Special Education And Self Perceptions Essay - 987 Words

One of mankind’s most common tendencies is to categorize objects, all objects, even people. It is safe to say that most children were labeled while growing up by their parents, teachers, and peers. For better or for worse, whether true or not, these labels stick with the kids, having long-lasting effects and even potentially influencing who they become as adults. This paper will define what a label is while discussing whether or not categorizing children is necessary and what impacts those labels can have on their education and self-perceptions. To label someone is to assign a them a category. According to Richard Gargiulo in his book â€Å"Special Education in Contemporary Society†, a category is â€Å"a label assigned to individuals who share common characteristics and features† (Gargiulo, 2015, pg. 10). The terms category and label can often be interchanged, therefore, labeling children is also defined by grouping individuals who share common characterist ics and features. Some labels commonly used to define students are gifted, athletic, difficult, the special ed. kid, and so on. The course content brought to my attention just how prevalent labels are in our daily lives, I had never stopped to think about all the labels that are assigned to me and all that I assign to others, but we I did I was appalled. These labels can both enhance and hinder students’ education and self-perceptions while arguments can be made to both continue using labels in schools or to try andShow MoreRelatedHow Educators For Students With Children With Learning Disabilities And Their Diverse Learning Needs843 Words   |  4 Pagesteacher. Studies by Custer Panangos (1996) and Harvey (2000) focused on the perceptions of CTE teachers with a specific lens towards confidence and effectiveness of teaching. Each study employed surveys in which CTE teachers and other school-based personnel were involved to include administrators and counselors. CTE teach ers were asked to rate themselves in terms of confidence and effectiveness with working with various special populations, while administrators and counselors were asked to rate CTE teacher’sRead MoreBenefits And Benefits Of Co Teaching1405 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstood in the inclusive setting because the teacher-student ratio is reduced and teachers have more time to pay attention to individual needs. One of the benefits of co-teaching is the unique perspectives and strengths of general educators and special educators teaching approaches and instructional strategies (Friend, Reising, Cook, 1993). In the collaborative setting, co-teachers work together to develop personal classroom arrangements which best suits their instructional needs. Magiera andRead MoreThe Response Of Intervention ( Rti ) Process Is A Multi Layered Tier Educational Model1069 Words   |  5 Pagesbehavioral difficulties, to meet these critical needs. A required component of the RtI process is the student success team (SST). The SST is responsible for initiating RtI and eventually determines recommendation for special education services. This team consists of general education teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents. Parents can play an integral part of the SST/RtI process, and should be fully informed of how the process works. However, Byrd (2011) claimed that parents are oftenRead MoreA Teacher Leadership At Lake Oconee Academy1538 Words   |  7 Pagesemployment at Lake Oconee Academy, I have grown from a special education teacher to a Special Education Coordinator, Testing Curriculum Coordinator, and chair of a professional learning community. My role as special education co-teacher, embraces the ideas of classroom supporter and learner. Along with my general education teacher, I am teaching and supporting all students on their academic journey, as well as, supporting the general education teacher in less on planning, assessment, and classroomRead MoreSoc 120958 Words   |  4 PagesDo you think people’s perceptions of others play a role in the success of students with disabilities? Why or why not? Choose one law covered in Chapter 1. These include IDEA, NCLB, Section 504 and ADA. How does your chosen law protect students with disabilities from negative perceptions and beliefs? Week 1 discussion 1 and 2 I believe that people’s perception does play a role in the success of students with disabilities. It is human nature to stare, fear or ridicule people who appear or act differentRead MoreExamining the Social Interactions of the Inclusion Classroom: A Grounded Theory1424 Words   |  6 Pages Examining the Social Interactions of the Elementary Inclusion Classroom: A Grounded Theory Inclusion has been one of the main focuses in the field of special education for the past two decades. Students with disabilities are being integrated in the general education classrooms at a steady pace. With the focus being on inclusion, educators are increasingly concerned with the social difficulties of students with disabilities (Lewis, Chard, Scott, 1994).Read MoreLearning Disabilities as a Cultural Construct Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesWhile perceptions of learning disabilities (LD) may vary according to country, culture, and teachers, it is often necessary to diagnose students in order to receive funding for services. It can be helpful to recognize those learning disabilities that students may have in order to provide extra assistance when necessary. It would be advantageous, too, if wide recognition of LD could take away the stigma that is often present. However, since LD is a multi-faceted topic, labeling often carries aRead MorePerception Of Administrative Suppor t And Teaching Deaf Students With Additional Disabilities Essay1286 Words   |  6 PagesThis study investigated teachers’ perception of Administrative Support they received from their schools, while teaching deaf students with additional disabilities. A total of 40 teachers from 5 schools, in 4 states, completed a self-reporting survey on the actual support they received and support they perceived they needed, when teaching deaf students with additional disabilities. The construct of Administrative Support was measured through the subscales of Emotional Support., Informational SupportRead MoreSpecial Education: Should Restraints or Seclusion Be Applied on Individuals with Disabilities1048 Words   |  5 PagesUnder the Steering Committee on the Enabling Masterplan, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has been recommended to hold the ownership and leadership of special education. (Poon, Shobana, Wettasinghe, 2013) Enabling Masterplan 2012-2016 seeks to build an inclusive Singapore where every person with disability can maximize his potential and is embraced as an integral member of our society. This initiative builds on the Enabling Masterplan 2007-2011, where the government feels that there was some progressRead MoreMeeting the Needs of Special Education Students Essay913 Words   |  4 PagesSpecial education falls under the broad category of exceptional learners. Exceptional learners range from students reading years behind grade level, to s tudents reading years ahead. Within this broad spectrum, special education students are defined as individuals with special needs in a way that address the students individual differences and needs. Through the use of inclusion classes, mainstreaming, and individualized education plans, the needs of each individual student are met. â€Å"Education

Alcohol Prevention Free Essays

There is a rich body of literature that deals with intervention approaches for the large population that have problems with alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse appears to be a grave situation, considering the huge number of adolescents who have a problem with alcohol and substance abuse. Thus, â€Å"[i]n 2002, an estimated 10. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcohol Prevention or any similar topic only for you Order Now 7 million American youths, 28.8% of total youths 12–20 years old, were current drinkers† (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). The gravity of the problem is underscored by the huge part of the statistics to belong to binge and heavy drinkers. The â€Å"US National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2002† estimated that 7.2 million adolescents are binge drinkers, while 2.3 million adolescents are heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers are those who consumed more than four drinks in five different days in the past 30 days. The staggering figures lead to the conclusion that there is serious public health problem among the youth with respect to their alcohol consumption. This problem extends to serious behavioral disorders resulting from alcohol consumption, such as alcoholism. The problem is even more serious because disorders that are related to alcohol abuse are likely to become â€Å"chronic and to persist into adulthood† (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). The problem with adolescent alcohol abuse has led to the development of various treatments, both in the private and public healthcare systems. These treatments often range from adolescent to adult care. However, treatment cares often result in relapse in 50-70 percent of affected adolescents. Therefore, there is a need for systematic approaches that are tailored to meet the specific needs and limitations of the target population, which is the youth (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). Treatments require appropriate diagnostic criteria in assessing alcohol use patterns of adolescents. For example, current drinkers may be determined by using the criterion that the person â€Å"consumed at least one drink in the past 30 days† (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). Moreover, there is a need to develop a framework within which â€Å"alcohol-related pathology† could be accounted for in the adolescent stage of a person’s life (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). The literature on the subject also has a huge space for the role of support groups in the prevention and therapy for people who have problems with alcohol abuse. Literature Review The article entitled Society for the Study of Addiction (2004) cites Liddle (2004), who reviewed therapies involving the family of the adolescent who has problems in alcohol and drug abuse. There are suggestions to develop   â€Å"adolescent focused, family-based therapies for substance abuse† (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). Family-based therapies are believed to be effective for the helpful recovery of alcohol-dependent adolescent. Family-based therapies often analyze â€Å"videotaped in-therapy sessions.† Such records help in the identification of problems and issues, and serve as bases for change and treatment (Society for the Study of Addiction, 2004). This article is useful because it points out how important it is to first determine the extent of the problem before attempting to solve it. In the case of alcoholic adolescents, there is a need to first know the needs and limitations of each person and proceed from there. Intervention strategies, such as family-based therapies, should factor in such details in order to be effective. Videotaped therapy sessions are also helpful because they allow all stakeholders, such as the alcohol-dependent person, his family, and the therapist, to have a clear perspective of the situation, through observation from a different angle. Finally, family members could be effective in helping adolescent alcohol dependents by providing moral support. Another article focuses on the â€Å"pragmatic aspect of the therapeutic process taking place† in the weekly-held meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. It also discusses how the fellowship had grown into a worldwide phenomenon since its inception in the 1930s (Arminen, 1998). Alcoholics Anonymous, which is described as a â€Å"therapeutic fellowship for those who are prone to addictions and over consumption of alcohol and other substances† (Arminen, 1998), encourages therapy through situated interaction. It’s motto is â€Å"one day at a time†, which emphasizes that the attainment of sobriety is uncertain, but reachable (Arminen, 1998). Analysis of the style of sharing implemented in meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous led to the observation that speakers refer to speakers in previous meetings to show how the speakers are aligned. Moreover, this style has significant value as social devices that maintain the fragile relationship between members (Arminen, 1998). This article is useful in showing effective methods of dealing with alcoholism as a group, rather than as individuals. It shows how a method that deals with the problem one day at a time could achieve results. Furthermore, this article points out how Alcoholics Anonymous uses social devices to meet the goal of addressing alcoholism. Another article on the subject was written by Linsky in 1970 – 1971. It is an exposition of the public’s views on alcoholism, as manifested by themes of articles and images featured in popular magazines. Generally, alcoholism was viewed as a form of social deviance. However, in the twentieth century, society’s views on alcoholics were redefined. The article notes that changes in society’s views on alcoholism also influenced the treatment options available to alcoholics (Linsky, 1970-1971). How to cite Alcohol Prevention, Papers

Reality and Fantasy free essay sample

This paper looks at what is real and what is fantasy from a philosophical perspective. A discussion of what is real and what is imaginary. The author conducts this investigation through understanding the ideals of philosophers such as Descartes and Hume. The author examines this topic looking at issues including perception, senses, physical and virtual realities, the immortal soul and the existence of God. When looking at the world as if it was a croquet game in Alice and wonderland we can argue quite easily that life is a mutable role in the ideology of the philosophers, by looking at several aspects and views of the great philosophers we can see and determine what is reality and what is not. This therefore provides us with the ideal proof that what we believe is real and what we do not believe does not exist. In the universe we know that there is thought and matter. We will write a custom essay sample on Reality and Fantasy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The paradigm that belies dualism is a single idea; why should reality need to be only one of these aspects. In duality there is the argument that the ideas of the mind, and that the physical world of the matter are both equally real.

Possession of knowledge and ethical responsibility

Introduction Knowledge refers to the acquisition of skills, information, consent and awareness of given happenings in the society. It entails apprehending truth, facts, being learned and familiarisation of oneself with situations through a process of logical reasoning and assessment of circumstances.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Possession of knowledge and ethical responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Whether or not a single perfect process of acquisition of knowledge can be determined is a debatable issue as it remains a mystery as to how exactly people possess knowledge (Raffoul 27-34). According to Raffoul (165-167) and Rest (5-14), acquisition of knowledge involves easily and effectively embracing reality through experience or in thought as it is based on the proven scientific evidence, acquaintance, perception and experience. Different fields of knowledge such as mathematics, science, geography, science, psychology, religion and engineering do exist. Value judgment among people depends on the knowledge they possess. On the other hand, like morality, ethical responsibility demands that a person fulfils certain obligations in the best possible way and for the common good of all concerned (Lucas 36-45). At times, ethical dilemma can compel an individual to choose from a number of ethical principles that adhere to the moral law of doing right. Possession of knowledge and ethical responsibility Whether voluntary or unintentional, existence of praise and blame are major aspects of ethical responsibility for people with a certain level of knowledge. As dictated by normative ethics, application of conduct and acquired knowledge demands that existence of information and its application to decision making and other human practices be effectively employed in making rational decisions. Majority of people use applied ethics and the common societal laws and principles which guide people ’s lives to judge human behaviour (Lucas 41-78). Ethics and morality entail doing what is right and avoiding evil. Knowledge of ethics and morality should be focused on enhancing maturity, benevolence, prudence and rational reasoning in undertaking critical decisions. In view of the fact that acquisition of knowledge has â€Å"nothing† to do with being certain of the prevailing or possible circumstances, moral law dictates that all human acts should be perceived in an objective, realistic, rational, and focused manner with the interest of the majority at heart (Rest 78-112). Withholding knowledge and refusing to act is definitely not a moral act and as it contradicts the concept of undertaking ethical responsibility based on one’s acquired knowledge. For instance, scientists who have the expertise to develop nuclear bombs should often be aware of the possible dangers that could emanate from such â€Å"wonderful† initiatives (Lucas 16-21).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arguments that are in line with social and moral relativism are likely to compel people with certain knowledge not to act in a morally upright manner. Unlike in a utilitarian ethical perspective in which the needs and good deeds of an individual are superseded by those of the majority, possession of knowledge dictates that one avoids joining the majority and remain focused on doing what is reasonable and right. According to Lucas (33-42), being in custody of knowledge demands that one acts in an ethical manner. This fact is no longer an issue of concern to most people in the contemporary society. What individuals do with the knowledge they possess is fully dependent on their decisions and will to do exactly that. Ways of acquisition of knowledge are many and varied. Whether or not a person’s knowledge of something should make him or her answerable to certain ac ts is a very contentious issue. It leads to constant confrontation and demands by people to desist from taking responsibility of the different situations they face. It can be argued that awareness, familiarity and apprehension of knowledge carry ethical significances. Human intellect should be employed in analyzing situations and critically assessing the degree to which given acts are ethically correct. History and natural science are vital means of acquisition of knowledge. The two methods enable an individual to learn and accept certain truths that can never be concealed through false and unfounded logic (Lucas 28-46). However, it is vital to ensure that any form of reasoning is neither biased nor is it fully based on mere perception of real life situations or emotions. Portrayal of false image or biasness is equal to being selfish, self centred, uncouth and deceptive to the common moral law. For instance, doctors who possess actual knowledge and intelligent reasoning of patientsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ diseases have the ethical responsibility of ensuring that patients are given the most appropriate diagnoses and that all their medical concerns are addressed in an amicable and informative way (Lucas 79-85). Another indicator of the fact that being knowledgeable requires that one becomes ethically responsible could be demonstrated by a case where an individual witnesses a crime being committed. A crime witness can use his or her knowledge acquisition gained through perception, language and sight in determining what actions to take which may include reporting or ignoring the situation. Like a doctor, driver or a teaching professional, professional ethos, ethics, code of conduct and acquired knowledge demand that one fulfils an ethical act (Rest 147). To what degree would one say that indeed knowledge has an ethical responsibility? Pretence is a likely phenomenon that could dominate people’s lives once they learn that their acknowledgement of possessing knowledge could imply being fully answerable to both negative and positive occurrences that relate to the situation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Possession of knowledge and ethical responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Lucas (138-149), the act of acknowledging the existence of something should never make a person to be ethically responsible. Rest (5-11) argues that people should only be ethically responsible to acts which they have the will, desire and duty of doing. Undertaking an act with the aim of preventing greater harm is crucial. Albert Einstein’s unparalleled knowledge of nuclear physics led to the invention of a nuclear bomb. Einsten’s invention was good because it involved the use of his possessed knowledge. It was not in Albert’s ability to control the degree to which the nuclear bombs would be developed. The invention of nuclear physics by Einstein culminated into mass ive physical destruction and loss of lives such as the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan (Rest 6-11). Regardless of the kind of knowledge that one possesses and the process that one undergoes in possessing the knowledge, modern ethical points of view dictate that human beings have a perceived obligation of attempting to create the most possible benefit that would in turn satisfy most people with the least possible harm. A picture of man and lady holding hands could lead to the perception that they could be couples. However, that does not make one ethically responsible for the acts committed by such people. In fact, such a witness would not be contradicting any moral laws by not involving himself or herself in the daily endeavours of the couple. This fact shows that acquisition of knowledge does not always compel one to be ethically responsible in all situations (Raffoul 59-64). It is highly likely that knowleageable people could falter in their decision making process. Certain situations could pose a dilemma. A situation of a dilemma should never be treated as a justification for committing evil. The knowledge that a biologist and a nuclear researcher possess and the manner in which such knowledge could be utilized should never be measured or judged on equal standards but rather be analyzed based on the result of the act, the surrounding circumstances and the intention of undertaking the specific act. A biologist or a nuclear researcher should be highly disciplined. The said professionals should never share critical secrets that pertain to how one can use certain substances for destructive purposes like uranium. Conclusion It is evident from the above analysis that knowledge has an ethical responsibility especially with regard to the manner in which professionals and people that interact with a group of other people carry out their duties and responsibilities. This fact is evident in situations where the responsibility in question is likely to cause harm or offer misleading information to people. Though possessing knowledge would often have little or no effect on people, it is evident that acts and decisions made by people with such knowledge are the ones that need to be undertaken in a conscientious, ethical and reasonable manner. While people have the right to acquire and fully possess knowledge, it is imperative to ensure that the knowledge acquired is utilized in an ethical manner.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Lucas, Peter. Ethics and Self-Knowledge: Respect for Self-Interpreting Agents, Preston, UK: Springer, 2011.Print. Raffoul, Franà §ois. The Origins of Responsibility, Indiana, USA: Indiana University Press, 2010.Print. Rest, James. Moral Development in the Professions: Psychology and Applied Ethics, Moral Reasoning in Medicines, New Jersey, USA: Tailor Francis e-Library, 2009.Print. This essay on Possession of knowledge and ethical responsibility was written and submitted by user D1rkAnger to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Possession of Knowledge and Ethical Responsibility It has been an argument for a long time whether people are supposed to reveal or conceal knowledge that they have gained. It is common to observe situations and events where people have intentionally withheld information which could have been used for the benefit of society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Possession of Knowledge and Ethical Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this regard, it has been argued by many people that possession of knowledge comes with ethical responsibility, especially concerning the use of information gained. However, there is always a conflict of interests when one contemplates on whether to reveal or conceal information he or she has learned. Therefore, it is important to explore the idea as to whether people become ethically responsible by means of possessing knowledge. To begin with, it is paramount to define what is meant by ethical responsibility. Ethics is genera lly defined in society as the ability to choose right from the wrong, and differentiate between good behavior and bad behavior. Some people go further and consider ethical responsibility as the possibility of one to prevent evil from taking place, and nurturing good deeds as being ethically correct. However, ethics does not necessarily mean good and bad; right and wrong, or evil and prosperity. It goes deeper to stress on what can critically be regarded as expected code of conduct in society. In general, ethics entails moral values that are used to define the behavior of a person in society, and thus dictates what is expected of a person. It should be noted that ethics does not only guide behaviors that are peculiar to given societies, but also includes what can be referred to as universal code of conduct. In this regard, ethical responsibility refers to the societal expectation that people will do anything within their power to prevent both themselves and others from harm. Based on the above definition, it follows that possession of knowledge comes with ethical responsibility, though this depends on the kind of information. Firstly, it is the ethical responsibility of every person to make society a better place to live in. In this regard, if by any chance one happens to have knowledge of an event, either happening or about to happen, which can cause destruction to the society, the person is bound to reveal the information. Take for example a person who has knowledge about a criminal gang or a crime that has taken place. If the person keeps quite, the crime will go unreported or the criminal gang will continue with their heinous activities causing harm to members of the society.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If the matter is reported, there are more chances that the criminals will be arrested, so there might be less future crimes. Consequently, possessing the inf ormation like this will impose an ethical responsibility on a person to report the matter to respective authorities. Similarly, some knowledge imposes commitment and challenge to the person with the knowledge to react or risk many people’s lives. People with knowledge about some live threatening or live saving ideas are obliged to share the information, or use the information for the benefit of everyone in the society. However, in certain instances there is a conflict of interest between saving one’s live and the society, while putting personal life in jeopardy. If a person finds some food in a hidden place and the whole village is starving, the person will be torn between telling the other members of the village about the food and serving personal interests. Ethics demands that the food is shared among village members. On the other hand, giving the food to the society members means risking personal life since there is no guarantee that food will be found again. The ca se where Daniel Elisberg made public the pentagon papers that contained illegal and unconstitutional issues that were being perpetrated by the president and high ranking officials have been debated for long. Daniel knew that the public was being deceived especially regarding Vietnam War. It should be noted that the whole public was being misguided by the very institution that was supposed to guide the nation. Ethical responsibility calls on any person to prevent any evil in society; lies are part of evil in the society. It was, therefore, Daniel’s ethical responsibility to make the public aware of the correct information. However, there are instances when advantages and disadvantages of ethical responsibility have to be weighed before making any decision. Take the case where scientists discover some new technologies which can help in improving society, but can also be misused by evil minded people.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Possession of Knowledge and Ethical Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Scientists will be ethically obliged to release the technology to the public to be used in making life easier. On the other hand, conscience will trouble the scientists in case the technology is misused because they will feel responsible for the effects. In this situation, a choice has to be made because the ethical responsibility is two way, namely, aiding the society in making their lives easier and protecting evil from occurring. Ethics requires that a person should always endeavor for happiness not only for himself but also for others. Consequently, scientists have the obligation of ensuring that they use their knowledge to make the society a happy place to live in. Moreover, some roles in the society enable one person to have knowledge about some important issues which either need to be kept secret or made public for the sake of others. Managers of companies usually hav e knowledge of some secret company information which can be used against the firm if enemies find it. Consequently, directors and any other people who happen to have this information are ethically obliged to use the information in a way that is only beneficial to the company. It should be noted that managers and company directors are ethically bound to protect company assets, including information. On the same note, various professionals usually have knowledge that is beneficial to the society. During medical emergencies, doctors are called upon to use their knowledge to save lives. Some of the situations might be risky to the doctors themselves. Under normal circumstances, every human being will choose to protect personal live over society. Nevertheless, doctors have a moral duty of helping people and will thus have to help the situation. The case is the same for other professionals for example, police officers, fire fighters and engineers, to name a few. Therefore, accessing any k ind of knowledge comes with ethical responsibility either to reveal or to conceal the same. It all depends on whether the knowledge can cause harm or reprieve when revealed. All in all, it is upon each and every one of us to make informed choices whenever faced with ethical dilemmas, especially regarding possession of knowledge.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Possession of Knowledge and Ethical Responsibility was written and submitted by user Ben Reilly to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Death of Jane McCrea Analysis essays

The Death of Jane McCrea Analysis essays The Death of Jane McCrea Analysis So many words come to mind when I look at the horrific picture painted by John Vanderlyn in 1804. The Death of Jane McCrea depicts two Native-Americans holding a tomahawk above an innocent white woman. Between the period of when the first settlers arrived in Jamestown (1607), and when this painting was completed, relations with between the white settlers and the Native Americans tended to oscillate between friendship and hostility. This painting was an illustration for an epic poem glorifying a white settlement. It was designed as propaganda, in order to justify the settlers hate towards the Indians. Vanderlyn used to many different painting techniques in order to prove to the world that the Indians were savage and barbaric people. The setting alone creates a gloomy impression from the very beginning. This atrocity takes place deep into dimly lit woods. Large trees and the lack of other human life suggest a dark seclusion. This dark seclusion is an indication of the lifestyle that the Indians lived- opposite to that of the white settlers. Many of the white settlements had large buildings (churches, town meeting places) with many people walking in the streets. Vanderlyn indicates that the lifestyle that the Indians were living in was uncivilized, with no large buildings and almost no people around. The dark woods makes me think of other creatures lurking in the bushes, ready to attack at any time. The setting almost seems as if it has occurred as a nightmare in someones worst dreams. Clothing plays an important role in the meaning of this picture. The Indians, large, muscular, and dark, are dressed with a minimal amount of clothing. The woman they are in the midst of killing looks very light skinned, and has almost an abundance of clothing. When reading the description of the Indians, it seems as if the description matches that of an animal. The Indians n...

Hygrometer a Weather Instrument that Measure Humidity

Hygrometer a Weather Instrument that Measure Humidity A hygrometer is a weather instrument used to measure the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. There are two main types of hygrometers a dry and wet bulb psychrometer and a mechanical hygrometer. What is Humidity? Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere caused by condensation and evaporation. It can be measured as absolute humidity (the amount of water vapor in a unit volume of air), or a relative humidity (the ratio of moisture in the atmosphere to the maximum moisture the atmosphere can hold). It is what gives you that uncomfortable sticky feeling on a hot day and can cause heat stroke. We feel most comfortable with relative humidity between 30% and 60%. How do Hygrometers Work? Wet and dry bulb psychrometers are the most simple and common way of measuring humidity. This type of hygrometer uses two basic mercury thermometers, one with a wet bulb one with a dry bulb. Evaporation from the water on the wet bulb causes its temperature reading to drop, causing it to show a lower temperature than the dry bulb. Relative humidity is calculated by comparing the readings using a calculation table that compares the ambient temperature (the temperature given by the dry bulb) to the difference in temperatures between the two thermometers. A mechanical hygrometer uses a slightly more complex system, based on one of the first hygrometers designed in 1783 by Horace Bà ©nà ©dict de Saussure. This system uses an organic material (usually human hair) that expands and contracts as a result of the surrounding humidity (that also explains why you always seem to have a bad hair day when it’s hot and humid!). The organic material is held under slight tension by a spring, which is linked to a needle gauge that indicates the level of humidity based on how the hair has moved. How Does Humidity Affect Us? Humidity is important for our comfort and our health. Humidity has been linked to sleepiness, lethargy, lack of observations, lower observation skills, and irritability. Humidity also plays a factor in heat stroke and heat exhaustion. As well as affecting people, too much or too little humidity can affect your possessions. Too little humidity can dry out and damage furniture. In contrast, too much humidity can cause moisture stains, condensation, swelling, and mold. Getting the Best Results from a Hygrometer Hygrometers must be calibrated at least once a year to ensure they provide the most accurate results possible. Even the best, most expensive hygrometer’s accuracy is likely to alter over time. To calibrate, place your hygrometer in a sealed container alongside a cup of salt water, and place it in a room where the temperature stays relatively constant throughout the day (e.g. not by a fireplace or front door), then leave it to sit for 10 hours. At the end of the 10 hours, the hygrometer should display a relative humidity level of 75% (the standard) if not, you need to adjust the display.

French Arty of XIXth Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

French Arty of XIXth Century - Essay Example From the clothes depicted, I try to make a guess about the period of the paintings, observe the facial expressions carefully to gauge the mood of the subjects and the painter. Paintings of live situations especially fascinate me. Market scenes, dance sequences, party scenes: these bring out the mood of the subjects remarkably well, as compared to inanimate objects, I feel. Of particular interest to me are the paintings by French impressionists. A chance visit to Tate Museum, London created an interest in me for works by French painters. The painting, A Woman o a Bench (1874) by Claude Monet caught my eye and made me feel that I had to carry out some research in this area. The lady sitting gracefully on a bench in the garden seems to be waiting for someone, yet seems so dignified in her waiting. There were hardly any problems faced in Tate Museum, other than the fact that I wanted to see some more paintings by French Impressionists. Next was a visit to the V&AMuseum. The museum is huge, very impressive and a treat for art lovers. Here I found a few paintings by French artists, but not many pertaining to my subject. As the museum concentrates on variety, the collections are vast and range from contemporary to historic exhibits of not only paintings, but sculptures and other works of art. French artists of the nineteenth century do not feature very prominently here. Thus, I was not able to gather much information about my topic of research here. (kindly check with someone who has visited the museum, as I didn't find much online). Next was a visit to The National Gallery. It is a true paradise for art lovers and a great place for Impressionist paintings. There is a formidable collection of paintings by French artists of the nineteenth century depicting the social orders of the period. I will be describing scenes from these paintings in the following paragraphs. Annotated Bibliography Various sources have been used in compiling this report. The annotated bibliography of these sources is given below: 'Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando', 1879. London, The National Gallery. DEGAS, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar 1834 - 1917 French Degas specialised in scenes of contemporary life, including dancers, entertainers and women at their toilette. He was a master of technique, and experimented with various media, including pastel. Degas remains popular today; his changing styles and preoccupations are well represented in the Collection. Degas exhibited from the beginning with the Impressionists in Paris. He was able to follow an independent path; his private income meant that he was not forced to attract buyers. Degas spent most of his life in Paris, abandoning his study of law in 1855 to train with the academic painter Louis Lamothe. In 1855 he studied at the cole des Beaux-Arts. He was in Rome 1856/7, and subsequently often travelled to Italy. He admired Ingres, but soon developed an Impressionist approach, under the influence of Manet, whom he knew well. 'Corner of a Caf-Concert', probably 1878-80. London, The National Gallery. Manet, Edouard was the elder statesman of the Impressionists, but never took part in their exhibitions. He continued to compete in the Salons where he sought approval all his life. His unconventional subject matter of modern life, and his free handling of paint made him an important precursor of

Network security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Network security - Essay Example Also, partnership with application vendors needs some consideration. The solution should render application traffic as safe and avoid data corruption or change risks. Application vendor partnerships are required to achieve this. These services enhance convenience and efficiency to the users. File serves enable users share their files over the network in a transparent manner. Most importantly, users can access a specific file over the network without necessarily sharing it (Diablotin, 2014). In order to support diskless workstations, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP) is enabled hence users can come up with their own open network protocols. An alternative protocol may include Network File System (NFS). On the other hand, a printer server provides a platform for users to access the same printer over the same network. Some of the advantages associated with printer sharing include; reduced costs on the number of required printers, reduced maintenance costs due to fewer machines, and maximum utilization of expensive resources as a result of access to special printing machines. The servers enable users get in touch with their office work, family and customers among others. Users can customize their web mail according to their preference. The servers provide a platform to send and receive messages from users connected over the same network, especially over the internet. Users can set up filters whenever they want to organize their email folders. Also, groupware collaboration options enable users to share their distribution lists, classified notes, and email folders in a convenient way. Users can install ComAgent application that would run on their workstations and monitor all their classified emails. These kinds of servers are applicable for any user that utilizes either high-performance cloud or a

Cultural hyrbidity Essay Example for Free

Cultural hyrbidity Essay The fusion of cultural and ethnic identities refers to hybridisation. Most people acknowledge that they can be affiliated with an individual culture. Banton (2000) notes that in the contemporary UK ethnicity is becoming increasingly recognised as something everyone has. 1 Common interests or shared values help form and develop cultural attachments (culture, descent, ancestry, religion, languages, food and traditional values) which in turn develops and forges ethnic identities. Migration of ethnic minorities has stirred some of the UKs population into feeling the British national identity is under threat. Hybrid identity can be attributed to the exchange of culture through globalisation. Sheila Patterson (1965) studied first generation migrants in Brixton, London during the 1950s. Her study involved interviews, observation and participant observation with 250 whites and 150 Afro-Caribbeans. Patterson (1965) believes the relationship between hosts and immigrants as not fixed but evolving all the time; Whilst adaption through socialisation and acculturation was difficult for immigrants, the hosts experience was a more passive form of acceptance. 2 Eriksen (2002) points out that no serious scholar today believes that hereditary characteristics explain cultural variations. 3 Patterson (1965) also states the incoming group as a whole adapts itself to permanent membership of the receiving society in certain major spheres notably economic and civil life. 4 Pattersons final stage of adaption is assimilation, where migrants or minority groups achieve complete acceptance in society. Patterson observed that physical amalgamation may lead to distinctive features of migrant groups and that of their hosts to be lost. Patterson found the progress of the West Indian migrants in Britain was limited, there was still opposition to the employment of West Indians by white workers. 5 Nick names and jocular references resulted in conflict. A rise in the number of West Indian landlords and the acceptance of West Indian tenants did however help alleviate housing problems. Racism existed with some shops refusing the custom of ethnic minorities due to the colour of their skin. Social relationships between migrants and hosts existed but only on a casual contact basis. Patterson (1965) noted that some of the West Indians had adopted the British way of life however, there were few inter-racial marriages. Paterson concluded over the next decades in Britain the West Indian migrants and their children will follow in the steps of the Irish and achieve almost complete assimilation into British Society.

The True Meaning Behind That Layer Of Blue Nail Polish :: essays research papers

The True Meaning Behind that Layer of Blue Nail Polish When the red-based shades such as pink and orange were the only type of nail polish females dared to wear, I remember wondering if in the near future they'd dare switch to completely new shades such as blue or green. Now that day and age has come when all different shades of blue can be seen painted on teens' nails. Yet, this new choice of blue isn't just another craze of the moment. Rather, it symbolizes something slightly deeper. This latest trend of â€Å" blues† not only broke the barrier of â€Å"reds only†, but broke the limits of society each girl felt she had when it came to choosing a simple shade of nail polish. Before, the â€Å"rebels† and the â€Å"freaks† were the only ones who had the guts to wear what it took to get attention and to shock the world. For them shades of nail polish whether they were blue, black, or glitter have never been an issue of inappropriateness. Those who were less eccentric when it came to expressing their exterior image stayed with the â€Å"acceptable† red tones. Now that blue nail polish is the latest manicurean craze, both the tamest and the wildest adolescents together are donning the shade. When asked why they choose to wear this latest cerulean shade of nail polish, many give back similar responses such as: â€Å"It looks cool†; â€Å"If I wore red I would just feel like another ordinary person, but if people see your blue nail polish, they do a double-take†; â€Å"It's a little new, something different†. Unfortunately, many youths have been raised in a society where they have been conditioned to fear doing anything that will have them come across as a freak to others. In today's society, nail polish is one of the few things that come between the limits of someone who may be considered a â€Å"dull dresser† or a â€Å"freak-show†. It is understandable why the more all-around fashion-conscious youths might be attracted to a new trend of accessory. A theory can evolve, however, from the other kind of youths who don't express their inner-selves fully through their apparel. It is possible that these girls may feel more at ease leaking out their wild streak through the most subtle way they know how - nail polish. You can dress normally and still wear wild nail polish, yet no one will consider you a freak because of your flashy nails. â€Å"My parents hate it.† This factor alone may be an invitation for youths to wear blue nail polish.

The Four Noble Truths in Buddhism

There are many things that can be found in a religion. The idea of a religion is to give hope for life after death and to give peace of mind during life and a reason to live in a morally â€Å"right† way. There are so many religions in the world and so many questions that are answered within each religion. Buddha was born a prince but he continuously looked at many things that were going on outside of the palace and the lives that the commoners lived. While doing this he decided to start changing how he lived his own life.During this time he began practicing meditation in an attempt to find a reason for his behaviors. Later he changed his name to Buddha and then he began to minister and speak to the people. Buddha spoke about a continual peace and interconnection with those who were around them (Palmer, Cooper, and Corcoran 2001, pp 1-4). One of the main foundations in the religion of Buddhism is the idea of the four noble truths. There are four noble truths in the practice of Buddhism. The four noble truths are the qualification of life.These truths are that there is life that is â€Å"qualified by suffering, that suffering has a cause, that there is a state beyond suffering, and that there is a path to the state† (Lopez 2001, p. 15). In the Dali Lama’s teachings on the four noble truths he talks about the general desire for all to have happiness and for them to not have suffering. He also talks about how these truths are â€Å"all encompassing† (1981 p. 1). The first noble truth is the truth that there will be suffering in life.In his talks on the noble truths, the Dali Lama states that all people experience various types of suffering. He also divides suffering into three categories. These categories are â€Å"the suffering of suffering, the suffering of change, and the all-pervasive suffering. † The suffering of suffering can be described as something like a headache. Some type of thing that inflicts suffering on someone an d that there is no reason for the suffering and there is nothing to come from the suffering so the suffering is purely suffering.This type of suffering is not only experienced in humans but also in animals and this type of suffering is also troublesome in animals as it is in humans and they too wish to be freed from this type of suffering. Since there is a fear of these types of suffering and a desire to eliminate the suffering there is a strong desire to find ways to end this suffering and there are many different ways that individuals can choose to end this type of suffering. This type of suffering can also be described in the types of suffering that occurs when people are found to be living in poverty or having to suffer in this way.The Dali Lama reminds that everyone is able to tell that this type of suffering is suffering and that a relief of some sort is needed (1981, p. 1). The second type of suffering can only be described s the suffering of change. This type of suffering is something that is experienced when someone becomes â€Å"restless† and wants some type of change. There are so many things that can occur as well. The way that the Dali Lama describes this type of suffering is that â€Å"we are sitting comfortably relaxed and at first, everything seems all right, but after a while we lose that feeling and get restless and uncomfortable.† Unlike the suffering of suffering when someone experiences the suffering of change it can ultimately come in the form of something that could have previously been thought of as great or wonderful. For instance if someone is able to begin earning money and seemingly get out of the situation of poverty as described in the previous paragraph then they might believe that life is going to be better. The disappointment that money is unable to buy happiness through things that could now be owned is what could be known as the disappointment of change (1981, p. 1). The third type of suffering is all pervasive suffering.This type of suffering is the basis of the first two types of suffering. The Dali Lama speaks about this type of suffering as the type of suffering that contains the main principles of things like karma. This type of suffering is that there is simply suffering in life because there is suffering in human life. This is the type of suffering that causes some people to take their own lives and commit suicide and is the all pervasive suffering that these people do not feel they will ever be able to escape from. This is also what is behind the â€Å"disturbing minds† that are part of the human existence.With this type of suffering there are many things that the follower of Buddhism can learn and learning about this type of suffering can only cause there to be a more intense and better life. The Dali Lama encourages that â€Å"killing yourself isn’t going to solve your problems† and therefore works with the followers and those for whom he is speaking to be ab le to better manage their feelings and not feel that the act of suicide is necessary. This is the final type of suffering for which the Dali Lama speaks about and the final type of suffering in the first noble truth which is the truth of suffering (1981, pp.1-2). The second of the noble truths is the truth of the cause of suffering. The Dali Lama first talks about how the true Buddhists believe that â€Å"there is no external creator and that even though a Buddha is the highest being, even the Buddha does not have the power to create new life. † Through Buddhism it is taught that the â€Å"ultimate cause† for most suffering is the mind. This is meaning that the mind has the power to control the thought process and many of the feelings that occur which are negative. These negative feelings can include many different and various forms of negative thought.The idea behind this truth is that if one has the power to control their mind then they are able to control their thou ght process and by thinking fewer negative thoughts then the benefit to the person will be that they will be more enlightened and feel better overall. The Dali Lama states that one should work hard to not try to â€Å"grasp a true existence† and this is what is behind many of the negative thoughts. With the negative thoughts and the negative karma that is used. It is also thought that the negative actions that are there involved are also what is behind all negative actions.This is the reason for which the middle way is encouraged (1981, pp. 2-3). The third of the four noble truths are that there is the truth of the cessation of suffering. The Dali Lama speaks about how there are many things that are grasped by the mind and how to train the mind to not grasp certain things will help the mind to be able to manage certain feelings and issues through this if one is able to end the â€Å"disturbing negative minds, the cause of all suffering, then we will end the suffering as well .† This is important as it proposes that each person is in charge of ending their own suffering through being able to rid themselves of all of the negative things that are available. This truth is further taught when practicing the middle way and that by practicing the middle way one is able to end his/her suffering (1981, p. 3). The fourth of the four noble truths is the truth to the path of cessation. This is that the path to being able to find the middle way is a journey that each must take. The Dali Lama speaks of the thirty seven things that are needed to reach enlightenment.This is the path that those who are motivated to liberate themselves from suffering. These thirty seven factors to enlightenment are through the five paths. The five paths being the â€Å"four close placements of mindfulness, the four miraculous powers, the four pure abandonments, the five powers and the five forces, the seven factors of enlightenment, and the eightfold path. † The other way th at one is to travel through the paths of the cessation of suffering was through the six â€Å"transcendent perfections. † This way is through practicing both the methods and wisdom.Through these types of journeys it is said that one can end all suffering and find his/her way to enlightenment (1981, p. 4). The middle way is what the Buddha taught as the end to all suffering. This middle way is the belief that there is good neither through extreme indulgence or through depravation. The middle way is the belief that there is a great way for things to be thought of for the middle of life. This is that one should live in the middle realms of things and that each person should attempt to work on how they can find the perfect â€Å"middle† life for themselves (Lopez 2001, pp.28-29). The Eightfold Path is thought to be another way to end all suffering in the practice of Buddhism. The Eightfold Path is the overall ways that Buddha taught that one could reach enlightenment. The beginning of the Eightfold Path is understanding. There is having a knowledge and understanding of the four noble truths. The way that is described in the fourth noble truth is in itself the way of the Eightfold Path. These also include that there is a â€Å"Truth of Change† and the â€Å"Truth of No Self. † The Eightfold Path is uses the understanding and acceptance.The understanding is that one is able to do. The acceptance is that there is an overall acceptance that there are things that we could not change (MacPhillamy 2001, pp. 1-3). The Eightfold Path also teaches that there needs to be a place of thought. This place of thought is where one is able to introvert into his/her mind and is able to therefore create and control the thoughts that he/she has. In his article on the Eightfold Path, MacPhillamy is talking about the things that can keep one from being able to reach enlightenment.These things being that there are â€Å"little lies, deceptions and fantasies t hat we tell ourselves inside our heads all day long. † Thus meaning that the things that one might tell him/herself in order to be able to manage their feelings are really one of the biggest things that will keep them from enlightenment (2001, p. 3). The next three parts of the Eightfold Path are speech, action and livelihood and they form their own group. With these things it is overall the process of changing them to where their main focus is on inner peace.By acting right and in the moral manner for these things can change the overall issues. There are also â€Å"Three Treasures Precepts. † These are that â€Å"I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha. † These are all things that are a part of the unified way of life that includes these three things if they are not all included then it is impossible for one to be able to stand on the issues within him/herself. There are also the â€Å"Three Pure Precepts. † T hese are that â€Å"I will cease from evil. I will do only good. I will do good for others.† The idea behind these three things is that if we continue to do these three things then our lives will be easier and there can be a reassurance and knowledge that all is well through these things (MacPhillamy 2001, pp. 3-6). The next part of the Eightfold Path are the â€Å"Ten Great Precepts. † These precepts are: â€Å"I will refrain from killing. I will refrain from stealing. I will refrain from abusing sexuality. I will refrain from speaking untruthfully. I will refrain from selling the wine of delusion. I will refrain from speaking against others.I will refrain from being proud of myself and belittling others. I will refrain from holding back in giving either Dharma or wealth. I will refrain from indulging anger. I will refrain from defaming the Three Treasures. † There are also the forty eight less grave precepts that should be followed however the top ones have be en listed. The next parts of the Eightfold Path are the ideas of effort, mindfulness, and mediation. With the idea of mindfulness there are some things to keep in mind. With mindfulness it is necessary to â€Å"Do one thing at a time. Pay full attention to what you are doing.When your mind wanders to something else, bring it back. Repeat step number three a few hundred thousand times. And, when your mind keeps wandering to the same thing over and over again, stop for a minute and pay ‘attention’ to the distraction ‘: maybe it is trying to tell you something. † Pure meditation is required in being able to maintain ones beliefs and the issues of one being able to manage his/her overall journey through the Eightfold Path (MacPhillamy 2001, pp. 6-15). Also when studying the four noble truths it is essential to study the overall experience and belief in Nirvana.The idea of Nirvana is the idea of â€Å"absolute truth† (Lebiniz 1999, p. 4). Nirvana can also be described as the overall goal for one who is practicing the four noble truths as the idea of Nirvana is a place where there is an end to all suffering and end of all other types of frustration and other problems (Buddhism†¦ p. 1). Being able to know that Nirvana is achievable and being able to believe in that is the faith that many Buddhists need in order to be able to manage how things are going and to be able to encourage appropriate actions from others and within themselves.Being able to reach a state where there is no pain and no suffering is a dream come true to many. This is in the end the way that happiness can be achieved. In studying the four noble truths of Buddhism many different parts of the religions and beliefs of Buddhism need to be followed and understood and in the end reaching the point of Nirvana or the end of all suffering will help others to be able to be more motivated.These overall steps to reaching enlightenment were formed by the Buddha from his own experiences in â€Å"awakening† what he was to become (Eckel 89). References Buddhism: The Search for Enlightenmentl, Retrieved on 26 April 2009 from http://plaza. ufl. edu/cp9470r/project2/beliefs. html Dali Lama 1981, The Four Noble Truths, Retrieved on 27 April 2009 from http://www. lamayeshe. com/index. php? sect=article&id=380 Eckel, MD 2002, Buddhism, 1st ed, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. Lebiniz 1999. Buddha-Buddhism Religion, Retrieved on 26 April from

Ancient Chinese Dynasties Essay

There were many Chinese dynasties that rose and fell throughout China’s history. The history of China, in a way, is a history of battles and wars. These wars were so important that they changed the structure of Chinese culture both then and now. Three dynasties that rose and fell during ancient China were the Han, the Tang, and the Song. The rise and fall of these great dynasties form a link that runs through Chinese history. The Han period was one of the golden ages of Chinese civilization. The Han dynasty lasted from 206 B. C. to A. D. 220. It began when the prince of Han, Liu Bang, took the title Gao Zu and began to restore order and justice to his new empire. He lowered taxes and reduced the Qin emperor’s harsh Legalist policies. These policies created a strong basis for the Han dynasty. The most famous emperor, Wudi took China to a new level. During his reign from 141 BC to 87 BC, he strengthened both the government and economy. Economic expansion, strengthening the palace at the expense of the civil service, weakening the states hold on the peasantry and the rise of the rich and the gentry were all factors that led to the adoption of Confucian ideals. Han emperors made Confucianism the official belief system of the state. Under Wudi, China conquered many lands, expanding their power and influence. The Han Dynasty now controlled northern Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula. Wudi sent explorers toward Central Asia, eventually opening up the famous trade route known as the Silk Road. However, signs of decay began to appear throughout the dynasty which put an enormous burden on the economy. Weak emperors allowed canals and roads to fall into disrepair. Burdened by heavy taxes, and crushing debt, many peasants revolted. Thousands of rebellious peasants abandoned their villages and fled to the mountains. In AD 220 warlords overthrew the last Han emperor. After four hundred years of unity, China broke up into several kingdoms. The Han dynasty was over. After the Han dynasty collapsed, China remained divided for nearly four hundred years. It was not until the development of the Tang dynasty, in 618 that China was restored to its earlier glory. The tang was an imperial dynasty of China. Its territory was acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers and was greater than that of the Han period. Tang rulers carried empire building to new depths. Chinese armies forced the neighboring lands of Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea to become tributary states. It is estimated that the population had grown by the 9th century to about eighty million people. The Tang Dynasty was largely a period of progress and stability. They rebuilt the bureaucracy and enlarged the civil service system to recruit talented officials trained in Confucian technology. Chinese culture flourished and further developed during the Tang era. It is considered the greatest age for Chinese poetry. Tang emperors began to lose territories in Central Asia to the Arabs. Corruption, high taxes, drought and famine all contributed to the downfall of the Tang Dynasty. In 1907, a rebel general over through the last Tang emperor, which brought the dynasty to an end. The Song Dynasty lasted for more than three hundred years. It began in 960, when a educated general reunited most of China. The Song controlled less territory than the Tang dynasty did. The dynasty was constantly threatened by invaders in the north. Despite military obstacles, the culture brought rise to a new religion. Education expanded the growth of literature and the arts. Foreign trade flourished and Chinese cities prospered as centers of trade. Positions in government were no longer held by aristocrats and were instead given to people with experience and degrees. This made the government stronger and formed new concepts. Chinese wealth and culture lead East Asia even when its militaries did not. Most problems in this dynasty were due to military power. A combination of corrupt officials and weak emperors contributed to its downfall. China has a long and mysterious history of almost five thousand years. China can trace her culture back to a blend of small original tribes which have expanded until they became the great country we have today. Each rise and fall of a dynasty created new leaders, new laws, new rules, and usually new expansion. Chinese history is that of alternating periods of political unity and disunity. The rise and fall of many dynasties created a rocky path in Chinas history.

GCSE Geography Coursework Help

GCSE Geography Coursework Help GCSE Geography Coursework Help Practically, the whole geography coursework writingis based on argumentation. Arguments which we put for or against coursework thesis statement partly depend for their credibility on the value or significance of the evidence you integrate. To know how significant evidence is, you need a very thorough grasp of the context in which it is presented. Geography coursework writing starts with examination of the topic; this is why you should take so much trouble to establish a context for your coursework at the beginning of writing process. There are, however, two ways in which you should establish the context. One is obviously within a coursework paragraph: the meaning of words should be clear; the coursework paragraph must contain related ideas and it becomes the context for your main points. The other is the context of your primary or secondary sources used for college coursework writing. A simple example is if we cited the work of a researcher (we will call her Wilkinson) and referenced it as follows: (Wilkinson 1989). If we refer to Wilkinson, we are also referring to the context in which her work took place. In other words, we bring a whole package of questionable issues about reliability, relevance and validity of evidence with each reference we use in the process of writing a coursework: Coursework Writing Help Clearly, we cannot question everything forever, but coursework arguments nevertheless depend on the relevance and significance of their supporting evidence. It is determined with the help of asking questions about the reliability of the original coursework context as well as with the analysis of the context appropriateness in which we decide to use the gathered evidence. Did Wilkinson use a valid research method? Were there questionnaires mentioned? If so, what percentage was returned? What were the biases in the questions asked or answers given? Most importantly, does Wilkinson's work really support or deny the point you are trying to make? Who else has produced evidence which conflicts with Wilkinson's research or arguments? Coursework Help offers you an opportunity to order professional GCSE geography coursework help.We are educated and possess years of coursework writing experience. We are never late with delivery and we can help you with writing on any topic. You will not regret using our coursework writing help because you will receive custom written coursework of the highest academic quality. Moreover, we will never deceive you! If you are not satisfied with the final draft of your geography coursework, you may request free and unlimited revisions. Read also: Womens Rights Essay Saving Private Ryan Essay Master Essay Lord of the Flies Essay Literary Essay Hamlet

American Indians Essay Research Paper American IndiansThroughout

American Indians Essay, Research Paper American Indians Throughout the history of the United States, American Indians have be treated ill. Ever since the white work forces crossed the Atlantic ocean 200 old ages ago till the mid 1900 s, the hapless intervention and violent death of Indians neer ceased. US Policies passed between the Revolutionary War and the mid 1900 s hurt American Indians and set them at an utmost disadvantage. Before the Revolutionary War, the first intimation that the relationship between the American Indians and the white people would be rocky was when the British ordered the Proclamation of 1763. It prohibited any white colonists to settle West of the Appalachian Mountains because of legion struggles with the American Indians. After the Revolutionary War, the construct of Manifest Destiny, to spread out the state to the Pacific Ocean and perchance Canada and Mexico, motivated many Americans to look beyond their districts. After the Revolutionary War, they successfully gained all the land E of the Appalachian Mountains, from the St. Lawrence River to the 31st analogue. When the United States signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1783, it gave them the Great Lakes and Mississippi. The United States were able to spread out even more after they were able to press the Native Americans to give up their lands in the Northwest District in 1784 and 1785. In 1802, all the provinces had given up their districts to the federal authorities as portion of the new Constitution. Most significantly, when North Carolina gave up its districts, it stopped doing payments that were guaranteed to the Indians in earlier pacts. The United States were to pay off the debt, but they failed to make so. A big part to the enlargement of the United States was acquired through the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803. Then in 1819, Florida was purchased from the Spaniards. Texas freed itself from Mexico in 1845, became an independent province, and joined the United States. Last, in 1848 the last major land the United States obtained was Californ ia and New Mexico from the Mexican Cession. On the seventy-fifth birthday of the state, the United States had fulfilled its Manifest Destiny and its boundary lines crossed the full North American Continent ( Jones, Pg. 9-12 ) . The problem for the American Indian began here. With all the new land acquired, many white Americans headed to the West and mid-west to settle. During these colonies, the Indians got in the manner. The colonists were taking their land off from them and the white colonists killed the Indians to acquire rid of their jobs easy. In the heads of many white Americans, the best manner to work out the job with Indians interfering was to kill off them. The first major conflict that erupted between the Indians and the Americans over land ownership and Indian intervention from the Americans occurred during the War of 1812. In 1813, the Indians along with their Alliess the British, fought the Americans at the Battle of the Thames River. Here Tecumseh died. Tecumseh was the leader of the Shawnee Tribe who besides led and united many Indian folks to drive the Americans off of their land. After he died, the Indians lost an of import leader and hence lost their sense of way and stopped contending fo r awhile. In 1828, Andrew Jackson, the war hero who defeated the Creeks and British became the new President of the United States. Andrew Jackson was considered a frontier adult male. The Americans on the frontier looked up to him and expected him to hold a no-nonsense policy toward the Indians ( Jones, Pg. 19 ) . The Cherokee Indians were the first Indians to be a victim of the Jackson policy. At the clip, the Cherokees were the most comfortable Indian state. The white colonists in the country began to bust the Cherokees. The federal authorities did nil about this. But when the Cherokees retaliated against the white colonists, the Cherokees were tried and punished badly. Finally, the Cherokees got fed up and appealed to the federal authorities and worked ferociously to maintain the pact duties that required the United States federal authorities to protect the Cherokees and their lands. But the federal authorities said that the white colonists who took their land were excessively legion to be moved and therefore were unable to assist the Indians. So alternatively of following the pact with the Cherokees, the federal authorities under the Jackson disposal took land off from them. The Cherokees brought their instance to the Supreme Court to seek justness. Rather, the United States Senate ratified the Treaty of New Echota and President Jackson signed the pact into jurisprudence leting the authorities to take all Cherokees from their land ( Satz Pg. 20 ) . This determination by President Jackson was the first in a series of monolithic Indian remotion ( Gilbert Pg.23 ) . Finally, the Cherokees were forced to fly to Indian Land, besides known as Oklahoma. After the successful remotion of the Cherokees, the federal authorities decided to take the Choctaws, Creeks, and Chickasaws to Oklahoma every bit good. The Indians were harassed by the Whites and suffered from diseases while going to Oklahoma on the trail known as the Trails of Tears ( Gilbert Pg. 27,28 ) . In 1832, US troop s chased the Sauk state across the Mississippi River. They killed at least 200 Sauks. As a consequence of this inhumane act, the federal authorities gave the staying Sauks their ain land in Iowa. Most of the remotions made by the United States authorities were conducted without believing about the comfort or wellness of the Indians. Most of the clip, they were conducted with ferociousness ( Jones, Pg. 23 ) . The Indians were forced to walk 100s of stat mis because the authorities did non supply them with good transit. Besides, the United States authorities promised lodging, nutrient, farm supplies, and farm animal to get down them out at their new locations, but they turned out to be false promised and hopes for the Indians. In most instances, the Indians were normally dropped off in the wilderness and left there to last on hardly nil. Other times when they reached their new locations, before they knew it, they were being removed to another location. This procedure was repeated over and over until the Westward Movement. The Westward Movement caused even more problems for American Indians. The Westward Movement began after gold was found in California. Many colonists and gold diggers traveled to the West for many different grounds. The authorities prepared to seek and forestall any struggle and confrontation between the Whites and the Indians before it happened by directing the US Army to modulate. They built garrisons and forts for this ground. Army functionaries were sent west to do understandings and pacts with the Indians. Besides, their occupation was to do certain that the pacts and understanding were non to be violated by both parties. From 1778-1871, the federal authorities made 389 pacts with the Indian states. The conditions of the pacts were that if the United States were to take any of the Indians billion estates of land, so the authorities would pay for the land and give them one-year rentes and supplies. Besides, the Indians would ever hold land for themselves. These lands would be free from revenue enhancement. Unfortunately, the pacts were frequently broken. Settlers ignored the pacts and invaded and settled on Indian district guaranteed under the pact. The Fort Laramie Treaty, which was signed in 1868 is an illustration of a broken pact ( Utley Pg.61,86 ) . The Indians were given sole rights to the sacred land of the Black Hills. Then in 1874, when gold was discovered at that place, the white gold diggers and mineworkers ignored the pact and invaded the Indian district. When these colonists invaded their land and the authorities did non make anything about it, the Indians took action and attacked the colonists. The victim of these Indian foraies felt that the authorities should be protecting them from the Indians, because they felt they had non done anything incorrect. Again, the authorities did non make anything. So this clip the colonists retaliated against the Indians by themselves. Besides killing guiltless Indians and occupying their land, the white colonists showed no regard for the land. They destroyed the grass and tree, about killed all the game for pleasance that the Indians depended on for endurance. By 1871, tenseness a nd struggle between the Indians and the colonists grew even stronger. The white people wanted the authorities to give them entree to Indian land while the Indians wanted the authorities to maintain their word, follow the pact, and protect their lands. In order to run into the demands of the white people, the federal authorities decided to hold a new policy. The policy was to hold no more pacts with the Indians. They were no longer be considered as independent states. Hostile Indians were to be captured by the US ground forces and set in Indian reserves. If they resisted to travel to a reserve they were considered hostile. To do it easier to direct all the Indians to the reserves, the authorities urged white huntsmans and sportswomans to kill off the American bisons. This was the most of import game that the Indians depended on to populate. Between 1872 and 1874, white huntsmans and sportswomans killed about four million American bisons, go forthing about 150,000 ( Brash Pgs. 62, 66,67 ) . Reservation life was awful for the Indians. Most of the Indian reserve were wasteland. They were inhabitable. Indians were frequently expected to farm on these barren, which was rather impossible. Indian Reservations became crowded as more and more American indians were being pushed and moved off their ain land. Another job was that the Indians were frequently sent to reserves that were non suited for them. For illustration, the Navajos, Indians who live in the hot desert, were sent to a reserve across the state to Florida. And the Sioux Indians, Indians who lived in the cool fields, were sent to reserves in the desert of New Mexico. The hapless and crowded conditions on the reserves caused lifelessly diseases to distribute and caused 1000s of deceases on the reserves. Many of the Indians became fed up with reserve life, and left. Many folks formed impermanent confederations with each other to salvage themselves. They were successful at the Battle of Bighorn in 1876 where they defeated General George Custer. Even though they were winning, this merely angered the white people even more. Armies were doubled as a consequence of this. As they lost conflicts, they found it more hard to contend on ( Billard Pg. 338-339 ) . Every clip they were defeated, all their properties would be destroyed. They would hold been lucky to populate. In 1890, Chief Sitting Bull and his 300 guiltless staying Indians were massacred by the US Army in South Dakota. As a consequence of this, many Indian folks gave up hope and surrendered. At the beginning of the twentieth, there were about 250,000 Indians in the United States. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed under the Department of War. The duty of the agency was to see that the best involvement of the Indians were served and to make up ones mind what those involvements were. But the Bureau was made up of white males. They were frequently bias towards the Indians. This hurt the Indian civilization and future coevalss because now the end of the agency and federal authorities was to educate all Indians and do them bury their old ways and traditions. Slowly, they were seeking to wipe out the Indian traditions and civilization off. The new coevalss of Indians were taken off to get oning school. They were non allowed to talk their native linguistic communication. They were forced to pattern Christianity. They were told that their Indian heritage were non approved by American society ( Billard Pg. 341-384 ) . As of today, Indians still live on reserves. They do non hold to pay revenue enhancements. The American Indians today are good treated. They are considered Americans today and have equal rights merely as any other ethic groups in the United States. Although the American Indians are treated every bit today, they were non treated every bit for the past 200 old ages. The white work forces came across the sea and invaded their land. All they could make was ticker and seek to contend back, but that did non work for them. The future coevalss were greatly affected by this because the sad events did non let them to hold every bit many chances and easiness to larn about their roots and tradition.

How are women portrayed in the films of the 1960s and 1970s Essay

How are women portrayed in the films of the 1960s and 1970s - Essay Example The feminist beliefs differed from groups to groups and from one woman to another. By 1970s, the Second Wave Feminist Movements had inspired several men and women in the United States (Klinger, 2008). There was a change on the women perception in politics, media, private household and academia. Films produced in the 1960s and 1970s provide the best lenses upon which to perceive the depiction of the public on the role and status of women during the time. Dr. Strangelove, a film produced in 1964 is one such perfect film depicting the position of the woman in 1960s (Rosenstone, 2009). in the opening scene of the comedy, a member of staff of the United States Royal Air force is seemingly dressed to relax and flying above the Soviet Union. The member of US RAF whips out the latest playboy magazine and peruses through its pages. Whereas the actions in the short scene may not seem as a big deal, the scene optimizes the objectification of women that runs throughout the rest of the film. Stan ley Kubrick use satire in the movie to portray the lighter side of sad time on gender in the United States. Dr. Strangelove was produced during the period of Wave Feminism. While women of this period were allowed to vote, they lacked all the rights men held at the moment. Throughout this movie, women are either used merely for the benefit of men or are totally absent from the scenes. An excellent example of absence of women from matters important to the running of the nation is at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting. There is not a single woman in the board rooms of the meetings that take a majority of the film. The quality of the film and the role of different genders in the movie portray the different perceptions of the people living at the time. Unlike present times where women take proactive part in cinemas, the 1964 production points to a time in history when women had not gained rights and respect (Rosenstone, 2009). They were not instrumental in the running of the state and mak ing important decisions of governance. Their role was supplementary to the duties of men. If a woman was to participate in any nation building activity, it would be under the shadow of her husband. Coming to the public limelight as an agent of change and constructive development of the nation was unheard of as depicted extensively in the film. While the services of women of the time were not directly outlined in the film, the role of women in satisfaction of basic needs of men was profound. Women were portrayed as objects of sexual satisfaction. The United States RAF pilot introduces this apparent place of women in the society of 1960s as he gets satisfaction from the Playboy Magazine by mere gaze at naked pictures of women. The first time the audience gets to meet a feminine character is with the entourage of Miss Scott. She echoes the director’s depiction of women as objects of sexual entertainment for men. Her sprawled out tuning under colored bright light in revealing bik ini leaving little to the imagination of the mind brings the point home that, indeed, women of the 1960s held no other position to men than massage their sexual ego (Klinger, 2008). The Graduate is the other film that tells gender and the way 1960s and early 1970s defined a change of the perception of both men and women on gender. The film narrates a story of two characters almost coming into terms with the dynamic meaning of gender at

Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Government - Essay Example In contrast, unitary governance system is characteristic of power centralization. Instead of having independent states or provinces, as it is the case in the United States, a unitary system functions based on subnational units. Critical to note is that these subnational units are subject to the influence of the central government. In this respect, the central authority governs local governments under the unitary system. Great Britain and France are good examples of governments that practice the unitary system. While national and state governments share power under federalism, the central government decentralizes or delegates power to subnational units under the unitary form of government (Lansford 44). Political cultures that adopt federalism are those that believe in more than one body of legislation. These cultures lack parliamentary systems, and instead rely on bicameral constitutional provisions for legislation formulation and implementation. In contrast, most unitary governments are unicameral. In order to share and subsequently regulate power, legislation at the state or province level is either approved or rejected by the head of the national government. Most importantly, both state and national governments work together in social, economic, or political matters. Religious beliefs and practices vary from one region to another. In the United States, religious freedom is constitutionally provided for. In other words, the constitution makes it clear religion and state are two different entities. What this means is that the government, through congress, cannot interfere with an individual’s choice, belief, or practice of religion. The constitutional provisions made in the First Amendment accord protection to the religious freedoms of the American people. The free exercise clause prohibits congress from interfering with religious beliefs or practices of the American people (Horwitz 63). On

To Compare the Financial Aspirations and Dealings of Gutenberg with Essay

To Compare the Financial Aspirations and Dealings of Gutenberg with those of Garamond - Essay Example The new ideas that Fussel (2005) notes were not new ideas at all, but ancient ones – humanism, which was based upon classical ideals. The humanistic ideals, which includes an emphasis upon the individual, were, however, merged with the prevailing doctrine of the church, so that the church morality teachings were infused in the classical ideology, making the ideology more mature. These were not the only ideas which were broadly disseminated – other ideas which focused upon solving societal problems were also widely read in the Europe after the printing press, and, since intellectuals and scholars had access to others’ ideas, debate on these topics was made easier. This, in turn, led to intellectual ideas and debates being widely held throughout Europe (Abel, 2011). That said, according to Norman (2005), these new ideas were threatening to the church, as they often conflicted with the church’s teaching. Therefore, the church instituted greater censorship, wh ile also using the Gutenberg press as a tool to better disseminate its own information to the mass. Another important development was that businesspeople were able to afford manuscripts which helped them run their business. Before the printing press, only the richest could afford manuscripts, as these manuscripts were painstakingly made by religious clerics, therefore the production was very expensive (Abel, 2011). This led to greater economic development, and, as Dittmar (2010) notes, cities flourished because of this greater capacity for economic development. This, in turn, led to greater macroeconomic growth patterns throughout Europe, as businesspeople were better able to expand their business and individuals throughout Europe became better educated and better able to take advantage of economic growth. Therefore, Europe changed dramatically after the printing press was invented. This essay details these socioeconomic and religious changes. Discussion According to Fussel (2005), one of the ways that the Gutenberg printing press changed Europe was that it essentially enabled a merge of the classical tradition of the Greeks and the Romans with the prevailing ethos of society. Before the printing press, there was not a way to spread the message of the classical societies. After the printing press, Latin studies flourished, as did different ideas from what the church had been teaching. These ideas include the belief in the individual, and Fussel (2005) explains that the Gutenberg press allowed Europe to merge the classical ethos with the current ethos of the church. This merging was known, according to Fussel (2005) as â€Å"humanistic theology,† which refers to the merging of the classical tradition with medieval theology. Thus, the Gutenberg press allowed a re-emergence of humanism and intellectualism, yet still recognizing the teachings of the church, which was that man is fundamentally flawed and must seek grace. What essentially occurred, according to Fussel (2005) was that the Europeans took the lessons of the classical societies, the humanistic traditions, and brought it â€Å"closer to God† (Fussel, 2005, p. 73). According to Abel (2011), the merging of the classical and humanist traditions with the church teachings was not the only intellectual revolution which was enabled by the Gutenberg press – Abel (2011) states that intellectuals were able, through the Gutenberg invention, to formulate and disseminate theories which were

Corporate Social Responsibility In Mauritius Accounting Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility In Mauritius Accounting Essay ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the current practice of CSR that firms in the financial sector and the tourism sector, more precisely banks and hotels, have to engage themselves in CSR activities and to investigate the relationship between CSR and financial performance. In Mauritius Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained much popularity and has become a subject of concern, after that the government has introduced an innovative legislation about CSR. Previous research on the topic is reviewed, the engagement of Firm in CSR. This study by means of questionnaires, also tries to investigate their motivations behind investing in CSR. Data collected was then analyzed using SPSS. The results highlighted that there are no differences between banks and hotels in the motives to engage in CSR activities. The results also highlighted that there is a relationship between CSR and Financial performance. Also the implications of other findings are discussed and the study conclud es with its limitations and directions for future research. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) Mauritius since Post- colonial independence, the country over the last four decades have seen the mono-crop sugar island, our first pillar of the economy has significantly moved from the Sugar industry to Financial services industry on large scale offshore financial institutions from multinational companies to local industries, such as the Giant of Rogers Group, Air Mauritius, Island Blyth, Floreal Textile, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), Barclays Bank, HSBC and others. The field of Corporate Social Responsibility has developed exponentially in the last decades. In the past two decades, CSR appears to have become more omnipresent and perceived as being actually pertinent to companies all over the world (Aras and Crowther, 2008). It is at the forefront of strategic outlook of contemporary organisations of all kinds. A larger number of companies than at any time before are engaged in a serious efforts to define and incorporate CSR into all facets of their businesses. In recent years a great deal of time and attention has been devoted to the concept of corporate social responsibility. This basis has considered it necessary to take notice not only of the economic and financial transactions in a company, but also the social and environmental consequences a business places on its shareholders and society as well as the ecological footprint in all aspects of their operations, which extends beyond their statutory obligation to comply with legislation. CSR has variously been described as a motherhood issue (Ryan 2002, p. 302) the hot business issue of the noughties (Blyth 2005, p. 30) and the talk of the town in corporate circles these days (Mees Bonham 2004). In fact, the last few decades have seen a rise in awareness on behalf of corporate bodies, on the issue that they have a moral duty to give something back to the society. This rise in awareness is plausibly the effect of the recent corporate scandals involving well reputed companies, such as Enron, Parmalat and WorldCom as well as the growing impact of climate change on the environment. One of the fundamental questions still to be answered concerns the effect of corporate socially responsible behavior on profitability. The answers one finds in the specialized literature are numerous and often contradictory. Views emerging from Corporate Social Responsibility can contribute to the financial performance of a company. This approach, has been described as enlightened shareholder approach, believes that corporate decision makers must consider a range of social and environmental matters if they are to maximize long term financial returns. Even if they sometimes can be, CSR initiatives are certainly not always compatible with other organizational strategic goals (namely growth and money-making).(McWilliams, Siegel, Wright, 2006). Even though the link between CSR and corporate performance remains tenuous (Lindgreen, Swaen, Johnston, 2009), companies are following to CSR principles and practices and incorporating CSR principles and aims into their overall corporate strategy in exponential numbers (Godfrey Hatch, 2007; Lee, 2008; C. Smith, 2003). Similarly, as those major scandals have undeniably raised the view of greediness among senior managers, CSR is also seen as a tool for counteracting allegation of corporate greed (Deloitte report, 2008). Each company integrates Corporate Social Responsibility differently. The differences depend on factors such as companys size, the specific industry involved, the firms culture, stakeholder demands, and how progressive the company is in engaging CSR. Some companies concentrate on areas which they consider more important for them, for example human rights or environment while others incorporate CSR in all aspects fields of their operations. CSR IN MAURITIUS CSR initiatives go quite a long way in corporate Mauritius up to 20 years back. According to a report by Deloitte et al. (2008), it was found that the contribution in CSR has ongoing at varying period for the companies surveyed. Many enterprises are involved in CSR initiatives for the welfare of their employees and the society. Due to Government limited means to handle todays social problem, an appeal was made to the private sector in July 2009 to spend 2% of their profits to CSR activities. Government suggested that all gains from various companies regardless of their size should invest part of their profit into non profitable organization such as charity, scientific research and wild life to restore and preserve nature in order to maintain a good balance in the ecological system which means to give back to nature. Moreover, the government has set up a national CSR committee comprising of representative members from the public sector, private sector and the civil society. Additional ly, the companies need the approval of the CSR committee before the application or investment in any CSR activity. In the occurrence that a company has not spent the total amount of the compulsory two per cent of its profit, it should remit the remaining amount to the MRA. PROBLEM STATEMENT CSR is nowadays gaining more and more importance especially after the major corporate scandals and due to changes in norms held by the general public. Such changes have given rise of the interest in the field of CSR. However, most studies have concentrated mostly on the consequences or end results of engaging in CSR activities. Furthermore many researchers have worked to find any empirical relationship between CSR and financial performance. Various Studies have identified different kinds of relationship (positive, negative, no relationship), but currently there is no clear empirical relationship. CSR is problematic as it is often perceived that there is a contrast between CSR activity and  ¬Ã‚ nancial performance with one being harmful to the other and companies having an authoritative to follow shareholder value. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main goal of the study is to scrutinize the current practice of CSR and what are the motivations that lead firms to engage in CSR activities. The study also aims at evaluating the relationship between turnover and level of CSR activities undertaken. This is an issue which has been the subject of an ongoing debate and has become a topic of concern, in the Mauritian context, especially after that the local government revised legislation making investment in CSR activities compulsory. Objectives of the study: Objective 1: To investigate the current practice of CSR conducted by banks and hotels. Objective 2: To investigate what factors motivate firms to increase their involvement in CSR Objective 3: To investigate how these firms benefited from conducting CSR Objective 4: To investigate the differences between firms in different sector of operation in the reasons to engage in CSR activities. Objective 5: To investigate whether there is a relationship between level of CSR activities undertaken and Financial performance. OUTLINE OF THE STUDY Chapter One: Introduction This chapter consists of general overview of CSR. It provides a brief overview of the growing importance of CSR in a general as well as in the context of Mauritius. It consists the problem statement along with the aims and objectives. Chapter Two: Literature Review This chapter consists of reviewing the existing literature by examining diverse articles pertaining to the subject matter. The literature review helps to have a better understanding of what different researchers found on CSR. Chapter Three: Research Methodology This particular chapter describes who are the target population for this survey, what is the sample size, what are the procedures and techniques used for data collection, the methods used to analyze the data to get results and limitation of the study. Chapter Four: Results and Discussions This chapter shows how the collected data is analyzed by carrying out various tests. Chapter Five: Conclusions and Recommendation In this chapter, conclusions are derived from the study and some recommendations are mentioned forward. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBLE A DEFINITION Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a fast-growing facets of organizations. The European Commission defines CSR as a concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment. (Simms 2002). Adams and Zutshi (2004) define it as the integration of business operations and values whereby the interest of all stakeholders including customers, employees, investors and the environment are reflected in an organisations actions and policies. In present concept of CSR states that the business enterprises is in their usual process of business decision making should pay due attention to the social interests of the people in the community. A company is not only an economic entity but a social and political entity also. Most of the decisions taken by businesses not only affect the stockholders but also the stakeholders namely, creditors, debtors, employees and the society at large in one way or the other. ( Kapoor and Sandhu, 2010). CSR is nowadays gaining more and more importance especially after the major events such as the collapse of Enron and the James Hardieasbestos scandal in Australia and due to changes in norms held by the general public. The argument about the place of CSR in the global economy continues with Solomons opinion that multinational corporations should take responsibility for the improvement of world-wide social and environmental conditions. (Scherer and Smid in Windsor 2001, p. 245). CSR is also looked upon as an umbrella term, including many other business concepts and social practices. Synonymous with some and overlapping a few others, CSR indicates the concept of common relations between businesses and society the world over. Businesses, however small or large, are governed by their place in society and have to take into account the responsibility they bear to the society, people and environment within which they operate. Economist Theodore Levitt criticizes in the Harvard Business Review that is no longer fashionable for the corporation to take gleeful pride in making money. What fashionable for the corporation to show that it exists to serve the public (Time, 2008). It is now being more and more realized world over that a firm cannot afford to function and continue in the long run unless it performs in a legitimate and socially responsible way. Moreover, many recent definitions draw attention to the financial benefits gained through CSR. For example, Vaaland et al (2008, p. 931) explain CSR as management of stakeholder concern for responsible and irresponsible acts related to environmental, ethical and social phenomena in a way that creates corporate benefit. While Mittal et al (2008, p. 1437) define the concept as a business approach that views respect for ethics, people, communities and the environment as an integral strategy that improves the competitive position of a firm. Hence, it is important to understand the point that, whether corporations appreciate it or not, herein lies the idea of CSR. The matter is not that of profit earning alone for a corporation, but that of looking beyond the profit-making attitude. This awareness has made corporations identify the need of CSR and its application along with their particular businesses (Gupta and Saxena, 2006). Economics drivers of CSR Researchers have identified different method in which CSR approach to business decision making may lead to better financial performance. The following economic drivers have been viewed by the World Economic Forum and Business in the Community that have explained the adoption of the concept corporate social responsibility by companies around the world (ADL 2003). It is advocated that these drivers do not operate in isolation, and that different companies may have different drivers. Several drivers may also be stronger in different areas and for different companies. An alteration to adopt corporate social responsibility may arise from a combination economics of drivers. Employee recruitment, motivation and retention Recent studies show that corporate social responsibility is more and more an important factor in attracting and retaining a brilliant and diverse workforce (Globescan Inc 2005). Companies that cater for the interests of their employees by offering good working conditions will attain better performance in terms of quality and delivery, and, thus, experience higher levels of productivity. Learning and innovation Learning and innovation are serious to the long-term survival of any business. Corporate social responsibility can be a vehicle for business to respond to environmental and social risks and turn these into business prospects. Reputation management Businesses function in a market of opinion. Depending on the judgment by customers, suppliers and the broader community on companies will have an impact on their profitability and achievement. Corporate social responsibility offers a means by which companies can manage and influence the attitudes and opinions of their stakeholders, building their trust and enabling the benefits of positive relationships to deliver business advantage. Risk profile and risk management Corporate social responsibility offers more effective management of risk, helping companies to reduce unnecessary losses, identify new emerging issues and use positions of headship as a means to gain competitive advantage. Investor relations and access to capital The investment community is increasingly viewing corporate social responsibility as similar to long-term risk management and good governance practices. Recent studies show that analysts place as much emphasis on corporate reputation as they do on financial performance (Hill Knowltown 2006). Licence to operate A Global Outlook Companies that fail to accomplish their duties to society as a whole risk losing their licence to operate a concept whereby a companys stakeholders grant the company an unwritten authority to do business. This may be supported by favoring competitors, refuses or calls for deregistration. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIEVS OF CSR IN PRACTICE CSR activities and practice used are not intended to be exactly the same in different companies. Companies have diverse resources and all cannot take responsibility to the same extent. According to Lantos (2001), organizations may practice three different forms of CSR namely: Ethical CSR It means going beyond the firms economic and legal obligations and take actions that is morally mandatory. A corporation is morally responsible towards any individual or group that might be harmed or injured by a particular course of action. For example; reduce shareholders profits and used the money to decrease pollution. Ethical CSR may in the long-run generate goodwill by building the publics trust in the company. This will probably minimize the cost of fines and also bad publication that otherwise may prevail from unethical behaviour. Strategic CSR It is an activity where there is a win-win situation. Both the company and some of the stakeholder will benefit. This type of CSR actions implies short-run sacrifices which will usually result in long-run gains. For example, Ford campaigned that children should be seated in booster-seats and gave away millions of such seats. This generated goodwill among customers and government regulators. They believe that the investment will be profitable in the end. Altruistic CSR. It is when organizations are contributing to the common good and making the Society a better place on some sort of expense of the firm, involving corporate competences of the company to societal and community needs. Altruistic CSR goes beyond ethics and are actions that are not necessary for the company to take. The company does not expect any financial gain from it. Examples of altruistic CSR are activities that aid the society to fight drug and alcohol problems, poverty, crimes and chronic unemployment. The three approaches are mutually exclusive and based on the activities nature (required or optional) and the purpose (stakeholders good, firms good), or both. Today businesses are facing high competition which many firms want to perceive as best quality or valuable in customer perception. Moreover, the number of multinational companies has been increasing each year and it demanded a higher responsibility for social, environmental and economic. As the result, the influence of Sustainable Development is growing and accepted from all people. Moreover, due to the environmental issue, many researchers are concerned about environment that many natural resources can be run out if we do not use it wisely. CSR emphasizes the concern of corporate action and accomplishment in the social sphere with a performance perspective, it is clear that firms must formulate and implement social goals and programs as well as integrate ethic sensitivity into decision making, policies, and actions(Carrol,1991). As in the present time, CSR turns peoples attention to be the perception of the corporate engagement, in terms of how well corporate is able to engage with stakeholders. Current practice of CSR worldwide In practice much of the business activity that has been labeled as CSR has been determined by the concerns of investors, companies and consumers based in the worlds richest countries. National CSR agenda in middle and low income countries have been less viewed internationally. For the past five years or so, governments, companies and NGOs in many middle and low income countries have implemented CSR program from developed countries through greater direct engagement. CSR activities have developed in countries such as China, India, South Africa, the Philippines, Brazil and others. Governments in middle income countries have pressed companies to engage in summiting these tasks, as with Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa encouragement of business efforts to reduce poverty in the Philippines. CSR has also potential link with government strategies aiming at ensuring better access of certain categories of citizens to the economy. One example of such strategy is the Citizen Economic empowerment in Zambia, which aims in particular at increasing local participation in economic activities. With detail to developing countries, one major CSR concern is that government will ignore corporate irresponsibility or refuse to enforce protective efforts or environmental criteria in the law as an incentive to foreign investment (Aman, 2001). China for instance, has heavy-duty to collective negotiations, by law, and yet many people in jail for trying to use those rights (Diamond, 2003). Yet some developing country governments are transmitting laws requiring higher standards of responsible environmental or social ways in order to compete for foreign capital and institutional investment, in addition to competing on the more familiar rule of law issues of contract and property law rights, financial transparency and reduced government corruption (Hebb and Wojcik, 2004). Comparing these legal improvements in different emerging countries would be further helpful in understanding the contribution of CSR. Chapple and Moon (2005), have found that CSR in Asia is unrelated to preexisting levels of economic development but is related to the extent to which domestic companies engage in international trade, even where that trade is with other Asian nations. THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF CSR BY BANKS AND HOTELS IN MAURITIUS Mauritius is the first country in the world to require businesses to donate a portion of their profits to NGOs or government projects in the name of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  Apparently recognising the poor level of corporate citizenship in Mauritius, in 2009, the Ministry of Finance introduced the CSR Fund. A company using a Corporate Partner to implement its CSR programme will be allowed to spend only an amount not exceeding 25% of the CSR Fund. A company implementing CSR programme is eligible to administrative costs not exceeding 15% of the CSR value. The company is provided a 12 months period from the end of its financial year to fund project from its CSR fund. If it has not given the 2% CSR fund then they will have to submit it to the MRA. The corporate programme form and Declaration by Applicant is presented below in Appendix D. Banks in Mauritius especially the leading one such as Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), State Bank of Mauritius (SBM), HSBC, Barclays and such that, invest huge amount of money in CSR. Not only Banks but also in the Hotel sector invest in CSR. The role plays by some Banks and Hotels in CSR are briefly described below; Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) J.Francois (2012), of the MCB Forward Foundation, in the Mauritius lexpress Journal talk about A CSR Budget of Rs 45 millions. The creation of the MCB foundation in 2010 was a step in the development of CSR activities of the group. Since its creation, MCB has always affirmed as a bank with a heart. The foundation gather dedicated professionals concentrated only on CSR and handle projects in medium and long terms. Moreover in 2007-2008, Rs23 millions have dedicated to CSR. In 2008-2009, it has been increased up to Rs30 millions. According to J. Francois (2012) the CSR budget varies with their profits. For the Financial year of 2009-2010, they predicted about Rs45 millions. They invest the money of CSR mainly in Eradication of Poverty, Vulnerable Children, Education, and Environment. The value proposition of the Foundation is described below. MCB Forward Foundation Why the Foundation To help meet the social and environment challenges of the country Mission To develop and support sustainable initiatives for the benefit of the community in which we live and work Vision To be instrumental in the creation of sustainable value for the social, environmental and economic well-being of the community HSBC Mauritius HSBC Mauritius has continued to invest in education, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. In the year ending December 2011, the HSBC group in Mauritius has spent 6 million Rupees on community investment. In addition to sustaining communities, HSBC has been continuously involved in environmental sustainability. It also has a long partnership with The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, engaged in preventing rare species. Sun Resort (including La pirogue, le Tousserouk, Long beach hotel and such that) Sun Resort Company has commitment towards corporate social responsibility programmes at both local and national level has proved to be a very influential tool for the advancement of local communities and unprivileged circles of the population. In 2010, the Sun Resorts Cancer Trust helped a number of children and their families in their fight against cancer. The company also has opened a four-bed Cancer Unit at Victoria Hospital in May 2009. Corporate Social Responsibility donations made by Sun Resort Ltd during the year 2010 amounted to Rs3.9 million. Apart from Hotels and Banks, there are other private companies such as Terra, Ireland Blyth Limited (IBL), Omnicane and such that, they invest much in CSR projects. For instance, the IBL Foundation has financed 80 projects costing Rs17, 9 million. Rs6, 7 million for the socio economic development, Rs6,4 million for education and Rs1,2 million for sports. Moreover, there is the Omnicane Foundation which have spent Rs11, 1 million for vulnerable children, Health care, Education, Eradication of Poverty and on environment. MOTIVATIONS FOR FIRMS TO ENGAGE IN CSR ACTIVITIES THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES The motivations for firms to engage themselves in CSR activities can thus be broadly viewed from two main perspectives which are strategic perspective and the moral perspective. Strategic motive linked with Agency theory Agency theory put emphasis on the point that managers are recruited in order to work for the company that employs them, thus their major duty is to maximize the value of the firm and therefore the wealth of those who possess the company. Moreover, from an agency theory perspective, engagement in CSR activities is often viewed as a misused of companys resources which could instead be used invest in projects where profits are maximized. Nevertheless, managers will invest in CSR activities only if such investment will help them to improve the reputation of the firm or simply help them to increase shareholders wealth (Jones, 1995). However an agency problem may occur because of concern that the agent (e.g, the internal or external recipients of funds) will not follow the interests of the principal (e.g., the donor) who wishes to pursue CSR activities (Husted Allen, 2007). Very often, managers are motivated by their self- interest and therefore cannot be relied on to work in the best int erest of shareholders. Strategic motive linked with the Resource-Based View Theory The Resource- Based View (RBV) theory regards CSR as a resource that firm must know how to exploit in order to gain competitive advantages over its competitors. According to Branco and Rodrigues (2006) the firm in this model, is viewed as a unique bundle of resources and capabilities that is developed overtime as the firm interacts with all its stakeholders. This theory assumes that firms are a set of various resources and competences that are not exchangeable among firms. THE MORAL MOTIVE LINKED TO THE NORMATIVE STAKEHOLDER THEORY The moral motive is also linked to the normative stakeholder theory, which is commonly known as intrinsic stakeholder commitment. Success of an organization, according to the stakeholder theory, depends on the ability of the firm to handle and manage its relationships with a number of constituents, such as financers, shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers and then community at large (Donaldson and Preston, 1995). According to Freeman (1984), managers also bear a fiduciary relationship to stakeholders instead of having solely fiduciary duties towards owners of the firm. Similarly, Donaldson and Preston (1995) defined stakeholders as persons or groups with legitimate interests in procedural and or substantive aspects of corporate activity. Thus, CSR is viewed as a means of fulfilling the duties that the company has towards its stakeholders, and therefore it is crucial that the firm engage itself in CSR activities that are significant to the stakeholders. However, the more influential stakeholders are, the more the company has to adjust itself to their demands and this has given rise to questions whether firms engage themselves in CSR activities because they really want to assume their social and moral responsibilities or this is done only to get strategic advantages such as to prevent any stakeholder from withdrawing their support to the firm. Meijer, Bakle, Smith Schuyt (2006) argued that despite the fact it is rational to presume that companies want to do good for the society, it is also true that managers of those companies realize that this will benefit their organizations as well. Thus, put in simpler terms even though reporting pure unselfish intentions, firms engage themselves in CSR from strategic perspectives. On the other hand, Graafland and Van de Ven (2006) exposed through their study that despite some firms strongly believed that engaging in CSR activities might lead to improvement in profitability, enhancement of reputation and more employee commitment, they were also much concerned with making the world a better place to live. BENEFITS OF ENGAGEMENT IN CSR ACTIVITIES This section will try to examine what are those advantages firms get by investing in social activities which, as many academics found, ultimately leads to improvement in the firms financial performance. According to Galbreath (2009), there are only three main benefits a firm can derive from investing in CSR activities and they are namely: increased customer satisfaction; reduced employee turnover and improved reputation; and. It is these benefits that will consequently lead to improvements in the financial performance of the company. Increased customer satisfaction Customers are one of the most important stakeholders of a firm and by meeting justice needs of customers, CSR is likely to increase customer satisfaction (Galbreath, 2009). Hence, customer satisfaction may lead to brand loyalty and consequently improve and increase future sales of the firm. Reduced employee turnover Employee turnover is of the essence since the loss of human capital in companies can have dramatic effects on competitive advantage of a company (Barney, 1991; Huselid, 1995). A key potential gain from CSR initiatives involves establishing the situation that can contribute to increasing the dedication and incentive of employees to become more innovative and dynamic. Galbreath (2009) found that, owing to demonstrated justice, socially responsive activities appear to be a means to reduce employee turnover. Turban and Greening (1997) found that demonstrating CSR is essential for attracting potential employees. In their study on French firms, Maignan and Ferrell (2001) found that CSR is positively linked with employee commitment. Companies employing CSR related perspectives and tools tend to be businesses that provide the prerequisite for increased loyalty and commitment form their staffs. Such conditions can facilitate recruitment of employees, retaining and motivating them to develop skills, reduce absenteeism, and may also translate into marginally less demands for higher wages (Deloitte Report, 2008). According to Galbreath (2009), firms that are unjust, that does not exhibit comportments that match with employees moral or ethical frameworks are prone to obtain negative results that affect profitability. Therefore, reducing employee turnover is crucial so that a firm can improve its performance. Improved reputation Moreo