Compare the spread of Christianity to the spread of Islam in Africa Essay - 7

Compare the spread of Christianity to the spread of Islam in Africa south of the Sahara - Essay Example Muslims will vote for a politician who shares their religious belief and who will expect that those in power should open the door to those in need. The Pentecostal Christianity spreading in South Africa has been labeled the â€Å"religion of prosperity,† promising financial success by virtue of becoming a Christian—without having to hike to the nearest emir and beg for one’s cause.The Muslim community held a different power over non-Muslims, who were also non-Christians, in more remote regions. The Muslim community traditionally forced them into slavery. The alternative was to join up with one religion or the other. Pentecostalism represents most of the Christian conversion because it is spirit-based and their ecstatic form of worship is easily embraced by South Africans. Initially, jihad in southern Africa took the form of infighting between Muslim communities, at issue over whose religion was the purer. Likewise, the Pentecostal churches frequently split and er ect new churches. As new churches crop up, it appears that Christianity is spreading and eradicating the Muslim community. This creates fear, and reprisal, between Muslims and Christians over an illusion.

Coerced Plea Bargian Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Coerced Plea Bargian - Research Paper Example The protection of the fundamental human right is regarded very useful because it non-discriminatory and puts all people equal before the law. It is like saying that if the president of the nation deserves to live, the laborer at the presidential palace also deserves the same amount of right to live. Born out of the protection of the fundamental human rights of all people is the plea bargain that is basically concerned with giving a guilty person some room to plead for mercy. But in what ways have this right being abused? The essence of this essay is review coerced plea bargain and take a stand on it. What is Plea Bargain? According to the Encyclopedia of Everyday Law (2009), plea bargain â€Å"usually involves the defendant's pleading guilty to a lesser offense or to only one or some of the counts of a multi-count indictment in return for a lighter sentence than that possible for the graver charge†. Alschuler gives a similar definition or the term as he states that plea bargain is a situation where by â€Å"prosecutors and trail judges offer defendants concessions in exchange for their plea.† The basic idea therefore lies in the fact that in plea bargains, defendants admit their charges without or with very minimal pressure from the jury and in exchange of their ‘frankness’, receive lesser or lighter sentences. ... s; a voluntary waiver; and a factual basis to support the charges to which the defendant is pleading guilty.† If plea bargains occur under these components, we say the plea bargain is valid. Forms of Negotiating Plea Bargain For a plea bargain to be possible, there are certain legal negotiations that must go on. Koduah (2001) mentions some of these negotiations as Charge Bargaining, Sentence Bargaining and Fact Bargaining. Explaining further, the Encyclopedia of Everyday Law (2009) states that in charge bargaining, â€Å"in return for a plea of "guilty" to a lesser charge, a prosecutor will dismiss the higher or other charge(s) or counts.† This means that the defendant gets a ‘reward’ of a squashed higher charge because of admitting guilt for a smaller offense. Further on, the encyclopedia writes that with sentence bargaining, there is an â€Å"agreement to a plea of guilty (for the stated charge rather than a reduced charge) in return for a lighter sentenc e.† In this case therefore, trial goes on for the prosecution whiles the defendant hopes for a lighter sentence. Finally, fact bargaining â€Å"involves an admission to certain facts "stipulating" to the truth and existence of provable facts, thereby eliminating the need for the prosecutor to have to prove them. As in the case of all plea bargain, the defendant is given something in return, which is that there is â€Å"an agreement not to introduce certain other facts into EVIDENCE† (Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, 2009). Under what condition does a Plea Bargain become Coerced? Risinger (2007) explains that under any circumstance where plea bargain is forced on a defendant constitutes coerced plea bargain. In some cases also, attorneys of defendants do not force their defendants into negotiating for plea bargain but

Digital Convergence Processing and Transferring Data

Digital Convergence Processing and Transferring Data Introduction Digital convergence (DC) is the proliferation of information in digitized form (bits) and the efficient flow of information in the digital network. Digital convergence is the various ways in which digitized data are processed and transferred [1]. The Knowledge economy is driven by DC where digital systems are embedded ubiquitously in the business processes that help the users to exchange information, store and access data, collaborate, communicate, learn and trade in real time. The digital information can also be accessed from and stored in a remote location which supports workers that are mobile and/or located in distant locations. DC is facilitated by internet, access networks (like 3G,4G, wireless LAN, wireless broadband) and high network connectivity ; leading a surge in virtualization of computing and storage functions of digitized data [2]. Easy communication, information exchange and collaboration made possible over the global digital network with the aid of Digital Convergenc e has caused a surge in Cloud Computing; which is where digitized data, computational platform and infrastructure to compute enabled by the digital platform is stored in the cloud outside the walled premises of the organization on a sharable platform [2]. Digital Convergence is the current trend in Pervasive Computing which follows the mantra of access to information anywhere, anytime. Gartner Research states that worldwide cloud services revenue enabled by digitized data is estimated to exceed $56.3 billion in 2009, which is a jump of 21.3 percent from the $46.4 billion spent on the cloud last year [3]. Furthermore, Gartner analyst predicts by the year 2013, the Cloud service revenue will reach $150.1 billion[4]. Hence, Digital convergence (DC) is an important paradigm in information technology. Theory of digital options suggests that IT indirectly supports agility by offering firms with digital options [5], which are described as a set of IT-enabled capabilities in the form of digitized work processes and knowledge systems. This theory emphasizes that IT enhances the reach and richness of a firms knowledge and it is processed to help the firm improve its agility i.e. its ability to sense and respond to environment change. The term digital options denote that a firm may apply its IT-enabled capabilities in the form of digitized work processes to emerging opportunities, or they may remain unused depending on the dynamic capabilities of a firm [6]. In a dynamic environment; competitive advantage is short lived; hence firms continuously generate competitive actions to achieve series of short term competitive advantage and firms with greater number and variety of competitive actions achieve competitive position [7-9]. Attempts have been made to identify the factors that lead to competitiveness but there are no formal empirical study so far that investigates the link between Digital Convergence and competitive advantage. Research justification and research questions Dynamic capabilities of a firm are composed of Adaptive, Absorptive and Innovative capability[10]. Prior research has shown that Knowledge sharing and absorptive capability of the firm (ability and motivation of the firms employees to utilize knowledge) improves innovation capability of the firm[11]. Review of the previous IS research suggests that continuously generating competitive actions , Knowledge Management and Agility is important in achieving competitive position but there has been no formal empirical study that examines the role of innovation capability in improving firms business process agility and the role of Digital Convergence in leveraging innovation capability in competitive actions. There have been several calls for research to examine relationship between Organizational capabilities, Agility, digital systems and competitive actions. The specific research problems include examining the relationship between digital systems and competitive actions and Firm and network capabilities for leveraging digital systems in competitive actions[12] and examining what IT capabilities are vital to business success in contemporary digital environment? [13].There has been call for research to study the next wave of nomadic computing including Digital Convergence that enables organizations to: mobilize information, share the information, develop new forms of organizational structure, capability, and agility [1]. In response to these calls this study proposes to study the following research questions and the research model is illustrated in Fig 1. 1. Does Innovation capability of the firm help in making a firm more Agile? 2. What role does digital convergence play in influencing the strength of the proposed relationship between Innovation capability and Agility? 3. Does Digital Convergence help in developing the digital collaboration (both external and internal)? 4. What role does location of the partner play in building the innovation alliance network or in other words Digital collaborators of a firm are more locally dispersed / more globally dispersed / are they somewhat equally dispersed between local and global locations? Digital Convergence inhibits or facilitates Digital collaboration between partners that are local and global? 5. Does Digital Collaboration (like between competitors) have any role in shaping business process agility? 6. Improving the business process agility of the firm makes the firm more competitive? 7. Which type of digital collaboration is perceived to be the most valuable for enterprises innovation activities? Literature Review Digital convergence Prevalence of digitized data has resulted in Digital Convergence (DC) [14]. The Digital network today is connected with IP phone, IP camera, IP TV, Point of sale systems, digital learning devices, portable medical and other technologies that provide unified communication and collaboration tools even to those workers who are mobile. When all media is digitalBits co-mingle effortlessly. They start to get mixed up and can be used and re-used separately or together.[15] or in other words DC makes use and reuse of information easier. The definition of digital convergence (DC) has evolved over time. The assimilation of concepts on Digital Convergence from the review of literature is outlined below. In the year 1977, Japans NEC Corporation first defined DC as communications merging with computers. Digital convergence requires ubiquitous and powerful computers that can handle communications with digitized content[16, 17]. DC is the convergence of content ( character, sound, text, motion, picture into a bit stream ) and convergence of transmission ( bits can be managed and transmitted quickly and efficiently and in large volumes) enabled by distributed computing and internetworking [18]. DC can also be classified as Network convergence: Fixed to mobile convergence (FMC) is the seamless distribution of digitized content over mobile and fixed technologies enabling the collapse of boundary between fixed network operator and mobile network operators. It provides access to the digitized service irrespective of location and device. FMC means that a single device can connect and be switched between wired and wireless networks. [19]. Digital convergence can also be viewed as Business Process convergence or integration: It is the ability to represent audio, video, text and other media in digital form, manage this rich digital content and tie it to transactional capability and interactive services [20].For e.g. In a doctors office the patient signature can be captured digitally, all the business transactions like patient scheduling, recording of the information about the procedure performed and the rate for the services performed, payment collection, processing for insurance claim, patient medical records can be managed digitally and later those records can be accessed by management to track the performance of the clinic efficiently. Also the business process convergence can help business provide personalized interactive products for the consumers. DC is the ability to integrate and converge enterprise wide business process with single point of access to it, 247, where digitized data are stored in a shared repository and managed by enterprise wide software like the Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. DC is Device convergence where same digital device can be used for multiple forms of digital content used for complementary services like mobile phone can be used as video player, music player, and sound recorder, GPS, email and web search[16]. It is defined as the convergence of computing, communication and consumer electronics [21] In the current scenario, future digital convergence means producing digital environments that are aware, receptive and adaptive to humans connected in a network. The interacting computational devices connected to such pervasive, human-centered computing network are able to commu nicate with each other [22]. Digital convergence can help working from home, conduct live meeting without travelling using video conferencing. Based on Past research, Digital convergence can be summarized as convergence of: a) digital content, b) network/transmission, c) business process/service, d) digital devices and e) infrastructure supporting pervasive computing. Innovation Capability Past research on Innovation capability of a firm has concluded that it includes the ability of the firm to have product innovation capability, process innovation capability and market innovation capability which are summarized below. The role of environmental innovation capability and organizational innovation capability in shaping firm agility has not been studied so far. Product Innovation capability: Innovation capability is the ability to develop new products or services [23-25], ability to be first mover in the market [26] and ability to introduce more new products than other firms [26]. Process Innovation capability: This is the ability of the firm to develop new methods of production [23-25], develop new organizational forms[23], seek new and novel solutions to problems[23] and to discover new methods and sources of supply[23]. Market Innovativeness: This is the ability to identify new markets[23]. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is headquartered in Paris and administers Community Innovation Survey (CIS). The Community Innovation Survey (CIS) was updated recently in the year 2008 and it lists Organizational Innovation Capability and Environment Innovation Capability as new measures for innovativeness [27]. Innovation surveys were first experimented with in several Western European countries but have since been conducted in many other countries including Canada, all EU countries, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa and most Latin American countries. Organizational Innovation Capability As per the CIS 2008 [27], organizational innovation capability is the ability of the firm to have new organizational method in the business practice. The new methods includes new business practices for organising work or procedures (i.e. supply chain management, business re-engineering, lean production, quality management, education/training systems, etc), new knowledge management systems to better use or exchange information, knowledge and skills within and outside the enterprise, New methods of workplace organisation for distributing responsibilities and decision making (i.e. first use of a new system of employee responsibilities, team work, decentralisation, integration or de-integration of departments, etc) and New methods of organising external relations with other firms or public institutions (i.e. first use of partnerships, outsourcing, alliances or sub-contracting, etc.) Environmental innovation capability: As per the CIS 2008 [27], this is the ability to produce new or signi ficantly improved product (good or service), process, organizational method or marketing method that generates environmental advantage compared to alternatives. CIS 2008 also suggests that firm marketing innovation capability of a firm includes ability to make significant changes to product design or packaging, ability to develop new media or techniques for product promotion, develop new sales channel and develop new methods of pricing goods. Product Innovation capability also includes the ability of the firm to develop products adaptive to the needs of the customer. Process innovation capability includes ability to develop new or improved supporting activities for business processes and ability to provide new method of providing staff welfare (employees are provided incentives and encouraged to behave in novel and original ways) and key executives are encouraged to take new risks [27]. Competition: Knowledge Management (KM) theory and the Science of competitiveness suggests that KM improves competitive position by improving productivity, agility, innovation and/or reputation PAIR [28, 29]. In dynamic markets knowledge assets become critical as a source of competition [30]. Along with KM , greater Agility will breed superior organizational performance [31].Entrepreneurial agility (the ability to anticipate and proactively take competitive actions) and Adaptive agility (the ability to sense and react to change) are both significant predictors of sustainable competitive advantage[32]. There is also significant relationship between sustainable competitive advantage and profitability [32]. Dynamic capabilities: In fast evolving markets, competition is a moving target and firms should have dynamic capabilities to gain competitive advantage [6]. Drawing on previous research findings, Dynamic capability is composed of adaptive capability, absorptive capability and innovative capabilit y[10]. Review of literature has defined Competitive action [and response] as externally directed, specific, and observable competitive move initiated by a firm to enhance its relative competitive position[33]. Previous research has concluded that Knowledge Assets, Agility, Dynamic capability are important for being competitive but the key question that this study investigates the relationship of digital convergence with Innovation capability, building innovation co-operation, Business Process agility and competitive advantage. Agility The different types of Agility identified in the literature are : Operational (internally focused initiative), Partnering (Supply chain initiative) and Customer (demand side initiative) [5], Entrepreneurial and Adaptive[32], Strategic[34], Business-Process [35]. Operational agility has been defined in the literature as the ability to sense and seize business opportunities quickly, accurately, and cost-efficiently. Customer agility is the ability to adapt to customers, identify new business opportunities and implement these opportunities with customers; and the role of IT in customer agility is to facilitate the development of virtual customer communities for designing new product, feedback and testing. Partnership agility: is the ability to leverage partners knowledge, competencies, and assets in order to identify and implement new business opportunities. Individual firms do not have all the resources required to effectively compete and value creation for the firm can be leveraged be tter through pooling of assets between partners. The role of IT in partnering agility is to support Inter organizational networks for collaboration, communication and integration of business processes. Organizational agility is important for business success [36]. Agility of an organization is significantly determined by the operational ability of the organization. Greater agility is achieved when the Inter-organizational system used has a task and strategic fit, has been assimilated into the organization and the system is adopted network wide [31]. Organizations that are agile i.e. to be able to take competitive actions continuously perform better than organizations that dont [37]. Business-processes agility can be classified as : process-level agility, which is how quickly an organization can add new capabilities into its standard processes (E.g. how quickly a company can acquire AJAX capability into its ordering process) ; and transaction-level agility, which measures the how good the organization is in customizing capabilities for individual customer transactions (For example, how well a company can customize AJAX ordering capability to include bar-code label on the box, an RFI D tag on a certain type of container, and paper invoice with bulk billing based on the individual transaction with a customer)[38]. Theory and Propositions Resource based view (RBV) of the firm [39, 40] suggests that valuable, rare, inimitable and non substitutable (VRIN) resources and capabilities as the source of competitive advantage. The extension to this is the theory of Dynamic capabilities. This theory emphasizes that development of organizational capabilities over the time and their constant renewal by management influences can be a source of competitive advantage. In contrast to the earlier view that IT infrastructure and IT investment provides the source of competitive advantage, dynamic capabilities theory emphasizes that consistent development of the capability to apply IT , allows firms to be flexible and innovate continuously, looking put for emerging opportunities, and countervailing threats from competitors to help shape a superior firm [41]. Theory of capability state competition lists Dynamic capabilities, core competencies and resources as a basis for superior performance of a firm [42] According to the Dynamic capabi lities theory it is not just the availability of resources that matter, but also the high performance routines operating inside the firm and embedded in the firms processes that utilizes them [43]. The theory proposes that a firms IT application can be imitable across firms but the firms capability to apply IT strategically can be inimitable [44]. Based on this theory the innovation capability of a firm cannot be easily replicated by other firms and will help the firm achieve competitive advantage. Innovation was described by Schumpeter (1934) as development of new products, new methods of production, new sources of supply, opening of new markets and new ways of organizing businesses. As per OECDs CIS 2008 survey innovation ability is the ability to implement new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organisational method, or a new environmentally friendly product or process in business practices, workplace organisation or external relations. It has been suggested that firms radical or incremental innovation drives the firm to respond to market changes and opportunities[45]. This study investigates this empirically by proposing the following. Proposition 1: Innovation capability will be related to Organizational Agility. Digital systems are pervasive and can make knowledge accessible through intranets, digital knowledge repositories and databases and can make the knowledge richer by video conferencing and digital collaborative facilities. Digitization offers firms significant opportunities to achieve greater agility [46]. Digital convergence allows for transfer of digitized information in different ways. Information theory provides completely rational explanations for competitive action: those who have the information will be most aware, motivated and capable of responding. ICT use on Multifactor productivity (MFP growth) are typically linked to firms experience in innovation [47]. It has been suggested that several firm capabilities like the firms digital platform is an important enabler of agility [5]. Thus this study proposes that Innovation Capability will drive agility more for firms that have Digital convergence than for firms that do not. Proposition 2: Relationship between Innovation capability and organizational Agility will be moderated by digital convergence Firms that have digitized their process have digital options that can help create new channels to access customers, build real-time integration within supply chain network , gain efficiencies in internal operations and offering new digital products or services [48]. This study proposes that firms that have digitized their processes will have digital convergence that can help digital collaboration with customers, other members in the supply chain network, other firms in the industry, competitors and other firms within the enterprise; both locally and globally. Proposition 4: Digital convergence will promote both local and international innovation partnership. It has been suggested that Digital collaborations will result in Co-evolution among businesses which implies flexibility in the asset mix , capabilities and knowledge resulting in Agility [49]. Knowledge management is related to organizational agility [50] and conducting knowledge management leads to five types of knowledge manipulation activities: knowledge acquisition, selection, generation, assimilation, and emission[28]. Proposition 5: Digital Collaboration for Innovation has a direct relationship with Agility. Proposition 6: Organizational Agility will be related to a higher level of competitive position/competitive advantage. Research Design Data Sample The proposed research model will be empirically tested using a data gathered from managers of companies. The target respondent list will be compiled from the Dun Bradstreet database consisting of large organizations both public and private operating in North America that has a certain level of market uncertainty and competition. As per OECDs definition there are two types of innovation intensive industries comprising of a) High tech industrial companies like Manufacturing and b) companies that provide knowledge intensive services like IT consultancy, Telecom services, Banking and Financial, Retail, Insurance, Health Care, Education etc . The diverse sample from both the public and the private sector will help increase the generalizability of the results from this study. The focus of this study is digital convergence. Although the surge in digital convergence with variable strength is seen across all industry sectors and all size firms; this study focuses on medium to large companies with large number of employees. The reason being, for large size companies the availability of finance makes it easier to invest in digital systems. Methodology A pilot study with IS academics and graduate students will be conducted for the preliminary assessment of the proposed scale for each construct and to identify ambiguous questions and instructions. Cronbachs alpha (a) coefficient will be computed for each multi item scale to test for reliability. Alpha greater than 0.7 is generally considered to be acceptable reliability[51]. It is important to assess the biases that results from using a single method, a mail survey administered at a single point in time, to measure the constructs proposed in this study due to Common Method Variance (CMV). The Harmons one factor test will be used to assess CMV[52]. Measures are being taken to elicit information about all the variables that are being studied. Whatever possible existing scales will be used but new scale to measure digital convergence will be developed. A seven point likert scale (1= very Weak, 7=Very strong) was used to measure the constructs. This study adapts the previously validated scales used in the past to measure organizational innovation capability [25-27, 53]. The adapted scale in the study consists of : Product innovation which has 3 questions, Process Innovation has 4,organizational innovation has 4,Marketing innovation has 4 and Environmental innovation has 2 questions as shown in the Appendix. Digital Collaboration for innovation is active participation with other enterprises or non-commercial institutions on innovation activities using a digital platform. This type of collaboration does not require for the collaborator to benefit commercially. Pure contracting out of work with no active co-operation is excluded in defining digital collaboration for innovation. The measure is adapted from the OECD community innovation survey, 2008. It consists of selecting the different types of collaborators and their location as shown in Appendix. Eight measures of business process agility was used from a previously validated instrument [35] which was developed based on conceptual framework provided by prior research [5, 54]. These items measure how quickly and well the firms can undertake key business actions such as responding to changes in aggregate demand, customizing a product to a specific customer or market, reaction to new product or service launches by competitors, change prices or product mix, move into or retrench from markets, adopt new process and redesign the supply chain. Little empirical work has been done on Digital Convergence and this proposal synthesizes concepts from the current IS literature on Digital Convergence to help develop the operationalization of the Digital convergence Construct. This study proposes breaking down DC into 6 first order constructs consisting of content convergence, transmission convergence, Network convergence, Business Process convergence or integration, Device convergence and Pervasive digital environment; which will be easier to operationalize . The Next step will be operationalize these variables, transform the propositions into formal hypotheses for the purpose of empirical testing. This study proposes to measure competitive position of a company based on performance of their company relative to their major competitors using a seven-point Likert scale( 1-significantly decreased, 7= significantly increased) in terms of : Market share, Sales volume and Customer Satisfaction. The results from the self reported will be validated by calculating correlation with the results from accounting related measures available from Financial Reports. Previous literature supports the use of accounting measures such as Return on Sales (ROS), Return on Assets (ROA) often used as proxy for efficiency, operation income to measure a companys position to compete Data Analysis This study proposes to use PLS to estimate the research model as it is common in behavioral literature to use multiple item measures for latent constructs. Path model using PLS will be used for interpreting the main results of this study because this study uses perceptual measures coming from one respondent for constructs that require multiple item indicators. Significance of this research Innovation and Agility are seen as being important across many industries, especially those operating in a dynamic and globally competitive environment. The impact of Digital Convergence upon a firms ability to compete in such an environment has important implications for managers. The relationship between Innovation capability and Business Process Agility has not been studied empirically in context with competitive advantage. The results from this proposed study can provide guidance to managers to answer questions like: Should managers develop environmental innovation capability, organizational and marketing innovation capability to gain more Agility? Should Managers invest in digital convergence for building digital collaboration for innovation? Is there any gain in collaboration for innovation (even with competitors) in improving firm agility? Does business process agility provide competitive advantage for large companies? Will the benefit in developing innovation capability increase by investment in Digital Convergence? This proposed study is important to researchers as it adds to the growing body of literature linking a Firms capability and Agility. It draws from resource-based view of the firm and dynamic capability theory to explain the relationship between firms innovation capability and its competitive performance. This study provides an empirical test of relationship between business process agility and competitiveness. The study also provides identification of Digital Convergence. Finally, the results of this proposed study is important to respondents as it answers if the leverage of innovation capability for competitive advantage is contingent on investment in Digital Convergence.

Gun Control: Is It A Problem? :: Second Amendment The Right To Bear Arms

Ten-thousand, five-hundred, twenty-seven people die a year in a handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, out weighs those gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87 respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? The latter mentioned countries have stricter gun control laws and they require bare arm safety courses. These laws have a direct relationship to the number of gun deaths which occur each year from country to country. Perhaps if the U.S. would adopt some of those laws the number of deaths would drop accordingly. Winthrop addressed such a dilemma almost 350 years ago in his "Speech to the General Court" in 1645. Winthrop's two main problems were where do the rights of people stop and the magistrates' authority begin. According to Winthrop, people are naturally evil, and if left to their own devices, they will become even worse. Therefore, authority is a necessity. This same principle holds true for gun control. People here in the U.S. have the "right to bare arms," but with that right comes responsibility. As an American with that right you're not free to shoot anyone or anything at will. Government should create laws to protect the rights of others. I believe stricter gun control laws and better education on the use of guns is necessary. People of the U.S. aren't as rigidly regulated by gun laws compared to our European neighbors. In the United States it takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to get a permit to carry a handgun. However, in most crimes committed with a handgun, the gun isn't even licensed. More authority is necessary to control the illegal handling of handguns. In England, guns which are permitted for hunting are required to be signed out, purpose of use stated, and the type of gun. I also feel the person requesting a permit should first be educated on the proper use, cleaning, and handling of a firearm. This would help to avoid any accidental shootings from occurring. They should be made aware of all the laws regarding the handling of firearms. To some this may seem severe. But as I stated earlier, these stricter laws do affect the difference between the U.S. and Europe in the amount of handgun related deaths. In these controversial issues about gun control, it is my opinion that the United States should have stricter gun obtaining laws. If a criminal was convicted for a gun related crime, he should be unable to purchase a gun.

Foreign Direct Investment Essay

Today, the traits of foreign investment have change than it was for two decades. Then it was mainly followed by the â€Å"multinational† companies to build their image. Foreign investment was never deemed as an autonomous â€Å"economic activity†, in fact I was always conceived to be a procedure to assist in trade related activities. However, one can not perceive â€Å"foreign direct investment† as an assistant to trading activities. It is necessary for the growth and development of capital that the resources should be efficiently distributed and apportioned. Nowadays, the flow of capital is against the expectations, as most of the capital moves towards the â€Å"developed countries†. (Konrad, 2000) The fact is that excessive flows of capital must have been initiative in the â€Å"developing countries†. These have the dire need of direct capital investments for development and reconstruction. Although, developing countries do have room for these types of investments, the presence of high â€Å"risks† there discourages high foreign investments. Hence, one can say that today the largest piece of work is to introduce reforms in the process of capital distribution. Being a new concept all the â€Å"large and small† countries adopted â€Å"foreign direct investment† with great â€Å"concern† and doubts. Today it is a part of the aims of the companies to facilitated and sustain foreign direct investment. Large enterprises go for external investments. However, the availability of â€Å"mutual fund† has facilitated foreign investment to the â€Å"small investors†. (Konrad, 2000) Today, most of the developing countries are experiencing high capital flows. In other wards one can say that foreign direct investment is the major source of capital availability in the developing countries. It has even taken over the funds provided by the government and â€Å"multinational† banks for development and reconstruction of the developing countries. About one third of the investments in developing countries are actually done by the international investors. Recently, the flows of capital form the â€Å"developed† to the developing countries have spiked causing the positive outcome of the investments from the OECD to the â€Å"non-OECD† countries. (Konrad, 2000)   The increasing importance of the â€Å"foreign direct investment† has increased the demand for the creation of an international investment platform. Investment is actually functioning of economics that enjoy high social importance. It also assists in the achievement of maintenance and growth of the countries. The role of policies in the sustainability of investment in the develop countries helps to form â€Å"Market disciplines†. It is for this reason that most of the â€Å"policy-makers† rely upon it in the development of the policies. (Konrad, 2000) The lust of making money has many dire implications. The US government’s stances to raise the investment prospects resulted in high reception of taxes during 1992-1998. This increase in the â€Å"value† of investment areas termed quite profitable for the US. It got the chance to overcome its â€Å"budget deficit†, to build an appreciable budget for defense purpose; it also helped the US government to make certain national and international investments. That ultimately led to its development and strong economic presence in the world. However, the situation is opposite in the â€Å"developing countries†. There the â€Å"policy makes† are facing many difficulties in the investment and development of society mainly because of the availability of limited capital inflows. (Konrad, 2000) The greater increase of Foreign Direct investment among OECD countries-â€Å"Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development†- show that the OECD do have some stake in such type of investments. In fact the most of the foreign direct investment in developing countries is actually a result of the investment done by the OECD countries. Notwithstanding, yet OECD countries have not adopted a â€Å"multilateral agreement† for such type of investment. These types of investments can only be facilitated and practice by following the â€Å"guidelines† set by the United Nations.   The policies adopted by the European Union for the implementation of foreign direct investment are totally different from other countries. Most of the â€Å"treaties† and policies followed by the EU member states preserve â€Å"foreign direct investment† in them. The EU countries cannot sign or â€Å"negotiate† any â€Å"multilateral† investment proposal individually. However they can form a â€Å"bilateral† investment proposal individually. (Konrad, 2000) The well known matter of foreign direct investment is â€Å"home state†. This principle refers to a country’s ability to hold the investment made by its investors in some other country. This principle have stake in the foreign investment even after completely depending upon the â€Å"state responsibility principles† and the involvement of diplomats.   This principle proves that both investments and trades have different implications. (Konrad, 2000) Foreign direct investment is in many ways necessary for attaining â€Å"development† which can be maintained for a longer period of time. Unfortunately. most of the current investment policies and the framework are not properly maintained. A proper â€Å"investment† is required to take over them. Therefore, a collective â€Å"international investment regime† is required to facilitated and make public foreign direct investment. Today, due to increase in the direct investment from foreign countries developed countries have a limited share in the investment GDP than they had during the â€Å"Environment and Development Conference† conducted by the UN. Today, countries like â€Å"Brazil, China, Chile, Argentina and Mexico† have a big share in the implications of foreign direct investment. However, it is not reliable for a country to totally rely upon this type of investment. Using such type of investment to develop funds ends finishes all its resources. (Konrad, 2000) This may affect the ability of the country to invest for maintaining its development. In other words the outflow of capital should be directed towards the developing or underdeveloped countries. Up till now all the initiations to constitute an â€Å"international investment regime† have failed only because of the divergence of perspectives among the United Nations and the OECD.   United Nation has mainly focused upon the duties of the â€Å"multinational corporations† however the OECD countries are concerned with the â€Å"Investors rights† to introduce reforms in their investment’s security. (Konrad, 2000) Today, it is really necessary to differentiate between the â€Å"rights† and duties of the private and public sector investors. Unfortunately, none of the current international corporations are following this approach to attain compatible foreign direct investments for their country. It is necessary for most of the â€Å"international† corporations to build an equilibrium investment policy. Only then a capable foreign direct investment policy can be developed and implemented. Moreover, â€Å"the relationship between the investor† and the country been invested in is different from the relationship between the exporting country and the importing country. It is obligatory upon the investors to attaint the investing rights of the country, he wishes to invest in.   And it is for this reason the development of an international investment platform is necessary. (Konrad, 2000) For the implementation of the foreign direct investment and the solution of wars it is necessary to have a publicaly legitimized system. It will assist in the proper functioning of the investment platform. Foreign direct investment will pave ways for the development of a platform where investment treaties could be building. A pact have been designed properly can help to meet the policies of foreign investments. These pacts will make the aims of the â€Å"foreign direct investment† platform more clear and applicable. However, the outcome of these types of small and big agreements will be the formation of â€Å"regime† that would be easily accept and implement the changes in the foreign direct investment. Up till now all the initiatives taken by â€Å"World Bank, WTO, and UN† to facilitate these investments have failed. In fact the difference of opinion among the policy makers resulted in the deadlock. Although the organization built for the just implementation of the foreign direct investment must be predictable and flexible for larger duration. (Konrad, 2000) Foreign direct investment has shown subsequent increase during last 10 years. It is believed that many factors are responsible for this increase.   To get increased capital flows from public and â€Å"private† sector and the formation of liberal â€Å"global financial system† helped in the â€Å"development and globalization† of product manufacturing. The cause for the raise in the flow of â€Å"long-term investments† towards the south is the growing interest of â€Å"public and private† investors in the region. Especially, most of the public departments and officials showed great interest for the international investments. These investments were supposed to assist in countries development and reconstruction. Foreign investments usually undermine the domestic industry. Therefore, most of the â€Å"developing countries† build certain rules and regulation for the foreign investors. These initiatives were only taken to preserve and develop the â€Å"domestic industry†. Admittedly, increasing autonomy of finance and trade as well as the growing prospects of investments has resulted in the formation of â€Å"new† atmosphere that assists in the arrival of foreign investments.   Notwithstanding, â€Å"global economy† has also played a great role to introduce new prospects in the spheres of foreign direct investments. The increase in the â€Å"intra firm trade and internationalization of production† has been actually resulted form the growing competition among the â€Å"multinational corporations (MNC)†. With the globalization the multinational organizations are also growing. Foreign direct investments are necessary for the Multinational corporations so that they can raise their competitive popularity and explore their business to the â€Å"new markets†. All the factor relating to the â€Å"demand and supply† of the foreign investments are necessary for the development of foreign direct investments (FDI). FDI involves less â€Å"risks† than other investment programs. It is for this reason that today the supply of investments and the process of â€Å"lending† are dominated by the FDIs. Although, most of the Asian countries were badly affect by the â€Å"financial crises† of 1990s, even then they enjoyed heavy â€Å"inflow† of foreign direct investments. Explicitly, most of the multinational corporations –that rely upon the exports- do not need inflow of capital for the â€Å"production† of their produce. However, the decreased in the value of â€Å"local† currency has resulted in the demand for foreign investment. It is for this reason that an environment for the foreign direct investments is progressing. Today, the competition in the â€Å"trade, transportation and telecommunication† sectors has rocketed globally. Therefore, in order to remain in the race most of the corporations have to depend upon the â€Å"Relative factor cost†. Countries more anxious to attain foreign direct investment try to make their domestic product international and to make adjustment in their infrastructure globally. This approach usually adopted by the countries where there is expensive labor.   Mostly, the ideology of â€Å"export and intra-firm trade† is linked with the â€Å"efficiency seeking† foreign direct investments. In most of â€Å"service sector† foreign direct investment is used for the formulation and implementation of â€Å"market-seeking and resource-seeking† plans. (Odele, 2001) Mostly companies willing to explore â€Å"new markets† bring the FDIs in service sector. Major aspects of the foreign direct investment is the â€Å"geographical† closeness of the developing and â€Å"new† markets. This approach is usually adopted by the corporations, want to capture and attract â€Å"new consumers†. Most the companies that want to attain â€Å"global† market adopt â€Å"cross-border† strategies for foreign investments. These strategies are based upon the â€Å"acquisition and merger (M& A)† of international firms. Mostly corporations in the â€Å"banking, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and insurance† sector adopt M&A approach for FDI. In 1997 the merger and acquisition approach was considered the major cause of the â€Å"inflow† of the foreign direct investment in the industrial sectors. According to survey conducted by UNCTAD â€Å"mergers and acquisition† cover â€Å"three-fifth† of the foreign direct investment in the global markets. This approach has also resulted in the concession of industries in the global market. Due to increase in foreign direct investments the â€Å"productions† in the foreign market raised to $3.5 trillion. However, â€Å"global sales† show that the â€Å"international productions† have risen to $9.5 trillion. This increase in production has resulted in the increase of the GDP to about 7%. Ultimately, it seems that today foreign investments account for â€Å"one-third† of worldly â€Å"exports†. (Odele, 2001) As most of the alternatives of the inflows of capital form the foreign market decreased in 1980s, the demand for foreign direct investment surged. Initially, most of the â€Å"domestic industries† of the south countries was preserved by the â€Å"high tariffs† and restricted interference of investors form the international market. Up till now most of the â€Å"developing countries† have worked really hard to protect their â€Å"domestic† industries from the empowering of international firms. Different rules and regulation were implement in this regard e.g. heavy tariffs were demanded from foreign investors. They were allowed to invest in only limited sectors. Property rights were also denied to the foreign investors. (Odele, 2001) However, it is amid 1998s that these countries realized the importance of FDIs. Therefore, they liberalized foreign direct investment to some extent; most of the autonomy was provided in the â€Å"export oriented† sector. So that it can be compete in the international market and bring heavy reserves in the country. Yet foreign direct investors were denied independence in the other â€Å"domestic† sector. The â€Å"financial crises† of Asia was also a reason to liberalized FDIs. This crisis proved that investments for â€Å"long term† are more profitable than the â€Å"short-term investments†.   The best example in this regard is of Mexico. Who faced great loss in for its â€Å"short-term† investment plans during the financial crises? (Odele, 2001) According to â€Å"endogenous growth theory† foreign direct investments facilitates development of economy by providing â€Å"Scarce capital, technology and skills†. These three serve as elements for the creation of capital in a country. (Odele, 2001) Initially FDI were concerned to be affects the economy of the â€Å"host† country positively. But the experiment in this regards have proved that it is difficult to maintain these positive impacts of FDI upon a country’s economy. It is for this reason the response of the â€Å"host governments† towards the FDI is ambiguous. The involvement of government and proper policies can help to bring positive results of FDI. All the experiments towards the FDI are not positive but some researches have also proved negative impacts of FDI upon the domestic industry and economic growth of the country. Hence, many countries design their FDI policies with great concern. (Odele, 2001) FDI is a crucial element in the â€Å"economic development† of developing and under developed countries. Though it is true that FDI helpful in the production of â€Å"new technologies†, providing employment opportunities, facilitates international market accessibility etc. it is also termed as a major cause for the downfall of environmental peace, it badly thwarts the equality of culture and society and disrupts the association with the local governments with the economy.   (Annie et al, 2000)

Islamic Women Essay

At the beginning of the 21st century, many Islamic women are deprived equal rights with men suffered from oppression and family violence. The example of Saudi Arabia, India and Indonesia show that violence and abuse are still the major problems faced by Islamic women. The main problem is that law in Islamic communities does not come into force being violated. In many communities women are not legally protected and have no possibility to protect themselves: sexual, physical and emotional violence are the major weapon of intimidation of women. In some communities, family violence is a result of traditions and values as an integral part of cultural development. In contrast to India and Indonesia, in Saudi Arabia women have no rights and freedom of choice. The main problem is that in Saudi Arabia rights of women are constitutionally granted by most of them do not come into force and violated. â€Å"Like millions of other Saudi women, Munif hoped she would be allowed to vote — since nothing in the law excludes it. But after a year of debate, the government told women to wait† (Women Speak Out In Saudi Arabia, 2005). Today, the main rights of women in India and Indonesia concern birth control, civil rights, education and work. Today, individual freedom of American women means much more than the absence of physical coercion but an equal social status. Still, similar to Saudi Arabia women, many women in India and Indonesia suffer from domestic violence and sexual abuse. Indonesian women are the most unprotected category which experiences violence within the institution of marriage. Among this group of women sexual abuse and physical violence are the main forms of humiliation and oppression. Similar to Saudi Arabia, in Indonesia women have constitutional rights, but face discriminated. Similar to India, Indonesians have job opportunities and high social status than women in Saudi Arabia. â€Å"Compared to the lives of their mothers, sisters and even brothers who stayed in the village these factory women have gained a strong advantage in terms of wages and conditions† (Indonesia, n. d). In Saudi Arabia women are not legally protected and have no possibility to protect themselves. Women have no equal opportunities with men in pay and work conditions. Most of them take low administrative positions or considered as common labor. In Saudi Arabia, religion dogmas and values play the dominant role determining the destiny of a woman and her social position. In contrast to Indonesia and India, in Islamic countries women deprived the right to use contraception and safe abortions. The main problem caused absence of freedom and rights is that abuse is the part of the culture. In India, â€Å"among Hindus, polygamy too was rampant† (Bhandare 2004). In contrast to Islamic countries, India accepts liberal laws and regulations which give women more rights and freedoms. The main preventive measures against family violence include social programs organized by women’s organizations, legislative initiatives accepted in the national level, petitions, publicity. In Saudi Arabia, women are still lived under double oppression, cultural and legal. Similar to Indonesian women, Indian women have a right to divorce, but in reality it takes a long time and a long legal battle while men can divorce at will in a short period of time. Also, there is a great threat for a woman not to receive children because she does not have a possibility to earn for living. Women in India and Indonesia are deprived of many rights and freedom, but they are free to choose their work, receive education and divorce. In contrast to these groups, Saudi Arabia women are deprived these rights living under state and family oppression. â€Å"For instance, events like a soccer match are strictly for men. In public, there are separate sections where they eat, where they work, and where they pray† (Women Speak Out, 2005). In sum, Women in India and Indonesia are free to choose profession and work conditions, broad employment opportunities and equitable wages; they have equal rights with men to be promoted and appraised. The examples of women in Saudi Arabia show that specific gender roles determine the way of living and cultural norms of several generations of people and strong enough to be changed in a short period of time. Works Cited Page 1. Bhandare, M. C. Women’s rights and wrongs. 2004. Available at: http://www. expressindia. com/fullstory. php? newsid=34277 2. Indonesia. N. d. Available at: http://www. onlinewomeninpolitics. org/indon/indodoc. htm 3. Women Speak Out In Saudi Arabia. Available at: http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/03/23/60minutes/main682565. shtml.

The Art of Isolationism Essays - The Lady Of Shalott, Alfred

The Art of Isolationism Essays - The Lady Of Shalott, Alfred The Art of Isolationism The lone lady above the rest, in her tower, only sees shadows, but never sees reality. In Alfred, Lord Tennysons The Lady of Shalott, a theme that embowered the Lady of Shalott may represent an artist who is high above normal life. She is an imprisoned woman who acts as a symbol for the isolation experienced by the artist. The Lady of Shalott creates her own loneliness and imprisonment, which results in her being unable to deal with the outside world. Her perspective is corrupted when she looks and interacts with the real world, which is shown through the use of imagery, contrasting sound devices, and shifting moods. Lord Tennyson uses devices such as imagery to portray the Lady of Shalott as an artist who loses her abilities once she interacts with the normal world. He illustrates the seclusion by stating, Four Grey walls, and four grey towers overlook a space of flowers (lines 15-16). This shows that the Lady is significantly removed from the world in which she lives in, both geographically and emotionally. The cold, unambiguous imagery of the tower stands in stark contrast to the rich, organic descriptions of the world around it. This conveys that she represents an artists that only observes life from a far, and is shown through the use of imagery by Tennyson to show how she is so disconnected from the world and is only observing, never interacting. Tennyson conveys this message through the quote, There the river eddy whirls, and there the surly village-churls, and the red cloaks of market girls, pass onward from Shalott, (lines 51-54) by displaying that she just observes life as it happens. S he is merely someone who watches from above but may never interrelate with it, as an artist may paint or capture a moment by observing, but once tampered with it, becomes corrupted and not itself; thus showing that artist would destroy themselves by doing so. Lastly, through his use of repetition and imagery in She left the web, she left the loom...she looked down to Camelot. Out flew the web and floated wide; the mirror cracked from side to side The curse is come upon me, Tennyson showed that when the Lady stopped her work to intermingle with society, her web was destroyed (lines 109-115). This scene outlines an angle of artist isolationism by describing the tension between artistic dedication and social responsibility. The mirror represents the purity of her vision; through it all, it was perfect, but when she had looked out directly, her world had become damaged and the curse fell upon her, ending her life as a result. The Ladys loss of focus on her craft leads to her loss of per spective, and eventually causes the loss of her work entirely. Therefore, she is cursed for seeking recognition from the outside world. Tennyson also uses the device of contrasting sound devices to emphasize the theme and to be able to convey it clearly. He indicates, There she weaves by night and day a magic web with colours gay, (lines 37-38) to show that she is an artist who is devoted to her work and spends every bit of her time weaving in solitude. She is a representation of an artist whos forbidden from the humanity. Tennyson also displays through the quote, And moving through a mirror clear that hangs before her all the year, Shadows of the world appear there she sees the highway near, that the Lady is so disconnected from the world, that her perception of the world, the only one shell ever see, isnt even seen directly. (lines 46-49). Lastly he exhibits this theme by using the device of shifting moods. The quote, To weave the mirrors magic sights, for often through the silent nights, shows how the Lady of Shalott has a perception of the world, but not a real view of the view because of the style of her life (lines 46-50). As an artist, drawings are based off of perceptions and not reality, just how one sees it. Tennyson exemplifies the shifting moods by stating, Heard a carol, mournful holy chanted loudly, chanted lowly, till her blood was frozen slowly, and her eyes were darkened wholly,

Secularization Essay Example

Secularization Essay Example Secularization Essay Secularization Essay It was Voltaire who said, If God did non be, it would be necessary to contrive him . Our theory agrees. ( Stark and Bainbridge 1987, page 23 ) . These words uttered by Stark and Bainbridge back in 1987 offer a glance into the longstanding and heated debated between the antecedently dominant, the Secularization Thesis and the finishing Supply Side Theory, in academic sociology. Both theories have profound deductions for the hereafter of faith as a force in society. This essay will look at two articles published in the Sociology of Religion. First, this essay will look at the two finishing theories of the Secularization Thesis and the Supply Side. Second, a sum-up of the chief points of Starks article entitled Secularization: RIP in 1999, and Bruce s 2001 response article entitled Christianity in Britain: RIP will be presented. Looking critically at both articles, this essay will reason that Stark has won the argument for this around. The secularisation thesis day of the months from when the theory of development was at the high of its influence. The theory in its modern conjuration comes from the work of British sociologist Bruan Wilson in the sixtiess. This double thesis was based on the observation that since the Gallic and industrial revolutions in Europe in the 19th and 20 centuries have lead to a diminution in religionism. First, this theory used Modernity as an account for the issue of Christianity from the universe. Secondary, this theory, would hold the same effects on all types of societies. It saw the extinction of faith from an enlightened universe. On the other manus, Supply Side Theory came to dispute the secularisation theory in the 1980 s. This theory aims to explicate religionism. Advocates believe that there is a changeless possible human demand for spiritual goods over clip and between societies. They believe that as the supply of these goods fluctuates, these fluctuations explain the different degrees of spiritual energies in different societies. Basically, the greater the spiritual diverseness of a society, the better the spiritual energy in that society. As antecedently noted the secularisation thesis theory has come under aggressive onslaught. Rodney Stark, so learning at the University of Washington in 1999 published his article Secularization, R.I.P. in the Sociology of Religion diary. In this article, Stark clearly argues that the Secularisation theoy, is out-dated, antique and, as the rubric of his article high spots, the theory is dead and should be left to rest in peace Stark begins his article by observing, [ f ] or about three centuries, societal scientists and miscellaneous western intellectuals have been assuring the terminal of religion . Stark makes five major claims about the thesis. First, harmonizing to Stark, Modernity and modernization is seen by theoreticians to be the cause of secularisation. He notes that modernization is a long, gradual, comparatively stable process , and that if secularisation is the consequence of modernization, there will be a corresponding long-term, gradual, and comparatively changeless tendency of spiritual decline . Second, to Stark, the focal point of the anticipations is on single piousness, particularly belief, non institutional distinction. He believes that some protagonists of the secularisation thesis have changed their focal point and definition so they do non hold to acknowledge that their thesis is failed. In fact, Stark agrees faith establishments have less power and that spiritual ritual and symbols have become less common in public life. Starks 3rd statement is that in all versions of the thesis the claim that of all facets of modernisation, it is scientific discipline that has the most deathly deductions for religion . Fourthly, Secularization is irreversible. Nevertheless, Stark disagrees with this by observing Andree Greeley s 1994 remark that after 70 old ages of Soviet Union activist attempts to accomplish secularization St. Vladimir has routed Karl Marx . Finally, Stark notes that the thesis applies globally. While the theoreticians have largely focuses on Christianity, belief in supernatural powers is traveling to decease out all over the universe. Allah and Jehovah will both fall in each other as an interesting historical memory . Secularization, R.I.P. , so gets into particulars. To Stark the secularisation thesis has failed to be an accurate anticipation due to six chief grounds. First, it is a myth that there has been a diminution in spiritual belief and engagement because there has been no incontrovertible long-run diminution in European spiritual participation and in Europe levels of subjective devoutness remain high. Next, he argues that there has neer been an Age of Faith . To Stark most Europeans did non go to church during the in-between Ages and during the Renaissance. In fact, he highlights that many clergy were unqualified and that clergy were frequently absent from their parishes. In add-on, while there were periodic detonations of mass spiritual enthusiasm , this offers even stronger grounds against engagement in organized faith. As a consequence, it can be said spiritual engagement sometimes rises and sometimes diminutions. Third, he argues that neer was Europe truly Christianized. Stark believe s that although early Christianity was a mass societal motion in a extremely competitory environment, it lost its energy after it became the official faith of the Roman Empire. After Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, there was neer an effort to change over the general population of Europe. This ties in to his 4th statement. Stark notes that while some theoreticians confirm there was no Age of Faith, to them people still had high degrees of spiritual belief, even if they did non travel to church. Stark believes, utilizing secular Iceland as an illustration, this still applies today, observing that while Iceland merely has 2 per centum church attending, merely 2.4 per centum of the state are atheists. Fifthly, if secularisation is to demo up anyplace it must demo up among scientists . However, Stark discovers that many scientists report being spiritual. Evidence that there is a struggle between faith and scientific discipline is largely fictional, and scientists are non notably irreligious . Finally, Stark ends his harangue about the fails of the Secularization theory by saying that grounds from Eastern Europe, Muslim states and practicians of Asiatic folk faiths that modernness is compatible with faith. In 2001, Steven Bruce, Professor of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, responded to Stark, with the suitably titled Christianity in Britain, R.I.P. . Bruce disagrees with Starks hypothesis that the secularization is merely a myth, based upon undervaluing the spiritual verve of the of the universe today. Furthermore, Stark argued that this myth besides exaggerated the religionism of the past age of religion. In order to rebut Starks claims, Bruce uses Britain as an illustration. First, Bruce looks back at pre-industrial Britain. While cognition of faith and its orthodoxy may hold been limited, in order for there to be no aureate age of religion we would hold to be able accept nine sociologically implausible assumptions . These scope from inquiring if the most powerful national establishment had small or no impact upon the people. To why would people let such a big sum of the wealth of Britain go to this establishment which they did non back up. To Bruce, spiritual beliefs so wer e still far more permeant and influential than they are now. Following, Bruce looks at assorted indexs of the diminution of Christianity in Britain over the last 150 old ages. Today, most Christian communities are in diminution. Even if we merely look to appraise done in 1951, 1990, and 2000 there is a clear tendency of dramatic diminution. Bruce goes every bit far to notice that utilizing the long-run stable tendency of the diminution of Church rank and attending, it is possible to do a statistical projection that by the 2030s the chief Christian denominations will discontinue to be. ( Methodist ) . Bruce clearly believes that no sum of supply side revisionism will alter the fact that Christianity in Britain is in serious problem. Bruce so takes a critical expression at supply-side theories of faith, which argue that demand is changeless and that degrees of spiritual verve hence depend on the supply, which is greatest when there is a free and competitory market for suppliers. He asks that sing Christianity has ever valued corporate Acts of the Apostless of worship, and if there is a free market place for faith and no deficiency of deficit of Christian administrations. Surly this should be expressed in some manner. Bruce notes that while the New Age motion might look to show the being of widespread informal spiritual belief, possibly of an digesting demand for faith, his scrutiny of the extent, nature, and significance of that motion suggests otherwise, observing that they are numerically all but irrelevant . The ranks of these new administrations do non sufficiently do up for those lost from the more traditional denominations, which are in danger of dwindling past the demographic point of no return.

Perspiration is Nothing without a Little Bit of Inspiration

Perspiration is Nothing without a Little Bit of Inspiration Inspiration and Success People need to be inspired to do their best.  Reward  and punishment, for instance, are traditional psychological techniques used by organizations to inspire people to peak performance. These external motivators according to literature make people work toward a certain goal and eventually succeed through  increased productivity and quality of work. Inspired people are mostly satisfied people having a sense of responsibility and commitment to the organization. In contrast, people with low level of motivation are not dedicated, unhappy, lazy, unenthusiastic, disengaged, and unproductive. Since motivated employees feel good about themselves, they normally performed beyond expectations and achieved the highest level of success. Motivation is a quest for personal gain thus, the pursuit of happiness often inspired people to become active and work hard until they are satisfied with the outcome. Similarly, empowerment is an important motivational tool as it can energize and excite people to work hard, make decisions, and take actions on their own. The study shows that empowered employees often have stronger work motivation, produce quality work, highly satisfied with their jobs, and stay longer in the organization. There are a number of things that motivate people and these include engagement with others animate and inanimate things, powers, spaces, and substances. For instance, social relationships inspire people to act in a way that is contingent on that relationship, accepted practices, a significance of places, and observed  values of people and things. For instance, monuments, paintings, sculptures, and others inspire and actively engage people because they have imaginary qualities that enable people to connect and look into other worlds. Want to know more? Go here: Relieving Students School-Related Stress Developing Students Creativity The Bright Sides of Academic Intellectuals We Call Nerds Junk Food in School Is Sports Competition Relevant to Academic Learning Common Study Inspirations Students are similar to musicians who need to be inspired to write a song. The desire of each student to study is determined by different motivational factors that include classroom climate, sociological factors such as competition and peer  pressure, relevance and confidence, achievement, and others. Study of high school students’ motivation in learning mathematics suggests that their level of self-efficacy and confidence is greatly affected by competition and peer pressure in the classroom. Similarly, anxiety over math subjects is commonly caused by students’ lack of confidence and perception of the relevance of studying  mathematics. In a comparative study of learners’ motivation in learning languages, suggest that motivation is an important factor that affects the desire to learn. Parental expectations played an important role in male students’ motivation to enroll and study advanced courses while female students’ motivation to learn science depends on their individual educational aspirations. Teacher’s enthusiasm is an important motivating factor mainly because the way to interest a class is to show them that you are interested. The study shows that teacher’s enthusiasm, energy, and vitality are correlated to higher achievement scores and test performance. Similarly, indirect teaching methods and the amount of movement, eye contact, and varied voice intonation aroused students desire to learn. Teacher’s genuine human sympathy satisfies students’ desire for relevance and natural curiosity over their studies. Students are better motivated when they are respected and given the opportunity to get involve and participate in class decision making. Moreover, they are often motivated by praise, positive feedback, and thoughts that achievement is possible.

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 29

Personal Statement - Essay Example Currently, Im a student at the Sheffield International College studying Business Law and social science foundation degree, in order to progress and enter the university to complete my undergraduate course in Law. It is my involvement with Law studies throughout the years, which has persuaded me to take up LLB for my undergraduate program. I am glad to mention that, during the end of my second year studies, when I was choosing the module for my final year, I got interested in Intellectual property studies. Moreover, my habit of reading newspapers and watching news channels has assisted me in knowing the global affairs and this, in turn, persuaded me to follow intellectual property studies. In his book, Macmillan (2008, pg.1) wrote: â€Å"A news paper tells about local and world news. It is also full of data and data is information†. The study on Intellectual property is a renowned one in today’s world and it is an essential study program for the current business world. Apart from my studies, I am proud to reveal that I have interned at two law firms in Oman and the UK. The first law firm was a leading one owned by Al Busaidi Mansoor Jamal and the second one was SNR Dentons in th e UK. I firmly believe that I am a right candidate to pursue Law studies, as I really have an eye for detail and also enjoy working on projects and assignments which are related to the current social issue of the today’s world. I am confident that my skill in handling evidence, debating and conducting arguments will enable be to successfully complete my law studies. I am ambitious and my confidence in my abilities will give me needed recognition in the selected field of work. As per Papadopoulou (2010), â€Å"being ambitious enables you to set goals in your career. You are not satisfied with simply doing what is asked of you. You are constantly on the lookout for

Discuss the range of possible outcomes if Shakespeare's advice of Essay

Discuss the range of possible outcomes if Shakespeare's advice of neither a lender nor a borrower be should become a general law - Essay Example Besides, it provides easy and cheap liquidity than other available lenders and intermediaries (Delaume 2012). In the event that Shakespeare’s statement was a general law, there would not be the expanded financial liberalization and enhanced volumes of private capital flaws in the developed countries that was characteristic of 1990s. The post crisis capital mobility in the developing world (especially in Asia) was as a result of four forms of capital inflows; portfolio investments, direct investment, bank loans and other investments. Bank loans in countries like Malaysia saw their economies grow from third world economies to second world status (Shin-Ichi, 2013). Loans that were advanced to the states through World Bank and IMF helped improve the overall economy of the nations and the welfare of their citizens. This would not be possible had Shakespeare’s statement been a general law. In domestic financial markets, banks are the most outstanding means of channeling savings to investments with the most favorable returns. In the event that the statement by Shakespeare became a common law, banks would not provide liquidity and permit efficient pooling of risks (Shin-Ichi, 2013). The fact that there are lenders and borrowers creates an environment that enables the activities of banks to alter the composition of capital in a manner that is potentially good for enhancing capital accumulation. Development of banks as lending institutions institutionalizes them as the gatherers of information about firms and reducing corporate myopia by conquering the quandaries associated with informational asymmetry (Shin-Ichi, 2013). The powers are given to the banks by depositors. These powers have led to availability of valuable information that helps a firm engage economically with another. Had lending and borrowing been absent, such powers would not be within the reach of banks. Economic development and

Advertising Campaign among the United Kingdom and Italy Essay

Advertising Campaign among the United Kingdom and Italy - Essay Example As pointed by De Mooij and Keegan (3), advertising culture includes personality, cognition, expression, and emotion, which are all influential in shaping consumer behavior. To be successful advertisers are required to know the similarities as well as the differences of consumers in diverse cultural (3).Cross cultural communication solutions are critical to effective cross cultural advertising for any country, including the United Kingdom and Italy. Services and products are usually designed and marketed at a domestic audience. When a product is then marketed at an international audience the same domestic advertising campaign abroad will in most cases be ineffective.The essence of shock advertising is convincing people that a product is meant for them and shock advertising are all about morality. They usually involve sniffing out, simply for the sake of provocation, the ripest cultural taboo. By purchasing it, they will receive some benefit, whether it be lifestyle, status, convenienc e or financial. However, when an advertising campaign is taken abroad different values and perceptions as to what enhances status or gives convenience exist. These differences make the original advertising campaign defunct. It is therefore critical to any cultural advertising campaign that an understanding of a particular culture is acquired. The problems of communicating to people in diverse culture are one of the great creative challenges in advertising. Communication is more difficult because cultural factors largely determine the way various phenomena are perceived. Its perceptual framework is different; perception of the message itself differs. So, there are some shock advertising features in adapting from culture to culture. In Italy and in the UK shock advertising feeds on the market's inclination to reward the unconventional and take advantage of the media's shifting stand on of public sensibilities. 2. The differences and similarities in the using of Shock advertising. Some brands use shock tactics in advertising to break through ad clutter and make people take notice. The question is whether these shock tactics work or whether they just upset people. Benetton and Barnardo, Calvin Klein and FCUK have all been challenged for being too shocking. Benetton (Italy), its first steps in shock advertising were connected with "multi-racial" theme, the idea of colors, they showed a group, made up of people with different colored skin.(Appendix 1) "It was fantastic, so exhilarating to show the products in such a new and simple way." (13) Then the company uses attitudinal and unconventional advertising to mix political and social issues with their ad messages in their campaigns. There was a genuine interest in human rights and other socially conscious causes: "The purpose of advertising is not to sell more. It's to do with institutional publicity, whose aim is to communicate the company's values. We need to convey a single strong image, which can be shared anywhere in the world."(13) So, Benetton's advertising draws public attention to universal themes. The shocking photographs of Benetton's immaterial advertising had no parallel whatsoever in its material offerings. Not in its brightly colored shirts, not in the atmosphere of its stores and not in its point-of-purchase materials. Sure this contrast was shocking too, but it was shock for the sake of shock (and an immediate cash flow). Sooner or later the initial rush was

2. The Semantics of 'I' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

2. The Semantics of 'I' - Essay Example fore I am) which implies that one’s consciousness, set of thoughts or thinking or ability to doubt would give proof of his own existence because of the ‘I’ or ego that conceives it (The Meditations). The argument is a representational development in response to Meditation I and indicates that one’s own existence is certain only within a first-person context, exclusive of any other existences beyond this point. It does not also state the necessity for existence, except the principle that if someone thinks, then he exists necessarily. â€Å"I am, I exist†Ã¢â‚¬â€proposition follows as the third in support of the main argument (Cogito). It would, however, only hold true in effect as it is preferred to be entertained by being deceived and having thoughts whether to accept deception in mind or not. From here, a stronger basis for truths is then established with absolute certainty. Descartes had sought to conclude that ‘I’ is a thinking thing or something that doubts, understands, affirms, denies, and makes use of sensory perceptions which goes well beyond defining within explicit limitations (Meditations). The evidence shown herewith through his wax example may then draw his recognition in which ‘I’, though could possibly exist without a body, cannot be separate or wholly distinct, as a thinking entity, from the body. In the case of bundle theory of the self on the other hand, David Hume had rather asserted, in the absence of identity, that objects are a bundle of their properties, which in relation to the mind applies the common logic in the sense that an individual is a product of his thoughts and experiences (Droar). He was, nevertheless, unable to come up with his version of an entity or the ‘I’ that any normal rationale considers as fundamental in collecting or holding the bundles. While Hume, after a period of contemplation, admitted to have employed â€Å"looking within† only to find out a series of perceptions, the medium or the idea necessary to

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art - Essay Example This paper talks about the some of the works of Auguste Rodin in regards to their detailed compositions like texture, color, form and matrial. Auguste Rodin Auguste Rodin was a french sculptor in the modern era who did not rebel on the past. Unlike other artists who deliberately changed their ways and created masterpieces that had undertones of mockery of the previous period, Rodin remained a traditional sculptor and took a craftsman-like approach to his works. He possesed a unique ability to work on complex materials. Most of his famous sculptures, departed from the traditional themes of mythology allegory, were criticized that made him become sensitive towards his critics. Nevertheess, he continued on his style, far away from the used-to-be themantic sculpture of the predominant figures of the past, and celebrated realism and individualism. As time went by, accompanied by a series of works, his stature in the artists' social ladder increased a few notches higher and gained increase d favour from the government and the artists community. Modernism 3 The Age of Bronze One of Rodin's works that troubled the critics and enticed them to lambast him for not having a conrete theme was The Age of Bronze. Speculations were in the air that Rodin intentionally scuplted his work without a theme. But due to its realistic and lively figure, it gained the attention of the many, which aslo fueled the critics to accuse him of surmoulage. He strongly denied the accusation and defended his work. He wrote and presented photographs of his model to newspapers to show how the sculpture differed. The Age of Bronze became one of Rodin's most famous works due to the controversy it brought to the eyes of the critics. The intricacy of the details of a man's nude body, held an unconventional pose, was sculpted well-enough for it to look alive. It takes a genuinely brillant artist to be able to sculpt a bronze material and still come up with a realistic form of a nude man. Tagged with perf ect lights and shadows, they made the sculpture an intriguing work of art, which eventually led to being bought by the state. The sculpture was purchased for 2,200 francs. Rodin drew inspiration for his first full-scale sculpture from Michelangelo's Dying Slave and was shown at the Paris Salon in 1877.(Rilke & Rodin, 2004, 27) St. John the Baptist Preaching St. John the Baptist Preaching is Rodin's second full-scale work and again a nude man. Due to the charge of surmoulage for his previous work, he made his second piece bigger than a life-size statue. The statues gives an appeal that he is walking towards the audience while both feet are on the ground. The odd positions of Rodin's works became his signature. The peculiar sense of movement of Rodin's model was captured in his product. Modernism 4 Rodin's interpretation of St. John the Baptist is a man preaching while walking. Although it may appear that the stance of the man is a bit odd, since both feet are on the ground, it depict s a walk of a determined man, emotionally firmed on his preaching. Rodin later explained how he came up with the two phases of a stride in order to suggest a movement. It is evident in the sculpture that the man, St. John, is preaching to a a group and his conviction is noticed. According to studies, the form of the model was excellently sculpted with an outstanding delivery of its message. The shadows on the ribs, the details on the facial expression and the

Cost-Benefit Analysis of A Public Infrastructure Project Assignment

Cost-Benefit Analysis of A Public Infrastructure Project - Assignment Example Thus, to come up with a public infrastructure, several factors will be considered to look at both the advantage and causality in order to achieve the optimal benefit that is required. Public infrastructure is considered to be of good interest to the society if its final outcome benefits surpass the cost of implementing the total project. If the cost of implementing the infrastructure is more than the benefit the society is supposed to enjoy after its completion, then, the project is of no much benefit to the society. To realize the cost benefit of a public infrastructure, a cost benefit analyses is carried out to investigate the benefit the society is expected to achieve once the said infrastructure is completed. If the result shows that the project has a positive benefit, then, the infrastructure should be implemented. If the result on the other side reveals that the benefits of the project upon completion reflect negative benefit, then, the project should be dropped (Campbell and B rown, 15). 1.1Project description The public infrastructure that is illustrated under this paper is of power plant construction nature which is located in Middle East and North African region. This region has a high potential of solar and wind energy because it receives a lot of energy from sun in six hours than what a man consumes in one year and is home to top sites of wind potential. This project is expected to generate electricity by use of massive set up of solar and wind farms networks and connect the power to Europe through a Europe- Mediterranean electricity network. A high voltage direct current (HDVC) transmission cables will be used in the transmission of the power. The power plant will involve spreading of concentrating solar power systems, wind parks and photovoltaic systems in desert of North Africa in places like Sahara desert. This means that the power plant will produce energy that is renewable instead of use of fossil fuel that is not renewable. This project will p rovide a substantial demand of electricity in Middle East and Northern Africa region and a 15% of electricity need in Europe. Thus, due to the fact that this project is expected to benefit those three regions, it has being dubbed as EUMENA which means European Union, Middle East and Northern Africa. Investment under this public infrastructure is expected to cost up to 400 billion pounds by 2050. Under this project, Europe is expected to lead in fighting climate change and economies of the Northern African countries and Europe, grow due to green house gas emissions limitation. This project has the potential to satisfy 15 percent of the electricity demand in Europe and much needed electricity in Middle East and North Africa. 240,000 jobs in Germany are likely to be created if this project is implemented and generate electricity worth 2 trillion by 2050. Energy wastage is expected to be reduced under this project because it will enable transfer of energy from areas with surplus to area s it is needed. The grid will help in taking advantage of the large amounts of energy that is likely to be sourced from large scale sources of renewable energy that are remote. The construction of the transmission grid will reduce difference between actual generating capacity and the minimum

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art - Essay Example This paper talks about the some of the works of Auguste Rodin in regards to their detailed compositions like texture, color, form and matrial. Auguste Rodin Auguste Rodin was a french sculptor in the modern era who did not rebel on the past. Unlike other artists who deliberately changed their ways and created masterpieces that had undertones of mockery of the previous period, Rodin remained a traditional sculptor and took a craftsman-like approach to his works. He possesed a unique ability to work on complex materials. Most of his famous sculptures, departed from the traditional themes of mythology allegory, were criticized that made him become sensitive towards his critics. Nevertheess, he continued on his style, far away from the used-to-be themantic sculpture of the predominant figures of the past, and celebrated realism and individualism. As time went by, accompanied by a series of works, his stature in the artists' social ladder increased a few notches higher and gained increase d favour from the government and the artists community. Modernism 3 The Age of Bronze One of Rodin's works that troubled the critics and enticed them to lambast him for not having a conrete theme was The Age of Bronze. Speculations were in the air that Rodin intentionally scuplted his work without a theme. But due to its realistic and lively figure, it gained the attention of the many, which aslo fueled the critics to accuse him of surmoulage. He strongly denied the accusation and defended his work. He wrote and presented photographs of his model to newspapers to show how the sculpture differed. The Age of Bronze became one of Rodin's most famous works due to the controversy it brought to the eyes of the critics. The intricacy of the details of a man's nude body, held an unconventional pose, was sculpted well-enough for it to look alive. It takes a genuinely brillant artist to be able to sculpt a bronze material and still come up with a realistic form of a nude man. Tagged with perf ect lights and shadows, they made the sculpture an intriguing work of art, which eventually led to being bought by the state. The sculpture was purchased for 2,200 francs. Rodin drew inspiration for his first full-scale sculpture from Michelangelo's Dying Slave and was shown at the Paris Salon in 1877.(Rilke & Rodin, 2004, 27) St. John the Baptist Preaching St. John the Baptist Preaching is Rodin's second full-scale work and again a nude man. Due to the charge of surmoulage for his previous work, he made his second piece bigger than a life-size statue. The statues gives an appeal that he is walking towards the audience while both feet are on the ground. The odd positions of Rodin's works became his signature. The peculiar sense of movement of Rodin's model was captured in his product. Modernism 4 Rodin's interpretation of St. John the Baptist is a man preaching while walking. Although it may appear that the stance of the man is a bit odd, since both feet are on the ground, it depict s a walk of a determined man, emotionally firmed on his preaching. Rodin later explained how he came up with the two phases of a stride in order to suggest a movement. It is evident in the sculpture that the man, St. John, is preaching to a a group and his conviction is noticed. According to studies, the form of the model was excellently sculpted with an outstanding delivery of its message. The shadows on the ribs, the details on the facial expression and the

The Cockroach Essay Example for Free

The Cockroach Essay â€Å"This is poem that has been composed by Kevin Halligan. The poem ‘The Cockroach’ is a sonnet written by Kevin Halligan. It is written in the iambic pentameter as there are ten syllables in each line and as it mostly follows the pattern of the syllables being unstressed and then stressed. For example the line â€Å"I (unstressed) watched (stressed) a (unstressed) giant (stressed-unstressed) cockroach (stressed-unstressed) start (stressed) to (unstressed) pace (stressed). The poem includes a few literary devices like personification as he gives the cockroach human conditions throughout the poem, a smile and a metaphor. The poem starts with the poet getting monopolized by the cockroach† â€Å"When the poet’s eyes fell upon the restless cockroach, it reminded him of himself. Sometimes, just like the cockroach, he tried to avoid things whether it was a person or trouble. The poet was restless as well. The poet felt that he resembled the cockroach when the cockroach had climbed up onto the shelf and was uncertain about where he wanted to go as though he was having a private conflict in his mind of which path he shall chose. Life is a journey of twists and turns and the poet has witnessed this at some point in his life. Therefore he identifies with the cockroach. Throughout the poem, the poet uses an extended metaphor to describe the human conditions. † â€Å"The poet is watching the cockroach as if it is a human being not an insect in an objective view. This foreshadows the twist at the end which is that the poet is the subject of the poem. The poet can even sense how it feels and thinks; he seemed quite satisfied he looked uncertain where to go. These illustrate that the cockroach begins to feel distracted and confused suggesting that the persona involves his thoughts to it. Therefore this, in turn, involves the readers in the poem furthermore. The cockroach is an extended metaphor of the persona and human being. The cockroach moves through a path between the wainscot and the door which symbolizes a steady path that people follow early in life. But, soon he turned to jog in crooked rings suggests human beings confusion in later life reinforcing a sense of confusion. † â€Å"The poet describes a frantic movement of the cockroach throughout the poem. The title foreshadows and reveals that the poem is about a small and trifle insect- a cockroach. However, the poem opens with the exaggeration of it a giant cockroach. This highlights that he is observing it very closely feeling as if it is a giant. The word giant also conveys that it is not only an insect but also a device to reflect on life giving it great importance with the repetition of word cockroach in the title and first line. The movement of the cockroach is closely described. The detailed description draws an image of the cockroach in the readers minds and this allows them to engage in the poem. It pace skirting jog circle flip climb signifying that the persona is watching the cockroach as if it is a human being not a trifle insect in an objective view. This foreshadows the twist at the end which is that the poet is the subject of the poem. The persona can even sense how it feels and thinks; he seemed quite satisfied he looked uncertain where to go. These illustrate that the cockroach begins to feel distracted and confused suggesting that the persona involves his thoughts to it. Therefore this, in turn, involves the readers in the poem furthermore. †

The concept of child abuse

The concept of child abuse The concept of child abuse is historically, socially and culturally bound. Critically discuss this statement with reference to the subject material and literature. Introduction This paper will look at child abuse, what that is in Australia today. Through reviewing literature on child abuse and child protection this paper aims to show that the concept of child abuse is dependent on social and cultural values. In order to discuss child abuse and its relationship to history and social and cultural values it is important to define the term child abuse in the child protection field in Australia today. Zuchowski (2009: 30) cites Fernandez as recognizing that the importance of agreed and unambiguous definitions is central to identifying maltreatment and appropriate interventions and that child abuse is a socially constructed concept defined by social, cultural and economic conditions. In Australian child protection work child abuse is defined in terms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and in the more contentious area, child neglect. Physical and emotional abuses are defined as acts of commission or omission that cause harm or worse to children. Sexual abuse is defined as the child being used for the sexual gratification of the adult and involves the abuse of trust and power inherent in relationships between adults and children. Neglect is defined as a situation in which the parents/carers fail to provide for the basic essential needs that children require (Tilbury, Osmond, Wilson Clark 2007:5; Tomison, 2001:48). The term neglect is contentious and implies judgement; Feminism and Post-Modernist theories challenge workers to be critically reflective on the ways in which language contributes to the construction of social values (Healy, 2005:194). Applied to child protection work Feminist, Structuralist and Critical social work theories focus on social and economic resources and recognize the impact that structural disadvantages have on families capacities to provide for children (Tilbury et al, 2007:29). Neglect of children was not recognized prior to the industrial revolution and children as young as five were treated as slave labour in orphanages, workhouses and factories, where they were starved, beaten and often kept in leg irons (Tomison, 2001:48). These conditions are illegal in Australia today and would be considered as child abuse by current social values. History of Child Protection In the 19th century children were essentially seen as economic units, large families were an investment and childrens input was considered essential to family survival (Sanson Wise, 2001:5).By the turn of the 20th century changes in attitudes to child labour in Australia were reflected in laws such as the Factory Act of New South Wales and Victoria of 1896, compulsory education for all children in all Australian states by 1900 and the establishment of voluntary child rescue groups such as The Victorian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1894 which was concerned with child abuse and the effects of poverty and disadvantage on their living conditions (Sanson Wise, 2001:5; Tomison, 2001:50). However, widespread public concern regarding the maltreatment of children only emerged when child abuse was rediscovered by Dr H Kempe and his colleagues in the United States in the 1960s. They coined the term battered baby syndrome and their work created interest in child maltreatment around the world. (Tomison , 2001:50; Parton, 2002:5). At the time child abuse was seen as a socio-medical problem, a disease which could be cured and prevented whereas today child abuse is currently framed as a socio-legal problem with the emphasis on gathering and assessing forensic evidence (Parton, 2002:11; Tomison, 2001:52). The professionalization of child protection services during the 1970s and 1980s saw the development of risk-assessment tools ; aids to assist workers in making the right decision and to help ensure accountability. These developments saw the worker as the expert; whereas current theories used in social work in Australia such as strengths- based approaches and narrative therapie s emphasize a collaborative effort between families and child protection services (Kreuger, 2007:237; Tilbury et al, 2007:16). The influence of the child rescue movement in the late 19th century on child protection in Australia has been profound, particularly influencing the history of social intervention and removal of Indigenous children from their families (Sanson Wise, 2001:8.).Child protection in Australia was first provided by predominantly Christian church groups in the non-government sector and targeted abandoned, neglected children and those with families considered socially inadequate. Initially rescued children were boarded with approved families until later years when orphanages were established. In the early days of settlement the deprivation that children suffered in institutions was recognized, leading to foster care or boarding out being the preferred placement for neglected children (Tomison, 2001:49). Indigenous Child Protection From the first white settlement of Australia colonial values and approaches saw the land being regarded as Terra Nullius, Indigenous people being treated as free labour at best and subsequent laws, policies and practices that forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families (HREOC, 1997:2). The Colonial response to the atrocities perpetrated on the Aboriginal people was to establish a protectorate system which would segregate and therefore supposedly protect Indigenous people. By 1911 most Australian states and territories had reserved land and assigned responsibility and therefore control of Aboriginal peoples lives to a Chief Protector or Protection Board. This power was used to remove Indigenous children from their families with a view to converting them to Christianity (HREOC, 1997). This policy approach would be considered racist by current social standards. Australia has been slow to recognize and respect the cultural values of the Indigenous people of Australia in ever y way, including child care and protection. As the population of mixed descent people grew government officials responded by removing children and housing them away from their families with the aim of absorbing and merging them into the non-Indigenous population. The forcible removal of Indigenous children continued in many guises up until the 1960s; those people affected by this practice are now known as The Stolen Generation. In New South Wales after 1940, Indigenous and non-Indigenous children came under general child welfare legislation. The inherent racism in policy and practice and lack of recognition of cultural differences ensured that Indigenous families were more readily found to be neglectful. Poverty was equated with neglect and Indigenous families, ineligible for unrestricted welfare support until after 1966, were judged as failing to provide adequately by non-Indigenous standards (HREOC, 1997). Attachment theory is based on the joint work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Attachment theory recognizes the importance of the early relationship between parent and child and its influence on childrens future ability to form healthy relationships. Bowlbys work on maternal deprivation, based on the premise that attachment to a caregiver is essential for survival, was not applied to Indigenous families in the 1950s and 60s in Australia (Bretherton, 1995:759; Osmond Darlington, 2002:1). This failure can be attributed to the same racist attitudes to Indigenous Australians that saw Australia declared an empty continent by the first settlers (HREOC, 1997). Looking through the lens of attachment theory at Australias history of forcible removal of Indigenous children, it is easy to see the legacy of intergenerational suffering and its ongoing impact on the wellbeing of Indigenous communities today (Sanson Wise, 2001:39). From todays perspective historic child protection practices impos ed on Indigenous Australians are seen as child abuse and maltreatment. Prime Minister Rudds apology, in February 2008, for the damage done to Indigenous Australians through past policies of removal, evidences the change in Australian social values which are reflected in policy. In the Bringing them Home Report (HREOC, 1997:19), Sir William Deane acknowledges the extent to which present disadvantage flows from past injustices and oppression. The report recognizes the permanent wounding caused to the Stolen Generation by forcible removal and institutional abuse. All states and territories in Australia have accepted the Indigenous Placement Principle as law or policy (SNAIC, 2002:66.)This policy recognizes the importance of retaining Indigenous Australian childrens connections to their community and culture(Ban, 2005:388). The Indigenous Placement Principle embeds Indigenous cultural values in social policy by seeking to place children within extended families and their communities. This principle is critical to addressing issues such as Indigenous children being six times more likely to be removed than any other Australian children and twenty times more likely to be in the juvenile justice system. This high rate of removal can be attributed to structural issues such as poverty, lack of adequate housing and the intergenerational effects of policies that forcibly and deliberately removed Indigenous children from culture and family (Zuchowski, 2009:76). In fifty years, approaches to indigenous child protection in Australia have radically changed; they now reflect recognition of past injustices, respect for cultural differences and values and a commitment to partnership and collaboration between governments, services and Indigenous Australians to build capacities and resilience in communities to keep families and children safe (Calma, 2007). Economic Impacts Thomson (2003) suggests that there is an institutional blindness to the role that poverty plays in putting children at risk of harm. The rise of economic rationalism as the dominant philosophy through the 1990s in Australian social policy has been twofold: under- resourcing of welfare services such as child protection and a user -pays approach which sees the poor and needy further disadvantaged. Economic rationalism is a potentially value laden approach where those who are socially and economically disadvantaged held responsible for their circumstances. As Tomison (2001:52) acknowledges the focus of economic rationalism on efficiency, effectiveness and accountability potentially conflicts with the ethical commitments made by social workers such as a commitment to achieving social justice (Tilbury et al 2007:10; AASW, 1999). Economic issues impact the reconciliation process with the Indigenous community as healing and reconciliation relies on redress of past wrongs (HREOC, 1997). Thor pe (2007) also notes that a disproportionate amount of resources in child protection are spent on investigation rather than care. Current Social Policy Approaches: Prevention and early intervention The current discourse on child protection, influenced by strength based and evidence based approaches, has shifted from talking about abuse to talking about harm (Zuchowski, 2009:33). Feminism and Post-modernism recognize language as a site which contributes to defining social value; these discourses have also contributed to the shift from talking about abuse to focussing on the harm done to children. Harm is defined in The Child Protection Act (1999) as any detrimental effect of a significant natureon the childs wellbeing. This term allows for family and child to contribute to the assessment of what is considered detrimental and significant (Tilbury et al, 2007:4). The focus since the mid 1990s in Australia has been on early intervention and prevention (Tomison, 2001:54-55). Resilience has been recognized as a key protective factor in children surviving maltreatment and high risk situations and achieving healthy and adaptive outcomes. The growing recognition that enhancing protective factors to prevent maltreatment of children is cost effective, and provides both social and economic benefits, has seen an increasing focus on the delivery of early intervention and prevention services in Australia. These services are mostly delivered through non-government agencies such as Family Centres in New South Wales. Government policies now focus on health and wellbeing through enhancing community, family and individual strengths. These current strengths-based family support approaches are a contrast to historic approaches that sought to place responsibility and blame solely with the parent. Childrens health and wellbeing is now seen as a community responsibility; the impact of the socio-economic environment in which the family lives is now taken into account (Tomiso n, 2002:7; 2001:55). Conclusion According to Tilbury et al the label child abuse changes according to social context and reflects public opinion and values as well as expert opinion and reflects the degree to which society supports families to care for their children(2007:6). Furthermore understandings of child abuse and neglect differ according to socio-economic status, culture and ethnic background (Bowes Watson, 2004), as cited in Tilbury et al. (2007:6). What constitutes child abuse is dependent on social and cultural values; this is clearly evidenced in the changes to the treatment and care of children throughout even the short history of Australia since white settlement. The increase in notification and substantiation of children at risk in the last decade is the outcome of a widening definition of what comprises child abuse (Scott, 2006, as cited in Thorpe, 2007:1). Australias history of forcible removal of Indigenous children, the disconnection of British migrant children from family, the abuse of children in institutional care and the ongoing social and mental damage that these practices caused is now well known (Thorpe, 2007:1). These historic practices are unacceptable and considered abuse and maltreatment in Australia today. When compared with Australias current collaborative and culturally sensitive approach to child protection it is clear that child abuse, and community perception and response to it, reflect the dominant cu ltural and social values of the day. 1 Catriona Robertson, Student No. 0718540740, Assignment 1, WS3027: Child and Family Welfare, 10th January 2010.