Film Reaction Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Film Reaction - Movie Review Example Sauri replaces his father as leader and Kumaglak's favorite Tulimaq is cursed. The film illustrates how lust for power and personal advancement can divide a community and cause pain, suffering, and untimely death. It demonstrates the law of attraction, how humans can bring evil on themselves and others by harboring bad thoughts. The role of a shaman is not necessarily always a good one in terms of having positive intentions and effects. The film illustrates the nature of the spirit world which also reflects the thoughts, emotions and actions of those living in the physical world. Kumaglak's wife Panikpak takes pity on Tulimaq's poor family. After years of discontent and discord under Sauri's despotic leadership, Tulimaq's sons Amajuaq, the Strong One and Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner, grow up to be skilled hunters and rebels. Atanarjuat falls for Atuat, the betrothed of Sauri's ill-tempered, jealous son Oki. The plot is full of intrigues and the seed of discontent and malice is passed down to the next generation. Oki loses a head punching competition to which he challenges Atanarjuat. But the two young men's battle is also a battle of spirits. The deceased shaman Kumaglak's spirit, summoned by the elder Panikpak, protects Atanarjuat and brings him victory. This is an example that death does not end spirit matters; the power of the spirit persists beyond the physical world and can traverse across world to make its influence felt. The story addresses taboos and breaks them, telling of Puja, Atanarjuat's troublesome second wife, sleeping with her brother-in-law Amajuaq. This causes a deep rift between the brothers. The lack of forgiveness is another spiritual wound, both for the person who refuses to forgive and the one who is refused forgiveness. Puja sets the two brothers up and they are attacked while they sleep by Oki and his friends. They murder Amajuaq, who urges Atanarjuat to flee. There's a parallel here to other myths and spiritual traditions, the lesser brother is elevated to spiritual heights just as Joseph was after being sold by his jealous brothers, or Jacob, or even young David who killed Goliath and became king. Atanarjuat is helped by a spirit to soar over a wide crack and escape Oki. He is aided by Qulitalik, Panikpak's brother who escaped the evil camp with Kumaglak's rabbit foot, the symbol and embodiment of the shaman leader's spirit. This is a good example of the material instruments and p ower objects that shamans use. Qulitalik recognizes Atanarjuat's need to heal spiritually and emotionally and sends him on a spiritual path, collecting animal droppings in a shit bag and with the aid of the rabbit foot, Kumaglak's tool. Qulitaik's role is much like the assistants who help apprentice shamans find their path and accept their destiny. Picking up feces is like holding on to emotional refuse. It is senseless and unhealthy. Atanarjuat has troubling visions, but finally comes to terms with his past and forgives his brother. Forgiveness is the key to his healing and opens the way to healing for the community, too. Atanarjuat has a vision in which his heart is pierced by the evil shaman. This is a highly symbolic event. The piercing of the heart represents deep spiritual pain and potentially fatal suffering. The heart

Democracy and the news Essay Example for Free

Democracy and the news Essay This paper will look at the different ways the media reflects and affects society by examining the various relationships that exists between the media, the state and the citizens. It will firstly define key terms, allowing for controversial words to have a specific and continuing definition throughout the paper. Three key ideas, centering around the relationships between the media and the state, will make up the major part of this paper; namely how the media affects the state, how the state affects the media and failed attempts by the media to affect the state. Examples of each concept being discussed will be included, showing the notion in practice. Relationships between the media and citizens will also be examined and discussed, again using examples to show each in action. The relationship between the media and citizens will be discussed, examining the ability of the media to influence the public, the publics ability to influence the media and failed attempts of the media to influence the public. The conclusion of this paper will detail the role of the media within society, how it operates and different functions it both performs, and attempts to perform. The media is a constantly changing medium. It includes television, newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, cinema, advertisements, and interactive multi-media. It can also include the Internet, video games, mobile phones and computers ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002 ). No undisputable definition of the term media exists, however, for the purpose of this paper the following definition given by OShaughnessy and Stadler ( 2002 ), will be understood as conclusive. The media are technologically developed and economically profitable forms of human communication, held either in public or private ownership, which can transmit information and entertainment across time and space to large groups of people ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002; Pg 4 ). A democracy is the notion that power and authority is vested in the people,   ( Singleton et al, 2000; Pg 4 ). In Australia, citizens vote for representatives that make up the parliament, and the party holding the majority form Government. Government operates at three levels; Commonwealth, state and local. Parliamentary members are held accountable and responsible for their actions, and numerous institutions designed to check and balance power exists to ensure this occurs. Citizen is defined in The Macquarie Dictionary ( 1994 ) as being a member, native or naturalized, of a state or nation, ( Pg 187 ) and will adopt this definition throughout this paper. The print and electronic medias ability to broadcast information both quickly and widely across society allows the media to successfully enact the role of public watchdog ( Wheeler, 1997; Pg 238 ). The media feeds citizens information. The public is informed of what occurs around them and abroad, who their politicians are, how they look and sound and important issues being suggested, debated and implemented within government. Politician journalist relationships are inherently collusive. Each needs the other to achieve their objectives ( Franklin 1998 ). Politicians require the services of journalists for their messages to reach the general public and journalists need politicians in order to cover politics ( Ward 2002 ). The relationship between the state and the mass media can quickly become vulnerable. The media holds a particular power, which can see it become an agenda setter for society. Not only politicians realise the importance of the media as a platform from which to speak. Pressure groups seek out the media in order to publicize their objectives. Those that successfully use the media acquire a community status, which has the potential to morph into a political status, from which opposition to political ideals, occurrences or similar can be passed on to citizens. Examples of such groups include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Amnesty. These groups can become oppositional spokesmen to government policy, sources of information and social commentators on legislation or policy ( Negrine, 1989; Pg 163 ). The media uses these groups as an official  authority, as they are recognized and respected organisations within the greater community, a status gained through use of the media itself. Examples exist where journalists can be seen as propaganda agents for politicians. The term manufacturing consent is described by Robinson ( 2002 ) as the power of the government to set the news media agendas, ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 12 ). Entman ( 1991 ), examines an example of this with two incidents from the 1980s. The medias contradictory handling of two aircraft shoot-downs, the Korean Airline and Iran Air, despite case similarities, proved the presence of political persuasiveness. Both resulted in a large loss of civilian life, and both were the result of military mistakes. The Iran Air shoot-down for which the US was answerable, was described in terms of a technical failure, ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 13 ). The Korean Airline shoot-down, effected by the USSR, was framed as a moral outrage, ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 13 ). The US media covered these two incidents as instructed to by US administrations and, says Entman ( 1991 ), chose to neither challenge nor criticize the facts presented to them by the state ( Robinson, 2002 ). The combination of Western governments intervening during humanitarian crises, and the considerable media attention given to dire circumstances abroad, saw the relationship between the media and the state linked as contributing factors, namely with the media encouraging the state to intervene ( Robinson, 2002 ). This trend became known as the CNN effect ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 1 ). Media coverage was proclaimed to influence policy-makers, resulting as either a necessary or sufficient factor in producing a particular outcome, ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 37 ). The CNN effect ( Robinson, 2002 ) adheres to the fact that definitive policy decisions lie with the policy makers, but media coverage can encourage policy makers to see that a decision is attained ( Robinson, 2002 ). An example of media coverage contributing to humanitarian intervention is that which became known as Operation Deliberate Force , an action led progressively by the US into Bosnia between 1992 and 1995. The war in Bosnia was the biggest conflict resulting from the dissolution of the Federal  Republic of Yugoslavia ( FRY ). Bosnia broke away from the undermined FRY and fighting began in 1991 between Bosnian government forces on one hand, and Bosnian Serb nationalists and Yugoslav army on the other. The latter two intent on creating ethnically pure regions in Bosnia ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 73 ). Pressure mounted in the US for intervention and as the war continued, US involvement increased, culminating in 1995 when the US became directly involved with the Bosnia war. This occurred after the 1994 Sarajevo market place bombing. The media expelled a do something ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 82 ) attitude and it came at a time when US policy-makers were unsure of just how much force they should exude. Holbrooke ( 1999 ) believes a CNN effect ultimately persuaded the US to act. The eventual response that came from the US was a threatened use of massive force, should the Serb nationalists fail to cease actions against civilians. The reason the West finally, belatedly intervened was heavily related to news media coverage, ( Holbrooke, 1999; Pg 20 ). Media influence, however, cannot entirely be held responsible for the US intervention. Avoidance of a humiliating UN withdrawal, along with the credibility and competence of the US can also be considered contributing factors. ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 85 ) The media can also attempt to set an agenda and fail. When politicians are certain of their policy, media coverage can have virtually no influence in encouraging a policy change ( Robinson, 2002 ). The war in Kosovo, also a result of the FRY dissolution, proved an area of much controversy between US administrations and the media. Albanian Kosovars, disheartened with a lack of international support, supported a Kosovo Liberation Army ( KLA ). KLA attacks on Serb forces were answered with considerable force, which included civilian targets ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 94 ). Two contingency plans were decided upon; the deployment of ground troops, and the use of air strikes, and were to go ahead should Serb forces continue attacks against Albanian civilians. US air strikes prevailed, but appeared to have little affect on the Serbian military. The US media became critical of the actions undertaken, and it became clear that the general community consensus lent toward a group campaign into Kosovo. It was concluded by Robinson, ( 2002 ) that although a large section of media coverage in the US encouraged the deployment of ground troops, it added little pressure on the government to  do so ( Robinson, 2002 ). Not all media outlets chose to criticize the policy-makers however, and a minority were seen supporting air attacks, ( Robinson, 2002; Pg 109 ). This example shows that although a CNN effect was clearly present, it failed in its attempt to influence policy change. Two theories suggest ways of understanding the relationship between the media and society. Firstly, it is suggested the media reflect the realities, values, and norms of a society. The media act as a mirror of society ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002; Pg 28 ). Secondly, it can be said that the media affect how people think, believe, and behave. The media construct our values for us and have a direct effect on our actions ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002 ). Both theories will be discussed. The media role includes both identifying issues of public concern, as well as acting as check on the abuse of power, this generally being political power. Journalists describe society to itself. They seek truth. They convey  information, ideas and opinions They search, disclose, record,  question, entertain, suggest and remember. They inform citizens and  animate democracy ( White, 1996; Pg 288 ). It is important to note that journalists, similarly to politicians, are held accountable for what they report. Accountability engenders trust, ( White, 1996; Pg 288 ). Journalists in Australia are answerable to a self-regulatory and industry funded board known as the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. The media often influences and reflects the priorities of communities or societies. The media is reliant on advertisements for revenue. In order to attract businesses to advertise, the outlet must attract consumers. This sees media  outlets selling the news, opinions and human-interest pieces that appeal to the values, opinions and sense of the greater market, namely, the readers and viewers. Increasingly, it is impossible to discuss the media without broaching the subject of public relations. Public relations professionals are most apt at using the media to suit their needs. They create the stories and feed the media with them, highlighting those facts they wish known, and keeping the undesirable ones hidden. If a cause requires the attention of the general public, it is possible to entice the media to cover it by creating newsworthy conditions. Politicians employ public relations professionals, who are often professional journalists, to liaise with the media. Obligations of the media to the citizen are to represent, interpret and evaluate ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002 ). The majority of citizens receive their knowledge of global issues through media outlets. The media explains these occurrences to the general public, giving them an understanding of what they may not otherwise know. The media can be seen as an educational tool, giving understanding of the norms, values and realities of society to citizens ( OShaughnessy Stadler, 2002 ). The real power of the media lies in its ability to agenda set ( Ward, 2002; Pg 404 ). The media may not be able to tell people what to think but .. they are remarkably successful in telling audiences what issues to think about, ( Cohen, 1963; Pg 13 ). The media can act as societys definer, giving meaning and understanding to situations and occurrences. Although the definitions and explanations may not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the subject experts , the power of the media can quickly see misinformation become the general consensus. Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the term terrorism has been misinterpreted within the media, and used to describe what academics in the field would not label as terrorism. Debate is strong regarding the issues of media censorship, with allegations, arising more and more frequently, regarding violent, sexually explicit and disturbing films, comics, song lyrics, Internet sites and books. Misdemeanor behaviour is often said to have been motivated and inspired by such mediums. In Australias republic referendum held in 1999, 18 of Australias 20 daily newspapers supported a Yes vote, ( Ward, 2002; Pg 404 ). Despite this, the majority of Australians voted against Australia becoming a republic. Media scholars are aware that media campaigns will not alter political views of those with existing political opinion and loyalties. An increasing minority however, are influenced by media propaganda and media content may prove valuable during elections in the more marginal seats ( Ward, 2002; Pg 404 ). The example of the republic referendum could be seen as an attempted, and ultimately failed, use of the CNN effect on society. _________________________________________________ The above discussion is in reference to situations within western democracies. Other political systems, including dictatorships and less democratic regimes, eg. Zwimbabe, USSR, and China use the media differently, tending to control opinion and political views, and thereby dictating public viewpoints. Prior to the recent elections in Russia, many of the non-government television stations were taken over or shut down, and had to change their influence and affiliations before being allowed to broadcast again. This saw the public denied access to media that presents a point of view different to that which the government wants citizens to have. Hitler shut down all newspapers during his leadership and produced his own, preaching his messages to the masses, this undoubtedly contributing to the large number of Germans that became Nazis. Media ownership is an essential element in this debate, and it is vital to recognize the regulations regarding media ownership in Australia. The federal government of 1986 sought to ensure that media ownership remained as diverse as possible. A person owning a television license cannot at the same time own more than 15 per cent of a newspaper published in the same city ( Singleton et al, 2000: Pg 308 ). 1992, however, saw legislation altered to allow more than 15 per ownership, provided the owner is deemed not to be in control ( Singleton et al, 2000: Pg 308 ). In a democratic society it is always possible for the alternative point of view to be presented, and for the most part, all sides of debates are considered. The media affects and reflects. It can act as an agent of propaganda and it can set the agenda. It can influence, or be influenced. The media, the state and the citizens are interdependent, each needing and using the other to inform and be informed. Western democracies will continue to see a balance within the media and the information it contains, as media ownership laws ensure the media remains democratic. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cohen, B. 1963. The Press and Foreign Policy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Entman, R. 1991. Framing US Coverage of International News: Contrasts in Narratives of the KAL and Iran Air Incidents . Journal of Communication 41(4):6 27. Holbrooke, R. 1999. No Media No War. Index on Censorship, 28(3): 20-1. Negrine, Ralph. 1989. Politics and the Mass Media in Britain. London: Routledge. OShaughnessy, Michael Stadler, Jane. 2002. Media and Society, An Introduction. 2nd Edition. Victoria: Oxford University Press. Robinson, Piers. 2002. The CNN Effect: The myth of news, foreign policy and intervention. London: Routledge. Singleton, Aitkin, Jinks Warhurst. 2000. Australian Political Institutions. 6th Edition. Malaysia: Pearson Education Australia Pty Limited / Longman. Ward, Ian. 2002. Media Power. Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia. Summers, John ( Ed ). NSW: Pearson Education Australia Pty Limited / Longman. Wheeler, Mark. 1997. Politics and the Mass Media. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd. White, Sally. 1996. Reporting in Australia. 2nd Edition. South Yarra: MacMillan Publishers Australia Pty Limited.

Violence Is An Appropriate Response To Racism :: essays research papers

Violence is an Appropriate Response to Racism I think that this statment is very negative, as it gives the impression that violence is the only way to solve things, and it is not.People need to talk about matters that concern them with the people that are causing the concerns, doing this wil make dealing with the problem of racism easier. The saying 'two wrongs don't make a right' is a very appropriate sayingto use in the issue of racism because racism towards people is wrong and so is violence. When one puts the two together, to deal with each other,it does not make the situation right. In fact, it will make the situatin worse because it will cause resentment between the racist and the victim. There is a quote in the bible, Matthew 5 38- 39 where Jesus speaks about revenge. It reads, "You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But now I tell you do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too." What this means is, if someone hurts once, do not respond in a violent manner, turn the other cheek and let them do it again. It shows that Jesus was against violence. Gandhi said something similar: 'An eye for an eye and we shall all be blind'. Gandi meant that so mang people hurt other people that they would end up seriously hurt. Put this teaching into practise, if someone hurts you once let them do it a secong time is the message here. The other side to this statement is to agree that racists should be dealt with in a violent way. In some resects, this is correct because if people have the mentality to be racist towards another person, they need to be punished, and if violence fits this sort of punish mentment. People, whatever race they are have to choice to decide where they live. They deserve to feel comfortable in their home even if it is not where the majority of their race lives. No one has the right to speak badly about another human because of the colour of their skin. They need violence to show them racism is unfair. Racism is somthing very personal to people as it shows what they believe in Some people prefer to deal with it in a violent manner, and others prefer ot deal with it in a more subtle way, for example a discusion.

Essay --

Christopher (2011) argues that the term called reverse logistics is used to depict the step of taking products back, generally at the end-of-life, but also for repair and recall. Reverse logistics can be defined as a chain of process to recover or sell the value of a product. That is if a company think supply chain stream in reverse, the one can make a decision the best way to deal with the bounced product. Especially, reverse logistics has received keen attention in the supply chain literature, since it mirrors the capacity of a company within supply chain to affirmatively effect the relationship that customers (Horvath et al., 2005). In addition, reverse logistics triggers main cost result for both the enterprise and its supply chain (Daugherty et al., 2005). As mentioned above, reverse logistics has been an essential structural component to make strategy in whole supply chain (Daugherty et al., 2001). Among a variety of industrial fields, automotive industry is the sector that has one of the complicated supply chains as car enterprises have vertical business relation with their suppliers to control thousands of parts for making a car. It means that the car parts companies should have their own supply chain to maintain relationship with their collaborating companies, and logistics also have to be operated to meet service demands of customers in supply chain. This dissertation presents a study of the effect according to reverse logistics strengthen in automotive parts supply chain. There are drivers promoting importance of reverse logistics. Regarding to this, Literature could be grouped as three parts: unavoidable returns, environmental and economic aspects. First of all, There are a few reasons for unavoidable returns of mate... ... and people. They can also consider reverse logistics as a method to keep and manage their brand reputations, to market their products as well as to obtain competitive benefits (Marien, 1998). It is critical for the major companies which lead the market to improve environmentally sustainable business since environmentally unkind products and materials would be detrimental to firms’ reputations and then could trigger a significant damage. The literature review shows that there are attempts to identify the factors driving reverse logistics strengthen. As a result, it is construed that there are three main reasons and they will signpost to find the objective of this dissertation. Based on these views, this dissertation will discuss and analysis the effect according to increase of importance of reverse logistics, focusing on supply chain in an automotive parts industry.

Geological Hazard

Geological Hazards are naturally occurring or man-made geologic conditions capable of causing injuries or other health impacts, loss of property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. It had been divided into many types. The two main types of man-made geological hazards are collapsing of buildings and forest fire which happening recently. Now, I’m going to talk about the collapsing of buildings first. The structure of a building actually is fundamental to ensuring the safety of people in or around the existing buildings. However, human’s ignorance, negligence and greed lead to building collapse. Human ignorance has to do with when incompetent personnel are in charge of design, construction or inspection. One of the major areas of negligence is in specification writing where that of a past project is adopted without crosschecking those areas that need improvement, addition or omission. Greed on the part of building contractors like diversion of building materials, cement in particular, the use of sub- standard materials so as to achieve high profit. Moreover, foundation problems, quality management, material and testing variability and unprofessional conduct will also leads to building collapse. The effect of building collapse are the innocent citizens lost their life, many other people has been rendered permanent disable in one form or the other as a result of increasing rate of building collapse in the country. Economic problem of this incidence is immeasurable in that many have been rendered homeless with loss of countless properties. Here is the true incident which happens in Bangladesh when 24 April 2013. At least 76 garment workers have been confirmed dead in Bangladesh after an eight-story building containing clothing manufacturing units collapsed. Moreover, this is another true incident collapse of a 20-metre lighting arrester pole from the UMNO building in Jalan Macalister during a storm and caused casualties is the best example of fallen misfortune which happen on 15 June, 2013 at Penang. It is a man-made disaster, instead of a natural disaster or accident. And a person had been killed in this incident. The other man-made geographical hazard is forest fire. Forests are important to us and our environment, their benefits cannot be measured. Without forests humans cannot survive. Fires can have a positive or negative effect on forests; and its impact on forest health and dynamic change greatly in different ecosystems. Fires are sometimes essential for forest regeneration but also harmful if it is repeated systematically in the same area. Forest fires have terrible environmental, social and economic consequences. The causes of forest fire are including drought, human carelessness, lightning, heat waves, slash and burn farming. The most common cause nowadays is probably due to drought. Tropical forests are quite sensitive to temperature change, thus long dry seasons and higher temperatures can severely damage a healthy forest and leads to forest fire. The next common cause is probably lightning and the last major cause of forest fires is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits. The main consequence of forest fire will be releasing of carbon dioxide which will affect our health and it increases the atmospheric pollution. Furthermore, an increase in carbon dioxide means an increase in global warming. When global warming rise the â€Å"Greenhouse† phenomenon will being increases also. Other than that, shelter for animals is not provided anymore. Animals are immediately affected when they are killed at the duration of fire and indirectly when no more food is available. Lastly, the forest products will be destroyed, such as wood, food and medicines. Recently, smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has choked neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, prompting Singaporean officials to press Jakarta for urgent action against the haze that has pushed the city-state’s air pollution to the worst level in 16 years. Its main air pollution index hit a measurement of 401 at midday Friday, exceeding previous highs of 371 on Thursday and 321 on Wednesday. Those measurements were classified as â€Å"hazardous† and can aggravate respiratory ailments. The reason why the firm burn the forest is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits but they didn’t consider for other.

The Function of the Federal Reserve System in the US Economy

The Function of the Federal Reserve System in the US Economy When countries issue currency, especially fiat currency that is not specifically backed by any commodity, it is necessary to have a central bank whose job it is to monitor and regulate the supply, distribution, and transacting of currency. In the United States, the central bank is called the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve currently consists of the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., and twelve regional Federal Reserve banks located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Created in 1913, the history of the Federal Reserve represents the federal government’s   ongoing effort to achieve the goals of any central banking system - ensure a secure American financial system by maintaining a stable currency backed by the benefits of high employment and minimal inflation.   Brief History of the Federal Reserve System The Federal Reserve was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act. In crafting the landmark legislation, Congress was responding to a series of economic panics, bank failures, and credit scarcity that had plagued the nation for decades. When President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law on December 23, 1913, it stood as a classic example of an all-too-rare politically bipartisan compromise balancing the need for a consistently regulated centralized national banking system with the competing interests of established private banks backed by a strong â€Å"will of the people† populist sentiment. Over the more than 100 years since its creation, responding to economic disasters, such as the Great Depression in the 1930s and the Great Recession during the 2000s, have required the Federal Reserve to expand its roles and responsibilities. The Federal Reserve and the Great Depression As U.S. Representative Carter Glass had warned, years of speculative investments led to the disastrous â€Å"Black Thursday† stock market crash of October 29, 1929. By 1933, the resulting Great Depression had resulted in the failure of nearly 10,000 banks, leading newly inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare a banking holiday. Many people blamed the crash on the Federal Reserve’s failure to stop the speculative lending practices quickly enough and for its lack of an in-depth understanding of monetary economics necessary to implement regulations that might have lessened the devastating poverty resulting from the Great Depression.  Ã‚   In response to the Great Depression, Congress passed the Banking Act of 1933, better known as the Glass-Steagall Act. The Act separated commercial from investment banking and required collateral in the form of government securities for Federal Reserve notes. In addition, Glass-Steagall required the Federal Reserve to examine and certify all banking and financial holding companies. In a final financial reform, President Roosevelt effectively ended the long-standing practice of backing U.S. currency by physical precious metals by recalling all gold and paper silver certificates, effectively ending the gold standard. Over the years since the Great Depression, the duties of the Federal Reserve expanded significantly. Today, its responsibilities include supervising and regulating banks, maintaining the stability of the financial system and providing financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government, and foreign official institutions. How Does the Federal Reserve System Work? The Federal Reserve system is overseen by a seven-member board of governors, with one member of this committee chosen as the chairman (commonly known as the Chairman of the Fed). The president of the United States is responsible for appointing Fed chairmen to four-year terms (with confirmation from the Senate), and the current Fed chair is Janet Yellen. (The regular members of the board of governors serve fourteen-year terms.) The presidents of the regional banks are appointed by each individual branchs board of directors. The Federal Reserve system serves a number of functions, which generally fall into a couple of categories: first, it is the Feds job to ensure that the banking system stays responsible and solvent. While this does sometimes mean that the Fed has to work with the three branches of government to think about explicit legislation and regulation, it more often means that the Fed works in a transactional sense to clear checks and to act as a lender to banks that want to borrow money themselves. (The Fed does this mainly to keep the system stable and is referred to as the lender of last resort, since the process is not really encouraged.) The other function of the Federal Reserve system is to control the money supply. The Federal Reserve can control the amount of money (highly liquid assets such as currency and checking deposits) in a number of ways. The most common way is to increase and decrease the amount of money in the economy via open-market operations. Open-Market Operations Open-market operations simply refer to the process of the Federal Reserve buying and selling U.S. government bonds. When the Federal Reserve wants to increase the money supply, it simply purchases government bonds from the public. This works to increase the money supply because, as the buyer of the bonds, the Federal Reserve is giving out dollars to the public. The Federal Reserve also keeps government bonds in its portfolio and sells them when it wants to decrease the money supply. Selling decreases the money supply because the buyers of the bonds give currency to the Federal Reserve, which takes that cash out of the hands of the public. There are two important things to note about open-market operations: first, the Fed itself isnt directly responsible for printing money. Printing money is handled by the Treasury, and there are multiple channels by which the money gets into circulation. (Sometimes, for example, the new money just replaces worn-out currency.) Second, the Federal Reserve doesnt actually create or issue the government bonds, it just handles them in secondary markets. (Technically, open-market operations could be conducted with a number of different assets, but it makes sense for the government to manipulate the supply and demand of an asset that was issued by the government itself.) Other Monetary Policy Tools Although not used nearly as frequently as open-market operations, there are other tools that the Federal Reserve can use to change the amount of money in the economy. One option is to change the reserve requirement for banks. Banks create money in an economy when they loan out customers deposits (since both the deposit and the loan count as money), and the reserve requirement is the percentage of deposits that banks have to keep on hand rather than lending out. An increase in the reserve requirement, therefore, restricts the amount that banks can lend out and thus reduces the money supply. Conversely, a decrease in the reserve requirement increases the number of loans that banks can make and increases the money supply. (This, of course, assumes that banks want to lend more when they are allowed to do so.) The Federal Reserve can also change the money supply by changing the interest rate that it charges banks when it acts as the lender of last resort. The process by which banks borrow from the Federal Reserve is called the discount window, and the interest rate that the Federal Reserve charges is called the discount rate. When the discount rate is increased, it is more expensive for banks to borrow in order to cover their reserve requirements. Therefore, a higher discount rate causes banks to be more careful about reserves and make fewer loans, which reduces the money supply. On the other hand, lowering the discount rate makes it cheaper for banks to rely on borrowing from the Federal Reserve and increases the number of loans they are willing to make, thus increasing the money supply. Decisions regarding monetary policy are handled by the Federal Open Market Committee, which meets approximately every six weeks in Washington in order to discuss changing the money supply and other economic issues. Updated by Robert Longley

How Diversity in Higher Education Affects Student Outcomes Professor Ramos Blog

How Diversity in Higher Education Affects Student Outcomes Summary In this report we will be discussing how diversity can impact student’s education outcomes in both a positive and negative matter. We will be looking at several studies from various scholars who have researched the topic and published their findings. While we review these studies, we will break down what it means for a student and how it can impact them. I will also use supporting evidence from first hand experiences from staff members of universities that face and see the issues surrounding diversity in higher education. First, we will look at history of higher education and diversity. Afterword’s we will move into how diversity can positively impact education, then we will move on to how it negatively impacts it. History of Diversity in Education Diversity is an issue that America has faced for hundreds of years and it affects every aspect of our life. Higher education is one of those aspects and a very important subject when it comes to diversity. For many years, prior to the massive black rights movements, discrimination was in a grey spot when it came to the law. Discrimination was illegal, but many states Jim Crow laws which allowed for separation by color, race and ethnicity. There were many loop holes in these laws and it was often used as a basis for legal discrimination of minorities. This impacted students who were considered minorities very heavily. They would be denied access to schools because it was a â€Å"white only school†. In 1954 a decision was made in the landmark court case Brown vs. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483, 1954. The decision is as follows; Segregation of White and Negro students based on race in accordance to state laws are against the Fourteenth Amendment. Although this law was intended for public schools, many universities followed it as well. This did however create a smaller problem that was later challenged in court. Universities were holding a specific number of seats for minority students sometimes students who were not as qualified would be admitted over better qualified students. In 1978 this was challenged in the court case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265. This case decided that no applicant may be rejected because of his race, in favor of another who is less qualified, as measured by standards applied without regard to race. Although this is not a full proof way to make it fair, these cases allowed for a better and less race focused acceptance process to universities. Applicants to universities are not accepted based on race or ethnicity but on qualifications. Positive Impacts of Diversity in Education   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is great benefit to having diversity in education, especially in higher education. This exposes students to new world views and helps them see the other side of arguments in a more logical way. The first study we will discuss was conducted at UCLA from 1987-1991. The study involved roughly 4,300 students and faculty members from 309 predominantly white universities. The outcome of the study showed that when faculty introduced a more diverse curriculum in their classes, students did better and said they felt they learned more. Students felt that they were more accepting of people and worked better with them when they were from different backgrounds. The study indicates that â€Å"opportunities for interaction with diverse peers foster civic development †¦ and cultural knowledge and awareness† (Hurtado 198). The study also provides evidence that students who interacted with a more diverse group of peers, faculty and curricu lum â€Å"has a substantial positive effect on skills needed to function in a diverse society† (Hurtado 199). The study also looks at faculty and how a diverse faculty helps student outcomes. According to the study, when a university has a more diverse faculty, it helps students experience a more diverse curriculum because the professors of different backgrounds would require readings and discussions on racial, ethnic, gender and social issues (see table 1). Table 1 Percentage of male and female professors who had specific curriculum requirements that exposed students to diversity. Source: Linking Diversity and Educational Purpose: How Diversity Affects the Classroom Environment and Student Development† Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. 2001, Table 1. Negative Impacts of Diversity in Education Now that we have covered the positive impacts of diversity in education outcomes, let’s look at the negative impacts in can have. Even with laws helping to prevent discrimination in applications and acceptance, there is still discrimination in many forms. The two we are going to cover are called â€Å"exclusionary practices† and racial prejudice. First, we are going to look at exclusionary practices. This is when someone is excluding, from an activity or group, because of their background. It is not always done knowingly, it can happen on a sub conscience level. In Ibrahim Mohamad Karkouti research article he proposes â€Å"that higher education institutions still fail to embrace diversity and multiculturalism due to their conservative nature† (405). This means that although on paper institutions say they embrace diversity, it is sewn into their nature that they ignore diversity. It is not something the staff knowingly does, but it is something that tends to happ en especially in predominantly white institutions. An example of this would be that full-time faculty at universities are generally 17% minority while the remaining are white (Ibrahim 405). This leads to a less diverse curriculum; therefore, a student is exposed to other backgrounds and cultures less. This has the opposite effect of when a student is exposed to a more diverse curriculum, the student stays in their personal majority bubble and does not branch out into meeting students considered minority. The previous example shows how exclusionary practices work and why they are harmful. We will now talk about racial prejudice in universities. This is a subject that goes far beyond education, but in education is has a huge effect. In education the biggest type of racial prejudice is stereotyping. Students tend to stereotype anyone who is not from the same background as them. When choosing partners to work with or professors to take some students base it off race and how they stereot ype the persons background. What the student does not realize is they are only hurting their own development (Osa 5). This way of thinking stops the student from being exposed to different world views. As we previously discussed, students who are exposed to different world views tend to have a better outlook on the world and themselves. This shows in their education, as it is easier for the student to learn things from new perspectives when they are open minded. Conclusion We have covered 3 main topics in diversity in education. The history, the good and the bad. Overall diversity plays a large role in student outcome. Whether that outcome is positive or negative is up to the faculty and the student’s personal thoughts. When the faculty can expose a student to new ways of thinking and seeing different backgrounds and cultures, it greatly improves a student’s education and will help them far into the future. It is a very diverse world we live in and when a student is more prepared for that, they will have a higher chance of success. On the contrary, when a university fails to expose a student to different cultures and backgrounds and the student chooses to remain ignorant of them, it hurts the student’s education. The student will not be as prepared for the diverse career field they are most likely going into. Thus, they will be hindered from the start and need to learn to be accepting of another person’s background. Hurtado, Sylvia. â€Å"Linking Diversity and Educational Purpose: How Diversity Affects the Classroom Environment and Student Development† Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. 2001, pp 187-203. ERIC Institute of Education Services, https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED456199 Karkouti, Ibrahim Mohamad. â€Å"Professional Leadership Practices and Diversity Issues in the U.S. Higher Education System: A Research Synthesis.† Education, vol. 136, no. 4, Jan. 2016, pp. 405–412. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=ericAN=EJ1104195site=ehost-live. Osa, Justina O. â€Å"The Pervasiveness of Racial Prejudice in Higher Education in the U.S.: Raising Awareness and Solution.† Forum on Public Policy Online, vol. 2007, no. 3, Jan. 2007. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=ericAN=EJ1099150site=ehost-live. Powell, Lewis F., Jr, and Supreme Court Of The United States. U.S. Reports: University of California Regents v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265. 1977. Periodical. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, loc.gov/item/usrep438265/. Warren, Earl, and Supreme Court Of The United States. U.S. Reports: Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483. 1953. Periodical. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, loc.gov/item/usrep347483/.

Strongest and Weakest Parts of a Magnet

Strongest and Weakest Parts of a Magnet Did you know that the magnetic field of a magnet is not uniform? The strength of the field varies depending on its location around the magnet. The magnetic field of a bar magnet is strongest at either pole of the magnet. It is equally strong at the north pole when compared with the south pole. The force is weaker in the middle of the magnet and halfway between the pole and the center. If you were to sprinkle iron filings on a piece of paper and place the magnet beneath it, you could see the path of the magnetic field lines. The field lines are closely packed at either pole of the magnet, widening as they get farther from the pole and connecting to the opposite pole of the magnet. The magnetic field lines emerge from the north pole and enter the south pole. The magnetic field gets weaker the farther you get from either pole, so a bar magnet is only useful for picking up small items over short distances. Where Is the Magnetic Field Strongest? Iron filings make a pattern tracing field lines because each bit of iron is itself a tiny dipole (the separation between magnetic fields). The force the dipole experiences is proportional to the strength of the dipole and proportional to the rate at which the magnetic field changes. The dipole tries to align itself with a magnetic field, but at the ends of a bar magnet, the field lines are very close together. What this indicates is that the magnetic field varies strongly over a short distance compared to the variation closer to the middle of the magnet. Because the magnetic field changes so dramatically, a dipole feels more force.

Technology Implementation Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Technology Implementation Paper - Essay Example There are numerous examples: travel and holiday agents are all linked by networks directly to the databases maintained by airlines, railways and holiday companies making possible virtually instantaneous booking, computing cash tills and bar-code readers in supermarkets are linked to computers and form part of an integrated stock control, ordering and sales analysis system without which modern supermarkets could not function. New technology is having effects on organization structures. Because of the easier and speedier communications and the increasing sophistication of automatic decision making by computers, middle management is tending to disappear in many organizations including service centers and manufacturing, hospitals and trade organizations, etc. (Frame, D.J., (2002). Organizations are becoming flatter and leaner because top management are able to monitor operations more directly and computers are now taking many decisions previously taken by middle management. Examples include: computerized stock and production control in manufacturing, automatic credit scoring and loan authorizations in banks. IT is also changing the nature of the debate about centralization versus decentralization. Properly planned technology systems with distributed data processing enable both more centralization of standards, performance targets and policies and more decentralization of operations through more immediate an d speedier service to customers (Bretschneider, Heintze, 2000). Also, restructuring involves changes in routine processes towards goals-oriented performance. Following Bohmer et al (2001) "The design of a technology often reinforces a habitual routine; for example, the design of a commercial aircraft's cockpit is conducive to certain standard operating procedures for takeoff and landing" (685). In this case, transaction processing systems are pre-specified and changes require the intervention of system specialists; transaction processing comprises: activity processing, report processing and enquiry processing. Businesses are increasingly being reorganized into processes rather than functions (Knop et al, 1998). This is known as process re-engineering and means that firms must identify their core processes and design them so that delays, confusion and demarcations are reduced or eliminated. For instance, the case of The Bell Group vividly portrays implementation of CRM (Customer Relationship management) system and its success for the company. The project includes such areas as accounting, manufacturing, warehousing, field service, and shipping systems. All technological systems were launched separately in order to avoid mistakes and errors (The Bell Group, 2005). It is now possible for managers to obtain information on organizational performance down to the level of specific transactions from just about anywhere in the organization at any time. This new intensity of information makes possible far more precise planning, forecasting, and monitoring (Schwalbe, 2005). A New Employee Managers must deal with new people issues because the changes brought about by technology definitely require a new kind of employee. The use of technology requires more problem solving skills and the ability to interpret data and is thus likely to lead to a widening gulf between skilled and unskilled workers. Routine tasks requiring a low level of skill are

'As large firms embrace the benefits of traditional marketing, they Essay

'As large firms embrace the benefits of traditional marketing, they must also embrace the rigours of Web analytics to measure - Essay Example With big companies spending huge amounts of resources to market their products, it is essential that they make good decisions on how to invest on their marketing endeavors and to measure the returns on these investments. One of the tools used to provide metrics relating to online marketing is web analytics. This paper will discuss the importance of web analytics in measuring organizations’ return on marketing investment. Web Analytics and Its Importance The web has grown to become a very powerful vehicle for communicating and marketing as noted by Burby and Atchison (2007, p1). It makes it easy for businesses to communicate fast and easily with millions of customers spread across the globe in real time. As a result, it has changed the speed at which businesses and their brands can be established and grow. The web has also shortened the distance between the marketer and the customer both physically and emotionally to the period of a click of the mouse Burby and Atchison (2007, p1). With many large organizations appreciating the value of having a web presence, they are prepared to invest if only there is bound to be good returns on their investment (Clifton 2012, p. 1). Organizations have therefore to decide how much to invest in their online marketing endeavours and establish the most cost effective way to market the site and have valuable leads that translate into sales. A few years ago, many organizations with a web presence could not tell who and how many visitors landed on their websites. This is no longer the case today. Many large organizations today have the capability of knowing a lot about the visitors to their websites and the activities that the visitors perform on these sites, thanks to web analytics Burby and Atchison (2007, p. 14). Web analytics involves collecting, measuring, analyzing and reporting data retrieved from the Internet with the aim of understanding and optimizing usage of the web as noted by Peterson (2004, p. 5). Some of the v ariables measured on-site include drivers and conversions. In other words, web analytics is mainly dedicated to generating more leads to an e-business, enhancing brand awareness, and learning more about customers and the business (Loveday & Niehaus 2007, p. 34). The information that the organization in this respect includes how the customers find an organization’s website, how much they spend on each webpage and what they do when they land on the site. An organization, for example, can get to know which of the landing pages on a website lead more customers to purchase its goods or services online. Using this information, the organization can further optimize its web pages or make changes to some of its pages to attract more conversions (Napier 2006, 225). In addition to these, the organization may rely on web analytics to find a clue as to why visitors leave their website or a particular web page (Plaza 2009, p. 478). With this information, an organization can attract more vi sitors to their website and convert them into paying customers. Web analytics can be done on-site and off-site. Off-site web analytics involves the measurement of a websites visibility, potential audience, and buzz on the entire Internet (Farris, Bendle, Pfeifer & Reibstein, 2009, p. 54). On the other hand, on-site analytics involves

OUTSOURCING AND OFFSHORING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

OUTSOURCING AND OFFSHORING - Essay Example In other cases an organization may source or offshore when a process can be completed in a better and cheaper manner when using external providers. Customers just like the sourcing and off shoring companies have a part to benefit. Customers benefit from better products and services that follow increased competition, a factor that also comes with reduction in prices. Out Sourcing and off shoring companies also present several disadvantages for the companies involved. The major disadvantages are Loss of supervisory control of the process, loss of flexibility in responding to the transformations in business situation and the loss of internal and external client focus. These practices also pose the risk of possible loss of confidentiality by the concerned organizations. Out Sourcing and off shoring in many cases is met with lots of resistance from the natives, influenced by their inherent

The Circulation of Blood in the Human Body Essay

The Circulation of Blood in the Human Body - Essay Example Each side of the heart has its designated functions in the circulation of blood. The right side pumps blood that is deficient in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide (deoxygenated blood). The blood is pumped to the lungs where oxygenation takes place. The process involves the loss of carbon dioxide to the air through the breathing process and absorption of oxygen (Storad, 2005). The oxygen is transported by the red cells in the blood, also called erythrocytes. The left side of the muscular organ pumps oxygenated blood flowing from the lungs to the other parts of the body. The technical role of the heart in the circulation of the blood is as illustrated in the video in figure 2. As can be noted from the video, the blood from the left side of the heart does not mix with that on the right side. If this happened, oxygenated blood would be deoxygenated by the high levels of carbon dioxide in the right side of the heart. The blood deficient in oxygen is circulated from the other parts of the body where respiration has taken place to the heart through the venacava (Rogers, 2011). The venacava is divided into two parts with the superior vein returning blood from the hands and the head to the heart while the inferior vein carries blood to the heart from the other parts of the body. The oxygen deficient blood flows into the right atrium because the pressure of the atrium is low based on the contraction action of the heart.

Social Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Social Change - Essay Example There certainly have been various debates regarding the best form of governance that will maintain the Social Order or the Social Coherence of the people in general. The idea of society was born out of the fact that there needed to be a social coherence and security. As we can see in Scott Sernau’s essay, regarding the development of governance, right from the tribal days to the present kind of welfare-state; the present-day types of governance didn’t just sprout from the ground. It has taken a natural course until the time of the development of socialism by various philosophers. Post the era of socialism, there has been the interference of imperialistic rule, attacks against socialism-in the form of pseudo-capitalism etc. Let us look at five varied kinds of governance and compare the cases in depth. To begin from the beginning, governance was essentially Autocratic, which lent major amounts of power to one single ruler, who was determined to bring the people together and control their behavior. This formed the beginning of any kind of governance maintaining the premise that Humans essentially need to be governed. Usually the person who governed such states was known as a ‘dictator’ or an ‘autocrat’. (Perlman 1). The state was given birth to, by this kind of a rule, which marked the beginning of governance and governments. The rule is thereby continued by way of Nepotism, since; usually the throne of the ruler is taken over by the son or any other close descendant of the ruler. Autocracy or Chiefdom, slowly led to the formation of the nation-state. The formation of the nation-state is one of the more modern phenomenon since the times of the ‘despots’. This is the kind of governance that eventually led to the two World Wars. It is important to know the implications of the Nation-State since it led to the formation of ruling and opposition parties which is practiced even until today. There came to be collective consciousness among the

The Circulation of Blood in the Human Body Essay

The Circulation of Blood in the Human Body - Essay Example Each side of the heart has its designated functions in the circulation of blood. The right side pumps blood that is deficient in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide (deoxygenated blood). The blood is pumped to the lungs where oxygenation takes place. The process involves the loss of carbon dioxide to the air through the breathing process and absorption of oxygen (Storad, 2005). The oxygen is transported by the red cells in the blood, also called erythrocytes. The left side of the muscular organ pumps oxygenated blood flowing from the lungs to the other parts of the body. The technical role of the heart in the circulation of the blood is as illustrated in the video in figure 2. As can be noted from the video, the blood from the left side of the heart does not mix with that on the right side. If this happened, oxygenated blood would be deoxygenated by the high levels of carbon dioxide in the right side of the heart. The blood deficient in oxygen is circulated from the other parts of the body where respiration has taken place to the heart through the venacava (Rogers, 2011). The venacava is divided into two parts with the superior vein returning blood from the hands and the head to the heart while the inferior vein carries blood to the heart from the other parts of the body. The oxygen deficient blood flows into the right atrium because the pressure of the atrium is low based on the contraction action of the heart.

Goal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Goal statement - Essay Example Interdependent when it involves patient’s plan of care development, working together with the doctors, therapists, patient and patients family, and coordinating the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary health care team. Their roles are defined as independent when it is the nurses that are involved exclusively in the care of the patient. The nursing profession is guided by ethical standards set by bodies such as the American nursing association that rates how efficient the nurses are in identifying the patient’s source of pain ad bringing that patient relief (Hogan Et al, 2014). How effectively are the nurses communicating with the patient’s doctors, family, and the patient in acting as a bridge between the patient and all those around him? How effectively are the nurses meeting the patient’s emotional requirements, as care is a wholesome approach? How well are the caregivers responding to the needs of the concerned family such as strain, stress? The main reasons for seeking advance sociality preparation in the nursing profession include career advancement. The goal of the nurse may be to join other leaders in the realms of the top administration of a facility. Obtaining an advanced degree is essential in reaching your professional goal within the upper levels of nursing management. The other reason is salary increment. Irrespective of the field of choice or the geographical region of ones practice, advanced specialty preparation, guarantees the nurse some increase in benefits and allowances enjoyed. The nurse enjoys more flexibility this is because the nurse may choose whether to operate a full time or part time work schedule. The chances of autonomy are significantly increased once one take an advanced specialty course because the nurse is in a position to establish their independent practice (Hogan Et al, 2014). The reasons for choosing to specialize in

Chilean Copper Mine Collapse and Rescue Essay Example for Free

Chilean Copper Mine Collapse and Rescue Essay The tragedy with the happy ending all started August 5, 2010, when the mine collapses 33 workers are trapped at the Chilean copper mine 300 meters below the ground level. Safety codes require ladders for mines, and the miners attempted escape through the ventilation shaft system, but the ladders were missing. The mining operation soon became known as â€Å"Camp Hope,† for the next 69 days the dry, dusty, work site would be where rescue workers, officials, authorities, media, friends, and family of the trapped miners would call home. A small copper operation in northern Chile, owned by Minera San Esteban Primera, is in what many call the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert. Some years earlier, the mine was shut down because of several accidents, including one death in March 2007. Later, in 2007 the mine reopened and the mine workers went back to mining the copper. In August 2010 when the accident occurred there were two groups of workers in the mine; the first group were near the entrance could escape, but the second group were so deep in the mine escape though the normal entrance was not an option. The workers quickly went to the ventilation shaft system only to find the ladders were not in place as requested in the orders written by the federation of Chilean mining workers and the confederation of copper works when the mine reopened. By the time rescue teams could respond these shafts were not accessible because of ground movement cause by the cave-in. â€Å"The Chilean government took over the rescue effort on the first day and poured enormous resources into the operation† (Kofman). By day two, rescuers had started drilling â€Å"boreholes† in the attempt to locate the miners and allowing listening devices to be sent down in efforts to hear if any of the miners had survived. A second collapse causes access to the lower shafts to be blocked and shut down operations. The trapped worker’s knew that rescue operations were in play because the 33 men could the noises below the ground. With limited food, water, and oxygen supplies officials are not sure if the trapped miners can survive four days in their current conditions. By day 17, eight holes had been bore using equipment that had been brought in because on site there was not ample equipment for a rescue of this magnitude. As one of the drill bits (normally used for oil drilling) returned to surface with a note attached, stating â€Å"Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33 (English: We are well in the shelter, the 33) (Wikipedia, 2010). Receiving this message was the first bit of given hope to the families that the collapse mine victims’ were all alive and well. This is when all involved began to change the facility once known as â€Å"San Josà ©Ã¢â‚¬  to Camp Hope. To this point in the rescue operations little talk of survival is the conversation, and this is to prevent false hope or any media mishaps. The authorities had given special thought and considerations to all persons involved in the tragedy. Many times is area’s such as Copiapo, Chile, the miners, the company’s administrative workers, and rescue personal are either friends or family, so by keeping this in mind the communications had to project that efforts to rescue would not cease until all hope is lost. Preparations fo r the rescue of the survivors were in operations, and the workers and the family members of the trapped miners needed refuge. Tents and shelters were set-up and become home as authorities announced the rescue could take several months. During the first 17 days, three plans have been put into place, in the rescue operations. All three of the plans worked in grand scheme of the rescue, in order for the trapped miners to survive this long a plan of survival had to come to play. A trapped shift-supervisor took on the role as survival leader, and gathered the men in a secure room, organizing their supplies with the intent that the few resources they had must last if they were to survive the rescue. Luis Urzula in a position of authority, and the men’s trust Urzula he explains ratios and organizes skilled men to go out into the mine shafts to assess the situation. Finally, workers’ from above can secure two holes, only six inches in diameter, but with the help of what is known as paloma, everything needed by the men below could be sent. Clothing, food, water, medicine, and sleeping supplies could be sent to the men. The items meant more than just survival, the items helped to establish trust that survival was possible. In the days to follow a small fiber optic video line is snaked down to the men. Each family is given the chance to see and speak to their loved ones; the ability to send and receive messages they receive encouragement. As the end of the month of August grows near, Plan A and Plan B toward rescue are in full operations. The trapped workers now have electricity, running water, fresh air, and the fiber optic video cable that allows the men to watch live soccer through their tiny TV, reported ABC News. Each of the men was allowed five minutes per day to communicate with their families and open-communications with the rescues. The once completely hopeless situation for all the company’s employees and the rescue worker, whether this is the professionals or the friends and families, they now feel the cohesion of the rescue efforts. In all of the communications questions were allowed and encouraged to ensure operations below and above ground were in complete collaborations for the efforts of the success in the rescue and to rejoin these families. September passed and October arrives, the rescue mission continues, in the time that has passed the assembly of people gave considerable care, and thought to each member of the rescue operation. Over the past 60 days, by establishing, a record level of compassion is felt, and a bond grew to encourage hope. Finally, on October 12, 2010 the first of the 33 miners was brought up in a rescue capsule, and almost 24 hours later the last trapped miner was brought to safety. The entire group of rescued miners underwent medical and psychological evaluations; within seven days of the rescue all 33 were home with their families. REFERENCES Sherwell, Philip. (2010). 2010 Copiapà ³ mining accident. Retrieved on April 21, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Copiap%C3%B3_mining_accident Weik, J. (2010, August 6). Over 30 workers trapped after Chilean copper mine collapse. Metal Bulletin Daily, (224), 65. Kofman, Jeffery. (2010). Trapped: Inside the Chilean Mine Collapse. Retrieved on April 19, 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/International/inside-chilean-mine-33-trapped-men/story?id=11622729page1

Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions on Urban Communities

Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions on Urban Communities Volcanoes, Environment and People Degree Assessment Compare and contrast the impacts of volcanic eruptions on urban communities in pre industrial and post – industrial evolution societies. Introduction The industrial revolution refers to a period in history that roughly occurred between 1760 and 1840, which saw the transition from old to newer manufacturing processes. It is regarded as a major turning point in history, influencing most aspects of daily life, even today. The revolution saw a change from traditional hand production to the use of more modern tools, machines and new technologies. Technology became more advanced and its use became more significant. Gaillard (2007) suggests that pre industrial revolution societies, like those discussed in this essay had a more intimate relationship with the natural environment, which plays a key role when assessing the impacts of a volcanic eruption. In this essay I will firstly compare the impacts of a pre and post industrial revolution eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Their impacts on urban communities will then be discussed in comparison with the more recent eruptions of Eldfell in Iceland and the Soufriere Hills volcano in Montserrat. For the purposes of this essay urban communities will be defined as a substantial group of buildings or people in one area. To assess the impacts of a volcanic eruption on an urban community, the nature of the community will need to be considered. Impacts of the eruption will vary between communities depending on a number of factors including closeness to the eruption, infrastructure, transport links, predication and preparation and the overall development of the community (Marzocchi et al., 2004). Different types of volcanic events will also produce different types of hazard (pyroclastic flows, tephra fallout, and gas emissions) which also need be considered in the assessment of a volcanic eruption. Pre Industrial Revolution Vesuvius, AD79 Mount Vesuvius is located in a densely populated area, with thousands of people living on its flanks and in the immediate vicinity of the volcano (Marzocchi et al., 2004). In the past Vesuvius has produced several large eruptions, including the most well known eruption which destroyed the town of Pompeii in AD79. This was a VEI5, Plinian eruption that consisted of two stages. Usually Plinian eruptions are classified by three stages; an initial eruption phase with a sustained eruptive column of gas and pyroclastic material; a second phase in which the eruption column collapses and generates pyroclastic flows which could reach speeds of up to 100km/h and finally the generation of dense, rapid mudflows generated by water on steep slopes (Barberi Zuccaro, 2006). In the case of the Vesuvius eruption in AD79 only stage one and two occurred. There were no mudflows, only pyroclastic flows. (Lirer et al., 1973). The eruption produced a 32km high eruption column and extensive tephra all out south of the eruption resulting in accumulation of tephra 2.8m thick over Pompeii and other regions (Sigurdsson et al., 1982). Sigurdsson et al (1982) presents evidence to support the collapse of roofs under the weight of pumice that fell and consequently the destruction of infrastructure throughout the town. The tephra fall would also have made it very difficult for people to be outdoors around that time. The town would have been in total darkness and they would have had to wade through several metres of tephra on the ground. Despite this, this first stage of eruption was non lethal. It alarmed people but gave the majority of the population time to flee. 2000 deaths were accounted for out of the 20,000 people living in Pompeii and neighbouring towns (Luke, 2013). The second stage of the eruption consisted of six pyroclastic flows, during which most death and destruction to property occurred. Figure 1 details that between them, six pyroclastic flows travelled from the volcano, covering the towns of Herculaneum, Oplontis and Pompeii. The flows travelled 32km west across the Bay of Naples to Misenum and south east of Stabiae (Siggurdsson et al., 1982). Figure 1. Map of Vesuvius and surrounding towns showing pyroclastic flow deposits and the extent of the pyroclastic flows during the AD79 eruption (Source: Siggurdsson et al., 1982). The AD79 eruption of Vesuvius is an example of how communities with the most insecurity are the most vulnerable to hazards and have the capability of turning them from hazard to disaster (Gaillard, 2007). Through studies carried out on the settlement of Palma Campania a commune in Naples, Grattan (2006) showed that although most of the population was killed by tephra fall and pyroclastic flows there was reluctance to permanently build a settlement on the volcano plains, suggesting that instead of mitigating the effects of a volcanic eruption the communities instead chose to deal with them. They derived a method of coping and learning to live with the sudden environmental change. Compare this with the smaller VEI3 eruption of Vesuvius in 1944 and the impacts are very different. Although the eruption was smaller, there was more of an impact on nearby towns because of the nature of the community (Barnes, 2011). Important buildings such as schools and hospitals were built very close to fracture zones on the volcano flanks where open vents had previously been recorded. Under these conditions, living and having important amenities in such close proximity, events smaller than the 1944 eruption could be catastrophic from an economical and social point of view (Marzocchi et al., 2004). From a comparison of the two Vesuvius eruptions it is evident that the hazards each volcanic eruption produced were similar, however the way the communities chose to deal with them and therefore the impacts of each eruption are different for pre and post industrial communities. With a simpler way of life, post industrial revolution communities towns were able to easily change aspects of their daily life and adapt to living with a volcano. In a way, modern technology could be considered a downfall. If a super eruption were to happen it would apply stress to all aspects of modern day life. Air travel would be practically impossible because of airborne tephra, climate change would be severe and affect crop production across the globe, telecommunications would be restricted and huge areas would be affected by tephra fall and toxic gases (Grattan, 2006). Although that is a worst case scenario it highlights how post industrial revolution or modern communities may not always be better off. Post Industrial Revolution According to Marzocchi et al (2004) the hazards a volcanic eruption presents are hard to quantify because of the complexity of the eruptive processes and the unreliability of past data. However, it is thought that the advancement of communities means that a volcanic eruption poses a greater threat as there is more at risk. The eruption of Eldfell, a volcanic cone on the Icelandic island of Heimaey does however show how technologies of the industrial revolution could work towards reducing the hazards a volcanic eruption presents. Eldfell, 1973 The eruption of Eldfell began, without any warning, on the 23rd of January 1973, as a fissure crossing the island (Morgan, 2000). It caused a major crisis for the island, almost causing permanent evacuation. Volcanic ash fell on most of the island and more than 400 homes were destroyed as roofs were not constructed to deal with the weight from ashfall. Tractors were used to remove ash from the roofs and save some of the buildings (Morgan, 2000). Figure 2 shows the town of Vestmannaeyjar during and after the eruption and gives an idea of the scale of damaged caused by the eruption. It was most at risk because of its close location to the volcanic fissure. It was threatened by tephra fall and lava flows (Thorarinsson et al., 1973). The lava flows that threatened the towns also threatened the harbour, the islands main source of income. The response to the lava flows was to spray them with sea water, which cooled them down and stopped further advance, saving the harbour (Morgan, 2000). Figure 2. Houses nearest the fissure were destoryed by volcanic bombs thrown from the volcano during thr eruption (Left). The right image shows the town of Vestmannaeyjar after lava had advanced onto it. Cooling hoses used to cool the lava are highlighted in red. (Source: Morgan, 2000) Although the scale of the Eldfell eruption was relatively small, the town of Vestmannaeyjar was put at risk because of its location of the fissure. The fissure opened up at the edge of the town with the lava destroying 200 buildings, and more being damaged by tephra fall (Dugmore Và ©steinsson, 2012). Despite this the death toll for the Eldfell eruption was low as there were resources and space to evacuate those in immediate danger. Boats transported people off the island to Reyjavic where schools and other larger buildings acted as receptions for the evacuees. Compare this with the Pompeii eruption where the resources were unavailable and lack of knowledge made evacuating people not an option. Even if the resources were available, it would have been physically impossible to relocate such a large population. In Iceland, volcanism is considered to be one of the principal causes for lack of development (Dugmore Và ©steinsson, 2012). In most cases, the negative impacts of a volcanic eruption have been kept to a minimum both by environmental and cultural factors. There is little to encourage people to settle in immediate volcanic zones; high elevations are unfavourable in terms of climate and the steep slopes of the volcano flanks are difficult to build on. Social systems within Iceland are well suited to coping with volcanic hazards so when an event does occur it will not have such a great impact as if it were to occur in Britain for example (Dugmore Và ©steinsson, 2012). Soufriere Hills, 1995 Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean that consists of 4 volcanic centres: Silver hill, Centre hills, Soufriere hills and South Soufriere hills. The map in figure 3 shows the location of the 4 volcanic centres on the island (Wadge Isaacs, 1988). Figure 3. Map of Montserrat showing the 4 volcanic domes. Chances Peak, responsible for the 1995 eruption is highlighted in red. (Source: Wadge Isaascs 1988) Chances peak was responsible for the eruptions from 1995 onwards (Figure 3). The eruption began in 1995 after a period of seismic activity and small warning signs of an eruption (Robertson et al., 2000). The most intense eruptions occurred in 1997 and consisted of pyroclastic flows, lahars and tephra fall. The advancement of tephra and pyroclastic flows and the settlements around the volcano that were destroyed throughout the eruption is shown in Figure 4. Figure 4. Chances Peak and the location of nearby settlements. Shows the progression of the eruption during 1997 to 1998 and depicts the settlements that were destroyed by pyroclastic flows, lahars and tephra fall. (Source: BBC Bitesize) Through recognition of distinctive patterns in seismic activity and monitoring signals, short term forecasts of volcanic activity were able to be made so those most in danger could be evacuated at the most appropriate time (Robertson et al., 2000). The islanders in close proximity to the volcano were evacuated to the north of the island, to neighbouring countries and to the UK as Montserrat is a British dependant territory (Young et al., 1998). In total, only 19 people who chose to stay behind were killed by the eruption. The Soufriere Hills volcano provided an opportunity for modern technology and volcanological thinking to be fully utilised in the thorough documentation and the provision of accurate and timely disaster mitigation advice (Young et al., 1998). Conclusion To conclude, the nature of a volcanic hazard, the social status of the population exposed to the hazard, geographic setting and the rehabilitation policy set up by authorities vary between time and place (Gaillard, 2007). In the cases discussed above, all the eruptions produced similar hazards (tephra, lahars, pyroclastic flows) but the nature of the community and the way the population responded made the impacts different. Post industrial revolution communities use technology to their advantage in aiding after the eruption but also before the eruption, in the prediction and preparation stages. From the case studies, it is evident that forecasting plays a fundamental role in volcanic hazard mitigation (Sparks, 2003). It is vital for predicting when/where eruptions will occur, the kinds of hazards associated with the eruption, how long the eruption is likely to last and if populations in close proximity to the volcano are at risk. Plans can then be put in place to reduce the risks related to an eruption on a community. References Barberi, F. and Zuccaro, G. (2006) Somma Vesuvio Mesimex: the final technical implimentation report Barnes, K. (2011). Volcanology: Europes ticking time bomb. Nature, 473(7346), pp.140-141. Dugmore AJ, and Và ©steinsson O (2012) Black sun, high flame and flood; volcanic hazards in Iceland. In Cooper J, Sheets P (eds) Surviving Sudden Environmental Change: Answers from Archaeology (University Press of Colorado: Boulder) p 67 -90. Gaillard, J.-C. (2006), â€Å"Traditional societies in the face of natural hazards: the 1991 Mt Pinatubo eruption and the Aetas of the Philippines†, International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 24(1), pp. 5-43 Gaillard, J. (2007). Resilience of traditional societies in facing natural hazards. Disaster Prevention and Management, 16(4), pp.522-544. Grattan, J. (2006). Aspects of Armageddon: An exploration of the role of volcanic eruptions in human history and civilization. Quaternary International, 151(1), pp.10-18. Lirer, L., Pescatore, T., Booth, B. and Walker, G. (1973). Two Plinian Pumice-Fall Deposits from Somma-Vesuvius, Italy. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 84(3), p.759. Luke, BT. (2013). Roman Pompeii, Geography of Death and Escape: The deaths of Vesuvius, PhD Theses, Kent State University Marzocchi, W., Sandri, L., Gasparini, P., Newhall, C. and Boschi, E. (2004). Quantifying probabilities of volcanic events: The example of volcanic hazard at Mount Vesuvius. J. Geophys. Res., 109(B11) Morgan, A. (2000). The Eldfell Eruption, Heimaey, Iceland: A 25-Year Retrospective. Geoscience Canada, 27(1). Robertson, R., Aspinall, W., Herd, R., Norton, G., Sparks, R. and Young, S. (2000). The 1995-1998 eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat, WI. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 358(1770), pp.1619-1637. Sigurdsson, H. et al. (1982) The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79: reconstruction from historical and volcanological evidence. American Journal of Archaeology 86, pp. 39–51 Sparks, R. (2003). Forecasting volcanic eruptions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 210(1-2), pp.1-15. Thorarinsson, S., Steinthorsson, S., Einarsson, T., Kristmannsdottir, H. and Oskarsson, N. (1973). The Eruption on Heimaey, Iceland. Nature, 241(5389), pp.372-375. Wadge, G. and Isaacs, M. (1988). Mapping the volcanic hazards from Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, West Indies using an image processor. Journal of the Geological Society, 145(4), pp.541-551. Young, S., Sparks, R., Aspinall, W., Lynch, L., Miller, A., Robertson, R. and Shepherd, J. (1998). Overview of the eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 18 July 1995 to December 1997. Geophysical Research Letters, 25(18), pp.3389-3392. 1

Analysis of A Light In The Forest by Conrad Richter Essay -- A Light i

Analysis of A Light In The Forest by Conrad Richter A Light In The Forest by Conrad Richter is an amazing story of one Indian boy's will to survive and struggle to overcome many obstacles. A light in the forest is about a white boy who was kidnapped from his family by Indians when he was 4 years old. An Indian couple from the tribe adopted him and raised him as their own son naming him Lenni Quis or True Son. They taught him the religion and customs of the Indian people and he came to live by these customs and to love his new family. But then 11 years later, the white men came back to reclaim all of the people the Indians kidnapped, even if they didn't want to come back to with the white people. True son was forced to come back to his white family very much against his wishes. This is the story of True son and his battle to get back to his Indian family. This is also the story of his family's reaction to their son who was taken from them and is now returned very different than when he left them 11 years earlier. The biggest question that was raised for me when I was reading this book, was who is your real family, the people who are your blood relatives, or the people who raised you and loved you for many years. While I was reading this book, I was wondering why the white people were so set on bringing True Son back to the "white land." It was obvious he wasn't being harmed and wanted to stay with his Indian mother and father. I think they should have just left him with his Indian mother and father. I think that by True son rebelling against his White mother and father, he was showing that he didn't want to stay with them and that he should be able to choose his own destiny. If his white mother and fat... ... and weak while the Indian people are wild, free, strong, and independent. I think that the title "A Light In The Forest" means that True Son is a special person hidden away in the forest. That even though the white people think that the Indians are savages, they are really quite civil and raised this boy as their own, always treating him well. He is a success story. The title doesn't tell much about the story, but when you first read the title you know that it is probably about a forest and something in that forest. I think that there could have been better names for the story, like ones that related the book to Indians or a lost boy found. The name a Light In The Forest doesn't tell as much about the book as it could, but it is a good title because it leaves the reader wondering what that light is, and it makes the reader curious to read the book.

Cahill Essay -- essays research papers

The Gifts of the Jews Catholic author thanks Jews for Western values Review by April Witt for Miami Herald Published: Tuesday, April 14, 1998, If not for the Jews, no one would know to love justice, yearn for freedom, struggle for faith in one God or hope for a tomorrow better than today. Jews helped invent Western culture and without Jewish ideas and values there would be no civil rights movement, democracy or even history. That's the central, sweeping premise of The Gifts of the Jews, the latest book by Roman Catholic scholar and best-selling author Thomas Cahill. ''The Jews gave us the Outside and the Inside -- our outlook and our inner life,'' writes Cahill, who will be at Temple Judea in Coral Gables tonight to talk about the book. ''We can hardly get up in the morning or cross the street without being Jewish. We dream Jewish dreams and hope Jewish hopes. Most of our best words, in fact -- new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, program, spirit; faith, hope, just -- are the gifts of the Jews.'' Cahill, 58, has his own gift: making history accessible, even compelling to a mass culture largely ignorant of its patrimony. His last book, How the Irish Saved Civilization, was a New York Times bestseller for more than a year and a half. The Gifts of the Jews, the second in a planned series, climbs onto the list next week. ''I tell history as a story and people love stories,'' Cahill said in ...

Iran and Us Relations

International Relations Between Iran and the United States | |Group Paper | | | |Jorge Goytizolo, Donna Linares, Reuben Mateus | |INB3550 – International Business | |Dr. Veronica Diaz, Professor | |10/10/2010 | | | We intend to present how both countries; Iran and the United States, are affected economically by the disagreeable relationship they have forged, which has further worsened due to the United Nations Security Council having added additional sanctions to Iran. Content will include: History of the US and Iran domestic and business relations. o Iran’s OPEC affiliation and history along with current Iranian decisions which are affecting its approach to business relations with the United Nations and the rest of the world. o United States affiliation with the United Nations and how our latest decision towards Iran is affecting the UN and its approach to the business policies with Iran. o US and Iran International Business approach to the world. o Direct US and Iran Relations. History of the US and Iran domestic and business relations. The History of United States-Iran relations date back to the 1800’s, but has become more volatile in just over the last half century.One cannot discuss United States-Iranian history without observing the 1953 Coup, which has been cited as the â€Å"turning point† in United States-Iran relations. The 1953 Coup was a covert operation headed by America's Central Intelligence Agency and has been documented as the Agency's first successful overthrow of a foreign government. The Aim of the 1953 Coup, code named Operation AJAX, was to bring to power an Iranian government â€Å"which would reach an equitable oil settlement, enabling Iran to become economically sound and financially solvent, and which would vigorously prosecute the dangerously strong Communist Party† (Iran Chamber Society, n. d. ) â€Å"Early in the 1960's, the Shah of Iran, announced social and economic reforms but refused to grant broad political freedom.Iranian Nationalist condemned his United States supported regime and his westernizing of Iran. During rioting in 1963, the Shah cracked down, suppressing his opposition. Among those arrested and exiled was a popular religious nationalist and bitter foe of the United States, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini† (Jimmy Carter Library ; Museum, 2006). During his United States backed reign, the Shah spent billions of oil dollars on military weapons, but soon began to lose popular support. â€Å"Unable to sustain economic progress and unwilling to expand democratic freedoms, the Shah's regime collapsed in revolution† (Jimmy Carter Library & Museum, 2006), causing him to flee January 16, 1979.With the departure of the Shah, the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran in February of 1979 bringing rabid anti-Americanism with him. Amidst rumor and fear of another United States led Coup and a return to power of the exiled Shah Reza Pahlavi, a group from the Iranian Student Union took matters into their own hands by seizing the American Embassy. Inside the American Embassy the students held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The United States responded by freezing billions of Iranian assets, including bank deposits, gold, and other property. This event became known as the 1979 Hostage Crisis. The 1979 Hostage Crisis had drawn domestic criticisms against President Jimmy Carter.Criticisms of President Carter further grew with failed rescue attempts of the American hostages, some of which resulted in the deaths of American Soldiers whose bodies were paraded in front of television cameras by angry Iranians. This political nightmare prevented President Carter's bid for re-election and promptly came to a close the day President Ronald Regan was inaugurated January 20, 1981. The Iran-Iraq War, which lasted from 1980-1988, played a significant role in United States-Iran relations. The United Nations Security Council issued resolutions calling for all its member states to avoid from contributing to the Iran-Iraq conflict, and is why the United States initially decided to take a neutral position.Although it had supplied both countries with weapons, the United States decided that an Iranian win would prove to be detrimental to their interests in the region and began to place their support behind an Iraqi Regime led by President Saddam Hussein. This support came in the form of loans, some of which benefited United States industries and all while the country of Iran was being hammered with many American enforced sanctions. In the 1990's the United States placed more sanctions on Iran. In 1995, President Bill Clinton banned United States investments with Iran, prohibiting all commercial and financial transactions with Iran. This measure was unfortunate, as trade relations between the two nations had begun to increase after the end of the Iran-Iraq War.In 1996, the United States passed into law one of its most stringen t measures to affect Iran, the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. Designed to prevent Iran's ability to get its hands on weapons of mass destruction and fund terrorist groups, the Iran-Libya Sanction Act imposed penalties on all foreign companies that provided investments over $20 million dollars for the development of Energy Sector (petroleum) in Iran. Any progress made in United States-Iran relations late in President Clinton's second term was soon forgotten, as the new American President George W. Bush came into office. The events on September 11, 2001 have scarred relations between America and Iran to a point that appears irreparable.Although Iran was not involved in the 9/11 attacks, the United States feels Iran harbors and supports the terrorist who threaten America and it's interests. The United States and Iran are not at war, but both countries have peppered each other over the last decade with rhetorical missiles. Some of the accusations include the fear of Iran's nuclear weapons am bitions and its alleged membership to the â€Å"Axis of Evil†, while Iran feels the encroachment of United States military bases in the region provide reason for furthering armaments and political jousting. Despite each country's contempt for each other the two countries continue to do business together. â€Å"U. S. Exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as sponsoring terrorist† (Associated Press, 2008).The Bush Administration used sanction exemptions to ship a variety of goods to Iran ranging from perfume and fur clothing to cigarettes and bull semen. Both the United States and Iran joined the United Nations on October 24, 1945, however the United States represents 1 of 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Iran is currently not even a non-permanent member. Although Iran is not a member of the Security Council, it has two powerful allies in China and Russia who are permanent members. The latest deci sions towards Iran have obviously been affecting the regulations now imposed by the United Nations Security Council. Sanctions issued by the Security Council are primarily intended to disrupt progress in Iran's ability to obtain nuclear weapons and build it's military.United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice announced at the Security Council meeting that the resolution will target 40 entities and one individual, Javad Rihiqi, head of a nuclear center where the Iranian government possesses uranium. It was reported that China, one of Iran's largest trading partners, had pushed back on more stringent language, saying that broader restrictions – especially those targeting Iran's Central Bank –would â€Å"harm Iran's day-to-day economy† (Wagner, 2010). Russia has been reluctant to support United States backed sanctions, as Iran and Russia trade in the range of billions of dollars annually. From 2002 to 2008 Russia and China exported a combined 80 per cent (by dollar value) of Iran's arms.These sanctions are now being recognized not only within the United Nations Security Council, but also by financial powers, such as the European Union. Under the strain of sanctions and the Iran-Libya Sanction Act, some members of the European Union have been critical of the United States causing it to compromise on the first project cited as a violation of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act by waiving sanctions on the 2 billion dollar project. â€Å"The Clinton Administration announced the waiver on May 18, 1998, citing national interest, after the European Union pledged to increased cooperation with the United States on non-proliferation and counter-terrorism† (Katzman, 2003).The Bush Administration decided followed suit with collaborative efforts with the European Union and its members to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions and terrorism sponsorship, preserving the path for future sanction waivers. Iran’s OPEC affiliation and history |Iran ’s OPEC Affiliation began early in the 1960’s,when a meeting request was made to the oil companies operating in Venezuela and in the | |middle east by the Venezuelan minister of mines and the Saudi Oil minister, to consult with the â€Å"hosting† countries before any price | |changes were made. Attending this meeting were the representatives of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. In that atmosphere,| |the foundation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries was formed. Hamilton, 1983) Currently, the Organization has a total of| |12 Member Countries. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created | |at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, presently with its meeting headquarters located now in Vienna, Austria (OPEC, 2007). | |OPEC's objectives still today is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable | |prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital | |to those investing in the industry (OPEC, 2007).Iran’s business relation in regards to its affiliation with the United Nations has been | |weakened in most part because of the correlation with the United States. Currently we have seen that the US has tried to prove time and | |time again that the monies directly benefiting Iran through their returns from the oil, and gas sector are being funneled into making the | |country a nuclear power (Alverez, 2009). Iran, OPEC’s second largest exporter with an output of 4. 2 million barrels per day, traditionally | |pushes for higher prices. It is also one of the most dependent on oil exports, with some 80 percent of its foreign revenue coming from oil | |sales (OPEC, 2007).In addition to this, Masoud Mir-Kazemi as Iran’s new oil minister stated in August that Iran plans to offer 5 billion | |Euros in bonds by 2015 to help Iran finance government projects (Nagaraj, 2010). This is indubitably leading the UN to assume the | |â€Å"projects† are those of a nuclear matter and are beginning to take steps in the agreement of sanctions until it can prove otherwise. | |Business relations with the United Nations | |The U. N. Security Council approved a resolution calling for a new round of sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran on its nuclear program. The | |measure passed with 12 countries voting for it, Brazil and Turkey voting against and Lebanon abstaining (Wagner,2010).Mir-Kazemi said his | |country already sold some 250 million Euros ($342 million) bonds in foreign markets. He also said the countries which pursue the sanctions | |have managed only to deprive themselves of the chance to tap into some of the world’s largest proven reserves of conventional crude oil. | |â€Å"If they want to have a secure long-term energy supply, they have to inve st in Iran’s oil industry,† he said (Nagaraj,2010). Iran well | |aware of its abundant natural resource knows it has negotiating power. They continually stand by the fact that they state the nuclear | |significance is only linked to bettering its country’s infrastructure with plants to provide power and energy .In 2009, the 25-3 vote by | |the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, was then seen as a sign of deepening exasperation over the impasse when | |they stated that Iran had the right to generate nuclear power for peaceful purposes, which is what is says it wants to do (Alverez, 2009). | |It has been asked by the IAEA to discuss evidence of warhead-related research activities but has refused. Having been caught cheating in | |the past, its repeated denials have little credibility (Alverez, 2009). This is where the UN has its most concerns focused on. | |The UN wants more transparency to this project and with Iran denial to the inspec tions; they then feel pressed to pursue the newer | |sanctions.The resolution puts in place travel bans and financial restrictions on individuals and entities involved in Iranian nuclear | |and/or ballistic missile activities, including those owned, controlled or acting on behalf of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps. It | |also includes an arms embargo and pushes for inspection of ships suspected of carrying cargo that may be involved in Iran's nuclear program| |(Wagner, 2010). | |With a history stemming back almost more than a quarter of a century the latest round of imposed sanctions on Iran by the US have been the | |toughest we have seen yet. These sanctions are now being recognized not only within the Security Council of the UN but also by financial | |powers such as the EU.These entities continue their efforts trying to persuade all countries financial institutes not to deal with Iran. | |US and Iran International Business approach to the world | |United States and Iran h ave two totally different approaches. United States promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation. United | |States also promotes sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. | |All these activities and efforts are monitored and guided by the USCIB (United States Council for International Business).As the whole | |world is trying to move from recession, United States promotes open markets along with competitiveness and innovation; we can see it in all| |the international summits, meetings in which United States participates. An example of this was when United States (USCIB) took the leading| |role n the G8 business summit in Italy. United States also was one of the participants of the G20 business summit in London in which the | |world’s largest economies agreed to a $1. 1 trillion package of measure to restore growth, jobs and rebuild confidence and trust in the | |financial system. All these coun tries including United States came together to fight the economy recession. United States has the same | |ideas and goals towards international businesses and wants to make it work around the world. |On the other hand we have Iran that overshadowed all the efforts for world progress and development by not being in compliance with its | |international obligations and announcing the development of its nuclear program. | |Iran’s approach to international business is little. Iran is part of the OPEC, which we had previously discussed. The main reason why | |Iran’s does business with other countries is to aid its goals in becoming a powerful nuclear country. The reason why Iran’s is so hungry | |for nuclear power is because it feels the need to protect itself against the development of capitalism, especially in other countries such | |as like the ones geographically close (Israel). Iran’s government is linked to the country religious beliefs.New movements with in the | |country itself are trying to change this approach towards the world by gearing and convincing its citizens that capitalism will help the | |country get out of their financial crisis. Unfortunately, Iran, like many other countries, is being divided by two social classes; the | |educated and professional middle class and the laborers or poor class. The laborers or poor class are the majority on this country; they | |support the actual government (President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and his decisions. Once Iran and its citizens make the decision that opening | |up and cooperating with the world they may realize that it would improve their country’s establishment. |Direct US and Iran Business Relations | |Based on the research made by a renown New York times reporter and veteran correspondent, Stephen Kinzer; he recommend the alliance of | |Iran, United States and Turkey would the best way to increase the business and politics relations between these 3 countries. He stated t hat| |it would be a radical new course for the United States in the Middle Eastern region. The United States need to partner with Iran and Turkey| |to create a â€Å"powerful triangle† whose activities would promote a culture democracy and combat extremism. This is a debatable argument. At | |this time we have Iran, rule by radical ideologies and have set its mind on a burgeoning nuclear program.As we all know this one of United| |State government’s biggest headaches. Stephen Kinzer also reiterated that we have to remember that although Turkey is a long time United | |States ally, their relations has been deteriorated in the past years. An example of this deterioration it can be seen on an incident placed| |on last June where the relationship between these two countries was tested, Turkey’s representative on the UN Security Council voted | |against United States regarding backed sanctions on Iran. At this moment most of the United States government is asking the mselves â€Å"Who | |lost Turkey? † rather than envisioning more extensive cooperation with this country. | |Even hough United States and Iranian relations are a long term project and the idea has ample grounding in the modern history and politics| |of the region; unlike other Muslim countries Iran has a century worth of experience struggling for political freedom, during which they | |â€Å"developed an understanding of democracy and they are longing for it†. | |Unites States and Iran do share some fundamental values. Both countries have educated middle class, as we all know the middles classes are | |the basis for a strong civil society and also the two countries share strategic goals. Some of these common goals are the desire to see | |Iraq and Afghanistan stabilized and to suppress radical movements such as the Sunnis and Al Qaeda. |Though this alliance or relations would not be achieve at this moment or in today’s worlds until Iran changes dramatically and turn into | |democracy before any relations could be formed. | |One way this relation could happen still unclear but in the meantime Stephen Kinzer proposes a twofold strategy: engage with the current | |regime as effectively as possible and wait for the day democratically minded masses make their way to power. Though there are some | |processes of engagement in the Obama administration’s stated policy; Kinzer urges Washington to be bolder and to launch a â€Å"direct, | |bilateral, comprehensive, and unconditional negotiations with Tehran.This process of engagement was practiced by President Nixon and his | |diplomatic breakthrough with communist China when at the time of the US-Vietnam war Beijing was selling weapons to North Vietnam to kill | |Americans. Nixon recognized that â€Å"diplomacy works the opposite way. Agreement comes first; changes in behavior follow†. In order to | |â€Å"activate† the direct US relations with Iran, US diplomacy needs to give Iranians what they are looking for â€Å"respect, dignity and | |restoration of lost of pride† We have to remember us-USA is dealing with a nation ten times older than ourselves and the key to turn to | |better relationships with Iran is not to make Iran’s regime feel more threatened; it is to make it feel more secure. | | | | | | | | References Akyol, M. (2010, September). An unlikely trio. Foreign Affairs, 89(5), 124-129. (Akyol, 2010) Alverez, J. (2009). In the era of a new presidency, a new us. policy towards the united nations? : us policies towards and in the un security council. ISIA Journal of International ; Comparative Law, 15(319), 228-231. Associated Press. (2008, July 8). Despite Conflict, U. S. Does Business with Iran.Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/25588135 Hamilton, J. (1983). Oil and macro economy since World War II. Journal of Political Economy, 91(2). Harvey, C. , Sabatini, R. (2010, April 15). Russia's Lukewarm Suppo rt for International Sanctions Against Iran: History and Motivations. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www. nti. org/e_research/e3_russia_lukewarm_sanctions_against_iran. html Iran Chamber Society. (n. d. ). A Short Account of 1953 Coup. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www. iranchamber. com/history/coup53/coup54p1. php Jimmy Carter Library & Museum. (2006, February 9). The Hostage Crisis in Iran.Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www. jimmycarterlibrary. gov/documents/hostages. phtml Katzman, K. (Updated 2003, July 31). The Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA). Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://fpc. state. gov/documents/organization/23591. pdf Kinzer, S. (2010). Iran, Turkey and America’s future. Time Books, 274 London Summit. (2009). Summit Outcomes. Retrieved from: http://www. londonsummit. gov. uk/en/summit-aims/timeline-events/summit-outcomes McMahon, Robert. (Updated 2006, April 4). Iran, the United Nations, and Sanctions. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http://www. cfr. org/publication/10222/iran_the_united_nations_and_sanctions. html Nagaraj, A. (2010).Iran has some of the world's richest oil reserves but has not been able to fully utilize it due to production and refining constraints. International Business , Retrieved from http://www. ibtimes. com/articles/64168/20100921/us-un-sanctions-turkey-iran-middle-east. htm Nasr, V. (2009). The rise of Islamic capitalism: Why the new Muslim middle class is the key to defeating extremism. New York, NY: Free Press. The National Security Archive. (2003, February 25). Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein: The US Tilts toward Iraq, 1980-1984. Retrieved September 23, 2010 from http:www. gwu. edu/~nsarchive/NSAEBB/NSABB82/ (References continued) OPEC. (2007, April 29). Member countries.Retrieved from http://www. opec. org/opec_web/en/ on September 18, 2010 Wagner, A. (White House Correspondent). (2010). United nations security council backs new sanctions on iran. [Web]. Retrieved from h ttp://www. politicsdaily. com/2010/06/08/iran-united-nations-sanctions-and-the-new-world-order/ Nova Southeastern University Farquhar Center for Undergraduate Studies Business ; Administrative Studies Division Assignment for Course: INB 3550 International Business Submitted to: Dr. Veronica Diaz Submitted by: Donna M Linares, on Behalf of Group : Jorge Goytizolo, Donna Linares, Reuben Mateus 9118 Palos Verde Dr Orlando FL 32825 07-625-1854 NSU N00717427 Date Submission Due: October 9th 2010 Title of Assignment: Group Paper Project CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORSHIP: I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. 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