Thursday, October 31, 2019

Health and pe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health and pe - Essay Example But how could I go about getting my people to exercise hard enough to start keeping weight off before I was replaced as King? I only had time to make about one Royal Decree before the official Weight and See Dinner to see whether I would stay king. If the people had more weight on them than the last Weight and See Dinner, I would need to start looking for another profession. After a lot of heavy thinking and finally falling asleep without a solution, I woke up the next morning with the perfect answer, dance! Instead of forcing my people to participate in strenuous activity, something none of them were necessarily naturally inclined to do, I simply performed a very active â€Å"Dance of Thanksgiving† in front of my astonished assembly just as breakfast was being served. After breakfast, I stood up and performed another dance, the â€Å"Dance of Satisfaction†, which was slower because my full belly just wanted to stretch. I did this same activity before brunch, lunch, the afternoon tea buffet, dinner and nighttime feast. I had so much fun doing it that I could help laughing through some of the dances and, by lunch, some of my people were looking more interested than shocked. By the nighttime feast, about half of them were joining me in the dances. By lunch the next day, everyone was dancing in wild movements of celebration before each meal and slower dances after each meal. By the third day, I caught my people dancing randomly during their other daily tasks just for the joy of movement. This was the perfect solution to the problem for many reasons. First, my people were participating in strenuous activity completely voluntarily, so they didn’t resent me for imposing a new rule and they didn’t resent the activity as something that they had to squeeze in between their other daily activities. Second, dancing is fun and it makes your body feel good, which is itself an encouragement to keep doing it. It also made the food preparers feel good because we

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Pursuit of a Just and Stable Society Essay Example for Free

The Pursuit of a Just and Stable Society Essay In Plato’s writings that reached its full expression in his famous dialogue, The Republic, he argued that attainment of a just and orderly society lies on the establishment of a society wherein the reigning regime or leader is a philosopher king or queen who possesses the necessary wisdom of philosophy, ethics and politics. In Plato’s republic or just and ordered some of the main features are the abolition of private property or the holding of all goods to belong in public. These extended to the sharing of wives and husbands, establishments and almost anything in the city. Summing up Plato’s ideas in The Republic, a just and ordered society can only be attained by the reign of the philosopher king or queen and the abolition of anything that is private (Cooper, 1997). For about 2000 years after Plato wrote these ideas, almost the same framework or way of thinking had rose in to fame and managed to take the world by storm. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published what is known as The Communist Manifesto, which is considered as one of the most influential political text of all time. In the said literature, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels had tried to explain how our modern society can manage to attain a society that is just and orderly. Reading the said manifesto, we can conclude that one of the most central ideas for the attainment of this ideal society that we are talking about is this – the abolition of private property. For the two thinkers, they believed that the most important foundation of any capitalist society that is the dominant idea on the world is the concept of private ownership. In the text, they had tried to build an argument that says that capitalism is evil. With arguments like alienation and exploitation, they almost declared that capitalism is the cause of all the evil that is happening in the world (Marx et al 1888/1967). However, as they argued, this evil (capitalism) has been always rooted on another evil which is also one of the central concepts in Plato’s discussion on The Republic – private property. In this respect, we are together with Plato, Marx and Engels on the belief that a perfect society can only be attained through the abolition of private property. Adopting the arguments in both The Republic and The Communist Manifesto on the evil of accumulation of private property, we are going to solely base the attainment of a just and order society by the virtue of the abolition of such characteristic in the society. Discussing whether our modern arrangement can afford a framework wherein private properties were abolished, we are going to answer if the world can attain true justice and order in the future. For more than 200 years, the framework and system of capitalism had managed to encroach in every part of our lives. Ranging from the mainstream politics of liberalism to our food in our refrigerators up to our system of education, the world had been dependent and managed to exist on capitalist grounds. The ideas of capitalism have been engraved on every human psyche that made us always think in terms of currencies, money and other capitalist traditions. The question is very simple and it is this, â€Å"Is it possible shift to a society wherein accumulation of private properties was abolished just like the socialist community of Marx or Plato’s republic. The answer is very simple. Yes. The history had taught us that a shift from a feudal or capitalist society (i. e. the case of China, Russia, Cuba, and North Korea) to a communist country (socialist in the future) is possible. Reviewing the history, these countries had managed to shift to a society that is communal in nature using the revolutions of the masses, the workers or the farmers. However, the answer is not as simple as it seems to be. Though the answer is straight yes, we must remember that the price to pay for this kind of shift is hefty and huge. We must remember that these countries managed to attain communal revolutions through the death of hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives. In the case of China, much of their cultural and historical artifacts were destroyed and sacrificed for these kinds of shift and revolution. The communal revolution had been so bloody and costly that it connotes negativity for many people (Gascoigne, 2010). Now, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to pay the price for this kind of revolution. Are we ready to let go the benefits, the beauty and the luxury of a capitalist society for the pursuit of the idea of a just and stable society? Are we ready to give up our properties and let the central government to decide on what we have to do or what will be our job? Are we ready to boycott anything that is a product of the capitalist system? Are we ready to go ‘underground’ and grab weapons and arms to fight the reigning capitalist class? All of these questions must be answered first before we can be able to decide if we are ready to pursue the just and orderly society that a communal society (that abolishes private property) promises. Lastly, it is important to note for each one of us that the basis of our discussion for the criteria of our just and order society are only the writings of thinkers such as Plato, Engels and Marx. We are never sure if their ideas can really work on the real world. Reviewing the history with the nations and countries that follow them, we can conclude that the communal government that abolished private property is not as perfect as what is seems to be (though we can also argue that they were wrong in understanding and following these thinkers). However, the question will remain simple, The question is simply, â€Å"Are we ready to sacrifice our current societal arrangement for the pursuit of an idea that are not still sure. † This is a very important question. This is an addition to the difficulty of the shift or revolution itself. These questions should be answered before we have to do anything. It is very difficult that in the end, as we pursue these ideas, we will found ourselves in the end frustrated because of the mistakes, errors and inaccuracy that made us sacrificed what we already had. The point in this discussion is simple. Assuming that the thinkers in the name of Plato, Engels and Marx were true (which is difficult to prove), the question whether we can create a just and orderly society remain complicated. It is no longer a simple Yes or No. The capitalist system and framework had been so wide and huge that it became difficult to kill it. Even if we managed to kill it, there is also a possibility that we can also be killed in the process due to our heavy dependence on it. It can be said that the last ten generations had been bred by the capitalist system making it difficult for any one of us to counter it. However, the possibility of shifting to a society that Marx and Plato had thought is still possible. Yet, the question will remain, â€Å"Are we ready to do what is necessary to achieve such system? †

Sunday, October 27, 2019

USA: Threats, Challenges and Responses

USA: Threats, Challenges and Responses Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction and Thesis Three threats or challenges to United States interests The United States responses to identified threats or challenges Recommended priorities Conclusion References Challenge and Response Introduction and Thesis The globe is in the center of a pro-longed â€Å"post-Cold War transition†. This cold war transition will keep continuing till next decade. There are so many element and powers that are working during this time. So of the factors have negative impacts whereas some of the factors have positive impacts. The society of independent nations is enlarging, the economy of the world has mainly improved from the turn down of the â€Å"late 80s and early 90s†, and many of the experts are expecting fast growing economy (Erwin, Magnuson, Parsons Tadjdeh, 2014). From the point of view of national security, the challenges that United States reduced in order of scale or size they are safe from any other global challenges but still there are some abroad challenges that interests of United States are facing. But other than these elements and other positive growth, this time of evolution stays complicated and full of challenges. In the recent times, there are still seen possibly unpredic table challenges, a mixture of social, demographic, monetary, and political circumstances(Allen, 2014). It is necessary to face the challenges and response well to such threats. The thesis statement is that security of a country is necessary but the question here is that how a country makes strategies to keep its national interests safe. In this paper we will discuss the threats and challenges that are faced by the United States and how the United States responses to all these threats and challenges. Furthermore, the paper identifies that how the national power instruments can be utilized for the safety and security of the state in order to give response to the identified threats and challenges. Three threats or challenges to United States interests In the recent times, the United States’ interests are facing many challenges and threats. A few of the challenges and threats are mentioned below: 1: Peace America’s greatest asset and interest is its people. The people of America are the most respected one in the country. People living in America build a nation from people coming from al h religions, races, colours etc. and live in peace. The people of America will be provided peace and they will be teaching to keep their peace safe. The security forces of America will do all the possible things to secure the peace of the country and make the people of America play an important role in the peace of the Alternative world too (Erwin, Magnuson, Parsons Tadjdeh, 2014). The country faces some threats and challenges about the prosperity as the natural disasters are a big threat to the peace and prosperity of the country. 2: The security of US, its people and its Allies Security of the nation and its people is utter most responsibility of the military and govt. of United States. United States of America is probably the most peaceful country in the universe. The administration of the country has a big responsibility of securing them. United States is taking step to make appropriate strategies for the security of its people and the partners of the country. The security of allies and partners of the country is very important for the country (Bareer, 2010).. 3: Values It is believed by the govt. of the United States that there are several values that are universal and they are trying their best to promote these values. Freedom of speaking, worshiping of the religion and selection of the leaders etc. are inclusive of these values. The basic foundation of United States of America is on these values so they become challenging and threating sometimes. The United States responses to identified threats or challenges 1: Peace and Prosperity The govt. of United States has made some appropriate solutions to face the peace and prosperity issues that the country faces. The country has built is ability to face and solve the problems related to disasters so that the peace and prosperity of the people of United Sates could be saved for a long term. Appropriate laws are made to reduce the violence in the country (Erwin, Magnuson, Parsons Tadjdeh, 2014). (Wohlstetter, 2014). 2: Security The military of United States is active all the time for the security of the nation, its people and the partner allies of the country. The country has a balance in the adoption of new techniques and use of new instruments. For their alliances, America stand united with its partners to help them when they need their help in security (Wohlstetter, 2014). 3: Values The govt. of United States introduced several laws to respect other religions and the values of the country and other religions living in the country. They are promoting these values in all around the globe and doing appropriate strategies to keep it safe and secure in the country. Recommended priorities The American Intelligence and Army are trying their hard to protect the interests of America and they are making hard efforts to keep it safe from any threat or challenge. The US should make its cyber strength strong as the nation can be harmed by hacking its national data. It is recommended to secure the national data of the state in order to keep it safe by any sort of cyber hacking which is very threatening these days (Erwin, Magnuson, Parsons Tadjdeh, 2014). The cyber weapon protection is on the top priority of the Unites States. United States is increasing the outer safe circle so that no one can threat or harm the nation. The values of the country should be kept safe by introducing new laws. Conclusion In the recent times, the world has turned in to a complex and dangerous place because after the cold war the upcoming war will be cyber war, a war which is very threatening globally. Major threats that are being faced by United States are security of the people of United States, Peace and Prosperity and the values. The United States would need to be ready to attack to such vulnerable threats in order to keep the national interests safe. From the point of view of national security, the challenges that United States reduced in order of scale or size they are safe from any other global challenges but still there are some abroad challenges that interests of United States are facing. But other than these elements and other positive growth, this time of evolution stays complicated and full of challenges. References Allen, C. (2014).The Terrorist Threat: US Facing New Challenges at Abroad and at Home(1st ed.). Bareer, W. (2010). U.S. Alliances in East Asia: Internal Challenges and External Threats.The Brookings Institution. Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2010/05/east-asia-breer Erwin, S., Magnuson, S., Parsons, D., Tadjdeh, Y. (2014). Top Five Threats to National Security in the Coming Decade.Nationaldefensemagazine.org. Retrieved from http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/November/Pages/TopFiveThreatstoNationalSecurityintheComingDecade.aspx Wohlstetter, R. (2014). Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism.Fas.org. Retrieved from http://fas.org/irp/threat/commission.html

Friday, October 25, 2019

How Technology Will Shape Learning Essay -- Article Review, Marie Glen

Over the years, persons, usually teachers, have been trying to find out the best way to teach. Many agree that by using technology, students will gain more knowledge and they’ll focus more in class. As well as, many say that since computers were invented in 1945 and since technology has been advancing since then, students, mostly teenagers, have decreased their focus and knowledge of capability. An adept article by Marie Glenn, â€Å"How Technology Will Shape Learning† intelligently includes rhetorical devices and strategies such as the use of logos, ethos, expert testimonies, humor and evaluation techniques to strongly promote her positive conception of technology use in classrooms. In contrast, Kentaro Toyama’s article, â€Å"There Are No Technology Shortcuts to Good Education†, uses pathos, diction, expert testimonies and his personal observation to strongly oppose the theory of technology helping education. Although Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama have both written articles on the use of technology in education, Glenn’s arguments are better supported and more reasonable. Analysis of â€Å"How Technology Will Shape Learning† Marie Glenn begins her informative article skillfully by providing the reader with facts, studies and evaluation techniques that promotes her purpose of convincing her audience, mainly educational programs, that technology is beneficial in education. Glenn greatly meets her goal of convincing her audience by gaining credibility. She begins her article with the use of quantitative logos to support her argument and to establish her point of view about technology innovating education. Glenn states, â€Å"63% of the survey respondents from public and private sectors say technological innovation will have a major influence on t... ...allenge in education remains the longterm, directed motivation of the student- something which no technology today can deliver on its own, but which good teachers deliver regularly† (3). In their informative article, both Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama achieve their purposes within their writing. Marie Glenn proved more than enough by giving statistics and facts to declare her positive vision and benefits towards technology in education. While Kentaro Toyama stated frequently that technology doesn’t have the motivation, which according to him, is the source of improvement in education to teach students. Although Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama proved well discussable arguments, Marie Glenn was able to write a much more well rounded essay by using more logos and expert testimonies that restated her personal observations on the topic, â€Å"technology improving education†. How Technology Will Shape Learning Essay -- Article Review, Marie Glen Over the years, persons, usually teachers, have been trying to find out the best way to teach. Many agree that by using technology, students will gain more knowledge and they’ll focus more in class. As well as, many say that since computers were invented in 1945 and since technology has been advancing since then, students, mostly teenagers, have decreased their focus and knowledge of capability. An adept article by Marie Glenn, â€Å"How Technology Will Shape Learning† intelligently includes rhetorical devices and strategies such as the use of logos, ethos, expert testimonies, humor and evaluation techniques to strongly promote her positive conception of technology use in classrooms. In contrast, Kentaro Toyama’s article, â€Å"There Are No Technology Shortcuts to Good Education†, uses pathos, diction, expert testimonies and his personal observation to strongly oppose the theory of technology helping education. Although Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama have both written articles on the use of technology in education, Glenn’s arguments are better supported and more reasonable. Analysis of â€Å"How Technology Will Shape Learning† Marie Glenn begins her informative article skillfully by providing the reader with facts, studies and evaluation techniques that promotes her purpose of convincing her audience, mainly educational programs, that technology is beneficial in education. Glenn greatly meets her goal of convincing her audience by gaining credibility. She begins her article with the use of quantitative logos to support her argument and to establish her point of view about technology innovating education. Glenn states, â€Å"63% of the survey respondents from public and private sectors say technological innovation will have a major influence on t... ...allenge in education remains the longterm, directed motivation of the student- something which no technology today can deliver on its own, but which good teachers deliver regularly† (3). In their informative article, both Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama achieve their purposes within their writing. Marie Glenn proved more than enough by giving statistics and facts to declare her positive vision and benefits towards technology in education. While Kentaro Toyama stated frequently that technology doesn’t have the motivation, which according to him, is the source of improvement in education to teach students. Although Marie Glenn and Kentaro Toyama proved well discussable arguments, Marie Glenn was able to write a much more well rounded essay by using more logos and expert testimonies that restated her personal observations on the topic, â€Å"technology improving education†.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Writing Assignment

Thomas Friedman's perspectives on the topic of Mooch and their ability to deliver writing instruction online. The second option is to write an essay in which you take the role of Karen Head and respond to Thomas Friedman and David Brooks on the topic of Mooch and their ability to deliver writing instruction online. The third option is to write a comparison-contrast essay on Neil Postman and Thomas Friedman's viewpoints on the topic of Mooch and their ability to deliver writing instruction online.The fourth option is to write n essay in which you take the role of Neil Postman and respond to Thomas Friedman and David Brooks on the topic of Mooch and their ability to deliver writing instruction online. The fifth option is to write an essay in which you take the role of Kate Keeper and respond to Thomas Friedman and David Brooks on the topic of online writing instruction in general and on whether Mooch are able to deliver writing instruction online. The sixth option is to write a compari son-contrast essay on the ideas of parenting of Amy Chug and of Hanna Rosin.This option does not involve analyzing Mooch or online education at all. It might be a nice option if you do not prefer to write on the topic of Mooch or online education. Please consult http:info. Mums. Decorticating/WRITING_SASS/ wall _WRITING _ SASS_options-?HTML for more details, including the essays and articles you should write about. Grading Rubric: Introduction and thesis: Topic is introduced in an engaging way and essay has a clear and effective thesis statement. (1 0 points) Body content: Essay supports the thesis statement with strong, well-reasoned support. (30 points) Writing Assignment Elena Crossovers paper is on ethnic and gender differences, she enforces that â€Å"SIAM-Kim and his peers (Jenny, Meaning, and Jack) occupy a central focus of the narrative† (5), in line with the development that children in Choky's novel are most audacious in terms of defying racial confines. Cherokee provides insight to these impassible borders when she discusses â€Å"Choosy characters [who] repeatedly try and fail (often with violent uniqueness) to subvert them† (9), using multiple examples of the children characters in the novel.The scenes created by Ways Choc and discussed in Crossovers paper are appreciated for making clear the effort of children to push racial boundaries and limitations seemingly forbidden by their elders. She does this by dissecting the motives of each character, beginning with the tried â€Å"attempts by Chinatown elders to constrain Meaning she appears capable Of subverting boundaries.Though relegated to the home as a nanny for Seeks (the y oungest Chin brother), Meaning strategically escapes this limitation, crossing not just gender but also ethnic borders† (1 0), opening the doors for other girls in the novel, such as Jenny. Cherokee agrees that â€Å"Choc depicts Jenny flirting with the idea of border crossing throughout her youth, stepping briefly across lines and testing limits† (10-11), something elders would not do in All That Matters.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Ethical Principles/Theories

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES/THEORIES ?Situation Ethics oSituation ethics views Pornography as moral if and only if it is used in moderation and with the right mind set of the individual to use it to benefit oneself or others in a good way. ?A married couple who are unable to show their love to each other can use a type of pornography called â€Å"cybersex† to help them cope up with the loneliness of being away from their loved one. oBut if an individual indulges his/herself into pornography to harm the people around him/her, and lets pornography destroy ones morality, Situation ethics views it as something immoral. A couple decided to film their sexual intercourse but they promised to keep it private. Suddenly the woman found out that his partner has uploaded their video on the web. ?Pragmatic Moral Principle oIn Pragmatic Moral Principle, the bottom line is the most realistic, beneficial, and useful. If we apply it in Pornography, we can indeed agree that looking at pornography as a f orm of education for adults can save more time and money, rather than going to a sexologist and other doctors of the same field. A married couple who are both inexperienced in sexual intercourse can be helped by pornography to educate them on how to deal with this field they are unaware of. ?Divine Command Theory/The Will of God oâ€Å"An act is good because God willed it to be so and bad because God forbids it. † -Samuel Von Pufendorf oThe will of God is the basis of what is moral and immoral. ?A 14 y/o boy is curious what pornography is like, and then decided to look it up on the internet.He reached a pornography site but the site requires the one should be at least 18+ y/o to enter the site. The boy then lied about his age and entered the site. ?Utilitarianism oIt may be justified if the act benefits or brings happiness to an individual and overweighs the negative effect. ?A married couple who were first unfamiliar with coitus later tried reading porn magazines to help imp rove their sex life and to help prolong their relationship.

Maya Angelou essays

Maya Angelou essays The great dancer, playwright, songwriter, poet, author, historian, director, performer, and civil rights activist known as Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 her childbirth name being Marguerite Johnson. Growing up she underwent many hardships, including her parents divorcing and being sent to live with her grandma. Upon turning eight she was sexually assaulted, the man that did this was soon murdered. This being a traumatizing event it silenced her. For four entire years she refused to talk to anyone except her brother, Bailey. After graduation she become a single mother of a son, Guy. Seven years later she married, and adopted the stage name Maya Angelou, Maya is what Bailey called her, and Angelou her new married name. Going through so much at such a young age is unimaginable. In 1954, Maya begun touring with a chorus know as Everyman's Opera Company. This interested her in writing lyrics; these lyrics she writes soonturn into poetry and short stories. This is when her career really starts to develop. Next she moves back to Brooklyn, New York, to join the Harlem Writers Guild. Maya directs her first play, "Cabaret for Freedom" over these years she struggles with her husband and remarries to Vusumi Make, a freedom fighter of South Africa. The next year her and her son Guy move to Africa where she continues her craft of writing sharing her knowledge in Cairo, Egypt, becoming the editor of the Arab Observer. Next she starts educating in a more serious way, in a classroom. Maya serves as assistant administrator at the School of Music and Drama, University of Ghana. Students loved her. She had a natural way of communicating with and teaching these young adults. In 1963 two years later she becomes a feature editor for the African Review; and contributor to the Ghanaian Times and Ghanaian Broadcasting Company. 1970 is one of her most famous years, she authors "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" a autobiographical no...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Vitamin C essays

Vitamin C essays Over the past few years, vitamin c has been a topic of controversy. There have been studies stating that vitamin c can help prevent many various health problems including cancer and other life threatening diseases. The major researcher and name associated with this side of the research is Dr. Linus Pauling. However, there have recently been some studies that refute Paulings findings. These studies state that vitamin c has now been thought to have a negative effect on the body. However, the majority of these cases do not have sufficient enough evidence to back their claims. Therefore, the research world still points to vitamin c as being beneficial to our health. Vitamin c is a water-soluble vitamin and is also known as ascorbic acid. We as humans are one of the only animals whose bodies do not naturally create ascorbic acid. Therefore, a supplement vitamin c pill was originally created. This is the form of vitamin c that we are used to seeing. This is also the type of vitamin c that researchers are debating these days. Vitamin c is the most supplemented vitamin among Americans today. I believe that this is due to the positive effects associated with vitamin c. A recent study states that vitamin c has been proven to lower blood pressure. The Boston University School of Medicine and the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University conducted this study. A dose of 500 milligrams a day lowered blood pressure by up to 9 percent, a level comparable to prescription drugs (Hypertension). Despite this drastic change, researchers state that at this point vitamin c should not be viewed as a substitute to prescriptions. Throughout the majority of research on vitamin c posted on the Internet there is one idea that holds stronger than the rest. That is that vitamin c is a helpful beneficiary to our health. Nonetheless, it should not be viewed as a cure-all or as a substitute to any type of prescript...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Literture review report on one of these topics nuclear power, Assignment

Literture review report on one of these topics nuclear power, Renewable Wind Energy, Personal Transport, Public and Urban Transportation, Maritime Industry - Assignment Example A growing trend across the world including in developing nations is that most countries see nuclear energy as a viable program to meet domestic energy consumption. The only challenge is that some countries lack the financial and technical resources to produce nuclear power. This report critically analyses the effectiveness of nuclear energy as an alternative sources amidst safety concerns. In addition, the paper will examine the perception that nuclear energy can make a positive contribution towards the reduction of greenhouse emissions. The report will conclude by forecasting the developments made in nuclear power production and how nuclear energy is likely to address future energy problems. One of the major focus by environmentalists is to alleviate the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As such, global warming will be brought under control. The lack of a global approach to handle the emission of greenhouse gases has been cited as the major reason why such emissions remain unstoppable. This is despite the fact that countries across the world signed the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing the rate of harmful emissions into the atmosphere by the year 2050. A report filed by the Panel on Climate Change indicated that there is need to stabilise CO2 concentration in the atmosphere in order to prevent the world temperatures from rising to 2C. Nuclear energy has been cited as playing a key role in containing the emission of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. In 2009 for example, nuclear energy accounted for over 15% of the global electricity production coming second after hydro power production. The incident that occurred in Fukushima Daiichi was caused by a combination of an earthquake and a Tsunami. The Fukushima incident led to new safety concerns that many people felt needed to be addressed. The incident put a lot of focus the safety of worker in

Friday, October 18, 2019

Swa chp 47 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Swa chp 47 - Research Paper Example ment of appropriate tools to combat corporate fraud, penalize corporate offenders, and dissuade corporate deception making use of threat of stiffer penalties. The Act minimizes the risk of losses incurred by investors in case of fraud and theft. Additionally, the act encourages fraud reporting by setting aside benefit of reliable financial reporting, transparency, and answerability. Generally, the SOX Act addresses the issue of regulation for public companies and their auditors who are required to confirm organization reports on the efficiency of internal financial control as provided by Section 404. The Act’s aim was to help companies audit their accounts (Protiviti 22-30). Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of businesses and accounting firms must verify that company accounts and other financial statements are a true representation of the firms or businesses financial situation. Additionally, the firms and business managements must acknowledge annually that they are accountable of the company’s financial control and that the internal systems involved in company financial control are operational accounts. Additionally, the firms and business must ensure that all the departments fully document every practice that impacts on the financial processes of the organization. Furthermore, the organizations must ensure that all the possible risks of occurrence of fraud or financial mismanagement are identified and that relevant controls to counteract such risks are put in place. The Act holds the company CEOs and CFOs personally responsible for all the information comprised in their firms or business financial statements and systems of internal financial regulator accounts. Section 201 made it illegal for public accounting firms to deliver definite audit services to audit clients. However, the public accounting firms are free to provide other non-audit services if they are but they must be pre-approved by the audit committee. The

Emily Elizabeth Dickenson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emily Elizabeth Dickenson - Essay Example Reading Dickinson is not an intellectual enterprise, it is an emotional journey. Her poetry leads not to a finite conclusion, but invites to further rumination. This writer is thus inclined to explore the thesis articulated by Bray of Dickinson as visionary. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson lived the life of a recluse, seldom leaving the house or entertaining visitors; her aversion to public life was such that she attended only one year’s schooling at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, before returning home out of extreme homesickness. The few people she did come in contact with, however, profoundly influenced her thoughts and poetry, particularly the Reverend Charles Wadsworth. Many critics speculate that Wadsworth was the object of Dickinson’s â€Å"heartsick flow of verses† for the person she called â€Å"my closest, earthly friend†. It is not certain that the Reverend was Emily’s unrequited love is, however, because it might have equally been Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge Otis P. Lord, and Samuel Bowles, the editor of the Springfield Republican. Some even believe that this romantic inspiration may even have been Susan Gilbert Dickinson, wife of Emily ’s brother, Austin, by virtue of the many poems and letters dedicated by Emily to her – a matter to which feminist admirers of her work were quick to attribute her unique and eccentric writing style. Throughout her life, Dickinson’s siblings, Austin and Lavinia, were her constant friends and intellectual companions. Other influences in her poems were the seventeenth century English Metaphysical poets and her conservative Christian upbringing. Most biographies on Dickinson describe her work as having been undertaken in isolation and complete privacy; in truth, Dickinson undertook a lively and active correspondence with a good number of friends, among whom was her sister-in-law Susan Gilbert, literary

Meditations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Meditations - Essay Example This is after the book was circulated for a collection of objection upon which he provided his replies. Most of the people who read the meditations did not agree with some of the philosophical theories built by Descartes. Therefore, this brings about some kind of disagreement between Descartes and one or more objectives that he raises. As such, these objections and replies will be evaluated to gauge their adequacy. Descartes wrote the meditations to show that he had previously been mistaken in relation to things that he had initially thought to be certain. He, therefore, makes a decision to sweep away all of the perception that he had built in the past by constructing his knowledge from ground upwards. In turn, the only ideas that he was to accept as true were those that had been confirmed to be absolutely certain. It is his senses that helped him to get all that he had thought previously. Although his senses can also be deceiving, it only happens for tiny objects or those that are f ar away. He ultimately realizes that he cannot cast any doubt upon his own existence (Garber, 2003). Position of Descartes in the Meditations In the Meditations Descartes provides a means for first philosophy hence the beginning of modern day philosophy. From the book, he starts by attempting to doubt everything. He also builds up from those things that are likely to be known with certainty. He bases his first mediation on skeptical doubts by defining knowledge in terms of doubt. With this, he makes a distinction between rigorous knowledge or scientia and the other lesser grades of convictions or persuasio. He makes a clear distinction between the human soul and body. In this, he demonstrates the existence of God and the immortality of the soul and questions how certain knowledge is. As such, his position is that people should establish what is likely to be known for sure. In order to make out what is claimed in the sciences and form a firm structure from them, it is important to ma ke a new foundation. This is because of the way he connects with the development of knowledge from the senses. This kind of information is what should be taken as true and certain (Garber, 2003). It is thus important to have a clear and distinct perception in order to secure knowledge. He thus develops a new state of mind conception by stating that the mental states are similar to what it represents. Therefore, the subject of the objections is that there should be no belief in things that are absolutely certain. In particular, the objection being made is that people only think about things that know the mind in a clear and distinct way. He claims that senses are not the source of knowledge but a means through which individuals practically move through the world. This makes the mind of human beings sufficient enough to know God. However, the reply to this objective is that people must work hard to understand their bodies. It is because the mind and body are extremely distinct and hav e nothing in common. With this, there must be the presence of doubt to gain more knowledge (Descartes, 1993). In my opinion, this reply is highly adequate because it appears to take a rational stance. It brings out the two truths that show the philosophical evidence on the existence of God, as opposed to the authority of scriptures. First Meditation: What can be called to doubt: the reliability of senses For the first meditation by Descartes which is about the reliability of the senses, he claims that the human is a complete form of spirituality. According to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

One Subject Infographic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

One Subject Infographic - Assignment Example It is from this controversy and falasy that I decided to do research on marijuana. The study involved both qualitative and quantitative data. The main objective of the study conveyed in my infograph is that marijuana is not dangerous as it is perceived to be by most people. The data was obtained from Columbia University and survey report on National Survey on drug use and health. The data and information was presented using graphs 1 and 2 as shown below. The comparison study against Marijuana was done against group of drugs listed as narcotics, Stimulants, Depresants, Non-alcoholic drugs, Alcohol and Alcohol& other drugs. The first comparison was done to assess how many people aged 12years and above use Marijuana against other drugs like Cocaine, Illicit drugs, psychotherapeutics, hallucinogens, Inhalants, heroine. From graph 1, about 25million (23.9%) people aged 12years and above consume illicit drugs. This was followed by marijuana consumed by about 20million (18.9%). About 6.8% have mental illness disorders (psychotherapeutics) which was related to other drugs taken and not marijuana. From the graph, it can be seen that Marijuana is second preferred drugs after other illicit drugs consumed in USA. The second analysis involved assessing and validating whether the effects marijuana can cause road accidents. Under this category, the drugs were classified in groups as highlighted above to take care of many population and different drugs. From graph 2, most accidents in USA are caused by people who take drugs that fall under the category of Alcohols and other drugs. This is represented by about 23.24%. The second harmful category of drugs is from the alcohol representing about 13.64%. This was followed by multiple non-alcoholic, depressants and stimulants. Most road accidents are least caused by the influence of marijuana, as can be seen in figure 2 this is represented by about 1.83% only. I also wanted to prove further behavior of people on use

Education and equality of opportunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Education and equality of opportunity - Essay Example Equality of opportunity in UK’s higher education system is provided for by the transparency practices observed during admissions (Schuetze & Slowey, 2013, p.269). The higher education admissions boards shun discriminatory practices when selecting and admitting students in higher learning institutions. This practice is consistent with the legal provisions that enforce right to education. In other words, gender, class, age, ethnicity, faith, disability, wealth, and sexual orientation are not the determining factors for admissions purposes (Brunswick, 2012, p.183). However, this does not rule out the occurrence of discriminatory practices in the UK education system. Cases of failure to admit qualified students have been reported, thereby raising concerns about the extent to which UK higher education system provides for equality of opportunity (HEFCE, 2008). The UK education sector is characterized by a large number of foreign student populations. It is important to note that the admission of foreign students in higher learning institutions is done in line with the available opportunities. Given this the high number of foreign students in the UK, it is undoubtedly true to conclude that the UK system has diversified its education opportunities. As result, equality of opportunity is not only provided to the locals, but also to the international student population. Merit is a vital factor that influences student enrolment in the UK higher education system. Whilst the system has been said to operate on a for-merit basis, the reliability, relevance, and validity of the process have been challenged (Parry, 2007, p.104). This follows concerns about the exact factors and variables that define merit. In regard to the merit factor, the equality of opportunity prospect has been more or less jeopardized. Notably, the admissions system works towards minimizing or alleviating

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Meditations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Meditations - Essay Example This is after the book was circulated for a collection of objection upon which he provided his replies. Most of the people who read the meditations did not agree with some of the philosophical theories built by Descartes. Therefore, this brings about some kind of disagreement between Descartes and one or more objectives that he raises. As such, these objections and replies will be evaluated to gauge their adequacy. Descartes wrote the meditations to show that he had previously been mistaken in relation to things that he had initially thought to be certain. He, therefore, makes a decision to sweep away all of the perception that he had built in the past by constructing his knowledge from ground upwards. In turn, the only ideas that he was to accept as true were those that had been confirmed to be absolutely certain. It is his senses that helped him to get all that he had thought previously. Although his senses can also be deceiving, it only happens for tiny objects or those that are f ar away. He ultimately realizes that he cannot cast any doubt upon his own existence (Garber, 2003). Position of Descartes in the Meditations In the Meditations Descartes provides a means for first philosophy hence the beginning of modern day philosophy. From the book, he starts by attempting to doubt everything. He also builds up from those things that are likely to be known with certainty. He bases his first mediation on skeptical doubts by defining knowledge in terms of doubt. With this, he makes a distinction between rigorous knowledge or scientia and the other lesser grades of convictions or persuasio. He makes a clear distinction between the human soul and body. In this, he demonstrates the existence of God and the immortality of the soul and questions how certain knowledge is. As such, his position is that people should establish what is likely to be known for sure. In order to make out what is claimed in the sciences and form a firm structure from them, it is important to ma ke a new foundation. This is because of the way he connects with the development of knowledge from the senses. This kind of information is what should be taken as true and certain (Garber, 2003). It is thus important to have a clear and distinct perception in order to secure knowledge. He thus develops a new state of mind conception by stating that the mental states are similar to what it represents. Therefore, the subject of the objections is that there should be no belief in things that are absolutely certain. In particular, the objection being made is that people only think about things that know the mind in a clear and distinct way. He claims that senses are not the source of knowledge but a means through which individuals practically move through the world. This makes the mind of human beings sufficient enough to know God. However, the reply to this objective is that people must work hard to understand their bodies. It is because the mind and body are extremely distinct and hav e nothing in common. With this, there must be the presence of doubt to gain more knowledge (Descartes, 1993). In my opinion, this reply is highly adequate because it appears to take a rational stance. It brings out the two truths that show the philosophical evidence on the existence of God, as opposed to the authority of scriptures. First Meditation: What can be called to doubt: the reliability of senses For the first meditation by Descartes which is about the reliability of the senses, he claims that the human is a complete form of spirituality. According to

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Education and equality of opportunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Education and equality of opportunity - Essay Example Equality of opportunity in UK’s higher education system is provided for by the transparency practices observed during admissions (Schuetze & Slowey, 2013, p.269). The higher education admissions boards shun discriminatory practices when selecting and admitting students in higher learning institutions. This practice is consistent with the legal provisions that enforce right to education. In other words, gender, class, age, ethnicity, faith, disability, wealth, and sexual orientation are not the determining factors for admissions purposes (Brunswick, 2012, p.183). However, this does not rule out the occurrence of discriminatory practices in the UK education system. Cases of failure to admit qualified students have been reported, thereby raising concerns about the extent to which UK higher education system provides for equality of opportunity (HEFCE, 2008). The UK education sector is characterized by a large number of foreign student populations. It is important to note that the admission of foreign students in higher learning institutions is done in line with the available opportunities. Given this the high number of foreign students in the UK, it is undoubtedly true to conclude that the UK system has diversified its education opportunities. As result, equality of opportunity is not only provided to the locals, but also to the international student population. Merit is a vital factor that influences student enrolment in the UK higher education system. Whilst the system has been said to operate on a for-merit basis, the reliability, relevance, and validity of the process have been challenged (Parry, 2007, p.104). This follows concerns about the exact factors and variables that define merit. In regard to the merit factor, the equality of opportunity prospect has been more or less jeopardized. Notably, the admissions system works towards minimizing or alleviating

Hazara people Essay Example for Free

Hazara people Essay 1. Friendship, guilt, redemption â€Å"He knew about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. He had always known. ‘Come. There is a way to be good again,’ Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. Said it in passing, almost as an afterthought. † (Chapter 14, pg 202). This quote symbolizes how Amir strived to do everything to forget, all he needed to do was to fly to Pakistan and see what Rahim Khan wanted him to do. So thats exactly what Amir did. Rahim Khan tells Amir that there is a way to be good again. Amir knew straightaway what he was talking about. He realizes, that all of those years, Rahim Khan had known about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. He had always known. Rahim Khan had knew about Hassan getting raped. He needs to go to Afghanistan and talk about the ‘unspoken secret’ they both knew about. After the phone conversation, Amir keeps remembering Hassan saying ‘for you, a thousand times over! ’ Thinking of this, he knows he has to go to Afghanistan, see Rahim Khan, uncover the secrets and do whatever he asks to ‘be good again’. By this he means that Amir has the opportunity to make up for his betrayal of Hassan by saving his son, Sohrab. Rahim Khan knows what really happened to Hassan and also knows that this has been bothering Amir for years so he is basically implying that Amir can still redeem himself if he goes back to Afghanistan. When Amir ran, he ran from jealousy and fear; fear of Assef and fear of his own reputation as a Pashtun standing up for a Hazara. The negativity of the social setting influenced Amir’s rash decision on betraying Hassan. The prevailing theme of guilt and redemption is weaved through the journey of Amir’s life, influenced by the society, where Hazaras are betrayed. 2. Parental relationships â€Å"Here is another cliche my creative writing teacher would have scoffed at; like father like son. But, it was true, wasn’t it? As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me there to atone not just for my sins but for Baba’s too. † (Chapter 18, pg 238) I chose this quote because not only is it ironic in and of itself, but it also ironically characterizes all the characters in the novel. Amir felt his â€Å"sin†Ã¢â‚¬â€betraying Hassan—made him so different from his father. He has spent much of his life trying to please Baba and mimic his father’s life. It is ironic that now, all these years later, when he discovers he and had father were so similar, it sickens him rather than bringing him joy. In the novel, he continually states that he would’ve never would have dreamed that Baba’s greatest sin would be theft on so many different levels (stealing wife, purity, truth) and gone against the nang and namoos, he so adamantly preached to his son. Amir and Babas relationship changes throughout the novel. The novel starts out with Amir doing whatever he could to win his fathers attention, which includes betraying his best friend, Hassan. He betrayed Hassan for his fathers full attention. He then earns it when Hassan and Ali move out and Baba and Amir move to America. This quote shows that Amir and Baba are very alike. They both betrayed their best friends. Baba betrayed Ali by sleeping with his wife, and Amir betrayed Hassan by not standing up for him while getting assaulted. Then they both try to redeem themselves with doing other good deeds. Baba, running an orphanage, and Amir going back to Kabul to save Sohrab, Hassans son. 3. Maturing â€Å"Earlier in the morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done twenty-six years earlier: I planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress† (Chapter 19, pg 254) This quote shows how Amir had changed and grew more mature than before. In Kabul, before he had done the same thing to kick out Ali and Hassan. I lifted Hassans mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. I waited another thirty minutes. Then I knocked on Babas door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies. † (pg. 110) Before, when he put the money under Hassans mattress, it was a coward move. He did it so Baba would get rid of both Hassan and Ali. Amir kept trying to cover up his past and get rid of it by setting Hassan up. He thought if Hassan left, then everything would go back to normal, but it didnt. Now, Amir had a heart. Rahim Khan told Amir to come back to Afghanistan to rescue Hassans son Sohrab. Amir stayed with Wahids family. They didnt have much at all. They served Amir all their food they had. Amir felt guilty for all the riches he had. Living in America, without war, having sanitary living conditions and enough food for meals three times a day. So, when it was time for Amir to leave, he snuck a fistful of money under the mattress. This time, it wasnt a coward who had done it, it had been a loving, but guilty man. Amir was slowly paying back his dues and hardships he had created in the past. 4. Strength of the human spirit â€Å"Then I told him I was going to Kabul. Told him to call the Caldwells in the morning. ‘I’ll pray for you, Amir jan,’ he said. †(Chapter 18 pg 239) Not only did Amir not stand up for himself, he did not stand up for others either (like Hassan when he got raped). Amir didnt dare to say his opinion, to the public, or to Assef that he and Hassan are friends because Hassan is Hazara and always was going to be. Later that changes. He fights for Sohrab, in fact what he really is doing is fighting back for all the times he didnt fight for Hassan, against Assef. In the fight he gets hare lipped just like Hassan, I think thats a symbol. A symbol that says that he has become as brave as Hassan. Another thing that indicates this change is that in the dreams he used to have where he couldnt part his father from the bear he later dreams of himself as the bear. He always admired his father, and his father was very brave. Bears are significant as brave and fearless. Back in Kabul, it seemed like Amir was finally doing something good in his life. After some misgivings, Amir agrees to rescue Hassans son, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Kabul. Amir even fights against a Taliban official who turns out to be Assef in order to save Sohrab. This reminds Amir and the readers that this time it wasn’t Hassan who was in Assef’s fist, it was his son and Amir had to save Sohrab because he couldn’t save Hassan last time. This is action instead of inaction; bravery instead of cowardice; selflessness instead of self-absorption. Perhaps this streak of good deeds will make up for his betrayal of Hassan. Its almost as if the confident Amir combines with the helpless and coward childhood Amir. While saving Sohrab, Amir makes a huge mistake and goes back on a promise to Sohrab. As a result, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. Were watching Amir repeat mistakes from the past even as he attempts to put the past to rest. This is Amir at his best and worst and perhaps this is the real Amir that really combines all the previous versions of him. Hes weak and blind, but also essentially kind. Hes jealous, but in the end only wants to be loved. Even though sometimes during the book, we would want to scream at Amir, but as we know that hes an utterly human character, and can’t blame him for anything. 5. ‘Discrimination and prejudice â€Å"True, I hadn’t made Ali step on that land mine, and I hadn’t brought the Taliban to the house to shoot Hassan. But I had driven Hassan and Ali out of the house. Was it too far-fetched to think things might have turned out differently if I hadn’t? Maybe Baba would have brought them to America. Maybe Hassan would have a home of his own now, a job, a family, a life in a country where no one cared that he was a Hazara, where most people didn’t even know what a Hazara was. Maybe not. But maybe so. † (Chapter 18, pg 238) The Kite Runner tackles the issue of discrimination in Afghanistan with an example of the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Babas father sets an example for Amir of being kind to Hazara people, even though they are historically not appreciated and persecuted. Baba could have easily sent Ali to an orphanage after his parents death, but he chose not to and picked the decision of raising him in his household. Baba does the same with Hassan, although this is because of the fact that Hassan is actually his son after all. Even in Babas house, the house of best intentions, the class barrier between the Pashtuns and Hazaras endures. Ali is as dear to Baba as a brother. Baba calls him family. But Ali still lives in a hut and sleeps on a mattress on the floor. He tends the garden, cooks, and cleans up after Baba, and raises Hassan to do the same. So strong is Hassans identity as a servant that even as an adult, when Baba is gone, he has no sense of entitlement. He insists on staying in the hut and doing housework. When Hassan dies defending Babas house, he does so not because he feels it belongs to him, but because he is being loyal to Baba and Amir. Discrimination is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Assef tells Amir, Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. Like his idol, Hitler, he feels entitled to killing those he deems unworthy of living in his land. He even relishes the term ethnic cleansing because it goes so well with his garbage metaphor. Like Baba, many people do not mention the Hazaras history of persecution. The author shows that the persecution of the Hazaras is not new, but a greatly intensified outgrowth of long-held discrimination. 6. Man’s inhumanity to man â€Å"How could he have lied to me all those years? To Hassan? He had sat me on his lap when I was little, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, There is only one sin. And that is theft When you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth. Hadnt he said those words to me? And now, fifteen years after Id buried him, I was learning that Baba had been a thief. And a thief of the worst kind, because the things hed stolen had been sacred: from me the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor. His nang. His namoos. † (Chapter 18, pg 237) Until Rahim Khan reveals Babas secret, Amir thinks he is the only sinner among his family and friends. The biggest shocker to Amir was that Hassan was really his half brother. After Amirs mother died, Baba had slept with Hassans mother and got her pregnant. All along Baba knew that Hassan was his son and Ali covered as his father and the two of them were servants in Babas house. Amir thought about the reason why Baba was so worked up over Amirs mentioning of getting new servants was because he would be losing his son that way. There were so many signs he realizes like the plastic surgery and always inviting Hassan to events. Amir was filled with anger and he felt betrayed by Rahim and especially Baba. The regret is even greater in his life that he had driven out his own half brother and did not even know it, and now there is no way to make things right because Hassan is dead. Amir is shocked, taken back, and deeply hurt. Even before Amir betrays him, Hassan makes him feel guilty simply by being such a righteous person. Amir is constantly trying to measure up to Baba, because he does not realize that Baba is so hard on him because of his guilt over his own sin. Amir feels as though his entire life has been a cycle of betrayal, even before he betrayed Hassan. But having a taste of betrayal himself does little towards redeeming Amir. In Ghazi Stadium, the Taliban skews the words of Muhammad in order to justify murdering the alleged adulterers. The mullah announces that every person should have a punishment befitting his sin. Although he would not want to compare himself to the Taliban, Amir believes this in regards to his own sin. When he tried to get Hassan to pelt him with pomegranates, he was expressing his feeling that in order to be forgiven for hurting Hassan, Hassan must hurt him. When Assef almost kills Amir, he felt healed, as though now that Assef has hurt him, it is fair. He even tells Farid that in the room with Assef, he got what he deserved. In the end, Amir finds out that punishment is not what will redeem him from his sin. It is not even saving Sohrab. In order to make up for his sin and Babas before him, Amir must erase the lines of discrimination he has lived with all his life by giving Sohrab an equal chance at success and happiness.

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Un Global Compact Politics Essay

The Un Global Compact Politics Essay The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is a worldwide initiative started by the United Nations in order to encourage businesses to take up more sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to also report their implementation. It consists of ten guiding principles pertaining to the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. It is the worlds largest corporate citizenship initiative with over 7700 members in 130 countries. UNGC is a unique platform that gives a strategic edge to its participants to advance their corporate commitments to the sustainability. UNGC is endorsed directly by the CEOs. It has been structured as a public-private initiative. The UNGC is a policy framework to advance the development as well as implementation, and also the disclosure of sustainability principles and practices. It offers its participants an array of specialized work streams, management tools and resources, and special programs and projects which have been designed to advance sustainable business models and markets in order build a more sustainable global economy.UNGC has two main objectives: First; Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world and Second; Catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals. TheUN Secretary-General at that time Mr. Kofi Annan in an address to The World Economic Forum announced the UNGC on January 31, 1999. Itwas officially launched at UN Headquarters in New York on July 26, 2000. The first two principles pertain to human rights. The next 4 principles deal with labor standards businesses should follow. The next 3 deals with environment protection and the last one advocated anti-corruption. The Global Compact is a voluntary initiative and a company that wants to subscribe to the Principles has to make a clear statement of support and has to include references in its annual report or in any other publically available documents detailing the progress it has made in adhering to the Principles. The company also needs to submit a brief description of this report to the Global Compact website. If the company fails to submit this description within two years of signing to be a part ofthe Compact (and after that every two years), the company will be removed from the list of participants. The participants to UNGC intend to lead through good example and setting a high moral tone. The main purpose of the Global Compact is to focus on the moral purpose of business. Kofi Annan summarizes it well in a quote: Let us choose to unite the power of markets with the authority of universal ideals. Let us choose to reconcile the creative forces of private entrepreneurship with the needs of the disadvantaged and the requirements of future generations. Then ten principles are as follows: Human Rights Principle 1:Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and Principle 2: Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Labor Principle 3:Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; Principle 4: The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor; Principle 5: The effective abolition of child labor; and Principle 6: The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Environment Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility, and Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. Corruption Principle 10:Business should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. Is the Global Compact a Product of Occidental Liberalism? International regimes are defined as social institutions around which actor expectations converge in a given area of international relations. Being true for any social institution, the participants discretion to act on issues that fall within the realm of the institution is by themselves limited by the international regime. The occidental international economic order that emerged post the Second World War was a highly advantageous combination of factors that led to long and sustained economic growth. The economic power was distributed worldwide in such a manner that it favored an open approach to organizing international economic relations. Worldwide there existed an ideological consensus regarding the role state should play to ensure domestic employment, price stability and social security. The body of economic analysis and policy prescriptions at that time prescribed the governments to act in this manner. Most of the major corporations were national in scope and the international e conomic relations more or less comprised of transactions amongst separate and distinct national economies. The Bretton Woods institutions, the GATT and the United Nations were the few international organizations that had been put in place to express and support the post WWII compromise of embedded liberalism. Major changes have taken place in the last half-century that has undermined the effectiveness of this set of understandings and arrangements. However, Globalization is the single greatest factor that has brought about these changes. Globalization has led to a complete disconnection between the world of production and the world of finance leading to an overall change in the system of institutional relationships. This has led to two disequilibria in the worlds political economy. The first disequilibrium exists between the economic sphere, and the broader frameworks of shared values and practices of which the economic sphere is a part. The second disequilibrium exists within the international governance structures. The major capitalist countries can withstand even the worst effects of this imbalance since they have the domestic and the institutional capacity to protect themselves but the rest of the developing world is extremely vulnerable, and this vulnerability has been further exacerbated by the neo-liberal orthodoxies of the so-called Washington consensus. Therefore, the international community has to devise the kind of institutional equilibrium that used to exist in the post WWII international economic order. The international community has to focus here on the long-term interaction between two key actors in the global economy, the multinational corporations (MNCs) and multinational Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The key players of civil society have started to increasingly target MNCs and the international trading system as leverage to pursue social and environmental concerns. This dynamic interplay between the two creates a potential for to bridge the disequilibrium between economic globalization and the international governance structures. The United Nations Global Compact is one such initiative that challenges the international business community to help the UN in implementing the social values of human rights, environment and labor. John Gerard Ruggie who is the Kirkpatrick Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government says that the basic problem is that MNCs, acting as non-territorial spaces and management, have given rise to global governance gaps and governance failures. Ruggie is well known in academic circles for coining the term embedded liberalism, that he uses to describe the post-WWII coupling of multilateralism with the aim to achieve domestic stability; and for having emphasized the roles that ideas play in world politics. He has explored the emergence of such gaps in governance in several of his works (e.g., Ruggie, 1998b, 2003, 2004). Ruggie helped UN Secretary- General Kofi Anan in designing and establishing the UN Global Compact, as the Assistant Secretary-general and Chief Adviser for strategic planning to Kofi Annan. Without speculating on the importance of Ruggies role in the creation of the compact, the speech Kofi Annan used to launch the Global Compact at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1999, strongly suggests that John Ruggies influence was substantial. It appears that Kofi Annans suggestion that: Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility. The problem is this. The spread of markets outpaces the ability of societies and their political systems to adjust to them, let alone to guide the course they take. History teaches us that such an imbalance between the economic, social and political realms can never be sustained for very long. Seems to have been directly informed by Ruggies work on embedded liberalism (e.g. 1982, 1998b) According to Ruggie (2003), theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨ten principles of the UNGC are drawn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨ILOs Fundamental Principles on Rights at Work and theà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨Rio Principles on Environment and Development. The UNGC is based on beliefs that have been universally recognized byà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨governments, thus spelling out the goals of the whole international community. The UNGC partners with members of the corporate world and the civil society to reduce the gap betweenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨dreams and reality It aims to become an agency for the promotion of social customs. Thus, UNGC is another measure to the growing number of responses to globalizationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨challenges that also partner with the private sector. The Challenge The UNGC is based on an ideology of the benefits of open markets. Various high-ranking UN officials describe the UN Global Compact as the only remotely viable means of hauling billions of people out of utter poverty. The term open markets sounds nice, but in the real world they translate into the skewed rules created by the WTO that benefit the developed nations at the expense of developing countries, poor farmers, consumers and the environment. It is apparent that most of the UN officials along with the corporate and government officials believe that globalization is principally beneficial and all it needs is just a bit of tinkering here and there. An editorial in the Washington Post on the UN Global Compact read that globalization only needs a softener to dull its sharp edges and increase the allocation of its benefits. In his speech to corporate leaders in 1999 at Davos, Switzerland, the Secretary General of UN Mr. Kofi Annan warned of a threatening backlash against globalization, he advocated that recognition of human and labor rights, and environmental principles are absolutely essential to avoid any threats to the open global market, and especially the multilateral trading regime. Mr. Annan by proclaiming that globalization must be protected by putting a more human face on it, and by declaring that social values need to be advanced as part and parcel of the globalization process, has clearly taken sides with the corporate agenda at a time when this agenda itself is increasingly under scrutiny. In order to keep it simple and attractive for companies, the ten principles of the UNDC are basically one-liners. They are just an example of the minimalist code of corporate conduct. The ten principles do not provide adequate guidance to corporations about the conduct that is expected from them and their responsibilities. Most of the UN Global Compacts ten principles cannot be defined with the precision that is required for creating a practical code of conduct. The ambiguity of the ten principles is in essence counter-productive from the perspective of both the sincere as well as the insincere corporate citizens. The language with which the principles are defined is so general that insincere corporations can easily side step or conform to the principles without doing anything to promote human rights or labor standards. The Secretary General of UN along with various agency heads have displayed very poor judgment by letting numerous known and proven human rights, labor rights and environmental violators to sign up with the UNGC. Specific partners of the Compact include companies like Shell (Oil major), Nike (Human rights violator), Rio Tinto, BP (Oil Major), Novartis, Aracruz, Daimler Chrysler, BASF, Bayer and DuPont (environment troubles). In a few of these cases, the choices are blatantly violating UNs own guidelines that read, Companies which violate human rights are not eligible for partnership.Many other companies are part of the compact that are not accused explicitly of such clear violations, but they are giants of industries like oil and petroleum, genetical engineering and heavy chemicals. People broadly oppose the impact of these companies on the community, the workers and the environment. Additionally, the International Chamber of Commerce, which mostly represents big businesses, has been a major force for the corporate side of the UN Global Compact. The International Chamber of Commerce more than often lobbies for diminishing the impact of international agreements that governs their members behavior-accords that are often brokered by the UN. One often sees Public-private partnerships being used for specific projects with definite goals. The UNs is however is using this term much more generally. One would normally assume that a partnership is created only when all the partners have the same goals. Its tough to understand why UN is partnering with corporations that have completely different goals. Modern corporations acknowledge that there are various other stakeholders than their shareholders, but in concrete terms they are only accountable to their shareholders, on the other hand the UN is based on a promise to promote ethical principles and is accountable to the people. Sometimes the UN and corporate agenda concur; but most of the times they are at odds. The Director of UNICEF Carol Bellamy once said that it was dangerous to assume that the goals of the private sector were somehow synonymous with those of the UN, because they most emphatically were not. It is quite obvious to everyone that its not possible to forge a partnership with an institution whose interests are antithetical to yours own. It is not possible for the UN to simultaneously regulate as well as partner with the same corporations. Its not that The UN can avoid all interactions with corporations; it has to interact with then when it needs to buy goods and services or to hold the corporations accountable, but UN should take care not to partner with them except when the organizations share its goals. Every company wants to project certain values and a certain image. Disney wants to represent wholesome family entertainment. McDonalds advertises itself as fast, friendly food. Nike is associated with the joy of sports and Shell, Chevron and BP and other oil companies promote their own commitment to environmental stewardship. But, to many people, Nike also means sweatshops in poor Asian countries, McDonalds often signifies unhealthy junk food that causes obesity and, Disney means sweatshops and promotion of stereotypes, Shell is linked with various human rights violations and environment destruction, and the whole oil industry is notorious for global warming, greed and abuse of its power. When Kofi Annan joins the CEOs of such companies on the main stage, or whenever a UN agency partners with such corporations in a joint venture, the message that is sent out to the public is very disturbing. As it is described in the UNDP guidelines, whenever a UN agency is engaged in a public relations activity within the framework of a corporate relationship, a mutual image transfer inevitably takes place. The image transfer that takes place tarnishes the pure UNs image, and gives the chance to big corporations to bluewash their bad image by associating themselves with the UN. When pharmaceutical majors like Novartis and Aventis are seen by the public as a part of the UN Global Compact, the public gets an impression that the UN has officially endorsed their products despite the enormous controversy surrounding these companies. The UN represents values such as world peace, security, human rights, environment consciousness and global well being. These values should remain distinct from the commercial values of companies. Once the image of UN is tarnished with corporate logos, the compromising of its noble values may follow. The most crucial aspect relating to the Global Compact is accountability. The reluctance of U.S. based companies to enlist with the Global Compact focuses on the issue of accountability. In todays environment of increasing skepticism about the true motives of the corporations, the legitimacy of the UN Global compact comes into question if it operates without a traditional accountability structure. The Global Compact does not have a monitoring or an enforcement mechanism. This means that the companies that enlist with the Compact get a chance to declare their commitment to UN principles without making any promise to follow up on them. The corporate partners of the UNGC have made it explicit that such a lax arrangement is precondition for their participation. Maria Livianos Cattui, the secretary-general of the ICC recently said that businesses would not agree to any suggestion that involves external assessment of their performance, whether it is by any special interest groups or by any UN agencies. The Global Compact is not a qualification the corporations have to meet; it is merely a joint commitment to shared social values. It is imperative that the Global Compact does not become a tool by which the governments burden business with prescriptive regulations. The critics on the Global Compact fall into two major categories and both need to be addressed. Most scholars researching on codes of conduct regard the Global Compact as just another code of conduct without any accountability, its merely a public relations document. The question that arises is that how can the public know that a business that claims to be following the principles prescribed under the Global Compact is actually doing so? These scholars argue that an independent monitoring group that translates general principles into operating standards with quantifiable and objective measures is the only way to insure that the companies are held accountable. A much more fundamental criticism arises from the Non Governmental Organizations and other organizations that are critical of economic globalization. Their view is that the Global Compact is a cover-up story that provides legitimacy to an idea, which has yet to prove itself. They argue for the creation of a mandatory legal framework that guarantees that the companies are held accountable even to the least advantaged in the global economy. Another difficulty with the accountability issue is the ambiguous nature of the Global Compacts principles on human rights. Is it possible to reach a consensus that genuinely captures the expectations of society? Most of the companies are in broad agreement with the Global Compacts principles relating to human rights, but there is a fear amongst them that enlisting with the Compact would create societal expectations that these companies are obligated to correct human rights abuses. Where and how can a line be drawn on the responsibilities of companies in the area of human rights? Few MNCs have come to understand that it is imperative for them to become proactive and live up to the expectations of society in a global economy, but these companies also understand that these expectations in the area of human rights are often unclear. In the litigious business environment of the United States, companies display reluctance in signing the Compact without having a clear idea of what their re sponsibilities are and what is their accountability. The Global Compact is not a state focused corporate citizenship program, but in spite of that nations are amongst the key stakeholders from which the Global Compact requires support. Blackett suggests that it might be necessary to highlight the role of governments in successfully implementing the Compact principles. But till now the UN has failed to work out a proper role of governments in ensuring that the participant of the Compact live up to their commitments. On the contrary, the Shanghai Declaration has suggested that businesses could use UNGC to set demands and exert undue influence over governments. If this go too far and the businesses start dictating the business of the Global Compact Office and international law generally, then even this partnership might face a crisis of legitimacy among states and other stakeholders.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism. During this time in history racism was acceptable. Racism is a key theme in her book. Not only those who were black, but also those who affiliated with blacks, were considered inferior. Atticus, a lawyer, who defended blacks in court, was mocked. An example of this is when Mrs. Dubose said, â€Å"Your father’s [Atticus] no better than the niggers and trash he works for!† Mr. Dolphus Raymond was also criticized for affiliating with blacks, especially black females. Example is when Jem said, â€Å"He likes ‘em [blacks] better ‘n he likes us [whites], I reckon.† Basically, you were black if you â€Å"liked† blacks. Blacks, because they were considered inferior, were expected to do everything for whites. Everything had to be perfect, without excuse. Even when Calpurnia, a Finch family friend, did not make the perfect cup of coffee, she was mocked. Book excerpt, â€Å"She [Calpurnia] poured one tablespoon of coffee into it and filled the cup to the brim with milk. I [Scout] thanked her by sticking out my tongue...†. Even when blacks did do good, they were still mocked. An example is when Aunt Alexandra said, â€Å"Jem’s growing up now and you are too. We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence.† Even though Calpurnia was a female, Aunt Alexandra over-looked this, because of her race. People were so biased, it didn’t matter how good a job a black person did. Since there was such strong racism in Maycomb, there were excuses made for whites. In the book, it was obvious that Bob Ewell was a mean man. It was also obvious that he was abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and he was the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson, because what the evidence showed. But, the people of Maycomb over-looked the evidence in favor of Tom Robinson, just because he was black. In Harper Lee’s book, To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many examples of racism. The legal barriers to racial equality have been torn down, and racial exclusion from the benefits of society and the rights of citizenship is no longer nearly total, as it once was. But discrimination still limits the opportunities and stifles the hopes of many black Americans and other minorities. In the realms of housing, employment, medical care, education and the administration of the criminal justice system, we are still, as the 1968 Kerner Commission Report on civil disorders warned, â€Å"two separate Americas.† At this moment

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Dont Hate Me because Im a Muslim :: Personal Narrative Writing, religion

September 11th was the worst day ever for the United States. I am a Muslim and I am an Arab-American. I was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and have lived here all my life. The first time I ever heard of Osama bin Laden was when the terrorist attacks happened. The attacks not only affected Americans, it affected everyone, including Arabs. Just because a group of Arabs planned the attacks doesn't mean all Arabs are the same. It isn't fair how people blame all Arabs, or all Muslims. That Tuesday morning, I found out what happened when I got to my third period class, American History. We were getting ready for a test but went to the library to watch the news. At first I thought it was nothing, but then I realized it was extremely serious. Everyone immediately blamed the Arabs. The news said there was a car bomb and everyone said it was Palestinians, my people. That really upset me. At the end of October the supermarkets my family owns, my house and the houses of some of my aunts and uncles were raided by the CIA and FBI because some lady said our supermarkets supported terrorists and that one was working there. I found out after school when my aunt picked up me up and explained what had happened. I was really upset. They took all our computers from the house and stores except for two, which they made copies of. My parents came here to get away from the war in the Middle East and struggled to make sure nothing affects us. We have a successful life, but now people want to stop us from having a good life. I feel hurt. I am an American, too. I am also proud to be an Arab! I felt hurt when the terrorists attacked. So

Friday, October 11, 2019

Ethanol Fuel

Ethanol fuel  is  ethanol  (ethyl alcohol). Ethanol, also called  ethyl alcohol,  pure alcohol,  grain alcohol, or  drinking alcohol, is a  volatile,  flammable, colorless liquid. A  psychoactive drug  and one of the oldestrecreational drugs  known, ethyl alcohol produces a state known as  alcohol intoxication  when consumed. Best known as the type of  alcohol  found in  alcoholic beverages, it is also used in  thermometers, as a  solvent, and as a  fuel. In common usage, it is often referred to simply as  alcohol  or  spirits. he same type of  alcohol  found in  alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a  motor fuel, mainly as a  biofuel  additive for  gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres. From 2007 to 2008, the share of ethanol in global gasoline type fuel use increased from 3. 7% to 5. 4%. In 2011 worldwide ethanol fuel prod uction reached 22. 36 billion  U. S. liquid gallons  (bg) (84. 6 billion liters), with the United States as the top producer with 13. bg (52. 6 billion liters), accounting for 62. 2% of global production, followed by Brazil with 5. 6 bg (21. 1 billion liters). Ethanol fuel has a â€Å"gasoline gallon equivalency† (GGE) value of 1. 5 US gallons (5. 7  L), which means 1. 5 gallons of ethanol produce the energy of one gallon of gasoline. Ethanol fuel is widely used in  Brazil  and in the  United States, and together both countries were responsible for 87. 1% of the world's ethanol fuel production in 2011. Most cars on the road today in the U. S. an run on  blends of up to 10% ethanol, and ethanol represented 10% of the U. S. gasoline fuel supply in 2011. Since 1976 the Brazilian government has made it mandatory to blend ethanol with gasoline, and since 2007 the legal blend is around  25% ethanol and 75% gasoline  (E25). By December 2011 Brazil had a fleet of 14 . 8 million  flex-fuel automobiles and light trucksand 1. 5 million flex-fuelmotorcycles  that regularly use neat ethanol fuel (known as  E100). Bioethanol is a form of  renewable energy  that can be produced from agriculturalfeedstocks.It can be made from very common  crops  such as  sugar cane,  potato,  maniocand  corn. There has been considerable debate about how useful bioethanol will be in replacing gasoline. Concerns about its production and use relate to  increased food pricesdue to the large amount of arable land required for crops,  as well as the energy and pollution balance of the whole cycle of ethanol production, especially from corn. Recent developments with  cellulosic ethanol production and commercialization  may allay some of these concerns.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Maintaining an Individual’s Confidentiality and Disclosing Concerns Essay

Describe the potential tension between maintaining an individual’s confidentiality and disclosing concerns. Even though parents, children and practitioners have the right to confidentiality there are some occasions where maintaining confidentiality is not possible and must be broken. If there are concerns over a child’s wellbeing, this must be reported or if you are aware of a criminal offence, you are again obliged to report it to the correct authorities. If confidentiality is broken it must be done in the appropriate way and according to the policies of the setting. It can be a very difficult situation to be in, being made aware of abuse or risk to a child can make it difficult for the staff member, but by reporting any concerns in the correct manner you reduce to risk of further harm or danger to the child but also maintain as much dignity for the child and or family involved. Sometimes in the setting, situations arise where, for example, one child has hurt another and the other children may have seen the incident and made their parents aware and they may want information from you or other staff members; this is a difficult situation because you can’t help children discussing things but you need to remember that you still need to maintain confidentiality and not discuss the matter with anyone besides this child involved parent or carer. Another further area that may cause tension is social networks such as Facebook or Twitter, there are now many problems caused by social networking because information can be passed around extremely quickly and without proper control or authority. It is important that any staff members who use these sites do not use their sites to divulge information or responded to any comments made via these networking sites. If they see any problems they should report it to the settings manager so they can speak to the party or pe rsons involved to stop further problems arising.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Canopic Stopper of King Tut

A lot of different statuettes, busts, vases, elements of decorations, etc. from those times were presented at the exhibition in Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. But I was especially fascinated with a little bust from the canopic chest of King Tut, made of delicately patterned transparent calcite. This elegant bust reproduces King Tut himself wearing the nemes head-dress. The creators of it used subtle black and red paints to underline facial details of good-looking Egyptian king: his big eyes, eyebrows and lips, demonstrating feminized nature of this person. Traditionally, the face of King Tut is presented with decorations of protective cobra and vulture, appearing from his head-dress. This small statuette is typical exemplar of Egyptian ancient art, which is characterized with features of early frontalism: every picture (in painting) or figure (in sculpture) was presented in rigid and formal posture. This bust was found in a shrine of King Tut, on a magnificent canopic chest made of alabaster and gorgeously decorated with golden staples. There were, actually, four of such busts, which were located in every corner of the chest and served as stoppers. These stoppers were sealing four compartments of the chest, in which four miniature anthropomorphic coffins, containing mummified inner organs of the king, were stored. King Tut (Tutankhamen) is one of the most known and recognizable pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He was the Ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egyptian Kings, who started his reign in the age of 9 and died at the age of 19. Certainly, he ruled under supervision and control of his adult advisers: in particular, his vizier and future successor Ay. The main social reconstruction, made by King Tut, is conversion of heretical Atenism, launched by his predecessor King Akhenaton, to previous traditional ancient Egyptian religion. Causes of his death still remain unknown, and there are some suggestions on this issue. Some specialists consider him to be murdered; the others consider his death to be accidental. After watching this sculpture of young pharaoh for some long period of time, first of all, I started paying more attention on its divine material. This transparent calcite is called Egyptian alabaster, which was, probably, enriched with some phosphoric materials. That is why the bust looks so lucid and shining, as if time did not touch it at all. I noticed that in this magic shining the representation of King Tut looked exceptionally graciously, and he seemed to me to be very calm and friendly as a person. The more I watched, the more I could realize, how different it is to see figures and statues in real dimensions, not as reproductions in the books. This way so many details, like features of the face, head position, profile line, vivid natural colors, and so on, can be better observed and considered. There is no printed picture, which can properly show the light, color, shape or delicacy of ancient artworks. So, if we want to receive some good idea about such treasures, we have to see them live. That is why such exhibitions are extremely popular and always crowded. There are many known representations and images of King Tut, which remained from ancient times. Recently the revolutionary event took place, when the team of Egyptian, American and French specialists managed to receive a new facial image of Tutankhamen. It was presented in three-dimensional CT scans of the Pharaoh’s skull, but the only uncertainty was left, which is the tone of King Tut’s skin. Of course, such researches are priceless. But, to my mind, there is no better imagination of a historical personage, than the one, which can be received from observing original artworks and genuine historical materials. After visiting this exhibition, I have formed my own clear picture of this Egyptian legendary king in my mind, which, I suppose, is not very different from his real appearance and character. Bibliography: â€Å"Canopic Stopper of King Tut.† King Tut. King Tut Exhibition, Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. 8 Nov. 2005 ;http://www.kingtut.org/gallery/Gold_57.htm;. â€Å"Tutankhamen.† Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia Online. 6 Nov. 2005. 8 Nov. 2005 ;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Tut;. ; Canopic Stopper of King Tut A lot of different statuettes, busts, vases, elements of decorations, etc. from those times were presented at the exhibition in Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. But I was especially fascinated with a little bust from the canopic chest of King Tut, made of delicately patterned transparent calcite. This elegant bust reproduces King Tut himself wearing the nemes head-dress. The creators of it used subtle black and red paints to underline facial details of good-looking Egyptian king: his big eyes, eyebrows and lips, demonstrating feminized nature of this person. Traditionally, the face of King Tut is presented with decorations of protective cobra and vulture, appearing from his head-dress. This small statuette is typical exemplar of Egyptian ancient art, which is characterized with features of early frontalism: every picture (in painting) or figure (in sculpture) was presented in rigid and formal posture. This bust was found in a shrine of King Tut, on a magnificent canopic chest made of alabaster and gorgeously decorated with golden staples. There were, actually, four of such busts, which were located in every corner of the chest and served as stoppers. These stoppers were sealing four compartments of the chest, in which four miniature anthropomorphic coffins, containing mummified inner organs of the king, were stored. King Tut (Tutankhamen) is one of the most known and recognizable pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He was the Ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egyptian Kings, who started his reign in the age of 9 and died at the age of 19. Certainly, he ruled under supervision and control of his adult advisers: in particular, his vizier and future successor Ay. The main social reconstruction, made by King Tut, is conversion of heretical Atenism, launched by his predecessor King Akhenaton, to previous traditional ancient Egyptian religion. Causes of his death still remain unknown, and there are some suggestions on this issue. Some specialists consider him to be murdered; the others consider his death to be accidental. After watching this sculpture of young pharaoh for some long period of time, first of all, I started paying more attention on its divine material. This transparent calcite is called Egyptian alabaster, which was, probably, enriched with some phosphoric materials. That is why the bust looks so lucid and shining, as if time did not touch it at all. I noticed that in this magic shining the representation of King Tut looked exceptionally graciously, and he seemed to me to be very calm and friendly as a person. The more I watched, the more I could realize, how different it is to see figures and statues in real dimensions, not as reproductions in the books. This way so many details, like features of the face, head position, profile line, vivid natural colors, and so on, can be better observed and considered. There is no printed picture, which can properly show the light, color, shape or delicacy of ancient artworks. So, if we want to receive some good idea about such treasures, we have to see them live. That is why such exhibitions are extremely popular and always crowded. There are many known representations and images of King Tut, which remained from ancient times. Recently the revolutionary event took place, when the team of Egyptian, American and French specialists managed to receive a new facial image of Tutankhamen. It was presented in three-dimensional CT scans of the Pharaoh’s skull, but the only uncertainty was left, which is the tone of King Tut’s skin. Of course, such researches are priceless. But, to my mind, there is no better imagination of a historical personage, than the one, which can be received from observing original artworks and genuine historical materials. After visiting this exhibition, I have formed my own clear picture of this Egyptian legendary king in my mind, which, I suppose, is not very different from his real appearance and character. Bibliography: â€Å"Canopic Stopper of King Tut.† King Tut. King Tut Exhibition, Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. 8 Nov. 2005 ;http://www.kingtut.org/gallery/Gold_57.htm;. â€Å"Tutankhamen.† Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia Online. 6 Nov. 2005. 8 Nov. 2005 ;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Tut;. ;