Thursday, November 28, 2019

Putting the Incompatible Elements Together Avatar Meets Gladiator

The issues of power and political difference have always been of great interest for scholars, politicians and mere mortals due to the controversy around the former concepts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Putting the Incompatible Elements Together: Avatar Meets Gladiator specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, the two have spawned countless number of artistic interpretations, Cameron’s Avatar and Scott’s Gladiator being the landmarks of the XXI century take at the problem. Although the movies are based on completely different stories and are driven by seemingly different plots, a number of ideas regarding power and policy of differentiation in both movies rub shoulders. No matter what one might say about Avatar being the adult version of Disney’s Pocahontas, as well as the fact that the story of greedy invaders and poor civilian residents has been beaten to death, the movie still offer s an interesting journey into human mind. James Cameron clearly knows how to get the audience in their seats for a couple of hours, and creates a sophisticated political and cultural conflict. Scott’s Gladiator, in its turn, provides a much darker and, therefore, more adult view of the problem. Unlike Avatar, Gladiator does not pander to its audience, thus, it taps on more complex issues. In addition, Gladiator tackles the story that is arguably planted into the realm of reality, the lead character being the representation of those oppressed and rebelling against the dictatorship of Commodus. Although in no possible way can the movie claim to be historically accurate, it still represents real people and the events that, for the most part, actually took place – or, at the very least, could be. Nevertheless, what both movies are very good at is taking the evil off the political difference and power, though with rather different takes on the problem. In Gladiator, the soc ial stratification is dealt with in a very impressive way. As it has been stressed above, in Gladiator, the director and screenwriter did not actually have to come up with the political environment for the story to unwrap in – the dictatorship of the Roman autocrats and the miserable life of plebs and especially slaves, which Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius represented, was already a notorious page in the world history.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, Scott still did an amazingly good job by projecting the power abuse and policy of differentiation of the XXI century onto the Ancient Roman story. For example, the following line by Commodus points at the flaws of the ochlocracy system, in which the power belongs to few people defined as the crà ¨me of society. In Avatar, the issue concerning power abuse is downplayed compared to the Gladiator plot; however, the C olonel Quaritch is miles away from Commodus in terms of the methods exercised to seize power. Commodus acts as a power-hungry despot by demanding that Crowe’s character should be dragged through mud, enslaved and finally killed for the amusement of the Roman elite. While astonishingly diabolical, these intentions still show that Commodus is a mere mortal with his petty concerns about his status, wealth and other down-to-earth trifle. Colonel Quaritch, in his turn, clearly aims at playing God by offering Sully the ability to walk and, in fact, live a complete and different life: â€Å"A recon gyrene in an Avatar body†¦ that’s a potent mix! Gives me the goosebumps!† (Avatar 0:36:17). It would be wrong to assume that God related symbolism must have been Cameron’s intent, since the focus of the movie is not on Christianity, but on policy of difference; however, the allusions in the movie are far too strong to ignore them. Moreover, unlike Commodus, who w as born into his position and, therefore, considers his means of ruling the Empire the only acceptable methods, Quaritch knows exactly what is wrong with his strategy and openly acknowledges it: â€Å"Well, well, well. I’d say diplomacy has failed† (Avatar 0:41:03). Apart from power, both movies also touch upon the policy of difference, and they do so in a very smart and unique way. Avatar represents the clash of two different races, for the lack of a better word to describe the conflict between people and aliens, whereas Gladiator renders the issue of one social class oppressing another. However, Cameron downplays the concept of policy of difference greatly – perhaps, in attempts to get a PG-13 rating, while Gladiator does not shy away from displaying the faults of the policy of difference in the intense scenes of battles and vile treatment of slaves, thus, warranting an R-rating in some of the theaters: â€Å"They tell me your son squealed like a girl when th ey nailed him to the cross† (Gladiator 1:11:02). Avatar spares its audience the necessity to see Na’vis slaughtered in the battles and instead offers the viewers to sneak a peek at the evil masterminds, including Quaritch and the greedy government plotting to get the hold of unobtanium: â€Å"This is why we’re here. Unobtanium. Because this little gray rock sells for twenty million a kilo† (Avatar 0:23:55).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Putting the Incompatible Elements Together: Avatar Meets Gladiator specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though the two movies belong to different genres and are set in completely different environment, they tackle the same problem of power abuse and policy of difference efficiently. Smart and sophisticated, the movies give a lot of food for thoughts. Despite having their flaws, they are clearly worth watching. Works Cited Avatar. Ex. Prod. James Cameron. Los Angeles, CA: Twentieth Century Fox. 2009. DVD. Gladiator. Ex. Prod. Ridley Scott. Los Angeles, CA: Universal Pictures. 2000. DVD. This essay on Putting the Incompatible Elements Together: Avatar Meets Gladiator was written and submitted by user Jonathon Mccall to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Killing Hitler

Killing Hitler RP CAT - Killing HitlerDear Friedrich,[Ca] I very much appreciate your request for me to take revenge on the German mass murderer Adolf Hitler. [IC] After much consideration I have come to the conclusion that I will take part in the assassination.I, similarly to Joseph Fletcher (founder of Situation Ethics) and Jeremy Bentham, am a hedonist whom attempts to bring "the greatest good for the greatest number". This means that I am a strong consequentialist and [R1] would certainly kill one man to save the lives of 6,000,000 innocent Jews. [R2] I am also a relative moralist and would do what seems the most beneficial in the long term as opposed to committing myself to a set of rules to be followed throughout my life. From this you can gather that I am undeniably a Hedonist. On the other hand I believe that most altruistic decisions are actually made for egoistic purposes and that the majority of decisions are made purely for the benefit of us.[Ex] For example, walking an old lady across the road; you are doing her a favour but thus giving yourself a feeling of pleasure and well-being.My views could then be contradicted by famous followers of the Natural Law such as Thomas Aquinas [CA] who would say that murdering a person is going against the responsibility to preserve life and say that although you are a consequentialist you may be causing more pain to more people by killing Hitler because someone, perhaps more evil than Hitler, could come into power and kill double the amount of innocent people. He would state that consequentialists cannot predict the future and therefore cannot know what will do the greatest good for the greatest number. My views could also be argued against by followers...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Most Significant Political Development Essay

The Most Significant Political Development - Essay Example This essay stresses that the issue of civil wars has ailed the international states for quite a very long time. The civil wars emanate from several causes. Some of these causes are preventable. However, a number of the sources f such civil wars are indefinite. This follows that the major forces behind such causes of the civil wars may be unable to clearly define what their interests are. Instead, they conduct such criminal activities with the aim of getting international. Several criminal groupings have ailed most governments in the world for instance Al Qaeda and Taliban. This paper makes a conclusion that the wars in Syria have also incorporated massive use of chemical weapons that have led to the deaths of a large number of individuals. This has massively affected the foreign policy of the United States of America. It is in order to note that the foreign policy of the United States is always based on peace to the uttermost end. In this perspective, the United States always champion the use of peace in solving any international dispute, was as well as conflicts. However, in situations where the use of peace is unsuccessful, the United State always employ other means. The civil wars experienced in Syria, being a threat to the United States foreign policy, may likely lead to a change in the United States foreign policy in several ways. These threats can make the United States resort to other means that function in a slightly different manner to sole he conflicts.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Case Analysis of 'Genetic Screening' Assignment

Case Analysis of 'Genetic Screening' - Assignment Example Excessive use of chemicals caused this haemolytic anaemia. On the other hand, the cost of health insurance was also increasing. Therefore, the employees were demanding to avail a smoke-free workplace environment. Looking into this matter, the employers tried to provide routine medical screening, drug testing and smoke-free environment facilities. (B) Several critics of DuPont stated that the genetic testing allowed the organisation to transfer the workers, but it was necessary to clean up the workplace environment. It is the major solution to the problems. Nobody can work at zero emission. The organisation had to ensure the health and safety workplace aspect. However, it is not right to relocate the employees. The organization should take care of all the employees and should provide routine medical check-up to all the employees. (C) The organisation did not take any initiative to clean up the workplace environment. Moreover, it was relocating its affected employees to the smoke-free areas. First and foremost, the organisation had to solve the basic problem. Then they had to think about the good health of the employees. The organisation did nothing regarding these two aspects. Therefore, development of law was required in order to restrict it. Question 2 This question will discuss some moral aspects. ... It is their basic right (Cherrie, Howie & Semple 2011, p.51). It is the right of the employees to file legal complaints against the management of the organisation. (B) The outcome is quite serious or critical. The employees were suffering from haemolytic anaemia. According to utilitarianism theory, the organisations should provide a hazard-free working environment to the employees (Collins & Schneid 2010, p. 39). The management of the organisation needed to review the safety aspect of the workplace environment right after the incident, but they relocated their affected employees. (C) The organisation did not take care of all the employees. It has proposed genetic screening but not for all the employees. It is illegal. Attaining a safe workplace environment is the basic right of the employees. Moreover, the organisation did not compensate the affected employees or rectify the basic workplace challenges or issues (Spellman & Bieber 2011, p.87). There is a possibility for the organisati on to face legal challenges based on unethical business operations. Question 3 There are specific moral obligations for the employer that DuPont needs to assume in this case. The operation of various chemical factories such as the dynamite factory involves the emission of chemicals in the environment where the workers work in the hours of operation. Apart from the motives of earning revenues from the business, the employers also have the moral responsibility of safeguarding the health of their workers engaged in the operational work. These are business ethics and social responsibilities of the employer that fulfils the moral obligations involved in the course of work. Apart from paying monthly wages to the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

NewCorp Scenarios of Workers Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NewCorp Scenarios of Workers Protection - Essay Example The essay "NewCorp Scenarios of Workers Protection" talks about the employment laws that stipulate rights of workers and it is the duty of all employers to ensure that they safeguard the rights of their workers by offering good working conditions. In the case of NewCorp, Paul has been exposed to work in a dangerous environment, which has made him be claustrophobic. He explains that the condition arose because of working in the confined spaces and if this issue is taken to court and he proves this, the court will rule in his favor and compensation will have to be made. The working environment has had a case before of another worker who was injured while doing his job and this proves that the environment is not conducive. The occupational safety act requires that employers provide safe working environment for all employees. The specific duty standards set rules that guard employees from being exposed to the hazardous working environment and in this case the confined spaces. NewCorp has exposed its workers to the hazardous working environment, and this has resulted to one of the employees being injured and Paul becoming claustrophobic. The organization has the responsibility of ensuring that it sets down safety standards for all workers and failure to do this means that it has violated the set rules, which will require them to pay compensation in the event that an employee is injured. NewCorp has also violated the Occupational Safety Act that gives it a general duty to provide an environment.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Prostate Cancer and Nutrition

Prostate Cancer and Nutrition Anand Somasundaram Contents (Jump to) Plant Based Diets: Fish Oil Vitamins and Minerals Dangers of Meats, high fat diets and Nitrites Conclusion Works Cited Introduction: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer of men and the third most common cause of death from cancer. Prostate cancer usually occurs in men above the age of 50. Many men who have prostate cancer, do not show any symptoms. Screening for this cancer is usually done by a Digital rectum exam (DRE) and/or Prostate specific antigen test (PSA). Digital rectum exam is the palpation of the prostate through the anus to check the size of the prostate. Prostate specific antigen test is a blood test to check if the prostate is releasing this specific antigen in the blood stream which can be a strong indication of prostate cancer. Research has been done on preventing and reducing the risk of obtaining this cancer. In these studies, nutrition can play a vital role in reducing the chances of getting this cancer. Diets that high in fruits and vegetables, low in fat especially fat from meats are shown to decrease the risk and development of prostate cancer. Plant Based Diets: Specific food groups have shown in several studies to be a crucial tool in preventing and slowing the progression of this disease. One group of foods that have shown a significant reduction in avoiding prostate cancer is plant based foods. Plant- based foods are shown to contain high amounts of vitamins and elements known to reduce cancer cell. For example, plant- based food contains vitamins and phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phytoestrogens and isothiocyanates (Ma Chapman, 2009). These phytochemicals have shown to regress cancer cell development and stop tumor promotion. Furthermore plant based diets are high in antioxidant. Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is the reason behind the production of free radicals. In addition, antioxidants reduce the damage to DNA by binding to these free radicals and eliminating them from the body. Free radicals damage the structure of DNA which can lead to tumor growth. An important carotenoid and phytochemical is lycopene. Lycopene is found in fruits such as tomatoes. Lycopene is known to reduce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signing. IGF-1 is protein that has found to promote prostatic cancer cells and allow the prostate to be susceptible to cancer. Cruciferous vegetables such cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and bok choy all contain a compound call glucosinolate. Glucosinolate have shown in studies to reduce DNA damage, induce apoptosis and inhibit prostate cancer cell (Ma Chapman, 2009).They also possess phenethyl isothiocyanate, sulfophorane and indole-3-carbinol, which are compounds that have potential anti-cancer properties. Their mechanism of action involves the inhibition of  cytochrome P450  enzymes, which oxidize compounds such as  benzo[a]pyrene  and  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons  (PAHs) into more polar  epoxy-diols. Cytochrome P450 enzyme is a known agent to cause mutation and cancer growth Another vegetable that constitutes an impact on tumor cells is soy bean. Soy beans contain isoflavones*. Isoflavones are organic 3-phenylchromen-4-one structure substances that natural occur in different types of foods. They inhibit enzymes associated with transmission of signals for tumor cell growth. `Tea especially green has been found to have similar effects to consuming vegetables and fruits. Polyphenol compounds in green tea have also been found to have the same effects as the cruciferous vegetables. They prevent metastases of the cancer, induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth. Studies have shown that green tea inhibits tumor growth, therefore, leading to lower prostate-specific antigen levels and lower IGF-1 levels (Ma Chapman, 2009). One of these polyphenolic compounds is epigallocathechin-3 gallate (EGCG). EGCG is known to attach to urokinase, Urokinase is an enzyme that helps tumor cells grow. In the current market, there is a drug called amiloride and is used Amiloride can only have a maximum dose of 20 mg EGCG while normal cup of green can have upwards of 150mg EGCG. Another benefit is that green tea can be consumed at much higher rate than amiloride and not have physiological effect on the body (Jankun ,1997, p561) . Fish Oil The next groups of food that have shown to inhibit tumor cell growth are fish oils. Fish oil contains n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to reduce serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein expression (Ma Chapman, 2009). PSA is produced by the prostate gland and is used by the body to liquefy semen. The body uses excretes PSA in semen but sometimes in the presence of cancer, the PSA escapes to the blood stream. There two main groups of fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. , Omega 3 fatty acids protect from cancer, while omega 6 fatty acids have been found to promote cancer when consumed in excessive amounts. One reason why omega 6 promotes cancer is because of its ability to promotion inflammation. (Tandon et al., 2008). Vitamins and Minerals Another antioxidant that has shown significant effect on prostate cancer cell growth is vitamin E. Vitamin E is considered as an intracellular antioxidant and an antiprostaglandin. * Antiprostaglandins are a group of molecules that reduce the production of mediators of the inflammatory process. As with any fat soluble vitamins, too much can have harmful effect. Intake of over 400 IU can be harmful to the body (Ma Chapman, 2009). In addition another vitamin that is important in inhibiting tumor cell growth is vitamin D. In studies, vitamin d has shown in both regular cells and cancerous to convert vitamin d into an active hormonal state. In this state, vitamin D has shown to inhibit tumor grow especially prostatic epithelial cells. (Tandon et al., 2008). Another substance besides vitamins that can help in the fight against is minerals. Minerals differ from vitamins in that vitamins are organic and contain carbon while minerals do not and are consider inorganic. A particular mineral, selenium, has been proven to be a protective agent. It reduces cellular proliferation, causes apoptosis and inhibits angiogenesis. (Ma Chapman, 2009). Angiogenesis is the growth of new capillary blood vessels in the body. In preventing blood vessel formation; the tumor cannot grow or spread (Li, Smith Li, 2011). Dangers of Meats, high fat diets and Nitrites All the foods discussed above have shown to decrease the instance of prostatic cancer cells. On the other hand, there are groups of food that are now known to promote prostate cancer cells. For example, meats especially cooked at high temperatures contribute to the production of cancer cells. When a meat is cook at high temperature, it releases carcinogens. Carcinogens are known to alter DNA which can lead to two results, apoptosis or promotes uninhibited cell growth. The two carcinogens that are produced during this process are Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). (â€Å"Why Carcinogens Cause Cancer†, n.d.). A way to reduce HCA and PAH formation in cooked meats is to reduce the amount of time the meat is cooked on an open flame. This can be done by continuously flipping the meat or using a microwave to shorten the cooking time on the stove. Another carcinogen that is found in meat is N-nitrosocompound. This carcinogen is found in bacon, hot dogs and anything containing sodium nitrate. Sodium nitrate is preservative added to food to not only preserve but also to add flavor to. N-nitroso is formed when the sodium nitrate combines with the amines in the meat to form this carcinogen. These N-nitroso compound attacks cells and can cause mutation to the molecule’s DNA (Mehdad, 2010). In another study, there was evidence that a high fat diet contribute to prostate cancer. In this study, men consumer high types of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats significantly increase their chances of getting prostate cancer (Crowe et al., 2008). Men who were consuming 45 grams of total fat in a day have 10-20 percent increased risk of getting cancer (Park, Murphy, Wilkens, Henderson, Kolonel, 2007). In another study, there was a strong correlation between obesity and prostate cancer. In a study of eighty-seven men with prostate cancer, 89 percent of these men were overweight or obese. Ninety- seven percent of them had a body fat of twenty five percent or higher (Mehdad, McBride, Grillo, Camilo, Ravasco, 2010). Obesity increases the body’s production of IGF-1 which discussed early leads to cancer cell proliferation. Conclusion As with anything, specific groups of foods need to be taken in moderation. Daily activity and a balanced meal can contribute greatly to not only prevent cancer growth but living a healthy happy life. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Eating foods high in antioxidants, phytochemicals such as vegetables and fruits can lead to the reduction of prostatic cancer cell forming. In addition, avoiding diets high in preserved meats, diary and cooking at high temperature all can additionally reduce men’s chances of getting prostate cancer. Works Cited Crowe, F.L., Key, T.J., Appleby, P.N., Travis, R.C., Overvad, K., Jakobsen, M.U., Riboli, E. (2008). Dietary fat intake and risk of prostate cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87: 1405-1413. Jankun, J. (1997, June 5). Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer. Nature, 381, 561. Li, W., Hutnik, M., Smith, R., Li, V. (2011). Understanding Angiogenesis. Retrieved from http://www.angio.org/ua.php. April 4, 2014. Ma, R.W.-L. Chapman, K. (2009). A systematic review of the effect of diet in prostate cancer prevention and treatment. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 22:187-199. Mehdad, A., McBride, E., Grillo, I.M., Camilo, M., Ravasco, P. (2010).Nutritional status and eating pattern in prostate cancer patients. Nutricion Hospitalaria,2 (3): 422-427. Park, S., Murphy, S.P., Wilkens, L.R., Henderson, B.E., Kolonel, L.N. (2007). Fat and meat intake and prostate cancer risk: the multiethnic cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 121: 1339-1345. â€Å"Prostate Specific Antigen†. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/ prostate_specific_antigen/article.htm . April 4, 2014. Tandon, M., Siddique, R.A., Avrind, R., Singh, N.K., Ambwani, T., Rai, S.N. (2008). Anti-cancer diet: reviewing the role of nutrition in cancer prevention. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research, 6(2): 67-82. â€Å"Why Carcinogens Cause Cancer†. Retrieved from http:// www.edinformatics.com/interactive_molecules/dna.htm. July 10, 2010. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington, DC: AICR, 2007 Jankun, J. (1997, June 5). Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer. Nature, 381, 561.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

How I See Television :: Personal Narrative Media Entertainment Essays

How I See Television I love television with all my heart, I also hate it with a passion. I have many reasons for my emotional dyslexic connection to television. I love the feeling I get when Thursday rolls around and the Apprentice is on NBC. Who will be eliminated tonight? What will their task be? I love Home and Garden Television. They do home renovations in two days time, show us how to plan and carry out a fabulous dinner party in an evening, and demonstrate how to create fabulous decorations for any holiday season. DIY or Do It Yourself television is equally inspiring, though neither are actually inspiring enough for me to have attempted any of the projects I learned about, but that is beside the point. When I would talk about different shows, my friend would get a confused look on his face and say, â€Å"I’m not familiar with that show, if it’s not on PBS then I wouldn’t have seen it.† That is the defining statement of a PBS snob, he admits it. Different people could fill in the ‘PBS’ designation with the ‘History Channel’ or the ‘Discovery Channel’. At that point I knew it was futile to even attempt to convey how funny the show was that I watched, it would have been lost on him. There is a sense of superiority when people say, â€Å"Oh, I don’t watch television.† Like we immediately picture them reading War and Peace instead of watching the finale of The Bachelor. I think of them as alcoholics that don’t allow themselves to watch any television because they would soon find themselves sitting among stacks of pizza boxes and bags of trash, watching Stella plan her big day on â€Å"Whose We dding is it Anyway?† It’s on HGTV if you are interested. Last year we signed up with Dish Network and now get about four hundred channels. Part of the package includes a PVR, or personal video recorder. We can record up to 60 hours of programming and watch a recorded show while another is recording. My goal is to avoid commercials as they waste valuable time. Several months ago, actually it was four days before the presidential election, our television started acting funny with squiggly lines every so often.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Floods †A literature review Essay

Writer: Linber LewisSchool: President’s College, GuyanaIf one asks the question, what can floods do?, then the following may seem like fitting answers. During the summer monsoon season, heavy rains cause destructive floods in Southeast Asia. In China, the floods of the Huang He River have been so frequent and devastating that the river is called Chinas Sorrow. Likewise in the US, record spring and summer rains in 1993 caused the Mississippi Rover to overflow its banks, flooding farms and towns from North Dakota to Missouri, causing 10 billion dollars in damages and leaving 70, 000 homeless. These extracts attest to the destructive nature of floods. By contrast, Britannica Encyclopedia tells us that the success of the Egyptian Civilization was heavily dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile to replenish soil moisture and fertility, and also to supply to irrigation water. Since plants and animals are a part of human life, once can assume that if floods affect us they will affect them (plants and animals) also, whether positively or negatively. Research shows that domestic animals seem to suffer greatly during conditions of excess water. According to the book, Where there is no Vet; the infectious disease foot rot that attacks the hooves of animals, is prevalent during wet weather and in wet areas. It is known that floods bring a sharp increase in insect population. Consequently animals suffer from skin and eye irritations due to these insects. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during the 2005 flood, more than 2000 animals were treated during the early stages of the floods. They were treated for worms, diarrhea, nutritional deficiency, and respiratory and skin problems. The shortage of food had also affected animals. GINA also stated that feed and molasses were distributed. According to a Stabroek news article dated 05/02/16, farmers at Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara had to place in excess of 1000 cattle on mud dams. In addition, many were stranded in flooded area, or stuck in mud. Many of these animals drowned due to cramps. Deaths of livestock were prevalent among cattle, swine, sheep and goat due to abortion or pregnancy complications. Animals on mud dams also fought amongst themselves resulting in many injuries that often resulted in  death. Ducks enjoyed the water but were made to prey to caimans. Other poultry sought refuge on roof tops. With regards to crops, information garnered from Biological Science 1 tells that terrestrial crops will not fare well during or soon after a flood, since excess water causes water logging that result in:Clogged air spaces leading to death of microorganisms in soil. Rotting of plan roots due to excess water. Leaching (washing away) of soil nutrients. A change in the pH of acidic soils. Surprisingly, Microsoft Encarta tells us that some varieties of rice grow with roots submerged in water, and that these varieties are more productive because their roots easily extract needed nutrients from water. But once rice starts to mature, water is drained or pumped out of fields since a dry field is needed for plants to mature and grains to ripen. In the same news article previously referred to rice, rice farmers in Enterprise lost over 300 acres of rice since the ripening grains were damaged by the excess water. However, when one looks at the response of the ecosystem to floods, the revelations that spring froth tell a different story. According to Nature Encyclopedia; most amphibians lead solitary lives, but for many species the need for water in which to mate, brings large numbers together at breeding pools. This exodus is dependent on factors such as daylength, temperature change and most importantly weather. The annoying croaking of male frogs to get the attention of a female occurs more frequently during the rainy season. Hence the rains (a likely cause of a flood) created an optimum condition for amphibian reproduction. The Nature Encyclopedia also tells us that some fishes take physical steps to  protect their offspring and thus build nests. The hassar nests, very common during rainy seasons are evidence that fishes also multiply in excess water. The sharp increases in mosquitoes during and after flood are due to the fact that their larvae mature in stagnant water. When an area is flooded, aquatic plants spread in the stop the flow of water and trap silt. Silt greatly aids in bringing more vegetation (such as reeds, lilies and grasses) to the flooded area. But a deluge can also have negative impacts on the natural ecosystems. An example given in the Nature Encyclopedia is the delay ion completion of metamorphosis in frogs. Tadpoles lose their gill for lungs, and lose their tail for legs provided that conditions are right, on their way to becoming mature frogs. But if environment is swamped, then the maturing frog will continue to grow but retain their gills and tails for longer periods in order to adapt to their surroundings. This delay in maturity means a longer elapse before reproduction. If this happens in large numbers (extreme cases) the frog population can be affected.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on DESNUDE SU ESTRES

â€Å"Desnude su estrà ©s† El libro â€Å"Desnude a su estrà ©s† de Lois Levy a travà ©s de un texto fcil de seguir sugiere al lector diversas tà ©cnicas de relajacià ³n fà ­sica y espiritual, que incluyen consejos desde cantar en la regadera hasta llevar a la realizacià ³n tà ©cnicas ya formales como lo seria el yoga. La autora reafirma constantemente la importancia de la relajacià ³n, respiraciones conscientes y profundas, la meditacià ³n y principalmente la aceptacià ³n de las necesidades que tenemos los seres humanos en estos dà ­as de liberar altos niveles de stress. Es asà ­ y con diversos ejercicios de dificultad bsica que poco a poco lograremos reducir los niveles de tensià ³n y podremos gozar de una vida mucho ms tranquila. Personalmente me parecen muy sencillas, pero no insuficientes, las tà ©cnicas que propone la autora, ya que no requieren ni de un espacio en particular, tampoco de un tiempo en especifico para realizarlas. Se pueden llevar a cabo desde el primer segundo en el que se despierta, mientras que se desarrollan las actividades o en el momento que antecede el sueà ±o. Su efectividad es infalible y fcil de comprobarlo, ya que en el momento en el que leà ­ el libro y aplicaba espordicamente las tà ©cnicas incluidas, era efectiva la relajacià ³n que experimentaba, misma que me ayudo a comprender mejor el libro. Por otra parte, la variedad de las tà ©cnicas incluidas dejan excluido cualquier tipo de pretexto para no realizarlas. De igual manera la dedicacià ³n y tiempo necesarias para realizarlas varà ­an de tal manera que las opciones resultan abrumadoras (raro de un libro anti-stress). Es un hecho que la tensià ³n (stress) impide al ser humano desarrollar sus capacidades intelectuales al 100%, ya que nuestra creatividad e inventiva requieren de un estado equilibrado y de tranquilidad para poder manifestarse apropiadamente. Las consecuencias pueden tener diferentes magnitudes, sin embargo en el caso acadà ©mico el realiza... Free Essays on DESNUDE SU ESTRES Free Essays on DESNUDE SU ESTRES â€Å"Desnude su estrà ©s† El libro â€Å"Desnude a su estrà ©s† de Lois Levy a travà ©s de un texto fcil de seguir sugiere al lector diversas tà ©cnicas de relajacià ³n fà ­sica y espiritual, que incluyen consejos desde cantar en la regadera hasta llevar a la realizacià ³n tà ©cnicas ya formales como lo seria el yoga. La autora reafirma constantemente la importancia de la relajacià ³n, respiraciones conscientes y profundas, la meditacià ³n y principalmente la aceptacià ³n de las necesidades que tenemos los seres humanos en estos dà ­as de liberar altos niveles de stress. Es asà ­ y con diversos ejercicios de dificultad bsica que poco a poco lograremos reducir los niveles de tensià ³n y podremos gozar de una vida mucho ms tranquila. Personalmente me parecen muy sencillas, pero no insuficientes, las tà ©cnicas que propone la autora, ya que no requieren ni de un espacio en particular, tampoco de un tiempo en especifico para realizarlas. Se pueden llevar a cabo desde el primer segundo en el que se despierta, mientras que se desarrollan las actividades o en el momento que antecede el sueà ±o. Su efectividad es infalible y fcil de comprobarlo, ya que en el momento en el que leà ­ el libro y aplicaba espordicamente las tà ©cnicas incluidas, era efectiva la relajacià ³n que experimentaba, misma que me ayudo a comprender mejor el libro. Por otra parte, la variedad de las tà ©cnicas incluidas dejan excluido cualquier tipo de pretexto para no realizarlas. De igual manera la dedicacià ³n y tiempo necesarias para realizarlas varà ­an de tal manera que las opciones resultan abrumadoras (raro de un libro anti-stress). Es un hecho que la tensià ³n (stress) impide al ser humano desarrollar sus capacidades intelectuales al 100%, ya que nuestra creatividad e inventiva requieren de un estado equilibrado y de tranquilidad para poder manifestarse apropiadamente. Las consecuencias pueden tener diferentes magnitudes, sin embargo en el caso acadà ©mico el realiza...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Political Economy and International Relations Policy Essays

The Political Economy and International Relations Policy Essays The Political Economy and International Relations Policy Essay The Political Economy and International Relations Policy Essay Key Words exchange rates, currency policy, monetary policy, international capital mobility, monetary regimes n Abstract The structure of international monetary relations has gained increasing prominence over the past two decades. Both national exchange rate policy and the character of the international monetary system require explanation. At the national level, the choice of exchange rate regime and the desired level of the exchange rate involve distributionally relevant tradeoffs. Interest group and partisan pressures, the structure of political institutions, and the electoral incentives of politicians therefore nfluence exchange rate regime and level decisions. At the international level, the character of the international monetary system depends on strategic interaction among governments, driven by their national concerns and constrained by the international environment. A global or regional fixed-rate currency regime, in particular, requires at least coordination and often explicit cooperation among national governments. INTRODUCTION The study of international monetary relations was long the domain of economists and a few lonely political scientists. It was routinely argued that, unlike international rade, debt, or foreign investment, exchange rates and related external monetary policies were too technical, and too remote from the concerns of either the mass public or special interests, to warrant direct attention from political economists (Gowa 1988). This was never really accurate, as demonstrated historically by the turbulent politics of the gold standard and more recently by the attention paid to currency policy in small, open economies such as those of Northern Europe and the developing world. But the tedious predictability of currency values under the BrettonWoods system lulled most scholars into inattention (exceptions include Cooper 1968, Kindleberger 1970, Strange 1971 , Cohen 1977, Odell 1982, and Gowa 1983). The collapse of BrettonWoods increased the interest of political scientists in the issue, and in the 1980s, international monetary affairs took so prominent a place in domestic and international politics as to warrant widespread scholarly attention. The 50% real appreciation of the US dollar and the domestic and international firestorm of concern it prompted, dramatic currency collapses in many heavily indebted developing countries, and the controversial attempts to fix European exchange rates ll drew researchers toward the topic. Since 1990, international monetary relations have become extremely prominent in practice, and the study of their political economy has accordingly increased in importance. Exchange rate policies have been at the center of what are arguably the two most striking recent developments in the international economy: the creation of a single European currency and the waves of currency crises that swept through Asia, Latin America, and Russia between 1994 and 1999. Although most research on the political economy of international monetary relations pproaches, analytical arguments, and empirical conclusions. We summarize this work without attempting to cover exhaustively a complex and rapidly growing literature. In this section, we outline the analytical problem, delineating the range of outcomes in need of explanation. The next section focuses on one set of things to be explained, the policy choices of national governments, surveying work on the domestic political economy of exchange rate choice. The third section looks at the second set of things to be explained, the rise and evolution of regional and global exchange rate institutions. Two interrelated sets of international monetary phenomena require explanation. The first is national: the policy of particular governments towards their exchange rates. The second is global: the character of the international monetary system. These two interact in important ways. National policy choices, especially of large countries, have a powerful impact on the nature of the international monetary system. The United Kingdom and the United States were essentially the creators of the classical gold standard and the BrettonWoods monetary order, respectively, and their decisions to ithdraw from these systems effectively ended them. By the same token, the global monetary regime exercises a powerful influence on national policy choice. A small country, such as Belgium or Costa Rica, is much more likely to fix its exchange rate† to gold before 1914, to the dollar or some other currency since 1945†when most of its neighbors have done so. The national and the international interact in complex ways, but for ease of analysis it is useful to look at separate dependent variables: the national policy choices of governments and the character of the international monetary system. National Exchange Rate Policy Each national government must decide whether to fix its currency†to the dollar, to another national currency, or to gold (in earlier periods)†or to allow it to float. If it chooses to let its currency float, it must decide whether it intends to let currency markets freely set the currencys value or whether it intends to target a particular range of exchange rates. If the latter, the government needs to determine the desired level of the currencys value†whether, generally speaking, it prefers the exchange rate to be strong (relatively appreciated) or weak (relatively depreciated). In specific instances, governments may be faced with more immediate choices, such as whether to defend or devalue a currency under attack. There are, roughly speaking, two kinds of national decisions to be made. One concerns the regime under which the currency is managed (fixed or floating, for example), and the other concerns the level of the currency (strong or weak). These choices have significant economic and political implications, and there is no reigning economic argument as to the optimal national exchange rate policy. In this, international monetary policy differs from trade policy. There are powerful economic arguments for the welfare superiority of free trade, and free trade can usefully be considered a baseline from which national policies deviate, with the distance from free trade a measure worth explaining. In currency policy, there is no clear economic- efficiency argument for or against any particular level of the real exchange rate. A strong (appreciated) currency is one that is valuable relative to others; this gives subjects national producers of tradable products (goods and services that enter into international trade) to more foreign competition, for the strong currency makes oreign products relatively cheaper. Although politicians certainly care about these effects†weighing the positive effects of increased mass incomes versus the negative effects of increased foreign competition†there is no purely economic reason to opt for one or the other. There is a reigning economic approach to currency unions (and, somewhat by extension, to fixed exchange rates), drawn from the literature on optimal currency areas. But this literature is by no means conclusive, so even here there are few purely economic factors that could explain national government policy. This means that national exchange rate policy must be made with an eye toward its political implications, since the tradeoffs governments must weigh are largely among values given different importance by different sociopolitical actors. Governments must evaluate the relative importance of the purchasing power of consumers, the competitiveness of producers of tradable products, and the stability of nominal macroeconomic variables. Below we survey the political considerations that affect policy, but first we describe the international level of analysis in international monetary affairs. InternationalMonetary Systems There are effectively two ideal types of international monetary regime, with actual systems tending toward one or the other. One is a fixed-rate system, in which national currencies are tied to each other at a publicly announced (often legally established) parity. Some fixed-rate systems involve a common link to a commodity such as gold or silver; others use a peg to a national currency such as the US dollar. The other ideal-typical monetary regime is is a free-floating system, in which national currency values vary according to market conditions and national macroeconomic policies. There are many potential gradations between these extremes. In the past 1 50 years, the world has experienced three broadly defined international monetary orders. For about 50 years before World War l, and again in substantially modified form in the 1920s, most of the worlds major nations were on the classical gold standard, a quintessential fixed-rate system. Under the gold standard, national governments announced a fixed gold value for their currencies and committed themselves to exchange gold for currency at this rate. From the late 1940s until the early 1970s, the capitalist world was organized into the BrettonWoods monetaryorder, a modified fixed-ratesystem. Under BrettonWoods, national currencies were fixed to the US dollar and the US dollar was fixed to gold. However, national governments could and did change their exchange rates in unusual circumstances, so that currencies were not as firmly fixed as under the classical gold standard. From 1973 until the present, and briefly in the 1930s, the reigning order has been one in which the largest countries had more or less freely floating national currencies with no nominal anchor, whereas smaller countries tended either to fix against one of the major currencies or to allow their currencies to float with varying degrees of overnment management. Monetary regimes can be regional as well as global. Within the international free-for- all that has prevailed since 1973, a number of regional fixed-rate systems have currencies of relatively small countries to the currency of a larger nation; for instance, the CFA (African Financial Community) franc zone ties the currencies of 12 African countries to each other and to the French franc (and now to the euro). Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have similarly tied their currencies to the US dollar, and others are considering this link. Another type of regional fixed-rate system involves the linking of a number of regional currencies to one another, often as a step toward adoption of a common currency. This has been the case with European monetary integration, which began with a limited regional agreement, evolved into something like a Deutsche mark link, and eventually became a monetary union with a single currency and a common European central bank. Countries in the Eastern Caribbean and southern Africa have also developed monetary unions. Our dependent variables, then, are (a) the national exchange rate policies of articular national governments, especially their choice of the level and regime of their currencies; and (b) the international monetary regime, especially the degree to which currencies are fixed against one another. To be sure, these two dependent variables are Jointly determined. National policy choices depend on the character of the international monetary system, and the evolution of global monetary relations is powerfully affected by the decisions of the major trading and investing nations. By the same token, international monetary relations interact with other economic policies. Currency misalignments have often led to protectionist pressures and even trade wars, Just as the evolution of trade relations affects exchange rate policy choices. Policies toward international financial and investment flows are similarly affected by, and affect, exchange rate movements. These complex interactive effects are important, but we do not know how to think about them in an integrated and systematic way. This essay focuses on the political economy of international monetary policy in and of itself, emphasizing potential answers to our two more narrowly defined explanatory questions. Cognate literatures on the political economy of other important international economic policies are useful to the analysis of international monetary policy. Analyses of international trade and investment begin with a prior notion of the distributional interests at stake†factoral, sectoral, and firm-specific†derived either from theory or from empirical investigation. They then explore how these interests are aggregated and mediated by such sociopolitical institutions as labor unions and business associations, political parties, electoral systems, legislatures, and ureaucracies. Finally, they explore the interactions between these nationally derived policies and those of other countries, especially in contexts in which interstate strategic interaction is likely to be important, such as where national government policies depend on the responses of other governments. The emerging structure of analysis and explanation of international monetary and financial politics follows this pattern. In the next section, we summarize the domestic level of analysis, especially how interests and institutions interact in the formation of national policy.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

International Political Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 1

International Political Economy - Essay Example International political became known as a focal point of study in the 1960s. This was sparked by the drastic advancement of the international economy following interests in global politics. The already set and developing field drew upon diverse sources including history and economics (Biersteker, 1993). This is in addition to international relations thereby manifesting the field as a disciplinary promiscuity that remains a feature up to date. An element of ancient international political economy that has not stood the test of time is the engagement that intertwined the extensive invisible college of initiating scholars. As this imperceptible school of thought untangled, two types of international political economy emerged. Even though their range partly related, one type is predominant in the United States and the other in the United Kingdom and Canada. The prime type in the United States is the rationalist. Consequently, inter-relationships between the states are their focal areas o f concern. Furthermore, they have evolved sharply and revolutionalized formal models and dominant operatives that assist them to survive competitive interstate complexities (Palan, 2000). In this way, rationalists depict these states as the greatest beneficiaries in acquiring incentives for international collaboration. Insatiable for data and inclined towards solving problems, rationalists devote much of their energy to theoretical deliberations as to empirical work. A majority are fond of assumptions that relate to the role of domination in stabilizing international economy. Additionally, they are used to creating up framework of governing institutions, an inclination that may derive from their supremacy features. On the contrary, scholars of the diverse critical aspect in international political economy are dominant in the United Kingdom and Canada. These scholars spend much of their energy unearthing the concealed workings of hegemony, both the global

Friday, November 1, 2019

E-commerce in Singapur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

E-commerce in Singapur - Essay Example In the essay "E-commerce in Singapour", the writer claims that the evolution of the Internet and powerful online technology has given way to a new area of commerce known as electronic commerce or e-commerce. E-commerce simply means doing business electronically. In other words, commercial activities are performed online such as buying and selling goods online, electronic funds transfer, and direct consumer marketing. With a large percentage of the population having access to the Internet at home and on the go, consumers are opting to shop online rather than going the conventional way to ‘brick and mortar’ shops. Today, e-commerce is proving to be a fast growing industry in Singapore with many aspiring entrepreneurs launching their business on the Internet. In order to compete with others and to increase market shares, the business organizations implement multiple technologies for shaping their core competencies and for achieving cost effectiveness. In this respect, e-com merce and e-business are two technological advancements which play very significant role in shaping modern trade. It has helped the managers in managing and controlling the challenging tasks of business activities. â€Å"According to Andersen Consulting, 80% of European top managers recognize the importance of e-commerce for their competitive edge – not only for marketing and sales but also for purchasing and procurement†. This paper will focus on the use of e-commerce and e-business in the retail industry of Singapore. ... include the importance and use of e-commerce and e-business in trade business by figuring out its multiple applications for retailing business activities. The third section will describe various issues and prospects of e-commerce and e-business for small and medium retail industry of Singapore. Finally, based on the analyses and findings from literature review, set of relevant recommendation will be offered for the retail industry of Singapore. The overall discussions and evaluation and will concentrate the on the thesis statement of this paper which is, ‘the use of e-commence and e-business will the small and medium retail industry of Singapore’. e-Commerce and e-Business in Trade and Business In the global business, the scope of e-commerce and e-business has been expanded tremendously. This has been possible due to increasing popularity and awareness regarding information technology and internet. â€Å"With developments in the Internet and Web-based technologies, dist inctions between traditional markets and the global electronics marketplace-such as business capital size, among others are gradually being narrowed down† (Kumar, 2009, p.38). These web-based information technologies are very important management tools in strategic positioning which help the business organisations to identify and grab the underlying opportunities. This is also very important for optimal utilization of human skills and other resources (Andam, 2003). In the business activities, e-commerce and e-business are very important for strategic positioning. e-Commerce and e-business are interrelated with other but there are some differences between these two from the business perspectives. Therefore, in order to better understanding, it is necessary to clarify these two terms. In the words