Groupthink and Asian Cultures

Prabhjot Kaur Communication Theory Final Paper ASSUMPTIONS: A high level of cohesiveness is usually present when groupthink occurs, and there is a great reluctance on the part of group members to stray from the group’s position. They do not want to leave, be forced out, or be ignored by other members. This â€Å"oneness† associated with cohesiveness is typically a desirable condition except when the group relies too much on solidarity that the desirable ends are not focused on. They are likely to operate in the group in a manner that seeks the approval and even affection of the other group members. This is not the same as wanting to please the group leader with little or no concern for the opinion of the other group members. Cohesiveness is just one of three conditions necessary for groupthink to exist. The second assumption relates to the process of problem solving in small groups marking it a usually unified process. When a group is given the task of making a decision they usually go in with the thought of reaching a unanimous decision and strive to get along. They are also susceptible to adapt to the cohesiveness of the group due to affiliative constraints. An affiliative constraint refers to members withholding their own opinions in fear of being rejected by the group. (West & Turner, 243) This is vital to the outcome of groupthink because if the members with opposing views did not fear rejection and argued their views the decision making process would be further delayed and would affect the cohesiveness of the group. The third assumption is that groups and decision making are frequently complex. There must be other alternatives available than just the one option the group is picking and the members of the group must be aware of these options. If there are no other options then groupthink does not apply because there is no valid input being withheld by the members. Group members must know the who the other members are and be able to understand the position of the other members. Many factors such as â€Å"age, size of groups, intelligence of group members, gender composition, competitive nature of group members, and leadership styles that emerge in the group† (West & Turner, 244), will affect on how group members behave and choose to challenge the group’s decision. Group members who are similar in one or many of these areas to one another are more conducive to groupthink. Homogeneity can foster groupthink among members and discourage them to challenge the group. (West & Turner, 244) CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE: The first condition that promotes groupthink is presence of the cohesiveness we discussed earlier causes pressure for members to conform. The other two conditions are; group structural factors and group stress. The structure of the group does affect the way the group will function when faced with a complex problem to solve. It is important for the group to have strong group insulation or â€Å"the ability to remain unaffected by outside influences† (West & Turner, 246). Impartial leadership also can cause people to not have access to the full information available to help them make their decision. Leaders who have their own personal agenda prioritize that first before the well fare of the group. Final structural flaw that could lead to groupthink is the lack of decision-making procedures. If the procedures are not clearly established then the members have no structure to follow and reach a valid decision and can easily get lost in the influence of others to conform. Also, if there is no diversity in the backgrounds and experience present in the group then it may be very difficult for the group to be able to see all sides of the issue before making their final decision. PREVENT: West and Turner outline four major ways when discussing how to prevent groupthink. The first recommendation is to require oversight and control committee to enforce the procedures set for decision making and make them aware of their responsibility to challenge collectivism. The second recommendation is to embrace whistle blowing, so the members will report unethical or illegal practices. The third recommendation is to allow for objection because conscientious objectors who refuse to participate in the decision-making process due to violation of personal conscious need a safe environment for members to challenge the collective view without fearing rejection or other forms of negative reactions. The last recommendation is to balance consensus and majority rule. It is too much pressure to get a consensus instead it is better to work towards a majority decision. EXTENTION: Geert Hofstede is a Dutch social psychologist that did a study on of cultures across modern nations. Geert Hofstede (2001) defines Power Distance to â€Å"the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally†. The U. S. s considered a low power distance country, meaning within institutions and organizations here people relate to one another more as equals regardless of formal positions. However in high power distance countries the less powerful accept power relations that are higher in status. Hofstedes’ data from his study of over 40 countries shows that India has the highest power distance score for culture. This score implies a high level of inequality of power and wealth within society. This c ondition is a cultural norm for the India rather than a negative effect of groupthink. This presence of a high power distance helps facilitate groupthink. Sinha (2008) explains, â€Å"The seniors in a group set the pace and make decisions, which the rest of the group members are likely to accept without further questioning. † This custom is carried over to personal life as well where the elderly of the family will make decisions that the rest will follow. Geert Hofstede (2001), a Dutch social psychologist, defines power distance as â€Å"the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.   A low power distance country such as the United States is where individuals relate to one another more as equals regardless of formal positions; however, in high power distance countries like India, the less powerful accept power relations that are of higher status. Hofstedes’s cultural data research of 40 countries shows that India has the highest power distance sco re, which implies a high level of inequality of power and wealth within society. Sinha (2008) explains, â€Å"The seniors in a group set the pace and make decisions, which the rest of the group members are likely to accept without further questioning. †Ã‚  Ã‚  Rather than groupthink having a negative effect on group decision making, this is a cultural norm in India. This custom is carried over to personal life as well where the elderly of the family will make decisions for everyone. This presence of a high power distance facilitates groupthink in various aspects of Indian society.

A Study Analysis on The Process of Information Technology

In the world of today, the process of information technology is a part of organizations due to the importance of information systems. These are the processes through which one derives solutions to the challenges faced in organizational and management problems. There is also a view among experts that the quantity of interaction between the IT department of the organization and other units are what determines the success of any organization. The entire process of IT can be used in a centralized or decentralized manner. The structure of IT in any organization should provide assistance in its strategy and must conduct the needed research for this purpose. (Centralized versus Decentralized Information Systems in Organizations) Today, several organizations in all sectors of industry, commerce and government are based on their information systems. In some industries like telecommunications, media, entertainment and financial services, the survival of the organization itself depends on how efficiently it applies to information technology — IT. A new system called e-commerce has now burst into the arenas of international trade, and that makes IT as a method of conducting modern business. This is now changing the attitudes of the business leaders and IT is no longer only a method of performing existing business, but should also be used for development as that is expected to provide advantages in competition. Thus many organizations today want to develop a more strategic approach to their use of IT, but more have probably arrived at their present situation due to their adoption of short-term ‘tactical' decisions with IT. The Evolving Role of Information Systems and Technology in Organizations: A Strategic Perspective) At the same time, many organizations would wish that it were possible to rethink their investments, or begin with a clean sheet, but that is impossible as they have a ‘legacy' system built up from their approach to IT in the past. It is not possible to start again as we can see that many banks and insurance companies still focus on systems that they had developed over 30 years back. It is also not required as IT is not the only determinant of success unless the ability and knowledge of the organization have increased radically. (The Evolving Role of Information Systems and Technology in Organizations: A Strategic Perspective) The important part of strategic management depends on learning from experience which means the successes and failures of the past. The results achieved through IT helps only through experiences and experimental analysis that it provides. Thus, it should not be viewed as an essential component for strategic decisions. The main advantage that IT provides to organizations is that IT helps in the processing of information much faster so that uncertainty can be lower. The uncertainty comes from lack of knowledge, or information, even though it may be possessed at power levels. The advantage with IT is that the information can be collected, gathered and processed in a faster manner. (Benbunan-Fich, 2002) Though most organizations are trying to use for quite some time to solve these problems, it is unlikely that any organization has been exposed to the entire range of experiences in IT. Still it is important to study the process of development of IT in large organizations as that may be of use in the general evaluation of development of IT in another organization. In general it is known that there are some important matters that result in the speed and effectiveness of IT in organizations. The importance of the different factors in the list changes over time, but it is still important to make a note of the list of the factors. (The Evolving Role of Information Systems and Technology in Organizations: A Strategic Perspective) Those are the capabilities of the organization, the economics of the technology that the organizations following, the applications that the organization is carrying out and their feasibility, the skills and availabilities that are available within the organization or from outside vendors, the capacity of the organization and it ability to use the applications and the overall pressures that exist on the organization or the entire industry to improve performances. What we are talking about here is Information Technology with the insistence on technology and that means hardware, software and telecommunication links. This form of technology has both items that one can see and feel, like servers, desktops and network cables; as also items that cannot be touched but only paid for, like software. At the same time, the world is moving to a digital era, and it is IT that helps in the collection, processing, storing, developing and sharing of all these items. At the same time, there are also differences in terms for referring to the entire process and what is called IT in the states is called Information and communication Technologies in the European Union. This is the item that we are referring to though at times in the past, the two were seen as clearly different areas. (The Evolving Role of Information Systems and Technology in Organizations: A Strategic Perspective) The next important question is to find out how this technology helps us. The first area of help is in business strategy and this helps by creating new opportunities for dynamic changes in products and services. There were some services in the past that had to be handled manually, but can now be handled over the network. The important advantages cone from re-sequencing which includes parallel processing of data bases; simultaneous delivery of data; time extension of data by making it available 24 hours a day and all 365 days in the year; portability or taking the service and product closer to the user; and re-usability or developing the capacity to use the data collected for one purpose to be used for other purposes. There are also changes to organizational culture and that is the second most important development. The Impact of IT on Organizations) This is through devices like electronic mail and group ware. Information can now flow much faster between organizations and their clients. The changes in organizational culture have also led to changes in organization structures, and this has happened due to the larger spans of control and greater use of group ware. A lot of this has happened due to business process re-engineering and also the requirement to cut costs due to high competition. There have been efforts to find out whether IT encourages increased concentration or increased decentralization has not given out any clear results, but it certainly permits the organizational structure to be more flexible and fluid, dispersed teams and even teams that can come and go with the requirement of changes in the organization. (The Impact of IT on Organizations) This is also leading to changes in management processes and that includes even routine business processes. IT has provided methods for collecting information from many sources, directly and collectively through the use of databases and the Internet. Yet, though it has tried, it cannot still replace certain decision making that has to take place in groups and in meeting rooms as there is certainly the need for a master facilitator who can take the group discussion to an end. At the same time it can be seen that the impact of IT is leading to changes in the methods of professional work today. Practically all offices of today use personal computers and the availability of ready information has made the job expectation also to involve greater levels of knowledge. This is in addition to the earlier required skills of organizing, thinking, writing, convincing, etc. Now, in addition to doing all that, the managers of today are combining the greater knowledge that they are collecting. All the changes in situations due to the use of IT have also come as it is now essential for most people to have direct access to it while they are working. At the same time, IT itself has to find out methods of controlling the flow of information so that all information does not reach everybody. (The Impact of IT on Organizations) At the same time, a situation has come where the organizations have to now determine whether IT should be a separate department, or become a part of all departments. The different systems suit different organizations. It should be remembered that IT itself has some goals and that may be said to be innovation and efficiency. Yet, innovation is necessarily cost conscious and the organization has to determine the levels of different goals. (Centralized versus Decentralized Information Systems in Organizations) The most interesting and probably intriguing part of development of IT has been concerning Internet, and a stage has now come through which this medium has started influencing the environment, which is the biggest concern of the world of today. In the recent trade talks also, it was seen that United States has decided to retain its control over it. Does it mean that we are about to find a new source of business?

Importance of selected accounting and related courses as preparation for a management accounting career Essay

The heart of the global economy is undergoing a tremendous growth, which has created favorable conditions for professional development accounting career paths.. The present job market is faced with competition and education in a given career choice broadens opportunities. There are numerous types of jobs for individuals to pursuit in the field of accounting with specific requirements for career ranks and particular career clusters. Previously, educators and parents have played a significant role in assisting students choose career paths perceived to be related to economic development and overall economic-driving career path. Career clusters demand similar fundamental education and training, skills and knowledge, and career pathways. Also, accounting career, just like other fields offers the professionals the opportunity to rise along the career ladder from entry level to senior most level.Accounting is the study of the procedure used by a business to track expenses, income, assets, a nd liabilities over time and at the same time adhering to reporting standards. Accounting career deals with the reporting, recording, and analysis of the financial transactions of a business. While many people think that accounting is a complex career, it is not much about subtracting and adding of numbers, yet about comprehending what those numbers mean and demonstrating the ability to apply and communicate the numbers in an approach that benefits of a business organization. Essentially, accounting revolves around the preparation and analysis of financial statements, which significantly evaluates the success or failures of the company. Accountants act as middle-men between the decision-makers and business activities. As such, they record data from transactions and translate it into a meaning and useful information useful to the management, stockholder, customers, employees, government agencies and creditors. See more:  First Poem for You Essay Accounting Career Cluster                Accounting clusters in accounting involve providing analysis and interpretation of financial records in order to prepare financial documents for regulatory authorities. The job clusters in accounting include tax advisor, auditor, budget analyst, accountant, and actuary. Clusters in accounting encompass career pathways that record, classify, analyze, summarize, and communicate a business’ financial information for management decision-making. Public Accountants               Individuals in public accounting are employed by public accounting firms. They offer a range of accounting activities from financial analysis, statement preparation, private businesses, public firms, non-profit entities and government agencies. Most public accountants are certified public accountants. The most common requirement is a CPA certification, yet there are some other accountings certificates as well, including certified fraud examiner, certified management accountant, and enrolled agents for those specializing in tax. The entry level of a public accountant is a bachelor degree in accounting or finance and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. A mid-level public accountant must have a CPA certification an advanced degree like an MBA with a focus in accounting or MAcc is useful (Birrer, 2009). Senior level public accountant requires all the mid-level entry requirements with an MBA, or a MAcc is recommended. Financial Accountant                These are accounting individuals that prepares the financial statements based on the general ledgers besides participating in significant financial decisions involving M & A, long-term and financial projections. Financial accountants, Birrer (2009) explains, are concerned with how the performance of a company is represented by outside party, loss and cash flow to managers and shareholders. Professionals in financial accounting career path follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles set by Financial Accounting Standards Board (Birrer, 2009). The requirements of an entry level a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of business administration. Furthermore, knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting software, accounts payable and receivable. A CPA certification is mandatory for any accountant working for a public company registered with Securities and Exchange Commission. The senior level, however, requires a bachelor in accounting degree or financ e or a graduate degree in finance such as MBA. Career paths for financial accountants include staff accountant, bookkeeping, accountant, financial accountant, financial controller, and chief financial officer at a senior level. Management Accountants                  These are individuals employed by public or private companies to support their goals by performing tasks such as budgeting, asset management, cost management, and performance evaluation. Management accountants develop their career to become budget analysts that are responsible for developing and managing financial plans of an organization. There is also a cost accountant profession that works with consulting, corporations or accounting firms in retail and manufacturing sectors. Management accountants, another career path, involve participation in decisions about capital budgeting, business analysis, and shaping business strategy within a company. Management accountants require a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and strong technology skills, particularly, in Microsoft Excel (Ankers, 2007). Career LadderPublic Accountant                  According to Institute for Career Research, (2006) reports that the entry level of a public accountant is defined by the types of roles, requirements and job description of pubic accounts. An entry level is a staff accountant, tax personal, or a junior auditor at an accountant firm. Rising through the ranks, the middle level of a public accountant is a senior associate/accountant or tax or a manager for the audit in an accounting firm. The highest accounting rank of a public accountant career path is a senior partner/partner or director of a firm also, a certified public accountant in private practice and a corporate accounting executive or a CFO in a private company. In the senior level, executive accounting oversees audits; tax, drives strategy and business developed and manage client relationships. CPA in private practice, however, works with clients on tax issues, audits or budget analysis. Finally, a CFO conducts senior level management accountant re sponsibilities. Financial Accountant                   The entry level of a financial accountant is a bookkeeper, accountant or a staff accountant for individuals with bachelor’s degree in arts, science or BA. Along the ranks, there is a financial accountant, senior financial analyst and a senior accountant for individuals with all entry level requirements. Besides, strong communications and analytical skills are necessary. The professionals must also demonstrate knowledge of financial regulation. The top most financial accountant career paths include financial director, chief financial officer and a financial controller. These positions require all mid-level entry requirements alongside excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, high standards of accuracy and integrity and a bachelor degree in accounting or finance with MBA desirable (Institute for Career Research, 2006).Management accountants’ entry level becomes staff accountants, junior internal auditor, cost accountant, and a tax accou ntant. Along the ranks, the professionals become accounting managers, senior internal auditor, and a senior accountant. Moreover, the senior-most level is a controller, CFO, director of finance or accounting. While the entry level requires a bachelors’ degree, along the ranks, a senior most position in management accountants requires solid management skills, track record of leadership and excellence in the field and knowledge of the organization and accounting principles of United States. Conclusion                  Discussing career clusters and ladder is such an interesting assignment to establish a solid career path. Accounting professionals are tasked with responsibilities in various career paths and different job ladders. In overall, the accounting field requires professionals to achieve a bachelors’ degree in accounting or finance alongside special skill and knowledge such as communication, computer software, accuracy, integrity, management skills and overall accounting principles. References Ankers, R. G. (2007). Opportunities in an accounting career. New York: Educational Books Division of Universal Pub and Distributing Corp. Birrer, G. E. (2009). Importance of selected accounting and related courses as preparation for a management accounting career. Ann Arbor, Mich: University Microfilms Institute for Career Research. (2006). Career as a certified public accountant: CPA : crunching the numbers and advising businesses and individuals on how to manage their financial affairs. Chicago: Institute for Career Research. Source document

Alan Turings method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Alan Turings method - Essay Example Alan Mathison Turing was born to an upper middle class British family in London, 23 June 1912. He was educated at Sherborne School. While in his school, he was criticized for his handwriting by his teachers. He also struggled at English and mathematics as he was too involved with developing his own ideas to produce solutions to problems using the methods taught by his teachers. From his early years of schooling he has amazed many of his teachers. He tried to always find his own solutions and in spite of producing unconventional answers, Turing did win almost every possible mathematics prize while at Sherborne. This has amazed many of his teachers. The one subject he liked was chemistry. However from a very early age, he carried out experiments following his own plan which did not please his chemistry teacher. As a result of these Turing's headmaster once wrote:- â€Å"If he is to stay at Public School, he must aim at becoming educated. If he is to be solely a Scientific Specialist, he is wasting his time at a Public School†. In spite of the difficult schooling years, Turing entered King's College, Cambridge, in 1931 to study mathematics. He had a much easier time in college than in school as he could explore more of his own ideas in college.   Turing studied mathematics with increasing distinction and as a result of his academics he was elected a Fellow of the college in 1935. The paper "On Computable Numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem" (Turing 1936-37) was his first and perhaps greatest success.

Social justice toolbox Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social justice toolbox - Research Paper Example Justice can be described as giving to everybody what he or she is due. The trouble is with knowing what is due. It is a set of worldwide principles that guide and direct people in judging what is right and what is wrong, no matter what society or culture in which they live in. Social justice covers economic justice. Social justice is a fundamental principle for prosperous and peaceful coexistence among and within nations. Social justice should be upheld by promoting the rights of migrants and indigenous peoples or gender equality. We can only progress towards social justice when we eliminate barriers that people face due to disability, culture, religion, ethnicity, race or age. It should be a global mission to pursuit social justice for all and promote human dignity and development (Www.cesj.Org). My vision for social justice in U.S. is to attain social justice and a more equitable and sustainable future, and for developments and promotion of human dignity. One tactic that can be used to attain sustainability would be to build markets that do better jobs of conveying and spreading the gains and benefits of development. This would mean meeting the growing demands of consumers for greener services and products. It also means laying the foundations for opportunity, stability and dignity for all. As we strive to make these transformations towards social justice, we must incorporate the inclusion of social aspects into our policies. We have to focus on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through rights at work, fundamental principles, social dialogue, social protection and employment. We should put more emphasis on the World Day of Social Justice, which is on the 20th of February. This will be one of the ways of making everybody that social justice is a fundamental right of every human being, not only in U.S., but in the world at large. Member states should

Explaining a Concept Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 8

Explaining a Concept Research Paper - Essay Example This research paper, therefore, purpose to provide the definition of human trafficking as well as elucidating how it differs from human smuggling. The document will also argue in detail the aspect of Minor Sex Trafficking and mention new laws that defend victim’s necessities. Undoubtedly the role of Christian organizations is crucial in providing assistance to the victims of sexual trafficking. After that, the discussion will also mention some of the organizations that contribute to psychological and financial support to the victims of this unpleasant experience. Global human trafficking is estimated to be about 600,000 to 4,000,000 with the majority of human trafficking individuals being victims of sex trafficking. According to De Chesnay, sex trafficking is explained as the conscription, sheltering, shipping, necessitating, or acquiring of people for the intentions of commercial sex, (De Chesnay 1990). Notably, human trafficking differs from human smuggling because the latter involves a situation where a person freely requests to be transported outside the country of birth of migration. Trafficking in persons, on the other hand, refers to trade in humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery. Trafficking is not only illegal but also a serious crime that result to a severe violation of the human’s rights. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, human trafficking has increased dramatically to the point of being an epidemic, (United Nations 47-48). Even though, the United States Government knows about this crime; it is very difficult to estimate the real number of victims because many of these victims do not report their victimization. Hartjen & Priyadarsini (2012) claims that the State Government estimates that about 14,500 to 17,500 people cross over into the United States annually, (Hartjen & Priyadarsini 173). David Hodge argues further that most of the trafficking in the United States involves citizens that have

Executive paper - Critical analysis of reported category one and Coursework

Executive paper - Critical analysis of reported category one and category two incident data - Coursework Example Moreover, certain recommendations will also be made regarding how the loopholes within this service can be identified and improvised accordingly. E. W. Tipping Foundation is primarily a non-profit organisation mostly operational in the area of Victoria, Australia. The foundation aims towards fostering the concepts of social justice and human rights through its community development programmes and services. The foundation started its functions in terms of providing aid to the disabled individuals and till date has steadily prevailed towards broadening its structure in terms of providing support towards family services. By taking into consideration the development trend, this report will mostly focus towards critically analysing the incident data that has been provided in the category 1 and category 2 lists (NSW Government, n.d.). This critical incident analysis paper also aims to understand the present trends within this non-profit organisation’s services and makes appropriate recommendations regarding how the quality of the services can be improvised. Correspondingly, the graphical representations of the provided data have also been incorporated. The data regarding the number of incident cases and the client count of the three quarters has been provided and has also been critically described using the graphical representations. The entire critical analysis has been segregated into two specific categories. The first category is regarding the ‘Out of Home Care (OOHC)’ and the second one is the ‘disability cases’. The number of clients in the case of OOHC has been measured to be 38 and the total number of clients that has been determined under the disability case is 796 (E. W. Tipping Foundationa, 2013). In accordance with the provided reports, the total number of incident cases belonging to category 1 for the month duration from 1st July 2013 to 30th September 2013 has been recorded as 32. Out of this recorded incident count, a total of 16 cases

PERT and CPM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

PERT and CPM - Essay Example If negative, it indicates the amount of time that must be saved so that the project finish date is not delayed. By default and by definition, a task with 0 slack is considered a critical task. If a critical task is delayed, the project finish date is also delayed." However, there is little distinction between the two; this difference comes from their way of treating the activity time. In PERT, activity time is considered as a random variable, contrary to CPM where each activity requires a single deterministic time value. Furthermore, PERT focuses exclusively on the time variable whereas CPM includes the analysis of the time/cost trade-off. The task starts from A which requires 7 weeks for completion. Following A, there are two tasks, B and D, which can be carried out simultaneously and they, respectively, require 3 weeks and 8 weeks for completion. Task C immediately follows task B which at least requires 10 weeks (Sum of weeks required by task A and task B) to begin and will take 1 week to finish. Task C is followed by task E which needs both task C and task D to be completed before its start. Since, task C requires 11 weeks and task D requires 15 weeks to finish, therefore, it is logically understood that task E cannot be started before elapse of 15 weeks time-period. Keeping the above explanation in focus, the earliest start time for each task can be summarized as shown in below table: Code of task Earliest Start time A 0 B 7 C 10 D 7 E 15 F 15 G 15 H 16 I 19 J 21 It can be concluded from above analysis that the project will require minimum 22 weeks to complete; in other words, the longest path from start stage till finish stage is minimum duration of the project. This path, called critical path, has been already highlighted with the thickest and darkest line in above figure. If any task that lies in critical path is delayed, then ultimately the project gets delayed. However, the tasks outside the critical path can be deferred by certain amount of time. For example, task E is not part of critical path, therefore, if it is delayed by 4 weeks, even then so task J will be started as per its earliest start time, as calculated in above table, because task J can only be started once task I, which lies in critical path and requires 21 weeks to finish, is completed. CPM Representation: The above so-far discussion can be summarized in terms of CPM as follows: Critical Path Method (CPM): = A, D, F, H, I, J = 7, 8, 1, 3, 2, 1 = 22 weeks Through CPM, the critical path time can be reduced by carrying out task differently. For example, the time for sanitary and electrical installation (Task D) is 8

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 20

Answer questions - Essay Example Bill Gates’ Microsoft has developed because of Gates’ ability to create an environment of creativity, teamwork, delegation of tasks, and transparency across the workforce Interpersonal skills are the qualities that enable people to understand one another and establish effective communication. In a decision making process, team members need to understand one another in order to establish effective communication, which is a necessity for organizational efficiency and growth. Interpersonal skills enable and organization to have a clear flow of instructions, commands and directives, facilitating the attainment of a business’ overall objective. Interpersonal skills are also relevant in society because effective communication is crucial when it comes to networking and establishing local and multinational deals (Robbins, De Cenzo, & Coulter, 2015). Steve jobs people skills enabled him to get funding, resurrect Apple Inc. and transform it into one of the finest American electronics manufacturer ever. The KTS-II results show that I am a guardian. A guardian is an individual who understands logistics and is strict about following routine. A guardian has a sense of responsibility and duty, which means he is always in the good books of the supervisor. However, workers of rational and idealist personalities are people who seek personal growth and knowledge, which might interfere with the regulatory role of their supervisors. Artisans’ desire to try new things may interfere with company routine and schedule, affecting the relationship of artisans with the supervisors (Montgomery, 2011). Conscientiousness and extraversion are positively correlated with job performance. However, without high levels of conscientiousness, extraversion might lead to absenteeism, in which case it becomes negatively correlated with job performance (Lim & Ployhart,

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

Personal Statement - Essay Example My resolve to pursue a course in Business and Management course has been strengthened by the various part time jobs that I have been able to secure. I for example worked in a supermarket known as planet as a manager where I was able to put my leadership skills into practice. These have helped me gain an insight into the working of business, and sparked a passion in me to come up with more efficient models of management to ensure the best possible results. Getting a degree in Business Management will therefore equip me with the skills that I require to develop more efficient management systems and develop better ways of doing business. I believe that is very important to get a quality education before one can seek to engage in any professional venture. The value of education has been instilled in me from a tender age, and this leads me to pursue educational excellence at all levels possible. I am particularly interested in learning how to come up with dynamic teams that have the potential to work together to come up with ways to diagnose the business and organization needs, analyzing the changing business environment and the development of the procedures to handle the operation processes of the business. I believe that I have the potential to perform these roles. The educational program will however help me to realize my potential in this area. To be successful in the program, I intend to get a part time job that will give me an opportunity to practically apply the concepts that I have been taught and interact with the different concepts in business. As I person, my character is influenced by an unending desire to improve myself, and a quest for knowledge. My character has also been formed by the need and desire to pursue new ideas through insightful reasoning and a practical application of the theoretical knowledge that I have been able to gain. I believe that this combination of attributes will be an important asset in helping me settle and blend in the

Act of Union Essay Example for Free

Act of Union Essay Assess the causes of the Act of Union of 1800, and consider the ways in which the Articles of Union themselves were intended to solve the apparent problems in Ireland’s constitutional, political and religious relationship with England. Your essay must make reference to the relevant document studied in seminar 5. There were several significant causes of the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland in 1800, most notably, the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798, along with the French landing at Killala in North Mayo. The United Irishmen, a radical mixed religious group, had began a campaign against British rule in Ireland in 1798. This rebellion was centered around Wexford, Wicklow and a protestant linen worker rebellion in Antrim. The rebellion was poorly organized and coordinated, and many parts of the country were left undisturbed. Although it was yet another rebellion by the Irish that was defeated, it fast forwarded the long standing idea that a political, constitutional and military union was needed between the two countries to prevent further war, or even worse, for Ireland to become a stepping stone in a French invasion of The British Isles. The worry about a French invasion starting in Ireland was compounded by a small French landing in north Mayo, that led to two battles, at Castlebar and Ballinamuck. The French landing was requested by Wolfe Tone, a protestant who was viewed as the leader of the United Irishmen. Wolfe Tone was influenced by the French and American Revolutions, and passed this influence onto the United Irishmen. The fact that the American Revolution had occurred so recently also had another major bearing on the Act of Union. the British parliament did not want to lose another colony, especially not one this close to home. This most likely would have being seen as a major weakness by the other European powers of the time. The French revolution, which promised freedom to all religions and races, and equal rights to all men would also have being seen as a threat to George III, the current monarch, whos Coronation Oath held him to uphold and secure the Protestant faith. Article Fifth of the Act of Union combined the Church of Ireland and the Church of England into one central Protestant Episcopal Church. It also made the protestant faith the official religion of Ireland. The unity of the churches would also have bred the hope that more of the Catholic majority in Ireland would be converted. This would have being a vital cause for the union getting voted through the all protestant Irish parliament, as the protestants were outnumbered by Catholics in the general population at a ratio of 3:11. Should the Act of Union pass, they would be on the opposite side, it would be a 3:11 protestant majority. On a related topic, Robert Peel had earlier being responsible for the ending of several of the penal laws, all since the threat of war began in France. In 1793 Catholics could vote and become lawyers for the first time. He also played a part in the repeal of Poynings Law, which allowed the Irish parliament to enact its own laws without influence from London for the first time since the Norman Invasion. However, vitally, he could not hold his nerve to repeal the Penal law that stopped Catholics from holding a place in parliament and many Irish people would have thought this was the most important, as they could only vote for the entirely protestant government. Pitt had supported the Act Of Union in 1800, but had originally planned to follow it with more far reaching ideas, such as Catholic emancipation. However George III, after signing the Act of Union into law in August 1800, refused to support full Catholic emancipation on the basis that it would be contrary to his Coronation Oath. While the Act of Union was defeated the first time in the Irish parliament, it was passed on the second time of asking. Certain peerages, pensions and certain honors were offered to Irish politicians and Irish critics in return for voting for the act in the second time of asking. The first attempt to pass the law was beaten 109 votes against to 104 votes for, but, on the second time of asking in 1800, the results showed 150 for, compared to 115 against. Also, since the repeal of Poynings law, the Irish had being in charge of their own finances, and had bankrupt the country. When much the same thing had happened to Scotland in the 17th century, a Union with Britain had helped the Scottish overcome their financial difficulties. The Act of Union was intended to solve many of Irelands problems in different ways. Article first stated that Ireland and Britain would be united into one Kingdom, by the Name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This essentially made Ireland a sister kingdom to Britain, with the same laws, religion and parliament. However as time showed, these sister kingdoms were not treated equally, with very little worry being given to the Great Famine of 1845-49. Although it may initially have being seen to calm some insurgency in Ireland, it was not a suitable long-term arrangement unless great measures were taken to assimilate the large Catholic majority. These measures were not taken, and Catholic Ireland still felt like it was being given the short straw without emancipation. Article Second simply stated that the continuation of the Imperial Crown shall continue limited and settled in the same manner as the Succession to the Imperial Crown of the said Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. This was to ensure that a protestant was always going to be in power as a monarch in Great Britain, and that the new Union with Ireland would not have an influence on the process of picking a new king or queen. The third article was perhaps the most important in terms of change, as it was the article that fully combined the two parliaments into a single entity. This was the most influential article, as it caused many of the upper class representatives that Ireland would have to move out of Dublin and over to London, to be closer to political affairs. This caused a decline in the importance of Dublin as a major European city, and shifted most of the influential Irish people out of the country. It may also have lead to the idea of Absentee landlords, another thing that was seen by the Irish as a cause of the Great Famine. Article Fourth was simply involved in the representation of Ireland in the new parliament. The election of 28 Electoral Lords for life would have guaranteed a continuation of protestant ascendancy in the British House of Lords. This would not have went well with the catholic majority of Ireland as they would have zero representation in the House of Lords, which had the ability to veto any laws passed by the House of Commons. Any chance of a law hat passed a pro-Catholic law would have being immediately put down by the protestant powers in the House of Lords, so even if George III did not veto the hopes for Catholic emancipation then the House of Lords would surely have. The 8th article was a constitutional article that ensured the continuation of all laws from before the act, in both Britain and Ireland. It stated That all Laws in force at the time of the Union, and all the Courts of Civil and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within the respective Kingdoms, shall remain as now by Law established within the same This was a safety mechanism to prevent any problems with the transition between separate and united kingdoms. If this article had not being put in place then, theoretically the parliament in London would have had to enact new laws that could potentially damage the political and hostile situation in Ireland. As you can see, the Act of Union was hoped to be a permanent solution to the problems in Ireland, and planned to consolidate the British Isles under one rulership. The Articles in the Act of Union attempted to promote the protestant faith, in particular the Anglican faith, in Ireland, and in the long term hoped to transform the rebellious Catholic majority into equal citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Although it was unsuccessful in the long run, it was a historic event that worked in other parts of the empire, such as Scotland.

Music Through the Centuries Essay Example for Free

Music Through the Centuries Essay The period between 1400 and 1600 is called the Renaissance period. Also known as the period of rebirth, this period brought out the inventions that made a great impact on the lives of people up to the present. The critical and ambitious minds of inventors allow the invention of clock, gunpowder and eyeglasses. Consequently, certain aspects of music also changed. Polyphonic and imitation among voices became rampant. The vocals, whose main purpose is to bring forth emotion and meaning in music, were greatly utilized and some pieces of church songs were intended for a capella performance. With these, the Renaissnce period acquired the name Golden Age of A Capella Music. The impact on music was so vast that families for musical instruments develop. Harmony gained significant attention to the composers who favored blending over contrasting. At the same time, texture became richer because bass was registered for the first time. Some of the famous composers in this era included Josquin Des Prez and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. If given the chance to choose a musical composition in this period, I will choose the Ave Maria by Josquin Des Prez. The song is very relaxing and soothing. It has a great combination of overlapping and alternating high and low notes. Vocals are good and an atmosphere of peace and lightness is exemplified as one listens to this music. After the Renaissance comes the Baroque period (1600-1750), which is characterized by splendid, glamorous and lavish effects on arts, science and music. The canopy of the altar of St. Peters Basilica was constructed and a number of natural laws were found such as the laws of pressure by Robert Boyle. Modes, which were rampant during the Renaissance and Medieval period, were replaced with major and minor tonalities. Basso continuo was greatly accepted and used, as well as the doctrine of affection, which allows the composers to express their feelings freely in music. Composers during this period realized that counterpoint, free use of dissonance, imitative polyphony and homophobic method are essential in their field of artistry. They showed emphasis on volume, texture and pace in music and frequent usage of basic triads and inversions. At the same time, the composers began to explore the inner ability of music to express human spirits and to depict natural phenomena. Opera also flourished because of the Italians desire to recapture the Greek drama where music played an important part. Solo vocalists and the style of homophony were utilzed to help the listeners focus on the melody of the song. Orchestra also began to take shape as string intruments such as violin became dominant. Famous composers that popularized this grandiose style of music included Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldo, and George Frideric Handel. To name one of the great muscial compositions in this era, I would prefer Cantata 80 of Bach. This song is festive-like with good transition of high notes and low notes. The song brings a warm and welcoming aura. This song expresses a high level of emotion as well as a great evidence of how good and hard it is to compose a piece of music. After the Baroque period comes the Classical period (1750-1825). During this period, the first edition of Encyclopedia Brittancia was released. The first vaccination was made and the electric battery was invented by Volta. Compared to Baroque music, Classical music has less complicated texture but has far more variety and contrast because of the use of words such as pitch, tempo, mood, and timbre. Melody is shorter than the Baroque music but with clear-cut phrases and cadences. Functional harmony was retained but tended to focus on slow rhytmic harmony. Metric pulses were present but were not emphasized. Moreover, occasional pauses and rhythmic set points were also common. On the other hand, the orchestra continued to develop with an additional section for the woodwind instruments. The same with the opera wherein piano is considered the most inportant intrument in every performance. Great importance was given on instrumental music, and sonata form was the most important design in this period. Using these styles of music, several composers became known during this period such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. The Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart is an adorable and explicitly unique music. Listening to this music, one can feel the notes freely moving across the music sheet. It has charming and rich melodies that made this music a classical favorite not only in the past but also in the present. The joyful, skipping melody made this music enjoyable and light to hear. Classical period was succeeded by the Romantic period (1825-1900), also known as the Age of Sentimentality. It is during this time that telephone, light bulb, and radio transmissions were developed. In terms of music, there was a simultaneous development of musical extremes. Although basso continuo was totally abandoned, chromaticism flourished and textures were more developed. The virtuosity of the composers were enhanced and they put emphasis on beauty, elegance, and balance in their compostitions. Music became lyrical with dramatic contrasts in dynamics and pitch. Because this was the period for freedom of design and form, music became thematical. Programme music developed and the idea of nationalism flourished because of the need to break away from the strong influence of Germany on music. Fryderyk Franciskez Chopin and Franz Schubert were some of the famous composers in this period. The song of Erlking by Schubert is a good example of romantic music. This song is great because it is very enticing and one can feel the energy flowing through the entire piece. The continuous pulsation of notes gives this song a playful genre. It can be compared to prancing horses that can give one this feeling of excitement and curiosity. With the Classical Music declining, Modern Music became the reigning music in the 1900s. Some of the events that totally changed the history of the world are World War I and II as well as the Vietnam War. This change had a great effect on how music was viewed during this period. Modern Music focused on treating variety, continuity, and mood. Noise makers such as sirens and typewriters as well as percussion instruments became a vital part in this industry (Thinkquest, 1999). The aim to build an unusual music resulted to the employment of tongue fluttering and other special techniques. Dissonance is also preferred than consonance,which resulted to a development of fantasy-like, distant, and mystifying music. To gain an impression of imbalance, polyrhythm was employed. Some of the great composers in this era were Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. The Ancient Voices of Children by George Crumb is a great example of how modern music should sound like. This work is extraordinary and mystifying. The music itself is powerful but there is a haunting effect that provokes the listeners to seek for musical images. It stirs up the emotions of the listeners through the tensions placed on the entire musical score. The musics great shimmering echoes and frequent echoing silence and passages made this song my personal favorite. References Thinkquest (1999) Characteristics of 20th Century Music. Retrieved from http://library. thinkquest. org/27927/20%20century_Characteristics. htm

An Overview Of The Oasis Theory History Essay

An Overview Of The Oasis Theory History Essay Now a days we take the domestication of plants and animals for granted, but the vegetables, fruits, milk products, grain, and meats we eat everyday come from long ago human intervention in the life cycles of wild animals and plants (Selig, Ruth vol. 15, No.2, 1993). Agriculture began 10,000 years ago, the shift took place over many centuries and in several locations around the world. In addition plant domestication occurred in at least 10 to 11 regions around the world. The beginning of agriculture thus marks a clear watershed and defines one of the major ecological changes in the history of the planet (Selig, Ruth vol. 15, No.2, 1993). But What is the most convincing theory for the origins of agriculture? The Oasis Theory In 1936, Australian archaeologist V. Gordon Childe proposed one of the first coherent theories to explain the origins of agriculture. Childe referred to the The adoption of agriculture as the neolithic revolution, one of those key changes in prehistory that could be likened in their impact to the industrial revolution of 18th-century. While it is true that both agriculture and urbanism brought profound social and economic change, the term revolution implies a sudden and dramatic transition that does not accurately characterize the varied nature of these changes in different parts of the world(Scarre, Chris, ed. 2005). Also demographic theories from the 1960s assert that agricultural origins looked for factors that would forced hunter-gatherers to abandon their existing lifestyle and adopt the more labor-intensive agriculture(Scarre, chris, ed. 2005). In addition to that as the result of long term relationship between humans and their food sources agriculture should be viewed as one type of evolutionary adaptation between humans and other species(Scarre, chris, ed. 2005). Origins of Agriculture The first mark of agriculture development took place in the area known as the Fertile Crescent( present day Syria, Iraq, Israel, and Lebanon). Furthermore Agriculture refers to a series of discoveries involving the domestication, culture, and management of plants and animals. It is one of the most far reaching discoveries of early humans leading to profound social changes( Diamond, J. 2002). Agriculture was also developed on some others different areas like China, and Mesoamerica but on a later particular time. Finally Agriculture must be thought of as a series of discoveries involving the domestication of plants and animals and their management. (Fig 3-3)( Diamond, J. 2002) The Neolithic Age Technologies of ceramics and spinning the wheel is not only the basis for the mechanical and transportation revolution but is also connected with the, The neolithic or new stone age (7 to 10,000 years ago) pertains to a stage of culture following the paleolithic and is characterized by the use of polished stone implements, development of permanent dwellings, cultural advances such as pottery making, domestication of animals and plants, the cultivation of grain and fruits trees, and weaving (Fig.3-2) . (Diamond, J. 2002 ) (3-2) Terra cotta, was used as weights in the process of spinning threads 5000 BCE. At Last The change from hunting/gathering to primitive farming appears so abrupt that this technological change is often characterized as the Neolithic Revolution. (Diamond, J. 2002 ). The Origins of Agriculture: Rise of Civilization or Defying Evolution Another idea implies that the long dry seasons occurring after the pleistocene caused adaptations on vegetations Changing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, affecting plant photosynthesis, also may have created an environment supportive of agriculture. During the Pleistocene, CO2 levels were below 200 parts per million, increasing to above 250 ppm as the earth pulled out of the glacial age. This may have increased plant productivity by up to fifty percent, enabling crop domestication to develop (Mawr Bryn, 2000: ). The following quotes is one of the various evidence that suggest that humans were far better as foragers than after they took up agriculture. Hunter-gatherers enjoyed a varied diet of thousands of types of plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts, while agriculturists relied on just one or two starchy crops, choosing cheap calories at the cost of poor nutrition. Today wheat, corn, and rice provide most of the calories for humans, yet each one is deficient in certain essential pr oteins and amino acids. Agriculturists also ran a much greater risk of starvation by depending on a few key crops, as opposed to foragers whose consumption does not rely on any one plant but is diverse and flexible. Agriculture, able to support higher population densities, caused people to live in closer quarters. This invited the spread of parasites and infectious diseases that foragers avoided by living in smaller numbers in larger areas. Studies of various skeletal evidence indicate an increase in infectious diseases, malnutrition, and anemia in early agricultural societies as compared to hunter-gatherers(Mawr Bryn, 2000: ) Origins of Agriculture: New Ideas, New Data There are at least ten different places around the world where agriculture was independently developed, and the antiquity of domestication is being pushed back in time with new discoveries. ThereforeThere was a major emphasis on the origins of agriculture in East Asia. Lesser-known regions such as Papua New Guinea, Africa, and eastern North America were included in our discussions. Lots of new data were presented from East and West Asia, Africa, and Central and South America (fig. 3-3)( Price T. Douglas, 2011: ) Information on estimated dates bp cal for domestication in these areas are provided in (table 1). (3-3)Major centers of domestication and dates for earliest plants and animals picture Marcia Bakry. Today an eerie synchronicity in the timing of the first domesticated around the end of the pleistocene is emerging.Another commonality among the cradles of agriculture is the rich environments in which farming originates. Experiments in domestication do not take place in marginal areas but amid concentrations of population and resources across the globe. It also appears that in each area where several different species are involved in the transition to agriculture, there are multiple centers of domestication within the region. A number of groups appear to be manipulating their natural world ( Price T. Douglas, 2011: ). On the other hand During the first half of the twentieth century, the best information on early farming villages came from riverine areas or oases in Northeast Africa and Southwest Asia-along the Nile River in Egypt and at Jericho in the Jordan Valley, for example. Early views on the origins of agriculture focused on climate change. (Price T. Douglas, 2011: ). A number of important general factors in the origins of agriculture were recognized at the symposium. These factors can be categorized as exogenous, or natural (e.g., climate/environment, population growth), and endogenous, or cultural (e.g., social change, religion). Theories on the transition to agriculture have most often focused on external factors such as climatic change or inherent growth in population as problems solved by the cultivation of plants and animals( Price T. Douglas, 2011). . The purpose of this Assignment was to advise the reader with the main theories and evidence on the Origins of Agriculture. Farming predominate the activities of a particular community and determine the main diet, although hunting and gathering may continue. Farming is a way of obtaining food that involves the cultivation of plants and the controlled of animals. Today two thirds of humans necessary calorie and protein intake comes from key cereal grains domesticated in the earlier holocene.

Uncovering Teachers’ Varying Views on Reading and Writing Instruction

Through an exploratory study, authors Poulson, Avramidis, Fox, Medwell and Wray, investigated how 225 effective teachers of literacy viewed certain literacy approaches/strategies and considered how their educational backgrounds influenced these views. This study also included a group composed of 71 math coordinators, which served as a comparison to the effective teachers of literacy. The instructional views of the effective teachers of literacy were compared to the instructional views of the math coordinators. Having a profession in research or education gives these authors authority to write about and share information on this topic of study. Poulson, Fox, and Medwell are education lecturers at universities. Avramidis is a â€Å"Research Fellow† and Wray is an education professor. The authors’ work experience gives credibility to this study. This study conducted in 1996-1998, appeared in a 2001 edition of Research Papers in Education. This article critique provides a s ummary of the exploratory study, discusses the relevance of the study to the classroom and determines how these authors define â€Å"literacy.† Content Summary This exploratory study sought to reveal effective teachers’ views of teaching reading and writing, in correspondence to their qualifications, and furthermore, compare the effective teachers’ views to a group of math coordinators. This exploratory study involved 225 effective teachers of literacy and 71 math coordinators, which served as a comparison group. The comparison group incorporated various levels of effectiveness (some were considered to be more effective than others). The teachers were selected from primary schools in Britain. The qualifications of the participants included â€Å"effective teachers’ education... ...r own views impact their reading and writing instruction. I determined that the literacy definition present in this study is reading and writing; reading by decoding words, previewing and repeating new words, and guessing unfamiliar words and writing by focusing on content versus correct spelling, varying the intended audience, and considering elements of presentation. I would recommend this study to any grade level teacher, literacy coach, or curriculum developer. After reading this article, these individuals could reflect on how their own views could be influencing their instruction. Works Cited Poulson, L., Avramidis, E., Fox, R., Medwell, J., & Wray, D. (2001). The theoretical beliefs of effective teachers of literacy in primary schools: An exploratory study of orientations to reading and writing. Research Papers in Education, 16(3), 271-292.

Medieval Outlook on the Bubonic Plague Essay -- Biology Medical Biomed

The Medieval Outlook on the Bubonic Plague The Black Death was a major factor in the history of Europe as well as the history of the world. Rivaling the effects of an immense bioterrorist attack, the Black Death was responsible for the taking of over 25 million lives. Creating economic, societal, and medical changes, the Black Death forced Europe to essentially recreate its entire groundwork. At the time of the Black Death, medicine remained very archaic, and European society scrambled to find a cure to this mysterious disease. This study ponders the effects of medieval methods of treatment on this once ravaging disease. The Middle Ages was a dark time for the people of Europe. As the Black Death reigned during the mid-14nth century, dead bodies littered the streets, social order was abandoned, and human pretenses were forgotten. This deadly disease resulted in a complete alteration in the foundations of Europe itself. Unique practices, myths, and beliefs manifested themselves in the people?causing them to doubt the very church and government which had once captured their undoubting faith. Despite the scrambling of both doctors and church officials, there seemed no end to the enormous death tolls. The plague, feared and dreaded by all, changed the behavior of an entire continent and resulted, ultimately, in the death of a third of its population. European society did not understand the disease?partly because the plague itself changed form?and thus strove to find a cure. Two main types of plague predominated in the time of the Black Death?the bubonic and the pneumonic. Both types of diseases are caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis but vary in methods of transmission . Although the bubonic plague is not contagious and can o... ...sease. The medieval outlook on the plague, mingled with feelings of hysteria and greed, was a fearful one. Bibliography 1.Historical Blood Beliefs. Medical Blood. July 20, 2005: ttp:\www2.kenyon.edu/Depts?WMNS/Project/Wmns36/bloodli/medframe.htm Medieval Outlook on the Bubonic Plague 6 2.Jarret C. et al Transmisson of Yersinia Pestis from an infectious biofilm in the flea vector. Journal of Infectious Disease (2004) v 190 I4 p783 3.Stevenson, J. (2004, Sept.). Impact of Infectious Diseases on Development of Human Societies. MBI. July 18, 2005: http://cas/muohio.edu/`stevenjr/mbi111/impact111.html. 4.The Black Death. The History of Bubonic Plague. December 2, 2003: http://dpalm.med.uth.tmc.edu/courses/BT2003/BTstudents2003_files%5CPlague2003.htm 5. Persecution of Jews. Europe in the Late Middle Ages: Ages.http://history.boisestate.edu/hy309/Plague/17.html

Geographic Greece :: essays research papers

Geographic Themes of Greece LOCATION o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Absolute -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Latitude: 3900 North -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Longitude: 2200 East of the prime meridian Relative Location o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spatial: -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  borders the countries Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Borders the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea Relative Location o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Direction and Distance -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6241 miles NE of Dallas, Texas -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  324 miles S of Sofia, Bulgaria -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  457 miles SSW of Bucharest, Romania -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  646 miles ESE of Rome, Italy Size: Greece = Alabama Mercator Map of Greece ca. 1598 Conic Map of Greece o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Equidistant Conic Projection Planar Map of Southern Europe o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Using azimuthal equidistant projection PLACE Physical Characteristics Physical Characteristics o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  LAND USE -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8% permanent crops -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  41% permanent pastures -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  20% forest and woodlands -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19 % arable land -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12% other use Vegetation o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Olive Trees o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capers o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grapes o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grasses o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fig Trees o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lemon Trees o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cypress Trees o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eucalyptus Trees Vegetation o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Orange Trees o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Orange Grove Plants o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Palm Trees Climate o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mild, wet winters o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hot, dry summers o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Average Temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit Year-Round Average Temperatures & Precipitation Soil o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fertile o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Volcanic o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A Greek legend claims that God distributed all of the available soil through a sieve and used the stones that remained to build Greece. Bodies of Water o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Corinth Canal in Greece joins the Ionian and Aegean Seas o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Mediterranean Sea borders southern Greece Natural Resources o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bauxite o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lignite o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Magnesite o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Petroleum o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hydro Power o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pumice o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marble o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Parthenon on the Acropolis was built with solid Greek marble Landforms o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mostly mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands Islands o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Over 3000 islands and outcrops surround the Greek mainland, including Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, and Mykonos Mountains o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mount Parnassus near Delphi Earthquakes in Greece o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On February 24, 1981, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the Eastern Gulf of Corinth region of Greece, followed a few hours later by a magnitude 6.3 aftershock in the same region. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 4 another shock of magnitude 6.2 occurred 25 kilometers to the northeast, causing loss of lives and extensive damage to towns on the Perachora Peninsula and along the Saronic and Gulf of Corinth coasts. Island of Thera o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This island is often racked by earthquakes Human Characteristics Population Distribution Population Characteristics o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  98% Greek, 2% other o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Population growth rate: 0.21% o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Birth rate: 9.82 births/1000 population o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death rate: 9.64/1000 population o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Life expectancy: 78.44 o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Official Language: Greek o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Literacy: 95% Settlement o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Total population: 10,601,527 o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 million live in Athens Occupations o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Services 59.2 % o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Agriculture 19.8% o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industry 21% Occupations More Occupations Island Occupations o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fishing, sponge-fishing and handicrafts are important occupations on many Greek islands Recreation o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greeks enjoy music, dancing, snow skiing, sailing, water sports, eating and smoking. On the Beach and On the Slopes Olympics o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The original Olympic Games were first held in Greece in 776 B.C., and they will host the next Olympics in 2004 Beliefs and Ideas o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many ancient cultures created Evil Eye charms to mimic the eyes of the gods, believing that the charms could ward off evil spirits and deflect the Evil Eye, a belief still popular in the Mediterranean today.

Steel Toed Stilettos

Man is the subject; woman is the object. This is the major premise of the gender binary hierarchy. Man is dominant and the woman submissive, active and passive, rational and emotional, strong and weak. Hegemonic masculinity is the ‘maintenance of practices that institutionalize men's dominance over women' (Connell, 1997, p. 24). Emphasized femininity is compliance and the overall subordination of women to men (Connell). This will be an analysis of female strippers and those people in their environment, with special concern regarding the objectification of women, and the misleading emphasized femininity ascribed to dancers. Men are the customers thought of when designing a strip club; there are scantily clad women, sports or pornography on television sets, even pool tables and arcade games. He is the subject. The women are objectified, the use of a pseudonym, or stage name, distances the customers, and the dancers, from the strippers' lives outside the club. However, there are more parties involved than the customer and the dancer. The parties involved extend from the dancers to their agents, the club owners/managers, the municipal government as well as club support staff, photographers, promotional people, and others not discussed here. The agents, rarely female, must find a new club for the woman to work in every week and for this, they receive a fifteen percent commission. Agents have contracts with the dancers as well as the clubs. When and if any dancers complain about dirty working conditions and unfair labour practices, the agents quickly attempt to stop the denouncing. If a dancer wanted to sue a club for breach of contract, for instance, and the agents did not persuade her to stop, the treatment upon her return would be a sign that she was done in the strip clubs. The agent would blackball her from all clubs represented by his agency; in Alberta, ninety-eight percent of the clubs are under contract to one agency effectively ensuring the women's compliance and increasing the unlikelihood that someone might speak up. In addition to the club and dancer contracts they hold, they advocate breast implants and bleached blonde hair and pole dancing. If women do receive implants, show prices increase and instead of being a dancer, she can be a ‘walker'. Many feature performers simply walk around the stage and do not dance, an opportunity provided for them by their physical attributes. A classmate remarked in a discussion, â€Å"obviously the girls know how to dance, it's a basic job requirement. † The reality is breast implants can take centre stage and relegate a lack of rhythm to a dark corner backstage. The mainstream and the sex industry reward women who have breast implants. Those dancers with large breasts will receive more money per show than her colleague with the smaller cup size will receive if all other factors are equal. The municipal governments, specifically the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary, require that all exotic dancers pass a security clearance to control for any drug or prostitution charges also, dancers must pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars for a license. The city has increased their scrutiny in regards to one's security clearance in the past two years resulting in fewer women able to work in the city and others fearing that their past transgressions exposed to everyone making them ineligible for employment. A near rejection of one Edmonton dancer's license renewal illustrates the unintended effects of the security clearance; she was required to meet the police vice and discuss a charge on her record. There was a real possibility that she would not pass if she were unable to explain her charges. It was shoplifting, no conviction, just a charge, and occurred seven years prior. Why is it necessary for a stripper to gain security clearance? Are strippers inherently more dangerous? What kinds of threats do naked women pose? Fear of the criminality possessed by these women must not be the reason for these seemingly unnecessary procedures. If it was a predominately male profession, it is highly doubtful that the same processes would be in place. The fee of one hundred fifty dollars is significantly higher than bars or restaurants, but fortunately far below the annual three thousand dollars paid by escorts. Does the city equate strippers and escorts? The singling out of these two professions may suggest an equivocation. Why are retail workers not forced to have a license? One answer is that the government wants a share of the money these women work hard to receive. The documenting of the tips dancers receive and the money escorts receive is not necessarily reliable. These people may not fully declare their income on their taxes and the government is unable to verify the amounts. These licensing fees are in place to regulate the dancers but there is little regulation. This is another instance of the domination attempts on these females. The club owner/manager is male for the vast majority. These men tell the agents what kind of dancers they are seeking. The owner's preferences can result in the agents offering only certain women work; he may want only Caucasian women, waifs, or pop music blondes. The club owner holds absolutely the power to hire and fire. After first meeting a dancer or after her first show of the week, or at any time during the week, the manager can fire her, sometimes without pay. A woman's weight, breast size, muscle tone (be it too muscular or not enough), attractiveness, attitude, behaviour, past, are all reasons for dismissal. The fact that a woman could work an entire week, and be expecting a paycheque of eight hundred dollars only to be fired hours before she is to be paid seems unfair, oppressive, exploitive, etc. There is also the possibility that instead of receiving a paycheque, one could receive a bill. The attached hotel may be the only option in the town, deducted from the cheque, as well as telephone calls, bar tabs, restaurant bills, these alone could dramatically reduce a cheque and then there are fines. There are no fine regulations and can vary widely between clubs. Fines are also absolute, there is no appeal process, no possibility that the Stripper Protection Agency will raid the club and arrest the fine-happy manager. If a manager hates a dancer, he could allow her to dance the week only to surprise her with a page of fines for infractions she did not commit. Fines are in place to ensure job effectiveness, productivity and presence; they also lessen payrolls. Sanctions imposed for tardiness are generally one hundred dollars for every minute late for a show, no excuses. Missed shows range from two hundred fifty dollars to five hundred dollars plus the cost of the show. It is wholly within the manager's power to decide to double a dancer's fines. For example, during an interview with a dancer named Octavia, she told of when she was late for a show because her suitcase would not open, after a lengthy struggle the manager opened it by ripping the suitcase and then proceeded to fine her three hundred dollars for being late. She told the other dancers what had happened and they were outraged and informed the manager of such. He then doubled her fine because she had a ‘big mouth' and the other dancers were approaching him and scolding him for fining Octavia. It is a system that favors the club, adversarial to the dancer and easy to identify situations in which women could work a week for nothing, maybe less. Fired without pay and an excessive fine system are only two of the way women are overpowered, another is the unwillingness and the refusal to accept any reason to miss a show. These claims, legitimate or not, are for the vast majority of the time never taken seriously. The managers have ‘seen & heard it all before' and suspect a late night of alcohol and drugs are the cause of this day's ailment. The male aspects of the strip trade include the agents who have a monopoly on clubs and workers, almost all control over a dancer's placement, much say in the hiring of a dancer, and the power to ostracize a dancer. Spotlighting the municipal government and it is hard to miss its attempts to exploit working women. The club owners have the power, and exercise it, to fire without pay, fine exorbitant amounts of money over minutes, and refuse to believe any ailments that a woman is suffering from is anything more than a hangover. After that lengthy inspection of the males of the strip club culture, the attention focuses on the females, the dancers. In her article, Feminism, Marxism, Method and the State: An Agenda for Theory, Catharine A. MacKinnon (1982) states, â€Å"Socially, femaleness means femininity, which means attractiveness to men, which means sexual attractiveness, which means sexual availability on male terms†. If femaleness means femininity and dancers are female, if the factors of femininity as met it is true. Dancers are attractive to men, sexually attractive in fact. Interpreting sexual availability as a willing participant in sexual activity is valid; however, women can be available in general and not for a specific person. If this is correct then dancers exude femininity. They seem rather feminine, wearing form-fitting dresses, short skirts, and stiletto heels. Their make-up and hair are amazing emphasizing their attractiveness, and being naked is a sufficient condition for sexually attractive. It is appropriate to consider dancers feminine in relation to MacKinnon's article. The men think we do it because we love sex so much, we're sex-driven throbbing mattress kittens. But when we're on stage we're all virgins, and then we lock eyes with that one special guy and he might be the one to change all that . . . and then we lock eyes with the next guy and he might be the one to change all that. Men are so stupid. † Octavia's quote is an example of the have/hold discourse (Hollway, 1984). Wife or mistress, virgin or whore (or sex-driven throbbing mattress kittens) the dichotomy is the same and impossible to achieve. Expected to be the provocative, seductive, pure, inginue and obviously unable to fill the role, the dancer adopts a role not unlike that of a trucker. Rude, crude and crass, these women are tough. They have experienced volumes either in person, a close friend, or another dancer's recollection. Assertive, aggressive, controlled, rational are usually male-specific traits but dancers are often described as such. A power shift has occurred, any previous conceptions about women's subservience to men have vanished. On stage, strippers can make men do anything, falling over themselves to throw money to her, reduced to the basest of urges. After having seen one's oppressor with his pants around his ankles and his clown boxers showing, the power is not as apparent as it had been. If subsequently, the repeat viewing of the oppressor is in compromising, powerless situations, the oppressor ceases to exist, and it is simply another person. In the situation the power shifted to the dancers and the agent, the manager, the city government may exert some power over her; regardless the men at the strip club are waiting for her. Exotic dancers appear to be an ultimately sexual, feminine being. However, it is not always the case; they adopt attitudes perhaps better suited to their trucker or rig-working customers. The misconception that the dancers are waiting for that guy at the club is in light of the fact that many dancers have an utter hatred for males and they despise them while they smile and listen to his stories. The objectification that is present in the strip club may not be the dancers at all it may be the customer who is nothing other than a source for money. The personality traits, usually coded as masculine, embodied by these women, must aid them as they ‘hustle' to sell table dances, and convince the men to play loonie games. The transference of power, as experienced in the strip club, would be an empowering experience for all women. The possibility of it occurring is not absurd. The emphasized femininity some women adhere to is not going to increase the likelihood of this fundamental shift. However, if any change is to occur, solidarity must first be present.

Topics for Discussion

TOPICS for DISCUSSION Society and the Media 1- Where do you get the news from? radio / newspapers / TV / Internet 2- Reality shows on TV 3- TV and children The Environment 1- Public transport: a real alternative? 2- Recycling: a good way to be green? 3- Plastic bags in shops. The World of Work 1- Teleworking (working from home): pros and cons. 2- Equal opportunities for men and women 3- Unemployment: effects on society Travelling 1- Travelling alone or travelling with friends (or family) – Rural tourism 3- Exotic holidays Relationships 1- Getting married, living together or living alone 2- Families today: working parents / single parents / grandparents bringing up children Health 1- Ways to stay healthy 2- Fast food or traditional food 3- Telemedicine: online patients Language Learning 1- Bilingual education, Internet and language learning 2- Language exchanges, courses abroad Crime 1- How to avoid street robbery or burglary 2- Crime and technology: identity theftShopping 1- S hopping centres (malls) and department stores versus small shops 2- Opening hours: on Sundays and bank holidays 3- Shopaholics Progress and Science 1- Space exploration: useless or useful 2- The best inventions in 20th century Money matters 1- Is money the most important thing when choosing a job? 2- Charities and NGO’s: for people, animals, civil rights 3- Is pocket money for children a good idea? Computers and Technology 1- Downloading films or going to the cinema – Internet and books: will libraries disappear? 3- Effects of Internet on family life Education 1- Single sex education or co-educational schools 2- State schools or private schools 3- Discipline problems in the classroom Leisure and Entertainment 1- Changes in how people spend their free time: cinema music social networks theatre clubbing computer games others 2- Ways to relax: escaping from your daily routine .

Scottish Independence

Contents Introduction ————————————————————————– 3 Chapter I General information —————————————————————- 4 Chapter II Arguments for and against the Scottish independence Arguments for the independence ———————————————– 6 Arguments against the independence —————————————– 7 Conclusion ———————————————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ 10 Bibliography ————————————————————————- 11Introduction The subject I have analyzed in this research paper is the possible independence of Scotland. I chose this topic because the Scottish independence is a problem of great importance not only for the UK and Scotland, but also for the whole Europe. While doing my research I found very strong and opposing opinions about this recent topic. Scottish independence is a relevant and important matter that has been debated for many years but is now at the pinnacle of debate.Both public and politicians and opposing opinions about independence and throughout this work I will evaluate the most current and most emotive arguments for and against independence. First, I will speak about the historical background of this issue and about the parties â€Å"fightingâ⠂¬  for independence. Next, I will represent for and against arguments, which will help to understand this complicated issue. Chapter I General information Scotland was an independent country from 843, with the unification of the Scots and Picts.In medieval times, Scotland fought for freedom from England, which Mel Gibson dramatically depicted in his Academy Award-winning movie â€Å"Braveheart. † Not long after Wallace died in the early 1300s, Robert the Bruce led Scotland to independence, and it remained an autonomous nation until the Act of Union joined Scotland and England in 1707. Since then Scotland has been one of four countries in the United Kingdom. However, the United Kingdom returned some autonomy to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and gave them the right to form their own parliaments, in the late 1990s.Thus, in 1999, Scotland received devolved powers for a new parliament in Holyrood. And now, more than 700 years after William Wallace died fighting for Scott ish independence, and more than 300 years after Scotland and England came together in a United Kingdom, a new agreement could lead to an independent Scotland. Since the Scottish National Party (SNP) came to power five years ago (in 2007) there has been a wave of nationalistic fever sweeping the country and independence is on their agenda. Increasingly people see autonomy as a panacea for all the difficulties Scotland faces.Thus, in 2014 Scotland will decide to maintain the UK or to dissolve it, and this decision will shape not only the future of Scotland, but also of the whole UK. The question of various debates is can Scotland take the next step and become a fully functioning independent state again, and will this be good for Scotland and the rest of UK, or at least for one of them. As I have already mentioned, the Scottish independence is supported most prominently by the Scottish National Party, which is currently the largest political party in Scotland.But other parties also hav e pro-independence policies. These are the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Socialist Party and Solidarity. Seventy-two of the seats in the Scottish Parliament are now held by parties/members who have expressed pro-independence sentiments, over 55% of the total. These are the 69 Scottish National Party members, the two Green members and Margo MacDonald, an independent politician. It is also important to know, that SNP forms a minority government in the Scottish Parliament.On the matter of Scottish independence British Prime Minister David Cameron and his Scottish counterpart, First Minister Alex Salmond, signed a deal in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday paving the way for Scots to vote on independence from the United Kingdom. The referendum, expected to be held in 2014, would allow Scots a straight yes-or-no vote on staying in the union. On this case the â€Å"Yes Scotland† campaign was launched in May. This campaign tries to â€Å"build a groundswell of support for an indep endent Scotland†.However, Cameron has vocally opposed Scottish independence. In February, he said † I am 100% clear that I will fight with everything I have to keep our United Kingdom together,† since an intact United Kingdom, consisting of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, â€Å"is stronger, safer, richer and fairer. † Rather, the SNP claims that a positive vote for independence in a referendum would have â€Å"enormous moral and political force†¦ impossible for a future government (Westminster) to ignore†, and hence Westminster will declare Scotland independent.After this agreement was signed, different surveys were released, and almost all these surveys showed that less than 50% of the Scots polled wanted to break away from the United Kingdom. It’s fair to say that not enough people want independence. The fact that the SNP are in power now cannot be considered an indication that Scotland wants independence. The United Kingd om, and its constituent parts by proxy, are signatories to the United Nations Charter and as such any action to deny the people of Scotland a right to vote would be in contradiction to the obligations to uphold self-determination.Article 1 in both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) reads: â€Å"All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. â€Å" The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 15) further states that everyone has the right to a nationality, and that no one should be arbitrarily deprived of a nationality or denied the right to change nationality.However, there are certain factors that give rise to the possession of the right to self-determination These are: ? a history of independence or self-rule in a n identifiable territory ? a distinct culture ? a will and capability to regain self-governance Chapter II Arguments for and against the Scottish independence 1. Arguments for the independence Now I want to speak about the reasons why many Scots consider they should their independence back. First and foremost, Scotland is its own country.It is a distinct country which has its own culture, people, history, traditions, national dress, land and sea borders, health service, legal establishment, education system, flag and a history of nationhood that. So beyond any reasonable debate, it qualifies under all three criteria (the Scottish Parliament representing the â€Å"capability† section), and any attempt to frustrate the people’s right to self-determination will find itself on the wrong side of both domestic and international law. The next argument is that Scotland considers that UK spends some of the country’s money not appropriately and effectively.They say that w hile the UK’s position as a â€Å"power of the world† has dwindled in the last fifty years – and especially in the last ten years – it unfortunately still spends money like a superpower of the world. This can be seen with it investing in nuclear weapons for the next 35 years at a cost between ? 20bn to ? 35bn. This is a substantial amount of the deficit, that the current UK government is trying to save through cuts to schools/universities, hospitals, police, and other public services.Thus, if Scotland were independent, they would invest their elsewhere. Control over North Sea oil and gas, which is expected to generate ? 56bn in revenue over the next six years, is also a major battleground in the run-up to the independence. Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, claims Scotland would take control of 90% of North Sea fields after independence, helping it to become one of the world's richest countries. Furthermore, for the next fifty years, renewable energ y is seen as a key industry worldwide.Scotland has a strategic position for wind, hydro, and tide powered energy. With over 40 years of North Sea oil still available, the profits could be poured into renewable energy – instead of being sent to London. Nowadays a great rise of nationalism can be observed in Scotland. Thus many Scots stick to the point that if Scotland were to become independent, it would emphasize their greatest individuals, businesses, and achievements instead of having them blended with Westminster politicians. 2. Arguments against the independenceFrom all the above mentioned we can conclude that there is obviously a case for Scottish Independence, but before doing this we shall discuss the reason against the Scottish autonomy. Through being a part of Great Britain Scotland has managed to become one of the top financial powers in the world but some are still trying to fix Scotland when in fact it isn’t broken. People think they should have more contro l over their own country and demand more rights. However they do have control over their country as they decide on matters like health, education, transport, housing, environment and local affairs.Isn’t that enough? Scottish devolved parliament has been working independently since 1998 with no major issues so why should this be changed, if it can bring many problems. People complain that Scottish devolved parliament doesn’t have enough power yet they have Scottish MP’s sitting in Westminster deciding on English issues, whereas no English MP’s are sitting in Holyrood. The Scottish parliament has only Scottish MP’s deciding on its affairs but down in Westminster England have Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English MP’s deciding on theirs. How is that fair?If anyone should be complaining it should be the English. Scotland has its own devolved parliament but also has 258 Labour seats down in Westminster deciding on British and English issues . First of all they are lucky to have as much power as they do being even less than a tenth of the population of Britain. So, why should this be changed, if it can result in many problems of different types. Moreover, for unionists, the main argument against Scottish independence is the Barnett formula – a rule that Scotland receives 10 pence of every pound made in the UK, while only having 8. % of the population. Social issues would not be our only problem; Scotland would encounter numerous other issues if we were to become independent. Problems with passports or currency what would be done about them? What would be the solution? Tell a six million population to apply for a new passport and exchange all of their money to Euros. Also problems like defense or immigration and the other issues which affect the whole of the British island which are now dealt with in Westminster. How would separate independent states decide to split these responsibilities?The assumption that indep endence is achievable with the costs and problems involved is something the Scottish taxpayer would have to bear the burden of. Scotland’s strong position in Britain is not the only reason against autonomy. The fact that people simply don’t want independence is another vital argument. This is being ignored by the SNP who are still campaigning for Scottish independence explaining that independence is going to help Scotland â€Å"prosper† but why then after 7 years of SNP campaigning only 37% of Scotland votes for independence in polls.Another barrier is that numerous commentators have raised the objection that since a vote for independence would affect the entire UK, then residents of England, Wales and Northern Ireland should also be entitled to vote. Others have raised the issue of whether Scots not currently resident in Scotland should have the right to vote. More problematic would be Scotland’s status as an independent EU member state in the area of fo reign and particularly defense policy.It currently remains unclear if an independent Scotland would remain part of the British military forces or if it would develop its own military capabilities and consequently an independent defense and security policy. This is probably the biggest concern for the British government which has to fear that the withdrawal of Scottish forces from the UK’s military capabilities would substantially weaken the status of a smaller Union consisting only of England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the EU’s defence and security pillar.To exit from the United Kingdom certainly poses substantial and unforeseen risks for Scotland, most of all in terms of the country’s economic and budgetary development. However, England potentially has most to lose overall from Scottish independence. If Scotland splits from the rest of the UK and turns out to be relatively viable as an independent country it is possible that Wales, and even Northern Ireland , will follow its example. As a smaller country existing outside the Eurozone, England’s influence over the political and economic agenda of the EU would be diminished.It would then only be a matter of time for the Eurosceptics in the Conservative party and the UK Independence Party to get their way and for a public referendum on England’s EU membership to take place. Hence, English Eurosceptics who consider Scottish independence as an opportunity to push their country quicker towards EU exit should think again. Scotland might have the last laugh after all. Conclusion Thus, in this research paper I spoke about the issue of Scottish independence. This is a matter of global importance, and in the first chapter of my work I tried to give general information about the history of his question, about the parties which want their country gain independence, about different surveys held on this issue. In the second chapter I represented the major for and against arguments. This arguments help us understand what are the main reasons some Scots want independence and what are the objections. Thus, we can come to a conclusion, that if the Scottish national party’s irrational campaign for independence does succeed one day Scotland would be looking at a whole different range of problems. The separation of Britain would provoke competition, bad relationships and ambiguity in various questions.And in my opinion even if the idea of this independence does have good points for Scotland, this nationalistic pride will only make both Scotland and the rest of the UK more vulnerable. Bibliography 1. http://www. markedbyteachers. com/as-and-a-level/english/scottish-independence 2. http://edition. cnn. com/2012/10/15/world/europe/uk-scotland-independence/index. html 3. http://wingsland. podgamer. com/weekend-essay-the-right-to-decide/ 4. http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-scotland-13326310 5. http://topics. cnn. com/topics/scotland 6. http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-sc otland-scotland-politics-19942638 7. ttp://edition. cnn. com/2012/10/15/world/europe/uk-scotland-independence/index. html 1. http://interstateinaninstant. wordpress. com/2012/02/04/the-case-for-scottish-independence-regional-trade-energy-and-power/ 8. http://www. charliedavidson. net/scottish-independence/ ——————————————– [ 1 ]. http://www. markedbyteachers. com/as-and-a-level/english/scottish-independence [ 2 ]. http://wingsland. podgamer. com/weekend-essay-the-right-to-decide [ 3 ]. http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-scotland-13326310 [ 4 ]. http://topics. cnn. com/topics/scotland Scottish Independence Should Scotland be Independent? There has been a wave of nationalistic fever sweeping the country ever since the SNP came to power in 2007. Independence is on their agenda and now there is a referendum set for 2014. But why should we go independent? After all, we have been married to England for over 300 years and our country is ‘too poor’ and ‘too wee’ to square up to the economic giants in the global market today and what would happen if the our banks were to self-destruct again? Would we manage to govern our own country independently?Increasingly people are beginning to see autonomy as a panacea for the predicament Scotland faces. However, there are masses out there that are still worried about the myriad of ‘unanswered questions' about independence. Furthermore, misconceptions are conceived through the unionist’s tactics, ‘throw enough mud and hopefully some will stick’, and now that the referendum date has been announced, we ca n observe the wild thrashing Scotland will receive through the masses of propaganda that the London controlled media will propagate. Firstly, it is important to consider if Scotland is prosperous enough to survive on its own.Scotland is a rich country, yet many Scottish people are poor. Scotland has a surplus of energy, yet many Scottish people struggle to heat their homes. Scotland produces an educated workforce thanks to our tradition of free education for all, yet Scots are forced to emigrate to find work. Why is that, if the Union has been so great for us? Poverty, which disfigures much of our country, is a direct product of the Union. If Scotland really is so poor, a derelict society dependent on handouts, then just why is it that Westminster is so desperate to keep a hold of us?Those opposing Scotland’s independence claim that she would be unable to cope in a situation like the HBOS and RBS bailouts. The truth about one of the bailouts is illuminated if we consider the name – HALIFAX Bank of Scotland – it was not solely a  Scottish bank; it was run from Halifax, in Yorkshire, England. All the management and decision-making was carried out in England. So half of the blame deserves to be placed on the avaricious muttonheads at Halifax. After all, it was coping just fine before Halifax came along.Unlike what the media skewed towards, Scotland actually deserves the minority of the blame for the crash at RBS too. As Andrew Hughes Hallett, Professor of Economics at St Andrew’s University put it, speaking on Radio Scotland. â€Å"†¦by international convention, when banks which operate in more than one country get into these sorts of conditions, the bailout is shared in proportion to the area of activities of those banks, and therefore it’s shared between several countries. In the case of the RBS, I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but roughly speaking 90% of its operations are in England and 10% are in Scotlandà ¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"1Therefore, in reality, Scotland was only responsible for 10% of the crash at RBS. Which is quite a substantial deviation from what the media proposed. I wonder how they managed to dodge that fact. Oil is a finite resource and eventually it is going to run out. But what is the point in pretending it’s not there now just because there’s a chance that it may only last 30-40 years? According to the oil companies. Which I am sure must be absolutely 100% accurate. Why would an oil company want to underestimate the length of time their reserves will last? It does not at all sound like simple business logic to me.Let’s all face it; if a doctor tells a family that their granny has three years left and she passes in six months — the doctor will be met with a multitude of beetroot faces demanding explanations. In addition, the more people that begin to think that oil is drying up the higher the price will be. And that means mega bucks for the oil comp anies; when they make money – Scotland makes money (that is if it were independent). As it stands, Scotland currently wants to set up an oil fund. It does not sound like a bad idea; that is how the Norwegians powered their way through the recession.They were smart enough to seize the opportunity. However, the UK is against this because it wants the money for bank bailouts and nuclear toys. So what happens when it eventually does run out? Well, as it runs out, a 50% reduction does not exactly translate to a 50% fall in revenue; prices will rocket and despite this possibly not boding well with the consumers, it will still boost the nation’s economy. In addition, it is possible we will stumble upon even more financially viable reserves – which no one seems to account for in the ‘horrifying’ statistics.If not, then we will just simply have to be a bit more economical and is Scotland not the perfect place to go green? We are geographically sound in terms of wave and wind energy. With the oil fund pot, that we will have if we go through with autonomy, we will be able to fully open the door into the renewable industry. This will propel us through any economic crises that may face us later down the line. And the country will be clean. However, if we do not go through with independence now, before our oil runs out, then yes, we probably have very little chance of independence being successful.I bet David Cameron would happily let us devolve after that. Scotland is not uniquely incapable of governing itself. We are not too ‘wee’. We have a larger population than the Irish Republic, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovenia. We have approximately the same population as Denmark or Finland. In area, we are larger than Slovenia, the Irish Republic, Belgium†¦ We are approximately the same size as the Czech Republic or Austria. Plus, the Scottish parliament appears to be plugging away just fine and if all of these coun tries can manage on their own why can’t we?People of Scotland, vote for independence while we can in 2014! After 300 years of a helpless bickering marriage, I think it is time for an amicable divorce. It happens every day. Sometimes it just does not work out and it is time that we all come to grips with that fact. 1 â€Å"http://www. muzzerino. com/2011/08/truth-about-hbos-and-rbs-bail-out. html† http://www. muzzerino. com/2011/08/truth-about-hbos-and-rbs-bail-out. html â€Å"http://www. newsnetscotland. com/index. php/scottish-opinion/4341-a-unionist-lexicon-an-a-z-of-unionist-scare-stories-myths-and-misinformation#poverty†