Forecast of Aud/Usd:

In short term, Australia is facing higher inflation rate (2. 9%) than the United States (2. 1%), this can lead to the domestic market price increase but not much fluctuation for currency exchange rate. Moreover, Australia has higher GDP growth rate than United States (3. 5% vs 2. 4%) and lower unemployment rate than US, which are 5. 2% and 7. 9% in 2013. Therefore, the income will increase in Australia. Australia consumers would spend more on the US imports and the demand for US will increase. The supply of dollars will increase to buy more US products and the value of USD will increase relative to the AUD.In conclusion, we predict that the exchange rate of AUD/USD will decrease in the short term. In intermediate term, there will be almost a constant decline of inflation rate each year in Australia while that of United States remains fairly constant. The Inflation rate in United States is still lower than Australia. As a result, it is highly unlikely that the interest rate in Austral ia will increase by a large amount. On the other hand, the interest rate within the United States would be expected to remain quite low.In addition, according to the information from IMF, GDP growth of Australia will be stable at 3. 5% while that of United States will increase from 2. 4% to 3. 5%. Although there is a large reduction in unemployment rate in United States, it is still higher than Australia’s. Therefore, as long as the US Federal Reserve will not implement the monetary policy QE3 in the next few years, the currency of the United States will go up against Australia, but exchange rate of Australia will still be slightly higher than United States in the intermediate term.In the long term (greater than 5 years), the inflation rate of Australia will drop to 2. 4% in 2017 while that of United States will start to rise. On the other hand, GDP growth for both Australia and United States are similar at a stable pace of 4% and are hard to improve?In addition, the unemploy ment rate will continue to decline to about 4%. After 2017, inflation rates and GDP growth rate of both countries are expected to get closer and closer, achieving the stable coordination finally.At the same time, the Central Banks should not raise their interest rate to lower the inflation. Therefore, in conclusion, we predict that the exchange rate of AUD/USD will remain at a stable relationship with each other in the long term. Reference: IMF 2012, IMF Data Mapper, 2Executive summary This report focuses on forecasting the trend of exchange rate of AUD/USD and PHP/USD in short term, intermediate term and long term. The fundamental analysis is based on the changes in demand and supply of those three currencies.In terms of PHP/USD, for short term, the higher domestic interest rate in Philippine and the monetary policy (QE) will be implemented by United States will result in PHP/USD decreases. For intermediate term, as QE grows the GDP of United States, Philippines remain domestic pol icies and target, the supply of dollars increase faster than demand of pesos decrease, PHP/USD continue to decrease. For long term, those factors which affect the exchange rate will trend to reach an another equilibrium, PHP/USD increase.As for AUD/USD, due to the increased consumption of Australia on the US imports, the demand for US will increase. Consequently, AUD/USD will decrease in the short term. For intermediate term, Unit Stated will experience an obvious economic recovery while the major macroeconomic variables in Australia generally remain at a stable level, thus AUD/USD will continuous fall, but AUD will still appreciate slightly against USD. In the long term, the economy of both countries are expected to get a stable coordination, so it is likely that the USD will stop depreciating against the AUD and the exchange rate between the USD and he AUD achieve an new equilibrium.In recommendation, US dollar trend to depreciate against Philippines peso in short and intermediate term, purchasing pesos using US dollars now and exchange back to US dollar in the future which up to 5 years for gaining profit. US dollar trend to be appreciated against AU dollar in short and intermediate term, hence the top manager should hold a short position on the AUD and a long position on the USD, while for the long term the top manager just hold a short position on the USD.

Politics and Bioethics Essay

The traditional roles of the physician are to stave off death and to comfort the dying. The sick and the injured assume that a doctor will be able to prolong their lives by curing them of their disease. The dying, on the other hand, believes that a doctor will allow them to die peacefully and with dignity by relieving them of their suffering. In the process, the physician is transformed into a caretaker and protector of life. But what if physicians are required to use their medical skills to eliminate parties that are considered as threats to a society or a nation? Doctors who are involved in capital punishment and or the torture of prisoners often claim that they follow a distinct set of obligations (Beauchamp and Childress 316). They are expected to place the interests of a community or a nation above both their own and the detainees’ benefit. As a result, they have to treat prisoners differently from their other patients. Physician participation in the death penalty is not a historical novelty. The inventor of the guillotine was a kindly doctor who wanted to make executions more humane (Gershman 23). In Herman Melville’s novella Billy Budd (1924), a physician ensured that the hanging of the main character was â€Å"scientifically conducted† (Melville 293). Before Gary Gilmore was put to death, a doctor pinned a white circle over his heart as a target for the firing squad (Annas 69). The adoption of the lethal injection as a methodology of executing criminals further increased the involvement of physicians in capital punishment. Apart from supervising the execution, a doctor is likewise tasked with preparing the prisoner for execution, pronouncing death and determining which individuals should be excluded from the death penalty (Annas 69-70). In 2002, the United States Supreme Court included the diagnosis of mental retardation as a ground for prohibiting execution. The physician, meanwhile, selects the detainees that would be spared from execution by subjecting them to a medical test that would establish â€Å"their (ability) to understand (capital punishment)† and why is it being imposed† (Annas 70). Advocates of physician involvement in the death penalty often argue that the goals of medicine can be reconciled with those of capital punishment. The primary objective of the death penalty is to deter crime by executing those who have been proven guilty of heinous wrongdoings. The main purpose of medicine, on the other hand, is to alleviate suffering. In the context of medical participation in capital punishment, these goals are both met – society is rid of a criminal in a civilized and painless manner. In some cases, criminals that have been proven to be mentally ill are freed. But facts prove otherwise. Forensic psychology is an entirely different discipline from clinical psychology. The latter is obligated by the Hippocratic tradition to give primacy to the needs of the patient (British Medical Association 105). The former, in sharp contrast, is bound to the objective truth – regardless of what a forensic psychologist may find on the prisoner whom he or she is studying. This difficult intersection between medicine and the law would definitely affect the processes of establishing guilt or innocence and resolving disputes (British Medical Association 106). The medical profession is also tainted with a long history of physician involvement in the torture of prisoners. The Nuremberg trials revealed shocking atrocities committed by Nazi doctors and biomedical scientists during the Holocaust. Under their direct supervision, countless psychiatric patients and senile elderly persons were killed. Furthermore, they subjected unconsenting concentration camp inmates to cruel and sometimes lethal experiments (Caplan 78). It was first revealed in 2002 that doctors and other personnel were force-feeding and using truth serum on detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2003, medical personnel at Abu Ghraib treated torture victims and recorded the evidence, but failed to report these incidents. The International Committee of the Red Cross then reported in 2004 that the usage physical and psychological torture on prisoners were rampant in Guantanamo. Furthermore, a group of psychologists, known as the Behavioral Science Consultation Team (BSCT or â€Å"Biscuit†), advised the interrogators (Rejali 401). Why would doctors – people who are supposed to protect life – participate in torture? It must be noted that the Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib doctors were working in prisons that held individuals that were believed to be terrorists. Thus, these physicians were expected to actively participate in the â€Å"War on Terror† by keeping tortured prisoners alive until American soldiers manage to extract valuable intelligence information from them. Simply put, the duty of the Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib doctors to the detainees under their care was to treat them not out of adherence to the Hippocratic Oath but that of the desire to help defeat the enemies of the US. But it is never acceptable for military physicians to participate in torture. Article 1 of the Regulations in Time of Armed Conflict (likewise known as the Havana Declaration) maintains that there is no difference between medical ethics in times of armed conflict and medical ethics in times of peace. Article 2, meanwhile, makes clear that the primary task of the physician is to preserve health and save life, therefore prohibiting him or her from: a. Giving advice or performing prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that are not justifiable in the patient’s interests; b. Weakening the physical or mental strength of a human being without therapeutic justification; and c. Employing scientific knowledge which would imperil health or destroy life (Singer and Viens 354). Because the primary task of doctors is to preserve health and save life, they are morally required to report incidents of torture or mistreatment of prisoners. According to Principle 5 of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT): Doctors have a duty to monitor and speak out when services in which they are involved are unethical, abusive and inadequate or pose a potential threat to patients’ health. In such cases, they have an ethical duty to take prompt action as failure to take an immediate stand makes protest at a later stage more difficult. They should report the matter to appropriate authorities or international agencies who can investigate but without exposing patients, their families or themselves to foreseeable serious risk of harm. (354) Reporting cases of torture and ill-treatment is part of the physician’s sworn duty to preserve health and save life. If he or she suspects or witness the abuse of detainees, he or she should immediately report his or her findings to the judiciary and any other investigative body (Action for Torture Survivors, CPT, Amnesty International, etc. ). A failure to do so is usually synonymous to â€Å"omission,† an offense which is actionable in criminal and civil law. But the doctor is not obliged to immediately report cases of torture if doing so would imperil his or her life. In this case, it is necessary for him or her to wait until the threat to his or her security has passed and or there are already relevant third parties to whom she could disclose his or her findings (Singer and Viens 354). The end of medicine is not limited to the treatment of the sick and the injured. It should likewise concern itself with the health of the mind, spirit and the community as a whole. There are certain societal conditions that result in the physical, mental and spiritual degradation of a given populace. The torture of prisoners is a good example of these societal problems – victims of torture are not only physically injured but are also stripped of their dignity as human beings. Being a doctor, therefore, means not only preserving health and saving life but likewise going against a status quo that would hinder him or her from fulfilling these duties. Human health, after all, is more than just the absence of disease. It also means living in a society that is conducive to physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. But how can people attain this objective if they live in a community that is hostile to it? Works Cited Annas, George J. American Bioethics: Crossing Human Rights and Health Law Boundaries. New York, New York: Oxford University Press US, 2005. Beauchamp, Tom L. , and James F. Childress. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 5th ed. New York, New York: Oxford University Press US, 2001. British Medical Association. Medicine Betrayed: The Participation of Doctors in Human Rights Abuses. 2nd ed. London: Zed Books, Ltd. , 1992. Caplan, Arthur L. When Medicine Went Mad: Bioethics and the Holocaust. New York, New York: Oxford University Press US, 1992. Gershman, Gary P. Death Penalty on Trial: A Handbook with Cases, Laws, and Documents. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2005. Melville, Herman. Billy Budd and Other Stories. Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1998. Rejali, Darius M. Torture and Democracy. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2007. Singer, Peter A. , and Adrian M. Viens. The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Accountability, autonomy and delegation in nursing Essay

Accountability, autonomy and delegation in nursing - Essay Example Nursing is a professional practice that deals with helping people in achieving and maintaining good health thus normal body functioning. The profession is entirely on nurse giving services to the human race. Nurses are guided by some code of ethics which they must abide to in order to perform their duties as requiredThe practice authority is based on social agreement outlining the practice responsibility expectations to enter the profession one must go through the territorial and national nursing boards all of which are administered and defined by the law thus defining a scope of practice.Autonomy means self independence, self governance and ability to practice self control. In nursing it means the idea of giving health professional (nurses) formal authorities in making independent decision concerning patient care. Autonomy is a key and central idea in the health care field of the modern world. It applies to the nurses as it allows them to exercise equitable control and judgment over nursing professional.(MacDonald ,2002)In the modern World nurses have some set professional standards that guide them in their work and which they all must adhere to. The standards clearly indicate the right way on how things can be done under the profession and also the wrong things which ought not to be done. Like any other profession nurses have that freedom of practicing professional judgment and setting their own standards of performance and employing the members and patients. (MacDonald ,2002) Professional autonomy will therefore give some justification as to why nurses act as per their own judgment (profession) rather than waiting to be guided by the physicians what to do. In this case the nursing profession will not been subordinate to the medical expertise but it will rather be independent of the medical expertise. Though the nurses will be retaining a scope of autonomy judgment on how the orders are carried out. It is very possible that nurses will know some things which are not known by their physicians. Thus is because nurses undergo some formal training that enables them to gain wide range of experience in some areas as under the profession for example nurses will understand and perform sterile dressing procedures perfectly than the physician will do will this regard wherever a physicians orders the nurse to do something that is in conflict with the professional autonomy of the nursing expertise than the autonomy dictates that the nurses has a right to object the fulfilment of such orders. (MacDonald ,2002) Accountability defined on the black's law dictionary in the state of being responsible or answerable to your deeds. Nurses in the nursing profession are required to be answerable to the physicians, patients and nursing board. They should be held responsible in any thing done under their profession hence answerable. Accountability ensures that professionals' ethical, acceptable and legal nursing conducts are maintained by the nurses. Nurses are therefore expected to show accountability in their profession as ling as they are engaged in it. They should perform their duties with regard to the acceptance nursing care and the acceptable nursing care and the set out standards a thing that will demonstrate higher accountability on the nurse own actions.(Hage ,2000) Accountability goes hand in hand with liability. (Hage ,2000) The black's law dictionary defines liability as a condition of being potentially subject to an obligation. The nurse profession carries moment's duties and obligation which guides the nurse on what to do. Nurses should therefore be held liable for anything that happened under his docket and should be held responsible for example. (Hage ,2000) A nurse should follow the procedures and policies as laid down by his employer and should follow the

Overcomming adversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Overcomming adversity - Essay Example Some are learning disabled. How we overcome these adversities in the traditional classroom marks our teaching effectiveness. As a teacher I am going to try my best to embrace diversity and different methods of learning in every way. This is just one experience but there is diversity in the way we learn, our socio-economic backgrounds, our ethnic backgrounds – The list can go on forever. I am going to give it my all to teach to the individual while creating a cohesive classroom where nobody feels left out and everyone feels like a little part of them as become a process of group learning in a positive way. Diversity is what makes life interesting and I plan to continue to emphasize this in each lesson plan I create! I plan to connect, not disconnect, ALL of my student’s to the curriculum. Only be embracing diversity can we overcome adversity in the classroom. A key way of overcoming adversity is to embrace online learning. This helps learning disabled students as it prov ides a better learning forum for them. Online education has undergone vast improvements over the last decade. Initially online courses were not acknowledged to the level that they are today. It was rare for a college or university to offer an online course. Today the case is a lot different. Far more than half of the universities and colleges offer online education. Over the years progression has lead to two different types of online models.

Costa Rican Coffee Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Costa Rican Coffee Industry - Essay Example Costa Coffee refers to a British Multinational coffeehouse in United Kingdom, a subsidiary of Whitbread PLC. It forms the second largest coffeehouse chain worldwide after Starbucks. The Italian brothers; Bruno and Sergio Costa started the coffeehouse in 1971 as a wholesale supplier of roasted coffee to specialist and caterers in Italian shops. Currently, the business operates 1375 restaurants in UK and 2500 vending facilities, in Costa Coffee, as well as 800 overseas outlets. The Costa Coffee outlets can be found in airports, Tesco stores, bookstores, hospitals and in motorway services. Some subunits can be found in railway stations as well as in the airport throughout UK. Most of the branches within airports, hospitals and cinema halls are owned by either corporate franchise or individuals. Some outlets can also be found outside the business parks, often, among most leading companies and food retailers. The Costa Express created by coffee chain from the self-service coffee bars anti cipates rebranding Coffee Nation Machine to see the expansion to 3000 locations. The Coffee Nation operates in motorway services and within the Tesco stores. The company aims to target hospitals, transport interchanges and universities. The company’s roaster is in UK and is operated by three master roasters from Italy. The retail stores sell Mocha Italia coffee; six parts Arabica and four parts Robusta and use Gennaro Pelliccia as the coffee taster. The company sponsors awards such as Costa Book Awards that began in 2006.... Most of the branches within airports, hospitals and cinema halls are owned by either corporate franchise or individuals. Some outlets can also be found outside the business parks, often, among most leading companies and food retailers. The Costa Express created by coffee chain from the self-service coffee bars anticipates rebranding Coffee Nation Machine to see the expansion to 3000 locations. The Coffee Nation operates in motorway services and within the Tesco stores. The company aims to target hospitals, transport interchanges and universities. The company’s roaster is in UK and is operated by three master roasters from Italy. The retail stores sell Mocha Italia coffee; six parts Arabica and four parts Robusta and use Gennaro Pelliccia as the coffee taster. The company sponsors awards such as Costa Book Awards that began in 2006 (Allegra Strategies, 2009). Some of the controversies surrounding the Costa Coffee include the opening of Bristol outlet in 2011 without appropriate planning permission leading to planning appeals against any enforcement action in 2012. The company also faced opposition from residents who restricted them from opening up an outlet in Totnes making the company withdraw. Despite of opposition from resident and protests against opening up of the outlets, Costa Coffee managed to open some coffee shop, such as in Southwold, after getting the planning permission on the appeal. The Costa coffee possesses four characteristics. First is the miscela where the coffee is made from the unique blend called Mocha Italia. The other characteristic is grind, macinatura where each Costa cup contains freshly ground beans with appropriate consistency that ensures perfect aroma and flavours. The Mazzer comprises of Ferrari

Position Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Position - Term Paper Example Without personal development realizing one’s dreams and aspirations are not possible. I continually thrive to achieve personal development through inspirations and small things in life. Accepting the things we cannot change and appreciating the things that we are have are critical for personal growth in my experience. I also believe that one has to do the things that he/she love in order to succeed in anything. Without the passion for doing things, it cannot be a success. I always try my best to believe in myself and to give my all when I am engaged to a particular work. According to the personal development based on me2 questionnaire my personality analysis ranked me very high as a curious person but very uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. I do not like to be in situation which I cannot take control of. For me, I have to certain in what I do and my curious nature often drives me to understand the world the world around. Hard working is the key to any success but wi thout values and personal growth, it is not a complete success as we as a human should evolve through our experiences and beliefs. I believe one of the reasons I felt confident in my learning experience, my personality and my career path is that I know for a fact that this is where I want to be. Confidence is very crucial when it comes to business management and I believe that if you are not confident about yourself or your work, it is not possible to grow. In the confidence zone, I perceived myself to be reasonably confident in my capacity to generate and work with ideas. My beliefs, values and confidence give me the positive learning environment. I often spend tie analyzing each sessions of my class and focusing on how I can improve my learning goals. This gives me the perspective of what I need to improve and develop. My flexibility also gives me the confidence to tackle any task given to me. For me change is the way of life and one should be open about change if it is for the po sitive cause. â€Å"Change equates with life, with our own personal, social, mental and physical development and with our ability to learn, to adapt, and to play an active role in social and community activities† (Andriopoulos & Dawson 2009, p.14) for me life is about making compromises when it matters and one should be flexible enough to welcome change. I also believe any personal, professional and career growth cannot be achieved without confidence and flexibility. I always believe in myself and this boost my confidence level which makes me extremely goal oriented. Although over confidence is what drives people to making stupid and irrational decisions, so I always calculated my options before I make any big decisions. I can say that I have grown personally over the past few years; I still need to work on many areas of my path to achieve my goals. But, I also believe that with my confidence and myself motivation, I can definitely achieve my career goals in life. My self â⠂¬â€œ efficiency is what makes me believe that I am capable of successfully performing a task assigned to me. I rate my level of self- efficiency to be very strong and this gives me the confidence to face new task or challenges. Idea generations can define as â€Å"The process of creating, developing, and communicating ideas which are abstract, concrete, or visual. The process includes the process of constructing through the idea innovating the concept, developing

Why Should Prostitution Be legalized Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why Should Prostitution Be legalized - Essay Example The premise of this study, therefore, is that prostitute women are sustained in prostitution since involvement in prostitution becomes making sense. Hence, whereas legal and scholarly discourse has represented prostitutes as either dissimilar from or similar to average women, and whereas engaging in prostitution generates conflicting effects, some prostitute women were able to establish significance of their involvement in prostitution since they lived both within and outside the wholeness of the conflicts of being similar and different from other women. Prostitution should be legalized because for the prostitute women themselves prostitution is a gendered survival mechanism that allowed them to acquire and sustain a degree of social and financial security and hence created better lives for themselves, and a gendered exploitation that endangered their physical and social stability and ensnarled them into prostitution. They justify their contradiction through believing that their prostitute activities were simply an emphasis of the inconsistent conflation of men, money and brutality that influences, orients and affects all heterosexual sexual

Management of Hazardous Materials in a Dental Office Assignment

Management of Hazardous Materials in a Dental Office - Assignment Example Employers should provide for their employees in a dental office the necessary equipment to protect them from bloodborne pathogens. Such devices include syringes whose needle is shielded with a sheath after use and needles that can be drawn back into a syringe immediately after use to avoid pricking or exposure of extracted blood. Taps with constant running water should also be availed for use in cleaning eyes in case of exposure. Gloves are also a necessity as it is hazardous to handle blood with bare hands. An employee should also get a means to flush any secretions, saliva or mucous membranes in the case of exposure. Safe disposal of sharp objects is vital in preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens among dental care workers. This safe disposal involves the use of sharp containers which are puncture-resistant. Such should be labeled correctly and placed out of reach of children and other patients. They should also be waterproof to prevent the flow of infected blood from them. The sharp containers should have an opening wide enough to allow easy placement of disposable sharp objects and should never be over-filled. Once full, it should be safely sealed and disposed of. MSDS is a document outline the safety and emergency procedure for workers in terms of handling a substance, its physical data, and storage requirements, how to dispose of it and how to act in case it spills. Such information safeguards workers against poor handling of hazardous substances and identifies the dangers of contact and contamination. MSDS can vary by country and supplier. A color code, combined with a 0 to 4 number rating, was developed to assist in compliance with OSHA communication standards in terms of identifying hazards.  

Saudization of Iraqi Families Living in Saudi Arabia Essay

Saudization of Iraqi Families Living in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example What they faced while they were settling and how they managed to make their place in the society is what the research will be focusing on. The research will mainly focus on a group of conservative families. The main area of concentration as said earlier will be on the social changes experienced as a result of moving into a more conservative Islamic state and highlighting the ability of these families to cope with the differing cultures whilst still trying to keep their identity. These families were considered to be a minority amongst the other foreigners living in Saudi Arabia. The immigrating purposes also vary from one family to another significantly and they all have their own stories to tell. Underneath the coherent appearance of these small community members there is a visible disruptive effect of the migration process seen on the surface. However this can be identified by only someone who has a close connection or understanding with the emotional side that these people face and they can reach their innermost thoughts and experiences and break the barriers of pride. I hope to be able to provide this missing connection and the feelings that have not been yet understood. Firstly I’ll analyze whether the Iraqi families adopted the Saudi way of living as part of adjustment in the society or have they been able to maintain their own distinctiveness? Secondly, what kind of problems of continuity of the two generations have they faced? Have the first generation been able to transfer their beliefs and thoughts to the second generation or has the influence of the Saudi society been more forceful and powerful than they realized. While I conducted a survey of the available information and data with regards to the migration of the Iraqi’s to Saudi Arabia, I was unable to find any detailed study using the ethnographic details available for research.

Study case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Case Study Example Currently, Global Motors has different models that are feasible in terms of engineering and production. Though the company has different brands and models of vehicles, the company is experiencing a problem in their marketing of the vehicles. The company gets problems in knowing the customer loyalty or the level of desirability of the models by the customers. These spans from determining the most desirable price range for potential buyers, determining the most desirable size of the vehicle (seats) and determining the models have the most desirable form of energy used for vehicle transportation. The company also faces problems in positioning of the cars to the customers in aspects such as demographic, psychographics, global warming, lifestyle and other perceptions. The company also faces problems in promotional /marketing tactics to use to reach potential buyers.Specificaly; the company wants to know the best social media to use so that they may use it to avoid spending large amounts of money on online promotions. Lastly, the company gets problem in getting the target market and the bes t segment. It is evident that these problems that concern the positioning of the cars, desirability or customer loyalty, target markets and segments, and promotional tactics relate to the marketing plans. This research therefore seeks to evaluate the effective marketing plan of the Global Motors. This research will implore both qualitative and quantitative research methods to get the important information. The research will have a sample size of 100 customers with 50 buyers in the social media and 50 and 50 who are not in the social media. The data will be collected through the usage of questionnaires and interviews as source of primary information. The secondary data will include environmental, automotive and marketing information from the

Towneley Cycle Story of Noah and Gill Essay Example for Free

Towneley Cycle Story of Noah and Gill Essay The Towneley cycle is a story line created in the seventeenth centaury with playwrights who expressed a significant amount of hatred against. Hatred was the major theme put forwad by the playwrights. Male superiority, is another element of the Towneley cycle as the as this stories portrayed the male as angelic representations of human beings whose only major problem were their wife’s who had to fully depend on their guidance. Settings The play Noah and Gill is depicting the age before Christ set in the period where the male were portrayed as angelic and holy. the duration where secularism was considered unclean and the women were considered to have to be under the control of men Characters Noah who is a man of God married to Gill. Noah constantly complains about his wife and in the play he is portrayed as holy. Second character in the play is Gill who plays Noah wife as nagging woman, who constantly causing stress to her husband and the same time seems shrewish. Plot development The story starts between two married partners Noah and Gill the plot develops from an ancient Christian traditional way of life. Surrounded by both the traditional and bibilical myths, the play holds a strong attraction to the relation with the way of life in the 17th century. To develop the story line the playwright borrows from new fields mostly the the themes expressing hate against women and the mere traditional way of life which are treated dramatically in the age before Christ (B. C) Symbolism There is a lot of use of symbolism in the story cycles as the women are used as that mark of weakness that constantly pulls down the male in the society while the male symbolizes the angelic pillar of the society. The male also symbolize authority that has to be followed by the female in the society so as to keep the balance in the society. Combination of the above styles creates the following When this elements are used in combination with each other we see the development of a storyline which symbolizes a mixture of the period Before Christ and the period during the 17th century marking a blend of two civilizations an ancient and a modern age civilization as the settings of its occurrence and the character presentation which shows perceptions of the 17th century reasoning. Aspects of the 17th century reflected by the story are the illustrations on how women were looked down upon in the 17th century and the hatred that was mated on women by the. The clothing used in the play also shows the marked difference in the belief system which the play is set up as it correlates with the 17th century way of life not the original Before Christ would be setting A classic story done in the settings of the early 17th centaury at the verge of a shift to secular acting from the more conservative Christian story line, illustrated in the Towneley cycle: Noah and Gill in the second shepherds play depicts women as saints which other readers have portrayed to illustrate women negatively but without expression of double standards in your reading it is found that women are not expressed as negatively as men in the story (Dane, 2000). In this play significant attention has not been paid to other women characters that appear in the cycle as they are important in the understanding of women the crucial women’s role in the plays. for example the women who have been virtually ignored in the production of the cycle include Mary Magdalene and even virgin Mary. The play write intentionally presents this women as shrews for example instead of choosing examples in the scriptures the playwright chooses to use fictional characters as in the case of Noah’s wife and Gill where Gill is his own creation (Grafstein, 2002). Hatred of women in the culture in those times is illustrated by the negative interpretation of the women characters. Through a recently carried out research it has been shown that the position of the women was not as bad as the misogyny has lead us to believe . As the women who expressed great hatred for women missed out on be best chances to picture women negatively. Instead of using Sarah in the play Abraham and Isaac to portray mans rebellion against God as originated from the woman scoffing the best picture could have been illustrated by Miriam treating Moses with contemptuous disregard (Kolberg, 2004). It’s also seen that despite the women of those times were oppressed they had a greater control of their lives than the women of the seventeenth century when this plays were written. The play recognizes the scoffing teachings as Noah complains of his wife and the general nature of women. During the first two thirds of the play the theme is centralized on Noah’s wife lack of respect for authority, this depicts her in comparison to the nature of the fallen angles and as materialistic and worldly. In the play Noah is presented angelic family head that has to bear with a stressful wife, who is simply another display of a woman needing the direction of the male. Women are also illustrated comically and more negatively than men. The writer came up with women in these stories to show that women were second class citizens in the eyes of God Reference Dane W. (2000) Collections Of the16th and 17 centurybest Stories Chicago: American Library Association Grafstein, Ann. (2002). Towneley Cycle Story: Noah and Gill. Mcgrawhill: New York. Peter ,Kolberg (2004) Towneley Cycle Story of Noah and Gill : Foundation inn the literary skills Longman publishers (2) 22-27

Sustainable Living In The 21st Century Environmental Sciences Essay

Sustainable Living In The 21st Century Environmental Sciences Essay Sustainable living is about a lifestyle that reduces an individuals or societys use of global natural resources (Ainoa et al. 2009). For sustainable living, we should conduct our lives in ways that are consistent with the core principles of sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanitys symbiotic relationship with the Earths natural ecology and biological cycles (CELL, 2010?). Such a living style requires that we make serious attempts to reduce our carbon footprint by altering diet, energy consumption and transportation methods (Winter, 2007). Brown () has described sustainable living in the 21st century as shifting to a renewable energy-based, reuse/recycle economy with a diversified transport system. It is generally recognized that education is the most important factor in improving the quality of life and for enhancing opportunities for individual development. However, it has only recently been realized that education is the decisive factor in addressing the present crisis related to environmental instability. The extent of the global environmental degradation crisis has only come into focus because of the multiple and repeated alarms being raised over the effects of climate change. However, addressing the multiple threats to the sustainability of humanity within the 21st century is an enormous challenge involving educating and re-educating people on a multitude of complex and inter-related concepts. Education must have a dominant role in moving towards sustainable living since it is the single most important factor in improving the quality of life. Science education is essential in achieving social development through environmental awareness. Education must be the advocate for environmental sustainability being a moral obligation for all. Moving towards environmental sustainability involves educating communities on the intensity of present environmental degradation and motivating them to reduce their ecological footprint based on acquired knowledge and experience. Higher education is particularly relevant to solving the crisis of climate change (Hales, 2008). It is timely that higher education should focus on science and engineering for the development of new technologies for conservation of water and energy supplied and teach communities how to live and work sustainably. Specially structured educational programs are needed. These should be multidisciplinary to cover all aspects that relate to sustainable living, must holistically address the total energy, water and carbon footprints of lifestyle choices, and explain how these choices, decisions and behaviours affect natural resources, social equity and economic development. Further, extension programs mu st act as models for others to follow and help communities walk the talk (Crosby et al., 2008). This chapter is an attempt to emphasize the most significant aspects of education associated with moving toward sustainability. What is sustainability? Sustainability has different meanings for different people and has only recently come into sharp focus following concerns on climate change and the consequences for sustainability of humanity. Unfortunately, the climate change debate has overshadowed the more important debate on the sustainability of the environment. Over the last two centuries, the environment has been seen as self-sustaining and a resource to be exploited and consumed. Only in recent decades has the environment been acknowledged as being seriously stressed and threatened, and in urgent need for conservation and regeneration. Despite the present widespread recognition of global environmental degradation being caused by human neglect, there is intense debate on how environmental conservation and regeneration can be achieved both now and in the future. This debate is frustrated by a lack of a pragmatic definition of sustainability, particularly in relation to sustainable environmental development. The much quoted Brundtlund Report definition published in 1987 was the first to link sustainable development to social responsibility: sustainable development means maintaining the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. However, the needs of the present generation are many and diverse and include food, water, energy and money among others. These needs have already exceeded the resources on which they depend and so the ability of future generations to meet their needs is already compromised. Following such a loose definition of sustainability, there has been continuing alarm on the disparity of the needs of the rich compared to those of the poor and on what should be sustained and priorities of sustaining. The reality is that present population growth, exotic lifestyles and excessive consumption of resources are not sustainable but to create sustainability remains an elusive objective. It is obvious that there is an urgent need to move towards sustainability based on major changes to the present dominant social and community values. The extreme dedication of communities to consume resources must change to conservation of resources coupled with wealth accumulation changing to wealth distribution to assist in closing the gap between the haves and have-nots. Hence, sustainability should be driven by people power. Sustainability also implies changes of attitude and emphasis on perceptions of the meaning of economic growth. This has long been associated with increased trade and industrial development which have produced a downward spiral of increased poverty and progressive environmental degradation. Economic growth has to be measured in terms of meeting the essential needs of humanity without enhancing environmental degradation together with greater equity in the distribution of economic benefits. Social justice is a crucial component of sustainability. Sustainability is primarily dependent on the preservation of the diverse and complex ecosystems which make up the global ecosphere. These fragile systems are under unprecedented stress as a consequence of the relentless demands for cleared land for housing and industry, the increasing demands for fossil fuels for energy generation and the burgeoning demand for food from grain crops and for fish from the oceans. It is only because of the comparatively recent alarm bells sounded by the onslaught of climate change that irreversible environmental degradation has been fully recognized and appreciated but alas, not fully understood. In order to emphasize the scale of degradation and its correlation with human impact, a new jargon has emerged that of ecological footprint which is a measure of the ecological capacity of individuals. At present, even the crudest estimates of ecological footprints indicate that the developed nations of the world are living beyond their ecological capacity and are thus living on borrowed time. Sustainability inevitably involves government at all levels and requires democratic revitalization to produce sustainable, accountable and equitable forms of capitalism which activate social reforms and promote ecological awareness. There is a common perception that technology will solve the sustainability issue but this is a misconception since although technology can assist moving towards sustainability, it is not the unilateral antidote. Further, achieving sustainability is not a quick fix phenomenon but a prolonged and uncertain journey involving dedicated commitment of people and resources. It is already clear that the rate of technological development in mitigating climate change is not consistent with the magnitude of problem. Put simply, to reduce carbon emissions means capturing carbon dioxide and diverting it from the atmosphere. These two operations need to be both technologically and economically feasible and require time consuming research coupled with innovative strategies to commercialize new scientific discoveries. Although a tangible definition of sustainability is elusive, it does have many facets all related to sustaining the environment as the top priority.   Thus, education for moving toward sustainability also has many facets which are best illustrated by the cluster chart shown in Figure 1 and a brief discussion of each component of this cluster follows. Fig. 1 Cluster diagram to describe the components of education associated with sustainability. Education for sustainable environments Sustaining humanity in the 21st century depends on sustaining the environment as the top priority so as to preserve its resources. In simple terms, preserving these resources means that sustainable consumable yields are provided but that the consumption rate does not exceed the regeneration rate. Similarly, non-renewable resources must be preserved which means that the consumption rate is balanced by the production rate of renewable resources. In conjunction with these balancing strategies, it is necessary to ensure that waste generation does not exceed the assimilation rate of the environment. Clearly the present crisis of acute and widespread environmental degradation is the result of these three factors being ignored over many decades. The environment in all its dimensions is degrading globally. Atmospheric pollution has been of major concern for many decades but has now reached new heights of concern following the widespread concern on the effects of climate change. The main cause of climate change is believed to be due to the excessive build up of carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere caused mainly by the excessive combustion of fossil fuels for the production of energy. However, carbon dioxide is not the only known greenhouse gas, methane is also a potent heat storage gas along with water vapor. This fact alone is sufficient for much complacency within the climate change debate and poses additional challenges for climate change educators. Whether or not climate change is a reality is irrelevant in the context of environmental sustainability since all factors which disturb the equilibrium of the environment which has been established over millennia have to be considered and addressed. Loss of biodiversity from the land arises largely from habitat loss and fragmentation produced by overuse of land for development, forestry and agriculture. This is blatant conversion of natural capital to investment capital and although there has been widespread condemnation of destruction of the rain-forests of the world for decades,   the realities of such devastation are only now becoming fully apparent as are the effects of intensive agriculture which reduces soil quality at alarming rates. It is ironic that forests conserve biodiversity, preserve water and soil quality, provide a wide variety of products and, above all, produce atmospheric oxygen by photosynthesis and yet these provisions still have no tangible market value as compared with the economic benefits of logging and land clearing which directly increase atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.   Such are the challenges for sustainability education, since the mindsets of developers and economists clearly have to change and natural resources need to be priced sufficiently high to ensure their preservation. Similarly, water resources globally are at crisis point. Freshwater is essential for human life but at best, it is less than 5% of the global resource. Excessive use of freshwater supplies for irrigation has markedly affected the health of river systems mainly by reducing flow rates which in turn places stress on wetland systems. Further, natural flooding of river flood plains has been curtailed by the construction of dams and weirs which further control river flow rates and hence place severe stress on vital river ecosystem resources. It is again ironic that many of these aquatic ecosystems have been studied in detail over several decades but it is only comparatively recently that inter-dependence of these ecosystems has been appreciated and value of biodiversity as a realistic measure of environmental health realized. Further, the marine environment is also undergoing rapid degradation which is most apparent from the decline in the number of fish species as a result of over-fishing with the advent of trawl technology and unsustainable fishing practices. Although the recent increase in success of aquaculture has and will continue to address this imbalance, it is clear that more severe international statutory controls on fishing are required together with the implementation of sustainable fishing practices- both of which depend on international agreements and treaties which are difficult to achieve and implement. Education for sustainable economies The supreme challenge for sustainable living in the 21st century is to curb excessive consumption in the developed world whilst raising living standards in the developing world without a net increase in consumption of natural resources and environmental impact. Historically, living standards have correlated with economic growth and environmental degradation, and so moving towards sustainable living is at best challenging and at worst, impossible. Again, education is required to change the mindset on what constitutes a sustainable economy, firstly by understanding why present national economies are not sustainable. Contemporary economics is based on economic growth and efficient allocation of resources, and multiple strategies are put in place to achieve pre-determined economic objectives upon which the wealth of nations is based. Conversely, the so-called new economics or ecological economics is based on sustainable growth and fair and efficient distribution of resources. The first time that the latter became a reality rather than a theory was at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change summit when developing world nations argued very convincingly that the developed world should financially assist the developing world in reducing global green house gas emissions. The failure of the summit to reach a unilateral agreement on greenhouse gas emissions was largely due to a lack of agreement on the basic principle of wealth distribution which underwrites ecological economics. Conventional economics puts a price on natural resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, water and foodstuffs and these are regarded as the main drivers of national economies. However, equally important natural resources such as national parks, marine parks, wetlands, coral reefs, mangrove swamps and many others are regarded as economic externalities which need not be priced and therefore are ripe for exploitation, particularly through tourism. Ecological economics is based on realistic pricing of all natural resources which are subject to consumption by humans, either directly or indirectly and in addition, is committed to the belief that sustainable economics is based on a unilateral greening of industry such that manufacturing processes are energy and waste efficient, consume less resources and provide clean, safe working environments. Ecological economics is the fundamental platform of the emerging carbon economy. However, it is already evident that there is much opposition to a carbon tax and skepticism of the effectiveness of carbon emission trading schemes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so public education on the basic science and economics underpinning these schemes is obviously urgently required. Education for sustainable communities There is no doubt that the overwhelming threat to sustainability of humanity in the 21st century is that the present global population of about 6.8 billion is consuming 40% more resources that the Earth is producing per annum and so with a projected global population of 9 billion by 2050, 5.4 Earths worth of resources will be required to achieve human sustainability. Even to move towards sustainability on such a scale obviously requires a massive psyche change of humanity and   Ã‚  extreme urgency in the implementation of sustainable living practices. Building sustainable communities essentially involves people power but communities require educating in order to develop the knowledge, values and skills required for informed decision-making that will improve quality of life now without damaging the environment in the future. Achieving sustainable living is a journey of indefinite duration but with a clearly defined destination. It is a journey taken both by individuals and by communities simultaneously to the benefit of all. The foundation of sustainable communities is the development of sustainability literacy within communities which involves an understanding of the present imbalance between consumption and regeneration of essential natural resources energy, water and food. It is somewhat ironic and humbling to witness that the indigenous communities of the world have been far more sustainability literate over the last two centuries than the so-called modern communities over the last two decades. Sustainable communities are resilient communities which have changed life-style behavior and habits which depend on excessive consumerism to those which embrace waste reduction, reuse and recycle strategies all of which harmonize living standards with environmental demands. These changes take time to implement but result in community social well-being, strong economies and flourishing environments, the benefits of which become obvious to all. Sustainable communities vary enormously with respect to size and character but traditionally form two groups urban and rural. In the past, it has been much more difficult to sustain rural communities due largely to the one-way migration from country to town/city to obtain employment. However, this trend can be at least partially reversed with the wider implementation of eco-development which has been responsible for the so-called new urbanism philosophy but is only just becoming apparent in rural and regional centre infrastructure planning. Eco-development is based on a clean, green living philosophy which incorporates consumption of renewable energies, conservation of water and living off the land using smart ways to grow food. Sustainable literacy only becomes effective when communities understand and appreciate that sustainable living not only gives rise to better, healthier lifestyles but also is cost effective both in the short and long terms. By virtue of their sustainable lif e-styles, sustainable communities are resilient to the effects of climate change and are well suited to benefit from future carbon-based economies. Education for sustainable energy supplies Sustaining humanity in the 21st century requires sustaining energy resources and supplies which creates the dilemma which has become known as the global energy crisis. Coal, oil and natural gas combined provide about 80% of global energy needs mainly in the form of electricity and transport fuels but at the same time produce the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions which are believed to be responsible for global warming. It is estimated that global energy demand could jump by 50% by 2030, consistent with a global population increase of 1.5 billion over the next two decades and this translates to a global warming estimate of the order of 6oC if fossil fuels continue to be the primary energy resource.    An increase of 6oC corresponds to about 3 times the global warming which has occurred over the last century and would have catastrophic environmental, economic and social effects. It is this type of horror scenario which is driving the so-called global energy revolution which dictates that there has to be a move away from fossil fuels as the primary energy resource towards the use of clean green renewable energy resources. These are receiving increasing attention but all have significant technological, development, economic and ethical problems associated with them. The dilemma is that at present, all known renewable energy resources combined including nuclear, solar, wind and biofuels account for less than 10% of global energy requirements and although considerable technological advances are occurring with respect to the commercial development of renewable energy resources, this situation is unlikely to change significantly within the next decade. Similarly, efforts to reduce greenh ouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power stations, collectively known as clean coal technology, are at least 10 -15 years away from commercial reality. It is conservatively estimated that fossil fuels will remain as the primary global energy resource for at least the next 30 50 years and that phasing out of existing coal-fired power stations will take at least 10 15 years. Thus, the energy crisis is essentially how are sustainable energy supplies to be provided exclusively from renewable energy resources over the next half century? Although, it is generally agreed that the transition to renewable energy resources is inevitable, the time scale for such a transition is very unclear since there are not only major technological problems to be overcome but also major social and economic issues to be addressed along the way which involve significant educational strategies to be unilaterally implemented. Given that it is already abundantly clear that we live by an energy economy it is unlikely that the extra costs associated with abatement of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion coupled with the costs of developing alternatives to fossil fuels will be readily accepted by communities, given that the present escalating costs of electricity and transport fuels are a source of despair globally. Then there are ethical issues to be resolved in the transition to clean energy resources. It has been extensively argued that nuclear power is the only realistic alternative to coal and oil as a primary energy resource but the general population is very concerned about the degree of fail-safe operation of nuclear power stations and is very concerned about safe disposal of nuclear waste. Similarly, biofuels which rely on food crops such as corn products as the primary energy resource are competing with the desperate need to increase grain production globally to address malnutrition in some 23% of the global population. It is clear that the global energy revolution will only succeed if viable education strategies are introduced and available to the general population which address the widespread lack of understanding of climate change and, in particular, its causes and also address the pros and cons of renewable energy resources. The immediate future has to involve a blend of old and new energy generation technologies coupled with a widespread recognition that energy has to be conserved and not wasted. It is practical education programs which will promote this ethic at all levels within communities. Education for sustainable water supplies Sustainable living also means having access to sustainable water supplies. At present, it is estimated that some 15% of the global population do not have access to safe water and the majority of these are in developing countries. It is well-known that many of the life threatening diseases, so common in the developing world, are spread by drinking contaminated water. Further, it is estimated that agricultural irrigation consumes some 65% of global freshwater supplies and already many countries and regions are experiencing water scarcity at alarming levels due to prolonged periods of drought. Droughts are predicted to become more prolonged as a result of the consequences of climate change and so demand for freshwater will inevitably rise predicted to be by some 30% over the next two decades and thus it is clear that urgent strategies are necessary to educate communities to use less water more efficiently. Unfortunately, increase in freshwater use is driven by numerous factors which are difficult to assess and control. These factors include population increase and distribution, lifestyles, economies and, most particularly, by increasing demands for food which drives increases in irrigated agriculture. There is also a political factor which influences freshwater usage in that many of the worlds major freshwater resources are shared since major rivers often flow through several countries. For example, the Danube passes through 12 countries that use its water and the Nile flows through 9 countries which are totally dependent on its waters. Agreement between countries that share freshwater resources can be difficult to achieve and sustain but are generally associated with demands for more effective water usage and strict management programs. Since freshwater is such a valuable resource, water pricing is a highly contentious issue at all levels domestic, industrial and agricultural. Agriculture is linked directly to food production and hence farmers believe that they have the right to sufficient water to produce sufficient crops to provide a sustainable income for themselves and their families. Some governments however believe that such water rights should be controlled by license in view of the scarcity of the commodity and this explains the conflict that is evident between primary producers and water licensing authorities. It is inevitable that sustainable agriculture depends on a major reduction in water used for irrigation by progressive use of drip-irrigation technology in conjunction with installation of improved drainage and recycling systems. Also, during the so-called Green Revolution of the 1960s, new strains of many species of crops resulted in large increases in productivity and this technology is now focused on strains of grain crops which require less irrigation. At the industrial level and as a major part of industrial greening strategies, industry is adopting water recycling initiatives which may include partial treatment of waste water. These initiatives are complementary to the energy consumption reduction strategies and are consistent with the 3Rs of clean, green industry reuse, recycle, reduce. At the domestic level, a user pays system is usually applied to water consumption and during periods of drought, restrictions are placed on water usage which are enforced by water management authorities. It is becoming increasingly apparent that due to the escalating cost of water, communities and individuals are becoming more aware of the need for water conservation and are taking appropriate steps to initiate the 3R rule both individually and collectively. These initiatives include the installation of water tanks in homes to collect rain water and the recycling of non-sewage waste water for external use. No longer can it be taken for granted that the right to water means simply turning a tap on. Education for sustainable food supplies Food security, in conjunction with sustainable energy and water supplies, are the essential components of sustaining humanity. At present, food security is not a reality since at least 15% of the global population is undernourished and with a projected surging population increase, it is a daunting challenge to reduce world hunger, especially since this is directly linked with poverty and exacerbated by global warming. The Green Revolution, which partially achieved food security over the period 1960 to mid-1980, was the dawn of intensive agriculture which has resulted in serious environmental problems. Widespread deep tilling of land together with excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides coupled with intensive irrigation has caused degradation of soil quality and texture in addition to dry land salinity. The additional threat of climate change will inevitably further threaten the achievement of food security in coming decades unless urgent steps are taken now to move towards sustainable agriculture. Science, technology and innovation are essential drivers of sustainable agriculture and hence food security. Improved mechanization of agriculture using efficient harvesting machines which reduce soil compaction are already increasing productivity and use of geographical positioning system (GPS) technology to monitor and control the position of such machinery enables precisely measured amounts of seed, fertilizer and pesticides in addition to the determination of soil and plant quality, which enables early detection of diseases. Further, development of improved crop varieties and marker assisted plant breeding combine to reduce losses due to pests and diseases. These biotechnologies lead to strains which are tolerant of drought, heat and saline conditions in addition to improved pest and disease resistance. Further, drip irrigation coupled with micro-nutrient addition is becoming increasingly effective in increasing production of staple crops such as sweet potato. In the quest to find alternative, clean, green energy resources, bio-fuels have come into prominence.   Biofuels are currently produced from starch, sugar cane, wheat, maize and palm oil. Biofuel production is currently somewhat controversial since the required raw material is derived from land that should be used for food production. In addition, sugar cane and palm oil plantations contribute to deforestation of tropical rain forests.   Second   generation   biofuels are currently being investigated which use crop residues, grasses and willows as base materials and these have much promise as future commercial biofuels and are free of the food related controversies. The last decade has seen massive exploitation of marine resources in the quest to achieve food security. The application of modern technology to commercialization of fishing operations has led to a global overfishing crisis such that sustainable fisheries thresholds have been exceeded. Many of the coastal commercial fisheries have collapsed as a result of declining catches and the global industry is facing further threats from seawater warming and increasing acidification caused by climate change. Thus, the seafood industry is not sustainable. The solution involves harvesting methods that capture fish selectively and within specified limits so as to allow regeneration. However, such strategies are difficult to implement on an international scale. Aquaculture is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenge of food security. Total fish capture in 2010 amounted to some 145 million tonnes of which aquaculture contributed 54 million tonnes representing an increase of some 20 million tonnes compared to a decade ago. Aquaculture meets at least three objectives: provides seafood and hence income for coastal communities, reduces fishing pressure on wild populations and maintains fish supply to sustain commercial, subsistence and recreational demands. Aquaculture can be sustainable provided that quality seawater, dependable supplies of seed and feed-stocks are available together with application of strategies to ensure disease free hatcheries and grow-out systems.   The next generation of aquaculture may involve introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs have already been introduced into agriculture and genetically modified crop strains have been shown to give higher yields with lower fertilizer suppo rt. The transgenic animal products are controversial and early attempts to market GMO salmon have faced stiff resistance. However, the potential for GMOs to be a force in combating food shortages is significant and cannot be overlooked. Food security is clearly based on a combination of sustainable agriculture, sustainable fisheries and sustainable aquaculture together with a paradigm shift in the extent to which natural food resources are exploited. Fundamentally, more food has to be produced with less energy, less water, less chemicals and by methods which allow environmental regeneration. Education in sustainability science and technology Sustainability science is the science associated wi

Musical Instrument Digital Interface Technology In Music Teaching Education Essay

Musical Instrument Digital Interface Technology In Music Teaching Education Essay MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) was created in 1980s as a system to connect different synthesizers and sequencers together. (Ballora, 2003). Today it has widely used into  various  fields, involving videogame, mobile media, film, live performance and etc. Similarly, the improvement of MIDI technology in music education has been significant. It offers numerous opportunities and benefits to teachers and students in the process of teaching and learning. Additionally, there are limitations of MIDI that need to be paid attention to. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integration of MIDI technology in music education. The paper presents a literature review of MIDI technology effect on music education; the benefits of using MIDI in music teaching and learning; the limitations of MIDI technology in education and some recommendations of  how to utilize MIDI to better serve music education. Literature review Music technology has greatly advanced over the last decade, thus opening up new possibilities in music education. The technology of MIDI has infiltrated all levels of education. From classes for the youngest of children to classes for college music majors, MIDI has enabled instructors to develop new curricular for the teaching of music skills. MIDI enables the user to control musical parameters, thus allowing one to experience and create a great variety of music with a simple keyboard and computer. Computers can also test musical skills and provide instant and intuitive feedback. This opens the door for the development of a wealth of software designed for the pedagogy of music skills. Mager (1997) researched the status of MIDI and technology in higher education. A vast majority of teachers responding to his questionnaire indicated that technology was enhancing student learning. Music theory was listed as one of the highest areas using technology, according to the study. The availability of several fine software programs, which can help to develop basic music skills, contributes to this. The respondents also felt that music technology will continue to play an increasing role in higher education. Several studies have shown that computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is an effective tool for gaining music skills. Even as early as 1984, shortly following the invention of MIDI, studies began to determine the effectiveness of CAI in music education. John J. Deals study at the University of Iowa determined that software could significantly help music majors develop skills in error detection (John, 1991). Chang also provided a study showing the increase of CAI in the music classroom (Chang, 2001). Using many surveys to back his hypothesis, he asserts that the use of CAI will increase the students learning curve in music fundamentals. To summarize briefly, most studies only focus on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. it has not identified à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. This research will indicate three advantages of technology and MIDI used for the music courses. Analysis 3.1 Benefits: Incorporating MIDI technology into the music curriculum helps achieve some objectives: students truly learn through experience by the use of synthesizer labs and workstations; they acquire skills and techniques as means of attaining ends which make direct vital appeal: the use of technology to serve art; and they certainly become acquainted with changing world, one in which computers are not confined to the electronic music labs in colleges and universities, but are used to make music for recordings, televisions, films, live performances and etc. MIDI helps educators teach existing courses more effectively. The ability to create music for the class, project it on a screen, and play it back with high fidelity audio are made easier with these technologies (David 1991). In the meantime, student utilizes MIDI to write their own music. During this process, MIDI enables them to revise, edit and highlight every note freely. The series of actions are accomplished by just moving the mouse and pressing the keys on keyboard. In MIDI technology extends the range of music technology applications beyond the record keeping, teacher communication, preparation of paper handouts and teacher presentations that dominate todays uses for computers in music education. Notation, accompaniment, and sequencing software gives students direct control over the elements of music-making melody, rhythm, harmony, tone color, dynamics, and form. It provides the tools to actively create and edit music and then easily hear what new material sounds like and how changes affect it. Synchronization of sight and sound under direct student control provides significant advantages over what might be achieved with paper, pencil, and other types of recordings. The ability to prepare interactive homework assignments stimulates the students interest and increases their excitement about the music learning process. Computers and synthesizer technology make learning and practicing music more fun. Technology and MIDI allow music students to be more actively involved in the learning process, instead of playing the role of passive listener. In a general lab, students can extend one-time or short-term creative activities into a composition process that continues over time. If students are not yet ready to use the symbols of staff notation to represent sounds, they can click icons into place on a piano roll grid or type the letter names of chords. Initial ideas can be generated and then edited and altered through a series of successive drafts into a finished, or composed, form. Using MIDI increases the number of students in a class involved simultaneously in the thinking and decision-making process. Students are challenged to make frequent choices and solve numerous problems regarding their projects or assignments rather than passively observing other students answering teacher questions or merely following the directions of the conductor during a rehearsal. This involves students in actively working with the elements of music, making decisions, and solving musical problems. Technology and MIDI also allow educators to provide the students with skills they will need to meet some of the challenges of music industry in the future. 4.configuring a MIDI setup is straitforward and inexpensive. MIDI and music courses In the following part, this report will present the details of how can MIDI help in music technology courses, composition courses and music history courses. MIDI and music technology courses Sound recording courses, for music students who want to familiar with recording technology, can certainly benefit from the use of MIDI to augment the number of tracks available for recording. This is accomplished by the capability of computers to record musical performances into virtual tracks that are performed by synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers. These virtual tracks are then added to the tape tracks, used to record vocals, guitars, winds, and percussion instruments, making even small studios sound like larger recording facilities. Sound design and synthesis courses can also benefit from the use of computers. The graphics capabilities and the high audio quality of computers and digital audio boards allow teachers to demonstrate concepts such as additive and subtractive synthesis, wave editing, and sampling. MIDI and composition courses Composition courses can benefit in several ways from use of technology and MIDI. Using sequencer software, students can hear their music as they write it. Modern synthesizers, sound modules, and samplers provide immediate access to a great variety of orchestral instruments, thus benefiting orchestration courses. Notation software (one type of music software utilizing MIDI technology) can be used to prepare scores and individual parts for performance. Music student can use algorithmic composition software and digital converters to perform their ideas. MIDI and music history courses There are numerous programs, many of them available on CD-ROM format that allow music history educators to present information about composers, their biographies, and their work. Students can see pictures, read background information, hear the music, or watch the score. The music can be stored in MIDI format, so that the students can hear the whole score, or any of the individual parts, or just a small segment. The student can also print scores, biographical information, or comments or reviews from music historians or musicologists Limitation There are several issues that need to be considered by music educators and institutions about music technology and MIDI. As educators attempt to learn how to use the technology that currently exists in the music industry, and how to integrate these technologies into teaching of music courses. However, the information changes rapidly and is available from many different sources. It becomes very hard for the music educator to keep up-to-date. Regarding MIDI itself, there are also several issues to consider: The cost of acquiring the instruments and facilities (recording studios, workstations) and updating the programs The amount of space required to house the instruments Sound quality that differs greatly from that of acoustic instruments In terms of MIDI sound quality, there are two contrasting views. Some students thought that the sounds created using the synthesizer were not an attempt to imitate a real instrument but, rather, had possibilities to create exciting new sonorities. So whether the sounds were realistic or not seemed to be unimportant to them.  The others asserted that the realism of sounds played an essential role in music composition.  They needed the realistic sounds to inspire them and the realism of timbres for these students equated closely with the quality of their final product. The use of MIDI keyboard is the major issues. Some students considered that MIDI keyboard was not an ideal input device for them, because they lacked keyboard skills and they found it was difficult to use a keyboard to play some instruments, like drums. In terms of MIDI sound quality, there are two contrasting views. Some students thought that the sounds created using the synthesizer were not an attempt to imitate a real instrument but, rather, had possibilities to create exciting new sonorities. So whether the sounds were realistic or not seemed to be unimportant to them.  The others asserted that the realism of sounds played an essential role in music composition.  They needed the realistic sounds to inspire them and the realism of timbres for these students equated closely with the quality of their final product. 4. Recommendation There are many good reasons for the integration of music technology and MIDI into the curricula of traditional music programs as well as in to music technology programs. However, this report will give a few suggestions about the potential of the integration of music technology and MIDI into music programs. The first recommendation is the development and implementation of an introductory course on MIDI designed for music education, composition, performance majors. This course would emphasize practical experience. For example, the students should (1) learn the basic computer skills needed to run MIDI software on a personal computer, how MIDI can help transfer data to and from computer, (2) become familiar with some of the CAI programs available and how these programs exercise required to master some of the basic music concepts, and (3) learn how the basic principles of MIDI sequencing and notation can be used to facilitate the teaching and learning of basic music skills like harmony, counterpoint. Secondly, internet access should be included in the curriculum. MIDIà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Based on research of Mager, he believes that the internet plays an important role in music education, and in the future it will play a much greater role (may be essential one) than it does today (Mager 1997). The explosive growth of World Wide Web and its multimedia interactive capabilities, like exchanging information, transferring files, research data gathering, will make internet an invaluable tool for music education. Once all educational institutions are wired for internet communication, the distribution of music and information about music will change dramatically. Music and information can be stored in computers and made available for downloading instantly and at faster speeds than it is today. 5. Conclusion Music technology and MIDI are there to waiting educators to explore, learn, and take advantage of them, to make lecture better teachers and to make students ready for the challenges that they will face as musicians in the future.

The Genius of Aurora Leigh Essay -- Aurora Leigh Essays

The Genius of Aurora Leigh Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses multiple elaborate metaphors and comparisons to establish vivid imagery that actively involves her audience in her verse novel Aurora Leigh. The first pages of this work quickly establishes this extremely effective stylistic imagery and quickly captures the readers attention, making it a chore to be diverted from reading this famous work. She begins with the metaphor, which likens writing this novel to better herself "as when you paint your portrait for a friend," (Longman p. 1863; l. 5) and it continues to connect the past and present for that friend. The imagery is so real that the reader quickly becomes completely enthralled within the world Browning is describing. Just twelve lines into the work, she masterfully creates a tender and calming scene of an infant smiling in its sleep, due to its understanding of the infinite nature of life. Then broadening the view of the scene to include the watchful mother outside the nursery, calming the household to insure the continued peaceful rest of the infan...

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah Essay -- chasing hope, happiness

Hope enables people to move on by providing the thought that maybe tomorrow’s events will be better than today’s. Hope is a theme that remains constant in every part of A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. Ishmael begins the novel optimistic, believing he will find his family again. This optimism is later lost when Ishmael is recruited by the army to fight against the rebels, causing him to become addicted to drugs and the thrill of killing. Three years after his recruitment, Ishmael is rescued by UNICEF-a group dedicated to rehabilitating child soldiers. During his rehabilitation, Ishmael discovers hope once more by relearning how to trust, love, and have the will to survive. The presence of hope throughout A Long Way Gone enables Ishmael to have an ability to move on and a will to survive that he lacks when he loses hope. Ishmael starts his journey with a will to escape and survive the civil war of Sierra Leone in order to reunite with his mom, dad, and younger siblings, who fled their home when his village was attacked by rebels. Having only his older brother, who he escaped with, and a few friends by his side Ishmael is scared, but hopeful. When the brothers are captured by rebels, Ishmael’s belief in survival is small, as indicated by his fallible survival tactics when he â€Å"could hear the gunshots coming closer†¦[and] began to crawl farther into the bushes† (Beah 35). Ishmael wants to survive, but has little faith that he can. He is attempting to survive by hiding wherever he can- even where the rebels can easily find him. After escaping, Ishmael runs into a villager from his home tells him news on the whereabouts of his family. His optimism is high when the villager, Gasemu, tells Ishmael, â€Å"Your parents and brothers wil... ...ploys children rather than men. He is subjected to the violence of the war for more than three years before he is finally rescued by an organization dedicated to rehabilitating child soldiers. Once Ishmael discovers happiness, affection, and a will to survive, he regains what hope he had lost. No matter the circumstances concerning it, hope has always been the trigger for events in Ishmael’s life, thus making hope a theme present throughout the entirety of A Long Way Gone. Hope allows Ishmael to bounce back from the tragic events that marked his teenage years and discover a will to survive. Works Cited Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print. HaÃŒ £nh, NhaÌ‚Ì t, and Arnold Kotler. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. New York, NY: Bantam, 1991. Print.

Criminal Activity :: Comparative, Criminological Theory

This essay will compare and contrast various perspectives that focus on individual attributes against those that focus on aggregate characteristics of criminal activity. Criminological research has a long history of trying to explain the causes of crime. During its’ history, there have been various theories or schools of thoughts that have attempted to capture the essence of this field of study. There were various theories espoused by some of the early pioneers of criminological theory. For example, Beccaria thought that crime occurred when the benefits of committing crime outweighed the cost (Cullen & Agnew, 2011). Lombroso thought that crime was caused or determined; he placed a great deal of emphasis on deficiencies of a biological nature. He was a phrenologist, he looked to physical features such as a large jaw bone and protrusions on the skull to indicate criminal propensities (Cullen & Agnew, 2011). Lambroso’s work laid the ground work for the positive school of thought; it implied that criminals have no choice for their criminal activity. Later research also focused on individual trait attributes in relation to criminality, but refined the use of more scientific methods to draw their conclusions. These studies were called micro-level theories because their concern was identifying how individual characteristics are related to their involvement in crime. These theories acknowledge that societal factors interact with biological traits, which may in turn produce crime. Some of these traits include low verbal IQ, attention deficit disorder, risk seeking and poor social and problem solving skills (Cullen & Agnew, 2011). Data has suggested that to some degree crime is inherited, and that genes likely contribute to certain traits that are conducive to crime (Ellis & Walsh, 1997) Gene theory suggest that some genes could evolve that predispose an individual to take advantage of the unselfish cooperative behavior of others (Badcock, 1986) Heart rates were also said to have a bearing on criminal dispositions. There are studies that found lower resting heart rates to be associated with a greater crime rate. There was an additional finding that the prefrontal lobes may not work correctly in the brain of criminally predisposed individuals (Rowe, 2002) Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) discovered that individual differences in self control predispose some people to criminal activity. These aforementioned facts point to how individual traits have a bearing on the commission of crime. Although there has been acknowledgement that individuals may have a biological predisposition to become criminals; nonetheless, some may still engage in very little criminal activity if they are raised in loving, supportive family environments.

A Comparison of Research Methods

Sociology is the study of human relationships and institutions (UNC, 2013). In order to enrich our understanding of key social processes, sociologists carefully gather and analyze evidence about social life. Most sociological research involves â€Å"field work† that has been designed to most closely represent the characteristics of a population (UNC, 2013). This process involves the utilization of a wide variety of research methods. Some of these methods include conducting surveys of large groups, observing people in social settings, deciphering historical data and analyzing videotaped interactions.For purposes of this paper, we are going to take a more in-depth look at two research methods used in sociology. The first research method we will look at is correlation research. A correlation is a relationship between two variables (Cliffsnotes, 2013). They can be behaviors, events, characteristics or attitudes. Correlation research attempts to determine if a relationship exists b etween two variables and exactly what the degree of that relationship is. A sociologist can use any number of other research methods to determine if a correlation exists.Correlations are either positive (to +1.  0), negative (to -1. 0) or nonexistent (0. 0) (Cliffsnotes, 2013). A positive correlation is one in which the variables either increase or decrease together. A negative correlation on the other hand is one in which the variables go in different directions. If one increases, the other one decreases. If a correlation is nonexistent, no relationship exists between the variables. Correlation data does not indicate a cause and effect relationship (Cliffsnotes, 2013). In other words, one variable does not cause the other; it only indicates that both variables are somehow related to one another.Changes in the value of one variable will reflect changes in the value of the other. The second research method we will analyze is survey research. Survey research usually involves intervi ewing or administering questionnaires to a large number of people. This can be accomplished in person, by mail or over the telephone. Sociologists are able to customize the questions within the survey to make them pertinent to the study at hand. Once all data has been collected, the sociologist will analyze it to pinpoint similarities, differences and trends. They will then make predictions about the population being studied.One advantage to this type of research is that it allows sociologists to collect data from a large group in a relatively short period. This type of research method is also relatively inexpensive. If conducted by mail, the surveys allow the respondents the convenience of completing them on their own time. The mail surveys are also anonymous, which may provide for responses that are more truthful. Some disadvantages to this type of research method are that the responses may not always be reliable, it can be time consuming to decipher the results, and not all respo ndents will reply.A1. Philosophical Justifications for Sociological Methods The survey method is one of the best methods of research for gathering large amounts of information quickly and affordably (Jones, 2013). This method allows for a broader scope of study with greater efficiency (Pearson, 2013). Subjects may remain anonymous, which in turn can produce more truthful responses to questions (Jones, 2013). Due to the fact that the sociologist may not be present during some of the surveys, this method helps to eliminate bias in the interpretation of the results (Jones, 2013).This method of research is seen as highly reliable in that the data collected can be easily coded and analyzed (Pearson, 2013). Survey methods are a valuable adjunct to other research methods. They play an important role in confirming more qualitative research. The survey method can help to identify areas that need further research and reveal broad patterns that exist that could otherwise be overlooked by resea rchers relying solely on qualitative methods (Pearson, 2013). B. Anthropological Research MethodsAnthropology comes from the Greek, it literally means â€Å"the study of the human† (Malinowski, 2013). Cultural anthropology is the study of human cultures, their practices, beliefs and values. Anthropologists accomplish these studies through various methods of research. These methods include (but are not limited to) participant observation, cross-cultural comparison, survey research, interviews and historical analysis. In this paper, we are going to take a closer look at two different forms of research used within the field of cultural anthropology.The first method of anthropological research that we will look at is participant observation. Participant observation is an immersion method of research where the researchers immerse themselves into the culture that they are studying. They will live within this society for the duration of the study (Jones, 2013). By doing this, the re searcher is able to get first-hand experience through observation and participation in ceremonies, rituals, storytelling, language and meals within these cultures (Jones, 2013).They record their findings through voice recordings, photos, videos and journals. The success of participant observation is reliant upon the particular culture’s acceptance of the investigator into their society (Jones, 2013). The second method of research that we will discuss is cross culture comparison. This method searches for comparable culture patterns amongst multiple societies. Testable hypotheses are utilized to try to establish statistical correlations amongst cultures (Gillies and Kinzer, 2009). This methodology was greatly facilitated via the work of George Peter Murdock.Murdock was an American anthropologist known for his comparative studies. He developed the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF), which is an index that contains many of the world’s known societies (Gillies and Kinzer, 20 09). There are two goals within this research method: 1) to describe the distribution and range of cultural variation that exists between the ethnographies recorded, and 2) to test the theories and hypotheses that have been proposed in order to explain the variations amongst cultures (Gillies and Kinzer, 2009).B1. Philosophical Justifications for Anthropological Methods Participant observation allows the researcher to gain an inside look at the inner workings of a culture. By immersing oneself into a culture for an extended period of time, the researcher will gain more knowledge of the society (Jones, 2013). This technique will also produce a greater sense of trust from the members of the culture. This can in turn, provide for information that is more accurate and provide for a more comprehensive ethnography (Jones, 2013).Ethnographies allow people to gain an understanding of a particular culture and the appropriate ways to interact with that culture (Jones, 2013). They also can ser ve as a historical record of cultures that may be endangered or extinct. Some individuals may see the participant observation method as an invasion of privacy. Researchers however, go to great lengths to ensure that the utmost respect is given to all members of these cultures. Permission from the cultural leaders is always sought out prior to initiation of this type of research (Jones, 2013). C. Compare and Contrast ApproachesSociology is the study of the development, structure, interaction and behavior of organized groups of human beings (Diffen, 2012). Anthropology is the study of human beings and their ancestors through time in terms of physical characteristics, culture, environment and social relations (Diffen, 2012). Sociologists study societies, while anthropologists study cultures. Both of these areas of study use secondary analysis as a research method. They each can utilize the same types of material and information. They even use some of the same methods of gathering this information.The difference between them is in how the information is utilized and reported. Traditionally, sociology studies modern, civilized and complex societies (Bhatt, 2012). Anthropology on the other hand, traditionally studies simple, more primitive, non-literate societies (Bhatt, 2013). Sociology studies both large and small societies while anthropology tends to focus more on smaller societies. When it comes to research styles, anthropology stresses immersion in native life while sociology tends to stress distance from the object of study (Dilipchandra, 2012).Sociology treats data quantitatively while anthropology treats data qualitatively. Sociology emphasized that human behavior can be measured and that that measurement is reliable (Dilipchandra, 2012). Anthropology touts that a large part of human behavior is beyond the realm of measurement (Dilipchandra, 2012). Due to changes in our world, sociology and anthropology are converging (McGraw-Hill, 2013). Sociologists can no w be found doing research in developing countries and due to industrialization, anthropologists can be found doing research in industrialized societies (McGraw-Hill, 2013).

Africa essay Essay

Sub-Saharan Africa: Change and Continuity Essay Summaries Period 3 1 600-1450: Trade Routes and Their Impacts by Stephanie Lin 2 100-1450: Politics by Rebecca Lee-McFadden 3 1450-1750: Politics and Economics by Emma Loh 4 Sub-Saharan Africa’s Relationship to Global Trade Patterns – 1750 to the Present by Douglas Chee 5 1450-Present: Religion by LJ Cabutaje 6 1914-Present: Formation of National Identities by George Kitsios a using evidence from specific countries Essay 1 Sub-Saharan Africa 600 -1450 Trade Routes and Their Impacts Before the 600s, trade routes in Africa weren’t used nearly as much as they are today After 600s, long distance trade increased and increased social and cultural diffusion At the end of the 600s, the world saw the decline of the classical period The fall of the classical empires such as the Gupta and Han Empires and Rome allowed various religions to spread Before 600 CE, connections existed between Sub-Saharan Africa and civilized societies, but were limited Cultural diffusion before the 600s included Africanity and diffusion of Bantu languages As trade routes intensified, Arab traders could spread to previously unreachable areas using camels and caravans One of the key changes that occurred during this period was the influence and spread of Islamic religion and culture and the connection of West Africa with the Muslim World Trade also increased economic prosperity, such as in the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhai Gold-salt trade between Ghana and Arab desert traders and the Mediterranean prospered considerably as Ghana had gold but no salt and the Mediterranean had salt but no gold Ghana’s king converted to Islam, led to better relations with the Islamic world Indian Ocean trade led to increased development of city-states such as Mogadishu and Sofala Slave trading increased Much continuity accompanied these changes Syncretic conversion, which is they kept some of their own beliefs while converting to a new religion such as intertwining Islam with animism and ancient folklore Many people were still devoted to Christianity Nomads were still the â€Å"middlemen† between the east and west Same basic routes were still used for trade during this period Africans retained their sense of originality and culture Essay 2 Evaluate the political changes and continuities over time in Sub Saharan Africa from years 100 to 1450. Thesis: Sub Saharan Africa went from being made up of small individual tribes to large, organized empires. The arrival of new religions also affected the laws and codes Sub Saharan Africans had to follow. Throughout these changes, one continuity was that religious beliefs still played an important part in the political structures. Changes: -Smaller and decentralized tribes became larger, more organized empires. During 100 CE and earlier, there did not exist organized governments. Most societies were clans and tribes ruled by a tribal leader. Some societies were hunter-gatherer ones. Unification really could not occur due to arid environments and culturally diverse regions. Larger empires and kingdoms were able to rise because of an increase in interaction and trade between tribes. An increased production of crops and iron tools and artisan goods led to more trading. As tribes traded, some grew wealthier and more powerful. These tribes conquered others and took control of regional trade routes becoming more powerful. They then became larger kingdoms and societies. Ghana and Great Zimbabwe were two examples of this. Their rise to power was due to the wealth earned from trading and controlling trade routes. Eastern City States like Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Sofala rose to power because of trading in the Indian Ocean Trading Route. -Religions like Islam and Christianity affected law codes Most of Sub-Saharan Africans followed animism. With the arrival of monotheistic religions like Christianity and Islam, law codes were altered. Mali, for example, was an Islamic state. The people under the Mali empire had to follow Islamic law, shari’a and the Qur’an. The Kingdom of Aksum converted to Christianity under the king, Ezana. Ezana ruled his people under the beliefs and teachings of Christianity. Continuities: – Religious beliefs continued to play a role in political structures and law codes Whether the dominating religion was Islam, Christianity, or animism, it still affected how the particular society ran and the laws the people had to follow. Animism also affected tribes politically. Kings and tribal leaders were believed to be decedents of their gods. Religion was all people knew and was so heavily integrated in their lives,. Political structures and law codes were not an exception to this. Essay 3 Prompt: The period of 1450 to 1750 witnessed important transformations in Africa. Trace significant changes and continuities in two of the following areas: social, economic, and political. Economics Change: emergence and eventual domination of the transatlantic slave trade first interactions with Europeans Portuguese and some African tribes created trade relations that were beneficial to both sides in gold, world markets. WHY European production growth, e.g. Portugal’s sugar plantations profits went to Africa, most slaves were POWs Continuity: the profitable trade of raw materials 15th C: gold, copper, cotton textiles, leather works 17th C: gold, ivory, timber Politics Changes political alliances with European foreigners 1500s: some African kings were open to European religions (Christianity) allowed access to European firearms and association with advanced societies few were actually committed to Christianity due to dominant Muslim culture. 17th Century: kings profited from the slave trade, cooperative with Europeans some kings lost power to the slave trade 15th C: some normal Africans started to be kidnapped for the slave trade Continuity: monarchies as the dominant governments which maintained power throughout Africa. forced Europeans to adhere to African trading customs. collected expensive rents from European merchants. prevented Europeans from claiming African territory were not heavily influenced by Europeans. ** not all kings participated in European trade, and a majority of them did not. Essay 4 Sub-Saharan Africa’s Relationship to Global Trade Patterns – 1750 to the Present Sub-Saharan Africa is rich with raw materials – precious metals, animal products, plant oils. 1750s: Independent African kingdoms exported gold, copper, ivory, vegetable oils, and animal pelts to various Western powers, in exchange for machine-made products. Lack of industrialization.  Huge slave trade from 1750-1867, despite Great Britains attempted abolishment in 1808. Slaves utilized in Western colonies and plantations. Constant European presence and tight relationship in trade. Scramble for Africa: End of slave trade led to economic weakness, leaving African states vulnerable to the European imperialists. Peak of European’s constant influence. New exports included diamonds and rubber. Africa continued to be a global source for raw materials, due to their continued lack of industrialization. Post WWII: Nationalistic movements brought independence from European powers, but left political/economic issues for the now decolonized states. Dependency on the delicate trade of cash crops, in addition to the lack of industrialization and help for the now expelled European powers had led to economic backwardness in Sub-Saharan Africa. Essay 5 Religious Changes and Continuities in Sub-Saharan Africa: 1450-Present: Thesis: From 1450 to the present, Sub-Saharan Africa’s religious atmosphere has experienced many changes due to the exponential growth of such global religions as Christianity and Islam in the region, while it has also maintained religious continuities in its traditional and established beliefs and practices, by the usage of syncretism Changes and Analysis: There was a large growth in the spread of Islam throughout the region. Because of the way that cultural diffusion occurred throughout various trade routes, Islam easily spread throughout the region and integrated into the cultures of local tribes, without the need for conquest from the leaders. From 1900 to the present, it grew exponentially, from a few million to more than 300 million, comprising 15% of the world’s Islamic population. Christianity was the other global religion that grew exponentially during this time period. It was first introduced in the 15th century by Portuguese Catholic missionaries who wanted to convert the natives to their faith. Similarly to Islam, in the 20th century, the Christian population in Sub-Saharan Africa rose up, eventually totaling over 470 million, effectively making up more than 20% of the world’s Christian population. This occurred due to the heavy anti-slavery sentiment and the scramble for Africa which occurred in this time peri od. Continuities and Analysis: Despite the changes, the people of this region were still able to adhere to their long-time and ancient beliefs and traditions. Many still practice animism, or the belief in the spirits of nature, and practice rituals such as voodoo. They were able to continue because of the tolerance of the major global religions and also because of their practice of syncretism, in which they incorporated the local religions with these global religions. One last continuity was Christianity in Ethiopia, where the religion was indigenous and was there from the 4th Century CE. Essay 6 -Pre WWII, Sub Saharan Africa witnesses significant changes in the identities of its nations. Largely fueled as a reaction to separatist movements from European Colonial structures, and a recent surge in nationalism -Many strive towards self governed rule with dreams of liberation influenced by fighting in the name of freedom in the 2nd World War Changes: -Ghana -Gold Coast was hot bed of nationalism after WWII, desire for British to allow self rule -Took first step through African representation in council, but not enough -Many had aspirations for Ghana to become the African United States -Ambitious Goal expanded in 1947, Kwame Nkrumah starts series of boycotts, strikes, etc -By 1957, Gold Coast receives full independence, renamed Ghana -Nkrumah 1st president, creates proactive reforms -Kenya -Also governed from a far by the British -Large amounts of free land in Northern Highlands believed by the Native kenyans their own land with their own rights; not some prize for Britain. -Movement for Kenyan Independence begins, seeded in nationalism, by Joma Kenyatta, who like others, believed â€Å"Africa can only advance to a higher level if he is free to express himself†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , meaning free from external rule -Formation of Mau Mau Guerilla group, more violent approach toward Kenyan national identity, killing 10,000 Africans and 100 settlers in the process -Eventually, Kenya gains independence in 1963 Continuities: -One of largest things that stayed the same was the pattern of violence and oppression experienced in inter and intercommunication of African native groups/future nations -Nigeria -Key example, newborn nation that adopts a federal system -Borders did not pay attention to the cultural tensions it put in place among the civilians, would provoke a large amount of controversy -Ultimately leads to a full out civil war breaking loose, amongst a number of ethnic groups forced to live together with no prior notice -Horrible level of instability within the government, provoking martial law on some areas. -Outcome of a movement intended to liberate resulted in unimaginable violence, and the replacement of one oppressive, ignorant government, with a more familiar one -South Africa -Obtains partial independence from Great Britain by 1931, allowing for self government (sorta) -White supremacy ends up taking over the reigns immediately however policies of apartheid run rampant for the next couple of decades -Formation and barring of the African National Congress (ANC) -Misrepresentation in laws/distribution of land -South Africans are 75% of population, but only allowed on 13% of land (slum land too!) -ANC and other pro South African Native movements decide to go with a more violent route, yet many end up killed, beaten, or jailed in the 70s and 80s, especially after demonstrations in 1977. -Struggle for accurate democracy at hand, no room for reform, and realization of equality not realized until later on (Nelson Mandela) -Black citizens grossly mistreated in their own homeland, reign of violence and terror overstays its welcome