Biggest Political Debate Issues - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1776 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/03/19 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Gun Control Essay Did you like this example? Perhaps one of the biggest political debate issues of our time is that on the topic of gun control. Even though the principle of bearing arms has been ruled a Natural right in the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the fight still goes on as many people still do not agree with this right we were bestowed by our founding fathers. Stricter gun control laws can help us today by, reducing the risk of gun related incidences, making it harder get your hands on a firearm, and overall saving more lives. To start off, the legal age set for a person to purchase a firearm in most States is the astoundingly low age of eighteen years old. Studies show that the brain does not fully mature until the mid-to-late 20s. Last to mature is the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for making intelligent, long-term decisions; for weighing risks and benefits; and for controlling impulses (Raise 9). While the prefrontal cortex isnt fully developed yet, the limbic system takes over, the limbic system runs off of emotional decisions (Raise 10). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Biggest Political Debate Issues" essay for you Create order As you can see from this study, while somebody whos eighteen years old is considered an adult by society, the most important part of their brain is still completely underdeveloped. This underdevelopment can lead to emotionally irrational decisions. A simple fix for this illogical plight is to raise the legal age of owning a firearm. A rational age would be somewhere around the age of twenty-five or older, at this age the brain is fully developed and has matured, causing the person to make more appropriate decisions. Also, promoting a stronger set of gun control laws will make it significantly harder for the average person to get their hands on a firearm. Stunning statistics state that the United States of America has 88.8 guns per 100 people, or about 270,000,000 guns, which is the highest total and per capita number in the world. 22% of Americans own one or more guns(35% of men and 12% of women) (Procon 1). In addition to the many people in the U.S. that own guns, in its current state the system for applying for a firearm license is completely in broken. Its limited by its vague policies, non-mandatory reporting standards, and low cooperation of individual states with the national background check registry (Kangas 1). The idea of this is absolutely absurd. Further, Stricter gun control laws could prevent many accidents related to the use of firearms. Mental disabilities are a huge contributing factor in many gun related violence incidents. Whether it be PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, or any other mental illness, they can all affect the way you think and handle situations. For instance, Navy veteran Chris Kyle helped out other former veterans dealing with PTSD and other disabilities. Kyle would devote his time to bonding with the veterans at a care center and occasionally take them to the shooting range. Chris Kyle was shot and killed by a veteran suffering from PTSD (Lines 2). The killer was not in control of his actions when hit with the wave of PTSD. Should we really be allowing this to be a risk to us? This is just one heartbreaking instance where a mental illness can completely take over someones mind and cause them to do things they would never do if they were sane. Further, mental illness paired with the unbelievably low legal age of eighteen to own a gun can be a diabolical combination. For decades people remembered and mourned over the tragic columbine massacre, today mass shootings seem to be the norm. Today, statistics show that theres actually nearly one mass shooting a day since December 14th 2012. One particular shooting Id like to touch on is a recent tragedy, the Parkland shooting. The Parkland shooting occurred on February 14th 2018, after this tragic day a shocking seventeen students and teachers were killed (Willis 1). The shooter, Nicholas Cruz, was only 19 years old. Cruz legally owned the automatic firearm that ensued chaos on the students at Stoneman Douglas High school. Cruz was suffering from mental disabilities and was under the age of full mental development. Even with these two huge factors, he was still approved to legally own a gun. Cruz didnt own just any gun though, he owned an automatic firearm. If our gun control laws had more restrictions, we could have saved the lives of seventeen helpless students and teachers. Now, in the light of this tragic event, a Florida bill was passed to raise the legal firearm owning age from eighteen years of age to twenty one. Although this is a step in the right direction, its not enough. Furthermore, another issue affected by the topic is the problem we deal with today about Law Enforcement unarmed shootings. Statistics show that 40% of the victims of Police related shootings yearly are unarmed citizens (Maskaly 1). This truly is an unbelievable statistic. Police related shootings happen all throughout our country on an almost daily basis, to think that an astounding 40% of these shootings are unjustified and pretty much criminal, churns my stomach. A common thought on this topic starts and lies in the roots of gun control. The thought stems from the issue that its so simple to pass a background check and the other various checks required before being able to legally own a firearm. Police these days have no idea who has a gun and who doesnt, they always have to be on high alert. Would it scare you if it was your job to confront suspicious people on a daily basis not knowing if that person has a weapon of murder on them that could take your life in an instant? Police Officers always have to be on high alert when dealing with people like this, and the fact that almost anyone they see can have a firearm on them doesnt help their mental state when dealing with situations such as these. Complications from this issue can lead to the mass amount of unarmed shootings we see today. Additionally, Using a gun for self defense is not morally correct. To appeal to the religious side of things were going to look at the bible account of the Ten Commandments: (I) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods before me. (II) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (III) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (IV) Honor thy father and thy mother. (V) Thou shalt not kill. (VI) Thou shalt not commit adultery. (VII) Thou shalt not steal. (VIII) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (IX) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house. (X) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbors(Commandments 1). Well focus on commandment number five. Commandment number five states that Thou shalt not kill, in other words; do not be guilty of or commit such a crime as murder. Although the United States of America has its own legal system with its own way of determining if a crime was in self defense or not, any form of committing an act of killing someone is in fact considered murder. Is it worth taking someones life in exchange for losing a few of your possessions? Murder is morally incorrect and downright wrong. Adding on, yet another reason gun control should be made stronger is because people arent just buying firearms such as pistols and small arms, many people are purchasing Automatic Assault Rifles (AR). Assault Rifles are by no means necessary to own by ordinary everyday citizens. Assault Rifles typically have 30-60 rounds per magazine (depending on the magazine) and are most often used by the military by trained soldiers to fight in wars. The excuse many come up with is that they use them for hunting. With access to weapons of war such as an AR its no wonder we have these kinds of incidents today. On the contrary, there can be some potential downsides to increasing the amount of gun control exercised by the government. A big stumbling block is that it can threaten an individuals constitutional rights. Way back in 1787 our founding fathers gave us these rights with the intent that they were natural and couldnt be taken away from us. If we now decide to amend these rights whos to say we wont start taking away other natural rights given to us? When the government, or criminals, or a foreign power chooses to take that which does not belong to them, then the common man should have means to defend himself.(Mears 3). Its a citizens right to stand up for and defend both himself and his neighbor. Therefore, the government need not to go as far as banning guns all together, but adding more restrictions to gun ownership. Adding on, perhaps the biggest use for guns today is for personal defense.About 8.8 percent of adults carried guns in the preceding year 3.7 percent carried guns on their person, and 6.5 percent carried guns in a vehicle. Within a given year about 16.8 million U.S. adults carry a gun, 7.1 million who carry do so on the person and 12.4 million do so in a vehicle. On an average day, 2.7 million U.S. adults carry a gun for protection on their person and 5.0 million carry one in a vehicle(Kleck 1). As you can very well see theres a good amount of people who use firearms for self defense, and keep in mind that those are just the legally registered individuals. As far as actually using guns for self defense, theyre rarely needed to be fired. Usually an intruder will be scared off at the sheer sight of such a weapon, but for the cases that dont exactly go as planned it results in a high level of injury and can even result in the death of the victim. With such power, a firearm could protect your own life, familys life, and your belongings. All in all, Gun control is a topic of great controversy, especially in light of recent tragic events. Gun control laws should be strengthened greatly to stop all of this madness going on in the country. If we enable stricter gun control laws it can help us by making it harder get your hands on a firearm, reducing the risk of gun related incidences, and overall saving more lives in total. America as a whole needs to decide if they want to keep being selfish, or if they want to save the lives of their fellow Americans.

The Theorist That I Chose To Write About Is Jean Piaget.

The theorist that I chose to write about is Jean Piaget. His theory deals with the nature of knowledge itself and how humans gradually come to acquire it. His theory is basically known as the developmental stage theory. In the developmental stage theory there are four different stages of the developmental theory: the sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational period. Jean Piaget was born in Neuchà ¢tel (Switzerland) on August 9, 1896. He was the oldest child of Arthur Piaget and Rebecca Jackson. At age 11, when he was just a mere child at Neuchà ¢tel Latin high school, he wrote a short paper on an albino sparrow. This short notice is usually the start of an intelligent scientific career made of over 60 books†¦show more content†¦He died in Geneva on September, 1980. Piaget’s theory consisted of three different stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational. I’ll start out by talking about the first one, sensorimotor. During the sensorimotor stage, infants and toddlers acquire knowledge through sensory experiences and manipulating objects. It was his observations of his daughter and nephew that heavily influenced his conception of this stage. At this point in development, a child s intelligence consists of their basic motor and sensory explorations of the world. Piaget believed that developing object constancy, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, played an important role at this point of development. By learning that objects are separate and distinct items and that they have a presence of their own outside of what an individual perceives it to be, children are then able to begin to attach names and words to objects. The next stage in the developmental th eory is the Preoperational stage. At this stage, kids learn through pretend play but still struggle with logic and taking the point of view of other people. They also often struggle with understanding the ideal of constancy. For example, a researcher might take a lump of clay, divide it into two equal pieces, and then give a child the choice between two pieces of clay to play with. One piece of clay is rolled into a compact ballShow MoreRelatedMy Brother Isaiah Thomas And The Stages Of Moral Development By Kohlberg1407 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscussion about three theorist Piaget, Vygotsky, and Kohlberg along with their beliefs. I have chosen my brother Isaiah Thomas to compare and contrast the theories of the known theorist. The theories I chose to talk about are cognitive theory stages of development by Piaget, sociocultural theory by Vygotsky, and the stages of moral development by Kohlberg. Biography The person I chose to write about was my brother Isaiah Thomas. He is fifteen-year-old African American male about 6 foot 1. Read MoreChild Development 0-19 Yrs6074 Words   |  25 Pageschildish alternatives in speech. | | |Skips and hops. |Talks about the past, present and future with a good sense of| | |Draws a triangle by copying. |time. | | |Tries to write like an adult |Should have knowledge and awareness all vowels and limited | | Read MoreEssay on TOY CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT3922 Words   |  16 Pagesof the adult 12 Evaluation 13 Conclusion 13 Recommendations 14 References 15 Introduction I am a student at †¦.College and I am doing The Early Childhood care and education Course FETAC Level 5. One of mandatory modules in this course is Early Childhood Education and Play and The Toy Critique assignment is part of that. I have to choose a toy and write detailed assessment about it. My chosen toy is The Memo Locomotives Puzzle made by Goki. Goki is the name of the brand for high-qualityRead MoreUnderstand Child Young Person Development7660 Words   |  31 Pagesthemselves; using | | |scissors and threading beads or other toys. Most children will be able to dress and feed themselves by this | | |age. By the age of five most children will be able to start to write their names and in some cases their | | |writing may become much more clearer. They may be ale to kick or catch/ throw a ball with more prosistion and | | |controll; and also increase fine multiple

Hiv/Aids Pandemic in Liberia free essay sample

Identifying HIV positive individuals and not enrolling them in any care and treatment program almost guarantee continued transmission of the virus†1. This report is seeks to provide the latest information about the spread of the dreadful HIV/AIDS pandemic in Liberia. It encompasses data on all of the fifteen political subdivision of the country. Most of the information was obtained from reports and materials from the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NACP). The NACP is the national Secretariat established by the Liberian Government through the National HIV/AIDS Commission to execute implementation of programs. Although other materials were consulted as well, the Internet also contributed immensely to this report. The findings in this report are very alarming, and it requires everyone to act appropriately to reverse the situation, else it would be too late for the prosperity of our country. For this reason, I would like to humbly entreat the attention and assistance of all well-meaning Liberians who will read this paper to help save our country. There are appendices attached which conclusions. I must acknowledge and appreciate the Government of Liberia through the NACP for allowing me access to materials that support this report. Not also forgetting my course lecturer, Mr Peter D. N. Duncan, MSc. in Education, for providing theoretical and moral guidance throughout the assignment period. I hope this paper has met its objective as the topic depicts. provide statistical data that support my analysis and 1 Khalipha M. Bility, Ph. D. , Program Manager, NACP Annual HIV and AIDS Review 2007-2008, pp. 2 Page 2 of 15 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www. pdffactory. com II. HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC: â€Å"Its Social Ramifications and Impacts on the Liberian Society† The historical accounts and facts of the discovery of the HIV/AIDS virus in Liberia can be traced as far as in 1986 when the first diagnosis was made at Curran Lutheran Hospital in Lofa. Since that time, not much realistic and reliable statistics and information had been made available. The Government of Liberia had only responded with the establishment of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NACP) in 2001. This agency has got the statutory mandate of national oversight responsibility of all cases relating to the dreadful disease. To date, Liberia is diagnosed of three types of the pandemic: HIV-1, HIV-2, and the combination of both (HIV-12). Incidences of HIV/AIDS cases in Liberia, from 1986 to 1997, have been recorded as follows: In 1986, two HIV cases were reported; In 1989, three persons tested positive; In 1991, fourteen cases were reported; In 1993, four persons tested for HIV; In 1994, twelve persons tested for HIV; In 1996, eighteen persons tested positive; and in 1997, 48 patients tested positive. The Ministry of Health and the National Aids Control Program (NACP) had accordingly reported in 2001 that over 100,000 Liberians were tested positive for HIV who were primarily between ages 15-29, representing a 20 percent increase over the previous twomonth period. In the same year, it was reported by Time Magazine that Liberia AIDS figures was put around 39,000 carriers2. These figures were supported and confirmed by UNAIDS. Although up to date, the NACP report shows that HIV/AIDS cases are substantially under-reported during prior years, in its Annual HIV and AIDS Review 2007-2008, it is reported that Liberia HIV positive population, based on the 2007 Antenatal Care (ANC) Sero Prevalence Survey, is 173,6193. Currently, in its Quarter Nine Report (June to August 2009) a total of 1,411 patients4 are HIV/AIDS carriers; however, this figure is based on the number of persons consented for testing during the quarter. Data for Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Kru and River Gee counties are excluded because information for these counties were not available at time of the review. Exhibit 1 provides a more detail pictorial view of the situation. The region has generally high levels of infection of both HIV-1 and HIV-2. The onset of the HIV epidemic in West Africa began in 1985 with reported cases in Cote dIvoire, Benin and Mali. Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal and Liberia followed in 1986; Sierra Leone, Togo and Niger in 1987; Mauritiana in 1988; The Gambia, GuineaBissau, and Guinea in 1989; and finally Cape Verde in 1990. The HIV/AIDS epidemics spreading through the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa are highly varied. The main driver of infection in the region is commercial sex. Although it is not correct to speak of a single African epidemic, Africa is without doubt the region most affected by the virus. Inhabited by just over 12% of the worlds population, Africa is estimated to have more than 60% of the AIDS-infected population. Much of the deadliness of the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has to do with a deadly synergy between HIV and tuberculosis, though this synergy is by no means limited to Africa. In fact, tuberculosis is 2 A. History and Facts Time Magazine, 12 February 2001, Vol. 157, No. 6 Annual HIV and AIDS Review: 2007-2008; pp. 5 NACP HIV AIDS QUARTER 9 REPORT: JUNE – AUGUST, 2009; pp. 7 3 4 Page 3 of 15 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www. pdffactory. com the worlds greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age, and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS. 1. Education Awareness Building The current figures about HIV/AIDS prevalence is a strong indication that stigmatization and discrimination remains a major constraint to comprehensive data gathering on the actual prevalence rate for Liberia. This means that many Liberians are not willing to go for counselling and testing. HIV prevention activities are key components in fighting the pandemic in Liberia. The NACP during the quarter continue to disseminate HIV prevention messages to increase awareness in the general population. These messages were disseminated through various medium including posters, brochures, calendar amongst others. According to its annual report, a total of 29,3565 materials were distributed to health facilities, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, and other implementing partners during the quarter. By a comparative analysis, given the last five years, with all of these awarenesses on HIV prevention, one can only hope that there will be a change in behavior of the population. Like one journalist reported in October 2005 said: â€Å"first the good news. Young Liberians know about AIDS, how they might contract the disease and what they can do to protect themselves. Now the bad news! They are not putting that knowledge into practice6. A study commissioned by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) found that while nine out of 10 respondents knew HIV could spread through sexual intercourse, and six out of 10 knew a condom would protect them, only one in 10 used it the first time they had sex. Despite high knowledge rates, the sexual practices of too many Liberian youths include high rates of unprotected sex. This contradiction is profoundly disturbing and requires all of us to redouble our efforts to effectively communicate with young people about the very real threat of HIV/AIDS†7. B. Stigmatization and Discrimination C. Support Systems The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National AIDS STI Control Program has demonstrated strong political will in response to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Through the NACP, there has been over past year concerted efforts and strong strategic partnerships with the international community and charitable organizations. Together, they have made remarkable progress over the period under review, June 2007 to August 2009, as of preparation of this report. For instance, the leadership of the Health Ministry and the NACP continue to provide guidance and policy oversight throughout the implementation period. Members of the National AIDS Commission are contributing in significant ways to help Liberia move towards: One national AIDS Authority, One Action Framework and One monitoring and evaluation system. The United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) continues to provide stewardship of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) that is now paving the way to accelerate universal access. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing support for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection (PMTCT) program. The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Commission on AIDS (UNAIDS), International Labor Organization (ILO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and several other members of the UN system continue to provide material supplies, logistics and technical support. The Clinton Foundation, a charitable organization established by former U. S. President Bill Clinton has played very crucial roles in the achievement of the results of the 5 NACP Annual HIV and AIDS Review: 2007-2008, pp. 8 Claire Soares/IRIN, LIBERIA: Youth not putting HIV prevention lessons into practice, 28. 10. 2005 Angela Kearney, UNICEFs representative for Liberia. Personal Interview with Claire Soares/IRIN; 27. 02. 2005 6 7 Page 4 of 15 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www. pdffactory. com current data bank at the NACP. Other partners included CHAL, AWARE, Abbott Labs, University of Massachusetts, and the PIRE Institute that continue to provide technical assistance to the works of the NACP. The support of the various county health teams and the high degree of cooperation of health facilities across the 15 political subdivisions were engines in the collection and management of data. 1. Number of persons received testing and counselling The NACP and its partners have continued to implement national scale-up plans that are expected to provide universal access to counselling and testing services, thereby increasing the uptake of patients accessing the service. For example, in its Annual HIV/AIDS Review 2007-2008, a total of 52,774 persons were tested for HIV, resulting in a prevalence rate of 7. 6%. While its Quarter Nine Report shows that 23,325 persons went through the pre-test counselling, of which 20,229 (86. 7%) consented to be tested for HIV, and 19,201 (94%) of the total number tested went through post-test counselling. An HIV prevalence of 7% was recorded among those tested. The Ninth Quarterly Review Report is the latest national documentary on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Liberia, as of the preparation of this research. . Number of persons positive and eligible for Anti Retrovirus (ARV) drugs According to NACP Annual HIV and AIDS Review: 2007-2008, out of the total of 3,239 patients that had enrolled in HIV Care, only 1,811 patients have started on the ARV treatment. Ninety-one (91%) of the patients who started ART were adults aged 15 years and older, while 9% were children aged 0-14. This represents a cumulative number of patients e ver started on ART up to the end of June 2008. At the time of writing, there were 2 pregnant women on ART and 140 pregnant women on prophylaxis. Although much has improved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, yet there is still a long way to go with the struggle. Due to the number of sites created, and with the appropriate testing standards, data contained in the Quarter Nine Report of the NACP revealed a cumulative number of 4,804 have enrolled into care and treatment, and only 2,672 of that number are on the ART. This latest figure shows an increment of 32% in enrolment in comparison to the last annual review of 2007-2008. Exhibit 2 shows a statistical data on the situation. 3. Number of contraceptives and equipment distributed The demand for condoms by partners and individuals indicates a degree of acceptance in the general public, but adequate information on utilization is not available. It is estimated that only 5% of the population use condoms correctly and consistently. The Global Fund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) were the main providers of condoms during the period 2007-2008; a total of 2,578,315 condoms, of which 2,575,139 Males and 3,176 Females were distributed during the last 12 months to partners and individuals. This figure is actually an understatement, according to the NACP during the period under review because there is no national monitoring and evaluation system to track the dispensation of condom against the quantity brought into country. Condom promotion activities were carried out through mass media, health facilities, workplaces, community health agents, schools and others with support from Global Fund. A total of 827,143 male and 14 female condoms were distributed between June and August 2009. For the quarter, only Global Fund supported the program with condoms. Due to the thousand of request and urgent need for condoms in the country, only fifty (50) cartoons of condoms remain on its inventory stock card. D. Achievements / Progress Page 5 of 15 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www. pdffactory. com 4. Number of sexually transmitted infections diagnosed and treated Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) appears to be one of the major public health problems in Liberia, as STIs is now a window for HIV transmission, often referred to as the superhighway for HIV transmission. With the provision of the Global Fund for the fight against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis, coupled with the training of service providers, case diagnosis and reporting is at an all time high, according to the NACP reports. For example, based on reports received, a total number of 88,377 cases of STI was diagnosed and treated from June 2007 to June 2008. The number of new cases of STIs recorded in its Ninth Quarterly Review 2009 from across the country is 41,146. Vaginal Discharge (12,731) accounted for the highest number followed by Lower Abdominal Pain with 9,075 cases reported. Patients treated for Inguinal Bubo accounted for the lowest number of STI cases during the quarter. Exhibit 3 shows a broader picture of the situation. 5. Number of victims (deaths) and survivors (orphans) The NACP has formulated a programme aimed at improving the survival rate and the quality of life of ART patients. Despite monitoring of survival following the initiation of the ART, the degree of lost to follow-up (missing three consecutive clinical appointments) is very high. From all indication, a significant proportion of non-compliant patients do return to the health facility at a later date, especially when they get very sick because some patients are not adhering to their drugs correctly. On the other hand, little is known about the exact number of defaulters who die since a home-based monitoring system for tracking home death is not in place to report all death. However, deaths reported are those occurring at the facilities (in-patient department) or reported by associate of patients. The NACP Annual HIV and AIDS Review – 2007-2008 recorded during the period 182 patients who account for 5. 3% of the cumulative number of patients’ enrolled in HIV care and treatment have died. In its Quarter Nine Report of 2009, there is a 3% (147) attrition rate recorded during the quarter, out of which 80% were patients lost to follow-up and 20% died. 6. Number of control centers setup in rural communities The availability of antiretroviral treatment to all identified HIV positive persons is a major challenge to national government and its donor partners. There are currently nineteen (19) facilities that provide ART services, and by the end of 2009, three (3) additional facilities have been earmarked to provide ART services, thereby increasing the number of facilities to twenty-two (22). The NACP has continually strived to improve the quality of care provided to all patients that have enrolled into HIV care and treatment. Despite poor follow-up system at facility level, during the quarter regular fuel distribution was made to seventeen of the nineteen ART sites across the country, aimed at empowering them to conduct home visits and patients follow up. It also subsidizes the resources for providing electricity at facilities to adequately operate laboratory equipments to perform laboratory test recommended for patients monitoring. Exhibit 48 provides a pictorial mapping of sites setup across the country. 7. Number or size of human capacity built If there is any significant increase in the timely and quality delivery of the healthcare services to HIV/AIDS patients, it can be attributed to the number of health workers that underwent trainings. A cumulative number of 1,975 persons were trained in various areas, including counselling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infections (PMTCT), antiretroviral therapy (ART), STI management, Data collection and reporting. It has been a challenge to ensuring the availability of safe blood in most African countries especially WHO African Region including Liberia where there are low availability of voluntary blood donors, low capacity in testing of donated blood and quality assurance in 8 Source: NACP Annual HIV and AIDS Review: 2007-2008 [PDF file], pp. v Page 6 of 15 PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www. pdffactory. com blood services, and the unregulated clinical use of blood compounded by poor economic status and inadequate resources to improve transfusion services. The Program for the period under review carried out activities that centered on training. Two separate trainings for nurses and laboratory technicians were conducted. These trainings accomplished the target of 27 nurses and 26 laboratory technicians for the purpose of upgrading their skills in selection, screening, collection and provision of safe blood to needed recipients. Training of service providers in delivering HIV/AIDS services forms a major part of strengthening the Programme. During the quarter, the following trainings were conducted: Sixty (60) health workers at two different sessions were trained in STI Syndromic management. Thirty (30) health workers from twenty-three (23) health facilities in Lofa and another thirty (30) from twenty-two (22) health facilities in Nimba benefited from the training. Twenty-eight (28) health professionals and Community Home-Based Care givers from 8 health facilities were trained using the National Palliative and Home-Based Care Guidelines. The PMTCT training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was conducted for 31 health professionals in thirty-four (34) facilities from ten of the 15 counties. There is currently an ongoing training to expand HCT services in the south-eastern part of the country. Additional 13 sites are expected to open during quarter 10. Opening of new HCT facilities increased rapidly over time during June 2007 to June 2008. To date, there are 85 HCT sites in 14 counties. E. Spatial Distribution and statistical data on prevalence rate The highlighted counties are indications of high-risk factors given their geographic location of the country. HIV/AIDS figures in the sub-region, especially in the Mano River Union (MRU) Basin continue to rise at an alarming rate since 2001. For instance, Cote d’Ivoire had the highest prevalence rate of 7. 1% in 2005 in the region and the second highest in West Africa. Sierra Leone and Guinea are ranked in second and third place respectively in the MRU basin. With these high-rate prevalence MRU neighboring countries to Liberia, one can only say that they are at very high risk of the dreadful disease. The table showing the spatial distribution is only based on the number of persons that consented for counselling and testing between June and August 2009.

Ornette Coleman Paper free essay sample

Westbrook Ornate Coleman and his influence on popular music/jazz Ornate Coleman is one of the most influential artists in Jazz and considered an American Icon and legend. There are not many musicians that emerge who dramatically changed the way we listen to music. Ornate Coleman was of the major innovators of free Jazz as well as a great saxophonist and composer. Colleens bluesy, playful music revolutionized jazz by ignoring regular harmonies and rhythm. He even created his own theory harmonic and applied it to rock instrumental in his group Prime Time.The musicians new style helped to regenerate jazz by allowing for the genre to go into a new direction and be placed for his music to be placed In a group of major 20th century composers. This paper will discuss how Ornate Coleman borrowed from the world of Jazz to Influence concert hall compositions. Ornate Coleman was a revolutionary saxophone player who expanded contemporary boundaries of music. We will write a custom essay sample on Ornette Coleman Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He gained those remarkable skills by teaching himself how to play saxophone at the age of 14 and by playing with musicians in local rhythm and blues bars while growing up in Fort Worth, Texas in the late sass and early ass.Some of his legends Include Charlie Parker and two local musicians in Fort Worth Ben Martin and Reed Connors. Coleman loved Charlie Parker and bebop and thought of It as the most advanced collective way of playing a melody and at the same time improvising. Parker taught Coleman many lessons especially about the quality of what he could play and knowing the audience (Rattail 63). The musician decided to travel to L. A. And played in various establishments. He eventually made his way to New York with his first band having a good sense of melody and ideas of laying without any preconceived chord changes (Rattail 55).People thought of him as a genius and others denounced him as a charlatan. His music was considered controversial for instance In his quartet they had no choral Instruments such as the piano. Listeners said his music was radically rejecting jazz traditions, but a few praised him and said the music was an extension of the historical practice (Martin,Waters). As he was traveling in R;8 jazz bands across the country, he switched back and forth between alto and tenor sax. Resistance was normal for Coleman, and he was use to being fired.In 1950, he wrote an unpublished book that deals with a theory that melody has nothing to do with harmony, chords, or key centers. In 1958, he formed his own band that was established on a mode of playing which no one player had the lead but anyone could come out and play at any time. Beginning in 1959, Coleman and his quartet went to New York and developed the concept of free Jazz (George-Warren and Pareses). Free Jazz and improvised music did away with any of the strict forms of Jazz and classic music such as tonality, chord changes, formal shape and structure, etc.Coleman was put Into the category along instrumentation in Jazz, classical rock, and pop allowing for any instrument to be equal in improvising. Many performers were encouraged by these individuals to go beyond the regular technique to develop extended techniques (Cox, Warner 252). Colleens group debut in New York was unlike anything anyone had ever heard. The bassist or drummer did not function in a conventional rhythm sense, and there was no piano to provide choral harmonies. When Coleman played with his group, they did not have any idea what the end result would be.The group was even able to get he attention and approval from conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and composer Virgil Thompson along with other writers and painters (Europe Jazz Network). Each player in his group contributed what he felt in the music at any moment, and each member is not told what to do but play what they hear in the piece themselves. He also stated that in a sense that there is no start or finish to any of his music, but there is a continued expression, continually evolving strands of thoughts that link all of his compositions together (Corer, Warner 254).Other things that summarized Colleens style of music include: fragmented, pointed melodies, elodea connections based on moti ve structure and large-scale gestures and abstract relations among pitches, little or no use of conventional harmony and voice leading, but solos often have loose shifting tonal centers, variety of melodic rhythm, nasal insistent tone, loose rhythms, use of middle and upper range on instrument, passionate expression, and deviation from standard intonation (Martin, Waters 271). Coleman started to explore different music possibilities by mixing and extending elements of honks-ton, blues, funk and bebop in areas of harmony, rhythm and the melodic structure. His musical styles alienated him from the Jazz world that musicians walked off the stage when he showed up for a show. His new innovations later became known as harmonic, which helped change Jazz by pointing it in a direction away from the musical styles of bebop, but also established a place in a group of major 20th century composers such as Charlie Parker, Harry Parch, Charles Ivies, and John Cage (Europe Jazz Network).From 1962 to 1965, Coleman withdrew himself from the spotlight and taught himself to play the trumpet and violin. He began to turn his attention to writing compositions for various musical forms such as downwind quintets, chamber orchestras, string quartets, symphonic works and vocal works. This is the point in his life where his music began to affect the concert hall. The first public per formance of one his pieces was the string quartet piece Dedicated to Poets and Writers. Performances of some of his works are scarce and have not been performed or recorded. The release of his two pieces Saints and Soldiers and Space Flight performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra cleared the way for his most famous piece Skies of America symphonic suite. The piece is scored for Jazz ensemble and orchestra and debuted in 1972 at Newport in New York Festival and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra (George-Warren and Pareses). This work stands as Colleens harmonic manifesto. There are some themes that people can recognize.Coleman enters the scene halfway through the piece with his saxophone during The Artist in America. His modulations have a fresh, sometimes abrupt sound as a result of movement of the melody and the chords. There are a number of different chord changes which are considered correct even though it does with the Jumble of melodies and heavy densities. The entire work introduced his harmony theory in which harmonies, rhythms, and melodies function independently and equally (George-Warren and Pareses).The theory relates to the use of similar melodic material in different clefs and keys, producing a texture of predominately parallel motion (Martin, Waters 271). He wanted to be like famous musicians George Gershwin, Duke Longtime, and Charles Minus so that he could help break down boundaries between modern Jazz and serious concert music. Coleman translates his ability as an improviser into orchestral terms. With his orchestral works, he was able to create a peculiar timbre and certain licks unlike any other composer writing orchestral works.During the sass Colleens musical horizons continued to expand. He formed the group Prime Time which incorporated rock and funk rhythms and melodic fragments similar to RB music along with its harmonic possibilities. The free Jazz/classical composer now created dance music that combined elements of Jazz, funk, RB, and rock with an unusual mix of instruments two guitarists, two drummers, two bassists, Coleman on the sax, violin, and trumpet. This groups music included multi-layered melodies, polytonal and polytechnic textures which were defined as harmonics.This style shaped more music other than Jazz, and Colleens music influenced affected many rock musicians during the ass especially Frank Kappa (Europe Jazz Network). While Coleman influenced rock musicians, he continued to diversify his music and became interested in African cultures. He traveled throughout Africa with Prime Time and created a new album Dancing in Your Head featuring field recordings with the group while they were working with tribal musicians in Morocco.In the sass Coleman re vised and completed Skies of America after being commissioned by Caravan of Dreams, an arts center that opened in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Coleman continued to write for all instrumentation and group sizes. He continued compositions for the concert hall such as the Meet the Modern series and The Sacred Mind of Johnny Dolphin. His group Prime Time eventually mixed AC (Martin and Waters)acoustic and electric instruments. In 1993, his most monumental recordings from Atlantic were released in a box set entitled Beauty Is a Rare Thing.He went on o be inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was featured by the New York Lincoln Center which hosted a festival of his works featuring a performance of the Skies of America by the New York Philharmonic and surviving members of his band Prime Time (Europe Jazz Network). One of the greatest Jazz artist and composer of all time is Ornate Coleman who influenced music for the concert hall and popular music genres such as Jazz and rock and roll. His music for the concert hall was innovative and creative as stayed true to his artistic style and capabilities. One of his most influential pieces for the concert hall was Skies of America which helped blend many different styles of music into an orchestral work. Individuals were influenced by his pioneering work in creating free Jazz and the use of improvisation styles as well as his newly created harmonic theory. Coleman was not afraid to step out on the limb to perform and create music without boundaries and that did not follow the traditional Western theory practices. He did receive a lot of criticism for his approach but affected and changed many by his abilities. Cox, Christopher and Daniel Warner.

Going Towards the Light (Dealing with the Dark Ages) essays

Going Towards the Light (Dealing with the Dark Ages) essays It has been asked if it is fair to consider the Middle Ages as the Dark Ages or was it only a continuation of trends that were long underway by the time the Renaissance occurred. Can we say there was no true political expansion? Would we be accurate in saying there were no new thoughts or ideas? Did our ancestors truly halt all thought and spiritual growth to wait for the Renaissance? I should think not! Although there may have been only one great empire with no great shift of political and religious thought, the Middle Ages were far from being devoid of activity and upheaval. This was an incredible age of transition. This period is integral in the growth of western civilization as it goes towards the light. Dark Ages they were not! For several hundred years, from about the first to around the fifth century AD, Rome was the greatest power in Europe, ruling Britain and the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. However, in northern Europe, there were fierce tribes that were only held at bay by the Romans. Around 400 AD, the Roman Empire began to weaken and the northern tribes moved across the continent of Europe and plundered the city of Rome. The Roman Empire collapsed and was gradually replaced by many small kingdoms ruled by a strong King, Prince or Noble. These kingdoms and principalities often were heavily influenced by the Holy Roman Empire and would rarely go against its wishes. The Roman Catholic Church was the single, largest unifying structure in medieval Europe. It touched everyone's life, no matter what their rank or class or where they lived. With the exception of a small number of Jews and Muslims in Spain, everyone in Europe was a Christian during the Middle Ages from the richest king down to the lowest serf. It was the important stabilizing and unifying force that Europe needed to move through this period. This helped form a rudimentary form of government known as the Fe...

Cvs Marketing Development Essay Example

Cvs Marketing Development Essay Example Cvs Marketing Development Essay Cvs Marketing Development Essay Porter’s Five Forces ForcesGradeNote Segment Rivalry Strong The current market is divided between a few powerful competitors that can relatively easily attract customers from one another as the switching costs are low and practical absence of product differentiation contributes to the easy loss of market share. Threat of MobilityWeakWhile the new entrants only need a relatively simple GUI and a supplier in order to enter the market, the federal and local regulations will require significant investments prior to any positive cash flow. Again, the differentiation is practically non-existent and the new entrants will have to compete with financially established enterprises capitalizing on competitive advantage. Supplier powerStrongIn order to sustain the market share in this highly competitive industry the pharmacies have to establish and maintain strong working relationships with PBMs that have power to divest particular clients from a pharmacy by denying reimbursement privileges to their customers. Buyer PowerStrongIt is not hard to obtain the same drugs from different sources so the customer loyalty is virtually non-existent and the pharmacies have to try extremely hard to sustain their consumer base. Threats of substitutesWeakThere are very few alternatives to drugs. The alternatives are practically limited to traditional medicine. Therefore, the threat of substitute is weak. Conclusion: CVS is in a favorable position because it already controls the large share of the market and its brand name is known to the populace. Therefore, it is crucial for the company to protect its market share and pursue the aggressive expansion policy to secure even large customer base. Financial Analysis CVS was able to secure such a large market share in part because of its strong financial base. Since the pharmaceutical industry is not strongly correlated with the market (average beta is 0. 2) the slowing economy does not affect much CVS financial performance. The firm employs about 190,000 people and boasts the 20 million strong consumer base with projected growth 3. million within the next three years. The firm’s Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E) of about 21 is higher than P/Es of its primary competitors. Hence, CVS reported 21 bps increase and the total gain of $68 million in the last year. At the same time, the forward earning on the CVS stock yielded over 9. 3% allowing the firm easily meets its dividend obligations. The EPS proves that the stock has been performing well at over 30%. The revenue has been growi ng at 15. 7% per year during the last three years compare to 14. % revenue growth within the industry. This stocks forward earnings yield of 7. 41% is the annual return it would generate if its profits remained fixed and it paid out all of its earnings as dividends. This is normal compared with the earnings yields of other stocks in the industry, and is healthy in absolute terms. Finally, most companies in the industry have generated very low returns on assets over the past five years. CVS has posted results that are about average for the industry, though its ROA over the most recent 12 months was very high. Porter’s Generic Strategies Provided the CVS position in the market, it is clearly pursuing the low-cost leadership strategy. The company offers the same goods or, sometimes, a wider product assortment at the lower prices than its competitors. The firm’s prescription drugs’ sales constituted 68% of total sales, 8% ahead of its major competition Walgreen. This number reflects a strong relationship with PBMs that are attracted by the company’s lower prices than in the industry. However, the element of differentiation is also present such as money back guarantee on beauty products, stores conveniently open 24-hours and exceptional customer service. The company capitalizes on its current broad customer base to provide those services and differentiate itself from a tight competition. Also, traditionally, CVS stores were more consumer oriented, e. g. while Walgreen stores had larger area the CVS stores’ layouts were such that the aisles were wider and shelves lower making shopping more convenient. The same approach was taken by CVS to the on-line sales offering the consumers user friendly intuitive format and live customer support 24/7. Market The market is highly regulated and is subject to established relationships between health care providers and PBMs. Currently the pharmaceutical retail market is divided mostly between large chain stores such as CVS, Walgreen, Rite Aid, etc. The market is rather saturated and the competition is strong on the part of the comparable size players as well as online retailers and supermarkets. The industry faces personnel shortages especially in qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. In the past the industry was strictly regionally dominated with Walgreen dominating the West, Rite Aid was strong in the South and Southeast, and CVS spread throughout the Northeast. However, the CVS broke the balance by advancing into the Rite Aid domain in 1997 creating the nation-wide competition between the companies. The ecommerce forced the major retailers to launch internet based services to compete with the new entrants such as WebMD. om and Drugstore. com. The price war in the cyber space resulted in lowering prices at the retail locations as well as shifted paradigm of in-store pharmacy assistance to the full-blown internet-based services. New short-lived phenomena emerged in a form of acquisitions of PBMs by the drug manufacturers in order to manage drug approval process and gain influence in the prescription drugs sales. However, only one merger (Merck-Medco) survived the attempt. Product CVS offers a combination of health care services such as pharmacy and medical equipment together with general merchandise ranging from beauty products to groceries via retail locations and on-line internet portal. The firms also provides consultative services such as medical plan designs, health management programs, and retail-based health clinics that are staffed primarily by nurse practitioners and physicians assistants treating limited number of common ailments and offering routine vaccinations. Price The prices are lower than the major competitor such as Walgreen. The prescription prices are negotiated with PBMs and other insurance companies. The general merchandise is obtained at wholesale prices and the savings are passed onto the consumers aiding to sustain the cost-leadership strategy. Channels of Distribution Online sales via cvs. com and over 4,000 retail locations. The firm offers automatic refills to be mailed to the consumers. The purchase and refills could be done via the telephone or on-line. Promotion CVS was the first pharmacy retailer to offer both: online shopping and traditional store services. CVS maintains extensive database of customers urchases from which it creates weekly individually tailored coupons for consumers. Also, CVS was the first retailer to offer money-back guarantees on beauty products Key Issues As the costs of healthcare increase proportionally to the aging population and slowing economy, the CVS’ main issue is the retention and growth of its market share. Historically, the CVS has been pursuing the Co st Leadership Strategy and only recently, facing the fierce competition from other players in the industry, CVS introduced the elements of differentiation such as MinuteClinic services, 24 hour locations, and 24/7 customer service. The mix of strategies might reduce the firm’s liquidity and stagnate its further expansion necessary to secure its market share. Boston Consulting Group Growth Share Matrix Clearly, CVS belongs to the Cash Cow section of the BCG Matrix. The aging population and health care demands contribute to the industry stable growth in terms of both market and sales. By the 2010, total annual sales should surpass $200 billion, with most of this growth claimed by chain pharmacies. In such a market the large players have slowly emerged and are in the position to protect their consumer base via mergers and acquisitions of the new and independent entrants. Thus CVS’ management team should concentrate on increasing market share and consider further expansion in both retail stores and in the on-line operations. Recommendations Securing market share and further expansion should be CVS first priority. Thus, in addition to maintaining the low cost advantage, the firm should invest into the ecommerce marketing to compete successfully with on-line retailers. These new services should be based on a rigorous research of consumer preferences, economic analysis, monitoring demographics as well as pay steadfast attention on competition that could use cost advantage strategy to attain the CVS market share through a system of discounts and special deals with PBRs. Thus, the firm’s pricing policy should be flexible enough as not to discourage the price-sensitive consumers and yet allow the company to sustain ever increasing product and service development costs. Also, mergers and acquisitions could be used by the company to its advantage. That would be following into footsteps of the CVS recent acquirement of Arbor Drug and Revco and comparable transactions performed by the CVS competitors such as Rite Aid acquiring Marco, Thrifty Payless, and K. The M practices make sense as they reduce competition, increase the customer base, and provide convenient locations for the existing customers. One of the main points in this respect is the necessity to create a unified customer database similar to the one operated by Walgreens that allow customers to access their prescriptions from any CVS store.

Emergency Response & Crisis Comm Plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emergency Response & Crisis Comm Plans - Essay Example The Crisis Centre includes two component parts. The first is the Operational Control Incident Centre (OCIC) which is the corporate command and control centre that provides policy guidelines, responds to enquiries from the media fraternity, and has admission to a wide selection of resources such as key personnel and communication instruments. The second component part is the Emergency Procedures Information Centre (EPIC). EPIC provides the coordination and control of all passenger and family information for the British Airways and liases with activated Telephone Enquiry Centers (TEC’s) worldwide, including the U.S.A. The second component part will support the OCIC in providing information and support (Belliotti, 2008).   However, the British Airways Emergency Response Plan does not mention any background on the anticipated crisis. There is a general mentioning of a possible accident but does not include any further details as to the type of crisis that can occur. In case a crisis does occur, the emergency response plan has outlined various specific actions that will be taken to address the needs of the families of the passengers involved. Detailed sections are included in the plan specifying the most relevant and necessary actions to be taken in case of an accident. The plan contains specific instructions on corporate command and control centre to be carried out by the OCIC and the EPIC. Overall, the plan is well presented with specific sections to address specific issues that are likely to come up in case of an accident. All the anticipated problems are dealt with in the emergency response plan and specifically put the interest of the involved families and stakeholders first. However, the Emergency Response Plan does not highlight the stakeholders on the nature of the accident for which the plan was proposed. It fails to inform the stakeholders on the specific nature of the accident. Considering the nature of the plan, the anticipated

Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Journal - Assignment Example As a function of analyzing this dynamic, the following discussion will focus specifically upon two distinct minorities: African-Americans and Japanese Americans. With respect to African-Americans, not a great deal of benefit was achieved on their part as a result of the United States involvement in the Second World War. For the most part, racism, segregation, and the enforcement of Jim Crow laws within the South remained largely unabated. Faragher points out that the social norms and racial disparaties experienced by African Americans, specifically in the South, did not alter greatly as a result of WWII (Faragher, 691). However, it is also fair to note that many African-Americans were able to engage with the workforce in a manner that they had previously been unable to do. For instance, the high demand for labor and the production of war material created a need for all able-bodied employees to land their services to this effort. As such, African-Americans that had previously been passed over for factory jobs or production jobs were hired and began to learn valuable skills that were utilized once the Second World War concluded. In such a way, African-Americans indirectly benefited from the overall level of training and engagement in the workforce that the Second World War was able to provide. However, by means of comparison and contrast, their participation in combat was still segregated as compared to white soldiers and they were deemed as inherently less valuable by almost each and every military leader (Best 203). Likewise, in terms of the overall impact of the Second World War on Japanese Americans, the analyst should necessarily consider the fact that this particular conflict drastically reduced their standing within American society. It further partially destroyed their civil rights, and ultimately set this

Literature as a Medium Which Conveys the Culture of the Target Language Essay Example for Free

Literature as a Medium Which Conveys the Culture of the Target Language Essay The purpose of this paper is to familiarize foreign language instructors with the effectiveness of using literature as a mean of bridging the cultural gap between students and the target language. It will also discuss how teaching literature can help students become more effective communicators in the target language and at the same time making them appreciate other cultures different from their own. This may lead to say that, one of the major functions of teaching literature in a foreign language classroom is to serve as a medium to transmit the culture of the target language of the people who speak the language in which it is written. Therefore, literary texts can offer to the students a colorful world that reflects the culture of the language community. As readers; students get engaged within these texts, they come to understand how the characters in such literary works experience life and how they speak and behave in different settings. However , the study of literature can be considered as a method in which students can dive into the cultural experience of the language throughout the imagery and metaphors mentioned in a given text, as Gray points out: â€Å" Students learn to see a world through another’s eye,observing human values , different kind of living and discovering that others live very different societies. they will understand and become broadly aware of the social,political,historical,cultural events happening in a given society. . The role of literature in language teaching Literature, when defined as a subject of study, is an activity that involves and uses language (O’Sullivan, 1991). Ganakumaran et al (2003) stated that it is also referred to as the big â€Å"L† that focuses on the literariness of a text. It is an example of language in use and a context for language use. Literature is seen as a medium in which students’ appreciation of different system language organizat ion can be developed. Therfore, studying literature, on the whole, may not be considered as a reaction but rather as an interaction between the reader , the writer and their cultures. From an other parameter ,the teaching of literature in foreign language classrooms is essential and can be used as a perfect instrument to stimulate and speed up the teaching and learning process Carter and Long (1991). In other words, literature contributes in helping the students to explore knowledge ,promote their literacy development and fosters their language proficiency. Also, literature may provide effective, attitudinal and experiential factors which will motivate students to read McKay (1982). As a matter of fact, Obeidat (1997) said that literature has much to offer than language would normally do, since it has greater freedom and since it acknowledges no linguistic barriers which could refrain our ability to use language. Therefore, it is undeniable that literature helps to improve students’ command of language and the ability to use it freely, not solely as a linguistic, but as a cultural, intellectual, social and psychological medium of expression. In terms of using literature to teach language, Brumfit and Carter (1986) asserted that literary texts not only can grip the reader’s imagination more strongly but they can also be promoted for the examination of language at work. Littlewood (2005) also observed that although such texts were predominantly valuable for developing reading skills, it could be exploited for purposes such as explaining grammar teaching and indicating various types of language usage. Since literary texts contain language intended for native speakers, literature stands as a model for language learners to become familiar with different forms and conventions (Collie and Slater, 1991). Containing real examples of grammatical structures and vocabulary items, the literary texts raise learners’ awareness of the range of the target language and advance their competence in all language skills (Povey, 1967). Second, using literature in language teaching has the advantage of providing cultural information about the target language. Literary texts increase foreign language learners’ insight into the country and the people whose language is being learnt (Collie and Slater, 1991), which fosters learners’ ability to interpret discourse in different social and cultural target language contexts (Savvidou, 2004). . Literature as an instruments that stimulates the knowledge of the culture Teaching literature stimulates the imagination of the students and develops their critical abilities by getting them involved in interpreting the different symbols and meanings found in the text. They become more productive and adventurous when they perceive the richness and diversity of the language. Therefore, it is vital if educators create a harmonious literary atmosphere ,they may enable their students to immerse themselves in the story by turning the classroom into a cultural island where students interact with the text, share different viewpoints about the settings, the style, the language. Researchers have recognized that the benefits of using literature in three core areas: First , literature is beneficial to language development( John and Louis, 1987; Morgan, 1998; Myonghee, 2004;Sage,1987); second, literature enhances the knowledge of ulture and society which is too complicated to be captured by any single piece of expository writing; Third, literature fosters critical thinking by offering readers multiple perspectives especially in books with issues such as immigration, cultural differences, social upheavals (Edmondson 1995/6). John Lye (2003) believed that literature captures the complexities of the human situation, illustrating (dramatically, imaginatively, compellin gly) the grounds and the meanings of values, and the nuances of our experiences. It also allows us imaginatively to inhabit the lives, the experiences, the meanings of others. Lye(2003) added that literature challenges the sentimentalization of values, and those distortions of values which serve the ends of the powerful, the opportunistic, and those who want only to serve their own desires ,from an other parameter, literature explores and reflects conflicts in the culture itself, conflicts in the values and ideas of the culture, the conflict of social groups (ethnic, racial, class, gender, religious and so forth), in addition to that ,it offers a sense of identity and community, by establishing and founding narratives which capture the essence of what typifies the culture or community, or by dramatizing those particular stories and images which give the culture a sense of common meaning and purpose. 4.  Applying literature and culture in language teaching classroom When it comes to learning a new language there can be no substitute for actually living in a country where this language is spoken. Besides, teaching literature does not mean ,limit students to take a passive role but to stimulate students to be engaged proactively within the target language. However, foreign language teachers can provide literary texts best by turning their literature classes into a community where students can engage themselves actively with the culture and the language they are studying and where the emphasis in class could be on ‘cultural experience rather than cultural awareness. As Duff and Maley point out, â€Å"literature offers universal themes which are relevant to students’ own experience,it is also a mirror that reflects and heightens each learner’s perception of the social world. Thus, literary texts are opened to multiple interpretations and interactions†. Students cannot remain passive if they are to interpret and understand what they are reading. They are placed â€Å"in an active interactional role in working with and making sense of the target language guided by the teacher, they have to actively participate and interact with each other. Literature and culture in foreign language teaching can provide linguistic and artistic elements and perspectives to students.  Through literature as well as culture, students could have the opportunity to establish a connection with the target language and realize that their own personal, social,cultural and historical contexts have been influenced by a foreign language and a foreign culture and how, in a symbiotic process, this other culture has been nourished. Culture, on the other hand, offers an interdisciplinary field that includes artistic discourses, social conventions, and reflexive impacts. It opens the door for students to increase their knowledge of the target culture as they can contemplate and critically comment on people’s way of life, values, attitudes, and beliefs, and regard how these elements can have an impact in linguistic categories and forms. Indeed,language found a soulmate in literature, and they are inserted in culture.

Right Brain, Left Brain :: essays research papers

The article in which I chose to examine is called Right Brain, Left Brain: Fact and Fiction, written by Jerre Levy. In the past fifteen years or so there has been a lot of talk of left brain and right brain people. Levy's reason for righting this article was clearly to stop the misconceptions and show the truth about how our brain hemispheres operate. Levy first explores the myth of the left brain and right brain theory. She states that generally people see the left hemisphere of the brain controlling logic and language and the right, creativity and intuition. In addition people differ in their styles of thought, depending on which half of the brain is dominant. She believes that most of what these notions state is farce. Next the article explores the history of this fascination of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Apparently the study of this aspect of the brain traces back to time of Hippocrates. Levy weaves in and out of the various theories and prominent people known for contributing to the confusion. It wasn't until 1962 when Roger W. Sperry began experimenting on certain aspects of the brain that contribute to the truth of the left and right brain theory. Sperry studied people who had undergone surgical division of the corpus callosum, the bridge between the two hemispheres. His studies showed that, "an object placed in the right hand (left hemisphere) could be named readily, but one placed in the left hand (nonverbal right hemisphere) could be neither named nor described. Next to branch off of Sperry's studies was psychologist Doreen Kimura. Kimura developed behavioral methods which involved presenting visual stimuli rapidly to either the left or right visual fields. Another important method developed was "dichotic listening" which centered around the use of sound to study the hemispheres. Through these tests and the continual study the theory that the left brain controlled ended. Instead a new theory was born known as the two-brain theory. This said that at different times one of the two hemispheres would be operating. An example of this is that the right hemisphere is in control when an artist paints but the left hemisphere was in control when a novelist wrote a book. This theory failed because of one physical studies showed that people with hemispheres surgically disconnected could operate in everyday life. Also, research demonstrated that each hemisphere had its own functional expertise, and that the two halves were complementary. Next, the article states its worth. The author shows the up to date agreed upon theory of the two hemispheres in five simple points.

Coffee and Starbucks Essay

Walk several blocks in almost any city in America and you’ll pass at least one Starbucks, if not more. And the same is true for most cities outside of the United States. The Starbucks empire has grown to 6,000 U.S. outlets and about 2,500 international locations. For some consumers, Starbucks is an obsession, and they just can’t begin their day without their cup of Starbucks coffee! In addition, while years ago people used to hang out at the corner candy store, today many people spend considerable time at their local Starbucks. They drink coffee, tea, and/or other specialty beverages, they bring their laptop and wirelessly connect to the Internet, they meet friends to chat, or they meet business associates to make deals. Is there anyone in America, at least old enough to be in kindergarten, who doesn’t know what Starbucks is? Questions Since everybody knows Starbucks, answer the following questions in the Indian context. For example, against question 1 below view the person as an India; and in response to question 4, identify an Indian celebrity. Some search on the internet about Starbucks and what its brand imagery stands for would help you with your answers. 1. If Starbucks was a person, describe the person in terms of demographics, personality, and lifestyle characteristics 2. If Starbucks was an animal, which animal would it be, and why? 3. If Starbucks was a color, which color would it be, and why? 4. If Starbucks was a celebrity (e.g., a sports figure, a movie or TV star), which celebrity would it be, and why? And why was your choice male or female?

High School Students on the Job Essay

High school is an important time in life; students in high school have a lot of responsibilities. Students are beginning to drive and getting into trouble. High school students that have entered the work force have less of a chance to get in trouble. Working students also have an advantage over their peers that haven’t worked. They learn money management, social skills, and responsibility. Money management is a very important part of life. Usually once high school students start working they begin to learn the importance of money and how to spend it. Saving money is one very important life lesson that high school students can learn once they start working. Saving money can help the students save up for their future, helping with bills and possibly buying their own car. Owning a car comes with expenses oil changes, unfortunate accident, tires, gas, etc. To pay for these expenses there has to be money. There also comes a time when parents may need a little help. While working, students can help their parents with a bit of money every month. Having all of these expenses students will have to learn how to manage their money so they have some left over for themselves. Next, if high school students have a job, they learn about social skills. The most important thing is treating people politely. Thus, they need to get a better communication such as talking to each other and listening very carefully. When high school students are on the job, they have to speak correctly and courteously so their customers could get the correct information. Also they have to listen very carefully. They should know what the customers are asking. In addition, they could learn about physical demeanor. At the work place, they have to keep a friendly smile and then keep a good posture by keeping themselves upright. Further, working students can learn to take responsibilities. Time management and appearance are two important responsibilities. First, working students have to get to work on time. Also, they should manage and make balance between school, work, sleep, home, family and friends. Second, many work places have special uniforms that represents them in what position they  work. They need their workers to put these specific dresses on. Working students take this responsibility too. Students have to take care of their hygiene to go into work, which includes keeping their hair clean, shaving, cutting nails, and keeping a clean scent. Money management, social skills, and responsibility are skills that are need in life to succeed. High school students that begin working learn these skills earlier than those students that don’t. Before students become adults, they need to develop money management, social skills, and sense of responsibility, so they have been preparing to adjust themsel ves to society. Therefore, I recommend teenagers work while attending high school.

Free Essays on Compromise Of 1850

Slavery was not a new topic for discussion during the middle 1800’s in the United States. After the Mexican American War, the annexation of new territory led to an important crisis. Will there be new states added to the Union? If so, would they be free states or slaveholding states? The annexation of Texas to the United States and the gain of new territory by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the close of the Mexican War (1848) aggravated the hostility between North and South concerning the question of slavery. The free states favored the proposal made in the Wilmot Proviso to exclude slavery from all the lands acquired from Mexico. This, naturally, met with violent Southern opposition. When California sought (1849) admittance to the Union as a free state, a serious crisis threatened. With a precarious balance of 14 free and 14 slave states in the Union, Southerners could not maintain their power in Washington, D.C., with the admission of another free state. Southerners increasingly talked of secession. In January 1850 Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky tried to heal the breach with five actions packaged in one bill. California was to be admitted as a free state, but the territories of Utah and New Mexico, which were then largely ungoverned, were to be given governments with the authority to decide the issue of slavery themselves. Additionally, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 would be amended to include enforcement provisions against the North and a requirement that the citizens would help catch and return runaway slaves. To compensate the North for the fugitive slave amendments, the interstate trade of slaves would be banned in the District of Columbia - a largely symbolic gesture since slave trading would continue in Virginia and Maryland and the private sale of slaves would still be permissible in the capital. The bill also resolved boundary disputes between the government of Texas and the federal government. Texas accepts narrower ... Free Essays on Compromise Of 1850 Free Essays on Compromise Of 1850 Slavery was not a new topic for discussion during the middle 1800’s in the United States. After the Mexican American War, the annexation of new territory led to an important crisis. Will there be new states added to the Union? If so, would they be free states or slaveholding states? The annexation of Texas to the United States and the gain of new territory by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the close of the Mexican War (1848) aggravated the hostility between North and South concerning the question of slavery. The free states favored the proposal made in the Wilmot Proviso to exclude slavery from all the lands acquired from Mexico. This, naturally, met with violent Southern opposition. When California sought (1849) admittance to the Union as a free state, a serious crisis threatened. With a precarious balance of 14 free and 14 slave states in the Union, Southerners could not maintain their power in Washington, D.C., with the admission of another free state. Southerners increasingly talked of secession. In January 1850 Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky tried to heal the breach with five actions packaged in one bill. California was to be admitted as a free state, but the territories of Utah and New Mexico, which were then largely ungoverned, were to be given governments with the authority to decide the issue of slavery themselves. Additionally, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 would be amended to include enforcement provisions against the North and a requirement that the citizens would help catch and return runaway slaves. To compensate the North for the fugitive slave amendments, the interstate trade of slaves would be banned in the District of Columbia - a largely symbolic gesture since slave trading would continue in Virginia and Maryland and the private sale of slaves would still be permissible in the capital. The bill also resolved boundary disputes between the government of Texas and the federal government. Texas accepts narrower ...

Skills Required to Excel as an Administrative Assistant

Skills Required to Excel as an Administrative Assistant Administrative assistants keep a business on track while doing a myriad of duties- becoming the right-hand person for a top-notch executive requires  poise and adaptability. For those who want to enter  this career path and search for administrative assistant jobs, having what it takes is the important first step.Maintaining an Efficient WorkplaceA major job  responsibility  for administrative assistants is keeping everyone on time and on task. They must make sure executives not only arrive at meetings on time but also have what they need to conduct the meetings properly. Being organized in order to keep a top-level executive organized is another important duty.Staying on Top of the IndustryAn administrative assistant needs to understand industry terminology. Being able to carry on a conversation or understand notes flooded with technical jargon is key. In addition, staying on top of the technology the business uses most, as well as technology that might be employed in the fu ture, enables  administrative assistants to move smoothly through the day.Proficiency  in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Power Point is expected, according to a representative of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.Turning Difficult Situations into Pleasant OnesA good administrative assistant is able to make the difficult seem easy, and that includes handling difficult personalities. From visitors to other office workers, making it possible for things to be copacetic is a hallmark of the assistant.When emotions run high, using humor and authority keeps thing running smoothly. In fact, good administrative assistants can see a problematic situation before it happens and thwart it, according to one well-known and high-ranking admin.Being the Face and Voice of a CompanyThe administrative assistant is generally the first person a visitor meets. Having the ability to represent the company in a well-spoken manner is indispensable. In addition, writ ing emails or letters to a wide range of individuals requires  an excellent command of the English language. Many administrative assistants take night courses to brush up on solid writing techniques.Maintaining FlexibilityAccording to executives and business owners, nothing is more highly prized than flexibility. Being able to think ahead and see things that need to be done or implement easier ways to accomplish tasks are hallmarks of the successful administrative assistant.Finding new solutions to existing problems and ways to avert other problems in the future makes an administrative assistant indispensable. Beyond that, finding ways to cut costs, such as streamlining office procedures or locating vendors who offer a better price, makes for a better bottom line.Todays administrative assistant can choose between a myriad of industries to select one that best suits his or her talents. Administrative assistant jobs with certain criteria are found using TheJobNetwork platform. This free to use online job search process lets you list the type of job you want and your background. It uses the information to search for jobs on a 24-hour basis. Once a job is located, TheJobNetwork sends a message to your email alerting you of the position.

Management and Organizational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Management and Organizational Behaviour - Essay Example ost cutting initiatives the question of quality control has arisen, a key component within the strategic and functional management of any organization, regardless of sector, product or service. Hence analysis of the quality control aspect, as well as related factors should be undertaken, with the recommendations of creating a conducive environment for the promotion of leadership attributes, quality control and the encouragement of the teamwork aspect to ensure that a continual monitoring across all levels of the organization ensues, in line with sufficient quality control methodologies. In order to provide advice regarding the issues of leadership and teamwork within an organization, a sound understanding of these concepts regardless of the firm in question is required. The different types, techniques and related processes involved within leadership require analyses in so far as aiming to increase or improve the quality of leadership within the organization, whilst aiming to improve the level and success of teamwork. The level of quality and efficacy of the leadership itself can start within the company itself, as provided by Manning & Curtis (2007) in "research shows that the evaluation of leaders by employees can be a valuable tool" (p. 308) and hence the suggestion of utilising this mechanism would be forthcoming, additionally the authors provide that "teamwork is essential for success of the group" (p. 177) which has a direct bearing upon this analysis. The level and nature of leadership upon such groups and teams will in all likelihood influence the success of any teamwork, based upon the understanding of the group as well as the influencing of the behaviour of the group, by the manager or leader (Mullins p. 298.) In order to assess the efficacy of how leadership and teamwork affect the organization, either in a positive or negative way, one of the most relevant examples or case studies is that of the Harley Davidson Company, and the leadership of the

Environmental Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental Planning - Research Paper Example Environmental planning activities are most pronounced in cities and urban places due to the fact that they are the regions most concentrated with development activities in addition to the large populations that reside in such places. In such a case, poor planning would lead to: environmental damage; social, economic, and cultural exclusion; and strains on the transport system. In the quest for enhancing sustainability is such places, planners should keep in mind that sustainable cities and urban places are an important factor to economic and social development which makes it the main engine of growth. They should also keep in mind that environmental degradation is the greatest obstacle to social equity and economic efficiency. The planners need to carefully study the components of federal or state regulations to understand the complex interactions between environment and development so that sustainability will be enhanced through a proactive management approach that is based on the understanding of these interactions. In this manner, all the future projects will be sustainable in terms of enhancing growth and development, which is supposed to be the main aim of any developmental

Integrated Communication Plan Research Proposal

Integrated Communication Plan - Research Proposal Example UK gaming market is the third most important market in the world, and it is the largest European market [1,2]. According to [3] there are more than 33.6 million gaming users in UK market in the year 2012. Moreover, this market generated revenue of  £2.04 billion in the year 2014, and this is around 7% more than 2013 (Dring, 2014). According to Yahoo! News, with the growth of the industry there are more and more jobs coming up in the UK market (Brinded, 2014) The total value estimated of the video gaming industry is GBP 1 billion. Around 33 million people in UK play video games (IAB UK, 2011). Thus, the market segment is very large. These gamers can be categorized into different types. Among these types, 19% are the regular gamers and casual gamers, or social gamers are around 26%. Therefore, this segment of social or casual gamers can be important segment that Nintendo WiiU can target. The age group of casual social gamers is in the age group of 35 to 44 years, and most of these pe ople are parents. At the moment, Nintendo WiiU is focusing on regular gamers that are around 19%. Many people use gaming as time consuming activity.Gamers can get negative attention, and this can have negative influence and gain negative attention in the media. Thus, it is important for Nintendo to not come up with such games that can have negative attention in the media.(Brinded, 2014) Economic factorsThere has been an increase in the demands of the games. The demand of different games has been increasing.

Zachary’s Story Essay Example for Free

Zachary’s Story Essay 1. An ulcer starts by eroding the mucosa of the G.I tract wall. What functions of digestion or reabsorption might be lost if this layer is no longer functional? What functions will be compromised if the ulcer eats through the submucosa and then the muscularis? Absorption would not happen correctly because some of the ingested and secreted may seep out of the lumen. This could also create a pathway of entry for pathogens, if the ulcer ate its way through to the muscularis mucosa and lose some control of defecation. 2. If Zachary has a peptic ulcer affecting his stomach and or duodenum, which components of the peritoneum will be affected? If the ulcer eats a hole into the wall of the stomach, bacteria and partially digested food can spill though the opening into the peritoneum. This will cause sever inflammation of the abdominopelvic cavity and the visceral peritoneum. 3. How can Zachary’s stomach contribute to the formation of ulcers in other parts of the G.I tract? Which cells directly participate in ulcer formation and how do they contribute to the creation of lesions in the G.I tract wall? Zachary’s stomach contributes to the formation of ulcers in the other parts of the G.I tract by the acids that are needed to breakdown food, they are excessive and will cause the stomach to over work therefore causing surrounding parts to be over worked as well. The cells that participate in ulcer formation include: partial cells (secrete HCI) and gastric gland (acetylcholine) . The major causing factor is chronic inflammation due to helicobacter pylori that colonizes the mucosa. The immune system is unable to clear up the infection despite the appearance of antibodies, which the bacterium can cause a chronic active gastritis. 4. Why does Zachary’s G.I tract need the substance the contributes to the formation of ulcers? How is this substance secreted by cells within the gastric pits? Zachary’s G.I tract need the substance to assist in the breakdown of food for absorption. Epithelial cells extend into the lamina where they form secretory folds called gastric glands and several of these glands open into the gastric pits and secretions from those glands flow into the pits. 5. If Zachary’s only normal digestive enzymes come back from his mouth, what substances will he be able to digest? Zachary will only be able to digest starch because even though food is swallowed too quickly for all starches to be broken down in the mouth, salivary amylase in the swallowed food continues to act on the starches for around another hour, then the stomach acids inactivate it. Zachary can also digest triglycerides because the enzyme secreted by lingual glands in the tongue start to break down but does not activate until the bolus reaches the stomach. 6. What do you think the ultimate fate of Zachary’s pancreas would be if the hepatopancreatic ampulla continued to be blocked? What do you think would happen to the liver and then eventually to the rest of Zachary’s body? Because of the excessive pancreatic juice and bile Zachary’s pancreas will not be able to function correctly, this will result in a blockage of the secretions that will continue to build causing further damage and inflammation. Zachary will end up with extrahephatic jaundice due to the blockage of bile drainage and he will become malnourished and lose weight. 7. What enzymes has Zachary’s body been unable to use because of the blockage of the hepatopancreatic ampulla? What are the specific molecules these enzymes work on? Pancreatic juice and bile are the enzymes that Zachary cannot use. These enzymes work on the endocrine portion of the pancreas, they secrete the hormones glucagon and insulin. 8. Selecting one of Zachary’s symptoms of either diarrhea, fever or weight loss†¦ explain how inflammation of one section of the small intestine could lead to that symptom? Inflammation of the small intestine is called gastroenteritis. The symptoms that occur with this disease include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. All of these symptoms can cause a fever and it will last anywhere from 3-7 days. 9. With Zachary’s new diet, which type of lipoprotein will decrease in circulation the most? Which type of lipoprotein do most people wish they could decrease and why? Which one do most people wish they could increase? VLDLs will decrease with Zachary’s new diet. Most people wish they could decrease LDLs because LDL cholesterol is known as â€Å"bad† cholesterol, and people have too few LDL receptors. Their body cells remove LDL from the blood less effectively and develop fatty plague. People wish they could increase HDLs which is known as â€Å"good† cholesterol. 10. In a healthy person other molecules can be substituted into the pathways of glucose catabolism when the blood glucose level is low. What specific molecules will Zachary now have problems making during times of low glucose and what is the normal source of molecules? Zachary will have problems making glycogen, which is mobilized and converted to glucose by gluconeogenesis when the blood glucose concentration is low. Glucose may also be produced from non-carbohydrate precursors that include: pyruvate, amino acids and glycerol. Gluconeogenesis is what maintains blood glucose concentrations, while insulin and glycogen work together to keep blood glucose normal. 11. If Zachary is no longer ingesting foods high in lipid content, how will his body continue to supply itself with phospholipids, lipoproteins and cholesterol? Without an adequate supply of lipids in the body, what process will most likely increase in his hepatocytes to ensure proper ATP production in times of low blood glucose? Zachary’s body will continue to supply itself with phospholipids, lipoproteins and cholesterol by using the stored lipids in the adipose tissue throughout his body and his liver. Ketone bodies will increase in the hepatocytes to ensure proper ATP production.

dikes :: essays research papers

â€Å"When flood waters from the Mississippi River and it’s tributaries surge down the river the volume of water is physically impossible to contain. In general, there is just to much Water!!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The â€Å"pools† behind the navigation dams have no effect in preventing or causing floods. Like a bathtub it doesn’t matter if the pools are empty or full when the floodwaters come. Within a very short time the excess water can create an over flow (Army Corps of Engineers).† What is a Flood? A flood occurs when water is poured over the land and the ground and rivers cannot cope with it (Waterlow 8). Once a basin has filled, water will overflow its rim and resume it’s downward progress. â€Å"Gravity ensures that water must drain the land into the sea (Allaby 12).† When snow melts from a divide it is joined by more snow, and it will eventually reach the low lands. Hills down below will also shed water into the same low lands and if there is enough of this it can result in a flood (Allaby 12). The Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio drain an area of 1,243,700 square miles, this goes from the Rocky Mountains to the Canadian boarder and Pennsylvania (Allaby 13). All of this watershed result in floods each year the snow up north melts. How a Dam Affects Flooding A dam is made to make pools at least 9 ft. deep so that barge traffic can navigate freely through out the river. A lock is made so the barges can move from one pool to another (Army Corps of Engineers). The combination of these two make up a lock and dam system. Between St. Anthony Falls, MN, and Granite City, IL there are 29 lock and dam systems. It is said, in the beginning of this page in fact, that dams do not control flooding. Dams weren’t made to control floods and they never will, because floods are so unpredictable and so uncontrollable (Army Corps of Engineers). What is a Dike A dike is an embankment built to control or hold back the water of a river, stream, sea, etc. (Waterlow 25). In building a dike you can use sandbags, dirt, or both put together. You will build up a wall, getting it as compact as possible, as high as you think is needed to hold back the floodwaters. In the Netherlands farmers have used dikes to protect their farms from floods for hundreds of years (Waterlow 25).

Khrushchev Genuinely committed to peaceful coexistence Essay

In the years 1955 ­62, Khrushchev was genuinely committed to peaceful coexistence. Peaceful co ­existence is the idea that the two superpowers in the world, the USSR and the USA can accept each other’s ideologies and consequentially their satellite states in the interests of peace, whether Khrushchev was entirely committed to this notion is debatable due to his ‘behind the scenes’ actions between 1955 and 1962. The Austrian state treaty of 1955 seemed to show Khrushchev’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, but his aggression after the U2 spy plane incident of 1960 and the gamble with peace over the Berlin wall in 1961 and Cuba in 1962 suggest his commitment to peaceful coexistence was not genuine, but a delay tactic until opportunities to show the USSR system was superior to capitalism arose. Khrushchev was committed to something more along the lines of ‘peaceful competition’ whereby the soviet union could gain an economic and without the need for a hot war, rather than peaceful co ­existence where both global superpower s really engaged in tolerance for either ones ideologies. When Khrushchev attained power in 1953 he advocated the de ­Stalinization of the Soviet Union during a speech at the 20th congress of the soviet party. This political message of denouncing Stalinism seemed to advocate a new era of Soviet foreign politics based on toleration to the western bloc of capitalist countries. A political example of Khrushchev’s genuine attempts at peaceful coexistence is attending international peace conferences such as The Geneva summit in 1955 which conveys the initial attempts of bridging the gap between the fundamental ideological divisions of Soviet Russia and the United States. This may be an attempt by the Soviet Union to reduce the hostility of the Capitalist world as they were apprehensive of the foundations of Marxist ­Leninist Russia which they perceived plotted a Global Revolution. However this interpretation would have been incorrect as the fundamentals of   Marxism was to encourage internal bureaucratic revolutions through the working class in order to liberate themselves from oppression rather than direct military action. This may be in the military and social interest of preventing or at least reducing the possibility of Mutually assured destruction by means of Nuclear warfare which was a very strong possibility. This can be seen with the signing of the Austrian State treaty of 1955 that allowed Austria to become a neutral zone which expresses a serious attempt at diplomatic and peaceful methods by the SU. Furthermore it was these arguments that Khrushchev would use in the Geneva summit to convey the genuineness of his attempt to move away from intro ­national warfare from one external Socialist state into a Capitalist one, and therefore rejected this Stalinist approach that occurred with the Satellite states of Eastern Europe by invasion of the Red Arm y. However on the contrary, Khrushchev maintained the satellite states as a cohesive political and economic unit that further added to the bipolar international system. This was evident with the establishment of the Warsaw Pact on 14th of May 1955 was a collective defense treaty of Communist nations within the Soviet sphere of influence. This portrays the lack of commitment to true peaceful coexistence as it meant that Khrushchev created an adversary to NATO, whilst also being militarily aggressive in order to dominate in central and eastern Europe and this can be seen with the quelling of the Hungarian Uprising in 1956 as soviet soldiers lead to the death of 2500 Hungarians and an overthrow of the government. This shows the imperialistic nature of the Soviet Union and not of truly peaceful cohabitation by clearly dividing the world on   the wider Cold War basis by intrusive political and military intervention. It seems contradictory to the previous peaceful concessions made by the Soviet Union at the Geneva Summit and this shows how the Soviet Union were still trying to maintain an advantage over the Capitalist world rather than accepting a diplomatic change. This can be deduced as an attempt to build on Soviet power whilst also trying to repress American power through far less than peaceful methods. Furthermore tension was at it’s highest following the military actions of the Soviet Union prior to the Cuban Missile in 1962. For example Khrushchev created a physical and metaphorical barrier that divided Eastern and West germany yet also divided the Capitalist and Communist worlds. This was evident with the erection of the Berlin Wall on 13th August 1961. This was done in order to prevent the massive emigration of East German population that reached up to 3.5million before the wall was built. This socially would leave the Soviet Union short in man power of the working class that was an industrial city that provided much revenue and weaponry for the Red Army. Furthermore many educated members of the population left that left on the basis of political reasons rather than the materialistic reasons, such as poverty and poor living conditions. This shows Khrushchev’s attempts at creating a politically divided Europe and represents the Soviets were determined in not allowing one inch of land to be won by their adversaries and may have prompted them, the US, to respond aggressively through military action. Also the deployment of missiles in Cuba also created an atmosphere of hostility and potential for mutually assured destruction through an aggressive geostrategic maneuver to gain an advantage over the USA whilst also trying to arm and strengthen a communist ally that was only miles away from the United States’ coastline. Many Historians have said this is the closest the world has come to nuclear warfare.