Ethnic Diversity Essays - Social Inequality,

Ethnic Diversity Affirmative action can be defined as action taken to compensate for past unfairness in the education of minorities. The current system of affirmative action allows universities to admit applicants from certain ethnic and minority groups with lower credentials. The main purpose of affirmative action is to produce a diverse campus population that is comparable to today's society. The use of race as a facto by which someone is admitted to college in the long run will compromise the quality of the university. Implicating affirmative action to solve the problem of diversity on today's campuses has lead to the creation of problems. The discrimination against Caucasian and Asian American students a long with the toleration of lower quality work produced by African American students and other minority students is an example of the problems caused by Affirmative Action. Although affirmative action intends to do good, lowering the standards by which certain racial groups are admitted to colleg e is not the way to solve the problem of diversity in America's universities. The condition of America's public schools is directly responsible for the poor academic achievement of minority children. Instead of addressing educational discrepancies caused by poverty and discrimination, we are merely covering them up and pretending they do not exist, and allowing ourselves to avoid what it takes to make a dent in them--augmenting Head Start, improving high schools and spending more equally among schools (Jacoby 36). The implication of racial preference has given high schools permission to replace the tradition of achievement with a culture of entitlement. The feeling of the absence of enthusiasm for achievement is illustrated by John O'Sulllivan editor of the National Review hen he said, Restoring high standards in high school will take time; but it will not even begin until the corrupting influence of racial preference is removed. By not admitting under qualified minority students to America's premier universities, for example Stanford, hey have not been sent to exile. There are an enormous amount of top quality schools which they can attend and still achieve their dreams. Students admitted under the affirmative action plan are accepted with SAT scores 200 to 300 points lower than that of their Asian American and Caucasian competitors. The undergraduate admission process at the university of California at Los Angles is based on two standards. These standards are academic rating which are test scores and grades second are the supplemental ratings. These sees the students socioeconomic or educational disadvantages. UCLA then ranked each perspective student from 1, the highest, to 6, the lowest. UCLA accepts 40 to 60 percent of their students strictly on academic premise, but they do not achieve desirable diversity with theses students. The second group of students accepted contains those whose combine academic and supplemental rating give them an overall high sco re. In this group students with a low academic and high supplemental rating could till be acceptor. Of the 6,801 students accepted on their academic criteria lone, only 77 or about 1 percent were African American. Of Asian American and Caucasian students 81 percent had an academic rankings of one or two. For the African American and Mexican applicants less than 13 percent of those admitted had an academic rankings of 1 or 2. UCLA is significantly lowering the standards by which they are accepting minorities in order to achieve diversity. It is ludicrous to try to establish racial report nationalism in university entrance as a test of a system's excellence. The most important thing is the number of students who graduate with good marks. Once admitted, the performance among affirmative action students and other students differs. Among white and Asian American students, at lest 80 percent of them graduate within 5 years. Less than half of the enrolled African American students graduate in that amount of time. In the class of 1990 admitted at UCLA, the average Caucasian grade was just above a B while the African American average was just above a C. It is unreasonable to think that the students admitted through affirmative action will be bel to produce the same quality work that the better qualified students can. Studies done at the department of education how that Hispanics will leave college early

Being blind essays

Being blind essays The twenty minute experiment that was done in English class allowed me to see the world clearer. In class we were blind folded and asked to negotiate ourselves, with the help of a classmate, around school. The simplest task were turned into complex events due to the poor experience my other senses had.. With all the hassle of doing such simple tasks, there were many learning opportunities and experiences to gain. Things that were overlooked on previous days were now used to negotiate obstacles. The experience I gained only helped me to realize how valuable sight is. The smallest tasks that were once done without thinking twice, were turned into nearly impossible missions for my untrained secondary skills. Smell, touch and hearing were set aside for my more dominant seeing ability. Tasks, such as walking down the hall or trying to negotiate the stairs were turned uncertainties. Besides my senses, I had my classmate to make sure I didnt get into too much trouble. Although, I had confidence in my classmate it was still very difficult to trust someone with your life. I had relied mainly on my vision for nineteen years my secondary senses were weak and incapable of guiding me through the hour. I am a very self-reliant person who likes to know exactly what is going on. I normally need to know where everything is and how to avoid problems. When I lose my main information gatherer, my vision, I feel insecure because I dont full know what is giong on around me. It is hard for me to gain and it is very hard to trust someone who I just recently met. The only thing that kept me a little sane was my other senses. Even though they were not as sharp as I would like them to be they allowed me to negotiate the campus mayhem. During the activity there were many small, inconspicuous events that I had not picked up on prior to being blindfolded. These little things which once were overlooked now bec...

Happiness can be achieved by anyone through improvement of character, Essay

Happiness can be achieved by anyone through improvement of character, meditation, and increasing generosity and kindness - Essay Example True happiness is beyond meaning and description. In his article â€Å"Happy Like God,† Critchley emphasizes the idea of happiness as something that even the French philosopher Rousseau could hardly define. This is because the beauty of the moment of happiness is something that is only likened to â€Å"a state where the soul can find a resting-place secure enough to establish itself and concentrate its entire being there† (Critchley 449). This is actually a time where â€Å"the present runs on indefinitely† and where the past and the future do not matter yet it is something that no one can define as just the present (449). It is therefore true that â€Å"happiness is not quantitative or measurable and it is not the object of any science, old or new† (450). This means that, for Critchley, happiness is something that can never be gauged for not only does happiness depend on the person who is feeling it but also it depends on the value of the present moment a nd how each person defines that moment for him. The experience and the feeling one has naturally cannot be quantified and cannot even be expressed in words. Nevertheless, it is closest to the term â€Å"feeling of existence,† or the time when someone feels the moment that he exists and he experiences such happiness (450). Moreover, although unquantifiable, this moment of happiness is very much sufficient. In fact, Rousseau defines such a state of happiness as a God-like state: â€Å"as long as this state lasts we are self sufficient like God† (450). This is therefore the highest state of things, or the state where one does not want anything else but to be in such a feeling or such a state. Nevertheless, happiness in any form defies measurement. Happiness is also an experience of appreciation and reflection of things and people in one’s life. While Critchley and Rousseau would equate this appreciation and reflection with being alone in the experience of stillness , there were once people like the Greek philosopher Epictetus, who thought that happiness is also one’s experience of stillness but this stillness is wisdom, and such wisdom is not about being alone but being aware of how to deal with others. For Epictetus, the lack of wisdom and reason makes one either a sheep or a wild beast, which is what most people are. A sheep will naturally simply â€Å"act gluttonously†¦lewdly†¦rashly, filthily [and] inconsiderately,† while a wild beast would normally act â€Å"harmfully, passionately [and] violently† (Epictetus). The wisdom that Epictetus means must be similar to the wisdom that Rousseau realized when he thought of a God-like state of existence, only that Epictetus’ wisdom is directed towards one’s fellowman. Moreover, according to Epictetus, if people lack wisdom, they tend to worry about and change things that are beyond their control, such as â€Å"What would others think?† or â€Å"Wh at would others say if I did this?† and they then cease being happy. They do not anymore experience that blissful God-like state that Rousseau described earlier. The point of Epictetus is that no matter how intelligent or good someone is, if he does not possess wisdom, he will always be swayed by other people’s influence as well as by his opinions of the things over which he has no control. Therefore, if one lacks wisdom, one lacks contentment and happiness, and

Soviet Union during Gorbachev Presidency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Soviet Union during Gorbachev Presidency - Essay Example By the late 80s, if the cold war was becoming a major limitation for the Soviet Union, the US administration was also getting cognizant of the constraints being posed by that icy conflict. Thus a thorough understanding of the decline of the Soviet Union during the Gorbachev era raises many hitherto unexpected issues (Dukes, 1993). Therefore the onus for the decline of the Soviet Union both before and after Gorbachev needs to be interpreted in the context of the socio-economic, political and cultural changes that defined the Soviet Union in 1991. Communism was as much an economic and social doctrine as a political strategy. It is really surprising to note that the Bolsheviks primarily came to power by riding on a band wagon of simple economic promises that is the extension of food, clothing and shelter to the suffering masses (Sviderskii, 1930). Hence the demise of the Soviet Union was as much a failure of the Communist economic model, as a victory of the Western democratic and capitalist ideals. The Gorbachev era was the culmination of a long history of disastrous economic policies pursued by the successive soviet regimes over the decades. So the decline of the Soviet Union when Gorbachev came to power needs to be understood in the subaltern context of the failure of the Soviet state to provide the basic means of sustenance to the masses. Food definitely constitutes an important aspect of this state failure on the part of the communist regime. In the late 20s, the Soviet regime went ahead with a positive note in the sense that it supported the idea of allowing for private agriculture and the free market economy pertaining to food grains, while retaining the Communist Party's hold over the basic market frameworks (Sviderskii, 1930). However, the agents of doom were let lose when Stalin decided in favour of the state control over agriculture and the production and the management of food stocks (Gaider, 2007). Stalin chose to do so despite the cautions extended by many of his trusted comrades like Bukharin and Rykov (Gaider, 2007).The pursuance of this food policy between 1920 and 1950 resulted in a sharp decline in the Soviet agricultural production, despite the fact that it had access to some of the largest farming tracts in the world (Desai, 1986). In fact Nikita Khrushchev wrote a letter delivered to many of his friends, mentioning that, "In the last fifteen years we have not increased the collection of grain. Meanwhile we are experiencing a radical increase of urban population. How can we resolve this problem (Gaider, 2007)"At some time in the 50s, the Soviet planners alarmed by this scarcity, put their heads together to grapple with this pressing issue and several options were

Themes and Style comparison between Pans Labyrinth and The City of Essay

Themes and Style comparison between Pans Labyrinth and The City of Lost Children - Essay Example The themes of both the films have one thing in common; they are about dreams. The films show how important dreams are and especially of young children. In Pan’s Labyrinth, this theme is shown as the young girl has an imaginative fantasy world in which she lives and creates her own magical world. In her dream world, she is a princess and she sees people in the real world as annoying and distracting. It is her love for fairy tales that led her to go on an adventure where she was given the chance to become the princess she was and return to her father, the King. She was told that she was a born princess by a faun who she meets at the night in the forest. The rest of the film shows how the young girl accomplishes three gruesome tasks just to claim her royalty and her status as a princess. In The City of Lost Children, the theme of dreams is depicted as the old aging scientist kidnaps young children to steal their dreams. This theme is portrayed as children dream big and they have the capability to dream about their fantasies and their innocent world. The evil scientist starts stealing these dreams leaving the children empty and without their dreams. The children are lost without their dreams and they are kept in a secret place. The old scientist steals the dreams as he doesn’t have the capability to dream himself. It is also shown that the scientist is aging rapidly only because he doesn’t have dreams. The film shows how dreams keep us younger and give us the reason to live a life. The theme of evil is also somehow depicted in both the films as they are fantasy films and they show the evils which are associated with every good. The young girl in Pan’s Labyrinth is living her dream fantasy of being a princess and having royalty. However, her dream is disrupted by the evils that surround her. The fairy takes her to the forest where she is told she is a princess and in order to

Farakka Barrage And The Ganges Dispute Environmental Sciences Essay

Farakka Barrage And The Ganges Dispute Environmental Sciences Essay In January 1961, the Government of India announced its decsision to go ahead with a plan to build a barrage across the river Ganges at Farakka. This decision reflected Indias concerns to solve the problems being experienced at the port of Calcutta with the build up of silt on the river Hooghly. But the decision initiated a conflict with Pakistan (and later Bangladesh) over the much bigger issue of water utilization in the whole of the Ganges basin. When Bangladesh came into existence in 1971, it was felt that the Farakka issue would be solved affably. In May 1974 , when Sheikh Mujibur Rehman came to India ,Indira Gandhi gave a assurance not to commission the Farakka project before an agreement on the sharing of the Ganga water was reached. Therefore an interim agreement was signed in April 1975 ,covering the flow of the Ganga during the lean period ,21 April to 31 May , by whichmain portion of the water was given to Bangladesh. The two countries also agreed to operate the feeder cana l with India taking her share in the following manner :- Month Ten-day Period (Dates) Withdrawl (cusecs) 11. It was also agreed that teams consisting of experts from both countries would survey at the suitable places in both the countries the effects of the Farakka withdrawal in Bangladesh and on the Hoogly river. A joint team was also to be placed at the barrage to record the discharge into the feeder canal and residual flow into Bangladesh. However after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in August 1975 , the military government started to malign India at every possible opportunity accusing her of taking all the water of the river . Bangladesh lodged an official protest with India on 15 January 1976 against the operation of the barrage. It also raised the issue globally , in the Islamic Foreign Ministers Conference in Islamabad in May 1976, at the Colombo Summit of the NAM in August 1976. The UN Secretary General was also apprised of the situation in April 1976. 12. After the Janata Government came to power in March 1977, negotiations were resumed. Talks were held covering various aspects of both long term and short term agreements on water sharing. In consequence the two governments signed an agreement on 5th November 1977 as a short term solution , while a feasibility study of a long term solution was left to the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission which was to submit its recommendation within three years. The data collected over time indicated that flow during the lean season was as low as 55,000 cusecs at Farakka. The expert opinion was that the minimum requirement to keep the Calcutta port navigable in the lean season of April-May was 40,000 cusecs. The remaining 15,000 cusecs was more than what Bangladesh needed during the lean season. Prime Minister Moraji Desai , however agreed to a much smaller share and give the larger quantity to Bangladesh. This noble gesture was considered a small sacrifice for a weaker and smaller neighbour for improving understanding and goodwill. The period of implementation was five years. However it came with criticism. Some called it a sell-out while several believed India had masked much with little in return. The protest of the West Bengal Government were ignored and it was not even consulted before the agreement . 13 . The Congress Government which came to power in 1980 was critical of the agreement and considered it negative to the interests of the Calcutta port. Both governments decided to terminate the the 1977 accord and commence fresh attempts to achieve a permanent solution. This was to be completed within eighteen months by the Joint Rivers Commission. The new sharing agreements agreed upon were to be imposed for the next two dry seasons i.e. 1983 and 1984. The discharges agreed upon for the first 10 days of January were 40,000 cusecs for India and 50,000 cusecs for Bangladesh. This would be reduced progressively until the ten days of April , when the individual shares for the two countries would be 20,000 and 34,500 cusecs respectively. By setting time limit both counties intended to express their serious intentions to consider each others proposal and reach a final solution . 14. With Rajiv Gandhis visit to Bangladesh hopes rose again ,when on the conclusion of his visit on 2nd June 1985 , he expressed a keen desire and readiness to settle all bilateral disputes including the Ganga issue. The Indo-Bangladesh Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 22nd November 1985 on the sharing of Ganges dry season flow for the next three years (1986-88). Bangladesh would get 35,000 cusecs of water and India somewhat less than 40,000 cusecs during the dry season. It was also agreed that the Joint Committee of experts would look for a long term scheme , a study to be done within one year. The Joint Committee of experts and the JRC met at regular intervals throughout 1986 . Nepal was also incorporated for a possible co-operation and contribution in the Ganges water development. However the one year time limit passed and the Joint Committee study was inconclusive. The only achievement of the Rajiv-Ershad talks was the setting up of a task force co-chaired by the concern ed secretaries of water resources in the two countries to deliberate upon short and long term measures. The 1985 MoU expired in November 1988 with the Indian government deciding against extension of the agreement on sharing of waters during the lean period . 12 15. In 1991 some informal discussions took place between Bangladesh and India. In May 1992, 1993 and 1995 it was discussed at summit level. For various reasons, mainly since the situation had become more complicated with the passage of time, the negotiations failed to achieve any impetus, unfortunately to Bangladeshs detriment. This situation dragged on further, until 1995 with increasingly adverse consequences for Bangladesh. During the SAARC summit at New Delhi in May 1995, the then Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India, directed their respective foreign secretaries to commence talks immediately and break the impasse in the resolution of this long festering problem. During the Indian Foreign Secretarys visit to Bangladesh in June 1995, it was agreed that a permanent sharing deal on the basis of existing dry season flow in the Ganges without involving it to the augmentation factor, may be worked out. It was further decided upon that sharing of other common rivers may also be delib erated upon on long term basis. However, no progress was made thereafter due to political uncertainties in both countries and a period of deadlock ensured virtually no high-level contacts between the two countries. The political swing in both the countries in mid-1996 seemed to have paved the way for a permanent solution. 16. In May 1996 the United Front-led coalition government came to power in India with Mr HD Deve Gowda as Prime Minister. In Bangladesh a month later the Awami League was voted back to power with Sheikh Hasina becoming the Prime Minister. These two developments, happening almost simultaneously, was the turning point for both the countries. Serious discussions for arriving at a solution began only after this change of governments. Both the sides realised the exigency of the matter and conveyed to each other their political obligation to address and resolve the issue. Both governments also shared the perception that it was necessary to come to an agreement within the year before the commencement of the next dry season. During the Bangladesh Foreign Secretarys visit to India in August 1996, the Indian Prime Minister said that his government was very keen to see the problem resolved within the shortest possible time. In September 1996 when the Indian External Affairs Minister visited Ban gladesh, the two sides had detailed talks on sharing of the Ganges water. This was followed soon by the visit of the Bangladesh Minister for Water Resources from October 28 to 1st November 1996. Later, from 9th to 13th November 1996 the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh visited India for working out the final modalities. The joint efforts of the governments of Bangladesh and India to reach at an agreeable resolution of the difficult issue of Ganges water sharing received a boost during the visit of Mr Jyoti Basu ,Chief Minister of West Bengal to Bangladesh. This round of talks was of vital importance as they narrowed the differences to bridgeable extent . THE GANGES RIVER WATER TREATY 17. After a great deal of political negotiations and numerous rounds of high level talks Bangladesh and India signed a historic 30-year accord on sharing the Ganges water on 12 December 1996 opening a new era in relations between the two neighbours. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Indian Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at New Delhi signed the landmark treaty. The treaty was based on the values of equality and fairplay, taking into account the interests of both nations. Major features of the treaty are :- (a) It will be open to both parties to seek the first review after two years to asses the impact and working of the sharing arrangement as contained in the treaty. (b) The quantum of water to be released by India to Bangladesh will be at Farakka. (c) The sharing will be in ten-day periods from January 1 to May 31 every year. (d) The sharing of the waters will be on 50-50 basis when availability at Farakka is 70,000 cusecs or less. (e) Bangladesh will get 35,000 cusecs and India the balance of flow if the availability at Farakka is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs. (f) In case of availability of 75,000 cusecs or more, India will receive 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh the rest. (g) During the most critical month of April, Bangladesh to get a guaranteed flow of 35,000 cusecs in the first and last ten days of April and 27,633 cusecs during the period 11-20 April. (h) If water flow at Farakka falls below 50,000 cusecs in any 10-day period, the two governments will enter into immediate consultations to make necessary adjustments on an emergency basis. (j) India shall release downstream of Farakka Barrage water at a rate not less than 90 percent of Bangladeshs share till such time the mutually agreed flows are decided upon. (k) The water released to Bangladesh at Farakka shall not be reduced below Farakka except for reasonable uses of water, not exceeding 200 cusecs, by India between Farakka and the point on the Ganges where both its banks are in Bangladesh. (l) A Joint Committee consisting of equal number of representatives of the two countries shall set up suitable teams at Farakka and Hardinge Bridge to observe and record at Farakka Barrage, the Feeder Canal, the Navigation Lock, and at the Hardinge Bridge. (m) The Joint Committee shall submit to the two governments all data collected by it and shall also submit a yearly report to both the governments. Following the submission of the reports the two governments will meet at the appropriate levels to decide upon such further actions as may be needed. (n) The sharing agreement under this treaty shall be reviewed by the two governments at five years interval or earlier, as required by either party. 18. Under the treaty Indias total share during the lean season (1st Jan to 31st May) amounts to about 48% of the total availability, as against 52% for Bangladesh. The schedule also specifies the three ten-day periods during which 35,000 cusecs shall be provided, alternately, to each of the two countries. For Bangladesh it was March 11-20, April1-10 and 21 to 30, and for India the dates were March 21 to 30, April 11 to 20 and May 1 to 10. The period from March 11 to May 10 is considered the critical period of the lean season as the flow of the Ganges is usually the lowest of the lean season. The agreement was arrived on the basis of the average availability of water between 1949 and 1988. India has guaranteed in the treaty that every effort would be made to protect flow availability. The major aspects of the treaty are:- Availability at Farakka Share of India Share of Bangladesh 70,000 cusecs or less 50 % 50 % 70,000 75,000 cusecs Balance of flow 35,000 cusecs 75,000 cusecs or more 40,000 cusecs Balance of flow 19. The discrepancy over augmentation, which had led to an impasse in the past, has been side stepped as the treaty is in essence regarding the sharing of lean-season flows. Though the present treaty does not include a minimum guarantee but has several scattered provisions which provide a measure of security to Bangladesh. The water treaty has already improved the bilateral relations radically. However the effects of construction of the barrage and diversion of water was felt by both countries. Some of the major effects in Bangladesh were :- (a) Reduction in surface and ground water levels. The reduction of dry season (January-May) natural flows in the Ganges in Bangladesh reduced the hydraulic efficiency of the channel to such a degree that even during high flows in monsoons the progressive degradation of the channel and its hydraulic characteristics remains unchecked. An inevitable consequence of water reduction in the river channels is decrease in the amount of soil moisture and ground water resources. (b) Channel morphology of the river. The channel morphology of the Ganges and its distributaries has also been affected since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage. The Farakka Barrage included several high velocity sluices, known as silt excluders, which were intended to allow silt to flow down the Ganges. The barrage was designed so that silt-free water would be diverted down the Bhagirothi-Hooghly and the sediment load would be carried by the remaining flow on that river into Bangladesh and the sea. This deposition of silt has changed the flow of the river in Bangladesh. (c) Navigation aspects. Since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage, in 1975, several waterways, which are dependent on the Ganges, flows have been severely affected. A total of 685 km of waterways that were negotiable during the pre-diversion period have been affected. In little more than a decade, several important routes open to mechanized vessels had to be abandoned. Farakka did have a damaging effect and that serious interruption of the inland navigation was caused by withdrawal of Ganges water by India. (d) Incr in levels of salinity of ground and surface water. The most devastating effect of the diversion of Ganges water has been the marked increase in salinity, in both surface water and ground water, resulting in higher soil salinity in the southwest region of Bangladesh. The increased salinity was totally explainable in the light of the increased withdrawal of the Ganges water. This has had a disastrous effect on the agricultural output as well as the eco-system. (e) Agriculture. For Bangladesh, the reduced flow of the Ganges has had both immediate and long-term effects including lower agricultural and industrial productions, depletion of ground water reserves, depletion of soil moisture and changes in the soil structure. Agriculture being the foundation of economy in Bangladesh, expansion of irrigation facilities in the area served by the Ganges has suffered grave setbacks that retarded growth in agricultural sector. (f) Fisheries. In Bangladesh, fishery ranks next to agriculture in economic importance. With the altered flow pattern in the rivers, the ecological characteristics positive for fish breeding grounds have also changed. Fishery has suffered, especially in the southwest Bangladesh, from reduced flow due to a combination of the following factors: (i) Decline of perennial wetland area. (ii) Conversion of perennial wetlands into seasonal water bodies. (iii) Drying up of seasonal water bodies. (iv) Prevention of spawning migration. (g) Forest cover and environmental issues. Another devastating effect of increased salinity has been witnessed in the forestry sector. The main species of tree in this forest is Sundri (accounts for 60% of the marketable timber), does not have adaptive tolerance to high salinity. Thus the northward incursion of salinity front has begun to show a declining trend in the Sundri yield. 19 (h) Public health. Last, but not the least, is the concern about adverse effect in the health sector. The changed ecological situation has augmented the potential for the breeding of numerous disease vectors, and thus, health and sanitary conditions have become more perilous. Not only have safe drinking water supplies diminished on account of a fall in ground water levels, increased salinity and the worsening of the quality of ground water itself have caused a rise in the occurrence of various enteric diseases in the area. TIPAIMUKH DAM 20. The construction of the Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak river in Manipur is another matter of concern which has emerged lately. The Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project is planned to be constructed near the confluence of Barak and Tuivai Rivers in Manipur . It will have generation capacity of 401.25 MW. The main objective is to generate 1500 MW hydropower and flood control of an area of 2039 sq km. The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) was slated to undertake the project with Manipur Govt till replaced by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The concerns were that the project might eat up Bangladeshs share of the international River Meghna which supplies water to hundreds of water bodies in the region. There were also concerns some of the major rivers in Bangladesh would dry up especially during the lean season. 21. The Tipaimukh Dam is not a recent happening as the first international conference on it was held way back in December 2005 had decided against the project. The concerns in Bangladesh are based on their sour experience of severe 20 water shortage and many-sided impacts after Farakka Barrage was commissioned. Concerns raised include confounding environmental degradation, monetary predicament and hydrological drought. The dam would seriously restrict flow into Surma and Kushyara rivers disrupting agriculture, irrigation, drinking water supply, navigation etc and reduce ground water recharge during lean season, affecting all dug and shallow tube wells. Bangladesh gets 7-8% of its water from the Barak River. The Surma and Kushyara rivers with its various tributaries and distributaries support, irrigation, agriculture, fisheries , drinking water supply, navigation, wildlife in the complete Sylhet and the peripheral areas of Dhaka. The dam would also leave millions unemployed with the drying up of the rivers. Millions of people are dependent on the water bodies which are fed by the Barak in Sylhet region for fishing, agriculture and other associated activities. The Barak-Surma-Kushyara is an international river and B angladesh as a lower riparian country has rights over any verdict over the river . 22. In Manipur, where the dam is to be constructed, the concerns are varied and based on three aspects. The first is the direct effect of displacement, loss of biodiversity, social and environmental impacts. The second aspect is the procedural lapses, lack of a holistic impact evaluation and limitations of developmental and ecological rules, frail enforcement mechanisms and lack of accountability norms . Lastly, the ambiguous benefits to the people of Manipur and nuances based on painful experiences from related projects such as NHPCs 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) . This project is responsible for ruining the Loktak wetlands flora and fauna, submerging vast area of agricultural land, loss of species and iability to rehabilitate thousands of affected people even after almost 21 three decades of project commissioning in 1984. The Zeliangrong and Hmar tribes will face permanent displacement and deprivation of livelihood. Official figures state that 1,461 Hmar families will face direct displacement due to the project. The area selected for the project has recorded at least two major earthquakes of 8+ in the Richter scale during the past 50 years. The dam is proposed to be built in one of the most geologically unstable area and falls on a potential epicentre for major earthquake. 23. The Indian Govts reply to Bangladesh concerns has long been a state of denial. The Indian High Commissioners statement of absence of an international law that would prevent India from constructing the dam and that Bangladeshs concerns are based on ignorance provoked a strong resentment in Bangladesh. Experts counter reacted to his speech as totally flawed in view of the standing of the 1996 Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty and the applicability of the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. Bangladesh experts have concurred that it is not yet binding as an international treaty law. However there is every reason to dispute as the Convention was adopted by a vote of 103 3 in the UN General Assembly and is valid as international customary law to Tipaimukh dam or any other project on shared rivers . 24. Diplomatic rendezvous between India and Bangladesh over the dam have been going on, latest being the meeting of the Prime Ministers at NAM summit in Egypt . The past understanding of efforts to resolve water disputes between the two countries, such as the Ganges Water sharing treaty, 1996 and setting up of Teesta 22 River Commission, 1997 etc, indicates likelihood of the two countries heading for establishing dialogue to resolve the differences. The resolution of this issue seriously needs a joint, comprehensive and human rights based approach to growth and understanding the concerns recognized rights of all affected peoples. Bangladesh Govts statement of sending an all-party parliamentary committee to visit the dam site in end July 2009 and review the dams impact will be a precise step if it forms the basis for an complete process to carry out thorough impact appraisal of the dam based on recommendations of World Commission on Dams, 2000 and other appropriate Intl law on transboundary waters. The visit can be a good foundation for a multilateral approach in addressing Tipaimukh Dam issues. 25. India should desist from constructing the dam to avoid multidimensional conflicts and snags as the project itself is potentially rife for causing conflicts amid states, between state and native people. Manipur is already rife with movements for right to self determination and any forced construction of Tipaimukh dam will only legitimize their movement to protect their land and assets. The the Govt of Manipur and NEEPCO must annul the MoU on Tipaimukh dam project signed in 2003 and commence an all-inclusive process for a just decision making process . 23 TEESTA RIVER. 26. Teesta is the fourth major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. Upstream inflow in this river provides the primary support to agricultural production in the Teesta River floodplain (TRF) in the northwest region of the country. Bangladesh constructed a barrage in 1990 to provide irrigation water for crop production in the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) area. India also constructed a barrage on this river upstream. TBP commenced operation with partial conveyance infrastructure in 1993. The project was designed to be implemented in two phases. The phase 1 has been finished in 1998. A case study in the TBP area indicates that irrigation water supply significantly increases farm incomes. This has augmented irrigation water demands. However, one-sided withdrawal of water in India upstream, restricts irrigation water availability in the TBP area. Consequently, water sharing with India is critical in achieving food safety measures and sustainable living in Bangladesh. 27. The River Teesta or Tista is thought to be the lifeline of the state of Sikkim . It flows for more or less the complete span of the state and carves out the lush Himalayan moderate and tropical river valleys. The river then forms the boundary between Sikkim and West Bengal before it joins the Brahmaputra as a tributary in Bangladesh. Total length of the river is 315 km. The river traverses 97 km in Indian plains before entering the extreme northwest region of Bangladesh. It flows around 124 km in Bangladesh and joins Brahmaputra River. The Teesta River enters Bangladesh near Nilphamari region and flows for 45 km through the rice producingt districts of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha and thereafter the Brahmaputra River in Kurigram. The Teesta River Floodplain (TRF), which encompasses the farthest northwest region of the country, accounts for 14% of the total agricultural 24 area in 2001. In addition, it supports approximately 8.5% of the total population. About 63% of the total crop area in the region is irrigated, signifying a direct relationship between irrigation water availability and farming land use. At present, the TRF and the area left of the Ganges River is considered to be a arid zone . 28. The TRF is predominantly reliant on transboundary inflow for supply and managing the water resources and agricultural production. The Teesta barrage at Gazoldoba in India controls the water flow into Bangladesh. In order to augment the irrigation potential of the northwest region, Bangladesh constructed a barrage called the the Dalia barrage in Lalmonirhat district to provide irrigation water from the river by means of a canal system. During the dry season, control of the river water at Gazoldoba renders the Dalia Barrage literally ineffective for diversion of water due to low flows. Furthermore, abrupt release of excessive water during rainy season causes floods, bank erosion and damages colossal amounts of crops downstream. Steps need to be taken to study the water flow at both Gazoldoba and Dalia in order to handle high and low water flows and lessen losses . 29. Bangladesh wants to divide the water at 50:50 ratio at the Indian barrage in order to have an assured supply of half of the water all through the dry season. The proposition also considers keeping 20% of the water for ecological flow. In other words the draft planned that Bangladesh and India would each get 40% water and 20% would go to Bay of Bengal (via Brahmaputra) for maintaining the waterway. India however proposes keeping only 10% for the river. Moreover, India wants other 25 factors to be considered before distributing water of this river. In case of Teesta, 85% of the agricultural land served by the river is in India and the balance 15% in Bangladesh. India wants water to be split in that proportion. The ratio of catchment area is an additional point mentioned in the disagreement. 30. The International Convention and India-Bangladesh treaty of 1996 suggests the fact that river water allocation should be impartial. An important thing to bear in mind is that impartiality does not mean equal sharing. For example, the Indus water treaty allows India to make use of approximately 20% of the water as the area under irrigation and population dependent on it are approximately in that ratio. It is a case of unbiased sharing of water resource. However if the water of Brahmaputra is divided at 50:50, it wont be an equitable sharing as Bangladesh is tremendously reliant on it. The factors of equity are:- Factor Bangladesh India Population in Catchment 7620913 8028752 Catchment Area 2071 sq km 12650s km Catchment Irrigable Area 2071 sq km 2970 sq km Population in Irrigable area 7620913 7488259 Geography Plains Plains and hilly Area currently under irrigation 111,000 hectare 527,000 hectare Target area 750,000 hectare 922,000 hectare 31. As future water demand is expected to rise drastically in both countries, water sharing will play a decisive role in managing water resources. Any unilateral basin shift of the river water in future will impinge on Bangladesh in terms of lesser availability of water downstream. This is likely to affect not just food security but also hinder any future planning of agriculture in Bangladesh. In future, water-related disputes are expected to surface recurrently unless necessary steps are taken. Any form of variance over water property will dissipate time and resources. A bilateral collaboration on water sharing alone is unlikely to provide solutions to the live water problems. India and Bangladesh must commence joint initiatives to construct reservoirs in India and within Bangladesh to store excess water in the rainy season for use during the dry season. An integrated flood management program has to be designed and executed during the rainy season when there is a higher incidence of normal and flash floods. An encouraging step in this direction has been taken with India assenting to share flood projection data on a constant basis thus extending the lead time for flood warning to more than 57 hours. This needs to incorporate the Teesta River exclusively to avert economic damage to crops and livelihoods . OTHER PROJECTS 32. Two mega projects on the Dihang (also known as the Siang river) the main tributary of Brahmaputra and on the Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh. These have further alleviated qualms of reduced water flow to Bangladesh. 33. . The Siang Upper HE Project is a colossal 11000 MW project to be built on the Siang River in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Middle and Lower Siang Hydel projects with 750 mw and 1700 mw power generating capacity are the other dams intended over the same river. The 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric project is an additional mega dam over River Subansiri, a key tributary of Brahmaputra River. Other dams over the tributaries of Brahmaputra includes the Ranganadi I and II (450 and 150 mw respectively), Kameng (600 mw), 3000 MW Dibang HE project . The construction of a series of dams over Siang River and its tributaries will further aggravate the water predicament and linked problems in Assam and Bangladesh.

The Department of Psychology at State University Essay -- academic dis

The psychology department of State University is considered an academic discourse community. They have a stated purpose, requirements for membership, and exercise intercommunication techniques. Furthermore, they have shared common knowledge that they use to advance their discipline and attract new members. Eleanor Kutz, a leading expert in the field of language and literacy, argues that academic discourse communities differ from informal ones in the critical area of assumed shared knowledge. She states, â€Å"building on the assumed shared knowledge...affects how people participate in academic communities, including introductory ones† (Kutz 344). In other words, professors introduce basic concepts when students enter the community. These concepts are the foundation that will eventually give rise to greater functionality within the desired academic discipline. The purpose of the academic discourse community is to foster development of novice members and therefore, assurin g that the community has the resources to sustain itself. The purpose of my research stems from this concept of shared knowledge and how it relates to membership and survival. John Swales theorizes, â€Å"survival of the community depends on a reasonable ratio between novices and experts† (Swales 27). Building upon this notion, I aim to show how freshmen to professors are dependent upon one another and how this community achieves their purpose of shared common knowledge. I will do so by focusing on their modes of academic advancement, intercommunication techniques, and shared public goals. Additionally, my research also reveals insight on how a bachelor’s degree in psychology translates into employment. Methodology: Experiences, Observation, and Documen... ... feedback† (Swales 26). This function lends evidence to the idea that within any academic discourse community, there must be ways to pass on knowledge and feedback. This is the action that maintains life within the community. The exercise of passing on shared information allows the Department of Psychology to expand, stay relevant, attract new members, help the community, and function with unity to accomplish their stated purpose and goals. Works Cited Kutz, Eleanor. Exploring Literacy: A Guide to Reading, Writing, and Research. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004. Print. "Many Opportunities for Psychology Students at Akron." The University of Akron : Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. . Swales, John M. Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: Cambridge United Press, 1990. Print.

Sociological Theories

This theory has caught the attention of the nation, and the federal government has taken steps to roved assistance in lower income and poverty stricken areas. One of the main programs that have been implemented into these lower income areas are Yam's. The goal behind the YMCA is to bring sports, and other activities into the lower income areas and keep juveniles busy within the YMCA and keeping these kids off the streets and out of trouble. The second theory is the Social Process Theory.The Social Process Theory is based upon the belief that colonization is key in determining ones behavior. If colonization is absent or portrayed in a negative manner, it can cause venires to act out in feel alienated from normal social behaviors. Children who feel isolated from their peers and do not have a loving environment at home are more likely to be involved in delinquent behavior. These children often turn to drugs or alcohol as an answer. An example of both state and federal funded program tha t assists with the Social Process Theory is the D. A. R. E Program.The D. A. R. E program is designed to prevent kids from using drugs, engaging in violent and criminal acts and encourages them to engage n normal social behaviors with other kids their age. The third theory is the Social Conflict Theory. The Social Conflict Theory is a belief that our entire society is in a constant state of internal conflict, with various groups trying to impose their belief on others. The Social Conflict Theory suggests that those of wealth and power help define laws to meet their specific needs while ignoring the needs of the rest of society.It is believed that adolescents that do not fit into the needs of the powerful members of society are labeled criminal delinquents. Those that suffer the most from social conflict are people of color or those living in poverty stricken areas. An example of a program that targets the youth suffering from the social conflict program is Promising Practices Networ k. The Promising Practices Network is a school based violence prevention program that serves over 400 public schools in poverty stricken areas. This program is designed to fight prejudice, stereotypes and other types of violence.As shown here these three sociological theories are vital ways to view the issues related to juvenile delinquency. The programs related to each of these theories are extremely beneficial to lowering crime rates among juveniles. I truly hope that we continue to fund these wonderful programs, as it benefits the future of America. Sociological Theories Chapter one there are three different types of sociological theories. The three types are functionalist theory, conflict theory, and symbolic theory. We will cover and talk about the differences. First is the functionalist theory. The functionalist theory is when the people who live in the area are all part of a bigger plan. Everyone there is an equal no one has more than anyone else. When I think about functionalist I think of farm. As in like the whole community works on the farm like someone feed and mike cows and someone male food the cows eat so and and so forth. August Comte and Herbert Spencer viewed society as a kind of living organism. When all the people are working together is called normal and when there not it’s abnormal The conflict theory provides a third perspective on social life. Unlike the functionalists, who view society as harmonious whole, with its parts working together, conflict theorists talk about society being composed of groups that are competing with one another for scarce resources. Karl Marx is the founder of this theory. This is like slavery to me because slaves worked for a higher power for very little are no pay at all. Soon people get mad and rise up to the greater power and demand a change. The last one is symbolic theory witch is when people develop and share their views of the world, and focus on micro level. This is like used when people back in the day didn’t read and right. The easy way to talk to people is with pictures. They are easy to understand than writing. There are many differences between these things. For one they were all made up in different area of times, and locations in the world. All the theories are made but by different people, and they had their way of thinking of it. They all apply for different part of life, but very close. One thing they do haven common is that they all related to groups of people. Is takes a group of people to make it work. All these theories have happened in some part of the world. Not only have they happen they still happen in today society. Finally in collection there is nothing new under the sun, and the same things they are talking about there are happing now. And all these theories can be facts. Sociological Theories This theory has caught the attention of the nation, and the federal government has taken steps to roved assistance in lower income and poverty stricken areas. One of the main programs that have been implemented into these lower income areas are Yam's. The goal behind the YMCA is to bring sports, and other activities into the lower income areas and keep juveniles busy within the YMCA and keeping these kids off the streets and out of trouble. The second theory is the Social Process Theory.The Social Process Theory is based upon the belief that colonization is key in determining ones behavior. If colonization is absent or portrayed in a negative manner, it can cause venires to act out in feel alienated from normal social behaviors. Children who feel isolated from their peers and do not have a loving environment at home are more likely to be involved in delinquent behavior. These children often turn to drugs or alcohol as an answer. An example of both state and federal funded program tha t assists with the Social Process Theory is the D. A. R. E Program.The D. A. R. E program is designed to prevent kids from using drugs, engaging in violent and criminal acts and encourages them to engage n normal social behaviors with other kids their age. The third theory is the Social Conflict Theory. The Social Conflict Theory is a belief that our entire society is in a constant state of internal conflict, with various groups trying to impose their belief on others. The Social Conflict Theory suggests that those of wealth and power help define laws to meet their specific needs while ignoring the needs of the rest of society.It is believed that adolescents that do not fit into the needs of the powerful members of society are labeled criminal delinquents. Those that suffer the most from social conflict are people of color or those living in poverty stricken areas. An example of a program that targets the youth suffering from the social conflict program is Promising Practices Networ k. The Promising Practices Network is a school based violence prevention program that serves over 400 public schools in poverty stricken areas. This program is designed to fight prejudice, stereotypes and other types of violence.As shown here these three sociological theories are vital ways to view the issues related to juvenile delinquency. The programs related to each of these theories are extremely beneficial to lowering crime rates among juveniles. I truly hope that we continue to fund these wonderful programs, as it benefits the future of America.

Definition and Examples of the Plain Style in English

Definition and Examples of the Plain Style in English In rhetoric, the term plain style refers to speech or writing that is simple, direct, and straightforward. Also known as the  low style, the scientific style, the simple style, and the Senecan style. In contrast to the grand style, the plain style does not rely heavily on figurative language. The plain style is commonly associated with the matter-of-fact delivery of information, as in most  technical writing. According to Richard Lanham, the three central values of the plain style are Clarity, Brevity, and Sincerity, the C-B-S theory of prose (Analyzing Prose, 2003). That said, literary critic Hugh Kenner has characterized plain prose, the plain style as the most disorienting form of discourse yet invented (The Politics of the Plain, 1985). Observations and Examples I am glad you think my style plain . I never, in any one page or paragraph, aimed at making it anything else, or giving it any other merit- and I wish people would leave off talking about its beauty. If it has any, it is only pardonable at being unintentional. The greatest possible merit of style is, of course, to make the words absolutely disappear into the thought.(Nathaniel Hawthorne, letter to an editor, 1851) The only way to write plainly, as a worker should, would be to write like [George] Orwell. But the plain style is a middle-class accomplishment, got by arduous and educated rhetorical effects.(Frank Kermode, History and Value. Oxford University Press, 1988)The plain style . . . is completely unadorned. It is straightforward and void of any figures of speech. It is the style of much contemporary newspaper prose. Cicero thought it was best suited for teaching, and indeed, the plain style is the idiom of the best schoolbooks of our age.(Kenneth Cmiel, Democratic Eloquence: The Fight Over Popular Speech in Nineteenth-Century America. University of California Press, 1990) The Power of the Plain Style In political language, plainness is powerful. Of the people, by the people, for the people. Ask not what your country can do for you. I have a dream. This is especially so for language designed to be heard, like speeches and debate exchanges, rather than read from a page. People absorb and retain information in smaller increments through the ear than through the eye. Thus the classic intonations of every major religion have the simple, repetitive cadence also found in the best political speeches. In the beginning. And it was good. Let us pray.†(James Fallows, Who Will Win? The Atlantic, October, 2016) Cicero on the Plain Style Just as some women are said to be handsomer when unadorned- this very lack of ornament becomes them- so the plain style gives pleasure when unembellished. . . . All noticeable ornament, pearls as it were, will be excluded; not even curling irons will be used. All cosmetics, artificial white and red, will be rejected. Only elegance and neatness will remain. The language will be pure Latin, plain and clear; propriety will always be the chief aim.(Cicero, De Oratore) The Rise of the Plain Style in English At the beginning of the 17th century, the Senecan plain style enjoyed a significant and widespread boost in prestige: this came from playwrights like [Ben] Jonson, low-church divines (who equated ornate persuasion with deceit), and, above all, scientists. Francis Bacon was particularly effective in associating Senecan plainness with the aims of empiricism and inductive method: the new science demanded a prose in which as few words as possible interfered with the presentation of object reality.(David Rosen, Power, Plain English, and the Rise of Modern Poetry, Yale University Press, 2006)The Royal Societys Prescription for a Plain StyleIt will suffice my present purpose to point out what has been done by the Royal Society towards the correcting of its excesses in Natural Philosophy . . ..They have, therefore, been most rigorous in putting in execution the only Remedy that can be found for this extravagance, and that has been a constant Resolution to reject all the amplifications, digre ssions, and swellings of style: to return back to the primitive purity, and shortness, when men delivered so many things almost in an equal number of words. They have exacted from all their members, a close, naked, natural way of speaking; positive expressions, clear senses, a native easiness; bringing all things as near the Mathematical plainness as they can: and preferring the language of Artizans, Countrymen, and Merchants, before that, of Wits, or Scholars.(Thomas Sprat, The History of the Royal Society, 1667) Example of the Plain Style: Jonathan Swift [B]ecause it is idle to propose remedies before we are assured of the disease, or to be in fear till we are convinced of the danger, I shall first show in general that the nation is extremely corrupted in religion and morals; and then I will offer a short scheme for the reformation of both.As to the first, I know it is reckoned but a form of speech when divines complain of the wickedness of the age; however, I believe, upon a fair comparison with other times and countries, it would be found an undoubted truth.For, first, to deliver nothing but plain matter of fact, without exaggeration or satire, I suppose it will be granted that hardly one in a hundred among our people of quality or gentry appears to act by any principle of religion; that great numbers of them do entirely discard it, and are ready to own their disbelief of all revelation in ordinary discourse. Nor is the case much better among the vulgar, especially in great towns, where the profaneness and ignorance of handicraftsm en, small traders, servants, and the like, are to a degree very hard to be imagined greater. Then it is observed abroad that no race of mortals have so little sense of religion as the English soldiers; to confirm which, I have been often told by great officers of the army that in the whole compass of their acquaintance they could not recollect three of their profession who seemed to regard or believe one syllable of the gospel: and the same at least may be affirmed of the fleet. The consequences of all which upon the actions of men are equally manifest. They never go about as in former times to hide or palliate their vices, but expose them freely to view like any other common occurrences of life, without the least reproach from the world or themselves. . . .(Jonathan Swift, A Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners, 1709) Example of the Plain Style: George Orwell Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer.(George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946) Hugh Kenner on the Disorienting Plain Style of Swift and Orwell Plain prose, the plain style, is the most disorienting form of discourse yet invented by man. Swift in the 18th century, George Orwell in the 20th are two of its very few masters. And both were political writers- theres a connection. . . .Plain style is a populist style and one that suited writers like Swift, Mencken, and Orwell. Homely diction is its hallmark, also one-two-three syntax, the show of candor and the artifice of seeming to be grounded outside language in what is called fact- the domain where a condemned man can be observed as he silently avoids a puddle [in Orwells A Hanging] and your prose will report the observation and no one will doubt it. Such prose simulates the words anyone who was there and awake might later have spoken spontaneously. On a written page, . . . the spontaneous can only be a contrivance. . . .The plain style feigns a candid observer. Such is its great advantage for persuading. From behind its mask of calm candor, the writer with political intention s can appeal, in seeming disinterest, to people whose pride is their no-nonsense connoisseurship of fact. And such is the trickiness of language that he may find he must deceive them to enlighten them. . . .What the masters of the plain style demonstrate is how futile is anyones hope of subduing humanity to an austere ideal. Straightness will prove crooked, the gain will be short-term, vision will be fabrication and simplicity an intricate contrivance. Likewise, no probity, no sincerity, can ever subdue the inner contradictions of speaking plainly.(Hugh Kenner, The Politics of the Plain. The New York Times, September 15, 1985)

Young Women and Smoking Essays

Young Women and Smoking Essays Young Women and Smoking Essay Young Women and Smoking Essay Essay Topic: Little Women Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Young Women and Smoking A recent survey by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least a third of female adolescents in high schools are smokers and over 70% of regular adult smoker admitted having formed the habit in their earlier ages, probably before 18 years. Popular films and television programmes have highly influenced and allured this increasing smoking habit in young women. However, a recent survey on the role of cigarettes manufacturing factories regarding their product placement in popular movies indicates little participation. An analysis on G-rated children films found that more than 75% featured alcohol or tobacco in their story plots without any clear reference to the associated health adverse consequences featured. Popular female actors in Hollywood films are presented as smokers and thus influencing young women who portray those actors as being a role model to them (Am J Public Health. 2000; 90: 412-414). This paper seeks to concur with the earlier views on the internalizat ion of Hollywood actress smoking habit and their success on the beauty, femininity and popularity on the young female characters in the society, with smoking being the dependent variable under investigation while the popular movies or films as independent variable. In addition, this paper seeks to dispute the belief presented in Hollywood that acting and art has no influence on actions but only mirrors the societal actions. It is this premise that covered under the guise of â€Å"artistic freedom of expression† that depicts sex, alcohol and drug abuse or gratuitous violence. Though, the movie stars’ may not admit their role-model position in the society, this may not be applicable in this scenario. Anti-tobacco activist that the re-acceptance of drug abuse especially tobacco in the growing pop-culture, evidenced in music, movies, films and videos, and the current life-style in young women may be a perfect reflection of the surge, a mind-blocking popularity on cigarrate smoking, despite efforts by the World Health Organizations (WHO) to curb smoking and drug abuse among the youths globally. As Janine Robinette, the Director of Bay Area Tobacco writes, â€Å"It creates a social milieu that it’s accepted, that everyone is doing it.† Though view as personal choice, the increasing smoking among young women around the world is highly influenced by what they watch in the public galleries and films. â€Å"If you look at the kinds of risky behaviour young people take part in–drugs, drinking, sex–[you can see] they don’t have any sense of their own mortality. They’re invincible,† says Robinette. â€Å"They think they’ll be able to do this [smoke] for some time, and then kick the habit.† According to the experts, on-screen smoking by the popular actress like Ryder, Julia Roberts, who are role model to a number of up-coming stars perpetuates the motion that smoking is the order of the day for fashion’s and actress. Therefore, Hollywood stars bear partial responsibility for the increasing smoking and drug abuse in women. Moreover, current nonchalance about cigarette smoking squarely rests on the arms of the Hollywood artists, who should be a role model to the society by affecting positively on the youths. The Hollywood stars or movies, but other Women’s fashion newsletters and magazines regularly featuring insider photos of other runway top models and stars in the rock industry, parting in the Euro-hip sports, do not fuel smoking prevalence rate in women. This prevalence in smoking indicates a kind of rebellion and thus possibly snubbing off the conventional wisdom in our teenagers. DuRant RH, Rome ES, Rich M, Allred E, Emans SJ, Woods ER. Tobacco and alcohol use behaviors portrayed in music videos: a content analysis. Am J Public Health. 1997;87:1131–1135. Distefan JM, Gilpin EA, Sargent JD, Pierce JP. Do movie stars encourage adolescents to start smoking? Evidence from California. Prev Med. 1999;28:1–11

Resaearch paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Resaearch - Research Paper Example This paper will analyze an important figure in three Abrahamic religions, namely Jesus Christ. The first aspect that will be used to compare and contrast the views of Christianity, Islam and Judaism is the attitude towards the nature of Jesus. It would be rather logical to begin with the point of view of Christianity as this spiritual tradition has devoted a considerable amount of attention to it, making Jesus one the key figures in its teaching. Thus, according to the Christian tradition, Jesus Christ is seen as the second Person in the Holy Trinity, which makes him God (Wuthnow 131). Indeed, the idea of Trinitarian God is rather difficult to grasp, but in the mind of true believers He is simultaneously God and Son of God which means that when Christians address their Lord they imply Jesus. The Muslim perspective on this Biblical figure is somewhat different. Just like Christians, the Muslims do acknowledge the contribution of Jesus Christ in the process of spiritual development of the humanity and believe that He enjoyed a close relationship with God. However, unlike their Christian counterparts, they do not consider him to be an incarnation of God which means that they reject His divine nature. This means that for the Muslims, Jesus Christ is a famous, respected and loved prophet who is called Isa, but nothing more (â€Å"Declaration on the Relation†). This is quite in interesting perspective as it may provide a common ground for these two religions. Finally, it may be rather important to analyze the point of view that is taken by Judaism as well. Keeping in mind that this is the only religion out of the above mentioned three that existed in the times of Jesus, it may provide an interesting perspective on His role and significance. Thus, those who adhere to the spiritual tradition of Judaism think that Jesus Christ was nothing but an ordinary Jew who claimed himself as a

International Law & Institutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Law & Institutions - Essay Example This obligation, as it applies to the acts of a single nation, and the rather restrictive exceptions to it are known as the rules on unilateral use of force. At the same time, there is the concept of collective security, which allows the community of nations to arise and oppose an aggressor nation together. This is regulated by the rules of collective security. Therefore, there are many situations where disputes between nations can break down into open conflict, and such conflict may still be completely legitimate under international law. 'All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of an State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.'4 This builds on the preceding provision which places an obligation on Members to settle disputes peacefully5 which in turn follows from the very purposes and reasons for the United Nations, that being the maintenance of peace and security and the prevention and removal of threats thereto.6 De Arechega describes Article 2(4) as 'the cardinal rule of international law and the cornerstone of peaceful relations among States.'7 This altered the age-old rule, applying up till 1949, that use of force was a legitimate remedy of last resort in all international disputes. While the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Briand-Kellogg Treaty condemned the 'resort to war' this was interpreted as only covering an all out declaration of war, and not uses of force short of war, which became in practice, all out war so long as no declaration of such was made. Article 2(4) therefore refers to 'force' and not 'war' and it expressly includes the threat of force. Force has been interpreted as armed force of all kinds, but not political pressure or economic sanction. The wording of Article 2(4), although a marked improvement on predecessors, is still open to arguments as to interpretation. Probably the most obvious is the apparent qualification of the obligation only to cases where 'territorial integrity or political independence' is challenged. In the Corfu Channel Case (Albania v United Kingdom)8 the United Kingdom Navy entered Albanian waters to sweep mines. The ships did so and then left the Albanian waters. The United Kingdom argued that since its action threatened neither the territory nor independence of Albania, it did not breach 2(4). The International Court of Justice decided however that the action of the United Kingdom was an unlawful use of force.9 Article 2(4) can therefore, as far as it goes, be seen as a legal obligation on states to genuinely refrain from the use of force. However, despite its legal validity, it may not have been quite so successful in practice. If Article 2(4) can be seen as a failure, I think the clearest demonstration of this is seen in the context of the Cold War. The Cold War attacked the resolve of 2(4) in two ways. The first was by changes in technology and the scope and effects that warfare would take on in the post nuclear