking after them. It would seem that marketisation has led to a lack of proper control over what goes on in some residential homes and there needs to be some mechanism whereby such places are inspected on a regular basis. Useful resources http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/Media%20and%20Resources/Useful%20downloads/AEA/AP%20Monitoring.pdf http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/ http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Elder_Rights/Elder_Abuse/Elder_Abuse.asp Vulnerable Adults There are general guidelines related to social work practice and this is especially the case when it comes to the protection of the weak and vulnerable. All local authorities have a duty to be aware of the number of people in their area who might be considered vulnerable adults. The legislative framework that governs the actions of a social worker working with vulnerable adults is based on the following: 1948 National Assistance Act Part 3 Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons’ Act 1970 National Health and Community Care Act 1990 Depending on the age of the vulnerable adult they are dealing with then the social worker will also have to bear in mind: Section 45 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 Section 117 of the Mental Health Act of 1983 General understanding of the 1998 Human Rights Act The National Services Framework for Older People Social workers should also be conversant with the terms of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act before they make any assessment of a vulnerable adult. A lot of the problems that vulnerable adults experience, particularly if they have mental health problems, are due to the fact that many professionals (particularly medical professionals) still work with the medical model of disability. This model holds that a person’s problems and vulnerabilities are rooted in their pathology i.e. they are part of that person’s make up. The problem with this model is that there is a tendency to hold the person responsible for whatever their problems may be (Oliver, 1996). A more favorable model for the service user is the social model. This model looks at factors that are external to the service user such as environmental factors and any other social factors that may give rise to ill health or vulnerability. Who Are Vulnerable Adults? Vulnerable adults might be those people who need care because for one reason or another they cannot look after themselves. This might include the following: Older people People with mental health difficulties People with physical disabilities People with learning disabilities Substance Misusers Homeless People In an abusive relationship According to media and Government reports, older people are often subject to abuse by the people who are meant to be caring for them. The same thing happens to people with the sort of physical disabilities that prevent them caring for themselves, people with mental health difficulties and people with learning disabilities. In some cases women are more vulnerable and more at risk than men as in some cases they face the risk of sexual assault by carers, particularly if they are not family members. Government concerns over the abuse of vulnerable adults led to the setting up of the POVA the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Scheme in England and Wales. The scheme is implemented with regard to care homes for vulnerable adults, checking the backgrounds of people who work with vulnerable adults, either in a care home or in the person’s own home. The problem is that until a crime is committed there is no actual legislation that deals with the protection of vulnerable adults. Some local authorities have produced guidelines for multi-agency working in case of the abuse of vulnerable adults. Harm and Abuse of Vulnerable Adults Vulnerable adults can be abused or harmed in a number of ways, some of which are criminal. Non-criminal abuse might include not paying sufficient attention to their needs, denying them their human rights by not treating them as a person of equal human worth. Abuse can also occur by default when a carer neglects to take proper care of someone who is vulnerable by leaving them in an unclean state or leaving a confused person to wander without supervision. The more criminal aspects of the abuse of vulnerable adults can include stealing from them, misappropriating money from their accounts and physical or sexual assault. Sometimes it is as a result of harm that a vulnerable adult comes to the attention of social services and it is then the social worker’s job to assess the needs of that person. When a social worker makes an assessment of need, even if the person in need is recognized as a vulnerable adult, they can only provide services if certain criteria are satisfied. Those people who have a score lower than 4,5 or 6 may only be entitled to information and advice (Moore, 2002). This means that a lot of vulnerable adults are left out in the cold and it is sometimes the case that they become involved with mental health services by being sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act. Here an ASW or Approved Social Worker can recommend to a mental health team that a person be sectioned or forcibly detained for a period of 28 days if they are regarded as being at risk or posing a risk to others. Vulnerable adults are another group who may at sometime need the services of an advocate to put forward their concerns. It is also the case that unless and until there is some legislation in place for the protection of vulnerable adults this abuse and neglect will continue. Useful resources Disability Discrimination Act 1995 http://www.drc-gb.org/thelaw/thedda.asp http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4085855 Moore, S. 2002 3rd Edition Social Welfare Alive Cheltenham, Nelson Thornes Mental Health Local authorities now have a duty to act in ways that are conversant with the 1998 Human Rights Act and this means that social workers have a duty to help people with mental health difficulties to deal with any problems they encounter. Some research tends to suggest that over the last fifteen years those who use mental health services have been treated in a prejudicial way. This is largely a result of the fact Government discourse is phrased in such a way that this group is seen mostly in terms of the risks they may pose to the rest of society. Some social workers have a lot of power when it comes to people who are assessed as having mental health problems. In Britain we have what are known as Approved Social Workers, these social workers are often involved in sectioning a person – that is to say a person can be detained for twenty eight days without their consent for assessment of their mental capabilities. This can be problematic because if a service user is being aggressive it is not always easy to tell whether this is just in response to whatever is going on at that moment or whether the person actually does have a mental health problem or a psychosis. Hannigan and Cutliffe (2002) argue that the medical model of health is the most prevalent in the mental health sector. Under the terms of the 1983 Mental Health Act this often results in medical treatments that may involve, for example, the use of drugs or electro-convulsive therapy without the person’s consent. What is most worrying about this is that it can be used as a threat against vulnerable adults who may not need this kind of treatment but who may be irritating the professionals with whom they come into contact. This is especially the case if the adult concerned has a tendency to be a bit aggressive. Professionals may often assume that this person is displaying psychosis when they are simply displaying an exaggerated form of annoyance at what is going on. Current legal definitions of what constitutes a mental disorder (and the guidelines with which many professionals work) are not necessarily the same as psychiatric definitions of what constitutes mental illness. With recent changes to the Mental Health Act this situation becomes even more worrying because it widens the net to include other definitions of mental illness, definitions which could just as well be a result of social misfortune as something inherently wrong with a person. Some research tends to suggest that the mental health system is racist and that black and white youths who may behave in a similar manner are treated differently and black youths are more likely to be assessed as having a mental health problem. The disproportionate use of compulsory sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 for black people, and the links between mental health and the criminal justice system, suggest that the basic rights of many black service users are under threat. A holistic model would emphasise basic human rights and require great caution in the use of statutory powers in mental health services. Black service users rights would be safeguarded through anti-discriminatory procedures, accessible appeals and complaints systems, and accurate monitoring. Safeguards include quality assurance systems based on service users views. These should incorporate indicators of service outcomes based on improvements to black service users quality of life (Ferns, P. 2000 no pagination) Increased use of sectioning under the Mental Health Act could be regarded as a form of blackmail in mental health – just another way of saying you behave the way I say you will behave or this is what will happen to you. The police also have greater powers under the 1983 Act. Section 136 gives them the right to detain people in a safe place for 72 hours if they are considered to be a risk to themselves or others, even if they haven’t been aggressive or done anything else that would warrant being detained. This is a frightening state of affairs because it means that anyone who upsets authority in some way could be at risk of losing their liberty without charge and without trial. The mental health charity Mind say that actual psychosis is far less prevalent in Britain than some figures would have us believe and that the 1983 Act is in danger of being used as a means of social control rather than the protection of the public and of vulnerable adults. Clearly there are many issues around Mental Health that are extremely worrying. If you are homeless you are automatically seen as having mental health problems and some literature also refers to women who have experienced domestic violence in these terms. Mental health issues and social blackmail it would seem are very closely related. Useful resources http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/article.asp?liarticleid=7951 Full ref. in bibliography http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre http://www.lho.org.uk/HIL/Disease_Groups/MentalHealth_Inequalities.htm London Health http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Statistics/Statistics+3.htm http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Statistics/Statistics+3.htm http://www.nacro.org.uk/about/Youth justice are we getting it right.pdf

The Impact of Language on Identity and Social Acceptance in Richard Wright’s Novel, Black Boy :: Race African American

The Impact of Language on Identity and Social Acceptance in Richard Wright’s Novel, Black Boy The entire act, the entire situation, the entire experience of discovery is not only unique to each and every individual, but more importantly, a thrilling tumult of emotions gone haywire and perceptions completely altered. Richard Wright, in his autobiographical work Black Boy, attempts to convey the discovery of nothing less than language itself. Employing a wide variety of rhetorical devices and insightful commentaries, Wright expertly conveys his newfound respect for language and its tangible impact on both identity and social acceptance. Perhaps most notable throughout the passage is Wright’s use of rhetorical questions to both outline his whirling thought processes at the time and create a sense of the urgency in his audience. â€Å"Why did he write like that? And how did one write like that?†¦What was this?† By providing answers to some of his own questions and the allowing the readers to do so for themselves for the rest, Wright engages the readers, bringing them along for the ride of discovery. â€Å"Who were these men?† Wright asks, â€Å"Who was Anatole France? Joseph Conrad? Sinclair Lewis, Dostoevsky, Moore, Gustave Flaubert, Maupassant, Tolstoy, Frank Harris, Mark Twain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In fact, an entire paragraph is dedicated to these the listing of these authors, whose names were meant to both intrigue the audience and create a sense of fascination. The fast-paced, almost tumultuous wave of new perceptions conveys Wright’s newfound awe over the effect effective use of langua ge could have. Wright’s choice of diction, chosen to convey both imagery and invoke ethos also proves to be effective. He describes Mencken as he pictured him at the time, active and in a furor, â€Å"a raging demon, slashing with his pen, consumed with hate, denouncing everything American, extolling everything European†¦ laughing†¦mocking.† These words, full of fierce emotions, conveys exactly how deeply Wright feels the language of Mencken. With the forming of a realization that one’s use of language could impact how others saw one, and perhaps even influence what one truly was, Wright describes how his impulse to dream of writing â€Å"surged up again†¦I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing.

Fast Food Consumption Propostition Paper Essay

Fast food consumption is becoming a major concern as obesity and diseases are linked to unhealthy eating habits. Due to the prevalence in obesity, controversy has been raised around the question of whether or not it is the consumers or the corporations to blame. Many fast food chains have been sued for allegedly contributing to obesity and have been blamed for the poor health of many people. Although some fast food restaurants may be partially responsible when they fail to post nutrition information and warnings about the foods content as well as use sophisticated marketing strategies to lure in consumers, it is a ridiculous claim to say that the corporations are completely at fault. In my opinion, people who suffer from obesity and other related diseases caused by unhealthy eating habits have no one to blame but themselves. The lack of personal responsibility has many people blaming fast food restaurants for making such unhealthy food available when in reality it is the people themselves who are making the decision to go out and buy and consume fast food. There is no one pressuring consumers into eating fast food, the same goes for people who smoke cigarettes and blame the tobacco industry for getting cancer when it is solely the consumer’s decision to start smoking in the first place. Regardless of whether or not a fast food restaurant labels their food with their nutrition information, it should be common sense that greasy, processed food is not a healthy choice. It is clear that fast food and obesity go hand in hand, consumers need to start taking responsibility for their life choices rather then trying to turn it around on the corporations and blame them for their own failure to take care of their health and well being. References Travali, D. (2007). Fast Food Industry Not Completely to Blame for Obesity. Retreived from http://voices.yahoo.com/fast-food-industry-not-completely-blame-obesity-553714.html?cat=51 Howard, M. (2012) Obesity: Personal Responsibility or Blame Food Companies? Retrieved from

The Executive Branch of US Government

The Executive Branch of US Government The President of the United States is in charge of the executive branch of the United States federal government. The executive branch is empowered by the U.S. Constitution to oversee the implementation and enforcement of all laws passed by the legislative branch in the form of Congress. As one of the foundational elements of a strong central government as envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers, the executive branch dates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Hoping to protect the liberties of individual citizens by preventing the government from abusing its power, the Framers crafted the first three articles of the Constitution to establish three separate branches of government: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The Role of the  President Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states: â€Å"The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.†Ã‚   As the head of the executive branch, the President of the United States functions as the head of state representing U.S. foreign policy and as the Commander-in-Chief of all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The president appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Secretaries of the Cabinet agencies, as well as the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. As part of the system of checks and balances, the president’s nominees for these positions require the approval of the Senate. The president also appoints, without the approval of the Senate, more than 300 people to high-level positions within the federal government. The president is elected every four years and chooses his vice president as a running mate. The president is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Armed Forces and is essentially the leader of the country. As such, he must deliver a State of the Union address to Congress once each year; may recommend legislation to Congress; may convene Congress; has the power to appoint ambassadors to other nations; can appoint Supreme Court justices and other federal judges; and is expected, with his Cabinet and its agencies, to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States. The president may serve no more than two four year terms. The Twenty-second Amendment prohibits any person from being elected president more than twice. The Role of the  Vice President The vice president, who also is a member of the Cabinet, serves as president in the event that the president is unable to do so for any reason or if the president steps down. The vice president also presides over the U.S. Senate and can cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie. Unlike the president, the vice president can serve an unlimited number of four-year terms, even under different presidents. The  Roles of the  Cabinet Agencies The members of the President’s Cabinet serve as advisors to the president. The cabinet members include the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive branch departments. With the exception of the vice president, cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be approved by the Senate. The President’s Cabinet departments are:   The Department of Agriculture, among other functions, ensures that the food Americans consume is safe and regulates the nations vast farming infrastructure.The Department of Commerce helps regulate trade, banking and the economy; among its agencies are the Census Bureau and the Patent and Trademark Office.The Department of Defense, which includes the U.S. Armed Forces, protects the nations security and is headquartered at the Pentagon.The Department of Education is responsible for ensuring equal access to a quality education for all.The Department of Energy keeps the U.S. plugged in, regulating utilities, ensuring the security of power supplies and promoting new technology to conserve energy resources.Health and Human Services help keep Americans healthy; its agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health and the Administration on Aging.The Department of Homeland Security, established in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, is charged with preventing terrorist attacks in the U.S. and helping to fight the war on terror and includes the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Housing and Urban Development promotes affordable home-ownership and ensures that no one is discriminated against in the pursuit of that goal.Interior is dedicated to protecting and nurturing natural resources, national parks, and wildlife. Among its agencies are the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.Justice, led by the Attorney General, enforces the nations laws and includes, among other agencies, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).The Department of Labor enforces labor laws and keeps workers safety and rights protected.State is charged with diplomacy; its representatives reflect the United States as part of the world community.The Department of Transportation established the Interstate Highway System and keeps the U.S. transportation infrastructure safe and functioning.Treasury ensures the countrys financial and economic stability, manages federal finances and collects taxes . Veterans Affairs provides medical care for wounded or ill veterans and administers veterans benefits. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer and a former copy editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper.

40 Synonyms for Praise

40 Synonyms for Praise 40 Synonyms for Praise 40 Synonyms for Praise By Mark Nichol Last week, I offered a list of synonyms for the word criticize. To avert criticism (admonishment, censure, chastising, and so on), I offer here a roster of synonyms for its antonym, praise, in that word’s verb form as well as when it’s used as a noun. 1. Acclaim: To applaud or praise; also a noun referring to the action of applause or cheering. 2. Acknowledge: To recognize someone or something for services rendered; the word also has the connotation of â€Å"to confirm rights or authority.† 3. Adore: To honor or worship in a religious sense, although its meaning has extended to â€Å"to be fond of, to admire.† 4. Adulate: â€Å"To express excessive praise.† This rarely used verb form of adulation has a connotation of flattery. (See flatter below.) 5. Applaud: To express approval in general, as well as to clap hands or otherwise praise nonverbally. 6. Belaud: To praise, but the sense is of excessive acclaim. 7. Bless: To praise or to glorify in a religious sense; the word also has a secular sense of â€Å"to approve† as well as â€Å"to favor† (the latter in usage such as â€Å"blessed with remarkable talent†). 8. Carol: To praise with song, or in a like manner. 9. Celebrate: To publicly honor in a secular sense as well as a religious one. 10. Chant: A close synonym of carol and hymn. 11. Cheer: To cheer in applause or to express triumph. 12. Cite: To formally call attention to for praise. However, this term also has an opposite meaning of â€Å"to reprimand,† as well as the senses of â€Å"to quote† or â€Å"to refer to,† so the context should be clear. 13. Commemorate: To observe a ceremony of remembrance, or to provide a memorial. 14. Commend: To praise with approval, or to recommend. 15. Compliment: To communicate respect or admiration for someone to that person or another. 16. Crack up: Slang used to refer to someone or something that may or may not be as worthy of praise as previously thought; generally restricted to phrases such as â€Å"not all it’s cracked up to be.† 17. Deify: To glorify, as if to equate the person being praised with a god; this sense coexists with the literal religious sense of according someone the status of a god. 18. Emblazon: Originally meant to inscribe or decorate a heraldic device or bearings; now, the sense is extended to praising, especially in writing, as if to permanently establish the subject as praiseworthy. 19. Eulogize (British English: eulogise): To praise in speech or writing; usually, the connotation is that the subject of praise is deceased. 20. Exalt: To praise extensively. 21. Extol (or extoll): To praise generously. 22. Fete: To honor with a celebration, or to honor in general. 23. Flatter: To praise insincerely or only for selfish motives. The word also has similar senses of â€Å"to depict with excessive favor† or â€Å"to present to one’s advantage,† as well as â€Å"to deceive, as in â€Å"I flatter myself that I acted wisely.† 24. Glorify: To praise with the intent of making the subject appear glorious, but it also means â€Å"to make something or someone seem to be better than it or they really is.† 25. Hail: To greet enthusiastically as a show of approval; the term also has a mundane sense of â€Å"to call or greet.† 26. Honor: To express respect or admiration. 27. Hymn: A close synonym of carol and chant. 28. Idolize: To worship, with a connotation of excessive praise. 29. Laud: To praise; also, capitalized, a religious ceremony. (The adjective form is laudable.) 30. Magnify: To praise, in the sense, as the etymology suggests, of making someone or something appear greater than they or it is. 31. Mention: To identify someone or something for mild praise, often in the form of a consolation prize called â€Å"Honorable Mention.† 32. Rave: To praise enthusiastically. 33. Recognize: To publicly thank someone for their service or otherwise indicate appreciation. 34. Recommend: To endorse or propose as commendable, in addition to the more pedestrian connotations such as â€Å"to advise.† 35. Renown: To offer praise. (In its more common noun form, it means â€Å"fame.†) 36. Resound: To praise, or to become one praised, with the sense of loud approval. The word has an additional sense, more commonly used, of echoing or reverberating. 37. Rhapsodize: To praise excessively, from the noun form, rhapsody, which refers to a literary work that rouses emotions (originally, it denoted recitation of an epic poem). 38. Salute: To praise or honor, in addition to the sense of gesturing to show respect or to otherwise acknowledge someone as a courtesy. 39. Tout: To promote or endorse. It also means â€Å"to spy,† especially in the sense of obtaining information about a racehorse to improve one’s betting odds. 40. Worship: To extravagantly praise, as if the subject were a deity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Grammar Mistakes You Should AvoidPeople versus PersonsApostrophe with Plural Possessive Nouns

Description of the GIS techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Description of the GIS techniques - Essay Example Other whale types which do exist but are area to site include the sperm whale, killer whale and the fin whale. Sperm whales are famous for their massive heads and rounded foreheads. It is believed that they are rare because of intense hunting. However, data on the exact population of whales at the Scottish coast is hard to come by given that little research has been carried out to estimate their numbers (Clark, 1997). Some of the reasons for this state of affairs are the little research which has been carried specifically on this marine mammal. This may be explained by the fact that the United States has been keen to end the practice of whaling which kills whales for the sake of it. Therefore, a lot of research on whales has tended to be in waters around where the practice is prevalent such as Japan (Au, 2003; Griffin, 1998; Elnser, 1999). Industrialization and development around the Scottish coast is believed to have significantly led to the pollution of waters around the coast, compromising the quality of ecosystems these whales enjoy. This is because uncontrolled dumping of waste into the sea has negative effects on the environment, affecting the food chain in the process. Human activity along the coast has been increasing over the decades, increasing the frequencies with which accidents involving whales and other marine animals attack people. Sperm whales are known to dive to deeper levels in search of food. Even though their environment might have been affected, it is expected that still some would be around, assuming that their deeper diving can compensate for the declining food supply due to pollution. This is because pollution starves the plants and other marine animals such as fishes and seals fed on by the sperm whales of the oxygen and other nutrients needed for their nourishment (Elsner, 1999). Essentially this means that the whales are likely to have faced a drop in their food supplies. On the other part, such levels of pollution also have the

China, India and Japan all face significant challenges with regard to Essay

China, India and Japan all face significant challenges with regard to their technological capabilities. What are these challenges and how likely are they to be overcome over the following two decades - Essay Example As such, both China and India need to invest more on R&D to compete at the same level with the developed countries in the next two decades. Conversely, while Japan’s technological capabilities are more advanced compared to China and India, Japan faces a challenge because of its protectionist policies. These policies impact negatively on Japan’s cooperation with other countries in terms of sharing knowledge. In addition, the country is faced with an aging population and thus; there is need for the country to access human capital abroad. This means that, Japan has to open up to the outside world by embracing trade liberalisation (Norma & Danny 2002, p.36). This paper examines the significant challenges faced by China, India and Japan with regard to their technological capabilities. As an emerging economy, the technological capability of China requires a focus on innovations. However, it is emerging that both the state and private sector is not aggressive in terms of improving innovations. A lack of a focus on basic research is an impediment to China’s technological capabilities. Most business enterprises in China do not engage in basic research, and this leads to imitation of foreign products. The country further has a weak system for managing rights related to intellectual property. This creates a situation where piracy is rampant in china, and impacts negatively on the country’s technological capabilities (Andrew 2005, p.16). On another note, since SMEs plays a critical role in advancing innovations, China faces a challenge in the sense that, their SMEs lack adequate funds and human resources to carry out large scale innovations. While China boasts of cheap labour, this is detrimental to its technology in the sense that, this leads to the production of poor quality products that is sold cheaply in the global market. As a result of the rising costs of production

Martha Stewart Livivng Omnimedia (MSO) Term Paper

Martha Stewart Livivng Omnimedia (MSO) - Term Paper Example 1) US Dollar Global Notes These notes are primarily issued by HP thrice in last decade including 2002 shelf registration, 2006 shelf registration and 2009 shelf registration. 2002 shelf registration consists of â€Å"$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.505% in June 2002 at 6.5%, due July 2012†. The other different types of bonds issued by HP, their face value, total amount, type of bonds (fixed, floating), maturity, interest rates and the issue prices are detailed below. These details are reproduced from the annual report of HP for the year 2010. 2006 Shelf Registration Statement: â€Å"$600 issued at par in February 2007 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 0.11%, due March 2012† â€Å"$900 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.938% in February 2007 at 5.25%, due March 2012† â€Å"$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.694% in February 2007 at 5.4%, due March 2017† â€Å"$1,000 issued at par in June 2007 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 0 .06%, paid June 2010† â€Å"$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.921% in March 2008 at 4.5%, due March 2013† â€Å"$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.932% in March 2008 at 5.5%, due March 2018† â€Å"$2,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.561% in December 2008 at 6.125%, due March 2014† â€Å"$275 issued at par in February 2009 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 1.75%, due February 2011† â€Å"$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.956% in February 2009 at 4.25%, due February 2012† â€Å"$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.993% in February 2009 at 4.75%, due June 2014† 2009 Shelf Registration Statement: â€Å"$750 issued at par in May 2009 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 1.05%, due May 2011† â€Å"$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.967% in May 2009 at 2.25%, due May 2011† â€Å"$250 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.984% in May 2009 at 2.95%, due August 2012† â€Å"$800 issued at par in September 2010 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 0.125%, due September 2012† â€Å"$1,100 issued at discount to par of 99.921% in September 2010 at 1.25% due September 2013† â€Å"$1,100 issued at discount to par of 99.887% in September 2010 at 2.125% due September 2015† 2) EDS Senior Notes: â€Å"$1,100 issued June 2003 at 6.0%, due August 2013† â€Å"$300 issued October 1999 at 7.45%, due October 2029† 3) â€Å"Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.59%-8.63%, due in calendar year 2010-2024† The total book value of these debts is around $15,258 million after the subtracting the current portion of these debts which is part of current liabilities. The promising feature of the HP bonds or notes is that they are callable in part or in full whenever HP deems it necessary at the prices and criterion specified under its prospectus. These Global Notes are considered to be the senior unsecure d debt. As at October 31, 2010 the face value of the long-term debts that are maturing in upcoming years have been segregated year wise in table given below. These long-term debts are free from any fair value adjustment, premium or discount on issuance. â€Å"Aggregate future maturities of debt outstanding including capital lease obligations† 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Thereafter Total In millions $2,208 $4,272 $3,775 $3,720 $1,111 $1,691 $16,777 Source: HP Annual Report 2010 Derivatives Being a global company, HP normally faces interest rate changes and foreign currency exchange rate movement as a result HP hedges these fluctuations by utilizing

Learning Natural Resources and Energy Essay Example for Free

Learning Natural Resources and Energy Essay A Paper on the Ecosystem and on the Biodiversity General Questions General General Questions Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on natural resources and energy. Include the following:  · Choose a specific ecosystem, such as a forest, a grassland, or a marine or freshwater aquatic ecosystem.  · Identify and discuss the effects that a growing human population may have on that ecosystem’s resources, including loss or harm to populations of wild species.  · Discuss one management practice for sustainability and conservation of natural resources in that ecosystem.  · Identify the risks and benefits of extracting or using one type of nonrenewable and one type of renewable energy resource from that ecosystem, or in areas near that ecosystem. Include at least two outside references. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. You can have a ton of fun in college, but it also involves a lot of work. Stay focused on the end result: a diploma. There will be many roadblocks along the way, and how you choose to approach them is important. Use the tips you have seen here to make college work on your behalf. This pack of SCI 256 Week 3 Learning Natural Resources and Energy Paper  contains: A Paper on the Ecosystem and on the Biodiversity General Questions General General Questions Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on natural resources and energy. Include the following:  · Choose a specific ecosystem, such as a forest, a grassland, or a marine or freshwater aquatic ecosystem.  · Identify and discuss the effects that a growing human population may have on that ecosystem’s resources, including loss or harm to populations of wild species.  · Discuss one management practice for To download this tutorial follow the link https://bitly.com/1oJKyIe You can have a ton of fun in college, but it also involves a lot of work. Stay focused on the end result: a diploma. There will be many roadblocks along the way, and how you choose to approach them is important. Use the tips you have seen here to make college work on your behalf. General Questions General General Questions Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper on natural resources and energy. Include the following:  · Choose a specific ecosystem, such as a forest, a grassland, or a marine or freshwater aquatic ecosystem.  · Identify and discuss the effects that a growing human population may have on that ecosystem’s resources, including loss or harm to populations of wild species.  · Discuss one management practice for sustainability and conservation of natural resources in that ecosystem.  · Identify the risks and benefits of extracting or using one type of nonrenewable and one type of renewable energy resource from that ecosystem, or in areas near that ecosystem. Include at least two outside references. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Beaver’s Self-Report Family Inventory | Evaluation

Beaver’s Self-Report Family Inventory | Evaluation Contents (Jump to) Introduction Literature Review Psychological Test Beaver’s Self-Report Family Inventory Administration of SRFI Scoring and Interpretation of SRFI Validity and Reliability Strengths Limitations Conclusion References Introduction This write up is to analyze the effectiveness of an instrument used as a psychological test to gather information. The chosen instrument is Beaver’s Self-Report Family Inventory – Version II (SRFI). Parents and family environment or more appropriately family relationship plays a very important role in the well-being of children. (Lambert,M., 2010) In Malaysian context, discipline problem is an increasing phenomenon in primary schools as well as secondary schools. The root cause or the first and foremost reason behind those discipline problems is the family environment and relationship. SRFI is considered to be an instrument that can help the counselors and other helping professionals to identify the family functioning so that further plans can be done in order to help the children. Literature Review Previous literature on family assessment instruments for use in child welfare includes descriptions of instruments (Pinsof, 2009) and guides for developing comprehensive assessment strategies as part of community-based child welfare services reform (Pinsof, 2010). This structured literature review builds on these efforts by identifying the most valid and reliable instruments that address the following four federally-defined domains of family assessment: (1) patterns of social interaction, including the nature of contact and involvement with others, and the presence or absence of social support networks and relationships; (2) parenting practices, including methods of discipline, patterns of supervision, understanding of child development and/or of the emotional needs of children; (3) background and history of the parents or caregivers, including the history of abuse and neglect; and (4) problems in access to basic necessities such as income, employment, adequate housing, child care, t ransportation, and other needed services and supports (US, HHS, 2006). Several additional behaviors and conditions have been associated with child maltreatment, such as domestic violence, mental illness, poor physical health, disabilities, and alcohol and drug use. Ideally, a comprehensive family assessment instrument will address these conditions and indicate whether a need for more specialized assessment exists. An objective of this review was to identify measures that addressed these behaviors and conditions as part of a comprehensive family assessment strategy. However, the review of specialized instruments for these conditions and various disabilities was outside the scope of this review. A structured review on the assessment of children and youth in the child welfare system is the focus of a separate review. These major theoretical and disciplinary influences have given rise to several practical issues when considering the appropriateness of a family assessment measure and met hod. While there are many approaches, family assessment methods typically fall into three categories: client self-report, observation, and interviews. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. A key distinction is the degree to which the method is formalized. Formal methods, such as self-report questionnaires, tend to have procedures that are clearly outlined to facilitate consistently repeated administrations. By contrast, informal methods such as interviews may be less clear in their specification and more variable in terms of administration. Family assessment measures also vary in terms of the perspective obtained. Typically, child welfare practitioners will consider the perspectives of multiple individuals during the family assessment process, including â€Å"insider† reports from family members and children as well as â€Å"outsider† reports from school personnel, extended family members, and others that may be involved with the case. Integration of the assessment of multiple reporters with insider and outsider perspectives is reflected in the â€Å"multisystem-multi method† (MS-MM) approach (Greenberger, 2000) Self-report questionnaires provide a unique insider view of family life as well as reliable methods, simplified administration and scoring, and a measurable link between an individual’s perceptions or attitudes and behaviors. Given these advantages, they are by far the most commonly used method in research as well as in practice. Observation rating scales provide another cost-effective method of generating outsider information regarding family interaction patterns that can also be evaluated for reliability and validity. However, rating scales can also be limited in their usefulness by the competence of the rater and the psychometric quality of the scale. Raters must have a clear understanding of the concepts that are measured and the behaviors that represent the concepts in practice. They must also poss ess adequate knowledge of different populations in order to place observed behavior on a continuum, a concern that adequate training and clinical supervision can begin to address. However, as with self-report measures, evidence of the validity and reliability of an observational rating scale is critical in the instrument selection process, particularly with regard to specific stages of assessment. Psychological test Psychological tests are administered by many different professionals to many different individuals, and the results of these tests are used in ways that significantly affect us and those around us. Psychological test is something that requires us to perform behaviour to measure some personal attribute, trait, or characteristic or to predict an outcome. Psychological tests can differ in terms of how they are administered and their format. A test can be administered in paper-and-pencil format (individually or in a group setting), on a computer, or verbally. Similarly, a psychological test may consist of multiple-choice items; agree/disagree items, true/false items, open-ended questions, or some mix of these. There are also tests that ask respondents to perform some behaviour such as sorting cards, playing a role, or writing an essay. Psychological tests can differ in terms of how they are scored and interpreted. Some tests are completed on scan able sheets and are computer scored. Some are hand-scored by the person administering the test. Others are scored by the test takers themselves. In terms of interpretation, some tests generate results that can be interpreted easily by the test taker, and others require a knowledgeable professional to explain the results to the test taker. Psychological tests have various similarities and many differences. All psychological tests require an individual to perform one or more behaviours, and these behaviours are used to measure some personal attribute, trait, or characteristic thought to be important in describing or understanding behaviour or to predict an outcome. However, psychological tests can and do differ in terms of the behaviours they require individuals to perform, the attributes they measure, their content, how they are administered and formatted, how they are scored and interpreted, and their psychometric quality. All good tests have three defining characteristics in common. First, they include a representative sa mple of behaviours. Second, they collect the sample under standardized conditions. Third, they have rules for scoring. When using psychological tests, we must make some assumptions. We must assume that a test measures what it says it measures, that any inferences that are drawn about test takers from their scores on the test are appropriate, that an individual’s behaviour (and therefore test scores) will remain stable over time, that individuals understand test items similarly, that individuals can and will report accurately about their thoughts and feelings, and that the test score an individual receives is equal to his or her true behaviour/ability in the real world plus some error. Testing professionals refer to psychological tests in various ways. Sometimes they refer to them as tests of maximal performance, behaviour observations, or self-report. Sometimes they refer to them as standardized or non-standardized. Other times they refer to them as objective or projective. P rofessionals also refer to tests based on the dimensions they measure. It is important to remember the distinctions among four commonly misunderstood terms: psychological assessment, psychological test, measurement, and survey. First, although both psychological assessments and psychological tests are used to gather information, a psychological test is only one of many tools in the psychological assessment process. Second, a psychological test can be considered to be a measurement when the sampled behaviour can be expressed in a derived score. Third, psychological tests are different from surveys in that psychological tests focus on individual differences and often report one overall derived score (or scaled scores), and surveys focus on group similarities and typically report results at the question or item level. Beaver’s Self-Report Family Inventory (SRFI) Version II The Self-Report Family Inventory: Version II (SRFI) is a 36-item measure of perceptions of family functioning in five domains: Health/Competence, Conflict, Cohesion, Leadership, and Expressiveness. The instrument is a screening device to assess a family member’s view of overall family competence, based on the Beavers Systems Model of family functioning. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale; for the first 34 items, the scale descriptors are 1 = YES: Fits our family very well, 3 = SOME: Fits our family some, and 5 = NO: Does not fit our family. The last two items have response scales specific to the items. Lower scores represent greater family competence. Administration of SRFI It is a paper pencil method of administration for children aged 12 and above and also for the adults in the family. Interview also can be done for those who are illiterate or have reading and writing problem. Time given is within 5 to 10 minutes. Scoring and Interpretation of SRFI Summary scores for each of the five subscales can be obtained as follows: (An â€Å"R† refers to an item score that must be reversed prior to summing). To reverse score, change all numbers where indicated to their opposite. For example, five becomes a one, four becomes a two, three stays the same, two becomes a four, and one becomes a five. Health/Competence: Items 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18R, 19R, 20, 21, 24R, 25R, 27R, 28, 33, 35, and 36 Conflict: Items 5R, 6, 7, 8R, 10R, 14R, 18R, 24R, 25R, 30R, 31R, and 34 Cohesion: Items 2, 15, 19R, 27R, and 36 Expressiveness: Items 1, 9, 13R, 20, and 22 Leadership: Items 8R, 16, and 32 For each numbered item, fill in the score from the SFI. For items , reverse the score and enter the reversed score on the score sheet. Lower scores represent greater competence and higher scores indicate greater problems within the system. Validity and Reliability of SRFI Validity was measured by correlating the SRFI with the observational scales of the Beavers System Model. The results indicate a high degree of convergence of family constructs across the two methods at .62 or above (Beavers Hampson, 2000). The authors claim that this indicates that the SRFI is roughly equivalent to observations (Drumm, M. Carr, 2000). The authors of the instrument report high internal consistencies reliability with Cronbach alphas between .84 and .93 and test-retest reliabilities of .85 or better (Beavers Hampson, 2000). Strengths The great advantage of SRFI is that it gives the respondents’ own views directly. It gives access to phenomenological data, i.e., respondents’ perceptions of themselves and their world, which are unobtainable in any other way. Furthermore, self-report methods can be used to obtain information in situations where observational data are not normally available. Able to study large samples of people fairly easy. Able to examine a large number of variables. Can be carried out relatively cheaply. Limitations The main disadvantage of self-report is that there is a number of potential validity problems associated with it. The data are personal and idiosyncratic and thus may bear little relationship to ‘‘reality,’’ as seen by you or others. More importantly, people are not always truthful. Furthermore, research participants may not be able to provide the level of detail, or use the concepts, that the researcher is interested in. People may not respond truthfully, either because they cannot remember or because they wish to present themselves in a socially acceptable manner. We cannot establish cause and effect relationships from survey data as other variables which could have had an effect may not have been considered in the questionnaire or interview. It may be difficult to obtain a random sample of the population because some people who are selected refuse to answer questions or it may be difficult to obtain a full list of the population from which to select a random sample. Conclusions SRFI is best use for a quick access of information and it is easy to administer. To have a comprehensive assessment of family the same SRFI can be used as a tool for interview for a qualitative research. More information can be gathered if it is used while observing the family with their consent. Teachers, counsellors and discipline masters in school can use SRFI to plan future programs in order to help the children with complicated family background. It will be a very helpful tool in school environment. References Beavers, R., Hampson, R. B. (2000). The Beavers System Model of Family Functioning. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 128-143. Drumm, M., Carr, A., Fitzgerald, M. (2000). The Beavers, McMaster and Circumplex clinical rating scales: A study of their sensitivity, specificity and discriminant validity. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 225-258. Greenberger, E., Chen, C., Beam, M., Whang, S. M., Dong, Q. (2000). The perceived social contexts of adolescent misconduct: A comparative study of youths in three cultures. Journal of Adolescent Research, 10(3), 365–388. Johnson, L., Ketring, S., Anderson, S. (2010). The Intersession Report: Development of a short questionnaire for couple’s therapy. American Journal of Family Therapy, 38, 266–276. Kim, S. Y., Ge, X. (2000). Parenting practices and adolescent depressive symptoms in Chinese American families. Journal of Family Psychology, 14, 420–435. Lambert, M. (2010). Prevention of treatment failure: The use of measuring, monitoring, and feedback in clinical practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Miller, S., Duncan, B., Brown, J., Sorrell, R., Chalk, M. (2006). Using outcome to inform and improved treatment outcomes: Making ongoing, real-time assessment feasible. Journal of Brief Therapy, 5, 5–23. Pinsof, W., Chambers, A. (2010). Empirically informed systemic psychotherapy: Tracking client change and therapist behavior during therapy. In J. Bray M. Stanton (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of family psychology (pp. 431–446). Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Pinsof, W., Zinbarg, R., Lebow, J., Knobloch-Fedders, L., Durbin, E., Chambers, A., et al. (2009). Laying the foundation for progress research in family, couple, and individual therapy: The development and psychometric features of the initial systemic therapy inventory of change. Psychotherapy Research, 19, 143–156. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines for Child Welfare. Washington, DC: Administration for Children and Families Childrens Bureau. www.ets.org www.pearsonassessments.com www.hoganassessments.com www.ipat.com www3.parinc.com www.psytech.co.uk www.psionline.com www.testagency.com www.upress.umn.edu/tests/default.html Should The Abortion Be Encouraged? Should The Abortion Be Encouraged? Abortion is a process of termination of pregnancy. The classic definition of abortion is the expulsion of the fetus before it is viable. This could include spontaneous abortion, which is a miscarriage, or induced abortion such as a doctor, the woman herself, or a layperson causes the abortion. Before modern methods of abortion, this sometimes meant the introduction of foreign objects like catheters into the uterus to disrupt the placenta and embryo (or fetus) so that a miscarriage would result (Family Jrank 2002). Abortion can be carried out by few ways such as taking pills and operation. Statistical information and cases. According to the report prepared by the Better Health Channel, in the year 1990, 23 percent of all pregnancies in Australia were terminated. This makes abortion become one of the most common surgical in the country with around 80,000 women undergoing abortion every year. Our current ratio of one abortion in every four pregnancies is an improvement over the estimated one in three recorded in Australia in the 1930s. Australias abortion rate is reasonably low by international standards compare to the United States of America has a 30 percent abortion rate. The majority of the Australians support the idea of the safe and legal abortion. The typical profile of a woman who is seeking abortion includes the ages in the 20s, single, educated and childless. Thesis statement This study has been carried out to determine whether abortion should be encouraged to the public. This study investigates the advantages and the disadvantages of the abortion to conclude that whether abortion should be encouraged to the public. This study draws on information gathered from International articles, World Wide Web sites, books and a survey. Abortion should be encouraged. First, abortion should be encouraged because an unwanted childs future will be affected. The young parent such as the teenager who has the unplanned pregnancy, they are unable to provide a good environment for the child. The teenager which is still studying and they do not have a job which causing them could not give a good environment to the child. Most of the juvenile crime happened is because of the children did not grow up in a good environment. Children who not grow in a good environment will cause them to do illegal things for getting attention from the others (Associated Content 2006). An unwilling parent is unlikely to be a good parent so the unwanted child is far more likely to drop out of school or commit acts of violence than children who are wanted, nurtured and well parent. The young parents are unable to take care of the child because they are immature. Parents play an important role in the childs education but the young parents have an immature mind so they can not give a good example for their child. When the young parents did something that is immature w ould affect the child do to the same mistake too. The young parents can not give accurate information that parents should give because their immature mind can not differentiate the rights and wrongs. If their children had done some mistake, the young parent could not give the right punishment and guide the child to the right pathway. In an addition, abortion should be encouraged because the future of the young parent would be affected if there is an unplanned pregnancy. According to the book, Should abortion rights be restricted? (2003), when a teenager is pregnant she has to face social problems, such as reduced education and employment opportunities. They are forced to stop their education because they have to spend more time on the child. For example, the young parent has to work hard to earn money for feeding the child. And due to the low education of the young parent, jobs with higher salaries may not want to hire them. There are only low salary jobs that would hire the low education teenager, which are typically hard-working employment types. The teenager could not afford to that job which is too heavy work. This will cause them to do illegal things to earn more money for their family such as become a robber, a thief, drug dealer and so on. And they will have to take the risk of getting caught by the police and going to jail. They also may be influenced by criminal associates and addicted to bad habits, such as smoking and gambling. So if they have an abortion, their future might include a  high standard of education, working with a high salary job and live happily. Furthermore, abortion should be encouraged because it can prevent the unwanted child. There are some cases such as rape or the incest pregnancy which is an unwanted pregnancy. The trauma will follow all of her life after the raping case, therefore, abortion is the right way to solve this problem or else an unwanted child would be the nightmare for the mother. We can not force a girl in her early age to become a mother after being raped. Abortion should be done toward the mother whom she does not know who is the father of the child. It will be a very hard life for the mother and the child which without a father. The mother is not ready to enter the parenthood yet. It is not easy to bring up a child by a single mother. The mother has to work hard for the child and have to spend time on taking care of the child at the same time. If a child grew up as a homely and because of it an unloved child, he or she will remember those painful experiences for the rest of your life (Associated Content 2007). Abortion should not be encouraged. On the other hand, abortion should not be encouraged because of the humans right. It is a process that is too cruel to a baby. The most basic human right of the human is the right to life there is no doubt which everyone knows it. The Catholic Bishop of the United States stated that since human life is sacred from conception until natural death, they contend, abortion is immoral. A person who did abortion is a murder because this action is taking away a human persons life. It is so unfair for a child who does not have a chance to enter this world. It is no different between abortion and infanticide. The parent should think about the rights of the child and not just make such selfish decide by their own opinion. We should appreciate the life that the god gives. It is the fate that the parent who get an unplanned pregnancy. God give them a chance to have a baby and guide them to another stage of life. All people, regardless of the circumstances of their conception, or whether they are healthy or handicapped, have been personally knit together by Gods fingers. He has planned out all the days of the unborn childs life before one of them has happened (Leadership U 1992).Some of the people might think that the embryo is just a bunch of cells but it actually a soul is inside the embryo. We have human rights because we are human beings. Therefore, direct abortion is never a morally tolerable option. Moreover, abortion should not be encouraged because a womans health would be affected badly by abortion. Abortion brings both physically and mentally harms to women. A woman who done the process of abortion has to face some physical health problem. Abortion is linked to the breast cancer due to the hormone changed after the abortion and resulting in an increase in a number of new breast cells. Infertility also one of the health problems that have to face by whom had done the process of abortion. As everyone knows that infertility which means being unable to have a child is a high risk of the abortion procedure. This health problem occurs is because, during the process of abortion, it damaged our uterus. Abortion brings mentally disturb to a woman too. At the early emotional effects, many women will experience the feelings of relief and numbness. In the later emotional effects, they have to face the complex feelings. They will have some complex feelings such as depression, tearfulness, guilt, anger, shame and so on. The mother who done the process of abortion may find difficult to face t he others who are pregnant or have babies. Flashbacks to the abortion experience also one of the mentally disturb to those who done abortion procedure. In a study report, 92 percent of women who have had an abortion will also feel guilt on that. As stated in Leadership U(1992), the mother would hear this little voice in her head says she is a terrible, awful person because she had done abortion. Due to the guilty feelings on taking away the childs life, they will feel very regret on it and causing they have an illusion that there is a ghost child following them. Lastly, abortion should not be encouraged because the parents have to take their responsibilities seriously towards the child. The parents behave badly so they have to pay the price. As a parent, they should know the values of a childs life and not just take abortion as an easy way to solve problems. Once they get pregnant, they have to do what a parent should do which they have to put afford on the baby and being a good example for the child. To prevent the same mistake again, they should give birth to the child and take care of the child. Whether or not a baby is unwanted is irrelevant. Just because a human being is not wanted does not mean that the human being has no value or should be killed. In addition, there are huge numbers of families who are willing to adopt those unwanted babies. So, those babies are wanted, not unwanted (CARM 2001). Conclusion Based on the evidence above, I strongly disagree abortion should be encouraged. It can not be a smart choice for the parent to do abortion. Abortion brings many disadvantages to the mother such as health problem as stated above. It brings both physically and mentally side effect. Abortion also is an immoral activity which is killing an innocent baby. Besides, if abortion is encouraged, it might cause the citizen to get involve in sexual activities easily because once they get pregnant and abortion could help them to solve the problem. There are many ways to solve the problems of unplanned pregnancy such as adoption, not just abortion. In the 50 sets of the personal survey, 44% of the public thinks that if one of their friends gets an unplanned pregnancy; continue the pregnancy and give the baby up for adoption is the best way for the mother. If the parent does not prepare to have a child yet then they should take action to prevent it before they get pregnant such as a condom. Besides, the government can help to prevent the unplanned pregnancy through education too. For an example, the Minister of Education has to implement sex education in schools to give students a better idea of sexual intercourse. When they get to know more about the sex knowledge, they would know the importance of preventing unplanned pregnancy. Therefore, it helps to prevent it. At the end of the essay, the 50 sets of the personal survey show that 84% of the public do not agree that abortion should be encouraged. The personal survey will be shown in the pie chart below: