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

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.

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,

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

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

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.

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.

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

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....

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.

Experience with leadership issues at work as a nurse Essay

Experience with leadership issues at work as a nurse - Essay Example Creativity in nurse leadership: With the changing environmental trends, there has been a need for the nursing profession and leadership to rethink their strategy in operation, and adopt advanced practices to embrace technology. According to Clark, a nurse leader is expected to use all her knowledge and problem solving skills to offer a creative solution to healthcare situations (4). Meaning, the holding on to former knowledge could not be relevant to the certain problems that exist in line with duty. Creativity comes in when the nurse leadership is well equipped with leadership skills whether one is an inborn leader or achieved it by learning. Female nurse leaders have to be recommended in their majority in the profession, but they have to make efforts to integrate most of the medical nursing theories into practice to make work easier for the few/ diverse staff available. Remember their functions matter a lot to attract client services into their organizations and sometimes, patients judge an institution based on the service being offered and the leadership available. Female nurse leaders have been keen to offer quality service by embracing information technology, coordinating the staff, and communicating efficiently, thereby adjusting with the health care trend and generally improving the practice. Creativity is very essential to manage tumultuous situations in healthcare; that is where they are challenged and seek to employ flexibility and collaborative approaches, which reinforce creativity and better yet improve the safety of their patients with speed. Perception of women nursing leadership as inferior: Although women are the majority in nursing, as leaders, they at times experience hostility and lack of support to boost their morale in their new roles. Surprisingly, one would think such a conduct arises with men in the profession alone, but other previous peer nurses also contribute to such discriminative view. Daly, Speedy, and Jackson (57), mention how w omen’s nursing leadership skills are devalued, since the female gender is implied to be frivolous and unfit to lead. This is a stereotype that is always there for most women leadership, even in other organizations and existing in a female dominated profession (nursing) is rather awkward though a reality. Even if a female nurse could be an excellent clinician and possessing innate leadership acumen, struggles of adopting the informal leadership capability in the formal role once she attains a leadership position, creates room for her peers to criticize her leadership (Sanford 6-7). Their leadership is always under scrutiny; this makes most of them to be frustrated very young in their leadership, which could lead to failure in their new appointed nursing leadership. However, critics and misjudgment never lack; even though their integrity, behavior, and personality get to be scrutinized, the success in the position surpasses all after the adjustment, countering the inferiority s tereotype with confidence and demonstrating the leadership by practice no matter the misaligned expectations. Dealing with ethical issues: In their roles in healthcare, the nurse leaders experience certain ethical conflicts dealing with the profession, organization and even at their interpersonal level, but in the end have to rely on justice brought forth by the established rules and care,

Company Law coursewrok 2009-10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Company Law coursewrok 2009-10 - Essay Example The constitution of the company, i.e. its memorandum and articles of association, govern the way in which these relationships operate and has been referred to as a contract between the members, i.e. the shareholders and the company itself. In this paper, concerns that had previously been raised in relation to section 14 of the Companies Act 1985 are discussed and considered in the context of the new arrangements brought in by section 33 of the Companies Act 2006. In order to discuss these issues, the position under section 14 will first be considered along with relevant case law, before moving on to consider section 33 and the way in which this changes the contractual relationships between the relevant entities. Closed companies present particular difficulties in this regard, due to the fact that control of the company is held either by five or fewer people or where all shareholders are also directors. Although it is recognised that a director is different in terms of entity to a shareholder when the same people undertake both roles, it is simply not practical to deal with the contractual relationship between the company, the members and the directors. Throughout this paper, the focus is on the difficulties, both historically and currently, in relation to the contract between the shareholders and the company where the company is a closed company of the nature described above. As noted by Professor Rajak1, ‘The [s.14 Companies Act 1985] contract between the company and the shareholders gives rise to mutual rights and obligations, but these lie in favour of and against the shareholder in his capacity as a member of the company’. This suggests that, although the concept underlying section 14 is relatively clear, it is not always going to be practically obvious and this has been evident in the way that the court has handled issues of the contractual relationship laid out by the constitution, particularly in relation to closed companies. In accordance with