Diplomatic Immunity

The importance of developing friendly intercourse between members of international community which is one of the avowed aims of the United Nations, necessitate the establishment of diplomatic relations between nations. As the complexity of international affairs increased and the interdependence of nations grew, countries recognized both the convenience and necessity of maintaining resident envoys abroad. A code of diplomatic procedure was developed and has become part of the law of nations.On 18 April l961, the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, hereafter called the â€Å"Vienna Convention†, which codified the law on the subject (Salonga, J. & Yap, P. l966 p. 252). Diplomatic persons have been accorded since ancient times special privileges and immunities on the necessity of permitting free and unhampered exercise of diplomatic functions and of maintaining the dignity of the diplomatic repre sentative and the nation he represents.However, the Vienna Convention clearly expressed that those who enjoy the privileges and immunities have the duty to respect the laws of the host country. Although inadequate, diplomatic immunity provides a means to forestall active hostilities that might arise between nations. Discussions/Analysis The person of a diplomatic envoy is inviolable. A diplomatic agent, official family members and his administrative and technical staff may not be subpoenaed as a witness, arrested or detained, prosecuted and residence may not be entered subject to ordinary procedure.The United Nations Organizations and other international bodies also enjoy the right of legation and are accorded diplomatic immunity by receiving nations. Nonetheless, without prejudice to the privileges and immunities, diplomatic personnel are not exempt from legal responsibility for infractions committed under the local laws of the receiving country. For death and injury committed, the receiving country may request the sending nation to waive the immunity of a diplomatic agent. Gueorgui Makharadze, a deputy ambassador of the Republic of Goergia to the United States was convicted by the U. S.  for causing the death of a sixteen-year-old girl and wounding four others in a car accident.As a diplomat, he was released from custody, but the Georgian government waived his immunity when the U. S. government asked for it (Frieden, T. & the Associated Press 2000). Less grave offenses, however, are being dealt with administratively by the sending State as in the case of theft. Mexican embassy asked a Mexican press attachà © Rafael Quintero Curiel to tender his resignation upon arrival in Mexico City when he was caught through a surveillance video stealing blackberry PDA units from a White House press meeting room.He was caught up at the airport by the United States Secret Service and was about to leave. He claimed diplomatic immunity and left (. Rosen, James, Max Emanuel & the Associated Press). Exemption from taxation by the receiving State is held to be part of the â€Å"non-essential† prerogatives of diplomats, granted to them only as a matter of comity or courtesy. A diplomatic envoy however is not exempt from charges levied for specific services rendered. An example of this is the charge on cars entering central London. There are reports that diplomatic immunity has been used to avoid payment of traffic fines reaching to several million pounds.There are embassies who agreed to settle their accounts. Londoners welcome the move of the United Arab Emirates to settle  £99,950 of traffic fines and hope that the U. S. government will follow the move made by UAE (â€Å"Embassy to pay†). The premises occupied by a diplomatic mission are also inviolable. The agents of the receiving State may not enter such premises without the consent of the envoy, except in extreme cases of necessity such as when the premises are on fire or where there is imminent danger that a crime of violence is about to be perpetrated on the premises.Such premises cannot be entered or searched and neither can the records and archives be detained by local authorities even under process of law. Premises of global organizations are also inviolable. Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) become the center of controversy when Geneva police entered the Geneva headquarters of the international patents agency to collect evidences in the alleged smear campaign against WIPO’s deputy head, Francis Gurry, following his complaint filed.The police authorities get rid of diplomatic immunity when they entered the premises of an international body to greet DNA samples from ten employees of the said organization as reported by the Tribune de Genà ¨ve. To allow the investigation to proceed, the Swiss government assented earlier to lift the diplomatic immunity from the 10 WIPO diplomats (Curtis, M. 2008). Diplomatic privileges and immunities may be waived, but as a rule, the waiver cannot be made by the individual concerned since such privileges and immunities are not personal to him.The waiver may be made only by the government of the sending State, in the case of UN International agencies; it is the member nations that could waive the immunity. Summary/Conclusion Diplomatic agents are entitled to privileges and immunities, such as: personal inviolability, inviolability of premises and archives, exemption from taxes and customs duties, exemption from local jurisdiction, etc. Privileges and immunities however, are not without limitations; envoys are not immune from legal liability.The host country may request the sending State expressed waiver of immunity or can declare persona non grata a diplomat or any member of his family who commit serious crime. Though immune from local laws, he can be recalled and prosecuted under his own country’s justice system. An envoy is immune from the criminal and saves i n certain cases, the civil jurisdiction of the receiving State for all acts, whether official or private. Thus he cannot be arrested, prosecuted and punished for any offense he may commit, unless his diplomatic immunity is waived.The procedure in cases where an envoy is guilty of a serious infraction of laws is to ask for his recall. Immunity from jurisdiction, however, does not mean exemption from the local law. It does not presuppose a right to violate any of the laws of the receiving State. They are not liable to be sued unless they submit to the jurisdiction. Diplomatic immunity does not signify immunity from legal liability but only exemption from local jurisdiction.

Pursuit of Happiness Will Smith Speech

The Journey movie I chose to talk about is The Pursuit of Happyness. It is an inner journey. The movie starts off showing the scenery – the Golden Gate Bridge, an American flag and the crowded busy street full of business people and the homeless. The camera then focuses on Chris Gardener and his son Christopher. Chris says throughout the movie the 6 stages of his life. It starts off with ‘Riding the bus'. In ‘Riding the bus’ we learn that he lives in an apartment with his partner Glenda and son and that he sells portable bone density scanners to make a living, however they are quite hard to sell as they are seen as unnecessary – a luxury item. We also find out that his wife works very long and hard hours at a factory to support the family. One day he walks down the street and sees a really rich guy and asks him what he does for a living. The rich man says that he is a stockbroker and that you don’t need to have gone to college to be one – all you need is good maths and people skills. Chris then aspires to be a stockbroker as he has those skills and mainly because â€Å"they all looked so damn happy. † Stage 2 is ‘Being stupid’. In this stage he is about to go into Dean Witter to apply for a stockbroker internship but realises he doesn’t look professional with his big heavy scanner so he asks a busker to look after it. However the busker runs away stealing his scanner after he went inside. He then gets told that he doesn’t have a great shot at the job as he has no further education, there are bucket loads of applicants and only 20 people get accepted into the internship but only 1 gets the job after 6 months. He then gets very determined to keep on trying to show them why he should get picked despite the weakness on his application. The next stage ‘Running’ starts off with Chris spotting the busker with his stolen scanner and chasing her down. He manages to get it back however his wife is not very pleased as then they now have more to sell – she was getting very stressed and upset. Next he goes to Dean Witter and waits outside the building for Jay Twissel to come out so he can try to convince him to let him have an internship. He then shares a taxi with him but Jay was very distracted trying to do the ‘impossible’ new rubix cube. Chris then shows him how he can solve the rubix cube and Jay is shocked and starts to reconsider Chris. Jay then gets out of the taxi leaving Chris to pay the fare, however Chris does not have enough money on him so he does a runner at the traffic lights. The taxi driver chases him so Chris quickly jumped on a train however the scanner he was carrying got stuck on the platform. Glenda then decides to leave Chris and take Christopher with her. Chris then thinks about how the Declaration talks about the pursuit of happiness. But wonders how did the man writing know that happiness is something you need to pursue. That night he then gets a call from Jay Twissel for an interview for the internship at 10am in a couple of days. He then sees Glenda and tells her that Christopher is to move in with him. The next day his landlord tells him that he was getting evicted but could stay one more week if he painted the place. Chris then spends the day painting but is interrupted by the police knocking on his door taking him down the station as he had one too many parking tickets he hadn’t paid. He is told he had to stay at the station till 9:30am the next day as the cheque has to be processed. He then calls Glenda to pick Christopher up from day care and keep him for the night. He is forced to run to the interview at 10am from the station in his bad clothes covered in paint. He still just manages to pull off a great interview but is told the internship has no salary. He then figures he may be able to just get by if he sells the rest of his scanners. Glenda lets Christopher permanently stay with Chris as she knows how much Chris loves him and that he will look after Christopher. Glenda then leaves to New York to work at her friend’s restaurant. Chris and Christopher have to leave their apartment and stay at a cheap motel across the road. Stage 4 is ‘Internship’ and yes Chris got it and now starts his 6month internship. He gets told that generally the one who brings in the most money for the company gets hired. He starts off as very unappreciated as he was the one who was always asked to buy coffee and donuts for his bosses. He is also disadvantaged, as he has to leave the office at 4pm to pick up Christopher when everyone else stays back till 7pm. Later on he manages to get a meeting with Walter Ribbon that if it goes well he could get the company lots of money but he is forced to run an errand for his boss, which consequently makes him miss his interview with Walter. The next day he goes to Walter’s house to apologise for missing the meeting. Walter invites him and Christopher to the NFL game. He tries to convince Walter to come to Dean Witter but Walter says no but Chris meets plenty of other people interested in Dean Witter. Chris had now sold all his scanners after 4 months, he felt like things were going okay. Until he reaches the 5th stage of his life – ‘Paying taxes’. The government had sent him a letter saying that he was way overdue in paying his taxes and that they had taken the money he owed out of his bank account only leaving him with $21. 33 left. He takes Christopher to the park when he spots a man with his machine that he had left on the station. He manages to get it back and goes straight away to find someone to buy it. He manages to find a doctor who says he will buy it but the scanner was not working anymore. He and Christopher then go home to find all their belongings outside – they had been evicted. They end up having to stay the night in the train station bathroom. The next night they find a homeless shelter to stay at. However the night after that all the rooms were full so they spend the night on the train while Christopher sleeps and Chris tries to fix his scanner. He realises that it may work if he buys some new parts. The next night they get a bed at the shelter and Chris manages to fix the scanner after he replaces the parts. He then sells the machine and gets $250 so they are able to afford a hotel for the night. The next morning he gets told he got the well-paid job! He is ecstatic and happy. Which takes us to the final stage – ‘Happiness’. He is so joyous that he runs to Christopher’s day care and picks him up early. The camera the focuses on Chris and Christopher walking down an empty street. They appear very happy and the camera also shows the great relationship that they have with each other. The movie finishes with telling us how Chris went, as the movie was based on a true story. We are told that after Dean Witter Chris went on to found the investment firm Gardener Rich in 1987. In 2006 Chris sold a minority stake in his brokerage firm in a multi-million dollar deal. Journey through an important phase of Chris’ life. Journey looking to move to somewhere else whether emotional or physical. Obstacles, challenges and barriers on his journey. Guy in red car sparks his dream to be a stockbroker. Takes risks accepting the internship. Christopher’s journey moving home around and around – following his dad. Feelings shown. Chris was very prepared to go on the journey to get to his goal, his destination – his dream job of a stockbroker. Chris had a strong vision of where he wanted to be. A journey is a passage or progress from one stage to another. Story of Chris in his pursuit of happiness. Chris was very motivated. Incredible twists and turns and obstacles on his journey. ACTUAL SPEECH The Journey movie I chose to talk about is The Pursuit of Happyness. The dictionary defines journey as a passage or progress from one stage to another. This journey is about an important phase of Chris’ life – it is about Chris’ pursuit of happiness. Chris is a guy who is struggling to make ends meet and he and his wife are living in a situation where money is a major stress in their life. For a living he sells portable bone density scanners which hospitals find unnecessary and see a luxury item. He sees what he wants to do, what he wants to become – a stockbroker. The spark of his dream is when he saw a guy smiling driving a Ferrari and he asks him what he does for a job. The guy then says he is a stockbroker and that you don’t need to have gone to college to be one – all you need is good maths and people skills. He then sets out on his journey in pursuit of a dream that comes from a sudden desire. Chris sets out very determined to get that dream job of his. He makes it in the end but his journey is filled with numerous barriers and roadblocks and moments where you feel like he could easily quit and other times where you feel like circumstances might completely overwhelm him because he ends up homeless and left to raise his son alone. There are multiple times where you feel like no matter what he does you feel like he isn’t going to get there despite his best efforts. He sets out on his journey knowing very little – he takes many risks. He faces many obstacles throughout the movie some being: being kept in jail for the night for not paying his parking tickets, most of his money being taken away for not paying taxes leaving him with $21. 33, some of his scanners being stolen and not in working condition when found, being very unappreciated by his boss, his wife leaving him to raise his son alone and getting evicted which made Chris and his son homeless. To get the stockbroker job he had to not only overcome these hurdles but had to get chosen to get the job out of 20 people after a 6 month unpaid internship. The amazing thing is that in the end he overcomes all these obstacles and gets the job. In the end we are told that after his stockbroking job at Dean Witter Chris went on to found the investment firm Gardener Rich in 1987 and in 2006 Chris sold a minority stake in his brokerage firm in a multi-million dollar deal. Even more amazing, the movie is based on a true story. This movie shows us that if we set our mind to something and are very determined we will get there in the end.

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Opinionated Response to Peer Comment - Essay Example In response, the government implemented many tax rate reductions to appease the people’s rising disgruntlement (Friedberg, 2011). Using Keynesian economic principles, tax cuts will generate more purchasing power. With lesser taxes, the people will have more money to buy good and services. With more tax cuts, the people’s demand for products and services increases. Consequently, with more demand, the stores and other suppliers can sell more goods. With more goods sold, the government can collect more taxes. Basically, the overall effect on the government’s tax collections seems the same (Mankiw, 2008). With more sales, the companies pay more taxes to the government. With more demand for products and services, the factories hire more workers to produce the highly salable products and deliver more services. With more employees, the government can collect more salary-based taxes. As proof, During the George W. Bush Presidency, the president was beset with an economic depression. To rehabilitate and improve the economic depression, President George W. Bush spearheaded permanent tax cuts. As expected, the President Bush Tax cuts increased the public’s purchasing power, rejuvenating the ailing economy (Mankiw, 2008). Getting the substance of the above discussion, the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts met the people’s increasing requests to reduce the high tax rates. The study indicates the importance of implementing the people’s demand for lower tax rates. The study proves that the 1940s and later years’ tax cuts benefit many parties, especially the United States government. Without a doubt, the comment stating the benefits have become popular in the United States during the 1940s when the United States Congress passed tax breaks for some business entities is

In What Ways Real Estate is a Conduit for Flows of Finance between Essay

In What Ways Real Estate is a Conduit for Flows of Finance between Global Cities World-Wide - Essay Example Its population was estimated to be close to one million residents (Hall 1997 p. 2) A few years ago, Manuel Castells and David Harvey began an era of stimulating research. The accomplishment was to connect the process of conglomeration of metropolis to the larger historical dynamic of industrial capitalism. From then on, the city was no longer regarded in terms of social ecology, which is dependent upon the elements of population and space. The new metropolis came to be viewed as an outcome of predominant social forces which were motivated by the capitalist concept of industrialization. This conflict between the affluent and the modest became essential to how the metropolis developed (Friedmann 1986). In the past decade the research of the metropolis has been correlated to global economics. This new perspective refined insights into the dynamics of urban change. This enabled a required spatial approach on an economic system which has transcended national boundaries. The objective of t his introduction is to research as basically as possible the main hypothesis which connect the formation of metropolis to worldwide economic processes. This is intended to develop a framework for academic investigation. This academic research is composed of political considerations. These global cities have become the launching platform for global capitalism. There is a contrasting relationship. between industrialization in this time of global administration and the political affiliation of territorial concerns. This enables the comprehension of the processes which occur in the global cities and what is the causal attribution of political disagreement. There are several aspects which will be reviewed. These aspects are the following: The manner and development of a global city's entry into the global economy and the tasks which are delegated in the global city. In the global city, the new system of production will be pivotal for any basic developments which occur. The global cities of the world are perceived as being points. This perspective is based on industrialization and economic perspectives. Global cities are the points of arrival for large populations of domestic and international migration. The inception of global cities forms a perspective of the major contrasts and idiosyncrasies of industrialization. These contrasts and idiosyncrasies include territorial and economic separation Global city development produces social expenses which overshadow the social and economic capacity of the local governments. The exception being the city of Tokyo which is an attribute of Japanese industrialization. Tokyo has been able to succeed in deterring foreign economic interests from making major economic injections in this global city. The economic potential of the global city dissipates under the multiple influences of dependent local economic situations and the worldwide economic situation (Friedmann 1986). Literature Review Goldman Sachs has been an important influ ence in the UK and the Euro zone The new prime minister of Greece, Lucas Papademos is a former employee of the European Central Bank and Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs is a high profile US concern whose impact is of great significance in the UK as it is in the Euro zone The previous director general of the Italian treasury, Mario Draghi, is also a former employee of Goldman Sachs. The probable candidate for Berlusconi's post in Italy , Mario Monti, is also an interest of Goldman Sachs. Is it a coincidence that many of the

Diabetes Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Diabetes - Term Paper Example Diabetes results from the body not being able to produce enough glucose or the inability of the body to use the insulin efficiently. Insulin transfers glucose from blood into the cells for use hence when the glucose level increase in the blood diabetes sets in (Stehouwer & Schaper, 2009). The beta cells of pancreas that is an organ located just below the stomach work to produce insulin hormone. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin into the blood stream. Type 1 diabetes can either result from the pancreas producing less insulin or the insulin from the pancreas being ineffective. This results in accumulation of the glucose in blood. Starvation of the body cells off energy causes diabetes type 2. Normal glucose levels vary with time before eating (fasting levels), random levels, and tolerance test levels of glucose. Blood glucose level during fasting range from 80-90mg/dl, random blood sugar levels range between 80-139mg/dl while the glucose tolerance levels also range between 80-139mg/dl hence blood sugar increases because of the glucose being out of the ranges (Stehouwer & Schaper, 2009). Type 1 diabetes is more of a genetic condition while type 2 is due to lack of physical activity and obesity among other life style living. The clinical manifestations of diabetes vary depending on the type of diabetes. However, they exhibit some common signs and symptoms, for example excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, increased fatigue, and unusual weight loss. Classification can also be according to the level of diabetes in that in the cause of hypoglycemia, which is low glucose level in the blood the clinical manifestations include: shaking, sweating, dizziness, anxious, fast heart rate, hunger, weakness, impaired vision, fatigue, and headaches. In the case of hyperglycemia which is the increase of glucose level in the blood due to lack of its transfer in to the

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

Scholarship - Essay Example Quite often there is nothing left after discharging my mother’s medical bills. My family’s financial struggles have put me at a disadvantage in school. We cannot afford to buy new school clothes and shoes and I am quite often wearing old and worn clothes and shoes to school and this makes me self-conscious, particularly when other school children are dressed smartly. We cannot afford a computer which puts me at a greater disadvantage. Quite often I have assignments that require the use of a computer. Although I can use the library’s computer, I can ill afford the time. Without bus fare, I have to walk home from school and using the library would cause serious delays. I quite often feel so despaired that I fear I might have a breakdown. I believe that a scholarship would greatly reduce some of the financial burdens on my family and would put my family in a better position to support my education. To begin with, I would be able to purchase a home computer and the n ecessary school supplies. With these burdens lifted I would be in a better position to focus on my education and produce at a much higher level. Part II: Counselor’s Recommendations FL is a focused student with a clear understanding of where he wants to go in life and is keenly aware of the obstacles he has to overcome to get there. He is frustrated by the obstacles, particularly the financial struggles his family faces and is aware that the solution is out of his hands. FL’s current situation is dire and if he does not obtain a resolution to his situation, it is unlikely that he will be able to remain in school. If his problems persist, it is conceivable that FL would drop out of school to help relieve his family’s financial burdens. Right now his mother’s illness appears to be the family’s number one financial priority. As a result, FL’s school needs are sorely lacking. It is therefore recommended that FL benefits from a scholarship. This is a student who is very committed to school work and academic success. He is looking ahead to the future and as a result, FL is actively engaged in college preparatory programs. In addition, he is participating in cross country running. As a dedicated and driven student, it would be a benefit to both the school community and FL if he is awarded a scholarship and therefore remains in school and able to pursue a higher education. FL’s family is struggling financially as they are living on his father’s small income. FL’s mother is suffering from diabetes and this absorbs a great part of the family’s income. As a result of the family’s financial struggles, FL is disadvantaged at school. His family cannot afford to buy a computer. He often has to walk home from school as he cannot always afford bus fare. His school clothes and shoes are used and makes him self-conscious. FL is frustrated by the obstacles to his school productivity. FL wants to go onto college. FL will likely feel better about himself and thus remain committed in school if he is granted a scholarship. EG Part I: EG’s Statement I have always aspired to attend a good university and graduate in the top 10% of my class. I am working toward achieving these goals by currently focusing on my grades and ensuring that they are good enough to get me into a good university. However, at the moment I am currently facing some financial difficulties that could interfere with my plans to get into a good

Project Management Individual Coursework Assignment Essay

Project Management Individual Coursework Assignment - Essay Example In addition, the field also provides comprehensive guideline to project managers to complete project with successfully meeting challenges (Larson and Gray, 2011). Underlying report is the critical assessment of the factor the surrounding the project management of the new Super Prison Project as announced by Ministry of Justice in England. The report assesses various aspects of the project in detail. BACKGROUND Ministry of Justice in England has announced to close down seven jails in full along with two partial closures for greater valued use of tax-payers money. The plan aims to close the old uneconomic capacity of prison for approximate saving of ?63m per year in running costs. Further, the cost of keeping the prison in new project will be half to the cost being currently incurred. The proposed Super Prison project plan is aimed to provide 2000 places in contrast to the closure of 26000 places in the prisons to be closed. It would affect the 1776 prison staff with certain percentage to be re-deployed while also appreciating voluntary elimination of redundancies. The proposed project, being 25% bigger than the UK’s currently largest prison is facing concerns. ... Howard League for Penal Reform discredited the ideas as no prospects of new building’s contribution to control crime was evident and hence considers it a mere waste of tax payers money. Mr. Grayling has also proposed the planned four new mini-prisons naming house blocks. In addition, to the proposed project that is to be followed by closure of certain jails has not achieved the favorable consensus and many others have given discrediting remarks to the idea. KEY STAGES OF THE PROJECT The project undergoes various phases from initiation to completion. The project lifecycle consists of following phases as conceptual phase, planning phase, defining and designing phase; implementation phase and conversion phase (Cleland and Gareis, 2006). MoJ has just conceptualized the plan. Time and cost factor increases as the project reaches to defining and designing. Implementation phase requires maximum time and cost as the project moves on. Therefore, while establishing Super Prison building the project will requires maximum time and efforts. This phase also increases challenges such as in case the relative of prisoners may raise voice against the shifting etc. Therefore, while implementing plan, the project along side has to undergo the phase of meeting challenges. On completion, the project is evaluated. The evaluation of the Super Prison Project will be based on the cost saving from shifting the prison in new building. In addition, it will also be evaluated if being completed within planned resources. WORK BREAK DOWN STRUCTURE The work breakdown chart outlines the plan for the project stepwise from initiation to completion. WBS benefits project to identify every detail that needs attention and hence ensures that project does not skip

Latin influence in America social and cultural differences in Business Essay

Latin influence in America social and cultural differences in Business - Essay Example With regard to them, inside cohesiveness is important in that they want to guarantee that there are no betrayals within business. Apart from these attitudes of loyalty and brotherhood in a business, they also tend to have a sense of fair competition which is achieved through agreeing with the competitors and setting the standard of competition. These cultural attitudes towards business are founded on the earlier foundation of Latin business which would be more included to mafia like associations with string completion which went beyond just business competition. Americans have a different culture with regard business which conducts open competition, open membership which mean that the associates of a business do not necessarily have to be close members. Dogmatic loyalty is not necessary as the business are driven by a common agreement which is professional and written on paper as per the ay the business is supposed to be run. The Latin culture has been regarded by Americans as wrong and not good for business. It has also influenced American business in a number of ways. To begin with, most of these businesses have also invested in the American economy. Most mafia-like organizations which are of Latin origin and run in accordance with Latin culture can be seen as establishing their businesses in United States America. Unlike in earlier days where such businesses would operate unofficially and in most cases illegally due to their nature which was more criminal than anything else, today most of these businesses can invest in legitimate businesses such as the real estate (Forbes, Inc). In the modern America, these mafia-like busses own a substantive amount of the real estate wealth in major cities such as Los Angeles. They are able to operate legitimately and to have assets that are legal. This has influenced the way business is done in America, especially

Attempt to Understand the Conditions that Eventually Led to the Research Paper

Attempt to Understand the Conditions that Eventually Led to the Holocaust - Research Paper Example Hilberg (1985) in his account has sufficiently articulated the different historical stages that preceded the Holocaust and which set the ground ready for the 20th century genocide in all respects ranging from the legal status of such acts within the German territories, and to an extent beyond it, to the fundamentalist thoughts that would accompany such acts. Hilberg’s analysis is also marked for the in-depth details regarding the functioning of the pogrom machinery. The 20th-century holocaust also makes it possible to be read, and to be interrogated and further explore, as an event which is part of our modernity and all the institutions that mark its existence including bureaucracy. It also throws definite challenges to our understandings of the modern enlightenment rationality to the extent it reserves sufficient spaces to accommodate inhuman acts and thoughts under the disguise of being rationale. Nevertheless, the fact that the massacre of Jews could not be identified separ ately from the historical incidents that preceded it – both with and without any direct or indirect relation to it – and that it has not been the first or even the last of such massacres in the name of religion, race, ethnicity etc., might compel any sociological analysis of the 20th century genocide to broaden its perspectives beyond the scope and limits of modernity and rationality. However the relation between the modernity and holocaust gathers much more significance since, as Eberhard Jà ¤ckel wrote, â€Å"never before had a state with the authority of its responsible leader decided and announced that a specific human group, including its aged, its women and its children and infants, would be killed as quickly as possible, and then carried through this resolution using every possible means of state power† (quoted in Maier 1988, p 53).

County Backs Plan for Inland Port in the Glades Essay Example for Free

County Backs Plan for Inland Port in the Glades Essay The commissioners in Palm Beach County found the need to support the construction of an inland port because it would give employment opportunities for the locals. Summary: A vote of 5-2 was the result of the discussion among Palm Beach County commissioners favoring the development of an inland port in the area. They believe that this would help the locals obtain more jobs that are within the county, which means easier access and less wasting of time travelling from one place to the other. Locals do not have to commute to other nearby cities for their jobs and lose precious family time. Also, this plan would help develop the county in economic terms. Analysis: While many people came to the commission chambers to support the plan, there were also activists who disliked the idea due to environmental reasons. It was very difficult to determine whose side had a better argument because the other has the welfare of the locals in mind while the other tries to defend nature and the fact that people should not just develop land over the glades. There were no words from the water district officials but the â€Å"activists said that Florida Crystals’ land sits in the middle of a potential pathway for restoration, which could recreate the historic flow of water from the lake to the Everglades† (Sorentrue â€Å"County Backs Plan for Inland Port in the Glades†). Conclusion: Although both sides had strong arguments as to whether or not the inland port should be constructed, it should be pointed out that the welfare of the people should be put first. The inland port would not take over the whole of Everglades and if environmental procedures were done properly so as to do no or at least minimal harm on nature, then it will be a win-win situation. The commissioners should make sure that they do not agree to this because it would bring them money but that they agree to this because it is what the people need. They also have to ensure that they do minimal damage to nature while developing the land.

Heteromultimeric Channels Formed by Potassium Channel

Heteromultimeric Channels Formed by Potassium Channel Heteromultimeric channels formed by rat brain potassium-channel proteins SUMMARY Coexpression of RCK specific mRNAs in several regions of the brain suggested the presence of heteromultimeric potassium channels. These differ in properties compared to several copies of identical subunits in homomultimeric potassium channels, hence provides diversity. The aim of this study was to understand the components and compositions of the heteromultimeric potassium channels. RCK proteins are vital in the formation of the voltage-gated potassium channels. Normally species containing RCK proteins have homomultimeric potassium channels. In this experiment rats RCK variants: RCK1 and RCK4 were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and HeLa cells and tested their sensitivity against a K+ channel blocker (TEA). Normally K+ channels in HeLa cells do not rectify outward currents. However transfecting with plasmids consisting either cDNA RCK1 or cDNA RCK4, both resulted in outward rectifying K+ current. According to the method by Chen and Okayama, they were cultured by a standard protocol. Same pulse and cells were tested using the whole-cell patch configuration to measure the current. RCK1 and RCK4 channels both mediated a transient K+ outward current. In the presence of TEA, RCK4 is completely insensitive with 50% recovery time of 7.3(+/-3.4)s. Whereas RCK1 channels showed high sensitivity with complete blockage of current. However when cotransfection of cDNA RCK1,4 into HeLA cells resulted in a depolarising voltage step to 0mV, with outward currents consisting of an initial transient current followed by a non-inactivating component. In addition to TEA, similar expression as RCK1 channels with sensitivity and almost half blockage of current at 10mM, with 50% recovery time of 2.1(+/-0.5)s . F urther, increase in TEA to 100mM lead to complete blockage of the currents. Therefore due to different expression from homomultimeric RCK4 channels, these suggested that the cotransfection either mediated homomultimeric RCK1 channels or heteromultimeric channels being indistinguishable from RCK1 channels. Further examining of differing properties in voltage-dependent gating and conductance of the channels mediating the transient currents was done by injecting RCKs into Xenopus oocyte with cRNAs. Cell-attached marco patches configuration was used, allowing more voltage control with the presence of 10mM TEA solution. The oocyte was injected with cRNA RCKs and results of peak amplitudes of the transient currents against the voltage obtained were graphed, enabling the analysis of the saturation and inactivation behaviour. Paired conditioning and test pulses both were made to avoid test-pulse involved inactivation. Oocytes with RCK4 specific cRNA resulted in transient current peak showing no saturation until 40mV and began to inactivate during the test pulse, with 16.5(+-2.5)s at 50% recovery. Whereas coinjected RCK1,4 cRNA showed steep and shifted about 15mV towards more positive potential (~20mV) inactivation curve, with 5.7(+/-1.8)s at 50% recovery. This implied little inactivation duri ng the test pulse with faster recovery compared to RCK4 specific. Examining the gating of K+ channels resulted in linear and superlinear shape for coinjected and RCK4 specific oocytes channel opening respectively. Therefore the saturation and response of open gated channel from both coinjected HeLa and transfected oocyte cells support the characteristic of the opening of different channels and not from different activation kinetics. RCK 1,4 combinations showed intermediate sensitivity and faster recovery from inactivation to DTX and TEA, compared to homomultimeric RCK1 and RCK4 subunits. Results showed that RCK 1,4 inactivation were similar to RCK4 and single channel conductance being similar to RCK1. Overall, these results strongly support the suggestion of coexpression of RCK1 and RCK4 subunits which assemble to make a heteromultimeric RCK 1,4 channels with differing properties from homomultimeric channels.

Letter (colonist) to Britian friend in 1776 Essay -- essays research p

1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letter to friend in England. Dearest Friend of England,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1776   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I know it is hard to believe we (the colonists) would be on the verge of a revolution against our own homeland. My father has explained to me the reasons we deserve independence from God, the King, and the British people. There are many things going on in the colonies to lead us to our current thoughts. The British people have imposed many Acts upon us colonists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the year 1767, British parliament passed Mr. Charles Townshend proposed taxations upon the colonies. These taxes were indirect taxes. The merchants were forced to pay the taxes directly. These taxes were applied to the importation of lead, paint, glass, and tea. The British have authorized the admiral fleets to punish those not abiding by the act. My father and many other colonists believe the naval personnel are trying people in an admiral court to take the money for personal gain not actual legal reasons. These acts have led many colonists like my father to resist the taxation. A farmer from Pennsylvania has circulated papers about the illegal ramification of the Townshend act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We, the people of the colonies, are being taxed without representation within Parliament. The British government is proving to be one of corrupt policies. The people here are boycotting the purchases of British imports. The British government has sent troops into all the colonies. Troops are looking for work in our colonies at our factories. In Boston on March 5, 1770, there was considered to be a massacre. Three troops had attempted to get a job at a local rope factory. The boss assigned them to latrine clean-up. These soldiers took this as an insult and reacted. The soldiers were beat and thrown in the streets. That night those soldiers were stationed outside the British Customs House. A mob gathered around the troops and a bell was rung to wake the town. British soldiers started shooting at the mob. There were a total of 5 dead and 8 wounded. This massacre led the British government to repeal the Townsend Acts on all products but tea. This was so the colonist.. . ... cities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The British governor of Virginia, Lord Dunsmore, has ordered to defeat the colonial planters belonging to the sons of liberty. He decides his best strategy would be to use slaves and indentured servants. In 1775, he declared the proclamation of emancipation. This proclamation gave slaves freedom if they fought for Britain. A surprising 2000 slaves and servants respond to offer. These men were given guns without proper training and told to go fight the planters. The 2000 men confront the planters at the Battle of the Great Bridge. The 2000 men were defeated and retreated back to Lord Dunsmore. They return to find him and the British gone from the states. I do not believe this is a correct way to lead an Army by cowardice. Do you?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My friend, I hope that my knowledge has led you to believe we the colonists are doing right. We have been forced to abide by rules set by people who do not live here and without representation there. I have given you the true accounts of all the incidents we have encountered. Please do not believe the misrepresented tales given by the British troops.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Patricia

Why The Russians Were Right :: Essays Papers

Why The Russians Were Right Zubok and Pleshakov wrote this book â€Å"in order [for westerners] to understand the Cold War from the Soviet perspective, one must understand the importance of that moment and the larger historic legacy of Russia and the Russian Revolution, vindicated by the victory of 1945† (2). These men wanted the western world to be able to read this book and understand the different personalities that made up the Kremlin, their personal experiences and how this affected their political leadership. To reveal the Kremlin, in a humanistic way, the authors used the newly declassified documents from the Russian side, to explore the background, psychology, motives, and behavior of Soviet rulers from Stalin to those who replaced him, and to better understand the world that they helped create (xii) The main thesis of the novel is â€Å"It was this group [the Kremlin] that had replaced the Communist politburo during the four years of the most devastating war in the world’s history. Leading the others, walking at some distance from them was Joseph Stalin, the head of the USSR† (1). Zubok and Pleshakov start out explaining the basic views of the Kremlin around 1945, before Stalin comes to power. They then move to the revolutionary world of Stalin and the expansions of the empire that were gained by Molotov. At this point in the book the emphasis shifts to war, nuclear bombs and geopolitics. Contained in these sections are chapters on Zhdanov; Beria and Malenkov; and Kennedy and Khrushchev. The formation of these chapters and subjects in this particular line-up progresses in the order that they historically happened. In order to understand why the USSR made some of the political choices, trying to remove some of the biases in place throughout the world, the authors give personal background information on the USSR’s major leaders of the Cold War time. At one extreme in the USSR government they experienced, Stalin, who lived through war, which made him a ruthless and hardened man. While on the other extreme is Khrushchev, who lived through the revolut ion, which made him a gambler and outstanding bluffer. These two men compromise most of the focus of the book because both brought the world close to war again with their personalities running the Kremlin, Krushchev just brought it closer to nuclear war. The authors use the idea that Westerners do not have a clear understanding of the culture of communist Russia.

My Losing Season

Conroy was born on October 26, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia, to a young career military officer from Chicago and a Southern beauty from Alabama, whom Pat often credits for his love of language. He was the first of seven children.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Since the family had to move many times to different military bases around the South, Pat changed schools frequently, finally attending the Citadel Military Academy in Charleston, South Carolina, upon his father's insistence. While still a student, he wrote and then published his first book, THE BOO, a tribute to a beloved teacher.† (Book Reporter)Now that I have given you a brief rundown of Conroy’s life, lets take a look at his newest book entitled, â€Å"A Losing Season’, the book centers around Conroy’s â€Å"a painfully detailed memoir of his senior year on the 1966-67 Citadel Bulldogs basketball squad that soldiered through an ignominious 8-17 season.Call it a requiem for all the runners-up who, like Conroy, turne d defeat on the playing field into victory in other aspects of their lives. Author PhotoAs a fast, street-hardened 5-foot-10 point guard, Conroy was a fiery competitor who always believed he could play above his physical limitations and frequently did.Like his teammates, Conroy didn't lose well. Unlike the others, however, he found a way to learn something from each defeat that would make him a better ballplayer. His steely resolve in the face of such a spirit-crushing season ultimately gave him the self-confidence to become one of America's best-loved writers. If losing builds character, Pat Conroy is your poster boy for also-rans.† (BookPage)To conclude, Conroy’s book is an inspiration to others who think that losing is basically the end of the world, when in reality it can lead to   more positive things in thier lives later on down the road.Referencehttp://www.bookpage.com/0210bp/pat_conroy.htmlhttp://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-conroy-pat.asp

Tsunamis: Ocean and Wave Shape Changes

6 05 Tsunami Nicolai Kortendick 1. The web site presents extensive information regarding tsunamis. Survey the site. A. Select the five facts about tsunamis that were the most interesting or surprising to you. Make a list of your facts. 1. A tsunami is made up of a series of traveling ocean waves of extremely long wavelength. 2. They are triggered by earthquakes and undersea volcanic eruptions and deep sea landslides. 3. The wave shape changes and the height increases as it approaches the coastline. . Far field tsunamis have a long travel time so it is easier to predict their effects. 5. Near field tsunami have a travel time of one or two hours, making it harder to evacuate people to safe, high areas before the tsunami reaches the coast. B. Now look over your list. In your opinion, what is the most intriguing item on your list? Explain. The most intriguing item on the list to me is that tsunamis resemble waves that I see a lot every day and they have extremely long wavelengths. 2.If y ou were on a ship at sea, and a tsunami passed under your ship, what would probably be your reaction? Explain. I would be pretty scared if I knew it was a tsunami, and I would be worried for the people on the coast it was heading for. It probably wouldn’t be a very big wave if I was far out in the ocean so it wouldn’t scare me as much. 3. The site offers a tsunami quiz. Take the quiz. What was your score? I got 7 out of the 10 questions correct. 4. When you viewed the â€Å"Introduction to Waves† video, you learned several terms that apply to all waves.How do the following terms apply to tsunamis and what are typical values for a tsunami’s wavelength and amplitude? Use the following sites to look for answers: http://www. enchantedlearning. com/subjects/tsunami http://hyperphysics. phy-astr. gsu. edu/HBASE/Waves/tsunami. html C. Wavelength Tsunamis have an extremely long wavelength (which is the distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the n ext wave) – up to several hundred miles long. D. amplitudeThe amplitude of a wave is the height of a wave from the still water level to the top of the wave crest. As a tsunami reaches a coastline its amplitude increase greatly. E. crest The crest is the top of a wave. The wavelength of a wave is measured from the crest of one wave to the crest of another. F. trough The trough is the bottom of a wave. As a tsunami approaches the coast (where the sea becomes shallow), the trough of a wave hits the beach floor, causing the wave to slow down, to increase in height and to decrease in wavelength.

Design of a New Generator

1. INTRODUCTION : Gas Turbine-Generator system has proximity to zero level due to absence of condenser. Therefore, Generator should have Terminal Bushings at the top of the Stator Frame. This avoids digging of tunnel / trench for routing Bus Duct and also avoids accumulation of gases from safety point of view. It was decided to develop a module THRI 108/44 for application with Gas Turbine. 2. DESIGN CHALLENGES : Since, bar type design of THRI 108/44 module for GTG application is not available. Hence the same had to be designed afresh taking the following major design challenges into consideration: . 1. Shifting Terminal bushings for tapping power from bottom to top. 2. 2. Location, number and size of coolers and cooler ducts in stator Frame to accommodate connections between Bus Bar and Terminal Bushings. 2. 3. Proven ventilation scheme inside stator frame for cooling of stator core, windings and its overhangs. 2. 4. Provision of static excitation system by providing slip ring shaft. 2. 5. Position of Barring Gear on Exciter End (non drive end) requiring Slip Ring shaft rotor having a matching coupling with generator rotor on one side and barring gear on other side. 2. 6. Provision of routing of piping emanating from bottom of stator and end shield in the foundation. 2. 7. Routing of connections between bus bar and terminal bushings maintaining required electrical connections 2. 8. Use of existing components as far as possible for inventory and variety reduction. 2. 9. Mechanical and Electrical calculations for soundness of design. 3. ACTION PLAN : 3. 1. Identification of assemblies for fresh designing – 34 numbers design groups out of 125 groups were identified to be designed afresh. (Annexure-1) 3. 2. Carrying out Exhaustive Electromagnetic, Mechanical, Ventilation & Heat Transfer calculations. . 3. Development of detailed design documents, scrutiny by technology, incorporating the changes suggested and release of documents (drawings and CBOM). 3. 4. Verification of design by Internal design groups – Internal design groups of experts were formed and Changes suggested by different groups were incorporated in the documents. 3. 5. Strengt h of stator frame under various load conditions, its natural frequency and rotor dynamics to be carried out by Corporate R & D to validate the design. 4. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND ITS DETAILS : 4. 1. Electromagnetic calculations were carried out and design data sheet issued for preparation of design documents. 4. 2. Since the Terminal Bushings are to be mounted at the top, there was no space available to accommodate 4 Nos. Hydrogen cooler ducts (400 x 570 mm), as provided in conventional THRI design (ref. Fig. 1). Therefore, it was decided to use two nos Twin-coolers (ref Fig. 2&3). This concept has 2 nos. twin coolers placed in two separate cooler ducts. Operating conditions of one cooler out of operation apply here also as in case of conventional 4 Nos. separate coolers. 4. 3. Changes in size of cooler and cooler ducts (550 x 650 mm) and duct location resulted in increase of width of stator body to 4200 mm from 4000 mm and height 4550 mm. Accordingly, stator body was redesigned completely maintaining routings of ribs, plates etc to follow the ventilation scheme of existing machine. Full length Foundation Support has been provided on stator in line with conventional GTGs. 4. 4. Due to the above mentioned increased dimensions of stator body, the generator is not suitable for rail transport (limit up to 4040 mm). Thus the generator stator shall have to be transported by road only. A dragging fixture has been designed and shall be welded to the bottom of stator frame to place it directly on the road trailer without requiring any additional fixture. It will also help placing the stator at any location without any support or can be dragged at power station for erection, if required. 4. 5. It was proposed to use common Core Assembly for GTG as well as STG for standardization and variety reduction. STG design required a power output of 261 MW. To enhance the MCR rating it was decided to optimize the ventilation flow paths in the stator core. Number of ventilation ducts has been increased from 85 to 98 without any increase in the total core length. Width of the ventilation ducts was earlier a combination of 5 mm & 10 mm, which has now been changed to 5 mm, 8 mm & 10 mm (refer Fig. 4). In order to optimize electromagnetic performance of the machine, net iron length of core is maintained same. Modified ventilation circuit vis-a-vis existing one is depicted in Figs. 5 & 6. 4. 6. Thickness of core ETS segments (Electro Technical Steel segments) has been increased from 0. 5 mm to 0. 65 mm without any loss in quality. This will enhance the rigidity of core end zone packets. It will also increase the productivity and reduce core assembly time in shop by about 30%. 4. 3. Shifting of Terminal Bushings to the top of Stator Frame, required redesign of Connecting Bus-bars and Arrangement of Terminal Bushing Connection Assemblies maintaining the air gap clearances(Fig-7). 4. 4. End Ring is introduced in this design for providing better rigidity in stator winding overhang. 4. 5. To make the generator suitable for static excitation system, new Slip Ring Shaft has been designed. Couplings of Slip Ring Shaft have been redesigned to suit TG rotor (EE) at one end and Barring gear at the other end. 4. 6. In view of relocation of terminal bushings, drawings related to temperature and pressure monitoring circuits were prepared afresh. 4. 7. There is no availability of overhead cranes in Gas Turbine hall over Turbogenerator due to low ceiling of the building. This poses a major challenge for insertion of rotor into stator. Rotor weighs around 42 tons. So, a new Trailer with Prime-Mover has been designed for Rotor Insertion in to Generator for GTG application. 4. 8. Design Documents (drawings and CBOMs) were sent to Corporate R & D for to carry out following calculations :- (1)Static Analysis – (a) Lifting of stator with 4 lugs b) Short Circuit Torque (c) Hydraulic test at 10 bar (2) Dynamic and Harmonic Analysis of Stator Frame with Core, Windings and rotor (3) Rotor Dynamics 4. 9. Generator Outline diagram for GTG is enclosed as Fig. 8. 5. RESULTS OF MECHANICAL CALCULATIONS : 5. 1. Static Analysis – Load ConditionsMaximum Stresses(N/mm? )Reference Lifting of Stator with 4 lugs110 Fig-9 Short Circuit Torque with 3. 5 bar internal pressure of Hydrogen238 Fig-10 Deformations of side wall due to Hydraulic Pressure of 10 bar (fig-11) Locations on side wallDeformations (mm) TEEE 1700 mm above centerline1. 040. 46 1700 mm below centerline0. 460. 40 5. 2. Dynamic and Harmonic Analysis of stator with core & windings DirectionFrequency PeakReference Axial32. 3 HzFig-12,13 Vertical82 HzFig-14 Horizontal136 HzFig-15 6. TECHNOLOGICAL GAINS : 8. 1. THRI bar type Turbogenerator has been developed for the first time for application with Gas Turbine. 8. 2. New design Stator can be placed directly on the trailer during transportation by road. It can be dragged at site during erection, if required. 8. 3. The new design of core is suitable for THRI STG design also due to improved ventilation. This will result in lower temperature rise leading to more reliable operation and enhanced life of the machine. . 4. Rationalisation and standardization of components has been taken into consideration to develop this design. Assemblies like Rotor, End Shield, Winding bars, Terminal Bushings, Shaft Seals, Oil Catchers etc will be used from that of existing design variant. 8. 5. Existing major tooling like those for fabrication & machining of Stator Frame, ass embly of core, Hydraulic and Pneumatic testing of Stator Frame will be used. 7. CONCLUSION : THRI bar type Turbogenerator has been developed in-house for the application with Gas Turbine. With the concerted efforts of the team the design work was completed by 31st August, 2005. This new design has been approved by an external review team comprising of experts from IIT- Roorkee, Corp. R&D and RC Puram besides Haridwar experts from Technology, Quality & Engineering. Discussions were also held at PEM Delhi along with R. C. Puram for erection and maintenance of various Generator components like coolers, End Shields, Insert Covers, Rotor, Slip Ring Shaft Assembly and Bearings etc. New design features were explained and these were taken in to account for development of Power Plant layout.

Job Satisfaction of Teachers Essay

Leadership entails a number of different parts and can come from any position in the school. The administration is the main source of leadership in a school. Generally, we associate school leadership with superintendents and principals. People in these positions are in charge of making decisions, which run the school. However, teachers can also provide leadership in their classroom and through activities and other extracurricular activities. Katzenmeyer and Moller (1996) argue â€Å"†¦there is a sleeping giant of teacher leadership that can be a catalyst to push school reform†¦.† Even students can provide leadership in certain situations such as an athletic team’s captain, a point guard for a basketball team, or a class officer. With the many places leadership can occur, to have good school leadership, all people need to be willing to share responsibility and power. Lambert (1998) argues, â€Å"Leadership requires the redistribution of power and authority.† This distribution of power can lead to trust between staff and administration. This trust emerges when administrators and teachers work together to benefit the school. Trust comes about by principals trusting the judgment of teachers in the classroom and backing teachers on issues such as discipline. So that the teachers’ authority is not undermined, discipline must be consistent and not show favoritism toward any student. Teachers, in turn, must trust that the principal will follow through on all rules and not make exceptions for the school’s â€Å"star† athlete or â€Å"smartest† student. This trust is also part of a type of leadership theory called transformational leadership. Bass (1996) says that trust is a key component of idealized influence, which incorporates faith and respect, dedication, and trust into leadership. Trust is an important aspect of leadership. With the trust between leader and follower, good school leadership will also have excellent communication. Smith, who can be found in Bean (2000), argues that communicating and keeping people informed of changes and events is a key part of effective leadership. People must discuss problems and possible solutions with each other. By not doing this, the problems will continue and the organization will fall into disarray. For example, let us look at a basketball team. If the opposing team is playing man-to-man defense, it will do the offense little good to run plays designed to attack a zone defense. Here is where the coach or offensive players must talk to each other and run the correct plays. Furthermore, we see the importance of communication from Yukl (1998). He states â€Å"Leadership is about creating teamwork, collaboration, communication, and the emphasis on a total group effort.† By communicating concerns, teachers can make administrators aware of potentially school harming actions and can put a stop to these before they go too far. One example of this would be the last month of school in my school district. Due to the hot weather, students begin use squirt guns and balloons to spray each other with water. With graduation and other senior activities to organize, the principal is not in the hallways as much as previous months. Therefore, the teachers need to let the principal know this is beginning so penalties can be determined and readily enforced. This can cut down on water damage of the school and the students can continue to stay focused on school. One aspect of effective leadership that needs to be communicated to all associated with the school district is the vision of where the school is and where it needs to go. Goleman (1995) argues that â€Å"†¦leader can be expected to communicate a vision well†¦generate energy and enthusiasm regarding this vision, epitomize its meaning through the example of personal behavior, and generally inspire others to reach this vision†¦.† People need to be motivated to do a job, whether in school or in the work force. Vision gives people a goal and direction; giving them something to work for. Making people aware of the vision for the school will help parents, students, teachers, and administrators to be on the same page and working to achieve the vision together as a team. Daft (1999) states there are many pieces that visionary leadership can accomplish. These pieces include the linking of the present and future, encouraging commitment, providing meaning to work, encouraging imagination, and defining the destination. For example, if the vision of a sports team is to win, through strong dedication by players and coaches, winning will happen. If coaches can help athletes see the importance of practice and teamwork, there will be chemistry and success. With the vision of moving into the future, there comes problems and opposition. Another part of good school leadership is facing these problems and solving them. An effective way to work to solve problems is to form a group of people to suggest solutions for whatever problems occur. An excellent model to follow is suggested by Bean (2000) and is called POLCA: that is Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling, and Assessing. One problem a school district might face is incorporating the new Pennsylvania standards for education into the curriculum. My school district is in this process and work on this is set to begin in August 2000. Our superintendent started this process by carefully planning when to work on these changes. The mathematics and English departments were contacted to help work on these standards. These teachers were organized into groups by their subject area. Outside help was brought in. These parties had knowledge writing the standards for the state and helping other schools work the standards into the curriculum. These men lead the English and mathematics groups in the writing of our curriculum to include state mandates. After drafting standards and curriculum for the district, the work was checked for quality and improvements were made. Finally, the work was assessed and determined to be useful to the district. We can see that effective leadership is not easy. It takes hard work and tolerance from many different parities. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students all play a part in good school leadership. The administrators plan for the entire district, the teachers for the classroom. Parents and students help with support and may act in limited leadership roles. Effective leaders need to be able to distribute leadership to worthy parties and possibly divide it up to many individuals or groups. Effective leaders need to communicate and problem-solve. Having good social skills and having a good plan can make leadership easier and solving problems smoother. Lambert (1998) says â€Å"It [leadership] needs to be embedded in the school community as a whole.† It takes a team effort to have effective leadership in the school. We all need to work together and share the responsibility of being a leader. 1) A sense of purpose: The values of an organization must be clear, members of the organization should know them, and they should exemplify and uphold them in their own actions. 2) Justice: Everyone in an organization should be held to common standards, with rules and procedures that are clear, firm, fair, and consistent. 3) Temperance: A leader must strive to maintain a proper balance of emotions; Shriver did not mean that leaders should be dispassionate. Quite the contrary- but there are time for passionate advocacy and times for quiet reflection and reconsideration. Balance is the key. 4) Respect: The dignity of each individual is the concern of any leader, and this is preserved by treating all members of the organization with respect and ensuring they treat one-another similarly, regardless of differences. 5) Empowerment: Leaders are just that- leaders. Most of what happens in organizations is carried out by individuals other than those in formal leadership positions. Therefore, the more skilled they are, the more they feel confident in their abilities and competent to make decisions, raise questions, see new possibilities, and disagree respectfully with others at all levels of the organizational hierarchy, the stronger and more successful the organization will be. 6) Courage: Leaders are paid to set direction, not wait for direction to emerge. They have to be willing to follow their convictions and bring their organization to new places. In education, this is most sorely needed in response to the test-based regimen that has taken over our schools at the expense of true education and social-emotional and character development. 7) Deep Commitment: Leaders must not be polishing their resumes, but rather should have deep commitment to their organizations, the advancement of the organizations’ missions, and the wellbeing of everyone in them. It is this deep commitment that makes leadership in schools so challenging, because it requires a commitment to every employee, student, and parent. The performance of a leader must be judged by his or her skills and the character of his or her performance in the many and complex roles that leadership demands. Using the seven cornerstones of leading with character, derived from the life and work of Sargent Shriver, educators and those concerned with education have a tool for both evaluating and improving leadership competencies along both moral and performance dimensions.

Personal responsibility Essay

If one cannot rely on himself, then others cannot rely on him. At some time in one’s life there will be someone who depends on them for something. If this person doesn’t have their self-figured out then how will they figure out how to take care of that person’s needs? You are the only one that can take control of your life and to rely on someone else to do it for you is hurting yourself and those around you. Personal responsibility is a necessity in life and also helps the community as a whole become more efficient. I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2012 and transitioning from the Military to the civilian life style with a pregnant wife was one of the most challenging periods of my life. Instead of taking a break from working and living at home with my mom and collecting unemployment benefits, I had personal responsibility to get up and find a job after getting out to do what it takes to take care of my family. After working full time for a year we were barely making it, living pay check to paycheck. During this time I was consistently looking for new job opportunities. I didn’t blame anyone for my poor situation but myself and realized if I didn’t do anything I would be stuck here for the rest of my life. I just recently moved to San Diego County, receiving better pay and benefits to support my family’s needs. While my current job is paying the bills and we are living comfortably, I start to look into the future. My son will grow up, and he will have more complex and expensive needs like School field trips, sports uniforms, and college Tuition. So I decided to go to school to advance my career in the IT industry. By the time I graduate with my bachelor’s degree, I will have 10 years of IT experience with certifications in specific fields. This goal will allow me to reach my financial goal before reaching the age of 30 and way before my son is ready for college. Getting a degree isn’t just a matter of going to school and graduating, there is work that is required to get the grades to pass and keeping a High GPA. That will take dedication to project groups, taking the time to do the reading, and write the essay. If you take the initiative to do more than just pass your class, it will reflect on your professional career. In conclusion, there are many things that come into play when it comes to personal responsibility. For me it was the fear of failure, the positive stress I instilled in myself to be motivated to excel my professional career for the sake of my family. In order to take care of others, first you must take care of yourself.

Finish part B and C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finish part B and C - Essay Example As Ventura capitalists venture into CF ltd, CF ltd needs to function based on equity, and it ought to have a market large enough to validate the millions being invested in the company. Value refers to the combined elements that contribute towards creating the worthiness of a company. The venture capitalist measures the value of CF ltd through identifying certain attributes of the firm such as its assets, shares, liabilities and capital funds. That is an essential tool that aids in identifying the future expectation in company growth. In the proposed investment, Ventura ltd assesses how important and otherwise untapped value creation occurs through the use of anticipated technology and products, and also defining the revenue stream precisely. CF ltd aims at acquiring a new drug line. Most investors know that new drug targets have large barriers to entry due to regulatory processes. As a venture capitalist works on investing their money into the company, first it needs to monitor the company’s trends in the industry and how it conducts itself in terms of adhering to regulations. Knowledge about a crucial investment requires the investor to find established partners who are early adopters in validating a product and endorse it, allowing more sales. At what stage does the firm develop technology? Can the organisation identify and mitigate on its risks? Every business is vulnerable to risk in one way or the other; therefore, the management team needs to formulate strategies that counter the risks, which might damage the firm if it lacks mitigation policies. As CF ltd develops a new drug line, it renders itself to a number of risks; hence, it needs to employ technology that deals with any future uncertainties. As a venture capitalist, one needs to know whether the proposed products stand a chance in the market. As an investor, the competitive edge of a new

Current Events discussion in the Technology or Security Arena Assignment

Current Events discussion in the Technology or Security Arena - Assignment Example Meanwhile, the Pentagon reported that no sensitive information was on the social site. US authorities affirmed that no classified information is ever posted on the social site. Authorities also confirmed that the hackers did nothing much except to take control of the Megaphone (Clarion Project 1). The incident lasted for 40 minutes, during which the ISIS bragged and issued threat the best way it could. The fact that computer systems can be hacked remotely is not a new phenomenon except that it is a big question which system is hacked. Online companies have found themselves dragged into wars that many of them are hardly prepared. The fact that many social websites allow users to post on their walls or those of others, it seems that a security breach portal is always open for manipulation. That implies that such limited permission encryption for posting on another user’s wall can be de-encrypted in part for hacking. In a related incident, the problem of system security, particularly cyber security, is now being treated with the seriousness it deserves. Governments have realized that as long as they are going to use some of the services offered by social media, the have to protect them. Such protection may imply formulating new laws that regulate what is to be released to the public. While responding to questions, Cameron hinted that given the present of terrorism, it is important that governments wake up to the realization that the digital era requires monitoring of communications (Horsley 1). The specific security question that came out was the observation that social media companies, for instance, Facebook and Google, are offering high-tech encryption technology. Cameron observes that by offering unbreakable codes, social media companies are putting security of citizens in risk. That is because terrorists can manipulate such codes for

Legal Fictions (Plato, Xenophon and Henry David Thoreau) Essay

Legal Fictions (Plato, Xenophon and Henry David Thoreau) - Essay Example describes Socrates tone as almost ‘arrogant’ and Plato also observes that the philosopher speaks from a ‘high standing’ and uses a ‘lofty manner’ in his address. Secondly both agree that Socrates used the Oracle in his defense. Socrates claimed that the Oracle had declared him the ‘wisest’ and ‘most prudent’ of all people. Furthermore both describe Socrates claim that a divine voice guides him in his mission. Ans.3. Socrates refers to his mission to find the wisest man as a ‘labor of Hercules’ in his speech of defense. He implies that he has wandered far and wide and made a Herculean effort to find a man wiser than himself. (Plato) About to die at the hands of his corrupt worldly judges, Socrates longs for true justice in the after life. He mentions three judges of Hades (the underworld) - Minos, Rhadamanthus and Aeacus.(Plato) Ans.4. According to Thoreau the only place in a slave state in which a free man can abide with honor is prison. Three groups that can find him there are the Mexican prisoner, the fugitive slave and the Indian come to plead his case. No man of honor can live without protesting the injustice done to these three groups by the government, and by law the state imprisons all dissenters. Thus the only abode of the true supporters of these oppressed groups is prison. Ans.5. "Now what are they? Men at all? Or small moveable forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power?† This quote is taken from the essay ‘Civil Disobedience’. Here Thoreau mocks the mentality of the soldiers who follow the law so strictly that they are ready to die and kill for it even when they know that a particular law or order is morally unjust. â€Å"As they live and rule only by their servility, and appealing to the worse, and not the better, nature of man, the people who read them are in the condition of the dog that returns to his vomit†. This quote is taken from the essay ‘Slavery in Massachusetts. Thoreau is

Gender Issues and Cultural Constructs in Sex and the City Essay

Gender Issues and Cultural Constructs in Sex and the City - Essay Example Just like women are defined by patriarchal culture, men are also defined by culture, and this culture is also patriarchal. Because of this, there is inevitably a dichotomy between the terms â€Å"female,† which is biological, and â€Å"woman,† which is cultural. Similarly, there is a difference between â€Å"male,† which is biological, and â€Å"man,† which is cultural (Bartky, 2003). Both of the movies Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2 demonstrate how this is true. That said, each of the movies actually turn the traditional cultural definitions of men and women on their head, for the most part, in that the women in these movies are independent and assume the masculine role in different ways. Meanwhile, the men, who definitely take a backseat in these movies, much as they do in the television series, often take the traditional female role in many ways. This is not to say that the portrayals of the men and women are not culturally driven, as women in modern culture often do take on masculine qualities and men take on feminine qualities. Nonetheless, in the Sex and the City world, with the one notable exception, turns traditional culture, as opposed to modern culture, on its head. Analysis of the movies The best way to explain how these movies turn traditional culture on their head would be easiest if one examines the different couples who are in these shows. Carrie Bradshaw is the focus of both of these movies, as she is in the actual television series upon which these movies are based. Bradshaw is a blend of masculine and feminine qualities, although the masculine qualities in Bradshaw outweigh the feminine qualities, as dictated by culture. Carrie is a writer, and is successful, having published several books. This would be a typical masculine characteristic – Carrie is a breadwinner, and she has zero interest in anything domesticated. She doesn't cook, she is never seen cleaning, and she has no interest in having child ren. On the other hand, Carrie's boyfriend, turned husband, Mr. Big, takes on some of the more traditionally feminine characteristics, at least in the second film. Mr. Big does cook, as he is seen cooking in the first film, and makes an anniversary dinner for himself and Carrie in the second film. Mr. Big also likes old-fashioned movies, especially It Happened One Night, which is a classic romantic comedy. In the first film, Mr. Big takes on more traditional masculinity however, than in the second film. This is because Mr. Big is seen as Carrie's caretaker, more than in the first movie. He literally buys her a super-expensive penthouse apartment, and constructs her dream closet. He is also responsible, in the first film, for the dramatic tension in the film, as he stands Carrie up at the altar (they later marry). This feeds into the stereotypical male who is afraid of commitment. He dictates how the two will be married – he wants a low-key ceremony, she wants an over-the-top ceremony, and the two end up getting married according to what he wants. Therefore, Mr. Big is a protector of Carrie, is a provider for Carrie, and dominates Carrie with his wishes in the first film. He more of a traditional male in this way. By the second film, however, Mr. Big is neutered and takes on more of a feminine image. This is the film where he forces Carrie to watch the female-centric film, It Happened One Night, and Mr. Big is shown as somebody who is more of a homebody.

The Renaissance Man in Michelangelo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Renaissance Man in Michelangelo - Essay Example Discussing the three works --- their similarities and differences --- will help evaluate if Michelangelo indeed is able to present great talent in several different art realms. THE RENAISSANCE MAN IN MICHELANGELO 3 The Renaissance Man in Michelangelo Renaissance is a big part in the history of art. Here, art was reborn through the rediscovery of Greco-Roman tradition. The word renaissance itself came from the term â€Å"la rinascita,† meaning â€Å"rebirth.† (Rubin, 2006, p.563) During this period, pieces of art developed from the supernatural to the natural, as man's expansion of the scientific knowledge progressed. Study of human beings and scientific research caused societies to believe more in the self (Rubin, 2006, p.565-6). The Renaissance era spanned for two centuries, with historians dividing it into three periods --- Quattrocento or Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, and Mannerism. If modern artists today take pride in being a master of a certain field, Renai ssance people are considered great if they are able to present great talent in several fields (Rubin, 2006, p.574-5). ... Even though his talent is mostly considered as â€Å"only† within the realm of arts, the mastery he showed in every piece of work in every discipline is enough to make one understand that he is no ordinary â€Å"Jack of All Trades† (Emison and Chapman, 2006, p.508). He is considered a part of the High Renaissance period because there is naturalism in his works, there are no halos in religious pieces, and there is the balance between movement and stillness. There is also a great sense of harmony and balance in his works, which are both characteristics of Renaissance work. Furthermore, the Renaissance period is characterized by private or government funded art THE RENAISSANCE MAN IN MICHELANGELO 4 commissions, as compared to the common practice of art commissions by religious sectors (Rubin, 2006, p.576-7). â€Å"Statue of David† is among Michelangelo's sculptures, and perhaps can be considered one of the most famous sculptures in the world. The Guild of Wool Merch ant commissioned Michelangelo to create the â€Å"Statue of David.† As mentioned above, private commissions became the norm during the Renaissance period particularly for sculptures, especially due to its high cost. This sculpture breaks away from the traditional way of presenting David (Allen, 2001, p.18). In Michelangelo's sculpture, he does not show David as a winner, but rather as a youth just about to gain power right before the fight. This technique is also a characteristic of the Renaissance period, and Michelangelo brilliantly created the image of balance between stillness and movement by creating a sculpture that is both calm and smooth, yet dynamic and combat-ready (Allen, 2001, p.19). The tendons and the muscles of David's

Effective Ways to Prevent Animal Abuse Research Paper

Effective Ways to Prevent Animal Abuse - Research Paper Example Hence, it is important to ensure that diverse means of protecting animals from abuse is done so that not only their rights are recognized, but also for ensuring the absolute end of such abuse. Among the most important things that can be done to ensure that animal abuse if prevented is for individuals to know who to contact when instances of such abuse are detected. For instance, in several States in the United States there have developed instances where there are agents whose main duty is to ensure that humane laws are enforced. It is these agents who have to be contacted whenever an individual suspects or witnesses instances of animal cruelty so that these cases can be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice (Beirne, 2011). In addition, it is imperative that all individuals in the society learn that all animals have rights and if their locality does not have Humane Law enforcement agents, then it is their duty to ensure that they report instances of animal abuse to the police. Once this is done, it would be much easier for there to be the prevention of animal cruelty because the involvement of law enforcement would act as a deterrent against those individuals who would normally abuse their animals. Additionally, for those individuals who live in a neighborhood they should ensure that they look out for the animals that live in the said neighborhood. In the circumstances when individuals are made aware of the animals that their neighbors keep, there will be an assurance that they will appreciate and be responsible for the physical health of these animals. As a result, for example, an individual will be able to notice the way an animal behaves; whether it is healthy of whether it has lost any weight. It has been found that the latter condition is normally a sign that the animal is being abused, and this should be reason enough to ensure that the matter is reported to the relevant authorities so that it is investigated. The result might be the possibl e saving of the animal not only from abuse, but also from possible death at the hands of its owner. It is a fact that without the calls that are made to relevant authorities concerning the abuse of animals, the authorities would not be made aware of the problem, hence nothing would be done (Girardi & Pozzulo, 2012). It is therefore the responsibility of all the individuals in the society to ensure that they take the responsibility of reporting animal abuse because it is the right thing to do, despite the possible consequences, such as the loss of friendships. In order to make accurate reports to the relevant authorities, it is important to ensure that individuals keep their eyes and ears open so that they are aware of any instances of animal abuse that take place in their neighborhoods. Concerning individuals who provide information related to animal abuse they should give as accurate, detailed and reliable information as possible so that a thorough investigation can be carried out by the authorities in order to curb the vice. In addition, it is essential for the individuals who are reporting to have a written description of the abuse that they witness so that there can be more accuracy in the report that may be used against the abuser (Peak & Ascione, 2008). Furthermore, it is essential

Personal Intellectual Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Intellectual Development - Essay Example His standards are ever high, and his expectations have zero tolerance for excuses. His firm stance on quality in every aspect of life has always served as a driving force in my intellectual development. From how he monitored my initial stages of academic development to how he came up with a period that would guard my personal studies, I just established a firm foundation that would bear intellectual fruits. His firsthand involvement at home came with assistance in dealing with homework, research and other forms of personal studies. Nothing works magic as a dad who has time for his children. Every night was a thorough review of work covered during the day. A timely response to my requests would have me a step ahead of my peers. He would work hard at daytime to meet my every kind of needs, meet financial requirements to keep me in one of the best schools in our state. Attending our activities day came with a through inquiry of what I was doing at school. My performance came with reward s from him, motivation, encouragement, and sometimes a slap on my whole face. Sometimes I think about all these with my head down and put on a big smile seeing the man he made me. Having had me in the school environment presented an open opportunity to find reads that would transform my academic approach. While dad was pulling strings at home, Alain de Botton’s The Consolation of Philosophy was a source of inspiration for school. This read provided wisdom basics that have always been a pillar to lean on. Botton’s assumes a tone of consolation as he helps the readers figure solutions to their everyday problems. I borrowed a great deal from Botton’s perspectives as he cites the likes of Socrates and Epicurus philosophy (Botton). Botton taught me that as much as life has challenges, what matters is an attitude that helps you sort through the problem.

Lack of Connection between Educational Research and Practice Essay Example for Free

Lack of Connection between Educational Research and Practice Essay Educational research is conducted on the premise that an expansion of knowledge in the area of classroom teaching should automatically lead to improvements in the classroom, not only with respect to teaching styles but also the academic progress of students. All the same, this enhancement of knowledge is not always welcomed by teachers (Kennedy, The Connection). According to Mary M.  Kennedy, the author of â€Å"The Connection between Research and Practice,† teachers may fail to apply new knowledge based on research for the following reasons: (1) The research is not authoritative or convincing enough to move teachers to alter their practices; (2) The teachers find it difficult to directly apply the new knowledge because they consider it irrelevant to their particular concerns or questions on the subject of teaching; (3) The research findings may not have been communicated in an understandable way; and (4) It is impossible for the educational system to accept the changes entailed by new research-based knowledge (Kennedy, The Connection). G.  Reid Lyon, the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, expresses dismay at the lack of connection between educational research and practice: Scientific research can inform beginning reading instruction. We know from research that reading is a language-based activity. Reading does not develop naturally, and for many children, specific decoding, word recognition, and reading comprehension skills must be taught directly and systematically. We have also learned that preschool children benefit significantly from being read to. The evidence suggests strongly that educators can foster reading development by providing kindergarten children with instruction that develops print concepts, familiarity with the purposes of reading and writing, age-appropriate vocabulary and language comprehension skills, and familiarity with the language structure. †¦One hopes that scientific research informs beginning reading instruction, but it is not always so. Unfortunately, many teachers and administrators who could benefit from research to guide reading instructional practices do not yet trust the idea that research can inform their teaching (Lyon). The lack of connection between educational research and practice astounds many researchers. Even so, this lack of connection is sometimes approved by researchers. In the case of reading, for example, there are researchers who perceive that theories are â€Å"neither practical nor profitable† given that reading is â€Å"a complex phenomenon (Calfee and Drum 183). † These researchers even assume that â€Å"theoretical analysis is unnecessary, if not impossible† in this area (Calfee and Drum 183). Thus, there appears confusion with regards to applying educational research in the classroom. Seeing that the educational researchers do not always agree amongst themselves, it is unsurprising that teachers find it hard to understand new research-based knowledge before they can apply it. Teachers may not only disagree with educational researchers, but they also disagree with education reformers that base their ideals on current educational research after sifting through the disagreements among researchers (Kennedy, Reform Ideals). Research suggests that the teaching practice is strongly influenced by the values of the teachers themselves (Aguirre and Speer; Brickhouse). In other words, teachers may simply disagree with educational research that blatantly conflicts with their beliefs about their practice. According to Argyris and Schon, such is the difference between â€Å"espoused theories† and â€Å"theories in use. † Despite the advice of researchers as well as reformers, teachers may simply find it impossible to apply educational research in the classroom when their own beliefs conflict with the ideals of others. Kennedy has experienced the conflict between teacher practice and expectations while teaching in a different culture. Working in Thailand, without immediately appreciating the practice of teaching expected in the new culture, she was rather confused about the method of teaching that she was expected to adopt. She believed that she was right in her teaching style; however, the expectations of the Thai school administrators and students differed. â€Å"It took me a long time to adjust my practice to accommodate their expectations,† she wrote later (Kennedy, Learning to Teach). Of course, if she had failed to adjust, she would have found it difficult to succeed in the new culture as a teacher. Educational research is meant to influence teacher practice (Kennedy, Means and Ends). Nevertheless, resistance to change is a reality that must be confronted by all organizations, whether they are academic in nature or purely for profit. Teachers may believe that a certain educational finding is irrelevant to their concerns or questions about teaching. Still, the real reason why teachers do not always apply current educational research in the classroom is that they believe that their own practices are correct at any given time. In spite of Kennedy’s focus on the connection between educational research and practice, it took her a â€Å"long time to adjust† to a new culture of schooling. Given that educational research is growing by leaps and bounds nowadays, it is but natural for other teachers also to take a long time to adjust to new knowledge in the classroom. Change may sometimes be imposed upon the teachers, as in the case of new technologies that must be adopted in our times in a large number of schools around the globe (Bell, Codde and Bell). When change is not imposed upon the teachers, it is difficult for them to decide on the kinds of changes to adopt and disregard. According to a website on education: Educational research is potentially a great resource for supporting learner-centered practices, but there is a disjuncture between the worlds of the educational researcher and the practitioner (whether faculty member, instructional technologist, or learning designer). A few ears ago at the International Conference on Learning Sciences held in Ann Arbor, keynote speaker Linda Roberts commented on a 500+ page proceeding, saying This is fabulous, relevant, and meaningful work the only problem is: no one who needs it is going to read it. That is, there is not much of a bridge between research and practice (â€Å"Bridging Teaching and Learning Research and Practice†). Educational research has consistently focused on student-centered practices. Nonetheless, the constantly growing amount of research is expected to bewilder teachers about the appropriate teaching styles to adopt at any given time. The adoption of new technologies was considered necessary change. In cases where change is not considered urgent, however, there is bound to remain a wide gap between educational research and teacher practice. As mentioned previously, even educational researchers disagree about the kinds of changes that must be considered relevant or irrelevant. Hence, teachers are left with no choice but to take â€Å"a long time to adjust. † Teachers may additionally choose not to adjust to new knowledge. This is because the teacher’s values are imperative in the classroom. His or her belief system may not concede to a certain change in teaching style. Besides, change is often very difficult to adjust to. Hence, the lack of connection between educational research and practice is unavoidable in reality.

Sustainable tourism strategic plan

Sustainable tourism strategic plan Executive Summary Tourism is the main generator of revenue in the Hawaiian economy. Therefore the state markets itself primarily as a tourist destination. In keeping with this image the Hawaii Tourism Association (HTA) has developed the Hawaiis Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-2015. This is a comprehensive plan which is inclusive of and addresses the needs and responsibilities of all stakeholders in Hawaiis tourism product. The purpose of this essay is to conduct an analysis into the sustainability of Hawaiis tourism product by evaluating their policies, principles and sustainability practices as outlined in the plan. A SWOT analysis will be presented identifying Hawaiis strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as it pertains to their tourism product. The product will also be assessed based on the criteria which embody the four pillars of sustainable tourism which are economic, ecological, cultural and local sustainability. The principles governing Agenda 21 will also be used as a guideline to evaluate Hawaiis tourism product. Recommendations will then be made based on the limitations of the product that were identified and a conclusion based on the results of the analysis. Hawaii, the 50th state of the Unites States of America is an archipelago which comprises of eight major islands known as Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau and Kaho olawe. This group of volcanic islands is located in the Northern Pacific Ocean at approximately 2,400 miles West South West of San Francisco (City-Data.com, 2010). The islands tropical climate coupled with its beautiful scenery which comprises of lush rainforest, exquisite beaches and sensational mountain ranges has made it a very attractive destination for tourist. In addition, its multicultural society has resulted in a rich cultural diversity which also adds to the distinctiveness of the archipelago. As a result, the main revenue generator is tourism which contributes the most jobs, income and growth to the Hawaiian economy. According to the Department of Business, Economics, Development and Tourism, (2009) the number of stay over tourist for 2009 was 6, 514,382 which contributed to approximately 20% of Hawaiis GDP. This is a clear indication as to how important tourism is to the Hawaiian economy. The importance of sustainable tourism in the current global climate cannot be underscored. According to the World Tourism Organization (2004), any type of tourism destinations should develop sustainable tourism guidelines and policies in order to strike a balance between the socio-cultural, economic and environmental aspects of tourism so that environmental resources are efficiently utilized, the unique aspects of the culture are preserved and respected, and all stakeholders in the economy benefit. Therefore, it is important that Hawaiis Strategic plan for tourism incorporates all of these aspects in order to be effective. The vision that Hawaii formulated for its tourism product by the year 2015 is as follows: Honor Hawaiis people and heritage; value and perpetuate Hawaiis natural and cultural resources; engender mutual respect among all stakeholders; support a vital and sustainable economy and provide a unique, memorable, enriching visitor experience. (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005) Although this vision contains the key aspects of sustainable tourism development, it is important to consider in detail whether the policies, practices and principles which are included in the strategic plan are reflective of their vision. It is imperative that even before a strategic plan is formulated that a SWOT analysis is done in order to identify the internal strengths and weaknesses of product and the external opportunities that the product is exposed to. The following SWOT analysis is a more detailed version of the one that was prepared by the Hawaii Tourism Authority[1]. As identified by the tourism strategic plan, Hawaiis strengths as a tourism product are: Hawaii is branded internationally as a prestigious exotic vacation spot. The islands experience consistent warm climate throughout the year with an average variance of about 4oC. Native Hawaiians have a unique Polynesian Culture and History. The idea of a tropical volcanic island covered in diverse flora and fauna adds allure and appeal to the islands as a tourist destination. Most visitors claim to be satisfied with their time spent in Hawaii. The islands are blest with rich volcanic soil that supports the islands flora, fauna and lush vegetation. Natives are very friendly and welcoming which makes visitors feel more appreciated. Top class resorts provide varied quality accommodations. Airport and local security is excellent which propagates a feeling of safety. Hawaii offers a variety of activities and attractions to keep guests occupied, from surfing in the summer to skiing in winter. Hawaii is geographically isolated in the Pacific Ocean therefore there are no other islands in the world like it. The plan also highlights the following as weaknesses of Hawaii as a tourism product: Hawaiis geographic isolation makes it an expensive travel destination. There are inadequate public and private infrastructures such as restrooms and roads which makes visitor stay more uncomfortable. Visitors to Hawaii spend little time interacting with native residents especial in the rural areas Hawaii offers the same types of activities it has for the past decade which has become monotonous for tourists and declined repeat visitors. Inaccurate pre- and post-arrival Information on accommodation and Hawaiian culture have been a source of complaint and an expression of visitors dissatisfaction. There is inadequate Stakeholder Consensus in the tourism industry currently and as such there is much dissatisfaction amongst key stakeholders especially amongst the native communities. Businesses usually run slowly in Hawaii which increases visitor frustration for prompt service. Insufficient pre-visit information has often resulted in a mismatch between visitor expectation and product delivery. Hawaii has a very volatile inter-island transportation services. Taxis and tours are expensive and drivers often have very limited knowledge of the islands. In addition, many taxi and tour vehicles are not properly maintained. All together, this situation delivers poor service to visitors. Airlift to Hawaii can become problematic. Apart from being expensive, most airlines have limited their flights to or pulled out of the islands totally, as a result of financial strain placed on the industry by increased fuel costs and the need for added security features since the 911 incident in New York. Hawaiis public facilities such as its park benches, public restrooms, etc are poorly maintained, which provides an unsightly attraction and uncomfortable feeling to tourists. Tourists are often unaware of and have little access to many new activities available to them owing to communication and transportation limitations. There is a shortage of professional (Certified) guides on Hawaii which results in poor service delivery to touring tourists and adds to the dissatisfaction visitors feel when in Hawaii. Hawaiis strategic plan identifies the following as opportunities for Hawaii as a tourism product: Hawaii can further develop itself as a tourism product in terms of sustainable tourism. The increasing patronage of cruise lines promises an opportunity for future enhancement in that industry. Hawaiis native Polynesian culture is unique to Hawaii and it offers a chance to experience an alternative culture to tourists. Geographic market segmentation information affords Hawaii the chance to better customize their marketing efforts to meet the needs of their international customers. As such Hawaii can market themselves in different regions of the world, highlighting the vacation needs of these regions that it can fulfill. Health, sports and eco tourism are only a few of the recent tourism markets that are evolving. Hawaii has already hosted the PGA tour and hopes to capitalize on these other new markets that are showing up. Additional ferry services can certainly improve Hawaiis inter island transportation system, allowing more efficient and cheaper transportation between islands, thus reducing the total cost of the Hawaii vacation experience. A sustainable tourism approach will allow Hawaii to more prudently utilize and protect its resources thereby maximizing economic benefits from them whilst conserving them for future use. Improving public and private infrastructure affords Hawaii to provide a more comfortable, sanitary and attractive destination to visiting tourists thereby reducing visitor dissatisfaction. Sustainable tourism also allows Hawaii to impart ownership of their tourism product to all stakeholders. Such inclusion leads to greater satisfaction and purpose on behalf of the stakeholders which in turn maintains morale and motivation to deliver a good product. Since Hawaii will be engaging culture tourism, it means that its culture must be preserved and perpetuated for future display. As a consequence, Hawaiian native Polynesian culture will be conserved over the distant future. Hawaii recognizes the following as threats to their tourism product: Most public and private infrastructure in Hawaii is quite old and as such they are becoming unattractive and possibly unsafe for use. 43% of native Hawaiians feel that tourism is negatively impacting on Hawaii and as such there is a disturbing level of anti tourism mentality in Hawaii. As tourism have developed in Hawaii so has crime and drug use, if this trend is to persist security will soon become a deterrent for visitors. Disruptive world events such as, 911 terrorist attacks, world financial crisis, H1N1 virus, etc , continue to placed added financial strain and fear on travellers and airlines. As such, travel is compromised and less persons car willing to or can afford a Hawaiian vacation. Limited state funding is quickly becoming an issue because sustainable tourism is a costly framework to operate and Hawaiis current funding is insufficient to fully engage the concept. Hawaii is now receiving increased global competition from other destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Seychelles, Caribbean, etc as alternative vacation hot spot offering a wide range of services and unique cultural experiences. Increased Homeland Security measures from the U.S makes travel to Hawaii frustrating and as such visitors are often repulsed by the extensive searches and long lines that result, from the enforcement of these measures. The volatility of the airlines continues to remain a problem for the foreseeable future for Hawaii. With over 6 million visitors expected annually and even a greater number in the future, airlift to Hawaii is simply insufficient. However, Hawaii has no control over the added expenditure constraints faced by the airlines that are faced with no choice but to increase airfares or decrease flight numbers. At present there is a level of internal disagreement and complacency as it pertains to tourism management. Some feel that native Hawaiian culture and identity is being threatened along with their environment. Others feel that the Hawaii brand is strong enough to sustain Hawaiian life and there is no need to undertake such immense spending. If these types of attitudes continue to prevail, Hawaii as a tourism product will soon be in trouble. Many natives feel that Hawaii has been so focused on tourism they have not realized that Hawaiians themselves have become a lot like the tourists that visit, in terms of their dress, speech, lifestyle, foods, etc. As such, some feel that Hawaiians are losing their identity and sometimes its difficult to tell who the tourist is from who the native is. The current cost of the Hawaiian experience is too expensive. It is the number one deterrent for potential visitors. Unfortunately, with the volatility of the airline industry that cost is more than likely to get even higher. The first aspect of sustainability that will be looked at is economic sustainability. According to Mckercher (2003), economic sustainability should be beneficial to all stakeholders involved both presently and in the future. Principle 3 of Agenda 21 declares that the right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of future generations. Hawaii incorporates many economically sustainable practices in its tourism product which are highlighted in the strategic plan. The diversity of the product in order to provide a wide variety of activities for the tourist to enjoy is addressed. They have ensured that the product is diverse enough to cater to the family, a couple on a romantic getaway and even extreme sports fanatics. With this diversity comes a wide range of activities for the tourist to engage in while they are vacationing in Hawaii. Some of the activities include; hiking, golfing, scuba diving, horseback riding, spa massages etc ( Hawaii Activities, 2010). However, because Hawaiis image of being a leisure destination lacks appeal to the business tourist this limitation affects sustainability of their product since it limits the types and amounts of visitors that come to their shores. Another important aspect that is covered in the strategic plan which is of extreme importance to the economic sustainability is access to the destination. Hawaii has encountered some major challenges regarding access to its product. Maintaining an adequate amount of airlift to the islands has become an issue as a result of the airline industrys increase in volatility. Also, their airport and port facilities are aging and unable to adequately cater to the needs of a growing industry. The facilities at the airport have negatively impacted the total visitor experience coupled with the fact that the immigration process is very burdensome (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority it takes approximately 71 minutes per passenger to be processed through customs and immigration. Highways, roads and ground transportation systems are also problematic on the island. Maintenance of the roads and highways as well as the high levels of congestion is very inconvenie nt to the local populations as well as visitors (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Additionally, they have recognized the importance of communication and outreach, marketing, research and planning and further product development and have incorporated it in their plan. With regards to communication and outreach, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is cognizant of the fact that the attitudes of all the stakeholders involved in the development and maintenance of their product is critical if success is to be achieved. They have identified the stakeholders as residents, government agencies, visitors and private businesses. As a result they have put measures in place to raise awareness, increase knowledge, participation, collaboration and interactions among all the stakeholders. For example, one of their policies is to conduct outreach programs and provide forums in order for all stakeholders to exchange ideas, concerns and queries regarding their tourism product (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Visitor input in this regard is limited since these forums and programs do not inc lude visitors. In relation to marketing, the focus is on increased visitor spending instead of increased visitor arrivals because they have recognized that accommodation capacity is limited. They have segmented their marketing efforts to cater to the differences in the conditions and needs of specific geographic markets such as Europe, Latin America, Japan, Asia etc. However, this cannot be done in isolation and must be coordinated with their product development programs. Some of the areas that have been recognized as being important to visitors are a clean environment, intriguing culture and history, a wide variety of accommodations and, safety and security. In 2009, their Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Report revealed that more than half of their visitors thought that the Hawaiian experience was excellent and would revisit the destination (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2009). In spite of this, visitors are still requesting new and unique experiences to be added to the tourism product. This aspect is addressed by their research and planning initiative in their strategic plan and should address the development and improvement of their tourism product through research and proper planning initiatives. This is important in light of the fact that tourism is not a stagnant industry and in order to keep up with the trends and events that affect the industry proper research and planning must be done. Also, because of the growing concerns of visitors about their safety and security, this aspect is also addressed. This is an important aspect of economic sustainability because a negative perception held about visitors safety and security in any destination could adversely affect visitor arrivals and expenditures. The second pillar that will be looked at is ecological sustainability. According to Mckercher, (2003) ecological sustainability should promote developmental practices which are compatible with the maintenance of essential ecological processes, biological diversity and biological resources. Ecological sustainability is a very important aspect of sustainable development and must be an essential part of any plan aimed at achieving sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 1992) Tourism puts a lot of strain on the natural resources of the state because of the continuous demand by tourist for recreation and tourism-related activities. Hawaii State Parks Survey, (2007) showed that approximately 10.1 million people visit the state parks within a particular year. As a result sustainable practices that pertain to their natural resources have become a necessity. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has placed a lot of emphasis on the upkeep and restoration of t he national parks, beaches, trails waterfalls etc. They have embarked on initiatives to find methods of maintaining, repairing and improving their natural resources. Some of the initiatives are; charging entry and user fees and the provision of security on their sites in order to regulate the activities of tourist (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005). Another very important aspect of ecological sustainability is the identification and promotion of acceptable and responsible tourist behaviors. This is important in order that visitors enjoy the natural resources of the destination without destroying them. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has embarked on initiatives geared at raising awareness regarding the responsible and acceptable utilization of the Hawaiis natural resources. This initiative is not only targeted at the tourist but at all stakeholders involved. Some of the areas of focus are educating all stakeholders about water and energy conservation practices, recycling and safety conditions of hiking trails and beaches. This education takes the form of in-room videos, brochures, website postings and warning signage (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2005). It is also imperative that appropriate legislation be put in place so that the sustainability of the ecology/natural environment can be maintained in a realistic fashion. Environmental protection laws such as article XI, section 9 of the Constitution of the state of Hawaii allows all Hawaiian the right to a healthy environment and gives everyone the authority to legally persecute another party for violating this right (Hawaii Legislative Reference Beureau, 1978). The third pillar that will be looked at is cultural sustainability. According to Mckercher (2003) cultural sustainability should increase the control that people have over their lives, coincide with the values and culture of the communities affected and strengthen the identity of the community. Agenda 21, Principle 22 further purports that the culture and identity of the people should be recognized and supported in order to achieve sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development). Hawaiis uniqueness is built on the great amount of value that is placed on the native culture. According to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, (2004) many native Hawaiians believe that their cultural integrity is being compromised as a result of increase in the number of tourist that visit the islands. As a result, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has identified ways of honoring and sustaining Hawaiian culture and as such has included it in their strategic plan . As with any operation, there are challenges to be faced. An important aspect of cultural sustainability that has been raised is; the gap between the tourism industry and the Hawaiian natives. The Hawaiian culture is used to appeal to visitors, however natives feel isolated because they are not a part of the process and in turn, they feel threatened. Agenda 21 (UN, 1992) views this situation as a weakness based on its view that partnerships must be developed with all stakeholders with an aim of constructing collective responsibility for planning, decision-making, solutions development, program execution and appraisal. In short, authority over sustainable tourism must be shared with the native stakeholders. Another issue mentioned in their plan was the way in which hawaiian culture is being marketed to the outside world. The Hawaiian culture, is sometimes, merged with cultures of other islands, thus, tainting its authenticity. Some also feel that there is a need for the Hawaiian culture to be highly appreciated, and most of all, preserved. According to McKercher, (2003), cultural sustainability should aim to ensure the protection of native cultures and traditional knowledge. Hawaiis musicians, craftsmen, artists etc. are those who keep the Hawaiian culture alive, as such they should be incorporated as key stakeholders in the tourism development and decision making process. One of the aspects that were recognized for action was that they needed to foster closer relationships between the community and the tourist in order to promote interaction and shared understanding among the groups. The Hawaii Tourism Authority, in their strategic plan, identified some objectives, which, if achieved should bring favorable sustainable results. Initially, there would be a bridging of the gap among the natives and the tourism industry through direct collaborating and engaging efforts between the two parties. Another stated objective would be to foster the Hawaiian culture by incorporating all aspects of it to gain positive results. Thereby, educational programs on Hawaiian culture, training in various aspects of Hawaiian culture such as boat building, art, music, etc, information on job opportunities available through manifestations of Hawaiian culture, will all be initiated to guarantee protection and continuance of Hawaiis culture and traditions. The last stated aim i s to support cultural, programs, artists and organizations in their work, thus bringing them together with the tourism industry and sharing a common understanding and support system for each other. According to Robinson and Picard (2006) based on the objectives and design quality of a tourism strategic plan and the implementation of policies and activities that hold culture and sustainability in regard should include the communal participation in preserving and enriching of cultural heritage over the long term. Hawaiians seems to have taken this point of view deeply into consideration, as its essence has manifested itself into the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan. Native Hawaiians and their host culture are a major part of what continue to make Hawaii unique (Hawaii Tourism Authority, 2010). Sustainable tourism appears to be a potent weapon in the fight to protect, revitalize and economically benefit from it. The final pillar that will be looked at is local sustainability. According to McKercher, (2003) local sustainability should be designed so that the local communities benefit from tourism activities. Principle 1 in Agenda 21 indicates that human beings are the primary concern in all aspects of sustainable development (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development). Local sustainability is very important in order to ensure that the benefits derived from tourism are retained in the local communities. In order to ensure that the local community cooperates with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, they must ensure that they involve them in the decisions regarding tourism development. MeKercher, 2003 states as one of his principles governing local sustainability that the local community should maintain control over tourism development. In order to ensure that the community is actively involved in tourism development ongoing community meetings and surveys are held in order to ensure tha t the local community actively participates in tourism planning and policy development. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has addressed this issue in their workforce development initiative aspect of their strategic plan. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has estimated that tourism provides jobs to one out of every five people in Hawaii. As a result they have recognized the importance of providing employment and opportunities for advancement to locals within the tourism industry. Some of the ways they have ensured that the community contributes and benefits from tourism are; by having outreach programs in order to educate community members about opportunities for them within the industry. Some of the opportunities available for locals in the community are the provision of agricultural products to hotels and restaurants, cultural practitioners, arts and craft and musicians. Additionally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has pledged support to various internship programs and initiatives organized by locals which offer opportunities for them within the ind ustry. There are also measures in place to provide organize programs and activities aimed at motivating the local workforce. Based on the limitations identified with regards to Hawaiis tourism product and their strategic plan, the following recommendations have been made. Firstly, a communication strategy should be developed. Although the Hawaiis strategic plan speaks of sustainability, responsibility, accountability, etc, as guiding principles behind it, however, there is limited mention on how information is going to be communicated to the population and what channels are to be used. According to USAID (2006) a fully developed communications strategy for the implementation of sustainable tourism can help to facilitate the process much easier. USAID (2006) says that stakeholders have both a right to partake in the administrative process and a responsibility to adopt environmentally, communally and financially sustainable behaviours and practices. They add that the effective communication can create consciousness of these responsibilities and convince stakeholders the long-term benefits of sustainable tour ism (USAID, 2006). Moreover, USAID (2006, P.2, Para. 2, 3.) highlights that a communication strategy that identifies how information, awareness creation, advocacy, network building, conflict mitigation, and communication platforms will be supported can be considered comprehensive and is critical to the success of any sustainable tourism event. Secondly, a new instrument for measuring the success of the Strategic plan should be created. Hawaii have, resident sentiments, state and county tax receipts, visitor spending and visitor satisfaction, as its major instruments for measuring the success of its plan. These instruments however do not measure how well present resources are being preserved, to what extent Hawaii is meeting its transportation needs, to what degree is its culture being maintained and developed as a product, how much tourism earned directly and indirectly, to what extent are communities responding to and being developed by tourism, to what extent native human resources have been trained professionally and otherwise, in the industry? Each of these areas have been cited in the plan as key developmental areas in sustainable tourism yet none of them can be measured by the instruments laid out in the plan. According to the UKs Department for culture, media and sports (DCMS) (2002), Sustainable Tourism Indicators are needed to provide measures for observing the impacts of tourism and to record advancement towards attaining set sustainable tourism goals and objectives. Nonetheless, the department cautions that before considering what indicators could best be used in relation to monitoring and measuring change, it is necessary to generate a set of measures to provide a baseline against which to assess change (DCMs, 2002, P.16. Para. 1). In addition, the DCMS (2002) says that measurement indicators must carry therein the capacity to identify trends and have a longevity that extends beyond the life of the programmes under consideration. Thirdly, the vehicular emission standards for imported vehicles should be regulated. Transportation on Hawaii has also been highlighted as one of its biggest weaknesses and much is being considered to address the problem in the strategic plan. Vehicular exhaust however, has been noted as a major polluter of the environment. With an increase in transportation on the islands, the probability of air pollution also increases. If appropriate emission standards are put in place, Hawaii can ensure that the effect is minimized. According to the Uks Department for Transport (DFT) (n.d), many people are still unaware of the impact of road vehicles on the environment and our health but if proper regulatory measures are enforced the environmental impact of vehicles can be dramatically lessened (DFT, n.d). Fourthly, local investment in transportation services should be promoted. Tax incentives can be offered to persons invest given they adhere to local licensing requirements. These requirements should include certified training for public and private transport operators as a prerequisite for an operators license that allows you to operate transportation in the tourism industry, given that you maintain certain operational standards. As previously mentioned, inadequate transportation and poor service while being transported have been cited as two outstanding weaknesses and areas of focus in the strategic plan. Promotional incentives like tax breaks can encourage persons to offer that type of service to not only help ease the problem but also create employment opportunities for themselves. However, these persons must be trained to offer quality service and their operations must meet regulatory standards that enable them to lighten their footprint on the environment. Fifthly, waste management programs should be developed and implemented. Nowhere in Hawaiis strategic plan does it mention addressing waste management from tourism but it does speak of protecting the environment. Increased quantities of sewage and garbage are two major threats to every environment resulting from tourism. Programs must b