Life in Spain in the Golden Age

The Spanish Society during their Golden Age The golden age of Spain does not exactly refer to tremendous economic growth or an excellent era of monarchial rule in peace and prosperity rather it refers to the rule of Charles II, which was characterized by the weakening of the Castile, and the deteriorating Spanish crown. According to Sedney Donell (2003), during this time, the Castilian privileged classes in various provinces of the Monarchy took advantage of the weakened Monarchy and began to take the affairs of the imperial state in their own hands, which later came to be known as the golden age of Spain (Donell 2003, p. 151). Spanish society during this time was in confusion and this was aggravated by the impact of feminization that was creating confusion on the role of men in the society. How ordinary Life was for them Life in Spain during the golden age was not ordinary as people experienced acute economin difficulty due to severe economic decline because of wars. Marcelin Defourneaux (1979) cited demographic statistics, which proves beyond doubt that â€Å"there was steep decline in the towns which formerly- and recently- had played such a vital role in the economic life of the country† (Defourneaux 1979, p. 92). Defourneaux noted during Philip II Spain’s prosperity was ruined by the waning of the Spanish economy and people had to survive mainly on land products as most of their industries had collapsed. What I could point out about Spain’s society during this time is that theirs was a stubborn society. Despite of the failures of their rulers to bring them peace and prosperity, they remained loyal to their Monarchs. A case in point was the collapsed of Charles II rule only to be replaced by a more inefficient king. Explain the Reason why Spain was like that in the Golden Age There had been several reasons why Spain was economically in distress during their golden age. Among these reasons were corruptions, wars, gender issue, and ineffective leadership. William H. Robinson and Jordi Falgas however, cited that Barcelona and Madrid suffered economic decline due to trade monopoly of King Ferdinand of Argon- Catalonia and Isabella of Castile Robinson & Falgas 2006, p. 5). All this contributed to the economic problem that Spain had suffered during their so-called ‘golden age.’ Work Cited Defourneaux, M., (1979) Daily life in the Golden Age. California: Stanford University Press. Donell, S., Feminizing the Enemy: Imperian Spain, Transvestite Dramma, and the Crises.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   USA: Bucknell University Press. Knight, C., (1840) Penny Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge. London: Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

Dietary Supplement Report

Every human body should contain dietary Supplements. According to cpmc. com dietary supplements are substances you eat or drink. Dietary supplements are widely available in the United States in health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, on the Internet, and by mail. As said on activecenterforhe. com Makers of dietary supplements cannot legally say that dietary supplements can diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. People commonly take them for health-related reasons. As said on execbussiness. com they can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids, or parts of these substances. They can be in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form. They supplement the diet and should not be considered a substitute for food. Dietary Supplements are intended to supplement the diet. They are also oral supplements. The three parts of Supplements are Health, Performance, and weight loss. There are many benefits of taking Dietary Supplements, According to livestrong. com such as; taking supplements on top of a healthy diet may be beneficial in ensuring your body have the nutrients it needs each day. In general, a balanced diet with sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables without many of saturated fats and sweet sugars contains most vitamins and minerals your body needs. Exceptions to this rule occur in young children who grow and may not get enough vitamins and minerals in their diets, and older adults who may have the same problem. According to nutrition. about. com Taking supplements can provide additional nutrients when your diet is lacking or when certain health conditions cause you to develop an insufficiency or deficiency. Deficiency means lack or shortage of something, for example vitamin A deficiency in children. Insufficiency means an adequate amount or quantity. Multiple vitamins are generally safe because they contain only small amours of each nutrient. Shown on livestrong. com the consumption of some dietary supplements may also help prevent cancer. A number of essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body. Consuming dietary supplements may also aid in tissue maintenance and repair, processes that occur throughout your life. According to jag-lawfirm. om Dietary supplements may be good for you but there are risks from taking these supplements. Dietary supplement side effects can be serious, even fatal in some people, although consumers often take such supplements without realizing the risks. Side effects of supplements can be experienced when using too much of a product, but some people will suffer serious side effects when only using a small, recommended or le ss amount. The dosage or â€Å"serving† recommendations are not government tested or approved, and it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure the safety of recommended servings for everyone who uses the product. Unless you’re seriously deficient a lot of mineral soluble are not good for you. Most vitamins are ok as long as you only take your days allowance. 9according to live strong) Mega dose could be hazardous. For example too much Vitamin D could cause nausea and weakness just like too much vitamin C could cause diarrhea, vomiting and kidney stones. The government’s regulations surrounding dietary supplements are treated similar to food products, with some exceptions. According to livestrong. com The U. S. Food and Drug Administration were created to regulate all food and drugs in the United States as this agency does not monitor dietary supplements. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, or (CFSAN), is a scientific regulatory organization responsible for cosmetics, drugs, medical devices and dietary supplements produced in and imported into the United States. As part of a 1994 act that helped to form this agency, the FDA created the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, which provides dietary supplement guidelines and specifications. Manufactures are not required to register with the (FDA) Food and Drug administration. Dietary supplements are treated similarly to food products with some exceptions. Supplement manufacturers are not required to register with the FDA and do not need approval from the FDA to produce or sell a product. Not need approval from the FDA to produce or sell a product. Manufactures are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe. The health condition I choose is Anemia. As said on webmd. com Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the main part of red cell and binds of oxygen. Oral iron supplements are the best way to restore iron level for people who are iron deficient. Should only be used only when dietary measures have failed. Accidental overdose of iron-contain products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than six years old. Any medicated product should also stay out the reach of children. If overdose occurs seek immediate medical attention or call poison control. Iron is the medication supplement used to treat or prevent low blood level of iron. Iron is an important mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cell and keep you in good health. According to physiciansoffice. com the dosage of iron for adults is 50 to 60mg of iron children 4 to 6mg per kg of body weight divided into three equal daily doses. Dietary supplements can be either good or fatal for you. These supplements are usually used for people who don’t receive enough nutrients, or people looking for an easy way of healthy living. Anemia is manageable when taking the proper dosage of supplements or eating a proper diet, which contains a well balance meal. References http://www.nutrition.gov/dietary-supplements http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/469833-government-regulations-for-dietary-supplements/ http://www.supplementquality.com/stdregs/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11925487

An issue in the work environment resolved by the presence of a diverse Essay

An issue in the work environment resolved by the presence of a diverse workforce - Essay Example Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, work experience, and job classification." International company 7i, Network Services Pvt Ltd a BPO company, based in Bangalore, provides various IT-enabled services such as data processing supply chain management, application software and web development to its various subsidiaries world-wide and acquired a sophisticated global tech support centre in Mumbai to provide voice- the BPO centre declined tremendously in the last quarter. Many employees have resigned the job. The Bangalore centre employs 120 staff in total, and 69% of all partners and staff are married women. More than half of women partners and staff, and nearly a third of men, have poor working patterns that take into account their work-life balance needs. The company is one of country's largest employers of people aged 25 years and above and employs staff from a wide range of backgrounds. Working timing starts from morning 8 till 10 o clock in the night. Menasha Sharma working as call centre executive is one such example. ... Working timing starts from morning 8 till 10 o clock in the night.Menasha Sharma working as call centre executive is one such example. She was filled with depression and not able to give time to her daughter and could not give attention with her parents and husband and struggled to fit as an employer and was mentally disturbed in the midst of a busy competitive life. "I needed to make a choice about the way I lived the rest of my life. I could remain overweight, keep smoking, expend all my energy at work, have nothing left for me or my family and probably live the company or else will die." This was the case with almost all the married persons working there. Lack of flexibility in the work environment and long working hours has deprived the productivity of individual and the company as a whole. Employee burnout is caused by a number of things, including an employee's own abilities, their workload, their responsibilities and how much support they have in the workplace. The employees lacked motivation and Value of Diversity Paper 4 enthusiasm.The productivity has decreased. The organization was rated as low family friendly. The staff members were not able to maintain healthy balance between work and their family life. The extreme nature of the work content has resulted in the differences exist between staff and Poor work environment prevails among the employees. Employees were overworked and overstressed are more likely to get sick and have high absentee rates. A lack of work/life balance affected employee's attitude and thus unhappy workers are typically less efficient and can destroy morale. Physical fitness has gone down and most of the employees were overweight, smoking, and lacking strength and motivation energy at work and

Studies suggest that culturally-influenced concepts of gender role Essay

Studies suggest that culturally-influenced concepts of gender role norms are associated with health - Essay Example ever, argue that women can become economically empowered through microfinance initiatives and be able to realize improvements in self-confidence and esteem, solve household conflicts as well as participating in decision making (p. 1795). Conversely, through their IMAGE study, the researchers argue that microfinance interventions empowers women economically and helps to reduce sexual IPV or physical violence by enabling them to challenge gender violence, demand better treatment, leave violent relationships, mobilize community groupings to denounce gender-based violence, in addition to, addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS infections (P. 1798). On the other hand, Pulerwitz et al. (2015) argues that, â€Å"Certain gender norms—or social expectations about men’s and women’s appropriate roles, rights, and responsibilities—have been shown to be associated with the risk of IPV as well as the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)† (p. 132). However, through interventions aimed at addressing inequitable gender norms, reductions in violence and positive health outcomes can be realized (P. 132). This can be realized by incorporating boys and men in initiatives aimed at shunning inequitable gender norms by changing their attitudes and beliefs, as well as the need for inclusive household decision-making (p. 135). The emic knowledge is predominant in cultural setups and is guided by the people`s beliefs, meaning and is determined by the local customs or norms. In the African American society, there exist MSN, who are men who have sex with other men. The emic approach can help in carrying out an investigation into the cultural factors contributing to MSN that has led to the widespread of HIV/AIDS among African American men. Taking an insider’s perspective, it is possible to understand gender norms and be able to distinguish appropriate gender roles, responsibilities and rights for each sex (Pulerwitz et al., 2015). Thus, using the emic approach the

Acid Mine Drainage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Acid Mine Drainage - Essay Example In such it discusses all the possible avenues with which AMD can emerge and gives in depth analysis with regard to the chemical composition, reaction and eventual production of the AMD. This paper also strives to give in summary different sources of the AMD and the appropriate remedies that can be put into practice to quench the lethal problems associated with AMD. In the same breadth, it discusses the health related problems associated with AMD as well as those of ecological. This paper can be of meaningful help to those who work in the mines and risk contracting the problems linked with the site. When the precautionary measures that are discussed in this paper are stringently followed by the concerned individuals with the appropriate technology and man power, there is no doubt the problem of the AMD will be a thing of the past. 2.0 Introduction Acid mines drainage (AMD) is one of the major environmental threats that comes as a result of extraction of minerals for economic purposes. If these mines are not properly managed, then the exercise of extraction results into a serious environmental menace. Essentially acid mines drainage is a peculiar kind of a wastewater that that results from the continuous processes of weathering as well as leaching of coal and metalliferrous compounds that contain sulphur as an element in them. The various activities of mining for example, strip and underground mining exposes the sulfide (pyrite) and other metallic compounds that incorporate sulphur to a level of oxidation given the availability of oxygen and water. The oxidation process will increase the acidity level i.e. low P.H value, as the value of the P.H decreases, the oxidation process of the metals equally increases increases and this significantly reduces the water quality and culminate into water pollution (Drever 133). The formatio n of the acid mines drainage process can also be facilitated by through biological processes. The microorganism thiobaccillus ferroxidants is an acid tolerant microbe and is known to be associated with acid mines drainage sites as it enhances the oxidation of the compounds that contain sulphur compounds (Drever 147). . The resultant water in the acid mines drainages are very hazardous to health, in that the acidity and the components of water from the mines contain lethal chemicals. As stated above, without the buffering processes of the process, the acidity level will exponentially increase accelerating weathering process and subsequent development and continuation of the acid mines drainages (Drever 151). 3.0 Origin of Acid Mine Drainage Several factors can bring about development of the acid mines drainages, coming into contact between the surface water (oxygenated) with the pyritic ores is one of the ways that largely contribute to the formation of the acid mines drainage. This interaction takes place in three different ways; when the mining processes change the direction of flow of the water pattern to areas endowed with rocks that have been in constant touch with the ground water that is anoxically stagnant (Berner and Berner 98). The other possibility is when the spoils form the pyritic mining is disposed in an area of percolating oxygenated water, and when the pyritic minerals waste materials are directly discharged into the aquatic environment. 4.0 Results The formation of the acid mines drainages results into several environmental degradative processes that are vey detrimental to the survival biological life, in such, measures are always put into place as precautionary obligation to ensure

Career review and action plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Career review and action plan - Essay Example This self-awareness forms part of what Goleman calls ``emotional intelligence which is an important emotional competency and cornerstone in one’s personal success. (McCarthy and Garavan 1999). Concretely, emotional intelligence is defined as a â€Å"form of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action† (Salovey & Mayer, 1990 cited in Cherniss, 2000 pg. 4). Emotional intelligence is not only beneficial to me in terms of enhancing my professional success through social competency but could also improve my relationship to others. This improved relationship with others has several beneficial implication. On a personal level, it will improve my personal relationship with others making my personal life richer and fuller. On a professional level, it will make me an effective member of any organization be it a b usiness organization or a simple sports team. Self-awareness with a conscious effort to improve, to understand oneself as one relates to other people is an indispensable skill and trait that one must have if one is to succeed in one’s personal career particularly if it involves people. It is because getting things done particularly on large scale involves working with other people from varying background (social, education, culture, etch), other teams and the ability to work with others requires emotional and social competency to effectively relate to others of which self-awareness is a requisite. Psychometric and personality test are useful tools that help determine ones personality, character and motivation that would serve as a guide or signpost in charting one’s action plan. As the legendary strategist Sun Tzu said that knowing oneself is half in winning a battle. This

The Health and Wellness Industry is Being Proclaimed as a Revolution Essay

The Health and Wellness Industry is Being Proclaimed as a Revolution in Consumer Demand and Potentially Worth Trillions of Dolla - Essay Example To satisfy the demand and expectations of these health-conscious consumers further, the tourism industry is awash with resorts, spas, and hotels, which offer superior consumer services such as comprehensive spa, bodywork treatments, indoor/outdoor physical activity, delicious and health-conscious cuisine, interactive health, and wellness education programs assisted by world-class professionals. Moreover, the increased demand for a relaxing and freshening environment has prompted many a resort to be established in serene and gentle surroundings with clean and lapping river/swamp waters, breathtaking sceneries, and fresh forest air, all of which combine to create a powerful wellness and health experience for consumers (Bookman & Bookman, 2007). The rising demand for wellness and health products has also implied that resort and hotel managements provide services that empower consumers to change their lifestyles for the better, thus bringing out the best out of their body’s natura l beauty, healing abilities, longevity, and wellbeing (Ginger, 2009). Importantly, products that bring about healing from illnesses and learning skills to consumers have been incorporated in resort and hotel wellness and health programs as their demand continues to increase. This paper explores the impacts that the rising demand of wellness and health products by consumers has on hotel and resort management. The Impacts of Increasing Wellness/Health Demand on Resorts The increasing health and wellness consciousness among consumers is one of the major factors that have set the international industry/trend that is health and wellness tourism (Reisinger, 2009). Most of these health-conscious consumers seek to improve their health and well being as they travel to various destinations and sample various hospitality treats and experiences. They do not only set out to feel better but also to look better, in the process enjoying effects such as slowed aging, reduced discomfort, lower stress levels, and relieved pain. In addition, these health- and wellness-conscious consumers have the privilege of partaking in the consumption of natural supplements such as minerals and vitamins, which further improve their health. With the number of health-conscious consumers on a rapid increase, the number of resorts and hotels joining the health and wellness industry has steadily risen in recent times. However, only a few have managed to cover the entire scope of services and goods currently demanded by wellness and health consumers (Lagace, 2008). That is, some resorts and hotels have not been in a position to offer the range of health and wellness services and goods offered by spas. Nonetheless, a good number of resorts and day spas are now offering a variety of health and wellness services and have added more health and wellness programming options in their services. It is important at this point to distinguish between wellness and health since the two products have quite differe nt meanings and applications. While health tourism refers to the services designed for tourists or clients with medical conditions and requires the experiences of these healing

According to what we have learned by reading Imagine book, how could Essay

According to what we have learned by reading Imagine book, how could you help yourself be more creative (from page - Essay Example Creativity holds no specific definition due to the broad concepts it encompasses. In this regard, scientific principles can also be factored in in creativity pursuits, especially in regard to more creativity in an individual. According to Jonah Lehrer (3), the brain acts as the central nerve to creativity. However, there are other complementing variables to the creativity process. These variables are generally the day to day surrounding that a person finds him/herself in, actions and activities undertaken by others, and all other influential factors that directly or indirectly impact on the life of an individual. More creativity can be realized from putting the brain to work (Lehrer 13). This is basically becoming more open minded, embracing diverse mindsets and evaluating a scenario in more than one aspect. Although creativity could be said to have been realized prior to undertaking this process, this still serves a better ground to realize more creativity. This brain technique to making oneself more creative works based on the fact that it personally allows the treatment of the same thing in a number of ways. In so doing, there is more than just a single approach to a brain-based activity. In the process, an advanced version of creativity could result. Personal success or failure is another way to enhance more creativity. Jonah Lehrer presents the case of Dylan (Lehrer 17) to depict this scenario. Characterized by frustration, failure or even success, it is possible to boost creativity, and specifically realize even more creativity. What defines success or failure is the individual’s goals and objectives in life. While some achievements are deemed success by other people, others could account for the same achievements as failure, and subsequently frustrations. This means that creativity is uniquely customized to oneself, and the various levels of

Organisational Strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organisational Strategy - Case Study Example Porter (1980) explained the importance of focusing on cost leadership and product differentiation to gain competitive advantage - producing an excellent product which is a complete solution to a perceived need. It will then use system lock-in to sustain its competitive edge - locking in complementary products, maintaining a proprietary standard whilst locking out potential competitors. Between 1996 and 2006 the PC industry underwent two major revolutions. Firstly the way in which PCs were ordered changed with the commencement of e-commerce and secondly the methodology for manufacturing PCs altered radically with the introduction of lean manufacturing and supply chain management. 1996 Dell began selling on-line in 1996 recognizing the importance of having an encompassing e-commerce strategy. By 2000 its on-line sales were $50m/day. Dell became the largest manufacturer of personal computers in the world in 2001. Many have argued that the Internet renders strategy obsolete. In reality the opposite is trueit is more important than ever for companies to distinguish themselves through strategy. The winners will be those that view the internet as a complement to, not a cannibal of, traditional ways of competing. The great paradox of the Internet is that its very benefits - making information widely available; reducing the difficulty of purchasing, marketing, and distribution; allowing buyers and sellers to find and transact business with one another more easily - also make it more difficult for companies to capture those benefits as profits. (Porter, 2001) Figure 3 The Five Forces Source: Porter(2001) Being online increases competition. However there are opportunities there - particularly the removal or reduction of barriers to entry, and potentially equal access to consumers. Dell has no research and design costs thus increasing its advantage. IBM had already shown that marketing and distribution skills were more important than the latest technological innovation as the market for low cost PCs matured faster than anticipated. Dell simply adopted IBM's strategy: Advanced design Open source software Multi-channel distribution Low-cost manufacturing Aggressive pricing Supply Chain Management Strategy Taylor

Literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Literature review - Essay Example The health care industry in any given country is as much a system and an industry. In the case of Australia, the health care system is not managed hierarchically. It is not also designed centrally by the government. The participants in the health care in Australia, namely the consumers and the providers, do enjoy a great degree of autonomy and independence. Nonetheless, the health care system occupies an important portion in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Australia—the health care sector currently accounts for 9.7% of this GDP (Podger, 2005, p. 1). In spite of the degree of freedom enjoyed by health care practitioners and recipients, the government still plays a large part in the industry. According to Podger (2005, p. 1-2), the objectives of the health care system are (1) good health for the citizens; (2) health care is equitable, meaning it is available and accessible to all citizens, taking into account their capacity to pay; (3) costs reasonably low; and (4) the satisfaction of consumers and of health care professionals. To meet these objectives, the government, inevitably intervenes. In the interest of promoting equity, the government reallocates its resources to meet the needs of the population. Secondly, health has several features that involve public goods; as such, the government is also involved in the prevention of diseases and the safety of foods and drugs. The role of the government becomes especially important because of market failures as well as the provision of asymmetric or incomplete information. Especially in the case of the health insurance industry, the government steps in to regulate the industry so that the consumers are protected and are given the health care they need at the right cost (Podger, 2005, p. 3). Yet, in order for the health care system to be efficient and for it to become accessible to all sectors, both the public and the

Scene Analysis of Twelfth Night Essay Example for Free

Scene Analysis of Twelfth Night Essay Feste, the Fool, disguises himself as Sir Topas, a priest, and visits Malvolio in his imprisonment, under direction of Maria and Sir Toby. Malvolio is relieved to hear the voice of the priest and believes the priest might release him from his prison. Malvolio makes the claim that he is not insane and is wrongly imprisoned in darkness. Feste tells Malvolio that he is in a well-lit room and that the darkness is simply ignorance. Sir Toby becomes afraid that if this jest goes on for any longer, Olivia, his niece might kick him out of her house. Sir Toby urges Feste to talk to Malvolio as himself. Feste, however, is having a bit of fun with his new alter ego. Feste begins talking to Malvolio as himself, but he begins using both personas in the conversation. Malvolio still urges Feste that he is sane and asks Feste to bring him a pen, some paper and a light. Feste offers to retrieve the requested items. 3. This scene deals directly with the ideas of identity and insanity found throughout the play. Feste dresses like a priest in order to assume the identity of Sir Topas. However, Malvolio is in darkness and is incapable of seeing Feste. The disguise is not needed, but the usage of the disguise points to identity being a direct result of personal appearance. Feste must dress as a priest in order to act like a priest. Previously, Malvolio dressed rather absurdly and was, by the same logic inherent in Feste’s costuming, insane. The scene also changes the audience’s perception of Malvolio. Earlier in the play, Malvolio’s character is a boring burden of sobriety on the community. As such a character, his humiliation seems warranted. In this scene, however, he is helpless. Feste treats Malvolio like a toy and attempts to convince him that he is truly insane. . The scene’s location in the play breaks up the action involving Sebastian in the first and third scenes of Act IV. This scene’s tone is lighter and comical in what would be a more serious act. It also adds the perspective of a brief passage of time between the two Sebastian scenes, thus allowing Olivia’s character to depart and collect the priest that is to marry her to Sebastian. 5. This scene directly affects the tone of the final act of the play. Malvolio’s resistance to Feste as the fool insists he is mad helps portray Malvolio as he sole person that is fully aware of his own identity. Malvolio knows that he is sane, whereas insanity holds onto other more frenetic characters. His stalwart sanity makes him incapable of letting down his guard and joining in the fun. At the play’s close, Malvolio finds out that Olivia did not write the love note, and his imprisonment was the result of a practical joke. If Malvolio were capable of buying into Feste’s claims that he was insane, he might have been more accepting of the joke. Instead, he claims he will have his rev enge and adds a sour tone to the ending of the play.

Sociological theory of religion

Sociological theory of religion 1 Using examples critically assess one sociological theory of religion In most traditional societies, religion is an important form of social togetherness. It augments a feeling of community and promotes a set of shared values and beliefs in some form of god. Religion also plays a central role in cultural life; people often synthesize religious symbols and rituals into the material and artistic culture of the society: literature, storytelling, painting, music, and dance.[1] It is the focus of the society that is of interest to religious sociologists, in particular theories concerning the way religious behaviour differs between and within societies. Beckford notes that theories revolving around how social interaction benefits or holds back societies, has made sociology a renowned area of study.[2] In order to establish a fundamental starting point in this thesis, the foundations of sociology and the sociology of religion will be described in context. Furthermore, it will discuss, in some detail, the sociological theoretical approach of functionalism by sociologists; a critical analysis will aim to show the differences in their approaches to functionalism and will include supporting and critical statements from preceding and subsequent sociological theorists. Sociologists generally define religion as a codified set of moral beliefs concerning sacred things and rules governing the behaviour of believers who form a spiritual community[3]. Auguste Comte (1798 1857) describes sociology as the study of human societies.[4] A classical view is that, it is a social science that, uses varied methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis,[5] and is often used to develop theory about human social activity. The sociology of religion therefore takes into account the aforemention ed and also includes the practices, historical backgrounds, developments, universal themes and roles of religion in society.[6] Jones (2003) describes Comte as the first to proclaim the virtues of an empirically based social science,[7] a type of sociology that would have enormous implications for someone like Comte, who had been born during the aftermath of the French Revolution. Bilton et al (1996) explain this further: Positive social knowledge could offer the means for peaceful reconstruction of social order by the elite of enlightened scientists and intellectualsSocial change need not depend upon revolutionary violence and the manipulation of the mob[8] Comte was able to make use of the new science for the progression of society and the re-establishment of order as well as being able to apply the positive method to social theory[9]. Comte and his fellow Frenchman Durkheim are said to be the forerunners in creating the discipline of sociology. Thompson (1982) describes Comte as giving the subject its name and an ambitious prospectus, whilst Durkheim gave it, academic credibility and influence.[10] Functionalist sociologists focus their attention on the nature of institutional relationships in society.[11] To understand this further, one can use Talcott Parsons functionalist ideas as an example. Parsons, [who supported functionalism in the United States] used the functionalist perspective to group institutions in society into four related functional sub-systems; economic, political, kinship, and cultural. This theory stressed the importance of interdependence among all behaviour patterns and institutions within a social system to its long-term survival. [12] In a similar way Durkheim In trying to explain the value of social and cultural character, illuminated them in terms of their contribution to the operation of an overall system. Furthermore, Malinowski, who promoted functionalism in England, endorsed the idea that cultural practices had psychological and physiological functions, such as the reduction of fear and anxiety, and the satisfaction of desires.[13] Another English man Radcliffe-Brown contended that, all instituted practices ultimately contribute to the maintenance, and hence the survival, of the entire social system, determining the character of inter-group relations.[14] It is Parsons sub-system of culture that encompasses religion that we now turn to. A functional definition of religion is fundamentally based on the social structure and drawing together of people, it pays particular attention to how religion guides and influences the lives of people who are actively involved, and through this promotes unity and social cohesiveness.[15] Durkheim believed and argued that, religion was a socially constructed institution, serving the needs of society by socialising members into the same norms, values and beliefs, therefore reinforcing the collective conscience upon which the stability of society rests.[16] He looked in depth at the origins, meaning, and function of religion in society. His belief was that religion was not so much about God, but more about the consolidation of society and the sense of identity that this creates within a particular society.[17] He fully believed that individuals who accepted their role within their own society develop a form of social conscience as part of that role, which Durkheim labels as the Conscie nce collective,[18] which in simpler terms could be labelled as, a common understanding.[19] Published in 1921 and penned by Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, is renowned as the best-known study on the sociology of religion.[20] Using secondary data, Durkheim studied native totemism in primitive Australian tribes, in effect the totem is a symbol that is an integral part of the group, and during ceremonies will be the magnet that draws everyone together to form a collective whole. Therefore, totemism in this instance is explained not in terms of what it is, [what the content of its doctrines and beliefs are] but what it does, that is, the function it performs for the social system.[21] Durkheim claims that, the totem, the sacred object is a representation, by which society symbolises itself,[22] which according to Fulcher and Scott, he believed to be the real basis of social solidarity.[23] From his observations Durkheim developed his theory of the sacred and profane, believing that all things in society can be separated into these distinct categories, as a fundamental dichotomy the sacred and profane are seen as two separate domains or worlds. For Durkheim the sacred meant the unity of the group embodied in symbols, as in his example of totems, the profane was more about the mundane or the individual, and less concerned with the group. However the British anthropologist Evans-Pritchard (1937) observed that sacred things may be profane at certain times, an example he gives is the case of the Azande[24], who, when their shrines were not in ritual use, were used as props to rest their spears.[25] This analysis of the sacred and the profane was extended to all religions by Durkheim and his followers, making a focus on what is similar about what they each do, and about the integrative functions all these religions perform on their social systems.[26] He therefore viewed religion within the context of the entire society and acknowledged its place in influencing the thinking and behaviour of the members of society.[27] Furthermore he beli eved that order flowed from consensus, from the existence of shared norms and values,[28] for him the key cause of social upheaval stems from anomie, the lack of regulating norms. Without norms constraining behaviour, explains Durkheim, humans develop insatiable appetites, limitless desires and general feelings of irritation and dissatisfaction.[29] Radcliffe-Brown continued Durkheims sociological perspective of society; he particularly focused on the institutions of kinship and descent and suggested that, at least in tribal societies, they determined the character of family organization, politics, economy, and inter-group relations.[30] Thus, in structural-functionalist thought, individuals are not significant in and of themselves but only in terms of their social status: their position in patterns of social relations. When regarding religious ceremonies Radcliffe-Brown contends that ceremonies, for example, in the form of communal dancing, promoted unity and harmony and functioned to enhance social solidarity and the survival of the society, in this he agreed with another renowned anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski. Malinowskis functionalism was highly influential in the 1920s and 1930s, a British anthropologist, he conducted one of the first major studies of religion from an ethnocentric perspective, on the people of the Trobriand Islands.[31] The first anthropologist to undertake a long-term piece of field research, Malinowski lived among the Trobriand islanders for four years.[32] In studying the functions of religion in a small scale, he agreed with Durkheim that religion reinforced social norms, values and promoted social solidarity.[33] Malinowski also believed that religion could relieve social anxiety and could provide a sense of security especially when people are faced with situations in which they have no control, an example Malinowski gives is based on his observation of the Trobriand islanders fishing in a calm lagoon, no religious practice was attached, however when faced with the perils of fishing in the open ocean, religious rituals were always performed. In this way Malinowski b elieved humans could exert a perceived control over a world in which they held no significant, individual power.[34] This individual, perceived control can be seen to be used by people facing a personal crisis. Often in a situation where they have no control over the outcome, people will turn to religion looking for guidance and sanctuary; thereby giving them a sense of power. For Malinowski then, religion also helped to conciliate periods of life crises and events such as death, marriage and birth, these rituals, known as rites of passage are marked by ceremonies, that by their very nature, are a form of social togetherness that help to create social order and contentment. These rites however can be seen to be controlled in that to a certain extent one is prepared for new life, death and marriage, these events form part the circle of life and therefore come with some prior knowledge. Ceremonies that relate to these life events could be seen as a predictable common bond that will help to reinforce social solidarity. Malinowski argues that religion minimizes the disruption, in particular, of death. He believes that the assertion of immortality gives rise to feelings of comfort for the bereaved, whilst the act of a funeral ceremony binds the survivors together.[35] Coser (1977) explains further: Religion can counter a sense of loss, which, as in the case of death, may be experienced on both the individual and the collective level therefore religion as a social institution serves to give meaning to mans existential predicaments by tying the individual to that supra-individual sphere of transcendent values which is ultimately rooted in his society.[36] So far we have seen that collective or communal gatherings are generally aimed at promoting social solidarity and cohesion, this is backed by the empirical evidence offered by Malinowski in his study of the Trobriand Islands. Hamilton (1995) offers that these gatherings can also be interpreted as involving the recognition of divisions, conflict and disharmonies inherent in the society and rituals may be seen as a means of coping with and defusing them.[37] Concerning Malinowskis empirical evidence, a contrasting point is noted by Casanova (1995) who questions functionalism on empirical grounds, he argues that religion does not provide consensus and unity, instead he says that most conflicts [an example he gives is the Iran/Iraq war] in society have religious foundations.[38] Marxist sociologists also criticise functionalists on a theoretical level. Marx claims that religion does not create societal consensus, instead it creates conflict between those that have wealth in the ruling class and those that do not in the working class.[39] Therefore according to Marx, the only norms and values that are conserved by religion are those of the ruling class. Functionalist theory could therefore be said to neglect the areas in which religion has been dysfunctional for society, whereby religious divisions have caused disruption and conflict rather than promoting social order. History provides numerous examples of this including the aforementioned Iran/Iraq dispute, Northern Ireland and Bosnia. An Extreme functionalist assessment of religion, declares William Stevens, is put forward by American sociologist Robert Bellah. Bellah fuses Parsons argument that America derives its values from Protestantism, with Durkheims belief that the worship of god is the disguised worship of society. From this Bellah develops a new kind of religious concept, that of a civil religion.[40] Therefore despite the individual belief systems of American citizens, it is the overarching faith in America that unites Americans. Wallis (1983:44) cited in Jones, explains that Bellah finds evidence of civil religion in Presidential inaugurations and ceremonials such as Thanksgiving Day and Memorial Day are similarly held to integrate families into the civil religion, or to unify the community around its values.[41] A further point to be made here is that generally civil religion does not hold to a belief in the supernatural. Bellah disagrees and says examples of confirmation in the supernatural can be see n or heard on a daily basis, phrases such as God Bless America and the words In God we trust on the national currency, he believes are prime examples of this. However Stevens asserts that this is not the god of any particular creed, but a god of America. For Bellah then civil religion creates a social cohesiveness by gathering people together to collectively partake in some form of ceremonial event. Therefore flag waving at a sporting event or lining the street to celebrate a royal marriage or death can bring about a united outpouring of joy or grief that in itself generates order. A contemporary example is the untimely death of Princess Diana. Her funeral witnessed a monumental combining of people, faiths and nations in a symbolic act of grief. Functionalist sociologists tend to emphasize what maintains society, not what changes it and are criticized for being unable to account for social change because it focuses so intently on social order and equilibrium in society. Functionalists have to take into account that change does happen in societies and that change is a good thing, and can represent progress. Jones says that the functionalist way around this is to use an organic analogy social progress occurs as it does with organisms as an evolutionary change.[42] Bilton et al explain that this takes shape in the form of structural differentiationdifferentiation is a type of splitting or separation of a previously undivided unit, the new units differ in that they are more specialised in the functions they perform.[43] Talcott Parsons, in his approach to social change, emphasises differentiation. According to Parsons, Institutions change, if the need of the system changes.[44] An example of a system change stems from The Indu strial Revolution, which was facilitated by capitalism, was increasingly demanding technological advances to increase profit. In order to make this possible there was a need for more educated workforces. As a result the industrial economy needed a new form of family to perform these specialist functions. Thus, as one aspect of society changed the economy and production it required a comparable change in the educational system, bringing social life back into equilibrium. This new modernization of society, explains Marske, is associated with the increasing indifference of the individual from the traditional social bonds of an intimate network of diffuse social relationships. [45] Due to a greater demand in the workforce people from all walks of life came together causing an increase in the cultural diversity within a particular society. As a result individuality became a more prominent feature; religion it seems was becoming less social and more personal. Durkheim would disagree with this statement as he believed it was possible to be an individual as well as social institution, he explains, In reality, the religion of the individual is a social institution like all known religions. It is society which assigns us this ideal as the sole common end which is today capable of providing a focus for mens wills.[46] Dillon (2003) explains that social scientists and Western intellectuals have been promising the end of Religion for centuries, Comte announced that, as a result of modernization, human society was outgrowing the theological stage of social evolution and a new age was dawning which the science of sociology would replace religion as the basis or moral judgements.[47] Durkheim predicted the gradual decrease in formal world religions; in post-enlightenment society he felt that there would be a greater emphasis on the individual. This he believed would lead to a weakening of ties in the modern world. In addition he envisaged that social solidarity and the collective conscience would be taken up by other institutions that would evolve into new forms of religious experience.[48] Furthermore a maturing modernity would see scientific thinking replace religious thinking. As a consequence, Durkheim considered the concept of God to be on the verge of extinction. In its place he envisioned society as promoting civil religion, in which, for example, civic celebrations, parades, and patriotism take the place of church services. If traditional religion were to continue, he believed it would do so only as a means to preserve social cohesion and order. Parsons disagrees with this synopsis, with modern life will come structural frameworks that are more competitive and specialised, however they would still persist because religion is an adaptable structural framework for the explanation of inexplicable social phenomena.[49] A criticism applied to the functionalists perspective stems from Durkheims analogy that societies and social institutions have personalities.[50] To imagine that a society is a living, breathing organism is a difficult concept when in fact it is seen as an inorganic object. This creates what can said to be a philosophical problem and an ontological argument that society does not have needs as a human being does; and even if society does have needs they need not be met. The view here is that society is alive in the sense that it is made up of living individuals. What is not taken into account is that each individual is a different entity, with their own wants and needs. As part of the unit they can function and integrate within the group as a viable member. However individual life choices may not always create a positive function for the society as a whole. Functionalists in general tend to have a too positive view by believing that everything that exists in society does so because it has some kind of functional purpose. Robert Merton believed that it was entirely plausible for society to have dysfunctional elements.[51] Durkheim also recognised that some forms of social life could be seen in the same way, however he did not use the term dysfunctional. In his work on crime, he noted that crime was functional to society, this seems to be a contradiction in that he also said, too high a level of crime might not be functional, because it could create a state of confusion regarding what constitutes the norms that applied to peoples lives. As a society dysfunctional actions, in particular criminal actions are frowned upon, and as a society we can become mob-handed in the way people come together to condemn an act of crime. Durkheim has a point to make here in that, people combine together, forming a collective cohesion in defining themselves against what they are not.[52] Picturing society like a vast machine, Merton argues that a society should best be considered as a cross between the cultural goals of a society-what it holds its members should strive for-and the means that are believed, legally or morally, to be legitimate ways that individuals should attain these goals. In an ideally organized society, the means will be available to deliver all of its members to their goals.[53] One must take into account when analysing such theories that at the time of writing the world was a very different place to the one we live in today. Social anthropology has come under criticism for looking into primitive societies as a representation of unchanged societies criticism in particular stems from the lack of historical records that could confirm or deny any findings. Radcliffe-Brown considered this type of work a mistakehis belief was that the religious and ritual systems had to be understood in the context of the existing society and their role in that society.[54] One could linger on Durkheims prediction that religion would decrease with modernity, religion here being in reference to the act of attending a social gathering in the worship of some form, whether it be totemic or divine. However an important point to note is that at the time when the Sociology of Religion was in its infancy, religious practice was more of a regular occurrence than one would perhaps find in todays society. However individuals are still irrevocably influenced by the role of religion in their own lives. Their beliefs and values allow them to feel supported in their everyday life; religion sets aside certain values and infuses them with special significance. Culture plays an important part here, as values, customs and beliefs combine to become a moral code by which societies adhere to and live by and pass on to future generations. Religion encourages collective worship be it in a church, mosque, temple, home or some other specified gathering place. Through the act of collective worship the individual is encouraged to feel part of a wider community. Today, societies are classed as more secular in their nature, yet if one consider the earlier statement about religion being an important form of social togetherness it would be easy to make analogies with the different groups that make up the society we inhabit. For example schools hold assemblies, awards evenings and performances all which can be seen as an example of community spirit and social cohesion. People as individuals, have interests outside of their immediate social groupings, this does not make them an outcast or outsider, and instead it promotes a sense of identity, individualism and the self. The writings of sociologists such as Durkheim, Comte, Radcliffe-Brown and Parsons are still important today, especially in comparing the way society sees religion. However, in contemporary society sociologists have a different set of problems to contend with as belief in modern society and materialism for many becomes a more vital moral value than partaking in a religious practice . BIBLIOGRAPHY Beckford, James A. (2003) Social Theory and Religion, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003). Bilton et al, Introductory sociology 3rd Edn (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998). Casanova, Jose, Public Religions in the Modern World (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995) Christiano, Kevin J., William Swatos Jr Peter Kivisto, Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments Lanham, 2nd edition (MD: Rowman Littlefield publishers, 2008). Comte, Auguste, A Dictionary of Sociology (3rd Ed), John Scott Gordon Marshall (eds), (Oxford: OUP, 2005). Coser, Lewis A. Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context, 2nd Ed., (Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1977), pp. 136-139, Coser, Lewis A. Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context, 2nd Ed., Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1977: 136-139, Dewar, Greg, Religious studies, Philosophy and Ethics, (London: Oxford University Press, 2002). Dillon, Michele, Handbook of the sociology of religion (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003). Durkheim, Emile, The Division of Labor in Society. Translated by, George Simpson. (New York: Free Press, 1893/1964). Durkheim, Emile, and Coser, Lewis A., The Division of Labor in Society. (Free Press, 1997) Durkheim, Emile. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life: A Study in Religious Sociology. Translated by, Joseph Ward Swain. (New York: Macmillan, 1915). E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Theories of primitive religion, (Oxford: Clarendon press, 1965). Emile Durkheim, Sociology and philosophy (New York: free press, 1974). Evans-Pritchard, E. E. Social Anthropology and Other Essays. ( London,1950).Contains a critique of Radcliffe-Browns functionalism from the perspective of historicism. Fulcher, J. Scott, J. Sociology, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003). Giddens, Anthony, Durkheim, (London: Harper Collins, 1996). Goldschmidt Walter, Functionalism In Encyclopaedia of Cultural Anthropology, Vol 2. David Levinson and Melvin Ember, (eds) (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996), p. 510. Hamilton, M, The sociology of religion, 2nd edition (Oxon: Routledge, 2001). Hunt, S. Religion in Western Society, (Hampshire: Palgrave, 2002). Jones, Pip, Introducing Social Theory, (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2003). Jones, Robert Alun., Rules of the sociological method 1895, in Emile Durkheim: An Introduction to Four Major Works. (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1986), pp. 60-81. Macionis, J. Plummer, K. Sociology: A Global Introduction (Essex: Pearson, 2005). Merton, Robert, Social Theory and Social Structure, (USA: Macmillan, 1968), chapter 3. Orenstein, Ashley D. DM, Sociological theory: Classical statements 6th edition (Boston: Pearson Education, 2005), pp.3-5: 32-36. Sociology Quarter, Durkheim as a functionalist, vol 16 no 3 (Summer, 1975), pp 36 -379. Thompson, Kenneth, (1982) Emile Durkheim, (Sussex: Ellis Horwood Limited, 1982). Winthrop, Robert H. 1991. Functionalism In Dictionary of Concepts in Cultural Anthropology (New York: Greenwood Press, 1991), p. 130. WEBLIOGRAPHY Functionalism, in Anthropology and Sociology The Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia. 2000-2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0819881.html (Accessed: 18.01.10). Functions OF religion learningat.ke7.org.uk/socialsciences/soc-sci/soc/a2/R. Accessed 14.1.10. CliffsNotes.com. Introduction to Religion. http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/topicArticleId-26957,articleId-26927.html. Accessed 10.1.10 Chris Livesey, Functionalist perspectives on Durkheim, www.sociology.org.uk Marjolin, Robert French sociology-Comte and Durkheim, University of Chicago press American journal of sociology, vol. 42, no 5 (Mar., 1937), pp693 -704. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2767763 (Accessed: 12.1.10.). Mark Glazer, Functionalism http://www.utpa.edu/faculty/mglazer/theory/functionalism.htm (Accessed: 13.12.09). Marske, Charles E, (1987) Durkheims Cult of the Individual and the Moral Reconstitution of Society, Sociological Theory, Vol. 5, No. 1, (American Sociological Association, 1987), pp. 1-14. http://www.jstor.org/stable/201987. Accessed: 17.01.10. The Azande, http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/EthnoAtlas/Hmar/Cult_dir/Culture.7829 (Accessed: 15/1/10). William J. Stevens, Religion: A Functionalist Assessment, http://www.helium.com/items841304-religion-a-functionalist-assessment. (Acces

Models of Age and Disability

Models of Age and Disability Aging and disability Sonia STRENGTH BASED MODEL:- Strengths based practice is an approach to support that has a strong focus on the identification of people’s abilities, interests and capabilities and on their strengths and potential. Strengths based practice is largely founded on the work of Charles Rapp from the United States who founded the strengths model in relation to case management within the mental health sector. The main objective of this model is to analysis the health problems and issues of a client, support to a person in an appropriate way, find the needs of a client and the weaknesses of a client. More focus on the strengths of an individual. STRENGTHS:- Focus on the health and well-being of an individual It focuses on the client’s interests, skill and support systems. Identify the needs of an individual. Improve the quality of life. Builds the self-esteem and sense of competition WEEKNESSES:- Unrealistic goals. About only positive things. The weakness of the strength based model is that existing and potential abilities became the basis of classification and not the aspirations of individual. It is sometimes difficult to establish individual aspirations since it requires effective communication and not readily assessable. Many critics of the strength based approach points out the limitation to which abilities define the capability of the person to participate in the community. ASSESSMENT:- It focuses on people’s abilities and resiliencies and set their own goals, ambitions and solutions to difficult situations. Individual strengths and resources such as their passions, skills and interest in their relationships and environments. The goal of a comprehensive needs assessment is to determine an individual’s current abilities, resources, goals and needs. PLANNING:- Set their goals. Specific methods for setting up individual goals. Make a plan how to achieve their goals. Supports goals with resources from the individual and environment. CO-ORDINATION:- Improve availability, access and adaption of resources in the community. Professional/carer link up individual with available environment. The weakness of the strength based model is that existing and potential abilities became the basis of classification and not the aspirations of individual. It is sometimes difficult to establish individual aspirations since it requires effective communication and not readily assessable. Many critics of the strength based approach points out the limitation to which abilities define the capability of the person to participate in the community. Case Management Model In this model an imparted procedure of evaluation, arranging, assistance and promotion for choices and administrations are utilized to meet a customers all encompassing wishes through correspondence and existing assets to empower quality expense – successful results. This model has been utilized within an extensive variety of environment which incorporates however is not restricted to group administer to the matured, and individuals with inability and mental wellbeing issues. It requires an association to convey a far reaching scope of administrations based on the full appraisal that is utilized to create an administration plan. This model likewise concentrates on the decisions and inclination of the customers and the arrangement is produced upon it. Case administrators make arrangements and expert exercises that spill out of specific setting, project and customer populace. Normally center procedures to case administration are as per the following: screening, evaluation/hazard administration, forethought arranging, executing administrations course of action, observing, checking/assessment and promotion. Assessment There are a couple of similarities between the case administration model and the quality based model as it both respects the needs of the customers. On the off chance that organization show the essential focus is in the preoccupations of the customer as the case administrators urge the customers to go to relative activities and develop it so the inspiration driving the treatment is accomplished in the midst of gathering time. This model in like manner looks on the customers ability to do things in some degree and will endeavor to keep up their way of life however much as it can as they had it before the contamination and keep an element identity and bodies to the degree that could sensibly be required to help in the headway of the treatment. On the other hand there are various potential blocks in this model as the customers wellbeing may lessen due to wellbeing condition and poor environment conditions. Likewise the game plan will need to be changed in view of the conditions went up against by the customers and questionable circumstances. Planning The plan in this model is usually fixed unlike in strength based model because the client’s hobbies and preference are fixed and stable. Therefore the plan will be made for a long term goal to be achieved and it hardly be changed and the plan is not very detailed, it’s just as optional orientation. Coordinating In this model the coordination is between the case manager and the client as well as the relationship between other clients who participate in the same activity. Other consideration should be given to such as the client’s physical ability, elements like economy, climate, and etc. therefore the arraignments should be made in advance. Strengths and weaknesses of the case Management model This model is not difficult to be executed as it is focused around the necessity of the clients exercises as per their hobbies. It is great instrument to use to create both the psyche and the physical improvement of the client. The shortcoming of this model is that it could be effortlessly affected by the components like instability of the atmosphere and general physical state of the client and whatever possible individual issues on the clients part. Additionally this model cant be upgraded as it comes and it can influence the clients wellbeing and lessening the wellbeing state of the client. About whether as the clients wellbeing abatements a period will come when the client wont have the capacity to take an interest in the exercises as the arrangement is not being changed as per the advancement of the client. Perspective o the disability people It is one of the easiest models to use and it can be carried out easily in the client’s life because it is based on the client’s hobbies and preferences. This model will be continuingly developed during the practice in reality. It plays an important role in the recovery or dealing with the disabled people. The potential of the client will be found during the process of the treatment so there is a bright future of this model. Summary of the expected outcomes for the disabled In this model the clients life is intriguing notice satisfied than before as it focused around the distractions and the inclination of the client. It additionally creates the mental piece of the client. This model can additionally be utilized to make plans to the active recuperation. Then again this model will make the clients rely on upon the others for backing as it wont support clients in discovering an occupation to get by upon. Comparisons of the two models The quality built model primarily centers with respect to the customers qualities and capacities and makes an arrangement based upon that while case administration model concentrates on the leisure activities and inclination of the customers and sways them to go to relative exercises so the motivation behind the treatment is accomplished amid the group time. Then again case administration model is a bit like the quality based models as it both regards the needs of the clients. At the point when contrasting the arrangements in the models, the arrangement in the event that administration model is altered upon customers side interests and inclination though in quality based model the arrangement progressions as indicated by the advancement of the treatment. There are contrasts in the coordination part also. The quality based model will require a high coordination between the customer and case director while the case administration model obliges a decent coordination between the customer , case supervisor and alternate customers who are taking an interest in the movement. Customers with a mental objective can utilize quality based model and customers with physical needs can utilize case administration model.

Safety :: essays research papers

Health Safety Examination Summary of the Problems and Solutions of the New Product Line It is undoubtedly that the new product line is very important to my company. However, I found out that the new production line was not as safe as the way Engineer Oh described in his documentation. In this situation, Engineer Oh did not make provision for the safeguarding of life and health, and enforce safety regulations1. Actually, our new production line may cause serious injuries to our new production line workers. If I ignore these problems, I am also against  ¡Ã‚ §the Occupational Health and Safety Act ¡Ã‚ ¨ and  ¡Ã‚ §the Professional Engineers Act ¡Ã‚ ¨. In this summary, the three main problems of the new product line (with references to the acts) and the solutions are discussed. Problem 1  ¡V High-Voltage Equipment Not all the workers are familiar with our new high-voltage equipment. It may cause electric shock to the workers. Some of these workers even do not realize they are working in a high-voltage environment. My ethical responsibility is for the safety of the workers and also for the fairness to the workers2. The reason is that the workers can refuse to work with any equipment, which they think might endanger themselves3. It is their right to know what is their working condition. Solution First of all, I will suggest my company to put adequate warnings near the high-voltage equipment so that the workers know they are working in a high-voltage environment. If we have enough budgets, I will suggest my company to have equipment inspection and preventive maintenance on a regular basis and periodically test the equipment for electric shock hazards. Problem 2  ¡V Toxic Chemicals In producing our new product, we need to use a large variety of toxic chemicals (new to our company), that may cause skin irritation or corrosion to the workers. These chemicals are harmless when proper precautions, usually printed on the container, are followed. However, I found out that seldom of our workers read the instructions before using the chemicals and almost none of our workers wear protective clothing when using the chemicals. The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that any worker should use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker's employer requires to be used or worn4. In addition, we do not have a particular place to store the toxic chemicals, which is against the Occupational Health and Safety Act5.

Death Penalty-Correct choice? :: essays research papers

Although thought to be a problem in the past, the death penalty in today’s world has been proven to be an injustice and an immoral sentence for the people convicted. I believe that we do not have the right to kill anyone as a consequence for his or her past choices or actions. Just because a person murdered another, does not mean we have to also put another human being to death. It is God's decision what their fate should become, not ours. Perhaps we should try to make the person who did the crime be punished in another way for their crime. By placing the convicted murderer in prison for the rest of their life, we would be showing a humane punishment rather than inhumane. We could have the criminals be a part of a prison work program. Through work, the convicts can pay back the loss of a human life in some way and yet will be able to think about the harm and grief they have caused others because of their terrible deeds. The victim’s family will always remember their terrible loss of their loved one. By placing the killer in a high-security prison for the restof his/her life, the family will feel that justice is served. The convicted killer will be unable to physically hurt the family or come in contact with them for as long as the murderer is alive. Although some believe that the death penalty may make the family feel better to have the murderer killed, it does not bring their loved ones back. By using the death sentence, it not only affects the murderer and the victim’s family, it also affects the Jury. Not only does the Jury need to give up their time and money, but the decision to put another human to death could be a hurtful responsibility that will not be forgotten by those who had to make a decision like this. Sometimes people on Death Row are wrongfully killed. These people may have been mistaken for another and an innocent man or woman might be put to death. We may not be 100% sure it is the guilty person we are sending to their death. No one deserves death, no matter what they did. By putting them to death, we are just as guilty for putting another to death. We cannot make that choice.

Mitch Albom’s, The Five People You Meet in Heaven Essay -- The Five Pe

In Mitch Albom’s, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, the author centers the story around Eddie’s life, beginning with his death. â€Å"It might seem strange to start a story with an ending. But all endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time† (1, paragraph 1). The most important thing in this story that we must all understand is that although we may not know it, somehow our lives all have a common intersection. â€Å"No story sits by itself. Sometimes stories meet at corners and sometimes they cover one another completely, like stones beneath a river (16, paragraph 8). Eddie’s life ends tragically at Ruby Pier, the amusement park, where he has felt trapped for so many, long years, with what he thinks of as â€Å"a meaningless life†. When Eddie opens his eyes, he thinks that he is in heaven. He sees the sky changing many, beautiful colors as he is floating through the air. Eddie eventually lands in the place that he has come to think of as his own hell, Ruby Pier. He questions why he has been sent back here. He wonders if he had really been so bad of a person on earth that God would send him here to live for eternity. Once Eddie meets the side show â€Å"freak†, The Blue Man, he begins to understand why he has come here again. The Blue Man explains that Eddie will meet five people in heaven that will explain the meaning of his life. The Blue Man tells Eddie the story of a young boy, and how that young boy darted out into the road in front of a man, causing him to have a heart attack and crash. He realizes that the man was The Blue Man and the boy had been himself. The Blue Man tells Eddie that he must understand â€Å"That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than... ... to all the children that entered Ruby Pier. They all knew that they would be safe because they had someone watching over them, like an angel. Eddie had been the children’s angel. Everyone Eddie met in heaven taught him something about his life. They were all connected to him in different ways, whether it was someone close to him once, or a complete stranger. Somehow, all of their lives had crossed Eddie’s and helped make him the person that he had become. When you think about this lesson, you truly understand. One decision causes an effect, maybe on your life or maybe on someone else’s life. That effect will cause something else. It’s what I think of as a ripple effect. Everything happens for a reason, and all of the events that lead up to our â€Å"now† makes us who we are. Works Cited Albom, Mitch. The Five People You Meet in Heaven. New York: Hyperion. 2003.

Idiophones Essay

Idiophones have a long-standing tradition in African music, and that tradition is an interesting one. Trumpets, flutes and other wind instruments provide an intriguing case study because of their existence in a host of sub-Saharan African cultures. They have always been a part of not only music in those areas, but also the culture of those areas. This history dates back hundreds of years, and the instruments have seen some changes over the centuries. As the book indicates, the different variations of idiophones are inherently African in nature, and the cultures that brought them about have given these wind instruments their characteristic sound that is now commonplace in many different societies. As African Musicology indicates, instruments like the trumpet and the flute are a part of a characteristic musical phenomenon arising in sub-Saharan nations dating back to the fifteenth century. Instead of having individual performers and instruments take entire parts of various works, the musical tradition during that time saw individual performers play their own notes, each of which was combined to create the musical production in whatever social setting might have taken place. The book reads, â€Å"Musical ensembles of this kind or of a similar structure, in which the players may produce two to three notes on their flutes or trumpets, can be found in many African cultures south of the Sahara. The interlocking playing technique of this ensembles is characteristically African: the single parts individually cannot stand alone; their composition, however, is ingenious. It is the group, not the individual, that counts† (Nketia, 183). In this way, it is easy to see that idiophones were considered for what they produced as a whole, rather than what they produced individually. This is important to note as one studies the development of such instruments, since it is likely that any new implementations were designed to work alongside some other new or established instrument. When taken out of that context, new implementations might have been viewed differently from their intention. When musical styles are being discussed, it is common to compare one culture with another for the purpose of finding any commonalities or discussing differences. The book goes to great lengths to discuss the distinctiveness of African music, and points out the fact that much of traditional African music was designed to stand alone and retain its strong cultural ties. Particularly of interest is the â€Å"hocket† technique, which is discussed at length in chapter six. In the International Folk Music Journal, J. H. Kwabena Nketia discusses this technique and how it relates to music in places such as Ghana. She writes, â€Å"Closely allied to these procedures it the hockey-technique – the technique whereby constituent notes of a tune, a rhythm, or a tone pattern, or the constituent notes of a supporting ground-accompaniment, are played at the exactly appropriate point in time by those particular instruments that include them within their compass, or by those particular instruments that provide the required contrasts. This technique, discussed subsequently with particular reference to examples recorded in Ghana, shows itself in its clearest form in the music of flute ensembles, and trumpet (or ‘horn’) ensembles† (Nkeita, 1962). The book takes this to another level, noting how the music played in some African cultures is distinctive in its own right, and though it shares some similarities in name to the European style of â€Å"hoquetus†, the two styles were not born of each other. The book reads, â€Å"It becomes clear that the so-called ‘hocket’ technique in African music is not equivalent to the ‘hoquetus’ in European medieval music. Further, within these composition techniques, there is no complete uniformity to be found in South, Central, West, and East Africa† (184). From this, one can see that the wind instruments across Africa were used structurally in very different ways, with each particular culture coming up with its own rhythms based upon preference, equipment, and cultural needs. One of the issues facing musical research of wind instrument styles in Africa is that not enough solid research has been published to document the different styles. A lot of the analysis consists of speculation, since the large number of cultures across Africa made it difficult to compile information on techniques, pitch, instrument variations, and style. To this effect, the book reads, â€Å"Ethnomusicological research in this area has to be characterized as merely marginal, and little research on this topic has been published to date† (188). For that reason, it is difficult to know exactly how the Berta, Ingessana, and Gumuz people interacted from a musical standpoint. One work on the history of African music even suggests that such a study would be impractical. According to a book by Samuel A. Floyd, the fact that African nations have such diverse and vibrant religious traditions and cultural preferences, studying African music as a whole lends very little information that can be used. Instead, it must be studied individually, to be understand how these cultures developed their own uses for certain instruments, including idiophones. In The Power of Black Music, he writes, â€Å"Since African cultures are many and diverse, there is no single concept in African religion, and thus a study of them all would not be productive† (Floyd, 14). One of the things that has long characterized idiophones in African music has been the creativity of certain cultures. Many cultures have not been afraid to look beyond the traditional construct of music to find great instrument ideas and also ideas on how to most effectively play those instruments. From that, the world has been given some of its favorite types of music. An example of this type of resourcefulness can be seen in a study done by Dumisani Maraire. He writes, â€Å"Stamped sticks and stamped tubes also form another category of idiophones (in this case concussion idiophones). These sticks and tubes are held in the player’s hand and performed by being held at an angle and striking the ground or a slab of stone at an angle. On occasion three tubes are played at the same time each of which is playing a different rhythm† (Maraire). This is an important part of the African tradition that cannot be ignored if one seeks to truly understand the role of various instruments. The chapter itself did a nice job of explaining some of the important historical details about the pitch, tone, and rhythm of some of the most traditional of the African instruments. It did an especially good job of explaining the development of these musical traditions in African culture. Since so many cultures existed, musical traditions often developed individually, with each culture becoming very resourceful in the development and implementation of different styles. The isolated nature of African also comes into play, and that was explained well in the chapter. Much of the music and the musical techniques that were born in Africa over time as completely their own, since many of these areas had little contact with outsiders. This helped to increase diversity in music for all.

Romeo and Juliet Movie Comparison

In Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 version of  Romeo and Juliet, is a traditional adaptation of Shakespeare’s original Romeo and Juliet, with some variations. Baz Luhrmann directed the 1996 version, also known as the MTV  Romeo †  Juliet. This version is very modernized, but keeps the language intact with few changes. There are many differences between Zeffirelli’s  Romeo and Juliet  and the Signet version of  Romeo and Juliet. Romeo’s entire speech that begins â€Å"Alas that love, whose view is muffled still, Should without eyes see pathways to his will! † (at act 1 scene 1 line 174) is deleted.With the deletion of these lines, the audience, is not privy to his longing for Rosaline. Even though Friar Lawrence mentions Rosaline later in the movie, we are not shown Romeo as a boy whose heart is easily captured, but rather, ready to be caught. In Luhrmann’s version of  Romeo †  Juliet,  this scene, even though cut in some ways , is shown with Romeo writing in his diary. He talks of his love, but he does not seem like he’s in love, but rather a repressed adolescent or a typical teen. Romeo doesn’t confide later to Benvolio as in the Signet version.In the MTV version of  Romeo †  Juliet,  the Nurse’s role is cut considerably. Her speech about â€Å"weaning† Juliet, and Juliet falling with her first steps, and the reference to the earthquake are deleted. This is a major change because it completely changes the dynamics of the relationship between the Nurse and Juliet. We do not get the same sense of closeness between the two as we do in the Zeffirelli film. We also do not see the scene where the Nurse tells about Romeo’s banishment and Tybalt’s death. The reason for this is because of the speed of the film.Luhrmann keeps the pace of this film at very high speeds, and when you look back at the text, the Nurse’s role slows the pace considerably. Sheâ₠¬â„¢s older, she’s slower, and she’s trying to extend her importance to Juliet and Romeo, but in the MTV Version, her role is cut drastically, which only contributes to Juliet’s isolation. In both movies, the presence of Paris at Juliet’s grave is discluded. This is probably for the better. While reading the play, it seemed like overkill, like just one more obstacle to prevent Romeo from getting to Juliet. Even though the audience know the outcome, they are still anxious to see Romeo get to her.Plus it helped keep the movies within two hours, give or take some. We also do not get the lamentation speeches from Juliet’s family after her fake death. Both films go straight to the funeral. The film allows directors to keep the audience from investing too much grief for the family by swiftly showing the funeral. The lamentation speeches of Shakespeare’s plays were needed, because they did not have the same visual choice that the filmmakers of toda y have. Romeo, being one of the protagonists of  Romeo and Juliet, is played very differently between Leonardo De Caprio and Leonard Whiting.While Leonard Whiting plays the typical adolescent to a tee, Leonardo De Caprio has much more depth and expresses his anguish in much more dramatic ways. For example, when Romeo being played by De Caprio is challenged by Tybalt he knows the consequence of his fighting and tries with all his might to prevent fighting with Tybalt, even though Tybalt is kicking his butt. We get the impression that he is truly trying to befriend him and make him understand that fighting should be left aside and that there will be great regrets. In Zeffirelli's version, Leonard Whiting plays a younger spirited Romeo.When Whiting is challenged by Tybalt, he is playful and does try to prevent a fight, but it is more with playful words and not because he knows the consequence of the fight or duel. We also get the feeling that De Caprio is much more mature than Whitin g. While Whiting plays a lovesick kid from an upper class family, he still appears to be naive and does not grow to the depths that De Caprio does. From the very beginning, De Caprio is seen as a street smart, savvy, mature young man. His writing in his diary shows us depths that does not show on Whiting, where he is only twirling a twig of flowers.The balcony scene is another scene that shows the differences between the two actors. In the '68 version, Whiting is very childish and playful. He plays around in the trees while he's waiting for Juliet. This reminded me of the young Kevin Costner in  Silverado  when he was swinging from the jail cell bars, showing his youth. He is also like a puppy, very young and immature; he seems unconcerned about his safety; he only has eyes for Juliet. We can see that is his only thought or concern. When he leaves we see him jumping and skipping, and once again we are aware of his youth. Leonardo De Caprio shows much more passion and desire.We d o not get the sense of immaturity with De Caprio, but rather a sense of manhood. His eyes show deep desire, like he knows what she looks like naked. He also is very sure and thrilled, he is aware of the danger by his presence and takes caution to be careful. Whiting seemed oblivious to his danger. His only concern is his love and desire for Juliet. De Caprio is more aware of the consequences of their love; Whiting is only aware of his love. One of the most important relationships in  Romeo and Juliet  is the relationship between the Nurse and Juliet. In Act 1, Scene 3 we are introduced to the most vivid character of the play, the Nurse.With her speech that begins â€Å"Even or odd, of all days in the year, Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. † (1. 3. 16-48), we learn that she nursed Juliet, she lost a child the same age as Juliet, and also lost her husband. The Nurse’s role is very important to Juliet. The Nurse is the one that is there for Juliet, she is her confidant, she is her friend. This is especially important near the end of the play when Juliet realizes she is alone after the Nurse tells her to go ahead and commit bigamy and marry Paris. In Zeffirelli's  Romeo and Juliet  the Nurse plays the role of the Nurse as it's written in the play.She is affectionate; she is giggly, and loving. We see Juliet and the Nurse being openly affectionate with each other and can tell from this film that Juliet depends on the Nurse. This is especially so when Lady Capulet tells Juliet about the marriage to Paris. After Juliet gives her â€Å"I'll look to like, if looking liking move† (1. 3. 97) speech, she looks to the Nurse for approval. After the Nurse smiles back at Juliet, we see relief and trust in Juliet's eyes. In Luhrmann's version of  Romeo †  Juliet,  we get a very different version of the Nurse, and a very different version of Juliet because of the changes.The Nurses speech about how she weaned Juliet and the r eference to the earthquake are omitted. The affection that is so apparent in the Zeffirelli version is non-existent in the MTV version. This changes the character of Juliet considerably. She is perceived as more isolated and alone from the very beginning. We see her as a teen that does not have someone to confide in other than God. When the Nurse tells her to commit bigamy, we do not get the same sense of betrayal as we do with the Zeffirelli version. There Juliet was extremely pained and had to take a stand for herself, by herself, for the first time in her life.As the Nurse is Juliet's confidant, the Friar is Romeo's trusting friend. In the MTV version of  Romeo †  Juliet, Pete Postiethwaite plays a very different Friar compared to the 1968 version and the text. Pete Postiethwaite plays a tattoo bearing, Jerry Garcia-like horticulturist who is Romeo's only confidant. Milo O'Shea's version of the Friar is very sympathetic and caring. He only has the best of intentions in min d. Friar Lawrence is very important to Romeo. The Friar is the one who guides him and also picks him up when he is down.Even though both Friars are different in appearance and personality, I believe they both portray a very sympathetic, caring friend to both Romeo and Juliet. The Friar may ultimately be the one to blame, but he only led Romeo and Juliet because he believed their union would bring the feuding families together. I believe both played a regretful Friar when it all ended. The '96 version shows Friar Lawrence frantically tracking the express letter. He is sweating and projects urgency into his voice, albeit his role in the church is omitted.In the '68 version, when the Friar sees the Page outside the tomb, he frantically rushes to Juliet's side. He is careful with Juliet but in the end must abandon her to escape blame. Once again Juliet is abandoned. The most dynamic conflict is between Tybalt and Romeo. Tybalt is not nearly as literate or well spoken as Romeo, plus he h arbors much hate for Romeo. In both films we get the sense that Tybalt might be aware of Romeo's and Juliet's love during Capulets party, even though it is not played out any farther, but may be the fuel for Tybalt's challenge.In Zeffirelli's film, Romeo, Leonard Whiting, is oblivious to Tybalt's challenge and when he is called a â€Å"Villain† he does not seem fazed, while Tybalt, played by Michael York, is extremely perplexed. He does not understand why he is not getting a reaction from Romeo. He came ready to fight, and when Romeo does not face his challenger, Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo by slapping his hand away and smelling his own, as if Romeo has a stench. But Romeo is still not provoked, and his friend Mercutio steps up to the plate for him. The fight between Mercutio and Tybalt is light hearted and playful.The crowd is laughing and cheering them on. The only one who sees the seriousness is Romeo, who is trying to stop them. Once Mercutio is killed, Romeo is fueled and goes after Tybalt. The conflict for Romeo is revenge for his friend's death. The fight between Romeo and Tybalt takes on a much more serious tone; the crowd is no longer cheering and laughing. The anger and hatred show in both characters. They are fighting till the end. In Luhrmann's version, Tybalt, played by John Leguizamo, is very much like a gang member whose mind is set on destroying Romeo. He appears much more dangerous and dark and looming.When Romeo, De Caprio, appears, he is instantly aware of Tybalt's hatred and is concerned for both their safeties. Tybalt is determined to go after Romeo, whether or not Romeo wants to fight. When Romeo tries to shake his hand, Tybalt slaps it away and attacks Romeo from behind when Romeo starts to walk away. Romeo keeps yelling to stop, he does not want to fight, but Tybalt is relentless. It isn't until Mercutio steps in that the scene changes to their fight and Mercutio's death. Mercutio's death is what fuels Romeo to fight and go aft er Tybalt. Romeo shows courage and hate, and he’s screaming at Tybalt.It is highly emotional and charged. Romeo is aware of his consequences if he goes farther, but Tybalt pushed him to the limit. Then he kills Tybalt. De Caprio instantly regrets his actions. The setting for Zeffirelli's film is in classical Verona. The set has many domineering walls and tons of concrete. It gives the feeling of coldness. The only warmth is the balcony scene, with the trees and soft lighting. The setting keeps the audience's attention on the actors and helps them to see the actors as Shakespeare may have directed them. In Luhrmann's version, the town is called Verona, but resembles downtown Los Angeles more than Italy.The set is current and up to date. It did not try to recreate Shakespeare, but rather, to show how Shakespeare evolves. The physical location of this film helps to understand the story better. It uses our own experiences and our own visual setting, and even though the language i s still hard to understand, the setting brings it all together. Luhrmann handles the death scene very differently from the text and Zeffirelli's  Romeo and Juliet. Luhrmann's version is much more intense and more tragic. It begins with Romeo, De Caprio, fleeing from the cops. There is a lot of action, with noise and intense music, to keep the audience in suspense.We even see the apothecary scene which is deleted from the '68 version. When Romeo gets to the church he takes a man hostage before he enters the church. This also adds to the suspense. Once inside the church, and not a tomb, Romeo shows many of his emotions through his facial expressions. We can see the fear and foreboding in his eyes. The church is tacky with neon crosses and lights shaped as candles. When Romeo finally reaches Juliet, Claire Danes, he shows concern and anguish in his eyes over her death. He is crying, and the audience can see his pain. He lies next to her,   pets her and cries uncontrollably.We can t ell he understands that death is final. Juliet begins to awaken from her self-induced sleep right as Romeo takes his deadly poison. We want Romeo to see Juliet is still awake, but he is too late. The look in his eyes as he becomes aware of Juliet is heart wrenching. It's that realization that he has made a mistake. While Romeo is still alive, Juliet whispers her line â€Å"O Churl! Drunk all and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss thy lips† This final kiss is so sweet and so desperate. If only Romeo saw Juliet's hand move. Juliet's choice of weapon in this movie is a revolver, rather than a dagger.She blows her brains out. In Zeffirelli's  Romeo and Juliet, the scene is not changed much from the text, except we do not see Romeo, Leonard Whiting, go to the apothecary. As mentioned previously, the only omission is Paris as it is in the Luhrmann film; otherwise, it is true to Shakespeare. Romeo breaks the door of the tomb down with a rock. We do not get the sam e sense of urgency as we do in the MTV version. The tomb is dark and dingy and full of dead people. When he sees Juliet, Olivia Hussey, he is still very childlike and actually smiles. This gives the audience a sense that he does not realize the finality of death.He tries to awaken Juliet with soft, cooing words. He does not seem serious until he sees Tybalt, who is not present in the Luhrmann film. At this point, he makes his final speech and says good-bye to life. This is where we get the feeling that Romeo is finally getting it: death is the end, and there is no turning back. When he takes his last kiss from Juliet, he cries for the first time and does show anguish. In the Zeffirelli version, the Friar comes into the tomb right as Romeo dies. This scene is omitted from the '96 version. The Friar sees the outcome of his actions.He takes responsibility for the fate of these children. When Juliet wakens he tries to protect her from the news of Romeo's death. He pulls her gently away from where Romeo is lying. But he fails to protect her, and she finds Romeo all the same, at which point the Friar leaves. Juliet looks at Romeo with concern and confusion. She kisses him, and then cries like a child at the fact that he is gone and she is there. She kisses him all over his face; she does not want to give up, but then she hears a noise and finds the dagger. The final scene with them dead seems to embody them; they will be eternally beautiful.

International Baccalaureate Internal Assessment Essay

The European Commission has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of ceramic tiles from China. The move comes following an investigation initiated after a complaint lodged by the European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Federation (CET) on behalf of 69 tile producers in the EU, the Commission said. The duties range between 26.2% and 73% depending on the company and last for six months. They could be prolonged for five years and are intended to punish tile manufacturers from China who sell tiles below cost-price in the EU. Alfonso Panzani, the president of the CET, said that the duties were not intended to exclude Chinese products from the EU market but â€Å"to bring Chinese prices to a fair level, making it possible for ceramic tile production to continue in Europe, and creating the conditions for healthy competition to develop†. He added: â€Å"There is no reason why we should be less competitive in Europe than when we export outside of the EU.† The provisional duties apply to glazed and unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles and unglazed ceramic mosaic cubes. (c) 2011 European Voice. All rights reserved. According to the provided article, the European Commission (an executive branch of the European Union) has recently resorted to the implementation of a protective tariff of up to 73% on Chinese ceramic products in order to protect the European market from Chinese dumping techniques (Protective tariff – â€Å"a tariff designed to shield domestic producers of a good or service from the competition of foreign producers.†1; Dumping – â€Å"the sale of products below cost in a foreign country,†1 often done to gain a monopoly over that product in a particular country). Facing pressure from the European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Federation (CET), an organization representing numerous European tile firms who suffer from cheap competition with Chinese firms, the Commission imposed these duties to drive up the cost of imports and stimulate profit for domestic producers (Competition – â€Å"the presence in a market of independent buyers and sellers competing with one another.†1; Imports – â€Å"spending be individuals, firms, and governments for goods and services produced in foreign nations.†1; Profit – the amount of money a business earns after paying all expenses.) The conflicting economic values of free trade and protectionism are disputed in this situation as to which forces are allowed to control a nation’s economy – the government and domestic producers or the global market and consumer welfare (Free trade – â€Å"the absence of artificial barriers to trade among individuals and firms in different nations.†1; Consumer welfare – individual consumer satisfaction depending on prices and income.) Since domestic ceramic suppliers are threatened with economic ruin from such cheap products, the Commission turned to protectionism to force a more equal domestic competition and punish dumping companies through a tariff despite the consequences of higher prices (Protectionism – † policies that aim at restricting the flow of imports into a country.†2). The anatomy and economic effects of a tariff can be demonstrated in Figure 13 where the perfectly elastic world supply (Sworld) has increased in price (to P2) due to the tariff (Sworld + tariff) and, thus, have reduced the quantity of Chinese imports from the difference between Q1 and Q2 to that of Q3 and Q4. The benefits of a tariff not only include a reduction in imported ceramic, but also gains in producer surplus and tax revenues earned by the government (Producer surplus – the difference between the minimum price a producer is willing to accept for their good and the price they actually receive). Due to this tariff, the original quantity supplied domestically at Q2 has now increased to Q4 and domestic suppliers can now sell their ceramic at higher prices (P2), allotting for an increase in producer surplus (Area 1). Since the government collects the fees paid by the tariff, they now have more funding of which they would presumably return to the public. While tariffs may be advantageous for domestic producers and the government, they reap these benefits at a primary loss to the consumer from the higher prices needed to buy ceramics, and Chinese suppliers whose product is less demanded in the European Union. The major disadvantage of a tariff comes from the reduction in consumer surplus where it had originally occupied Areas 1,2,3,4, & 5 and was reduced to only Area 5 because consumers must now buy ceramics at a higher price (P2). Although Areas 1 through 4 represent the total consumer surplus reduction, since Areas 1 and 3 are beneficial to a society, so Areas 2 and 4 represent the net loss to society through higher prices. Therefore, in order to protect the European ceramic producers from being completely swept from the market due to the dumping efforts of Chinese ceramic exporters, the Commission is justified in the imposition of an anti-dumping tariff because the societal loss of an entire industry is greater than that of forcing higher domestic prices to the consumer. 1 – Defined by: Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies, 15th edition textbook by Campbell R. McConnell and Stanley L. Brue, publisher: McGraw-Hill Irwin. 2 – Definition derived from: 2 – Definition from: Ziogas, Constantine. Economics for the IB Diploma: Standard and Higher Level, 2008. 3 – Graph adapted from original at: â€Å"Effects of Tariffs.† Linux User’s Group at WSU. Chart. 04 May 2007. Web. .