Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Solutions for Low Life Expectancy Essay - 861 Words

INVESTIGATE TWO POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO LOW LIFE EXPECTANCY Life expectancy is the average period of a person may expect to live. The life expectancy can be predict or calculate by the analysis of life tables which is also known as the actuarial table. The term that is known as life expectancy is most often used in the context of human population in a country. It also can be said that the average life expectancy of an individual depends on the importance they give on their health. Currently, a statistic survey from World Health Organization (WHO) shows all people have an average life span of 64.3 years. The male’s average life expectancy is 62.7 years while female is 66 years, a difference of more than three years. Jeanne Clament†¦show more content†¦The government should take appropriate action to get a good medicine for their people from different countries to cure sickness and to increase life expectancy of a person. A statistic survey shows that developed countries have a higher life expectancy than the less developed countries (Smith et al ,2008,p78). This is because developed countries have sufficient money to buy or make new medicines to cure various type of serious illness which is really expensive. However some countries like Saudi Arabia have very high GNP per capita but don’t have high life expectancies. Alternatively, China and Japan have a low GNP per capita but have reasonable high life expectancy. Moreover, exercise and having a great communication habits too could increase the life expectancy of a person. By exercising, an individual could increase the cardiovascular system and strengthen a person’s body. The human body was designed to be active but years of inactivity have caused a decrease in life expectancy. Science has proven that when an individual increase the amount of each exercise they do in a week, it can lower the risk of dying by 14%. Not only would that, by having a great communication with others relieve a person from stress (Keller, 2001). For example, spending time with friends will makes a person to feel relaxed. According to Keller, spend time with friends in a busy day could help a person coping with stress. Researcher’s first study of the effect of exercises andShow MoreRelatedTwo possible solutions for low life expectancy in developing countries1453 Words   |  6 Pages Essay Plan Introduction Definition of low life expectancy Explain what causes people die at young age such as malnutrition, lack of education and poor health care system. Increasing number of low life expectancy in developing countries Main problems and consequences in third world Possible solutions: Educate people from developing countries, improve health services and provide nutritional food. Main body Factor 1= malnutrition Shortage of food as population is bigger and bigger these days whichRead MoreOutline the Factors Which Contribute to Low Health Expectancy in Developed Countries. Identify and Assess Possible Solutions to Reduce This Problem.1100 Words   |  5 Pageswhich contribute to low health expectancy in developed countries. Identify and assess possible solutions to reduce this problem. Health expectancy is â€Å"the number of years a person can expect to live in good health†. (New Zealand Ministry of Social Development, 2010). It reflects concern about the quality of life. Furthermore, low health expectancy means that people live in poor health which is affected by diseases and disability. Many factors contribute to low health expectancy, including smokingRead MoreEssay on Low Healthy Life Expectancy1238 Words   |  5 Pagescontributing to low healthy life expectancy in the developed world? Investigate possible solutions to these problems. Low healthy life expectancy is the imprecise number of years an individual or group of persons in a country is expected to live, staying healthy and free from disabilities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines healthy life expectancy as the â€Å"average number of years that a person is expected to live in full health, subtracting full health due to diseases and injury†. Low healthy lifeRead MoreEssay on Low Health Expectancy1034 Words   |  5 Pagesto low health expectancy in developing countries? Discuss possible solutions to reduce this problem. Tutor Name: Andrew Nummey Student ID Number: 200860429 Date of Submission: Friday 2nd December 2011 Word count:966 STUDENT ID: 200860429 MODULE CODE: FC501 3T ANDREW NUMMEY What are the factors which contribute to low health expectancy in developing countries? Discuss possible solutions to reduce this problem. Low health expectancy continuesRead MoreCauses And Solutions Of Food Insecurity1235 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION This report will explore the impacts, causes and solutions of food insecurity and other contextual factors relating to Chad’s economic and financial crisis. STATEMENT OF FINDINGS Food security exists when everyone in the population has access to enough nutritious food to live an active and health life. In Chad there is no food security, because not everyone has enough food to eat. In fact, according to World Food Program 25-34.9% of Chad is undernourished. Chad is Africa’s 5th largestRead MoreCauses And Solutions Of Food Insecurity1149 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION This report will explore the impacts, causes and solutions of food insecurity and other contextual factors relating to Chad’s economic and financial crisis. STATEMENT OF FINDINGS Food security exists when everyone in the population has access to enough nutritious food to live an active and health life. In Chad there is no food security, because not everyone has enough food to eat. In fact, according to World Food Program 25-34.9% of Chad is undernourished. Chad is Africa’s 5th largestRead MoreWhat Causes Aging Population Of Hong Kong And How Has It Affected Economics?1200 Words   |  5 Pagesserious impacts of population ageing on Hong Kong’s economics and propose some useful solutions. Causes of Aging Population The reason why population ageing occurs consists of two major reasons; low or declining birth rate and longer life expectancy. 1. Low or Declining Birth Rate The statistics shows that the average birth rate is dropped from 11.3% to 7.9% in Hong Kong from 2008 to 2013 (Statista). The reason of low birth rate is because of the increasing cost of raising a child. A. The price of landRead MoreQuestions On Aboriginal Health And Housing1683 Words   |  7 Pages2015;Andrown 2014). 2.2 Health background of Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australian has the poorest health among the world which more likely to die at young ages and have a life expectancy of around 10 years less than non Indigenous Australians. (Korff 2016). The average life expectancy of Indigenous Australians for female is 73.7 years while for male is 69.1 years although mortality rates for Indigenous Australians declined by 9% between 2001 and 2012. Chronic diseases,circulatoryRead MoreThe Problem Of Ageing Population Essay979 Words   |  4 Pages People are having longer life due to economic well-being, better nutrition and improvement of medical facilities. Ageing population has entailed an increasing share of old persons in the population. However, longer life expectancy has resulted in the ageing of population and has caused worldwide concerns of the problems it may consequently arouse. The two major reasons of the ageing population trend are the rising longevity and the decline of fertility rate. If the proportion of elderly peopleRead MoreThe Ageing Of Global Population1692 Words   |  7 PagesLarissa Intrebartoli Resende Professor Bud Lewis Writing - Gold B2 30 July 2015 World Aging Population The ageing of global population is an important issue that has been debated recently. To think about a better and longer life seems too attractive for us, but the impact of a generalized increase of age can be a problem for the government s policies and for the maintenance of the economy. This phenomenon is occurring right now in almost every country in the world, but faster in the developed and

Monday, December 23, 2019

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, And Buddhism Essay

In Miroslav Volf’s book Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World, he argues that global religions are needed to help guide a globalized world. He believes that world religions provide morals to help stop injustices that comes from the capitalistic society that ushers globalization to every corner of the earth. He also states that globalization is mutually beneficial to the global religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism because it â€Å"can help free world religions from troubling alliances with particular communal identity and politics and nudge them to rediscover their genuine universality.† For Volf, these religious practices â€Å"are not ‘by nature’ violent; being tightly associated with political power and functioning as markers of identity, the main reason why they become violent, is â€Å"unnatural† for world religions.† With respect to Volf, I agree that the teachings of these main glo bal religions are one of peace, love, reconciliation, and justice; however, all religions are communal. Religions and spiritual practices are identity builders more so than geographical awareness. If the history of these religions were applied, Volf would see that these religions became â€Å"global† because they were able to create identity and communities for people who were shifted geologically. Most times, these religions flourished across the globe because they were tied to a state. For example, Judaism is a religion that was tied to a people whoShow MoreRelatedHinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, And Islam2109 Words   |  9 Pagesit something completely different? There are various different religious views held on death by Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. There are also non-religious worldviews about death by postmodernists. One lives his life based on what they perceive will befall them after death. Therefore, the way one lives their life is controlled by what they believe will happen after their death. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions and is still around today, being the third largest religionRead MoreChristianity, Islam, Hinduism And Buddhism1206 Words   |  5 PagesOut these many faiths, the most followed and practiced ones are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Being the most practiced religion Christianity has over two billion followers. At second, Islam has over one billion adherents. Hinduism has about nine hundred million followers and Buddhism has about four hundred million followers. Soon after are Sikhism, Judaism and Baha’ism. Like most of the other religion, Christianity has a God. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and wasRead MoreChristianity, Islam, Buddhism, And Hinduism2587 Words   |  11 PagesMany religions are practiced throughout the world. The most common ones are l Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Each of these have their own views, preachers and followers. Every religion is independently known because of its distinguishing holy being and god to be worshipped. Religions give their followers the particular strategies and rules in which to lead their lives. These rules and strategies give the distinctive identity to the followers of the particular religion. TheRead MoreIslam, Hinduism, Buddhism And Christianity Comparison1025 Words   |  5 PagesPractices of Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity Comparison Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity developed centuries ago and have been practiced since then to today. Groups of people who practice these religions are bound to the conventional norms, beliefs, cultures and way of life of each. Each religion has a particular faith in a supreme being (Woodhead, Partridge Kawanami, 2016). Muslims believe in Allah, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, Hindus believe inRead MoreChristianity, Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, And Islam2580 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"self† in Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Please state the views of each tradition fully and clearly. In life, one will undertake a spiritual journey in which you will uncover the meaning of the self. Many religions, including Hinduism, Confucianism and monotheistic religions, have developed philosophies placing importance of the â€Å"self.† Emphasis on morality, virtues, honest contribute to the development of the inner self. In religions such as, Islam and JudaismRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism942 Words   |  4 PagesCCOT Essay Hinduism and Buddhism were both founded and popular in northern India by 600 CE. Although Hinduism and the Hindu caste system maintained a strong influence in South Asia throughout 600-1750 CE, the Hindu majority eventually gave way as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and syncretic faiths gradually moved in and across the Indian Ocean basin by 1750 CE. Even then, Hinduism did spread from northern India through southern India to Southeast Asia. The caste system was maintained from 600-1750Read MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Islam1409 Words   |  6 Pages Christianity and Islam were both spread in socially and economically similar and politically different. They both had an important people that role and spread of the religions. Christianity included the individuals of who believe in Jesus Christ. Christians are the flowers of the Christ who often believed is the son of the God (â€Å"the father†); Christians strongly believe that Christ will return after the next life; the end of the world. Islam consists of individuals who believe in Allah, the godRead MoreWorld Religion: Christianity the Most Widespread Religion in The World1473 Words   |  6 Pagesaround the world. The six world religions are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Many of these religions are monotheistic, which is the belief of only one god or one higher power. There are also polytheistic believers, which is the belief in many or more than one god. These six world religions have a lot in common and they also have their differ ences that make their certain religion or belief special to them. Christianity is the most widespread religion in the worldRead MoreThe Religions Of Islam, Hinduism, And Buddhism1241 Words   |  5 Pagesdeveloping world. This paper will discuss the major religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths connect to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the world today. Muslims are the followers of the Islam and believe in only on God, or Allah. Muslims base their beliefsRead MoreClassification of Religions1509 Words   |  7 PagesRELIGIONS: Abrahamic religions are the religions that originate from one source i.e. Abraham (A.S). These are monotheism religions i.e. belief in the existence of one and only one GOD. The main three Abrahamic religions are: * Judaism * Christianity * Islam JUDISM Judaism is among the worlds oldest monotheistic religions and the first of the three Abraham religions. Around 12 million people in the world believe in Judaism. They are mostly in the United States and Israel. The Torah, or Hebrew

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The New Left A Movement of Change Free Essays

Jordan Hunter The New Left: A Movement of Change Some people have characterized the New Left as an era of youth revolts and radical movements. However, the New Left was a combination of everything that took place through the 1950’s to the mid 1970’s. It was an age that consisted of women and gays questioning their roles and rights in society to African Americans fighting to gain equal rights and ban segregation. We will write a custom essay sample on The New Left: A Movement of Change or any similar topic only for you Order Now Many people in the world today and back then would argue that there is no such thing as the New Left, but how could you not recognize something that changed history and the way the world viewed citizenship, equality, and human rights? I definitely believe that the New Left Movement existed and that all the people and organizations that Gosse categorized with this movement belong there. One of the major radical movements in the beginning of the New Left was African American’s fight to gain all the ideologies America said they were about.In the Declaration of Independence it is stated that all people are â€Å"created equal† and have â€Å"inalienable rights†, so many people, especially of other races, questioned why they were not as equal as whites in society. African Americans were made to be completely separated from whites by society and the laws it had put in place by using public facilities, schools, businesses, and even transportation to make this happen. As the separation progressed many movements and protests began to arise in order to put an end to the discrimination and achieve equality.The Montgomery Bus Boycott was one of the many protests that took place during this radical movement. In this document Rosa Parks gives her account of how she refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white man and was arrested because of it. Refusing to give up her seat was just one of the small movements Parks did in order to show the world how unequal America had become, even over a simple seat on a bus. This movement also gave African Americans the attitude of â€Å"Well, let’s fight it out-if it means going to jail then go to jail (4). As this attitude began to spread across the country, so did the rise of many important African American leaders. Perhaps, the most well known of these was Martin Luther King Jr. MLK was about gaining equality and human rights for African Americans, but doing so in a peaceful way; that’s why so many people admired him and what he preached. He led many campaigns throughout much of the 1960’s which began to slowly gain results. One of the major things MLK and his followers were campaigning for was a civil rights bill to be passed.Many walks, rallies, and protests were held in order to get then president, John F. Kennedy, to propose the bill and have it pass. In the year of 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama the climax of the civil rights campaign was reached, forcing JFK to commit to proposing a civil rights bill. However, because of how big and radical this campaign was, MLK was arrested and made to spend the night in a Birmingham jail. There he wrote a letter in response to an advertisement from white clergy asking him to shut down the campaign.In the letter, MLK explains why African Americans were campaigning for this and that they wouldn’t stop until they achieved what they had been working so diligently for (13). As a result of the campaign in Birmingham and the letter MLK had written, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. The act banned public and private discrimination against African Americans and any other racial, ethnic or minority group. It also banned excluding someone from a job or a public accommodation because of the way they looked or where they were from and worshiped.This act changed many things for African Americans and other minorities’ lives, especially when it came to utilizing good jobs (16). Another major radical movement of the New Left was women’s fight to gain the same rights as men had in society. Many women had become fed up with the idea that their only place in life was to cook and clean and only worry about things like her looks and status in society. Most women in America were well educated and held very important jobs, granted they were in a man’s organization. One of women’s first steps to call attention to the growing movement was the publication of Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique. In Friedan’s book she discusses how society has given a step by step guide on how a woman should act, dress, and live her everyday life. She explores how womanhood has lost focus of the equality so many women had devoted their lives to achieving and why women couldn’t recognize that they weren’t being given the same fairness in choosing their lives as men were (12). After the publication of The Feminine Mystique many women soon began to question their roles in society.In the year of 1964, two women, Casey Hayden and Mary King, started a collection of women’s thoughts on being excluded from any role of power other than running a household and catering to their families needs. The spread of women’s thoughts and arguments on every aspect of the growing debate soon began to spark the birth of many womenâ⠂¬â„¢s rights groups (21). One of the most well known women’s rights groups was the National Organization for Women, otherwise known as NOW. NOW’s goal was to call attention to the fact that so many women had been living a dependent lifestyle for the past generation.They focused on how women could hold jobs on their own, provide for themselves, and have a choice in their sexuality, marriage, and reproduction. Women were beginning to understand that they were going to have to take matters into their own hands and fight for equality since â€Å"there is no civil rights movement to speak for women, as there has been for Negroes and other victims of discrimination. The National Organization for Women must therefore begin to speak†¦(23). † The growing debate over sexuality was also becoming a major radical movement during the New Left.Many people were beginning to discover their true nature, but were too afraid to let the public become aware of it for the fear of being excluded from society. However, in 1950 a man by the name of Harry Hay and other members created a â€Å" homophile† group called the Mattachine Society that concentrated on giving gays confidence in coming out and still being an important part of society. Their goal was to unify, educate, and lead people of the gay community and those who were heterosexual and did not fully understand the reason for the â€Å"homophile† group (1).As the growing rate of gays grew, so did their desire to participate in politics and have a powerful role in helping with the movement. America wasn’t fully comfortable with this want, because they had the idea that gays were not fully capable of doing the same job as a heterosexual person involved in politics. Many others didn’t want to see a civil rights act be passed for gays because they believed they should be kept separate from society simply because they were different.Due to this growing attitude of American citizens, the GAA, Gay Activists Alliance, was created that made gays a force in liberal politics nationwide. The group was open to anyone, gay or heterosexual, and focused on the liberation of gay rights (38). The road to gaining equality for gays was very long and took a gr eat deal of time to achieve. Martha Shelly’s speech at the Women’s Strike for Equality rally was a major stepping stone that achieved the rights that gays had been fighting so long for.At the rally, Shelly talks about how one should not be afraid to come out because it may make heterosexuals feel uncomfortable. Shelly urges all gays to be comfortable in their own skin and be proud of who they are; and for all heterosexuals to wake up and realize that gays do exist and that they should just accept that they do (35). Although I have argued that majority of the groups that were considered to be a part of the New Left definitely do have a right to be recognized as part of the movement, there are some that I do believe have no purpose of defining the New Left.During this movement, so many groups expressed their desire for fighting for equality and freedom, but doing so in a non violent matter. One example of a group that did not act in a non violent manner that helps prove my argument was the student p rotestors at Kent State University in Ohio (41). This group of students were protesting the Vietnam war, but ended up bombing the ROTC building because it had to do with the army and their goal was to do away with the Vietnam War and anything that had to do with it. However, the bombing only created more violence which went completely against what America was against. Another group that went completely against what the New Left was about was the creation of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (22). The purpose of this party was to carry around weapons and roam the streets in groups to appear violent in hopes that it would scare the white society and politics into giving them the equality they were seeking.Malcolm X was a strong advocator for this party and for promoting the attitude that all â€Å"true revolutions are violent (15). † All of this violence was completely opposite of the way MLK and other African American activist groups had been protesting and fighting. Other groups of people that believed violence was the answer to getting what they wanted had no place in being part of the New Left simply because the New Left was all about seeking change in non violent ways and never having to resort to that manner to get what everyon e was wanting, equality and freedom.The new Left was made up of several different types of groups, people, leaders, protests, rallies, and movements; but they all had one thing in common, which was the want and need of equality and human rights. The New Left was all about seeking change and I believe that everyone and everything that did belong as part of the New Left achieved just that in memorable and just ways. How to cite The New Left: A Movement of Change, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Self-Reflective for Deontological Ethical Theories- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theSelf-Reflective for Deontological Ethical Theories. Answer: This case presents the contrasting nature of morality. Based on the deontological ethical theories, Robert Latimers decision to kill her daughter was morally wrong. Every individual has a moral responsibility to protect life. Precisely, the deontological ethical theories take a normative ethical position that judges the morality of an act based on established rules. In this respect, what Latimer did was morally wrong as it violated the existing laws on murder. As illustrated by moral absolutism theory and the divine command theory, actions such as killing another person are considered immoral regardless of the situations inciting them. Consequently, judging from the moral absolutism theory and the divine command perspectives, Latimers action was immoral. However, based on the teleological interpretations, Latimers actions were morally right as they saved Tracy from the pain that she was undergoing. Furthermore, Tracys condition was incurable and was causing her family severe psychological and economic distress. From this perspective, Latimers actions are morally correct since he saved her daughter from severe pain and suffering. Teleological theories opine that the morality of an act is defined by its outcomes. Specifically, Latimers actions are supported by ethical utilitarianism. Killing Tracy promoted the greatest happiness to the majority because her family, society, and herself were saved from the severe pain and suffering. Although it is considered morally wrong to end the life of another person from the deontological view, mercy killing should be permitted in some cases. When an individual is undergoing intense suffering and pain from an incurable disease, euthanasia should be seen from the teleological perspective as saving the individual from suffering and pain. However, before carrying out euthanasia, the patient must be consulted. If they agree, a specialist should be contracted to execute euthanasia. I choose the teleological position since it promotes development and satisfaction of human life on earth. In fact, human life is not defined by its existence but by its quality. In this respect, human actions should be judged by their outcomes not set absolutes. However, some people may object the legalization of euthanasia. The critics of mercy killing would argue that its legalization will increase negligence in the healthcare sector. Moreover, they will argue from the deontologists' viewpoint that it violates the moral obligation of humans to protect life. In this view, physicians would intentionally kill patients out of negligence and claim that they were critically ill. However, these claims are based on partial opinions and fear of the unknown. The law legalizing mercy killing will explicitly explain how the act should be conducted and hold the physicians liable for any misconduct. On the argument about the right to life, it is vital to consider the quality of life a person is living. There is no gain in living a miserable life full of pain and suffering. In this respect, it is vital to consider mercy killing as an act of compassion, not murder.

Friday, November 29, 2019

The Rainforests Are Very Important To The World For Many Reasons, Most

The rainforests are very important to the world for many reasons, most of them being very simple. One major reason is that the plants in the forest turn carbon dioxide into clean air, which helps us fight pollution. Also, by absorbing carbon dioxide, the rainforests help deter the greenhouse effect. The trees of the rainforest store carbon dioxide in their roots, stems, branches, and leaves. The plants and animals of the rainforest also provide us with food, fuel wood, shelter, jobs, and medicines. Image losing the potential cure for cancer or AIDS that might have been found in an undiscovered plant from the rainforest. (Tropical Rainforest Coalition, 1996) The vine Aucistrocladus koropensis may be effective in treating AIDS; we can only guess what other beneficial plants may be destroyed before we find them. (Allo, 1996) It is repeated often that the rainforest contains important plants that will cure the worst diseases of today. Although there is scientific proof of its value, the rainforest continues to disappear. In ever sense, a standing rainforest supplies more economic wealth then if it were cleared... ...yet deforestation continues at an alarming rate. (Tropical Rainforest Coalition, 1996) According to the National Forest Association of Forest Industries (1996), there are about 4 billion hectares of forest in the world, of which about 25 percent is tropical rainforest. The rainforest is full of diversity when it comes to the plants and animals that inhabit it... many of them are found no where else on Earth. These species have extremely valuable medical properties... the only known cure for certain diseases come from species of the rainforest. As an example of the rainforest's diversity, a single hectare in Kenya's Kakamega Forest may host between 100 and 150 different tree species, compared to only about 10 different species in a hectare of the forest of North America. (Allo, 1996) The diversity of rainforest species applies to much more than just trees. Although insects represent only 62 percent of the 1.4 million named organisms on the planet, scientists estimate that the total number of arthropods to number between 8 million and 80 million. (Allo, 1996) Only 20 percent of the nutrients of the rainforest are in the soil; 80 percent of the nutrients remain in the trees and plants. The rainwater of the forest is recycled by evaporation. Clouds above the forest's canopy help reflect sunlight which keeps temperatures within the forest to remain more stable. Although rainforests take vast amounts of time to regenerate, young forests are more effective at removing carbon from the air than older forests. Older forests absorb carbon less efficiently, but have more total carbon stored within them. The soil of the rainforests is only suitable for being rainforest soil, crops do not grow well in it. When forests are cut down, the soil erodes quickly and soon only a dry desert remains. Humans also inhabit the rainforests. Most of these people are indigenous, or Indian. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 or more indigenous groups around the world, but they are also becoming extinct. In 1900, Brazil had one million Indians. Today, there are fewer than 200,000 in the Amazon. (Stevenson Press, 1996) There are two types of rainforests: tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are found in 85 countries around the world. Ninety percent of these forests are concentrated into fifteen countries, each country containing over 10 million hectares each. (Malaysian Timber Council, 1995) Tropical rainforests are located near the equator, where temperatures stay above 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round. These dense, damp forests occur in Latin and South America, Africa, and in Southeast Asia. Although they [tropical rainforests] cover just seven percent of the Earth's surface, they can provide habitat for between 50 and 90 percent of its plant and animal species. In 1990, tropical rainforests totaled some 1.7 billion hectares. (Forest Alliance of British Columbia, 1996) Half of the world's rainforests lie within the borders of Brazil, Indonesia, and Zaire. A tropical rainforest has three layers: the forest floor, the understory, and the canopy. The forest floor has poor soil. Mainly insects live on this layer, although large mammals like gorillas and jaguars are also found there. Many smaller animals, including anteaters, lemurs, and tree kangaroos live in the understory. This is also where many small trees and shrubs are found. The canopy, or top layer, is made up of the tops of trees which can grow to be over 200 feet high. Many tropical birds, monkeys, apes, snakes, and other animals live in

Monday, November 25, 2019

Deconstruction of a Web Page Advertisement

Deconstruction of a Web Page Advertisement Since its conception, the media has been hugely influential in the development of the society. The media can be used to drive public opinion, report on current news and advance some social values. The media is at best a complex genre which may be broken down into a large number of sub-genres e.g. news stories, opinion columns, advertisements and horoscopes to name but a few. One of the key facets of the media is the advertising sub-genres.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deconstruction of a Web Page Advertisement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Croteau and Hoynes suggest that the heavy emphasis of advertisements in media is due to the fact that advertisers are the dominant sources of revenue for most modern media[1]. The influence that advertisements have on the people is colossal as can be inferred from the rise in sales for corporations that engage in large-scale advertisement. Most advertisements are therefore ke en to include messages that are beneficial to the advertisers. Texts represented in advertisement can signify a myriad of meanings apart from the very obvious message that the advertisement image purports to sell. An image can denote varying directions and be made to evoke deeper sentiments from the viewer and from simple image, one can build up an entire story. All this is in an attempt by the creator of the advert to persuade the consumer to think, feel or act in a predetermined manner. This paper shall set out to deconstruct and discuss a particular advert so as to show how it relates to a wider set of issues. This shall be in an attempt to articulate that advertisers normally embedded a lot of ideas and sentiments into an advert so as to manipulate the intended consumer into acting in some manner that is desirable manner. Description of the Advertisement Advertising is defined by Lester as any form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, good and services by an iden tified sponsor[2]. In this particular scenario, the advertisement is of a software application called â€Å"The Box† that allows users to make video calls over the internet. The primary objective of the advert in this case is to promote the sale of the product being advertised. The product is sold online in a website and therefore the advertisement will exist within the context of a website. The text analyzed consists of a rectangular bold lined frame which is surrounded by a faint shade of gray. Within the frame, there is an illustration of a box and an oval.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The box contains significant landmarks such as the tower of Eiffel, the Statue of Liberty and the Big Ben clock tower. This is connected by gradually increasing size rings to an oval containing the image of a mother and two children looking on to a computer screen on the top lef t is written a short message Let them see who theyve been missing. The Deconstruction Process Lind and Brzuzy suggests that owing to the adverse effect that advertisements can have as they influence the opinions of people and sway peoples attitudes, being media literate is of importance[3]. Media literacy includes being able to actively deconstruct what is seen in the media and particularly pertaining to advertisements. The deconstruction process involves a breaking down of the complete whole into various components so as to enable a deep analysis and criticism of the text or image contained[4]. n the advertisement context, this shall enable one to understand the two levels of meaning i.e. the denotative meaning which is the obvious message that the advertisement contains and the connotative meaning which has to do with the symbols and the association of this symbols with some experience of knowledge shared by the targeted audience[5]. The first step in the deconstruction process is to recognize that owing to the fact that the media message, web advertisement in this case, was constructed, there has to be someone responsible for its construction. Hence answering the question who created the message? or â€Å"whose message is this?† is the first stage in deconstruction. In this scenario, I am the creator of the message and the message is meant to advertise a software application for making video calls over the internet. Having identified the creator of the advertisement, one can then positively identify the goal behind the creation. The goal for this advert is to elicit people to purchase and use the online video calls software product. The second phase in the deconstruction process involves identification of the target audience. This phase can be expansive since one has to look at various attributes of the target audience. This will include their age, ethnicity, profession, etc. In the Box advert, the targeted audience is people who have long distance r elations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deconstruction of a Web Page Advertisement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The age group mostly covers young children and young couples. In the image presented in the advert, we see a young mother and two little children hinting that the ad might be targeting young families who have one of their relations at a long distance. The picture portrayed depicts an entirely white family which might infer that the ad might be targeting people of Caucasian ethnicity. The next step involves looking at the text of the message. This calls for a simple review of the words and images portrayed in the advert so as to confer the most obvious suggestions made. In this advert, there is a box containing various landmark features, an oval encircling a mother and her two children who are all staring at a computer screen and the words let them see who theyve been missing†. From the message contained in the advert, the following subtext can be inferred:- The box contains landmark features from London (the clock), Paris (Eiffel tower) and America (the Statue of Liberty). This suggests that the application being advertized possess the ability to interlink the locations that are represented by the various features despite the locations being far apart geographically. The theme of reconnection is also advanced by the wordings which suggest that the family in the picture is finally afforded a chance to interact with their distant relation as a result of the application software being advertised. Galpin suggests that when deconstructing a text, the primary objective is to draw attention to conflicting logic or to offer insight into what may not have been explicitly represented in the text[6]. The next step therefore involves trying to discover what the advert may have implied but not explicitly stated. The message suggests that from using the Box, the family will be drawn cl oser. This is depicted in the image of the mother and her two little children who are all in close proximity even as they use the product. The advertisement also suggests that the use of the products results in the happiness of users on both ends of the line. While the faces of the mother and her children cannot be clearly made out, a look at the computer screen reveals smiling faces which implies that the people are happy as a result of using the Box. Thomas Mickey asserts that one of the core aims of advertisements is to have the consumer identify with the product[7]. To this end, the image of the young family with the husband away for some length of time is one that most people prospective users can relate to. The advert portrays a modest lifestyle by its depiction of an average family.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The images are not glamorized or highly classy and the family in the picture is young and average looking. The family is photographed under the background of neatly stacked rows of books and files. This is a study room setting that most people in the western world can relate to. This familiarity will appeal to the prospective customers who will mostly be middleclass families. In addition to the main objective of promoting a product, most advertisements express some values that may be held by the society or by the advertiser. Some of the values expressed in this advert are that being happy comes as a result of being connected with loved ones. However, this advert also expresses some values that have been deeply entrenched in our society. The media has over time been accused of propagating the patriarchal theme in the society. This has mostly been done by making the male figure play a dominant role while keeping others (women) in the shadows[8]. This advertisement in a subtle manner p lays this stereotyping role. The images presented show a mother with her two children which implies that the female figure is the one who is left at home to tend after the children as the male figure goes out to fend for the family. This stereotypical view of the female as the home maker is detrimental to the women empowerment efforts. Key to the selling of an ideal is the use of various tools of persuasion. Persuasion in advertisement makes use of knowledge or beliefs that the consumer holds. However, consumers have an idea about how advertising tactics work to affect persuasion and therefore subtle tactics must be employed for effectiveness[9]. The Box advert engages the use of a homely looking family. The setting is also not lavish or glamorous thus creating an appeal to a wider class of people. The wordings of the advert are also persuasive as they incite the viewer to reconnect with the person whom they have been missing by use of this particular product. The box in the advert is given a warm and engaging colour which suggests that using the product can indeed bring about a warm feeling to the person. This advert suggests that a family that is in constant communication is a united and happy family. While this may not necessarily be true, this is a positive message that is advanced by the advert. In addition to this, the advert show cases a health looking simple family thus suggesting that one does not require to be sophisticated so as to be happy. However the Advert fails to incorporate people of various racial and ethnic identities thus propagating the theme of racism. Neglecting of the other races is negative as it may lead to animosity amongst the other races who may feel sidelined. The final stage in the deconstruction process involves gauging the totality of the advert presented[10]. The Box advert fails to tell a conclusive story as there are various important pieces of information left out. From the advert, one cannot tell of how much the calls wil l cost or if there are any negative effects that may arise as a result of the usage of the software product. One could obtain more information on the product by visiting the website which will provide a more detailed description of the product. Conclusion Because of globalization and the ever increasing influence of media outlets in our lives, we need to possess the skills necessary to process and evaluate the constant barrage of media information that is presented to us. Deconstruction of advertisements presents an important front from which to initiate this critical assessment of the media so as to enable us to recognize and therefore avoid the negative influences and/or misinformation that media may cause. This paper set out to deconstruct an advertisement of a software product called The Box so as to critically analyze the advert and show how it relates to a wider set of issues. This paper has undertaken a detailed deconstruction of the advert and it has been observed that the a dvert can have far reaching messages embedded in that the lay person can detect. It is clear from the discussions presented that even a simple advertisement can have stereotypes and untruthful sentiments contained therein. From this paper, it can be authoritatively stated that media criticism empowers an individual and helps them to shun any negative influence that the media may present. These skills are especially relevant in today’s world where newer technologies are continually widening the reach of the media therefore making us more exposed to advertisements than ever before. Bibliography Croteau, D Hoynes, W. Media society: industries, images, and audiences. Pine Forge Press, 2003. Galpin, R. Erasure in Art: Destruction, Deconstruction, and Palimpsest. 2008, viewed on richardgalpin.co.uk/archive/erasure.htm. Roman, A. Critical De-construction of Media Messages. 2008, viewed on fabc.org/offices/osc/docs/pdf/Critical%20De-Construction%20of%20Media%20Messages.pdf./ Media L iteracy. How to Deconstruct A media Message. New Mexico Media Literacy Project, 2007 Lind, A Brzuzy, S. Battleground: women, gender, and sexuality. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008. Thomas, M. Deconstructing public relations: public relations criticism. Routledge, 2003. Leiss, W, Kline, S Botterill, J. Social communication in advertising: consumption in the mediated marketplace. Routledge, 2005. Haugtvedt, P., Herr, P Kardes, F. Handbook of consumer psychology. CRC Press, 2008. Lester, P. Visual communication: images with messages. Cengage Learning, 2006. Footnotes D Croteau W Hoynes. Media society: industries, images, and audiences. Pine Forge Press, 2003, p.70. P Martin Lester. Visual communication: images with messages. Cengage Learning, 2006, p.75. A Lind S Brzuzy. Battleground: women, gender, and sexuality. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008, p.319. A Roman. Critical De-construction of Media Messages. 2008, viewed on fabc.org/offices/osc/docs/pdf/Critical%20De-Construction% 20of%20Media%20Messages.pdf. Ibid. R Galpin. Erasure in Art: Destruction, Deconstruction, and Palimpsest. 2008, viewed on richardgalpin.co.uk/archive/erasure.htm. M Thomas. Deconstructing public relations: public relations criticism. Routledge, 2003, p.53. W Leiss, S Kline J Botterill. Social communication in advertising: consumption in the mediated marketplace. Routledge, 2005, p.284. C Haugtvedt, P Herr F Kardes. Handbook of consumer psychology. CRC Press, 2008, p.556. A Roman. Critical De-construction of Media Messages. 2008, viewed on fabc.org/offices/osc/docs/pdf/Critical%20De-Construction%20of%20Media%20Messages.pdf.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Laws and the Work Place Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Laws and the Work Place - Research Paper Example Events are pushing the United States to contemplate in new ways about employees’ rights. The traditional methods of formulating and implementing employees’ rights are incompetent, costly, and detrimental. Forceful new events, particularly growingly powerful global competition, the weakening of unions and deep-seated changes in employment law, are currently restructuring workplace issues in striking and astonishing ways. This research paper discusses laws pertaining to employment, particularly those related to health and safety, unions, discrimination, privacy, and job security. The paper also includes a discussion of the impact of employment law on businesses and consumers. Protecting Employees’ Rights The Department of Labor (DOL) supervises and implements a large number of federal laws. These directives and the rules that enforce them encompass numerous workplace issues for both employers and employees (Goldman & Corrada, 2011). Some of the major areas of emplo yment law relate to health and safety, unions, discrimination, privacy, and job security. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act is managed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). ... It safeguards union resources and endorses union democracy by obliging labor groups to submit yearly financial statements, by obliging employers, union authorities, and labor advisors to submit statements about specific labor relations practices (Block, 2001). Some countries oblige unions to undergo certain processes before taking particular steps. Laws may protect the right to become part of a union. Several laws could permit unions to oblige its members to follow certain rules, such as the obligation to conform to a majority rule in a strike ballot (Lawrence, 2006). Some countries do not allow this, like the United States’ ‘right to work’ law. The employment discrimination law safeguards workers from discrimination with regard to gender, age, racial affiliation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. State and federal regulations include majority of the employment discrimination laws (Lawrence, 2006). There are numerous employment processes or practices that have be en regarded discriminatory, which are unlawful. They involve showing discriminatory prejudice in certain job-related processes and areas: recruitment and selection; pay; hiring and/or firing workers; promoting; and different forms of harassment. Appended to the basic protections against discrimination, more current laws have considered the necessity to broaden the law to cover discrimination in terms of disability (Hogler, 2004). Employee privacy rights deal with the work-related activities and personal information of an employee. Private organizations do have several legal duties to their workers, but generally company guidelines will determine most of the privacy rights of an employee (Lawrence, 2006). On the other hand, job security depends on the economy, the worker’s skills,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Assignment 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

3 - Assignment Example The landscape is, therefore, irregular, comprising both hills and valleys; hence, resulting in short rivers. On the other hand, in passive continental margins, there is limited tectonic activity; the major processes that occur here are weathering and erosion. This results in level, flat landscapes along the beaches, characterized by long rivers and large debris of sediment. The oceanic ridge, which is a continuous submarine mountain range spanning 80000 kilometers, is elevated relative to the other areas of the ocean floor. The elevation is brought about by convection currents that rise from deep within the earth’s crust through a mantle in a line of weakness, in the form of magma. When it emerges on the earth’s crest, lava cools down and forms a new surface on the sea bed. Continuous eruption and cooling of lava leads to a build-up of materials, which in turn cause elevation at the point the activities take place. The result is a ridge, which is higher than other sections of the ocean floor. Mesosaurus was a reptile that lived in fresh water lakes thousands of years before the existence of dinosaurs. The fact that scientists found its remains, in Eastern South America and Western Africa only, suggests that the two continents could have existed as one land mass millions of years ago. Whereas some schools of thought could have it that the reptiles could have swum across the Atlantic Ocean, this could not happen since Mesosaurus could neither survive in the ocean waters because of their saltiness, nor swim across the ocean due to its expansive nature. These, together with the fact that the coastlines of the two continents fit like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, enforces the theory that the two continents once existed as one expansive land mass. One of the main objections to Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory was his inability to explain the mechanism through which the continents drifted apart. He proposed two theories; a

Monday, November 18, 2019

RCP 1 End of Chapter 1 H.W Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

RCP 1 End of Chapter 1 H.W - Assignment Example The company’s network comprises of the basic information security measurements; the C.I.A triangle. This is another assumption because all network security companies rely on this triangle as fundamentals of their business. Confidentiality, integrity and availability are the prime reasons why clients trust backup companies like Data Mart with their confidential information. An example of how Data Mart protects its data from untrusted network is shown in this diagram; The main asset category at Data Mart falls under intellectual assets, be it their staff or the company information they store in their 200 rack mounted servers. The assumptions are that the company has a simple setup of a typical backup protection company that offers additional services of data analysis. Here is a brief list of organization’s assets; Data Mart faces all those threats that can damage its data or somehow compromise its integrity that the customers trust it with. Network connections create the possibility of spilling problems due to an exogenous or endogenous attack that depends on the profile of security investments (Acemoglu, Malekian, & Ozdaglar, 2013).   Here are some specific threats that Data Mart faces; Bypassing the access controls is one of the favorite attacks. Making educated guesses about passwords or trying every possible combination of numbers and letters makes them finally guess the right password. In a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, the assailant sends a number of requests to the target. So, numerous requests are made that the system cannot appendage them. The system can crash or it may just be unable to accomplish different functions. In Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) the attacker(s) launches an integrated number of requests against an entity from numerous locations simultaneously. These threats include Trojan horses, viruses, worms, active web scripts etc. meant to destroy of steal

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Russia as a Threat to the US

Russia as a Threat to the US This essay will examine Russia as the most significant security threat/security challenge confronting the U.S. The grand strategy to address that threat is retaking the offensive. Additionally, the international theory of realism that aligns with the grand strategy will be examined. Next, the essay will explore the historical precedent of the Truman Doctrine in order to support the grand strategy as an example of that evidence.   Last, the essay will discuss the risks, as well as the international relations theory of liberalism, to illustrate this grand strategy. The most significant security threat/security challenge that faces the U.S. today is Russia.[i] â€Å"Russia’s nuclear weapon stockpile and aggressive, unpredictable actions are reasons that country presents the most serious near-term threat to world wide stability.†[ii] One rationale for this security challenge of the threat is that Russia partners with other weaker states, such as Syria, to instigate and supply these states in order to accomplish its own strategic objectives, by â€Å"looking to leverage its military support to the Asad regime†¦and use its military intervention in Syria, in conjunction with efforts to capitalize on fears of a growing ISIS and extremist threat to expand its role in the Middle East.†[iii] With Russia’s weapons capability, and action to create alliances with other weaker states, it offers these partnered states a stronger opportunity to use nuclear proliferation,[iv] or chemical weapons as a strategic rationale against the U.S. to prevent the U.S. from acting against them, as well as an offensive strategy to use to attack the U.S.[v]   These weaker states, like Syria, can present as great a danger as strong states to the U.S.’ national interests.[vi]   For example, weapons of mass destruction could be nuclear or biological.   Biological weapons can be easily accessible; nuclear weapons are more difficult to obtain on its own, but a transnational terrorist organization can secure weapons from a state.[vii]     Ã‚   Another example of Russia’s threat against the U.S., is its defiance of non-state organizations, that Russiain its post-Soviet roleis â€Å"re-surging with authoritarianism and is aggressively contesting liberal norms, by seeking to weaken and divide non-state organizations, such as, NATO and the EU.†[viii] To illustrate this point, Russia created a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) that the U.S. claimed Russia violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. That breach enables Russia to continue to produce GLCMs,[ix] thereby perpetuating the nuclear proliferation threat to the U.S. Yet another example is Russia’s cyber threat.   Russia is consistently seeking to use cyberspace to bolster its own status, while attempting to threaten the U.S.’s interests in the areas of: government, military commercial, social and infrastructure.   Recently, Russia used its aggression of cyber to influence the U.S.’s 2016 elections. Further, Russia’s actors conducted disruptive cyber attacks outside the U.S., and has â€Å"leveraged cyber space to seek to influence public opinion across Europe and Eurasia.†[x]   This is another security challenge for the U.S., as Russia continues to seek out weaknesses in the U.S.’s systems as well as partner with other states to build aggression against the U.S. The above discussed Russia security challenges raises the intensity of interest to a level of vital, because of the seriousness of its threats against the U.S. â€Å"Protecting its physical existence when in jeopardy, due to attack or threat of attack is the most important.†[xi] Further, a vital interest is one in which interest is so crucial to a state, it will not compromise. An example of this is to â€Å"prevent the regional proliferation of WMD†¦prevent the emergence of a regional hegemon in regions, promote the well-being of allies and friends and protect them from external aggression.†[xii] The vital level corresponds to the basic interest of defense of the homeland due to those threats and therefore causes the U.S. to employ a strategy that aligns with its national interest of survival.[xiii] The example for this is toâ€Å"prevent, deter and reduce the threat of nuclear, biological and chemical weapon attacks†¦prevent the emergence of hostile major powers or failed states†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [xiv] The evidence discussed above illustrates that Russia rises to the intensity level of vital for the greatest significant security challenge the U.S. faces.      In light of the security threat posed by Russia, the U.S. should pursue the grand strategy of re-taking the offensive. Using this approach for the advancement of the liberal order, serves the U.S.’s global interests. That the â€Å"spread of democracy and market economics, prominence of liberal ideas as the guiding norms of international affairs, preservation of global stability and balance of power†[xv] is the accurate and appropriate direction for the U.S. to take regarding the grand strategy. The re-taking the offensive is important because it must continue sustain the liberal order—to pursue efforts to sustain and invigorate the momentum. To accomplish this, the implications are to provide the U.S. with safety, security and prosperity (U.S. citizens), retain and improve its diplomatic and economic ties with its allies (Germany, France, UK, Japan, India and Australia), reinvest in liberal democratic programs with non-governmental agencies (NATO, UN, EU), but most importantly, to aggressively combat nuclear proliferation (Russia, Syria), as well as other threats (chemical attack, terrorism) to the international order.[xvi] An example of this re-take the offensive approach is the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine, through coalition with each other, cooperate together in order to thwart regional hegemony expansion by Russia. It shows evidence that illustrates how the grand strategy of retaking the offensive addresses the security threat to the U.S. by Russia.    The IR theory that aligns with the grand strategy is realism. Realists view world politics as a power struggle that is conducted with conditions characterized by anarchy, and define a state’s interest in terms of levels of power over other states as a self-help mechanism.[xvii] For example, using hard power as a means by which states advance their national interests to force an enemy or reluctant ally to adhere to a state’s national objectives is the main objective in order to maintain domination over the other states, thereby allowing the stronger state an opportunity to act upon its own agenda. Further, peace is defined as the absence of war, occurs when states adhere to their own singularly defined national interests. Once in place, it becomes an intensive driving force, that states can no longer control its momentum, but becomes engulfed in its movement, and then controlled by it.[xviii] Therefore, as an example, by the US pushing back on China’s significantly growing political, military and economic power, this demonstrates how the U.S. seeks to dominate another state. China’s strategy of its own position of increasing improvement, will motivate China into expanding its regional and global influence, thereby propelling China into the competitive sphere of other major superpowers—the U.S. This endangers the U.S.’s national interests, which must then exert its own power in order to retain its superior position.[xix] Further illustrating domination by using hard power to dominate others, by incorporating soft power thereafter, a state can replace domination by cooperation where diplomatic, military and economic relationships of coalitions can flourish in order to assert against other nations states from becoming important international actors.[xx] The IR theory of realism supports the U.S. grand strategy of retaking the offensive by using levels of power in a self-help method in which to control other states in order to achieve its objectives.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The historical precedent of the Truman Doctrine is an important document for U.S. foreign policy that is considered the start of the Cold War. The doctrine articulated that the United States would provide military, political, and economic aid to threatened states that were under subjugation from outside authoritarian forces.[xxi] Additionally, the Truman Doctrine created a policy for containment and deterrence to thwart further expansion of Russia and its sphere of influence[xxii]. To further illustrate the historical significance of the threat from Russia, the doctrine was created in response to assist Greece and Turkeydemocratic nations which were in danger of becoming overthrown by the Russian regime. This doctrine supports the grand strategy of retaking the offensive, as the U.S. must intervene and maintain its strategic interests in order to safeguard the world against authoritarian/communist attempts to threaten and politically overturn U.S. democratic spheres of influence throughout the world.      The risks, as viewed through the lens of the IR theory of liberalism, and the reliance on intelligence organizations and other actors that play an increasingly important role regarding global affairs. Specifically, the U.S.’s reliance upon its alliances with these states and non-governmental organizations to thwart Russia, illustrates that riskNATO, UN, and WTOin order to follow their liberal mandate for Russia to be thwarted. The question is whether or not these partners â€Å"possess the vigor need to sustain or advance that order.†[xxiii] The risk is the reliance on the influence to shape the environment for the success of the U.S.; it is placing its fate in other organizations’ hands, and therefore relying upon its unknown ability to assist in exercising the U.S.’s strategic objectives. This risk demonstrates the justification of retaking the offensive as the grand strategy regarding Russia’s threat to the U.S.   This essay analyzed Russia as the most significant threat to the U.S. today. In light of this threat, the grand strategy of retaking the offensive is appropriate for the U.S. The IR theory of realism is the foundation for retaking the offensive, as illustrated by the historical precedent of the Truman Doctrine, whereas liberalism increases the risk to this grand strategy of retaking the offensive. ENDNOTES [i] Missy Ryan, â€Å"Pentagon unveils budget priority for next year: Countering Russia and China,† New York Times, February 2, 2016. [ii] Leon Shane, III, â€Å"Incoming Joint Chiefs chairman calls Russia, China top threats, Military Times, July 9, 2015. [iii] Daniel R. Coats, â€Å"World-wide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community†, Senate Select Committee on National Intelligence, May 11, 2017: 1. [iv] Glenn P. Hastedt, â€Å"Military Instruments:   Big Wars,† in American Foreign Policy: Past, Present and Future†, (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015), 334. [v] Ibid. [vi] Liana Sun Wyler, â€Å"Weak and Failing States: Evolving Security Threats and U.S. Policy†, (Washington, D.C.: Congressional research Service, April 18, 2008): 1-8. [vii] Stephen D. Krasner, â€Å"Failed States and American National Security†, Hoover Institution Journal, Hoover Institute, April 16, 2015.   [viii] Hal Brands, â€Å"American Grand Strategy and the Liberal Order: Continuity, Change, and Options for the Future†, Building a Sustainable International Order, A RAND Project to Further Explore U.S. Strategy in a Changing World, Perspective Expert Insights on a Timely Policy Issue, The Rand Corporation, 2016: 11. [ix] Daniel R. Coats, â€Å"Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community†, Senate Select Committee on National Intelligence, May 11, 2017: 6. [x] Daniel R. Coats, â€Å"Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community†, Senate Select Committee on National Intelligence, May 11, 2017: 1. [xi] Dennis M. Drew and Donald M. Snow, â€Å"Making Twenty-First-Century Strategy: An Introduction to Modern National Security Processes and Problems†, Air University Press, (November 2006): 33 [xii] Alan G. Stolberg, â€Å"Crafting National Interests in the 21st Century in U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues, 5th ed. Vol. II, ed. J. Boone Bartholomees, Jr; 13-21.   Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S. Army War College, June 2012.  Ã‚   [xiii] Dennis M. Drew and Donald M. Snow, â€Å"Making Twenty-First-Century Strategy: An Introduction to Modern National Security Processes and Problems†, Air University Press, (November 2006): 33 [xiv] Alan G. Stolberg, â€Å"Crafting National Interests in the 21st Century in U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues, 5th ed. Vol. II, ed. J. Boone Bartholomees, Jr; 13-21.   Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S. Army War College, June 2012.  Ã‚   [xv] Hal Brands, â€Å"American Grand Strategy and the Liberal Order: Continuity, Change, and Options for the Future†, Building a Sustainable International Order, A RAND Project to Further Explore U.S. Strategy in a Changing World, Perspective Expert Insights on a Timely Policy Issue, The Rand Corporation, 2016: 13. [xvi] Ibid. [xvii] Dr. Chris Bolan, â€Å"Realism†, lecture, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, cited with permission of Dr. Bolan. [xviii] Glenn. P Hastedt, â€Å"Defining American Foreign Policy Problems,† in American Foreign Policy: Past, Present and Future, (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015), 33. [xix] Hal Brands, â€Å"American Grand Strategy and the Liberal Order: Continuity, Change, and Options for the Future†, Building a Sustainable International Order, A RAND Project to Further Explore U.S. Strategy in a Changing World, Perspective Expert Insights on a Timely Policy Issue, The Rand Corporation, 2016: 11. [xx] Ibid. [xxi] Ibid. [xxii] Ibid. [xxiii] Hal Brands, â€Å"American Grand Strategy and the Liberal Order: Continuity, Change, and Options for the Future†, Building a Sustainable International Order, A RAND Project to Further Explore U.S. Strategy in a Changing World, Perspective Expert Insights on a Timely Policy Issue, The Rand Corporation, 2016: 11.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Hidden Victims :: War Native Americans History Essays

Hidden Victims I pass that hill everyday. I drive along its large base, turning near its northern slope. The marker sits low on the hill, barely noticeable except when the rays of sun hit it that certain way and a long dark shadow is cast across the grass. The small brass plate sits firmly planted atop the cold granite boulder. The blood has long since dried. The cries and screams are silent. The small pine booth sits at the base of the hill, full of information packets and maps concerning the events that took place there long ago. February of 1675 remains flat and echoless upon the pages of our town’s record books. Textbooks may touch on it briefly, if at all; The war lasted only about fourteen months; and yet the towns of Brookfield, Lancaster, Marlborough, Medfield, Sudbury, Groton, Deerfield, Hatfield, Hadley, Northfield, Springfield, Weymouth, Chelmsford, Andover, Scituate, Bridgewater, and several other places were wholly or partially destroyed, and many of the inhabitants were massacred or carried into captivity. (Hudson) Some historians have called it the â€Å"deadliest war in our history." Whose history is it though? Who caused it and how? All these questions have all their answers hidden away in dusty books on old wooden shelves. Undiscovered secrets; stories not told. The preserved colonist view is all that enters our textbooks, the view that we were the sole victims, we are the victors over the heathen savages. Victims are hidden. Relations were peaceful. Massasoit, the noble leader of the Wampanoag Indians, was curious and friendly to these new visitors. Thanksgiving was shared mutually with these new inhabitants. The two cultures existed peacefully, and some assimilation occurred. No anger existed between the two worlds. He did his best to keep his mind and the minds of his people open, ensuring that the visitors would be safe from harm. A descendant of the Wampanoag tribe described Massaoit’s generosity and genuine curiosity. When the first English came, Phillip’s father was a great man, and the English as a little child; he prevent other Indians from wronging them, gave them corn and showed them how to plant it†¦(Hubbard 275). The proud leader even allowed his two sons to have English names in addition to their Indian ones. Existence seemed promising for each world, exchanging knowledge and goods. The parade marches by, men and women dressed in colonial costume. Men walk by with painted faces and leather moccasins.

Monday, November 11, 2019

How has Chinese FP change since Moa and how important are economics? Essay

Throughout History, China and her foreign policy has been the focus of much controversy and debate in the fields of History and International Relations. The size, geographical position, culture and politics of China make it, and have made it one of the most important actors in regional and international affairs. The aims and nature of Chinese foreign policy have been through a number of important changes in the twentieth century. This essay will examine the principles of Chinese Foreign Policy after the death of leader Mao Tse Tung and will discuss the importance economics has on the formulation of post Mao foreign Policy. This essay will first discuss the principle aims and practises of Chinese foreign policy under Mao as a basis to compare the post Mao characteristics. The essay will then examine the major aspects of China’s foreign policy that occurred during and after Mao’s leadership in terms of the relations with the west, relations with the Soviet bloc, relations with third world revolutionary groups and the so called opposition to hegemonism. Through studying these factors the essay will examine the importance of economic factors in china’s foreign policy since Mao. As an example of how China works in the international system the essay will discuss the relations modern China has with its major neighbours in terms of military, political and, importantly, economic factors. In a discussion of post Mao Chinese foreign policy it is important to understand the foreign policy during the leadership of Mao Tse Tung. It is first important to note that Mao’s handling of Chinese foreign policy was not a single phase in itself and did not follow a single characteristic and it is also important to note that many principles of current Sino-foreign relations stem back to Mao. In 1949 after decades of civil war and political unrest the Chinese Communist party founded the â€Å"Peoples Republic of China†. Mao Tse Tung, the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party was now the political leader of over a billion Chinese people. Under Mao major social and internal changes were undertaken alongside a noticeable change in the relations with outsiders. The first major change was the five-year plan, between 1952 and 1957, during these years China opened up to a foreign state, the Soviet Union, in a way never before seen in China (1, pp47). This can be analysed as part of Mao’s â€Å"let foreign things serve China†(1,pp47) attitude, an attitude that, if vague, encouraged the Chinese to make a distinction between the damaging and the helpful elements of foreign influences. This period also saw Mao introducing the five principles of peaceful coexistence, principles that, at least publicly would become the backbone to the overt actions of China’s foreign relations. These principles, suggested by premier Zhou Enlai, claim to base China relations on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence (8). The validity of these principles is obviously in question and it would seem that many could be described as being contradictory to China’s practice of foreign policy especially during the Cold War. China’s threatening stance over Taiwan, the invasion of Tibet and support for North Korea during the Korean war during this period can be argued to contradict the claims made by the five principles. China’s relations with the two major cold war super-powers were often pivotal in Chinese decision-making under Mao. It seemed that during the early cold war years, China began to emerge from her self-imposed exile as it opened up to the Soviet Union. The later Maoist era however also saw a turn away from Soviet domination during the early to mid sixties partly due to what the Chinese often refer to as â€Å"Soviet Chauvinism†(6,Liu Huaqiu article) and an approach to what can be called the â€Å"Period of Cooperation† (2,pp280) with America. One of China’s major advantages during the Cold War was the ability to choose between the two super-powers of the era. The build up of both Chinese and soviet troops on the border â€Å"(6, Liu Huaqiu article), the general rise in tensions between the two powers over the interference of Soviet facilitators helping develop Chinese industry may have contributed to Mao’s movement, politically, toward the US. US-Sino relations were obviously damaged due to the involvement of Chinese â€Å"volunteers† in the Korean War. The first stepping-stone in this new cooperation and the smoothing of post Korea relations was the famous Shanghai Communiquà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of 1971-2 (2,pp280) involving American a visit to the Peoples Republic of China by President Richard Nixon and a meeting with Chairman Mao. It is difficult to examine in detail the complex elements of Mao’s foreign policy in the limited space this essay allows. However, it is important not to lay to much focus on China’s relations with the two super powers. Other elements lay at the heart of Mao’s foreign policies, elements that also changed through his years of leadership. His economic policy, originally based on the Marxist/Soviet principles of state controlled commerce began to reform, at least in the final Mao years, towards a more free market based economy. Political ties two Marxist revolutionary groups in third world countries also played a major role in Mao’s foreign policy making. Mao, not believing in a two-bloc world or a one bloc revolution, made major contributions to numerous third world Marxist revolutionaries as part of what Mao saw, at least publicly, as a way of achieving global revolution through the global working class (1 pp94-95). On a more power political level it could be argued that if these revolutions were successful China could develop allies in important places. Korea is an example of Marxist revolution supported by the Chinese in a strategically important country (7). Mao’s foreign policy cannot be described in a single word. His unstable relations with the US and USSR, the changes he made in the economy make understanding the drive behind Mao’s foreign policy challenging. It can be argued that the erratic foreign policy of Mao was a symptom of the erratic domestic, the failing Cultural Revolution and the great leap forward may have forced Mao to change policy. The importance of understanding the legacy Mao left at his death to future Chinese administrations is not to be underestimated when studying post Mao foreign policy. Despite the major changes in the nature of Chinese foreign policy Mao’s legacy and influence has in no way been ignored and it is important to first examine the affect of Mao’s policies on China’s foreign policy after his death. The public face of Chinese foreign policy still emphasise Mao’s so called â€Å"Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence† as being the centre of its actions (6). Despite continued evidence of China’s ignorance of the policy the public face of China on the international scene will often claim to be following these principles. Mao also initiated the cooperation with the United States that has, even if the relationship has sometimes been strained, continued as a major party of Chinese foreign relations. Mao also influenced the Chinese continued stance of vigilance towards the other cold war super power the USSR (3, pp201). Despite the changes that this essay shall now analyse the examples given suggest that Mao’s i nfluence was not forgotten in the formulation of cold war and modern foreign policy. In discussing post Mao foreign policy it is important to understand the importance of economic development in the new era of western cooperation. Economic development also gives an interesting starting point to the discussion of the importance of economics in Chinese Foreign Policy after Mao. There were many major attempts to both open and develop china economically by the new more moderate post Mao regime. The â€Å"Open Door† policy initiated by Mao was, after his death, intensified and relations with the West and especially the US carried out through businessmen now allowed into the once anti-capitalist environment (1,pp125). This new openness also coincided with internal economic reform. In 1978, the new chairman, Deng Xiaoping, introduced the â€Å"Four Modernisations†, a way of developing the country through modernising elements of agriculture, industry, national defence and science and technology as part of a ten-year plan. Deng also began the introduction and proliferation of China’s free enterprise economy (9). These economic development changes had a radical effect on China’s foreign policy. No longer an isolated communist country China began to move toward an economy base and even reliant on western capitalist systems (9,2,). This can be seen as evidence for the view that China’s economic health was gradually being placed at the forefront of her foreign policy and her position in the international system. China’s relations with the Western and economically developed nations, especially the US and Japan provides interesting perspective when analysing the changes nature of china’s foreign policy after Mao. As previously discussed the â€Å"Open Door† policy played a major role in the development of improved, or at least cooperative relations with the western world. One of the major characteristics of post Mao foreign policy was the continued hatred of the USSR and, as previously noted, the move toward the US as its main source of political and economic support. Towards the end of the 1970s the US even quietly aided China militarily against the soviets. During this period the military support was covert and originally involved eaves dropping equipment for intelligence gathering. However the military support became more public as the USSR’s war in Afghanistan began to escalate with America aiding the Chinese with no lethal and logistical support for defence aga inst possible Soviet attacks (2, pp 202). This military cooperation was could be used as evidence for suggesting the idea that the view â€Å"my enemies enemy is my friend† was the basis of Sino-US relations. However, evidence suggests that economics could be described as being at the centre of China’s relations with the developed world. As the cold war dragged on china began to turn more and more to the west for infrastructure development purchasing Nuclear reactors and factories. The new relationship with he west was not only beneficial to China, oil companies, such as BP and EXXON, were able to mine China’s oil reserves (2,pp203). This new economically charged relationship continued through out the later years of the cold war. Despite some obvious stumbling blocks, such as Tiananmen Square, the relationship with the west has, at least privately, flourished even if publicly western leader denounce China’s political system (6,7). China’s relationship with the west was not, as was originally expected (1, pp237-247), significantly changed by the ending of the Cold War. Despite some further stumbling blocks and diplomatic incidents, such as the collision of a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet in April 2001, and the continuation of sanctions China has become more and more reliant on the US. Ignoring its claims of opposing hegemonism China’s economic reliance on the western powers looks set to intensify. A way of simplifying the Chinese relation to the west could be done through describing it as a publicly strained and privately flourishing especially in the light of the events of September 11th. One of the major political changes in the post Mao era is the changing nature of China’s relations with the Third World. Under Mao, China often saw the third world as its main source of economic and political support and also considered the third world as being china’s main allies in combating US and Soviet attempts at hegemonism (1,pp234), (6). Mao, who considered China to be a leader of the third world and, as previously stated, also saw the third world as the backbone to a world revolution. After the death of Mao China’s political and economic support began to move from the third world to the US and Western Europe. There major change in the relations with the third world was the removal of support for Marxist revolutionaries and a turn away from the world revolutionary principles of Mao. However, the perceived importance of the third world was not completely from foreign policy decision makers. The third world, in the eyes of the Chinese, was considered to be the priority target for the USSR to spread the Soviet â€Å"hegemony† (1,pp234-236)(5,pp181-183)(6). This could be the reason behind China attempts to remove soviet influence from third world neighbours. The successful invasion of the third world country Cambodia (1978) and the unsuccessful invasion of Vietnam (1979) could be analysed as examples of these Chinese attempts to remove soviet influence. China’s involvement with the third world began to take a new form in the late eighties and toward the end of the cold war. Diplomatic ties with Africa especially were rebooted. Many argue that this was due to the sanctions imposed by the west in reaction to the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 (5,pp183). Despite China’s declination to join major third world organisations, China has joined with numerous third world countries such as Singapore to create a third world â€Å"immunity† from super power influence and supports the proposal of a â€Å"New Economic Order† developed by other third world states (5,pp183). So as far as China’s relations with third world nations can be analysed they have gone through a major change since Mao’s death and seem to be, not surprisingly, rooted in economic necessity rather than ideological or political will. To conclude this essay there is considerable evidence to suggest that Mao’s death, in September 1976, had a dramatic affect on China’s domestic situation and an even more important affect on China’s relations with the International System and the her foreign policy decision making. China’s foreign policy has, since Mao, been more and more influenced by economic factors. It is arguably possible to connect most major aspects of change since Mao to the Chinese government’s will to economically develop the country with political and ideological aspects such as the global revolution, military security and opposition hegemonism being placed either at a lower priority or interlinked with Economic Foreign Policy. Even if not directly economic it could easily be argued that most changes have at least an indirect affect on the economic growth of China and that these changes have been done for the China’s economic security. As china moves into the 21st century it appears that on a political level the regime has begun, especially since the September 11th terrorist attacks on America, to move toward a more interdependent relationship with the west. It seems apparent however that the soothing of relations with western power, despite the political and moralist claim, will be, as before, based more on the economic well being of China. Bibliography 1: M. Yahunda, China’s Foreign Policy after Mao, Macmillan, 1983, Hong Kong 2: J. B. Starr, Understanding China (2nd Edition), Profile Books, 2001, US 3: E. E. Moise, Modern China (2nd edition), Longman, 1994, UK 4: T. Siach, Government and politics of China, Plagrave, 2001, New York US 5: Chien-Min Chao, B.J. Dickson, Remaking the Chinese State, Rutledge, 2001, London (UK) 6: Chinese Embassy Web site: http://www.china-embassy.org 7: Chinese Foreign Policy, Article http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/china/19990914A128.html 8: Principles of Chinese Foreign Policy http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/teachingaids/china/for_pol/resource.htm 9: After Mao and Through the 1980s, May 9, 2000 http://history.binghamton.edu/hist274/May9.htm

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Free Essays on The Queen Mab Speech

Queen Mab Speech Shakespeare uses Mercutios’ fantastical Queen Mab speech to foreshadow future events in the play. Romeo is very affected by the speech because it is he who has strong desires. Mercutios speech is about Queen Mab who is the mid-wife or the creator of desires. Queen Mab comes in your dreams and gives you your desires. When you desire too much she makes you suffer and pay the consequences. Romeo has strong desires for a storybook love and for a girl named Roselyn. Romeo feels that he will have to pay the consequence of death for his desires: L115 â€Å" I fear too early for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with the nights revels, and expire the term of despised life closed in my breast by vile forfeit of untimely death but he that hath the steerage of my course direct my sail. On lusty gentlemen.† When Romeo said this he means that in his future he will have to pay for the desires he has and his consequence will be an early death. Mercutios speech had convinced Romeo that desire caused pain. And since he desired so strongly he feared that he would have to pay for the desires. Romeo feels that somewhere in his future his consequence will come Romeo states this in L 114 â€Å"some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date.† Here Romeo foreshadows what is to become of him by the end of the play. Romeo does indeed have an untimely death in the end and suffers the consequences of those desires by the death of his true love Juliet and his own suicide.... Free Essays on The Queen Mab Speech Free Essays on The Queen Mab Speech Queen Mab Speech Shakespeare uses Mercutios’ fantastical Queen Mab speech to foreshadow future events in the play. Romeo is very affected by the speech because it is he who has strong desires. Mercutios speech is about Queen Mab who is the mid-wife or the creator of desires. Queen Mab comes in your dreams and gives you your desires. When you desire too much she makes you suffer and pay the consequences. Romeo has strong desires for a storybook love and for a girl named Roselyn. Romeo feels that he will have to pay the consequence of death for his desires: L115 â€Å" I fear too early for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with the nights revels, and expire the term of despised life closed in my breast by vile forfeit of untimely death but he that hath the steerage of my course direct my sail. On lusty gentlemen.† When Romeo said this he means that in his future he will have to pay for the desires he has and his consequence will be an early death. Mercutios speech had convinced Romeo that desire caused pain. And since he desired so strongly he feared that he would have to pay for the desires. Romeo feels that somewhere in his future his consequence will come Romeo states this in L 114 â€Å"some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date.† Here Romeo foreshadows what is to become of him by the end of the play. Romeo does indeed have an untimely death in the end and suffers the consequences of those desires by the death of his true love Juliet and his own suicide....

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Sperm Whale Facts (Cachalot)

Sperm Whale Facts (Cachalot) The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the worlds largest toothed predator and loudest animal. The whales common name is the shortened form of spermaceti whale, and refers to the oily fluid found in the animals head, which was originally mistaken for whale semen. The cetaceans other common name is cachalot, which derives from an ancient French word for big teeth. Sperm whales do have large teeth, each weighing up to 2.2 pounds, but they dont actually use them for eating. Fast Facts: Sperm Whale Scientific Name: Physeter macrocephalusCommon Names: Sperm whale, cachalotBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 36-52 feetWeight: 15-45 tonsLifespan: 70 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Oceans worldwidePopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Vulnerable Description Sperm whales are easily recognized by their distinctive shape, their flukes (tail lobes), and blow pattern. The whale has a large rectangular head with narrow jaw, raised ridges on its back instead of dorsal fins, and huge triangular flukes. It has an S-shaped blowhole set toward the front, left side of its head that blows a forward-angled spray when the whale breathes. The species displays a high degree of sexual dimorphism. While males and females are the same size at birth, mature males are 30-50% longer and up to three times more massive than adult females. On average, males are about 52 feet in length and weigh 45 tons, while females are 36 feet in length and weigh 15 tons. However, there are documented reports of males measuring 67 feet long and weighing 63 tons and claims of males reaching 80 feet in length. While most large whales have smooth skin, sperm whale skin is wrinkled. Usually it is gray in color, but there are albino sperm whales. Sperm whales have the largest brains of any animals, either living or extinct. On average, the brain weighs about 17 pounds. Like other toothed whales, the sperm whale can retract or protrude its eyes. The whales communicate using vocalization and echolocation. Sperm whales are the loudest animals on Earth, capable of producing sounds as loud as 230 decibels. The sperm whales head contains the spermaceti organ which produces a waxy fluid called spermaceti or sperm oil. Studies indicate spermaceti helps the animal generate and focus sound, may facilitate ramming combat, and could serve a function during whale diving. While whales vomit most undigestible matter, some squid beaks make it to the intestine and cause irritation. The whale produces ambergris in response, much like oysters synthesize pearls. Sperm whales have distinctive triangular flukes. georgeclerk / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Sperm whales live in oceans around the world. They prefer ice-free water that is over 3300 feet deep but will venture close to shore. Only males frequent the polar regions. The species is not found in the Black Sea. It appears to be locally extinct off the coast of southern Australia. Diet Sperm whales are carnivores that primarily hunt squid, but also eat octopuses, fish, and bioluminescent tunicates. The whales have excellent vision and may hunt by watching the water above them for squid silhouettes or by detecting bioluminescence. They can dive for over an hour and at depths up to 6600 feet in search of food, using echolocation to map their surroundings in the dark. Aside from humans, the only significant sperm whale predator is the orca. Behavior Pods of sperm whales sleep at night. The whales position themselves vertically with their heads near the surface. Mature males form bachelor groups or live solitary lives except for mating. Females group with other females and their young. Reproduction and Offspring Females become sexually mature around 9 years of age, while males mature at 18 years. Males fight with other males for mating rights, probably using teeth and ramming competitors. The pair separate after mating, with males providing no care to offspring. After 14 to 16 months gestation, the female gives birth to a single calf. The newborn is about 13 feet long and weighs over one ton. Pod members cooperate to protect calves. Calves typically nurse for 19 to 42 months, sometimes from females besides their mothers. After reaching maturity, females give birth just once every 4 to 20 years. The oldest recorded pregnant female was 41 years old. Sperm whales may live over 70 years. Female sperm whales care for other calves within the pod. by wildestanimal / Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the sperm whale conservation status as vulnerable, while the United States Endangered Species Act lists it as endangered. Sperm whales are listed on Appendix I and Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Numerous other agreements also protect the whales throughout much of their range. Sperm whales reproduce slowly and are widely distributed, so the total population size and population trend are unknown. Some researchers estimate there may be hundreds of thousands of sperm whales. Threats While largely protected worldwide, Japan continues to take some sperm whales. However, the species greatest threats are ship collisions and entanglement in fishing nets. Sperm whales may also be at risk from chemical pollution, noise pollution, and debris such as plastic. Sperm Whales and Humans The sperm whale is featured in Jules Vernes Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and in Herman Melvilles Moby-Dick, which is based on the true story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820. While sperm whales do not hunt humans, its theoretically possible a person could be eaten. There is one story of a sailor swallowed by a sperm whale in the early 1900s and surviving the experience. Sperm whale teeth remain important cultural objects in the Pacific islands. While sperm oil use has fallen out of vogue, ambergris may still be used as a perfume fixative. Today, sperm whales are a source of ecotourism income for whale watching off the coasts of Norway, New Zealand, the Azores, and Dominica. Sources Clarke, M.R. Function of the Spermaceti Organ of the Sperm Whale. Nature. 228 (5274): 873–874, November, 1970. doi:10.1038/228873a0Fristrup, K. M. and G. R. Harbison. How do sperm whales catch squids?. Marine Mammal Science. 18 (1): 42–54, 2002. doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01017.xMead, J.G. and R. L. Brownell, Jr. Order Cetacea. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.  Taylor, B.L., Baird, R., Barlow, J., Dawson, S.M., Ford, J., Mead, J.G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Wade, P. Pitman, R.L. Physeter macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T41755A10554884. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T41755A10554884.enWhitehead, H. and L. Weilgart. The Sperm Whale. In Mann, J.; Connor, R.; Tyack, P. Whitehead, H. (eds.). Cetacean Societies. The University of Chicago Press. 2000. ISBN 978-0-226-50341-7.